Hunter, Holder, Seeker, Whisperer

Otakon 2015 was awesome. Aside from me, there were at least ten people cosplaying Dipper from Gravity Falls. There were also some Mabels, Soos, Wendys, Giffanys, Bills, Stans, and even a Pacifica.

Disclaimer: I don't own ZeXal. If I did, we'd have all hundred Numbers revealed by now… and made into real-life cards.

Chapter 003: Cicada King

What's with those weird power surges as of late? JT wondered as he walked down the street. As he passed by the hospital, he saw two people leaving the building.

One he recognized; a boy with dark indigo-colored hair that curled outwards at the bottom. He wore an unbuttoned purple long-sleeved shirt over a black T-shirt, charcoal-colored slacks, and white shoes with green studs.

It was a kid from school; Reginald Kastle, better known as Shark for his ferocity in duels coupled with using a water deck.

The lovely young woman with him JT did not recognize.

The girl in question had long blue hair that curled outwards at the ends like her brother's, accented by lighter-colored bangs that perfectly framed her face. She was wearing a stylized white vest with a red bow under the lapel. The vest was worn over a pink long-sleeved blouse with the hem over a white miniskirt. She wore black thigh-high stockings and finishing off her ensemble were a pair of white ankle boots.

Is that his girlfriend? Must be his sister or something due to similar facial features, JT mentally surmised.

"Hey, you!"

JT snapped out of his daze, oblivious to the fact he had been staring at the blunette vision.

"Quit making goo-goo eyes at my sister!" Shark snarled.

JT raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Sorry, didn't mean to stare. After all, don't women want people to acknowledge their beauty?"

The girl smiled with a slight blush, having thought the new arrival was attractive himself, "thank you. My name's Rio Kastle. You?"

JT placed his right hand across his waist and bowed, "JT Griffin; at your service."

Rio gave a smile, "nice to meet you. What brings you to Heartland General?"

"Nothing, really. I was just passing by when I saw you guys coming out and, I don't mean to be rude, but… I was distracted by lovely lady before me."

Shark was steaming. How dare this guy blatantly flirt with his baby sister… and directly in front of him, no less?!

"Why don't you piss off? My sister doesn't need a stalker."

JT and Rio both looked at him, JT in incredulity and Rio in annoyance.

"Really, Reginald," she huffed, "just because a cute guy offers me a complement or two, you get all defensive? I can take care of myself."

Shark grabbed his duel pad and duel gazer, "I'm just doing my brotherly duty and watching out for you. Anyways, JT; let's duel! If I win, you stay away from my sister."

"And if I win," JT added, readying his duel pad and duel gazer, "you tell me which species of shark you named yourself after. Hammerhead? Great White? Goblin shark, tiger shark, or perhaps a mako? Really; I am curious."

Shark's face went red, partially out of anger for being mocked and partially out of embarrassment as JT's question got a laugh from Rio.

Elsewhere…

Intrepid reporter Kari Tsukumo had forced her little brother Yuma to do some investigating concerning the recent power surges. And Yuma had decided to drag Tori along for the ride.

They had busted the class president; a nerd by the name of Caswell Francis. But to their shock, Caswell was trying to find the source of the surges as well via backtracking the hacker.

Caswell's computer software had traced the viral program to its source: a computer terminal with a tower currently under construction.

There is where they would find the perpetrator. And so Yuma, Tori, and Caswell took off to catch the hacker red-handed.

What color are their hands now? That's not important. In the meanwhile, let's check back with JT and Shark's duel.

JT-4000/Shark-4000

"I'll start things off," spat Shark, "I draw! Since I have no monsters, I can normal-summon Depth Shark without tribute."

Appearing before him was a metallic-looking cross between a shark and an angler with red eyes.(1400/0)

"That ends my turn," Shark declared.

JT drew his sixth card.

"During your turn, my monster's attack points double until your end phase," Shark smirked.

