A/N: Hello guys. I hope you all had enjoyed your Thanksgiving if you live in the USA.
Before you read this new chapter, I just want to make an announcement; This chapter will be the last chapter I will write for Yu-Gi-Oh VRAINS Codes of Secrets, BUT that doesn't mean that it will be cancelled or anything like that.
It will be put in hiatus for little awhile, at least for the rest of this year, but I will write the new chapter sometimes in next year. I don't know when I will be back, but when I do, it will be a blast. This is just for me, so that I can organize and work on other stories that deserves an update as well as start few new stories I have plan for next year.
I hope you understand and thank you for supporting this story. Without further ado, let's begin.
UPDATE: Fixed a mistake about the monster's presence on the field due to a card effect.
Chapter 72
Quantum Blast
After the duel was over, Soulburner and Cyber Man were facing against the mysterious dark duelist.
"Who are you?" Cyber Man questioned.
"I am the Reaper." The duelists' eyes widened to hear that name.
The Reaper turned his eyes to Soulburner and pointed at him, then said, "I cam here to challenge you! Soulburner!"
Just as Reaper appeared, SOL Tech's security center was watching the whole thing. Akira and Hayami were just as surprised as everyone else, except for Queen. She rather looked interested in this unexpected turnabout. Yes, she was a bit surprised, but this could come to SOL Tech's advantage.
"Chief Zaizen! That person! It is exactly what the people on the web and LINK VRAINS described! He's the Reaper!" Hayami pointed out.
"Indeed it is him," he said. He read about the Reaper. He had been dueling other people in LINK VRAINS and defeated them severely to the point that there was a drop of users logging in to LINK VRAINS. It raised concern for the well-being of the public safety.
"If he's here, he will cause trouble," Akira stated, then gestured to his operators. "All operators, send out the security bot to trap and stop him from doing anything else, while we have the chance!"
"Hold it!" He stopped when the Queen spoke up. "Let's not act hastily now. Besides, this could be our opportunity.
"Queen, what do you mean by that?" Akira asked, feeling suspicious.
"I say let them duel and see what happens," Queen answered.
Somewhere else, Emma and Aoi were also watching, seeing everything happening.
"So that is the Reaper!" Aoi exclaimed.
"Yeah. Though I thought he only showed up where not many people watch, he decided to show himself," Emma commented.
Back in LINK VRAINS, Cyber Man, Soulburner, and Reaper flew close together. They didn't notice, but the hidden camera bot was still watching them as it was still broadcasting even after the duel.
"Check it out, Mimi! Is that the Reaper?!" Kitty asked.
"It must be so," Mimi said. "If he is here, this must mean trouble, but an interesting scoop."
"Then, let's keep rolling and see what happens next!" Kitty decided.
"You want to duel me?" Soulburner asked.
"That's right," Reaper answered. "I've dueled other duelists over the past weeks, but they were just warm-up. I didn't find the duels I had satisfying. However, I can tell. You are… Different from others."
Reaper summoned his Duel Disk, which had a dark purple sword-like blade for the blade. Soulburner changed his stance in response.
"You will duel me, Soulburner…. If you so seek the safety of your Ignis."
That was when everybody who was watching had their eyes widened and gasped.
"How does he know about the Ignis?" Soulburner asked.
"There can only be one explanation," Flame said as he pointed his finger epically as a certain lawyer would do. "He's with Bohman and the Beast!"
"Of course!" Soulburner's eyes widened. "Then that means…." He looked at Reaper with a bit of anger at the dark duelist. "Hey, are you the one who kidnapped Codebreaker?!"
Cyber Man's almost gasped, but his eyes widened more. 'Could it be?' he thought.
"Codebreaker?" Reaper repeated before he nodded. "I do not know of someone named 'Codebreaker', and I don't care. Duel me, Soulburner!"
"I know what you're thinking, Soulburner," Flame said. "And for the first time, I am thinking the same thing."
"Hmph. That's a first," Soulburner joked before he turned serious. "Nonetheless, you are right about that, partner! If we duel this guy and defeat him, we will know where is Codebreaker!"
"Then let's show him our strength, Soulburner!" Flame exclaimed.
Soulburner nodded and then said, "Alright! I accept your challenge!"
"Very well," Reaper said as he turned forward and pointed. "Whoever passes through those two floating islands over there decides who goes first."
Soulburner and Reaper raced against each other to the two floating islands. Cyber Man followed after them as fast as he could, not losing sight of them.
