"Speaking"
*Noise* or "Speaking over flashbacks"
"Thoughts or Summoning chants and etc."
"No! We're doomed, the shooter got us!" Ai panicked, his true form, peeking out, flailing his arms about.
"Yusaku! What's going on!? I was starting to study the backdoor, but I was just alerted that something happened to your logout function!" Shoichi shouted to him over the com, Codebuster tilted his head.
"That your partner in crime there?" he asked shocking the two, "WHAT!? How did he hear that?!" Ai said, "That IP I got a while back, I've created a deciphering program, that has slowly, but surely, guessing the rest of your source code, whenever you are activate." he explained.
"Anyways Playmaker, let's get this over with, you can't run or hide anymore, with my program still running by the way..." he said, making Shoichi begin to prevent this further. "Before we begin, I want to ask you something." he said, "What is it?" Playmaker said, "That Cyberse Deck, where did you get it from? I've been wanting to ask you that for ages, but Blue Angel and Go stopped me during your debut." he said.
"It was from legend a couple of years ago..." he answered, confusing Ai, but Codebuster knew what he meant, "Ah, I see... I honestly thought that it was a prank, guess it was true, if that's what you say. Now how long have you been fighting Hanoi?" he then asked, "Longer than I've had this Deck. Now I've got a question for you." Playmaker said.
"Yes?" he asked, "Are you really supporting a victim of that incident, from ten years ago?" he said, this made Codebuster sigh, "Yes, they had no one to help them when I found them... All those years ago..." he said, thinking back on that day...
(8 Years ago)
An 11 Year old Matoyia was walking about the orphanage he now lived at, this was the sixth one this year, due to his behaviour, the other kids from the other orphanages kept picking on him, so he fought back. This was proven as he had a couple of first-aid plasters on his face.
As he walked over to be by himself, he heard a commotion, he looked to his left, and spotted several kids gathered together, two of them seemed to holding a girl back, as she tried to break free from their grasp. He walked closer to hear more clearly.
"Please! Leave him alone, he hasn't done anything, neither of us have!" the girl screamed, which he notice had garnet hair, with some light blue accents in its, it framed her face.
"No way! This is too much fun! He's like a punching bag!" one of the kids, who was clearly the leader of the pack, as he threw a couple of punches at the small child, who was being held by two of the gang. This child, 8 years old, had similar hair colour to the struggling girl, but what Matoyia saw in his eye confused him, nothing, he couldn't see a thing, this child's eye was dull, devoid of life, he didn't even flinch has the leader kneed him in the stomach.
"Come on you brat, react! Give me something, this is starting to get boring until tomorrow!" the leader said, reeling back his fist, about to deliver another punch, until- "Hey!" Matoyia shouted out, stopping the leader, who looked back, as did the rest of the gang and the girl, the boy remained motionless.
"Look its the new kid!" one of the gang said, the leader turned to face him. "What do you want kid?" he asked annoyed that this kid was ruining his fun, "Just who do you think you are? Picking on someone who can't defend themselves!" Matoyia asked.
"Me? I basically rule over this place, the grown ups are so stupid, its easy to distract them while I do what I want, and no one says a thing to them!" he said smiling, hoping that would make this brat now that he didn't stand a chance.
"Then maybe I should tell them about this, then." Matoyia said and turned to leave, "Hold it brat!" the leader yelled making the other kids hear and look their way, "What makes you think they're going to believe a stupid kid like you?" he asked.
"They will, once I play them the recording I've made with my Duel Disk!" Matoyia held up his Duel Disk, which was hexagonal shaped, green and black, and side part golden yellow, and the lens crimson red. "You recorded us!? Give me that Disk now!" the leader yelled.
"Sure, if you can beat me in a Duel!" Matoyia grabbed a Deck from his pocket and inserted it into his Duel Disk, "You game! If you win, I'll delete it, I win, you leave these two alone for good, deal?" he asked.
The leader frowned, but then smiled, "Alright, fine! It'll be fun to see you utterly humiliated before my amazing skills!" the leader gloated and armed his Duel Disk, the two holding the girl, let her go, who then made her way over to the boy and hugged him.
"DUEL!" the two shouted...
"Igknight Champion! Attack his Prank-Kids Dodo-Doodle-Doo!" Matoyia shouted, as his huge green robotic warrior monster, armed with a bazooka loaded with a spear fired at the chicken like monster that was controlled by the leader, who was shocked as the attack connected, taking the leaders remaining LP's, making him lose the Duel.
"No way! The boss lost!" one of the gang members said shocked, as were many of the other orphans, Matoyia walked over the downed leader, "Since I won, you and your lot leave those two alone, got it?" he asked threateningly for an eleven year old.
"Whatever, that was a fluke, I'll get you next time brat!" the leader got up and walked off, "Let's go guys!" he shouted to his gang, who then rushed to his side.
When they were gone, Matoyia looked over at the two, and calmly walked over to them. "Are you two alright?!" he asked, making her look up with a small smile, "Thank you..." she said, "But you know he's going to get you back for that." she said.
"No he won't, I'm showing this recording to the caretakers, and they'll deal with them." he explained, confusing her, "What? I never said I wouldn't tell the caretakers about this, I'm not going to let some bully get away with what he wants. He'll be gone soon..." he said, at this she smiled, and then turned back to her brother who hadn't moved at all.
"Why did they do that to him for?" he asked, glancing at the boy, he did that a couple of times during the Duel, but every time, all he saw was a lifeless child. "If you must know..." she began, "My brother was kidnapped two years ago... Where the people behind it... tortured him..." at this she began to cry, "He was gone for about 6 months, and he and several other kids were rescued, he's been liked this every since." she then looked back at him.
"So that bully thought he do what he wanted against someone who wouldn't fight back huh?" he guessed. "Man that guy is messed up for doing something like that." he mumbled to himself.
"So now that you know, you can leave now if you want." she said, confusing him, "Why would I leave?" he said, shocking her, "What do you mean? Surely you don't want to be around someone that's like this, do you?" she asked.
"Honestly, not really..." he began, making her frown, "But..." she looked up, "He's going to need a lot of help, if he's going to have a life, and I'm willing to help you guys achieve that!" he then held out a hand, much to her shock, "I'm Matoyia Guriddo, by the way." he said with a smile, for a while she just looked up at him in shock.
"Do you... Do you really mean that?" she whispered.
"Of course, and just so you know, I never let my friends down!" he said, shocking her again, but slowly she smiled, and grabbed his hand to shake it, "If you mean it, then my name is Asuka Haru, and my baby brother is Aito." she said, and she nodded.
He then walked closer, and knelt down before the boy, "Hey Aito..." he began, "Don't bother, he won't respond to anyone..." Asuka explained, "Doesn't mean I can't try..." he said, then turned back to Aito, "You not may know that I'm here at the moment, but if you do, know this. No matter how long it takes, or whatever its takes. I'll be there for you, and your sister, and that's my promise..." he said, and then grabbed the boys tiny hand in his own...
(Present)
Having finished his thought, he looked back at Playmaker, "They've come along way since then..." he said, even though he didn't tell the two about what he just remembered, "And I'm not just going to sit here, and let that effort go to waster, I'm taking that Ignis from you, Playmaker!" he declared, clenching a fist at the Hacker, "Even if you are the same as him, you're just a stranger..." he added.
"I have three reasons for why I must not run away from this Duel or lose!" Playmaker declared, "One: Losing would mean that I must hand over Ai to you, whom I'm keeping prisoner to lure Hanoi out to me" he said hold a single finger, "Is that all I am to you? A prisoner?..." Ai said sadly at that comment" Two: Your beam program may also take what I required from Ghost Girl, which I need to get into SOL's Data banks, which could hold something in it about the incident ten years ago."
"So he's got a Backdoor program into SOL..." Codebuster thought, "And three: I really want to see who out of the two of us, is better!" he said with a small smile, "If that's true, then why didn't you seek me out?" Codebuster remarked.
"I was preparing for the time we did face off, but you've fast forwarded it, meaning I must now face you as I am right now!" he explained, "So if you're ready, let's begin!" Codebuster said, and turned his D-Board around and fell down. Playmaker followed him and jumped off the roof, summoned his D-Board, and followed him on the Data Storm stream...
