Starting Notes:
Welcome back! I've been excited for this for a while… so let's cut to the chase. Enjoy!
Chapter 87: Rumbling Thunder, Shadowed Storms
The pillars and the plants were on fire. Kaito charged through the blazing plaza, holding a piece of wet cloth to his nose. He'd seen the flames from Clover Branch—terminating his duel, he'd run here, not looking back at his opponent at all—
He searched and searched. Every shadow cast by the flames played tricks on his eyes—made him think that there was something there that didn't exist. He was calling out the whole time, but he wasn't sure if he could be heard at all, or if his voice was swallowed up by the flames.
Finally, he saw her. Breathing heavily, he knelt down next to her—she was on the ground, her legs trembling. Nearby, there was another figure—and another shadow.
Kaito made eye contact with the soulless, red eyes of a silver mask.
A moment of silence.
The figure in the flames picked up the man on the ground in her arms, and she left—and Kaito did not pursue her, he did not fight—the flames raged around them, but strangely enough, it was because of the flames and the smoke that neither of them wanted to fight—
The male figure was howling, clutching onto the shadow. "I need to find that man! They're hiding him! Where is he? I swear I'll card that bastard, I swear I'll—"
His voice was lost as he was dragged away from the flames. And then, there were two.
"Can you get up?" He said, his throat rough from the smoke.
"No," she said. Her voice was gritty. "No, I can't. My legs—"
Kaito winced. He knew what she was struggling with—the smoke could only be making it worse. "Lean on my shoulder," he said. "I'll get you out of here."
"It's my fault," Tsubaki murmured. The flames were still burning. Why weren't the sprinklers turning on yet? "I thought I was over this. But I… god. Chris. Thomas. Michael. I don't know what to say."
"I'm sure you'll find a way. It's you. And believe me, you haven't been more destructive than these bastards have been." He helped her get up, though most of her weight was still on his shoulder. "You'll get him next time. Let's regroup."
"... right." Tsubaki breathed out again. "... the pharmacy is nearby. Get me there, I'll fix this."
"No problem. Hold on."
So, four shadows exited the burning mall—
And they were the only witnesses to what had happened there, and what had happened after.
To be honest, very few people had survived encounters with the fearsome Edo Phoenix. Yuto himself had never met the Commander-in-Chief of the Occupation Force—oh, he obviously knew a little about him from the descriptions of others. The grey hair, the blue eyes, and of course, that overly dramatic cloak. The fact that he was a year older than Yuto himself, the same age as Nue. The fact that he apparently used Warrior monsters as well—heroes, or something like that?
In a sense, the very name 'Edo Phoenix' was something akin to the boogeyman for them—someone that had been threatening their very safety since the start of the war.
… to be honest, he just looked like a normal teenager. Intimidating in appearance and expression, but otherwise… normal. Yuto wasn't sure what he'd expected, but it wasn't this. Maybe it was because this guy looked so normal that Kyorin had been fooled into helping him. (And Yuto didn't blame her for that, anyway—Academia was good at deceiving people. Dennis was proof of that—and of course, Sora too, even if he'd defected in the end.)
Still, Yuto reflected, it wasn't like he was going to run scared just because of how well-known his opponent was—in fact, it just made him even more determined.
If he could defeat this person, right here…
It would be proof that the Resistance could move forward!
So he just had to win. No matter what, he had to win!
"How long are you going to spend staring?" Edo said, arching an eyebrow. "I'd like to get this done sometime today, thanks."
… what a jerkass. "I'm ready to go if you are," Yuto said. "I'm going to defeat you right here, right now!"
For the sake of everyone that had lost against Academia, he had to fight!
(In the corner of his eye, he saw Rin lifting her duel disk, seeming to be debating something. He met her gaze and shook his head—this was as much a battle for him as Roget had been a battle for her and Yugo. Her brow furrowed, but she finally nodded, lowering it and walking over to Kyorin's side. The blue-haired girl still seemed a bit shocked by what she'd just discovered. Yuto hoped that she wouldn't take it too badly—it was rare to meet someone as kind as Kyorin, but very common to meet people who would take advantage of that same kindness.)
[DUEL!]
Edo Phoenix: 4000LP
Yuto Kamisoka: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Edo] [H:5]
The turn order was randomly decided, and Edo raised an eyebrow as they picked up their starting hands. "I see," he said. "I suppose I'm starting first." He took a step to the side, adjusting his posture swiftly—ready for battle, as one might expect. "... I don't feel like it."
"Huh?" Yuto snapped—he'd have preferred the first turn, even if he was fine with either.
"You get one turn to show me what you're capable of," Edo finally said. "Not that I would ever lose to you—but I suppose that now is a good time to get a feel for the dueling of a Resistance member that there are far less reports about, and as a leader, it's good for me to gather some information first-hand from time to time. Alright then. I'll activate the Spell Card, Destiny Draw. I'll send a "Destiny HERO" monster from my hand to the graveyard to draw two cards."
He picked up the two cards, before he placed down a different card from his hand.
"Then, the Spell Card, Reinforcement of the Army. I will add a Level 4 or lower Warrior monster from my deck to my hand." He picked up a card, before he finally placed down a monster. "Activating the Spell Card, Polymerization!"
Yuto tensed up. There it was. Fusion Summoning, as expected…
"I will fuse Destiny HERO - Celestial and Destiny HERO - Drawhand in my hand. Hero gazing at the stars that turn for all eternity! Hero that reaches for destiny with his own hands! Now become one and reign in the pitch-black future! Fusion Summon! Come on! Destiny HERO - Dystopia!"
In front of Edo, a warrior dressed in yellow and purple appeared. The colour scheme was strange—some parts too bright, some parts too dark. The yellow was mainly on the shoulders, as well as covering the man's face with a mask. Meanwhile, the rest of the suit was black and purple, with some thin lines running along them. On the man's yellow mask, red ink formed a messy 'D' shape.
… it was rather campy.
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia (8*/2800/2400/DARK/Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"Dystopia's effect," Edo said with a shrug. "When Special Summoned, I can target a Level 4 or lower "Destiny HERO" monster in my graveyard and inflict damage to you equal to its attack points. I'll target Celestial—and inflict its 1600 damage to you as damage! Squeeze Palm!" The Fusion Monster raised its hand, summoning up a dark, swirling orb that he tossed at Yuto. The orb exploded, shoving Yuto back—even as he reeled.
1600 damage in one shot, on the first turn?
Yuto: 4000 - 1600 = 2400LP
"I could do more, but like I said, I want you to actually be able to make a move. I'll set a card and end my turn."
… what an arrogant thing to say…
Fine. Then Yuto would just have to get rid of his monster right now!
[Turn 2: Yuto] [H:6]
"Draw!"
"Continuous Trap, D-Tactics," Edo said immediately, flipping up his set card. "During the Standby Phase, all "HERO" monsters I control gain 400 attack points!"
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia: 2800 + 400 = 3200ATK]
Yuto played the card immediately, feeling a rush of impulsiveness. "I'll Normal Summon The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales!" A knight dressed in silver armour appeared, blue flames swirling around him. Then again, that described most of Yuto's monsters, huh?
