Heartland's Raven

by Egg Hurts

Naruto once thought that he lead a meaningless life. Yet through a series of chanced encounters, he ended up searching for the Numeron Code that controlled reality. From that day forward, he found himself wrapped up in the world of Numbers and conspiracies. It turned out before he became Uzumaki Naruto, he was something more. Naruharem.

11. Chapter 11

T3 Mirror Naruto H:2-3 LP: 4000

"I'm activating Wing Requittal," declared Mirror Naruto, his spell spreading across the field. "I'll pay 600 Life Points to draw two cards!"

Mirror Naruto's LP : 4000 → 3400.

"Now, I'll use Raikiri's effect! With two other Blackwing monsters under my control, I can destroy two of your cards. I choose your Dark Rebellion and one of your face-downs!" Mirror Naruto yelled.

The winged Raikiri's eyes glinted sharply. He lunged forward, blade aimed at Dark Rebellion. His dark wings beat vigorously, scattering a few loose black feathers in his wake.

But by chance, the very same Trap that the doppelganger had decided to destroy was the same one that Naruto chose to activate at the moment.

"Hold it right there! I activate my face-down card: Xyz Coat!" Naruto swung his arm as his Trap Card flipped up. "For the rest of this turn, Dark Rebellion is safe from destruction, whether by battle or card effects!"

Just as those words left his lips, a shimmering rainbow shield wrapped around Dark Rebellion.As Raikiri's blade slashed across the dragon, it simply bounced off, not doing a lick of damage.

The doppelganger's eyes sparkled with excitement. This was his preferred outcome, anyway. He much rather preferred to destroy monsters through direct battling. "Watch closely!" he exclaimed. "I will attack Dark Rebellion with my Raikiri!"

But once again Naruto was prepared. He swung his arm. His Quick-Play Spell sprang up beside him.

"Quick-Play Spell activate: Rank-Up-Magic Devotion Force!" Naruto exclaimed. "With this, I will evolve Dark Rebellion!"

Right as Raikiri's blade was about to cut Dark Rebellion. The dragon became shrouded in a cloak of light and shot upward in the sky.

"Evolve Dark Rebellion?"

Before their very eyes, Dark Rebellion began a transformation. Its back swelled, thrashing about as if it housed a living entity that was trying to break out. The dragon's armor, encasing its limbs and torso, melded with cybernetic enhancements. Sharp, blade-like projections sprouted from its gauntlets, extending outward aggressively.

"Rank Up Xyz Change! Xyz Summon! Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"

Then, with a climactic explosion, the engorged mass on its back split open, unfurling into a grandiose set of metallic afterburner wings.

Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon
DARK
R5
Dragon/Effect/Xyz
ATK: 3000 Xyz Materials: 2

The doppelganger's eyes widened in sheer surprise, a flicker of disbelief dancing in them. A Rank-Up-Magic, right in the middle of the Battle Phase? But he recovered quickly, shaking off the initial shock. His lips twisted into a knowing, satisfied grin, as if welcoming the unexpected challenge that had just been thrown his way.

"Your Raikiri is now forced to clash with Arc Rebellion!" Naruto added.

"What?!"

The doppelganger watched, powerless, as Raikiri, as if enchanted, charged headlong towards Arc Rebellion. The confrontation was brief as Raikiri was swiftly ensnared in Arc Rebellion's jaws, vanishing into nothing but dust in the dragon's teeth.

Mirror Naruto's LP: 3400→3000

The doppelganger's frame shook at his Raikiri's demise, his gaze cast downward. His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles whitened. For a brief second, Naruto half-expected to see tears. Then the doppelganger's demeanor shifted. He looked up, his face radiating sheer excitement.

"This! This is what dueling is supposed to be all about!" he exclaimed. "The heart-pounding excitement, the sheer unpredictability of each move!" He paused, fixing Naruto with an excited look. "You feel it too, right?"

Naruto remained silent.

Undeterred by Naruto's behavior, the doppelganger leaped into the air. He swiftly slid two cards into his D-Pad. "And with that," he announced, landing back on the ground with a thud, "I'll set two cards face-down and bring my turn to a close!"

This time, Naruto responded without missing a beat, drawing his next card with focused breaths. "I Normal Summon Raidraptor-Strangle Lanius."

Raidraptor-Strangle Lanius
DARK
Level 4
Winged-Beast/Effect
ATK: 1600

"With Arc Rebellion having a DARK Xyz monster as material, Strangle Lanius's ability lets me revive Raidraptor-Avenge Vulture from my Graveyard, though its effect is negated!" Naruto explained.

