"I will attack directly with Jormungandr, and end this game." She declared and watched as the giant serpent struck the giant flying moth-like Number monster, and though it didn't destroy it, with the pitiful amount of Life Points that her opponent's had, it still ended the game.
"GYAAAAAAH!" And her opponent's defeat resounded as their Life Points reached zero, falling to their knees before passing out entirely.
"And that's another one down." She said with a huff as she picked the card off of the discarded pile that her opponent left in their defeat, eyeing it as she did. "Titanic Moth huh? A neat Zeus pilot, I guess. But otherwise it isn't really useful in anything else."
Then she perked her head up as she heard the speakers all around the city resound with Mr. Heartland's voice. His declaration signaling the end of the preliminary rounds of the tournament.
"It's over already?" She couldn't help but say aloud with surprise. "That was fast. But then again the preliminary was rushed as it is. Does this mean that they've gathered all of the Numbers? Or at least made sure that the rest of them are in the hold of the finalists?" Because That was the only reason she could see something like that to be announced.
Glancing to her side to see a screen that only she could see, she hummed as she fiddled with the rim of her hat. "Though I do admit that it's been a rush. To think that I'd gather around 30 Numbers… none of the 'plot' or character relevant ones barring that Shadow Mist, but still, that's around one third of them myself."
She closed her eyes as she then thought. "Kaito should have a lot of them on his own too. A good chunk of them at least. And considering that III and V were running around, IV and… Tron should also have their fair share of Numbers."
She glanced down at her duel disk, showing the top scores of the preliminaries of the World Duel Carnival, and saw that the page showing they were still tallying the scores.
"Hmph." She huffed, turning off her duel disk as she made her way home. "Guess we'll find out soon enough."
Before promptly stopping midway and turning back to the unconscious teenager that she had beaten up and took their cards. "Right, need to get them to some place safe too. Almost forgot about that."
-
"So it's begun." Yusho said as he watched the screen in front of him, the ever flamboyant Mr. Heartland declaring the end of the qualifiers round and showing the list of the top eight duelists that passed and would go into the finals.
And among those top eight contestants, half of them were names that he was familiar with. He was quite thankful that he managed to access the school's database, which was connected to the whole city as a whole.
It allowed him what was essentially a backdoor access to the city, and thus getting him this list of contestants. Looks like some of Leo's teachings about technology actually managed to stick.
"And they've made it into the limelight now." The top hat wearing old man spoke every with an uncharacteristic frown, his usual smile gone as he understood the seriousness of the situation.
He sighed as he closed his eyes, placing a hand on the rim of his hat and lowering it to cover his eyes as he muttered. "I should be happy that they made it this far but…"
"You probably can't huh?" The voice of his companion chimed in to his musing, and Yusho turned to see the hooded teen walk into the room and close the door behind him.
"Ah, you're back." He said with a nod, eyeing his companion from top to bottom. "You seem quite chipper for someone who didn't manage to make it to the finals."
"I did my best, and though frustrating, I'm still unused to this new summoning method." The hooded teen answered simply, "That, and limiting myself to it certainly limited my options. Though I see that it isn't the case for her." He said as he walked closer and glanced at the leaderboard that showed on the screen, and he followed his gaze to see the name at the top of the list.
Or rather, the clear pseudonym that ranked first at the qualifiers with the most points of the round, a simple name going by Red Hat.
"And that's another one of them then? Your friends that is?" The older man hummed as he glanced down to his companion, who nodded his head.
"Yes. Though she's gone by a name that is quite infamous from where we came from, I do think it's quite fitting for her." He spoke aloud. "But to think that she managed to rank first… she truly is quite remarkable."
"If what you told me is true and she did manage to defeat Leo before he… did what he did, then she truly is quite the amazing duelist." Yusho nodded as well, scratching his chin before his eyes hardened. "Which also makes it quite troublesome."
"Yes. With them all in the spotlight now, there's no doubt that the Academia will be making their moves soon." His hooded companion nodded his head, turning and going to the table in the middle of the room, where a map of Heartland was laid out in the open.
"The tournament will be taking place here. Right at the center. " He said as he approached the table and placed a finger at the heart of the city.
"Heartland Tower. A fitting place to end the World Duel Carnival." His hooded companion nodded as his eyes scanned through the parchment again. "But it's also an open public space."
"Though not one without security. I'm sure that they would be putting the best of the best guards with all that's going on." Yusho chimed in, flicking his wrist as a pair of rainbow coloured papers appeared in his hand. "Thankfully I managed to snag tickets for us to attend there in person. A privilege for a teacher at Heartland Dueling School." The man said with a grin.
That made the hooded teen chuckle. "So in the end you used inside connections did you?"
"Hey now. It's called having helpful friends." The man pouted at hearing his response, before shaking his head and returning to seriousness yet again.
"So you think that they'll attack? Right at that time?"
"Most likely." The hooded teen nodded. "I think… that they've been thinking, no, planning for an invasion for quite a while. But they've been holding it back for some reason."
He then stopped and turned towards the top hat wearing man and continued. "And if what you're saying is true. And that there's some connection between Ruri, Serena and Yuzu. And a connection between Yuto, Yuri, and your son Yuya then…"
"They might be looking for them. These children that share similarities between dimensions." Yusho grimly concluded. Though he didn't know what Leo's plans were, what it even meant that these children shared the same face and its implications…
He certainly does know one thing. "Whatever it is that he's planning to do, he is willing to invade this dimension to do it." He spoke aloud as his eyes hardened. "And if his aim is truly the children, if he really is going to endanger Yuya then…"
With determination, Sakaki Yusho took a deep breath and vowed.
"Then it's my job as an adult, as his friend, to stop him."
-
"You still haven't heard from her still?"
"No. Not a single thing." Allen answered back with his arms crossed, foot repeatedly tapping the floor as he jittered in place. Fingers twitching as he gritted his teeth, worry clear on his face. "Nee-san didn't even return home last night. I thought that she was staying at your place but-"
"She didn't. And she never went back home." That was extremely worrying, for Anna to disappear right as the finals were just about to start? Alarms were ringing in her head, but she couldn't tell what happened to her or who was responsible.
It could be an Academia plot, or from what she heard from Myu and the others about their encounter with IV and how she herself had met III and V, it could be a ZEXAL plot. Something to do with either Dr. Faker, Mr. Heartland, or Tron.
There just simply wasn't enough information to make conclusions just yet. So she joined Allen in gritting her teeth and hoping that the cherry haired girl was safe as she asked. "Did she say anything when you last met her? Any clues on where she might have gone?"
The poncho wearing teen shook his head. "No. She just told me that she's going to beat up people for points in the qualifier." And at that reminder his face fell again. "And… she didn't even make it past the qualifiers too."
She stayed silent at that comment. She knew that with the cards that she had and her current level of skill, there really wasn't much that a normal duelist could do against Anna and her blind going second deck. Though now that she had Dora in her repertoire she even got a going first option too.
She… didn't want to think that Anna could lose that easily. But she's also not the kind of girl to just disappear in a day without letting anyone know. Not on an important day like this, in a tournament where she knew if Anna didn't make it, she'd watch and fume in the sidelines.
The fact that she didn't would definitely alert the others that something's wrong.
"You haven't told Myu or Sayaka yet?" She asked him, and the brown haired teen bit his lip as he shook his head.
"No. I… didn't want them to get worried." He said as his face went downcast yet again, eyes lowered as he stared down at the ground.
She stared at the downtrodden boy with a mix of emotions before deciding that as the oldest of their group, both in terms of physical and mental age that is, she needed to do something to cheer him up.
Or at the very least, get his mind to stop spiraling. So she raised her hand, and lightly landed a chop on his head.
"Yeouch! What's that for!" He yelped as he glared at her.
"You're an idiot, you know that right?." She sighed, shaking her own head lightly as she spoke. "This is exactly the kind of situation where you ask for help, you know. And while I'm glad that you at least asked me, you should also ask those two too."
"B-but then they'll get worried and-!"
"I get where you're coming from Allen. You want to make sure that whatever happened to Anna doesn't happen to those two right?" She cut off the poncho wearing teen in his tracks, already knowing what he was thinking.
"They're your friends and you don't want to get them hurt, but they're also Anna's friends too." She reminded him, placing a hand on his shoulders. "They'll definitely help you search-no, to keep an eye out for her while the tournament is on going."
It seemed that he noticed her specific wording, as Allen turned his glare into a questioning look. "What'd you mean by keeping an eye out? We need to go find her!"
