Mash with a really big bruise on the back of his head, sat on the floor as everyone stared and circled around Mash.
"Okay…" Mash muttered, rubbing his bruise. "Why are you all staring at me?"
"You calm now, man?" Jaden asked.
"…Yeah?"
"Great!" Jaden jumped up excitedly. "NOW TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORLD, MASH!"
"Uhh... Lovely." Mash blinked, then slowly turned to Lovely. "What happened while I was out cold?"
"Well~" Lovely tapped her index fingers together. "They asked me questions about our world, but I'm always inside your screen, so… I didn't know much…"
"Okay, I get it." Mash sighed and faced the group. "You're all really curious, huh? Even you, Alexis."
"Well... I don't know." Alexis shrugged. "Maybe because I'm talking to a literal alien... Of course I would be really curious, Mash."
"But I'm from Earth!"
"Not this Earth," she countered. "So technically you're an alien."
Mash opened his mouth to argue… then closed it. "Aight. I'm an alien, I guess."
"Alright, enough of that!" Jaden interrupted, then lean his face closer at Mash. "Now talk about your world, Mash! Is it cooler than ours? Maybe, more futuristic?"
Mash paused a bit a bit surprised, then smiled. "Nah, this place is a bit more futuristic and cooler than mine..."
Syrus raised a hand. "Do they play Duel Monsters in your world?"
"Oh yeah. Duel Monsters exists."
"Any great duelists there?" Alexis asked.
"A lot. Some even better than me."
Chumley stood up. "Any delicious food from your world?"
"There's something called ice soup, it's good for dieting, you should try it."
Flame Wingman leaned closer. "Any superheroes?"
"In movies and comics, yeah."
"Kuri-kuri?" Winged Kuriboh trilled.
Mash exhaled in defeat. "JADEN. I need subtitles."
For a few minutes, everyone in the room keep pouring question and questions on Mash, until, Syrus asked a question.
"Uhh... Mash..." Syrus hesitated. "Why did you come to our world?"
The room went quiet.
Mash froze for a moment, scratching his head. "Oh... that's... well..."
Everyone stayed quiet, eager to hear his answer.
"For fun."
Everyone was kind of surprised.
"...Seriously, man?" Jaden chuckled. "You're joking, right?"
"No, I'm serious. I came here for fun. Having fun duels, making new fun friends, and also..." Mash lips curved to a villainous grin.
"The fun obliterating the fuck out of any duel I do..."
Everyone just stared at Mash like he's a villain.
"And because of that the world is gonna get reset." Alexis said with a deadpan expression.
"HEY! I said I was sorry about that!" Mash shouted at Alexis. "But don't worry. I have a plan so that the world won't get reset."
Alexis raised an eyebrow. "What plan?"
"This." Mash flicked his finger downward, and the Master Duel system pop up in front of Mash.
"This... is my Master Duel system, See?" Mash pointed at the rectangular floating screen but...
Everyone was confused, as they see Mash pointing on a empty air.
"Daling... I think they can't see it." Lovely whispered at him. "The screen."
"Owh... Then I guess I'll just need to explain it to them." Mash cleared up his throat, "Okay, so basically there is this invisible screen that only me and Lovely can see."
"Okay..." Jaden nodded.
"And it can make any cards I want."
"What." Everyone said at once.
"Yeah, that's right..." Mash smirks, "I can make any and as may cards as I want as long as I have enough creation points for it, and how I get it is by recycling other cards by pouring it into the screen."
Syrus snapped his fingers. "oooh... so that's why you always buy boxes full of cards from the card shop... so you can make more cards."
"Bingo! and also... It not only create every card in this world, but also It allows me to create cards from my world!" Mash explained. "for example, all of the HERO cards that I gave to Jaden are cards from my world that isn't from here."
Jaden's jaw dropped. "WHAT!?"
Alexis stepped forward. "Then... my {Lightning Storm} is also-!"
"Yes, Alexis, that too is a card from my world and is not an event card." Mash admitted. "Sorry, I lied."
"But…" Jaden stared at his deck. "They're so powerful…"
"Exactly." Mash smirked. "Just like the Labrynth archetype I'm using… and even Titan's deck… all of those cards are from my world."
"Even Titan cards!?" Jaden shouted.
"Yes. In my world, Duel Monsters has become not only more powerful… but faster and more efficient. You guys should've noticed it during Titan's duel with Jaden, how he set up five high-attack monsters in one turn like it was nothing."
Alexis thinks about that moment, "I see… yes, to make a board like that in just a couple turns… it's almost pro-duelist level. Even 'King of Games' level."
"Realize how strong my world's cards are? Even my Labrynth deck is super powerful here despite being a rogue deck. Now imagine facing someone with a META deck from my world."
