Back at the mysterious Mesoamerican altar, Jupiter was at the top, closely observing the tablet engraved with the differently-colored stones. Suddenly, the ruby stone began to glow. "So, another Wielder has been discovered," she said sinisterly. "That means only one remains – but we still don't know their identities!"
"Mistress Jupiter, come quick! You have to see this!" a female voice cried, running up the steps of the altar. It was the figure in white and orange robes.
"Very well, Venus, if it's really that important," the irritated Jupiter replied with a sigh. Regardless, she hastily followed Venus down the steps.
It didn't take long for them to reach the bottom of the altar, where they met up with Mercury, Mars, and the monolith containing Itzamna's spirit. Jupiter was quick to notice that the monolith's red lights were slowly flashing. "Those lights… Could this mean what I think it does?" the awestruck Jupiter asked.
'Most likely,' the voice of Itzamna spoke from the monolith. 'The vessel I am to possess must be close by – at long last, I shall be able to assist you in the purification of all these worlds!'
"But how the fuck are we gonna find your 'vessel?!'" Mars argued. "We don't even know what this 'vessel' looks like!"
"Maybe we don't at the moment," said Jupiter, "but this vessel can be found with the markings they possess. Once their markings are present, we will then be able to detect the vessel's location!"
"Seriously, Mars, will you ever learn to pay attention to these things?" Mercury teased.
"Will you ever learn to shut your fucking mouth?!" Mars snarled, viciously grabbing Mercury by the collar.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Jupiter shouted, prompting Mars to release his hold on Mercury. "Now is most certainly not the time for another one of your quarrels! Right now, we must prepare for when we receive notice of the vessel's presence!"
'And then – only then – shall I assist you in the grand purification!' Itzamna vowed.
YU-GI-OH! CHRONIXII
LEVEL 1-15
NEW DUTIES AND NEW ARRIVALS
Both law enforcement and medical transport eventually arrived. The police promptly arrested Diablo, Switchblade, and the goateed thug, while Karamar and Homanu were sent to urgent medical care in two separate ambulances.
At this moment, Sister Golas was in the waiting room at the hospital Homanu was admitted to, which just so happened to be the same hospital Mira was in the week prior. Her hands were clasped in prayer as she anxiously awaited any updates. But it wasn't long before Mira and Kero entered the waiting room, escorted by a tan-skinned man with brown eyes, spiky black hair, and a wise scar on his left cheek, dressed in a dark gray officer's uniform. The man in question was Tetsu Ushio, the chief of Alba Litora's law enforcement.
Seeing Mira and Kero brought immense relief to Sister Golas. "Mira! Kero! Thank goodness you two are safe!" she cried.
"Sister Golas!" Mira cried, instinctively anticipating another severe scolding from her caretaker. "Please, you gotta hear us out-"
"I know – the police told me everything that's happened," Sister Golas said, tightly embracing Mira and Kero in a group hug. "I just can't believe what you two had to go through!"
"Yes, what these two victims have witnessed is truly unspeakable," Ushio commented, contemptuously shaking his head. "And personally, I could not believe the kinds of charges I had to give those thugs!" He began counting his fingers. "Assault! Abduction! Unauthorized use of weapons! Reckless endangerment! Attempted murder! I know they're just teenagers, but I swear, the list just keeps going!"
"But we're fine now, thanks to Homanu," Mira said reassuringly.
"And Playmaker!" Kero cheered.
"'Playmaker?'" the perplexed Sister Golas said. "Who exactly is this 'Playmaker' you speak of?"
"Oh, he was so cool!" Kero said, flailing his arms with excitement. "See, Homanu was knocked out by that electric device he wore throughout the duel, but then BAM! He got up to kick Karamar's ass – er, I mean, hiney; sorry, Sister Golas – then Karamar tried to zap him some more, but couldn't; and then, just when those two thugs were about to kill us, TA-DA! Playmaker came and knocked 'em out! That's when he insisted that Homanu finish Karamar off with that super-special-awesome card of his I've never even heard of before!"
All that exposition left Sister Golas speechless. "Wow, that was… quite the story, lad…" she said rather sheepishly.
"That's almost how I felt when he told me the exact same thing," Ushio said with a chuckle. "Speaking of, we would've been here sooner, but I had to get a statement from these two to complete my report. You must be… Sister Jean Golas, am I correct?"