She took a deep breath as she shook her head. "No. There's probably no need. If this is exactly what I think it is, then Anna should eventually show up." Though she wasn't completely sure of how truthful what she had just said was.
"What!? So you know where she is! Tell me!" Allen immediately snapped as he grabbed her shoulders.
"No. Not where she is. If I knew then I would have immediately gone and helped her." She said as she shook her head and gently removed his hands off of her. "But I… have some theories. And if you calm down, I can tell you."
Allen stared at her for a good few seconds, before taking a deep breath and nodded his breath. Seeing so, she nodded. "Alright. So, there's a few possibilities of what could have happened to Anna." She began, raising a finger.
"One. She could have possibly encountered Kaito, and lost. Probably unconscious for a good period and was either unable or forgot to contact you as soon as she woke up." A plausible scenario, given that the blonde was acting as the Numbers Hunter and the cherry haired girl carried with her Super Dora.
"Ugh. I'd want to say that nee-san wouldn't lose against Kaito but…" Allen noted how believable the scenario was. "She's definitely stronger now with all the new cards that she got, but Kaito got new ones too." He said as he sent a glare her way.
"Again, it's only a possibility. And for what it's worth, I'm not sorry that I sold him cards like I do others." She needed all the help that she could get after all, and she'd at least have a safe. Hopefully she is.
'Think. Think! This was the World Duel Carnival, the pivotal first big tournament for ZEXAL. Or in this case the XYZ Dimension.' She thought, hand on her chin as she closed her eyes in focus. 'The Numbers coming up wasn't a plot in Arc-V as far as I know, and with V and III running around, IV is also probably out there. And they're working under-'
"Tron." She spoke aloud unknowingly, and Allen caught her speaking the boy's-or rather old man in a boy's body-name.
"Tron? Who's that? Is that the name of the guy that's behind nee-san's disappearance!?" The brown haired boy hissed, and she cursed herself for her slip of tongue.
"He's… definitely a culprit." Wasn't there a case about him actually kidnapping and doing some magic mumbo jumbo to link himself with someone to torture… was it Kaito? To make him lose his duel? And since he's also an important Number holder…
Seeing that Allen wasn't taking a no for an answer, she sighed, relenting and gave him a slip of the knowledge that she could barely remember herself. "If I rem-if my information is right, then Tron is the person who someone that my collaborator and his friend had faced is working against."
"Collaborator? So you have other people helping you other than just us?" Allen said as his face looked a bit… hurt, sad that she hadn't told him and the others that they also had more help in their quest.
"To be fair, he isn't the most social sort. Right now that is." She explained herself with a wave of her hand, placing a hand on her hips as she sighed. "You know him, both my collaborator and his friend. It's Kaito and Yuto after all."
"W-WHAAAAAAT?!" The brown haired boy shouted as his jaw hung open in surprise. Only for him to close it as he shook his head hurriedly. "Why'd you just mention it now! Well I mean, I guess we did give a warning to Ruri and the others, but why didn't you tell me that Kaito was also helping!"
"He's in his emo phase. Or is it an edgy phase right now?" She hummed, ignoring the incredulous look that the poncho wearing duelist was throwing at her as he heard her words to describe him. "But either way, he's on a warpath to get the Numbers for his own reasons. It just so happens that our goals coincide so we're helping one another."
"That…. Doesn't sound like him at all."Allen said, both the image of the teenage Numbers Hunter that she was describing and that of the kind and helpful encouraging senior that he's always known not at all matching.
She sighed at that, pressing the rim of her hat with her fingers as she glanced away. "The whole debacle has been harsh on him, it's really why Knight-kun-I mean Yuto is in this whole mess, and probably his other friend too by the sounds of it, to help him out."
"Dang it. And we didn't do anything to help him." Allen grit his teeth as he glanced down in shame, to which he received a second bonk in his head.
"Hey now. You were helping me with this whole Numbers problem too, remember?" She said as she gave the teen a good tap on his head. "Don't sell yourself short Allen. You've all been a great help in all of this."
And she wasn't kidding. If it weren't for them, then she would have done this all by herself. And considering that a handful of the Numbers they had gathered themselves like the case with Crimson Armored Ninja along with some other Numbers with it, and also essentially running a rumour mill through the Heartland Academy helped in making her find out some Numbers too.
"And besides, Anna's strong. You know that more than anyone." She told the brown haired boy with a smile. "I'm sure that she probably just forgot about going back home because she was too… well, lets say focused on something. Maybe she was out hunting a Number or the like. We don't have to think of the worst case as the only possible scenario after all."
"Yeah…" The poncho wearing boy said as he slowly calmed down. "You're right. But what's with that Tron person that you said earlier anyway? How'd you know him?"
Ah crap he still isn't letting that go? "I guess it was just a feeling?" She answered nervously as she pulled her arms close. "I'm pretty sure I've heard of him somewhere before, and his name did show up in the high rankings last time I managed to check it."
"Really? Man it's too bad that they closed that off so we couldn't see who got to the finals." Allen groaned as he crossed both of his hands behind his head and leaned back slightly.
"We could still access it yesterday, but they did basically take it down an hour before the preliminary ended, yes." She nodded. "I guess they wanted to make the finals more dramatic by revealing the contestants."
"That does sound like something that Mr. Heartland…"
"He does seem like the type, doesn't he? He definitely was the one that chose to do it." They both agreed, sagely nodding their heads as they pictured the brightly dressed flamboyant man laughing heartily.
"But anyway, anyone that gets to the finals should have gotten one of these." She said, pulling a neatly folded white envelope with a crimson heart shaped seal in the middle, though with how she opened it, the seal was already broken. "Which is apparently the admittance letter for the finalist. You could probably find whoever has it and find out who the finalists are but…"
She arched her head to look at the destination of their meetup with Sayaka and Myu, a giant stadium right next to large tower at the center of Heartland City.
And the sea of people that was surrounding it. Chattering and clattering and making it so that both she and Allen had to stand and wait from quite a distance just to make sure that they could hear one another clearly,
"Yeah there's no way we're finding anyone with that in there." She deadpanned, and the poncho weaning teen could only nod his head in agreement.
"Lets just wait to get it. We'll hopefully get a seat. And if not we'll just stand up and watch." Allen said, and she shot him a look.
"Hopefully it won't get to that. That's four whole rounds. Do you know how long those things last?"
-
"GOOOOOOOD MORNING HEARTLAND CITY! AND GOOOOOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!"
In the center of the largest stadium in the futuristic city of Heartland, riding atop of what is essentially a floating platform that rose right from the center of the stadium itself, was none other than the most notable figure of the city.
"ARE YOU ALL EXCITED BECAUSE I SURE AM! MY HEART IS BUUUUUUUUURNIIIIIIIING!"
Shouting loud enough to the point where he didn't even seem to need his microphone, the audience seated in the Heartland Stadium responded to Mr. Heartland with cries of their own. Excited shouts and cheers resounding throughout the entire city.
"TODAY IS AN INCREDIBLE DAY! FOR TODAY WE WILL BE HOLDING THE GREAT FINALS OF THE WORLD DUEL CARNIVAL! EVERYONE, ARE YOU READY!"
"Sure is making a show of it. But I guess that makes sense considering this is essentially a World's equivalent." She spoke to herself as she heard Mr. Heartland continue to rile up the audience, be it at the ones on the stadium here and now, or those that are watching along all around the world.
"Huh. This is my actual first World's level event isn't it." She thought after a blink, sinking back in the comfortable chair she was sat on. "I've been to locals and regionals before, and sure the level of gameplay are totally different but… I never thought something like this would happen."
She looked down and stared at her hand, even at her age now, it was almost as large as her petite self in her last life. "It's surreal. I could never have imagined that my first international televised game would be in another world of all things. Well I guess there was that one time I got a feature match…"
She laughed, head meeting a comfy cushion as she raised her arm and blocked her own vision. "How surreal… but I guess that's Yugioh for you isn't it?" She said as she began giggling to herself, before calming down a minute or so later.
"I sure do hope that they got seats." She muttered to herself as she could hear the audience in the stadium cheer so loud that the building felt like it was shaking. She had been separated from them after giving the attendant at the gate her envelope, so she could only pray that they weren't just standing for hours to watch the duels.
"NOW LET'S MEET OUR CONTESTANTS! THE GREAT DUELISTS WHO HAD MANAGED TO REACH THE FINALS OF THE WORLD DUEL CARNIVAL!"
At Mr. Heartland's prompt, a knock was heard from her door. The voice of the attendant that had led her here speaking through it. "Miss Red Hat, it's time."
