It's been a few days since Rei had left Academia Island. Needless to say, none of them expected to see Rex's younger cousin show up, with a proto-Deck no less. As for the mutt himself?
"When is this cast coming off?" A rather bandaged Rex asked as he felt an itch on his currently cast-covered arm whilst holding a crutch with his free hand.
Needless to say, Rex was beaten to a pulp by Kuromu and Koji. It turns out that he knew the rising pop star Starlight, aka his childhood friend Henrietta, and didn't bother to bring it up to either of them, let alone the rest of his friends. What ensued after the revelation was pain, agony, and a bit of near manslaughter.
"Hey, you failed to tell us that a celebrity was one of your close friends," Koji said.
"Because of crap like this!" The mutt pointed out before wincing in pain, "Ow, my leg…"
"You brought this on yourself…" Kuromu said stoically.
Rex rolled his eyes, "Story of my life."
"Well, Ayukawa-sensei said you'll be out of it by the time the Inter-School Duel comes around, so…" Sho trailed off.
"You didn't have to break his arm." Asuka pointed out.
"It's fractured, not broken. There's a difference." Rex corrected her. "Broken is if my bone is actually snapped completely. Don't ask me how I'd know that."
Judai winced in sympathy, recalling the couple of times Rex recounted how he learned how to freerun. What he described wasn't pretty, to say the least.
"Speaking of that Inter-School Duel, we still don't have a Singles Representative." Rika pointed out.
"Yeah, the staff have been arguing over that for the past several days." Kuromu sighed. "They'd go by test scores, dueling records, any info on the students they could get their hands on to determine the SIngles Representatives. And to this day, they still haven't decided."
"Guess that shows we're all pretty good if they're having a tough time choosing who to rep them." Rex said.
"It's not just that." Asuka said. "While Kuro, Ryo, and I were at those meetings, they've gotten word from the Principal of North Academia that both their Single and Tag Team Representatives are first-years."
"Lemme guess, Principal Samejima didn't want the upperclassmen to be a representative out of fairness and in the spirit of competition, so he needed to look at us first-years." The mutt speculated.
"And that there lies the problem, kiddos." A familiar voice said as they turned to see Kyoshiro and Tsukasa approaching.
"Tou-chan. Kadoya-sensei." Kuromu acknowledged.
Kyoshiro winced at the sight of the mutt.
"Don't ask." Rex said simply.
"I think I got the gist of it." Tsukasa raised an eyebrow.
"Of course, you do." The mutt muttered with a deadpan.
"Moving on, it's tough pickings from your batch." Kyoshiro explained to them. "Mainly because Instructor Chronos keeps delaying these decisions."
"I can only imagine why…" Rex said, looking at Judai knowingly.
This made the Elemental HERO Duelist perk up, "Wait, you mean…" he asked as he put the pieces together. He then placed a fist on his palm with a *donk, as he smiled widely, "He wants me to be the Single Representative?!"
*GONG!*
He totally missed the point! Case in point, everyone sans Tsukasa and Ryo fell down anime style!
*SMACK!*
"OW!"
"Dumbass!" Rex groaned, smacking his crutch onto Judai's head. "The guy hates your guts! He wouldn't go near you with a ten foot pole!"
"I hate to say it, but he's right." Tsukasa said, "He's actually vouching for Misawa to be the representative."
"Misawa?" Everyone parroted.
The genius himself was surprised as well, "I mean, I'm honored but…" he trailed off. "I think Ichiban-kun should take that position as Singles Representative. I feel like he's more suited to represent us this year."
"Misawa…" Judai said wide-eyed.
"How about this?" Kuromu spoke up, gaining their attention. "What if Judai and Misawa have a Duel to see who represents the Single Division? I think that's something that the staff can agree on if they're still at a stalemate."
"Yeah, I mean, this is Duel Academia. If there's one way we can settle this, it's in a Duel." Koji agreed.
"Then it's decided. We'll let Principal Samejima and the others know." Kyoshiro nodded with a grin.
At the loading docks, Tome-san was directing traffic of a dozen workers, carrying boxes and trunks from the boat's cargo area to the loading dock.
"The Booster Packs go over there and Starter Decks go there!" She said pointing in two directions.
She was about to yell something else, but a noise made her stop. She turned and looked down at the waves that crashed along the side below. She could've sworn that she had heard something, but it must've been her imagination. Shrugging, she turned back to see the workers had stopped moving the boxes and were now looking at her.
"I didn't say stop! Keep moving!" She urged the workers.
If she had kept her sight down at the water, she would've noticed a dark form moving underneath the waves. The figure made its way past the docks and towards a bed of large rocks.
When it came close enough, the figure reached the surface and pulled itself out of the water. The figure was that of a tall man with long hair tied in a ponytail, his wetsuit glistening with the salt water. As he climbed onto the rock, he pulled off his snorkel and looked up towards the building that occupied the center of the island.
"Heh, it was a cinch sneaking in, Duel Academia." he began to take off the wetsuit, eyes never leaving the building. He then quickly made sure that his equipment hadn't gotten water logged. "Good. They're still working." He then looked back at the school building, with an evil smirk, "Whatever this school is hiding, I'll expose them and I'm gonna be rich."
"So, Judai? What's the plan?" Rex asked the E-Hero Duelist, "I mean, we've seen what Misawa can do."
"Not all of them. Sure, we've seen his WIND, FIRE, and WATER themed Decks, but we haven't seen the other half." Judai pointed out.
"Yeah, plus there's a good chance he'll try to lock down your ability to Fusion Summon." Sho added.
"If lightning rod could prevent Kuromu from using Transformation Summons when they dueled, who's to say that Misawa won't be similarly prepared for you?" The mutt added.
"Hey, you're right! That means I gotta prepare!" Judai realized, before bolting off.
"Aniki, where are you going?!" Sho called out.
"The card shop! I'm gonna be spending a lot of Duel Points for those booster packs that just came in!" Judai shouted back.
"You still owe me for that ticket, jerk!" Rex snapped back with a raised fist, "Aaand he's gone…" he sighed.
"Do you think he'll make it?" Sho asked.
"I hope so." Rex said, "This is Judai we're talking about. If anyone can make it, it's him. I mean, the dude's pulled off gutsy wins before. Why can't he rise up and beat Misawa, right?"
"I guess so." Sho mused.
"Still, we better go with him in case he doesn't hurt himself." Rex said, "And yeah I know the irony of me saying that Sho." He pointed out before the two of them went after him.
Meanwhile, Judai continued running down the hall, going as fast as he could to get to the card shop. Tome-san and the other staff who work under her, did bring in a recent shipment of cards from the mainland. Hopefully, the fresh batch of cards could help him upgrade his Deck.
Just then, he noticed a strange man wearing a Slifer Red uniform wandering the halls. He had just tried talking to a Ra Yellow before the strange man was pushed aside.
"Why? Why won't anyone speak to me?" The strange man asked.
"He's a bit too old to be a student." Sho observed as he and Rex reached the pair.
"Way too old." Rex leered.
"Geez, what's with them anyway?" The strange man wondered to himself.
"Hey, you." Judai called out, getting his attention. The strange man flinched for a bit as the E-HERO Duelist leered a bit before he came to a conclusion. "Oh, you're one of those eternally left behind students, right ossan?" Judai asked, to the strange man's shock, "It's all good man, I get it. Work hard and you'll eventually advance to the next grade!"
"I'm-"
"Why not join us at the card shop?" Judai offered, "I'm sure your Deck could use an update."
"Aniki…" Sho pouted.
"S-Sorry, I gotta be elsewhere! Thanks for the offer!" the man said, before quickly running off.
"What's up with him?" Judai tilted his head in confusion.
"Kuri, Kuri…" Winged Kuriboh said to Rex with a worried look.
'Yeah, this guy's giving me bad vibes.' the mutt nodded before turning to one of the Gladial quartet, 'Laquer, tail this guy for now. If you find anything out of place, report back to me.' He asked the tiger gladiator.
"Aight, you're the general." Laquer agreed before tracking the strange man.
Rex then cleared his throat, "Anyways, Judai. Aren't ya gonna buy some booster packs?" He reminded the E-HERO Duelist.
"Oh, yeah! Forgot about that!" Judai realized before grabbing the Roid Duelist and mutt by the shoulders. Rex began to panic as the E-Hero Duelist was holding his fractured arm.
"Judai, wait! I'm sti-" The mutt cried out, but Judai didn't listen before bolting with his friends in tow. "OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!"
"Kuri, kuri…" Winged Kuriboh sweatdropped as he and the other three of the Gladial Beasts quartet watched on.
"Why am I not surprised?" Bestrouli sighed and shrugged.
"I just hope this doesn't cut into the General's recovery time." Dicearri hoped while Murmullo silently shook his head.
Meanwhile…
Kuromu and Asuka, were in the conference room where the teachers and staff were. Accompanied by Kyoshiro and Tsukasa, all of them proposed the Rider Duelist's idea of Judai and Misawa dueling off to determine who will represent the Singles Division. Almost immediately, albeit with some hesitation from Instructor Chronos, all of them agreed to his proposal.
"So we're finally all in agreement?" Tsukasa asked Principal Samejima and the other staff.
