The Phantom Duelists (Persona 5/Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V)
Chapter 2: Viva la Rebellion
[~][~]
Ren Amamiya ran as fast as he could through the empty streets, kicking up discarded paper and cans. Behind him, he could hear his pursuer yelling with the occasional bestial growls.
"You cannot hide from me!" the man calling himself a Duel Soldier roared. "I will hunt you down!"
Part of him wanted to retort, but the rest knew better and chose to keep running. A decision enforced by the mechanical hound lapping at his heels. He is thankful for those mandatory physical fitness activities for keeping him in shape. If he had been in anything less, then he would've been dog chow or whatever robot dogs eat.
As he continued to run, his mind tried to take stock of his situation in hopes of finding a way out of it. Right now, he is running around wearing only his loungewear to protect him from the urban elements, making him feel naked. His belongings have been confiscated and stored back in the detention center. Among them is his phone. If he had it, he would've called for help. His friends and even the police since he's desperate.
The same cannot be said for the Duel Soldier. Despite his odd uniform, it seemed to be preferable to what he was wearing. If the Duel Soldier has a weapon on him, it would have to be that shield-like device on his left arm. It emitted a sword-shaped blade with a card on it. He only got a glance back in his cell, but the picture depicted the Antique Gear Hound Dog chasing him, he recognized it as a Yu-Gi-Oh! Card. One duel is more than enough for him to recognize a Monster Card on sight. That device has somehow brought a card from a children's card game to life.
That device can also turn people into cards. A fate that his look-alike, the guard, and some of the inmates have suffered. He may have his reservations with authority, but they didn't deserve what happened to them. The only reason the Duel Soldier isn't turning him into a card is because he needed him to find out where he hid the Briefcase. For the life of him, Ren wondered why the Duel Soldier would go through all the trouble of breaking into a Youth Detention Center just for a mundane object.
Ren shook himself out of his thoughts as he continued to run. The Phantom Thief kept his movements random, such as going left or right onto a different street in hopes of throwing off his pursuer. He hoped to find someone, anyone, to call the police. But to his dismay, the streets are empty at this time of night. Businesses are closed until tomorrow. Everyone had gone home to sleep. The whole thing felt straight out of one of those horror movies that Haru liked.
As his breath became ragged, the helpless reality that he couldn't run forever began to set in. If this had been taking place in the Metaverse, he would've been able to summon a Persona and deal with this madman like taking out the laundry. But this is the real world. He is powerless. Soon he'll be at the mercy of the Duel Soldier and his Antique Gear Hound Dog. Being interrogated for answers that he doesn't know.
Just like in that interrogation room. Where he felt the manacles digging into his wrists. His head muddled from the drugs that they injected into him. A kick to the gut and stomp to the head. Forced to sign a confession and got stomped on the leg for refusing…
Before his trauma could take hold, he was brought back into reality when he crashed against a hard object. Ren grunted as he hit the ground hard. Pain flared on his side, causing him to instinctively clutch it. He heard footsteps coming out of the car and towards him. Two silhouettes crouched over him.
"Sir, are you alright?"
Ren squinted his eyes to get focus. He felt relief coursing through his veins when he recognized the uniforms of police officers. The object he ran into was a police Toyota. Although he is glad he didn't break a bone, he is gladder to see the police.
"Officers!" Ren rasped. "P-Please help me! I'm being chased! Someone's trying to kill me!"
The last part was technically true. His desperation added the last one. But it seemed to get their attention. One of the officers looked toward his partner who nodded. Immediately, he began speaking on his walkie-talkie. Ren didn't catch what the officer was saying as he was gently helped to his feet. The officer gave him a kind reassuring smile. It's a strange feeling given that his encounters with the police ended with him in handcuffs.
"You're going to be okay," the officer assured him. "We're going to take you to the station and—"
He is cut off when his partner lets out a scream followed by a flash of purple light. As the police officer turned, hand going for his gun, something else flashed before Ren's eyes followed by a migraine.
[~]
His mind couldn't register what happened. Harumi Amamiya lay on the ground unmoving. Beneath her gathered a pool of red liquid. He'd seen it when he got cuts that sent him to the nurse's office. His mother described it to him as the sanguine fluid that keeps the body working.
Commonly known as blood.
"This is unfortunate," the male voice spoke in a callous tone. "She should've been sealed inside a card. It is regrettable, but this small sacrifice will be beneficial to the ARC Area Project Professor Amamiya."
Ren didn't say anything out of a combination of shock and fear. What did he mean by that? And what did he do to his mother? But he didn't say anything. He COULDN'T say anything. Then he heard the press of a button as the man spoke again.
"It's me. I've conducted an impromptu test on the Human Sealing Technology. The resulting failure is…much more gruesome than we expected. We need to do some recalibrations…"
Ren couldn't catch the rest of that conversation as he heard a soft voice whisper his name.
"Ren…"
It was his mother. Contrary to what he believed, there is still light in her eyes, but it is fading fast. Tears trailed down from her eyes.
"Mom?" Ren whispered.
"Listen to me…there's no…time…" Harumi pleads with pained breaths. "Your mother…made a…mistake…and it wasn't… it wasn't just me…we didn't know what we were doing…"
She shifted her body as she reached out an arm. Her body moved enough to reveal, much to his horror, that the other one was reduced to a bleeding stump.
"You're bleeding!"
"No use…in worrying about…it…" Harumi croaked. "Take this…and run…you need to…to warn everyone…"
Harumi opened her hand. Sitting on her palm is the thumb drive she had taken out of the laptop. Ren hesitated. But seeing her mother's pleading look, he reluctantly took the thumb drive.
"What about you?" Ren asked. Harumi gave him a weak loving smile as she grasps his hand.
"I'm about to enter…the final stage…of life…good-bye my son…I'm sorry I…that I won't be able…to see you graduate…remember that I love you…I always will…my little trickster…"
The strength in her hand faltered and dropped. So did her head as the light finally faded from Harumi's eyes and she lay there completely stiff. There wasn't even a twitch of her finger. Ren waited several more seconds. But she never moved.
