Yu-Gi-Oh! ZD: Rise Of The Dragons (A Yu-Gi-Oh! Fanfiction) - Chapter 36

“So you’re saying this door represents the natural barrier that separates this dimension and its self-contained worlds from the rest of the Multiverse.” Drake asked Critias.

{Yes, I can feel a trace of my own power on that web of cracks. If you look closely you can see that its actually healing itself.}

“Which means that the scar I just pierced was probably left by the entrance of the Orichalcos to this world, that explains why pieces of Orichalcos stone would be in it.”

Things made more sense now, the Orichalcos would want to control the barrier for their plans and when Drake had arrived here it had recognised Drake as a threat. It had tried to expel him from this dimension by force. And now that the Sword of Wisdom had destroyed the source of the rot, the door had returned to normal.

But what about the rest of the doors?

Drake began to walk over to the nearest of the stable doorways, ignoring the other everchanging doors that he passed by. There were doors made of wood, of metal, of stone, even of light and shadow, some were towering monuments and some were the size of a normal house door and everything in between. Some were sealed by chains, lock bars or magical runes and who knows what else.

He reached the closest door that did not change, it was already open. The face of door was a diabolical face with horns and a mouth of sharp teeth, a golden mist seemed to hover around the threshold. Drake felt a familiar power, it was the power Yuma had released with Utopia Prime. The power from the Shining Xyz Evolution.

Drake tried to put his had through the door but found it block by an invisible force. But although he could not pass through the door, in touching the barrier he could feel the power on the other side. A power that could create cards…

He had a wild idea.

With a thought the Mirror of Critias appeared next to him. Although the Mirror was a mental construct used to create new cards, the same could be said of this place, it was a mindscape.

With a thought Drake began to channel a portion of the power from the door into the mirror, if they were compatible then he had just found a solution to his duel energy problems. After a while he stopped and observed the mirror.

Drake was filled with joy. It worked! The Mirror of Critias could use this energy to create new cards for him. It didn’t seem as efficient as duel energy but that didn’t matter so long as it worked. Drake began to absorb as much energy as he could into the mirror, he wanted to fill it until it could hold no more. But after a few short minutes he felt the energy he could draw on fade away.

He was sure even more energy was beyond the threshold, but he couldn’t reach it. Another disappointment was that Drake discovered that this new ‘Shining Energy’ was unable to replace Duel Energy to activate the Sword of Wisdom.

Even still he tried to force his way in with the Sword for more energy, but it was no use. So he moved to the next set door. This one looked a lot like the last one, save for a few minor details, but it also felt different. More like the door that guarded the barrier between dimension, and Drake felt a faint trace of another familiar energy.

Looking down at his feet, Drake was surprised to discovered a card, a Numbers card.

So was this the door that connect the human world to Astral world Drake wondered? as he picked the card up. The door that Astral had travelled through to earth? He looked at the card, it was Number 62: Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon.

He moved on to the next door. This door was very different, it was solid gold, wrapped in glowing runes and its face was instead engraved with an image of Yuma’s key. It was an obvious clue even if it didn’t tell Drake what as behind the door, but patting his pockets Drake realised that he no longer had the key on him. That he hadn’t seen it since he came here. He had no choice but to move on.

The next door was worse. You couldn’t even see the form of the door from the mass of chains and runes that bound it up. Nothing was going to break open that door by force. Could this be the path to Barian World? he wondered.

One door to go.

This one was also an open door with the face of a demon, but a demon with four eyes this time. Broken black chains hung from the doorway and a small patch of seemed like dried blood was on the floor. Looking closer Drake discovered the Crest of Barian world that had been split down the middle.

Dark energy floated around the threshold. Chaos energy! The same energy Drake had seen Shark use in Kite memories. Just like he had done to the first door Drake absorbed as much Chaos energy into the Mirror of Critias as he could before retuning to Critias who had moved to observe the pond of water at the centre of the stone disk they stood on.

When he reached there, he was surprised by two thing.