Raidraptor-Avenge Vulture
Dark
Level 4
Winged-Beast/Effect
ATK: 1700

"Then I use Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon's effect! By detaching 1 Xyz Material, Arc Rebellion gains the combined original Attack of all other monsters on the field! Then if it has a DARK Xyz Monster as material, the effects of all monsters on the field are negated!"

Arc Rebellion's wings crackled with a tempest of dark lightning, its raw power engulfing both friend and foe in a blinding storm. Then, as quickly as it had erupted, the electric fury retreated into the very core of Arc Rebellion. The dragon was now cloaked in a blazing aura, its very essence seeming to swell with untold strength. As this fiery mantle intensified, Arc Rebellion's attack value soared to staggering heights.

Arc Rebellion ATK: 3000+1600+1700+2600+2400=11,300

"Eleven thousand... three hundred attack points?!" Mirror Naruto's voice cracked, the sheer magnitude of the number sending him reeling back as if he had just been struck by an invisible force.

Naruto's eyes blazed with determination. "This ends now!" he thundered. "Arc Rebellion, unleash your fury on Blackwing-Nothung the Starlight!"

As Arc Rebellion flapped his wings, his wings crackled with electricity as he flew towards Nothung.

The Mirror Naruto's let out a frightened scream of horror that borderlined on comical, almost exaggerated to mock the situation, as Arc Rebellion quickly closed the distance between them.

A cataclysmic explosion erupted upon contact, a cloud of smoke mushrooming upwards, dark and ominous as a storm cloud, engulfing the field in its shadowy embrace.

As the smoke whispered away, it unveiled Mirror Naruto, impossibly, still on his feet.

"I bet you totally bought my Oscar-worthy performance there!" Mirror Naruto boasted, flashing a mischievous, triumphant grin. He gestured towards the trap card now standing proudly upright beside him. Its art was striking – a lone black feather, serenely resting above a reflective pool of water.

"Check this out – by sacrificing half my Life Points, I brought that battle damage down to a big, fat zero. All eleven thousand three hundred points of it," he said.

Mirror Naruto LP: 3000→1500

"Tch." Naruto's eyes narrowed. He thought he had won the duel for sure. "I will activate Raiders' Wing's effect from the Graveyard! By detaching a material from Arc Rebellion, it revives itself back to my field! Raiders' Wing's is always treated as a Raidraptor monster. As I now control three Raidraptor monsters, I can activate Raidraptor-Sanctuary to draw 2 cards! Then I will build the overlay network using the Level 4 Raiders' Wing and the Level 4 Avenge Vulture!"

"What? You're still going to Xyz Summon even though the Battle Phase is already over?!" The doppelganger asked in shock.

"Xyz Summon! Raiders' Knight!"

Raiders' Knight
DARK
RANK 4
Warrior/Effect/Xyz
ATK: 2000 Xyz Materials:2

The duel field was suddenly filled with the thunderous echo of hooves. Like a phantom conjured from the depths of battle-scarred legends, an armored knight burst forth, astride a steed forged from the darkest steel. From the noble beast's neck, three metallic pipes jutted out on either side, spewing forth streams of azure flame that trailed behind them, painting the air with streaks of cerulean fire.

"Raiders' Knight's effect activates!"

At the sound of Naruto's words, one of the two purple spheres that orbited Raiders' Knight burst into dust.

"By detaching 1 Xyz Material, it allows me to Xyz Summon a Raidraptor monster that's 1 Rank lower by using itself as a material!"

"I will build the overlay network with Raiders' Knight!" The knight transformed into a beam of light that plunged into a galaxy-like portal that opened up in front of Naruto. "Xyz Summon! Rank 3! Raidraptor-Devil Eagle!"

A mechanical eagle, born from the shadows of the sky, descended with a majestic sweep. It was as if the night itself had taken wing, its feathers a canvas of inky black, slashed through with startling streaks of crimson across its wings and underbelly. Its beak, a brilliant shade of gold, cut through the air like a shard of sunlight lost in an endless night. Its solitary blood-red eye fixed on Mirror Naruto, piercing him with a stare so chilling, it sent shivers down his spine. Orbiting around this dark creature, two orbs glowed with a deep violet hue, swirling in an endless dance.

Raidraptor-Devil Eagle
DARK
Winged-Beast/Effect/Xyz
R3
DEF: 0 Xyz Materials: 2

"Raidraptor-Devil Eagle's effect activates! By detaching 1 Xyz Material, I can target one Special Summoned monster on the field and inflict damage to you equal to its Attack Points!" Naruto's eyes slid over to none other than his Arc Rebellion. "I will target Arc Rebellion and inflict 11,300 points of damage to you!"

Before their eyes, Devil Eagle's body shone brightly, sending a beam of light straight at his enemy.

