Quick shoutout to Green Phantom Queen for reviewing last chapter. This came out later than expected, but ah well, sometimes it can't be helped. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Anyhow, happy reading!


On the duel field, Gongenzaka waited patiently for Yuya to arrive, the aspiring dueltainer nowhere to be found. Around the arena, murmurs began to spread as people speculated as to where he could've disappeared to.

"Yuya didn't say anything when he left, did he?" Yusho asked his wife, concerned by his son's sudden disappearance.

"No, but I have a pretty good idea where he would be though," Yoko replied, a slight smile appearing on her face. When Yusho gave her a look of confusion, she elaborated.

"After you disappeared, Yuya always went to the bridge before big duels to think about things. He thought about how you dueled, how he could put on a show of his own, but… it was also his quiet place, somewhere he could vent. It wasn't very easy for him after you left, but Yuya always pulled through," Yoko reminisced.

"I wish I had been there for him," Yusho said with a sigh. "Instead I went on a wild goose chase for Leo and—"

Yoko interrupted, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I already told you, it's okay Yusho. I understand why you did what you did, to help save our dimensions. You couldn't have known that transporter would leave you stranded in the Xyz Dimension. Do I wish you had told me about it beforehand? Absolutely, but what's done is done. As for Yuya, he had a hard time, but it also helped him grow, not just as a duelist, but as a person. He's matured so much over the past few years. Still, no matter what, he'll always be our son."

"I know… but I still owe you both an apology," Yusho said. "It couldn't have been easy for either of you."

"It wasn't, but we tried to make the most of it," Yoko admitted. "I'm just happy you're back. And speaking of being back…"

Yuya appeared from one of the lower tunnels, dashing out to the field, looking very disheveled. When he finally managed to stand face to face with his best friend, he was panting heavily, as if he just ran a marathon.

"Yuya! I, the man Gongenzaka, was getting worried! Where the heck were ya?" Gongenzaka inquired.

"I'd… rather not talk about it," Yuya replied sheepishly, still trying to recover his breath.

"I told you it was impractical to try out that duel disk, Yugo," Yuri informed his Synchro counterpart with a roll of his eyes. "You're lucky we ran into that guy who was heading to the arena for his shift before we got too far."

"Hey, you can't blame me, it looked so sleek and—wait, did you just call me Yugo?" he said confusedly, Yuri's comment having just fully sunk in.

"Yes, that is your name after all," Yuri replied drably.

"Wow, I guess you really have changed," he mused, before getting back to the argument at hand. "I did have a good reason for it though! I thought it'd be a good chance to look at—"

"Cram it, you two," Yuto told them sternly. "We don't need to argue about this right now, settle it later." The two of them did as told surprisingly, though Yuto couldn't help but wonder if he was only kicking the can down the road. After all, Yuri and Yugo were essentially polar opposites, it felt as if the two of them would get into arguments like this for the foreseeable future, though fortunately none of them were anything more than petty disputes for the time being.

Yuya thanked Yuto before recalling what he had thought earlier about the idea of being merged with three other people: There'd never be a boring moment in sight. While he had felt that had been hyperbole even at the time; the way things were going, those words would hold true.

Nico Smiley's voice boomed around the arena to get everyone's attention. "Well then folks, after a late entrace by Yuya Sakaki, we're just about ready to get underway here! It's time for us to select an Action Field! Now as the randomizer goes on, just what will it reveal?" Nico asked in anticipation. "My my, it seems we're going to be entering murky conditions once we get this duel rolling, especially with the Wetlands Action Field!" The ARC system generated the surroundings, tall grass emerging from the ground, along with a rainy atmosphere to go with it. A pond was created near Yuya, who also noticed some hilly ranges on Gongenzaka's side of the field.

[ACTION FIELD: WETLANDS]

The steadfast duelist looked straight at him, never wavering eye contact as he spoke. "Yuya, we've known each other before we were even old enough to pick up our duel disks. You're my best friend, and I cherish that friendship every day. Lately, you've closed yourself off from the rest of us, which isn't unusual for you… Difference is, this time I can't figure out what's troubling you."

Yuya was about to respond and deny this, but Gongenzaka held up a hand before he could get a word out. "But it's fine, Yuya, we understand. No one's forcing you to explain yourself, that's your call. Though for now, maybe we can communicate to each other better in a duel! Be warned though, because I, the man Gongenzaka, won't be holding anything back!"

"Well everyone, looks like these best buddies will be going full force at each other, not that we expected any less, but still good to hear. Gongenzaka seems determined to learn more about whatever Yuya's holding out through their duel, let's find out if he's got what it takes to send a powerful message of his own!" Melissa Claire said excitedly to pump up the crowd.

"Duelists locked into battle!" Yuya began the chant to sweep his best friend's words under the rug for the time being.

"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!" Gongenzaka continued.

"They storm through the field! Behold!"

"This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling! So now it's time to Action…"

"DUEL!" they shouted in unison, drawing their cards.

