Big thanks to No1yet, Unknowedz, Ryujomaru15, Big duels, Elbarto4000, Ulrich362, aqua9597, dvdryms, AlissonJohns, Citylover96, Playerhood18, Demons Anarchy of Pride, Yuka Kuroshiro, Meemo, GamingGuy84, Above the Winter Moonlight, ThePLOThand for reviewing the previous chapter!

Hopefully you'll enjoy reading this chapter!


YUNO'S OFFICE – MANSION – THE BROTHERHOOD'S HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

The meeting finished on a rather average not, but Yuno had enough on his mind to worry about what the other factions thought. He was sitting on his desk early the next day, unable to sleep, mind clouded over with errant thoughts. He didn't bother to change with more comfortable clothes, leaving his shirt and pants on, the sleeves rolled back to his elbows as he nursed a very much needed cup of coffee, trying to think about his options.

The emergence of Apophis' group has intensified the conflict between the noble and reformist faction instead of lowering it. Neither can trust one another to take the lead or even standing on the same side of the battlefield. To make it worse, once the opening of the wormhole that lead to the other dimension has been revealed, both factions, though not voicing it clearly, are considering to try to win over the people in ARC-V to join respective faction. Fortunately though, the wormhole is still unstable at the moment and too small for armies to get into. Still, it'll be only a matter of time until the Cantidel Empire merged again into ARC-V. They need to unite all factions before that happen.

Yuno sighed and drained the rest of his coffee, standing up and feeling exhausted, though not sleepy. He had to ask his compatriots and guardians on their opinion about the matter. So immersed he was in his thoughts that he didn't hear his office door open, and jump a few feet when a voice startled him out of his thinking.

"You're going to kill yourself like that, Yuno-sama." Lilac came in with a tray in hand. Her eyes stared worriedly at her friend, placing the breakfast tray on the desk. "You should rest. You look extremely exhausted. Have you been up all night?"

"Oh, Lilac. Sorry about that." Yuno quickly rubbed his eyes and looked down at the food. He looked at the doctor, grateful and at the same time apologetic. "This kind of thing won't be enough to kill me. And I prefer to die a natural death instead of suicide, overwork, or being killed. Until then, I don't think I'll let myself die."

"And what? Let you getting sick and then I need to do a very thorough examination on you? Be prepared then." Lilac smiled and chuckled at the cringe that appeared on the black haired man's face. Both Yuno and Lilac had no doubt that if he went down in his current, disheveled state, Reid together with his right-hand man would be on his back in an instant, dragging him back to the bed and threatening to knock him out (his right-hand man already done that several times already) if he ever try to make any attempt to protest.

"Enough about me, how are my descendants? Are they well?" Yuno changed the subject.

"They just finished their breakfast and currently having a tour throughout the HQ with Neah as their guide. Speaking about those boys, have you arranged their training schedule?" Lilac asked back after answering.

"Yes. But before that, I'm thinking of doing a demonstration of Master Duel and Speed Duel to them today." Yuno told her.

Lilac blinked. "I thought your schedule is full today. When are you planning to–"

The door being slammed open startled the two. A man who looked like a technician came in while having a heavy breathe, looking at Yuno and spoke with urgent tone.

"Yuno-sama, that hacker from the other day strikes again! This time he managed to infiltrate the path to the Mother Computer!" The man informed them.

Yuno sighed before his lips cured into a grin. He stood up from his desk, wearing his Duel Disk.

"Tell Neah to bring my descendants to the command room. The demonstration will start now." Yuno turned to Lilac as they exited the room.

"You're going to handle the hacker by yourself?! Let us do it!" Lilac objected.

"I need to show them what I am capable of as a Duelist and leader of the Brotherhood if I want to gain their full trust. Besides, I wish to meet this hacker and find out his intentions since he hacked into our server even though he is not our enemy." Yuno replied without looking at Lilac and continued to walk with quicker steps.

"How do you know he is not our enemy?" Lilac asked. Is this one of his divination too?

"The data that he took last time was the data we have about Apophis' group, recovery programs, and medical records of the victims from the last case when they fell into coma due to Apophis' influence in the network. From this fact I concluded that he is against Apophis and maybe someone he knew is in coma like in the case." Yuno explained what he had deduced.

This hacker most likely hacked into the server due to lack of information regarding Apophis and after stealing the data nothing in particular happened other than what usually done by Apophis' hoodlums both online and offline, so Yuno knew that the hacker is not associated with Apophis in any way and he decided to let the hacker off the hook. The data he had taken was the one that he personally heavily encrypted and coded so the hacker won't be able to look into the data easily anyway.

What Yuno didn't tell Lilac, however, was a skilled hacker like him could prove to become a valuable ally.

THE BROTHERHOOD'S MOTHER COMPUTER – THE BROTHERHOOD SERVER – NETWORK – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

After evading several traps and security layers, Zarc finally arrived at the databank, the mother computer of the Brotherhood's server. It was really a hard work to get here. He had made a quite clumsy move that gave off his presence within the server and he went through battlefield as the result before he was finally able to stand in front of his target. The source of all the Brotherhood's data took a form of a reverse pyramid with several spheres of light around. His target was finally in front of him, but Zarc can't be relieved yet because there is still one final line of defense standing in front of him.

"I've been expecting you."

