Drayan LP: 1850 → 0
Leah LP: 1100 [WINNER]
And that was it. The final claxon sounded, and the augmented reality field faded away, taking both Xyz Monsters with it. Quite suddenly feeling faint, Leah staggered backwards. Dan was by her side in an instant, and lowered her gently to the ground.
"Dan... the Number..." Leah muttered. Dan nodded in understanding. He pointed his right hand at Drayan, who was lying on his stomach, unconscious. Dan's band was still intact, and from it the tendrils of light extended into Drayan's body, retracting moments later with the man's Number.
With than done, Dan returned his attention to Leah, then gasped and recoiled to see the glowing number nine etch itself onto the back of her hand. "Leah, look out!"
She smiled wearily at him. "Don't worry, it's fine. Watch..." A look of brief concentration passed over her face, and the glowing symbol on her hand went out like a light.
Dan stared at her for a long while, looking totally bewildered. Then he said, "How did you do that? You aren't possessed? The Numbers didn't take you over?"
She nodded and yawned widely. "I'll explain everything when we get home. But right now I just want to sleep."
"You can sleep when we get back," Dan grinned. "C'mon, up you get."
"She can stay right there!"
Both teens froze. They recognised that voice, and it wasn't Drayan. With dread, they both turned their heads to look at the new arrival.
It was Doctor Lithon.
Immediately, Dan put himself between the scientist and Leah. He would normally never have needed to protect her like this, but she was weakened, she was injured, and for the moment he needed to keep Lithon away from her.
"Don't bother protecting her, young man," Lithon said. "I've not just come for her: I've come for both of you."
"And what do you want from us?" Leah asked, craning her head to see past Dan.
"Your Numbers." Lithon replied simply. "Each of you has taken a Number from me, and to be quite frank, I want them back. As well as any other Numbers you happen to have on you, which I know is at least one each, plus-"
"Why are you hunting the Numbers?" Leah interrupted, shakily getting to her feet to stand alongside Dan. "We're doing it to save people, Skyler's doing it to attack our boss... what do you want?"
"Skyler...?" Lithon mused. "I'm not familiar with that name, though it makes sense that there are other Number hunters in this world. As to why I'm collecting the Numbers, the simple answer is: science."
"Science?" Both kids repeated.
"Science!" Lithon declared. "I want to know everything there is to know about the Numbers. I want to uncover their secrets, and work out how they can be harnessed for the good of humanity."
"You mean for the good of you?" Dan retorted.
Lithon ignored him. "Now come, you two. Duel me, and allow me to take your Numbers." He began to walk towards them.
"Hey, hold on there!" Dan called. "Leah's in no fit state to duel, so leave her alone. Duel me instead."
"No, I shall duel both of you," Lithon demanded, getting closer and closer all the time. "I don't care what state she's in: she'd better be ready to duel, or I will extract her Numbers the hard way!"
By this point he was right in front of them. He reached out a hand to grab them, to prevent them from running...
Then stopped, puzzled.
He looked behind him and examined his wrist in confusion. Something was wrapped around his left wrist – a strange red beam of pure energy. "What th-" Suddenly the rope yanked on his arm, pulling him away from the two kids. His eyes traced the rope down its length...
Standing a few feet away was Skyler, holding onto the other end of the energy rope.
"Who are you?" Lithon demanded. "What is this contraption?"
"My name is Skyler," the Number hunter replied calmly. "And the thing around your wrist is a Duel Anchor. It will remain attached to you until I choose to release it, or we complete a duel."
"Ah, so you're the mysterious Skyler I've just been hearing about," Lithon replied. "Well this is interesting. Yet another Number hunter has chosen to grace our presence. Pray tell, Number hunter, why do you wish to duel me when you don't know if I even have any Numbers?"
"Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes Lithon," Skyler replied. The Duel Anchor dissipated, but Lithon could still feel it tight around his wrist. "I'm well aware that you have another Number. But that's not the main reason I wanted to duel you."
