Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Destiny Gears

by Diabolic Tracer

Roxana Petit was a normal student, nothing really stood out about her. However, due to a rather unexpected and weird twist of fate including a car incident, she woke up in a place she knows nothing about. Now on a journery to find a way back to her home, join her as she crosses paths with Yusaku Fujiki and tries to learn how to duel.

36. Chapter 36

Puppets' Last Dance

Proxy's POV

"Have you thought what you'll do after we finish here?" I asked Blaze Rose, trying to lighten up the mood a little bit.

"I never had much of a future to think about, so no." Blaze Rose replied.

My body trembled. How was she able to say something like that so calmly? If she had no future, then why did she come so far, why was she fighting beside everyone else? Was Blaze Rose doing all of this just because she was ordered to do so by Evan and Avice? I could never imagine myself living the way any of them did, fighting, putting my life on the line, without a clear purpose to grasp onto. I would break apart if I had to put myself in their shoes.

"I guess you're going to try and find your family after this is over, right?" Blaze Rose looked back at me.

I just nodded. There was no need for words, she already knew my intentions well, when I accepted help from Rocketeer, our supposed-to-be sworn enemy, I did so because I wanted to find a way home. He used the last moments of his life to give me a chance, to give me all the information he was able to gather about how to go home. Because of his sacrifice and because of the future, I had to fight and survive this battle.

"I'm sorry that I won't be around to help you after this." I apologized.

"Help? Please, you've been the nothing more than a drawback for all of us." She told me with a smirk, a gesture that I believe meant she was just joking with me.

"That's a rather rude way to point out Proxy's lack of any significant skills." Aqua popped out of my Duel Disk, 'trying' to defend my pride. But in reality, her words stabbed be worse that Blaze Rose's did.

"I think that you're doing more damage than good, Aqua." Firera showed up as well with a sigh. "Along with that, there's a Knight of Hanoi about to show up from behind that building on the left."

"So an AI created by the Ignis is able to tell my presence?" MetalX walked out from behind the building that Firera was referring to and stopped in front of us. "I must say that I'm impressed and happy to know that the Ignis were able to develop their own technology so much."

"Wait, aren't you the guy that dueled Playmaker and Blue Angel?" Blaze Rose asked, nonchalantly. "Don't you think that you've gone too low trying to ambush your enemies?"

"I wasn't trying to ambush you." MetalX crossed his arms. "I was just about to come to this location when I heard your voices, so I chose to stand back and wait for you to finish your talk before I came out and challenged you to a duel."

"He's telling the truth." Aqua looked up at me. "I didn't detect a lie in his words."

"We have to duel either way, so it doesn't matter," I replied and held up my Duel Disk. "I'm sorry for this, MetalX, but you'll have to either step out of the way or face defeat!"

"What brave words," MetalX said back. "You're trying to put on the façade of a strong-willed warrior, but I can see that you're actually scared."

I won't try to deny that. I'm terrified. Losing this duel meant losing my consciousness, my life, everything I had was placed on the life – the most real life or death situation that I was faced with since I woke up in this world.

"How about a three-way duel then?" MetalX continued talking. "Each one of us will have a separated graveyard and Life Points, also, neither of us will be allowed to attack at their first turn. The only downside is that due to the Master Duel field layout, the two of you'll need to share a field and a single Extra Monster Zone."

"That's a very polite way to challenge us." Blaze Rose said. "You're really making this whole thing a lot easier for us. Right, Proxy?"

"Yeah," I nodded.

MetalX might not understand it, but since I and Blaze Rose ran oGear decks, we had more synergy with each other's deck than Playmaker and Blue Angel had with theirs during their duel against this specific Knight of Hanoi. We had the advantage in this situation.

"Duel!"

