Anna woke with a start, the noise from outside pulling her from the grip of sleep. Her body protested as she sat up, her head thick with drowsiness. For a moment, she considered just rolling over and pulling the blanket tighter, but the commotion outside gnawed at her curiosity. Groaning, she forced herself up, her limbs heavy, her step feeling like wading through sand. She slipped into her shoes, eyes half-closed, rubbing the fatigue from them as she stumbled toward the door.
Outside, the night was cool, the air still except for the murmurs of a growing crowd. Lanterns flickered, casting long shadows, and Anna blinked against the sudden brightness. She squinted, still half-asleep, dragging her feet as she made her way toward the group gathered in the street.
Luna stood among the crowd, still in her pajamas, hair messy and eyes glazed with exhaustion. Anna shuffled over to her, stifling a yawn. "What's… what's going on?"
Luna turned, rubbing at her own eyes. "Naruto's dueling."
That snapped Anna awake. "Dueling? Now? Why?"
Her eyes darted past the crowd, searching for Naruto. And there he was—standing across from a thuggish-looking guy with a green mohawk, the tension between them could be felt even from here. Anna blinked, her exhaustion replaced with confusion and unease. This couldn't be good.
T1 Naruto LP:5-6 LP: 4000
"I'll take the first turn," Naruto said.
His opponent returned with a sly grin on his own. "Go for it, this will be your last duel after all."
"Kick his ass, Naruto!" Anna shouted from the sidelines. While Luna gave an amused, yet embarrassed shake of her head at the red-head's antics.
"I will start off by summoning Blackwing - Mistral the Silvershield!"
A blue feathered bird wearing a silver mask appeared on the field.
Blackwing - Mistral the Silvershield LV 2 Winged-Beast/Effect ATK: 100
But Naruto wasn't done. "And since I've got a Blackwing monster out with a different name, I can Special Summon Blackwing - Bora the Spear from my hand!"
Another Blackwing joined the first, this one wielding a large black conical lance.
Blackwing - Bora the Spear LV 4 Winged-Beast/Effect ATK: 1700
Naruto let out a slight grin. He now had both a Tuner and a non-Tuner monster on the field. It was time to test out if he remembered what he learned from the duel against his other self.
"I'll now tune the Level 2 Mistral the Silvershield with the Level 4 Bora the Spear!" The two monsters dissolved into rings and stars, spiraling together before a vibrant light pierced through them.
"Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 6, Blackwing - Nothung the Starlight!"
In a flash, an armored vulture took shape on the field, his trademark sword gripped firmly in his hands.
Blackwing - Nothung the Starlight LV 6 ATK: 2400.
Naruto didn't skip a beat. "When Nothung the Starlight is summoned, you take 800 points of damage!"
Nothung swung its blade, sending a sharp crescent of energy straight at the mohawked duelist. The hit landed hard, making him flinch as his Life Points took a dive.
Naruto's eyes sparkled with mischief as he straightened up, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm not finished yet," he declared, holding up another card. "I activate Blackwing - Oroshi the Squall's effect from my hand! As I control a Blackwing monster, I can Special Summon this from my Hand!"
In a small puff of feathers, a small, black bird appeared on the field, a red sack dangling from its beak.
Blackwing - Oroshi the Squall LV 1 ATK: 400
Anna watched him, noticing the light in his eyes—the way Naruto grinned. It was a look she hadn't seen in a while.
She glanced over at Luna. "He seems to smile more now," she said, almost to herself.
Luna gave her a sideways look, tilting her head as she considered. "You think so?" she asked, a bit skeptical. "I wouldn't know… I don't have much to compare it to."
"I will now tune Level 1 Oroshi the Squall with the Level 6 Blackwing - Nothung the Starlight!" The two monsters spiraled together, just like what happened before.
"Synchro Summon!" Naruto shouted. "Appear, Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe!"
The new monster landed on the field with a loud impact, wings of obsidian feathers spread wide. Its golden armor seemed a little bit more exquisite under the faint moonlight.
Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe LV 7 Winged-Beast/Synchro/Effect ATK: 2600.
For the first time, the mohawked duelist's expression shifted—just a flicker of something that could have been concern.
"So, you managed to bring out a powerful monster," he muttered under his breath. But then, almost imperceptibly, a sly smirk crept onto his face.
"It won't matter," he whispered to himself, the words barely audible. In his mind, a name floated up, an image floating up from the murky depths of his subconscious—a card that he had just recently stolen from the museum exhibit. The Chaos End Ruler - Ruler of the Beginning and the End.
Naruto, catching the change in his opponent's demeanor, didn't let it faze him. "I'll use Obsidian Hawk Joe's effect now. Once per turn, I can bring back a Level 5 or higher Winged-Beast monster from my Graveyard!" He gestured confidently to his D-Pad. "So I'll bring back Blackwing - Nothung the Starlight!"
The field shimmered as Nothung reappeared, the formidable vulture once again taking its place beside Naruto's other monster.
Naruto relaxed a bit. He had set up a pretty good field. "Pretty sure this is the combo my other self used on me before," he mused aloud, his tone light. "I have to admit, it's a lot more fun when I'm the one using it on someone else!"
This time it was the mohawk guy's turn to grin. "Other self, huh?" he sneered, his eyes narrowing with interest. "So, the rumors are true. The mirror in this dojo has special magical properties." He paused, letting the words sink in. "I'll give you one more chance, blondie! Walk away now and hand me the mirror, or you'll regret it!"
Naruto didn't back down. "There's no need to worry about the barkings of someone weaker than me."
The insult hit like a slap. The mohawk guy's smirk vanished, replaced by a flash of rage. Being called weaker—it cut deeper than he expected. His hands clenched into fists, trembling with barely contained fury.
"Weaker?" he spat, the word dripping with venom. "I'll show you who's weak, you son of a bitch!"
T2 Mohawk LP: 3200 H:5-6
"My turn! I draw!" he snapped, yanking a card from his deck. "I activate Shell of Chaos from my hand. By banishing Core of Chaos, I can Special Summon Shell of Chaos to the field!"
