Yuya's Treat

by Fenghuang0296

It's the perfect storm as forces converge on Fusion Dimension. The Lancers are backed up by powers and allies new and old alike, but will it be enough to take down Leo Akaba once and for all? And is he even the biggest threat? AU from episode 63 onwards. Rated T for occasional profanity and mature (violent) themes.

34. Resistance Divided! Legacy of the Hunter

Chapter 33: Resistance Divided! Legacy of the Hunter!

Flare looked at Cyril, who was rapidly tapping at the Duel Disk. "This is a fascinating device. So much data, so much information," he quietly breathed.

The redhead rolled her eyes.

"Fusion Summon; A method of Special Summon from the Extra Deck that involves activating an appropriate Spell Card and sending Fusion Materials from the hand or field to the Graveyard and then Special Summoning the appropriate monster from the Extra Deck, unless extenuating circumstances apply, in which case Fusion Materials are usually, but not always, banished. Incredible," Cyril breathed in amazement.

"You really don't have to be so 'in awe' or whatever," Flare sighed in exasperation.

"But there's more data than just that. Xyz Summon; the method in which two monsters of the same level are overlaid together and then an Xyz monster is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck," Cyril nodded, enthralled. "While the level of a monster is the primary requirement, there can also be restrictions based on Type, Attribute, or even membership of an archetype. How amazing,"

"I could have told you that," Flare huffed. She opened the slot on her Duel Disk that contained the duplicates of the cards in her Deck, and pulled out one of her spare copies of Queen Dragon Djinn. She threw it to him, and he deftly plucked it out of the air. "Thank you. This is incredible,"

"All yours. Doubt you have any use for it, but all yours," Flare shrugged.

She blinked, barely seeing a flash of light out of the corner of her eye. "Once again, my thanks," Cyril nodded.

They walked in silence as Cyril explored the Obelisk Force Duel Disk's files.

"So, you have yet to inform me of the contents of your mysterious message," the silver-haired boy pointed out.

"It's from a friend," the redhead said, her voice breaking. "Someone I thought was long dead," Ryuna stuttered, struggling to maintain her composure. "We're meeting him at the new Resistance base, just outside Heartland,"

"Did you not mention that you had colleagues who were also searching for the Resistance?" Cyril frowned.

"Yeah?"

"And are they also aware of this new location the Resistsnce is situated at?" the boy raised an eyebrow.

"I . don't . . think so," Flare slowly admitted with a frown.

"Then would it not be prudent to inform them at once so that you can all meet at the new location?" Cyril suggested.

The girl blinked, before groaning. "Crap," she sighed, activating her Duel Disk and composing a message.

X

"I," For the first time that any of them could remember in the short time they had known him, Shun was at a loss for words. "I don't understand. It can't be that there's no one left at all," he stuttered.

"There isn't!" a voice barked from above them, and as one the six looked up in shock. Shun's eyes widened. "You!"

"Yes!" Kite Tenjo barked, glaring down at them. "Shun Kurosaki. I suppose this is the help you went to get?"

Shun opened his mouth to respond, but paused. Strong Duelists though they were, in terms of interdimensional relief, the Lancers were a little disappointing. And even though Yuke had a little experience against Academia, Katie had never fought a day in her life. He could understand why Kite was disappointed.

But that didn't mean he wouldn't defend his new allies. "These are my comrades. I have fought alongside them and would trust them with my life!" Shun barked at his old friend.

"Relying on others is a weakness," Kite snorted.

"No it isn't!" Yuke shouted. The blonde boy raised an eyebrow at the Ritual Duelist. "Look, I don't know who you are, but where I'm from, everyone depends on each other! Everyone works together and everyone gets everythingA they need because that's the way to make everyone happy!" he declared.

"I don't know where you've been, but this is Heartland! Happiness doesn't matter anymore. The only thing that's important is survival, and you can't rely on anyone but yourself for that!" Kite commanded.

"No! My brother's right!" Katie shouted. "This is a bleak place, and times might be bad, but that kind of attitude and this world is gonna wither and die!"

