So yeah, I suck at writing suspenseful drama... In the event you guys don't like the pre-duel stuff before the chapter, I very well might just rewrite it, but we will see.

Thanks to Nirvash Neo, Draen, D3lph0xL0v3r, king of the lion and pokemonking0924 for your reviews on Chapter 25!

Also, I got a authors note at the end of the chapter, so be sure to read that! Enjoy!

"It's been a week since your deal with Yuga." The Masked Man muttered, staring at the sealed door. "You have prepared THAT deck, yes?"

"Yes, sensei." Masuhiro chuckled. "Yuga will fall before this deck's incredible power, and his seal will be delivered to you before the night is over."

"Don't keep me waiting too long." The Masked Man stated. "The door is weak. One final seal could be all that is needed to break it, and I grow hungry to test the power of the Wicked Gods on someone."

Masuhiro snickered. "The gods will fall into your possession before the night is over. I can assure that."

"Make it so." The Masked Man declared. "And do not fail me. If Yuga beats you, I might turn the gods on you instead!"

"Even if he does win, which he won't." Masuhiro chuckled. "I got an idea to keep him distracted long enough so that you can take Ruka's seal. Of course, that is Plan B, and I never resort to Plan B!"

The Masked Man fell silent, staring at Masuhiro for a while before taking a few steps forward. "What are you planning?"

XxXxXxX

Yuga groaned loudly in frustration, walking out of Advanced Summoning Methods, and following the other students heading to Gym. "That test was absolute murder, and the worst part is I am going to have him next year as well… I've never had a teacher as bad as him."

"Come on, Yuga." Roku said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "He maybe strict, but he actually cares about his students, and don't want them to fail."

"That's what they all say." Yuga pouted, crossing his arms. "I hate him. He seems so evil, and cruel for no reason."

Ruka and Roku both sighed. Yuga may have grown up at an orphanage raised by staff members who hated kids and took their anger out on them, but it didn't mean that all adults who would strict on kids did it to be hateful and evil. Of course, Yuga wasn't going to understand that just by having it explained to him.

"Well, look on the bright side." Shin smiled. "It's May now, and we're almost done with the school year. We got our essays and test in to Hirose, so all that's left to do is finish up the other classes, take our final exams, and…"

"And defeat Masuhiro." Roku reminded them. "Along with the Masked Man. Don't forget they are both still at large, and I doubt we can finish the school year on a high note until both are defeated."

Shin pouted. "I was going to say finalize our junior year classes and living arrangements, but ok… Guess I forgot about that…"

"Speaking of the Shadow Duelists, you ready for tonight?" Asami asked Yuga. "Masuhiro seemed very confident that whatever deck he was counterfeiting was going to be able to defeat you."

"You bet." Yuga nodded, stopping just outside the locker rooms. "I got a few strategies in mind using some new cards you guys haven't seen in action yet. I am sure that I can handle whatever Masuhiro throws my way!"

"Just don't let your overconfidence be your undoing." Naomi warned. "Remember, he can have any deck in the world."

Yuga nodded. "Yeah, I know. But so can any other opponent you are facing, right? I'll be fine." Yuga smiled at her before walking into the guys locker room. One by one, the boys followed after him, and the girls went into their own locker room. Yuga was still smiling, but Roku didn't seem too sure. He followed Yuga until they both got to their lockers, and as they were opening them, Roku turned his head to look at Yuga.

"Let me give you a bit of advice." Roku sternly said.

"What is it?" Yuga asked, unlocking his locker.

"Don't act like the tough guy just to impress us." Roku explained, unlocking his own and opening it. "You are dueling a guy who can use any deck in the world, even ones that are lost to time. He could have decks from legendary duelists that we students wouldn't stand a chance against. You can't go into this with an attitude like that."

"So you're saying I'm too weak to fight him?" Yuga asked, his smile had faded.

