Chapter 24: Shadows of Arcadia
Kite is flying to the abandoned theme park to duel Sayer when he receives a video call from Yusei. He responds. "Talk to me."
"Kite, I heard from Yuma you're about to take on Sayer." Yusei deduced.
"Yes. Yuma told me that he's a Psychic duelist." Kite confirmed. "
"Not just any Psychic duelist. He's the leader of the Arcadia Movement." Yusei said.
"Arcadia Movement?" Kite asked.
"An organization of Psychic duelists who oppose Iliaster. He used the movement to create an army and try to overthrow Goodwin. Akiza used to be his puppet before he vanished. He was responsible for what happened to Misty's brother Toby." Yusei explained. "I managed to trick him into spilling everything to Misty. His soul was absorbed into Ccarayhua and when he was freed, Sector Security immediately arrested him."
"He won't be a problem for me. I have something planned for him." Kite said. He continues flying towards the abandoned park. He lands outside the hall of mirrors. Most of the mirrors are shown to be either cracked or shattered.
"Kite. I'm glad you made it." He hears Sayer's voice. He sees the Arcadia Movement leader walk out from behind a dead tree.
"You must be Sayer." Kite deduced.
"In the flesh." Sayer confirmed.
"I heard about you and your little Arcadia Movement." Kite spoke. "You recruited Psychic duelists and put them through grueling experiments to test their abilities. Those that pass will be among your ranks."
"And the failures sent away." Sayer smirked. "Akiza was once my greatest success. Her powers were no equal. With powers like those, I couldn't be any happier for her."
"For Akiza, or for yourself?" Kite asked, earning an unsettling glare from Sayer. "You said yourself that you only recruit Psychic duelists with strong powers and send away the weaklings. Knowing that you only bring people in for power just makes me sick! As far as I'm concerned, I think your powers aren't even close to as strong as Akiza's."
"Silence!" Sayer barked. "My powers are the reason the Arcadia Movement existed! If you still doubt my power, I'd be happy to prove it to you in a duel!" Sayer's Duel Disk powers on.
"Fine. I've come here for that exact reason anyway." Kite accepted his challenge. "But if you think your power eclipses mine, then you are greatly mistaken! Go, Photon Transformation!" Kite's Duel Disk activates, and his black clothes turn white. His duel tattoo appears over his left eye, turning the iris red. The next two words began the match between light and dark.
"Let's duel!"
Kite Tenjo: 4000 LP
VS.
Sayer: 4000 LP
"I'll be starting off, if you don't mind."
Turn 1: Kite (4000)
He analyzes his hand and sees a pair of Cipher monsters along with his best card: Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon. "I see. My Cipher and Photon decks were combined. Let's see if he can stand up to this."
"I activate Photon Sanctuary!" Kite begins with a Spell. "This lets me summon 2 Photon Tokens in Defense Mode." Two orbs of shimmering light appear on the field. (Level 4/2000/0 each)
"What good can you do summoning those pathetic Tokens?" Sayer asked but realized something. "Wait a minute… those Tokens have 2000 Attack points, don't they?"
"That's right, and that's exactly why I'm tributing them!" Kite's two Tokens vanish. A large red shuriken with a blue jewel in the center materialized. He grabs it and throws it high into the air. "Now bear witness a monster more savage than a supernova! With a cataclysmic force of ten black holes put together! A cosmic scourge that vaporizes anything in its path! Appear, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" Kite's best monster emerges with a mighty roar, its body aglow. (Level 8/3000/2500)
"I'm happy to see that dragon in person." Sayer commented. "I'll be even happier to destroy it with my own two hands."
"I'd like to see you try. I summon Cipher Wing!" His next monster is a gold ring that projects a set of large wings. (Level 4/1400/1200)
"Cipher Wing? I never seen you play that." Sayer said.
"Probably because you never saw me duel. But enough of that. Since I have Cipher Wing out, I can summon a second one to join it." He summons a second Cipher Wing next to the first one. (Level 4/1400/1200)
"Next, I activate Double Exposure. If I have 2 Level 6 or lower monsters with the same name, I can double their Levels." Kite plays the last card in his hand. Both Cipher Wings glow yellow for a second. (Both Cipher Wings: Level 4→8)
"Now you have 3 Level 8 monsters!"
"That's right, but I only need two to Xyz Summon. I overlay my two Level 8 Cipher Wings!" Both wing-shaped machines turn into yellow energy and swirl into a galaxy-like portal. A beam of light shoots out.