"Well? Did you film it?" Frog asked Pigeon, talking about the Duel they witness with Playmaker and Ghost Girl, by pure accident, may I add. The two were on the ground in a small park. "Of course! Perfectly!" Pigeon shouted, "Yes! Even though we didn't get a scoop on Playmaker's historical defeat, but we did film a fantastic duel!" Frog exclaimed.
"Now we can finish the Playmaker TV Special!" Pigeon cheered, "Yeah! Play back the Duel!" Frog ordered, Pigeon did as ordered, and began to play the video, at first all it showed was static. "Huh?!" Pigeon said confused, "What's up?" Frog asked, "Something's wrong!" Pigeon cried out, just then, a video of Ghost Girl, lying down on a bed seductively appeared.
"Sorry, but I erased your recording." she said, she then vanished, leaving only a DATA DELETED reading, shocking the two at this, "What should we do, Yamamoto?!" Pigeon screamed, "Don't call me by my real name!" Frog screamed back.
"Yamamoto!" Pigeon screamed again.
Up above, looking down at the two, was Ghost Girl, "Sorry, but tonight's duel is a secret between me and Playmaker..." she said to herself.
"Even though I lost, that doesn't mean I haven't gained anything from it." she said, thinking about the Backdoor program, which was a copy, that she gave to Playmaker, she wouldn't risk an only copy like that. "Now I have someone to be the bait for me, while I go for the treasure itself!" she said.
Suddenly she heard something, making her look to the left, and was shocked to see Playmaker still logged in, "Playmaker? Why is he- Is that Codebuster!" she said shocked, as following after Playmaker was Codebuster, "Codebuster must have caught him with his program." she concluded, "Hmm, two of the strongest Duelist in Link VRAINS, about to duke it out, that's a show I don't want to miss!" she then jumped off the roof, landed on her D-Board, and soared over Frog and Pigeon, who stopped to look up at her.
"It's Ghost Girl! Get back here, you owe us compensation for deleting our recording!" Frog screamed, his tadpole having hearts to eyes. "Don't just stand there, Pigeon! Let's go after her!" he yelled, "Right!" Pigeon then grabbed Frog, and carried him to follow the treasure hunter...
"Hey Playmaker, are you sure about this?" Ai asked as the two soared, followed by Codebuster, "There's nothing we can do about it, his program caught us, we have to Duel him now..." Playmaker said.
"True, but if we've got to do this, then we'll need every advantage in this Duel!" the Ignis said, just then Codebuster then got level with him, "So you want to go second eh? I've notice that's a recurring pattern for you two, you go second, allowing you to evaluate the opponent's strategy, and also gain another card." he said, making Playmaker stiffen as he saw right through him.
"Well, how about this then." he then pointed ahead, where the flowing data was turning around the corner, "See that bend there? The first to make it around gets to go second, deal!" he said. "No way! You forced us into this Duel, we get to go sec-" "Deal!" Ai was cut off by Playmaker, "Are you crazy!" Ai screamed.
Behind them at a distant was Ghost Girl, "Hmm, I would like to see how Playmaker deals with going first, he'd probably go for a defensive strategy." she thought, behind her was Frog and Pigeon.
"Codebuster is Dueling Playmaker, this is even better than the one before!" Frog yelled, luckily no one but Pigeon could hear him, "Start recording, now!" he yelled, "Right!" Pigeon screamed, beginning to record.
"Ready..." Codebuster began, "Set..." the two got their D-Boards ready...
...
...
"GO!" the two then took off instantly, with the three behind them following closely.
At first, the two Duelist were neck-and-neck, one slowly gaining first, before the second took over, and then repeating until Playmaker began to gain more distant over the bounty hunter.
"Yes! We're winning! Second turn here we come!" Ai cheered.
Ahead, the stream began to heighten, making a small incline, Playmaker jumped it before, and landed, Codebuster however hit the bump, and went soaring into the air, "Ha! He didn't make it!" Ai cheered.
"That doesn't make sense..." Playmaker said, "Codebuster is an exceptional D-Boarder, he wouldn't-" his eyes widened as he looked back at Codebuster, who was smirking.
"See ya!" Codebuster tapped his right foot, pressing a pad on his Board, causing his thruster to glow, before propelling him right over Playmaker with a big boost in speed, the three behind them were shocked at this. "NO! He's far ahead now!" Ai screamed.
When Codebuster landed, he was indeed further ahead, a moment later, he reached the bend, following by Playmaker a few moments after him.
"Looks like I win!" Codebuster said grinning as he looked back at a frowning Playmaker, he then slowed down to be near Playmaker, "No hard feelings?" he said, "You won fair and square, so let's begin!" Playmaker went ahead, Codebuster lagged behind before accelerating after him.
"It's starting, one of the most amazing Duels is about to start, and we're going to witness it first hand!" Frog squealed in delight.
"Speed Duel!" the two shouted, drawing 4 cards each.
Playmaker's LP: 4000
Codebuster's LP: 4000
Turn 1
"Since I lost, I must go first..." Playmaker said, "I'll start by Normal Summoning Poisoning Blocker!" A humanoid cyber monster appeared, attached to its arms and legs was purple shield like armour. It was Summoned to the Left Main Monster Zone.
Poisoning Blocker: DARK, Level: 3 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/0 DEF/1400
"Poisoning Blocker's effect! Once per turn, if its in Attack Position, I can switch it into Defense!" Poisoning Block brought its arms and legs together and formed an oval shaped shield. "It then gains 800 ATK and DEF!" Poisoning Blocker's ATK & DEF: 0/1400 + 800/800 = 800/2200.
"Since I control a Cyberse-Type monster, I can Special Summon Backup Secretary from my Hand!" Backup Secretary appeared in the Right Main Monster Zone.
Backup Secretary: LIGHT, Level: 3 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/1200 DEF/800
"I then set a card and end my turn!" he said, the card appeared, before fading. "Good start! With this our defense is strong!" Ai cheered from its eye form.
Playmaker's Hand x 1
Turn 2
"Hmm, of course he would go on the defensive, he's the one that normally goes second, so he doesn't know what I can do." Codebuster smirked, "My turn! I draw!" he drew his card, then looked at his Hand, and smirked. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Weirdware's Exchange Protocol!" he said as the card appeared in his Middle Spell & Trap Zone.
"Once per turn, I can send a Weirdware card from my Hand to the Graveyard, and add a different one from my Deck!" he sent Downloader to the Graveyard, and added Portgate. "Recycler's effect! When a card is sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it from my Hand or Graveyard!" Recycler appeared from his Hand in the Right Main Monster Zone.
Weirdware Recycler: EARTH, Level: 5 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/1900 DEF/1300
"Portgate's effect! Since you control more cards than me, I can Special Summon it from my Hand, along with another one!" He Summoned Portgate into his Middle Main Monster Zone, and Installer into his Left Main Monster Zone.
Weirdware Portgate: LIGHT, Level: 3 [Cyberse, Effect] ATK/500 DEF1400
Weirdware Installer: EARTH, Level: 2 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/600 DEF1300
"Installer's effect! Once per turn, I can set a Spell or Trap from my Deck into a Spell & Trap Zone, but I cannot activate it this turn!" a set card appeared on his Field in the Left Spell & Trap Zone.
"Looks like he's getting ready to attack!" Ai commented, "Appear! The Shining Circuit that will decide my fate!" Sparks erupted from his hand, causing the Link Portal to appeared before him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning Conditions is one Level 5 or higher Weirdware monster! I set Recycler in the Link Markers!" Recycler turned into energy, and hit the Bottom Left marker, turning it red.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Weirdware Downcool!" The freezing Weirdware monster appeared in the Extra Monster Zone to Codebuster's Right, linked to Portgate.
Weirdware Downcool: WATER [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/1000 LINK/-1, LMs: ↙
"Portgate's effect! When linked to a Link Monster, I can move it to a unused Monster Zone, and then Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Weirdware monster from my Deck!" Portgate was moved into the Right Main Monster Zone. "I Summon Duo-ble!" Duo-ble appeared in the Middle Main Monster Zone.
