Starting Notes:
Welcome back! Let's not waste any time, I've been waiting for this chapter for like 40-50 chapters. Let's go go go!
Chapter 78: Eyes of Red, Soul of Red
Miharu ended up finding Reiji back at the dorm, and immediately asked him about his decision to have them leave.
"It's not an impulsive decision," Reiji answered. "I simply thought that it would be a good time to leave."
"... I could have continued experimenting to try and figure out why," Miharu said. "Or figured out an alternative."
"I would much rather have all my Lancers in better shape when we head out," Reiji said. He fixed her with a look, pushing up his glasses. "You've been wearing yourself out trying to do everything by yourself, Miharu Kogami. Have you taken any time for yourself recently?"
Miharu looked at him. "That's… ironic, coming from you."
"Fair enough. Still, I would much rather we go to the Xyz Dimension and find Academia. Once we defeat them, we can interrogate them. I'm sure that we'll find someone who can explain how Academia manages dimensional transport. You don't have to do everything by yourself." Reiji tilted his head towards her. "... your expertise as a programmer is important to the Lancers, but more than that, the most valuable thing that you bring to the Lancers is your own presence. The rest are emboldened by your presence, and are weakened by their worry over you. It's best for us as a group to see you more relaxed."
"... I should thank Myojin-san," Miharu said after a moment. "You're very different from how you were when we first met."
"I don't feel like a very different person."
"Then maybe that's how you were all along." Miharu glanced at her duel disk. "... my brother, Ryoken. I always thought you were very similar to him."
"His name is Ryoken Kogami, then? I don't think you've directly mentioned his name, though you've shared the existence of an older brother."
"Yes. Ryoken is… well, for lack of a better way to phrase it, he's the standard by which I measure leaders." Miharu shrugged. "I think that the two of you wouldn't get along though. Ryoken is far more emotionally driven than you. Objectively, between the two of you, you're more logical. Even so…"
She trailed off. Reiji looked over at her. "You don't have to worry about offending me," he said.
Miharu couldn't help smiling slightly.
"I would probably still prefer following my brother," she admitted. "But you match up well enough. Your similarity to him, and the fact that Reira clearly trusted you so much… those were probably the reasons why I decided to put my trust in you, back when we first met."
"I look forward to meeting him then. I've never feared being at odds with someone."
"I know that."
Miharu lingered in the room a little longer.
Reiji spoke up mildly. "Do you have something else that you want to say to me?"
"... have I done something to earn your distrust?" Miharu said after a moment. "Even with your earlier words, I can't help but think that the way you're looking at me… it feels like…"
It feels like you're trying to handle a ticking bomb.
What does that make me?
"... you haven't done anything to earn my distrust," Reiji said after a moment. "It is not my intention to treat you differently… I did not realise that I was doing so." Even so, he did not apologise. Instead, he seemed to consider something. "... Kisara Tsutsuji. Have the rest told you about her?"
"The woman who used the dragons? Serena mentioned her once… but no. I don't know who she is."
"For the sake of transparency, I will tell you what she told us. Apparently, they got access to classified information about you, Makishima and Sugisaki from their alliance with your world. And she told us that no matter what, the three of you would eventually turn on us."
… that was…
"I will not ask you what she found, because I suspect that you would not tell me," Reiji said. "But perhaps after Dennis, a part of me is still bracing itself for betrayal. I do not… logically think that you will betray us."
"That's the most that I can ask for." Miharu hesitated.
There was a strange, fragile trust between them right now. The fact that Reiji had managed to bring himself to directly share his worries now…
He really was rather different from back then.
"I know what she's talking about, with regards to myself," Miharu admitted. "You must know this, from my friendship with Reira—I assume that she's let some things slip about what I've told her. But I did not have a good childhood. And it took me a long while to become… myself." How should she phrase this? "A large part of my childhood was spent wishing to be compassionate but needing to be emotionless. At times, even cruel. I suspect that what Tsutsuji-san found out about me has to do with that past that I've spent my life trying to make up for."
"... you were a child," Reiji said. "Mistakes that you were coerced into making do not define your life and your existence."
"I wouldn't call them mistakes," she said. "That trivialises the severity of what I did. The reason that Kisara Tsutsuji warned you about me…"
Miharu hesitated, and then she spoke the words—the same words that she had never directly said to anyone. Her family all knew, yes, but she had never confessed it directly.
"I was raised to be a weapon," she admitted. "Every time I tried to be gentle, every time I tried to disobey, every time I tried to fail, they punished me with pain. Causing pain to others was the only way to stop them from hurting me. But I could never follow through—I would try, but I never managed to complete my missions. It was silly—I would hurt someone, hear them cry and immediately stop. In other words, I made it so that I didn't even save myself. As such, before my father found me and saved me… on behalf of those who used me, I did a lot of unforgivable things. If not for my family, if not for their patience with me… I would not have had the chance to become a better person."
Reiji's gaze did not shift to pity or sympathy—good. Miharu had not disclosed that information for the sake of pity. If she needed someone to absolve her of everything, she would have told Yuno about this a long time ago—but that was never what she wanted.
"So she likely thinks that I'll become that person again, under stress. But I won't. I refuse to ever become that person again." Miharu clenched her fists at her sides for a brief moment, before slowly letting the tension drain from her. "I understand if you don't trust me. After all, you all saw how I fell apart when Yuno and I—"
She stopped, because the pain of that duel struck her yet again.
"I know that about myself now," she continued. "And I'll take measures to ensure that I won't ever hurt another member of the Lancers again because of my own pain. I'll promise you this—I, Miharu Kogami, have no intention of ever betraying the Lancers, while we all share the same goal to defeat Academia."
"... actions speak louder than words," Reiji said. It wasn't a rejection of her promises—simply a statement. "Would you mind explaining what measures you've taken?"
Miharu hesitated. "I would like to show Yuno first," she said. "But I'll let you know once I show him."
"... sure. Take a rest."
"You too."
Strangely, Miharu thought that there might be a bit more trust between them now.
Reiji did speak up one final time before she left.
"You said that you should thank Mion for how I am now," he said. "But if I've changed, it's not all due to her. I trust that you understand what I mean."
… yes. Miharu understood.
She walked out of the building, heading towards the Friendship Cup stadium again—
Then, she spotted a strange figure in the distance.
Wait, was that…
It couldn't be. He was locked up, right?
… Miharu headed in that direction.
She might just be seeing things. But she'd prefer not to assume for now.
… in the best case scenario, there was nothing to worry about.
Yuya raised a hand. He clenched a fist for a moment.
He could do this, right?
Round 2.
"Are you ready, Yuya Sakaki?"
"... I am," Yuya said. He turned his head to look at Jack.
"And yet there is uneasiness to your heart," Jack said. His arms were folded—he was looking at Yuya, though he didn't seem cold. "You will not defeat me with uncertainty. What is it that disturbs you?"
Jack could tell, huh? But by asking, was he attempting to genuinely… help?
"I was just thinking that it's a shame," Yuya admitted. "I want to defeat you. I really do. But Yugo's dream is to face you. So I don't know if I…"
"You're hesitating for that reason?" Jack scoffed. "Your heart is too soft. If you face me with all of your strength, you will not end up upsetting anyone. Yugo will surely understand. If you want to defeat me—face me with the thought of winning, nothing else.
Nothing else…
Yuya nodded. "Can I have a few more minutes?" He said. "Just to think through things?"
"A moment longer, then." Jack left the room.
Yuya pulled out his dragon, looking at it.
Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend. Jack's ace. It destroyed all Special Summoned monsters with less attack points than it, and inflicted effect damage.
To try and win against it…
And what about those evolutions of Jack's dragon?
… he'd have to be careful.
"Yuya?"
The door opened. Yuya looked up as Yuzu came in.
"Are you okay?" She said.
"... a bit nervous," he said.
"... well, at the very least, no matter what, we'll all be proud of you for making it this far."
"I did defeat you to get this far."
"And we agreed that you should do that." Yuzu reached out with her fan, smacking his shoulder. "Go do your best, Yuya. I'll be proud of you either way."
"... I know," Yuya said. He raised a fist, pumping it in the air. "I won't think about anything except to win."