'If I can make it pass through first, then I can take the first turn!' Soulburner thought as he focused on the goal.
'If what Soulburner said is true, then this Reaper… He must know where Morse is! I know that I work for SOL Tech as their bounty hunter and all, I shall watch and cheer for Soulburner!' Cyber Man decided.
Soon, he felt a presence. He glanced behind him and noticed another duelist approaching.
"Hey look! It's a Cyber Man!" Ai pointed.
"Playmaker!" He shouted as the very man himself flew next to him.
"Where is Soulburner, you traitor!" Ai accused.
"Relax. I was already defeated and give up chasing Soulburner," Cyber Man stated.
"Oh? You lost?" Ai asked.
"Where is he now?" Playmaker asked.
"See for yourself," Cyber Man answered as he pointed forward.
Playmaker and Ai saw the direction of his finger, noticing that Soulburner was racing against another duelist who was all black.
"Who is that?" Ai asked.
"The Reaper," Cyber Man revealed.
Ai's eyes widened. "The Reaper?!"
"The Reaper. You mean that mysterious duelist that's been forcing other users to duel in LINK VRAINS?" Playmaker said and Cyber Man nodded in return.
As Cyber Man was explaining the situation to Playmaker while chasing after Soulburner and Reaper, the two duelists were closing on the two islands. Soulburner was a little bit in the lead until Reaper smirked behind his mask and stepped strongly on his D-Board, activating a rocket speed boost.
It surprised Soulburner when he passed by him and went through the two islands first.
"I have passed first," Reaper stated.
"Damn it! He went first!" Soulburner mumbled.
"I decide that you take the first turn," Reaper offered.
This surprised Soulburner and made Flame curious.
"He's allowing me to go first?" Soulburner asked.
"Don't let your guard down, Soulburner!" Flame warned him.
"Right!" He agreed.
"SPEED DUEL!"
Soulburner vs. Reaper
Soulburner (5h): 4000 LP
Reaper (5h): 4000 LP
"I take the first turn! I discard a card to Special Summon Salamangreat Meer from my hand!" He discarded one in his hand, and then an orange meerkat with flames coming out of its back appeared as it gave a little roar.
Salamangreat Meer – ATK/DEF: 800, LVL: 4 FIRE
"I activate the effect of Salamangreat Falco in my graveyard!" He declared. "If this monster is in my Graveyard, I can target 1 Salamangreat monster I control to return it to my hand and then Special Summon it!" He gestured to Meer as it turned into a fire, returning into a card form. "I return Salamangreat Meer and Special Summon Salamangreat Falco!"
A portal appeared and out came a blackbird burning in flames before it showed its true form with a powerful screech. It was summoned in Defense Position.
Salamangreat Falco – ATK: 1200 DEF: 1600, LVL: 4, FIRE
"Then, I activate Salamangreat Meer's effect from my hand! If this card is added to my hand other than through a normal draw, I can Special Summon it! Return, Salamangreat Meer! The orange meerkat returned in Defense Position, summoning next to Falco on the field.
"I set a card and end my turn," Soulburner said.
Soulburner (2): 4000 LP
"Not bad, Soulburner," Flame complimented. "Though I could've done better myself, this is a start."
"Couldn't you say something a little bit nicer?" He asked.
Cyber Man and Playmaker followed behind them, watching from a safe distance.
"Soulburner started the duel by building his defense," Ai commented.
"He summoned the same monsters that he used during his first turn in the duel against me, but here, he's playing it safe," Cyber Man noted.
"He has to." The Dark Ignis and the LINK VRAINS caped crusader turned to Playmaker. "We do not know what kind of duelist this Reaper is."
"But do you think this guy has anything to do with Codebreaker missing?" Ai asked.
"I believe so!" Cyber Man said strongly. "He must have!"
"I feel indifferent about that," Playmaker admitted. "The only way to tell is by Soulburner beating him in this speed duel."
"So, you started the duel by summoning your two monsters and one set card," Reaper said. "Hmph. If you think playing defensively at the start of the duel grants you safe, then you are dead wrong! I will show you how to duel!"
Reaper drew a card to begin.
Reaper (6h): 4000 LP
"Let me show you, Soulburner!" He shouted, catching his attention as he was glancing back at him. "I play the Continuous Spell Card, Force Link Machine!"
The Spell Card showed a strange machine creating a Link Portal with two Link Arrows glowing in red, and the Link Monster, Linkuriboh coming out of it.
"Force Link Machine?" Akira siblings said at the same time.
