Just a note before the chapter starts. Astute readers will notice I used the anime effects for a couple of Jaden's cards during this duel. Note that I have made sure that these effects work as they are supposed to as the rulings on the effects have been triple checked by yours truly. Also, I have started up a Youtube channel under the same name of Wyncrer the Sage. Unfortunately I am unable to link it properly on here for some reason, but please go and check it out. It only has a few videos on it at the moment, but I plan on making Yugioh/RWBY/gaming content in the future, so if you're interested in that please give it a look.
Anyway, now that that is out the way, please enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 31 – Machinations of the Grand Order
Leaving Yusei behind to deal with Commander Erial, Tanion, Yugi and Jaden made their way to the open stairwell that they had spied earlier on. Looking up the stairwell as they entered, Tanion estimated that the stairs only made their way to the top of the room that they had just left, rather than all the way to the top of the building.
"Erial wasn't wrong on one thing. We don't have time for this," Jaden said, before placing a hand on either shoulder. "Going up."
Before either Yugi or Tanion could protest, he felt his body being pulled into the Spirit World as Jaden used Yubel's powers to teleport them upward. However, when they returned to their world as found themselves at the top of the staircase they had been at the bottom of just before, Jaden seemed both frustrated and confused as to why.
"Did something go wrong?" Yugi asked, the man seemingly unaffected by the organ-lurching journey.
"I couldn't teleport through the shield earlier, but I thought that once I was inside I wouldn't have a problem going to the top," Jaden explained. "Don't tell me they have another one set up just for me..."
"We do," a voice came from the room through the open door next to them. "Come in. We've much to discuss."
Looking toward the voice, Tanion found himself looking at Zera, who was seated at what looked to be a rather comfortable lounge, her heard turned slightly away from them as she looked through the clear glass windows out onto the battlefield below. As they warily entered the room, Tanion realised that it looked very similar to what you would expect from the lobby of a corporate building of sorts.
"We modelled it after the old government buildings," Zera said, noticing the look on Tanion's face. "You just left what you would essentially call the basement. Welcome to the ground floor."
"You've been expecting us," Yugi said in clear reference to them, rather than the rebels currently tearing into Zera's army. "You prepared for Jaden's powers."
"We've known about your abilities for quite some time, so we took liberties to make sure you couldn't simply come and go as you please once the machine was activated," Zera replied, before standing and readying her duel disk. "However, this is as far as you come. Erial might have been complacent, but I am not that foolish. None of you are leaving this room."
"I disagree," Jaden said before locking Zera's duel disk into duel mode along with his own.
"You really think that's going to hold me?" Zera asked him.
"No, but Yubel will," Jaden said. "You don't want to know what she's capable of, trust me."
Zera seemed to recognise the seriousness of the threat. "Fine," she said. "If it's a duel you want, then let's go. Just know that once I'm done with you, I will be chasing after you two. Not that either of you can get past Seto and Irene anyways."
"We can try," Yugi said. "Come on, Tanion. Leave her to Jaden."
Jaden watched them go, and once they were out of sight and heading up a different staircase he allowed himself to listen to Yubel, who had been trying to get his attention since they had arrived at the top of the previous stairs.
- Jaden, this woman is different from the others. I have never had a chance to really analyse her yet, I think Yugi could feel it as well… unlike Erial, Irene and Tanion, who don't fit into this world, she does -
- Are you saying she never came to this world from another one? -
- She fits seamlessly into the energies of this world. Even though she seems to have acquired the power of Fusion and Synchro through her own power, I don't think that would be enough to do this -
"Happy now?" Zera asked, interrupting their mental conversation.
"Who are you, Zera?" Jaden demanded. "Yubel says that you are of this world, yet you fight with the Grand Order. Is this true?"
Zera's expression darkened at the words. "You want a duel, didn't you? Duel me!" she shouted.
"Tell me who you are first!" Jaden demanded. "You didn't come to this world from another like the others, did you?"
"My name is Zera, and I am the co-Commander of the United Army Corps of the Grand Order," Zera recited. "That is who I am. My past doesn't matter!"
