Chapter 4: Invoked Xyz
"A fifth dimension?"
The question was asked by a skeptical Himika Akaba, sitting in Reiji Akaba's office that looked out over Maiami City at nighttime, enjoying tea with her son. A few hours ago, a hacker had broken past their company's firewalls and copied valuable data, and Reiji had just told her his theory about the hacker's identity.
"I understand your disbelief," Reiji said, taking a sip from a cup of tea. "But after observing the hacker's abilities and speaking to Yaiba, it is the most likely conclusion."
"How is Yaiba, by the way? He was supposed to be recovering from the injuries that Kachidoki from Ryozanpaku inflicted."
"He is awake and fine, but irritated. He informed me of the hacker's Master Rule Override and unique summoning method. I believe he called it Link Summoning."
"Link Summoning…" Himika mused with a frown. "Are you sure the hacker wasn't from Academia? He did take files on the Lancer Selection."
"I did consider that, but two things stood out, apart from the lack of Fusion Summoning," Reiji said, adjusting his glasses. "The first was he accessed files related to Action Duels. Leo Akaba shouldn't need data like that, since Action Duels were fully developed before he left. And if they had changed, Sora Shiunin would have told him. The second was he copied files about the attack on the Xyz Dimension. No agent of Academia would need information like that."
"…You have a point," Himika admitted, placing her own cup on the table. "Still, Leo Akaba was meticulous; for him to miss the existence of a whole dimension…" She frowned. "It bothers me. And for this hacker to show up on the eve of the Battle Royale…"
"We can't afford to postpone it. Not with Serena loose in the city," Reiji said, narrowing his eyes. "And this incident was not detrimental enough to cause a delay. In fact, it may work in our favor."
"Oh?"
"The hacker, who Yaiba identified as male and believed to be about his age, made use of a program that limited the power of the Extra Deck," Reiji explained. "Except for his own monsters, which we, and presumably Academia, do not possess. He was also in possession of a unique Type of monster we've never seen before."
"Cyberse," Himika noted. Then she saw her son's point. "You want to recruit this hacker for the Lancers?"
"Yes," Reiji answered. "He has already shown great resourcefulness and intelligence breaking into our company's headquarters and stealing our data, and according to Yaiba, dueled expertly and intelligently. Since he stole data on the Lancer Selection and the interdimensional war, he is already aware of our efforts against Leo Akaba. If we can convince him to fight with us, I believe he may be as great an asset as Pendulum Summoning."
"…I would like to learn more about this Link Summoning," Himika admitted with a frown. "But without knowing this hacker's motivations, the chances of him actually joining us are slim."
"Perhaps. But I think I already have an idea about that."
"What do you mean?"
"Aside from data on the war and Lancers, only one other thing was stolen: surveillance footage. And to me, that can only mean one thing." Reiji narrowed his eyes and steepled his fingers. "Our hacker is looking for something. Or someone."
Hanako breathed in and out. Today was the day. The day she would find out if she passed the test to qualify for the SOL Security Project.
Right now she was in a waiting room, where other applicants were waiting in find out the same. More than few of them had their faces covered to protect their identities. Hanako herself was wearing a fedora and sunglasses to conceal hers. More people were rocking back and forth in their chairs, clearly nervous about the results. Hanako was doing the same, but she suspected she was nervous about more things than the others.
"Okay," she whispered to herself low enough that no one could hear. "This is it. If I'm accepted, I can get out of Akira's shadow and prove I can take care of myself. I can forge my own identity."
And maybe find a place I belong, Hanako thought. She was alone at school, and aside from Akira, she didn't really talk to anyone. But now she would be part of a team. A team supported each other. Her teammates would help her find out where she belonged.
"Nature Queen."
Hanako gasped on hearing her avatar's name called out over the intercom. Standing up, she walked to one side of the room, where a door opened for her. After walking through a hallway, she arrived at another door. And outside that door was her brother Akira.
Hanako narrowed her eyes. "Brother," she said as Akira looked at her. "I thought you were busy."
"I was. But I figured I should be the one to tell you." He paused, then said, "I don't approve of this choice of yours. You don't know what you're getting into."
"I know I'm a good duelist," Hanako replied. "I know I can help people. And I know I have to start acting independently eventually."
"…I know that too, but I don't like it." Akira said. "Though it pains me to say it… congratulations, Nature Queen. You are accepted into the Security Project."
Hanako gasped then smiled. "Thank you, Chief Zaizen."
"Don't. It wasn't my decision. That said, your teammates were."
"Oh. So, when do I meet them?"
"Right now. They're-."
"Don't joke with me!"
Hanako jumped, surprised at the volume of the voice on the other side of the door. Akira, meanwhile, just sighed.
"They're inside," Akira said, opening the door and walking inside. After a moment's hesitation, Hanako walked in after him.
Three other people were already in the room. Hanako gasped on recognizing one of them. Go Onizuka! she thought. The famous Charisma Duelist! I'm on the same team as him!? Before she could say anything and potentially embarrass herself, one of the other occupants spoke up.
"I'm not joking with you, Onizuka." The speaker was a young man – older than Hanako but younger than Go – with white hair and purple highlights. His blue eyes were narrowed in irritation. "Kingmaker is designated group leader. He may be younger than you, but he passed the admissions test with the second-highest score on record."
S-Second highest? Hanako thought, her eyes wide as she turned to look at the last occupant. He was a teenager, the same age as her, who was sitting in a chair against the wall. He had indigo blue spiky hair with cyan fringes and red highlights and wore a dark blue hoodie over a red shirt and jeans. At first glance, he didn't seem to be paying attention to the argument in front of him, but Hanako could see that his green eyes were closely watching the other two occupants.
Hanako found herself staring. Not at the boy's looks, good as they were, but at his eyes. There was… something there. Something she recognized on an instinctive level. She couldn't name it, but…
"Don't give me that, Revolver!" Go said, breaking Hanako out of her trance. "You expect me to believe a 14-year-old kid is stronger than me? You're just giving him this position because he's your brother, aren't you?"
Revolver narrowed his eyes further. "I was not in charge of team placements," he said slowly and dangerously. "If I had been, I would have placed him in my own team." His tone made it clear he didn't like Go's line of questioning.
Go picked up on Revolver's hint, but he was feeling angry and confrontational. He opened his mouth to retort, but before a sound could come out, the younger boy – Kingmaker – stood up.
"Oh?" Go said, turning to the boy. "You finally have something to say for yourself?" Kingmaker ignored Go – and Revolver – and walked over to Hanako. On seeing them, Go and Revolver blinked in surprise. Neither had noticed Akira and Hanako entering.
Kingmaker held up a hand. "Yuji Kogami, Kingmaker," he said, his face blank. "Nice to meet you." His tone was flat, and his eyes were unexpressive. But Hanako could swear she saw something…
Hanako reached out and took his hand in her own. "Hanako Zaizen. Nature Queen," she said, looking Yuji in the eye. "Pleased to meet you." The two held the gaze until they were interrupted by Go.
"Sorry," he said, causing Hanako to let go of Yuji's hand and turn towards him. "I didn't realize you were there." Looking apologetic, he asked, "How long were you standing there?"
"Long enough, Mr. Onizuka," Akira said, answering for him and Hanako. He walked forward and stood besides Revolver. "I am Akira Zaizen, Security Chief of SOL Technologies. If you have any complaints about the team setup, you can take them to me."
Go scowled at him. "So you're the one who decided I should have to follow orders from a 14-year-old kid?"
"Competence and past dueling records were the main considerations, not age and familial relationships," Akira told him. "I will listen to your complaints later, but first there are still introductions to make."
Go didn't look less frustrated, but he eventually relented. "Alright. Sorry." He turned to Hanako and offered his hand. "I'm Go Onizuka. It's good to meet you."
"Hanako Zaizen. Nature Queen." Hanako shook his hand and noticed his eyes narrowed. He picked up on the name, Hanako thought. "Yes, I'm Akira's little sister," she said, answering the unspoken question. Letting go of Go's hand, she turned to the last occupant of the room. "And you are Yuji's brother?"
"Ryoken Kogami, also known as Revolver," the man said, nodding in her direction. He didn't offer his hand. "I'm the leader of Security Team 1. The three of you will make up Security Team 13, with Kingmaker as the leader." Hanako could tell Go wanted to say something about that, but he held his tongue. "That said, Yuji and I need to go talk to someone about a few things. We'll be back in about twenty minutes." He turned to Yuji. "Ready?"
Yuji nodded and followed Ryoken to the door but paused before leaving. Turning around, he glanced at Go and said, "I admit I am inexperienced, but I will do my best to bring this team to victory. That is what is expected of me, after all." After saying that, he left.
The other three people stared after him before Akira broke the silence. "Mr. Onizuka, if you want, I can answer your complaints now," he said before looking at his sister "Hanako, would you please wait outside while Mr. Onizuka and I talk? I'll call you back in when we're done."
Hanako nodded. "Understood, brother." Go watched as Hanako left, scowling to himself. She's just like him, he thought. The thought of taking orders from someone younger than me aside… that passive attitude really pisses me off.
Returning to the hallway, Hanako leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. What was that? she wondered. That feeling I had when I looked into Yuji's eyes… What was it?
"Ugh…"
Hanako groaned as her consciousness retuned to her. Opening her eyes, she blinked as slowly as possible, trying to regain her bearings. All she could see right now was the sky, and it was covered in black clouds.