A black haired young man was standing in front of Zarc, protecting the databank. He has the same height as Zarc and was wearing a dark blue-violet overcoat jack with a few light-brown belt-straps over the shoulders and around the left waist to inside the right jacket by the waist, white bandanna, blue shirt vest underneath with a black shirt under it, grey-brown pants, magenta color boots, and black gloves. His eyes were covered with a white and blue colored mask so Zarc couldn't see his face, just like Zarc himself covering his eyes with his blue glasses.

"You're the guardian of this databank?" Zarc questioned calmly.

"No. I am the one everyone knows in real life as the Oracle." The man replied with a smile.

Zarc stilled and nearly froze from the shock. No one could blame him. The Oracle, Yuno, himself was using an avatar to stop him. The leader of the Brotherhood himself came to stop him. He didn't know that much about the Oracle save from what people in general knew and his own research that didn't tell much. The Oracle never reveals his face to the public. Whenever he went out, he would always put on a mask or anything that would cover his face. There are people that he knew who knew the Oracle's face, but all these people kept their mouth shut if asked how the Oracle looks like. They are immensely loyal or at least respect the Oracle enough not to give in his identity to just anybody.

"I'll admit that I'm shocked that the Oracle himself came to stop some hacker like me." Zarc replied.

"You are not some ordinary hacker if you managed to come this far. Also, I'm both interested and curious about you." Yuno replied as he took several steps forward. "I know that you're not on Apophis' side from the data you've taken in your last heist. And I take it that you came here because you couldn't fully encrypt the data I made." Yuno chuckled when he noticed Zarc shuddered. He hit the spot.

"You're desperate for information about them for a reason, and I want to know why. At the very least I know you have no bad intentions from this." Yuno asked. He already had a clue of his reason, but he wanted to hear it from the person himself to confirm it.

"If I told you, will you give or tell me everything you know about Apophis?" Zarc asked again.

"That depends. You actually can just tell me and then leave everything to us. I give you my word with my pride and honor as the leader of the Brotherhood." Yuno answered.

"I thought so. I'm sorry to say but this is something that I must do with my own hands. I understand you mean well, but I can't do it like that. I've fought and done things that I actually didn't want to do and taken a lot of responsibilities from it. It's not that I don't believe you, but I don't think it's right to simply hand the burden over to someone I just met, even the Oracle." Zarc gave a wry smile. He couldn't explain it right, but he knew that the Oracle in front of him was trying to persuade him because he didn't want to drag him into a definite danger. While he appreciated the concern, this cannot be avoided since one of Apophis' men, Dante had set his sight on him so he will be involved sooner or later.

"But most importantly…this is for the sake of a person I cherish very much." Zarc's expression flattens again. The atmosphere in the area has changed. Yuno sensed it as well and readied his Duel Disk.

"I admire your willingness. I have no objection then. Prove to me how much that willingness goes." Yuno activated his Duel Disk, accepting Zarc's wordless challenge.

"We'll do Master Duel." Zarc proposed, which Yuno agreed to.

[MASTER DUEL!]

"I'm going first! From my hand, I summon Vendead Revenant (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 200 / LV: 4)!" Yuno summoned the humanoid zombie-like monster in Attack Position.

Zarc blinked at the monster summoned. "For someone who was seen as close to a saint by some people, I honestly didn't expect for scary zombie monsters as your choice of Deck." He stated, earning him a chuckle from the said zombie user.

"Never judge a book by its cover. They may be scary but when you get to communicate and know them properly, they are friendlier than anyone thought." Yuno replied while waving at Vendead Revenant who waved back at him in return.

"Indeed…" Zarc sweat dropped at the exchange.

"I activate Field Spell: Vendead Nights. Once per Turn, I can discard a card and then add 1 Vendead card from my Deck to my hand." Yuno discarded Vendead Hellhound (ATK: 0 / DEF: 2100 / LV: 3) from his hand and then added a new Vendead card to his hand.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Yuno concluded.

"My Turn! From my hand, I summon Supreme King Servant Dragon Darkwurm (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 4)!" Zarc summoned Darkwurm in Attack Position.

"That's…!" Yuno was surprised upon seeing Darkwurm. It was one of the monsters that once fought alongside him 1.500 years ago. Then that means this hacker is…

"When I control at least one Supreme King Servant Dragon Monster, I can special summon Supreme King Gate Dragonius (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1300 / LV: 5) from my hand!" Zarc summoned a round gate-like Monster with dragon-shaped insignia on the door with its eyes glowing in Attack Position.

"When Gate Dragonius is special summoned through its effect, I can add a Supreme King Servant Dragon Monster from my Deck to my hand." Zarc added another Supreme King Dragon Servant Monster to his hand.

"Battle! I attack Revenant with Gate Dragonius!"

YUNO LP: 4000 = 3800

"When Vendead Revenant is sent to the Graveyard through Battle or card effect, I can special summon it, but this card will be banished when it leaves the Field." Yuno revived Vendead Revenant right after it was destroyed.

"It really is a zombie." Zarc remarked while looking at the monster, unaware of the stare Yuno was giving to him.

"I see…so you're Zarc…" Yuno murmured that was inaudible for Zarc to hear.

"Hm? Did you say something?" Zarc asked, but Yuno shook his head.

"No. Nothing. Are you done with your Turn?" Yuno asked back, waiting for his Turn.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Zarc finished. He looked seriously at Yuno. "I hope you're not underestimating me. Arrogance is not my intention, but I'll be sure to make you remember the Supreme King Dragon in your mind and heart.

