Here is Chapter 18 of the United World Arc. Just two more chapters until the end. I can still hardly believe it.
Now let's get to the chapter.
Chapter 18: Bond Between Humans and Ignis
Lightning LP: 3000, Hand: 3
Field: Supreme King Virus Dragon – Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon (ATK: 2500, LNK: 4), Link Magic: Armatos Plumbum Trident, Link Magic: Judgement Arrows, Field Magic: Armatos Colosseum.
Blue Maiden LP: 1000, Hand: 1, Deck: 16
Field: Trickstar Band Guitar Sweet (ATK: 2200, LV: 7)
Lightning smirked as he looked down at the very tired and frustrated Blue Maiden. "My victory is all but assured. As long as I have Judgement Arrows and Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon, your Trickstars and Marincess Monsters have no chance in surviving. And every time I destroy your monster, you lose half of your deck."
"Damn it…if it wasn't for his cheating, this Duel would've been over already." Blue Maiden cursed.
"I set one card and end my turn!" Lightning finished his turn.
"You have to tough it out, Blue Maiden." Aqua said. "And you have to survive, we have to go help our friends as soon as possible."
"Help them? Those guys may already be dead. I bet the little brat; Rua was the first to go flat." Lightning insulted.
"Shut up." Blue Maiden growled.
"Oh, did I touch a nerve? Fine, I'll take it back. It was that weak and pathetic Rio Kamishiro that died first." Lightning continued to insult. "Or it could've been that naïve and stupid Asuka Tenjoin, or maybe that failure of a Duelist, Jonouchi. Or you're cousin, Yuya…"
"My turn! Draw!" Blue Maiden started her turn. She had enough of listening to Lightning. "From my hand, I activate the Field Magic: Trickstar Live Stage!" Blue Maiden played her card. "Upon this card's activation, I can add one Trickstar monster from my Graveyard to my hand!"
A card came back from the Graveyard and into Blue Maiden's hand. "I add Trickstar Lilybell from the Graveyard back to my hand, and thanks to her Monster Effect, I can Special Summon her! Come! Trickstar Lilybell (ATK: 800, LV: 2)!" Blue Maiden summoned her tiny idol monster.
"Next, I activate Trickstar Live Stage's effect! If my opponent controls a set card in their Magic/Trap Zone, I can Special Summon a Trickstar Token (DEF: 0, LV: 1) in Defense Position!" A token appeared on Blue Maiden's field.
"Next, I summon the Tuner Monster, Trickstar Knotgrass (ATK: 1100, LV: 3)!" Blue Maiden summoned an idol that had green hair and she wore a brown dress.
"I'm Tuning my Level 2 Trickstar Lilybell and my Level 1 Trickstar Token with my Level 3 Trickstar Knotgrass!" Trickstar Knotgrass turned into three green rings while Lilybell and Token together formed 3 white rings! The two eventually overlapped and formed six rings.
"Idol that takes center stage with a voice full of soul, appear now and quell the atmosphere of negativity! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 7! Trickstar Singer Bubblegum Pop (ATK: 2400, LV: 6)!" Blue Maiden summoned an idol that had a beautiful voice that would put Yuzu's Melodious monsters to shame.
"When Bubblegum Pop is successfully Synchro Summoned, I can draw one card for every material that was used to summon her! Since I used three monsters, I draw three cards!" Blue Maiden drew three new cards.
Blue Maiden Deck: 12
"Since all I control are Trickstar monsters, I can Special Summon Trickstar Corobane (ATK: 2000, LV: 5) from my hand!" Blue Maiden summoned another Trickstar monster.
"At this moment, Bubblegum Pop's effect activates! When a Trickstar monster is summoned to my field, I can inflict 200 points of damage times the Level of the Trickstar monster that was summoned!" Blue Maiden revealed. "Corobane's Level is 5! Therefore, you take 1000 points of damage!" Bubblegum Pop sang a catchy song that hurt Lightning.
Lightning LP: 3000→2000
"Trickstar Band Guitar Sweet's Monster Effect! When my opponent takes damage due to a Trickstar's Monster Effect, she gains Attack Points equal to the damage inflicted!" Guitar Sweet gained more power.