『MetalX Hand: 5 LP: 4000 (VS) Blaze Rose Hand: 5 LP: 4000 & Proxy Hand: 5 LP: 4000』

"I'm going to take the first turn." MetalX pressed a card in his hand, activating it. "I activate the Continuous Spell, Shien's Dojo, which gains a Bushido Counter every time I summon a Six Samurai monster, then I activate Shien's Smoke Signal to add a Level Three or lower Sixth Samurai from my deck to my hand. I choose Legendary Six Samurai – Kageri and Normal Summon it, then through its effect, I can Special Summon Secret Six Samurai – Kizaru (Lv.4, ATK: 1900) and Kizaru's effect upon being Special Summoned, allows me to add Legendary Secret of the Six Samurai from my deck to the hand."

"He's going hard from the start," Firera commented.

"Maybe, but I watched a recorded reply of the duel." Blaze Rose joined in. "He prefers to use the old school summoning methods, but he doesn't have the necessary materials for a Fusion, Synchro or Xyz Summon."

"While that's true, I did grow up since my duel against Playmaker," MetalX said back. "I've learned many things from that battle and changed my deck to better fit the situation. I'm going to show it all to you in due time, but before that, I activate Asceticism of the Six Samurai, targeting Kageri. My Spell's effect will now Special Summon a Six Samurai with the same attack points from my deck!"

"So, two hundred attack points?" That was far from threatening.

"Are you even paying attention to your opponent's effects?" Firera asked me. "When there's another Six Samurai on the field, Kageri gains fifteen hundred attack points, which means that he can now summon a monster with seventeen hundred attack points."

"Your AI is right. WithAsceticism of the Six Samurai's effect, I Special Summon Secret Six Samurai Douji (Lv.4, ATK: 1700) from my deck and use the effect of Legendary Secret of the Six Samurai from my hand to Special Summon it on my field since a Secret Six Samurai was called out."

"And now he's capable of doing an Xyz Summon." Blaze Rose groaned. "I shouldn't have spoken so soon."

"Indeed, you shouldn't have." MetalX nodded. "But now the time has come. Allow me to show you. Appear, the circuit of thousand blades!"

MetalX threw his arms toward the sky and a circuit appeared in front of him. I looked at Blaze Rose, she said that he favored the other summoning methods, so why was he doing a Link Summon?

"Arrowheads confirmed!" MetalX shouted. "Summoning conditions are two Warrior monsters, including a Six Samurai monster! I setLegendary Six Samurai – Kageri andSecret Six Samurai – Kizaru in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Great General of the Six Samurai (ATK: 1000, Link-2)!"

A large warrior in dark armor with glowing lights all over it stepped out of the circuit and in the Left Extra Monster Zone. It wasn't a monster that MetalX have used in his last duel, and that was a reason enough to feel unsafe.

"When Great General is Link Summoned, I can discard one card from my hand," He sent the last card in his hand to the graveyard. "And then, I add a card which lists Bushido Counters from my deck to the hand. I choose Gateway of the Six and activate it!"

"But you need Bushido Counters in order to use it!" I pointed out. "And the only way to gather Bushido Counters is to Special Summon monsters, but with your hand at zero, there's not much you can summon anymore!"

"You've really not been paying attention, have you?" Aqua sighed, while Firera shook her head. "His other Continuous Spell was on the field since the beginning, accumulating Bushido Counters. He had it all planned out."

"Maybe you should let your Ignis duel instead of you," MetalX called out. "She seems to be much smarter than you. Thanks to Shien's Dojo's effect working in the background until now, I've already gathered five counters, and now I'm going to gather some more! I overlay the Level Four Secret Six Samurai Douji and Legendary Secret of the Six Samurai!"

A green circuit shaped like an X appeared behind MetalX and absorbed the two monsters into itself, before exploding with energy.

"The young ruler of the clan, take your blade and reborn yourself into a new legend! Xyz Summon! Shadow of the Six Samurai – Shien (RANK: 4, ATK: 2500)!"

A warrior in red armor with a purple robe over his defense and a katana in his left hand appeared out of the circuit and landed at Great General's Bottom Right marker.

"When a Six Samurai monster is summoned next to a zone Great General points to, a Bushido Counter is placed on it, and every time a Six Samurai monster is summoned at all, Shien's Dojo and Gateway of the Six grant me three more counters! Now I use four counters to activate Gateway of the Six's effect and add Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan to my hand, and since I control a Six Samurai with a different name, I can Special Summon him!"