COMMAND ROOM – THE BROTHERHOOD'S HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

Meanwhile, from the command room, Yuya and the rest were watching the Duel between Yuno and Zarc. As instructed by Yuno, Lilac told Neah to bring their leader's descendants to the command room to watch the Duel while she also informed the other councils who were not in the mansion at the moment. While initially quite excited at seeing the so-called Master Duel Neah have told them about, their excitement soon turned into shock once they saw who Yuno's opponent is. His opponent is none other than their original self – Zarc. The Supreme King Deck he used just proved it further.

"There's no mistake, he is Zarc!" Yuya exclaimed as he was watching the monitor that showed the Duel.

"No wait, that's only his avatar, not the real person. Remember? Yuno said that Zarc reincarnated 15 years ago, so his real life should be around our age." Yuto reminded.

"But the fact he is using his past self's name with the exact same appearance and using Supreme King Deck proves that the Zarc Yuno is fighting against is clearly the reincarnation of the Zarc we knew." Yuri remarked.

"Since his avatar and the name is the exact same, doesn't that mean he retain his previous life memories?" Yugo voiced

"Don't get your hopes high over there. There's huge possibility that he only vaguely remembers it. We also experienced the same thing before." Yuri reminded. Before their souls were separated from Zarc's, they often felt something nostalgic or familiar that belonged to Zarc. It was possible that whoever this Zarc's reincarnation was only vaguely or subconsciously remember Zarc's name and appearance.

"The point is this person is definitely Zarc's reincarnation." Yuto stated.

"Why is he hacking into this place's server?" Yugo asked Neah beside him.

"I do not know myself. But I did hear that a few days ago a hacker managed to hack and took a data about Apophis and several others related to him. If he returned even after taking the data, it's most likely either the data is not enough or he couldn't encrypt the data that Yuno-sama made." Neah answered. While he was surprised that Zarc managed to breach the securities of the server, which means Zarc must be a skilled hacker, he must said that his skill was only second to Yuno who has more experience as a hacker himself. Thousands of years of experience even. Making various codes and programs that extremely hard to open is one of his specialties.

"How strong Yuno-san is as a Duelist?" Yuya asked. While he knew it maybe a stupid question to ask considering the man has been leading a big organization that is known as one of the strongest for 1.500 years, he somehow couldn't help to. He hoped his question won't be taken as an offense.

Noticing Yuya's discomfort, Neah patted his head to assure him that he knew the boy was just curious. "You may think that we are only exaggerating, but we believe that Yuno-sama is one of the strongest Duelists we ever knew in this whole Empire. But you'll need to watch his Duel yourself if you want proof." He told the boys.

THE BROTHERHOOD'S MOTHER COMPUTER – THE BROTHERHOOD SERVER – NETWORK – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

"My Turn! I once again activate Vendead Nights' effect." Yuno discarded Vendead Striges (ATK: 500 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 2) to add a Vendead card to his hand in return.

"I activate Vendead Hellhound's effect in the Graveyard. I discard a card to special summon it." Yuno summoned Vendead Hellhound in Attack Position.

"I activate Ritual Spell: Revendead Origin. I can perform Ritual Summon by releasing Zombie monsters from my hand, Field, or and banish it from Graveyard. I release Vendead Hellhound and Vendead Revenant!" Yuno tributed Hellhound and Revenant. Since their effects were used to summon them to the Field, the two zombies were banished once it was tributed.

"Ritual Summon! Appear, the amalgamation of the undead! Level 5! Vendead Chimera (ATK: 2300 / DEF: 0 / LV: 5)!" Yuno summoned Vendead Chimera in Attack Position.

"If a Ritual Monster is summoned using Vendead Revenant as its material, I can target 1 Special Summoned monster my opponent controls and banish it!" Yuno pointed at Zarc's Gate Dragonia. One of the monstrous heads on Chimera's body shot an acidic blast, melting Gate Dragonia and removed it from play.

Zarc quickly opened his facedown card. "Trap Card: Supreme King Reflection! When a Supreme King Monster I control is destroyed by a card effect, I can special summon a Supreme King Monster from my hand!" He was about to take one of the cards in his hand, but Yuno then interrupted him.

"Not a chance! If a Ritual Monster is summoned using Vendead Hellhound as material, I can target a Magic or Trap my opponent controls and banish it!" Yuno declared. A hound-like head on Vendead Chimera shot out another acidic blast that melted the Trap Card, removing the Trap from play and thus, negated Zarc's summoning.

"Darkwurm can negate any attack directed at it as long as you control another Supreme King Monster, so I have to get rid of your Gate Dragonius first." Yuno told Zarc who looked at him in surprise.

"How do you know Darkwurm's effect?!" Zarc asked.

"You must win first if you want to know the answer." Yuno replied before extending his hand at Darkwurm. "Battle! I attack Supreme King Servant Dragon Darkwurm with Vendead Chimera!"

Following Yuno's declaration, Vendead Chimera opened the huge mouth above all its heads, unleashing black toxic smokes and tongues that pulled the Supreme King Servant Dragon into it, consuming the dragon while Zarc kneeled as he felt weakened by the toxic smokes.

ZARC LP: 4000 = 3500

"I set a card and end my Turn." Yuno concluded.

