Yugioh/ML Chapter 34

The Omega Evolution

Nooroo had seen the two human's victories over his pawns and didn't care all that much. If Mayura and Adrien had succeeded at their goals, then victory would have been all the sweeter. But as is, they had bought him time, time needed for the amplifier to not only finish construction, but charge back up to full power. He stepped within the glass sphere in the center of the machine and awaited Enlightenment.

…

Ladybug and Rena Rouge's flight to the island where Nooroo was hiding was interrupted by a barrage of lightning bolts. The two of them looked up and saw Longg, still possessed by his cybernetic implants, commanding a storm to impede them.

"We need to stop him and quick before we're blown out of the sky!" Tikki cried out, barely holding onto Ladybug's duel disk.

"We'll distract him!" Rena had to shout over the winds. "You two go stop Nooroo!"

Trixx concentrated, and created a dozen duplicates of Ladybug and Rena Rouge, each flying in a vastly different direction. Longg's attention was torn between all of the fakes, and started firing randomly in the hopes of hitting the real thing, who only barely escaped.

Ladybug swiftly landed on the island, allowing Tikki to press down on the rock she saw Plagg use. The invisible door opened, and the two entered, finding the warehouse, with the now finished amplifier inside.

"We're too late." Tikki softly spoke.

"On the contrary, my dear Tikki!" Nooroo's voice boomed from the inside of the machine. "You two are just in time to witness the dawning of a new age, and my own glorious transformation!"

The amplifier sprang to life, but instead of shooting out a beam, the energy was sent inward, towards Nooroo, who glowed with pulsating power. Ladybug attempted to approach the machine, but some sheer gravitational force pushed her back. After the power built up enough times, the amplifier was enveloped in a pillar of light, breaking through the warehouse's roof.

Just as Rena had managed to incapacitate Longg, with Trixx lassoing him in a rope made of data, Nooroo's new form stepped out of the pillar, gigantic in size with six arms and compound eyes.

"I am Nooroo, kwami of Evolution!" Nooroo's voice boomed through the entire kwami world. "All life is but clay in my hands. Witness as I transform this entire world."

Ladybug hopped back on her duel board and flew up to meet him. "Nooroo, stop! This isn't right! Your actions will only destroy life, not nurture it!"

"You cannot stop me, Ladybug. I am now the ultimate lifeform, the pinnacle of Nature's design. What can a small, insignificant human do before my might?"

Ladybug readied her duel disk. "I can try."

Nooroo's laugh echoed across the open sky. "Very well. A test of my new abilities." He waved one of his many hands, and four cards appeared in front of him. "I shall go first. I activate the field spell Chrysalis Beast Observatory!" The sky above them transformed, becoming a series of panels that each had the name of a different species. "Once per turn, I can special summon a Chrysalis Beast from my deck in exchange for my normal summon that turn. Appear, Chrysalis Beast Shell!" One of the panels opened, and a small animal covered in a thick shell appeared. (Level 1/Defense 1000) "Then, I activate the continuous spell Chrysalis Beast Exhibit! With this card, Chrysalis Beast monsters I control can be treated as two link materials for the summon of an Evo-Master link monster."

"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two cyberse monsters. I set Chrysalis Beast Shell in the link arrows! Link summon! Appear, Evo-Master Predator!" A savage beast-man with claws appeared. (Attack 2000/Link Arrows Left, Bottom) "The effect of Chrysalis Beast Shell is passed down to Predator, giving it the ability to negate its own destruction once per turn." A thick hide began to grow on Predator's skin. "I set a card face-down and end my turn."

