Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL.
Chapter 2: The Selection
"Thanks to Diablo Force, the effects of all other Xyz Monsters on the field lose their effects and any overlay units they have are detached." The possessed Sousuke announced. "And for each overlay unit detached by Diablo Force, the Xyz Monster I summoned with the card gains 300 ATK. Meaning Exa Scarab's ATK goes up from 1500 to 1800."
"Oh man! This is not good!" Yuma declared. "Since Diamond Crab King's lost his effects, he can be destroyed by Alnia's monster!"
"True, but at the same time this works out better for us." Astral told him. "If Diamond Crab King's effect was left intact, he would have been switched to Attack Mode the moment Alnia launched her attack against him. Besides, Exa Scarab's ATK is still much lower than Diamond Crab King's DEF."
"I activate Exa Scarab's effect!" Sousuke announced. "By detaching an overlay unit, I can equip Exa Scarab with a monster from either of our Graveyards to have it gain its ATK and DEF. And the monster I choose is your Gogogo Gorem!"
One of the fireballs orbiting Exa Scarab entered the eye-like symbol that blazed on his chest. A ball of red light then flew from Yuma's duel disk and struck Sousuke's monster, causing him to glow with a red aura. The scarab warrior's shoulder armor changed to look like Gogogo Gorem's, and in his right hand appeared the spiked club that the metal golem had used.
"Thanks to your monster, Exa Scarab's ATK becomes 4100." Sousuke continued. "That's more than enough to crack your crab's shell. Exa Scarab, pound that Number to dust! Demon Scarab Club!"
Exa Scarab charged over to Yuma and Astral's side of the battlefield and slammed his spiked club into the crystal formation on the crab's back. Diamond Crab King shattered like glass upon being hit.
"That ends my turn." Sousuke announced. "On my next turn though, you're both as good as dead."
"Don't be so sure!" Yuma told him. "That Devil Xyz Monster of yours may be tough, but it's only a matter of time before Astral and I figure out how to beat it!"
"Time's the one thing the two of you don't have." Sousuke told them. "You see Exa Scarab has another little effect. When he has Inzektor Exa Beetle as an overlay unit, I can sacrifice him to deal damage equal to his current ATK. The only reason I haven't used this little trick already is because it can't be activated on the same turn I equip Exa Scarab with a monster."
"In other words, if we do not defeat Exa Scarab on the next turn, we will lose." Astral realized.
"Very good, envoy." Sousuke confirmed. "So go ahead and make your last turn. I suggest you use it to pray to whatever god you believe in, because you're going to need his help."
"Yuma, everything now depends upon our next draw." Astral told him.
"Don't worry Astral. It may look pretty bad right now, but as I can draw cards from my deck, I'm not giving up!" Yuma declared.
As Yuma pulled his next card from the deck, it flashed briefly with a golden light. Yuma looked at the card and a grin appeared on his face.
"Okay! I summon Gogogo Giant in Attack Mode!" Yuma announced.
Materializing on Yuma's side of 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 way the creature's body was built was like the build of an action figure.
"When I've summoned Gogogo Giant, I can revive Gogogo Golem from the Graveyard and switch Gogogo Giant to Defense Mode!" Yuma announced.
A circle of golden light appeared on the ground next to Gogogo Giant. Yuma's original rock monster rose out of the circle and took a stance similar to Gogogo Giant's.
"I use the level four Gogogo Golem and Gogogo Giant to build the overlay network and Xyz Summon Number 39: Utopia!" Yuma announced.
A vortex in the form of a galaxy appeared in the center of the field and pulled in the two rock monsters as balls of gold energy. Emerging from the center of the vortex moments later was a large ornate white and gold sword with two balls of golden light orbiting around it. The sword unfolded and took on the shape of a warrior with white armor trimmed with gold. On its head was a helmet with three golden horns, and on its back he had a folded pair of white metal wings. Written on the large piece of armor covering the warrior's left shoulder in red was the number, 39.
"Oh yeah, that card's your ace monsters. Right envoy?" Sousuke asked. "I don't see what good it'll do you now."
"I activate Rank-Up-Magic Limited Barian's Force!" Yuma announced.
"What the hell? When did Yuma get Limited Barian's Force back?" Shark asked.
