And here we are with Chapter 17. A lot is gonna go down on this chapter. There will be much drama and action coming our way as we go into the big battle.
But enough of me talking, let's get to it.
Chapter 17: Trials of the Heart
Winged Beast Dimension
"Duel!" Yuya and Birdman declared.
Birdman LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Yuya LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"I will go first. My turn! Draw!" Birdman drew his card. "From my hand, I activate the Magic Card: Summon Storm! This card allows me to pay 800 Life Points to Special Summon a Wind Attribute monster from my hand!" Birdman grunted as he was covered in red aura.
Birdman LP: 4000→3200
"He's really feeling the pain. So, that means when one of our Life Points hit 0." Yuya thought.
"I Special Summon Storm Kid (ATK: 1500, LV: 4)!" A kid appeared wearing green clothes and created a small tornado.
"Storm Kid's effect allows him to be treated as two releases for an Advance Summon of a Wind Attribute monster! I release Storm Kid to Advance Summon Simorgh, Divine Bird (ATK: 2700, LV: 7)!" Birdman brought out a large green bird monster.
"2700 Attack Points…" Yuya muttered.
"I set one card and then activate the Continuous Magic: Level Tax! With this, I end my turn." Birdman finished. "Though, you shouldn't relax yet. My Simorgh's effect inflicts 1000 points of damage to both warriors!"
"1000 points of damage?!" Yuya exclaimed.
"God Tornado!" Simorgh created a huge tornado that injured Yuya.
Yuya LP: 4000→3000
"Wait, you said both players, so why did I take damage?" Yuya asked.
"Simorgh's effect can be avoided by having at least two Magic or Trap Cards on the field. If only one, then the damage is 500." Birdman explained.
Birdman LP: 3200, Hand: 1
Yuya LP: 3000, Hand: 5
"My turn! Draw!" Yuya drew his card. "I can set the Pendulum Scale with Dragonpulse Magician and Dragonpit Magician to Pendulum Summon Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon. But, if I summon a Level 5 or higher monster, Level Tax will deal me damage equal to Saber Dragon's Attack Points. That will leave me with only 200 Life Points."
"I have Odd-Eyes Fusion. I can bring out Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon to send Simorgh back to his hand, and then he'll have to pay the price to summon it again. But that will only leave me 500 Life Points." Yuya thought.
"Damn it…because of Level Tax, Pendulum Summon, Fusion Summon and even Synchro Summons will damage me." Yuya gritted his teeth.
"I see you've realized that you can't call out monsters with high Levels." Birdman smiled. "You can get your low-Level allies to help you!"
"There is another option, but I only have the one monster and I don't have the materials to call him. And if he's destroyed, I can't fight back." Yuya thought.
"I activate the Quick-Play Magic: Reload! I add all the cards back into my deck, shuffle and then draw the same number of cards that I added in there!" Yuya returned his five cards into his deck and it automatically shuffled. He then drew new cards.
"Okay, with this." Yuya grabbed another card. "I summon Odd-Eyes Lion in Defense Position (DEF: 1200, LV: 4)!" Yuya summoned his dichromatic lion. "I set two cards and end my turn!"Simorgh created its tornado but Yuya's set cards protected him.
Birdman LP: 3200, Hand: 1
Yuya LP: 3000, Hand: 2
"So, you managed to stave of Simorgh's effect." Birdman puts his fingers on his deck. "My turn! Draw! I summon Blood Storm (ATK: 1700, LV: 4)!" Birdman brought out another Winged-Beast. "This monster's effect lets it gain 100 Attack Points for every Winged-Beast monster on my field!"
Blood Storm (ATK: 1700→1900)
"Next, I activate the Continuous Magic: Piercing Talons! As long as this card is on the field, my Winged Beast monsters can deal piercing damage!"
"What?!" Yuya gasped.
"Battle! Simorgh, attack Odd-Eyes Lion!" Simorgh created a strong tornado.
"I activate my Trap Card: Half Unbreak! With this card, my monster isn't destroyed and battle damage is halved!" A barrier protected Odd-Eyes Lion but Yuya still suffered from the attack.
Yuya LP: 3000→1500
"Continue the attack! Blood Storm, attack Lion!" Blood Storm charged and struck the barrier and one of the blades got broken and it cut Yuya across the cheek.
