Here is Chapter 22 of the Xyz Arc. Get ready for more action and heavy emotions. Hard to believe that in two more days, it would have been a year since I started making this fanfiction. What a journey it has been and there is still more to come.
A huge thank you to those who have read this chapter from the beginning and continued to support me. I never would've gotten this far without you all.
Well, let's get on with the chapter.
Chapter 22: The Dangers of Sorrow and Loss
Duel Lodge – Side Cliffs
"Field Magic: Dimension Gates." Rin's Duel Disk created the gates around her, Jim and Yuya.
"Duel!" Rin, Jim and Yuya declared.
Rin LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Jim LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Yuya LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"Rin, I know he's important to you, but if we're gonna snap him out of it, we're gonna have to really defeat him. That means no holding back." Jim advised.
"I know, Jim. Yuya say the same thing." Rin agreed. "Yuya…you saved me and you helped my home dimension change for the better. I promised to always be there for you, now I'm going to keep that promise."
"My turn! Draw!" Rin drew her cards. "When I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Wind Witch – Ice Bell (ATK: 1000, LV: 3)!" Rin summoned her witch. "When this card is summoned, the opponent takes 500 points of damage!" Ice Bell released a cold burst at the unfazed Yuya.
Yuya LP: 4000→3500
"Next, when I have a Wind Witch monster on my field, I can Special Summon Wind Witch – Ice Apprentice (ATK: 400, LV: 2)!" Rin summoned another tiny witch.
"Here comes more, Yuya! I summon the Tuner Monster, Wind Witch – Cold Front (ATK: 100, LV: 1)!" Rin summoned a tiny witch that created a burst of cold wind.
"When Cold Front is Normal Summoned, I can increase the Level of one Wind Witch monster on my field by one, I increase Ice Apprentice's Level!" Rin had her Apprentice level up.
Ice Apprentice (LV: 2→3)
"I'm Tuning my Level 3 Ice Bell and Level 3 Ice Apprentice with my Level 1 Cold Front!" Cold Front turned into a single green ring and Ice Bell and Ice Apprentice flew through it.
"With your beautiful wings that change along with the seasons, strike down the enemies that pollute your territory! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Wind Witch – Cyclone Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 7)!" Rin summoned her ace dragon.
"I set three cards and end my turn!" Rin set the rest of her hand.
Rin LP: 4000, Hand: 0
Jim LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Yuya LP: 3500, Hand: 5
"My turn! Draw!" Jim started his turn. "I summon Shell Knight (DEF: 2000, LV: 4) in Defense Position!" Jim summoned a rock monster that took a defensive stance.
"When Shell Knight is successfully summoned, the opponent takes 500 points of damage! Shell Burst!" Shell Knight fired the shells from its back and they struck Yuya but he remained unfazed.
Yuya LP: 3500→3000
"I set one card and end my turn!" Jim finished his turn.
Rin LP: 4000, Hand: 0
Jim LP: 4000, Hand: 4
Yuya LP: 3000, Hand: 5
"My turn! Draw!" Yuya drew his card. "Using the Scale 5 Odd-Eyes Sniper and the Scale 8 Odd-Eyes Arc Pendulum Dragon, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Yuya set his scale and his warrior sniper and Normal-Pendulum Odd-Eyes monster appeared in columns of blue light.
However, instead of a blue pendulum, a black pendulum appeared in the sky.
"With this, I can simultaneously summon Level 6 and 7 monsters. Swing, pendulum of destruction! Swing until there is nothing left of this world! Pendulum Summon! Come forth, my servants!" The dark pendulum opened a portal and two monsters came out.
"Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 7, PS: 4)! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 7, PS: 4)!" Yuya summoned his two dragons that were counterparts of each other.
"Battle! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, attack Shell Knight! Spiral Strike Burst!" Odd-Eyes unleashed its breath attack.
"Too easy! I activate my Trap Card: Reactive Armor! It destroys one attacking monster! I destroy Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" Jim's trap destroyed Odd-Eyes.
"Fool…Odd-Eye's Arc Pendulum Dragon's Pendulum Effect activates! When an Odd-Eyes monster gets destroyed, I can Special Summon an Odd-Eyes monster from my hand, deck or Graveyard! I Special Summon Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon (ATK: 2800, LV: 7) from my deck!" Yuya summoned the light evolved version of Odd-Eyes.
"Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon, attack Shell Knight!" Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon unleashed its green ball of energy attack and it destroyed Shell Knight and Jim took damage.
Jim LP: 4000→3200
"I took damage even though my monster was in Defense Position?" Jim questioned.