Is there a storm coming? she wondered. Wait… I close the blinds before I go to bed. And…this isn't my bed. The ground she was lying on was uneven and rocky. Her shoulder in particular was hurting from being poked at.
Hanako eased herself up, blinking and looking around. She was… in a ruined city. Many buildings were smoking, but she couldn't see any fires. There was a large tower off in the distance and she swore she saw a wall around the city.
"Where…?" she whispered before gasping. That's right! She was in a briefing at SOL Technologies. She and her teammates had been given a mission: to go to the Xyz Dimension, ascertain what had happened there, and possibly find Xyz Monsters to bring back. And when they went to the interdimensional transporter, it-.
"Yuji!" Hanako shouted, looking around her in panic. Where were her teammates, her friends? "Yuji! Go! Ryoken!" Hanako stood up and started looking around the ruins, desperately looking for her friends. "Yuji! Ryoken! Go! Anybody!?" She activated her Duel Disk. "AI, contact Kingmaker!" She didn't get a response; the landing had rattled the Duel Disk's systems, disabling her AI.
She kept searching for about ten minutes before she realized that it was pointless. "They…they aren't here," Hanako said, hugging her arms as she trembled. "I'm… I'm alone… Yuji…" Leaning back against a wall, Hanako sat down, lowered her head, and started to cry.
She felt like her heart had been ripped out. She remembered telling Akira that she wanted to be more independent. Well, she hadn't intended for that to happen like this! She was fourteen! She wanted to spend more time with Yuji and Go. She wanted to be with her brother. She wanted…
Calm down, a voice in her head said. Panicking will not help you.
Hanako gasped and raised her head. N-Nature Queen?
Crying will not find your friends, the voice continued. You must be strong. If you wish to see them again, you must be strong.
…You're right, Hanako thought, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. I can't help anyone wallowing in self-pity. I need to get moving. Hanako shakily stood up and breathed in and out. Okay, the first thing I should do is try to find other people. They can help me find Yuji and the others… and food and supplies. I didn't exactly pack a lunch for dimension-hopping.
Hanako looked around as she walked through the ruins. This city looks like the picture Dr. Kogami showed us, she thought. I must be in the Xyz Dimension. Maybe I can perform our mission while we're here. That's what Nature Queen would do.
Hanako remembered when she came up with the Nature Queen guise. She remembered seeing the maroon-haired girl in her dreams but didn't know her name or if she even existed. She had dreamed of the girl standing proud in an arena, her gaze unflinching, unafraid of whatever she was facing. Hanako had yearned for that courage, that strength to face the world head-on. Even if the girl was just imaginary, Hanako had wanted that same strength of character and certainty that girl possessed. So when she signed up for the Security Project, she based her avatar on her memory of that girl, thinking that maybe if she looked like her, her strength would eventually seep through to Hanako.
And it had worked, in LINK VRAINS, at least. Whenever she was there, fighting the Collective, she felt strong, invincible. She just had to take that courage and apply it here in the real world. She was still… working on that part.
Hanako frowned as she looked around. There have to be survivors, she thought. There have to be.
"Stop, please!"
Hanako gasped and looked around at the voice. Running up to what was once the side of a building, she looked over the edge and gasped again. A man was sitting there, fleeing backwards from four boys, the first in a purple jacket while the others were wearing red.
"I'm begging you!" the man said, his eyes wide with terror. "Someone save me!" The boy in purple pressed a button on a Duel Disk that resembled a shield. The Duel Disk emitted a purple light that made the man glow purple before disintegrating into light.
Hanako gasped, her eyes wide. What… what just happened? The boy in purple took a card from his Duel Disk and shook it. As Hanako watched, an image appeared on the card. The image was… of the person who had disappeared.
Did… did they turn him into a card!? Hanako thought. How is that possible? No, more than that, such an action… they're effectively killing them!
"Heh heh," the boy in purple laughed. "This is getting too easy. At this rate, the Arc Area Project will be finished soon."
Arc Area Project? Hanako wondered. What's that? She leaned out to try and get a closer look at the boys, but doing so dislodged some rocks, causing them to tumble.
The four boys looked up in her direction. "Oh? Looks like we found new prey," the boy in purple said, flashing a sadistic grin.
Hanako's eyes widened in fright. No! Without thinking, she turned around and ran away. She was vaguely aware of the boys chasing after her, but she didn't pay any attention to them. She just wanted to get as far away as she could.
Eventually, Hanako stopped running and leaned against a wall to catch her breath. She had managed to find herself in an open area, with several ruined buildings around her.
"Well, that was a fun chase." Hanako gasped and quickly turned around. The four boys had followed her and had spread out to each side. She was trapped.
The boy in purple sneered. He had short black hair that spiked upwards with a few bangs falling close to his left eye. His dark brown eyes sparkled with cruelty as he looked Hanako up and down. "You look like a cut above the prey we've found so far. And a Duelist too," he noted, glancing at Hanako's Duel Disk. "A strange design. Perhaps another foreigner somehow managed to get in. Or maybe it's some new weapon of the Resistance. No matter."
R-Resistance? Hanako thought, glancing wildly around. That must mean there are people fighting back against the attackers. That would mean…
"You did this?" Hanako said softly. Everyone else had to strain to hear her. "You're the ones who destroyed this city?"
The purple boy chuckled. "Looks like you are a foreigner. Although with the accent, maybe you were just on vacation or something." His smirk widened. "Oh yes, we did this."
"Why?"
"To make the worlds one," he answered, confusing Hanako. Make the worlds one? "That is the mission of Academia, and it is for Academia's glory that we hunt Xyz remnants like you like the prey you are."
…So his group is called Academia. And they're the ones who attacked the Xyz Dimension, Hanako thought.
"Tell you what, though; I'm not without mercy," the boy said. "Since you're a Duelist, I'll give you a chance to fight back." He raised his shield-shaped Duel Disk – a blue model with a purple trim around the edges. "Defeat me, and you can leave."
"…And if I lose?"
The boy laughed. "Then you'll join the rest of your comrades," he said as if it were obvious. "And you'll become a card just like them."
B-Become a card!? Hanako breathed in and out, her heart rate increasing. S-She couldn't do that! She couldn't duel with those stakes in the real world! She was Hanako Zaizen, not Nature Queen!
No. Hanako gasped as she heard the voice again. You can do this. You must survive.
Hanako closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and steadied her breathing. The voice was right. If she wanted to see Yuji and the others again, she had to win. And wasn't this the reason she became Nature Queen in the first place? To become strong and confident? If she wanted to become stronger, then she had to overcome this.
Hanako took a final breath and opened her eyes. "Alright," she said, lifting her own Duel Disk. "I'll take you on!" I'm scared out of my mind, she thought. Scared of losing. Scared of never seeing my friends again. But I'm more scared of staying the same. I'm more scared of not being brave. That's why… I'll absolutely win!
The boy laughed. "Looks like you found some courage. I am Abelard, my lady, a proud warrior of Academia. To whom do I speak?"
"…Nature Queen," Hanako said, fighting to keep her gaze steady. Just pretend you're in LINK VRAINS, she thought. That will make it easier.
Abelard and his companions broke out laughing again. "Nature Queen?" he said mockingly. "Is that some title you gave yourself? In that case, I look forward to dethroning you!"
"Duel!" they shouted.
Nature Queen: 4000 LP
Abelard: 4000 LP
"Master Rule Override activated."
"What?" Abelard said, blinking as the field changed. "What did you do?"
"I changed the rules of this Duel," Hanako said, channeling Nature Queen as best she could. "Now, instead of the Monster Zones, there are the Extra Monster Zones and Main Monster Zones. And we can each only Special Summon one monster from the Extra Deck to the Extra Monster Zone."
Abelard gasped and looked at the screen. It showed the field as he knew it, along with two zones in the center. Those must be the Extra Monster Zones, he thought, frowning.
"Cheater!" one of Abelard's comrades shouted. "Changing the rules like that! You Resistance scum have no honor."
"No, it's fine," Abelard said, glancing at his outspoken colleague. "Such a trick can only slow me down. And she will feel its effects just as I will."
Not as much as you think I will, Hanako thought. No one noticed that there was another person watching the duel, hiding in the building above and behind Hanako.
Drawing her starting hand, Hanako looked at her cards and said, "I'll go first." Scowling at his own starting hand, Abelard nodded in agreement. "I summon Trickstar Candina!" A girl in an orange dress holding a megaphone appeared.
Trickstar Candina ATK 1800 DEF 400 LVL: 4
"Trickstar?" Abelard repeated, blinking in surprise. "I haven't heard of this archetype."
"Candina's effect activates! Since she was Normal Summoned, I can add a 'Trickstar' card from my Deck to my hand," Hanako said, doing so, then playing the card she added. "I activate the Field Spell Card: Trickstar Light Stage! And when Light Stage is activated, I can add a 'Trickstar' monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Trickstar Lycoris, whose effect I now activate! I Special Summon Lycoris and then return a different 'Trickstar' monster on my field to my hand. Come, Lycoris, and return, Candina!" A brown-haired girl in a pink dress appeared in Attack Position as the girl in an orange dress disappeared.
