Chapter 22: Might of a Fallen Champion
Some technicians are congregated around Gozaburo, who's preparing to be implemented with cybernetic upgrades. The head scientist approaches him on the operating table.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this, Mr. Kaiba?" The scientist asked. "Be warned that once we begin the operation, there's no going back."
"I'd do anything to defeat my enemies, even if it means I have to become a machine." Gozaburo argued.
"Fair enough. Let's get started." As the technicians prepare to integrate the cybernetics into Gozaburo, Shade, Mr. Heartland, and The D enter to check on him.
"I see that the process is beginning." Shade spoke.
"Yes. Are you certain the Chessmate Deck can be handled with a cybernetic body?" The D asked.
"I had 30 of my troopers test it out and its power completely overwhelmed them. Nine were left comatose but alive." Shade said.
"That's what happens when they don't know the full extent of a powerful deck." The D commented.
"Speaking of a powerful deck…" Mr. Heartland said before pulling a deck box from his suit pocket. A dark aura emanates from it.
"The Fallen HERO deck."
"Yes. You are to use these cards against Crow."
"Crow? With all due respect, Heartland, wouldn't it be better to use these against Aster?"
"It would, but he now holds Destiny HERO – Plasma, and you wouldn't stand a chance against him if he summons it." Shade informed him.
"Fair point. I'll call Crow out to the castle outside the Mountain Zone."
"An appropriate location. Go, and clip that Crow's wings." Shade commands. The D disappears into an Overlay Network.
Around the same time, everyone is looking over their decks to prepare for the second day of the tournament prelims. Jack sees Yugi looking at some of his cards. Some of them seen are Silver Gadget, Spellbinding Circle, and his favorite monster, the Dark Magician.
"Oh, Jack. You came back from Mt. Orichalcum. Was Gozaburo a challenge?" Yugi asked.
"He gave me a run for my money, but he never stood a chance." Jack said. "And I bring a gift." He pulls the Exodia cards from his coat.
"You took his Exodia cards?" Yugi asked.
"He doesn't deserve to use them. But you're more worthy to have them, if you like." Jack offered the cards.
"Well, Weevil already tossed mine into the ocean." Yugi accepted the cards. "I guess I can balance these out and make the most of these new cards."
"And it looks like I gave them to you just in time. The second day of the preliminaries is approaching, so you better be at the top of your game if you wish to make the finals."
"Jack, I'm the King of Games. I know what I plan to do."
The next day, the tournament is in full swing as duelists battle all over the planet. One duel is going on in the Ruins between Alexis Rhodes and a Slifer Red Student named Yan. Alexis has two cards in her hand while Yan has one. Alexis has no cards on her field while Yan has Neo-Parshath, the Sky Paladin (Level 7/2300/2000) as well as the Sanctuary in the Sky Field Spell.
Alexis: 1100 LP/Yan: 2000 LP
"Face it, little girl, your monsters don't stand a chance against Neo-Parshath." Yan taunted.
"Oh yeah?" Alexis taunted as her turn began.
Turn ?: Alexis (1100)
"We'll see about that." She draws her card. "I play Fulfillment of the Contract! For the low price of 800 Life Points, I can summon any Ritual monster from my Graveyard. Come on back, Cyber Angel Idaten!" Idaten rises from the Graveyard. (Level 6/1600/2000) (Alexis: 1100→300)
"What are you going to do with her now?" Yan asked.
"Win this duel. I play Machine Angel Ritual!" Alexis plays her Ritual spell. "I can tribute monsters from my hand or field to summon a Cyber Angel. So, now I'll tribute Idaten to summon Cyber Angel Benten!" Idaten disappears and Benten, armed with her fans appears. (Level 6/1800/1500)
"Sorry, but she's still too weak." Yan taunted.
"Not for long. When I tribute Idaten, all my Ritual monsters gain 1000 Attack and Defense points." Alexis countered. Benten's body glows green for a moment, boosting her strength. (ATK: 1800→2800/DEF: 1500→2500)
"It's stronger than my Paladin now!" Yan yelped.
"Exactly, Cyber Angel Benten, attack Neo-Parshath! Go, Angel Flight!" Benten unleashes her fans at the mounted monster, destroying it.
