Chapter 3: Bound by Bonds
"Sylvan Bladefender shall now attack you directly with Cutting Grass." The monster slashed the portly chef with its weaving blades, knocking him to the ground.
Number 63's Holder's LP: 0
Noda: WIN!
Noda took off his Dueling gear as Number 78 absorbed the Number they had just fought, this being their fourth now.
"I must admit, Number 63." She spoke. "I never would have guessed you would have taken a form like...this."
"Whoopee!" The spirit of Number 63: Shamoji Soldier appeared, being a little figure with a bowl for a lower half and a cooking paddle for a head, with its number in red on the left side, as it wielded two chopsticks, one in each hand, and cheered. "With this guys love for cooking, I couldn't help but take such a form! La dee dee~ La de doo~."
"He's so...childish." 37 muttered.
"Seems happy, though." Noda just smiled at the spirit dancing. "So, he wasn't like this before?"
"No. 63's first form was much more ravenous." 14 confirmed.
By now, Noda had become acquainted with the Numbers that now appeared beside him every now and then, to, basically just enquire about anything that interested them, from his lessons for Kotori to just the Litterbots. Given his calm nature, they didn't bother him like Astral seemed to do to Yuma.
"I MUCH prefer this form." 63 sang. "I feel all happy and carefree~ La dee dee~ La de doo~ Say, is it lunchtime yet?"
"4 down, 96 more to go." 78 surmised. "This might be more gruelling then I anticipated. It seemed so simple when we were all together."
"One step at a time, is all." Noda said, as they began making their way home.
After a rather hectic week, Yuma was sitting in his room and looking at the fruits of his labour, Numbers 17, 19, 34, 39, 61 and 83. But still he frowned.
"Only six?" He mumbled. "This is gonna take forever."
"Perhaps, but it is necessary." Astral surmised. "Still, I am surprised Shark helped you in the Duel to retrieve Numbers 19 and 61."
Yuma thought back to that Tag Duel fondly, despite the imminent danger. Shark had said that he confronted Rikuo and Kaio because they had information regarding someone. There was still much Yuma didn't know about the people he called his friends, but he felt with every Duel, with, against, or cheering for, he grew closer and learned a little more about them. That was why he loved Dueling so much.
"Something I have noticed, Yuma." Astral spoke up. "The Numbers that follow Noda actively appear and speak to him, yet ours remain mostly silent, and remain in the Emperor's Key."
"Yeah." Yuma agreed as he looked at the Numbers. "Wonder why that is...?" A part of him would've liked to talk to these things more.
"Perhaps they hate me?" Yuma looked at Astral at that statement. "Number 78 voiced her displeasure of me quite clearly. It is not too difficult to think that these Numbers feel the same. That they are just...prisoners to my whims."
Astral felt conflicted. He felt he needed his memories restored to him, or else who was he save for Yuma's Dueling tutor? And yet, worry was beginning to creep into him. What would he be like when he did have his memories? Would he be, changed from the 'Astral' he currently was? For better or worse? A part of him feared that.
"You're not bad." Now Astral was caught off by Yuma's statement. "You may be a back-seat Duelist, but you're not bad at least. You try to help. And all you wanna do is get your memories back and not disappear. That's why I'll help ya no matter what."
Astral stared in shock at Yuma who had said that so naturally, then a small smile crept onto his face. "Observation Number 10: You should always have a friend beside you."
Maybe the Numbers did hate him, but he highly doubted they could hate someone like Yuma.
Just then. Yuma's D-Gazer rang, and he picked it up. "Hello? Kotori?"
"Yuma, are you there?" She called to him. "Don't forget that you promised to help teach me Dueling today in place of Noda!"
"Wouldn't forget that!" Yuma perked up as he returned the Numbers to his Extra Deck. "In fact, I'll be over right now!"
Astral found it baffling that Kotori would ask Yuma of all people to help teach her. But he had an idea why, and simply nodded as he floated on after Yuma.
Ryoga and Rio were walking practically aimlessly down the roads of Heartland, Litterbots passing them by as Heartland Tower stood proud in the distance. Yet they had purpose.
"You sure you can trust those two?" Rio asked her brother.
"Rikuo and Kaio are just like any other thugs; cowards under a lot of tough muscle." Ryoga spoke. "If they said that Thomas is here in Heartland, he's here. Just gotta find where."
"And what exactly are you going to do once you find him?"
