I am so sorry for the very long wait. Truly, no amount of apology can ever be enough to express how I feel making you all wait like this. It does not help that with reality getting in the way... Yeah... I believe words do not need to be said in this case.
Now then, enough talk. Let's get right to it~
Oh, and uh... I'm not sorry about the ending~
Normal dialogue
Life Points/Monster stats
*LOCATION CHANGE/ CHANGE IN P.O.V*
Attacks/Effects
'thoughts'
Language other than Japanese (this is English sub after all)
*OPENING*
Roar out through the high heavens,
(Opening starts with a red silhouette of a monster)
Wrapped in undulating emotion;
(Silhouette changed into a different monster in blue)
The truest of tones can be found here at this very spot…
(Silhouette changed once more into a yellow monster. Scene changed to Samejima's office, the man looking out the window at the sky above)
(Instrumental)
(Camera looks up at the dark sky. Title appears. After several seconds, flames extinguished it, changing the scene)
The trembling signal of pain in my heart,
(Kohaku was practicing some stunts when she sensed something and looked behind her)
Broke through many a night,
(Scene changed to Bella doing some ninja training when she also sensed something and looked at a distance)
As I searched for you – it's enough to drive me insane…
(Scene changed again to Alex running from something before he summoned Freakstar Dragon and rode on his back, flying out of the Abandoned Dorm as it exploded behind them)
Within the elegant, dreamlike sounds that float upon a double-edged warmth,
(Elie, Jacko, Tiffany, Seth, Shou and Hayato looked at a distance, watching their friends facing off against the Shadow Riders)
Entrusted tears roam throughout the sky
(Camera zoomed in to Arkham and a Rider in a black cloak. Kohaku and Kazato stares at them. The unknown rider walks away and Kohaku grabbed the cloak and pulled it off)
The more I seek this radiant melody,
(Scene changed as Judai summoned his Heroes and declared an attack)
All that's projected is more illusions.
(Asuka summoned her monsters and also declared an attack)
But the moment we know as "now" will always be what forms the miracle of tomorrow…
(Scene changed to Ryo and his Cybers, to Misawa and his 'Magnet Warriors', to Manjoume and his dragons, to various other characters and their monsters)
So I want to sing for your sake!
(Scene changed to where the Mythic Demon cards are sealed, the three monster spirits circling around the Spirit Gates)
Let everything be set free
(Darkness and Camula had their monsters battle Judai, Chronos, Ryo and Kazato's monsters)
If you have a dream for the future that you believe
(Another cloaked duelist was dueling against Bella and her ninjas)
Our resounding hearts are unstoppable!
(Misawa and Manjoume battled Tania and Don Zaloog. Alex and Asuka dueled against Abidos III and Titan)
Let's go (together), joining hands (no matter how far)!
(Arkham and the earlier cloaked duelist have a full field of monsters on their side, facing off against Kohaku. Kohaku and her 'Circus Freak' and 'Relic' monsters leapt from floating rock to rock over to them)
I won't ever let go of that smile!
(They all prepared their strongest attack and fired. Scene paused with a close-up image of Kohaku and the earlier cloaked duelist facing off)
Last time, while Judai and the others were abducted by Abidos for a duel for their keys, Kohaku was sent elsewhere, as per request of the proclaimed God of Dueling's ally. Now, the girl was starting to wake, with a bad headache.
"Ugh... My head... What happened?" she wondered as she slowly got up. Looking around, she was surprised to have found herself in a very familiar area. "Isn't this... the Abandoned Dorm?" A horrid feeling crept up her spine, as a dreadful thought came to her mind. "But... Wouldn't that mean...?"
"Oh, someone is finally awake~ That's great! I was wondering when you will!" came a voice. One she hoped to not hear so soon.
Turning to the source, Kohaku's eyes slowly widened in fright... as she found herself staring at none other than Arkham. The latter who sat atop the debris of the leftover building with his legs crossed.
"I had half the mind to go interrupt an acquaintance's duel just to drag one of your buddies here to have a duel of my own. I mean, come on. With how peaceful you were sleeping, even someone like me isn't so heartless enough so as to interrupt a sleeping beauty. Though I did hope you'd be sleeping just a bit longer... so I can see how you react once you wake up and witness one of your friends having a nice duel with little ol' me~" Arkham said.
The fear Kohaku had instantly turned into rage when she heard him say such. "You... You really want to torment me that much?!" she questioned.