"Nice try, but my Sanctuary protects me from battle damage with Fairy monsters." Yan reminded her.
"I wouldn't worry about that." Alexis said. "When Angel Benten destroys your monster in battle, you take damage equal to the destroyed monster's Defense points. And that's something your Sanctuary won't protect you from."
"No way!" Yan yelped as a ring of light surrounded him. The light shot up and enveloped Yan. He yells in pain. (Yan: 2000→0)
Alexis collects two Link Crystals, bringing her count to seven. "A word of advice: never engage in a fight without knowing you can't win."
In the Forest, an Academy student named Liam is dueling against Aster Phoenix. Liam has Watthydra and Wattchimera. There is also a Wattcine card, which boosts his Life Points with each successful attack.
Aster: 200 LP/Liam: 7000 LP
"You may as well give up, nothing's going to stop me from winning this. And when I do, I'm going to be one step closer to becoming a Pro duelist." Liam said.
"Dreaming of being a pro and actually becoming one are two completely different things, kid." Aster spoke.
Turn ?: Aster (200)
"And you're about to see why." Aster draws his card. "I activate Polymerization! I'll use it to fuse Destiny HEROs Drilldark, Drawhand, and Captain Tenacious. These three will combine and form the HERO that decides the fate of all. I Fusion Summon Vision HERO Trinity!" Drilldark, Drawhand, and Captain Tenacious swirl together into a shining ball. Emerging from the ball is a muscular HERO in red armor with silver on its shoulders and arms and jewels on its torso and knees. (Level 8/2500/2000)
"I see that you can Fusion Summon, but he doesn't scare me." Liam said.
"But maybe this will. While he can't attack you directly, he can attack up to three of your monsters." Aster countered, earning a yelp from his opponent.
"If that doesn't, maybe Trinity's special ability will. During the turn he's Fusion Summoned, his Attack points are doubled." He continued. Trinity's center gems glow, raising his power exponentially. (ATK: 2500→5000)
"5000 Attack points?!" Liam gasps.
"Enough to take you down. Trinity, show your stuff! Attack Wattchimera!" Aster commands Trinity to attack. The red-armored Vision HERO deals a mighty punch to the thunder-charged chimera, destroying it. (Liam: 7000→3500)
"And like I said, Trinity can attack up to three times. But I only need two to win. Trinity, attack Watthydra and bring it home! Trinity Crush!" Vision HERO Trinity deals a double axe handle to Watthydra and destroys it. The shock of the attack sends Liam flying backwards. (Liam: 3500→0)
"The only way you're going to be a Pro is if you practice as much as your skills take you."
"Nice job, Aster." He hears a voice. He turns around and sees Crow.
"He, Crow. You come here for a duel?"
"Yeah, but not with you." Crow turned down the offer. "I was wondering if you know someone who issued me this challenge."
"Challenge? Who challenged you?"
"Some guy named Kyle Jables. I think he went by a Pro name, but I can't remember what it is."
Aster then remembered the Pro name of the man who haunted his childhood. "The D!"
"That's it! But how'd you know that?" Crow asked.
"He's the man who destroyed my life when he captured my father and stole the ultimate Destiny HERO!"
"He what?!" Crow gasps in shock.
"My dad was an aspiring card designer for Industrial Illusions. He's the one responsible for the creation of the Destiny Heroes." Aster explained. "He created many of them, like Doom Lord, Celestial, and Dreadmaster. But the creation of one card changed everything. That card was Destiny HERO – Plasma. The Light of Destruction influenced my dad to create the card in hopes of obtaining a vessel. The Light's essence was infused with the card and sought a human host."
"The D." Crow guessed.
"Right. He learned about the card from the design I retrieved after a gust of wind blew it away. That night, he broke into my dad's apartment trying to steal the card. My dad caught him in the act, but his fate was sealed. The Light of Destruction possessed Jables and with that power, stole my father's soul. To cover his tracks, he took me in and became Pro League champion for 10 years."
"10 years?! He must be really good."