"Just...ask him why he did what he did."
"Pro Dueling or the fire?"
"All of it. I just can't understand it at all."
Rio decided to drop it. "I'm surprised you didn't take either of their Numbers."
"I told you, I'm not interested in that." Ryoga adopted a brotherly tone. "And neither should you."
"Well..." She took out a card from her Extra Deck and looked at it. "Ever since I found this one, I haven't felt like I did when Number 37 appeared. It hasn't even spoke to me once."
Ryoga scoffed. "That's a good thing."
"Hey, Kamishiro siblings."
"Speak of the devils." Ryoga muttered as Noda approached them.
"Hey, Noda. How goes the Number Hunt?" Rio immediately asked to her brother's ever annoyance.
"Good. I just got Number 63." He smiled.
"Hello!" Said Number's spirit suddenly appeared on his shoulder. "I'm Shamoji Soldier~! Pleased to meet you~!"
"Pfft!" Rio tried and failed to hold back a laugh, then quickly composed herself. "Wow, what a vicious little weapon you are."
"You figured out how they work yet?" Ryoga asked.
"Well, I thought anybody who used a Number could see them, but Tetsuo still can't." Noda admitted. "Really, they just pop up when they want."
"Even we cannot determine who sees us." 78 added as she appeared to pick up 63 by his head so that he didn't disturb them with his antics anymore. "It is simply a matter of...will, I suppose."
"Very helpful." Ryoga muttered.
"So, you gonna help us yet?" He pestered.
"No." Ryoga emphasised. He wasn't falling for Noda's habit of pulling him into things again. Numbers were bad news. The only reason he kept the one he found was...insurance, right? Even he didn't know. He just didn't feel compelled to throw it away was all. "We'll let you know if we see any, though."
"Right." He quickly accepted it. "By the way, I heard you and Yuma Dueled together yesterday. What was that about?"
"I was after information about Thomas. Those two apparently had all the dirt on Pro Duelists."
"Really? And?"
"He's here in Heartland somewhere. Me and Rio have been looking for anywhere he could be. Lavish houses or-...what are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you leaning like that?"
It was true, Noda was leaning to the left, as if being pulled. Now he was stumbling and tripping along, so he was being pulled.
"Um, something's tugging on my shirt!" He cried as he tried to break away, but couldn't. "I guess I'm going this way, now!"
"What the-? Hold on!" Ryoga ran after him.
"Oh for god's sake..." Rio groaned at Noda's attitude before giving chase.
Noda barely kept his footing as he was pulled into an alleyway which the Kamishiro's followed him into. As they descended a metal staircase into a pit, it was clear that there were a lot of cobwebs around them.
"Well, well..." A feminine voice spoke. "It seems we've caught several flies."
Noda finally felt himself be released and stood up straight as the other two joined him, and they could finally see a thin spider silk retreat into the hand of a young man with wild white hair flaring up, wearing a high-collared dark blue coat with green edges, and red buttons that looked like spider eyes.
"Who are-?" Noda began.
"Kyoji!?" Both Ryoga and Rio cried.
"Who?" He asked again.
"When we were at the orphanage," Rio spoke. This was before they became old enough to live independently off of their parents inheritance. "There was one boy there in particular that stuck out to the both of us. A really quiet one."
Noda pointed. "And that's him?"
"Sure of it. Who else has white and green hair?" Ryoga commented.
Kyoji seemed to chuckle, as their eyes glowed red. "I'm afraid you're only half-right there." The voice that came out of the body was a bit too feminine.
At that several spirits appeared, wrapping around Kyoji. Three of them were spiders, whilst one was an unformed miasma with a red 77 in it, hugging the boys body tightly.
"Oh, that is incredibly unnerving." Noda shuddered.
"There are four of them!?" Rio cried.
"Yes." 78 appeared. "35, 70, 77 and 84. They were always quite fond of each other."
"78, how lovely to see you again." 70 spoke in a female voice. "I didn't think we'd get such an important catch."
"As soon as we were released, we just had to find each other." 35 spoke like a teenage girl.
"...H-Hello." 84 spoke like a little girl.
"Sorry, are they all girls?" Noda wondered.
"Of course." The unseen 77 answered. "In the insect world, females are the superiors you know."
"Is that why you all took those forms?" 78 questioned. "Why specifically spiders?"
