It has been two days since my arrival in this reality, and I have quickly adapted to my living conditions. Right now, I'm living with the Sakaki family of two… well seven if you include four stray animals and a certain blue head.
Apparently, Yoko-san have a love for cute things, which is evident due to the amount of cute things in the master bedroom and the family. Why was I in the master bedroom? I decided to make myself useful by helping her doing house work, which lead to such predicament. However, as I was tidying the house that time, I notice a small picture frame by the nightstand. I gave a quick glance but got more than I bargained for. It was the picture of the family, which consist of a young Yuya smiling cheekily at the camera, and Yoko, with a gentle maternal smile, resting her head on a man's shoulder. The man had robust build and is slightly taller than her. He had spiky black hair along with shaved moustache and beard adorning his proud wide grin.
I concluded that this must be Yuya's father. This brought out another question. Where is he? Could he be overseas? Or is this Zexal all over? Like when Yuma's parents went missing. If that's the case, I ought to avoid the topic around the family.
Continuing on, within the two days, I grew more acquainted with the people around me, especially with Yuya-san. Oh yes, the honorifics are not dropping anytime at all. Yuya shared his ambition with me before. Needless to say, I find them rather clichéd but admirable otherwise. He wants to be an entertainment duellist like his father and aims to bring smile to people by duelling. Yeah, you can do anything through duelling in this reality. In my reality however, duelling gets you nowhere. In order to have a place in society, one has to work, otherwise the burden of the world will trample you.
This kid lives a carefree life… but for how long.
This life will soon change if the GX series is anything to go by. Judai, as we all know and love, is first seen as a happy-go-lucky, shoot-first-ask-questions-later, fun loving guy who is basically terrible at almost everything outside of duelling. Basically, he had a very optimistic view on life, until the Dimension World arc. That arc changed him into a different person completely. He became more serious and mature. This is one of the reason why I like… no, respect him as a character.
The one thing I can hope for Yuya is that he will remain as he is. In fact, if need be… I'll protect Yuya from reaching that path, by doing his dirty work while keeping his hands clean.
"Nya~"
I snapped out of my inner monologue and remember the fat white heterochromia cat in my arms. The cat have yellow right eye and left blue eye, wearing a red tie and a brown heart-shaped pattern on its back. Among all the cuties here, this one is the only odd one out as it was the only cat in the family while the others, En, Kilo, and Watt are dogs. I petted Core's ears affectionately and replied with a gentle "Nya" of my own.
Currently, I am reorganizing my deck for the umpteenth time for three reasons. First, I have too many decks to play and even if I had created those decks, it does not necessarily means that I will be playing with them. So I decided to limit myself with only 10 decks, one of which is already used. The next reason is because I need to keep a lower profile right now due to an instinctive feeling that someone maybe tracking me. Last but not least, the biggest reason that lead to my predicament now, a dream I had the night prior.
It was complete darkness, so dark I cannot see myself. Normally, I could shrug it off as another dream, had it not been for the next part.
Flashback
It was total darkness. A dream. Had to be a dream. I reassured myself, because this isn't the first time I have dreams like this. But for some reasons I am able to think properly and discriminately, a trait that is uncommon when dreaming. What does this mean?
"I can answer your question," an androgynous voice spoke through the darkness.
The timing was just impeccable, who or what is this I wonder.
"I thank you for the compliment, and as for who and what am I,-" is this person reading my mind? "-well let's just say, you need only look in a mirror. And yes, I can read your mind."
…
So… I am you, and you are me. Persona much?
"Are you expecting some divine intervention to shed this darkness while giving you cryptic nonsense of an impending Armageddon?"
Touché…
"I know right. Anyways, let's get straight to business. I'm sure you have a few questions of your own, let's hear it."
Was it a woman speaking to me? The voice is so androgynous for me to distinguish. I can't even see the speaker's appearance through this darkness. Oh whatever. I do have questions, the biggest one of them all:
"Why am I here? No, why me of all people?" I asked.
