"That card!" Allen shouted at the top of his lungs, jumping from his seat as his eyes glared at the screen, or more precisely, towards IV and the card that he had just activated.
"What's wrong Allen?" Mei asked with a confused look, both her and Serena glanced back from the standing teen to the pair who was sitting with the same wide eyes.
"That's-! Anna-san's card!" Sayaka said as her eyes widened with shock, hands in front of her mouth.
"So why-" Allen gritted his teeth. "Why does he have it!"
-
"Once per turn, I can detach any number of materials from Machine XYZ Monsters that I control, then target that many cards on the field, and destroy them!" He shouted, explaining the card's effect as he then waved his hand forward.
"I will detach two materials from Gimmick Puppet of Strings, to target both of your monsters!" And with that declaration, the pair of purple orbs that orbited his winged XYZ Monster flew and entered the Continuous Trap's holographic projection, acting as the cost of the card's activation.
Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/2000 OV: 0
"That's!" Yuto shouted and gritted his teeth as from the Continuous Trap's holographic projection, a giant cannon formed right out of it, loaded inside with the pair of overlay materials of Gimmick Puppet of Strings, the blast that the cannon shot destroying both of his monsters.
"Tch!" He winced as he held a hand over his eyes, protecting him from the cloud of dust that the destruction of his monsters had brought. 'There goes that plan. I'll have to improvise then… but this also gives me a chance!'
"I will activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves in my graveyard!" He declared as he waved his hand outwards, blowing the screen of smoke that IV's card effect had caused. "I can banish this card from my graveyard, to send another 'Phantom Knights' card from my deck to the graveyard!"
"Tch. getting more and more of those cards of yours in the graveyard." IV said, clearly annoyed at his opponent's strategy.
Regardless of his opponent's grumbling, Yuto pulled out a card straight from his deck to show to his opponent. "I will send from my deck The Trap, The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak from my deck to the graveyard."
Placing the card into his graveyard slot, the black haired teen then proceeded to wave his hand yet again. "And I will activate its effect! Banishing it from my graveyard to add another 'The Phantom Knights' card from my deck to my hand!" He shouted out.
"I will add to my hand the second The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves!" Yuto shouted, adding the card to his hand before continuing with his combo. "And then I will activate the effect of The Phantom Knight of Torn Scales in my graveyard!"
With the declaration, the black and purple haired teen raised his hand upwards. "Because a 'Phantom Knights' card is banished from my graveyard, I can special summon him back onto the field! But he is banished when it leaves the field!"
He took back the card from his graveyard and then placed it onto his duel blade, to which the armoured ghoulish phantom yet again returned onto the field. Both of its armoured hands were crossed in front of itself in defense position.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 600/1600
"Then I will activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves in my graveyard!" The Academy student shouted. "By banishing this one from my graveyard, I can special summon another 'The Phantom Knights' from my hand, and I can increase its Level by 1!"
Following the explanation, the black haired teen revealed the monster card that he had just added to his hand. "I'll special summon The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves, and then increase its Level by 1!"
Said card was then quickly placed onto his duel blade. "Come! The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves!" And right before him the giant gloved ghostly knight formed, its physical hologram floating right beside its armoured brethren.
The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 1000/500
And as it was summoned through Stained Greaves' effect, the monster's Level was Increased by one as Yuto allowed the optional part of the Special Summon effect to continue.
The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves - Dark/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 1000/500
"Then I will normal summon the Phantom Knights of Cloven Helm!" Playing the last card in his hand, the giant helmet possessing phantom was summoned onto the field as Yuto finally used his normal summon for the turn.
The Phantom Knights of Cloven Helm - Dark/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 1500/500
"You haven't normal summoned this whole time!?" IV hissed, having watched Yuto perform game action after game action to cycle through his cards, yet only finally having used his normal summon. The blonde and brown haired teen then shook his head to clear his mind as his eyes narrowed into slits. "No, that's not important! You got two Level 4 Monsters!"
"That's right!" Yuto shouted with a grin. "I will take the now Level 4 The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves and the Level 4 The Phantom Knights of Cloven Helm, and overlay them!"
Both ghostly warriors let out their battle cries as they began to glow, turning into purple rays of energy while a giant black and golden vortex appeared right in front of Yuto.
"With these two monsters, I will construct the overlay network!" And he then began his chant. "Cloaked in shadows and relentless in its objective, descend, here and now!" With his words, the vortex of energy then exploded into darkness, and the silhouette of the monster appeared beneath the dark clouds that it generated.
Dark purple orbs and bright molten gold eyes shining and seen even through the dark thunderous clouds that clad it upon its summon. "XYZ Summon! Arise! Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon!"