Yuya LP: 1500→1000
"I end my turn. And next is Simorgh's effect, since you used one of your cards, you take 500 points of damage! God Tornado!" Simurgh created the tornado and although Yuya's single card protected him, he was still damaged.
Yuya LP: 1000→500
"I end my turn." Birdman finished his turn.
Birdman LP: 3200, Hand: 0
Yuya LP: 500, Hand: 2
"It's painful, isn't it?" Birdman smirked. "Being unable to call out your high-Level allies due to my Level Tax leaves you no chance of winning! This world was formed so that those of a high Level rule over those born with stars in the lower Levels!"
"Hey, what's with you and Levels?" Yuya asked.
"Why do you want to know?" Birdman asked.
"You go on and on about high Levels ruling over lower Levels, but, you're a lower Level yourself? You're only Level 4." Yuya remembered seeing Birdman's card in Sugoroku's shop back in Standard.
"So, you know that." Birdman said. "Come to think of it, I heard of a world where Duels were just used as some sort of game. You must be from that world, so it's no wonder you're asking this sort of question. But even so, it's common sense to use high Level cards to win and discard the low Level ones."
"I won't deny that there are people who think that." Yuya admitted. "But there are still some people who like the low-Level cards. Even if they can't win a Duel with them, they still care about them because it's a precious card."
"That's nice and all, but this isn't your world. Our fate is determined by the Level of the stars from the time we're born. No matter what, our Level is fixed, we cannot change." Birdman said.
"Then you're just gonna accept it. You're not gonna try to get stronger and get a higher Level?" Yuya asked.
"Those that try to fight the system end up being removed from existence. It's basically defying death. No one is stupid enough to do that."
"It's not stupid…" Yuya said. "It takes true courage to fight the system, and everyone has the potential to get stronger, humans and Duel Monsters! You just need to have friends to help you!"
"Friends?" Birdman questioned.
"No one can achieve everything on their own, my father was able to be the World Champion because he had my mom and his family and friends supporting him. You can be a higher Level too, or become part of a strong Rank!"
"Rank?" Birdman asked.
"I'll show you that Rank right now! My turn! Draw!" Yuya drew his card. "I summon Odd-Eyes Panther (ATK: 1400, LV: 4, PS: 3)!" Yuya summoned his dichromatic panther.
"Now these two Level 4s will bring out a Rank 4!" Yuya declared.
"Rank 4?!" Birdman's eyes widened.
"I Overlay my Level 4 Odd-Eyes Lion and Odd-Eyes Panther!" Both of Yuya's monsters turned into light and entered the spacelike portal.
"Formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Now, descend! Xyz Summon! Appear now! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon (ATK: 2500, RNK: 4, OVU: 2)!" Yuya summoned Dark Rebellion.
"A monster with no Level, but a Rank…" Birdman was amazed.
"Here I come, Birdman! I activate Dark Rebellion's effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can reduce the Attack Points of a Level 5 or higher monster in half and increase Dark Rebellion Xyz's Dragon's Attack Points by that amount! Treason Discharge!" Dark Rebellion used its Overlay Unit and drained power from Simorgh.
Dark Rebellion (OVU: 2→1, ATK: 2500→3850)
Simorgh (ATK: 2700→1350)
"This is bad…if he uses the other Overlay Unit, I'm done!" Birdman sweated.
"Battle!" Yuya shouted, getting Birdman off guard. "Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, attack Simorgh! Revolt of the Lightning, Disobey!" Dark Rebellion charged with its lightning fangs and thrust them right through Simorgh and sending Birdman flying backwards.
Birdman LP: 3200→700
Astral narrowed his eyes. "He had the chance to win the Duel had he used Dark Rebellion's effect the second time, so why didn't he?"
"I set two cards and end my turn!" Yuya finished. "At this moment, Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon's effect ends and its Attack Points return to normal.
Dark Rebellion (ATK: 3850→2500)
Birdman LP: 700, Hand: 0
Yuya LP: 500, Hand: 0
"Why?" Birdman sat up. "Why didn't you finish me? Are you pitying me?! Are you insulting my pride as a warrior?!"
