Author's Note: I had intended to get this chapter up yesterday, but I ended up having a few delays. While writing it, I ended up having a migraine and was unable to work on the thing for the rest of the day. Plus I started on it a bit late, and it ended up being a pretty long chapter. I'm also not sure how many people are actually going to see this chapter, because it seems like this site has been having trouble displaying new chapters. I know K.I.T.T. RIDER has been having problems with the updates for one of her stories.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL.
Chapter 14: Human Nature
"You think you can scare us by summoning Kaito and Droite's two monsters?" Shark asked Morphia. "Hikari and I beat those things before, and we can do it again!"
"We shall see." Morphia replied. "Butterfly Priestess, eliminate Drill Barnacle! Life Extinguisher!"
"I activate my Trap, Shift!" Hikari quickly announced. "This card lets me redirect your attack to Fortress Warrior! And once per turn, Fortress Warrior can't be destroyed in battle!"
Butterfly Priestess extended her arms and fired a blast of purple energy at Shark's sea creature. Suddenly the blast curved and flew towards Fortress Warrior. The giant Stone Warrior bent down and blocked the attack with the structure he held over his head.
"Dead Star Dragon, attack Fortress Warrior!" Morphia commanded. "Dead Star Stream of Extinction!"
"I activate my Trap, Poseidon Wave!" Shark announced. "This card negates your attack and inflicts 800 points of damage!"
Just as the undead dragon of light opened its jaws to fire an attack, a massive wave of water washed over the battlefield. The wave passed and Morphia's life points had taken a very slight fall to 11200.
"I activate the effect of Butterfly Priestess and detach one overlay unit to destroy Gogogo Golem." Morphia announced.
One of the purple balls of light orbiting around the white-haired priestess entered the gem on her necklace. Butterfly Priestess raised her hands above her head and fired a bolt of purple light at Yuma's stone monster. Gogogo Golem dissolved into a pile of dust that blew away in the breeze.
"It seems I was able to destroy at least one of your monsters." Morphia observed. "I shall set one card on the field and end my turn."
Shark drew his first card. "I summon Big Jaws in Attack Mode!" The blue large-fanged shark materialized on the battlefield. "I overlay the level three Big Jaws and Drill Barnacle to Xyz summon Black Ray Lancer!"
A vortex appeared in the middle of the battlefield and both of Shark's monsters changed into two balls of blue energy before being pulled in. Shark's black aquatic dark spearman rose out of the center of the vortex moments later with two balls of blue light orbiting around it.
"Now I activate the Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force!" Shark announced. "With this card, I use Black Ray Lancer to rebuild the overlay network and summon CXyz Shadow Ray Lancer!"
A black hole surrounded by a strange green mist-like energy appeared right above the battlefield and pulled Black Ray Lancer in. The dark spearman emerged from the anomaly moments later. Dropping down to the field around it were three red cross-shaped crystals.
"That's not all!" Shark continued. "I use the effect of Barian's Force to steal Dead Star Dragon's overlay units and reduce its ATK to 2400!"
A red light shot from Shadow Ray Lancer and struck Dead Star Dragon. The two balls of light orbiting the dragon were pulled along the path of the beam and changed into two more red crystals. The two new crystals landed on the floor of the battlefield around Shadow Ray Lancer.
"I attack Dead Star Dragon with Shadow Ray Lancer and activate his effect!" Shark announced. "By detaching one overlay unit, Shadow Ray Lancer gains the ATK of the monster he's attacking during the battle!"
Shadow Ray Lancer raised his spear to attack and aimed it at Dead Star Dragon. One of the crystals around him shattered into particles of light that flowed into the shaft of the spear.
"Ultimate Harpoon!" Shark called out.
Shadow Ray Lancer threw his golden spear at Dead Star Dragon. The spear glowed red and grew in size as it flew through the air. Dead Star Dragon was struck in the chest and exploded in a blinding flash of purple light. The light faded and Morphia's life points had fallen to 8600.
"Alight!" Gilag cheered from the ground below. "One Dead Star monster down!"
"I'm not at all surprised that Nasch was able to destroy that false Galaxy-Eyes." Mizael remarked.