So he got on the D-Wheel, and headed to the starting line.
His heart was thudding in his chest.
Time to go.
Three, two, one—
Yuya didn't bother to fight with Jack for the first corner—after all, he knew that he wasn't as good at riding a D-Wheel. So he took his time, crossed the corner—
And did his best to keep his calm.
[DUEL!]
Yuya Sakaki: 4000LP
Jack Atlas: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Jack] [H:5]
Jack drew his starting hand, and immediately revealed a card in his hand. "I'll send a card from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon Bone Archfiend from my hand!" The white, skeletal demon appeared on the field, dressed in pastel colours.
[Bone Archfiend (4*/1800/0/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]
"However, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except DARK Dragon Synchro Monsters."
So, there was basically no restriction at all.
"Since Vision Resonator was sent to the graveyard, I can add a Spell or Trap that lists "Red Dragon Archfiend" in its card text from my deck to my hand. And I will activate the Continuous Spell, Crimson Gaia." The Spell Card appeared in front of him, casting his field in a bright red glow. "With Crimson Gaia's effect, I will add a card that lists "Red Dragon Archfiend" in its text from my deck or graveyard to my hand. I'll add it from my deck to my hand. I'll then activate the effect of Bone Archfiend. I will target itself and send a Fiend Tuner from my deck to the graveyard to increase its Level by 1."
[Bone Archfiend: 4* + 1* = 5*]
"I'll then Normal Summon Synkron Resonator!" The fiend in a blue robe appeared, holding onto a golden tuning fork.
[Synkron Resonator (1*/100/100/DARK/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"I'll tune the Level 1 Synkron Resonator to the Level 5 Bone Archfiend! Ruby jewel that lies within the kingly domain! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Red Resonator Dragon!" A dragon with dark crimson scales appeared, horns curving out from the top of its head. Its tail was bright golden, and shaped like a tuning fork. Its eyes were dark and soot-like. It rested in Defense Position.
[Red Resonator Dragon (6*/1600/2100/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Red Resonator Dragon is Synchro Summoned, I can add a "Resonator" card or a card with "Red Dragon Archfiend" in its card text from my deck to my hand. And when Synkron Resonator is sent from the graveyard, I can add a "Resonator" monster other than Synkron Resonator itself from my graveyard to my hand." Jack added the two cards to his hand. "I'll set two cards facedown and end my turn. Over to you."
Was this a test? To not bring out Scarlight immediately…
Well, Yuya would have to take advantage of that!
[Turn 2: Yuya] [H:6]
"Draw!" Yuya declared. "I'll set the Scale 1 Performapal Monkeyboard in the Pendulum Scale!" The pillar of light shot up to the left. "I'll use the Pendulum Effect of Monkeyboard! Once per turn, I can add a Level 4 or lower "Performapal" monster from my deck to my hand. I'll add the Level 1 Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn to my hand! And I'll set the Scale 8 Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn in the other Pendulum Scale!" The two pillars of light shone around him. "Spell Card, Performapal Popper-Up! I'll send up to three cards from my hand to the graveyard, and I can draw the same number of cards."
He discarded three cards, and he quickly drew the same number.
"Then, I can Special Summon "Performapal" monsters, "Magician" Pendulum Monsters and "Odd-Eyes" monsters, up to the same number of cards that I discarded, as long as those monsters have a Level between the Pendulum Scales of the monsters in my Pendulum Scales! Come! Performapal Gumgumouton! Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer! And—wondrous and dichromatic eyes! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"
In front of Yuya, three beams of light shot down, forming his monsters. A large green ram appeared, two horns curling on the front of it. It looked like a gumball. On top of it, a smaller pink sheep was resting, its eyes shut as it took a nap. The second was a cowboy-like monster with a staff. There was a blue orb on the top of its staff. He was also wearing a dark blue hat. And finally, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon appeared, letting out a proud roar.
[Performapal Gumgumouton (5*/S1/900/2400/EARTH/Beast/Pendulum/Effect)]
[Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer (6*/S1/100/1800/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]
[Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon (7*/S4/2500/2000/DARK/Dragon/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Open, the circuit of the world of smiles! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two monsters with different Levels, including a Pendulum Monster! I will set Performapal Gumgumouton and Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer in the Link Markers! Silver silks that dance through the moonlit waters! Now, rise up, colourful performer, and aid in setting up the stage! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Performapal Odd-Eyes Silver Selkie!" His first Link Monster appeared in his Extra Monster Zone too.
[Performapal Odd-Eyes Silver Selkie (L2/1700/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]
"Silver Selkie's effect! I'll place an "Odd-Eyes" or "Performapal" Pendulum Monster from my deck in the Extra Deck face-up, and then Special Summon a monster with a different Pendulum Scale from my Extra Deck! Come back, Gumgumouton!" The large green sheep reappeared on the field. "And I haven't actually Pendulum Summoned yet!"
"Not bad," Jack said.
"With my current Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to Level 7! Pendulum Summon! Return! Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer! Performapal Lizardraw!" Odd-Eyes Seer reappeared alongside the orange lizard in a suit with a frilly collar. Both of them were in Defense Position.
[Performapal Lizardraw (3*/S6/`1200/600/EARTH/Reptile/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Surely you understand that there is no use staying defensive against Scarlight," Jack said, narrowing his eyes. "So, why…"
"Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer's effect!" Yuya declared. "Since he was Pendulum Summoned this turn, I can activate one of two effects, depending on whether he's in Attack or Defense Position! Since he's in Defense Position, I can take a "Performapal" or "Odd-Eyes" Pendulum Monster from my deck and place it in the graveyard or face-up in the Extra Deck!" He plucked out a card from his deck and placed it in his Extra Deck. "Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon attacks Red Resonator Dragon! Spiral Flame Strike!" The flames shot forward.
"Trap Card, Battle Break!" Jack countered. "My opponent can reveal a monster in their hand to negate the effect of this card—but considering that you already Pendulum Summoned and didn't bring it out from your hand, that last card is likely not a monster, correct?"
Yuya didn't respond—but the answer was obvious enough.
"Thus, I can destroy the attacking monster and end the Battle Phase!" Odd-Eyes was destroyed by his own attack, vanishing from the field.
Yuya winced—but he raised his hand anyway. "Performapal Lizardraw's effect! If another monster I control is destroyed by an opponent's attack or card effect, I can draw a card for each "Performapal" monster I control! I control four—Lizardraw itself, Silver Selkie, Gumgumouton and Odd-Eyes Seer, so I can draw four cards!" He swiped up four cards from the top of his deck.
"Interesting," Jack said. "So that monster was brought out because you were expecting me to destroy your dragon? But to take advantage of your ace's demise like that…" His brow was furrowed, and he was watching Yuya with some confusion. "Is that truly how you want to duel?"
"... I would have liked it better if I could keep Odd-Eyes with me," Yuya said. "If that attack had succeeded, I would be happy… but if it couldn't, if I couldn't protect him, I could at least make sure that I didn't waste his efforts." He glanced through the five cards in his hand. "I'll set two cards facedown. Over to you."
[Turn 3: Jack] [H:4]
"Draw," Jack said. "Do you remember what I said to you after your duel with Arisu Kirijo, Yuya Sakaki?"
"Huh? Yes…"
"That was very well-said, Yuya Sakaki. I am surprised… and humbled, by how I've misjudged you."
"I was thinking that I was foolish, looking down on the opinions of others simply because I assumed that I was in the right." Jack said—still with that noble air. "When I spoke to you during our first match, I saw your internal conflict—and I looked down on you for it. You filled up your weaknesses with the help of others, and without them, you flailed while trying to find out where you 'lacked'. But when I saw you use your vulnerability and your weaknesses to help someone else, the same weaknesses that I looked down upon… I realised that I was wrong. Both about you, and in the way that I treated others."
Yuya's hands clenched around the handles of the D-Wheel. He ducked his head to look away from Jack.
"Just because a person is weak in some ways doesn't mean that they deserve to be condescended to." Jack said. "As a King, I demanded strength from those in front of me, as though to prove something to myself. But now, I would much rather see others grow from those weaknesses. So—I will save my judgement of you until we finish this duel, Yuya Sakaki. I want to see how you grow as you fight."