"The one and the same," the nun confirmed, bowing her head before the chief. "I cannot thank you enough for rescuing these two."
"Well, don't thank us," said Ushio. "If it weren't for that anonymous tip from this 'Playmaker' guy – whoever he is – we wouldn't know where to find them, or even know they were gone to begin with!"
"Oh, that Playmaker!" Kero swooned, batting his eyelashes. "He's everybody's hero!" He dreamily sighed to his own statement.
"Kero, we pretty much just met the guy," Mira reasoned.
Kero felt insulted as he crossed his arms. "Well, I'm pretty sure he would be everyone's hero!" he pouted.
"Oh, good, you're here," a voice said. Everyone turned and found that the voice belonged to the same doctor who previously treated Mira's injuries.
"You knew we were coming?" asked Kero.
"Yes, Chief Ushio called us in advance to let me know that you'd come, so that I can inform you on Homanu's current condition together." Taking notice of Mira's presence, he added, "Ah, Mira! I see that you've been doing well… despite you and your friends being abducted, at least…"
"You can say that again…" Mira murmured with a scoff.
"How is Homanu, doctor?" Sister Golas anxiously asked.
"Well," the doctor explained concernedly, "when Homanu was brought into our care, he was in pretty bad shape – probably worse than when Mira was brought in last week. Luckily for you, however, he is expected to live, but he's still in critical condition."
"His injuries are that bad, huh?" asked Mira.
"Without a doubt," said the doctor. "He and Karamar are going to have to say in medical care for at least a couple days – probably a week, at most."
Hearing Karamar's name horrified Sister Golas. After a heavy gasp, she shrieked, "You mean to tell me that Karamar is actually in the same medical facility as Homanu?! Don't you realize how dangerous that is, especially when Karamar was practically out to kill him?!"
"Don't worry, Sister Golas," Ushio said reassuringly. "We were there to take the rest of those thugs into custody, right before the ambulances arrived. Based on what Playmaker told us, we made sure that Karamar was sent for medical care at the facility, which is a way's away from here."
"The chief's right," the doctor confirmed. "He can also confirm that Karamar's been put in a special isolated area, considering how much of a potential danger he is."
"See, Sister Golas?" Kero chirped. "These guys know what they're doing!"
"I should've realized that," Sister Golas said with a sigh of relief. "I guess all the stuff that's been happening to Mira, and now Homanu, haven't made me rationalize these things."
"I understand, Sister Golas," said the doctor. "Seeing a loved one being endangered like that can put anyone in a tizzy."
"But the important thing is that Homanu's safe and getting the medical care he needs," Ushio said rather proudly, "Karamar and the rest of those 'Devil's Hand' goons are locked away, and all is right with the world!"
"I should hope so!" Sister Golas said.
After a brief moment of silence, Kero innocently asked, "So, um… will we get to see Homanu anytime soon?"
"I'm afraid that's out of the question," the doctor replied, shaking his head contemptuously. "I know I said that he's most likely to recover from his injuries, but they're still so severe that we can't take any chances. We're going to have to put his case on top priority until he recovers more."
"Aw, man!" Kero whined, drooping his shoulders.
"It's for the best, Kero," Mira said. "Homanu's been through a lot, so we should leave him alone."
"Couldn't have put it better myself," the doctor said, somewhat pompously. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some other patients to attend to. But please feel free to call our offices if you have any further questions or concerns." After a friendly goodbye wave, the doctor returned to his duties.
"Well, now that my report's been completed and we now know about Homanu's situation," Ushio said, his hands on his sides, "you three are good to go."
The three nodded at the chief and then turned to leave. "Wait," Sister Golas cautiously said, just as they were about to exit through the door, "are those thugs truly locked away? What if any of them escape?"
Ushio chuckled. "Not to worry, Sister Golas," he said reassuringly. "Our facility has the strongest security in Alba Litora – and probably in the entire world! It would take a miracle for anyone to escape!"
"I should certainly hope so!" Sister Golas remarked. "Come on, you two, let's go home."
The trio climbed aboard the hovercraft transit bus that would take them back to the orphanage. As Mira and Kero took their seats, Mira noticed that Sister Golas was heading farther back. "Sister Golas? Where are you going?" Mira asked.
