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Yu-Gi-Oh! The Four Virtues
Episode 22: “Hero to Zero”
The smoke billowed high into the air, a beacon summoning all the law enforcement in the area to the location. The sight was a grim one: two D-Wheels lay in ruins on the curb, their blazing fires forming two miniature rings. Scorch marks, deep black furrows that scarred the earth, lined the ground. In the midst of all this lay two broken bodies, a female and a male. Both their clothes were torn, and in some places smoking. Their faces were scratched and oozing blood that turned black against the dirt and grime.
“Here!” one man shouted. He was dressed in a full bodysuit that was flame-resistant. A breath mask covered his face. No bit of skin was exposed. “We have two duelists down!”
Two white stretchers were rolled over. Gently, like a loving parent, four men lifted the two injured teenagers onto the stretchers. The boy stirred and groaned.
“Sir, please lay still” the original speaker commanded. “You have been involved in a serious accident. Further movement could cause further injury.”
The boy coughed out, “What…what happened?”
“You were involved in a duel, and for some reason crashed despite your Auto-pilot. It was a mechanical malfunction.”
The boy’s eyes shot open. They were a hazy gray color. A yellow criminal mark inlaid with red ran down his cheek. Toshiro Henry gasped out, “Jaya! Jaya Yuki! Is she alright?!” His rant was cut short, however, as the garbed man shoved him back down. Toshiro’s body screamed in pain as the action, and he found himself screaming in sync.
“Sir, you are gravely injured! Please follow our instructions to prevent further harm!”
Toshiro gritted his teeth. “What happened to Jaya? And what of the duel?”
“Ms. Yuki is in a stable condition, but still unconscious. She should make a full recovery.”
“And the duel?”
“Sir…you won.”
Toshiro just lay there in shock as he was lifted into the ambulance. But…at what cost…?
Something pricked his arm, and he involuntarily jerked, making the pain return. “What…?” Suddenly, Toshiro felt drowsy.
“You have been given some medication,” explained a man. “It shall sink into your system and put you to sleep.”
Toshiro didn’t hear him: the medicine had already done its job.
* * *
Toshiro slowly opened his eyes and got acquainted with his surroundings: he was in the Kaiba Corp hospital. He felt toasty-warm underneath his white sheets. Several wires connected him to a machine next to his bed, which showed his vital signs, which were represented by green jagged lines. In the bed next to him lay Jaya. Her position was similar to his, except she was asleep.
A nurse with brown hair and brown eyes walked over with a beaming smile on her face. “Good, you’re awake!”
Toshiro looked over at Jaya. “Is she okay?”
The nurse winked. “Yes, she’s okay. She’s just resting. She actually awoke before you did.”
“When was that?”
“Two days ago” the nurse replied.
Toshiro stared blankly. “How long was I out?”
“For over a week,” the nurse replied.
“A WEEK?!” Toshiro exclaimed, bolting upright.
The nurse shushed him and Jaya stirred. “Not so loud, champ,” she whispered. “Let her rest.”
Toshiro settled back down and stared at the ceiling. “Have Tokyro and Mara been around?”
“You mean the boy and girl waiting outside?” the nurse asked. “The ones threatening to break down my door?”
Toshiro smiled. “Yeah, that’d be them”
The nurse walked over and opened the door. Tokyro was halfway into the room before the door was halfway open, with Mara right on her heels. “Toshiro!”
Toshiro struggled upright, his arms supporting his upper body. “Guys…”
Tokyro and Mara pulled up chairs and sat between the two patients. “What happened?!” Tokyro demanded.
“One minute you were acting normal…and the next, you were taken over by something else!” Mara exclaimed.
Toshiro looked at Jaya’s prone form, and his eyes glinted dangerously. “Before the duel, Sarah slipped me a card. When I drew it, it felt…alive.”
“Alive?” Mara questioned.
“It…pulsed.” Toshiro struggled to explain. “It seemed to hold a beating heart.”
Mara shuddered, and Tokyro seemed to turn paler.
“At one point, when Arms Master and Shining Flare Wingman were in play, shadows seemed to ooze out of the card.” Toshiro shivered, remembering the feelings that inky blackness bestowed. “They flowed into me…and I felt my soul get shunted to the side. I was locked inside my own body. I had to watch as whatever was controlling me dueled Jaya.”
“How did you get set free?” Tokyro asked.
A small smile graced Toshiro’s face. “Jaya” he stated simply. “She used Shining Flare Wingman and shattered the card.”
Meanwhile, Jaya stirred again, groaned, and opened her eyes. “Ugh…” she muttered. “What time is it?”
