Yuma's eyes burned with an unhinged fire as he pointed a finger at Tetsuo. "I will attack Tetsuo directly!" he declared.
With a savage growl, the monstrous shadow lunged forward, its razor-sharp talons tearing into Tetsuo's flesh. The chubby boy let out a blood-curdling scream as he was flung backward, skidding along the ground as his Life Points dwindled to nothing.
The silence that followed was heavy and tense, broken only by the sound of Yuma's mad laughter – satisfied with the result of his latest bout of destruction.
Tetsuo's LP: 500 — 0 — LOSE
Yuma's LP: 4000 — WIN
"N-No way…." Kotori muttered in disbelief. Her eyes flitted back and forth between the fallen Tetsuo and the triumphant evil that stood before them.
Yet, no matter how many times she looked, the reality in front of her remained unchanging.
Yuma's laughter echoed through the air as he flexed his muscles, basking in the rush of power coursing through his veins. "This power... it's like nothing I've ever experienced before!" Yuma crowed, his voice rising with every word.
From his position on the ground, Tetsuo let out a weak groan, but Yuma paid him no attention. Instead, his gaze fixed firmly on a point beyond Kotori, as if she was just a person of air. "It's time to go kill Naruto," he declared, his voice dripping with malice.
Kotori felt a chill run down her spine as Yuma's words sank in. She knew that they had to act quickly if she wanted to stop him. But with Tetsuo lying injured on the ground and Yuma brimming with a newfound power, the odds were not in their favor.
She could sense the raw power emanating from Yuma, a force that threatened to overwhelm her completely. With each step he took, the ground shook beneath his feet, and the air around him seemed to thicken and darken as if it were imbued with some malevolent force.
She knew she had to act fast.
"I-I will be your opponent!" She cried out before she could stop himself. It took her a second to realize how stupid what she had just said was.
But strangely enough, Yuma seemed intrigued. He smiled wolfishly as he licked his lips.
"Interesting."
Tetsuo's feeble voice called out from where he lay crumpled on the ground. "K-Kotori...please, you must stop. You cannot hope to defeat him. Your training is not enough!"
Yuma's malevolent gaze shifted to the fallen form of Tetsuo, a cruel smirk playing across his lips. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned forth a wave of dark energy that crackled and surged through the air, striking Tetsuo with a force that flung him halfway across the street.
"Silence!" He demanded. "This is between me and Kotori now. So draw up your D-Pad!"
Kotori put on a brave face as she equipped her D-Gazer and D-Pad.
"Duel!"
Kotori vs. Yuma (DARK MIST)
T1 Kotori LP: 4000 H: 5→6
Her pulse was beating like crazy as she drew her first card. She felt her legs go soft. Like they were made of wet noodles. Her hands were cursed with an uncontrollable tremble. Her vision blurred as she nearly fainted from stress.
A voice in the back of her head cried for her to concede. To just let Yuma go about as he pleased. To just leave and turn a blind eye. The voice told her that she had no chance.
Even Tetsuo lost to him. The voice reasoned with her. There's no way a beginner like you will be able to beat him.
Kotori decided that voice must be the most rational part of her mind.
Yet, for some reason. Despite all the sense in the world it made, she continued pushing forward, refusing to back down.
"I-I will activate from my hand Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen!" The very ground beneath their feet shook as she inserted the Field Spell into her D-Pad.
Suddenly, the world around them transformed, shifting and twisting until they stood within the hallowed halls of a grand temple. Mighty columns of Roman doric design soared skyward, their interlacing rose thorns reaching for the heavens. And at the end of the temple, upon a stairs of unyielding stone, sat an empty throne.
But there was little time to take in the awe-inspiring surroundings, for before them stood two duelists locked in a fierce battle - one wicked and unrelenting, the other pure of heart and determined.
Yuma's eyes widened as he beheld the splendor of this magical realm. The pristine white clouds and impossibly blue sky seemed to stretch out endlessly before him.
A wicked grin eventually crept its way onto Yuma's face. He rubbed his arm, as if bothered by a chill. "Ewww….This place is giving me goosebumps!"
"Once per turn, if I control no other monsters, I can Special Summon 1 Fairy-type monster from my hand! I will Special Summon Little Fairy!"