"You think so?" the blonde snapped. He leapt down and landed in front of them, glaring intensely at the two Ritual Duelists as he armed his Duel Disk. "I'll show you two why you don't rely on anyone but yourself," Kite declared.

Katie's ears twitched in irritation, and the Xyzian paused, seeing this. For a second, an eyebrow twitched, but he shook his head, dismissing it as irrelevant. "You're taking us both on?" Yuke raised an eyebrow.

"You all claim to be more powerful because you work together," Kite snorted. "And you two are siblings, so your bond is - unbreakable!" His voice caught on the last word. "I should know," he hissed, clenching his fists.

"That's hard to argue with," Katie nodded.

"You've . . lost a sibling in this war, haven't you?" Gong realised, hearing the way his voice caught on the topic of siblings. Shun nodded to the larger man. "Kite does have a -"

"Had!" Kite interrupted his former friend.

Yuke raised a surprised eyebrow. "You have a sister?"

"None of your business!" he barked. "Duel!"

The siblings nodded. "I don't think we can get through to him with words," Katie gulped.

"Then our cards will talk for us," Yuke agreed. "I'll take the first move,"

"By all means," Kite snorted.

"Me, then you, then Katie," Yuke decided. "Normal Battle Royal rules. We all draw and no one can attack on their f

irst turn,"

"Agreed," Kite nodded.

"Good. My turn! Draw! I Normal Summon Emerald Monoglyph from my hand!" he declared. A tall, teardrop-shaped gemstone appeared on the field. 0 ATK. "When a Moniglyph is Summoned, it is changed to Defence Position!" 2100 DEF. "And now, when Emerald is Normal Summoned, I can add a Ritual Spell from my Deck to my hand!" he snorted.

"Are you getting your ace?" Katie asked in excitement.

But Yuke shook his head. "As much as I love my dragon, I need options," he decided. "I add Primal Cry!" he declared, pulling a Ritual Spell from his Deck.

The fox girl's eyes widened. "That's . . ."

"I'm gonna prove to you right now, with these cards, that my strength is that of my family!" Yuke shouted. "I play my Ritual Spell, Primal Cry!" he declared, sliding a card into his Duel Disk. A tall, imposing rock wall appeared behind him, with a cave set into it. "By Tributing my Level 4 Sapphire Monoglyph on my field, and my Level 4 Topaz Monoglyph in my hand, I Ritual Summon!" he declared.

Kite cocked a brow in interest.

"Divine golden bird, whose cry echoes through time!" Yuke shouted. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes as he repeated the words his mother had taught him so long ago. "Arise from your roost, as -" His chanting was cut off by a grief-choked sob. The original words to his chant were forgotten as new words came to him, seemingly from the voice of his own monster as a shrill, avian shriek echoed through the skies above. "As all I have left of - of what I loved most!" the boy sobbed, clenching his fists in pent-up anguish. "Ritual Summon! Level 8! Rise, Radiant Divine Bird Vene!"

A huge golden bird appeared from the cave and shrieked majestically with 2800 ATK, spreading its wings and gazing at the otherwise empty field.

Yuke breathed in deep, trying to maintain his composure.

"This is pathetic," Kite snorted. "You honestly expect me to believe you have any strength at all when you break into tears just by summoning a monster?"

"Don't listen to him, big brother," Katie rushed over and comforted him. "I miss them too, but now isn't the time,"

"Okay," Yuke nodded. "I end my turn,"

"About time," Kite snorted. "My turn! Draw!" he declared.

"Well?" Katie growled, baring her pointed teeth.

"I Normal Summon Cipher Twin Raptor from my hand," Kite declared, and a black-and-gold wyvern appeared, pulsing with blue energy and with 1600 ATK. "Now, while I control a Cipher monster, I can Special Summon Cipher Wing from my hand!" he declared, and a green gem with large, butterfly-like wings appeared. 1400 ATK. "I activate Twin Raptor's effect! By discarding a card, I can Special Summon a Cipher from my Deck!" he continued. "I Summon another Cipher Wing!" he commanded, bringing a second butterfly-like monster to the field. "Now I activate one of my Wings ' effect! By Tributing it, I increase the Levels of all my monsters by four!" he declared, and the Wing broke apart, the gemstone vanishing and both wings turning into energy, which swarmed into the two monsters.

