[A/N]
We're at the end of this first story arc, woooo!
Fun fact about Yang vs Ruby, I was originally going to have Yang Acid Golem lock Ruby. But then I realized that Ruby's deck didn't work without special summons. Ruby legitimately has no out to Acid Golem.
Anyways, we've spent a lot of time with our heroes. What do you think the villains are doing?
Duel 8
The Truth
Number 98 burned in her right eye. It was enough to make her flinch.
"Cinder…?" The girl next to her asked. The delicate sound of her voice was enough to make her frown. "Are you–?"
"I'm fine," Cinder snapped at Emerald. Immediately, the girl backed away. Cinder placed a hand over her right eyes, ignoring the grating sound of Mercury's chuckling. In the back of her mind, Number 98 whispered. Its voice was gravely and harsh, yet with a hint of honey. It at least sounded like it wanted to be her friend.
Mercury and Emerald glanced at each other, then back at Cinder. They knew she had a stronger connection to Mother's Numbers than they do. Mercury's 72 and Emerald's 89 were both present in their minds, but they were barely noticeable. Mercury thought Cinder was schizophrenic when they first met– no, 'met' is too much of an overstatement.
"What do you mean…?" Cinder asked 98. A cold shiver worked its way down her spine as it spoke. Cinder narrowed her eyes.
"Come with me." Wordlessly, Mercury and Emerald follow Cinder out of the room.
The warehouse they were stationed at was filled with shipping containers. Most of them bore the logo of the Schnee Dust Company, having been stolen from their factories, refineries or from docks they were shipped to.
But right now, Cinder could care less about their upcoming plans. Vale would get its due process in time, but right now, she wants to be selfish.
Cinder walked to the back of the warehouse, and opened the door. Sitting on a desk in the back of the room was a man in a dark brown coat, muttering to himself as sparks and light came from something in between in his arms.
"Watts," Cinder said curtly. The man paused and turned around. He lifted his welding mask so that two green eyes could glare at her.
"What do you want, girl?" Arthur Watts growls. "I'm busy working on your plan."
"Mother's killer was returned," Cinder said flatly. That makes Arthur jump slightly in his seat.
"What…? Number 39 has been summoned?" Arthur asked.
"Number 98 sensed its return," Cinder explained, crossing her arms as Arthur stood up from its seat. "Not only that, 39 purged Mother's lingering will from another Number."
Arthur places his hand on his chin, stroking it gently as he thinks to himself. "That should be impossible. 39 and that Silver-Eyed Duelist shared a bond unlike any other. It should still be blank! Why would it suddenly gain the willpower to act once more?"
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't change the fact that 39 has returned. If I want to fight back… I need to practice with the 'Witch's Curse' once more," Cinder said. At that statement, Emerald gasped, Mercury scoffed, and Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Cinder! Last time you used that card, you were out for a month!" Emerald warned her. Cinder turned her head to glare at Emerald.
"Do you think I don't remember?" Cinder asked hotly. She walked towards Emerald. Mercury sighs and shakes his head as Emerald backs away from Cinder. "Do you think I suffered a head injury! That I forgot my own weakness!?"
"No! No, I didn't!" Emerald says, panicking as her back hits the wall. Cinder looms over her, red flames coming from eyes. "I didn't mean to–!"
"Quiet!" Cinder shouts, and Emerald cringes. "I'm well aware of my own weaknesses. But now, I can't afford to simply roll over and accept my own flaws. Now that 39 has returned, I must become stronger. I must overcome any obstacle. I must return Mother to her former glory."
Cinder backs away from Emerald, finally letting the girl take in a breath. "Watts. I challenge you to a Duel," She says simply, glaring at the scientist on the other side of the room.
"A Duel…?" He asked incredulously, smirking. "Very well, girl. I accept. This is what your Mother would want, after all…" Watts adds sarcastically. Cinder growls lightly at the disrespect at his voice, but she doesn't say anything.
Mercury removes the Duel Disk on his wrist and hands to Cinder. She slides her own deck inside to activate it. On the other side, Watts taps a button on his wristwatch. It extends and unfolds, forming into the black Duel Disk with a curved blade.
"Do you really think you've grown strong enough to handle 'Witch's Curse'?" Watts asks before they begin. Cinder doesn't answer immediately, but she does smirk.
"Even if I haven't…" Cinder begins, "I have no doubt I will win either way."
Cinder Fall (4000 LP) VS Arthur Watts (4000 LP)
DUEL!
"Such arrogance… You ought to be taught a lesson in humility! I activate my Continuous Spell, 'Bug Firewall'!" Arthur begins. "I must activate this card by sending one LIGHT Level 3 Insect monster from my deck to the Graveyard. By doing so, any monsters you control in defense position are not allowed to activate their effects!" Cinder frowned, but that card didn't worry her just yet.
"Next, I will summon 'Digital Bug Cocoondenser' from my hand!" A mechanical cocoon appears in front of Watts, with two lights near the center glowing on the center of its shell (LV 3 / 0 ATK). "And now, I will activate 'Cocoondenser's' effect! By changing it to defense mode, it can revive a Level 3 Insect monster from my graveyard in defense mode! Return, 'Digital Bug Centibit'!" The cocoon began to glow (0 ATK to 2000 DEF). Its front opened, and allowed a centipede made out of microchips to crawl out (LV 3 / 500 DEF).
"I will then activate the third effect of my 'Firewall', allowing it to change the battle position of my 'Centibit'!" The mandible of the mechanical bug clicked together, and the monster reared up on its hind legs (500 DEF to 1500 ATK).
"And now, I will activate the effect of my 'Dream Cicada' in my hand! I will move 'Centibit' back into defense mode to summon it from my hand! This will also trigger 'Centibit's' own ability, allowing it to special summon another Level 3 Insect in defense mode! Come forth, 'Oily Cicada' and 'Dream Cicada'!" Two monsters, one that was dark brown with large wings (LV 3 / 1000 DEF), and the other with a dark gray body and large claws (LV 3 / 300 ATK) both appeared, each one trilling loudly as they crawled next to each other.