"That's bad!" I shouted. He needed four counters to search and all of his cards were able to collect them easily. He would be able to just keep on searching without care!

"Through my cards' effects, I regain four Bushido Counters, then I use four of them to add Grandmaster of the Six Samurai from the deck to my hand, and since there're two Six Samurai monsters I can Special Summon it, triggering my Spells' effects to regain three Bushido Counters. Now I use my remaining four counters to add Secret Six Samurai – Hatsume from my deck to the hand!"

"He can't search anymore." Blaze Rose sighed.

"Since I control two or more Six Samurai monsters with different names, Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan gains three hundred attack and defense points." MetalX's monster raised its katana, a blue aura surrounding its body.

Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, ATK: 1800+ 300 → 2100, DEF: 500 + 300 → 800

"With this, I end my turn." MetalX finished, gesturing toward me. "Now, show me what you got."

"Gladly," I replied – it was my turn to get rid of his field! "I draw!"

『Turn 2 [Proxy] LP: 4000 Hand: 6』

"It's time I cool down your field!" Yeah, that line sounded better in my mind… "I discard BrioGear Octobat to Special Summon BrioGear Sailflying (Lv.3, ATK: 200) from my hand!" My Cyberse monster appeared on the field and sat on a throne made of water bubbles. "Next, I activate Octobat's effect! Since it was discarded, I can Special Summon one BrioGear Bat Token (Lv.1, DEF: 100) to my field. Now come forth, the circuit of life!"

My personalized circuit appeared on the ground in front of me and the Bat Token flew into the circuit flame.

"Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one WATER monster with a level! I set BrioGear Bat Token in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Come out, BrioGear Lotaxol (ATK: 600, Link-1)!" the white hybrid between a fish and lizard landed in the free Extra Monster Zone.

"I now activate Lotaxol's effect!" I continued. "When this card is Link Summoned, I can revive a Level Two or lower WATER monster from my Graveyard and place it in the zone Lotaxol points to. Come back, BrioGear Octobat (Lv.1, DEF: 200)!" the twisted combination between an octopus and a bat raised from the grave and joined the rest of my monsters.

"Now, Proxy!" Aqua shouted. "Use the new Link Monsters I made for you!"

"Right!" I nodded in agreement and raised my hand forward. "Appear again, the circuit of life! Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one Level Four or lower WATER monster! I set BrioGear Octobat in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Come out, BrioGear Damsel Fish!"

A young girl that looked like an idol appeared on my field. She had grey eyes and short blue hair tied into twin-tails with a short pink highlight on the left side and a fish tattoo on her right cheek. The monster was wearing a blue dress with bare shoulders and a clock gear ring on her right index finger. The lower side of her outfit consisted of a long yellow skirt that reached below her knees and was spherical in appearance. Like some of the other monsters created by Aqua, this one was also barefoot.

---

BrioGear Damsel Fish

Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Link/Effect

L-Markers: B

ATK: 500/Link-1

1 Level 4 or lower WATER monster

Effect: If this card is Link Summoned: You can add 1 Spell/Trap card that lists "oGear" in its card text from your Deck to the hand. If a "BrioGear" monster you control is destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect: You can Special Summon this card from your GY, but banish it when it leaves the field. You can only use each effect of "BrioGear Damsel Fish" once per turn.

---

"Damsel Fish' effect activates!" I shouted. "When it's Link Summoned, I can add a card that lists oGear from my deck to the hand. The card I choose is this one, Elemental Lords of Gear!"

It was the card that Silver Star entrusted to me, and with it, I was able to unlock the new possibilities of Link Summoning! With it, I could spare a Link Material when going for my strongest monsters and instead use that material to summon something else to support them in the fight.

"I'll activate Elemental Lords of Gear to the zone that Damsel Fish points toward!" The Spell/Trap Zone glowed blue as the card materialized on it. "Now I'll activate Elemental Lords of Gears! Effect! Once per turn, I can Link Summon using a monster that points at this card as the sole material, and the monster I summon is one Link Rating higher than it!"

