Phantom Factor

[Quillion9000]

Yuto Pharos has lost his parents, his mother's will oddly including a clause specifically giving him permission to live alone in Heartland City rather than their countryside home. Not long after he arrives and starts attending Heartland Academy, the phantasmal figure known as Astral comes to a student one grade lower, Yuma Tsukumo, and brings with him the Numbers. [YutoxRioxRuri]

 

[Quillion9000]

Japanese Countryside: Home, Dawn…
A six year old Yuto yawned as he walked past pictures of him, his parents, and them together. He had grey eyes with two toned black in the back and light purple in the front hair that was swept towards the right. He currently wore pajamas.

Yuto noticed light coming from the living room, along with two figures silhouetted by lamp light. "Mommy and Daddy?"

Yuto peeked around the corner, seeing his father and mother sitting on the couch. His father was a broad shouldered guy who had medium length dark red hair with a matching beard and hazel eyes. He wore a green shirt with brown cargo pants and had on a cast over his right leg.

The crutches he'd been using were sat nearby. His mother was lean in contrast with long black hair in a ponytail and blue eyes. Her attire consisted of a white tank top with black pants. She also had a towel around her shoulder, indicating she'd showered recently.

"Come on." Father put an arm around his wife, his voice reassuring. "You know this is my kind of job, and it pays pretty well to boot."

"I know." Mother sighed. "Look, I've said my piece."

"Admit it." Father gently elbowed her. "You're just thinking I'll look ridiculous without this awesome beard of mine."

Despite how she felt, Mother couldn't help herself from laughing at that. "Sure, let's go with that." All too quickly, her prior feelings resurfaced as tears came to her eyes. "I'm just worried."

"Hey, hey." Father wrapped an arm around her. "Look, I promise I'll be careful." He then noticed Yuto, who ended up coming into the living room. "Oh, hey there kiddo."

"Why is Mommy crying?" Yuto questioned.

"She's…just a bit worried I'll get hurt again." Upon hearing that, Yuto couldn't help himself from glancing at the cast. "That's all."

Yuto thought about that before getting an idea. "I know! You can just find a different job." That had his parents looking at one another. "One that's less dangerous."

"That's a good idea." Father ruffled his hair. "Still, someone has to do this job." He leaned forward. "When I see someone in danger, and I have the ability to save them, I would reach out. Even if I put myself at risk, I'd feel it's the right thing to do. Ya know?"

Heartland: Home, 8 Years Later…
Yuto had woken with his alarm, spending the morning getting ready for school. It was a middle school which required a uniform, slightly different for each year. As a second year, his consisted of a white shirt with green-lined sleeves, tie, and collar alongside blue jeans.

With today being his start at a new school, there was only two things more he had to do before heading out. Yuto headed on downstairs and entered a small room containing a shrine which held two pictures, one for each of his parents. Yuto knelt and clasped his hands.

"Today, I start my next chapter. Can't say I understand why mother's will specified I live here, but I'll make the most of it. Even if that is my intention, I still wish you two were here with me."

Yuto gave it a few extra moments before departing from the room and hitting the kitchen. He snatched a granola bar and bottle of juice before heading out the door. Once he made sure the door was looked, Yuto was on his way.

Heartland Academy
Heartland Academy was a larger school compared to where Yuto attended previously. Many more floors and buildings, all on a far greater acreage. He had studied a map received upon being accepted, seeing him reach the staff room after a minor delay due to a wrong turn.

Entering the room saw him welcomed by his new homeroom and history teacher, Erin Stein. She was a woman with shoulder length brown hair and amber eyes. She wore a long black skirt with a white blouse and black tie.

"Ah, Yuto." Ms. Stein gave a sincere smile. "You've arrived promptly and dressed accordingly for your first day." She nodded. "If you'll follow me, I'll take you to my classroom."

Yuto nodded. "Right, ma'am."

Homeroom
"Good morning, class." Ms. Stein voiced. "Today, the new transfer student I've told you about shall be joining us." She looked to the door. "Please, come in." Yuto opened the door and walked in to stand beside the teacher's desk. "Would you introduce yourself?"

Yuto turned to face his classmates. "Hey, I am Yuto Pharos."

"Is that all you wish to say?" Ms. Stein questioned.

He should have figured just his name wouldn't cut it.

"I suppose you could say I'm aiming for the top of the dueling world." Yuto stated. "In actuality, aiming for that is what helps me fulfill my real goal. Something I've constantly been checking off. To put it simply, I want to get into as many duels as possible.

Preferably, I'd like to be challenged by them, but this does not mean I dislike duels where I am not. I picked up a deck because there is nothing else in this world I'd rather be than a duelist. Weather I reach the top or not, a duelist I will still be."

"Very good, Yuto." Ms. Stein nodded. "Please, take any open seat for today." Yuto made his way to his new desk. "Before I forget, Reginald, would you show him around school later?"

Reginald was a boy with dark blue eyes, pale skin, and dark purple hair which resembled tentacles hanging down. He also had a light blue 'crown' in the front of his forehead.