"Now, by way of the cosmic energies that make up our galaxies, I make something just as mighty!" Kite chants as the monster forms inside the black clouds. "I Xyz Summon! Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!" His Xyz Monster resembles his Photon Dragon, but with light-refracting wings and its armor is brighter. (Rank 8/3000/2500)
"Two Galaxy-Eyes?!" Sayer gasped.
"Surprised, aren't you? This deck I'm using combines the powers of both my Photon and my Cipher decks." Kite explained.
"I see, you're making the best of both of your decks." Sayer noted.
"That's right, and my two Galaxy-Eyes will blast your precious Arcadia Movement to ashes!" Kite declared.
"You're going to have to get past me first." Sayer glared.
"We shall see. I end my turn." Kite declares the end of his turn.
"Your monsters stand no chance against mine." Sayer declared as his turn began.
Turn 2: Sayer (4000)
"I draw!" He draws Teleport. "First, I'll summon Krebons." His jester-like Tuner monster appears. (Level 2/1200/400)
"Next, I activate the Field Spell Brain Research Lab." Sayer plays a Field Spell. "As long as we're inside this lab, I can summon a second Psychic monster once per turn. And that's just what I'll do. I summon Armored Axon Kicker!" He summons a hulking humanoid with tubes protruding from his back and head. (Level 6/2200/1800)
"If I have a Psychic-Type monster on the field, I can summon my Axon Kicker without making tributing another monster." Sayer explains. "And since I successfully summoned my Armored Axon Kicker, my Field Spell gains a Psychic Counter." The Field Spell is shown. (Psychic Counters: 0→1)
"You're probably planning on summoning your best monster, aren't you?" Kite wondered.
"That can wait. For now, I'll activate Emergency Teleport. It lets me summon another Psychic from anywhere in my hand or deck." Sayer plays his Spell. "Here's Mind Protector." He summons a small gold and amethyst machine that generates electricity with the antennae on its head. (Level 3/0/2200)
"And now, I tune Level 2 Krebons with Level 3 Mind Protector." Sayer declared as Krebons turns into two motes of light. Those orbs of light turn into energy rings that surround Mind Protector, turning it transparent and revealing three motes of light. "Your dragons will pale in comparison to my mighty monster. I Synchro Summon Magical Android." His Synchro monster is a human futuristic sage in a white and gold robe with a curved staff that has an orb and a blade. (Level 5/2400/1700)
"I know your monsters are too strong for me to attack, but I didn't summon her to attack, but to utilize her ability. At the end of each of my turns, I get a gift: 600 Life Points for each Psychic monster I have in play. And why don't we get to the good part right away?" Sayer asked as Magical Android raised her staff. "I think I'll place these face-down and then cherish my reward." Sayer declares the end of his turn with two face-down cards before the orb in Magical Android's staff gives off a healing glow, rejuvenating Sayer. (Sayer: 4000→5200)
"Okay, I've done my part, now show me what you can do." Sayer challenged him.
Turn 3: Kite (4000)
"Be careful what you wish for, Sayer." Kite said before drawing his card, revealed as Photon Hand.
"Let's see… his Magical Android can give him 600 points for every Psychic he has in play. If I can find away to get rid of it, this duel is mine."
"Sayer, get ready to lose this duel!" Kite declared as he took the Spell card. "I activate…"
"Not so fast!" Sayer interrupted Kite. "Before you make any sort of move, I think I'll activate the Trap Past Image!" Sayer reveals his Trap card. "With this, if I have a Psychic-Type monster on my field, I can send one monster on your field one turn into the future. And the monster I choose is your cherished Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" The trap fires a beam of light at Kite's Photon Dragon, causing it to disappear. Kite scowls when he sees the spectacle.
"Judging from the look on your face, I can see you were hoping to use the only card in your hand to steal my Synchro monster and then use Cipher Dragon's ability to take the other one. Well, I'm afraid it's not going to work." Sayer deduced.
"It hurts to admit this, he's right. Even if I did use this card, without my Photon Dragon, I can only take Xyz Monsters." Kite glared at the Photon Hand card in his hand. "And based on the way his deck works, it appears that he doesn't use Xyz Monsters. Guess I better improvise."
"You may have taken my Photon Dragon out of the picture for now, but my Cipher Dragon still has some bite. But don't take my word for it. See its ability in action!" Kite declares his next move. "By using one Overlay Unit, I can turn one of your monsters into another Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon and take control of it. Cipher Subjection!" One of the orbiting orbs enters the jewel in Cipher Dragon's chest. Cipher Dragon spreads its wings wide and creates a light stream that overlaps Magical Android.
