Disclaimer: Minor spelling, grammar, and other mistakes may be present.
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[Standard Arc Opening Theme (Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V Opening 1: BELIEVE X BELIEVE)]
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Scale 011: Rebellious Falcons (III)
[DUEL!]
Reiji — LP: 4000
Shun — LP: 4000
[Turn 1: Reiji] [H: 5]
"I'll start," Reiji stated. "I activate Continuous Spell, Dark Contract with the Gate! Once per turn, I can add a Level 4 or lower 'D/D' Monster to my hand. However, as long as this remains on my field, during each of my Standby Phases, I take 1000 points of damage. I choose to add D/D Savant Kepler to my hand!"
Reiji added a card to his hand. He then reveals two cards.
"Using the Scale 1 D/D Copernicus and Scale 10 D/D Savant Kepler, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Reiji declared as he placed both cards on opposite ends of his duel blade. The word [PENDULUM] appeared between them in rainbow font as two monsters rose into each of his Pendulum Zone.
"So you have access to this summoning method too," Shun commented. "Makes sense for the leader to have access to it."
"So, you've encountered this summoning mechanic before," Reiji was a bit intrigued. "Then you must know what happens next. With my current scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters Levels 2 through 9 simultaneously!"
A portal opened above him as Reiji began chanting.
"Grand power that shakes my very soul, arise within me and become a new light that rends the darkness," Reiji chanted. "I Pendulum Summon! Come before me, my monsters!"
Two beams of energy shot out from the portal in the sky.
"Appear, D/D Pandora (Dark/Fiend/Effect/ATK: 1700/DEF: 2100/LV: 5) and D/D Proud Chevalier (Dark/Fiend/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 700/LV: 5/SC: 6)!"
A feminine monster with the bottom half of her resembling a purple vase and an armored warrior with dark fabric sticking out from the shoulder blade on its armor appeared.
"I now overlay my Level 5 D/D Pandora together with D/D Proud Chevalier!" Reiji declared as his monsters were absorbed into a galaxy vortex that appeared in front of him. A massive pillar of light shot out from the portal's center as he began chanting. "Hero of legends, with your profound justice, pierce through all things! I Xyz Summon! Descend, Rank 5! D/D/D Marksman King Tell (Dark/Fiend/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2300/DEF: 2000/R: 5/OU: 2)!"
An armored archer with green skin and hair, holding a golden crossbow that was attached to its right arm appeared.
"I set one card," Reiji concluded. "Turn end."
"My turn! Draw!" Shun declared as he drew to start his turn.
[Turn 2: Shun] [H: 6]
Just before Shun could make any plays, Reiji's set card is flipped face-up.
"During your Standby Phase, I activate Dark Contract with the Eternal Darkness!" Reiji announced. "Just like with my other Dark Contract, during my next Standby Phase, I take 1000 damage. As long as this card remains on the field, you cannot Advance Summon, nor can you use any cards you control as materials for a Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summon. You also cannot activate Spell/Trap Cards that target a monster."
Shun was shocked as the card created a dark fog that filled the alleyway, almost making it impossible to see anything due to it also already being nighttime.
"Damn…" Shun cursed. "I summon Raidraptor - Vanishing Lanius (Dark/Winged-Beast/Effect/ATK: 1300/DEF: 1600/LV: 4)!"
A green mechanical falcon appeared on his field.
"Vanishing Lanius's effect activates, allowing me to Special Summon another copy of it from my hand!" Shun declared. "Appear, my second Raidraptor - Vanishing Lanius (ATK: 1300/DEF: 1600/LV: 4)!"
A second green mechanical falcon appeared.
"Battle!" Shun immediately moved into his Battle Phase. "Raidraptor - Vanishing Lanius attacks D/D/D Marksman King Tell!"
"Attacking using a monster with lower attack…" Reiji muttered. "What could you be planning?"
Vanishing Lanius shoots metal pellets at Marksman King Tell, who easily parries them away before shooting an arrow at Vanishing Lanius, piercing through it and causing it to explode. Shun winced a bit from the shockwaves of the attack.
Shun — LP: 4000 → 3000
"Main Phase 2," Shun moved into his next Main Phase. "I activate the Spell Card, Raidraptor - Symbol! If a 'Raidraptor' Monster I control battled this turn, I can add 1 'Raidraptor' Monster from my deck. I add Raidraptor - Rush Lanius to my hand."
Shun added a card.
"I then activate Raidraptor - Rush Lanius's effect! By tributing 1 Continuous Spell/Trap on either player's field, I can Special Summon this card to my field. I tribute your Dark Contract with the Eternal Darkness!"