"Birdman…" Yuya said. "You're right, I could've finished this Duel had I used Dark Rebellion's effect twice. But…I don't want to kill you. This Duel is over."
"Don't count me out. Draw!" Birdman drew his card. "God Bird Attack…"
"God Bird Attack allows you to release one Winged-Beast monster to destroy two cards from my field." Yuya said. "You can use it on your next turn to destroy Dark Rebellion and one of my set cards, but…"
"If I draw a monster with 700 Attack Points or more, I will win. If I don't draw a monster, I have three set cards. One of them is Resurrection of the Dead, the second Holy Barrier – Mirror Force and the last one is the Rank-Up Magic – Rebellion Force." Yuya explained.
"No way…I've…lost…" Birdman couldn't do anything else. Yuya was right, the Duel was over.
"Birdman, I was able to create this formation because I believed my cards, my comrades. You have comrades that share the same dream as you, to rise to a higher Level, but you don't have the courage to go for it, because you're scared of death." Yuya said. "It's understandable to be afraid of death, I'm scared too…" Yuya said.
"I'm not gonna lie and say that everything is gonna work out if you work with your friends. But I do know that nothing will be achieved unless you try." Yuya said.
"Say if we do go through with this?" Birdman asked. "What's to stop them from killing us?"
"You create a legacy that will inspire someone else to continue your work. And that legacy will never die. It will continue on until your dream comes true." Yuya said.
"A legacy that never dies…that doesn't sound half bad." Birdman admitted. He placed his hand on his deck.
Birdman: Surrender
Winner: Yuya Ryuga
"Birdman…" Yuya saw Birdman go towards the edge.
"My brothers and sisters, free them!" Birdman ordered his fellow Winged Beast brethren.
"But why? We're higher Level than them?!"
"It's the way of our world!"
"The low Levels must serve the high Levels."
"Look above you! Look!" Birdman pointed upward and all of the Winged Beasts looked up. "We have been here cowering because of the other higher-Level monsters aboveground. But we are Winged-Beast, we shouldn't have to live underground, we should be soaring in that endless sky."
"But sir, Brron, the Mad King of Dark World rules the world above! We are no match!"
"Alone, yes…but…a human has reminded me of the importance of comrades! You agree with me, don't you? You all hate this kind of life! Don't you wish to be free from the ground and fly into the sky once more! And not just us, those that were abused by Brron, they share our wishes too! Let us go! Let us venture and find those that share our dream and together we will liberate this world from Brron, the Mad King of Dark World! It will be a long fight, but if we do nothing, we will continue to suffer! So my brothers and sisters, do you want to fly into the sky! Do you want to be known as the heroes of this world!"
Every single Winged Beast cheered and they released all the low Level monster slaves and provided them with their needs and apologized for their actions. "Young warrior, what is your name?" Birdman asked Yuya.
"I'm Yuya Ryuga. A Dimension Guardian." Yuya answered.
"Dimension Guardian…yes, we too will protect our dimension by following your example. And perhaps, should we succeed in our efforts to free this world from Brron, any allies we come across can help you whenever you need us." Birdman offered.
"Same here. If you ever need help, you can count on us." Yuya held out his hand. Birdman accepted Yuya's handshake.
Astral smiled from above and descended himself as Birdman left. "Well done. You managed to end a conflict without killing. And you've also inspired them to take a stand for what they believe in."
"Does that mean?" Yuya asked.
"Yes, I will teach you the true Rank-Up." Astral nodded. "But we will have to be fast. I sensed a Barian approaching Heartland. Hopefully the two that I rescued will be enough to stop them.
Heartland – Duel Lodge
More Antique Gear monsters continued to attack until finally the barrier around the Duel Lodge shattered into pieces.
"The barrier is down!"
"Soldiers, charge!" Edo ordered and all of the Academia soldiers charged in different areas towards the Duel Lodge.
"Don't let a single one get through!" Reiji shouted as he, the Dimension Guardians and the other Resistance members charged to stop the Academia army.
Heartland – Entrance Gate
Rio panted as she arrived at the entrance gate with Rua on her back. "We're back." Rio then saw the Duel Lodge under attack. "No time for a break, come on, Rua. Let's get you some help."
