Author's Note: This chapter took a little longer to do than the rest because of the duel that's about to take place in it. Some duels are a little harder to write than others, and this one required a fair bit of thought. I also ended up making up some new cards of my own for Mizael in this story. As far as monster went, his deck seemed a little bit thin.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL.
Chapter 9: Dragon of the Undead
"Guys, can't we just talk about this?" Yuma asked.
"Stay out of this, Yuma!" Mizael told him. "This is between me and Tenjo!"
"Forget it, Yuma. This is out of our hands." Shark told him. "Besides, Kaito's one of those things now. Like it or not, he's become an enemy."
"Let's get this started!" Kaito told Mizael
With that, Kaito and Droite activated their tattoos while the others activated their D-Gazers. As Kaito and Mizael's duel discs activated, the color of the surrounding area changed slightly. The vampire hoard that had accompanied Droite and Kaito had taken a good step back to give the two Galaxy-Eyes duelists some room.
""I shall start things off!" Mizael declared as he drew his first card. "To begin, I summon Heliosphere Dragon in Defense Mode!"
Appearing on Mizael's side of the battlefield was a dragon that looked like a cross between a kite and a manta ray. It had a golden face with green eyes and a purple body. Trailing behind it were two slender whip-like tails.
"Next I activate the Spell card, Galactic Wrath!" Mizael announced. "With this card, I summon Cloud Nebula Dragon!"
Materializing on the battlefield was a rosy cloud of nebular gas filled with little twinkling stars. The cloud quickly changed shape and took the form of a serpentine dragon with deep blue star-like eyes.
"Using these two level four dragons, I build the overlay network and Xyz Summon Galaxy Fortress Dragon in Defense Mode!" Mizael announced.
A large vortex resembling a swirling galaxy appeared in the middle of the battlefield. Both of Mizael's dragons changed into balls of green energy and flew into the center of the phenomenon. Rising out of the vortex only moments later was a large mechanical-looking dragon with a copper-colored body. It had a spherical torso lacking any arms or legs. On the sides of that torso were two large metal wings, and mounted where its shoulders might be were two long-barreled cannons that were colored gold. Extending downward beneath the torso was a long thick metal tail, and rising from the top was a mechanical dragon's head with green eyes supported by a mechanical serpent-like neck. Orbiting around the dragon were two balls of green light.
"He summoned a monster with 2800 DEF on his first turn." A somewhat impressed Hikari observed. "Not bad."
"Yeah, but a monster like that won't last long against Kaito." Yuma assumed.
"Be careful, darling!" Cathy called to Mizael.
"Darling?" most of the former Barians repeated with raised eyebrows.
"Oh, uh… well…" Cathy nervously began.
"Never mind that right now, guys." Shark told them. "Let's just keep an eye on this duel."
"In addition to having a DEF of 2800, my Galaxy Fortress Dragon has an effect that prevents it from being destroyed in battle by detaching an overlay unit." Mizael revealed.
"Is that supposed to impress me?" Kaito asked. "I expected better from you, Mizael. That Fortress Dragon if yours is nothing before me."
"Then prove it!" Mizael dared. "I end my turn!"
Kaito drew his first card. "Since I have no monsters on the field, I summon Photon Thrasher from my hand!"
Appearing on Kaito's side of the field was a humanoid figure clad mostly in blue with a head of red hair. On his face was a grey almost cross-shaped mask showing a single red eye. In his hand he carried a large sword with a beam of blue light in the front of the blade.
"Next I summon Photon Thrasher in Attack Mode!" Kaito announced.
Materializing next to Thrasher was another humanoid figure clad completely in bulky green and white armor. The only part of its face that was visible was a single red eye. In his hand, the warrior carried a thick black double-sided club.
"I now sacrifice my two monsters to summon a creature more powerful than a supernova!" Kaito announced.