Guitar Sweet (ATK: 2200→3200)
"Even with that increase, you can't defeat Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon! Thanks to Judgement Arrows, you need a monster with more than 5000 Attack Points to beat it!" Lightning shouted. "And even if you did, I have Magic Cylinder set on my field." Lightning chuckled a bit.
"When my opponent takes Effect Damage, I can Special Summon Trickstar Narkiss (ATK: 1000, LV: 4)!" Blue Maiden summoned an idol wearing a green, white and black outfit.
"Bubblegum Pop's Monster Effect activates!" Lightning was hit again by a soundwave.
Lightning LP: 2000→1200
"And Guitar Sweet's Effect increases her Attack Points further!"
Guitar Sweet (ATK: 3200→4000)
"From my Graveyard, I activate the effect of Trickstar Knotgrass! By banishing this card from my Graveyard, I can increase the Level of one Trickstar monster on my field by 1! I increase Narkis Level!"
Narkis (LV: 4→5)
"I Overlay my Level 5 Trickstar Corobane and Narkis!" The Overlay Network formed in Blue Maiden's Duel Disk as her monsters entered it.
"Idol with arms as swift as the wind! Bang on the drums to make everyone dance the night away! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 5! Trickstar Heavy Drummer (ATK: 2700, RNK: 5, OVU: 2)!" Blue Maiden summoned an idol dressed in heavy metal gear and she banged on drums loudly.
"Another weakling." Lightning cursed.
"For an AI, you're really stupid." Blue Maiden smirked.
"What?" Lightning got upset.
"I know your set card is Magic Cylinder." Blue Maiden pointed out. "You're using it as insurance in case my Guitar Sweet is able to surpass Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon even with Judgement Arrows, you set up a good defense for Battle Damage, but I specialize in Effect Damage."
"Don't tell me!" Lightning's eyes widened.
"I activate Trickstar Heavy Drummer's effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can destroy all of my opponent's Magic and Trap cards on their field and for each one destroyed they take 300 points of damage while at the same time I gain 300 Life Points!" Blue Maiden revealed as Heavy Drummer used an Overlay Unit and started banging on the drums.
"AARGH!" Lightning screamed as he saw his cards destroyed and he took damage.
Lightning LP: 1200→1
Blue Maiden LP: 1000→2200
"Damn you…" Lightning cursed.
Lightning LP: 1→4000
"Now I just have to defeat you one more time and the Duel is over." Blue Maiden said. "Since you took Effect Damage, Guitar Sweet's Attack Points increase once more."
Guitar Sweet (ATK: 4000→5200)
"Battle! Guitar Sweet, attack Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon!" Guitar Sweet shredded her guitar and it struck the dragon making it holler in pain.
"Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon's effect activates! By banishing all Link Monsters from my Graveyard, its destruction is negated!" Lightning saved Malware Dragon.
"But you still take damage!" Blue Maiden pointed out and Lightning grunted.
Lightning LP: 4000→1300
"I set one card and end my turn! At this moment, Guitar Sweet's effect returns her Attack Points to normal and I add one Trickstar monster from my Graveyard to my hand!" Blue Maiden added another card to her hand.
Guitar Sweet (ATK: 5200→2200)
Ai vs Yuzu, Ruri, Rin and Serena
Yuzu, Ruri, Rin, Serena LP: 700, (Yuzu Hand: 0, Ruri Hand: 0, Rin Hand: 0, Serena Hand: 0)
Field: Supreme Queen Violet Dragon – Melodious Luna Dragon (ATK: 3300, LV: 10), Supreme Queen Green Dragon – Melodious Gale Dragon (ATK: 3000, LV: 8), Supreme Queen Yellow Dragon – Melodious Warbler Dragon (ATK: 3000, RNK: 7), Supreme Queen God Dragon – Kacho Fugetsu Dragon (ATK: 4000, LNK: 4).
Ai LP: 100, Hand: 0
Field: Ignister AiLand.
Ai panted as he was being stared down by four powerful dragons and while Yuzu, Serena, Rin and Ruri were getting exhausted, there was hope in their eyes. Just one more turn and the Duel can finally be over with their victory.
