Attack Gimmick Part 2

She didn't know whether her decision was correct at the end of the day, but even then she did not know whether she would have changed decks at the end of the week if the World Duel Carnival had not started so suddenly.

But she knew, that during the time that passed, that she grew better at handling her deck.

All three of them have ways to deal with Numbers now, and she almost did in the last turn. She already had a way to get rid of the empowered Giant Grinder. Her Starry Night, Starry Dragon's effect when it hits the field. Now it was just a matter of triggering the effect again.

So she would start with that. "I will start by activated Orbitael's effect!" She shouted, activating the monster's effect for the third time this duel. "This time, I will target Starry Night, Starry Dragon!"

"That card again!" IV clicked his tongue as he saw her activate its effect once more. "But you're tributing your own dragon?"

The shield-bearing angel raised its shield as light shone to highlight the white winged dragon, who let out a rumble as its form turned into shining motes of light as it was tributed with the fairy monster's effect.

"I will set another copy of the Spell card, Starry Knight Balefire, from my deck." She said as she took out a second copy of the archetypal searcher, placing it face-down onto her spell and trap zone directly from her deck.

"Then I will use the effect of Starry Knight Flamel in my graveyard!" She declared with a wave of her hand, "As a Quick Effect, I can banish Flamel from my graveyard, to target one Level 7 Light Dragon monster that I control or in my graveyard, and return it to my hand!"

She raised a hand to fix her glasses while waving the other down. "I will return Starry Night, Starry Dragon that I had just tributed back to my hand!" She said, taking the card back from her duel disk's graveyard slot and adding it back to her hand.

"So you got it back to the hand." IV frowned at seeing the monster essentially recycled, preparing himself for when it eventually returned onto the field.

"I'll flip the Continuous Spell that I had set on the previous turn, Starry Knight Ceremony!" She declared, raising a hand as she flipped the Continuous Spell card face-up, letting its holographic projection shine on the field.

But she had not just activated it for nothing. "And I will use its effect!" She declared, and began explaining what the Continuous Spell does. "Once per turn, during my main Phase, I can reveal one Light Fairy monster in my hand, and if I do, I can add one Level 7 Light Dragon monster from my deck to my hand!"

"So more ways to add cards into your hand." The formal dress wearing duelist sneered. "How annoying. You're going to add another one of those Starry Night, Starry Dragon to your hand then?"

And she answered his question by revealing the card that was in her hand, a battle trick that she would trade for something else. "I will reveal Honest in my hand, and add Sairavis, the Ancient and Ascended from my deck to my hand!" She declared, revealing the Ritual Monster card that she then added to her hand. 

"That's! A different dragon? No, that's…" His eyes narrowed as he looked at it properly. "That card is…"

"And I will place Hecatrice at the bottom of my deck." She continued on, knowing exactly what the source of his newfound confusion was, because it was that the same feeling of confusion that she had the very moment that Yuuna gave her the card that she had just searched.

Sauravis was a Ritual Monster, a summoning mechanic that supposedly went out of style a long time ago with how unfavourable it was when compared to XYZ Summoning. And in truth, she was not ever going to summon the monster.

As Yuuna had said, the monster was an added protection. An additional search target that she could always use from her hand to defend her weaker monsters from effect that targets. Effects like IV's very own Giant Grinder, though the monster in question had already used all of its XYZ Material.

But it was always better to be safe than sorry. "I will activate the Starry Knight Balefire that i had set!" She declared, waving a hand up and flipping the Spell card that she had set face-up. "And with its effect, I will add Starry Knight Astel from my deck to my hand!"

She added said card to her hand, gaining a fourth card for her hand before immediately placing it onto her duel blade. "And I will summon him!" She said, as the white winged, staff wielding fairy then descended gracefully onto the field right beside Orbitael.

Starry Knight Astel - Light/Fairy/Level 4/Effect: 500/2000

"And I will activate Astel's effect!" She declared. "Once per turn, as a Quick Effect, I can target one Light monster that I control, tribute it, and if I do, I can special summon one Level 7 Light Dragon monster from my hand!" 

With the explanation complete, she waved her hand to gesture towards her target of choice. "I will target Starry Knight Oribitael!" And with that, Astel raised its winged staff as light shone above the shield bearing angel, turning him into motes of light as another monster took his palace.

"Appear once more! Starry Night, Starry Dragon!" The dragon of the stars once more descended onto the field. Letting out a magnificent roar as it returned with it white wings spread wide.

Starry Night, Starry Dragon - Light/Dragon/Level 7/Effect: 2500/2300

Then she waved her hand again. "And I will use its effect! I will target and destroy your Number Monster!" She shouted, giving a command that the dragon followed as it prepared another attack to destroy her opponent's only monster.

Yet once again, IV was prepared. "Ha! Then I will use the Trap, XYZ Reflect!" He laughed as he raised his right hand, flipping up the one set card that he had in his backrow. "When Spell card, Trap card, or monster effect is activated that targets a face-up XYZ Monster on the field, I can negate the activation, and if I do, destroy it!"

"Wha!" She shouted in surprise as the blast left her monster's maw, only for a dark blue buried to appear before Giant Grinder, protecting it from harm.

But it wasn't just that. "Then I can also inflict 800 points of damage to you!" The blonde laughed with glee as the barrier crackled, sending back the shot that it absorbed and throwing it back towards her and her monster.

"Kya!" She yelped again, this time not managing to brace herself as she stumbled and fell from her opponent's retaliation. Her own monster being destroyed by the counter with a roar as her Life Points was once again drained by burn effects.

Sayaka Sasayama: 2600LP

"Ngh, that was…" She groaned as she pushed herself back up, shakily righting her glasses as she stared at her opponent. Who was giving a satisfied smile.

"Well? What now?" He said, "I don't think that there's much else that you can do in this turn is there?" He taunted, knowing that the one card that she had left in her hand, Sauravis, could not do much in this situation.

"I… I end my turn." And she knew it as well. Regrettably ending her turn with a lacklustre board of an attack position Astel, accompanied by the archetypal Field Spell and Continuous Spell. The singular card that was left in her hand being the known Sauravis, the Ancient and Ascended.

"Hmph. It seemed that I was worried for nothing then. My turn, I draw." IV said as he began his turn, drawing a card for turn. Beginning with but a single card in his hand.

But that was more than fine with her, if anything the less resource he had, the better. "I will use Rayel's effect once more! Banishing it from my graveyard, to add back the Starry Night, Starry Dragon to my hand!" 

