Asuka entered the arena, looking across from Sho as he came in on the other side. The action field activated, displaying the name River City, and resembling Prison Tower of Darktown but in the day. Asuka looked thoughtfully at the canals running through the city, but Sho watched the skyscrapers rising up and scowled.
"Looks like I'm starting," said Asuka at the selector display.
"Fine," Sho replied, immediately dashing off for an action card. Asuka ran after him while starting her turn.
"I summon Cyber Petit Angel! I can now add either a Cyber Angel monster or a copy of Machine Angel Ritual to my hand. I choose the second effect. Then, I activate Machine Angel Ritual! I tribute the level 2 Cyber Petit Angel on my field and the level 4 Etoile Cyber in my hand!" The second monster appeared next to the smaller one and both became streaks of fire that combined in the air.
"Angel of light who hides healing powers! With your elegant appearance, heal those who are wounded! Ritual Summon! Descend, level 5 Cyber Angel Natasha!"
A multi-armed, centaur-like figure emerged from the flames, settling into defense position with 1000 DEF.
"I activate Natasha's effect - I target one monster I control and gain life points equal to half its attack points!" With Natasha targeting herself, Asuka's life points increased to 4500. Everyone guessed that with 1000 DEF, Natasha must have some other, more powerful effect. Little did they know, Sho already knew it.
"Draw," he said. The crowd, and Asuka, looked on with intrigue at what monsters he'd reveal. "I summon! Super Quantum Green Layer!" Materializing on the field was a green armored figure, robes flowing in a swirl of green wind. "Now I can Special Summon another Super Quant monster from my hand. I summon Super Quantum Blue Layer!" A woman covered in a blue armored bodysuit appeared. "When she is summoned to my field, I can add any other card with Super Quant in the name from my deck to my hand," Sho explained.
"'Super Quant?'" Asuka repeated the awkward phrase, voicing the spreading question of what else exactly was in Sho's deck. He held up a spell card.
"I choose the field spell, Super Quantal Mech Ship Magnacarrier. Now I activate it!" A white airship appeared over their heads. Looking at the action card he'd picked up, Sho discarded it and promptly went for another one. "I discard from my hand to activate its effect - I target a Super Quantum monster and use it as material for a monster of the same attribute!"
"You can Fusion Summon with one monster?" Asuka asked.
"When did I say I was Fusion Summoning? I use Super Quantum Blue Layer as an Xyz Material!
"Powered by the very Earth's oceans, emerge and breach into battle! Xyz Summon! Launch, rank 3 Super Quantal Mech Beast Grampulse!"
A torrent of water shot out from the Xyz vortex and blue panels lit up inside it, revealing a dual-pod submarine based on a dolphin with 1800 ATK.
"And I discard Super Quantal Alphan Spike to activate Magnacarrier's effect again, using Green Layer as the material.
Powered by the very Earth's winds, emerge and soar into battle! Xyz Summon! Launch, rank 4 Super Quantal Mech Beast Aeroboros!"
A green outline glowed from a vortex of wind, and a robotic wyvern hovered above Sho, displaying 2200 ATK.
"I know Natasha can negate attacks against Ritual Monsters," Sho said. "But by detaching a material from Aeroboros, I flip Natasha face down!" The Ritual Monster dissipated and reformed into the spiked orb hologram for face-down monsters. "Additionally, since I sent Super Quantum Green Layer to the graveyard, his effect activates. I discard Super Quantal Fairy Alphan and draw another card. Battle phase!" Sho announced. "Grampulse, attack!" Grampulse fired a volley of torpedoes that annihilated Asuka's monster and caused her to shield her face from the smoke.
"Fortunately for you, Super Quantal Mech Beasts can't attack when they have no materials," Sho said. Asuka drew and began her next turn.
"I activate Machine Angel Absolute Ritual! I can Ritual Summon a Cyber Angel monster by tributing monsters or returning them from my graveyard to deck. I tribute level 6 Cyber Angel Benten from my hand and return level 2 Cyber Petit Angel to my deck!
Angel huntress, emerge from the light and cast it over the battlefield! Ritual Summon! Descend, level 8 Cyber Angel Dakini!"
The new Cyber Angel raised a pair of swords and a staff in her four arms.
"In addition, since Benten was tributed, I can search my deck for a new LIGHT Fairy monster. I add Cyber Angel Vrash to my hand! Now, when Dakini is summoned, I can force you to destroy one card you control!"
"Pretty ruthless, Asuka," Sho said. "I guess I have to choose Grampulse." With his monster destroyed, he stood stock still, looking Asuka in the eye.
"Battle," Asuka said. "Dakini attacks Aeroboros!"
"I activate my Action Card! Attack Force! Aeroboros gains 600 attack for this battle!" Its ATK climbed to 2800 and it counterattacked with a vortex of air.
