Chapter 3: Phantom Friendship

After a flight that can only be described as peaceful yet stress inducing, the airship arrived at the council's spire, and they all disembarked. They were led into a room where they were reunited with the rest of the Lancers, who were joined by a few new faces. One of whom had short layered hair that was purple and teal, an aquamarine and brown riding suit being worn by him, the other a man who had tall orange hair and more than a few of the yellow tattoos on his face, wearing what looked like a well loved sleeveless leather jacket and leather motorcycling pants. "Wait, Crow?" Yusei asked, seeing the second man,

"Yusei? Wow, it really is you! How long has it been?" The man, apparently named Crow responded. Yuya immediately got a sense of camaraderie from the two not too different to how he could tell Yuto felt about Shay. The two apparent friends couldn't continue their conversation, however, as the council decided to inform the group on their fates. After a rather tedious conversation, and a man named Jean-Michel Roget insisted that one of them be forced to face Jack Atlas in the ceremonial duel at the start of the Friendship Cup. Yuya was, in his opinion, unfortunately selected to duel Atlas, but in a brief moment, Yuto reminded him that it would be a great opportunity to see how strong this Jack Atlas actually is.

After a stressful night's sleep, Yuya was awoken from the penthouse that was assigned to him, as long as he was still in the tournament, where a boy named Sam escorted Yuya to the garages to prepare him for the duel. When Yuya had gotten changed, he sat alone when Yuto started to speak to him. "Yuya, I feel that this duel may push us over your normal limit. I think my deck might also be more suited for this duel."

"But that deck was lost, wasn't it?"

"I actually don't think so. I believe that I can manifest it. Although I will have to take control of your body to use the deck to its full potential. I would recommend you learn it so that I don't have to take over."

"Ok Yuto. Then what are we waiting for?" Yuya asked as he put his helmet on, Yuto taking over now. "Let's get this duel started." He smiled.

Yuto drove the duel runner that had been lent to Yuya out to the starting line where the crowd cheered for 'Yuya's' arrival, but nothing beat the cheer that went up when Jack Atlas entered.

"Who's the Master of Faster, who's the one who rules the duel?" Atlas asked the crowd rhetorically, "That's right its me, JACK ATLAS!" as he said this, another massive cheer went up, and Jack swore to beat Yuya on the third turn 3 turns. "We just have to make it to turn 4 or beat him on turn 2." Yuto whispered to himself,

"Alrighty then!" the announcer exclaimed, "Let's kick this Turbo Duel into overdrive! I also have some exciting news! This duel will take place on an action field instead of Speed World Neo, where special cards known as Action Cards are scattered along the track for duellists to collect! I now activate the Action Field, Crossover Acceleration!"

[Crossover Acceleration – Action Field: Action cards are dispersed, and each duellist can hold one Action card at a time. Turbo Duels are permitted on this field.]

"Alright, Let's duel!" both duellists announced as a timer counted down to 0 and they sped away.

Jack Atlas: 4000 LP

Yuya/Yuto: 4000 LP

Both duellists tore down the first straight, but Jack reached the first corner first, meaning he got the first turn.

Turn 1: Jack Atlas

"I'm going to kick things into overdrive by special summoning my Red Sprinter! This monster can be special summoned when I control no monsters!" Jack declared, a red horse with wild eyes and flames coming from its body appearing.

Red Sprinter: Level 4, 1700 ATK

"Then I summon my tuner monster, Red Resonator!" a little fiend holding a tuning fork appeared.

Red Resonator: Level 2, Tuner, 600 ATK

"Now I tune level 2 Red Resonator with level 4 Red Sprinter to call out a beast forged in fire yet lost to the past! I Synchro Summon level 6, Red Wyvern!" As the little fiend hit its tuning fork, both of Jack's monsters disappeared, and were replaced with a magnificent wyvern flaming at the wings.

Red Wyvern: Level 6, 2400 ATK

"I now play one card face down and end my turn! Show me what you've got Yuya. After all, you only have one turn!" He cockily declared as a card appeared in his spell and trap zone, face down.

Turn 2: Yuya/Yuto

"Alright it's my move and I draw!" Yuto called, "I now call upon my The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak in attack mode!" a phantom appeared possessing an old ragged cloak, before stopping.