The declaration of the Quick Effect activation was soon followed by the effect resolving, and she added back the destroyed monster to her hand on her opponent's Draw Phase. Getting the monster back into rotation as soon as possible.

With that, she was once again set. With Starry Knight Ceremony on the field, she just needed her opponent to activate any card or effect, and she could just-

"Battle!" IV shouted at the top of his lungs, waving his hand out as wide as he could as he commanded his monster. "Attack her monster! Final Dance!" And the giant puppet of darkness then struck, purple whip in hand.

And it was to her surprise that she hadn't managed to even use the effect of Astel, even if it would have gotten her ahead in the duel. Instead she stood agape like a fish as her mouth hung and her eyes went wide at the oncoming attack.

"Kyaaaaa!" She screamed as the attack landed, obliterating the attack position monster on her field. The pressure that the strike generated throwing her off of her feet as she was left sailing in the air for a handful of seconds, before harshly landing into the ground with a loud thud.

All accompanied by her titular drain of her Life Points as it reached critical levels of danger. 

Sayaka Sasayama: 600LP

"Ugh…" She groaned as she attempted to stand back up. Lifting her head and opening her leary eyes only amounted to seeing the satisfied grin that her opponent had, a crooked smile that showed his enjoyment at her current situation.

"Hm, well aren't you a tough one." The blonde duelist said with a small laugh, trying and failing to hide the twitching smile that he had with his hand. "If you want you can always surrender, you know? It would be easier for you that way."

She didn't give him an answer. Instead she stood up, brandishing her duel disk against her opponent and sent a glare down his way.

Her opponent scoffed. "Persistent huh? Well that's fine too." He said with a shrug, fiddling with the card that he had in hand. "I will set a card face-down, and end my turn." And with that, he ended his turn in record time. Emptying her field of monsters by battle and then passing his turn after setting the one card that he had drawn.

She would have started her own turn, had it not been for a shout.

"Sayaka! Are you not done yet?" The distinct voice of the only boy in their group of three could be heard as he came closer, entering the Field Spell's barrier. She could see her brown haired friend looking around the starry field before his eyes landed on her and smiled.

And then immediately freezing as soon as he saw her current state. Wobbling as she tried to stand up straight. An arm cradling the other as she stood facing against her opponent's gigantic monster.

"Sayaka!" Allen shouted as he came to her side in a rush, halting right in front of her/ Standing in the way between herself and her opponent. "That's… a Numbers!?" 

"Hmph, so another one that knows then?" IV said with a mocking smile as he grandly spread his arms wide. "Well you're in luck! You're just in time to see me deliver a grand fanservice to you good old friend there. I'm sure that it will be a show to behold."

"What the-the heck are you talking about you freak!" The brown haired boy shouted back with a full blown scowl, seemingly ready to throw hands against the famous pro duelist right in front of him.

"Oh? And what are you going to do about it then?" The formal dress wearing teen mocked. A hand on his side while the other beckoned Allen to come at him with a gesture, infuriating the poncho wearing teen even more.

"Allen… you should…" She tried to warn him, only for it to be too late.

"Well screw you! You're on!" The brown haired boy shouted at the top of his lungs as he swiped his left hand out, activating his duel disk. And proceeding to enter a duel which he wasn't supposed to be a part of.

"Entry Penalty, 2000 Life Points" A mechanical voice erupted from his duel disk.

"Tch!" The spiky haired teen grimaced as sparks of electricity danced across his left forearm. The battle royal rules taking effect immediately as he entered and taking half of his Life Points at his interference.

Allen Kozuki: 2000LP

"Ha! I can't believe it was that easy!" And that made IV laugh, his body arching back as he held his head in his hand while his laugh echoed throughout the starry field which they stood on. "I don't know whether to feel sorry that you're this gullible or respect you for your bravery!"

"You can respect my foot as soon as I'm done with you! My turn! I draw!" Allen roared out as he started his turn, drawing a card for turn and starting out with six cards in this free for all battle royal.

"I'll summon Infintrack Harvester!" And immediately played a monster straight from his hand, summoning the futuristic harvester onto the field. Its engine revved as it ploughed the ground before the sharp blades at its front.

Infinitrack Harvester - Earth/Machine/Level 2/Effect: 0/2100

"Then I'll use its effect!" He shouted, "If Harvester's normal or special summoned I get to add an 'Infinitrack' monster from my deck to my hand except itself!"

"Another unusual deck huh? This day is full of surprises, it seems."

Allen ignored their opponent's remark as he took out a card from his deck, and showed it. "I'll add Infinitrack Brutal Dozer to my hand!" He roared as he added and shuffled the card with the others that he had in his hand.

Then revealed it again as he activated its effects. "Then I'll use it! With Dozer's effect, I can tribute an Earth Machine that I have to special it from my hand in defence position! I'll tribute Harvester to summon it out!"

Wasting no time he tributed the monster that he had normal summoned to get the monster on the field. The dark grey giant dozer decorated with shining amethysts decals appeared from the ground, landing and parking itself right in front of its summoner.

Infinitrack Brutal Dozer - Earth/Machine/Level 5/Effect: 1900/2100

"Then Brutal Dozer's effect!" He continued on, not stopping for even a single moment as his eyes burned with rage against his opponent. "If this card is special summoned, I can special summon an 'Infinitrack' monster from my deck in defence except another Dozer!" 

And he took out another card from his deck, showing it to the blonde duelist in front of him before shouting out, "I'll summon Infintrack Trencher!" And then placed the monster onto his shining duel blade, and the large vehicle with an even larger chainsaw appeared from the ground with a flash.

Infinitrack Trencher - Earth/Machine/Level 5/Effect: 500/2400

"Since it was summoned with Dozer's effect it's effect is negated, and I can't special summon monsters but Earth Machine for the rest of the turn, but that doesn't matter!" Allen shouted as he waved his hand out, and the two other duelists already know where this was going.

"I'll take the Level 5 Infinitrack Brutal Dozer and the Level 5 Infinitrack Trencher and overlay them!" The brown haired teen shouted as he raised his hand, the two monsters turning into shining brown pillars of light.

The galactical vortex appeared right before him as he continued to chant, "With these two monsters I'll construct an overlay network!" And the two shining pillars crossed one another as they swerved and entered the black and gold vortex, exploding into a pillar of light.

"XYZ Summon!" Allen shouted. "Appear! Infinitrack River Stormer!" And from the pillar of light came forth a new XYZ Monster, a dark red tank with glowing blue lines, three barrels aimed towards their opponents and ready to fire. While two brown orbs orbited the newly summoned machine.