Turn 1

Gongenzaka: 4000 LP, Hand: 5

Yuya: 4000 LP, Hand: 5

"Well, those certainly aren't your normal cards," Yuri observed from the opening hand.

"See, if we went to the park to test out the duel disk like I said, we would've found out earlier!" Yugo pointed out, still hellbent on winning that argument.

"Okay, maybe you had a point, happy now?" Yuri told him, to which Yugo responded with a pleased grin.

"I was wondering what happened to your guys' decks," Yuya said, moving past the argument quickly. "I guess we know now."

"Alright, looks like we can all have our fair share in the spotlight during these duels!" Yugo replied enthusiastically.

"Seems like a tricky hand to play," Yuto said, a pondering look on his face. "But we can pull it off."

"I'll be taking the first turn, Yuya!" Gongenzaka called out. "Since I have no spell or trap cards in my graveyard, I can automatically summon Superheavy Samurai Transporter from my hand to field! And then I'll normal summon the Tuner monster, Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter!"

Superheavy Samurai Transporter: Lvl 5, 1200 ATK, 1800 DEF, Machine, Effect, EARTH

Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter: Lvl 2, 300 ATK, 600 DEF, Machine, Tuner, Effect, EARTH

"Looks like Gongenzaka isn't wasting any time. He's already got his field primed and for a Synchro Summon!" Nico remarked.

"Gongenzaka really wants to win this, huh?" Tatsuya observed, sitting with the other You Show kids and Shuzo.

"He and Yuya will both push each other to their limits. They've been dueling their whole lives together just for duels like this," Shuzo replied, intrigued as to how this duel would go.

"I tune my Level 5 Superheavy Samurai Transporter with my Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Trumpeter! This samurai's a bit different from the rest, it stays hidden in the shadows when making its approach. But it's got just the edge I need. I Synchro Summon, Level 7 Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja!"

5 + 2 = 7

Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja: Lvl 7, 1200 ATK, 2800 DEF, Machine, Synchro, Effect, EARTH (Defense Mode)

"With that, I'll end my turn," Gongenzaka concluded. "It's your move Yuya."

"Gongenzaka's already kicked things into overdrive on his first turn!" Nico exclaimed. "How will Yuya be able to overcome his powerful monster?"

Yuya analysed the situation. He didn't want to go for Action Cards just yet on the off chance Gongenzaka brought his Susano-O out next turn to utilize spell cards in his graveyard. But with his current hand, he couldn't summon any monster more powerful than Stealth Ninja, and he knew from experience that if Gongenzaka halved its defense points next turn, it could attack him directly regardless of any monsters he had. So, he'd have to summon a monster or have a spell or trap to negate that effect…

"There's no time like the present! I draw!" Yuya's eyes widened as he saw the card.

"Looks like you're up, Yugo," Yuya told his Synchro counterpart.

"Already? Aw yeah, I was worried I was gonna have to sit on the sidelines this duel," he shouted with excitement.

Turn 2

Gongenzaka: 4000 LP, Hand: 3

Yuya: 4000 LP, Hand: 6

"It's time I get this show started!" Yuya announced to the crowd. "First, I'll set the Pendulum Scale with Scale 4 Performapal Whim Witch and Scale 6 Performapal Guitartle." The two monsters went up into their respective zones.

"What's this? Yuya's heavily restricting himself with that kind of scale. He'll only be able to summon Level 5 monsters!" Nico shouted out.

"Ah, but wait, there's more to my move than what meets the eye. I can use Guitartle's Pendulum ability to draw a card since a Performapal is in my other Pendulum Zone. Here goes!" Yes!

Yuya's hand: 5

"Next I'll activate Whim Witch's Pendulum Ability! Since you've got a monster from your Extra Deck on the field, I can summon Whim Witch from the Pendulum Zone to my field!

Performapal Whim Witch: Lvl 3, 800 ATK, 800 DEF, Spellcaster, PS: 4, Effect, DARK

Then I'll rebuild my Pendulum Scale by setting Scale 2 Performapal Camelump in Whim Witch's place. It may seem like I took the long way out, but this move'll pay off. Now I can summon monsters between Levels 3 through 5 all at the same time!"

Gongenzaka was apprehensive now, knowing how badly that monster wore him down with its Pendulum Ability allowing Yuya to deal him piercing damage. Still, he tried not to worry too much yet, best to see what Yuya could do first.

"Swing far, pendulum of my soul! Carve the arc of victory! Now we're set to kick this duel into high gear! Bring out the beat, Canon the Melodious Diva! And say hello to the Tuner monster, Speedroid Tri-Eyed Dice!" One of Yuzu's monsters appeared on the field, to go along with one of Yugo's signature tuners.

Canon the Melodious Diva: Lvl 4, 1400 ATK, 2000 DEF, Fairy, Effect, LIGHT

Speedroid Tri-Eyed Dice: Lvl 3, 300 ATK, 600 DEF, Machine, Tuner, Effect, WIND

"Golly, Yuya's pulling new monsters and archetypes out of his deck faster than I've seen Jack Atlas ride his duel runner!" Melissa exclaimed. "Nico, just when do you think he'll start slowing down?"