"Odd-Eyes Sniper's Pendulum Effect allows my Odd-Eyes monsters to deal piercing damage." Yuya said. "Furthermore, Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon's effect activates! When it destroys a monster in battle, it can destroy one other monster on the field, I destroy Wind Witch – Cyclone Dragon!" Saber Dragon unleashed a blast towards Cyclone Dragon.
"Continuous Trap: Cyclone Wall! This card prevents one Dragon-type Synchro Monster from being destroyed by card effects and increase its Attack Points by 500!" Rin used one of her Traps to protect her monster.
Wind Witch – Cyclone Dragon (ATK: 2500→3000)
"With this, you can no longer attack." Rin said.
"Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon, attack Wind Witch – Cyclone Dragon!" Yuya ordered and his monster charged in.
"What?!" Rin gasped.
"From my hand, I activate the Quick-Play Magic: Rage of the Dual Eyes. When an Odd-Eyes monster attacks, by returning one face-up Odd-Eyes Pendulum Monster from my Extra Deck to the deck, I can increase its Attack Points by the Level of the returned monster times 100! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon's Level is 7, so Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon gains 700 Attack Points!"
Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon (ATK: 2500→3200)
"Spiral Phantom Force!" Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon unleashed its breath attack on Cyclone Dragon.
"By sending Cyclone Wall to the Graveyard, Cyclone Dragon isn't destroyed and the opponent takes 500 points of damage!" Rin protected her dragon and damaged Yuya.
Yuya LP: 3000→2500
"Even so, you take damage and your monster's Attack Points goes down!" Yuya reminded Rin and she grunted.
Rin LP: 4000→3800
Cyclone Dragon (ATK: 3000→2500)
"Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon's effect! When it inflicts battle damage, I can inflict damage equal to the number of Odd-Eyes cards in my Pendulum Zone times 1200! With two, you take 2400 points of damage! Phantom Force!" Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon unleashed a blast on Rin and she screamed in pain.
Rin LP: 3800→1400
"Rin!" Jim called out in worry.
"I set one card and end my turn!" Yuya set his last card on the field.
Zarc vs Yuri
"Duel!" Zarc and Yuri declared.
Zarc LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Yuri LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"I'll be going first! Draw!" Zarc drew his card.
"What deck will he be using now?" Yuri narrowed his eyes.
"I summon Elemental Hero – Bubbleman (ATK: 800, LV: 4)!" Zarc summoned a warrior in blue armor and white cape. "When Bubbleman is summoned while there are no other cards on my field, I draw two more cards!" Zarc drew two more cards.
"I activate Fusion!" Zarc showed a familiar card. "I fuse the Bubbleman on my field with the Elemental Hero – Clayman in my hand!" A warrior made of clay appeared next to Bubbleman.
"Hero of Water! Hero of the Earth! Merge together and become a stronger warrior with a strong defense! Fusion Summon!" Zarc put his hands together. "Come on! Level 6! Elemental Hero – Mudballman (DEF: 3000, LV: 6)!" Appearing was a warrior made of hard mud who took a defensive stance.
"I set two cards and end my turn!" Zarc finished his turn.
Zarc LP: 4000, Hand: 3
Yuri LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"Impressive defense…but to me it's child's play. My turn! Draw!" Yuri drew his card. "I activate the Magic Card: Fusion! From my hand, I fuse Predator Plants Sarraceniant and Predator Plants Easter Lily Lizard!"
"Two flowers that release a deadly poison, become one and become a large plant that eats even the mightiest of animals! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 7! Predator Plants Chimerafflesia (ATK: 2500, LV: 7)!" Yuri summoned a large plant with two vine mouths and flower mouth.
"Ew…" Ray cringed from the plant's appearance.
"You should be disgusted because of Chimerafflesia's effect! Once per turn, I can select one monster on the field whose Level is equal or less than this card and banish it! I banish Mudballman!" Chimerafflesia went to consume the large warrior.
"Quick-Play Magic: Fusion Cancel! I return Mudballman to the Extra Deck and Special Summon Bubbleman (DEF: 1200, LV: 4) and Clayman (DEF: 2000, LV: 4) in Defense Position!" Zarc summoned back the original form of the heroes.
"Oh, so you avoided that. Oh well, guess I have to improvise. From my hand, I activate the Continuous Magic: Predator Feast! As long as this card is on the field, all Plant-type monsters on my field are allowed to inflict piercing damage!
"Battle! Chimerafflesia, attack Bubbleman! When Chimerafflesia attacks a monster, the opposing monster loses 1000 Attack Points while Chimerafflesia gains 1000 Attack Points!"