Infinitrack River Stormer - Earth/Machine/XYZ/Rank 5/Effect: 2500/500 OV: 2

"Ho? Would you look at that! Maybe you aren't just all talk!" IV gave a slow clap in acknowledgement of Allen managing to bring out his XYZ Monster on his first turn. Yet the condescending look that the blonde teen had clearly told that it was all but praise.

"Oh you-! River Stormer's effect!" Allen roared out as he swiped his hand forwards. "I'll detach one material from it, to take an Earth Machine monster from my deck to either add it to hand or send it to grave!"

His words were soon followed by the giant red and black machine absorbing one of its two glowing overlay units. Using one of the two XYZ Materials that it had to allow its effect to be activated.

Infinitrack River Stormer - Earth/Machine/XYZ/Rank 5/Effect: 2500/500 OV: 1

Without a pause, he took out his target. Once again showing the card to them as he decided whether to add it to his hand or send it to the graveyard. "I'll take Infinitrack Crab Crane, and add it to my hand!" So he said, adding the monster card to his hand and replenishing it back to six once again.

Though as expected, it would not stay for long. "Then I'll use Crab Crane's effect! I'll tribute an Earth Monster to summon it to the field!" The brown haired boy declared, revealing the card again as he activated its effect in hand.

"I'll tribute River Stromer! And summon it in defence!" A wave of his hand was what it took for the giant XYZ Monster to disappear from his field, and in its place was a giant purple and green crane-like machine which stood defensively ahead of Allen.

Infinitrack Crab Crane - Earth/Machine/Level 5/Effect: 2100/500

"You tributed an XYZ Monster for another Level 5?" IV frowned as he saw the brown haired boy's plays. A frown making its way onto his face as he became wary. "What are you up to?"

"I'll show you what I'm up to, I'll use Infinitrack Road Roller's effect!" The poncho wearing boy roared, showing one of the other cards that he still had in his hand. "If an Earth Machine monster is tributed, or banished face-up, I can special summon this card from my grave or hand!"

As soon as he was finished explaining the monster's effect, Allen immediately slammed the card onto his glowing duel blade. Like all the other monsters that he had summoned, the green futuristic construction machine appeared with a flash, landing in front of him and created a cloud of dust on the field.

Infinitrack Road Roller - Earth/Machine/Level 5/Effect: 2100/2100

"Two Level 5 monsters again?! Don't tell me, another Rank 5 XYZ Monster?" The blonde duelist braced himself, eyes narrowing as he saw Allen managing to assemble yet again a pair of Level 5 monsters.

But a Rank 5 wasn't what he was aiming for. "Next up I'll use Trencher's effect in grave! I can banish it from there to target a Level 5 or lower 'Infinitrack' monster except another Trencher, and summon it in defence!"

Allen pumped his fist as he roared out his target. "Come on back, Harvester!" And with Trencher's graveyard revival effect, the orange harvesting vehicle reappeared onto the field.

Infinitrack Harvester - Earth/Machine/Level 2/Effect: 0/2100

"Oh but we aren't done yet! I'll use Harvester's other effect!" Her childhood friend shouted with a wave once again, his hand outstretched towards the revived monster. "I can target another Machine monster that I have, and combine both of their original Levels until the end of the turn!"

"What!? Combine their Levels?!"

"I'll target Road Roller, and add up both of their Levels! Making both of them level 7!" Though the explanation was shortened the effect still resolved, and the two mechanical machines glowed a soft brown as their Levels were modified and combined.

Infinitrack Road Roller - Earth/Machine/Level 7/Effect: 2100/2100

Infinitrack Harvester - Earth/Machine/Level 7/Effect: 0/2100

"Two Level 7s! So this is what you were up to!"

"You bet! I'll take the now Level 7 Infinitrack Road Roller and the now Level 7 Infinitrack Harvester, and overlay both of them!" Allen shouted with a grin as he raised his fist, the two monsters morphing into shining pillars of light that flew up at his command.

A black and golden vortex appeared once again in front of him, and he continued on with a simple chant. "With these two monsters I'll construct an overlay network!" And both brown pillars of light entered it, creating a bright flash of light.

"XYZ Summon!" He roared, bringing his fist down. "Appear! Infinitrack Mountain Smasher!" With that a new monster appeared onto the field, with its giant blade like shovel at the forefront of the machine, purple blades glinting under the starry sky of the field that they currently dueled on.

Infinitrack Mountain Smasher - Earth/Machine/XYZ/Rank 7/Effect: 2100/3100 OV: 2

"A Rank 7! But." Though the appearance of a new monster made him wary, IV still kept his composure.  Assessing the field that his opponent had formed. "That still won't matter." He said with a smirk.

"Ha! You wish!" Allen shouted with a smirk, "Because my monsters have another effect!"

He waved a hand forward, gesturing towards the newly summoned XYZ Monster and spoke. "A Machine XYZ Monster that has Infinitrack Road Roller as a material gets the effect to change all face-up monsters you have to defense! And they also lose 1000 defence!"

"What!?" IV shouted in surprise, his head snapping to his own XYZ Monster. Allen's own Mountain Smasher shone with a brown aura, before letting out a pulse of energy that engulfed the field. Said wave hitting the gigantic puppet monster as it let out a mechanical groan as it was turned to defence position, and had its defence lowered.

Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 2500/500 OV: 0

"Tch." And to that, the blonde formal wear wearing teen clicked his tongue. Glancing towards his own XYZ Monster which targeted to use its effects. "But that won't matter, my Numbers monster still can't be beat!"

"We'll see about that!" The brown haired boy barked back, waving his right hand as he declared aloud. "I'll use the effect of Crab Crane! I can banish a Machine monster from my grave, and add one 'Outrigger Extension' from my deck to my hand!"

Again, he waved his hand as he declared his target. "I'll banish the Brutal Dozer in my grave to add Outrigger Extension to my hand!" He shouted, banishing the declared card to add the Continuous Spell to his hand.

"And I'll use it!" The poncho wearing boy shouted, slamming the card onto his duel blade. The large holographic projection of the Continuous Spell shining on the field as he activated it.

"While Outrigger Extension's on the field, you can't target Machine XYZ Monster that I have with card effects!" He said, explaining the card's continuous effect while it is face-up on the field.

"But I'm not done yet! Cuz I'll be using Outrigger Extension's other effect!" Allen roared, pumping his fist out towards his XYZ Monster as he shouted out. "Once per turn, I can target an 'Infinitrack' XYZ Monster that I have, and special summon from my Extra Deck a Machine monster that's 2 Ranks higher than that target by using that target as material!"

