Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V re:Scaled
Chapter 8
Stolen Memories
"Regardless, you failed in your mission to retrieve Serena and capture Koyo, or rather, Judai. Your punishment will be lightened for bringing us valuable intel, however. Once that is done, report to the underground arena. I have arranged a special training partner for you. You are dismissed."
Those words weighed heavy upon Sora's mind as the service elevator descended, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. The underground arena. It was where their spies reported to after a failed mission. No one knew why, but they did know that everyone who went in came back out... different, whether slightly or severely. Not that everyone who went in actually did come back out, of course.
'Guess I can scratch 'find out what happens in the underground arena' off my bucket list,' he thought as the elevator arrived at its destination. As he stepped out, the lights in the arena flared to life. His opponent stood on the other end of the arena. A green-haired man in a black cloak, a mask resembling a dragon's head concealing his face from view. Looking around, he spotted the Professor, the Doktor, and Yuri watching from a booth above the arena. At least who knew what the Professor looked like now.
"So... anyone feel like telling me who this guy is?" Sora asked, gesturing towards his foe. His inquiry was met only with silence.
"To be honest, I was wondering that, myself," Yuri whispered to the Professor. "I was aware of the underground arena, but this is the first time you've ever invited me to watch the show."
"He was the subject of one of the Doktor's old experiments. He had been looking into ways to imbue some of our students with the ability to hypnotize others. It was to be used on suspected traitors. The experiment was a failure, but he did gain an ability of near-equal value."
"Oh?" Yuri asked, his interest having been sufficiently piqued by the comment. "And what would that be?"
"You'll see," the Professor responded simply. Turning, he addressed the Obelisk Blue student. "Sora Shiun'in, please step on to the arena platform." Once the boy had (with some degree of hesitation) done as instructed, he continued. "As his name is classified to all but the highest-ranking of our forces, you will address your opponent as 'Honest'. Your Inquisitorial Duel will now commence," the Professor declared, as Honest ignited his Duel Disk's blade. It was a standard Academia model. To be honest, Sora had expected more from his so-called "inquisitor", but now wasn't the time for those sorts of thoughts. He had one goal, and only one goal. To win. Mimicking Honest's motion, he felt his heart begin to pound as the telltale sound of shuffling filled his ears. Once it stopped, both combatants swiped the top five cards of their decks. It was time to begin.
"Duel!"
Turn 1: Honest
Honest LP/Hand: 4000/5
Sora LP/Hand: 4000/5
"I Summon Clear Phantom. I Set a card face-down. Turn end," Honest said. What an underwhelming first move, Sora thought to himself. Just a weak monster and a face-down? And I'm supposed to take this guy seriously? Ha! I'll teach you to underestimate me!
-x-
Clear Phantom
Level 4
DARK
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1800
[ Fiend / Effect ]
This card is not a DARK monster on the field. If this card is destroyed by battle, destroy 1 monster your opponent controls, then send the top 3 cards of your opponent's Deck to the Graveyard.
-x-
Turn 2: Sora
Honest LP/Hand: 4000/3
Sora LP/Hand: 4000/5
"I really dunno what you were thinking, Professor," Sora laughed. "But couldn't you at least give me someone who'd provide a challenge? This'll be a piece of cake, just watch. And you," he said, pointing to Honest, "I'll show you a real opening move! I draw! I activate Polymerization! I fuse Edge Imp Tomahawk and Fluffal Octopus! Demonic claws, become one with the devil apostle and show us your powerful new form! Fusion Summon! Come out! Sea devil that steals freedom and pulls everything into the darkness! Frightfur Kraken!"
-x-
Frightfur Kraken
Level 8
"Edge Imp Tomahawk" + "Fluffal Octopus"
DARK
ATK: 2200
DEF: 3000
[ Fiend / Fusion / Effect ]
This can make a second attack during each Battle Phase. At the end of your Battle Phase: You can change this card to Defense Position.
-x-
"See, that's a monster you'd want to start out with. If both of this thing's attacks go through, you'll be down to just 800 Life Points with nothing but a face-down card to show for it."
"If," Honest replied. "By the end of this duel, you'll have realized how pointless your struggling is," he said.
