"Marufuji Ryo?" Yuya murmured the name of the newcomer who saved them. The name...it sounded familiar.
"Allen said that's the guy who betrayed the Resistance with Rin." Yuto spoke up with narrowed eyes, a look of caution flashing across his eyes. "We know Rin was most likely brainwashed, but what about him…" He looked from his counterpart to the two newcomers, overhearing their conversation.
"Edo Phoenix, Academia's Commander-in-Chief." Ryo responded with a cold stare of disgust towards his former comrade. He thought Edo was better than to support Academia's ideals of mass genocide.
"It's sad." Edo stated with closed eyes. "To think we used to be rivals. There was a time where I wouldn't have even thought about fighting against a comrade. Then, I look at what has become of you—a rat in the city—and I can now just about forgive myself."
"In another time, I might have thought the same way as you do." Ryo started as he held out his Duel Disk in a challenging manner. "But then, I look at what I have risen above—a dog of Academia—and I have no regrets at all."
"I've been looking forward to this!" Edo said as he activated his Duel Disk, prompting Ryo to do the same.
"DUEL!" Both Duelists exclaimed in unison.
"From my Hand, I Summon Cyber Dragon Vier to the Field!" Ryo started, placing the Monster onto his Duel Disk as a long mechanical dragon with a purple core in its head appeared to the Field.
Vier: Level 4, 1100 Atk, 1600 Def
"When Vier is on the Field, all Cyber Dragons gain 500 Attack. Vier's name becomes Cyber a Dragon when on the Field, so it gains the increase also!"
Vier: 1100-1600 Atk
"I set a Card and end my turn." Ryo concluded as his Card appeared in front of him.
"It's my turn then, draw!" The Commander-in-Chief bellowed, drawing his Cadd with a swift swipe. "Come on! Destiny HERO - Decisionguy!"
Decisionguy: Level 4, 1600 Atk, 1000 Def
"Now, I'll use the Magic Card D - Pressure! If I Normal Summon a Destiny HERO Monster, I can target the Monster and Special Summon a Destiny HERO Monster with Attack less than or equal to the Summoned Monster! Appear, Destiny HERO - Drillguy!"
A brown and red Monster with a large drill-shaped hand appeared to the Field.
Drillguy: Level 4, 1600 Atk, 1200 Def
"Battle!" Edo declared, his Monster charging the mechanical dragon. As he did so, Edo held up a Card in his Hand and inserted it into his Graveyard. "Next, I activate the effect of the Destiny HERO - Daggerguy in my Hand! By sending this Monster to the Graveyard during either player's Battle Phase, I can increase the Attack of all face-up Destiny HERO Monsters by 800 until the end of the turn."
Decisionguy: 1600-2400 Atk
Drillguy: 1600-2400 Atk
"Destiny HERO - Decisionguy, attack and destroy Cyber Dragon Vier!" Edo yelled, his Monster leaping into the air towards Vier.
"Trap Card, activate! Attack Reflector Unit! With this, I release a Cyber Dragon on Field in order to Special Summon Cyber Barrier Dragon!" Ryo yelled, taking the Monster Card out of his Deck and placing it on his Duel Disk. Another version of a Cyber Dragon with a ring around its head appeared to the Field in Defense Position.
Barrier Dragon: Level 6, 800 Atk, 2800 Def
Edo growled out of frustration, calling off his Monster's attack, prompting his Monster to stop in his tracks. "I set a Card. I end my turn."
As it was the end of the turn, Daggerguy's effect ends. Thus, the Attack of Decisionguy and Drillguy returned to normal.
Decisionguy: 2400-1600 Atk
Drillguy: 2400-1600 Atk
"Now, it's my turn! Draw!" Ryo roared, swiping a Card off of his Deck. He showed a Monster Card in his Hand, placing it onto his Duel Disk and Summoning the Monsrer out of a flash of light. "I Summon Cyber Dragon Core!"
A skinny, armorless metal dragon with a red circle on its underbelly appeared to the Field with a metallic screech.