"In addition, when 'Dream Cicada' is summoned, it changes a monster's battle position. I will choose 'Oily Cicada'," Arthur continued; the wings curled around 'Oily Cicada's' abdomen, and the monster began to molt. "This will trigger its effect to summon another 'Oily Cicada' from my deck!" Another dark brown insect formed from the loose skin of the first one (LV 3 / 1000 ATK).
"Yeesh… talk about a swarm of insects…" Mercury groaned as the trilling from Watt's insects became louder.
"Quiet. You just don't know when to admire greatness," Watts snapped at the silver haired boy. "Now then, by sending my 'Dream Cicada' and one 'Oily Cicada', two Insect monsters, to the graveyard, I will Link Summon my 'Beetrooper Armor Horn'!" The bugs trilled even louder as they turned in code, their bodies morphing into a metal beetle and a humanoid insect rider in medieval style armor (LINK-2 /1000 ATK). "Then, I will activate 'Armor Horn's' effect, allowing me to Normal Summon 'Digital Bug Websolder'!"
The armored beetle let out a roar, and from the ground, a spider-like creature dug itself out of the ground, shaking its head in order to get rid of the dirt. "Now then, I will Overlay my two Level 'Digital Bug Centibit' and 'Cocoondenser'! Arise, 'Digital Bug Scaradiator'!" From the red Overlay Network, a mechanical scarab crawled out, pushing along a large radiator with its hind legs (Rk 3 / 1800 ATK / 2 OU).
"Now, I will detach both of its Overlay Units, and Rank-Up 'Scaradiator' into a more ruthless form!" Watts exclaimed. Both of the monster's Overlay Unit's disappeared, and then the monster transformed into a glowing ball of the light, flying into a Network on the sky. "Come forth, 'Digital Bug Corebage'!"
Watts' next monster was a mechanical butterfly; its eyes were yellow Xs, and sparks flew from the yellow circles at the tip of its wings. (Rk 5 / 2200 ATK / 1 OU)
"Now, I will activate the effect of my 'Websolder'! I will change 'Oily Cicada' to defense mode in order to summon 'Digital Bug Registrider' from my hand!" The second cicada curled it's wings around it, which allowed a thin water strider to appear (LV 3 / 1000 DEF). "Not only will this trigger 'Oily Cicada's' effect to let me summon another copy of itself, only this time the one I just sent to the graveyard, but this also activates 'Corebage's' effect, to take a monster from my graveyard, and either summon it or attach to an Xyz Summon I control! I will attach 'Dream Cicada' to my 'Corebage'!"
A dark portal appeared in front of the butterfly, and it shoot it it's proboscis in order to
"Now, I will Overlay my two and my two 'Digital Bugs' as well to summon another 'Scaradiator'!" Watts said. Another copy of the radiator wheeling scarab appeared (Rk 3 / 1800 ATK / 2 OU).
Watts smirked. "I should add that a monster that was summoned with 'Registrider' as material gains 1000 ATK!" The giant fan began to glow, burning bright red (1800 ATK to 2800 ATK).
"And lastly, I will build my final Overlay Network, using my two 'Cicadas'!" Watts declared. This time, a gold, galactic Overlay Network appeared in front of, making the man smirk triumphantly. "Pave the way to my victory! Arise, Number 20! Giga Brilli-Ant!"
A thin seed appeared from the blast, a green one with a red core in the center. The seed began to twitch, and dark purple legs burst out from the sides. What came out was a large bipedal ant with two smaller front legs. Its main body was purple, but the head was made out of silver metal, and its eyes were glimmering red gemstones. Curved blades shot out from the ant's back, pointing backwards, and the Number 20 appeared on the largest blade on the right.
Giga Brilli-Ant snapped its mandibles together and then let out a high-pitched shriek.
[Number 20: Giga Brilli-Ant]
[LIGHT / Insect / Xyz / Effect]
[1800 ATK / 1800 DEF / 2 OU]
(Number 20: Giga Brilli-Ant & Number 20: Giga-Brilliant)
(LIGHT & DIVINE)
Watts chuckled as his four monsters twitched; antennae swaying, mandible clicking. They were ready to feast, and so was he. "Well, Cinder? Do you truly believe you can defeat me? I have an army of insects with me, just waiting to be fed!"
"You think those are terrifying? Then, I suppose I will have to make you fear Mother's power…! I draw!" She glanced at the new card she drew, and her amber eyes widened. She put that one away and grabbed another card. "As I control no monsters, I can activate 'Unexpected Dai'! This card will let me summon a Normal Monster straight from my deck. Appear, 'Evilswarm Heliotrope'!"
A black box appeared in front of Cinder, and as it crumbled to pieces, it left behind a green knight. Red eyes glowed from the visor, eyes it shared with the Grimm. The monster let out an unholy howl as it gripped its sword tightly (LV 4 / 1950 ATK).
"Next, as you control more monsters than I do, I will Special Summon 'Evilswarm Mandragora' from my hand!" A small plant creature with leaves for hands and white hair covering its right eye appeared (LV 4 / 1550 ATK). Watts growled at the appearance of the creature.
"I use my Level 4 'Evilswarm Mandragora' and 'Heliotrope' to build the Overlay Network!" Two orbs of dark energy flew into the sky. Cinder grunted as let her anger, frustration, her sadness guide her actions. The Number 98 burned in her right eye, eager to be released.
"Return to us! I summon Mother's loyal servant!" Cinder cried out. She reached a hand into the sky. Black light pulsed from her eye, climbing up her arm and reaching her fingertips, creating a thin strip of cardboard. "Appear, Number 98! King of Despair - Hopeless!"