Shell of Chaos LV 4 Machine/Effect ATK: 1600
But the mohawked man wasn't finished. He wasn't about to let this insult slide. "Now, I'll use Shell of Chaos' ability to bring back the banished Core of Chaos!"
Core of Chaos LV 2 Thunder/Tuner/Effect ATK: 0
He barely paused before driving forward. "I tune the Level 2 Core of Chaos with the Level 4 Shell of Chaos! Synchro Summon! Level 6, Tri-Edge Master!"
Tri-Edge Master LV 6 ATK:2100
The monster that came out was a man dressed in a stylish white robe who wielded a bladed whip in one hand. An ornate crossbow in another. And a large sword on his back.
Naruto smirked at that fitting name. Tri-Edge indeed.
"When Tri-Edge Master is summoned, I can draw one card!" Mohawk said.
The card slipped into his hand, but his mind was already on his next move. "Since I haven't Normal Summoned this turn yet, I'll now use it to Normal Summon Chaos Mirage Dragon!"
Chaos Mirage Dragon
The mohawked man's smirk widened, relishing the moment. "Here's something you didn't know—when Core of Chaos and Shell of Chaos leave the field, they don't go to the Graveyard. They get banished. "Which means I can now use Chaos Mirage Dragon's effect to bring back Shell of Chaos!"
Shell of Chaos reappeared, in all of its skeletal glory. The mohawked man's eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction. He was going to make sure Naruto regretted ever doubting him.
"I tune Chaos Mirage Dragon with Shell of Chaos!" he declared. The two monsters dissolved into a swirl of dark energy, coiling together into something far more dangerous. "Synchro Summon! Chaos Archfiend!"
From a dark portal, a creature emerged, an imposing figure, clad in gleaming silver-white armor. Every inch of its suit is adorned with intricate gold accents and dark symbols, like something worn by a being that's both ancient and powerful. In its hand, it grips a massive halberd-like weapon, dark and sharp, its edge gleaming as if it has tasted the essence of countless souls. The creature's armor is decorated with skulls and cryptic engravings, as if trying to be the embodiment of death itself.
A long, tattered black cloak billows behind it, the edges frayed as if worn from centuries of battle. Its face is hidden behind a skeletal mask, the empty eye sockets glowing with an eerie red light.
Naruto narrowed his eyes at the presence of the archfiend in front of him. It was a Level 8 Synchro monster. Surely, it must have a troublesome special ability.
Chaos Archfiend LV 8 Fiend/Synchro/Effect ATK: 2500.
Mohawk couldn't resist a mocking glance at Naruto. "Since a card was banished this turn, Chaos Archfiend's Attack Points will increase by 2000."
A dark power surged through Chaos Archfiend, swelling its strength until it loomed over the battlefield, nearly twice as large as before.
Chaos Archfiend LV 8 ATK: 2500-4500.
"And now, Chaos Mirage Dragon's effect in the Graveyard activates! Since it was used as Synchro Material along with a non-Tuner monster, I can banish one of your cards. Say goodbye to Nothung!"
Naruto's eyes narrowed as the air around Nothung began to distort, a shadowy rift opening beneath it. From within that darkness, pale, skeletal hands emerged, their fingers long and twisted. They moved with a sinister slowness, a creeping horror as they reached for Nothung. The hands closed around it, their grip firm and unyielding, pulling the creature into the abyss below. The portal snapped shut, leaving nothing but a heavy silence in its wake, as though Nothung had been dragged into a hellish void.
The mohawked duelist wasted no time, riding a high from the success of his maneuver. "I'll activate the effect of Chaos Valkyria from my hand. By banishing Chaos Mirage Dragon, I can summon Chaos Valkyria to the field."
Chaos Valkyria LV 4 Fairy/Effect ATK: 1800
With a flick of his wrist, Chaos Valkyria appeared, yet another chess piece in Mohawk's counter attack. "And with this Chaos Valkyria, I'm going to perform another Synchro Summon."
Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion. "But you don't have another Tuner on the field. How do you plan to pull that off?"
A cruel smile tugged at the corners of the mohawked man's lips. Finally, there was something that seemed to stump this pretentious blonde in front of him. "There's a monster in my Extra Deck that lets me treat any LIGHT or DARK monster as a Tuner for its Synchro Summon."
He raised his hand, dark energy crackling around him like a storm about to break. "With that said, I tune the Level 4 Chaos Valkyria with the Level 6 Tri-Edge Master!"
Right before their eyes, the two monsters dissolved into streaks of radiant light and deep shadow, twisting together in a mesmerizing dance like twin dragons ascending to the sky. The energy they unleashed surged through the earth, shaking it and awakening something ancient, something that had been sleeping for ages.
"Synchro Summon! Chaos Angel!"
For a heartbeat, everything went still. Then, as if the sky itself had torn open, a rift appeared, and the creature descended. It emerged like a divine herald, a celestial warrior straight out of legend. The figure was both beautiful and terrifying, its white and gold armor shimmering in the pale light. Symbols covered the armor—arcane, twisted, yet almost familiar, like the echoes of forgotten languages.
This was no benevolent ruler. It carried the presence of a king, but one forged through conquest and ruin – as evident by the skulls in its regalia.
The monsters arms were stretched wide, as if to say, "Look upon me, and know you cannot escape." In one hand, shadows twisted and writhed, a dark force that seemed almost alive, pulsing with malevolence. In the other, a pale flame flickered, cold and unwavering, casting a ghostly light that drained all warmth from the air.
A golden crown rested upon its head, with sharp horns spiraling upward like rays of a twisted sun. Beneath the helm, its eyes glinted with a cold calm, devoid of emotion but filled with chilling certainty—the gaze of a being that knew it held power beyond measure.
Chaos Angel Level 10 Fiend/Synchro/Effect ATK: 3500
The mohawked duelist's grin widened, his voice filled with a twisted pride. "And since Chaos Angel was successfully summoned, I can banish your Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe!"
With a flourish, Chaos Angel swept its arms wide, and a dark portal yawned open beneath Hawk Joe. Those same spectral hands clawed their way out, seizing Hawk Joe as he struggled in vain. His scream echoed across the field, but it was no use—the hands dragged him down into the abyss, the portal slamming shut with an eerie finality. Hawk Joe was gone, swallowed by the darkness just like Nothung before him.