"M-Mom?" Ren quietly asked. He knew what the final stage of life was. His mother told him about it. He desperately didn't want to believe it. If he did, he wouldn't be able to stop. Already he could feel the tears threaten to break out. He could barely hold back a choked sob.
"Who's there?!"
The man's voice snapped him out of his trance. Ren knew that he was in danger. If he stayed, he'll meet the same end as his mother. With a heavy heart, he turned his back on his mother's body and ran back to the vent. He didn't even bother to be discreet as he traveled through the vents. His arms and legs banged on the metal.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
[~]
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three loud noises snapped Ren back into reality. The smell of gunfire reached his nostrils. To his horror, the Duel Soldier had caught up with him. The Antique Gear Hound Dog has interposed itself to act as a shield from the Policeman's Nambu Model 60. Bullets bounced off the monster like it met a steel wall. But where is his partner?
It took him a few seconds to see the card bearing the police officer's image on the ground. The truth hit him like an enraged shadow.
"On the ground and hands behind your head!" The officer ordered, keeping his gun trained on the Duel Soldier. The Antique Gear Hound Dog growled at the police officer, causing him to switch targets back and forth. The Duel Soldier looked nonplussed at the officer's threat. Looked like he was considering if he should acquiesce to the lawman's order. Much to his astonishment, the Duel Soldier agreed.
"Alright, you got me, officer," the Duel Soldier said as he waved off the Antique Gear Hound Dog. "I'm getting on my knees…"
True to his word, he began to get down on his knees. It seemed like he was going to let himself be taken. Yet Ren still felt uneasy. The Duel Soldier was so hellbent on chasing him for interrogation. So why was he giving up now when he's got him dead to rights?
Then Ren felt his heart leap into his throat as he saw the Duel Soldier reaching a finger to a button on his Duel Disk. Horrific realization dawned on him as he knew what was going to happen. The image of that woman from his dream lying in a pool of blood is still fresh in his mind.
"Run…." Ren said quietly before he raised his voice in a desperate attempt to warn the unaware officer. "Please, you need to run!"
But his warning came too late. With a cruel sadistic grin, the Duel Soldier pressed a button on his Duel Disk. Ren's eyes could only widen as a purple beam of light shot out of the Duel Disk and hit the police officer. The officer is enveloped in a shroud of purple light. It was so sudden that the officer didn't have the chance to scream. After a few seconds, it faded away.
What lay on the ground wasn't a card, but a bloody corpse. The bloody stump at the neck is where a head used to be. So was an arm and leg. Bits of bone can be seen as blood stains on the ground and the officer's uniform. The revolver is still gripped by a disembodied hand.
A pale Ren stared at the scene, struggling to comprehend what happened. It's as if he's seeing déjà vu.
"Damn, another failure. Looks like the other guy got off easy," the Duel Soldier said with the air of describing the weather. The callous disregard for the deceased officer's life made Ren's face twisted in rage.
"You—" Ren is cut off by the mechanical growl of the Antique Gear Hound Dog. That sound is enough for him to reign in his anger and remember his current situation. Turning on his heel, he took off running again. It's pathetic, to run away again when someone has committed a serious crime. Not when he could avenge the policemen. But what else can he do?
His pursuers weren't that far behind. It wasn't even a minute before he wondered why the Duel Soldier was taking his time with him. That Antique Gear Hound Dog of his is more than likely to sink his fangs into him in less than a second. Now that he thought about it, not once had the dog even tried to catch up when his pace was getting slower. His legs getting heavy and sore.
It was then he realized what the Duel Soldier was doing. He's waiting for him to tire himself out. The reason he hasn't collapsed yet is because he stopped to talk to the policemen. It allowed him to get a rebreather before sprinting again. But it wasn't enough to be considered a second wind. Eventually, his exhaustion will win over and he'll be at the Duel Soldiers mercy.
A change of tactics is in order. First, he had to break the Duel Soldier's line of sight. He did a good job of it when he was running in zigzags before. So, he made a sharp turn into another street. Only this time he didn't keep running. Instead, he leaped into the nearest hiding spot—a pile of white bags filled with garbage.
Taking a deep breath, Ren dove into the pile. A few bags fell as he wormed his way inside. He took the liberty of grabbing whatever bags were within his reach to rebuild as much as he could to the pile's original size. To make himself smaller and easier to hide, he tucked in his legs and head. The moment he heard running feet against asphalt and became as still as a statue.
"You can't run forever!" he heard the Duel Soldier shout. Ren held his breath. It took every bit of his willpower not to gag from the stench and give away his position.
Ren heard the Duel Soldier and the Antique Gear Hound dog run past his hiding spot. For several minutes, he sat there, hidden in a pile of garbage and barely breathing. He didn't say anything nor move for fear that the Duel Soldier was still out there. The only sound he could hear was his heart beating fast.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, he poked his head out of the garbage pile. A sigh of relief escaped his lips when he found that the Duel Soldier wasn't there, which unfortunately caused him to gag from the stench. Shoving bags of garbage off him, he stood up and walked away from his smelly hiding spot. His loungewear had gotten putrid, but he didn't care about that as he had other things to worry about.
He may have lost the Duel Soldier for now, but he's going to keep looking for him. What's worse is that anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path will either end up as a card or be reduced to a bloody corpse.
The very thought of his friends suffering from a fate like that caused him to hyperventilate. He recalled the memories of the time he spent with his friends. Eating ramen at Ogikubo with Ryuji. Morgana teaches him the ways of the thief. Watching Ann model for photoshoots. Helping Yusuke rekindle his passion as an artist. He and Makoto doing Student Council work for Shujin Academy. Growing plants with Haru on the Academy rooftop. Watching Sumire find the courage to take the gymnastic world not as her deceased sister but as herself while becoming something more. Even Akechi came to mind though their relationship is shaky. All of them would be turned into cards.
It took several breaths to calm himself down. They've been with him through thick and thin not just as Phantom Thieves, but as precious friends. He can afford to let them suffer. Not again. Not after the…
Ren felt a migraine spike and he gripped his head with clenched teeth. Various images flew before his eyes.
[~]
A large antique mechanical golem brings its fist down upon monster after monster.
A deadly, red-eyed black dragon firing gargantuan balls of flame from its mouth to incinerate everything in its path.