Toshiro grinned. “Good morning”
Jaya blinked, then jumped out of bed. “Toshiro!” she flung her arms around him, and Toshiro felt tears trickled onto his shoulder. “I thought…when the doctors said you hadn’t woke up…”
Toshiro rubbed her back consolingly. “It’s okay,” Toshiro soothed. “I’m alright, and it’s all thanks to you.”
Jaya dropped her arms and stood back. “You’re welcome,” she replied, “but what are you going to do now?”
Toshiro flung the covers off, ripped the wires off, and strapped his duel disk to his arm. “I’m going to settle things with Sarah.”
* * *
Sarah Smith was walking down the corridor talking on her cell phone. Her duel disk was strapped to her arm, and security cards flanked her on either side.
“Yes, this is a special case,” she was saying. “He needs to be tested, now!” She paused as the person on the other line replied to her comments. “I don’t care if he may not be ready! Just make sure you’re here!”
As she hung up, she cried out as a sharp pain shot across her neck. Feeling the area, she felt the wetness of blood.
“Miss Smith!” shouted a security guard. “You’re—!”
“SARAH!”
The trio turned and stared as Toshiro, Mara, Jaya, and Tokyro ran towards them. Between the two groups was a trap card with a bloodied edge.
“What is it, Henry?” Sarah spat, still applying pressure to her wound.
“Why did you slip me Underworld Reversal?!” Toshiro demanded, being restrained by Tokyro and Jaya so he didn’t try to strangle the champion.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about” Sarah replied coldly. “You must be delirious.”
“I’M NOT DELIRIOUS!” Toshiro roared. “YOU SLIPPED ME THAT CARD AND ALMOST KILLED JAYA AND ME!!”
Sarah smirked. “Toshiro…what does it matter? You won! We should be celebrating instead of fighting!”
Toshiro managed to break free from his friends. Instead of charging, he activated his duel disk. “I won’t rest until I get some answers, Sarah! Even if that means I have to duel you to get them!”
Sarah raised her dueling arm, but before she had the chance to activate it another figure walked towards the group. He was completely covered by a brown cloak.
Sarah turned and smiled at the new arrival. “Ah, you’re here!” Turning back to face the enraged teen, “Sorry Toshiro, maybe some other time. For now, how about you duel this gentleman for our pleasure?”
Toshiro scowled as he looked at the cloaked visitor. “As long as I get answers afterwards”
Sarah clapped her hands and stepped aside. “Then begin!”
Jaya squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “Be careful…” she muttered before giving him room.
Toshiro paused for a second before calling out, “Are you going to hide behind a cloak? Or are you going to face me like a man?!”
The mysterious person chuckled. “That’s no way to speak to me”
Toshiro’s eyes widened. He knew that voice; almost everyone in the world did. “No…”
The cloak was flung off, and a grown man was revealed. He wore black pants and a gray shirt, which underneath an unzipped black windbreaker. His black hair was cut short, sort of like in a military manner. But the most startling feature of this man was his eyes: instead of being one color, they were a mixture of green, orange, and purple. Each color received an equal portion.
“Father…” Toshiro breathed.
Gregory Henry smiled at his son. “I see congratulations are in order. You managed to win this tournament and rescue your friend.”
“What are you doing here?!” Toshiro demanded. “Are you with her?!” he pointed at Sarah. “Do you know what she did?!”
Greg looked at his son calmly. “Son, think rationally. Do you have proof?”
“SHUT UP!!” Toshiro shouted. “I DON’T NEED PROOF! I KNOW SHE DID IT!”
“Going by your gut won’t work all the time, you know.”
Toshiro laughed crazily. “Really?! And what have you done throughout your career?!”
“That’s different!” Greg protested. “I have actually done something! I’ve made difference!”
“Yeah? Well, so will I!” Toshiro retorted as he jammed his deck into its slot. “Let’s just get this over with”
Greg activated his already-loaded duel disk and set his life counter.
“DUEL!”
Greg – 4000 Toshiro – 4000
“My move!” Greg announced, adding a sixth card to his hand. “I activate the Polymerization Spell Card!” A rainbow-colored vortex opened up behind Greg.
“I fuse Sparkman, Avian, and Bubbleman together to form Elemental Hero Tempest! (2800 ATK)” The monster that appeared out of the multi-colored vortex had Avian’s head—with a visor—and his wings. He had Sparkman’s body with Bubbleman’s colors. On his left arm had a claw gauntlet and on his right was a futuristic blaster.
“Next, I set one card facedown and end my turn” A brown rectangle inscribed by a black oval appeared on the floor, leaving one card in his hand.