"That's-! A Rank Up!?" 

"That's Right! I'll target my Mountain Smasher, and use it to reconstruct the overlay network!" He shouted as the black and golden vortex once more appeared, this time right under his XYZ Monster. Where it then slowly sank down into it.

"Rank Up! XYZ Change!" Allen shouted as a pillar of light erupted right in front of him. "Come on out! Infinitrack Earth Slicer!" And a new monster dug itself out from beneath the earth, its large mechanical saw cutting down the ground in its way. And the giant mechanical machine parked itself before its summoner, its size rivalling IV's own Numbers monster. Three glowing orbs orbiting around the ranked-up XYZ Monster.

Infinitrack Earth Slicer - Earth/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3100/2100 OV: 3

"That's! A Rank 9 Monster! And its attack is higher than Giant Grinder!" The Numbers duelists glared at the newly summoned monster, glancing at its enormous size and its high attack power. "But so what! Numbers Monsters can't be destroyed by battle other than with Numbers Monsters!" 

And that was true, yet it wasn't what Allen was aiming for really. What he was aiming for instead, was the monster's on field effect which would allow it to destroy cards on the field.

And Sayaka of course knew that. And it was around then that she regained her bearings once more, shaking her head as she called out. "I-I'll activate the effect of Starry Knight Ceremony." 

"Sayaka?" Allen said as he turned towards her, and she nodded her head as she explained her card's effect.

"If my… opponent activates a card or effect, I can special summon one Level 7 Light Dragon monster from my hand!" She said, explaining the Continuous Spell card's effect as she then took out the one target that she could summon in her hand.

"I will summon out Starry Night, Starry Dragon again!" She shouted, placing the card onto her duel blade, and once again the white winged dragon of the stars graced the field with its presence.

Starry Night, Starry Dragon - Light/Dragon/Level 7/Effect: 2500/2300

Yet with Allen's XYZ Monster having Infinitrack Road Roller, and with the battle royal rules being what it was, her own monster was turned into defence position, as its defence was lowered as well.

Starry Night, Starry Dragon - Light/Dragon/Level 7/Effect: 2500/1300

It was quite troubling that her own monster was also affected by the continuous effect that Infinitrack Earth Slicer, but she was still fine with it. "Then I will use Starry Night, Starry Dragon's effect! I will target and destroy your Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder!" She shouted.

With its target given, the white dragon of the stars spread its wings wide. Opening its maw as energy manifested before it, and shooting a ray of light towards the giant puppet of darkness that her opponent controlled.

And the effect resolved. The strike hit the giant XYZ Monster directly, as the mechanical giant exploded. The sounds of mechanical groans could be heard as gears and metal fell to the ground below, creating a large cloud of dust as the monster dispersed into motes of light.

"Alright! Way to go Sayaka!" Allen shouted as he pumped his fist with a grin, watching as the cloud dispersed, revealing IV who had both of his hands up in front of him, and a large scowl marring his face at the destruction of his monster.

"Well here's the finisher! I'll use Earth Slicer's effect too!" The poncho wearing boy shouted as he waved a hand to his XYZ Monster. "I can detach any number of materials from this card, then target that many cards on the field and destroy them!" 

He waved a hand up, and declared so. "I will detach a material from it, to destroy that set card of yours!" And the giant earth destroying machine absorbed one of its three overlay materials, using it for its effect as its engine whirled with energy.

Infinitrack Earth Slicer - Earth/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3100/2100 OV: 2

"Tch! Then I'll use the Trap! XYZ Reborn!" And IV responded by waving a hand forward, flipping the set down card. The Trap Card's holographic art shone on the field, and the blonde duelist began explaining the generic XYZ trap's effect.

"XYZ Reborn allows me to target one XYZ Monster in my graveyard, special summon it, and if I do, this card is attached to it as material!" And he raised his hand with a shout. "Return! Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder!"

A dark hole appeared before him as the gigantic puppet of darkness returned back onto the field, gears and machinery groaning as it appeared before them once more. The Trap Card that had revived the XYZ Monster then shone as it flew onto the giant puppet, turning into a purple overlay material that orbit it.

Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 1500/2500 OV: 1

The monster was then turned to defence position. With Infinitrack Earth Slicer still having Road Roller as material. And its defence points was lowered by a thousand points.

Number 15: Gimmick Puppet Giant Grinder - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 1500/1500 OV: 1

"Tch!" And the reappearance of the XYZ Monster made the brown haired teen click his tongue in annoyance. Having essentially wasted the one way that he could out the monster to destroy the backrow.

"Fine then! I'll set a card face-down and end my turn." He grimaced as he set a card from his hand, ending with an XYZ Monster, a Continuous Spell and a single set card in his spell and trap zone. Three cards remained in his hand as he passed his turn.

And giving control to her. She took a deep breath and placed her hand on top of her duel disk. "Then, it's my turn. I draw!" She shouted, drawing a card for turn and beginning with two cards in her hand.

"And before you even start, I'll use the Trap Card, Spin Turn!" Allen declared, interrupting the start of her turn as he flipped up the one set card that he had. Revealing his own in archetype Trap card.

As the Trap card's holographic projection shone, he explained what it does. "Which this card, I can target an Earth Machine XYZ Monster that I have in attack position, and a monster that my opponent has, change the battle position of my monster, and destroy that opponent's monster!" 

Though it was once more a simplified explanation as he didn't bother to explain the Trap Card's second effect if his monster was in defence position, Allen continued on as he waved a hand out towards his monster.

"I'll target my attack position Infinitrack Earth Slicer, and your Numbers Monster! I'll change Earth Slicer to defence and destroy your monster!" He shouted, as the giant earth excavator switches its battle position, then a blast of energy was shot towards the revived Numbers XYZ Monster.

The Trap Card's effect then resolved. And once more their opponent's Numbers XYZ Monster was destroyed, turning into dark motes of light. "Tch!" IV clicked his tongue in annoyance at seeing his revived XYZ Monster once more was destroyed.

With that effect resolving however, she could then properly begin her turn. Checking the card that she had drawn and the cards that she has, both on the field and in her graveyard, she found that she could… do nothing.

It wasn't that she had drawn a bad card. No, Little Fairy was still one of her dearest cards, the card that she had kept for her own sake. Something that Yuuna even encouraged to do what with her attachment to it.