A three-headed mechanical dragon fired energy blasts at duelists who dared challenge its power.
[~]
With a sharp gasp, Ren brought himself back to reality. It happened again. One minute he's in the present, the next moment he's somewhere else. He's more than inclined to believe that he has a problem. That his mind is playing tricks with him. Yet every fiber of his being is screaming at him to heed these visions. That they are important somehow.
But time is of the essence. Right now, he needed to figure out how he was going to defeat the Duel Soldier. To him, there is no other option. Not just to protect his friends, but to prevent more atrocities from happening again. The question was how? The earlier fight proved that conventional weapons do not affect the Antique Gear Hound Dog. All it takes is one hit from the Duel Soldiers Duel Disk beam of light and its curtains.
Wait…back at the detention center. What was that the Duel Soldier had said?
You don't have a Duel Disk on you, and I can card you easily.
Ren furrowed his brows in deep contemplation. Did that mean he can't card anyone who doesn't have a Duel Disk? It sounded absurd, but it seemed to be the only explanation. Therein lies the problem. From what he'd seen, the Duel Disk was a highly advanced piece of tech that Futaba would love to take apart to see how it worked. Not something you can find at an electronics store.
Right as he was about to walk away, he felt something stuck to his foot. Lifting it, he found that it was a piece of trash. It must've gotten loose from a bag and was covered in a sticky substance. Frowning, Ren ripped it off his foot and was about to throw it away when he froze and took a closer look.
The piece of trash is the box for a Duel Monsters—or rather Yu-Gi-oh! Deck structure deck. It's crumpled but he could make out the image. It depicted a man, a duelist he assumed, dressed in a black tank top, leather pants, and a purple jacket hung from his shoulders like a cape. Hanging from a chain around his neck is a reverse pyramid pendant with the Eye of Wdjat. From the odd red, black, and blonde hair he looked like he belonged to an anime.
Standing next to him is a monster. A Spellcaster type judging from the black robes and staff he carried. But his attention wasn't focused on him. Rather, it's the device on the duelist's left arm.
Not only did he know what it was, he knew where to find it.
[~]
It took him several minutes to get to Café Leblanc. He'd been around Tokyo long enough to find his way back. In his case, it's required if he wants to ensure that he gets some rest and keeps curfew.
Coming back to this little modest Café felt nostalgic. It has been his home away from home. When he got labeled a criminal, his parents sent him here to put some distance. For months he dreamed about coming back here after getting out of Juvie. He imagined his friends waiting for him, where they would celebrate his return with Leblanc's famous coffee and curry. He would catch up with them on what they'd been doing before discussing school.
Never did he imagine it would be like this. Ren walks towards the door to the Café and grips the handle. As expected, it is locked during the night. Sojiro had given him the keys to Leblanc so he could lock it up whenever he went out at night. But those are back at the detention center. Feeling like an ice ball had dropped into his stomach, he took off his shirt and wrapped it around an enclosed fist as if he'd done it before.
"I'm sorry about this boss," Ren whispered, silently praying that he'd understand it was a life-and-death situation. Then he punched a glass pane, shattering it into thousands of pieces. Feeling the other side, he found the lock and turned it to unlock the door.
When he entered Leblanc for the first time in fifty-two days, the bell ringing as he did so, the scent of coffee beans met his nostrils. It was too dark to see, but he knew the place like the back of his hand. Turning on the lights, he made his way past the counter, the booths, the kitchen, and the restroom to climb the stairs to the attic that served as his room.
Before he moved in, the attic had been a mess and gathering dust. After some cleaning and giving it a little love, it became a cozy room. It had a TV to watch movies or play games with a retro console he bought. There is the workbench where he and Morgana worked on their Thieves' Tools. And a shelf containing various memorabilia from events he spent with his friends. Those were good memories.
But now wasn't the time to reminisce. Next to the stairs is a wooden shelf in which a large cardboard box sits at the bottom. It held his belongings when he first moved here. His parents made it look as if he was going to be spending the rest of his life here. Gripping both sides, he pulled it out. With a great heave, he spilled its contents onto the floor and began going through them in desperation.
"Come on, where is it? Where is it?" Ren muttered. It had to be here. If he is going to have any chance of defeating the Duel Soldier, he must have it. Then, he felt something hard underneath some clothing and pulled it out.
Relief flooded his face as it was the object he had been looking for. A round device with an attachment that would give an impression of an arm blade. On the blade are five slots with red arrows. It's just like what he saw in the box.
"My Duel Disk," Ren muttered as his fingers traced the frame. He wasn't sure why, but he was certain that this was his. Hard to believe a device like this has been in his possession this whole time. Although he had no idea what it was until today.
About three years ago, he nearly died in a car crash. According to his parents, he had been walking alone in the woods hunting beetles when he stumbled into the path of a fast-moving car. Although he survived, the accident caused him to suffer retrograde amnesia.
Ren could still remember the heartbroken expressions on their faces when he said he didn't remember them. They spent every moment trying to get him to remember his past. The time they spent together growing up as a family. Yet the block remained and eventually, they accepted that fact and moved on.
What was strange about the case were the objects he had on hand at the time. Something that his parents were certain he didn't bring with him to the forest. One is his Duel Disk with a Duel Monsters deck inserted into the deck slot. Already he took out the deck and began shuffling through the cards.
Ever since that day, he refused to part with them. Although he didn't know what they were back then, he knew they were important to him. He is glad that his parents had the sense to pack it with his other belongings when he got put on parole for trumped-up charges.
"Seem like I'm going to duel the Duel Soldier," Ren muttered. Realizing what he just said, he let out a smirk. "Feels strange when I say it like that."
Satisfied by what he saw in his deck, Ren reinserted it back into his Duel Disk. Right as he was about to attach it to his arm, he spied something else in the box. Another object he had on him the day he got retrograde amnesia. Possibly the most important of all.
"The Briefcase…" Ren said as he picked it up. It wasn't anything like the one Kaneshiro had as a treasure. This one has a black leather casing and looks as if it had seen better days. When he lifted it, it felt heavy. Something was inside. The briefcase had a strange lock on it. He made various attempts to open it, but none succeeded. Whoever designed this didn't want just anyone to open it.
