Big thanks to Yuka Kuroshiro, Playerhood18, Ulrich362, Unknowedz, Demons Anarchy of Pride, Meemo, dvdryms, Big duels, Elbarto4000, SSJGamerYT, GamingGuy84 for reviewing the previous chapter!

Hopefully you'll enjoy reading this chapter.


HALLWAY – UNDERGROUND PRISON – AMOSIS CITY – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

"Ryoga Kamishiro..." Rowan murmured as he faced the said person.

"Finally, we meet again, Rowan." Shark glared at Rowan, almost not minding Shing beside the latter. "I'm going to have you return that body."

Rowan held his chest. "The owner of this body is already no more. You should've known that. Even if you expel me from this body, there will be nothing left but a corpse. What do wish to accomplish by retrieving this body?" He questioned.

"I know. But I can't let you to continue using that body to do your dirty works. I'll retrieve it and give a proper burial." Shark replied sharply. His eyes went colder.

"Do I need to remind you that it was your fault from the very beginning the owner of this body was sacrificed to me? And now you said you're going to take it back?" Rowan raised a brow with sarcastic tone in his every word, which angered the Xyz user more.

"Shut up! I'll take his body back no matter what the cost!" Shark said, activating his Duel Disk. No more talking.

"Fool." Rowan responded, activating his Duel Disk as well, followed by Shing.

PATH 2 – UNDERGROUND PRISON – AMOSIS CITY – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

After for who knows how long and defeated many guards along the way, Yuto and Yugo reached a tunnel. It was tighter than they thought, or maybe that was just the claustrophobia. They shimmied through, sparing a brief glance behind to make sure there wasn't anything wrong on the back and the two of them stick close together.

"Keep close," Yuto called back to Yugo. "We're almost there."

He took a left at the fork, shuffling along, almost sideways to fit. His chest felt tight, and every movement hurt. He found the final trapdoor, and paused to listen. He didn't hear anything up above...the coast was probably clear. Not many people walked in the back hallways where these tunnels lead. He pushed on the door and crawled through into the dark, empty hallway. He crouched in the dark near the door, tucked away in an alcove along the side of the wall. Yugo crawled through after him, and then the next. Yuto and Yugo kept an eye on both sides of the hallway.

"Looks like there are no guards here. Do you think we're on the right track?" Yugo asked Yuto who was holding the map.

"Yuya said that the path he, Yuri, and Yukiya took was the wrong one. And if this map was right, this should be the end of the path we took." Yuto answered.

"Let's continue—"

"Get out of the way!"

Yuto and Yugo almost jumped by the shout. They turned and saw several guards and prisoners coming towards them. Looking at how the prisoners were running with the guards behind them, Yuto and Yugo concluded that the prisoners were staging a prison break or some sort.

"Looks like I concluded too fast." Yuto said as he raised his Duel Disk, ready to duel. Yugo also did the same.

However, as they were closing in, Yuto noticed something else behind them. Yuto had barely stood up when something huge and heavy bowled him over, pinning him to the ground. He heard screams in front of him, felt blood splatter across his hands and onto the floor in front of him—claws were pressing into his back, and he felt hot breath slavering against his neck. He then saw Yugo was also pressed to the cold concrete by something. They couldn't see properly with their bodies being pressed down like this. Just who, or to be precise, what was pinning them down?

However, whatever were pinning them down suddenly shrieked as footsteps came. Whoever came caught their attention more and they removed themselves from Yuto and Yugo. Before Yuto and Yugo could collect themselves and see what was going on, something was thrown near them. Bodies. However, to Yuto and Yugo's shock, it wasn't just an ordinary body. It wasn't even a human. It was a beast. It was a monster. It was like…a Duel Monster. They were even more surprised when the beasts dissolved into energies and went to the people who were standing near. They shuddered when they recognized who they were.

"And now we got new pawns for us to use." Neon said as she looked at the two cards she was holding. They were the earlier monsters they have killed and turned their souls into their servants.

"Heidel sure help making more pawns for us. His Excellency would be pleased." Geist responded.

"What about these dead guards and prisoners? Should we make them pawns too?" Neon asked, looking down at a dead guard on her foot.

"The more the better, but if they're weak then they are useless for us. Elimination time." Geist said.

"Yugo, it's them! We can't just sit here!" Yuto whispered. He didn't know whether to fight them and beat them or just ignore them and get out from the room. In fact, he was thinking both choices were right yet also feels wrong. When his usual loud Synchro counterpart didn't respond to him, he turned to Yugo and surprised to see him petrified completely with his mouth gaped and his eyes widened in fear. His face was pale unlike his usual energetic mood.

