A/N: Alright, reboot is a go! It feels kind of weird going back to the beginning after so much time, but this time I'm going to do it right. Hope you guys enjoy!
Chapter 1: Swing into Action
Paradise City, considered by many to be the Dueling Capitol of the world. Home to Leo Corp, the Leo institute, many other dueling schools, and much more. But perhaps its biggest innovation to the dueling world was the creation of real solid vision. With this advancement in technology, duelists could interact with their monsters as if they were living things. From this invention came Action Duels, where in duelists battled it out in simulated environments to their hearts content.
Yuya Sakaki leaned against a wall facing the sea, staring out into the morning sunrise. But despite its beauty, his mind wondered elsewhere.
"Dad..."
Yuya stared at his pendant, thinking back to the day where his life changed forever.
(Three years ago)
It was the day of the championship match from that year's world tournament, and the competitors were Yusho Sakaki, the reigning champion, and The Sledgehammer. But while The Sledgehammer was ready and waiting at the platform, Yusho was nowhere to be seen.
"Where are you, Yusho? Come out and face me like a man!"
Five more minutes passed by, but still his competitor was nowhere to be seen. At last, they had to call it.
"Since Yusho Sakaki is a no show, The Sledgehammer wins by default! Ladies and gentleman, our new champion!"
A quiet round of applause was given, but no one was satisfied. As they filed out of the arena, they began to whisper among themselves.
"How pathetic! The title match and he's a no show!"
"I know! He has some nerve making us wait for nothing."
"Some performer. He's just a coward."
Soon, the stadium was empty, save for Yusho's family. An 11 year old Yuya sat, tears welling in his eyes.
"Dad..."
"I promise dad, one day I'll find you. I know you're no coward, and somehow, some way I'll prove it."
"Figures I'd find you here."
Yuya turned to find his best friend approaching him.
"Hey, Zuzu."
"Its the anniversary, isn't it?"
Yuya nodded solemly.
"Why did he leave? Where did he go? Did something happen to him? All this time and I'm nowhere closer to the truth."
"Don't worry, Yuya. I know someday you'll find him. You just have to keep believing in yourself."
Thanks, Zuzu."
"Guys, come quick!"
The two looked to see Zuzu's younger sister Ally coming running towards them wildly.
"Ally, what's wrong?"
After catching her breath, Ally gave a short but quick explanation.
"Something's going on at You Show, and dad wants everyone there now!"
"Alright, lets go!"
When the three reached You Show, they found the whole gang already there. Tate and Frederick, who were in the Junior class with Ally, Gong Strong, a student from a different school but was close enough to them to hang around when he wasn't training, and Skip Boyle, Ally and Zuzu's father as well as the principal of the Duel School. However, there was another visitor there, much to their surprise.
"Wait, aren't you The Sledgehammer's manager? What are you doing here?"
Nico Smiley smiled, getting up to shake a confused Yuya's hand.
"Yuya Sakaki, a pleasure to meet you. Yes, I am, and that's why I'm here. My client, The Sledgehammer, would like to challenge you to a duel."
"Me?"
"Is there another Yuya Sakaki I don't know about? This saturday, at Paradise Stadium."
Skip moved in between them, not liking the sound of things.
"Now hold on a minute! What does the champion want with Yuya? Something's fishy here, and I don't like it."
"Oh come now, what's wrong with a little exhibition match? Of course, if he does decided to accept, LDS would be happy to donate a brand new Solid Vision System to your school."
"You've got a deal!"
WHAP!
"Dad! Don't be stupid. If Yuya agrees to this, he'll be creamed and humiliated. He can't-"
"I accept."
All eyes were on Yuya, whose face showed a determination none of them have ever seen before in him.
"Yuya, are you sure? This isn't some practice duel with Gong, This is the world champ."
"I know, Zuzu, but this is about more than a new ARC system. This is about redeeming my father's legacy, and proving myself as a duelist. This is simply something I have to do."
Gong stood up to stand beside him.
"Gong's behind you 100%, Yuya."
"Thanks Gong."
"Excellent! I'll let my client know. See you Saturday."
Saturday came faster than any of them had expected, and before they knew it they were sitting in the stands as Yuya and The Sledgehammer took center stage.
"So the runt shows up. I applaud your courage, but I will show you no mercy."
"Don't worry, I won't go down without a fight."
"Put him in his place, Sledgehammer!"