[The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales (3*/600/1600/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"I'll use Torn Scales's effect to discard a card and send a "Phantom Knights" card from my deck to the graveyard!" He revealed the card that he'd just milled from his deck. "I'll banish The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak from the graveyard to add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to my hand—and since I control a "The Phantom Knights" monster, I can Special Summon it from my hand!" The blue spirit appeared next to Torn Scales, floating above the ground.
[The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots (3*/200/1200/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"I'll overlay the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots and the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales!" The two dark monsters turned into streaks that shot into the ground. "Souls of knights who fell on the battlefield. Revive here and now, and become the light that breaks the darkness! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 3! The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!" His main Rank 3 appeared on the field, holding up his sword in the air as blue flames swirled around him.
[The Phantom Knights of Break Sword (R3/2000/1000/DARK/Warrior/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
And with its effect, it didn't matter if that monster had more attack points—Yuto could just wipe it out with Break Sword's effect! He just had to—
"Once per turn, if Destiny HERO - Dystopia's attack points are different from its original attack points, I can activate its effect," Edo said. He stretched out his right arm, holding it straight with his palm splayed out and facing towards the ground. "I can target a card on the field and destroy it! I will choose Break Sword!"
Yuto's eyes widened. So, at any point so far, Edo could have destroyed any card that he controlled?
Edo raised his arm, clenching his fist. "Destroy it now, Dystopia—Noble Justice!"
Break Sword exploded into shadows that swirled around the ground, lingering.
"And then, Dystopia's attack points return to their original attack points."
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia: 3200 - 400 = 2800ATK]
"Doesn't matter," Yuto said. "Even if you destroy my monsters, they'll come back! When The Phantom Knights of Break Sword is destroyed after being Xyz Summoned, I can Special Summon two "The Phantom Knights" monsters with the same Level from my graveyard, and their Levels increase by 1! I'll choose Silent Boots and Torn Scales again, and so they come back! Phantom Resurrection!" Both of Break Sword's materials rose up from the graveyard, glowing as their Levels shot up.
[The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales: 3* + 1* = 4*]
[The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots: 3* + 1* = 4*]
"So you can go for another Xyz Summon immediately," Edo said. "... at least you have some recovery, or this duel would get boring."
"I'm not dueling for your entertainment!" Yuto shot back—Edo's eyebrows narrowed inwards as well. "I'm dueling to defeat you and prove you wrong—and to avenge the people that you wronged! So it doesn't matter—I'll duel the way that I want to, and your judgement doesn't matter to me—not at all! I'll overlay my two Level 4 monsters! Formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Now, descend! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"
His ace appeared, whipping its tail through the air as lightning bolts rained down around it. The purple orbs on its wings glowed brightly, illuminating the area around it.
[Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon (R4/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"... you really resemble Yuri to a great degree," Edo noted. "Interesting…"
Yuto twitched. "I'm nothing like that bastard," he snapped. I'll never be anything like the guy that scared Ruri so much. "And Dark Rebellion's strength is different from his dragon's strength, anyway." He gestured forward. "You said that Dystopia's effect was once per turn, right? So it won't be able to recover from this! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon's effect! I can target a Level 5 or higher monster on the field, detach one of its Overlay Units and halve that monster's attack points! Then, Dark Rebellion gains attack points equal to the attack points that your monster lost—and both of these changes last until the End Phase!"
He gestured to the Fusion Monster.
"So your monster's about to be a whole lot weaker! Do it, Dark Rebellion! Treason Discharge!"
Dark Rebellion swooped down, letting out a roar. Dystopia floated back as the lightning bolts rained down around it and latched onto it—before its energy was drained as Dark Rebellion let out a loud roar.
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia: 2800 / 2 = 1400ATK]
[Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1; 2500 + 1400 = 3900ATK]
A part of him wanted to use Dark Rebellion's effect again, but… it wouldn't defeat Edo anyway. Just in case…
"I'll banish The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from the graveyard to add a "Phantom Knights" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand!" Obviously, he added his Fog Blade to his hand. "Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon attacks Destiny HERO - Dystopia! Lightning Disobey of Rebellion!"
Dark Rebellion drew its head up, before lightning bolts shot out directly at Edo's monster—
"Destiny HERO - Dreamer's effect," Edo said, raising his head and arching an eyebrow. "During damage calculation, when a "Destiny HERO" monster that I control battles, I can Special Summon it from the graveyard, but it is banished when it leaves the field." In front of him, colourful mist drifted around the field, before an acrobatic hero darted out, landing on the field gracefully and raising its dark hands in the air as the image of a purple crescent briefly flashed behind it. It raised up its hands, which briefly flashed blue, and then bright stars shot out, forming a barrier in front of itself and the weakened Fusion Monster.
[Destiny HERO - Dreamer (1*/0/600/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"I take no battle damage from that battle," Edo continued. "And Dystopia's not destroyed either."
So, he must have sent it there with the effect of Destiny Draw…
"And it seems that like most duelists from Xyz that I've met, you summon a single monster that modifies attack points and you think that's enough," Edo said, folding his arms. "For the record—it's not."
"... I'll set two cards and end my turn," Yuto muttered. The attack points of both monsters went back to normal.
Edo reached out, drawing a card—but there was something oddly stiff to his motions.
[Turn 3: Edo] [H:2]
"Let's get one thing straight, Yuto Kamisoka," Edo said frostily. "Since it seems that you insist on making assumptions about the kind of person I am, and the kind of things that I believe in."
He took a step forward. Next to him, Dystopia floated, shadows still floating around the hero's hands as it seemed to stare at Yuto intensely—Yuto could tell that it was glaring, even though its eyes weren't visible.
"I could not care less," he continued, "about entertainment." Distaste dripped from the words—a hatred too personal to be born from nothing. "I do not care about getting some kind of… glee, from watching my opponents struggle. That is not the kind of person I am—if I was like that, I would never have been selected by the Professor for the position that I now occupy. Emotions in dueling are, in my opinion, entirely frivolous."
He raised his head, pointing towards Yuto.
"I simply don't want to win with no effort. This war is a clash of ideals—if the Resistance has no will to fight, or strength to contest us, then it becomes nothing but a farce. Luckily for you, it seems that you have both. Unluckily for you, it means that you'll have to bear witness to my actual strength. That's all."
"Then stop talking and just do it," Yuto shot back. "You're not defeating me here!"
"And that's just patently untrue." Edo gestured forward. "During the Standby Phase after Drawhand was sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon it from the graveyard to my field, but like Dreamer, it's banished when it leaves the field!" To the right of Dreamer, another warrior appeared—dressed like a vigilante, all in pale white and grey—the clothing was mainly white, long-sleeved and oddly formal. He was wearing a grey cowboy hat that was slightly tattered, along with a greyish purple scarf that was wrapped around his neck, in much the same state of the hat. He was holding onto a gun in his right hand.
[Destiny HERO - Drawhand (4*/1600/800/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"Drawhand's effect. We can both draw a card."
