713 Cards Over 600
Chapter 4: The Dream Of Dueling
The corridor was dark and gloomy inside Irou's head. There was no light, only the sound of voices.
"Ah, Mr. Atlas..." said a mysterious voice inside Irou's head. It was unclear, more of a deep dark voice.
"Have you been neglecting your...training?"
A voice sounding like Jack Atlas's voice replied to the other voice, "No, of course not."
"Of course, champions like you don't neglect training."
"You better believe that." Jack's voice replied.
"But you do know that... He is coming back, correct?"
"Who? Yusei?"
"No, not Yusei...But his friend, the man who sponsered this tournament?"
"What was his name...Iru...Ira...Irou?"
"That's correct, Mr. Atlas."
"What about him, Katsu?"
The unclear voice turned into a gruff, teenagers voice.
"Well, his skills are surperb. He might even pass you, like Yusei. And didn't you know him during your childhood?"
"I did. But we weren't friends. We were more...Rivals."
"Ah yes...Well, Mr. Atlas... It's been a pleasure talking to you."
The voice of "Katsu" faded away, along with Jack's. Then, a memory came into Irou's mind.
It was when he was in the Facility. He had just been called to the Rec Room by a gruff voice. He saw Bolt Tanner and his spikey blue hair.
"You the newbie? Alright, here's how it goes. Who ever loses in this duel, listens to the winner, you got that? Huh?"
Tanner's face lit up with laughter.
"You don't have any cards?! Don't you know that you can sneak cards in?! Ha!"
Tanner's expression turned into a more serious look, as an old man walked up to Irou, giving him a deck.
"Here, use mine." said the man.
"They didn't do much, but I bet you can use them to their full extent."
After this, Irou's mind went blank, then came back, seeing a vision of Tanner kneeling.
"So, you beat me...You're that great of a duelist? Well, whatever."
Tanner stood up, glaring at Irou.
"Its probably beginner's luck."
Irou's mind went blank again, then came back with a vision of people swarming around Irou.
"Hey, hey, how'd you beat Tanner with that cheap deck?!"
"Impossible man, are you some kind of robot?"
Tanner appeared behind them, speaking loudly.
"Shut up! Listen, he's a great duelist to beat me with a deck that didn't even touch me."
Irou's mind went blank again. He saw a picture of Chief Armstrong calling Irou down to the Rec Room.
"So, you're the talk of the scum lately. I've been watching your every move these last two years. You've started a gang, beat Tanner multiple times, and almost caused a rebellion. You're good, lets say that. I'm willing to make a deal. Beat me in a duel, and I'll release you, 3 people you want to be released, and half the sentences of the others."
The picture faded away, as a new one appeared with Armstrong looking down after the duel.
"I'm willing to let you go... If you work for New Domino City! if you do choose that fate, then I'll remove your marker. You'll be a resident of New Domino City!"
The picture faded, as another one appeared, about a year in after Irou was released from the Facility. He had just created Corp. Ichiban, and sponsered the Fortune Cup the year after Yusei was the champion.
Irou's father, Gekumori, Mori for short, was battling against someone in a Turbo Duel. Mori had just came back from an important buisness trip with Pegasus. Irou watched at the sidelines, hoping his father would win.
Mori grabbed a card from his deck, speaking loudly.
"I activate Polymerization! I fuse my 3 Warriors on the field, and Fusion Summon...G.3.N!"
Something malfunctioned with Mori's and the challenger's Duel Runners, as they spun out of control and exploded. Both were confirmed dead, and Irou left the stadium, holding back tears.
Irou's mind suddenly went blank. Irou opened his eyes a little bit, seeing light and blue hair. He opened his eyes wide, seeing Leo and Luna next to his bedside, looking down at him in the hospital.
"Luna, Luna, look! He's waking up!" Leo said excitedly.
Luna looked at Irou, "You're awake!"
Irou replied, "W-where am I? All I remember is Turbo Dueling a Combine..."
"You're in the hospital. After we heard that you bumped your head, and someone named Akiza found you, we came here right away an-"
Leo interupted his sister, "And we've been visiting everyday!"
"How long was I out?" Irou asked tiredly.
"Two days... You missed your Finals Duel yesterday. But, if you can, you can go back to the stadium and duel a loser in the Redemtion Match." Luna said.
"Oh yeah, some girl named Akiza left you a message." Leo said calmly.
"What'd she say?"
"To get well soon and meet her in the Finals."
"Well, I'll try..."