"There's no telling Melissa, and truthfully, that's Yuya for you, folks! Always wanting to dazzle the crowd with his moves, and the unexpected should always be expected from him!" the co-commentator replied excitedly. "And not to forget, he has a Tuner on the field, and it's looking like a prime opportunity for a Synchro Summon this time around!"

"You're right on point Nico! Get ready, because it's showtime! Level 3 Speedroid Tri-Eyed Dice tunes Level 4 Canon the Melodious Diva so that I can take this duel to a whole new level! Beat your wings to whip up a whirlwind of destruction! Strike down our enemies at light speed! I Synchro Summon, Level 7 Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!" he chanted.

4 + 3 = 7

Clear Wing Synchro Dragon: Lvl 7, 2500 ATK, 2000 DEF, Dragon, Synchro, Effect, WIND

"Oh my, Yuya's brought out another splendid dragon for this duel, this one of the Synchro variety! It's simply… uh, are you all right, Melissa?" Nico asked, looking at his fellow commentator concerned.

"OOH WEE! Both duelists just pulled off some sweet Synchro Summons, I can't tell y'all how proud it makes me to see our summoning method stretch so far!" she squealed with jubilation.

From the other side of the arena, Mieru peered into Yuya's spirit with her crystal apple from afar, gasping at what she saw. "Darling, one of the souls inside you got stronger after you brought out that dragon!"

Meanwhile, Yuya was beginning to set up for his attack. "First, I activate Performapal Camelump's special ability. It lets one of my monsters deal you piercing damage even if your monster's in defense mode! And the monster loses 800 defense points for each attack! I'm granting that effect to Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!" Camelump blew a bubble at Stealth Ninja, reducing its defense points.

Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja: 2800 – 800 = 2000 DEF

"Now go Clear Wing, strike down Stealth Ninja! Helldive Whirlwind Slash!" Yuya commanded, the mirror-like dragon priming its attack. To everyone's surprise, Gongenzaka did nothing to stop the attack, his monster ultimately being destroyed.

Clear Wing Synchro Dragon: 2500 + 600 = 3100 ATK

Gongenzaka: 4000 – 500 = 3500 LP

However, before Yuya could even think about attacking directly, he countered. "I send my Superheavy Samurai Soulbeads from my hand to the graveyard! This allows me to bring back Stealth Ninja, only this time in attack mode!"

Gongenzaka's hand: 2

Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja: Lvl 7, 1200 ATK, 2800 DEF, Machine, Synchro, Effect, EARTH

"Camelump's ability only applies for one of my monsters, not that any of my other ones are powerful enough to take on Stealth Ninja, plus it's in attack mode now anyway," Yuya realized. "If only I had Rune-Eyes like last time…"

"Rune-Eyes?" Yuri inquired in confusion.

"Yeah, Rune-Eyes is one of Odd-Eyes's evolved Fusion forms," he replied. "Yuto and even Yugo have seen it, I'm pretty sure."

"Wait, what do you mean by one of its Fusion forms?" the Predaplant user asked with a raised eyebrow out of curiosity.

"Well, not that I approved when we first merged, but Fusion summoning holds a very sentimental place in Yuya's heart thanks to Yuzu," Yuto explained. "He never would've discovered how to summon his own Fusion monsters if it weren't for her."

"Interesting," Yuri replied, a pondering look on his face. When the other counterparts eyed him with questioning glances of their own, he waved them off. "Oh, don't mind me, just thinking is all. Why don't you get back to the duel, Yuya?"

The dueltainer shrugged, but still took Yuri's advice nonetheless. "I place one card facedown and end my turn. Your move, Gongenzaka."

"Well then folks, this duel is going to be quite the struggle! Two turns have passed, and both duelists have already brought out some powerful monsters. It'll be a dogfight!" Nico proclaimed.

"You're right about that, Nico, but I got a feeling Gongenzaka's got something up his sleeve to change that next turn," Melissa added, highly anticipating what was to come.

"My turn!" Gongenzaka drew his card with such force, a wind whipped up around the battlefield. He smirked at the card; just what he needed.

Turn 3

Gongenzaka: 3500 LP, Hand: 3

Yuya: 4000 LP, Hand: 1

"First I'll switch Stealth Ninja back to defense mode!" Gongenzaka declared.

Superheavy Samurai Stealth Ninja: 1200 ATK to 2800 DEF

"Now, since I control a Superheavy monster, I can summon the tantalizing Superheavy Samurai Hexagon in attack mode straight from my hand!"

Superheavy Samurai Hexagon: Lvl 6, 600 ATK, 2000 DEF, Machine, Effect, EARTH

"Next, I'll summon the Tuner monster, Superheavy Samurai Fist!"