"Oh? Then what is it?" Lithon asked with a hint of amusement.
Skyler pointed at Leah and Dan. "It's them. They have something I want - an extremely powerful Number." He looked straight at the two kids. "That Number you recently extracted is one of the strong Numbers I've been looking for, so I wish to take it for myself."
"Then why would you challenge me?" Lithon asked.
Skyler turned his gaze back to him. "Because you want their Numbers as well. And since I have no desire to share, and I believe you will not back down, it seems our only course of action is to duel to decide who gets them. Do you think otherwise?"
"Of course I won't back down," Lithon snapped. "Those are my Numbers, and I will get them back. Even if I have to go through you to do it."
"So what if they have your Numbers?" Skyler countered. "That boy has some of my Numbers as well, but you don't see me complaining about it. I'm only after the one strong Number – the others are just a bonus."
"Enough," Lithon said. "You're right: we're at an impasse. So come, let's get this over with. I don't want to bandy words around with you any more than I have to, is that clear?"
"Crystal," Skyler nodded, readying his duel disk and D-Gazer. Lithon did likewise. Their D-Gazers flashed as they linked, and the augmented reality surrounded the area once again.
"AR Vision – link established."
And for the first time in her life, Leah sat on the side-lines watching two men dueling with her as the prize. She had to admit, it didn't feel as good as she'd imagined when she was a kid.
"DUEL!"
Skyler LP: 4000
Lithon LP: 4000
"If you don't mind, I'd like to make the first move," Skyler said. "I draw. I Normal Summon Tin Goldfish." A bizarre flat red fish, made entirely out of metal and sporting big bobbly eyes, appeared on his field.
Tin Goldfish: Machine-Type/WATER/Level 4/ATK 800/DEF 2000
"Next I'll use its effect," Skyler declared. "When I Normal Summon it, I can Special Summon any Level four monster from my hand. So appear, Dark Catapulter." A new, vaguely dragonic creature appeared, with a large charging station on its back that could be used to fire energy projectiles.
Dark Catapulter: Machine-Type/EARTH/Level 4/ATK 1000/DEF 1500
"Now I'll play a Quick-Play Spell Card, Matter Charger." Skyler's Spell Card appeared on his field. "I can only use this card if I control two or more Machine-type monsters. Now pay attention, because the effect is pretty tricky. First, the ATK of all Machine-Type monsters I control is halved."
Tin Goldfish: ATK 800 → 400
Dark Catapulter: ATK 1000 → 500
"Then, I gain Life Points equal to the total ATK my monsters lost. Goldfish lost 400, Catapulter lost 500, 500 plus 400 equal 900, so I gain 900 Life Points."
Skyler LP: 4000 → 4900
"And finally, if I gained 1000 or less Life Points by this effect, I get to draw one card." Skyler drew his card, with Lithon still watching with dispassionate interest. "Next I'll activate the Spell Card, Machine Duplication. With this card, I can Special Summon up to two copies of any Machine-Type monster on my field with 500 or less ATK from my Deck. So I'll Summon two more copies of Dark Catapulter." Two more mechanical-dragonoid-things appeared.
Dark Catapulter: Machine-Type/EARTH/Level 4/ATK 1000/DEF 1500
Dark Catapulter: Machine-Type/EARTH/Level 4/ATK 1000/DEF 1500
"Interesting," Lithon said. "You decreased their ATK so they'd become valid targets for Machine Duplication."
"Precisely," Skyler nodded. "Now, both Level four Dark Catapulters, Overlay." Both monsters morphed into orange amorphous masses of energy, and shot upwards. Where they had sat, a galaxy portal opened. "I use these two monsters to construct the Overlay Network. Xyz Summon." The two monsters flew into the portal, which exploded. "Come forth, Number 45: Synthetic Moth."