"Something's not right." Vector spoke. "Morphia seems way too calm about losing her strongest monster like that."
"You're right." Durbe agreed. "She must be planning something."
"I end my turn." Shark announced. "You're up, Yuma."
"Got it!" Yuma enthusiastically replied as he drew his next card. "I summon Gogogo Giant in Attack Mode!"
Appearing on the battlefield was a very large humanoid creature with a body made of very smooth brown and blue stone. Its brown mask-like head had a single red eye. The very build of the figure seemed to be like that of an action figure.
"When Gogogo Giant is summoned, I can summon Gogogo Golem from the Graveyard and switch Gogogo Giant to Defense Mode!" Yuma announced. His first one-eyed stone monster appeared on the battlefield. "I now overlay the level four Gogogo Golem and Gogogo Giant to Xyz Summon Gagaga Cowboy!"
Another vortex appeared in the center of the battlefield and pulled in Yuma's two stone creatures as balls of blue energy. Rising out of the vortex a moment later was a dark-haired man dressed as a cowboy wearing a tattered brown cape and a brown hat. An orange bandana covered the lower half of his face. The rest of his outfit consisted of a green shirt with an olive-green jacket and a pair of long black pants with black boots and a brown belt. In each hand, the cowboy carried a strange green pistol. Orbiting around him were two balls of golden light.
"I equip Gagaga Cowboy with Xyz Unit!" Yuma announced. "This card raises Gagaga Cowboy's ATK from 1500 to 2300!"
"What do you intend to do with that monster?" Morphia asked. "You are aware that Butterfly Priestess can only be killed by a Synchro Monster."
"Not after I activate Shadow Ray Lancer's other effect!" Yuma announced. "Once per turn, Shadow Ray Lancer can negate the effects of another monster on the field until the end of the turn!"
A bolt of red lighting shot from the red gemstone in the gold Barian emblem on Shadow Ray Lancer's chest and struck Butterfly Priestess. Suddenly the winged priestess turned completely grey.
"I attack Butterfly Priestess with Shadow Ray Lancer and activate his effect!" Yuma announced. "Now during this battle, Shadow Ray Lancer gains Butterfly Priestess' ATK!"
The aquatic spearman raised his weapon and another one of the red crystals around him shattered, causing particles of light to flow into the shaft of the weapon. Shadow Ray Lancer threw his weapon at the priestess. The gold spear glowed red and grew in size as it flew through the air. Butterfly Priestess was struck in the chest and exploded in a flash of purple light. Soon after, the spear reappeared in Shadow Ray Lancer's hand.
"Gagaga Cowboy, attack Morphia directly!" Yuma commanded. "Gagaga Bullet!"
The cowboy raised his guns and fired two shots at Droite's white-haired double. The bullets hit their mark and exploded in a flash of fire and smoke. After a moment the smoke cleared, and Morphia's life points had fallen to 3700.
"Yeah! They've got her now!" Alit cheered. "One more attack and Morphia's had it!"
"No. This is going far too easily." Durbe disagreed.
"What do you mean?" Cathy asked.
"Look how calm Morphia is." Durbe pointed out. "It's almost as if losing those two Dead Star monsters meant nothing to her."
"There's one other thing." Vector interjected. "Morphia could of used the effect of Butterfly Priestess to get rid of Gagaga Cowboy as soon as he summoned it. It wouldn't have stopped Shadow Ray Lancer's attack, but it would've at least lessened the damage she would've taken. Then there's that card Morphia still has on the field."
"You're thinking that Morphia wanted her two monsters to be destroyed." Mizael assumed.
"I'm sure we're about to find out." Durbe replied.
Hikari drew her next card. "I summon Psychic Commander in Attack Mode!" The hovercraft-riding soldier appeared on the battlefield. "I tune the level three Psychic Commander into the level two Fortress Warrior for a level five Synchro Summon!"
Psychic Commander flashed orange and changed into three green rings of light. The rings encircled Fortress Warrior and converted him into two white stars.
"Clustering stars come together to signal the coming of an unstoppable fighter! Create the path its light shines upon!" Hikari chanted. "Synchro Summon! Rise up! Scarred Warrior!"
