And here we are with Chapter 7 of the Xyz Arc. This chapter was a tough one to write, especially the Duel. But I hope I did good enough that you all enjoy it.
Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday break and now on to the chapter.
Chapter 07: Broken Bonds and Bitter Feelings
Castle Ruins
Asuka and Aki approached the entrance to the castle ruins. "It's amazing that this castle is still intact after so many years." Aki looked up at the castle.
Asuka looked at her Duel Disk. "We should be careful. Mr. Arclight told us that Shun and Crow got involved in some traps."
"So, how should we—"
A loud growl caught their attention and they turned to see a crocodile staring down at them. "Uh, nice crocodile…" Aki sweated as she stepped back.
"What's a crocodile doing here?" Asuka stepped back as well.
Unknown to them, Aki was close to stepping on a tile with a mark on it. The crocodile then charged towards Aki.
"Aki!" Asuka cried out.
Aki stepped on the tile that sunk, causing her to trip and multiple arrows fired from the walls. Aki quickly shut her eyes and prepared for the worst.
Asuka saw the crocodile tackle Aki away from the arrows but one of them hit it on the tail, making it cry in pain. "It saved her?" Asuka was shocked by what the crocodile did.
Aki saw the arrow in the crocodile's tail. "Oh no." Aki quickly went to the crocodile's tail. "I'm sorry, but this will hurt." Aki removed the arrow making the crocodile growl in pain. Aki then placed her hands on the injury and she used her psychic powers to heal it.
"Karen!" Asuka turned to see a young man wearing an outfit that resembles a cowboy with a Duel Disk in the shape of a sharp boomerang. "Karen! Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry. I thought she was trying to attack me, but she was trying to warn me about that trap." Aki apologized.
"A trap?" The man asked.
"This tile." Asuka pointed at the tile that Aki stepped on.
"There we go. The injury is gone." Aki finished healing Karen. "Thank you for saving me." Aki petted Karen on the head and she made a soft moan.
"Well, you don't seem like bad people if Karen likes you. Thank you for healing her." The man thanked.
Asuka then noticed his Duel Disk. "Hey, that Duel Disk."
"No need to be alarmed. I'm on your side, Tomorrow Girl." The took off his hat. "My name is Jim Crocodile Cook. I'm a graduate of the South Academia, one of the four schools that opposes the Central Academia."
"You're from the Fusion Dimension." Aki realized.
"That's right. But like I said, I oppose the Central Academia and I'm here on a little mission." Jim put his hat back on.
"Mission?" Asuka asked.
"Other than Dueling, I specialize in archaeology and I've heard of some ruins that were located in the Xyz Dimension and decided to investigate. These ruins hold cards of great power that could help tip the scales of war in our favor." Jim explained.
"The Numbers cards." Aki realized.
"That's right. But I heard that the ruins were occupied by Academia so I planned to do a little sneaking around. Get in, get the information, and get out. Was supposed to be an easy mission before I realized something."
"What was it?" Asuka asked.
"If this area was occupied by Academia, they would have noticed us coming before we even got to the front door. Yet, here we are, with no alarms, no warnings, nothing." Jim verified.
"Now that you mention it, there should've been a guard here at least." Asuka realized.
"And look at this." Jim pulled out a device. "This is an electromagnetic wave reading meter. When Karen and I got close to the ruins, the device went up and Karen quickly left my side. Strong electromagnetic waves stimulate the fighting instinct of a reptile, you see."
"So, these waves made Karen realize that I was close to a trap and tried to help me?" Aki asked.
"That's what it looks like. And the reading really strong here, meaning the source is inside the ruins." Jim looked at the ruins. "What's inside could be dangerous."
"But the Number is in these ruins and we need it if we're gonna defeat Academia." Asuka said.
"In that case, make sure to mind your surroundings and since these are ruins." Kenzan picked up a couple of wooden sticks and pulled out a lighter. "We'll need torches."
With each of them holding a torch, Asuka, Aki and Jim headed down the stairs into the castle. "Wow, these readings are off the charts." Jim looked at his device.
"Look at these paintings." Aki looked at the walls.
"There's something written but I can't read it. It's a different language." Asuka admitted.