“Then it’s on to me!” Toshiro cried as he drew his next card. “I activate Destiny Draw! By discarding my Destiny Hero Malicious, I can draw two extra cards. Now the Malicious I discarded shall be removed from play to summon a copy from my deck!” A demonic creature with wings, claws, and horns appeared opposite the winged Elemental Hero. “Next, I summon Destiny Summoner in ATK mode! (1300 ATK)” A black armored male with a metal staff appeared in the field of play. “With this card’s special ability, I can summon another Destiny Hero from my deck: Disk Commander!” A blue jumpsuit-wearing humanoid appeared and surrounded itself with large silver disks. “Now, by sacrificing my three monsters I can summon Destiny Hero Plasma! (1900 ATK)”
The new monster looked very much like a vampire: it had blood colored robes, large claws, and three spikes coming out of his upper back. Leathery wings came out of the back as well and the beast also had a large tail.
“Now, Plasma ability will steal your monster and increase its ATK by half of your Tempest’s!”
Plasma raised one of his hands and grabbed the Hero’s waist. In a flash, it dissolved and its face appeared on Plasma’s wings. (1900 à 3300 ATK)
“Next, I equip Plasma with Destiny Sword—Blood Blade!” Toshiro shouted. A deep red blade appeared in its clawed hand and immediately covered the wielder with a red aura. “Plasma gets another ATK boost, this time equal to the equipped monster’s ATK! (3300 à 6100 ATK)”
Greg hadn’t said a word throughout Toshiro’s turn…until now. “Impressive…most impressive”
“Plasma, end this!” Toshiro ordered. The monster raised its sword and fired a blast of energy from the tip…
“Toshiro, I’m afraid that won’t work!” Greg shouted. “My Sakuretsu Armor will destroy your monster before your attack hits!”
Plasma was suddenly surrounded by a purple aura. It groaned once, and then exploded. The attack subsequently dissolved.
Toshiro scowled as the debris washed over him. “I end my turn,” he announced. He had four cards in his hand.
“My turn!” Greg shouted, adding a new card to his hand. “Now I activate my Pot of Greed!” After adding two more cards to his hand, he continued “Now I activate the Library of Alexandria Spell Card!”
“What does it do?” Toshiro asked.
Not answering, Greg continued “Next, Graceful Charity will let me draw three more cards at the price of two!” The Library of Alexandria card glowed briefly before returning to its unassuming state.
So that’s it, Toshiro realized. It gains Spell Counters whenever we play a Spell!
“Next, I play Miracle Fusion!” Greg shouted. “By removing Avian, Burstinatrix, Clayman, and Bubbleman from play I can summon Elemental Hero Electrum! (2900 ATK)”
As the four monsters disappeared into the vortex, it crackled with rainbow lightning. The monster that emerged was completely gold with the E-Hero emblem embossed on his chest.
“You’re wide open, so Electrum can attack you directly!”
Electrum cupped its hands and fired a stream of intertwined blue, green, red, and brown energy at Toshiro. It hit him in the chest and knocked him backward.
Greg – 4000, 2 Counters Toshiro – 1100
“That’s all I’ve got,” Greg concluded as his son struggled back to his feet. “Let’s see what you’ve got!”
Toshiro slowly drew his next card and slipped it into his hand. Selecting another card, he announced, “I play Clock Tower Prison!” The Kaiba Corp corridor disappeared—along with the large group of spectators—and it was replaced with a large white tower that bore a striking resemblance to Big Ben. The two duelists were standing in the middle of a courtyard underneath black skies. “Next, I set two cards and end my turn”
Greg drew his next card and, without a word, pointed at Toshiro. Electrum cupped its hands again and prepared another attack…
“Sorry father!” Toshiro shouted. “I activate my two Eternal Dreads! Each card adds two Time Counters to my Field Spell, giving it a grand total of 5 after I add the counter it receives during each of your turns!” The clock that towered above their heads chimed four times and paused with its hands in a 90 degree angle.
“And with five, you cannot be harmed in battle” Greg realized, and Electrum’s attack dissipated. “So I guess it’s your move.”
Greg – 4000, 3 Spell Counters Toshiro – 1100, 5 Time Counters
Toshiro drew his next card placed it onto his duel disk. “Come forth, Diamond Dude! (1400 ATK)” In a flash of light, the green clothed hero with diamonds sticking out of his body appeared. “With his ability, I discard the top card of my deck. If it’s a Normal Spell Card, I can activate it next turn. Next, I set a card facedown and end my turn.”
Greg slipped the top card of his deck free and ordered, “Electrum, attack!”
