/Fun Fact: The anime effect of Rank-Up-Magic Launch works on any XYZ monster and it doesn't matter if it has material or not. It only attaches itself if Dark Rebellion or a Phantom Knight XYZ is used as material.
Also remember that in the anime, Shadow Veil is a spell card, not a trap.\
Chapter 13: Evolution of The Rebellious Dragon
Waking up in the spare room of the Duel Lodge, Osrelios and the rest gather together to discuss what they can do.
"So while we are here, we have the pressing concern of the Academia troops who invade everyday. Is there a possibility that we can find out who ever is in charge of the invasion force and take them out?" Oz asked.
"If that was a possibility, Yuto and I wouldn't have gone to the Standard Dimension in the first place." Shun answered. "We have no idea who is leading the Invasion Force, and even if we did, their base is too heavily guarded."
Serena looked like she wanted to say something, but didn't.
"So that's out of the question... Is there anyway we can talk them out of this?" Yuya asked.
Oz then gave him a deadpan stare. "Yuya, Heartland wouldn't look like a ruined landscape if they could be talked out of this."
"Sorry. I just thought that maybe we could convince them to stop."
"The only way we can get them to stop is by force." Allen commented.
Yuto then stood up. "We also have the pressing concern about Kaito going rogue. I believe that I might have a way to convince him."
Oz then stood up as well. "What's your idea?"
"Back before Academia invaded, Kaito always had this particular card that he kept in his locker. It was always blank, but he had said that he always felt like it was something important. Sometimes I'd find him staring at it, and see him gain a headache. I believe that if we can get ahold of this card, we might be able to use it to get Kaito back on our side."
"That's a good idea." Shun stated. "We can show him that by working as a unit, we can get things done better than working alone."
"In that case, I believe that it is best if Yuya, Yuto and I are the ones to look for the card. Safety in numbers after all. Everyone else needs to standby in case of an attack." Oz stated.
"I am not staying still." Serena argued, while standing up. "After what happened in the Synchro Dimension, I am not just going to sit around uselessly while everyone else is fighting."
Oz then got in front of her. "What happened in Synchro was something that could happen again here. Besides, you won't be sitting around. We need competent Duelists here to protect the civilians. And it's clear that Silvio won't cut it."
"Hey!" Silvio complained.
Oz then put a hand on Serena's shoulder. "Think of it this way, a competent player saves their hidden aces for last. You just so happen to be one of them."
Serena sighed, then gave a small smile. "Alright. But next time, I'm going out to, no matter what you say."
"Deal." Oz said.
He, Yuto, and Yuya left to gather their things.
"Smooth." Yuto commented.
Oz responded by lightly punching Yuto in the arm.
"So why did you want me to tag along?" Yuya asked.
"To show you just why your smile philosophy won't work here." Oz replied.
"Why my philosophy won't work here?"
"The landscape is the perfect example of how ruthless our enemy is. Smiles won't always win, not against someone who can't, or rather, won't be saved."
"He's right." Yuto stated. "I've been fighting Academia for a while, and they never have let up. I've tried reasoning with them, but that only lead to friends getting carded."
Yuya then looked to be in thought.
The three boys then gather their things and leave the Lodge.
Sneaking around, they slowly make their way to the ruins of the school.
Eventually they get to the school and enter. There were no Academia members anywhere in sight.
"So, if you were to come across the leader of the Invasion Force, what would either of you do?" Oz asked as they walked down a hall.
"I'd most likely duel him and get him to repent for his sins." Yuto admitted.
Oz then noticed Yuya not focusing. "Still on about how your dad was in this dimension?"
Yuya then looked up in slight suprise. "You could tell?"
"Your facial expression says so."
"Oh. Well, yeah. To find out that for the 3 years that he was gone, he was in another dimension. And what Allen said still bugs me. There has to be a reason that my father disappeared from the XYZ Dimension, just like why he disappeared from Standard."
"I'm sure he had a reason. Sakaki-Sensei was someone who we all looked up to. He never seemed like the type of person to abandon his morals." Yuto said.
Yuya then smiled. "Thank you."
The three then take a corner, and notice a row of lockers that haven't been knocked over.
"Here it is." Yuto stated.
Yuto then entered a combination, unlocking the door.
"You know Kaito's locker combination?" Oz questioned.