"He doesn't belong here, and neither does his father!"
"No mercy!"
Yuya's friends and family squirmed as the crowd booed and jeered.
"Poor Yuya. Just listen to them!"
"Why do they have to be so mean?"
"That's just how the crowd is sometimes."
Everyone turned to see Yuya's mother Yoko walking towards them, sitting down next to Skip.
"I know it can be hard listening to them harrass Yuya, but its all part of being a performer. The crowd won't always like you, and you just have to work around that. Don't worry, Yuya will be fine."
"Alright folks, lets get this duel on the road! I activate the field spell Castle of Chaos!"
The ARC System underneath the arena lit up, creating the virtual environment around the duelists. Once the light had settle down, Yuya and The Sledgehammer stood atop a castle tower. Surrounding the castle was a lush forest.
"Duelists locked in battle!"
"Kicking the Earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters, they storm through this field!"
"Behold, This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling! Action..."
Duel!
Yuya: 4000
The Sledgehammer: 4000
"Since I issued the challenge, you may take the first turn. Not that it'll help you in the end."
"Gee, thanks. I think I'll start off by summoning Performapal Whip Snake (1700/900) in attack mode. Next, I'll set two cards face down and end my turn. Now, catch me if you can!"
Yuya's top hat wearing snake wrapped around his arm as he leapt off the castle. He didn't have to worry about falling, though, as his snake shot out like a spring, wrapping around a tree branch and swinging him to safety. Once on the ground, he took off running, much to his opponent's frustration.
"You can run, but you can't hide! I activate the spell card Feast of the Wild LV5! With it, I can special summon 2 level 5 Warrior in my hand or graveyard, and I choose Lava Battleguard (1550/1800) and Swamp Battleguard (1800/1500)!"
Two barbaric looking monsters appeared, sliding down the castle walls after Yuya.
"Because of my spell, they can't attack, and their effects are negated. However, that won't matter when I tribute them to summon Battleguard King (3000/1100) in attack mode!"
The crowd cheered as his ace monster appeared, a gigantic barbarian that beat his chest and waved his massive club in the air. Once its show was over, it knelt down, letting his master climb on as it gave chase to Yuya.
"Turn and face me like a man, Sakaki scum! Or are you a coward like your father?"
At this, Yuya turned towards his opponent, his taunts angering him.
"He's no coward, and neither am I! Whip Snake's effect activates! During either of our Main Phases, I can choose one monster on the field and switch its attack points with its defense points until the end phase, so your King is getting cut down to size!"
"What?!"
Yuya's snake whipped its tail slowly back and forth, hypnotizing the barbaric king and forcing it to kneel (3000-1100/1100-3000). Realizing he had no other moves to make, The Sledgehammer placed a card on his Duel Disk.
"I set two cards face down and end my turn. Your move."
"Alright then, get ready to get knocked off your feet. I activate Whip Snake's effect once more to switch your King's stats around. Next, I summon Performapal Hip Hippo (800/800)!"
"Is this how you plan to beat me? With cheap circus tricks?"
"Watch and learn, because after Hip Hippo is normal summoned, I can immediately tribute summon a level 7 or higher monster in attack mode, so say goodbye to Whip Snake and Hip Hippo and say hello to Odd Eyes Dragon (2500/2000)!"
The crowd oohed and awed as a mighty dragon roared onto the field, ready for battle. It was then that Yuya spotted an Action Card hanging atop a tree, so he snagged it.
"Now I'll have my Odd Eyes attack your King! And while I'm at it, I'll activate the action spell Extreme Sword to give him 1000 attack points for the battle phase only (2500-3500)! Go, Spiral Flame Strike!"
The Sledgehammer quickly leapt off, hitting the ground with a thud as his monster exploded in a burst of light.
The Sledgehammer: 1600
"I'm afraid it only gets worse from here, Sledgehammer! When Odd Eyes Dragon destroys a monster in battle, you take damage equal to half of your monsters attack points!"
The Sledgehammer had barely enough time to pick himself up before being knocked back down again by Yuya's Dragon.
The Sledgehammer: 100
The crowd gasped in shock. At first they thought Yuya was just a buffoon who was in over his head, but now here was the regional champ on his last 100 life points just from one attack! Even The Sledgehammer had to acknowledge his skill as he picked himself up off the forest floor.
"I must admit, Yuya, you have skill."
"Thanks. You're pretty good too."