"We're gonna face someone using your world's decks…!?" Syrus asked, horrified.
"Most likely. The Storyboards seem to be giving my world's cards to certain people because, according to them, the world's unbalanced because of me. And how do they balance it?"
"By giving everyone a goddamn firearm to balance it to my level."
Jaden raised his hand at Mash.
"Yes?"
"So... Basically, You're a high level player going to a low level area just so you can stomp on all of us." Jaden points out. "Not cool, man."
"Yeah... Maybe because of that The Storyboards started to make moves..." Mash rubs the back of his neck.
"BUT FEAR NOT!" Mash stood and struck a pose. "For I… MASH! Will give away my world's cards so we may all survive! Call me Mr. Beast for how I'll be giving away many overpowered cards..."
Jaden eyes sparkled. "REALLY!?"
"If you guys manage to survive four turns against me."
"Hiiiii!!!!" Jaden has a shiver on his back, as he recalled that dreadful moment.
Meanwhile, Chumley and Syrus already gave up.
"Okay… but can you really create cards out of that invisible screen of yours?" Alexis doubted. "We can't see it, you know?"
Mash sighs, "Watch."
Mash begin tapping and swiping quickly at his Master Duel system to create some cards, and then casually pulls out from his pocket 10 cards of {Blue-Eyes White Dragon}.
"Oh my god..." Alexis gasped.
"TEN BLUE EYES!????" Syrus was shocked.
"And you pulled it casually out of your pocket, man!???" Jaden added
"Now… do you all believe me?"
Everyone stared at Mash, and eachother. They can't help but accept that he's telling the truth.
Mash clapped his hands together. "Okay, that's enough explaining. How about we head back to our dorms and get some rest?"
Everyone began to scatter around the dorm. Syrus and Chumley went straight to their beds, collapsing into sleep almost instantly. Flame Wingman returned to his card in a flash of emerald light, while Winged Kuriboh floated over to Jaden's bed and snuggled into the blankets with a soft "kuri."
Alexis made her way back to the Obelisk dorm using Mash's portal, still awkwardly impressed every time she stepped through it, while Mash and Lovely headed to his own dorm room right next to Jaden. Mash and Lovely instantly collapse on their bed, and snuggled to sleep.
---
Mash woke up.
Not in his room.
Not in his bed.
But in a vast, silent void.
He floated weightlessly in an endless, lightless expanse. No floor, no sky, no horizon. Just nothing. However, this place seemed... familiar?
"Hey."
A voice called Mash from behind him, Mash snapped around and nearly had a heart attack.
There sat an old man on an invisible chair, long flowing white hair and beard, eyes glowing white, and a robe so bright it shines like a sun.
"GOD!?" Mash shouted.
"Ha ha ha!!! What's up, Mash! Miss me?" God said casually, like greeting an old neighbor. "How was your experience in GX?"
"Uhh... It was nice, and it's also been nice to see you again." Mash smiled awkwardly. "However, there is a problem—"
"Yeah… I know about your problem," God interrupted, leaning forward slightly. "which is why I want to help you."
Mash squinted suspiciously. "Why do you want to help me?"
"Since you've been entertaining me, of course! So I want to reward you with something." God raised his hand, three fingers extended. "Three questions. You can ask me three questions about whatever information you need. That's your reward."
"Oh shit, really!?" Mash lit up. "Alright… give me a minute."
God waved his hand, granting his silence. Mash then begin to think about his questions in mid-air, muttering to himself.
"Hmm… yes, yes, that should be first… then that… but then what about— ah, screw it."
He turned back. "Alright. Let's start."
"Hm… alright. What is your first question?" God asked.
"What are the Storyboards and what are their motives?"
"Woah woah there, you just asked two questions," God pointed out.
"Eh!? Then should I—"
"It's fine. I'll answer both as a bonus. Just don't do it again." God cleared his throat. "Now then… shall we begin."
God waved his hand, and a translucent sphere materialized in front of Mash. Inside it swirled two galaxies.
"The universe is split into two types," God explained. "One filled with stories, and one made for stories. GX is the latter." The sphere shifted, showing three figures. "And for those worlds to function, you need someone to manage them… The Storyboards."
"So it's just a literal storyboard…" Mash murmured.
God continued. The image shifted to a orange-haired child holding a clapboard.
"That is The Director. She controls the world like a stage in a movie sets. Timing, places, magical and explosion effects, even recording every episode in a story world. That is her job, like a Director, which is why she's called 'The Director'"
The sphere changed to a tall woman with her eyes wrapped in black bandages.
"That is The Narrator, She handles dialogue, emotion, actions, everything spoken and performed in a story world is her doing." God explained. "She's also a massive sucker for drama for some reason."
Mash blinked. "Figures."
