Dueling is Magic!
Many Futures

Chapter 46

The King's Duel

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"Jack, what's going on?!" Crow demanded. "Why do you have a Dark Tuner? Is this why you're fighting against Yusei? Are you a Dark Signer now?!"

"Do I look like a Dark Signer to you, Crow?" he replied. His eyes hadn't changed. "I don't want to destroy anything, Crow. In fact, I want to help Yusei as badly as you do. So I am doing what no one has done before: I am embracing the darkness to become the light! Clear Resonator's effect activates! Once per turn, I can select a Tuner I control; this turn, it can be treated as a non-Tuner for a Synchro Summon. Dark Clarity!"

The crystal around Clear Resonator's body began to glow with a light that rippled like water. Waves of light struck Chain Resonator and it dropped its tuning fork and mallet.

"Level One 'Clear Resonator,' Dark Tune with the Level One 'Chain Resonator!'" The orb in the middle of the Resonator's body began to glow. A star burst out of it and broke through the crystal, then pushed its way into the body of Chain Resonator. Its form faded, leaving only an orange outline, and the star turned dark. It collided with the bright star inside Chain Resonator and the two lights vanished.

"Jack, you can't seriously think this is a good idea!" Crow shouted. Jack simply sped up and returned to his position ahead of him. A column of darkness descended and overtook the hollow body of Chain Resonator.

"When the darkness descends, the King shall reveal the light within, the infinite potential in the shadow of the void! Dark Synchro! Light up the night, 'Zero Resonator!'" The darkness gave way and revealed Jack's new monster. It was another 'Resonator,' with a giant number zero on its back.

"Not yet, you haven't! Zero and Clear Resonators' effects activate. If Clear Resonator is used as Synchro Material with only the monster targeted by its effect, I draw one card. When Zero Resonator is Synchro Summoned, I can add 'Resonator' monster from my Graveyard to my hand." Jack drew a card, then took Synkron Resonator from his Graveyard, and added both cards to his hand.

"Now, Zero Resonator, retune the Level Twelve 'Red Nova Dragon!'" Jack shouted. He slammed his fist into his chest, then raised it into the air with fire burning around it. "Use the power of my Burning Soul!"

A Mach cone began to form around Jack's D-Wheel, focused right at the nose. Streaks for light and fire appeared in the air around him. Zero Resonator banged its mallet on its tuning fork and vanished. Waves rippled through the air and hit Red Nova Dragon's body. As they did, Red Nova Dragon roared and raised its hands to the side of its head, as if to cover its ears. Suddenly, fire erupted all around it and covered it from head to tail tip. It roared as the fire overwhelmed its entire body.

A voice screamed in Jack's head. NO! What are... you... The voice roared violently. JACK.... ATLAS!

"Born from infinite darkness, consumed by rage and pain, be purified in the fires of the King's heart! Burning Accel Synchro!"

Jack pulled back his burning fist and thrust it forward. The flames burning on his fist shot forward and exploded in front of him. At that moment, Jack and the fireball above him disappeared and Crow rode right past the spot he had just been.

"Accel... just like Yusei," he said. Suddenly Jack reappeared behind him, with a new monster flying above.

"Reveal your true self! Level Twelve, 'Resonant Immortal Xiuhcoatl Nova!'" Jack shouted.

"This was once the Crimson Devil, the Earthbound Immortal named Red Nova. It has been purified by my Burning Soul. The darkness that tortured it since its birth has been turned into light."

The monster had the body of a serpent, but the torso and arms of a muscular man. Its entire skin was a pale blue, not unlike the sky on a clear day. Lines of violet, green, and bright red ran along its arms, face, body and tail. Atop its head was a feathered headdress, and at the end of its tail were two stacked trapezoids, and a large spike sitting atop those. A massive, dark blue gem rested on the monster's chest. Xiuhcoatl looked at its hands and its serpentine body. It looked down at Jack and nodded.

Thank you, Jack Atlas. Forgive me for any pain I and my brethren have caused you.