The dragon let out a roar that sent chills down to her spine, and flapped its wings and pushed away the darkness that cloaked it to reveal its full form. Two glowing purple orbs orbiting around the dragonic XYZ Monster.
Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon - Dark/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 2500/2000 OV: 2
"Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon!" IV hissed upon seeing the monster that Yuto had summoned, before then taking a moment to calm himself as his mocking smile returned. "I will admit, that is a fearsome monster. But no matter how fearsome it is, that monster couldn't possibly go against my own considering it's not a Number! It won't be able to destroy either of my monsters!"
"You're right." Yuto agreed. "As strong as it is, Dark Rebellion won't be able to go through that pair of XYZ Monsters that you have. But it doesn't need to."
"What?"
Ignoring his opponent's brief look of confusion, the black haired teen swept his hand to the side and declared. "I will use the effect of The Phantom Knights' Wing in my graveyard! Just like Sword, I can banish it to revive another 'The Phantom Knights' monster from my graveyard!"
To which he looked at his opponent and grinned. "So thank you for detaching those oh so precious materials of that XYZ Monster of yours! I wouldn't have gotten it this far if it hadn't been for that! I'll summon back the other The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales!"
And with that declaration, Yuto raised his hand upwards, and the second copy of the torn armoured monster returned onto the battlefield.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 600/1600
"And now here I go! I will take both the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales', and overlay both of them!" The two ghoulish phantoms let out their battlecries as their forms glowed and shifted into a pair of purple pillars of energy, and right before him a galactical gold and black vortex appeared yet again.
"With these two monsters, I will construct the overlay network!" And as he spoke, the two pillars of energy swerved and danced among one another, and entered the galactical vortex and created a bright shining pillar of light right as he lowered arm. "XYZ Summon!"
And emerging from the giant black vortex, was a familiar monster. "Descend once more! Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss!" The dark haired teen said the monster's name aloud, and the XYZ Monster gave a grunt as he readied to defend himself as he was summoned. This second copy being in attack position unlike the previous one.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 1000/2500 OV: 2
"A second one?!" IV hissed upon seeing the monster, not having thought that Yuto would have a second copy of the monster.
"I will activate Dante's effect!" He declared. "I will detach one material, and declare 3! Giving Dante an additional 1500 attack points!" With a grunt, the traveler swung his arm outwards as he grabbed one of his two overlay materials, using it to grant him a boost in his combat ability after sending the top three cards of its summoner's deck..
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 1000/2500 OV: 1
Which then allowed him to be enveloped by a light golden aura, granting him the attack point boost after he had paid the cost.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 2500/2500 OV: 1
"But I'm not done yet!" Yuto roared. "I will use the effect of Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon!" He declared, waving his hand forwards as his signature XYZ Monster let out a roar.
"I can detach 2 materials from this card, then target one face-up monster that you control, and halve its current attack! And if I do, this card will then gain that lost attack!" He said, explaining the XYZ Monster's effect.
Raising his right hand along with his own dragon raising its head for a roar, the black and purple haired duelist shouted his target. "IV! I will target your Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings! Treason Discharge!" And the dark dragon roared, its wings morphing and releasing purple electricity as it absorbed its two overlay units to empower itself and use its effect.
Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon - Dark/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 2500/2000 OV: 0
And following by shooting a torrent of thunder towards the winged puppet that IV had on his field, the mechanical monster groaned as its joints creaked as it was weakened. Having its attack points halved.
Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 1500/2000 OV: 0
Said energy that was drained then used to increase Dark Rebellion's own attack points, allowing it to reach greater heights as it roared with power.
Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon - Dark/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 4000/2000 OV: 0
"4000 attack!" The formally dressed young man shouted with wide eyes as he saw the attack points that Yuto's monster had reached.
"Now Battle!" The black and purple haired teen roared, swiping his hand forwards as he shouted a command to attack. "I will attack your Gimmick Puppet of Strings with Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon! Lightning Disobey of Rebellion!"
With its command given, the Dark Dragon complied with its master's demands. With one last roar as its wings erupted with light blue ghostly wisps of power, its lightning clad body zoomed directly onto the gigantic blade wielding puppet, the large blade in its jaw shining as the Dark Dragon focused its power to a single spot.
"But my Gimmick Puppet of Strings won't be destroyed by the attack!" IV roared back as the one winged XYZ Monster readied its blade, preparing for its own counter attack.
"But you still take the damage!" Yuto roared back himself, the blade under his dragon's maw meeting the giant puppet's blade, creating a wave of energy as both monsters clashed against one another.
"GHH!" IV grit his teeth as he resolutely stood against the resulting clash, his duel disk noting the loss of his Life Points as it chimed.