"Then I summon Q# Exe Knight." On his side, a black knight with glowing purple lights over its armor appeared with a black shield and sword that had a beam of light for the blade. It wore a helmet that had an opening where you can see a single red light glowing, indicating it to be its only eye.
Q# Exe Knight -LVL: 3, DARK, Cyberse/Effect, ATK: 800 DEF: 800
"Q#?!" Playmaker, Soulburner, Cyber Man, Aoi, Emma, Akira, Ai, and Flame thought in sync.
"That naming! It is the same as Codebreaker's C# and F# monsters!" Ai pointed out.
"It can't be!" Cyber Man widened his eyes. "Then, this man…!"
"I guess this is enough proof," Flame said with narrowed eyes.
Soulburner gripped his hand. "You! So you do have something to do with Codebreaker!"
"What are you talking about?" Reaper responded calmly, yet coldly.
"Why do you have a monster with naming the same likes my friend's Deck!" Soulburner shouted, pointing to Q# Exe Knight. "Codebreaker uses a Deck with the same kind of naming for his monsters! Not to mention the duel monster type is the same!"
"So what if I use the same type of monsters for my Deck and the same naming for my monsters?" Reaper said. "I will continue my turn."
Reaper sped forward ahead of Soulburner.
"I Tribute my Q# Exe Knight to activate the effect of the Continuous Spell Card, Link Force Machine on the field!" he declared as the said monster was indeed Tributed. "Once per turn, by tributing my monster, I can Special Summon a Link Monster with Link Rating equals to the Tributed Monster's Level."
"Nani?! He's going to Special Summon a Link Monster through a Spell Effect?!" Ai gasped.
"Not quite," he responded, making Ai looked confused. "This Spell Card only targets my opponent's Extra Deck!"
"Say what?" Soulburner gasped as everyone else watching was also surprised as him.
"He released a Level 3 Q# Exe Knight. That means he can summon a Link-3 Link Monster," Flame noted.
"Appear! The circuit of betrayal!" Reaper shouted as a Link Portal opened just above Soulburner. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is at least two FIRE Effect Monsters normally, but due to the effect of Force Link Machine, I offer my Tribute Monster!"
Q# Exe Knight appeared briefly, standing in the center of the strange machine until it shined a light through it, which consumed it and shot three beams at the top, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows on the portal.
"Force Link Summon! Appear, Link-3! Salamangreat Heatleo!" Soulburner's ace monster appeared out of the fiery twister and roared onto the field, summoning in the Right Extra Monster Zone.
Salamangreat Heatleo – ATK: 2300, LINK: 3, Link Arrow: Top, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right.
"He did summon Soulburner's Link Monster!" Ai was surprised.
"I've never seen a Spell Card effect that can Link Summon an opponent's Link Monster by force, little to know that such card effect exists!" Cyber Man exclaimed.
"Force Link Summon…" Playmaker repeated as he was in deep thought.
"Oh my God! Did you see that Mimi?! Reaper Link Summoned Soulburner's ace monster!" Kitty pointed.
"I've never seen a Link Summon like this before!" Mimi exclaimed.
"I can't believe he forced to Link Summon my ace monster, Heatleo," Soulburner stated., though looking confused. "But just why?"
"I think we will find that out soon enough, my partner," Flame stated.
"A Link Monster Special Summoned this way is treated as a normal Link Summoned monster, and it is placed in the Extra Monster Zone. Since you control a Link Monster, I can discard a card to Special Summon Q# Particle from my hand!" As he sent a card to the graveyard, a body of blue particles with two glowing, sharp blue eyes appeared on the field.
Q# Particle – LVL: 2, DARK, Cyberse/Effect, ATK: 1000, DEF: 0
"Then, I Special Summon Q# Light!" Suddenly, a bright blue light shined on the field, overwhelming everyone except Reaper to cover their eyes. Once the light was dimmed down, the summoned monster was just a pure light with sharp red eyes.
Q# Light – LVL: 4, LIGHT, Cyberse/Effect, ATK: 0 DEF: 0
"This monster can be Special Summoned from my graveyard if my opponent controls a Link Monster on the field and while it is face-up on the field, all Link Monsters lose 500 ATK!"
Salamangreat Heatleo cried as its fire on the head became smaller.
Salamangreat Heatleo – ATK: 2300 – 500 = 1800
"Next, I activate Q# Exe Knight's effect in my graveyard!" he continued. "If my opponent controls a Link Monster in the Extra Monster Zone, I can Special Summon it from my graveyard! Resurrect, Q# Exe Knight!"