The stars flashed and became a pillar of light, clearing to reveal a muscular warrior with tan skin covered in X-shaped scars. He had a cybernetic right eye and the top of his head was covered in bandages. Bits of armor covered the warrior's chest and left shoulder and his right leg was completely mechanical. His entire right arm was completely wrapped in bandages but had a single metal blade protruding from the forearm. As soon as Scarred Warrior appeared however, an eerie cold washed over the battlefield and he became covered completely in transparent blue crystal.
To the shock of Hikari and her two teammates, Gagaga Cowboy and Shadow Ray Lancer had become frozen in crystal as well. But what was even more surprising was that Dead Star Dragon and Butterfly Priestess had reappeared on the field.
"What the hell?" Shark exclaimed. "What's going on?"
"I activate a Trap, Dead Star Grudge." Morphia explained. "When my opponent performs a Synchro Summon, this card prevents my opponent's monsters from attacking this turn and lets me revive two Dead Star monster from the Graveyard. Of course the monsters revived by this card become rank six and their ATK is reduced to zero."
"You wanted this to happen from the start, didn't you?" Hikari realized.
"Thank you for playing right into my hands, Signer." Morphia replied.
"…I'll set one card on the field and end my turn." A somewhat irritated Hikari announced. As soon as her turn ended, the crystal encasing the team's monsters shattered.
Morphia drew her next card. "The monster I'm about to summon ordinarily needs three level nine monsters to be summoned. But I can also use two Dead Star monsters of the same rank. So I overlay Dead Star Dragon and Butterfly Priestess to Xyz Summon my ultimate creature! Awaken, Dead Star Goddess Lilith!"
A massive vortex of blue light appeared, causing a white mist to wash over the battlefield. Morphia's two Dead Star monsters turned into balls of blue energy and were pulled in. Rising out of the vortex soon after was a woman with ice-blue skin and long white hair similar to Morphia's. She had on a two-piece white dress that showed her midriff. Around her bellybutton was a black tattoo in the shape of a butterfly. The bottom half of the dress was a long skirt that went down past her feet and hung from a silver belt. The top half of the dress was low cut and had long baggy sleeves that hid her hands. Hanging from her neck was a gold necklace that seemed to be a replica of Morphia's, and on her back was a pair of large blue transparent butterfly wings. Two balls of blue light orbited around her.
As soon as she appeared, Lilith opened her yellow cat-like eyes and shot Yuma and Shark's two monsters to beams of blue light. Both Xyz Monsters dissolved to dust in an instant. The balls of light that had been orbiting Gagaga Cowboy turned blue and were pulled into Morphia's orbit. At the same time, the remaining crystals that had still been scatted around Shadow Ray Lancer had also pulled in as balls of blue light. Specks of light drifted from Lilith's wings and showered Morphia, causing her life points to rise to 8600.
"What the heck's going on?" a stunned Yuma asked.
"When Lilith is summoned to the field, all Xyz Monsters my opponent controls are destroyed and their overlay units are attached to Lilith." Morphia explained. "I also gain life points equal to the total attack of all Xyz Monsters destroyed by this effect. Furthermore, because there are now a total of two Xyz Monsters in the Graveyard, Lilith's ATK rises from 3200 to 4200."
"This was Morphia's strategy from the beginning!" Cathy realized.
"Lilith, attack Scarred Warrior!" Morphia commanded. "Life Drainer!"
Lilith extended her arms forward and fired a powerful blast of blue light from her hands. The attack struck Scarred Warrior and the team's life points dropped to 9900. When the blast ended however, Scarred Warrior remained on the field.
"Nice try, but Scarred Warrior can't be destroyed in battle up to once per turn." Hikari told Morphia.
"That may be, but I still did damage with that attack." Morphia pointed out. "Which means I can now activate Lilith's effect. By detaching one overlay unit, Lilith inflicts 1000 more points of damage for each Xyz Monster in the Graveyard!"
One of the balls of blue light orbiting Lilith entered the gem on her necklace. The Dead Star goddess raised her hands above her head and fired three blue bolts of lighting at Hikari and the others. All three members of the team were hit, and their life points dropped to 7900.
