Vile: And once again, I rise from my ZEXAL ashes to bring you another piece of my ZEXAL continuity!
Yuma: I don't mind the waiting, but I see that a certain guest reviewer was getting a little impatient.
Shark: Yeah, enough to put a bunch of reviews on your Gunvolt fic that aren't even related to the game.
Vile: Yeah, I happened to notice that. Like I could ignore it. Hey, Justin k, if you're reading this (and I know you will), remember this: It's fine if you want to spam guest reviews about my ZEXAL stories, but how about spamming them in the review boards FOR my ZEXAL stories? I get an email for every one of them, and I don't like to be misled in thinking I've got an actual review on a newer story. Before I forget, let's get into Keys To The Solution Chapter 3. I've got a little gameplay surprise for you people. Enjoy!
Keys To The Solution
Chapter 3
A portal cracked itself open in an alleyway, and Yuma, Kotori, and Keegan leapt out, all of them managing to stick their landings this time, the portal closing behind them. No one had seen them, just as Byron intended. "Where did we land this time?" Kotori wondered.
Keegan pulled up the second map on his D-Pad, which had a green dot indicating the location of the third Master Key on the same island they were on. "Looks like we're on Tanegashima." He said. "And the Master Key is…" His eyes widened. "No way…"
"What is it, Keegan?" Yuma asked.
"…I know where it is. Follow me!" Keegan said, rushing out of the alley with Yuma and Kotori hot on his heels. Due to how close they were to the Key, it didn't take them long to reach the area they were looking for, which made them all go wide-eyed: A large complex with a visible space shuttle nearby.
"Whoa… the Tanegashima Space Center…?!" Yuma breathed.
"Yeah… the map says the Master Key is here. More specifically, there." Keegan said, looking at a certain building. "In the Yoshinobu complex."
"Hopefully this one goes easily like the last one did." Kotori said before the kids walked toward the buildings. Following the map, they headed toward one of the buildings and walked in. It was some sort of museum building, with a few exhibits on display.
"Hmm… I wonder if anyone could point us in the right direction." Keegan said.
"Sorry for overhearing." A voice said to them. Yuma, Kotori, and Keegan looked and saw two young adults around 24 walking up to them, wearing green uniforms with tan trim. They could've passed for identical twins if they were the same gender, but one was a man while the other was a woman. Both had midnight blue hair (simple short for the boy, pigtails for the girl) and pink eyes. Their uniforms had nametags on them, the boy's name being "Hoshi" and the girl's name being "Tsukiko". "Are you three lost?" Hoshi asked.
"Not really. We're just looking for something that's supposed to be here." Yuma said.
"Well, we can help. We know almost every exhibit that's here." Tsukiko said with a smile.
"Well… we're not really looking for an exhibit…" Yuma said, confusing the twins. He pulled out Master Key Beetle and Master Key Narwhal and showed them off. "Have either of you seen a card that looks similar to these?"
Hoshi and Tsukiko looked at the cards, but their eyes widened, both of them gulping audibly before looking at each other. "Tarkin-sensei isn't going to like this…" Hoshi groaned.
"Eh?" Yuma and co. wondered.
"Guys… I don't think you'll be getting this card." Tsukiko told them. "Tarkin-sensei won't be very agreeable with this."
However, at that moment, a beeping was heard, and Tsukiko pulled out a D-Gazer, getting a visual. "Tsukiko! Find Hoshi if he isn't with you and come to me immediately!" A voice on the other end said rather forcefully. The visual immediately cut out after that, leaving the twins pale-skinned.
Both of them sighed. "Now what…?" Hoshi groaned. They looked at each other for a moment before slowly walking off.
Yuma watched them with an annoyed look on his face, then he began following Hoshi and Tsukiko. "Oi, Yuma!" Keegan cried as he and Kotori went after him. The three of them followed Hoshi and Tsukiko all the way to another room on an upper floor. They peeked around the corner and saw the twins with a man in his late 30s or early 40s, wearing a uniform much like theirs, but it looked a bit fancier. The man himself had blue eyes and brown hair.
The man held up a few papers. "Would you two care to explain to my I found notes attempting to disprove some of my founded theories?" He asked them.
Hoshi and Tsukiko gulped. "I-It's in the interest of science, Tarkin-sensei! We just wanted to make sure your theories worked!" Hoshi claimed, indicating that this was Professor Tarkin.
"You dare doubt my judgment? I'm the one with the numerous academic achievements." Tarkin said, throwing the notes to them, which Hoshi caught. "You are merely interns barely through your Masters courses."
Yuma's face scrunched in annoyance of what he was saying. "But any scientist would search for any errors in their own theories! You taught us that yourself!" Tsukiko cried.
Tarkin held up a finger with closed eyes. "My exact words were 'any UNFOUNDED scientist'. I am the leading researcher in my field. I do not make errors."
The trio moved back behind the wall. "SOMEONE'S got an ego problem." Yuma whispered to Kotori and Keegan.
"But not a hearing problem." Tarkin said out loud, startling them. "Whoever's mocking me outside my office, please do so to my face. It's not polite to eavesdrop on private conversations, but I'm sure your inferior mind knows that much."
Annoyed, Yuma stepped into plain view, surprising Hoshi and Tsukiko. "You asked for it. I may not be a genius, but I know a head full of hot air when I see it."
"Respect your superiors, child." Tarkin said on the very next beat. "You barely seem old enough to comprehend half a percent of my knowledge.
Yuma snorted as Kotori and Keegan stepped into view. "Ah, like I'm here to prove I'm smarter than you, anyway." He said with a dismissing wave of his hand. "You might actually be able to help with something." Yuma pulled out Master Key Beetle and Master Key Narwhal, showing them off. "Have you ever seen a card like these before?"
Hoshi and Tsukiko let out a breath, while Tarkin raised an eyebrow. "So, there are others." He glanced at the twins. "Tell me, is this foolish boy with you?"
"No, sensei. We didn't even know they were up here until you heard him." Hoshi replied.
"A good answer. And seemingly believable at that." Tarkin said. "Had you chose your words poorly, it would have meant a failing grade for you both."
"NANI?! You can't penalize them for that!" Kotori yelled out of nowhere, startling Keegan.
Tarkin paid her no mind, still looking at Yuma. "Tell me, boy, from whom did you steal those cards?"
"I didn't steal them, jerk. I got them from people I helped." Yuma said. 'Okay, not Beetle, but I'm not telling HIM that.' He thought to himself.
"I find that hard to believe." Tarkin said, walking over to a desk, opening a drawer, and pulling out a card: Master Key Heron. "Analysis of this card indicates it is radiating cosmic energy. Such cards would be unlikely to be found in the hands of the mundane." He pointed at Yuma's cards. "For purposes of scientific research, I believe I am within right to take those from you, as you cannot comprehend what they mean."
"Eh?!" Yuma and his friends cried.
"That's actually Tarkin-sensei's good luck charm. He hasn't lost a single Duel since he found it." Tsukiko said off-handedly.
She was quickly shut up, though, by a fierce glare from her teacher. "Luck is for those with absolutely no understanding of science." He turned back to Yuma. "Nevertheless, it is all the more reason for you to hand yours over."
"HELL NO!" Yuma shouted angrily.
Tarkin recoiled, but he then glared. "Respect your superiors, boy." He said through grit teeth.
"You think I'm just gonna hand these over to you? You have no clue how important these are!" Yuma cried, pointing at Tarkin. "Since I know more about these cards than you do, you need to give me YOUR Master Key card!"
A tic mark appeared on Tarkin's head. "You dare claim you know more than I?!" He roared.
"Oh, crap." Hoshi and Tsukiko said.
"You have just crossed the line by insulting my intelligence." Tarkin said. "It seems I'll have to show you your place."
"Likewise." Yuma retorted. "I hate insufferable gits like you."
"Y-Yuma!" Kotori gasped. She almost never heard this kind of venom from him.
"It's clear that your parents failed in raising you to respect your superiors." Tarkin berated. "Perhaps it's time someone showed you the consequences of your mouth."
Yuma glared daggers at him. "You just crossed a line yourself: Don't talk crap about my parents." He held up his two Master Keys. "I'm calling a wager. You beat me, you can have these. I beat you, your Master Key is mine."
A smirk pulled at Tarkin's cheek. "Very well. This shan't take long."
'Yuma, are you crazy?! Have you thought about what would happen if you lost?' Astral's frantic voice rang in his head.