Finally, the sphere displayed a crimson-eyed woman quietly drinking coffee.
"And that... is The Editor." God said, "She's the one fixing every single mistake, rewrite, cuts, and edits everything The Director and The Narrator do before the true shoot."
Mash nodded slowly, absorbing it.
"As for their motives…"God swept his hand again.
Words formed inside the sphere until they unified into:
ENTERTAINMENT
"What? Entertainment?" Mash raised a brow.
"That's right, you see, The Storyboards doesn't really care if there was a change or even a major change in a script of a true shoot, as long as it's entertaining enough, they'll keep it."
"Ohhh… so it's like a blooper…" Mash nodded. "But then—"
"But then… there's you." God cut him off. "You're the reason they started to act and making changes in the middle of a true shoot. Do you know why?"
"Uhhh… why?" Mash asked, genuinely confused.
"Because you make things boring, Mash. That's why!"
"WHAT!? What did I even do!?"
"It's your modern cards and your system, Mash!" God answered. "They are the problems."
"Huh?" Mash tilted his head.
"Sigh... I want you to imagine being the main character of a story where... because he is so powerful, any kind of threats of a villain basically has no threat to it, or in other words... Have no tension to it."
"A good story needs some kind of tension, Mash, and without it, you're basically just left with watching paint dry, which of course... The Storyboards can't let you do that, and so... they do something behind the scenes..."
"And that is all for your first question. Two left."
"Wait, really? That's all!?" Mash complained. "You left a lot of hooks you know?"
"That is for you to theorize. Or you can spend a question on it and waste it. Your choice." God shrugged.
Mash scowled. "…Fine. Second question."
He stared directly into God's glowing eyes.
"Why am I so weak?"
"Hm?" God blinked. "Explain."
"You've been watching me, right? I can't run 10 meters without collapsing. I can't lift 8 kilos without collapsing. And swimming is basically a ticket for drowning! But my body feels like it could do more than that, because I can walk around the island without getting way too extremely tired."
"Oh… I see…" God nodded slowly. "It's probably because of the 'bandage' I used for your Ba."
"What!? My Ba!?"
God raised a hand. "In this world, there are two spiritual energies: Ba, which is your soul and Ka, which is like mana. But I'll focus on your Ba. Basically, after you died, it scattered and turns into energy. And I only manage to get your memory and personality remained."
Mash grimaced. "…So what's the problem?"
"A major part of that Ba is actually used in your body to command the Ka circulating around your body to move. But... since I only retrieve your memory and personality, this part is basically gone and if I we're to make a new body for you, you'll basically be a vegetable."
"Shit."
"But don't worry. I found a random fragment of Ba still intact floating in the space of GX so... I use it as a bandage for you. However… it does need time to adapt. Walking command is easy, but anything more physical make the command more complex and then it turns into gibberish commands. And that drains your stamina quickly because of inefficiency."
"So… I'll be like this forever!?"
"Ha ha ha!!! Of course not!" God laughed, "It'll finishes adapting in about… four years."
"BUT THAT'S AFTER GX ENDS!!"
"Then you should've asked to be sent before GX, not during episode one," God said matter-of-factly.
Mash groaned loudly. "This sucks…"
"But hey, at least it gives you some powers."
"WHAT!?" Mash jolted upright. "What kind of fragment is that!? What powers!? Is that why my eyes turn silver!?"
"One question, kid."
"sssss" Mash hissed through his teeth. "Gimme a minute."
He floated there thinking, then sighed. "…Okay. I'll probably gonna regret this, but..."
"Third question. What power does this 'fragment' of Ba give me?"
God smirked.
"You should know by now. When your eyes turn silver, though it's more of a white color, you gain one of these effects:
-Intimidation
-Destiny Draw
-Flashlight
These three."
"Wait—Flashlight!? Like… light from my eyes?"
"Yes."
Mash stared. "…Damn, that's random."
"But also," God added casually, "you'll be immune to any mental attacks as a passive."
"WHAT!?" Mash jumped, "That's so overpowered! Especially in GX-"
He looked down. His body was dissolving into particles of light.
"Guess it's time, huh?" Mash smiled. "Thanks, God. That was some nice info!"
"No problem, Mash!" God waved. "Also—about that fragment you asked about…"
"Huh?"
"You'll know what it is in about a year."
"In a year…?" Mash muttered. "But that's when—!"
A flash of blinding white swallowed his vision.
And he was gone.
____________________________________________________________
I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER, I HATE EXPOSITION CHAPTER!!!!
IT'S SO BORIIIINGGGGGG AND YET I MUST!
But it's fine, as the next chapter will be the start of next arc, which like I said:
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SYRUS AT ALL
Anyway, hope you all still enjoy this even if it's boring, Chiao!