Guest Reviewer: I saw a YouTube video on this subject once. I'll summarize it for you here:
The story of Duel Monsters actually begins right at the beginning of time itself: The Big Bang. The initial expansion of the universe brought the source of all life to existence. A being that Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal refers to as 'Chaos.'
After drifting through the cosmos for around 10 billion years, Chaos came to rest on a Mars-sized dwarf planet commonly referred to as 'Theia.' Not long after that, however, Theia crashed into another planet that will later be known as 'Earth.' And because of the crash, Earth's moon began to take shape.
Earth became a new home for Chaos and for the next 4 billion years, it oversaw life developing on the once uninhabitable planet. It also created new worlds like the 'Barian World.' And the 'Astral World.' While also having contact with multiple gods.
When the first humans began walking the Earth, Chaos began a series of interactions with them during both prehistory and early history. It wasn't until somewhere around 1000 BC that the most advanced civilization at the time (Ancient Egypt) was able to harness the power of Chaos and create the first Duel Monsters spirits. Sealing the created spirits into large stone tablets.
In Yubel's case, she's living proof that humans can become Duel Monsters spirits if there's some sort of link to Chaos itself.
It's a brand new day at Duel Academy. With the events of yesterday behind everyone, tensions have fallen yet there was still an unshakeable feeling of uncertainty in the air.
Deciding that she didn't want to duel using a duel disk, Charlize is currently playing Duel Monsters the old fashioned way: On a tabletop.
In front of her is her latest challenger: The Obelisk Blue student known as Mindy. Watching the duel are her friends, Alexis and Jasmine.
"It may have been a while since I've last played Duel Monsters… But a deck like mine doesn't lose easily."
Charlize smirks. "Please, so far nobody here has given me a decent challenge. I've even weakened my deck so that it's only half as strong as it was before I was thrown here."
"I've seen with my own eyes how good she is, Mindy." Alexis said to her friend. "Now I know I've said this before, but are you SURE you're up to the challenge?"
Mindy looks at Alexis. "I did what you said and studied a little more. I got this."
DUEL
Mindy - 4000 LP
VS
Charlize Princeton - 4000 LP
Mindy drew her starting hand. "I'm going to start things off by playing one of my favorite monsters… Neo the Magic Swordsman! (ATK: 1700)
Next, I'm going to set one card face down and end my turn."
Charlize sighs as she shakes her head. "Another simple play. You're aiming for a mindnumbingly slow game, aren't you?"
"Uh… no." Mindy said in an irritated voice. "I'm going to beat you as fast as I can."
"I doubt it. It's my turn now." Charlize draws a card. "First off… I'm activating the spell card, Mystical Space Typhoon. I will destroy your set card."
"Dang it. That was part of my strategy." Said Mindy as she moved her Sakuretsu Armor to the graveyard.
Charlize continues. "I activate the effect of D/D Swirl Slime in my hand. By sending it to my graveyard along with my D/D Orthros to fusion summon D/D/D Flame King Genghis."
"Annnd… She's already won." Alexis sighed. There's just no way anybody can beat her. It's just impossible. If only she was around during the time Sartorius was brainwashing students into joining The Society of Light. She would have mopped the floor with him and saved the academy a lot of trouble.
Mindy looks at her. "Huh?"
"The good news for you is that I don't have any more monsters in my hand." Said Charlize. "The bad news is that I decided to include three copies of Mage Power in my deck…and I drew all three of them!" She places her cards down on the table. I will attack your Neo with Genghis and win this game!"
"A one turn kill." Alexis said stoically. "Why the hell am I not surprised?"
"Wait no. It's not a one turn kill!" Mindy stood up from her seat. "You see… I had 4000 life points and your Genghis had to have at least…" She does the math in her head. "Oh… Dang it. It's a one turn kill." 0 LP
Charlize sighs for what felt like the hundredth time today. "Is there anybody on this island besides Beta Jaden that can give me a decent challenge?"
It was then that she heard a voice call out to her. A masculine one. "I think you'll be finding everything you're looking for right here!"
She looks over to see Chazz walking up to her. Jaden, Syrus, and Blair are not far behind. "Oh hell no." She put her deck away before standing up.
"Chazz!" Alexis shouts at him. "You're back!"
Chazz points at himself. "I'm not the same Chazz Princeton you've always known… During my time in her world, I've been torn down and torn down some more until only the tiniest part of me still remains… And in that moment… I've been built back up into the duelist standing in front of you today."
