Vile: After that cliffhanger last chapter, the finale is upon us: Chapter 6! And I've gotta say, the last chapter was pretty polarizing. I've got some feedback to respond to here:
To Yin-Yang/XBrain: Believe me, I was still confused as to how that ruling worked when I wrote that chapter. Thanks for pointing that out to me. I edited that chapter and this one to incorporate the ruling.
To Burn267: I hate it when I get ahead of myself with things like this. Nimble Cat has been altered so that it only allows the Cat monster to be unaffected by 1 card effect that turn of the user's choice. That also makes the card a lot less broken, I think.
To Forestfleet: Your review's not a flame at all to me. To be honest, that "eat your heart out" crack was supposed to be a joke, but considering I'm talking through text, that really kills any delivery. But seriously, do you think I would REALLY talk crap about Konami's card-making skills? All the awesome cards they made that I spin off of? I owe them more than you realize, and I can admit it! The way I write and make cards may bug you at times, but I'm just doing what I think works best for the situation. Even if some of your comments rubbed me the wrong way a bit, I'm glad you critiqued in a calm and respectful manner, not like the Pit of Vores, which let me get through it. Which reminds me: *points cannon at the Pit of Vores* If Forestfleet can critique me in a respectful manner, you lot can learn to defend me in a respectful manner!
Vile: Yes, I've got improvement to do, but my style can't change. I really need to have RK beta-read my stuff more often, though. =/ Oh well. I checked this one over multiple times so that it's up to speed, so let's get to the finale. Enjoy, folks!
Triple Numbershot 21, 75, & 60: Trounce The Terrible Trio!
Chapter 6
*Takashi vs. Akahebi*
"Coked Croc has to attack if it can, so it attacks your face-down monster!" Wired out of its mind, the crocodile shot forward while gnashing its teeth, leaping and attempting to bite the hidden monster, but it flipped up to show Bugman X. The crocodile's teeth chomped down on the Bugman's metal head, but only got a loud "CLANG" before its teeth comically shattered, the crocodile running back to Akahebi's field with tears pouring from its eyes.
Akahebi LP:1700
Bugman X: Lv.3 DARK Fiend ATK:0/DEF:2000
"Kuso…" Akahebi growled. "Always with a trick up your sleeve. Kaado ichi mai settei! Turn end!"
"Boku no turn… Draw!" Takashi drew his card. "Yatta! This is it!" Akahebi raised an eyebrow. "Bugman Z, Shoukan!" His monster emerged as a tall and lanky figure, dressed in a white-and-blue striped jumpsuit, a black shirt with a "Z" over it, a ball-and-chain around its ankles, and a bomb hand with a single fuse.
Bugman Z: Lv.3 DARK Fiend ATK:0/DEF:1500
"Bugman Z no kouka hatsudo! If I Normal Summon him while I control Bugman X, I can complete the triangle by Special Summoning Bugman Y from my Deck!" X and Z held their arms out to the Zone between them, and in it, a triangle-shaped, chunky figure, colored with red spites and a green "Y", its face in the intersection of the "Y", and handcuffs on its right wrist appeared.
Bugman Y: Lv.3 DARK Fiend ATK:1400/DEF:1600
"Magic Card, File Restore, hatsudo! This card lets me send Bugman X, Y, and Z to the Graveyard to Special Summon three new monsters!" The three Bugman were absorbed into small black portals. "Arawareyo, Debugger X, Y, and Z!" The three portals turned white, and from them, the three Debuggers emerged, all three of them in Defense Mode.
Debugger X: Lv.3 LIGHT Machine ATK:900/DEF:900
Debugger Y: Lv.3 LIGHT Machine ATK:400/DEF:1500
Debugger Z: Lv.3 LIGHT Machine ATK:700/DEF:1200
Akahebi yawned. "More defenses? Come on."
Takashi smirked. "Trap Card, Bug Bomb, hatsudo!" Bugman X, Y, and Z re-appeared on the field and took a triangle formation around Akahebi's monsters. "If have all three Bugman monsters in my Graveyard, all monsters on your field are destroyed!" The three Bugmen began chucking bombs all around Studded Jeans Cobra and Coked Croc, making them nearly unable to avoid the blasts. Then, with a combined cry of "BAGUMAN!", all the bombs exploded violently, and when the smoke cleared, both of his monsters were gone. "I did it!"
"Oh, you think so?" Akahebi asked. All of a sudden, something shot out of the dumpster and landed back on his field: His Number.
"Nani?" Takashi cried.
"I activated my Trap Card: Slither Away! This card prevents the destruction of a Reptile-Type monster I control!" Cobra crossed its arms and gave a taunting hiss.
Takashi groaned. "I'll destroy that monster now! I banish Bugman X, Y, and Z from my Graveyard!" The three Bugmen appeared on the field, turned black, and melded together. "Tokushu Shoukan!" The black mass grew larger and gained a green static feel. Two large arms and legs formed, and a Bugman face formed near the top. Finally, five pink dots appeared in the center, and two pink lines went across the arms and legs, one on each. It let out a low grunt and knelt down. "Super Bugman!"