Before Rio could take a couple of steps, a bright flash of blue light blinded her. She shut her eyes until the light died down and when she opened them, she couldn't believe who was in front of her. The two friends she thought were loss.
"Kotori! Tetsuo! You're alive…" Rio was relieved to see her best friends okay. "Am I glad to see you two, listen, we need your help."
"Why would we help a Barian?" Tetsuo asked.
"Huh?" Rio gasped.
"You Barians are trying to destroy all the worlds! No way are we gonna help someone like you!" Kotori glared.
"Guys…look, I don't care about the Barian World, I just want to help my friends. And that includes you too. So, let's work together and—"
"All Barians are evil! And by the order of the Astral World, they must be destroyed!" Tetsuo activated his Duel Disk.
"Even if you are our friend, the survival of the Human and Astral World is at stake. We will eliminate Academia and the Barians! You can't change what you are, you will always be an evil Barian!" Kotori activated her Duel Disk.
"Guys, stop I don't want to fight!" Rio begged.
"Duel!" Kotori and Tetsuo shouted.
"I'm going first! Draw!" Tetsuo drew his card. "I summon Aye-Iron (ATK: 1600, LV: 4)!" Tetsuo called out a machine kangaroo monster with cymbals. "Aye-Iron, once per turn, can gain 400 Attack Points, but I can't attack with this card."
Aye-Iron (ATK: 1600→2000)
"I end my turn!" Tetsuo finished.
"Tetsuo, stop!" Rio begged.
"My turn! Draw!" Kotori drew her card. "I summon Little Fairy (ATK: 800, LV: 3)!" Kotori summoned a small fairy. "Next, I activate the Field Magic: Sanctuary in the Sky!" The field transformed into a sanctuary. "As long as this card is on the field, any battle damage I take involving a Fairy-type monster is reduced to 0! I end my turn!"
"Kotori…Tetsuo…" Rio closed her eyes in frustration. "I'm sorry, Rua. Just wait a little longer." Rio set Rua down against a boulder and activated her Duel Disk.
"Field Magic: Dimension Gates." The gates appeared around the group.
Tetsuo LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Kotori LP: 4000, Hand: 4
Rio LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"My turn! Draw!" Rio drew her card. "I set a monster in Defense Position." Rio set a monster.
"A Defense Monster?" Kotori gave a skeptical look. "Are you looking down on us!"
"Don't be surprised, she's a Barian, she thinks we're not worth it." Tetsuo said harshly.
"For the last time, I don't want to fight! I set two cards and end my turn!" Rio finished her turn.
Tetsuo LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Kotori LP: 4000, Hand: 4
Rio LP: 4000, Hand: 3
"Guys, it's me, Rio! I still care about this place; I care about all of you! Even if I am a Barian, I don't want to destroy the world! I want to help you!" Rio said.
"My turn! Draw!" Tetsuo ignored Rio's plea. "I summon Tinplate Goldfish (ATK: 800, LV: 4)! When this card is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my hand! Come! Wind-Up Warrior (ATK: 1200, LV: 4)!" Tetsuo summoned two more machines, one that looked like a goldfish and another like a windup toy.
"I Overlay my Level 4 Aye-Iron, Tinplate Goldfish and Wind-Up Warrior!" All three of Tetsuo's monsters turned into lights and entered the spacelike portal in front of him.
"Duke of the Machines, unsheathe your sword and strike down all the evildoers on this battlefield! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 4! Tin Archduke (ATK: 2200, RNK: 4, OVU: 3)!" Tetsuo brought out a large machine monster that was dressed like a duke and had a long sword.
"Tetsuo's ace monster…" Rio looked at it.
"I activate Tin Archduke's effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can change the battle position of one monster on my opponent's field and Flip Effects are not activated!" Tin Archduke used his Overlay Unit and held his sword over Rio's Defense set card and it flipped over to reveal a penguin with a sword.
Penguin Soldier (ATK: 750, LV: 2)
"Penguin Soldier." Tetsuo said. "When this monster is flipped face-up, the controller is allowed to send two monsters cards on the field back to their owner's hands." This made Rio nervous.