The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak: Level 3, 800 ATK

Up in their rooms most of the Lancers were confused by Yuya's summoning of a monster that they hadn't seen in his deck before, but none more than Shay, because now, in addition to his best friend's dragon, Yuya apparently had Yuto's deck as well.

Back on the track Yuto declared "Since I control a 'The Phantom Knights' monster, I can special summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from my hand!" and as he placed a second card on his duel disk, a second phantom appeared, this time possessing a pair of discarded boots.

The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots: Level 3, 200 ATK

"I now overlay my two level three monsters and build the Overlay Network! Now the souls of the dead rise to fight once more! I Xyz Summon! Rise rank 3, The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!" A knight in broken armour arose, mounted upon a set of animated horse armour, a particularly deadly sword on its shoulder.

The Phantom Knights of Break Sword: Rank 3, 2000 ATK, 2 ORU

"I now activate Break Sword's special ability! By using one Overlay Unit, it can destroy itself and your face down! Break Blitz!" As Yuto declared this, Break Sword reared its horse before disappearing along with Jack's facedown Reject Reborn. Dodged a bullet there! Yuto thought before getting back to the duel, "Since Break Sword was destroyed, I summon its materials back, but they are treated as level 4 monsters! I immediately overlay them to Xyz summon a new monster!" As Yuto said this, the graveyard portal lit up as the beams of energy representing his monsters re-entered the Overlay Network, "Cloaked in shadows and relentless in its objective, I call upon the most dangerous of dragons! I Xyz Summon! Take flight rank 4 Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" Yuto's dragon emerged from the portal, distracting everyone, which Yuto used as opportunity to grab the Action Card that Jack had passed up. Perfect, he thought.

Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon: Rank 4, 2500 ATK, 2 ORU

"I now activate my dragon's ability! By using both of its overlay units, it drains 3 quarters of your wyvern's ATK! Treason Discharge!" Dark Rebellion unleashed a massive stream of purple light, which drained almost all of Red Wyvern's ATK points instantly. "I also activate the Action Spell High Dive! This gives my dragon 1000 extra points!"

[High Dive – Action Spell: Target one monster you control. It gains 1000 ATK points until the end of the turn]

Red Wyvern: 2400 ATK - 600 ATK

Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon: 2500 ATK - 5300 ATK, 2 ORU - 0 ORU

"And with that, Yuya looks like he's in prime position to defeat the King!" the announcer called, shocked looks washing over the audience's faces, Tops and Commons alike. "Now Dark Rebellion! Attack and end this duel with Mauling Mandible Charge!" Yuto yelled, his dragon starting to tear up the field as it closed in for the kill.

"I activate the Action Spell Split Shock!" Jack called, "I half the damage I take, and if I do, you take an equal amount of damage!"

[Split Shock – Action Spell: Half one instance of battle damage you would take, then inflict the same damage to your opponent.]

"And Jack Atlas manages to activate an Action Spell that will save his duel!" The announcer called, Dark Rebellion's attack hitting a barrier sending yellow lightning arcing back towards Yuto,

Jack Atlas: 4000 LP - 1650 LP

Yuya/Yuto: 4000 LP - 1650 LP

"In that case, I activate the effects of the Ancient Cloak and Silent Boots in my graveyard, allowing me to banish them, and in return, I can add a copy of Phantom Knight's Fog Blade and Phantom Knight's Sword from my deck to my hand. I then play 2 face downs to end my turn. At this time, Dark Rebellion's attack returns to its original value." As Yuto's face downs appeared, Dark Rebellion roared as its attack points shrunk.

Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon: 6300 ATK - 2500 ATK

Turn 3: Jack Atlas

"I said this would be the last turn, and I make no mistakes. I activate my spell card Red Synchro which allows me to Synchro summon a 'Red' monster by banishing the synchro material from my graveyard. I banish Level 6 Red Wyvern and Level 2 Red Resonator to synchro summon the lost king of a time long past, Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!" Jack Atlas' ace monster emerged, flaring its wings dramatically as the purple energy in the scar it was named after glowed.

Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend: Level 8, 3000 ATK

"I then use Scarlight's effect, which shall destroy all the monsters you control with equal or less attack points, then you take five hundred damage for each! Absolute Power Force!"

"That would work if my facedown Phantom Knight's Fog Blade didn't prevent the effects of Scarlight from activating! I equip my trap, and Scarlight can't attack, change its battle position nor activate its effects, but don't worry, you'll have plenty of turns to have your dragon defend your life points. After all, it can't be attacked while equipped with my trap." Yuto laughed as his first face down flipped up, the sword in the picture embedding itself in Scarlight's hand, stopping its effect by making it rather transparent.

