Yugioh/ML Chapter 24

The Return

Adrien Agreste was in his house, a mansion on the coast similar in magnificence to Fu's own residence. He sat in his bedroom, pondering how to approach the new situation in Link Vrains. His options were limited, as without Plagg, he was powerless against the kwami. He considered rebuilding the Knights of Hanoi, but dismissed that option for two reasons; not only would gathering more recruits take too long, but he didn't want to be slowed down by dead weight. He decided it was time to call in a favor.

…

Being careful to avoid any prying eyes, as he was certain Ladybug had revealed his information to the authorities, Adrien snuck through the streets of Den City until he found the apartment he was looking for. He pressed the button to ring up one of the tenants, who gave a curt reply.

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Adrien."

After a few seconds listening to a nearby radio talk about some mystery person buying up the stock of Sol Technologies, Adrien heard the door unlock, indicating that his old contact remembered the favor. A minute later, Adrien approached his apartment, but before he could knock, the door opened. Holding the door open was a black kid in a green shirt and brown jeans with suspenders. He wore glasses, and had brown hair.

"Max. Good to see you."

"Let's not pretend this is a social visit, Agreste. Come on."

Max led Adrien into his apartment, filled with various electronic devices of arcane purpose. The mini-tour led them past the collection to a desk with a large computer on it.

"The program finished about a month ago, but I've never had a chance to test it." Max pulled out a thumb-drive from the computer and handed it to Adrien. "You'll have to provide that opportunity yourself."

Adrien stared at the thumb-drive with great interest. Perhaps his situation wasn't completely helpless after all.

…

In Link Vrains, Adrien was able to get into the Cluster without notice thanks to a backdoor program he had designed. His avatar was different, now a dark purple suit of armor with neon arrows on his body called Ephemeral. He flew through the ruined city silently, hoping to find a suitable target without being seen.

His patience was rewarded when he saw a hybrid on the top of the tallest building, not acting as erratically or randomly as the others, but sitting down in meditation. He flew up to meet her. Upon a closer inspection, she was a tall teenage girl wearing a red outfit with a gold outline and a black dragon's tail at the end. When Ephemeral got close enough, he could tell she sensed her presence, but her eyes remained closed.

"Do you dare challenge me?"

Ephemeral readied his duel disk. "I dare."

"What is your name?"

"Ephemeral."

She stood up and readied her own duel disk as well. "Then prepare yourself, Ephemeral. I, Ryuko, shall utterly annihilate you!" Red and black wings grew out of her back as she flew up into the air, with Ephemeral chasing her.

"You may go first." Ryuko stated. "But be warned. I shall defeat you in one turn."

Ephemeral wasn't certain if that was empty bravado or a sure thing. Either way, he decided not to take any risks. "I summon Rokket Tracer!" A red metallic dragon appeared, its body like that of a rocket. (Level 4/Attack 1600) "Then, since I control a Rokket monster, I special summon Absorouter Dragon from my hand!" A black metal dragon appeared next to Rokket Tracer. (Level 7/Defense 2800)

"I then activate the effect of Rokket Tracer, destroying a card I control to special summon a Rokket monster from my deck. I'll trade in my Absorouter Dragon for Anesthrokket Dragon!" Rokket Tracer fired a laser from its eyes onto Absorouter, causing it to explode. In its place was a green metallic dragon with a needle on its head. (Level 1/Defense 2200)

"The other effect of Absorouter Dragon activates upon its destruction, adding a Rokket monster from my deck to my hand. Now, appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are one level 4 or lower Dark monster. I shall place Rokket Tracer in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Striker Dragon!" A blue dragon with holographic wings appeared. (Attack 1000/Link Arrows Left)

"When Striker Dragon is link summoned, I can add the field spell Boot Sector Launch from my deck to my hand, which I shall immediately activate!" Above Ephemeral, a giant sigil appeared. "The first effect of Boot Sector Launch gives all Rokket monsters 300 attack and defense." (Anesthrokket Dragon Defense 2200-2500) "I shall now activate its other effect, special summoning up to two Rokket monsters from my hand in defense position. Appear, Exploderokket Dragon and Shelrokket Dragon!" Out of the sigil flew a long orange metal dragon (Level 7/Defense 2000-2300) and a golden metallic dragon. (Level 2/Defense 2000-2300) "I shall set a card and end my turn."