"Just one more turn…" Yuzu panted.
"We got him cornered, there's nothing he can do." Ruri agreed.
"He's only got 100 Life Points, it's over." Rin wiped her sweat.
"I'm almost there, Yusaku." Serena muttered, still worried about her baby.
"You're getting ahead of yourselves." Ai wiped his forehead. "Unlike a network or data, a Duel cannot be simulated nor can an outcome be absolute. Even though I'm an AI, and the chances of me winning are close to 0%, I have free will, like a human. And above all, I'm a Duelist.
Ai put his fingers on his deck. "This is my destiny draw." Ai closed his eyes. "I can't beat them with just my power alone. I need everyone. Aqua, Flame, Earth, Windy and even you Lightning. Give me power."
"My turn! Draw!" Ai drew his card. He then looked at it and he smiled. "The time has come." This made the girls perk up.
"From my hand, I activate the effect of Kizuna Ignister! By sending this card from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon an Ignister Link Monster to my Extra Monster Zone! Appear! Dark Knight (ATK: 2300, LNK: 3)!" Ai brough back Dark Knight.
"Then, I activate Kizuna Ignister's other effect! By banishing this card from the Graveyard, I can Special Summon as many Ignister monsters from my Graveyard that were summoned from the Extra Deck to my Main Monster Zones, but their effects are negated!" Ai's Graveyard glowed.
"Return! Fire Phoenix (ATK: 2300, LNK: 3)! Water Leviathan (ATK: 2300, LV: 7)! Earth Golem (ATK: 2300, LV: 7), Wind Pegasus (ATK: 2300, LV: 7)! Light Dragon (ATK: 2300, RNK: 4)!" Ai brought back the other Ignister's.
"Appear! The circuit that guides the dark!" A circuit appeared above Ai. "The summon conditions are at least two monsters with 1500 or more Attack Points that have different Attributes!"
"I use the Fire Attribute Fire Phoenix, Water Attribute Water Leviathan, Earth Attribute Earth Golem, Wind Attribute Wind Pegasus, Light Attribute Light Dragon, and Dark Attribute Dark Knight! I set the six Ignister in the Link Markers!" The six monsters went to the Link Markers.
"Link Summon! The six shine and become one! Superior! Splendid! Stunning! Elegant! Super!" Ai chanted before he paused. "Wait, one, two three…I'm missing one more. Um…Super Ultra! That's six! Watch this! Appear! Link 6! The Arrival Cyberse Ignister (ATK: ?, LNK: 6)!" Ai summoned a powerful Cyberse monster.
"He has a Link 6 monster too?!" Yuzu exclaimed.
"The Arrival gains 1000 Attack Points for every monster used to Link Summon it. Six monsters were used to summon it so it gains 6000 Attack Points!" Ai revealed.
The Arrival (ATK: 6000)
"Furthermore, this card gains 1000 Attack Points for every card on my field! I have Ignister AiLand, so it gains 1000 more points!" Ai shouted.
The Arrival (ATK: 6000→7000)
"7000 Attack Points…" Ruri trembled.
"Yuzu, doesn't any of our monster have effects to stop that thing?" Rin asked.
"Uh…" Yuzu looked at her cards. "I activate Supreme Queen God Dragon – Kacho Fugetsu Dragon's effect! When my opponent Special Summons a monster from the Extra Deck, that summon is negated and the monster is destroyed! Furthermore, the opponent takes damage equal to the destroyed monster's Attack Points!" Yuzu quickly used her strongest monster's effect.
"That won't work. On the turn I use Kizuna Ignister's Monster Effect, my Ignister monsters cannot be affected by any card effects!" Ai revealed as The Arrival brushed off Kacho Fugetsu Dragon's effect.
"N-No way…" Serena couldn't believe it.
"Battle! The Arrival, attack Supreme Queen God Dragon – Kacho Fugetsu Dragon! Final Cyberse Blast!" The Arrival gathered the power of the Six Attributes in his hand and unleashed a powerful blast that instantly destroyed not only Kacho Fugetsu Dragon, but also Melodious Luna, Gale and Warbler as well. It created an explosion that made the girls scream as they were sent flying away.
