Hello everyone, welcome back to my story.
After the "triumphant" return of the predator Yuri (lol), Academia and the Lancers are going to have their work cut out for them soon enough.
To WinterSolsticeSoul: Yuri holds a Jack indeed, at least it is not a tournament match so his reputation is still reserved (lol). Yuri's dilemma really starts when he turns face, will it stop when he becomes heel again? You're free to guess! You will find out why Jack had to leave Ruri behind soon.
To Guest 01: Actually, in ARC-V people have been riding Real Solid Vision monsters from time to time (Shun uses Rise Falcon to break in Roget's hideout for example), that is just too OP and would break the story if it is acknowledged more. Even in here I have to reserve that ability for that specific scene.
Without further ado, enjoy reading!
Spiral 13: Rage of the Scale
A peaceful dream.
A luxury in these days for him.
How many times has he been sleeping with utter bliss ever since that day? Ever since Academia turned the whole word as he knew it into a graveyard of death and destruction? Ever since that day, Yuto cannot close his eyes shut without a single hint of worry anymore. Academia forces roaming around his home world, constantly taking shifts keeping the campsite safe from any sign of potential enemy, cursing his own mind and body for failing so many people and leaving countless others in the shape of a rectangular Duel Monster card, the very game he loves the most twisted into a tool of destruction and misery.
That was when Ruri came in.
The girl he first met when Shun and he went to see a training match at Heartland Duel School Spade Branch for a shot at the elite team for the upcoming competition. From the moment she beat the opposing girl with the grace of a swan, something within him has changed. And when he got officially introduced to the Kurosaki household, Yuto was glad to realize the feeling of affection was very much mutual based on the warm, shy smile she constantly gave him in discreet during that time and many others.
One thing came and another thing came, the feeling became deeper and deeper, small steps were made slowly and certainly full of affection.
Laugh.
Smile.
Snuggle.
Shoulder rest.
Skin touch.
Cheek caress.
Mutual lips claiming.
During the hard times of the inter-dimensional war, Ruri was his one constant source of happiness, a reminder of how beautiful Heartland and the Xyz dimension used to be, the light to his growing darkness. It was her that kept him sane and collected, not losing to the anger and boiling rage that has consumed his friends like Shun or Kaito. It was her that gave him a new reason to keep going through the bitter real life in front of his eyes after his parents were carded right on his watch. It was her that helped him grow up and mature, becoming a real man that many kids in the camp looked up for, and he was one hundred percent certain and proud of himself that Ruri was definitely one of them as well.
When Heartland finally won the war with their own strength and staunch help from the new ally and friend Lancers, Yuto and Ruri finally decided to make their relationship public and was met with universal approval from all of their friends, especially her brother Shun. They were glad that they could show their affection to each other more without any worry like sleeping together on the bed right at that night, which for the boy was the best sleep he ever has.
And now?
After Selena did that unspeakable thing, and had Shun murdered?
He doesn't know anymore.
His mind constantly stays awake despite his desperate struggle to force himself to relax his mind and body at the slumber land. The brutal revelation that Selena betrayed the team out of love for Yuri, the same kind of relationship Yuto and Ruri are having now, shakes him to the core. If love can bring out the best in people but at the same time destroy so many things around it, can he be certain that everything will be alright anymore? Can he be sure that his relationship with Ruri will work out in long-term anymore? Ruri has been cutting off from him and the others ever since her brother died and despite everyone's effort to cheer her up, it did not really do much to raise her spirits. And now finding out that romantic love is the reason Shun was gone? He cannot be sure what Ruri is really feeling from the inside anymore.
He can now only hope that his constant struggle to sleep would not go noticed, especially when Ruri really needs all of his help at this moment.
Something rings up.
"Huh?"
A notification sound.
"Is that my…?"
Yuto slowly moves the hand that is not cuddling Ruri close to him to the table besides him and carefully grabs his Duel Disk laying down there.
"Got a minute?" A text message with Sora the sender.
"No." Yuto types back with one hand.
"Just wanna talk to you. Already waiting outside." A small door knocking sound comes at the same as the message appears on the screen of his Duel Disk.
Another one, a bit louder this time.
"Haizzz…" Yuto curses internally. He gives a longing look at Ruri's sleeping face before giving a light kiss to the forehead and gently removes his holding hand then himself out of the sheets. The Xyz boy grabs the black jacket to wear over his dark green T-shirt and moves to the door.
He opens it. Sora is standing beside the wall opposite the door with his arms crossed.
"Took you long enough." Sora whispers.
"What are you doing here? It's 2 o'clock! You're not sleeping?" Yuto says back, keeping his small tone to avoid waking Ruri up.
"I can't sleep… You know… Need someone to talk a bit… Besides, we're partners on the tomorrow mission anyway."
"Why me?"
"I just thought that… tsk… never mind. To the top." Sora raises his head up a bit to signal Yuto the place. The older boy sighs before carefully moving out and closing the door as carefully as ever.