"Let's see." Jim looked. "Good, I can read it. The legend of the cursed royal palace."
"A prince who resided in this palace ruled with little care for humanity. He was childish and showed no faith in the potentials in humans. He was judge, jury and executioner to anyone he saw as a threat to his rule. He took the lives of everyone that lived on this island and with no one left, the prince took his own life." Jim read.
"This prince makes Roget look like a sane human." Aki commented.
"Cursed…palace…" Asuka looked down at the stairs, wondering where it would take them.
Execution Chamber
"Here is the perfect place for you two. While you take care of that Synchro Duelist, I will take care of Asuka up there." Yusho pointed to where a throne was.
"Hey, at least let us talk to her first." Junko said.
"If she hears our reason, she'll come back to us." Momoe added.
"Feel free to waste your time with her, but don't forget your mission." Yusho left the room and headed to the throne.
"I hate that guy." Junko growled.
"But he gave us a chance to get Asuka back to our side. Let's not get on his bad side." Momoe advised.
Room with Multiple Paths
Asuka, Aki and Jim made it to a room with multiple pathways. "Which way should we go now?" Aki wondered.
"The electromagnetic meter is all haywire now." Jim looked at his device as the needle kept going back and forth. "And any of these paths could have traps."
"Hey, look here." Asuka pointed towards a path that had a symbol of a star on it. "This path has a symbol while the others don't."
"But does that mean that path is good or not?" Aki asked.
"It has a star, maybe it's good?" Asuka guessed.
Karen then growled. "What is it, Karen?" Jim asked. Karen then growled again and the sound of something unlocking was heard right behind them and a large boulder came right at the group.
"Are you kidding me?!" Aki panicked.
"Hurry!" Jim shouted as he ran down the stairs. The girls quickly followed after him. They kept running quickly down the stairs but gravity was helping the boulder speed up. Jim then saw a star on the wall. "Follow me!" Jim put his hand on the star and the panel it was on moved and it opened a safe room that allowed Jim, Asuka and Aki to jump in and let the boulder past them.
"Looks like you were right, Tomorrow Girl. The star is good." Jim praised.
"It was just a lucky guess." Asuka panted. She leaned her back against the wall which, pushed another panel. The floor which the trio stood on, opened to reveal they were trap doors and all three of them fell down.
All three of them eventually hit the ground hard. "Sorry, Karen." Jim apologized as he landed on Karen.
"Please, tell me that was the last of the traps." Aki groaned.
"Uh, I think we're in the real trap." Asuka saw jail bars in front of them.
"That's a perfect place for you, traitor." The three saw Yusho smiling as he sat on the throne.
"Yusho!" Asuka went up the bars and glared at him. "You're in charge of this base?!"
"Not really. I just happened to be in the neighborhood. The real commander apparently became too aware of themselves and left the base willingly with the Number. And with him gone, so is the Vice Commander. Unfortunately, your journey here was a waste of time." Yusho explained.
"The Number is gone? But then why is my electromagnetic scanner still picking up its traces." Jim looked at his device.
"But it would be a shame to let you leave when you've just arrived. But then again, that's what you do best. You abandon your friends." Yusho said.
"I never abandon my friends!" Asuka argued.
"Oh, so you don't consider these two friends?" Yusho pointed down to the execution circle where Junko and Momoe stood.
"Junko? Momoe?" Asuka's eyes widened when she saw them. "What are you two doing here?"
"We should be asking you that question! Why did you betray us?! We were supposed to create the utopia together!" Junko argued.
"What utopia? The Professor is lying to you! A utopia can't be made by invading other dimensions or turning people into cards!" Asuka yelled.
"Those Xyz scum are horrible! They turned poor Sho into a card and many of our other friends into cards!" Momoe shouted. "Sho was your friend too, right? So, why are you fighting for the enemy!"
"Girls…I'm sorry, but I'm not changing my mind. I can't forgive the Professor or Academia for what they did to my brother and the Xyz Dimension! And it's because that you're my friends that I can't let you keep doing this anymore!" Asuka declared.