Trickstar Lycoris ATK 1600 DEF 1200 LVL: 3
"Next, I activate the Spell Card: Trickstar Vision! This card lets me Special Summon a 'Trickstar' monster from my hand, but its attack points are halved, and its effects are negated. I summon Trickstar Lilybell!" A little girl in a red and white dress appeared in Attack Position.
Trickstar Lilybell ATK 800→400 DEF 2000 LVL: 2
"And then, thanks to Vision's effect, we each draw a card," Hanako concluded.
"Oh? You're letting me draw? How generous of you," Abelard said, drawing as Hanako did.
Hanako gestured to her field. "Lycoris's effect activates! When a card is added to your hand, she inflicts 200 points of damage for each card!" Lycoris blasted the Academia duelist with energy from her sword, making him flinch.
Abelard: 4000→3800 LP
"In addition, when a 'Trickstar' monster inflicts damage, Light Stage's effect deals an additional 200 points of damage!" Hanako revealed. The card glowed as Abelard flinched again.
Abelard: 3800→3600 LP
Abelard growled. "Inflicting damage first… how rude of you."
"I activate the Field Spell Card: Trickstar Light Arena!" Hanako continued, ignoring Abelard. This card may not inflict damage, but I'll need it to make this work, she thought. "Shine! The circuit of courage and determination!" Hanako declared, pointing upwards as her hand glowed blue. Everyone else, including the watcher, gasped in surprise as the Link portal appeared above her.
"What? What is that!?" Abelard said, his eyes wide.
"Arrowheads confirmed!" Hanako chanted. "The summoning conditions are two 'Trickstar' monsters. I set Lilybell and Lycoris in the Link Markers!" Her monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.
"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Trickstar Holly Angel!" A woman with long blonde hair wearing a blue dress and wielding a mace emerged from the portal, summoned to the right Extra Monster Zone.
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 2000 LINK-2 ↙↘
"L-Link Summoning?" Abelard repeated, blinking rapidly. "W-What is this? Is this the Resistance's new weapon?" Above them, the watcher narrowed their eyes, but continued to observe.
"Light Arena's effect activates!" Hanako declared, bringing Abelard back down to earth. "If a 'Trickstar' monster is Link Summoned, I can Special Summon a 'Trickstar' monster that was used as material for that Link Summon. Resurrect, Lycoris!" The girl wielding a sword reappeared, summoned to Holly Angel's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position.
Trickstar Lycoris ATK 1600 DEF 1200 LVL: 3
"Holly Angel's effect activates! When a 'Trickstar' monster is Summoned to her Link Marker, you take 200 points of damage!" Abelard winced from the light Holly Angel emitted.
Abelard: 3600→3400 LP
"Holly Angel's additional effect! When a 'Trickstar' monster inflicts effect damage, she gains attack points equal to that amount until the end of the turn. Holly Blessing!"
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 2000→2200
"I Set one card," Hanako finished. "I end my turn, and during the End Phase, Holly Angel's attack points return to normal."
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 2200→2000
Abelard chuckled. "I think I see how your Deck works: shaving away my Life Points slowly while powering up your monsters. And while using a summoning method I've never seen before is impressive, it won't save you from the inevitable. My turn! Draw!"
"Since you added a card to your hand, Lycoris's effect deals you 200 points of damage!" Hanako reminded him.
Abelard: 3400→3200 LP
"And since a 'Trickstar' monster dealt effect damage, Holly Angel gains attack points equal to the damage. Holly Blessing!"
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 2000→2200
Abelard scoffed. "Nothing but pinpricks. You'll have to do better than that to defeat an elite like me!"
"Then how about this?" Hanako gestured to her field. "Trap activate! Trickstar Reincarnation!" This card banishes every card in your hand!"
"What?" Abelard said, blinking again as his hand disappeared.
"And then, you draw the same number of cards."
"Oh. Ha ha. I see. Very well, then." Abelard drew seven cards.
"Lycoris's effect deals you 200 points of damage for each card you drew. You drew seven, so you take 1400 points of damage!" Abelard stumbled from the force of Lycoris's energy attack.
Abelard: 3200→1800 LP
"Holly Blessing!"
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 2200→3600
Abelard regained his footing and scowled. "I admit your strategy is rather irritating. But such resistance is pointless." Looking at his new hand, he smirked. "And thanks to your Trap Card, I now have what I need to win. I activate the Field Spell Card: Magical Meltdown!" A large magical circle appeared at his feet and then spread out to cover the whole field. "While this card is active, you can't negate my cards or effects that include performing a Fusion Summon or activate cards or effects when I perform a Fusion Summon. And finally, I can add Aleister the Invoker from my Deck to my hand." He took another card from his Deck.
"Lycoris's effect activates again!" Hanako reminded him. "As does Holly Angel's. Holly Blessing!"
Abelard: 1800→1600 LP
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 3600→3800
Abelard ignored the stinging attack and played his newly added card. "I summon Aleister the Invoker!" A young man in white and gold robes wielding a staff and tome appeared.
Aleister the Invoker ATK 1000 DEF 1800 LVL: 4
Hanako looked at Aleister's effects and frowned. "Aleister's effect activates! When he is Normal Summoned, I can add Invocation from my Deck to my hand."
"Lycoris's effect activates! Followed by Holly Blessing!"
Abelard: 1600→1400 LP
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 3800→4000
"Hmm. 4000 attack points. Not bad. A pity it doesn't matter." Abelard took the card he just added to his hand and played it. "I activate the Spell Card: Invocation! This card lets me Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster using monsters in my hand as the material." Abelard's smirk widened. "Or, if I'm summoning an 'Invoked' Fusion Monster, I can also banish monsters from my field and both of our Graveyards."
Hanako gasped. From both of their Graveyards? But that meant-.
"I banish Aleister the Invoker from my field and Trickstar Lilybell from your Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!" Abelard declared as Lilybell appeared on his field. A blue and orange portal appeared behind him. Both monsters turned into energy and started swirling together in the center as Abelard spread his arms.
"Bringer of madness! Become one with the singing idol and unleash a new power!" Abelard clasped his hands together in front. "Fusion Summon! Appear, machine lord of light! Invoked Mechaba!" A mechanical monster that resembled a warrior riding a chariot wielding a lance and shield emerged from the portal, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.
Invoked Mechaba ATK 2500 DEF 2100 LVL: 9
"So that's Fusion Summoning," Hanako muttered, narrowing her eyes. Her heart was beating faster, but her expression didn't change.
Abelard chuckled. "Scary, isn't he?" he said mockingly. "But don't fret; he isn't the one you have to worry about." Abelard took another card from his hand and played it. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: The Book of the Law! With this card, I Tribute Mechaba!" His monster broke apart into light, making Hanako gasp in surprise. "And then, I Special Summon an 'Invoked' monster from my Extra Deck whose Attribute is different from Mechaba's. Come forth, Invoked Purgatrio!" A monster resembling three demons bound together appeared, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.
Invoked Purgatrio ATK 2300 DEF 2000 LVL: 7
"My Spell Card also treats this Special Summon as a Fusion Summon," Abelard told Hanako before gesturing to his field. "Purgatrio's effect activates! It gains 200 attack points for each card you control. You control three cards, so it gains 600 attack points!"
Invoked Purgatrio ATK 2300→2900
"And now I'll activate the Spell Card: Monster Reborn!" Abelard declared. "With this, I resurrect Mechaba!" The mechanical chariot and rider reappeared in Attack Position.
Invoked Mechaba ATK 2500 DEF 2100 LVL: 9
Abelard chuckled. "I'm curious; did you actually think that Master Rule Override of yours would really limit me to only one Fusion Monster? That it would hold back an elite like me?" Hanako narrowed her eyes but didn't respond. "Silence then? So be it." Abelard took another card from his hand and played it. "I activate the Equip Spell Card: Fairy Meteor Crush and equip it to Mechaba! Now if Mechaba attacks your Defense Position monster, it will inflict piercing battle damage!"
Hanako gasped. Piercing damage? That meant his target was-.
"Battle!" Abelard declared. "Puragtrio attacks Trickstar Lycoris! Infernal Hellfire!" Hanako's eyes widened in confusion as the three demons blasted her monster with fire.
"'Trickstar' monsters Holly Angel points to cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!" Hanako revealed as the fire hit Lycoris.
"Oh, I know. I read your card," Abelard said, smirking. "But Purgatrio's effect inflicts piercing battle damage!" Hanako gasped as the fire moved past Lycoris and struck her. Hanako screamed from the impact of the Real Solid Vision that pushed her backwards. She managed to stay on her feet, but barely.
Nature Queen: 4000→2300 LP
Abelard laughed. "Purgatrio can also attack every monster you control once each, but with Holly Angel's attack points so high, there's no point in that. So instead, Mechaba will attack Lycoris!" The mechanical warrior threw its lance at Lycoris. "And like before, Lycoris won't be destroyed but you'll take the damage!" The lance struck Lycoris, creating shockwaves that hit Hanako, knocking her off her feet as she screamed.
Nature Queen: 2300→1000 LP
Abelard smirked. "I never get tired of this sight: of people falling before the might of Academia. That said, I can't be too careful. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mystik Wok! This card Tributes a monster and gain Life Points equal to either its attack or defense points. I Tribute Purgatrio and gain Life Points equal to its attack points."
Abelard: 1400→4300 LP
"And now I'll activate the effect of Invocation in my Graveyard. By shuffling it into my Deck, I can return my banished Aleister the Invoker to my hand." He did just that as Hanako managed to get back on her feet.