It appears I touched a nerve. "Let's do this, Zera," Jaden said, readying his disk. "But just know, I will have answers, one way or another."
DUEL!
"You really shouldn't have gone and pissed me off like that, Jaden," Zera rumbled ominously. "I was planning to go easy on you like I did with Tanion, but now I'm not going to hold back."
"What happened, Zera?" Jaden persisted. "What happened to you that would make you react in such a way?"
Zera clenched her jaw in anger. "My turn!" she proclaimed. "Since I control no cards, I can activate the spell card Envoy Package from my hand, with allows me to add Envoy Gathering from my deck to my hand. I then activate the continuous spell immediately!"
"That's the card that put Tanion in a tight spot last time," Jaden recalled.
"I then activate the spell card Polymerisation!" Zera continued. "I fuse the Jalyth, Envoy of the Feline and Scaram, Envoy of the Insect together! Cat and beetle, become one as you journey forth on the search for even greater strength! Awaken the ancient ancestry within yourself to press forward with eternal strength! Fusion Summon! Revive from beneath the earth, Level 7! Kine, Envoy of the Dinosaur! (ATK:2400/DEF:2100)."
"And now Gathering adds 3 counters, giving it an extra 300 ATK," Jaden stated.
"Since it was used as material for a summon, Jalyth's monster effect activates, sending Wylt, Envoy of the Bird to my graveyard!" Zera continued. "Not only does this add another counter, but it also triggers Wylt's effect! Since it was sent to the graveyard, I can special summon one 'Envoy' monster beside itself from the grave! Come to my side once again, Jalyth! (Lvl:4/ATK:1800/DEF:1350)."
"I don't like where this is going," Jaden whispered to himself, as Envoy Gathering went to 5 counters.
"I then activate the effect that Kine got from using Scaram as summoning material!" Zera proclaimed. "I send a second copy of Wylt to my grave, and use its effect to revive the first one from the grave! Appear, Envoy of the Bird! (Lvl:3/ATK:1350/DEF:1350)."
"Now Gathering goes to 7 counters," Jaden muttered. "And she hasn't even used her normal summon yet…"
"And now I summon the Tuner monster, Andraxia, Envoy of the Fairy! (Lvl:1/ATK:200/DEF:1300," Zera said as the fairy appeared. "Once Envoy Gathering gains another counter, I then tune my Level 3 Wylt and Level 4 Jalyth to my Level 1 Andraxia! Power of the heralds, converge here and now in order to call forth a devastating force! Combine your individual strength to awaken the being of legend and revive its overwhelming might! Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 8! Caranith, Envoy of the Dragon! (ATK:2800/DEF:2400)."
"Synchro and Fusion on the same turn…" Jaden murmured, unable to not be impressed by the spectacle.
"Andraxia's monster effect activates! Since it was used as Synchro material for an 'Envoy' monster, I gain Life Points equal to the amount of 'Envoy' cards on my field and in my graveyard, and you take that much as damage!" Zera cried. "Since I have 9 cards in total, my Life Points go to 4900 and yours fall to 3100."
Weather it, Jaden, Yubel's voice echoed in his head as he took the brunt of the effect damage that came from Zera. I will, don't you worry. What's worrying me, though, is how worked up Zera got so easily… what happened to her?
"And now, Wylt's effect activates for a third time!" Zera said. "Since it was sent to the grave, I can revive one 'Envoy' monster in my graveyard! Appear once again, Jalyth, Envoy of the Feline! (Lvl:4/ATK:1800)."
"And now Gathering has 13 counters on it," Jaden said to himself. "What a duelist…"
"Thanks to Envoy Gathering, each of my 3 monsters gains 100 ATK for each counter on it," Zera said. "Therefore, Caranith has 4100 ATK, while Kine has 3700 ATK and Jalyth 3100."
"You're an incredible duelist, Zera. 3 monsters all with over 3000 ATK on your first turn is nothing short of unbelievable," Jaden commented. "So how did someone with your talent end up with the Grand Order?"