A mauve number forty-five etched itself onto his right hand, and out of the portal rose a giant galvanised cocoon. The cocoon split down the middle, then began to flex and ripple, before opening up wide to reveal the monster within. It was an insectoid creature, but was bipedal (had only two legs) and its arms were colossal gatling cannons, joined to its shoulders by an electrical current. The flexible walls of the cocoon were actually its wings, which perfectly resembled moth wings in shape. It had two large feathers jutting out of its forehead, and two orange Overlay Units surrounding it.
Number 45: Synthetic Moth: Machine-Type/Xyz/EARTH/Rank 4/ATK 2300/DEF 1500 – 2 OLU
Before Lithon could comment on the Number, Skyler resumed his move. "Next I'll activate the Spell Card, Machine Duplication."
"Another one?" Leah gasped.
Skyler glanced at her in annoyance, then returned his attention to his opponent. "With Machine Duplication, I'll Special Summon two more copies of Tin Goldfish." Two more of the weird fishy things appeared.
Tin Goldfish: Machine-Type/WATER/Level 4/ATK 800/DEF 2000
Tin Goldfish: Machine-Type/WATER/Level 4/ATK 800/DEF 2000
"And here we go again. Both Level four Tin Goldfish, Overlay." Just as before, both monsters morphed into pure energy – blue this time – and flew into the sky, away from another galaxy portal than opened beneath them. "I use these two monsters to construct the Overlay Network. Xyz Summon." The two monsters sailed into the portal, which erupted with a golden light. "Appear, Number 19: Golden Counter."
A red number nineteen flashed onto the back of his other hand. Out of the portal rose a giant cube made out of pure gold. The cube reconfigured its structure to begin to form the likeness of some sort of humanoid. It was vaguely human in appearance, but was dressed in radiant gold armour that shone brightly. Its shoulder pads were enormous, and stretched away from its shoulders before tapering down to eyes, and a mouth full of teeth, so the warrior looked like it had a dragon's head sticking out of each shoulder. It had two red katanas attached to its hip, a tail stretching out behind it, and two small wings that looked like a dragonfly's wings. Two yellow Overlay Units surrounded it, looking fairly dull against the warrior's vibrant armour.
Number 19: Golden Counter: Machine-Type/Xyz/Union/LIGHT/Level 4/ATK 1300/DEF 1600 – 2 OLU
"Very intriguing indeed," Lithon muttered. "Two Numbers in a single turn."
"Not quite," Skyler said. "You forget, I still have two monsters left. Remember that I've only been using the monsters I've Summoned with Machine Duplication as Xyz Material Monsters so far, which means the original two are still here. So go, my last remaining Level four Tin Goldfish and Dark Catapulter, Overlay." For the third time that turn, the two masses of orange and blue energy shot into the sky together, and hovered above the galaxy-style portal that opened where they had been standing. "I use these two monsters to construct the Overlay Network. Xyz Summon." Both monsters flew into the portal, and an eruption of darkness spewed from it. "Arise, Number 54: Curserider Chevalier."
An orange number fifty-four flared into life on his left shoulder. From within the pillar of shadows came the demonic whinnying of a horse, which suddenly burst out of the shadows a moment later. It was pitch black, and was covered in dark grey armour which extended over its entire body, including its head, legs, and even its tail. The curious thing was that there was no rider, but just a lump of metal on its back like a camel's hump. Suddenly, the metal shifted, changing and reconfiguring just as Number 19's sealed form had done, until it reformed itself into a fiendish warrior. It was completely encased in its terrifying armour, it carried a tremendously long battle-axe, and it had absolutely no visible feet – instead, it seemed to be attached to the horse's back from the waist up. Two purple Overlay Units circled it.
Number 54: Curserider Chevalier: Warrior-type/Xyz/DARK/Rank 4/ATK 2200/DEF 1900 – 2 OLU
"Whoa..." Dan breathed. "Three Numbers in one turn... looks like Skyler's gotten even stronger since he fought me."
"I must say, that's impressive, hunter," Lithon smirked. "Being able to Summon three Numbers in a single turn is a feat to be proud of. And all of them look relatively strong."