Core: Level 2, 400 Atk, 1500 Def
"When Cyber Dragon Core is Normal Summoned, I can add a Cyber Magic or Trap Card to my Hand." Ryo said, grabbing an ejected Card from his Deck, adding to his Hand before inserting it into his Duel Disk. "I will now activate the added Card, Cyber Repair Plant! If a Cyber Dragon is in my Graveyard, I can activate one of two effects. I'll activate the first, which allows me to add a Light Machine-Type Monster from my Deck. I add Cyber Dragon Nachster to my Hand. Now, by discarding another Monster from my Hand, I can Special Summon Cyber Dragon Nachster!"
Ryo placed the regular Cyber Dragon in his Graveyard. Placing his Monster in a Defense Position, he Summoned Cyber Dragon Nachster.
Nachster: Level 1, 200 Atk, 200 Def
"If this Card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can bring a Machine-Type Monster with 2100 Attack or Defense back from the Graveyard. Come back to my side, Cyber Dragon!"
Cyber Dragon: Level 5, 2100 Atk, 1600 Def
"Now, from my Hand, I activate the Magic Card Fusion!"
From the side, Yuto grimaced at the mention. He also remembered back in the hideout about what Allen said about Ryo being a secret agent of Academia. But if that was the case…
Then why was he fighting the commander-in-Chief?
"With this, I fuse Cyber Dragon Core and Cyber Dragon Nachster, both treated as Cyber Dragon." Ryo said as his Monsters combined in a flash of light, a two-headed silhouette taking shape behind him. "Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! Cyber Twin Dragon!"
Twin Dragon: Level 8, 2800 Atk, 2100 Def
"Battle!" Ryo shouted, his dragons eliciting a metallic roar as he did. "Cyber Twin Dragon, attack Destiny HERO - Decisionguy!" A light blue stream of energy flushed out one of the dragon's mouths.
"Trap Card, activate! D - Fusion! During your turn, I can Fusion Summon a Destiny HERO Monster from my Extra Deck using Monsters I control as Fusion Materials. Then, if I succeed, the Summoned Monster cannot be destroyed by battle or Card effects!" Edo explained as his two Monsters swirled together, Ryo's attack hitting nothing as Edo recited a chant. "Hero drilling the bedrock of destiny, hero who decides the fate of victory. Now become one and reign in the pitch-black future! Fusion Summon! Come on! Destiny HERO - Dystopiaguy!"
A blue-armored warrior with yellow skin appeared to the Field, holding out its left hand in a fist.
Dystopiaguy: Level 8, 2800 Atk, 2400 Def
"If this Monster is Fusion Summoned," Edo started as an image of Destiny HERO - Decisionguy appeared. "I can target one Fusion Material used to Summon this Card. Then, the Attack of the chosen Monster will be inflicted upon you as damage!" A pulse of shockwaves ruptured from Dystopiaguy's hand, enveloping Ryo and causing him to grunt from the pain, throwing his arms in front of himself to minimize the damage.
Ryo: 4000-2400 LP
"I call off my attack." Ryo said as his Monster seemingly growled out of frustration. "I set a Card and end my turn."
"This proves it…" Yuto whispered, catching Yuya's attention. "Marufuji Ryo is no longer with Academia. Otherwise, he would not be fighting the Commander-in-Chief."
"If that's the case…" Yuya's eyes widened, coming to a realization.
"Then Allen and the others kicked out a potential ally." Yuto finished.
"It's my turn, draw!" Edo shouted, ripping a Card off of his Deck. "From my Hand, I activate the Equip Magic Card D - Wrath! I equip it to Dystopiaguy. This Card allows Dystopiaguy to attack three times a turn. Also, Dystopiaguy gains 500 Attack!"
Dystopiaguy: 2800-3300 Atk
"Now, once during either player's turn, when Dystopiaguy's Attack or Defense changes, I can target a Card on the Field and destroy it." Edo jabbed a finger towards Ryo's Barrier Dragon. "Say goodbye to Cyber Barrier Dragon!" Dystopiaguy released a ball of energy towards Ryo's Monster, destroying it instantly.