Charlize looked unimpressed. "Alex Rhodes gave you his old cards and taught you how to use them… Is that what happened?"
That caught Alexis' attention. "Oh! That's right! Chazz, you've met my male counterpart! If you don't mind me asking… What was he like?"
"Oh Alexis…" He looks at her. "I've only known him for half a day… But it's like he's known me for my entire lifetime. The time that we've spent together… Is something I will NEVER forget as long as I live… If only I had a chance to say goodbye to him."
"Oh man… You're so lucky, Chazz." Jaden said to him. "I had to figure everything out on my own… It's a good thing there were none of those… Fancy cards."
Charlize then sighs again. "Let me guess… You told him you used to play XYZ Dragon Cannon… and he gave you his old ABC engine? Ancient Fairy Dragon included?"
"ABC engine?" Jaden blinks twice.
"Ancient Fairy Dragon?" Alexis looks at Chazz.
"Yep. That's exactly it." Said Chazz. "He said I'd be transformed… and he wasn't wrong."
"Yeah…" Charlize sat back down and rests her elbows on the table. "Alex has a way of changing people's way of thinking… I thought Alexis here was capable of doing the same thing… But I don't see any devoted followers."
Alexis looks at her. "It sounds like Alex can be pretty scary at times. What cards does he play?"
Charlize then shook her head before raising her voice. "Oh no! You're not gonna get that info out of me that easily! I'll take it to the grave if I have to!"
"Oh yeah… Alex's cards…" Chazz looks up. "He never really… showed me what he's currently playing… I was focused on trying to understand all the new cards. I would love to watch him duel one day."
Jaden then pats him on the shoulder. "Hey, cheer up man. I have a gut feeling that you'll be seeing him again before long. Once the last counterpart is dealt with we'll have an opportunity to speak with Visas again. Maybe he'll give us freedom to cross into the other worlds again!"
"Yeah… I highly doubt it…" Chazz shook his head. "Anyway… This 'Beta Jaden' guy… You told me he's going up against the last counterpart? I'd like to see him in action."
Beta Jaden stood at his respective side at the Duel Arena. It's been some time since his duel with his Alpha counterpart. Since then, nobody has stepped forward to challenge him. It's gotten pretty boring.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He just needs to be patient. It'll all pay off when all is said and done. If these counterparts are as dangerous as the other Jaden claims to be, then he's in for the duel of his life. He truly is blessed to be part of something like this.
"Jaden Yuki… Universe Beta… It is an honor to finally meet you face to face."
Beta Jaden opens his eyes to see a peculiar character looking back at him from the other side of the duel arena. Like this world's Jaden Yuki, this guy likes to dress up in all red. Some of his hair is red too. A perfect ratio of red and black.
"So… You're a counterpart of this… Visas guy?"
The counterpart bows to him as a sign of respect. "You may call me… Riseheart. My brothers… They've fought as hard as they could and even though they lost their matches… Let it be said that they've fought to the very end for what they value!
A new world… created in their image!"
"Look man, I don't care about all of that!" Beta Jaden shook his head. "I'm just gonna beat you so I can go home and be with my girlfriend again. I'm starting to miss her."
"You're not going to need a girlfriend where YOU'RE going!" Riseheart yells at him. "The rules of this game are simple. If I beat you… my link to this world will solidify and I'll let my army lay waste to everything!"
"Well then…" Beta Jaden readys his duel disk. "To that, I'll say… Get ready to be JADED!"
DUEL
Beta Jaden - 8000 LP
VS
Riseheart - 8000 LP
"I'll go first!" Riseheart yelled before drawing his starting hand. "First… I'll activate the magic card known as, Small World! I banish Droll and Lock bird from my hand along with revealing… a copy of myself from my deck, so I can fetch Kashtira Unicorn to my hand! When I control no monsters, I can special summon it! (ATK: 2500) And then I use its effect!
Once per turn, I can fetch a Kashtira spell card from my deck, I choose Kashtiratheosis! I'll then activate it, special summoning my Kashtira Fenrir from my deck in defense mode! (DEF: 2400) Fenrir's effect then lets me add Scareclaw Kashtira to my hand!"
It was then that Beta Jaden heard a familiar voice. "Hey! That's a card that Reichheart used on me!"
He looks over to see Alpha Jaden accompanied by about a dozen other people sitting behind him.
"Oh hey guys!" He greets them. "Wanna watch me save the world? It may be the last show you'll ever see!"