"Will you stop asking me that question?!" Zera said, more as an order than a request. "Caranith's monster effect activates! Once per turn, since I have at least 4 'Envoy' monster in my graveyard, I can shuffle them all back into my deck and draw one card!"
"I will stop when you answer me!" Jaden countered. "You don't strike me as the kind of person to get behind such slaughter. So why are you here?"
"Shut up!" Zera shrieked. "I set the card I just drew. Turn over!"
Zera – 4900 LP
Jaden – 3100 LP
"Zera, please answer me," Jaden implored. "I can tell that you aren't a bad person, so how did you end up working with the Order?"
"You will stop asking me that question, right now," Zera ordered menacingly.
Jaden didn't react. "No. Not until you tell me what happened to you. Not until you tell me why you react so much to someone asking about your past. What happened?"
"Argh, fine! You want me to relive my worst memories? Fine!" she shouted. "Yes, I have always lived on this world. I used to an operative for the CIA, until I was abandoned after a failed mission and thrown in a Russian gulag, where I rotted for 10 years. Do you have any idea the sort of things that happen to people in those places?"
"I don't think I want to," Jaden muttered.
"But then, 8 years ago, I was saved," Zera recalled, despite her breathing beginning to sharpen and sweat beginning to form on her body. "The Grand Order came for me, rescued me from a place worse than hell. That's why I serve them. They gave me a life again."
"Why did they recruit you?" Jaden asked.
"Look around you, imbecile. Do you really think those you're fighting outside are all people from Irene's home world?" Zera spat, pointing to the battlefield below. "She and the other members approached governments across the world in secret, offering them power in the next world in exchange for resources, people being one of them. Different countries offered different things. China, their intelligence and production. Vietnam, their men. Russia, their prisoners. What better way to get rid of us?"
"So that's how the Grand Order managed to appear all over the world at once," Jaden whispered. "They are never going to get their promised power, are they?"
"I haven't a clue," Zera answered. "That's up to Irene. I serve her because she saved my life. I couldn't care less about what happens from here."
Her reaction to her memories seems to be receding, Jaden noted as the woman spoke. Fortunately, it didn't form into a full attack, but to see someone so faithful to another for freeing her from a prison… I can't help but wonder what happened to her during that time. I wonder if there's any way to help her.
"One thing I'm confused about," Jaden asked. "How did Irene even get the co-operation of the various governments and businesses? That doesn't seem like something that would be easily achievable."
"From what I know, she used the various events tied to warfare and Duel Monsters in order to sway their minds," Zera replied, taking deliberately deeper breaths to try and steady herself. "Think about it, Jaden. All the events that happened around you, Yugi and Yusei. Do you really think governments wouldn't remember monsters being summoned for real across the world? Or how about the population of entire states disappearing overnight? Not to mention cities on the verge of being crushed by time-travellers. They remembered, and so when Irene came to them promising an alternative, they took what they took to be the smart choice."
So everything that happened to us help create this war? "This is a lot to take in," Jaden admitted.
"Are you happy now?" Zera spluttered bitterly. "Are you content with yourself? Have you satisfied your curiosity?"
"Zera, you don't need to serve the Order anymore," Jaden said. "Your life is yours, and has been for 8 years. You can do what you want."
"And what I want to do if help Irene achieve her goal," Zera said confidently. "I won't allow you to stop that."
"Then we must continue," Jaden muttered. "I have to get past you and regroup with Yugi and Tanion. I can't let you stand in my way."
"Make your move, Jaden," Zera ordered.
"Alright then. My turn!" Jaden said, drawing a card. Now, to get rid of that spell card. "Since I control no monsters, I activate the spell card Convert Contact! By sending Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab from my hand and Neo-Spacian Glow Moss from my deck to the graveyard, I can draw 2 cards! And then I activate another spell, Miracle Contact! I return the Glow Moss in my graveyard and the Elemental HERO Neos in my hand to the deck so that I can Fusion Summon! Appear before us now, Elemental HERO Glow Neos! (Lvl:7/ATK:2500/DEF:2000)."