"Quit it with the reunion and answer me this!" Ryoga butted in. "What are you doing with Kyoji!?"
"Oh, you mean us?" Kyoji's body spoke with all four of their voices. "70 found this one. He had a broken spirit after staying at the orphanage for so long, not being picked, and eventually having to work there instead. So he was a perfect host to use, for he had lost all desires."
"A person without desires allows a Number to mould themselves however they so wish." 78 explained. "So you took spider forms to represent that you're puppeteers?"
"That and, he has a spider Deck." 35 said.
"Puppeteering him!? Don't joke with me!" Ryoga snapped. "You let go of Kyoji right now!"
"Sorry, but we're after the Numbers." Kyoji spoke. "So that one over there is our catch today."
"You want Numbers, huh?" Shark muttered as he fished a card out. "Well I've got one right here!"
"Number 57!?" 78 gasped.
At that, a regal figure of a spirit appeared, wielding a golden staff and covered in blue and gold armour. "Greetings, 78. And to you as well 35, 70, 77 and 84."
"You have a Number, Ryoga?" Noda asked.
"Just held onto it is all." He brushed it off, like he did with most things.
"So you've been hiding it?"
"Well, not just him." Rio admitted as she also took out a card.
"94!?" 78 cried again
This time a beautiful princess made of crystals appeared next to her. "So sorry, 78. But, we thought it best to be secretive with you around. But if the truth is out now, there is no point in it."
"Me and Ryoga found one each." Rio told them. "I kept 94 because she seemed different. Don't know why Ryoga kept 57 though."
"It's so that you Duel ME!" Ryoga affirmed. "And so that if I win, all you bug Numbers leave Kyoji alone!"
"Interesting." 77 purred. "Very well, we shall accept your challenge, Ryoga, was it?"
Ryoga snorted. "Call me by my Dueling title: Shark!"
"Shark, hm?" Kyoji now spoke. "How quaint. Let's see who the apex predator out of the two of us is!"
"Duel Disk, set!" Shark's Duel Disk was a standard model blue, whilst Kyoji's was a stylised one with separate blades for each zone and jewels on the back with a web design.
"D-Gazer, set!" Shark had a streamlined version with a green body and a red lense, whilst Kyoji actually had a black tattoo appear over the left side of his face, crossing over his left eye.
"Wow, he has a D-Gazer Tattoo." Noda noted with slight envy. Unlike the normal D-Gazer, a D-Gazer Tattoo was unique and emerged when necessary, and was also very, very expensive, making them question how Kyoji had got one.
"AR Vision - Link Established."
"DUEL!"
Shark vs. Kyoji LP: 4000
"I'm taking the first turn! Draw!" Shark commanded. "I set a monster and 2 cards and end!" He instantly set up his field.
"Our go, then. Draw." The Numbers puppeteered Kyoji into drawing. "First, we'll play Twin Twisters, discarding a card to destroy both of your backrow." From the card shot two small cyclones that ripped Shark's cards to shreds, one of which was Torrential Tribute.
"We Normal Summon Rainbow Spider." A giant arachnid that had a different colour on each segment of its body crawled out of the ground with 1700 ATK.
"That is FAR too realistic." Noda actually had to look away from the monster. Rio was disgusted, but refused to show it, and Shark just kept his firm glare.
"We then activate the Spell, Spider Hatching, to Special Summon a second Rainbow Spider." An identical copy joined the first. "We overlay the Level 4 Rainbow Spiders." The two giant spiders became LIGHT energy. "With these two monsters, we build the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon!" The galactic portal appeared and absorbed the two lights.
"First up is me! Number 70! Malevolent Sin!"
The monsters sealed form almost looked like a blue, spiky apple with blue leaves, before it unfolded, its eight legs extending and its face emerging as a string of silk extended up into the unseen heavens for the monster to hang from, its stat box showing its 2400 ATK.
"They already got out a Number." Noda noted.
"Not afraid anymore, then?" Rio teased.
"This one isn't hyper-realistic." He defended himself.
"I'll be able to take you down myself, Shark!" Number 70 boasted. "For I activate my effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit, I banish one of your monsters until your next Standby Phase! Trap Web!" As one of its purple comets vanished, the monster spat out a web that covered Shark's Set monster, before they both burst into sparkles.
"Now we battle!" Kyoji yelled with manic glee. "Number 70, attack Shark directly!"