Yuto cautiously picked up a card, watching as Edo did the same.
"Then, my Continuous Trap's effect. All my "HERO" monsters gain 400 attack points again."
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia: 2800 + 400 = 3200ATK]
[Destiny HERO - Drawhand: 1600 + 400 = 2000ATK]
[Destiny HERO - Dreamer: 0 + 400 = 400ATK]
Edo's lips twisted—as though he was biting on the inside of his cheek. Then—
Above him, a circuit of dark metal appeared.
Yuto, Rin and Kyorin all simultaneously reeled back.
"No way," Rin muttered. "I thought—Fusion?"
"If you think that we don't diversify our options as we go along, then you're wrong," Edo said. "Haven't you seen Tsutsuji-sensei duel? That woman's learned everything that she could about all your summoning methods."
Rin pursed her lips. "Kisara Tsutsuji, right…? The one that faced the King…"
Edo shrugged. "Maybe most members of Academia are used to the old ways," he conceded. "But most of us who are more… open-minded know not to look a gift horse in the mouth—and our allies have been very helpful, not just in programs but also in cards." He spread out his arms. "Open, circuit that illuminates the dark city of the future!" Dreamer and Drawhand leapt backwards from their positions on the field, assuming poses on both sides of Edo. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two "HERO" monsters! I will set Destiny HERO - Dreamer and Destiny HERO - Drawhand in the Link Markers!" Both heroes leapt up, jumping straight into the circuit and forming two red arrows—one up, one down. "Come now, hero that gathers the power of the stars in the darkness! Circuit Combine! Link 2! Xtra HERO Wonder Driver!"
A tall, dark warrior emerged from the circuit, gold and blue trim around the edges of his cloak and armour. He held up a long golden staff that was shining with a bright blue light from within the top of the staff. There was something cybernetic to its appearance—mechanical armour, lines of light that looked like rippling wires of electricity. Stars shone within the darkness of his cloak.
[Xtra HERO Wonder Driver (L2/1900/LIGHT/Warrior/Link/Effect/↑, ↓)]
"Dreamer and Drawhand are banished by their own effects," Edo continued. "And now…" He picked up a card in his hand—Yuto distantly registered the card as the last card that had been left in Edo's hand during the previous turn. "I'll discard another "HERO" monster to Special Summon Vision HERO Faris from my hand!" In front of him, a pink-themed warrior with yellow orbs and lines embedded in its metal body appeared, levitating and floating higher up in the air.
[Vision HERO Faris (5*/1600/1800/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"Vision HERO?" Yuto murmured. "Is that your archetype?"
"I guess you could say that," Edo said. "It's part of it, anyway. Why the interest?"
Yuto grimaced, narrowing his eyes in annoyance.
"I'll activate Vision HERO Faris's effect," Edo continued—making it clear that he had only asked the question as a way to taunt Yuto. "I will place a "Vision HERO" monster from my deck in my Spell and Trap Zone as a Continuous Trap, but I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except "HERO" monsters. I'll place Vision HERO Increase from my deck in the Spell and Trap Zone!"
Behind Faris, a purple-themed warrior glowed and levitated, green energy swirling around it.
"Then, since I Special Summoned a monster to Wonder Driver's Link Marker, I can target a "Polymerization" or "Fusion" Spell, or a "Change" Quickplay Spell in my graveyard and set it to my field!" He picked up Polymerization and placed it facedown on his field. "Then, Increase's effect. While treated as a Continuous Trap, I can tribute a "HERO" monster to Special Summon it from the Spell and Trap Zone! I'll tribute Faris!" Faris dissolved into pink particles that floated around them, before Increase stepped into a Main Monster Zone, holding up its arms protectively.
[Vision HERO Increase (3*/900/1100/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"Vision HERO Increase's effect. Since it was Special Summoned from the Spell and Trap Zone, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Vision HERO" monster from my deck! Come—Vision HERO Vyon!" A mechanical warrior with a darker purple body appeared—more violet than purple, a red tinge to it. Black parts, resembling armour, were mixed in with the mainly dark purple body. It ended up standing next to Increase.
[Vision HERO Vyon (4*/1000/1200/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"Vyon's effect. I will send another "HERO" monster from my deck to the graveyard." A single card dropped into the graveyard. Now, he controlled four monsters—Dystopia, Wonder Driver, Increase and Vyon. He then flipped up his set card. "Spell Card, Polymerization. I will fuse Vision HERO Vyon and Vision HERO Increase! Mirage that dances in the darkness! Fusion Summon! Vision HERO Adoration!" A dark, ninja-like monster appeared on the field, long dark scarf wrapped around its neck, with several sashes floating around it. It held up its hand, before vanishing and reappearing to the right of Dystopia, leaving the Main Monster Zone behind Wonder Driver unoccupied again.
[Vision HERO Adoration (8*/2800/2100/DARK/Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"Vision HERO Adoration's effect," Edo continued. "I will target your Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon and my Destiny HERO - Dystopia—and your monster loses attack and defense points equal to Dystopia's attack points until the End Phase!"
"What?" Yuto grimaced. Dark Rebellion let out a howl, lowering its wings as Adoration held up its hands, a dark aura surrounding Yuto's dragon—draining away its strength. However, light purple fog swirled around the field at that moment—Adoration cringed away.
"What's that?" Edo asked.
Yuto's set card was glowing. "The Continuous Trap, Phantom Knights' Fog Blade!" Yuto declared. "I will target your Vision HERO Adoration and negate its effects, and then, it cannot attack or be attacked!" The fog consumed the Fusion Monster, locking it in place.
Edo shrugged. "Destiny HERO - Dystopia's effect. Since its attack points are different from its original attack points, I can target a card on the field and destroy it! I will destroy your other set card! Noble Justice!"
Yuto's other set card flipped up. "Trap Card, Phantom Knights' Wing! I'll increase Dark Rebellion's attack points by 500!" Dark Rebellion's black and purple wings started to glow bright indigo and blue, the aura flickering like flames.
[Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon: 2500 + 500 = 3000ATK]
The Trap shattered. Dystopia's attack points fell.
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia: 3200 - 400 = 2800ATK]
"So neither of your monsters can do anything to Dark Rebellion!"
"... you're right," Edo said. "Neither Dystopia nor Adoration can do anything to your field as things stand."
… why was he saying it like that? Yuto felt slightly uneasy.
"Spell Card, Fusion Destiny," Edo declared, playing the card. A large, spiralling portal appeared behind him. "For the rest of the turn after this card resolves, I cannot Special Summon monsters, except DARK "HERO" monsters. Now, I can perform a Fusion Summon using monsters from my hand or deck as material!"
Fusion Summoning using monsters from the deck as well? Then, there had to be a catch, right?
Edo continued explaining, and ended up answering Yuto's question as he did.
"However, the summoned monster must mention a "Destiny HERO" monster as material, and it is destroyed during the next End Phase—in other words, yours. I'll send Destiny HERO - Drilldark and Destiny HERO - Dasher from my deck to the graveyard. Hero drilling the bedrock of destiny! Hero that exceeds the limits of speed! Now become one and reign over the blazing ashes of destruction!"