"Wait, I know that card," Zera realised in fear.
"Glow Neos' monster effect activates!" Jaden announced. "Since it's my first Main Phase, I can target one face-up card on your side of the field and destroy it, and I choose Envoy Gathering!"
"And now all my monster lose 1300 ATK…" Zera muttered as the card was impaled by a glowing spear.
"Not only that, but this turn, Glow Neos can attack you directly!" Jaden announced. "However, I don't really feel like doing that."
"What?" Zera uttered in confusion.
"I activate the spell card Contact Out!" Jaden said. "I return Glow Neos to the Extra Deck in order to special summon the monsters I used for his summon from my deck. Come on out once more, Elemental HERO Neos (Lvl:7/ATK:2500) and Neo-Spacian Glow Moss! (Lvl:3/DEF:900)!"
"What are you planning, Jaden?" Zera demanded.
"I now activate my last spell, Polymerisation!" Jaden continued. "I fuse Elemental HERO Neos on my field with the Elemental HERO Stratos in my hand! Fusion Summon! Come to my side, Elemental HERO Neos Knight! (Lvl:7/ATK:2500/DEF:1000)."
"I've never heard of this monster before," Zera muttered.
"Neos Knight's monster effect activates!" Jaden said. "It gains ATK equal to half of the non-Neos monster used for its summon, and since Stratos had 1800 ATK, that means Neos Knight now has 3400 ATK!"
"But that means…"
"Battle! Neos Knight, attack Caranith, Envoy of the Dragon!" Jaden commanded. "Wrath of Neos Slash!"
"My dragon…" Zera whispered as she took 600 points of damage.
"Neos Knight's other effect activates, meaning it can attack twice during the same Battle Phase! Neos, attack Kine, Envoy of the Dinosaur!"
"Another attack?" Zera muttered as she held her arms in front of her face, blocking the dust that was created from the assault and weathering the 1000 damage. "Do you really think this will slow me down, Jaden?"
"Maybe not, but it's a start," he replied. "I end my turn with this."
"Before you do, I reveal my face-down trap Envoy Return!" Zera announced. "I special summon all 'Envoy' monsters that were destroyed by battle and sent to my graveyard this turn! Return to my field, Caranith, Envoy of the Dragon (Lvl:8/ATK:2800) and Kine, Envoy of the Dinosaur! (Lvl:7/ATK:2400)."
"Just when I had gotten rid of them too," Jaden muttered. "Your turn, Zera."
Zera – 2800 LP
Jaden – 3100 LP
"I can't believe you made me relive those memories," Zera whispered. "For that, I will destroy you."
"Zera, we can help you," Jaden countered. "I realise that Irene is the reason you have a life at all, but there are ways to help you move past the pain. The memories will remain, but we can help you handle them."
"I don't want your help!" Zera screeched. "Don't you get it, Jaden? I may as well have been dead and buried before the Grand Order came and saved me from that place. I owe them everything, and so I will do everything in my power to make sure that their plan succeeds. And no one is going to put a stop to that!"
"Zera, they have destroyed this world, can't you see that?"
"This world left me to die! I don't give two shits about what happened to it!" Zera said. "My turn! From my hand, I activate the spell card Polymerisation, fusing Caranith, Envoy of the Dragon and Jalyth, Envoy of the Feline together!"
"A second copy of Polymerisation?" Jaden muttered. "For her deck to give her a cards like that now…"
"Oh great Envoy of the Dragon, become one with the Feline and sacrifice your energies to give rise to the beast from the deepest oceans! Tremble before the might of the destroyer of nations as he ascends to swallow the earth!" Zera chanted. "Fusion Summon! Grace of battlefield with your presence, Oracion, Envoy of the Great Leviathan! (Lvl:10/ATK:3000/DEF:2800)."
