Hey, guys. Here's Chapter 18. I didn't update yesterday because I had a nasty case of pink eye. Fortunately, the doctor gave me drops and it's not really that bad.
I'm feeling much better now though, so thanks for your patience. Now let's get on with chapter.
Chapter 18: Rematch! Sawatari vs Edo
Astral World
Yuya and Astral were sitting across each other in a throne room. "Now that you have shown me your strength and pure heart, I will begin to teach you how to achieve a true Rank-Up." Astral instructed. "This process will also amplify the other summon methods."
"The other methods?" Yuya asked.
"Tell me, Yuya. Have you noticed that some summonings you see are stronger in some people compared to others?" Astral asked.
"Well…I know that the residents of each dimension have their summon energy stronger based on the dimension they're in compared to others." Yuya admitted.
"That is right, because they were born in said dimensions, they were able to increase the strength of their summoning methods, for example, your ally, Jack Atlas and Rua Godwin. Their Synchro Summons are much stronger since they have a unique and rare method, Double Tuning. The same could be said for your friend Gongenzaka, despite being a resident of Standard, his Synchro energy was amplified by learning Dark Synchro." Astral explained. "And yours was increased thanks to Accel Synchro."
"Wait, how do you know all this?" Yuya asked.
"I've been watching all of the events unfold since the separation of the Astral World and the Barian World." Astral explained.
"Wait, the Astral World and Barian World were once one?" Yuya asked.
"They weren't really one, but we did have a strong connection. A link you may say, connecting both worlds. The reason that I was able to be born in the Astral World was thanks to the noble Queen Merag of the Barian World. We were both humans in our previous life but we were each reincarnated in different worlds and appearance. But I knew in my heart who Merag was and our friendship began the process of putting the Astral World and Barian World together. Until…" Astral said.
"Until?" Yuya asked.
"Until an event from the Human World expanded to the Barian and Astral World, separating both of them from far away and affecting the memories of each of the residences. I was fortunate enough to keep my memories but I fear that Merag may be different. I never saw her or the Barian World again." Astral solemnly stated.
"I'm sorry. That event was caused by my mom." Yuya apologized.
"If your mom is anything like you, then she did it for a purpose. Don't worry, I will not blame her." Astral assured Yuya. "But I have seen everything happen at the Human World, but I'm forbidden from directly interfering in the conflict, which is why I saved as many fallen people from the Xyz Dimension and made them warriors for the Astral World." Astral explained.
"But…the Barian World is attacking and declaring to destroy the Astral World and Human World…why?" Yuya asked.
"I don't know, but what I do know is that what they are doing is something that Merag would not tolerate. If she was around, she could help them see the truth." Astral said. "But we're getting off track, let me explain the Summon Gates."
"Summon Gates?" Yuya asked.
Astral showed a diagram of the human body. "You don't know this, but the human body has seven gates, each gate is represented by the type of Monster Card. The gates can be open with a strong heart and but they can also be forced shut by the hesitation of the brain."
"If you can open the seven gates, not only will you learn proper Rank-Up, but all of the summon methods you learned will be amplified, giving you a chance to create new monsters and perform miracles in Duels." Astral revealed.
"But this process is extremely difficult. While opening the gates does give you power, if your heart is corrupt the power will consume you and you will lose your humanity and in the worst-case scenario, you will be the new threat that threatens the world." Astral warned. "This is your last chance if you wish to turn back."
"If I wanted to go back, I wouldn't come here at all, would all?" Yuya joked.
Astral smiled. "Very well. Let's begin. The first gate is the Normal Gate. This Gate is about identity. We try to see ourselves in many ways and we try to become those we admire, but the only person we can be is ourselves. Yuya, tell me your experience with identity."
Yuya closed his eyes. "I…am many things. The son of champion, a Dragon Soldier, an Entertainment Duelist, the leader of a team."
"Yuya, those are just titles that were given to you." Astral explained. "While you are and still those things, they don't identify who you are. You need to forget those titles and just accept who you are, so who are you?"
Yuya took a deep breath and he felt everything clear up. "I'm…Yuya Ryuga…that's all." Yuya then felt something change in his heart. "This feeling."
"You have opened the Normal Gate." Astral explained. "Well done. Are you ready for the next gate?"
"Yes." Yuya answered.