"So, it's a card that allows you to Link climb while using fewer monsters?" MetalX asked. "That was a turn of events that I didn't foresee."

"I plead before the Elemental Lords of Gear to grand me their power! With their blessing, I'm able to evolve my Link Monsters! Appear, the spinning circuit of bonds!" I threw my arm forward and the large blue gear appeared in the sky above.

"Rising tides, unchain the mortal body binding my monster and open the gates of the great ocean through an abysmal sacrifice!" I changed as Damsel Fish turned into pure energy and flew through the tunnel. "Link-Up! Aim your restless bow of justice, the huntress hunting the evil plaguing this world! Grand Ranger Serene (ATK: 2100, Link-2)!"

I was capable of summoning my original ace, Grand Ranger Serene, but her combat oriented effect wouldn't work here, I would have to evolve her even further to reach the monster I was looking for!

"For the fourth time, appear, the circuit of life!" I was actually going to do Four Link Summons in a row? Yes, finally! "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more WATER Effect monsters. I setBrioGear Lotaxol and the Link Two, Grand Ranger Serene, in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Link Three! Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger (ATK: 2300, Link-3)!"

"Storm Serene?" Blaze Rose looked over my monster. "I haven't seen this monster before, is it your new ace?"

"Yeah!" I nodded and turned back to MetalX and his field. "I activate Storm Serene's effect! When she's Link Summoned, you must shuffle cards from your field to the deck, equal to the total Link Rating of the Link Monster used as materials!"

"Lotaxol and Grand Ranger Serene's total Link Rating is three, so you must choose three cards on your deck to return back into the deck!" Firera pointed at MetalX's field.

"Torrential Tune!" I shouted out, as Serene began to hum a soft tune. Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, Grandmaster of the Six Samurai and Great General of the Six Samurai all fell down, fast asleep and then disappeared from the field, returning back into MetalX's Main Deck and Extra Deck respectively.

"I Normal Summon BrioGear Geratorned (Lv.4, ATK: 1400)." Another humanoid monster appeared on my field, carrying two dark blue shields. I couldn't believe that I was going to say this, but… "Appear for the fifth time, the circuit of life!"

"You still aren't done Link Summoning!?" Blaze Rose cried out.

"Arrowheads confirmed!" I continued, trying not to smirk at the surprised look that Blaze Rose had on her face. "Summoning conditions are two BrioGear monsters! I set BrioGear Geratorned andSailflying in the Link Markers! Link Summon! BrioGear Naiad!"

A tall young woman with wavy light blue hair pulled back in a bun. Her hair seemed to be moving, with waves forming over its surface and her eyes glowed yellow. Her skin was a very light shade of pink and she was wearing a normal white dress with the bottom half progressively turning bluer. She wore golden shackles on her wrists and ankles. Of course, she was barefoot as well.

---

BrioGear Naiad

Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Link/Effect

L-Markers: Bottom Right, Left

ATK: 1800/Link-2

2 "BrioGear" monsters

Effect: If this card is Link Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 WATER monster from your hand to your zone this card points to. During the End Phase, if this card was Special Summoned turn: You can return 1 "BrioGear" card from your GY to the hand. You can only use each effect of "BrioGear Naiad" once per turn.

---

"Now I activate Naiad's effect to Special Summon one WATER monster from my hand to the zone Naiad points to. Rise from the deeps, BrioGear Great Star!" A giant red golem with sharp needle-like growths covering its body and a single blue crystal in the center of its faceless head appeared on my field in Defense Position.

---

BrioGear Great Star

Level: 7/Attribute: WATER/Type: Cyberse/Effect

ATK: 2000/DEF: 2400

Effect: If you control no monsters in your Main Monster Zone, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand) by discarding 1 monster. You can target WATER Link Monsters in your GY, up to the number of Spell/Trap Cards your opponent controls; return them to the Extra Deck, and if you do, return Spell/Trap Cards your opponent controls to their hand, up to the number of monsters returned. You can only use each effect of "BrioGear Great Star" once per turn.

---

"And Great Star's effect activates!" I pointed at my golem. "I return Grand Ranger Serene and BrioGear Lotaxol from my graveyard to the Extra Deck, in order to return both of your Spell Cards back to the hand!"

