Path To Liberation, Wrath Of Max (Chap 40)

Synopsis: Daijirou Kuroyashiki wants to test his new power. His opponent is none other than the Ace of Sports himself. Which side will win?

In the previous story, the GAEN cup has begun. Hou Ren reunites with Shiloh & her brothers. Kanessada, Note also returned and together the three disciples reveal their relationship with Guru Bunbuku. Now the tournament continues and which match is next?

Anime Opening: Black & White

At another shop, Masato arranges his deck on a bench. His expression seems serious but inside he is anxious. He remembers Kanessada & Hou Ren's match.

Masato: (Thought) I still can't believe they are trained under the famous Guru Bunbuku. That explains why they are so strong. (Thought) (Sigh) Man, that guy's such a confidante. Still...

He holds out his complete deck and stares at it in seriousness.

Masato: I won't lose. No matter what.

Agito & the Linkdragon Order come out of their cards.

Agito: You know one thing I don't understand is why he has to keep it as a secret. Kanessada did explain why but it's not enough.

Harahara: Yeah, and why weren't we chosen as disciples?

Tategami: They better have an explanation.

Masato: I don't know. Regardless, they're quite strong yesterday and we can't afford to lose guard.

Linkdrgon Order: Right.

???: Fancy seeing you here.

Catching their attention, they look at who's calling them. Daijirou Kuroyashiki walks in and the Linkdragon Order sees him with grudge looks.

Tategami: Not you again.

Harahara: You got some nerve.

Masato: Okay calm down you guys. It's been a while, Senior.

Daijirou: Likewise, Old friend. (Spots his deck) I see you're prepping up.

Masato: Yeah?

Daijirou: (Holds out his deck) How bout a match?

At the shop's stage, Daijirou and Masato are about to fight. Ion and Takokichi appear once again.

Ion: Whenever there's a buddyfight, you can find us. Ion & Takokichi. Today we have the Ace of Sports, Masato Rikuo facing the heir of the Kuroyashiki Clan, Daijirou Kuroyashiki.

Takokichi: Dragon Share and Against All Odds. Which side will win?

Masato: The Linked Spiral is the Chain of Bonds. Luminize, Ultimate Spiral Linkdragon Order.

Daijirou: I will surpass myself. Again and again. Until all who stand fall before me. Luminize, STRONGEST MAX.

Ion & Takokichi: Buddy.....FIGHT.

Both: Raise the Flag.

Masato: Ancient World.

Daijirou: Ancient World.

Ion: Daijirou goes first.

Daijirou: Draw. Charge and Draw. I buddycall Revived Supremacy Zerberos to the right.

Zerberos descends in his new form.

Agito: He evolved?

Daijirou: You didn't think I remained the same did you? With Zerberos's effect, Overcrest goes to my hand. (Sets Overcrest) Zerberos. Attack the fighter.

Masato's Life: 10 -> 7

Daijirou: The drawback is that this new Zerberos doesn't have "Against all odds". However...

Masato feels a bit anxious.

Daijirou: I cast. Seamless Dragon Lord. I call Tyralord Zerberos Aog to the center.

Zerberos's card is sent to the dropzone but his form remains and evolves into Zerberos Aog.

Daijirou: Brings back memories doesn't it?

Masato: Yeah.

Daijirou: Unfortunately for you, with Revived Supremacy in the dropzone, Aog gains 10000 defense. With Aog's ability...

Masato: 35000 defense...

Daijirou: My turn is over.

Ion: Daijirou unleashed his new power and was able to combo his abilities and increase Aog's defense. Incredible.

Daijirou: You're aware Hou Ren is one of Guru's students right?

Masato: Yeah? Wait!!!

Daijirou: (Closes his eyes) Of course. I'm also a student.

Masato & Agito: YOU TOO?

Ion: WHAT? Daijirou is also a student of Guru Bunbuku? How !?

Daijirou: Let's just say I was scouted. Guru thinks I have great potential and took me in.

Masato: If that's the case then why didn't you tell me? And who else is in there?

Daijirou: If you must know, it's me, Seiji, Mamoru, Kei, Rei, Note, Kannessada, and Hou Ren himself.

Masato: Why not me?

Daijirou: Guru selects a few of his best interests. He not only wants to train us but also entrusts us with his secrets. Naturally, we made a sworn vow to never say a word.

Masato: But that doesn't explain why I didn't get selected.

Daijirou: It's because you declined his invitation.

Masato realizes what he's talking about.

Daijirou: Before accepting us as students, Guru sends us to different locations via invitation once a day. We would go to the location in private and face Guru even though he's in disguise.

Masato: Why though?

