Keane LP: 3300
Number 94: Matrix Golem: Machine-Type/Xyz/Gemini/LIGHT/Rank 4/ATK 4000/DEF 2000 - 2 OLU
Gene-Warped Warwolf: Beast-Warrior-Type/EARTH/Level 4/ATK 2000/DEF 100
Spell & Trap Card Zone: 1 set card
Katie LP: 2500
Spell & Trap Card Zone: Solstice Zone of Aphorism [Field Card]
"I end my turn. Now get going! It's your move!" Keane shouted forcefully.
Number 94: Matrix Golem: ATK 4000 → 2000
Katie stood there, her body racked with sobs. She didn't know what she hoped to accomplish. She was just going through the motions now. "I draw... I Set one monster, then another face-down. Turn end."
Keane shook his head in contempt. "Pitiful. My turn, draw! I activate Matrix Golem's effect. So by detaching one of its Overlay Units, I get an extra Normal Summon this turn." The cyclops' second Overlay Unit shot into its eyepiece.
Number 94: Matrix Golem: 2 → 1 OLU
"So let's do this. I Normal Summon Vorse Raider!" The creature appeared had the vague semblance of a human, but with a twisted smile and a horrific blade.
Vorse Raider: Beast-Warrior-Type/DARK/Level 4/ATK 1900/DEF 1200
"Then I'll use Matrix Golem's second effect! Each time a monster is Normal Summoned, you take 400 damage." A glint seemed to appear in his eye. The golem screeched at the sky, and let lose its barrage of lasers. Each one slashed its way across Katie, one after the other. She screamed again, and collapsed onto one knee, smoke rising from her shoulder.
Katie LP: 2500 → 2100
"Now I activate the Trap Card, Thriving Hatred!" The Trap Card flipped up. "This card equips to an Effect Monster on the field. Then, whenever that Effect Monster uses its effect to inflict damage, Thriving Hatred increases its ATK by an amount equal to the damage dealt." Matrix Golem was surrounded by a simmering red aura.
Number 94: Matrix Golem: ATK 2000 → 2400
"And of course, since I get two Normal Summons, I hope you're ready to feel the pain again!" Keane didn't wait for an answer. "I Normal Summon Constellar Lyra!" This Spellcaster was also dressed as a knight, but with a different white-gold armour. The Constellar's regular crest – a golden sun – was visible on her stomach.
Constellar Lyra: Spellcaster-Type/LIGHT/Level 4/ATK 1900/DEF 1000
This time, Matrix Golem didn't even wait for the command. It seemed as hungry for pain as Keane was. The lasers shot from every point on its body, lashing their way across everything. Unexpectedly, one of them also hit Dan in the back as he was helping James up. He cried out in surprise and pain, and instantly collapsed beside James. Leah ran over to help him.
Katie was once again struck multiple times. She tried to cry out, but her lungs were empty. The pain was excruciating! It was as if she was being branded, burned, over and over again! When they stopped, she seemed to crumple, until she was lying on her front. There was a metallic taste in her mouth.
Katie LP: 2100 → 1700
Number 94: Matrix Golem: ATK 2400 → 2800
Leah pulled Dan to his feet again, and they both lifted James up too. James swayed, a little unsteady, but determined not to fall over again.
And it was at that very moment, in the lull between attacks, that Dan noticed something he hadn't seen before. It was something about Keane. He was standing there, overshadowed by his Number, a look of passionate loathing on his face. But something wasn't right. Something was missing. What was it?
Then he had it. It was so simple, yet very strange.
Keane wasn't smiling.
Quickly, Dan thought back to several of the Number duels he'd witnessed or been told about. Mizutsu... when he'd been attacking Matt and causing devastation to the area around him, he'd been laughing his head off. Even Matt himself, when he had been destroying the park and hurting all those people, he'd had that twisted smile, as though he was getting exactly what he wanted and was loving it. That's exactly what James had told him, and Dan didn't doubt him.
But it wasn't like that with Keane. He was oddly stoic. He was ordering all these attacks, inflicting so much pain, getting exactly what he wanted. So why wasn't he happy? Why wasn't he relishing in it like the other Number holders had? Dan whispered his findings to Leah, who had no more idea than him.
"Hmm... I don't know. Maybe it's that he's not enjoying himself as much as he thought he would." She whispered back.
Dan looked back at Keane. "Maybe... I don't know... something's definitely missing." He watched Katie with concern; she didn't seem to be trying to get up.
"Battle!" The shout from Keane caught their attention. "Gene-Warped Warwolf, attack the face-down monster!" The werewolf howled once again, and charged at the face-down monster. The monster flipped up, revealing a slim magician dressed in a dark red cloak, it was carrying a large shield, onto which was printed the image of a coiled dragon. Its name was Solstice Armoured Mage, and it was strong enough to take on the wolf.