"Why me?" Reginald questioned.

"Unless something has changed that I haven't been made aware of, you aren't part of any club and often leave the second school concludes." Ms. Stein noted. "That certainly frees you up to at spend a little time giving our new student a tour."

Reginald sighed in resignation. "Alright, I'll do it."

"Good." Ms. Stein smiled. "Now, let us begin the day proper…"

After School
"You, follow me." Reginald voiced as he approached the new student. "Let's get this over with."

Yuto stood. "Lead the way, Reginald."

"Call me Shark." Shark returned, leading the way out of their last class. "More people call me that than my actual name."

"Why would people call you that?" Yuto asked, curiously.

"It's because a majority of my deck consists of sharks." Shark responded annoyed. "Got a problem with it?"

"Nah, I'm actually interested in seeing what a deck like that can do." Yuto replied. "How about a duel?"

"I just want to get this tour over with." Shark retorted. "Besides, a loser like you wouldn't stand a chance."

"I didn't think I was that intimidating a guy." Yuto commented.

"What did you say?" Shark asked, slightly offended at the insinuation.

"It's all I can figure as your reason given you haven't seen me duel." Yuto replied.

"Alright loser, you're on." Shark declared. "Just remember, you asked for this."

"I will." Yuto assured.

Heartland Academy
The two of them now stood across from one another.

"I hope you put up a challenge." Yuto stated.

"You're sure of yourself." Shark returned. "We'll see if you still are once I'm through with you."

"Let's Duel!"

(Yuto 4000/Shark 4000)

"I'll take the first move!" Yuto drew. "While it may not seem like much, all I'll do is set two cards and end my turn there."

"That's one way to start." Shark drew. "As for me, I'll summon Saber Shark(LV 4/1600/1200)." A purple shark with a saber atop its head appeared. "Since I control a water attributed monster, I can special summon Silent Angler(LV 4/800/1400)." An angler fish appeared.

"Two level four monsters…" Yuto noted.

"Not where this is going." Shark retorted, knowing where his opponent's mind was. "Up to twice per turn, Saber lets me target any fish type monsters on my field to increase or decrease their levels by one. I'm opting to decrease each of my monsters' levels by one."

Saber Shark(LV 3/1600/1200 effect)
Silent Angler(LV 3/800/1400 effect)

"Does this mean his extra deck is full of rank 3 monsters, or are those monsters merely the better option in this circumstance?" Yuto contemplated.

"Now, I overlay my level 3 Saber Shark and Silent Angler." Shark continued. "Xyz summon Submersible Carrier Aero Shark(R 3/O2/1900/1000)." Twin sharks bound by orange metal appeared. "I'll use his ability." Submersible Carrier Aero Shark(R 3/O1/1900/1000).

"By removing one overlay unit, you take 400 points of damage for every card in my hand. Since I have four, that adds up to 1600 life points worth of damage." Yuto was bombarded by missiles (Yuto 2400/Shark 4000). "I'll then leave you with barely anything by attacking."

"You've activated my first face down, The Phantom Knights of Wrong Magnetring(LV 2/0/0." Yuto countered. "This trap negates any one attack before summoning itself as a monster to the field." A copper ring radiating blue energy appeared.

"A pseudo trap!" Shark exclaimed before looking at his hand. "With my attack negated, I'll set two face downs to conclude my turn."

"My turn!" Yuto drew. "I activate my second face down, The Phantom Knights of Lost Vambrace(LV 2/600/0). I now target my The Phantom Knights of Wrong Magnetring. If it had any ATK, it'd have lost 600. If its level were more than 2, it'd be set to 2.

"Neither of those are true, so what exactly is the point?" Shark questioned.

"The point is those effects last until the end of this turn, along with the fact any of my The Phantom Knights monsters can't be destroyed by battle this turn." Yuto replied. "Beyond that, this trap summons itself as a level 2 monster." A black vambrace full of blue energy appeared.

"I now use my level 2 Lost Vambrace and Wrong Magnetring to construct the Overlay Network. Xyz summon The Phantom Knights of Cursed Javelin (R 2/O 2/1600/0)." A skeletal warrior with a javelin appeared. "I won't settle for just that.

I summon The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak(LV 3/800/1000)." Blue energy cloaked in purple attire appeared. "If this monster is in ATK position, I can swap it to defense. Through this, any one dark attributed monster on the field gains 800 ATK/DEF until the end of this turn.

I select my The Phantom Knights of Cursed Javelin (R 2/O 2/2400/800 effect). Since I control a The Phantom Knights monster, I can special summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots(LV 3/200/1200)."

Blue energy contained within brown attire appeared. "I now use my level 3 Ancient Cloak and Silent Boots to construct the overlay network once more. Xyz summon The Phantom Knights of Break Sword (R 3/O 2/2000/1000)." A black suit of armor atop a black steed appeared.