"That so? Let's put that claim to the test, then! Frightfur Kraken attacks Clear Phantom! Violet Reaper! Better activate that face-down if you want that Phantom to be anything more than a ghost!"
Honest LP: 4000 – 1000 = 3000
And yet, Honest simply... did nothing. Merely standing firm as Kraken's blades ripped Clear Phantom in half. Or so it seemed. At that moment, Frightfur Kraken began to crystallize, breaking apart once it finished.
"What the-?! What just happened?!" Sora cried.
"Clear Phantom's monster effect. Clean Retaliation. When it's destroyed by battle, a monster on my opponent's side of the field is destroyed, then they send the top three cards of their Deck to the Graveyard. I then activate the Continuous Trap Card Memory Snatcher. While this card is in play, my opponent cannot see the cards in their Graveyard. Also, if they use an effect that targets a card in the Graveyard, they must declare the name of that card, and I must confirm it."
-x-
Memory Snatcher
Continuous Trap Card
Your opponent cannot look at cards in their Graveyard. If your opponent's card effect would affect a card(s) in their Graveyard, your opponent must declare the name of that card(s). If that card(s) is not in the Graveyard, that effect is negated. (The controller of this card checks whether the target is in the Graveyard.)
-x-
Reluctantly, Sora took three cards from the top of his Deck, and, without looking, placed them in his Graveyard.
'That's annoying. From now on, I can't double-check the cards in my Graveyard. So I guess with that I'll just have to pay extra-close attention to this one. I can't lose track of my Graveyard, or I'll end up paying for it when I activate the Fusion Recovery I'm holding once I get some more Fusion Materials, since I'll need to be able to name one of the Fusion Materials correctly, those being Fluffal Octopus and Edge Imp Tomahawk. The only other cards in my hand right now are Fluffal Wings and Fluffal Sheep. I can't make anything with them. So for now...'
"I play a monster face-down. My turn is over."
Turn 3: Honest
Honest LP/Hand: 3000/2
Sora LP/Hand: 4000/2
"It's my turn. I draw. I Summon Clear Rage Golem. I then activate the Field Spell Clear World, which will force each player to apply effects based on the Attributes of the monsters they control. LIGHT monsters will make you play with your hand revealed. DARK monsters prevent you from declaring an attack. EARTH monsters will make you destroy one monster you control each turn. WATER monsters will cause you to discard one card during your End Phase. FIRE monsters will inflict one thousand points of damage to you during your End Phase. WIND monsters prevent you from activating Spell Cards," Honest explained as the arena shifted to a vast sky, its inhabitants standing on clouds. All the while, a large crystal loomed above them.
-x-
Clear Rage Golem
Level 4
DARK
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1800
[ Fiend / Effect ]
This card is not a DARK monster on the field. If this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent by a direct attack: Inflict 300 damage to your opponent for each card in their hand.
-x-
Clear World
Field Spell
Each player gains the following effects based on the Attributes of the monsters they control:
● LIGHT: Play with your hand revealed.
● DARK: Monsters you control cannot declare an attack.
● EARTH: Once per turn, during your turn: Destroy 1 monster you control.
● WATER: Once per turn, during your End Phase: Discard 1 card.
● FIRE: Once per turn, during your End Phase: Take 1000 damage.
● WIND: You cannot activate Spell Cards.
-x-
"Battle. Clear Rage Golem attacks your face-down monster. Clean Cruelty."
"But you said DARK monsters kept their owners from attacking!" Sora cried. How could the Professor trust an obvious cheater like this guy?!
"The effects of my Clear monsters prevent them from being considered DARK monsters while they're on the field," Honest answered. "That is the power of Clear World. Individuality brings nothing but suffering, thus, the Clear monsters have discarded theirs to escape it. Now vanish."
Sora could do nothing but watch as his Fluffal Wings was shredded by the countless needles fired from Clear Rage Golem's hands.
"Turn end," Honest declared.
'Okay, this is bad. All of my monsters are either EARTH or DARK Attribute. I'd just lose any EARTH monster I Summoned, but I can't attack while I have a DARK monster on the field. The only one that's not EARTH or DARK is Fluffal Wings, and even that would make me show him my hand. Not that I'd want to Summon a monster with no Attack Points, but... Just calm down, Sora. I just have to stall out until I can make Frightfur Tiger and destroy Clear World with its effect. Then I'll take him out.'