"I activate my Trap, Shock Draw!" Hikari announced. "For every 1000 points of damage my friends and I took this turn, I get to draw a card!"
"Then I shall end my turn." Morphia announced.
Shark drew his next card and scowled. "Damn! I summon Shocktopus in Defense Mode and end my turn!"
Appearing on the battlefield was a strange aquatic creature with a narrow purple and yellow shark-like head with four small fins and a long saw-like blade projecting out from the end of his nose. Instead of a tail, it had eight orange tentacles lined with suction cups.
"That's all I can do." Shark told his teammates. "Yuma, let's hope you can do better."
"I'm on it!" Yuma replied as he drew his next card. Upon looking at the card, Yuma smiled and flipped backward. "Okay! I set two cards on the field and end my turn!"
"That's it?" Shark asked with a quirked brow.
"Don't worry. I've got a plan." Yuma assured him. "But if it's gonna work, we'll need that dragon of Hikari's."
"How's Stardust Dragon gonna help?" Shark asked.
"Trust me." Yuma replied with a wink.
"Okay, here goes." Hikari responded with a shrug as she drew her next card. "I summon the Tuner monster, Quick-Span Knight!"
Appearing on the battlefield was a small humanoid robot that was mainly silver in color. It had a large head in the shape of a wrench with two eyes.
"I tune the level three Quick-Span Knight into the level five Scarred Warrior for a level eight Synchro Summon!" Hikari announced.
Quick-Span Knight flashed orange before changing into three green rings of light. The rings encircled the cyborg and changed him into five white stars.
"Clustering hopes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon!" Hikari chanted. "Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"
The stars flashed and became a pillar of white light that shot into the sky. The light faded to reveal Hikari's magnificent silvery dragon.
"I now activate Quick-Span Knight's effect!" Hikari announced. "When Quick-Span Knight is sent to the Graveyard for a Synchro Summon, one monster my opponent controls loses 500 ATK!"
Quick-Span Knight's head reappeared and few through the air and hit Lilith on the cheek. The large metal object left a small red cut, causing Lilith to scowl and bare her fangs.
"Okay Hikari, now attack!" Yuma told her.
"Are you crazy?" Shark exclaimed. "Lilith still has 3700 ATK! There's no way Stardust Dragon can beat it!"
"Trust me!" Yuma responded with a grin and another wink.
"Well, I guess it's worth a shot." Hikari replied. "I equip Stardust Dragon with the Spell, Silver Wing!" The dragon's wings began to glow with a white light. "Stardust Dragon, attack Lilith! Shooting Sonic!"
"I activate a Trap, Moon Barrier!" Yuma announced. "By detaching one overlay unit from an Xyz Monster on the field, I negate Stardust Dragon's attack!"
Stardust Dragon reared back his head and fired a sparking beam of light from his mouth at Lilith. Before the beam could hit, one of the balls of light orbiting Lilith vanished and the attack struck an invisible barrier.
"What was the point of that maneuver?" Morphia asked. "All you've done is remove a single overlay unit from Lilith. A minor victory at best."
"I activate my other face-down card, Double or Nothing!" Yuma announced. "Since Stardust Dragon's attack was negated, he can make a second attack with twice the ATK points!"
"What?" a somewhat startled Lilith exclaimed.
Hikari smirked. "Stardust Dragon, attack Lilith again! Shooting Sonic!"
Stardust Dragon fired another beam of shining light from his mouth. Lilith was struck in the chest and shattered apart. Morphia's life points dropped to 7300.
"Nice one." Shark praised.
"I'll set one card on the field and end my turn." Hikari announced.
Morphia regained her normal calm and drew her next card. "I activate the Spell, Morphia's Charity. This card allows me to draw an extra card for every Xyz Monster in each player's Graveyard. And now I activate the Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Eternal Morphia Force! With this card, I revive Lilith from the Graveyard and elevate her to an even higher state of being!"
Lilith rose from the center of the battlefield inside a transparent crystal coffin. Suddenly Shocktopus changed into a ball of purple light and was pulled into the crystal. Two other balls of light flew from Shark's Graveyard into the crystal as well. Another pair of lights flew from Yuma's Graveyard, followed by three more lights from Hikari's.