Super Bugman: Lv.4 DARK Fiend ATK:0/DEF:3000
Akahebi's eyes widened. "Oh, hell! I remember that thing!"
"Super Bugman no kouka hatsudo! The Attack and Defense Points of all monsters on the field are switched!" Studded Jeans Cobra suddenly felt weaker.
Studded Jeans Cobra ATK:2400/DEF:2900
"Magic Card, Stop Defense, hatsudo! This card switches a Defense Mode monster into Attack Mode!" Super Bugman picked itself off the ground and stood tall, letting out a low grunt.
Super Bugman ATK:3000/DEF:0
"Kuso!" Akahebi cried.
"But I'm not done yet! Boku wa Reberu San no Debugger X, Y, Z, Obarei!" All three of his monsters turned fully yellow and shot into the air in a spiral. A red spiral portal opened up, and all three monsters sailed inside. "San tai no monsuta de, Obarei Netwaaku kochiku! Ekushiizu Shoukan!" Arawareyo, Sleeper Virus!" From the light, a rather odd monster appeared. It had a cyber-green body, clawed hands, and an overall blocky appearance, but it had its head on a pillow, a blanket over it, and it was snoring away. Three purple Overlay Units circled it.
Sleeper Virus: Rank 3 DARK Fiend ATK:2300/DEF:1200 (switched due to Super Bugman) 3 Overlay Units
"Kuso, kuso, kuso!" Akahebi cried.
"Sleeper Virus no kouka hatsudo! By using an Overlay Unit, Sleeper Virus can attack you directly while being unaffected by card effects until the end of the Damage Step!" One of the purple orbs exploded in Sleeper Virus's face, causing it to wake up and shake its head.
Sleeper Virus: 2 Overlay Units
"Sleeper Virus, attack Akahebi directly!" The creature looked at Akahebi angrily and growled before shooting from its post, going right past his monsters with its claws at the ready.
Akahebi looked back and forth fearfully, but his expression suddenly shifted to a grin. "I banish Slither Away from my Graveyard!" A red barrier formed over him, which Sleeper Virus's claws connected with. "By banishing this card from my Graveyard, I take no Battle Damage from one battle!" Sleeper Virus growled before returning to Takashi's field and going back to sleep. "Hahahahahahaha! Did you really think I was scared for a moment? You wish!" Akahebi jeered.
Takashi groaned. "Super Bugman, attack Studded Jeans Cobra!" The massive computer creature rose its hand high.
"Studded Jeans Cobra no kouka hatsudo!" Cobra grabbed one of its Overlay Units and clenched its fist to absorb it. "By using an Overlay Unit, all monsters on my field are switched to either Attack Mode or Defense Mode!" The cobra crossed its arms and retracted its hood as the hand slammed down on top of it. "And since Studded Jeans Cobra is a Number, your monster can't destroy it by battle." The hand was pulled back, Cobra climbing out of the crater completely unscathed.
"Darn it…" Takashi cursed. "Turn end!"
"Ore no turn! Draw!" Akahebi drew his card. "Studded Jeans Cobra is switched back to Attack Mode!" The cobra flared its hood again. "Geckobo, Shoukan!" This Reptile was a bipedal gecko, sitting on the ground in rags, a hooded sweatshirt, and holding a bag attached to a stick.
Geckobo: Lv.3 EARTH Reptile ATK:1000/DEF:1200 (switched due to Super Bugman)
"Reptile Alley no kouka hatsudo! Super Bugman gets a Contraband Counter!" Studded Jeans Cobra pulled a Contraband Counter out of its jacket and threw it to Super Bugman. The bag let out some of its contents, causing the lines on its body to dim in and out.
Super Bugman: 1 Contraband Counter
"Studded Jeans Cobra, attack Sleeper Virus! Rivet Barrage!" Another storm of enlarged studs was rapid-punched by the cobra, this time toward the sleeping creature, who didn't even wake up before it was pounded into the ground and destroyed.
Takashi LP:3600
"This low damage is all I need for now. Once I take down Super Bugman, you'll be all out of backup and be at my mercy." Akahebi said with a chuckle. "Turn end!"
"Boku no turn! Draw!" Takashi drew his card: Guard Hacking. 'Kuso!' "T-Turn end!"
"Ore no turn! Draw!" Akahebi drew his card. "Another Geckobo, Shoukan!" A second copy of the raggedy gecko emerged. "Reptile Alley no kouka hatsudo!" Another Contraband Counter was thrown to Super Bugman.
Super Bugman: 2 Contraband Counters
"Just one more. Turn end!"
Takashi placed his hand on his Deck. 'This is it… if I don't draw something good, he'll definitely get another Contraband Counter next turn… and then Studded Jeans Cobra will have enough Attack Points to defeat Super Bugman!' "Boku no turn… DRAW!" Takashi drew his card… and smiled. "Yatta!"
"Nani?" Akahebi gasped.
"Magic Card, Mystical Space Typhoon, hatsudo! This card lets me destroy your Contraband Effect!" A cyclone billowed from the card, obliterating the Magic Card.
"So you can attack now. So what? You can't get through to me like this!" Akahebi taunted.