'I'm not GOING to lose.' Yuma replied mentally. 'I've dealt with people like this before. He'll underestimate me, and I'll crush him.'
Astral was heard groaning, then he and Mia materialized from the Key. 'We'll assist you. You can't afford to lose this.' Mia said. Yuma nodded in response.
"I don't think he knows what he's getting into…" Hoshi groaned, Tsukiko shaking her head.
"Duel Disk, set!" Both players' D-Pads clacked onto their wrists and activated, Tarkin's being a basic gray. "D-Gazer, set!" Both players' D-Gazers were placed on their faces, Tarkin's being basic gray with a green lens.
"AR VISION, LINK ESTABLISHED." Everyone's D-Gazers flashed, and the area morphed into the Augmented Reality.
"DUEL!"
Yuma LP:4000
Tarkin LP:4000
"I shall go first. Ore no turn. Draw." Tarkin drew his card. "Starship Carrier Plane, Shoukan!" His monster emerged as what appeared to be a small white space shuttle with a black bottom, complete with three fins in the back.
Starship Carrier Plane: Lv.4 WIND Machine ATK:1000/DEF:0
"Starship Carrier Plane no kouka hatsudo. When this card is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or below Starship monster from my hand." Tarkin picked another card. "Starship Sniper Plane, Tokushu Shoukan!" This machine was a completely gray ship in a vague T-shape, the "top" of the T being two crooked "wings" while the front was a ship's head with a long neck, giving a vague bird shape to it.
Starship Sniper Plane: Lv.4 WIND Machine ATK:1500/DEF:0
"Kaado ichi mai settei. Turn end." Tarkin's facedown emerged.
"Tarkin-sensei always comes out with a good start." Tsukiko said.
"Ore no turn! Draw!" Yuma drew his card. "Overlay Claws, Shoukan!" His monster emerged as a fat old man with an outfit very similar to Santa Claus himself, a beard styled like a five-fingered claw, and actual sharp claws equipped to his hands.
Overlay Claws: Lv.4 LIGHT Fairy ATK:1900/DEF:1250
"Overlay Claws, attack Starship Sniper Plane!" Scraping his claws together, Overlay Claws dashed forward, dipped low, and stuck his claws upward, buzzing right through Sniper Plane to cut it into multiple thin pieces, the pieces exploding in the aftermath.
Tarkin LP:3600
"Hmm. Perhaps Dueling is the only place you even have any worthwhile intelligence." Tarkin mused.
"That's probably the only compliment you know how to give." Yuma groaned. "Kaado ichi mai settei! Turn end!" His facedown emerged.
"Ore no turn. Draw!" Tarkin drew his card. "Starship Adjust Plane, Shoukan!" This monster was a light gray rectangular spaceship with blocky blue side compartments and a blue front, a hole in the front making it seem like a giant laser pistol.
Starship Adjust Plane: Lv.3 WIND Machine ATK:500/DEF:1000
"Starship Adjust Plane no kouka hatsudo!" Hatches opened on the undersides of the side compartments, releasing two odd metallic rods. "Once per turn, I can target 1 Level 4 or below Starship monster I control, then both monsters have their Levels become equal to their combined Levels!" Two smaller hatches opened on Carrier Plane's horizontal back fins, and Adjust Plane slowly moved until the rods were hovering above them. "Adjust Plane and Carrier Plane are Levels 3 and 4. Therefore, both of them become Level 7!" Adjust Plane lowered itself slowly, letting the rods dock themselves into Carrier Plane's hatches with a metallic "CLANG".
Adjust Plane, Carrier Plane: Lv.7
"He set up an Xyz Summon…" Yuma breathed.
"Ore wa Reberu Nana no Adjust Plane to Carrier Plane de Obarei!" Both of his Machines turned fully green before shooting into the air. "Ni tai no monsuta de, Obarei Netwaaku kochiku!" A red spiral portal opened up, and both his monsters sailed inside. "Ekushiizu Shoukan!" Two odd red lights lit up in darkness, an eerie hum sounding as a dim red glow faded in. "Arawareyo, Starship Galaxy Tomahawk!" The blackness faded away, revealing a large bluish-black spaceship that looked similar to a B-2 bomber, but it had an odd cord swishing behind it, giving it the appearance of a giant manta ray. Two green Overlay Units circled it.
Starship Galaxy Tomahawk: Rank 7 WIND Machine/Xyz ATK:0/DEF:3000 2 Overlay Units (Defense Mode)
"A defensive Xyz Monster?" Kotori wondered.
"A tough defense can hide a powerful offense." Hoshi stated.
"Well spoken, Hoshi." Tarkin said. "But first, Magic Card, Scrapped Designs, hatsudo. This card allows me to send any number of Machine-Type monsters from my hand to the Graveyard." He sent both remaining cards in his hand: Duck Fighter and Starship Defense Plane. "Then, I can draw 2 cards for each one." He drew four cards. "Now, as Hoshi stated, my Xyz Monster may possess superb defenses and lacking offenses… but it's merely a cover. Starship Galaxy Tomahawk no kouka hatsudo!" One of the green Overlay Units impacted Galaxy Tomahawk's front between the lights, being absorbed into the machine. "Once per turn, by using an Overlay Unit, I can Special Summon as many Battle Eagle Tokens as I have empty Monster Zones, completely filling my field!"
"Nanda?!" Yuma cried.
"Battle Eagle Token yon tai de… Tokushu Shoukan!" Galaxy Tomahawk's front lights lit up brighter, and two hatches opened up on its back, each of them launching two odd objects from them. The objects were shown to be smaller manta ray-like fighters, being white-colored with their cords being straight.
Battle Eagle Token x4: Lv.6 WIND Machine/Token ATK:2000/DEF:0
"Four monsters with 2000 Attack Points… Summoned just like that!" Keegan cried.
"Underestimating is something I never do. When you face me, you always face my full potential!" Tarkin declared. "Battle Eagle Token, attack Overlay Claws!" The Token on the far left had a hatch open on its underside, revealing what looked like some sort of cannon, which fired a red laser beam toward Ghost.
"Trap Card, Half Unbreak, hatsudo!" Bubbles billowed out of the Trap after it flipped up, one of the bubbles encasing Claws. "This card prevents Overlay Claws from being destroyed by battle this turn, and any battle damage involving it is halved!" The laser merely careened off the bubble like it was nothing.
Yuma LP:3950
"Not bad. I'll just make the most of it, then. Battle Eagle Tokens, attack Overlay Claws as well!" The other three Tokens revealed laser cannons and fired, but all of their attacks did nothing to the bubble as well.
Yuma LP:3800
"Magic Card, Token Thanksgiving, hatsudo!" Tarkin's facedown flipped up. "This card destroys all Token Monsters on the field, but for each one destroyed, I gain 800 Life Points!" The four Battle Eagle Tokens crackled with electricity before exploding into green particles, which coated Tarkin's body.
Tarkin LP:6800
"6800 Life Points… I fear you might have been the one who underestimated his opponent, Yuma." Astral said solemnly. Yuma merely groaned.
"Kaado ichi mai settei. Turn end." Another facedown appeared. "Can you handle my power in my current state, boy?"
"I've beaten people tougher than you! Ore no turn! Draw!" Yuma drew his card and grinned. "Yosh! Bull Blader, Shoukan!" His monster appeared as a (literally) bull-headed warrior in orangish-brown armor, having red horns and packing a big sword.
Bull Blader: Lv.4 EARTH Warrior ATK:1600/DEF:1200
"Kagetokage no kouka hatsudo! Since I Normal Summoned a Level 4 monster, I can Special Summon it from my hand!" A strange shadow crept onto the field in the shape of a lizard. It had two beady red eyes which separated from its body.
Kagetokage: Lv.4 DARK Reptile ATK:1100/DEF:1500
"Bull Blader, attack Starship Galaxy Tomahawk!" Bull Blader let out steam from its nostrils before rushing forward with a loud bellow. "Bull Blader no kouka hatsudo! When it battles an opponent's monster, I can negate any battle damage and destroy that monster!"
"Then there won't BE any battle." Tarkin replied. "Trap, hatsudo! Tomahawk Cannon!" A hatch opened up on Galaxy Tomahawk's underside, and a large cannon came out, pointing at Bull Blader. "As you declared an attack while I control Starship Galaxy Tomahawk, this card negates your attack and destroys your monster!" As Tarkin explained this, energy gathered into the cannon's face, causing a sphere of blue energy to form on the barrel. "Tomahawk Cannon, Fire!" A powerful blast of blue energy fired out of the cannon, intercepting Bull Blader right through the chest and obliterating it.