"I will admit, this could be the tiebreaker we need." The principal said.
"This is Duel Academia after all-nya." Daitokuji said. "Most if not all disagreements and/or arguments are always settled through Duels-nya."
"Even still, this could also allow us to gauge how Osiris Red and Ra Yellow have improved." Chronos said, but he did have a slight sneer upon uttering the former of the two.
"Then it's settled." Kabeyama nodded with a smile. "Misawa Daichi and Yuki Judai will face each other to earn the right to be Duel Academia's Single Representative."
"Finally…" Asuka sighed in relief, "We can move forward."
"I wonder how Judai and Bastion are preparing?" Kuromu pondered, but then shook his head, "Anyways, now that that issue is solved, Asuka and I will see ourselves out."
The two soon left, only to hear the sounds of bloody murder echo in the halls. Kuromu shook his head.
"Judai's dragging Rex around despite him being in a cast, isn't he?" The Rider Duelist guessed.
"Mhmm." Asuka sighed, before looking nervous for some reason, which caught Kuromu's attention.
"Asuka? What's wrong?" the Rider Duelist asked.
"Nothing, just…" Asuka trailed off. "You know… that I go to the Abandoned Dorm to pray for Nii-san's return, right?"
"Yeah… you told me as much about Fubuki going missing." Kuromu grimaced.
While it was understandable that Asuka didn't bring up her brother for her reasons, he wished that he had known sooner about what had happened. But then again, what difference would that have made? She was in the same boat as he was. Both of their family members are missing and there's not a single lead as to where one or the other was.
"I… I was wondering if you'd like to join me." Asuka said, to which Kuromu looked surprised.
"Eh? Go to the Abandoned Dorm? But-"
"I know… it's rather risky, given how Oogumo is still out there…" Asuka trailed off. "But lately, ever since you and Oogumo first met on the island, I've been going there less frequently. And the rare times that I do, I'm always looking over my shoulder, just so I could pray in peace."
"So… you want me to go out there with you, to be on the lookout?" Kuromu asked, to which the Obelisk Queen nodded. "U-Uh, well… I suppose I could do that." He accepted. "Then again… I am the bigger target… in a sense." He laughed nervously, scratching his cheek with a finger.
Asuka frowned, noticing how nervous he was getting, "I'm sorry if this is too much to ask." She apologized.
"N-No, not at all." Kuromu tried to reassure. "I don't mind, really. I accepted, because I want to."
"Kuro…" Asuka murmured, before she felt his arms wrap around her form, surprising the Obelisk Queen.
"You were there for me when I was at my lowest, so let me be there for you…" The Rider Duelist muttered, looking down at her. "We'll both get back our loved ones. I promise."
Asuka could only sigh softly, as she leaned on him more, returning the embrace, her eyes closed half-way as they shimmered. Being like this, she felt safe in his arms, taking comfort that he was here to be her support whenever she needed it. This, to be by his side, is what she wanted. Wizard and Silent Magician could only look on from far away as they watched the two stand there in silent embrace.
"My dear apprentice… despite your own tribulations, you do not falter for your beloved…" Silent Magician said with sad eyes, a hand placed over her heart, feeling pain for the both of them.
"That's because he has hope." Wizard said, as a magic circle appeared below his feet and it rose up through him, revealing his civilian form as the armor broke into motes of gem pieces. It was a young man with brunette hair and a black and red coat over a pink shirt and red pants. "He won't give in to despair so easily."
"You truly believe that?" Silent Magician asked.
"I do." Haruto nodded. "Otherwise, if he were a Gate, he would have turned into a Phantom long ago."
"Gate? Phantom?"
"Gates are people who have the potential to wield magic, who can turn into Phantoms if their despair becomes too much." Haruto explained. "But… if one holds onto hope, the Phantom within can be suppressed and one can use magic. And when that happens…" The ringed magician paused for a second before smirking, "I think you know the rest."
"Master Haruto… you…" Silent Magician trailed off with slightly wide eyes.
Haruto nodded in confirmation as he placed his hand where his heart was, "I'll admit, working with my Inner Phantom hasn't been easy. But, as long as I can hold onto my hope, I'll be able to protect those I care about."
"Hold on… to hope, you say?" Silent Magician pondered, before looking back at Kuromu and Asuka.
"Great, got zilch on info from any of these kids." The strange man groaned, "Where the heck can I get anything about this school?"
That was when an idea came to him, those three Osiris Red students.
'That's right! They may know something…' he thought, 'Then again, that Yank was looking at me funny. Plus he looked like the Yellow Comet…' The strange man blew it off, 'Nah, probably a coincidence.'
Luckily for him, he spotted Judai, Sho, and Rex walking back to their dorm with some booster packs in hand. The strange man smirked, 'Perfect!'
"Oh, you're still here ossan!" Judai cheered.
The strange man snarled, "Who are you calling old? I'm Kunisaki Kosuke!" He roared at him, before freezing up, 'Crap, I gave them my real name!'
"Oh, Kosuke-san then! My bad!" Judai laughed.
"Probably older than he looks." Rex shrugged off.
"Oh, I just remembered something." Kosuke recalled, "I've heard rumors floating 'round. Is it true students here have gone missing?"
Rex glared at the man, "What's it to you?"
"H-Hey, kind of curious is all. Been hearing a lot of old ghost stories lately so I wanted to see if they were true." Kosuke panicked.
"Well, that's all it is. Just ghost stories." Rex huffed. "And if you're thinking about skulking at night, forget it. Security's been getting pretty tight recently. You get caught, you're booted off this island."
"Okay, got it…" Kosuke said, 'Well it's a start…'
At the Abandoned Dorm, Kuromu and Asuka arrived together with the latter holding a rose. The Rider Duelist felt a bit uneasy returning to this place, recalling his first Duel against Oogumo. The memories of that Game of Darkness, despite being a while back, was still fresh in his mind. The attacks, the pain that followed. The past two Duels he won with barely an inch of his life.
"Kuro… you alright?" Asuka asked, snapping him out of it.
"Y-Yeah… just… a lot of bad memories is all." Kuromu nodded. "Go on. I'll keep a lookout."
Asuka nodded, and like before, she placed the rose down as they remembered her brother Fubuki.
'Nii-san…' Asuka thought.
Kuromu felt bad for the Obelisk Queen. At the very least, he knew his mom was alive and still out there. But Asuka's brother? There was no telling if he was alive or dead.
"Fubuki… wherever you are… you better come back…" Kuromu muttered.
"Sorry, am I interrupting a tender moment?" A voice called out.
Turning around, the Rider Duelist and Obelisk Queen turned to find Kosuke arriving on the scene.
"An Osiris Red student?" Kuromu asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I've heard that a lot of students have gone missing here." Kosuke observed as he looked over the dorm, "I'm guessing you two knew one of them?"
"What difference does it make to you?" Asuka questioned him, glaring at the strange man intensely.
"W-Well, I'm simply curious."
"I suggest you leave," Kuromu said coldly, "Guys like you just cause trouble for the rest of us."
"Alright, I can take a hint." Kosuke said, raising his hands in defense before turning on his heels to leave.
'Oi Kivat… I'm getting a bad feeling from this guy. Tail him, will ya?'
"No need. General already sent me to do it." Laquer said, appearing before him. Kuromu guessed that they weren't the only ones suspicious about the strange man's intentions.
'You may need an extra set of eyes just in case.' Kuromu thought.
"The more eyes we have on this guy, the more evidence we have." Kivat argued.
Laquer had to agree with that statement before the bat and tiger gladiator quickly went after the strange man.
In the Ra Yellow Dorm, Misawa was already hard at work coming up with a plan to counter Judai's Deck. He had been doing research on Judai's Deck since the start of the school year, and he was still trying to figure out how to successfully defeat him as he was typing away.
"It's been a while since I've been this excited." he mused to himself.
He soon went over each of Judai's key Fusion Monsters: Flame Wingman, Thunder Giant, Mudball Man, Rampart Blaster, the works.
'Hmm… this won't work. If I focus on a specific monster, then my Deck cannot function. There must be a more definitive way to brick his Deck.' He thought before a certain Duel came to mind.
"Now I activate Final Henshin! With this card-"
"You're not doing shit!" Manjoume smiled darkly, "Because I activate my face-down, Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell!"
"What?!" Kuromu gasped.
"By discarding a Spell Card from my hand, I can negate Final Henshin!" Manjoume said, as he did so, and the card short-circuited, turning gray before it shattered into pixels. "And the best part? You can't use that card for the rest of the Duel! Hahahahahahaha!"
"That's it! If I use that card-" Misawa stopped mid-sentence and shook his head. "No, I cannot. I'm nothing like Manjoume… He used that card out of malice."
He then pondered what he could do differently, and began looking for an alternative solution to lock down Judai's ability to use Fusion Summoning. After searching the card database, he found what he was looking for.
"This is it…!" Misawa gasped in elation. "This card will ensure my triumph!" After completing his Deck strategy, the genius soon smiled wildly, and typed furiously, "Ichiban-kun, your Fused Elemental HEROes will never appear before me!"
He then let out a confident laugh. Victory was his, that was a guarantee.
"Ey! I'm trying to catch some Z's here!" Koji's voice shouted from next door.
"S-Sorry about that." Misawa apologized.