"I'm saying you can't be too sure about your victory." Roku explained. "We're going up against the unknown, but not just any unknown. Masuhiro had Exodia, copied Vince's deck to the very last card and improved on it. He could use anything against you, even your own deck. You need to make sure you are ready for anything, Yuga, cause if you are caught off guard, you will lose. I was caught off guard, and look what happened to me."

Yuga looked seriously at his gym shirt, now sitting their shirtless, before pulling his gym shirt on. "Even if he uses anything against me… if isn't the real thing. Masuhiro can't duel at his best with cards that aren't his. I will win."

"But…" Roku muttered, but he was cut off by Yuga, who was finished changing.

"Trust me, I got this one." Yuga said in a matter of fact tone, running off.

"I hope you are right." Roku muttered, staring after Yuga with concern.

XxXxXxX

"Well, it's almost time!" Yuga said excitedly, grabbing his deck from his desk in his dorm. "Shin and the others promised to meet me downstairs, so I guess I better head on down. Heh, poor Shin, having detention with Hirose because his essay was late… told him that it was fine but he kept on insisting he needed to improve it, and by the time he was satisfied the deadline had passed." Yuga hummed to himself approaching his door, but as he swung it open, he was greeted by Ruka standing there, staring at him with a concerned expression on her face.

"R-Ruka?" Yuga asked, stunned.

"Hello, Yuga." Ruka said.

"Why so formal?" Yuga asked, scratching his head, then he grinned. "Oh, I get it! You came to walk me down, huh?"

Ruka bit her bottom lip, and before Yuga could even react, she had slapped him. His eyes were wide, staring at the wall that his head was forced to look at. Yuga slowly looked back at Ruka, who was shaking a little, trying to hold back her tears. "You… you don't get it at all, do you!"

"Get what?" Yuga asked.

"Our concern!" Ruka yelled, dissolving into tears. "Yuga, Roku told me what happened in the locker room. Your attitude towards his advice, his wisdom. Roku and I, and all of us, we want you to win… but you have this overconfident attitude about this. What happens if Masuhiro uses Yugi Moto's deck, what will you do then!?" Yuga gasped, and looked at Ruka in shock, as if having never considered that option before. "Don't you sense it too? The door is way too weak! If you lose here, that door is opening! You put on this brave façade, acting like nothing could go wrong when you duel. You aren't the perfect duelist, Yuga, you have your faults, and your deck can't counter everything out there. Shin went into his duel with that same overconfident attitude you are showing right now, and look what happened. Yuga… you need to recognize what is going on here. You can be facing anything, maybe even something you aren't ready for…"

Yuga looked down at Ruka for a moment, before pulling her into a hug, shocking the girl. "I know… I know what I could be facing could very well spell my doom. I guess I have been acting so confident over the past week because deep down, I want to believe that if he uses a fake counterfeit deck, I can win… but in reality, I guess I know the truth… he could very well use a deck that I can't beat. A deck from a legendary duelist, or even a deck that is designed for the sole purpose of countering my own… but we didn't come this far in dueling with these Shadow Duelists doubting ourselves. At the same time, we didn't come this far acting like overconfident idiots either…"

"Yuga." Ruka whispered, hugging him back.

"Thanks for bringing me back to Earth, Ruka. You're right, I need to be careful during this duel. The fate of the world is on the line, after all, and if I lose here, then it's game over." Yuga pulled away, nodding at her, before heading back to his deck box and taking out a card, placing it into his deck. "I was so overconfident, I didn't even think I would need this… but I guess I should place it in my deck… because who knows what I will be facing."

Ruka nodded, drying her tears. "Sorry about slapping you by the way…"

"No worries." Yuga nodded, smiling. "You got through to me with that slap. Now, let's go."

XxXxXxX

"You'd think the Card Shop would realize this backdoor has been used twice already." Yuga muttered, opening the door and shining his flashlight inside, pointing it towards the basement door. "Well, here we go."