Yusho sighed. "I told you girls that it was a waste of time." Yusho then pulled a chain, lowering the prison bars and opening the wall behind them. "Since you've made up your mind, your punishment is obvious. But I'm a nice guy, so I'll give you a fighting chance."
"Asuka will be Dueling me while the Synchro Duelist and Crocodile Boy take on two of Academia's Honor Students." Yusho said.
"Honor Students?" Aki repeated.
Both Momoe and Junko showed a deck that was sealed with the tape of Academia. "These decks were made by the Professor himself." Junko revealed.
"Every Duel we had with these decks has resulted in us winning." Momoe added.
"You're using those cards…" Asuka looked ashamed and angry. "I can't believe you two! Only one person has the right to use those cards! How could you throw away everything that you've worked so hard for!"
"Oh, that's right. The traitor, Cronos De Medici." Yusho recalled. "I got to get back to tracking him and Samejima down."
"You bastard…" Asuka growled. She then bit her lip to calm herself down and she bled a bit. "Aki, Jim. Those Honor Student decks are tough. No one has ever beaten them before."
"Then we'll just have to be the first." Jim tipped his hat. "You just focus on that clown man while we take care of those two."
"You can take care of him, Asuka. If Yuzu could beat him, you can too." Aki encouraged her.
"Alright, Jim, Aki. I'm counting on you two." Asuka said.
Both Jim and Aki walked towards the execution room while Asuka took the stairs from the passageway in the wall. After climbing up in a spiral, she reached the throne where Yusho was waiting.
"Let's see, which deck should I choose for you." Yusho looked through his coat which contained multiple decks.
"You should use your own deck." Asuka said.
"It was pure luck that Yuzu beat me. Alright, this deck will do it." Yusho took one of the decks and put it in his Duel Disk and it shuffled.
Both sides activated their Duel Disks with Asuka's and Aki's Duel Disk activating the Field Magic.
"Field Magic: Dimension Gates"
"Duel!" Asuka, Aki, Jim, Yusho, Junko and Momoe declared.
Aki and Jim vs Junko and Momoe
Aki/Jim LP: 4000, (Aki Hand: 5, Jim Hand: 5)
Junko/Momoe LP: 4000, (Junko Hand: 5, Momoe Hand: 5)
"In this Tag Duel, you will have to share Life Points, field and Graveyard." Junko told the rules.
"I don't mind those rules. You okay with it, Rose Girl?" Jim asked.
"That's fine." Aki agreed. "The first turn is mine! Draw!" Aki drew her card. "I summon Evil Thorn (ATK: 100, LV: 1)!" A Plant-type monster appeared on the field.
"I activate Evil Thorn's Monster Effect! By releasing this card, I can inflict 300 points of damage to the opposing player! Evil Burst!" The monster released its thorns on Junko and Momoe, damaging them.
Junko/Momoe LP: 4000→3700
"After using this effect, I can Special Summon two more Evil Thorns (ATK: 100, LV: 1) from my deck! However, their monster effects are negated." Aki brought out two more Evil Thorns.
"Next, from my hand, I activate the Magic Card: Closed Plant Gate! I can only activate this card when I have two Plant-type monsters with the same name on my field. The opposing player cannot attack until their next turn!" A gate formed around the plants to protect them.
"I end my turn." Aki finished.
Aki/Jim LP: 4000, (Aki Hand: 4, Jim Hand: 5)
Junko/Momoe LP: 3700, (Junko Hand: 5, Momoe Hand: 5)
"My turn! Draw!" Junko drew her card. "I activate the Magic Card: Cost Down! By discarding one card in my hand to the Graveyard, I can reduce the Levels of all monsters in my hand by two! I discard Antique Gear from my hand!" Junko discarded her card.
"I can Normal Summon Antique Gear Beast (ATK: 2000, LV: 6)!" Junko summoned an Antique Gear that looked larger than an Antique Gear Hound.
"You may have prevented me from attacking but there's other ways to win! I activate the Magic Card: Antique Gear Bomb! This card inflicts damage equal to half of an Antique Gear's monster's Attack Points! Antique Gear Beast's Attack Points are 2000, therefore, you take 1000 points of damage!" Junko pointed at both Aki and Jim.