The black knight reappeared, taking the Right Main Monster Zone, the last Main Monster Zone on Reaper's side of the field.
"Additionally, if it is Special Summoned by this effect, then I can target one Q# monster on the field to make all monsters on my side of the field change their Levels equal to the targeted monster's Level. I target my Q# Light to change Exe Knight's and Particle's Level to Level 4!"
Q# Exe Knight pointed its sword up, causing itself and Particle to glow in a dark aura.
Q# Exe Knight – Level: 3 to 4
Q# Particle – Level: 2 to 4
"Three monsters? Is he going to Link Summon?" Aoi wondered aloud.
"I don't think that is it," Emma stated with her arms crossed.
"He changed his monsters' Level to Level 4. What is he up to?" Ai thought aloud.
"This must be…" Cyber Man said, pondering.
"Behold, Soulburner! Witness my power! I overlay my Level 4 Q# Particle, Light, and Exe Knight!" A bolt of dark red energy shot out of Reaper's Duel Disk, creating an Xyz cross behind him while his opponents and the spectators watched with their eyes wide opened.
"With my monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" His monsters turned into data and absorbed into the red dots. The ends of the cross fired beams at a single point, creating a galaxy portal. "Link-Killer Dragon, let your roar echoes the Cyberse realm to show your mighty power and lay destruction upon whoever stands in the way! Xyz Summon! Rise, Rank 4! Q# Quantum Dragon!" The shadowy dragon appeared as it roared powerfully in the Extra Monster Zone, but this time it showed its full form.
The dragon's body was long and slender, but big from the head up to down a small tail. Its body was mainly black with several red dots on the side lined up in a row that glowed in the dark purple and white underbelly. It had six arms with three fingers and red claws. It had two mouths; the top was smaller, and the bottom was bigger with an extended jaw, but the two mouths had sharp teeth. A crimson red whisker attached on its face, and chin was pointy. There were four red eyes with black pupils and the eyes looked almost like a camera lens. The backside was armor-plated while three purple Overlay Units orbited around it.
Q# Quantum Dragon-Rank: 4, DARK, Cyberse/Xyz/Effect, ATK: 2800, DEF: 2000 OU: 3
"Wh…What kind of monster is that?!" Ai exclaimed. Aoi, Kitty, and Hayami were thinking the same thing. The monster looked horrifying.
"He summoned an Xyz Monster!" Soulburner said.
"Indeed he had," Flame noted.
At the SOL Tech's operations center, Hayami checked over the Q# cards and the Spell Card, Force Link Machine, and found no records of the cards.
"Chief Zaizen! I checked our database, and these cards don't exist!" Hayami exclaimed.
"So, it is," Akira nodded. "Those cards are created and customized by someone else. Could it be Reaper himself or someone else?"
"Q# Quantum Dragon's effect activates when it is Xyz Summoned!" He declared. "If this card is Xyz Summoned, then I can activate the effects of Q# monsters attached to it as Xyz Materials as its own!"
"Activating effects of its Xyz Materials as its own?" Flame repeated.
"I will demonstrate it to you, Flame Ignis," Reaper said. "I activate the effect of Q# Light! Your Link Monster loses an additional 500 ATK!"
Salamangreat Heatleo – ATK: 1800 – 500 = 1300
"Wait for a second! Shouldn't Heatleo's ATK be 1800? Didn't its ATK returned to normal when Q# Light left the field?" Ai pointed out.
"That's a good point," Cyber Man agreed.
"Even if Q# Light leaves the field, its effect still applies," Reaper revealed.
"What?! That's not fair!" Ai complained.
"Be quiet!" Playmaker scolded him.
"I activate Q# Quantum Dragon's additional effect!" Reaper declared, ignoring Ai's complaint. "Once per turn, I detach two of its Overlay Units, and then target 1 Link Monster on the field." Two orbs were absorbed into the monster's body. "I target Salamangreat Heatleo! Link Attach Scan!"
Suddenly, the dragon flew over to Soulburner, encircling around him before it stopped to stare at Heatleo. Then, its red eyes glowed and shot flat beams at Heatleo, scanning it.
"What is it doing?" Soulburner asked.
"Now I attach Salamangreat Heatleo to my dragon as Xyz Material and gain ATK equals to that attached Link Monster's original ATK!" Soulburner and Flame widened their eyes as Heatleo cried before it turned into a purple orb, flying over to Quantum Dragon, and started orbiting it. Dragon's roared as its body glowed in dark red, causing its ATK to increase.