Edo made a fist, raising it in the air. Above him, a portal opened, flames pouring out from within it—they fell to the ground, and despite the fact that they were just holograms, there was something that felt strangely… corrupted to them.
"Fusion Summon!" He declared. "Come on! Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer!"
And there it was.
A warrior emerged from the portal, dressed in two different shades of red, one far darker than the other. They covered his body like played armour. Behind him, two wing-like structures stretched outwards, dark feathers blackening out the space behind him. Dark purple energy rippled around his hands—
He turned to glare at Yuto. There was something piercing to the look on his face.
[Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer (8*/2500/2100/DARK/Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer?" Yuto repeated. "Isn't it a little arrogant to name a monster after yourself?"
"I didn't make these cards, and even if I did, cards are cards," Edo said. "While I control Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, every single one of my opponent's monsters loses 200 attack points for each HERO card in my graveyard. I have eight, so your monster loses 1600 attack points—not that it'll matter in a moment."
[Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon: 3000 - 200 x 8 = 1400ATK]
Huh? He sounded so confident about that…
"I Special Summoned a Level 8 or higher "Destiny HERO" monster," Edo declared. D-Tactics began to glow in front of him. "So D-Tactics's effect triggers—with that, I can banish a card from your field, graveyard or hand. You have three guesses on who I'm banishing, and the other two don't count."
Yuto grimaced. Monster effects, he could deal with, but a Continuous Trap?
"So, let's get down to business." Dark energy surrounded Dark Rebellion. "I'll banish Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon."
Five simple words—
Yuto's dragon was pulled into a portal, vanishing. (If it had been a destruction effect, Phantom Knights' Wing's effect would have been able to protect Dark Rebellion and take Edo by surprise, but the fact that he'd chosen to banish Dark Rebellion specifically…
"I hope that you have something to defend yourself, or this is going to be over very quickly," Edo said, glancing at Yuto's empty field (well, Fog Blade was still there, stopping Adoration from attacking, but it was hardly the biggest threat now. "Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer attacks you directly!" The warrior raised up its hands, summoning up dark flames that floated around it. "Dark City Destruction!"
"I'll banish Phantom Knights' Wing from my graveyard!" Yuto countered. "I can Special Summon a "The Phantom Knights" monster from my graveyard, but it is banished when it leaves the field! Come back, The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!"
"... that's fine." Edo said. "Since you Special Summoned a monster, I get a replay. Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer attacks The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!"
Break Sword was crushed—and subsequently banished.
"And then, Destiny HERO - Dystopia attacks you directly!"
"When a direct attack is declared, I can activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Mist Claws in my graveyard!" Yuto retorted. "I'll target a Level 4 or lower "The Phantom Knights" monster in my graveyard to Special Summon it from the graveyard—and then, Mist Claws comes back as a monster with the same Level, but Mist Claws is banished when it leaves the field! I'll target the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales! Come back! Torn Scales! Mist Claws!" In front of him, the two monsters reappeared on the field in Defense Position—protecting him as shields from beyond the grave.
[The Phantom Knights of Mist Claws (?*/0/0/DARK/Warrior)]
[The Phantom Knights of Mist Claws: ?* → 3*]
"I see," Aster said. He gestured forward. "Attack that trap monster!" Dystopia raised its fist in the air, truly resembling a superhero. "Dystopia Blow!"
Mist Claws was knocked back, vanishing from the field.
"Then, Wonder Driver!" The Link Monster charged forward, delivering a blow of its own—with a bright blast of light as it punched the warrior in the misty blue fog, it crushed Torn Scales, sending it back to the graveyard.
Yuto grimaced. He'd had to use almost all of his graveyard set-up just to escape this turn… this was no joke.
"Oh, don't think that I'm done," Aster said. He raised a finger. "Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect. Once per turn, I can destroy a card I control and a card on the field." Yuto's eyes widened—he only controlled one card now, so that meant…
No way. After all of that, it still wasn't enough?
"As is obvious, I will destroy my own Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer and your Phantom Knights' Fog Blade!" Edo gestured forward—the dark flames around the Fusion Monster grew stronger and stronger, their intensity hard to deal with. "Overwhelming Blaze of Justice!" Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer exploded into flames, and the flames rained down on Yuto's field, destroying his Trap as well.
And yet, flames lingered around them.
"Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect activates," Edo declared. "After it's destroyed by battle or card effect, during the Standby Phase of the next turn, I can Special Summon a "Destiny HERO" monster from the graveyard to the field."
Meaning… it could just keep coming back? And with D-Tactics…
"And now, Vision HERO Adoration is no longer restrained by your Trap," Edo continued. "Attack directly!"
The dark ninja-like monster held up its hands, disappearing—then, it reappeared behind Yuto, who whirled his head around to look, slipping out a card from his graveyard at the same time.
"I'll banish Phantom Knights' Fog Blade from the graveyard!" He shouted desperately, because taking an attack from Adoration now meant losing. "Come back, Torn Scales!"
Torn Scales reappeared, floating forward immediately—it dove straight towards Adoration, knocking it back and away from Yuto. Adoration, however, raised a knife and slashed straight through the suit of armour, destroying it—and Fog Blade's effect banished it, leaving Yuto without a single monster in the graveyard.
But…
"You survived," Edo said with a shrug. "Impressive."
Yuto was breathing out heavily too—the adrenaline just from that was a bit too much. God, that field and graveyard should have been enough to survive, but to be pushed until he had no resources left and four cards in hand, against a field of four monsters…
"Regardless, the moment that you draw to start your turn, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer will return to the field and I will banish a card from your hand too." Edo gestured forward. "You're strong enough to have survived one of my Battle Phases, and I'll congratulate you for that—it puts you near the top of your miserable dimension. But no one recovers when their field and graveyard are razed so thoroughly."
Yuto could hear the implication in his words—it might not have been on purpose, but it lingered like an echo.
Your world has been razed so thoroughly, Yuto Kamisoka. There is no way to recover after that.
Yuto gritted his teeth.
That wasn't true! It had never been true that there was no hope to save themselves—even in the darkest part of his life, that moment when he'd lost Ruri and his homeland in the same day, he'd never thought that way. He had just wanted to keep on fighting—
No matter what, he'd just had to keep on winning. That was what he'd known from the start. No matter what, losing like this, it was just… horrible! And then, to be told that it wasn't enough…
"I will banish my Destiny HERO - Celestial from the graveyard, along with Destiny HERO - Dasher, and draw two cards. I'll end my turn then. Take your final stand."
Yuto reached out for the top card of his deck. He hesitated.
"Are you scared?" Edo asked.
"Oi!" Rin clenched her fists. "In that case, I—"
She was about to raise her duel disk, but Edo clicked a button on his own duel disk. At once, holograms shot up around them, dark shadows cast across the field in oblong shapes. Shadows of buildings danced around them. When Rin raised her duel disk, there was the sound of a 'ding'—an error message popping up.