The next morning…
"Itadakimasu!" Judai cheered as he started wolfing down his food.
"Ugh, glad I don't need the crutch anymore." Rex cheered as he checked his now plaster-free leg, "Wonder if this will cut down on my speed though." He mused before glaring at the cast and sling, still around, "Then again, I still have this thing."
"At least you guys got an appetite." Sho said, "I'm so nervous I don't have one, especially with Aniki's Duel coming up."
"Relax, Sho! It's gonna be great!" Judai smiled widely, showing food stuck in his teeth.
"Dude, gross…" Rex deadpanned.
"Anyways, you think those booster packs we opened helped?" Sho asked.
"Well we at least got a few decent ones." the mutt sighed, "But since we don't know what Deck Misawa's gonna be using against Judai, there's no way to choose what specific cards to lock down his strategies."
"Relax! Those decent ones we pulled will definitely help with my Deck!" Judai grinned. "Though thanks a bunch guys for helping me out with potential counters."
"We're always here to help, Aniki." Sho said before remembering something. "By the way, has anyone seen Kunisaki?"
"The ossan?" Judai blinked. "No, why?"
"I got a bad feeling about this…" the mutt groaned.
"Signors and Signoras! Sorry for the long wait!" Instructor Chronos cheered to the student body after everyone gathered into the Duel Arena, "We shall now begin the duel to determine the Solo school representative!" Cheers erupted all around the arena as Chronos nodded, taking in the applause before waving to one end of the platform, "Now then let's introduce our first competitor! From Ra Yellow, it's Misawa Daichi!"
The crowd quickly cheered as the genius stood proud as fellow Ras and friends of Misawa clapped for their favorite.
"And on this end, his opponent!" Chronos waved to Judai's side, "From Osiris Red… some kid," Crowler finished, less enthusiastic this time.
"Oh gee, just spell out that you hate the guy, why don'tcha?" Rex jeered, "Come on boys! Let's show some respect to Judai's name!" He shouted to his fellow Osiris students as they all cheered for the E-HERO Duelist.
"JUDAI! JUDAI! JUDAI! JUDAI!" They chanted.
The professor rolled his eyes at this display, 'Americans…'
Kuromu, Ryo, Rika, Asuka, Koji, and Sho all were waiting with bated breath as both combatants stared each other down.
"I can guess you know which Deck you're using?" Judai correctly guessed.
"Yes, sorry for keeping you waiting. This Deck will defeat you fair and square." Misawa affirmed.
"Aniki! You can do it!" Sho cheered.
"It seems this will be an interesting Duel." Ryo observed. "It'll be instinct vs. intelligence."
"Yeah…" Asuka said before the Kaiser noticed how tense she and Kuromu were.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked.
"Huh?" Kuromu blinked at Ryo. "No, everything's fine."
Outside the arena, Kosuke was slinking around with his camera in hand.
'Good thing I chose to wait until that couple left. Otherwise I would have gotten those pics.' He thought to himself, 'Still with everyone fired up, now's my chance to get some more info.'
With this, he snuck off. Kosuke had snuck into the library and was now sitting at an empty computer desk, a small PDA linked up with it. He smiled as he waited for the password to be cracked, so he could hack into the database. "C'mon baby… show me the good stuff!" he chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
Unbeknownst to him, a certain golden mechanical bat and gladiator tiger saw the whole thing go down.
"Yabai! We gotta tell Kuro!" Kivat panicked.
"Yeah, the General's probably gonna blow his lid once he hears this." Laquer agreed before they went to warn them.
"Now then, let us begin!" Chronos declared.
"Let's do this, Misawa!" Judai shouted before they drew their starting hands.
"DUEL!"
Misawa: 4000
Judai: 4000
"I will start things off. O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Misawa declared, drawing his sixth card. "I'll start by setting this monster face-down in DEF mode." He said, placing the card on the field and the reversed card appeared sideways. "Then I shall place one card face-down. Ta-n endo."
"O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Judai declared, drawing his sixth card. He looked at the card he drew, before looking at his hand to consider his options. With a nod, he made his move, "I summon Elemental HERO Featherman in ATK position!"
Coming onto the field was the familiar green-feathered hero with a pair of white wings. (3/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000)
"Time to see what's under there! Featherman, attack! Feather Break!"
The winged hero flew up high in the air and dived down towards the face-down revealing itself to be a cluster of electronics from large motherboard chips to computer parts. (3/ATK: 200/DEF: 1400)
"You revealed my Sackträger Magnet! Normally, when it's flipped up, I can take control of a Machine-Type Monster you control until my next End Phase, but since your Deck doesn't, you losing 400 Life Points due to its defense shall suffice for now."
The electronics soon let out a blast of electricity that shocked Featherman, shocking him, to which the electrical current transferred to Judai.
Misawa: 4000
Judai: 3600
"So Bastion is using his LIGHT-Attribute Deck." Kuromu mused.
"That means he's got some kind of answer to Judai's Fusion Summoning." Rex guessed.
"Is there anything else you want to do, Ichiban-kun?" Misawa smirked.
"I'll just place a card face-down. Ta-n endo." the Elemental HERO Duelist said, and a reverse card appeared on the Field.
"O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Misawa declared, drawing his next card, increasing his Hand to five. He looked at what he had and a closed smile etched onto his face, 'This is it! This is the card that will ensure my victory!' He thought to himself, "I shall place a card face-down first, then I shall summon Ninja Master Sasuke in ATK Position!"
After a card appeared on his side of the field, a robotic ninja with a blue wire-like knot top wearing a long green jacket and a red scarf emerged and took out its two laser kunai (4/ATK: 1800/DEF:1000). "Battle! Ninja Master Sasuke attacks Elemental HERO Featherman!"
"Not so fast, Misawa! I activate the trap card, A Hero Emerges!" Judai declared, pressing a button and the card flipped up. "Now you get to pick a card from my hand, and if it's a Monster, I get to Special Summon it!"
"Sorry, Ichiban-kun, but that's a risk I can't afford to take. I activate my Counter Trap! Seven Tools of the Bandit!" Misawa countered, revealing his first face-down. "By paying 1000 Life Points, I can disarm and destroy A Hero Emerges!"
Misawa: 3000
Judai: 3600
"Jeepers, Judai walked right into that one." Koji commented as Judai's trap crackled with electricity, turning gray then shattered into pixels. The ninja then quickly dashed forward and tossed its kunai straight at Featherman, shattering him.
Misawa: 3000
Judai: 2800
"Despite Misawa sacrificing 1000 Life Points, he's still in the lead." Ryo added. "He's making sure that he stays ahead, no matter what."
"Ta-n endo." Misawa concluded.
"Judai, what are you doing?!" Rika called out. "Get it together!"
"R-Right!" Judai said before shaking it off, "O-re no ta-n! Draw!" He drew his next card, looked at his hand, and grinned. "Alright, how's this for ya? First, I summon Elemental HERO Burst Lady in ATK mode!" Appearing in a burst of flames, the fire-themed HEROine appeared (3/ATK: 1200/DEF: 800). "And next, I'll activate this! Burst Impact! When Burst Lady is on the field, I can destroy all Monsters on the Field except for her, and that monster's owner takes 300 points for each one! Burst Impact Shot!"
Burst Lady yelled a war cry that let out a powerful wave of flames from her body that melted Sasuke and Sackträger Magnet while burning Misawa in the process.
Misawa: 2400
Judai: 2800
"Way to go, Aniki!" Sho cheered, pumping his fist in the air.
"Nice one!" Rex cheered.
"Now it's time to battle!" Judai declared, "Elemental HERO Burst Lady attacks your Life Points directly! Burst Fire!"
With a wave of her hand, the fire themed Elemental HERO shot a fireball at Misawa, engulfing him in flames.
Misawa: 1200
Judai: 2800
"Ta-n endo." Judai declared.
"As expected, Ichiban-kun." Misawa grinned, drawing his next card, increasing his hand to four. "But this is only the beginning. First, I summon White Magician Pikeru in ATK mode!"
Soon, a little girl wearing a white and red robe and a yellow ram's hat appeared with a staff in hand (2/ATK: 1200/DEF: 0)
"And next I activate the Protective Seal Swords of Light!" Misawa declared, playing the spell cards and sword of light rained down, trapping Judai and Burst Lady. "For three turns, you will be unable to attack. In addition, during my Standby Phases, White Magician Pikeru's effect allows me to gain 400 Life Points for each monster on my Field."
"And given Judai can't attack, that means Misawa can potentially get 1200 Life Points back easily." Asuka pointed out.
"Lastly, I'll place this Field Spell: Shine Spark!" Misawa said, as a blinding light shined from above. "With this card, all LIGHT-Attribute Monsters gain 500 ATK but lose 400 DEF."
White Magician Pikeru (ATK: 1200-1700/DEF: 0)
"Huh, that means Sparkman could get a boost if Judai summons him." Koji observed.
"Battle! White Magician Pikeru attacks Elemental HERO Burst Lady!" Misawa declared.
As the little mage waved her wand, a huge beam of light appeared from the sky and vaporized Burst Lady on the spot.
Misawa: 1200
Judai: 2300
"Ta-n endo." Misawa concluded.
