[Yumi, LP 2900]
[Planet Hunter, LP 3300]
What makes people remember the Masked HERO series?
Is it the cool HERO designs? The obvious Kamen Rider inspiration? Or maybe it's just the fact that Dark Law basically carried the whole archetype on its back until new support finally arrived.
The answer changes depending on who you ask, but one thing pretty much everyone agrees on is their ridiculous combat pressure. Being able to change forms mid-battle, keep attacking, and adapt on the fly makes even a single Masked HERO more than enough to wipe out a field on its own if left alone for too long.
"My turn. Draw." Yumi said, glancing at the card he picked up. His expression didn't really change, but his eyes lingered on it for a second longer than usual.
"Spell card, Take Over 5. I send the top five cards from my deck to the graveyard."
He calmly slid the cards into the grave, not really reacting even as key cards went by.
"Masked HERO Bassols's effect activates. Once per turn, if this card is sent to the graveyard by a spell effect, I can add one 'Change' Quick-Play Spell from my deck or graveyard to my hand."
He searched through his deck in swift movements before stopping. "I'll add Mask Change."
The Planet Hunter watched closely, clearly aware this was the type of card that led to problems later.
"Next, I activate the spell Mask Charge," Yumi continued, already placing the card forward.
"Not happening. I activate Super Quantum Union - Magnaformation!" the Planet Hunter quickly interrupted. His tone made it obvious he didn't like where this was going and wasn't planning to just sit still and watch.
Yumi didn't seem bothered at all.
"I'll chain Chaos's effect. I negate your trap again."
Chaos released another wave of swirling black-and-white energy, casually shutting the trap down like it wasn't a big deal. The Planet Hunter clicked his tongue but didn't say anything. He clearly didn't have a follow-up.
"This lets me add one HERO and one 'Change' spell from my graveyard to my hand," Yumi continued. Two cards slid out of the graveyard slot. "I'll return Form Change and Masked HERO Bassols."
The Planet Hunter felt his shoulders tense a little as Yumi's hand size went back up again.
"Now, I Normal Summon Masked HERO Bassols."
Yumi placed the card down with no hesitation. A masked warrior in gray and white armor appeared, landing lightly on the field.
[Masked HERO Bassols, 1000 ATK]
Yumi looked at the field for a brief moment, then smiled.
"This was fun," he said in a calm tone, "but I'm ending this Duel here."
The cloaked duelist clicked his tongue again, clearly annoyed. "Seriously? You say that like it's guaranteed. Who do you even think you are?"
Yumi simply lifted a card up.
"Just a passing-through Duelist," he replied casually. "Remember that."
"Battle! Quickplay spell, Mask Change!"
Yumi placed down the card, and Bassols's body was covered in light.
"Henshin! Masked HERO Dian!"
The light faded, revealing a tall armored warrior in diamond-theme armor. Her blue cape drifted lightly behind her, and she lifted her crystal lance with a relaxed confidence.
[Masked HERO Dian, 2800 ATK]
"Go, Dian. Attack Mech Beast Magnaliger. Diamond Thrust!"
Dian rushed forward in a straight line, with no unnecessary movement, and drove her lance cleanly through the massive crimson mech. Magnaliger burst apart a moment later.
"Dian's effect. When she destroys a monster by battle, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my deck."
Yumi slid a card from his deck.
"Come out! Elemental HERO Shadow Mist."
Shadows spread across the field, then pulled together into a slim figure. The dark heroine formed from the mist, her long blue hair drifting as if there was a breeze only she could feel.
[Elemental HERO Shadow Mist, 1000 ATK]
"Shadow Mist's effect. When she's Special Summoned, I can add a 'Change' Quick-Play Spell from my deck to my hand. I'll add Mask Change."
He added another Mask Change to his hand. The Planet Hunter responded right after.
"Super Quantal Mecha Beast Magnaliger's effect. When it's destroyed, I can Special Summon Super Quantum Red Layer from my graveyard, but its effects are negated."
The mech lion dissolved completely, and the red warrior was dropped onto the field like he'd been forcibly ejected.
[Super Quantum Red Layer, 800 DEF]
Yumi didn't seem surprised by this new effect, since in Super-Sentai, when a Sentai's mech is defeated, the driver inside would be ejected in a weakened state.
"Shadow Mist, attack Red Layer. Shadow Scratch!"
The dark heroine slipped forward and cut him down in one simple motion. Red Layer hit the ground without resistance.
"Quickplay Spell, Form Change!" Yumi continued, not slowing down.
Dian's armor glowed and began to shift.
"Cast off! Masked HERO Wizard!"
The diamond armor burst outward and reformed, reshaping into a red-and-black armored figure. His mask resembled a red gemstone, and heat shimmered faintly around him.