"Since you added a card to your hand, Lycoris's effect activates!" Hanako reminded him, wincing in pain.
Abelard: 4300→4100 LP
"Holly Blessing!"
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 4000→4200
Abelard chuckled. "You'll need more than bug bites to defeat me. I Set one card and end my turn. And that means your Holly Angel's effect comes to an end."
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 4200→2000
The unnoticed watcher narrowed their eyes. The girl had an early lead, but she lost it easily, they thought. And with Aleister the Invoker in his hand, the Academia duelist can perform a Fusion Summon again next turn… If things keep going like this, I may need to intervene. The watcher touched a violet elongated Duel Disk on their left arm.
Hanako breathed heavily, lightly staggering. While she did exercise, her stamina wasn't as great as Yuji's or Go's. The impacts of this Real Solid Vision were wearing her down. She sincerely hoped that she wouldn't lose consciousness during the duel.
Hanako placed her hand on her Duel Disk but didn't draw immediately. Looking at it, she noticed her hand was shaking. Yes, she thought. I'm afraid. I can't deny that. But I can't let that stop me. Nature Queen wouldn't give up, and neither will I!
"My turn! Draw!" Hanako looked at her card, then chose a different one. "I summon Trickstar Candina!" The girl wielding a megaphone reappeared.
Trickstar Candina ATK 1800 DEF 400 LVL: 4
"Candina's effect activates! I can add a 'Trickstar' card from my Deck to my hand!"
Abelard chuckled. "Sorry, but that's not happening." He gestured to his own field. "Mechaba's effect activates! If a Spell or Trap Card, or a monster effect is activated, I can send the same type of card from my hand to the Graveyard, negate that effect, then banish your monster!" Mechaba's lance glowed as it threw it at Candina, who screamed as she disappeared. Hanako grit her teeth as Mechaba's lance returned to him and Abelard discarded a Monster Card.
Abelard laughed again. "It doesn't matter what you try; you can't defeat an elite of Academia!"
Hanako just gestured to her field. "I activate Light Arena's effect!" she declared. "I target a Set card in your Spell & Trap Zone, and then you cannot activate that card until the End Phase, at which point you must activate it or return it to your hand." Abelard narrowed his eyes, annoyed. "Shine! The circuit of courage and determination!" As her upward-pointing hand glowed, the Link portal appeared above her.
"Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more Fairy monsters. I set Lycoris and Link-2 Holly Angel in the Link Markers!" A transparent version of Holly Angel appeared alongside the original, and then all three monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the left, top, and right arrows, turning them red.
"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Trickstar Foxywitch!" A woman with green hair wearing a pink dress and hat holding a pink wand emerged from the portal, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.
Trickstar Foxywitch ATK 2200 LINK-3 ←↑→
"So you can use Link Monsters for a Link Summon," Abelard noted. "Interesting…" Looking at his Duel Disk, he noted that one of the red arrows on Foxywitch's cards pointed to his field. Interesting…
"Foxywitch's effect activates!" Abelard looked up at Hanako's words. "When she is Special Summoned, you take 200 points of damage for each card you control!" Foxywitch blasted Abelard with golden light from her wand, making him wince.
Abelard: 4100→3500 LP
"Light Arena's effect activates! Since I Link Summoned Foxywitch, I can Special Summon one of her Link Materials. Resurrect, Holly Angel!" The woman in a blue dress reappeared.
Trickstar Holly Angel ATK 2000 LINK-2 ↙↘
Abelard raised an eyebrow. "You brought back your Link Monster instead of the monster that can damage me?"
"I activate the Spell Card: Link Treasure!" Hanako said, ignoring Abelard. The card showed an open treasure chest with Mistar Boy racing towards it. "This card lets me draw a draw for each Link Monster on the field. With two Link Monsters, I draw two cards."
"Ah, that explains your choice," Abelard commented as she drew.
Hanako smiled on seeing what she drew. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Burial from a Different Dimension! This card lets me return up to three banished monsters to the Graveyard. I return my banished Candina and Lilybell." Abelard narrowed his eyes, wary of what she was planning.
Hanako raised her arm as her hand glowed. "Shine once more! The circuit of courage and determination!" The Link portal appeared above her.
"Another Link Summon?" Abelard said, blinking in surprise.
"Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Trickstar' monsters. I set Holly Angel and Link-3 Foxywitch in the Link Markers!" Her monsters became whirlwinds of energy, with Foxywitch splitting into three, and entered the top, right, bottom-left, and bottom arrows, turning them red.
"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link-4! Trickstar Bella Madonna!" A woman with long green hair wearing a pink and purple dress emerged from the portal. She swung an elaborate scythe as her summoning to the Extra Monster Zone produced a powerful gale, making Abelard and the other Academia agents cover their faces.
Trickstar Bella Madonna ATK 2800 LINK-4 ↙↑↓→
"Link-4?" Abelard repeated, his eyes wide. He quickly looked at its effects and the red arrows on the card. "This… may be bad."
"Bella Madonna's effect activates!" Hanako declared. "Once per turn, when there are no monsters at her Link Markers, you take 200 points of damage for each different 'Trickstar' monster in my Graveyard. There are five of them, so you take 1000 points of damage!" Bella Madonna gathered energy into a massive sphere above her head, which she flung at Abelard. He cried out in pain from the attack, and once the energy faded, gave Hanako an annoyed glare.
Abelard: 3500→2500
"I activate the effect of Trickstar Reincarnation in my Graveyard!" Hanako continued. "By banishing it, I can Special Summon a 'Trickstar' monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Lilybell!" The little girl wielding a large bell reappeared in Attack Position.
Trickstar Lilybell ATK 800 DEF 2000 LVL: 2
"You bring back your weakest monster instead of your stronger Foxywitch?" Abelard asked, confused.
"Of course," Hanako responded. "After all, Lilybell's effect lets her attack you directly!" Abelard's eyes widened. "Battle! Lilybell attacks you directly!" Lilybell's bell created sonic waves that crashed into Abelard, making him wince again.
Abelard: 2500→1700 LP
"Lilybell's additional effect activates! When she deals you battle damage, I can return a 'Trickstar' monster from my Graveyard to my hand." A screen appeared in front of Hanako showing Candina, Lycoris, Holly Angel, and Foxywitch.
Normally, Hanako would return Lycoris to her hand. She could then use Lycoris's Quick Effect to return Lilybell to her hand and summon it, then summon Lilybell since she would be returned to Hanako's hand. But… something made her hesitate. Some instinct in Hanako's head told her not to bring Lycoris back. Instead, she should…
Go with your gut, Hanako thought. "I return Candina from my Graveyard to my hand."
"Hmm," Abelard smirked. "So, are you going to attack Mechaba with Bella Madonna now?"
You wish, Hanako thought. She remembered Aleister the Invoker's effect from when she read it; Abelard could discard Aleister to increase Mechaba's attack and defense points by 1000 until the end of the turn. If she attacked with Bella Madonna, she would be destroyed.
"I Set one card," Hanako said. "I end my turn." She then pointed to Abelard's field. "And since it's my End Phase, Light Arena's effect activates! You must either activate your Set card or return it to your hand."
"Is that so…" Abelard mused before smirking. "I think I'll activate it! The Quick-Play Spell Card: The Book of the Law!"
Hanako gasped. "Another one?" she said in surprise.
"Of course. And like before, I Tribute Mechaba to Fusion Summon an 'Invoked' monster from my Extra Deck with a different Attribute than Mechaba. Come to me, Invoked Raidjin!" Mechaba disappeared in a twister of green energy. When the tornado dissipated, an armored warrior wielding a sword sheathed in lightning had appeared, summoned to Bella Madonna's top Link Marker.
Invoked Raidjin ATK 2200 DEF 2400 LVL: 5
Hanako's eyes widened when she realized where Raidjin had been summoned to. "How did you know-?"
"That I could Fusion Summon to those red arrows on your Link Monsters?" Abelard finished, smirking mockingly. "I am an elite of Academia. I figured that there was no way the Resistance would create a weapon like Link Monsters if they couldn't also Xyz Summon. And when I saw those arrows, I guessed that you could summon from the Extra Deck to the zones they pointed to. And it looks like I was right." Abelard laughed. "Do you see, Resistance scum? This is the true strength of Academia. We aren't just strong Duelists, we're also very intelligent!" The person in the shadows narrowed their eyes at that.
Hanako grit her teeth as Abelard placed his hand on his Duel Disk. "My turn! Draw!" Abelard drew and smirked at his card. "As thanks for showing me a new summoning method, I'll finish you this turn with my strongest monster. I summon Aleister the Invoker!" The man in gold and white robes reappeared.
Aleister the Invoker ATK 1000 DEF 1800 LVL: 4
"Aleister's effect activates! I add Invocation from my Deck to my hand, and then activate it! With this card, I banish Aleister from my field and Aqua Spirit from my Graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!" A blue-haired green-skinned girl in a light blue dress appeared on Abelard's field as a blue and orange portal appeared behind him.
That must be the monster he discarded to negate Candina's effect, Hanako thought, narrowing her eyes.
Abelard spread his arms as his two monsters turned into energy and started swirling into the portal. "Bringer of madness! Become one with the ocean's defender and unleash a new power!" Abelard clasped his hands in front of him. "Fusion Summon! Appear, dragon of lamentations! Invoked Cocytus!" A giant blue dragon made of ice emerged from the portal and roared from the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.