IV: 2500LP
"But I'm not done! I will attack Gimmick Puppet of Strings with Dante!" With his command given, the XYZ Monster leapt, quickly drawing the blade in by his side and raising it overhead. Roaring as he swung it down against the blade wielding puppet, only for said puppet to defend against the strike by holding its own blade above its head,
"KHHHHHHH!" The blond haired young man continued to grit his teeth and glare as he was slowly pushed back from the clash of the realistic hologram, once again his duel disk chiming as his Life Points was lowered from the attack.
IV: 1500LP
The Battle Phase soon ended however, and yet Yuto had another effect to trigger. "If Dante attacks, at the end of the Battle Phase, it is changed to defense position." The black and purple haired teen said, and the blade wielding traveler crossed his hands before him as his battle position was changed.
Yuto watched his opponent with a discerning eye, noting that both of them were breathing quite heavily from the damage that they had both taken from the opposing monsters, before his eyes moved down towards his duel disk.
'The cards sent from Dante were… I see. Nothing that I can really use right now huh?' And closed his eyes as he let air through his nose. "I will set a card face-down, and end my turn." And setting one final card, the black and purple haired teen ended his explosive turn. Finishing with yet again a pair of XYZ Monsters, and a singular set card in his backrow right next to the still face-up Fog Blade. No cards remained in his hand.
And as his turn ended, the attack modification that was on his newly summoned XYZ Monster too disappeared.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 1000/2500 OV: 1
"You…YOU!" IV shouted, then roared as he shambled to stand up straight, glaring holes into his opponent as all veneer of niceness completely faded. Leaving nothing but rage behind as he placed a hand over his duel disk. "MY TURN! I DRAW!"
Saying so the reigning Asia Champion began his second turn of the duel, eyeing the card that he had drawn before immediately slamming it onto his jagged crimson duel blade. "I will activate the Spell! XYZ Treasure!!"
And as the card's holographic projection shone on behind his monsters, IV shouted out its effect, eyes never leaving Yuto as he does so. "This Spell allows me to draw 1 card for each XYZ Monster on the field!"
Hearing this, the black haired teen's eyes went wide, shocked at hearing teh card's effect. "What!? But that means-!"
"Right now, there is Giant Grinder, Strings, Dark Rebellion, and Dante!" IV counted aloud with a roar, before hovering his right hand on his specially made duel disk. "Which means I can draw FOUR cards!"
The blonde young man gritted his teeth as he closed his eyes. 'What I need is-what I need is-!'
-
"IV."
"Hm?" He turned around, and found V walking towards him with a downtrodden look. That immediately put him on edge as he faced his older brother with worry. "Oh if it isn't you, V. what's wrong?" He said with a smirk as he held a hand on his side, meeting his older brother's stern and cool voice with his usual smirk.
"III will be withdrawing from the competition. He will be replaced by someone that Tron had chosen." The silver haired young man said as a matter of factly, and that startled him out of his veneer of confidence.
"What!?" He shouted, fully facing V with a glare. "But he earned that spot! Even after losing at the start of the first round, he managed to gather enough points on the second to earn a spot at the finals!"
"It was Tron's orders." His brother said as his blue eyes reflected the sadness in his voice. "It was either he gave up all of his points"
"Gave up-then he duelled just to lose?!" He roared again. "When did this happen? And who even got his attention."
V closed his eyes, and the words then left his lips.
And hearing it, the second child of the Arclight family took a step back in shock. "No-no it can't be. Him?! Out of everyone that He had to choose, it's HIM?!" IV roared out in rage, face contorted and hands clutching in anger as he then slammed his fist into the wall. "Damn it! DAMN IT!"
A silence befell the two of them, only filled by his own ragged breathing as the anger toiled and boiled inside of him.
"I'm sorry." V apologised, and in what felt like years, his brother finally showed emotion. Lips wavering and eyes slightly watery as the cool and composed mask that he had donned on over the years seemed to crack. "I should have done better. For the both of you. I'm supposed to be your older brother, yet I…"
That immediately washed away the anger that he held, his own mouth opening and closing to find the rights words before he held his older brother's hands. "I-no, it's fine nii-san. Don't worry. I can still do it on my own. I will surely win this whole tournament, and, and save Tron.. I will save our father."
V held his gaze on him, and his lips curved into a smile. "Thank you, IV." V, no, his older brother Christopher Arclight said with a smile. "Thank you.
He then
"This is-"
"It's something that I have been working on. I have been scouring through his research, and found something that could apparently strengthen the Numbers." He said, before frowning. "But be careful in using it. I'm still not sure of how safe it is to use."
And to that, he gave him a confident smile. "Don't worry nii-san. If anything, there might not even be a need for me to use it." And with a grin, he pointed towards himself. "After all, I'm the Asia Champion. The greatest duelist of my generation. There's no way that I'm going to lose."