"I get it now." Shark noted. "He utilizes pseudo traps and monsters in tandem to get out Xyz monsters faster than most average duelists could. I doubt that's all there is to those cards, just one thing they could do well."

"Now, I'll set one card." Yuto voiced. "With that, the pieces have been assembled to start clearing your field. First, I detach 1 material from The Phantom Knights of Break Sword (R 3/O 1/2000/1000) to target 1 card you control and 1 card I control, both will be destroyed.

I choose your face down on the left and my one face down." Yuto's set quick-play Shrink and Shark's set Zeus' Breath were revealed before being shattered. "Next, I'll detach one overlay unit from The Phantom Knights of Cursed Javelin(R 2/O 1/2400/800 effect).

I target your Aero Shark, negating its effects and zeroing out its ATK until the end of this turn." Submersible Carrier Aero Shark(R 3/O1/0/1000 effect). "Now, it is as good as attacking directly, so I'll have Cursed Javelin destroy your Aero Shark."

Javelin hurled his weapon at Aero Shark, the javelin tearing through and destroying it (Yuto 2400/Shark 1600).

"You destroyed some protection and wiped out my monster; however, you're not about to win." Shark declared. "I activate my remaining face down, Torrential Reborn. With it, I can return any monsters that were just destroyed back to my field.

In this case, it'll be my Submersible Carrier Aero Shark(R 3/O0/1900/1000) in defense mode. Then, you're going to be taking 500 life points of damage since a monster was brought back through this effect."

Water fell on the Phantom Knights user (Yuto 1900/Shark 1600).

"In that case, I'll destroy your Aero Shark once more with Break Sword." On Yuto's command, Break Sword rode forward atop his steed and sliced the monster. "That shall conclude my turn."

"My move!" Shark drew. "First, I'll activate Underwater Snow Prison. With it, I can banish any one monster on the field, and I select Cursed Javelin." Javelin fell into a wormhole. "Next, I summon Needle Sunfish(LV 3/1500/100)." A fish with lots of teeth appeared.

Summoning Sunfish allows me to then special summon Shark Stickers(LV 3/200/1000)." A long, blue fish appeared. I now use my level 3 Shark Stickers and Needle Sunfish to construct the overlay network. Xyz Summon Shark Caesar(R 3/O 2/1800/2000)."

A purple and gold shark appeared. "Once per turn, I can detach one overlay unit to place 1 shark counter on it." Shark Caesar(R 3/O 1/1800/2000/1SC). "The monster I detached was my Needle Sunfish. When it goes to the grave, one monster you control loses 500 ATK.

All you have is The Phantom Knights of Break Sword (R 3/O 1/1500/1000 effect). Now, Shark Caesar will tear your Break Sword apart. Whenever Caesar is involved in a battle while having shark counters, he gains 1000 ATK."

Shark Caesar(R 3/O 1/2800/2000/1SC effect)

The Phantom Knights of Break Sword was devoured (Yuto 600/Shark 1600).

Shark Caesar(R 3/O 1/1800/2000/1SC)

"Whenever Break Sword is destroyed, I can summon 2 The Phantom Knights monsters with the same level from my grave, and their levels will be increased by one. Return, The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak(LV 4/800/1000) and The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots(LV 4/200/1200)."

"Does he have a Rank 4 monster as well?" Shark smirked. "Not bad, keeping your field stocked with monsters like that. I end my turn."

"I got to say, you are good yourself." Yuto voiced. "While I necessarily don't care whether I win or lose, I never do enter into a duel wanting to loose. With the cards I have on field, I do believe that desire will be met!"

"Really, you can get out something that can overpower Caesar Shark?" Shark crossed his arms. "Do I need to remind you this monster gains 1000 ATK for each shark counter during battle and currently has one to his name?"

"Just watch." Yuto voiced. "I use my level 4 Silent Book and Ancient Cloak to construct the overlay network. Cloaked in shadows and relentless in its objective, I call upon the most dangerous of dragons. Xyz summon Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 2/2500/2000)."

A purple and black dragon appeared. "I now activate the effect of my dragon, detaching one overlay unit to cut the ATK of your Shark Caesar in half." Dark Rebellion fired off purple lightning, which restricted Shark's monster. "Then, that lost ATK goes to my dragon."

Shark Caesar(R 3/O 1/900/2000/1SC effect)
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 1/3400/2000 effect)

"These changes last until the end of the turn." Yuto declared. "While that isn't uncommon, what would be is the fact Dark Rebellion can utilize this effect as many times a turn as the number of overlay units he holds. I wouldn't bring this up if I didn't intend to use it again!"

Shark Caesar(R 3/O 1/450/2000/1SC effect)
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 0/3850/2000 effect)

Shark stared at the dragon, wide-eyed.

"Time for the finishing blow!" Yuto exclaimed. "Dark Rebellion, destroy that shark with Mauling Mandible Charge!"

"We'll meet you head on." Shark's firmed himself up. "Shark Caesar, go!"