The network exploded in a blast of dark light. A large, key-like object emerged from air made from gleaming white and black metal. A light blue core glowed brightly in the middle, pulsating, beating like a heart. The metal began to shift, unfolding and shifting into a humanoid warrior with one massive sword in its hand, and two large metal wings behind its pauldrons. The Number 98 was emblazoned on its right pauldron, just like it burned in her right eye.
[Number 98: King of Despair - Hopeless]
[DARK / Warrior / Xyz / Effect]
[2000 ATK / 2500 DEF / 2 OU]
(Number 98: King of Despair - Hopeless & Number 98: Antitopian)
(DARK & DIVINE)
"There. That should keep you from messing with my plans," Cinder said as Number 98 loomed over her, the rags covering her shadows.
"Do you really believe Number 98 is all the protection you need you require?" Watts asked incredulously.
"It's more than enough to stop you," Cinder nodded, an eager smirk forming on her face. "Now, since I've yet to use my Normal Summon, I'll do so now by calling to the field 'Evilswarm Castor!" Cinder's new monster was a humanoid knight in half white and half black armor, wielding a sword with two blades (LV 4 / 1750 ATK).
"I then activate the Continuous Spell, 'Overlay Network'!" In front of her, the galactic 'Network' appeared, slowly swirling. "I activate its first effect, which will let me summon a monster from my deck with the same Level equal to the target's with its effects negated: 'Castor'! I summon 'Evilswarm Kerykeion'!"
The green orb flew out of the 'Network' and appeared next to 'Castor'. It wore all black, aside from the splash of white on its helmet, and carried both a caduceus and a staff tipped with a mirror in each hand (LV 4 / 1600 ATK). "Now, on the turn 'Castor' is summoned, I'm allowed an extra Normal Summon of an 'Lswarm' monster. I summon 'Evilswarm O'Lantern'!"
Watts growled as 'Castor' raised its blade to call upon a creature made of light blue rock, and wore black armor and had insect-like wings on its back. "I activate the effect of my 'Digital Bug Scaradiator'! By detaching two materials from this card, I will change 'Castor' to defense mode and negate its effects!" The materials flew into the monster's radiator, which began to
"Finally! Now, I will activate Hopeless' effect!" The first Overlay Unit flies into the ragged monster's chest, causing its body to glow in an oppressive dark light. "Since you targeted a monster I control, Hopeless is able to change that effect to force 'Scaradiator' into defense mode!"
"It won't be enough, for I activate Giga Brilli-Ant's effect in response!" Watts' Number snapped its mandibles together, grabbing one orbiting Overlay Unit and eating it. "Now, Brilli-Ant will change all of your monsters into defense mode!"
The oversized ant pushed itself onto its hind legs and shrieked loudly. The sound of its voice causes all of Cinder's monsters to cringe and move back, each one taking a knee (2000 ATK to 2500 DEF, 1650 ATK to 1250 DEF, 1750 ATK to 550 DEF, 1600 ATK to 1550 DEF). Afterwards, Hopeless raised its head and glared at 'Scaradiator'. The monster's mandible twitched, and out of fear it climbed onto the radiator (2800 ATK to 1400 DEF).
"Do not think I'm done yet! Now, as a monster has changed battle positions, 'Corebage' will let me attach an Insect monster in my graveyard to an Insect Xyz Monster I control! In addition, I will also activate its other effect to detach a material and send your 'Kerykeion' back into your deck!"
'Corebage' flapped its large wings, launching a wave of electric wind that slammed into the black and white monster. Cinder growled, but she did not falter. Watts is currently in control of five cards. Cinder has four, and three cards left in her hand. Regardless of what happens, Watts will be left with only Brilli-Ant.
She took a deep breath, and grabbed the card she drew at the start of her turn. "I activate… Rank-Up-Magic Witch's Curse!" She raises her hand skyward, the tip of the card pointed at the ceiling. Then, it begins to glow. Black lighting shoots out from the artwork, causing the lights in the room to flicker.
It crackles through the air, curving until finally slamming into Hopeless core. The monster shouts in pain as its body becomes covered into black light. "Th-this card…!" Cinder stammers, hissing in pain as electricity travels down her arm. "This card lets me Rank-Up Hopeless into a Fiend Monster that's one Rank higher than it!"
"Cinder…!" Upon seeing Cinder in pain, Emerald tries to run towards her, but Emerald grabs her by the shoulder, keeping her at his side.
Cinder begins to buckle under the strain of tapping directly into Mother's dark powers. "Th-then…! I can destroy…! One Number Xyz… Monster…! Y-you…! Y-you controllll! Arghhh!" The activation backfires. Hopeless, either unable or unwilling to accept the chaotic power, rejects it, launching all the energy back at Cinder. Her eyes widen as she's blasted with black lightning.
Instead of being launched backwards, Cinder's eyes roll into the back of her head and she falls to her knees. As she gasps, black smoke escapes her mouth. She's motionless for a few moments before Watts breaks the silence.
"...She's not dead, is she?" He asks dryly, impatiently tapping his foot.
"Of course not!" Emerald says immediately. "As if Cinder would ever falter to something as lame as misfire!"
"Didn't we have to take her to a hospital last time Witch's Curse misfired?" Mercury commented.
"That's beside the point!"
"Sh-shuuuut…! Up…!" Cinder wheezed. All eyes turn to her. She lurches forward, falling to her hands and coughing up an inky black liquid from her throat. It's not blood; it's far too thick and foul, both in its scent and aura, to be so.
Slowly, she pushes herself up onto her feet. With Witch's Curse failing to resolve, she slides that card into her graveyard. "I… am more than capable…! Of continuing! I'll do so by overlaying 'Castor' and 'O'Lantern'! I Xyz Summon 'Evilswarm Exciton Knight'!"
The two monsters fell into the swirling red vortex, and from it emerged a man in gleaming white, cockroach shaped armor, and large red eyes on the sides of its helmet (Rk 4 / 1900 ATK / 2 OU). "As you control more cards than I have on my field or in my hand, 'Exciton Knight' can destroy all other cards in the field!"