"This is one of Standard's Action Fields, modified for our purposes without those ridiculous cards that they use," Edo explained. Yuto thought, abruptly, that Yuya would probably have something to say about that. "It takes up a lot of electricity to use and tends to strengthen Solid Vision damage by a rather large amount, so we're supposed to be careful when using it. Still, it has two specific effects." He gestured to Rin. "First, no one can intrude on the duel after it is activated." Then, to the holograms of dark buildings in a ring around them. "Second, no one can leave the space where the field was activated until the duel concludes. That space has a diameter of… let's say twenty-four metres? So you won't be intruding, but none of you will be leaving either."
"... why didn't you activate it before?" Yuto asked, pulling himself to his feet. "Before…"
"... I don't usually use it, like I said." Edo glanced at Kyorin and Rin, before shrugging. "I don't mind taking more of you on, but if you have more comrades around, I may end up in a neverending loop of dueling each and every single one of you, and I…" He rolled his shoulders briefly, and Yuto saw the muscles in his arms briefly seize up. Right, he'd been injured by something earlier. "I could not care less about handling that. So, it's just you, Yuto Kamisoka. No one gets to help you."
"Damn it." Rin held her fists at her sides, before she walked over to Yuto, reaching out a hand. Yuto took it, letting her pull him up. There was something fierce and determined to her expression. "So maybe I can't join in, but don't you dare give up, Yuto."
"I'm not going to," Yuto said. He clenched his fists. "I can fix this. I will."
[Turn 4: Yuto] [H:5]
"Draw!"
"Standby Phase," Edo said. "Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer returns to the field. D-Tactics's second effect will banish a card from your hand, and its first effect will give all my "HERO" monsters another 400 attack points." One of Yuto's cards vanished as he glanced at it.
[Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer: 2500 + 400 = 2900ATK]
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia: 2800 + 400 = 3200ATK]
[Xtra HERO Wonder Driver: 1900 + 400 = 2300ATK]
[Vision HERO Adoration: 2800 + 400 = 3200ATK]
"And with Xtra HERO Wonder Driver's effect, since a "HERO" monster was Special Summoned to its Link Marker, I can set Fusion Destiny from my graveyard."
So, right now…
Yuto had to cut off Dystopia's destruction effect, and respond to Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer too. Two Fusion Monsters that were both rather dangerous to him.
"Quickplay Spell, Burial from a Different Dimension!" Yuto declared. "I'll return up to three banished monsters to the graveyard! I'll choose The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots, The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales and The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak!"
"But not your Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon?" Edo arched an eyebrow. "Interesting. Abandoning your ace then?"
As if.
"I'll banish The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak from my graveyard to add a "The Phantom Knights" card from my deck to my hand." He picked up the card. "And then, the effect of The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales activates! When another "Phantom Knights" card is banished from my graveyard, I can Special Summon it from the graveyard, but it is banished when it leaves the field!" Torn Scales reappeared, floating alone on Yuto's field.
"That's the one that sends cards to the graveyard," Edo noted. "And if you have a monster on the field, you can Special Summon that Silent Boots of yours… let's shut that down quickly. Dystopia's effect—Noble Justice!" Dystopia raised his palm, gesturing towards Torn Scales, raising its fist.
Yuto wasn't fazed. It was what he had expected.
"I'll activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Eroding Knuckle in my hand!" Yuto called out. "I can send it to the graveyard to negate the destruction of my monster—and that monster can't be destroyed by battle or card effect this turn!" Torn Scales nimbly dodged away from the blast, staying on Yuto's field.
"... that's the card you searched out with Ancient Cloak's effect," Edo said, folding his arms. "... good bait."
"It's more than that," Yuto said. "I'm shutting down your lock now! When The Phantom Knights of Eroding Knuckle is sent to the graveyard for the cost or effect of a "Phantom Knights" card, I can target one card on the field and negate its effects! I'll choose Destiny HERO - Destroy Phoenix Enforcer!"
"Destroy Phoenix Enforcer's effect!" Edo countered. "I will destroy—" He paused.
"Your only option on my field is Torn Scales, who can't be destroyed this turn," Yuto said. He clenched a fist. "So, are you going to destroy your monster because it has no effect and no value, or will you let it remain on the field, as fragile as your honour?"
Edo did not answer immediately. Meanwhile, behind him, Rin let out a low whistle. "Damn, Yuto," she said—she sounded approving. "That's more like it."
"I will activate Destroy Phoenix Enforcer's effect," Edo said. "I will destroy it and Torn Scales." Torn Scales remained on the field, but the blazing warrior went up in its own dark flames—perishing instead of suffering the indignity of having its effects negated. And on the next turn, it would return with a vengeance.
… Yuto had assumed that the opposite would happen. He'd assumed that Edo would have been confident enough in his monster to keep it on the field anyway.
He had obviously been wrong. And if the first part of Eroding Knuckle's effect did not work, then the second part wouldn't work.
… improvisation time.
"I'll activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales!" Yuto declared. "I'll discard a card to send another "Phantom Knights" card from my deck to my graveyard! Then, I'll banish Phantom Knights' Sword from the graveyard to Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Eroding Knuckle from my graveyard!" In front of him, sharp circular blades looped around a blue spirit's shoulders like armour appeared.
[The Phantom Knights of Eroding Knuckle (2*/1000/800/DARK/Warrior/Tuner/Effect)]
"And then, since a "Phantom Knights" monster was Special Summoned, I can Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves from my hand!" The blue spirit dressed in full armour appeared, holding onto two long blades.
[The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves (3*/1200/600/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
That left Yuto with just one card in hand, for now.
It… didn't seem like Edo had any more interruption for his effects?
"I'll overlay the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves and the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales!" The two monsters turned into dark streaks, shooting into the ground. "Thin shields rise. A battalion of soldiers charges across the battlefield. Xyz Summon—Rank 3, The Phantom Knights of Jagged Chainmail!" The humanoid blue knight appeared, swinging its two shields through the air.
[The Phantom Knights of Jagged Chainmail (R3/1000/2000/DARK/Warrior/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"Jagged Chainmail's effect. By detaching an Overlay Unit, I can set a "Phantom Knights" Spell or Trap to my field, and it can be activated this turn." Yuto dropped Torn Scales in the graveyard again, before picking up a card from his deck and setting it facedown. "I'll then banish The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from the graveyard. I'll add a "Phantom Knights" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand."
And now that Silent Boots was banished…
"I'll activate my set Trap Card, The Phantom Knights of Mist Claws!" Another copy of the Trap from earlier appeared. "I'll add a banished "The Phantom Knights" monster to my hand! I'll add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots to my hand—and with Silent Boots's effect, since I control a "The Phantom Knights" monster, I can Special Summon it from my hand!" His usual extender reappeared on the field.
"Level 2 and Level 3 though," Edo commented. "Unless you have another trick up your sleeve?"
"... the thing about travelling dimensions is that you understand how narrow your worldview was beforehand," Yuto said. "I still pride myself on my Xyz Summons more than anything else in the world, but there's some times when you have to bit the bullet and try something new. I'll tune the Level 2 The Phantom Knights of Eroding Knuckle to the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots!"