"Ah, a legitimate question. Let me give you the fast version." What follows next is a flurry of words in fast forward that goes "Itsbecausetheforcesthatmaybedemandsit."
Uh what? I didn't catch that.
"There, any other questions?" the voice resumed innocently while ignoring my comments as I imagine an innocent smile masking the troll face on the speaker's face. My thoughts were proven correct as I heard chuckling.
You're not telling me are you?
"Nope."
I sighed, "In that case, why is this D-Pad the only thing with me?" I asked.
"Another legitimate question. Let m-"
"UNACCEPTABLE!" Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
"Oh poo! Party pooper." What are you, a kid? "Oh whatever." Clearing throat "That D-Pad, as you call it, is a unique one compared to any other D-Pad. A normal D-Pad has all the functions, but this one is the only one that can create a deck."
Hm? I still don't understand. This one is the only one that can create a deck?
"#Magic pocket."
Ah, I understand now. This difference between my D-Pad and the average D-Pad is that it has a storage system that magically puts away my cards to an invisible inventory. Yep like the Pip-boy from Fallout… wait it still doesn't answer my question! Why is this the only thing with me?
The voice coughed out loudly, followed by a "Plot convenience" before it clears it throat.
Plot convenience? What has my life become? A Fanfiction?
"Oh you have no idea."
Huh?
"NOTHING! MOVING ON!" the voice 'subtly' dodged the subject, "Anymore questions?"
Oh I have a lot of questions alright… but with how unhelpful my guide is, I don't even feel like asking for help at all.
"Very well then, oh and one last thing," my unknown speaker added as he/she is about to fade.
"War is coming."
And everything is history.
End Flashback
War is coming, I repeated these words from the not-hypocritical-guide in my mind. No really, he/she mentioned that he/she is not cryptic. Some guide he/she is. It was after this revelation, I concluded that the Arc-V series is involved in some sort of war. If I am with the good guys then who is the enemy. My first thoughts were immediately on Sora, the light blue haired boy with a sweet tooth. He clearly has a façade. I may have an experience in a war, but I played enough war games to understand the ins and outs of war. In a war, it is important to gather information, so this assumption alone immediately puts Sora as some sort of spy. But this brings out more question, what is Sora spying? No, the right question is, what is Sora's allegiance? There are still a lot of unanswered questions.
Core mewed again. I shook my head and snapped back to reality. No use overthinking things now, might as well enjoy what little I have.
I stood up and pocket the Pad away and exit the room. I place Core down on the corridor. He joined the other freeloading tenants of the house and I left to go out on a walk for one sole reason, duelling.
In the world of Yugioh, the easiest and fastest thing to find is duel. You can find an opponent to duel anywhere and at any time, rain or shine. However, I do not intend to find just anyone to duel, oh no. If my experience with most Yu-Gi-Oh VIDEO games is anything to go by, these random people only have a deck on par with a single starter deck in my reality's standards. A starter deck is basically decks which consist of the basic 40 ordinary cards and that is just it. Ordinary and predictable.
"You there!"
Was it just me, since when did my life turn from a horrible FanFiction to an atrocious RPG?
I turned to find the person calling me, only to be greeted by a giant of a man. He stood around my height and the most noticeable thing about him is the black Elvis's pompadour. He has a red headband, white… chef uniform with yellow and red trims. On top of that, each step he took made an auditable "CLANK" to the ground. Are those Japanese stone sandals?
"May I have a moment of your time?" he asked in a gruff yet polite tone.
"How may I help?" I asked politely as I hid my reluctant undertone.
"Would you honour me with a duel?" He pulled out his deck and said in a Samurai accent.
I supposed. "Alright but before we duel I like you to pick a number from 1 to 10." I spoke as I move away from him so that we can have adequate space for our duel.
"This is my sixth duel, so six!" he declared. I looked at my D-Pad and reveal my sixth deck. Hm… HEROES STRIKE.
"Very well, and you are?"
"It's Gongenzaka Noboru" he continued with his Samurai accent. I'm not complaining anymore.
