# Chapter 148: Barianization
A rosy red light surged from Nash's card, enveloping the re-emerged massive spaceship layer by layer as it began to disassemble and reassemble.
A moment later, a warrior clad in black steel armor and wielding a long spear appeared before Nash. The tip of the spear in its hand gleamed with a faint red glow.
Moreover, unlike typical Xyz Monsters whose Xyz Materials usually exist as orbs of light, this monster's materials lingered beneath its body in the form of dark red crosses.
Number C101: Silent Honor Dark Knight, ATK: 2800
"A Chaos Xyz Evolution of an Over-Hundred Number?" Sugihara Yo stared blankly at the monster.
"I activate the effect of Number C101: Silent Honor Dark Knight! Once per turn, I can absorb one of my opponent's monsters on the field and use it as this card's Xyz Material!"
The armored warrior aimed its long spear at Sugihara Yo's Spider Shark. A dark red light shot from the spear's tip. The moment the light made contact with Spider Shark, it transformed into a dark red cross and was pulled beneath the armored warrior.
"Battle!" Nash waved his hand, entering the Battle Phase.
"Silent Honor Dark Knight, direct attack!"
Just as Nash's words fell, with the Dark Knight's long spear poised to strike, Sugihara Yo gritted his teeth and activated his last set card.
"I target your monster and activate my Continuous Trap, Safe Zone! As long as this card remains in the Spell & Trap Zone, the targeted monster cannot be targeted by your opponent's effects, destroyed by battle or by your opponent's effects, and it cannot attack an opponent directly."
Layers of chains shot out from the set card, securely binding the Dark Knight.
"So it can't attack directly? In that case, I activate the other effect of Number C101: Silent Honor Dark Knight."
"Since this card was Xyz Summoned using Number 101: Silent Honor ARK as material, I can detach all of its Xyz Materials to Special Summon one Number 101: Silent Honor ARK from my Graveyard." (Anime Effect)
As Nash spoke, the two crosses beneath the Dark Knight immediately transformed into points of dark red light. They flew into the air one after another, opening a new Stardust Vortex. In an instant, the magnificent spaceship slowly flew out from it once again, aiming its weapon at Sugihara Yo.
Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, ATK: 2100
"Go, Silent Honor ARK, direct attack!"
The dark, massive cannon at the center of the aerial spaceship began to charge once again, blasting toward Sugihara Yo.
Sugihara Yo LP: 1900 -> 0
Fortunately, this attack was controlled, causing no substantial damage to Sugihara Yo beyond reducing his Life Points to zero.
Having lost the duel, all the strength seemed to drain from Sugihara Yo's body, and he knelt on one knee.
Nash, on the other hand, put away his Duel Disk and walked toward Sugihara Yo.
Seeing this, Sugihara Yo struggled to stand, but his body was completely out of strength. Just then, Nash extended a hand to him.
After pulling Sugihara Yo up, Nash slowly said, "I have seen your resolve. I can help you become stronger."
"Really?" Having lost the duel, Sugihara Yo had thought this senior wouldn't help him, but Nash's words rekindled his hope.
"However, don't celebrate too early," Nash said coldly.
"You've already had a taste of my power. Barian power can only be used by Barians. You're just an ordinary human. If you force yourself to use it, you'll die," Nash said.
"Is that so?" Sugihara Yo said, somewhat resentfully. "Is there no other way?"
"There is," Nash nodded. "We can transform your body and plant the seed of Barian power within your soul. Only then can your body withstand it."
"However, we can only begin once your body has fully recovered here in the Astral World. Furthermore, even if your internal injuries heal completely, the success rate of the transformation is no more than fifty percent."
"How long will it take before we can begin?" Sugihara Yo asked. He didn't ask what would happen if the transformation failed. In his mind, if he couldn't become stronger here, there was absolutely no way he would survive the decisive battle in a little over a month.
"Your internal injuries are very serious," Nash said. "Even in the Astral World, you'll need about half a year to recuperate."
"Half a year?" Sugihara Yo's face showed his inner struggle. "If we start right now, what's the success rate?"
"Less than twenty percent," Nash said coldly. "Furthermore, if you undergo the transformation before your body has fully healed, even if you succeed by some miracle, you will suffer from severe aftereffects."
"Twenty percent?" Sugihara Yo gritted his teeth and bowed deeply toward Nash. "Then let's start now. We don't have much time left."
"Are you sure?" Nash looked at Sugihara Yo, who had bowed so deeply to him, and a faint trace of amusement he couldn't hide appeared in his eyes. But upon seeing Sugihara Yo raise his head, he immediately composed himself.
"I am sure," Sugihara Yo said resolutely. "My companions are waiting for me to return. As I am now, I don't have the luxury of considering failure or the aftereffects."
"Alright, since you insist," Nash said, turning and waving a hand.
A bottomless pool appeared out of thin air. From the water's surface, a faint, dark red glow exuded a peculiar aura.
Sugihara Yo looked at the pool, which was clearly not something normal. Feeling the energy within it, he couldn't help but swallow hard.
"Think it over carefully before you decide. Once you step in, there's no turning back," Nash's voice came from behind him just as he was hesitating.
"That's right... there's no turning back for us now," Sugihara Yo gritted his teeth and used all his strength to leap into the pool.
...
However, after Sugihara Yo leaped into the water, the expected pain never came. Instead, the strange energy in the water began to surge into his body, and a warm sensation instantly enveloped him. Sugihara Yo wanted to say something, but he soon lost consciousness.
"What a fool." Before losing consciousness, the last thing Sugihara Yo heard was Nash's somewhat helpless voice.
"It seems you're really quite idle here, Brother." Just then, a faint blue dimensional gate slowly opened beside Nash's throne. A tall, blue-haired woman walked out from it, her voice carrying a strong sense of disdain.
"You suddenly borrowed Number 103 from me. I thought you'd run into an enemy, but as soon as I arrived, I saw you teasing a junior for fun. Wouldn't it have been easier to just give him our power directly?" the blue-haired woman said.
At this, Nash's strange attire instantly dissolved, revealing a blue-haired young man in a blue suit. Looking at his younger sister who had suddenly appeared, he flicked the card back to her and said with a twitch of his lips, "You don't need to worry about my affairs. I just wanted to test the kid's resolve."
...
(end of chapter)