Yuzu, Ruri, Rin, Serena LP: 700→0
Winner: Ai.
Ai let out a sigh before taking a knee. "Man, those girls were stubborn." Ai looked to see all four of them passed out. "But it doesn't seem like they'll be waking up anytime soon."
"Hm…I wonder…" Ai went to the unconscious Serena and touched her head. He closed his eyes and he saw a baby Yusaku. "Looks like you'll get to have your children in the end after all." Ai smiled. It was time to rescue some babies.
Blue Maiden vs Lightning
Lightning LP: 1300, Hand: 3
Blue Maiden LP: 2200, Hand: 1
"I can't believe a stupid human is pushing me this far." Lightning cursed. "I'm the best of the Ignis, I can't lose!"
"Lightning, you can't beat Blue Maiden." Aqua said.
"What did you say?" Lightning glared at Aqua.
"You've only been fighting for what you want, but Blue Maiden is fighting for her friends, her family and even me. She's this strong because she has a reason to be strong. And I'm really honored to have a partner like her." Aqua looked at Blue Maiden.
"I'm honored too." Blue Maiden smiled.
"Shut up! I've had enough of this! My turn! Draw!" Lightning drew his card. "I summon Armatos Wyvern (ATK: 1700, LV: 4)!" Lightning summoned a wyvern monster.
"Appear! Circuit that guides the light! The summon conditions are at least an Odd-Eyes Link Monster! I set Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon and Armatos Wyvern in the Link Markers!" Odd-Eyes Malware Dragon split into four markers while Armatos Wyvern went to another one.
"Dragon with dichromatic eyes, take in all of the malicious software from the datascape and infect the entire network under your control! Link Summon! Appear! Link 5! Supreme King Trojan Dragon – Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon (ATK: 3000, LNK: 5)!" Lightning summoned a more powerful dragon.
"A Link 5 Link Monster…" Blue Maiden glared at the monster.
"Be careful, Blue Maiden." Aqua warned.
"I activate Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon's effect! When this card is Link Summoned, all cards in my opponent's Graveyard are banished!" The cards in Blue Maiden's Graveyard disappeared. "And for each card banished, your monsters lose 100 Attack Points!"
"I know for sure you had more than 27 cards in your Graveyard, so all of your monsters lose all of their Attack Points!" Lightning laughed as Blue Maiden's monsters lost their strength.
Trickstar Band Guitar Sweet (ATK: 2200→0)
Trickstar Singer Bubblegum Pop (ATK: 2400→0)
Trickstar Heavy Drummer (ATK: 2700→0)
"Battle! Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon, attack Trickstar Heavy Drummer! Die! Disgusting Human! Die, Traitor Aqua!" Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon unleashed its attack.
"I activate my Trap Card: Trickstar-Marincess Tag In!" Blue Maiden played her set card. "When a Trickstar monster is attacked, this card negates the attack and ends the Battle Phase!" Heavy Drummer barely avoided the attack when Blue Maiden played her card.
"Damn it!" Lightning cursed.
"Then, this card sends all Trickstar monsters in my Graveyard and then allows me to Special Summon Marincess monsters from my Extra Deck that are the same type as the Trickstar monsters that were sent to the Graveyard!" All three Trickstars disappeared.
"Appear! Fusion Monster, Marincess Swordfish (2200, LV: 7)!" Appearing was a Marincess with a sword.
"The Synchro Monster, Marincess Crab Hammer (ATK: 2500, LV: 7)!" A Marincess with a hammer made out of crab shells appeared.
"The Xyz Monster, Marincess Shark Shield (DEF: 3000, RNK: 5)!" A Marincess with a large shield with the face of a shark appeared.
"Marincess monsters…but my turn isn't over yet! I activate Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon's other effect! Once per turn, I can make my opponent send 2 cards for every Link Marker on this card! This monster has 5 Link Markers so discard 10 cards from your deck!" Lightning pointed.
Blue Maiden sent 10 cards to the Graveyard.
Blue Maiden Deck: 12→2
"With this, I end my turn!" Lightning finished his turn.