"Never say never, Akahebi! Magic Card, Guard Hacking, hatsudo! This card switches one of your Attack Mode monsters to Defense Mode!" Computer code boxes appeared over one of the Geckobos, shocking it with electricity and forcing it more to the ground.
"I was gonna do that anyway!" Akahebi cried.
"But I'm not done! Guard Hacking has another effect!" Takashi explained. "If the monster whose battle position was switched is attacked by a monster I control… then my monster gains Piercing damage for that battle!" More dialogue boxes appeared around Super Bugman, giving it a purple aura.
*Cathy vs. Aokarasu*
"Geeheeheeheeheeheeheehee… It won't be long before you succumb to the pit of fear…" Aokarasu giggled. "Turn end." When he said that, the Crumbling Mansion Field Magic literally fell apart, vanishing before their eyes.
"Watashi no turn… Draw!" Cathy drew her card. "Trap Card, Xyz Reborn, hatsudo! This card lets me Special Summon an Xyz Monster from my Graveyard, then give Xyz Reborn itself to that monster as an Overlay Unit!" A purple portal opened up, and her monster re-appeared, knelt down with arms crossed. "Yomigaere, Cat Girl Gunner!" The Trap Card then morphed into an orange Overlay Unit and began orbiting the girl.
Cat Girl Gunner: Rank 4 EARTH Warrior/Xyz ATK:2400/DEF:2200 1 Overlay Unit (Defense Mode)
"Cat Girl Gunner no kouka hatsudo! I use her Overlay Unit to inflict 400 damage for each card in my hand!" Gunner absorbed her sole Unit by slamming the backs of her guns into it. "Bullet Clutter!" She leapt into the air and fired three shots in a spin, giving a "Nya!" with each shot.
"Damn, you're persistent!" Aokarasu groaned as the shots caused explosions around him.
Aokarasu LP:1200
"Neko Knight, Shoukan!" This monster appeared as anthropomorphic cat decked out in armor and the like, holding a lance with a flag of a cat's paw on it.
Neko Knight: Lv.4 EARTH Beast-Warrior ATK:1400/DEF:1600
Cathy licked her lips. "Here's something to know, birdbrain. When Neko Knight battles a Winged Beast-Type monster, that monster is instantly destroyed without calculating battle damage!" The knight readied its lance with a hiss. "Neko Knight, attack Raven of Pallas – Nevermore!" With a loud yell, the cat knight leapt forward.
However, Aokarasu merely smirked. "Raven… MIRAGE!" The bird merely flashed its eyes. When Neko Knight stuck its lance out, it and the lance phased right through it as if it was a ghost, landing on the ground.
"Nani?" Cathy gasped.
"Here's something of my own to share. So long as Nevermore possesses Overlay Units, you CAN'T attack it! At all!" Neko Knight growled as it picked itself up, but Nevermore grabbed it with one of its feet and chucked it back to Cathy's field.
Cathy hissed. "Kaado ichi mai settei! Turn end!"
"Ore no turn! Draw, geegee!" Aokarasu drew his card, not even bothering to use Road to El Dorado that time. "Nevermore no kouka hatsudo!" Nevermore clamped its beak on one of its Overlay Units. "Haunting… Screech!" It let out another loud caw, causing both of Cathy's monsters to cover their ears.
Cat Girl Gunner ATK:1400
Neko Knight ATK:400
Nevermore: 1 Overlay Unit
"Impulsive Imp, Shoukan!" His monster emerged as a small purple imp with a noticeably bulging yellow left eye.
Impulsive Imp: Lv.3 DARK Fiend ATK:900/DEF:1500
"Impulsive Imp, attack Neko Knight!" The imp leapt forward and slashed at Neko Knight multiple times with its claws, obliterating it.
Cathy LP:650
"Nevermore, attack Cat Girl Gunner! Eternal… SLEEP!" The raven took to the air again and caught its skull in its beak, firing another red laser beam that was complete déjà vu for Cat Girl Gunner, destroying her again. "Watching you squirm is just so much, geeheeheehee. Kaado ichi mai settei. Turn end!"
"Watashi no turn! Draw!" Cathy drew her card. The minute she drew it, she was inwardly elated. "Monsuta settei. Turn end!" A face-down monster emerged.
'I know that look.' Shark thought. 'When Cathy gets that look, she just sealed her victory.'
"Ore no turn! Draw, geegee!" Aokarasu drew his card. "No matter where you hide, the raven will find you! Nevermore! Attack Noroyama-baka's facedown!" The raven caught its skull in its beak. "Eternal… SLEEP!" The red laser beam was fired at the facedown, which flipped up… and revealed a second copy of Neko Knight. "NANI?!"
"Neko Knight no kouka hatsudo! As it is battling a Winged Beast-Type monster, that monster is destroyed instantly!" The cat knight stuck its lance out, striking the laser beam and managing to absorb it into the spearhead. Now that it was glowing red and crackling with electricity, Neko Knight rushed forward before jumping toward Nevermore, letting out a loud yell before slamming the spear into its chest. Nevermore let out a loud caw of pain as it fell to the ground, exploding upon impact.