"My Turn! Draw!" Zarc looked at the card he drew and then eyed Yuno. "If he knew Darkwurm's effect, there's a possibility that he also knew the rest of my Deck. But how did he know? Did he investigate me after my last hack? But I've made sure to erase any trace I made so no one can find out my identity. And I don't think I have done something that will warrant his attention in real life…"

Zarc quickly shook his head inwardly, shaking away the thought. He will figure this out later. For now, he must win the Duel. The Oracle may know about his Supreme King cards, but he doubt he knew about his Magicians that he added recently and his Trump Card he has carefully hidden. He could use that to his advantage.

"I activate Magic Card: Dragon's Cry! When I control no monster while I have a Dragon-Type Monster in my Graveyard, I can special summon a Dragon-Type Monster from my hand and the one in the Graveyard with their effects negated!" Zarc summoned Supreme King Servant Dragon Verham (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 3) from his hand and Darkwurm from Graveyard in Attack Position.

"I activate Gate Dragonia's effect in Graveyard! I banish it to special summon a Supreme King Monster from my hand!" Zarc summoned Supreme King Gate Infinity (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 7) in Attack Position.

In the command room, Yuya and the others instantly recognized Verham and Gate Infinity, though this Gate Infinity is an Effect Monster instead of Pendulum Monster like the one Zarc used a year ago.

"He really is Zarc…" Yuya clenched his fists as he stared hard at Zarc and his monsters.

"It's an Effect Monster, but it's definitely the same monster." Yuto noted.

"And then from my hand, I summon Supreme King Gate Zero (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 7)!" Zarc summoned Gate Zero in Attack Position. At the same time, Yuno continued to eye Zarc from the other side of the Field.

"He really is Zarc that Yuya and the others told me about. But from what I heard he is also using Magician-Type cards and dragons similar as the Four Heavenly Dragons… He hasn't used it, I wonder if there were changes when he and the Deck reincarnated into this dimension…" Yuno thought analytically. It was possible for the cards to be reborn entirely along with its owner. Did that happen to Zarc? Or he just doesn't have the cards in his hand?

"Come forth, the circuit that will lead to the future!" Zarc extended his hand at the Link Circuit that appeared above him.

"It's coming…! Link Summon!" Yuno exclaimed as he looked at the Link Circuit.

"Arrowhead confirmed. The summoning condition is 4 monsters! I set Supreme King Servant Dragon Darkwurm, Supreme King Servant Dragon Verham, Supreme King Gate infinity and Supreme King Gate Zero on the Link Markers! Circuit Combine!" All Zarc's monsters then became one with four of the six arrows. Darkwurm went to the Left Arrow, Verham to the Right Arrow, and Gate Infinity to the Left-Bottom Arrow, and Gate Zero to the Bottom-Right Arrows.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Cyber Cosmos Link Dragon (ATK: 2800 / LINK: 4 / LM: Left, Right, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right)!" Zarc summoned a winged dragon Monster with rough brilliant blue scales, ridges along its back, and a tail tipped with an arrow-shaped spike. Throughout its body and wings were silver electronic circuit-like markings. It also has the same yellow eyes as its master.

Yuya and his counterparts gasped when Cyber Cosmos was summoned. Even though its form is not exactly the same as the last time they had seen it, when they looked into its eyes, they knew. It has the same soul as the dragon that they met and fought in a year ago.

"It's the Supreme King Dragon!" Yugo exclaimed while pointing at the dragon.

"Yeah! Its form is quite different, but it's the Supreme King Dragon Zarc!" Yuto said with certainty.

"Even Duel Monsters can be reborn as a new archetype…" Yuri made a mental note about this.

"Yuya, do you think – Yuya?" Yugo blinked when Yuya was nowhere to be seen. This caught everyone's attention too. They were so focused on the former Supreme King Dragon that they didn't realize Yuya was gone.

"Where is he going?" Yuto wondered while looking around for the tomato-haired boy.

"Maybe to the toilet?" Yugo said, earning a snort from Yuri.

"He is not you, Fusion." Yuri responded.

"Who the hell is Fusion?!" Yugo shouted at his Fusion counterpart, but didn't get to lung at him as the Duel continues.

"I activate Dragon's Cry second effect in the Graveyard! I banish it to special summon a Monster from my Banished Zone with its effect negated!" Zarc revived Gate Dragonia in Attack Position on his Field, placing it right beneath Cyber Cosmos.

"I activate Cyber Cosmos Link Dragon's effect! I can target a Level 5 or higher monster my opponent controls and decrease its ATK and DEF equal to the sum of ATKs and DEFs of other monsters that connected to Cyber Cosmos' Link! Also, my dragon's ATK is increased equal to the same amount!" Zarc revealed. As Gate Dragonia was connected to Cyber Cosmos' Bottom Left Link Marker, Vendead Chimera's ATK and DEF was reduced equal to Gate Dragonia's ATK and DEF, making the Ritual Monster's current ATK 300 and DEF 0. Cyber Cosmos, on the other hand, has its ATK increased to 4800.

"Battle! I attack Vendead Chimera with Cyber Cosmos Link Dragon! Axis Bomb!" Zarc declared attack. Cyber Cosmos unleashed bomb-like flames of data with particles resembling stars shrouding the attack. The flame hit Vendead Chimera, causing a massive explosion that shook the entire area and blew Yuno away.

For a moment, everyone thought that Zarc has won. However, they were proven wrong when the smokes cleared, revealing Yuno kneeling with a Trap Card opened beside him and his LP still remained.