The mohawked duelist's excitement could hardly be controlled as he turned his gaze back to Naruto, his voice rising in triumph. "Your field is wide open now! Chaos Archfiend, attack Naruto directly and finish this!"
The order rang out like a death knell, and Chaos Archfiend surged forward, a force of destruction aimed straight at Naruto.
The monks surrounding the duel gasped in horror, and Anna's cry of concern overpowered them all. "Naruto!"
Naruto simply whipped a card onto his D-Pad, his expression as cool as ever. "When I'm targeted for a direct attack, I can Special Summon Blackwing - Ghibli the Searing Wind from my hand! I'll summon him in Defense Mode!"
Blackwing - Ghibli the Searing Wind appeared on the field, small and unassuming compared to the towering Chaos Archfiend.
The mohawked duelist scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. "That's your move? Sending out that pathetic bird? Archfiend, cut the little thing down!"
With a single brutal slash, Ghibli was obliterated, leaving nothing but a few scattered feathers. The mohawked man's sneer deepened. "By the way, any monster destroyed by my Archfiend doesn't just go to the Graveyard—they're banished!"
He turned back to Naruto, eager to continue the assault. "Now, Chaos Angel, attack Naruto directly!"
Chaos Angel responded, its wings unfurling slowly, the air around it vibrating with an ominous hum. The figure raised its arms to the sky, and from its hands, a flame of darkness and light began to gather—small at first, but rapidly growing, its brightness intensifying until it was almost blinding. Then, with a sudden, explosive motion, Chaos Angel thrust its arms forward, hurling the blazing spiral toward Naruto.
When the flame struck, the impact was like a thunderclap, a shockwave that rippled outward, slamming into Naruto with the force of a tidal wave.
Naruto was pushed back, his feet skidding across the ground as he absorbed the full brunt of the attack. His body tensed, a grunt escaping his lips, but his expression remained composed, his gaze unwavering even as his Life Points plummeted to 500.
Naruto's LP: 4000-500.
Naruto smirked. "Is that all you've got?"
The mohawked duelist's eyes flashed with anger. "Funny, coming from someone barely holding on," he snapped, slamming two cards face-down onto the field. "Enjoy that smirk while you can. I'll wipe it off your face soon enough!"
T3 Naruto LP: 500 H: 2-3
"My turn, draw!"
Naruto calmly flipped over his face-down card. "I activate Traptantalizing Tune," he announced, revealing the Spell Card. "With Traptantalizing Tune, by discarding one Trap Card from my hand, I can draw two cards."
He swiftly discarded and drew. "Next, I activate the Spell Card Swallow's Cowrie. This allows me to Tribute one Winged-Beast monster from my hand and then add one from my Deck with the same Level." Naruto's eyes met his opponent's as he declared, "I'll Tribute the Level 4 Raidraptor- Vanishing Lanius to add the Level 4 Blackwing - Bora the Spear to my hand."
The mohawked duelist couldn't resist a taunt. "Go ahead, Naruto. Change your hand all you want. It won't matter. Chaos Angel is immune to your monster effects, so whatever you're planning is useless!"
This time it was Naruto who smiled. "Is that so? Thanks for that information." He pulled a card from his hand, holding it up for his opponent to see. "I activate Infinite Impermanence from my hand."
"What?!"
"That's right," Naruto continued, "Since I control no cards on the field, I can activate this Trap Card directly from my hand. And since it's a Trap Card, I'll use it to negate Chaos Angel's effect!"
As the mohawked duelist glowered, barely containing his frustration, Naruto kept his cool demeanor. He smoothly activated his card, explaining as he did so. "I will activate the effect of Blackwing - Simoon the Poison Wind from my hand. By banishing one Blackwing from my hand, I can set Black Whirlwind directly from my Deck to the field." He picked Blackwing - Bora the Spear from his hand, sending it away, and a dark wind began to swirl on the field, now carrying golden and red feathers that danced ominously around them.
"Next," Naruto continued, "I'll Normal Summon Blackwing - Simoon the Poison Wind without needing a Tribute by Simoon's own effect." As Simoon landed gracefully onto the field, Naruto tapped his deck. "Black Whirlwind activates. This lets me add a Blackwing with less Attack than Simoon. I choose Blackwing - Sudri the Phantom Glimmer, as it has 1400 Attack Points."
Blackwing - Simoon the Poison Wind LV 6 ATK: 1600
Without pausing, Naruto summoned Sudri, and the swirling winds around them grew stronger. "Black Whirlwind triggers again," he stated, "allowing me to add Blackwing - Vata the Emblem of Wandering to my hand." As he played Sudri, its effect kicked in. "Sudri's effect lets me add any card that mentions "Black-Winged Dragon" from my Deck to my Hand, so I will be using this to add Blackwing - Shamal the Sandstorm to my hand."
Just as quickly as he had done so, Naruto discarded Shamal into the Graveyard. "By discarding this card, I can set Black Feather Whirlwind from my Deck."
He looked across the field, his eyes meeting the mohawked duelist's furious gaze. Clearly losing his patience from the length of his combo. Not that Naruto cared. He just wanted to test out his new power.
"Since I control a Blackwing monster with a different name, I can now Special Summon Blackwing - Vata the Emblem of Wandering." He played Vata, then quickly continued, "Vata's effect lets me send him along with non-Tuner Blackwing monsters totaling exactly 8 Levels from my Deck to the Graveyard, to Special Summon Black-Winged Dragon."
"I will be sending the Level 6 Blackwing - Zonda the Dusk to send to the Graveyard! Appear, Black-Winged Dragon!"
Black-Winged Dragon LV 8 ATK: 2800
"With Black Feather Whirlwind active," Naruto's eyes gleamed. "I can bring back a weaker Blackwing from my banished zone or Graveyard."
He chose Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe, the beast reappearing as if it had never left, letting out a determined battle cry.
Naruto's tone was measured, but there was an edge of excitement now. "I'll use Sudri's effect to tribute Simoon the Poison Wind. In exchange, I summon a Phantom Glimmer Token."
The token emerged, flickering like a wisp of smoke, solidifying into something that looked fragile but carried power.