"I draw!" Ladybug declared. "First, I activate the spell Ethernet Conversion, discarding a cyberse monster to special summon another cyberse monster of the same level. I discard Databug Chrysalis in order to summon Databug Pollinator!" Out of a blue portal, a neon bee flew in. (Level 3/Attack 1300) "When Pollinator is summoned, for every face-up spell or trap you control, I can special summon a Data token." Pollinator flapped its wings, conjuring two balls of data. (Level 1/Attack 500) "Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two or more cyberse monsters. I set Databug Pollinator and my two Data tokens in the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Codespring Light Connector!" (Attack 2300/Link Arrows Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)

"I set three cards, then activate Light Connector's effect, bringing back Pollinator." Light Connector created a portal out of the light from her staff, and Pollinator flew out of it. (Light Connector Attack 2300-2800) "Light Connector, attack his Predator! Radiant Reprove!" Light Connector fired a laser beam from her staff, burning through Predator's shell. (Nooroo 4000-3200)

"I activate my face-down," Nooroo replied. "Specimen Containment. This continuous trap makes it so that whenever my Evo-Master battles your monster, a containment counter is placed on your monster." A cage made out of light appeared around Light Connector. "Monsters with containment counters can't attack for as long as I control an Evo-Master, so your Databug Chrysalis, as well as your transparently obvious attack strategy, has been contained."

Ladybug groaned in frustration, but knew she couldn't do anything further. "I end my turn." As she did, Predator's hide regrew.

"I draw!" Nooroo held out his hand, and a card manifested in his palm. "I activate the effect of Chrysalis Beast Observatory again, this time summoning Chrysalis Beast Wings!" Another panel opened, revealing a generic form of a bird. (Level 1/Attack 1000) "Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two cyberse monsters. I set Chrysalis Beast Wing in the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Evo-Master Evasive!" A fox-woman in a racetrack outfit appeared. (Attack 2000/Link Arrows Top, Bottom Left)

"First, the effect given by Wings, which allows Evasive to attack directly." A pair of wings grew on her back. "Second, the effects of Evasive and Predator, which both benefit my linked monsters. Predator will give such monsters 1000 attack, while Evasive will give them the ability to attack twice each turn!" Predator raised his claws up and roared, while Evasive assumed a stealthy stance. (Evo-Master Predator Attack 2000-3000) (Evo-Master Evasive Attack 2000-3000) "I then activate the link spell Variable Evolution!" A dark-pink crystal jutted out of the ground next to Evasive. (Link Arrows Top Left, Top, Top Right)

"You will see what that card does later. Evo-Master Evasive, attack Ladybug directly!" Evasive flew over Light Connector and dived straight for Ladybug.

"I activate my face-down, Codespring Shield! As long as I have a Codespring monster in the extra monster zone, any damage I take is reduced by their link rating times 500!" Light Connector fired out another laser out of the cage, which formed a shield over Ladybug before Evasive landed a punch. (Ladybug 4000-2500)

"Perhaps it is time to switch tactics. Evo-Master Predator, attack her Light Connector!" Predator burst into the cage and sparred with Light Connector, destroying it.

"I activate my other face-down, Data Rebuffer. When my link 2 or higher monster was destroyed, I can special summon a number of Data tokens equal to its link rating." Two more Data tokens appeared next to Pollinator. (Level 1/Defense 500)

"It matters not. I am now free to attack you directly again with Evasive!" Evasive readied to strike Ladybug again.

"That is what my third and final face-down is for; Cyber Static! The attack of all your monsters is reduced by the combined attack of all level 4 or lower cyberse monsters I control." Pollinator and the two Data tokens joined together in a triangle formation as they created a wall of data that blocked Evasive's strike. (Evo-Master Evasive Attack 3000-700) (Evo-Master Predator Attack 3000-700) (Ladybug 2500-1800)

"Predator, remove her Databug Pollinator." Predator destroyed the bee with a single swipe of its claws. "I end my turn, triggering the effect of Variable Evolution. I can replace one link monster it points to with another link monster of the same link rating. So I shall transform Evo-Master Evasive into Evo-Master Stealthy!" A light shot out of the crystal, transforming the fox-woman into a chameleon-man carrying a small dagger. (Attack 2000-3000/Link Arrows Top, Right)

"Stealthy protects all my linked cards from being targeted by your cards or effects. That includes Variable Evolution as well. I end my turn."