As they headed downstairs, once again they could see Masuhiro waiting for them on the other side of the dueling arena. Yuga took his place on the other side, while the others headed over towards the wall under the big screen to watch. Masuhiro grinned. "About time. You're late by 15 minutes, but you are lucky that I am not going to declare that you automatically forfeit, because I want to test this deck out… BED01!"

"Here we go." Asami muttered.

"I hope Yuga won't mess up." Shin whispered.

"He won't." Ruka stated. "I know he's ready, but not overconfident in his abilities."

"Action Field, activate!" Yuga declared. A series of platforms appeared in the air, spreading all around the room, and action cards burst forth, spreading around the field to where the duelists had to retrieve them."

"Tell you what, let's make this even more interesting." Masuhiro announced, drawing five cards. "If you win, I'll give you the identity of who the Masked Man really is."

"W-what?" Shin gasped. "You mean…"

"I am the only one that really knows the identity of the Masked Man." Masuhiro declared.

"You better not be lying." Yuga stated, drawing his five cards. "And you better honor that promise if I win!"

"Trust me, I will." Masuhiro declared. "Now, get ready!"

"Action… Duel!"

Yuga: 4000 vs Masuhiro: 4000

"I'll begin." Masuhiro chuckled, looking at his hand. "I summon The White Stone of Ancients (600/500)!" A bright, glowing white egg shaped stone emerged from the ground.

"That's your monster?" Yuga asked, looking at it with confusion. "I've seen more threatening creatures in my cereal."

"You would do well not to underestimate me." Masuhiro grinned. "Now I place a card facedown and activate the spell card Dark Hole!" A monstrous black hole appeared in the ground, and suddenly the white stone sank into it, disappearing into the void.

"What was that move for?" Ruka asked. "Masuhiro just destroyed his only monster."

"No…" Roku suddenly muttered.

"What?" Naomi asked him.

"What's wrong, Roku?" Asami wondered, but it was Vince who answered.

"If Masuhiro copied the deck I think he copied, then that stone…" Vince muttered with surprise.

"Correct, my old friend." Masuhiro laughed. "If my White Stone of Ancients is in my graveyard during my End Phase, on the turn it was destroyed I can special summon one monster from my deck… the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon (3000/2500)!" The stone re-emerged on the field, and suddenly it began transforming, taking on the shape of the dragon Yuga had seen only in text books and internet research. Blue Eyes White Dragon roared viciously, staring down the field with hungry eyes, ready to feed on all of Yuga's monsters.

"No way!" Shin gasped.

"Masuhiro actually copied Seto Kaiba's deck." Roku muttered.

"Blue-Eyes White Dragon." Yuga whispered, staring up at the creature.

"Yuga." Masuhiro said, dawning a serious face. "You will not win. You, or any duelist alive, cannot fight Seto Kaiba's deck! Face the engine of destruction, and lose!"

Yuga grit his teeth. "There's only one way to find out!" Yuga put his fingers on his deck, staring down at it. I never imagined I would face the Blue-Eyes White Dragon… but I am, and I need to play with my best to win this duel! "I'll draw! I place my Odd-Eyes Persona Dragon and my Odd-Eyes Mirage Dragon into my Pendulum Zones! With this, I can special summon multiple monsters from Level 2 to Level 7! Now, I Pendulum Summon my Level 4 Dragonpulse Magician (1800/900), and my Level 4 Xiangsheng Magician! Now, I overlay my two monsters! Formed from pitch black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon (2500/200)!"

"Yes!" Ruka cheered. "With Dark Rebellion's effect, Yuga can destroy Blue-Eyes!"

"I activate the effect of my Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!" Yuga announced. "By detaching both his overlay units, I can half the attack of one face up monster you control, and add that attack onto Dark Rebellion! I of course target your Blue-Eyes White Dragon (Blue-Eyes: 3000/2500 - 1500/2500, Dark Rebellion: 2500/2000 - 4000/2000)!"

"Go, Yuga!" Shin cheered.

"This'll deal a large chunk of damage to Masuhiro's life points as well." Roku nodded.