Phantom Glimmer Token LV 2 Winged-Beast/Tuner ATK: 700.
"But there's a price," Naruto said, glancing at his opponent. "In exchange for using that effect, I'll take 700 points of damage."
As soon as the words left his lips, the Phantom Glimmer Token released a dark aura that shot toward Naruto like a spear. It moved fast, and for a heartbeat, it seemed inevitable that it would strike true. But just as it neared him, the energy twisted in midair, as if caught by invisible hands. The dark aura veered away from Naruto and was drawn into the waiting form of Black-Winged Dragon, vanishing into the beast like water sinking into dry earth.
Naruto allowed himself a small smile, the faintest hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes. "As long as Black-Winged Dragon is on the field," he said, "any damage I'd take from an effect is negated. Instead, the dragon takes a Black Feather Counter, losing 700 Attack Points."
Black-Winged Dragon LV 8 ATK: 2800-2100 Black Feather Counter: 0-1
The dragon's once-pristine white wings darkened, black tendrils creeping across the feathers like ink spilling through water.
The monks and onlookers on the sidelines exchanged uneasy glances, murmuring to each other. "Why would he weaken his own Synchro Monster?"
But Naruto wasn't concerned with their doubts. His eyes stayed fixed on the battlefield, his next move already forming in his mind. "I will banish Blackwing - Zonda the Dusk from my Graveyard," he announced calmly. "This lets me summon a Level 5 or higher Blackwing monster from my Deck or Hand."
Without hesitation, he chose his monster. "I summon Assault Blackwing - Kunai the Drizzle from my Deck."
The creature appeared, its wings stunted prematurely, replaced by a cybernetic gauntlet packed to the brim with kunai.
Assault Blackwing - Kunai the Drizzle LV 5 ATK: 2100.
Naruto barely paused before explaining further. "Normally, this is where I'd take damage equal to Kunai's Attack Points. But as long as Black-Winged Dragon stands, I can reduce that damage to zero. Instead, my dragon takes on another Black Feather Counter, weakening it further."
As the energy from Kunai transferred to the dragon, its wings sagged under the weight of the burden.
Black-Winged Dragon LV 8 ATK: 2100-1400 Black Feather Counter: 1-2.
The mohawked duelist sneered. "I bet you're the type, aren't you? The kind of self-righteous asshole who loves preaching to everyone about 'bonding with your monsters.'" He gestured toward Naruto's Black-Winged Dragon, the darkened wings still hanging under the weight of the counters. "But here you are, torturing your own monster for kicks. Didn't take you for the sadistic type!"
Naruto didn't flinch, his expression cool and measured as ever. Without even turning his head, he replied, "Shut up and watch."
Naruto raised a hand toward Black-Winged Dragon. "I activate Black-Winged Dragon's effect," he announced. "By removing all of its Black Feather Counters, I'll reduce your Chaos Angel's Attack by 1400 and inflict 1400 points of damage to you!"
With a sudden, brilliant flare, Black-Winged Dragon's wings, once burdened with darkness, erupted into a dazzling glow. The light expanded in a flash, engulfing both the Chaos Angel and the mohawked duelist. The latter let out a strangled cry, instinctively shielding his eyes as the force struck him. The oppressive shadow that had polluted the dragon's wings vanished, the feathers returning to their unblemished state.
The D-Pad beeped sharply, the mohawked duelist's Life Points dropping as he glared at Naruto.
Mohawk Duelist LP: 3200-1800.
Naruto's voice cut through the aftermath like a knife. "Now that the Black Feather Counters are gone, Black-Winged Dragon's Attack Points return to normal."
Black-Winged Dragon LV 8 ATK: 1400-2800 Black Feather Counter: 2-0.
Anger flashed in the mohawked duelist's eyes. "Stop it with the cheap tricks!"
Naruto didn't care. "I'll tune my Level 2 Phantom Glimmer Token with Level 4 Blackwing - Sudri the Phantom Glimmer." His eyes narrowed, focused, as the two creatures merged, swirling together in a vortex of dark energy.
"Synchro Summon! Appear, Blackwing - Boreastorm the Wicked Wind!"
The new monster, dark and ominous, landed on the field, its wings spread wide, casting a long shadow across the battlefield.
Blackwing - Boreastorm the Wicked Wind LV 6 ATK: 2400.
"Boreastorm's effect activates," Naruto said, his voice unwavering. "When it's summoned, I can send one Blackwing monster from my Deck to the Graveyard and copy its level." His choice was quick and precise. "I'll send Level 4 Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite to the Graveyard and make Boreastorm a Level 4 monster."
The onlookers watched, still trying to piece together Naruto's strategy, but he was already moving forward. "Now, I'll perform a Synchro Summon," Naruto declared. "I will tune The the Level 4 Boreastorm with the Level 8 Black-Winged Dragon. "Synchro Summon! Appear, Assault Blackwing - Onimaru the Divine Thunder!"
Assault Blackwing - Onimaru the Divine Thunder LV 12 ATK: 3000.
Naruto didn't stop. "Now, I'll activate Obsidian Hawk Joe's effect." The Blackwing Tamer spread its wings, bringing Boreastorm back from the Graveyard. As Boreastorm reappeared, Naruto moved swiftly. "I'll activate Kunai the Drizzle's effect. Once per turn, I can change the Level of a Synchro monster from 1 to 8. I'll make Boreastorm a Level 2 monster."
Mohawk frowned. Just how much longer does this idiot plan on going?
"I'll tune the Level 2 Boreastorm with Level 5 Kunai the Drizzle to Synchro Summon Assault Blackwing - Raikiri the Rain Shower."
Assault Blackwing - Raikiri the Rain Shower LV 7 ATK: 2600.
The mohawked duelist's sneer wavered, his confidence shaking as Naruto's field became more and more formidable.
"Now, I'll summon the ultimate Black-Winged monster." His eyes flashed with quiet intensity as he banished Boreastorm and Black-Winged Dragon from his Graveyard. "Come forth, Black-Winged Assault Dragon!"
A dark storm of feathers swirled around them, and from the chaos, Black-Winged Assault Dragon emerged, its wings spread wide, casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the field.