"GEEEEEEEEEE! MY NUMBER!" Aokarasu shrieked.
"Yatta! Now he's a sitting duck!" Shark chirped.
Aokarasu growled. "You wish! I switch Impulsive Imp to Defense Mode!" The imp crossed its arms. "Turn end!" 'Go ahead, try whatever measures you have left! With my Bottomless Trap Hole face-down, anything you Summon with 1500 or more Attack Points will be banished instantly!'
"Watashi no turn… Draw!" Cathy drew her card. "Magic Card, Shisha Sosei, hatsudo! Razor Cat, Tokushu Shoukan!" Her bladed cat monster emerged from a purple portal.
Razor Cat: Lv.4 EARTH Beast ATK:800/DEF:1000
"Magic Card, Wild Nature's Release, hatsudo! This card increases a Beast or Beast-Warrior-Type monster's Attack Points by their Defense Points!" Razor Cat let out a loud meow to the sky as its body, claws, and teeth all grew in size.
Razor Cat ATK:1800
"Geeeeeee…" Aokarasu whimpered.
"Razor Cat, attack Impulsive Imp!" The bladed cat leapt forward with a snarl and slashed the imp twice, obliterating it. "Now… the way is clear!"
*Yamoto vs. Shirotora*
"With Dark Matter Dragon destroyed, there's nothing else you can do." Shirotora declared. "Zodiac Cat – Mao Mi has the field completely under my control. So long as it has Overlay Units, no monsters can be Special Summoned!"
Yamoto gasped. "Bakana…"
"Now you are cut off from all your strongest cards." Shirotora laughed after this sentence. "Turn end!"
"Watashi no turn! Draw!" Yamoto drew his card, then looked at his hand. 'I have Verz-o'-Wisp in my hand. If I can manage to make Zodiac Cat – Mao Mi attack it, then its effects will be negated, and I'll be able to possibly Xyz Summon something to keep me going. But I have no idea what that monster can do.' He spotted his new monster. 'Perhaps I'll test the waters.' "Verz Terminator, Shoukan!" This Verz monster was humanoid, its skin fully Verz-textured with an overgrown ponytail of purple hair growing from an otherwise bald head. It also had numerous pieces of rusted metal equipped to its body, including an odd glove on its right hand, and it carried a strange stave equipped with more metal in its left hand.
Verz Terminator: Lv.4 DARK Machine ATK:1650/DEF:1350
"Kaado ichi mai settei! Turn end!" Yamoto's facedown emerged.
"Ore no turn! Draw!" Shirotora drew his card. "Zodiac Cat – Mao Mi no kouka hatsudo! By using an Overlay Unit, I can Normal Summon any monster from my hand this turn without having to release any monsters!" One of the orange Overlay Units was absorbed into the Talisman on its chest, which had its carvings glow white. "Gong Yang no kouka hatsudo! Since it left the field, I can add the next Zodiac in line from my Deck to my hand!" A card slid out from his Deck, which he grabbed, and two Talisman Tokens emerged. "Normal Summon!" He placed his new monster on his Duel Disk, and a bright flash of light occurred. "Noble animal ninth in line, adjust your form to fit any situation!" The light died down, revealing the monster to be monkey-like in design, having brown fur over its body with tan skin, lanky arms and legs, yellow armor with orange trim, a red "9" emblazoned on its forehead, and a Talisman with brown carvings in the shape of a monkey on its chest armor. "Zodiac Monkey – Hou Zi!" The monkey beat its fists on its chest before taking a stance with its fists and feet on the ground.
Zodiac Monkey – Hou Zi: Lv.8 EARTH Beast ATK:3100/DEF:2000 (due to Gaia Power, originally 2600/2400)
Zodiac Cat – Mao Mi: 2 Overlay Units
"Hou Zi, attack Verz Terminator! Somersault Striker!" Screeching, the monkey leapt into the air and started spinning forward rapidly until it was a blur, then it shot forward toward Terminator.
"Trap, hatsudo! Overwhelming Infestation!" Verz energy shot out from the card, striking Hou Zi and forcing it back, suffocating it a bit before flying toward Terminator. "This card negates your attack, then increases the Attack Points of a face-up DARK monster I control by the attacking monster's Attack Points until my next End Phase!" The Verz energy covered Terminator, causing it to grow giant.
Verz Terminator ATK:4750
"Hmph. Clever, aren't you?" Shirotora mused. "Turn end!"
"Watashi no turn! Draw!" Yamoto drew his card. "Verz Terminator, attack Zodiac Monkey – Hou Zi!" Raising his stave, Terminator gathered dark fire into the top of it before unleashing a beam of dark fire that struck Hou Zi in the chest. The monkey screeched in pain and fear before it was completely engulfed and incinerated by the flames.
"Kuso…!" Shirotora growled.
Shirotora LP:1000
"Monsuta settei! Turn end!" Yamoto's face-down monster appeared, and Verz Terminator returned to normal size.