At first, Jaden didn't see the monster that Zera had called to the field. However, his eyes soon glanced to the window behind Zera, where he could see the dark blue and purple-lined head of the gigantic beast taking up the entirety of the ten metre tall glass window. The rest of its body must be wrapped around the building, Jaden realised. What the hell…
"Oracion's monster effect activates!" Zera continued. "Since a Fusion monster was used for its summon, I can negate Glow Moss' effects and gain Life Points equal to its DEF!"
"Why not negate Neos Knight's effect?" Jaden wondered aloud as Zera's Life Points rose to 3700.
"So I don't have to deal with its effects when I attack it," Zera said with a wicked smile. "Jalyth's monster effect also activates! Since it was used as material for the summon of an 'Envoy' monster, I can send one 'Envoy' monster from my deck to the graveyard, and I choose Wylt, Envoy of the Bird!"
"Not this again…" Jaden whispered.
"Wylt's monster effect activates!" Zera continued. "I revive Jalyth, Envoy of the Feline to my field! (Lvl:4/ATK:1800). I then activate the effect of Oracion, Envoy of the Great Leviathan! I can tribute one other 'Envoy' monster on the field in order to raise its ATK by the same amount as the tributed monster's ATK! Jalyth, I transfer your energies to Oracion! Lend him your strength!"
"I see," Jaden realised as Oracion's ATK grew to 4800. "Now you can freely destroy both of my monsters…"
"Battle! Kine, attack his Glow Moss! Fossil Rampage!" Zera said. "Kine's monster effect! Since he does piercing damage, you take 1500 damage from this attack!"
"What?" Jaden gasped as Kine's tail whipped around, slicing straight through Glow Moss and slamming into Jaden, who crossed his arms across his chest in self-defense. "And there's still the Leviathan…"
"Oracion, attack Elemental HERO Neos Knight!" Zera commanded. "Energy Cascade of Ages!"
The great beast outside reacted to the order issued by Zera, turning its head so that its mouth was now facing the window. Jaden's eyes grew wide and his stance shifted involuntarily to a defensive position as the beast opened its mouth and white energy bellowed from deep within its gut, smashing through the window and filling the room, enveloping Jaden as his monster was wiped away in an instant, reducing his Life Points to a mere 200. As the attack surrounded him, his body began to convulse in pain as the attack hit him everywhere at once before collapsing from exhaustion, unable to even whimper as the attack finally came to an end. When he finally managed to struggle to one knee, he could feel the wind howling through the newly opened hole in the room, the leviathan outside eyeing him down in a way that almost suggested that it was curious as to how Jaden had survived the assault.
"But… Erial said…" Jaden stuttered through the pain.
"Erial is a good leader, but he can sometimes be incredibly stubborn in his beliefs," Zera said. "He believed he had found a way to make this building impervious to summoning out monsters for real. He was wrong. You cannot hold back the power of Gods with simple machinery."
"That thing is a God?" Jaden muttered doubtfully.
"It's power comes from a God," Zera replied. "It is its Envoy after all."
I remember now… Yugi and Atem fought this thing's master years ago, Jaden realised as he struggled to his feet. They managed to defeat the real thing with the power of the Egyptian Gods, but what can I do against such a monster?
- Jaden -
- Yubel? -
- Remember, Jaden. I'm always here with you. We can fight this together -
"I end my turn," Zera huffed. "Come at me, Jaden. If you still can."
Zera – 3700 LP
Jaden – 200 LP
"Zera, if you truly believe that I am unable to continue this fight, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you," Jaden said, righting himself with a smile on his face.
"You barely have the energy to stand," Zera pointed out. "What can you possibly do in this state?"
Jaden closed his eyes, and when he re-opened them, they were glowing orange and green. "More than you can imagine. My turn!" he proclaimed, drawing a card. "From my hand, I activate the spell card Fusion Recovery! This allows me to add one 'Polymerisation' and one card used as Fusion material in my graveyard to my hand! Therefore, I return Elemental HERO Neos and Polymerisation to my hand!"
"Another Neos Fusion…" Zera murmured.
"I activate the spell card Polymerisation, fusing the Elemental HERO Neos that I just added to my hand and Yubel together!"