"I know. I'm just being a meddlesome older brother." He said with a smile filled with mirth, closing his eyes before speaking yet again. "Thank you. Always know that no matter what happens, I will always be proud of you."
"I know nii-san. I know." And saying that, his brother gave him yet another smile, before turning away. Long silver hair flowing behind him as he walked into the distant hall of their home.
A silent home. A dark home. One that had once used to be filled with smiles and laughter now gone and replaced with silence and dread.
"Don't worry. Nii-san." He whispered as he saw his elder brother walk away, leaving him alone in the silent and empty hallway of a once vibrant and shining home.
"I will definitely…"
-
"DRAAAAAW!" And roared as he took the top four cards of his deck.
And as he saw them with a glance, his eyes widened, and a confident smirk reemerged on his features. "Lady luck has sided with me! Yuto!" He roared, pulling out one of the cards that he had just drawn and revealing it to his opponent.
"I will activate the Spell!" IV shouted at the top of his lungs, slamming the card onto his jagged duel blade as its holographic projection shone right in front of him. "Rank-Up-Magic Argent Chaos Force!"
"A Rank-Up-Magic?!" Yuto shouted in shock. "C-can it be-!" And he watched as the holographic projection of the card shone with a crimson light.
"This card lets me target one Rank 5 or higher XYZ Monster that I control; and allows me to special summon from my Extra Deck, one 'Number C' or 'CXyz' monster that is 1 Rank higher, by using that monster I control as material!"
And as he finished its explanation, he pushed his hand forwards. "I will overlay the Rank 8 Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder!" And the gigantic black XYZ Monster then turned into a pillar of darkness, and a giant vortex of black and gold appeared above both players.
"I will rebuild the overlay network with this monster!" To which the pillar of darkness then entered, and created a blinding explosion of kaleidoscopic light. "Rank-Up! Chaos XYZ Change!"
IV then raised a hand as he held a card in between his fingers, yet he stopped for a very brief second as his body convulsed with pain. Purple light dancing across his body as a mark began to appear on the left side of his face.
Only for the scarred duelist to ignore the pain as he opened his eyes, and his once magenta left eye had turned to light blue. "Appear! Chaos Number 15!" And as the archaic numeral of 15 briefly flashed in in darkness, a giant metal cylindrical case fell from the heavens itself.
"Fruits of human knowledge, call forth a messenger who has severed off the threads of fate!"
Only for it to slowly open and unfurl, revealing a gigantic golden puppet with crimson glowing veins and cracks along its body, to which the case acted as giant metal wings for. "Gimmick Puppet Giant hunter!" And with a singular shining purple orb orbiting the monster, IV's Number XYZ had been reborn.
Number C15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Hunter - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 2500/1500 OV: 1
"C-Chaos Number!" The black haired teen shouted through gritted teeth. "So you have something like that-!" And he was soon bombarded face-to-face by the ominous aura that the monster brought with it.
-
The reaction that he held was shared by many of the audience that watched the duel unfold.
"That's-! The Numbers Monster… evolved!?" Mei muttered to herself as she watched the new monster that IV had summoned onto his field, eyeing it warily like many others who felt uncomfortable from merely watching it through a screen.
"That's-! It's like Yuuna's card!" Allen shouted, noting the similarity between the monster and another that he had seen his friend play.
"Yuuna has one of those?!" Serena hissed as she saw the menacing monster that stood on IV's side of the field, and many murmurs and whispers could be heard all throughout the stadium as they saw a beloved champion summon the monster in question.
"She does but… it's completely different. This one is… it's so… ominous." Sayaka muttered as she shivered, watching the giant golden puppet move while clasping her hand together. "Yuto… please be safe."
-
"Hm?" A certain masked boy stopped in his tracks. "This feeling…" He muttered as he closed his one visible eye, allowing a silence to pass and be filled by the silent noises of the man-made forest that he had found himself in.
Before his eyes then opened again, a hint of satisfaction flashing as the half visible mouth that he had curved upwards. "I see… so you were the one who managed to reach it first then, IV." Tron whispered to himself.
"No, that doesn't matter." He then said as he shook his head, continuing to walk further into the forest.
"Yes. Nothing else matters." His voice resounded as his form disappeared.
"Nothing else."
-
"And I will activate its effect!" IV roared, snapping Yuto back to focus on his opponent. "Once per turn, I can detach one material from this card, to target one card that you control and destroy it!" He shouted out.
"Then if it was a monster, I can inflict damage to you equal to its attack!" And with that additional clause, the black haired academy student's eyes went wide, watching as the giant golden puppet absorbed its last remaining overlay material onto itself.
Number C15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Hunter - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 2500/1500 OV: 0
"No!" He shouted as he saw IV reach out towards his dragonic XYZ Monster with a manic look.