Reiji's Trap Card disappears, which in turn causes the dark fog to fade away as well. Soon after, an orange mechanical falcon with a red gemstone embedded into its chest appeared on his field.
[Raidraptor - Rush Lanius (Dark/Winged-Beast/Effect/ATK: 1500/DEF: 700/LV: 4)]
"Now that your annoying Trap Card is gone, I'm free to Xyz Summon with my monsters now!" Shun announced. "Using the Level 4 Raidraptor - Vanishing Lanius and Raidraptor - Rush Lanius on my field, I build the Overlay Network!"
Shun's two aforementioned monsters transform into energy as they are absorbed into a galaxy vortex that appeared in front of him. A massive pillar of light shot out from the portal's center as Shun began chanting.
"Avian hunter of the afterlife, seek the truth with your dark eyes, and grasp glory with your sharp talons!" Shun chanted. "I Xyz Summon! Take flight, Rank 4! Raidraptor - Force Strix (Dark/Winged-Beast/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 100/DEF: 2000/R: 4/OU: 2) in defense mode!"
A mechanical owl appeared on Shun's field with a faint blue aura surrounding it.
Reiji adjusted his glasses, "Impressive play. I didn't expect you to find a way to deal with my Trap Card that quickly."
"Please, that was childsplay," Shun responded. "On the battlefield, I've faced a multitude of opponents who tried to lock me out of Xyz Summoning. Your attempt was lukewarm at best."
One of Force Strix's Overlay Units is then detached from it as its effect activates.
(Force Strix — OU: 2 → 1)
"Force Strix's effect now activates!" Shun declared as he continued his turn. "By detaching 1 Overlay Unit from this card, I can add a Level 4 'Dark' Winged-Beast monster to my hand!"
Shun added a card to his hand.
"I set three cards and end my turn," Shun concluded. "Your turn, Akaba."
"Very well," Reiji said as he drew a card. "My turn!"
[Turn 3: Reiji] [H: 1]
"During the Standby Phase, I take 1000 points of damage due to Dark Contract with the Gate's effect!"
Reiji clutched his chest as he felt a dark aura sap away part of his strength.
Reiji — LP: 4000 → 3000
"D/D Savant Kepler's Pendulum Effect activates," Reiji stated. "During my Standby Phase, this card's Scale Number decreases by 2."
Savant Kepler began to short circuit as its Scale Number dropped.
(Savant Kepler — SC: 10 → 8)
"D/D/D Marksman King Tell's effect activates!" Reiji declared. "When I take damage due to the effect of a 'Dark Contract', I can detach one Overlay Unit from it, then deal 1000 points to damage to you!"
(Marksman King Tell — OU: 2 → 1)
Reiji's Xyz Monster shoots an arrow which glows yellow with energy at Shun. Shun deflects the blow with his duel blade, sending the attack into a nearby building, blowing a tiny piece of it up as Shun's Life Points dropped.
Shun — LP: 3000 → 2000
"Next, I activate Dark Contract with the Gate's effect once again, allowing me to add another 'D/D' Monster to my hand—!"
"Not so fast!" Shun interrupted. "I activate my Trap Card, Raptor's Storm! When you activate the effect of a Spell/Trap Card while I control a 'Raidraptor' Monster, I can negate the activation of that effect and destroy that card!"
The Trap Card creates a gust of wind that blows away Reiji's Continuous Spell, destroying it.
"A minor setback," Reiji stated. "I summon the Tuner Monster, D/D Nighthowl (Dark/Fiend/Tuner/Effect/ATK: 300/DEF: 600/LV: 3)!"
A floating mouth with razor sharp teeth appeared.
"When D/D Nighthowl is summoned onto my field, I can Special Summon a 'D/D' Monster from my graveyard," Reiji stated. "Be reborn, D/D Proud Chevalier (ATK: 2000/DEF: 700/LV: 5)!"
Proud Chevalier returned to Reiji's field.
"Now the Level 3 D/D Nighthowl tunes the Level 5 D/D Proud Chevalier!" Reiji declared as his two monsters transform into green orbs and rings respectively, lining up together as a green pillar of light shoots through the center. Reiji began chanting. "Climb over the corpses of heroes, carrying your bloodstained blade! I Synchro Summon! Be born, Level 8! D/D/D Cursed King Siegfried (Dark/Fiend/Synchro/Effect/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2200/LV: 8)!"
Appearing on the field now was a man with long, white hair, whose body was completely covered in armor. In his hand, he brandished a giant. silver longsword which had dried blood stains scattered across it.