"... to be honest, I really hated you after that match," Yuya admitted. "I thought you were condescending and arrogant. I don't need your approval, Jack Atlas." He found to his surprise that he genuinely meant it. "But… I'd like to earn your respect myself."
"... hah. I hope so too, Yuya Sakaki." Jack looked through his hand. "Now. Shall we get started? I will use Crimson Gaia's effect and add another card that lists "Red Dragon Archfiend" in its card text from my deck to my hand. Then, since there is a Level 5 or higher DARK monster on the field, I'll Special Summon Vision Resonator from my hand." A dark fiend in a purple cloak appeared on the field, smiling cheerfully.
[Vision Resonator (2*/400/400/DARK/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"And with the effect of Wandering King Wildwind, since I control a Fiend Tuner with 1500 or less attack points, I can Special Summon it from my hand." The beastly warrior in a green cloak appeared on Jack's field as well.
[Wandering King Wildwind (4*/1700/1300/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]
"However, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of the turn, except Synchro Monsters." Jack nodded to both of his monsters. "I'll tune the Level 2 Vision Resonator to the Level 4 Wandering King Wildwind! Flames that burst out of purgatory, set the world alight with your blazing nobility! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Red Rising Dragon!" Next to Red Resonator Dragon, another red dragon appeared, letting out a puff of smoke.
[Red Rising Dragon (6*/2100/1600/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Red Rising Dragon is Synchro Summoned, I can target a "Resonator" monster in my graveyard and Special Summon it! However, I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except DARK Dragon Synchro Monsters!"
… for a deck like that, that restriction practically didn't matter.
"Return! Soul Resonator!" A bright red demon appeared, green frills around the collar, just as mischievous as the rest of Jack's Tuner Monsters.
[Soul Resonator (3*/500/200/FIRE/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"And with Vision Resonator's effect, I will add another Spell or Trap that mentions "Red Dragon Archfiend" from my deck to my hand!" Jack swiped up another card from his deck. "Then, once that effect resolves, I can activate Soul Resonator's effect. I can add a Level 4 or lower Fiend monster from my deck to my hand, but this once again locks my Extra Deck to only DARK Dragon Synchro Monsters."
Constantly swarming and adding cards to his hand…
"I'll tune the Level 3 Soul Resonator to the Level 6 Red Rising Dragon! Demon King unleashed from the darkness of the abyss! Let your rage explode with the power of my very soul! Synchro Summon! Level 9! Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss!" The dragon that appeared was extremely dark red—sanguine, as though it was carved from black marble and stained with blood.
[Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss (9*/3200/2500/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
Yuya watched the dragon. He remembered being defeated by this card, the last time that he'd dueled Jack Atlas. Was that why Jack had brought it out? Just to test his resolve?
"I will Normal Summon Force Resonator!" The black and yellow fiend appeared, an enormous black ball floating behind it.
[Force Resonator (2*/500/500/WATER/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"I'll tune the Level 2 Force Resonator to the Level 6 Red Resonator Dragon! The heaven and earth shall tremble before the king's might. Let the power of the one and only supreme ruler be carved into your soul! Synchro Summon! The savage soul, Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!" His ace appeared with a loud roar, wings cleaving through the air.
[Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend (8*/3000/2500/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
… of course it was Scarlight.
"Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend's effect. I will destroy all Special Summoned Effect Monsters on the field with attack points equal to or lower than Scarlight itself, and inflict 500 damage to you for each one! Absolute Powerflame!"
"I'll banish Performapal Thunderhino from my graveyard!" Yuya declared, picking up one of the cards that he'd discarded on the previous turn. "With that, I can protect all my "Performapal" cards from being destroyed once!" He shielded his entire field—and since Thunderhino was in the graveyard, Jack could not negate it with Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss's effect. Jack nodded, though he didn't seem impressed by it.
"Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend attacks Performapal Lizardraw! Scorching Crimson Hell Burning! And when Red Dragon Archfiend attacks—which Scarlight is always treated as—I can change all monsters you control to facedown Defense Position." All three of Yuya's remaining monsters flipped facedown—and Yuya grimaced. He could have used Gumgumouton's effect to negate Lizardraw's destruction if they hadn't all flipped facedown, but…
The small orange lizard ended up destroyed by the attack.
"And Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss attacks Performapal Odd-Eyes Silver Selkie!"
He could activate Silver Selkie's effect, but that dragon could negate it, so…
The attack went through, destroying his monster.
Yuya: 4000 - 1500 = 2500LP
"Since Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss dealt you battle damage, I can Special Summon a Tuner monster from my graveyard in Defense Position. Return—Synkron Resonator." The golden and green fiend with a tuning fork appeared. "I will set another card and end my turn."
Yuya breathed out in relief.
Good. He'd survived that first turn.
Jack's deck focused on Scarlight. He summoned it and brought it out over and over again, no matter what. So no matter what, this was unavoidable.
He just had to take his turn and focus on what he could do.
[Turn 4: Yuya] [H:4]
"Draw!" He declared. "I'll Flip Summon Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer and Performapal Gumgumouton!" The two monsters reappeared on the field—currently, his only monsters on the field. "I'll activate the Pendulum Effect of Performapal Monkeyboard! I'll add a Level 4 or lower "Performapal" monster from my deck to my hand!" He revealed a card in his hand. "Spell Card, Odd-Eyes Fusion! I'll fuse Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer and Performapal Gumgumouton!" The two monsters shot up into a vortex. "Beautiful lord of the storm! Wings that glide through the air with regality! With the power that lies within those wondrous dichroic eyes, rend all others with the gale that emerges in your presence! Fusion Summon! Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon!" The beautiful green dragon of the storm appeared in front of him with a fearsome roar.
[Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon (7*/2500/3000/WIND/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]
"Interesting. That monster doesn't require your dragon as material?"
"Vortex Dragon requires an "Odd-Eyes" monster and a Pendulum Monster as material," Yuya explained. "So yes, Seer and Gumgumouton work as material. When Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon is Special Summoned, I can target a monster in face-up Attack Position on the field and return it to the hand! I will choose Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend! Winds of Calamity!"
"I will activate the effect of Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss! I will negate Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon's effect!"
… good. Yuya had hoped that Jack wouldn't remember Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon's effects—after all, Yuya had only used it against Kyorin and Shun, throughout the Friendship Cup. The duel against Kyorin might have mostly escaped Jack's notice, while Jack had been preparing for the next rounds of the Friendship Cup during the duel against Shun.
"Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon's effect!" Yuya declared. "I'll shuffle Performapal Gumgumouton into the deck to negate that effect's activation and destroy it! Forbidding Gale!"
"... I will not allow you to destroy two forms of my soul at once," Jack said. One of his two set cards flipped up. "Trap Card, Red Reign! If I control a Level 8 or higher Synchro Monster, I can banish all monsters on the field, except the monsters with the highest Level, and those monsters are unaffected by card effects except their own, until the End Phase. The monster with the highest Level is the Level 9 Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss. So all other monsters on the field are banished!"
Both Scarlight and Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon vanished from the field. Abyss, however, remained on the field—and since it was now unaffected by other card effects, it couldn't be destroyed by Vortex's winds.
… but to sacrifice Scarlight for this… didn't seem in character for Jack?
"Swing, pendulum! Come back from the Extra Deck! Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon! Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer! Performapal Lizardraw! And from my hand, Performapal King Bear!" The three monsters from before appeared on the field—Odd-Eyes and Lizardraw in Attack Position, while the other one was in Defense Position. King Bear was a bear with honeyed brown, fluffy fur, wearing a red cape and a golden crown on its head.
[Performapal King Bear (6*/S7/2200/1000/EARTH/Beast-Warrior/Pendulum/Effect)]
"Continuous Trap, Red Zone," Jack called out, his other set card flipping up. "Once per turn—I can Special Summon a banished DARK Dragon Synchro Monster, ignoring summoning conditions. Return to my field—Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!"
… of course Jack hadn't let it go so easily. Through a portal of red flames, Scarlight reappeared on the field.
"Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer's effect!" Yuya declared. "I'll place another "Performapal" or "Odd-Eyes" card from my deck into my Extra Deck face-up!"
"Once per turn, when my opponent activates a card or effect while I control "Red Dragon Archfiend" or a monster that mentions it in its card text, Red Zone lets me target a card on the field and destroy it. I'll target and destroy your Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn!"