"Kuso…!" Yuma groaned.
"Did you really think I was just going to let you destroy Galaxy Tomahawk?" Tarkin asked. "Such a novice thought."
"Anyone can make novice moves! You probably didn't even see my setup!" Yuma said, making Tarkin raise an eyebrow. "Ore wa, Reberu Yon no Overlay Claws to Kagetokage de Obarei!" Both of Yuma's monsters turned fully yellow (Claws) and purple (Kagetokage) and shot into the air in a spiral. "Ni tai no monsuta de, Obarei Netwaaku kochiku!" A red spiral portal opened up, and both his monsters flew inside. "Ekushiizu Shoukan! Arawareyo… Gagaga Gunman!" His monster emerged as a blue-haired humanoid dressed in cowboy gear, complete with hat. A cape flowed behind him, and he wore the Gagaga symbol around his neck. He pulled out two pistols and twirled them before pointing them forward, two orange Overlay Units circling him.
Gagaga Gunman: Rank 4 EARTH Warrior/Xyz ATK:1500/DEF:2400 2 Overlay Units (Defense Mode)
"Hmm. A monster capable of withstanding my Battle Eagle Tokens, eh?" Tarkin wondered.
"And more! Gagaga Gunman no kouka hatsudo!" One of Gunman's Overlay Units was absorbed into his pendant. "By using an Overlay Unit while Gunman is in Defense Mode, I can inflict 800 damage to my opponent!" Twirling his guns, Gunman crossed them and fired two shots right past Galaxy Tomahawk, causing two explosions by Tarkin.
Tarkin LP:6000
Gagaga Gunman: 1 Overlay Unit
"Whoa… Barely anyone actually manages to damage Tarkin-sensei!" Tsukiko said.
"Mere damage is nothing to lose my head over." Tarkin said. "You have a long way to go if you want even a chance at beating me."
"Trust me, I've got more than you realize. Overlay Claws no kouka hatsudo!" An image of the old man appeared. "If it's ever detached from an Xyz Monster as an Overlay Unit, I get to draw 1 card!" The image launched one of its claws at Yuma's Deck, pulling out a card and adding it to his hand. "Turn end!"
"Ore no turn. Draw!" Tarkin drew his card. "Starship Aid Plane, Shoukan!" This monster appeared as a tan spaceship with a strange rhomboid shape, two wings attached to the top that came down in a wide arrow fashion, two guns on top, and red paint accents.
Starship Aid Plane: Lv.3 WIND Machine ATK:900/DEF:500
"Starship Tuning Plane no kouka hatsudo! By using Starship Galaxy Tomahawk's last Overlay Unit, I can Special Summon it from my hand!" The green Overlay Unit left its orbit, flew into another Monster Zone, and exploded, its green particles reconfiguring into a very strange ship that resembled an iron: It had a flat red section that looked like an oval cut down the long end, two small wings jutting out the sides, with a gray section that could've been seen as the iron's handle, two small guns at the handle's end.
Starship Tuning Plane: Lv.1 WIND Machine ATK:500/DEF:0
"Equip Magic, Xyz Unit, hatsudo!" A strange ring of light formed around Galaxy Tomahawk. "This card gives Galaxy Tomahawk 200 Attack Points for each Rank it has, but I can also use it in place of an Overlay Unit! Starship Galaxy Tomahawk no kouka hatsudo! Battle Eagle Token ni tai de, Tokushu Shoukan!" The ring vanished as quickly as it formed, and Tomahawk's back hatches opened up again, releasing two more Battle Eagle Tokens.
Battle Eagle Token x2: Lv.6 WIND Machine/Token ATK:2000/DEF:0
"But I'm not done! Starship Tuning Plane no kouka hatsudo!" Tuning Plane turned itself so the guns on its handle were pointing at Aid Plane. "Once per turn, I can target one other Starship monster I control and making Tuning Plane's Level equal to that monster's Level!" Green lasers fired from Tuning Plane's guns at Aid Plane, which didn't do any damage, but Tuning Plane was covered with a green aura.
Tuning Plane: Lv.3
"Two Level 3 monsters… Is he going for it?" Yuma wondered.
He would soon get his answer. "Ore wa Reberu San no Aid Plane to Tuning Plane de Obarei!" Both of Tarkin's ships turned fully green before shooting into the air in a spiral. "Ni tai no monsuta de, Obarei Netwaaku kochiku!" A galaxy portal opened up, and both his monsters sailed inside. "Ekushiizu Shoukan!" A burst of light erupted from the portal.
Out of the portal, a strange object emerged: A transparent gold egg with a green yolk visible, the yolk in the shape of a question mark with the Emperor's Key as the dot. "Mystic avian that hides a locked secret of the cosmos…" Two metallic gold feather wings spread out, baring a black symbol and green markings. Two gold bird feet planted into the ground. "Haken Sagi (Supreme Key Heron)…" A twisting neck led up to a gold-and-black mechanical bird head, green eyes flashing on, the familiar figure of the Emperor's Key on the end of its beak. "Master Key Heron!" The full figure was a gilded mechanical heron, green markings abound on its body. It let out a low mechanical caw after folding its wings, two green Overlay Units orbiting it.
Master Key Heron: Rank 3 WIND Winged Beast/Xyz ATK:2100/DEF:600 2 Overlay Units
"The Master Key monster…" Mia breathed.
"Master Key Heron no kouka hatsudo." Tarkin said. "When this card is Xyz Summoned, I can target 1 Token Monster I control and Special Summon another of them!" The key on Heron's beak started glowing green, then a laser beam shot from it and coated one of the Battle Eagle Tokens with energy, causing it to duplicate into two of them.
Battle Eagle Token: Lv.6 WIND Machine ATK:2000/DEF:0
'Show-off…' Yuma thought.
"Magic Card, Xyz Treasure, hatsudo! For each Xyz Monster on the field, I draw 1 card!" Tarkin drew three cards. "Your monster has defenses, boy, but not enough to handle me. Quick-Play Magic, Eagle Formation Delta, hatsudo!" Galaxy Tomahawk's front lights flashed, and the three Battle Eagle Tokens flew to surround it in a triangular formation, a green triangle appearing behind them. "Because I control Starship Galaxy Tomahawk and at least one Battle Eagle Token, all Battle Eagle Tokens I control gain 500 Attack Points!"
Battle Eagle Token x3 ATK:2500
"2500 Attack Points?" Kotori cried.
"Gagaga Gunman can't withstand that power!" Keegan cried.
"You were in over your head from the very beginning, boy!" Tarkin declared. "Battle Eagle Token 1, attack Gagaga Gunman!" The top Token released its laser cannon, firing a red laser beam that struck Gunman in the chest, obliterating him. "Battle Eagle Token 2, follow-up direct attack!" Another laser cannon came out, this one firing right at Yuma.
"Gagaga Gardna no kouka hatsudo! Since you're attacking me directly, I can Special Summon it from my hand in Attack Mode!" A pink-haired humanoid decked out in biker gear, complete with goggled helmet and bandanna, emerged, carrying a huge shield.
"Nothing too problematic. Your Gardna then becomes the attack target!" Gardna was now in the line of Battle Eagle Token's fire.
"By discarding a card from my hand, Gagaga Gardna can't be destroyed by that battle!" He discarded Ghoul Guru, and Gardna threw up his shield, blocking the attack but sending the energy in other directions.
Yuma LP:2800
"Battle Eagle Token 3, press the attack!" The final Token revealed its cannon and fired another blast at Gardna.
"Gagaga Gardna no kouka hatsudo!" Yuma discarded Tasuke Knight, and Gardna blocked the attack again.
Yuma LP:1800
"You are very stubborn… But will you save your monster again? Master Key Heron, attack Gagaga Gardna!" Heron spread its wings and took to the air, locking eyes on Gardna. "Key… Lance!" It let out a caw before darting straight toward its target, a green aura coating its beak and body.
Yuma saw his final card: Overlay Eater. "…Gagaga Gardna no kouka hatsudo!" He discarded Overlay Eater, and Gardna clashed his shield with Heron's beak, struggling at first, but managing to push the bird off and back to Tarkin's field.