Black-Winged Assault Dragon LV 10 ATK: 3200.
The mohawked duelist felt the pressure of the monster's gaze, his bravado faltering as he looked around the battlefield. Surrounding him now were Blackwing Tamer - Obsidian Hawk Joe, Assault Blackwing - Onimaru the Divine Thunder, Assault Blackwing - Raikiri the Rain Shower, and the looming presence of the Assault Dragon itself. The combined force of their attention sent a cold sweat trickling down his back.
For the first time in this duel, he felt nervous.
Naruto's calm voice continued. "All of my preparations are complete." He glanced at Raikiri. "I activate Raikiri's effect. I can destroy cards you control up to the number of other Blackwing monsters I have!" Naruto looked between his Onimaru and his Obsidian Hawk Joe. "That makes two so I'll destroy Chaos Angel and Chaos Archfiend!"
Raikiri's eyes glowed with a cold, sinister light. With a single, smooth motion, it swung its sword, unleashing a wide crescent beam of energy that sliced through the air, cleaving both Chaos Angel and Chaos Archfiend in an instant, shattering them into nothing.
But the mohawked duelist chuckled. "When Chaos Archfiend is destroyed, its effect activates. I can Special Summon a Chaos monster from my Extra Deck." His lips curled into a sneer. "I'll summon Chaos Goddess in Defense Mode."
Chaos Goddess DEF: 1800
A beautiful woman in a black dress appeared. On her back are a pair of wings, one wing is black, the other is white.
Naruto's eyes sharpened. "You triggered my Assault Dragon's effect," he said coolly. "Since you activated a monster effect, Black-Winged Assault Dragon places a Black Feather Counter on itself—and inflicts 700 points of damage to you!"
The Assault Dragon let out a roar, its wings crackling with dark energy before it released a fiery blast that shot directly at the mohawked duelist. The blast struck him hard, and the man let out a scream, clutching his chest as the searing pain cut through him once again.
Chaos Duelist LP: 1800-1100.
"I'll attack Chaos Angel with Raikiri," Naruto declared. With a flash of movement, Raikiri surged forward, its blade gleaming as it cleaved through Chaos Angel, splitting it cleanly in two.
But Naruto wasn't finished. "Now, Black-Winged Assault Dragon will attack directly!" The dragon's beak opened wide, a spiraling blast of darkness erupting from its maw, aiming for the mohawk man. Just as the attack neared, an invisible barrier materialized in front of the mohawked duelist, stopping the blast cold.
The duelist smirked. "I activated my face-down trap: Draining Shield. Not only is your dragon's attack nullified, but I'll also gain Life Points equal to its Attack Points." His smug grin widened as the duel disk beeped, his Life Points surging.
Chaos Duelist LP: 1100-4300.
Naruto didn't flinch. "My Battle Phase isn't over," he said calmly. "I'll have Onimaru attack directly." His voice sharpened as he added, "Since Onimaru was summoned using only Synchro monsters, its Attack Points doubles during the Damage Step!"
"Go, Thunderbolt Clap!"
Onimaru ATK: 3000-6000.
The mohawked duelist's smirk faltered as he scrambled. "Hold your horses!" he barked, slamming his hand down on his duel disk. "I activate Spiritual Swords of Revealing Light. As long as I pay 1000 Life Points, I can negate any attack." He gritted his teeth as he paid the price to save himself.
Chaos Duelist LP: 4300-3300.
Naruto resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Then I'll have Hawk Joe attack directly!"
The mohawked duelist, his face slick with sweat now, shouted, "I'll pay another 1000 Life Points to negate that too!"
Chaos Duelist LP: 3300-2300.
With a mocking grin, the duelist taunted Naruto. "Out of options? Seems like you don't have any monsters left to attack with. What now? Look at that."
Naruto simply shook his head. "We're not done. At the end of this turn, due to Simoon's effect, if Black Whirlwind is still on the field, I'll take 1000 points of damage."
The mohawked duelist's sneer widened. "Too bad for you, Naruto. End your turn already. Looks like you're about to lose!"
But Naruto's lips curled into a cool smile. "Not yet. I'll activate Zephyros the Elite's effect from my Graveyard. Once per duel, I can return a face-up card from my field to my hand, and then Special Summon Zephyros the Elite. I'll return Black Whirlwind to my hand." The dark energy swirled as Zephyros emerged onto the field. "In exchange, I'll take 400 points of damage!"
The observers watching from the sidelines let out sighs of relief, realizing that Naruto wouldn't have to take the full 1000 points of damage from Simoon's effect.
Naruto's LP: 500-100.
"With this, I end my turn." Naruto said.
The mohawked duelist's eyes narrowed, his lips twisting into a sneer. It was finally his turn again. After he barely clung to life during the previous turn. The humiliation that he had endured. He would make Naruto suffer twofold for what he was forced to experience.
T4 Mohawk LP: 2300 H:1-2
He loudly declared, "My turn!" His voice rang out with an almost perverted excitement. "I activate Allure of Darkness!" The Spell Card glowed on his field, and he let out a cackle. "This lets me draw two cards, then banish a DARK-attribute monster from my hand." He swiftly drew his two cards, glancing at them before grinning wide. "Yes… This is it. This card will bury you, Naruto!"
With an almost reverent gesture, he held up the card. "I banish Tri-Edge Master and Chaos Angel from my Graveyard. They will serve as sacrifices for the ultimate ruler!" His eyes gleamed with madness as he looked across the field.
"Kneel before me, blondie! I will hereby summon Chaos End Ruler - Ruler of the Beginning and the End!"
Naruto's breath hitched as the sky seemed to darken before him, the shadows twisting unnaturally, drawn toward the figure that emerged from the swirling chaos. His hand clenched around the sole card in his hand as the armored rider and its dragon descended, coming out as if summoned from the very depths of the underworld. It wasn't just the sheer size of the beast, or the gleam of the warrior's crimson armor, but the oppressive weight of their presence—like the world itself held its breath, as if sensing that something truly dark had come to life.