"That's the card Vector gave me when we were fighting Mitaka." Kotori explained. "I didn't really have a use for it when Astral took back Utopia, so I gave the card to Yuma."
"Using Limited Barian's Force, I rebuild the overlay network with Utopia and Xyz Summon Number C39: Utopia Ray V!" Yuma announced.
Utopia folded back into his sword form and receded back into a new vortex. A second later a new black sword styled with the Barian Emblem rose out of vortx and began to unfold. In moments Utopia stood on the battlefield in a new form. Most of his armor had turned black and had taken on a more sinister appearance. His shoulder plates had become rimmed at the bottom with large red pieces that curved upward and came to a point. His knees had become covered in red armor as well, and his upper legs glowed with sections of glowing crimson energy. The sides of Utopia's head had gained long silver horns, and the blades of his two swords had become curved. On the ground around Utopia Ray V were three red crystals covered in gold plates.
"I activate Utopia Ray V's effect!" Yuma announced. "By detaching an overlay unit, Utopia Ray V destroys an opponent's monster and deals damage equal to its ATK! And the monster I choose is Inzektor Exa Scarab!"
One of the crystals on the ground shattered and Utopia Ray V brought the handles of his two curved swords together to form a single bladed weapon. The dark warrior threw the weapon, causing it to spin through the air towards Exa Scarab. The demon insect warrior cut in half by the flying blade and exploded, taking Sousuke's life points to zero. With the duel at an end, Utopia Ray V vanished and the inside of the mall went back to normal.
"Not bad." The still possessed Sousuke praised. "I think I now have a better idea of what the two of you are capable of. Enjoy your victory today, heroes, because it's the only one you'll have against me. The next time we face each other, it'll be fore real."
With that, the cards for Diablo Force and Exa Scarab fell from Sousuke's duel disk and burst into flames upon hitting the ground. Sousuke groaned and tightly shut the eye-like symbol disappeared from his forehead. When the celebrity opened his eyes again, they had returned to their original blue.
"Huh? What's going on?" a confused Sousuke asked as he looked around. "Is the duel over?"
"It seems he does not remember anything that happened after Alnia took control." Astral observed.
"Uh… hey Sousuke! That was a great duel!" Yuma declared with a grin and a thumbs-up. "We should do this again sometime!"
"Um… sure. Whatever." Sousuke replied.
With that, the dazed and confused Sousuke excused himself from the stage, much to the even grater confusion of his fans. Yuma and Astral meanwhile left the stage and went down to rejoin the others.
"Are you guys okay?" a concerned Kotori asked.
"Yeah. We're fine." Yuma assured them.
"Alnia did all this just to see what you and Astral are capable of." Kaito told Yuma. "If you end up facing her in the tournament, beating her won't be nearly as easy."
"Don't worry. Astral and I will be ready when the time comes." Yuma declared. "Alnia may be the toughest opponent we've ever faced, but Astral and I will beat her!"
The day following Yuma and Astral's duel with Sousuke, the time had come for the announcement of the competitors for the Millennium Tournament. That afternoon after school, Yuma and Kotori had gone over to the Kamishiro mansion to hear the announcements. Inside the mansion's living room, Yuma and Kotori were sitting on the couch in front of the T.V. with Shark and Hikari. Most of the former Barian Emperors were there, as were Kaito and Droite, along with Mizael's girlfriend, Cathy.
"Hey, where's Rio?" Kotori asked upon looking around and suddenly noticing the absence of Shark's twin sister.
"She's probably with Cleo making a little stop somewhere." Shark assumed. "She said she'd be here though."
Almost as if on cue, entering the room was a young woman with long purplish-blue hair and a face similar to Shark's. This of course was Rio. Accompanying Rio was another young woman who looked to be about eighteen. She was a bit taller than Rio and had long dark hair that went half way down her back. Her face had very regal-looking features that were enhanced by her striking violet eyes. The young woman's outfit was made up of a black leather jacket with a red t-shirt, tight grey jeans and black boots, along with a small snowflake-shaped pendant encrusted with blue gems that was hanging from her neck by a thin silver chain. This was Rio's girlfriend, Cleo Atlas.
"Sorry we're late." Rio spoke as she and Cleo sat down in the center of the couch between the other two couples. "They haven't started the announcements yet, have they?"