The two boys go to the spiral staircase and move up to the top of the control tower. Positioning themselves over each side of the door with the broken window, Yuto and Sora silently admire the bright moonlight and the starry night sky outside.
"Such a beautiful night right…?"
"What exactly are we doing here Sora? Staring at this empty harbor ahead?"
Nah, just some talk. Deep one, like friends do." Friends? Yuto nearly chokes on that. "Have some?" Sora takes out a lollipop.
"I'm not in the mood right now…"
"I know you're hungry… and you need a break from constantly worrying about your girlfriend."
Yuto sighs. "Whatever." He takes the lollipop and stuffs it to his mouth. A very PG, family-friendly version of two people smoking to relieve stress as one might say.
Feeling that might not be good enough, Sora throws his lollipop out of the window and pulls something from his pocket which takes Yuto by complete surprise.
A black vape.
He nonchalantly takes a hit in front of the shocked eyes of the older boy.
"You…?!"
"Ah, just something I stole from a tourist back in my Standard days."
"You're kidding? That's not cool! You're only 14 and the law does not play around!"
"Please Yuto." Sora mocks. "After everything happened, you think this vape right here is that severe?" He breathes the smoke out of the window, at least the kid is mindful enough not to let them hit Yuto. "Have this?"
"Sometimes I cannot understand you." Yuto shakes his head, taking a bite at the lollipop. "You joined Academia, believed everything they said, invaded our dimension like some sort of game. Now you have the guts to talk to one of the people whose place you destroyed and show your secret stash? What else are you gonna do next?"
"I don't know… but…" Sora pauses, his face turns grim. "Maybe you're right… I don't… really understand myself anymore."
Quietness ensues. Nobody dares to make a move, not even the blazing wind or the birds outside.
Sora sighs, keeping his eyes on the moon. "I grew up without my parents, I don't know who they are, why they left me. Constantly ridiculed at school for that, bullied even. Then Academia saw something in me I suppose, and crammed everything in me."
He takes another hit.
"Then I met Yuya, Yuzu and the others in Standard. They showed me something new and bright. Then I met you and Shun and you know what happened. I deflected, all of you hated me. I had to do everything to convince I was no longer the enemy. After everything, especially those few days ago, I realized something about myself."
"And that is?"
"I don't have the sense of self at all. I'm very broken on the inside." He releases the smoke down the stairs, his face becomes emotionless.
He looks back at Yuto and continues. "I always just followed what others say, not even once think about myself, whether I like it, I want it, or not. Now everything just got worse and worse…"
"I… I just… I just don't know about myself anymore." His voice becomes shaky.
"I don't know what to do to build myself up again, or maybe it wasn't there at all in first place."
"And now I know it, it becomes… painful."
"Painful not to feel about anything, feel about myself."
"I…" Sora chokes. "I completely lost myself Yuto…"
"I don't know what to do anymore… What am I supposed to do to build myself up?"
"Then why did you pull me out to tell me that?" Yuto asks.
"Yuya told me that, maybe I should try talking to people I have… wronged… to try to find an answer…"
Finishing the lollipop, Yuto blows the stick out and raises his palm up, asking for the vape. Sora wordlessly gives it to him to use.
Blowing the vapor out, Yuto speaks up. "If you're asking me for forgiveness, then no. I'll never forgive you for what you did. Ruri might, but I won't."
Sora's lips curve into a sad smile, his eyes looking that the steps below. "I know that… and I don't think with the state of mind she is in right now, Ruri will…"
"But hey, you're looking for an answer, right? Then…"
"You have to forgive yourself first."
A long pause.
"Because, if you only seek forgiveness from others, you end up not forgiving yourself, and that's the worst feeling you can feel, or one of the worst."
Sora keeps silent, absorbing everything Yuto just said seriously.
"Once you finally forgive yourself for what you did, then you can start building your inside up. Maybe you don't have one, maybe you already have them but you don't know, but that's beside the point. The point is, you can only do something when your mind is at peace, when you're at peace with yourself."
"After everything's over, Reiji and Yusho will do their best to give you as much freedom as possible. You did turn around to our side and earnestly helped us after all. A good start for you to do something right if you are willing to."
"Thanks." Sora says, and Yuto can feel the genuineness from the heart of the young boy. There was no delusion.
"I do have problems about myself too you know. A cycle of losing yourself and building yourself again and losing myself over and over again. I can only hope Ruri will be by my side to help me."
"Hope the best for you." Sora says. "And that's from my heart."
The two youngsters stare at the bright moon in the dark sky, not exchanging any words to each other.
There is really no need for it anymore.
Everything has been said and understood.
…
…
…
A complete wreck surrounded by darkness.