Ryo remained stoic, unfazed by the destruction of his Monster as he readied himself for Edo's onslaught.
"Dystopiaguy, attack Cyber Twin Dragon!" Edo declared as his Monster directed his attention to the twin-headed Monster. A purple beam of energy shot out from his palm which rushed towards Ryo's Monster.
However, before the attack could connect, Ryo revealed his only set Card, revealing a Quick-Play Magic Card. "I activate De-Fusion! I send Cyber Twin Dragon to the Graveyard to Special Summon the Monsters used to Summon it. Return, Cyber Dragons Core and Nachster!" Ryo motioned to two spaces in front of him as both Monsters returned in Defense Position.
"Very well, then." Edo said with a held breath, turning his eyes to Ryo's other Attack Position Monster. "Attack Cyber Dragon!" This time, Ryo's Monster was eviscerated, prompting the man to let out a cry of pain as multiple shockwaves lashed out as his body.
Ryo: 2400-1200 LP
After that, Edo called for Dystopiaguy to attack both of Ryo's remaining Monsters, destroying them without a trace.
"I end my turn." Edo concluded. "It's over, Marufuji Ryo! I'll give you one chance. Back down now, and the Professor may spare you."
"The Professor is merciless. He spares no one." Ryo stated, a cold look flashing through his eyes as a deep hate for said person was evident on his face. "After all, he Carded my brother without mercy."
Sho? Edo thought to himself for a moment, faltering slightly before composing himself. When he was told about Ryo's betrayal, he was never informed about the Carding of his brother.
"For that reason, I am never returning to Academia." Ryo said with narrowed eyes, a scowl forming on his face. "I was already not on board with their methods, but Carding my brother was the last straw!"
"How horrible…" Yuya commented with a sympathetic look on his face.
"My turn, draw!" Ryo roared, eying the Card he drew. A fire flared in his eyes as he recognized the Card immediately. Inserting the Card into his Duel Disk, Ryo started shouted, "I activate the Magic Card Overload Fusion! With this Card, I can banish Monsters on the Field and in the Graveyard as Fusion Materials to Summon one Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck! I banish Cyber Dragon, Cyber Dragon Twin Dragon, Cyber Barrier Dragon, Cyber Dragon Vier, Core, and Nachster! Using these six Monsters, I Fusion Summon Chimeratech Overdragon!"
One flash of light later, and a large six-headed metallic dragon rose to the Field, glowering down at Edo and his Monster.
Overdragon: Level 9, ? Atk, ? Def
"The original Attack of this Monster is equal to the number of Monster used to Summon this Monster times 800!"
Overdragon: ?-4800 Atk, ?-4800 Def
"Battle!" Ryo shouted, his dragon's six heads raising up in unison in response. "Chimeratech Overdragon, attack Destiny HERO - Dystopiaguy!" A burst of fire erupted from Overdragon's mouth, enveloping Edo's hero, causing it to scream from the pain.
Edo: 4000-2500 LP
"Kgh!" Edo grunted, recoiling from the damage with a scowl on his face. Swiping an arm out of smoke, Dystopiaguy stood up, surviving the attack. "Once during either player's turn, I can negate the destruction of a Monster equipped with D - Wrath!"
"It doesn't matter!" Ryo rebutted, a rare devious smirk appearing on his face from his old days as Hell Kaiser. Despite no longer being that man, traces of that terrible person still reside inside of him. "Chimeratech Overdragon gains one attack for each Fusion Material!"
"What?!" Edo gasped with wide eyes, prompting Yuya and Yuto to blink out of shock.
"Such a powerful effect…" Yuya whispered.
"Go! Destroy Destiny HERO - Dystopiaguy!" Edo declared.
Overdragon's second metal head released another burst of flames, enveloping Dystopiaguy and destroying him.