Shark Caesar(R 3/O 1/1450/2000/1SC effect)

The two monsters charged at one another with Dark Rebellion biting clean through the opposing monster, his maw sparking. Shark was flung back, hitting the ground as his life points were reduced (Yuto 600/Shark 0).

Yuto approached his opponent. "That was a good game."

"Yeah." Shark got up from the ground. "Guess I shouldn't have called you a loser."

"I hope we can duel again sometime." Yuto said.

"Count on it." Shark smirked. "After all, I got to pay you back for beating me now."

"For an opponent like you, I'm game." Yuto replied. "Since I look for skilled opponents, is there anyone better than you here?"

"Only one person has shown themselves to be more skilled than me." Shark nodded. "I'm looking at him, right now."

"Guess that just means we'll have to rematch soon." Yuto voiced.

"We will, sometime." Shark said. "For now, should we continue the tour?"

"Sure, lead the way pal." Yuto stated.

"Pal, huh?" Shark stared at him for a good moment before turning. "Just, come on."

Next Day…
As Yuto walked onto academy grounds, he was suddenly surrounded by students from all grades.

"Hey, is it true that you beat Shark?"

"Yeah, just yesterday after school." Yuto replied.

"Don't lie! Shark would never lose to someone like you."

"Yeah, she's right."

"You must have cheated."

"Leave him alone." Shark broke through the crowd, coming to stand next to Yuto. "The new guy beat me fair and square, which is something you losers could only ever dream of."

"So, it is true?"

"If you want to see my skills first hand, I'll take you on any time I'm free." Yuto pushed through the crowd. "Right now, I got to get to homeroom." Shark joined him, prompting the phantom knights user to look his way. "Thanks for that, Shark."

"Whatever." Shark returned. "Just know, I'll eventually come challenge you."

"I'll accept that challenge, any time I'm free." Yuto replied.

Shark simply smirked at that as he walked past the phantom knights user.

 

[Quillion9000]

???
A tan skinned, red-eyed guy with black and red hair pointing upwards walked along a crumbling path, the only thing around it being empty darkness. Around his neck sat the Emperor's Key. His attire consisted of a red vest, blue sleeveless shirt, and white pants. This was Yuma Tsukumo.

"Whoever can open this door will gain a great new power, but know that with such a reward comes great risk. Have you the courage to unlock this power?"

Yuma had come up to metal door with yellow eyes and sharp toothed face of a demon. "Great risk? Let me think about it." He stepped back. "Don't think sooooooo…"

As he put his foot down, the ground crumbled and sent him plummeting.

Tsukumo Residence: Morning…
Yuma fell out of his hammock within the attic. "Ugh, weird dream." He sat up. "Oh well, at least I'm up now." The nearby clock went off, catching his attention and seeing him leap to his feet. "Oh man, I'm running late!"

He scrambled to collect his deck. "What am I forgetting?" He lept down to his bedroom. "What am I forgetting?" The onomat user realized he was still wearing his pajamas. "Oh yeah, I got to get dressed."

Yuma put on the first year uniform for Heartland before rushing downstairs. His older sister, Kari, was using several monitors to search for the next big 'scoop'. She had dark pink hair tied in a ponytail, fair skin, and grey eyes. She wore a blue shirt with an orange and black jumper.

"What gives Kari?" Yuma questioned, flustered.

"Because I'm a news reporter, not your babysitter." Kari held up a mug of coffee. "You're in middle school now little bro, act like it."

She took a drink while Yuma made a face. The onomat user then ran out of the house, putting his shoes on in the process. His grandmother was busy sweeping the pavement outside.

"Bye Grandma." Yuma voiced quickly.

"What about my goodbye kiss?" Haru asked.

"No time!" Yuma exclaimed, rushing past her.

Haru's eyes flashed in anger before she used the handle of her broom to catch Yuma's collar and lift him off the ground.

"Grandma!" Yuma flailed about. "What are you doing?"

"Either you give me a goodbye kiss, or there will be trouble." Haru threatened.

Yuma relented, giving his grandmother a kiss on the cheek before running onward.

Heartland City
Yuma was running through the city, rice ball shoved in his mouth. On his way, he managed to leapfrog over a litterbot, which caused it to spin wildly out of control. Litterbots were large, white robots that had a small, circular face, four wheels, and two thin mechanical arms.

"Thanks for the lift!" Yuma shouted.

Monorail
"There goes Yuma, bout to be late as usual."

Hearing that caught the attention of a young girl with dark green hair in a bun and orange eyes. She wore the first year's female version of the Heartland Academy outfit with a pink collar and skirt. This was Tori Meadows, who looked out the window of the monorail to see Yuma.

"Maybe one day he'll actually make it to school on time."

Heartland Academy
While Yuma was late to first period, that wasn't unusual and simply led into the rest of his day. Come second period, gym, a classmate challenged him to jump over twenty blocks and set the school record.

"That record is going down because I'm about to high five the sky!" Yuma shouted as he ran up to the springboard and jumped.

He was vaulted into the air, only to end up crashing into the middle of the boxes.