Weirdware Duo-ble: FIRE, Level: 3 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/1200 DEF/600
"Appear! The Shining Circuit that will decide my fate!" the Link Portal appeared again, "The Summoning Conditions are at least two Weirdware monsters! I set Duo-ble, whose linked effect, treats it as two, and Installer in the Link Markers!" Duo-ble split into two, they and Installer turned into energy, Installer hit the Middle Bottom, the Duo-ble's hit the Middle Left and Right, turning them red.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3, Weirdware Operator!" materializing in was a lime green cybernetic monster, similar build to the other Link 3 Weirdware monsters, but more athletic. It's lower legs and arms were a darker shade of green. Its chest plate had five silver orbs in a pentagon formation. There also appeared to be several cylinders on its. Four on its back, with upper two being slight larger, and two on either side of each foot, mounted under its arms, connected to the elbows on a ball joint were some kind of sphere throwing contraptions, they were rotated and facing upwards, making the arms at the elbows look longer. Its visor was a dark blue. It was Summoned to the Middle Main Monster Zone, linked to Downcool.
Weirdware Operator : WIND [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/2300 LINK/-3, LMs: ⬅⬇➡
"Great... Another new Link 3..." Ai groaned at the sight of the monster, "It appears that Codebuster has a Link Monster for every Attribute, between Link 1 and 3..." Shoichi told them over their com system. "Yeah." Playmaker agreed with this.
"Once more!" the Link Portal appeared again, "The Summoning Conditions are 2 Weirdware monster, with at least one Link Monster! I Set Link 1 Downcool and Installer in the Link Markers!" Codebuster said as Downcool and Installer turned into energy, Downcool hit the Middle Right, and Installer the Middle Bottom, turning them red.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2, Weirdware Accumulator!" flying out of the portal was a dark blue cyber monster, slight bigger than Downcool, covering the entire monster were golden coloured studs, with a cyan ring fixed onto them, there were fifty in total. Twelve on each arm, three stacks of four on its cylinder like arms. Six on both its legs, three were on either side of the legs. Six on its back in a hexagon formation. Four on its chest plate in an underside trapezium formation, and then there were four on its head, two acting as its ears, and the other two were acting as cheeks. It was Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone that Downcool was in before.
Weirdware Accumulator: WATER [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/1700 LINK/-2, LMs: ⬇➡
"He's using cards that no one has seen before, making it more difficult for Playmaker to make a strategy up against them." Ghost Girl thought as she followed them.
"Accumulator's effect! When Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a Weirdware monster from my Graveyard, by negating its effects for the rest of the turn!" Codebuster said as a dark portal opened up in his Right Main Monster Zone. "I Summon Downloader!" Downloader appeared from the portal, its colours becoming dull due to losing its effects, it was linked to both Operator and Accumulator.
Weirdware Downloader: DARK, Level: 4 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/1600 DEF/1000
"Accumulator's additional effect! Once per turn, all monster linked to it gain 600 ATK!" The rings on Accumulator glowed stronger. Downloader's ATK: 1600 + 600 = 2200. "Then I gain 300 LP for every monster affected by this effect!" Codebuster's LP: 4000 + 300 = 4300
"I set a card..." a card appeared face-down in Codebuster's final Spell & Trap Zone. "Battle! Operator attacks Backup Secretary!" Operator's contraptions rotated and latched onto its arms, extended slightly, and began to charge two sphere of green plasma.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Target Recalibration!" Playmaker activated the card from his Hand, the image was that of an advanced targeting system, but it was glitching and targeting a different target than its original one. "When you declare an attack against my monster, I can change the attack to another target! I select Poisoning Blocker!" Operator shifted its aim towards Poisoning Blocker and fired two bolts of energy at it. But nothing happened when the attack collided with it.
"Target Recalibration also makes the new target unable to be destroyed in that battle!" he added, "Nice! Now he doesn't have anything stronger to get over Poisoning Blocker!" Ai cheered.
"Wow that Ignis always jumps to conclusions!" Codebuster interrupted, "Operator's effect! After it has battled, I target a monster linked to it, and half its ATK!" Downloader was the only one linked to Operator, so it was the target. 2200 = 1100 (Downloader) "Doing this allows Downloader to attack you directly!" this shocked the two, "That's what he must've been going for originally!" Playmaker surmised.
"Now Downloader attacks your directly!" Downloader gather a red ball in its arms, and tossed it at Playmaker, soaring past his two monsters, and hitting him in the shoulder, pushing him forward. Playmaker's LP: 4000 - 1100 = 2900
"Codebuster has dealt the first blow to Playmaker! He really is a tricky opponent!" Frog shouted.
"Should I take battle damage the turn Target Recalibration is activated, I can draw a card!" Playmaker drew a card. "And now I end my turn!" Codebuster said smirking, having taken the lead so quickly. "With it ending, Downloader's ATK returns to normal. 1100 = 2200 (Downloader) "Not only that, but since its the end of the turn, its effect returns as well, so now it linked effect activates! All Weirdware monster gain 100 ATK for every Weirdware monster I control!" Accumulator's ATK: 1700 + 300 = 2000, Operator's ATK: 2300 + 300 = 2600, 2200 + 300 = 2500 (Downloader)
Codebuster's Hand x 0
Turn 3
"Strange? Why didn't he take out Backup Secretary?" Ai pondered, "He must want me to Summon a Code Talker, he must know that the beam that scanned Firewall Dragon created Fail-Safe, and wants to make Weirdware version of the Code Talkers..." Playmaker explained.
"You're not going to let him do that, are you?" Ai whined, not liking the sound of a Weirdware copy of Decode Talker, "I don't have a choice, they're the only monsters other than Firewall that are powerful enough." he said.
"My turn! I draw!" Playmaker drew his card. "I Summon Stack Reviver!" Stack Reviver appeared Playmaker's Middle Main Monster Zone.
Stack Reviver: DARK, Level: 2 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/100 DEF/600
"Appear! The Circuit that leads to the Future!" the Link Portal appeared beneath Playmaker, "Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning conditions are 2 monsters! I set Stack Reviver and Backup Secretary in the Link Markers!" the two monsters turned into twisters, Backup hit the Middle Top and Stack Reviver the Middle Bottom markers, turning them red.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2, Space Insulator!" from the portal appeared a cybernetic man, dressed in blue shiny armour with some grey around its chest. It was Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone to Playmaker's Right, opposite of Accumulator.
Space Insulator: DARK [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/1200 LINK/-2, LMs: ⬆⬇
"Stack Reviver's effect! When used to Link Summon, I target another Level 4 or lower Cyberse in my Graveyard that was used in that Link Summon and Special Summon it!" Backup Secretary appeared in the Right Main Monster Zone in Defense, linked to Space Insulator. "Now I activate the Spell, Arrow Charge!" he said.
"When there are two Link Monsters in the Extra Monster Zone with same amount of Link Markers, I can draw two cards, but I must reveal them to you and banish them from my Hand if they are still there at the end of the turn!" he explained drawing two cards. A screen appeared over Codebuster's Duel Disk, showing him the cards he drew.
"Appear! The Circuit that leads to the Future!" Playmaker yelled, making the Link Portal appear again, "The Summoning conditions are at least two Cyberse monsters! I set Link 2 Space Insulator and Poisoning Blocker in the Link Markers!" Space Insulator split into two, they and Poisoning Blocker turned into twisters, Space Insulator hit the Middle Top and Bottom, while Poisoning Blocker hit the Bottom Right, turning them red.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Encode Talker!" The LIGHT Attribute Code Talker materialized from data, its shield poised at the ready as it appeared in the Extra Monster Zone to Playmaker's Right, where Space Insulator was in before.
Encode Talker: LIGHT [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/2300 LINK/-3, LMs: ⬆⬇↘
The moment it touched down, Codebuster's Duel Disk acted up, and shot out a beam that hit Encode, it then began to cover the monster entirely, scanning it. "No! Its happening to Encode Talker!" Ai screamed as the scan finished.