"However, I'm afraid our little game is at an end. I activate the trap card, Call of the Haunted! With it, I bring back Battleguard King!"
Yuya sighed in annoyance as his opponent's ace burst out of the ground once more.
"I end my turn there."
"Sorry Yuya, but this duel is over. I activate my trap card Battleguard Rage! This gives my King 1000 more attack points (3000-4000)! Next, I summon Boulder Battleguard (1200/1000). But he won't be around for long, because by sacrificing him my King can attack twice per turn! Finish off his Dragon!"
Yuya turned, searching for an Action Card, only for none to be seen. Just then, he spotted one in the tree top. Desperate, he leapt off Odd Eyes's head, almost reaching it...
Only for the King to smash his dragon into the ground with his club, the blowback sending him flying away from his saving grace.
Yuya: 2500
"Due to my trap card's effect, any monster my King destroys in battle is sent to my Opponent's hand instead of their graveyard. Not that it matters, because my King is about to finish you off! Battleguard King, finish him off!"
"The fun isn't over yet! I activate my own Call of the Haunted to bring back my Performapal Whip Snake!"
"You may survive this turn, but your life points will take a huge hit!"
Once more, the massive barbarian swung his club, crushing Yuya's monster and sending him flying into a tree.
Yuya: 200
Despite his pain, Yuya pulled himself to his feet, unwilling to back down.
"I'm...still in this."
"Your courage is admirable, but there's no way in hell for you to win. I set one card face down and end my turn. Surrender now and lose with your dignity in tact."
"Never! I draw!"
When Yuya saw what card he had drawn, he smiled. Time to give the audience something they would never forget.
"I activate the spell card Pendulum Call! By discarding one card, I can add 2 Magician Pendulum monsters from my deck to my hand, and I choose Timegazer and Stargazer Magician!"
"Wait...Pendulum?"
Now, are you ready for this? With the scale 1 Odd Eyes Persona Dragon, and the Scale 8 Timegazer Magician, I can set the pendulum Scale!"
The Sledgehammer gasped in shock. He had heard rumors, but...
"With this, I can summon monsters between levels 2 and 7 all at the same time! Come on out, Performapal Whip Snake, Performapal Sword Fish (600/ and Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon (2500/2000)!"
The Sledgehammer stared in awe at Yuya's massive play.
"Wait a minute, did you just summon three monsters in the same turn."
"Yes."
"Is...isn't that against the rules?"
Yuya smiled at his opponent's confused expression.
"Let's just say big changes are coming, and that this sneak peak was a gift. Now, onto my monsters' special abilities! Now your King loses 600 attack and defense points (4000-3400/1100-500). Now, I think you know what's coming next. Performapal Whip Snake, change his King's stats around once more (3400-500/500-3400)! Next, Peroformapal Sword Fish's effect reduces h Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon, end this duel!"
"This duel is over, but not in the way you think! I activate my trap card, Battleguard Howling! With it, I-"
"Sorry, but I'm afraid your that when a Pendulum monster attacks, Timegazer Magician doesn't let you activate any trap cards until the battle is over! And don't even think about looking for action cards, because Stargazer prevents them from activating under the same circumstances!"
"What? But that mean-"
"You lose."
The Sledgehammer could only watch as his monster was swallowed by a massive fireball, the blowback throwing into the lake as his life points hit zero.
The Sledgehammer: 0000
Yuya wins!
The crowd stared in shocked silence as the field disappeared, leaving the two standing in the stadium once more. Groaning, The Sledgehammer pulled himself to his feet, stomping over to Yuya and raising his hand. At first, everyone thought he was going to assault the child...
Only for him to instead lift Yuya's arm high into the air, acknowledging him as the winner to the audience's applause. As it settled down, The Sledgehammer patted the young Sakaki on the back.
"Good game, Yuya. I look forward to the day I can face your father for real."
"As do I."
With that, the two parted ways, Yuya returning to his family with a smile on his face.
Dad, wherever you are, I promise to make you proud. And one day, I will bring you home!
On an Island far away, a silver haired man sipped his wine as the broadcast cut off, impressed by the showing. His bodyguard entered the room.
"I take it Yuya won the match, sir?"
"Of course, Croquet. After all, how could he lose with those new cards I gave him?"
"Of course, sir."
"Now then, prepare the private jet. I think its time I paid Paradise City a litle visit."
"Yes, Mr. Pegasus, sir."