Both of Kaito's warriors shattered apart into bits of light. Appearing in the photon duelist's hand was a large red cross with a blue gemstone on the front. Kaito flung the cross high into the air.
"Appear now, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" Kaito called.
The cross that Kaito had thrown exploded in a flash of blue light in the sky. Descending to the battlefield after the light cleared was a large dragon with a mainly purple body. Swirling around in its glowing blue eyes was the image of a galaxy.
"I activate the Spell, Galaxy Expedition!" Kaito announced. "With this card, I summon Galaxy Knight from my deck!"
Appearing on the battlefield next to Photon Dragon in a kneeling position was a knight clad in silver armor. He had yellow eyes and two blue gemstones mounted in his chest armor.
"And now… using these two monsters I build the overlay network and Xyz Summon a monster strong enough to drain the life of entire star systems!" Kaito announced. "Appear… Galaxy-Eyes Dead Star Dragon!"
A massive vortex of purple light appeared in the center of the battlefield and filled the air with a bone-chilling cold. Kaito's two monsters were turned into balls of purple energy and sucked into the center of the vortex. Moments later a pillar of purple light shout out of the center of the vortex as it closed up. The light faded after a moment to reveal Kaito's dragon in a new form. Much of its muscular body glowed with a lavender-colored light. Its torso was covered in black armor with a silver butterfly-shaped crest with an oval blue gem on the front. Covering the upper half of its head was a piece of black armor that looked the skull of a dragon with curved horns. Black armored plates ran down the back of the dragon's neck all the way to its tail. On the dragon's back was a pair of large transparent butterfly wings made of the same light that emanated from its body. Two balls of purple light orbited around the dragon.
"A new Galaxy-Eyes monster!" Yuma observed. "And it has the same ATK as Photon Dragon!"
"And probably a much stronger effect." Shark added.
"I activate Dead Star Dragon's effect!" Kaito announced. "By detaching one overlay unit, Dead Star Dragon can remove all overlay units from an enemy Xyz Monster and gain 500 ATK for each one removed until the end of the turn!"
Dead Star Dragon opened its mouth and sucked in one of the balls of light orbiting around it. A beam of light shot from the gem on its butterfly crest and struck Fortress Dragon. The two balls of light orbiting around Mizael's dragon were pulled in by the beam and sucked into the crest. The beam faded and Kaito's dragon roared as its ATK went up.
"Now your Fortress Dragon can't protect itself." Kaito continued. "Dead Star Dragon, obliterate Fortress Dragon! Dead Star Stream of Extinction!"
Dead Star Dragon reared back its head and fired an intense beam of purple light from its jaws. Fortress Dragon was struck by the blast and smoke.
"Now that there's an Xyz Monster in the Graveyard, Dead Star Dragon's ATK rises to 4500." Kaito continued. "And since the monster he just destroyed was an Xyz Monster, he gains a second attack this turn!"
"What? But the way that dragon is right now, it can take out Mizael in one shot!" a shocked Hikari exclaimed. "And it doesn't look like he has a way to defend himself!"
"Dead Star Dragon, attack Mizael directly!" Kaito commanded. "Dead Star Stream of Extinction!"
The dragon of light reared back its head again and fired another blast from its jaws. Cathy looked away to avoid seeing Mizael getting hit. Just as the blast was about to strike however, Fortress Dragon reappeared and closed its large metal wings around the dragon tamer. The attack struck the wings, causing Fortress Dragon to explode. The smoke cleared, and both Mizael and his life points were untouched.
"What the… what just happened?" Kaito demanded to know.
"By banishing Galaxy Fortress Dragon from my Graveyard, I can block one direct attack from my opponent." Mizael explained. "Not only that, but now that there's no longer an Xyz Monster in the Graveyard, you dragon loses the 500 extra ATK it gained from its first attack."
Cathy breathed a sigh of relief. "This duel's hard on my nerves."
"I'll say." Gilag agreed. "I really thought Mizael was a goner just now."