Q# Quantum Dragon – ATK: 2800 + 2300 = 5100
"5100 ATK?!" Soulburner's eyes widened even more.
"So this is why people call him 'Link Killer'," Playmaker said as Cyber Man and Ai listened to him. "Using a monster's effect that activates when there is a Link Monster on the field and Xyz Summoning this dragon to steal the Link Monster from the opponent."
"Steal it?" Ai repeated.
"Not only that, but Reaper also forces his opponent to Link Summon by using the Spell Card, Force Link Machine. Even if you don't Link Summon a Link Monster, he can Force Link Summon," Cyber Man added.
"This man is dangerous!" Ai exclaimed.
"I set a card and then I declare to attack!" Reaper gestured to his dragon. "Q# Quantum Dragon attacks your Salamangreat Meer!"
The dragon's body was electrified with red energy, then the same energy gathered into its bottom mouth. It slowly opened the mouth like a red ball of energy formed inside it until it opened its jaw completely.
"Even though your monster has higher ATK than all other monsters on the field, Salamangreat Meer is in Defense Position, so, therefore, my partner's Life Points cannot be touched," Flame pointed.
"Do you think you are safe just because of that?" Reaper sneered as Flame reacted. "I activate the effect of Q# Exe Knight! If this card is used for Xyz Summon of Q# monster, the monster can inflict piercing battle damage!"
"Say what?!" Both Soulburner and Flame gasped.
"Piercing battle damage?!" Ai gasped, too.
"Since Q# Quantum Dragon's ATK is 5100 and Salamangreat Meer's DEF is 600, that means…" Cyber Man calculated.
"4500 points of damage," Playmaker answered, shocking everyone.
"If Soulburner gets hit by that amount of damage, he will lose!" Ai screamed.
"Instant One-Turn KO!" Cyber Man stated.
"Destroy his monster, my dragon! Quantum Oblivion!" The dragon fired the energy ball at Salamangreat Meer. As it came closer and closer, you could feel the heat emanating from it.
"Soulburner!" Ai screamed.
Soulburner gestured his hand to the field, then said, "I activate the Trap, Salamangreat Rage!"
"Salamangreat Rage?" Reaper repeated.
"I activate one of its effects! By sending 1 Salamangreat monster from my hand or face-up on the field to the graveyard, I can target 1 card on the field and destroy it. I send Salamangreat Falco to the graveyard, and then I target your Quantum Dragon to destroy it!" Salamangreat Falco turned into a fiery phoenix, and flew toward the energy ball, piercing it through and then strike through the dragon, and exploded on impact.
Ai and Cyberman let go of the breath they were holding.
"Phew, that was a close one!" Ai said.
"I agree," Cyberman added.
"But it's not over yet," Playmaker stated.
"That was too close," Soulburner said, looking relieved.
However, Reaper had other things on his sleeve. "Trap activates! Quantum Leap!" The recent Set Card flipped up, revealing Q# Quantum Dragon coming out of the purple portal while Gagagigo watched with a surprised look on his face.
"What?! But that card was just set this turn?" Flame exclaimed.
"Yeah! Just how is he able to activate?! You can't activate a Trap Card in the same turn you set it!" Soulburner noted.
"This card can!" Reaper responded, surprising everyone. "If Q# Xyz Monster is destroyed during the battle, I can immediately activate this Set Card and when I do, I can Special Summon the destroyed monster from my graveyard. Resurrect, Q# Quantum Dragon!"
The purple portal opened, and then the same dragon came out of it as it gave out a roar. It was summoned in the Main Monster Zone below the Extra Monster Zone.
"Then, this card is attached to the resurrected monster as its Xyz Material." The Trap Card turned into a purple orb and started orbiting around the dragon.
"I end my turn… For now," Reaper said.
Reaper (1h): 4000 LP
"I can't believe that he almost KO me in one turn," Soulburner said as he wiped his forehead for sweat, even though you couldn't sweat in LINK VRAINS.
"Ah, yes. I can't believe how strong Reaper is," Flame said. "He is much stronger than I expected.
"But now we have a chance!" Soulburner noted. "He only has a monster on the field and no other set cards! We just have to get rid of his dragon this turn and win!"
Soulburner placed his finger on his deck, then said, "I draw!"
Soulburner (3h): 4000 LP
"I summon Salamangreat Gazelle!" A purple gazelle with long black horns and flames burning out from the side of its torso appeared in his last Main Monster Zone.
