Chapter 10: A Surprise Exhibition
Zack leads the Legendary Duelists to a training room that's as big as a military hangar, outfitted with eight duel fields.
"Whoa! This place is enormous!" Caswell complimented.
"Welcome to our Training Hall. It's no Kaiba Dome, but it's the best place for us to train for the tournament." Zack said. Crow notices a pair of Duel Runners about to race on a track that stretches around the eight fields.
"This place has a racetrack too?" Crow asked.
"How else will we practice Turbo Dueling? Now, let's find you a good spot for the exhibition." Zack spoke. He sees one of the duels finishing. "And it looks like Duel Field 5 is just about done. Come with me." Zack leads them to Duel Field 5, where some troopers salute once they see Zack.
"These your troops?" Shay asked.
"They're not the best, but we've got enough to survive." Zack said before facing the soldiers. "As you were." The soldiers return to their previous stance. "I have gathered these Duelists from across time to aid us in recovering the Stars of the Universe during the emperor's tournament. But if we're going to reclaim the stones, and stop Shade's reign of terror, we need to fight with all our heart. And as motivation, we will be watching a duel between two of our allies."
"For the first duelist, I nominate… Yuya Sakaki."
"WHAT!?" Sylvio yelled, shocked to hear that Zack picked Yuya over him.
"Got a problem with that, Sylvio?" Bronk asked.
"You bet I have a problem with that!" Sylvio complained. "I'm clearly the more talented one out of all of us!"
"Need I remind you that it was Yuya who won the Friendship Cup?" Declan asked.
"Yeah, and it was Yuya who got Riley smiling." Gong added.
"And it was because of that Yuya was able to rescue me from that horrible reactor." Zuzu finished.
"Oh, I guess you're right."
"Yuya, are you prepared to meet your opponent?" Zack asked.
"The sooner, the better." Yuya smiled.
"Okay then." Zack smirked before a flash of light appeared on the other side of the duel field, forcing those that see it to shield their eyes. Once the light faded, a fair-skinned boy with green eyes around Yuya's age appeared. He's wearing a black and green bodysuit with golden stripes going across his body and a grey belt at the waistline. His most distinguishing feature is his yellow and red hair with pink strips and accents. His Duel Disk has a purple orb outlined by a red circle with a blue side on the body.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet our ally from Link VRAINS, Playmaker." Hearing about this raised a few questions from Kaiba and Astral.
"Link VRAINS?"
"Playmaker?"
"Sure, he looks like your simple high school student, but where he's from, he's a hero." Zack said.
"I haven't seen any of these duelists before, yet I can see they have good in their hearts." Playmaker deduced.
"Whoa! I just met this guy and he already knows what we can do!" Yuya smiled.
"That's Playmaker's specialty." Zack said. "So, are you both ready to begin?"
"Yes." Playmaker's Duel Disk blade materializes.
"You bet!" Yuya's Duel Disk powers on.
"Then let's get things started!" The next two words sparked an exhibition battle between past and present.
"Let's Duel!"
Yuya Sakaki: 4000 LP
VS
Playmaker: 4000 LP
The duel field layout materializes for a brief second before disappearing. What Yuya was surprised to see was the two extra Zones between both sides of the layout.
"Uh, before we start, I'd like to ask. What were those two extra spots?" Yuya asked.
"I see that you are curious about those. Let me tell you: They're called the Extra Monster Zones." Playmaker explained.
"Extra Monster Zones?" Gong asked.
"Correct. When a monster is summoned from the Extra Deck, they can occupy one of the two Extra Monster Zones." Zack informed them. "But don't worry, Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz Monsters don't have to occupy an Extra Monster Zone."
"Interesting. So, with those, one duelist can control up to six monsters at a time." Mokuba mused.
"That's correct." Zack agreed.
"Listen up, Playmaker. I know we just met each other, but there's no way I'll hold back, so let's give it everything we've got!"
"I agree and it'd help us all if you will start us off." Playmaker suggested.
Turn 1: Yuya (4000)
"Fine with me. First off, I'm summoning Performapal Whip Snake!" Yuya summons his monster, a purple cobra snake with an oversized yellow bowtie and a blue top hat with a yellow bow tied around it. (Level 4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 900)
"Performapals? You must be a Dueltainer." Playmaker deduced.
"How'd you know?" Yuya asked him.
"Your monster's attire says it all. Top hat, polka-dotted bow tie – Tools of the trade for a Dueltainer."
"So they are. I'll place two cards face-down and end my turn." Yuya's two face-down cards finishes his turn.
"Hey Zack. What kind of deck do you think Playmaker's got?" Zuzu asked.
"You'll see soon enough." Zack said as Playmaker's turn began.