Daijirou: To test us. Based on trust, skill, and loyalty. It was really hard to see why but eventually, he revealed himself and explained. Naturally, I agreed to be his student and here I am.

Masato feels surprised.

Daijirou: However in your case, according to Guru, you didn't even take a glance at the invite. Like you just toss it aside.

Masato: Wha?

Masato suddenly remembers receiving some sort of invite in the past. In it, he tossed it aside thinking it was a trick. He even says "Bah, no stupid guy is going to trick me. My heart is way stronger than he thinks. Nice try, scammer".

Masato & Agito: THAT WAS GURU'S INVITATION ???

Daijirou: When he saw it all, he saw it all. You said it all, then you said it all.

Masato: Ai yi yi...

Ion: So Masato dumped Guru's invite like that? Weird...

Masato: Well training or not, I'm not holding back. I buddycall Agito to the right. Johaku to the center. Harahara to the left.

Linkdragon Order: (Appears) Oh yeah.

Masato: Equip. Link Bomb Chain, Agito Mine. (Equips Item)

Daijirou: Familiar faces. And a new item. Come at me.

Masato: Joy, sadness and strength. Now's the time to unite as one.

All: Dragon Share.

Once again, Masato's cards glow bright with golden lightning surrounding them.

Ion: There it is, Masato's specialty. Dragon Share.

Masato: For share. Aog's defense is reduced by 12000. And with Johaku's Dragon Share, we gain 15000 power each. Agito, attack Aog.

Agito: Right.

Ion: Aog now has 21000 defense. Agito currently has the same amount.

Daijirou: I cast. Lordbreak: Hard Win Summon. (Blocks the attack)

Daijirou's Life: 11 -> 15

Masato: Double attack.

Daijirou: I cast. Lordbreak Rigid Dragon Shell. Aog gains 10000 defense.

Agito: What? (No hit)

Masato: Okay. I'll do a triple-link attack instead.

Masato attacks with Johaku and Harahara.

Daijirou: I cast. Lordbreak: Hard Shell Seal. I nullify your attack and force your attack phase to end.

Aog's eyes glow and his shell becomes thicker and blocks the triple link attack.

Masato: Darn, my turn is over.

Ion: Wow. Not a single attack through. Aog remains strong as ever. I suppose training with Guru does give you results. Let's see what Daijirou does next.

Daijirou: I evolve Aog into Viclord, Zerberos Zeed.

Zeberos Zeed appears once Aog finished evolving.

Daijirou: Draw. Charge And Draw. Equip, Dragon Lord, Crescent Blade. (Equips a red spear with the knife being gold)

Ion & Masato: WHAT?

Ion: An ITEM? I thought Daijirou only fights with Zerberos Alone.

Daijirou: Don't underestimate me. I may be strong but I also changed myself. Naturally, Items are allowed so long as Zerberos is alone as a monster.

Masato: What does that mean?

Daijirou: If Zerberos is the only monster on the field, my item gains 2 critical and penetrate. And with Supremacy's effect, it also gains 1 more and 10000 power and defense.

Masato: And with Zeed, he also gains Supremacy's ability. Meaning now he has a critical of 5. I can't force him to rest.

Daijirou: What's more, is that my Item can attack even if I have a monster in the center. (Attacks) I'll destroy Johaku first.

Johaku is defeated.

Masato's Life: 18 -> 12

Daijirou: Double attack.

Masato: I cast. Undying Linkdragon Order. (Gains 3 life)

Daijirou: Zerberos. Deal With Him.

Zerberos attacks.

Masato's Life: 15 -> 10

Ion: Oh my gosh, If Zerberos's next two attacks land, it's game over.

Zerberos attacks.

Masato's Life: 10 -> 5

Zerberos attacks for one last time.

Masato: I cast. Linkdragon Spirit. (Blocks the attack) Come on. (Discards the top card of his deck)

The card reveals to be Kaina.

Kaina: Leave it to me, boss.

Ion: With Kaina revealed, Linkdragon Spirt goes back to his hand.

Daijirou: I wouldn't celebrate just yet old friend. I cast. Seamless Dragon Lord. I evolve Zerberos Zeed into Emplord, Zerberos The END.

Zerberos emerges in his final form. His Form Is Similar To Zerberos Lost.....

Ion: WHAT THE WHAT? ZERBEROS...WHAT IS HE?

Daijirou: It's the final result of my training. Let's Just Say.....He has 100000 power and 30000 defense a critical of 4. Like Zerberos Lost, he has quadruple attack.

Masato was incredibly shocked.

Masato: Oh no.....

Daijirou: There's more. If he's the only monster alone, his attacks cannot be nullified when attacking alone. He also cannot be forced to rest.