Yuma LP:1200
"I repeat, you are VERY stubborn." Tarkin mused. "Do you want my Master Key Heron that badly?"
Yuma panted. "I don't just want it. I need it." He said. "You have no idea of the kind of things I've been through recently, and I'll be damned if I let it all end here."
"Yuma…" Hoshi and Tsukiko breathed.
Tarkin merely stared at Yuma. "I find it extremely hard to believe that a boy your age could be involved in anything that serious. You're dealing with someone with almost 20 years of experience dealing with the cosmos, and nothing truly eventful has happened to me."
"Tch. I guess you're unlucky, then." Yuma snarked.
Tarkin snorted. "Insolent child… Master Key Heron no kouka hatsudo!" One of the green Overlay Units was absorbed into Heron's beak. "Once per turn, by using an Overlay Unit and releasing a Token I control, I can Special Summon a monster with the same Type and Attribute as the released Token! I release one of my Battle Eagle Tokens!" One of the Battle Eagle Tokens exploded into particles, then Heron stuck its beak into the ground, turning its head to turn its beak like a key, causing a purple portal to open in the ground. "Yomigaere, Starship Defense Plane!" Heron removed its beak from the purple, and from it, a dark silver spaceship with a small cylindrical lower body, two cylindrical back engines connecting to the lower body by thin "stalks", and a huge disk-shaped front that clearly held the cockpit.
Starship Defense Plane: Lv.4 WIND Machine ATK:0/DEF:2600 (Defense Mode)
Master Key Heron: 1 Overlay Unit
"Kaado ni mai settei. Turn end!" Two facedowns appeared on Tarkin's field, but after they did, two out of three Battle Eagle Tokens crackled with electricity before exploding.
"Nani?" Keegan wondered. "His monsters were destroyed?"
"Battle Eagle Tokens Summoned by the effect of Starship Galaxy Tomahawk are destroyed during the End Phase." Tarkin explained. "This one was Summoned by Master Key Heron, so it escapes destruction."
"At least you can explain things without sounding condescending. Ore no turn! Draw!" Yuma drew his card. "Ghoul Guru no kouka hatsudo!" He took the top card off of his Deck. "By sending the top card from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Ghoul Guru from my Graveyard!" After sending the top card (Dododo Warrior), a purple portal opened in the floor, and from it, a zombified human emerged, having blank eyes, a diamond-shaped beard, and tattered red-and-gold robes.
Ghoul Guru: Lv.4 DARK Zombie ATK:200/DEF:200
"Ghoul Guru no kouka hatsudo! Once during this Duel, I can return 5 monsters from my Graveyard to my Deck!" Overlay Claws, Gagaga Gunman, Bull Blader, Kagetokage, and Dododo Warrior came out of Yuma's Graveyard, and he returned each of them to their respective Deck, his Main Deck shuffling. "Then, after my Deck shuffles, I can draw three cards!" He drew his new cards. "Now, for something else you've never seen!" Tarkin raised an eyebrow. "Ore we Reberu Yon no Gagaga Gardna to, Ghoul Guru de, Obarei!" Yuma's monsters turned fully orange (Gardna) and purple (Guru) before shooting into the air in a spiral. "Ni tai no monsuta de, Obarei Netwaaku kochiku!" A galaxy portal opened up, and both monsters sailed inside. "Ekushiizu Shoukan!" A burst of light occurred.
As he watched the Summon unfold, a beeping came from Tarkin's pocket. "Eh?" He pulled out a small device, which was giving out a wild reading while pointing at the ongoing Summon. "Incredible. That strange card is giving off an even larger amount of cosmic energy than my Master Key Heron."
The number "39" formed and flashed in red, and Hope's sealed form arose from a dark cloud. "Arawareyo, Nanbaazu Sanjuukyuu (Come forth, Number 39)! Kibou Ou Hope!" The gold and silver wings folded out and extended while the main body formed. Hope brandished his sword before docking it, and let out a cry of "HOPE!", its yellow Overlay Units circling it.
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope: Rank 4 LIGHT Warrior/Xyz ATK:2500/DEF:2000 2 Overlay Units
"Numbers…?" Hoshi breathed, he and Tsukiko looking on in awe.
"Boy, where did you get a card like that?" Tarkin asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Yuma replied, glancing at Astral and Mia with a smirk, who smiled back.
"Because it would no doubt be a lie." Tarkin said. "That card belongs in the labs for further study, and as soon as I finish this duel, I intend to put it there."
Yuma and co.'s eyes all widened. "That wasn't part of the Duel, you jerk!" Yuma yelled.
"Respect your superiors, boy. Science trumps chivalry." Tarkin said simply. "If you don't like it, then by all means try to win, if you even can."
Yuma growled. "I don't respect people who think they can just take stuff from other people just because they have things like a degree! You're nothing but a bully!"
"A mind with low IQ such as yours would think that. Regardless, I refuse to let the discovery of a lifetime remain in the hands of someone who has no idea what he holds."
"...I've forgotten more about the Numbers than you'll EVER know!"
"Then please, boy, educate me." Tarkin's voice had turned smug.
"You asked for it!" Yuma yelled.
"Knock that jerk's block off, Yuma!" Kotori yelled, clearly as angry as he was.
"Overlay Eater no kouka hatsudo!" A purple portal opened up, and a strange red chameleon-like monster slunk out. "By banishing Overlay Eater from my Graveyard, I can take Master Key Heron's Overlay Unit and give it to Hope!" Eater lashed out its tongue, snagging the green Overlay Unit and flinging it into Hope's orbit, the Unit turning yellow in the process.
Hope: 3 Overlay Units
Heron: 0 Overlay Units
"Kibou Ou Hope! Attack Master Key Heron!" Hope drew both of his swords and shot forward. "Hope Sword Slash!"
"Trap, hatsudo! Sacrificial Lamb!" The Battle Eagle Token immediately went right in the path of Hope's attack. "By releasing Battle Eagle Token, your attack is negated!" The Token darted forward, only to get slashed to pieces by Hope's swords, exploding.
A smirk crossed Yuma's face. "Quick-Play Magic, Double-Up Chance, hatsudo! Since Hope's attack was negated, it can attack again with its Attack Points doubled!" Hope let out a long grunt as its blades grew to a larger size.
Hope ATK:5000
"5000 Attack Points?!" Tsukiko cried.
"Go, Hope! Hope Sword Slash!" Hope charged forward once more.
"Trap Card, Kamikaze Run!, hatsudo!" Tarkin's other facedown flipped up.
"Nani?!" Yuma cried.
"With this card, if you attack me with a monster whose Attack Points are higher than the Attack or Defense Points of all monsters I control, respective to their position, I can target one Defense Mode monster I control and make it the attack target!" Tarkin pointed forward. "Starship Defense Plane, intercept Hope's attack now!" The remaining smaller ship shot forward and slammed on the brakes to tilt its disk-shaped body flat side forward, being turned into lawnmower parts by Hope's blades. "Then, after damage calculation, you receive 500 points of damage!" The wreckage began to fly towards Yuma, bursting into flames and causing explosions upon impact with the ground.
"Kuso…!" Yuma groaned.
Yuma LP:700
"You can't outwit me, boy. I carefully chose the cards in my Deck so that they are capable of handling any situation and turning them in my favor." Tarkin told him. "My victory is assured against children like you! Trap Card, Xyz Universe, hatsudo! This card allows me to use 2 Xyz Monsters I control to Xyz Summon another Xyz Monster whose Rank is equal to the combination of the original two Xyz Monsters' Ranks!"
Yuma gasped. "Starship Galaxy Tomahawk is Rank 7… and Master Key Heron is Rank 3… but that means!" Keegan said.
"He's going to Summon a Rank 10 monster!" Kotori realized.
"Correct! Ore wa Ranku Nana no Starship Galaxy Tomahawk to Ranku San no Master Key Heron de… OBAREI!" Both of Tarkin's monsters turned fully green and shot into the air. "Ni tai no ekushiizu monster de, Obarei Netwaaku kochiku!" A galaxy portal tore itself open in the sky, and both his monsters sailed inside. "Ekushiizu Shoukan!" An explosion erupted from the portal as a massive object slowly descended. Its surface gleamed silver, its body seemingly spherical as it came into full view. "Kourin seyo (Descend)… Ranku Juu (Rank 10)…" Lights lit up along the middle ring as various ports opened. "Galactic Imperial Battle Station…" Two massive Overlay Units, yellow this time, orbited the massive spherical station. "Destruction Star!"