The card in his Pendulum Scale was destroyed.
"If you were hoping to use Odd-Eyes Unicorn's effects to target Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and increase its attack points by King Bear's, then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you," Jack said imperiously. "Defeating my monsters through battle isn't that easy!"
… true. But…
There were other options.
If the trap that he'd set up with Vortex Dragon's effect didn't work…
"Open, circuit!" He called out. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two Pendulum Monsters, including a Level 7 or higher "Odd-Eyes" monster! I will set Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer in the Link Markers! Dragon that splits light into fragments, shine with every shade of colour that the world can see! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon!" The beautiful glass dragon appeared on the field with a roar.
[Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon (L2/2500/LIGHT/Dragon/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]
LIGHT for Link, FIRE for Synchro, WIND for Fusion, WATER for Xyz… if DARK was just Odd-Eyes itself…
Then, perhaps, if he someday obtained that final form of summoning…
No. He'd think about it later.
"When Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon is Link Summoned, I can halve the attack points of all monsters on the field except Pendulum Monsters, until the End Phase! Splitting Spectrum!"
The effect only affected Scarlight, since Abyss was being protected by Red Reign. Even so, Scarlight's attack points being halved… was a relief.
[Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend: 3000 / 2 = 1500ATK]
"I will then activate the Field Spell, Performapal Dramatic Theater! All monsters I control gain 200 attack points for each monster I control with a different Type!"
[Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon: 2500 + 200 x 4 = 3300ATK]
[Performapal King Bear: 2200 + 200 x 4 = 3000ATK]
[Performapal Lizardraw: 1200 + 200 x 4 = 2000ATK]
[Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer: 100 + 200 x 4 = 900ATK]
"Battle Phase!" He declared. "King Bear gains 100 attack points for each "Performapal" card I control during the Battle Phase!"
[Performapal King Bear: 3000 + 100 x 5 = 3500ATK]
"King Bear attacks Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss!"
Jack obviously couldn't boost that monster's attack points—Red Reign stopped even him from affecting his own monsters with card effects. So the Level 9 Synchro Monster was destroyed a moment afterwards.
Jack: 4000 - 300 = 3700LP
Yuya nodded to himself. "Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon attacks Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend! RGB Shift!"
To his surprise, that attack… went through too?
Jack: 3700 - 1800 = 1900LP
Was this really the same Jack Atlas that had defended Scarlight over and over again, to stop it from leaving the field?
"Lizardraw attacks Synkron Resonator!" The smaller monster was destroyed.
Jack Atlas raised a fist in the air. "When a monster on the field is destroyed, I can use the effect of Crimson Gaia. I can Special Summon "Red Dragon Archfiend" from my graveyard."
Wait—so—
"Return to the field, Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!"
The red dragon reappeared on the field, letting out a ferocious roar. Red flames swarmed the field around it.
So, whenever a monster was destroyed on the field, Scarlight would come back? Then… to get rid of it…
What was Yuya supposed to do?
"Synkron Resonator's effect," Jack continued. "I will add Vision Resonator from my graveyard to my hand again."
"I'll end my turn," Yuya said. He glanced at the two set cards that he hadn't used yet.
He'd have to survive whatever came next.
"Crimson Gaia brings his ace back every time," Yuto analysed. "And… he can keep on evolving it into something stronger, over and over, right? So Yuya will have to deal with more evolutions of it every turn."
"What a terrifying effect," Ruri agreed. "But… I can't help but hope he'll win."
Yuto nodded. "Last time, Yugo, Yuno and I all lent our aces to Yuya," he explained. "All three of our dragons weren't enough to overcome even just one of those evolutions. But right now, on his own, he managed to overcome one of them." He smiled to himself. "I hope that… he'll be able to prove to himself that he doesn't need to rely on us anymore."
[Turn 5: Jack] [H:5]
"Draw," Jack said. "I will use Crimson Gaia's effect to add another card from my deck to my hand. I will then activate the Spell Card, Graceful Charity. I will draw three cards and discard two." He then revealed a card in his hand. "I will activate the Continuous Spell, Resonant Destruction. I will then send a card from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon Bone Archfiend from my graveyard!" The white, skeletal warrior reappeared. "Then, since there is a Level 5 or higher DARK monster on the field—your Performapal Odd-Eyes Seer—I can Special Summon Vision Resonator from my hand! And I'll tune the Level 2 Vision Resonator to the Level 4 Bone Archfiend. Come again—Red Rising Dragon!" Another copy of the dragon appeared on his field.
Yuya grimaced. That meant that he could…
"Red Rising Dragon's effect," Jack declared, steel in his gaze. "I will Special Summon a "Resonator" monster from my graveyard. Return—Soul Resonator." The FIRE Tuner from earlier reappeared on the field. "Resonant Destruction's effect. Each time a "Resonator" monster is sent from the field to the graveyard as Synchro Material, I can target a card you control and destroy it. I will target your left set card!"
The card exploded—Yuya winced.
Wait… each time?
"Furthermore, since I Synchro Summoned a DARK Dragon Synchro Monster, I can add Red Reign from my graveyard to my hand. Soul Resonator's effect," Jack continued. "I will add a Level 4 or lower Fiend monster from my deck to my hand again."
So he now had… six cards in hand again?
"I will Normal Summon Chain Resonator!" A monster surrounded by dark chains appeared, purple-black shadows swirling around it.
[Chain Resonator (1*/100/100/LIGHT/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"Chain Resonator's effect. If it is Normal Summoned while there is a Synchro Monster on the field, I can Special Summon another "Resonator" monster from my deck, except Chain Resonator itself! Come! Red Resonator!" A fiend with its entire body made of fire appeared on the field—it was mostly incorporeal.
[Red Resonator (2*/600/200/DARK/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"When Red Resonator is Special Summoned, I can target a monster on the field and gain life points equal to its attack points. I will target Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon!" A bright red glow surrounded Jack, before his life points shot up.
Jack: 1900 + 3300 = 5200LP
"I'll then tune the Level 1 Chain Resonator and the Level 3 Soul Resonator to the Level 6 Red Rising Dragon!"
Yuya gulped. That was Jack's… Double Tuning, right? So, whatever he was going to bring out was likely going to be even stronger than Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss—Yuya wasn't sure if he was ready for it—
No. What was he thinking right now?
It didn't matter whether he was ready or not.
He just had to face it!
"Ruler and Devil, they cross now and here! Touch the soul of the Crimson Dragon, and raise up the cry of creation! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 10! Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend!" A whirlwind shot up, before the coppery red dragon appeared. As it landed on the track for a brief moment, the entire world seemed to shake.
This was Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend's evolution—yet another one of them?
[Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend (10*/3500/3000/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"I used another "Resonator" monster as material," Jack said. "Resonant Destruction's effect. I'll target and destroy your other set card!"
"Trap Card, Command Performance!" Yuya declared—having no choice but to use it early. "I'll change all face-up Attack Position monsters you control to Defense Position!" Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend and Scarlight both shifted into Defense Position. "And you can't change their battle position until the end of the next turn—that's my turn!"
"I'm hardly bothered by something like that."
Well, Yuya knew that. If he'd had a choice, he'd have waited until Jack was done with all his Synchro Summons.
"I'll tune the Level 2 Red Resonator to the Level 8 Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!"
Another one?
"Let the peaks roar! Split the mountains and come forth, along with the flames of the earth! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane!" A dark red dragon with magma-like streaks of orange shining from under its rocky scales. A gem glinted from the top of its head. As it swung its arms through the air, two long silver blades cut sharply along the track. Its wings were dark, resembling something that had been charred completely, black on the edges.
[Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane (10*/3500/3000/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"Resonant Destruction's effect," Jack called out. "I will target and destroy your Field Spell!" Yet another card vanished from Yuya's field—and all of his monsters were immediately weakened, going back to their original attack points. "Battle Phase. Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane attacks Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon!"
Right. That monster had escaped Command Performance's effect…
Yuya's other Link Monster was destroyed, and his life points fell again.