Heartland – Duel Lodge Main Stairs
"Keep advancing! Defeat all of them!" Edo ordered as his soldiers kept going up the stairs.
"Stop them from advancing!" Resistance members fought back.
"Stubborn cockroaches." Edo cursed.
"Takes one to know one!"
Instantly, the Academia soldiers were blown down the stars by Abyss Actor – Superstar, Moonlight Dancer Dragon, Entermage Trapeze Magician and Superheavy Kojin Susano-O, leaving Edo by himself.
"Oh, Eddie, I'm home!" Sawatari sang.
"You…" Edo glared. More Academia soldiers came up to support Edo. "Hold!" Edo ordered the Academia soldiers to stop advancing.
"Oh man, Edo's really mad." Dennis pointed out. "What did you do to upset him?"
"It's Sawatari. What didn't he do?" Serena said.
"I don't know whether to feel offended or proud." Sawatari turned to the two Fusion Users.
"I'm kidding." Serena said. "We all know you're strong. You got this."
"Alright, I'll deal with Commander in Chief while you make sure these lesser-known background characters don't pull any cheap tricks." Sawatari said.
"Hey, I'm a high-ranking officer!" Noro complained.
"No one is interfering in this Duel." Edo pointed out and activated his Duel Disk. "Field Magic: Wire Mesh – Chain Deathmatch!" Edo created a cage around him and Sawatari and blocking anyone from entering the cage.
"Alright, let's do this! Mano a mano!" Sawatari activated his Duel Disk.
"Field Magic: Dimension Gates" Sawatari's Duel Disk created the gates around him and Edo.
"Time to show you the true meaning of Dueling!" Sawatari declared.
"This time, I'll shut you up, permanently!" Edo shouted back.
"Duel!" Sawatari and Edo declared.
Edo LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Sawatari LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"I'm going first! Draw!" Edo drew his card. "I summon Destiny Hero – Die Hard Guy (ATK: 800, LV: 3)!" Edo brought out a warrior with long orange hair.
"I set one card and end my turn!" Edo finished his turn.
Edo LP: 4000, Hand: 4
Sawatari LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"My turn! Draw!" Sawatari drew his card. "I summon Abyss Actor – Pretty Heroine (ATK: 1500, LV: 4, PS: 2)!" Sawatari summoned his pretty heroine actor.
"Battle! Pretty Heroine, attack Die Hard Guy!" Pretty Heroine charged towards Die Hard Guy.
"Too easy! From my hand, I activate the effect of Destiny Hero – Dagger Guy! By sending this card from my hand to the Cemetery, all Destiny Hero monsters on my field gain 800 Attack Points until the end of this turn!" Edo discarded his card and Die Hard Guy gained power and counterattacked and destroyed Pretty Heroine.
Die Hard Guy (ATK: 800→1600)
Sawatari LP: 4000→3900
"Still being the tricky one." Sawatari said. "Then, I'll have to be trickier! When Pretty Heroine is destroyed in battle, I can set one Abyss Script Magic Card from my deck!" Sawatari grabbed a script and set it.
"And when an Abyss Actor on my field is destroyed, I can Special Summon this monster from my hand! Come! Abyss Actor – Swift Understudy (ATK: 2000, LV: 5, PS: 3)!" Sawatari summoned another actor who was kick to change his clothes and act as any character.
"It's still my Battle Phase! Swift Understudy, attack Die Hard Guy!" Swift Understudy changed into a pirate and charged in before thrusting his sword into the hero monster, damaging Edo.
Edo LP: 4000→3600
"I set one card and end my turn!" Sawatari finished.
Edo LP: 3600, Hand: 3
Sawatari LP: 3900, Hand: 3
"My turn! Draw!" Edo drew his card. "I activate the Magic Card: Fusion! I fuse Destiny Hero Drill Guy and Destiny Hero Dynamite Guy from my hand!" Both heroes entered the spiraling vortex.
"Hero that drills the earth! Hero that heroically gives his life! Become one and give birth to a new hero! Fusion Summon! Come on! Destiny Hero – Deadly Guy (ATK: 2000, LV: 6)!" Edo brought out a hero with a blue cape and armor and had a mask that looked like a dragon.
"That's a different Fusion Monster…" Sawatari prepared himself.