"Mizael knew that Kaito was going to start out with a strong attack, so he prepared the perfect defense to block it." Alit observed. "I guess I'd be a little cautious if I was him too."
"I'm a little disappointed in you, Mizael." Kaito told him. "You did well blocking my attack, but I would've thought you'd use a flashier opening move."
Mizael smirked. "I was merely trying to lure out your dragon to see what kind of power you gained from joining with that woman and her undead legion. And I have to say Tenjo, I'm the one who's disappointed in you! To think that you'd oppose me with a false Galaxy-Eyes monster!"
"What did you say?" an offended Kaito responded.
"You've degraded yourself and your noble dragon by succumbing to that woman's power!" Mizael declared. "Now you've both become shadows of your former selves!"
"You know nothing, dragon tamer!" Droite cut in. "Kaito's stronger now that he's joined with me."
"It's okay, Droite." Kaito calmly told her. "Mizael can say what he wants. In the end, he'll see that he can't stand up against the power you've given me."
"We'll see about that!" Mizael declared as he drew his next card. "Since you control a monster with over 2000 ATK, I special summon two Schwarzschild Dragons from my hand!"
Appearing on Mizael's side of the battlefield were two identical serpentine dragons. Each of them had brown scales and three red eyes.
"Using these two monsters, I build the overlay network and Xyz Summon a creature whose very presence warps the fabric of time!" Mizael announced. "Arise, Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon!"
Another large vortex in the form of a galaxy appeared in the center of the battlefield. Mizael's two dragons transformed into two balls of yellow energy and went into the center of the vortex. Rising out of the center moments later with two balls of yellow light orbiting around it was a large object that looked like a dark metal top. The top quickly began to unfold and change shape, transforming into a black mechanical dragon with purple lines glowing on parts of its body. Glowing on its head crest was the number 107 in alien writing.
"So now what?" Kaito asked. "Both our monsters have the same attack, and neither one can be destroyed in battle."
"I equip Tachyon Dragon with the Spell, Tachyon Stampeder!" Mizael announced.
Appearing on Tachyon Dragon's shoulders were two long-barreled cannons made of a rose-colored metal. The two cannons were connected to a large pack on the back by two black cables.
"Any Xyz Monster that Tachyon attacks now will lose 500 ATK for each of its overlay units during the battle." Mizael explained. "But more importantly, any monster that survives the battle will be destroyed at the end of the turn!"
"That means Mizael can destroy Dead Star Dragon and even deal some damage!" Alit observed.
"Go for it, darling!" Cathy cheered.
"Tachyon Dragon, remove that false Galaxy-Eyes monster from my sight!" Mizael commanded. "Tachyon Buster Stream!"
At this Kaito chuckled. "I figured you'd might try something like this. I activate another of Dead Star Dragon's effects! When Dead Star Dragon's attacked by a Number, he can negate the attack and destroy the monster!"
Tachyon Dragon roared and fired two beams of green crackling energy from its shoulder-mounted cannons. Before the attack could hit though, Dead Star Dragon fired a blast of blue light from its mouth, tearing through Tachyon Dragon's attack. The mechanical dragon was stuck in the chest and enveloped in a massive explosion. When the smoke cleared however, Tachyon Dragon was still on the battlefield. The only thing that was different was that it had lost its two cannons.
"What? How is Tachyon still on the field?" a startled Kaito asked.
"A valiant effort, Tenjo. But by sending Tachyon Stampeder to the Graveyard, I was able to prevent Tachyon's destruction." Mizael explained with a smirk. "And now I end my Battle Phase and activate Tachyon Dragon's effect! By detaching an overlay unit, Tachyon negates the effect of all other monsters on the field and gains a second attack! Not only that, Tachyon gains 1000 ATK for each effect that resolved during the last battle until the end of the turn!"
One of the balls of light orbiting Tachyon entered the dragon's body. The mechanical dragon roared and the light from Dead Star Dragon suddenly faded.