Superheavy Samurai Fist: Lvl 2, 900 ATK, 900 DEF, Machine, Tuner, Effect, EARTH

"Samurai Fist, give Yuya's Whim Witch a good pounding!" Gongenzaka went on the attack instead of Synchro Summoning, much to everyone's confusion. Yuya made no move to activate his trap or go for an Action Card at that moment. As a result, Whim Witch was destroyed and returned to Yuya's Extra Deck, dealing him miniscule damage.

Yuya: 4000 – 100 = 3900 LP

"Since my Samurai Fist destroyed your monster in battle, it lets me Synchro Summon during battle!" the steadfast duelist said, the monster transforming into its respective green rings. "I tune my Level 6 Superheavy Samurai Hexagon with my Level 2 Superheavy Samurai Fist! I Synchro Summon, Level 8 Superheavy Samurai Ninja Saruto-B!"

6 + 2 = 8

Superheavy Samurai Ninja Saruto-B: Lvl 8, 2000 ATK, 2800 DEF, Machine, Synchro, Effect, EARTH (Defense Mode)

"This move'll leave you wide open, Yuya! Since I don't have any Spell or Trap cards in my graveyard, Saruto-B can destroy one spell or trap card on your field and deal you 500 points of damage for it! Your facedown is a goner!" Gongenzaka declared, though Yuya didn't seem worried.

"Not gonna happen Gongenzaka! Since Saruto-B is Level 5 or above, Clear Wing can negate that ability and then destroy your monster to gain its attack points." Yuya shot back.

"Ugh, fine. Since Clear Wing can negate my monsters' abilities, I won't have Stealth Ninja attack you directly then. Saruto-B, take a swipe at Clear Wing Synchro Dragon to deal some damage! You all know that my monsters can attack even if they're in defense mode." Saruto-B produced a whirlwind erupted throughout the battlefield, getting dangerously close to the Dimensional Dragon before Yuya countered.

"I play my trap: Burning Sonic! It negates your monster's attack, and as long it remains on the field, it'll give Clear Wing Synchro Dragon 500 extra attack points!" Saruto-B's gusts were halted in midair, blocked by a red aura that shrouded Clear Wing. Yuya inwardly thanked Yugo for the card, as it likely just saved the duel for him.

Clear Wing Synchro Dragon: 2500 + 500 = 3000 ATK

"I end my turn," Gongenzaka said reluctantly, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I may not have been able to do too much, but I promise you things won't be so easy next time."

"Of course not, Gongenzaka," Yuya closed his eyes, an image of a monster appearing in his mind. It's been a while, old friend. "I wouldn't expect any less from the person who was willing to evolve his steadfast style of dueling to become stronger. And that's why we're always at our best when dueling each other."

"You wanted to hear my voice, to speak to me through dueling, well I'll do the same right now! My move, my way! I draw!" Yuya declared.

Turn 4

Gongenzaka: 3500 LP, Hand: 1

Yuya: 3900 LP, Hand: 2

"First up, I'm activating Guitartle's Pendulum ability to let me draw another card this turn," Yuya announced, immediately doing as he said.

Yuya's hand: 3

"That card won't do you any good," Yugo said with a frown.

"Maybe not yet," Yuto replied with a look of thought on his face. "But it could win the duel for us later. Yuya, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I've got a rough idea," Yuya said, trying to hide a knowing smile of his own.

Before any of the counterparts could ask about his "idea", Gongenzaka snapped him back to reality with an exclaim of surprise. "You mean that effect is once per turn?!"

"It is!" Yuya replied, quickly maneuvering to execute his strategy. "And now since I've already set my Pendulum Scale, I can once again Pendulum Summon! Coming back from my Extra Deck is Performapal Whim Witch! And joining it will be Aria the Melodious Diva!"

Performapal Whim Witch: Lvl 3, 800 ATK, 800 DEF, Spellcaster, PS: 4, Effect, DARK

Aria the Melodious Diva: Lvl 4, 1600 ATK, 1200 DEF, Fairy, Effect, LIGHT

"Moving on, though my dragon is doing a fine job for the moment, I think it's time I bring out a new monster. Something most of you guys have never seen before! My field is set, now it's time for things to kick into high gear! Watch as Clear Wing Synchro Dragon tunes Performapal Whim Witch!" Yuya announced.

"W-what did he say?" Nico asked nervously, the move unprecedented to him. "Clear Wing isn't a Tuner monster!"

"Oh my, folks, Yuya's bringing out the big guns now! It's the same move he pulled off against Jack Atlas! Synchro Summoning without a Tuner!" Melissa recognized the play instantly.

A good majority of the crowd gasped in shock, wondering how that was even possible. "She's right on the mark, there's a monster I can Synchro Summon only by using a Pendulum Summoned monster. Now Clear Wing can take on the role of a tuner in this case," he explained as Clear Wing transformed into 7 rings around Whim Witch, beginning the process. Thunder emerged from the skies, shrouding the new monster momentarily.

"From the peaceful depths of time, I call on you to revive and spread your divine light! Ladies and gentlemen, please make way for the ancient mystical swordsman himself, Level 10 Nirvana High Paladin!" Yuya chanted.