"I learned it so I could prank him one day. It's how I learned about the card." Yuto admitted.
Yuto then grabbed the blank card. Oz quickly noticed that it even though it was blank, it was an effect monster.
'Wait... if Kaito always got headaches from looking at the card, and it's clearly a main deck card... is this Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!?'
Yuto then handed the card to Oz. "Here. If anyone can bring out its potential, it will be you."
Oz took the card and placed it in his Blue-Eyes deck. "I'll take good care of it."
Back at the Duel Lodge, Serena was helping out around the building along with Silvio and Gong.
While she was helping the civilians, she kept noticing that Sayaka would sneak glances at her.
When she noticed again, she grabbed Sayaka by the shoulder and pulled her aside.
"Alright, what's with the looks?" Serena questions.
"O-oh, sorry. I-it's just that you look so similar to Ruri." Sayaka explained.
Serena just sighed. "Listen, I am not Ruri. I might have a similar face, but I am not her."
"Sorry, it's just that I look at you, and I can't help but be reminded of my mistakes."
"What mistakes?" Serena asked.
"I-I-I" Sayaka began, she then broke down, sobbing.
Serena immediately went to comfort her. "Hey, hey. What's wrong?" She asks in a calm voice.
After a few minutes, Sayaka finally calms down enough to give an explanation.
"During the first week of invasion, I witnessed Ruri's capture. She was cornered by a cloaked figure using a plant based deck. I could have tried to stop them, I could have tried to save Ruri."
Serena then put an arm on her shoulder, getting her to stop. "Did the cloaked figure use Predaplant monsters?"
"...Yes." Sayaka answered.
"Then even if you tried to intervene, you would've lost and turned into a card. That man was Yuri, a psychopath who is one of Academia's elites. Whether or not you intervened, Ruri would have still been captured. I'm not saying that you should be glad that you didn't intervene, rather you should look forward and try to get stronger. Strong enough to prevent something like that from happening again."
Sayaka then smiled and wiped her eyes. "Yeah. That sounds like a good idea."
Back with the three boys, they were just leaving the ruins of the school.
When the three of them got outside, they saw a pair of cloaked figures.
Oz and Yuto were immediately on guard.
"You three aren't supposed to be here. Are you lost?" One of them asked.
'Is that DIO's voice... wait Sartorius!?' Oz thought to himself.
"Actually... I'm looking for my father." Yuya stated.
The other two look at him dumbfounded for a moment.
"Your father you say? Can you describe him?" The other asked.
"He's tall, with green hair, and wears an entertainer's uniform. His name is Yusho Sakaki." Yuya explained.
"Yusho Sakaki... If you are Yusho Sakaki's son, then I can use you to draw him out!" The second figure declared.
The figure then held up a duel disk.
Yuto then stepped in front of Yuya. "You're from Academia. You are my enemy."
"I'm not here for you. Move." The figure said.
The first figure put an arm on the shoulder of the first. "Now, now. There are two of us, and three of them. We can simply fulfill both your and his wishes. The two of us against the Sakaki boy and the look alike."
"... fine. I'll crush both of them and force Yusho Sakaki out of hiding." The second figure stated.
"Wait! I don't want to fight." Yuya tried to plead.
"He's not going to take no for an answer Yuya." Oz stated. "You don't exactly have a choice."
Yuto holds up his duel disk and takes position next to Yuya. Yuya hesitantly holds his up as well.
"This duel will go as follows. Both sides share LP, their GY, and their fields." The first figure explained.
Oz then backed up to the sidelines.
"Duel!" The 4 shout.
Yuya & Yuto LP: 4000
Yuya hand: 5
Yuto hand: 5
???1 & ???2 LP: 4000
???1 hand: 5
???2 hand: 5
"I'll start this duel." The 2nd figure declared. "I summon Destiny Hero Drilldark. And using its effect, I summon a second Drilldark from my hand."
Destiny Hero Drilldark: atk: 1600 x2
"I set 1 card and end my turn."
"My turn! Draw!" Yuto shouts.
Yuya & Yuto LP: 4000
Yuto hand: 6
"I'll start by setting one card. And I'll immediately activate it!" Yuto declared.
"What!? Activating a card you just set!" The second figure exclaimed.