Soon after that, a portal appeared above him as a pillar of light shot out from it.
"I now Pendulum Summon! Return from my Extra Deck, D/D Proud Chevalier (ATK: 2000/DEF: 700/LV: 5)!"
Proud Chevalier appeared once again on Reiji's field.
"Tch," Shun clicked his tongue. "He just keeps recycling that monster."
Reiji extended his arm forward as he moved into his Battle Phase, "Battle! D/D/D Marksman King Tell attacks Raidraptor - Force Strix!"
Marksman King Tell shoots another arrow at Shun's monster, piercing through it and destroying it. After the attack concludes, one of Shun's set cards is flipped face-up.
"I activate the Quick-Play-Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force!" Shun announced. "When a 'Raidraptor Xyz' Monster I control is destroyed by battle, I can use it as material to Xyz Summon a 'Raidraptor Xyz' Monster 1 Rank higher!"
"D/D/D Cursed King Siegfried's effect activates!" Reiji declared. "During either player's turn, I can target 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field, and negate its effects!"
"Trap Card, open! Extra Lock!" Shun countered back with another set Trap. "When a monster from the Extra Deck activates an effect, this card can negate that monster's effects permanently!"
Chains appeared around Cursed King Siegfried's blade and arms, locking it in place.
"Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force's effect now remains unimpeded!" Shun declared. "Using my destroyed Raidraptor - Force Strix, I rebuild the Overlay Network!"
Force Strix appeared temporarily before being absorbed into a galaxy vortex. A massive pillar of light shot out from its center as Shun began chanting.
"Ferocious falcon. Break through this fierce battle and spread your wings! Destroy our gathering foes!" Shun chanted. "Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 5! Raidraptor - Blaze Falcon (Dark/Winged-Beast/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 1000/DEF: 2000/R: 5/OU: 1) in defense mode!"
A large mechanical falcon with red armor appeared on Shun's field with a faint blue aura surrounding it.
"My Battle Phase still continues," Reiji stated. "D/D/D Cursed King Siegfried now attacks Raidraptor - Blaze Falcon!"
The warrior brandishing a long sword leaped forward, preparing to slice through Shun's Xyz Monster.
"I activate the effect of Raidraptor - Emperor Eagle from my hand!" Shun declared. "When an attack is declared on a 'Raidraptor' Monster on my field, I can Special Summon this card to my field in defense mode! Then, this card becomes the target of your monster's attack!"
A yellow mechanical eagle appeared with a faint blue aura surrounding it.
[Raidraptor - Emperor Eagle (Dark/Winged-Beast/ATK: 1800/DEF: 200/LV: 4)]
Cursed King Siegfried's attack shifts target as it slashes its sword cleanly through Emperor Eagle, destroying it.
Proud Chevalier has an equal amount of ATK points to Blaze Falcon's defense points. I won't be able to destroy it this turn. Reiji assessed with a calm expression.
"I end my turn," Reiji concluded his turn.
"My turn! Draw!" Shun drew a card as he began his turn.
[Turn 4: Shun] [H: 1]
Shun scanned the card he drew for a moment before continuing.
"I activate Raidraptor - Blaze Falcon's effect!" Shun announced. "By detaching 1 Overlay Unit from it, I can destroy all Special Summoned Monsters in your field, and deal 500 damage for each card destroyed! Rain down carnage, Blaze Falcon!"
(Blaze Falcon — OU: 1 → 0)
Blaze Falcon rises into the air, its wings breaking of into floating laser that shoot at all of Reiji's monsters, destroying each one of them and creating countless mini explosions that cause Reiji to wince.
Reiji — LP: 3000 → 1500
"I switch Blaze Falcon to attack mode."
The faint blue aura surrounding Blaze Falcon disappeared.
"Battle!" Shun immediately moved into his Battle Phase. "Raidraptor - Blaze Falcon attacks you directly!"
Blaze Falcon shoots even more laser at Reiji, who tries to deflect some of them with his duel blade. He fails to deflect everything though, as he is hit by a few and sent flying back.
Reiji — LP: 1500 → 500
"I set one card and end my turn," Shun concluded. "Is this all that you've got, Akaba? I expected more from you."
Reiji got back up on his feet, dusting off dust from his clothes and fixing his glasses.
"Now aren't you being premature," Reiji smiled. "You can't count me out while I still have Life Points remaining."
"..." Shun's face twitched as he remembered that Rio said something similar when they dueled earlier.
"My turn! Draw!" Reiji drew a card as he began his turn.
