Chapter 20: Clash of the Hunters.

A short while ago outside the warehouse entrance of the Black Elite base, a Heartland city helicopter landed. Around it were the unconscious bodies of the men Wyvern had left outside on guard and one other in a black coat.

"Orbital, give me an update."

Kite, the Number Hunter order his AI satellite computer as he put away a collapsible photon quarterstaff. The thugs he had dealt with on his arrival had proved little challenge.

"YES MASTER KITE… I HAVE MANAGED TO PENETRATE THE DISTORTION FIELD EFFECT AND I AM CONECTING TO THE BASES INTERNAL NETWORK… CAN CONFIRM JUST OVER THREE DOZEN TARGETS WITHIN AND AROUND THE BASE PERIMITER. CAPTAIN DEXTRA'S DUEL DISK IS CURRENTLY ACTIVE JUST OUTSIDE THE MAIN OPERATIONS CENTRE SECURITY GATE."

"How long till Time Freeze Field deployment?" Kite anxiously asked. He was good, but over three dozen was more than he could take on alone. He needed the Time Freeze field.

"GENERATORS CHARGED AT 79.42%, TWEVLE MINUTES UNTIL FULL CHARGE."

"Too long, I'm going in now."

The biggest draw back about the Time Field his father invented was the enormous amount of energy required to deploy it.

"BUT MASTER KITE WAIT!! WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE TIME FIELD WILL EFFECT THESE NEW ORDER OPPERATIVES, AND YOU ALSO CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY NUMBERS ON YOU. PLEASE WAIT FOR BACKUP."

What Orbital 7 said was true, earlier in the day his father had instructed Heartland to collect all the Numbers Kite had gathered so far, but that was of no matter to him. Even without the Numbers Kite was confident that his deck, along with the new cards his father provided, would have no trouble defeating any foe.

The problem was that they didn't know if the Seal of Orichalcos would provide protection against the Time Field just like the Number cards did, and back up was still twenty minutes away. But Kite didn't have the time to care. He wasn't going to wait and let something happen the Dextra.

He wasn't going to let something happen to someone he cared about. Not like Hart, not again.

He made his way in.

The upper levels were mostly empty and the few members of New Order he encountered were swiftly taken out before they could raise the alarm. But as he entered deeper into the base it became more difficult.

"MASTER KITE! SIGNAL WITH CAPTAIN DEXTRA'S DUEL DISK HAS BEEN LOST. I REPEATE CONTACT LOST!"

What!?

"Orbital deploy the field now!"

"MASTER KITE! CHARGE IS ONLY AT 93.07% SAFTEY DIRECTIVES-"

"Override safety protocols and deploy the field now! That's an order!"

"ROGER THAT…. DEPLOYING FIELD IN 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, FIRING NOW"

High above the city the Orbital 7 satellite blasted down a crimson beam of energy at the industrial sector, penetrating even deep into the ground. And everything within the coverage of this beam suddenly stop as time itself seemed to freeze.

Wasting no time Kite sprinted down the last part of the corridor and passed a number of frozen members of New Order. At least the field seemed to work on these ordinary rank and file members.

"DEXTRA!!"

Having turned the final corner Kite was met with a heart rending sight and cried out. He saw one of his closest friends lying motionless on the floor at the feet of a New Order ember whose back was to him. Dextra was equipped with the same photon technology as Kite, so she would be unaffected by the Time Freeze field. So if she wasn't moving that could only mean one thing…

He had been too late!

Rage burned through his being and he directed at the two New Order members in front of him that still seemed capable of movement. He would crush them first, then the rest, and if they couldn't undo what they had done, then he carve up the whole of New Order piece by piece until nothing was left.

One was dressed in a deep blue hooded long coat and the other seemed like a masked woman in black.

Kites cry had drawn the attention of Shark and Wyvern who turned to look at the enraged Number Hunter. Seeing Sharks familiar face momentarily surprised Kite but did nothing to quell his anger. In fact, it only increased it. Shark was also shocked.