Galactic Imperial Battle Station – Destruction Star: Rank 10 LIGHT Machine/Xyz ATK:4000/DEF:3800 2 Overlay Units
Yuma gulped. "He pulled off such an Xyz Summon on MY turn…"
"Do you truly think you can beat me now?" Tarkin asked.
He groaned, but then Yuma shook his head. "I've beaten tougher monsters than that! Turn end!"
"Try and prove it, boy. Ore no turn! Draw!" Tarkin drew his card and smirked. "Magic Card, King's Fortune, hatsudo! Since I control a Rank 10 or higher Xyz Monster and have no cards in my hand, I can draw until I have five cards in my hand!" He drew five cards. "Now, Destruction Star, attack Number 39: Hope!" The middle ring began to glow harshly, the glow converging on the front as what appeared to be a laser cannon emerged from the front. "Planetary… Destruction… LASER!" A pulse came from the cannon before it unleashed a powerful rainbow-radiating laser beam directly toward the number.
"Kibou Ou Hope no kouka hatsudo! By using an Overlay Unit, your attack is negated!" Yuma declared as Hope absorbed one of the yellow orbs into his chest. "Moon Barrier!" Hope whipped his wings out in front of him, the wings forming a powerful shield that the laser connected with. Despite the overwhelming power of the laser, Moon Barrier wasn't even scratched by the time the laser ran out of power and ceased firing.
Hope: 2 Overlay Units
"More and more, you cling to a false hope of victory." Tarkin said. "With this discovery at stake, you will soon be begging me for mercy. Kaado san mai settei." Three facedowns emerged. "Turn end."
"Heh! I only know how to give mercy, not beg for it! Ore no turn! Draw!" Yuma drew his card. "With my Life Points at 1000 or less, I evolve Kibou Ou Hope!" Hope let out a grunt as he receded back into his sealed.
"'Evolve'?" Tarkin, Hoshi, and Tsukiko all wondered.
A galaxy portal opened up, and Hope's sealed form descended into it, Overlay Units and all. "Chaos Xyz Change!" Another burst of light occurred.
Tarkin's energy reader began to beep wildly. "Nani…? The energy levels are rising even higher!"
The number "39" formed and flashed in red, but suddenly became murky-textured. "Arawareyo, Kaosu Nanbazu Sanjuukyuu (Come forth, Chaos Number 39)!" The black-and-gold sealed form arose in the darkness, then began changing its form. "Kibou Ou Hope Ray!" Its wings unfolded as the black-armored warrior took a stance, its three yellow Overlay Units circling it.
Chaos Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope Ray: Rank 4 LIGHT Warrior/Xyz ATK:2500/DEF:2000 3 Overlay Units
"Yatta! Hope Ray!" Keegan chirped.
Tarkin stared wide-eyed at his reader, which was going absolutely ballistic. "B-Bakana! The energy readings are off the scale!" All of a sudden, the energy caused the device to pop. "WHAA!" Tarkin dropped the device in shock, which went offline.
"Whoa… Using an Xyz Monster to Xyz Summon another one without a Magic or Trap Card! I've never seen that before!" Tsukiko cried.
"Me neither." Hoshi added, looking at Yuma. "Who is this kid?"
"The cosmic energy from that card has magnified at least tenfold…" Tarkin breathed. "But… how?"
I wouldn't give you an explanation even if I had one." Yuma said. "I don't even know how I can pull this off, but it gives me more power than I ever did before!" Astral and Mia had knowing smiles on their faces, aware that Yuma was deliberately hiding the power of ZEXAL from Tarkin.
"Impossible! There is no way you could have control over such things..." Tarkin grumbled. "Perhaps I should place you under observation as well…"
"STOP IT!" Yuma, Kotori, and Keegan all yelled.
"Get your head out of research mode, Tarkin! We're not test subjects!" Yuma told him.
Tarkin stared at him for a moment. "…Then you made a poor choice showing yourself at a facility such as this." He folded his hand and placed it in his pocket. "This Duel is over. You're coming with me." He immediately moved like he was about to rush Yuma, startling him.
Then… "That's enough, Tarkin!" A voice shouted.
Tarkin stopped rigidly. "N-Nani?" He turned around, the others following, to see a slightly older man in a red suit approaching them, having black hair, blue eyes, and a mustache.
"K-Kisaragi-sama!" Hoshi and Tsukiko cried.
"I've been watching this Duel for quite a while… and I've seen what sort of power is within that monster." Kisaragi said, pointing at Hope before looking at Tarkin. "I assume you aren't attempting to try any UNSAVORY methods of research in front of your students, are you...?"
"Dr. Kisaragi! I'm sure you've seen it with your own eyes! This boy and his card contain massive amounts of cosmic energy that are vital to our research!" Tarkin explained. "We need him if we are to-"
"DON'T even finish that sentence." Kisaragi said, shutting Tarkin up. "I'm not going to allow you to hold some innocent child against their will, OR simply take their cards, for the sake of research."
"But Dr. Kisaragi..."
"The only reason I kept you on staff here was because I thought your research and theories would aid us in our division's quest to go beyond the stars." Hoshi and Tsukiko looked on nervously. "However, it seems I have made a grave error in judgment." Tarkin gulped. "Consider this, Tarkin: If you can win this Duel, you can keep your job, but know you will be on a much tighter leash."
"...Yes, sir." Tarkin said, before turning to glare at Yuma, pulling his hand back out. "I was going easy on you, boy, but now I have no choice but to truly fight. Our wager still stands: You will give me your Master Keys if I beat you."
"And you hand over yours when I beat you." Yuma said, making Tarkin's eyes narrow.
"And I fully expect you to uphold your end of the deal if you lose, Tarkin." Kisaragi said.
"Hai, Dr. Kisaragi."
"Prepare for a reality check, Tarkin! Kurivolt, Shoukan!" His monster emerged as a spherical black creature with red feet, a conical silver tail, cybernetic lights on its body, and two cute eyes.
Kurivolt: Lv.1 LIGHT Thunder ATK:300/DEF:200
"Kurivolt no kouka hatsudo!" Electricity crackled around its body before it fired lightning at Destruction Star's Overlay Units, pulling them out of their orbits. "I can detach Destruction Star's Overlay Units, then Special Summon a Kurivolt Token for each one!" The Overlay Units were pulled onto Kurivolt's field and morphed into two copies of the black monster.
Kurivolt Token x2: Lv.1 LIGHT Thunder ATK:300/DEF:200
Destruction Star: 0 Overlay Units
"Kuso…" Tarkin growled.
"Magic Card, Minimum Guts, hatsudo! By releasing both Kurivolt Tokens, Destruction Star's Attack Points are reduced to 0!" The Tokens shot into the air and shot toward the space station, one gaining a red electric aura while the other gained a blue electric aura, then they began to encircle the station. The lightning given off by them began to short-circuit Destruction Star's systems, malfunctioning the laser cannon and causing lights to flicker and shut off.
Destruction Star ATK:0
"Oh, man… Tarkin-sensei's wide-open!" Tsukiko cried. Tarkin growled.
"Go! Kibou Ou Hope Ray! Attack Destruction Star!" Hope Ray drew his normal swords before his wing arms drew his larger sword out of his back. "Hope Sword, Chaos Slash!" Hope Ray charged forward and performed two slashes, cutting Destruction Star across its frame, before bringing its large sword down upon it, cutting the station clean in half. Explosions wracked the spherical frame before it finally erupted in flames, sending debris everywhere.
"Shimata!" Tarkin yelled, shielding himself from the force.
Tarkin LP:3500
"But it's not over yet!" Yuma chirped with a grin. "Minimum Guts no kouka hatsudo!" The Kurivolt Tokens, which were still there, kept their orbiting paths, but began flying faster and faster, their lightning beginning to merge into purple lightning. "Since the monster that lost its Attack Points was destroyed, that monster's original Attack Points… are inflicted to you as damage!"
"Destruction Star's original Attack Points are 4000, and Tarkin only has 3500 Attack Points left!" Kotori chirped. "He's finished!" An orb of purple lightning formed within the Tokens' paths, which was then fired as a powerful beam of purple lightning towards Tarkin.
"…Not just yet, brat! Trap, hatsudo! Option Hunter!" One of Tarkin's facedowns flipped up. "Because Destruction Star was destroyed by battle, the original Attack Points of that monster are given to me as Life Points!" Green sparkles covered his body, which clashed with the purple lightning. "As the amounts are the same, both cards cancel each other out!" The sparkles glowed before dissipating with a flash, taking the lightning and the Tokens with them.