Solstice Armoured Mage: Spellcaster-Type/Gemini/FIRE/Level 4/ATK 400/DEF 2000
Solstice Armoured Mage: ATK 400 → 700/DEF 2000 → 2300
The werewolf hacked away at the shield, but couldn't break it. With a cry, the defender drove his shield forwards, shoving the wolf away. Keane recoiled as if stung.
Keane LP: 3300 → 3000
He gritted his teeth and looked at the circle of rocks still surrounding them. "Accursed Field Spell!" He glared back at Katie. "I'll make you pay for that!" The girl, still lying face-down in the grass, didn't respond: she could've been unconscious.
In fact, she was very close to that. Everything that Keane had said, everything he was doing, the pain... it was all too much. She couldn't go on. She couldn't even see a reason for trying anymore. 'What's the point?' She told herself. 'I can't reach him. And he's right about everything. Maybe I should-'
"Katie!"
The shout startled her. Weakly, she turned her head to the side, and saw James. He was injured but upright. And he was shouting at her. She couldn't make out the words that he was saying, but understood his meaning clear as day.
James had always been there. He'd stuck with her through the worst of it, never once blamed her for what happened, never once made her feel bad about it. And just now… he had been willing to risk his own life to keep her safe. She didn't think she'd ever loved anyone so much in her entire life.
It wasn't a huge source of strength for her. But it was enough.
With a great effort, she got one hand underneath her. Then the other. And slowly, torturously, began to push herself up. Keane didn't try to attack again, but rather watched her, waiting. Finally, with a great gasp of agony, Katie was upright. She hurt all over. Her shoulder was aching badly, and she was putting more weight on one leg than the other. But otherwise, she was ready.
Keane nodded. "So you actually managed to get up again, did you? Good. It's a lot more satisfying to destroy you like this. Go, Matrix Golem, attack Solstice Armoured Mage!" The cyclops shrieked at her again and began charging its attack.
But this time, Katie was going to fight back. "I activate the Trap Card, Solstice Supernova!" The Trap Card activated. The field began to shimmer, as if caught in a heat wave. "This card activates when you attack a Solstice monster I control. After that, by discarding 1 card, it destroys all face-up monsters you control, and allows all Gemini monsters on my field to start applying their effects!"
"What?" Keane gasped. The heat waves were getting worse, the air itself shimmering, all of this heat emanating from that card. Katie discarded the Monster Card, Evocator Chevalier. As if in response, the Trap Card seemed to explode upwards, fire blasting in all directions. There was so much of it; Keane didn't know where to look. It looked like a solid wall of flames, rushing forwards to devour his field. He gritted his teeth, "I activate the effect of Thriving Hatred! I can destroy it to save my equipped monster!"
He didn't have time to say anything more. With a whooshing sound, the flames enveloped him. To those watching the duel, it was as if Keane's field was hit by a comet! The flames devoured everything in their path. Gene-Warped Warwolf, Constellar Lyra, and Vorse Raider all dissipated in the intense heat. The Trap Card followed them very quickly. Only the Number remained, protected by a crimson aura.
As quickly as they had appeared, the flames faded away, showing Keane's field scorched and quite bare. His Number, however, had remained unharmed. In fact, it was still gathering power in its eye as if nothing had happened. Katie's monster was also still ok, and the dragon symbol on its shield had lit up, signifying that its effect was now being applied.
Keane glared at her. "Putting aside for a moment the fact that I'm going to make sure you regret that," he growled, "it looks like your plan failed, didn't it. Matrix Golem is still here and still attacking!"
Despite herself, Katie forced out a smile. "It might have survived, but your Equip Card didn't, so its attack points return to normal."
Number 94: Matrix Golem: ATK 2800 → 2000
Keane gasped.
"And there's more." Katie went on. "My monster's effect is now also being applied, and it's an effect that changes its original DEF to 2600. Which, in turn, receives a boost from my Field Spell."
Solstice Armoured Mage: DEF 2300 → 2900
"You little..." Keane snarled. "So that was your plan."
"Oh, and last I checked, you were in the middle of an attack." Katie finished. Keane glanced behind him: it was true. Matrix Golem had survived the impact, and had just declared battle when the Trap was activated.
Keane turned back to her, a vein protruding on the side of his neck. "Fine! Since the number of monsters on the field has changed, I call a replay and stop my attack!"
"You can't!" James shouted. Keane turned to look at him, now with both surprise and hatred in his eyes. "Replays can only occur when the number of monsters on your opponent's field changes. And if you'll notice, Katie still has the same amount of monsters she did when the attack was declared."