"GO! Giant Hunter! Destroy Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon! Extermination Slasher!" And the giant golden monster spread its hand outwards, and from its exposed underside launched a shining golden saw blade that crashed into the giant black dragon. Exploding into a giant cloud of dust and smoke as a result.
"HAHA! And with this, it's over." IV let out a huff of air after a laugh as he closed his eyes, only to see the cloud of dust part, and his eyes widened yet again. "What?! How!?" IV roared in disbelief.
Because right in front of him, right in his opponent's side of the field, was the still standing form of his black winged dragon.
"How is this possible!? Why isn't your monster destroyed!?"
"Phantom Knights' Spear effect." Yuto calmly said, even as he too took ragged breaths one after the other. "If a Dark Monster that I control would be destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect, I can banish this card from my graveyard instead."
He let out a sigh while closing his eyes. "I should have known that you had more effect like those in spades after seeing those monsters of yours. I had a few ways of getting more protection onto the field too but…"
And then opening his metal grey eyes once again, a small smirk on his face as he faced his opponent. "It was a lucky send off of Dante's cost. IV, I guess lady luck isn't the only one who's cheering you on."
The comment seemed to infuriate IV even further, eyes twitching and scowl deepening even further as he roared out while shaking his head in denial. "No! Not yet! I won't lose just yet!" And then showed yet another card in his hand that he had.
"I will activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet Nightmare in my hand!" He declared. "I can special summon this card by tributing one face-up XYZ Monster that I control!"
To which, the scuffed formally dressed blonde then pointed to the attack position monster that he had just summoned. "I will tribute Gimmick Puppet Giant Hunter! And special summon Gimmick Puppet Nightmare!"
And what appeared as the giant golden puppet turned into shining particles was a tangle of crimson puppet limbs, both ends ending with a porcelain doll head with green mohawk hair whose eyes were covered by more limbs.
Gimmick Puppet Nightmare - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 1000/2000
"You tributed the XYZ Monster that you just summoned?!" Yuto said shocked at IV's manoeuvre, who promptly ignored him with a roar.
"And then its effect activates! When summoned this way, I can special summon another 'Gimmick Puppet Nightmare' from my hand or graveyard!" To which IV then slammed one of the other cards that he still had in his hand, pressing it onto his jagged crimson duel blade and allowing a second holographic manifestation of horror to manifest.
Gimmick Puppet Nightmare - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 1000/2000
"I cannot special summon monsters for the rest of the turn that this card is special summoned except 'Gimmick Puppet' Monsters, but that doesn't matter!" He shouted an additional clause that the monster held as he then waved a hand outwards.
"I will activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll in my graveyard!" IV declared aloud with gnashing teeth. "By banishing another 'Gimmick Puppet' Monster in my graveyard, I can special summon this card!"
"Wait, you're not thinking of-"
"I will banish Gigantes Doll! And summon back Dreary Doll to my field!" And as he paid the cost by banishing the useless XYZ Monster from his graveyard, a black coffin manifested onto the field, with its bandaged doll occupant pushing the lid open from the inside to sit up properly as she was summoned.
Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 0/0
"Three Level 8 Monsters?! So you have another XYZ Monster!?" Yuto hissed as he began to worry. 'I don't have anything else that I can use if its another effect like Giant Hunter! This is bad!'
"I will take the two Level 8 Gimmick Puppet Nightmares and the Level 8 Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll and overlay all of them!" The spiky haired formal clothes wearing duelist shouted as the three monsters transformed into giant pillars of lights.
"With these monsters I will form the overlay network! XYZ Summon!" To which they entered the appearing vortex of black and gold, creating a blinding explosion of light. "Come forth! Number 88! Gimmick Puppet of Leo!"
And unlike his other two Numbers Monster, the newest monster of IV's repertoire did not need to transform. For the massive gold and marble throne slowly but surely rose from the gigantic vortex of darkness, and upon it was a giant lion headed regal puppet holding onto a shining blade with both hands. Three distinct purple orbs shone as they orbited the monster upon its summon.
Number 88: Gimmick Puppet of Leo - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3200/2300 OV: 3
"A new Numbers! Just how many of these do you have!?"
"I'm not done yet Yuto!" Was the answer that the black haired teen received. "I will activate the effect of Rank-Up-Magic Argent Chaos Force in my graveyard!" The blonde declared with a shout.
"When a Rank 5 or higher XYZ Monster is special summoned to my field while this card is in my graveyard, once per duel, I can add this card back to my hand!" The reigning Asia Champion declared, as he returned the card back into his possession.
"It returns!? Then that means-!" And seeing that, Yuto could already predict what was going to happen.
"And I will activate it again! I will overlay the Rank 8 Gimmick Puppet of Leo!" And the gigantic regal lion-like XYZ Monster then turned into a pillar of darkness right after it was just summoned, and a giant vortex of black and gold appeared above both players once again.