"Gongenzaka Noboru… alright, I'm Kyou Yuuki, nice to meet you. First," I pulled out a coin from my pocket. "Heads," I showed him the side of the coin, "Or tails." I showed him the other side before flipping it to him. He caught the coin and flipped both sides to confirm if it was a sham. "Heads or tails." I repeated.
"Heads!" he declared and flipped it to the air.
We waited until the coin reaches the ground. We stare at each other, like the Edo period samurais facing each other and anticipating for the slightest disturbance in the environment. It was only us now… CLANK!
"DUEL!" We declared at the same time while our D-Pad sets up for duel mode. When we check where the coin is, I relented. Heads.
Gongenzaka – 4000 5 Cards
Yuuki – 4000 5 Cards
"I will go first, Draw!" he pulled his card, "First, I summon Superheavy Samurai Flutist (Level 3/Earth/Machine/500/1000)!" A mechanical samurai holding a flute appear. "Next, I activate his effect, when this card is Normal Summoned this turn, I can release this card to special summon 1 Superheavy Samurai monster from my hand! I special summon Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei (Level 8/Earth/Machine/Effect/1000/3500) in defence mode!" A huge samurai appear behind my opponent. It sat down while holding its fork spear and glared dangerously at me.
Okay, this is rather impressive, a monster with 3500 defence is not something to laugh at.
"I end my turn!" So he ends his turn just like this without anything to protect himself.
"Alright then, my turn! Draw." I revealed the card and adds it to my hand, "I summon Elemental HERO Blazeman (Level 4/Fire/Warrior/Effect/1200/1800)" a red armoured hero with a fire like mane appear, "Next, when this card is summoned, I can add 1 Polymerization from my deck to my hand." I reveal the card to my opponent.
"You're a Fusion user?" he gasped.
"Of course." I replied and mentally added, for now anyways. Looks like Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz is something in this series. Need to keep this in mind. In any case, "Now, I of course activate Polymerization. I use, on my field, Elemental HERO Blazeman from my hands, Elemental HERO Stratos to Fusion Summon, Elemental HERO Great TORNADO (Level 8/Wind/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/2800/2200)!" A hero in green appear while tornado formed around him. "Summoning is complete." I can see my opponent sweated a little as he eyed my monster.
"But it does not have enough attack points to bypass Big Benkei!" he reminded.
"True, but I'm not finished, when Great TORNADO is fusion summoned, the attack and defence of all monsters are halved!" The tornado literally swept the field up, the samurai was having difficulty maintaining his position (3500/2=1750).
"What!"
"Now, Great TORNADO attack! Hurricane Strike!" the hero lunges forward as tornado forms behind him. As the attack connects, the samurai went up in smoke. However, due to the position of the monster it was in, my opponent took no damage.
"I, Gongenzaka, will not allow it! From my hand I activate the effect of Superheavy Samurai Soulbeads! When one of my Defence Position monster is destroyed in battle, I can send this card to the graveyard and special summon that monster in attack position!" my opponent declared, "Return, Big Benkei! (Level 8/Earth/Machine/Effect/1000/3500)" the familiar giant of a monster reappeared.
"So you brought back your barriers, impressive I must say."
"Very true, while your Great TORNADO is strong, however, it can only use its effect only when its fusion summoned," very true, "As a practitioner of the Fudo Style, this man, Gongenzaka, will not overcome any obstacles head on!" he patted his chest hard and stood in a stance that reminded me a little of a Sumo stance. But the thing that caught my attention is Fudo, as in Yusei Fudo… the 'not moving style'? Kind of ironic if I had to say so myself, but nonetheless, I encourage my opponent.
"Very well then, show me your Fudo style that you are so proud of. I set 1 card and end my turn!"
"As you wish, my turn! Draw!" Gongenzaka commenced his draw phase and nodded at his next pull, "Let me show you the strength of Fudo Style! When I have no spell or trap cards in my graveyard, I can special summon tuner monster Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter (Level 2 Earth/Machine/Tuner/Effect/300/600)!" A tiny samurai holding a horn in its hand appear.
"Oh, Synchro Summoning I see, proceed." I urged.