"The card I just set is The Phantom Knights of Shade Brigandine. This card can be activated the turn it's set if I don't have any traps in my GY. What this card does is it summons itself as a level 4 monster!" Yuto explained.
The Phantom Knights of Shade Brigandine: def: 300
"Next I'll summon The Phantom Knights of Cloven Helm."
The Phantom Knights of Cloven Helm: atk: 1500
"Now I overlay my two level 4 monsters! With them, I build the Overlay Network! Formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Now, descend! XYZ Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon!" Yuto chanted.
Dark Rebellion appeared and gave out a strong roar.
Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon: atk: 2500
"I set 3 cards and end my turn." Yuto declared.
"My turn. Draw." The first figure stated calmly.
???1 & ???2 LP: 4000
???1 hand: 6
"I summon Arcana Force IV - The Emperor." They declared.
Arcana Force IV - The Emperor: atk: 1400
'Definitely Sartorius.'
"The Emperor's effect activates. When it is summoned, it gains an effect based on if it is upright or upside down." The first figure explained.
A large version of the card appeared above them and began to rotate. It stopped upright.
"The Emperor's upright effect. All Arcana Force monsters I control gain 500 atk."
The Emperor: atk: 1900
"Next I play Arcana Reading. This also has an upright and upside down effect." The figure explained.
The card spun before landing upright.
"As always, Lady Luck smiles on me. The upright position effect of Arcana Reading allows me to add any card that involves tossing a coin to my hand. I add Cup of Ace. I'll activate it right away."
The card spun and yet again landed upright.
"What's with this. Is this guy cheating?" Yuto questions.
"No, I have never cheated. I am just blessed by the gods with great fortune." The figure retaliated. "The upright effect of Cup of Ace allows me to draw 2 cards."
"Now I banish Arcana Reading to normal summon an Arcana Force monster again. I summon Arcana Force VII - The Chariot."
Arcana Force VII - The Chariot: atk: 1700
"Don't forget, The Emperor boosts all my Arcana Force monsters atk by 500." The figure reminded.
The Chariot: atk: 2200
"Now I end my turn." The figure concluded.
"My turn. Draw!" Yuya declared.
Yuya & Yuto LP: 4000
Yuya hand: 6
"I'll start by setting the Pendulum Scale with Scale 3 Performapal Seal Eel, and Scale 8 Odd-Eyes Unicorn. With this, I'll take control of this duel." Yuya declared as his monsters arose in the blue Pendulum Pillars.
"So this is Pendulum... fascinating." The 1st figure stated.
"Pendulum Summon! Draw an arc of light across the aether! First up: Performapal Whip Snake. And second is Performapal Skeeter Skimmer."
Performapal Whip Snake: atk: 1700
Performapal Skeeter Skimmer: atk: 500
"Now I'll overlay my two level 4 monsters! With them I build the Overlay Network! Power from beyond this world, emerge from the boundaries and guide the light! XYZ summon! Emerge, Rank 4: Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon!"
The golden version of Dark Rebellion appeared and roared out.
Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon: atk: 2500
Dark Rebellion and and its golden counterpart began to roar in sync.
Yuya and Yuto both feel a dark pulse run through them, Yuya felt it worse than Yuto.
Oz felt darkness coming from his deck box.
"Stay in there."
Oz then sent out psychic energy towards his deck box. The darkness then started to recede back into it.
The darkness was coming from Malific Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon, as it still held the darkness of Dark Rebellion inside it. Malific Clear Wing still exists despite the darkness freeing itself.
Due to the darkness of Dark Rebellion failing to reach it, the 2 dragons stop roaring, and Yuya and Yuto's pain subsided.
"You two alright?" The first figure asked. "It appeared that your dragons were reacting to one another."
"We're fine. We don't need sympathy from the enemy." Yuto spat out. "Continue your turn Yuya."
"Alright. I activate Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon's effect. By detaching 1 Overlay Unit, I can half the atk of one of your monsters and add it to my dragon. Discharge of Lightning!"
Gold lightning flied out of the golden dragon's wings and surrounded the chariot.
The Chariot: atk: 1100
Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon: atk: 3600
"I use Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon's last Overlay Unit to activate its effect again. Discharge of Lightning!" Yuy declared.