"Next, I summon Destiny Hero – Diamond Guy (ATK: 1400, LV: 4)!" Edo brought out the warrior covered in diamonds. "I activate Diamond Guy's effect! Once per turn, I can send the top card of my deck to the Cemetery and if it was a Normal Magic, I can send it to the Cemetery and activate its effect one my next turn! Anything else gets sent to the bottom of my deck!"
Edo drew his card. "I drew Destiny Draw!" Edo discarded the Magic Card. "Battle! Deadly Guy, attack Swift Understudy!" Deadly Guy charged.
"You're planning to destroy our monsters and then attack me with Diamond Guy." Sawatari narrowed his eyes.
"Deadly Guy's effect! Once per turn, I can send one Destiny Hero from my hand to the Cemetery to increase the Attack Points of all Destiny Heroes on my field by 200 for every Destiny Hero in my Cemetery!" Edo sent a card from his deck to the Graveyard.
"I have five Destiny Heroes in my Graveyard so my monsters gain 1000 Attack Points!" Edo shouted.
Deadly Guy (ATK: 2000→3000)
Diamond Guy (ATK: 1400→2400)
Deadly Guy struck down Swift Understudy and damaged Sawatari.
Sawatari LP: 3900→2900
"When Swift Understudy is destroyed in battle, I can add one Abyss Actor Pendulum Monster from my deck to my hand!" Sawatari added another card to his hand.
"Continue! Diamond Guy! Direct Attack Shingo Sawatari!" Diamond Guy charged and punched Sawatari in the stomach, sending him flying backwards.
Sawatari LP: 2900→500
"Sawatari!" Gongenzaka shouted.
"Man, he took some real damage there." Dennis winced.
"With this, I end my turn!" Edo finished. "At this moment, Deadly Guy's effect wins and my Destiny Heroes Attack Points return to normal.
Deadly Guy (ATK: 3000→2000)
Diamond Guy (ATK: 2400→1400)
Sawatari got back to his feet and brushed his shoulders. "So, this is you being serious. Good, I was afraid you were gonna make the same mistake twice." Sawatari smiled.
"There's no room for errors now. To protect the Fusion Dimension, I must turn all residents in this dimension into cards!" Edo declared. This confused everyone, including the Academia soldiers.
"Protect the Fusion Dimension?" Sawatari questioned.
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"Commander? What are you talking about? What's happening back home?" Noro was confused.
"Wait, you guys don't even know?" Dennis questioned.
"It's highly classified information, the only ones that know are myself and Kaiser." Edo answered.
"The Commander and Hell Kaiser, it must be serious." Noro pondered.
"Hey, shouldn't you just tell us in order to ease your troops?" Sawatari asked.
"There's no need to worry them. We have already analyzed the key players of your team. We know how to beat you; our victory is assured." Edo declared.
Edo LP: 3600, Hand: 0
Sawatari LP: 500, Hand: 4
"We'll see about that." Sawatari put his fingers on his deck. "My turn! Draw!" Sawatari drew his card. "Using the Scale 1 Abyss Actor – Devil Heel and the Scale 9 Abyss Actor – Twinkle Little Star, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Sawatari set his scale.
"With this, I can simultaneously summon monsters from Levels 2 to 8! The stage is set! Now let the spotlights of the heavens shine down on the dark underworld! Pendulum Summon! Come forth!" Three monsters came out of the portal.
"Abyss Actor – Wild Hope (ATK: 1600, LV: 4, PS: 2)! Abyss Actor – Sassy Rookie (ATK: 1700, LV: 4, PS: 2)! And Abyss Actor – Big Star (ATK: 2500, LV: 7, PS: 3)!" Sawatari summoned three monsters.
"Next, I activate my set card! Abyss Script – Opening Ceremony! For every Abyss Actor on my field, I gain 500 Life Points!" Warm light shined down on Sawatari as he opened his arms.
Sawatari LP: 500→2000
"He regained some of the Life Points the commander took from him." Noro muttered.
"Oh, did we come at a good time?" Grace appeared with Gloria.
"Wait, why are you two here?" Serena questioned.
"The evacuation was done, and we had a little change of heart." Grace smiled.
"Looks like your friend is struggling a bit against Commander Edo." Gloria crossed her arms.
