Chapter 46: Behind the Black Curtain


Where We Left Off: Yusei Fudo and Yuma Tsukamo's best efforts were defied by Z-ARC who managed to recover from having barely any field presence to dominating the duel. Fortunately the duel isn't over yet, as Crow Hogan and Sylvio Sawatari are keeping it going!

Z-ARC currently has 5200 LP, and only controls himself, the Gates and his Darkwurms. He has 6 cards in his hand.

Supreme King Servant Darkwurm: Level 4, 1800 ATK (x2)

Supreme King Z-ARC: Level/Rank 12/LINK-6, 4500 ATK, Up, Left, Right, Down, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right arrows.

Crow and Sylvio have 4000 LP each and five cards in their hands.

It is still Z-ARC's turn.


"Why must you continue to get in My way?!" Z-ARC screamed as Sylvio and Crow put their left foots slightly back and drew their opening hands,

"Perhaps its because we don't want our worlds to be destroyed? Have you thought of that, Z-ARC?" Crow asked,

"Heh. Your worlds? Don't you understand that they are just fragments of the world that once was Mine, Signer of the Tail Mark?"

"What'd you just call me?" Crow asked, slightly unnerved despite the title's unfamiliarity,

"You existed in My world, didn't you know? Only difference is that you've been dead for nearly thirty years as of when she intervened. All of the people in the Standard, Synchro, Xyz and Fusion Dimensions once existed at various points in history back where I came from. Did you know that Yusei Fudo and you are destined to be friends? That Jack Atlas would climb up from the Commons and take his rightful spot at the Top?" Z-ARC asked, amusement dripping from his voice,

"And so what? You think that because events in the previous and this world match up to some degree that you'll be fated to rise to the top? If that's true then wouldn't you being taken down also be a logical step?" Crow counted,

"I have long surpassed what will be necessary so that she doesn't beat Me again! This world is Mine and Mine alone! Enough chit-chat! I have a duel to win. It's your move."

Turn 21: Sylvio Sawatari

"Allow me to go! After all, I'm sure you're all missing some entertainment, am I right?" Sylvio joked,

"Missing entertainment? Why would they be? After all, aren't I providing all the entertainment they'll need?" Z-ARC sneered,

"Heh! Not your entertainment, Z-ARC! MINE! The great and glorious Sylvio Sawatari's! And I'll kick things off with a Pendulum Summon~! I set the Pendulum Scales with Scale 1 Abyss Actor - Evil Heel and Scale 8 Funky Comedian! This wonderful portal of entertainment allows me to call forth several monsters from levels two through seven. Isn't that true wonder?"

"I know what it means. I invented after all!" Z-ARC growled,

"Gees, grouchy much! Anyhoo, I Pendulum Summon~! Say hello to Abyss Actors - Wild Hope, Leading Lady and the magnificent Abyss Actor - Superstar! Superstar's effect allows me to add Abyss Script…"

"Upon the Pendulum Summon of Pendulum Monsters… I activate an effect from my deck!" Z-ARC called out,

"From the deck!?" Crow exclaimed,

"I tribute two Darkwurms to call forth My kin with twin eyes and fire that will burn you right away! Supreme King Servant Odd Eyes!" The corrupted and twisted version of Yuya's ace emerged, letting loose a deep growl,

"See Z-ARC? Not even Odd-Eyes is having fun and he's usually all smiles!" Sylvio taunted, "As I was trying to do before, Superstar's effect allows me to add Abyss Script – Rise of the Abyss King to my hand!"

"Since a card was added to your hand outside of your normal draw, it is automatically destroyed!" Z-ARC declared and a bolt of lightning smote the card,

"But I bet you didn't expect me to have THIS did you? The Continuous Spell, Abyss Script – Abysstainment! I can destroy an 'Abyss Actor' I control to allow me to set an 'Abyss Script' from my graveyard straight to my field, never touching my hand!"

"You truly think something like that will stop Me? Laughable." Z-ARC chuckled,

"Do I have to think when I know? Crow, NOW!" Sylvio called and Crow slammed a card into his duel disk,

"This is Black Feather Infection! A trap card which can be activated from my hand, and by paying multiples of five-hundred life points, I can shuffle all monsters of one card type, being Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum and Link, right back into their decks from the graveyard or that are banished!"

"WHAT!" Z-ARC's eyes shot wide, fear streaking across his face,

"I give up twenty-five hundred life points to return them all!"

"NO!" Z-ARC screeched, "I activate the effect of Chronograph Sorcerer! That effect is negated and I get to summon him! Behold my servant!" As Z-ARC's new monster appeared, clad in glowing purple/beige robes a sword-like staff in his hand.

Crow Hogan: 4000 LP - 1500 LP

Chronograph Sorcerer: Level 6, 2000 ATK

Supreme King Servant Odd-Eyes: Level 8, 2500 ATK

Abyss Actor – Wild Hope: Level 4, 1600 ATK

Abyss Actor – Leading Lady: Level 4, 1500 ATK

Abyss Actor – Superstar: Level 7, 2500 ATK

"Hm. Well, that didn't work, but I use Abysstainment's effect to tribute Wild Hope and set Rise of the Abyss King which I then activate! This wonderous performance allows me to destroy monsters up to the number of 'Abyss Actor' monsters I control that are in attack position, so long as they have different names, so say goodbye to Odd-Eyes and Z-ARC!"