"Hey, you gotta be careful, man!" Chazz yelled at him. "One wrong move and it's over for all of us!"
"I can't die surrounded by noobs!" Charlize yells.
Alexis looks at her. "Care to repeat that?"
"HEY!" Everybody looks over at Riseheart. "In case you all have forgotten, I'm still not finished with my turn! These monsters you see before you right now are stronger than ANYTHING this world has to offer!"
"Uh, that's not true!" Alpha Jaden yells at him. "I'm sure we each have a monster with higher attack points than that… THING of yours!"
Infuriated, Riseheart continues his turn. "I'll show you ALL the fury of The Kashtira! By banishing the Kashtiratheosis card in my graveyard, I am able to special summon Scareclaw Kashtira! (DEF: 2600) I have three level 7 monsters on my field… So now I'll overlay them to xyz summon… Kashtira Arise-Heart! (ATK: 3000)"
"WHOA!" Jaden stood amazed at what he saw. "That thing's like Scareclaw Tri-Heart!"
"I faced a Tearlaments Rulkallos." Said Chazz. "This isn't going to be easy for Beta Jaden."
"Uh, Tearla-what?" Blair scratches her head.
"Is it my turn, yet?" Beta Jaden questions Riseheart.
Riseheart nodded. "I'm done for now, but you should remember… If you play a card I don't like… I can detach three materials and banish it! Plus I have a way to give my Arise-Heart more materials… Due to the fact that both our graveyards are locked out!"
"That's super." Beta Jaden draws a card "You have a very powerful monster. I'll give you that. But you know what we humans say?"
"What?" Riseheart raised an eyebrow.
"The chain is only as strong as its weakest link… I activate the spell card… Book of Moon! Switching your monster to face down defense mode and detaching all its materials!"
"DAMN!" Riseheart cursed as his monster changes position. "I wasn't anticipating that!"
"A duelist ALWAYS anticipates the worst!" Said Beta Jaden. "And they come up with ways to come out on top! I'm going to continue my turn now. Try to keep up, everybody in the audience!"
"I'm all ready for you this time!" Said Aster, who is currently holding a notebook and pen. "I'll study your strategy… and find your weakness!"
Alpha Jaden looks at him. "Hey, you think you can lend me your notes sometime?" "TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES!"
Beta Jaden smirks as he looks at his starting hand. "I'm gonna have fun taking you down. It isn't very often that I get to do this.
I activate a spell card, Polymerization! From my hand, I fuse Vision Hero Increase, and Elemental Hero Liquid Soldier!"
"Wait." Chazz's eyes widen. "Female Jaden had that Vision Hero card."
Blair looks at him. "Female? Jaden?"
"I fusion summon Elemental Hero Sunrise! Allowing me to search my deck for Miracle Fusion! Then Liquid Soldier's effect activates in the graveyard! Allowing me to draw two cards and discard one card in my hand… And I guess I'll discard my Red Reboot card… It never did much for me anyway… I've been thinking of replacing it, you know?"
He gives a smile to Riseheart. That smile wasn't returned.
"Anyway… continuing with my turn… I activate Fusion Destiny… Allowing me to fusion summon using Destiny Heroes from my deck!"
"Wait a minute, DESTINY HEROES!?" Chazz looks at Aster. "Do you know about this!?" "WHY DO YOU THINK I'M TAKING NOTES!?"
"And it's all because of me." Charlize looks at both of them. "You're welcome, by the way."
"From my deck, I send Destiny Hero Malicious, and Destiny Hero Denier!" Beta Jaden sends his monsters to the graveyard. "I fusion summon Destiny Hero - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer! (ATK: 2900)"
"Wow, Aster." Commented Jaden. "If you had a card like that… I don't think even the Neo Spacians could help me out very much."
"It's weird. It's like… I can see an alternate me playing what he's playing." Aster looks at Beta Jaden. "The multiverse can be pretty scary."
"From my hand… I normal summon Elemental Hero Stratos! I'll use Stratos' effect to fetch Destiny Hero - Plasma!"
"AND HE HAS PLASMA TOO!" Aster loudly commented. "What a shocking turn of events!"
"He's just mad because I beat him badly." Beta Jaden said to Riseheart. "Anyway, I banish my Destiny Hero Malicious from my graveyard to special summon another one from my deck. Next, I'm going to perform a link summon! Linking Malicious together with Stratos to link summon Xtra Hero Cross Crusader!
