Chapter 9: Star Fall.

A short time earlier, at the computer control centre of the WDC and all of Heartland City. All hell had broken loose.

*BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP!*

Alarms were blaring as warning lights flashed red throughout the room. Numerous operators were trying to talk over each other as new data was coming in.

"Unknown energy signature detected."

"Feedback level has reach 40%, 42%, 45% it's still rising."

"Incoming duel data is degrading."

"Network stability is falling, switch to circuit D."

"Trace it! Lockdown the network node."

"Location fix at point 56:324:7577"

"Get me a visual!" Mr Heartland ordered over the conflicting shouts of the technicians and analysts.

"No available monitoring equipment, no automatons active in target area."

"Feedback at 62% we're losing the data feed."

"Satellite 4 moving into position now, in three, two, one… We have visual."

The main monitor screen opened a direct video feed from the satellite in high orbit. It was focused on an alleyway in downtown Heartland city and the duel that was happening. As the video came into focus Heartland recognised one of the duellist's as the one Kite was so interest in. Drake Atlas.

But what really caught his eye was the green circle containing a six point star that they were duelling in. The readings from the satellites sensors were going off the charts. High energy, exotic particles, abnormal delta radiation. The works.

"Copy this data to Dr Faker, get me background on those duellists and deploy some people over there right now."

"Yes Sir!"

Mr Heartland watched as Drake summoned his mighty Ultimate dragon, only for him to split the beast back into three. He then formed the Overlay Network to call forth a monster that had never been seen before. The readings on all the sensors suddenly started to spike even higher as Drakes beast flew into the sky, just seconds before the feed was blinded by a brilliant white light and then went dark.

"Signal with satellite has been lost, I repeat contact lost."

Heartland felt a chill go down his spine, what on earth was going on here?!!

---

"… I XYZ summon, Rank 8 <Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon>!!!"

From the depths of the black vortex a great dragon rose. Its scales were like crystals that had trapped within them the most pure and gentlest of starlight. With a flap of its four great wings it flew into the sky as its three overlay units circled around it like a halo. It was like a vison of holy purity and dragon might rolled into one. A monster of Drakes own design given form and power by the Mirror of Critias.

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

*ROAR!!*

It raised its head and roared! Blasting a beam of purest light from its mouth high into the heavens above. Its gleaming blue eyes, like polished sapphires, swept across the field.

[Turn 2 Drake LP:4000 Hand:2, Chapman LP:4000 Hand:3]

Drakes field only had his new dragon while his opponent had flooded the field with cards empowered with the might of the <Seal of Orichalcos>. Two <Marauding Captain>'s, a <Comrade Swordsman of Landstar> and a <Marmiting Captain>. Further empowering them were the continuous spell <The A. Forces> and the continuous trap <Aqua Chorus>.

[x2 Marauding Captain - ATK:3400, Comrade Swordsman of Landstar - ATK:2200, Marmiting Captain - ATK:2900]

"So what if you have yourself a new dragon, it's no stronger than the ones you used to summon it and it still pales compared to the power of the Seal of Orichalcos. What's more thanks to my two Marauding Captain your monsters can't attack my monsters."

Chapman raged as he tried to quell the fear that was rising in his heart. The power coming off Drakes dragons as it was staring you down would induce a feeling of terror even in a strong-willed man.

Both Yuma and Astral were watching speechlessly, they never knew Drake had such a powerful XYZ monster in his deck, they didn't know he could XZY summon at all.

"You're wrong, this duel is finished. You should never have used the Seal of Orichalcos in front of me, because now I will have no mercy on you."

"I activate Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragons special ability! By using one Overlay Unit my monster can destroy any monster on the field. Go Blue-Eyes Starlight Dragon destroy his Marauding Captain, Star Fall attack!"

With a snap of its jaws his Starlight dragon consumed one of its Overlay units before flying higher into the air, crimson flames began to pour from its mouth as it bent its neck backwards before whipping it forward and blasting out a massive meteor of flames. Like a force of Nature, it smashed into Chapmans monster destroying it.

*BOOM!*

The shockwave flung Chapman back until he collided with the edge of the Seal, crushing him like someone caught between an unmovable object and an unstoppable force.

"Aaaarrghhh!"

[BESD – OU:3>2]

[Chapman LP > 3000]

"Oh I forgot to mention this, but if the overlay unit I sent to the Graveyard to activate this effect is a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, then when your monster is destroyed by this effect you suffer 1000 points of damage."

"Naturally this power comes at a price, when Starlight dragon uses its effect it cannot attack on that turn."