Salamangreat Gazelle – ATK/DEF: 1500/1000, LVL: 3, FIRE.
"I activate Gazelle's effect! If it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can send one Salamangreat card from my Deck to the graveyard. I send my Salamangreat Jack Jaguar from my Deck to the graveyard." He did so.
"Salamangreat Falco's effect activates! By returning one Salamangreat monster on the field to my hand, I can Special Summon it from my graveyard! I return Meer to my hand and resurrect Falco!" The brave bird returned once again. "Not only that, but Meer's effect activates! If it is added to my hand other than through a draw, I can Special Summon it back! Return, Meer!" The orange meerkat returned once again.
"Then, I play the Field Spell, Salamangreat Sanctuary!" He showed the Field Spell, placing it on the field as it briefly appeared. "Appear now! The circuit that changes the future!" The Link portal appeared above him. "The summoning condition is at least two FIRE Effect Monsters. I set my Salamangreat Gazelle, Falco, and Meer in the Link Markers!"
His three monsters turned into fire twisters, entering the top, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows.
"Link Summon! Appear, Link-3! Salamangreat Heatleo!" His ace monster burned in flames before it roared the fire away as it showed itself.
Salamangreat Heatleo – ATK: 2300, LINK: 3, Link Arrow: Top, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right.
"Now that you have Link Summoned your monster, it will lose 1000 ATK points," Reaper reminded as Heatleo's ATK went down.
Salamangreat Heatleo – ATK: 2300 – 1000 = 1300
"That effect is so annoying," Ai chided.
"I agree," Cyber Man added. "Even though Q# Light is not on the field, its effect still applies even after it leaves the field. The same rule applies for Q# Quantum Dragon due to its effect. However, Soulburner must have known that, so I wonder why he still Link Summoned his ace monster."
"Then, I activate the effect of the Field Spell, Salamangreat Sanctuary!" he declared as he pointed to the sky, making the Link Portal appeared again. "If I Link Summon a Salamangreat Link Monster, I can use it with its same name as the entire Link material. I use Salamangreat Heatleo!"
His ace monster roared before it turned into a fire. The fire flew into the red spellbinding circle as Soulburner changed. "Reincarnation Link Summon! Reborn from ashes! Appear, Salamangreat Heatleo!" His ace monster reappeared again, but this time, the fiery mane was burning brighter with stronger fire.
"Yes, Soulburner! Go and show your burning passion!" Flame exclaimed.
"No matter how many times you Link Summon, Heatleo still loses 1000 ATK!" Reaper started as the monster did indeed lose the ATK.
Salamangreat Heatleo – ATK: 2300 – 1000 = 1300
"It doesn't matter for me," Soulburner smirked. "I activate Salamangreat Heatleo's effect! Once per turn, during my Main Phase, if this card was Link Summoned using Salamangreat Heatleo as material, then I can target 1 face-up monster on the field and another monster in my graveyard. Then, the attack of the first target becomes equal to the other target's attack, until the end of this turn."
"In other words, you will make my dragon weaker," Reaper noted.
"That's right! You catch on quick!" Soulburner responded. "I target your one and only, Q# Quantum Dragon and Salamangreat Meer in my graveyard!"
Heatleo breathed out a fire at Quantum Dragon, burning it and making it cry in pain as its ATK became lowered.
Q# Quantum Dragon – ATK: 2800 - 800
"With that, Soulburner's Link Monster is stronger than Reaper's Xyz monster," Aoi pointed out.
"If he goes for an attack after this, he will only do 500 damage to Reaper's Life Points," Akira commented. "That shouldn't be just it."
"Salamangreat Jack Jaguar's effect activates from the graveyard!" He followed up. "If I control a Salamangreat Link Monster while this card is in my graveyard, I can target another Salamangreat monster in my graveyard, shuffle it into my Deck, and if I do, I Special Summon this card to the zone Heatleo points to. I target my Salamangreat Gazelle and shuffle it into my Deck!"
As he shuffled the monster card into his deck, a black, yellow jaguar with flames appeared as it roared in the zone pointed by Salamangreat's bottom-left arrow.
Salamangreat Jack Jaguar – ATK/DEF: 1800/1200, LVL: 4, FIRE.
"I am not done yet! Now I equip the Spell, Salamangreat Furnace to Heatleo!" The said card showed Salamangreat Heatleo burning inside a giant furnace's blue fire. "While equipped with this card, Heatleo gains ATK equals to the original ATK of the Salamangreat monster it points to."