The warrior sat tall upon the dragon's back, draped in black and red armor that caught the dim light and twisted it into something menacing. The cold fire in his eyes locked onto Naruto, a gaze that felt like it could see straight through him, past flesh and bone, to something deeper—something mortal and fragile. His crimson hair whipped in the wind, like the herald of a coming storm, wild and untamed. Naruto could feel the pressure of the man's aura, a weight that pressed down on his chest, making his heartbeat feel distant and faint.
Lowering his gaze, Naruto saw the dragon, a beast that looked as if it could devour the world. Its scales glistened like obsidian in the twilight, each one sharp as a blade, and its wings stretched wide, blotting out what little light remained. Great violet eyes were embedded at the base of its wings, monstrous and aware, turning with a slow, deliberate malevolence that made Naruto's skin prickle. Those eyes, glowing with a sickly light, watched him as though sizing up his soul for destruction.
The dragon's maw opened, revealing rows upon rows of jagged teeth, glowing with energy so raw it crackled in the air like distant thunder. A snarl rumbled through the creature, vibrating the earth beneath Naruto's feet, as though the beast was impatient, eager to tear him apart.
And yet, despite the fear gnawing at him, Naruto stood firm, his eyes narrowing. He had faced the impossible before, stared down overwhelming odds. He wouldn't back down now.
Chaos End Ruler - Ruler of the Beginning and the End LV 10 Warrior/Effect ATK: 3500.
The onlookers gasped, their shock rippling through the crowd.
Anna turned to Luna, eyes wide. "Is that card really as powerful as it looks?"
Luna nodded, her face serious. "According to my research, it's even stronger than Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning and Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End. I guess in a sense, it could be compared to their master."
The mohawked duelist threw his head back, laughing maniacally. "I stole this card from a museum exhibit! And now, Naruto, you'll taste its power!" He smirked. "I will now pay 1000 Life Points to activate Chaos End Ruler's effect. Every card in your hand, on your field, and in your Graveyard will be banished! And for each one banished this way, you'll take 500 points of damage!"
Mohawk LP: 2300-1300
The crowd erupted into chaos, voices rising in disbelief at the sheer power of the card.
"Banish the hand, field, and graveyard?!" Anna's voice shot out in disbelief as she turned to Luna, her eyes wide with shock. She was hoping—praying, even—that Luna would say it wasn't as bad as it sounded, that there was some loophole, some trick that could make this better.
Luna's face tightened – a worrying sign for Anna before she even spoke. She glanced at Anna, then back at the battlefield. "It's worse than you think," she said, her voice low and serious. "For some duelists, even when they've lost everything, they can still rely on their Graveyard as a resource—pull something back from the brink, use the cards they've already played. But in Naruto's case? His Graveyard is going to be completely wiped out too."
Anna's eyes widened further, a sick feeling gnawing at her gut.
Luna continued, her tone grim. "That means everything depends on his next draw. No backup plans, no pulling something from the grave. It's all or nothing. Staging a comeback with just one card... in most situations, it's already a long shot, but here?" She shook her head. "It's nearly impossible."
Naruto's face darkened into a scowl, but he remained silent, unflinching.
Chaos End Ruler let out a blast of dark energy, the sheer force of it warping the very air as it tore through Naruto's field, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The blast collided with Naruto's monsters, igniting a massive explosion that rocked the arena. Smoke and dust billowed across the field, obscuring everything from view.
The mohawked duelist laughed, the sound manic, drunk on the belief that victory was his. "It's over! You're finished!"
But as the dust began to clear, the outline of a figure stood tall. Naruto remained, unmoved, unbroken. The mohawked duelist's laughter died on his lips, his face draining of color. His eyes darted across the field, searching for an explanation.
"How?!" he shouted, his voice cracking with panic. "How are you still standing?! I banished everything! All your cards—everything's gone!"
Naruto's eyes locked onto his opponent, a calm intensity burning behind them. The mohawked duelist trembled, his bravado shattered as he realized, with growing dread, that his Chaos End Ruler hadn't brought the end he'd expected. Not yet.
"When you activated Chaos End Ruler's effect," Naruto said, voice steady, "I activated Raidraptor - Readiness' effect in my Graveyard and banished it to reduce the effect damage to 0. Though, it's a card that requires a Raidraptor monster in my Graveyard to activate."
Confusion flickered in Mohawk Guy's eyes. Raidraptor monster and Raidraptor- Readiness? When had these cards even hit the Graveyard? Then it hit him—Traptantalizing Tune and Swallow's Cowrie had sent those cards there last turn.
Mohawk Guy snarled. "So what? I still have my Battle Phase!"
Naruto met his eyes, calm as ever. "Thanks to Raidraptor - Readiness, for the rest of the turn, I take no battle damage either."
"WHAT?!"
Mohawk quickly focused his attention on the last card in his hand —the Magic Cylinder. A smile returned to his face again as he slid the card face-down. He had nothing to worry about. At least that was what he told himself.
"I'll set one card and end my turn. Face it, Naruto. You've got nothing—no hand, no field, nothing in the Graveyard. And I still have Chaos End Ruler! There—"
Naruto cut him off, his gaze remained unwavering. "Save your breath," he replied, voice cool, a promise in his tone. "Next turn, I'm dismantling that fancy toy of yours." He said as he pointed his finger right at Chaos End Ruler.
T5 Naruto H:0-1 LP: 100
"My turn! Draw!" His eyes scrolled over to the card that he had swiped off the top of his deck and smirked. "I summon Raidraptor - Tribute Lanius!" he said, the words almost an afterthought as the mechanical raptor burst to life on the field, wings spread wide.
Raidraptor - Tribute Lanius Level 4 ATK: 1800
He didn't waste time. "I activate Tribute Lanius' effect. When it's summoned, I can send one Raidraptor card from my Deck to the Graveyard." His hand moved to his deck, pulling out a card with practiced ease. "I'll send Raidraptor - Mimicry Lanius."
The card slid into the graveyard slot, and before the motion was even complete, Naruto was already on the next step. "Mimicry Lanius' effect activates from the Graveyard. By banishing it, I can add one Raidraptor card from my Deck to my hand." He paused just long enough to glance at his opponent, a challenge in his eyes. "I'll add Raidraptor - Strangle Lanius."