"Alright then. Showtime I guess." She said after taking a deep breath. Adjusting her jacket and hat before standing up, duel disk strapped to her hand and ready to activate.
Before she opened the door however, she couldn't help but thought aloud, "Though I do hope that they'll get a good seat. Hopefully not next to some weirdos. Though considering this world, that's probably too much to ask."
-
"Oh god we finally found some empty ones." Allen shouted in relief as he all but slumped into the comfortable empty seats
"And it's just enough for all of us too." She said with a sigh as she sat down, lightly massaging her legs after fixing her glasses.
"Could you have imagined if we had to sit separately? It would have been fun to watch, but not as fun." Myu said as the silver haired girl plopped down beside her, her eyes darting from the man floating in the middle of the stadium to Allen. "You sure Anna-san doesn't need a seat? We could look somewhere else you know."
The sudden question startled the brown haired boy as he almost leapt from his seat. "Oh. Uh. She's fine. She's watching it from another seat I'm pretty sure."
"Then shouldn't we try and find a seat near her?"
"Uh. Right after we got these seats?" Her poncho wearing childhood friend punctuated by gesturing to the seats which they were sitting on. "No shot I'm doing that. I'm not moving at all from here. No sir."
"Yeah I'm with him on this one Sayaka." The silver haired girl added on. "I don't want to go searching for another thirty minutes or so. Let's just enjoy the show and watch Yuuna bulldoze through the whole tournament yeah?"
"Yeah… I guess you're right, Myu." She said with a sigh while a small smile made its way. "Lets just cheer Yuuna-san as much as we can! That's why we came here after all!"
"Yuuna?" She heard the purple haired girl on the seat beside her snap her head towards her at surprising speed. "Did you just say Yuuna?" She asked, as both her and the indigo haired girl beside her was watching her intently.
"Uh, yeah?" She said as Allen and Myu shared glances.
""""You know Yuuna?""""
-
"NOW HERE THEY ARE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE TOP OF THE TOP! THE 8 DUELISTS WHO HAD MADE THEIR WAY TO THE FINALS OF THE WORLD DUEL CARNIVAL!"
Accompanying the flamboyant master of ceremonies was the equally rabid cheer of the fans and avid dueling enthusiast, the duelists who had not managed to go far enough to reach the top of the top, all watching the proceedings of the tournament with fervour.
The fancily dressed man riding on a floating platform flourished his hand outwards as he continued to shout, announcing the arrivals of the competitors that everyone had been waiting for.
"HE'S ONE OF THE YOUNGEST DUELIST TO HAVE REACHED THIS FAR! A PROMINENT UP AND COMING DUELIST FROM HEARTLAND'S OWN HEARTLAND DUELING ACADEMY, GIVE IT UP FOR YUTO!"
And off from one of the stadium's many entrances, accompanied with a fanfare of fireworks and cheers, the first finalist of the World Duel Carnival entered the stage for them all to see. That being a black and purple haired boy who wore a simple white and black jacket.
The teenager's head swiveled left and right as his eyes gazed over the stadium full of people who were all watching and cheering him on. He could only muster a frail weak smile as he shyly waved his hands, honestly unsure on what to do with these many people's attention on him.
'This is far different from the tournament back in the Academy! What am I supposed to do here?!' Yuto silently shouted to himself as he walked into the stage, doing his best to hide the nervousness that was digging into him, something that was growing more and more as people continued to cheer him on.
"AND JOINING INTO THE FRAY FROM OUR OWN HEARTLAND ACADEMY AS WELL, A TOP STUDENT SCORING WHO HAD FOUGHT HIS WAY INTO THE FINALS, SHUN KUROSAKI!"
From a different gate, walking in with the same level of fanfare as the duelist before him, a purple jacket-wearing teen walked with a stern and focused face. Giving a brief wave to the audience as he walked to the stage.
"So you really did made it too Shun!" The black and purple haired teen said with a large smile, and Shun's stern facade briefly fell to give Yuto a mirroring smile, giving his best friend a nod.
"Yes, I told you as much yesterday when I got the invitation and all. And I'm glad to see that you made it here too." Shun said with a huff, before he shook his head. "But I'm not the only one that you'll recognize here."
"OH, BUT IT'S NOT THE END OF THE ATTENDANTS FROM OUR BELOVED ACADEMY! BECAUSE COMING UP NEXT IS A SIBLING OF OUR PREVIOUS FINALIST, RURI KUROSAKI!"
Receiving an equal if not more cheers, along with a handful of whistles and catcalls much to Shun's dismay by the look on his face, Ruri walked in through her own gate with a small smile and waving shyly just like he did. The first female competitor of the World Duel Carnival joined the fray.
-
From far away, watching the finalists beginning to be revealed one by one, a frizzy orange haired teen watched along with widened eyes, before he snapped his head to look away to pull up his duel disk.
For he had just found his target. The one that he's been searching for all this time
-
"Ruri?!" Yuto gasped in shock as he saw her make her way onto the stage, and his head snapped to Shun who was looking at him with a smug smile. "You-you didn't tell me that!"
"She wanted it to be a surprise." The raven haired teen said with a smirk, a hand on his hip as he watched the black and purple haired teen growl. "And I'll admit, I really was looking forward to see the look on your face."
"You-!" He hissed, before hearing a chuckle behind him and immediately turning on his heel. "Hey-Ruri! You made it this far too!"
The ravenette giggled in her hand, making the black and purple haired teen flush. "You two seem to get along as usual. But yes, I somehow made it." Though the smile that the girl held was slightly tinged with sadness. "But I couldn't have gotten here without help…"
"Well that is part of the way the tournament was set up wasn't it." Shun said to cheer her, giving his sister a comforting smile. "The fact that you're standing here, on this stage, is proof enough of your skill Ruri."
"That's right! So don't put yourself down too much!" He chimed in with a nod and a smile. "I'm sure that everyone that helped you get this far would say the same."
And at hearing that, the raven haired girl gave a small smile, her eyes darting to the seats filled with the numerous audience that was watching them. "Yes. They certainly did."
"AH BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET! FOR THERE IS ONE MORE LOCAL STUDENT WHO HAD MANAGED TO CLAW HIS WAY ONTO THE FINALS!"
Mr. Heartland's words drew the trio's attention, as he waved his hand to another gate of the stadium.
"LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ONE OF THE HIGHEST RANKED DUELIST OF THE FINALS, KAITO TENJO!"
With cheer and fanfare, the blonde duelist wearing the black jacket that he was slowly associating himself with silently walked to the field. Ignoring the existence of the audience as a whole as he simply just walked onto the stage silently.
"Kaito…" Shun spoke out his name, with both him and Ruri standing beside him giving the blonde a worried look.
"..." Yet all that they got was a mere glance, before the Galaxy-Eyes duelist moved his focus on to something else. The raven haired teen gripped his hands into fists in frustration, and was about to confront his friend-
Yet the show must go on, and Mr. Heartland continued to introduce the duelists that they could possibly face in this leg of the tournament.
"NEXT UP! A DUELIST THAT IS FILLED WITH MYSTERY, BARELY MANAGING TO ENTER INTO THE FINALS AS A FINAL ENTRY, THE MYSTERIOUS DUELIST S!"
And following Kaito's stoic and lackluster entrance was a duelist who was completely shrouded by a cloak. Their whole features hidden under a hood that only showed their lips as they silently walked onto the stage without fanfare. Neither returning the cheers of the audience nor acknowledging their competitors.
"AND THIS ONE IS A SPECIAL ONE! HE MAY LOOK SMALL BUT HE HIDES AN IMMENSE STRENGTH! GIVE IT UP FOR TRON!"
After the shrouded duelist who showed no hint of showmanship, Mr. Heartland quickly rolled in the next finalist. And in walked a young boy with platinum blonde hair whose whole face is almost covered by a metal mask. Gingerly walked up to the stage of the stadium with a wide half revealed smile as he waved both of his hands happily towards the audience.
"Thank you! Thank you all! I am glad to be here!" The boy shouted with eyes curved and a wide smile. Returning the cheer and shouts that the audience was giving him with his own cheery answer. His singular viewable eye briefly gazed towards their little group and offered a nod, before he focused back to wave and smile at the audience.
"Well I guess there's some normal people here." He couldn't help but mumble under his breath.
"THE NEXT ONE IS A DUELIST THAT YOU ALL KNOW AND LOVE! FAMOUS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, GIVE A HAND FOR THE ASIA CHAMPION HIMSELF, IV!"