Verz Terminator ATK:1650
"Ore no turn! Draw!" Shirotora drew his card. "Zodiac Cat – Mao Mi no kouka hatsudo!" Mao Mi absorbed another Overlay Unit into its Talisman, which glowed. "Gou Gou no kouka hatsudo! It left the field, so the next animal is added to my hand!" He grabbed the card from his Deck, and two more Talisman Tokens emerged.
"Your field is full. How can you Normal Summon without releasing if you have no space?" Yamoto asked.
Shirotora grinned. "Just because I don't HAVE to release any monsters... doesn't mean I CAN'T!" Two of his Talisman Tokens merged into one, gaining pink carvings in the shape of a pig's head. "Adobansu Shoukan!" The carvings glowed, causing a bright flash of light. "Noble animal last in line, incinerate your enemies with your piercing vision!" The light died down, revealing a bipedal pig-like monster with pink skin, green armor with blue trim, a red "12" on its stomach, and the Pig Talisman on the chest of its armor. "Zodiac Pig – Xiao Zhu!" The pig's eyes opened to show fire burning over them, then it let out a loud squeal.
Zodiac Pig – Xiao Zhu: Lv.8 EARTH Beast ATK:3000/DEF:1600 (due to Gaia Power, originally 2500/2000)
Zodiac Cat - Mao Mi: 1 Overlay Unit
"Xiao Zhu no kouka hatsudo! Once per turn, I can inflict damage to you equal to half its Attack Points! Heat Beam Blast!" With a loud squeal, Xiao Zhu's burning eyes unleashed two beams of burning energy, striking the ground near Yamoto and causing an explosion. Yamoto groaned in the face of the force, but he managed to keep his footing.
Yamoto LP:2050
"Xiao Zhu can't attack during the turn I activate this effect, but your Life Points are low enough that this attack will finish you off!" Shirotora pointed his hand forward. "Mao Mi, attack Verz Terminator!" A golden orb formed around the feline's Talisman. "Golden… DESTROYER!" Mao Mi let out a loud meow and fired off the orb like a bullet.
Yamoto's eyes flashed. "Verz Terminator no kouka hatsudo! If it's attacked by a Special Summoned monster, I can change the attack target to another monster I control!" Terminator pointed its stave forward, a light shining on the metal on top. He then pointed the stave toward the face-down, and the orb changed direction to strike the face-down, which flipped up to reveal a creature with a young face that was made entirely out of blue fire in the shape of the Verz emblem. The golden orb obliterated the being, but the blue flames remained and shot back towards Mao Mi. "Verz-o'-Wisp no kouka hatsudo! When it battles an opponent's monster, that monster's effects are negated after damage calculation!" The flames swirled around Mao Mi for a moment before surrounding it like an aura, draining it of its strength.
Shirotora growled. "All you did was stop my quick Summons! I still have more than enough power to stop you, even if you can Xyz Summon again, and next turn I'll prove it! Kaado ichi mai settei! Turn end!"
'…He's right. Even if I can now Xyz Summon, I don't think any card I have in my Deck can stop his monsters.' Yamoto thought. 'Verz Bahamut can't take control of any monsters as I only have one Verz monster in my hand… I don't have enough monsters to Summon Verz Ouroboros… Nightmare and Thanatos aren't strong enough… and none of my Rank 4 Numbers have good enough effects! Is this it for me…?'
'It is not over…'
Yamoto gasped, looking around. 'Wh-Who's there?' Shirotora looked confused.
'Your power will create whatever is needed to win…' Yamoto looked down at his hand, noticing inky black lines forming on his fingers, just like during the tournament where he gained his Rank-Up-Magic. 'Call forth your power… Viral Draw!'
'Viral Draw…' Yamoto breathed in his head. He then shot a stern look at Shirotora, his eyes glowing. "Watashi no turn!" When he placed his hand on his Deck, the black lines spread into the back of the top card, turning it a purple-black medley. "Viral… DRAW!" Yamoto drew his card, causing a purple trail. However, a purple blotch appeared on an unseen part of his skin.
"Nani? What the heck is Viral Draw?" Shirotora gasped.
Yamoto flipped his card around: Rank-Up Magic - Infestation Evolution. 'Viral Draw… the power to control my Deck in a pinch. This is like the Shining Draw that Yuma-kun told me about.' Smirking, he turned to Shirotora. "Verz Zahhak, Shoukan!" His monster emerged as a black-and-purple Verzified three-headed dragon of some sort, with the heads wearing spear-like helmets.
Verz Zahhak: Lv.4 DARK Dragon ATK:1850/DEF:850
Yamoto saw an image of a shadowed monster in his head, and he instantly knew what to do. "Watashi wa, Reberu Yon no Terminator to Zahhak de Obarei!" Both of his monsters turned fully purple and shot into the air in a spiral. A galaxy portal opened up, and both of his monsters sailed inside. "Ni tai no monsuta de, Obarei Netwaaku kochiku! Ekushiizu Shoukan!" A burst of light occurred.
The number "14" formed and flashed in brown, and the monster's sealed form emerged as some sort of helix shell made of black rock, various cracks within. "Arawareyo, Nanbaazu Juuyon (Number 14)!" Then, the bottom of the shell was shattered, spewing maroon-colored lava on the field. However, the lava began shifting its form, rising while still saying as a puddle. A miniature volcano broke out from the top of the shell as the lava gained the brown "14" on the front. "Born in lava, scorching the land by existence alone! Krakargot!" The lava finally finished changing form, opening two eyes from within, giving it the appearance of a giant snail. Two red Overlay Units orbited it.