Turn 2: Playmaker (4000)
"Prepare yourself, Yuya. It's my turn now. I draw!" Playmaker analyzes his hand. "To start, I shall summon one of my favorite monsters, Cyberse Wizard!" He summons a wizard with white and black robes with silver shoulder and leg pads with light green lines on his robes, hat, and leg pads. He's armed with a staff-like metal rod. (Level 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 800)
"Cyberse? Gong didn't see a monster like that before!" Gong commented.
"That's because they come from a whole different world. A world in cyberspace, hence the name." Zack noted.
"Cyberspace? So cool." Sora smiled.
"And now that I have a Cyberse monster out on the field, I can summon Backup Secretary to join him!" His next monster is a purple-haired woman holding a futuristic notepad. She wore a black visor over her eyes, a pale purple dress with the top part sporting armor and a purple cape with darker purple lines inside it. Her feet, legs, and arms were coated in armored gauntlets and two long black USB cords hung down from under her cape at her back. (Level 3/ATK: 1200/DEF: 800)
"Why do you keep summoning those monsters?" Yuya asked.
"You'll find out soon enough. But first, Cyberse Wizard shall attack your Whip Snake! Illusion Spike!" Playmaker calls his attack. The white-robed man fired an electric blast from his metal rod.
"Not so fast! I activate a Trap! Last Minute Cancel!" Yuya triggers his Trap card. "This switches my monster into Defense Mode! Plus, any Performapal that gets pummeled in battle will return to my hand." Whip Snake quickly switched to a defensive stance.
"You may be able to save your Life Points, but Cyberse Wizard is still going to destroy Whip Snake!" Playmaker said as the bolt of lightning shocks the snake, destroying it.
"At least you'll be safe back in my hand, Whip Snake." Yuya sighs as he takes the card and places it back in his hand.
"You may have saved your monster, but your Life Points are a different story. Backup Secretary, attack Yuya directly!" Backup Secretary fires a wave of pixels at Yuya.
"I have another Trap: Performapal Pinch Helper! Whenever I'm attacked directly, that attack is stopped cold." Yuya explains as a barrier blocks the woman's attack. "And there's more: I can now summon a Performapal from my deck by negating its special abilities. Say hello to Performapal Gold Fang!" Emerging from a blue portal above is a golden-toothed wolf wearing a blue bowtie with polka dots, a red vest, and broken shackles on its front legs. A red star is seen on its right cheek and on its head is a brown hairstyle that resembles Yuya's. (Level 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 700/PS: 3)
"Well played, Yuya, but it'll take more than that to take down my monsters. I place two cards face-down and end my turn." Playmaker's face-down cards materialize before disappearing.
"Okay, you're impressing me so far, but here's the show really heats up!" Yuya declares as his turn begins.
Turn 3: Yuya (4000)
"I draw!" Yuya draws his card and sees a new Magician card: Oafdragon Magician. "Perfect!"
"You're right, Playmaker. It will take more than just Gold Fang to take down your Cyberse monsters. Thankfully, I have a whole cast of monsters just raring to take you down." Yuya declares as he reveals Oafdragon Magician and Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon. "I set the Pendulum Scale with Scale 2 Oafdragon Magician and Scale 8 Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon! I'm taking control of this duel, starting now!" He places the two cards in their places on the Pendulum Zones. A blonde-haired magician in green and white clothes along with a smaller green version of Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon appeared in transparent pillars. The numbers representing their Pendulum Scales appeared below them. "I'm allowed to summon monsters from Level 3 through 7 all at the same time!"
"Interesting." Playmaker smirked upon seeing Yuya attempting his patented Pendulum Summon.
"Swing far, Pendulum! Carve the arc of victory!" Yuya chanted as the giant crystal swings behind both monsters like a pendulum. "My monsters are ready to swing into action!" From above, three monsters emerge from a portal.
"Light up the night, Performapal Fireflux!" The first of the three is a firefly wearing an orange suit and a light bulb is in place of its tail. (Level 4/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1600/PS: 5)
"Whip to it, Performapal Whip Snake!" The bowtie-wearing snake reappears. (Level 4/ATK: 1700/DEF: 900)
"Turn up the heat, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" Yuya's favorite monster, sporting its iconic dichromatic eyes appears with a roar. (Level 7/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/PS: 4)
"A Pendulum Summon? There are things even I haven't learned." Playmaker admits.
"Impressed? Then how about you see them in action? Whip Snake, take out his Backup Secretary!" Whip Snake coils up like a spring and leaps at Backup Secretary.
"I activate a Spell!" Playmaker attempts to use his face-down card, but it won't activate. "What?"