Invoked Cocytus ATK 1800 DEF 2900 LVL: 6
"But Cocytus isn't the monster you have to worry about," Abelard said, taking the last card from his hand with a sadistic grin. "Oh no. I'm sure you recognize this card." He spun it around, and Hanako gasped. The name on that card… Dr. Kogami had talked about it! "Ah, that's the expression I wanted to see. I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization! With this card, I fuse Cocytus and Raidjin to perform a Fusion Summon!" The blue and orange portal reappeared behind him. His two monsters turned into energy and swirled in the center as Abelard spread his arms.
"Dragon of lamentations! Join with the master of wind and lightning and unleash the ultimate power!" Abelard clasped his hands in front of him. "Fusion Summon! Appear, the perfect world we seek! Invoked Elysium!" A massive monster emerged from the portal. It was so large, Hanako suspected it could be seen for miles around them. It resembled a massive bowl full of water that had been cut in half, with a white and black wall on the top and a blue orb at its center. White spikes ringed the top of the wall. It released powerful gusts of winds as it was summoned to Bella Madonna's top Link Marker in Attack Position.
Invoked Elysium ATK 3200 DEF 4000 LVL: 10
"T-This is…" Hanako whispered, her eyes wide as her knees started to shake. Above her, the watcher narrowed their eyes. I've seen that monster before, they thought. It was among the vanguard that destroyed the Diamond Branch.
Abelard cruelly laughed. "Yes! Tremble in fear before my perfect monster! Elysium's effect activates! Once during either of our turns, I can I can banish an 'Invoked' monster I control or in my Graveyard, and then every monster you control with the same Attribute as that monster is also banished!" Hanako gasped. "All your monsters are Light Attribute, so I'll banish the Light Attribute Mechaba to get rid of your Bella Madonna and Lilybell!" The spikes on Elysium's walls lit up and fired lasers down on Hanako's field. Hanako screamed as the explosions made her monsters disintegrate.
"This is the end, Resistance scum!" Abelard shouted, his sadistic grin wide as could be. "Elysium, attack this 'Nature Queen' directly! End of Eden!" A beam of blue energy shot out of Elysium's core at Hanako. Hanako, panicking, gestured to her field.
"T-Trap activate!" she declared. "Trickstar Banishment!" The card showed A dark purple magic circle, with Trickstar Reincarnation, Trickstar Cascade, and Trickstar Vision falling into the six-pointed star in the center. "Since you declared an attack, I can banish this card and any number of 'Trickstar' Spell and Trap Cards from my Graveyard to reduce the battle damage by 800 for each one. I banish Banishment, Light Stage, and Trickstar Vision to reduce the damage by 2400!" The beam hit Hanako, making her scream and causing an explosion and a massive dust cloud. When the dust settled, Hanako was revealed to be on her back, wincing in pain, her clothing slightly torn, and her eyes closed. But she still had Life Points.
Nature Queen: 1000→200 LP
The watcher gasped on finally seeing Hanako's face. S-She looks like-!
Abelard sighed. "Oh, why did you have to ruin the moment like that? Still, I admit your hopeless struggling is rather entertaining. I activate the effect of Invocation in my Graveyard! By shuffling it into my Deck, I return the banished Aleister the Invoker to my hand. I end my turn."
Hanako winced as she got into a sitting position. Abelard laughed at her. "Look at you, 'Nature Queen.' You don't look like royalty down there. You look like a scared little girl, facing a nightmare without your mommy or daddy. Why don't you surrender now and spare yourself the embarrassment of losing?"
W-What's wrong with me!? Hanako thought, gritting her teeth and closing her eyes. Why isn't it working? Why am I afraid? I'm supposed to be Nature Queen, aren't I? Then why am I so scared? Nature Queen is supposed to be strong! So why am I so weak?
"You joined the Project to become stronger?"
Hanako gasped, getting caught in a memory. It was a conversation between her and Yuji, a week after Team 13 was established…
"Yeah, kind of silly, isn't it?" Hanako said, smiling in self-deprecation. The two of them were sitting on a bench in Den Park, having ran into each other while taking walks. They had decided to sit together, talking about work, and then Hanako had decided she wanted to tell Yuji about why she joined the Security Project. She didn't remember what prompted her; she just knew she wanted Yuji to understand.
"I… don't like talking to people," Hanako admitted, pressing her fingers together. "Whenever I'm in a crowd, I feel suffocated. Whenever too many people pay attention to me, I feel like fainting."
"Stage fright. That's rather common."
"I-It's not just stage fright!" Hanako frowned. "I… can't connect to people. I'm scared of them. But… when I'm in LINK VRAINS, as Nature Queen, I feel powerful, invincible. I want to take that strength and make it mine."
"…I see," Yuji said, frowning. "But isn't it already yours?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You are Nature Queen," Yuji stated. "Even if your appearance changes, deep down, Nature Queen is still Hanako Zaizen. So that courage and strength already belongs to you. You just need to realize it and apply it to the real world."
"…Easier said that done," Hanako said, frowning. "That aside… you really have a talent for cutting straight to the point, don't you?"
"Do I? Is that a bad thing?"
"N-No, it's a good thing." Hanako paused, then said, "Umm, you don't have to answer this, but why did you join the Security Project?"
Yuji blinked. "Why do you want to know?"
"W-Well, I explained why I wanted to join, so it's only fair that you share."
"…I don't agree, but I suppose there's no harm in sharing." He thought for a while, then said, "I'm good at dueling and hacking."
"…And?" Hanako asked, expecting more.
"…And I wanted to do something where I could apply both. And maybe even…" Yuji's expression changed for a second, then went back to blank. "No, forget it."
Hanako stared at Yuji, burning the expression she had seen into her mind. He had looked so… hopeless. And hopeful at the same time. Like he wanted something but believed he would never have it. And thinking of that expression, Hanako felt something. The same feeling she had when first meeting Yuji.
He's the same as me, she would think later that day, finally realizing what that feeling was. And yet not the same. He's looking for a place to belong, a niche he can claim as his, but he isn't looking to express his independence or to become stronger like I am. I think… I think he wants to enjoy something, but he doesn't know how.
That revelation, that the silent but strong Kingmaker was searching for a place to belong, had hit her hard. Later she confronted him, and he admitted she was right. He did want a place he felt he belonged to. Or rather, he had been looking for something he could take pleasure in. Something he could feel happy about.
I made a promise back then, Hanako thought as she sat in the rubble. I promised I would help Yuji find what he was looking for. And in the process, I thought I would find the same thing. She narrowed her eyes. When I became Nature Queen, I wanted three things: to prove to my brother I could be more independent, to become stronger and more confident as a person, and to find a place, to find people, I felt I belonged to. And I found that place. I found it in Team 13… But now that foundation is gone, scattered across the dimensions. Hanako clenched her fists. If I want my foundation back, if I want to see Yuji and Go again, I have to survive this! I have to fight as myself! Despite my fear, I have to keep fighting!
She didn't notice, but the gem in her bracelet gleamed as Hanako pushed herself to her feet. She did feel wobbly, but she set it aside. She needed to be strong now.
"Heh," Abelard laughed. "So, you're going to keep fighting. Have it your way, but it's futile. My Elysium has 3200 attack points. Nothing in your pathetic Resistance Deck can defeat it!"
"We'll see about that," Hanako said, placing her hand on her Duel Disk. "My turn! Draw!" Looking at her card, she gasped, then smiled. I was right, she thought. I was right to bring back Candina instead of Lycoris.
"I summon Trickstar Candina!" The girl with a megaphone reappeared.
Trickstar Candina ATK 1800 DEF 400 LVL: 4
"Candina's effect activates! When she is Normal Summoned, I can add a 'Trickstar' card from my Deck to my hand. The card I add is Trickstar Ritual."
"What!?" Abelard said, his eyes wide. "Ritual!?"
"I activate the Ritual Spell Card: Trickstar Ritual!" Hanako declared. The card showed a performer's stage, with statues of Candina, Lilybell, Lycoris, and Holly Angel surrounding a blue magical circle that was the focus of the spotlights. "With this card, I can Tribute monsters from my hand or field whose combined Levels equal or exceed that of the 'Trickstar' Ritual Monster in my hand."
"But the only monster you have is Candina!" Abelard reminded her. "You can only Ritual Summon a Level 4 monster!"
"Normally, that's the case." Hanako then smirked. "But Trickstar Ritual has another effect. If there is an active 'Trickstar' Field Spell, I can also use 'Trickstar' monsters in my Graveyard as materials by banishing them!"
"What!?"
The platform from the Trickstar Ritual card appeared on Hanako's field, but it was devoid of statues. "I Tribute the Level 4 Candina on my field and banish the Level 3 Lycoris from my Graveyard!" Lycoris reappeared on the stage as Candina stood on the other side. Both monsters turned into orange and red flames. They entered the magic circle, which glowed and released a pillar of light.
"The contract has been made!" Hanako chanted. "The idol that sings of determination inherits these two souls! Ritual Summon! Rise! Trickstar Band Indigo Keys!"
