Author's Note
An unexpected Shadow Duel has taken place, but we are now back on track!
Ichigo was seen on the school grounds, on the semi-final day of the Promotional Duel week. "Yo, Yaoyorozu." He greeted Momo. "Have you seen Satsuki anywhere?" He asked her.
"I… actually dueled her for my promotion, but… I lost. She has gone off to the Remnant Continent." Momo answered.
"The hell? For what reason?"
"I am not sure… Though, I can only hope that it's something good for all of us."
"Yeah? Well, I hope she comes back before the final day of the week ends. I gotta get promoted soon."
"Why only her and not one of the other duelists who could get you a promotion to Ra Yellow?"
"Please. You know that Satsuki's the strongest, probably even the best Duelist in our continent. If I beat her, then I know I've got the power."
"The power to do… what, exactly?"
"To protect everyone."
"...Did you… lose someone?" Momo asked cautiously.
"...My mother." Ichigo answered. "I was a little kid at the time."
"But you are stronger now. Much stronger than me."
"You're putting yourself down again…" Ichigo sighed. "How can you call me "MUCH STRONGER" when you can Fusion Summon using an opponent's monster?"
"I can only do that when I'm… like that." Momo nervously stated. "When I get really angry, then…"
"That's when you can use Fallen of Albaz?" Ichigo guessed, to which Momo nodded. "You ever wanna try to do it naturally?"
"O-Of course…!" Momo exclaimed.
"Well, there might be a way for you to do that… but you might not like it."
"That's fine with me."
"You sure?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
Ichigo sighs. "Don't say I didn't warn you…"
Izuku was seen walking with his friends when they suddenly see Ichigo and Momo. "Oh! Kurosaki! Yaoyorozu! This is rare…!" Izuku pointed out.
"Midoriya, Mankanshoku, Uraraka, and Matoi…" Ichigo listed."Damn. Didn't expect to see you four here."
"Where are you four going?" Momo asked.
"Wherever the hell we want." Ryuko shrugged. "You?"
"Well…" Momo prodded her fingers.
"You don't have to tell them if you don't want to." Ichigo said to her.
"N-No, it's fine. They… have a right to know." Momo declared. "They are our friends, after all."
"...All right then."
"Kurosaki is taking me to see someone who could teach me how to control the darkness in my heart." Momo said to Izuku's group, getting them curious.
"The darkness in your heart?" Mako tilted her head.
"I think she might be referring to her Fallen of Albaz card and the Fusion Monsters that use him as materials." Ochako clarified.
"There are only two Fusion monsters that use him, of which we have seen before: Albion, the Sanctifire Dragon and Titaniklad, the Ash Dragon. She probably has even more." Izuku shrugged.
"Hey, Ichigo. You know anyone who's a Signer?" Mako suddenly brought up. Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
"A Signer? One of the Duelists of Legend?" Ichigo asked back. Mako nodded. "...Well, I know someone who currently is… In fact, Momo and I were about to see her."
"Her?" Ryuko blinked.
"Ah. Ichigo. There you are~"
The group heard a woman, a tall, curvaceous woman with sky blue eyes, which tilted downwards in the center; framed by a set of rather long eyelashes. She had long thick spiky dark purple hair, which was made up of layers of varying lengths, the longest ones reaching down below her waist. Her chin-length bangs were split into three sections; two swept to the sides and one over her face, going diagonally down to the left between her eyes. She also had a small beauty mark below her left eye, as well as red-painted nails.
Her hero costume was very similar to one of a traditional dominatrix. She wore a breastless, black leather leotard—similar in style to a corset—over a thin, skin-tight, white bodysuit, which accentuated her voluptuous figure. The center strip of her leotard was embellished with red gemstone-like accessories in a vertical pattern, extending from her collar to her midriff. She also wore translucent, black, thigh-high garter stockings, which were attached to a burgundy utility belt decorated with gold studs around her hips, a matching pentagonal buckle in its center, and black knee-boots. She had a small red mask outlining her eyes, and a handcuff on each wrist. She was often seen carrying a flogger-style whip. The white bodysuit was made of thin material that seems to be easily rippable.
Looking at her, the girls, except Mako, who was just looking amazed, and Izuku blushed immediately. "L-Lady Midnight…! The Rated 18 and Over Hero!?" Izuku gasped.
"H-Hey… Lady Midnight…" Ichigo greeted her nervously.
"Well now~ Didn't expect this many younglings to hang out with you, Ichigo. Are you on a double date or something?" Midnight asked Ichigo who shook his head. "A shame. Because I see two young men hanging out with four young ladies~"
"We ain't on a date, you freaking- MMPHMPHMFF!" Ryuko was suddenly silenced and held back by Mako.