"Thanks to the Light, he was. When I confronted him, he told me everything and told me if I wanted Plasma back, I had to defeat him in a duel. Though Plasma crippled a lot of my strategies, I used Destiny HERO – Dark Angel, a card designed to counter Plasma to win. The Light of Destruction escaped from Plasma and exploded, setting the ship ablaze. I recovered the card and escaped, but not before the D swore that he'd one day get his revenge. The D likely escaped the ship as well. Knowing the D, he may have joined Shade to do just that."
"If that lowlife wants a duel, then I'll be happy to give him one!" Crow said before getting on his Duel Runner.
"But where are you going to find him? He could be anywhere on this island." Aster asked.
"There's a castle just outside the Mountain Zone. That's where I need to be." Crow told him before he takes off. "Let me know how the tournament is going!"
"Good luck out there, Crow."
Atop the castle with the Mountain Zone in clear view, The D looks around for his opponent before hearing the roar of a Duel Runner engine. He looks downward and sees Crow.
"You've arrived, as I predicted." The D greeted.
"I heard that you called me out. And it looks like you succeeded." Crow said.
"I wanted to face Aster, but you will do." The D said. "And this deck will help me win." He pulls out his new deck. It radiates with a dark aura.
"Something about that deck's sending chills down my spine." Crow's thoughts echo in his head. "What kind of deck is that?"
"Why don't you duel me and find out?"
"That's kind of why I'm here."
Crow and the D are on top of the castle's spires, preparing to duel.
"You ready to have your wings clipped?" The D laughs as his Duel Disk powered on.
"We'll see who's laughing after I'm done with you." Crow's Duel Disk powers on.
"Generating Action Field: Crossover." The area gained transparent platforms. the next two words began the next match.
"Let's duel!"
Crow: 4000 LP
VS.
The D: 4000 LP
The Action Cards scatter around them. "If you don't mind, I nominate to take the first move." The D takes the first move.
Turn 1: The D (4000)
"I'll begin by placing this monster in Defense mode." The D said as a horizontal card appeared. "And I'll place another card face-down and leave it at that."
"Wow, all that talk for a pair of face-downs." Crow said unamused.
"Then why don't you make a move and find out?" The D challenged.
Turn 2: Crow (4000)
"I'd be happy to. I draw!" Crow draws his card. He looks at the cards he has.
"Since you're the only one with a monster right now, I can summon Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn!" Crow plays his muscular Blackwing right away. (Level 5/2000/900)
"And now that there's a Blackwing on my field, I can summon Blackwing – Bora the Spear!" He plays another Blackwing; one armed with a spiral-edged spear. (Level 4/1700/800)
"Like I always say: birds of a feather flock together, so I'm going to keep this momentum going by summoning Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind in Attack mode!" Crow plays his purple-feathered Tuner monster.
"That's quite the ensemble of high-flyers. I can't wait to swat them down." The D smirked maliciously.
"Easier said than done once I activate Sirocco's ability. He can take the combined Attack points of all my Blackwings and give them to another Blackwing, like Bora the Spear." Crow countered. The energy of Sirocco and Gale transfer to Bora, strengthening him. (ATK: 1700→5000)
"The only problem is Bora's the only one that can attack right now, but that's okay, because Bora's special ability lets it deal piercing damage!"
"It can?!" The D gasps.
"That's right. And with only one face-down monster, I'm about to deal some big-time damage. Bora the Spear, attack his face-down monster with Spiraling Spear!" Bora readies his spear and goes into a spinning nosedive towards his monster.
"Sorry, but you won't be damaging me anytime soon. I play Negate Attack!" The D reveals his Trap. An invisible barrier deflects Bora's attack. "Now your attack is halted, and your Battle Phase ends immediately."
"Great. Guess I'll just place this face-down." Crow ends his turn with a face-down.
"You may as well face it; my deck is far more superior than yours."
"Why don't you draw and find out if it's true?" Crow dared the D to draw.
Turn 3: The D (4000)
"Ask and you shall receive." The D draws his card. "You know, Crow, a duelist's cards represent who they are. But this deck reveals that I have two sides: The side of the D the world knows and the evil, power-hungry side only one person knows."
"Aster."
"Correct. And this card will reveal my true self! I activate the Field Spell Fallen City!" The D plays a Field Spell. The area around them transforms into a futuristic city with a crimson sky.