The pillar dissipated, revealing the monster within. It was a woman in a long, elegant red dress topped by a black waistcoat with black stockings and red high-heeled boots. A blue sash was tied around her waist and spiky red hair flowed downwards, with the bangs and roots being colored orange. Her solid blue eyes gleamed as her four wings flapped. Indigo Keys pressed several keys on the dark blue keytar she carried as she took her place in Attack Position.
Trickstar Band Indigo Keys ATK 2400 DEF 1800 LVL: 7
"…A Ritual Monster?" Abelard said, gaping in surprise along with his companions. "I haven't seen one of these since I watched Asuka Tenjoin duel…" He then snapped himself out of his daze. "That's an impressive surprise, but it's pointless! Your monster only has 2400 attack points!"
"Are you sure about that?" Hanako asked him, making him hesitate. She gestured to her field. "Indigo Keys' effect activates! When she is Ritual Summoned, you take 200 points of damage for each banished 'Trickstar' card!"
"What!? For each banished card?"
"That's right. And right now, there are seven banished 'Trickstar' cards! So you take 1400 points of damage! Shining Note!" Indigo Keys pressed several keys on her keytar, creating a ball of energy that was flung at Abelard, making him cry out in pain.
Abelard: 1700→300 LP
"Indigo Keys' additional effect activates!" Hanako continued. "When you take damage from the effect of a 'Trickstar' monster, Indigo Keys gains attack points equal to that amount! Indigo Blessing!"
Trickstar Band Indigo Keys ATK 2400→3800
"3-3800 attack points!?" Abelard said, his eyes wide.
"Battle!" Hanako declared. "Indigo Keys, attack Elysium! Keys of Light!" Her monster played more notes, creating a light at the end of her keytar. Said light then blasted itself at Elysium.
Abelard laughed the loudest he had all day. "You fool! Did you think it would be that easy? I activate the effect of Aleister the Invoker in my hand! By discarding him, my Fusion Monster gains 1000 attack and defense points until the end of the turn!"
Invoked Elysium ATK 3200→4200 DEF 4000→5000
"You only have 200 Life Points left! I win!"
"No, you don't."
"Huh?" Abelard said, blinking.
"Indigo Keys' final effect activates!" Hanako declared. "When she battles your monster, I can shuffle a banished 'Trickstar' monster back into my Deck. And until the End Phase, Indigo Keys gains that monster's attack points!"
"WHAT!?"
"I return Bella Madonna to my Extra Deck and grant her 2800 attack points to Indigo Keys!" Bella Madonna briefly appeared before breaking into fragments of light that gathered in Indigo Keys' keytar, increasing the strength of the blast.
Trickstar Indigo Keys ATK 3800→6600
"End this, Indigo Keys!" The energy beam continued upwards and struck Elysium in its core, destroying it in an explosion. This started a chain of explosions across it before it was destroyed in the largest explosion Hanako had ever seen.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Abelard screamed as the shockwaves from the blast and explosions knocked him off his feet and sent him flying backwards several dozen feet before he landed against a building, knocked unconscious.
Abelard: 300→0 LP
Hanako breathed a sigh of relief as she leaned back against the building behind her. Looking at her hand, she noticed it was still shaking.
…Yes, I'm still afraid, she thought, closing her eyes. I still have a long ways to go before I reach Nature Queen's level.
"Why, you…"
Hanako opened her eyes, which widened when she realized the other three Academia duelists were facing her. All of them had minor scratches but were otherwise unharmed. They also all looked severely pissed.
"How dare you defeat Commander Abelard!" one of them said.
"We'll avenge him here and now!" another said, raising his Duel Disk.
Oh no! Hanako thought, the adrenaline from the duel wearing off and panic setting back in. I can't duel all three of them at once!
Before she could say anything, a bright light suddenly appeared above them, blinding the Academia duelists. Hanako heard a voice – a girl's voice with a slight accent – echo through the air.
"Ruler of the future and symbol of nobility, grant me your power to overcome my foes! Xyz Summon! Rank 5! Empress of Prophecy!"
Hanako turned around and looked upwards and gasped in awe. A beautiful woman in green and white robes wielding a golden scepter had appeared, with two yellow lights circling her.
"Go, Empress of Prophecy!" Hanako looked downwards and saw the monster's owner on the ledge above her. She was a girl with blonde hair. "Final Fate!" Empress raised her scepter, which emitted a blinding light as it gathered energy. She brought the scepter down, blasting the three Academia duelists away from Hanako.
"Quickly! Grab my hand!" Hanako watched as the girl reached downwards. Not having any better ideas, Hanako reached up and grabbed the proffered hand. The girl was stronger than she looked and pulled Hanako up on the ledge.
"Hurry, we need to leave before reinforcements arrive!" The girl turned and ran, with Hanako following after her. Behind them, Hanako could hear the Academia members shouting.
Hanako followed the girl as she continued to flee. The girl didn't run in a straight path; she zigzagged through ruined buildings and even doubled back once, but she didn't slow down or check to see if Hanako was still following.
After running for what felt like twenty minutes, the blonde girl finally stopped and headed inside what looked like an abandoned house. Hanako followed her in, clutching her side and wheezing in pain. She wasn't used to this much physical exertion; she did exercise, but nothing like this.
"…We should be safe here, but we'll have to wait a while to be sure," the girl said, glancing around the house before finally looking at Hanako, allowing her to get her first real glance.
The girl had pale blonde hair that went down past her shoulders, with the left side tucked behind her ear. Her eyes were a deep brown and made Hanako think of those chocolates girls bought for boys on Valentine's Day. She wore a tattered dark green coat over a black blouse, with a red scarf wrapped around her neck. A dark brown belt held her dark blue jeans up while her feet were covered by dark brown combat boots. If Hanako had to guess, she was perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old.
She looks like a badass, Hanako thought, noting the look in the girl's eyes. It was similar to the look Yuji sometimes had when he was thinking of the past; like she had seen things other people couldn't comprehend. It was mixed in with a little suspicion as she watched Hanako.
"T-Thank you for saving me back there," Hanako said, having finally got her breath back.
"…You're welcome," the girl replied. Her Japanese was perfect, but Hanako caught a foreign accent there. British, maybe? "…This may be a rude question, but your name isn't Ruri Kurosaki, is it?"
"Huh?" Hanako said, blinking. "N-No. My name is Hanako Zaizen. P-Pleased to meet you."
The girl sighed and glanced to the side. "I thought that might be the case. Even if you look like her, Ruri never used Ritual Summoning. And she certainly didn't use Fairy monsters or a summoning method no one's ever heard of." She then looked back at Hanako. "I'm Leila Thompson, a resident of the Xyz Dimension and a member of the Resistance. So tell me, who exactly are you?"
Hanako paused, uncertain about what to say. While she was grateful to this girl for saving her, she didn't know if she could trust her. For all she knew, this girl's "Resistance" could have already found her friends and captured them or… No, she couldn't think like that.
Leila had a small smile as she watched Hanako's indecision. "Let me take a guess at what you're thinking," she said, interrupting Hanako's thoughts. "You're wondering whether or not I'm trustworthy, and whether I am an ally or enemy." She looked Hanako up and down. "Judging by your Duel Disk, attire, and your performance in that Duel, you're not native to the Xyz Dimension like me, but you're not from the Fusion Dimension either. No, you came from another dimension. Since it's rather foolish to come to a war zone alone, I'm guessing other people came with you, but you got separated from them and were looking for them before running into that Academia group. How'd I do?"
Hanako stared at the other girl. "W-Where you watching me the whole time I was here?"
"No, just since the beginning of your duel. You made a ruckus running away from them. But I've always had a gift for deduction, and if you think hard enough, what I just said isn't a difficult conclusion to come to." She paused, then said softly, "I understand if you don't trust me, but you'll need to if you want my help. I can't promise anything, but I can at least hear you out."
"…Alright," Hanako said. Like Leila said, she didn't fully trust her, but Hanako didn't see any other options. "Like you guessed, I'm from another dimension, and…"
Hanako told her about the Link Dimension and Link Summoning. Leila was rather surprised to learn of a fifth dimension, but she got over it quickly enough. She remained silent as Hanako explained the mission she and her teammates had been given and how the dimensional transporter had gone haywire.
"So you were planning to come here to find out what was going on, but came here early and without your comrades. Is that about right?"
"Yes. I don't suppose you've seen anyone like them?"
Leila frowned and shook her head. "You're the first person I've seen with a Duel Disk like that." Noticing Hanako's crestfallen expression, she added, "But I'm only a single member of the Resistance. Its possible other members saw your friends."
"…Then, can you take me to the Resistance?" Hanako asked.
Leila frowned. "It's not that easy. The Resistance is spread out to make it harder to destroy. That leaves the command structure… rather diluted. I can take you to one of our branches, but with Academia jamming communications, they'll only be able to tell you so much."
"That's better than nothing," Hanako said, narrowing her eyes. "I… admit I don't have much confidence, but I need to reunite with my friends. And I know how powerful Ryoken and Yuji are. If they're here, they could turn the tide of this war."
Leila raised an eyebrow. "A bold statement. And yet I can tell you completely believe that." Leila paused, then sighed. "Very well. I'll take you to one of our headquarters. It's some distance from here, so you better get used to walking." She went to the door, glanced outside, then nodded. "It's clear. We'd better hurry before that changes."
"Right." Hanako followed Leila out of the building, then said softly, "Would it be inappropriate to ask who your leader is?"
"Of course not," Leila said just as softly, likely to avoid making too much noise. "His name is Dr. Byron Arclight."
