This one certainly took me a while to start on, didn't it? Let's go.
Chapter Seven
The Heir of Vector
Previously...
Asuka, betrayed by her former comrades and exiled from the world of the Shinobi has been pulled into another world with her former rival, Homura, and their friends, Akiru Hirasu, and his sister, Kotori. Much to their surprise, Homura and Akiru have been revealed to be the heirs to two of the seven Barian Emperors. A recent conflict revealed that Akiru holds the potential to wield multiple Galaxy-Eyes dragons, but his mind isn't strong enough to handle the strain of it yet. This is their story...
(Dragon Sanctuary, Barian World, Draconic Province)
Asuka sat with Yumi as Homura spoke with her father not too far away, the latter wondering about the circumstances. "So you were exiled for attacking Ikaruga-san because she killed a young man who was possessed by a Yoma?" The brunette nodded. "No one believed me at the time when I saw the signs." Looking away, she added, "I was lucky to just be expelled." Yumi nodded in agreement. "You are also fortunate to have met Akiru-kun." The aforementioned young man called out from over by his father, "Just Akiru. I don't like honorifics.", much to Yumi's shock.
Asuka looked at him in surprise, then back at Yumi, who asked no one in particular, "He heard that?" The brunette replied, "Let's just say he's a guy with talents and leave it at that." Facing the grey-haired girl, she asked, "So what have you guys been up to since I last saw you?" Yumi sighed. "Mostly Shinobi work, which I can no longer disclose to you, but recently we took up a bit of a hobby on the side." Asuka grinned knowingly. "Dueling?" The grey-haired girl stared at her in shock. "How did you know?" The brunette held up her own Deck, the grey-haired girl nodding in understanding with an "Ah".
Homura chimed in as she walked over, "Akiru taught us. Apparently it's how they settle conflicts in Barian World, but we didn't know that when we first started. Hell, we weren't even in our new high school yet when he taught us." Yumi asked her, "How did you meet him?" The red-haired Heiress replied, "We met his mother first. She introduced us later." The grey-haired girl replied, "I see," with a small smile. Asuka spoke up. "So how'd you guys get into Dueling?" Yumi was silent for a moment, then said, "Shiki suggested it."
The other two girls laughed softly, Homura adding, "Oh, that girl..." The grey-haired girl replied, "Indeed." The brunette spoke up, and said, "So what kind of Deck do you use?" Yumi replied, "I would rather not spoil the surprise for you." The red-haired girl nodded in agreement. "That's fair. It just makes it more interesting for me." The grey-haired girl nodded with a smile, as the brunette pouted from where she was. The blond valley girl soon joined them, saying, "I like this place," Asuka and Homura giving her looks of shock.
Meanwhile, Akiru walked with his father into a deeper chamber of the temple, the pair reaching a mural in the back. Looking it over, the young man asked, "Is that Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon?" Mizar nodded. "Correct. This mural is from before I learned of the other Galaxy-Eyes dragons. Originally, I had only found two, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and my own, Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon." Facing his son, he added, "The Galaxy-Eyes dragons each have limited control over a vital aspect of existence."
The young man looked at him in interest. "Vital aspects? Like space, time, and reality?" Mizar nodded. "As well as power, soul, and mind." Thinking it over, the young man said, "That would make six Galaxy-Eyes dragons, not counting evolved forms." His father nodded. "Good, you catch on quick." Facing his father, Akiru asked, "So Galaxy-Eyes Plasma Dragon would be reality, obviously, and Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon would be space. What would the others be?" Mizar chuckled and said, "Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon controls time, for one."
The young man nodded, "Right." Continuing, his father said, "After reading the other two we've found, Galaxy-Eyes Pulsar Dragon controls soul, and Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon seems to control power." His son replied, "Which means the last one has to have some kind of effect about monster control, for mind." Mizar nodded. "That was my conclusion as well." Looking at his father, Akiru asked, "Any idea what the last one's name is?" The Emperor sighed. "Unfortunately, no. There are also no leads as to its current whereabouts."
The young man replied, "Well, I can probably try to find it." His father replied, "I would strongly advise against that for now. Your mind barely handled having two Galaxy-Eyes dragons in your control once before. You must train before you can wield more than one at a time." Akiru sighed to himself. "Right..." Mizar gently put his hand on his son's shoulder. "One thing you can start on is bonding with each dragon individually. Most Duelists in the Draconic Province only have one Dragon partner, so to have multiple is an advantageous power, but it will require refining for you to use property."
As the two spoke about the Galaxy-Eyes, Asuka and Homura were catching up with Shiki and Yumi, being watched by Vector and Dumon. Shiki grinned and said, "I bet I can kick Homura'a ass here and now!", Dumon chuckling to himself at the interaction. The red-haired girl replied, "Oh, really?" Forming her Duel Disk, she said, "I guess I could use a sparring partner." Her father laughed at her choice of words, while Vector remained silent, looking at Shiki with an amused look under his mask.