[Turn 5: Reiji] [H: 1]
"D/D Savant Kepler's Pendulum Effect activates!" Reiji declared. "Reducing its Scale Number by 2 during my Standby Phase!"
Savant Kepler began to short circuit as its Scale Number dropped.
(Savant Kepler — SC: 8 → 6)
"With my currently set Pendulum Scale, I can still summon monsters Levels 2 through 5 simultaneously!" Reiji declared. "Pendulum Summon! Return from my Extra Deck, D/D Proud Chevalier (ATK: 2000/DEF: 700/LV: 5)!"
The armored warrior appeared on Reiji's field once again.
"Battle!" Reiji moved into his Battle Phase. "Proud Chevalier now attacks Blaze Falcon!"
Proud Chevalier leaps forward, attempting the slash through Blaze Falcon with its blade.
"I activate the Quick-Play-Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Escape Force!" Shun declared. "When my 'Raidraptor Xyz' Monster is targeted for an attack, I can negate that attack, then immediately after this effect resolves, Xyz Summon 1 'Raidraptor Xyz' Monster that is 1 Rank higher! Using Raidraptor - Blaze Falcon as material, I rebuild the Overlay Network!"
Blaze Falcon is absorbed into a galaxy vortex as a giant pillar of light shot out from the vortex's center.
"Prideful falcon. Spread your wings, dyed in the blood of heroes, and charge through the path of revolution!" Shun chanted. "Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 6! Raidraptor - Revolution Falcon (Dark/Winged-Beast/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 3000/R: 6/OU: 1)!"
A falcon coated in grey and yellow paint, with many compartments on its body that could open up to rain bombardment on its enemies appeared from the vortex.
"Raidraptor - Revolution Falcon's effect activates!" Shun announced. "When this card is Xyz Summoned using a Rank 5 or lower monster, it can destroy a monster on your field, then deal damage equal to that monster's ATK points! This is the end, Akaba!"
Revolution Falcon rises into the air, its many compartments beginning to open up.
Reiji turned around to where Nakajima and other LDS Personnel were standing.
"Evacuate everyone nearby!" Reiji ordered. "This attack is going to be a big one!"
"Right away, Reiji-dono," Nakajima nodded. The personnel had already gone ahead and picked up the three unconscious LDS students, quickly fleeing the scene along with Nakajima.
Revolution Falcon begins dropping bombs around the area, incinerating Proud Chevalier along with the area around them. As the bombs approached Reiji, he played a card effect.
"I activate D/D Cursed Marybelle's effect from my hand!" Reiji declared. "When I would take effect damage, I Special Summon this card to my field in defense mode!"
A cursed gothic doll, wearing a dark frilly dress with chains or sigils wrapping around its limbs appeared.
[D/D Cursed Marybelle (Dark/Fiend/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect/ATK: 500/DEF: 900/LV: 2/SC: 3)]
"Furthermore, thanks to Cursed Marybelle's effect, I can reduce the damage dealt by this effect to zero!"
Shortly after, a barrier formed around Reiji, protecting him from Revolution Falcon's effect. Once the attack ended and the smoke settled, Reiji addressed his opponent.
"That was quite the destructive attack that you used there," Reiji commented. "I'm surprised you had the guts to use it, even when there were innocent bystanders nearby."
"You guys are not innocent!" Shun snapped, his voice laced with fury. "Academia's soldiers destroyed my home, turned my people into cards, and kidnapped my sister! You all stand with them—so you're just as guilty!"
"Like I told you before, I have no association with my father," Reiji stated, growing increasingly impatient. "That man left us three years ago, not even saying a word to us before he disappeared. He left me and my mother behind while he went off to start an interdimensional war. Even if he did come back suddenly one day, I can't accept him as my father!"
"And why should I believe you!?" Shun asked.
"You don't have to believe me," Reiji stated as he closed his eyes. "I only told you my thoughts. It's up to you to decide whether or not you believe me."
Reiji then opened his eyes, his expression showing a bit more emotion than usual.
"I may not accept him as my father anymore, but it's still my responsibility as his son to stop him from continuing on with his tyrannical mission," Reiji admitted. "And that is why I want you to join me. With your power, that goal of taking down my father is more likely to become a reality."
"..." Shun was silent.
"You don't have to accept right now, I'll give you time to warm up to the idea," Reiji stated. "I end my turn here."
Shun paused for a moment, closing his eyes as he began thinking more about what Reiji had just said.
He did seem honest, Shun could tell. But at the same time, he shares the same blood as that man. He shouldn't trust what he has to say.