Great Star clenched its arms into fists and slammed them down on the ground, turning MetalX's cards back into data that flew to his hand. Even though this didn't matter much, since he would be able to just activate these cards again next turn, I was able to recover a few of my Link Monsters for further use later.

"At the end of my turn, Naida's effect activates. Since it was Special Summoned this turn, I'm able to return BrioGear Octobat back to my hand."

"I should congratulate you," MetalX said. "You managed to remove almost all the cards from my field without even battling. I'm impressed."

"Save your flattering, it won't do you any good." Blaze Rose replied in my place. "It's my turn now, draw!"

『Turn 3 [Blaze Rose] LP: 4000 Hand: 6』

"I Normal Summon NitroGear Acid Lancer (Lv.4, ATK: 1700) and activate its effect! If there's another oGear monster on my field, I'm able to change the battle position of one of your monsters!"

"Since Shadow of the Six Samurai – Shien is the only monster on MetalX's field, it'll be changed to Defense Position," Aqua commented. "But even though its defense is lower, she won't be able to attack it."

"That might be the case, but Blaze Rose's entire deck revolves around manipulating the battle position of both players' monsters," I explained. "This means that she got a plan."

"Because I changed Shien to Defense Position, Acid Lancer's effect allows me to draw a card." Blaze Rose took the card without paying much attention to it, and place it among the rest of her cards. "Because you control a Defense Position monster, I'm going to Special Summon NitroGear Veteranion (Lv.5, ATK: 2300)!"

The Level 5 NitroGear monster leaped into the air and slammed its fists against the ground, roaring.

"I activate the Spell Card, NitroGear Trust!" The card that Blaze Rose played showed my BrioGear Wave Crusader sacrificing himself as Nitro Synchron was being summoned in its place. "This card's effect allows me to release Acid Lancer and Special Summon a Nitro Tuner monster from my deck, whose level is half the Tributed monster's level! Since Acid Lancer is Level Four, I'm able to Special Summon the Level Two Nitro Synchron (Lv. 2, DEF: 100)!" Blaze Rose's signature Tuner monster jumped out of the Spell Card and landed in front of us.

NitroGear Trust (Spell) Normal

Send 1 Level 2 or higher "oGear" monster from your hand or field to the GY. Special Summon 1 "Nitro" Tuner Monster from your Deck, whose Level is half the tribute monster. You can only activate 1 "NitroGear Trust" per turn.

"You're still going to summon NitroGear Warrior?" MetalX asked. "Even though I haven't researched your deck, I watched enough of your duels to know that this is your go-to monster, and getting it on your field is your only real strategy."

"NitroGear Warrior is the symbol of my dueling, of course, my deck would focus on finding ways to summon it." Blaze Rose replied. "So, I'm going to call it out once more! I tune the Level Five NitroGear Veteranion to the Level Two Nitro Synchron!"

A bolt of orange lightning fell onto Blaze Rose's field and created a shockwave as the two monsters turned into five rings of fire. Two blue rings rotated above the five yellow ones below them with the numbers '2' and '5' appearing next to each set of rings respectively. The rings all overplayed, creating a gate of flames inside of which, seven red rings appeared one after another and a light emerged from them.

"Gathering the burning souls of molten warriors will combine to call forward a new force of nature! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Burn it all! NitroGear Warrior (Lv.7, ATK: 2800)!"

NitroGear Warrior flew through the rings, leaving a trail of fire behind itself. Blaze Rose's ace landed at the bottom left Link Arrow of Storm Serene.

"Because Nitro Synchron was used as Synchro Material, I draw a card." Blaze Rose drew another card. "Then, I activate the Equip Spell, Synchro Cannon." NitroGear Warrior held out its left arm and a large red cannon appeared around its wrist. "This card can only be equipped to a Synchro Monster, and while it's equipped, I can once per turn, inflict damage to you for each of my monster's levels!"

