Chapter 54: Battle Royal! (IV)

[Number 86: Heroic Champion – Rhongomyniad - ATK:3000 > 6000 OU:2 > 1]

What just happened? thought Wyvern and Hal as Nistros mighty Heroic Champion suddenly lost half of its attack points out of the blue. Drake knew, even without resorting to his Dragons Eye because Nistros monster was one he remembered from his previous life.

Rhongomyniad was a Number that could be summoned with a variable number of monsters, from 2 to 5, and rather than using up Overlay units for its abilities it instead gains abilities depending on the number of Overlay units it had attached.

The price for this was that it would lose an Overlay Unit at the end of the opponents turn, therefore become weaker and weaker as the duel progressed, and this made a Battle Royal like this the worst format for such a monster to appear in. Nistro had summoned Number 86 with the minimum of two monsters, and as a result having lost one Overlay Unit, it had now lost its additional 1500 ATK returning its attack to 1500, which was then doubled thanks to Megamorph.

[Turn 12 –D LP:550/H:0, W LP:3900/H:0, N LP:1200/H:1, H LP:800/H:0]

It was Drakes turn again, no monsters on his field, just over 500 life points remaining, no cards in his hand, and just a single face down left to him. If there was ever a time to pull a destiny draw it was now.

Drake thought back to the time he was fighting high in the sky against New Order alongside Astral, he remembered the power of the last draw. He focused on his need to win the duel, his need to defeat New Order, his duty as the chosen of Critias and his promise to Yuma and his friends. A small part of him regretted that Critias was not currently in his deck, a seed of doubt about whether he could do this on his own.

{You can do this} came a reassuring message from deep in Drakes mental world.

The dragons words calmed the fluttering panic that had been building in Drakes heart.

A burning energy began to seep out of his hand. A bright blue flame that carried his determination and will to win. Just like the last time when he had fought against the Gold General Drake could hear the Dragon spirits within his deck roar their defiance towards what seemed like an inevitable defeat.

Drake didn't know if it would work on a virtual duel like this, but he knew he could lose nothing by trying. He placed his burning hand on top of the box that held his deck and focused on what he needed. The blue flames spread across the duel disk, transforming it into a burning cerulean torch.

The other three duellists wore expressions of concern. Hal could remember what had happened during Proteus duel, Nistro was faced with yet another unexplainable event he had not seen before and Wyvern was the only one between the three of them that could actually feel the twisting of fate.

"Dragons Draw!" Drake cried as he triggered his draw, the energy surrounding his duel disk being greedily drawn into the deck box where his deck was loaded.

Drakes smirk was answer enough to how effective his draw turned out.

"I activate <Rank-Up-Magic Nexus Dawn>! With this I can rank up my Xyz monster into a Shining Xyz monster."

"But you don't have any monsters, let alone an Xyz monster!" Hal complained.

"True, but Nexus Dawn is the promise of the light when things are at their darkest. If my life points are less than 1000 Nexus Dawn can use a monster in my graveyard instead. So I can now target the Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon in my graveyard! Go Shining Xyz Rank Evolution and arise my salvation! Defender of pure lands, appear with the dawn! Shining Xyz White Sanctuary Dragon!"

A golden doorway rose from the ground behind Drake, its surface carved in a demonic visage familiar to those that had ever been the Nexus. It gave off the dual impressions of the infernal and divine, its radiance pushing back against the surrounding darkness and burning away the dark magics. Screams of terror and pain echoed from the flinching shadows.

In front of Drake appeared a circle of shining light from which his celestial Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon rose. The chains binding the golden door behind him shattered into fragments as the doors swung open to reveal a space filled by pure white mist.

Like some tentacled monster the mist stretch out numerous tendrils that wrapped themselves around Drakes Blue-Eyes , gently lifting the dragon and pulled it into the unseen depths behind the archway as unseen choirs sung heavenly hymns. As the Dragon was lost within the mist and hymns came to end there was a moment of crystal silence which then came to a thunderous end with a mighty dragons roar.