Irou got up, feeling the bandage on his head. He was a little dizzy, but was able to stand up and walk towards the door.
"You coming?" he asked to the twins.
Fortune Cup Stadium
Irou walked to the Duel Field, rubbing his head.
The MC, cheerful as ever, yelled at the crowd, "Well, it looks like Irou Ichiban is back!"
Irou stood at a side of the Duel Field, readying his Duel Disk as the crowd roared. Irou's right temple was aching badly, he was stumbling over his own feet.
"And here comes our challenger for the Redemtion Round, Crow Hogan!"
The young, orange haired 18 year old boy ran out of the elevator door, running to the other side of the duel field.
"Crow...I haven't seen you in a long time..." Irou said painfully, his temple was aching more and more badly, getting a major headache. He squinted as his vision went blurry, then back to normal.
"Let's start this!" Crow was excited enough that he was jumping up and down like a little boy.
Irou replied, "I-I'll go first..."
A spot on Irou's bandage over his forehead had the stains of blood, but no one else noticed.
"I-I summon... Drillroid... In attack position..."
The cartoon drill appeared, revving its drill.
"Then I end my turn..."
Crow jumped up high, "WAHOO!! My turn!"
Crow drew a card from his deck, laughing wildly. Irou's eyesight was going blurry and back to normal from time to time.
"I summon Blackwing - Sirocco The Dawn!"
A humanoid raven with long legs, brown wings and tail, appeared on the field with a loud CAWW.
"Sirocco, destroy that Drillroid!"
Sirocco jumped up, flapping its wings and flew towards Drillroid, ramming into it and making Drillroid shatter. The sound of shattering echoed in Irou's head. Irou closed his eyes, and fell forward, fainting.
---
The voice of Katsu came back inside of Irou's head.
"Mr. Atlas... Maybe you won't have any competition at all. It seems th-"
"I know Katsu, and stop entering my room without knocking."
"Dearly sorry, sir..."
A vision appeared of Jack Atlas, in a blue sweatshirt and blue jeans, and Katsu, a tall slender man with glasses and grey spiky hair, wearing blue boots and the same cloak that Irou wears, only "32" coming down from the zipper. They were standing in a large bedroom, complete with a large mirror posted on the wall, a closed closet, and a king sized bed made for two.
"Something weird is happening...Have you checked the News lately, Katsu?" Jack said to the young man.
"Not recently, Mr. Atlas."
"Well, it seems the Ichiban Keep, you know the one by the Facility, was destroyed earlier this week."
"Hm.. Well I truely don't know anything about it."
Katsu smirked in a mysterious and evil way, this caught Jack's attention.
"You remind me of Lazar..."
"Well, you do know I am Lazar's son. It seems my father's ways have... Sunken into me."
"Yes, they have. Almost every trait."
"Why, thank you, Mr. Atlas."
"There were no compliments involved, Katsu."
Katsu just smiled and said, "Of course not, Mr. Atlas. Now, shall we go over your next duel?"
"Yeah, why not." said Jack.
"It seems you'll be going against... Irou Ichiban? But..." Katsu cut off, surprised at the listings.
"He is the sponser. I don't remember the MC announcing I'll be going against Irou."
"Ah well, Irou sure does have his ways of dueling any chance he has."
"Do you know him, Katsu?"
Katsu smiled devilishly, nodding.
"Yes, Mr. Atlas. We had some good times together."
Irou's mind went blank, and he suddenly opened his eyes, gasping for breath.
"K-Katsu...I remember you. But why did..."
Irou sat up on his hospital bed, glaring at the door.
"Jack..." Irou thought "Heh... I'll beat you when we meet..."
Jack's Room
Katsu was standing at the doorway, just like Irou's vision.
"Jack...I have confirmed information about Irou... It seems he checked out of the hospital, and is ready for a Training Duel with you."
"Perfect..."
Fortune Cup Stadium, Duel Field
The Stadium was dark and cold, as the only light were coming from small headlights around the duel field. No one was in the stands, and the only people on the field were Jack Atlas, Irou, and Katsu. Katsu was standing near the elevator door, watching Irou and Jack take their places.
"Ready to lose, Jack?" Irou said, smirking at his opponent.
"No. I'm the Champ, and Champions don't lose." said Jack proudly, smirking back.
"Let's Duel!"
Both started with 8000 Life Points.
"I'll go first!" yelled Jack, already smiling.
Jack drew a card from his deck.
"I throw one monster facedown and end my turn!"