"What? Yubel?!"
"Fusion Summon!"Jaden cried. "Appear before us now, Neos Wiseman! (Lvl:10/ATK:3000/DEF:3000)."
"Not him, not now…" Zera cursed.
"Zera, this monster is the combined strength of myself and Yubel, and you will now feel that power!" Jaden proclaimed. "Neos Wiseman, attack Kine, Envoy of the Dinosaur! Ultimate Nova!"
"Not to mention his effect…"
"Neos Wiseman's effect activates!" Jaden announced. "Since it's battling an opponent's monster, it inflicts damage to you equal to that monster's ATK while I gain Life Points equal to its DEF!"
Zera shuddered as the energy drained from her body as the attack also hit Kine and destroyed it, inflicted another 600 points of damage to her and reducing her Life Points to 700 while Jaden's rose to 2300. However, much to Jaden's surprise, once the dust settled Zera was still comfortably standing, and the Envoy of the Great Leviathan was still looming behind her like a dark shadow.
"And now, I end my turn with this," Jaden said. "However, on your next turn, unless you draw a monster it'll be game over thanks to Wiseman's effect."
"I'm sure my deck will answer me," Zera replied. "It hasn't let me down before."
"Then let's find out."
Zera – 700 LP
Jaden – 2300 LP
"My turn!" Zera said, drawing a card.
"Did you get a monster?" Jaden asked.
"No, but it'll do nonetheless," Zera replied. "I activate the spell card Envoy Trade! I tribute one 'Envoy' monster on my field in order to gain Life Points equal to its original ATK, then special summon one Level 4 or lower 'Envoy' monster from my deck!"
"Wait, you're tributing Oracion?!" Jaden gasped in disbelief.
"I regain 3000 Life Points and special summon the Tuner monster Folrent, Envoy of the Primate (Lvl:1/ATK:0/DEF:0) from my deck!" Zera announced as the life energy of the now vanquished Oracion washed over her, revitalising her. "And now, Oracion's last effect activates! Since it has left the field, I can special summon one other 'Envoy' Fusion or Synchro monster from my graveyard! Appear one more time, Caranith, Envoy of the Dragon! (Lvl:8/ATK:2800)."
"This is just like her duel with Tanion," Jaden realised.
"Folrent's monster effect activates!" Zera continued. "I special summon Quandron, Envoy of the Oxen from my deck, but its stats become 0, its Level becomes 1 and its effects are negated! I then tune my Level 1 Quandron to my Level 1 Folrent! Synchro Summon! Appear before us now, the Synchro Tuner, Dagan, Envoy of the Light! (Lvl:2/ATK:500/DEF:500)."
"One more…" Jaden whispered.
"I now tune my Level 8 Caranith to my Level 2 Dagan!" Zera chanted. "Light of our bonds, shine upon your comrades and give rise to a power of myth and fable! Revive the destructive force lying deep within your heart and lay waste to those that would defy your will! Accel Synchro! Appear before us now, Level 10! Piscai, Envoy of the Boundless Phoenix! (ATK:3300/DEF:2500)."
"To think you could summon out Piscai from that position," Jaden said as the giant Phoenix appeared beside Zera. "That's incredible."
"Battle! Piscai, attack Neos Wiseman! Cleanzing Blaze!"
"Neos Wiseman's monster effect activates!" Jaden shouted as the fire engulfed his monster. "Since it has battled, I inflict damage to you equal to Piscai's ATK while I also regain its DEF as Life Points!"
As Neos Wiseman crumbled into ashes, its final spirit emerged from the dust and flew towards both of the players. Zera stiffened in pain as her Life Points were reduced by 3300 back down to a mere 400, while Jaden's rose to 4800. However, upon seeing the look on Zera's face, it was clear that she wasn't done.
"Piscai's monster effect activates," she said. "Since it destroyed a monster by battle, I can inflict damage to you equal to its ATK. Take 3000 damage, Jaden Yuki!"