Drake recognised the wisps of energy that it was made of as a mixture of the same Shining energy and Chaos energy that he had already harvested. The different energies were like magnets, at times attracting each other and at others repelling each other. Drake didn’t need Critias to know that the energy was trying to fuse and create something special.

But no matter how hard it tried, it failed time and again.

“So how do we get back?” Drake asked the dragon as they watch the struggling energies.

{I would say you jump} Critias replied nodding towards the pool.

“And that?” Drake pointed to the card. It was too far for him to reach but the dragon had no such problems.

Critias reached out a claw and grasped the energy tightly with his power, a bright light shinned out from between his digits before fading away. He passed it to Drake. Under the pressure of Critias strength the conflicting energies had finally formed a stable fusion and the true form of the card was revealed.

“Zexal huh…” Drake murmured.

It was time to end things and save his friend. Drake recalled Critias and jumped.

—

“Stop stalling and make your move.” demanded Tesla.

Drake was back, and it was his turn. He had two cards in hand and one facedown on the field, meanwhile the team of New Order had <The Seal of Orichalcos>, <Orichalcos Sigil Exousía>, <Meklord Emperor Xeltron ∞>, <Granel Attack 3> and a face down.

Their Meklord Emperor had four Overlay Units consisting of Meklord Emperor Wisel ∞, Wisel Attack, Granel Carrier and Wisel Carrier. With each Overlay unit providing its attack, defence and special abilities to Xeltron. Including Emperor Wisel’s ability which allowed it to gain the attack of Granel Attack 3 and the power of the Seal, Xeltron currently had 5500ATK.

[Granel Attack 3 – Lv3 ATK:2300/DEF:0, Meklord Emperor Xeltron ∞ – ATK: 5500/DEF:1300, OU:4]

[Turn 12 – D(H:2)/A(H:2) LP:2230, P(H:0)/T(H:2) LP:2300]

Now that he had received the power he needed to win, all he needed was the cards to use it.

A burning energy seemed to seep out of his hand. A burning blue flame that carried his determination and will to win. Drake felt like everything was under his control and he heard the roar of the dragons in his deck answer his will.

Was this what a Shining Draw felt like? But whatever it was, it was his.

“Get ready to lose! Go Dragon’s Draw!” he pulled his card, its arc leaving a trail of flames in the air.

The Golden Key glittered in the fire light as it now somehow hung around Drakes neck.

“First off, I banish <Blue-Eyes Chaos Dragon> from my hand to special summon <Blue-Eyes Kuriboh> from my graveyard, and for this turn it becomes a level 8 dragon.”

[Blue-Eyes Kuriboh – Lv1 > 8 ATK:300/DEF:200]

Drakes Kuriboh returned to the field. A powerful aura bursting forth into the form of the ritual monster Drake had offered to revive it.

“KURI!” Drakes monster loudly cried.

“Next I play <Card of Demise> allowing me to draw until I hold 5 cards.” Drake said as he replenished his hand. A smile on his lips as he recognised a familiar face obviously that wanted in on the action.

“Behold, I play <The Fang of Critias>, by combining this card with the <Dragons Rebirth> trap card in my hand I summon the <Phoenix Dragon>!” Cried Drake as Critias roared out.

[Phoenix Dragon – Lv8 ATK:2400/DEF:1600]

Absorbing the power of his trap card Critias transformed into a golden armoured dragon, a blazing fire burning along his wings, his back and his tail. While even brighter golden flames formed a burning crown atop his head.

“I activate the trap <Deep Dark Trap Hole> to banish your monster!” Proteus declared as he activate his facedown.

A massive black pit appeared below Drakes new dragon, seeking to swallow it whole.

As shadowy hands reached up from the pit to grasp it, Drakes Phoenix Dragon burst into flames and exploded, scattering its fires across the field.

“What’s happening!?” Tesla questioned. His trap shouldn’t have caused Drakes monster to explode like that.

Suddenly the scatter fire began to move and fly together forming a burning sphere. Which then blasted outwards to reveal a white slender dragon with four wings.