"Your use of dragons is most impressive." Ryuko admitted. "But I shall still destroy you. I draw! Since I control no monsters, I can special summon Storm Dragon from my hand!" A dragon made of storms appeared. (Level 5/Attack 2100) "Then, since I control no spells or traps, I can special summon Wind Dragon from my hand." A dragon made of wind appeared. (Level 5/Attack 2100) "Finally, I can discard a level 5 monster in order to special summon Water Dragon!" A dragon made of water appeared. (Level 5/Attack 2100)

"Now, I shall activate my skill. If I control Storm Dragon, Water Dragon, and Wind Dragon, I can destroy all cards you control." Ryuko conjured a sword into her hand, then held it up to the sky. Her three monsters roared and collected their respective elements around her sword. "Storm of the Three Dragons!" Ryuko swung her sword, and a perfect storm blew across the sky, wiping out Ephemeral's entire field.

"That's what I thought you would do." Ephemeral boasted with a smirk. "I activate the effect of my destroyed face-down, Mirror Force Launcher! If it is destroyed while face-down, I can not only return it to the field, but set a Mirror Force from my hand, deck, or graveyard, and it can be activated this turn." The two aforementioned cards appeared in front of Ephemeral before setting themselves.

"You have weathered the storm." Ryuko stated approvingly. "I end my turn."

"During your end phase, I activate the effect of Exploderokket Dragon, Shelrokket Dragon, and Anesthrokket Dragon, replacing themselves with Rokket monsters of different names. Appear, Magnarokket Dragon, Autorokket Dragon, and Metalrokket Dragon!" Three metallic dragons replaced the ones that once were, one red and blue, (Level 4/Attack 1800) one tan, (Level 3/Attack 1600) and one blue. (Level 4/Attack 1700)

"It's my turn. I draw! Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are 2 Rokket monsters. I set Metalrokket Dragon and Autorokket Dragon in the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Booster Dragon!" A dark-gray metal dragon with a laser scope on its head appeared. (Attack 1900/Link Arrows Bottom Left, Bottom Right) "Then, I summon Silverrokket Dragon!" A silver metallic dragon appeared. (Level 4/Attack 1900)

"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are 3 or more effect monsters. I set Silverrokket Dragon, Magnarokket Dragon, and the link 2 Booster Dragon in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Borrelsword Dragon!" A red dragon with silver wings appeared, green lights all over its body. (Attack 3000/Link Arrows Top, Left, Bottom Left, Bottom) "I activate the first effect of Borrelsword Dragon, targeting an attack position monster and switching it to defense position, then Borrelsword will be able to attack twice this turn." Borrelsword fired a green energy beam from its horn that paralyzed Water Dragon, turning it into ice. (Defense 300)

"Borrelsword Dragon, attack her Water Dragon with Sword Flash!" Borrelsword charged up its horns with energy, then charged into Water Dragon, shattering it. "After Borrelsword attacks, it can choose a monster on the field and steal half of its attack. I'll choose Storm Dragon!" Borrelsword opened its mouth and inhaled, sucking in some of the storm that made up Ryuko's dragon. (Storm Dragon Attack 2100-1050) (Borrelsword Dragon Attack 3000-4050) "Borrelsword Dragon, attack Storm Dragon! Sword Flash!" As before, Borrelsword charged into Storm Dragon, dispersing it. (Ryuko 4000-1000) "Now steal Wind Dragon's attack!" Borrelsword inhaled half of Wind Dragon's essence. (Wind Dragon Attack 2100-1050) (Borrelsword Dragon Attack 4050-5100)

"Not bad." Ryuko admitted. "I'm impressed."

"I'm not finished. Next, I shall activate my skill, but to do that, I shall need some assistance. Markov, get out here!" Out of Ephemeral's duel disk, a small white and blue robot appeared before bowing.

Ryuko instinctively hissed at it. "What is that thing?"

"To put it simply, a knock-off kwami. It's not as strong, but it will have to do. Now for my skill, which will allow Borrelsword Dragon to attack one more time. Great Calculation!" Markov fired a beam from his eyes into Borrelsword, rejuvenating the dragon.

"Borrelsword Dragon, attack Wind Dragon! Sword Slash!" Borrelsword crashed into Wind Dragon with an overwhelming force, sending Ryuko falling onto the roof below. (Ryuko 1000-0)

As Ephemeral floated down to get closer, Ryuko looked up to him with genuine fear. "What are you?"

"I am the doom of all Kwami." He pressed a button, and several chains shot out of his duel disks and into Ryuko. A dragon kwami was pulled out of her, and her avatar reverted to its original form, that of a metallic woman. "What is your name, kwami?"

After recovering from its confusion, the kwami answered him. "Longg. The kwami of perfection."

"Well, Longg, you work for me now."