"I will rebuild the overlay network with this monster!" To which the pillar of darkness then entered, and created a blinding explosion of kaleidoscopic light. "Rank-Up! Chaos XYZ Change!"
Winning again as his body was riddled with pain, IV roared. "Appear, Chaos Numbers 88!" And a crimson light bathed the entire area that the two of them were dueling on.
"Roar, wild soul. Awaken the anger, that lays everything to ruin!" The monster that descended took on a completely different form, standing upon a giant black ball with pulsating crimson energy held up by multiple puppet bodies, laid a giant golden winged lion with the very same crimson energy pulsing inside of its body and the numeral marked 88 on its right front leg.
"Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo!" IV shouted aloud, the name of his brand new XYZ Monster, as four purple orbs flew around the gigantic monster.
Number C88: Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3500/2500 OV: 4
"W-what is that?" Yuto said as he took a step back, mouth hanging open as he couldn't truly comprehend what he was facing. A monster that emitted a complete feeling of dread and rage. "This is-another Number?"
"I will activate Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo's effect!" IV roared at the top of his lungs as he focused his anger, his rage, all towards the opponent in front of him. "Once per turn, I can detach one material from this card to inflict 1000 damage to my opponent!"
"1000 damage?!" And the black haired student watched as one of the four floating orbs entered the giant golden lion's maw. The crimson energy that swirled throughout its body shining as it did so.
Number C88: Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3500/2500 OV: 3
The giant maw of the golden lion opened, and from it a flash of light emerged. "MAXIMUM CALAMITY!" And a giant golden beam of energy was fired between the pair of XYZ Monsters that Yuto had onto the field, and directly towards him.
"GUAAAAAAGH!" He could only scream as he was hit by the effect. The beam created an explosion that threw him into the air and had him land harshly onto the rocky ground. Leaving burnt marks and tears through his jacket and clothes as he struggled to stay awake.
Yuto: 1000LP
'This is… too much.' Yuto thought as his vision blurred, metal grey eyes dimming as the world slowly faded. 'I… can't do this…'
But then, he thought. 'If I… lose… then IV will… continue…' And thinking that, his hands balled into fist. 'Then, if that happens… there's a chance… that he could… fight Ruri…'
"I can't… let that happen!" Through sheer will and determination, Yuto managed to grab a hold of his consciousness. Slowly but surely managing to stand to a kneeling position as it was all that he could currently manage.
"Tch. So you managed to stand up huh?" IV said with a scowl, disdain clearly showing as his eyes curled in disgust at seeing his opponent still managing to hold on. "But it's too late Yuto! It's already over!"
"Wha…t?" He managed to cough out, watching his opponent with only a single eye open as IV grinned maliciously.
"I will use Barrage Blast's effect! Detaching all the material from Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo, to destroy both your monster and that set card of yours!" And all three materials that the giant Chaos XYZ Monster had all flew towards the Continuous Trap on IV's side of the field, paid as cost to destroy all three targets that were declared.
Number C88: Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3500/2500 OV: 0
"I won't… let you!" Yuto spoke through gritted teeth as he raised his hand. "I will activate the effect… of The Phantom Knights of Tomb Shield in my graveyard!"
And hearing the effect declaration as a chained effect, IV gnashed his teeth. "Another one of your graveyard effects!?"
"I can banish this card… except the turn it was sent to the gy… to target a face-up Trap that you control… and negate its effects until the End Phase of this turn." Yuto said with ragged breath, slowly managing to stand up even as he stumbled slightly upon doing so.
"You're sooooo persistent aren't you Yuto! Just like those monsters of your's!" IV said through a scowly, before it then turned into a grun as his eyes curved mirthfully. "But its already over! Because Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo has another effect!" He grinned.
And so he explained the monster's second effect. "Because during my End Phase, if your Life Points are 2000 or less, and Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo has no materials, I win the Duel!"
"A-an alternate… win condition?!" Yuto gasped with shock, stumbling back and almost losing his footing yet again.
"AND NOW IT'S OVER! FINAL CRACKDOWN!" And from the giant XYZ Monster, another beam of energy was fired, this time upwards. And it took the form of the winged lion itself, before it then rushed and struck the wide eyed Yuto.
And caused another great explosion, launching a cloud of dust that overshadowed everything in the rocky field.
"With this…with this, you…"
"Not yet."
IV's eyes widened as he heard a voice, his opponent's voice, and saw that the black haired teen was now sitting on the rocky ground as the dust gave way. Showing the battered teen as he kept his glare on him even through all that had just happened to him. "This fight isn't over yet."
"What!? H-how did you-" He turned his head to his own monster, who now possessed an additional one orbiting around its massive frame. "Impossible! Disaster Leo's overlay unit is-!"