Cross Crusader lets me special summon Destiny Hero - Denier from my graveyard. Now for Denier's effect…"
Watching the duel, Jasmine lets out an annoyed sigh. "Ugh… Is it still his turn? He's taking forever!" "QUIET! I'm trying to watch!" Alexis nudges her in the arm.
"I'll return my banished Malicious to the top of my deck, but he won't be staying there for long!" Beta Jaden smirks.
Now it's Riseheart's turn to sigh. "You'll be banishing the one that's in your graveyard to special summon it."
"That's exactly right!" Said Beta Jaden. "Now I'll tribute Denier, Malicious, and Cross Crusader to special summon Destiny Hero - Plasma!"
"What does that monster do?" Questioned Riseheart.
"Plasma can take your face down Arise-Heart… and attaches it to itself as if it is an equip card! Plus… it gains half of Arise-Heart's attack points. A whopping 3,400!"
"WHAT!?" Riseheart can only watch as one of his most powerful monsters was absorbed into Plasma… Essentially giving him a sneak peek on what exactly will be happening to him when he loses this duel. There's just no question about it anymore. There was absolutely no way he could have won. The same applies to his brothers. They all thought they could win easily against three different universes that couldn't be more different, but instead, they all learned that there was a lot more that united them then drove them apart. It didn't matter how many strong monsters he and his brothers had.
"I have more than enough to defeat you, Riseheart." Beta Jaden said to him. All three of his monsters staring at his enemy. "I wish I could say that you gave me a challenge, but, you know, we both know that isn't true."
"Okay okay!" Riseheart drops all the cards in his hand. "You got me… You got me…" He then places a hand on top of his duel disk… Signaling his surrender. 0 LP
"Now THAT is what you call a one turn kill!" Beta Jaden pumps his fist in the air.
"Alexis?" Mindy spoke to her friend. "What?" "I don't think I wanna keep playing this game."
Aster, meanwhile, looks over his notes. "I… Have no idea what had just happened. I'll probably be an old man by the time link monsters are released."
It was then that Visas appeared in front of everybody. Ignoring their reactions, he looks down on Riseheart. "You surrendering was the wisest thing you have ever done."
"Isn't there any way to stop this?" Riseheart began wiping tears from his eyes. "Can't you just… Let me be… existing?"
"You know I can't do that." Visas put his hand on his fragment's shoulder. "You're just too dangerous. If it serves as any comfort to you… There's a fourth counterpart that is still out there… He's much older than you."
"That is very…" Riseheart said as he was being absorbed into Visas. "Reassuring."
"WELL that was fun!" Beta Jaden claps his hands while looking at Visas. "Now that all the counterparts are dealt with, you're now able to send everybody back home, right? Duel Academies Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are saved! We're now at the end of our long journey! Send us back whenever you're ready! No need to rush!"
Visas looks at Beta Jaden, before giving him a wicked unnerving smile. "Oh… how I wish it would be that simple… There's still something important that needs to be discussed!"
In an instant, everybody watching in the arena was teleported to a mysterious colosseum.
"Welcome, friends… to the space between universes!"
Above everybody was the night sky. The images of the three Duel Academies are visible. As they all stood amazed by the sight, Visas continued his monolouge.
"Long ago… While I was still young and complete. I stumbled across a Duel Academy that wasn't much different than yours. It was a version of Duel Academy which was about to be destroyed along with the entirety of its world due to the Light of Destruction. A massive satellite would have destroyed everything if I just watched.
Being the young and foolish celestial being that I was… I tried to save the planet. All I wanted to do was help the people of Earth… But my actions… only ended up ensuring the total destruction that the light desired.
A piece of my heart ended up breaking away from my body… and fused itself with the light. The result was the first and only fragment to have successfully breathed new life into a dead world that was already destroyed. Mannadium Riumheart has grown to be every bit as powerful as I am now. To this day, he's still there… Living in a world made in his image. His eternal paradise.
All these years later, I have to live with the fact that I am now incomplete… Unable to stabilize existing links between universes. Because of my flawed judgement and power. I'm unable to send everybody help.
Simply speaking… To maintain a new balance in this part of the multiverse… One of you that has been affected by my fragments will have to volunteer to leave your home universe… Forever. Never to return again. And make a new home in the universe you wound up in.
Jaden Yuki Alpha… Jaden Yuki Beta… Chazz Princeton… Charlize Princeton… Who is it going to be?
Perhaps this can be settled with a tournament? Duel Monsters? Yes…
THE VISAS TOURNAMENT!"