YUNO LP: 3800 = 1550

"I activate Trap Card: Zombie Snap. When a Zombie-Type Monster I control is destroyed by Battle, I can halve the damage in exchange the destroyed Zombie Monster is banished." Yuno revealed the effect of his Trap that halved the damage he took, banishing Vendead Chimera.

"You saved that kind of card…I thought so. You are the leader of the Brotherhood with thousands of years of experience after all. Fighting you half-heartedly will do me no good. I end my Turn." Zarc concluded. Cyber Cosmos' ATK reverted to normal following the End Phase.

"I'm grateful that you're serious facing against me in this Duel. My pride as a Duelist would be insulted if you don't take me seriously." Yuno replied, thanking the Supreme King user genuinely. Plus, his opponent is strong. He felt his Duelist blood boiling from excitement.

"I'm also going all out. Be prepared." Yuno's eyes glinted as he began his Turn.

"I activate Vendead Nights effect." Yuno discarded another copy of Vendead Revenant and then added a Vendead Monster to his hand.

"I activate Magic Card: Vendead Pit. I can banish a Vendead Monster in my Graveyard." Yuno banished Vendead Striges from his Graveyard, leaving only Vendead Revenant he just discarded as the only monster left in Yuno's Graveyard.

"He banished his own Vendead Monster? Now he only hand Magic and Trap and Vendead Revenant in his Graveyard. Most his of Vendead Monsters have been banished, so he is the same as running out ammunition. No, he still has one more facedown card left. Is he going to use it?" Zarc eyed Yuno suspiciously. His gut feeling was telling him that something big is coming, and it won't be good for him.

"I activate Trap Card: Zombie Reunion! I can reveal a Ritual Monster in my hand, and then Special Summon any number of my banished Zombie monsters with different names, in facedown Defense Position, whose total Levels exactly equal the Level of the revealed Ritual Monster, Tribute all those facedown Defense Position monsters, then Ritual Summon that Ritual Monster from my hand!" Yuno briefly revived Vendead Chimera and Vendead Striges before releasing them. Pentagram-shaped magic circle appeared with torches on each star. A portal began to open from the pentagram along with a roar coming from within the portal.

"Awake from your slumber and drag your enemies into deepest bowels of the earth! Ritual Summon! Appear! Mad Abyss Ritual Dragon (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 8)!" Yuno summoned his ace monster. It's a deep blue dragon with torn and tattered body in several patches, and small parts of flesh have begun to peel off around its head and body, and a tail tipped with an arrow-shaped spike. It has blue eyes, with vertical pupils like a cat's, and skeleton-like protrusions from its body and appendages on some parts of its body.

Without Yuno or Zarc noticing, Yuya was meekly watching the Duel from another door to the databank with Kuribohder accompanying him. His eyes were fixated on Zarc. To be honest, Yuya didn't really understand what he was doing. When Zarc summoned Cyber Cosmos, he has a sudden urge to meet him. Noticing a room where Neah said anyone can send their consciousness into the network, Yuya didn't think twice to enter it together with Kuribohder. Yuya was positive that he will be berated after this, especially since he doesn't know himself what he wants to do now that he has entered the network.

"For now, I'll just watch the Duel until it ends…" Yuya thought as he made sure to hide himself carefully from everyone's view with Kuribohder.

"I activate Mad Abyss Ritual Dragon's effect! Once per Turn, when my opponent controls a Level 5 or higher or Link 4 or higher Monster, it gains 600 ATK for each Monster in both players' Graveyard and Banished Zone! Soul Survive!" As there were 2 monsters in the Banished Zone and 8 monsters in Graveyard, Yuno increased his dragon's ATK to 6000. Mad Abyss howled as the spirits of the monsters whom it gained ATK from appeared on the Field and went into the dragon.

"An ATK of 6000?!" Zarc exclaimed in shock. If the attack connected, he was done for.

"Just in case, I activate the effect that Mad Abyss gained from Vendead Chimera! Once per Turn, all monsters my opponent controls lose 500 ATK and DEF!" Yuno decreased Cyber Cosmos' ATK to 2500, and Gate Dragonia's ATK and DEF to 1500 and 800.

"Battle! I attack Cyber Cosmos Link Dragon with Mad Abyss Ritual Dragon! Earthbound Chain Blitz!" Yuno declared his decisive attack. Mad Abyss summoned chains that bound Zarc's ace Monster, completely stopping the Link Monster's movement who was desperately struggling against the chains, which only tightened the chains' hold on it more. Mad Abyss used its skeleton protrusions to slash the Link Monster.

"I activate Supreme King Servant Dragon Hellebore's effect from my hand! When I control exactly one Dragon-Type monster and that monster is targeted for attack, I can send this card to the Graveyard to negate destruction and the damage is halved!" Zarc quickly discarded Hellebore, allowing Cyber Cosmos to endure Mad Abyss' attacks and lessened the damage Zarc took.

ZARC LP: 3500 = 1750

"I praise your tenacity. I can't destroy any of your monster this Turn, but I can at least still inflict more damage to you." Yuno said as he activated a card from his hand.

"I activate Magic Card: Zombie's Peck! When a Monster I control fails to destroy my opponent's monster, I can inflict damage equal to Level 3 or lower Zombie-Type monster in my Graveyard!" Yuno inflicted additional damage to Zarc, choosing Vendead Striges' 500 ATK.