The opponent guffawed. "You did all that just to add a weakling like that to your hand?" he sneered, shaking his head. "Come on, Naruto, get serious! That's nowhere strong enough to defeat my Chaos End Ruler!"
Naruto didn't hesitate. "If there's another DARK monster on my field, I can Special Summon Raidraptor - Strangle Lanius from my hand!" He slapped the card down, and in an instant, another raptor took its place beside the first, its form crackling with dark electricity, ready to strike.
But Naruto wasn't done. "I overlay the Level 4 Raidraptor - Strangle Lanius and Raidraptor - Tribute Lanius to build the overlay network!" The two monsters dissolved into spirals of light, merging together as Naruto thrust his hand forward. "Xyz Summon! Raiders' Knight!"
A towering figure emerged from the swirl of energy, its armor glinting with a dull, menacing sheen.
Raiders' Knight R4 Warrior/Xyz ATK: 2000 Xyz Materials: 2
But the opponent just snorted, barely glancing at the display. "Really? A 2000 Attack Points monster? That's it?" He leaned back, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed. "I thought you were going to dismantle my "fancy toy?""
Naruto didn't rise to the bait. His focus remained on the field, where the pieces were slowly falling into place. "I now use Raiders' Knight's effect," he announced, his voice steady, almost conversational. One of the rotating spheres around Raiders' Knight burst into nothing. "By detaching 1 Xyz Material, I can evolve it into a Raidraptor Xyz monster that's 1 Rank higher."
The energy around Raiders' Knight shifted, the figure dissolving into a swirl of dark light. From within the vortex, a new form emerged, wings spread wide, sharp and predatory. "Xyz Summon! Raidraptor - Brave Strix!"
At first there was nothing more than a flicker, a faint silhouette forming out of the static that seemed to permeate the air. But then, with a sharp mechanical chirp, the creature snapped into full form, towering above the field.
The creature's steel-blue body gleamed under the harsh duel lights, every metallic feather meticulously crafted, their sharp edges glinting dangerously. Its owl-like head, crowned by a golden crest, turned slowly, eyes glowing with an emerald light as it scanned the battlefield, calculating, cold, and relentless. Its wings—massive, intricate arrays of machinery—unfurled with a metallic whirr. As they extended, the emerald orbs embedded within the wings pulsed with an eerie green light across the field, like a specter surveying its domain.
Raidraptor - Brave Strix R5 ATK: 2000 Xyz Materials: 2
But its power—still sitting at 2000 attack points—didn't seem to impress the crowd.
Anna frowned, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "Brave Strix is still too weak to take down that Chaos End Ruler."
Luna, standing beside her, shook her head slightly. "Naruto doesn't make meaningless moves," she said, more to herself than anyone else. "He's setting something up."
Naruto, focused and unfazed by the murmurs, continued his play. "By detaching 1 Xyz Material from Raidraptor - Brave Strix, I can add one Rank-Up-Magic from my Deck to my hand." He pulled the card from his deck, the motion swift and certain. "I'll add Rank-Up-Magic Skip Force!"
"With this Spell," Naruto declared, his voice steady but infused with a solemn intensity, "I can use Brave Strix as Xyz Material to summon a Raidraptor Xyz Monster that's two Ranks higher!"
A tremor rippled through the field, subtle at first but growing with each passing second. The air vibrated with a low hum, a sound that resonated deep within the bones—a distant drone reminiscent of a colossal engine stirring to life.
"Xyz Summon!" Naruto shouted. "Appear, Rank 7 Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon!"
Suddenly the entire temple was covered in a colossal shadow. The ground quaked beneath an almost phantom weight, despite the creature never once touching the earth.
The monster's wings stretched impossibly far, like the wingspan of a massive aircraft blotting out the sky. Its metallic wings, shimmering in hues of gold and bronze, reflected the faint moonlight in jagged streaks as it slowly descended into view. The hum of its engines grew louder, a deep throbbing that seemed to synchronize with the heartbeat of every onlooker.
Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon Rank 7 ATK: 2500 Xyz Materials: 2
Naruto's eyes locked onto his opponent as he explained, calm and collected. "Since Brave Strix is attached as an Xyz Material, Arsenal Falcon gains ATK equal to 100 times its Rank. That means a boost of 700."
The numbers on Naruto's D-Pad updated, the new attack points flashing boldly.
Arsenal Falcon ATK: 2500-3200.
His opponent didn't miss a beat, leaning forward with a mocking grin. "So, you've managed to increase your monster's attack by 700 points?" He clapped slowly, his sarcasm evident. "Hooray for you, blondie! But it's still not enough to topple my Chaos End Ruler with its 3500 Attack Points!"
"That's not all Arsenal Falcon can do," Naruto said. One of the spheres that circled around Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon bursted into dust. "I'll activate Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon's effect. By detaching 1 material, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Winged-Beast monster directly from my Deck."
The duel disk hummed, and a card slid out, seemingly of its own accord. Naruto took it, placing it on the field without hesitation. "I will use that effect to Special Summon Raidraptor - Tracer Lanius!"
Raidraptor - Tracer Lanius LV 4 Winged-Beast/Effect/Tuner ATK: 1600
But Naruto wasn't done. "Tracer Lanius' effect activates! Once per turn, I can target and destroy one card on my side of the field to Special Summon 1 Raidraptor monster from my Deck. I'll destroy my Raidraptor - Arsenal Falcon!"
The opponent's eyes widened in disbelief as Arsenal Falcon exploded in the sky. "W-Why would you do that?"
In its place a yellow mechanical bird appeared.
Raidraptor - Singing Lanius LV 4 Winged-Beast/Effect ATK: 100
Naruto couldn't help but smirk. "Now, the true power of Arsenal Falcon awakens from the Graveyard! When this card with Xyz Material is sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon any Raidraptor Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck and equip Arsenal Falcon to it as Xyz Material!"
With a swift motion, Naruto summoned his ace monster. "Appear, Rank 8 Raidraptor - Satellite Cannon Falcon!"
Raidraptor - Satellite Cannon Falcon Rank 8 ATK: 3000.
As the initial shock wore off, the opponent's smirk returned, more condescending than ever. "Really, Naruto? You hyped it up with talk of 'true power,' and this is what you bring out? Another weak monster?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll give you credit for gradually bringing out stronger monsters, but it's still not enough. They're all too weak!"