Mirror Naruto, ever the trickster, met this onslaught with a dramatized expression of horror. As the malign energy zeroed in on him, his breathing became rapid and shallow, a picture of someone teetering on the brink of panic.

"AHHHH! NO, PLEASE!"

But as the attack bathed him in its ominous violet light, seeping into his pores, a shift occurred. The mask of fear on his face dissolved, replaced by a cunning, mischievous smirk.

"Just kidding!" he bellowed with a chuckle that rumbled like thunder, his foxy grin betraying the ruse. "I activated my Trap Card: Blackwing-Twin Shadow! Time for a comeback! I'll shuffle my Blackwing Tuner and non-Tuner back into the deck." He declared each move with the showmanship of a seasoned performer. "Back you go, Blackwing-Blizzard the Far North and Blackwing-Nothung the Starlight!"

With a snap of his fingers, the cards obeyed his command, swirling into the deck as if caught in a gust of wind. Mirror Naruto continued, "And now, the stage is set for the grand finale—the Synchro Summon!"

"Synchro Summon?!" Naruto shouted out in shock. A reverse of the situation that took place before when he surprised his doppelganger with his Rank-Up-Magic during his doppleganger's Battle Phase. "But this is still my turn?!"

His reflection seemed to carry on without paying him much mind. "I will tune the Level 2 Blackwing-Blizzard the Far North with the Level 6 Blackwing-Nothung the Starlight!"

"Darkened gales, reveal hidden wishes on your wings! Synchro Summon! Appear, Black-Winged Dragon!"

Emerging from the swirling vortex of the Synchro Summon, the Black-Winged Dragon. The spread of his wings dissipated the darkness that surrounded its silhouette. This creature was armored in scales that gleam with a metallic luster, reminiscent of a knight's darkened mail. Its body was streamlined and robust, as if they were sculpted for the purpose of agility and power.

The dragon's head was crowned with a series of sharp, jagged crests, trailing back from its fearsome visage like the remnants of a shattered crown. Its eyes, glowing with a fierce intelligence, pierce through the darkened gales that surrounded them, staring down the assembly of dragons and winged beasts. The snout is adorned with a beak-like structure, more reminiscent of a ferocious raptor than a traditional dragon. This beak opened as the dragon roared to reveal rows of serrated teeth.

Black-Winged Dragon DARK LV 8 Dragon/Effect/Synchro ATK: 2800

As the flash and spectacle of the synchro summoning dimmed, Naruto snapped back to the present. "It doesn't matter what you summon! You will still take 11,300 points of damage!"

His reflection seemed to have a different idea. "Black-Winged Dragon's effect activates! If I would have taken effect damage, I can place 1 Black Feather Counter on this card instead!" His doppelganger's face, usually joyous, faltered slightly at the next part. "But for each Black Feather Counter on my dragon, he loses 700 Attack Points."

Black-Winged Dragon ATK: 2800→2100 Black Feather Counter: 1

In a protective stance, the Black-Winged Dragon swoops in front of Naruto's doppelganger, its massive wings unfurling. The Devil Eagle, with its menacing light, launched its attack, only for it to be absorbed by the dragon's luminescent white wings, turning a portion of it black in the process.

Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, the sound nearly drowning out the roar of wind around him. "I... I will place three cards face-down and end my turn!" he declared. He had executed one of his most complex combos flawlessly, a series of moves that would have made any duelist proud. Yet, as the dust settled, his opponent remained standing — almost unfazed at the face of his aggression.

As he concluded his turn, a surge of nervous anticipation zipped through him. High-stakes duels were nothing new to Naruto, nor was the adrenaline rush of a challenging fight, but this felt different. His opponent was like a mirror, reflecting his own strategic depth and cunning. A twinge of something akin to fear fluttered in his heart as he handed over the reins to his adversary. Was he actually afraid?

Then it clicked. A slow, spreading smile began to play at the edges of Naruto's lips. This feeling welling up inside him wasn't fear; it was excitement, pure and unbridled. Memories came flooding back- memories of his duels with Rio, those friendly yet fiercely unpredictable encounters that zigzagged with surprises at every turn.

This excitement was different from the gut-wrenching tension of his duels with Kaito, where every move was a matter of survival. It was distinct from the anger and vengeance that had fueled him in other battles, where each card played was an outlet for his anger.

No, this was the pure joy of the game, a celebration of its endless possibilities.

Naruto found himself smiling.

"Ah, there it is, a smile!" The doppelganger couldn't help but tease Naruto. "You know, you were such a buzzkill earlier. Remember, dueling is supposed to be fun!"

"But your dragon is still vastly weaker than mine!" Naruto pointed out. "Mine has 11,300 Attack Points! While your dragon only has 2800! Also, you have no cards in your hand. And all of your monsters have their effects negated! None of them are a match for my Arc Rebellion!"