"It should be any minute now." Hikari answered.
At that moment, Astral emerged from Yuma's key to float behind the couch. The sudden appearance of the alien life form caused Cleo to nearly jump from her seat.
"What the hell is that thing?" a startled Cleo asked.
"Oh yeah. I guess this is the first time you guys have met." Yuma realized. "Cleo, this is Astral."
"Oh. Of course." Cleo replied as she quickly calmed down. "Rio mentioned to me that you had returned."
"It is an honor to meet you, Cleo." Astral responded. "Yuma has told me about you. I also know a bit about your past life as Sonja, the Scarlet Empress through the memories contained the Legendary Number that was once attached to Rio."
"You guys better quiet down." Alit told them from his chair as he leaned forward. "Looks like they're about to start."
"And now to present the competitors for the Millennium Tournament, please welcome Industrial Illusions CEO, Armin Baker." A voice announced as the screen showed an empty podium.
The sound of clapping was heard as a short bald man with a white beard walked up behind the podium. The man who Yuma and the others quickly deduced to be Armin Baker had on a dark-blue suit with a red tie, along with a pair of square-framed glasses over his eyes.
"Thank you." Armin spoke as soon as the applause died down. "For the past several years, the Millennium Tournament has been held in order to celebrate the origin of Duel Monsters and the original champions who's magnificent battles elevated the card game to the sport we enjoy today. It is with great pleasure that I now announce the names of this tournament's competitors."
"Get on with it already!" an impatient Alit told the T.V.
"Our first competitor, from Neo Domino City, Hikari Fudo." Armin announced.
A picture of Hikari appeared on the large monitor that was hanging on the wall behind Armin. Yuma and some of the others in the room looked at Hikari with a slight look of surprise.
"I didn't know you were entering the tournament, Hikari." Yuma spoke.
"What duelist wouldn't want to enter this thing?" Hikari responded. "Besides, you need all the help against the Death Queens. I just wish this thing was a Turbo Duel Tournament."
"Our second competitor, also from Neo Domino City, Cleo Atlas." Armin announced. An image of Cleo appeared on the monitor behind him.
"I'm not surprised that Hikari and Cleo made the cut, but how come they were announced first?" Alit asked.
"It shouldn't come as a surprise to any of you." Cleo told them with a somewhat arrogant smirk. "After all, Hikari and I are both the daughters of champion duelists. It's only natural that the selection committee would recognize our natural talent."
"Our third competitor in the tournament, from Heartland City, Kaito Tenjo." Armin announced. An image of Kaito appeared on the monitor.
"Well, no surprise there." Yuma remarked.
"Our fourth competitor, also from Heartland City, Mizael." Armin announced.
"Well Tenjo, it looks like you and I may be battling yet again." Mizael observed.
"Looking forward to it." Kaito replied.
"Our fifth competitor for this tournament, from Spartan City, Gauche." Armin announced. Appearing on the monitor behind him as the audience applauded was the image of a man with bright orange and red hair who Yuma and most of the others knew very well.
"Alright! Looks like I might get the chance to duel Gauche again." Yuma enthusiastically realized.
"You haven't been announced as a competitor yet, Yuma." Shark reminded him. "Just settle down."
"Taking part as our sixth competitor, from Heartland City, Ryoga Kamishiro." Armin announced.
"Well Ryoga, looks like we might end up dueling each other." Hikari observed.
"If that happens, just know that I won't be going easy on you just because you're my girlfriend." Shark told her.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Hikari replied as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Our seventh competitor, also from Heartland City, Thomas Arclight." Armin announced. Appearing on the monitor behind them was the image of a young man with gold and reddish-brown hair and a scar under one of his eyes.
"Looks like almost everyone we know is competing in this thing." Kotori observed.
"Our eighth competitor, also from Heartland City, Michael Archlight." Armin announced. Showing up on the monitor was the image of a familiar young man with pinkish-red hair.
"I hope for Michael's sake that his dueling has improved since the last time I faced him." Cleo remarked. "It would be a grave disappointment for me to be able to brutally crush him a second time."
"For our ninth competitor, another Heartland City resident, Chitose Amamiya." Armin announced.