"Yugo? What's wrong?" He asked, shaking him.

Yugo slowly recovered and shakily placed his hand on his Xyz counterpart's shoulder with strained expression. He then shook his head and fingered towards the door, telling him that they should just ignore them and quietly get out from the place. This, of course, surprised Yuto. His loud and energetic Synchro counterpart who would usually just got fired up and fight the enemies in front of him chose to run away? Why?

"I cannot do this… I definitely can't…" Yugo uttered.

"W-why?" Yuto asked in confusion. He never saw him like this.

"Because it's her!" Yugo pointed at Neon.

"Y-you're still bothered by the kiss that you don't want to see her to this extent?" Yuto asked again in disbelieve. He knew that Yugo hates Neon, but at the same time what she did last time also made him freak out this much of her?! I thought he had recovered during the school field trip!

"Shut up and let's just go!"

Unconsciously, the Synchro counterpart shouted out of fear. He immediately covered his mouth only at the moment too late as the Apophis servants obviously and easily spotted where they are hiding behind the bodies. Yuto brought out his Duel Disk, preparing to fight while Yugo, much to his shock, petrified…again.

"Yugo-kun~ No way, no way, you're here?!" Neon brightened up. "It's been a long time since we last met at Neo Domino City! Neon missed you so much ever since~" Neon opened her arms, as if wishing to hug him tight, which the Speedroid user returned with many steps back from the young woman.

"DON'T COME NEAR ME!" Yugo ran with his life on the line from the woman who was soon chasing him behind him while Yugo dragged Yuto by the wrist so tightly that Yuto thought it would leave a bruise.

Apparently, the Fabled won't let him get away so easily like she has said a while ago. Neon jumped high and landed in front of Yugo, blocking his way while Geist was blocking the other side behind Yuto.

"That's very rude! I've been waiting for our reunion, and you run away from me! Come on, come here and give this big sis a kiss to celebrate our reunion." Neon said flirtatiously as she took a step forward towards Yugo who stepped back in return.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Yugo yelled back while half-hiding behind Yuto, hissing at the woman like a cat feeling threatened.

"Neon, that's enough. Your attitude also giving me a creep here." Geist told the Demon Roar God user with a sigh. He genuinely felt sympathetic for the Synchro boy. No one even amongst them ever liked becoming the object of Neon's affection. The woman was annoying when she went all flirty. Simply watching her like that was enough to make him wanting to wretch.

"You're so boring, Geist. This is why I don't like you that much." Neon pouted.

"I'm glad that you don't like me. I don't think anyone will ever like being loved by you." Geist replied dryly. He scratched his head before focusing to the two teens again.

"Perfect timing. As ordered by His Excellency, we'll take the two of you with us. We'll need you if we want to find the Four Heavenly Dragons." Geist said, activating his Duel Disk.

Neon then jumped high again, landing beside Geist. In midair right before landing, she has also activated her Duel Disk. She licked her lips as she stared at Yugo, making the boy flinched again, which she found adorable.

"I'm going to have so much fun once we capture you." Neon said with a wink.

"We don't have a choice, let's get this over with quickly, Yugo!" Yuto told his Synchro counterpart.

"Do we really have to…?" Yugo was clearly reluctant. If possible, he never wants to see Neon for the rest of his life ever again. He didn't even want to hear her name.

"Didn't you say that you will beat her up the next time you fight her?! Show your tact!" Yuto scolded. He couldn't believe that his Synchro counterpart was acting this way.

"R-right…!" Yugo tried to focus on the anger he felt when Neon not only…made a move on him, but also threatened the children at the orphanage and Rin. Thinking about Rin, she would have scolded him harder if she was here.

"That's right! I will never forgive you for everything you did! I'll beat you to a pulp!" Yugo declared, regaining his spirit as he activated his Duel Disk, beginning the Duel.

[DUEL!]

"I'll take the first Turn! I Summon Phantom Knights Dusty Robe (ATK: 800 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3)!" Yuto summoned Dusty Robe in Attack Position.

"Since I control Level 3 Phantom Knights Monster, I can Special Summon Phantom Knights Silent Boots (ATK: 200 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 3) from my hand!" Yuto summoned Silent Boots in Attack Position as well. With two Level 3 Monsters on his Field, he opened the Overlay Network.

"I Overlay Dusty Robe and Silent Boots! Soul of the Knights who fall on the battlefield. Now revive, become the light that rend the darkness! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 3! Phantom Knights Break Sword (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1000 / RNK: 3)!" Yuto summoned Break Sword in Attack Position before picking a card in his hand.