"We'll see about that!" The Doppelganger merely smiles and takes his turn. "My turn! This is my destiny draw!" His eyes lit up as he saw what he drew. He jumped into the air, spinning on the spot from how hard he drew. "It's here!"

T5 Mirror Naruto H:0-1 LP:1500

"I Normal Summon Blackwing- Sudri the Phantom Glimmer!" The doppelganger slapped the card onto his D-Pad.

Blackwing- Sudri the Phantom Glimmer
DARK
Winged-Beast/Effect
LV 4
ATK: 1400

"Then Black Whirlwind's effect kicks in! Allowing me to add Chinook the Snowblast to my hand! At the same time, Sudri's effect allows me to add one card that mentions Black-Winged Dragon from my Deck to my Hand. I will add Blackwing-Shamal the Sandstorm!"

He quickly sent the card that he added to the Graveyard. "I will send Shamal to place Black Feather Whirlwind directly from my Deck to my Field!"

As the Continuous Spell joined the field, the whirlwind around them seemed to have grown even more intense.

"Then I will discard Chinook from my hand and send a copy of Assault Blackwing-Sohaya the Rainstorm from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard."

Naruto was puzzled. Why keep discarding cards? And why send a Synchro monster to the Graveyard?

His confusion cleared when Mirror Naruto revealed a bombshell. "Now, Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon loses 700 Attack Points and its effects are nullified!"

Mirror Naruto's eyes sparkled with mischief. "And since its effects are gone, all the extra attack points it gained will vanish too!"

A lance of spectral energy lanced forth from the doppelganger's Graveyard zone, a radiant spear of otherworldly light that enveloped Arc Rebellion. The dragon's roar of torment split the air as the beam consumed it, its form writhing within the blinding prison. When the luminous assault finally dimmed, Arc Rebellion was left diminished, its mighty form bowed and beaten, the once proud beast now a shadow of its former glory, visibly weakened and drained.

Arc Rebellion ATK: 11,300→2300

Naruto thought to himself that he had just ended up in a terrible situation.

"I will use Sudri's effect and tribute Blackwing Tamer-Obsidian Hawk Joe!" At the command, Obsidian Hawk Joe was consumed by a vortex of darkness, his cry fading into nothingness. In his place, a small, purple bird appeared. "Then, I get a Phantom Glimmer Token that is also treated as a Tuner."

Phantom Glimmer Token
DARK
LV2
Winged Beast/Tuner
ATK:700

"I will then take 700 points of damage. Or at least I would have normally. But because Black-Winged Dragon is on the field, I can negate that damage by putting a Counter on Black-Winged Dragon instead! And as you know, for each counter on Black-Winged Dragon, he loses 700 Attack Points!"

Black-Winged Dragon ATK: 2100→1400 Counter: 2

"I will now tune the level 2 Glimmer Token with the Level 4 Sudri! Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 6 Boreastorm the Wicked Wind!"

Blackwing-Boreastorm the Wicked Wind
DARK
LV 6
Winged-Beast/Effect/Synchro/Tuner
ATK: 2400

A wide grin crossed the doppelganger's face as his field became more and more formidable. "Now, as I Synchro Summoned a monster, Black Feather Whirlwind allows me to bring back a weaker Blackwing Monster from my Graveyard. I will bring back Gladius the Midnight Sun! Boreastorm's effect allows me to send one Blackwing monster from my Deck to the Graveyard and copy its Level. I will send Blackwing-Fane the Steel Chain to the Graveyard and make Boreastorm a Level 2! I will now tune the Level 2 Boreastorm with the Level 3 Gladius the Midnight Sun!"

"Boreastorm can be used as a Tuner monster?!" Naruto cried out in shock. This was the first time he had seen something like this. First, the Synchro Summoning from the Graveyard. Then using a Synchro monster as a tuner.

His doppelganger merely smiled as the signature rings of Synchro Summoning appeared on the field.

"Synchro Summon! Level 5, Assault Blackwing-Sohaya the Rainstorm!"

Assault Blackwing - Sohaya the Rainstorm
DARK
LV 5
Winged-Beast/Synchro/Effect
ATK: 1500

"Sohaya the Rainstorm allows me to bring back Assault Blackwing-Raikiri the Rain Shower."

Sohaya waved his naginata and before him a dark portal opened up, allowing Raikiri to surface.

Assault Blackwing - Raikiri the Rain Shower
DARK
LV 7
Winged-Beast/Synchro/Effect
ATK: 2600

Naruto cursed quietly at the sight of that monster. Knowing full well that monster's effect was going to follow soon.