The unit fell into 'Exciton's' blade, making it glow an ugly shade of miasma. With a shout, it stabs the blade into the ground, and releases the built up energy. Watts' Insects all screech as they're blasted to kingdom come. As the dust settles, only 'Exciton Knight' and each Duelists' respective Numbers remain on the field.
"On the turn this effect is activated, you can longer take damage…" Cinder says. "I set one card and end my turn here."
"Feh…" Watts grunts. He raises his hands and dusts off a bit of rubble that had been blown onto his impeccable suit. "I must admit, you've grown stronger. Your Mother would be pleased to not only see you conscious, but carrying on despite your injuries." At his praise, Cinder can't help but smile to herself.
"However… such strength isn't enough! I draw!" Watts glances at the card, and smirks. "Behold, true power! I activate 'Rank-Up-Magic Bug Virus'!" Cinder takes a step back as the card appears behind Giga Brilli-Ant. The Number shrieks, and it begins to fold itself back into its dormant state.
"Now, I can use Brilli-Ant to rebuild the Overlay Network, summoning a monster that's 2 Ranks higher than it!" The seed flies into the sky, falling into the Network that formed on the ceiling. A dark green explosion shakes the foundation of the building.
[A/N: The prefix (C for Chaos, S for Shining, and F for Future) is said before "Number"]
"Behold, the power gifted to me by the Queen of Grimm! Come forth, Number C20: Swarm Queen Brilli-Ant!"
A four legged monstrosity lands on the floor, bearing the same purple color as Giga Brilli-Ant's exoskeleton. The blades on its back were still there, but they were more crystalline and serrated. The gems of its eyes had grown, creating a terrifying dragon-like helmet, hiding every inch of its face except for the sharp mandible that peaked out.
A long, thin abdomen covered in spikes dragged across the floor and on either side of its body, four large dragonfly wings shook violently buzzing fast enough to generate electricity. The mandibles slammed together, creating a harsh metallic sound. Two red eyes appeared in the dark eye holes of the skull, and Number C20 roared loudly as two diamond shaped crystals appeared in front of it.
[Number C20: Swarm Queen Brilli-Ant]
[LIGHT / Insect / Xyz / Effect]
[2400 ATK / 2400 DEF / 2 OU]
(LIGHT & DIVINE)
"Now, I will activate my glorious Queen's effect by using one Chaos Overlay Unit! This will turn all cards you control face down!" Cinder curses to herself as one of the crystals shines brightly and then dissolvers. Brilli-Ant rises on its hind legs, and its buzzing wings begin to vibrate loudly. It roared loudly, and then blasted Cinder's field with blinding light.
"I activate 'Infestation Infection'!" Cinder shouted before the light reached her. "I will shuffle 'Evilswarm Ketos' from my hand to my deck in order to add 'Evilswarm Kerykeion' from my deck to my hand!" For a moment, her Trap Card shone before it was blasted back down by the Swarm Queen.
"Do you think that will be enough? I doubt it! Swarm Queen Brilli-Ant attacks the face-down 'Exciton Knight'!" The Chaotic Number roared again flying towards the monster and eating it whole. "And as you know, both 20 and its evolved form give all my monsters the ability to inflict piercing battle damage, and every monster I control gains 400 ATK for every defense mode monster you control during the Battle Phase, thanks to my Swarm Queen's second effect!"
The giant dragonfly roared, and soon its mandibles became even sharper, as did the spines on its tail (2400 ATK to 3200 ATK). C20 spun backwards and slammed its barbed abdomen into Cinder's stomach. She wheezes as all the wind in her lungs is knocked out by the strike (4000 LP to 800 LP). She falls to her knees, clutching her stomach tightly as Swarm Queen retreats to its master's side. "Now, it doesn't matter what card you summon! Thanks to my Swarm Queen, every single monster you summon will fall victim to my glorious Queen! My turn ends here!"
Cinder snarled as priority returned to her. Her eyes flare as she stands back up. "I draw." As she did, Watts couldn't help but smirk deviously.
"You might as well surrender here, Cinder. No matter what card you draw, my Queen can simply flip it face down. You won't be able to summon any monsters from your Extra Deck at this rate!" He taunted her as C20 clicked its mandibles together.
"That's what you think," Cinder responded, smirking for the first time in the duel. The smug look made Watts frown. "For all your talk, C20 is weak. It will never surpass me or Mother's 'Lswarms'."
"And how is that?"
"By using the same trick you used against me. I activate 'Book of Moon'!" Cinder snarled. The disgraced scientist stepped back as his monster roared, only to fall back to the ground with thud and transform into a face-down."
"There. Now, I won't have to deal with your incessant blabbering. I summon 'Evilswarm Kerykeion'!" With the only thing stopping Cinder from playing the game out of the way, she was able to bring back the black knight in the white helmet (LV 4 / 1600 ATK). "'Kerykeion's effect allows me to banish 'Heliotrope', in order to summon 'Castor' back to my hand. In addition, 'Kerykeion' gains the ability to grant me an Extra Normal Summon. So, I Normal Summon the 'Castor' I just added!" The half white, half black knight returned wielding its two-pronged blade (LV 4 / 1750 ATK). "And now, with 'Castor's' effect, I can Normal Summon 'Steelswarm Caller'!"
Cinder's new monster was a lanky, insectoid thing with black armor and orange wings. It buzzed and snarled, purple saliva leaking from its mouth as blood red eyes peaked out of its helmet (LV 4 / 1700 ATK).
"Now, I will Overlay my Level 4 'Castor', 'Kerykeion', and 'Caller'! I Xyz Summon 'Evilswarm Ouroborus'!"
A white and light blue, three-headed dragon came from the explosion, shrieking in pain. However, the monster was soon overrun by black mud. It struggled against the rising smug, choking and thrashing about as it tried to escape. It couldn't, and so vibrant white scales were tainted, and black horns sullied the heads of the beast, turning it from a predator into an invader (RK 4 / 2750 ATK / 3 OU).