Nature Queen vs. Abelard
This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.
Turn 1: Nature Queen
Nature Queen Normal Summons Trickstar Candina (1800/400/4). Since Candina was Normal Summoned, Nature Queen can add 1 "Trickstar" card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Trickstar Light Stage to her hand. Nature Queen activates the Field Spell Card Trickstar Light Stage. Since Light Stage was activated, Nature Queen can add 1 "Trickstar" monster from her Deck to her hand. She adds Trickstar Lycoris to her hand. Nature Queen activates the effect of Lycoris in her hand, revealing it and targeting Candina. Lycoris is Special Summoned (1600/1200/3) in Attack Position and Candina is returned to Nature Queen's hand. Nature Queen activates the Spell Card Trickstar Vision, which lets her Special Summon 1 "Trickstar" monster from her hand with its ATK halved and its effects negated, then both players draw 1 card. She Special Summons Trickstar Lilybell (800→400/2000/2) in Attack Position. Since Abelard drew a card, the effect of Lycoris inflicts 200 damage to him (Abelard: 4000→3800 LP). Since a "Trickstar" monster inflicted damage to Abelard, Light Stage deals him 200 damage (Abelard: 3800→3600 LP). Nature Queen then activates the Field Spell Card Trickstar Light Arena, sending Light Stage to the GY. Nature Queen uses Lilybell and Lycoris to Link Summon Trickstar Holly Angel (2000/2/↙↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Since she Link Summoned a "Trickstar" card, Nature Queen activates Light Arena's effect, letting her Special Summon 1 "Trickstar" monster that was used as material for that Link Summon. She Special Summons Lycoris (1600/1200/3) to Holly Angel's bottom-right Link Marker in Defense Position. Since a "Trickstar" monster was Special Summoned to Holly Angel's Link Marker, its effect inflicts 200 damage to Abelard (Abelard: 3600→3400 LP). Since Abelard took damage by the effect of a "Trickstar" monster, Holly Angel gains ATK equal to that damage until the end of the turn (Holly Angel: 2000→2200). Nature Queen Sets 1 card. She ends her turn, and Holly Angel's ATK returns to normal (Holly Angel: 2200→2000).
Turn 2: Abelard
Abelard draws. Lycoris's effect activates, followed by Holly Angel's effect (Abelard: 3400→3200 LP) (Holly Angel: 2000→2200). Nature Queen activates her Set Trap Card Trickstar Reincarnation, which banishes Abelard's entire hand, then forces him to draw the same number of cards. Abelard banishes and then draws 7 cards. Lycoris's effect activates, followed by Holly Angel's effect (Abelard: 3200→1800 LP) (Holly Angel: 2200→3600). Abelard activates the Field Spell Card Magical Meltdown. Since Magical Meltdown was activated, Abelard can add Aleister the Invoker from his Deck to his hand. Lycoris's effect activates, followed by Holly Angel's (Abelard: 1800→1600 LP) (Holly Angel: 3600→3800). Abelard Normal Summons Aleister the Invoker (1000/1800/4). Since Aleister was Normal Summoned, Abelard can add Invocation from his Deck to his hand. Lycoris's effect activates, followed by Holly Angel's (Abelard: 1600→1400 LP) (Holly Angel: 3800→4000). Abelard activates the Spell Card Invocation, which lets him Fusion Summon using monsters from his hand as Fusion Material, or if he's Summoning an "Invoked" Fusion Monster, he can banish monsters from his field or either player's GY. He banishes Aleister from his field and Lilybell from Nature Queen's GY to Fusion Summon Invoked Mechaba (2500/2100/9) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Abelard then activates the Quick-Play Spell Card The Book of the Law, which lets him Tribute 1 "Invoked" monster to Special Summon 1 "Invoked" monster from his Extra Deck with a different Attribute and treat it as a Fusion Summon. He Tributes Mechaba to Fusion Summon Invoked Purgatrio (2300/2000/7) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Purgatrio gains 200 ATK for each card Nature Queen controls (Purgatrio: 2300→2900). Abelard activates the Spell Card Monster Reborn to Special Summon Invoked Mechaba (2500/2100/9) from the GY in Attack Position. Abelard activates the Equip Spell Card Fairy Meteor Crush, equipping it to Mechaba. If Mechaba attacks a Defense Position monster, it inflicts piercing battle damage.
Purgatrio attacks Lycoris. "Trickstar" monsters Holly Angel points to cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. Purgatrio inflicts piercing battle damage via its effect. (Nature Queen: 4000→2300 LP). Mechaba attacks Lycoris. Lycoris is not destroyed due to Holly Angel's effect (Nature Queen: 2300→1000 LP). Abelard activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Mystik Wok, which lets him Tribute 1 monster, choose either its ATK or DEF, then gain LP equal to that amount. He Tributes Purgatrio and chooses ATK (Abelard: 1400→4300 LP). Abelard activates the effect of Invocation in his GY, shuffling it into his Deck to add his banished Aleister the Invoker to his hand. Lycoris's effect activates, followed by Holly Angel's (Abelard: 4300→4100 LP) (Holly Angel: 4000→4200). Abelard Sets 1 card. He ends his turn, and Holly Angel's ATK returns to normal (Holly Angel: 4200→2000).
Turn 3: Nature Queen
Nature Queen draws. She Normal Summons Trickstar Candina (1800/400/4). Since Candina was Normal Summoned, Nature Queen can add 1 "Trickstar" card from her Deck to her hand. Since a card effect was activated, Abelard activates the effect of Mechaba, discarding 1 card of the same type to the GY to negate that card's activation and banish it. He discards Aqua Spirit to negate Candina's effect and banish it. Nature Queen activates Light Arena's effect, targeting Abelard's Set card. Abelard cannot activate that card until the End Phase, at which point he must activate it or return it to his hand. Nature Queen uses Lycoris and Link-2 Holly Angel to Link Summon Trickstar Foxywitch (2200/3/←↑→) to the Extra Monster Zone. Since Foxywitch was Special Summoned, Abelard takes 200 damage for each card he controls (Abelard: 4100→3500 LP). Since Nature Queen Link Summoned a "Trickstar" monster, she activates Light Arena's effect to Special Summon a "Trickstar" monster from her GY that was used as material for that Link Summon. She Special Summons Holly Angel (2000/2/↙↘). Nature Queen activates the Spell Card Link Treasure, which lets her draw cards equal to the number of Link Monsters on the field. She draws 2 cards. She then activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Burial from a Different Dimension, which lets her return up to 3 banished monsters to the GY. She returns Candina and Lilybell to her GY. Nature Queen uses Holly Angel and Link-3 Foxywitch to Link Summon Trickstar Bella Madonna (2800/4/↙↑↓→) to the Extra Monster Zone. Since Bella Madonna points to no monsters, Nature Queen activates its effect to inflict 200 damage to Abelard for each "Trickstar" monster in her GY with a different name (Abelard: 3500→2500 LP). Nature Queen then activates the effect of Trickstar Reincarnation in her GY, banishing it to Special Summon Lilybell (800/2000/2) from her GY in Attack Position.
Lilybell attacks Abelard directly via its effect (Abelard: 2500→1700 LP). Since Lilybell inflicted battle damage, Nature Queen can return 1 "Trickstar" monster in her GY to her hand. She returns Candina to her hand. Nature Queen Sets 1 card. She ends her turn. During the End Phase, the effect of Light Arena forces Abelard to either activate his Set card or return it to his hand. He chooses to activate the Quick-Play Spell Card The Book of the Law, Tributing Mechaba to Fusion Summon Invoked Raidjin (2200/2400/5) to Bella Madonna's top Link Marker in Attack Position.
Turn 4: Abelard
Abelard draws. He Normal Summons Aleister the Invoker (1000/1800/4). Since Aleister was Normal Summoned, Abelard can add Invocation from his Deck to his hand. Abelard activates Invocation, banishing Aleister from his field and Aqua Spirit from his GY to Fusion Summon Invoked Cocytus (1800/2900/6) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Abelard then activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Cocytus and Raidjin to Fusion Summon Invoked Elysium (3200/4000/10) to Bella Madonna's top Link Marker in Attack Position. Abelard activates Elysium's effect, banishing Mechaba from his GY to banish all monsters Nature Queen controls that are the same Attribute as Mechaba. Mechaba is Light Attribute, so Bella Madonna, and Lilybell are banished.
Elysium attacks Nature Queen directly, but Nature Queen activates her Set Trap Card Trickstar Banishment, banishing itself, Trickstar Light Stage, and Trickstar Vision from her GY. The battle damage is reduced by 800 for each banished card (Nature Queen: 1000→200 LP). Abelard activates the effect of Invocation in his GY, shuffling it into his Deck to add the banished Aleister to his hand. He ends his turn.
Turn 5: Nature Queen
Nature Queen draws. She Normal Summons Trickstar Candina (1800/400/4). Since Candina was Normal Summoned, Nature Queen can add 1 "Trickstar" card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Trickstar Ritual from her Deck to her hand. Nature Queen activates the Spell Card Trickstar Ritual, which lets her Ritual Summon 1 "Trickstar" monster from her hand by Tributing monsters whose combined Levels equal or exceed the Ritual Monster's. Alternatively, if there is a "Trickstar" Field Spell Card in the Field Zone, Nature Queen can also banish "Trickstar" monsters from her GY. Nature Queen Tributes the Level 4 Candina and banishes the Level 3 Lycoris from her GY to Ritual Summon Trickstar Band Indigo Keys (2400/1800/7) in Attack Position. Since Indigo Keys was Ritual Summoned, Nature Queen can inflict 200 damage to Abelard for each banished "Trickstar" card (Abelard: 1700→300 LP). Since Abelard took damage by the effect of a "Trickstar" monster, Indigo Keys gains ATK equal to that amount (Indigo Keys: 2400→3800).