---

Synchro Cannon (Spell) Equip

You can only equip this card to a Synchro Monster. Once per turn, during your Main Phase 1; you can inflict damage to your opponent equal to the equipped monster's Level x 200, but monsters with the same name as the equipped monster cannot attack for the rest of the turn. During the End Phase, if this card is in your GY because the monster equipped to this card was destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect and sent there this turn: You can target that monster; Special Summon it. You can control only 1 "Synchro Cannon" at a time.

---

NitroGear Warrior roared and aimed its cannon at MetalX, firing a fireball that burned the Knight of Hanoi's chest. His body glitched out for a moment due to the damage, but MetalX remained unfazed by the attack.

『MetalX LP: 4000 - 1400 → 2600』

"I'll set a card face-down and end my turn." Blaze Rose finished.

"Great work there, partner!" I gave Blaze Rose a thumb up. Even if we were unable to attack, with our combined efforts, we were able to break MetalX's field and inflict serious damage!

"You've done well, but all of your efforts are void of meaning," MetalX stated. "I'll end you now! My turn, draw!"

『Turn 4 [MetalX] LP: 2600 Hand: 4』

"First, I'll activate again the Shien's Dojo and Gateway of the Six that you returned to my hand during the last turn!" those spells were now back, which meant that the Bushido Counters generation would start again. "I Normal Summon Secret Six Samurai – Hatsume (Lv.3, ATK: 1600), then change Shadow of the Six Samurai – Shien from Defense Position to Attack Position and activate its effect. By detaching one of its Xyz Materials, I raise Hatsume's attack points to two thousand."

The large red samurai cut through one of the orbs orbiting around him and turned toward the pink ninja, placing the tip of his katana against her shoulder. The ninja knelt down, accepting the kind gesture, as her attack power raised

Secret the Six Samurai – Hatsume, ATK: 1600 → 2000

"Hatsume's effect activates!" MetalX continued. "I banish Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki and Legendary Secret of the Six Samurai from my Graveyard to Special Summon Secret Six Samurai – Kizaru (Lv.4, ATK: 1900) from my Graveyard. Then, Kizaru's effect lets me add a Six Samurai monster from my deck to the hand, as long as its attribute is different from the ones already on my field. I add Secret Six Samurai – Fuma."

Even without using his Spells, he was still able to get new cards to his hand. Was that what Avice called a resource controlling type of deck?

"I activate Gateway of the Six's effect to use four Bushido Counters and add Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan from my deck to the hand, then I Special Summon it on my field." The dark swordsman appeared, and with it, came three more Bushido Counters. "Next, I use four more counters to add Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, who can be Special Summon if there are two or more Six Samurai monsters on my field."

He now got five monsters on his field, but they weren't strong enough to take on all of my and Blaze Rose's monsters. We were safe for the moment, but I don't want to jinx it.

"Appear, the circuit of thousand blades!" Ok, I just jinxed it. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more monsters with different names!" Wait, that sounds different from Great General. "I set Secret Six Samurai – Kizaru, Secret Six Samurai – Hatsume, Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Come forth, Saryuja Skull Dread (ATK: 2800, Link-4)!"

The monster that MetalX summoned was a familiar one to me. It was the Link Monster that Rocketeer used the first time I meet his as Picaro, it was the monster that almost defeated Playmaker and that I was barely able to overcome. I can't believe it! Not only did they kill Rocketeer, but they also stole his monsters. I won't stand down and let these bastards do as they please anymore!

"How dare you…" I clenched my fists in anger. "How dare you use Rocketeer's cards!?"

"I activate Saryuja Skull Dread's effect!" He ignored me and continued with his turn. "When its Link Summoned using four materials, I can draw four cards, then return three to the bottom of my deck." So, in order words, he was getting to keep the three cards that he wanted. "Next I use Skull Dread's second effect to Special Summon Secret Six Samurai – Fuma (Lv.1, DEF: 1800) from my hand." A ninja wearing robes with pink armor over it appeared on the field.

"When a monster is summoned next to Skull Dread's Link Arrow, that monster gains three hundred extra attack and defense points." MetalX pointed out. In order words, all of his monsters were now going to grow up stronger when he summoned them there.