"I can see why you like this one, Professor," Yuri cackled. "His opponents have to figure out ways to maintain an advantageous position while under the negative effects of Clear World, whereas he's free to do as he pleases. It's a good way to make sure our spies' skills haven't weakened while they've been away."
"No, that's not why I chose this one. Just keep watching."
Turn 4: Sora
Honest LP/Hand: 3000/2
Sora LP/Hand: 4000/2
"I-it's my turn! I draw! I activate Fusion Recovery! With this card's effect, I can add a Polymerization and a Fusion Material from my Graveyard to my hand!"
"The effect of Memory Snatcher now activates. You must declare the name of the card you want to add to your hand. Once you do, I will verify whether or not that card is in your Graveyard. If it's there, you will be allowed to add it and the Polymerization to your hand. If not, the effect of Fusion Recovery is negated."
"That's easy! I the monster I add to my hand is Fluffal Octopus!" Sora declared.
"That is correct. Fluffal Octopus was sent from your hand to your Graveyard by the effect of Polymerization for a Fusion Summon. The effect of Fusion Recovery now resolves, allowing you to add both cards to your hand."
"And now I activate Polymerization! I fuse Fluffal Sheep and Edge Imp Chain! Fusion Summon! Reveal yourself! Chained beast that binds everything! Frightfur Sheep!"
-x-
Frightfur Sheep
Level 5
"Fluffal Sheep" + "Edge Imp Chain"
DARK
ATK: 2000
DEF: 2000
[Fiend / Fusion / Effect ]
When this card declares an attack: You can activate this effect; your opponent cannot activate Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Battle Phase.
-x-
"Due to the effect of Clear World, as you control a DARK monster, you cannot declare an attack."
"I know, but you can't attack, either. So I'm fine with waiting for now. My turn's over."
Turn 5: Honest
Honest LP/Hand: 3000/2
Sora LP/Hand: 4000/0
"I draw. I Tribute Clear Rage Golem, to Tribute Summon Clear Vicious Knight. I can Tribute Summon this card with one tribute if my opponent controls a monster. Battle. Clear Vicious Knight attacks Frightfur Sheep."
-x-
Clear Vicious Knight
Level 8
DARK
ATK: 2300
DEF: 1100
[ Warrior / Effect ]
This card is not a DARK monster on the field. If your opponent controls a monster, you can Tribute Summon this card with 1 Tribute. Once per turn, during either player's turn, if you have no other cards on the field or in your hand, you can make this card gain ATK equal to the original ATK of the 1 face-up monster your opponent controls with the highest ATK, until the End Phase.
-x-
Sora LP: 4000 – 300 = 3700
"Turn end."
Turn 6: Sora
Honest LP/Hand: 3000/2
Sora LP/Hand: 3700/0
"I draw! I activate Frightfur Fusion! With this card, I can Fusion Summon by banishing the Fusion Materials for a ' Frightfur' monster from my field or Graveyard! I fuse-!"
"At this moment, Memory Snatcher's effect activates. When you activate an effect that targets a card in the Graveyard, you must declare the name of your target, and I confirm whether that card is in your Graveyard or not. The effect of Frightfur Fusion will require you to name at least two targets. Now. What cards do you declare?"
"I declare... I declare..." No matter how hard he tried, Sora couldn't remember what cards were in his Graveyard. Or at least, not the Frightfur monster he would need to Fusion Summon Sabre-Tooth. It was as though his fear prevented him from remembering what Frightfur he had Fusion Summoned earlier, or even what its materials had been. He had no choice but to guess.
"I-… I-… I declare Frightfur Wolf and Fluffal Mouse!"
"Neither of those cards are in your Graveyard. Therefore, the effect of Frightfur Fusion is negated. You have no cards in your hand or on your field, and you cannot see the cards in your Graveyard with which to activate a Graveyard effect. Your turn is over," Honest explained, voice as unemotional as ever.
Turn 7: Honest
Honest LP/Hand: 3000/2
Sora LP/Hand: 3700/0
"Draw. I activate Clear Fusion. With this card, I add one Clear monster from my Deck to my hand, then I Fusion Summon using Clear monsters on my field or in my hand. I fuse Clear Rage Golem and Clear Phantom in my hand! Come forth! Spectral sentry, with no name to call your own! Fusion Summon! Clear Rage Illusionist!"