"What a mess!" Crow commented.
"And that's just the beginning. I summon Fallen HERO Debrah!" The D's new monster is a fiendish woman in white armor with white wings. A purple aura surrounds her. (Level 4/1500/1700)
"A Fallen HERO?"
"Take a good look, because it's the last you will hear of them, especially when Debrah's special ability lets me summon a Fallen HERO from my hand. Rise, Fallen HERO Dark Athena!" He summons a purple-haired woman, this one in a girls' school uniform and white wings. She's armed with a crimson sword. Her body is aglow with a purple aura. (Level 3/1000/1000)
"Go on, summon as much as you want, they won't scare me." Crow dared him before glancing at his face-down. "Especially once my face-down activates. He's about to be in for the surprise of his life."
"Tell me, Crow: do you consider yourself to be this predictable?" The D asked. Crow looked surprised.
"From the look on your face, you're probably banking on using that face-down card to destroy my monsters the second I attack." The D deduced. "Well, I'm about to send that card packing. Now, Dark Athena, attack his Life Points!" The D commands his monster to attack.
"Hold on a minute! I still have monsters out, so why are you attacking me?!" Crow questioned.
"That's Athena's special ability. She can soar right over your monsters and strike your Life Points. Show him, Athena! Attack with Soaring Shadow Slash!" Dark Athena deals an overhead slash to Crow. He reels back in pain. (Crow: 4000→3000)
"And now, I activate Athena's second ability. When she successfully deals direct damage, she can destroy a Spell or Trap on your field!" Athena creates a gust of wind with her wings and blows away Crow's face-down card.
"So much for that card." The D smirks, but quickly switches to a look of confusion upon hearing Crow laugh. "What's with the laughs?"
"You fell for it!" Crow laughed.
"Fell for what? I just destroyed your Trap." The D said.
"Which is exactly what I wanted you to do. My face-down doesn't destroy monsters. You just assumed that." Crow explained. He took the destroyed card out of his Graveyard. He revealed it as Blackwing – Boobytrap. "The card you just destroyed was Blackwing – Boobytrap. Since you destroyed it, you take 1000 points of damage." He throws the card at the D, exploding once it reaches him. The D shields himself from the explosion. (The D: 4000→3000)
"After that, I can draw one card." Crow draws an extra card thanks to his Trap.
"In that case, Debrah will attack Sirocco the Dawn!" The D commands Debrah to attack.
"You must be nuts attacking Sirocco with a weaker monster." Crow argued.
"That won't be a problem with Fallen City. When my Fallen HERO attacks a stronger monster, your monster loses 1000 Attack points."
"Say what?!" Sirocco cries out in pain as a red aura saps his power. (ATK: 2000→1000)
Debrah uses sharp claws to slice Sirocco, destroying the Winged Beast. Crow reels from the shock of the attack. (Crow: 3000→2500)
"I've punished you enough. I place this face-down and end my turn." The D places a card face-down to end his turn. "And soon, I'll end you."
Turn 4: Crow (2500)
"You're about to regret that. I draw." Crow draws his card. "You should've attacked Gale the Whirlwind when you had the chance. And now, you're about to reap what you sow. Level 3 Gale the Whirlwind tunes Level 4 Bora the Spear!" Gale turns into three motes of light and line up before becoming three green energy rings that surround Bora the Spear, turning it transparent and revealing four more motes of light. "And by way of their cosmic bonds, I unleash a storm of trouble!" A pillar of light shines behind him. "I Synchro Summon! Assault Blackwing – Raikiri the Rain Shower!" Crow's sword-swinging Synchro Monster emerges. (Level 7/2600/2000)
"Next, I summon Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame." Crow plays a large-winged Blackwing with sharp talons. (Level 4/1800/800)
"Now to take down your monsters. Shura, attack his hidden monster." Shura charges at the hidden monster and slashes the card, revealed as Enigma the Creator.
"Not bad, but you set off Enigma the Creator's special ability! When it's destroyed in battle, I can summon a Creator Token." A Token monster that resembles Enigma appears. (Level 4/1200/1200)
"But why stop there? I reveal the Trap Fallen Signal!" The D reveals a Trap. A beam of red light with a yellow jagged "F" shines above Crow.