"Hmph, your naïve if you think you can defeat my monsters. I activate the Trap Card: D – Resurrection! When my opponent Special Summons a monster during their turn, I'm allowed to Special Summon one Destiny Hero monster from my Cemetery! Appear! Destiny Hero – Dread Guy (ATK: ?, LV: 8)! Edo brought out the monstrous Destiny Hero from the last Duel.
"That guy again?! I thought he could only be summoned via Clock Tower Prison?" Sawatari asked.
"I can still summon him like any other monster. When this monster is Special Summoned, my Destiny Hero monsters cannot be destroyed cannot be destroyed nor do I take any Battle Damage." Edo smiled. "Also, this monster's Attack Points is determined by the total Attack Points of all Destiny Heroes on the field.
Dread Guy (ATK: ?→3400)
"Now your attacks are sealed." Edo declared.
"And you called me naïve…" Sawatari spoke confidently.
"What?" Edo glared.
"Reverse Card, open!" Sawatari played his other set card. "Emergency Costume Change! This Trap Card allows me to equip an Abyss Actor on my field with an Abyss Costume Card in my deck, but it's not allowed to attack and it's destroyed during the End Phase."
"What are you planning?" Edo questioned.
"I'll show you. I equip Sassy Rookie with the Equip Magic: Abyss Costume Diva Fever!" Sassy Rookie was now dressed as a diva. Sassy Rookie then started snapping her fingers. "Diva Fever is an Equip Magic only for Sassy Rookie."
"What's the point of that ridiculous outfit?" Edo asked.
"I activate Twinkle Little Star's Pendulum Effect! This card allows one Abyss Actor monster to attack three times this Battle Phase, but all my other monsters aren't allowed to attack, I choose Sassy Rookie!"
"Battle! Sassy Rookie, attack Dread Guy!" Sassy Rookie charged towards Dread Guy.
"What?! But Sassy Rookie's Attack Points are lower!" Gloria gasped.
"Counter Dread Guy!" Edo ordered. Dread Guy charged towards Sassy Rookie. However, Sassy Rookie snapped its fingers, making Dread Guy stop in his tracks. Sassy Rookie then gave off its diva attitude and Dread Guy couldn't handle it anymore and he disappeared.
"What?! What happened?!" Edo was shocked before he got hit by a shockwave.
Edo LP: 3600→3200
"That's the power of a diva." Sawatari posed. "When Sassy Rookie attacks, the Equip Magic: Abyss Costume Diva Fever, before damage calculation, if it attacks a monster, that monster is banished and the opponent takes 400 points of damage."
"What?!" Edo exclaimed.
"You're D-Heroes might be able to avoid destruction, but banishment is another story! And don't forget, thanks to Twinkle Little Star's Pendulum Effect, Sassy Rookie can attack three times! Go, attack Diamond Guy!" Sassy Rookie did the same thing to Diamond Guy and made him banished and dealt damage to Edo.
Edo LP: 3200→2800
"And last but not least, I attack Deadly Guy!" Sassy Rookie banished Deadly Guy and sent Edo skidding back.
Edo LP: 2800→2400
"After the Battle Phase, Diva Fever allows me to draw one card for every monster banished this turn!" Sawatari drew three cards. "I set one card and end my turn!"
Edo LP: 2400, Hand: 0
Sawatari LP: 2000, Hand: 2
"Damn you…my turn! Draw!" Edo drew his card. "At this moment, the Magic Card sent to the Cemetery by Diamond Guy's effect activates! Destiny Draw allows me to discard one Destiny Hero monster from my hand to the Cemetery to draw two cards!" Edo drew two more cards.
"Then, the Magic Card: Pot of Greed! I draw two more cards!" Edo drew two more cards. "Next, another Magic Card: Fusion Recovery! This card allows me to add one Fusion card and a Monster Card that was used for a Fusion Summon. I add Drill Guy and Fusion back to my hand!"
"Then, I activate Fusion again! I fuse Destiny Hero Drill Guy with Destiny Hero Decision Guy from my hand!" The two warriors entered the swirling vortex.
"Hero that resolved his fate of victory! Hero drilling through the bedrock we call Destiny! Become one now and reign over our dark future! Fusion Summon! Come on! Destiny Hero – Dystopia Guy (ATK: 2800, LV: 8)!" Edo summoned his ace monster.