"I activate Continuous Magic Card: Phantom Knights Menace! When we perform Xyz Summon, we can inflict 200 damages to our opponent!" As Yuto announced, Break Sword pointed its sword at Geist and Neon, sending two purple energy spheres that the two evaded with a jump back.

GEIST & NEON LP: 4000 = 3800

"I Set 2 cards and end my Turn." Yuto concluded.

"My Turn! From my hand, I summon Magibullet Musketeer Caspar (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 3)!" Geist summoned Musketeer Caspar in Attack Position.

"Musketeer Caspar's effect! Once, during either player's Turn, I can activate Magibullet Magic or Trap Cards from my hand. I activate Magic Card: Magibullet Cross-Dominator! If I control a Magibullet Monster, I can target 1 face-up Monster on the Field. Until the end of this Turn its ATK and DEF becomes 0 and its effects are negated!" Geist targeted Break Sword. Caspar pointed its gun at the Phantom Knights monster, shooting it. The bullets planted inside Break Sword then exploded, making holes in the Phantom Knights Monster's body and weakening it whose ATK and DEF were reduced to nothing.

"When Magic or Trap Card is activated in this card's column, I can add 1 Magibullet from my Deck to my hand but with different name." Geist added a new Magibullet monster into his hand.

"Battle! I attack Break Sword with Magibullet Musketeer Caspar!" Geist declared attack. Caspar pointed its gun once more at its designated target, this time with more powerful shots. Before the bullets could reach the Phantom Knights monster, Yuto pressed the screen of his Duel Disk.

"Trap Card: Phantom Fog Blade! I negate your monster's attack, and that monster cannot attack, be attacked, or targeted by card effects as long as this card is active on the Field!" Yuto negated the attack as a phantom sword strikes Caspar, sealing its movement completely.

"Nice counter. I set 1 card and end my Turn." Geist concluded.

"My Turn! While I control no Monster, I can Special Summon Speedroid Beigomax (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1600 / LV: 3)!" Yugo Special Summoned Beigomax in Attack Position.

"And then, I Normal Summon Speedroid Red-Eyed Dice (ATK: 100 / DEF: 100 / LV: 1)!" Lastly, Yugo lastly summoned Red-Eyed Dice also in Attack Position.

"I tune Beigomax with Red-Eyed Dice! The thousand-faced shadow of the maze, slash through the chaotic darkness with your sharp blade! Synchro Summon! Level 4! High-Speedroid Sharp Sword Revolt Rip Zuru (ATK: 1300 / DEF: 1600 / LV: 4)!" Yugo summoned Rip Zuru in Attack Position.

"Magic Card: Speedroid Taser! I destroy a Trap Card I control on the Field to add a Speedroid Monster from my Deck to my hand!" Yugo activated his Magic Card from his hand, destroying Phantom Fog Blade to not only add a Speedroid Monster from his Deck to his hand, but also to allow his monster to attack Caspar.

"Battle! I attack Magibullet Musketeer Caspar with Rip Zuru!" Yugo declared attack. Rip Zuru moved, and in a flash, it appeared in front of Caspar like a ninja. With its arm blade, the High-Speedroid Monster strikes the Magibullet monster, destroying it.

GEIST & NEON LP: 3800 = 3700

"Since this is a Tag Duel, Break Sword is my monster too! I attack directly with Break Sword!" Yugo declared attack with Yuto's monster. Break Sword swung its sword down at Geist and Neon who quickly jumped out of the way as Break Sword's broadsword crushed the floor, creating quite a huge hole from the wave impact of its power.

GEIST & NEON LP: 3700 = 1700

"I set a card and end my Turn." Yugo concluded. He smirked at the two opponents. "Take that! We're gonna take you out here in this Duel once and for all!"

"Fufufu. It's good to be so energetic and confident, Yugo-kun, but don't forget that neither of us have shown our full power." Neon reminded, her eyes narrowed coldly. Yugo shuddered as he could feel murderous intent from her eyes. Despite this, Yugo still stood straight like nothing happened. Neon giggled. She was liking this boy more and more.

"My Turn! During my Main Phase I can discard 1 Demon Roar God Monster to special summon Demon Roar God Beast Nozuchi (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 800 / LV: 2) from my hand!" Neon discarded Lurrier to special summon Nozuchi in Attack Position.

"When Demon Roar God Lurrie (ATK: 200 / DEF: 400 / LV: 1) is discarded to the Graveyard, I can special summon it!" Neon summoned Lurrie that she just discarded in Attack Position on her Field.

"And then I summon Tuner Monster, Demon Roar God Beast Chawa (ATK: 200 / DEF: 100 / LV: 1) from my hand!" She summoned Chawa in Attack Position from her hand, alarming Yugo and Yuto of what's going to come.