A bomb appeared between Aki and Jim and it exploded, making them grunt as they took damage.
Aki/Jim LP: 4000→3000
"I set one card and end my turn!" Junko finished.
Aki/Jim LP: 3000, (Aki Hand: 4, Jim Hand: 5)
Junko/Momoe LP: 3700, (Junko Hand: 1, Momoe Hand: 5)
"She still had so many options even after I sealed her attacks." Aki said.
"Don't mind." Jim smiled as he tipped his hat. "These moves are still that of a mere rookie."
"My turn! Draw!" Jim drew his card. "I summon Flint Cragger (ATK: 800, LV: 3)!" A skeletal monster appeared on the field.
"I activate Flint Cragger's effect! By sending this card from my field to the Graveyard, I can inflict 500 points of damage to the opponent!" Flint Cragger unleashed a burst of flames, damaging Momoe and Junko.
Junko/Momoe LP: 3700→3200
"So, your plan was to deal us effect damage. But you've wasted your Normal Summon, now you only have field of weakling plants." Momoe stated.
"I had no intention of strengthening our defense." Jim revealed. "I activate the Magic Card: Fossil Fusion!"
"Fossil Fusion?" Momoe asked.
"Fossil Fusion allows me to banish monsters in my Graveyard as well as my opponent's Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!" Jim revealed.
"You're gonna use my Antique Gear in my Graveyard?!" Junko's eyes widened.
"That's right, I fuse the Flint Cragger from my Graveyard as well as the Antique Gear in your Graveyard!" Both Jim's monster and Junko's monster started merging together in a spiraling vortex.
"Oh, dinosaur resting deep within the earth! May you become a fossil and be revived! Fusion Summon! Appear! Cenozoic Fossil Dragon Skullgar (ATK: 2500, LV: 4)!" A giant dragon with a horn appeared.
"Amazing. He was able to Fusion Summon using his opponent's monsters." Aki was amazed.
"Here's some trivia. In the past, when archeology had yet to be developed…they say that those who saw dinosaur bones were in an uproar about them being dragon bones. I can't say I hate that sort of romance, though." Jim explained.
"Battle! Skullgar, attack Antique Gear Beast!" Skullgar charged towards the machine beast and chomped down on the machine like it was just food and destroyed it.
Junko/Momoe LP: 3200→2700
"Thanks to South Academy, I was able to create my own way of Fusion. What do you think? It's a great school." Jim asked.
"Are you making fun of us?!" Momoe got angry.
"Your tactics are very easy to read. You should really change it up if you want to win against us." Jim advised.
"J-Jim, why are you giving them advice?" Aki was shocked that Jim didn't hesitate to help out the enemy.
"They don't have to take it if they don't want to." Jim said. "They can keep Dueling the way the Professor taught them to. Or they can try Dueling their own way."
"I set two cards and end my turn!" Jim finished.
Aki/Jim LP: 3000, (Aki Hand: 4, Jim Hand: 2)
Junko/Momoe LP: 2700, (Junko Hand: 1, Momoe Hand: 5)
"I won't forgive you for insulting our school! My turn! Draw!" Momoe drew her card. "I summon Antique Gear Statue (ATK: 500, LV: 2)!" Momoe summoned a small statue of an Antique Gear monster.
"I activate Antique Gear Statue's effect! By releasing this card, I can Special Summon one Antique Gear Golem from my hand, ignoring the summoning conditions! Appear! Antique Gear Golem (ATK: 3000, LV: 8)!" Momoe brought out a mechanical golem that towered over Jim's and Aki's monsters.
"You may have a powerful Fusion Monster, but you still have two weaklings in Attack Position!" Momoe looked at Junko and she nodded.
"I activate my set card! The Equip Magic: Antique Gear Tank!" Junko played her set card. "This card can only be equipped to an Antique Gear monster and it gains 600 Attack Points!" A large tank appeared for Antique Gera Golem and he rode it.
Antique Gear Golem (ATK: 3000→3600)
"Battle! Go! Antique Gear Golem, attack Evil Thorn!" Antique Gear Golem used its tank to charge towards the defenseless plant.