Tarkin LP:3500
"I'm not going to let you win… Mark my words, boy, those cards will be mine!" Tarkin snapped. "Trap Card, Xyz Reborn, hatsudo! This card allows me to Special Summon an Xyz Monster from my Graveyard!" A massive purple portal opened up, and a familiar figure slowly emerged. "Yomigaere, Galactic Imperial Battle Station – Destruction Star!" The massive spherical space station fully emerged from the portal, its systems active once more. "And now, Xyz Reborn is attached to that monster as an Overlay Unit!" The Trap Card transformed into a yellow Overlay Unit and began orbiting the station.
Galactic Imperial Battle Station – Destruction Star: Rank 10 LIGHT Machine/Xyz ATK:4000/DEF:3800 1 Overlay Unit
Yuma groaned. "Kuso… I was so close, too! Kaado ni mai settei! Turn end!" Two facedowns emerged: One monster, one Magic or Trap.
"Close? You were never any closer to victory… than you were when you STARTED!" Tarkin yelled, drawing his card. "Now I'll finish you! Destruction Star no kouka hatsudo!" The sole yellow Unit was absorbed into the energy cannon, which began channeling bright yellow energy. "By using this Overlay Unit… all other cards on the field are destroyed!"
"Nani?!" Astral cried.
"Destroyed?!" Mia cried.
"Energy charge complete! Prepare to fire!" Destruction Star's energy charge became unstable, crackling with electricity, and the cannon was aimed at the ground. "Annihilation… BEAM!" Then, the charge vanished before a HUGE black-and-yellow laser beam burst out of the cannon, shooting straight down and impacting the ground, sending powerful waves of energy across the area, eradicating Tarkin's last facedown.
Yuma groaned as he shielded himself from the force, managing to reach for his facedown. "Trap Card… Overlay Shield, hatsudo!" The facedown flipped up. "By using two of Hope Ray's Overlay Units… I can keep it from being destroyed by a card effect!" Two of the Overlay Units moved to in front of Hope Ray and slammed into each other, creating a yellow barrier that managed to deflect the waves of energy, leaving them to ravage the mostly-empty area, only eradicating Yuya's facedown monster, which was Gagaga Controller. "Gagaga Controller no kouka hatsudo!" The image of a young woman with the Gagaga symbol emblazoned on her tank top and wielding a conductor's baton appeared. "If Controller is destroyed by a card effect, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or below Spellcaster-Type Gagaga monster from my Deck!" A card slid out, which he grabbed. "Gagaga Magician, Tokushu Shoukan!" His signature Spellcaster emerged onto the field, kneeling down and crossing his arms.
Hope Ray: 1 Overlay Unit
Gagaga Magician: Lv.4 DARK Spellcaster ATK:1500/DEF:1000 (Defense Mode)
"That defense will do you no good… While Destruction Star would force itself into Defense Mode after using its effect, that won't happen. Quick-Play Magic, Forbidden Chalice, hatsudo!" A strange black aura surrounded the machine. "This card negates Destruction Star's effects until the end of the turn, but it also gains 400 Attack Points!"
Destruction Star ATK:4400
"Behold my power, boy! Destruction Star, attack Hope Ray!" More energy was gathered into the station's cannon. "Planetary Destruction Laser!" With a pulse, another laser beam was fired from the cannon toward Hope Ray.
"Tasuke Knight no kouka hatsudo!" A purple portal opened up, and from it, a bulky red, black, and gold-armored knight with a sword on his back emerged, palms open. "Since you declared an attack with it in my Graveyard and no cards in my hand, I can Special Summon it and end the Battle Phase right now!" Tasuke Knight threw his hands up, which enlarged to massive size in order to deflect the laser. Though he struggled against its power, he eventually managed to dissipate it.
Tasuke Knight: Lv.4 LIGHT Warrior ATK:1700/DEF:100
"That buys you only one more turn. Trust me, I have enough cards to render any moves you try from here on in absolutely useless." Tarkin said. "Kaado ichi mai settei. Turn end!" A facedown emerged.
Yuma then grinned. "We'll see about that! Ore no turn! Draw!" He drew his card and grinned. "Yosh." He turned back to the Duel. "Gagaga Controller no kouka hatsudo!" The image of Controller appeared again. "By banishing this card from my Graveyard, I can add a Normal Magic Card from my Deck to my hand!"
"What's he planning?" Kotori wondered. Controller pointed her baton at Yuma's Deck, firing a small beam that struck a certain card, then she made a few motions with her baton, pulling the card from Yuma's Deck and adding it to his hand.
"You know how conventional plays go, Tarkin… so I'll have to really think outside the box!" Yuma declared, making Tarkin raise an eyebrow. "Magic Card, hatsudo…" He placed the card in the D-Pad, showing its artwork. "Polymerization!"
"POLYMERIZATION?!" Everyone cried, absolutely shocked.
"This card allows me to send the proper monsters to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster!" Yuma declared, thrusting his arm forward. "I fuse Kibou Ou Hope Ray with Gagaga Magician!" The two selected monsters shot into the air, but as they did, Hope Ray's Overlay Unit left him and flew into the sky, turning into a yellow streak like that of an Overlaid monster. The sky above changed to resemble the artwork of Polymerization, but something was different: A galaxy portal opened up within it. "Warrior from another dimension… Magician bound to our planet!" Hope Ray and Gagaga Magician appeared in front of the background, becoming trails of black and orange, swirling around each other. "Travel the Overlay Network in a whirlpool of light, and combine to create a new savior!" The sole Overlay Unit soared into the galaxy portal behind them as the combining monsters gave off bright light, and an explosion of light erupted from the portal. "OBAREI YUUGOU SHOUKAN (OVERLAY FUSION SUMMON)!"
What appeared to resemble Hope's sealed form descended in darkness, but it looked different: The construction of the metal almost looked like a Gagaga symbol, mixing in some orangish-brown and blue with the normal colors. The sealed form began to shift and convert, taking a form similar to Hope, but the shoulder pads had more ridges with orangish-brown rims, and the "39" was nowhere to be seen. His wings extended like normal, the tops now resembling red crystals, and a long blue scarf with red flame markings trailed behind him. The hair-like spikes were now tinged white, with a fourth spike coming down over one eye, and a hood-like addition appeared on him. His swords were carved into with runes, a long blue chain wrapped around one arm. "Seitan seyo (Be born)… Overlay Fusion Monster…" Larger boots adorned his legs, and his torso armor now seemed more complete, covering the exposed bits of muscle from neck to knees. "Mahakishi (Magic Wave Knight)… Magi-Senshi!" The monster's red eyes flashed, curling up with a magical aura surrounding him, then dispelling it with a shout. However, there was one notable factor about him: A single yellow Overlay Unit orbited him.
Magic Wave Knight Magi-Senshi: Lv.10 LIGHT Warrior/Fusion ATK:3200/DEF:2700 1 Overlay Unit
"Overlay… Fusion Summon…?" Kotori breathed.
"Using an Xyz Monster to Summon a Fusion Monster… I don't think that's ever been done before!" Keegan breathed.
"Awesome…" Hoshi and Tsukiko said in tandem.
"Unbelievable… This boy may have just pioneered new gameplay!" Kisaragi mused.
Tarkin was almost completely speechless. "Bakana… Bakana… How could such energy be continuously produced… in the span of a single Duel?!"
"I'd try to explain it to you, but I doubt someone as smart as you would understand it." Yuma said with a smirk, making Kotori, Keegan, and himself snicker.
Tarkin gained a tic mark. "Don't you dare patronize me, boy!"
"It's only fair, Tarkin-sensei." Hoshi said with an unimpressed look on his face.
"Yeah, you've been patronizing him this whole Duel." Tsukiko added, crossing his arms.
"Oh, has he now?" Kisaragi asked.
"Almost non-stop." Hoshi told him.
Kisaragi facepalmed with a sigh. "I guess some egos just can't be put to the side."
"Dr. Kisaragi, I can explain…" Tarkin tried to say, but Kisaragi held up a hand.
"Save it for after the Duel. That is, if you still have a job after the Duel."
Tarkin slowly turned back to the Duel, growling. "…Finish your move, boy!"