"Uh, were you that Signer Ichigo mentioned?" Momo brought up to Lady Midnight to distract Ryuko from trying to attack her.
"You mentioned it?" Midnight asked Ichigo.
"Well, more like I was asked about it." Ichigo answered.
"I see…" Midnight hummed. "Then you should all come with me."
The group looked at Lady Midnight.
With Lady Midnight leading the way, the group was now in a large garage of some kind. The students looked around. "Hey, everyone. Your leader's back and she has brought guests, some of which are eager to learn our ways." Lady Midnight called.
The group hears fingers snapping before lights turn on, revealing the members Lady Midnight leads.
The first person they saw was the very person that snapped their fingers: A woman with breasts, yellow eyes, and white hair with blue highlights. She also seems to have a gem-like theme for her clothes.
The second was another woman, but with fiery red hair with a red, non-Slifer Red, jacket, a scar under one of her eyes, blue shorts, and thigh-high stockings tucked into said shorts. She also wears a white shirt under her jacket.
The third is a young man who has shaggy, neck length brown hair with bangs and reddish-brown eyes. He wears a blue jacket with black gloves and black loafers.
The fourth member is another young man who has eyes that are dark violet-colored, and he has wavy, tousled, neck-length ash blond hair with a gray-ish tone. He wears a blue jacket.
The fifth member is a tall man with blonde hair who has pale skin and dresses roughly and in black, enforcing a "reaper" epithet.
The sixth member is a third young man of average height with strange, dual-toned, messy hair, being bleach blonde at the front and black at the back end. His eyes are a dark red and have cat slit pupils.
And the seventh is a young lady with white hair, yellow eyes, a gem on her chest, and cat ears. She wears a blue jacket of her own.
"Welcome, one and all, to the Visored~" Midnight welcomed the group.
"The Visored?" Izuku repeated.
"We are Heroic Duelists, some that are in training, that have control over our darkest sides." The white haired young lady clarified. "With these powers, we are more capable of controlling the enormous powers we wield. Ichigo is also a member of our ranks. Though, I don't suppose he told you?" The group shook their heads. "I thought so…"
"Anyway, it is time for introductions, I believe~" The white haired woman with blue highlights declared. "I shall start us off! My name is Masha Kayama. Lapidarist Extraordinaire~"
"Korsica Kuzuryu." The red haired woman said.
"My name is Goro Akechi. It's a pleasure to meet you." The shaggy haired man stated.
"I'm Yoshiya Kiryuin. Mother, father, and Satsuki call me Joshua. Though, I suppose YOU can call me Joshua, too." The blonde Obelisk Blue student introduced himself.
"Eizen Sosuke." The blonde man in black grunted.
"I'm Hyde Kido." The red eyed man huffed.
"And I am Mio Agnus." The young cat eared lady finished introductions.
"Wait. Big bro…?" Ryuko let out in shock.
"Oh. For a second there, I forgot you were here. My mistake~" Joshua chuckled.
"Oh screw you too, Josh." Ryuko grumbled. Joshua chuckles more.
"But, in all seriousness, I'm glad you've come to my aid, Ryuko. Heh. For once…" Joshua huffed.
"For once, huh? I seem to recall you asking me for MY help only once…!" Ryuko smirked.
Before anyone could react, the two were up close and personal, staring into each other's eyes as sparks flew between them.
"Ooh, family drama~!" Lady Midnight sang.
"I've got the caramel and cheese popcorn~" Masha declared, showing said popcorn.
"Christ on a- Would you tell Momo and Ryuko how to use their dark powers already!?" Ichigo exclaimed loudly.
"Oh, fine…" Lady Midnight sighs before clapping her hands twice, revealing some stairs that lead downwards. "This path will lead us to a space where we can duel freely, where this space will always be large enough to hold the true forms of the monsters we summon as well as their powers."
"Before we do that, there should be something you will need to do, dear leader." Akechi pointed out.
"Ah! Of course!" Lady Midnight remembered.
"Huh? What is it?" Ryuko huffed before suddenly smelling something. "Hey, Momo. You smell that?"
"Hm?" Momo hummed before smelling the air. "...Yes, I do. It… smells like… like…" Momo was about to say before she and Ryuko fainted.
"Momo! Ryuko!" Izuku called as he attempted to run to them, but Ichigo held him back.
"Calm down. I went through this process before. Their darkness will be hostile. Both in their dreams and in the real world. We've gotta prepare." Ichigo warned everyone.