3 + 7 = 10

Nirvana High Paladin: Lvl 10, 3300 ATK, 2500 DEF, Spellcaster, Synchro, PS: 8, Effect, DARK

A wave of excitement hit everybody as they looked at the new monster in awe.

"Unbelievable," Yaiba gawked in awe, the monster putting his Synchros to shame.

"It looks even better in person," Shuzo was almost in a trance, staring wide eyed.

Yuya, you've grown so much, Yoko couldn't keep the proud smile off her face.

"As-astounding, Yuya's done it again!" Nico exclaimed. "He's brought out a monster that's virtually unparalleled, I've never seen anything like it!"

"Since Clear Wing is no longer on the field, my Burning Sonic loses its effects and is sent to the graveyard," Yuya explained. "Now then—"

"You just made a big mistake, Yuya! Since you just sent Clear Wing to the graveyard, I can activate Saruto-B's ability! I'm destroying Performapal Camelump in your Pendulum Zone, and you take 500 points of damage!" Saruto-B let out a gust, removing the monster and sending it to Yuya's Extra Deck.

Yuya: 3900 – 500 = 3400 LP

"I guess I'll have to step up my game a bit then," Yuya said determinedly, running for an Action Card, a plan in mind. "Nirvana High Paladin, take out Saruto-B! Go, Elysium Elimination!" Paladin's sword was imbued with green and blue energy that slashed through Stealth Ninja, who was unable to evade the attack. A large boom erupted in the area from the sheer force emitted, though Gongenzaka took no damage since the monster was in defense mode.

To everyone's surprise, his monster still remained intact when the dust settled, though Yuya expected nothing less. "I sent my Superheavy Samurai Soulfire Suit to the graveyard to stop Saruto-B from being destroyed the rest of this turn! Unfortunately, it loses 800 defense points for every attack it shouldn't have survived," Gongenzaka informed everyone, a protective shield surrounding his monster.

Gongenzaka's hand: 0

Superheavy Samurai Saruto-B: 2000 – 800 = 1200 DEF

"Classic move, Gongenzaka. Guess I'll have to step it up a bit," Yuya acknowledged, still running around. "Okay, Aria the Melodious Diva, attack Saruto-B again!"

"Yuya's attacking even though his monster has less attack points, what's he doing?" Melissa Claire exclaimed.

"Putting my hope in the cards, that's all there is to it!" Yuya said, rolling around in the tall grass until he finally spotted an Action Card, though he winced at it. Certainly not what he was hoping for.

Meanwhile, Aria's piercing sound wave pushed hard at the barrier protecting Saruto-B but couldn't break it down, the attack eventually being retorted by Gongenzaka's monster, though fortunately, it wasn't in attack mode. However, Yuya still took damage from the failed attack.

Yuya: 3400 – 400 = 3000 LP

He shrugged it off quickly though, instantly moving on. "Now I activate Aria the Melodious Diva's ability! One that you all should be familiar with, but I guess I'll have to explain it anyway," he said, searching the crowd—his parents and Shuzo mostly—for any hints of recognition. "Once per turn, when she doesn't deal you any battle damage from her attack, you get hit with 800 points of damage!"

"What?!" Gongenzaka was taken aback, his surprise disappointing Yuya. After all, the steadfast duelist would know Yuzu's cards best aside from himself, but he gave no indication of expecting the move.

Gongenzaka: 3500 – 800 = 2700 LP

"I end my turn with a facedown," Yuya concluded, trying not to sound deflated. Instead, he focused on the positives. "I gotta say, it still blows my mind to see how far you've come, Gongenzaka. I've always dreamed we'd face off on the big stage someday, but to think it's actually happening now…"

"I could say the same thing about you, Yuya," Gongenzaka replied, closing his eyes and chuckling at the memory of Yuya's dueling style prior to the interdimensional war. "I'm glad you're enjoying the moment, however… duelists gotta duel at the end of the day."

"It's simply amazing, how much these two duelists respect one another," Nico admired. "This is the epitome of dueling right now folks, it doesn't get much better than this!"

"This battle's far from over Yuya! It's time I come at you full force!" the steadfast duelist said, a fire in his eyes.

"I wouldn't expect anything else! Come at me full force, Gongenzaka!" Yuya encouraged, a smile on his face along with pure determination on the inside.

"I will! Draw!" Gongenzaka frowned; the card he drew would help, but it wasn't the one he needed to win the duel in that moment.

Turn 5

Gongenzaka: 2700 LP, Hand: 1

Yuya: 3000 LP, Hand: 1

"I summon the Tuner monster, Superheavy Samurai Drum!" Gongenzaka declared.

Superheavy Samurai Drum: Lvl 1, 300 ATK, 300 DEF, Machine, Tuner, Effect, EARTH

"Now I activate Saruto-B's ability! I can destroy one of your spell or trap cards and deal you 500 points of damage for it! Saruto-B, take out Performapal Guitartle in Yuya's Pendulum Zone this time!" A gusty whirlwind spread rapidly and destroyed Yuya's Pendulum monster, sending it to his Extra Deck.