Chapman felt some relief at that, with the loss of his monster all his other monster would lose some attack points and it had broken his attack lock. But if Drakes dragon couldn't attack anyway, then he would have a chance to turn thing back in his favour on the next turn.

"What are you smiling for? Did you think I could only use my dragon's ability once per turn…?"

What?!

"Starlight Dragon, destroy the second Marauding Captain, Star Fall!"

"No!"

*BOOM!*

[BESD – OU:2>1]

[Chapman LP > 2000]

Again, Chapman lost a monster in a fiery explosion as well as another 1000 life points.

"Third times the charm! Now destroy his Marmiting Captain with Star Fall!

*BOOM!!!*

[BESD – OU:1>0]

[Chapman LP > 1000]

"Urrrgh…."

With that only Chapmans Comrade Swordsman of Landstar remained, but without its fellow warrior on the field its ATK plummeted down to 1600.

[Comrade Swordsman of Landstar - ATK:2200 > 1600]

"Look at that Astral, now although his Starlight dragon can't attack Drake has broken the attack lock and is the strongest monster on the field."

"Indeed."

"…This can't be, the Seal of Orichalcos… is invincible, you can't… defeat… me…."

Chapman wasn't looking so good. The impact of three Star Falls had beaten him up pretty badly. But Drake had no mercy for those that knowingly use the power of the accursed Seal. For those that would willingly hunt the souls of others as a sacrifice.

"Finally I activate the spell <Silver's Cry> this card allows me to special summon a normal type Dragon from my Graveyard. So be reborn <Blue-Eyes White Dragon>!"

[Blue-Eyes White Dragon – Lv8 ATK:3000/DEF:2500]

Drakes Blue-Eyes once more returned to the field, ready to finish the duel once and for all.

"No…"

How could this be? How could he lose? He had the Seal of Orichalcos…

*Roar!*

"This duel is done! Blue-Eyes White Dragon, White Lightning attack!"

[BEWD ATK:3000 > CSoL ATK:1600, Chapman LP > 0]

<<DRAKE WINS>>

"No! No! NOOOO!!"

The Seal began to contract, releasing Drake from its grip and focusing on Chapman till it tightly held him in his grasp. The power of the Seal was almost absolute, the loser of the duel must forfeit their soul, even if the loser was its own servant. This was the price of failure.

"Master save me!"

But no one answered his plea's and as the circle of light disappeared Chapman fell listlessly to the floor, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

Drake moved to the soulless body and searched it for what he knew he would find. Six copies of the seal, each imprinted with the image of a person, Chapman among them. Each of them a stolen soul awaiting sacrifice.

The cards seemed to be repulsed by Drakes touch as if alive, seeking to escape the grasp of their enemy, to return to where they came from taking their prizes with them.

Not on Drakes watch.

His Dragons Eye lit up as he channelled the power given to him by the Legendary Dragons, bathing the cards in a purple glow. His eye began to weep bloody tears as one by one the images of the duellists faded from the cards, their souls freed to return to their own bodies. Eventually only Chapmans card remained, but Drake had stopped, letting the card fall from his hand. Before it hit the ground is suddenly flew away and it vanished from sight in a flash of light.

No Mercy.

"Lets go Yuma." He said snapping Yuma's attention back to the present.

"Is he..?" Yuma asked, looking at Chapmans body.

"Dead? No, but his soul has been taken."

"Why didn't you stop it then?"

"Why should I? He got exactly what he deserved, he has stolen many souls, who knows how many there were that I wasn't in time to save."

"But it's still not right!"

"…Don't ever change Yuma, any world could do with more people like you."

As Drake turned away, Yuma grabbed his arm.

"Promise me, never again!"

"Yuma…" Astral didn't know what to say. Logically there was nothing wrong with Drakes view, to show no mercy to one's mortal enemies.

Drake could see the determination in Yuma eyes. Ah, to be that young again.

"Fine Yuma, I promise, so long as it is within my power. Now let's head back, I'm sure someone will be along soon."

By the time Heartland security had reached the alley, everything was long over and only Chapmans soulless body remained. And nothing discovered there would be reported outside of secret documents marked for the eyes of Mr Heartland and Dr Faker only.

---

"…I summon <Constellar Algiedi> and with its special ability I special summon <Constellar Kaus> from my hand. I then use my level 4 Constellar Algiedi, Constellar Kaus and <Constellar Acubens> to XYZ summon, <Number 32: Shark Drake>!"

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

"I attack your <Submersible Carrier Aero Shark> with Number 32, go Deep Sea Destruction!"

[N32 ATK:2800 > SCAS ATK:1900, Shark LP > 2100]

A boy with purple hair was sent flying from the shockwave of the battle, his face twisted by both anger and pain. His name was Reginald Kastle, or as he was known in duelling circles, Shark.