Leah put a hand of James shoulder. "See? You don't have to run headlong into the middle of a duel to help Katie. You can help her just as much from here-" Leah was shocked as James wrapped his arms around her. She felt him shaking with repressed sobs, and smiled. 'To be able to help Katie in a duel like this… it means so much to him.' She returned the hug, then broke away to continue watching the duel. James did the same, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
Keane was bracing himself. James was right: there was nothing he could do. His opponent had prepared a very clever Trap and he'd blundered right into it.
Above him, Matrix Golem fired. The ball of energy shot across the gap between them and slammed into the mage's shield. The mage seemed to be struggling with it at first. But then, just as he had done with the werewolf a few minutes earlier, he thrust his shield forwards, sending the attack straight back at Keane.
Keane screamed as he was engulfed by his own Number's attack. It hurt much more than he'd imagined. He almost fell, but managed to stay upright, swearing under his breath,
Keane LP: 3000 → 2100
He looked up at Katie, hate etched into every inch of his face. "You..." Then he gasped in pain and clutched his hand. The green number ninety-four in the back of his hand was blazing with light. It was like a small lantern. When Keane looked up again, his eyes were tinged with red. "Do you have any idea how much I despise you...?" he said slowly.
Katie stopped grinning instantly, and silently berated herself. 'What the hell am I doing? I'm in the wrong here. I half-killed his little sister. Why on earth am I fighting back?' Tears sprang to her eyes again. 'I shouldn't be doing this… Keane doesn't deserve this… he's just-'
"Katie!"
It was another male shout. Katie quickly turned to its source, and saw Matt looking at her, a determined expression on his face. The others, surprised, had also turned to look at him. Only Keane was ignoring him.
Matt took a deep breath, then spoke calmly. "Do you remember when I first met you, after my duel with Hideo?" She nodded.
"Good. Now, listen carefully." He looked at Keane for a few seconds. Then, once more facing Katie, he said, "Remember the promise I made. My promise is what will save you."
Author-made cards
Constellar Lyra
Spellcaster-Type/LIGHT/Level 4/ATK 1900/DEF 1000
A Warrior descended from the stars, she answers prayers with the swing of her blade.
(NOTE: Konami, if for some reason you're reading our fanfic, then please please please make the above card. I'd love to see the Constellars at the top of the meta.)
Solstice Armoured Mage
Spellcaster-Type/Gemini/FIRE/Level 4/ATK 400/DEF 2000
This card is treated as a Normal Monster while face-up on the field or in the Graveyard. While this card is face-up on the field, you can Normal Summon it to have it treated as an Effect Monster with this effect: ●This card's original DEF becomes 2600.
Solstice Zone of Aphorism
Field Spell Card
Face-up FIRE monsters gain 300 ATK and DEF. When a Gemini monster is Normal Summoned: Its controller can add 1 FIRE Gemini monster from their Deck to their hand, then discard 1 card.
Number 94: Matrix Golem
Machine-Type/Xyz/Gemini/LIGHT/Rank 4/ATK 2000/DEF 2000
3 Level 4 monsters
This card is treated as a non-Effect Monster while face-up on the field or in the Graveyard. While this card is face-up on the field, you can Normal Summon it to have it treated as an Effect Monster with this effect: ● This card cannot be destroyed by battle, except by a "Number" monster. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Overlay Unit from this card; you can Normal Summon 1 monster in addition to your Normal Summon or Set this turn (you can only gain this effect once per turn). When a monster is Normal Summoned: Inflict 400 damage to your opponent.
Thriving Hatred
Trap Card
When this card is activated: Target 1 face-up Effect Monster you control; equip this card to that target. Each time the equipped monster inflicts Effect Damage by its effect, it gains ATK equal to the damage inflicted. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, destroy this card instead.
Solstice Supernova
Trap Card
When a "Solstice" Normal Monster you control is targeted for an attack: Discard 1 card; destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls, then all face-up Gemini monsters you control are treated as Effect Monsters and gain their effects.
Fun Fact #11: For quite a while, we were actually struggling on how to end this story in a way that keeps all the characters consistent, happy, and still alive. Now we've decided on an ending. The ending we've chosen will extend this story by one or two chapters, but hopefully it will be worth it.
Fun Fact #12: It constantly baffles us how, whenever Konami is faced with naming a werewolf-like creature, they call it a Warwolf instead (Gene-Warped Warwolf, Tech Genus Warwolf, etc). This makes no sense at all. A Warwolf is a Trebuchet. A Trebuchet is a catapult. Wolves are not catapults.
Fun Fact #13: Seriously, Konami, please make Constellar Lyra. A Rescue Rabbit target for the Constellars would propel them straight to the top.