Yuya: 3000 – 500 = 2500 LP

"Now you can't draw any more cards! Everything comes down to this!" Gongenzaka said with a sense of finality. "Level 1 Battleball tunes Level 8 Saruto-B to keep things going!

1 + 8 = 9

I Synchro Summon, Level 9 Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyu-B!"

Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyu-B: Lvl 9, 1900 ATK, 2500 DEF, Machine, Synchro, Effect, EARTH (Defense Mode)

"Gongenzaka may have Synchro Summoned, but it's a monster that still doesn't have enough defense points to take on Yuya's top monster. What could he possibly do with it?" Nico wondered aloud.

"With Kyu-B's effect, it gains 900 defense points for each special summoned monster my opponent controls!" The effect floored Nico and the audience entirely as its defense points shot up with Aria and Nirvana High Paladin on Yuya's field.

Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyu-B: 2500 + (900 x 2) = 4300 DEF

"But in exchange, it's gotta attack the strongest monster on your field! So Kyu-B, take out Nirvana High Paladin!" The monster shot a flamethrower out of its staff at Paladin, who countered with his sword. Pushing back, Paladin was unable to resist for long as it was destroyed, its destruction reducing Kyu-B's defense as a monster left the field.

Yuya: 2500 – 1000 = 1500 LP

Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyu-B: 4300 – 900 = 3400 DEF

"Nirvana High Paladin's special ability lets me place it in the Pendulum Zone when it's destroyed!" Yuya told everyone, the spellcaster rising into the arc.

"It doesn't matter where it goes, because now Stealth Ninja will attack Aria the Melodious Diva!" Gongenzaka said, opting to attack the non-Pendulum monster since it would go to the graveyard, as opposed to attacking directly for a small amount of greater damage that still wouldn't quite win him the duel this turn.

Yuya: 1500 – 1200 = 300 LP

Gongenzaka scrutinized the field, assessing his best friend for any telltale signs of what he would do next. The way things are now, Yuya could still easily turn things around on his next turn. I'm all out of moves now, unless… Gongenzaka realized what he'd have to do to win right then and there.

To everyone's surprise, Gongenzaka rushed from the spot where he'd been standing still the whole duel, searching for an Action Card to help him win the duel. Spotting one floating in the pond the Action Field had generated, he leapt into the water and swam towards the center.

"Unbelievable! It seems that Gongenzaka has abandoned his steadfast dueling in light of this duel hanging in the balance! He's going for an Action Card!" Nico exclaimed. "Hold onto your seats folks, we are bearing witness to history today!"

"Too bad Yuya got a dud. It looks like he can't anything to protect himself," Melissa pointed out.

"Now that they bring it up, Yuya hasn't tried to find Action Cards much this duel at all," Shun realized. "Weird, they're usually his go to."

"Truthfully, I don't even know what Yuya's deal is at this point," Sawatari threw his hands up in slight frustration. "You'd almost think it's opposite day the way things are going."

Gongenzaka got the card and managed to wade out of the water to activate it. "I'm activating the Action Spell: Wonder Chance! It lets one of my monsters attack again this turn! Kyu-B, scorch Yuya with a direct attack this time around!"

To everyone and no one's surprise at the same time, Yuya had something up his sleeve. "I activate Speedroid Tri-Eyed Dice's special ability from my graveyard! By banishing it, I can negate your attack!"

"You had that monster ready the whole time?" Gongenzaka said in surprise. There's no way he knew I would try to get an Action Card, so why not use that ability on my last attack to keep his monster safe? Unless… he wanted his field to be empty on purpose! But why? Gongenzaka wondered.

"Hmmph, should've seen that coming. I end my turn," Gongenzaka concluded, unsatisfied that he couldn't finish the job, though he still felt relatively confident given the state of Yuya's field.

"These duelists are going down to the wire, it's anyone's game! But with Yuya hanging on by the skin of his teeth in terms of life points, you get the feeling things may be ending soon, one way or another!" Nico remarked.

"Absolutely, it's times like this where Yuya shines best!" Melissa chimed in. "Let's just see if he has what it takes to pull it off, though it won't be easy. His Pendulum Scale's broken, and he has no monsters on his field!"

"It's my turn!" Yuya announced, knowing the next draw would make or break things. "I DRAW!"

Turn 6

Gongenzaka: 2700 LP, Hand: 0

Yuya: 300 LP, Hand: 2

"Now, while I may not have any monsters on my field, I can use that to my advantage. I'll make the best of it by activating the spell: Shuffle Reborn!" he declared, playing the card he had since the beginning of his last turn, the one of so much discussion amongst his counterparts. "Now I can bring back Clear Wing Synchro Dragon from my graveyard, but its effects will be negated. In addition, it'll be banished at the end of my turn." The dragon emerged from the black portal with a loud roar. Consequentially, Kyu-B also grew stronger as another special summoned monster appeared on the field.

