Hyper Runners: Duel Legacy

All Character © Respective creators

Note: Despite knowing this is a terrible story, I am giving it one last chance. If this doesn't work, I'll know it's a failure and take it down.

Chapter Four: Overcoming Obstacles

A week has finally passed since the day of Akira Seta's one-sided duel and Marcus couldn't be any happier. Though still conscious of the memory, the redhead troublemaker only had one thought on his mind – obtaining his deck. The first thing he did when waking up that morning was charge into the garage, where Yusei was making his morning checkup on the Runners. The former champion was checking the engines on Marcus' Runner – Chaos Control – when the spiky redhead barged through the doors.

"Ever heard of knocking?" Yusei sighed.

"I'm sorry, but I can't wait any longer." Marcus explained energetically. "Do you know how it was not to rip off someone's Duel Disk and pick a fight with the nearest person? It was veeery hard."

"Well, you'll think twice before going behind my back." Yusei said calmly. The elder duelist reached over to his workbench and handed Marcus back his deck. "Now, I would suggest blowing off some steam in the park. I know Akiza doesn't want to clean up you're mess."

"Akiza's coming over again?" Marcus asked awkwardly. "That's the fourth time this week. If I didn't know better, I would say that you were..." But his words trailed off when noticing a square object on the workbench. "Wait a minute. Is that...?"

"Get out of here before I change my mind." Yusei said sharply.

Marcus didn't argue.


Over an hour later, Marcus had returned to Muto Park with the rest of his group: Hikari, Ruki, and Namura. After being restricted from his deck for so long, the spiky redhead wasted no time challenging the first person he saw. And now after six consecutive duels, he was going for his seventh straight victory. Amy Rose was on the field with the Piko-Piko Barrage card facing against a green sea serpent.

"Let's bring it to a close, Amy!" Marcus cheered. "Attack Takriminos with Piko-Piko Hammer!"

The pink hedgehog raised her hammer upward and slammed into downwards to crush the opponent's monster.

Duel Victor: Marcus

"Yeah! That makes number seven!" Marcus cheered outrageously. "I'm on a roll!"

"Is he always like this?" Hikari asked, giggling lightly.

"Only on good days." Ruki shrugged.

"Hey, there's no need to be jealous." Marcus grinned.

"If they're jealous of that performance, they must not have much to look forward to."

There was only one person in the world who could annoy Marcus at such a fast pace and he just happened to ride in on his Duel Runner. Akira "Rev" Seta removed his helmet and stepped off his cycle as a group of adoring fans surrounded him, hopelessly asking for a duel. The Untouchable God politely declined all the offers and requested for them to leave him in peace – they were reluctant to do so. Rev sighed in annoyance and turned back to Marcus' team, noticing the newest member of the group.

"I see you've picked up another hopeful off the streets." Rev said coolly. "Take my advice, girl. If you want to get ahead in life, you would do best to stay away from lowly criminals such as him." He eyes shifted to Marcus.

"I am just about had enough of you." Marcus growled.

"What are you going to do?" Rev questioned calmly. "Challenge me to a duel?"

"That sounds like a plan to me." Marcus glared, preparing his deck.

"Now hold up there."

Before the two heated rivals could begin their match, they were once again cut short by another interference. This time, it came in the form of tall woman with light-ginger hair tied into a ponytail. She wore a navy-blue jacket over a crimson-red shirt and completed it with knee-length black skirt. Latched to her arm yellow Duel Disk with an orange cover shaped like a flame.

"And you would be?" Rev questioned.

"The name's Saratu Keshiro." Saratu introduced. "And you two must be Marcus Kiva and Akira Seta."

"How'd you know about them?" Namura asked softly.

"I always do my research on the top duelists in town." Saratu explained confidently. "Outside the Pro-League, Akira Seta is the Number 1 duelist in New Domino City. Marcus Kiva is ranked 11th in the official standings."

"11th!!" Marcus yelled outrageously.

"And what are you?" Hikari asked curiously.

"I am rank 5th in the standings." Saratu said proudly.

"Ranks don't mean anything." Rev proclaimed coolly; a large vein appeared on Saratu's head. "Such conceit and overconfidence in ones abilities usually end up being their downfall." He pointed back to the team. "I'd wager my deck that even one of these second-rate duelists could defeat you."