And like the duelist before him, with more fanfare and fireworks than any duelist before him, a blonde formal dress wearing young man walked onto the Heartland Stadium. Cheers and shouts could be heard all around the city as the audience chanted IV's name.
"Hello everyone!" The young man shouted as he waved his hand, his serene smile making the audience swoon and cheer louder. "Thank you! Thank you! I'm glad that I could be here with all of you!"
"AND NOW OUR LAST COMPETITOR! THE DUELIST THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND MANAGED TO DOMINATE THE PRELIMINARY ROUND! THE EVER MYSTERIOUS RED HAT!"
And walking right onto the field with as much fanfare as the duelist before him, was a duelist that like the mysterious S, walked with their face covered by a red hat. They gave a short wave and showed a smile to the audience as they then walked straight onto the stage without wasting as much time as IV.
"Hello there." The red hat wearing duelist said to them with a wave, tipping their hat towards them.
He gave a short wave, while Shun kept a glare at their way. Ruri however showed a large smile towards the red clad duelist, which they returned with one of their own.
With that, all the finalists of the tournament were gathered.
"Now duelists! You all must be wondering how exactly this final is going to be held!" Mr. Heartland shouted, waving his hand outwards as he then swept his cane.
The stadium then shook, making some of them standing on the stage in the middle of the stadium almost losing their footing as right before them, eight roller coasters rose from the ground before them.
"Riding these coasters, the eight duelists will then meet against their opponents and duel in one of the many stages that have been prepared!" Mr. Heartland shouted, waving his hand down towards the five coasters and their differing rails. "And the winner will then continue through their path, dueling against the other winners, until only one is left! Standing he champion of the World Duel Carnival!"
"Ah, that's certainly a system." She muttered under her breath, and Knight-kun beside her gave a glance. "A randomizer like this is just for pure spectacle. How very extra of him,"
"Well, it is the World Duel Carnival after all." He spoke back with a small smile. "They do have a trend of being flashy."
"It's a waste of budget is what it is. People's taxes probably went to make all of this." Not her though. Interdimensional refugees like her don't pay taxes.
She truly hopes that the dueling IRS or whatever doesn't catch her for that. Though if she was caught, by this world's rules, it'll probably going to one way or another lead to a duel.
On that, she would be quite confident that she could win.
"Now! Finalist! Choose your path of destiny!" Mr. Heartland's shout broke her line of thought, as he gestured towards the eight separate roller coasters and allowed them all to choose each.
The first one to choose was none other than Kaito. The blonde immediately making his choice as he powerwalked and sat on the coaster closest to him. The ride's lap bar immediately went down as the roller coaster then moved on into the depths of the stadium.
"Oh! And the first one to make his choice is none other than Contestant Kaito! Will his quick decision lead him to victory!?" Mr. Heartland commented, watching as the blonde haired teen disappeared from their immediate sight.
"Then I suppose I shall choose as well." The masked boy chuckled. Tron then walked and picked a coaster of his choice, taking a brief moment to choose before sitting down on the middlemost roller coaster.
Then one after another, the finalists of the World Duel Carnival walked and made their choice. Shun and Ruri picking a coaster one after another, IV making a show of his choosing, and the shrouded duelist picking one after him.
Well, no time like the present. "See you later then Knight-kun." She said with a wave, as she walked past him and gave a wave to him. Taking one of the two still empty roller coasters and strapping herself, taking a short breath to calm her rapidly beating heart as the vehicle launched forward.
And in the distance, she heard Yuto do the same thing. Following everyone else as the last duelist to go.
"AAAAND THEY'RE OFF!" Mr. Heartland declared as all eight competitors disappeared. "Now ladies and gentlemen, let us watch the duel that is about to unfold before us!" And as they left, riding through their respective rails, giant holographic screens manifested right in the middle of the stadium, all angled for the audience to be able to see from every seat.
And they watched, as the duelists rode further and further to meet their fated opponents.
-
""DUEL!!""
Yuto: 4000LP
IV: 4000LP
"Why don't you go first?" The dual toned haired young man spoke with a serene smile, gesturing towards his opponent. "You can think of it as a service. A fanservice. From me, to you."
Had it been the Yuto from before this whole tournament debacle started, he would have accepted the offer without much of a second thought. After all, his opponent was IV, a famous and renowned duelist whom he was quite a fan of. He's known of him as a gentle and kindhearted duelist who had achieved his title through hard work and his own strength.
But then he'd duel alongside Kaito against III and V. And he'd had enough of a understanding of the stakes that the tournament had to research his possible opponents prior to the tournament.
He of course didn't need to do so for Shun, Ruri or Kaito. Though the last certainly had changed his style extremely, he managed to acquire little to no information on two participants.
That was, of course, the Red Hat girl that was with Kaito, and Tron. Both seemed friendly enough at first glance, and Red Hat claiming to come from outside of Heartland would explain somethings on why he couldn't find resources on her in the database that he had access too, and he supposed that the same applied to that masked boy as well.
Though Red Hat's warning still lingered in his mind. He still didn't fully trust her, but Yuto would heed her warning to be wary of the masked duelist.
IV was different. He'd certainly found matches upon matches of his duels online, and though he had never noticed it before, now he could see that his dueling seemed… off, somehow.
'It was as if he was holding himself back.' Yuto thought to himself as he looked at his opponent's laid back attitude and disarming smile. 'He was certainly strong in every show that I've seen, but just the way that he played his cards seemed strange.'
But still, someone needed to start the duel. And though it worried him that it was a trap, he would still walk right through it. "Alright then. It's my turn!" He declared as he accepted IV's offer, the blonde young man smiling as he chose to go first.
Yuto glanced at his starting hand, and as he noted each and every one of them, he could hear Red Hat's giggle as his eyes landed on one of them. She was right, he supposed. The tournament staff didn't even bother to check their decklists for the finals.
"I will activate the Spell, Reinforcement of the Army!" He shouted as he placed the card on his glowing purple duel blade, and before him a glowing manifestation of the card shone into existence.
"This Spell allows me to add one Level 4 or lower Warrior monster from my deck to my hand." He declared and from the holographic manifestation of the Spell, a rush of armored knights appeared and let out their warcries.
"Ho? So you're playing a Warrior styled deck is it? How interesting." IV commented as he saw the card being played, his smile ever present as a glint entered his eyes. "But for you to have accepted to go first so easily, just what are you up to I wonder."
Of course, just like Yuto, IV had done indepth research against any and all opponents that he could possibly fight against in the finals of this tournament. It was, after all, the culmination of their family's long goal. The one thing that he and his brothers had sacrificed most of their life for.
The thought of his brothers made his smile twitch. His mask of composure almost falling at the thought of what his father-Tron had done. A deliberate action done against his own in order to draw out the possibility that one of the contestants possessed.
He… was extremely conflicted. He didn't know what Tron saw in Ryoga, that for him it was acceptable for one of them to lose their spot in the finals to give him the spotlight once more. And knowing that he was under his control…
It was either him or III, and with him being who he is, III immediately threw himself to what he knew was a duel that he had to lose intentionally.
He was sure that even under whatever it was that Tron put him under, he could somehow drag the real Ryoga out of. And if it needed him to be defeated then he'll gladly do it after what he had done to III.
'If anything, I have to be the one to do it.' IV thought to himself. 'Ryoga is my responsibility. I was the one that made him the way he is. So what happened to III is also my fault.'
It was always his fault. Even if he knew that Tron was the one pulling the strings behind all of his actions, he still willingly did what he did.
All for the sake of family.
His opponent's shout snapped him out of his thoughts however, as with a quick flick of his duel disk, Yuto revealed a card that he decided to add into his hand. "I will add The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales from my deck to my hand!" The added card was shown to IV, before Yuto then immediately placed it onto his duel blade.
"And I will summon it!" And before him, the first monster made it onto the field. A ghostly armor torn through countless battles, floating with dark blue wisps of fire as it manifested into his field.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 600/1600
"And I will activate its effect!" He declared. "Once per turn, I can discard one card from my hand, to send one 'Phantom Knights' card from my deck to my hand except another one of itself!" The purple haired teen declared, taking another card of his now four card hand and revealed it to his opponent.
"I will discard the Trap, The Phantom Knights' Wing from my hand." He said, paying for the card's cost as wispy bright blue fire emerged from the armoured body of his monster. "And I will send The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak from my deck to the graveyard!"
Said card was taken straight from his deck, before slotted into his duel disk's graveyard slot. "And I will use its effect!" And as soon as it was possible, Yuto then declared to use the graveyard effect of the monster he had just sent.