"I… just need to take care of something quick," she replied. "I'll be with you momentarily."
"Alright," Mira said with a shrug.
Sister Golas moved to a seat towards the end of the bus, where Mira and Kero wouldn't see her. Once she was sure she was secluded, she clasped her hands in prayer as the bus began to move. "I don't know why these things are happening," she silently said, "but please, God, protect the lives of those in my hospitality furnished by Your blessings – especially the lives of Mira, Homanu… and Yusaku." She bowed her head as she continued praying for the wellbeing of those under her care, before returning to sit alongside Mira and Kero.
As it turned out, the doctor was not at all exaggerating about Homanu's current condition. Even if he was expected to survive, he was still on life support, complete with the oxygen mask attached to his face. He was also in the same comatose state since he was first brought into the hospital, and except for occasional check-ins from the hospital staff, he was left well-alone. His Duel Disk was placed on the table beside him, just for safekeeping.
Evening was breaking, and things hadn't changed for Homanu… at least not from outward appearances.
Homanu suddenly found himself in his own dream… or was it? He wasn't certain, but he was able to make out where he was and what was happening – he was in the musty gymnasium, where he was having a Torture Game Duel against Karamar, in the hopes of rescuing his captured friends from the Devil's Hand.
He could tell that the duel was nearing towards the end, since he was able to recognize his own Nitro Ascendant, Phoenix Fireheart, who had just attacked Karamar directly. Unfortunately, he remembered that this was the moment where Karamar would unleash his full wrath upon his past self.
"Hope you're ready, 'cause this is the beginning of your end! I activate the Spell Card, Forbidden Chaos Upgrade!" the past Karamar shrieked, swiping the card through one of his blade's horizontal slots. The DEMON MAGIC Spell Card picturing the molten dragon-headed demon erupted from the depths of the earth. "Since I have no monsters on my field, I can resurrect any Upgrade Monster that's in my Graveyard! Be reborn – Cybernaut Behemoth, Destroyer Ramarak!"
The hulking mechanical demon arose from the floor behind Karamar. But it wasn't long before Destroyer Ramarak was powered up significantly as its unlit hexagons suddenly became purple, just as Homanu recalled. [ULT ATK: 6000 / GRADE: ULT / CORE: 4] Homanu then witnessed Karamar summoning his two Cybernauts – one that wielded a club, and the other with a noticeably large right claw. [ATK: 1600] [ATK: 1300] Without warning, the two smaller trolls were shrouded by a sinister veil, with both veils transferring to Ramarak's body. [ULT ATK: 6000 – 8900]
"RAMARAK, ATTACK!" Karamar maniacally commanded. Cybernaut Ramarak unleashed a burst of violet digital fire from its mouth, incinerating Phoenix Fireheart and striking directly at Homanu's past self. Past Homanu screamed in pain as he was severely electrocuted, but the present Homanu's horror significantly increased as he watched his past self lay unconscious on the floor.
Mira and Kero were visibly heartbroken at the past Homanu's unconsciousness, but the Homanu observing the flashback was the most horrified of them all. "No…! NO!" he fearfully cried. "Is that actually me lying like that?! Please… you have to get up! YOU HAVE TO GET UP! You have to save Mira and Kero!"
Little did he realize that he was about to get his wish. A faint red light shone from underneath his past self, and he got himself up without any difficulty. At first, the present Homanu was unsure as to where the light came from or how he got himself up like that. Then he remembered the strange necklace he acquired from the mysterious old man. He reached underneath his shirt and saw that somehow, the necklace was still with him, and was faintly glowing.
After an unsuccessful attempt from the Devil's Hand to electrocute the revived Homanu, they decided to shoot his friends dead. That's when the mysterious masked stranger smashed through the skylight, zapped the two thugs unconscious before he threw some punches across Diablo's face and then his stomach, knocking him out.
"Wait, who on Earth is that guy?!" Homanu wondered at the masked vigilante's sudden appearance. But he was unable to speculate, for he then witnessed the resurrected and seemingly possessed Homanu make his ultimate move after drawing the cards that were somehow shrouded by a fiery red veil.
"From my hand, I activate the card infused with my spirit!" the past Homanu declared, grabbing one of the drawn cards. "Infused with the Iroa of Fire, I activate – PTAH'S COURAGE!"