"There's nothing to forgive. Now, let's show Crow what a REAL duel looks like! I Special Summon 'Synkron Resonator' from my hand, then Release it to activate Xiuhcoatl Nova's effect! Once per turn, I can Release a Tuner monster I control so that Xiuhcoatl Nova can copy the name, Attack, Defense, and effects of a Synchro Monster in my Graveyard. Xiuhcoatl Nova gains the power of Red Nova Dragon! Synkron Resonator then adds 'Chain Resonator' from my Graveyard to my hand."

Synkron Resonator changed into a ball of light that struck the gem at the base of Xiuhcoatl's headdress. As it lit up, each gem above it did so as well, and in sequence. A translucent image of Red Nova Dragon appeared and was absorbed into the large jewel on Xiuhcoatl's chest. The blue monster began to glow, white energy swirling like fire around its body. The wings of Red Nova Dragon appeared on its back.

"Xiuhcoatl Nova, attack Bayamo the War Hammer! Burning Thunder!" Dark clouds appeared overhead and thunder rumbled in the sky. Lightning flashed about, but a bolt flew down toward Bayamo, burning as if it were made of fire.

"I play 'Defense Draw!' I negate the damage from this attack and draw one card!" Crow drew his card and a barrier appeared around him and Bayamo the War Hammer, blocking Xiuhcoatl's attack. The clouds began to dissipate.

"No it's not! Silverwind the Ascendant can save one 'Blackwing' monster from destruction each turn."

"Very well then. I Set one card and end my turn. During the End Phase, Xiuhcoatl Nova's effect ends." Red Nova Dragon's wings vanished.

"I activate 'Star Shift' and 'Synchro Back!'" Crow said. "Star Shift lets me swap out Silverwind the Ascendant for another Synchro Monster with the same Level, but with its effects negated. Rise, 'Black-Winged Dragon!'"

Crow ignored him and continued. "Synchro Back returns a Synchro Monster on my field to the Extra Deck, but only until the next Standby Phase." Black-Winged Dragon vanished almost as soon as it had appeared.

Crow drew. "My turn! It's my Standby Phase now, Jack, so Black-Winged Dragon is Special Summoned back to the field! Darkened whirlwind, become the wings that soar from resolved hope! Soar, 'Black-Winged Dragon!'"

"You're not the only one with surprises, Jack," Crow said. "I activate 'Cards for Black Feathers,' and send 'Blackwing - Boreas the Sharp' from my hand to the Graveyard to draw two cards."

"That's what you think, Jack. Normally when a regular Spell is played, its controller takes two thousand damage when it resolves, but with Black-Winged Dragon on the field, that won't happen. Black-Winged Dragon's effect: It absorbs the damage and turns it into a 'Black Feather Counter,' but loses seven hundred Attack Points for each of these counters it has. Go, Damage Drain!"

A red glow appeared around Crow. Black-Winged Dragon opened its beak and the red light rose up away from Crow and spiraled into the dragon's mouth. Some of the feathers on its wings changed from white to black and red.

Jack blinked, then smiled. "You've found a way around the restrictions of Speed World... I can't remember the last time I said this to anyone, but I'm impressed. Perhaps you will take my throne one day."

"Don't I?" Jack replied. "From the beginning, I was King of some small territory. Goodwin and Yeager set me up on the throne of Neo Domino City, but it was through my own effort that I maintained my kingship. It wasn't until Yusei came to face me that I lost. After we parted ways I was on the verge of regaining my throne when the Black King appeared and claimed the city as his own. This city is mine, Crow, and I will not let this 'Black King' desecrate my title any longer!"

When Crow first defeated you, he planted seeds of darkness in you with Bayamo the War Hammer, but they were not fully nourished because Bayamo did not inflict the final blow. When you went to confront the Black King and were instead met by the god of darkness Nightshroud, the seeds grew out of control. Nightshroud brainwashed you and sent you back to the Satellite to keep you out of his way.

"Then that proves it: The Black King is real, Crow, and it seems we've both been played by him. He is Yusei!"

"Something has happened to him, Crow, and we must figure out what it is and help him before the god of darkness swallows him!"

"Jack, just STOP! You're trying to destroy everything Yusei worked so hard to build! And for what? So you can feel like the King again? Well, you're NOT the King, Jack, and you never will be again if I have anything to say about it!"