Chimerafflesia (ATK: 2500→3500)
Chimerafflesia ate poor Bubbleman and inflicted damage to Zarc.
Zarc LP: 4000→1700
"I set one card and end my turn!" Yuri finished his turn. "At this point, Chimerafflesia's Attack Points return to normal.
Chimerafflesia (ATK: 3500→2500)
"Heh, guess it was just like that you defeated Yugo." Yuri smirked.
"Don't get cocky…" Zarc grunted as he put his fingers on his deck. "The counterattack begins now!"
Xyz Dimension – Beachside
In a burst of confetti, Yusho, Asuka and Johan appeared on the beach, far away from Heartland.
"Oh, looks like I picked up a stray." Yusho pushed both Asuka and Johan off of him. "Be a good boy and stay." A seal appeared below Johan's feet, preventing him from moving.
"You coward!" Johan yelled.
"I don't have time for you, Yusho!" Asuka glared at Yusho. "Take me back to Heartland! Yuya and Rio need me."
"Yeah…no." Yusho said. "See, if those two in their out-of-control state were to meet, what would happen? Boom, two dead enemies and a clear advantage for our side. Ah, don't you just love when your enemies take each out."
"Shut up!" Asuka had enough and went to punch Yusho in the face, only for him to pop like a balloon.
"Sheesh, someone has a temper." The real Yusho appeared behind Asuka. "That being said, I can't let you go." Yusho activated his Duel Disk and fired an anchor at Asuka to prevent her from leaving.
"Asuka!" Johan wanted to help out but the seal prevented him.
"Look, I'm a nice guy. Let me help you release some of that tensed up stress." Yusho smiled happily.
"Oh, you're gonna get more than my stress!" Asuka activated her Duel Disk.
"Field Magic: Dimension Gates." The gates appeared around Yusho and Asuka.
"Duel!" Asuka and Yusho declared.
Asuka LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Yusho LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"I'm going first! Draw!" Asuka drew her card. "I summon Cyber Tutu (ATK: 1000, LV: 3)!" Asuka summoned her warrior dancer. "I set two cards and end my turn!"
Asuka LP: 4000, Hand: 3
Yusho LP: 4000, Hand: 5
"My turn! Draw!" Yusho drew his card and took two of them. "With the Scale 2 Entermate Gongcat and the Scale 6 Entermate Lizardraw, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Yusho set his Pendulum Scale.
"With this, I can simultaneously summon monsters from Levels 3 to 5! Pendulum Summon! Appear!" The portal opened and two monsters came out.
"Entermate Fireflux (ATK: 1200, LV: 4, PS: 5)! And Entermate Dag Daggerman (ATK: 2000, LV: 5, PS: 2)! Yusho summoned a performer with multiple daggers and a bug that looked like a light bulb.
"Battle! Dag Daggerman, attack Cyber Tutu!" Dag Daggerman threw his knives at Cyber Tutu.
"I activate my Quick-Play Magic—" Asuka was gonna play her set card.
"Too bad for you, Entermate Fireflux prevents the opponent from activating Magic or Trap Cards when an Entermate monster attacks!" Yusho revealed and Dag Daggerman's knives pierced Cyber Tutu, destroying her and damaging Asuka.
Asuka LP: 4000→3000
"Fireflux! Direct Attack!" Fireflux flew in and struck Asuka, knocking her off her feet.
Asuka LP: 3000→1800
"No!" Johan cried out.
"I activate Lizardraw's Pendulum Effect! I draw one card and then shuffle this card back into the deck." Yusho drew a card and Lizardraw disappeared.
"I set one card and end my turn." Yusho finished his turn. "Well, what di you think of the show? It was entertaining, wasn't it?"
Asuka LP: 1800, Hand: 3
Yusho LP: 4000, Hand: 2
Asuka grunted as she sat up. "Damn you…" Asuka cursed.
"Look, all I'm doing is helping you." Yusho said. "I mean, you were on our side. Thanks to you we killed three of those worthless scumbags and now the last one is on the cusp of dying. So, just do us all a service and complete your mission by letting him die."
"Shut up!" Asuka yelled. "I refuse to let Yuya die! And I won't let Rio die either, I'll save both of them and I'll start by getting you out of my way! My turn! Draw!" Asuka drew her card in anger.
"I summon Cyber Petit Angel (ATK: 300, LV: 2)!" Asuka summoned a little fairy. "When this card is summoned, I can add Machine Angel Ritual to my hand!" Asuka added the card to her hand.