"Naturally!" The monsters legs suddenly began spinning around its own body, turning it into a buzzsaw yo-yo as it swung on its web and tore through the ground before smashing into Shark, who cried in pain as he was thrown to the ground.
Shark's LP: 1600
"Ryoga!" Noda gasped.
"At this moment, my second effect activates! Since I attacked, I gain 300 attack, and 3 extra Ranks!" The stat box showed the monsters ATK rise to 2700 and its Rank to 7.
"We end our turn." Kyoji said. "Shark, if you can't handle one of us, you may as well give up now."
"Give up?" Shark spat as he stood up and dusted himself down without so much as a worried look. "Please. I was just testing the waters. Now I'm out for blood."
"Big talk. Care to back that up?" 70 questioned.
"With pleasure! My turn!" Shark drew. "And since it's my Standby Phase, my monster returns!" The set card and web reappeared, before the net broke apart. "I'll now Flip Summon Saber Shark!" A purple shark with a steel blade for a nose burst out of the liquified ground with a bite and 1600 ATK. "And I Normal Summon Right Hand Shark!" In a burst of bubbles appeared a teardrop shaped shark with blade-like fins that made it look like a right hand, with 1500 ATK.
"Excellent, Ryoga." 57 chose this moment to reappear. "With this, you can summon me and I can defeat Number 70."
"Be quiet." Ryoga snapped. "I can win this with my own strength, I don't want, nor need your help! Since Right-Hand Shark was Normal Summoned, I add Left-Hand Shark from my Deck to my hand, then I can Special Summon it as I control Right-Hand!" In a swirl of water appeared Right-Hand's counterpart, lookig nearly identical save for the fact its teeth and fins were golden, and pointing in the opposite direction to reflect its namesake.
"...As you wish." 57 still spoke loyally as he vanished, which surprised those on the side-lines.
"57 is remarkably patient." 78 mused. Just what had the Number gained from this boy?
"Saber Shark's effect allows me to increase or decrease the Level of a Fish I control, and I can do it twice per turn!" Shark declared. "I'm reducing both Saber Shark and Right-Hand to Level 3!"
"3 Level 3 monsters?" The Numbers within Kyoji questioned.
"I overlay my Level 3 Saber Shark, Right-Hand Shark and Left-Hand Shark!" The three monsters became different shades of blue as they swam around in the air together. "With these three monsters I build the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon!" The red portal appeared as the streams all dived into the whirlpool.
"Come forth! Tri-Edge Levia!"
Bursting out of the water of the portal was a sea-serpentine humanoid with a fish's tail, wielding a silver trident as it looked judgementally at the opposing Number with its red eyes.
"Very impressive." 70 scoffed. "Except your monster has a mere 1800 attack! Plus, it's not a Number, so it cannot defeat me!"
"If you Numbers think you're invincible against my monsters, you are VERY wrong!" Shark growled. "Tri-Edge Levia has a powerful effect! By detaching an overlay unit, you lose 800 attack, and your effects are negated, until the End Phase!"
"What!?" 70 gasped as Tri-Edge Levia absorbed a blue comet into its trident, before firing blue bolts that shocked the Number and made its ATK decrease all the way to 1600.
"Numbers can only be destroyed by other Numbers, but that is a mere effect! If it's negated, you're the same as any other monster!" Shark declared. "Go, Tri-Edge Levia! Destroy Number 70! Leviathan Trident!" The Xyz Monster raised its weapon skyward, before it swam forward in a stream of water and a twister formed around its weapon which it stabbed into the spider, causing it to explode as AR water washed over Kyoji.
Kyoji's LP: 3800
"I set a card and end my turn. Still all high and mighty?"
"So he figured out the flaw in the Numbers protection." 78 thought aloud.
"That's Ryoga for you." Naoki smiled.
70 reappeared as a spirit next to its fellow Numbers. "Damn! I didn't expect him to defeat us without a Number!"
"Well you've had your chance, 70. It's our turn now." One of the other spiders spoke.
"Our turn!" Kyoji drew. "As we control no monsters, we Special Summon Fissioning Mother Spider from our hand!" Another giant arachnid appeared, again a realistic one with spindly hairy legs and an angry face patterned onto its abdomen with 2300 DEF. "And by tributing Fissioning Mother Spider, we can Special Summon up to 3 Baby Spiders from our Deck, and make their Levels 5!" The mother burst into sparkles and caused three eggs to appear, out of which hatched three smaller versions of Mother Spider that became Level 5.