"Dystopia Guy's effect! I inflict damage to you equal to the Attack Points of one of his Fusion Materials! Squeeze Palm!" Dystopia Guy sent a ball of energy at Sawatari.
"By sending the Abyss Costume Diva Fever to the Graveyard, for the rest of this turn, all Effect Damage is reduced to 0!" Sawatari saved himself.
"But now you can't banish my monsters! I equip Dystopia Guy with the Equip Magic: Delay Armor!" Dystopia Guy got a new weapon on his fist. "Dystopia Guy, attack Big Star! Dystopia Blow!" Dystopia Guy unleashed a blast at Big Star, damaging Sawatari.
Sawatari LP: 2000→1700
"At this moment, Delay Armor's effect destroys one monster on the opponent's field whose Level is lower than Dystopia Guy's! I destroy Wild Hope and inflict 500 points of damage to the player!" Edo shouted. The armor destroyed Wild Hope, but Sawatari was protected.
"Due to Diva Fever's effect, Effect Damage is reduced to 0." Sawatari grunted. "And then, I activate the Trap Card: New Audition! When an Abyss Actor monster on the field is destroyed, I can Special Summon an Abyss Actor from my hand to the opponent's field!"
"To my field?" Edo questioned.
"I Special Summon Abyss Actor – Makeup Artist (ATK: 0, LV: 2, PS: 10) to your field!" A fiend with a makeup kit appeared.
"I end my turn." Edo finished his turn.
"Hm? I wonder why he summoned his monster on the commander's field?" Gloria wondered.
"Oh…Gloria…are you interested in him?" Grace teased.
"D-Don't be ridiculous." Gloria tried to deny with a blush. "I'm just curious as to what he's planning. His Dueling is…interesting…"
"He's already seen Dystopia Guy in action, he is planning something, but I can't figure it out yet. Does it have anything to do with the monster he summoned on my field?" Edo wondered.
Edo LP: 2400, Hand: 0
Sawatari LP: 1700, Hand: 2
"My turn! Draw!" Sawatari drew his card. "Edo…you said that earlier that you have to protect the Fusion Dimension. Why?"
"Just start your turn." Edo glared.
"From the sound of your voice, you're scared, and I don't think that what you have to say will only just affect the Fusion Dimension. If you won't answer me, you should at least answer your soldiers. A commander is supposed to look out for his fellow warriors." Sawatari explained.
Edo looked at the troops behind him, who were curious and worried. "Very well." Edo closed his eyes. "Do you know there are multiple Duel Academias?"
"Yes. There's multiple ones and the Professor chose the Central one by kicking out Samejima." Sawatari answered.
"There's a reason why he chose that school." Edo explained. "The Central Academia houses the Three Phantasms."
"Three Phantasms?" Sawatari questioned.
"The Three Phantasms, are three monsters that unleash chaos and darkness among the world. To protect the world, they were sealed beneath Academia and locked away by Seven Gate Keys. But by defeating Samejima, the Professor gained possession of the keys. Due to the lack of life energy for the ARC-Area Project, the Professor has decided to break the seal and use the Three Phantasms." Edo explained.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out! I thought you said that those cards will bring chaos and darkness! Why would he do that?!" Sawatari exclaimed.
"I don't know, but it means one thing. The Professor wants to finish the project by any means necessary. In the state he is in, he could unleash the Three Phantasms on the Fusion Dimension first. That's why I have to win, by turning everyone in the Xyz Dimension into cards, the people of the Fusion Dimension may be spared and the Three Phantasms can remain sealed." Edo explained.
"But he has all the keys, right? He could just do it now, so why hasn't he?" Sawatari wondered.
"That's…" Edo gasped. Sawatari was right. If Leo had all the keys, he would've already unsealed the Three Phantasms, but he hasn't, so why?
"It doesn't' matter whose side I'm on anymore." Edo recalled Kaiser's words. "But I have no plans to go out quietly. I want my last moment to be where I shine my brightest. And I want that moment to be seen by people of all dimensions, the legacy of Hell Kaiser Ryo…"
"Kaiser…did you take one of the keys…that moment you're talking about…" Edo thought.
Astral World
"Now we will open the Second Gate. The Effect Gate deals with skill. Everyone has a skill that unique to them, a skill makes other people look at you with envy, admiration and even jealousy. Yuya, what skill do you possess?" Astral asked.