"Perhaps they might be to a weakling like you," Skyler retorted, "but not to me. I'm only interested in the strongest Numbers in existence, but these three... they are nothing to me. They are weak, and they are useless."
"Then why Summon them?" Lithon queried.
"To pave the way for a Number that's actually strong," Skyler replied. "You should feel honoured – I've never been able to Summon this Number before. Not even its original owner could manage it."
"I'm losing my patience, hunter, Summon the Number!" Lithon snapped.
"As you wish," Skyler said calmly, and raised his hand. "Behold the true power of the Numbers! Rank four Synthetic Moth, Golden Counter, and Curserider Chevalier, Overlay!" The three Xyz Monsters morphed into energy just as their Materials had – one orange, one yellow, and one purple – and flew upwards, their Overlay Units separating from them and chasing them into the sky. A final galaxy-shaped portal opened up on Skyler's field. "I use these three Xyz Monsters, plus their Overlay Units, to construct the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon!" Three bolts of energy and six Overlay Units all shot into the portal producing a flash of light each time. Then, the portal erupted like a volcano, engulfing the field in a maelström of light particles. Lithon and the spectators threw their arms in front of their faces as Skyler's voice rang out. "Be born! Number 4: Tesseract Dragon!"
Number 45: Synthetic Moth (credit to Gardevrose45)
Machine-Type/Xyz/EARTH/Rank 4/ATK 2300/DEF 1500
2 Level 4 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card, then target 1 face-up monster (except this card) each player controls; return those targets to the hand, and if you do, this card gains ATK equal to the difference between those targets' original ATK on the field, until your opponent's next End Phase.
Number 19: Golden Counter (credit to javaraicekid)
Machine-Type/Xyz/Union/LIGHT/Rank 4/ATK 1300/DEF 1600
2 Level 4 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. Once per turn, you can either: Target 1 face-up monster you control; equip this card to that target, OR: Unequip this card and Special Summon it in face-up Attack Position. The equipped monster is treated as a "Number" monster, and cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. (A monster can only be equipped with 1 Union monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, destroy this card instead).
Number 54: Curserider Chevalier (credit to Dreamlord8025)
Warrior-Type/Xyz/DARK/Rank 4/ATK 2200/DEF 1900
2 Level 4 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. When an effect is activated in the hand or the Graveyard: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card; negate that effect, and if you do, banish that card, then inflict 1500 damage to your opponent.
Matter Charger
Quick-Play Spell Card
If you control 2 or more Machine-Type monsters: Halve the ATK of all face-up Machine-Type monsters you control, then gain Life Points equal to the total ATK they lost, then if you gained 1000 or less Life Points by this effect, draw 1 card.
Fun Fact #13: Yes, Skyler did just Overlay 3 Xyz Monsters. Yes, Skyler is about to Summon one of the "strong Numbers" he's so obsessed about. No, we're not putting its stats in this chapter.
Fun Fact #14: Yes, Number 19: Golden Counter is an Xyz Monster and a Union monster. *Gasp* What a concept! For those of you who aren't sure about the ruling on this, Xyz Monsters do not keep their Overlay Units when they become an Equip Card, so Number 19 will lose its Overlay Units the moment it uses its effect. Fortunately, this doesn't matter for Number 19, because no part of its effect requires Overlay Units.
Fun Fact #15: Skyler now holds the record for the most amount of Number monsters Xyz Summoned during a single turn, with 4 of them. Well done to him. Technically, second place goes to Yuma and Tron who each Summoned 3 of them during the WDC finals, but we're not counting that because they used the effect of the Sphere Field to do it. So instead, we're giving second place to Kaito, for Xyz Summoning Number 10: Illumiknight and Number 20: Giga-Brilliant on his first turn. Take a bow sir. Technically, Yuma has tied that record by Xyz Summoning Number 61: Volcasaurus and Number 6: Chronomaly Atlandis in the same turn, but we're not counting that either because Yuma is a total idiot. I mean seriously, why go for Atlandis? Why not Force Focus? That would've been an instant win right there.