Aki gritted and grabbed a card from her hand. "Stop!" Jim stopped Aki. "Save your cards to show your own Dueling!"
"My own Dueling?" Aki thought.
"Reverse Card, open! Continuous Trap: Adamantine Fossil! As long as this Trap Card is on the field, my opponent can only attack Rock-type monsters on the field! Also, they can't be destroyed by battle or by card effects! Skullgar endure it!" Skullgar went in front of Aki's plants and took Antique Gear Golem's attack and both Aki and Jim winced from the damage.
Aki/Jim LP: 3000→1900
"So, you endured that, huh? I set two cards and end my turn." Momoe finished her turn.
Aki/Jim LP: 1900, (Aki Hand: 4, Jim Hand: 2)
Junko/Momoe LP: 2700, (Junko Hand: 1, Momoe Hand: 2)
"Not bad, but you can do better than this." Jim said.
"Will you stop spouting nonsense!" Momoe was really mad now.
"Don't you think you would have a better chance if you used your own deck, with your own strategies?" Jim asked.
"That doesn't matter anymore! The only thing that's important is winning and achieving our goal of a utopia where everyone is happy! Where the three of us can be friends!" Junko declared.
"You really think you can be friends again?" Jim asked.
"Of course! We'll make Asuka see that our way is the right way! The way of the Professor!" Momoe added.
"No wonder Asuka left you." Jim muttered. "You abandoned yourselves."
"Abandoned themselves…" Aki thought in her head.
"Well, either way, you can't win this Duel. I've fought multiple Duelists that use that deck so I know their weaknesses." Jim declared.
"Our Antique Gear Golem can't be destroyed so easily! We've done the research on your decks and the monsters that you have that are stronger than Antique Gear Golem are can't be summoned so easily!" Momoe said.
"I wouldn't underestimate my partner. Go for it, Aki. Show them your Dueling! The Dueling that is Aki Izayoi!"
"I don't need you to tell me that. I always Duel the way I want to. I don't use anyone else's…" Aki's eyes widened. She understood why Jim was saying all those words to Junko and Momoe. He was trying to help them but not to win the Duel but for something that was more important.
"Here I come! My turn! Draw!" Aki drew her card. "I summon the Tuner Monster, Night Rose Knight (ATK: 1000, LV: 3)!" Aki summoned her small knight. "When Night Rose Knight is summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Plant-type monster in my hand! I Special Summon Dark Verdure (ATK: 0, LV: 2)!" Aki summoned a plant with two eyes.
"I'm Tuning my two Level 1 Evil Thorns and my Level 2 Dark Verdure with my Level 3 Night Rose Knight!" Night Rose Knight turned into three green rings while Dark Verdure and the two Evil Thorns flew through them and became four stars.
"Warm flames that engulf the entire world. Gentle-dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 7! Black Rose Psychic Dragon (ATK: 2400, LV: 7)!" Aki summoned her ace monster.
"So, you summoned your ace, but it's still weaker than our monster!" Momoe argued.
"I activate the Magic Card: Rose Bell of Revelation! This card allows me to add one Plant-type monster with 2400 or more Attack Points from my deck to my hand! I add Gigaplant to my hand!"
"Next, by sending a Plant-type monster from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Frost Rose Dragon (DEF: 2500, LV: 5, PS: 1) in Defense Position!" Aki summoned a small dragon with crystal ice flower petals around its neck.
"I activate Black Rose Psychic Dragon's effect! By banishing a Plant-type monster from my Graveyard, one monster on my opponent's field loses Attack Points equal to the banished monster's!" Aki took Gigaplant out of her Graveyard and showed it to Junko and Momoe, which made them sweat.
"Gigaplant's Attack Points are 2400. So, Antique Gear Golem loses 2400 Attack Points!" Black Rose Psychic Dragon used its psychic powers to weaken the golem.
Antique Gear Golem (ATK: 3600→1200)
"No way!" Junko gasped.
"Our golem!" Momoe panicked.
"Battle! Black Rose Psychic Dragon, attack Antique Gear Golem! Black Psychic Flare!" Black Rose Psychic Dragon unleashed her breath attack and it destroyed the Golem and damaging the two Obelisk females.