*ROAR!*

A massive white figure that walked on four legs squeezed itself through the doorway. Its hard bone like wings extended not from the dragons back but the length of its long front arms like massive sails or halves of some great shield. The dragon was armoured in thick blocky scales, its wore an ornate metal helmet which covered whatever eyes it might have, while around its head was a bony and scaled frill with single great horn at the end of its snout reminiscent of a triceratops and rhino. A double row of large stegosaurs like fins ran down its spine. Two massive tusks sprouted upwards from its lower jaw at the sides of its mouth, each the size of a person and it tail that finally followed through the doorway ended in a massive spiked club of bone.

[SXyz White Sanctuary Dragon – Rank 9 ATK:1000/DEF:3500 OU:2]

Having finished its task the golden doors collapsed into a spinning white crystal diamond to join one already circling Drakes new monster as Nexus Dawn's effect also allowed it to attach itself to Drakes new dragon as is second Overlay Unit, the two of them each orbiting the Shining monsters head like a rotating crown.

At first Wyvern and Hal were aghast at the sight of the massive tank like monster. Then they noticed its stats.

"You call a monster that weak your salvation? Ha!" said Wyvern.

Even if it had such an incredible defence, her decks burn options could finish Drake off no matter how strong a defence Drake mustered, and yet Drake had summoned it in attack mode with its pitiful 1000.

"Oh but it is, and that's thanks to my face down! Go <Chaos Shine Reflection>! Order and Chaos, Light and Darkness, two sides of the same coin. And thanks to this trap card I can use my Shining Xyz monster to now cast a shadow of chaotic power and Special Summon my Chaos Xyz Blue Asura Dragon from my extra deck."

A black and golden flame appeared in the centre of the field, its unnatural light caused each of the monsters on the field to cast long shadows but the shadow of Drakes Sanctuary Dragon was the largest by far, and the darkest, a darkness so deep and black that it stood out even against the retreated shadow barrier. A shadow that began to warp into a new, more humanoid, shape. Then from out of the shadow step a blue scaled form, a dragon with a horn crowned head and six arms wielding swords form of burning white flames. Its double pupiled eyes looked upon the battlefield with a battle crazed glint.

[CXyz Blue Asura Dragon – Rank 9 ATK:4000/DEF:1000 OU:0]

As the golden black flames faded away, one of the Overlay Units from Drakes Sanctuary Dragon changed its path and moved over to the Asura Dragon, morphing into a crimson crystal sphere.

"My trap then transfers one Overlay Unit from White Sanctuary dragon to Blue Asura Dragon, which will be my Rank-Up-Magic spell card. However, at the end of my turn the monster summoned with this trap will be banished from the field."

[SXyz White Sanctuary Dragon – OU:2 > 1, CXyz Blue Asura Dragon – OU:0 > 1]

"Does it even matter which card you transfer?" Nistro asked in an off-hand matter.

These two beasts of Drakes were very impressive in his eyes, a demonic dragon of war and an immoveable tank of a monster.

"Just wait and see. Now Blue Asura Dragon attack Cyber Dragon! War Sword Flame!" Drake commanded.

"No!" Cried Hal.

Drakes blue avatar of battle lunged at Hals mechanical dragon and slashed down with its burning swords, cutting the Cyber Dragons head off, the edges of the cut glowing like molten steel before finally exploding and blasting into Hal.

[CBAD ATK:4000 > CD ATK:2100 - Hal LP > 0]

The shockwave blasted the Silver General away and into the barrier surrounding the field as his life points dropped to zero. From behind him came the clawing hands of shadow fiends eager for their tribute.

"Argh!" Hal cried as his Shadow Charm Bracelet erupted with silvery light, shattering as it enveloped him in a protective barrier. A barrier that began to quickly crack under the pressure of the shadow creatures.