Yuma and the others quickly paused upon hearing the name that Armin announced. Appearing on the monitor behind old announcer was a young woman who appeared to be about seventeen. She had green eyes behind a pair of glasses with ovular red frames and straight black hair tied in a braided ponytail that went half way down her back. Yuma and the rest of the gang knew very well that the young woman who had just been named as a competitor was one of the Barian Death Queens, Anitak.
"Guess we shouldn't be shocked. We knew at least one of the Death Queens was going to show up in this thing." Shark reminded everyone.
"As our tenth competitor, yet another Heartland City resident, Samantha Warren." Armin announced.
Appearing on the monitor behind Armin was the image of an attractive young woman who looked to be about sixteen. She had short red hair and striking golden eyes. Yuma and the others knew this young woman as the second member of the Barian Death Queens, Mitaka.
"Taking part as our eleventh competitor, from Heartland City, Alnia." Armin announced. An image of Alnia's white-haired human form appeared on the monitor behind him.
"It appears that we'll be facing all three of the Death Queens in this tournament." Astral observed.
"I'm a little surprised that Alnia is using her really name." Droite remarked.
"She probably didn't bother since she knows we're expecting her." Kaito assumed.
"Our twelfth competitor, all the way from Obsidian City, Stacy Livingston." Armin announced.
Appearing on the monitor behind Armin was the image of a young woman who looked to be about seventeen. She had shoulder-length lavender hair and olive-green eyes behind a pair of oval-framed glasses. The picture showed her wearing a brown leather jacket over a white buttoned-up shirt.
"As our thirteenth competitor, from Spire City, Shane Ford." Armin announced.
Showing up on the monitor behind Armin was the picture of another young woman who looked to be about eighteen. She had black hair tied back in a ponytail and hazel eyes. The outfit she had on was made up of a black leather vest over a white t-shirt. In the picture, the girl was winking and pointing at the camera, revealing she had on a pair of black fingerless gloves.
"Looks like some of us might be going up against two people we've never heard of before." Shark observed.
"Aw man! When the heck are they going to say my name?" Yuma whined.
"Cheer up, Yuma. There are still three spots left." Kotori pointed out.
"Taking part as our fourteenth competitor, from Heartland City, Rio Kamishiro." Armin announced.
Shark looked at Rio with a look of utter shock. "You entered the tournament?"
"And why shouldn't I have?" Rio responded. "I have just as much right to take part in this thing as you do, Ryoga."
"As our fifteenth competitor, also from Heartland City, Alit." Armin announced.
"Finally." Alit spoke with a satisfied grin as he crossed his arms. "Just barely made the cut."
"What about me?" Yuma declared.
"Finally, we have as our sixteenth and last competitor in this tournament, from Heartland City… Yuma Tsukumo." Armin announced.
"Alright!" Yuma joyfully cheered as he jumped into the air. "I knew they'd pick me!"
"Guess being picked last is better than not being picked at all." Shark remarked.
"There's nothing you can say that can dampen this moment." Yuma told him.
"The tournament will begin in Heartland City in three days." Armin announced. "To all sixteen of the competitors, I wish them the best of luck."
When the broadcast ended, Yuma and the others decided to spend a bit of time at the mansion to celebrate. Before long the afternoon started to grow late. Yuma, Astral, Kaito and Shark had gone out to the yard behind the mansion to talk.
"Man, I am totally psyched for this tournament!" Yuma declared.
"This won't be all fun and games though Yuma." Kaito told him. "Remember, all three of the Death Queens will be competing."
"You are correct, Kaito. However, at this time it is impossible to know which of us will be facing them and when." Astral pointed out. "We should all still try to enjoy this tournament as much as possible."
"Astral's right. There's no point in worrying about the Death Queens until we end up facing one of them." Shark agreed. "Until it happens, let's just treat this as any other tournament."
"I guess you're right." Kaito finally agreed as a small half-smile formed on his face. "For all we know, we might even end up facing each other again."
"Whatever happens, I'm going to have a blast in this tournament either way." Yuma declared. "And I know that this time I'm going to make it to the top!"
Author's Note: Sorry if the second half of this chapter was a little on the dull side. I was a little surprised by how much the tournament announcements sort of dragged on, but it was kind of unavoidable. Anyway, in the next chapter we'll start to get into the actual tournament. Keep in mind that our tournament participants won't be facing each other in the order they were announced.
Please review and let me know what you think.