Time to answer reviewer questions and comments!
Star Dragon 0- Yes the cast of the Zexal cast including Barians will show up later on. As for whether or not Wild Cards are immune, I'm taking a lot from Persona 4 The Animation and if you saw the final episode, Izanagi briefly turned into a Shadow based on Yu's doubts about losing his friends over his move back to the city. By that point Yu had become extremely genre savvy and accepted it right away so he was able to get Izinagi back. So Wild Cards aren't completely immune as they do have the risk of a Shadow forming based on their emotional state.
Annon- Glad we're thinking on the same page. As for Shadow Astral, he might come into play later. I'm just waiting for the right moment.
And now on to the part that you've been waiting for.
He said it, he said those words.
Those three words that are enough to send one's shadow self to go berserk.
But there was something odd this time. The transformation was too erratic, as if it could decide on a form. In the mist of the transformation, they heard a gargled voice,
I am the Shadow, the True Self!
Yuma and the ghost immediately backed up as far as they could but Yu knew they weren't out of danger yet. He sent Izanagi to shield them because he had a gut feeling that the shadow was going to go after Yuma first. The poor boy looked so confused and scared over what was going on and Yu swore that he would get Yuma out of this. Izinagi quickly scooped up Yuma and placed a hand over him to shield him while the ghost hovered close with an expression of panic and unknowing. Yu wasn't quite sure about this ghost but Yuma seemed comfortable around him so he had to trust his judgment for now. Izanagi dropped off Yuma with the group as the shadow's transformation became final. "Narukami? What was that thing?"
"That thing is called a shadow Yuma. That one was yours and it's going berserk since you rejected it." Yu stated as easily as he could.
"What do you mean going berserk?! That guy wasn't me!" Yuma cried pointing to the forming shadow.
"Yuma I suggest that you calm down immediately."
Everyone spun to face the ghost, Yuma especially. "Astral…do you think….that I'm like that?"
The ghost…Astral…didn't say anything.
What's wrong Astral? You usually know what to say to him.
Everyone's attention was now focused on the shadow. It had taken on the form of a wicked knight with long slender limbs decorated in dark purples and reds with bladed wings. Clawed hands wielded two long curved swords and it stared down the group with unseen eyes. Though the most unusual thing about it was the number 39 written on its shoulder.
Or maybe you haven't regained all the trust you had in him…and just don't know what to say to him.
"Just shut your trap!" Kanji yelled, "We're going to crush you anyway!"
I hate hotheads….they remind me too much of myself….or my old self now.
Yuma just stared at the shadow, eye's wide with recognition. He let out a small grunt and turned away from the shadow and kept his gaze at the ground.
What is it? To ashamed to look at me? Or does my appearance remind you too much of your friendship with Rei Shingetsu?
"SHUT UP!"
"You must remain calm Yuma. If this thing is drawing on your emotions your anger will just make it worse." Astral cautioned trying to think of something to calm Yuma down.
"Just shut up Astral! What do you know!?"
Astral was taken aback. He stared back at Yuma with shock in his eyes. Yuma never got this angry. Never at him.
"IMCOMING!" Chie's voice echoed across the chamber.
Yuma looked up in time to see a sword being brought down towards his head only for Tomoe to intercept it at the last minute brining Chie down on one knee in pain, "Man he's tough!"
"Well the bigger they are the harder they fall!" Yosuke boasted, "Go get him Jiraiya!"
Jiraiya obeyed the command zooming up to be level with the shadow's head then launching a wind attack. Kintoki-Douji then followed by throwing a tomahawk missile at its face.
Shadow Yuma just laughed as the smoke cleared revealing no damage.
It barely tickles. Is this really all the fire power you've got?
"This is bad! This is beary beary bad!" Teddie has begun to panic more than usual.
Naoto stared in awe, "He took those attacks and didn't even flinch."
"I can't get a good reading on him either!" Rise called out, "It's like his inner structure keeps changing so I can't get a weakness."
"Well he's going to have to come down eventually! They all do." Kanji declared in his ever so punk like optimism.
"It's not that simple."
Everyone turned around in surprise. Astral had just spoken.
"I don't think your usual tactics will work here."
"Look mister ghost…thing," Yosuke said rather awkwardly, "We have no idea who you are so we don't know if we can trust you yet."
"I trust him," Yu said rather matter of factly. This got lots of cries of what from everyone, including Yuma who had been rather silent for the past few moments.
Yu ignored them and turned to face Astral directly, "Astral, right? You're the one that Yuma keeps talking too. His invisible friend?"
Astral stared at Yu shocked by his quick acceptance but did respond, "That's right, Yuma is my friend."
Then why don't you fully trust him? Oh yeah…because he lied to you!
Astral scowled at the shadow, "I don't know why you took on that form but know this, I won't forgive you for trying to attack Yuma!"
"Okay…this guy's got a protective streak," Chie muttered under her breath.
"Yuma," Astral turned to face Yuma, "The Numbers."
"Oh…er…right…the Numbers!" Yuma snapped out of whatever trance he was in and immediately reached for the deck box on his waist.
"Uh kid! Now's not the time to be looking at trading cards!" Kanji cried out as Take-Mizazuchi took another hit.
"I don't see how trading cards are going to help our situation!" Yukiko exclaimed as Konohana Sakuya let loose another barrage of flames that once again left no marks.
"No….they're going to help." Yuma spoke as if he was speaking to himself, "Hope's going to…he's not here." Yuma's expression turned to panic, "Hope's not here!"
Now Astral was panicking, "What do you mean Hope is not in the deck?!"
"Look!" Yuma fanned out the cards and turned the faces towards Astral, "All of the other Numbers we have are here...except for Hope!"