"Then I accept your terms." Saratu grinned darkly. "If one of you runts beats me, I'll back off. But if you lose...Akira Seta must give up dueling forever!"

"I accept." Rev nodded. The team gasped in shock – he must have really trusted them to risk his dueling career. "And as a show of good faith, I'll let you decide your opponent."

"Quite a gentlemen." Saratu snigger devilishly, waving her finger between the group. "I pick...............him."

Her finger stopped in front of Namura, who looked ready to pass out at that very instant. Marcus and Ruki groaned inwards. Namura was the genius of the group, but he was uncontrollably shy and always gets nervous in a duel. The scarred male seemed ready to surrender at that moment until Hikari gently clasped her hand on his shoulder.

"Looks like we get to see you duel, Namura." Hikari smiled. "I know you'll do great."

"I-I guess." Namura stuttered.

Unfortunately, Marcus and Ruki didn't have the same opinion. Rev said nothing and leaned against his Duel Runner, keeping a close eye on the nervous teen as he was handed his Duel Disk. His choice of a Duel Disk was entirely silver with a large gear crest on the cover. The two opponent stood on opposite sides of the field and activated their Duel Disks.

"Duel!" They shouted.

Saratu (4000) – Namura (4000)

"Ladies first." Saratu smirked, drawing a card. "And to start off, I play Faith Bird in attack mode."

A green falcon with an unusually long tail feather appeared on the field. (1500/1100)

"Next, I play a face down and call it a turn." Saratu finished, setting the card on the field.

"My turn..." Namura said timidly, drawing a card. "And I summon Spell Reactor – RE in defense mode."

A serpentine machine with crimson armor and a barrel of missiles under its chest appeared on the field, curled protectively. (1200/900)

"Next I play two face-downs and call it a turn." Namura finished, panting heavily.

"What's the matter, kid?" Saratu smiled deviously. "Getting a little hot under the collar?"

"N-no." Namura stammered pathetically.

"Well, that's too bad." Saratu antagonized. "Because I activate my face-down: Swallows Nest."

"But that activates Spell Reactor's special ability." Namura cut in suddenly. "When an opponent activates a spell card, I can destroy that card and you take 800 points of damage."

Spell Reactor roared in satisfaction. The serpentine machine unlatched the missile carriage under its chest and rocketed them forward towards the magic card. The chosen card was obliterated and the missiles exploded around Saratu.

Saratu (3200) – Namura (4000)

"Way to go, Namura!" Hikari cheered.

"Who knew he had it in him?" Ruki smiled.

But Marcus and Rev were having other thoughts. And they seemed to have been proven true once Saratu began smiling victoriously.

"I was hoping you would do that." Saratu smirked, flashing a card in front. "Because now I can play this: Card Destruction! With this card, we must send all of the cards in our hand to the graveyard and draw an equal number of cards."

Namura must have had a decent hand as he was only reluctant to relinquish his cards. After both sides replaced their hands into the graveyard slot, they pulled out the same number of card from their deck.

"And next I play Hand of Nephthys." Saratu announced.

A human woman wearing a golden head ornament wearing golden armor with orange cloth appeared on the field (600/600)

"And that's not the best part." Saratu said confidently. "By tributing this monster and another monster on my field, I can special summon a powerful monster. So bare witness to the resurrection of Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys!"

The human monster waved her arms to the sky, allowing her body to be consumed by a tower of flames. Faith Bird screeched powerfully before being devoured in the flames along with its partner. The flames expanded over the cloud until they reshaped themselves into a magnificent winged beast. The beast in questioned could pass on as a dragon, but with large phoenix wings and golden armor covering its entire body – flames occasionally breached its armor. (2400/1600)

"And when my Sacred Phoenix is summoned, all magic and trap cards on the field are destroyed." Saratu proclaimed.

The Sacred Phoenix flapped its arms, releasing a tornado of fire.

"That's why I have my face-down: Skill Drain." Namura stated, revealing the card. "By paying 1000 life points, I can negate the effects of all monsters on the field."

The burning tornado was suddenly obliterated by a red barrier formed from the energies of Namura's Duel Disk.