Little Fairy LIGHT LV 3 Fairy/Effect ATK: 800
With a graceful gesture, she called upon a pink-haired fairy with delicate butterfly wings. As the fairy appeared, she twirled gracefully in the air, her flower petal dress swaying playfully around her.
The fairy's eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she gazed at her summoner. With a nod of her head, she flitted over to Kotori's side, ready to assist in whatever way she could. Her wings beat softly, creating a gentle breeze that carried the scent of spring flowers.
"Then I will Normal Summon Hecatrice!"
As the pink-haired fairy fluttered around Kotori, another figure appeared beside her. This one was much larger than the fairy, with a totemic form that exuded a divine aura. Its face was serene, its wings were colossal and delicate, its body looked to be hewn from pure gold, and its eyes glimmered with an otherworldly radiance.
Hecatrice LIGHT LV 4 Fairy/Effect ATK: 1500
"I-I will end my turn." Kotori stuttered out. She had set up a pretty decent formation of monsters. She should be fine…. At least that was what she hoped.
At the sound of that, the boy's eyes creased into a crescent smile.
"My turn, draw!" Yuma couldn't help but laugh. Playing this duel felt much more of a formality at this point.
"What? A training camp?" Anna's voice echoed with incredulity, causing heads to turn in their direction. The group had gathered at a cozy cafe, recovering from the chaos Kaito had brought with him.
The surrounding street lights cast a soft glow on their faces as they huddled together on the patio, discussing their next move.
Anna had just separated from the group for an hour at best. Yet, she felt like she had missed an entire lifetime of stories. Locked out of the loop, Anna could only listen as Naruto continued.
"There's a Duel Temple that I'm interested in," Naruto confessed. "It's by the outskirts of Heartland. Up in the mountains."
Anna's mind raced as she tried to grasp the implications of this news. A Duel Temple could only mean one thing - Naruto was seeking to hone his skills.
"I'm hoping that you will be able to come with me, Anna." Naruto's voice was gentle.
"Ah…" Anna hesitated, her gaze flickering away from Naruto's piercing stare. Ordinarily, the prospect of embarking on an adventure with Naruto would fill her with unbridled joy. Perhaps to a place with hot springs, where they could bathe for hours. The thought of sinking into warm, mineral-rich waters and letting her worries drift away was pure bliss.
She imagined herself lounging in a serene pool, surrounded by towering trees and babbling brooks. A place where the scent of crisp mountain air mingled with the soothing aroma of steamy water.
But as Naruto was instead inviting her to journey to a secluded Duel Temple, she found herself hesitating.
All of a sudden she couldn't help but conjure up images of a place populated by a band of battle-hardened monks. Perhaps the head abbot was a clandestine pervert, sneaking into her quarters in the dead of night to sate his unspeakable desires. The thought was ludicrous, but the fear lingered nonetheless.
Shaking her head to dispel these bizarre fantasies, Anna refocused her attention on Naruto.
"I don't get it. You're strong enough already! Even with Numbers collecting, we're making steady progress!"
"Just a while ago, I encountered a Duelist who has mastered more than one Summoning Method."
"More than one Summoning method?" Anna repeated.
"Yes." Luna cut in. "It was a Duelist who could use Fusion Summoning."
Fusion Summoning! It was a rather old summoning method. Fallen out of popularity ever since Xyz Monsters came out.
"He was also a Numbers Hunter." Naruto continued. "A quite skilled one at that."
"D-Don't tell me…He took our Numbers…"
"No." Naruto shut down the fear growing at the back of her mind. "I managed to fend him off. Albeit barely."
"What Naruto is trying to say," Luna interjected smoothly, "is that we all need to be more careful. It's become clear that aside from us, there are also other people looking to obtain Numbers."
This was the second time that Luna ended up finishing Naruto's thoughts. Anna couldn't help but wonder if these two had always been this close.
Not only that…something felt weird between the two. The subtle body language Luna gave off. The way she looked at Naruto – her gaze that packed tenderness that seemed a bit out of place.
It was a scene that Anna had witnessed countless times in television dramas - a seductress attempting to lure a man away from his partner.
Anna narrowed her eyes, suspiciously. But she quickly tried to refocus on the subject at hand.