"I tune Level 8 Superheavy Samurai Big Benkei with Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter!" And like most Synchro Summons, my opponent chanted, "Raing deity, in unison with the roar of a thousand blades, come forth in a spiralling sandstorm! Synchro Summon! Now come before us! Level 10! Superheavy Samurai Warlord Susano-O (Level 10/Earth/Machine/Synchro/Effect/2400/3800)!" Like the previous samurai, this samurai sat in a steadfast stance behind my opponent with his polearm ready.
"Hm… twice you summon a strong monster in defence position. Is there a significance to this?" I asked as I have a sneaking suspicion of this archetype.
"You catch on rather quickly," my opponent confirmed my suspicion, "This card can attack while in face-up Defence Position."
My mind seemed to overheat as I heard Fairy Tails' 'WOW!' going to my head.
"When Susano-O attacks, I apply its defence points for damage calculation!"
Again, another 'WOW!' went through my head.
"Now attack! Susano-O!" the samurai raised his polearm and slammed the butt to the ground creating a massive shockwave that is travelling to my Great TORNADO. Needless to say, he does not stand a chance.
Gongenzaka – 4000 3 Cards
Yuuki – 3000 (4000-1000) 3 Cards
This is definitely a very unique ability. I think I'm liking this series already.
"This man, Gongenzaka, sets one monster and ends his turn!"
He declared boldly. Again, he end his turn without any setting any spells or trap cards.
"Is your deck, by any chance, has only monster cards?" I asked at the ridiculously notion. Normally, Yu-Gi-Oh functions best when there are a few spells or trap cards in a deck as they provide a lot of utility for the player. However, the thought of a deck built purely on monsters is basically ludicrous because by doing so, chances of one person winning is basically zero. Yet, here it is, a deck that is built solely on monsters alone… interesting.
"You said your name is Gongenzaka, am I right?" I asked.
"Yes," he nodded.
"Gongenzaka-dono (Lord Gongenzaka)," I gave him my utmost respect by calling him lord, "I admit, your Fudo Style is indeed unique." At that compliment, he smirked, so am I, "Now, I should shall show you my unique summoning." I declared.
"Bring it on!" he challenged while his samurai tapped the ground in anticipation.
"My turn, draw!" I pulled my next card and immediately stopped, Super Polymerization. A quick spell card that allows me to fuse monsters ON THE FIELD! This means I can use my opponent's monsters to fusion summon. On top of that, card effects cannot be activated in response to this card's activation. I did say that I would show him my own unique play style, but I don't want to show off my full hand this soon.
"What's wrong?"
My opponent snapped me out of my chain of thoughts
"No its nothing, let's continue." I lied, "Gongenzaka-dono, since you've shown me your Fudo Style, then I shall show you my style as well," My opponent nodded expectantly, "Alright, here goes." I place Super Polymerization in my hand and picked another card, "I activate E-Emergency Call. This card allows me to add one Elemental Hero from my deck to my hands. With this, I add Elemental HERO Shadow Mist and then I summon him (Level 4/Dark/Warrior/Effect/1000/1500)!" A warrior shrouded in dark armour appeared. "Next I activate the Quick Spell, Mask Change!"
"Mask Change?"
"I send one monster with HERO in its name to the graveyard, and in doing so, I special summon one Masked HERO Fusion Monster from my extra deck to the field with the same Attribute as the monster sent by this effect. Oh and this is not a fusion summoning by the way so you get my point?"
"A special summoning from the Extra Deck and not Fusion Summoning?" Gongenzaka gasped.
"That's right, Shadow Mist is a Dark Attribute monster, this means I can special summon a Dark Attribute, Masked HERO. So without further ado, I bring out Masked HERO Anki (Level 8/Dark/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/2800/1200)!" As a mask appear in Shadow Mist's hands, he placed it on. In a blinding flash, the hero became another hero but this time with a visage and an armour that resembles a kaiju suit.
My opponent snapped out of the trance inducing summoning and braced himself for an attack.