Number 14: Krakargot: Rank 4 FIRE Aqua/Xyz ATK:2300/DEF:0 2 Overlay Units
"Now… to end your tyranny!" Yamoto declared, confusing Shirotora. "Rank-Up Magic - Infestation Evolution, hatsudo!" Streams of black light came off the card, and the black metal Verz symbol appeared on Yamoto's forehead. However, another blotch formed on his skin.
Shirotora's eyes were wide. "NO! Not that card!"
Eerie black clouds began to swirl on the field, converging behind Yamoto to become a cloud tunnel. "This card allows me to Rank Up one Verz or Number Xyz Monster I control in order to Special Summon a Verz Xyz Monster with one Rank higher!" Krakargot let out a low gurgle before its body turned completely into Verz energy. "Watashi wa Ranku Yon no Krakargot de, Obarei Netwaaku sai kochiku!" Krakargot sailed behind Yamoto into the cloud tunnel, and a burst of dark light emerged. Yamoto's eyes let out a harsh glow. "Xyz Change Verz!"
The blue fire swirled within the cloud tunnel while the dark energy formed into the Verz symbol, the darkness buzzing like static. "Dōka, hakai, shōhi... Fukkatsu shinryaku no yuiitsu shikō! (Consume, destroy, assimilate... The only thoughts of the revived invasion!)" The blue flames set the Verz symbol ablaze, but when they did, the brown "14" of the monster formed and flashed over it before the dark energy mass absorbed the flames. The dark energy mass pushed its way out of the tunnel and converged into a sphere, exploding into what looked like a dark purple version of Krakargot's sealed form with numerous spikes, the cracks showing Verz-energy-colored lava within. "Umareru… Veruzu Nanbaazu Juuyon (Verz Number 14)!" The odd shell shook for a moment before shattering in three separate places: The bottom and the centers of each flat side. Verz-energy-colored lava pooled out of the bottom much like the base form, shifting and rising while remaining anchored to the ground. However, from each flat side, a small volcano was jutting out, spewing Verzified lava that defied gravity and swirled around in the air, taking the shape of half the Verz emblem on each side, complete with a red glow in each "eyehole". However, the lava on the bottom started rising in the back as well as the front, the back of the lava taking the shape of a wave, almost like water. Small arm-like tendrils of lava shot out from the front of its body, touching the ground and pooling. "Neoverz… Pelenamaka!" The "14" still glowing on the front of its body, flame-shaped "horns" formed from the head's lava, then pupil-less red eyes shot open from within the lava. It let out a loud and horrific gurgle as its three Overlay Units became Verz energy and floated above its head, arranged in a circle. A purple energy circle was drawn between them, and the Verz symbol was drawn in the center.
Verz Number 14: Neoverz Pelenamaka: Rank 5 DARK Aqua/Xyz ATK:2450/DEF:550 3 Overlay Units
Shirotora was afraid now. "Not them… Not the Neoverz…! Mao Mi was supposed to prevent this from happening!"
Yamoto's eyes were still glowing as he stared harshly at Shirotora. "Those who dare try to overrun the wills of others… shall face judgment from the darkness! Infestation Evolution no kouka hatsudo! Since you control an Xyz Monster, that monster loses 500 Attack Points for each Overlay Unit it has!" Mao Mi's lone Overlay Unit turned into Verz energy and began attacking its owner, causing its skin to blotch.
Zodiac Cat - Mao Mi ATK:3600
"Neoverz Pelenamaka no kouka hatsudo!" One of its Overlay Units was absorbed by striking the spike on top of its shell. "Once per turn, by using an Overlay Unit, I can destroy up to 2 cards on the field!" Letting out a gurgle, Pelenamaka caused its large tendrils of lava above it to lash forward. The lava tendrils struck both Shirotora's facedown and Xiao Zhu, burning them both intensely, Xiao Zhu squealing in pain, before engulfing them in purple flames and eradicating them. "Then, for any monster destroyed, Pelenamaka gains Attack Points equal to their original Attack Points, and for each Magic or Trap Card destroyed, it gains 1000 Attack Points!" The lava retracted and flared larger, purple fire flaring up in Pelenamaka's mouth as its eyes glowed.
Neoverz Pelenamaka ATK:5950 2 Overlay Units
"No way!" Akahebi cried.
"GEEEEEEEEEE!" Aokarasu shrieked.
"BAKANA!" Shirotora yelled.
"Super Bugman!"
"Neko Knight!"
"Neoverz Pelenamaka!"