"I activate the Ritual Magic: Machine Angel Ritual! I release Cyber Petit Angel on my field along with the Cyber Angel Idaten from my hand!" The altar appeared in front of Asuka and her two monsters turned into eight flames.
"Angel of light hiding a warrior's strength! Appear before us with your beauty and grace! Ritual Summon! Descend! Level 8! Cyber Angel – Dakini (ATK: 2700, LV: 8)!" Asuka summoned her Cyber Angel with multiple arms.
"When Cyber Angel – Dakini is Ritual Summoned, my opponent has to select one monster they control and destroy it!" Asuka shouted.
"I destroy Fireflux." Yusho chose to destroy his bug.
"Also, since I released Idaten to Ritual Summon, her effect lets all Cyber Angel Ritual monsters on my field gain 1000 Attack Points and Defense Points!"
Dakini (ATK: 2700→3700, DEF: 2400→3400
"Battle! Dakini, attack Dag Daggerman!" Asuka ordered.
"I activate my Trap Card: Entertainment Flash! When I have an Entermate monster on the field, I change all my opponent's monsters to Defense Position!" Yusho played his set card.
"Counter Trap: Angel's Halo! When a Cyber Angel monster is targeted by a Magic or Trap Card, I can negate that card's activation and destroy it!" Asuka destroyed Yusho's Trap and Dakini struck down Dag Daggerman and making Yusho take damage.
Yusho LP: 4000→2300
"I set one card and end my turn!" Asuka finished her turn. "You won't stop me from getting back to my friends!"
Byron Laboratory
As more and more reinforcements from the Standard Dimension and Synchro Dimension started to arrive, Kaiba was in deep thought as he looked at the Duels that were happening.
"The timing is too good." Kaiba thought. "For Yusho to appear just as Yuya and Rio lost control of themselves."
"Sir, we have a report from Dimension Drone 42 in the Fusion Dimension." Isono said. "Another army is preparing to depart with Leo Akaba as the vanguard!"
"The head is finally moving." Kaiba said. "Were you able to get any data on him?"
"Yes, sir…but…I have a feeling that there's more to the data that meets the eye." Isono said.
"We have to learn all of his tactics. Let me know as soon as he arrives here. I'll Duel him." Kaiba said.
"Get in line." Kaiser got up from his bed and ripped all the medical bandages on him. "I'm gonna be the one Dueling him."
"What makes you think I'll agree?" Kaiser asked.
"Heh…you have to give a dead man one last wish." Kaiser grunted. "Even with your technology, nothing can save me. I'm going on my own terms and if I have to cut you down, so be it."
Kaiba sighed before turning back to the screens. "At least thank the comrades who fought alongside you until now." Kaiba said.
Kaiser grinned as he grabbed his Duel Disk and walked out of the laboratory.
Yuya vs Rin and Jim
Rin LP: 1400, Hand: 0
Jim LP: 3200, Hand: 4
Yuya LP: 2500, Hand: 0
Rin grunted as she got back to her feet. "What power…" Rin looked at the menacing glare that Yuya was giving off, but she noticed that there was a hint of sadness. "Yuya…what's going on with you?"
"Rin, if we're going to get through to Yuya, we have to inflict big damage to him." Jim said. "Maybe then, the Eye of Orichalcum can tell us what's going on with him.
"Okay, Jim." Rin nodded. "My turn! Draw!" Rin drew her card. "I summon the Tuner Monster, Wind Witch – Sand Bell (ATK: 0, LV: 1)!" Rin summoned a small bell that was made of sand.
"I'm Tuning my Level 7 Cyclone Dragon with my Level 1 Sand Bell!" Sand Bell turned into a single green ring and Cyclone Dragon flew through them and became seven stars.
"Dragon of the wind, gain the climate of the desert and unleash a storm that blinds all who cross it! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 8! Wind Witch – Sandstorm Dragon (ATK: 3000, LV: 8)!" Rin summoned an evolved version of Cyclone Dragon that had the colors of a cactus and other desert plants as well as releasing sand in the air.
"When Sandstorm Dragon is Synchro Summoned, the effects of all face-up Magic and Trap cards are negated!" Sandstorm Dragon unleashed a sand tornado that trapped Odd-Eyes Sniper and Odd-Eyes Arc Pendulum Dragon.
"Yes! Now he can't Special Summon another Odd-Eyes or inflict piercing damage!" Jim smiled.
"Battle! Wind Witch – Sandstorm Dragon, attack Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon! Sand Cyclone!" Sandstorm Dragon created a cyclone of sand that dried up Saber Dragon's skin and destroyed it.