"Speaking of Heartland's Duel Temple. I heard rumors it's currently occupied by a strange geezer and his statues."
"Not the one I had in mind," Naruto shook his head. "The one I had in mind was located on the opposite side. Rumor has it the owner of the Temple has a magic mirror that will allow duelists to obtain true strength."
"Oh…I see…" Anna nodded. A magical mirror did sound interesting. But she suspected it was probably a bogus lie made up to attract visitors.
"Anyways, Luna and I will be heading out this weekend. Let us know if you want to come as well."
"O-Of course! In order to save Rio, we all need to get stronger!"
"It will also be a good chance for us to work on our team synergy. Who knows? We might be tag dueling in the future." Luna suggested.
"Yes! Yes! That too! I bet the combination of me and Naruto will be unstoppable!" Anna chimed in a bit too eagerly– almost as if she felt she was in competition.
Naruto nodded in agreement. "Then, it's settled. On Saturday morning, let's meet by the front gate of Heartland."
"Yeah!" Anna cheered as she pumped her fist into the air.
Yet, as she watched as Luna and Naruto took their leave, a part of her felt a tiny bit left behind.
"My turn! Draw!"
T2 Yuma LP: 4000 H:5-6
Yuma's eyes flew open as he gazed down at the cards in his possession. With this, I could end this game in a single turn…
Yet, a mischievous spark danced in his eyes. He wanted to savor the moment, to relish the thrill of the game a little longer. So instead of ending it, he decided to have a bit of fun and prolong the excitement.
"I will pay 800 Life Points to activate Malice Parade! By shuffling my entire hand into the Deck, I can then draw cards equal to the amount that I returned to my Deck plus 1."
Yuma's LP: 4000→3200
The card on the field depicted a colorful image of Malicevorous monsters. The jet-black imps danced with fervor as they wielded their utensils in perfect synchronization with the beat of a nearby radio's blaring music.
"As I returned 5 cards back into my deck, I now get to draw 6!"
"D-Draw 6 cards?" Despite being a novice, even Kotori could tell this was an insane effect.
Yuma smirked. "I will Special Summon Malicevorous Fork from my hand by sending Malicevorous Spoon to the Graveyard."
A little gremlin jumped out, spinning around a fork that was over twice its size.
"Then, I will Normal Summon Malicevorous Knife."
Another gremlin popped up right next to its brethren. This time the monster's weapon of choice was a metal spoon.
"When Malicevorous Knife is Normal Summoned, I can revive one Malicevorous monster to my Field. I will revive Malicevorous Spoon!"
The third member of the trio joined them, wielding a silver spoon.
A drop of sweat rolled down Tetsuo's face. "Here it comes, it's this Yuma's ace monster!"
"I will build the Overlay Network with the Level 1 Malicevorous Knife, Malicevorous Spoon, and Malicevorous Fork! Xyz Summon No. 96 Dark Mist!"
No. 96 Dark Mist R2 Fiend/Xyz/Effect ATK: 100 Xyz Materials: 3
The air around them grew heavy, the once bright sky dimming as if consumed by a malevolent force. It was unlike any darkness Naruto had ever conjured with his Raptors, this one felt infinitely more ominous.
From the darkness, a fluid shape emerged, bouncing along the ground until it coalesced into a monstrous form. Faceless and terrible, the creature possessed the long tail of a dragon, and its chest blazed with sinister flames that seemed to take on the shape of eyes. As the creature moved, white curved materials became visible on both ends of its midriff, reminiscent of jagged teeth. It was as if the very fabric of evil had congealed around it to form a monstrous maw, perpetually open and screaming with a mouth of unending, rippling darkness.
Three wicked spirits encircled the Xyz Monster, adding to the creature's insidious appearance.
Yuma's eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he pointed a finger at Hecatrice. A cruel smile twisted his lips as he spoke, relishing in the terror he was about to unleash. "Prepare yourself, Hecatrice," he sneered. "No. 96 Dark Mist will now attack!"
Kotori swallowed nervously. She knew what was coming next. She had seen this before. This very same technique dominated and victimized Tetsuo.
"As you're aware, when Dark Mist battles, I can detach 1 Xyz Material to halve your monster's Attack Points!"