The group and the Visored headed down the stairs and into a room where they could see an endless sky and a vast amount of land. "Here we are." Lady Midnight said. "Now then, Joshua. Keep them bound."
"Right." Joshua nodded as he placed heavenly rings on the wrists and ankles of Ryuko and Momo.
"What do they do?" Ochako asked.
"They bind their targets to a surface so long as the user's concentration is kept." Eizen answered. "That's what Joshua's Power is."
"Oh wow…" Izuku let out, taking notes.
"So! While they are doing their thing, care for a Duel, Ichigo?" Midnight asked.
"Wait, you're willing to ask me for one?" Ichigo asked back, surprised.
"That's right~ Think of this as your opportunity to become a Ra Yellow student~ I'm doing you a favor here, you know~"
"That's fine and all, but I'm waiting for Satsuki."
"Oh, well…"
"What's wrong?"
"Satsuki went to the continent of Remnant…"
"I heard."
"...and she won't be back to this continent until the beginning of the week after this one…"
"What!?" Ichigo exclaimed. "Damn…!"
"...Sooo~?" Midnight hummed before Ichigo sighed.
"Fine." Ichigo grunted.
"Now now~ Don't be so grumpy~ This will be a true test of your skill, just like a promotional exam~" Midnight assured.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with." Ichigo rushed as he pulled out his Duel Disk.
"They won't be waking up for a while, so you should take your time. I know I will~" Midnight licked her lips as she pulled out her own Duel Disk.
"Uuuhhh…" Izuku sweated.
"Oh, cut it out and let's get this show on the road!" Ichigo growled.
"If you insist~" Midnight accepted.
"DUEL!"
ICHIGO LP: 4000
MIDNIGHT LP: 4000
Cue: Aki Izayoi Battle (Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds)
"I'll start us off. First, I'll summon Lonefire Blossom!" Midnight began as she summoned a yellow plant with a white bud that emits small fireworks.
LV: 3
ATK: 500
"Now I'll use its effect! Once per turn, by tributing a monster, I can Special Summon another Plant type monster straight from my deck! I'll tribute Lonefire Blossom to Special Summon, from my deck, Evil Thorn!" Midnight declared as she makes the Blossom disappear in place of a vine with a whole bag of thorns.
ATK: 100
"Now, by tributing this card, I can inflict 300 points of damage!" Midnight exclaimed as the vine exploded, sending thorns at Ichigo who grunted from the impact.
ICHIGO LP: 4000 - 300 = 3700
"And after that, I can Special Summon two more Evil Thorns to my side of the field~" Midnight said as she did just that.
DEFs: 300 each
"Now, I'll activate the Continuous Spell Aroma Gardening!" Midnight continued as she put down a Spell with the image of some people enjoying a tea party. "You'll see what this does after I do this next thing~ Open! Circuit of my desires! Summoning conditions are two Plant type monsters! I will send my two Evil Thorns to the Link Markers!" She proclaimed as she did just that, sending the Evil Thorns into the bottom left and bottom right Link Markers. "Link Summon! Appear! Link 2: Aromaseraphy Jasmine!"
Midnight summons a fairy-like little girl with a staff and wings that don't look like they would properly function as wings.
LINK: 2
ATK: 1800
"Now Gardening's effect activates! Whenever I Normal or Special Summon an Aroma monster, I can choose whether or not to gain 1000 Life Points~ But I can only gain these Life Points once per turn."
The scent swarms out of the card and into Midnight's nose, giving her life as she smelled it. "Ah~"
MIDNIGHT LP: 4000 + 1000 = 5000
"And now for Jasmine's effect! Once per turn, when I gain Life Points, I can add a Plant type monster from my deck to my hand! I'll add Aromage Laurel. Next, if my Life Points are higher than yours, I can Special Summon Laurel!" Midnight declared as she summoned a boy in dark green with a staff.
DEF: 0
"Now I'll use one of Jasmine's other effects! By tributing a monster she points to, I can Special Summon another Plant type monster from my deck in Defense Position! I'll tribute my Laurel to Special Summon a second Lonefire Blossom!"
DEF: 1400
"Now Laurel's effect. When he is sent to the graveyard, I can gain 500 Life Points!" Midnight exclaimed as she smelled another pleasant aroma, giving her more life.
MIDNIGHT LP: 5000 + 500 = 5500
"I'll use this Blossom's effect! This time, I'll tribute my Jasmine to Special Summon Rose Girl!" Midnight proclaimed as she made Jasmine disappear to make a girl made of roses appear.