"FINAL ATTACK!" Takashi, Cathy, and Yamoto all declared at once. Super Bugman rose its arm slowly before bringing it down, slamming Geckobo into the ground. Neko Knight twirled its lance, which glowed red again, before chucking it with a meow, the lance becoming a crackling red missile that impacted the ground near Aokarasu. Finally, Pelenamaka let out a loud gurgle before unleashing a powerful wave of purple fire from its mouth. The fire surrounded Mao Mi and engulfed it, burning it from the heat and suffocating it from the smoke before it finally succumbed. All three attacks ended in violent explosions.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" All three of the terrible trio cried as they were flung back from the impact: Akahebi landing on the ground, Aokarasu slamming into a wall, and Shirotora flying out the open window (thankfully the office was on the first floor) and landing outside in the bushes.
Takashi LP:3600
Cathy LP:650
Yamoto LP:2050
Akahebi, Aokarasu, and Shirotora LP:0 – LOSERS
The three winners' faces appeared with the word "WIN" as the Augmented Reality vanished. Takashi pulled a rope out of his bag and put Akahebi's hands behind his back (as he landed on his stomach), tying a secure knot around them to bind them. "Let everyone go from your power. Now." Takashi said sternly.
"Go to hell…" Akahebi growled. "I don't know how to make it wear off…"
"Then Yamoto will take care of that. Get up." Takashi said, forcing the blonde to stand up. "Move." He pushed Akahebi, making him walk.
Meanwhile, Aokarasu slid off the wall and landed on his rear, dazed. Cathy pulled her own rope out of her backpack and bound his hands in front of him. "Nice job, Cathy." Shark said. "Does the little jerk have the keys on him?"
Cathy checked his pockets, finding a key ring in his pocket. "Yosh." Shark turned so his handcuffs were facing her, and Cathy tried each key until one unlocked the cuffs.
"Arigatou. I can return the favor now." Shark said. Forming blue energy in his hand, Shark fired a miniature version of Shark Drake's Depth Bite at Aokarasu, which chomped him (not actually doing anything) before arcing back to Shark's hand, showing Number 75 in his hand.
"So that's what that power does. Ariel told me about that." Cathy said.
Then, Aokarasu shook his head. "Geegeeeeeee…" He then noticed his hands were bound. "N-Nani?!" He looked up and saw Cathy and Shark staring down at him, Shark holding his Number. "Kuso…"
Back with Yamoto, he approached the window, looking down at Shirotora in the bushes. "It's over, Shirotora. I can sense that your friends were defeated as well."
Shirotora let out a very tiger-like growl. "You might get them…" His eyes shot open. "But you'll never take MY Number!" He immediately shot out of the bushes and ran away into the streets.
"Huh? Get back here!" Yamoto yelled, leaping out the window and chasing after him.
The white-haired boy tore through the streets, turning corner after corner to escape the Dark Hunter. When he ducked into an alley, however, he ran into a silhouetted figure, smiling. "Man, am I glad to see you! You gotta help me! That dark Hunter is after me!" The figure didn't respond, but something glowed on the head before it shot forward. Shirotora's eyes widened in fear.
"WAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Yamoto heard the scream and followed it to the alley, where Shirotora was thrown to the ground in front of him, injured. Yamoto looked and saw the silhouetted figure only for a second before it caused a flash of light, vanishing through it. "Who… Who was that?" He wondered before looking down at Shirotora. "Whoever that was, they helped me catch him." Forming his Dark Matter Blade, Yamoto lanced the white-haired boy, but when he retracted the blade, nothing came out. His eyes widened. "N-Nani? The Number… It's gone!" He looked back down the alley where the silhouetted figure once was. 'Someone else… can take the Numbers? Oh dear… this isn't good.'
*Back at the School*
Akahebi was pushed toward a police officer and handcuffed, having already had his Number taken, Shirotora and Aokarasu already handcuffed. "Damn! Can't you do that without it feeling like I just got shanked?" Akahebi complained.
"Shut up. You have no right to complain." Yamoto said as he held up Number 60, Shark, Takashi, Cathy, and the now-healed principal with him.
Shirotora flashed a defiant smirk. "At least we went out with a bang. That's what we really wanted in the first place." He mused. Aokarasu and Akahebi smirked. "Even though you stopped us, we'll be going down in this school's history."
The principal squinted his eyes shut in irritation. "…Get them out of my sight." The police officers forced the trio into the police car before driving away with them. "To think that we had such monsters of students at this school…"
"All evil starts small, they say." Shark said.
"Uh… since most everyone in the school likely won't remember any of this, is it possible to keep this incident low-key and out of the press?" Takashi asked.
"Certainly. I don't want to give those three the satisfaction of being remembered." The principal said. "But still, I must thank all three of you for saving everyone."
Yamoto held up a dismissing hand. "We were merely doing what was right, sir." He said.
"Oi, Yamoto." Shark said. Yamoto turned to see Shark hand him Number 75. "I won't be needing it."
Yamoto nodded and took it. "Arigatou, Shark-kun." The purple-haired boy then walked off. Yamoto then cringed. "Ngh… I should really get a better patch-up for my back. I can feel it stinging again."
"Come on, Yamoto-kun. Let's get you back to my house." Cathy said.
"Go ahead. I'm sending everyone home for the day under the guise that the water system is malfunctioning." The principal told them. Cathy and Yamoto nodded before walking off, Takashi going with them.