Right?
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Flashback…
One Year Ago, Heartland City…
Prior to Academia's invasion, Heartland was a peaceful and prosperous city. The most trouble Shun would have to deal with in his life was his younger sister, Ruri, who always went out of her way to help others, even when it would put her own wellbeing in peril. He appreciated how kind and caring Ruri was, reminding him of their late mother who had passed away when Shun was around five (Ruri being three at the time), and he also didn't mind the minor stress she caused in his otherwise uneventful life.
"Ruri, get down from there before you get hurt," Shun told her.
She had climbed up a tree to help a young boy get back his balloon that had flown into it.
"Just give me a second, Shun," Ruri said. "I'm…almost…there—AH!"
Ruri managed to grab the balloon, but a few moments after that, the branch she was on broke as she began falling to the ground.
"Ruri!" Shun shouted as he ran as fast as he could to save her.
He manages to reach right under where she fell, catching her in time before she could hit to the ground.
"Ruri, are you okay?" Shun asked her, a worried expression present on his face.
"Y-Yeah, I think I am," Ruri answered, a little shaken from what had just happened. "Could you put me down now?"
Shun helps her onto her feet. She then walks over to the little boy, giving him the balloon she had gotten from the tree.
"Here you go," Ruri said with a smile.
"Ah, my balloon!" The kid excitedly said as he held it. "Thank you so much, miss!"
"No problem," Ruri said. "Try not to lose it again."
"I won't!"
The kid ran off happily with his balloon. Shun couldn't help but smile at the sweet scene.
Stuff like this wasn't an uncommon occurrence. It's like Ruri would always go out of her way to find and help out those in need. Shun always accompanied her on these little escapades, even encouraging her to help out from time to time.
He was content with this life, and wished that days like this could last forever.
Sadly, that isn't what fate planned for them.
—BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion could be heard in the distance, surprising the two of them.
"What was that?" Ruri wondered.
"Don't know," Shun replied. "But judging from that explosion, it can't be anything good."
Soon after, countless more explosions could be seen, along with the appearance of giant, robotic cyborgs that floated in the air, raining down fire on the city below. In just a few moments, the beautiful city that was Heartland is now burning.
…
A few minutes later...
Shun and Ruri arrived at the Spade Branch of Heartland Duel School, finding Yuto who was busy helping bring in people who were injured from the initial attacks.
"Ruri? Shun?" Yuto's eyes widened in shock upon seeing them. After helping one last person inside, he hurried over. "Thank goodness you guys are okay."
"What's happening?" Shun asked. "We were just on our way here when giant cyborgs began blowing up the city."
"I'm not too sure myself," Yuto admitted. "It just all happened too fast for anyone to react. And I've been too busy helping injured people nearby to go out and figure out the cause of this."
"Leave the injured people to me," Ruri stated. "You have more important things to be doing, like going to see if your father is okay."
Yuto's eyes widened, "Oh yeah, you're right!"
He quickly put on his duel disk.
"I'll be back," Yuto said before running off.
Ruri then turned to Shun, "Shun, you should go join him to make sure he's okay."
"Yuto will be fine," Shun said, shaking his head. "He's strong enough to protect himself. I can't just leave you here alone."
"Why not? Is it because you think I'm weak to defend myself?" Ruri frowned. "You never let me leave home alone unless I'm with someone."
Shun hesitated, his expression softening. "You can't blame me for worrying. You're the only family I have left. I can't afford to lose you… I don't know what I'd do."
"I know," Ruri murmured, looking away. "I just wish you trusted me more."
…
The two of them spent the next few hours tending to the injured, whose numbers only kept rising over time. During this time, they were also made more aware about what, or who was attacking them. Men and women in red uniforms using a new summoning method that they had never seen before called Fusion. They were a group that called themselves Academia.
The fact that horrified Shun the most was what their goal in coming here was.
They treated this invasion as if it were nothing more than a hunting game, using their technology to seal people into cards. Shun had gotten most of this information from defeating an agent from Academia. From what the agent knew, once someone was sealed in a card, they couldn't get out, at least until Academia completed their god-given mission.
Essentially, if you were carded by Academia, you were as good as dead.
What concerned Shun even more was the fact that Yuto still hadn't returned yet. While he was sure Yuto was strong enough to defeat these agent, he couldn't help but be concerned about his friend's safety.
Fortunately, a few hours later, Yuto returned. Unfortunately, he came bearing bad news.
He had a lost expression on his face as he returned back to the Spade Branch. When Shun asked why he had that look on his face, Yuto revealed that he had arrived too late to save his father, watching him get carded right before his eyes.