“You fell for it again!” Toshiro shouted triumphantly. “This time, you triggered my Hate Buster Trap Card! The two battling monsters are destroyed, and you take damage equal to the ATK of your monster!”
Electrum’s multi-colored stream of energy was intercepted by a black blast of energy that engulfed both monsters. Suddenly, it sunk in on itself and imploded, the shockwave of the blast washed over Greg, who was forced to retreat a couple steps.
Greg – 1100, 3 Counters Toshiro – 1100, 6 Time Counters
After he had recovered, Greg slipped the card he had just drawn into a slot on his duel disk. “I end my turn.”
Toshiro had a feral grin on his face as he added another card to his hand. It was like a shark smelling blood in the water: he knew he had the upper hand. “I remove my Malicious from the game to summon another copy!” Another demon appeared, this one crouched in a defensive position. “Next, I sacrifice it to summon Destiny Hero—Time Servant! (1600 ATK)” The monster was a male humanoid with an armored vest the only thing protecting its skin. A tattered cloak hung from its shoulders, and his black bangs hung in front of his eyes. “When he’s summoned, I can destroy my Clock Tower Prison!”
“Why?!” his father demanded as marble walls began crumbling around them, revealing the Kaiba Corp corridor again. After a second, his eyes widened. “No…”
“When Clock Tower Prison is destroyed, I can summon Destiny Hero Dreadmaster!”
A large man erupted from the wreckage. He seemed to be made entirely of muscles. A loincloth covered his unmentionables, and an iron mask covered his face. Gray hair reached his middle back.
“When he’s summoned, I can Special Summon as many Level 4 or lower Destiny Heroes from my graveyard as possible!” Toshiro announced. “Diamond Dude! Disk Commander! Come and join the party!”
Greg just gaped as he stared down the four-man army. “And Dreadmaster gains ATK equal to the combined ATK of all Destiny Heroes in play…”
“A total of 3300!” Toshiro confirmed. “Also, Disk Commander lets me draw an additional two cards! Now, I can give Dreadmaster its Equipment: Destiny Sword—Dread Blade!”
A pitch-black sword appeared in Dreadmaster’s hand. As the brute hefted the weapon, Greg asked “What does this one do?”
“For each monster in both player’s graveyard, my monster gains 300 ATK!” Toshiro explained triumphantly. (3300 + (300 x 6) = 5100 ATK) “Dreadmaster, direct attack!”
The brute leapt up, its sword poised for a downward strike…
“Go, Mirror Force!” Greg shouted.
The blade met an invisible wall and shattered, the metal shards flying out and impaling each member of Toshiro’s army.
Toshiro hung his head and slid a facedown card into his duel disk. “I end my turn”
Greg – 1100, 4 Counters Toshiro – 1100
Greg drew his next card and, after staring at what he had, slid a Spell Card into his duel disk. “I activate Polymerization! I fuse my Avian and Burstinatrix to form Elemental Hero Phoenix Enforcer! (2100 ATK)” A hero with a claw gauntlet, red and black body, a dragon tail, and Avian’s head and wings emerged from the increasingly familiar rainbow vortex.
Greg – 1100, 5 Counters Toshiro – 1100
“Wait!” Toshiro called out. “How did you get Avian and Burstinatrix back?!”
“Have you forgotten Electrum’s ability?” Greg asked. “When he’s Fusion Summoned, all monsters removed from play are returned to their respective owners’ decks!”
Toshiro gritted his teeth and braced himself for the attack…
“Phoenix Enforcer, end this duel!” Greg ordered. “Justice Slash!”
Phoenix Enforcer flew into the air and began to descend at an unnatural speed, claw raised high…
“I activate the effect of Persistent Dreams!” Toshiro shouted. “When it’s in the Graveyard, I can remove it from play to stop all battle damage that would be dealt to me this turn!” Phoenix Enforcer’s claw gauntlet clanged against a transparent shield that an spontaneously surrounded Toshiro. Sensing defeat, the hero returned to its place on the field.
“I activate the ability of Library of Alexandria!” Greg announced. “When it has five or more Spell Counters, I can send it to the graveyard to discard my hand and then draw cards equal to the number of Spell Counters on my card!”
“Incredible!” Jaya breathed from the sidelines. “He’s been anticipating this moment for the entire duel! He’s let Toshiro play all those Spells just so he could replenish his resources!”
After surveying his new five-card hand, Greg announced “I set three cards facedown and end my turn.”
Toshiro closed his eyes, praying for a miracle…and then drew his card. When his vision was restored, he grinned at the sight of his card.