Yuya LP: 2500→2300
"There's more to that! When Sandstorm Dragon destroys a monster in battle, I can destroy another monster on the opponent's field and inflict its Attack Points as damage! I destroy Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon!"
"I activate my Trap Card: Holy Elf's Blessing! This card increases by Life Points by 300 for every monster on the field, with two, I gain 600 Life Points!"
Yuya LP: 2300→2900
Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon was destroyed by more sand and Yuya was blown back and he hit the ground hard.
Yuya LP: 2900→400
"Eye of Orichalcum! Let us save our friend!" Jim's eyes glowed and it blinded Yuya as he remained on the ground. Rin covered her eyes from the light.
"Ow…" Crow finally regained consciousness.
"So bright…" Aki shielded her eyes.
"What's going on?" Kenzan was confused.
Yuya's Mind – Top of the Tower
When the light died down, Jim, Rin, Crow, Aki and Kenzan were at the top of the tower in Yuya's mind.
"What's this place?" Rin looked around.
"Hey look there." Crow pointed at a screen. It was showing Zarc Dueling Yuri.
"The counterattack starts now!" Zarc declared. "I'm going to save my son!"
"That's Yuya's real father…Zarc…" Rin realized.
"And that woman must be his mother, Ray…she's so beautiful." Aki complimented.
"They must be on their way here but those guys are getting in their way." Crow said.
"Wow, the real Dragon Soldiers…" Kenzan was in awe. "But wait, shouldn't they be working together instead of fighting?"
"Why?"
The others saw Yuya on the ground with his hand covering his face. "Why does this keep happening to me?"
"My friends…the people I love…?" Yuya trembled.
A dying Kazama appeared in front of the group. "You're a good man…I wish…I could've seen you and the others…change Neo Domino City…I entrust my future to you…"
A dying Godwin then appeared with a sobbing Rua. "You're not gonna die! I'm not gonna let you die! You can't die!" Rua cried loudly as his grandfather passed in front of him.
A sobbing Asuka appeared holding her brother, who was a victim of Academia's experiments appeared next. "Big Brother…"
A sad Rio holding the accessories of her best friends appeared next. She tried to keep it together but a few tears did escape her eyes.
"Not just me…my friends…why do they have to suffer! Why do we lose the people we love!"
What appeared next, shocked the others. It was another Yuya holding a still Ruri. "Ruri! Ruri!" Ruri didn't respond as there was no heartbeat.
"Ruri…" Rin covered her mouth as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Is this the reason he lost control?" Jim wondered. The red light shined once more.
Yuya vs Rin and Jim
The others returned back to the battlefield. "Jim…" Rin looked at Jim who nodded. Rin then wiped her tears.
"The Eye of Orichalcum guided us to your true self, Yuya." Jim said. "So, what made you become this was the tragedy of losing the people you care about as well as watching your friends suffer losses similar to yours? You desire to destroy everything was because of those tragedies."
"But even so…we must endure and continue living! You can't give up on this world, Yuya! I'll show you that there's still something worth fighting for!" Jim punched is fist out.
Rin LP: 1400, Hand: 0
Jim LP: 3000, Hand: 4
Yuya LP: 400, Hand: 0
"My turn! Draw!" Jim drew his card. "From my hand, I activate Fossil Fusion! I banish Shell Knight from my Graveyard along with the Odd-Eyes Saber Dragon from your Graveyard and fuse!"
"Dragon with multitude of blades, become one with knight of shells and give rebirth to an extinct species! Fusion Summon! Let's go! Level 10! Wizarding Fossil Dragon – Hungarian Horntail (ATK: 3300, LV: 10)!" Jim summoned a large fossilized dragon.
"We still need you, Yuya! We need the Dragon Soldier to return! There are multiple kids back in the Fusion Dimension that wait for the hero to return!" Jim shouted.
"D-Dragon Soldier…" Yuya uttered. "H-Hero…"
"Yuya!" Rin started to gain hope. "Jim, hurry!"
"Hungarian Horntail! Direct Attack! Fire of Hell!" Jim shouted and the Hungarian Horntail unleashed its attack towards Yuya. "Come back! Yuya!" The attack created a huge explosion.
Everyone shielded themselves from the attack before it started to calm down.
"Did he do it?" Crow asked.
"I can't see." Aki tried to look.
The smoke started to die down and Yuya was still standing.
Yuya LP: 400→200
"What?!" Jim gasped.