ZARC LP: 1750 = 1250

"I end my Turn." Yuno concluded, reverting all the monsters' ATK and DEF to normal. He lowered his Duel Disk for a moment to speak to Zarc. "I know you're not the type who won't give up until the end. I'm also the same. But still, won't you surrender? Whatever your reason is, I don't want to drag you into the battle against Apophis."

"No. I will be involved one way or another." Zarc interjected. "A week ago my friend was attacked by one of Apophis' Duelists. He called himself Dante."

"Dante did?!" Yuno couldn't hide his surprise. For Dante to attack Duelists means either that Duelists are seen as hindrance or threat or having crucial information about them.

"I fought Dante and beat him, but my friend was also attacked in the real life and has been in coma ever since. Even though the doctor said she has recovered physically, she still won't wake up…I figured the cause has something to do with what Dante had done to her when they were dueling in LINK VRAINS." Zarc explained. He had heard there were cases similar to Sara's years ago, and that's why he hacked into the Brotherhood's database before in hope of finding the cure. Unfortunately, the recovery program didn't work because whatever Sara is suffering from has different cause.

"Dante has set his sight on me. Even if I decided to leave everything to you, Dante will still come after me. But I don't really care about that…" Zarc's eyes hardened at Yuno. "Let me ask you this, Oracle, if someone precious to you is attacked by someone and in coma, will you just simply let someone else to act while you do nothing?"

Yuno and everyone who were watching went silent from that. The answer was obvious, and they all shared the same answer.

"No. I will do the same thing as you are right now…" Yuno answered.

"Exactly. No matter how many times I fall, I will stand up over and over until I save Ray!" Zarc declared as he began his Turn.

"Ray…!" Yuya reacted in shock hearing the name. He was sure his counterparts were also thinking the same thing as him. "Ray…was he talking about Ray Akaba…?! Then not only Zarc, but Ray has also reincarnated in this dimension?!"

"I won't lose! For Sara's sake, I will fight until the end!" Zarc stated as he revealed the card he just drew.

"I activate Magic Card: Brief Resurrection! I can revive a monster from either player's Graveyard for this one Turn!" Zarc revived Yuno's Vendead Chimera to his Field.

"I activate Cyber Cosmos' effect! I can target a Level 5 or higher monster my opponent controls and decrease its ATK and DEF equal to the sum of ATKs and DEFs of other monsters that connected to Cyber Cosmos' Link! Also, my dragon's ATK is increased equal to the same amount!" As Gate Dragonius and Vendead Chimera were connected to Cyber Cosmos' Bottom Left Link Marker and Bottom Right Link Marker, Cyber Cosmos' ATK was increased to 7100 while Yuno's Mad Abyss' ATK and DEF were decreased to 1500 and 700.

"An ATK of 7100?!" Yugo exclaimed at Cyber Cosmos' current ATK.

"There's no set card on Yuno's Field and Mad Abyss' ATK is only 2800. Looks like this is the end for him." Yuri remarked.

"Go, Cyber Cosmos! Axis Bomb!" Zarc declared, prompting Cyber Cosmos to once again unleash its bomb-like blast at the Ritual dragon.

"I disagree." Neah replied to Yuri's remark, confusing the said boy.

"I activate Zombie's Peck's effect in the Graveyard! I banish it to negate destruction and decrease the damage by 800 for each Zombie-Type monster in my Graveyard!" Yuno decreased the damage he would take by 3200; making the damage he received only 1100.

YUNO LP: 1550 = 450

"Again, that was very close. I have prepared for that." Zarc revealed a card in his hand and activated it. "Magic Card: Cyber Cross. Non-Link Monsters cannot activate effect effects for three Turns."

"I end my Turn." Zarc concluded, revering all monsters' ATKs and DEFs back to normal. Brief Resurrection's effect also ended, returning Vendead Chimera to the Graveyard.

"Zarc has sealed Mad Abyss' effect. With this Yuno can't use its effect to increase its ATK." Yuri pointed out.

"What is he going to do now to turn the tide?" Yuto wondered out loud.

Yuno fixed his mask's position before facing Zarc again. He admired his opponent's resolve. In fact, he could see himself within this boy. The Supreme King user is very much like him when he was young and some parts of him still. He understood his feeling well, more than he thought. And that is precisely why…

"The one who will win this Duel is me." Yuno declared confidently, surprising everyone as the atmosphere around him changed slightly.

"My Turn! I activate Magic Card: Vendead Equip! I can equip a Vendead-Type Monster in my hand or Graveyard to a monster I control. That monster is treated as Vendead Monster and its ATK and DEF increased equal to the chosen Vendead monster!" Yuno equipped Vendead Chimera to Mad Abyss, increasing its ATK to 5100.

"He can't increase its ATK with its effect so he increases it with Magic Card!" Yugo exclaimed in awe.

"Its ATK is now higher than both Cyber Cosmos and Gate Dragonius!" Yuto pointed out.

"Battle! I attack Gate Dragonius with Mad Abyss Ritual Dragon!" Yuno pointed at the Supreme King Gate Monster who has lower ATK. If this attack hit, Zarc will receive 3100 damage and it'll be his lost.

"I won't fall! I activate Hellebore's effect in Graveyard! I banish it to reduce the damage to 0!" Zarc banished his Hellebore. Though Gate Dragonius was destroyed, he didn't receive any damage.