"'Torment' you? You make it sound as though I want to see how you look when you're in pain. It's not that I want to torment you, no... I just want you to get riled up, so we can have that grand duel once again. Though I do hope the end does not happen again."
"If you think I will let you win this duel and have the key, you have another thing coming! I won't let you do as you please!" Kohaku vowed.
Arkham seemed amused by the reaction, as he stated, "Oh! You're riled up already? That's good! Really good! That means what happens last time won't happen."
Kohaku became confused at the claim. "Hang on. What 'thing' were you talking about that happened last time?"
"Isn't that obvious? I was referring to when our duel ended. Not with the tie; that definitely won't happen again. But rather how you acted. You suddenly got all happy-go-lucky, as though you were simply playing a game. If you were smiling for the same reason as I was, if it was for the thrill of life-and-death duel, I would understand and let that slide. However, acting as though dueling is nothing but a game when it is clearly something more? How preposterous."
Kohaku clenched her fist at those words. This man before her... This duelist... What on earth did he think dueling was?! "Dueling... is not some tool to be used to hurt people. They are used to make people smile!"
"And I do smile. Especially when I see my targets bleed!" Arkham exclaimed.
Seeing no other way to convince this man otherwise than dueling him, Kohaku activated her duel disk.
"Activating Action Field. Okay?" came a robotic voice from Kohaku's duel disk.
"Okay!" she answered.
"Activating Field Magic. Crossover." At those words, Kohaku's duel disk turned the whole field into an Action Field.
Arkham raised a brow at this, for this field didn't appear the last time they had a duel. "Huh? The heck is this field? Oh well. So long as you're in a dueling mood," Arkham said, activating his own duel disk. "Very well, then let's-"
"DUEL!"
Arkham: 4000 LP
Kohaku: 4000 LP
"I hope you haven't forgotten. I am not a gentleman. I will start first! Draw!" At those words, Arkham drew his sixth card. "Firstly, I will summon out Kamen Rider Punch Hopper!" At his call, a young punk appeared on the field, inserting a strange box in a slot on his belt.
HENSHIN! CHANGE PUNCH HOPPER!
The moment he did, the man's armor appeared on him, turning him into Kamen Rider Punch Hopper.
Kamen Rider Punch Hopper: Level 3/DARK/Warrior/1200 ATK/600 DEF
"And since he's summoned out, from my deck, I can special summon Kamen Rider Kick Hopper!" Just as Arkham said that, his deck glowed briefly, and a card shot out of the deck. Once it landed on the field, another punk appeared and inserted his own box in his belt slot.
HENSHIN! CHANGE KICK HOPPER!
Like the Kamen Riders before him, he also transformed, into Kamen Rider Kick Hopper.
Kamen Rider Kick Hopper: Level 3/DARK/Warrior/1200 ATK/600 DEF
"Two monsters on the field already..." Kohaku slightly grimaced.
"Oh, but that's just the beginning. Do tell me, girl. Do you remember this card?" As he asked that, Arkham revealed a card in his hand.
"It's Kamen Rider Ryuga. And?"
"Do you remember the effect he has?"
Despite having a bad feeling creeping up on her, Kohaku answered, "He deals 500 points of damage for each Kamen Rider on the field... Why? You can't summon him. You already did a Normal Summon!"
"You're right. Normally I can't conduct another Normal Summon. That is... If I don't have this card!" Arkham revealed another card in his hand. One that made Kohaku realize why he showed her Ryuga. "Magic Card, Double Summon! With this card, I can do another Normal Summon! Now come, Kamen Rider Ryuga!" Upon that order, Ryuga appeared on his field and transformed into his Battle Mode.
HENSHIN
Kamen Rider Ryuga: Level 4/DARK/Warrior/1800 ATK/1100 DEF
The moment he appeared on the field, Kohaku hastily ran, to her opponent's displeasure. "Huh? Where do you think you're going?! I activate Ryuga's effect, I will inflict 500 points of damage to you for each 'Kamen Rider' monster on my field! Don't let her escape, Ryuga!"
"Right, Boss," Ryuga answered, taking a certain card out of his box and inserted it into his arm visor. "Strike Vent!" His black Chinese Dragon appeared once more and shot a series of fireballs at Kohaku.
"Don't be too sure!" she shouted, snatching a card stuck on a platform. "Action Magic, Runaway Effect! This negates a opponent's monster's effect and inflicts 500 points of damage to the opponent!"