"I activate the effect of Backup Operator from my Hand!" he said taking one of the showed card from his Hand, "I target a face-up monster a Link Monster I control that is linked to it, and return it to the Hand! I pick Backup Secretary!" Backup Secretary vanished, returning to his Hand. "Doing so allows me to Special Summon Operator from my Hand!"
A monster, similar to Secretary and wearing something similar to her as well appeared, she had longer hair than Secretary, and was also seated in a hover chair. She appeared in the Right Main Monster Zone that Secretary was in before.
Backup Operator: LIGHT, Level: 3 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/1200 DEF/800
"And since I control a Cyberse-Type, I can Special Summon Backup Secretary from my Hand!" Secretary once again appeared on his Field in the Middle Main Monster Zone, in Attack this time. "And now I activate the effect of the last card in my Hand!" he showed the card also.
"Because its the only card in my Hand, I can now Special Summon it! Appear! Flick Clown!" A four armed monster, dressed in fine clothing, and carrying a spectre appeared in the Left Main Monster Zone.
Flick Clown: DARK, Level: 4 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/1000 DEF/1400
"And now I activate its other effect! Since I have no cards in my Hand, I can pay 500 LP..." 2900 - 500 = 2400 (Playmaker) "To draw one card!" he then drew a card.
"Once again! The Circuit that leads to the Future!" the Link Portal appeared again, "The Summoning Conditions are at least two Cyberse monsters!" I set Backup Operator, Backup Secretary and Flick Clown in the Link Markers!" the three monster turned into twisters, the Backup monster hit the Middle Left and Right, and Flick Clown hit the Middle Top, turning them red.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3, Excode Talker!" just materializing in was a new Code Talker, its main body was the same as the other two, but the circuit lining was green instead on yellow or purple, its armour covering its was a lighter green, two huge shoulder pads, and connected to its helmet at the back was an extension, the orbs over its body was orange, and on its arms were wrist mounted shields. It was Summon to the Right Main Monster Zone, under Encode Talker, both Co-linked to one another.
Excode Talker: WIND [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/2300 LINK/-3, LMs: ⬅⬆➡
"That's a new one!" Codebuster commented, his Duel Disk acted up again, this time scanning Excode Talker. "That's two out of three!" Ai whined, "Excode Talker's effect! When Link Summoned, for every monster in the Extra Monster Zones, a Main Monster Zone cannot be used!" Excode began to gather a ball of green energy in its hand, "Grasp Zone!" Excode then tossed the sphere at Main Monster Zone that was Codebuster's Left one, blocking him from using it for now.
"Then Excode's additional effect! Monsters linked to it gain 500 ATK!" Encode glowed green briefly, Encode Talker's ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800
"I set a card!" a card appeared face-down in his Spell & Trap Zone. "Battle! Excode Talker, attack Operator!" Excode's shields suddenly released two energy claws on each one, it then charged at Link 3 WIND Weirdware monster, "At this moment, Encode Talker's effect activates!" at this Encode's shield glowed, forming a barrier around Excode. "When a monster linked to Encode battles a monster with higher ATK, Encode makes that monster not be destroyed in that battle, and I don't take battle damage either!" Excode, cloaked in the barrier striked at Operator, who went to retaliate.
After the battle, the two went back to their respective masters, "Now that the battle is over, the rest of Encode's effect activates! It or one monster linked to it gains ATK equal to the ATK of your monster that was battled!" 2800 + 2600 =5400 (Encode Talker) "Yes! Encode is more powerful!" Ai cheered.
"Now Encode Talker attacks Downloader!" Playmaker shouted, going for Downloader was a good choice, seeing that by destroying it would weaken Codebuster's other monsters. Encode unsheathed the hidden blade in its shield. "Final Encode!" the LIGHT Code Talker gave a cry and charged.
"Perfect! Now Operator's effect activates!" Codebuster yelled out, Operator's mounted weaponry began to discharge small amounts of energy as they seperated further apart. "When a monster linked to it is the target of an attack, Operator becomes that target instead!" he explained, much to their confusion... Mostly Ai than Playmaker.
"Huh? So he's sacrificing a strong monster for another, what's that about?" Ai commented, "And since a monster was targeted, I activate the Trap, Weirdware Rebound!" one of Codebuster's face-downs flipped up, showing an image of an Weirdware, surrounded by a magnetic field, which was repelling an attack from an enemy.
"This card can only be activated when a Weirdware monster is targeted for an attack or card effect..." he began, "And because Operator technically was targeted in a way." he added, making sure they got what he was saying.
"It's both amazing and terrifying that he can think this far ahead." Ghost Girl thought, as Codebuster seemed to have studied Playmaker to a certain degree.
"Depending on what the targeting was for, one of two effects will be triggered, If by battle, if my monster is destroyed, then the monster that destroyed it is also destroyed!" Codebuster explained, "If an effect, then you must target your own monster for the effect." he added.
Encode's shield sword slashed through Operator, destroying it. 4300 - 2800 = 1500 (Codebuster)
"Ha! We did a lot of damage to him!" Ai cheered, hopeful for his chances of survival, "You've seem to have forgotten something..." Playmaker told the Ignis, "Huh? Like what?!" it asked, clearly confused.
"He means this! Rebound's effect! Since Operator was destroyed in that battle, Encode Talker is now destroyed!" Rebound's card appeared on the Field again, and fired a beam that headed straight for Encode. Ai seemed confident, "Ha! We fooled you!" it shouted, confusing Codebuster, "Monsters linked to Excode Talker cannot be destroyed by card effects!" Playmaker explained as Excode got in front of Encode and slashed the beam in two.
"I see..." Codebuster gritted his teeth, having taken serious damage for that small mishape. "I now end my turn!" Playmaker said, "Which means the rest of Operator's effect kicks in!" Codebuster said. "If destroyed by that battle, it Special Summons itself!" Operator appeared back in his Middle Main Monster Zone.
Playmaker's Hand x 0
Turn 4
"Careful Playmaker, he can bring out Rewire" Shoichi said over the com, "Don't worry, I will." Playmaker answered back, "Just a bit more, and then we can win this!" Ai said...
Watching from their private server was Hanoi, within this group at this hour, was Revolver, Vire, Valcry, Ares and Dr Kogami.
"This isn't good, should Codebuster win, and that may be likely, then SOL will get the Ignis..." Kogami said watching the Duel up until this moment, he saw the precise planning Codebuster had done, having only made a slight miscalculation in not knowing about the new Code Talker's effects.
"So we basically need Playmaker to win, right?" Valcry asked, "Kind of ironic, don't you think?" Vire asked with a twisted laugh at the end, nether Revolver nor Ares said a thing, gazing at the screen, a moment later, Ares turned away and walked off.
"Where are you going?" Revolver asked, not looking away from the screen, "To see this Duel, up close and personal..." was all Ares said as he teleported out...
When Ares appeared in Link VRAINS, he fell, then quickly summoned his D-Board, looking around, he spotted the Duel taking place below, so he followed from up where he was.
"My turn! I draw!" Codebuster drew his card. "I activate Accumulator's effect! Downloader gains another 600 ATK!" 2500 + 600 = 3100 (Downloader) 1500 + 300 = 1800 (Codebuster)
"I activate Exchange's effect! I tribute Downloader..." Downloader turned into data, with it leaving, the ATK of the other Weirdware monsters return to normal. 2000 = 1700 (Accumulator) 2600 = 2300 (Operator) "I now Special Summon a different Weirdware monster from my Deck, Graveyard or banished Zone, I pick my Deck and Summon Reviver!"
Appearing was a small drone, its was white in colour, with a red medical cross on top of its, it had two hover pads on either side, at the front, which held its lens screen, were two small LED blue eyes, that blinked as it appeared in the Right Main Monster Zone.
Weirdware Reviver: DARK, Level: 1 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/DEF: 400/300
"Now appear! The Shining Circuit that will my Fate!" the Link Portal appeared below him, "The Summoning conditions are at least two Weirdware monsters! I set Link 2 Accumulator and Reviver in the Link Markers!" Accumulator split into two, they and Reviver then turned into energy, Accumulator hit the Middle Top and Bottom, while Reviver hit the Bottom Left, turning them red. "Its coming!" Ai screamed at the position the monsters hit the markers.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Appear, Weirdware Rewire!" Rewire's form materialized, soared our of the portal and landed in the Extra Monster Zone to Codebuster's Right, where Accumulator was in before.