"I draw! I summon Databug Weaver!" A spider wearing a crown made of webbing appeared. (Level 4/Attack 1100) "Once per turn, Weaver allows me to tribute any number of monsters in order to special summon the same number of Databug monsters from my deck. Appear, Databug Stinger and Databug Grub." Weaver bit into both Data tokens, transforming them into a yellow wasp (Level 3/Attack 700) and a small grub on a plate. (Level 3/Defense 800)

"Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are 3 effect monsters. I set my Databug Weaver, Stinger, and Grub on the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Codespring Crystal Guardian!" (Attack 2300/Link Arrows Left, Right, Bottom)

"When Databug Grub is used for the link summon of a cyberse monster, it gives that link monster 800 attack." (Crystal Guardian Attack 2300-3100) "Once per turn, Crystal Guardian lets me bring back a link 3 or lower link monster from my graveyard to a zone it points to." Crystal Guardian smacked at the air, creating a crack from which Light Connector burst out. (Attack 2300-2800/Link Arrows Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)

"Crystal Guardian, attack his Evo-Master Predator with Crystal Cacophony!" Crystal Guardian smashed away at Predator, shattering its hide. At the point of contact, a stinger was left behind. (Nooroo 3200-3100) "In addition, when a monster linked summoned using Stinger battles, it negates the effect of the attack target, so your shell is useless." Predator's body pulsed bright red, then exploded. "And without Predator, Stealthy is vulnerable." (Evo-Master Stealthy Attack 3000-2000)

"But your own Crystal Guardian shall be contained." A cage formed around the link monster, just as it had before around Light Connector.

"Light Connector, attack his Stealthy with Radiant Reprove!" Light Connector fired a laser, evaporating the last of Nooroo's monsters. (Nooroo 3100-2300) The victory was short-lived, however, as it was once again encaged. "I end my turn."

"I draw! I activate the effect of Observatory again, summoning Chrysalis Beast Venom." Another panel opened, and a snake was hauled out. (Level 1/Attack 1000) "Appear, my circuit! The summoning conditions are two cyberse monsters. I set my Chrysalis Beast Venom in the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Evo-Master Herd!" A large elephant-woman appeared with a triumphant roar of her trunk. (Attack 2000/Link Arrows Right, Bottom) "Venom gives its Evo-Master the ability that, whenever it attacks a monster, that monster's effects are negated during the damage step." The end of Herd's trunk was morphed into a stinger.

"Once per turn, I can special summon a link monster so that it is linked with Evo-Master Herd. I shall resurrect Evo-Master Predator." Herd raised her hand out in front of her, summoning a purple portal that Predator leapt out of. "And now my beasts are back to full strength." (Evo-Master Predator Attack 2000-3000) (Evo-Master Herd Attack 2000-3000)

"I shall attack Crystal Guardian with Herd!" Herd pulled away Crystal Guardian's hammer with its trunk before moving in for the kill. Thankfully, Ladybug was protected from the damage by her Codespring Shield.

"I activate the effect of Data Rebuffer in my graveyard, banishing it to bring back as many of Crystal Guardian's link materials as possible. Return, Databug Stinger and Databug Grub." The two monsters burst out of Crystal Guardian's corpse. "I then activate the effect of Re-Link in my graveyard, banishing it to immediately perform a link summon. I'll set my Codespring Light Connector and my two Databug monsters in the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Codespring Fire Flare!" (Attack 2300/Link Arrows Left, Right, Bottom Left) "And when Fire Flare is link summoned, it gains the attack of one link monster in my graveyard." Fire Flare held out her hand, and a fiery form of Crystal Guardian's hammer appeared. (Attack 2300-4600)

"You may believe you have thwarted my attacks, but you have only barely survived." Nooroo noted. "I shall now rid you of such a belief. I discard my Chrysalis Beast Catalyst in order to perform a link summon. I set my Evo-Master Herd and my Evo-Master Predator in the link arrows. Link summon! Appear, Evo-Master Primary Predator!" An older version of Predator appeared in Nooroo's middle monster zone, carrying a hunting rifle. (Attack 3500/Link Arrows Top Left, Top, Top Right, Bottom) "When Primary Predator battles a monster it points to, it gains half the attack of the monster it is battling. Unfortunately, I can't attack with it because of Catalyst's effect."