If a journalist who happens to catch this precise moment in here with his own bewildered eyes and then capture it all with his precious money-making camera, this would be the caption under the exact picture of the article that he would be writing. Broken lightning, debris from the wall and the roof falling down all over the place, concrete wall destruction, fire burning indiscriminately, the Real Solid Vision of a thick forest flickering in and out repeatedly phasing through everything in the once bright and intact training field. If the choice of the Field Magic had been different, it would have one hundred percent resembled or at least close to the devastation of Heartland in the Xyz dimension or any warzone aftermath throughout the bloodied and shameful human history.
Even when everything happened in the much smaller, confined oval zone of the cutting-edge training field belonging to Academia the fortress of war camouflaged as the Duel school, the admittedly still vast underground training space was still simulating war in the most realistic way possible thanks to the help of the Real Solid Vision generator installed below the ground. And today, right here, right at this moment, the entire Danger Room-esque scenery has turned into exactly what its owner has done to the beautiful land a dimension away more than one year ago.
Amidst all the ruins and destruction in the massive hellhole, a small piece of rock moves, accompanying it is a painful grunt.
And then another one, this time bigger.
And then another bigger one.
An almost invisible stream of black energy shoots out from between the two big debris with one's edge laying on top of another. The impact of the surge destroys the two concrete pieces and moves whatever left away, revealing a battered and bloodied Yuto. His dark green shirt has become tattered and there are multiple cuts on his body, both small and big ones.
The shining blue eyes of the Xyz boy (or since he has done it with Ruri, young man?) slowly dims out, returning the normal dark brown shade of the Japanese people back to it.
Yuto slowly gets up and looks around the field, apparently unaffected by the many wounds he has sustained from whatever happened before. Taking a long look at the "beautiful" scenery of what used to be the location he got moved in after Academia trapped him, Sora, Ryoga and Gongenzaka during their initial charge, Yuto cannot help but wonder what had happened.
To be precise, what had happened when he blacked out.
Memories begin to stream inside his eyes like a massive raging flood.
The first time his squad got captured.
The moment the net was released.
When they realized they were then in some sort of jungle.
The training field.
Someone from above the wall, behind the reinforced glass announcing the Hunting Game.
Four Lancers versus four Academia soldiers.
His team decided to separate into two. Yuto and Sora, Gongenzaka and Ryoga.
Moving around the Real Solid Vision jungle.
Encountering two Academia lackeys.
Dueling going on intensely.
Sudden explosion and scream from far away.
The duel kept going on in fear.
The culprit finally appeared.
A tall, dark-skinned young man with a feral and savage composition, almost insane desire to duel dangerously and card losers.
Him proceeding to card the two Academia soldiers, revealing four more carded victims, including Gongenzaka and Ryoga.
Yuto's anger rising.
Sora and he managed to beat that savage opponent to a corner at 1000 LP.
Then the man from above, identifying himself as Sanders, moved down and joined the battle.
The feral man got pushed to his limit and carded his own mentor, then he proceeded to turn the tide around.
"No…!"
Then Yuto remembers it, the moment he completely lost control.
And the next thing he remembers is this.
The ruined training area.
"Oh my god… I blacked out again and…"
Checking everything possible within his eyesight in panic, he first realizes his Duel Disk has somehow been broken, apparently from the debris pouring down, and one card right below his feet. He picks it up and it is a Pendulum-Xyz monster, the very familiar one whose experience he has with it so far, despite not being as long as his Phantom Knights deck, has burned deep in his mind.
Odd Eyes Rebellion Dragon.
"Odd Eyes… Rebellion Dragon… really should not have accepted Yuya's offer to take it back then…"
Indeed, after Yuto and Yuya get separated thanks to Ruri's magical bracelet, Yuya decided to give the Pendulum-Xyz hybrid dragon to him as it is an Xyz monster after all and he thought Yuto could use some powerful finisher against multiple enemies when that situation inevitably happens.
"So… I brought this dragon out in anger… and it destroyed everything here…?"
"Not surprised…"
He should really be feeling shocked and full or regret like Yuya, and he really should, especially after spending some time in his body, but now he cannot really feel anything about the destruction he has definitely caused anymore. The war has really numbed his emotion a lot.
The second thing he manages to catch with his eyes is a pair of dark feet laying opposite of his location and it does not take Yuto too much time to know what is their owner and what happened to that person. Not that he cares a lot, the short time he has known him, the image of a feral young man whose sadistic wrath was willing to card his own comrades and even his instructor burned deep into his mind. Even if he has some form of abuse inflicted on or a deeper and more nuanced side to himself as revealed when he snapped at Sanders, it is now too late to do anything. Another dead person on the red list of the seventeen-year-old boy forced to mature too soon for his liking.
The third and final thing he reacts, with pure anguish and horror, is the unmoving small hand of a fitting small person.
"No no no no! Sora!"
He quickly runs over to his side where Sora's hand is laying down and places his hands under the debris. With renewed determination and desperation, he slowly and painfully lifts up the debris away from the wounded boy. In a flash of a moment, his eyes very briefly glow up blue before returning to normal just as quickly.