"Xiuhcoatl Nova saw how it corrupted me while it was still Red Nova, trapped in my 'Red Nova Dragon' card. Because it wasn't the card you used to defeat me in our last duel, the corruption wasn't complete. This proves that Yusei is the Black King, Crow!"

"I don't have to listen to this! I remove 'Boreas the Sharp' from my Graveyard to activate its effect. One 'Blackwing' monster I control can't be destroyed by battle and I take no damage from its battles with monsters this turn. And if it battles a monster, it destroys it after damage calculation! Battle! Bayamo the War Hammer, attack Xiuhcoatl Nova!"

Bayamo raised its war hammer and blasted off after Xiuhcoatl Nova. Xiuhcoatl crossed his fists in front of his chest, then threw his arms out to the sides. The massive jewel on his chest began to glow and a fire appeared inside it.

"Xiuhcoatl Nova's effect activates!" Jack announced. "When it's attacked, I can Special Summon a Synchro Monster from my Graveyard, but it's sent to the Extra Deck during the End Phase."

"I activate Bayamo's effect! When it battles a monster, I can negate that monster's effects!" Crow responded.

"That won't work, Crow. When Xiuhcoatl Nova is Synchro Summoned by using 'Red Nova Dragon' as Material, it becomes unaffected by all of my opponent's card effects! Revive, 'Red Nova Dragon!'"

Xiuhcoatl grabbed the jewel on its chest and raised it over its head. The jewel burst into flames and Xiuhcoatl threw it into the ocean. A column of steam erupted from where the flaming jewel struck the water, surrounded by the crests of the waves that splashed up. A shadow appeared in the steam. It began to spin, spreading red wings out of the steam as it did. The steam was blown away and Red Nova Dragon's roar echoed across the bay.

"Xiuhcoatl cannot be targeted for attacks while I control another monster that is DARK or FIRE Attribute, and your monsters must attack, if possible. Red Nova Dragon, intercept Bayamo the War Hammer!"

Red Nova Dragon folded its wings in and dove for Bayamo, reaching out a burning, clawed hand. Bayamo noticed and raised its hammer to block the strike.

"Thanks to Boreas the Sharp, Bayamo isn't destroyed and I take no damage," Crow said.

"But Red Nova Dragon cannot be destroyed by my opponent's effects, so it will not be destroyed by Boreas' effect," Jack replied.

"My turn's not over, Jack. I play the Speed Spell 'Overspeed.' If I have four or more Speed Counters, my Speed Counters drop to zero, but I get to add a Level Three or lower monster and a Spell or Trap in my Graveyard to my hand. I also can't gain Speed Counters for the next three turns. I choose 'Kalut the Moon Shadow' and 'Cards for Black Feathers.' Then I activate Cards for Black Feathers, sending 'Blackwing - Steam the Cloak' to the Graveyard to draw two cards. Black-Winged Dragon absorbs the damage I would've taken from Speed World Two. Finally, I play the Spell 'Dark Eruption' to add a DARK monster with fifteen hundred or less Attack Points in my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add 'Blackwing - Jetstream the Blue Sky.' Black-Winged Dragon absorbs damage from Speed World Two again."

"I activate Black-Winged Dragon's effect! I can remove all of its Black Feather Counters to lower the Attack Points of one of your monsters by seven hundred points per counter, and you'll take damage equal to the amount of points that monster lost! Black-Winged Dragon, Black Burst!"

"Counter Trap, 'Crimson Fire!' When you activate an effect that would inflict damage to me while I control a monster with more Attack Points than that damage, it's doubled and redirected back to you!"

A black ball of energy, crackling with red lightning, formed at the tips of the claw-like legs underneath the Black-Winged Dragon's body, its wings changing back to white as the orb grew. It launched the orb at Red Nova Dragon, which caught it in its mouth, then spat out a torrent of fire. Black-Winged Dragon inhaled it and its wings began to turn black again.

"Well played, Crow. Once again you were able to dodge the effect of 'Crimson Fire.'"

"Yeah, well, you're kinda predictable," Crow said with a smirk. Jack suddenly laughed. "What, got more 'I'm the King!' crap for me?"