Weirdware Rewire: DARK [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/2200 LINK/-3, LMs: ⬆↙⬇
"Oh I'm not going to like this..." Ai whined, "I activate Reviver's effect!" Codebuster shouted, "When used to Link Summon a Weirdware Link Monster, I can banish it...," Reviver was banished, "Then I can target a different Weirdware monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it! I Summon back Downloader!" Downloader appeared back in the Right Main Monster Zone.
"Its linked effect activates again!" 1600 + 300 = 1900 (Downloader) 2300 + 300 = 2600 (Operator) Rewire's ATK: 2200 + 300 = 2500
"Now for Rewire's effect! I can target a monster on the Field, and Rewire gains that monster's effect until the end of the next turn!" Rewire began to aim its cable arm, "I pick Encode!" the cable arm extended and hit Encode right in the chest, the Code Talker began to struggle as its data was being copied, being drained into the cable and transferred into Rewire.
"Oh this can't be good!" Pigeon cried out, when Rewire pulled its arm away, said arm began to glow yellow, and shift and change, when the glow was over, Rewire now had arm that looked exactly like Encode's arm, complete with shield but the two had fused together, at the end of the shield were its fingers, which had become 5 (including the thumb) with the middle finger actually the shield's hidden blade, the shield itself was narrower and trimmed with energy. Rewire began to flex his new arm.
"Strange, when Rewire used its effect on Decryption during his Duel against Lancelot, it made an exact copy of its weapon, why is its copy of Encode's shield mutated..." Ai pondered.
"The data between the two Cyberse must be different, thus affecting Rewire's data." Playmaker guessed, "I set a card!" a card appeared face-down "Battle! Downloader attacks Excode Talker!" Downloader's arms began to fizzle, "At this moment, I activate Rewire's borrowed effect from Encode Talker!" Rewire's Encode like arm created a barrier around Downloader.
"Downloader isn't destroyed in this battle, and I take no battle damage!" Downloader charged at Encode, who fired a beam of light from the centre of his shield, but Downloader's barrier protected it. "He's using Encode's power against Playmaker!" Pigeon cried out. "Now the rest of the effect activates! Rewire gains ATK equal to Excode Talker's ATK!" 2500 + 2300 = 4800 (Rewire)
"No! This is bad!" Ai screamed, "Now Rewire will attack Encode Talker! Terabyte Encoding Slash!" Rewire swung its new arms and charged at Encode Talker, who went to protect himself, but the attack too much, slicing his shield in half, along with him as well, and was destroyed in the following explosion, sending Playmaker flying. 2400 - 2000 = 400 (Playmaker)
"Playmaker!" Shoichi yelled to him, "I'm fine!" he said back with a slight flinch, his virtual body flickering with data, it eventually returned to normal. "I activate the Trap, Cyberse Beacon!" Playmaker's face-down flipped up. "Since I took Battle or Effect damage, I can add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse-Type monster from my Deck to my Hand!" he added his choice.
"Now Operator will attack Excode Talker!" Operator fired a single energy ball at Excode Talker, who did nothing to protect itself as the attack hit him. 400 - 300 = 100 (Playmaker) "I end my turn!" Codebuster grinned, "With it ending, Rewire's borrowed effect ends." 4800 = 2500 (Rewire)
Codebuster's Hand x 0
Back with Hanoi, Revolver brought up another screen, which showed a Data Storm forming, the second Playmaker's LP became less than 1000, "It would appear the monster is coming." Revolver said, making Vire smile, "Oh goody, I want to see the devastation that monster sews!" Vire chuckled.
Turn 5
"Do something Playmaker! Anything!" Frog cried out, tears pouring out of his tiny tadpole. "But boss, I thought you wanted Playmaker to lose?" Pigeon asked confused, "Oh yeah..." Frog suddenly remembered.
"It's not over yet, Playmaker can now use his Skill, and if history is to repeat itself, Storm Access will give him the right card to take out Codebuster." Ghost Girl thought.
With Codebuster, he sailed closer to Playmaker, "You alright?" he asked, "Why do you care?" he asked, "Just asking, you took a huge blow from that attack, and you seem to be sweating slightly..." he pointed it, making Playmaker feel his face, to discover small droplets of sweats.
"Research had proven that sweat can be caused due to anxiety, are you anxious about losing?" he asked, "Of course he's anxious about losing, he'll lose me!" Ai shouted at him. "No, losing you shouldn't affect him this much, this is something deeper." he remarked.
"This is something that's been haunting him for years, from when he was young." Playmaker flinched slightly.
"This is related to the Lost Incident, right?" he asked, Playmaker didn't respond for a while.
"Yeah..." he finally said, "Even though I've been close to 0 LP before, it never really affected me during my previous Duels..." he began, "But dueling you, is starting to remind me of back then..." he began to retell a memory, long since buried...
10 Years ago
"You lose!" A computer generated voice said to a young Yusaku through the headset he was wearing, and then immediately shocked him, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" he screamed begin launched backward and tumbled. He remained motionless for a few moments. "It was horrible..." the grown up Yusaku narrated, "I was tested, over and over again, not once getting close to winning." The young Yusaku groaned and slowly sat up. He heard a noise, he looked up to see a small drone, carrying a food tray with hardly any food on it.
"Losing during that time, meant I usually went hungry, whoever was behind the incident only ever increased the rations if we didn't have the energy to Duel" Young Yusaku took off his headset, tears welling in his eyes at the sight of his messily ration.
"I didn't know why I was picked for that hellish project, but all I knew was that I just wanted to lay down and give up entirely. Another round of testing had gone by, during which Young Yusaku had become somewhat weaker, on his knees and kneeling over. "But someone gave me the strength to get back up."
"Hey!" a voice echoed, alerting Young Yusaku to this, "Hey you! Can you hear me? If you can, I want you to think of three reasons." the voice said, "Three reasons to live for. Three reasons to go home to. And three reasons to defeat the enemy." they said, "Three reasons?" Young Yusaku said, hoping for the voice to answer, but they didn't...
"Thinking of those three reasons gave me the strength to get though that hard time until we were saved." Playmaker said, the memory over with. "Ever since that day, I've hoped to find that person that saved me, and thank them." he finished, no longer sweating.
"So until that time comes, I will not lose!" he yelled determined. He then took off forward.
"Now that our LP is below 1000, we can use it!" Ai said. "Yeah..." Playmaker said, but for some reason, he felt that something was off with this Duel... "My turn! I draw!" Playmaker drew his card.
Up ahead, a Data Storm appeared, "Should we go for that monster this time, it may help us." Ai asked, "We may not have a choice, let's go!" Playmaker activated the thrusters, sending the two into the upcoming data twister.
"This is it, whatever card Playmaker gets from his Skill will decide this Duel!" Frog said. Codebuster despite what was about to happen, smiled...
Inside the Data Storm, Playmaker looked around for any sign of the monster from before, "Hmmm, it's not here, which is good, but also not good at the same time..." Ai muttered, "Doesn't matter, let's do this!" the lines over Playmaker's body began to glow. "I activate my Skill, Storm Access! When my LP is a 1000 or below, I can add one random Link Monster from the Data Storm into my Extra Deck!" he said as he held out his hand.
Data began to gather in that hand, forming a card, soon more data began to gather, "Wow, this must be a strong monster!" Ai said, however Playmaker began to struggle with all the data that was gathering, "It-It's too much!" he groaned out, faltering slightly.
"Don't worry, just a little bit more-" *Rawwwwwwwwwwrrrr* Ai began, but the sound of a distant roar could be heard, "Oh no! That roar, is it that?" Ai took physical form and scanned around. "Ah!" he screamed as he spotted a fast approaching shadow from the east. "It's the monster! Hurry!" the Ignis screamed.
"Right!" Playmaker began to focus, hard, and this seemed to take some of the strain off as the data flowed more calmly.