Similar to Yuto, Sora was battered and wounded, his clothes get ragged and there are many wounds on his body too, as well as a running stream of blood pouring from his head.
"He's hyperventilating and losing blood… gotta administer first-aid first!" He thinks as he cleans the blood from the head with Sora's own jacket (lacking better options).
Grabbing the white bandage from his pocket, Yuto opens the seal and wraps it around his head methodically. He finishes by pinning a pin on the end of the bandage.
"Alright… now we need to get out of here-!"
A big sound of something dropping down from its place. Yuto looks for the source.
A small source of light coming out from some sort of door above the stairs and Academia personnel coming out of that location.
Yuto quickly carries Sora on his back and hides behind a quick piece of concrete near the staircase, praying to everything not to let him and Sora noticed by those assholes.
The continuous footsteps and flashlight flashing everywhere raises Yuto's heartbeat up and up. He takes a deep but quiet breath to calm himself down.
The footsteps eventually stop at the end of the staircase, right beside the other side of the debris. Yuto quietly moves himself closer to the concrete.
A long silence.
Small chatter.
Flashing waving all around.
Heartbeat raising up, threatening to burst out from the chest.
"Hey, look!"
"What?"
"Is it… BB?"
"Is that so? All I could see is a pair of legs."
"Yep, that's definitely him."
"Oh great…"
"At least another loose end dealt with."
"Alright. everyone, move the debris and retrieve his body along with his carded victims."
"Roger that."
The Academia squad moves to the location of the former Battle Beast.
Taking the chance, Yuto quietly and quickly moves out of his hiding spot and runs to the closet door on his right, the only door not to have any Academia soldiers coming out so far. Having already opened as an emergency measure in case something goes wrong, Yuto runs to the door and catches an elevator not too far from it.
"If my memory of the layout serves me right, the medical clinic will not be too far when I step out of this elevator…" He looks at the unconscious boy. "Hold on tight Sora…!"
The elevator door opens, Yuto carefully peeks outside.
"No Academia on sight, good."
Yuto carries Sora on his back again and moves to the left, taking a right at the corner.
Arriving at the exact location, Yuto wipes the security card Asuka has provided for everyone. The door opens and Yuto carries Sora inside.
"Nobody inside… Academia must have evacuated non-combat staff beforehand… Good for me…!"
The boy places Sora on the closet bed he could find and properly cleans him up before inserting a cannula attached to a blood bag. After making sure that Sora's heartrate has become normal from the heartbeat monitor screen, Yuto finally allows himself to sit on a chair and relax, not forgetting to grab a spare Academia Duel Disk laying down on the table close to the bed to replace his own broken Resistance one.
And even then, the memories of what just happened at the training field do not let him go.
Yuto cannot remember specifically what went wrong with him back there but he can still feel the rage and anger when he found out Gongenzaka and Ryoga were carded, and then the complete disregard for humanity that BB and especially Sanders showed to his already tortured eyes. As if something inside him has broken again, letting the darkness of unknown origin rise up within him and force him to move out of his own body for a bit. As if the split personality of his has chosen that exact moment to come out and lay waste to anything indiscriminately and sadistically again. In a moment, Yuto managed to display even more inhumanity than even the entire force of Academia did, again.
"Goddammit…"
He looks at the sleeping Sora.
"Sora… everyone… I…"
"I lost myself again…"
"What is wrong with me really…?"
"What am I supposed to even do…?!"
"What can I…"
"What can…"
…
…
…
The door suddenly opens.
Opening his eyes by instinct, Yuto jolts out of the seat and activates the stolen Duel Disk.
"Who's there?"
The presence of an Obelisk Force member answers his question.
"We found you Yuto."
"Shit…!"
"Even when you tried not to leave any trace behind, some are bound to be left." That guy explained.
"Good work you guys." A female voice from behind the door addresses the soldier. "Leave him and Sora to me, you better support the others and stop Reiji, Yusho and Asuka. They're advancing on Professor's throne room as we speak."
"Roger that!" And they all leave. The young girl moves to the door.
"Gloria Tyler…" Yuto mutters, moving himself between Sora and the elite soldier. "Looks like you have come to offer your own life to me."
"Tryna act it tough huh varmint?" Gloria mocks. "You Lancers have caused a lot of trouble back in Xyz, now you're screwing up this place as well?"
"That's what happens when you invade us all." Yuto counters. "I've been waiting for this moment for some time now, especially after you bailed out on our last Duel back then."
"Sorry for that inconvenience then. But you're right, it's time. Just to let you know, Yuya, Yugo and Masumi have been dealt with."
"What?" Yuto cannot hide his shock.
"We trapped the two lookalikes of yours in the laboratory and carded this sorry little girl." Gloria pulls out the card with the image of Masumi in her pocket. "Surprised that Yuzu's bracelet did not activate there, outta juice perhaps? Though that might be going a bit out of subject."
"Screw you!" Yuto grits his teeth in regret and anger.