"I can banish The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak from my graveyard, to add one 'Phantom Knights' card from my deck to my hand!" He shouted, explaining the monster's graveyard effect.
"I see. So with that monster that you normal summoned, you've essentially turned a discard into another one of those Phantom Knights cards." The blonde haired duelist noted as his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, noting the consistency of the combo that Yuto was performing.
"That's right! And I will add from my deck to my hand The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots!" And with that, he added the monster card from his deck to his hand, trading the discarded card for another one of his archetypal monsters as his opponent had pointed out.
"And as I control another 'The Phantom Knights' monster, I can special summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots from my hand!" Like the previous one, the card that Yuto added to his hand was then immediately played onto his purple duel blade.
Beside the ghoulish armour manifested an equally tattered and torn brown cloak and boots weaning spirit, masking the ghostly wisps of fire it contained as it silently made its way onto the field with careful and measured steps.
The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 200/1200
"So that one summons itself." IV noted as he saw what exactly his opponent had been aiming for. "And now you have two Level 3 monsters on the field." And from the research that he'd done, he knew exactly what his opponent was going to summon.
"That's right!" The black clad duelist couldn't help the grin that grew on his face as he raised his right hand. "I will take both the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales and the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots, and overlay 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.
"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 as the light began to subside, the figure that appeared was not one that IV had expected to be summoned. For instead of the headless armoured knight that he had expected, the XYZ Monster that Yuto had summoned was instead a monster that took the form of a seemingly normal man with dark bluish hair, dressed in medieval traveling gear of red leather armour over a black short, with belts tying down pouches and a sword at his side. Of course a pair of shining gold orbs indicated his status as an XYZ Monster.
"Descend! 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 in defence position.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 1000/2500 OV: 2
Yet as fast as it came, IV's surprise was masked under his smile. "Oh dear, I certainly didn't expect that. To think that you could so easily summon an XYZ Monster like that!" He said, making sure that it seemed he was sincerely praising his opponent.
Yet in truth, he was reassessing the teen that he was dueling against. For him to summon a card that Yuto himself had never used in any of their accessible records, but a card that he had neither seen or heard of ever. If it had been a new addition, he would have expected for it to be a Number but… this card certainly wasn't it.
'And it wasn't just that too.' The finely dressed young man frowned as he narrowed his eyes. 'The monster that he had used to start off all this had also never appeared in any of the duels he'd ever seen him duel in. Was he holding it for this very tournament?'
"Coming from someone like you, it's certainly a praise. But it's only just beginning!" Yuto declared with a grin as he waved his hand forward. "I will activate Dante's effect!" He declared.
"Once per turn, I can detach one material from this card and choose a number from 1 to 3, then send that many cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard; until the end of this turn, this card gains 500 attack for each card sent to the graveyard this way!"
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.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 1000/2500 OV: 1
"I will choose 3, and send that many cards from the top of my deck to boost Dante's attack by 1500!" The black clad duelist declared as the top three cards of his deck were milled and sent to the graveyard as the cost to activate the monster's effect.
"An attack modification on the first turn?" IV said, as his brows furrowed. "No, that's not it. Just like earlier, you're trying to send those cards of yours to the graveyard!"
And this time, it was Yuto's turn to look surprised as he gave a wry smile. "As expected of the Champion of Asia, for you to deduce that so quickly."
IV gave a chuckle at that comment. "I certainly couldn't have gotten far if I couldn't notice something as obvious as that." The effect soon resolved as no further cards were chained, and the XYZ Monster glowed with golden energy as its attack points increased.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 2500/2500 OV: 1
Yuto glanced down at his duel disk's interface and checked the cards that he had sent to the graveyard through Dante's effect. Though the cards sent were essentially random, he certainly saw the way that they could be used.
After all, the fact that this new XYZ Monster that he had been 'sold' was essentially a plus for him. He already got what he needed sent to the graveyard after all. "I will activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots in my graveyard!" He declared aloud.
"I can banish this card from my graveyard, to add one 'Phantom Knights' Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand!" With a wave of his hand, the monster was banished from his graveyard to activate its effect.
"So you detached it to use its graveyard effect." His opponent noted. "Your strategy certainly seems to like using the graveyard doesn't it?"
"My knights are forever eternal after all." He couldn't help but quip with a smile, before focusing again as he revealed the card that he was adding from his deck. "I will add the Continuous Trap, The Phantom Knights' Fog Blade from my deck to my hand."
Yet again refilling his hand to four cards, Yuto continued with the turn. "I will then activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales in my graveyard!" He shouted while waving his hand forwards.
"A second copy sent through that XYZ Monster's effect is it?" His opponent noted as he pressed his own duel disk to check his graveyard. "And the other ones sent are a Trap card a Quick-Play Spell I see."
"If another 'Phantom Knights' card in my graveyard is banished while this card is in my graveyard, I can special summon this card, but it is banished when it leaves the field!" He said, explaining the monster's revival effect that activated after he banished Silent Boots for its own effect.
"Return to the battlefield! The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales!" With that shout the second copy of the possessed torn armour then appeared onto the field, standing right beside the traveler that was summoned before it.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 600/1600
"But that's not all! I activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Stained Graves in my hand!" Yuto continued. "Because if a 'The Phantom Knights' is special summoned to my field, I can special summon this card from my hand, then I can increase its Level by 1!"
He took the card out of his hand, and quickly placed it onto the field. "Go forth! The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves!" And in a burst of light, the armoured ghostly warrior manifested beside its comrade. Ghostly fire trailing behind it as he held a pair of rusty blades with its hands while its stained armour creaked from its movements.
The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 1200/600
"I choose not to increase the Level of The Phantom Knights of Stained Graves." The dark haired teen noted aloud, not using the optional effect that came with his monster's special summoning condition.
And IV already knew the reason why. "So another one then?"
"And now, I will take the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales and the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Stained Graves, and overlay them!" Yuto shouted as he raised his hands yet again, and both monsters that he called turned into glowing purple pillars of light.
"I will once again construct the overlay network with these two monsters!" And before him, the ever familiar galactical vortex appeared, and so he began his chant. "O soul of knights felled in battle, stand once more with light that cuts through darkness!"
He finished as the two spirals of energy entered the vortex of energy, to which he swung his hand down, and the vortex exploded into a blinding pillar of light. "XYZ Summon! Appear! The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!"
And the monster that IV had expected finally appeared. That being a ghostly apparition that is the combination of a knight and its trusty steed, wielding in its right hand a broken and chipped greatsword, as its two dark purple overlay materials orbited it. Prepared to battle as it was summoned in attack position.
The Phantom Knights of Break Sword - Dark/Warrior/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 2000/1000 OV: 2
"Two XYZ Monsters in one turn." IV muttered under his breath with begrudging respect as he eyed his opponent's pair of XYZ Monsters. He had only thought of him as an up and coming newcomer that he could easily defeat and continue to pursue his goals but… "It seems that I've underestimated you, Yuto."
"I will set two cards face-down, and end my turn." Yuto continued as he placed two of the cards in his hand in his Spell and Trap zone, before then ending his turn. Finishing his first turn of the whole tournament with a pair of XYZ Monsters and a pair of backrow while a card still remained in his hand.
"And at the end of the turn, Dante's attack points return to normal." Yuto said, not for getting the attack boosting effect of his new XYZ Monster only lasting until the end of the turn, with the monster in question being enveloped by a golden aura of energy as its power reverted to normal.
Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss - Light/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 1000/2500 OV: 1
"Well then, I suppose it's my turn then." The blonde haired duelist began, placing his hand over his duel disk. "I draw!" And so IV began his turn, starting off with six cards in his hand.
"I will start with this! I normal summon a monster!" And IV stylishly placed a card from his hand into his duel blade, and onto the field appeared a strange horse-like monster formed through connected mannequins, neighing with its appearance onto the field.
Gimmick Puppet Des Troy - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1200/2000
From its form alone Yuto had to take a step back in surprise, the summoned creature's form made him get a visceral reaction. "That's-! Gimmick Puppet?!" A series of cards that he's never heard of, was this the actual cards that IV was more used to using instead of the ones that he was known to use?
"And next, I shall activate the Spell, Card of Puppets!" The blonde duelist placed yet another card from his hand into his jagged duel blade, and its holographic projection shone before him. "Card of Puppets lets me target one 'Gimmick Puppet' monster that I control; destroy it, and if I do, I draw one card."
The Asia Champion pointed forwards as he gestured towards the singular monster that he had summoned. "I will of course target Gimmick Puppet Des Troy, and destroy it to draw a card."