"Raikiri's effect activates!" His doppelganger announced. On the field, Raikiri's eyes shone with a golden luster as it flew towards Naruto. "I can target and destroy cards you control, up to the number of Blackwing monsters I control. I will destroy the Raidraptor-Strangle Lanius and Raidraptor-Devil Eagle!"

"I activate Devil Eagle's effect!" Naruto countered. "By detaching 1 Xyz Material, I will inflict Raikiri's Attack Points on you as damage!"

"Did you already forget Black-Winged Dragon's effect?" The reflection reminded him. "I can negate the effect damage by placing 1 Counter on my dragon!"

Black-Winged Dragon ATK: 1400→700 Counter: 3

Raikiri surged forward, cutting down both birds in a single strike.

Naruto winced. "But now your Black-Winged Dragon only has 700 Attack Points!"

Mirror Naruto seemed to agree. "You're right! But I wonder if that will still be the case if I do this?" There once again was a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. " If Sohaya is Synchro Summoned, I can treat it as a Tuner monster! I will tune the Level 5 Sohaya with the Level 7 Raikiri! Synchro Summon! Level 12 Assault Blackwing-Onimaru the Divine Thunder!".

Assault Blackwing- Onimaru the Divine Thunder
DARK
LV 12
Winged-Beast/Effect/Synchro
ATK: 3000

From the vortex of energy, Onimaru emerged. The creature was a knight of tempests. Its body was lithe, a warrior's build, contained in a dark metal. One one side of its body, ebony feathers, hardened and sharp as obsidian blades, adorned its wings, which caught the light with an oil-slick sheen. On its other wing, the feathers took on the softer hue of a dusk-touched raven, a rich, deep brown that held the last light of day within its embrace. The beast's eyes, a piercing yellow against the shadow of its helm, betrayed a certain sharpness, a predator's gaze.

Upon its head sat a crown of metallic plumes, a regal and menacing silhouette, almost resembling thunderbolts. The creature's legs, jointed and powerful, ended in talons that looked as though it could tear through steel as though it were silk.

With a mighty battle cry, he swung his sword, sending a streak of electricity coursing through the battlefield.

"Then, Black-Winged Dragon's effect activates!" The doppelganger commanded, as Black-Winged Dragon opened his mouth gathering a dark energy within its mouth. "By reducing all of its counters to 0, I will inflict 2100 points of damage to you! And Arc Rebellion's Attack Points will drop by another 2100!"

"Not so fast!" Naruto shouted. He knew he couldn't let that monster effect resolve successfully. Both for the sake of his monster as well as his Life Points. With a wave of his arms, a Trap Card flipped up on Naruto's field, standing between himself and the blast of dark energy that Black-Winged Dragon shot out at him. "I activate Xyz Charge Up! If I would take effect damage, that damage becomes 0!"

The doppelganger didn't seem to be finished yet. "I will now banish Boreastorm and Black-Winged Dragon to summon the Ultimate Black-Winged monster!"

"The Ultimate Black-Winged monster?" Naruto exclaimed out in shock. There are stronger monsters than the ones that are already out on the field?

"Storm winds of the abyss, bear the secrets of the tempest! Synchro Summon! Emerge from the shadows, Black-Winged Assault Dragon!"

Black-Winged Assault Dragon
DARK
LV 12
Dragon/Effect/Synchro
ATK: 3200

The dragon emerged, a behemoth of the skies, its presence commanding immediate awe and fear. It was a creature of fierce duality, its leathery wings unfurled, both as dark as the void where they came, with streaks of blood red mixed in between.

Its body was a fortress of sinew and bone, almost centipede-like in shape, wrapped in a carapace of black and that gleamed with an sinister shine. The dragon's chest heaved with each breath, and its muscles rippled beneath the armored plates, ready to unleash havoc at the slightest command. Its tail, long and barbed, swept behind it, a weapon in its own right, promising pain to any who dared come close.

Just like Black-Winged Dragon, Assault Dragon's head was a nightmare brought to life. Crowned with horns that twisted towards the heavens. Its eyes, deep-set within the armored skull, blazed with a malevolence that could freeze the heart of the bravest soul. A beak, sharp and merciless, snapped open and closed, a warning of the destruction that the dragon was born to wreak.

Naruto grimaced as he saw those stats. 3200 Attack Points. That was more than enough to beat over his weakened Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon.

"Then, Sohaya's effect in the Graveyard activates!" Naruto's doppelganger continued. In the void of the Graveyard, two copies of Assault Blackwing-Sohaya the Rainstorm floated. Until one of them spiraled into nothingness, and the other shone with light. " By banishing a copy of itself that was sent to the Graveyard by Chinook's effect. It can special summon itself back to my field!"