Ren is a hundred percent certain that this is the Briefcase that the Duel Soldier was talking about. Whatever is inside is important to him and although he didn't know what it was, his foe will do anything to get his hands on it. Something that he can use in a plan in progress.
But first, if he's going to be dueling the Duel Soldier, then he's going to be well-dressed.
[~]
The Duel Soldier stalked the streets in search of his prey. As much as he enjoyed a good chase, he is getting irritated. He only lets the rebel-run free so that he'll tire himself out to make himself a better target for his Antique Gear Hound Dog. Part of him would admit that he drew satisfaction from seeing his prey run for their lives in a feeble attempt to escape their fate. The price he paid for his euphoria is losing track of his prey.
"Dammit," the Duel Soldier cursed. "Where the hell did he go?"
Ever since he came to Standard, he has been living in hell. Picking up scraps on the street to survive. Sleeping while exposed to the elements. Contrary to what the Professor said about Standard, there weren't any duelists to battle. Just a bunch of prey begging to be carded. While he took the liberty of doing so for the ARC Area Project, he eventually grew bored. What's the point of being a Duel Soldier when there aren't any Duelists to duel?
But what is even worse is that he can't get back to Fusion. The Professor didn't have the decency to install interdimensional tech into his Duel Disk. Academia had a technological advantage over the Rebels, so how the hell did they develop the technology before they did? If he had the tech, he would've been back to Academia. Not reduced to scrounging around looking for a Rebel who has the only way back home in a briefcase.
As a proud Duel Soldier of Academia, a member of the elite Obelisk Force, he refused to let the last three years be a waste. He will get back to rejoin his comrades in the war to complete the ARC Area Project. The next time he sees that rebel, he'll set Antique Gear Hound Dog upon him. He'll get the Briefcase's location one way or another.
Then a voice spoke behind him.
"Still looking for me?"
It was Ren Amamiya. He had undergone a wardrobe shift. The last time he saw him, he was wearing shoddy sleepwear. Now we wore a black blazer over a white V-neck shirt, dark blue denim jeans, and dark brown Oxford shoes. Fierce gray eyes glared at the duel soldier as if it would kill him.
"So finally showed your face!" the Duel Soldier declared. Then he noticed the object on Ren's left arm. "You even got your Duel Disk. Nice. Now we can duel BEFORE I card you!"
"Figured that was the case," Ren said. "By the way. Recognize this?"
Ren held up the briefcase in his other arm. The Duel Soldier's smile faded the moment he saw it. His lips curled into a snarl, baring his teeth. At his side, the Antique Gear Hound Dog did the same.
"Give that to me!"
"You want it?" Ren challenged. "Come and get it!"
Ren turned on his heel and took off in the opposite direction. As expected, the Duel soldier isn't that far behind. He made sure that he kept his pace fast but not too fast. That wasn't the plan.
A taxi had pulled up from the street on the left. Without thinking, he swung his legs over and slid over the hood of the car as if this were an action movie. He didn't know how he did it, but he didn't care now. He had bigger things to worry about. The moment his feet found the ground again, he continued running. He can't say that the Duel Soldier was lucky as he heard the telltale thud of bumping into the taxi. A glance backward confirmed that the Duel Soldier recovered and was chasing him again.
After several minutes, he came to his destination. An area that is under construction. According to the sign, it's a new apartment complex. But he didn't care about that. For what is about to happen, this is the perfect place. Slowing down, catching his breath, he walked to one end of the site and turned around. Setting down the Briefcase, he waited for his opponent to arrive.
It wasn't long before the Duel Soldier came running. He too was running out of breath from all the running around. His Antique Gear Hound Dog is noticeably missing. Ren waited for him to recuperate before speaking.
"How's this Mr. Duel Soldier?" Ren asked with his arms spread. "We can duel here without interference."
"Now you're talking," the Duel Soldier grinned savagely. "Even without your Duel Disk, carding you right away wouldn't be much fun. I promise that it's going to be slow and painful for the hell you put me through."
Ren's eyebrow twitched as a deep well of anger within him boiled. He wanted to retort. To point out his hypocrisy and the hell he put people through. But instead of doing that, he simply activated his Duel Disk. Strangely, he had no problem operating it. It's as if he used it before.
"Like I said, Duel Soldier," Ren declared as his duel disk powers up, displaying his current Life Points. "You want the briefcase…come and get it!"
The Duel Soldier's grin widened in anticipation of their duel. The battle lines are drawn.
"DUEL!"
(Ren Amamiya: 4000) (Duel Soldier: 4000)
Turn 1
(Duel Soldier: 4000)
Hand x 5
"I'll take the first turn!" the Duel Soldier declares. "From my hand, I set two cards face down. Next, I activate the Spell Card Heavy Storm. This destroys all Spell and Trap Cards on the field!"
The second he played the card, the weather seemed to change. The air became wild and violent as a heavy wind blew through the construction zone, kicking up dirt and loose objects. Not even the Duel Soldier's cards are spared as they shatter into pixels.
Ren gritted his teeth as he braced himself against the wind. It pushed against his body with impressive force. He shut his eyes to prevent flying dirt from blinding him. Already he was having second thoughts about choosing this place as the site of the duel. It's a miracle that he wasn't blown off his feet. That would've given the Duel Soldier the satisfaction of seeing him get blown away.
"Solid Vision with Mass…" Ren muttered without thinking. Then he remembered the cards that the Duel Soldier had set before Heavy Storm. A card like that would've been saved to sweep the opponent's Spell and Trap Zone as well. So why had the Duel Soldier chosen to activate it this early in the duel?
Unless…
"I activate the effect of my Trap Cards Golden Wicked Idol," the Duel Soldier declared. "When this Set is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can special summon a Wicked Token. And since I had two destroyed, I can make those two Wicked Tokens!"
On the Duel Soldiers monster zone, two golden serpentine creatures emerged with a hiss with claws sharp as nails. Eight pairs of ruby-red eyes glared at Ren.