Shun felt his heart sink upon hearing the news and seeing just how defeated his best friend looked in this moment. He clenched his fist as he felt nothing but rage begin to bubble up within him.
"Academia…" Shun seethed.
Not only did they come here and destroy their beautiful home, but they also hunted them down with nothing but sadistic smiles on their faces—treating their lives as nothing more than entertainment for their horrific hunting game.
It made Shun sick, sick to his stomach. He wanted to go out there and rip the smirks off all their faces. He wanted to go out there and bring back everyone that was sealed into a card. He wanted to go out there and put out the fires that scorched Heartland City.
But he couldn't, not right now. Not when he had to make sure Ruri, Yuto, and the rest of his closed ones were okay.
…
In the blink of an eye, six months had passed since Academia invaded Heartland. So much had happened in just a short amount of time that Shun could still hardly believe it.
Most of Heartland's population was wiped out in the initial stages of the invasion. Most people weren't duelists, so they had no way of fighting back against the Academia agents as they were turned into cards mercilessly.
Heartland's strongest dueling branch, the Diamond Branch, was wiped out in only a single week after the invasion began—by a single man. A man called Hell Kaiser or Ryo Marufugi, who ruthlessly defeated and carded every duelist of the Diamond Branch in only a single day.
After the initial month of Academia's invasion, the number of agents they sent out greatly diminished. After interrogating a few Academia agents that he caught, he learned that the reason why Academia had reduced the number of soldiers that were sent to Heartland was because they were currently in the middle of another invasion—the Ritual Dimension.
This was great for them, as it gave the survivors of Heartland enough time to group together and form some sort of Resistance, giving them more of a fighting chance against the forces of Academia that still remained in Heartland City.
With powerful duelists on their side like Kaito and Kamishiro Shark, they were able to develop a sort of safe haven in this hell that Academia created. Things were finally looking up for the remaining residents of Heartland City.
However, today was when things came crashing down.
Ruri had gone out to gather some more water for the camp. Due to her insisting that she was strong enough to do things on her own all the time, Shun finally cracked today, letting her go do something on her own for once. However, without her knowing, he also sent Saya (Ruri's best friend) to follow her and make sure that she was okay.
Around an hour after they left, Saya returned with tears streaming down her face. When Shun asked her where Ruri was, he was horrified when he heard from Saya that Ruri had been kidnapped.
This was also the moment when Shun finally cracked.
The one person who had kept him sane in this living hell was gone. Without her, Shun felt himself slipping even deeper into his bubbling rage.
Around a month prior, thanks to the help of Kaito's father, Dr. Faker, they had found a way to mimic most Academia's duel disk functions, including the function that allowed them to turn people into cards. Most of the resistance chose not to make use of that function, due to their morals keeping them against killing people. However, some made use of it, including Shark, who believed that their fight against Academia would never end if they just let them go freely.
Shun also agreed with Shark, they shouldn't be letting Academia agents go freely after fighting them off. But Ruri always told him not to use it, since she doesn't want to see her brother become a monster like Academia. Just for her, he decided not to make use of this function.
But now, things have changed.
Academia had taken Ruri, the one person Shun cared for more than even himself.
Shun clenched his fists, "I don't care what I have to do. I'll bring you back, Ruri."
Even if he had to become someone that she hated.
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Shun's eyes opened as he felt his fighting spirit burn.
"My turn! DRAW!" Shun drew a card with all his might as he began his turn.
[Turn 6: Shun] [H: 1]
"Battle!" Shun moved into his Battle Phase. "Raidraptor - Revolution Falcon attacks D/D Cursed Marybelle!"
Revolution Falcon soars into the air, dropping down countless bombs that blow up parts of the alleyway, destroying Reiji's monster in the process.
"I set a card and end my turn," Shun concluded his turn shortly after that.
Akaba, if you're serious about what you're saying—if you truly want to defeat your father. Prove it to me. Shun silently challenged. Show me your resolve—right here, right now—on your next turn. Give me a reason to choose a different path.
Reiji seemed to pick up on this silent message through Shun's body language.
"You want me to prove my resolve to you. Am I right, Xyz?" Reiji smiled. "To give you a reason to listen to what I have to say."
Shun remained silent, neither confirming nor denying Reiji's words.
"Very well," Reiji declared, his expression turning serious. "Then allow me to show you my resolve. My turn! DRAW!"
Reiji's deck began to glow as he drew with all his might.