"Awaken, Dead Star Goddess Lilith Eternal!" Morphia called out.
The crystal coffin shattered to reveal Lilith in a new form. Her once blue skin had changed to a shade of light purple and an Egyptian headdress had replaced her long white hair. Instead of her long white skirt from before, the Dead Star Goddess wore a short skirt of golden armor that ended well above the knee. On the front of her belt was a golden ankh. The top of her white dress had been replaced by a piece of golden chest armor that revealed her midriff and showed off her cleavage. Golden bracelets adorned her wrists, and on her back was a pair of transparent purple butterfly wings. Orbiting around Lilith were nine crystal orbs that left trails of purple light. As soon as Lilith Eternal awoke, Morphia's life points rose to 11300.
"What's going on?" Yuma asked. "How come Morphia's monster has so many overlay units?"
"Like the original Morphia Force card, Eternal Morphia Force revives a Dead Star monster and evolves it into a monster that is two ranks higher. But in addition to that, all monsters besides Synchro and Xyz Monsters on my opponent's side of the field and in their Graveyard become overlay units for the summoned monster." Morphia explained. "Not only that, I also gain life points equal to the original ATK of the monster I just summoned."
"You're saying that Spell card of yours stole our monsters?" Hikari asked.
"Precisely. Just as I will steal the life from this world once I get through with the three of you." Morphia replied. "Also, because there are currently five Xyz Monsters in the Graveyard, Lilith Eternal's ATK becomes 6500. Now then, for my next move I activate Mystical Space Typhoon and destroy the Signer's face-down card."
A small twister appeared around Hikari's set card. Before shattering apart, her card was revealed to be Scrap-Iron Scarecrow.
"Now… Lilith Eternal, destroy that wretched dragon!" Morphia commanded. "Life Force Stealer!"
Lilith extended her arms forward and shot a blast of purple energy from the palms of her hands. Stardust Dragon was hit, and the team's life points dropped to 3900. When the attack ended, Stardust Dragon was still on the battlefield. Though smoke was rising from his body.
"Due to Silver Wing, Stardust Dragon can survive up to two attacks!" Hikari told Morphia.
"Perhaps, but my attack still did damage, which means I can activate Lilith Eternal's effect." Morphia announced. "By detaching an overlay unit, my opponents must send a number of Xyz Monsters in their Extra Deck to the Graveyard for every 1000 points of damage they took. I know that won't be a problem for you, Signer, but it is a grave problem for your friend and your consort."
One of the crystal spheres orbiting Lilith shattered and she fired two beams of light from her eyes that hit Yuma and Shark. Yuma's cards for Gauntlet Launcher, Gagaga Samurai, One-Eyed Skill Gainer and Heroic Champion-Excalibur flew from the Extra Deck case on his belt into the Graveyard slot on his duel disk by a purple energy. The same happened to Shark's cards for Shark Caesar, Shark Fortress, Submersible Carrier Aero Shark and Bahamut Shark.
"For each card sent to the Graveyard by this effect, I gain 1000 life points." Morphia continued. Her life points rose again to 19300. "But more importantly, Lilith Eternal's ATK now rises to 10500."
"That thing just killed most of Yuma and Shark's strongest cards!" Cathy exclaimed.
"At least Hikari's deck is still mostly intact." Durbe pointed out. "In the end, winning this duel may all be but to her."
"I shall set two cards on the field and end my turn." Morphia announced.
"I've had enough of you!" Shark declared as he drew his next card. The card glowed with a red light as he pulled it from the deck. "I activate the Spell, Rank-Up-Magic The Seventh One! With this card I summon Number 101: Silent Honors ARK to the field and use it to Xyz Summon Number C101: Silent Honors DARK!"
A large vortex appeared behind Shark and his large blue submarine emerged. The front of the sub's cockpit burst off and Number C101 flew out.
"I activate the Continuous Trap, Morphia's Law!" Morphia announced.
An intense blast of blue energy shot from the large Trap card that Morphia played and struck Silent Honors DARK. Number C101 vanished upon being hit, and the blast continued on and hit Shark. The water duelist nearly fell off the edge of the floating circle of light they had been dueling on, and the team's life points dropped to 1900.