"Too bad, but this is the end of the line." Zarc told Yuno. The Oracle only controls one monster and no set card. There was nothing he can do anymore in this Turn. He will end this Duel in his next Turn…

"The end for you that is, Supreme King Zarc." Yuno replied as he pointed at Vendead Nights.

"I activate Vendead Night's second effect. When a Vendead Monster I control destroys my opponent's monster by Battle, I can banish 1 Vendead Monster in my Graveyard to allow it to attack my opponent's monster again in a row!" Yuno banished Vendead Hellhound again to allow Mad Abyss, which was treated as a Vendead Monster due to Vendead Equip's effect, to attack again.

"What?! Mad Abyss can attack again?!" Zarc exclaimed in disbelief.

"Go, Mad Abyss! Earthbound Chain Blitz!" Yuno declared his decisive attack. Mad Abyss summoned chains that bound Cyber Cosmos for the second time. Mad Abyss used its skeleton protrusions to slash the Link Monster, destroying it for good and threw Zarc to his back.

ZARC LP: 1250 = 0

"As expected from Yuno-sama." Neah remarked, smiling in satisfaction at his leader's victory while the three boys were speechless.

Yuno walked to Zarc who was slowly sitting up. When the Supreme King user was looking up at him, Yuno threw a yellow sphere at Zarc that went into his Duel Disk. Zarc looked at his Duel Disk and was confused when he found the thing that Yuno gave to him was the full detail of the data he couldn't solved before.

"You have proven your determination and resolve to me. And you are targeted by the enemy, so the more you know them the better. We have common enemies, if you can get rid even one of them it'll make things better for us." Yuno told Zarc.

Zarc blinked at Yuno for a few seconds before shrugging with a soft tired smile. "Wisdom of an old man, huh?" He remarked.

"Enough about my age, oh the great Supreme King Zarc." Yuno retorted jokingly before extending his hand for Zarc to take, helping him stand up.

"Won't you join us? This way, we can help each other. We are sharing the same enemies. Any manpower would help at this situation. You don't need to hack into our database anymore, and since one of Apophis' main targets is me, you'll meet him and his group again soon more than searching for him alone." Yuno finally voiced his invitation.

Zarc was surprised by the sudden proposal. True, joining the Brotherhood means there's no need for him to hack this place again. He can gain information freely and perhaps find a way to cure Sara with the Brotherhood's wide resources, and since Yuno, the one who defeated Apophis is likely being targeted by Apophis' group, it will be faster to meet them eventually. Still, this was too sudden, and he was sure that joining the Brotherhood would also give him some restrictions in making his moves. What to do…

Yuno has acknowledged Zarc. Zarc's skills as both a hacker and a Duelist are top-notch. He is able to use the Supreme King Deck well, something that he should have expected from the reincarnation of a Duel Champion in the original dimension who was also his descendant. Having Zarc on their side would be a great addition. Also,

"Won't you at least consider it?"

The two men turned to the third voice that suddenly joined them. Yuya slowly walked out from his hiding place, approaching the two of them but still kept his distance. He looked at Zarc with hope filled eyes.

"Yuya…!" Yuno called out to the boy in surprise. Why is he here? How did he enter the network?

Zarc was looking at Yuya as if he was seeing a phantom. His eyes widened, lips parting at the sight of him. His head felt burned. He trembled, unable to breathe as he stared at the boy that standing in front of him, his eyes shining with uncertainty up at him. There was—there was no mistaking it. It was him. This was him. It was the boy he had seen in his recent dreams. The Oracle himself said it. The boy's name—Yuya.

It was him.

He was here, standing in front of him, and he was real and his age, exactly the same as he looked like in his dream.

Zarc opened his mouth, but no words came out. His chest felt warm and his eyes were ready to tear up the more he was looking at the boy like he was longing to meet him.

Confused and unable to take it anymore, Zarc pressed the screen on his Duel Disk. The screen showed the word 'Log Out' and then without saying anything, his body turned into particles of blue data, leaving the network, but not before seeing Yuya's saddened face at his leave for one last time.

"Zarc…"

THRONE ROOM – UNKNOWN LOCATION – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

Someone completely cladded in black cloak walked down the stairs that led to the throne room of Apophis. When the door opened Apophis lifted his head and looked straight at him, and a gold chain shackled to his leg sounded mournfully, which in the silence of the room sounded like an immense roar. After that he spoke with a tone so different when he addressed his subordinates.

"What are you doing here, human?"

"We have confirmed the person we have found, the one we were waiting for," said the figure.

Apophis fell silent and shook his head, thinking about something. The cloaked figure, not waiting for permission, sat on a throne placed under a wall, made of the same materials as the throne of the demon residing underground of his palace.

"It's surprising," Apophis finally said, still staring at the person with his eyes. "I did not think that so soon we would found one. Remember, human, do not do anything until I said it's the time."

"Of course, after all these years you do not have to remind me," the figure replied. He sat more comfortably and leaned back, closing his eyes. Apophis watched intently as on the person's lips appeared a faint smile. "And so far, we cannot perform it, right? We still need to break the last protection. Are we powerless against the power of a mere Duel Monster?"

Maybe in the past the figure had thought that Apophis hadn't listened to his comments or cared about his opinion. However, the agreement had lasted for more than a thousand years and when Apophis spoke quietly the figure immediately noticed that his voice was almost too calm, unnatural and with concealed anger.