"I tune Nozuchi and Lurrie with Chawa! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 4! Demon Roar God Beast Kudabbe (ATK: 2200 / DEF: 1100 / LV: 4)!" Neon summoned Kudabbe in Attack Position.

"Battle! I attack Break Sword with Kudabbe!" Neon declared attack. The small white demon on Kudabbe's back flew towards Break Sword, folllowed by Kudabbe. The white demon spread dusks that brought Break Sword to its knees. Kudabbe raised its feet and then jumped, stomping the Xyz Monster to its destruction.

YUTO & YUGO LP: 4000 = 3800

"I activate Rank-Up Magic: Phantom Knights Charge! When a Phantom Knights Xyz Monster I control is destroyed by Battle, I can special summon a Phantom Knights Xyz Monster that two ranks higher from Extra Deck using this card and the destroyed monster as materials!" Yuto opened his second facedown card immediately after his monster was destroyed, changing the card and Break Sword into energies that went into the Overlay Network.

"Rank-Up Xyz Change! Come forth! Phantom Knights – Assembly Dragoon (ATK: 3100 / DEF: 2300 / RNK: 5 / ORU: 2)!" Yuto summoned Assembly Dragoon in Attack Position.

"Not bad. I like you. I set a card and end my Turn." Neon concluded.

"Don't want to be liked by her, Yuto! Plus, you already have Ruri!" Yugo told his Xyz counterpart as well as reminding him.

"Calm down, Yugo. You're fussing too much." Yuto sighed as his Synchro counterpart's unnecessary concern.

"That's right, Yugo-kun. You're still my number 1." Neon replied, making Yugo paled once more.

"Enough." Yuto suddenly said, halting them. His eyes shifted to the bodies. "Before we start again, I want to ask, what were those beasts that killed these people?"

Yugo blinked at Yuto's question. Now that he mentioned it, his curiosity kicked in again. He wanted to know too just what exactly these beasts were and why they were down here in the first place.

"You mean these? They are Duel Monsters who were formerly humans." Neon answered while showing the cards of the beasts.

"What?! Duel Monsters who were formerly humans?!" Yuto exclaimed in disbelieve.

"The Oracle hasn't told you yet? Since ancient times there are many cases of humans who died and then be reborn as Duel Monsters given the right trigger." Geist explained further.

"Humans…reborn as Duel Monsters? That's…" Yugo didn't know what to say at the information. It sounded absurd, but with the many bizarre things that happened in this dimension, it didn't feel so far-fetched.

"We didn't do this to them though. Heidel was the one who conducted experiments here to create powerful Duel Monsters to defeat us." Geist revealed.

"Heidel Aberforth?! This is his doing?!" Yuto exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes. He is conducting experiment to find a way to create powerful Due Monsters aside from natural means." Neon nodded in confirmation.

"Natural means? What do you mean?" Yugo asked.

"You see originally there were only three ways for humans to become Duel Monsters. First is humans died because of something and presumably their strong souls or strong feelings allowed them to be reborn as Duel Monsters naturally. Second is through His Excellency's power. His Excellency has the power to forcefully turned humans' souls into Duel Monsters serving him. Third is through Ma'at's power. Like His Excellency, Ma'at has the power to turn humans' souls into Duel Monsters at will. However, unlike His Excellency, Ma'at would ask for the souls' consent first." Geist explained while raising three fingers for each of the way humans could be reborn as Duel Monsters.

"But Heidel have found two new ways to turn humans into Duel Monsters. First is by killing the human to extract his soul and then create pressure that would turn the soul into Duel Monster. Second is by mixing the blood of Duel Monsters who manifested physically in this world into human bodies. Those beasts you saw were the latter case." Neon explained. The ones who became beasts earlier had been injected with Duel Monster's blood that caused severe mutation, like a chimera. Once they became hybrids as one could call it, they were killed in that form, turning them into a complete Duel Monster.

"You're saying he's sacrificing the lives of the people here for his own ends? Heh, he is no different from you. Are you sure the two of you are not allies?" Yugo asked sarcastically with clear disgust on his face. Prisoner or not, that doesn't give anyone the right to take their lives like this. This was too cruel.

Geist snorted at the remark. "Please. Don't compare His Excellency and us to that lowly human. Although, as much as it pains me to admit it, we do have a little bit same way of thinking." He spat back. The moment he first lay his eyes on Heidel, he hated the man. And not only him, the rest of his brethren were the same. They didn't like the man either. He was offended to be compared with that man. While he admitted they have similarities, they were superior to him.