"Currently, Heatleo points to Jack Jaguar and its ATK is 1800," Kitty noted.
"Which means that Heatleo gains 1800 ATK," Mimi stated.
Salamangreat Heatleo – ATK: 1300 + 1800 = 3100
"Awesome! Now that Heatleo's ATK is greater than before, he will do higher damage to Reaper's Life Points!" Ai exclaimed.
"Not just that, but he can also win this duel once he declares Jack Jaguar to attack him directly," Playmaker said.
"It's because that after Heatleo attacks, Reaper will only have 1700 Life Points left and Jack Jaguar's ATK is 1800!" Cyber Man couldn't help but smile at that.
"This is for my friend, Codebreaker! Battle! Salamangreat Heatleo attacks Q# Quantum Dragon!" Heatleo roared powerfully as it strikes at Quantum Dragon. The two monsters roared and struggled against each other, but Heatleo overwhelmed its opposer and breathed out a flamethrower at it.
The flame also hit Reaper as he blocked its mask to protect himself and his D-Board seems to be not affected by the flamethrower, but his Life Points were affected. The impact of the damage did make a crack over his mask.
Reaper: 4000 – 2300 = 1700 LP
"Now Jack Jaguar declares a direct attack to your Life Points!" Soulburner declared. His last monster turned around and then ran towards Reaper to lay a final attack.
"Not so fast!" He shouted. "I activate the effect of Q# Quadrum Guardna in my hand! If my opponent controls a Link Monster on the field and that they declare a direct attack, I can pay 1000 Life Points to negate that attack, and Special Summon this card from my hand!"
Reaper: 1700 – 1000 = 700 LP
Suddenly, a black heavy-armored knight with a single glowing yellow light in the opening of the helmet appeared, and it blocked Jack Jaguar's attack. The armor also had a glowing purple light all over it. It carried with a square-shaped shield with the same glowing effect.
Q# Quadrum Guardna-LVL: 4, DARK, Cyberse/Effect, ATK/DEF: 100/1900
Flame grunted. "Tch! He survives this turn, but at least we did enough damage for him, and we still have 4000 Life Points."
"Right! We still have a higher chance to win this," Soulburner said confidently. "I end my turn."
"I can't believe he had a trick like that! Why can't he just let himself lose?!" Ai complained.
"Relax, Ignis," Cyber Man said. "Your friend is still at a huge advantage. Thanks to Reaper's move, he has zero cards in his hand. The odd of him drawing a card to turnover this duel into his favor is very slim."
"That is true, so Soulburner and Flame win this duel!" Ai cheered.
Playmaker watched quietly, not saying anything and thinking. He couldn't help but shake that there was something not right about this. Yes, it was true that Reaper was at a disadvantage while his ally, Soulburner was a huge advantage, but there was something not right about this.
"It is my turn…. And this will be my last draw!" Reaper proclaimed. "Draw!"
Reaper sped forward on his D-Board, passing by Soulburner.
"What is he planning to do?" Soulburner asked.
"Skill activates! Dark Domination!" The lines on his suit glowed in dark purple. "I can activate my skill if I have less than 1000 Life Points. If my opponent controls a Link Monster while I don't, I can Special Summon an Extra Deck monster from my graveyard or Extra Deck with additional ATK equals to the original ATK of my opponent's Link Monster!"
This made everyone gasped as a purple portal appeared, and the familiar, terrifying dragon came out of it with higher ATK.
Q# Quantum Dragon – ATK: 2800 + 2300 = 5100
Reaper gestured to his field. "I activate the additional effect of Force Link Machine! By sending this card to the graveyard, I can target one Link Monster my opponent controls, and then my monster gains ATK equal to that monster's original ATK until the end of this turn!"
His Continuous Spell Card destroyed itself as Quantum Dragon's ATK increased even further.
Q# Quantum Dragon – 5100 + 2300 = 7400
"7400 ATK?!" Cyber Man gasped.
"Soulburner!" Soulburner looked at him as Reaper turned around and pointed at him. "You Link Summoning your monster has sealed your fate!"
"What?!" He was surprised and a bit confused.
"What do you mean by that?" Flame questioned.
"Quantum Dragon attacks Heatleo! Quantum Oblivion!" The dragon charged up red electrical energy inside its mouth, forming an energy ball as it opened its bottom mouth. It fired the red electrical energy ball at Heatleo. It was so large that everything on Soulburner's side was consumed by it, including the owner himself.