"Two Level 8 monsters!" Sawatari gasped.

Katie remembered her Duel with Flare, only a few hours ago. "Feels like longer," she muttered to herself, understanding the significance of the combination. "The higher the Levels, the higher the Rank of the summoned Xyz monster. The higher the Rank, the more powerful the monster," she realised.

"I now Overlay my two Level 8 monsters!" Kite declared, and the two monsters were sucked into an Overlay Network coloured rich black. "Mighty warrior, emerge from the depths of space! Xyz Summon, Rank 8! Rise, Cipher Black Warlord!"

A tall, obsidian-clad knight appeared and brandished its longsword, a black cape with star-like sparkles dangling from its shoulders. 2600 ATK. "I Set one card and end my turn!" the man snorted.

"Good!" Katie grinned, flicking her tail. "My turn! Draw!"

"Good luck, sis," Yuke smiled, and she nodded with a grin. "Easy! I Normal Summon Volpyne Acolyte - Kirsten from my hand!" she declared, and a tall sorcerer armed with a carved staff and 1400 ATK appeared. "Now, I play Ritual of Volpyne Possession!" she declared, and a spell appeared, transforming into a massive circle of runes. "I Tribute my Level 4 Kirsten and the Level 2 Volpyne Heretic - Daniel in my hand to Ritual Summon! Come, spirit of Volpyne fire! Ritual Summon, Level 6! Inhabit the rock and bring new power from beyond! Appear, Megavolpyne Golem - Sentinel!"

A large stone statue of a fox with rubies for eyes appeared, completely inanimate.

Until it began to move, leaping down from the dais and growling, baring its stone teeth. 2000 ATK.

"Now, Kirsten's effect! When he's Tributed, I can make a monster I control gain 300 ATK! I, of course, pick Sentinel!" The statue roared, its ATK becoming 2300.

"And now it's time to activate Vene's effect! If another monster we control is Tributed, I can target a monster in the Grave and add it to my hand! I return Emerald Monoglyph!" Yuke declared. Energy belonging to Kirsten was pulled from the Grave and used to return the teardrop-shaped crystal to Yuke's hand.

"I'll now activate Sentinel's effect!" Katie grinned. "Once per turn, I can make him gain ATK equal to his current DEF! 500!" she commanded, and her monster's ATK become a total of 2800. "Finally, I Set a card and end my turn!" she declared, the possessed statue in front of her sitting on its haunches, flicking its tail and waiting irritably.

"Then it's now my turn once more! Draw!" Yuke smirked. "He has a monster with less ATK than me and Katie's monsters, but doesn't seem at all worried," the Ritual Duelist raised a curious eyebrow at Kite, before shrugging. "Eh. We won't find anything out sitting around, will we, Vene?" he grinned at his monster, who inclined her head gracefully and nodded.

"He's got his confidence back," Yuya realised and smiled at his counterpart. "Go, Yuke!"

"Okay!" he shouted, clenching his fists. "Go, my Radiant Divine Bird! Attack that thing! Piercing Light Skydrill!" His monster shrieked and charged, beating her wings in fury.

"I activate the effect of Black Warlord. If he is attacked while he has Overlay Units, he gains ATK equal to that of the attacking monster," Kite snorted, and the monster's ATK rose by 2800 in a flash, as the bird's image was reflected in the knight's blade. "Fifty-four hundred ATK?" Yuke spluttered as his monster was smashed into polygons, the energy rippling back at him and cutting more than half of his LP away. "I have yet to see anything that even remotely resembles strength," Kite snorted.