The valley girl readied her Duel Disk and said, "Let's go, then! I'll make you scream in fear of the dark!" The Heir of Dumon replied, "Not if I burn away that arrogance." The two drew their starting hands as the network materialized around them, both calling out, "Let's Duel!"
(Shiki: 4000)
(Homura: 4000)
The valley girl grinned as she called out, "My turn first, Homura! I Draw!" Looking over her options, she said, "I Set a monster Face-Down, and another card, to end my turn!" The two mentioned cards appeared Face-Down, one in front facing sideways, the other in the back straight forward. Homura drew her own card in response, grinning under her mask. "Let's see what you're hiding. I Summon Noble Knight Artorigus to the field!"
(Nuble Knight Artorigus appeared: a level 4 monster with 1800 ATK)
Continuing, the Heir of Dumon said, "While I have a Normal monster out, I can also Special Summon from my hand Noble Knight Gawayn in Defense Mode!"
(Noble Knight Gawayn appeared: a level 4 monster with 500 DEF)
Focusing, Homura called out, "I Overlay level 4 Noble Knight Artorigus and Noble Knight Gawayn! With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network and Xyz Summon Sacred Noble Knight of King Custennin!" As she spoke, an armored warrior rose from the portal with a broadsword in one hand, and a knife in the other, taking a battle stance.
(Sacred Noble Knight of King Custennin appeared: a Rank 4 Xyz monster with 1500 ATK and 2 Overlay Units)
Shiki whistled. "Not bad, Homura. I didn't know you could Xyz Summon on the first turn." Yumi chimed in, "I can't say I'm surprised that she is using a warrior-themed Deck." Asuka nodded in agreement. "Akiru helped us build our Decks." The grey-haired girl replied, "Interesting..." The red-haired girl replied, "King Custennin, attack that Face-Down monster!" As the knight slashed through the card, a doll-like creature appeared for a moment, before shattering.
Shiki grinned as she said, "Sorry, Homura, but you attacked my Ghostrick Doll! When she's flipped Face-Up, during the End Phase, all monsters still on the field go Face-Down!" Homura grimaced as she heard that, but said, "I'll end my turn with one card Face-Down." As she spoke, her knight went Face-Down, and Shiki announced, "Oh, also, I'll Special Summon one Ghostrick monster from my Deck Face-Down that's level is equal to or less than the monsters that were flipped Face-Down. I only get a level 1, but it'll do nicely for now." With that said, she put the monster face-down on her Duel Disk.
The red-haired girl could only frown behind her mask. 'What did she mean by that?' Shiki then drew her card, and said "I'll activate the Spell Card Ghostrick Shot! This lets me Summon back my Ghostrick Doll from my Graveyard!" As she spoke, a haunted doll rose from the graveyard giggling creepily.
(Ghostrick Doll appeared: a level 2 monster with 300 ATK)
Meanwhile, Akiru and Mizar heard the explosion from Ghostrick Doll's earlier destruction and came running back, seeing a Duel underway, the former facepalming. "Well, I was worried for nothing." The Dragon Emperor patted his son's shoulder in consolation, then asked, "Is this a casual Duel or is something on the line?" Homura answered, "It's casual. She thinks she can beat me." Mizar nodded with an "Ah." while Dumon glanced at his daughter. "While your confidence is well-founded, don't let it get the better of you." She nodded in response.
Shiki called out, "Sorry to interrupt, but when the monster is Summoned with Ghostrick Shot, I can Flip up a monster on my field, my Ghostrick Lantern!" As she spoke, a creature with a ragged cloak and pumpkin head rose up, laughing evilly while holding a lantern.
(Ghostrick Lantern appeared: a level 1 monster with 800 ATK)
Akiru remained neutral. "Ghostricks, huh? That's not a common choice." The blond valley girl looked at him and asked, "Why not?" Chuckling nervously, he said, "They kinda suck in competitive play." Homura asked, "Why? What's the strategy behind them?" The young man replied, "Preventing your opponent from attacking Face-Down monsters." He swore he could now see three little dots over the red-skinned girl's head while she processed that information. Shiki spoke up again. "Then I'll make them good! I Summon Ghostrick Mummy!" A cartoonish mummy rose up, letting out a very underwhelming growl.
(Ghostrick Mummy appeared: a level 3 monster with 1500 ATK)
Akiru simply stared at it. "Well, that's one way to do it." She stuck her tongue out at him. Mizar leaned towards his son's ear. "Are Ghostricks really that poor in competition?" The young man nodded. "Most Duelists who use them generally use cards to play the long game to make use of their effects." Shiki spoke up. "I'll make them good! Just you watch! No matter what I have to do!" As she said that, a feminine voice spoke in her mind. "Is your resolve really that strong?" Upon hearing it, she was inflicted with a deep pain in her head, and gripped it screaming in pain. "Do you dare to claim dominance over the dark? Is your heart truly so ambitious?"