"Seize the Wind! Playmaker!" Ai screamed, some out of encouragement, the other out of fear of the approaching shadow. However after his words, the card was complete. "Storm Access!" Playmaker yelled, brandishing the card, which began to shine, just as the shadow began to break through the wind barrier, Playmaker quickly looked as it appeared, only catching a glimpse before the light from the card blinded them.
Outside the Data Storm, the light within burst out, and the twister broke down, gently coming a landing on the stream was Playmaker.
"It's over, Codebuster!" he yelled determined, "Wrong, this Duel is far from over!" he retorted, much to their confusion. "I activate the Trap, Threatening Roar!" Codebuster Left face-down flipped up. "What!?" Ai cried out in shock, as did everyone else watching the Duel.
"You can't declare an attack the turn this card is activated!" Codebuster explained grinning.
"Wait! That's the card he set of his first turn, why didn't use it during our last-" Ai began, "It's because we played right into his Trap..." Playmaker finished, now understanding why Codebuster played exactly how he did.
"So you figured it out, huh Playmaker..." Codebuster said, the lines of his body glowing white. "I now activate my Skill, Weirdware's Hack!" he declared.
"Y-Your Skill!?" Ai screamed in panic.
"Oh my god! Codebuster had finally used his Skill!" Frog shouted in shock, "I wonder what it does?" Pigeon, asked, also in shock.
"I can activate one of three effects, depending on the action you made, before Weirdware's Hack was activated." Codebuster explained. "The last action I made was using my Skill..." Playmaker said.
"Correct, so that mean's that during the next turn, by halving my LP, I can activate your Skill for myself!" Codebuster smiled as Playmaker, Ghost Girl, Ai, Frog, Pigeon and Ares watching from above became even more shocked. "That means..." Playmaker began
"Codebuster now has access to Storm Access." Revolver concluded, "So Codebuster planned for Playmaker to use Storm Access, and used that to his advantage." Valcry said annoyed. "This is gonna be fun!" Vire said grinning.
"You're too predictable Playmaker!" Codebuster smiled, "Every Duel you've had since your debut ends with you using Storm Access, getting the perfect card to end said Duel and winning! It was too easy to counter it, just don't let you declare an attack, and its fair game again!" he finished.
"So you had this planned since the beginning of the Duel!?" Ai asked, "Yes I did..." Codebuster said thinking back to his first turn...
Turn 2 (past)
The Codebuster of that turn, looked at his Hand which showed Threatening Roar in his Hand of cards. "Even if Threatening Roar wasn't in my Hand before, I would've used Installer's effect to set it from my Deck..." Future Codebuster said as his past self smirked at the sight of the card...
"Either way, this would've turned out as it did right now..." he finished, making his opponent frown. "Now that I've gotten what I need, carry on with your turn..." he said, "Just know that you can't surprise me." he finished.
"I activate the Trap, Recoded Alive!" Playmaker shouted as one of his face-downs flipped up. "I banish a Link 3 Cyberse-Type Link monster on my Field or Graveyard, and Special Summon a Code Talker from my Extra Deck!" he said, banishing Excode Talker. "I Summon Decode Talker!" The DARK Code Talker appeared in the Left Main Monster Zone, co-linked to Rewire above it.
Decode Talker: DARK [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/2300 LINK/-3, LMs: ↙⬆↘
Once more, Codebuster's Duel Disk scanned Decode Talker, "That's all three..." Ai whined defeated. "Decode Talker's effect! It gains 500 ATK for every monster linked to it! Power Integration!" Playmaker shouted as Decode gained more power. Decode Talker's ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800
"Since I control no monster in the Extra Monster Zone, I can banish Recoded Alive, and Special Summon the banished Excode Talker!" Excode Talker appeared in the Right Main Monster Zone. "And now I Normal Summon ROM Cloudia!" a small goat like Cyberse appeared, it had pale pink curled horn, its wool was dark grey. It gave a cry as it appeared in the Middle Main Monster Zone.
ROM Cloudia: DARK, Level: 4 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/1800 DEF/0
"ROM Cloudia's effect!" ROM Cloudia gave another cry, "When Normal Summoned, I can add a Cyberse-Type monster from my Graveyard to my Hand." he added Backup Secretary. "Appear! The Circuit that leads to the Future!" The Link Portal appeared beneath him.
"Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning conditions are at least two monsters! I set Link 3 Decode Talker and ROM Cloudia in the Link Markers!" Decode split into three identical monsters, they and ROM Cloudia turned into twisters, Decode hit the Middle Left, Middle Top, and Middle Right, and ROM Cloudia hit the Middle Bottom Markers, turning them red.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Appear, Link 4..." the monster's data began to materialise in, "Firewall Dragon!" when the monster was fully formed, it leaped out of the portal twirled in the air, and took a stance and roared. It was Summon the Extra Monster Zone to Playmaker's Right.
Firewall Dragon: LIGHT [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/2500 LINK/-4, LMs: ⬅⬆⬇➡
"Firewall Dragon..." Codebuster muttered, remembering the amazing dragon his dragon was based on. "Since Firewall Dragon is linked to Excode Talker, it gains 500 ATK!" Firewall Dragon's ATK: 2500 + 500 = 3000
"Now for Firewall Dragon's effect! Once while face-up on the Field, I can target monsters on the field or in our Graveyards equal to the number of monsters co-linked to Firewall Dragon, and return them to the Hand!" he said, as Excode's top marker, as well as Firewall Dragon's bottom marker glowed red to confirm they were co-linked.
"Firewall Dragon is co-linked to Excode, meaning I return Rewire on your field to your Hand, which will instead be returned to your Extra Deck! Emergency Escape!" Firewall's frame began to sizzle with energy, which it then launched at Rewire, who did nothing as he was turned into data and returned to Codebuster's Extra Deck. 1900 - 100 = 1800 (Downloader) 2600 - 100 = 2500 (Operator)
"It's a start, but he could easily bring it out." Ai said but he was worried now that Codebuster had access to Storm Access. "Yeah, but we need to ready for what he throw at us from the Data Storm." Playmaker said. "I end my turn!" he said, there was nothing else he could do.
Playmaker's Hand x 1
Turn 6
"Let's see what this Skill is cut out for!" Codebuster thought grinning, "My turn! I draw!" he drew his card, up ahead, another Data Storm began to gather, "I activate Exchange Protocol's effect! I tribute Downloader..." Download burst into data. 2500 = 2300 (Operator) "I Special Summon Weirdware Spawner!"
Spawner appeared in the Right Main Monster Zone, linked to Operator.
Weirdware Spawner: EARTH, Level: 1 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/600 DEF/200
"See ya!" Codebuster sailed by Playmaker, "He's going for it!" Ai yelled, "I wonder what Codebuster will get out of the Data Storm?" Ghost Girl thought as they all saw Codebuster jump into the Data Storm...
"So Codebuster has basically won this then?" Valcry said, "Looks like it, Storm Access give the user a random Link Monster which takes into account the player's cards, the opponent, essentially everything is covered in the creation of the card." Revolver said. "Meaning Codebuster is about to get a strong monster." Dr Kogami said.
"Such a shame..." Vire said, "That monster that showed its wonderous power has not revealed itself..." he said, disappointed...
With Codebuster, he was amazed as he was soaring around in the Storm, "Wow, it's amazing in here!" he yelled out to no one in particular. "Alright! Let's get me a new monster! I activate the remaining effect of Weirdware's Hack, by paying half my LP..." 1800 = 900 (Codebuster) "I can now use Storm Access for myself!" he then held out his hand, which caused data to gather.
After a while, Codebuster's arm began to hurt "Okay this is hurting real bad, I hope this doesn't take too long-" *Rawwwwwwwwwwrrrr* A distant roar was heard, cutting through his thought, "Huh?" he let his arm down, losing the gathered data.
"Damn it!" he swore out, "What was that?" he said, looking around. *Rawwwwwwwwwwrrrr* He heard it again, looking around more frantically.
A moment later, he spotted something, a shadow within the storm, and it was heading right for him, "What the hell is that-" he yelled as the shadow broke through the storm-
Outside the Data Storm, Playmaker and Ai waited, "He's been in there for a while, you don't think he messed up, do you?" Ai asked, "Possibly, judging by the increased data flow of the Storm, I think that he might have-" Playmaker began to stop.