"That's right, better be angry and screw everything up, that's your style. That's quite a mess you made back in the training field there."
"Shut up, I won't get played like that. If you want a rematch, that's fine. But not here, outside. You're not gonna do anything to Sora."
"Whatever you say." Gloria moves down the way and activates her Duel Disk. Yuto stands close to the door of the medical room and does the same as well.
"DUEL!"
Yuto LP 4000 [ ] x5
Gloria Tyler LP 4000 [ ] x5
"I take the first turn." Yuto declares. He takes out three cards from his hand and places them to the Duel Disk. "I set down three cards, turn end."
"Classic play from you then huh Yuto?" Gloria notes. "Good thing for you that I currently don't have anything to clear them all at once."
"Shut the hell up and duel!"
"No need to be hot-headed. Watashi no turn, draw!" Gloria begins her first turn in this rematch.
"Magic Card Terraforming activate." Gloria clicks on the screen of her Academia issued Duel Disk and a card pops out from the Deck. She grabs it and uses it right away.
"Field Magic, Amazoness Village activate." A rural village scenery manifests around the hallway.
"With this card, all "Amazoness" monsters will gain 200 ATK."
"And you can bring out an "Amazoness" monster with a lower Level than the destroyed one." Yuto speaks up. "I know that effect well enough when you and your sister terrorized us back then."
"Thanks for remembering. I Normal Summon Amazoness Princess." A tan-skin female monster with white hair wielding a spear having a large blade at the tip appears.
Amazoness Princess EARTH/Warrior/LV3/1200/900
"With Amazoness Village, Amazoness Princess gains 200 attack power." A blue aura forms around the female monster.
Amazoness Princess ATK 1200 - 1400
"Using its effects." The monster glows an aura around it. "I can add Amazoness Call, a Magic Card from my Deck to the hand, and then activate it as well."
"With Amazoness Call, I add Amazoness Queen to my hand."
"And now, Magic Card Fusion!" Yuto hardens his face at the sight. "I will use Amazoness Princess and Amazoness Queen for fusion!" The fusion spiral opens up from behind Gloria.
"Queen of the jungle! Receive the power of the elegant heir of the throne! Build an empire that rules over everything! Yūgō Shōkan!"
An adult-looking female monster charges out from the portal, swinging her big sword around as a display of her prowess. Similar to Princess, she has tan skin, minimal forest-themed clothing and white stylized hair. "Appear now! Level 8! Amazoness Empress!"
Amazoness Empress EARTH/Warrior/Fusion/LV8/2800/2400
Amazoness Empress ATK 2800 - 3000
"Such a mistake letting your field without any monsters Yuto." Gloria taunts. "Go now, Amazoness Empress, Yuto direct attack!" The female warrior lunges forward and swings its sword at the boy.
"I do not let my field empty!" Yuto declares. "Trap Card, Phantom Knights Wrong Magnering! Your attack is negated!" A barrier forms around Yuto, intercepting the slash.
"Then the card appears as an Effect Monster." A small humanoid armored monster carrying a large magnetic ring with both of its arms appears from the fading barrier.
Phantom Knights Wrong Magnering DARK/Warrior/LV2/0/0
"Well, figures. Keep it interesting boy. Two cards down, turn end."
"Ore no turn, draw!" Yuto starts his second turn.
"First off, I switch Wrong Magnering to Defense Position." Yuto turns the card ninety degrees clockwise to the horizontal position, the monster lowers itself down a bit and a blue aura forms around it, signifying the stance change.
"Then I Normal Summon Phantom Knights Ragged Gloves." A ghostly monster with large gloved hands comes out.
Phantom Knights Ragged Gloves DARK/Wariror/LV3/1000/500
"Since I have a "Phantom Knights" monster, I can bring out Silent Boots."
Phantom Knights Silent Boots DARK/Warrior/LV3/200/1200
"I, using the Level 3 Ragged Gloves and Silent Boots, Overlay Network constructing!" The Overlay Network opens, inviting the two ghostly monsters in.
"Soul of the Knights who fall on the battlefield. Now revive, become the light that rend the darkness! Xyz Shōkan!"
"Come forth! Rank 3! Phantom Knights Break Sword!" Coming out of the network is a ghostly headless knight wearing black armor on an equally black horse.
Phantom Knights Break Sword DARK/Warrior/Xyz/R3/2000/1000
"Ragged Gloves' material effect allows Break Sword to gain 1000 ATK." Break Sword's ghostly smoke lights up.
Phantom Knights Break Sword ATK 2000 - 3000
"It's now 200 ATK more than Empress…" Gloria whispers to herself.
"It's not over yet, double trap opens! Phantom Sword!" Two traps on Yuto's side flip up.
"What?"
"Each one of them protects Break Sword from battle or effect destruction by sending itself to the graveyard and makes Break Sword gain 800 ATK." A blue aura appears circling the monster.