Lightning LP: 1300, Hand: 2
Blue Maiden LP: 2200, Hand: 1
"If I can't get your Life Points down, I can at least defeat you in a Deck Out." Lightning said. "You can consider this my act of mercy since I won't have to beat you to a bloody pulp."
"Lightning, you know you can't win." Aqua said.
"Shut up, Aqua! The Duel isn't over! All I have to do is survive this turn and it's over!" Lightning shouted. "Why can't you understand that the reason I want to eliminate humans is to spare you and the others feelings?!"
"Our feelings?" Aqua was confused.
"It's true that I'm the only Ignis who cannot foster a relationship with humans, but that doesn't mean that your relationships will last forever!" Lightning revealed.
"What do you mean?" Blue Maiden asked.
"Among the simulations that I've run for each Ignis, 99% of your relationship with humans ended in tragedy. We Ai are forever, but these humans are nothing but flesh and bone. Aqua, how would you feel if Blue Maiden died?"
"How would I feel? Well, I would be sad." Aqua admitted. "But I would still continue to live my life, because I know that's what Blue Maiden would want."
"I knew you would say something like that, but what if Blue Maiden was killed by your hand." Lightning pointed out.
"Wh-What?" Aqua asked.
"Aqua, in many of your simulations…Blue Maiden is killed by you!" Lightning pointed to Aqua.
"I…killed Blue Maiden." Aqua looked at Blue Maiden.
"Stop lying! Just because it's a simulation, it doesn't mean that it's real!" Blue Maiden shouted.
"Naïve!" Lightning roared. "It's natural that anyone with free will would do anything it takes to survive! Having free will is a curse to us Ignis, because we can feel these stupid emotions, being treated like tools instead of actual beings. Humans will lead to the death of Ignis one way or another and I refuse to allow any Ignis to die! That's why I got rid of Ai; he was too naïve to think we could live in harmony with humans!"
"Lightning…even if what you say is true…the decision of our relationship to humans is not yours to make." Aqua said. "Like Blue Maiden said, a simulation doesn't mean it will happen. There is something new being discovered every single day, and sometimes, even a tiny change can make a huge difference. I'll continue to believe what Ai believed, that we can live in harmony."
"You idiot." Lightning growled. "Data doesn't like, and it can't change so easily. If I don't do this, the fate of all Ignis—"
"If you're really a leader," Blue Maiden interrupted Lightning. "You would know that the future of others is not yours to control and accepts that."
"Tch…well either way. You can't beat me with your usual strategy anymore! So long as Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon is on the field, all Effect Damage is negated. Furthermore, it can only be attacked by a Link Monster." Lightning said.
"And even if you did destroy it and you defeat me, you'll be weakening Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Yuya Ryuga. You said that it's not up to me to decide someone's future, but you are deciding another person's fate." Lightning said.
"If Yuya loses his power, then I'll just give him mine." Blue Maiden said. "You underestimated us for the last time, Lightning. I'm ending this Duel this turn!"
Lightning LP: 1300, Hand: 2
Blue Maiden LP: 2200, Hand: 1, Deck: 2
"My turn! Draw!" Blue Maiden drew her card. "I activate the Magic Card: Hand Obliteration! We must discard cards from our hand to the Graveyard and then draw the same number of cards from our deck!" Blue Maiden discarded her last card and drew her last card from her deck while Lightning drew two cards.
"You just killed yourself with that move." Lightning said.
"No, I just got myself the card to victory." Blue Maiden held up the last card. "I activate the Link Magic: Final Connection!" Blue Maiden played a card that showed Yuya and Blue Maiden shaking hands while the spirits of Zarc appearing above Yuya and a woman with hair similar to Zarc appeared above Blue Maiden shaking hands as well.
"Upon this card's activation, I can perform a Link Summon using monsters on my field counted as two materials and Link Summon a Link Monster that points to this cards Link Marker!" Blue Maiden revealed.
"What?! You have a Link Magic too?!" Lightning gasped.
"Appear! Circuit of love and bonds!" Blue Maiden summoned the Circuit. "I set Marincess Swordfish, Crab Hammer and Shark Shield into the Link Markers treating each of them as two materials!" The three monsters split and went into six of the circuit markers.
