Chapter 3: Duel in the Bronx Part 2
"What do you think about my Number, eh kid?"
"Brace yourself Roxxas…" "Don't worry Number 96 I still have a facedown, just in case. Hey Bull, I'm ready for you and that big old pack of meat!"
"Hey kid! If you think, you can hide behind that facedown your wrong cause I activate Ox Giant special ability! By using one Overlay Unit I can destroy all your facedowns!"
"Huh?" Number 96 and I were both left stunned. I guess even Number 96 didn't even know about this Number power.
Ox Giant shot fumes from its nostrils destroying the facedown card, and nearly knocking me out on my feet. "If you didn't like that you're going too hate this! For every facedown destroy Ox Giant gains an additional attack, so in my next turn he can attack twice! Luckily for you this is the end of my turn!"
I couldn't believe it so this was the true power of a Number card! I stare at my hand and seeing my cards, then I lower it, realizing I had nothing that could stop Ox Giant. I had come to the conclusion that nothing in my deck could stand up to the power of the Number. I had lost, but most importantly, I had let Number 96 down, the being who had rescue me from the brink of death and had come to help me recover my memory back.
" Number 96, I'm…I'm sorry I couldn't be stronger. I let you down, only if I could summon the Number. Only if I…" He interrupted, I became surprise by what he had to say next.
"Maybe there is a way to bring out the Number without actually bringing it out ourselves." I stare at Number 96, curious of what he meant. "This is more than just a game of power; it's also a game of strategy. "
"What do you mean?"
"Take at look at Bull's Number; that wild bull you see before you it's the very incarnation of the darkness in his soul. The Number has completely taken over his mind and body. The only thing that is going through his mind right now is power, how his Number is the strongest of them all and we need to exploit this weakness to our advantage."
"How?" I ask all ears knowing if Number 96 had a plan to turn this duel around than I'm all in.
"Follow my lead and I will guide us to victory." I nodded ready to do whatever he tell me to do. Then I could feel Number 96 presence getting closer to me, I felt him entering my body. Suddenly I felt like I switched places with Number 96.
Get ready Bull cause I'm coming for your Number, I though to myself but was it really my though I wondered.
"I draw! Now get ready Bull cause your time has come. Now I Normal Summon R.C. Guard Hound. " A flame appears and took the form of a hound. "Please do you think that little pup can lock horns with my Ox, eh kid?" "He can do more than just lock horns, he can bring that Ox down. You think cause you brought your Number you become invincible. Please if you think that, then you are truly are a cow!"
"What do you mean?" Bull became enrage.
"Your Number is nothing more than a joke, a pathetic display of power. Then again your Number is just a representation of its holder." Number 96 pronounce the words slowly to add emphasis, "No matter how weak, pitiful, and scare they are. Please if you really want see, no feel true power just take a look at my Number. Its worth dying for."
"You're so full of it! My Ox Giant is the strongest. I'm the…strongest."
"Oh was that doubt I hear in your voice or are you finally coming to your senses."
"How strong is your Number?"
"Wouldn't you want to know?" Number 96 let out a small laugh. "Tell me what is about the Number that satisfy you, is it the power that runs through your body, or is it the chaos that feeds your soul. If you are astonished with the power of one Number imagine what you could do with two."
"Two…Numbers…More Power!" Bull seems lost in thought. Hook line and sinker, I though.
"Now I activate Ashes to Ashes, something you'll be soon. By destroying Guard Hound, I can draw two cards. In addition too, Hound's effects deal 500 points of damage to you." Hounds face is engulf in flames and fires a projectile at Bull dropping his Life Points to 3500. Bull drop to his knee his body been scuff by the attack. "Now I activate the Trap Card Extinguish Souls from my hand, I can do this since I control no cards on my field. By banishing Hound I can Special Summon a monster with the same level as the one banish, so come forth R.C. Guard. With that I end my turn."
"Please I don't need to bring out my Number in order to defeat you, you pathetic waste of a human! You're not worth my Number!" Number 96 let out a sadistic laugh, the only thing I could do now was watch.
"Oh really kid, you think you're so bad cause you dealt me 500 measly points of damage! Do I have to reminder you I almost wipe you out with my Bulls Run combo…"
"Remind me of your fail attempt at a victory, now why would you want to do that. Hum…I guess you cannot get tired of embarrassing yourself." "The key word there is "almost" but I take it from you that's all you can accomplish in your feeble life." I couldn't believe the words that were coming out of my mouth, well Number 96 mouth. His words were fill we so much anguish and hate. I looked at Bull, a wild look appears on his face, and he was mad, very mad. What was Number 96 trying to accomplish by getting Bull so work up about, I wanted to protest the heinous display but it came to me that this was probably part of his plan .
"You talk about how your Number is so great, eh kid! Well lets see how great it really is! I draw and Normal Summon Wild Bully Matador!" A masked matador appears like before. "Now I use his special ability by detaching one of Ox Giant Overlay Unit I can take a random Xyz from your deck and attach matador as an Overlay Unit to it. So I'll be taking your Number! Now come forth Number! A giant blob creature appears unto Bull's field and the Numbers icon appears on the left side of his chest.