"Now, battle! Anki attacks your face down monster! Dark Discharge Blaster!" The hero focuses a dark energy in his hands before firing at the face down card, destroying it. "Anki's effect activate, when this card destroys a monster by battle, I can search my deck for a quick spell card with 'Change' in its name and add it to my hand. The card I add is Form Change! So without further ado, I activate it."
"A quick spell card during the battle phase… what does it do this time."
"Simple, it returns a 'HERO' Fusion Monster from my field to my extra deck and special summons another Masked Hero from my Extra Deck but with a different attribute and overriding its summoning conditions." I stated, much to my opponent's shock, "With this, I special summon Masked HERO Kamikaze (Level 8/Wind/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/2700/1900)!" The dark hero was enveloped in lights. As the lights dissipated, a hero in green wearing a white cape appear with a storm brewing around him.
"So you set up a barrier to protect yourself."
"Yes I did, in fact Kamikaze's effect prevents him from being destroyed in battle!"
"Impressive, Yuuki-dono!"
"Yes, now I want to see which one is stronger, an Immovable Force against an Immovable Object!" I beckoned. Which is unfortunate for me because this deck does not have the utility needed for to get the job done. In fact, I only have one final trump card for this situation.
"Very well, this man, Gongenzaka accepts your challenge! My turn, DRAW!" my opponent pulled his next card, he smirked, "From my hands I activate the effect of Superheavy Samurai Soulpiercer! I can target 1 Superheavy Samurai monster I control and equip this card to the target. I equip this card to Susano-O!" A crossbow like arm was then attached to the samurai, "Now Susano-O can inflict piercing damage!"
A monster equip card this time, I did not expect this. This opponent is definitely unique.
"Next, this man, Gongenzaka, equip Susano-O with Superheavy Samurai Shoulshield Wall!" a green shield like object descended onto the samurai's left arm and attached itself to it. "The equipped monster now gains 1200 Defence Points (5000)."
I whistled, "5000 Defense Points, now that is definitely one immovable force! Alright then, come at me!"
"As you wish! Susano-O, attack!" The samurai's new crossbow weapon was loaded and then fires it at Kamikaze. Well what a bummer, if that attack connects, then I'm as good as defeated. I really don't want this to end yet.
"Continuous trap card activate, Spirit Barrier! When this card is in play, and when I control a monster, I do not take battle damage!" I declared. The arrow was easily deflected away. "Now here's an Immovable Object for you."
"Interesting. In that case, this man, Gongenzaka, ends his turn!"
"Alright then, my turn! Draw." I pulled my next card as a trail of gold followed after, "Perfect Timing, I activate Fusion Recovery. This card allows me to recover on 'Polymerization' and one fusion material monster that was used for a fusion summoning. I add Elemental HERO Stratos and summon him (Level 4/Wind/Warrior/Effect/1800/300)." A hero in blue armour with turbine like wings appeared, "When this card is Summoned, I can activate one his two effects. I activate his second effect which allows me to add 1 HERO monster from my deck to my hand!" A card ejected from my deck, "With this effect I add Elemental HERO Ocean to my hand."
"Another Fusion Summoning?" my opponent asked.
"Yep, I activate Polymerization to fuse Stratos and Ocean to create Elemental HERO Absolute Zero (Level 8/Water/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/2500/2000)!" Another whirlpool of blue and red appear. The turbine winged hero entered the portal, followed by a hero in blue holding a forked pole. The whirling portal dissipates.
The area around us had steams forming. Had this been an Action Field, we would have felt the cold it gave out because the cold steam seemed to have frozen the surroundings. We are now standing on ice. The steam began to concentrate into a singularity and a pillar of ice was formed. Within the transparent ice was a hero. The ice shatters and the Hero struck a pose to reveal his glory.
"Now, Absolute Zero, attack! Flash Freeze!" the hero focuses a singularity of cold wave in his hands.
"What is the meaning of this?" my opponent was clearly not amused with my actions.