Saratu (3200) – Namura (3000)

"You may have stopped my monster's effect, but that won't stop my attack!" Saratu exclaimed. "Go, Sacred Phoenix! Attack with Resurrecting Flames."

The Sacred Phoenix flapped its wings once again and called forth another tornado of fire. But it appeared that Namura had another trick up his sleeve. As the fire approached his monster, the scarred male pressed a button on his Duel Disk.

"I activate my trap card: Negate Attack!" Namura said. "With this card, I can end you battle phase at once."

The flaming whirlwind once again met with resistance by a protective barrier surround surrounded the Spell Reactor.

"That's fine because I end my turn." Saratu growled. "But even you can't run away forever. With my Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys out on the field and you down to one monster, my guess is that you won't last for one more turn."

"She right about that." Namura thought sadly. "I can't destroy that monster with just Spell Reactor. There is only one card in my deck powerful enough to take it on. But it would take a miracle to draw it to the field." He took a nervous glance to Rev, who seemed impassive to the match. "But if I lose, Rev will never be allowed to duel again. What do I do?!"

"Namura!" Marcus called. "Don't worry about a thing! You've got this match in the bag!"

"Wha?" Namura asked confused.

"Rev let you duel for him because he had confidence in you!" Marcus proclaimed loudly. "And I do, too! You're a great duelist, but you're too afraid to admit it! If you just have faith in your card, they'll believe in you just as I do!"

"He's right!" Hikari nodded eagerly.

"Take it all the way, Namura!" Ruki cheered.

"This boy..." Rev thought, mildly interested in the redhead. "He understands the true power that comes from having faith in ones deck. He understands the Heart of the Cards. But does that mean..."

"You may want to take a closer look."

Rev looked over his shoulder and found the Deva Path staring at Marcus. Now fully curious, Rev returned his gaze to his mutual enemy. The necklace hidden under his shirt glowed lightly and his normally grey eyes turned entirely murky-brown. Now he could see everything he had missed before – including Sonic and Amy.

"He has Duel Spirit as well!!" Rev thought wildly.

Back to the Duel...

"What a sap." Saratu laughed. "You act as if these stupid cards are real. I wouldn't expect anything more from a couple of brats." She turned to Namura. "Just hurry up and end your turn so I can slaughter you!"

"Marcus..." Namura said softly. "And the rest of my friends – they all believe in me. And...If I have faith in my cards, they'll pull through for me...just like Marcus said."

Saratu clicked her tongue in irritancy – Namura heard her. The scarred boy raised his head and locked eyes with the woman, suddenly shocking her by his appearance. His left eye was blue as it always was, but his right eye – the scarred eye – was transformed into a golden version of its former self. A wide grin erected on Namura's expression, giving him the air of confidence.

"What the hell just happen to him?" Saratu gasped frightfully. "He was acting like a sniveling child not a moment ago!"

"My draw!" Namura exclaimed eagerly, drawing his card. "And now I play Trap Reactor – Y FI!"

A large fighter plane built with a humanoid structure and turrets around its body appeared on the field.

"And activate Premature Burial!" Namura continued, throwing down the card. "And the cost of 800 life points, I can bring back one monster from my graveyard!

Saratu (3200) – Namura (2200)

And with my offering made, I revive Summon Reactor – SK!" Namura exclaimed.

The ground literally ripped open as a metallic claws stretched forward to the sky. A copper armored machine with a humanoid structure and massive propellers on its shoulders appeared on the field. (2000/1400)

"When did you send that to the graveyard?!" Saratu questioned.

"When you played Card Destruction, I was forced to send it away." Namura grinned proudly. "I really owe you for that one because now I can tribute all three of my reactors."

"You what?!" Saratu exclaimed.

"This match is over." Rev proclaimed silently.

"Now I activate Summoner Reactor's special ability!" Namura shouted. "By sacrificing Summon Reactor – SK, Trap Reactor – Y FI, and Spell Reactor – RE, I can special Summon Flying Fortress SKY FIRE!!"

The trio of machine clustered together, ripping apart one another's armor and slowly joining together. When the final piece was in place, Namura's ultimate creation was revealed. A gigantic robotic fortress with the legs Trap React, the claws of Spell Reactor, and the torso of Summon reactor. A newly formed head appeared through the torso, glaring down upon its target. (3000/2500)

"That's...big..." Saratu said nervously.