If anything she wanted to exert pressure against her opponent, but with Allen's Infinitrack Earth Slicer still having Infinitrack Road Roller as one of its two materials then her own Starry Night, Starry Dragon could not switch its battle position.

She could have had some more plays if she had a way to return her own Starry Night, Starry Dragon to her hand. Which would then summon back Starry Knight Orbitael from her graveyard and letting her draw an additional card with her Field Spell's effect, along with turning on her Continuous Spell's effect.

But it was sadly something that she couldn't do. "I'll set a monster face-down and… end my turn." She groaned out, biting the inside of her cheek as she passed her turn, having taken the monster which she had drawn for turn and set it. Ending with her board essentially the same barring the new monster which she had set.

And giving the turn back to the opponent which they had teamed up against. "Hmph! Well would you look at that, it's my turn! I draw!" IV shouted aloud as he drew for turn, drawing a card from his unusual duel disk and began his turn with a singular card in hand.

He sent a glance towards the card that he had just drawn, and smiled. "Ha! I'll normal summon Gimmick Puppet Scissor Arms!" He shouted, placing the card that he had drawn onto his crimson bladed duel blade. 

With it, a monster appeared onto the field. A man-sized purple puppet with blade for arms, whose arms was crossed and joined one another to form a giant sized scissors. The newly summoned puppet standing right before its summoner and faced against their monsters.

Gimmick Puppet Scissor Arms - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1200/600

A pulse of energy was released from Allen's now defence position XYZ Monster, turning the newly summoned Gimmick Puppet to defence position. Lowering its attack points to nonexistence.

Gimmick Puppet Scissor Arms - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1200/0

"Hpmh, then I will use Gimmick Puppet Scissor Arms' effect!" IV declared, his right hand outstretched towards his normal summoned monster. "When Gimmick Puppet Scissor Arms is normal summoned, I can send one 'Gimmick Puppet' monster from my deck to the graveyard!"

The formal dress wearing teen then took out a card from his deck, and showed it to them. "I will send Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight to the graveyard, where its effect then activates!" He declared, sending the monster card to his grave and immediately activating its effect.

"If this card is sent to the graveyard except from my hand, I can add it back to my hand!" He said, as he then took the card that he had just sent, and added it to his possession. "But for the rest of this turn, I cannot summon monsters from the Extra Deck except 'Gimmick Puppet' monsters." He added, noting the restriction that the monster put him in.

"Now behold! I will activate Fiendish Knight's effect!" IV declared, revealing the card in hand with a grin. "If this card is in my hand, I can target one 'Gimmick Puppet, or one monster in my opponents' graveyard, and special summon them to their owner's field in defence position, but their effects are negated, then I can special summon this card!'"

"An in hand revival effect?! And it summons itself too!" Allen baulked at seeing the monster whose effect could essentially be activated at no cost, and his opponent waved a hand forward as he declared his targets.

"I will special summon back Gimmick Puppet Egg Head!" And in front of him a dark vortex appeared, from with the egg headed human-sized puppet crawled itself out of to reappear onto the field.

Gimmick Puppet Egg Head - Earth/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1600/1200

"And I will summon Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight in attack position!" And then placed the monster card in his hand onto his crimson bladed duel blade. The armored puppet then appeared with flourish, wielding a bronze blade in hand as it shone while the monster let out a mechanical roar.

Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1800/500

Both monsters were then switched to defence position, and their defence lowered by the effect of Allen's XYZ Monster.

Gimmick Puppet Egg Head - Earth/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1600/200

Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1800/0

"That's three Level 4 monsters!" She noted aloud, and both Allen and herself braced as they prepared themselves for the inevitable XYZ Summon that their opponent was about to perform.

"Dang it! Is it another Numbers monster!?"

"Ah, close, but sadly no." Their opponent chuckled as he waved a finger at their remarks, before raising a hand with a wide smile. "I will overlay both the Level 4 Gimmick Puppet Scissor Arms and the Level 4 Gimmick Puppet Egg Head!"

The two monsters gave their respective mechanical roars and performed a curtsy, as they transformed into glowing purple and brown pillars of light that lit up the sky, as a giant vortex of black and gold appeared before him. "With these two monsters, I shall construct an overlay network!"

And both pillars of light danced around one another, before finally entering the vortex before him. "XYZ Summon!" And exploded into a bright white pillar of light that engulfed the field. "Dance! Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll!"

The monster came with a cacophony of distorted laughter, as a giant blood red scythe cut the pillar of light from which it emerged from. Standing before them was a monster whose body was a hellish combination of many different dolls merged with one another. A giant gear changer on its back, along with a giant pair of scissors. 

While the singular giant red head with a small yellow hat eyed them with its dark blue eyes. A pair of dark purple orbs orbiting and leaving a trail along the monster, representing the two overlay units that it possessed.

Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 0/2000 OV: 2

Like all other monsters however, they glowed a deep brown as their defence were reduced due to Infinitrack Earth Slicer

Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 0/1000 OV: 2

"Ugh! What the heck is that!?" Allen physically repulsed at the sight of the monster, inching away as his eyes lay on the monster's sight. And she herself was the same, yet she was physically unable to say anything and could only remain silent at the monster's monstrous appearance.

"Hmph. Can't you see it for what it is?" IV remarked with a small frown, a hand lazily on his side as he spoke. "Its art you know? A. R. T." A mocking smile was on his face as he gestured to his newly summoned XYZ Monster.

"Dude I've seen a bunch of monsters and this one takes the cake for being freaky!?" The brown haired teen blanched and shouted back. "The heck are you planning summoning a 0 attack monster anyway!"

"That's because it won't be staying for long." He huffed. "I will activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll! I can detach two materials from this card, then target up to two monsters that my opponent controls, and gain control of them until the End Phase!"

"What!?" "That's!?" Both their eyes widened, head snapping to their respective monsters

"And for the rest of this turn, I cannot special summon monsters except 'Gimmick Puppet' monsters, nor declare an attack except with XYZ Monsters." The blonde haired duelist added on, noting the summoning and attack restriction that he now was under due to the monster's effect.

"You-! You're stealing two monsters!?" Allen shouted, moving to the XYZ Monster that he had. "But since Outrigger Extension is on my field, you can't target my Infinitrack Earth Slicer with that effect!"

"Hmph, I wasn't aiming for it anyway. I will detach two materials from Gigantes Doll, to target both your Starry Night, Starry Dragon, and that other set monster that you have!" So was the target that IV declared, targeting both of Sayaka's monsters, and with a swing of its scythe the XYZ Monster made of an amalgamation of puppet absorbed both of its XYZ Materials.

Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 4/Effect: 0/1000 OV: 0

And raised the crimson scythe as it glowed with power, radiating a wave of red that engulfed the field. Both her Starry Night, Starry Dragon and the fce-donwn monster groaned as they were enveloped by a red aura.

Both monsters then disappeared, turning into golden motes of light, before once again reappearing, but under the control of the puppet master that was IV.

"And I shall flip summon the monster." The formal dress wearing teen declared with a tilt of his head, and the set monster was revealed for all to see. The white fairy that was closest to her heart appear on her opponent's turn.

Little Fairy - Light/Fairy/Level 3/Effect: 800/800

And now that it was flipped, her own Little Fairy was then affected by the continuous effect of Allen's Earth Slicer, which still has Road Roller as one of its remaining materials. Returning it to defence position and lowering its defence to naught.

Little Fairy - Light/Fairy/Level 3/Effect: 800/0

"Dang it! So you stole our monsters, so what! You can't do anything with them. And they'll just come back at the end of your turn!" Allen shouted back at seeing her monsters taken by their opponent.

"Well why don't I show you then? Witness this grand fanservice! I will activate the second effect of Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll!" IV declared, waving his hand out towards the his XYZ Monster who does not have a single overlay material.

"I can tribute Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll, to make all monsters that I currently control become Level 8 until the end of this turn!" Was the monster's effect explanation that came from the formal wear wearing teen, and he waved the hand again as he continued on.

"I will tribute Gigantes Doll, to make all of my monsters Level 8!" With one last cry, the amalgamation of dolls raised its scythe, granting all the monsters currently on IV's field a dark purple shine as it then disappeared into motes of light. Tributing itself for its own effect to modulate all of their Levels.

Starry Night, Starry Dragon - Light/Dragon/Level 8/Effect: 2500/2300

Little Fairy - Light/Fairy/Level 8/Effect: 800/0

Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 1800/0

"Three Level 8s? That's-" She took a deep breath at seeing him do that. Managing to overturn a situation where he had essentially nothing on board whatsoever, and managing to somehow get steal their monsters, and even modulating their Levels.

"Oh for the love of, another XYZ Summon!?" Her childhood friend groaned through gritted teeth as he saw what IV was undoubtedly going to do. With their Levels now the same, there was no doubt that their stolen monsters was not returning to their side during the End Phase.

"Now then. Behold! I will overlay the now Level 8 Starry Night, Starry Dragon and the now Level 8 Little Fairy!" IV declared with glee as he raised his hand, the two monsters letting out dragonic and angelic whimpers as they were turned into golden pillars of light.

"With these two monsters, I shall construct an overlay network!" The blonde declared as the giant vortex of gold and black once again reappeared before him, and the two glowing pillars of light crossed over to enter it. "XYZ Summon!" And exploded into a shining pillar of light.

"Appear, Number 40!" And a giant numerical 40 shone, as another giant appeared before them, once again vaguely resembling that of a heart with a large purple orb sitting in its centre, and a large and sharp white wings by its side.

"The envoy from Heaven who plucks the strings of fate. Once more, set the stage of the depths of the deepest, blackest darkness! Gimmick Puppet of Strings!" The giant black heart then unfurled itself, the singular white wing spreading into its full length, the crimson numeral 40 shining in its base.

The monster's body split, growing larger as limbs formed with the giant purple orb shining in the centre of its human-like body. The monster's head soon took form, the left side of its face shrouded by its pale blue bangs, white the other showed its lifeless doll-like eyes as it brandished the singular sharp blade in its hand. Two dark purple orbs shone and orbited the newly summoned Numbers Monster.

Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/2000 OV: 2 

"A second Numbers!"

"And this one's bigger than the other too!" Allen clicked his tongue in annoyance at its appearance, yet remained undeterred. "But with Infinitrack Earth Slicer still on the field, that Numbers Monster of yours is changed to defence and loses 1000 points of defence!"

The brandished blade was then placed right in front of the giant puppet defensively. Its battle position changed as its defence points was also reduced like all other monsters that were on his field.

Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/1000 OV: 2 

"Hmph, that's fine. It isn't like Numbers Monsters can be destroyed by battle with your monsters anyway." IV snorted as he then waved his hand out again. "But before that, I will use the effect of Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll in my graveyard!" He shouted as he stretched his hand outwards.

"If this card is in my graveyard, I can banish one other 'Gimmick Puppet' monster from my graveyard, to special summon this card!" With a grin, the scarred duelist took out a card from his duel disk's graveyard slot and revealed it.

"I will banish Gimmick Puppet Scissor Arms from my graveyard, to special summon Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll!" With a wave of his hand, a giant black coffin erupted from the ground before him, its lid opening as the once broken doll reappeared with its haunting giggle.

Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 0/0

With it already being summoned in defence position, along with its nonexistent defensive abilities, the monster was essentially unaffected by the effect of Road Roller.

"More monsters! No way, is it going to be another XYZ Summon!?"

"Sadly, that is not in the plans today. This level of fanservice should be enough." IV answered Allen, the bloodthirsty smirk that he had never once moving as he then spread his arms wide.

"And now, I will use Gimmick Puppet of Strings' effect!" He declared. "Once per turn, I can detach one material from this card, and place one String Counter on each face-up monster on the field, except this card." The blonde haired teen explained, and the giant XYZ Monster swung its blade, absorbing one of the two overlay materials that it had.

Number 40: Gimmick Puppet of Strings - Dark/Machine/XYZ/Rank 8/Effect: 3000/1000 OV: 1

And then placed the blade on the strings that parted its body, playing them as if it was a harp with its blade before it pointed the blade upwards."Behold! A grand fanservice! The red strings of destiny that decide your fate!"

A giant vortex appeared above the XYZ Monster, from which a rain of crimson coloured strings fell and connected to the other cards that were on the field. Which included IV's own monster.

Infinitrack Crab Crane - Earth/Machine/Level 5/Effect: 2100/500 SC: 1

Infinitrack Earth Slicer - Earth/Machine/XYZ/Rank 9/Effect: 3100/2100 OV: 2 SC: 1

Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 1800/0 SC: 1

Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll - Dark/Machine/Level 8/Effect: 0/0 SC: 1

"Counters? Even on his own monsters?" Sayaka let out as she heard the effect, her head arching to see the crimson strings that were attached to Allen's monsters and IV's own as well. "But what would those counters even do?"