The Chariot: atk: 550
Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon: atk: 4150
"Battle! Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon attack The Chariot. Golden Lightning Charge!" Yuya declared.
Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon charged through The Chariot, dealing a lot of damage to the cloaked figures.
???1 & ???2 LP: 400
"Next I set a card and end my turn. With it, Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon's atk returns to normal." Yuya stated.
Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon: atk: 2500
"My turn, draw!" The second figure declared.
???1 & ???2 LP: 400
???2 hand: 3
"I activate my trap: D-Fusion! This allows me to Fusion Summon a Destiny Hero fusion monster by using monster on my field. I fuse my two Drilldarks!"
"Two heroes drilling the bedrock of destiny. Now become one and reign in the pitch-black future! Fusion Summon! Come on! Destiny Hero - Dystopia!"
Dystopia landed and struck a pose.
Destiny Hero - Dystopia: atk: 2800
"Now I use Dystopia's effect! I target Drilldark and deal you damage equal to its atk! Noble Justice!"
Dystopia then shot out an energy ball at the duo, it landed right in front of them and exploded.
Yuya & Yuto LP: 2400
"Now I equip Dystopia with Fusion Sword Murasame Blade. This increases its atk by 800!"
Dystopia: atk: 3600
"Since Dystopia's atk just changed, I can use its effect! I destroy Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon! Squeeze Palm!" The figure declared.
The palm of the fusion monster opened up and created a vacuum that started to drag in Dark Rebellion.
The dragon tried to resist, only for it to get dragged in and shrunk. Dystopia then crushed it in its hand.
Yuto let out a growl of frustration.
"Now, Dystopia attack Odd-Eyes XYZ Dragon! Dystopia Blow!"
Dystopia charged forward and dealt a fierce punch to Odd-Eyes XYZ, destroying it in one hit.
Yuya & Yuto LP: 1300
"I set one card and end my turn." The figure declared.
"My turn. Draw!" Yuto shouts.
Yuya & Yuto LP: 1300
Yuto hand: 2
"First I activate Yuya's Seal Eel's pendulum effect! Your Dystopia's effects are negated until the end phase!"
Seal Eel shot out an X that landed on Dystopia's face.
'Smart move Yuto.' Oz thought to himself.
"Next I'll be playing Monster Reborn! Revive Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon!"
Dark Rebellion appeared from a portal in the ground and roared.
Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon: atk: 2500
"Next I activate my face down, The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch! This allows me to rank up any XYZ monster I control. I choose Dark Rebellion! With this one monster, I rebuild the Overlay Network!"
"From the depths of purgatory, dedicate to the unsinking souls your song of rebellion! Appear and echo forevermore! Rank-Up XYZ Change! Appear, Rank 5! Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon!" Yuto chanted furiously.
Dark Requiem roared out with anger.
'Oh boy. It's angry. Thankfully the darkness is still sealed away.' Oz thought.
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon: atk: 3000
"I now activate Dark Requiem's effect. By detaching one Overlay Unit, Dark Requiem can reduce the atk of a level 5 or higher monster you control to zero. Dark Requiem them gains the original atk of your monster! Requiem Salvation!" Yuto shouts.
Dark Requiem shot out streams of darkness from its wings, the streams wrap around Dystopia fully restraining it.
"Tch. Dystopia can't use its effect due to that Pendulum monster." The second figure said to themself.
Destiny Hero - Dystopia: atk: 0
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon: 5800
"Now, double trap! Phantom Knights' Sword! Both of these continuous traps equip to Dark Requiem giving it 800 atk each!" Yuto declared.
The wings on Dark Reqiuem grew sharper as its atk increased.
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon: atk: 7400
"Yuto! That's enough! You already have enough atk points!" Yuya said trying to get Yuto to calm down.
Oz decided to be annoying. "Yuto! Increase its atk further!" Oz shouts.
"Not helping Oz!" Yuya shouted at him.
"Trap activate!" The second figure shouted. "Direct Destiny Assault! This card deals you damage equal to a Destiny Hero's level times 100. I deal you 800 damage from Dystopia's level."
A purple blast is fired from the card, hitting Yuto.
Yuya & Yuto LP: 500
Yuto then shrugs off the damage.
"I activate the spell: The Phantom Knights of Shadow Veil. This increases Dark Requiem's atk and Def by an additional 300." Yuto explained.