"Now we activate the effect of one of the Baby Spiders! By tributing it, the other two gain its 5 Levels!" One of the baby's vanished as the other twos Levels doubled to 10. Thankfully the activation of the effect didn't trigger any grotesque imagery like Insect Queen.
"We overlay the Level 10 Baby Spider's!" This time the streams were purple as they dived into the portal. "With these two monsters, we build the overlay network! Xyz Summon!"
"Next is me! Number 35! Ravenous Tarantula!" This time a giant eyeball appeared, before the spider legs and body grew out of it, as the eye repositioned itself on the monsters forehead, and a web appeared behind it for the monster to hang onto. Unlike Number 70, 35 was small in size.
"Whilst I am on the field, all our monsters gain attack and defence equal to the difference between our Life Points!" 35 declared. "Your Life is 1600 whilst ours is 3800! So we gain 2200!" Her stats became 2200.
"We activate the Spell, Overlay Capture!" Kyoji revealed it. "With this, all of Tri-Edge Levia's overlay units are sent to the Graveyard. Then, we attach this card to 35 as an overlay unit."
"Clever. But Tri-Edge Levia's effect is a Quick Effect, so I'll use it to negate your spiders effect!" Once again the monster held its weapon aloft as a comet flew into it, before unleashing blue bolts that paralyzed the opponent, causing its power to drop to nothing as Tri-Edge's last unit vanished, and 35 gained a third.
"Ravenous Tarantula has an effect to detach a unit and destroy all monsters Ryoga contols with less attack." Rio stated. "He had no choice."
Kyoji smirked. "And now, since Number 35 is a Rank 10 DARK monster with 2 or more overlay units, we can use her as the sole material, to Xyz Summon a Number that is one Rank higher!"
"Overlaying itself!?" Shark gasped as the monster became purple energy that soared into the portal.
"Um, it's me! Number 84! P-Pain Gainer!" This time the sealed form of the spider was surprisingly a watermelon, before the spider form emerged, thought it kept the colour scheme as it also created a web to hang onto, and was the same small size as 35, but was in DEF Position. "I-I gain 200 defence for every Rank on our field times 200! Since my Rank is 11, I gain...ummmm, 2200 defence!" The little Number's stat rose to 2200.
"What's defence going to do?" Shark laughed.
"This." Kyoji smirked.
"R-Right! I activate my effect! By detaching an o-overlay unit, I destroy all monsters my opponent controls with less defence then me! S-Sloth Th-Thread!" The monster absorbed a comet as web shot at Tri-Edge.
But Shark's monster shredded the net to pieces with its trident.
"What!? How!?" The Numbers inside Kyoji collectively gasped.
"You're not the only one who has sibling bonds." Shark smirked. "When Right and Left Hand Shark are used as Xyz Material, that monster can't be destroyed by battle or card effects!"
Rio groaned. "That was so cheesy, Ryoga."
"S-Sis! I'm all on my ooooooown!" 84 panicked.
"Do not worry, sister. Perhaps we underestimated this Shark, but no more." 77 calmed her. "I suppose it is my turn to deal with him."
"Once again, we use Number 84 as material to summon a Number of a higher Rank!" The Number eagerly threw its energy self into the portal, as this time, a giant pillar of light erupted.
"What power!" 37 gasped. "What form does 77 have!?"
"Now you shall face ME, Shark! Number 77! The Seven Sins!"
As the light faded, what was left was a very different sealed form to the other spider Numbers; a giant white 'V' shape with blue edges, as two spears of white and blue were superimposed over it. The roman numeral for a seven. Then, the two edges of the 'v' and the two spears split apart into eight legs,. as the body of a gigantic white futuristic looking spider appeared, its eight legs glowing with blue energy as it floated in the air behind Kyoji, with a whopping 4000 ATK.
"4000 attack!?" 14 gasped.
"77 must have used Kyoji's lack of desires to form her own new self, and make it as powerful as she could have." 78 muttered.
"Behold, this is the apex of what us Numbers can accomplish." 77 boasted. "Are you still so sure of yourself to take us on alone, little shark?"
Shark just looked unamused. "Are you going to continue your turn, or are you just going to keep stroking your overinflated ego?"
"Hmph! Let us finish this." 77 declared.