Edo's eyes widened. Eroding Knuckle flew up, turning into two rings (and subsequently being banished the moment that it entered Yuto's graveyard.) Silent Boots flew through the rings.
(It was slightly simpler to remember how to do it when he just kept reminding himself that Synchro Summoning was, in fact, just math.)
Rin let out an appreciative noise. "I did wonder! So that's what Reiji Akaba gave you?"
"Phantoms that march across the fallen battlefield, gather the dust into your blades and welcome the warrior that lingers in the dark!" Yuto clenched his fist. "Synchro Summon! Level 5! Dark Dimension Soldier!" A red-haired man appeared on the field, dressed in silver, a purple shawl wrapped around his neck and waist, bits of fabric sweeping through the air like ends of a scarf. He was holding onto a long, enormous sword that had a bloody red sheen to it. Around him, blue flames flickered—not quite the same as Yuto's other monsters, but something similar, a blaze that felt like it existed on a different plane from this world.
(Not the best new card that he'd gotten, considering that it wasn't even a Phantom Knights card, but still useful in this specific instance.)
[Dark Dimension Soldier (5*/1200/2400/DARK/Warrior/Synchro/Effect)]
"With only 1200 attack points, it's no surprise that you've placed it in Defense Position," Edo said. His surprise had made way for something more lukewarm—something expectant. "How is that going to defeat me?"
"It's not," Yuto said. "Dark Dimension Soldier's effect. Once per turn, I can banish a card from my hand to Special Summon a banished DARK monster in face-up or facedown Defense Position!"
"DARK. So…"
"Return to my side!" Yuto declared, a bolt of lightning striking the ground in front of him as he cast away a card. "Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"
And his ace glided down from the sky, emerging from what looked like a portal to another world entirely. It landed on the field with a loud roar that shook the entire field.
"And now, I'll set one card and activate…"
Yuto played the last card in his hand—the card that Silent Boots, specifically, had searched out.
"Spell Card," he said. "The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch! I will target Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon and Rank it up by one Rank!" His ace roared again, before he dove into the shadows of the ground. "From the depths of purgatory, dedicate to the unsinking souls your song of rebellion! Appear and let it echo forevermore! Rank-Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 5! Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon!"
The first part of Dark Requiem that made itself visible in the dreary space were its large, shining wings—stained glass that invoked the image of church murals, lifting it high up in the air. Its dark body contrasted with the bright wings, and yet they did not clash—
As always, Dark Requiem was majestic.
(No one had asked Yuto about it, but the truth was, going to church with his parents had been such a normal part of his routine, and yet those windows had dazzled him every time. Maybe that was why Dark Requiem's wings had taken on the appearance that they had—not just a reflection of his wishes for the future, not just the mourning in the present, but a flickering image of the past too.)
[Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon (R5/3000/2500/DARK/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]
"My Rank-Up-Magic attaches itself to Dark Requiem as material!" The Spell turned into an orb that flew around Dark Requiem.
[Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon: OU:1 + 1 = OU:2]
"Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon's effect!" Yuto declared. "I'll detach one Overlay Unit and target a Level 5 or higher monster on the field, like your Destiny HERO - Dystopia! Your monster's attack points become 0, and Dark Requiem gains attack points equal to your monster's original attack points! Requiem Salvation!"
And rising further up in the air—
Dark Requiem looked at that sickly monster that called itself a hero—
(What kind of hero could be the hero of a dystopia, what could speak in the name of justice if it had destroyed everything to begin with—)
And it roared in defiance.
Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon looked at the field, and so did Yuto, and together, they asked a simple question.
What does your field matter if you won't survive the turn?
[Destiny HERO - Dystopia: 2800 → 0ATK]
[Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1; 3000 + 2800 = 5800ATK]
"Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon attacks Destiny HERO - Dystopia!" Yuto shouted. "Disaster Disobey of Requiem!"
And the field burst into a storm of lightning bolts.
And the thing was, lightning often came with storms. And storms with clouds, and clouds with shadows, because the presence of clouds meant the absence of sunlight.
And that meant that, at that moment, as Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon raised its head and struck with its claw, within a space that had been manipulated specifically to increase the effects of Solid Vision in battle, something odd happened.
Black clouds formed above them, in spirals that spun so rapidly that they looked like a whirlpool instead of clouds. Lightning crackled, and with it came the rumbling roar of thunder, like a beast crying from miles away.
Standing at the peak of Spade Branch, Nue Kamisoka watched it, narrowing her eyes, unease bubbling in her heart.
Ruri Kurosaki was no longer in a position where the lightning would be visible, and yet she felt uneasy—her bracelet blinked once, then twice, and not again, and she did not know why.
Standing beneath the vortex, Rin Izayoi stared at her bracelet, which had begun to flash rapidly—a strange feeling of dread in her stomach.
And the lightning did not stop. It rained down and down, and even for a simple attack animation, it was far too much—it lasted far longer than it should have.
"Destiny HERO - Dreamer's effect!" Edo lifted up another card from his graveyard, another copy of the same card from before. Yuto, however, shouted in return, and Dark Requiem's thunder struck down the card with no remorse. No miracle save at all.
And yet, it seemed that there was still another trick.
"I activate the effect of—" Edo's voice was barely audible over the storm, but a barrier formed over him. Even as Dystopia shattered, the barrier shielded him from Dark Requiem's claws, as the dragon struck at the barrier—two long gouges formed on the sphere of orange light, and then another one, before Dark Requiem's tail flicked through the air as it flew backwards.
"Get down!" Kyorin pushed Rin to the side, even as a stray bolt flew by—they were obviously slower than real lightning, but no less horrifying. The clattering noise of thunder blocked out everything else—Rin raised her arm without thinking, and as her bracelet glowed, Dark Requiem roared and turned its head towards her—
Even as Yuto stood there, eyes unblinking and glowing with an eerie light.
A lightning bolt flew by Rin, but at the last moment, it vanished.
Dark Requiem growled, and then it turned towards Edo sharply again—before Kyorin was there as well, knocking him out of the way, the holographic barrier having long since faded. He fell towards the ground, even as Kyorin glanced around the field frantically.
They were stuck in here with a malfunctioning hologram of a monster, unable to escape until the duel ended?
"Your attack is already over!" Rin could barely make out half of the syllables, but somehow, her mind managed to piece them together. All of a sudden, she felt raindrops on her cheek too—the clouds above had gotten too heavy. She pulled herself to her feet, just as she saw Kyorin do the same. Academia's Commander-in-Chief was still looking at Yuto, clear unease on his face. "Whatever this is, whatever this rage and anger is trying to do, it doesn't work! Your fate was in my hands before you even started your turn!"
It didn't look like Yuto was at home right now though, to hear those words.
Rin charged forward as Dark Requiem reared up again.
Was this what Serena and Miharu had warned them about? Rin couldn't imagine seeing Yugo like this with her own eyes—
Whatever this is, it doesn't get to take Yugo from me, and it doesn't get to take anyone away too!