"Damn, this is really going down the wire." Rex said.
"O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Judai declared, drawing his next card, increasing his hand to three. "First, I'll play Treasure Cards from the Heavens! We both draw until we have six cards!" He said, and both did as the cards instructed. "Yosh! Just what I need! I play Fusion! I'll fuse Elemental HERO Sparkman and Elemental HERO Clayman from my hand!"
"I'm afraid you won't be fusing any monster, Ichiban-kun, because now comes the time to reveal my strategy! I activate my Continuous trap card! Non-Fusion Area!" Misawa then pressed the button to reveal it.
"No way!" Asuka gasped.
"Did he just shut down Judai's Deck?!" Rika gawked.
"I should have known this was coming!" Rex panicked.
"Sorry Ichiban-kun, but you won't be Fusion Summoning any time soon. No Flame Wingman, no Thunder Giant, not even Mudball Man for that matter."
"Taihenda! Taihenda!" Kivat called out as he and Laquer rushed to the Rider Duelist and mutt.
'What's wrong?' Kuromu asked the pair mentally.
"Bad news. That Kosuke guy isn't a student. He's a reporter and is hacking into the school database." the tiger gladiator reported.
'What?!' Kuromu cried out in shock. But then he thought back to the other night, 'You mean that guy Asuka and I ran into last night was-!'
"Yare yare daze…" Rex groaned.
"What's up?" Rika asked.
"Nothin'. Need to take care of something. Kuro, help me out will ya?" Rex said.
"Yup." Kuromu nodded as the two got up from their seats and started leaving.
"Don't you wanna watch the rest of the dance-off?" Koji called out.
"Trust me, we got this." Rex reassured him before the two ran off.
In the darkness of the empty library, Kosuke sat at the computer, impatiently waiting for the password to the database to be finally cracked. "If I can just get past this thing, I'll be able to access Duel Academia's student files…" He murmured, sitting back in his chair. He watched as his little PDA failed to get the right password and was about to lose it when it finally managed to crack it.
He smiled as the screen changed and showed him the three Egyptian God cards that the dorms of the school were named after, Obelisk, Ra, and Osiris.
"Got it!" The screen changed again from the Gods to an image of Duel Monster cards.
However, they weren't really cards. Some of them were showing the backside, while others showed him images of different students from different dorms. One picture of a young man with brunette hair in Obelisk Blue colors caught his eyes.
Gerard leaned forward, eyes scanning the words, "Tenjouin Fubuki. Studying abroad on special sabbatical…" He frowned as his eyes darted from side to side, seeing different kids with similar statuses.
"This one too… and this one and that one…" He scratched his head, "This is weird. All of them are studying abroad, but they have no forwarding address. I don't buy it at all, these must be the missing kids from the Abandoned Dorm and the Academia must be trying to cover it up!" He smiled as he made some notes in his personal electronic device, "I smell a front page scandal and a major payday. Once I make this public, fame and fortune will be mine. Thanks for the scoop, Duel Academia, and good luck trying to survive all the bad publicity!"
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
Kosuke jumped out of his seat and turned around wildly to see Kuromu and Rex standing there, the latter seething with rage.
"I should have known you were suspicious!" the mutt snarled in anger, before his anger was slightly cooled by the pain from his arm. Kuromu could tell that Rex was slightly pushing it given he was still injured.
Kosuke then noticed that the download was complete. He took his PDA and made a bolt for the door with both students in hot pursuit. When Kosuke got to the door though, and tried to open it, it was locked. "Don't even bother trying to open it. I locked the door so you're not going anywhere." Kuromu said, holding up the key. "Now hand over that PDA."
"And just what do you kids think you can do about it?" the reporter taunted him.
"Don't make me call on the king." Rex threatened, as while his other arm was busted, he still had his arm where his Duel Disk was fitted onto.
"Listen. I make a living digging up dirt and taking up tabloid pictures. Always have and always will. I have to say, this scandal takes the cake."
"Of course. All you people care about is the line going up." the mutt snarled, "You don't care about the aftermath."
"Those missing students are not for yours or anyone else's amusement!" Kuromu growled in anger. "I have a friend whose brother is missing and you're gonna give her more grief by desecrating her brother's memory like this?!"
"So what?"
"SO WHAT?!" Kuromu exploded, to which even Rex cringed.
"And here I thought only the General could reach these volumes of fury." Dicearri commented.
"THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT! AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SAY THAT?! INSTEAD OF RUINING PEOPLE'S LIVES, YOU SHOULD BE HELPING FINDING THOSE THAT WENT MISSING! BUT NO, ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS LINING UP YOUR DAMN POCKETS AND INFLATING YOUR UNCARING SELFISH EGO!"
Kosuke could tell that Kuromu was way more angry at him than Rex was, and that made him back up a bit.
"So here's what's going to happen." Kuromu said, coldly equipping himself with a Duel Disk. "You and I are going to Duel. And if I win, you hand over all that data you've downloaded into that PDA."
"I don't Duel, kid. I don't even own a Duel Di-"
He caught Rex's Duel Disk, sans his Deck, after the mutt tossed it to him.
"Problem solved." Rex said matter-of-factly.
"Are you idiots? I don't even have-"
"Then what's that on your belt?" Kuromu pointed as he could see the ghost of a Deck box on the reporter's belt. "Face it, you're Dueling me one way or another!"
"Tsk. Say that I do Duel you. What happens if I win?"
Rex sighed before answering for Kuromu, "How about something a lot juicier than some missing students? Seems fair that a guy like you would want info."
"And how's that gonna-"
"How about a one-on-one interview with the Yellow Comet?"
'Yellow Comet?' Kuromu thought, confused while Kosuke looked outright floored with the revelation.
"What the-?! Really?! The fastest punk in New York?"
"The one and only." Rex answered. "How about it? You win, and I set you up with an exclusive talk with the founder of New York's infamous gang instead of the data you got from the PDA. Not a bad deal, right?"
"You-"
"Don't worry. I promise they won't spill everything I know about them. Scout's honor." The mutt cringed inside, 'Like hell I am.'
"General, are you sure that's wise?" Diecarri asked. "If word gets out… he will know where you are."
'Wish there was a better solution. But this guy came for a scoop, and this was the only thing I could think of, outside of telling him about Oogumo that would be a better substitute for the missing students.' Rex thought, 'And I'd rather not drag this guy into this mess, no matter how scummy he is.'
Meanwhile, Kuromu was conflicted as he thought about the Wild Ones. He remembered that Koji was following that case a lot before they all entered Duel Academia. To think Rex had connections to that group, let alone know its founder.
"You got yourself a deal!" Kosuke grinned widely.
"W-Wait, huh?" Kuromu snapped out of his thoughts. "Rex, you-"
"Sweet! It's settled then. Okay, 4000 Life Points like gentlemen." The mutt said before patting Kuromu on the back, "I'll explain later…" he told him with a worried look. It was clear to the Rider Duelist that he wasn't looking forward to what will happen next if the reporter wins.
"Alright, fine. But you owe me." Kuromu sighed, before readying his Duel Disk and Deck. Kosuke equipped himself with the mutt's Duel Disk but placed his own Deck into the device
'More than you ever know…' Rex thought, before both players drew their starting hands.
"DUEL!"
Kuromu: 4000
Kosuke: 4000
"Non-scandalizers first! O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Kuromu declared, drawing his sixth card. "Let's start off strong. I summon Kamen Rider OOO in ATK mode!" Slapping the card onto the tray, the images of the Core Medals appeared rapidly spinning in place in the monster zone.
TAKA!
TORA!
BATTA!
Images of three animals in the form of symbols appeared. A red hawk was on the top, a yellow tiger was in the middle, and a green grasshopper was at the bottom.
TA-TO-BA! TATOBA! TA-TO-BA!
The three images then combined into one large crest which flew backwards to form the body. Said body then became enveloped in energy which swiftly hardened into solid armor. (4/ATK: 2000/DEF: 0)
Kosuke's interest peaked, "So, you got a new archetype huh? I guess that confirms the rumors of Duel Academia having prototypes being tested here."
Kuromu didn't say anything as he held out another card. "I'll place one card face-down. Ta-n endo." He concluded. "Now let's see what you got."
"If you can handle it. O-re sama no ta-n! Draw!" Kosuke declared arrogantly, drawing his sixth card. "I'll set this Monster and place two cards face-down." A sideways reverse card and two reverse cards that's vertical appeared. "That's all from me."
'That's it?' Rex thought to himself. 'There's gotta be more to it than that.'
"O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Kuromu declared, drawing his next card. "I summon Kamen Rider Hibiki in ATK mode!"
Upon activating the card, a ringing noise was heard and small soundwaves appeared in thin air as a small golden head of an oni appeared. The space being occupied suddenly burst into purple flames that raged briefly for a few seconds, before the embers dispersed, revealing the oni warrior. (4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1400)
"Next, I'll activate his ability! I can send up to three "Kamen Rider" monsters from my hand to the graveyard and inflict 400 points of Damage for each one sent at the cost of my other Kamen Riders not attacking this turn. I only have one I can send." he said, revealing the card to be Kamen Rider Blade. "But better than nothing." He said, before discarding said card. "I-ke Hitoshi-san! Kigenjutsu Onibi!"
