# Chapter 182: Resonance and Berserk State
From the prop box behind Abyss Actor - Superstar, a streak of light flew into its hand, transforming into a shining shield.
"This card increases the equipped monster's DEF by 300, and once per turn, it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects! (Anime card enhanced)"
"Next, according to the set Pendulum Scale, I can perform a Pendulum Summon for Levels 1 to 7! Descend, my heroic partners!"
The Pendulum behind Shingo Sawatari slowly began to spin, and two rays of light descended onto his field one after another.
"Level 4! Abyss Actor - Reckless Rookie!"
"Level 4! Abyss Actor - Boisterous Rookie!"
The two Abyss Actors appeared, dressed as a shield warrior and an assassin, and nodded to Superstar, who played the hero.
"The hero's party has assembled! Now, they face the evil dragon for a second time! Keep your eyes peeled, everyone! After all, if you miss this unprecedented performance, you'll truly never see its like again!" Shingo Sawatari announced loudly to the audience.
The audience's emotions were already stirred by the duo's performance; they stared intently at the monsters on the field, afraid of missing a single detail.
Seeing that the groundwork was laid, Shingo Sawatari continued, "Facing the mighty giant dragon, the hero and his companions face death unflinchingly! My dear audience, can you offer a little applause to cheer on the heroes? The heroes need your power!"
Shingo Sawatari's words instantly ignited the stadium. In a blink, applause and cheers rose and fell, one after another. Even the Female Commentator, who had been loafing around, couldn't help but clench her small fists, wanting to cheer on the hero.
Meanwhile, in Yuya Sakaki's room within the Player Rest Area.
Yuya Sakaki, who had fallen into a state of brooding while holding the Tuning Magician given by an attendant, heard the commotion outside and looked up.
"Is that Shingo Sawatari?" Yuya Sakaki then remembered that his companion was competing outside, so he turned on the TV, hoping to learn something from Shingo Sawatari's Entertainment Duel.
However, the moment he turned on the TV, the first sight that caught his eye made him freeze.
He saw Yugo, who looked exactly like him, expertly speeding along the racetrack on a D-Wheel. The aura emanating from the dragon behind Yugo made it impossible for him to look away.
"Is this...? Someone who looks like me? And it seems he's the one who took Yuzu?" Yuya muttered to himself.
Due to Yūga Hōzumi's warning, Yugo had cautiously kept his distance from Yuya while competing. Coupled with Yuya's recent brooding, he hadn't been in the mood to watch anyone else's matches. Thus, this was the first time Yuya had seen Yugo, who looked exactly like him.
Yuya looked at the giant dragon fluttering in the wind on the screen, and as if possessed, he took out the deck from his waist and found the Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, which shone with a mysterious light.
Then, Yuya felt as if his brain was about to explode, and a voice kept repeating the same phrase in his ear:
"Ima koso, hitotsu ni (From now on, become one)."
"Ima koso... hitotsu ni..." Yuya muttered to himself, repeating the phrase.
At this moment, Yugo in the stadium also felt that urge to destroy everything, and his heart immediately panicked.
"This feeling again..."
Having been reminded by Yūga Hōzumi, he now understood what this impulse was. He bit the tip of his tongue, trying to use the pain to snap himself out of this state.
"I activate the effect of Abyss Actor - Superstar! Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can Set one 'Abyss Script' Spell Card directly from my Deck!" Focused on his plays, Shingo Sawatari didn't notice Yugo's odd behavior, his hands moving swiftly.
"Trying to search for that spell card of yours that clears the entire field?" Yugo desperately suppressed the destructive urge in his mind, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead as he forced a smile. "How could the giant dragon not be prepared for such an obvious tactic?!"
"The effect of Clear Wing Synchro Dragon activates! Once per turn, when another monster's effect is activated, I can negate the activation and destroy that card."
The moment Yugo finished speaking, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, also under the same influence, roared from its position in the air. A brilliant light flashed on its armor, and from its crystal wings, two pillars of light swept towards Abyss Actor - Superstar, their raging energy threatening to tear it to shreds.
"The effect of Abyss Costume - Dwarf Shield activates! Once per turn, the equipped monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!"
Although Superstar blocked the pillar of light with its shield, the impact still startled Shingo Sawatari, who was right behind it.
"Completely in character, are we?" Shingo Sawatari didn't think much of it, still assuming it was part of the performance. He then smiled and said, "That move was just a feint! The heroes' true strategy is this!"
"I activate the Spell Card, Abyss Script - Opening Ceremony! I gain 500 Life Points for each 'Abyss Actor' monster on my field."
Shingo Sawatari LP: 1000 → 3000
"Battle! I attack Clear Wing Synchro Dragon with Abyss Actor - Boisterous Rookie!"
At Shingo Sawatari's command, Boisterous Rookie, clad in an assassin's stealth outfit, charged towards Clear Wing Synchro Dragon.
Affected by his resonance with Yuya, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, currently in a raging state, saw something provoke it and immediately extended a claw, unleashing a wind blade.
After the wind blade pierced through Boisterous Rookie, it swept towards Shingo Sawatari. The terrifying energy it contained made his heart pound in terror. He frantically dodged the direct path of the attack, but the residual force of the blade still left a long gash on the ground.
Shingo Sawatari LP: 3000 → 1600
"Hey, there's a limit to getting too deep into character! Are you trying to kill me?" Shingo Sawatari said, swallowing and still shaken as he looked at the mark on the ground.
However, this time, Yugo did not respond. He merely stared intently at Shingo Sawatari with red eyes, like a beast fixated on its prey.
Shingo Sawatari finally realized that something was wrong with his new friend!
"What's wrong with you?" Shingo Sawatari tried to drive his D-Wheel closer to find out, but he was quickly forced back by Clear Wing Synchro Dragon's angry roar.
Alright, while Shingo Sawatari was a bit goofy, he wasn't stupid. He was certain now that something was wrong with Yugo's mind. Moreover, he had seen this state before in Yuya Sakaki on the battlefields of Maiami City.
So, Shingo Sawatari took a deep breath and slowly said, "Apologies, everyone, but it looks like we'll have to change the program."
As Sawatari spoke, the carefree look in his eyes vanished, replaced by an incredibly sharp gaze. "The next act is the 'Battle to Reclaim a Friend.'"
...
(end of chapter)