Kyoji swept their arm out. "Baby Spider's second effect in the Graveyard! By banishing it, detaching an overlay unit from 77, and halving our Life Points..." Koyji's body was shocked, but unresponsive, as one of 77's comets fell into the GY portal.
Kyoji's LP: 1900
"We can revive a DARK monster, like Ravenous Tarantula!" The eyeball spider hopped out and created a web to hang off of, boosting both spiders by 300 points.
"Let's see what your Set card is! Number 77 will attack Tri-Edge Levia!"
"Genocide Spider Silk!" The Number herself declared as she fired countless needles of spider silk towards Shark.
"Trap card, Poseidon Wave! This negates your attack!" The figure of Poseidon appeared and summoned a wall of water to block the needle-like threads. "And since I control Tri-Edge, you'll be taking 800 damage!" The AR water then swamped his opponent.
Kyoji's LP: 1100
"Very clever, little shark." 77 spoke calmly. "However, if I were to be destroyed, I can detach an overlay unit instead. And, during the next turn, I can detach two overlay units, to banish all Special Summoned monsters you control."
"That much attack, protection and non-destruction mass removal?" Noda nodded. "It's definitely impressive."
"Why are you not worried for Shark's sake!?" 37 panicked. "At this rate, he will lose!"
"No, he won't." Rio firmly stated, with absolute confidence in her brother, a confidence which Noda shared, albeit less forcefully.
"And I thought Noda was bad with long turns." Shark cracked his neck before drawing. "My move! I play Moray of Greed! By shuffling Spear Shark and Gazer Shark from my hand into my Deck, I draw 3 cards!" He drew a new hand and gained a sharp, toothy grin. "Perfect. I Normal Summon Buzzsaw Shark!" A shark swam out of the ground, wielding buzzsaws in its front fins that viciously tore through the air. "Buzzsaw Shark's effect! By targeting a Fish, I Special Summon another with the same Level but a different name from my Deck, under the condition it can't activate effects! I pick my Level 4 Buzzsaw itself to bring out Lantern Shark!" Buzzsaw's namesakes whirred to life, giving off a cry which caused a serpentine silver fish with lights shining along the underside of its body to appear alongside them.
"At this moment, my third effect activates!" 35 interrupted. "When you Special Summon whilst I have an overlay unit, you take 600 damage!" A red thread shot from the monsters eyeball, striking Shark in the chest.
Shark's LP: 1000
"If you Special Summon twice more, you'll lose. And from what we've seen of your Deck, Xyz spamming is certainly the focus." 77 warned. "I sincerely hope you were not looking down on me and my sisters this whole Duel, only to get caught in a web at the last moment."
"Just shut up already." Shark grumbled, making his opponents flinch. "You all brag how much better you are, you think you're so perfect. But in the end, you're just cards. And it's the Duelist who turns cards into a Deck, where even the seemingly most useless ones can become powerful and reduce big stupid beat sticks like you to nothing! And guess what!? I was a Pro Duelist! I know how to build a Deck! And after Number 17, I built a Deck specifically to defeat YOU bastards!"
The two on the side lines just smiled at his almost frenzied declaration. It seemed as though Ryoga 'Shark' Kamishiro had had his passion reignited.
"I'll be using Buzzsaw and Lantern to Xyz Summon! And due to their effects, I can treat them as Levels 3 or 5 to summon a WATER monster!" He declared to the Numbers shock. "I overlay my Level 5 Buzzsaw and Lantern Sharks! With these monsters, I'll build the overlay network!" The two sharks roared as they turned into raging streams of energy in the shapes of sharks, that fell into the overlay portal.
"From the blackest depths emerges the righteous soul of the ocean! Xyz Summon! Rise from the depths! Valiant Shark Lancer!"
Rising up in a roar of wind and water, was an atlantean warrior. It was covered in gold and obsidian armour, with multiple yellow fins extending out of it, as it wielded what looked to be a cross between a lance and a harpoon, which it twirled expertly in its hands and pointed at its enemies, wielding 2500 ATK.
"But since you Special Summoned, you'll take damage!" 35 reminded him as she shot another red thread at him.
Shark's LP: 400
"Fine by me. Valiant Shark Lancer's effect!" Shark did not relent in his plays. "By detaching an overlay unit, I can target and destroy a monster you control! Shoot down Ravenous Tarantula! Vanquish Lance!" The monster took aim and fired a harpoon from its weapon that pierced 35, destroying her. "Now I can Special Summon all I want!"