*Meanwhile*
"I won't be able to keep this charade for long…" A female voice said lowly. The silhouetted figure held up Number 21. "Sooner or later… They will gaze the truth with their own eyes…"
Author-Made Cards
Geckobo
Level 3 EARTH Reptile
ATK:1200/DEF:1000
During your Main Phase or either player's Battle Phase: You can banish this card from your Graveyard: Special Summon 1 "Geckobo" from your Deck in Defense Position.
Neko Knight
Level 4 EARTH Beast-Warrior
ATK:1400/DEF:1600
If this card battles a Winged Beast-Type monster: Destroy that monster without applying damage calculation.
Impulsive Imp
Level 3 DARK Fiend
ATK:900/DEF:1500
If you control a Level 3 DARK monster: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand).
Verz Terminator (original form: Flamvell Magician fused with spare Ally of Justice parts)
Level 4 DARK Machine
ATK:1650/DEF:1350
If this card is attacked by an opponent's Special Summoned monster: You can change the attack target to another monster you control.
Zodiac Monkey – Hou Zi
Level 8 EARTH Beast
ATK:2600/DEF:2400
Cannot be Special Summoned. Once per turn: You can declare 1 Type; this card becomes the declared Type. If this card leaves the field: Add 1 "Zodiac Rooster - Xiong Ji" from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand.
Zodiac Pig - Xiao Zhu
Level 8 EARTH Beast
ATK:2500/DEF:2000
Cannot be Special Summoned. Once per turn: You can inflict damage to your opponent equal to half this card's ATK. This card cannot attack during the turn you activate this effect. If this card leaves the field: Add 1 "Zodiac Rat - Lao Shu" from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand.
Sleeper Virus
Rank 3 DARK Fiend/Xyz
ATK:1200/DEF:2300
3 Level 3 monsters
Once per turn, detach 1 Xyz Material from this card: This card can attack your opponent directly this turn, and is unaffected by card effects until the end of the Damage Step.
Number 14: Krakargot
Rank 4 FIRE Aqua/Xyz
ATK:2300/DEF:0
2 Level 4 monsters
Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card and target up to 2 cards on your side of the field; Destroy those targets, and inflict 600 damage to your opponent's Life Points for each card destroyed by this card's effect.
Verz Number 14: Neoverz Pelenamaka
Rank 5 DARK Aqua/Xyz
ATK:2450/DEF:550
3 Level 5 monsters
Must be Special Summoned by "Rank-Up-Magic Infestation Evolution", and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. Cannot be destroyed by battle except with "Number" monsters. If this card attacks, your opponent cannot activate any Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step. If this card has "Number 14: Krakargot" as an Xyz Material, it gains this effect.
● You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card and target up to 2 cards on the field: Destroy those targets. Then, if a monster(s) was destroyed by this effect, this card gains ATK equal to each destroyed monster's ATK, and if a Spell or Trap Card(s) was destroyed by this effect, this card gains 1000 ATK for each destroyed Spell or Trap Card. Any changes in this card's ATK by this effect last until the End Phase.
File Restore
Normal Spell Card
Activate while you control 1 "Bugman X", "Bugman Y", and "Bugman Z". Send these cards to the Graveyard: Special Summon 1 "Debugger X", "Debugger Y", and "Debugger Z" from your hand or Deck.
Guard Hacking
Normal Spell Card
Target 1 Attack Position monster your opponent controls: Switch it to Defense Position, then, if that target is attacked by a monster you control this turn; your attacking monster inflicts Piercing damage from that battle.
Rank-Up Magic - Infestation Evolution
Normal Spell Card
Target 1 face-up "Verz" or "Number" Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon 1 "Verz" monster with the same Type as that monster you control but 1 Rank higher, by using it as the Xyz Material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Materials attached to that monster also become Xyz Materials on the Summoned monster). Then, if your opponent controls any Xyz Monsters, each of them loses 500 ATK for each Xyz Material attached to it, also, you can attach all Special Summoned non-Xyz monsters your opponent controls to the Summoned monster as Xyz Materials.
Bug Bomb
Normal Trap Card
Activate only if there is a "Bugman X", "Bugman Y", and "Bugman Z" in your Graveyard. Destroy all monsters your opponent controls.
Slither Away
Normal Trap Card
If a Reptile-Type monster you control would be destroyed (either by battle or by card effect): Negate that monster's destruction. If you would take Battle Damage: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; that Battle Damage becomes 0.
Overwhelming Infestation
Normal Trap Card
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; negate the attack, and 1 face-up DARK monster you control gains ATK equal to that target's ATK, until your next End Phase.
Vile: The Duels are over, the Numbers are secured, those little jerkwads are on their way to the juvenile slammer, and Yamoto has a new power: Viral Draw!
Yamoto: *under his breath* Which is slowly doing the same thing to me that my Rank-Up Magic is doing, which you won't tell me what it is...
Tokunosuke: Another mystery antagonist? How many of these people do you need, Ura?
Vile: Oh, trust me, Tokunosuke. That antag will be a big shock to everyone. If you guys liked this chapter, leave a review for me! I don't know what's next from me, but when it's done, I'll see you then! Ja ne for now!
Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.