"My skill is…I don't know." Yuya admitted. "I can perform multiple summon methods, but that's not really a skill. Even with the creation of the Pendulum Summon, I wouldn't call that a skill either."
"That's good to hear. Those things are not really skills, they were achieved through hard work and training along with a desire to become stronger. Your skill is something that comes natural to you? Let me ask you something, when you meet someone new, what do you try to do?"
"I…would want to get to know them. Either by words or by with Dueling." Yuya answered. "I want to make a connection with them."
"That is a skill. You always want to see what a single individual is all about. And by learning about them through words and Dueling, you make a connection, whether it's in the form of friends, rivals, enemies or even love." Astral explained. Yuya smiled as he remembered his connection with the Dimension Guardians as well as everyone he has met through the Standard, Synchro and Xyz Dimension. Yuya then felt a change in his heart.
"Excellent work." Astral praised. "You opened the Effect Gate."
Sawatari vs Edo
"Edo, even if the Professor does break the seal. We're not gonna stand by and let him do what he pleases. I set one card!" Sawatari set a card.
Suddenly, the Makeup Artist on Edo's field threw powder on Sawatari's card and destroyed it. "What?" Edo questioned.
"Makeup Artist's effect! When the opponent sets a card on the field, she automatically destroys it. Fortunately, it was just the card I wanted destroyed. The Continuous Magic: Abyss Script – Abysstainment! When this set card is destroyed by an opponent's card effect while I have a Pendulum Monster in my Extra Deck, I can Special Summon any number of Abyss Actor Pendulum Monster from my deck!" Sawatari grabbed four cards from his deck.
"As many as you want?!" Edo's eyes widened.
"Come! The brains behind the shows of the Abyss Actors entertainment! Abyss Actor – Stern Director (ATK: 1400, LV: 4, PS: 3)!" A fiend appeared and shouted cut into a megaphone.
"Abyss Actor – Storyboard Artist (ATK: 800, LV: 3, PS: 6)!" Sawatari summoned a fiend that drew pictures.
"Abyss Actor – Vocal Coach (ATK: 500, LV: 2, PS: 7)!" A field appeared and sang in a soprano voice.
"And Tuner Monster, Abyss Actor – Audition Judge (ATK: 2300, LV: 6, PS: 1)!" Sawatari brought out a fiend with two stamps that said yes and no.
"He now has five monsters on the field…" Gloria leaned closer towards the cage to get a closer look.
"What pathetic monsters…" Edo glared. "Duels are not entertainment! They're for gaining power through a battle!"
"Heh…" Sawatari chuckled. "It's like I'm talking my old self. I used the think the same way. I only cared about power and winning. But now I know there's more to Dueling than power and entertainment. And that is…" Sawatari punched his own chest. "To shine so bright that you create a legacy for everyone to follow!"
"A legacy…" Edo repeated.
"Let me show you a Duel that is Shingo Sawatari's own style! And you will return the favor by showing me the Duel of Edo Phoenix, not Academia!" Sawatari smiled. "Though, you might have to wait for our rematch."
"What?" Edo growled.
"I activate Abyss Actor – Audition Judge's effect! When I perform a Synchro Summon, I can use Abyss Actor monsters on either players field as materials! I'm Tuning the Level 2 Makeup Artist on your field with my Level 6 Audition Judge!"
Audition Judge stamped yes on a paper and became six rings while Makeup Artist flew through them and became two stars. "Actor that dreams to sail the open seas! Raise your sail and become the king of the pirates! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 8! Abyss Actor – Pirate King (ATK: 3000, LV: 8)!" Sawatari summoned a fiend wearing pirate gear, a gold tooth and a long sword.
"And why stop there? I activate Vocal Coach's effect! I can perform a Fusion Summon without using a Fusion card!" Sawatari added.
"What?! Fusion without a Fusion card?!" Edo gasped.
"I fuse Vocal Coach with Storyboard Artist!" The two monsters went into the spiraling vortex. "Coach that expands the vocal cords! Artist that tells incredible stories! Merge your talents together and become an actor that excels in everything! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 5! Abyss Actor – Legendary Hero (ATK: 1900, LV: 5)!" Sawatari summoned an actor dressed as a superhero with blue cape and red tights.