"I honestly didn't think that this would ever come up honestly." Yuto said as he sat on the rocky ground, with a hand over his feet as he tilted his head to the card shining brightly on his field. "The Continuous Trap, Overlay Award." He said.
"I can detach one XYZ Material from a face-up XYZ Monster that I control, and attach it to a face-up XYZ Monster that you control as XYZ Material. And if I do, this turn Battle Phase is skipped. Not that that part mattered since you just went to the End Phase anyway right. The effect still works somehow."
And IV then snapped his eyes to the monster that the black haired student had, the Dante that had once still had an overlay unit was missing its last one.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 1000/2500 OV: 0
Number C88: Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3500/2500 OV: 1
"That's! Disaster Leo is unaffected by Monster effects! So no matter what you do. You won't be able to overcome it in your next turn!" IV all but hissed to his opponent. "I will change Gimmick Puppet of Strings to defense position, and end my turn! I'll finish this fight during my next turn!"
And thus IV finally ended his turn. Finishing as he allowed his opponent another turn. With two XYZ Monsters on his field and another monster still remaining, two cards in his hand as nothing else was set in his Spell and Trap zone other than a now useless Barrage Blast.
"Then… its my turn!" Yuto roared out. "I draw!" And drew a single card to begin his turn.
Glancing to it, the boy couldn't' help but smirk. "A nice card… but no matter what, I will win this fight IV!"
"Then try and struggle! You won't win!" Was what his opponent roared back.
"I will activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Cloven Helm in my graveyard!" Yuto began. "I can banish this card from my graveyard; during the End Phase of this turn, I can add one 'Phantom Knights' card from my graveyard to my hand!"
"To add a card in the End Phase? I told you, you won't be getting another turn!"
"That's true. For you that is!" Was his counter. "Because a 'Phantom Knights' card in my graveyard is banished while it's in the graveyard, I can summon back The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales!" And yet again, the relentless warrior returned onto the field.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 600/1600
"That card again! I'm sick of it already!"
"Well I'm glad! Because I'll be using Torn Scales effect!" Yuto declared, and showed the card in his hand. "I will discard The second Continuous Spell, The Phantom Knights' Spear, to send The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from my deck to the graveyard!"
Following that, the black haired duelist waved his hand. "And with its effect, I will add tp my hand, the Second The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch!"
"A Rank-Up-Magic?! Now of all times!"
"And I will activate it!" Yuto roared as he all but Quick-Play Spell onto his purple duel blade. "During the Main Phase, The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch lets me target one Dark XYZ Monster that I control with no material, and special summon from my Extra Deck, one Dark XYZ Monster that is one Rank higher than that monster I control, by using it as the XYZ Material!" He exclaimed, and motioned towards his target between his three XYZ Monsters.
"Lets go. Dark Rebellion." Yuto whispered, and the dragon responded with a roar. "I will target Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon!" He shouted, and the dark dragon let out a roar as it was called, its red markings glowing with power along with the rest of its body.
And with that, his dragonic partner was engulfed in a pillar of darkness, and slowly, its form began to change. "From the depths of purgatory, dedicate to the unsinking souls your song of rebellion! Appear and echo forevermore!" He chanted, waving his right hand down, and then outwards.
"Rank-Up Xyz Change! Appear! Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon!" the dragon's form crystalized, and changed. The sleek scales of his dark dragon grew rough, its body now covered in by a bone-like outer skeleton, and its wings spread longer and wider than it had once been.
The dragon sent an earth shaking roar as it fully manifested, spreading its skeletal wings as wide as it could as it arched its head upwards, only lowering it as it glared towards his opponent. A single purple or orb orbiting the monster with its appearance.
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon - Dark/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 5/Effect: 3000/2500 OV: 1
"And since I used The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch to Rank Up, I can attach this card to it as an additional material as well!" He shouted, as the projection of the Quick-Play Spell ahead of him was compressed itself into a sphere, before flying towards the Dark XYZ Monster, turning into another xyz material that it could use as it saw fit.
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon - Dark/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 5/Effect: 3000/2500 OV: 2
"Now, I will activate Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon's effect!" And the dark dragon beside him roared with its newfound strength, facing against the pair of giant dolls on IV's side of the field.
"If Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon has 'Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon' as material, it gains the effect to once per turn, detach one material from this card, then target one face-up monster that you control, change its attack to zero, and if I do, this card gains attack equal to that monster's original attack!" So he said, explaining the XYZ Monster's effect.
And the dragon beside him then started to growl, the colorful orbs that were in its wings glowing and pulsing with power before the dragon roared, spreading its arms and wings as it shot tendrils of darkness from the orbs
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon - Dark/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 5/Effect: 3000/2500 OV: 1
"It's useless! Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo is immune to monster effects!" IV roared out as he spread his arms wide, face scrunched and glared holes into his opponent. "You can't win!"