"I… end my turn." Jack said, ending his turn, having been proven wrong for once.

Turn 4: Yuya/Yuto

"And now that your word has been broken, allow me to bring down the curtains on this duel. I now summon The Phantom Knights of Cloven Helm and summon a second Silent Boots by its own effect. I then activate Phantom Knight's Possession granting Dark Rebellion a level equal to its rank. Then through the effect of my spell Phantom Knight's Gift my monsters' levels become equal to the lowest level on the field plus one for each monster I target. I target Dark Rebellion and Cloven Helm meaning my monsters become Level 5!" Yuto's rapid spell activation impressed a few audience members, but his next move would astound them, "I now overlay my three level 5 monsters and build the overlay network! Born in purgatory, rise to fight for your freedom! I Xyz Summon, Rank 5, Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon!" Yuto's signature dragon emerged from the portal, however it was soon covered in glass, which soon shattered revealing a new dragon with bigger wings and sharper fangs.

Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon: Rank 5, 3000 ATK, 3 ORU

"Now I use an overlay unit to drain all of your Scarlight's attack points! Purgatory Discharge." Mosaic-like patterns appeared on the skeletal wings of Yuto's dragon, emitting a light that soon encased Jack's dragon, sapping all its strength.

Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon: 3000 ATK - 6000 ATK, 3 ORU - 2 ORU

Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend: 3000 ATK - 0 ATK

"I now banish my Silent Boots to add Phantom Knight's Call from my deck to my hand. I end my turn."

Turn 5: Jack Atlas

"You may have survived longer than I anticipated, but that doesn't mean you're out of the woods just yet! I, the master of faster, the one who rules the duel shall bring you down! I activate the effect of Restoration Resonator from my hand. By banishing it, two monsters on the field who's attack points are different from their original are returned to that starting value!"

"I activate Requiem's second effect! By using an overlay unit, I can negate that effect then summon my Break Sword back from the dead." Yuto's dragon absorbed another unit, causing the hologram of a second little fiend to disappear almost as fast as it appeared.

Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon: 2 ORU - 1 ORU

"Rrr," Jack growled, "I now place one card face down and end my turn."

Turn 6: Yuya/Yuto

"It would seem we are at a stalemate, huh? Well allow me to break it! I activate my spell The Phantom Knight's Rank-Up-Magic Launch! I target one DARK Xyz monster I control with no overlay units, then I can rank it up! I build the overlay network using Break Sword! Tune that string and polish the body, I call upon your expert services! Go, Rank-Up Xyz Evolution! I Xyz Summon, Rank 4, The Phantom Knights of Broken Bow!" Emerging from the portal this time was a warrior like Break Sword, only its armour was lighter and it had a bow with a frayed drawstring instead of the sword of its predecessor.

The Phantom Knights of Broken Bow: Rank 4, 2300 ATK, 2 ORU

"I use Broken Bow's first effect. I can use an overlay unit to destroy your Scarlight! The only cost is that I cannot attack this turn. Frayed Destruction!" One of the new Xyz monster's overlay units was absorbed into an arrow that was somehow able to be shot. Right before it landed, however, Jack flipped over his face down,

"I activate Red Healing allowing me to tribute Scarlight to summon its original form. I call upon the embodiment of my very soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!" Scarlight disappeared, causing the arrow to miss its mark, but very soon after, the particles reformed into the older, and decidedly less injured, Red Dragon Archfiend.

Red Dragon Archfiend: Level 8, 3000 ATK

"I end my turn since I'm unable to attack this turn. Broken Bow now uses its second overlay unit to allow me to declare one card type. If either player summons that type until my next end phase, you must pay half your life points. I chose Synchro!"

The Phantom Knights of Broken Bow: 2 ORU - 0 ORU

Turn 7: Jack Atlas

"This is the end of the line. I now activate the spell card Monster Reborn allowing my Scarlight to fly once again!" Jack's ace was revived, but because he summoned a Synchro monster, his life points were halved.

Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend: Level 8, 3000 ATK

Jack Atlas: 1650 LP - 825 LP

"I now use the spell card Red Prominence allowing me to return one monster's attack points to their original value permanently. Your Requiem will need one for itself soon!"

Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon: 6000 ATK - 3000 ATK

"Now I use Scarlight's effect once again! This shall end your monsters, and then you! Absolute Power Force!"

"You forget the effect of Requiem. I use an overlay unit, and in return, I can negate the effect, and revive my Dark Rebellion." Yuto interrupted, his dragon absorbing its last overlay unit, and its previous form being called back.

Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon: 1 ORU - 0 ORU

Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon: Rank 4, 2500 ATK, 0 ORU

"You think that will save you? I don't even need to attack to end this duel. I now activate the effect of a monster in my extra deck!" Jack laughed, his extra deck starting to glow,

"WHAT?!" Yuto shouted,

"I have a single card in my extra deck that I save for special occasions such as these, so feel honoured, Yuya! I found out that New Domino wasn't built on Synchro Summoning, instead an older method built the city, but then lost popularity as Synchro became better and better. Of course, the old stuff always has me interested, so I obtained this card! By sending Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend and Red Dragon Archfiend to the graveyard, I can summon this monster without the spell card Polymerisation!"

"No!" Yuto shouted once again, memories of his home being ravaged by teenagers in red, blue and yellow jackets replaying over and over again,

"I sacrifice these two kings to pave the road for the emperor! When the rulers of the lost world combine together to consolidate their power, you better get on your knees. I Fusion Summon! Scarlight, the Red Daemon Fiendish Emperor!" Jack's two monsters disappeared once more, now swirling together in red and yellow light. From that portal emerged a monster that resembled Scarlight, now with a scar on both arms, a crown of bone complementing its one horn. It was approximately twice the size of both its materials, dwarfing anything Yuto had summoned.

Scarlight, the Red Daemon Fiendish Emperor: Level 12, 4500 ATK

"I now use my monster's ability. I can banish any card on the field, up to the number of fusion material, and if I do, the controller of those cards takes one thousand damage for each. I banish your Dragons! Imperial Decree!"

"I doubt that you know what that summoning method has done, but I'll let you know that my deck is specifically designed to counter and annihilate fusion summoners, which you just made yourself! I activate Broken Bow's last effect! By banishing it from my field, Break Sword from my graveyard, and The Phantom Knights of Cursed Javelin from my extra deck, I can set one 'Phantom Knights' trap card from my deck, and I can activate it this turn! I set and activate Phantom Knights' Purgatory! This trap can only be activated when three 'Phantom Knights' Xyz monsters with different ranks are banished, and when I activate it, I can declare one card type. Those cards have their effects negated, are immediately banished, then both players take damage equal to the combined attack points of all monsters banished by this effect. I chose Fusion monsters!"

"You think that you will be able to force a draw? I don't think so. I activate the action spell Damage-No-More! I take no damage from this activation!"

[Damage-No-More: Action Spell: You take no damage from one effect activation or battle this turn.]

As Jack played this card, Yuto's eyes widened, Jack's fusion monster exploding, sending red hot energy flying towards both duelists, but when it reached Jack, it just reflected back at him, hitting Yuto with a lot of strength, so much so that he had to brace or he would have been thrown off his duel runner.

Yuya/Yuto: 1650 LP - 0 LP

Jack Atlas Wins!

Yuto decided to give Yuya control back, exhausted after his first Turbo Duel. "Yuya," The winner called out, "I heard that you call yourself a 'Dueltainer', and despite the fact that you survived longer than I said you would, I would give your performance a zero out of five. I would give a negative score, but that's not allowed. You couldn't entertain a dying rat!"

"Gee, Jack." Yuya mumbled to himself,

"I will say, however, that you showed promise. I have no doubt that you will make it to the finals and duel me again, and I hope for your sake that you get your game together."

"I will certainly try!" Yuya stated, hoping that no one noticed that his voice had raised a few octaves now that the duel was over, Jack Atlas scoffing to his statement.

With that, Yuya was led away and back to the assigned Penthouse, where he soon collapsed onto the plush bed, his body feeling like it had been through hell in the intensity of the duel.

Custom Cards:

Red Synchro

Normal Spell

This turn you can synchro summon one 'Red' synchro monster from your extra deck by banishing the materials from your GY. A monster summoned through this effect can only have 'Red' monsters as synchro material.

Phantom Knight's Gift

Normal Spell

You must control at least two 'The Phantom Knights' monsters to activate and resolve this effect: Target any number of monsters you control; all monsters on your field's level becomes equal to the lowest level monster you control plus one for each monster you target by this card's effect. You can only use this effect once per turn.

