# Chapter 146: The Meaning of the Numbers
"Battle!" Nash declared, entering his Battle Phase. "Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, direct attack!"
As Nash finished speaking, a powerful laser blasted down from the massive spaceship in the sky.
"I activate my Trap Card, Mirror Force! When an opponent's monster declares an attack, all Attack Position monsters they control are destroyed."
A dazzling light shield materialized in front of Sugihara Yo, attempting to reflect the laser fired from the spaceship.
"That trick is useless!" Nash waved his hand. "When Silent Honor ARK would be destroyed by battle or a card effect, I can detach one of its Xyz Materials instead!"
One of the deep blue orbs circling the spaceship lit up, and the ship emerged unscathed from the reflected laser.
Then, the spaceship increased its energy output once more, shattering the light shield in front of Sugihara Yo before the blast struck him.
Sugihara Yo LP: 4000 → 1900
Pierced by the laser, Sugihara Yo cried out in pain as he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
The heavy blow made Sugihara Yo feel as though the injuries that had just been significantly healed by the light of the Astral World had flared up again. Blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, are you alright?" Nash asked, seeing his opponent's state. "Although our power is indeed a bit much for an ordinary person to bear, it shouldn't be this bad, right? Are those injuries from a previous battle?"
"I'm fine... I'm alright." Sugihara Yo stumbled back to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "My comrades fought so hard to bring me back from Hell. Until I can drive those invaders out of Heartland City, what right do I have to fall?"
Hearing this, Nash simply watched Sugihara Yo in silence. It wasn't until Sugihara Yo stood firm that he set two cards from his hand onto his Duel Disk.
"I set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn! I draw!"
"Quick-Play Spell, Twin Twisters! I discard one card to target up to two Spells or Traps on the field and destroy them."
Two whirlwinds swept from Sugihara Yo's hand toward Nash's backrow.
"I activate my Trap Card, Waboku! This turn, my monsters cannot be destroyed by battle, and any battle damage I take becomes zero." Seeing his Set card was about to be destroyed, Nash chose to activate it directly.
"Useless! Did you forget the effect of your own card?" Sugihara Yo said, flipping his last Set card. "Quick-Play Spell, Shark Salvo! When my opponent activates a Trap Card, I can activate this to negate that activation and destroy it!"
A flash of electricity shot out, negating Nash's hastily activated Trap Card and clearing his backrow completely.
"The effect of Right-Hand Shark activates from the Graveyard! Since it's in my Graveyard and I control no monsters, I can Special Summon it! If this card, Special Summoned by this effect, leaves the field, it is banished!"
"Next, the effect of Left-Hand Shark activates! Since it's in my hand or Graveyard and I control a 'Right-Hand Shark,' I can Special Summon this card! If this card, Special Summoned by this effect, leaves the field, it is banished! Also, since it was Special Summoned from the Graveyard, its Level becomes 4!"
Left-Hand Shark LV: 3 → 4
"Next, since the only monsters I control are WATER monsters, I activate the effect of Abyss Shark from my hand! I Special Summon this card, then add one Level 3, 4, or 5 Fish monster other than Abyss Shark from my Deck to my hand. This turn, the first time one of my 'Number' monsters inflicts battle damage to my opponent, that damage is doubled."
"Appear, Abyss Shark! And with its effect, I add the Level 4 Xyz Remora from my Deck to my hand!"
"When using Abyss Shark for the Xyz Summon of a Number monster, it can be treated as a Level 4 monster! I overlay my three Level 4 monsters!"
"Appear, emperor of the deep sea, wielder of the greatest power! Crush all in your path with your fangs! Rank 4! Number 32: Shark Drake!"
The ring on Sugihara Yo's right hand flashed with blue light, the red number '32' glowed on the back of his hand, and a vibrant Stardust Vortex appeared before him.
Raging waves surged from the Stardust Vortex. A dark red sea dragon leaped from the surf, roaring with its mouth wide open, its sharp fangs glinting with a cold, dazzling light.
Number 32: Shark Drake ATK: 2800
"Next, I can Special Summon Xyz Remora from my hand by detaching two Xyz Materials from a monster I control! I detach two Xyz Materials from Number 32: Shark Drake to Special Summon it!"
"Now I activate the effect of the Xyz Remora I just summoned! By targeting two Level 4 Fish monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon them in Defense Position."
"Appear! Right-Hand Shark and Silent Angler!"
"I overlay my two Level 4 monsters!"
"When the sleeping earth and oceans awaken, a new hope is born! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Descend, Number 37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark!"
As Sugihara Yo finished speaking, a shark with eight spider-leg-like fins leaped from the vortex, baring its sharp fangs.
Number 37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark ATK: 2600
"So, these are your Number monsters?" Nash chuckled as he looked at the two creatures before Sugihara Yo. "I was prepared for this, but it's still a little strange seeing the two of you face-to-face in a duel."
Hearing this, Spider Shark and Shark Drake roared, but unlike when they faced enemies, this time their voices held no anger.
"I get it, you two. Be a little more serious. Right now, I'm your enemy," Nash said to the two monsters with a helpless smile.
Then, Nash looked at Sugihara Yo, who stood behind the two monsters, and spoke slowly. "Since your mastery of the Number monsters has reached this level, may I ask you a question?"
"What do the Number monsters mean to you?" Nash asked solemnly.
Sugihara Yo was stunned by Nash's question.
"The Number monsters... what do they mean to me?" Sugihara Yo muttered to himself as memories of past events surfaced in his mind.
From falling into Hell after losing everything and letting that tainted deck corrupt him, to seeing Yūga Hōzumi again... to Hope's sword strike reigniting the spark in his heart, and to being entrusted with the ring containing the power of Number 32.
A moment later, the uncertainty in Sugihara Yo's eyes was replaced by resolve. He looked directly at Nash and said, word by word:
"The Number monsters are the hope that shines when our dimension falls into despair. They are also the bonds that connect me to my comrades!"
...
(end of chapter)