"From my hand, I activate the Magic Card: Localized Hurricane! This card returns all set Magic and Trap Cards into their owner's hand!" Tetsuo played a card that blew away Rio's set cards back to her hand.
"Battle! Tin Archduke, attack Penguin Soldier! Blade of the Duke!" Tin Archduke swung his sword and cut Penguin Soldier and the blast damaged Rio.
Rio LP: 4000→2550
"I set one card and end my turn!" Tetsuo finished his turn.
Tetsuo LP: 4000, Hand: 2
Kotori LP: 4000, Hand: 4
Rio LP: 2550, Hand: 5
"Please…listen to me…" Rio begged.
"My turn! Draw!" Kotori drew her card, ignoring Rio. "I summon The Agent of Wisdom – Mercury (ATK: 0, LV: 4)!" Kotori summoned another fairy. "Then, I activate Little Fairy's effect! By discarding one card from my hand to the Graveyard, to increase this monster's Level by 1!" Kotori discarded a card from her hand and Little Fairy gained a Level.
Little Fairy (LV: 3→4)
"With the Level 4 Little Fairy and Agent of Wisdom – Mercury, I construct the Overlay Network!" Bot of Kotori's monsters went into the spacelike portal in front of her.
"A relentless hero with the smile of an angel! Unleash your inner light to purge the darkness of war! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Fairy Cheer Girl (ATK: 1900, RNK: 4)!" Kotori brought out a Fairy dressed as a cheerleader.
"I activate Fairy Cheer Girl's effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can draw one card from my deck!" Kotori drew one more card and looked at it. She looked at Tetsuo and he nodded.
"Battle! Fairy Cheer Girl! Direct Attack!" Fairy Cheer Girl charged.
"From my hand, I activate the effect Penguin Gardna! When I'm attacked directly, I can Special Summon this monster in Defense Position! I—" Rio was gonna protect herself.
"Useless! Quick-Play Magic: Fairy Hexagram! When my opponent activates a Magic, Trap or Monster effect during a battle involving a Fairy monster, that effect is negated and three cards in the opponent's Extra Deck are banished!" Kotori revealed.
"What?!" Rio gasped as her Duel Disk prevented her from summoning Penguin Gardna, also three cards flew out of her Extra Deck. Sylphine, the Sub-Zero Bird Beast, Reort Harpyia, the Sub-Zero Bird Princess and Number 94: Princess of Polar Ice, Crystal Zero and they were banished.
Fairy Cheer Girl then struck Rio hard and send her flying backwards and she hit a piece of building rubble hard that she coughed out blood.
Rio LP: 2550→650
Rio coughed as she laid against the rubble as she cried in pain. "Tetsuo…Kotori…why? I'm…your friend…I always am…"
"You still don't get it. You're a Barian, it's in your nature to cause destruction." Kotori said.
"Your kind has threatened to destroy the Astral World and the Human World! You promised peace but you failed." Tetsuo said.
"Wh-What?" Rio was confused.
"Quick-Play Magic: Rank-Up Magic – Resistance Force! This card will Rank-Up our Xyz Monsters into an Xyz Monster that is two Ranks higher!" Both Tetsuo and Kotori activated the same card, making Rio gasp.
"Archduke of the machines, evolve into a ruler that rules fair and just to protect the world from evil! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear! Rank 6! Tin Emperor (ATK: 3000, RNK: 6, OVU: 3)!" Tetsuo brought out his evolved monster.
"Hero that has endured multiple battles and given strength to her comrades! Now is the time to stand before your friends and lead them to victory! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear! Rank 6! Fairy Warrior Girl (ATK: 2800, RNK: 6, OVU: 2)!" Kotori brought out her monster's evolved form.
"They both…Ranked Up…" Rio trembled.
"Not yet! After the Xyz Monsters are successfully summoned, the opponent loses half their Life Points!" Kotori added.
"Take this, Barian Scumbag!" The cards shot lightning at Rio and she screamed as she was blown through the rubble.
Rio LP: 650→325→163
"I end my turn." Kotori finished.
Rio laid on the ground, unresponsive as she blankly stared at the sky. "Is this how it ends? I'm gonna die…by my best friends…" Rio thought.
Suddenly, her Barian jewel glowed and she felt herself being transported.