Hibiki quickly let out a powerful flame from his mouth that burned the reporter.
Kuromu: 4000
Kosuke: 3600
"Now entering the Battle Phase! Kamen Rider Hibiki attacks your face-down monster! Kibojutsu Rekkadan!"
Hibiki powered up his drumsticks before firing several fireballs straight at the facedown card, revealing a woman in black armor with blue hair and pale blue skin (4/ATK:1000/DEF:1500) before it shattered.
"What the-!" Rex got out.
"That was… Elemental HERO Shadow Mist!" Kuromu gasped, before looking at Kosuke, "You run Elemental HEROes just like Judai?!"
"What of it?" Kosuke said though it was clear that he did flinch at that question, "You realize that no one's got a lock in on an archetype unless they're… him."
"Enlighten us…" Rex frowned, with crossed arms.
"That's a secret you'll have to pry from my dead body, but for now, it's back to the Duel! Thanks to you destroying my Elemental HERO Shadow Mist, I can activate my trap! Hero Signal!"
He revealed the trap and the spotlight showing the fancy H appeared on the ceiling. "Since you destroyed my Monster, get to summon another Elemental HERO and I choose Elemental Hero Woodsman from my Deck in DEF mode!" A bald muscular green skinned man with tattered brown shorts with his body made out of pure wood appeared taking a knee. (4/ATK: 1000/DEF: 2000).
"Great…" Rex grunted.
"But there's more, Shadow Mist's ability activates! Since you destroyed her, I can get to add an Elemental HERO from my Deck to my hand. And the card I choose… is Elemental HERO Ocean!" He said, taking out the card to reveal the card art of a blue fishman-like superhero with silver armor and a silver trident. After adding it, he shuffled his Deck.
"Ta-n endo…" Kuromu growled.
"O-re sama no ta-n!" Kosuke declared, drawing his next card. "On my Standby Phase, I'll have Woodsman use his effect; he allows me to take Fusion from my Deck and add it to my Hand." He said, taking the card out of his Deck, his hand now at six. "But it's not staying around long as I play it to fuse Elemental HERO Ocean in my hand, and Elemental HERO Woodsman on my field!"
As the two other heroes vanished, a towering figure crashed onto the field, rising up to well more than ten feet tall. It had skin made of sheer white stone, with purple gemstones on its shoulders and head, and a red One on its chest. It also possessed spikes on its hips and shoulders. (8/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000)
"Fusion Summon! Elemental HERO Terra Firma!"
"No way!" Kuromu gawked.
"How the hell did you get your hands on a Legendary Planet Monster?!" Rex demanded from the reporter, "Like, that shit's rare!"
"That's on a need-to-know basis." Kosuke smirked, "Now then, let's battle. Elemental HERO Terra Firma attacks Kamen Rider Hibiki!"
"Not so fast! I'll activate my trap card!" Kuromu countered, revealing it. "Kamen Rider Intervention! When one of my "Kamen Rider" monsters is targeted for an attack, I can target 1 other "Kamen Rider" monster I control, and the battling monster gains ATK equal to half the targeted monster's original ATK! In other words, Hibiki gains half of OOO's ATK until the End Phase!"
"Hah! Idiot! You fell for my other face-down!" Kosuke laughed, activating it, "My Trap Jammer!"
"Kuso!" Kuromu cursed as the Trap Jammer shattered Kamen Rider Intervention, meaning Terra Firma's attack was going to continue uninterrupted.
"Now continue your attack! Earth Impact!" Kosuke shouted as the monster roared and threw a large punch right at Hibiki. The oni Rider was destroyed on the spot.
Kuromu: 3300
Kosuke: 3600
"That's it for me." Kosuke said as he ended his turn. However, that's when he noticed his hand was shaking. 'What the heck? Why do I feel… excited?'
"O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Kuromu declared, snapping Kosuke out of his thoughts. The Rider Duelist looked at his hand of four, gritting his teeth as he stared down the Elemental HERO in front of him, as a sweat bead went down the side of his face. 'Dammit, who would've thought that I'd go against a Legendary Planet Monster? And from this crook of all people…'
"Kuromu? Hope you got an answer to that thing in front of us." The mutt hoped.
"I'm working on it." Kuromu said, before turning OOO's card sideways. "I'll switch OOO to DEF mode then place one card face-down. Ta-n endo."
"Nothing? Well lucky me!" Kosuke cheered, "O-re sama no ta-n! Draw!" He drew his next card. He smirked at what he got. "First I'll play Dual Summon allowing me to summon twice this turn! So I'll summon Elemental HERO Knospe and Elemental HERO Lady of Fire in ATK mode!"
Soon, a rather short plant-like creature with closed plant buds for hands and even a face and body (3/ATK: 600/DEF: 1000) and a heroine with blonde and light-skinned woman, wearing a white and red body suit, with an orange and red skirt (4/ATK: 1300/DEF: 1000) appeared on the reporter's side of the field.
"Now it's time to battle! Elemental HERO Knospe… attacks you directly!" Kosuke grinned.
"What?! You can't do that!" Rex snapped.
"I can as long as I have another Elemental HERO on my side of the field. Even better, Elemental HERO Knospe also can't be targeted for an attack when I control another Elemental HERO monster. And when Knospe attacks directly, it gains 100 ATK but loses 100 DEF!" Kosuke then outstretched his hand "Now attack! Budding Leach!" Knopse complied and fired out two seeds from its arms at Kuromu.
Kuromu: 2700
Kosuke: 3600
Afterwards, Knospe powered up.
Elemental HERO Knospe: (ATK: 600-700/DEF: 1000-900)
"Next, Elemental HERO Lady of Fire attacks Kamen Rider OOO! Blaze Spark!" the reporter called out before Lady Heat quickly created several fireballs that she flung at the medal Rider in a quick volley, destroying him.
"Kuro?!" Rex cringed with worry.
"Now Elemental HERO Terra Firma will attack you directly! Earth Impact!" Kosuke declared, as said stone-like hero was about to punch him.
"I activate my face-down!" Kuromu declared, revealing it. "Poison of the Old Man! And I choose to gain 1200 Life Points!" A long thin bottle of green liquid appeared to which Kuromu quickly grabbed, pulled the cork and downed the contents.
Kuromu: 3900
Kosuke: 3600
The moment he finished, Terra Firma's fist came in contact with Kuromu, sending him flying before landing on the floor on his back. "Ow…"
Kuromu: 1400
Kosuke: 3600
"Whew, that was a close one." Kuromu grumbled as he staggered back to his feet.
"Don't think you're out of the woods yet." Kosuke said. "At my End Phase, Lady of Fire's effect activates. You lose 200 Points for each Elemental HERO on my field. I have 3, so you lose 600 Life Points!" The fire themed heroine waved her arm, releasing a heat wave that crashed into Kuromu who cringed from the intense heat.
Kuromu: 600
Kosuke: 3600
"You know… For a guy who doesn't Duel, you sure fight like a pro." Kuromu observed.
"What?" Kosuke got out.
"You haven't given up on Dueling completely. You're so focused on it and not what you came here to do." Kuromu smirked. "And as a human being, don't you think you should investigate how those students end up missing? Because from what you said about studying abroad from the data, means that they know something but they know that the public won't believe it. You post that story and then what; you get money, Duel Academia will be torn apart, and the kids will forever remain lost to their loved ones. No person would want that! I can see it in your eyes!"
"Plus, how many dreams are you crushing by destroying Duel Academia?" Rex added, "There are people who are genuinely coming here to learn from the best of the best! People have found friends, new families, and maybe even love here! Don't you have any dreams like that? Or did that die the moment you decided chasing that cash was more fulfilling?"
"Those dreams died long ago!" Kosuke snapped. "So what if I used to have those aspirations?! It doesn't amount to anything if someone like Seto Kaiba thoroughly trounces you like the third rate Duelist you are that duels with a fourth rate Deck!"
"Then why are you smiling right now?" Kuromu asked.
"Why else? It's because I'm about to win and get that exclusive interview from the founder of the Wild Ones himself!" he chuckled, "What journalist hasn't dreamed of finding info on one of the most elusive gangs in America?"
"Not that smile, that smile."
"Huh?" Kosuke said, confused.
"Well, not like it matters, because I'm gonna do everything I can to win this! O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Kuromu declared, drawing his next card, increasing his Hand from three to four. "I play Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two extra cards!" He did as the card instructed and now his hand was at five. He smiled at what he got. "Alright, let's make the most out of this! I summon Kamen Rider Ex-Aid in ATK mode!"
MIGHTY ACTION X!
GASHATTO! GACCHAN! LEVEL UP!
MIGHTY JUMP! MIGHTY KICK! MIGHTY MIGHTY ACTION X!
A quick ring of character portraits appeared as Kuromu selected Ex-Aid's profile to summon the gamer Rider onto the field. "And with his ability, he gains 400 ATK for each Level!" (4/ATK: 0-1600/DEF: 1200)
"Let me guess, you just drew that card. Didn't you?" The mutt asked.
"Damn right, I did!" Kuromu grinned. "I activate Final Henshin! What this card does is that I can send a Kamen Rider monster from my field to the graveyard, and special summon his final form from my Extra Deck! And I choose Kamen Rider Ex-Aid!" He declared.