"Tachyon, obliterate that wretched false dragon!" Mizael ordered. "Tachyon Spiral of Destruction!"
The mechanical dragon roared before shooting a blast of energy from its mouth at Dead Star Dragon. The opposing dragon was vaporized by the attack and Kaito's life points fell to 2000.
"Looks like Mizael's got Kaito on the ropes now." Gilag confidently observed as Cathy cheered.
"Don't be so sure." Vector told him. "Miza-chan may have taken out Kaito's new dragon, but I doubt he's even close to being finished."
"I hate to say it, but Vector's probably right." Alit agreed. "Up until now, Mizael and Kaito have just been feeling one another out. I think now's when the real duel begins."
"I end my turn." Mizael announced.
Kaito calmly drew his next card. "Now you shall see my Dead Star Dragon's ultimate form! I activate Rank-Up-Magic Morphia Force!"
"Oh no! That's the same Spell that Droite used to beat Gauche!" Kotori recalled.
"With this card, I revive Dead Star Dragon from the Graveyard and elevate him into a supreme being!" Kaito announced.
A cold mist covered the ground and unconscious Dead Star Dragon appeared on the field inside a giant crystal. The dragon's eyes began to glow inside the crystal and a stream of purple energy began to flow from Tachyon Dragon into the crystal, taking the dragon's remaining ball of light with it. The light faded from Tachyon Dragon and its metal body became covered in rust.
"Awaken and drain the life from this world, Neo Galaxy-Eyes Dead Star Dragon!" Kaito called.
The crystal exploded in a blinding flash of light, scattering shards to the winds. The light faded to reveal a transformed Dead Star Dragon. Its body glowed red and the silver butterfly crest on its chest had turned gold with a purple gemstone. The dragon now also had three heads, each one with a long neck. On the forehead of the center head was a second butterfly crest. Its arms had also grown longer and its body had become gangly. Two crystal orbs orbited around the dragon, leaving trails of purple light.
"Awe man! That dragon looks nasty!" Alit declared. "How's Mizael supposed to beat a thing like that?"
"Neo Dead Star has 4500 ATK." Kaito continued. "And thanks to Morphia Force, Tachyon now has zero ATK. It's all over."
"I can't look!" Cathy exclaimed as she covered her face with her hands.
"Neo Dead Star! Obliterate Tachyon Dragon!" Kaito commanded. "Ultimate Extinction Stream!"
"I activate the effect of Cloud Nebula Dragon!" Mizael quickly announced. "By banishing it from my Graveyard when a dragon I control is attacked, any damage I take from that battle becomes zero!"
Neo Dead Star's three mouths opened and fired a beam of red light from each one. The three beams met in the center, forming a single intense stream of energy. The blast struck Tachyon Dragon, vaporizing it in an instant. As the blast continued towards Mizael, a cloud of nebular gas formed around him and absorbed the energy. When the cloud broke apart, Mizael was stunned to see that his dragon was no more.
"How is this possible?" Mizael demanded to know. "How were you able to destroy Tachyon?"
"The effects of any Xyz Monster that Neo Dead Star battles are negated." Kaito explained. "And since Neo Dead Star just destroyed an Xyz Monster in battle, I detach one overlay unit and inflict damage equal to that monster's Rank times 400!"
One of the crystal orbs orbiting Neo Dead Star shattered and the energy contained within entered the crest on the dragon's center head. The dragon of light fired a beam of purple energy from its chest crest at Mizael. The blonde dragon tamer was knocked onto his back by the beam and his life points dropped to 800.
"Give up. It's over." Kaito told him. "There's no way you can win against my dragon's ultimate form."
"I will never yield to you or your false Galaxy-Eyes monster!" Mizael declared as he got back to his feet. "I've not yet begun to fight!" As Mizael drew his next card, it flashed with a red light. "I activate Rank-Up-Magic The Seventh One! With this card, I revive Tachyon Dragon and use it to Xyz Summon a creature with the power to rip the fabric of space and time asunder!"