Junko/Momoe LP: 2700→1500
"When Antique Gear Tank is destroyed, the opponent takes 600 points of damage!" Junko grunted and she tried to fight back.
"I activate Frost Rose Dragon's effect! Once per turn, this monster be set in the Pendulum Scale from the field!" Aki put her monster in the Pendulum Scale. "Also, any instance of effect damage is used to replenish our Life Points!" The damage turned into healing effects and Aki and Jim gained more Life Points.
Aki/Jim LP: 1900→2500
"Damn it!" Junko cursed that her moves were being countered.
"Next, I'll use Skullgar to attack the player directly!" Aki used Jim's monster to charge towards Junko and Momoe.
"It's not over! I activate my Continuous Trap: Antique Gear Reborn! Once per turn, if I control no monsters, I can target one Antique Gear monster that was sent to the Graveyard this turn and Special Summon it and increase its Attack Points by 200! Revive! Antique Gear Golem (ATK: 3000, LV: 8)!" Momoe brought back Antique Gear Golem plus it got a power up.
Antique Gear Golem (ATK: 3000→3200)
"I cancel the battle!" Aki stopped Skullgar from attacking. "I will end my turn by setting the Scale 5 Rock Rose Dragon in my Pendulum Scale!" Appearing in a column of blue light was another dragon but with rocky earth petals around its neck.
Aki/Jim LP: 2500, (Aki Hand: 0, Jim Hand: 2)
Junko/Momoe LP: 1500, (Junko Hand: 1, Momoe Hand: 1)
"Damn it! We've won so many Duels with these decks! Why are we losing so easily then?" Junko complained.
"The Professor himself guaranteed that we would win against any card with this deck and he's always right." Momoe gritted her teeth.
"Do you know what he did to Asuka's brother?" Aki spoke, getting their attention.
"Asuka's brother, Fubuki?" Junko asked.
"That man turned him into a soldier that didn't even recognize his own sister. He took Fubuki's free will and made him try to kill his own sister. That's why Asuka doesn't want you to keep following this path." Aki explained.
"Besides, you can't convey your feelings but using cards that don't belong to you." Jim jumped in. "If you really wanted Asuka's attention, you should've done it using your own deck, not some other one put together."
"I've had enough of listening to your garbage!" Junko shouted. "It's my turn! Draw!" Junko drew her card. "I use Momoe's set card! The Trap Card: Unfinished Antique Gear! This card allows me to Special Summon one Antique Gear monster from my hand in Defense Position ignoring its summoning conditions! I Special Summon Antique Gear Reactor Dragon (ATK: 3000, LV: 9)!" Junko summoned a large mechanical dragon.
"However, the monster summoned through this effect has their Attack and Defense Points reduced by half." Junko added.
Antique Gear Reactor Dragon (ATK: 3000→1500)
"Next, I activate the Magic Card: Parasite Discharge!" Junko played the last card in her hand. "This card allows me to Special Summon Parasite Fusioner from my hand, deck or Graveyard! Come, Parasite Fusioner (ATK: 0, LV: 1)!" A small parasite appeared on the field.
Karen then made an angry sound, alarming Jim and Aki. "Karen, what's wrong?" Jim asked his crocodile. Karen continued to growl and snap. "Is it that monster that's making you angry?" Jim looked at Parasite Fusioner.
"Parasite Fusioner's effect activates! When this card is Special Summoned, I can Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster using monsters in my hand or field as Fusion Materials also, this card can be used to substitute a Fusion Material! I fuse Antique Gear Golem, Antique Gear Reactor Dragon and Parasite Fusioner!" The three monsters went into the spiraling vortex.
"Ancient Giant! Dragon shining in the depths! Become one with the inner voice and demonstrate your tremendous power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level 10! Antique Gear Ultimate Golem (ATK: 4400, LV: 10)!"
"Parasite Fusioner then becomes an Equip Card for the Fusion Monster!" The parasite latched itself on Ultimate Golem.
"4400 Attack Points…" Aki looked up at the giant golem.
"Battle! Antique Gear Ultimate Golem, attack Skullgar!" Antique Gear Golem used its powerful arm to slam Skullgar into the ground.