Edo: 2500-1000 LP
"This is the end, Edo Phoenix! Chimeratech Overdragon, attack and finish off the rest of his life points!" Chimeratech Overdragon released a torrent of fire, rushing over Edo's body and burning him. The Commander-in-Chief let out wails of pain as the fire ate away at his skin. When the fire dissipated, he was lying on the ground unconscious, with many burns coated around his body and his clothes charred.
Edo: 1000-0 LP
"Commander-in-Chief!" A concerned voice called out at Ryo's Monster disappeared. In a second, multiple tries of Academia students were on the scene. Ryo immediately reacted by motioning towards Yuya and Yuto to follow him. Activating his Duel Disk, he activated a Magic Card called Violet Flash, emitting a purple light which blinded all of the enemies. This small distract gave the trio just a big enough window of time to escape.
With their enemies gone and out of sight, the students turned to a more pressing matter.
The state of their Commander-in-Chief, who was slowly staggering to his feet with the support of two students. However, he shoved out of their grip, not needing help to stand on his own. He didn't even seem to care about his injuries. All he did was look with a scowl at the area where his opponent once was.
"Marufuji Ryo…"
Meanwhile
"Over there! I think I saw them!" The voice of an Academia student bellowed as a trio of footsteps could be heard echoing in the dull gray setting of Heartland.
Ryo peeked out of a little peephole in a collapsed building. It was the only thing that was keeping him and the other two from being seen at the moment, but it wouldn't protect them for much longer.
"We have to keep moving." He mumbled to the people he saved.
"Hn." Yuto responded with a nod as they began to move quietly yet quickly. He wasn't sure if he could fully trust this man yet. For all he knew, he had some secret agenda. However, the fact that he saved him and Yuya along with doing battle with Academia's Commander-in-Chief did speak volumes to his credibility.
Allen and the others…
It's possible they were wrong about this man. One of Yuto's inner thoughts echoed within the confines of his mind.
Even still. We have to stay on guard. The more cautious side of Yuto rebuffed.
Once they were once again behind secure cover in the form of a ransacked and empty building, the Cyber Dragon user turned to the two lookalikes.
"So, what are two allies of the Resistance doing out here?"
"How do you know we're Resistance?" Yuto replies with a fixed gaze.
"Because…" Ryo pointed a finger towards Yuto's right arm, which was wrapped in a mostly covered red rag. "If I'm not mistaken, that is a sign that you are allied with the Resistance. Regardless of whether you guys are Resistance or not, what are you doing all the way out here? You should know just by looking at this place that it's not safe to just go wandering around."
"I was following my friend here." Yuto motioned toward Yuya, who looked down at the ground with a hint of shame.
"I was looking for my father…"
"Your father?" Ryo repeated with curiosity. "Not to be offensive, but I highly doubt that your father could have survived this place on his own."
"I know he's alive!" Yuya snapped, raising his voice significantly, prompting his companions to shush almost immediately. A slight blush appeared on his face from embarrassment. "I was told my father came here after he left the Standard Dimension, and that he abandoned the people of Heartland in a time of need."
Ryo blinked. Yuya's last words sounded oddly familiar.
Abandoned in a time of need...could it be?
"By any chance…" Ryo started with a pause before continuing. "Is your father named Sakaki Yusho."
"You know my father?" Yuya perked up with shock. Just how many people from different dimensions knew his father?
Ryo nodded, a grateful look present in his eyes. "He saved me when I was running away from Academia. He took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He did the same for many other Academia students who defected. He is in the Fusion Dimension right now, as we speak."
A bright smile suddenly grew on Yuya's face, his eyes shining with hope. "A location! I finally know for sure where my dad is!" The happiness on his face was soon replaced by confusion and a hint of anger. "Why was he in the Fusion Dimension?"
"I don't know the whole story." Ryo shrugged. "But he did mention meeting Edo Phoenix and being sent to Fusion after defeating him."
"Edo knew my father…" Yuya blinked. Damn, yet another lead to his father gone. At least he knew where he was currently.
"He feels very guilty." Ryo said as he recalled the sad expression he often saw on the middle-aged man. "He blames himself for all of the suffering Heartland is going through. He probably thinks that he could have stopped things had he been there."