[Masked HERO Wizard, 2700 ATK]
"Wizard, attack Mech Beast Aeroboros. Fire Strike!"
Flame erupted under Wizard's feet. He spun once, then drove a kick straight into the mech bird, blowing it apart.
"When Aeroboros is destroyed, I Special Summon Super Quantum Green Layer from my graveyard."
The green warrior dropped onto the field out of the wreckage, landing in a guarded stance.
[Super Quantum Green Layer, 1400 DEF]
"Wizard's effect," Yumi continued evenly. "When he destroys a monster by battle, I can send a HERO from my deck to the graveyard, then Special Summon a Masked HERO with the same Attribute from my Extra Deck."
He sent a card from his deck.
"I send the WATER Attribute, Bubbleman."
Bubbles floated up along the field, then twisted into a swirling column of water.
"Cho Henshin! Masked HERO Vapor!"
A blue armored masked warrior stepped out of the vortex, holding a harpoon casually at his side.
[Masked HERO Vapor, 2400 ATK]
"Vapor, attack Green Layer. Deepend Harpoon!"
He rushed forward and drove the weapon straight through the green warrior's guard, knocking him out.
"Ozu, attack Mech Beast Grampulse. Scanning Charge!"
Ozu dashed forward, raising his sword and cutting through the mech dolphins, splitting them as they exploded behind him.
"When Grampulse is destroyed, I Special Summon Blue Layer."
The blue-armored female warrior appeared, kneeling as she landed.
[Super Quantum Blue Layer, 2000 DEF]
"Quickplay spell, Mask Change!"
Yumi didn't stop and continued to flex the true power of his Masked HERO. As Shadow Mist's entire body was covered by a bright golden light.
"Henshin! Masked HERO Anki!"
[Masked HERO Anki, 2800 ATK]
"Anki attack Blue Layer! Oni Slash!"
Anki slashed downward, destroying her in one clean strike.
"Anki's effect. When he destroys a monster by battle, I can add a 'Change' Quick-Play Spell from my deck to my hand." Yumi searched his deck. "I'll add Form Change."
He didn't give the Planet Hunter much time to react.
"Chaos player direct attack! Chaos Xtreme!"
Chaos leaped up and delivered a straight rider kick toward the Planet Hunter. The impact pushed him back across the ground and into a nearby tree.
[Planet Hunter, LP 3300 -> 300]
The force of the attack didn't just push the Planet Hunter back, it knocked his hood loose. The cloth slipped off his head and fell to his shoulders, finally revealing his face.
Kite Tenjo.
Yumi recognized him almost instantly. Different outfit, different Duel Disk design, but everything else lined up perfectly, the sharp expression, the hairstyle, even the way he glared at people. No wonder his voice sounded like Albaz earlier. They share the same Japanese VA.
Kite pushed himself back up, clearly realizing at the same time that his hood had fallen. His jaw tightened for a second, then he looked straight at Yumi.
"I didn't think a Slifer would be this powerful…" he muttered under his breath, partly annoyed, partly impressed. "Looks like I underestimated you."
This was the first time he had ever seen an all-in-attack like that. Even with his busted Super Quant monsters, they are clearly still no match for Yumi's HEROes.
Yumi casually lowered his hands.
"Since you're gonna lose anyway, why don't you at least tell me why you're running around collecting those Planet cards?" He tilted his head slightly, half-expecting Kite to break into a long villain explanation with backstory, tragic motivation, the usual package, even a couple of flashbacks telling his reason and journey, getting the fans all teary-eyed and stuff.
Kite shut that down instantly.
"Sorry. That's none of your business." His tone was sharp and flat. He has no interest in playing along.
"Tch. Not even going to try justifying yourself, huh?" Yumi clicked his tongue, mildly disappointed.
Kite didn't respond, making it clear he wasn't planning to say anything else.
"Alright then. Your loss." Yumi raised a card. "Form Change."
He slid it onto his Duel Disk. Masked HERO Vapor's body lit up, armor shifting and scattering like fragments of water.
"Cast off! Masked HERO Dark Law!"
The blue armor shattered away, replaced by sleek jet-black plating. Golden eyes glowed from the mask like they were quietly judging everything on the field.
[Masked HERO Dark Law, 2400 ATK]
"Dark Law, player direct attack! Rider Kick!"
Dark Law dashed forward and leaped, slamming his claws boot straight into Kite's chest. The impact sent Kite flying back again, dirt scattering under him as he slid across the ground.
[Planet Hunter -> Kite, LP 300 -> 0]
Instead of staying down, Kite shrugged off his torn cloak entirely. A white jet-pack unit unfolded along his back, humming to life. Using the momentum from Dark Law's kick, he shot straight up into the air and took off without hesitation.