"'Ptah's Courage'? I don't remember having that card!" the present Homanu exclaimed. But after his past self vigorously swiped the card through one of his blade's horizontal slots, the red card appeared, and Homanu immediately recognized the figure depicted on the card. "Wait a minute, I think I've seen that guy before…!" Indeed, it was the same figure he briefly saw in the further depths of Jocotitlan Crater, before he awoke in the gymnasium. This very figure also appeared out of the newly activated card.
"With Ptah's special power, it can fuse with a Spell Card on my field to create something stronger!" Homanu's possessed past self explained. "Now, Orbis Spirit of Ptah, merge with Flame Possession!" The red digital man flew directly into Flame Possession, transforming it into red digital wires. It wasn't long before there was a burst of fiery red light on Homanu's field.
"ARISE – ORBIS IGNIS, UNFORM PTAH!"
The light exploded, and in its place was the digital red blob that still had a pair of orange eyes, and an orange emblem that was the same crude volcano engraved on Homanu's crest. The blob started to shapeshift, transforming into the phoenix warrior that was destroyed earlier. [ATK: 3000] After its transformation, the phoenix warrior flapped its wings, unleashing fiery particles at the mechanical trolls, significantly weakening them, much to the horror of Karamar. [ATK: 1600 – 0] [ULT ATK: 8900 – 0] [ATK: 1300 – 0]
"It all ends here!" the past Homanu declared. "Unform Ptah, attack all of his monsters, and bring me victory!"
The phoenix warrior flew up into the sky and rapidly flapped his wings, unleashing an immense barrage of fireballs and the like. Not only did they strike at Karamar's monsters and incinerate each and every one of them, but they also struck at Karamar, who loudly screamed as he was severely electrocuted. That was when he lay unconscious.
"LEVEL FIVE COMPLETE. WINNER: HOMANU," the female voice announced before the dueling field returned to normal and the chains attached to both duelists' wrists uncoupled. Suddenly, the past Homanu's eyes returned to their original state, and he, too, fell unconscious. That's when the entire scenery around the present Homanu slowly turn black.
"No! Wait!" he called out. "Mira! Kero! Are you two okay?!"
But he was unable to get any confirmation about their safety. Instead, he found himself in a small room comprising of nothing but a narrow black steel pathway connected to a circular platform of the same metal, all surrounded by a pool of lava. He was standing on the circular platform right beside the black stone platform built upright, its carvings now glowing red.
Homanu immediately recognized this as the same room he was in to awaken his Iroa. Regardless, he was still restless and distraught. "Why am I here?!" he cried. "How am I supposed to know if Mira and Kero made it out okay?!"
'I can assure you, your companions have escaped, unharmed,' a deep male voice spoke. Homanu frightfully turned and saw that the voice belonged to a red digital blob floating beside him. It wasn't long before the blob transformed to resemble Homanu in every single detail.
"Who… Who are you?" Homanu asked, almost breathlessly.
'I am Ptah, the Iroa Spirit of Fire,' the digital man introduced himself. 'It was I who came to your aid when your physical body fell unconscious in your quest to rescue your friends from that villainous group known only as the Devil's Hand.'
"Wait, is that what happened when I was up against Karamar?!" Homanu asked, remembering both seeing himself recovering after blacking out, and the events that led up to that fateful moment.
'That is correct,' Ptah confirmed. Placing a finger on Homanu's crest, he added, 'You are destined to be one of the Six Wielders, due to your endless devotion to protecting others. And upon acquiring the Iroa Card you now witness as part of your new duty, you have also awoken my spirit, which has now become one with yours.'
"I see, but… are Mira and Kero really safe?" Homanu worriedly asked. "Have they truly escaped the Devil's Hand?"
'Yes, they have escaped the clutches of the Devil's Hand,' Ptah repeated his confirmation. 'But while it was I who took over for you and dealt the finishing blow against Karamar, it was Playmaker who delivered justice upon the rest of the gang, and provided law enforcement with you and your friends' whereabouts.'
"'Playmaker?' …Wait, you mean that masked guy from earlier?!" Homanu said, remembering the masked vigilante from the flashback he previously witnessed.
'The one and the same,' Ptah replied before holding his chin. 'I cannot say for certain, but I have a suspicion that while he may not be one of the Wielders, he'll still be an essential ally nevertheless.'