He remembered Kite and felt a lingering fear, they had fought before and he had lost miserably. If not for Yuma…

Wyvern also recognised Kite. As the son of Dr Faker who was collecting Number cards how could she not have information on him. His appearance also quelled the doubts she had about the strange happenings around her. So this was the Time Freeze field their informants had told them about.

She was concerned. All members of New Order were infused with the power of the Great Seal, but only she and Shark were unaffected by the time field and Shark himself was a Numbers Holder. It seemed this time field technology was more dangerous to New Order and their plans than she had initially thought when she first heard of it.

"Return her soul now or else!" Kite demanded.

"Hypocrite." Wyvern mocked. "As Dr Fakers son, just how many souls have you and your father taken while gathering the Numbers? She can only blame her lack of skill for ending up this way."

Besides, even if they wanted to its too late to get her soul back now.

"In that case you don't need to think about leaving either!"

Kite launched his Duel Anchor at the two of them to prevent their possible escape, but Wyvern was too quick, smashing the red energy line away with a silver sceptre she drew from her coat as she leaped backwards. Shark was less lucky and was locked down by the Anchor.

Actually he didn't even try to avoid it.

This was the first he had learned that Kite was Fakers son, the son of the man who took his sister from him. After having a taste of revenge tonight, Shark wanted more. Since Faker took his sister from him, then he would take away his son!

"Don't worry, you'll join her soon enough. Its pay back time Kite! Duel me!"

Wyvern moved to support Shark, he had just finished a draining duel against Dextra and was now going to fight another? He really was revenge crazy. Her king would be furious is she let anything happen to Shark now.

"We can handle him together-"

"Stay out of this Black! He's my prey!" Shark shouted as he pushed her away.

Brat! She was furious at Shark now. Of all the ungrateful…

"Alone or together, you're both going down tonight. Go Photon Transformation!"

Kites black coat began to shine and transform to brilliant white as it filled him with the power of photon energy. He felt the familiar heavy pressure of the power as it flowed through him, his heart beating faster under the strain his body was subjected to.

"Duel!"

Shark claimed the first turn.

[Turn 1 - Shark LP:4000 Hand:5, Kite LP:4000 Hand:5]

"I draw!"

Shark could still feel his head pounding, he hadn't had a chance to recover from his last duel, but he wasn't going to let a chance like this get away from him, payback for his last defeat at Kite hands and the chance to make Faker suffer.

"I play <Water Hazard>, with this spell once per turn I can special summon a level 4 or lower water monster from my hand, so long as I control no other monsters. So I special summon <Saber Shark> to the field. And when I summon a fish monster I can also special summon <Shark Stickers> from my hand. And finally I summon <Left-Hand Shark> to the field."

[Saber Shark – Lv4 ATK:1600/DEF:1200, Shark Sticker - Lv3 ATK:200/DEF:1000, Left-Hand Shark - Lv3 ATK:1300/DEF:1500]

Sharks three fishy monsters took to the field and set their savage gaze on Kite.

"Next I will use my Saber Sharks special ability! With it I can target a fish type monster I control, so I chose my Shark Stickers and then I will increase its level by one making it level 4. And I can use this effect twice a turn so I also increase the level of my Left-Hand Shark to level 4."

[Shark Sticker - Lv3 > 4, Left-Hand Shark - Lv3 > 4]

"With these three monsters I now build the Overlay Network! To Xyz summon the crimson terror that will send your hopes of winning to the darkest depths, come forth <Number 32: Shark Drake>!"

[Number 32: Shark Drake – Rank 4 ATK:2800/DEF:2100 OU:3]

Emerging from the black vortex Sharks crimson terror once more showed its savage face. Its eyes hiding a sinister intelligence. Shark could hear the voice of his Number echoing in his head, promising him the revenge he sought, that if he gave in and let the Number have his soul, he would have the power he desired.

"And because my Shark Drake was Xyz summoned with my Left-Hand Shark, its special ability means Shark Drake gains the effect that it cannot be destroyed by card effects!"

Watching Shark from the sides Wyvern was worried. He was in no not fit state to duel again.

"Then I will set a face down and end my turn."