But it lasted long enough for Hal to reach within his armour and pull out a familiar card. Emerald green light formed a new barrier around the New Order General under the power of the Seal of Orichalcos mere moments before the silver force field broke like an egg.

While New Order were not currently using the Seal in their duel disks for this second round of the WDC that didn't prevent Hal from carrying a card on his person. A medium with which to channel the blessed power of the Seal for his personal protection. After all, why would Hal and Wyvern even risk a Shadow Duel if they didn't have their own methods of self-preservation.

"Next I activate Asura Dragons special ability, Chaos Rampage! By using one Overlay Unit my monster can now attack all other monsters on the field this turn."

Dissipating one of its blazing swords the Blue Asura Dragons reached with its free hand to grab the crimson crystal sphere that was its Overlay Unit. With a simple action it then crushed the Overlay unit into sparkling powder that it deeply breathed in. Its yellow eyes turning bloody red.

[CXyz Blue Asura Dragon – OU: 1 > 0]

"So I now attack Wyverns Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"

*SLASH*

[CBAD ATK:4000 > REBD DEF:2000]

Drakes Asura Dragon plunged one of its swords through the black dragons chest, signalling its doom.

"Ha! Just what I was waiting for. Trap card activate!" cried Wyvern as she activated here last facedown.

The face down card on the field rose to reveal the image of her <Red-Eyes Burn>! This was the trap that had ended her last duel with Drake in a draw, the card she felt for sure would now destroy both Drake and Nistro.

"Since you have destroyed my Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Red-Eye Burn will now deal damage to everyone equal to my dragons original attack of 2400!"

"What?!" Cried Nistro, as the black dragon began to release ruby light from the gaps between its scales. With a furious cry of victory the dragon exploded in flames.

Wyvern was almost flung backwards by the force of the explosion, but with her high life points she was in no real danger.

[Wyvern LP > 1500]

"Argh!!"

Meanwhile Nistro was not so fortunate, losing the last of his life points and being flung into hungry shadows.

[Nistro LP > 0]

Wyvern was pleased with herself, with her victory, as the smoke began to clear. Only to be shocked as the field was revealed to be still active, her remaining Black Flare Dragon, Drake Chaos monster and his Sanctuary Dragon that were still standing.

[Drake LP = 550]

Drakes Sanctuary Dragon which had placed itself between Drake and the explosion moved its shield like wings apart and lifted its head to reveal the untouched duellist beneath it, covered by a rainbow barrier.

"Impossible!" she shouted. How could Drake be fine?!

"Its quite possible thanks to my dragons special ability, Shining Sanctuary! By using an Overlay Unit my Dragon can protect me from any effect damage this turn." Drake explained smugly.

[SXyz White Sanctuary Dragon – OU:1 > 0]

"Now my Blue Asura Dragon attacks your Red-Eyes Black Flare Dragon!"

[CBAD ATK:4000 > REBFD DEF:2000]

*Boom*

Wyverns final monster was cut in half with a final swipe of Drakes six armed dragon.

"Urgh! So what! I can still finish you on my turn!" Wyvern promised Drake.

"We will see about that, Sanctuary Dragon attack!" commanded Drake.

Wyvern didn't know where his confidence came from, his remaining monster only had 1000 attack, while she had 1500 LP.

This meant Drake could only take her down to 500 life points, which worked perfectly for her. Her own personal skill: Red-Eyed Fury, allowed her to revive a Red-Eyes monster from her grave that was destroyed since her last turn so long as her life points were below 700. Drakes Chaos dragon would be banished at the end of turn, leaving the weak Shining dragon alone and helpless.

Her fantasy of victory was however quickly shattered when she noticed the attacking monsters attack points.

[SXyz White Sanctuary Dragon – ATK:3000]

"How did your monsters attack increase?!" she asked.

"Sanctuary Dragons second ability, White Berserk. While it has a Blue-Eyes attached to it as an Overlay Unit it gains 1000 attack until the end of turn, each time a monster attacks."

Which was why Drake ensured that Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon had been the card attached to his Sanctuary Dragon.