"You won't be taking my monster that easily! I play the Trap Psychic Soul!" Sayer plays his Trap. "By tributing my Android, I gain Life Points equal to 300 times her Level. Since she's Level 5, I get 1500 extra points." Before light envelops her, Magical Android faints and her spirit is infused into Sayer, rejuvenating him again. (Sayer: 5200→6700)
"Then I guess I'll just get rid of your other monster. Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, attack Armored Axon Kicker! Cipher Stream of Destruction!" Kite's monster attacks Armored Axon Kicker with a blast of light energy, destroying it upon impact. Sayer shields himself from the shock. (Sayer: 6700→6100)
"Not bad, Kite, but it'll take a lot more than that to beat me." Sayer smirked.
"In that case, go ahead and try, if you dare." Kite declared the end of his turn.
Turn 4: Sayer (6100)
"Oh, I dare!" Sayer draws his card. A dark aura is seen around the card. "Since we reached the Standby Phase, my Past Image trap returns your Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon back to your field." Kite's light-embodied dragon reappears next to its Cipher counterpart. (Level 8/3000/2500)
"Now I summon the Dark Tuner – Anti-Matter Sphere!" Sayer plays a large purple orb with black rings orbiting it. (Level 11/0/0)
"Dark Tuner?" Kite gasped.
"That's right, and my Sphere activates its ability. When I successfully summon it, I can summon a Level 2 Psychic from anywhere in my deck or Graveyard. Here comes Psychic Ace!" Emerging from the sphere is a humanoid with four glowing eyes and piloting a transparent aircraft. (Level 2/1000/0)
"If you're planning on Synchro Summoning again, good luck. Your little ball's Level is much too high to summon anything worth fighting." Kite countered.
"You're right, but I'm aiming to perform a different kind of Synchro Summon." Sayer said, his body gaining a malicious dark aura.
"A different kind?" Kite asked.
"See for yourself. Level 11 Anti-Matter Sphere dark tunes Level 2 Psychic Ace!" Sayer chants as the dark orb transforms into eleven motes of light that surround the humanoid pilot. They enter the pilot's body, turning motes of light into pure darkness. The pilot's body becomes transparent upon entry, revealing two dark motes. Four of them collide and vanish, leaving nine dark motes. The monster evaporates, and the nine dark motes form a ring.
"When the shadows are devoured by even darker shadows, the curtain pulls back and reveals a world without light!" Sayer chants as a veil of darkness envelops the field. "I Dark Synchro! Come forth, Anti-Matter Darkness Galaxy!" Emerging from the dark veil is a shadow-filled cube that contains a black galaxy. (Level -9/3200/2800)
"I've only heard about Dark Synchro monsters in legends. I never thought I'd see one up close." Kite said.
"You'll never stand a chance against the might of the Dark Synchro monsters. And you're about to see their power firsthand! When Anti-Matter Sphere is used to Dark Synchro Summon, it creates an energy wave so powerful, every card that isn't a Dark Synchro monster is destroyed!"
"No!" Kite gasps as a powerful shockwave reverberates from the dark sphere above, destroying both of Kite's dragons and Double Exposure, as well as Sayer's Brain Research Lab.
"Sure, my Research Lab deals me 1000 points of damage for each of its Psychic counters when it's destroyed, but it doesn't matter to me." Sayer points out as he feels a sharp sting in his head. (Sayer: 6100→5100)
"That's because with those bothersome dragons out of commission, my Darkness Galaxy is free to attack you directly!" Sayer calls his attack. "Malicious Meteor!" The galaxy fires a shadow-powered meteor shower at Kite. He has no choice but to take the full extent of the attack. It sends him crashing into the ground. (Kite: 4000→800)
"Pretty impressive, isn't it?" Sayer said. "And that's just the beginning of your troubles. Next turn, you're finished."
Kite struggled to get to his feet. "How about that? You're losing by a large margin, and you can still fight. Well, I'll be happy to take you down once and for all."
"What's your problem, Sayer? Why do you hold a grudge on humanity?" Kite asked looking angry.
"I have my reasons." Sayer answered.
"You'll never win. I may be far behind, but as they say, one card decides everything!" Kite prepares to draw his next card.
Turn 5: Kite (800)
"I draw!" Kite draws his card, revealed as Card of Sanctity. "I activate Card of Sanctity! Now we both draw until we're holding six cards in our hands." Sayer draws six cards while Kite draws five. His hand is shown to have Photon Hand, Galaxy Zero, Lumenize, Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon, Galaxy Expedition, and Draining Shield.