"What's with the night light?" Crow taunted.
"This "night light" lets me summon a Fallen HERO from my hand or deck when you destroy one of my monsters in battle. Here's Fallen HERO Dark Erminguard!" The Trap calls a young woman in a white and black uniform. She's armed with a large, heart-shaped shield with a yellow "F" mark on it and small white wings. (Level 4/800/2000)
"You're not the only one who can summon a new monster. Shura's special ability lets me summon a new Blackwing from my deck with 1500 or fewer Attack points. Come out, Blackwing – Decay the Ill Wind!" A bipedal raven appears with a loud screech. (Level 4/1000/1000)
"Now, Raikiri, attack Dark Athena!" Raikiri dives towards Dark Athena, sword at the ready. The D smirks with a low chuckle. Raikiri brought down the sword, but the attack was blocked by Dark Erminguard.
"Hey! What gives?! I was aiming for Dark Athena, not Dark Erminguard." Crow glared.
"Sorry, but as long as Dark Erminguard is in Defense mode, she's the only one you can attack." The D explains. "And if that weren't enough, she can't be destroyed in battle."
"Since your Dark Erminguard is playing defense, I can't attack, but I can tune Level 4 Decay the Ill Wind with Level 4 Shura!" Decay becomes four motes of light that turn into energy rings. They surround Shura, turning it transparent and revealing four motes of light. "Get ready for some shock and awe!" Another pillar of light shines behind him. "I Synchro Summon! Soar to power, Black-Winged Dragon!" Crow's Signer Dragon appears with a mighty roar. (Level 8/2800/1600)
"So that's the mighty Black-Winged Dragon." The D said in awe.
"Yep, and it'll help me win, along with this face-down." Crow places a card face-down to end his turn.
"But don't forget: Decay's special ability deals you 1000 points of damage since you used it to Synchro Summon." The D reminds him.
"Actually, I plan on Black-Winged Dragon absorbing that for me. His special ability lets him absorb any damage from a special effect in exchange for a counter, for the low price of 700 Attack Points per counter." Some of Black-Winged Dragon's white feathers turn black. (ATK: 2800→2100)
"You just don't know when to give up, do you?"
"You know me, I don't know the meaning of giving up."
"I'll teach you not to mess with me!" The D roared.
Turn 5: The D (3000)
"I draw!" He draws his next card. He contemplates on Crow's face-down card. "Let's see, he has a face-down card. It must be a Trap, unless he wants me to believe it is. I already fell for his Boobytrap card, and I can't afford to make that mistake again."
"I play Card of Rejuvenation. It lets us both draw 10 cards." The D's card lets both players draw 10 cards. The D sees some useful cards.
"And now, I'll tribute my Creator Token to activate the Spell Gift of the Martyr!" The Creator Token disappears. "With this Spell card, my Creator Token's Attack points are added to Dark Athena's." Dark Athena's body becomes enveloped in a red aura, boosting her strength. (ATK: 1000→2200)
"And now that she's powered up, I'm about to send her to attack you!" The D prepares to attack.
"Not this time! I play a Trap from my hand: Black-Winged Arrow!" Crow reveals a Trap from his hand.
"From your hand?! You can't do that!" The D argued.
"I can if I have at least 4 different Blackwings in my Graveyard. Black-Winged Arrow lets me choose a monster and negate its abilities. Looks like Dark Athena won't be attacking me this time." An arrow with a black feather for a fletching is shot from the card. It strikes Dark Athena in the wing. Her power is dispelled from the arrow.
"I can't take down your Life Points, but Dark Athena can still get rid of that dragon. Attack!" Dark Athena rushes towards Black-Winged Dragon.
"Not so fast! I have another Trap: Black Wing! Since your monster attacked, I can banish a Blackwing from my Graveyard to stop any attack that has 2000 or more Attack Points!" A red barrier blocks Dark Athena's attack.
"My Dark Athena may not be able to take down your monster, but Debrah can!" The D commands Debrah to attack. "And remember, Fallen City lowers your monster's Attack points by 1000 since mine's weaker." Red lightning strikes Black-Winged Dragon, siphoning its power. (ATK: 2100→1100)
Crow leaps up the platforms and grabs an Action Card. "I play Evasion to sidestep your attack." Crow plays the Action Spell. Black-Winged Dragon flies up to dodge the attack.