"Are you alright Yuma?" Tori asked in concern while the rest of the class burst into laughter.

"Yeah, the ground isn't that hard." Yuma mumbled.

The class then went to the swimming pool, after changing into their swimsuits, where another classmate challenged Yuma to swim an entire lap underwater and in one breath.

"Good luck, Yuma!" Tori called out.

"Heh, there's no way he'll do it."

After a few seconds, several bubbles started to appear on top of the water before Yuma surfaced. He was spitting out pool water while his face was a tad green. The rest of the class laughed while Tori looked on worriedly. Soon enough, the bell rang which signified an end to gym.

It was onto English where Tori leaned over to the onomat user. "So, why do you do it Yuma?"

"Those dares?" Yuma glanced at her. "Why not? It's good fun."

"It's good fun to turn green coughing up pool water?" Tori asked incredulously.

"No, but that's the price you pay." Yuma replied. "If you're going to be great, you got to take chances. That's why I take lots because I want to be the greatest." He then held up his Emperor's Key. "With this golden key, one day I will be."

"That's the key your parents gave you, right?" Tori questioned. "That they found on one of their expeditions?"

"Yep." Yuma answered. "This key here unlocks potential. Isn't that cool?"

"Really?" Tori questioned, interested. "Think it could work on me?"

"Nope." Yuma answered instantly.

Tori fell forward at that. "Why?"

"It's because this key is part of me." Yuma grinned. "With it, I'm good to go." He stood. "With it, I feel the flow!" The class looked at him while the teacher had made her way over and cleared her throat. "Sorry."

The bell rang not long after, meaning it was dueling period.

Duel Field
Tori headed out to the duel field with a sigh. She should have realized Yuma's passion would see him act like that, even in class. What she knew of the onomat user had been disregarded in the moment out of concern for his wellbeing.

She didn't feel bad for bringing out Yuma's passion, not in the slightest. What Tori felt bad about was bringing it out of him during class, to the point the teacher asked him to hang back and dismissed her when she tried to stay.

The only bright spot in this situation was the fact Yuma hadn't held it against her in the moment, and she knew he wouldn't hold this against her moving forward. Wanting to wait for Yuma before dueling, Tori walked around the field and watched other people duel.

In her distracted state, someone saw an opportunity. It was a shorter first year guy with round green glasses and brown hair. Alongside the uniform for the academy, he wore a blue and black hat which had a shooting star symbol on it.

This was Flip Turner, who managed to position himself within Tori's path. When she bumped into him, he managed to knock her deck box loose from her belt. The girl's fairy cards fell out and scattered along the ground.

Despite recognizing Flip, knowing what he was about, Tori believed this was on her. "Sorry, Flip."

She then sunk to the floor, working to collect her scattered cards. Without a word in the moment, Flip joined her, moving rapidly as he did and managing to push record on his duel pad. Between the two of them, the pair seemingly had every card.

Flip passed his pile back to her. "Here you go, Tori."

"Wow." Tori voiced, surprised. "Thanks for helping me collect my deck."

Flip ran his hand over his duel pad, ceasing the recording while pulling out a card he managed to slip past her. "For my services, I believe I'll be keeping this card in particular."

Tori looked at the card, only to widen her eyes in anger. "H-Hey, you can't just take my Master Hyperion!" She moved towards him, reaching out to snatch the card. "That's…"

Flip stepped back before holding up his duel pad, which displayed the recently recorded video paused on the grateful look she gave him. "Now Tori, you got your deck back. While you may have lost your Master Hyperion, that is no excuse to rob me of mine."

"I let my guard down…" Tori recognized.

She had been too caught up in the moment to remember just who this was. Flip would have never lifted a finger to help her unless he could get something out of it. In this moment, he saw his chance to snag her ace monster.

"Everything and everyone has its flip side." Flip chuckled, knowing he had her. "With this card as good as mine, I can now get her into a position where I get what I really want." He smirked. "Of course, this card does me little good as is."

"What is it you want, Flip?" Tori questioned reluctantly.

"You and I will duel." Flip voiced. "If you win, I'll give you MY Master Hyperion to complete your deck. If I win, you will hand your entire deck to me. Deal?"

Tori recognized how high the stakes of this duel were. She spent years putting this deck of hers together, did plenty of chores to raise the money. Out of every card she got, Hyperion had taken the longest to find. It was too the point she could spend years trying to find another.

"Fine." Tori sighed. "Deal."

Flip smirked, tucking the card away on his person. "Then, let us begin."

With Yuma
Yuma ran on out to the duel field. "Alright, finally out for duel period!" There were duels happening all over, though you wouldn't see it without a duel gazer like the one he now wore. "Let's get to it! Question is, who should I duel?"

He was on the lookout for Tori, but that didn't mean he couldn't look for an opponent. What he found first was a potential opponent, spotting Shark at a bench with some guy he couldn't recall having seen before.

Granted, he doesn't know everyone in Heartland Academy by name. "Still, certain I haven't seen someone like him around."