United Lands of the Poseidon Ocean
Rio stood before the open caskets of her brother, Durbe, Vector, Alito, Girag and Misael. "My dear friends…my dear brother…you were taken from this world too soon…"
"You all were fighting in order to maintain peace in our lands but we were foolishly playing into the Wicked God's hands. He corrupted your allies, the people who believed in you, had you fight each other." Rio clenched her fist.
"No more…I will not allow that monster to continue living!" Rio turned to the army. "Get me my armor!"
"Ma'am!" The soldiers saluted.
Open Seas
Rio was sailing on a boat with multiple ships, but each sail was different, once representing each kingdom. "Kings and Queens of other nations, I know your pain! I know what it feels to lose someone dear to you!"
"But it's more important, now than ever, that we continue to be united! Our enemy may call himself a god, but he is alone! We have each other! Rely on your comrades! Trust in each other! Though not all of us will make it, we will create a legacy! A legacy that humans are stronger than gods!" Rio rallied multiple kingdoms together.
They soon came upon the ship fleets that Don Thousand was on. "So, you've come…the last piece…" Don Thousand pointed to Rio's ship. "Destroy everything, kill everyone!"
Rio put her hands in a prayer. "Please…give everyone my protection." Crystal Zero appeared behind Rio and she created a snow storm that gave everyone an aura of protection.
The two sides clashed and thanks to Crystal Zero's blessing, Rio's side did not lose anyone, while Don Thousand lost most of his fleet. "Damn it, I'm losing to a human!"
"Don Thousand! I don't care if you are a god! For the people that are alive today, for the people who gave everything for their loved ones! I, Queen Merag, will exterminate you!" Rio declared as she pointed her sword towards him.
Neighboring Village
"It's Queen Merag!"
"Queen!"
"You're so pretty!"
The army arrived a small village where they were greeted by the locals and many kids were running up to Rio and she smiled at them.
"Queen Merag, are you really gonna defeat the Wicked God?"
"That's right…I made a promise, so I intend to keep it." Rio promised them.
"You're so cool!"
I want to be just like you."
Rio continued to smile at the kids when she noticed in the alleyway a boy that looked familiar.
Neighboring Village – Evening
The boy stayed in the same place all day with a sad look on his face. "Here. You must be hungry." Rio gave the boy some food.
"I'm not hungry…" The boy said, before his stomach growled and he blush, making Rio giggle.
"If you want to be a strong man, you have to eat." Rio said. "What's your name?"
"Astral." The boy replied.
"Astral…that's a nice name." Rio said. "So, why are you here?"
"I…don't have anywhere else to go. The Wicked God…My mommy and daddy…my little sister…" Astral muttered before he started to cry. Rio instantly pulled Astral into a hug.
Army Camp
"My Queen, the Wicked God has retreated to this temple! He is cornered, now is the time to strike him down!"
"Queen Merag, we will stand by with whatever decision you make."
"You helped us regain our hope against the Wicked God. You have our full support!"
"I will stand by and fight with you!"
"Me too!"
"Everyone…thank you for your support, but…I will face the god alone." Rio declared.
"What?"
"But, my Queen, the Wicked God is too powerful for someone to take on by themselves!"
"Let us help you!"
"Let's finish it together, my Queen!"
"Queen Merag, please explain your reasoning for taking on the Wicked God alone?" Another King asked Merag.
"As we have all witnessed, the Wicked God will use any tactics to prevent our victory. And that includes dragging the people we love into this fight. You all have wives, husbands, siblings, and even children that are waiting your return. The Wicked God could use them against you and even if you give in to his commands, he will without hesitation kill them. It has to be me, because I have nothing left to lose. You all must continue to live, continue to preserve the peace of the world so that the people that are left can continue to build the future. This is my final order to all of you."
Everyone was silent before they all stood up and saluted to Rio and left the tent. Rio then stood up and knelt before the other Kings and Queens. "Thank you for everything."
"No, Queen Merag, thank you for giving us to strength to keep living in these dark times. Your legacy will never be forgotten."
The Next Morning
Rio went up to her horse as the entire army was there to see her off. "I wish you all well." Rio smiled and was about to mount her horse.