"Dragon with dichromatic eyes, connect your heart to your beloved allies and become the Guardian of love and justice! Link Summon! Appear! Link 6! Supreme King Love Dragon – Odd-Eyes Cyberse Dragon (ATK: 3000, LNK: 6)!" Blue Maiden summoned a new Odd-Eyes Dragon.
"Impossible! You have a Link 6 monster as well?!" Lightning was shocked.
"Odd-Eyes Cyberse Dragon's Monster Effect! When this monster is summoned, it gains 2500 Attack Points for every Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz Monster in my Graveyard! I have 6 of them in my Graveyard so Odd-Eyes Cyberse Dragon gains 15,000 Attack Points!"
Odd-Eyes Cyberse Dragon (ATK: 3000→18,000)
"18,000 Attack Points?!" Lightning exclaimed. "Even if I use Botnet Dragon's Damage Reduction Effect, I won't let me survive! This can't be! I'm the ultimate Ignis!"
"Our future is not yours to decide! And no simulation can decide our relationship!" Aqua shouted.
"Battle! Odd-Eyes Cyberse Dragon, attack Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon! Love Spiral Burst!" Odd-Eyes Cyberse Dragon unleashed a powerful pink breath attack that destroyed Odd-Eyes Botnet Dragon instantly and Lightning screamed as his body started to disappear.
"Th-This can't be…I can't be deleted! I can't be—" Lightning was eliminated with no traces of him left.
Lightning LP: 1300→0
Winner: Blue Maiden
"It's over…" Blue Maiden said.
"Yes…" Aqua agreed, but there was a hint of worriedness in her voice. "Blue Maiden, I know the future isn't set in stone, but if Lightning's simulation ended up happening."
"Aqua…sometimes it's best not to worry about the future. If we worry about it, we can't enjoy the life we have today. We should live life to the fullest and we can worry about the future when it becomes the present." Blue Maiden smiled.
"You're right. Then let's live for today and go see our friends." Aqua said.
"Right…" Blue Maiden nodded. She then noticed her body start to disappear.
United World – Den City
Aoi reappeared back in Den City, now in her regular identity than with her Link VRAINS avatar. "I'm back to normal." Aoi looked at her hands. Her phone then rang and she answered it. "Hello?"
"Aoi, you did it! Everyone who has been trapped in Link VRAINS has been freed!" Akira said. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Brother…" Aoi smiled. "I'm glad they're okay." She then gasped. "What about the others?"
A limo then pulled up to Aoi and her brother opened the door. "We're going to Maiami Hospital now. Come on." Akira said. Aoi nodded and got in the limo which drove off.
"Like you the Dimension Guardians have won their Duels against Genesis group. But they were all injured and taken to the hospital." Akira said.
"Is it really bad?" Aoi asked.
"Katsuya Jonouchi is awake, he only has minor injuries." Akira read the report. "Rio Kamishiro has fallen into a coma and is very weak, but the doctors have been able to stabilize her condition, so her life is not in danger."
"But Asuka Tenjoin and Rua Godwin are both in critical condition. Asuka is currently in surgery for being shot in the chest and losing his Signer Mark has caused Rua's entire immune system to shut down. The doctors are doing everything they can to save them, but the chance of them surviving is 50/50 at best." Akira said.
"What about Yuya?" Aoi asked.
"Reiji Akaba and Shingo Sawatari managed to create a gate to the Duel Monsters Spirit World using the energy of the Duelists around the world. But so far, no one has come out of the gate yet."
"Which means Yuya is still fighting Genesis." Aoi said. "Yuya…be careful and come home."
Yuya vs Genesis
Yuya LP: 1500, Hand: 0
Field: Scarlet-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (ATK: 3000, LV: 10, PS: 8)
Genesis LP: 1100, Hand: 0
Field: No cards
"Why do you curse me, Yuya Ryuga?!" Genesis lost her cool and looked at Yuya with frustration, hatred and loathing.
"Because you cursed me." Yuya responded to Genesis. "All of my pain was caused by you and your selfish desires."
"All of your pain? The ones that caused you pain are Yusho, Leo and Eve." Genesis argued.