"And last but not least, as it would be rude not to do it here, I Overlay my Level 4 Sassy Rookie and Stern Director!" The two monsters turned into purple lights and entered the spacelike portal in front of Sawatari.
"Actor that is swift like the wind, quiet as the forest, invades like fire, immovable like the mountain, appear on the stage and take the spotlight! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Abyss Actor – Samurai Ninja (ATK: 2400, RNK: 4, OVU: 2)!" An actor dressed as a samurai but with a ninja headband appeared with a katana.
"A Synchro, Fusion and Xyz Summon in one turn…" Gloria was amazed.
Edo gritted his teeth but then smiled. "While impressive, it's not enough. My Delay Armor's effect prevents Dystopia Guy from being destroyed in battle. And the only monster strong enough is your Pirate King."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Sawatari wagged his finger. "You seem to have forgotten that power isn't everything. A lesson I learned the hard way if I might add."
"I activate Samurai Ninja's effect! By using one Overlay Unit, by halving his Attack Points, it can attack the player directly!" Sawatari revealed.
"What?!" Edo gasped.
Samurai Ninja (OVU: 2→1, ATK: 2400→1200)
"Go! Samurai Ninja! Direct Attack Edo Phoenix! Invisible Slash!" Samurai Ninja disappeared so fast and appeared behind Edo, with his sword unsheathed. Edo gasped as he fell to his knees.
Edo LP: 2400→1200
"Next, to attack is my Pirate King, but his diet is composed plundering and pilfering so in order for him to attack, I must pay 1000 Life Points! Here you go." Sawatari gave his Life Points to Pirate King.
Sawatari LP: 1700→700
"Go, Pirate King, attack Dystopia Guy!" Pirate King charged in and hit the Delay Armor.
"Delay Armor's effect, Dystopia Guy isn't destroyed!" Edo shouted.
"But you take damage!" Sawatari smiled and Edo was blown back.
Edo LP: 1200→1000
"And now, Legendary Hero, attack Dystopia Guy!" Legendary Hero flew towards Dystopia Guy.
"Don't' tell me he has an effect too?" Edo gritted his teeth.
"That's right! When Legendary Hero attacks, when there has been a change in my Life Points, its Attack Points increase by that difference! Since I paid 1000 points for Pirate King to attack, Legendary Hero gains 1000 Attack Points!" Sawatari declared.
Legendary Hero (ATK: 1900→2900)
Legendary Hero attacked Dystopia Guy but Delay Armor protected him from being destroyed, but Edo still took damage.
Edo LP: 1000→900
"Impressive, but I still have Life Points, and you significantly reduced yours. Your Synchro Monster was your downfall. All I have to do is attack your pathetic Fusion Monster and I won. Your legacy is nothing!" Edo said.
"Wait, you thought this was my legacy? Oh, no. There are other people who can do multiple summon methods in one turn. No, I mean this!" Sawatari held up a card in his hand and a giant gold pendulum appeared in the sky.
"Wh-What is this?!" Edo questioned.
"This monster can't be Normal Summoned but I can Special Summon it the total Scale Value of Pendulum Monsters in my Extra Deck exceeds the total Scale Value of the Pendulum Monsters in my Pendulum Scale."
"With Scale 1 Evil Heel and Scale 9 Twinkle Little Star, the total is 10." Serena analyzed.
"But Sawatari's Extra Deck is full of Pendulum Monsters, so the total has to exceed that." Dennis said.
"It is because he used Makeup Artist as Synchro Material, she went to the Extra Deck and she had a scale of 10 already." Gongenzaka recalled.
"So, he already exceeded the limit when he first Synchro Summoned." Gloria was amazed by Sawatari's move.
"I think my sister found her Yuya." Grace smiled.
"Yuya has Overscale Pendulum. Reiji has Transcendental Pendulum! This is my Pendulum!" Sawatari shouted. "Accumulation Pendulum! Come forth! Level 11! Abyss Actor – Oscar Winner (ATK: 4000, LV: 11, PS: 13)!" Sawatari summoned a tall actor that was dressed as a secret agent and pulled out two twin guns.
"That's right, I'm gonna shine! I'll create a legacy that's my own! A legacy that surpasses Yuya and Reiji!" Sawatari jumped in the air as the golden light of the Pendulum shined one him. "The Legacy of Shingo Sawatari will be forever etched in Dueling History!"