"By banishing Rage of the Dual Eyes as well as one Odd-Eyes Pendulum monster in my Extra Deck from the game, I can pay half my Life Points to reduce all instance of damage to 0. Then, I draw one card for every 1000 points of damage that I would've taken. Your direct attack would've given me 3300 points of damage, so I draw three cards." Yuya drew three cards.
"I set one card and end my turn." Jim finished his turn.
Zarc vs Yuri
Zarc LP: 1700, Hand: 3
Yuri LP: 4000, Hand: 1
"My turn! Draw!" Zarc drew his card. "I activate the Magic Card: Pot of Greed! I draw two cards from my deck!" Zarc drew his cards.
"I activate the Field Magic: Fusion Gate! This card allows me to perform Fusion Summons by banishing the materials! From my hand, I fuse Featherman and Burst Lady!" The heroes of wind and fire entered the spiraling vortex.
"Hero of wind! Hero of fire! Become one and create a new hero that embodies flames and gusts! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level 6! Elemental Hero Flame Wingman (ATK: 2100, LV: 6)!" Zarc summoned a hero with a dragon mouth for an arm and one wing.
"I use Fusion Gate's effect once more!" Zarc shouted.
"A Double Fusion?" Yuri raised an eyebrow.
"I fuse Flame Wingman with the Sparkman in my hand!" Flame Wingman and another Hero of lightning entered the spiraling vortex.
"Hero of flames and wind, merge with the hero of light and create a light to shine through the deepest darkness! Fusion Summon! Let's go! Level 8! Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 2500, LV: 8)!" Zarc brought out a green skinned hero with armor that released a blinding light.
"Too bright…" Yuri shielded his eyes.
"Shining Flare Wingman gains 300 Attack Points for every Elemental Hero in my Graveyard!" Zarc revealed and Shining Flare Wingman gained more power.
Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 2500→2800)
"Battle! Shining Flare Wingman, attack Chimerafflesia!" Shining Flare Wingman charged towards the vicious plant.
"Did you forget?! When Chimerafflesia is involved in battle, its Attack Points increase by 1000 and the opponent's decrease by 1000!" Yuri reminded Zarc.
"I knew that! I activate my Trap Card: Amanojaku's Curse! This card reversed all increases and decreases of Attack and Defense Points this turn!" Zarc revealed.
"What?!" Yuri gasped.
"Even though Shining Flare Wingman will lose 300 Attack Points from its own effect, Chimerafflesia's effect will increase Shining Flare Wingman's Attack Points and decrease its own!" Zarc said.
Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 2800→3200)
Chimerafflesia (ATK: 2500→1500)
"Shining Flare Wingman! Shining Shoot!" Zarc shouted as Shining Flare Wingman destroyed Chimerafflesia and damaged Yuri.
Yuri LP: 4000→2300
"Next, when Shining Flare Wingman destroys a monster in battle, the opponent takes damage equal to the destroys monster's Attack Points!" Zarc added. Shining Flare Wingman released more light on Yuri and he screamed.
Yuri LP: 2300→800
"Alright, Zarc!" Ray cheered.
"Not yet! I activate my Trap Card: Venom Calling! When a Predator Plant Fusion monster is destroyed, I'm allowed to Special Summon Starve Venom Fusion Dragon from my Extra Deck with its effects negated! Come! Starve Venom (ATK: 2800, LV: 8)!" Yuri brought out the Fusion Dragon.
"Starve Venom…" Zarc looked at his dragon. "I set one card and end my turn. At this moment, Amanojaku's curse ends and all Attack and Defense Points return."
Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 3200→2800)
Zarc LP: 1700, Hand: 0
Yuri LP: 800, Hand: 1
"My turn! Draw!" Yuri drew his card. "Heh…I activate the Magic Card: Fusion Recovery! I return a Fusion card and one Fusion Material monster from my Graveyard to my hand! I add Fusion and Predator Plants Sarraceniant to my hand!
"I activate Fusion again! I fuse Predator Plants Sarraceniant with Starve Venom Fusion Dragon!" The poisonous dragon and the plant entered the spiraling vortex.
"Poisonous dragon with ravenous fangs! Flower that lures its victims to the Pits of Hell. Now become one and consume everything you desire! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 10! Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon (ATK: 3300, LV: 10)!" Yuri brought out the evolved form of Starve Venom.
"I activate Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon's effect! Once per turn, I can select one monster on the field and have its effects negated and its Attack Points reduced to 0! I choose Shining Flare Wingman!" Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon unleashed its tails and bit down on Shining Flare Wingman, making him weak.
Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 2800→0)
"It's over! Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon, attack Shining Flare Wingman! Poisonous Acid Blast!" Greedy Venom unleashed a blast towards Shining Flare Wingman.