"Finally taking a break I see." Shark commented.

"I think it's more that people have been warned off since I got here." Yuto replied. "From what I've overhear in the halls, they're thinking twice before jumping straight into a duel with me."

Since that first day when he dueled Shark, Yuto has been challenged by other students to the point he's lost count. While none of them challenged him like the shark user, that didn't mean there hadn't been any challenging duels to speak of.

Aside from the fact Shark was his most challenging duel since arriving here, what seemed to set him apart was his passion for the game. He wasn't an emotional sort, kind of like Yuto himself, but he had a love for the game the phantom knights user hasn't seen in anyone else here.

"Hey, new guy!" Yuma called out, catching the older pair's attention.

"If there's one idiot at this school who hasn't heard of you until now, he would certainly be it." Shark muttered.

Yuma hadn't heard the shark user as he approached and paid him minimal mind now as his gaze zeroed in on the phantom knights user. "I don't know why you're sitting around when there's dueling to be had." He grinned. "Come on, let's duel."

"You wouldn't even stand a chance going toe to toe with me." Shark voiced before the phantom knights user could respond. "Forget competing with the only other duelist in this school with skills better than mine."

"If that's your way of saying I got to take you down before I duel him, we can duel first." Yuma declared, a little peeved at being talked down to.

"Dueling you would be a waste of my time." Shark waved him off. "If Yuto wants to have it out with you, I'm not his keeper."

While this back and forth was interesting in its own way, Yuto decided to interject as he stood. "I think this is where I step in." He looked to the onomat user. "You challenged me to a duel, and I haven't turned down a challenge yet. By the way, I'm Yuto Pharos."

"Alright, I'm Yuma Tsukumo." Yuma was fired up, turning his attention to the phantom knights user. "Get set to get decked!"

The two of them parted before facing off. Just from this short interaction, Yuto could tell Yuma had passion, optimism, and energy to spare. Someone like this couldn't be nearly as bad at the game as Shark had essentially been hinting at, right?"

(Yuto 4000/Yuma 4000)

"The first move is mine!" Yuma drew. "I summon Zubaba Buster(LV 3/1800/600)." A blue armored warrior with an orange cape appeared. "I'll then play Blustering Winds, giving him 1000 ATK/DEF." Zubaba Buster (LV 3/2800/1600 effect). "Let's see you beat that."

"You got a monster with all that attack yet can't even utilize it for anything." Shark scoffed, drawing the onomat user's eye.

"It's better for me to control the field with a strong monster." Yuma argued.

"That may be a good point most times; however, you took the first turn." Yuto interjected. "If all you planned for is a monster with high ATK, it's not much to look at. After all, you can't do a thing with all those ATK points nor did you set something in the backrow."

"Getting a strong monster out alone might be risky, but that's how I duel." Yuma voiced.

"You got a good attitude, though lack the idea." Yuto drew. "Allow me to demonstrate. Since you control a monster where I do not, I can special summon The Phantom Knights of Night Crown(LV 4/500/1500)." A suit of armor containing blue energy and wearing a crown appeared.

With my normal summon, I'll bring out The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves(LV 3/1000/500)." Light blue energy wearing worn gloves appeared. "I'll then utilize Night Crown's second effect, declaring a level of four and making my two Phantom Knights that level."

The Phantom Knights of Night Crown(LV 4/0/0)
The Phantom Knights of Ragged Gloves(LV 4/1000/500)

"Two monsters of the same level…" Yuma voiced in awe.

"Good, you know what this means." Yuto declared. "I build the overlay network with level 4 Night Crown and Ragged Gloves. Cloaked in shadows and relentless in its objective, I call upon the most dangerous of dragons.

Xyz summon Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 2/2500/2000)." A purple and black dragon appeared. "Since Ragged Glove was used as a material for this Dark attributed monster, he grants one thousand extra ATK to him." Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 2/3500/2000 effect).

"That's more than my Buster!" Yuma exclaimed.

"The gap is only going to widen." Yuto declared. "I now activate the effect of my dragon, detaching one overlay unit to cut the ATK of your Buster in half." Dark Rebellion fired off purple lightning, which restricted Yuma's monster. "Then, that lost ATK goes to my dragon."

Zubaba Buster (LV 3/1400/1600 effect)
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 1/4900/2000 effect)

"Though these changes last until the end of the turn, my dragon's only restriction on how many times this effect can be used a turn would be down to just how many overlay units he has." Yuto continued. "Since I have one more, one more time I shall use this effect."

Zubaba Buster (LV 3/700/1600 effect)
Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon(R 4/O 0/5600/2000 effect)

Yuma stared at the dragon, wide-eyed. "Even with my Buster's current ATK, I'll still take over 4000 life points worth of damage." He had managed to do the math. "All my life points, just like that!?"

"Sorry, Yuma." Yuto exclaimed. "Dark Rebellion, destroy Zubaba Buster with Mauling Mandible Charge!"