"I don't need to target Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo IV!" Yuto roared back. "Because you have another monster on the field!I will target Gimmick Puppet of Strings!! Requiem Salvation!" He shouted, sending the dark tendrils of energy towards the twin blade wielding XYZ Monster on his opponent's side of the field.
"What!? Gimmick Puppet of Strings!?"
"Didn't you hear, IV?" Yuto said as he took a breath, standing straight as his eyes met IV's "The attack points that Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon takes is equal to the targeted monster's original attack."
"Original attack!?" The well dressed young man's eyes widened as he took a step back in shock. "T-then that means-!"
"That's right! It means that Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon will gain 3000 attack!" And the giant winged puppet groaned and stumbled. Its attack points were thoroughly drained and leaving nothing behind. And in turn, allowing the newly evolved dragon to strengthen itself.
Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 0/2000 OV: 0
Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon - Dark/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 5/Effect: 6000/2500 OV: 1
"6000 attack! That's far higher than even Disaster Leo's!" IV gasped as his eyes went wide with shock before the blonde then grit his teeth and swept his hand outwards. "But no! It's not over yet!"
Throwing his hand forward, IV roared with rivaling ferocity. "I will activate the effect of Barrage Blast one more time! Using Disaster Leo's final overlay material, to destroy your monster!" The floating purple orb that orbiter around the giant golden lion Puppet then flew and entered the still face-up Continuous Trap card, loading it into the cannon for it to shoot.
Number C88: Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3500/2500 OV: 0
"It's over! YUTO!" Yet in contrast to the mad grin and the reverberating shout that IV gave, his black haired opponent merely closed his eyes as he remained calm and composed.
"Did you forget already, IV?" Yuto spoke slowly as he opened his metal grey eyes again, tired yet determined eyes watching as IV broke down throughout the duel. "The card that I had drawn for turn, and discarded for Torn Scales' effect."
"Why does that matt-" The blonde began clearly annoyed, before realisation struck him and his eyes went wide. IV taking a step back in shock as he slowly realized what his opponent meant. "N-no! NO! THIS CAN'T BE!"
"That effect destruction…" The black haired teen began, slowly raising his hand as Barrage Blast's cannon was fired. "Will be prevented by Cursed Javelin's graveyard effect!" And was deflected by a flap of Dark Requiem's wings.
"This is the end IV!" Yuto roared. "Battle!" He shouted as he waved his hand forwards, towards the one monster on the field that was left in defence position.
"I will attack your Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo with Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon! Disaster Disobey of Requiem!" The skeletal armored dragon then flew into the sky with that command, its skeletal wings spread as the once empty space of its wings' membrane now filled by colorful yet mournful stained glass.
"YUUUUUUUTOOOOOOOOO" IV roared back as his own XYZ Monster fired a beam of light from its maw, aimed towards the flying black dragon that hovered high in the fake sky of the Rocky area.
The sharp blade under the dragon's jaw shone with energy as it then dived towards the gigantic puppet lion, cutting through it's beam of light. and as both XYZ Monster clashed-
A giant explosion erupted on the rocky field under the Heartland Stadium. The resulting clash of realistic holograms even shook the stadium above, yet none of the audience paid heed to it as they cheered and shouted as the match went on.
-
"A-A-A-" Mr. Heartland stuttered as he held the railings on his commentator's spot, jaw hanging open as his eyes were shadowed by the rim of his extravagant hat.
"AAAAAAMAAAAZIIIIING!" Before he spun in place, roaring at the top of his lungs as everyone cheered along with him.
"WHAT AN AMAZING BATTLE! AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE!" The flamboyantly dressed man roared, holding his cane right next to his face as if it was a microphone. "AND THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE IS…"
Silence filled the stadium of the Heartland Tower, no, the entirety of Heartland City as they watched the match finish on the giant screen above them. A screen that showed nothing but a grey cloud of dusk and stone, one that slowly parted away.
Revealing the great Asia Champion, fallen to his knees with his head hung low. While his opponent stood with ragged breaths.
IV: 0LP
"WHAT AN INCREDIBLE TURN OF EVENTS!" He shouted as he slammed his hands on the metal railings. "BOTH PLAYERS GAVE THEIR ALL IN A BACK AND FORTH MATCH! BUT ONLY ONE MANAGED TO STAND UP TOP!"
And everyone cheered, watching the black and purple haired teen stand resolutely after his hard fought victory.
"THE WINNER OF THE FIRST MATCH OF THE WORLD DUEL CARNIVAL FINALS IS-"
-
And somewhere far away, watching the screen showing the defeat of one of the world's most famous duelists, a pair of brothers wept as they had failed their last chance of saving their father.
-
"YUTO!"