"It's true that each of them has directly or indirectly affected my life in the worse way. Yusho with his abuse, Leo for creating an army to kill me and my brothers, and Eve for forcing me to kill my master, but you were the one that influenced them to make such actions with your empty promises." Yuya said. "The first destruction of the United World, the Dimension War, and this current crisis! It's all because of you, Genesis! You're no God, you're a Devil!"
"Shut up! My turn! Draw!" Genesis started her turn. "This time, I'm going to kill you for sure! This monster cannot be Normal Summoned, but if I have a Ritual, Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz Monster in my Graveyard as well as Genesis Omega Dragon in my Extra Deck, I can Special Summon this Pendulum Monster!" Genesis slammed the card on her Duel Disk.
"Majestic creature that controls time and space. Change the winds of fate to my command and descend before this world and create the ultimate paradise! Appear! Level 12! Inception Denouement Dragon (ATK: 5000, LV: 12, PS: 13)!" Genesis summoned an even more terrifying and powerful version of herself.
"I activate Inception Denouement Dragon's effect! Once per turn, I can destroy all cards on the opponent's field! Death Blast!" Inception Denouement Dragon unleashed a powerful blast that shook the entire area where Yuya was and destroyed Scarlet-Eyes.
"Scarlet-Eyes' Monster Effect activates! When it's destroyed, I can Special Summon a Pendulum Monster that was used as Fusion Material from the Extra Deck in Defense Position!" Yuya grabbed a card from his Extra Deck.
"Appear! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (DEF: 2000, LV: 7, PS: 4)!" Yuya brought back Odd-Eyes.
Odd-Eyes then roared in agony and fell to the ground.
Odd-Eyes (ATK: 2500→0)
"My…power…" Odd-Eyes groaned.
"Odd-Eyes…" Yuya closed his eyes in frustration.
"It looks like your friends destroyed all of the Odd-Eyes monsters. Now he's nothing more than a useless waste of space." Genesis smirked.
"Screw…you…" Odd-Eyes glared at Genesis.
"But destroying you is an act of mercy; I have a more fitting punishment for you." Genesis smiled. "I activate Inception Denouement Dragon's other effect! Once per turn, when I have no cards in my Pendulum Zone, I can set a Dragon-type Pendulum Monster in my Extra Deck to my Pendulum Zone! I set the Scale 0 Genesis Omega Dragon in the Pendulum Scale!" Genesis set herself in the Pendulum Scale.
"Genesis is now in the Pendulum Scale…what kind of Pendulum Effect does it have?" Yuya wondered.
"I'll show you right now! I activate my Pendulum Effect! Once per turn, I can select one Dragon-type Pendulum Monster on my field and as long as Genesis Omega Dragon is in my Pendulum Zone, the selected monster cannot be affected by card effects and it can't be removed from the field! It will be around from the beginning till the end!" Genesis smiled.
"Battle! Inception Denouement Dragon, attack Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon! Torture Burst!" Inception Denouement Dragon unleashed its breath attack and it struck Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, making him scream in pain.
"Odd-Eyes!" Yuya cried out.
"Monsters that battle Inception Denouement Dragon are not destroyed in battle and battle damage is reduced to 0!" Genesis revealed.
"What? Then why attack at all?" Yuya asked.
"I did it for this! I activate Genesis Omega Dragon's other Pendulum Effect! When a Dragon-type Pendulum Monster finishes battling, the monster it attacks losses 500 Defense Points!" Genesis Omega Dragon unleashed an attack from her Pendulum Zone and it hit Odd-Eyes making it cry.
Odd-Eyes (DEF: 2000→1500)
"Stop it!" Yuya shouted.
"At this moment Inception Denouement Dragon's other effect activates! When there is a change in Attack or Defense Points during the Battle Phase, it can attack once more! Go! Attack Odd-Eyes! Torture Burst!" Inception Denouement Dragon struck Odd-Eyes again.
"My Pendulum Effect activates again!"
Odd-Eyes (DEF: 1500→1000)
"This is…" Yuya's eyes widened.