"Now, I will activate 'Ouroboros'' effect! This will return your face-down back to your hand, or in this case the Extra Deck'!" Watts took a step back. The corrupted dragon snarled and breathed out a toxic, noxious-smelling gas. C20 roared underneath its card.
Normally, Numbers would be immovable titans against normal monsters. However, Swarm Queen is not a Number, currently; it's a face-down. Its protection would never be able to prevent its removal in this way.
And, this left Watts' field empty.
"So much effort… for such paltry results…" Cinder said.
Watts scoffed at her words. Wordlessly, he raised his hands and placed it over his deck.
GAME!
Opponent Surrendered.
Cinder frowned as the holograms deactivated. "Coward." He didn't even let her flip summon Hopeless.
"I'm a pragmatist. I know when to recognize a lost cause when I see it," Watts growled, making Cinder scowl at him. "Now, have I satiated your ego enough for today? There's work to be done."
Cinder whirled around on her feet. "Ambition is wonderful to have," Watts spoke, stroking his mustache. He sat back and returned to his work. "However, to ambition without caution is not simply overconfident; it's also stupidity."
She did not respond.
—
Ruby groaned. Her entire body felt like lead.
And… warm. Strangely enough.
"What…? Happened?" Ruby opened her silver eyes and found herself in the nurse's office. Slowly, to not agitate her aching bones, she pushed herself upright onto the bed she was laying. She examined the room quickly, and found Yang on the other bed.
"Yang…!" Ruby's hoarse voice caused her to flinch.
"Oh… hey," Yang murmured awkwardly.
"Yeah, hey." Ruby tilted her head a bit more to the left, and gasped when she saw that Yang's left arm was in a cast. "O-Oh no, Yang, your arm–!"
"Yeah, I know…" Yang said, looking down at the sling it was in. "I deserve it."
"That's not true," Ruby huffed.
"I blew up the Arena. I almost killed Cardin…" Yang bit her lip. "I… could've killed you."
"Yang, that wasn't you." The blonde shook her slowly, making Ruby's expression soften.
"It was me." Yang sighed and laid back down, her blonde, untamed hair creating a curtain that hid her face. "Whatever that card did, it brought out the worst parts of me."
Ruby blinked. To an extent, it did feel like she was Dueling Yang last night. But, a more aggressive, more hard headed, more hurt version. "That card… Levice Dragon? What happened to it?"
"I still have it," Yang revealed.
"And how do you feel…?"
"Like shit," Yang snorted. Ruby blinked, and she couldn't help but laugh at Yang's poor attempt at a joke.
"Aside from the… you know, big explosion," Ruby clarified.
Yang remained silently for a moment, looking at the ceiling. She pushed herself back up. "Normal, mostly? I don't feel… as angry. At myself."
"Well, that's good," Ruby sighed. She smiled at Yang. She reached over to gently tap her shoulder. "Seems like… whatever I did stopped whatever that card was doing to you."
"Speaking of, what even happened?" Yang asked. "You never had a Number. Hell, your Extra Deck is already full. The Duel Disk shouldn't have even generated a hologram."
"That… and Pyrrha and Weiss don't seem to be, y'know, possessed or anything," Ruby added.
As they spoke, the door opened quietly. The sister became quiet as they heard footsteps. "I believe I can provide some context," Ozpin said, accompanied by Pyrrha, Blake, Weiss, and Glynda.
"Hello, Ruby and Yang," Pyrrha immediately greeted them. She wasn't wearing the spartan outfit she had during the Ceremonial Duel; instead, she wore a simple orange pull-over and black sweats. Her hair was also down. "Are you both alright?" And immediately, she winced at her own words. "Oh, sorry, I, um…!"
"It's okay, we get what you mean," Yang reassured her. "A little banged up, but we're healing, so that's good."
"That's great to hear," Blake sighed in relief. After a moment, she looked around the room. "Where's Cardin?"
"Unfortunately, the injuries he sustained are more severe," Glynda said, making Yang flinch. "We had to transfer him to a nearby hospital."
"Oh… fuck me," Yang groaned.
"...Well, serves that ingrate right for harassing that poor girl," Weiss grumbled half-heartedly. The other girls (except for Pyrrha, who tilted her head in confusion) all glared at her. Before anyone could say anything, Ozpin cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention.
"Now, I'm sure you four have a multitude of questions," Ozpin began, referring to the Red, White, Black, and Yellow girls, "and I would be happy to answer any and all you may have. But be warned…"
The girls in question all felt a cold chill as the air around Ozpin became thicker, older. "Any answers I do tell you must be kept secret, understand?" There was no verbal threat, but the way he said those words sure as hell sounded like one.
"Yes, Professor," The girls nodded.
Ozpin did the same, and took a seat in between Yang and Ruby's beds. "Now… I suppose you want to start with what exactly these Number cards are?"
"Not yet. I have a question for Pyrrha, actually," Yang said, making the redhead flinch.
"M-Me?" She stuttered.
"Yeah…? When me and Ruby were Dueling, they left the Arena a mess. We weren't even using Solid Vision." Yang started.
Beside her, Glynda nodded. "Yes. It will likely take months to repair it completely," She said.
Yang ignored her. "Why didn't Rhapsody do the same?"
"Oh, that's simple. I've had Number 80 for months now, so I've managed to reign in it more… uh… problematic tendencies," Pyrrha explained. But, that only got an eyebrow raise from the girls.
"Huh? Number 80 has tendencies? Behavioral ones?" Blake asked. "But it's cardboard. How does cardboard have a personality–!"
She yowled and jumped back as Rhapsody in Berserk's fist phased out of Pyrrha's head. At the same time, a white metal wing sprouted from Ruby's back, ready to defend the cat faunus. Thankfully, Pyrrha managed to concentrate enough to keep the fist from banging into the shield.