Yuya: 2500 - 1000 = 1500LP
Luckily, he'd already changed Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend to Defense Position, so… that was the only attack this turn. But, why…
"When Bane inflicts battle damage to you, I can Special Summon two Tuners with the same Level. One of them comes from my deck, and the other comes from my graveyard. Come from the deck, Mirror Resonator! And come from my graveyard, Synkron Resonator!"
Synkron Resonator was familiar and annoying enough. Mirror Resonator was a very small fiend with a large mirror above it, dark metal and strange fibres forming the border of the mirror. Shadows swirled around the mirror, and two bat wings flapped around the top of the mirror, made of orange membranes.
[Mirror Resonator (1*/0/0/LIGHT/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"Since you destroyed another monster I control, I will activate the effect of Performapal Lizardraw!" Yuya declared. "I'll draw a card for each "Performapal" monster I control again. King Bear, Lizardraw and Odd-Eyes Seer. So I'll draw three cards!"
"Main Phase 2. I'll set a card facedown. And I'll activate the effect of Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane. By tributing a monster, like my Synkron Resonator, I will Special Summon a "Red Dragon Archfiend" monster from the graveyard. Return—Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss!" The Level 9 monster reappeared on the field. "With Synkron Resonator's effect, I will add a "Resonator" Tuner from my graveyard to my hand. I'll end my turn."
His three dragons all let out roars—Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend, Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane and Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss.
"If you think you can take out my dragons, do your worst, Yuya Sakaki!"
[Turn 6: Yuya] [H:6]
"Draw," Yuya said. Jack must have decided that taking out Dispersion Dragon was worth letting Yuya draw more cards… and maybe he was right. Maybe Jack had been worried that Yuya would bring out Odd-Eyes Current Dragon, since he'd watched that duel with Arisu.
Yuya didn't know.
But he wouldn't waste these cards, anyway.
He still had King Bear, Lizardraw and Odd-Eyes Seer.
"Monkeyboard's effect. I'll add a Level 4 or lower "Performapal" monster from my deck to my hand."
"Red Zone's effect," Jack replied. "I will destroy your Monkeyboard." Yuya's Pendulum Scales were finally emptied out.
"Odd-Eyes Seer's effect," he said. "I'll place another "Performapal" or "Odd-Eyes" monster in my Extra Deck face-up. And I'll…"
Red Reign was still on the field. With Red Reign and Red Zone, Jack would never have to worry about banishing his own monster. To survive that Trap, Yuya would need a Level 10 or higher monster… but at the first sign of him gathering materials for Nirvana High Paladin, Jack would probably banish all his monsters.
Yuya looked at his monsters.
"I will activate the Spell Card, Performance Hurricane!" He declared. "For each "Performapal" monster I control, I can return a card you control to the hand! I will target your set Red Reign, your Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss and your Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"I'll activate the effect of Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Abyss. I will target Performance Hurricane and negate its effects!"
As Yuya had thought. Jack didn't want to be forced to use Red Reign so early either.
"I'll tribute Performapal Lizardraw to Special Summon Ring Magician from my hand!" He declared. The diminutive spellcaster appeared on the field. Jack blinked at the sight of the card.
[Ring Magician (1*/S1/0/0/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect)]
"Ring Magician," he repeated. "So that's Tuning Magician… it seems that she's found where she belongs."
"... she's a valuable member of my deck now," Yuya said. "With her effect, I can Special Summon a "Magician" Pendulum Monster from my deck, but it cannot activate its effects this turn! Come! Dragoncaller Magician!" The dark magician reappeared on the field.
[Dragoncaller Magician (7*/S2/2400/1000/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]
"I'll tune the Level 1 Ring Magician to the Level 7 Dragoncaller Magician!" The two monsters shot up in the air again. "Hero's blade that sets forth unyielding light! Here and now, along with a flash, awaken! Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 8! Magical Swordsman of Awakening! Enlightenment Paladin!" The warrior in white and gold armour appeared, swinging his blade of light through the air.
[Enlightenment Paladin (8*/2500/2000/DARK/Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect)]
"When Enlightenment Paladin is Synchro Summoned using a "Magician" monster as material, I can add a Spell from my graveyard to my hand!" Yuya picked up a card. "Let's try this again, Jack! Spell Card, Performance Hurricane! I still control two "Performapal" monsters, so I'll return Red Reign and… Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane to the hand!"
Jack looked at him—
And chuckled.
"In that case," he said, "if you're so insistent on it, I'll raze both of our fields, Yuya Sakaki! Trap Card, Red Reign! I'll banish all monsters on the field other than the monsters with the highest Level, and the remaining monsters are unaffected by any card effects other than their own until the End Phase!" The same crimson flames devastated the field—banishing all of Yuya's monsters. Abyss also vanished from the field, as did Mirror Resonator. Only Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend and Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane were left on the field, and both of them let out roars, empowered by the effect.
Yuya exhaled. He took two cards from his hand.
Starting from scratch was fine.
He cleared his throat, and raised his hands.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" He announced. "This situation seems unsalvageable, but as long as I have cards in my hand, I always have hope!"
He saw some approval in Jack's eyes.
"To set the stage, I'll set the Scale 1 Performapal Barokuriboh and the Scale 8 Performapal Classikuriboh in the Pendulum Scales!" Yuya declared. In both pillars of light, a fluffy monster rose up—both monsters were rather cute. "With this Pendulum Scale, I can once again Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 2 to 7! Pendulum Summon! Let's welcome our six performers for this stage!"
The six streaks of light shot down, multi-coloured and bright—creating an effect that briefly looked like a spotlight.
"Come back from the Extra Deck! First, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!" His ace appeared. He then took out a few monsters from his Extra Deck, including the two monsters that he'd placed in the Extra Deck with Odd-Eyes Seer's effect. (Odd-Eyes Seer might now be banished, but it had played a huge part in helping him set up now.) "Then, come—Performapal Lizardraw, Performapal Odd-Eyes Synchron, Dragoncaller Magician, Performapal Monkeyboard and Performapal Partnaga!"
He Pendulum Summoned a full field of six monsters—with Dragoncaller Magician going in the Extra Monster Zone. Lizardraw and Dragoncaller Magician had already appeared on the field, but the other three had not—Monkeyboard, an acrobatic monkey with teeth of piano keys. Partnaga was a yellow and red ringed snake, wearing a small blue hat. It let out a quiet, sinister hiss. And finally, Odd-Eyes Synchron, the familiar small robot.
[Performapal Monkeyboard (6*/S1/1000/2400/EARTH/Beast/Pendulum/Effect)]
[Performapal Partnaga (5*/S3/500/2100/EARTH/Reptile/Pendulum/Effect)]
[Performapal Odd-Eyes Synchron (2*/S6/200/600/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect)]
"Since Partnaga was Special Summoned, I can target a monster I control, and give it 300 attack points for each "Performapal" monster I control! I'll target Odd-Eyes!" He gestured to his ace. "I control four "Performapal" monsters!"
[Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon: 2500 + 300 x 4 = 3700ATK]
"I'll tune the Level 2 Performapal Odd-Eyes Synchron to the Level 3 Performapal Lizardraw!" The robot turned into a pair of rings that the lizard flew through. "Machine of speed, crash straight through walls into this field! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher!" A large red robot appeared. It shifted, going from having limbs to a motorcycle, spinning around. Around it, there were streaks of gold. It had a single red eye and a single green eye on the two handles at the front of it.
[Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher (5*/2400/1800/WIND/Machine/Synchro/Tuner/Effect)]
"Motor Slasher's effect! When I Synchro Summon it, I can target a monster on the field, and that monster gains 200 attack points for each Pendulum Monster face-up on the field and in the Extra Deck! I have Monkeyboard, Dragoncaller Magician, Partnaga and Odd-Eyes itself on my field. And in my Extra Deck, I have Ring Magician and Odd-Eyes Unicorn! So that's six monsters! I will target itself, and it will gain 1200 attack points!" Motor Slasher dashed towards Odd-Eyes, winds whipping around them, powering up the monster.
[Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher: 2400 + 200 x 6 = 3600ATK]
"I'll activate the Spell Card, Pendulum Fusion! I'll fuse Performapal Partnaga and Dragoncaller Magician!" The two monsters shot up in the air, swirling around in the vortex. "Thorns of malice that creep along the strongest walls. Tear them down from within! Fusion Summon! Performapal Odd-Eyes Thorn Faerie!" A dark, humanoid creature with shining fairy wings appeared, its body made of dark stems and leaves. It laughed, tipping its white top hat, a white cloak floating through the air behind it. From beneath its hat, dual-coloured red and purple eyes staring forward at Jack.