Assault Blackwing- Sohaya the Rainstorm
DARK
LV 5
Winged-Beast/Effect/Synchro
ATK: 1500

"It's time to battle! I will attack Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon with Assault Blackwing-Onimaru the Divine Thunder! Thunderbolt Clap!" The words were barely out before the Winged-Beast became a living tempest, its form dissolving into a jagged line of pure, destructive energy. Onimaru streaked across the battlefield, a bolt of divine retribution, its path erratic and blinding, as it zigzagged towards Arc Rebellion.

"Assault Blackwing-Onimaru the Divine Thunder's effect activates! If this card is Synchro Summoned using only Synchro monsters, it gains 3000 Attack Points during the damage step!" The air around the beast hummed, the numbers beside it ticking upward with the promise of obliteration.

Onimaru ATK: 3000→6000

Arc Rebellion ATK: 2300

Naruto, his eyes narrowing, was not yet ready to give up. "I activate my Trap: Xyz Charge Up's other effect! By sending it to the Graveyard, I can increase Arc Rebellion's Attack by the amount of effect damage that this card negated! Which is 2100 points!"

The trap sprung, and ethereal chains of light shot up from the graveyard, infusing Arc Rebellion with a surge of power, its attack points spiraling upward to 4400.

Arc Rebellion ATK: 2300→4400

Yet, the assault was relentless. Onimaru continued its attack, undeterred by the sudden twist. It tore through the space between them, a streak of blinding brilliance that crashed against Arc Rebellion with the force of a thousand thunders.

The collision was cataclysmic. A shockwave rippled across the field. Arc Rebellion, for all its newfound strength, could not withstand the fury of Onimaru. The dragon shattered, wings fraying into fragments, its proud form disintegrating into nothing more than scrapped metal.

Naruto, caught in the shockwave of the attack, was sent soaring into the air. Gravity reclaimed him mercilessly, and he crashed back down with a brutal force that wracked his body with pain.

Naruto's Life Points plummeted, the numbers glaring from the D-Pad: 2400 to a perilous 800. His breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a struggle against the pain that threatened to engulf him.

"It's not over yet!" The doppelganger's voice was a call to battle, undiminished in its intensity. "I will attack with Sohaya next!"

Gritting his teeth against the torment, Naruto pushed through the pain, forcing himself upright. "I activate my face-down card: Necro Raptor! I will negate Sohaya's attack and bring back Raider's Knight in Defense Mode!" He slapped the card on his duel disk, and in response, a surge of dark energy coalesced in front of him, forming an impenetrable barrier that repelled Sohaya's blade with a force that made the air tremble.

As the echo of the clash faded, the earth beneath them split, a dark portal yawning wide. From its depths, Raiders' Knight arose. . The knight stood ready, silent and imposing, an avatar of Naruto's will to survive.

"I still have one more monster!" The doppelganger was relentless, his eyes blazing with the thrill of the duel. "I will attack and destroy Raiders' Knight with Black-Winged Assault Dragon!"

With a mighty roar, the Black-Winged Assault Dragon unfurled its wings. It reared back, a maelstrom of fire gathering in its maw, and unleashed a torrent of flames that cut through the air like a scythe.

Raiders' Knight stood defiant until the very end. But the dragon's fiery breath was an unyielding force of nature. The knight, engulfed in the inferno, shattered, its form fracturing into a thousand shards of oblivion, scattering into the winds of the battlefield.

"I will now end my turn!" The doppelganger declared. "You managed to survive, just barely. But your Life Points are like a candle in a storm. And by the way, my Black-Winged Assault Dragon will inflict 700 points of damage to you every time you activate a monster effect. You only have 800 points left. So, you only have one monster effect to use. I wonder what you will do in this situation?"

Naruto's figure, once hunched in exhaustion and fatigue, straightened with resolve. "You think you have me cornered?" he retorted, his voice steady and defiant. "I've frequently crawled back from the edge of defeat. And I will continue to do so, even now. At the End Phase of this turn, I activate Quick-Play Spell: Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force!"

"What?!" Doppelganger's voice cracked like a whip, his confidence shaken.

"With this, I can bring back the destroyed Raiders' Knight and use it as material to summon a Xyz Monster with double its Rank!" Naruto's declaration thundered across the field.

From the depths of the Graveyard, Raiders' Knight arose, not as the fallen warrior of before, but as a beacon, a violet light piercing the darkness, ascending skyward. The heavens responded, a tempest of clouds swirling into existence, the air itself humming with the omen of impending retribution.

"Dauntless falcon. Hoist up the flame of rebellion, become the flash of light that burns the land to ash! Rank Up Xyz Change! Soar! Rank 8! Raidraptor - Satellite Cannon Falcon!"

