Chapter 195: Forgiving Him Is God's Business
"What's going on? Yuya, why are you dueling Yūga Hōzumi and Kaito?" Yuzu asked in confusion, having arrived at their side on Serena's Duel Runner.
"Yuzu?" Yuya was overjoyed to see the person he had longed for. He quickly explained, "The two of them and Senior Aster Phoenix have some history. I want to help them calm down."
"Senior?" Kaito sneered. "Sounds pretty chummy, doesn't it?"
"But, that person..." Yuzu looked at Yuya, who stood protectively in front of the two, and hesitated to speak.
"It seems you really intend to be our enemy. Then what awaits you next won't be the little game of house we played before!" Yūga Hōzumi roared, interrupting Yuzu.
"Why? Why must hatred be passed down?" Yuya asked, his expression complex.
"You're just like that deserter, equally disgusting," Kaito spat, gritting his teeth as he slammed his left fist into his chest. Light spread from his heart, transforming his black biker jacket into a pure white trench coat. Photon Mode, activated.
"Forgiving him is God's business. My duty is to send him to meet God!" Yūga Hōzumi declared, his hand gripping the Emperor's Key on his chest.
The energy of the Emperor's Key, which had finished charging a week ago, was released without reservation. Brilliant light enveloped Yūga Hōzumi, dyeing his short black hair golden. A white bodysuit with red half-armor materialized on his body. "Xyz Change... ZEXAL!"
"He's going straight into that form?" Aster Phoenix muttered from behind Yuya, gritting his teeth.
"Well, this is your funeral. I can't be dressed too shabbily, can I?" Yūga Hōzumi said with a cold laugh, his voice altered in his ZEXAL form.
"If we must fight, then let's do it!" Yuya said, activating his Duel Disk.
A cybernetic voice echoed from Yuya's Duel Disk.
"Action Field On, Crossover... Unknown program detected. Action Field setup failed. Duel program auto-setting to Master Duel."
"What?!" Yuya immediately looked down at his Duel Disk. His usual strategy—pulling his opponent into an Action Duel and overwhelming them with his vast experience—was dead on arrival.
Ignoring Yuya's astonishment, the first-turn indicator lit up on their side. After exchanging a glance, Yūga Hōzumi and Kaito decided that Yūga Hōzumi, who was more skilled at establishing a suppressive first-turn board, would go first.
"My turn!" At the start of the turn, Yūga Hōzumi glanced at the hand he'd drawn. The god-draw in his ZEXAL form was truly incredible. These five cards were the perfect hand to build the strongest board he possibly could.
"When I control no cards, I can Special Summon this card!"
"Appear! ZS - Ascend Sage!"
"Next! When I control only one Level 4 monster, I can Special Summon this card!"
"Appear! ZS - Armed Sage!"
"I overlay my two Level 4 monsters! Xyz Summon! Descend, Rank 4! Number 39: Utopia Double!"
In his ZEXAL form, Yūga Hōzumi waved his hand and summoned a dazzling galactic vortex. The shining number 39 glowed brightly within it. A moment later, Utopia descended on a ray of light.
"I activate the effect of a Utopia monster Xyz Summoned using ZS - Ascend Sage as material! When this card is Xyz Summoned, I can add one 'Rank-Up-Magic' card from my Deck to my hand! I add Rank-Up-Magic Zexal Force to my hand!"
"Next, I activate the effect of a Utopia monster Xyz Summoned using ZS - Armed Sage as material! When this Xyz Summon is successful, I can add one 'ZW -' card from my Deck to my hand! I add ZW - Lightning Blade to my hand!"
"Now, I activate the effect of Number 39: Utopia Double!"
"I detach one Xyz Material from this card to add 'Double or Nothing!' from my Deck to my hand! Then, I Xyz Summon one 'Utopia' Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck, other than 'Number 39: Utopia Double', by using this card as material! The monster Special Summoned this way has its ATK doubled, but it cannot attack directly."
"Chaos Xyz Change! Descend, Rank 4! Number C39: Utopia Ray!"
Number C39: Utopia Ray ATK: 2500 -> 5000
"I activate the Rank-Up-Magic Zexal Force! I target Number C39: Utopia Ray to Special Summon a 'Utopia' or 'ZW -' monster that is one Rank higher from my Extra Deck, using Utopia Ray as material! Then, I can take one 'ZW -' or 'ZS -' monster from my Deck and place it on top!"
Holy light shone from the core on the chest of Yūga Hōzumi's half-armor, creating a golden vortex beneath Utopia Ray's feet. A crimson mechanical lion leaped out from it, transforming into pieces of armor in mid-air that attached themselves to Utopia Ray.
"Warrior of Hope, empowered by chaos! Descend in your armored form as the king of beasts, forged from our bonds! For our fallen comrades, unleash the sword of vengeance! Rank-Up Xyz Change! Rank 5! Beast Armor Combination, Leo Utopia Ray!"
A majestic, beastly roar echoed from within the golden light surrounding the new monster. The light slowly dissipated. Leo Utopia Ray, clad in crimson armor and bearing golden wings, swung the longsword in its hand, unleashing a powerful gust that forced Yuya and Kaito back half a step.
Leo Utopia Ray ATK: 2500
"I activate Leo Utopia Ray's effect! Once per turn, I can detach one Xyz Material to equip a 'ZW -' monster from my Deck to this card."
"I equip it with ZW - Pegasus Twin Saber!"
Leo Utopia Ray ATK: 2500 -> 3500
"Next, I activate the effect of ZW - Lightning Blade from my hand! I can equip it to a 'Utopia' monster I control, and it gains 1200 ATK!"
Leo Utopia Ray ATK: 3500 -> 4700
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Onomatopick!"
"When this card is activated, I can add one 'Onomat' card from my Deck to my hand, other than 'Onomatopick'. I add Onomatopaira to my hand!"
"Since an Xyz Monster is on the field, I can activate the effect of Astraltopia in my hand! I Special Summon this card!"
"I activate the effect of Astraltopia! Once per turn, I can send one card from my field to the Graveyard to add an 'Xyz' Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand. I send the Continuous Spell Onomatopick from my field to the Graveyard and add the Spell Card Xyz Treasure to my hand!"
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, Onomatopaira! By discarding one card, I can add up to two monsters from among 'Gagaga', 'Zubaba', 'Gogogo', and 'Dododo' monsters from my Deck to my hand."
"I discard 'Double or Nothing!' from my hand! From my Deck, I add Zubababancho - Gagagacoat and Utopic Onomatopoeia to my hand!"
(end of chapter)