"Due to Adamantine Fossil, Skullgar can't be destroyed in battle!" Jim grunted as he and Aki shielded themselves from the shockwave.
"But you still take damage!" Junko grinned maliciously and both Jim and Aki were blown off their feet.
Aki/Jim LP: 2500→600
"This Duel is over. Thanks to Parasite Fusioner, I have summoned one of the strongest monsters of the Honor's Student Deck." Junko boasted.
"Asuka was a fool to think we didn't deserve this deck! Once we turn you two into cards, we'll turn her into one as well and then rip it apart!" Momoe declared.
"Wh-What happened to them? Just a few minutes ago, they were talking about getting Asuka back to their side, now they're just giving up." Aki grunted as she was on her knees.
"I don't think they're all in there." Jim admitted. Karen started to get more ferocious. "Karen, do you really hate that parasite?" Jim looked at the parasite.
"I don't blame her." Aki admitted. "That's one bug that I would want to kill right away." Aki shivered a bit.
Aki/Jim LP: 600, (Aki Hand: 0, Jim Hand: 2)
Junko/Momoe LP: 1500, (Junko Hand: 0, Momoe Hand: 1)
"In that case, let me do the honors." Jim got back to his feet. "My turn! Draw!" Jim drew his card and smiled. "I activate the Magic Card: Miracle Rupture! I send one Rock-type monster from my deck to the Graveyard and then draw one card! I send Sample Fossil to the Graveyard!" Jim discarded a monster and drew another card.
"Next, I activate the Magic Card: Time Stream! This card allows me to release one Fossil Fusion Monster on my field to Fusion Summon a Fossil Fusion Monster in my Extra Deck that is two Levels higher than the released monster!" Jim revealed.
"You're gonna Fusion just using one monster?!" Momoe's eyes widened.
"Fossil Dragon of the Cenozoic Era, let the flow of time course through you and become a fossil of a brand-new era! Fusion Summon! Come on! Paleozoic Fossil Dragon Skullgios (ATK: 3500, LV: 8)!" A large and more evolved fossil appeared on the field.
"Next, by banishing two Rock-type monsters in my Graveyard! From the scorching depths of the Earth, show yourself!" The ground in front of Jim erupted. "I Special Summon Gaia Plate the Earth Giant (ATK: 2800, LV: 8)!" Jim brought out a giant rock monster with large fists.
"You're wasting your time, stupid." Momoe mocked.
"None of your monsters are strong enough to defeat our Ultimate Golem." Junko declared.
"Battle! Skullgios, attack Antique Gear Ultimate Golem!" Skullgios charged towards the much bigger Ultimate Golem. Jim then snapped his fingers making Skullgios stop.
"What are you doing? You already declared battle; you can't stop it!" Junko said.
"Skullgios's effect lets me aim for either the Attack or Defense Points of the opposing monster it battles with as I see fit!" Jim revealed.
"It can what?!" Momoe's eyes widened.
"Skullgios's Attack Points are 3500 while Ultimate Golem's Defense Points are 3400!" Jim snapped his fingers and Skullgios took a large bite out of Ultimate Golem's foot.
Junko/Momoe LP: 1500→1400
"Parasite Fusioner's effect activates! When the Fusion Monster would be destroyed, I can send this card to the Graveyard and negate that monster's destruction!" Junko sent the parasite to the Graveyard.
"All that effort to destroy our monster was worthless!" Junko smiled.
"It's not over! Gaia Plate, attack Ultimate Golem! When Gaia Plate battles a monster, the monster that it attacks has its Attack and Defense Points reduced by half! Super Plume!" Gaia Plate unleashed plume that made Ultimate Golem weaker.
Antique Gear Ultimate Golem (ATK: 4400→2200/DEF: 3400→1700)
"Go! Gaia Plate! Great Tempest!" Gaia Plate charged towards that larger Ultimate Golem and reared its fist back. Using all of its power, it punched a hole clean through Ultimate Golem, destroying it.