"Go on..." Ai said, "Look!" Playmaker pointed to the Storm, Ai did and became shock as the colour of the Storm from the bottom began to darken, "That's never happened before..." Ai said worried, red lightning began to spark within the storm now.
"Something is happening!?" Playmaker said, he also noticed the wind was picking up, getting sucked into the darkening storm. "Careful Yusaku!" Shoichi cried out as chucks of data from the surrounding building were being torn off.
"Wah! What's happening!?" Frog flailing about in the wind, Pigeon trying his hardest not to get hit by debris. Ghost Girl as well as Ares were starting to lose control of their D-Boards. "We're going to die!" Pigeon cried out.
"What's happening in there!" Ares thought bracing himself.
*Rawwwwwwwwwwrrrr* A loud roar was heard echoing all around, coming from the Storm itself. "Oh no! That roar, its back! Ai yelled, the storm became more violent and strong and glowing brighter and brighter until-
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!* The storm suddenly exploded in a purple of dark light, the smoky trails of data began to erupt out of it in all directions like a volcano.
One of the smoky trails landed on the stream, when the smoke cleared, it revealed Codebuster, a little worse for wear, on his knees, electricity trailing up and down his body, and his Duel Disk's screen glowing red. "Shit that hurts like hell!" he swore out.
"He's alive!" Ai said as Codebuster stood up, but nearly falling over once or twice. "That's sure was something, huh boss?" Pigeon asked Frog, but he didn't respond, "Boss? Boss? Hey boss, are you-" Pigeon looked up, only to see Frog covered with shrapnel from the storm. "Oww..." Frog groaned unconscious. "Ah! This is bad, we've got to get out of here!" Pigeon cried out, "No!" Frog yelled shaking the debris off him. "We must stay to cover this Duel!" he yelled.
"I've got my new card, Playmaker!" Codebuster said, looking over said card in his hand, before it was put into his Extra Deck, "Now let's see it come to life!" he yelled, throwing his hand out. "Appear! The Shining Circuit that will decide your Fate!" the Link Portal appeared.
"I set Spawner in the Link Markers!" Spawner turned into energy, and hit the Middle Bottom marker, turning it red. "Link Summon! Link 1, Weirdware Plug-Charge!" Plug Charge appeared in the Extra Monster Zone.
Weirdware Plug-Charge: LIGHT [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/400 LINK/-1, LMs: ⬇
"Spawner's effect! When used to Link Summon a Weirdware Link Monster, I can Special Summon up to 2 Weirdware Tokens!" two Weirdware Tokens appeared in the Left and Right Main Monster Zones.
Weirdware Token: EARTH, Level: 1 [Cyberse/Token] ATK/0 DEF/0 X2
"Again!" The Link Portal appeared again "The Summoning Condition is a Level 1 Weirdware monster! I set Token No. 1 in the Link Markers!" the first Token, the one in the Left Monster Zone, turned into energy, and hit the Middle Right marker, turning it red. "Link Summon! Weirdware Bomb Sweeper!" Bomb Sweeper appeared where the first Token was, Co-Linked with Operator.
Weirdware Bomb Sweeper: WIND [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/200 LINK/-1, LMs: ➡
"Once more!" Another portal appeared, "The Summoning Conditions for this one is one Level 4 or lower Weirdware monster! I set the second Token in the Link Markers!" The second token, the one in the Right Monster Zone turned into energy, and just as before hit a marker on the portal, this time it was the Middle Left, turning it red.
"Link Summon! Weirdware Ad-Burner!" Ad-Burner appeared, swivelling it turret around, it was Co-Linked to Operator from the Right Main Monster Zone.
Weirdware Ad-Burner: FIRE [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/600 LINK/-1, LMs: ⬅
"Three Link 1 monsters..." Playmaker muttered to himself, "What kind of monster requires that many!?" Ai asked. "Plug-Charge's effect! It gains ATK equal to the monster linked to it!" Codebuster said, Plug-Charge's ATK: 400 + 600 = 1000
Codebuster looked back at them, "Time for the moment of truth! Appear! The Shining Circuit that will decide my Fate!" a fourth portal appeared, however, for a brief second, it flashed to black, alerting Playmaker and Ai to this. "What was that just now?" Ai asked.
"Arrowheads confirmed! The Summoning Conditions are at least two Link Monsters! I set the Link 1 Plug-Charge, Link 1 Bomb Sweeper and Link 1 Ad-Burner in the Link Markers!" the three monsters turned into energy of their attributes, Plug-Charge hit the Middle Top, Bomb Sweeper hit the Bottom Left, and Ad-Burner hit the Bottom Right, instead of the markers turning red, they turned purple, and the portal flashed again, and a pulse was released, causing the surrounding area to lag a bit. "What's going on?" Pigeon cried out.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3!..." the monster's digital frame faded in, and was then filled in. "Malirus Critical Dragon!"
Appearing from the portal was a cybernetic dragon, its cyber armour was cyan blue, with black and silver across parts of its body. It was somewhat slim, at the centre of its chest was a square indent core, it contained eight neon lines, the formation was like that of the Link Portal Markers, the bottom left, right and Middle top were glowing more than the other five. Its narrow shoulders were spiked with small energy wings which were blood red. Its wings were made up of three parts for each wing, they consisted of hallow hexagon rings, a corner was missing, each one had an energy blade acting as a wing for that part. It arms at the elbow were triangular, two sides of them were black and red circuitry which pulsed every second. Its claws were flat and in a triangle formation, its hip was a tri-pod, as it had three legs, two at the front and these two had a fold-up wing trimmed with energy. It back third leg was made up of multiple piece that could extend, they currently were, making the leg act like a tail. Its neck was short and slim, its head narrow, two glowing red slit eyes, fitted between its eyes was a upside down triangle red gem, it had no actual mouth, just a silver metal beak.
Its eyes quickly flash, it raised its head and gave a powerful screech/roar...
Across Den City, multiple systems started to act up, the people still awake were confused by this phenomenon, and why it was happening.
"Ah!" Kasumi cried out, yanking her headphones out of her ears, she had been calmly listening to one of her favourite songs, when out of nowhere, all she could hear was static, the volume was so high, as she liked to fully hear the music, this was a mistake as the static caused her ears to hurt. "What the heck was that!?" she screamed, her hearing temporally gone.
When the buzzing had gone, she grabbed her phone, the device she had been using, and carefully placed her ear next to one of the earpieces, all she could hear was the music she was playing before. "Huh? That was weird, what was that about?" she said, after a while of thinking about it, she shrugged, and then put the earpieces back in, layed down on her bed and listened to the rest of the song...
"Korrupted Soul Graz'zt! Attack his Amphibious Swarmship Amblowhale" NoPlayer yelled out, grinning ear to ear behind his mask as his monster attacked the whale like Link Monster, destroying it. Since Graz'zt had 3200 ATK, due to being Co-Linked to Machina Red Beret.
This took away 600 LP from their opponent, bring them down to 400. "I-I activate Amblowhale's effect!" they stuttered out, panicking at the shear ferocity that NoPlayer was using against them. "When it's destroyed, I can target one Link 3 or lower Link Monster in my Graveyard and-" "That's not going to work!" NoPlayer grinned out, cutting them off.
"Graz'zt's effect! When you activate a monster's effect, I can banish a monster from my Hand or Graveyard..." he sent Machina Synchron from his Hand to his banished zone, "This then lets me negate your monster's effect, banish that monster, and then inflict 400 damage to you!" Graz'zt then discharge a huge amount of dark lighting at the victim, who cried out in pain as they fell unconscious. Their LP becoming 0.
"Thanks for the win! I'll be taking your prized Amblowhale..." NoPlayer fired a beam from his Duel Disk, it hit the victim's Duel Disk, and removed the mentioned card.
NoPlayer then smiled to himself, ever since his nightmare involving Codebuster was over, he had been on a roll, nothing was stopping him, he instantly took out anyone foolish enough to think they could stand before him. And once he was sure he was ready, even Codebuster, and maybe even Playmaker would fall before- "Huh!?" NoPlayer looked around, and noticed that the alleyway, which he was Dueling in just a moment ago was lagging, once it stopped, he was confused.