"Ryoga!" a very concerned Hikari called out.
"I'm fine." Shark assured her after recovering from the blast. He then turned his attention back to Morphia. "What the hell did you just do?"
"When triggered, Morphia's Law banishes an Xyz Monster summoned by a Rank-Up-Spell and inflicts 400 points of damage times that monster's rank." Morphia explained. "Furthermore, as long as this card is on the field the only Rank-Up-Magic cards that can be played are Morphia Force and Eternal Morphia Force."
"Damn you!" Shark cursed.
"It seems your anger was once again your undoing." Morphia remarked. "Just as it always has in the past. It is little wonder that you are the weakest of the Barian Emperors."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shark asked. "How the hell do you know anything about me?"
"I've kept my mind on this world during the years of my captivity and know many things." Morphia answered. "I know even more from the memories of gleamed from the souls in this city. And one thing I know about you, Ryoga Kamishiro is that you often let your rage consume you. It is that rage that made it so easy for Don Thousand to turn you into one of his pawns. He didn't have to brainwash you because he knew exactly the right buttons to push by using Vector and your sister. It is this same weakness that the one called Tron exploited. And once again, your rage has led you and those you care about down the path of ruin."
Shark's eyes widened upon realizing that Morphia made a good point. "But… but I…"
"Shark, don't listen to her!" Yuma told him.
"Stay out of this, little boy." Morphia told him. "I'm only telling your friend the truth about himself."
"Yeah? Well I think your truth's bogus!" Yuma declared as he drew his next card. "I summon Gagaga Magician in Attack Mode!"
Appearing on the battlefield was a silver-haired wizard clad in black and red. He wore a conical hat that curved forward and a black stocking covered the lower half of his face. On his left foot he wore a red knee-high boot, and on his right he had on a simple brown shoe with a chain coiled around the ankle that went up all the way around his waist up to the back of his head. Attached to the chain was a sort of belt buckle was a kind of gold ornament or charm. On his shoulders were pieces of red armor, and around his neck was a tattered red scarf.
"I activate the spell, Gagaga Bolt!" Yuma announced. "Since I have a Gagaga monster on the field, this card lets me destroy an opponent's monster! And the monster I'm taking down is Lilith Eternal!"
Gagaga Magician raised his fist in the air and shot a bolt of yellow lighting into the air. The bolt hit the clouds and came down back towards Lilith.
"I activate another Trap, Dead Star Punisher!" Morphia announced. "This card negates any effect that targets a Dead Star monster and inflicts damage to my opponent equal to the target's rank times 100."
Just as the bolt of lightning was about to strike Lilith Eternal, it bounced off an invisible barrier and hit Yuma. Yuma was knocked to the edge of the floating platform they were all on and the team's life points dropped even further to 800.
"Did you really think you could oppose me, little boy?" Morphia coldly asked. "Without the envoy of Astral World, you're nothing. You act like the hero, but in the end you're nothing but a weak child."
"That's enough!" Hikari cut in.
"I know many things about you and your family as well, Singer." Morphia responded. "Shall I start with your former lover, or shall I reveal the truth about the old man from the future that your father did battle with before you were born?"
"I don't care about anything you have to say!" Hikari told her. "So maybe me, Ryoga and Yuma aren't perfect. We have flaws, but that's what makes us human. So don't think that rubbing those flaws in our faces is going to help you win!"
"You're still certain that the three of you can defeat me." Morphia replied.
"Just watch!" Hikari told her as she drew her next card. "I summon Tune Jumper in Attack Mode!"
Appearing on the battlefield was a young woman with long light-green hair tied back in a ponytail. She had on a black bodysuit that clung tightly to her frame, along with a piece of grey futuristic armor covering her upper torso. Connected by red wires to two pieces of grey armor on her shoulders were two bulky metal gloves. Covering her eyes was a red transparent visor.
"I activate Tune Jumper's effect!" Hikari announced. "By discarding a monster from my hand, Tune Jumper summons a number of level one Tuners from my deck equal to the level of the monster I discarded. So I discard the level two Quillbolt Hedgehog to summon Mono Synchro and Junk Mail!"