"Ahh… please don't refer to the Numbers as… y'know," Pyrrha shrugged awkwardly. "Number 80 doesn't like that." The girls all stared at Pyrrha as though they'd seen a ghost.
"...Excuse me the fuck?" Yang said too eloquently to verbalize her confusion.
"As I'm sure you know, Number Xyz Monsters are not your standard Duel Monsters cards," Glynda began, gently pushing Pyrrha away from the other girls with her riding crop. "Not only from a gameplay perspective, but in other matters as well."
"The Numbers themselves… are spirits. I'm sure you've heard the tale of the Great War, and the monsters used to summon fight in it?" Ozpin asked. He waited until the girls all nodded, but Blake managed to put the pieces together again before everyone else.
"Oh my gods, those monsters were real…" Blake gasped.
"Well… not exactly," Ozpin said. "You see, the Great War had devastated all four kingdoms and their people, but Mistral and Mantle were not willing to let it end. So, they devised a plan. Somehow, some way, they managed to contact another plane of existence."
"And, from this alternate reality, they summoned the Numbers," Glynda continued, frowning as she spoke.
The girls were speechless. Weiss scoffed. "No, that's… N-no, no. No! Absolutely not! That's not…! You're insane! Multiple dimensions can't exist! That's…!"
"Are you sure?" Ozpin asked, almost smugly. "Ask Glorious Halo. Levice Dragon. Hope. I can guarantee that all three, if they are able to, will confirm this."
Blake stepped back. The girls with Numbers all looked at each, and then back at Ozpin. "Y-you're talking crazy, you know… that…" Yang tried to say, but her voice trailed off.
"Yang?" Ruby asked. Yang looked angry. She reached out to grab her shoulder again…
The King of Wishes urged her to hold back.
Ruby gasped. You…
Hope confirmed Ozpin's words. Its memories are fuzzy, but it can distinctly tell that this world is not its own.
Fuzzy memories… Ruby asked. Hope did not elaborate, because it couldn't. It apologized before going back into the depths of her mind.
"Well?" Ozpin asked after a few more moments of silence. Slowly, Ruby nodded. Yang did as well. Weiss, meanwhile let out a prissy scoff.
"I can't believe you two! Ozpin has to be lying!" She said.
"Didn't Halo talk to you?" Ruby asked. Weiss bit her lip and looked away.
"That's…!" She shook her head and let out a loud groan. "Okay… barring the fact that apparently multiple dimensions exist," Weiss began, practically hissing through her teeth. "Why didn't Mantle and Mistral win the war, then? These cards are practically godlike!"
"Because Vale and Vacuo did the same. The Numbers brought their own allies, of course. Because they were from a different world, their battles were different. They weren't chaotic, bloody, or violent," Ozpin continued. "They were… refined. Honorable. Our definition of fighting, competition, and war itself has changed due to the appearance of the numbers."
"The Numbers introduced the game of Duel Monsters to the world," Glynda simplified for the girls. "Had the Numbers not been summoned to this planet, it's likely the course of history could've changed significantly."
"How significantly?" Blake asked.
"I could see Ruby using a scythe to personally take down legions of Grimm," Ozpin said in a half joking manner. For some reason, that made Ruby somewhat squeamish.
"Ewww…"
"I prefer fighting with card games," Blake said almost instantly.
"I'm sure you do. It's much safer this way," Ozpin agreed.
"Okay, that's already a lot of wild information to process…" Bale murmured, massaging her temples. "Okay, so Numbers are monsters from a different world. Great, makes perfect sense. But why cards? Why battle with playing cards? Why have a game dictated in some parts by luck to for conflicts"
Both Glynda and Ozpin just looked at each awkwardly. "Good question," Glynda said.
Weiss raised an eyebrow. "You don't even know why?" She asked.
"Anyways, are there any other questions you have?" Ozpin asked, blatantly trying to steer the conversation away from that topic.
"Yeah," Ruby nodded. "Why did Levice Dragon possess Yang? Is this… like a common thing, was 17 just an as- just a jerk or something?"
"That, unfortunately, is a new phenomenon that not even we currently understand," Ozpin said. Glynda nodded beside him.
"Ever since the Great War, the Numbers have roamed the earth, rarely interacting with mankind. Some grow attached, and become bonded to a Duelist's soul. Other times, they prefer to be left to their own devices," Glynda began to explain.
"Regardless of the circumstances, those with Numbers hold great power. Power that one can lust over," He said cautiously.
Ruby blinked.
"You see, in a Duel involving Numbers, the loser's Number is forfeit to the winners. These Duels, more often than not, can become violent, as I'm sure you are aware," Ozpin said. That comment made Ruby and Yang shiver slightly. "It's possible that Number 17's previous user was harmed in some way, and to regain control, they fled and found you, Yang."
"Possessed me, you mean," Yang snarled.
"Regardless, it's likely that this 'possession' as you put it was a way for Number 17 could defend itself." Yang remained silent, and furrowed her eyebrows. Ruby assumed she was trying to talk 17, and Blake assumed the same.
"Well?" Blake asked. "Did… Levice Dragon explain anything?" After a moment, Yang sighed.
"He said his memories are blurry. The only thing they can remember before Hope cut it down is white and being constantly angry."
Ruby frowned. Just like Hope, she thought to herself. Could their Numbers' memory problems be related…?
"Professor Ozpin…" Ruby then said. Slowly, she turned towards him, frowning. "Earlier, you mentioned that Numbers are powerful. Is it possible that… At some point, somebody is going to try and take ours?"
"Yes," Ozpin said immediately. The weight of his words filled the four girls with dread. "Eventually, whether that be during your enrollment, or afterwards, you will have to Duel for your lives."
Yang let out a snarl.
Blake took a step back and gasped.
Weiss crossed her arms and scoffed.
Ruby blinked.