"And powerful, too." Namura grinned. "By sending one card from my hand to the graveyard, I can destroy one monster on your side of the field. So say good bye to your Sacred Phoenix!"

As the scarred duelist deposited one card into his graveyard slot, the turrets on the Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys. The golden beast hissed indulgently before its metallic structure was pierced by a barrage of bullets.

"But my turn isn't over." Namura continued. "Next I play Machine Conversion Factory! This card increases all machines by 300 points. And guess who I'm giving them to."

Flying Fortress SKY FIRE – (3300/2500)

"Now finish this with a direct attack!" Namura commanded. "Aerial bomber!"

The flying machine hovered over Saratu with its lower hatch opening to release a swarm of bombs. The female duelist watched in horror as the missiles exploded around her, ending the duel in a quick flash of light.

Duel Victor: Namura

"I knew he could do it." Marcus nodded.

"Please, you were on your knees begging." Ruki stated bluntly.

"That was..." Namura said tiredly. "A great...duel."

Without warning, the scarred duelist dropped backwards unconsciously onto the ground. While the rest of the team rushed over to help their friend back up, Rev sighed in annoyance and returned to the seat of his Duel Runner. He could feel the sense of hatred radiating from Marcus as he pulled on his helmet, but didn't seem to care. Without even thanking them for the assistance, he took off down the street. As he slowly approached the highway, Rev accessed his video phone on the screen of his Duel Runner and received the imagine of a blue-haired woman.

"Mr. Seta, what can I do for you?" The woman asked.

"I need information, Mina." Rev said indifferently. "Get me the dueling record on Marcus Kiva."


Several hours following the match, night had fallen over New Domino City. Marcus, who was not willing to get in trouble after just getting off, decided to return home before it was too late. As he had expected, Akiza was joining them as she usually did. Marcus often joked about how she was here so often that she oughta starting living here – Yusei nor Akiza said anything in response. The spiky, redhead spent the majority of dinner talking about Namura's successful duel and about his sudden mood swing during the match.

"I don't know what happen to him, but he should do it more often." Marcus finished.

"So like you had an exciting day." Akiza joked.

"Speaking of exciting," Marcus grinned towards his teacher. "Weren't you going to say something, Yusei?"

"That has nothing to do with this." Yusei said, looking away.

"Aw, come on, Yusei." Akiza smiled. "We won't think any less of you if you tell us."

"Actually..." Yusei said embarrassingly. "It's about you, Akiza." The rose duelist looked surprised. "It was five years ago today that we first dueled in the Fortune Cup. Ever since then, you have been a valuable ally to me and the rest of the Signers."

"Besides the history lesson, what are you getting at?" Akiza questioned; her brow raised in suspicion.

"What I'm trying to say is..." Yusei said determined.

Unfortunately, what Yusei was about to say was never heard when a loud revving sound emerged from the streets. Drawn by curiosity, Marcus jumped from his seat and crossed the hall towards the front door of their humble home. Yusei and Akiza joined him shortly, where they found Akira "Rev" Seta seated in his Duel Runner in the middle of the street.

"What are you doing at this time of night, Rev?" Marcus glared.

"You have interested me for a while, Marcus Kiva." Rev proclaimed. "Yusei chose you over me, your dueling skills are respected by a majority of New Domino City, and you have Duel Spirit companions as well."

"As well?" Marcus repeated confused. "Does that mean he has Duel Spirits, too?"

"You bet he does." Sonic said as he and Amy appeared. "We've been able to see them since we first met him. His Spirit Partner is the Deva Path."

"So what do you want with Marcus?" Yusei questioned.

"That's very simple." Rev said indifferently, pointing to the redhead. "I challenge his to a Turbo Duel!"


Confidence comes from friends and yourself. Where did Namura gain this unknown personality? What connections lie between Rev and Marcus? And what will the outcome of the duel be? Find out on the next Duel Runners!

Please, read and review.


Duel Trivia

Name: Amy Rose

Attribute: Light

Type: Beast-Warrior

Level: 2

ATK/DEF: 1000/1000

Description: A cheerful hedgehog with strong determination. She yields to no one and desires the affection of Sonic.