Wicked Token
DARK
Fiend
Level 4
ATK/DEF 1000/1000
Wicked Token
DARK
Fiend
ATK/DEF 1000/1000
Ren's eyes shot wide in familiarity. He didn't know why, but he knew this combo. Setting two traps, Golden Wicked Idol, that give the duelist tokens upon destruction. Then activate a spell card, Heavy Storm, to destroy said traps. Somewhere in his mind, the image of a hulking mechanical behemoth came to mind.
"You're going to sacrifice them to summon Antique Gear Golem, aren't you?" Ren blurted out without thinking. Surprise flashed on his opponent's face.
"Wow was I that obvious?" the Duel Soldier asked. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised. This was one of Instructor Chronos' old combos after all. His Antique Gear tactics are the backbone for every Obelisk Force deck."
"Instructor Chronos?" Ren asked in surprise. The image of that man chasing came to mind.
"Wait…were serious about the amnesia thing?" the Duel Soldier asked. "Then maybe this will refresh your memory. As you said, I sacrifice my Wicked Tokens to tribute summon Antique Gear Golem!"
The Wicked Tokens vanished from his field. In their place rose the towering, armored behemoth known as Antique Gear Golem. Its body is a union of gears and cogs. The aesthetic reminded him of an Ancient Greek soldier. One that could easily pound him to a smear with its large arms. One red eye glared down at its master's opponent.
Antique Gear Golem
EARTH
Machine/Effect
Level 8
ATK/DEF 3000/3000
"3000 ATK Points," Ren muttered. Despite his efforts, a bead of sweat dripped off his brow. It's an impressive combo to pull a powerful monster like that on the first turn. If this weren't the first turn, then he would no doubt be taking massive amounts of damage during the Battle Phase.
"I set one card face down and end my turn," the Duel Soldier said. "Your turn…rebel scum."
Turn 2
(Ren Amamiya: 4000)
Hand x 5
"My turn! Draw!" Ren declared as he drew a card from his deck. The Antique Gear Golem is a major obstacle. Looking at his hand, he has a good idea as to how to pull that off.
"I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight!" Ren declared, placing his monster in a slot on his duel disk. Materializing on his side of the field is an iron-clad warrior with arms a sword and a shield.
Gearfried the Iron Knight
EARTH
Warrior/Effect
Level 4
ATK/DEF 1800/1600
"He may not look much but wait until after I activate the Spell Card Release Restraint. This allows me to tribute Gearfried the Iron Knight. In exchange, I'm allowed to release Gearfried and reveal his true form. The Swordmaster – Naked Gearfried from my hand or Deck. So, without further ado—here he is!"
His Duel Disk shuffled his deck until his monster appeared on his top deck. Drawing it, he took Gearfried the Iron Knight and placed it in his Graveyard. His new monster took his place. On the field, Gearfried gave off a battle cry as purple light surged out of him. Next thing the duelists know, Gearfried's iron armor shattered off his body. In his place stood a savage elven-looking man with long black hair. On his back is a sword befitting his title of Swordmaster.
Swordmaster – Naked Gearfried
LIGHT
Warrior/Effect
Level 7
ATK/DEF 2600/2200
"So what? Your monster is still no match for my Antique Gear Golem," the Duel Soldier sneered.
"Now, now. You mustn't speak out of turn," Ren scolded as if he were a teacher giving a student a lecture. "From my hand, I equip Swordmaster – Naked Gearfried the Spell Card Lightning Blade. It can only be equipped to a Warrior monster, which Gearfried is, and gives him 800 ATK points."
Swordmaster – Naked Gearfried's ATK: 2600 + 800 = 3400
"I'd say that it's more than enough to take down your Antique Gear Golem," Ren said. "Swordmaster – Naked Gearfrieds effect activates. Each time an Equip Card is equipped to him, I can target one monster you control and destroy it! Lightning Strike!"
Gearfried nodded in affirmation as he drew his sword. Arcs of electricity sparked along the edge, growing in intensity. Then, a large lightning bolt shot out of the blade, its target the Antique Gear Golem. The Antique Gear Golem let out a painful groan as it is being electrocuted before shattering into pixels. Now nothing is standing between his monster and a direct attack on the Duel Soldier.
"Battle!" Ren declared, thrusting out an arm. "Swordmaster – Naked Gearfried direct attack! Lightning Mega Slash!"
"Not so fast! I activate my trap card! Fusion Trench!" the Duel Soldier declared, throwing out an arm. "As long as this card is on the field, Monsters cannot attack, except for Fusion Monsters!"
"What?" Ren yelled in surprise. While he hadn't forgotten about the trap card on the field, he wasn't expecting a trap like that.
"It was a good but pointless effort," the Duel Soldier mocked. "But from here on, this will be a Fusion Fight."
Ren didn't respond to his taunts. While Fusion Trench prevents him from using his monsters to attack, the same applies to the Duel Soldiers. This gave him time to come up with another plan of attack. He only had one trap in his deck. Specifically, two copies of the same trap.
"I end my turn," Ren said all too calmly.
Turn 3
(Duel Soldier: 4000)
Hand x 0
"My turn! Draw!" the Duel Soldier declared. Ren didn't like the look on the Duel Soldier's face the moment he looked at his drawn card. "I know what you're thinking too. You believe that just because my Fusion Trench is out, I can't harm your life points. I summon our old friend, Antique Gear Hound Dog!"
Ren is greeted by the familiar sight of the monster that hounded him through the night.
Antique Gear Hound Dog
EARTH
Machine/Effect
Level 3
ATK/DEF 1000/1000
"Antique Gear Hound Dog's effect! Once per turn, if you control a monster: I can inflict 600 points of damage to you! Hound Flame!"
"What?" Ren exclaimed as from the mouth of the Hound Dog, a gout of flame shot out and hit him. He couldn't stop the cry of pain as he felt the heat and force of the Hound Dog's effect. It was a miracle that he hadn't caught fire at that very moment. But these flames were nothing compared to the flames spouted by shadows. Nor were theirs to Ann's whenever someone is the target of her ire.
(Ren Amamiya: 4000 – 600 = 3400)
"Due to Fusion Trench's effect, I cannot declare an attack," the Duel Soldier said nonchalantly. "Therefore, I end my turn."