"I activate my Trap Card: Ambush Shield! I release Clayman and add its Attack Points to Shining Flare Wingman!" Clayman disappeared and its Defense went to Shining Flare Wingman's Attack.
Shining Flare Wingman (ATK: 0→2000)
Greedy Venom's attack reduced Shining Flare Wingman to nothing and Zarc was blown back.
Zarc LP: 1700→400
"I end my turn." Yuri smiled.
Yuya vs Rin and Jim
Rin LP: 1400, Hand: 0
Jim LP: 3000, Hand: 3
Yuya LP: 400, Hand: 3
"My turn! Draw!" Yuya drew his card. "Pendulum Summon! Appear! Synchro Magician (ATK: 2400, LV: 7, PS: 2)! And Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon (ATK: 2500, LV: 7)!" Yuya brought out his Synchro Magician and a new Odd-Eyes with magic circles.
"A new Odd-Eyes!" Aki's eyes widened.
"I activate Synchro Magician's effect! By releasing this card, I can Special Summon one Synchro Monster from my Extra Deck with its effects negated! Come forth! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!" Yuya brought out Clear Wing.
"And, if I have another monster on my field that is the same type as the Synchro Monster that is Special Summoned, it becomes a Level 1 Tuner Monster!" Yuya added.
Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon (LV: 7→1)
"I'm Tuning my Level 7 Clear Wing Synchro Dragon with my Level 1 Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon!" Odd-Eyes Wizard Dragon turned into a single black ring and Clear Wind Synchro Dragon flew through it.
"Dragon with dichromatic eyes! Gain the darkness of the cosmos and plunge the universe into nothingness! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 8! Dragon with nulled eyes of emptiness! Supreme King Null Dragon – Odd-Eyes Void Dragon (ATK: 3000, LV: 8, PS: 12)!" Yuya brought out a dark-skinned dragon with two black holes formed in its claws.
"Supreme King Null Dragon…" Jim trembled at the dragon.
"Odd-Eyes Void Dragon…" Rin shivered from the darkness that dragon was releasing.
"As long as Odd-Eyes Void Dragon is on the field, my opponent cannot activate Magic, Trap Cards!" Yuya said darkly. "Also, for every Magic and Trap Card on the field, it gains 200 Attack Points!"
"From my hand, I activate two Equip Magics! Supreme King's Wings! Supreme King's Claws! With this, the total number of Magic and Trap Cards on the field is seven, so Odd-Eyes Void Dragon gains 1400 Attack Points!"
Odd-Eyes Void Dragon (ATK: 3000→4400)
"4400 Attack Points!" Kenzan gasped.
"This is bad!" Crow got worried.
"Yuya…" Rin closed her eyes. "I promised to always be there for you…I was with you during Zero Reverse, I should've known the deaths of Mr. Kazama and Mr. Godwin would still be haunting you. Not only that, it hurts to see your friends suffering as well while felt powerless to help. And Ruri…I can't imagine the pain your suffering…"
"I can't use my set cards…and who knows what other effects that dragon has…is there really nothing Jim and I can do to win and save Yuya…" Rin looked at her bracelet.
"I'll get rid of you first." Yuya looked at Jim. "Battle! Odd-Eyes Void Dragon, att—"
"Wait!" Rin shouted, getting Yuya's attention. "Attack me!"
"What?" Jim gasped.
"Rin, what are you doing?!" Crow shouted.
"Do it, Yuya! Attack me!" Rin encouraged Yuya to attack her.
"What are you—" Yuya looked at Rin and Ruri's form overlapped with hers. Yuya then felt a sharp pain in his heart. "No…"
"Yuya…" Rin walked towards Yuya.
"Go away!" Yuya shouted. "I'll attack! I swear I'll do it!" Yuya tried to scare Rin but she kept walking forward.
"Rin…" Jim realized what Rin was doing. "Eye of Orichalcum! Power of Miracles! Lend us strength!" Jim's eyes released a powerful glow and it resonated with Rin's bracelet.
"Yuya…your sadness…your pain…" Rin continued walking.
"Go away!" Yuya cried.
"Your anger…your disappointment…" Rin got closer.
"Stay back!" Yuya stepped away.
"I'll take it all. So, attack me." Rin reached her hand out.
"I DON'T WANT TO KILL ANYONE ANYMORE!" Yuya shouted so loud it echoed all over Heartland, causing the fighting to stop.
Zarc vs Yuri
"I DON'T WANT TO KILL ANYONE ANYMORE!" Yuya's voice echoed all the way to where Zarc, Ray, Yuto, Yugo and Yuri were.