"You may have stopped me from attacking, but I can still place these face-down." The D ends his turn with three face-downs. Dark Athena's green aura dissipates. (ATK: 2200→1000) "Let's see what you can do."
"Okay, but I must warn you: my Blackwings will soar higher than ever."
Turn 6: Crow (2500)
"I draw!" Crow draws his card. "I activate Black Whirlwind!" Crow plays his Spell.
"What can that do?"
"You're about to find out. I summon Blackwing – Elphin the Raven!" He summons a large Blackwing with its wide wings and powerful talons. (Level 6/2200/1200)
"Hold on! That's a Level 6 monster! You can't summon it right away!" The D argued.
"Normally, that'd be true, but when a Blackwing is in play, that requirement's thrown out the window." Crow countered. The D scowls. "And thanks to Black Whirlwind, when I Normal Summon a Blackwing, I can add another Blackwing with less Attack points than the monster I summon." A card slips out of Crow's deck, and he puts it in his hand.
"Now that that's done, Elphin's ability will kick in, letting me change the battle mode of one of your monsters."
"You can't!"
"I can. I wondered why I can't get past your defense. Dark Erminguard can only defend other monsters while she's in Defense mode, but if I switch her to Attack mode, she's a sitting duck!" Elphin flies to Dark Erminguard and pulls her into a standing position.
"Oh no!"
"Oh yes. And with her in Attack mode, your other monsters are defenseless! Especially with Black-Winged Dragon's second ability. By getting rid all its Black Feather Counters, Debrah loses 700 Attack points for every counter it takes off, and you take 700 points of damage for each of those counters. Black Orb Blast!" Black-Winged Dragon fires an orb of black energy at Debrah. The shock of the impact reaches the D. He and Debrah scream in pain. (ATK: 1500→800; The D: 3000→2300)
"Now, Raikiri, attack Debrah now!" Raikiri flies toward Debrah. The D runs and grabs an Action Card from a watchtower. The sword-swinging Winged Beast deals a swift slice. Debrah yells as she is destroyed.
"I play Damage Banish! Now all that pesky battle damage disappears." The D plays his Action card just in time.
"You may have escaped damage this time, but once my dragon attacks Dark Athena, you're one step closer to defeat."
"That's what you think. I reveal my Spell card: Fallen Fusion!" The D reveals his Spell card. "This lets me Fusion Summon, even during battle."
"You can Fusion Summon?!" Crow gasps.
"That's right. I fuse Fallen HEROs Dark Athena and Dark Erminguard." The two float up, dodging the energy wave. "The corruption of these two mighty souls combine and unleash the embodiment of darkness itself!" The two monsters swirl together into a ball of dark energy. "I Fusion Summon! Fallen HERO Dark Valerie!" The new monster has Dark Erminguard's shield, Dark Athena's sword and wings and is wearing a similar uniform. (Level 6/2000/2500)
"What's the point of summoning a new monster? My Black-Winged Dragon will just destroy it."
"Tough luck. Dark Valerie retains the special abilities of the monsters that form her, meaning she can't be attacked."
"Drat! Guess I'll just place these face-down and end my turn." Crow places three cards face-down to end his turn. "You may have pushed me back, but it won't stop me from attacking next turn."
"If you'll have a next turn." The D smirked as his next turn began.
Turn 7: The D (2300)
"I draw!" The D draws his card. The D starts laughing. "It's been two turns since I destroyed Sirocco the Dawn. Now Fallen City's second effect activates. Whenever I use my Field spell's effect in battle, I can revive a Fallen HERO from my Graveyard after two turns. Rise again, Fallen HERO Dark Erminguard!" The winged defender rises once more, in a defensive stance. (Level 4/800/2000)
"Not her again!" Crow glared.
"Yes, and she'll be joined by her comrade: Fallen HERO Dark Lucie!" The D's new monster is a young fiendish woman with spiky black hair in a revealing black uniform. (Level 3/1200/800)
"What can she do?" Crow asked.