The video-game themed Rider then took out a Gashat, but this was larger and thicker than the other one. It had an icon of Ex-Aid's mask, but its body was somehow also a mask that had arms and legs that could spring in and out with oversized fists and boots. On the bottom was a small figure of Ex-Aid's sticking out. He pressed the button to activate it.
MAXIMUM MIGHTY X!
The screen of the video game he's 'playing' appeared behind Ex-Aid, before taking out the Mighty Action X Gashat and inserting the new one in, the small figure of Ex-Aid now right-side up.
MAXIMUM GASHATTO!
GACCHAN! LEVEL~ MA~X!
Another ring of character portraits appeared as Ex-Aid's selected the appropriate profile and a new screen of the form he'll take appeared in front of said Rider, before pulling back and through him. His suit was the same, but then something appeared above the video game Rider. It was a large headless mecha with a face on its body with its limbs folded into itself.
SADAIKYU NO POWERFUL BODY! DARIRAGAN! DAGAZUBAN! SADAIKYU NO POWERFUL BODY! DARIRAGAN! DAGAZUBAN! SADAIKYU NO POWERFUL BODY!
"Max Dai-Henshin!"
Ex-Aid then slammed his fist on the Gashat.
MAXIMUM POWER~ X~!
The gamer Rider quickly leaped into the air and right into the mecha, allowing it to splay out its limbs while he poked his head out and posed before landing on the ground (8/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2000).
"Henshin Shōkan! Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Maximum Form!"
"So you monster's stronger by 300 Points so what?" Kosuke scoffed.
"Oh, you couldn't be farther from the truth." Kuromu chuckled. "Because it's got a certain effect that's perfect against you!" he declared, "Battle! Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Maximum Form attacks Elemental HERO Lady of Fire! If he attacks, when he battles a monster, that target loses ATK equal to its Level x200! And since Lady of Fire is Level 4, meaning she loses 800 ATK leaving her with just 500!"
"What?!" Kosuke gawked.
"I didn't stutter. Go Emu! Maximum Critical Break!"
"Alright, let's do it!" Ex-Aid said, before closing the driver.
GACCHAN… KIMEWAZA!
Ex-Aid crouched as his kicking foot powered up with energy before opening the Gamer Driver back up.
GACCHAN! MAXIMUM CRITICAL~ BREAK!
The gamer Rider quickly punched the ground to pop Lady of Fire into the air before he leaped into the air and delivered a Rider Kick onto the Elemental HERO right as it was descending.
Kuromu: 600
Kosuke: 1300
"I'll place one card face-down. Ta-n endo." Kuromu smirked.
"You gotta be kidding me. You're really putting up a fight." Kosuke snarled at the Rider Duelist.
"I have to. If it means stopping you from desecrating those students' memories and ruining Duel Academia." Kuromu said. "Now make your move!"
Kosuke flinched as he could tell the Rider Duelist was firing on all cylinders. "If I'm going down, then I'm going down swinging! O-re sama no ta-n!" He shouted, drawing his next card to increase his hand at three. "I'll end this Duel right now! Elemental HERO Knospe will attack you directly!"
"Crap! Kuro only has 600 Life Points and Knospe has 700 ATK!" Rex panicked, but for some reason, Kuromu remained calm. "Uhh, Kuro? Tell me you got a plan, right?"
"End this now! Budding Leach!" Kosuke ordered, to which the plant-themed HERO took aim with its buds.
"Activate trap!" Kuromu shouted, revealing the card. "Half or Stop! You can continue the attack with all your monster's ATK cut in half or end the Battle Phase right now!"
Kosuke flinched as he halted his Monster's attack, signaling Knopse to lower his buds. "Ta-n endo." He grunted.
Rex smirked at Kuromu, "I think that's game set and match, don't you think?" He asked the Rider Duelist.
"That depends. I could end the Duel with Ex-Aid Maximum Form. Or, I could draw another Final Henshin and reeeeeally finish him off." Kuromu chuckled.
"All depends on you bud." The mutt said before placing his arms behind his back lazily.
"Right." Kuromu said, then placed his two fingers on his Deck, then looked at Kosuke. "Sorry, but it's time we end this. O-re no ta-n! Draw!" He declared, drawing his next card. He looked at it and smiled, "Well whaddya know?"
"What a mystery." Rex said with faux wonder before they both turned their gaze to the reporter.
Kosuke was left sweating bullets from seeing the same predatory grin on both the Rider Duelist and mutt's faces.
"I activate the card I drew, Final Henshin! With this, I'll use it on Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Maximum Form in order for him to go into his actual Final Form!"
"The hell?!"
"Yep, this isn't even his final form!" Kuromu declared, "Go Emu!"
"Got it!" Ex-Aid cheered as he took out a new Gashat. This one was much smaller, but it was glittering gold with a star-shaped screen on the bottom and the label that read out…
HYPER~ MUTEKI!
An epic guitar fanfare played as the start screen appeared revealing a golden colored version of the character in Mighty Action X. Ex-Aid then inserted the Gashat on top of the Gamer Driver also connecting to the Maximum Mighty X Gashat.
DOCKI~NG!
"Hyperrrrrr~ Dai Henshin!"
He then smashed the top of the Gashat, to which a door flipped downwards, covering the window below with a gold plaque of Maximum Mighty X's form and up top, was a white outline of the new final form.
PAKKAAN! MU~TE~KI!
KAGAYAKE~ RYUUSEI NO GO-TO-KU! OUGON NO SAIKYOU GA~MER~! HYPER MUTEKI EX-AI~D!
As the song played, Ex-Aid rocketed out of the mecha and glowed golden, flying into the sky like a shooting star. His entire bodysuit and armor turned golden, with his armguards, shoulderpads, chestplate, and leg guards all sporting star designs on them. Even his helmet had multiple stars on them to go along with the added dreadlocks the helmet provided and the irises were rainbow colored as well. (10/ATK: 3500/DEF: 2500)
"Henshin Shōkan! Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Muteki Form!"
"Yeesh, man's got swagger with that form." Rex observed.
"3500 ATK points?!" Kosuke gawked.
"And there's more where that came from!" Kuromu said. "I activate his effect! By discarding one card, I can special summon a "Kamen Rider" from my Graveyard!" He then discarded said card and took out one from the Graveyard. "And I choose… Kamen Rider Blade!"
"What?!" The reporter gasped.
TURN UP
The blue screen appeared and called forth the beetle Rider (4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1400)
"Next I activate Final Henshin's second effect from my graveyard! I shuffle it back into my Deck and draw one card!" Kuromu said, taking the card, inserting it in the Deck then shuffling it thoroughly, before drawing that card. "Hehehehe… it's your lucky day, you get to see another final form."
"What?!" He gasped.
"Time for my second Transformation Summon!" Kuromu called out. "And I choose Kamen Rider Blade!"
"Alright, time to go all out." Blade declared as he drew a few cards out. He then attached a device called the Rouse Absorber to his left wrist, before inserting one card in.
ABSORB QUEEN
He then took the other card and slid across the reader.
EVOLUTION KING
First, the Evolution Caucasus plaque covered the Queen card. Next several cards circled around him several times until eventually they turned golden and started to go to their respective places into him donning the gold armor. On his left leg from top to bottom, the Magnet Buffalo, Tackle Boar, and Mach Jaguar plaques appeared. The right leg from top to bottom, were the Thunder Deer, Metal Trilobite, and Kick Locust plaques. The Absorb Capricorn plaque was on his left shoulder armor and going down his left arm was the Slash Lizard plaque. The Fusion Eagle plaque was on his right shoulder armor and going down were the Time Scarab plaque, and the Beat Lion plaque. On his chest armor was a large blue Spade symbol with a gold Evolution Caucasus symbol on it, having a small gold spade too. Finally, for his helmet, along with the horn in the middle, two more horns protruded on the left and right side of the head, as if he was wearing a crown. In his hand, was the King Rouzer. (8/ATK: 2600/DEF: 2400)
"Henshin Shōkan! Kamen Rider Blade - King Form!" Kuromu declared, "Now it's time to end this! Battle! Kamen Rider Blade - King Form attacks Elemental HERO Terra Firma! Royal Straight Flush!"
Five cards came out of Blade's body, all golden versions of his Rouze cards, then grabbed them by hand, before inserting them into the card slot that was the hilt of his King Rouzer.
SPADE TEN
SPADE JACK
SPADE QUEEN
SPADE KING
SPADE ACE
The holograms of Time Scarab, Fusion Eagle, Absorb Capricorn, Evolution Caucasus, and Change Beetle lined up in front of each other, leading towards the Legendary Planet Monster as Blade crouched while readying his weapon.
ROYAL STRAIGHT FLUSH
He then ran straight through the hologram cards, powering up his blade as he did, before performing a powerful slash attack that sliced Terra Firma in two.
Kuromu: 600
Kosuke: 1200
"And now for the finisher! Kamen Rider Ex-Aid - Muteki Form attacks Elemental HERO Knospe! Hyper Critical Sparking!" Kuromu declared.
Ex-Aid quickly pressed the button on top of the Gashat.
KIMEWAZA!
After pressing it again, the gamer Rider quickly took a stance as Knopse backed away in fear.
