# Chapter 232: Rank 0?
"I activate the effect of Zoodiac Barrage!" After replenishing his hand, Yūga Hōzumi pressed on, and the Continuous Spell in his backrow lit up.
"I target one face-up card on my field, destroy it, and Special Summon one 'Zoodiac' monster from my Deck."
"I'll destroy Zoodiac Barrage itself to Special Summon Zoodiac Thoroughblade from my Deck!"
"Zoodiac Thoroughblade is summoned! When Special Summoned successfully, its effect activates! By discarding one 'Zoodiac' monster from my hand, I draw one card!"
"Next, the effect of Zoodiac Barrage activates when it's destroyed! If this card is destroyed by an effect and sent to the Graveyard, I can target one 'Zoodiac' Xyz Monster on my field and attach this card from the Graveyard to it as an Xyz Material."
"I'll use Zoodiac Thoroughblade as one Xyz Material!"
"With talismans as my guide, I call upon my companion's descent! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Zoodiac Chakanine!"
"Zoodiac Chakanine's effect activates! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can target one 'Zoodiac' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it. The monster Special Summoned by this effect has its effects negated this turn and cannot be used as Xyz Material."
"Revive! Zoodiac Ramram!"
The ram-horned youth, holding a shield, had just appeared when he saw the draconic warrior woman wielding a large spear beside him. His expression immediately soured.
As expected, Yūga Hōzumi's voice followed.
"Zoodiac Drident's effect activates! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can target one face-up card on the field and destroy it! I will destroy Zoodiac Ramram on my field!"
As Yūga Hōzumi finished speaking, the valiant, dragon-tailed female warrior thrust her spear toward the ram-horned youth beside her. He resignedly transformed into a magical circle.
"If Zoodiac Ramram is destroyed by battle or an effect, I can target one 'Zoodiac' monster in my Graveyard, other than this card, and Special Summon it."
"Revive! Zoodiac Ratpier!"
"I use Zoodiac Ratpier as one Xyz Material! Xyz Summon!"
"Appear! Zoodiac Boarbow!"
"I overlay Zoodiac Boarbow! Xyz Summon!"
"Appear! Zoodiac Hammerkong!"
"I activate the effect of a Zoodiac Xyz Monster with Zoodiac Ratpier as material! Once per turn, I can detach one Xyz Material to Special Summon one Zoodiac Ratpier from my Deck!"
"Appear! Zoodiac Ratpier!"
"I use Zoodiac Ratpier as one Xyz Material!"
"Xyz Summon! Appear! Zoodiac Tigermortar!"
"Zoodiac Tigermortar's effect activates! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can target one Xyz Monster on my field and one 'Zoodiac' monster in my Graveyard, and attach that 'Zoodiac' monster to the Xyz Monster as an Xyz Material."
"I will attach Zoodiac Thoroughblade from my Graveyard to Zoodiac Drident on my field as an Xyz Material!"
Zoodiac Drident ATK: 1200 → 2800
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, Xyz Treasure! For every Xyz Monster on the field, I draw one card!"
Yūga Hōzumi drew five cards from the top of his Deck, and Ryo Marufuji's expression immediately darkened.
*Thankfully, his Monster Zones are all full, and his other monsters are in Defense Position with 0 DEF. Even if he draws five cards, the only threats to me are Lion Utopia Ray and that Drident.*
Ryo Marufuji thought gloomily, but then the Emperor's Key on Yūga Hōzumi's chest began to shine with a dazzling light.
*What's going on? The conditions for using a skill haven't been met, have they?* The sudden development startled Yūga Hōzumi, and the light surged toward the Extra Deck zone on his Duel Disk.
Yūga Hōzumi: ???
*What's happening? Did my Emperor's Key become a self-sufficient card-printing machine after I met Nash?*
Just then, Nash's voice echoed in Yūga Hōzumi's mind.
"Oh, right, I forgot to give these to you earlier. Yuma asked me to give you these two cards. This is his own power."
*"His own power? Could it be?"* Yūga Hōzumi was startled and immediately looked at the Extra Deck zone of his Duel Disk.
It was a light similar to that of a Number monster, yet not quite the same.
Number F0: Utopic Future
Number F0: Utopic Draco Future
Yūga Hōzumi swallowed, then thought excitedly, *This is a huge help!*
Although Yūga Hōzumi had drawn a ton of cards thanks to the Zoodiacs' terrifying swarming ability and Xyz Treasure, he'd been worrying about how to deal with the remaining Zoodiacs clogging his field without any materials. The two cards Nash sent had solved this pressing issue.
Thinking this, Yūga Hōzumi drew the two cards, which were enveloped in warm, astral light.
"I overlay the Rank 4 Zoodiac Chakanine and Zoodiac Tigermortar!"
Brilliant astral light instantly enveloped the two Xyz Monsters, and a gate, as if from the future, opened from within the starlight.
"Nani? You're Xyz Summoning using Xyz Monsters?" Ryo Marufuji exclaimed in surprise.
"O free-roaming Pegasus! Gallop toward the boundless future and carve out a new destiny! Take flight! I perform a Future Xyz Summon! Rank 0! Appear, Number F0: Utopic Future!"
From the gate enveloped in astral light, the fiery-red Utopic Future soared out, wielding twin swords. Its armor and longswords glittered under the astral light.
Number F0: Utopic Future ATK: 0
"Rank 0?" Ryo Marufuji frowned as he looked at the monster. "Although this monster's attack is 0, I can't afford to underestimate it in the slightest. After all, the energy contained within its body is enough to make even a battle-hardened duelist like me feel troubled."
"It's not over yet!" Yūga Hōzumi roared. A faint dragon's cry echoed from the other card in his hand, which was also enveloped in astral light.
"This card can also be Xyz Summoned by overlaying it on top of 'Number F0: Utopic Future' on my field."
"I overlay Number F0: Utopic Future again!"
The card in Yūga Hōzumi's hand transformed into a dragon of light made of stardust, humming softly as it surged toward Number F0: Utopic Future and merged with it moments later!
"O dragon born from the astral light of the future! Reveal your true power and protect the future carved out by the Pegasus! Future Xyz Change! Descend, Number F0: Utopic Draco Future!"
The giant astral dragon roared, transforming into a suit of dazzling, bright silver armor that enveloped Utopic Future. The twin wings on its back slowly evolved into sacred dragon wings.
Number F0: Utopic Draco Future ATK: 3000
"Beast-Armor Union! I activate the effect of Lion Utopia Ray! Once per turn, by detaching one Xyz Material from this card, I can select one 'Zexal Weapon' monster from my Deck or Extra Deck and equip it to this card. The activation and effect of this effect cannot be negated."
...
(end of chapter)