"Queen Merag!" Rio turned to see Astral running towards her.
"Astral…" Rio was surprised when Astral hugged her.
"Please…don't go. I…I want to be with you more. I don't want to say goodbye anymore!" Astral cried into Rio's armor.
Rio smiled warmly before holding Astral's cheeks. "Astral…it's not goodbye…I will always be there for you, even if I'm not next to you." Rio reached into her pocket and pulled out seven cards. "Here, take them."
"But those are…" Astral knew those cards. They were the cards of the Seven Ruins.
"Use these cards to make connections and bring peace to those that are still in conflict. Create a legacy that is much greater than I am. And when we meet again, in the next life, you can tell me all about it." Rio wiped Astral's tears.
"O-Okay…" Astral nodded.
"I know you can do it…" Rio took off her crown. "Even if not by blood, you are my family…" Rio placed the crown on Astral's head.
She then got on her horse and charged towards Don Thousand's location.
Don Thousand Cave
Rio and Don Thousand panted. "How?! How are you able to withstand my power as a god!" Don Thousand got frustrated.
"Because…I'm not alone!" Rio charged and unsheathed her sword. "Don Thousand!" Rio then thrust her sword right into Don Thousand's chest. "This is…the end."
"I…am a god…I will return…" Don Thousand turned into pink light and disappeared.
Rio became overcome with exhaustion that she fell on her back. As she started to lose the life in her eyes, she heard footsteps.
"Queen Merag!"
"My Queen!"
"You idiots…you're supposed to be home…" Rio smiled. She then saw Astral looking down at her. Rio reached up and stroked his cheek. "Tell me…your story next time…"
Rio's hand then fell on the floor and her eyes closed. Her grip on her sword loosened and her smile remained.
"Rest in Peace…Queen Merag." Astral prayed and so did the others.
Barian World
Rio opened her eyes and saw that her appearance had changed. Her skin is chalk-white and her hair is longer with more volume and is purely dark blue instead of dual-colored. She wears a white dress with blue and gold pieces, with large white shoulder pauldrons and gloves, with a blue midriff and a miniaturized version of Nash's Barian Emblem on her chest. She still has her pink eyes. She also has red marks on each side of her cheeks, a jeweled diadem with a gold net over the back of her hair that is adorned with green and red jewels that also has a green teardrop jewel hanging over her face.
She got up and saw an entire world made red with the ocean below her on a cliff. "I sense him…Don Thousand…" Rio thought. "No matter what, I won't let you revive."
"The Queen is here!"
"She's finally come!"
"She did it! She vanquished the Evil God!"
"King Nash, your sister is here!"
Rio turned around and she saw many people looking at her and a path was formed where she saw Nash, Durbe, Vector, Alito, Girag and Misael approaching her.
"Welcome home, Merag." Nash bowed along with the other emperors.
"I'm home…" Rio answered and everyone cheered for her arrival. "Don Thousand cannot be revived, I will make sure that he stays where he belongs. To do that, I will protect the Barian World. That's a promise to myself. I am…"
Rio vs Tetsuo and Kotori
"I am…" Rio sat up and got back to her feet. "I am…Merag of the Barians!" Rio let out a battle cry and the Barian symbol on her chest glowed and she transformed into her Barian form.
"So, you've shown your true colors, Barian." Kotori said.
Tetsuo LP: 4000, Hand: 2
Kotori LP: 4000, Hand: 2
Rio LP: 163, Hand: 5
Rio's hand glowed red. "My turn! Barian's Chaos Draw!" Rio drew her card. "I activate the Rank-Up Magic – The Seventh One! This card allows me to Special Summon an Over Hundred Numbers and rank it up into a Chaos Xyz Monster!"
"Appear! Number 103: Funerary Sub-Zero Maiden, Ragna Zero (ATK: 2400, RNK: 4)!" Rio summoned her Over Hundred Number. "And now Ragna Zero gain the power of Chaos! With Ragna Zero, I reconstruct the Overlay Network!" Rio rebuilt the Overlay Network.
"The unlimited power to freeze even time itself rises once again! Resonate with the Chaos in my heart and unleash a never-ending Ice Age! Chaos Xyz Change! Appear! Rank 5! Chaos Number 103: Funerary Sub-Zero Maiden Ragna Infinity (ATK: 2800, RNK: 5, OVU: 1)!" Rio summoned her Chaos Number.