Dark Requiem breathed out, an enormous blast shooting towards her—
Rin instinctively raised her arm. Her bracelet's glow became practically blinding—and then, the blast dissipated without any force, barely before it hit her.
"Do something!" She heard Kyorin shout—no, more like pleading.
Edo gritted his teeth. "I've already declared my move!" He said—now having space to say it, now that Dark Requiem's attacks had, however briefly, stopped. "Destiny HERO - Dynatag's effect! I take no battle damage from this battle! And we both take 1000 damage!"
An explosion ruptured the field at that exact moment—as though somehow, Dark Requiem's loud roars had, through stopping the move from being audible, stopped it. Both Yuto and Edo were thrown back with the force—and Kyorin as well, though she was at the edge of the field.
Rin, however, was completely fine.
Yuto: 2400 - 1000 = 1400LP
Edo: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP
She slowly looked at her bracelet again.
What on earth… was this?
Dark Requiem roared again, thrashing—
"You think you can force me to fight for your entertainment again? In these fields you call 'real battle'?"
Rin did not know what she had heard. It was a roar, it was words—she only felt dread, but she did not understand what language it was speaking. She did see Kyorin cringe away, however, her feet catching on the ground as she took a step back.
Dark Requiem whirled its head around…
And then, it mournfully fell silent, flying around Yuto, whose eyes had shut—
And then, he fell down to the ground, and his eyes were open again, but they were not glowing. He was breathing heavily.
"What… happened?" He breathed out. "What…" His wrist slammed against the ground.
Edo was breathing heavily from the adrenaline too, but he still raised his head, gesturing to Yuto. "We're done," he said. "We're… done. Your monster is strong, but its attack has not overcome me."
"... what attack… what did I just do?"
"I won't be beaten just by someone manipulating their Solid Vision to be even stronger in one specific monster, to interfere with the entire process of the duel, though I don't know how you've managed it like this." Edo stood up, mud caught on his clothes. There was something fierce to his eyes. "I'll remember this, Yuto Kamisoka. But for now, end your turn. It's done."
Yuto glanced at his set card, before he nodded—looking too weary to even say the words. Rin backed away from the duel, her mind still rushing a mile a minute.
[Turn 5: Edo] [H:2]
"Draw," Edo said. He gestured forward. "Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect. Come back—Destiny HERO - Dystopia!"
Dystopia and not his other monster? Why?
"And Dystopia's effect," Edo said coolly. "When it is Special Summoned, I can inflict damage to you, equal to the attack points of a Level 4 or lower "Destiny HERO" monster in my graveyard. I will choose Destiny HERO - Drilldark. I will then chain the effect of D-Tactics. I'll target your Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon and banish it."
And Dark Requiem could only negate monster effects. Since Dystopia's effect had been activated first, technically, the last thing that had happended was D-Tactics's effect, and...
Yuto couldn't negate it.
"So, no matter what, the moment I destroyed Dystopia…"
"You lost," Edo completed—his tone so sure that it robbed them all of speech at that moment. "Do it, Dystopia! Squeeze Palm!"
And Dystopia raised its fist, slamming it down—
Tossing Yuto back.
Yuto: 1400 - 1600 = 0LP
Winner: Edo Phoenix!
Around them, the holographic buildings exploded, vanishing.
Rin was still stuck there, because… what had just happened?
What had just happened?
Yuto clawed at the ground.
He'd thought that his opponent had lost for sure. No set cards, nothing like that. He should have known—after Dreamer, he should have known—
He'd just wanted to win, no matter what, and he'd wanted to crush his opponent no matter what—
Yuto punched the ground weakly.
It was completely, entirely his loss, and his head hurt, and—
Damn it!
"And that's it," Edo finally said. He stepped forward. "Not just a Resistance member, but a Lancer, and a priority elimination target, at that. It's evident what I should do—"
"Don't."
He slowly turned his head to look at her. Kyorin swallowed slowly. His face did not change—it was still a face of stone, no emotion there. For a moment, she was just terrified—and yet, she was still so desperate that she could not get up.
"Please," she said. "Please don't card him. Please don't—" Yes, Rin could fight—she'd grown up in the Commons, but all of them were frazzled from what had just happened. There was no way that they could just keep fighting—and so, all she could do was plead.
He cut her off abruptly, raising a hand. He walked away—leaving Yuto there, on the ground. Kyorin lowered her head, her hair falling over her face. She nearly sobbed with relief. She wasn't going to be losing her friend. She wasn't going to be helpless again.
(Again.)
(She still couldn't process what had just happened.)
"But, if you want to ask favours from someone, you should know better than to let them know how afraid you are, Kyorin Rinsoka," Edo said. Slowly, Kyorin raised her head again. She made eye contact with him—he immediately turned away from her, as though her gaze burned him. "Or…"
There was something slow and deliberate to what he said next.
"False names are not something I enjoy using. I suppose I should call you by your actual name, Limuria-san."
Kyorin's heart seemed to stop—her blood was freezing in her veins. She hadn't been called that name by another person in eight years. How did he—did everyone know? Did Academia know? Had her father—
"I was right, wasn't I?" Edo folded his arms, tapping his own elbow. His gaze was rather cold. "Kyorin Rinsoka, also known as Princess Chione Limuria of the Kingdom of Atlantis, the only state run by a monarchy in the entire Ritual Dimension. Daughter of the current king and queen. The older brother that you told me about is your adoptive brother—not your sibling by blood, but still considered such by your biological parents—the Crown Prince of Atlantis."
No, no, no—
"If not for your earlier mercy, I would have carded your friend and taken both of you back to Academia—her, for the Arc Area Project, and you, for negotiation purposes. Your fathers have been a thorn in Academia's side—both of them." Edo didn't look back at her again. His voice was stiff. "But as it stands, I still have my honour. You treated my wounds when you did not have to. With this, our debts are settled. The next time we meet, I hope you will be ready with fangs, rather than tears. Because I certainly have no mercy left for someone too weak to stand on the battlefield.
With that, he left.
Kyorin covered her face, sinking to the ground. She'd helped their enemy. She'd helped him, treated his wounds, and he'd immediately come close to taking out one of her comrades because she had helped him—
And what had happened?
I'm so weak.
The worst part, she thought, was that she didn't regret it in the slightest. Even if she had known that he was an enemy, she would have helped him anyway, because she couldn't bear the thought of anyone being hurt, and she was too soft—too soft for this war, too soft for anything, she had always been like that, and she'd always been hurt because of it, and she just couldn't stop. She'd misjudged someone again. She'd let people down again. She'd let her friends down, because her heart was so weak—
How could she ever trust someone again?
(She would do it again. She would just keep doing it, over and over. She would be hurt and still do it anyway, like an idiot—)
Without her realising, her hands were rising—like claws, about to press to both sides of her head as she let out a pained wail. I don't want to know, I don't want to think, I don't want to remember—let me forget, let me forget!
I don't want to know how it feels like to fail like this!
Rin grabbed her hands, earnestly wrapping an arm around her—trying to calm her.