HYPER~ CRITICAL~ SPARKING!
Ex-Aid disappeared and quickly reappeared to deliver a series of rapid kicks before vanishing and reappearing besides Kosuke, with seemingly nothing happening to the plant hero.
"Your game… is already over…"
Kosuke gasped, "What?"
Suddenly, a series of rapid effects peppered Knopse before he exploded.
KYUKYOKU NO IPPATSU DA! KANZEN SHORI!
Kuromu: 600
Kosuke: 0
The Solid Vision disappeared as Kosuke fell to his knees in shock. How could this have happened? He lost… and now he won't be able to get that exclusive interview nor the data about the missing students.
"Nice on, Kuromu!" Rex cheered before the two shared a high five.
"Thanks." Kuromu chuckled, before looking at Kosuke and approached the reporter, "Alright. A deal's a deal. Hand over the PDA."
"Tsk…" Kosuke clicked his tongue before handing Kuromu the PDA and Rex his Duel Disk back, "Why do you believe in this school so much?"
"Because we want to be the best of the best. Duel Academia is the best school for that." Kuromu answered. "What you're trying to do is prevent us from doing that by attempting to sell out this school with baseless rumors you have no concrete evidence on."
"Like I said, don't you have a dream?" Rex asked.
Kosuke silently looked away with gritting teeth, clenching his fist. It was clear that his defeat against Kaiba left a scar in his heart.
"Look, just because your dream was crushed, doesn't mean you crush the dreams of others." Kuromu said. "Besides, even if you think you can't turn back on the path you're on, it's never too late."
"Yeah, you're just taking a detour is all." The mutt chimed in. "And you can start going down that right path by helping us find those missing students. Not bury them forever."
It was then that Kosuke recalled his interactions with Judai, the enthusiasm he could feel from a fellow Elemental HERO Duelist about the game. The way he was so excited, the passion he had for it. Remembering this, reminded him of how he used to be, before taking this job as a reporter.
He let out a tired chuckle, which made Rex realize something.
"Guess Judai's energy rubbed off ya?" The mutt asked him.
"I guess so." Kosuke said, before standing up.
"So? What now?" Kuromu inquired.
"Well, I guess that Duel's still going on." The reporter noted before pointing at the mutt's Duel Disk.
When they looked at the device, the old man's Deck was still inside, much to their shock. Upon looking up, the reporter was gone, likely having slinked away.
"Did he just-" Kuromu got out.
As the two looked around for him, Kosuke walked away and smirked. 'That kid needs those cards more than me.' he thought to himself before leaving the school.
"That guy gave us the slip. Unbelievable." Rex scoffed, "Well, at least we got the PDA."
"Yeah…" Kuromu trailed off, looking at it in his hand, "Hopefully Asuka will be one step closer to looking for Fubuki…" The mutt nodded before the Rider Duelist gave a stern glare to him, "But, after this, after Judai wins, you and I need to talk." Kuromu stated.
"I was afraid of that…" Rex feared.
But then, a look of panic etched onto Kuromu's face, "Ahh! Speaking of! Judai and Misawa's Duel!"
"Shit! We need to get back pronto!" Rex said before grabbing Kuromu by the arm, "Hold on! I'll get us there lickity-split!"
"What are you- UWHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Kuromu didn't get a chance to say anything, as Rex ran like the wind.
Meanwhile…
"No way! You shut down my Fusion Summoning?!" Judai gawked in shock.
"I'm afraid so, Ichiban-kun." Misawa nodded with a smirk. "So if you want to represent Duel Academia as a singles competitor, I suggest you find an alternative solution to victory."
'Crap, what do I do? What do I do?' The Elemental HERO Duelist mentally panicked. But then he shook his head. 'Get it together! If Kuro can win without his Transformation Summons, then I can do it without the Fusion Summons!'
"Kuri, Kuri!" Winged Kuriboh chirped in.
'Yeah, I know. I'll need all the luck I can get.' Judai said.
"Anyone getting déjà vu?" Koji asked.
"You mean how Manjoume-kun sealed Kuro's Transformation Summoning during his promotion Duel?" Asuka asked back.
"Feels like Misawa took some notes." The disco fan said.
"But he's not like that jerk." Rika pointed out. "Manjoume used Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell because he teamed up with Oogumo. Misawa's nothing like that."
"But given that Judai's strategy focuses on his Fusions, it meant that people could find ways to brick his Deck." Ryo said.
"Aniki…" Sho murmured, "Rex and I tried to help him prepare for this, and yet we couldn't stop it."
"Hey no worries, little dude. If Kuro can get past not using Transformation Summoning, then Judai can certainly get past not using Fusion Summoning." Koji reassured him.
"Speaking of, what's taking them so long?" Rika asked.
"Who knows." Koji answered with a shrug. "They better skedaddle back here soon though. They're missing all the action."
They were unaware that in the library, Kuromu and Rex were confronting the reporter.
"So then Ichiban-kun, what's your next move?" Misawa asked the Elemental HERO Duelist.
Judai grimaced as he looked at his five cards, his Fusion being sent to the graveyard due to Misawa activating the Non-Fusion Area trap card. "I summon Elemental HERO Bubbleman in ATK mode!"
Soon, a hero with blue bulky armor, a helmet that covered his eyes and had two upper points, a white cape, and a backpack that connected to a hose on his arm appeared (4/ATK: 800/DEF: 1200)
"And since he's the only monster on my field, I get to draw two more cards!" He added, drawing two more cards, "Next I activate Bubble Shot and equip it to Bubbleman!" Bubbleman soon gained a powerful bazooka as it materialized in his hands.
Elemental HERO Bubbleman: (ATK: 800-1600)
"And I'll place one card face-down. Ta-n endo." Judai finished, as a reverse card appeared on the field.
"O-re no ta-n! Draw!" Misawa said, drawing his next card and increasing his hand to seven. "White Magician Pikeru's effect activates! Now that I'm at my Standby Phase, I gain 400 Life Points."
Misawa: 1600
Judai: 2300
"Just two more turns until you're free from my Protective Seal Swords of Light. Think you can last until then?"
"Oh, I plan to." Judai declared.
"We'll see where that gets you." Misawa said, before looking at his hand to consider his options. After a moment of self-contemplation, he decided on his next move. "First, I activate the Spell Card, Cost Down! By discarding one card from my hand, all monsters currently in hand have their Levels reduced by two, for the turn." He said, before discarding said card. "And I have the perfect for this. I summon Kaiser Glider, who's original Level is 6 but now has been reduced to 4!"
A large golden metallic dragon flew onto the field, its features strongly resembling a certain Egyptian God, the strongest in fact, as it roared at Judai (6-4/ATK: 2400-2900/DEF: 2200-1800). "And to ensure you're not doing anything funny to thwart off my strategy, I'll play Cyclone to destroy your face-down." He said, as he played the card, and a twister came out, shattering said face-down without revealing it.
"Jeepers, he's in for it now!" Koji panicked.
"Battle! White Magician Pikeru attacks Elemental HERO Bubbleman!" Misawa declared. The cute girl of a magician raised her staff and fired a beam of light towards the water-themed HERO.
"I activate Bubble Shot's second effect! I can destroy this card instead of Bubbleman if he would have been destroyed in battle and take zero damage!" Judai said, as the beam was redirected at the water bazooka, destroying it into pixels.
Elemental HERO Bubbleman: (ATK: 1600-800)
"Well played, but it won't save you from Kaiser Glider's attack! Go! Attack Elemental HERO Bubbleman!" He declared as the metal dragon coated itself in fire and dashed straight into Bubbleman, destroying him.
Misawa: 1600
Judai: 200
"Good golly Miss Molly, Misawa's out for blood!" Koji shouted.
"He's in it to win it." Rika said. "After all this is a qualifying round, and whoever wins represents the Singles Division."
"Ta-n endo." Misawa said. "Let's see you fight your way through this, Ichiban-kun."
"Alright, let's hope the other card we got for this sitch pops up." Judai hoped as he looked at his Deck. "O-re no ta-n! Draw!" He drew his next card… only to frown at what he got. "Not yet…"
"Come on, he's gotta draw that card at some point." Sho hoped.
"What card?" Ryo asked his little brother.
"Ah… when Aniki opened some booster packs, there were a few cards that kinda reminded him of Kuro's Kamen Riders." Sho explained. "They looked pretty powerful too. But he needs to draw that card to use it."
"Okay, focus." Judai noted before playing a card, "I play The Warrior Returning Alive to return Bubbleman to my hand!" He said, before adding it. "Then I'll resummon him in ATK mode!" He said, as the water-themed HERO returned to the field. "And you know the deal, when he's the only one, I get to draw two cards!" He said, before drawing them. The moment he did, Judai chuckled which gradually turned into laughter. "Hehehehehehe… hahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Koji's eyebrow was raised, "Who does he think he is, hound dog?" The disco fan could tell that if Judai was laughing, then that means he pulled something good.
"He's lost his bananas…" Rika deadpanned.
"UWHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"What the-?!" Koji got out.
"Was that… was that Kuro?" Asuka asked.
"REX! WE'RE GONNA CRAAAAAAAAAAAASH!"
"Hold on, pal!" The mutt declared as he jumped through the door and landed right next to Sho, "Hey guys, what we miss?"