"Yuya…" Ray got worried.
"I'm done with you, Yuri! My turn! Draw!" Zarc drew his card. "I activate the Magic Card: Spell Books From The Pot! Both of us draw three cards!" Zarc and Yuri drew three cards.
"I activate the Quick-Play Magic: Burial from a Different Dimension! I return three banished monsters to my Graveyard! I return Sparkman, Flame Wingman and Burst Lady to my Graveyard!" Zarc added the cards to his deck.
"Next, I activate the Magic Card: Neos Fusion! This lets me perform a Fusion Summon by sending Elemental Hero Neos and another monster to the Graveyard! I fuse Neos and Elemental Hero Wildman!" Neos and Edgeman appeared and they went into the spiraling vortex.
"Hero of the cosmos! Become one with the hero of the wild and create a new hero that's bursting with courage! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 7! Elemental Hero Brave Neos (ATK: 2500, LV: 7)!"
"Brave Neos gains 100 Attack Points for every Elemental Hero in the Graveyard! I have six, so it gains 600 Attack Points!"
Brave Neos (ATK: 2500→3100)
"Next, the Equip Magic: Assault Armor!" Brave Neos got covered in glowing armor. "This increases Brave Neos Attack Points by 300 points!"
Brave Neos (ATK: 3100→3400)
"Battle! Brave Neos, attack Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon! Cosmic Brave Crush!" Brave Neos charged and punched right through Greedy Venom.
Yuri LP: 800→700
"You sealed your faith! When Greedy Venom is destroyed, I destroy all monsters on the field and inflict their Attack Points as damage to the opponent! You lose!"
"Neos Fusion's effect activates from the Graveyard!" Zarc shouted.
"What, it has an effect in the Graveyard?!" Yuri gasped.
"When an Elemental Hero Fusion Monster that used Neos as Fusion Material would be destroyed, I can banish this card from my Graveyard and negate its destruction!" Brave Neos was protected by the poisonous acid.
"Then, Assault Armor's effect! By sending this card to the Graveyard, Brave Neos gets another attack!" Zarc shouted.
Brave Neos (ATK: 3400→3100)
"I'm seeing my son! No one will stop me!" Zarc shouted in anger. "Especially not the counterparts of that monster, Yusho Sakaki!"
"What?" Yuto was surprised to hear that.
"Brave Neos! Direct Attack Yuri! Cosmic Brave Crush!" Brave Neos charged and struck Yuri hard and sent him flying and knocking him out.
Yuri LP: 700→0
Winner: Zarc Ryuga
Yuya vs Rin and Jim
"Yuya…" Rin stopped when Yuya shouted.
"It's my fault…all of them died…all of them are suffering…because of me…" Yuya started to cry. "Kazama…Rua's grandfather…Asuka's brother…Rio's classmates…I couldn't help any of them! If only I was stronger…if only I was faster…Ruri…"
"It's okay, Yuya…" Rin cupped Yuya's face. "It's okay…"
"I don't want to lose anyone anymore…" Yuya teared up. "I don't…"
Just then a large chunk of ice struck Yuya on the side and sending him flying away, shocking the others.
Duel Cancelled
"What the hell?!" Crow gasped.
"Yuya!" Rin was going to move but then she looked down to see her feet frozen solid to the ground.
"I can't move!" Aki tried to move her feet.
"Ice…" Jim said.
"No one is allowed to interfere!" Girag appeared. "That goes for you as well, garbage!" He threw Reiji, Reira, Tsukikage, O'Brien and Misawa into the ice.
"Senpai!" Kenzan shouted in worry.
"Be lucky that our goddess spared you." Alito appeared with a chain in his hand dragging, Gongenzaka, Sawatari, Serena, Dennis, Edo, Noro, Gloria and Grace.
Misael had finally regained consciousness from his attack on Yuya. "Just relax, Misael. I'll handle the rest." Misael's eyes widened as he saw who walked near him.
Yuya recovered from the ice attack and he glared with hatred at the Barian symbols and his flames started to melt some of the ice but the ice fought back. He glared at the one that created the ice and attacked him.
"Yuya…" Rio glared.
"Rio…" Yuya glared back.
And that is the end of Chapter 22. What did you all think of it? Let me know in the reviews.
Thanks for reading and I will see you next time.
Preview: Yuya and Rio…two friends that supported each other are now each other's enemies. With her desire to protect the Barian World at any cost and his desire to end the Dimension War by any means necessary, the two clash with the full intent to kill the other. And when their ace monsters clash…
Next Time: The Victims of Destiny.