"I activate the Spell, Surface! With this, I revive a Level 3 or lower Fish! Come back, Left-Hand Shark!" The golden hand shark swam up out of the Graveyard, and gained a Level. "When Left-Hand is revived, it becomes Level 4, which is perfect, because I can Special Summon Silent Angler as I control a WATER monster!" Shark's field darkened for a moment, as a single light glowed, revealing a bloated, fanged angler.
"I overlay my Level 4 Left-Hand Shark and Silent Angler! Xyz Summon! Howl, unknown roar! Rise from the darkness of the abyss! Bahamut Shark!"
Rising up from the red portal was a humanoid shark, bearing black claws, fins stretched out like demonic wings, and a monstrous raw from a fang filled maw, bearing a destructive 2600 ATK for a Rank 4.
"I activate Bahamut Shark's effect! By detaching an overlay unit, I Special Summon a Rank 3 or lower WATER Monster from my Extra Deck! Divine Soul!" The monster crunched one of its overlay units like a snack before roaring, causing the red portal to appear once again.
"I'm bringing out this! The weapon of the deep sea! Xyz Armour Torpedo!" What burst out of the portal for a moment looked like one of Ryoga's old monsters; Submersible Carrier Aero Shark. However, it quickly began unfolding, revealing itself to be a warrior wielding torpedo guns and 2500 ATK.
Rio raised an eyebrow. "That's new." Was this part of his 'new strategy'?
"F-Four Xyz Monsters!?" Pain Gainer's spirit cried.
"It doesn't matter! None of them can defeat big si-I mean, Number 77!" 70 assured her.
"Think so?" Shark challenged. "I activate the effect of the card in my Graveyard! Full Armored Xyz! I banish it from my Graveyard, to equip an Xyz Monster I control with a different Xyz Monster on my field or in my Graveyard! The equipped monster gains the original attack of the monster equipped to it! I equip Xyz Armour Torpedo to Valiant Shark Lancer!" Torpedo broke apart into orange armour pieces that equipped onto Valiant Shark Lancer, giving it heavy enforcements and torpedo launchers as its ATK doubled to 5000. "Now! Full Armoured Valiant Shark Lancer! Attack The Seven Sins!"
77 braced herself. "Even if your monster is stronger, it is not a Number, so-!"
"Think again!" Shark cut her off sharply. "When Xyz Armour Torpedo is equipped to an Xyz Monster, it ngeates the effects of any monster it battles! Destroy her! Full Armoured Valiant Lance!" The monster launched several torpedos before charging forth, its projectiles spinning around the monster and forming a single piercing ray of pure black and blinding white, shattering 77 into pieces effortlessly.
Kyoji's LP: 100
"77...was..." The Numbers all couldn't believe it.
"Still think you're better then me?" Shark questioned, making the Numbers fearful. "A Duelist makes the cards! Not the other way around! Tri-Edge Levia! End this Duel! With Leviathan Trident!" The monster tossed its weapon, that pierced right through Kyoji and caused the four Number cards to scatter and fall to the ground, before the trident vanished and the boy collapsed.
Kyoji's LP: 0
Shark: WIN!
"Shark defeated four very powerful Numbers without using one himself." 78 marvelled. "He is incredible."
"Told you." Noda said, as they all took off their D-Gazers.
"Hey, Kyoji." Ryoga instantly went over to the boy and knelt down to him. "Can you hear me?"
After a moment, the boy blinked and looked up. "...R-Ryoga? What are you...why am I...?"
"Don't worry about it." He assured him with surprising kindness given his attitude just a moment ago. "You're coming home with us until you're back on your feet, got it?" He then hoisted his friend up by his arm and carried him.
"Big old softie." Rio smirked, making Noda chuckle.
Shark then paused, as he picked up the four Number cards, their spirits gone.
"Shark, as the victor of the Duel, the Numbers are rightfully yours." 78 told him.
"Don't want 'em." He instantly shot her down as he tossed the four cards at Noda, who caught them. "Here."
"Um...can he do that?" Noda wondered.
"He gave them willingly, so technically yes." 78 looked at him. "But Shark-"
"You Numbers are nothing but trouble." Ryoga coldly stated, the Kyoji he was helping walk emphasising his point. "If any of you get in my way, or try to use my friends, I'll end you. My own way. 57's just my ticket into getting them to Duel me." He then began walking off.