Suddenly, everything was silent until a giant explosion boomed through LINK VRAINS.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaararaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" Soulburner screamed alongside Flame.
Soulburner: 0 LP
Reaper WINS
New Cards Cheat Sheet
Reaper
Force Link Machine-Type: Continuous Spell, Effect: Once per turn, you can Tribute one monster to activate this effect: You can Special Summon 1 Link Monster from your opponent's Extra Deck, using the Tributed monster as the entire material to summon it (This summoning is treated as Link Summon). The Link Summoned monster is summoned to the Extra Monster Zone. You can destroy this card: You can target 1 Link Monster on your opponent's side of the field and 1 monster on your side of the field; increase the second target's ATK by that first target's original ATK, until the end of this turn.
Q# Exe Knight -LVL: 3, DARK, Cyberse/Effect, ATK: 800 DEF: 800, Effect: If your opponent controls a Link Monster in the Extra Monster Zone while this card is your GY: You can Special Summon it, and if you do, you can target 1 "Q#" monster on the field, then change the Level of all face-up monster(s) you controls equals to the Level of that target.
Q# Particle – LVL: 2, DARK, Cyberse/Effect, ATK: 1000, DEF: 0. Effect: If your opponent controls a Link Monster: You can discard 1 card and then Special Summon this card from your hand.
Q# Light – LVL: 4, LIGHT, Cyberse/Effect, ATK: 0 DEF: 0. Effect: If Link Monster is summoned (Quick Effect): You can Special Summon this card from your hand or GY. All Link Monster(s) on the field loses 500 ATK while this card is face-up on the field (even if it leaves the field).
Q# Quantum Dragon-Rank: 4, DARK, Cyberse/Xyz/Effect, ATK: 2800, DEF: 2000. Effect: 3 Level 4 Cyberse Monsters.
If this card is Xyz Summoned: This card can activate the effects of "Q#" monsters attached to this card as Xyz Material as its own. Once per turn: You can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card and target 1 Link Monster on the field; attach that monster to this card as Xyz Material, and increase this card's ATK by that monster's original ATK.
Quantum Leap-Type: Normal Trap, Effect: If "Q#" Xyz monster is destroyed during the battle in the same turn you set this card, you can immediately activate this card: You can Special Summon the destroyed monster from your GY, and if you do, you can attach this card to that monster as Xyz Material.
Q# Quadrum Guardna-LVL: 4, DARK, Cyberse/Effect, ATK/DEF: 100/1900. Effect: If your opponent controls a Link Monster and they declare a direct attack: You can pay 1000 Life Points, and if you do, you can negate that attack, then Special Summon this card from your hand. This card cannot be destroyed by battle once per turn.
Soulburner
Salamangreat Furnace-Type: Equip Spell, Effect: You can only equip this card to "Salamangreat" Link Monster. The equipped monster gains ATK equals to the Linked monster's original ATK.
If you made it to the end here, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Did you all expect Soulburner to lose the duel? Shocking isn't it?
So, I want to know who do you think is Reaper and what do you think of his Q# Deck? As you can tell, the Deck centers around anti-Link or rather activating card effect whenever opponent controls a Link Monster. It always involve with Link Monster. Also, what did you think of "Force Link Summon"?
I just want to give credit to scififan599 for looking over the card effect of Q# Quantum Dragon.
Like I said at the beginning, this chapter will be the last chapter and this story will be put on hiatus for awhile. Again, I hope you all understand and when I return, it will be another awesome, and hopefully better chapter. More duels will be coming.
Until next time, guys, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving if you live in the USA, and happy holidays to you all. Thank you for supporting this story through this year, and see you guys again next year.
~NewComer1
Preview for Chapter 73
After Soulburner's utter defeat, the other duelists confront Reaper to stop his tyranny! To make Cyber Man proud of him, Fate Kid challenges the dark Anti-Link Duelist to a Speed Duel!
Fate Kid: It is me! Fate Kid, and I challenge you to a duel!
Reaper: I don't duel a kid, kid. Get out of my sight.
Fate Kid: Don't underestimate me, you villain! For I am Cyber Man's most trusty sidekick, and I won't let you get away with things!
Reaper: If you pushes me further, then I will defeat you... Miserably!
Just as the duel begins, Blossom Star watches afar to learn more about Reaper...
Next time in Yu-Gi-Oh VRAINS Codes of Secrets, Hero's Duty and Curious Flower!
Reaper: Into the VRAINS!
Ai: Hey! Why is he saying that at the end?!