"You're about to find out. But hey, first things first, Dark Valerie's going to take off and attack your Life Points!" The D commands his Fusion Monster to attack Crow. The latter finds an Action Card on the roof of the wall. He rushes to it, but the swing of the sword threw Crow off course. He managed to rebalance himself and land on one of the platforms. (Crow: 2500→500)
"Now to finish you. Dark Lucie, attack Raikiri!"
"Even with your Field Spell's ability, your monster will be 400 points short of taking me out." Crow pointed out.
"That won't matter anymore, not with her ability. When she battles a monster, she can steal half your monster's Attack points!"
"It can?!" Crow gasps. Dark Lucie siphons energy from Raikiri. (Raikiri: 2600→1300; Dark Lucie: 1200→2500)
"In that case, I'm playing Blade Shade. Since you attacked my Raikiri, I can use Blade Shade to block your attack." Dark Lucie takes a swing at Raikiri, but it's blocked by a red bladed shield.
"Curses. I didn't think you'd survive this long." The D said. "Guess I'll just end my turn then. If you really think you'd be able to last this long, then you are mistaken."
"The only one who's mistaken here, buddy, is you." Crow taunted. "You called me out and expected a duel from me and you expect to beat me with that paltry new deck of yours. You're about to regret ever challenging me."
Turn 8: Crow (500)
"And it starts now." He draws his next card. "I summon Blackwing – Mistral the Silver Shield." He plays a dark feathered bird wearing silver armor and its chest resembles a strong shield. (Level 2/100/1800)
"Now, Mistral the Silver Shield tunes Elphin the Raven!" Crow announces as Mistral turns into two motes of light. They ascend and turn into energy rings that surround Elphin the Raven, turning it into six motes of light. "The dark wind soars from the last days of battle!" A pillar of light shines behind Crow. "I Synchro Summon! Blackfeather Darkrage Dragon!" He summons a mighty dragon that resembles Black-Winged Dragon with some hard-to-notice difference. While the feathered tails of both dragons are grey, Darkrage's are a lighter shade than Black-Winged Dragon's. (Level 8/2800/1600)
"You have two dragons?!" The D gasps.
"Surprised? I plan on beating you with both of my dragons. But first, I'm using Raikiri's special ability! For every Blacking that's in play, I can destroy one of your cards."
"Are you really going to try and destroy my monsters? We both know that Dark Erminguard negates any effect that destroys my monsters." The D reminded him.
"Your monsters, yes, but not your Spells. I use Raikiri's ability to destroy Fallen City!"
"WHAT?!" The D gasps in horror. Raikiri raises its sword, charging it with electric energy. It swings the sword, creating an energy wave that destroys the D's Field Spell. "No! NO!" He hears rumbling. He turns and sees the corrupted city collapsing. The crimson sky returns to normal after the buildings disappear.
"This can't be happening! Without the Fallen City, the dark energy that give my Fallen HEROs their power will overwhelm and destroy them!" All three of the D's monsters wail in agony as they're destroyed one by one.
"And with them gone, your defeat is guaranteed. But first, I need to get rid of your back line. And this card will help: Delta Crow – Anti Reverse! With my Blackwing out on the field, I can use this trusty Trap to blow away all your face-down cards!" A mighty gust blows from the card, destroying all the D's remaining cards.
"Hey, D! If your boss asks you how a Pro Champion like you got beat by a birdbrain, tell him I picked up some tricks fighting in the World Racing Grand Prix." Crow requested in a taunting manner. "Black-Winged Dragon, blast away the last of his Life Points. Shadow Squall Blast!" Crow's Signer Dragon fires an orb of black energy at the D. He had a chance to defend with an Action Card, but seeing his cards destroyed so easily froze him with horror. The attack made contact, causing an explosion. The D screams in agony. (The D: 2300→0)
The monsters and platforms disappear. "You say you're a champion duelist, but you only duel for power and personal glory, while I duel to protect those I care about." Crow said. He collected a Link Crystal from the D, who dropped to his knees in defeat. "It was a good duel, though. Feel free to drop by if you feel like getting schooled again." He drops down to his Duel Runner and rides off.
"Heartland will be very unhappy when he hears about this." The D breathed before leaving through an Overlay Network.