"I activate Power Crystal!" Asuka shouted back. "I target Dakini and increase her attack by 800!" Dakini's ATK rose to 3500 and she pushed through Aeroboros's attack, destroying it. Sho grunted as his life points dropped to 3300.
"In the end phase, Dakini also allows me to return Machine Angel Ritual to my hand. Before you start your turn, though, let me ask you something."
"Go ahead," Sho offered.
"This new emphasis on Xyz… have you abandoned Fusion Monsters to spite Academia's memory?"
"I think you'd be able to see those reasons best out of anyone," Sho replied. "Since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Super Quantum Red Layer from my hand. His effect activates, allowing me to add Alphan back from my graveyard. " Then he did something no-one had seen before.
He smiled.
"That's not to say Fusions can't still have their uses," Sho said. "I activate Instant Fusion. By paying 1000 life points, I can now Fusion Summon a level 5 or lower monster with no materials. Come on out, Pair Cycroid."
Apart from being a Fusion Monster, it was striking for how different it was from Sho's other monsters. It was a bicycle with eyes and fists.
"I overlay level 5 Red Layer and Pair Cycroid!
Powered by the very Earth's molten crust, emerge and leap into battle! Xyz Summon! Launch, rank 5 Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger!"
Breaking out of the ground, a robotic red lion lit up with lines all along its body, with 2600 ATK.
"By detaching one material, I can target a monster on the field and destroy it!" With Dakini destroyed, Sho leapt into the air, backflipped off a wall and landed on Magnaliger's head.
"Battle phase! Magnaliger, attack directly! Strike Magma Claw!" Magnaliger's mane and front paws glowed with golden light and it bounded forward. Asuka turned and ran, eliciting cries of shock at the giant robot chasing her. She dove for an action card, rolling and slamming it into her duel disk.
"Selection of Miracle! I halve the battle damage!" Magnaliger's claw cracked the ground, launching Asuka up and throwing her onto her back. Her life points dropped to 3200.
"My, what a friendly, fun duel," Sho called sarcastically.
Asuka activated Preparation of Rites.
"I can now add a Ritual Monster from my deck to hand, then retrieve a Ritual Spell from my graveyard! I take Cyber Angel Idaten and Machine Angel Absolute Ritual! I now activate it, tributing level 6 Idaten from my hand and returning level 4 Etoile Cyber from my graveyard to deck!
Brilliant Angel who hides infinite power! Reveal yourself to the world, and illuminate all creation! Ritual Summon! Descend, level 10 Cyber Angel Vrash!"
As the angel drifted downward, shining golden light, Asuka explained,
"I can now destroy any monsters that you summoned from your extra deck, and inflict 1000 damage to you for each one!" Vrash flashed blinding light, when Sho shouted.
"While it has Red Layer as a material, Magnaliger's effect becomes quick! I target Vrash to destroy her!"
"I chain Vrash's quick effect!" Asuka shouted. "I shuffle Benten back into my deck, negate an effect that targets a Cyber Angel, and destroy that card!" Sho leapt off his Magnaliger just before it exploded, landing without any trace of surprise on his face.
"Did you do that just to avoid taking effect damage?" Asuka realized.
"And to prevent Vrash being able to attack twice this turn," he replied.
"You have done your homework," Asuka remarked. "But it won't be enough. Your life points are only at 2300, and by tributing Idaten, I raised Vrash's attack points by an additional 1000." Vrash's ATK increased to 4000.
"When Red Layer entered the graveyard, it triggered his second effect! I Special Summon Blue Layer back my graveyard! Now I can add another reinforcement from my deck to hand, and I search a new Green Layer! That was almost a perfect move - for an Honor Student. An Entertainment Duelist, though?" Sho remarked, tilting his head.
"You don't have to taunt me," Asuak replied.
"Do I look like I'm taunting you?" Sho asked, stony-faced. "I'm just stating what I see."
"No, I do understand you've experienced pain, but we can rise above it!" Asuka shouted. "Battle! Ascension Burst!" Vrash's wings extended and blasted golden beams forward. "I activate the action spell Stance Switch! I change Blue Layer into attack mode!"
"I activate Encore and replicate the action card I discarded earlier: Restore! I target Vrash and reset her attack points to their original value until the end of turn!"
Sho was blown back, bouncing off the ground and rolling onto his side, down to 500 life points.
"Even when there's pain in life, it doesn't mean you can't move on from it, make peace, become friends," Asuka said. Her last attempt at making peace had failed horribly, but she felt Sho was different. However, her hopes faded when she saw him looking back at her with sheer disgust.
"Friends?" Sho spat. "You talk about being friends like anything in this whole tournament has been friendly? All you've done - all anyone here has done - is prove it: Duel Monsters is violence. It's an inescapable fact. I'll never submit to the lie you're living!" He sprang back up. "You destroyed Blue Layer, but now I can return up to three Super Quant cards to my deck. I return Aeroboros to my extra deck. I Normal Summon Green Layer and use his effect to Special Summon Alphan! Now I activate his effect! I change his level to match one other monster's!" Alphan's level became 4, like Green Layer's, and they were immediately overlaid to re-summon Aeroboros.