DEF: 600
"Now I'll tune level 3 Rose Girl with level 3 Lonefire Blossom! Hold your strength and weakness… This is where it begins again! Face the world to grieve no more! Synchro Summon! Come around! Level 6: Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram!" Midnight chanted as Rose Girl turns into three green rings, Blossom into three motes of light that then turn into a green beam of light which makes a woman in white with the same wings Jasmine had appear.
LV: 3 + 3 = 6
ATK: 2200
"Sweet Marjoram's effect activates! If this card is Synchro Summoned, I can add one Humid Winds, Dried Winds, or Blessed Winds from my deck to my hand. I'll add Blessed Winds. I'll set two cards face down then activate Rose Girl's effect! Once per turn, if a Plant monster is on my field and she's in my graveyard, I can add Rose Girl to my hand! And with that, I end my turn~"
"Finally my turn. Draw!" Ichigo huffed as he drew a card from the top of his deck. "I'll activate the Spell Preparation of Rites! This allows me to add either a level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from my deck to my hand then add a Ritual Spell from my graveyard to my hand, well, if I had one. I'll add Vendread Battlelord! Next, I'll activate the Quick-Play Spell Vendread Charge!" He exclaimed as he showed a spell with the image of a horde of zombies getting ready to attack. "By sending a Zombie monster from my hand to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a Vendread monster from my deck! I'll send Scar of the Vendread to Special Summon Vendread Revenants from my Deck!"
Ichigo summons a horde of regular zombies, some of which are contorted with having blades for arms.
DEF: 200
"Scar's effect allows me to add a Vendread Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand whenever he's sent to the graveyard. I'll add Ravenous Vendread." Ichigo said. "And then I'll activate the Ritual Spell Ravenous Vendread!" He growled as he showed a spell with Slayer facing off against Scavenger. "This allows me to Special Summon a Vendread monster from my hand, deck, or graveyard in face-down Defense Position, then Ritual Summon, using the monsters I have on my field, a Vendread Ritual monster from my hand or graveyard! I'll Special Summon Houndhorde in face-down Defense Position! After that, I'll tribute both that and Revenants!" He declared as he did just that, making the two monsters turn into blue motes of energy that enter a gate that has its outer layers burn. "Urge yourself to run farther! Push through the wind and bask in the light of the moon! Ritual Summon! Search for the truth! Level 7: Vendread Battlelord!"
Ichigo summons the large zombie with a weapon that he used in his duel with Clive.
LV: 3 + 4 = 7
ATK: 2700
"I'll activate the Continuous Trap Humid Winds! By paying 1000 Life Points, I can add an Aroma monster from my deck to my hand! I'll add Aromage Jasmine!" Midnight growled.
MIDNIGHT LP: 5500 - 1000 = 4500
"Battlelord's effect activates! By banishing a Vendread card in my graveyard, I can prevent you from activating cards of a certain type! I'll choose Monster cards!" Ichigo declared.
"I'll activate the trap Blessed Winds in response to your Battlelord's effect! Once per turn, by shuffling a Plant monster from my graveyard or field to my deck, I can gain 500 Life Points! I'll shuffle Lonefire Blossom!"
MIDNIGHT LP: 4500 + 500 = 5000
"Huh? Why Monsters and not Traps? I mean… Lady Midnight can still gain Life Points through the use of her Spells and Traps." Mako pointed out.
"Most of Lady Midnight's monsters are the catalyst for her combos… So it makes a bit of sense as to why Ichigo would nullify her Monster effects… I think." Izuku hummed.
"You're not even sure…?" Ochako blinked.
End Song and Cue: Courage (Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi)
"I'm not done yet. Next, I'll activate the Field Spell Zombie World!" Ichigo exclaimed as he summoned a foggy mist that seems to make Marjoram grunt and groan in pain before she transformed into a zombie herself.
"Marjoram? Marjoram!? Ichigo, what did you do!?" Midnight asked.
"As long as Zombie World's on the field, every monster in both the graveyards and fields are turned into Zombie-type monsters." Ichigo answered. "Now I'll Normal Summon Necroworld Banshee!" He continued as he summoned a ghostly lady.
LV: 4
ATK: 1800
"Now I'll use Battlelord's effect! Once per turn, I can banish a Special Summoned monster you control! I'll banish your Sweet Marjoram!" Ichigo growled as he banished Marjoram. "Now I'll use Houndhorde's effect! Once per turn, I can discard a Vendread card from my hand to Special Summon him from my graveyard, but I must banish him the next time he leaves the field. I'll discard Revendread Origin to Special Summon Vendread Houndhorde!"