"The Chaos Number…" Tetsuo glared at it.
"When I successfully Xyz Summon a monster, I can activate the effect of Penguin Assist from my hand! This card becomes an Overlay Unit for the Xyz Monster!" The Xyz Monster gain a Chaos Overlay Unit.
Ragna Infinity (OVU: 2→1)
"From my hand, I activate the Magic Card: Ice Age! With this card, all non-Water Attribute monsters on my opponent's field have their effects negated and their Attack Points reduced to 0!" Rio revealed.
"What?!" Tetsuo and Kotori gasped as their monsters got weaker.
Tin Emperor (ATK: 3000→0)
Fairy Warrior Girl (ATK: 2800→0)
"At this moment, Ragna Infinity's effect activates! By using an Overlay Unit, once per turn, when a monster's Attack Points are changed, I can inflict the difference as damage to the opponent and banish the monster! I choose Tin Emperor!" Ragna Zero consumed the Chaos Overlay Unit and swung her scythe towards Tin Emperor and destroyed it and the blast sent Tetsuo flying.
Ragna Infinity (OVU: 2→1)
Tetsuo LP: 4000→1000
"Next, I activate the Quick-Play Magic: Big Return! This card allows me to activate a once per turn effect again! I use Ragna Infinity's effect and choose Fairy Warrior Girl!" Ragna Infinity used her Overlay Unit again and banished Fairy Warrior Girl and sent Kotori flying.
Ragna Infinity (OVU: 1→0)
Kotori LP: 4000→1200
"Our monsters…" Tetsuo grunted.
"But even if one of us is eliminated, next turn…" Kotori said.
"There won't be a next turn!" Rio interrupted. "When Penguin Assist is sent to the Graveyard as an Overlay Unit, the Xyz Monster that it was attached two is allowed to attack twice per turn! Battle! Ragna Infinity! Direct Attack! Chaos Scythe!" Ragna Zero spun her scythe around before creating a huge arc that headed towards Kotori and Tetsuo and sent them both flying.
Tetsuo LP: 1000→0
Kotori LP: 1200→0
Winner: Rio Kamishiro.
The gates disappeared and Rio looked at her name on the winning screen and she changed back to her human form. "I am…Merag of the Barians…but…"
Rio walked over to Rua and picked him up. "My life…as Rio Kamishiro is not over yet. Once this war is over…I'll go back to where I belong." Rio started walking towards the Duel Lodge. But as she walked, tears formed in her eyes.
"I…want to fight it…but…if Don Thousand is still there…I can't let him be revived…" Rio closed her eyes. "Jonouchi…Asuka…Rua…Kaito…Yuya…I'll cherish what time we have left."
Above Rio, the other Barian Emperors watched the Duel. "With this, all Seven Emperors are assembled." Durbe said.
"No, not yet." Nash said. "Merag is still holding on to her humanity. In order for her to be a true Barian, she has to lose the connections that keep her human. Also…"
Nash created a screen that showed Astral beginning Yuya's training on true Rank-Up. "Even with her full power, it still might not be enough. We have to break Yuya Ryuga's heart."
"I'll gladly volunteer to help you." Vector grinned.
"Durbe, Alito, Girag, Misael. You will defeat the Dimension Guardians and Academia. Vector and I will handle Merag and Yuya." Nash ordered.
"Right." Durbe, Alito, Girag and Misael flew off.
"So, who are you gonna kill? And who do I get to kill?" Vector asked.
"Relax, we're going to the same place. And our targets…" Nash showed pictures of Kaito and Ruri.
And that is the end of Chapter 17. What did you all think of this chapter? Did you like the changes I made to Rio's life before being a Barian. Let me know what you think in the reviews.
Thanks for reading and I will see you next time.
Preview: Astral begins teaching Yuya how to achieve true Rank Up, who reveals that there are consequences of being unable to control the Rank-Up power. Meanwhile, Sawatari's team confronts Edo's team and the two begin their rematch with both determined to prove that their respective sides are right about Dueling.
Next Time: Rematch! Sawatari vs Edo.