"Well those don't matter anyway. On my turn, I'll just destroy it with Earth Slicer!" Allen shouted, his declaration was followed by the giant machinery in front of him roaring its engine. Unbothered by the numerous crimson strings that were attached to it.

"Will you now?" IV spoke with a smirk. "If I remember correctly, there was three of you wasn't there?"

"Huh?" She whispered out, as the sounds of steps could be heard.

"Sayaka! Allen!" And Myu broke into the field's barrier and entered the sphere that they were in. Her eyes immediately trailing onto the giant XYZ Monsters that they faced. "That's! A Numbers?!"

"Myu!? You're-"

"Stay out of this Myu! I'll deal with him!" Allen shouted at the incoming girl, who frowned and huffed at his remark and activated her duel disk.

"You really shouldn't shout at me like that Allen." The silver haired girl huffed, hefting her shining duel blade before her as she entered the duel.

"Entry Penalty, 2000 Life Points" The twin tailed girl's duel disk sounded out as her starting Life Points was cut down to half just like Allen.

"Kuh!" Myu winced, as the titular chime of her duel disk resounded as her Life Points was drained.

Myu Chiyoda: 2000LP

"Oh darn it Myu! I had him on my next turn!" Allen groaned, shouting at the silver haired girl while pointing towards her. And that comment made the twin-tailed girl frown and shout at him in response. 

"Well, I'm sorry Allen that I wanted to help my friends fighting against what's clearly a Numbers!" Was the retort that the silver haired girl came up with, giving a good reason as to why she entered the battle royal, like he did. With essentially the same reason that he did as well.

"Haha, well would you look at that? It seems that you aren't as tight knit as you might seem!" IV laughed, pointing towards the arguing Allen and Myu, to which Sayaka merely watched with worry.

""Shut up!"" Both the brown haired boy and silver haired girl shouted at him at the same time. 

"Hmph, at the very lest you're both in sync. I'll end my turn." The spiky haired teen said with a smirk as he points at the both of them.  Ending his turn with a field of a new Numbers XYZ Monster, along with another monster, both of which had been turned to defence position. No cards left remaining in his hand.

"And at the End Phase, Gimmick Puppet Gigantes Doll's effect would end." He said, as once more a dark purple glow enveloped the blade wielding puppet as its Level returned back to its original.

Gimmick Puppet Fiendish Knight - Dark/Machine/Level 4/Effect: 1800/0 SC: 1

"Whatever, I'll deal with it!" Myu spoke out, placing her hand at her duel disk's deck slot. "My turn! I draw!" And with that, Sayaka then began her turn. Starting out with six cards in her hand to attempt breaking her opponent's board.

"Be careful Myu!" Sayaka shouted. "IV's Number Monster has an effect to place counters of some kind! But what they exactly do, we don't know!" The lilac haired girl said, warning her of what their opponent had done in the earlier turn.

"So it already used its effects then. And there's no Spell or Trap card of any kind too." Myu said, glancing back from the glasses wearing teen to the giant winged XYZ Monster, along with the field that its controller possessed.

Then he glanced to the fields that her friends has. "And since you all already have those then… I got it." She said with a nod and returned to focus on her own cards.

"I'll start out by normal summoning Evoltile Megachirella!" The twin tailed girl declared as she placed the card onto her golden duel blade, and the small winged reptile monster appeared onto the field with as it let out a hiss.

Evoltile Megachirella - Fire/Reptile/Level 1/Effect: 0/0

Though as all other monsters currently on the field, the monster was turned to defence position as soon as it was summoned. Followed suit by its defence points also dropping, but with it already being zero, it was essentially unaffected.

"This is-Allen! How am I supposed to attack with this!" She snapped her head and shouted back at her friend, who snapped back a response.

"You weren't supposed to! I was going to-ugh!" He muffled himself in frustration while IV commented on the appearance of another rare monster he had never seen before.

"Another rare deck it seems. Aren't you all full of surprises." The comment caused a twitch to the silver haired girl, before she shook her head and shouted.

"And I will activate its effects!" She declared as soon as she could, waving her hand outwards towards the crimson reptile. "I can tribute one Reptile monster, then discard one card, to special summon one Fire Dinosaur monster from my deck!" 

With her monster's effect explained, Myu then chose the costs that she would pay for it. "I will tribute Megachirella itself, and discard from my hand Evolsaur Vulcano from my hand!" She declared.

The cost paid, the crimson reptile releasing a hiss as it was tributed for its own effects. And the effect then proceeded to resolve, with the silver haired girl taking out a monster that she would summon directly from her deck. 

"I will special summon Evolsaur Elias!" With that shout, she took out the card that she had declared and placed it onto her duel blade. The long necked dinosaur then appeared with a loud roar, its neck arching to see the opponent before it.

Evolsaur Elias - Fire/Dinosaur/Level 6/Effect: 100/2400

And though the monster was already summoned in defence position, as was the dominant status that it possessed, it was nonetheless reduced due to the material that Earth Slicer possessed.

Evolsaur Elias - Fire/Dinosaur/Level 6/Effect: 100/1400

"Then Elias effect activates! When this card is special summoned by the effect of an 'Evoltile' monster, I can special summon one Level 6 or lower Fire Dinosaur monster from my hand!" She said, explaining the monster's effect which had met its requirement.

"I'll summon Evolsaur Lios from my hand!" The long necked dinosaur arched its head and let out a roar, a pool of fire erupting from beside it as it summoned forth a four winged dinosaur straight from her hand.

Evolsaur Lios - Fire/Dinosaur/Level 4/Effect: 1600/400

Who was subsequently weakened as soon as it was summoned. The dark blue scaled dinosaur let out a growl as it was switched to defence position, and its defence subsequently lowered due to Allen's card.

Evolsaur Lios - Fire/Dinosaur/Level 4/Effect: 1600/0

"Hm? Mismatching Levels? Do you perhaps-"

"Lios' effect!" Myu declared as she pointed towards the monster. "If this card is normal or special summoned, I can set one 'Evolutionary Bridge' or 'Evo-Singularity' directly from my deck!" She explained, revealing the monster's on summon effect.

And then taking the target of the two cards that was listed, and showing it. "I will set Evo-Singularity!" She said, placing the card onto her spell and trap zone.

"Then I'll use Lios' second effect!" She continued out, the four winged dinosaur letting out a roar once again. "During my Main Phase, if I control this card that was normal summoned, or special summoned by the effect of a Fire Monster, I can send one Fire Reptile or Dinosaur monster from my deck to the graveyard, then I can make 2 monsters on the field become the same Type and Level as that monster!"