A massive vortex in the form of a galaxy appeared in the middle of the field. Rising out of it was a gold and red object that looked like a narrow top.
"Arise, Number C107: Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon!" Mizael called.
The gold object unfolded and transformed into a massive gold robotic dragon with immense wings and three heads. Mizael and Kaito's dragons roared at one another and the sky began to flash with lightning. Suddenly Hikari's Signer Mark began to glow with a brilliant crimson light.
Shark quickly noticed the light of Hikari's mark. "What's going on?"
Before Hikari could answer, the sound of an echoing roar pierced the air. Bursting out of the thick clouds above was a large serpentine dragon with a body of red light and golden eyes. The dragon descended to the battlefield towards the other two dragons.
"Who's dragon is that?" a confused Yuma asked.
"That's the Crimson Dragon!" Hikari answered.
The Crimson Dragon roared at Mizael and Kaito's dragons and the light from its body began to glow even brighter. The light seemed to cause Neo Dead Star to roar in pain. Kaito and Droite cried out in pain as well and smoke suddenly began to rise from their bodies. The same was happening to the couple's vampire hoard. Neo Tachyon and Neo Dead Star roared at the Crimson Dragon, and suddenly an explosion of blinding red light washed out the entire area.
Hikari suddenly found that she was floating in an unknown sky above a completely blue landscape. Several feet away she saw two figures hovering over the land in the distance. One was a being that seemed to be made completely of blue light. The other was a woman with long white hair. Hikari didn't know why, but the woman looked somehow familiar. Floating just behind the woman was a large black object that looked like a ship of some kind.
The woman with white hair blasted the being of light with a blast of purple energy shot from her hands. It looked like the blue figure was on his last legs. Suddenly the roar of the Crimson Dragon echoed through the air. Hikari watched as the dragon deity burst through the clouds to confront the woman. The dragon blasted the woman with a stream of red energy from its mouth, causing her to scream in pain. As the woman was bombarded, there was another blinding explosion of light that washed out the entire area.
Hikari found that she was back with the others in front of the house when the light cleared. The Crimson Dragon had vanished, as had Mizael and Kaito's two dragons. It seemed that the duel had come to an end. Kaito and Droite were just getting back to their feet.
"Looks like our battle's done for now." Kaito told Mizael. "We'll be leaving."
"Wait just a damn minute, Kaito!" Shark protested. "You think after all this, we're just gonna let you guys walk away?"
"You don't have a choice." Droite told them. "There's no way you can stop us from leaving if we want to."
"Before we go though Droite, I think we should take a snake to go." Kaito decided.
With that, Kaito extended his right arm and blasted Kotori with a beam of purple light, much to Yuma's shock. Kotori vanished and reappeared moments later in Kaito's arms, unconscious.
"Kotori!" a horrified Yuma called.
"If you want to stop us or even try and save Kotori, you'll have to come to Heartland Tower." Kaito told them. "If you can, that is."
Droite, Kaito and Kotori became enveloped in a ball of blue light that shot into the air and took off towards the tower. Yuma called after Kaito to come back, but it was useless. Meanwhile, the vampires that Kaito and Droite had left behind were beginning to advance on the house.
"What do we do now?" Cathy wondered.
"Dammit! Kaito, you dumbass!" Shark cursed. "I swear I'll make you pay for this!"
Author's Note: Sorry if the way Kaito and Mizael's duel ended was kind of a letdown. I just liked the idea of the two of them having another battle where things got so intense that they had to call things off. Plus it seemed like a good way to get the Crimson Dragon involved a little more. One thing that made the duel in this chapter had to do was that I had forgotten how Tachyon Dragon's effect worked in the anime. So if I got anything wrong in this chapter, let me know. Hopefully it'll be an easy fix if I did.
Please review and let me know what you think.