"I send Magnacarrier to my graveyard to activate its final effect! I summon a new Xyz monster and attach three different Super Quantal Mech Beasts to it from my field or graveyard, as well as any materials they have!"
A wall lava erupted out of the ground with Magnaliger rising out of it. One of the canals shot a column of water into the air where Grampulse flew out. Aeroboros rose up with the other two robots, where they began to transform. Magnaliger folded away its limbs, becoming a torso. Grampulse split in half into a pair of legs. Aeroboros unfolded into arms, its wings pointing out from the shoulders. The Magnacarrier released a module that opened up, revealing a head.
"I call upon the ultimate Super Quantal power!
Magnaliger, lock in!
Aeroboros, lock in!
Grampulse, lock in!
Xyz Summon! Assemble, rank 12 Super Quantal Mech King Great Magnus!"
Asuka stared up at the massive robot. Sho leapt up again, to Aeroboros's head - which was now Great Magnus's right hand.
"When Great Magnus has 2 or more materials, I can force you to shuffle one card you control into the deck - no targeting, no questions asked! I'm going to make you return Vrash!"
Asuka gasped at being forced to remove Vrash from the field. She immediately took off running again.
"Battle phase," Sho declared. "Direct attack!" Magnus lifted off, charging a beam in Aeroboros's mouth and sending it at Asuka. The road cracked from the explosion, only for Asuka to be revealed on one knee with 100 life points.
"Energy Mate Biscuits," she panted. "I gained 500 life points and reached 3700 just before the 3600 attack hit."
"I set one more card and end my turn," Sho said.
"I banish Izana from my graveyard to Special Summon back Natasha!" Natasha reappeared, once again in defense mode. "Now I can take control of Great Magnus!"
"No, you can't," Sho replied with no change in expression. "When Magnus has at least 4 materials, he's unaffected by all card effects that aren't related to Super Quantum."
"That's why you made sure he had 5!" Asuka gasped.
"Exactly," Sho replied simply.
"I activate Natasha's other effect, targeting herself," Asuka said, deflated. Her life points increased to 600; it didn't make her look confident.
"Anything else?" Sho asked, and Asuka ran for another action card. Magnus swooped up, depositing Sho on a rooftop where he ran for a card as well.
"Flame Cannon!" Asuka shouted. "I deal you 500 damage!"
"Damage Reflect!" Sho countered. "I negate the damage and inflict double to you! Take 1000 damage!" The fireball hit a barrier and shot back towards Asuka. Leaping off the roof and hanging onto a fire escape, she reached for another card.
"I activate Miracle Fire and repeat the effect of Damage Reflect!" The fireball returned towards Sho, who frantically looked around for another card. It only took him a second to see he had no time.
"...Well-" was all he said before the fireball hit him for four times as much damage as necessary and knocked him off the roof. Asuka cried out and Great Magnus swooped in low to catch him. However, Sho bounced off his hand and barely slowed himself by grabbing a window sill before dropping to the ground.
"I'm sorry-!" Asuka ran forward.
"Forget it," Sho grunted. "You have to get used to picking yourself up when you're not a prodigy."
Back at the medical ward, Yuya stared disbelievingly at the TV as Sho's words echoed in his head. The rest of the room was silent, as was the crowd at the stadium, as Asuka watched Sho leave suspiciously before starting after him.
Next time: Yuya, Yuzu and company go searching for answers after a raid on Leo Corp throws Miami City into disarray.
AN: To give a response to the subject of a few reviews, I think a major reason no previous protagonists appear in Arc-V is because Yuya fills all of their roles. Not even his counterparts, when you consider Yuto physically exits the story fairly early and serves more a supportive and advisory role to Yuya - but even then quite rarely until quite late in the series, while Yuya is the one makes the radical change in people around the main driving issue , including Yuto. Yugo is the same; he ultimately believes in and works within the system that causes the Synchro arc's problems and though he helps the main group, he's still largely acting in his own interests. It's Yuya who causes the massive upheaval to change the society (if you need any clearer hints, just look at who has the red D-Wheel and helmet). Then there's Yuri, who while he has some similarities to the (original) Supreme King, is pretty clearly an anti-Judai.
This is going a different way, though. The reason I don't have it listed as a crossover is because all the new characters are Arc-V counterparts, so I can explore, for example, A Yuma who never met Astral and had to suffer through the Heartland invasion while he was at the not highly skilled or regarded state he's shown at the beginning of ZeXal.
Plus, having it listed as a crossover could give away too much too early.
Edit: I went and fixed a few typos while replacing the formatting that went missing, because it was bugging me.