Both of the awakened Heirs gasped at the same time, Akiru speaking first. "No way... She's one of the others?" Yumi spoke up upon hearing that. "Others?" Not hearing their conversation because of her own pain, the valley girl could only hear the voice in her mind. "Then the shadows are your birthright. The darkness is your cradle. Now, arise, and embrace who you really are. The mark of the night is your banner henceforth!" As she opened her eyes, dark flames covered her body and seemed to burn brightly, Yumi calling out her name in concern.
As the flames died down, they showed Shiki's rebirth into her new form, having light grey skin, long dark hair, black eyes with white irises, a dark dress with a slit near her legs, and bat wings sticking out of her back. Her Duel Disk had taken the form of a scythe blade, with the deck slot and graveyard morphed into what appeared to be wood. Looking over her hand, Shiki grinned under her mask as her left eye turned red, focusing on Homura again. Vector, who had been silent the entire time, spoke with pride in his voice. "It's finally time." He tossed a card to her, which she easily caught without looking.
Kotori called out, "Hey! That's cheating!" Akiru and, much to everyone else's surprise, Homura, said simultaneously, "Ignore it, Kotori." Homura voiced what both she and Akiru were thinking. "I can't want to see this." The reborn Barian called out, "If it's a fight you want, you've met your match! I Overlay level 1 Ghostrick Lantern, level 2, Ghostrick Doll, and level 3 Ghostrick Mummy!" The Heir of Mizar narrowed his eyes upon hearing that. "What the hell?" As the three monsters were enveloped in purple energy and shooting upward, a galaxy shaped portal opened in front of Shiki. "With these three monsters, I build the Overlay Network, to Xyz Summon your worst nightmares come true!"
Closing her eyes, she chanted, "Conquerer of the shadows and of death itself, take flight upon this world and unleash your might!" As she spoke, the three monsters sailed into the galaxy portal, which exploded, and from it rose a massive skull, which then transformed into a skeletal dragon-like creature, its boney wings creaking with each movement, before its empty eye sockets suddenly glowed an eerie red, the creature letting out a screech that could only be described as the stuff of nightmares, the Number crest appearing on its right horn in purple, as Shiki announced, "Join us, Number 111: Dread Reaper Dragon!" The Number took a threatening stance before everyone, ready to destroy everything in its path.
(Number 111: Dread Reaper Dragon appeared: a Rank 4 Xyz monster with 2700 ATK and 3 Overlay Units)
The young man took note of its Rank and said, "Okay, something is definitely up. Not only were all of those monsters different levels, but none of them were level 4." The red-haired girl spoke up. "Yeah, what gives, Shiki? How did you Summon that thing?" Giggling, the newborn Barian replied, "Through Dread Reaper Dragon's ability, I can treat any Ghostrick monsters as level 4 to Summon it." Hearing that, Akiru looked at its card text with his now glowing red eyes, letting him see the data. Seeing the effect to be true, he remarked, "That's a game-changing effect if I've ever seen one."
Vector laughed from where he stood. "Magnificent. She did indeed find power where others saw weakness." Dumon was quick to understand. "So this one is your Heir." The pale grey Emperor replied, "Yes, and I'm very pleased with how this turned out." The newly christed Heir of Vector called out, "Now to have some fun. Dread Reaper Dragon, attack that Face-Down King Custennin!" As the skeletal creature got ready to attack, she added, "I'll also use her second ability! By using one Overlay Unit when she attacks, I can double her Attack Points until the end of this turn! Dark Consumption!" As she spoke, dark energy entered the zombified dragon's mouth, before its bones glowed purple. Shiki called out, "Now go! Hellfire Inferno!"
As she called that out, dark purple flames erupted from Dread Reaper Dragon's mouth, striking at Homura's Face-Down Knight, which revealed itself as it was destroyed as well as its Defense Points at 2500. Homura didn't even flinched, and said, "I activate the Trap Card Xyz Legacy! When an Xyz monster I control is destroyed and send to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon the monsters I used to Summon it back to the field in Defense Mode! Come on back, Artorigus and Gawayn!" Both of the knights she called out rose from the Graveyard, swords held defensively.
(Noble Knight Artorigus' DEF: 1800)
(Noble Knight Gawayn's DEF: 500)
The dark-haired Heiress replied, "So what? They'll be out of my way soon enough. I end my turn." The red-haired girl drew her own card in response, then, with a grin, said, "To thank you for showing me your Number, let me show you mine. I Summon Noble Knight Joan!" The female knight rose in front of Homura, her sword at the ready.