"Feel the pain Shark! I activate Number 32's ability, once per turn by sending one overlay unit to the graveyard I can special summon the monster I just destroyed back to the field, but it loses 1000 ATK points, then my Number can attack it again! Deep Sea Destruction!"

"Arrrgh!"

Shark was sent flying once more under the power of the Number card.

[N32 ATK:2800 > SCAS ATK:900 Shark LP > 200]

"Is this all you have Shark, didn't you want to know about your sister, about what happened to her, whose is responsible? Haha, I don't know what they see in you. You're going to lose Shark and when you do you will not only lose your only chance at the truth, but I will make sure you end up in a hospital bed next to your sister for the rest of your life."

"You….!"

"Rage all you want, without power you are nothing, I activate the spell <Wave-Motion Cannon> at the start of each of my standby phase's this card gets a spell counter, by sacrificing it I can deal 1000 points of damage for each counter it has. Since you only have 200 Life points left, at the start of my next turn you are finished."

"I end my turn."

[Turn ? Shark LP:200 Hand:2, Challenger LP:2000 Hand:1]

"You think… you've won? Think again! I draw!"

"I play the spell card <Surface> to special summon my <Drill Barnacle> back from my graveyard in defence mode. Next I summon my <Skull Kraken> from my hand. When this card is normal summoned, I can destroy one face up spell or trap on the field, so say good bye to your cannon!"

A jet of pressurised water cut fired from the creepy squids skull face and slashed the spell card to pieces.

"So what? I still have my Number, you have no hope."

"I have something better than hope, I have skill."

"I overlay my level 3 Drill Barnacle and my level 3 Skull Kraken to XYZ summon <Black Ray Lancer>

[Black Ray Lancer – Rank 3 ATK:2100/DEF:600 OU:2]

"Next I play the spell <Xyz Gift>, by removing 2 overlay units from a XYZ monster I control, I am allowed to draw 2 cards!"

[Black Ray Lancer OU: 2 > 0]

"Finally, I active <Deep Sea Attack>! With this spell card, by sending 1 Water attributed monster with 2000 or more ATK from my hand to the Graveyard, I can target 1 monster I control; that monster can then attack you directly this turn. So I discard <Jawsman> so that my Black Ray Lancer can attack you directly, go! Deep Sea Spear Slash!"

"Nooooo!"

[BRL ATK:2100 - Challenger LP > 0]

Shark walked over his collapsed opponent, grabbing him forcibly by his collar, the guys heart key gave a fizz and a pop as its final heart light extinguished.

"Now tell me what you know!"

The man was shaking in fear, this wasn't how it was supposed to happen, they promised him that the Number card would give him the strength to win. That if he defeated Shark then he could keep it and with it he would be able to reach the finals.

Now it felt like something was pressing down on his soul, something dark and hungry.

"Tell me! Who was responsible for hurting my sister! What did they do to her?!!"

"I..I don't know."

"Liar!" Sharks roared as his fist smacked down next to the guys face.

"Dextra! It was Dextra who told me to say that! She.. She gave me the Number, told me to duel you, I…I…"

Dextra! Shark knew that name, so she was involved. The man before him had apparently fainted, or worse. Shark resolved to find Dextra and get some answers, but as he got up, he heard a voice in his head. Deep, dark and sinister.

"Give yourself to me…"

"Who?!"

There was no one else around, they were all alone here.

"You hate, you desire revenge…all this you can have with my power"

"Show yourself!" Shark ordered.

"I am right here Shark…"

On the floor the Number Card gave of a purple glow, its malevolent power slowly wrapping itself around Sharks body. It was familiar, its touch reminded him of the first Number he had used and then lost to Yuma.

"If you think I will follow the orders of some card then you're crazy. I don't need you."

He remembered the feeling of power that had once coursed through him. But he resisted, he would not be controlled, and certainly not by some card.

"But you do… you need my power, for revenge, for your sister…"

"I…"

He couldn't help but think, he had almost lost to a nobody with a Numbers, if it had been in the hands of someone truly strong… and if this guy got it from Dextra, then she was sure to have more Number cards herself. Could he get his revenge like he was now. Dark thoughts bubbled through his mind under the prodding of the Number card at his feet.

"Remember your sister, your vengence, give in to your hate, become one with me…"

---

On a roof top several streets over, a man with binoculars watched Sharks inner struggle with the Number before him. Lifting his phone to his mouth he reported to his boss.

"It's done, package has been delivered. I repeat, package has been delivered, he has taken the Number."