Yubel's voice echoed in his mind as Jaden took the damage head on. Do it, Jaden. "Neos Wiseman's last effect activates!" Jaden countered. "By banishing 'Yubel' from the game, I can revive Elemental HERO Neos from my graveyard! Come, Neos! (Lvl:7/ATK:2500)."
"I end my turn," Zera said. "Make sure to make this turn a good one, Jaden. It will be your last."
Zera – 400 LP
Jaden – 1800 LP
Please answer me again, my deck. "My turn!" Jaden proclaimed, drawing a card. "I activate the spell card Legacy of a HERO! Since both Neos Knight and Neos Wiseman list a 'HERO' monster as material, I can return them to my Extra Deck in order to draw 3 cards!"
"Wait, 3 cards?" Zera gulped.
Before either could go any further, the ground beneath their feet began to shake, and both of them fell to one knee in order to keep themselves steady. Eventually the shaking stopped, but Jaden's mind was awhirl as he tried to figure out what had just happened. Was that an earthquake or something?
"The machine has finally come to life," Zera said joyfully. "Only 25 minutes to go now, is Irene's predictions were correct."
"You mean this thing has booted up?" Jaden asked.
"And in less than half an hour, this world will begin anew," Zera proclaimed.
I have to stop this. "Nevertheless, I'm afraid this is the end, Zera," Jaden said with renewed haste.. "I activate the spell card Contact Soul! Since I control Neos, I can special summon one 'Neo-Spacian' from my hand, deck, or graveyard! Revive, Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab! (Lvl:2/ATK:500/DEF:500)."
"You sent that to the grave at the start of the duel," Zera recalled. "Unbelieveable…"
"I then normal summon Neo-Spacian Grand Mole from my hand! (Lvl:3/ATK:900/DEF:300)," Jaden announced. "I then return Neos, Grand Mole and Flare Scarab to my deck in order to perform a Contact Fusion! Triple Contact Fusion! Appear by my side to end this duel, Elemental HERO Magma Neos! (Lvl:9/ATK:3000/DEF:2500)."
"No way… this can't be…"
"Magma Neos' monster effect activates, giving it 400 ATK for every card on the field!" Jaden said. "Since there is only 2, its ATK rises to 3800, but that is more than enough to finish this! Magma Neos, attack Piscai, Envoy of the Boundless Phoenix! Super Heat Meteor!"
As the liquid meteor crushed the phoenix beneath its weight, Jaden noted the smile on Zera's face as she too was knocked down by the attack. Once it was over he rushed to her side as she lay on the ground, but he was shocked to find the woman seemingly content with the fact that she had lost.
"You can't stop it now," Zera told him. "I may be unable to stop you from advancing now, but you can't stop it now. The initialisation phase has completed and its all on automatic now. No one could stop it at this point, not even Irene."
"Zera, are you alright?" Jaden asked, concerned.
"I can't move," she admitted, the exhaustion seemingly affecting only her body and not her mind. "But it matters not. Our goal has finally been achieved."
"Jaden! We have to hurry!"
The voice came from the stairwell that he had ascended earlier, and he turned to see Yusei rushing towards him. There were two things that Jaden noticed about the man that seemed wrong. For one, he seemed very anxious, but the thing that Jaden was worried about the most was the small amount of blood that rested upon the clothing on his left shoulder.
"Yusei, what happened down there?" Jaden asked warily.
"Erial's unconscious but alive, but we have more pressing concerns," Yusei told him. "This machine's purpose it to open a passage to another world, allowing those waiting on the other end to come through. The Grand Order's people."
"Why do they want to come through?" Jaden asked.
"They've done all this out of fear that their world might possibly be destroyed in a war that may not even come," Yusei spat angrily. "They've done all this on the belief that something is wrong with their world. Did Yugi and Tanion go on ahead?" Jaden nodded. "We need to catch up to them and stop this thing. I'll explain more on the way."
Zera managed a small chuckle as they made to move off. "Don't forget the most important thing, gentlemen," Zera whispered. "20 minutes to go."
Coming Soon - Irene and Seto