We both were surprise by the Number but 96 reminded me to keep calm. "Was this the Number you were bragging about, it only has 100 attack points!" That's more than enough to defeat him, 96 told me. I could hear his voice everywhere where ever I was. "Boy you trick me! This weakling only has 100 points! No matter, with Ox Giant by my side and with your only Number in my possession you're hopeless!" Bull let out a maniacal laugh, to my disgust and to Number 96 satisfaction. "Now kid, I'll wipe that smirk off your face! Now then I use Ox Giant last Overlay Unit to increase its attack by 1000, plus now Ox Giant can deal piercing damage!"
"What!" I shouted to the empty space trying to cry out to Number 96, but he told me to keep calm.
"Always in such a rush, now I activate Guard effect I can discard a monster card from my hand to increase Guards defense by its defense, so I discard R.C. King of the Royal Flame to increase Guard defense up to 5000." Guards shield double in size and Ox Giant and him collided. A struggle ensued but Guard manage to throw back the wild beast back. "No, this can't be! My Ox Giant!" Bull was surprise and his Life Points drop to 2500. "Always so head strong, Bull's. I guess you can add this to your list of disappointments."
"You punk! Have you forgotten about Ox Giants effect last turn. It can attack once more!"
"What good will that do? My Guard has more defense then your pathetic cow but your welcome to try." Number 96 let out a small grin, I look like such a jerk.
Bull let out a small laugh. "You really don't get it, do you? My Number is unstoppable and will ram anything in its path. Now I activate my facedown, Two-Step Charge! By banishing a monster in my graveyard, I can add half of its attack to Ox Giant. So I banish Bull Hammer to increase Ox Giant attack up to 5300!" Ox Giant horns grew in size and became gilded with metal. "So let's try this one more time, Ox Giant attack, Battling Ramp!"
Ox Giant took charge and broke through Guard shield sending my body flying to the ground and reducing our life points to 250. Number 96 got up with ease but I could feel the pain of the attack, "Is this all?" "Not quiet kid I still have your Number left to join the party. Number 96 attack Roxxas directly!" Number 96 threw a punch at my body sending me flying, dropping our Life Points to 150. "With only 150 Life Points, no monster to protect you, no cards in your hand, or a Number by your side what do you have left to fight with, eh kid? Its all over for you. Especially since Ox Giant gains the other half of Bulls Hammer attack during my end phase, raising it to 6600!"
Number 96 let out a small laugh. "Perfect everything is set." "Set for what…?" Bulls asked.
"Your demise, because I now activate the effect of Royal Inferno Decree from the graveyard. Now when this card is in the graveyard while I have specifically a R.C. Royal Flame in the graveyard and 1000 Life Points or less, instead of conducting my Normal Draw phase I can choose what card I want to draw."
"What! How did that card ended up in your graveyard I don't even remember it being on the field!" Bull stare out in dismay wondering how on Earth that card ended up on the graveyard.
"Please, you of all people should know. You're the one who send it their." Number 96 stare directly at Bull enjoying Bull's trying to comprehend the situation.
"How!" Bull demanded to know.
"Remember when you used Ox Giant special ability to destroy all the facedown's on my field. Does that jog your memory." A flash back occurred showing Ox Giant destroying the unknown facedown.
"You mean that I was the one who destroy that facedown."
"What I mean is that you're the one who destroy that facedown, you're the one who brought out my Number, and you're the one who seal your fate!" A craze look appear on my face.
"Because I draw!" Number 96 draws the chosen card holding it on the air and tilts it so he can see it from the corner of his eye. "Now that everything have been set in motion. I activate the Spell Card Kings Will!" I stare amaze by the move. "Now by banishing R.C. King of the Royal Flame from my graveyard I can take control of a Xyz monster on your field with the lowest rank and increase its attack by that of Kings!" Number 96 open my arms wide open like a hug. "Now come to daddy, Number 96: Dark Mist!" Dark Mist transform back into its seal form and a portal made of fire appear beneath it, with King coming out from it and dragging Mist into it. Then the same portal appear on my field and Dark Mist ascended from it, its true form finally reveal. A dark aura begins to consume my body.
"Big deal Ox Giant has way more attack points then Dark Mist!"
"What did I tell you that this is more than just a game of power! Now I use Dark Mist special ability by using its Overlay Unit, Mist can transfer half of Ox Giant attack and added to his! Now Shadow Gain!" Black tentacles splurge from Mist body and pierces OX Giant's body draining its power and causing it to collapse. Bull look at disbelief that his Number was brought down. Now Number 96 extends his arm signaling Dark Mist to attack.
"Now Dark Mist Whiplash Whirlwind!" Dark Mist extends its tentacles again this time piercing the weaken Ox Giant and destroying it in the process. Ox Giant yells in pain as an explosion occurs and sends Bull's flying, his Life Points dropping to zero. The Augmented Reality declares Roxxas the winner and the vision link ends.
Bull is still on the floor recovering from the blow. At this point Number 96 returns my body to me. I stood their seconds looking at my hands trying to return to reality. Then Number 96 slowly approaches Bull, stopping inches from his face. A sudden urge of fear passes through Bull as he is now able to see Number 96. I watched in the distance surprise that Bull could now see Number 96.
"What do you want from me!?" Bull asks the specter. "Isn't it obvious you lost the duel so I want your Number and your soul! Its only fair" Number 96 let out a small laugh, causing Bull to hurry up and run away. Number 96 laugh grew maniacal and he release a tentacle piercing Bull's body, causing him to fall face first into the ground. Then Number 96 yanks it out and a small orb lied on the end of it. Number 96 grabs it with his hand and the orb transform into the Number card. He then turn around and gave me a small smile, while the only thing I could do was stare at him in fear.