"Gladly. Mahakishi Magi-Senshi, attack Destruction Star!" The new Fusion Monster drew both of his swords. "Quick-Play Magic, Ego Boost, hatsudo!" A massive silhouette of the knight appeared behind him. "Since a monster declared an attack, I can target 1 monster on the field and give it 1000 Attack Points!"
Magi-Senshi ATK:4200
"Magi-Senshi no kouka hatsudo! Once per turn, whenever I activate a Magic Card, Magi-Senshi gains 1000 more Attack Points!" Magi-Senshi slashed what appeared to be odd symbols in the air, the symbols glowing as a light blue aura covered him.
Magi-Senshi ATK:5200
"Waste of time! Trap Card, Overloading Charge, hatsudo!" Tarkin's facedown flipped up, and an alarm began to sound from the space station, the surface beginning to turn red. "By discarding 1 card from my hand, this card equips to Destruction Star, making it gain Attack Points equal to half its original Attack Points!" The alarm grew louder, and electricity began to crackle around its body, making it shake.
Destruction Star ATK:6000
"Wanna bet? Magi-Senshi no kouka hatsudo!" The yellow Overlay Unit was absorbed into the gem on the chest, which hadn't changed from Hope. "When any monster declares an attack, I can use one of Magi-Senshi's Overlay Units to halve the Attack Points of either monster involved in that battle!" Magi-Senshi's chain glowed blue and began to seemingly unravel, but it was actually spawning energy chains that shot out of the physical ones.
"NANI?!" Tarkin cried. The energy chains shot toward Destruction Star and began wrapping themselves around the spherical frame multiple times over, before clenching the metal and shocking it with blue lightning.
Destruction Star ATK:3000
"I consider this a fitting end to this Duel." Kisaragi mused, making Hoshi and Tsukiko look at him. "Overloading Charge has an extra effect: If the monster equipped with it is destroyed, Tarkin takes damage equal to half that monster's original Attack Points. At their current levels of strength, Tarkin will take 2200 Battle Damage."
Magi-Senshi ATK:5200
Destruction Star ATK:3000
"And since Destruction Star has 2000 original Attack Points, that comes out to a total of 4200 damage." Kisaragi continued. "In the end, Professor Tarkin has been done in by his own tactics." Tarkin was sweating bullets.
"Go! Mahakishi Magi-Senshi!" The blades of his swords glowing, Magi-Senshi performed two slashes in front of him, leaving slash marks in the air in a cross shape, before spinning once to go into a double slash that added an X shape, making an asterisk. "Magical Sword…" Magi-Senshi then crossed his swords in front of him as lines connected across the points of the asterisk, making an eight-pointed star shape. "STAR SLASH!" The magical warrior then thrust his swords forward, sending the original four lines forward as four blades of light that grew larger as they traveled before finally impacting Destruction Star, cleaving it into eight identical pieces that began exploding violently, the wreckage plummeting to the ground, before Overloading Charge finally kicked in, eradicating all that was left in one final explosion.
"GRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Tarkin yelled, being flung back by the force of the explosion and landing on the ground.
Yuma LP:700
Tarkin LP:0 – LOSER
Yuma's face appeared with the word "WIN" as the buzzer blared, and the Augmented Reality began to vanish. Tarkin struggled to get back on his hands and knees, coughing. "Ba... Bakana… How could I have... lost? Me, the foremost leading researcher at the Yoshinobu complex… How?"
"Because even you failed to realize that no theory, space travel or Dueling, is perfect." Kisaragi told him. "You might come to conclusions, but someone else may come to completely different ones, and they may be right in the end. In Duels, even if your Deck is capable of intense combos, there will always be one Deck out there that can render all of them useless." Tarkin only gave a slight growl in response. Kisaragi then took Tarkin's D-Pad, sifted through his Graveyard, and took out Master Key Heron. "Now then, I believe this belongs to someone else now." He went to walk toward Yuma, but he stopped and looked back at Tarkin over his shoulder. "And by the way, Tarkin, for conduct long unbecoming of a scientist, you're fired."
He looked back to Yuma, but as he did, Tarkin's hand shot out and grabbed hold of Kisaragi's ankle. "Is that so…?" Tarkin mused. "Well then…" He immediately jerked his hand back, pulling Tarkin's leg out from under him and causing him to topple over, landing stomach-down on the floor.
Everyone else gasped. "Kisaragi-sama!" Hoshi and Tsukiko cried.
Tarkin got to his feet, then he stomped on Kisaragi's back once, a dark look on his face. "No one tells me how to perform MY research or conduct MY business. You'll come crawling back to me before you know it." He then turned his back to Kisaragi. "You can send my last check in the mail." He walked away, but he stopped after passing the twins, shooting them a look. "My termination equals a failing grade for the both of you. Have fun re-taking this class next year." With that, he stormed off without another word.
Hoshi gulped. "Oh no… I'm barely surviving the course as is!"
"What are we going to do? We can't have a failing grade!" Tsukiko cried.
"And you won't." Kisaragi said, getting their attention. The man got up, wincing a bit from the stomp, but he managed to get to his feet. "You'll have a new teacher for this course within three days. One that's actually fair when it comes to your grades. Until then, you'll have no work to worry about." He smiled at them.
"Arigatou, Kisaragi-sama…" The twins breathed, a few tears starting to come to their eyes.
Kisaragi then looked at Yuma. "Now then, I believe this is now yours." He held out Master Key Heron.
"Arigatou." Yuma said, taking the card. Astral and Mia had already went back into the Key.
"I must ask, though: How did you come up with the idea to use an Xyz Monster to Summon a Fusion Monster?"
Yuma had a playful smirk, looking away. "Let's just say… I looked to the history books." He said, remembering watching Jaden Yuki fuse Hope with Neos to Summon Neos Knight in their Duel against Zaman.
Kisaragi smiled at him. Then he looked at Keegan, his features changing to look a bit confused. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Uh... I don't think so. I've heard of you, but I don't think we've met." Keegan replied.
"Funny, you seem famil-" Then Kisaragi's face showed realization. "Ah-ha, now I remember. Little Keegan Arclight." Keegan was surprised. "Your father, Byron, once showed me your baby picture, before he left to work on some impossible project with a Dr. Faker."
"Y-You knew my father?" Keegan asked, eyes wide.
"We've met from time to time at various conferences. Bonded over similar ideology." Kisaragi said. "How is Byron these days, anyway? Did that project he went to work on pan out?"
Keegan looked away with a sullen look. "Not really…"
"Is he alright? I haven't heard from him in quite some time." Kisaragi asked worriedly.
"I'd rather not say. Things haven't been the same since then..." Keegan admitted. Yuma and Kotori had sad looks on their faces.
Kisaragi had a knowing look himself. "Very well. I won't press the matter, but if he is still around, and would like some help, with anything, tell him he can always give his friend Kengo a call."
Keegan nodded. "I'll do that."
"Well, I think we better get going. We still have three more of those cards to find." Kotori piped up.
"Yeah." Yuma said before looking at Kisaragi. "Sorry I had to make you lose one of your better researchers like that."
"Hmph. A good researcher doesn't try what Tarkin did for the sake of research." Kisaragi replied. "And honestly, I've been trying to find the right time to fire him for a while. So, I should be thanking you for helping me get rid of a thorn in this institution's side."
Yuma rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Eh heh heh… no problem."
"So long, everyone." Keegan suddenly said before turning to run to the main gate.
"Whoa, wait up, Keegan!" Yuma cried, he and Kotori running after him.
"Sayonara!" Hoshi and Tsukiko called after them, waving. Yuma and Kotori waved back as they and Keegan left the complex.
Once outside, Kotori grabbed Keegan's shoulder to stop him. "Oi, Keegan, what made you take off like that?"
"Well…" Keegan then sighed. "I didn't know how Kisaragi-sama might react to seeing the portal open, or to seeing my dad in his current condition."
Yuma and Kotori looked at each other for a moment. "You have a point. We should get somewhere out of sight before contacting him." Keegan and Yuma nodded before all three of them left the complex. Remembering the way they came, the trio managed to make their way back to the alley that they ended up in. After making sure no one was watching, they contacted Byron, who opened up the portal, allowing the three of them to return to Heartland City.
*Meanwhile*
Dr. Kisaragi finished his additions to a file with Tarkin's name on it, clearly being his employment file, before closing it. He sighed, putting down his pen and looking out the window. "Byron, wherever you are, I hope that God is with you, and guiding you." He said before placing the file in his desk, closing the drawer.