"Say what?!" Arkham was surprised by this, as he watched some mysterious force take control of his monster's dragon's flames and condensed them into one, as well as directed it back at the user's master, in which he raised his duel disk in an attempt to block the effect.
Arkham: 3500 LP
Kohaku: 4000 LP
"Yes! How's that?!" Kohaku cheered, glad that she managed to avoid taking that large damage.
Though taken aback by the counter, Arkham was actually amused by this, as he let out a chuckle. "Interesting. So this is what an Action Field does. Can't say it's as strong as damage done by a real psychic duelist, though," he said, sending chills down Kohaku's spine. "Then again, it is but a mere 500 points of damage, compared to the 1500 I was going to do to you. I look forward to seeing what you will do next. I end my turn with one card face-down."
"Dueling is not meant to hurt anyone! It's one thing to have fun in a duel, but not at the expense of another person's life! My turn. Draw!" Kohaku drew her sixth card. One look at the hand she had, and she took in a calm breath. "And I will show you... What a real duel is! I activate the Continuous Magic, Fast Preparation! Once per turn, if I don't control a monster, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Circus Freak' monster from my hand! Through this effect, I will summon out Circus Freak Puppeteer!"
To Arkham's puzzlement, as Kohaku's continuous magic card appeared on the field, it glowed, and Kohaku's puppet-like clown appeared on the field from it.
Circus Freak Puppeteer: Level 4/DARK/Spellcaster/1900 ATK/0 DEF
"Next, I-"
"What is the meaning of this?" Arkham interrupted, to Kohaku's surprise. "Why are you holding back?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? I'm not holding back at all," she said.
Arkham didn't seem to believe her, as he rested a chin on his hand in thought. "Hmm... Maybe I should've asked for hostage or two after all. At least then I won't have to feel bad for what happens after, if this is how the duel will turn out to be."
Kohaku was getting even more confused and annoyed by what the guy said. Just what did he mean by that?!
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" she questioned.
"Oh, nothing. Just continue your turn. It will all make sense to you soon. Though by then it will be too late for regrets."
Getting tired of the sudden riddles he was speaking in, Kohaku resumed her turn. "With Puppeteer's effect, I can take control of one monster my opponent controls! Come over here, Ryuga!" At her call, strings emerged out of Kohaku's monster's fingertips and tied themselves around Ryuga, dragging him over to her side. "And now, I will use Ryuga's effect! Since he's the only 'Kamen Rider' monster on my field, only 500 points of damage will be dealt to you! Strike Vent!"
As she said that, Puppeteer managed to control Ryuga enough to force him to send his dragon at his original master, who took the flames head on once more.
Arkham: 3000 LP
Kohaku: 4000 LP
"Next, I summon Circus Freak Spinner!" Following that, her masked Indian dancer appeared on the field.
Circus Freak Spinner: Level 3/DARK/Spellcaster/1500 ATK/1400 DEF
"Since he's summoned, he gains a Circus Counter for each 'Circus Freak' monster on my field! I have two 'Circus Freak' monsters now, thus he gets two Circus Counters!" A pair of flaming poles appeared before Circus Freak Spinner, in which the monster grasped and spun in his hands. "Now I battle! Spinner! Attack Kamen Rider Punch Hopper!" At her order, her newly summoned monster dashed towards his attack target and swung his flaming poles at him, causing his destruction.
Arkham: 2700 LP
Kohaku: 4000 LP
"And continuing on, I attack Kick Hopper with Puppeteer!" At that next order, Puppeteer followed suite as he rushed at his attack target with a fist pulled back, and destroyed it as well.
Arkham: 2000 LP
Kohaku: 4000 LP
Despite now having a clear field, all Arkham said was a weak "huh".
"Not done yet! I activate Fast Preparation's second effect! During the Battle Phase, by paying half my Life Points, I can summon a 'Circus Freak' Fusion Monster by banishing monsters on my field and in my hand! At the cost of 2000 of my Life Points, I will fuse Circus Freak Puppeteer and Kamen Rider Ryuga! Great manipulating performer. Become one with the cold-hearted warrior, and give birth to a new power! FUSION SUMMON! Appear now, great manipulator! Circus Freak Puppet Master!" As the two monsters fused together, now appearing on the field is a wicked jester version of Circus Freak Puppeteer.