"But do not fret. Glynda, Pyrrha, and I will do everything in our power to protect you, and prepare for that time," He said, a genuine smile appearing on his face. "You will not have to face this journey alone, not yet. I promise you that."
The room was silent. For a few moments, maybe a few minutes even.
"Thank you," Ruby said, breaking the silence. Hope glimmered inside her, calming her beating heart and filling her with warmth.
"You're welcome. I won't let you down," Ozpin said.
"Now, I believe we should end things here for today," Glynda suggested, taking a look at the scroll in her hands. "Not only do I have a class to teach, but we've given you… perhaps too much to think about."
"Take this day to rest, all of you," Ozpin said. "None of you will need to attend classes for the next three days. Now, more than ever, is it important to rest."
"Right…" Blake sighed. Her cat ears were flat on her head. "I definitely need to… just think."
"This is an awful lot to take in," Pyrrha murmured, sympathizing with her four underclassmen. "I know it sounds scary–"
"I feel like scary is an understatement," Weiss interrupted briefly.
"–but, I will also do my best to help all of you," Pyrrha said, wincing slightly at Weiss' words. "We could have one-on-one Duels, Battle Royals, if you prefer, I could even teach you how to use my 'Toy' 'White Forest' deck, if you'd like!"
"W-well, if you insist…!" Weiss says, now smiling. Her change in demeanor was so sudden that even Pyrrha flinched a little. "I wouldn't mind having private lessons with the Invincible Girl!"
"Yeah… that sounds fun…" Blake says, however, her ear twitches as she eyes the heiress from the corner of vision. "Maybe, once Ruby and Yang are, we can all have a Battle Royal together?"
"Sounds fun! Maybe all of us can even summon our Numbers!" Ruby suggested. Yang, despite her misgivings, couldn't help but smile. The mention of a Battle Royal resonated with her competitive spirit.
"Sounds fun," Yang mutters quietly.
Blake then blinks. "Wait, I don't have a Number." She doesn't like the look the other four girls are giving her. It makes her feel like a meek mouse.
"Well, I'd say it's about time we give Ruby and Yang some space, no?" Glynda says. "They need to recover from their Duel."
"Oh, right!" Pyrrha says. "Sorry for keeping you. Once you're out and healthy, let's have that Battle Royal, then!"
"Sounds like a plan," Yang says with a thumbs. "I'm looking forward to beating all of you…!"
"As if," Weiss scoffs. She steps out of the room, her heels clicking against the floor.
Blake glares at her before sighing. "Get well, soon," she says, waving goodbye, and muttering under her breath, "I'm so screwed…"
"Bye now!" Pyrrha says. Yang swears she sounds more cheerful than she ever has in class.
Glynda simply nods at the pair and walks away. Ozpin shakes his head in amusement and follows her. "Stay safe, both of you." The door closes with a click.
"...fucking hell…" Yang groans. She falls back on the mattress. Ruby looks at her. She doesn't know what to say. What can she say?
An idea comes to mind.
"Hey, Yang?" There's a subtle twitch of Yang's fingers. "Next time, there's not going to be a draw…!"
Yang's eyes, for a brief moment, turn red. For a brief moment, she and Levice Dragon resonate with each other.
I look forward to it, mortal! Levice Dragon sounds like Yang, only a little raspier. The dragon itself appears over Yang, its mouth open in a way that looks like a smirk that it currently shares with Yang.
—
[Main Deck Digital Bugs]
The effects that main deck monsters grant to the Xyz monsters are now granted as long as they are Xyz Material, like the Zoodiacs. Also:
A monster summoned with Websolder destroys all Link Monsters.
A monster with Centibit as Material destroys Link Monsters before the Damage Step and allows that monster to attack again.
A monster with Cocoondenser negates the effects of Link Monsters when it declares an attack against one.
[Digital Bug Scaradiator]
[LIGHT / Rank 3]
[Insect / Xyz / Effect]
[1800 ATK / 1800 DEF]
2 Level 3 LIGHT Insect Monsters
Once per turn, during either player's turn: you can detach two Material from this card, then target one monster on the field; change its battle position, and if you do, negate its effects, OR if that card is a Link Monster, negate its effects , then destroy it. If this card destroys a monster (by battle or card effect): you can attach that destroyed monster to it as Material. You can only activate this effect once during each Phase.
[Digital Bug Corebage]
[LIGHT / Rank 5]
[Insect / Xyz / Effect]
[2200 ATK / 1800 DEF]
2 Level 5 LIGHT Insect monsters
You can also Xyz Summon this card by detaching 2 Xyz Material from a Rank 3 or 4 Insect Xyz Monster you control, then using that Xyz Monster as the Xyz Material (Xyz Material attached to that card also become Xyz Material on this card). Once per turn, during either player's turn: you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target one Defense Position Monster on the field or 1 Link Monster your opponent controls; shuffle it into the Deck. Once per turn, if the Battle Position of a monster(s) is changed (except during the Damage Step): you can attach 1 Insect Monster in your GY to an Insect Xyz Monster you control.
[Bug Firewall]
Continuous Spell
When this card is activated: send 1 Level 3 LIGHT Insect monster from your deck to your GY. Face-Up Defense Position monsters your opponent controls cannot activate their effects. Once per turn: You can change the Battle Position of one Insect monster you control. You can only control 1 "Bug Firewall".
[Rank-Up-Magic Bug Virus]
Quick-Play Spell
Target 1 Insect Xyz Monster you control: Special Summon, from your Extra Deck, 1 Insect Xyz Monster that is 2 Ranks higher than the targeted monster by using it as Xyz Material (This is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Material attached to that card also becomes Xyz Material on the Summoned monster). After this effect resolves, equip this card to a Face-Up monster your opponent controls. A monster that has this card equipped to it gains the following effect:
If this card is in Attack Position, switch it to Defense Position. If it cannot be switched to Defense Position, banish it Face-Down.