"So I'm still safe." Ladybug noted with a smirk.

"Only for now. I end my turn. Tell me, Ladybug, why do you resist my plan? Imagine a world without hunger, without pain, without death. That is the world I pursue. Surely you must see the benefits of such a world."

"Maybe, but I can also see the downsides. Your ideal lifeform would force two minds together, holding them in unceasing agony."

"The two minds would eventually coalesce into one, with a higher understanding than either could attain alone."

"And if this 'master race' destroys everything before that can happen?"

"That is the risk I must take."

"Then I have to stop you. I draw!" Even with Fire Flare's effect, it won't be able to overcome Primary Predator's effect. Fortunately, I think I drew just what I need. "I activate the spell Random Data Surge! I shuffle my deck, then reveal cards until I reveal a cyberse monster. Fire Flare will gain that monster's attack for this turn."

"So you hope for luck to save you. Of course, you only need 500 attack to make Fire Flare stronger than Primary Predator, so I suppose your chances are good."

Ladybug placed her hands on her deck, ready to draw. One by one, she revealed cards until she found the one she needed; Databug Ant. (Fire Flare Attack 4600-5600) "Looks like my luck hasn't run out just yet. I activate Fire Flare's effect, boosting its attack relative to Primary Predator's effect." The fiery hammer increased the intensity of its flames. (Fire Flare Attack 5600-7600)

"Fire Flare, attack his Primary Predator with Heat Volley!" As Fire Flare charged towards Primary Predator, the latter monster loaded ammo into its rifle. (Evo-Master Primary Predator Attack 3500-7300) But it wasn't enough, and Fire Flare incinerated it before it could shoot. (Nooroo 2300-2000) Another cage formed around Fire Flare.

"Give it up! You're out of options, Nooroo."

"Oh, not quite. I'll make the same offer to you that I made to Adrien. Surrender, and I shall give you this." Nooroo held out one of his hands, and a cloud of data formed. In the center of the cloud, Ladybug was almost certain she could see someone. No, two people. She quickly caught onto the implication.

"Illusions, Nooroo? That's a cheap tactic for some ultimate lifeform."

"It's no trick. An interesting side effect of my…unfortunate accident in that lab was that I absorbed the data of every person that was in that room that day, including your mother and father. If you wish, I could reconstitute their data, bringing them to life. But only if you surrender, and open the barrier."

Tikki looked up to Ladybug, seeing a single tear roll down her face. The kwami had no idea what to say, how to strengthen Ladybug's resolve so that she could resist the temptation. Panic began to fill in her heart as she feared that Marinette would give in.

Ladybug wiped the tear from her face, then glared at Nooroo. "I've spent my whole life aching for them, but if there's anything I've learned from all of this, it's that I have to move on, or I'll be consumed by the past." She gave a faint chuckle. "You'd think the kwami of Evolution would know that. I end my turn."

Nooroo's smile faded, transformed into an angry frown. "You insignificant, small-minded little pest! I shall show you true evolution! I draw! I activate the effect of Variable Evolution, sending it to the graveyard to resurrect a link master in my graveyard. Return, Primary Predator!" The crystal shattered, revealing Primary Predator inside.

"Now, I shall activate my skill, transforming Primary Predator into a stronger version of itself. Akumatize!" A butterfly formed out of one of Nooroo's hands, then flew into Primary Predator. The hunter twisted and writhed, before becoming sealed in a cocoon. "Appear, Evo-Master Apex!" The cocoon burst, and out spawned a massive beast with insectoid wings, many arms, and three heads, one a human, one a bird, and one a hound. (Attack 5000/Link Arrows All)

"A link 8 monster?" Tikki said in terror. "I didn't even know that was possible."

"Oh, it is. Apex has three effects; the first is that it drains the attack of any monster it battles. The second is that, if it destroys a monster by battle, your draw phase shall be sealed. The third is a protection from any destruction by battle or card effects, making it virtually invulnerable! Evo-Master Apex, slaughter her Fire Flare and send these primitives screaming into oblivion! Omega Blast!"