Circus Freak Puppet Master: Level 6/DARK/Spellcaster/? ATK/? DEF
Arkham: 2000 LP
Kohaku: 2000 LP
"Don't let his unknown ATK and DEF fool you. When Puppet Master is Fusion Summoned, I can summon monsters from my opponent's Graveyard in Defense Mode up to the number of empty Monster Zones I control! Now come, Kamen Rider Punch Hopper! Kamen Rider Kick Hopper!" At her call, Arkham's two destroyed monsters appeared on her field this time, both in Defense Mode. "After that, Puppet Master's ATK and DEF becomes 300 times the total Level of monsters summoned this way! With both Hoppers' Level combined, that makes 6! Therefore Puppet Master's ATK and DEF becomes 1800!"
Circus Freak Puppet Master: Level 6/DARK/Spellcaster/1800 ATK/1800 DEF
"Resuming battle! Circus Freak Puppet Master! Attack Arkham! Disillusion Attack!" Dark energy formed in between Puppet Master's hands, in which he fired at the opposing duelist.
Arkham: 200 LP
Kohaku: 2000 LP
Despite the damage taken, to Kohaku's puzzlement, Arkham was still neutral with what was going on in the duel. Why wasn't he doing anything? Why not activate the face-down he set last turn?! Why is he not reacting to the damage given to him?!
"Is that all you have?" he asked, irking her even more.
"I end my turn! At this time, Circus Freak Spinner's effect activates! At the End Phase, 300 points of damage is inflicted to my opponent for each Circus Counter on him! This is the end!" At her call, Spinner tossed both his flaming poles at Arkham with great accuracy.
"Trap Card, Reduction Barrier. With this card, damage dealt to me becomes only a mere tenth of what was intended," he countered, conjuring a barrier from his lone face-down, weakening the intended damage.
Arkham: 140 LP
Kohaku: 2000 LP
Kohaku scowled at this, but couldn't do anything else from here.
"Is that really it?" Arkham then asked, to her confusion. "You know, I'm actually very disappointed here. For one thing, I thought you were going to show me this... 'real duel' you believe in. But it's nothing but a let down."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Kohaku demanded.
"I mean, you say dueling is meant to be fun and all. Yet here you are, doing all this damage to me. Looks to me like you agree more to my claim about how real duels are than your own."
Kohaku wanted to retort to his words, when she took a moment to stop and think back to what she did. This whole time, she had been afraid of having to duel against Arkham again, to have to experience all that pain she went through before, and witness the people close to her get fatally hurt as well during the duel against him- be it from any stray attacks or otherwise, just like what happened to her father-... She didn't notice it until now... How she was frightened to the point that she couldn't duel him as she believed in. In fact, as Arkham claimed, she wanted to end the duel quickly. With him...
'I... What was I...? What did I...?!' she began to question in horror.
"Well, since you actually believe in my way of dueling so much, allow me the honor of making this more interesting for you~ Draw!" Arkham drew his next card and smirked at what was added to his hand. "It's a real shame we can't have that serious duel again. However, you can serve as an example! Since there are two DARK attributed 'Kamen Rider' monsters on the field, I Special Summon Kamen Rider Dark Ghost from my hand!"
As soon as he said that, a young man in white appeared on the field. Waving a hand over his waist, a green and red belt appeared on him, and took out a white ball from his person, clicking a switch on it and placed it in the slot.
EYES OPEN! DARK RIDER! POWER OF DARKNESS! EVIL IN EXCESS!
What seemed to be a ghostly spirit with a dark cloak emerged out of the belt and floated around its owner. The teen was briefly engulfed in bright light, and had on a weird black suit in light armor. The spirit then landed on top of the guy, granting him the cloak and a white mask, as he let down the hood.
Kamen Rider Dark Ghost: Level 6/DARK/Warrior/2450 ATK/1700 DEF
Kohaku was especially surprised by the summon. "You can summon that even though the required monsters are on my field?!" she gasped.
"Of course. Dark Ghost's effect didn't state that the monsters had to be on my own field, after all," Arkham said. "I now activate his effect. He has three effects that I can choose to use once per turn. Dark Ghost! Change!" At his command, Dark Ghost took out another white ball from his person and clicked on it, inserting it into the belt again.
AYE! EYES OPEN! PYTHAGORAS! TRIANGLE EQUATION! HERE IS CONFIRMATION!
In the blink of an eye, his outfit changed, now having a white and gold motif. His mask also turned black, with a gold-outlined x in the center.