"No, no," Jack answered, calming down. "I thought that was funny because it's what I told Yusei when we fought against the Meklords. Here I am reusing old strategies, creating new ones, and even adding a twist to Yusei's Synchro technique. I'm becoming so much like him in the simplest ways."

"Jeez, Jack... what happened to us?" he asked. "We used to be close. We fought a lot, but we grew up together, so you were always like a big brother to me."

"We grew up. We parted ways. We reunited, but we're on opposite sides of the same conflict. I stand by what I said earlier, Crow: Yusei has played us both, but I believe he was betting on your victory."

Crow thought back to when Yusei hit him. How he was dressed in dark clothes, not even a lab coat. How his eyes didn't shine like they used to. The strange people that roamed the halls of Kaiba Corp. "Now that you mention it, yeah," Crow said.

"I think some dark force has claimed Yusei for itself. He encountered it twice when he visited the world the ponies are from."

"Yes, twice. The first time was after his first duel with Paradox, before he returned to our time. The second time was when Paradox stole our dragons from us."

"Then that settles it. You are not ready to be the King of this city, Crow, not yet. Not only must I prove to you that I'm telling the truth about Yusei, I must also prove that I am the true King of Neo Domino City!"

Crow sighed. "I switch Black-Winged Dragon to Defense Mode and Set one card face-down. Your move, Jack." Black-Winged Dragon folded its strange wings in front of its body and gained a blue outline.

"During the End Phase, Red Nova Dragon returns to the Extra Deck," Jack said. Red Nova Dragon's form vanished. All that remained was the jewel that Xiuhcoatl Nova had used to revive it. Xiuhcoatl took the jewel in hand and placed it back on his chest.

"I play 'Speed Spell - Angel Baton,' which lets me draw two cards and send 1 card from my hand to the Graveyard. I'll send Chain Resonator. Next, I activate 'Red Rising Dragon's' effect from the Graveyard. By removing it from the game, I can Special Summon two Level One 'Resonator' monsters from my Graveyard. I summon Chain and Synkron Resonators!"

"I Release Chain Resonator to activate Xiuhcoatl's effect, allowing it to copy 'Crimson Blader.' Next, I activate the Speed Spell 'Sonic Buster' to inflict half of Xiuhcoatl's Attack Points as damage to you."

"Black-Winged Dragon's effect absorbs it and turns it into a Black Feather Counter. Damage Drain!"

The image of Crimson Blader appeared and was absorbed into the gem on Xiuhcoatl's chest. A giant red sword appeared and Xiuhcoatl grabbed the hilt. Shortly after that, a pink-white beam shot out of the gem, but Black-Winged Dragon swallowed it, turning more of its massive white feathers black.

"As expected. Now I activate 'Speed Spell - Defense Buster' and switch Black-Winged Dragon to Attack Mode!" Black-Winged Dragon flung its wings out to the side and screeched.

"Battle! Xiuhcoatl Blader, attack Black-Winged Dragon with Red Thunder!" Xiuhcoatl raised its sword to the sky. Storm clouds again appeared overhead, rolling with the sound of thunder. Crimson bolts of lightning struck the ground around the duel highway.

"Trap Card, 'Fake Feather!' I send 'Blackwing - Jetstream the Blue Sky' from my hand to the Graveyard to copy the effect of 'Half or Nothing' in your Graveyard! Choose, Jack: Cut your monster's Attack Points in half, or end the Battle Phase!"

"Xiuhcoatl Blader, stop!" Jack shouted. The lightning faded and the clouds vanished. "I Set two cards and end my turn."

"My turn!" Crow shouted. "Bayamo the War Hammer, attack Xiuhcoatl Nova! Typhoon Hammerblow!" The jets in Bayamo's wings pushed it into the air, then stopped. As it fell toward Xiuhcoatl, Bayamo raised its hammer over its head.

"You expect me to summon a Synchro Monster so you can beat that down, and you plan to keep doing it until I run out of cards, right? Well, it won't work. You're not playing with some amateur, Crow. You're dueling against the King! Trap Card, open! 'King's Synchro!'"