At the Imperial Fortress, we see the D and Mr. Heartland meet up outside the throne room. "Let me guess, you underestimated your adversary and lost."
"It's that noticeable, is it?"
"You know it is! I trusted you to beat him with that new deck! And you call yourself a Pro League Champion! I am disappointed."
"Forgive me, Mr. Heartland. He has overwhelmed me with his Synchro monsters."
"I do not want to hear it! Emperor Shade and my master will be furious with us if we fail to win this tournament." Heartland cut him off.
"Is there anything else we should do?" Jean-Michel Roget asked as he walked into view.
"Send out Mr. Armstrong. Perhaps a duel with Yuma Tsukumo will help motivate our soldiers for future battles." Mr. Heartland suggests.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Armstrong doesn't know how to Fusion Summon." Roget informs him.
"He'll figure it out eventually. Send him. Now!" Mr. Heartland gives his latest command.
Fan-Made/OC Cards
Fallen City
Field Spell
When an "Fallen HERO" monster attacks, if its ATK is lower than the ATK of the attack target, the targeted monster loses 1000 ATK during Damage Calculation only. During each of your 2nd Standby Phases after you activate this effect, Special Summon 1 "Fallen HERO" monster from your Graveyard.
Fallen HERO Dark Athena
Level 3
DARK/Fiend/Effect
ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000)
There can only be 1 face-up "Fallen Hero Dark Athena" on the field. If there's no face-up "Fallen City" on the field, destroy this card. This card can attack your opponent directly. When this card inflicts damage due to a direct attack, destroy 1 Spell or Trap Card your opponent controls.
Fallen HERO Dark Erminguard
Level 4
DARK/Fiend/Effect
ATK: 800/DEF: 2000
There can only be 1 face-up "Fallen HERO Dark Erminguard" on the field. If there is no face-up "Fallen City" on the field, destroy this card. Once per turn, you can negate a card effect that destroys a face-up "Fallen HERO" monster(s) you control. While you control this face-up card in Defense Position, monsters your opponent controls must attack this card. This card cannot be destroyed in battle (Damage Calculation is still applied).
Fallen HERO Debrah
Level 4
DARK/Fiend/Effect
ATK: 1500/DEF: 1700
There can only be 1 face-up "Fallen HERO Debrah" on the field. The field is also treated as "Fallen City". While you control another face-up "Fallen HERO" monster(s), this card cannot be selected as an attack target. When this card is Normal Summoned, you can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Fallen HERO" monster from your hand.
Fallen HERO Dark Valerie
Level 6
DARK/Fiend/Fusion/Effect
Materials: Fallen HERO Dark Athena + Fallen HERO Dark Erminguard
This card cannot be Special Summoned except with "Fallen Fusion". There can only be 1 face-up "Fallen Hero Dark Valerie" on the field. If there's no face-up "Fallen City" on the field, destroy this card. Your opponent cannot select this card as an attack target. This card can attack your opponent directly. When this card is destroyed other than its own effect, destroy all Spell or Trap Cards your opponent controls.
Fallen HERO Dark Lucie
Level 3
DARK/Fiend/Effect
There can only be 1 face-up "Fallen HERO Dark Lucie" on the field. If there is no face-up "Fallen City" on the field, destroy this card. When this card attacks, the targeted monster loses half of its ATK and this card gains the same amount of ATK until the end of Damage Step. When this card destroys an opponent monster in battle and sends it to Graveyard, inflict damages to your opponent's Life Points equals to the half of the ATK of the destroyed monster. If this card attacks, other monsters you control cannot declare an attack. If other monsters you control attacks, this card cannot declare an attack.
Fallen Fusion
Quick-Play Spell
Send, from your hand or your side of the field to the Graveyard, Fusion Material Monsters that are listed on a "Fallen HERO" Fusion Monster Card, and Special Summon that Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck. (This Special Summon is treated as a Fusion Summon). The Special Summoned monster cannot be targeted by the effects of your opponent's Monsters, Spells, and Traps this turn.
Fallen Signal
Trap
Activate when one of your monsters is destroyed by battle. Special Summon 1 "Fallen HERO" monster from your Deck.