"In Dark Ghost's Pythagoras Form, I can add any Magic or Trap Card from my deck or Graveyard to my hand. Through his effect, I add the Field Magic, Negative World and activate it!" As soon as Arkham added a card to his hand, he subsequently placed it in the Field Magic slot, unleashing a dark aura all over the field, much to Kohaku's fright. "With Negative World's effect, Dark attributed 'Kamen Rider' I control cannot be target by my opponent's card effect. Not that it matters! From my hand I activate the Magic Card, Heavy Storm!"
"But that card destroys all Magic and Trap Cards on the field!" Kohaku exclaimed in bafflement. For after all, why would he get rid of the card he just activated?
"Yeah, I know. That's the point! In exchange for my Field Magic, say goodbye to your Continuous Magic!" As Arkham said those words, a harsh storm blew and destroyed Kohaku's spell, as well as gathered up all the dark aura. "At this time, my Negative World's destruction effect activates! Once this card is destroyed, a 'Kamen Rider' monster is summoned from my Extra Deck!" Kohaku was shocked upon hearing that, now realizing the true purpose of the Field Spell card, as her opponent looked into his Extra Deck. "Now then, I wonder what monster I should summon out for your doom? Ah yes. Considering how special this field is, how about this one! Appear now, Kamen Rider Sorcerer!"
As soon as he declared a chosen monster, an adult male in black and silver garb appeared on the field.
SHABADOOBIE! TOUCH TO TRANSFORM!
With a tap on his belt and putting on a ring on his left middle finger, he brought his hand down on the belt, and transformed into a black and yellow mage-like warrior.
CHANGE NOW!
Kamen Rider Sorcerer: Level 9/DARK/Warrior/3500 ATK/2900 DEF
The moment he appeared on the field, Kohaku did not know why, but she shuddered in fright at the sight of the monster before her.
Arkham noticed how she was trembling, and chuckled at the sight. "A little too early to be scared, don't you think? Well, not that I blame you. Now then, let's have our fun~! Dark Ghost! Attack Circus Freak Spinner!"
EYES WIDE OPEN! PYTHAGORAS! OMEGA DRIVE!
At Arkham's order, his effect monster glowed briefly before sending a big ball of flame at his attack target.
Not wanting to take the damage, Kohaku hastily went to search for an action card. Unknown to her, Arkham narrowed his eyes slightly and smirked at the action. Even more so, as she found and picked up a card.
"Action Magic, Monster Barrier! This turn, if I control a monster during the Battle Phase, I don't take any Battle Damage!" she activated, as her monsters gained a light blue aura.
Despite the effect, Arkham let out a laugh. "I can't believe you actually went for it! Kamen Rider Sorcerer's effect! Firstly, once per turn, when a card effect is activated, I can have the opponent send the top card of their deck to the Graveyard!"
Kohaku gasped at that, as her deck glowed. The top card of her deck was ejected out and floated before her while spinning. As it slowed to a stop, she couldn't believe the card getting sent away.
"Time Space Magician!" she cried out, as the card faded away into her Graveyard.
"Next! During either player's turn, if a Magic card was activated, my opponent takes 1000 points of damage!"
Ellie grew more baffled by the news, as Sorcerer fired some magical bullets right at her and dealt some damage to her.
Arkham: 140 LP
Kohaku: 1000 LP
"That Action Magic may not be a card from your hand, but it is still a Magic Card," Arkham said, as Ellie slowly got back up on her feet. "Likewise, it may have saved your Life Points from Battle Damage, but it does nothing for you in terms of effect damage! Furthermore, it does not save your monster from destruction! That being said~"
Arkham did not need to say any more, as Dark Ghost's attack struck Circus Freak Spinner, and destroyed it, much to Kohaku's horror.
"I still have one more attacker~! Now go, Kamen Rider Sorcerer! Take down that Puppet Master!"
"As you wish." Once the monster gave his response to his duelist, he rushed at his attack target and made quick works of the monster, striking it down with an attack spell.
Kohaku trembled upon seeing her last monster gone. Sure, she still had monsters up to protect her, but they were not her 'Circus Freak' monsters; they were Arkham's 'Kamen Riders'. And right now... looking up at them? She couldn't help feel intimidated.
"And now I will end my turn. You best choose wisely, now, girl~ Summon a monster if you need to. Or better yet, use one of those 'Action Magic' cards you seem to love so much. It doesn't matter what you do at this point. You made your choice of going down this path. Next turn, you will fall!"