"Attack!" Yuga declared. "Destroy his Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

"Trap activate!" Masuhiro declared. "Negate Attack! Your attack is canceled and your battle phase ends!" Masuhiro then noticed Yuga running towards an action card. "Oh no you don't!" With a sudden click of his shoes, they popped out two wheels each, turning into roller skates. Masuhiro then rocketed toward, slamming into Yuga and grabbing the Action Card he was going for. Masuhiro looked at the card and snickered. "This wouldn't have helped you anyway, but it might help me later on."

Yuga growled. "Your Blue-Eyes is still weakened from my Dark Rebellion's effect. I place one card facedown and end my turn."

"Then I go!" Masuhiro declared, drawing a card. He looked at the card, and a large grin spread across his face. "Since my Blue-Eyes is now useless, I shall exchange him for another, more fearsome monster… Activate Ritual Spell, Chaos Form! I can use this card to Ritual Summon any Chaos monster I choose! I sacrifice my Blue-Eyes White Dragon to commence the ritual!"

"Wait, a Level 8 Ritual Monster?" Yuga asked.

"It can't be!" Roku shouted.

"Blue-Eyed Dragon of Legend, unleash the dormant chaotic power within you! Gain power equal to that of a God! Ritual Summon! Level 8, the Chaotic Engine of Destruction! Blue-Eyes Chaos Max Dragon (4000/0)!"

"But it's attack points are the same as Dark Rebellion's!" Ruka noticed. "Is he aiming for a tie?"

"Not quite." Vince muttered. "Look."

"I activate the Action Magic I stole from you earlier, Assault! When a monster I control battles your monster, my monster gains 600 attack points (Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon: 4000/0 - 4600/0)! Chaos MAX Dragon, destroy Dark Rebellion!"

"Yuga!" Ruka shouted.

"Trap Activate, Mirror Force!" Yuga shouted. "Your attack is rebounded back at you, and your monster is destroyed!"

"I won't let you!" Masuhiro screamed, clicking his shoes together again and jetting forward, seizing an Action Card. "Action Magic, Aggressive Attack! My monster gains 400 attack points and is immune to destruction via card effects. Additionally, if his original attack didn't destroy your monster, he can attack again (Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon: 4600/0 - 5000/0)! Chaos MAX Dragon, attack once more!"

"Dark Rebellion!" Yuga shouted. The black dragon soared down, and Yuga climbed on his back. The two soared into the air to a higher platform, where Yuga jumped off and grabbed an Action Card. "Action Magic Miracle! Any monster that attacks this turn cannot be destroyed by battle!" Dark Rebellion roared out, taking the attack. Yuga braced himself as he jumped down the platforms, eventually reaching the bottom. "However, I still take battle damage (Yuga: 4000 - 3000)."

Masuhiro smirked. "Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon's attack returns to normal (Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon: 5000/0 - 4000/0). Your turn, little Yuga."

Ruka sighed. "That was too close."

"It isn't over yet." Roku stated. "Yuga still has that Ritual Blue-Eyes to deal with."

"Why bother?" Vince asked. "Yuga has lost. There's no way he can face a monster that strong."

"Yuga will win." Ruka snapped at Vince, before turning back to look at Yuga, worry filling her eyes and voice. "He has to win…"

Yuga looked over at her and nodded, before turning back to Masuhrio. "My turn, I draw!" Yuga looked at the card, then looked back up at Masuhiro. "I use the previously set Pendulum Scale to Pendulum Summon my Level 7 Dragoncaller Magician (2400/1000)!" A human female wearing a blue and red outfit appeared, holding a dark green staff. "I activate Dragoncaller Magician's special effect! She can change her type to Dragon till the end of this turn, additionally, if she is used in a Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summon, the monster she is used for material on double's their original attack if the monster it battles is a Dragon type!"

"So Yuga is planning on summoning a monster strong enough to take out that Chaos MAX Dragon?" Naomi asked.

"If Yuga summons a powerful enough monster, any Dragon Masuhiro summons will be useless."