Hecatrice's ATK: 1500→750
Dark Mist's ATK: 100→850
The moment that Hecatrice weakened, Dark Mist sunk its claws into it, shredding it into pieces.
Kotori's LP: 4000→3900
"What a pathetically weak monster!" Yuma ridiculed. "Is this the result of your training?! Hahahahaaha!"
"I will set two cards and end my turn!" He extended an inviting hand to Kotori. "It's back to you, doll-face~"
"This doesn't seem bad yet, Kotori…But Dark Mist is a monster that continuously gets stronger!" Tetsuo warned as he picked himself back up.
Kotori LP: 300
Yuma LP: 3200
Kotori's body had become battered and bruised, barely able to stand on its own. Each breath felt like a struggle as she clutched onto four cards in her trembling hands. Meanwhile, her opponent still boasted over ten times the Life Points she had left.
The actions that filled the minutes that led up to this moment could only be described as a one-sided massacre. Yuma had systematically dismantled every monster that she summoned and left her efforts at counterattacks through Spell and Trap cards in tatters
Even Tetsuo who had been coaching her from the sidelines had fallen silent, unable to offer any more encouragement or strategy.
Across the field, Dark Mist stood tall, a menacing presence that seemed to loom over Kotori, filling her with dread and fear. Its ominous aura felt almost suffocating, adding to the already overwhelming pressure weighing on her.
Dark Mist ATK: 2850 Xyz Materials: 1
Kotori's heart sank at the sight of Yuma, so different from the boy she once knew. His face, once radiant with the brightest smile and colored by his unwavering Kattobingu spirit, was now clouded with darkness, hate, and resentment.
It was like looking at a stranger.
She never thought Yuma could be capable of this, of hurting her like this. Yet here she stood, battered and bruised, a victim of his one-sided beatdown. Her cheek still stung from where Yuma had struck her, a fiery pain that refused to subside.
Kotori closed her eyes, letting tears fall from her closed lids and onto her cards. She wondered if she should just give up, surrender to this new Yuma and let him do as he pleased.
"Why, Yuma? What happened to you?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Yuma's unwavering haughtiness only grew as he held his gaze upon the weeping woman, his expression a mask of contempt and disdain. To him, she was but a lowly insect, unworthy of his attention and certainly not deserving of his sympathy.
But then, without warning, Yuma collapsed to the ground, his hand clutching his head as if wracked by a sudden and intense headache.
"I couldn't protect Astral." He broke down. The cold, arrogant, and merciless persona that he had previously exhibited suddenly disappeared. He no longer carried the swagger of an evil overlord. When he spoke, his tone was vulnerable, lacking the dismissive edge from before."Nothing I tried worked. I couldn't protect him against Naruto or even Kaito."
"Yuma..." Kotori began, a glimmer of hope in her heart as she sensed the return of the true Yuma. But before she could rejoice, her illusion was shattered as Yuma slapped himself in the face. It was then the "dark" Yuma returned.
"Silence! I'm the one in charge now!" Yuma growled. The light of insanity seemed to return to his eyes. A dark shroud wrapped around his body. "Anyways, please pardon the interruption. Please carry on with your turn. Not that it will matter."
"Yuma?" She mumbled his name. Confused and concerned.
"Kotori…" Tetsuo interjected from the sidelines. A drop of sweat on his face. "I think maybe Yuma is being possessed by that Number." He said, his eyes locking on Number 96 Dark Mist.
Her eyes widened at the possibility. She had seen such cases before, multiple times even, having followed Yuma on his various Numbers collecting adventures. But never did she think a case of Numbers Possession could happen to Yuma of all people. The boy who up to this point had shown complete immunity to their influence.
But she couldn't give up hope. If she could defeat Dark Mist, perhaps Yuma would return to normal.
"My turn, draw!" With a deep breath, she drew her next card and closed her eyes, praying for a miracle. The card she had drawn was The Agent of Mystery- Earth. Her heart quickened with excitement and anticipation - could this be the key to her success?
Turning to Yuma, she tried to engage him in conversation again.
"Yuma, do you know why I started dueling?"
"I don't care!" He spat out coldly.
But she refused to be deterred. "I have never had any interest in it." She admitted. "Even when I saw how happy it made you. I was more interested in other things."