Tune Jumper closed her eyes and shot two green beams from the palms of her metal gloves. Mono Synchron materialized on the battlefield along with a monster that looked like a silver helmet with arms and legs.
"Since I now have at least one Tuner on the field, I summon Quillbolt Hedgehog from the Graveyard!" Hikari announced. The bolt-covered rodent appeared on the field. "Any monsters that I tune Mono Synchron become level one. So I tune the level one Mono Synchron into the soon to be level one Quillbolt Hedgehog for a level two Synchro Summon!"
Mono Synchron shot a beam of red light at Quillbolt Hedgehog, causing a red number one to appear on the rodent's body. The green and yellow robot then changed into a ring of green light that encircled Quillbolt Hedgehog, causing him to become a single white star.
"Clustering wishes will call out a new speed's horizon! Become the path its light shines upon!" Hikari chanted. "Synchro Summon! The power of hope, Synchro Tuner, Formula Synchron!"
The white star flashed and became a horizontal beam of white light. The light soon faded to reveal a small robot that resembled a green, white and red racecar. It had blue and white arms with black hands extending from its back wheels, and a pair of blue and white legs on its underside. The head inside the car's cockpit wore a blue helmet.
"Because I summoned Formula Synchron, I get to draw another card." Hikari announce. "Now I tune the level one Junk Mail into the level one Tune Jumper for another level two Synchro Summon!"
Junk Mail flashed orange and changed into a single green ring of light. The ring encircled the green-haired teleporter and changed her into a single white star.
"Clustering wills shall come together and break the barrier to a new speed's horizon! Become the path its light shines upon!" Hikari chanted. "Synchro Summon! The power of light, Synchro Tuner, Warship Synchron!"
The star flashed into a second horizontal beam of light. In moments the light faded to reveal Hikari's small robotic warship.
"Because I just summoned Warship Synchron, I get to draw another card." Hikari announced. "That ends my turn."
"Two Synchro Tuners?" Shark observed.
As Morphia drew her next card, Hikari closed her eyes. "Shining crystal dreams shall reverberate throughout the heavens and open the door to a golden future! Become the path its light shines upon!"
"Lilith Eternal, attack Stardust Dragon!" Morphia commanded. "Life Force…"
"Delta Accel!" Hikari called out, cutting Morphia off.
Before Lilith could launch an attack, Hikari's dragon and two robots took off in a streak of pinkish-red light. The force of their departure was so great that it shattered all of the crystal balls orbiting around Lilith Eternal. Less then a second later, a massive portal burst open behind Hikari and her two teammates and a huge ball of blinding gold light shot out of it into the air. Following after the gold light was an even smaller ball of blue light. The ball of gold light meanwhile hovered above the battlefield. The light from it caused Lilith Eternal to shriek in pain as smoke rose from her body.
The light from the golden ball faded a bit to reveal was producing it. It was a large golden dragon that greatly resembled Shooting Star Dragon. It had five long horns that grew backward from its head and six gold-feathered wings on its back. Its eyes were blue and it had a large blue diamond shape gem in its chest.
"Be born, Shining Sun Dragon!" Hikari called out.
The golden dragon roared and Morphia's eyes widened in shock for the first time in the duel. Meanwhile, the small ball of blue light that had followed Shining Sun Dragon flew down to hover next to Yuma.
"Stand up, Yuma!" a familiar voice spoke.
Yuma looked, and the ball of blue light changed into a humanoid figure made of blue energy. He had golden eyes and strange markings on parts of his body. The figure's arms were crossed over his chest.
"Astral…" Yuma spoke.
"Stand up!" the being known as Astral said again. "We're going to win!"
Author's Note: The only kind of duel that's even harder to write than tag duels are the asymmetrical duels involving two or three people against one. One big reason for that is because you want a certain character to do a certain critical move, but depending on where that character is in the rotation you have to figure out what moves the other characters are going to make in the meantime. Plus there's just the sheer length of the duel itself. I have the outline for this duel finished, but I still need to do a little editing to it. So stay tuned for what may or may not be the final chapter.
Please review and let me know what you think.