[Rank-Up-Magic Witch's Curse]
Spell Card
Target 1 Xyz Monster you control: Special Summon, from your Extra Deck, 1 "Number" Fiend Xyz Monster that is 1 Rank higher than the targeted monster by using it as Xyz Material (This is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Material attached to that card also becomes Xyz Material on the Summoned monster). While this card is in the GY, if a monster summoned by this effect would be removed from the field, you can banish 1 other card from your GY instead.
[Number 20: Giga Brilli-Ant]
[LIGHT / Rank 3]
[Insect / Xyz / Effect]
[1800 ATK / 1800 DEF]
2 Level 3 Monsters
(This card's name is also always treated as "Number 20: Giga-Brilliant")
While this Xyz Summoned card from the Extra Deck has Xyz Material, it's attribute is also always treated as DIVINE, and your opponent cannot remove this card from the field (by battle or card effect), except by "Number" Xyz monsters, DIVINE monsters, or cards empowered by the Numeron Code, also, your opponent cannot tribute this card. (Quick Effect): You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; switch all monsters your opponent controls to Defense Position. During the Battle Phase of the turn you activate this effect, all monsters you control gain 200 ATK for each Defense Position monster your opponent controls, also, they can inflict Piercing Battle Damage.
[Number C20: Swarm Queen Brilli-Ant]
[LIGHT / Rank 5]
[Insect / Xyz / Effect]
[2400 ATK / 2400 DEF]
3 Level 5 LIGHT Insect Monsters
This card's Attribute is also always treated as DIVINE. Your opponent cannot Tribute this card. If this card was Xyz Summoned from the Extra Deck, your opponent cannot remove this card from the field (by battle or card effect), except by "Number" Xyz monsters, DIVINE monsters, or cards empowered by the Numeron Code. The previous effects cannot be negated. If this card battles a Defense Position monster, inflict Piercing Battle Damage. (Quick Effect): You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; flip all cards your opponent controls Face-Down. You can only activate this effect of "Number C20: Swarm Queen Brilli-Ant" once per turn. If this card was Xyz Summoned using "Number 20: Giga-Brilliant" as Material, it gains the following effect:
All monsters you control gain 400 ATK for each defense position monster your opponent controls, also, they can inflict Piercing Battle Damage. If a monster can already inflict Piercing Battle Damage, except by this effect, then that monster can inflict Double Piercing Battle Damage.
[Number 98: King of Despair - Hopeless]
[DARK / Rank 4]
[Warrior / Xyz / Effect]
[2000 ATK / 2500 DEF]
2 Level 4 Monsters
(This card's name is also always treated as "Number 98: Antitopian")
While this Xyz Summoned card from the Extra Deck has Xyz Material, it's attribute is also always treated as DIVINE, and your opponent cannot remove this card from the field (by battle or card effect), except by "Number" Xyz monsters, DIVINE monsters, or cards empowered by the Numeron Code, also, your opponent cannot tribute this card. This effect cannot be negated. If a monster declares an attack: you can detach 1 Material from this card; switch the attacking monster to Defense Position. If a card your opponent controls targets a card you control: you can detach one Xyz Material from this card; that activated effect becomes "switch the battle position of one monster you control (if a monster can be changed to defense position, that monster's battle position must be changed)". If a card your opponent controls targets a card you control while this monster has no Xyz Material: you can banish this card Face-Down; negate that effect, and if you do, destroy that card, and if you do that, you return one card in your banishment to the GY, then you take 1000 DMG.
[A/N]
I think one of the biggest missed opportunities in all of RWBY is their rivalry with Cinder. Or, the lack of one, honestly?
They fight… sometimes. After Ruby Kamehame-Silver-ha's Cinder's ass after killing Pyrrha, you'd think Cinder would try to gun for her in Haven for disfiguring and crippling her, but Cinder, for some reason, picks on Jaune, and really only focuses on him? But, Ruby was also Pyrrha's friend. Also, Ruby disfigured him.
Also… the Haven fight is just kinda really lame.
Cinder, out of all the villains, should've been the foil to Ruby, with Ruby coming from a loving family while Cinder from an abusive one. One of the major themes in Ruby is family, so it would've been cool to explore that dynamic with two characters from broken families.
I want to play into that. For one, Ruby has Hope while Cinder has Hopeless. This also plays into their abilities; while Hope protects, Hopeless subjects. They both play normal monsters, but while Ruby has several, Heliotrope is the normal Cinder has. They also both play decks given to them after their mother figures left.
Also, we've introduced Rank-Up-Magic.
In canon Zexal, Chaos and Rank-Up Xyz Evolution is a technique in which confusing emotions are controlled. This allows for clarity, and from that clarity a Numbers will transform into a more powerful form. Keeping up with the theme as Duels being a conversation, Chaos Xyz Evolution will mostly be used as visual shorthand to show that someone reached a new understanding of themselves, their goals, and sometimes their opponent.
By now Salem's and Ozpin's councils, (except for Leonardo and Cinder's small faction Neo & Roman) all have the power to Rank-Up their Numbers.
Also, Watts uses Digital Bugs. To be honest, I was scrolling through youtube when I found a deck list for Digital Bugs, thought they looked cool, and I wanted to write a Duel about them. However, to them being… absolute shit even when they first released, I had to change their effects. I don't really want to overhaul an archetype, because my ideas might overwrite their current identity, but in this case, I think I did good. Also, they now hate Link Monsters.
Also, Watts creates the virus that takes out the CCTS and Penny, so it makes sense that he uses cards that actively mess with code, and therefore Link Monsters. He also uses the Cicadas as support, as they mess with battle positions which will proc the Digital Bugs' effects..
Does this mean Watts uses Cicada King? That's a good question. I don't know if I'm going to include the Fake Numbers, nor do I know what I want to do with them if I do add them.
This might be a spoiler, but the Numeron Gate Monsters replace the Relics, so…
Actually, while writing this, I had a brain blast.
So, how truthful do you think Ozpin's words are?
K bye.