"Nice try, but as long as my Fireflux is lighting the way, your Spells and Traps are put on hold." Yuya explains just as Whip Snake headbutts Backup Secretary, destroying her. Playmaker felt the shock. (Playmaker: 4000 → 3500 LP)
"Backup Secretary may have fallen, but I can still protect my remaining monster with Security Block!" Playmaker reveals his Spell. "With this Spell card, Cyberse Wizard is safe from battle and neither one of us takes any battle damage."
"So even if I attack with Odd-Eyes, I won't be able to damage you?" Yuya asked.
"Exactly."
Yuya pondered at his next move before Yuto appeared. "Relax, Yuya. You can't damage him anymore, but you still have other tricks up your sleeve."
"Thanks, Yuto." Yuya told his Xyz Dimension counterpart before he vanished. "You may have stopped me from dealing more damage, but even that can't stop me from doing this. I overlay Level 4 Gold Fang and Whip Snake in order to build the Overlay Network!" Gold Fang turns into yellow energy and Whip Snake becomes orange energy. Both shoot into the air before entering a swirling galaxy, a column of blue energy emerging from it.
"Cloaked in shadows and relentless in its objective, I call upon the most dangerous of dragons!" Yuya chants as a dragon forms within dark shadows. "I Xyz Summon Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" Yuto's signature dragon emerges with a screeching roar. (Rank 4/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/OLU: 2)
"I see that you can Xyz Summon. Not bad, but what I have in store for you next will surprise you." Playmaker declared.
"Ha! Like you have anything that'll surprise me." Yuya called his bluff.
Turn 4: Playmaker (3500)
"We'll see!" Playmaker draws a card from his deck. He sees that it's Bitrooper. He also sees Cyberse Gadget, and Latency. He smirks. "To start things off, by sending a Level 2 or lower monster in my hand to the Graveyard, I can summon Bitrooper!" He begins his move by placing Latency in his Graveyard and summoning a white-armored digital warrior with yellow details on its shoulder pads and legs. Its weapons are a lance and a holographic shield. (Level 4/ATK: 1500/DEF: 2000)
"Next, I summon Cyberse Gadget!" His next monster is a small humanoid with a battery pack on its back, connected by several wires. It sees from its white helmet and a touchpad-like tool is seen on its left wrist. (Level 4/ATK: 1400/DEF: 300)
"And by summoning Cyberse Gadget, I can summon a Level 2 or lower Cyberse from my Graveyard in Defense Mode, as long as I negate its special abilities. Return to the field, Latency!" Emerging from Playmaker's Graveyard is a humanoid angel in a magenta dress with dark blue lines and small yellow wings. In her hands is a rather large hourglass and small clocks can be seen on her shoulders. (Level 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)
"Yuya, earlier you asked me why I keep summoning monsters, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I did ask that." Yuya responded.
"I believe now's the time to show you why." Playmaker said as he did something that surprised everyone watching. "Watch closely as I create the ultimate circuit!" They saw a portal with eight arrows pointing in different directions.
"What's going on?!" Kaiba asked.
"You got me." Vector said in awe.
"What is that?" Yuya asked his opponent.
"The summoning conditions are at least 2 Effect monsters. I set Cyberse Gadget, Bitrooper, and Latency in the Link Arrows!" Playmaker declared as the mentioned monsters transformed into colored hurricanes and entered the top, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows, lighting them up. "I Link Summon! Link-3 Decode Talker!" Emerging from the arrow portal is a tall humanoid with a black body that sported glowing purple lines all over it. He is wearing gold-trimmed blue armor with several purple glowing gems to match its body and eyes under his helmet. He wielded a glowing purple sword in his hand. (ATK: 2300/LINK-3)
"Did he…" Shay said.
"Just say…" Mai continued.
"Link Summon?" Declan finished, in awe at the sight of Decode Talker.
"Whenever you see any of Playmaker's Link Monsters, you are in all kinds of trouble." Zack smirked.
"What do you mean by that?" Vector asked.
"There are two important traits that make Link Monsters unique: Link Monsters don't have Levels and can't be put in Defense Mode."
"What!?" Mizar gasped.
"That means any card effects that force a monster into Defense Mode are useless against Link Monsters like Decode Talker."
Yuya was shocked to see Playmaker pull off a Link Summon like that. Even his other selves are surprised.
"Am I seeing things, or did he just say he Link Summon?"
"Surprised, aren't you? You'll be even more surprised at what my Cyberses can do. When Cyberse Gadget is sent to the Graveyard, I can summon a Gadget Token." A small gadget that resembles the humanoid appears on the field. (Level 2/ATK: 0/DEF: 0)
A shot of the field shows Decode Talker in the left Extra Monster Zone. Cyberse Wizard and the Gadget Token are in the center and leftmost Main Monster zones on Playmaker's side while Yuya's Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon is in the Main Monster Zone opposite of Decode Talker, between Odd-Eyes and Fireflux.