“I summon Destiny Hero Legacy! (1500 ATK)” Toshiro shouted, holding the card aloft as it glowed with blue energy. The said energy flew outwards and formed the outline of a humanoid being. It dissolved into shimmering dust, and the warrior was revealed. He was clad in silver armor. A silver helmet protected its skull, and a black crest similar to the symbol of the Destiny Heroes was etched onto his chest plate. His gauntlets were black, as well as his boots.
As Greg stared in wonder, Toshiro called “Father! This is my message to you, a message symbolized by this card: I cannot, and will not, allow myself to rest as a simple footnote. I shall create a name for myself, and my journey starts here!”
Greg narrowed his eyes. “What does your card do?”
“Legacy has many abilities, all of which depends on my Life Total. Since I have 1900 LP, my monster’s ATK is doubled! (1500 à 3000 ATK) Furthermore, I activate another Spell: Destiny Sword—Legacy Blade!” A 10 foot long buster sword appeared in Legacy’s right hand. It looked incredibly heavily, but the hero wielded it like it was made of air. “This card further increases my Legacy’s strength by 1500! (3000 à 4500 ATK)”
“If this goes through, the duel is over!” Mara gasped.
Sarah’s eyes were wide. No…he can’t be this powerful!
“Legacy, attack Phoenix Enforcer!” Toshiro cried. “LEGACY SLASH!!”
As the Destiny Hero began its charge, Greg shouted “Sorry son, but this duel’s over!”
Toshiro gave a start. “What? You admit defeat?!”
“No” Greg replied, “I seal yours!”
The surrounding spectators gasped. “What do you mean?!” Toshiro demanded.
“I activate Fusion Ninjutsu!” Greg announced. “With this card, by paying 1000 Life Points, I can send one Fusion Monster I control to the Extra Deck to Special Summon another Fusion Monster, ignoring all summoning conditions!”
The rainbow vortex appeared again, this time absorbing Phoenix Enforcer in a blaze of white light. In a puff of smoke, a new hero was in play: his was silver wings, and an almost entirely green body. Two wicked claws protruded from his arms.
“Meet Elemental Hero Shining Phoenix Enforcer! (2500 ATK)”
“So?” Toshiro snorted. “It only has 400 more ATK than your previous Fusion Monster!”
“Facedown, open!” Greg continued. “Hero’s Last Gamble! With this card I must discard the rest of my hand!”
“What is your aim?!” Toshiro demanded. “You have destroyed any chance of surviving this turn!”
“Not quite…” A slowly smirk was spreading across Greg’s face. “I activate my final facedown card: Strength of the Fallen! For every card in my Graveyard, Shining Phoenix Enforcer gains 500 ATK!” A ghostly aura surrounding the hero, and it flexed its claws as he gained power. (2500 + (500 x 7) = 6000 ATK)
“It’s surpassed Legacy!” Tokyro exclaimed.
“There’s more, Toshiro,” Greg continued softly. “Phoenix Enforcer gains another 300 ATK for every Hero in my graveyard. I count seven.”
“Seven?!” Toshiro exclaimed in confusion. Then his eyes widened. “Hero’s Last Gamble!”
“The cards I discarded were Stratos and Ocean,” Greg confirmed. “With seven Heroes in my graveyard, Shining Phoenix Enforcer gains an extra 300 ATK for each one. (6000 à 8100 ATK)”
Toshiro hung his head, knowing that he had nothing more that he could do.
“Shining Phoenix Enforcer, counterattack!” Greg ordered. “Ultimate Justice!”
Legacy brought his blade down, but Shining Phoenix Enforcer caught both wrists in a vice grip. The two Heroes struggled, but the Elemental Hero gained the upper hand and reversed the sword strike, and Legacy was cut in two.
Greg – 1100 Toshiro – 0
Toshiro stood in shock and self-pity, tasting bile in his throat as his eyes burned. I…lost…
Greg deactivated his duel disk. “You have grown, Toshiro” he informed. “I am proud of you…but you are not ready. I cannot allow you to go any further.”
Toshiro’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?!”
Greg shook his head sadly and began to walk away. “There are things you are better off not knowing.”
“Wait!” Toshiro called after the retreating figure. When no reply was given, Toshiro screamed “FATHER!!”
“You want answers?”
Toshiro whirled around to face a smirking Sarah. “If you want answers,” Sarah reiterated, “come back here at midnight. The door will be unlocked. Everything you need is here in this building.”
Sarah stalked past the four teenagers, flanked by her security guards. “Remember, Toshio” she whispered as she went by. “Midnight tonight.” With that, the trio was gone.
Jaya hesitantly walked up next to her friend. “What now?” she asked.
Toshiro kept his eyes glued straight ahead. “We’re going to break into Kaiba Corp.”
End of Episode