With that lengthy explanation done, she then sent the target from her deck. "I will send the Level 6 Fire Dinosaur, Evolsaur Terias." She said, sending the monster to the grave. "And I will make my Evolsaur Lios and your Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll the same Type and Level as that card!"

Then proceeded to declare the two targets whose Levels she would modulate, that being her own monster and one of IV's. The doll who sat inside her own coffin and the winged dinosaurs were enveloped by a crimson glow, their Levels and Types being changed due to Lios' effect.

Gimmick Puppet Dreary Doll - Dark/Dinosaur/Level 6/Effect: 0/0 SC: 1

Evolsaur Lios - Fire/Dinosaur/Level 6/Effect: 1600/0

"You're changing my monsters typing and Levels as well?" IV spoke with a frown as he warrily eyed Myu's cards. "No, that's not right, that effect… it has to target two monsters, otherwise it can't change the Levels. You had to have targeted another player's monsters with a Level to actually change your other monster's Level to six."

"That's-! You figured it out just from seeing that?!" The silver haired twin tailed girl's eyes widened at seeing their opponent managing to discern the reasoning as to why she modulated his monster.

"Hmph. Who do you think I might be? I am the Champion of the Asia Duelist Championship after all." He said with pride, the frown being removed as he regained composure. "So now you have two Level six monsters it seems."

"That's right! And I will overlay both of them!" Myu declared as she raised her right hand up, the two dinosaurs letting out their respective roars as they turned into crimson shining pillars of light.

"With these two monsters, I will construct the overlay network!" She shouted, as two pillars of light cross over one another, entering the sparkling dark vortex that formed right before her. "XYZ Summon!" She shouted, as the pillars of light entering the vortex, and exploded into a pillar of light.

"Appear! Evolzar Solda!" Said pillar then turned crimson, exploding like it was magma a large monster appeared from within it. The giant lanky white winged dragon floated on the field as it let out a roar with its wings spread wide. Two flaming orbs orbiting the monster representing its overlay units.

Evolzar Solda - Fize/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 6/Effect: 2600/1000 OV: 2

The monster then was turned to defence position, its defence also reduced as soon as it entered the field. The continuous effect of Infinitrack Road Roller once again took effect while it was a material under Infinitrack Earth Slicer.

Evolzar Solda - Fize/Dragon/XYZ/Rank 6/Effect: 2600/0 OV: 2

"I will set two cards from my hand, and end my turn." So she said, placing two cards directly from her hand before ending her turn, a singular card remained in her hand as she passed her turn. Passing with a single XYZ Monster, three cards in her spell and trap zone, and one card left in her hand.

Said set cards were three cards that would do her well in the following turns. Two of them being Evo-Singularity, with those she could go into any of her other XYZ Monsters at anyone's turn. 

She could have gone for Evolzar Lars, but with Sayaka's exclamation that the pro duelists had already used his XYZ Monster's effect already, to put counters of some kind all around the field. 

So there wasn't really a need to go for a monster negation, be it Dolkka or Lars. And with how her hand was, she couldn't exactly go into Rank 4 monsters anyway. So she went with Solda, and if need be, she could go and summon any of them that she needed with the two copies of Evo-Singularity that she had.

And the last one? Well it never hurt to have some battle traps for certain cases. It certainly helps that Dimensional Prison would banish the monster. A form of removal that most couldn't easily recover from, if possible.

"Well now, you're finished already?" IV spoke out, a relaxed smile, a look that brought unease to the three duelists facing him. "Then at this moment, I shall activate the effect of Gimmick Puppet of Strings!"  

The Numbers XYZ Monster then moved under its order, raising its blade once again as its singular eye shone. "What the-effects in the End Phase? I thought it just placed counters or whatever!" The brown haired boy shouted with a confused look.

"Then why don't I tell you?" And they turned to IV who held a smile, his hand gesturing to the XYZ Monster. "The fact that none of you even thought of what the counters would do tells the level of duelists that you are. Gimmick Puppet of Strings allows me to, once per turn, during the next End Phase of the opponent of the player who placed a String Counter by this effect, I can destroy the monsters with String Counters!"

"It destroys during the End Phase?" Allen spoke aloud as he heard the monster's effect, a shocked look on his face. "Darn it! But so what if they're destroyed! With the three of us, we can just-" 

"And." The blonde formal dress wearing teem added, interrupting the poncho wearing boy with a large vicious smile. "I can inflict 500 damage to my opponent, for each monster destroyed!"

"What!?" "That's-!" "No way!" The three of them exclaimed with wide eyes and shocked looks. "But there's-there's four monsters with those counters! So-!"

"It will deal 2000 points of damage to all three of you!" IV said with a maniacal grin as he raised both of his hands, as if he was a conductor to a play. "Now behold! A grand fanservice just for all of you! Melody of Mayhem!"

And the giant puppet of strings swung its blade outwards, severing the many crimson strings that were attached to the multitude of monsters on the field. And as they all fell, so too did all the monsters that were connected to it, as they all exploded in a grand fire. 

Doing so, also dealt 2000 damage to all of his opponents. That being all three of them. Dealing more than lethal damage to every single one of them with the burn damage's activation.

"KYAAA!"

"GUAAAG!"

"KYAAAAH!"

And it blew all of them away, the effect of the giant puppet feeling real as they soared through the air and crashed harshly onto the paved road below them. All of them were left battered as their duel disks recorded their loss with their Life Points reaching zero.

Sayaka Sasayama: 0LP

Allen Kozuki: 0LP

Myu Chiyoda: 0LP

The three of them laid down, groaning on the paved road that was below them as the victor of the duel merely laughed. "Well now, that was quite the duel! I do hope that you've all enjoyed the fanservice that I have given you all. A full show of my dueling prowess."

They couldn't see the look on the teen's face, yet they could tell that the Asia Champion had an ear splitting grin as he enjoyed the sights of their defeated forms. The sounds of the soles of his boots hitting the brick road could be heard as he closed in on them, walking towards them.

And as she looked up, she could see him looking down. A maliciously happy smile on his face at their suffering.

The look changed though, as his attention turned away from them. Loud rushed steps was what she could hear as IV's head arched away from them. The smirk that he once had flickering before settling on a smile. 

"Well now… who are you again?"

"You… YOU!" A familiar voice spoke out, and as she arched her head, she could see the source.

A look of absolute fury, on the infamous delinquent of Heartland Dueling School. The one and only Kamishiro Ryoga, more known under the name of Shark, opened his mouth and roared with clenched fists..

"IV!"