"Decode Talker gains 500 Attack points for every monster next to its Links. Power Integration!" Decode Talker's sword glows brighter, raising its power. (ATK: 2300 → 3800)
"3800 Attack Points?" Yuya gasped.
"That's right, and Cyberse Wizard has its own special ability. It switches your Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon into Defense Mode. Cyberse Algorithm!" Playmaker's Cyberse Wizard shoots a bolt of energy that forces Dark Rebellion into a defensive stance.
"You switched my monster into Defense? That doesn't mean you'll damage me."
"I beg to differ. When Cyberse Wizard uses its special ability, my Cyberses can deal piercing damage." This surprises Yuya. "But before that, I will create the circuit again!" Playmaker declares as the arrowhead portal opens again. "The summoning conditions are 2 Cyberse monsters. I set my Gadget Token and Cyberse Wizard in the Link Arrows!" The two monsters became hurricanes before entering the left and bottom-right arrows. "I Link Summon Link-2 Flame Administrator!" Emerging from the arrowhead portal is a red and orange humanoid robot with some yellow seen on his ankles and shoulders. It has a dark grey endoskeleton underneath as well. (ATK: 1200/LINK-2)
"Another Link Monster?" Yuya asked. "Wait, now that there's one less monster next to Decode Talker's Links, it loses 500 Attack Points." He saw Decode Talker's Attack Points drop (ATK: 3800 → 3300)
"That's true, but with Flame Administrator's special ability, my Link Monsters gain 800 Attack Points!" The two Link Monsters glow yellow briefly. (Decode Talker: ATK: 3300 → 4100; Flame Administrator: ATK: 1200 → 2000)
"And there's more. I activate Cynet Regression!" Playmaker's Trap card is revealed. "When I special summon a Link Monster, I get to destroy one card on the field."
"I bet he's planning to destroy either Fireflux or Odd-Eyes, but they're both Pendulum Monsters, so they go to my Extra Deck instead of the Graveyard." Yuya's thoughts echo in his head before eyeing Playmaker. "Take your pick, Playmaker. Which of my other two monsters will you destroy with that Trap? Fireflux or Odd-Eyes?"
"Neither! I'm using Cynet Regression to destroy Performapal Pinch Helper!"
"What?!" A beam of light shoots from Playmaker's Trap and destroys Pinch Helper.
"Not bad. He must've known that by sending Performapal Pinch Helper to the Graveyard, he can prevent battle damage one time." Zack smirked.
"And thanks to Cynet Regression's effect, I can draw one card." Playmaker draws a card. He sees that it's a new Spell: Link Sword.
"I activate the Spell Link Sword!" Playmaker plays a new Equip Spell and Decode Talker grabs a glowing blue sword made entirely of data. "When a Link Monster is given this sword, it gains 400 Attack Points for every Link Arrow that is currently in play."
"Decode Talker is Link-3 and Flame Administrator is Link-2, that makes a total of 5 Link Arrows, which means Decode Talker gains 2000 Attack Points." Shay pointed out as the sword energized Decode Talker. (ATK: 4100 → 6100)
"6100 Attack Points!?"
"And they will be put to good use! Decode Talker, attack Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" Playmaker finally calls his attack. "And with an assist from Cyberse Wizard, Decode Talker can deal damage even if your monster is in Defense Mode! Decode Destruction!" Decode Talker raised his sword and brought it down on Dark Rebellion. The force of the attack caused an explosion powerful enough to send Yuya crashing to the ground. (Yuya: 4000 → 0 LP)
"I don't believe it." Zuzu said, almost speechless.
"Yuya… lost." Gong's words escaped his mouth.
"See? Playmaker's monsters are a force to be reckoned with." Zack said.
Playmaker approached Yuya. "Such power. Such skill. If only I had a monster like that." He hears Yuya's words.
"Perhaps you can." Playmaker said.
"Huh?"
"I meant to give you this at the opening ceremony, but perhaps it can help out with your deck." Playmaker pulls a card from his deck box and gives it to Yuya. He sees that it's a Link Monster.
"My own Link Monster?"
"Yes. Link Monsters are powerful, but only when used in the right situation."
"Thanks so much, Playmaker." Yuya thanked Playmaker. He offers a handshake. With a smile, Playmaker accepts it.
"Now that the show's over, let's get to training." Zack said.
"Yeah!" Everyone agreed as they spend the next three days training and adjusting their decks. A woman with bright blonde pigtails is seen outside the base hearing the duels. She clutches a pendant around her pendant. She sighs before leaving.
OC Cards
Link Sword
Equip Spell
Equip only to a Cyberse Link Monster. It gains 400 ATK for every Link Arrow on the field. If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card effect, you can banish 1 Cyberse monster from your GY, add this card to your hand.