[Turn 7: Reiji] [H: 1]
Reiji looked at the card he drew and smiled.
"D/D Savant Kepler's Pendulum Effect activates!" Reiji announced. "During the Standby Phase, its Scale Number decreases by 2!"
(Savant Kepler — SC: 6 → 4)
"With my currently set Pendulum Scale, I can summon monsters Levels 2 and 3 simultaneously!" Reiji declared. "Grand power that shakes my very soul, arise within me and become a new light that rends the darkness! I Pendulum Summon! Return from my Extra Deck, D/D Cursed Marybelle (ATK: 500/DEF: 900/LV: 2)!"
The same gothic doll monster that Reiji summoned earlier appeared.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, D/D Exchange," Reiji declared. "By shuffling the two 'D/D' Monsters currently in my Pendulum Scale back into my deck, I can add two different 'D/D' Monsters from my deck to my hand!"
Reiji's Pendulum Zones vanished as he returned the two cards to his deck. His Duel Disk automatically shuffled the deck before ejecting two new cards, which Reiji swiftly picked up.
"D/D Arthur's effect now activates!" Reiji shouted. "By discarding a card from my hand, I can Special Summon it to my field! I choose to discard D/D Necro Slime from my hand!"
Reiji sends a card to the graveyard as a warrior in golden armor, brandishing a golden blade in his hand appeared.
[D/D Arthur (Dark/Fiend/Effect/ATK: 2200/DEF: 1500/LV: 5)]
"The Level 2 D/D Cursed Marybelle tunes the Level 5 D/D Arthur!" Reiji announced as the aforementioned monsters transform into green rings and orbs respectively, lining up as a giant pillar of light shot through the center. "Howls that tear through the night. Gain the swiftness of a gale and become the cries of a newborn king! I Synchro Summon! Be born, Level 7! D/D/D Gust King Alexander (Wind/Fiend/Synchro/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000/LV: 7)!"
A powerful warrior in white armor, wearing a green cape on his back appeared.
"Now from my graveyard, I activate D/D Necro Slime's effect!" Reiji stated. "By banishing it along with another monster, I can perform a Fusion Summon using those two monsters as materials!"
"Fusion!?" Shun tensed up.
"I fuse D/D Necro Slime with D/D/D Marksmen King Tell!" Reiji declared.
The two monsters appeared on the field momentarily, before rising into the air and fusing together. As they fused, Reiji began chanting.
"Arcane swirl that takes in all forms. Mold together around the cold-blooded archer and give birth to a new king!" Reiji chanted. "I Fusion Summon! Be born, Level 10! The king who commands ruin and chaos, D/D/D Cataclysmic Kaiser Apollyon (Dark/Fiend/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 3000/DEF: 2000/LV: 10)!"
A towering fiend clad in black and crimson armor, with six spectral wings sticking out from the cracks on the back of its armor appeared.
"D/D/D Gust King Alexander's effect activates," Reiji stated. "Once per turn, when a 'D/D' or 'D/D/D' Monster is summoned onto my field, I can Special Summon 1 'D/D' Monster from my graveyard. Return to my field, D/D Arthur (ATK: 2200/DEF: 1500/LV: 5)!"
The warrior wearing golden armor appeared once again.
"Immediately after that, D/D Arthur's effect activates!" Reiji declared. "When this card is Special Summoned from the graveyard, I can then tribute this card to Special Summon 1 'D/D' Monster from my Extra Deck. Return to my field, D/D Cursed Marybelle (ATK: 500/DEF: 900/LV: 2) in defense mode!"
D/D Arthur sank into a portal under it, and a few moments later, D/D Cursed Marybelle appeared from within it—a faint blue aura surrounding it.
"Now, all my preparations are complete," Reiji adjusted his glasses before pointing at Revolution Falcon. "Battle! D/D/D Cataclysmic Kaiser Apollyon attacks Raidraptor - Revolution Falcon! Apollyon Judgement!"
Kaiser Apollyon's wings extend as it flies into the air. The monster creates a massive ball of dark energy that it then hurls down at Revolution Falcon.
"Revolution Falcon's effect activates!" Shun declared. "When it battles a Special Summoned monster, that monster's ATK points is reduced to zero!"
Revolution Falcon rises into the air, glowing in a bright yellow light as it clashes with the massive ball of dark energy.
Reiji adjusted his glasses, "I've already accounted for that."
"What?" Shun was surprised.
"D/D/D Cataclysmic Kaiser Apollyon's effect activates!" Reiji declared. "When it battles a monster with less ATK points than it, that monster's effects are negated during the Damage Step! Furthermore, it temporarily gains ATK equal to half of your monster's ATK!"