"I'll show you," Yuke fumed. "I Normal Summon Emerald Monoglyph from my hand again!" he declared, re-summoning the rune-covered teardrop gemstone. "Now, the effect of Emerald activates, letting me add Seismic Energy from my Deck to my hand!" he declared, pulling a card from his Deck.

"You're bringing out your ace?" Katie asked in excitement.

"Not quite! I now activate the effect of Primal Cry in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I revive Vene from the Grave!" The cliff face that had lingered behind him since the first Ritual Summon shattered and vanished, and Vene reappeared with a triumphant cry and 2800 ATK. "Now I activate Vene's effect! By revealing a monster in my hand, I can change the level of a monster I control to that of the revealed monster! I reveal the Level 7 Hammer Tail Ritual Dragon!" he declared with a grin. "So Emerald becomes Level 7!"

The golden energy of the bird washed over the stone and Vene smiled kindly at the Rock-type, who seemed to shiver in pleasure. "Now, I'll finish this off by playing my Ritual Spell, Seismic Energy!"

A fissure appeared in the ground, glowing with blue light. "Take all that you want and give nothing back! Get ready, my monster, to launch your attack!" The Monoglyph was lifted into the air by a current of wind, before shattering into fragments which were sucked into the crack. "Ritual Summon! Appear, Level 7! Tectonic dragon that swallows all in its quakes! Arise, Hammer Tail Ritual Dragon!"

Yuke's ace monster shot from the ground like a serpentine bullet, shining blue and silver. 2500 ATK.

"Brilliant! Two Ritual monsters!" Katie cheered. "Go, Yuke!"

Yuke tapped at his Duel Disk, checking something, before nodding. "Turn end,"

"Good! Because that has gone on long enough!" Kite snorted. "My turn! Draw!" he shouted, pulling a card from his Deck. "I activate my Set Card, Cipher Chain! he declared. His Trap flipped open and purple chains shot forth, binding every monster on the field together. "Now, all monsters on the field gain a Cipher Counter. Monsters with a Cipher Counter cannot attack, and if any of the monsters with a Cipher Counter are destroyed, they are all destroyed and the controllers of the destroyed monsters take 500 damage for each monster destroyed,"

"Hammer Tail! Vene!" Yuke gasped as his monsters struggled with the chain.

"Sentinel!" the fox girl gulped, her possessed statue growling in fury. She shivered, clutching at her chest. "Katie?" her brother gasped, dashing over to her. "What is it?"

"It's that chain . ." she wheezed. "Its energy is so spiteful and horrible,"

"What's going on?" Yuya gasped, the four Lancers rushing to their comrades.

"It's her mutations. She has a close connection to her monsters. Whatever that chain is doing to her Sentinel," Yuke trailed off.

"You ooze weakness," Kite's voice cut through their conversation like a switchblade. Yuke turned and glared at him. "Get rid of that card. Now," he spat.

"If you insist," Kite nodded. "I Normal Summon Cipher Wizard from my hand," A tall navy blue wizard with a golden staff and 1700 ATK appeared. "I activate Wizard's effect. I can target one 'Cipher' Xyz monster I control and destroy it, then Special Summon another 'Cipher' Xyz monster from my Extra Deck with the same Rank but a different name, and attach Wizard to it as an Overlay Unit," he declared. The wizard slammed his staff into Cipher Black Warlord and the monster vanished, its Overlay Units going down into the Graveyard.

"Galaxy shining in the darkness!" Kite commanded as the wizard expended its life force to create a massive portal. "Embody the demon of revenge as my servant! Xyz Summon! Rank 8! Come, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"

A massive blue-and-gold dragon appeared with a triumphant roar, Cipher Wizard transforming into a glowing white Overlay Unit and joining the majestic, furious dragon.

"Now, the effect of Cipher Chain! When a monster with a Cipher Counter is destroyed, they are all destroyed and you both take 500 damage for each! That's 1500!" Kite barked.

Yuke took no notice, comforting his sister as she took a deep, shuddering breath.

Purple energy shot down the chains and blasted the other three monsters. "Yuke. That means you lose," Katie whispered.