"The harshest truth of reality is that in order to achieve victory, sometimes sacrifices must be made." I raised my D-Pad to my chest and continued, "When Absolute Zero leaves the field, his effect activates! I destroy every monsters on my opponent's field!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!" my opponent gasped. The ice hero fired his attack. "THIS MAN, GONGENZAKA, WILL NOT ALLOW IT! Soulshield Wall's effect activate!" my opponent's monster stood up and launches itself at the attack, shield first. The attack connected but was eventually relinquished.
The attack stopped… but there was no retaliating strike or any repercussions that followed. I checked the field again and notices that my opponent's monster was a complete wreck. The shield attached to his left arm was sizzling and then exploded. (0)
"What?" I blurted unintelligently, "What happened?"
"I activated the effect of Soulshield Wall, effectively negating the attack by sending this equipped card to the graveyard when the equipped monster is targeted for an attack. However, Susano-O's Defence becomes 0!" My opponent crossed his arms. He held an indomitable aura of a warrior, and a leader. "As long as I, Gongenzaka, is present, I will not allow any sacrifices be in vain. And at this moment! I activate a monster effect from my graveyard! By banishing Superheavy Samurai Soulbreaker Armour, I target one Superheavy Samurai monster on the field whose current Defence is lower than its original Defence, then I inflict damage to my opponent equals to the difference between its current and original Defence."
An effect from the graveyard too! Hold on… when was that card in the graveyard? No, I remember now… that card was sent to the graveyard, when Anki destroyed it in battle while it was set on the field. Oh well, so much for setting up the scene.
"Susano-O's original Defence Points was 3800… and his current Defence is 0."
Yeah, I lost… again. Wisps of purple flame darted straight at me and immediately, the victor is assured.
Gongenzaka – Win
Yuuki – 0 2 Cards
I'm really getting tired of losing already…
"With this, I have my 6 consecutive wins," said my opponent as he deactivated his D-Pad.
Six? Consecutive Wins?
"What do you mean, Gongenzaka-dono?" I inquired.
"You see, I am participating a tournament tomorrow, and the minimal requirement for the tournament is to have either a 60% win rate or 6 consecutive wins." My opponent answered. This sounds familiar… ah I remember now!
"Oh, the Miami Championship," I replied, "So you're a participant I see, and with this victory you're legitimate to join." When one mention Miami, to a person of a different reality, one would immediately register it as a city located at the coast southeast of Florida. On top of that, Miami literally screams United States… yet in this reality… for some reasons, Miami is in Japan of all places!
"Yes, I'm in the Junior Youth Department."
He's in Junior Youth… He's in Junior Youth… He's in Junior Youth…
"How old are you?" I lowered my gaze.
"14, why?" the man who shared my height and resembled a muscular guy from the western continent answered bewilderedly.
I've been defeated by someone 9 years my junior… twice. That really hurts, my feelings.
"You still there?" the adult-by-appearance heavy samurai user called out which snapped me out of my trance.
"No, nothing at all." I waved it off, placed my hands into my pockets and slouched off, "I supposed I should be on my way now."
"Aye, this man, Gongenzaka, thanks you for your time." He bowed as I walked off.
"Oh, and one last thing," I turned and gave my opponent one last glance, "Since you're in Junior Youth, I ought to warn you about one thing." My opponent gave me his full attention, "There's this one guy might give you a run for your money, after all he did surprise me at the climax of our duel."
My opponent nodded and inquired, "May I know this person's name?"
I gave him a fox like smile and turned back to the direction I was going after answering, "Sakaki Yuya."
"Yuya-kun?" Ah, it seems like my former opponent knows who he is. What a small world we live in.
And with that, I call it the end of this chapter. To be honest, when I return to playing Yuigoh, my first opponent was a Superheavy Samurai Deck. Let me be honest with you guys, this deck really destroyed me. So, when I was watching Arc-V, I found out about this deck and decided to put in the watered down version of the deck.
Also, I was very conflicted with writing this chapter because I wanted my OC to win this duel, yet I want Gongenzaka to win this duel so that I won't change the main plot of the Arc-V series too much. That makes it two loses for my OC. But fear not my fellow readers, from the next chapter onwards, my OC will always win.