Yuto and Yugo gritted their teeth and clenched their fists so tight they almost bleed. Their bodies were trembling in anger they had never experienced before. The war a year ago, what Academia had done, were horrible. It had robbed the happiness and lives of countless people. But this? As far as they knew, not counting the Doctor and Sanders, the Academia never gone this far. Robbing people their lives as humans as they were treated as guinea pigs and then enslaved them when they were reborn as Duel Monsters. Academia's atrocity felt pale all of a sudden in comparison with this.

"Playing with human lives as you please and force their souls to serve you… I'll never let either you or Heidel get away with this!" Yuto declared, becoming all more determined to win.

"Yeah! We'll defeat every last one of you freaks! We won't let even a single one of you get away!" Yugo added, glaring at the two opponents.

"My Turn! I attack Demon Roar God Beast Kudabbe with Assembly Dragoon!" Yuto declared attack at the Synchro Monster. Assembly Dragoon ran forward, twirling its spear in preparation to stab Kudabbe.

Neon opened her facedown card. "Trap Card: Blight of the Demon Roar God! I banish a Demon Roar God Monster in my Graveyard to negate the attack on a Demon Roar God I control and lower the ATK of the opposing Monster equal to the banished monster!" She banished Nozuchi, negating the attack and lowered Assembly Dragoon's ATK to 1900.

"Don't get too cocky now, boys. We may look like this, but we have thousand years' experience than you do. You think we can beat us so easily? The last time was because we were holding back." Neon reminded. Her voice was colder than before and her eyes were more serious.

"There are times that experience doesn't matter. And we'll make sure of that now. I set a card and end my Turn." Yuto concluded.

"My Turn! From my hand, I special summon Magibullet Musketeer Star (ATK: 1300 / DEF: 1700 / LV: 4)!" Geist summoned Star in Attack Position.

"I activate Magic Card: Magibullet – Never-Endorphin. I double the ATK and DEF of Musketeer Star!" Geist increased Musketeer Star's ATK to 2600 and DEF to 3400.

"When a Magic or Trap is activated in Musketeer Star's column, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Magibullet Monster from my Deck in Defense Position." Geist summoned Magibullet Musketeer Calamity in Defense Position.

"Following Calamity's effect, I activate Continuous Trap Card: Magibullet – Devil's Deal from my hand! Magibullet Monster I control cannot be destroyed by card effect." A red transparent barrier briefly appeared surrounding all of Geist's Magibullet monsters, showing they received protection.

"As a Trap Card is activated in Musketeer Calamity's column, I activate its effect. I can special summon a Magibullet Monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position." Geist revived Caspar in Attack Position.

"I release Magibullet Musketeer Caspar to Advance Summon! Appear! Level 8! Magibullet Demon Zamiel (ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 8)!" Geist summoned his ace Monster in Attack Position. Like other Magibullet monsters, it also shared the same effect, allowing Geist to activate a Magic or Trap from his hand again.

"I activate Magic Card: Bullet Power! I can increase the ATK of a Magibullet monster I control equal to the ATK of another Magibullet I control and then draw 1 card!" Geist increased Demon Zamiel's ATK equal to Star's doubled ATK, making the former's current ATK 5100. He then added a card from his Deck.

"Lastly, I activate Equip Spell: Magibullet's Robe! Magibullet Monster I control cannot be targeted by Magic or Trap effects." Geist equipped the card to his ace Monster, draping a red robe with the same blood color as its wings on Demon Zamiel's back.

"Battle! I attack Assembly Dragoon with Magibullet Demon Zamiel!" Geist declared attack. Demon Zamiel pointed its two muskets at Assembly Dragoon. Zamiel let out a gleeful laugh before finally making its shots. Magic Circles appeared in front of the two guns as the Magibullet Monster shot its bullets. The Xyz Monster's body was pushed behind by the barrage of bullets that created holes in its body. Demon Zamiel made one last shot that hit its head, sending Assembly Dragoon fall to the ground on its back before disappearing.

YUTO & YUGO LP: 3800 = 600

"I end my Turn." Geist stared calmly at his opponents. Following his end of Turn, his Monsters' ATKs returned to normal. "Now, you just said you're not going to let us get away, but I've just turn the tide. What are you going two going to do now?"

Yugo growled. "Don't talk like you're gonna win for sure! We can still do more!" He retorted and started his Turn.

"My Turn! From my hand, I summon Tuner Monster Speedroid Den-Den Archduke (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 600 / LV: 3)!" Yugo summoned Archduke in Attack Position.

"I activate Magic Card: Hot Dice! The Level of a Monster I control is increased equal to the number of dice shown!" Yugo summoned a red-colored dice and stared to spin it. The dice spin for around 10 seconds before it stopped at number 1, increasing Rip Zuru's Level to 5. Yugo smiled widely at the result.