[Performapal Odd-Eyes Thorn Faerie (8*/2400/2000/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]
"Thorn Faerie's effect!" Yuya declared. "I can banish a Pendulum Monster from my deck, and it's Special Summoned during my next Standby Phase!" Thorn Faerie tipped up his hat. A flower slipped out, spinning through the air, before it floated above the field. "And then, once per turn, during the Main Phase, by sending a "Performapal" card from my deck to the graveyard, I can negate the effects of a card that my opponent controls! I'll negate the effects of Red Zone! Creeping Vines!"
"I will activate—"
Yuya interrupted Jack. "You can't activate Spell and Trap effects in response to this effect!" Vines grew over Red Zone, cutting off its effects. "My preparations are complete, everyone, so let's head into the Battle Phase!" He had Thorn Faerie, Motor Slasher, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Monkeyboard.
There were no set cards now that Red Reign was gone. If his attacks went through, maybe he would be in a better situation…
"Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon attacks Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane! Spiral Flame Strike! And when he battles a Level 5 or higher monster, the battle damage that he inflicts to you is doubled!"
"I will banish Red Resonator Dragon from the graveyard to negate that attack and Special Summon two "Resonator" monsters from the deck in Defense Position. Come—Dark Resonator, Flare Resonator!" Two monsters that hadn't shown up yet in the duel appeared—one of them simply dressed in a black tattered robe. The second one had a mainly grey robe, but there were orange flames forming a cloak behind it.
[Dark Resonator (3*/1300/300/DARK/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
[Flare Resonator (3*/300/1300/FIRE/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
… of course Jack wouldn't go down so easily. But…
"Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher attacks Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane! Breakdown Crash!"
The dark dragon exploded, torn apart as Motor Slasher veered directly past it.
Jack: 5200 - 100 = 5100LP
"When a monster is destroyed, Crimson Gaia allows me to Special Summon Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend from the graveyard!" The bright red dragon reappeared on the field.
Yuya smirked. "When Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher inflicts damage to the opponent, I can target a "Performapal" or "Odd-Eyes" monster that is banished or in my graveyard—and Special Summon it!"
He plucked out a card from his banished cards.
"Let's welcome an old friend back to the field! Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon!"
The green dragon reappeared on the field, letting out a loud roar.
"When Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon is Special Summoned," Yuya declared, "I can return a face-up monster in Attack Position to the hand! I'll return your Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend to the Extra Deck! Winds of Calamity!"
Jack raised an eyebrow—and as Scarlight was swept off the field, he chuckled.
Yuya did not know what to think about that.
"Performapal Odd-Eyes Thorn Faerie attacks Flare Resonator! And Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon attacks Dark Resonator!"
"Dark Resonator cannot be destroyed by battle once per turn!" Jack countered. Flare Resonator was destroyed, but Dark Resonator remained on the field.
"I'll end my turn," Yuya said.
[Turn 7: Jack] [H:6]
"Draw," Jack said. "I will activate the effect of Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend. Once per turn, during my Main Phase 1—I can destroy all other cards on the field, but for the rest of this turn, my other monsters can't attack! Absolute Power Inferno!"
Yuya's eyes widened.
He couldn't afford to…
"I'll activate the effect of Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon! I will shuffle Ring Magician from my Extra Deck into the deck to negate that effect's activation and destroy that card! Forbidding Gale!" The winds swept up Tyrant Red Dragon Archfiend, destroying it as well.
"I'll activate the effect of Crimson Gaia," Jack said—completely composed. He must have prepared for this in advance. "I will add a card that lists "Red Dragon Archfiend" in its card text from my deck to my hand."
"I will activate the effect of Performapal Odd-Eyes Thorn Faerie! It triggers on either player's turn!" Yuya took out another card from his deck. "I'll send a "Performapal" monster from my deck to the graveyard and negate the effects of Crimson Gaia! Creeping Vines!"
"You are very desperate to stop me from bringing back Scarlight," Jack said. "But this is the inevitable. I will send a card from my hand to the graveyard. Resurrect, Bone Archfiend!" The skeletal demon reappeared on the field. "I'll activate the effect of Bone Archfiend. I will send another Fiend Tuner from my deck to the graveyard to increase Dark Resonator's Level by 1!"
[Dark Resonator: 3* + 1* + 4*]
"I'll tune the Level 4 Dark Resonator to the Level 4 Bone Archfiend! Return to me now, my very soul! Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!" The bright red dragon reappeared on the field—much to Yuya's disappointment and dread.
And Jack didn't seem like he was done there, either.
"Resonant Destruction's effect," he called out. "Your Pendulum Effects have been very useful to you so far—so let's get them out of the way!"
Classikuriboh burst into flames, much to Yuya's dismay.
"I'll then Special Summon Creation Resonator from my hand, since I control a Synchro Monster! And then, I will Normal Summon Double Resonator!" A demon with two heads appeared—one gold, one silver. It was wearing a dark red cloak.
[Double Resonator (1*/0/0/FIRE/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)]
"... all the preparations are ready," Jack murmured to himself.
Yuya blinked.
"Be honoured, Yuya Sakaki," Jack said. "You are only the second opponent that has ever required me to use this monster. But your fighting, your struggle, your insistence to stay fighting… I will honour it, then, with the heart of my resolve."
A… stronger monster than anything so far?
"I will tune the Level 1 Double Resonator and the Level 3 Creation Resonator to the Level 8 Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend!" Jack shouted—the bellow carried across the entire stadium, and the crowd roared in answer.
Yuya's eyes widened. A Level 12 Synchro Monster… with Double Tuning?
This had to be Jack's strongest monster.
"The King and the Devil, here and now shall become as one. Savage soul! Lift up the very cries of Creation itself! Double Tuning! Synchro Summon! Level 12! Come forth, Scar-Red Nova Dragon!" An enormous, bright red dragon appeared, letting out a ferocious roar. Its body was blazing, brighter than any of the other evolutions that Yuya had seen so far. Bane, Abyss, Tyrant—all three of them, those dark, devil-like creatures, seemed to pale in comparison to this dragon. Not that they weren't majestic in their own right, but this…
This dragon perhaps fit the titles of King and Devil far too well—and both at once.
This was Jack Atlas's strongest monster, and it demanded victory.
[Scar-Red Nova Dragon (12*/3500/3000/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]
"Scar-Red Nova Dragon's effect!" Jack shouted. "It gains 500 attack points for every Tuner monster in my graveyard! I have eleven Tuner monsters in my graveyard—thus, Scar-Red Nova Dragon gains 5500 attack points!"
[Scar-Red Nova Dragon: 3500 + 500 x 11 = 9000ATK]
Nine thousand… attack points…
"You've permanently negated Red Zone, so I can't use its effects. And Crimson Gaia's effects as well." Jack raised a finger in the air. "But never let it be said that a King will run out of tricks so easily! Since I Synchro Summoned another DARK Dragon Synchro Monster, I'll add Red Reign from my graveyard to my hand! Then, Resonant Destruction's effect activates again! I will destroy Performapal Barokuriboh!"
Yuya's other card in the Pendulum Scale burst into flames too.
"And I'll activate the Spell Card, Monster Reborn. Come back, Scarlight!" The dragon reappeared on his field, next to its evolved form. "Scarlight's effect. I will destroy all monsters on the field with equal or lower attack points, and you take 500 damage for each! Absolute Powerflame!"
Yuya reached for one of the three cards in his hand. "I will discard Performapal Rain Goat from my hand!" He declared. "I'll make that effect damage 0!"
Still, the effect carried on—it destroyed all of Yuya's monsters, except Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher, since those two monsters had gained enough attack points to exceed Scarlight's attack points.
So, in conclusion—incineration.
"So you survived Scarlight's effect," Jack said. "Impressive. I will activate the Quickplay Spell, Absolute Powerforce! I will target Scarlight, and when it battles your monster this turn, it gains 1000 attack points, deals piercing damage, double battle damage, and you cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step!"
