Number Thirteen tore out of the Xyz portal that had formed it with a shrieking roar. The black dragon was covered in silver armour plates that were not unlike the pieces that Zak himself wore two gigantic leathery wings sprouted from its shoulders and its menacing claws were as sharp as ever. Darkshine Dragon's roar was the sound of a beast that had been locked up for a millennia; it pierced the skies and broke the river's surface. After so long, Zak's true ace card was free again, but this time it was on Angel's side. After circling the duel field and exercising its wings for a short time, the dragon landed on its hind legs behind Angel and roared out in power once again. By now, all passers-by had turned to face the beast and watched on as the red symbols for Number 13 glowing brightly on its chest.
Zak himself looked at his monster in shock as it glared right into his eyes. Angel could see that he was remembering all the times he'd stood alongside his own Number and fought the terrors and enemies they had. Together, Zak and Number Thirteen had faced and defeated Kite Tenjo, the Number Hunter and hence saved the souls of Angel and many others. Together, Zak and Number Thirteen had faced Number Zero and its army of duel ghosts and come out on top, temporarily ending the threat that they posed. But now the dragon was facing his old master and the sadness it radiated was more than obvious. Darkshine Dragon missed Zak and it knew that Zak missed it.
'This is your card Zak, you best card,' Angel said in a meaningful tone, 'You fought with him and defeated so many evils! Now you've thrown him away like he meant nothing. Well he doesn't mean nothing Zak! Just look at him! Number 13 misses you, can't you realise that?!'
Zak couldn't find his words as he looked into the dragon's sad eyes. In response, Number Thirteen roared out a little in a clearly upset manner. Darkshine was trying to help Angel convince Zak of who he really was.
'I-I…' Zak tried to speak, but there was nothing.
Angel knew that if she attacked and destroyed Zak's Machina Fortress here and now, then she'd win and she'd have proved to Zak that his deck was not invincible. But Angel knew that there was one last turn ahead; one more turn to truly prove to Zak that his new personality and deck was not the right path; one more turn to prove to Zak that Number Thirteen should be by his side. And so Angel ended her turn by leaving Number Thirteen in Attack Mode on her side of the field. It took a few moments for Zak to snap to his senses and move his gaze from the dragon's eyes back to his deck. Zak finally drew his card, but this time without the ferocity that he normally did.
'Angel, by giving me another turn, you only proved that my way is better! Will Number Zero give me extra turns just because it bought out a strong monster? No!' Zak said powerfully, 'And I can't let others have extra turns either! Because this will happen; you'll only be at chance of losing next turn! That's where this deck doesn't fail! It doesn't give extra turns, it just wins; even against Numbers!'
'Then prove it,' Angel spat, 'Destroy your own Number!'
'Fine! Malefic Cyber End Dragon! Attack Number…' Zak trailed off, pointing at Number Thirteen.
Angel watched on as Zak stopped. He was pointing at his own Number Thirteen, but he couldn't bring himself to destroy it. Zak was making eye contact with the dragon as it roared sadly once more.
'Attack…' Zak tried to give the command, 'Attack…'
Angel waited for Zak to win, but he just couldn't do it. After all this time, after so many battles and even with his changed personality and execution deck; Zak could not destroy his favourite and most loyal card. Angel gave a silent sigh of relief when she saw that what she'd been saying all this time had finally sunk in. Zak was finally seeing his wrongs and finally opening his eyes and heart again. He lowered his arm from pointing at Number Thirteen and then bowed his head.
'I end my turn,' Zak said weakly.
Angel drew her card and was happy to see that it was the last piece she needed to finish the duel: Soul Release. She activated it and Banished Athena, Master Hyperion and Number 88: Goddess of Light from her own Graveyard as well as two Machina Fortresses from Zak's Graveyard. Then she activated her last face down trap: Return from the Different Dimension. The card cost her half of her Life Points; but it was more than worth it.
[Angel: 50]
Angel Special Summoned Master Hyperion, Athena, Number 88 and The Agent of Mystery – Earth from her Banished zone to her side of the field; giving her a total of five monsters compared to Zak's two.
'I activate Master Hyperion's effect!' Angel called out, 'By banishing Angel O7 from my Graveyard; I can destroy Malefic Cyber End Dragon!'
Zak didn't react; his eyes were covered by the shadow thrown by his hood. Angel knew that he'd been defeated in mind and spirit though, and she just needed to finish it with his physical defeat. And now, it was finally time to do it.
'Zak, this is truly it,' Angel said calmly, 'I've told you how I feel and now I'll bring my feelings to you with your own Number. Darkshine Dragon: destroy Machina Fortress! Shining Shadow Surge!'
The chaotic dragon complied and instantly flew up into the sky where it let off one last powerful roar before covering itself in its silvery flame. It then gazed directly at Zak once more before swooping down directly into his Machina Fortress; destroying the latter in a large explosion. Angel shielded herself from the blast and Zak was knocked backward by the force of his true Number.
[Zak: 0] [Winner: Angel]
The Augmented Reality faded as Angel lowered her D-Pad and removed her D-Gazer. Zak just lay flat on his back, unwilling to move after the finishing attack from his own true Number. Angel hoped that everything she'd said had sunken into him during that duel, but she wasn't sure due to his distant expression. Angel sighed and pulled out Number Thirteen before placing it in Zak's hand along with its Chaos Evolution and Number 50: Black Corn. Angel turned to head back to her apartment, and said one last thing to Zak before she left.
'Come find me when you've found yourself,' Angel said solemnly.
Zak didn't react and so Angel just walked off, leaving him where he lay. Angel just tried not to think about it as she walked; Zak was still her friend and she cared about him, but he needed to learn. For now, Angel just wanted to go back to her own apartment and cool off with a meal and a shower. Hopefully a brighter Zak would turn up later and apologize to her for his actions since he'd returned. Zak could keep his execution deck for all she cared, as long as she got the old him back. Angel felt sad again as she walked along in the mid-afternoon sun. It was beginning to get cloudy now and it seemed as if it was going to rain soon. Angel picked up her pace into a light run before the sky opened up. She returned home before the rain came along, but she hadn't seen nor heard from Zak at all. Angel turned around as she reached the front door of the apartment complex and hoped to see a changed Zak behind her. But her view was void of anyone and, with a sigh, Angel headed indoors.
Zak had risen to his feet only a few minutes after Angel had left. He felt the true heartbreak of what he'd done. Zak knew that he'd scared and upset numerous people, including his true friend. He felt worse and worse as he thought about it; she'd stuck by him even with his change and hadn't complained much about it. She had been fine with his new execution deck and hadn't objected after her first complaints.
'And this is how I repay her?!' Zak thought angrily, 'Ah! What have I done?'
Zak sighed deeply and looked at the three cards that Angel had left him with. He smiled sadly as he felt the presence of Number Thirteen surrounding him once more. The dragon was happy to be back with him, but it was still sad that he'd changed.
'I'm sorry, friend,' Zak spoke softly to the card.
He then added the three cards to his Extra Deck and hoped that he'd be able to make amends for what he'd done.
'And Angel, I'll find myself; I promise,' Zak said to the sky, as it opened up and rain poured down upon him.