Apex's heads all gave a great cry, causing Fire Flare to clutch its head in pain. (Fire Flare Attack 7600-0) Its many hands then joined together, forming an energy laser that it wasted no time in firing at Fire Flare, the link monster and its owner seemingly swallowed in the attack. But somehow, against all odds, Ladybug was still standing, if on her last legs.

"I activated the effect of Codespring Shield, sending it to the graveyard so that this turn, my life points can't fall below 100." (Ladybug 1800-100)

"Oh, you have just barely survived. But need I remind you that now, Apex shall seal your draw away from you!" Apex moved its hands in arcane signs, forming a sigil over Ladybug's duel disk. "No matter what card you draw from the data storm, it shall be useless as you have no method of summoning it! Your field is empty, your hand is empty, and your life points are at critical! You have already lost, Ladybug! It is only a matter of whether you give up now or suffer in unending agony!"

"That's enough!" Tikki shouted. "What's wrong with you, Nooroo? You used to be such a kind soul, but now you're nothing but a monster. Look at yourself! In your pursuit of evolution, you've stripped away all of your dignity, your morals, and your sanity until there's nothing left but madness!"

Nooroo mockingly laughed. "You get so upset because I would harm a weak little human?"

"She's no ordinary human. Ladybug is my dearest friend, and the two of us will be together until the very end!"

At this point, Tikki's body started to glow. It was faint at first, but grew in intensity until everyone watching had to shield their eyes. When it finally faded, Ladybug and Tikki were gone, a new form in their place that seemed a fusion of the two. Their duel board was gone, their body held aloft by a set of ladybug wings.

"It can't be…" Nooroo said. "You two have become a hybrid on your own? But how?"

"I'll tell you how. It was no artificial thing, two minds forced together like you would have done. It was the strength of our bond, our connection reaching this point naturally. And now we shall use this new power to create a miracle. I activate my new skill! Since my life points are at 100, I can create a new card from raw data!"

They held out their hand, and data from all over the Kwami world pooled together in front of them, slowly forming a card.

"Miracle!"

At once, the data stopped, and the freshly made card was formed. The hybrid grabbed it and added it to their extra deck.

"A wonderful display." Nooroo admitted. "But you have no cards out, and nothing in your graveyard can replenish your board state. You have nothing, so your card is worthless!"

"Actually, this empty board state is perfect for my purposes. You see, the card I just created can only be summoned if I have no cards on the field and no cards in my hand. Appear, my primordial circuit!" The hybrid stretched out her hands, and out of her chest, a light shot out, creating a portal. "Link summon! Appear, Supreme Data Root!" Out of the portal, a white silhouette in the form of Ladybug appeared. (Attack 0/Link Arrows None)

"A link zero monster? That is your great weapon to defeat me?"

"Oh, yes. You see. Supreme Data Root has the ability that, when it battles a monster, you take all of the battle damage instead of me, your monster is banished, and it will gain that monster's attack."

"What?" If kwamis were capable of sweating, Nooroo would be losing buckets of sweat right now.

"Supreme Data Root, attack Evo-Master Apex with Void-Filling Inspiration!" The silhouette floated over to Apex and began to circle around the beast. As it did so, Apex's body slowly turned a glowing white, starting from the feet and working upwards. Once its entire body was so turned, it disintegrated into nothingness.

Once Apex was completely sealed, Supreme Data Root began to transform as well, becoming a white copy of the beast it had just slain.

"No, you can't do this!" Nooroo protested. "I must destroy this world to bring in the new one! All must evolve!"

Supreme Data Root gathered its hands together, forming an energy laser.

"If you do this, you'll never see your parents again!"

The laser fired, shaking Nooroo's body to his very core.

"Noooo!"

(Nooroo 2000-0)

The massive body Nooroo had made for himself began to disintegrate, leaving only his original form which fell to the ground. Ladybug and Tikki split back as they flew over to catch him.

"What do we do with him now?" Ladybug asked Tikki. "I'm unfamiliar with the justice system in this world."

"We'll take good care of him." Tikki answered before binding his body with data. "I'll make certain of it."