Turn 4
(Ren Amamiya: 3400)
Hand x 3
"My turn! Draw!" Ren declared as he drew from his deck. His body still stung from the Hound Dog's effect. To his frustration, it wasn't the trap he was looking for. With the Hound Dog in play, if he has a monster, the Duel Soldier can chip away at his life points bit by bit. It didn't help that it was protected by the Fusion Trench trap, preventing him from destroying it by battle. He doesn't have any Equip Spell Cards in his hand to trigger Gearfried's effect again.
But there's also a problem with the Duel Soldier's strategy. Given that Fusion Trench only permits Fusion Monsters to attack, it makes sense for him to summon a Fusion Monster. That will be difficult with his hand reduced to zero and could only draw one card per turn. The best course of action he can take is to build up his attack force to protect himself and launch an attack when the time comes.
"I summon Queen's Knight," Ren declares as he slams his monster card onto his Duel Disk. A blonde woman dressed in red poker-themed armor gracefully appeared with a sword and shield in hand.
Queen's Knight
LIGHT
Warrior/Normal
Level 4
ATK/DEF 1500/1600
"Next from my hand, I activate the Continuous Spell The Allied Forces. All Warrior-Type monsters I control gain 200 ATK points for each Warrior or Spellcaster-Type monster I control. Since I control two now, each gain 400 ATK points."
Swordmaster – Naked Gearfried's ATK: 3400 + 400 = 3800
Queen's Knight ATK: 1500 + 400 = 1900
"I'll settle for that and end my turn," Ren said.
Turn 5
(Duel Soldier: 4000)
Hand x 0
"My turn! Draw!" the Duel Soldier declared. Once again, that unsettling grin appeared on his face. "I summon another Antique Gear Hound Dog!"
"What! Another one?" Ren couldn't help but exclaim with wide eyes.
Antique Gear Hound Dog
EARTH
Machine/Effect
Level 3
ATK/DEF 1000/1000
"Antique Gear Hound Dog's effect," the Duel Soldier continues with a sadistic grin. "If you control a monster, which I know you do, I can inflict 600 points of damage. And since I have two, you take 1200 points of damage. Go! Double Hound Flame!"
Ren braced himself as the Hound Dogs shot fire at him. The first one that struck him made him buckle. The second one almost knocked him down. Each one is more painful than the last. He swore he could see his clothes beginning to singe from the heat.
(Ren Amamiya: 3400 – 1200 = 2200)
"I end my turn!" the Duel Soldier declared. With a grunt of effort, he forced himself back onto his feet.
Turn 6
(Ren Amamiya: 2200)
Hand x 2
"My turn…draw!" Ren barely managed to get out. To his delight, it's the trap that he is looking for. Decree of the Royal Palace. A Continuous Trap that negates all other Trap effects on the field. The catch is that he must wait one turn to activate it. He hoped that he could hold out for one more turn.
"I set one card face down," Ren declared. "I end my turn."
Turn 7
(Duel Soldier: 4000)
Hand x 0
"That's it? I guess that's about all you can do when you can't attack with such powerful monsters," the Duel Soldier mocked as he drew his card. When he looked at it, somehow his grin seemed to get wider. Ren is starting—no, he loathes that grin. He'd seen it on plenty of corrupt adults when they were looking down on their seats of power. It was satisfying to wipe it off their faces when the Phantom Thieves beat the snot out of them and stole their treasure.
"Now I think I'll shake things up a bit," the Duel Soldier declared. "First I activate the effect of both of my Hound Dog's. Double Hound Flame!"
Ren gritted his teeth as he is assailed by the gouts of flame. This time, he saw his clothes getting singed, the edges turning black.
(Ren Amamiya: 1000)
"Next I activate my Hound Dog's other effect. If I control another 'Antique Gear' monster, I can Fusion Summon one Fusion Monster using the monsters on my side of the field as Fusion Materials!"
"This can't be good," Ren said dreadfully. Two monsters who can inflict direct damage to the opponent. What sort of monster would that combination create?
"I Fuse my two Antique Gear Hound Dogs!" the Duel Soldier declared. "Mechanical hounds who carry on the ancient spirits, flock together and become one with new power! Fusion Summon! Appear now! Level 5! Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog!"
The two Hound Dog's merged to create one with two heads. Both heads glared hatefully at him.
Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog
EARTH
Machine/Fusion/Effect
Level 5
ATK/DEF 1400/1000
Ren stared at the fusion monster. It didn't seem like much given its ATK strength. Yet the Duel Soldier brought it out for a reason.
"I'm just getting started. From my hand I activate the Spell card, Antique Gear Scrap Fusion!"
Ren became even more alert. Did he just say—
"I can target any number of Antique Gear monsters in any Graveyard and use them as material for a Fusion Summon. The price is that it has its effects negated but what I'm bringing out more than compensates for that weakness!"
This was the Duel Soldiers' plan. To get around his limited draw, he sent his materials to the Graveyard. That way when he played that Spell, he'd have plenty of Fusion Materials at his disposal.
"From my Graveyard, I fuse my two Hound Dogs and my Antique Gear Golem! Ancient spirits of hound and golem, come together and become one with ultimate power! Fusion Summon! Appear now! Level 10! Antique Gear Ultimate Golem!"
The field is overshadowed by the new monster. No doubt it's bigger than the Antique Gear Golem that's used as a Fusion Material. But it has become more like a centaur with a three-clawed left arm. Its presence is enough to paralyze Ren with dread.
Antique Gear Ultimate Golem
EARTH
Machine/Fusion/Effect
Level 10
ATK/DEF 4400/3400
"Battle! Antique Gear Ultimate Golem attack…" the Duel Soldier said, taking his time as if to savor Ren's apparent terror. "Swordmaster – Naked Gearfried!"
The gargantuan centaur stood on its hindquarters and flailed its forelegs in the air like an actual horse before charging. The ground shook with each step of its hooves. Rearing back his fist, the Ultimate Golem punched through Gearfried, shattering him into pixels. That fist continued towards Ren, whose eyes were wide, to deal battle damage. The blow knocked Ren off his feet as well as the air out of him. He briefly flew in the air for a few seconds before falling painfully on his back.