"But you have no Overlay Units!" she complained. It had used its Overlay Unit for its ability.

"But it did have it attached for my Asura Dragons first two attacks, giving it an additional 2000 attack until this turns end regardless of if it keeps its Overlay Unit or not." Drake explained. As his dragon charged forwards, unhindered by its supposed lack of vision.

"Guardian Charge!" he cried as his dragon ploughed into Wyvern like a charging rhino and send her flying into a pillar.

[SWSD ATK:3000 – Wyvern LP > 0]

<<DRAKE WINS – 2750 Duel Points, 1x Duel Skill: Reborn the Monster, 1x Duel Skill: Xyz Twin, 1x Duel Skill: Blessing of the Elf II, claimed. For winning a Battle Royal +3 reputation.>>

With the end of the duel the shadows rushed to claim there final victim, but Drake had little hope that it would succeeded. If Hal could use the power of the Seal to save himself then Wyvern who was a Shadow mage herself should have no problems dealing with this. And Drake was right.

Unlike what Hal had done, instead Wyvern erupted with her own powers, a wave of black shadows with a sinister purple aura blasted out against the incoming blackness of the Shadow Game penalty and shattered it into fragments that quickly dissolved, revealing the rest of the room in which the four had been duelling.

Although now there were only three…

*Crack*

The silence was broken by the sound of a sudden crack spreading across Wyverns black mask, yet it did not break as she summoned a flicker of power to hold it together. Drake wondered just why she wore that mask.

Vanity? Protection? Perhaps it was a magical artifact or something else all together.

Wyverns had a fierce scowl on her face as she looked at Drake, one of her hand held a glowing card with a familiar aura, Number 86. Nistros Number. Which made sense since Wyvern was the one that defeated Nistro even if Drake was the ultimate winner of the Battle Royal.

Hal dropped his Orichalcos barrier as he made a quick exit down one of the passages as fast as he could while Drake pulled out a magic card from his coat.

"Swords of Revea-…"

Drake stopped the casting of his power as Wyvern had already vanished into the shadow of the pillar she had been thrown against, leaving her locked duel disk behind which had been partially crushed in the impact of the last attack.

Drake had wanted to trap and capture her but she was too clever and too fast to fall for the same trick that she had already fallen for once before. In her injured condition and without backup if she was trapped by the power of the Swords of Revealing Light she probably would not have been able to escape.

This left Drake all alone.

*Sigh*

It was a pity Wyvern got away with that Number card.

With a wave of his hand the space next to him began to distort, to twist and bend, before Nistro's unconscious body suddenly appeared and dropped to the floor.

Interdimensional Matter Transporter.

A useful trap that could shift a monster into another dimension for a short time, and when combined with the power of Critias, allowed for some useful real-world applications, like saving someone from the Shadow Realm.

Since Nistro had saved Drake in that duel, how could Drake just let him be consumed by the Shadow Realm? It had used a lot of duel energy to create the space warping powers of the trap card but it was worth it to repay the favour.

Besides if anything had happened to Nistro then it would have hurt Kite and Drake didn't want that.

Making sure the Black Elite Captain would be alright after his short dimension jump, Drake made his way forward. Since he was already here it would be a shame not to clear the Maze and claim the prize.

---

*CRACK*

The glass in the hands of the Orichalcos King shattered under his powerful grip. His white gloves stained red as his drink splattered all over.

Failure!

Umbral was silent as he moved back into the darkest shadows of the room. He did not want to become a target with which his king would release his rage.

The Orichalcos King raised his hand and summoned an emerald sphere of energy into the palm of his hand. its sinister light pulsed across the room, transforming the place into a haunted demonic scene.

With a steely cold voice he spoke into the magic ball.

"I don't care what it takes, forget about the tournament, forget about Faker, forget about the rewards and forget about duelling. You have but one task now, get rid of Drake Atlas by any means or you can forget about surviving the night. Do you understand? KILL HIM!!!"