A large bolt of lightning shot down from the clouds, turning their world bright white.

Before them loomed a mechanical falcon. Its body was a fortress of gleaming metal, hues of white and blue that shimmer with an otherworldly sheen, accented with slashes of crimson like the blood of a vanquished foe. Wings, not of flesh but of blade and thruster, spread wide, each tip glowing with the azure light of science. Its head, crowned with sensors and lenses, holds the cold, calculating gaze of a creature made for destruction. With limbs of articulated gold and silver, it stands poised on the edge of movement, a silent creation awaiting the command to unleash its power. By its gigantic body, a single violet sphere rotated in ceaseless motion.

Raidraptor-Satellite Cannon Falcon
DARK
RANK 8
Winged-Beast/Effect/Xyz
ATK: 3000 Xyz Materials: 1

The doppelganger's awe quickly soured into ridicule. "Just 3000 Attack Points?!" He chuckled, his voice dripping with incredulity. "Did you think you could win the game by attacking Sohaya? What a coward's way out! But don't you think I might have already prepared for that?"

"No." Naruto's reply came swift and sharp, cutting through his doppelganger's mockery like a blade. With a confident shake of his head, he extinguished any notion of a bluff. "I will win by defeating the strongest monster on your field! The Black-Winged Assault Dragon!"

"This is my destiny draw!" Naruto said, mirroring his doppleganger's words. He saw the card captured in his hands and quickly turned his head towards his Satellite Cannon Falcon.

T6 Naruto H:0-1 LP: 800

"I will detach 1 Xyz Material to activate Raidraptor-Satellite Cannon Falcon's effect!" The only sphere that circled the Satellite Cannon Falcon disintegrated into dust.

The doppelganger jumped in. "At this time! Black-Winged Assault Dragon inflicts 700 points of damage to you!"

The dragon opened his mouth and out came a spiraling mass of dark energy.

Naruto's LP: 800→100

Naruto smiled. "Satellite Cannon Falcon allows me to reduce one of your monster's Attack Points by 800—"

"Just 800 points won't be enough!" The doppelganger countered.

"-for each Raidraptor monster in my Graveyard." Naruto finished.

"What?!"

Doppelganger watched as Black-Winged Assault Dragon's ATK gets reduced to 0.

"Now, attack, Raidraptor-Satellite Cannon Falcon! Eternal Avenge!"

Immediately at the sound of the command, Raidraptor-Satellite Cannon Falcon blasted off, its body slicing through the tempestuous whirlwind that had enshrouded the arena. Higher and higher it soared, past the trembling clouds, through the atmosphere, and beyond the stratosphere's embrace. With each soaring maneuver, it climbed higher and higher, until the void of space cradled its form. For a while, it stayed, observing where Earth lay below like a delicate orb of blues and greens, shrouded in the gossamer veil of clouds.

There, bathed in the celestial glow of the sun, with the edge of the world shining like a blade, the Satellite Cannon Falcon transformed. Its spines clicked and shifted with mechanical precision, unfolding into an array of six majestic wings. A hum vibrated through the silent expanse as a red energy webbed across the wings, forming the iconic double R insignia of the Raidraptors, a symbol that now dwarfed the Falcon's own formidable frame.

From the Falcon's body emerged an arsenal of cannons, all of them aligning their sights on the coordinates of the enemy below. The central emerald of the Falcon's core began to glow, a beacon signaling the coming storm.

On the ground, Naruto and his mirrored adversary looked skyward, a pinprick of light appeared in the heavens, its glow intensifying with every passing second. It was almost as if they were staring up at a distant star.

In the span of a heartbeat, the central emerald unleashed its fury. A colossal green beam burst forth, its siblings from the auxiliary cannons spiraling to join it, a web of energy that wove into a singular, world-splitting force.

The impact was both surreal and immediate— a strike from the heavens. The beam struck with the force of a meteor's wrath, the earth itself seeming to tremble at the affront. The dark dragon, caught in the celestial lance, had but a moment to reflect the light of its demise before it was consumed, its form disintegrating in the brilliant maelstrom of the Falcon's vengeful attack.

Mirror Naruto's LP: 1500→0

"ARRRGGHHHH!" Mirror Naruto screamed as he was launched up into the sky from the impact. "Well done… me…."

Naruto's LP: 100→ WINNER

Naruto, breathing heavily, took a moment to survey the battlefield, his chest heaving with each labored breath. His doppelganger, now defeated, lay sprawled on the ground, his form slowly fading into nothingness.

"You've passed the trial," the doppelganger said, managing a weak but genuine smile as he raised his hand in a gesture of congratulations. From his outstretched palm, a cascade of shimmering white energy emerged, drifting gracefully towards Naruto's Deck. "This," the doppelganger spoke with a hint of satisfaction, "is the power you've been seeking."