-x-
Clear Rage Illusionist
Level 6
"Clear Rage Golem" + "Clear Phantom"
DARK
ATK: 2000
DEF: 1800
[ Fiend / Fusion / Effect ]
This card is not a DARK monster on the field. If this card inflicts battle damage to your opponent by a direct attack: Inflict 300 damage to your opponent for each card in their hand, also discard 1 random card from their hand, and if you do, send the top 2 cards of their deck to the Graveyard.
"Battle. Clear Vicious Knight and Clear Rage Illusionist attack the player directly. I win."
Sora LP: 3700 – 2300 – 2000 = 0
Even as the dark needles from Clear Rage Illusionist rained down on him, Sora felt no pain. He barely even registered the sensation from his own body slamming into the doors of the service elevator once the force of the attack overwhelmed him and blew him backwards. The Professor said something, but he couldn't make out what it was. Honest was walking towards him now, his fingers gliding over the dome of his Duel Disk. So... this is how it ends, huh? Sora thought to himself. It was strange, but his last thoughts weren't of Academia like he'd expected them to be. Instead, they were... of his time in the Standard Dimension. His first Duel against Yuya, watching the battle between LDS and You Show, teaching Yuzu how to Fusion Summon, his qualifying matches for the Maiami Championship. And most importantly, the time he'd spent just... hanging out with Yuya and the others, getting to know them. It felt strange to say it, but they were the only real friends he'd ever had. And here he was, about to die for nothing, with the knowledge that he'd betrayed them. How he wished he could turn back the clock.
Those were the last thoughts of Sora Shiun'in.
Turn 5: Honest
Honest LP/Hand: 3000/2
Sora LP/Hand: 4000/0
"I see. So that's it..." Honest mused. "You still feel attached to the ones you met in Standard. That is your darkness. Sora Shiun'in. You are a traitor to the Academia."
"Wh-what? No, I-I don't-" Sora began.
"Don't bother trying to deny it. These eyes of mine see directly into the depths of a person's heart. Your heart holds more loyalty towards those you must destroy than the Professor, the one you serve. The penalty for such a crime is death. Sora Shiun'in, your life is forfeit."
"Ha! So that's why," Yuri laughed. "He can read minds. That's why you send our spies to him."
"Not quite," the Professor replied. "Honest's true power is the ability to look into a person's memories and heart. When he views their heart, he views their anxieties, emotions, and fears. That is what makes him perfect for his role. He looks into the hearts of each of our spies after each failed mission, and, if he finds any perceived weakness, we root out and destroy it. While Shiun'in did have his cover blown the first time he went to the Standard Dimension, he did not technically fail in his mission to infiltrate it, and thus I did not see it as necessary to have Honest examine him. This time, however, his mission to retrieve Selena was an absolute failure. And such an egregious weakness cannot be overlooked. There is no repairing him now, if his time in Standard has damaged him this much."
"What? N-n-no! I swear, I-!"
"Silence, traitor. It's my turn. I draw. I activate Clear Fusion. With this card, I add one Clear monster from my Deck to my hand, then I Fusion Summon using Clear monsters on my field or in my hand. I fuse Clear Vicious Knight and Clear Vice Dragon in my hand! Come forth! Draconic knight of nihilism, with no name to call your own! Fusion Summon! Clear Darkness Dragoknight!"
-x-
Clear Darkness Dragoknight
Level 8
"Clear Vice Dragon" + "Clear Vicious Knight"
DARK
ATK: 2300
DEF: 1100
[ Fiend / Fusion / Effect ]
This card is not a DARK monster on the field. If this card attacks, at the start of the Damage Step: It gains ATK equal to the current ATK of the monster it battles until the next time it declares an attack. Once per turn, during either player's turn, if you have no other cards on the field, you can make this card gain ATK equal to the original ATK of the 1 face-up monster your opponent controls with the highest ATK, until the End Phase, then destroy 1 card on the field. Once per turn, during either player's turn, if you have no cards in your hand, you can make this card gain ATK equal to the original ATK of the 1 face-up monster your opponent controls with the lowest ATK, until the End Phase, then draw 1 card. When a card or effect is activated that would destroy this card: you can discard 1 card; negate its activation, and destroy it. If this card would be destroyed by battle, you can discard 1 card instead.