"Then I lose. Just kick this guy's ass for me, okay?" Yuke grinned, and his sister reciprocated.

Purple energy blasted him away and reduced his LP to zero. Katie stared in horror as her brother fell to the ground.

"This is weakness!" the blonde spat. "You honestly expect to survive! much less defeat me, when you rush to each other's side every five minutes? Pathetic!"

"Shut up!" Katie barked. Her tail bristled as she stood up straight and clenched her fists, before pressing a button on her Duel Disk, even when her LP was cut to 2500 by the effect damage. "I activate my Quick-Play Spell, Volpyne Flash! While I have no Trap Cards in my Graveyard, I can target up to two cards on the field and return them to the hand! Say goodbye to that dragon, bastard!"

Flaming red energy burst from her Spell and swirled around the dragon, lifting it into the air before sealing it back into its card as it returned to the Extra Deck.

"I Set one card and end my turn," Kite frowned, and the turn order passed to Katie.

"Good!" she barked, drawing her card. "I -" She paused, seeing the cards in her hand. "I activate the effect of Volpyne Heretic - Daniel in my Grave! By shuffling him into the Deck, I reveal Megavolpyne Demon - Tsuki in my hand, and Special Summon it to the field, but it is destroyed during the End Phase!" The girl slapped a card into the Duel Disk, and her silver bracelet glowed blue with energy.

"That bracelet?" Yuya frowned, he didn't remember seeing her with it before.

"It's her lucky bracelet. She usually leaves it in the house because she's worried it will get damaged, but she took it with her when she left," Yuke explained, slowly sitting up.

"It looks just like Yuzu's," Yuya frowned. "and Selena had a similar one too," he recalled.

Volpyne Heretic - Daniel appeared, standing in the centre of a black circle of runes. He lifted his arms up to the sky and cackled madly as Katie chanted. "Monstrous black fox, arise from the pit! Consume all you wish with your infinite hunger, and wreak havoc on the mortals that dare to oppose you!" she shrieked, her purple eyes flickering with energy. Black energy coursed from the runes and into Eric, who screamed in pain. "Ritual Summon! Level 9! Rise, Megavolpyne Demon - Tsuki!"

The monster in front of her yelled in agony as he transformed. His muscles rippled and bulged, and black fur coated the exposed skin. Nine long, teardrop-shaped black fox tails burst from the small of his back, tipped with silver and razor-sharp as long claws emerged in place of his hands and feet. The monstrous, nine-tailed black fox roared in fury, glowing yellow eyes glaring down at Kite. 3000 ATK.

"That's her ultimate monster," Yuke shivered.

"Sure looks like it," Gong agreed.

"Now, Tsuki! Attack directly!" Katie commanded, and her monstrous vulpine charged.

"I activate the Cipher Battle Block in my Graveyard that I discarded for Cipher Twin Raptor," Kite snorted. A tall wall of grey-black stone appeared and blocked the monster's attack with 1500 DEF. "When a direct attack is declared, I can Summon this card from the Grave and negate the attack," he explained, and lines of code blocked the great monster.

"I Set a card and end my turn," Katie hissed. "Normally, Daniel's effect would cause Tsuki to be destroyed now, but Tsuki cannot be destroyed by card effects," she smirked, baring her canine teeth in a feral grin.

"Careful, everyone. Katie goes a little berserk when she has this monster out," Yuke warned the Lancers.

"A shame," Kite shrugged. "I Draw," he declared, making his hand size three cards. The turn order passed back to him now that Yuke had been defeated. "I Normal Summon Cipher Portal from my hand," he snorted and a stone circle appeared. 0 ATK. "When Portal is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Cipher monster from my Graveyard, but it cannot be used as an Xyz Material," he declared. "I revive Cipher Wing," he declared, and the butterfly-like monster reappeared. "Once again! I Tribute my Cipher Wing to increase the Levels of all my Ciphers by four!" Portal and Battle Block's Levels both became 8.