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon: atk 7700
"Now, Dark Requiem, attack Destiny Hero - Dystopia!" Yuto commanded.
Dark Requiem flew upwards before stopping. Its wings then began to emit the stained glass like parts.
Seeing the formation of the stained glass like parts of the wings left Osrelios in awe.
'It's even cooler in person...'
"Make them feel the fury of the fallen! Disaster Disobey of Requiem!" Yuto shouts.
Dark Requiem then charged straight for Dystopia.
The two figures look at each other before nodding.
"I activate Destiny Hero - Dynatag from my hand. Battle damage becomes zero, but in exchange, we all take 1000 damage!"
"What!?" Yuya and Yuto shout at the same time.
A large explosion goes off that launches them all back.
???1 & ???2 LP: 0
Yuya & Yuto LP: 0
Yuto and Yuya were both launched into a section of ruined wall, when they hit it, it collapsed trapping them in.
The two figures landed not too far.
"Yuya! Yuto!" Oz shouted.
Oz ran to the downed duo, the two figures took that time to escape.
Oz started to dig through the fallen debris, and pulled both pieces of Z-arc out from the rubble.
Oz then heard a noise right next to him, he turned on guard.
Kaito was there.
"Kaito... what are you doing here?" Oz questioned.
"I saw what happened. I'll help you get them back to the hideout. But nothing more, got it?" Kaito responded.
"... Thank you."
Kaito said nothing and proceeded to pick up Yuto. He held Yuto over his shoulder, with Oz doing the same with Yuya.
The two of them began the trek back to the duel lodge.
"What were you three doing here in the first place?" Kaito asked.
"We were hoping for a few things, one of them being traces of Yusho Sakaki." Oz replied.
"Yusho-Sensei? You really believe that he's still in this dimension?"
"I personally don't, but if I said that in front of Yuya, he'd lose hope of seeing his father completely. Oh, by the way, Yuto knows your locker combo."
"... So he's why I found all that junk in my locker."
Oz suppressed a laugh.
They were both silent for a moment before Oz spoke up.
"When all of this is over, what will you do? You're kinda all about revenge, and once that's over, then what?"
"... I don't know. Probably try to live the same life that I had before the Invasion."
"You should probably give up your revenge now. Feelings like that consume you, turn you into something your not."
Kaito then glare at him. "I don't need a lecture."
The two got close to the Duel Lodge, and Kaito immediately set Yuto's unconscious body on Oz' other shoulder.
"This is as far as I'm going." Kaito said before he walked off.
Oz stared at him for a moment before continuing to the Duel Lodge.
Oz felt a small pulse from one of his decks.
Oz made his way to the door and kicked it lightly enough to make some noise.
After a few moments, Sayaka opened the door.
She say Oz holding the two boys. "Oh goodness, what happened!?"
"They fought two cloaked figures, both from Academia." Oz answered.
"Here, bring them to their rooms." Sayaka instructed.
Oz complied.
On his way, he saw Shun and Serena.
The two ran up to him.
"Are they alright?" Shun asks.
"Mostly. They got buried under some rubble due to tying a duel."
"Who'd they duel?" Serena asked.
"Two cloaked figures. One who uses Destiny Heroes and the other uses Arcana Force monsters."
"Edo Phoenix and Sartorius. The Destiny Duo." Serena said to herself.
"Who are they?" Shun questioned.
"The Invasion Force Leader and his right hand man." Serena answered.
"The Invasion Force Leader... Are they dangerous?" Shun asked.
"Yes. The thing about Sartorius is that he always seems to get what he needs from his gamble based cards. And Edo Phoenix is another issue. His ace: Destiny Hero - Dystopia is nearly invincible due to its effects. It can deal damage upon summon, and each time its atk or Def changes, it can destroy a card on the field. There's also a few rumors surrounding him. One of them being that he has an evolved form of his ace which is even more invincible."
"Sounds like his skills back up his position." Shun comments.
"All the more reason to be careful. Now I'm going to set these two down so they can rest and recover." Oz stated before walking off.
Oz set the two down, before taking out the blank card.
"I promise you that he'll turn out okay."
Oz then felt another pulse form the card. It was a small one, but he could tell that it meant the spirit was happy.
Oz then laid down against the wall, letting himself rest for what's to come.