Naruto didn't even glance at his opponent, his focus entirely on the cards in his hand. "I'll tune the Level 4 Raidraptor - Tracer Lanius with the Level 4 Raidraptor - Singing Lanius," he said, his voice steady.
The cards hummed with energy as Naruto lifted his hand. "Synchro Summon! Raidraptor - Skyfire Falcon!"
The sky itself seemed to react, the air growing heavier with a strange static that clung to every breath. Above, dark clouds swirled into a spiraling vortex, lightning crackled along the edges of the storm, weaving through the sky in jagged, electric veins.
And then, with a blinding flash, Raidraptor - Skyfire Falcon tore through the clouds, descending into the battlefield with the force of a meteor. The falcon's massive form was unlike anything seen before, its wings forged from red steel, trailing arcs of fiery light as they cut through the air.
The falcon's gold-plated beak gleamed like a sharpened blade, its crimson eyes glowing with an unsettling, focused intensity. Its movement accompanied by the whirring and clicking of mechanical parts, like a machine of war.
Raidraptor - Skyfire Falcon Level 8 Winged-Beast/Effect/Synchro ATK: 3000.
Naruto looked up, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "All my preparations are complete," he said, activating his next move without hesitation. "I'll use Raidraptor - Satellite Cannon Falcon's effect!"
One of the spheres that orbited the mechanical goliath burst into dust.
"By detaching 1 Xyz Material, I can reduce Chaos End Ruler's Attack Points by 800 for each Raidraptor monster in my Graveyard!"
The math was quick—Tribute Lanius, Strangle Lanius, Raiders' Knight, Brave Strix—four Raidraptors in total. Four times eight hundred equaled three thousand two hundred.
The effect hit hard, stripping Chaos End Ruler of its power.
Chaos End Ruler - Ruler of the Beginning and the End ATK: 3500-300.
Naruto finally met his opponent's eyes, calm and unshaken. This was checkmate!
"It's the Battle Phase! Satellite Cannon Falcon, attack!" The falcon aimed his cannon.
That was the mohawk duelist's smirk returned. "Not so fast," he sneered, flipping over his face-down card. "Magic Cylinder activates! Now your attack will be reflected back at you." He leaned forward, triumph gleaming in his eyes. "This will wipe out the last of your pitiful Life Points!"
His expression changed when he saw that there was not even a hint of panic in Naruto's eyes. Rather, the boy grinned.
"I activate Raidraptor-Skyfire Falcon's effect. Once per turn, during either player's turn, it can target one card on the field and negate its effects! I will use this to negate the effect of your Magic Cylinder!"
His opponent's smugness evaporated in an instant, replaced by shock. His mouth opened, but no words came out as Naruto's Skyfire Falcon locked onto Magic Cylinder and peppered it with a barrage of bullet strikes.
The battlefield trembled as the final cannon blast of the Satellite Cannon Falcon struck home. A radiant beam of light, fierce and unforgiving, lanced from the sky with celestial force, crashing into Chaos End Ruler. For a brief moment, Mohawk Guy hesitated, his hand hovering over The Spiritual Sword of Revealing Light. Could it save him? Would it even matter?
In his heart, he already knew the answer.
The attack hit with a resounding boom, like a god's judgment. A burst of blinding light cascaded across the field, and his life points plummeted to zero. Red numbers flickered angrily on his duel disk until it hit 0. He screamed as his body was thrown across the ground from the force of the impact.
Naruto LP: 100-WIN!
Mohawk LP: 1300-0-LOSE!
Anna leaped from her seat, her voice ringing out in an excited cheer. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing with a new warmth. She couldn't quite explain it, but watching Naruto win like that—it did something to her. His victory, the way he stood there, so calm, so powerful... it stirred something deep inside her. Her pulse quickened, cheeks flushed with an intensity she hadn't expected.
Her breath hitched just slightly as her eyes lingered on him, tracing the curve of his jaw, the confidence in his posture. Maybe it was just the thrill of the duel, or maybe it was something more. Either way, she found herself feeling more drawn to him than ever before.
Luna, on the other hand, offered a slow, measured clap. Her smirk was subtle, barely more than a twitch at the corner of her lips. She crossed her arms, her eyes gleaming in the fading light. He's gotten stronger, she thought. It was clear that he was no longer that angry, lost man from when she first met him. He was evolving, and perhaps, that intrigued her more than she'd care to admit.
"Impressive display, Naruto." she called out. "But you know, you could have wrapped it up two turns ago." Her smirk widened just a touch. "If you'd used Raikiri's effect to destroy his two face-down cards and then attacked with Onimaru, we'd be done much sooner."
Naruto turned to face her, and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, well," he chuckled. "I didn't want to end it just like that. Had a feeling something interesting would happen if I let it play out a bit longer."
Then, all eyes turned toward the fallen Mohawk Duelist, whose eyes widened in panic as he realized everyone—Naruto, the girls, the monks—were all looking at him. He scrambled to his feet, trembling, his face a mask of fear.
"P-Please! I-I'll return everything! I swear! Just leave me alone!" His voice cracked. He threw down his D-Pad and deck like they were cursed objects and began to run, feet slipping on the uneven ground of the temple courtyard.
But fate had other plans. His foot caught on a stray rock, and with a startled yelp, he tumbled down the temple's steep path, limbs flailing as he rolled head over heels down the mountainside. His cries echoed in the distance as his figure disappeared from sight, a chaotic, almost comical retreat.
Naruto, still processing what had just unfolded, blinked. Then, the absurdity of the situation hit him all at once. His shoulders shook, and before he could stop himself, he burst into laughter. Anna and Luna followed suit, their laughter mingling with his until even the monks couldn't suppress their chuckles.
The head of the temple approached Naruto, bowing deeply. "Thank you for your assistance in ridding us of that troublesome thief. You've done the temple a great service."
Naruto smirked. "No problem, old man. I'm just glad we could help." He glanced at his deck, where his newly acquired card—Raidraptor - Skyfire Falcon—glimmered faintly.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, lips curling into a smirk. "This card's pretty neat."