"I now Overlay my Level 8 Cipher Battle Block and my Level 8 Cipher Portal!" Kite declared, and the two monsters were sucked into a golden-blue Overlay Network. "Galaxy shining in the darkness! Embody the demon of revenge as my servant! Xyz Summon, Rank 8! Come, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!" he commanded, bringing forth his dragon once again.

Katie was resolute as the two monsters with 3000 ATK faced off. Tsuki growled, and Galaxy-Eyes roared in response.

"Are you ready to repent?" Kite demanded.

"Make me!" the fox girl retorted, flicking her tail in anger.

"I shall!" the blonde declared. "I activate my Galaxy-Eyes' effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I take control of your monster! Its name becomes Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon and its ATK becomes 3000!" he declared, and the dragon roared at the demonic fox - who barked with equal ferocity, energy arcing from its tails and protecting itself from the effect.

"Tsuki can't be targeted by card effects either!" Katie barked.

"Fine! I Set one card and end my turn!" Kite snorted.

"Good! My turn, draw!" Katie declared in a frenzy of anger. She looked at the two cards in her hand. "I activate my Field Spell, Volpyne Shrine!" she declared. The burnt grey concrete beneath her feet transformed into a marble floor, as verdant greenery appeared at the edges and in the cracks, and an egg-shaped building of marble appeared behind her, flanked with palm trees. A small lagoon appeared to her right - exactly where Sawatari was standing. "Wha - hey!" he protested, dashing onto solid ground and glaring at his sodden shoes.

"As long as Volpyne Shrine is face-up on the field, neither player can shuffle cards into the Deck!" Katie declared. "Now I activate the effect of Volpyne Acolyte - Kirsten in my Grave! By banishing Megavolpyne Golem - Sentinel from my Graveyard, I destroy Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon and then shuffle Kirsten into the Deck!" she added, and the teenaged spellcaster rose from the Grave to cast a bolt of energy. As it did, energy swept it back into Katie's Deck - until stronger energy from the Shrine forced it to return to the Grave.

Kite clenched his fists and glared in response. "I activate my Trap, Cipher Spectrum. By detaching all the Overlay Units from Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, its destruction is negated and I can Summon a monster from my Extra Deck with the same name. Come, another Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!" he declared, and the only Overlay Unit Galaxy-Eyes had spun away and exerted its its energy deflecting the effect. Seconds later, a rainbow-coloured spectrum brought a copy of the dragon into existence. His opponent cursed under her breath.

"They both have no Overlay Units. They can't use their effects," Shun raised an eyebrow. "Katie! This is your best opportunity to launch an assault, before he finds a way to give his dragons more Overlay Units!" he continued.

"Got it!" The fox girl tossed the affirmation over her shoulder and flicked her tail. "Battle Phase! Tsuki, attack one of those dragons!" The black kitsune charged towards the newly Summoned Cipher Dragon.

"They have equal ATK," Sawatari frowned, but Shun confidently shook his head with a small smile that almost looked proud. "She's found her strength now. She wouldn't do something like this without a plan,"

"None of you know Demon - Tsuki's effect, huh?" Yuke grinned.

"You're right," Yuya nodded. "She hasn't used its effect yet,"

"Megavolpyne Demon - Tsuki has an effect, and it's a whopper! He can't be destroyed by battle, and if he destroys an opponent's monster by battle, his magic lets me take control of it!" Katie gleefully declared. Tsuki engaged in a fierce battle with the Galaxy-Eyes monster, but even though they were equals physically, as they brawled yellow energy seeped from the Volpyne's body and slowly infected the dragon. Eventually they stopped fighting, the galaxies in Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's eyes replaced by pure yellow, and the two monsters returned to Katie's field as black energy stripped Kite's Duel Disk of the card and transferred it to his opponent. "Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon! Attack - well, yourself!" Katie commanded, and the possessed dragon charged itself, both being destroyed. Even though Kite had taken no battle damage, his defences had been systematically and effectively destroyed. "I end my turn!" Katie cheered.

"Very well!" Kite spat, drawing his card. "I Set one card and end my turn!"