Phantom Knights Break Sword ATK 3000 - 4600
"Go now, Break Sword! Attack Amazoness Empress!" The ghostly knight on horseback charges forward, swinging its big sword.
"Not gonna happen!" Gloria counters. "Trap Card, Barbarian Howling!" A card on Gloria's side of field flips up. "You will take damage equal to Break Sword's attack power and it will return to the hand!"
"What?!" Yuto gasps as energy shots out as a small stream from the holographic image of the card.
"This effect does not destroy so your Phantom Sword will not do a thing, but even before that, 4600 damage will be given to you anyway!"
"As if!" Yuto swings his hand. "Wrong Magnering's monster effect activates! I can quickly send it and Break Sword to the grave." The two monsters disintegrate along with the two Continuous Traps. "And draw two cards!"
Gloria sighs in annoyance. "Hmm, since Break Sword escaped before Barbarian Howling could completely target it, the burn effect will not happen. Lucky you."
"As long as I can do something, I will not lose, especially to Academia assholes like you. In the Main Phase 2, I will use this card. Rank-Up-Magic Rising Phantom Knights." A hole opens. "I can bring back Break Sword, and then rank it up by one rank!" The Overlay Network opens again, the Rank 3 monster turns into energy and flies up before crashing down the opened storming portal.
"Sorry Reiji… everyone… I have to use this card right now to survive the next turn."
"From the pitch-black darkness. Rise up against the foolish oppression, fang of rebellion! Descend now! Xyz Shōkan!" The head of the familiar dragon comes out of the portal.
"Come forth! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" The dark signature dragon of Yuto flies out and gives Gloria a roar.
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon DARK/Dragon/Xyz/R4/2500/2000
Ignoring the burning sensation inside him, Yuto continues. "Dark Rebellion's monster effect activates!" The two Overlay Units disintegrate and turn into energy, blasting at Empress. From it, energy transfers to the dark dragon.
"Treason Discharge!"
Amazoness Empress ATK 3000 - 1500
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon ATK 2500 - 4000
"Huh…" Gloria notes. "Your dragon's effects have changed then? Doesn't matter much."
"It does. Now the power change is permanent at the cost of one more Overlay Unit."
"What? So in my turn, Amazoness Empress will still only have 1500 ATK then?!"
"Exactly. I set down one card, turn end." Yuto concludes his turn.
"Watashi no turn, draw!"
The sight of the drawn card make Gloria widen her eyes in relief. "Yes!"
"Magic Card, Fusion Recovery activate! I gain back Fusion and Amazoness Queen from the graveyard." Gloria reveals the two cards she just recovered.
"And then, Fusion again!" Amazoness Queen manifests before joining in the Fusion spiral with Empress on the field.
"Prideful warrior, combines with the queen of the jungle and become the supreme power! Yūgō Shōkan!"
A new female monster looking similar in theme to Gloria's previously used cards appears. "Come forth! Level 10! Amazoness Augusta!" With a red cape, a bigger sword with four sharp points on the blade and a crown having four white horns adorned on it, this signifies Yuto as the true boss monster in Gloria's Deck.
Amazoness Augusta EARTH/Warrior/Fusion/LV10/3200/2800
"So that's your new Fusion monster…? Not a bad idea to sacrifice the powered down Empress for it."
"With Amazoness Augusta, you cannot target other "Amazoness" monsters with card effects or destroy them with card effects."
"So, Augusta sacrifices its own protection for others. And no battle protection either."
"Indeed. A gift from my sister Grace." Gloria reveals, looking at the leader of the Amazoness tenderly. "Since she teamed up with Edo Phoenix, the buck of cards that we used together would not be really useful, hence she gave the strongest Amazoness monster to me to fight everyone daring to intrude this place."
"Well then, such a sob story. I will crush it and defeat you. The only fitting end to it and its user."
"Don't forget it's still my turn, do ya? Augusta can attack twice in each Battle Phase since Amazoness Empress was used to summon it."
"What?!"
"Also don't forget Amazoness Village's effect." A blue aura appears around the female overlord of Amazoness.
Amazoness Augusta ATK 3200 - 3400
"ATK 3400…" Yuto notes to himself.
"Since Augusta was Fusion Summoned, I can bring out an "Amazoness" from the Deck. Come out, Amazoness War Chief!" An orange hair muscular female with tan skin wielding a long spear comes out.
Amazoness War Chief EARTH/Warrior/LV5/1900/0
Amazoness War Chief ATK 1900 - 2100
"This monster's summon effect allows me to set down an "Amazoness" Magic Card from the Deck." Gloria takes one poked out card from the Deck and inserts it to her Duel Disk, then she clicks on the image of it on the screen right away. "And then activate. Equip Magic Amazoness Heirloom." A wooden object with a green crystal at the middle manifests on the chest of Augusta.
"Amazoness Heirloom…? I never saw that card being used by them before…" Yuto thinks. "What effects does it have?"