Dark Rebellion bit clean through Zubaba Buster, his maw sparking with electricity. Yuma was knocked clean off his feet as his life points were depleted in one, fell swoop (Yuto 4000/Yuma 0).

"That dragon of yours can be a problem." Shark noted, walking up to the phantom knights user.

"Only in instances were my opponent's defense is light." Yuto retorted.

Dark Rebellion was a fine ace, as well as Yuto's favorite monster. None of that saw him turn a blind eye to what other monsters could provide him in a duel.

"Man, another loss." Yuma groaned as he stood, only to touch his neck aera and panic. "MY EMPEROR'S KEY!"

He dropped to his hands and knees, feeling all around the ground for his missing item. Yuto spotted it a few feet away from the onomat user, seeing him going over and retrieving it.

"It's just over here." Yuto informed.

"Thank you!" Yuma declared, scrambling to his feet.

He rushed over to the phantom knights user, who handed the item over. Once given his Emperor's Key, Yuma put it back around his neck and adjusted the string to better secure it.

"Given how obsessed you seem to be with dueling, hard to believe you'd freak out over some necklace." Shark dismissed.

"It's not just a necklace!" Yuma declared, genuinely offended. "It's a key, the Emperor's Key. The day my father gave it and his deck to me, he said it'd help unlock my potential."

Shark looked away, though Yuto noted, if only slightly, a look of shame crossing his face. On the phantom knights user's end, he recognized a sense of loss in both these guys. Perhaps they held the same loss as him, though going there now wasn't appropriate. He could still go somewhere.

"I understand the value of having something special from your parents." Yuto voiced, drawing the attention of both guys. "My mother was the one who helped me settle on the phantom knights as my deck while my father gave me an Xyz monster he acquired at one point."

He opened his extra deck, slotting out the Xyz monster in question. Said card depicted a blue and red scaled dragon whose wings radiated color.

"Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon…" Yuma read.

"Even with your The Phantom Knights of Night Crown assumedly letting you get the materials to the right level for this Rank 8, that monster doesn't seem to fit your deck." Shark noted.

"Aesthetically, you'd be right." Yuto nodded. "I tend to disregard that as it fits my deck simply because it was a gift from my father. It even has a slightly cool backstory. See, my dad was requested to travel with this expedition, as their doctor, to the Temple of Draghos within China.

One of the nights he was there, it was a full moon. Up at the courtyard of the temple, as the moon shone down, he happened to spot Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon in the center of the courtyard. After confirming it was seemingly no ones, he got to claim it and gave it to me."

"Well, I think both those Xyz monsters are cool." Yuma grinned. "Speaking of them, you got to show me how to pull off what you did with Dark Rebellion. If I could pull off a move like that, I'd be invincible!"

"For starters, you need an Xyz Monster with a similar effect." Yuto began.

Shark crossed his arms and muttered, "You also need your opponent to play like an idiot."

Yuto elbowed the shark user, making him glare.

"Problem with getting any Xyz monsters is the fact my big sister cut off my allowance." Yuma grumbled. "She thinks I should be studying more rather than dueling. I don't know if I'll get any new cards, let alone Xyz monsters with how expensive they can get."

Yuto felt a little bad for the younger boy upon hearing that. While he could understand Yuma's older sister wanting him to get his grades up, he'd like to assume she made this decision out of familial love, he could understand the first year's love of the game and desire for a Xyz monster.

"If you bring me to a duelist who can offer a challenge, I'll get you an Xyz monster your deck can use." Yuto offered.

Yuma looked at him in awe. "You'd really give me an Xyz monster!?"

Shark just raised an eyebrow, though far be it for him to tell the guy what he does with his money. Given what little the shark user knew of the onomat user, it was likely this would end up amounting to nothing anyways.

"On my word, provided the duelist you have in mind can challenge me." Yuto returned.

"Alright!" Yuma grinned, his mind immediately turning to Tori. "I know someone whose always tripping me up with the way her deck works." He started moving. "We just have to find her somewhere on this duel field."

"If you're doing this, count me out." Shark walked off with his hand in his pockets. "I've spent enough time around Yuma as is."

Yuto just gave the guy a small smile before heading off after the onomat user.

With Tori: Same Time…
Flip and Tori put distance between them before turning to face one another.

"Let's duel!"

(Tori 4000/Flip 4000)

"Since your challenging me for MY Master Hyperion…" Flip voiced smugly, slightly frustrating his opponent. "…it's only fair I go first." He drew. "I'll set one monster face down, along with one backrow before calling my turn there."

"Flip utilizes flip effect monsters, meaning there could be any manner of effect awaiting me down there." Tori recognized. "It's either I trigger them on my turn or let him have full run of the duel. Before I get to that, I got to put this duel in my hands."

"Alright, my move!" Tori drew. "I'll discard Zeradias, Hearld of Heaven to add the field spell Sanctuary of the Sky from my deck to my hand." As the field spell slotted out, she snagged it. "I'll follow up by playing it, giving my fairy type monsters the home field advantage."