DEF: 2200
"Open! Circuit that leads to power! Summoning conditions are two Zombie monsters! I'll send Banshee and Houndhorde to the Link Markers!" Ichigo proclaimed as he did just that, sending them to the bottom left and bottom right Link Markers. "Link Summon! Avenge! Link 2: Avendread Savior!"
The Link Monster that Ichigo used against Clive comes to Ichigo's aid.
LINK: 2
ATK: 1600
"Now for its effect! Once per turn, I can add a Vendread card from my graveyard to my hand. I'll add Ravenous Vendread. Battle! Both Battlelord and Savior attack you directly!"
Battlelord and Savior slash at Midnight, damaging her greatly.
ATK TOTAL: 2700 + 1600 = 4300
MIDNIGHT LP: 5000 - 4300 = 700
"I end my turn." Ichigo said.
"Gh… I will now activate another effect of my Humid Winds! Once per turn, during either player's turn, if my Life Points are lower than my opponent's, I can choose to gain 500 Life Points!" Midnight grunted from the aftermath of the damage she took.
MIDNIGHT LP: 700 + 500 = 1200
"And now it's my turn once again. Draw! First, I'll use Humid Winds' second effect once again!"
MIDNIGHT LP: 1200 + 500 = 1700
"Now I'll summon Aromage Jasmine!" Midnight began as she summoned a girl with long white hair and a staff in her hand.
LV: 2
ATK: 100
"And now the effect of my Aroma Gardening kicks in! I will now gain 1000 Life Points!"
MIDNIGHT LP: 1700 + 1000 = 2700
"And since your Battlelord's effect only lasts until the end of your turn, I'm free to activate the effect of my Jasmine! When I gain Life Points, I get to draw one card! And now, from my hand, I discard Aromaseraphy Angelica in order to gain Life Points equal to the Attack Points of an Aroma monster in my graveyard! I'll target my Aromaseraphy Jasmine!"
LP: 2700 + 1800 = 4500
"She managed to gain the lead back!" Mako gasped.
"From almost nothing entirely…!" Izuku joined in.
"And now that my Life Points are higher than yours again, I'm allowed to use Aromage Jasmine's other effect! While my Life Points are higher than yours, I can Normal Summon a Plant type monster in addition to my Normal Summon or Set! And since your Zombie World doesn't affect the hand or deck, I'm allowed to summon a third Lonefire Blossom!"
LV: 3
ATK: 500
"Now I'll use Blossom's effect! I'll tribute it to Special Summon Aromage Cananga!" Midnight exclaimed as she summoned a young lady with blonde hair and brown clothes.
ATK: 1400
"As long as Cananga's on the field and my Life Points are higher than yours, all of your monsters lose 500 Attack Points and Defense Points!" Midnight declared.
"That won't last for long! I'm activating Battlelord's effect! I banish your Special Summoned Cananga!"
Cananga disappears. "Oh no!" Midnight gasped.
"And now it's my turn! Draw! I'll summon Pyramid Turtle!"
Ichigo summons a turtle that is holding a pyramid on its back.
LV: 4
ATK: 1200
"Pyramid Turtle attacks Aromage Jasmine!"
The turtle leaps and crushes Jasmine with the pyramid on its back.
ATK DIFFERENCE: 1200 - 100 = 1100
MIDNIGHT LP: 4500 - 1100 = 3400
"And now you lose! Savior and Battlelord attack you directly!"
The two zombies with weapons slash Midnight with them, making her yell in defeat.
MIDNIGHT LP: 3400 → 0
WINNER: ICHIGO KUROSAKI
End Song.
Lady Midnight sighs from her defeat out of exhaustion. "Welcome to Ra Yellow, Ichigo Kurosaki. I just know you'll love it there~"
"Yeah, sure…" Ichigo grunted.
"Nngh…"
"Ugh…"
Everyone sees Ryuko and Momo groaning as they wake up and stand up. "Ryuko~! Momo~!" Mako exclaimed as she tackled Ryuko and Momo into the ground out of friendship.
"Agh… Hey, Mako…" Ryuko let out with a smile.
"Good to be back… Ugh…" Momo grimaced from the tackle.
"Oh, hey… You two didn't, uh, let your dark sides take over your bodies while you were asleep..." Ichigo realized.
"You let that happen when YOU did this…?" Momo asked.
"Yeah. Midnight had to knock me out again." Ichigo answered.
"SEVEN. TIMES." Midnight growled. "Each one being harder to knock out than the last."
"So, yeah. I'm sure you can find something you're better at than others. You're not useless, Momo." Ichigo assured Momo who looked at him then smiled.
END OF EPISODE