"Odd-Eyes negates the first attempt at destruction on a Pendulum monster I control. Your move is ineffective." Z-ARC smirked,

"I use Abysstainment once again. I tribute Leading Lady to set Rise of the Abyss King once again and activate it. Since I only control Superstar now, I can only destroy one, so I'll get rid of Odd-Eyes. Dazzling Performance!" Sylvio cried as Superstar struck a pose and charged down Z-ARC's servant before striking it and destroying it.

"And now, Superstar attacks Chronograph Sorcerer!"

"Since I control Myself, my Pendulum monsters allow me to gain life points instead of lose them."

Z-ARC: 5200 LP - 5700 LP

"Yes, but now you don't control any monsters other than yourself! This allows me to activate Superstar's effect to set Abyss Script – Romantic Terror straight from the deck. And now, the great entertainer ends his turn!" Sylvio declared.

Turn 22: Crow Hogan

"Very well then. It's my move! I draw! I Normal Summon Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North and now, since I control a 'Blackwing' Blackwing – Vata the Emblem of Wandering can wander right onto my field. Vata's effect then activates. I send Blackwing – Zonda the Dust as well as itself to special summon the Black-Winged Dragon! Blizzard the Far North now tunes Black-Winged Dragon. Black dragon, arise to a whole new power set to blow the competition away! I Synchro Summon! Level 10, Black-Winged Assault Dragon! Then I play a spell card, Blackwing Blitz! This spell allows me to banish the material for a Synchro monster right from my extra deck and Synchro Summon an applicable monster. I banish Assault Blackwing – Raikiri the Rain Shower and Assault Blackwing – Sohaya the Rain Storm. Divine black-feather fighter, descend in a flash of lightening! I Synchro Summon, level 12 Assault Blackwing – Onimaru the Divine Thunder!" Crow chanted as a flock of birds appeared,

Black-Winged Assault Dragon: Level 10, 3200 ATK

Assault Blackwing – Onimaru the Divine Thunder: Level 12, 3000 ATK

"What good will they do you. Two barely over three thousand monsters against Me." Z-ARC growled,

"THIS! You see, when Onimaru attacks he gains three thousand attack points! Attack Z-ARC! Lightning God Thunder Sword!"

"Haha. You think a puny six thousand will help? Wrong. Supreme King's Shield activate. This trap card can be activated from My hand while I control Myself and have higher life points than you. I cannot be destroyed this turn!" Z-ARC laughed as his life points ticked up.

Z-ARC: 5700 LP - 8200

"Rgh. I end my turn." Crow winced.

Turn 23: Z-ARC

"And now for the slaughter! I draw. You've pissed me off just enough that I think something new is needed!" Z-ARC declared,

"Z-ARC!" A voice called out,

"Leo!" Z-ARC growled, "You should be dead!"

"I could say the same of you. When Ray split the dimensions you should've been gone with them!" The newly revealed Professor shouted, "She sacrificed herself so you'd never return!"

"Allow Me to finish these fools off. Then we discuss while I torture your weak body! And just because you showed up, allow me to showcase the true extent of My power! I Pendulum Summon! Return to me Chronograph Sorcerer and my Darkwurms! Now, I activate Chronograph Sorcerer's effect. Master of Time, reach across the aether and bring her to Me! I banish the following monsters: Double Iris Magician, Black Fang Magician, White Wing Magician, Purple Poison Magician and Teal Tail Magician along with Chronograph himself, as well as sacrifice a part of My very soul to sustain her form! In our original time you didn't want to be by My side, but that matters not. When you return to Me, we can rule together! You will be… Supreme King's Queen R-AY!" Z-ARC chanted, Sylvio, Crow and Leo's faces paling as a large dragon, slightly smaller than Z-ARC but still dwarfing any monster that they could summon. The maroon scales across its chest combined with the orange in place of gold from Z-ARC was what truly unnerved Leo, as it had been the first he'd seen of his daughter, even in this twisted nightmare form that Z-ARC had assigned to her.

Supreme King's Queen R-AY: Level/Rank 12/LINK-5, 4000 ATK, Bottom, Bottom Left, Bottom Right, Left, Right arrows.

"And now any and all Spells and Traps you lot control are destroyed and you take damage for each Spell or Trap destroyed by this effect, so Mr. Pompous over there is getting a reality check! One Continuous Spell, two Pendulums and one face-down. That's 2000 damage headed right your way!" R-AY unleashed a blast of energy and Sylvio let out a less-than-dignified squeal as it hit him.

Sylvio Sawatari: 4000 LP - 2000 LP

"W-when Romantic Terror is destroyed I can set as many 'Abyss Script' cards as possible from my deck, so I set five!" Sylvio stuttered,

"That doesn't matter. R-AY! Bring down the one who thinks himself funny!"

"Eh?" Sylvio squeaked as another blast incinerated him.