"Odd? That's never happened before, wonder what happened?" he asked himself, "Oh well, doesn't matter to me! See ya loser!" he waved to his unconscious victim, and logged off...
Back in the real world, in Matoyia's room, his computer had started itself up, and was once again creating new Link Monster, based on the data of the Code Talkers that the owner of the computer had just gotten. As it was just about to finish the final touches to the first of three, and error occurred, followed by multiple system crashes, this caused the computer to instantly reboot itself, to avoid damage to the system.
A few moments later, it turned itself back on, after checking to see what had happened, which the computer couldn't find, the mouse cursor went back to creating the cards, it went to select the Link Monster format, but nothing happened, it kept doing it, but still nothing...
...
...
The cursor then moved over to the Code Talker's data, and back to the Format layout, it kept moving between the two, as though trying to think of what to do, just then the cursor turned into a lightbulb, if it couldn't make Link Monster... it would just make something else... With that in mind, the cursor being to remake the cards entirely...
Playmaker and Ai were shocked at the sight of the dragon, "Ah! It's scary! That's the monster he got from the Data Storm, it's going to-" Ai stopped and looked at the dragon's stats as it appeared in the Extra Monster Zone to Codebuster's Right. Linked to it was Operator.
Malirus Critical Dragon: DARK [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/1500 LINK/-3, LMs: ↙⬆↘
"1500 ATK? Oh that's not so bad, why was I so scared for?" Ai sighed, relieved, "That sure was a scare, huh Playmaker?" it asked, but didn't get a response, "Playmaker? Hey, did you not hear me?" Ai looked up to see Playmaker was nervous, "Hey? What's wrong Playmaker, why are you nervous about that monster, its ATK is lower that our-" "That monster..." Playmaker began, thinking back to what he saw in the Data Storm, before being ejected from it, the monster from then, and the one before them.
"It's the same one that I saw in the Data Storm!" he concluded, shocking Ai with this, "Are you kidding!? That's the monster that's been attacking us!?" Ai looked back at the new monster, "That can't be! That monster was powerful, this one only has-"
"Critical Dragon's effect" Codebuster cut Ai off, Critical Dragon was enveloped by a red aura. "This monster gains 300 ATK times the total amount of Link Markers on the Field!" he explained, shocking them, Ghost Girl, Frog, Pigeon, and even Ares. "The total amount of Link Markers on the Field!?" Pigeon cried out. Currently the Link Monsters on the Field were three Link 3 Monsters, Critical Dragon, Operator, Excode Talker, and a Link 4, Firewall Dragon, making the total 13
"The total amount of Markers is 13! T-Then t-that means..." Ai began to shake, Critical Dragon's ATK rising. "That means Critical Dragon gains 3900 ATK!" Codebuster yelled out, Critical Dragon screeched, surging with tremendous power. Critical Dragon's ATK: 1500 + 3900 = 5400
"5400 ATK!" Ai panicked, "That's not all! As your Link Monsters are also affected!" Codebuster said, "They lose 100 ATK for every Link Marker they possess!" Firewall Dragon and Excode Talker felt some of their strength leave them. 3000 - 400 = 2600 (Firewall Dragon) Excode Talker's ATK: 2300 - 300 = 2000
"This monster..." Playmaker began, "This monster is the bane to all Link Monsters!" he concluded, just by that single effect. "It's over Playmaker!" Codebuster shouted. "I set a card!" Codebuster set his last card.
"Battle! Malirus Critical Dragon! Attack Excode Talker!" Critical Dragon's wings all clamped together, forming a honeycomb formation, the energy wings began to discharge energy, which was then transferred into the dragon's body and up to its head, causing a small sphere of red energy to gather, slowly getting bigger every second.
"This is the end! Terrorbyte Burst of Devastation!" The dragon screeched, and then fired, unleashing a huge desctruction beam at Excode Talker, in its wake the windows of the surrounding buildings shattered. "Playmaker! Do something!" Ai screamed, Playmaker looked to the beam, and faced it head on, before being shrouded in the light of the attack...
To be Continued...
Skills
(Codebuster)
Weirdware's Hack
Activate 1, and only 1 of the following effects, depending on the action your opponent makes before activating this Skill:
Declares a direct attack: Special Summon 1 "Weirdware" monster from your GY in Attack Position, your opponent's monster must attack it, it cannot be destroyed by battle for the rest of the turn, but it is banished at the end of the turn.
Targets a Spell or Trap you control (face-down or up) Return that targeted card to your Hand, then activate a different Spell or Trap from your Deck.
Activates their Skill: During the next turn it was activated; you can activate that same Skill by paying half your Life Points. ("Weirdware" cards become the target of the effect, if required)
It took me a while to think of a good Skill for Codebuster, I had this Duel planned out for a while, but I needed to way for him to use Storm Access... without truly having that Skill. At first I was going to just have the single effect that copied the Skill and call it "Identity Thief" but then it would've been really restrictive to just use the Skill, if the opponent's Skill met his needs... This way, he can use it more often, where he needs it, but for different scenarios...
OC cards
(Codebuster)
Weirdware Reviver
DARK, Level: 1 [Cyberse/Effect] ATK/400 DEF/300
When this card is used to Link Summon a "Weirdware" Link Monster: Banish this card, then Special Summon 1 other "Weirdware" in your GY. If this card was linked to a Link Monster when used as Link Material: Special Summon up to 2 "Weirdware" monsters from your GY instead.
Weirdware Rebound
Normal Trap
Activate this card when a "Weirdware" monster you control is targeted for an attack or card effect. Apply the following effect, depending on what that monster was targeted for: Battle: If that monster is destroyed in that battle; destroy the monster that destroyed it. Card effect: Your opponent must target 1 of their own monsters for the effect, regardless of what the card's effect
Weirdware Accumulator
WATER [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/1700 LINK/-2, LMs: B, R
2 "Weirdware" monsters, including 1 Link Monster
When this card is Special Summoned: Special Summon 1 "Weirdware" monster from your GY, but negate its effects for the rest of the turn. Once per turn, increase the ATK of all monsters this card points to by 600, then for every monster affected by this effect: Gain 300 Life Points. When this card declares an attack against a monster: It gains ATK equal to the total amount that monsters this card points to gained with this card's above effect, but then all monster's ATK affected by this card's effect return to their original ATK.
Weirdware Operator
WIND [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/2300 LINK/-3, LMs: L, B, R
2+ "Weirdware" monsters
You can only activate each of the following effects, once per turn: 1) After this card has attacked a monster, target 1 monster this card points to, half its ATK until the end of the battle phase, and if you do: That monster can attack your opponent directly this turn. 2) When a monster this card points to is the target of an attack: This card becomes the target instead, and if this card is destroyed; Special Summon it at the end of the turn. 3) Once per turn, target cards your opponent controls, up to the number of monsters this card points to: return them to your opponent's Hand.
Malirus Critical Dragon
DARK [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK/1500 LINK/-3, LMs: BL, T, BR
2+ Link Monsters
This card gains 300 ATK x the total Link Rating of Link Monsters on the Field, while your opponent's Link Monsters lose 100 ATK x their own Link Rating. When a monster this card points to is destroyed: Destroy 1 card your opponent control, if that monster was a Link Monster; destroy cards up to the Link Rating of that Link Monster. If your opponent activates the effect of a Link Monster: (Quick Effect) Banish 1 Link Monster from your GY: Negate the activate of that monster's effect, and if you do; inflict 300 damage to your opponent x the combined Link Rating of those negated and banished Link Monsters.
(Playmaker)
Modified version of Flick Clown
If this card is the only card in your Hand: Special Summon it. If you have no cards in your hand: You can pay 500 LP; draw 1 card. You can only activate this effect of "Flick Clown" once per turn.
Target Recalibration
Quick-Play Spell
During your opponent's Battle Phase, when your opponent declares an attack with their monster against your monster: Target a different monster you control, that monster becomes the target of the attack, and cannot be destroyed in that battle. If you take battle damage during the turn this card is activated: Draw 1 card.