Clear Wing Synchro Dragon: Lvl 7, 2500 ATK, 2000 DEF, Dragon, Synchro, WIND

Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyu-B: 2500 + 900 = 3400 DEF

"Next, Shuffle Reborn returns one card on my field to my deck and then I can draw a card. I return my unused trap: Re-dyce-cle to my deck!" One of Yugo's more risky traps was returned to Yuya's deck, allowing him to further facilitate Shuffle Reborn's effect.

"Well that was a dud…" Sawatari mused. "He must've been trying to bait Gongenzaka to destroy it instead of his Pendulum monster last turn by setting it facedown."

"Before I draw my card, I'll reset my Pendulum Scale with Scale 6 Performapal Odd-Eyes Synchron which I just drew this turn. But back to the card I was gonna draw, here goes!" Yuya's deck reshuffled itself and he drew the card.

Yuya's hand: 1

Just what I needed. "Now with Scale 6 Performapal Odd-Eyes Synchron and Scale 8 Nirvana High Paladin, I set the Pendulum Scale! I can summon Level 7 monsters! Swing far pendulum, more and more! It's time my monster takes center stage! Give it up for the one and only dragon with dichromatic eyes, the monster I just drew thanks to Shuffle Reborn, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"

Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon: Lvl 7, 2500 ATK, 2000 DEF, Dragon, PS: 4, Effect, DARK

Superheavy Samurai Beast Kyu-B: 3400 + 900 = 4300 DEF

"So what?" Gongenzaka retorted, not impressed. "Even if you have two dragons, none of them have enough attack points to take on Kyu-B! Plus, you can't deal me any damage anyway!"

"Who said I was sticking with these monsters?" Yuya replied with a grin.

"What do you mean? You've already Pendulum Summoned this turn, there's no way you can bring out another monster," the steadfast duelist pointed out, his face paling slightly at Yuya's notion.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Gongenzaka! With Performapal Odd-Eyes Synchron's Pendulum Ability, I can make one Odd-Eyes or Performapal monster on the field Level 1, plus I can treat it as a Tuner monster!" Yuya revealed.

Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon: Lvl 7 to 1, Type Added: Tuner

"What's this?" Nico exclaimed, wondering just where this would lead. Yuya couldn't possibly combine the dragons… could he?

"My Level 1 Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon now tunes my Level 7 Clear Wing Synchro Dragon! And together they'll form a new, brighter monster to mark the beginning of a new age! Dragon with duel colored eyes, obtain the shining wings of light and soar above all! I Synchro Summon, Level 8 Odd-Eyes Wing Dragon!" Yuya chanted, the monster emerging from a brilliant light.

Odd-Eyes Wing Dragon: Lvl 8, 3000 ATK, 2500 DEF, Dragon, Synchro, PS: 10, Effect, DARK

"No way…" was the collective response all around the crowd, their minds spinning at what they had just witnessed.

"That card wasn't in Yuya's Extra Deck earlier," That part hardly surprised Shuzo, it was more about the dragon itself. It was startlingly regal and commanding on the field, an incredible sight to behold.

"Not bad, but how come you combined you and Yugo's dragons first?" Yuri fake pouted.

"To be honest, I didn't really get the idea until I drew Odd-Eyes Synchron, which I don't remember having in my deck either. Trust me, if I had a way to do it last round, I would've," Yuya told him.

"It… it's amazing!" Yugo cried out. "I'm willing to bet it's the best hybrid of all our dragons. So shiny… and bright!"

'Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon's pretty good,' Yuto argued.

"Yes, but from what I gathered, it has quite the tricky requirements to summon and its ability only works if you give your Xyz Dragon a level," Yuri retorted. "This one basically nukes our opponent's field, right?"

"I activate Odd-Eyes Wing Dragon's special ability! It can destroy all of your monsters on the field!" Yuya declared.

"Yep, it does."

"Oh no!" Gongenzaka gasped.

"Starlight Overforce!" Kyu-B and Stealth Ninja were destroyed in a blinding light, leaving Gongenzaka wide open.

"It's time for my big finish! Odd-Eyes Wing Dragon, attack Gongenzaka directly! Go, Spiral Helldive Storm Strike!" The dragon began to prime its attack, gunning right for Gongenzaka, spinning so fast it became a blur while also shooting a flame from its mouth to augment the power of the hit.

Fortunately, the dragon slowed down as it approached Gongenzaka, who had a feeling that Action Field precautions or not, the attack could've hurt badly had the monster gone full force. Regardless, it still ended the duel, depleting the rest of his life points.

Gongenzaka: 2700 – 3000 = 0

"And that does it folks! What a thrilling conclusion to a tight duel all the way through! Yuya Sakaki is the one on top in the end, and he'll be advancing to the finals to face the winner of Shun Kurosaki and Mieru Hochun, our next featured duel! Be here tomorrow for that one!" Nico Smiley announced.