Indigo Keys attacks Elysium. Abelard activates the effect of Aleister in his hand, discarding it to target 1 Fusion Monster he controls and increase its ATK/DEF by 1000 until the end of the turn. He targets Elysium (Elysium: 3200→4200/4000→5000). Since Indigo Keys is battling an opponent's monster, Nature Queen activates its effect to return 1 banished "Trickstar" monster to her Deck, then increase Indigo Keys' ATK by that monster's ATK until the end of the turn. Nature Queen returns Bella Madonna to her Extra Deck (Indigo Keys: 3800→6600). The attack continues and Elysium is destroyed (Abelard: 300→0 LP). Nature Queen wins.
Trickstar Band Indigo Keys
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Fairy/Ritual/Effect] ATK 2400 DEF 1800 Level: 7
You can Ritual Summon this card with "Trickstar Ritual". When this card is Ritual Summoned: You can inflict 200 damage to your opponent for each banished "Trickstar" card. If your opponent takes damage by a "Trickstar" monster's effect: This card gains ATK equal to the damage they took, until the end of this turn. During the Damage Step, when this card battles an opponent's monster (Quick Effect): You can target 1 banished "Trickstar" monster; return that card to the owner's Deck, then increase this card's ATK by the targeted monster's ATK until the end of this turn. You can only use this effect of "Trickstar Band Indigo Keys" once per turn.
Link Treasure Normal Spell Card
Draw 1 card for each Link Monster on the field. You can only activate "Link Treasure" once per turn.
Trickstar Banishment Normal Trap Card
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can banish this card and any number of "Trickstar" Spell/Trap Cards in your GY; reduce the battle damage by 800 for each card banished by this effect.
Trickstar Ritual Ritual Spell Card
This card can be used to Ritual Summon any "Trickstar" Ritual Monster. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed the Level of the Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon. If there is a "Trickstar" Field Spell in your Field Zone, you can also use "Trickstar" monster(s) in your GY, by banishing them. You can banish this card and 1 "Trickstar" Ritual monster from your GY, then target up to 2 "Trickstar" monsters in your GY; Special Summon those monsters with their effects negated. You cannot activate this effect the turn this card is sent to the GY.
Chapter Preview
Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: The Fifth Circuit. Chapter 5 – Vigilant Synchro
Question of the Chapter
What is your opinion of the other main characters (Hanako, Go, and Ryoken) learning alternative summoning methods (Fusion, Pendulum, Ritual, Synchro, and Xyz)?
Also, a quick clarification: When I said alternate forms of Viral Dawn, I meant Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz versions. Of course Viral Dawn will have an upgraded Link form.
Author's Notes & Responses to Reviews
Thank you to Nirvash Neo, ZarcEternal, HunterHQ, RoyalTwinFangs, Crossing, Yasutake Fan, DARK REQUIEM XYZ, Dragon-kun, Ethan Kuronus, Lindia Fullmoon, ClearwingYuta, SakushiRyu, ThePLOThand, Guest, bladeWriter3, King, LazinessRules, and Guest for reviewing Chapter 3.
I hit over 100 reviews after three chapters! Granted, a lot of that is because king has come up with a lot of OC cards, but still. A quick thank you to SakushiRyu, OPFan37, and sanedimentio for helping me with this Chapter. Especially OPFan37, who I asked to serve as a beta reader for this one. Now to respond to reviews…
Nirvash Neo: If we will, it won't be till the Link Dimension Arc. Yes, there will be one.
Crossing: You have honestly given me the longest reviews I've ever seen on , so congratulations on that. To start with, your comment about Sawatari using Monarchs; it wasn't because writing Yosenjus is more difficult; it's because at the end of Episode 32, Reiji told Nakajima to retrieve Sawatari's Pendulum cards for study and mass production. Since Chapter 3 took place during Episode 41, I assumed that Sawatari didn't have the Yosenjus anymore since Reiji took them back. Thus, he temporarily switched back to his Monarch Deck. As for Sawatari's personality reversion, I'll respond to that later since bladeWriter3 also brought that up. As for individual chapters, don't worry; after Chapter 6, Go and Hanako will mostly get 2 or 3 chapter mini-arcs to themselves, while Yuji will be the main focus of the story. And on the topic of separation, there is a reason I sent Yuji to Standard and not Go: because I wanted them to face environments they don't feel comfortable in. I like taking characters with a set personality and putting them in a world that's completely different, like putting the super serious Yuji in the honestly wacky and flamboyant Standard Dimension, or putting Hanako, a girl who depends heavily on her friends, alone in a ruined city. It's not as safe writing as putting Go in Standard, but I feel it's more interesting to see their reactions to worlds so different from themselves. As for Yuji being too composed in his thoughts… there is a reason for that, which I'll say in a later chapter.
(Also, quick side note, I'm wondering if you're going to review Hidden Memories, since I released Chapters 31 and 32 and will be releasing Chapter 33 after this one.)
Dragon-kun: If I did write a duel between Kingmaker and Morningstar, it would be a non-canon one-shot and not in this fanfic. Alternatively, since Kingmaker mostly uses Playmaker's Deck except with Viral Dawn instead of Firewall, you could read Chapters 6, 28, and 29 of Hidden Memories, as those are the Morningstar vs. Playmaker duels.
bladeWriter3: To answer your and Crossing's criticism of Sawatari's character backsliding… I feel he doesn't, really. I mean, I forget which Episode it was in, but I'm sure it was after 32 when he said he duels to get compliments. While he does become nicer and a better duelist over the course of the series, he never loses that egotistical side of him. And since he's facing an unknown with a Type he's never seen before, and he's not in front of a large crowd like he was in his second duel with Yuya, I thought it was natural his more negative traits be shown again. That said, if you're worried about inconsistent characterization, don't; the next time he duels, he'll have more of an entertainer's persona.
LazinessRules: I am writing two fanfics at the same time and am trying to maintain a high personal standard of quality. Be patient.
Okay, Hanako was the focus of this chapter, and she's in the Xyz Dimension. I can honestly say that of all the guesses I received from people, NO ONE guessed Hanako would be in the Xyz Dimension; it was either Go or Ryoken, so I'm glad I managed to surprise people. I also wonder how many people expected her to be the first to Ritual Summon in this story. Like I said above, one of the reasons for the separation was to explore who these characters are when they're in environments they aren't comfortable with. For Yuji it was the light-hearted Standard Dimension. For Hanako it's being alone without any support.
I'm hoping to nail down Hanako's characterization in this chapter. To me, she's a Cowardly Lion, Shrinking Violet type: the kind who has low confidence, but when push comes to shove, she stands up for herself. I also took inspiration for her character from Shino Asada, or Sinon, from Sword Art Online, particularly her relationship with her avatar Nature Queen. Like Shino used Sinon to get over her trauma, Hanako uses Nature Queen to build her confidence in the hopes that confidence will transfer over to the real world. The results are less than she was hoping, obviously. This also means she sometimes hears a voice telling her to be more confident. Whether that's her own consciousness, Ray Akaba, or a split personality… I'll leave that up to your interpretation for now. Aside from that, Hanako also really wants friends who are like her, which is why she gets along with Yuji so well, and to express her independence to her brother Akira. Though I imagine getting stuck in another dimension isn't what she had in mind.
As for the duel of this chapter, I wanted to show that Academia isn't as troubled by the change to the Master Rules as some people would believe. Yes, they're slowed down, but only a little. And for duelists that rely on only a single powerful monster, like Jack Atlas or the character I introduced at the end, the Master Rule wouldn't change anything. Also on the duel, and on a minor note: I don't like writing Trickstar duels. I mean, I like them as an archetype enough; they're strong and I like Aoi and Hanako a lot. But the continuous trigger effects annoy me and writing them is a pain. I honestly prefer writing Beatdown Decks, like Cyberse, Cyspirit, and Gaia the Fierce Knight Decks. That said, I don't intend for Hanako to change Decks, since aside from Serena's Parasite Deck, none of the other girls did.
And now to my favorite part of this chapter: Leila Thompson, who is a sort-of legacy character. She was originally an OC I wrote for my first fanfic Academy of Chaos and played a similar role to Daichi Misawa from GX. As in she was a duelist who started out stronger than the main characters but eventually would be overshadowed by them. But since I'm not writing Academy of Chaos anymore, I decided I would bring her back as a member of the Resistance who uses the Prophecy Deck. And yes, she will be stronger than Yuu Sakuragi. And on the name at the end of the chapter… I'll cover that at the end of Chapter 5, since it will start in the Xyz Dimension before moving to the Synchro Dimension like this one started with the Standard Dimension.
Thank you for reading Chapter 4. Since I'm writing this at the same time as Hidden Memories, I'll be alternating releases, so Chapter 33 of Hidden Memories will be my next priority. And I won't provide a release date as I want to focus on quality instead of speed.