"I tune High-Speedroid Sharp Sword Revolt Rip Zuru with Speedroid Den-Den Archduke! Spread those wings shining with scared light. Strike down your enemies with that radiance! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 8, Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 8)!" Yugo summoned Crystal Wing in Attack Position.

"Battle! I attack Magibullet Demon Zamiel with Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon! When Crystal Wing battled Level 5 or higher Monster, it gains the target's ATK!" Yugo increased his dragon's ATK to 5500 as Crystal Wing began its signature attack, flying towards the demonic monster.

"Unfortunately, boy, that won't be enough." Geist stated as he stared calmly at the incoming attack, so did Neon who didn't look perturbed.

"What?!" Yugo exclaimed in confusion.

"I activate Bullet Power's effect in Graveyard! By banishing this card, Magibullet Monster I control cannot be destroyed and the damage is halved!" Geist banished his Magic Card from his Graveyard, enabling Zamiel to block and endure Crystal Wing's attack.

GEIST & NEON LP: 1700 = 200

"Urgh...! Damn it! I end my Turn." Yugo cursed. He almost has them!

"Don't fret, Yugo-kun. I'll make sure to take good care of you once this Duel is over." Neon told the younger boy. To her, victory has already been assured.

"My Turn! From my hand, I summon Demon Roar God Beast Cerburrel (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 400 / LV: 2)!" Neon summoned Cerburrel in Attack Position.

"Yugo-kun, now I shall show you my strongest Monster!" Neon's eyes glinted with excitement, her grin was close to manic.

"I tune Magibullet Musketeer Star and Demon Roar God Kedubbe with Demon Roar God Beast Cerburrel! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Demon Roar God Leviathan (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 10)!" Neon summoned her strongest ace monster in Attack Position.

"Also, I activate Equip Spell: Demon Roar God's Golden Armor! Demon Roar God Monster equipped with this card gain 400 ATK and can attack twice!" Neon equipped it to Leviathan, changing its armor and increased its ATK to 3400.

"What?! It can attack twice?!" Yugo exclaimed in disbelieve. If Leviathan attacks, he and Yuto would be finished. Yugo shook his head. No, they still have his Crystal Wing's effect.

"I'm going to play safe for this one, Yugo-kun." Neon stated, unnerving Yugo. "I activate Cerburrel's second effect. I banish it from Graveyard to negate my opponent's monster's effect until my next Standby Phase."

"What?!"

"Battle! I attack Cyrstal Wing Synchro Dragon with Demon Roar God Leviathan!" Neon declared attack, directing Leviathan to the Synchro Monster whose effect has been negated. Leviathan flapped its red wings and flew towards the dragon. Leviathan's hands were covered in deep crimson aura with the monster's hands formed into fists.

"When my opponent's monster declares attack, I can activate Rainbow Kuriboh's effect from my hand! I can equip it to my opponent, and that Monster cannot attack!" Yuto equipped Rainbow Kuriboh to Leviathan, effectively stopping its attack.

"I give you an A for stopping my attack, but can you finish us off in your next Turn?" Neon said as she revealed her last card in her hand and activated.

"I activate Magic Card: Fusion Spring. For the next three Turns, players cannot summon monsters from Extra Deck except Fusion Monsters." Neon revealed, surprising Yuto and Yugo, especially the latter.

"I end my Turn. Now, feel free to make your move. But you cannot summon monsters from Extra Deck except Fusion Monsters, and as far as we know, both of you are not using Fusion Monsters." Neon laughed softly. She was enjoying the troubled look on Yuto's face.

Inwardly, Yugo was calm. Their mentors have already warned them about Neon's card. She usually will use that card once she summoned her strongest Monster to prevent them from summoning any monster that could overpower it. So, in preparation, Yuno, with the help of Ryo, had given them at least one Fusion Monster just in case. But of course, neither Neon and Geist knew of this. Yuto would surely take them by surprise...

"Yuto? What's wrong?" Yugo noticed the conflicted expression on Yuto's face. Why did he look like that? He shouldn't have any problem. They could still win this Duel, so why Yuto looked so troubled?

"Even if you have Fusion Monster, you can't use it, right?" Geist referred to Yuto, making the two boys turned to him.

"You can't use it. You don't want to use it because it's the same Summoning Method used by the people who destroyed your hometown and crushed your happiness in the war a year ago in your dimension. Am I wrong?" Geist recalled what Yuto had been through. He and his comrades had dug information that they thought would be useful for them. Yuto's experience during the war was one of them. From Rowan's observation, it wasn't difficult to tell that he and his friends refuse to use Fusion Summon for what happened.