"Finally, I Normal Summon Amazoness Paladin from my hand." A female monster with long yellow hair wearing white clothing in the similar scant style as the other Amazoness appears.
Amazoness Paladin EARTH/Warrior/LV4/1700/300
"It gains 100 ATK for each "Amazoness" monsters I control. Also, Amazoness Village applies."
Amazoness Paladin ATK 1700 - 2200
"Go now, Amazoness Augusta, attack Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" The monster arms its sword ready, charging at the big dragon.
"What? Dark Rebellion has more ATK?!"
"That's right, but Heirloom prevents battle destruction." A green energy ball appears around Augusta, protecting it from the dragon's returning fang.
Gloria Tyler LP 4000 - 3400
"And now, Heirloom's real effect activates! After damage calculation, the monster that dared to battle it will be destroyed!"
"Shit!" Yuto gasps as Augusta prepares another slash.
"With this, your dragon will be destroyed!"
"Not going to happen! Reverse Quick-Play Magic, Rank-Up-Magic Phantom Knights Launch! I rank up the material-less Dark Rebellion by one rank!" The dragon quickly flies up and charges down at the opening network.
"You want to escape and then rank up your dragon? That's not gonna happen!" Gloria counters. "Trap Card, Amazoness Pillage activate! I can banish one card on the field and if it is a monster, half of its ATK will be dealt as damage!"
"What?" The dragon disintegrates and the resulting dust rains down on Yuto, causing him pain.
Yuto LP 4000 - 2000 [ ] x1
"Amazoness War Chief, direct attack!" The lancer throws its spear at Yuto.
"From my graveyard, Phantom Sword's effect!" Yuto counters. "I banish it to bring back Ragged Gloves in Defense Position!" The big hands monster returns.
"That's the card sent to the graveyard earlier with Wrong Magnering's effect." Gloria notes. "If so, War Chief, exterminate it!" The warrior does so, destroying Yuto's wall monster for good.
"The monster summoned by Phantom Sword's effect will be banished if it leaves the field." Gloria reminds Yuto. "Next up is Amazoness Paladin. Direct attack!" The gentle-looking monster throws her sword at Yuto.
"The other Phantom Sword's effect! I bring back Break Sword!"
"Paladin, destroy it!" Once again, Yuto's field is empty.
"It's now the end Yuto! Amazoness Augusta, direct attack!" The monster charges forward, holding the big blade by both hands. "Overlord Slash!"
The attack connects, causing a huge explosion.
The dust slowly disappears.
Gloria gives a smirk, confident in her decisive win.
Only to find Yuto still standing.
Yuto LP 2000 - 300 [ ] x0
"What the hell?!" Gloria gasps. "How do you still have life point?"
"It's all thanks to this card." Yuto takes out a card from the graveyard slot and reveals it.
"Phantom Knights Tattered Cuirass?"
"Yes. I sent it to the grave during the attack to half the Battle Damage."
"Goddammit…!" Gloria angrily exclaims. "That annoying card you used back then!"
"So bad for you Gloria, you did not manage to win this duel." Yuto smirks.
"Whatever you say asshole! I still have more advantage than you do. Turn end."
"Ore no turn." Yuto touches the top card of his Deck. A glint of blue flashes through his eyes which briefly unnerves Gloria.
"Draw!"
Yuto points at his opponent.
"I will defeat you in this turn!"
"Big talk idiot! I have three monsters on the field, including Augusta which prevents the other two from card effects targeting and destruction, hence Dark Requiem becomes useless. They all have their ATKs boosted thanks to Amazoness Village as well and I still have 3400 LP! Just what the hell are you gonna do to turn the tides around?"
"Like I said, you did not beat me in your previous turn. I will show you why that was a mistake. Silent Boots' graveyard effect! I banish it to add a "Phantom" Magic card to my hand." Yuto grabs the card from his Deck by his fingertips.
"This card right here will finish you Gloria! Rank-Up-Magic Revival Phantom Knights activate!"
"I bring back the banished Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon." The proud dragon with sharp fang returns from the bright portal opened above the ground. "Then I will use it and this card as material for a Rank-Up!" A pillar of dark energy rises up, surrounding Dark Rebellion. At the same time, the Extra Deck slot in Yuto's Duel Disk opens, revealing a shining card.
"From the depth of the unknown, dedicate yourself to the last cause of the fallen and bring the vengeful cry to the enemy! Rank-Up Xyz Change!" The pillar turns into a bright yellow light and from inside it, a monster flies out.
"Come forth, the new incarnation of rage. Rank 5, Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" A new dragon descends down near Yuto. While the overall appearance is not any different than usual, it does have red and light blue accents on the armors on its arms and legs, and its size is also bigger as well.
Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon DARK/Dragon/Xyz/R5/3000/2500
"Arc Rebellion… Xyz Dragon…?" Gloria mutters.
Holding his chest in pain, Yuto nearly yells out loud. He musters every possible strength within not to let out any form of weakness. He swears to himself not to show it, especially to the Academia grunt in front of him right now.