"Well, as long as he helped save my friends, I don't care what he is!" Homanu said with relief. "Still, what happens now?"
'The future is uncertain,' Ptah said. 'But regardless of what happens, my spirit will always be with you. However, I must heed you with this crucial warning.'
'Oh, God, here we go…' Homanu grumpily thought, anticipating what Ptah was going to say.
'I have taken notice of your strong disdain for card mechanics that go beyond Fusion Monsters,' Ptah explained. 'Be warned, for you must adapt to newer mechanics in order to become stronger – only the true potential of the Iroa Card you wield can defeat the evil that threatens us all!'
Homanu had no idea what Ptah was referring to, but he did recall seeing the Iroa Card his possessed past self used. "I mean, I did see that card in a weird flashback I had," he said, "so I think I have an idea of what it can do."
'Perhaps,' said Ptah, 'but eventually you will see my true capabilities.'
"I don't know what you mean," said Ptah, "but… thanks for saving my friends back there."
Even though he pretty much just met Ptah, Homanu still stretched out a hand as a symbol of their new companionship, which Ptah grasped without the faintest hesitation. That's when Ptah faded away, and the entire area was engulfed in a lustrous red light. Back at the hospital, the heart monitor beside Homanu's hospital bed displayed some abnormal pulses before returning to its regular heart rhythm.
Nighttime had finally arrived at the orphanage, and all the orphans present and accounted for were already in bed. Sister Golas herself, now dressed in a satin nightgown with a frilled collar, was just about to get her well-needed rest, after all the hysteria she had to endure.
"I still don't know why this had to happen," she told herself, "but I can only hope it's not what I think it is… especially not after all this time…"
Still, she managed to forget all her worries as she pulled herself under the covers. But after half a minute of sleeping, a blinding flash turned the night sky day for a sliver of a second, to Sister Golas's shock. But the unexplainable flash was followed by the holler of a young girl as she made sounds of landing on the roof, then the roof below it, and then onto the front porch.
"What was that?!" Sister Golas cried. Slipping into a nearby brown nightrobe, she ran through the hallways. But she wasn't the only one hysterical about the sounds – a lot of the other orphans still in their sleepwear were startled by those sounds, and they, too, abruptly awoke to see what was the matter.
Sister Golas and the orphans made their way to the front porch. There, they saw a girl no older than thirteen lying face flat on the porch steps. She was dressed in a grey-blue hoodie, a short green skirt, and light gray socks underneath brown school shoes. On the back of her hoodie was an enlarged emblem in the shape of a medieval shield. She also wore a D-Gear that had a pale green dial. "Goodness gracious! Where did you come from, child?!" Sister Golas cried.
"Here, lemme help!" Mira said, making her way through the crowd of orphans. She carefully turned the girl over, revealing that she had olive skin and short, shiny black hair with a green barrette. But what really caught Mira's attention was the necklace she was wearing: a sapphire tablet encased inside a light blue tag, all hung by a yellow string. On the tablet itself was the carving of a crude waterfall.
Mira immediately recognized this otherworldly necklace as the same kind she herself was wearing, which could mean only one thing. 'Another Wielder…!' she thought.
FEATURED CARD – LEVEL 1-15
Nitro Ascendant – Phoenix Fireheart
FIRE/Pyro – Fusion – Effect/9/3000/0
"Nitro Avenger – Fireheart" + "Wings of Wicked Flame"
This card's name becomes "Nitro Avenger – Fireheart" while face-up on the field or in the Graveyard.
This card cannot be used as Fusion Material.
REQUIREMENT During the Main Phase that you Fusion Summoned this card, shuffle 5 FIRE Attribute cards from your Graveyard into the Deck.
EFFECT Destroy all face-up monsters on your opponent's field with less than 3000 ATK and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to [the number of monsters destroyed by this effect] x 600. For the rest of this turn, you can only attack with this card.
Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! CHRONIXII…
Just who is the girl that has appeared out of nowhere? Her identity will gradually be revealed, but is nevertheless suffering from amnesia from all the falls she took. It isn't long before Kero challenges this girl to a Game Duel in attempt to help her regain her lost memories! Who will come out as the victor? Find out in Level 1-16: Teen Girl in a New World, Part 1! Game Duel, game start!