[Turn 2 - Kite LP:4000 Hand:5, Shark LP:4000 Hand:1]

"I draw, Prepare yourself for a world of pain! From my hand activate the effect of my <Galaxy Brave>, by revealing a 'Photon' monster in my hand I can special summon my Galaxy Brave and its level becomes equal to the level of the monster I revealed. But that's alright because I reveal my level 8 <Photon Caesar>. Next, I Summon <Galaxy Knight>, because I control a 'Galaxy' monster I can summon this monster without a tribute. But because of its effect it loses 1000 ATK until my end phase."

[Galaxy Brave – Lv8 ATK:0/DEF:0, Galaxy Knight – Lv8 ATK:2800 > 1800/DEF:2600]

Kites two futuristic sliver clad warriors stood tall besides their master.

"With these two monsters I now build the Overlay Network! With power beyond that of even a Supernova I'll build a monster like no other, I Xyz summon <Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon>!"

[Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon – Rank 8 ATK:3000/2500 OU:2]

*ROAR!*

Kites new dragon and the evolution of his mighty Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, born from the latest research his father had conducted, rose on its new wings of rainbow light. Its body was aglow with power and majesty.

"What the..?!"

Shark couldn't help but shiver, it was just like last time. Such power seemed to overshadow even his Number, even Wyvern felt some fear. It was just like her King said, Fakers science was truly dangerous.

"It's too soon to be scared yet, wait till you witness my dragons special ability, Cipher Subjection! By using one Overlay Unit my dragon can take control of one of your monsters until the end of the turn, so come to me Number 32."

[Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon – OU 2 > 1]

Absorbing an orbiting overlay unit, Kites dragon projected rainbow light from its wings which covered Shark Drake with its energy and dragged Sharks Number over to his side of the field. At which point it began to glow and transform.

"What are you doing to my Number?!"

"Thanks to my dragons effect, your monster now becomes a copy of my monster so now I control two Galaxy-Eyes which is double trouble for you. However apart from my original Cipher Dragon my other monsters aren't allowed to attack you directly this turn."

[Number 32: Shark Drake > Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon* – ATK:3000/2500 OU:3]

"Since you have no monsters on your side of the field now, let me give you a taste of my new dragons overwhelming power! I will now attack you with my Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon! Go Cipher Stream of Destruction!"

"In your dreams! I active my trap <Planckton>, with this rank 4 and higher monsters cannot attack this turn."

*Roar!*

Kites dragon cried in frustration as it was forced to halt its attack and Kites face twisted in distaste.

"A lucky break, I set a face down and end my turn."

With the end of the turn Shark Drake regained its original form and returned to Sharks side of the field.

[Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon* > Number 32: Shark Drake – Rank 4 ATK:2800/DEF:2100 OU:3]

[Turn 3 - Shark LP:4000 Hand:1, Kite LP:4000 Hand:3]

"Draw. It time for me to show you real power! I play the spell <Terraforming> this spell lets me add a field spell card from my deck to my hand and I select <The Seal of Orichalcos>! The I will activate it straight away. Thanks to the power of the Seal all my monsters will gain 500 ATK."

The shining green Seal spread across the field for the second time that night. Its mystical light flung Dextra's soulless body to one side while a few of the New Order members caught in both the Time Freeze field and in the way of the expanding Seal seemed to disintegrate as their unmovable bodies were met with an unstoppable force.

But those capable of watching this scene had no interest in the loss of these small fries.

The mark of the Seal appeared on Sharks forehead and his Number too, filling them with power.

[Number 32: Shark Drake – ATK:2800 > 3300]

"Arrgh"

The pain in Sharks head was even stronger than the last time when Shark had had three Numbers on the field against Dextra, he had trouble breathing and his heart was beating faster and faster.

"Now that Shark Drake is the biggest fish in the pond, I attack your Cipher Dragon with Deep Sea Destruction!" He would let nothing stop him.

Shark Drake blasted out a blast of raging water towards Kites dragon.

"Not before I activate my trap <Cipher Bit>! This trap equips itself to my Cipher Dragon as an Overlay unit, and It can prevent the destruction of my dragon one time this turn."

A new star flew into orbit around Kites dragon and it projected a golden shield in front of it before the attack of Sharks Number could hit.

[Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon – OU 1 > 2]

[N32 ATK:3300 > GECD ATK:3000 – Kite LP > 3700]

"So thanks to Cipher Bit my dragon remains on the field!"

"So what, I set a face down. Your move." Shark force out through the pain he was suffering.

Wyvern was cursing Shark in her head, why had the fool insisted on duelling alone. If something happened to him then her King would have her head. And it look like at this rate he might not even last long enough to finish the duel. She held the silver sceptre in her hands tightly, if the worse came to be then she would have no choice but to act.

[Turn 4 - Kite LP:3700 Hand:3, Shark LP:4000 Hand:0]

"Oh? What's the matter Shark, not feeling too good? Don't worry you'll soon feel a lot worse for what you did to Dextra. I draw!" Kite taunted.

"I play <Pot of Greed> and draw two more cards. Next I play <Photon Lead> this spell allows me to special summon a level 4 or lower Light monster from my hand. So come forth <Photon Vanisher>. When this monster is special summoned I can add a <Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon> from my deck to my hand."

[Photon Vanisher – Lv4 ATK:2000/DEF:0]

"Then I will call my <Photon Crusher> to the field."

[Photon Crusher – Lv4 ATK:2000/0]

Shark remembered the summoning conditions of Kites favourite monster from their last duel, it required two monsters with 2000 or more ATK as a sacrifice.

"You want to summon another of your precious Galaxy-Eyes? It won't help!"

"Oh it will, but why settle for two dragons when I can have three! First I use my two level 4 monsters to build the Overlay Network and Xyz summon the dragon of the star king, descend rank 4 <Starliege Photon Blast Dragon>!"

[Starliege Photon Blast Dragon – Rank 4 ATK:1800/2500 OU:2]

"When this card is Xyz summoned its effect allows me to special summon a 'Photon' monster from my hand, so with the savagery of a supernova! Bring on a cosmic cataclysm that vaporizes everything in your path! Come forth, the original <Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon>!

Kite threw the signature cross/star high into the projected starry skies above, allowing it to absorb the cosmic energies of the galaxy and transform into his unstoppable dragon.

[Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon – Lv8 ATK:3000/DEF:2500]

*ROAR!*

"And thanks to my Starleige's ability you cannot target or destroy any of my monsters with 2000 or more ATK with card effects."

Shark grimaced, that was not good!

"Now I attack Shark Drake with Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon! And thanks to its special ability I banish both it and your Shark Drake from the field until the end of the battle phase."

Kites monster rushed forwards and grabbed Shark Drake in a crushing grip as both monsters transformed into particles of light and vanished from the field. Thanks to Starliege's ability there was nothing Shark could do to stop it.

"Now I attack you directly with Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, Cipher Stream of Destruction!"

[GECD ATK:3000 – Shark LP > 1000]

*BANG*

"Arrrghh!"

Shark was blasted back against the edge of the Seal by Cipher Dragons powerful breath attack. The impact was so forceful that in his weakened condition Shark collapsed down to one knee and coughed out a small amount of blood.

"Now I'll finish you, go Starliege Photon Blast Dragon, attack him with Photon Explosion Stream!"

"I activate my face down <Poseidon Wave>, this negates your attack."

Unfortunately Shark couldn't use it to negate the attacks of either of Kites Galaxy-Eyes before thanks to Starliege's special ability. And because he controlled no monsters he couldn't inflict any effect damage with it either, but at least he was still in this duel he thought as he climbed back to his feet.

"Now our banished monsters return to the field, but my Galaxy-Eyes now gains 500 ATK for each Overlay Unit your monster had when banished. Since it had three that means my Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon now gains 1500 ATK."

[Number 32: Shark Drake – Rank 4 ATK:3300/DEF:2100 OU:0, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon – Lv8 ATK:3000 > 4500/DEF:2500]

"Not only does your Number no longer have any Overlay Units, it has even lost the ability it gained from your Left-Hand Shark to protect it from destruction by card effects. I set a card facedown and end my turn. Face it Shark you have no hope of beating me, you never did. So prepare to suffer for your sins!"