Anime Effects for Canon Cards
Xyz Universe
OCG/TCG: Target 2 face-up Xyz Monsters on the field; send both monsters to the Graveyard, then Special Summon 1 Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck, except a "Number" monster, whose Rank is equal to, or 1 less than, the combined original Ranks of those 2 Xyz Monsters, and if you do, attach this card to it as an Xyz Material. If you activated this card, your opponent takes no further damage this turn.
Anime: Target 2 face-up Xyz Monsters on the field with no Xyz Materials; Xyz Summon 1 Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck whose Rank is equal to, or 1 less than, the combined original Ranks of those 2 Xyz Monsters, using those monsters as the Xyz Materials. If you activated this card, your opponent takes no further damage this turn.
Author-Made Cards (monsters not mine will have the creator's name beside them; all S/Ts are from RK777)
Starship Carrier Plane (RankUpMagic212)
Level 4 WIND (EARTH in OCG/TCG) Machine
ATK:1000/DEF:0
When this card is Normal Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Starship" monster from your hand.
Starship Sniper Plane (RUM212)
Level 4 WIND (LIGHT in OCG/TCG) Machine
ATK:1500/DEF:0
Once per turn: You can discard this card from your hand; destroy 1 monster your opponent controls with 1500 or less ATK.
Overlay Claws (RK777, edited by me)
Level 4 LIGHT Fairy
ATK:1900/DEF:1250
Cannot be Summoned during a turn you have already Xyz Summoned. You cannot Xyz Summon during the turn this card is Summoned. When this card is detached from an Xyz Monster you control as an Xyz Material: Draw 1 card.
Starship Aid Plane (RUM212)
Level 3 WIND (EARTH in OCG/TCG) Machine
ATK:900/DEF:500
If your opponent controls more monsters than you do: You can Special Summon this card (from your Deck). You can only activate the effect of "Starship Aid Plane" up to twice per turn.
Starship Tuning Plane (RUM212)
Level 1 WIND (EARTH in OCG/TCG) Machine
ATK:500/DEF:0
You can detach 1 Xyz Material from an Xyz Monster you control (OCG/TCG: anywhere on the field): Special Summon this card (from your hand). Once per turn, you can target 1 "Starship" monster you control; this card's Level becomes the same as the target's Level.
Starship Defense Plane (RUM212)
Level 4 WIND (DARK in OCG/TCG) Machine
ATK:0/DEF:2600
During the turn this card is flipped face-up: Your opponent cannot target other monsters you control for an attack. During your Standby Phase: Switch this card to Attack Position. If you do so by this effect: This card cannot change its Battle Position until the End Phase of this turn.
Ghoul Guru
Level 4 DARK Zombie
ATK:200/DEF:200
You can Special Summon this card (from your Graveyard) by sending the top card from your Deck to the Graveyard. When this card leaves the field after being Special Summoned this way; banish it. Once per Duel: You can target 5 monsters in your Graveyard; return them to your Deck. (The Deck is then shuffled.) Then, draw 3 cards.
Gagaga Controller
Level 3 DARK Spellcaster
ATK:700/DEF:1400
If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card effect: You can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or below Spellcaster-Type monster "Gagaga" from your Deck. During your Draw Phase: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; Add 1 Normal Spell Card from your Deck to your hand. (OCG/TCG: Adding a Normal Spell forfeits your draw for the turn) You can only use each effect of "Gagaga Controller" once per turn.
Master Key Heron (Y-Tak)
Rank 3 WIND Winged Beast/Xyz
ATK:2100/DEF:600
2 Level 3 monsters (have to be WIND in OCG/TCG)
When this monster is Xyz Summoned: You can target 1 Token you control; Special Summon another Token with the same name, Type, Attribute, Level, ATK, DEF, and effect(s). Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card and Tribute 1 Token you control to target 1 monster in your Graveyard with the same Type and Attribute as the Tributed Token; Special Summon the target, but it cannot attack during the turn you used this effect.
Galactic Imperial Battle Station – Destruction Star (RK777)
Rank 10 LIGHT Machine/Xyz
ATK:4000/DEF:3800
2 Level 10 monsters
(OCG/TCG: While this card has at least 1 Xyz Material, it cannot be attacked by monsters that are Level 5 or higher or Rank 3 or higher.) Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; destroy all other cards on the field. If you use this effect, this card is switched to Defense Position and cannot change its battle position until your 5th Standby Phase after using this effect. (OCG/TCG: If this card has no Xyz Materials; its ATK becomes 0.)
Magic Wave Knight Magi-Senshi (TCG: Wizard Knight Magi-Senshi)
Level 10 LIGHT Warrior/Fusion
ATK:3200/DEF:2700
1 Warrior-Type Xyz Monster + 1 Spellcaster-Type monster
OCG/TCG: Must first be Fusion Summoned. When this card is Fusion Summoned: Place 1 Xyz Material Counter on this card for each Xyz Material that was attached to an Xyz Monster used as a Fusion Material Monster for this card. If a card effect that would involve detaching 1 or more Xyz Materials would affect this card: You can remove an equal number of Xyz Material Counters from this card instead. When any player's monster declares an attack: You can remove 1 Xyz Material Counter from this card; Halve either the attacking monster or the attack target's original ATK during the Battle Phase only. Once per turn, when you activate a Spell Card: This card gains 1000 ATK until the End Phase.
Anime: Must first be Fusion Summoned. When this card is Fusion Summoned: Target any monsters in your Graveyard that were attached to an Xyz Monster used as a Fusion Material Monster for this card: Attach them to this card as Xyz Materials. When any player's monster declares an attack: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Halve either the attacking monster or the attack target's ATK during the Battle Phase only. Once per turn, when you activate a Spell Card: This card gains 1000 ATK until the End Phase.
Scrapped Designs (RK777)
Normal Spell Card
Send any number of Machine-Type monsters from your hand to the Graveyard. Draw 2 cards for each card sent by this effect.
Eagle Formation Delta (RK777)
Quick-Play Spell Card
Activate only while you control "Starship Galaxy Tomahawk" and at least 1 "Battle Eagle Token". All "Battle Eagle Tokens" you control gain 500 ATK, and your opponent cannot select "Starship Galaxy Tomahawk" as an attack target this turn.
Kamikaze Run! (RK777)
Quick-Play Spell Card
If your opponent declares an attack with a monster whose ATK is higher than the ATK or DEF (depending upon their position) of all face-up monsters you control: Target 1 Defense Position monster (OCG/TCG: only "Starships") you control; it becomes the attack target. Then, after damage calculation, inflict 500 damage to your opponent.
King's Fortune (RK777)
Normal Spell Card
Activate only while you control a Rank 10 or higher Xyz Monster. Apply the appropriate effect based on how many cards you have in your hand.
* 1 or less: Draw until you have 5 cards in your hand.
* 2 or more: Draw 4 cards.
Sacrificial Lamb (RK777)
Counter Trap Card
If a monster you control is selected as an attack target while you control a Token: You can Tribute 1 Token you control; negate the attack.
Overlay Shield (RK777)
Counter Trap Card
If at least 1 Xyz Monster you control would be destroyed by a card effect: Detach any number of Xyz Materials attached to Xyz Monsters you control and target 1 Xyz Monster you control for every 2 Xyz Materials detached; those targets cannot be destroyed by card effects this turn.
Overloading Charge (RK777)
Normal Trap Card
Equip this card to a Machine-Type monster you control with 3000 or more original ATK. The equipped monster gains ATK equal to half its original ATK. Destroy the equipped monster at the end of the Battle Phase. If the equipped monster is destroyed (by battle or by card effect, except this card's effect): You take damage equal to half the equipped monster's original ATK.
Vile: 3 Master Keys down, 3 to go, with a new power pioneered by Yuma: Overlay Fusion Summon!
Yuma: What made you give Magi-Senshi real Overlay Units instead of those Counters you made?
Vile: Considering Xyz Material Counters are basically an Overlay Unit replacement in the card game, it seemed pointless to waste time explaining that mechanic. Besides, this is ZEXAL. Logic went out the window a LONG time ago.
Astral: Point taken.
Vile: I know some of you viewers are probably pissed at me because I don't update that quickly anymore, but I've got a lot on my plate nowadays, moreso since school's in again. But even if I vanish, I'm not gonna die off, so I'll always return! If you guys liked this chapter, leave a review for me! Ja ne for now!
Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.