1400/0=2800/0

"I play Soul Exchange," declared JT, "now by sacrificing my battle phase this turn, I can tribute one of your monsters for one of my own. So I'll do just that. Good-bye Depth Shark, and hello one monster in defense mode. Your move."

"I summon Hammer Shark," declared Shark, unleashing a literal hammerhead shark.(1700/1500)

"But I'm not done," he continued, plucking a card from his hand, "now I play Aqua Jet. This card gives my monster a permanent boost of one thousand attack points!"

1700/1500=2700/1500

"Now attack his monster!"

Hammer Shark swam forth… only to collide with a massive wall of scaly gray skin as a behemoth triceratops appeared.

2800-2700=100

JT-4000/Shark-3900

JT grinned, "that's my Trifortressops(1600/2800)."

Shark grimaced, "I set one card face-down and end my turn."

Meanwhile…

As the sun started to set, lengthening the shadows of Heartland City, Yuma, Tori, and Caswell approached the location of the hacker that was causing trouble for their fair city.

The three students ran into the construction site, following Caswell's tracking of the signal source. Loading onto the elevator and pushing the button for the top floor, they began their ascent.

"Whoever's behind this, we'll nail 'em!" Yuma declared, "and if push comes to shove, I'll duel 'em into submission."

"That's not exactly reassuring," Caswell muttered, as he and the rest of the student body was well aware of Yuma's, shall we say… dismal track record when it came to dueling.

The elevator reached the top floor and the doors opened.

"Well, well," a familiar voice spoke, "I'm disappointed, Caswell. Given your talents, I was expecting you to pinpoint my location earlier."

The three students were shocked to discover that the one seemingly responsible was their own teacher, Mr. Kay!

Back to the duel…

JT-4000/Shark-3900

"My move," JT made his draw, "I summon Hanewata."

Materializing was a yellow fuzzball with tiny angel wings and antennae.(200/300)

"I now use Star Changer to increase his level by one," JT continued, "so now I'll tune my now level two Hanewata with my level six Trifortressops…"

Hanewata became a green ring as the massive dinosaur somehow fit through it, becoming transparent in the process.

"…foul demon of the abyss; manifest from darkness and take command. Synchro-summon! Thought Ruler Archfiend!"

Shark and Rio each took an unconscious step back as, appearing before them, a large green gargoyle with an orange and white skeletal makeup emerged, whipping its tail and flapping its bat-like wings with an otherworldly growl. (2700/2300)

JT plucked another card from his hand, "I play Synchro Blast Wave. This card destroys one of your monsters when I control a Synchro monster. So say good-bye to your shark!"

The siblings watched as a laser lanced through Hammer Shark, bursting it into a rain of pixels.

"Attack him directly!" JT cried.

Shark smirked, "afraid not. I activate my trap card, Negate Attack! That puts an end to your attack, as well as your battle phase."

"Very well," JT returned the smirk, "I end my turn."

Elsewhere, with Yuma and co…

"Mr. Kay?!" the three students gasped, hardly believing their beloved teacher was the culprit.

"That's right," the educator smirked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "and you're just in time. Behold!"

He pointed to his left, indicating a computer screen that displayed a timer.

"Once that timer reaches zero, one of the most potent computer programs ever devised will be activated. The city will never forget the technological wonder they will soon witness."

"Not if we stop you!" Yuma declared.

"You really think you can defeat me before time runs out?" Mr. Kay smirked.

Before Yuma could answer, Caswell stepped up, his duel pad and duel gazer primed for action, "in the end; I certainly do."

"Huh?" Yuma looked at Caswell like he was crazy.

"Only a technological genius has a chance against Mr. Kay's intellect, which in the end; is why I must duel him," Caswell explained, "and I promise you this: I will win."

How's that? I've never seen a retelling where Caswell takes on Mr. Kay. I'm toying with the idea of him getting Number 34. Get ready for two neck and neck duels next chapter. Spoiler: Shark will have at least a couple of Synchro monsters. See you next time.