(Noble Knight Joan appeared: a level 4 monster with 1900 ATK)
Continuing, she said, "Get ready! I Overlay level 4 Noble Knights Artorigus, Gawayn, and Joan!" The three knights were enveloped in light and shot upward, as the galaxy portal appeared in front of their mistress, who called out, "With these three monsters, I build the Overlay Network to Xyz Summon my very soul!" The three monsters sailed into the galaxy portal, which exploded, unleashing a burning rose from within it. Homura chanted out, "Crimson lotus bathed in flame, blossom and spring to life!" The rose formed into a woman in a burning red dress, holding a broadsword in her hand, with the Number on her left shoulder in orange, as her mistress finished off with, "Rise, Number 109: Crimson Guardian!"
(Number 109: Crimson Guardian appeared: a Rank 4 Xyz monster with 2800 ATK and 3 Overlay Units)
Shiki tilted her head, impressed. "Not bad, Homura. But that alone won't finish me off." The Heir of Dumon replied, "I know. That's why I have this. I activate Monster Reborn to bring back Sacred Noble Knight of King Custennin!"
(Sacred Noble Knight of King Custennin's ATK: 1500)
Her opponent was quiet for a moment, before she burst out laughing. "What, that little thing?" Without missing a beat, Homura replied, "It's not the size that counts, Shiki. It's how you use it. Crimson Guardian, attack Dread Reaper Dragon with Inferno Fire Slash!" The woman lunged forward, her sword ablaze, slashing through the dragon's spine, shattering it completely, as Shiki trembled from the force of the blow.
(Shiki: 3900)
The red-haired girl quickly called out, "Don't think you're safe! I activate the Quick-Play Spell card Chaos Rising! Since my Number just destroyed a monster in battle, it can attack again!" The dark-haired girl replied in a panicked voice, "Another attack?!" Homura called out, "Crimson Guardian, attack her directly! Inferno Fire Slash!" The woman slashed with her burning blade again, this time catching Shiki in the flames, who flew backwards, landing on her butt.
(Shiki: 1100)
Vector understood at that point. "So that's why she used Monster Reborn to revive the other knight." Dumon nodded. "She had everything she needed to perform a one-turn-kill." Akiru called out, "Proud of you, buddy!" Grinning at the praise, the red-haired girl asked, "Any last words?" The dark-haired girl was quiet for a moment before asking, "Uncle?" Homura replied, "That works. King Custennin, attack her directly!" The knight lunged forward, slashing downward and knocking Shiki onto her back, the Duel over.
(Shiki: 0)
(Homura: WIN)
As the field vanished, Vector approached his daughter and helped her up, saying, "You gave it your all. That's good enough for me." She faced him with tears in her eyes. "D-Daddy?" He nodded. "It's me, Shiki." She hugged him, crying into his shoulder. "DADDY!" Yumi and the others watched with smiles on their faces while Akiru walked over to Homura. Reaching her, he said, "A Number that lets you use any monster of a certain kind to Summon it, even if they're not the right level. That was interesting." Facing him, she asked, "Does it remind you of any monsters you've seen?" He replied, "Nope. Never seen anything like it before."
A/N
And now for the part in which I get yelled at for making a card with an effect designed to make it easier for Shiki to Summon it. My only other option would have been to make it Rank 2 (the average level of Ghostricks), which wouldn't have worked with the theme I'm going with for the new Numbers. Changing Shiki's Deck from Ghostricks to something else wouldn't have worked because, let's face it, nothing else could possibly work with her as well as Ghostricks can. They suit her in every way. And before anybody asks me about Vampires, yeah, most of them are level 5 or higher. It wouldn't have worked that way, either.
OC Cards in this chapter
Xyz Legacy
When an Xyz Monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effects, Special Summon the monsters that were used as Xyz Material on the Xyz Monster that was destroyed.
(This one could be used either how Homura did it, or as a defensive option.)
Chaos Rising
When a "Number" Xyz Monster you control destroys an opponent's monster by battle, it can make a second attack this turn. You can only activate 1 "Chaos Rising" per turn.
(Designed to give Numbers more of an oomph against the opponents, though introduced earlier in this story.)
Number 111: Dread Reaper Dragon
Attribute: DARK
Rank: 4
ATK: 2700
DEF: 2000
Type: Dragon/Xyz/Effect
Summoning Condition: 3 level 4 monsters
Effect: You can treat any "Ghostrick" monsters you control as level 4 to Xyz Summon this card. Once per turn, when this card declares an attack, you can Detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; double its ATK until the end of the turn. Once per turn, you can send the top card of your opponent's Deck to the Graveyard.
(I know I forgot to put in that last effect in this chapter, though Shiki would have missed it, to be fair, going by her personality. Also, it's intended to a reference to Number 104: Masquerade, which shares that last effect.)