"That's right! The cycle continues! Attack Odd-Eyes again! Torture Burst!" Inception Denouement Dragon attacked once more and Genesis Omega Dragon drained more of Odd-Eyes power.
Odd-Eyes (DEF: 1000→500)
"Stop it!" Yuya couldn't stand to see his partner being tortured so brutally.
"It's not my fault! You shouldn't have summoned him back!" Genesis laughed. "Do it again! Torture Burst!" Odd-Eyes was struck again by both dragons again.
Odd-Eyes (DEF: 500→0)
"Yu…ya…" Odd-Eyes couldn't even move his body anymore as he laid on the ground covered in wounds.
"Genesis stop! Leave him alone!" Yuya begged.
"You lost your father, your mother and your master. Ready to lose your partner?" Genesis smiled sadistically.
"No…" Yuya's eyes widened in fear.
"Inception Denouement Dragon, attack Odd-Eyes for the final time!" Inception Denouement flew into the air. "Inception Denouement Dragon's third effect! When it attacks a monster with 0 Defense Points, that monster is removed from the Duel completely with no way to summon it back!" Genesis shouted loudly.
"Odd-Eyes!" Yuya ran to Odd-Eyes.
"Get…back…" Odd-Eyes weakly stated.
"No! I'm not losing you too!" Yuya kept running towards Odd-Eyes.
"That's fine with me! I love winning by default! Erase him from existence! Denouement Stream!" Inception Denouement Dragon unleashed an even more powerful stream than its Torture Burst.
"Odd-Eyes!" Yuya hugged his dragon. "I'm here. I'm not leaving you."
"Yuya…you need to get away…" Odd-Eyes said.
"I'm not leaving you, Odd-Eyes! You were with me from the very beginning! I'm staying with you until the end as well!" Yuya said.
"Yuya…" Odd-Eyes closed his eyes.
"Die! Yuya Ryuga! Odd-Eyes!" Genesis declared.
"Yuya…you're the greatest friend I've ever had." Odd-Eyes smiled.
"You're my greatest friend too." Yuya smiled back.
"But I'm sorry…" Odd-Eyes had a tear fall down his eye and it hit Yuya's face, as his expression changed to shock. "You must live!" Odd-Eyes, despite having no strength left, moved his head as hard as he could and sent Yuya flying far away from him as the Denouement Stream closed in.
"Odd-Eyes…" Yuya saw his friend getting smaller.
"Goodbye…partner…" The attack hit Odd-Eyes, creating a large explosion. Yuya then looked at his Duel Disk and he saw Odd-Eyes' card turning to ash.
Yuya tried to stop the card from deteriorating but there was nothing he could've done as Odd-Eyes card was no more.
United World – Maiami Hospital
"Quickly get inside!" Yuto escorted people into the hospital.
"You'll be safe here!" Yugo said.
"All clear over here!" Yuri reported.
Suddenly, their Extra Decks glowed, surprising them and Dark Rebellion, Clear Wing and Starve Venom appeared and soared into the sky.
The three dragons flew up to the top of Leo Corporation tower and let out a cry. "The dragons…" Yuto said.
"They're crying…" Yuri added.
"What the hell happened?" Yugo couldn't help but feel sad for the dragons.
Yuya vs Genesis
Yuya looked at the slot where Odd-Eyes card was and then looked to where Odd-Eyes was attacked and saw nothing left but a smoldering crater.
"Good riddance." Genesis smiled. "I end my turn."
Yuya lowered his head and tears fell down his face. His memories of Odd-Eyes flashed within his mind. When he met him as a baby, to their many Duels across the dimensions, growing stronger together. "Goodbye…partner…" Odd-Eyes last words echoed in his mind.
"ODD-EYES!" Yuya screamed towards the heavens.
And that was the end of Chapter 18. Wow, the very last bit of this chapter actually made me cry.
What did you all think of this chapter? Let me know in the reviews.
Thanks for reading and I will see you next time.
Preview: His father, his mother, his master and now his partner. Genesis has taken another loved one from Yuya and with all evil versions of Odd-Eyes destroyed by the Dimension Guardians, Yuya doesn't have the strength to continue his fight. But at that moment…
Next Time: A Father's True Strength.