"But what monster could have that kind of power?" Ruka asked.

"I now active the spell card, The Phantom Knights of Possession!" Yuga declared. "An Xyz Monster on my side of the field now gains a level equal to another monster on my side of the field. With Dragoncaller Magician, I grant Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon a level of 7!"

Ruka then gasped, recalling Yuga changing Dark Rebellion's rank to a level before. "Yuga! No!"

"What is it?" Roku asked.

"Yuga is going to summon that dark monster of his!" Ruka cried, tears forming. "He's going to summon Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon!"

Yuga grit his teeth, his eyes flashing a little. "I overlay my Level 7 Dragoncaller Magician, and my Level 7 Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon! Magician of dragon's blood, dragon of pitch black darkness, combine your powers into one fearsome beast! Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 7! Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon (3000/2500!" Yuga then roared, his right eye becoming blood red and his left eye becoming poison green as a dark aura surrounded his body. "Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon now gains an effect thanks to Dragoncaller Magician! Because he is going to battle your Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon, his attack points double to 6000 (Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon: 3000/2500 - 6000/2500)! Attack, destroy his Chaos MAX Dragon!"

Masuhiro raced forward again as Odd-Eyes Rebellion tore through the sky, aiming to pierce Blue-Eyes. Masuhrio grabbed an Action Card just as Blue-Eyes was impaled. "Action magic, Damage Sponge! I only take half of the damage I would have taken for this battle!" Blue-Eyes Chaos Max Dragon exploded, and Mashurio screamed out as he was sent flying (Masuhiro: 4000 - 3000).

"You avoided serious damage there, but my Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon can now destroy any Dragon monster you throw against him." Yuga noted, glaring down at Masuhiro. "It's your turn now."

"Y-Yuga?" Ruka asked.

Yuga looked over at her. "I'm fine, Ruka."

"But…"

Yuga looked down at his open palmed hand, before clenching it into a fist. "This power of mine… I need it to defeat the Blue-Eyes. I know you hate it, but I summoned this power myself, just like I did when that mugger threatened Shin and I. If I summon it, it's mine to control!"

Yuga…" Ruka muttered.

Roku placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Yuga seems to be in control, sis. Let him do what he needs to do."

"Yeah, I mean thanks to that power, Yuga and I weren't robbed, or even worse shot." Shin stated. "Trust me, I hate seeing that expression on Yuga's face too, but as long as he calls the power himself, I think we got nothing to worry about." Shin nodded at Yuga, who nodded back. Masuhiro, however, began chuckling as he stood up.

"That… was impressive, I have to admit." Masuhrio grinned, looking at Yuga. "I never thought you could destroy my Blue-Eyes Chaos MAX Dragon… but that was only the beginning! Now you face the full power of my Blue-Eyes Deck!"

To Be Continued…

Yay, cliffhangers!

Alright, so the suspenseful drama was Roku and Ruka talking to Yuga. Not sure if it was written well AT ALL, so yeah let me know about that, because that is what I am going to rewrite if it is bad...

Anyway, new YuGiOh VRAINS Anime... Linked Summons and Link Monsters... yeah, not sure how much I like it. The game is completely changing because of it. On the one hand, you can't spam the field with Extra Deck monsters which is great, but on the other a lot of archetypes and decks are USELESS now! It basically makes all decks forced to have Linked Monsters included with them. Not too sure how much I like this new mechanic, and I even think because of it the metagame will be split into Pre-Linked Summon and Post-Linked Summon, so here is what I decided.

This started as an Arc-V story, with the Arc-V pre-linked summon metagame rules. It will continue to be that way unless Linked Summons and Link Monsters are awesome and are splashable in ALL decks, and in the case maybe Yuga's senior year will be an Arc-V/VRAINS crossover, but I wouldn't count on that.

In addition, this story might end at the conclusion of Year 1, and I will make Yuga's Second Year into a new sequel story, but I am not sure about that yet.

Thank you all for reading the chapter and my rambling!