"Aww, that's boring," Katie sighed, taking her turn. "Really not much I can do . . . oh well. Tsuki! Direct attack!"

Kite took the assault unflinching as in a single slash, his LP were cut to 1000. "Yeah! Take that!" she first-pumped, grinning wildly.

"My turn, draw. Enjoy your victory while it lasts," her opponent snorted. "I Normal Summon another Cipher Twin Raptor from my hand," he declared, another dragon-like beast appearing and roaring. "I activate its effect. By discarding one card, I Special Summon a Cipher from my Deck. Come, Cipher Mirror Knight," A 0-DEF knight appeared, doing its best to look threatening (and failing). "I Overlay my Level 4 Twin Raptor with my Level 4 Mirror Knight. Rise, shining warrior, paladin of the stars! Xyz Summon. Rank 4. Descend, Starliege Paladynano!" Kite commanded. The newest Xyz Monster, the one that Kite had used almost all his remaining cards to Summon, was a tall knight in heavy white armour with a crystalline sword and 2000 ATK.

"I end my turn," the man declared.

Katie frowned cutely. 'He has no Set cards left, nothing in his hand and only a monster with an ATK deficit that's exactly equal to his LP,' she muttered to herself. 'And he does seem a bit worried, but that could be a bluff,'

She recalled the lack of success her brother had had attacking one of Kite's Xyzes before. "My turn. Draw," she muttered, looking at her hand size, which now numbered two.

And an absolutely insane idea struck her. "I play my Spell, Ritual of Volpyne Possession, and Tribute Tsuki for a Ritual Summon!"

Every single mouth on the field fell open. Even Kite was surprised. "She has something more powerful than that Tsuki?" Gong blinked.

"No, she doesn't. Tsuki's her strongest," Yuke blinked.

"Come forth from the breach, spirit of the pyre! Take form through my ritual as the great fox of fire!" Katie chanted. "Ritual Summon! Appear, Level 8! Wandering spirit that lives through flame! Megavolpyne Spirit - Kitsune!"

The monstrous black fox vanished, and was replaced by a phantasmal, five-tailed anthropomorphic fox. Kitsune pirouetted, swishing her tails and baring 1500 ATK.

"But Kitsune's weaker than Tsuki," Yuke blinked.

"But it's her effect that I need right now!" Katie declared with a smile. "When Kitsune is Special Summoned, I can target a monster on the field and equip it to her, and she gains ATK equal to the equipped monster's! I equip Paladynamo!"

Kite's eyes widened as the ghostly fox possessed his monster, adding its ATK to her own, making 3500, as the Overlay Units went to the Graveyard and the Xyz monster's card was swept to Katie's field again. "Kitsune! Attack!" The suddenly vulpine knight, its white sword crackling with red energy, charged at its owner. In a fell swoop, Kite's LP was reduced to zero.

"You defeated your own point," the blonde observed.

"What are you talking about?" Katie asked, her monster vanishing.

"You attempted to prove that you are stronger when you stand with your comrades, but you were not. You only became strong when you fought on your own," Kite explained in irritation. "I don't have the time to waste with this. Be glad I let your brother live. Goodbye," Kite pressed a button on his Duel Disk, and a flash of multicoloured light temporarily blinded everyone present. By the time their sight restored itself, Kite had vanished.

"Wait!" Katie blinked, pulling something from her Duel Disk and running towards the place he had been standing. "You forgot your . . ." she trailed off, holding out Starliege Paladynamo and realising he was gone. "Card,"

"Kite always was stubborn," Shun shook his head.

"Still, that was great! You might be a better Duelist than me!" Yuke grinned, rushing forwards and scratching her ears. Katie shivered and grinned. "Naah, no way,"

"As good as this is, it doesn't solve the problem of the fact that we're alone," Gong rumbled.

"Actually, no we aren't," Yuya offered. "I got a message from Flare while you were Duelling. She wants us to meet just outside Heartland in a place called the Duel Sanctuary, and that Shun knows the way,"

"The Duel Sanctuary?" Shun looked up in surprise, before nodding. "It makes sense. Sheltered location, higher ground advantage, and outside the city boundaries. Obelisk Force might not even know it exists. It's a bit of a walk, though," he muttered.