The mannequin-made trojan horse let out another distorted neigh before it promptly exploded into shards of light, and allowed IV to draw one additional card. "And then Gimmick Puppet Des Troy's effect will now activate." He spoke out as his smile gained an edge.
"When this card is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can special summon one or two 'Gimmick Puppet' monsters from my hand!" The blonde haired young man spoke as he revealed two cards from his hand.
"From my hand, I will special summon Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll, and Gimmick Puppet Gear Changer from my hand!" And from with a wave of his hand, a pair of monsters appeared onto the field. One being a large coffin where a doll girl stood up from, and a large mannequin with a giant gear in its body.
Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 0/0
Gimmick Puppet Gear Changer - Dark/Machine/Level 1/Effect: 100/100
"Two monsters on the field instantly! But their Levels are mismatched." Yuto muttered to himself as he saw IV summoned forth two monsters from Gimmick Puppet Des Troy's graveyard effect.
"Oh they won't be after this." IV overheard his muttering as he said so with a smile, waving towards the gear bodied monster before him. "I will activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet Gear Changer! Once per turn, I can target one 'Gimmick Puppet' monster that I control, except itself, and have Gear Changer's Level become the current Level of that monster!"
His hand then snapped towards the dreary doll residing in its coffin, and shouted out with a grin. "I will target Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll! And change Gear Changer's Level into 8! Gear Up!"
The giant blue mannequin's hand then pulled and moved the giant level on its body, its gear letting out mechanical noises as its effect was activated.
"I won't let you! I will activate the Continuous Trap! Phantom Knights' Fog Blade!" Yuto shouted in response, his hand quickly raised as one of his two set cards was flipped face-up, revealing the card that he had searched through Silent Boot's effect.
"What?" IV said as his eyes narrowed, and Yuto began to explain the card's effect.
"I can activate Phantom Knights' Fog Blade by targeting one Effect Monster on the field; negate that face-up monster's effect, that monster cannot attack, and monsters cannot target that face-up monster for attacks!"
"What!?" With his eyes wide in surprise, the blonde acclaimed duelist watched as his opponent swept his right hand to point towards his target.
"I will target your Gimmick Puppet Gear Changer, and negate its effect!" Yuto shouted, and the chain of effect soon resolved, a pale blue misty fog enveloping the geared mannequin as its effect was negated.
"Tch. So that was your whole gameplan from the start." IV clicked his tongue in annoyance. For the Continuous Trap that he had searched from the very beginning of his combo to have an ability like that was not something that he had expected.
"But is that all? In that case, I will use the Equip Spell, Overlay Satellite on Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll!" He declared, revealing yet another card from his hand and placing it onto his duel blade, its holographic projection appearing right behind the monster.
"With Overlay Satellite equipped, Dreary Doll can be treated as two materials for an XYZ Summon!"
"Wh-what!?" And the black and purple haired Heartland Academy student's eyes went wide with surprise. "There's an Equip Spell with that kind of effect?!"
Right beside the coffin residing doll girl, a floating metal satellite blinked into existence, allowing it to cheat the restrictions of XYZ Summoning as a whole.
"Now then…" IV spoke as he leaned forward, his smile turning manic and sending shivers down Yuto's spine. "Let the fanservice begin!" The blonde and brown haired duelist spread his arms wide, before snapping his hand forwards to his monster.
"I will take the Level 8 Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll equipped with Overlay Satellite, and overlay her!" With its metallic satellite shining beside her, both it and the bandaged doll transformed into shining purple beacons of light, and right in front of IV, a black and gold galactical vortex began to form.
"With this monster, I shall construct the overlay network!" And IV then raised his hand as he declared. "XYZ Summon!" And the two pillars of light swerved and entered it, creating an explosion of light.
And from it, a new XZ monster took form. "Appear, Numbers 15!" A giant black mesh of limbs, resembling a heart, tied with strings hanging from a giant dark cross. The envoy from hell who pulls the strings of fate. Once more, lift the curtain to the stage in the depths of the deepest, blackest darkness! Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder!"
And the mesh of limbs then untangled itself, revealing the giant's machinery that it was. A black mechanical giant whose body was tangled in strings hanging on from the machinery that it was attached to. The monster itself wore a giant golden crown, a mark of the number 15 shining blood red on its head. The XYZ Monster's form eclipsing any of her monster as it filled the dark starry field they resided upon as two purple orbs trailed over its body..
Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 1500/2500 OV: 2
"A Number Monster!? This-so this is your true deck all along!" Yuto hissed as he prepared himself in the face of IV's monster. He had certainly been expecting something, but for it to be a Number Monster of all things!
No, if anything he should have been expecting this from the start! With how Kaito and Red Hat had been acting against all these Number Monsters, and if IV had any relation at all to III and V, then of course he would also have Number Monsters in his possession! They were most likely brothers!
Then does that mean that he also holds a grudge or the like against Kaito like his brothers? Because if that's the case then…
"Hm? What's this? Could you possibly have been a fan Yuto-kun?" IV mused, humming with a grin as his eyes curved with joy as he looked at his opponent. "Well that's just perfect! Because that means that this fanservice will be special!"
With a swipe of his hand, the Asia Dueling Champion gestured towards his XYZ Monster. "Now I will activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder!" He declared.
"Up to twice per turn, during my Main Phase, I can detach one material from this card, then target one special summoned monster my opponent controls, destroy it! Then, if it was an XYZ Monster, I can inflict damage to you equal to its original attack!" The blonde duelist shouted the monster's effect with a manic smile.
"It destroys and deals damage equal to its attack if it was an XYZ Monster!?" Yuto gasped, head snapping towards the pair of monsters that he had. Both of which are, of course, XYZ Monsters that filled the second condition.
One of the giant string controlled puppet's glowing purple orbs floated and flew right into the monster's golden crown, being absorbed right into the monster's body as it then raised both of its hands, preparing itself to strike.
Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 1500/2500 OV: 1
With a manic grin, the formally dressed young man thrusted his hand forward towards Yuto's armoured monster. "I will target The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!" And from the giant marionette atop of the monstrous doll began to shoot strings that attached themselves to the headless knight, both it and its mount resisting as they attempted to shake them off with no effect.
"No! I won't let you! I will activate my set card!" Yuto shouted, interrupting the effect as he chained one of his own, flipping his last set card and having its holographic projection shine on the field. "Phantom Knights' Sword!"
And with the card appearing onto the field along with its effect, the black and purple haired duelist explained what exactly it does. "I can activate this card by targeting one face-up monster on the field, and have it gain 800 attack! And if that target would be destroyed by battle or card effect, I can destroy this card instead!"
With that all done, he then swiped his hand towards the monster that was targeted by Giant Grinder. "I will target The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!" And with the target declared, the headless knight raised its left hand, whereupon an ominous purple sword appeared in his grasp. Granting his a boost in his attack power along with protection from destruction.
The Phantom Knights of Break Sword - Dark/Warrior/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 2800/1000 OV: 2
Which was then immediately used as the chain of card effects continued to resolve backwards, to which the strings that attached to the armoured black knight began to pull him towards the gigantic black doll, fully intending to destroy it.
"And I will prevent The Phantom Knights of Break Sword's destruction by destroying Phantom Knights' Sword!" Which was then thwarted as Yuto's XYZ Monster swung his newly acquired blade, cutting through all of the attached strings in exchange for losing the weapon in question.
"Tch. And because it isn't destroyed, you don't take any of the damage." IV clicked his tongue in annoyance, before chuckling as his manic smile remained. "But did you not hear, Yuto-kun? Because the effect of Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder can be activated twice on the same turn!"
And the well dressed young man swiped his hand upwards. "So here's an encore for that performance! Again! Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder!" Following the orders of its summoner, the second and final material that the giant string controlled puppet then entered its chest cavity, once more allowing it to activate its effect.
Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 1500/2500 OV: 0
"Your target remains the same! Destroy The Phantom Knights of Break Sword!" Yet again strings began to launch and attach themselves to the armoured phantom knight, and this time it had no protection to save itself.
Giant Grinder's chest cavity then opened and collapsed into itself, revealing numerous saws that spun faster and faster as the captured XYZ Monster's could only struggle in vain. And Yuuto watched in horror as his monster was crushed into smithereens.
"And now, here it comes!" IV shouted in glee, and spread both of his hands wide as the chest of the gigantic doll morphed yet again, turning into giant cannon that began to glow and charge with energy, fueled by the XYZ Monster that it had consumed. "Destruction Cannon!"