"Yuto, you didn't include the Fusion Monster that you got?!" Yugo questioned, realizing what was wrong.

"I'm sorry, Yugo...but I..." Yuto looked away from Yugo. He couldn't do it. Even though he understood, he just couldn't bring himself to include the monster into his Deck. Whenever he saw the Fusion cards aside from Yuya's, it brought back those horrid memories. He felt there was malice as much as the ones who crushed his happiness that time. It reminded him of the pain he had, opening old wounds.

Geist chuckled, covering his eyes with his hand as he started to laugh quietly.

"You kids all talked about forgiveness is the only way to end conflict, saying by forgiving everybody can live together in peace. But here you are, refusing to use Fusion Summon even though you said you've forgive them and put the past behind. But no, you actually still can't forgive those who have hurt you. No, you don't want to forgive them. Deep inside, you actually still want to exact revenge on them, making them suffer with your own hands." Geist's eyes narrowed sinisterly at Yuto as he spoke. His every word stabbed through Yuto in his heart.

"No! That's not true! I don't want to hurt anybody!" Yuto denied immediately.

"Then why do you still refuse to use Fusion Summon? If you have truly forgiven them, then you'd normally would have put the past behind you. You won't be bothered by a simple Summoning Method. But if you still avoid using it like a plague and merely seeing them brought back the memories, doesn't that mean that you haven't forgiven them? You talked about forgiveness but you're doing exactly the opposite." Geist smiled slyly as Yuto's condition started to get into disorder.

"That's...I...I'm..." Yuto's rebuttal died in his throat. It was true that the thought of using Fusion Summoning irks him, and seeing the card reminded him of the pain he experienced. He was reluctant to admit it, he didn't want to admit it, but maybe that was exactly the case? Geist actually had a point? Deep inside he actually never truly forgives them? He actually wanted to seek revenge despite what he said?

"Snap out of it, Yuto! I can't say that I understand exactly your feelings, but this is not the time to hesitate! We must stop these two!" Yugo shouted, bringing Yuto back to reality. Before he knew it, Yuto has been holding his breath.

"What exactly can you do? You can't summon any monster from Extra Deck that is not Fusion Monster and Crystal Wing's effect has been negated. You can't wipe out our LP." Neon pointed out.

"Use Crystal Wing and attack Demon Zamiel, Yuto!" Yugo instructed his Xyz counterpart to do Battle Phase.

"Demon Zamiel?" Yuto turned to Geist's monster. Demon Zamiel only has 2500 ATK, lower than Crystal Wing. If Crystal Wing destroyed it, Geist and Neon would receive 500 damage, depleting their LP completely. But from both Geist and Neon's expression, they have something behind their sleeves to prevent that.

"Trust me, Yuto! Just do it!" Yugo told Yuto almost in demanding way.

Yuto stared into Yugo's eyes and saw the unyielding faith and confidence within them. Did that mean Yugo has a plan himself?

"Kuri~!"

Yuto blinked and looked at Rainbow Kuriboh on his side. Rainbow Kuriboh was also urging him to do as Yugo told him to. It was telling him to trust his Synchro counterpart. It also gestured to the card in his hands. Yuto reassessed the cards in his hand and then to the monsters on the Field. Yuto closed his eyes tightly for a second before he opened them again, and then he pointed at Demon Zamiel. He would always trust his counterparts to have his back!

"Battle! I attack Magibullet Demon Zamiel with Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon!" Yuto declared attack as Yugo told him to. Crystal Wing launched forward, ready to strike down the demon monster.

"I activate Magibullet Musketeer Star's effect in Graveyard! I banish it to halve the opposing Monster's ATK!" Geist banished Musketeer Star to halve Crystal Wing's ATK to 1500, which will be lower than Zamiel and Crystal Wing will be destroyed instead.

"I activate Quick-Play Spell: Wings of White Winds! WIND Monster I control has their ATK doubled until the damage calculation ends!" Yugo activated a card from his hand, restoring Crystal Wing's original ATK.

"Too naïve! I activate Trap Card: Demon Roar God's Cursed Seal! When the opponent's monster declares attack while I control a Demon Roar God monster, I can activate this card from hand to negate the attack!" Neon activated her Trap Card.

"Quick Play Spell: Kuriboh Detonation! I destroy as many Kuriboh-type monsters and Kuriboh Token as I have, and then destroy cards my opponent controls, up to the number of Kuriboh-type monsters and Kuriboh Tokens destroyed by this effect!" Yuto destroyed Neon's Leviathan, which negated her Trap Card's effect as she no longer controls Demon Roar God monster.

"W-what?!" Geist and Neon exclaimed. They didn't have any card left that can stop the attack.