Junko/Momoe LP: 1400→600
"When Antique Gear Ultimate Golem is destroyed, I can Special Summon Antique Gear Golem from my Graveyard! Revive! Antique Gear Golem (ATK: 3000, LV: 8)!" Junko brought back the original golem reappeared on the field.
"You may have destroyed that monster, but we still have something stronger than Ultimate Golem! On my turn, I'll bring forth the monster that destroyed Heartland!" Momoe declared.
"You won't get a next turn!" Jim declared. "I still have one more monster that has yet to attack!" Jim looked at Aki and Aki nodded.
"Black Rose Dragon, attack Antique Gear Golem!" Jim ordered.
"What are you doing?!" Junko exclaimed.
"Rock Rose Dragon's Pendulum Effect! Once per turn, when a Rose Dragon battles an opponent's monster, by releasing one Earth Attribute monster on the field, Rose Dragon will gain that monster's Attack Points!" Aki revealed.
"I release Skullgios and add its Attack Points to Black Rose Psychic Dragon!" Jim released his Fusion Monster to give Aki's Synchro Monster more power.
Black Rose Psychic Dragon (ATK: 2400→5900)
"5900 Attack Points!" Junko panicked.
"Black Rose Psychic Dragon! Black Psychic Earth Flare!" Aki and Jim shouted and Black Rose Psychic Dragon unleashed her breath attack, this time with power given by the earth and it destroyed Antique Gear Golem and sending both Junko and Momoe flying back.
Junko/Momoe LP: 600→0
Winners: Aki Izayoi/Jim Crocodile Cook
"Nice fight." Jim raised his hand.
"You too." Aki did the same and the two high fived.
Jim and Aki approached the knocked-out Junko and Momoe. "I know they were our enemies, but I still feel bad knocking them out." Aki admitted.
Jim then noticed something near Junko. "Whoa there!" Jim used an empty jar to trap the creature. He quickly closed the jar and looked at what he caught. "This is…"
Aki saw the creature and her eyes widened. "Parasite Fusioner!"
Karen then growled and got off Jim's back and went to Momoe. Both Jim and Aki saw another Parasite Fusioner coming out of Momoe's ear. "Oh my god…" Aki covered her mouth in horror.
"Karen, kill it…" Jim said full of hate and Karen killed the Parasite Fusioner. "Those parasites were controlling them. I have to let the others back at base know of this."
"What do we do with them?" Aki asked.
"They sided with Academia and according to the data, they are a part of Kaiser's squad. They'll have more information than the other soldiers." Jim answered.
"AHHHH!" A loud scream echoed from the throne.
"That's Asuka!" Aki got worried.
"Sounds like trouble! Quickly, help me!" Jim pulled out a long robe from his vest. Both Jim and Aki tied Junko and Momoe so they could take them back to Heartland to interrogate them. "Karen, watch them." Karen grunted in agreement.
"Let's hurry!" Aki and Jim ran towards the throne area.
Asuka vs Yusho
Asuka held her arm as acid burned her skin and she glared at Yusho who had a familiar dragon with him.
"I end my turn." Yusho smiled. "Hurry and do your turn. Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up." Yusho chanted.
"How can you be so heartless?" Asuka glared at Yusho.
In the shadows, the boy from before watched the Duel. "Even I don't know which side to root for now." He muttered to himself.
"Come on, move it along! I have a list of people to turn into corpses. That includes your teacher and Yuya."
"Okay, just this once I'm with the good guys. Come on, girl kill him. Because I need Yuya alive if I'm gonna get Ice Queen to join our side. And Vector's plans, my plans, are foolproof." Vector decided to cheer for the good guys just this once.
And that is the end of Chapter 7. What did you all think of this chapter? Let me know in the reviews and if you have a question. Feel free to PM and I will answer you as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading and I will see you next time.
Preview: While Jim and Aki were Dueling her former friends, Asuka began her Duel against Yusho. As they Duel, Asuka asks Yusho why he wants to kill Yuya if Yusho's problem is with Zarc and Ray. Yusho, feeling confident that he'll win, decides to tell Asuka a plan that not even Leo Akaba is aware of. Meanwhile, back at Heartland, Yuya is visited by Kaiser.
Next Time: Return Revelations to Genesis.