"Waaaaah! That was so scary!" 84 suddenly appeared, making Noda jump.
"As long as we're far away from him, I'll gladly stay with you, 78!" 70 panicked.
"To think the four of us together could be taken out." The giant image of 77 mused. "A loss is a loss unfortunately, doesn't matter if we end up with you or Shark, under a thumb is what we deserve."
"Good for you to learn a little humility, 77." 78 approved. "Which reminds me, oh, 94, care to answer why you were hiding?"
"You didn't ask if we were here." Rio's Number spirit reappeared. "Couldn't have you be challenging us now, could we?"
"So you are in the Number hunt?" Noda asked.
"Do not tell Ryoga." She icily said. "94 is a lot more pleasant then 37-" Said Number drooped sadly at that "-So I wouldn't mind helping you out a bit."
"Thanks." He nodded.
"Oh, 78, we have so much to catch up on." 94 suddenly cooed.
"Please, no." 78 groaned.
Noda and Rio just chuckled as they followed after Ryoga.
"Wow Kotori, you've gotten really good!"
"Really? You think so?"
Yuma and Kotori were now walking home for the day. It was getting dark, and Heartland was lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Yeah! It was really fun Dueling you!" Yuma beamed.
"I'm glad." Kotori said. "It must be nice having a casual Duel, seeing as how you've had so many serious ones lately."
"Right, the Numbers..." Yuma nodded, with his hands behind his head.
"Are you really alright with this, Yuma? The Numbers I mean?" Kotori asked.
"I...haven't got much choice." Yuma admitted, holding the Emperor's Key around his neck. "If I don't, Astral will never know who he is, and if I lose, he'll disappear."
"I didn't think you cared, Yuma." Astral chose that moment to appear.
"W-Well once you have all of them, you'll leave me alone, right?" Yuma defended himself, and Kotori just accepted the fact that Yuma now talked to thin air sometimes.
"I wish I could help you." Kotori admitted, in a tone of self-disappointment.
"What are you talking about? You already do!" Yuma said. "Having you by my side has always helped me in a way."
"No, I mean like..." Kotori fiddled with her fingers. "Properly helping you."
Yuma paused for a moment, then put on his trademark grin. "Hey, Kotori." She looked at him. "You and me, we're gonna Duel together one day! And I'll be counting on and trusting ya the whole time! That's a promise!"
She just stared at him for a moment, before giggling. "Hey! What's so funny? I was serious!"
"Nothing. Thank you, Yuma." She said.
"Heh. As long as you feel better no-ow!" Yuma suddenly gasped as a card hit him in the face. "What the-?" He pulled it away to find that it was blank.
"Yuma! You have found a Number!" Astral instantly cried.
"Really!?" Yuma gasped, as the card began to glow, as the Number 55 appeared on it, and-
"Kattobingu!" Number 55: Gogogo Goliath declared as it was born, its spirit bursting in front of Yuma.
"Woah!" Yuma gasped.
"What is that!?" Kotori cried.
"Wait, you can see it too, Kotori?" Yuma asked.
"Of course! Friends should be able to see each other, obviously!" 55 nodded. "And you guys are definitely my friends!"
"Wow...so Numbers really are alive?" Kotori asked.
"I thought it was just Noda who did this." Yuma scratched his head, puzzled.
"Maybe because you picked it up?" Kotori suggested.
Meanwhile, Astral looked at 55's card. A monster that retrieved other monsters, had an effect that boosted defence, yet had higher attack...
"It suits you perfectly, Yuma." Astral smiled.
"What does THAT mean!?" Both Yuma and 55 questioned, making Kotori even more confused.
Astral then blinked. He had gained a memory from 55. One where he remembered...wielding the Numbers as cards...and the word that came to mind was-
"Weapons?" Astral whispered to himself. He watched Yuma and 55 hit it off almost instantly. 'The Numbers clearly are alive, so why did I once think of them as nothing more then weapons? Is that why 78 despises me so?'
Unfortunately, everything was cut short. As they didn't realised they had stepped out onto a road, and a truck almost hit Kotori until Yuma pushed her out of the way...and time froze.
Numbers Count
Noda: 14, 35, 37, 63, 70, 77, 78, 84
Yuma: 17, 19, 34, 39, 55, 61
Shark: 73
Rio: 94