"I activate Galaxy Zero!" Kite plays his Galaxy Zero Spell. "It allows me to bring a Photon or Galaxy monster back from the graveyard in Attack Mode. Rise again, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" Kite's mightiest monster emerges with a roar. (Level 8/3000/2500)
"The only downside is that while it's equipped with Galaxy Zero, it can't attack or uses its abilities. But that won't be a problem. I activate Galaxy Expedition!" Kite plays another Spell card. "Since I have a Level 5 or above Photon or Galaxy monster, I can summon another Level 5 or above Photon or Galaxy monster from my deck in Defense Mode. Meet Photon Caesar!" He plays a humanoid in blue and gold armor, armed with a sword and shield. (Level 8/2000/2800)
"And whenever I have a Galaxy-Eyes monster in play, I can summon Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon!" He summons another Galaxy-Eyes, this one with a shining white body. (Level 8/3000/2500)
"Three Level 8 monsters. I don't like where this is going." Sayer glared.
"Then you certainly will not like this." Kite roars as his body glows bright red. "Get set for defeat! I overlay Level 8 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Afterglow Dragon, and Photon Caesar!" All three monsters turn into yellow energy that swirl into a galaxy above. "This monster trio is just what I need to build the Overlay Network! I Xyz Summon Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" A large spear materializes in his hand. He throws it into the open Overlay Network, which explodes upon entry. The monster emerges as a large bipedal dragon in crimson and dark purple armor. Its three heads let out an earthshattering roar. (Rank 8/4500/3000)
"You're about to learn what it means to face a real Galaxy-Eyes master! When I use Galaxy-Eyes to summon Neo Galaxy-Eyes, all other face-up card on the field will lose their effects and special abilities! Photon Howling!" It lets out another roar that dispels Darkness Galaxy's powers.
"My monster's wide open!" Sayer gasps.
"That's right. Neo Galaxy-Eyes, turn that Darkness Galaxy into stardust! Ultimate Photon Stream of Destruction!" The dragon fires a powerful stream of energy upon Kite's command. The attack strikes the core of the dark galaxy, causing it to explode. Sayer shields himself from the shock. (Sayer: 5100→3800)
"I place two cards face down and end my turn." Two face-down cards signal the end of Kite's turn. "You may as well admit defeat. Your so-called psychic powers are weak."
"Defeat is a word I don't take kindly to." Sayer scowled. "And my cards will help me show you the true power of the Arcadia Movement!"
Turn 6: Sayer (3800)
"I draw!" Sayer looks at the card he drew, revealed as Polymerization.
"I activate the Spell Synchro Reborn!" Sayer plays a new Spell card. "I pay 800 points and then Synchro Summon a Synchro Monster from my Graveyard. And all I simply need do is banish the required monsters from my Graveyard. I banish Level 2 Krebons and Level 3 Mind Protector to t!" The two monsters inside the Graveyard appear in front of Sayer. (Sayer: 3800→3000) Krebons turns into two motes of light. Those orbs of light turn into energy rings that surround Mind Protector, turning it transparent and revealing three motes of light. A pillar of light shines above. "Once again, I Synchro Summon Magical Android!" Sayer's humanoid android reappears from the Graveyard. (Level 5/2400/1700)
"Next, I'll activate Premature Burial! By paying 800 more Life Points, I can summon another monster from the Graveyard in Attack Mode. Come on back, Armored Axon Kicker!" The hulking humanoid appears from the Graveyard. (Level 6/2200/1800; Sayer: 3000→2200)
"Next, I summon Psychic Jumper!" He summons a crazed human wearing a tan overcoat over a bare chest, black pants with leather straps around his thighs and a metal helmet on his head. (Level 2/100/1500)
"And here's where things get really interesting. Level 2 Psychic Jumper tunes Level 6 Armored Axon Kicker!" The helmet on Psychic Jumper got supercharged, turning the human into two energy motes. They then start orbiting Armored Axon Kicker, turning into two green rings. The rings turn the monster inside them transparent, showing six more motes of light inside. A pillar of light shines above. "You're about to feel the full force of my psychic abilities, so don't even bother trying to stop this. I Synchro Summon Thought Ruler Archfiend." His fiendish Synchro Monster emerges with a roar. (Level 8/2700/2300)
"So you got some big bad Synchro Monster. My Galaxy-Eyes is far stronger." Kite pointed out.
"True, but what if there's a way for my Archfiend to evolve into something grander?" Sayer asked, earning a puzzled look from Kite. Sayer pulls another card from his hand. "And this card will make its existence a reality. I activate the Spell Polymerization."
"Polymerization?!" Kite gasped in horror.