"Watching you get tossed around every time you dueled only made me think about how much dueling would hurt. So I was scared..."
"But even I couldn't just stand idly by as you get crushed by the weight of your burdens. That's why I asked Tetsuo to help me."
The boy yawned. "Boooring!"
"Yup!" Kotori said firmly, wiping away her tears. "Let's continue this conversation when Yuma comes back!"
With a renewed sense of purpose, she turned her attention back to the duel at hand. "By the effect of Valhalla, if I control no monsters, I can summon a Fairy-type monster from my hand!" she exclaimed. "I summon The Agent of Wisdom - Mercury!"
Kotori's eyes gleamed with determination as she placed the next card on her D-Pad. "Then I will summon The Agent of Mystery- Earth," she declared, her voice ringing out with confidence.
Yuma raised an eyebrow in surprise. He had never seen that card before, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension. But Kotori wasn't finished yet.
"Next, I will activate Monster Reborn and use it to revive Little Fairy!" she exclaimed, her fingers moving with lightning-fast speed as she activated the Spell card. The air crackled with magic as Little Fairy reappeared on the field, its tiny wings beating furiously.
"I activate Little Fairy's effect. By discarding 1 card, I can increase her Level by 1!"
Little Fairy Level 3→4
Kotori took a deep breath as she studied the Fairy army that she had assembled.
I can do this! She told herself.
"I will tune the Level 2 The Agent of Mystery - Earth with the Level 4 Little Fairy, and the Level 4 The Agent of Wisdom - Mercury!"
"Tune?" Yuma asked.
The monsters held hands together before transforming into a dazzling column of shimmering rings and stars.
"Let the light of the heavens shine. And the power of the stars aligns! Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 10! Masterflare Hyperion!"
As the ground shook beneath their feet, a figure of immense power and regality emerged before them, shrouded in the finest armor of red and gold. The clinking of metal echoed across the battlefield, as the magnificent mask, wrought of precious metals, glistened in the dim light. It was as if the very gods themselves had descended upon the mortal realm.
The aura of majesty that surrounded him was overwhelming, almost suffocating in its intensity. His broad shoulders were flanked by intricate epaulets, each painstakingly detailed, and a massive sun emblem was emblazoned upon his chest, its radiance illuminating the darkened skies as if it was the sun itself.
Two enormous wings made of flames stretched from his back, licking at the sky, casting the land in a fiery glow.
"Kotori…" Tetsuo stared in awe at the result of Kotori's training. Rather than training in Xyz Summoning like everyone else, the girl had gone off on her own and sifted through old records to learn how to Synchro Summon. "...I can't believe you actually did it!"
With great fervor, Kotori declared her attack. Fully confident that everything was starting to go her way. "I will attack Number 96 Dark Mist with Masterflare Hyperion!"
Yuma's laughter echoed through the air, a mocking sound that filled Kotori's heart with unease. "Foolish girl," he chided. "Have you forgotten the power of Dark Mist?"
Yuma flicked his wrist as the last Xyz Material around Dark Mist exploded into a cloud of darkness. "If Dark Mist battles an opponent's creature, I can detach one of its Xyz Materials and claim half of your monster's attack points for my own!"
As Number 96, Dark Mist unleashed its thousand tendrils of darkness toward Masterflare Hyperion, Kotori stood undaunted.
The tendrils, shaped like innumerable hands, reached out to rob Masterflare of his light.
But Kotori was no longer one to be intimidated. With fierce determination, she cried out, "I use the effect of Masterflare Hyperion!" Her voice echoed across the battlefield as she continued, "Whenever my opponent activates a card or effect, I can banish a Fairy monster from my graveyard and banish one card on the field! I will banish Dark Mist! Go, Celestial Purge!"
As Kotori's words hung in the air, Masterflare Hyperion's flaming wings shrouded him–forming a protective cocoon around himself. All at once, the flames emitted a brilliant luster.
The light and darkness met in the middle. And the darkness shattered and crumbled away like glass, scattering in the wind. The radiance of the light continued to expand, growing brighter and brighter until it engulfed the entire street.
With Number 96. Dark Mist erased from existence, Hyperion drove its fist into Yuma's body.
Yuma's LP: 3200→0
"...Yuma…Let's protect Astral together…"