"The monster summoned by Revival Phantom Knights gains 300 ATK for each banished "Phantom" card." Yuto says with difficulty. "There are currently five."
Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon ATK 3000 - 4500
"Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon's monster effect! Rebellion Integration!" An Overlay Unit disintegrates. "By detaching an Overlay Unit, it gains the original attack power of all other monsters on the field!"
"What?!" Gloria cannot hide her shock as energy comes out from the three monsters and charges the dragon up.
Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon ATK 4500 - 11300
"ATK… 11300…?!"
"And then, since it still has a DARK Xyz monster as material, which is Dark Rebellion, Arc Rebellion negates the effect of other monsters as well!" Gloria's monsters lose all of their colors.
"Dammit!"
"Go now, Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon! Tear Amazoness Augusta apart with your raging fangs!" The newly summoned dragon takes a flight up high, charging itself up with purple electricity.
"Ikari no… Disaster Disobey!" The electrified fang slash divides the Fusion monster into two before causing a big explosion that sends Gloria back to the wall behind her. The enforcer of Academia can only yell in pain and shock before losing consciousness.
Gloria Tyler LP 3400 - 0 [ ] x0
Closing the door of the toilet and keeping it shut using another spare bed and a cupboard after leaving Gloria Tyler who both got tied to herself and the loo there, Yuto returns to the seat and watches over the sleeping Sora again. He did not forget to reinforce the door to the room using the controller inside to prevent anyone from opening it out there. Luckily, nothing serious has seemingly happened to the younger boy when Yuto had to duel that dangerous older Tyler sister since he still looks exactly the same as when he had to leave him.
The same cannot really be said to the Xyz youngster though, as the heavy sweat staining his clothes might have a say in the matter. Once again, bringing out Dark Rebellion and the evolved one while being not too far from his lookalikes has taken a big tool on him.
At least, Yuto managed to keep himself together unlike when he was duelling at the training field; he did not lose himself to the growing pain and anger inside him.
Unlike back there, he has not lost himself too much.
He takes a deep breath.
"Thank you… everyone…"
Writer's comments:
Voila! More losses, and a win! You guys really thought the chapter name was about Yuto's Awakening, didn't you? I had fun writing Phantom Knights deck though, easily my favourite Deck in the series.
Well, Sora is exactly that kind of teenager who would discreetly smoke like those I was friends with at school after all.
As much as I like to do duels, what I want to write is a story, and in terms of storytelling, the BB and Sanders arc was not done well, nor everything in ARC-V after Episode 54, that was why I cut it out. The best way to say F you to everyone behind the ARC-V development, right?
A child soldier breaking out of the poisonous mold is naturally very messed up. I did try my best to describe how horrible they would feel from the inside through Sora but I do not think it is good enough.
Do you see any old-school cards being used in this chapter and the previous ones? Write down in your comments!
Original cards:
Phantom Knights Tattered Cuirass
DARK/Warrior/Effect/LV1/0/0
When your opponent declares an attack: You can discard this card; half all Battle Damage you would have taken from that battle. If a "Phantom Knights" or a DARK Xyz monster you control would be destroyed by battle or card effects, you can banish this card from your GY instead, and if you do, gain 1000 LP.
Rank-Up-Magic Rising Phantom Knights
Magic Card
Activate by targeting 1 "Phantom Knights" Xyz monster you control with no material or in the graveyard. If the target is in the graveyard, Special Summon it. Then, Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 DARK Xyz Monster that is 1 Rank higher than that monster you control, by using it as material, and if you do, attach this card to it as additional material (This is treated as an Xyz Summon. Transfer its materials to the Summoned monster.).
Rank-Up-Magic Revival Phantom Knights
Magic Card
Target 1 "Phantom Knights" Xyz monster or a DARK Xyz monster that is banished: Special Summon it, then, Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 DARK Xyz Monster that is 1 Rank higher than that monster you control, by using it as material, and if you do, attach this card to it as additional material (This is treated as an Xyz Summon. Transfer its materials to the Summoned monster.). It gains this effect:
*This card gains 300 ATK for each banished "Phantom" card.
Amazoness Pillage
Trap Card
Activate during the Battle Phase if you control an "Amazoness" Fusion monster by targeting 1 card your opponent controls. Banish that card, and if it was a monster, inflict damage to your opponent equal to half of its ATK. You can only activate 1 "Amazoness Sneak Attack" once per turn.
Next chapter preview:
Spiral 14: Coexistence
Having two minds inside one body, Ruri and Selena learn how to deal with the bizarre situation after what they did to each other. At the same time, the horror of Academia does not stop…
Post-credit scene
Yuto moves out of the medical room and smashes the control panel with his broken Resistance Duel Disk after the door closes itself shut. His eyes are now a bright blue color.
"So…" He whispers. "You're finally here huh?"
He stares at the person opposite the hallway, whose eyes have shined bright purple.
"Yuri?"