"This negates your attack and lets me Synchro Summon by removing the Synchro Monster you attacked and a Tuner in my Graveyard from the game!" Jack said.

"I tune Xiuhcoatl Nova using Zero Resonator and the power of my Burning Soul!" Zero Resonator reappeared and banged its tuning fork with its mallet. It vanished and sound waves rippled through the air. Xiuhcoatl looked down at Jack as its body began to glow. Fire appeared around it as it coiled its tail beneath itself, curling into a ball as it did.

"Once more, take the form of the devil and cross the path of the King. Show your blazing spirit and lift up the cries of creation itself! Synchro Summon! Come forth, 'Red Nova Dragon!'" The fireball exploded, knocking Bayamo back toward Crow. Red Nova Dragon emerged from the fire, roaring long and deep, the windows of the buildings they passed trembling with the sound.

"Wait a second! How does it have six thousand Attack Points?" Crow asked. "There aren't enough Tuners in your Graveyard!"

"If Zero Resonator leaves the Graveyard, except by being Special Summoned, I'm allowed to send another 'Resonator' monster from my deck to the Graveyard. I chose 'Mirror Resonator.'"

"I'm not done yet! I switch Black-Winged Dragon to Defense Mode. Next, I summon 'Kalut the Moon Shadow,' then return it to my hand to activate 'Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite's' effect. Zephyros is Special Summoned from my Graveyard in Defense Mode, and I take four hundred damage, but Black-Winged Dragon absorbs it and turns it into a Black Feather Counter. Now I'll activate Black-Winged Dragon's effect! All three Black Feather Counters are removed from Black-Winged Dragon, Red Nova Dragon loses seven hundred Attack Points for each one, and you take the same amount of points as damage!"

"Continuous Trap, 'Fiendish Chain!'" Jack's final face-down card flipped up. Green chains erupted from the artwork and wrapped themselves around Black-Winged Dragon. "Black-Winged Dragon's effects are negated and it cannot attack!"

It doesn't matter what Jack does, Crow thought. I've got him pinned now! If he doesn't attack with Red Nova Dragon, I can beat him next turn, and he knows it. But if he DOES attack, I'll just use Kalut to raise Bayamo's Attack Points and lower the damage I take. After that, Bayamo's final effect will activate, but I'll also play my Trap... that'll put Jack at exactly five hundred Life Points, and Bayamo's effect can finish him off then and there!

"I activate 'Speed Spell - Final Attack!' If I have eight or more Speed Counters, it doubles the Attack Points of a monster I control, but it cannot attack directly and is destroyed during the End Phase!"

"Battle! Red Nova Dragon, attack Blackwing - Bayamo the War Hammer! Absolute Burning Soul!"

Red Nova Dragon beat its wings once and shot high into the air. Fire burned all around it. It spread out its wings, arms, legs, and tail, allowing everyone and everything to see its full shape. It suddenly dove toward Bayamo, the fire burning hotter and hotter. The dragon began to spin like a drill and extended its claws forward. It sliced through the long handle of Bayamo's hammer, and pierced through Bayamo as well. The Blackwing was destroyed in a massive explosion. Crow's D-Wheel spun out of control as it opened its vents and spewed out huge amounts of steam.

Jack stopped his D-Wheel a short distance from Crow and raised his right arm straight up, pointing a finger at the sky. "There is only one King, and that is me!"

Crow got off his D-Wheel, coughing and waving away the steam. Jack lowered his arm and dismounted as well and walked over to Crow.

"I would like to guess what your Set card was," he said. "You were told to defeat me using Bayamo the War Hammer, were you not? That means you would need some way of reducing my Life Points to five hundred points, or less. You had Kalut the Moon Shadow in your hand, so without my Speed Spell, there's no way I could have defeated you that turn. I imagine your Set card would've exploited this fact."

Crow nodded. "It was 'Black Thunder.' If you had destroyed Bayamo, not only would its effect go off, but I'd activate Black Thunder too. It would've dealt four hundred damage to you for each card on your field. You had three. After that, Bayamo's effect would've wiped out the last five hundred Life Points you had. Not only would I have beaten you with Bayamo, but it would've been a perfect finish."