Once those words left his mouth, the doppelganger's body began to disintegrate, his form dissolving into the air like mist under the morning sun.

Naruto scanned the horizon of the stark, white expanse that surrounded him, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. He had completed the trial, hadn't he? So why wasn't he transported back yet?

It was then that a voice cut through the stillness, crisp and clear. From the endless expanse of white, a figure materialized. Cloaked in darkness, the figure had an aura that seemed to ebb and flow like smoke.

"This is quite the intriguing realm," the figure mused, as he looked around him. "The concept of defeating oneself to gain strength... quite poetic, really."

The shadows around the figure danced more intently as he spoke again, his words like a cold draft. "But tell me, when will you stop living this dream? When will you let go of the dream of being Naruto Uzumaki?"

Naruto's brow furrowed, confusion mixing with a growing defensiveness. "What do you mean?" he demanded, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Without another word, the shadowy figure raised an arm, and there, forming out of the darkness, was the silhouette of a D-Pad on his wrist.

"Let's duel, right here, right now," the figure declared.

"Right now?" Naruto echoed, his mind racing to grasp the situation. But before he could articulate a response, before he could agree or protest, the figure had already drawn a card from his Deck.

T7 ? H:5-6 LP: 4000

The duel had started without delay. The shadowy figure already had brought out two monsters on his field.

"I will overlay my two monsters to build the overlay network!" The two monsters transformed into rays of darkness that plunged down into a spiraling galaxy.

"Appear! Numbers 101! Unappeased Soul placed aboard the Ark. Arise from the abyss so deep not even light can reach it!"

"Xyz Summon! Appear, Number 101 Silent Honor ARK!"

No.101 Silent Honor ARK RANK 4 ATK: 2100 Xyz Materials: 2

The ship cuts a sharp silhouette against the star-studded blackness, its wings so finely wrought, sharply honed and flanking the sides of the crescent vessel. At the core of this spacecraft, glowing orbs pulse with a deep, blood-like red. Nestled within the central orb, Naruto could just make out a shadow, the merest hint of someone or something at the helm. Perhaps the ships' pilot, perhaps something else.

Spikes bristle from its frame, throwing fierce shadows that play over the hull's contours. Against the vessel's dark, ominous surface, the number 101 stands out in a strangely out of place shade of baby blue.

"Number 101?!" Naruto called out in shock. He didn't know that these Numbers monsters could go above 100.

"I activate Silent Honor ARK's effect!" The shadowed figure declared. "By detaching 1 Xyz Material, I can absorb one of your monsters as a Xyz Material. I will be taking your Raidraptor-Satellite Cannon Falcon!"

The anchor from Silent Honor ARK shot out within an instant, skewering right through Satellite Cannon Falcon like a spear through paper. The conquered falcon was yanked back toward the Ark, a behemoth of a ship, where a valve yawned open like a hungry beast. It swallowed the Falcon whole and snapped shut with a chilling clang, trapping it inside.

"Satellite Cannon Falcon!" The shock in Naruto's voice couldn't be masked. His last line of defense had been breached; the field was empty, exposed, with not a single card left that could possibly turn the tide.

"It's time for a direct attack! Silent Honor ARK, take your shot!" The shadowy figure commanded, aiming his fingers at Naruto like a gun. On cue, compartments along the ARK's wings popped open like, unleashing a storm of purplish lasers that twisted and wove through the air. They homed in on Naruto, in a way that was dazzling yet deadly.

With nowhere to run, Naruto could only brace for impact, his arms raised in a last-ditch effort to protect himself. But it was no use; the lasers pummeled him, lifting him clean off the ground. He was like a ragdoll caught in a gust of wind, and as he was hurled upward, his Life Points plummeted from a scant 100 to a stark zero.

Naruto's LP: 100→0

Naruto now laid down on the ground, each breath stabbing at his chest, each twitch an agony. His body was a traitor, lying there limp and beaten, refusing to heed his desperate calls to action.

The shadowy figure stood over him, looking down upon him as if he was a mere insect. "If you keep living this silly dream," the figure's voice cut through the haze of pain, sharp and cold, " you'll never know what it means to be truly strong." He spread his hands and a rush of energy, like a wind of spirits, flew from his palms into Naruto's deck, leaving a whisper of power among the cards.

"Just a little keepsake," he said, his words lingering with an edge that could mean danger or maybe a challenge.

Then everything twisted and the white world around them started to fade, falling away like a dream upon waking. The shadowy foe melted into the void, and the endless white shattered, dropping Naruto back into the reality of the Duel Temple.