What did you expect?! The shadow declared swatting away Sukuna-Hikona like it was a fly. Hope is a representation of you, and I am you!
"Is that why…" Yuma could barely finish the sentence, "Is that why…you're Hope Ray….V?"
The investigation team was now plain confused. Numbers? Hope Ray V? How did this all play into what's going on now.
Shadow Yuma, or Hope Ray V as he was just now called, chuckled. Finally getting it? I am the part of you that you so desperately casted aside. The memories and emotions that you rather forget. You truly hate yourself for lying to Astral and betraying all of your friends for your so called friendship with Shingetsu. Maybe if it's better if you just disappeared! It's like no one is going to remember you anyway.
This had hit Yuma like a sack of bricks. Did he really hate himself for what he did? He was sure Astral had forgiven him but did he still hold any ill will towards him? Then again, Astral wouldn't have been hurt if he had never meet Shingetsu in the first place. Was everyone really better off without him? Was he better off without them?
The emotional turmoil had force Yuma to his knees head bowed in submission. Astral immediately knew this was a bad sign, "Get up Yuma! Don't let his words affect you!"
"Listen to him Yuma!" Yu called out, "The more you fall into depression, the stronger the Shadow gets!"
Shut up all of you! Hope Ray V raised its blade gathering energy. He doesn't need you, he doesn't need anyone! It brought the blade down, with catastrophic results.
Everything happened to quickly to register sound, but all Yu saw was a wave of energy heading towards them. He could only do the first thing that came to mind. He grabbed Yuma and turned his back to face the incoming wave and dismissing Izanagi and calling Ara Mitama to shield them and hope it was enough. It wasn't.
The attack blew everyone away crashing into walls and railings. Hope Ray V glanced around at the unconscious group. Weaklings…..didn't put up much of a fight.
Yuma groaned in pain. His eyes refused to open, his head wouldn't stop ringing. When his eyes finally cracked open, his heart sank. "NARUKAMI!" He managed to wriggle out of his grip and tried to rouse him, "Please…please wake up. Astral?!" Yuma quickly scanned the area looking for him. He spotted him laying five feet away flickering in and out of existence. Yuma immediately ran to his side, "Astral….please…be alright."
"Don't worry…" Yuma gasped in surprised as Astral rolled over, "I'll be alright."
But Yuma knew this wouldn't be alright. Yu and everyone else was down and unconscious with their things that they had summoned had begun to fizzles and fade. And now Hope Ray V was standing right over him.
Just you and me now. If it had a mouth, it would be grinning.
Yuma was trying to hid the tears in his eyes, "Why…..why are you doing this?!"
Hope Ray V tilted his head as if he was confused, Why? You know the answer yourself.
"No I don't!" Yuma screamed, "I don't know! Just stop this!"
Now now Yuma, you did truly desire to be alone. That's how you've been for most of your life after all.
"But I wasn't happy! I was sad…but Astral changed all that!"
Changed it for what?! For the better?! He has brought you nothing but misery! You're better off without him. You have enough power to stand on your own.
"I would never say that about a friend!"
But you thought about it.
Yuma gasped in shock. A pit was forming in stomach, and he felt his heart starting to sink. Why…why was he hurting? The Shadow was lying, there's no way what he said was true.
And now say goodbye to everyone.
The Shadow reached down and grabbed Yuma in its crushing grip. Yuma cried out in pain as he felt his arms press into his ribs and his lungs started to run out of room to breathe.
"YUMA!" Astral cried out worried for his partner. "Release him now!"
Not a chance! Hope Ray V kicked Astral hard knocking him into the wall leaving an impact crater.
Hearing Yuma's and Astral's cries of pain caused the investigation team to rouse back to the world of the living. Rise was the first to realize Yuma's predicament and let out a horrified scream. "YUMA-KUN!"
"Hostage situation….how low…." Naoto groaned.
"It's going to kill him!" Teddie continued to panic.
Yu brushed off the last of the rubble on him, "Freeing Yuma if the first thing we need to do but be careful not to hurt him!"
"Easier said than done" Yosuke whined.
Think you can save him? He can barely save himself! Hope Ray V held up a claw to Yuma's cheek digging just enough to draw blood. I can easily end his life here and now.
"Not gonna happen!" Kanji charged forward with Take-Mizazuchi right behind him charging an electrical attack.
Too slow! Hope Ray V jumped over the attack when it came and punch Take-Mizazuchi hard enough to nearly send both him and Kanji through one of the stained glass windows.
"Kanji!" Rise called out worryingly.
"I…think my jaw's busted." Kanji rubbed his aching cheek.
"We're you crazy Kanji! You could off hit Yuma!" Chie scolded the punk.
"Oh crap I did think about that!"
"Then it's best that I don't attack then…..Konohana Sakuya's attacks are too destructive." Yukiko looked at the ground as the feeling of uselessness came over her.
"Then it's best that I, Narukami-sempi, and Yosuke keep attack to free Yuma," Naoto strategized, "Everyone stay on support and only strike when you are guaranteed a hit. Rise keep an analysis going and warn us of any incoming attacks."
"Got it!" Rise said as she kicked Himiko's powers into overdrive.
Over by the semi destroyed wall, Astral was trying to keep conscious as he observed the group.
They seem to know what they're doing….like they've done this before. Their actions earlier….was it to prevent this from happening? Astral cursed at himself. If I hadn't been so paranoid, if I had just let Yuma be with them, he would not be in this situation…I'm so sorry Yuma.
Astral's world then went black.
Zexal 143 was NOT OKAY! Seriously, how many more characters are they going to kill until they're happy?! And there are three episodes left! Happy end please.