-x-
"I play a card face-down and activate the effect of Clear Darkness Dragoknight! Once per turn, if I have no cards in my hand, Clear Darkness Dragoknight gains Attack Points equal to the original Attack Points of the monster my opponent controls with the lowest Attack Points, then I draw a card! Frightfur Sheep is the only monster you control, thus Clear Darkness Dragoknight gains 2000 Attack Points!"
Clear Darkness Dragoknight ATK: 2300 + 2000 = 4300
Honest Hand: 0 - 1
"Battle! Clear Darkness Dragoknight attacks Frightfur Sheep! At this moment, the effect of Clear Darkness Dragoknight activates, increasing its Attack Points by the current Attack Points of the monster it battles! Clear Darkness Dragoknight gains another 2000 Attack Points! Now destroy him! Clean Malicious End!"
Clear Darkness Dragoknight ATK: 4300 + 2000 = 6300
Sora LP: 4000 – 4300 = 0
As the force from the attack blasted him back, Sora felt the pain of his body ramming into the doors of the service elevator. Honest was approaching him now. Was this it? Was this the end?! No, it couldn't be! The Professor was just going to throw him away like garbage! After all he'd done for the glory of the Academia?!
It was then that he made up his mind.
"I WON'T DIE HERE! NOT LIKE THIS!" he screamed, voice bursting with panic and terror.
And, within that moment of desperation, he slammed his hand onto his Duel Disk, activating its transport function to send him... somewhere. He had paid no attention to the destination. All he had hoped was that it would be a safe place. Somewhere where he could hide from the Professor, at least for the time being.
"That was a bold move. If he didn't have a death sentence hanging over his head before due to being a traitor, he does now that he's become a deserter. Do you plan to send anyone after him, Professor?" Yuri said.
"No. That would be a waste of time and resources. It doesn't matter where he's fled to. Those he knew in Standard know that he was a mole, no matter how attached to them he is, in Xyz he'd be dead or carded within days, if he's in Synchro, he'll be captured once we begin our invasion of that dimension, and if he's somewhere in this world, he'll be reported as a missing student on sight, at which point the Disciplinary Committee will retrieve him. For now, I'll let him do as he pleases. After all, he has nowhere to run."
He awoke amongst abandoned, run-down buildings, a bustling cityscape far above him, so far that he could swear it touched the clouds. Quickly regaining his bearings, he ripped his Duel Disk from his arm and crushed it beneath his boot, hopefully before it could send the data on its most recent voyage back to Academia. He had no idea where he was, but it would have to suffice for now.
It was here that Sora Shiun'in's new life was to begin.
Y'know, I think this is the fastest I've ever managed to update this fic. Seriously, it hasn't even been two months. Also, before anyone says it, yes, Memoir 2 was supposed to be next, followed by a more Yuya-focused version of Chapter 8, but I pushed those back (so the Yuya chapter is now 9) to give them a bit more time in the oven. Anyways, Review Response Corner time!
Guest 01's Review: Hey again, yeah, it took long (the update) but it's fine. Anyway, two Yuya's? Damn... and it doesn't seem to be any of his counterparts but an actual one that looks (almost, i guess) like him (maybe his MANGA COUNTERPART!? idk & sorry if i spoiled smtg) last part to, idk who that is. And Serena's Jaden's lil adoptive sis, well that makes sense.
Well, cya again too next time.
-01, out! Also, i def have to reread this from ch 1...
The other Yuya is indeed his manga counterpart. Granted, he won't be called "Yuya" here once the Lancers are formed (that would just get confusing), and will instead use an alias, but still. Also, you're, uh, not supposed to know what the last part is. It's a mystery for now. As for having to reread from chapter 1, uh, yeah, get used to that unless I can start updating more along this pace than my usual one.
Tachyon9's Review: Oh heck! Two Yuyas! Manga and Anime!
Yep! Manga Yuya'll be taking a bit of a backseat for the time being, but we'll see more of him soon.