Irou drew a card from his deck silently.
"I summon Fire Trooper in attack position!"
A beast like soldier with its head and arms covered in fire appeared on the field, then it shattered to pieces.
"Fire Trooper's effect allows me to deal 1000 damage when its summoned by sacrificing it!"
Jack's life points decreased to 7000.
"Then I Special Summon Cyber Dragon from my hand!"
The dragon appeared on the field, glowing brightly. Katsu thought to himself, "Aha... But, Irou, you will fail at your combo...For Jack has something in store for you."
"Now Cyber Dragon, attack that facedown!"
The dragon shot a beam that gleamed in the darkness, flipping the facedown up as a phantom appeared on the field with a golden resonator in its hands with a devilish smile and glowing red eyes.
"My Dark Resonator's effect activates! It needs to be attacked two times in order for it to be destroyed!"
The Cyber Dragon roared loudly in sadness.
"Great... I set two cards facedown and end my turn."
Jack drew a card from his deck.
"I release my Dark Resonator to summon my Vice Dragon in attack position!"
The purple horned dragon appeared on the field.
"Then I activate Monster Reborn and bring back my Dark Resonator!"
The phantom returned to the field next to Vice Dragon.
"Then I tune my Vice Dragon and Dark Resonator to bring out..."
Both monsters on Jack's field vanished, as a large light appeared, and the red and black dragon appeared, breathing fire.
"Red Dragon Archfiend!!"
The Archfiend roared loudly, as Jack stared into Irou's eyes.
"Red Dragon Archfiend, destroy that Cyber Dragon!"
The dragon breathed in fire.
"But first, you fool, I activate Mirror Force!"
The Archfiend stopped in its tracks, shattering to pieces.
"No matter! I put one card facedown and end my turn."
Irou drew a card.
"Perfect..." Irou said under his breath.
Katsu stared at Irou. "What are you thinking, Irou?"
"Now I summon Psychic Commander in attack position!"
A green suited robot in a robotic ship with a cannon jutting out in the front appeared on the field.
"Heheh... Remember Yusei, Jack?! Well, I'm bringing out his keycard! Psychic Commander, tune with Cyber Dragon!"
The two monsters vanished as Jack stood there, wide-eyed. In a large burst of light, The white dragon known as Stardust Dragon appeared on the field, glimmering brightly.
"H-How did you get that card?!" Jack said suddenly, covering his eyes from the dragon's brightness.
"Well, Yusei gave me a copy of it when we became friends. Now, Stardust Dragon, attack Jack directly!"
The white dragon charged a silvery blast, shooting it at Jack and decreasing his life points to 4500 as Jack winced.
Katsu stood there, amazed. Throughout his years knowing Irou and the many times he dueled him, Irou had never summoned Stardust Dragon before.
"Then I end my turn."
Jack quickly drew a card from his deck, thinking, "Stardust Dragon's effect will and is going to knock me off balance...I can't summon my Red Dragon Archfiend... I'll have to find a way..."
Jack quickly looked up from his hand.
"I summon Twin Sword Marauder in defense position!"
The humanoid monster appeared with its swords covering its face as it kneeled.
"Then I end my turn."
Irou drew a card from his deck, laughing.
"Prepare to lose, 'champ'. I activate Vehicroid Connection Zone!"
Irou discarded 3 cards from his hand.
"Now I summon Super Vehicroid Jumbo Drill!"
The large cartoony drill appeared on the field, revving its drill loudly.
"Now Jumbo Drill, destroy that Twin Sword Marauder!"
The Drill charged at the Marauder.
"I activate Mirror Force!"
"Well then, I activate Seven Tools of the Bandit to negate your trap!"
"Shit!"
The Drill charged into the Marauder, causing it to shatter and Jack's life points decrease to 2500.
"Now, end this, Stardust Dragon!"
The dragon charged a large silvery blast-
BOOM
Irou thrust backwards, falling onto the ground as the monsters on the field dissappeared, Jack stood there, not knowing what was going on.
Katsu appeared behind Jack, with a gun in his hand.
"I saved you from your defeat, Mr. Atlas."
Irou was bleeding vigarously, laying on the ground.
"What..."
Irou said with final breaths, "Katsu...How could you...Brother?"
Irou closed his eyes, seeing the man with the red tie's blunt face.
"Well well...So close to victory, you were...It looks like your brother's gone to my side, I believe."
The vision faded, as Irou lay there in a bloody mess.
End Of Chapter 4