"Do not be stupid, human. It's just a matter of time. Do not underestimate my power."

"Me? I would never do that," said the figure, opening his eyes. His gaze wandered to the chains restraining Apophis. He grinned a little wider. Apophis noticed this glance and, although said nothing, his eyes flashed dangerously.

"The issue of seal and protection you can leave to me, in the end because of my power you can sit here in reign," Apophis reminded sharply, but didn't raise his voice. This time it was the cloaked person who snorted irritably and looked at the demon with anger. Apophis, pleased, continued. "I would advise you to take care of the Duelist."

"Really?" he raised his eyebrows. "Usually you do not care about our sacrifices…"

"Then you are blind and cannot see that Duelist's potential, human. If we make him stronger than he already has... Who knows how much his power can increase?"

"Are you not afraid, Apophis?" He asked sarcastically. "If he became too powerful, maybe he will surpass you and worst..."

Apophis growled. It was a strange sound, reminiscent of the sound of a dragon, but also very human, a mixture that caused chills. The figure just straightened.

"Watch your words, you fool, for you never know which will be the last to leave your mouth. And you have a habit of talking too much. Do not forget thanks to whom you have so much."

"Do not forget whose power awakened you from your slumber years ago and keeps you in this world, as you wished. I do not like when others look down on me, and that includes you," the figure said proudly and stood up, heading towards the door.

"Do not worry, I already have someone I know who can take care of the Duelist. But not because I listen to your orders, but because I'm curious."


NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

Déjà Vu – Yuno takes Yuya and the others to Den City where they are properly introduced to LINK VRAINS and Charisma Duelist. While watching a Duel taking place in LINK VRAINS, Apophis's group Yuno can interfere, Zarc confronts the group instead. Unable to contain his curiosity, Yuya also enters LINK VRAINS to meet Zarc again.


FANFIC ORIGINAL CARD MEMO:

SUPREME KING GATE DRAGONIUS: (DRAGON / DARK / EFFECT / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1300 / LV: 5) When Gate Dragonius is special summoned through its effect you can add a Supreme King Servant Dragon Monster from your Deck to your hand.

ZOMBIE SNAP: When a Zombie-Type Monster you control is destroyed by Battle, you can halve the damage in exchange the destroyed Zombie Monster is banished. (Trap Card)

DRAGON'S CRY: When you control no monster while you have a Dragon-Type Monster in your Graveyard, you can special summon a Dragon-Type Monster from your hand and the one in the Graveyard with their effects negated. (Magic Card)

VENDEAD PIT: You can banish a Vendead Monster in your Graveyard. (Magic Card)

ZOMBIE REUNION: You can reveal a Ritual Monster in your hand, and then Special Summon any number of your banished Zombie monsters with different names, in facedown Defense Position, whose total Levels exactly equal the Level of the revealed Ritual Monster, Tribute all those facedown Defense Position monsters, then Ritual Summon that Ritual Monster from your hand. (Trap Card)

ZOMBIE'S PECK: When a Monster you control fails to destroy your opponent's monster, you can inflict damage equal to a Level 3 or lower Zombie-Type monster in your Graveyard. When this card is in Graveyard and your monster is being attacked, you can negate destruction and decrease the damage by 800 for each Zombie-Type Monster in your Graveyard. (Magic Card)

BRIEF RESURRECTION: You can revive a monster from either player's Graveyard for this one Turn. (Magic Card)

CYBER CROSS: Non-Link Monsters cannot activate their effects for three Turns. (Magic Card)

SUPREME KING SERVANT DRAGON HELLEBORE: (DRAGON / DARK / EFFECT / ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1900 / LV: 4). When you control exactly one Dragon-Type monster and that monster is targeted for attack, you can send this card from your hand to the Graveyard to negate destruction and the damage is halved. When this card is in Graveyard, you can banish it to reduce battle damage to 0.

VENDEAD EQUIP: You can equip a Vendead-Type Monster in your hand or Graveyard to a monster you control. That monster is treated as Vendead Monster and its ATK and DEF increased equal to the chosen Vendead monster. (Magic Card)

CYBER COSMOS LINK DRAGON: (DRAGON / DARK / LINK MONSTER / ATK: 2800 / LINK: 4 / LM: Left, Right, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right).You can target a Level 5 or higher monster your opponent controls and decrease its ATK and DEF equal to the sum of ATKs and DEFs of other monsters that connected to Cyber Cosmos' Link Markers. Also, this card's ATK is increased equal to the same amount.

MAD ABYSS RITUAL DRAGON: (DRAGON / DARK / RITUAL / ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 8). Once per Turn, when your opponent controls a Level 5 or higher or Link 4 or higher Monster, it gains 600 ATK for each Monster in both players' Graveyard and Banished Zone.


I don't have any work today, and my mind is very clear to write the Duels and all that I managed to finish this chapter only within 4 hours, far quicker than my usual schedule. For this and the next chapter, the Master Duel and Speed Duel rule will stick to the original for the time being until Yuya and the others' turn to Duel. Sorry, I still have difficulty deciding how to modify the Duels. By the way, just to be clear, the glasses Zarc is wearing is the same one as the one Ray wore (shown in anime episode 126 flashback) but blue in color. Sorry if there are still mistakes in the Duel. If there are, I hope it's not so many.

Please review this chapter~