On the duel field, Gongenzaka had managed to right himself, still feeling a bit dazed after Yuya's final attack, though he tried not to show it. The only indication he gave was a slight clench of his jaw as he shook hands with his best friend and congratulated him. When he made eye contact with those red coloured eyes, Gongenzaka saw… something that hadn't been there before. A glint, some sign of a kindled passion and determination to go with his happy-go-lucky attitude. It was a bit jarring for the steadfast duelist to see that type of look from his best friend, especially when he thought back to all the other times they had dueled, back when Yuya was merely a boy with heart and plenty of innocence. After the war, that innocence had been purged—what Yuya had seen was enough to wipe it out ten times over—but even now, Yuya hadn't lost himself, maintaining his dueling spirit and evolving it over time.

Realization dawned upon him as he spoke, "It's hard for I, the man Gongenzaka, to say this, but I will. Yuya, I felt pretty sure about it before, but now I can say it for certain. You've surpassed me, feels like you have for a while now. And while I don't know how you plan on keeping those dragons in check, I know there's no better choice than you to do the job."

Yuya smiled. "Thanks, Gongenzaka. You've been the best friend I could ever ask for, and knowing you have that kind of faith in me despite everything that's going on…" he put a hand to his heart before continuing, "it means a lot."

"And about the dragons, they're more than just my monsters now. They each represent a part of me and hold a special place in my heart. I work towards understanding them better every day, and hopefully one day… I can unlock their true potential," Yuya continued, a solemn look on his face as he spoke. While Gongenzaka did his best to listen, Kurosaki and Sawatari were also trying to get his attention, motioning for him to come back to the stands.

"You definitely did a good job of that today. But just one thing," Gongenzaka said, still somewhat mystified by Yuya's behavior. "What's with all the new cards and archetypes you're playing? You clearly know how to use them, plus they actually seem to synergize well with your deck. But why are you using them?"

"Well it's more about me trying to keep things fresh more than anything. Now obviously the cards dictate that more than anything, but when I get the chance, I always want to try out new strategies. That way, my opponent's always on their heels when I duel. Plus, it's way more fun that way!" Yuya replied, the answer vague enough to not give anything away, but also satisfying the question for the most part.

"I see…" Gongenzaka gave the words some thought, before clamping a hand onto Yuya's shoulder that practically dwarfed it. "Yuya, I would say good luck with the finals, but I know you've got it in you to win it already. Keep up the great dueling."

With that, Gongenzaka left, hustling back to where Kurosaki and Sawatari were sitting, leaving Yuya in the midst of the duel field alone. He saw the trio discuss something amongst themselves briefly before leaving. The three pushed their way through the crowd heading for the exits, obviously in a rush to do whatever they had agreed on.

"What's that all about?" Yuto asked, puzzled.

"Who knows? I've given up trying to understand those yahoos," Yuri replied with a shrug.

"Who cares? My dragon just won us the duel! We should be celebrating! Let's go get something to eat!" Yugo said excitedly, completely ignoring the situation.

"Yugo, we didn't celebrate when my dragon won us the last duel," Yuri pointed out.

"Yeah, but your dragon didn't fuse with Yuya's last time either. This is a special occasion!" the Speedroid user argued.

"Yugo, I can tell you firsthand that my mom's cooking is about as good as it'll get here," Yuya told him. "But if you really want to go out, I can always ask my parents, though they might want to save that for after the finals…"

"Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go!" Yugo impatiently said, his impulsiveness getting a chuckle out of the other counterparts, who had come to terms with it by now.

As Yuya waited for the crowd to filter out, he felt himself smile, almost unconsciously. Yes, things still weren't perfect and there were still much to be done, but in the moment, he truly felt content for the first time in a long time. Or maybe Yugo's energy was simply infectious. Whatever the case, he felt good overall. The war was over, he had adjusted to and even welcomed his counterparts' presence in his mind with ease, and his family was back together. Sure, there was no one to cherish their memory nor Yuzu and her counterparts, and some of the Lancers were displeased with him, but Yuya was confident for once that these problems weren't insurmountable and could be resolved over time.

Maybe things were looking up after all.


If you read through that cluster of a duel and chapter, I salute you. I changed the details of it all about thirty times while editing, mainly to try and keep everyone in character along with having everything make sense logistically. Hopefully this is enough to satisfy that mini hiatus I was just on. If you care enough, you can let me know your thoughts with a review, whether it be a critique, praise, constructive criticism, or whatever it may be. Always grateful of any support I can get. :D

Also, yes, Nirvana High Paladin was pretty useless this chapter, aside from lowering a monster's defense and giving Yuya a scale towards the end. Yuya probably would have won a lot easier had he stuck with Clear Wing the whole time to stop Gongenzaka's monster effects, but hey, I wanted to give Paladin some spotlight. Poor thing got shafted so hard in the anime. :(

As for next chapter, it'll probably be delayed until next month or so, since I've got finals coming up soon. But after that, I should have a less erratic schedule when it comes to updates (hopefully).

Until then,

-BasketballIsFun