(Revolution Falcon — ATK: 2000)
(Cataclysmic Kaise Apollyon — ATK: 3000 → 4000)
"So what? I still have one last move, Akaba!" Shun declared as his set Trap Card is activated. "I activate the Trap Card, Raidraptor - Empowerment! When your monster declares an attack, I can detach one Overlay Unit from my 'Raidraptor Xyz' monster to negate that attack, then deal damage to you equal to half your monster's ATK points! It's over!"
(Revolution Falcon — OU: 1 → 0)
"I've accounted for this scenario as well," Reiji smirked, much to Shun's shock. "D/D Cursed Marybelle's effect activates! By tributing D/D/D Gust King Alexander from my field, I can negate the activation of an effect that would deal damage to me!"
Gust King Alexander bursts into particles along with Shun's Trap Card.
"No way…" Shun muttered in shock.
"This is the end!" Reiji declared with an intense expression as his monster's attack collided with Revolution Falcon, destroying the massive mechanical falcon and creating a massive explosion.
"..." Shun stood there quietly, a bitter smile forming on his face before he was sent flying from the shockwaves of the explosion.
Shun — LP: 2000 → 0
Winner: Reiji
Reiji's monsters disappeared as he deactivated his duel disk. He turned around to walk away, but not before addressing Shun one last time.
"I'll be expecting great things from you," Reiji said before walking away from the scene.
<><><><><><><><><><>
A few minutes later, Rio arrived at the alleyway where they had just duel.
"Yup, Shun was definitely here," Rio commented upon seeing the floor and surrounding buildings being damaged, as if multiple explosions have gone off around here.
Something big happened here. Something that she was unfortunately too late to see.
"These were recent though, so I shouldn't be too far…" Rio muttered as she looked around until…
—Yawn.
She let out a long, exhausted yawn.
"I think it's time to call it quits for today," Rio said. "I'll continue looking tomorrow."
Rio walked away from the scene, deciding to go look for a good place for her to call the night.
Unknown to her, standing up on top of the rooftop nearby was Shun, who watched her leave with an unreadable expression on his face for a moment before deciding to leave the scene—going in the opposite direction.
<><><><><><><><><><>
Custom/Altered Cards:
Monster Card/s:
Raidraptor - Rush Lanius
ATK: 1500, DEF: 700, LV: 4
Dark/Winged-Beast/Effect
Monster Effect: You can Special Summon this card by tributing 1 Continuous Spell/Trap on the field.
Raidraptor - Emperor Eagle
ATK: 1800, DEF: 200, LV: 4
Dark/Winged-Beast/Effect
Monster Effect:(Quick Effect): When an attack is declared on a "Raidraptor" monster you control, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. While this card is on the field, your opponent can only target it for attacks.
D/D Cursed Marybelle
ATK: 500, DEF: 700, LV: 2
Dark/Fiend/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect
Monster Effect: (Quick Effect) When you would take effect damage: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, reduce that damage to 0. (Quick Effect) When a card effect is activated that would inflict effect damage: You can Tribute 1 "D/D" monster you control; negate that effect.
D/D Arthur
ATK: 2200, DEF: 1500, LV: 5
Dark/Fiend/Effect
Monster Effect: You can discard 1 card; Special Summon this card from your hand. If this card is Special Summoned from the GY: You can target 1 "D/D" monster in your Extra Deck; Special Summon it.
D/D/D Cataclysmic Kaiser Apollyon
ATK: 3000, DEF: 2000, LV: 10
Dark/Fiend/Fusion/Effect
1 "D/D/D" Monster + 1 "D/D" Monster
Monster Effect: If this card battles a monster with lower original ATK, that monster's effects are negated until the end of the turn, and this card gains ATK equal to half that monster's ATK during the Damage Step only. If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can Special Summon 1 "D/D" monster from your GY, except "D/D/D Cataclysmic Kaiser Apollyon."
Spell/Trap Card/s:
Extra Lock
Counter Trap
When a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck activates its effect: Negate that effect, and its effects are negated permanently.
D/D Exchange
Normal Spell
Target 2 "D/D" Pendulum Monsters in your Pendulum Zones; shuffle them into the Deck, then add 2 "D/D" monsters from your Deck to your hand.
Raidraptor - Empowerment
Normal Trap
When your opponent's monster declares an attack: You can detach 1 material from a "Raidraptor Xyz" Monster you control; negate the attack, then inflict damage to your opponent equal to half the attacking monster's ATK.