Koji and Rika turned to Kuromu, who looked completely pale like his soul left his body.
"Soo fast… too fast…" Kuromu muttered.
"Holy crap, you okay?!" Rika panicked.
"Nooo… urrrp!" Kuromu's cheeks puffed, as he was about to puke, "Mmmmm! MMMMMM!" He ran to the nearest trash can and hurled. "BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERGH!"
"Yeesh, thems the waterworks." Koji cringed as Asuka rushed over to him and rubbed his back.
"I… am never… letting you drag me… again…" Kuromu groaned before a bit of bile came up, "Ugh, I thought I was gonna die there. Uuurpp… oh go- BLEEEEEEERGH!"
"Man, must have broken a land speed record if you're reacting like that." Rex said casually.
"LAND SPEED RECORD?!" Kuromu gasped, but then puked a third time. "BLEEEEH!"
"Should I take you to the nurse's office?" Asuka asked worriedly.
"N-No, I think my stomach's calmed down enough." Kuromu reassured her.
"You sure took a long time though…" Sho frowned at him suspiciously with crossed arms.
"Well, something came up." The mutt reassured him before looking at the field, "Crap, Judai's really struggling out there." He observed.
Sho nodded, "He couldn't set down Trap Jammer in time."
"Crap, so he's only got one more ace left." Rex muttered, "And judging by how he's laughing…" That's when his smile turned wild, "Misawa's so fucking done!"
*WAPISH!*
"OW!"
"Language!" Rika scolded, after whacking him on the head with his cast iron.
"Yes, ma'am." Rex rolled his eyes, though that made her a tad bit angrier.
"Do you want me to give you a concussion?" Rika smiled oh so sweetly. The mutt shook his head vehemently at this
"Say… what was that other card you two are talking about?" Kuromu asked.
"I just drew what I need to win this Duel!" Judai said.
"Impossible, you couldn't have possibly-" Misawa said wide-eyed, as he somewhat associated wild laughter with someone either crazy… or they achieved victory.
"But I did. And I'll show you! I activate Mask Change to perform my own Transformation Summon!"
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH?!" Kuromu, and by extension everyone else sans the two Osiris Red students, shouted in shock.
"Kick his ass, Judai!" Rex cheered.
"Go get 'em, aniki!" Sho called out.
"Gladly! First, I'll send Elemental HERO Bubbleman to the graveyard!" Judai grinned as the water-themed HERO shined brightly, transforming himself into a different HERO. "And from my Extra Deck, I call forth Masked HERO Acid!"
As Bubbleman's armor flew off like Kabuto's Masked form, a Rider appeared in his place, one sporting blue armor, a large right shoulder pad to go alongside the rounded black left shoulder pad, a red chest plate that had a six-pointed star on it, a Driver with that same symbol which included a holster for the water gun in his hand, and a blue helmet with red eyes (8/ATK: 2600/DEF: 2100)
"Masked HERO?!" Koji shouted.
Kuromu quickly rushed to the mutt, "Tell us what's going on, you maniac!"
"Simple, we found some new cards." Rex said with a smile.
Misawa stared at Judai in shock. It was impossible! He did not just bypass his strategy of sealing his Fusion Summon! He used Kuromu's own strategy instead!
"Ichiban-kun, you…" Misawa got out.
"Won? Not yet, but I'm about to! Masked HERO Acid's effect activates! When he's Special Summoned, I get to destroy all Spell and Trap cards on your field!"
Acid soon pressed a button on his blaster as it charged up water energy.
CORROSION BLAST!
The acid Rider then fired a powerful blast that destroyed the light swords as well as the other two cards.
"And since I did that, your monsters lose 300 ATK!"
White Magician Pikeru: (ATK: 1700-1200-900)
Kaiser Glider: (ATK: 2900-2400-2100)
"Ha ha! Now he can use Fusions again!" Rex cheered.
"I don't have to Rex, because this Duel is finished! Battle! Masked HERO Acid attacks White Magician Pikeru for the win!"
Acid pressed a button on his belt and created a green liquid to form around his leg in a bubble-like formation.
ACID FINISH!
He then took a stance and leaped high into the air to deliver a powerful axe kick that popped the bubble and caused the magician to explode as the acid hit Misawa.
Misawa: 0
Judai: 200
"Gotcha!" Judai grinned, with his signature two-finger salute as all of Osiris Red cheered.
"Aniki did it!" Sho exclaimed.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Rex shouted with pride.
Samejima smiled at this, "It's decided. Yuki Judai will be our Singles Representative." He declared to the school as the Osiris students continued to cheer. From afar, Kosuke saw the whole thing and was beaming with pride as Judai was joined by Sho and Rex, before leaving discreetly.
Meanwhile, Chronos was seething as he bit on his handkerchief that he was tugging on. Doesn't this Osiris Slacker ever lose?!
As everyone in Osiris Res celebrated Judai's victory, Koji and Kuromu went to comfort Misawa.
"You alright, Misawa?" Kuromu asked.
"Quite alright. A slight miscalculation on my part, is all." Misawa smiled easily, "I suppose I should have factored in Judai potentially having an answer to my strategy."
"It's all cool Daddy-O. You're bound to overlook things every once in a while." The disco fan grinned reassuringly.
"I suppose so." Misawa said, before he approached Judai. "Ichiban-kun, do your best at the Inter-School Duel."
"You bet!"
As they cheered, Kuromu approached Rex, "You, me, outside. We need to talk about the Wild Ones."
The Elemental HERO Duelist heard that as he and Sho looked to the Rider Duelist. "Wait, you-"
Kuromu was surprised. Judai and Sho know about this too?
"It's cool, guys." Rex assured them. "This has something to do with why we were absent."
As the two walked out, Kuromu looked to Rex who didn't seem all that thrilled.
"Can't believe you know the founder of those thieves." Kuromu sighed.
The mutt's head drooped in shame, "Sadly I do, because he's me."
Kuromu looked at him in shock, "You're the founder of the Wild Ones? And Kosuke was going to interview you for that?!"
"One-half…" Rex said as he explained his story to him, from his life in New York, to the duel at the pier, and finally today.
"I… I have no words… other than my condolences." Kuromu said sadly.
"It's fine. You had no idea." Rex sighed.
"Still, what gave Wally the right to be so… petty over something you had no control over?"
"That's what I tried to tell him, but… sometimes your emotions get the better of you. You feel like everything you knew was a lie, and you just need something, someone to lash out on." Rex sighed, "We never found out who that rich guy was, but that doesn't matter to him or to me."
"And he's not gonna stop until he kills you isn't he." Kuromu muttered.
Rex gulped, "I just wish I could go back and redo that moment again."
"It's already said and done." Kuromu said. "And even if you did, it could've been a lot worse later down the road. Likely you could have been way worse down the line."
"…" Rex remained silent, his fists clenching.
"Look, I'm not telling you to tell the others now, but sooner or later, they're gonna find out and want answers."
"I know… and that's what scares me." The mutt admitted.
"That doesn't mean we aren't friends." Kuromu said. "We're almost off the heels of the first semester, and you're gonna buckle in now? That's not the Rex I know. The Rex I know is a cussing loudmouth with a no nonsense attitude, but has a heart of gold. The past doesn't define who you are. It's what you do in the here and now that does." He then said this, "Tomorrow isn't set in stone after all."
"Yeah, the future's ours to decide." Rex said as he perked up.
"See, there ya go." Kuromu grinned. He then looked over his shoulder and saw Asuka approaching. "I gotta go. Gotta give a certain something to a certain someone."
"Good luck with your girlfriend." Rex teased.
"Tell that to me after you muster the courage to tell Henrietta you like her." Kuromu pointed out.
"H-Hey!" Rex snapped, but Kuromu smirked and turned around to meet up with Asuka.
"Everything okay?" The Obelisk Queen asked.
"Yeah, just needed to clear up some things with Rex." Kuromu said, "Also…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out the PDA Kosuke had.
"What's this?"
"That old geezer we met at the Abandoned Dorm was actually a reporter. He snuck onto the island and tried to get dirt on the school to publish to the tabloids, but Rex and I stopped him from doing that."
"I should've known…" Asuka sighed.
"Anyways, the info he tried to snag? it has Fubuki's info on it. The other missing students too."
Asuka's eyes widened in shock, "Nii… san's?"
"Yeah…" Kuromu said sadly as he placed the PDA in Asuka's hand. "Hopefully this will bring you one step closer to finding-"
She suddenly pulled him in for a hug. This was the best news she's had in years.
"Asu… ka…?"
"Thank you… thank you…" she said softly, her breath shuddering as she tried to hold back her tears. Kuromu could only embrace her back, wrapping his arms around her form as she silently wept.
Rex, sensing that he wasn't supposed to be here, decided to make his leave. But as he did, the mutt ended up overhearing something… interesting, from Chronos.
"I can't believe this… Misawa couldn't stop him," He muttered in seethed anger, but calmed down. "Non, non, it's just a minor setback. Think of the big picture, that Dropout Boy will eventually lose. Signor Kururugi is my last chance. And I'll bet it all on him."
'Huh? What's he got planned for the guy?' Rex thought, as he began to wonder just what connection Chronos had to Kuromu.