What?
"Battle Phase!" Jack declared. "I—"
"I will banish Performapal Corn and Performapal Trumpanda from the graveyard," Yuya declared. "I'll gain 500 more life points!"
Yuya: 1500 + 500 = 2000LP
"... hmm." Jack studied his field for a moment. "Scarlight's attack points will be 4000 with Absolute Powerforce's effect. As such, no matter which monster it attacks, it won't even deal more than a thousand damage. Is that what you're thinking?"
Yuya didn't respond—he was too tense.
"Let's go with the obvious attack first then—I would like to see what you can do. Scar-Red Nova Dragon attacks Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon! Burning Soul!"
"I'll banish Performapal Odd-Eyes Thorn Faerie and Performapal Uni from the graveyard to activate Uni's effect!" Yuya called out. "I'll negate the next instance of battle damage I take this turn!"
The crimson flames shot past him, wreathing his entire field—Odd-Eyes tossed himself between Yuya and the attack. Yuya found the air tugged from his throat as he let out a sharp gasp from the shock—before he quickly forced himself to recover.
"I see," Jack said. "That's perfectly fine. Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend attacks Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon! And it gains 1000 attack points!"
[Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend: 3000 + 1000 = 4000ATK]
But… this attack wouldn't defeat him. Even if Jack's Spell had stripped him of the right to defend—he could survive the attack. He could, he could—
"I see it in your eyes. It's what you lacked back then."
Yuya raised his head.
Jack was smirking at him—but there was something proud to his expression.
"Back then, when I dueled you. I stole back my dragon from you and used it as material. At that moment, I saw you give up. Your will to fight was so fragile that the moment that you thought that you were going to lose, you mentally withdrew from the duel. And back then, your ideals were so weak that you couldn't truly show them in the duel—you were so internally conflicted that you couldn't speak anything aloud. They were a shield for you—are they still the way that you shield yourself from the consequences of the duel?"
… shielding himself, huh?
To give up and stop putting in effort, and comfort himself with the paltry hope that he'd at least made his opponent smile.
"It's not enough," Yuya said, raising his head. "I won't be a sore loser and say that I can never lose. But giving up and trying to satisfy myself with something else… I can't do that anymore. I can't just stop trying to win…"
"You're not so weak-willed anymore." Jack nodded. Scarlight, strangely, seemed approving, for all that it had no real expression. "Now… you're still thinking, aren't you? About how you can try to overcome a monster with 9000 attack points? The old you would already have fallen into despair."
Yes.
He would have.
"But, because I respect your new will… I still have to crush you."
Jack raised one more card in the air.
"Shield Resonator's effect," he said. "By discarding it from my hand, during either player's turn… a DARK Synchro Monster I control that is battling an opponent's monster gains 500 attack and defense points times the number of Synchro Monsters in my graveyard! I have two copies of Red Rising Dragon, Hot Red Dragon Archfiend Bane and Tyrant!"
Four streaks of red shot up, surrounding Scarlight.
[Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend: 4000 + 500 x 4 = 6000ATK; 2500 + 500 x 4 = 4500DEF]
6000 attack points here too…
Yuya looked at the monster.
"I will defeat you next time," he vowed. "No matter what."
"... then I will welcome your challenge, if I'm still at the peak," Jack said. He raised his fist. "Finish him off, Scarlight! Scorching Crimson Hell Burning!"
Yuya and Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon exchanged a look—
And then, they both turned to face the flames.
And together—
They burned in defeat.
Yuya: 2000 - 2300 x 2 = 0LP
Winner: Jack Atlas!
"Jack! Jack! Jack!"
The crowd was going wild around them. Jack came to a stop, and so did Yuya.
Yuya turned to look at Jack.
… he couldn't deny it, as annoying as it was. He respected this person. He looked up to him. Jack Atlas was an entertainer too, in his very different way.
Jack held out a hand.
"I think that it's high time that this city judges based on a person's growth, rather than simply their strength," he said. "You've grown more than I expected you to, Yuya Sakaki. Well done."
Yuya reached out, shaking his hand. At the same time, was that… applause from the crowd?
"Not just for me, but for you too," Jack said. "They recognise you as well." He raised both of their hands in the air, facing the crowd.
Yuya listened to the cheering crowd.
… it was very different from back then, the last time that he was in such a loud crowd.
He turned to Jack.
"Thank you," he said, and he meant it from the depths of his heart. "But someday… someday, I'll come back with more. If I'm not strong enough yet, I'll get stronger and defeat you with stronger monsters."
"I look forward to it," Jack said. "Give it your best shot in other dimensions, Yuya Sakaki. It won't do for someone who put up such a strong fight against me to falter against someone else."
Yuya nodded.
He headed off into the corridor. He grinned after a moment—it was uncontrollable, something warm in his chest. He raised a fist and pressed it against his chest.
Then, he raised his duel disk and opened up the chat—
Only to stare in confusion at what was there.
… what had been going on during his duel?
Miharu Kogami: Something's happened with Roget.
Miharu Kogami: Don't tell Yugo for now, or his sister. She's not in the chat yet.
Yuno Sugisaki: Miharu? Are you okay?
Yuto Kamisoka: ^
Yuzu Hiiragi: ^
Nue Kamisoka: do you need backup? Shun and I are already in the city.
Shun Kurosaki: We can borrow a D-Wheel
Rin Izayoi: How did Roget even get out of the prison?
Reira Akaba: telling nii-san now
Reira Akaba: miharu?
Kyorin Rinsoka: are you in danger?
Sora Shiun'in: did roget try to take you back to academia?
Miharu Kogami: I'm safe. It's fine. We don't have to worry about Roget anymore either.
Miharu Kogami: I'm in the Security building. I'll tell you all later.
Yuno Sugisaki: Coming over now.
Miharu Kogami: It's okay. I'll head back to the dorms.
Miharu Kogami: … don't tell Yugo. Watch his duel if you can.
Miharu Kogami: It's his special day. Don't let it be ruined.
OC Cards:
Red Resonator Dragon
(6*/1600/2100/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)
1+ Fiend Tuners + 1 non-Tuner monster
This card cannot be destroyed by the effects of cards in your possession. If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can add 1 "Resonator" card or 1 card that mentions "Red Dragon Archfiend" in its card text from your Deck to your hand. (Quick Effect) If a monster your opponent controls attacks a monster you control: You can banish this card from your GY; negate that attack, and if you do, Special Summon 2 "Resonator" monsters from your Deck in Defense Position. You can only activate each effect of "Red Resonator Dragon" once per turn.
Performapal Odd-Eyes Silver Selkie
(L2/1700/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)
2 monsters with different Levels, including a Pendulum Monster
If this card is Link Summoned: You can place 1 "Odd-Eyes" or "Performapal" Pendulum Monster from your Deck in your Extra Deck face-up, and if you do, you can Special Summon 1 Pendulum Monster face-up in your Extra Deck with a different Pendulum Scale from the monster placed in the Extra Deck by this effect. Once per turn, if this card and/or an "Odd-Eyes" monster(s) this card points to would be destroyed by battle or card effect: You can send 1 card from your hand to the GY instead. You can only control 1 "Performapal Odd-Eyes Silver Selkie". You can only Link Summon "Performapal Odd-Eyes Silver Selkie" once per turn.
Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon
(L2/2500/LIGHT/Dragon/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)
2 Pendulum Monsters, including a Level 7 or higher "Odd-Eyes" monster
If this card is Link Summoned: Halve the ATK of all non-Pendulum monsters on the field, except this card, until the End Phase. At the start of the Battle Phase: You can target 1 "Odd-Eyes" monster you control; this turn, if that monster attacks a Special Summoned monster, change the opposing monster's Level to 5, and if you do, negate its effects until the End Phase. You can only control 1 "Odd-Eyes Dispersion Dragon".
Ring Magician
(1*/S1/0/0/DARK/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect)
Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 monster you control; that monster is treated as a Tuner until the End Phase.
Once per turn: You can Tribute 1 monster you control; Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Magician" Pendulum Monster from your Deck, but it cannot activate its effects this turn. If this card is used as Synchro Material for a Spellcaster or Dragon Synchro Monster: You can Special Summon 1 "Performapal", "Magician" or "Odd-Eyes" Pendulum Monster from your Deck. You can only activate each effect of "Ring Magician" once per turn.
Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher
(5*/2400/1800/WIND/Machine/Synchro/Tuner/Effect)
1 Pendulum Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters
If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can target 1 monster on the field; it gains 200 ATK for each Pendulum Monster on the field and face-up in the Extra Deck. If this card inflicts battle damage to the opponent: You can target 1 "Performapal" or "Odd-Eyes" monster that is banished or in your GY; Special Summon it. You can only activate each effect of "Performapal Odd-Eyes Motor Slasher" once per turn.
Trivia: I'll save all the other trivia and stuff and just tell you two details. 1) It's red because Yusei's bike and 2) it's Level 5 because realistically, Yuya will be bringing it out with a Level 4 monster and Ring Magician most of the time, and he already has a Level 8 monster, so I wanted to give him more Levels to access.
Performapal Odd-Eyes Thorn Faerie
(8*/2400/2000/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)
1 Pendulum Monster + 1 DARK monster
If this card is Fusion Summoned: You can banish 1 Pendulum Monster from your Deck. During your next Standby Phase after you activate this effect, you can Special Summon that card in Attack Position. Once per turn, during either player's Main Phase: You can send 1 "Performapal" card from your Deck to your GY; negate the effects of 1 card your opponent controls. Your opponent cannot activate the effects of Spell/Traps in response to this effect. You can only activate each effect of "Performapal Odd-Eyes Thorn Faerie" once per turn.
Shield Resonator
(1*/100/100/EARTH/Fiend/Tuner/Effect)
You can Tribute this card and pay half your LP; Special Summon 1 of your banished DARK Dragon Synchro Monster(s) in Attack Position. During either player's turn, if a DARK Synchro Monster you control battles an opponent's monster, at the start of the Damage Step: You can discard this card from your hand; that monster you control gains ATK/DEF equal to the total number of Synchro Monsters in your GY x 500.
Different Card Effects From TCG:
Performapal Monkeyboard - Anime effect.
Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn - Anime effect.
Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon - Anime effect.
Creation Resonator - Anime effect.
End Notes:
Everyone was really expecting Yuya to defeat Jack and go on to duel Yugo, huh? Nah. That was never my intention. I'm so glad that I split this chapter and last chapter though, because this duel deserves its own screenspace, just like Yugo vs Rin. I'm satisfied with it. Getting to write Jack with decent Resonators and RDA support was great. Wish this stuff had come out earlier, but you know what, I much prefer this Round 2 to the Chapter 33 version.
There is one specific Yu-boy that has very few interactions with Yuya, and thus, one conspicuously missing monster in the set, haha. Don't worry, I'll confirm that Yuya will eventually get one for Yuji. But it's just not justified at this point.
Confirming now that Red Supernova Dragon will not be showing up in the Synchro Arc of this fic. It would destroy the power curve at this point. :) Please understand that I never planned for Red Supernova Dragon to come out when I made the power curve of this fic and Jack in particular, so I really can't afford to add it in now, when the characters can't deal with it.
And honestly… I still think that while the Nirvana High Paladin moment in canon was awesome, Yuya's win did not feel justified. I am going to give this guy awesome moments, but I want them to feel more… earned. Plus, if they were going to have a Yuya vs Jack rematch at the end, they could easily have afforded to have Yuya lose to Jack in Season 2 and win against a different Academia character there. Plus, Jack is just… so far ahead of the power curve right now because he won against Kisara, lmao. So he's there as a goal to persuade Yuya to keep growing too.
But yeah, it was surprisingly fun to write, for as much as I did not want to write either deck involved, lmao.
Next chapter, we get the finale of the Friendship Cup. I will confirm it officially now—the Synchro Arc's finale duel is between Yugo and Jack. Of course, there are other things that need to… settle, but we'll deal with those then.
… unrelated to anything in this chapter, I'm sure, but Miharu cannot catch a break in this story. Poor girl.
Review responses! (Thank you everyone for getting this story over 1000 reviews! Genuinely shocked. Depending on how my schedule goes, I might write a 1000 review special along with the first anniversary special, haha. But thank you! :)) Appreciate you all.)
To phantomdragons, I do love all three of those archetypes! We'll see how it goes. And that would honestly be a rea;ly cute idea for a fic! Hope you enjoyed the duel!
To MochiYoshi, no worries, I guessed it was you from the writing style! :) Lmao, you're right, Kashtiras are absolutely a war crime. Cool design though. I prefer the longer chapters myself too, but the short chapters are better for me right now, because of personal irl issues that are stopping me from writing, haha. I will say that it's likely that the last two chapters in the arc, since they're… hmm, interesting, will be pretty long. Probably won't reach Chapter 75's length by any shot, but… long.
To TheRealD3lph0xL0v3r, I'm familiar with Super Quants, yeah. They're cool. Xyz archetypes in general just have so many cool aesthetics!
To Ben23ten, sorry, no Yuya vs Yugo yet. It was never my intention either :) The duel I actually wanted this entire time was Jack vs Yugo, since that was something that we were far more cheated of in canon, to be honest. And yeah, I love Trap monsters too! *glances at the Kamisoka siblings*, well, maybe that's obvious.
To LHOCIN, oh yeah, Serena and Yuri definitely happen—I don't think that's a spoiler. They are also pretty slow burn though. And you guessed right on the outcome! To be fair, most fics don't do Rin vs Yugo at the Friendship Cup because Rin is usually kidnapped right now :D
To Bryz0n, I love throwing in non-archetypal cards! To be fair, I got into the game directly through playing it, rather than the anime, so I'm a lot more used to thinking of engines and generic cards too. And come on, I wouldn't kill off Yugo in his arc. That's just mean to him. I can be nice to characters sometimes :)
To Erathios, love Infinitracks too! But if they appeared, they would probably be in the Link Arc, rather than the Xyz Arc. Not confirming that they do show up though—just that logistically, they make more sense there.
To CruelDiamond422, I will confirm immediately that I will never touch Numbers lore, or Astral/Barian lore in this story. I'm not familiar enough with ZEXAL to use it, and trying to forcefit lore just for the sake of nostalgia is not my thing, haha. Plus, that brand of supernatural stuff will ruin the plot because it just doesn't make sense here. But Infinitracks, Exosisters, etc are all pretty cool! I love Exosisters too, haha.
To naminexriku2468, heh, don't worry, I'll still try to answer what I can from those questions. I just wanted you to be prepared that I couldn't answer them all. Plus, there's no limit on how many questions you can ask anyway. I'll take that one down! :)
To Unlucky-Fausto, if it's not obvious, I love Kurosaki's character a lot, so I was really tempted, lmao. And yup, Martha is connected to so many characters that she could essentially rule the Synchro Dimension if she was that kind of person, lmao. The horse is so far from being charred that it hasn't even been hunted down yet. I'll take down your questions!
To AccurateGap1, heh, thanks for helping me hit that milestone! I'm glad you're enjoying it—I'm happy to have some chill after the very intense Academia and Security parts of this arc too! And well, if you're enjoying the other two stories, I'm very grateful for that too :) And I'm very excited for the Xyz Arc too!
To T.V. 2000, I can't believe it's been so long! I thought I would give up like two months in, haha, but I'm glad that I managed to stick it out. And well, the canonical duel was never going to happen under the same circumstances, but I still wanted the two of them to duel at some point. As for the recommendations, thanks! I don't read VRAINS fic as much, but I've read some of Obscured Truth and enjoyed it, though I haven't had the time to fully get through it yet. And Hidden Memories is pretty well-known too, but I haven't finished that fic fully either.
Alright, we're ending things here—I'm tired and need to finish off some work for irl stuff, haha. Hope you enjoyed!
QOTC: What do you think happened to Roget?
+ QOTC2: Any other character interactions you're looking forward to seeing in the Synchro Arc?
For the second one, while I do have most of the last part of the arc already written, I'm just curious if there's any really obvious interactions I've missed out. Though I'm not guaranteeing that I'll take suggestions—you know my usual policy :)
See you next time! Obligatory reminder on the Q&A, remember to submit everything by a few days after Chapter 81 :) No limit on how many questions you can have.