Sylvio Sawatari: 2000 LP - 500 LP

"And finish him off, Darkwurm one. And then I'll attack Onimaru to end this charade!" As one of the Darkwurms charged, Z-ARC unleashed his blast of energy, and Leo grit his teeth as he activated his duel disk.

"Intrusion detected." The computer announced as Sylvio and Crow were beaten.

Sylvio Sawatari: 500 LP - 0 LP

Crow Hogan: 1500 LP - 0 LP

Leo Akaba: 4000 LP

"Z-ARC, they've done enough. You'll fall now!" Leo declared as Z-ARC let out a deep laugh.


Next Chapter Preview: Finally confronted with the demons of his past, Leo Akaba faces off against Z-ARC, but will his surprises be enough to defeat the Demon Duelist?


Custom Cards:

Black Feather Infection

Normal Trap Card

While your opponent controls a monster in the Extra Monster Zone you can activate this card from your hand. Declare any number of card types (Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum, Link) and pay 500 LP for each; Shuffle those declared card types into the deck. You can only activate one 'Black Feather Infection' per duel.

Blackwing Blitz

Normal Spell Card

Immediately after this effect resolves: Synchro Summon one 'Blackwing' Synchro monster by banishing the required material from your Extra Deck. You can treat one 'Assault Blackwing' monster in your Extra Deck as a tuner for this summon. You can only activate one 'Blackwing Blitz' per turn.

Chronograph Sorcerer (Changed Effect)

If your opponent activates a card or effect while you control 'Supreme King Z-ARC' and this card is in your hand; You can Special Summon this card, and if you do, negate that activation and destroy that card. For the rest of this turn, after this card's summon, your opponent cannot activates cards or effects of that type (Monster, Spell or Trap). You can tribute this card (Quick Effect); Banish one 'Double Iris Magician', 'Black Fang Magician', 'White Wing Magician', 'Purple Poison Magician' and 'Teal Tail Magician' from your hand, field, Deck and/or Extra Deck, and if you do, Integration Summon one 'Supreme King's Queen R-AY' from your Extra Deck.

Supreme King's Shield

Normal Trap Card

This card can be activated from your hand while you control 'Supreme King Z-ARC' and your LP is higher than your opponent(s)'s. Target one 'Supreme King' monster you control; Equip this card to it. The equipped monster cannot be destroyed by battle.

Teal Tail Magician

DARK

Level 4

Pendulum Scale: 1

Spellcaster, Pendulum, Effect

Pendulum Effect:

To be honest, I don't know what it's effect will be. I'll come up with it later and come back to this.

Monster Effect: (This card is always treated as a 'Link Dragon')

See Pendulum Effect.

1500 ATK/2000 DEF

Supreme King's Queen R-AY

DARK

Level 12

Pendulum Scale: 12

Link Arrows: Bottom, Bottom Left, Bottom Right, Left, Right

Dragon, Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Link, Pendulum, Effect

Pendulum Effect: You can tribute one 'Supreme King' monster you control: Special Summon this card from your Pendulum Zone, ignoring its summoning conditions. This card is not treated as having Link Arrows in the Pendulum Zone.

Monster Effect: (This card is also always treated as a Fusion, Synchro, Xyz and Link Monster, and has a Rank equal to its Level.)

Must be Special Summoned with 'Chronograph Sorcerer' and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. If this card is in defence position, it is not treated as having any Link Arrows. This effect cannot be negated. If this card is Special Summoned: You can destroy as many spell and trap cards your opponent controls as possible, then each player that had a card destroyed by this effect takes 500 damage for each card destroyed this way. This card cannot attack the turn this effect is activated. While there are Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, and Link Monsters banished and/or in any GY(s), this card cannot be destroyed, and also is unaffected by card effects that would make it leave the field. If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle: You can Special Summon up to 2 'Supreme King Servant' monsters from your hand or Deck in Defence Position, but their effects are negated until the End Phase of this turn. If your opponent adds a card(s) to their hand, or Special Summons a monster, from their GY (except during the Draw Phase): You can destroy that card(s). If this card leaves the field: You can place this card in your Pendulum Zone, also return the cards banished for this card's summon to your GY. If you do not have an unoccupied Pendulum Zone when you use this effect: You can destroy one of those cards.

4000 ATK/4000 DEF/LINK-5


Hey everyone! Sorry this one took so long to get out, the burnout is really real, but we're so close to the end! (It probably doesn't help that a lot of the archetypes in recent chapters I've had to do so much research on to have a semblance of knowing what a decent combo is) Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this, and I wonder what you all thought of the reveal?

Review!

KillerFrost88 – Thank you for reviewing! Now, I had heard about that, and I personally think that it is a combination of a variety of factors, that included. It is obvious that a lot of effort went towards DSOD at ARC-V's detriment, but I also believe that, given the scope of seasons 1 and 2, there were plans for ARC-V to be four seasons long with each season focusing on one dimension, but at some point during writing or something they realised that they were contracted for only three seasons and had to rework their plans. Of course, I can't say anything definitive, but yeah.

Next chapter should be out on time, and I hope you all can forgive me. See you all next time - NightWingBOI