Yumi blinked once.
"So that's how he reached this island," he muttered, watching the shrinking figure disappear into the night sky.
He had plenty of ways to chase him if he wanted to. Teleporting, flying, just being annoying in general. But Kite was the so-called Planet Hunter in this world, and his target was Yumi's Tyrant Neptune. Sooner or later, Kite would show up again on his own.
No need to waste effort chasing someone who'd come back anyway.
Yumi lowered his Duel Disk, letting the holograms fade away, then the Shadow Charm Pendant at his chest began to glow. A faint dark light wrapped around him as he teleported back to his dorm room.
The moment he appeared back in his room, he didn't even get the chance to say anything.
Celina stepped forward and kicked him straight down onto the bed, not very hard, just decisive enough. Before he could sit back up, she was already on top of him, settling herself on his crotch and grabbing onto his neck with both arms.
She wasn't trying to strangle him. Just… making a point.
"Look who finally decided to return?" she said, voice calm but clearly dangerous, eyes narrowed at him.
Clearly, she was still pissed about the stunt he pulled on her not too long ago.
"You bastard, do you have a death wish or something!?" she added, tightening her hold just a little. Not painful, just uncomfortable enough to remind him he deserved this.
She wasn't stupid. She knew if she actually hurt him, there was a chance he'd seriously retaliate.
Unlike Zane, who couldn't do anything against Momoyo since she could easily overpower him, Celina has it better since Yumi isn't the type to get violent physically like his sister.
"I'm going to choke you the entire night," she declared matter-of-factly, shifting her position to hug his neck from behind and pulling him back toward the bed again when he tried to shift. The pressure made breathing slightly inconvenient.
"Celina… I… can't breathe…" he managed, tapping weakly at her arms.
She loosened just a little. Not out of mercy, just enough so he wouldn't actually pass out or really retaliate.
"You wanted a girl to warm your bed, right? Congratulations," she said flatly, leaning closer to his ear, still irritated. "I'm sleeping here tonight. Try not to die."
He blinked up at the wooden bunk above him.
"...Raye," Yumi muttered.
Raye obediently appeared a moment later.
Instead of helping, she silently crawled onto the bed and wrapped her arms around his torso from the other side like a koala claiming a branch.
Yumi: "..."
Now he had Celina hugging his neck from above and Raye hugging his waist from below.
Yumi stared expressionlessly at the second bunk.
This is not exactly how he imagined "bed warmed."
He slowly exhaled, as much as the limited airflow allowed.
This was going to be a long night.
...
The next day, the gang regrouped at the Slifer Red dorm. It was supposed to be a normal morning. Instead, the first thing they saw was Chazz.
Or rather, Chazz in… white.
He had swapped out his usual all-black outfit for the same thing but completely bleached with blue lining, like someone had thrown him and his wardrobe into a washing machine full of detergent and a cult pamphlet.
"What's that uniform?" Bastion asked, brows furrowed, studying Chazz like he was a complicated math problem. Everyone else had the same look.
Well, except Yumi, who was calmly drinking milk like nothing unusual was happening and was very obviously just waiting for an excuse to bully someone.
Chazz gave a light chuckle, turned dramatically, and spoke like he'd practiced in front of a mirror.
"Lord Sartorius is the rightful ruler of the world. Duel Academy will soon be bleached white by the Society of Light!"
He spread his arms wide, absolutely committing to the bit.
"Damn, I didn't expect him to join a cult," Celina said flatly while rubbing Pharaoh's head.
Chazz followed that up with a full-on villain laugh, which really didn't help his defense case. It sounded like he was about to announce step two of his evil plan involving repainting buildings and passing out membership forms.
"You planning to vandalize the Slifer Red dorm, huh!?" Yumi said, finally putting down his milk and standing up like he had been waiting for this cue. "Let's duel if you're brave enough!"
He wasn't even mad. He just clearly wanted to bully someone with cards.
As far as Yumi was concerned, as Slifer, everyone in Slifer Red was under his protection. And since Chazz was obviously brainwashed, this made everything even better. Beating someone up in the name of "helping" was basically a free pass.
Perfect excuse acquired.
However, the moment Yumi stood, Chazz had already turned around and sprinted straight out the door with no hesitation. Just pure survival instinct. He moved so fast that if the track team saw him, they'd probably offer him a captain position on the spot.
The group stared at the now empty doorway.
"...Well, that was easy," Rio muttered, arms folding. Then her gaze slowly shifted toward Celina.
She didn't say anything, but the glare said enough. She clearly still wasn't satisfied with the result of last night's duel between them.
Celina clicked her tongue softly, looked away, give Pharaoh's round butt a pat, then casually stomped on Yumi's foot under the table.