Ion: And with Supremacy's effect, his critical becomes 5.

Agito: That means Linkdragon Spirit is useless. Masato.

Daijirou: It's over, Old friend. (Rest Zerberos's card)

Zerberos attacks and Masato stares in fear. All of a sudden, an explosion occurs on his side.

Agito: MASATO !!!!

However, when the smoke clears, Masato is still standing unscathed.

Daijirou: WHAT?

Ion: How is he still standing?

Masato's forehead is covered in shadow as he reveals what he did in a flashback.

Masato: Right before Zerberos hits me, I cast a spell. "Super Spiral Explosion! Bonds Power Overflow!" I sacrificed Agito's soul card and prevented myself from taking further damage.

Daijirou: I see.

Agito: That's Our Masato!!!

Harahara: Truly the Ace Of Sports.

Ion: What a move. Masato barely survived by the skin of his teeth. Unfortunately, he now has no cards in his hand. What will he do?

Masato: You're as strong as ever, Senior.

Daijirou: Back at you.

Masato: Draw. Charge and Draw. I cast. Divine Dragon Creation. (Draw 2 cards) Cast Again. Divine Dragon Creation.

Ion: Masato just cast two divine dragon creation spells and increased his hand.

Masato: I cast Linkdragon Order's Hunt. (Draws 2 more) I cast. Give it your all. (Adds a monster to his hand) Successive cast. Linkdragon Order's Links. Linkdragon Order's Anthem.

Ion: Unbelievable. Masato cast even more spells and increased his hand & gauge.

Daijirou: I wonder...

Masato: Deity of Enthusiasm and Bonds, Godagito to the center.

Godagito descends in a flash.

Godagito: (Yells) Incredible power flows within me.

Daijirou: I knew you would call that.

Masato: Godagito's ability. I move Johaku, Tricera and Chiwa to my soul. Here we go, everyone.

Linkdragon Order: YEAH.

All: SPIRAL DRAGOD SHARE.

All of a sudden, GodAgito Glows with golden lightning surrounding them once again.

Ion: There it is. Spiral Dragod Share.

Masato: For share. GodAgito now has 25000 power. Plus with my item and Chiwa's Dragon Share, Zerberos's defense is now 23000.

Daijirou grunts.

Masato: Okay. GodAgito. Attack Zerberos.

GodAgito: GOT IT. (Attacks)

Daijirou: I cast. Maxim of Absolute Strength. (Nullifies the attack)

GodAgito: Double attack.

Daijrou: I cast. Trying a Dragon's Best. (Blocks again)

GodAgito: Triple attack.

GodAgito goes full power and pierces through and defeats Zerberos once and for all.

Daijirou: ZERBEROS.

Ion: Holy Smokes, The Iron Wall of defense, Zerberos the END is defeated. And Daijirou takes 2 damage thanks to penetrate.

Daijirou's Life: 14 -> 12

Masato: I cast. Barrage Dive. (Pays cost) Agito. Kaina. Jisen. Revive.

Linkdragon Order: (Revives) OH YEAH.

Masato: Let's win guys.

Linkdragon Order: Right. (Attacks)

Daijirou's Life: 12 -> 9 -> 5 -> 1

Agito: This will end you.

Daijirou: I cast. Dragon Prudent. (Blocks the attack)

Masato: You won't beat me for this one. (Attacks) Here's my.....FINISHER.

Daijirou: AHHHHH.

Daijirou's flag is defeated.

Ion: Game End. Winner. Masato Rikuo.

Masato: For Share.

Ion: As a result. Masato has 260 points. Daijirou has 130. Stay tuned for the next match that's yet to come folks.

Later, Sunset arrives. Masato and Daijirou have a talk. The Linkdragon Order are also there.

Kaina: Ha. Serves you right.

Harahara: We're as strong as ever.

Masato: Cool it, guys.

Daijirou: I'm surprised. Even after training, I still couldn't defeat you.

Masato: Don't sweat it, man. The match could have gone either way.

Daijirou: I suppose. It was nice seeing you, old friend. (Walks away)

Masato: See ya pal.

Daijirou walks but then he stops for a moment.

Daijirou: Hold on. Do you wanna play some sports tomorrow together? Just Like Old Times.

Masato: (A bit surprised at first) Yeah. Why Not.

Daijirou: I'll see you on the field then.

The Story ends as the camera focuses on the sunset in the sky.

Anime Ending: Gonna Be Right.

Preview...

Seiji: Seiji Here. It's my turn to show the results of my training. My opponent is none other than Daryl. Next time, "Checkmate Unfold". Join us for a Buddyfight.

Story End.