"Hey," she said. "Hey, it's okay! Don't hurt yourself! We're alive!"
But we almost weren't. If he was a worse person, we'd all be doomed—and it'd be my fault for being so naive!
"Yuto," Kyorin muttered, desperate to focus on someone else—desperate to stop thinking about herself. She wasn't what was important here. "Yuto…" She stood up, and she and Rin made their way over to Yuto's side. Yuto was just… lying there. "Are you…"
Yuto slowly pushed himself up.
"I'm sorry," Kyorin said, helping him up—her hands were shaking. "I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for," Yuto finally said. "I was the one that wasn't good enough. I'm sorry, too." But she could see the tension in his figure—he was furious with not just Edo, but himself.
Rin looked at both of them.
Kyorin was pretty sure that she knew what the other girl was seeing—two people, wrecked by the same match in different ways.
Above them, the clouds cleared.
It felt like a premonition.
OC Cards:
The Phantom Knights of Eroding Knuckle
(2*/1000/800/DARK/Warrior/Tuner/Effect)
If this card is sent from the Deck or hand to the GY for the cost or effect of a "Phantom Knights" card: You can target 1 card on the field; negate that card's effects until the End Phase, and if you do, Special Summon this card from the GY in Defense Position. If a DARK monster you control would be destroyed by battle or a card effect: You can discard this card; that monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn. You can only activate each effect of "The Phantom Knights of Eroding Knuckle" once per turn.
The Phantom Knights of Jagged Chainmail
(R3/1000/2000/DARK/Warrior/Xyz/Effect)
2 Level 3 monsters
This card cannot be destroyed by card effects. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; Set 1 "Phantom Knights" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your field, and if it is a Trap or a Quickplay Spell, it can be activated this turn. If this card is sent to the GY: You can add 1 "Phantom Knights" card from your GY to your hand. You can only activate this effect of "The Phantom Knights of Jagged Chainmail" once per turn.
The Phantom Knights of Flaked Hood
(4*/1800/800/DARK/Warrior/Effect)
If your opponent activates a monster effect while you control at least 2 DARK monsters: You can Tribute this card; negate that effect, and if you do, Xyz Monsters you control gain 500 ATK until the End Phase. You can banish this card from the GY; add 1 "The Phantom Knights" card from your Deck to your hand, except "The Phantom Knights of Flaked Hood", but you cannot activate that card, or effects of that card, for the rest of this turn. You can only use each effect of "The Phantom Knights of Flaked Hood" once per turn.
Different Card Effects from TCG:
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon - Anime effect.
The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch - Anime effect, but a Quickplay Spell.
Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon - The ATK-draining effect is the same as the anime effect, but the second effect is its TCG effect.
End Notes:
Edo's deck is just straight-up as many HERO combos as I could stuff into Destiny HEROes. :) So yes. Because if he only got the Destiny HEROes from Arc-V, he would not be able to catch up to the current power curve. Is it optimised? No. Am I hard-wired to write any HERO deck with the Faris-Increase-Vyon combo? Yes. Does DPE give me Master Duel nightmares?... send help. But yeah, I did intentionally give him a painfully unoptimised Turn 1 just to make you all let your guard down just a little… and then, DPE shows up. Shoutout to that one irl friend of mine who played HERO combos against me for two weeks straight and thus taught me the hard way about how they work, though I didn't give Edo the full combo here because Yuto's Dark Rebellion pass would have died a fiery death there.
And yes, Edo is also an impossible boss fight for Yuto here. He tried so hard, but… nope. Rough.
Also, I spent so long trying to figure out whether to use the Japanese name or English name for the cards. I generally prefer the TCG name, but I know that general consensus is to use the OCG names just 'cause they're more thematic. However, the sheer levels of 'absolutely not' that I felt when thinking about the name 'Destroy Phoenixguy' made the decision for me.
Feat: Me spending the entire time praying that no one remembers the colour of Dartz's hair until now. The best way to explain it would be that Yuri is to Mokuba what Kyorin is to Dartz's canonical daughter. At the same time, because of the weird shuffling that's happened (and which does get addressed later on, if you give me a bit more time to get there :)), there's a bit more to it all.
Look, let's be real. GX!Edo Phoenix is an asshole—and that's what makes him fun as a character. :) Arc-V Edo, on the other hand, is a character with a very inconsistent personality. For example, two things that Edo canonically does. One, he asks Yuya, who he thinks is a lost Xyz kid, where his father is, to help this kid get home—despite Xyz supposedly being his enemy. On the other hand, he also spearheaded Academia's invasion where he must have carded several people himself. In general, I'm trying to write Edo with both his GX and Arc-V incarnation in mind, and yet with a consistent personality and motivations.
Most of you had guesses for Eri's deck, and honestly, I enjoyed reading them! Can't spoil anything, but I think you'll have fun when you see it.
This is a PSA to not run Dark Dimension Soldier in your PK decks, to be clear. Yuto has anime logic on his side to ward off the absolutely situational nature of that turn, but you do not. Please do not Synchro Summon using Phantom Knights. (Or—I already had this card slated for Yuto for a long time, actually, but mostly for symbolic reasons.)
Remember Yuri's Field Spell from Chapter 5? Same thing. There's only a few characters who specifically have this program, but yeah, this was always going to happen. The real question is, why did Dark Requiem freak out but not Starving Venom? :)
I decline to comment on most parts of this chapter, except to say that this specific 'grouping' of Kyorin-Rin-Yuto was always going to happen for this specific duel. :D
(Edit: When you derp so hard that you forget to write a very important step in the whole duel because it's 2am, haha. Fixed.)
Review responses!
To Erathios, it makes perfect sense for my version of Reira, haha. Yup, I saw that new Plant Link Monster and went absolutely nuts when I did, haha. That card was born for Miharu. Glad you enjoyed the characters playing off each other.
To T.V. 2000, I did my best to give Kaito way more characterisation in this fic than he got in canon, without the big problem of shelving Kurosaki, haha.
To CruelDiamond422, there are just way more problems for them to deal with than just Fusion :D If you're getting that feeling, that's great! You're thinking right ;3
To the unnamed Guest, they're all pretty interesting theories :)
To Bryz0n, Hitoda and Yuto are pretty much the ones who have dealt with the most Obelisk Force members throughout the story. As usual, Hitoda is... fun for me to write because she's always on screen and yet there's a lot of things about her that people probably haven't guessed yet.
To Enigmathenightmare, if those four were alive and got to actually grow... hmm, I would like to save the answer in terms of the other three for later, but specifically Yusei would probably be at a slightly lower level than Jack at this point, not because he's weaker but because he actually has a life outside of dueling in this fic, and isn't quite as focused. (Well. Wasn't quite as focused. :))
To TornadoXz825, nice choice of music!
To Ben23ten, of course Reira would sweep, haha. But yeah, 6ARC Edo has a way longer road ahead of him :D He's not getting off that easily.
To phantomdragons, everything in that chapter does make me a bit sad to write, haha. Hope you liked this chapter too!
To cardfan135, interesting theory! ;3
Hope you enjoyed! :)