*ROAR!*

“What’s happening is my dragon activated its quick effect. By banishing my Phoenix Dragon from the field with its own effect, I can then special summon <Deep of Blue-Eyes> from my hand. And when this card is special summoned, I add another <Polymerization> from my deck to my hand.” Drake explained as his glittering white dragon gently flapped its wings.

[Deep of Blue-Eyes – Lv8 ATK:2500/DEF:2500]

“Next I summon <Heliosphere Dragon> from my hand.”

[Heliosphere Dragon – Lv4 ATK:0/DEF:1900]

“Since I already control a level 8 dragon, I can use Heliosphere’s effect to increase its own level to 8 till the end of the turn.”

Deep of Blue-Eyes and Blue-Eyes Kuriboh’s Aura surged into the purple dragon.

[Heliosphere Dragon – Lv4 > 8]

“With these three level 8 monsters I now build the Overlay Network. Come forth dragon born of the distant stars and shake the heavens with your might! I Xyz summon the <Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon>!”

[Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon – Rank 8 ATK:3000/DEF:2500 OU:3]

Drake ace monster descended like a star falling from the starry night sky above, its white light pushing back against the sinister green glow of the Seal.

“Now I activate the trap <Xyz Reborn> with this I can revive <Number 39: Utopia> to the field and attach this trap to it as an Overlay Unit.”

[Number 39: Utopia – Rank 4 ATK:2500/DEF:2000 OU:1]

“Now everything is in place and your end is here! When two distant powers become one, the power of Zexal shall be revealed!”

“What?!” Astral exclaimed. How did Drake know of Zexal?!

“I use Polymerization to fuse together Number 39: Utopia and my Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon. Appear Zexal Number 39: Utopia the Dragon Rider!” Drake roared as the night became day under the golden light of card he had claimed from the Nexus.

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – Rank 8 ATK:2500/DEF:2000 OU:0]

Utopia had traded its usual white armour for a set in royal purple, highlighted in glimmering gold, its wings replaced for a long, grand crimson cape that fluttered in the wind, and a broadsword taller than its body was held in its hand.

It stood tall and proud atop a white armoured serpent like dragon, its scales also edged in gold. Three long horns swept forwards of its head like a sharp spear as its eight feathered wings opened wide. It was surrounded by a strong aura of light.

*ROOOOAAAR!*

Its mighty roar mirror that of the Great Beasts and echoed across the land for miles. A cry of dominance, of power, of victory! Under its call and power the Seal of Orichalcos itself began to shudder.

“This card is something you have never seen before, a fusion Xyz monster, and when it is successfully fusion summoned I can take its two fusion material monsters, and any Overlay units those monsters had at the time, and add them to this card as Overlay Units. Go Zexal Force!”

Five lights flew from Drakes graveyard to orbit around the Zexal Number.

“Unfortunately, when my Kuriboh left the field it was banished by its effect, but that still leaves Utopia, Blue-eyes Starlight Dragon, Xyz Reborn, Deep of Blue-Eyes and Heliosphere dragon. Giving my Dragon Rider 5 Overlay units.”

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – OU:0 > 5]

“Now Utopia! Attack Granel Attack 3 with Zexal Dragon Rising Slash!”

Faster than the speeding wind the Zexal Number charged forth towards Xeltron. At this time Proteus realised just how foolish he had been to forget to summon his monster to the back row where it would have been safe.

He truly was the weakest of the Generals of Order when it came to duelling.

“And whenever my monster attacks, it gains 500ATK until the end of the turn.” Drake declared

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – ATK:2500 > 3000]

Its light aura becoming even more powerful.

[Z39 ATK:3000 > GA3 ATK:2300 – P/T LP > 1600]

*SLASH*

With a sweep of its might blade as the dragon flew past Proteus’s black Emperor, its golden arm was cut in half and exploded.

“And now your Xeltron loses the attack points it gained from Granel Attack 3.”