"I'm sick of walking. We've been doing that all day. Can't we hotwire a car or something?" Sawatari complained.

"Suck it up," Gong snorted.

"Yeah. No way a car would get through all this debris. Walking would actually be faster," Yuke agreed.

"We aren't getting anywhere standing around and chatting. Come on," Shun commanded, picking a direction and walking in it.

Even as he complied, Sawatari had to make one last complaint. "Who put him in charge anyway?"

X

High above them, a man watched in interest. He wore a large cloak that hid his body.

"Yuya Sakaki," he muttered to himself. "I can smell the energy, the power you wield,"

His gaze drifted to Sawatari, and he suddenly recoiled, wrinkling his nose. "That is not a pleasant smell," he spluttered.

But as his gaze returned to Yuya, he nodded. "You've clearly had a long day. I'll give you the night to recover, and deal with you in the morning," Kaze nodded to himself. "So be ready, Yuya Sakaki. Be ready indeed,"

A/N

A/N

New chapter! Woo-hoo!

Now then, new original cards (I am so glad Kite has a couple more Ciphers revealed between now and Chapter 4, but still not enough);

Cipher Black Warlord

Rank 8/LIGHT/Warrior/ATK:2600/DEF:2300/Xyz/Effect

2 Level 8 monsters

If this card is attacked by an opponent's monster while it has Xyz Material; This card gains ATK equal to the ATK of the monster it is battling, until the end of the turn. Once per turn, when a card or effect is activated that targets this card; You can detach one Xyz Material from this card, negate that activation.

Cipher Portal

Level 4/LIGHT/Spellcaster/ATK:0/DEF:1200/Effect

When this card is Normal Summoned; You can target one Level 4 'Cipher' monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target. It cannot be used as Xyz Material for an Xyz Summon during this turn.

Cipher Battle Block

Level 4/LIGHT/Rock/ATK:500/DEF:1500/Effect

When your opponent's monster declares a direct attack while this card is in your hand or Graveyard; You can Special Summon this card, and if you do, negate the attack, also banish this card when it leaves the field.

And new Volpynes!;

Volpyne Heretic - Daniel

Level 2/DARK/Spellcaster/ATK:800/DEF:1000/Efect

If this card is in your Graveyard, and you have no Trap Cards in your Graveyard; You can reveal one 'Megavolpyne' Ritual Monster in your hand, Special Summon it, and if you do, shuffle this card into the Deck. You can only use this effect of 'Volpyne Heretic - Daniel' once per turn. The monster Summoned by this effect is destroyed during your End Phase.

Megavolpyne Golem - Sentinel

Level 6/FIRE/Rock/ATK:2000/DEF:500/Ritual/Effect

You can Ritual Summon this card with 'Ritual of Volpyne Possession'. Once per turn; You can make this card gain ATK equal to its DEF. Monsters you control with less ATK than this card cannot attack.

Megavolpyne Demon - Tsuki

Level 10/FIRE/Fiend/ATK:3000/DEF:3000/Ritual/Effect

Must first be Ritual Summoned with either 'Ritual of Volpyne Possession' or 'Volpyne Hunger'. This card cannot be destroyed by battle, and cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects. Once per turn, when this Ritual Summoned card destroys an opponent's monster by battle; You can Special Summon the destroyed monster to your side of the field in ATK mode. It cannot be Tributed.

Volpyne Shrine

Field Spell Card

As long as you control a 'Volpyne' monster; Neither player can shuffle cards into, or return cards to, the Deck. If you do not control a 'Volpyne' monster: Banish this card.

Volpyne Flash

Quick-Play Spell Card

This card cannot be activated unless it has been Set on the field first for at least one End Phase and you have no Trap Cards in your Graveyard. Target up to two cards your opponent controls; return them to the hand.

And there. :) Now, let's see, reviews . . . nevermind. Well, peace!