(Ren Amamiya: 1000 – 600 = 400)
"I could've gone for your weaker monster…" the Duel Soldier said condescendingly. "But I figured you would like a turn to take time just to appreciate how there is no way out for you. Let's not forget with one less monster, your Queen's Knight loses 200 points due to one less warrior on the field."
Queen's Knight ATK: 1900 – 200 = 1700
"With this, I end my turn. Now go ahead and enjoy your last turn."
Turn 8
(Ren Amamiya: 400)
Hand x 2
Ren didn't get up. The pain was too much. He's sure that a bruise is forming on his torso area from the Ultimate Golem. Try as he might, he couldn't bring himself to get up. What would be the point? All the Duel Soldier must do is have his Ultimate Golem attack his last monster and it will be game. He will be at the Duel Soldiers' mercy and be turned into a card.
At least he wouldn't feel the pain anymore. After everything tonight, he had enough. Getting punched by that Ultimate Golem felt like the time he got hit by a car. Right as he is fleeing from…
Wait. He was fleeing from something. What was it? Ren struggled to remember what he was running from before the accident. A wild animal?
"Finally, after three years I can rejoin the war," the Duel Soldier said joyfully. "The Professor will be pleased when I present him my collection. I'm glad that I found you. I was afraid that I couldn't find you after carding the wrong guy in those woods."
Ren strained to understand what he heard. What did he mean by that? Did the Duel Soldier know he was in the woods three years ago? How? He couldn't have known that unless…
Realization dawned on Ren's face like the rising sun. The Duel Soldier couldn't have known unless he was there. But what was he doing there?
He had so many questions. At that moment, something inside him clicked. It was as if a vault that had been long been locked had been opened. He heard the voices of people that felt familiar. Saw familiar faces. It all came surging in.
[~]
"My dear trickster," Lavenza whispered. "The time has come for you to recall the memories of your past. Remember the reason why you came to this dimension. The mission that you vowed to complete for your fallen brethren."
[~]
"Students…consider this your last and most important homework assignment. Not only would you get a passing grade, but you will also be eligible for graduation. This is also a group assignment and cooperation is necessary. The assignment is simple—Take down this mad Professor!"
"As of this moment…we're at war. Here are your orders. Survive: choose your battles. Adapt: make your enemies' strength your own. And win: the word should be self-explanatory. Welcome to the Rebellion."
"How the hell did they find us?"
"There's no time. Some of us will remain to hold them off. The groups will proceed as planned. Xyz first. Synchro next. Standard last. Make sure you have your briefcases people."
"Let's show these lowlifes what a true duelist is all about."
"What's going on? Why are you doing this?
"Our classmates are acting weird! They're turning on each other!
"Run to the transporter!"
"As long as at least one of us escapes to warn the other dimensions that itself will be a victory! Whoever gets out, make sure to warn everyone you can! Yell it from the rooftops if you must!"
"Go, my son. I'll be right behind you."
"Viva la Rebellion!"
CRASH
[~]
One moment is all it took, then it was over. With heavy breaths, Ren stared up at the night sky. The moon stared down at him, its light shining down on him as if illuminating a truth shrouded in darkness. Somehow, he's numb to the pain he suffered from the duel. From his right eye, a single tear trailed down his cheek.
"I…remember…"
"Are you done laying around?" the Duel Soldier asked impatiently. "I'd like to get this duel over and done with."
Ren's eyes became overshadowed by his hair. Clenching his cards in his fingers, he got up from the ground, ignoring his body's screaming protests. He walked back to his side of the field.
"Finally, we can hurry up and get this over—" the Duel Soldiers taunt is cut off when he got a look at Ren's face. For good reason. Everyone he's about to card showed faces of terror and despair at their impending defeat. He expected him to beg for his life, be in denial of what was happening, or give up.
What is on Ren's face is pure, unadulterated rage. While most is directed at the Duel Soldier, some of it is reserved for himself. He is angry at how pathetic he's being. That he's giving up after all he's been through. Together, he and his friends took down corrupt adults and shadows. Even when erased from existence, they put an end to the god of control machinations. They vowed to face their pain head-on rather than live in a reality of false happiness.
Compared to all that, is he going to crumble before this Duel Soldier? One of the Professor's cronies who ruined everything Duel Academia stood for and crushed his classmates' hopes and dreams? He didn't know if he could win, but he has many reasons as to why he can't afford to lose.
"My turn! Draw!" Ren with barely restrained fury drew from his deck with such force it could've sliced air. "I activate my Spell Card, Pot of Greed. I can draw two cards from my deck. One of the cards I drew is Angel's Charity, which I activate to draw three more cards and discard two. Now for my main phase, I summon King's Knight!"
Appearing next to the Queen's Knight is a bearded male knight armed with a sword and shield but mirroring the Queen's. He too wore orange and red poker-themed armor.
King's Knight
LIGHT
Warrior/Effect
Level 4
ATK/DEF 1600/1400
"But the courtroom isn't complete. When the Queen is here when the King is normally summoned, I can bring forth their servant from my deck. Come forth Jack's Knight!"
From the deck came forth a third knight dressed in blue poker-themed armor, armed with a sword and shield like his fellow knights.
Jack's Knight
LIGHT
Warrior/Normal
Level 5
ATK/DEF 1900/1000
"With all of the Three Musketeers of Face Cards on my field I activate Fusion," Ren declared as he clasped his hands together. "I fuse my three knights to Fusion Summon a monster that will bring my victory in this Duel! Three cards of face, combine your powers to give rise to the defender of the imperial throne! Come forth! Level 9! Arcana Knight Joker!"
The three knights crossed their swords together as they fused. After the fusion process was complete, what stood in their place was an intimidating man dressed in black and gold poker-themed armor. In his right hand, he held a massive claymore. Strapped to his left arm is a shield of similar making.