Phantom Knight's Call

Normal Spell

You can discard one card: Add two 'Phantom Knight's' cards from your deck to your hand. You cannot banish cards the turn you activate this effect, except 'Phantom Knight's' cards. You can only activate 'Phantom Knight's Call' once per turn.

Restoration Resonator

DARK

Level 2

Fiend, Tuner, Effect

You can discard this card and target two monsters on the field who's ATK is different from its original ATK: Make those monster's ATK equal to their original ATK

0 ATK/0 DEF

The Phantom Knights of Broken Bow

DARK

Rank 4

Warrior, Xyz, Effect

2 Level 4 Warrior monsters

You can detach one Xyz material from this card: Destroy one monster on the field. You cannot attack the turn you activate this effect. During the end phase, you can detach one Xyz material from this card and declare one card type (Fusion, Synchro, Xyz or Pendulum): If either player summons a monster of the declared type until your next end phase; halve that player's LP. If your opponent summons a monster from the extra deck, you can banish this card from your field, as well as one 'Phantom Knights' Xyz monster from both your extra deck and graveyard, all with different ranks, and if you do: set one 'Phantom Knights' trap directly from your deck. The card set by this effect can be activated this turn. You can only use each effect of 'The Phantom Knights of Broken Bow' once per turn.

2300 ATK/1800 DEF

Red Healing

Normal Spell

Tribute one 'Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend' you control, and if you do; special summon one 'Red Dragon Archfiend' from your extra deck. (This is treated as a Synchro Summon)

Red Prominence

Normal Spell

Target one monster whose ATK is different to its original ATK: Its ATK becomes its original ATK.

Scarlight, the Red Daemon Fiendish Emperor

DARK

Level 12

Dragon, Fusion, Effect

2+ 'Red Dragon Archfiend' monsters

You can also fusion summon this card by tributing the required material from your field (in which case you do not use 'Polymerisation'). If this card is fusion summoned; you can target cards on the field, up to the number of material used for this card's summon: banish those cards, and if you do, inflict 1000 points of damage to the controller of each card, for each of their cards banished by this effect. If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can special summon one 'Red Dragon Archfiend' monster in your GY.

4500 ATK/3000 DEF

Phantom Knights' Purgatory

Normal Trap

Declare one card type (Fusion, Synchro, Xyz or Pendulum), negate the effects of those monsters, then banish all monsters with that declared card type, and if you do: inflict damage to both players equal to the combined ATK points of all monsters banished by this effect. You must have three 'Phantom Knights' Xyz monsters with different ranks banished to activate and resolve this effect.

Next Chapter Preview: The Friendship Cup gets underway! Yuya is forced to watch his friends duel, and is surprised when he sees a surprise competitor that has appeared from the Standard Dimension.

And with that, the exhibition match is done. After doing a bit of research, you can actually find that Jack Atlas had a rather weak hand, outside of what he did on his first turn. I also decided to have Yuto duel instead of Yuya as 1) Phantom Knights are, in my opinion, more fun to write, but also 2) Yuto wanted to make a point of how weak synchro duelists are (in his opinion of course). Now about Jack's fusion monster. As I'm sure you noticed in Chapter 2, the Number Wars of ZEXAL canon is mentioned, so I decided that the Synchro Dimension had something loosely similar to 5Ds happen, and fusion summoning is used during it, as far as I can remember, even though synchro has the spotlight. I decided to give the alternative summoning condition as I thought would Jack Atlas wait to need to summon at least two boss monsters, then draw a specific card? NO! He's Jack Atlas, the Master of Faster!

Before I sign off, I want to say an interesting thing about the original draft of this chapter. I actually had Jack and Yuya/Yuto draw. Then I decided to make it so that Jack still wins, because Yuya getting Jack's life points to zero was such a major moment in the anime, and also Jack is still the invincible King right now. Yuto getting past Jack's second turn? Laughably easy. Without Reject Reborn, and also with a way to destroy Red Wyvern, Jack's anime opening hand would crumble. Lucky that Phantom Knights have a way to do just that, huh.

No questions this time, unfortunately, but if you do have any, please do send them through, and if you like my story, please do follow, or even favourite, and if you have anything to say at all about my writing, please do write a review.

See y'all next week – NightWingBOI