"Didn't I tell you already?" Jack said with a smile. "There's no such thing as perfection."

"Listen, Crow. I beat you the same way Yusei beat me at the end of the Fortune Cup all those years ago. He knew I would try to finish things with a certain card, a card fit for the King's finishing move. He planned ahead and countered my entire plan for him. He then defeated me with the same Speed Spell that I used here."

"No. My point is that you have grown much more than I realized. You are closer to the throne than you have been, closer than I thought you could be at this point." Jack offered his hand to Crow. "Congratulations on a spectacular duel, Crow. You're stronger than I've ever given you credit for."

"Wow... thanks, Jack," said Crow, taking Jack's hand and giving it a firm shake.

"You still have a long way to go," Jack continued, "but it may not be as far as either of us thought. I'm proud to call you my friend, Crow."

Moments later, the Blackbird and the Volcanic Wheel of Fortune were speeding down the highway back to the KC Tower.

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Next time on Dueling is Magic! Many Futures

Twilight races back into the tower to rejoin her friends and lead the assault on the Black King's stronghold! But as she and the others storm the lobby, familiar faces greet them: Aporia, Ushio, Sherry, and Sayer.

Sayer: "Aki, you're as radiant as ever. I hope there are no hard feelings between us?"

As everyone prepares for the fight of their lives, the room is suddenly shrouded in darkness, and everyone begins to see what's inside themselves...

Chapter 47

Regrets and Fears

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Featured Card

Dark Tuner - Clear Resonator
DARK
Level 1
Fiend/Dark Tuner/Effect
(This card is also always treated as a Tuner monster.)
Cannot be used as Synchro Material, except for a Dark Synchro Monster. If you control no Synchro Monsters, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand or Graveyard). You can only Special Summon "Clear Resonator" once per turn this way. Once per turn: You can target 1 other Tuner monster you control; this turn, it can be treated as a non-Tuner monster for a Synchro Summon, also it becomes Level 1. If you Synchro Summon using only this card and the monster targeted this turn by this card's effect: Draw 1 card.
ATK/0
DEF/0

Zero Resonator
LIGHT
Level 0
Fiend/Dark Synchro/Tuner/Effect
1 non-Tuner - 1 DARK "Resonator" Tuner monster
(This card is also always treated as a Synchro Monster.)
Can only be Synchro Summoned if the Level of the non-Tuner Synchro Material Monster minus the Level of the Tuner Synchro Material Monster equals 0. (This card's original Level is always treated as 2.)
While this card is on the field or in the Graveyard, its Level becomes 0. When this card is Synchro Summoned: Target 1 "Resonator" monster in your Graveyard; add it to your hand. If this card leaves the Graveyard, except if it was Special Summoned: You can send 1 "Resonator" monster from your Deck to the Graveyard.
ATK/0
DEF/0

Resonant Immortal Xiuhcoatl Nova
FIRE
Level 12
Fiend/Synchro/Effect
1 Tuner + 1 or more DARK Synchro Monsters
Must be Synchro Summoned, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. If this card was Synchro Summoned using "Red Nova Dragon" as Material, it is unaffected by your opponent's card effects. Once per turn: You can Tribute 1 Tuner monster you control to target 1 Synchro Monster in your Graveyard; this card's name, ATK and DEF become that card's original name, original ATK, and original DEF, also it gains that card's original effects. These changes last until the end of the turn. When a monster your opponent controls is destroyed by battle: You can Special Summon 1 Tuner monster from your Graveyard. When this card is targeted for an attack: You can target 1 Synchro Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it, but return it to the Extra Deck during the End Phase. While you control another DARK or FIRE Synchro Monster, this card cannot be targeted for attacks.
ATK/0
DEF/0

King's Synchro
TRAP
Normal Trap Card
If a Synchro Monster you control is targeted for an attack: Target that Synchro Monster and 1 Tuner monster in your Graveyard; negate the attack, and if you do, immediately after this effect resolves, Synchro Summon 1 Synchro Monster, using those targets only. These Synchro Materials are banished.

Dueling is Magic! Many Futures

by Wolfgang

Chapter 46: The King's Duel