That does sound like something my father would do...Yuya noted internally, knowing that Sakaki Yusho was too pure a man to leave others to suffer.
"And yet he still left us…"
Yuya quickly shook his head in denial.
No! That wasn't it. He must have certainly had a reason to leave so unexpectedly.
"So, I've heard you tried to save Rin and Kurosaki Ruri."
Yuto's voice brought him out of thoughts.
Ryo stopped in his tracks, his body stiffening completely. He looked up at the sky, a longing look in his eyes. "How do you know about that?"
"Ruri told me herself."
The former Academia Duelist turned to him. "Ruri? She's alright?"
Yuto nodded. "Yes. She ended up in the Synchro Dimension and she came with us into this one. We already know what happened with you and Rin. We have a theory that Rin is somehow being controlled by Academia. Something similar happened to Ruri and she's okay now from the looks of it."
"It doesn't matter if Rin was controlled or not." Ryo turned away as he continued walking, guilt flashing through his eyes. Regardless, it was all his fault anyway… "Ok, you guys are safe. Now, head back to wherever your base is and never come back."
"What?" Yuto blinked, seemingly insulted as such a thing. "This is my homeland! I'm not just going to sit back and see it get destroyed even more!"
"If the last of the Resistance is destroyed, there won't be a Heartland to see!" Ryo shouted with a commanding tone, silencing the boy. He looked down to the ground as he began to walk away once again. "I made sure of that being possible…"
Yuto looked on as the Cyber Dragon user began to exit the destroyed building. He truly regretted what had happened. This man was not a part of Academia...at least not anymore.
"Hold on!" Yuto called out, reaching towards the man with an open hand, prompting him to halt once more. "Come back to the Resistance with us. We could use a person with strength such as yours."
Ryo stood frozen, deep in thought. Numerous thoughts were flying through his head. The rescuing of Rin and Ruri, the subsequent betrayal of Rin, and the shattering of the already fragile trust that the Resistance had in him. Now, here was a chance...to atone for his sin...to atone for all of the lives lost because of him.
Ryo closed his eyes and continued to walk away. "I'm sorry, but I can't." Being with the Resistance was the reason they were in such a terrible position. If he went back…
"Wait a second!" Yuya shouted towards the retreating figure once again. "Please, come back with us. You knew my father. You know where he's hiding out. You can show me where he's hiding out!"
"Don't you get it?" Ryo questioned, turning around once again with a cold stare. "There isn't a way back to Fusion in the position we're in. I can't get you to your father."
"Hold on, I'm sure Academia has some method of dimensional transportation back at their base. If we can defeat them and drive them out, we might be able to get the tools necessary to get to Fusion."
"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but Academia has hundreds of soldiers backing its cause. The Resistance? It has less than a tenth of Academia's forces. We stand no chance!"
"We have more allies!" Yuya blurted out of desperation. This was one of the only viable leads that he had on his father. He could not just let it slip through his fingers. "We've gotten separated, but they will find us. Hope is not lost just yet!"
Ryo blinked out of exasperation, raising a questioning eyebrow. "Hope doesn't always bring fruitful results. Sometimes, it leads into further defeat. What makes you think that things will workout with just some unhinged hope?"
"I don't know if things will work out." Yuya confessed with a sincere gaze. "Things may turn out great, or bad. Regardless, it is our duty to people in the other dimensions and the victims of Academia to at least try! If we don't fight back, then we will have already lost!"
Ryo widened his eyes as Yuya's words replayed through his mind.
Our duty...to try?
Card Catalog
D - Wrath, Magic, Equip: Target one Destiny HERO Monster you control, equip this Card to that Monster. The equipped Monster can attack three times a turn. Also, the equipped Monster gains 500 Attack. Once, during either player's turn, you can negate the destruction of the Monster equipped with this Card.
Hey guys! I hope you guys have had a great couple of months and I'm sorry for the long hiatus.
There ain't really much to say here, but I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter.
Take care, goodbye.
Have a Happy New Year!