Their immediate field shifted to the sanctuary floating through the sky, the two duelists appearing within its courtyard. "Then, I'll summon Meltiel, Sage of the Sky(LV 4/1600/1200)." A white and orange armored fairy appeared. "Meltiel shall destroy your face down monster."

Meltiel sent out a wave of light which nailed the face down monster, flipping it up to reveal Aroma Jar(LV 1/500/400). The jar filled with a red, white, blue, and yellow candle effortlessly withstood the attack.

"Nice try." Flip chuckled. "I'm afraid the flip side of this card is the fact it can no longer be destroyed by battle upon being flipped face up."

"All I can do now is set one card to end my turn." Tori stated.

"Thus activates Aroma Jar's secondary effect." Flip smiled. "So long as this card remains face up on the field, I shall gain 500 life points everyone of our End Phases."

The colored aroma washed over the flip effect user (Tori 4000/Flip 4500).

"If a card like that were to go unchecked, things would quickly get out of hand." Tori recognized.

"Now that I've sent you up into the air, which side shall you land on?" Flip smirked. "If you ask me, I'm almost certain this will be enough to secure me the duel."

"I'd say it's a little to earlier to go saying that." Tori retorted.

"Perhaps it is." Flip drew. "Allow me to make it all but certain with this next turn. I'll activate Swords of Revealing Light, preventing you from attacking for three turns as I build up a board you'll have no hope of overcoming!"

"Since I have Sanctuary in the Sky active, Divine Punishment can counter this strategy." Tori declared as dark clouds rolled in below before spewing red lightning which struck the spell card. "This counter trap negates the activation of any one backrow or monster effect and destroys it."

"No, my swords!" Flip exclaimed.

"Since I have Meltiel on the field as a counter trap resolved, I now gain one thousand life points." She was sprinkled with holy light (Tori 5000/Flip 4500). "If that effect goes off while Sanctuary is on the field, Meltiel can destroy a card like your Jar."

Meltiel produced light which blasted the Jar off the field.

"You may have staved off my set up and cleared my field; however, this is still my turn!" Flip exclaimed. "I'll use it to set another monster. Now, make your move."

"Every bit of defense I whittle down, is one more layer of defense you lose and one step further I take to reclaiming Master Hyperion." Tori drew. "With this next monster, I'm about to take several steps towards that goal.

I release my Meltiel to summon Airknight Parshath(LV5/1900/1400)." A four legged centaur angel wearing blue and gold armor appeared. "I'll have him attack your face down monster. Just so you're aware, one of my Airknight's effects is the fact he deals piercing battle damage."

"Er, this is going to hurt." Flip muttered.

Airknight surged forward, piercing his blade clean through the face down monster. It flipped face up to reveal Man-Eater Bug(LV 2/450/600), which saw the residual energy washing over the flip monster user (Tori 5000/Flip 3200).

"You may have found your way to deal damage, but it still flipped my monster in the process." Flip retorted. "When Man-Eater Bug is flipped, even if it is destroyed, his effect lets me destroy any one monster on your field. This means you Airknight shall be joining him in the grave."

A transparent Man-Eater Bug appeared to lunge at Airknight, dragging him to the grave.

"My Airknight may have fallen, but he left me something in his wake." Tori returned. "Whenever he deals damage, I can draw one card." She drew. "I'll then round out my turn with one set card. Your move, Flip."

---

One of the first things you may notice with this chapter is that I removed Bronk Stone. Quite frankly, this has nothing to do with the fact I'll be adding in more characters. It's more that Yuma's friend group was a little too large without any of them contributing to the plot beyond being support. While being support is fine, I certainly enjoy characters like Tea and Tristan, I feel his friend group was a little too much of that.

You may say Bronk beat Dark Mist, but it wouldn't have been a problem in that episode if he hadn't been mad at Yuma for being reckless and knocking his Emperor's Key off. Quite frankly, I don't even know why the guy was mad Yuma was reckless. Even when he gets better, Yuma takes the risk. Bronk was also mad at Yuma for using a Number monster in that one duel against Shark. To an extent, I get where Bronk is coming from given Yuma explicitly said he would not use a Number.

Circumstances changed. This isn't just a mere duel against Shark anymore. The shark user would, at the time, stick with this gang and have his life go down the drain. Not to mention the fact Shark wanted to face the Number. Without him saying that, Yuma would not have used a Number. I get it, they are kids. At the end of the day, everything falls on Yuma as being at fault. Bottom line, I've removed Bronk as Yuma's best friend, but this does not mean he won't ever appear.

It'll just be more in a role as a one-off duelist. With Bronk not here, essentially making it Yuma and Tori at the beginning, I decided to make her a duelist. While there are decks I could have given her, I selected Sanctuary in the Sky to give her something that functions initially without an extra deck. As for Shark in this chapter, we've seen how having a friend can mellow him. Without Yuto having a rep as a bad duelist, we get to that point sooner meaning someone else has be the antagonist.