"That's right, and I'll use it to fuse Thought Ruler Archfiend and Magical Android!" Sayer plays the Spell card. Both Magical Android and Thought Ruler Archfiend float up to a swirling portal behind them. "The ferocity of the fiend joins together with the genius mind of the android to be reshaped into a being of limitless possibilities!" The two monsters swirl into the portal, forming an orb of glowing light. "I Fusion Summon! Ultimate Axon Kicker!" The resulting fusion created a more menacing version of Thought Ruler Archfiend, with a long tail in place of its hind legs, two large claws and wings. It unleashes a terrifying roar. (Level 10/2900/1700)
"Next, I play Monster Reborn and revive my Anti-Matter Darkness Galaxy!" Sayer's spell card revives his dark galaxy. (Level -9/3200/2800)
"Fusion and Dark Synchro?!" Kite said in awe.
"Yes, and they're about to take you down once and for all! I activate Future Glow! By banishing a Psychic monster from my Graveyard, all my other Psychics gain 200 Attack points for each of the banished monster's Levels. I'll be banishing my Level 11 Dark Tuner – Anti-Matter Sphere. Now my monsters will gain 2200 Attack Points!" Future Glow glows bright, empowering the two monsters. (Darkness Galaxy: 3200→5400; Ultimate Axon Kicker: 2900→5100)
"Their attack points have gone over the roof!" Kite gasped.
"That's right and they're about to be put to good use. Ultimate Axon Kicker, attack Neo Galaxy-Eyes now!" Sayer calls his attack. "Lustrous Lightning!" Ultimate Axon Kicker fires a blast of lightning from its eyes. "You won't be getting to my Life Points that easily. I activate Draining Shield!" A transparent luminous shield blocked the lightning blast. "It cancels out your attack and I gain Life Points equal to your Axon Kicker's Attack points." A healing glow surrounds Kite. (Kite: 800→5900)
"You may have gained Life Points, but you'll be losing them faster than you can say Duel Disk. Darkness Galaxy, attack Kite directly!"
"Hold on! How can you attack my while I still have a monster out?!" Kite gasped.
"My Darkness Galaxy's special ability allows it to bypass your monster and aim straight at your Life Points." Sayer explained. "Now to get rid of those Life Points! Malicious Meteor!" Another meteor shower appeared, aimed right at Kite.
"Remember when I said that one card can decide everything in a duel?" Kite said. "This is the card I'm talking about!" A brilliant light filled the field, nearly blinding Sayer.
"What's going on?! What is this light?!" Sayer yelped. "No…"
"I activate the Trap Lumenize!" Kite's Trap is revealed. "It slams the brakes on your attack." The light from the trap evaporates the dark meteors. "And one Light monster on my field gains your monster's Attack points until the end of my next turn. Neo Galaxy-Eyes, power up!" the three-headed dragon roars as its Attack points skyrocket. (4500→9900)
"9900 Attack points?!" Sayer said in complete horror.
Turn 7: Kite (5900)
"That's right, and they're about to send you and your Arcadia Movement crashing down!" Kite declares after drawing his card.
"Neo Galaxy-Eyes, attack! Take out his Anti-Matter Galaxy and end this!" Kite commands his monster to attack. "Ultimate Photon Stream of Destruction!" Neo Galaxy-Eyes fires a blast of energy at Darkness Galaxy. It strikes the center of the galaxy, causing an explosion so massive, it sends Sayer tumbling into a worn-down snack stand. (Sayer: 2200→0)
The red glow around Kite disappears after the duel. "Make no mistake Sayer, you've chosen this fate." Kite tells him.
"Kite… I'll be sure to destroy humanity when Shade destroys everything." Sayer scowls looking weak.
"No one will fall victim to your powers, not even Akiza." Kite tells him as he teleports away.
Fan-Made/OC Cards
Dark Tuner - Anti-Matter Sphere
Dark
Psychic/Effect/Dark Tuner
Level 11
You can Special Summon this card from your hand when you control no monsters. When this card is Special Summoned, Special Summon 1 Level 2 Psychic-type monster from your Deck or Graveyard. When this card is used as a Dark Synchro Material, destroy all cards on the field other than "Dark Synchro" monsters.
Anti-Matter Darkness Galaxy
Dark
Psychic/Dark Synchro/Effect
Level -9
1 or more non-Tuner Psychic-type monsters - 1 Dark Tuner
Once per turn, you can Special Summon 1 Psychic-type monster from your Deck. When this card would be destroyed, you can Tribute 2 Psychic-type monsters to prevent this card from being destroyed. Then, destroy all cards your opponent controls. This card can attack your opponent directly.
Synchro Reborn
Pay 800 Life Points. Select 1 Synchro Monster in your Graveyard and banish its Synchro Material Monsters from your Graveyard (Their combined Level must equal the selected monster's Level.) Then Special Summon the selected monster (This is treated as a Synchro Summon.)