[Meklord Emperor Xeltron ∞ – ATK:5500 > 3200]

“Next I activate Utopia the Dragon Riders special ability! Dragon Stampede Z! After it attacks one of your monsters I can use one Overlay unit so Utopia can attack again!”

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – OU:5 > 4]

The white dragon swallowed one of Utopia’s Overlay units and regained its vigour before turning in the sky and charging against Xeltron again!

“Attack Xeltron! And don’t’ forget, whenever my monster attacks it gains 500 attack points!”

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – ATK:3000 > 3500]

[Z39 ATK:3500 > MEX ATK:3200 P/T LP > 1300]

Utopia’s blade slashed across Xeltron’s ċhėst, its rear hover treads gave off a glow.

“I use my Granel Carriers effect to negate its destruction in battle”

“But you can only use that once per turn, where as I can use another Overlay Unit and attack you again!”

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – OU:4 > 3]

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – ATK:3500 > 4000]

[Z39 ATK:4000 > MEX ATK:3200 P/T LP > 500]

Utopia and the Meklord clashed again, with Utopia slicing Xeltron in half.

“I send Granel Carrier to the grave to negate its destruction.” Proteus helplessly said as an Overlay unit was consumed to surround his monster in glittering light and stitch it back together. The mass of its Hover treads being reabsorbed into its black body.

But even if he could keep preventing its destruction, Proteus knew that his life points would not survive another attack. Cold logic continued to examine his options.

[Meklord Emperor Xeltron ∞ – ATK:3300 > 2600/DEF:1300 > 800 OU:4 > 3]

“The final blow! Go Zexal Number 39: Utopia the Dragon Rider! Attack with Zexal Dragon Rising Slash!”

*ROAR!*

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – OU:3 > 2]

[Number Z39: Utopia the Dragon Rider – ATK:4000 > 4500]

[Z39 ATK:4500 > MEX ATK:2600 P/T LP > 0]

*BOOM*

<<DRAKE/ASTRAL WIN>>

Tesla hung lifelessly in the air under the power of his jet pack as the Seal of Orichalcos began to close in on the two of them. They had lost and now must pay the ultimate price. But Proteus was not so discouraged. Because he knew a secret, a secret only the higher ranks of New Order knew.

He flew to the closing edge of the Seal while holding the card with Yuma’s soul in it, before he hit the edge of the magic circle he threw the card into the barrier to the surprise of those watching, before flying out and away to freedom.

The secret he knew was, in a team duel so long as one whole person remained in the Seal, the other loser could substitute his own soul with another trapped soul. At this point Proteus had lost all hope for the mission and having already consumed his Orichalcos Key, his only course was to give up on Yuma’s soul and perverse himself at the cost of his subordinate.

Even if his king blamed him, he had a sliver of hope as he escaped as fast as he could.

Drake let him flee, his concern was only for Yuma’s soul at this point.

The Seal closed in around Tesla who had fallen into shock at his abandonment. Within moments his soul was gone and his jet pack broke under the power of the Seal. Without it his body began to plummet to the ground alongside the important Soul card.

With a flap of his Tyrant Wings Drake dove down after them, first snagging Yuma’s soul and sealing it with a portion of Critias’s power to prevent accidents and then rushing to catch Tesla’s body and his own sealed soul that was still in his duel disk.

Nobody deserved to die like this after all. Falling from 20,000 feet.

But he sure was heavy and Drake quick made his way down, unsure just how long his own wings would last before running out of gas.

—

After landing and restoring Tesla’s soul to his body in accordance with the promise he had once made to Yuma, Drake rushed back to the construction site where Yuma’s body and friends were at. It was time to put this nightmare behind them…

What the…?!?!?!

Drake had reach the site, only to be greeted by the sight of Yuma’s friends unconsciously scattered across the place, their clothes torn and bloodied.

“Urgh…”

Drake heard Tori groan in pain and rushed to her as Astral cast his gaze about fearfully.

“Tori what happened!?” Drake asked as he held the girl in his arms.

“He..he.. he took… Yuma…” she forced out.

“Who? New Order?”

“No… it… it was…”