"This is the end!" Yuto and Yugo said together as Crystal Wing destroyed the Magibullet Monster, blowing Geist and Neon back with the strong winds blown from the dragon's wings as their LP was completely reduced to 0.

GEIST & NEON LP: 200 = 0

Just as they defeated their opponents and ready to question them, however, the ceiling above them crashed down, revealing Rowan and Shing riding their respective monsters with Shark chasing after them in tow, riding on Shark Drake.

"Shark-san?!" Yuto exclaimed in shock.

"Yuto?! Yugo?!" Shark noticed his student and his friend after hearing his name being called. He landed beside them.

"Why are you here?!" Yuto asked.

"I'm hunting them down!" Shark pointed at Rowan and Shing who were helping Geist and Neon to stand up.

"Rowan...Shing...I thought you've done your job and went home?" Neon asked as she leaned on Rowan. Crystal Wing's last attack did a number on her and Geist. Her face was even got cut! How dare they hurt a woman's face! Her beautiful face!

"We unexpectedly met him, so we have no choice. On the plus side, we came at the right moment, aren't we?" Shing said with dismissive waves, figuring what was going on judging from Geist and Neon's beat up condition.

"Shut it, Shing!" Neon protested. She was not in the mood for taunt.

"We're retreating." Rowan said as they pressed the buttons on their Duel Disk touch screens. Their bodies began to disperse into particles of data. Unlike Yuya's and the others who were blue-colored, theirs were black-colored.

"Wait!" Shark shouted, but it was already too late.

"You still have times to hunt me down, Ryoga. We'll meet again for sure if you still wish to retrieve this container. You should focus on training yourself and your student until then." Rowan told Shark, tilting at Yuto when said 'student', which caught Geist's attention.

Geist once again let out a sly smile as he stared at both Shark and Yuto.

"Student, huh? Hypocrite truly fits together with hypocrite." Geist said before he was teleported completely with the others.

Yuto frowned upon hearing Geist's parting words. He held his left arm and looked down, pondering what Geist told has told him.

"Do I...really refuse to forgive what happened a year ago...? Do I want...actually revenge...?"


NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

Value of Life – Yuya, Yuri, and Yukiya were waiting for the others at the rendezvous point, but are then confronted by Tsukasa, Dante, and Shiki. Before a Duel could commence between them, Yuno, Jounochi, and Carl arrived to help.


FANFIC ORIGINAL CARD MEMO:

Speedroid Taser: Destroy a Trap Card you control on the Field to add a Speedroid Monster from your Deck to your hand. (Magic Card)

Phantom Knights Charge: When a Phantom Knights Xyz Monster you control is destroyed by Battle, you can special summon a Phantom Knights Xyz Monster that two ranks higher from Extra Deck using this card and the destroyed monster as materials. (Rank-Up Magic Card)

Blight of the Demon Roar God: Banish a Demon Roar God Monster in your Graveyard to negate the attack on a Demon Roar God you control and lower the ATK of the opposing Monster equal to the banished monster. (Trap Card)

Hot Dice: The Level of a Monster you control is increased equal to the number of dice shown. (Magic Card)

Demon Roar God's Golden Armor: Demon Roar God Monster equipped with this card gain 400 ATK and can attack twice. (Equip Spell Card)

Fusion Spring: For the next three Turns, players cannot summon monsters from Extra Deck except Fusion Monsters. (Magic Card)

Wings of White Winds: WIND Monster I control has their ATK doubled until the damage calculation ends

Demon Roar God's Cursed Seal: When the opponent's monster declares attack while I control a Demon Roar God monster, I can activate this card from hand to negate the attack

Kuriboh Detonation: Destroy as many Kuriboh-type monsters and Kuriboh Token as you have, and then destroy cards your opponent controls, up to the number of Kuriboh-type monsters and Kuriboh Tokens destroyed by this effect. (Quick-Play Spell)


Finished. There is no project at the moment, so I have plenty of times to write new chapter. I'm also in a very high spirit and couldn't help but wanting to write the new chapter and upload it as soon as possible. Sorry that I didn't show Shark vs Rowan and Shing. I'm still saving Shark for later. Similarly, as Yuzu and Ruri, Yuto and Yugo haven't had winning for a while, so I decided to make them win in this chapter. For those who were expecting Tsukasa, Dante, and Shiki dueling against Yuya, Yuri, and Yukiya, I'm sorry but that won't be happening now. I decided to give Yuno and Jounouchi some action, and also Carl's debut Duel.

Changes in effects and fanfic original cards will be included later. Sorry for any error/ mistakes in the Duel, I'll fix it later.

Please don't forget to review this chapter~! :D