"Sawatari! Sawatari! Sawatari! Sawatari!"
All the fighting in Heartland came to a halt as everyone heard chanting, but no one's mouth was moving.
"Sawatari! Sawatari! Sawatari! Sawatari!"
"Hey, am I hearing things?" Dennis cleaned his ears.
"No, I hear them too." Gongenzaka was surprised as well.
"This is…your own legacy…" Edo muttered.
"Battle! Oscar Winner, attack Dystopia Guy! Twin Bullet Barrage!" Oscar Winner fired multiple bullets from his guns and Dystopia Guy was still protected but the difference in their strength determined the match and Edo fell to his knees.
Edo LP: 900→0
Winner: Shingo Sawatari
The cage and the gates disappeared and some of the clouds in the sky parted to reveal the clear blue wonder.
Sawatari posed with his finger pointed upwards. "Let's continue this momentum!" Sawatari declared. Serena, Gongenzaka and Dennis smiled in agreement.
"I lost…" Edo muttered. "But…" Edo smiled.
"Here." Sawatari held out his hand. "Next time, show me your Dueling, not Academia's."
"You're not…gonna turn me into a card?" Edo questioned.
"You want to protect the Fusion Dimension, right?" Sawatari asked. "We're called the Dimension Guardians remember, so we're gonna protect all of them. The only thing we're gonna destroy is the Professor's ARC Area Project. Join us and use those Destiny Heroes to save your home from the Professor."
Edo looked at Sawatari's hand and then looking at the other Dimension Guardians. "Honestly, I'm still conflicted. I don't know who to trust now." Edo admitted.
"What do you mean?" Sawatari asked.
"When you asked me why the Professor hasn't unsealed the Three Phantasms, that got me thinking. He probably hasn't because he doesn't have all the keys. Someone must have taken one of them."
"Who would take them?" Gongenzaka asked.
"Only someone who is close to the Professor and the only people would be Yusho Sakaki and…Kaiser." Edo admitted.
"Well, it can't be Yusho, guys hellbent on destroying Yuya, so he would want the Three Phantasms unleashed." Sawatari pointed out. "But why would Kaiser do that, doesn't he want revenge on Kaito for sealing his brother into a card."
"Wait, what?" Edo questioned. "What are you talking about?"
"Kaito, a Duelist from the Xyz Dimension, turned Kaiser's little brother, Sho Marufuji into a card." Serena explained.
"But that can't be right, Sho Marufuji is in the hospital back in the Fusion Dimension. Kaiser has been visiting him every day along with his new friend, Haruto." Edo revealed.
"Wait, Haruto?" Dennis was shocked. "That's Kaito's little brother. I thought Kaiser sealed him into a card."
"Kaiser…what did you do?" Edo was confused.
Just then, a bright flash of red light hit the area around the group and appearing in front of them was Alito. "Time for me to go wild!" Alito declared in his Barian Form.
Fusion Dimension – Academia
"You know for being a genius, your kind of a dumbass." Yusho insulted Leo.
"If he's a dumbass then you're a mindless moron. You fell for his lies too." Eve pointed out.
"Well Miss Smarty-pants, why didn't you say anything!" Yusho called Eve out, who didn't answer. "Ha, you fell for his tricks too! Who's the idiot now!" Yusho insulted, earning a punch in the face from Eve.
Leo ignored their bickering as he saw footage of Kaiser taking one of the Spirit Keys, extracting the cards from his machine and turning people back to normal. Leo clenched his fist before punching the screen that had Kaiser's face.
"You two…get Prisoner 001." Leo ordered in anger.
"Geez, what crawled up your butt and died?" Yusho complained.
"Shut up." Eve punched Yusho again.
"Hell Kaiser…Yuya Ryuga…I'll end you both!" Leo declared.
Well, what did you all think of the chapter. Let me know what you think of it in the reviews.
Thanks for reading and I will see you next time.
Preview: The Barians enter the fight, defeating both Academia Soldiers and Resistance Members with no hesitation. To combat the power of the Barians, a temporary alliance between the Dimension Guardians and Academia is formed. However, Nash and Vector have plans Ruri and Kaito.
Next Time: An Unusual Alliance