Arcana Knight Joker
LIGHT
Warrior/Fusion/Effect
Level 9
ATK/DEF 3800/2500
The Duel Soldier stared. "That's an impressive monster. But it's no match for my Ultimate Golem. But I bet you're planning on attacking my Double Bite Hound Dog, aren't you? Too bad for you, I activate Double Bite Hound Dog's effect—"
"Once per turn, if a monster is summoned on my side of the field, you can place one Gear Acid Counter on my monster. At the start of the Damage Step, if a monster with a Gear Acid Counter battles: that monster can be destroyed," Ren spoke curtly. "Yeah, I know what it does. Which is why I activate Arcana Knight Joker's effect. Once per turn, if he is targeted by a card effect, I can discard the same type of card to negate it. So, by sending a monster card to the Graveyard, I can negate Double Bite Hound Dog's effect."
"Grrr…" the Duel Soldier growled when his monster's effect is negated. "No matter. Even if you destroy my Hound Dog, my Ultimate Golem will demolish your knight on my next turn."
"You're not getting a next turn," Ren retorted.
"What are you talking about?"
"Let me explain," Ren said. "I activate the Spell Card, Fusion Cancel. I can target one Fusion Monster on the field and return it to the Extra Deck. I'll give you two guesses as to who I'm targeting. Hint: none of them are Arcana Knight Joker."
The Duel Soldier's eyes went wide. "Don't tell me…"
"Ding! Ding! Ding! You guessed it. I'm returning your Ultimate Golem to your Extra Deck," Ren said mockingly as the Antique Gear Ultimate Golem vanished from the field. "Normally, it would return all the materials used for its Fusion Summon from the Graveyard. But the effect only applies if I use it on MY monster. You're not getting squat."
The Duel Soldier gritted his teeth in anger. Ren only felt satisfaction now that the tables had turned.
"Time for my counterattack. Before I begin, I activate my facedown card, Decree of the Royal Palace. If this Trap card is on the field, all other Traps have their effects negated," Ren said. "Oh yeah, and before I forget, Arcana Knight Joker gets a boost from The Allied Forces."
Arcana Knight Joker's ATK: 3800 + 200 = 4000
"Battle! Arcana Knight Joker attacks Antique Gear Double Bite Hound! Arcana Sword Slash."
Arcana Knight Joker launched himself into the air at the two-headed hound. With a war cry, the imperial knight swung his massive sword, cleaving the mechanized hound in half. A few sparks flew before the monster exploded. The Duel Soldier raised his arms to shield himself from the blast.
(Duel Soldier: 4000 – 2600 = 1400)
"Not bad," the Duel Soldier growled. "But I still have some life points left. It's only a matter of—wait, what the hell is this?"
The Duel Soldier is surprised to see not one, but three monsters on his opponent's side of the field. He recognized them as the Fusion Materials used for the Fusion Summon of Arcana Knight Joker.
"Those monsters are supposed to be in the Graveyard."
"Oh yeah, I had another Fusion Cancel in my hand," Ren said, holding up the card in question with a smirk. "Got it from my Angel's Charity card. I just love bouncing my opponent's cards so much I just had to have another copy in my deck. Only this time, I used it to return Arcana Knight Joker to my Extra Deck. I should also mention that this is also a Quick-Play Spell so I can play this during the Battle Phase. And that I get my Fusion Materials back?"
Then the air grew cold as Ren's smirk faded. The Duel Soldier is trembling as he realizes the implications.
"This is also still the Battle Phase. Once again, let's not forget The Allied Forces effect. My Warrior Monsters gain 200 ATK points for each Warrior Monster on the field."
King's Knight ATK: 1600 + 600 = 2200
Queen's Knight ATK: 1500 + 600 = 2100
Jack's Knight ATK: 1900 + 600 = 2500
"One of them is more than enough to wipe out the rest of your life points," Ren said. "But before I utterly humiliate you, try to answer this. Which monster am I going to attack you with?"
The Duel Soldier is startled. Not expecting that, he tried to guess based on the strongest monster on the field. "Um…the Jack's Knight."
"Nope."
"O-Okay then, how about Queen's Knight?"
"Nope."
"Then get it over it with King's Knight!"
"Nope."
The Duel Soldier couldn't comprehend why his answers were wrong. Then, realization dawned on him as he stammered, "A-All of them…?"
"Yep," Ren said before he began his attack. "I declare a direct attack with the Three Musketeers of Face Cards!"
The Musketeers of Face Cards nodded and moved to attack. The Jack's Knight is first. The Duel Soldier can see his life flash before his eyes as Jack's Knight raises his sword.
"This is for my counterpart!" Ren yelled as Jack's Knight dealt the blow that finished the last of the Duel Soldier's life points. Due to being Solid Vision with Mass, the sword inflicted real damage, making the Duel Soldier scream and leaving a mark across the Duel Soldier's chest, tearing his clothing.
(Duel Soldier: 0)
"This is for my classmates!" Ren yelled as Queen's Knight dealt the second blow, making a mark that crossed the one Jack's Knight made.
"And this is for everyone else you've carded and killed you bastard!" Ren yelled as King's Knight dealt the third and final blow. The slash made a mark that not only left a mark that bisected the Duel Soldier but shattered the mask he was so proud of wearing. Before the Duel Soldier lost consciousness, Ren uttered three last words he wanted his opponent to remember.
"Viva la Rebellion."
[~][~]
Greetings and Bienvenue readers.
Now before you ask, the Duel Soldier will still be alive, although his role in the first part of the Homecoming Arc is now over. The Duel with Ren brought back his memories, as I'm sure you guessed, of being a denizen of the Fusion Dimension. For the next chapter, you're going to find out what the briefcase does.
Just to stop people from asking the same question repeatedly, no I am not going to include Link summoning. Not only is it complicated, but it's also not appropriate for this setting. Now if you want a story where there's a Link Dimension that gets dragged into the Dimensional War, then nothing stopping anyone from writing it. That's why writers exist, and Fanfic could always use more.
And yes, the Phantom Thieves are going to get original cards. It's a relief given that it allows me more creative liberty. Besides, most of the cards were made for the anime before becoming an actual card. The Phantom Thieves Personas are also going to be part of the game. How and why…well I'm not going to say. I enjoy being an incorrigible tease. And if you think leaving cliffhangers is evil, wait till I have you begging for more of this story.
Let me know what you guys think and thank you for reading. Hope you've enjoyed the latest chapter. I'm going to be working on this story until I've completed the Homecoming Arc just to build it up.
Until next time.