The cannon then fired, landing a direct strike towards its aimed target. Launching the energy absorbed from the destroyed The Phantom Knights of Break Sword back towards its own summoner.
"GUAAAGH!" And the attack sent Yuto flying off of his feet, launching him through the air before falling right onto the rocky ground below. Tumbling on the rocky terrain before finally stopping, groaning as he writhed in the ground.
And the black and purple steampunk duel disk in his hand chiming as his Life Points was drained from the attack that he took.
Yuto: 2000LP
"Kahahaha! Amazing! That's a great hit wasn't it?" IV laughed in glee as he watched Yuto squirm in the ground, his head slowly raising as he glared with one eye open at him.
"T-this is… the power of your Number?" Yuto groaned as he slowly stood up, even if he was shaking from the aftershock of the attack.
"Ha? Well of course! This is my true power that I have been hiding all this time!" IV declared aloud with a wide manic grin. "But now, there isn't a need for me to hide it anymore is it? So be glad! I'm giving a special fanservice just for you!"
"If this is the kind of… fanservice that you give out…" Yuto gasped as he swayed, before finally standing fully straight as he glared at his finely dressed opponent. "Then I… am not a fan!"
The black and purple haired teen then raised his hand and declared. "I will activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Break Sword! If this XYZ Summoned monster is destroyed, I can target two 'The Phantom Knights' monsters with the same Level in my graveyard, special summon them and increase their Levels by 1!"
Yuto then took a pair of cards from his graveyard, revealing both of them for his opponent to see. "I will special summon back both the Level 3 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales and The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves from my graveyard! And have both their Levels increase by 1!"
The two cards was swiftly placed onto his duel blade, and both ghostly warriors once more returned onto the field. Both summoned defensively as to protect their summoner from any and all oncoming attacks.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 600/1600
The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves - Dark/Warrior/Level 4/Effect: 1200/600
"Hmph. Right, that monster does do that didn't it?" IV mused with a hum, his hand going to one of the two remaining cards that he still had in hand. "But that was also in my calculations." He said with a grin.
"Truthfully I'm quite hurt that you're thinking of stopping being my fan, Yuto-kun. But if that's the case then I can't help it." The blonde duelist said with faux sadness as a solemn look passed through his face as he closed his eyes.
Then opening them once again, and his ever manic smile returned. "So how about I give you a farewell fanservice then?" IV then swiped a card from his hand, and revealed it for Yuto to see. "I will activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight in my hand!"
Following the declaration, was the card's effect explanation. "If this card is in my hand, I can target one 'Gimmick Puppet, or one monster in my opponents' graveyard, and special summon them to their owner's field in defence position, but their effects are negated, then I can special summon this card!"
"I will target the Gimmick Puppet Des Troy in my graveyard, and special both it and this card!" A wave of his hand was all that the blonde young man needed to place both cards onto his duek blade, allowing the manifestation of both the Trojan horse made out of dolls and an armored puppet then appeared with flourish, wielding a bronze blade in hand
Gimmick Puppet Des Troy - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1200/2000
Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1800/500
"Two Level 4 monsters! Another XYZ!?" Yuto gasped and his eyes widened as he saw IV managed to gather yet again A pair of monsters who possessed the same Level, and the blonde Asia Champion grinned seeing his reaction.
"Why of course! What else could it possibly even be!" He shouted, raising his right hand to point towards the fake dark sky above them. "I will overlay both the Level 4 Gimmick Puppet Des Troy and the Level 4 Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight!"
The Trojan horse made off of dolls and the fiendish Knight both let out A groan as they turned into shining pillars of light, all while in front of IV, the ever familiar vortex of black and gold began to reappear.
"With these two monsters I shall construct the overlay network!" And both pillars of light danced around one another, before finally entering the vortex before him. "XYZ Summon!" And exploded into a bright white pillar of light that engulfed the field.
"Dance! Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll!" The monster came with a cacophony of distorted laughter, as a giant blood red scythe cut the pillar of light from which it emerged from. Standing before them was a monster whose body was a hellish combination of many different dolls merged with one another. A giant gear changer on its back, along with a giant pair of scissors.
While the singular giant red head with a small yellow hat eyed them with its dark blue eyes. A pair of dark purple orbs orbiting and leaving a trail along the monster, representing the two overlay units that it possessed.
Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 0/2000 OV: 2
"It's not a Numbers Monster?" Yuto commented as he swayed slightly in place, critically eyeing the monster that IV had just summoned onto the field.
Hearing his comment however, the finely dressed young man raised and shook his index finger at the black haired teen. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You of all people should know, Yuto-kun, that Numbers Monsters aren't the only XYZ Monsters that are strong."
Though after he said that, the blonde haired young man shrugged his shoulders. "Though they're certainly special, they don't cover everything! And that's why I have this! I will activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll!"
With his left hand pointing towards the monsters, IV began to explain the XYZ Monsters' effect. "I can detach 2 materials from this card, then target up to 2 monsters that you control, and take control of them until the End Phase!"
"W-what!?" The black haired teen shouted in surprise as he took an unconscious step back. "It allows you to take control of my monsters?!"
"It does! Ah, but I won't be able to special summon monsters except 'Gimmick Puppet' monsters, nor can I attack except with XYZ Monsters for the rest of the turn." Finally explaining the additional clause that the monster put him under, IV raised his hand and snapped his fingers, to which the scythe wielding puppet swung its weapons to slice through both of its overlay materials. Its weapon gaining an eerie glow after doing so.
Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 0/2000 OV: 0
"And though getting that XYZ Monster of yours is tempting, I think I'd instead like to take both of the monsters that you just summoned!" IV declared with a manic grin, declaring the targets for his monster's effect.
Gigantes Doll then swung its weapon several times, each swing launching crimson strings that attached themselves to Torn Scales and Stained Greaves. Their black and purple haired summoner watched with gritted teeth as the giant scythe wielding doll pulled its weapon back, dragging both phantoms of warriors long gone into his opponent's side of the field. Completely filling IV's board with monsters.
"Ah but that's not all~! Because the effect of Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight activates!" The finely dressed young man said. "If this card is sent to the graveyard except from the hand, I can add it back to my hand!"
"That's-!" Mad Yuto watched as the blonde duelist then readded the monster that had given his opponent an easily accessible XYZ Monster, before shuffling the two cards he now had in hand.
"Now then, here's a special fanservice for you Yuto-kun." IV began with a mocking smile, a hand in his hips while raising the other. "Now I will activate the second effect of Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll!" He declared.
"I can tribute this card, to change the Levels of all monsters that I currently control into 8 until the End Phase!" And with his smile sharpening, he then snapped the fingers of his raised hand. "So I will change the Levels of all my monsters to 8!"
The many heads of the scythe wielding doll all let out monstrous shrieks as their eyes and mouths emitted crimson light, the monster convulsing before turning into crimson particles of light that clung to three of IV's remaining monsters. Those being Gear Changer and the two monsters that he stole off of Yuto, increasing all of their Levels to 8.
Gimmick Puppet Gear Changer - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 100/100
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 8/Effect: 600/1600
The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves - Dark/Warrior/Level 8/Effect: 1200/600
"T-three Level 8 monsters!" Yuto balked at seeing the board that IV had amassed, using his monsters no less!
"Haha! Yes! That's the kind of face that I wanted to see!" The blonde young man laughed and grinned with pure joy at seeing the expression that Yuto held. "Ah, it truly is exhilarating! But the fanservice hasn't ended just yet!"
The primly dressed young man spread both of his arms out to the sky as he then shouted. "Now behold! As I take the now Level 8 The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales and the now Level 8 The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves, and overlay them both!"
Both of the stolen monsters then began to shine as their forms melted into shining purple pillars of light, and for the third time this turn, the black and golden vortex manifested before IV. "With these two monsters that I graciously got from you, I shall create the overlay network! XYZ Summon!" And soon, both pillars of light entered the chaotic vortex, and created an explosion of light.
"Appear, Number 40!" And a giant numerical 40 shone, vaguely resembling that of a heart with a large purple orb sitting in its centre, and a large and sharp white wings by its side. "The envoy from Heaven who plucks the strings of fate. Once more, set the stage of the depths of the deepest, blackest darkness! Gimmick Puppet of Strings!"
The giant black heart then unfurled itself, the singular white wing spreading into its full length, the crimson numeral 40 shining in its base. The monster's body split, growing larger as limbs formed with the giant purple orb shining in the centre of its human-like body. The monster's head soon took form, the left side of its face shrouded by its pale blue bangs, while the other showed its lifeless doll-like eyes as it brandished the singular sharp blade in its hand. A large singular white wing unfurled in its left side. Two dark purple orbs shone and orbited the newly summoned Numbers Monster.
Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/2000 OV: 2
"A-a second Number XYZ…" Yuto gaped as he saw the monster descended onto the field, floating right beside it's sibling in the cacophony of dolls in IV's side of the field.
"Now then, it is quite unfortunate that I seem to not be able to end you this turn, but it would seem that I could come quite close." IV said with a huff as he then raised his hand. "Now, Battle!"
Which he then swung down and gave a command for his monster to follow. "I will attack Dante, Traveller of the Burning Abyss with Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings! Heaven's Blade!"
The giant doll with a harp for a torso plucked a couple of strings from its body with its left hand, all while it's other hand raised the blade that it was holding to the heavens, wing flapping once as it leapt to the sky and poised to strike against the helpless traveller who could only cross his hands in face of the attack.
The blade descended, and Dante was firmly cut in half. The monster exploded and turned into sparkles of golden dust as the air was pushed from the force of the clashing weighted holograms.
"Kuh!" Yuto winced as he braced against the explosion that almost made him lose his footing yet again, and though he thankfully took no damage from the clash of XYZ Monsters as Dante was in defence position, his whole field now remained barren, empty of defender that could protect him from a direct attack.
"And now for the encore! I will attack you directly with Number 18: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder!" IV shouted with a wide smile as his hand was swiped to the side. "Final Dance!"
The monster obliged its summoner's orders, manifesting a giant whip to which it swung to strike down Yuto and reduce his remaining Life Points.
"I won't let you! I activate the effect of The Phantom Knights of Mist Claws in my graveyard!" The Heartland Academy student shouted at the top of his lungs.
"When my opponent's monster declares a direct attack while Mist Claws is in my graveyard, I can target knew Level 4 or lower 'The Phantom Knights' Monster in my graveyard special summon that monster, and if I do, I can special summon this card as a Normal Monster with the same Level! But it is banished when it leaves the field!"
"Tch, one of the traps that you sent through Dante is it? So that one has an effect that activates when I attack directly." IV clicked his tongue hearing Yuto explain the effects.
And swiftly, Yuto took out a card from his graveyard to show to IV, his target for the Continuous Trak card's effect. "I will target the first copy of The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales in my graveyard, and special summon it and The Phantom Knights of Mist Claws in defence position!"
Placing the monster card onto his glowing purple duel blade, the ghost-like warrior adorned in torn and worn armour returns into the battlefield. Crossing both of its gauntlets in front of it to defend against the oncoming attack.
The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Effect: 600/1600
And following suit was a monster cloaked in blue flame, taking the form of an armored assailant with long blades claws adorning his gauntlets. Both of which were crossed in front of him as the monster too was summoned in defence position.
The Phantom Knights of Mist Claws - Dark/Warrior/Level 3/Normal: 0/0
One which promptly halted as a new monster appeared at Giant Grinder's attack declaration, the monster in question holding the giant whip in its hand above its head as an opportunity was given to its summoner to redirect its attack. Yet with the mere 100 difference in attack and defence, IV knew that continuing to attack with Giant Grinder was more than just useless, it was foolhardy.
"Tch. How annoying. change your target, Giant Grinder." The blonde and brown haired young man clicked his tongue in annoyance at seeing his direct attack fail, but swiped his hand casually. And the whip in the hands of the giant black doll snapped and struck the weaker ghostly warrior, easily crushing him.
"Kuh!" And once again a gust of wind and dust was pushed from the resulting attack, and Yuto winced as he saw his monster be destroyed in battle.
"Fine then, you survived with more Life Points than I thought you would. I will set a card, and end my turn." The reigning Asia Champion then placed the last card in his hand onto his Spell and Trap zone, ending with a formidable board filled with two Numbers XYZ Monster and an archetypal one, along with a singular set card as his backrow and a single known card left in his hand.
"And at the End Phase, Gear Changer's Level will return to normal." He said dispassionately as the geared marionette doll's body shone a dim crimson as the changes provided by Gigantes Doll ran off, its Level reverted back to what it was originally.
Gimmick Puppet Gear Changer - Dark/Machine/Level 1/Effect: 100/100
"Two Numbers Monster… and a set card too to boot." Yuto spoke as he looked at his opponent's board, taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes. "It's amazing that you managed to do something like this. You really are something, IV."
"Ha? What are you talking about?" The young man j question said with his brows furrowed, questioning the sudden change in his opponent's behaviour.
"But it's exactly because you're this amazing." Yuto continued. "Exactly because you're this strong." And opened his eyes once again, purple orbs lighting on fire with will and determination.
"That I have to defeat you!" He declared, standing defiantly even with his battered body and dirtied clothes against his opponent.
IV's face twitched, annoyance flashing through his face as his smile disappeared to be replaced with a deep scowl. "Then go ahead and try! See if your measly monsters can defeat my Numbers!"
"I will! My turn! I draw!" Yuto shouted in response, moving into his turn as he drew a card to begin with his second turn of the game.
Glancing to the card that he had drawn briefly, he began thinking. 'Right now, in my graveyard, the only card that I haven't used just yet is Phantom Knights' Rank-Up Magic Force.' He thought, as in his graveyard, through the cost of activating Dante's effect, Phantom Knights' Rank-Up Magic Force was one of the other cards that he could use.
'And with the other cards that I have in the graveyard…' He ran through the lines in his head, and took a glance at the monsters that his opponent had on the field. 'Those Numbers are difficult to defeat, especially since I don't have a Numbers myself to destroy them in Battle.' Yuto thought.
'Which means that I have to use something other than that.' And his eyes glances back down at his duel disk, or more specifically, the graveyard slot that the machine possessed.
With a plan forming in his head, the black haired teen proceeded to execute his first action of the turn. "But first off I'll start with this! The Spell, Xyz Gift!" He shouted, watching as the holographic projection shone before him. "If two or more XYZ Monsters are face-up on the field, this Spell allows me to draw two cards!"
"So you're making use of my Giant Grinder and Strings are you?" IV huffed in annoyance as he watched Yuto replenish the cards in his hand, going back up to three cards.
"Next I will activate the graveyard effect of Phantom Knights' Sword!" He declared as he swung his hand outwards.
"I can banish this card from my graveyard, to then target one 'The Phantom Knights' Monster in my graveyard, and special summon that monster, but it is banished when it leaves the field!"
With the card's graveyard effect explained, the Heartland Academy student proceeded to take his intended target out from his graveyard, and showed it to his opponent. "My target is The Phantom Knights of Break Sword! And I will special summon him in attack position!"
Without any card to interact with, the card's effect then resolved, and Yuto placed his monster card back onto his duel blade. The headless knight and its ghostly mount once more return into the battlefield with their combined battle cry.
The Phantom Knights of Break Sword - Dark/Warrior/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 2000/1000 OV: 0
"So you've managed to summon back your monster." IV bummed. "But it won't do much against my monsters. Don't you know? Numbers Monsters can't be destroyed by battle except against other Numbers Monsters!"
"That's why I'm not looking to destroy them by battle!" Yuto countered, waving his right hand upwards. "I will activate the graveyard effect of The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch!"
"What! A Rank-Up-Magic?! Or rather, it's graveyard effect!?" And it was IV's turn to be surprised upon hearing the words that left his opponent's mouth.
"That's right! During my Main Phase, The Phantom Knights' Rank-Up-Magic Launch can be banished from my graveyard to then target one Dark XYZ Monster that I control, and attach one 'The Phantom Knights' Monster from my hand to that monster as material!" He shouted, explaining the card's graveyard effect.
Which then prompted him to reveal one of the two cards that he still has in his hand. "I will target The Phantom Knights of Break Sword, and attach The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves from my hand onto it as material!"
And with a wave of his hand, the ghostly figure of the giant gloved warrior briefly flashed onto the field, before it then melted and turned towards a shining purple orbs that orbited the revived XYZ Monster.
The Phantom Knights of Break Sword - Dark/Warrior/XYZ/Rank 3/Effect: 2000/1000 OV: 1
"So that Spell Card has that kind of graveyard effect!" IV hissed as he clicked his tongue in annoyance. Having done research into his opponent, he knew exactly what he was aiming to do, knowing what the XYZ Monster's effect was.
"Too bad, but I won't let you! I will activate my set card!" The blonde and brown haired young man shouted as he raised his hand, and the face-down card that he had placed onto his field was flipped face-up.
"The Continuous Trap, Barrage Blast!"
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