Secret Six Samurai – Fuma, ATK: 200 + 300 → 500, DEF: 1800 + 300 → 2100

"I'll now use four Bushido Counters from my Spell Cards to add Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan back to my hand, and then I Special Summon it." The samurai wearing dark armor appeared on the field once more. "Now I tune the Level Four Legendary Six Samurai Kizan to the Level One, Secret Six Samurai – Fuma!"

Five blue rings stacked on top of each other as the numbers 1 and 4 appeared in front of them and then they turned into the number 5, announcing the Synchro Summon. A beam of light shot through the rings and MetalX began to chant.

"The leader of the Six Samurai cursed with eternal life by the elder gods, hear my call and offer me your blade! Synchro Summon! Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En (Lv.5, ATK: 2500)!"

Another samurai wearing red armor, like the Xyz Shien, but the Synchro's armor was much heavier and he had a helmet to cover up his face, unlike the Xyz.

"That's bad," Firera said. "Because of Skull Dread's effect, the monster will now gain extra attack and defense power."

Legendary Six Samurai – Shien, ATK: 2500 + 300 → 2800, DEF: 1400 + 300 → 1700

"Now, I'll use four more counters to return Legendary Six Samurai Kizan back to my hand, and then I Special Summon it from my hand, then I use four more counters to add Grandmaster of the Six Samurai back to my hand and Special Summon it." It was like an infinite loop, he would just summon his monsters over and over again!

"Once more. Appear, the circuit of thousand blades!" MetalX threw his arms in the air and a circuit appeared in front of him. "Arrowheads confirmed!" Summoning conditions are two Warrior monsters, including a Six Samurai monster! I setLegendary Six Samurai – Kizan and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Great General of the Six Samurai (ATK: 1000, Link-2)!" the Link 2 that I returned to his Extra Deck during my last turn appeared on his field for a second time, but this time he had put it next to Serene's top arrow instead of his Skull Dread's. Weird.

"I activate Great General's effect to discard a card from my hand and add the Field Spell, Temple of the Six from my deck to the hand, then I activate it. Now, every time a Six Samurai is summoned on my field, this card will gain a Bushido Counter as well."

"In other words, you'll be getting four counters every time you summon a Six Samurai monster and use the same amount to recycle them," Aqua stated. "That hardly seems like a fair and balanced deck that you're using there."

"Fairness doesn't win you wars! I use four counters to return Legendary Six Samurai Kizan and then I Special Summon it once more. Because of Skull Dread's effect, it's going to gain more attack points, along with the three hundred attack bonus Kizan would usually gain when there are two or more different Six Samurai monsters out with it."

Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, ATK: 2800 + 300*2 → 2400, DEF: 500 + 300 → 800

"And by using four more counters, I'm going to return Grandmaster of the Six Samurai back to my hand, just to Special Summon it once again!"

"Six monsters." Blaze Rose narrowed her eyes, looking at the small army that MetalX was able to summon in just one turn. "Here he comes!"

"Not quite." MetalX shook his head. Temple of Six's effect reduces the attack points of all your monsters by a hundred for every Bushido Counter on it. With two counters, that means all of your monsters lose two hundred attack points!"

Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger, ATK: 2300 – 200 → 2100

BrioGear Naiad, ATK: 1800 – 200 → 1600

BrioGear Great Star, ATK: 2000 – 200 → 1800

NitroGear Warrior, ATK: 2800 – 200 → 2600

"I'll use the eight Bushido Counters on Dojo and Gateway to increase the attack points of Legendary Six Samura - Shi En, Shadow of the Six Samurai – Shien, Great General of the Six Samura and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai by five hundred until the end of this turn!"

Legendary Six Samura - Shi En, ATK: 2800 + 500 → 3300

Shadow of the Six Samurai – Shien, ATK: 2500 + 500 → 3000

Great General of the Six Samura, ATK: 1000 + 500 → 1500

Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, ATK: 2100 + 500 → 2600

"Also, Great General Gains a hundred attack points for every Bushido Counter that's on the field." His Link Monster raised its sword and a green aura surrounded it.

Great General of the Six Samurai, ATK: 1500 + 200 → 1700

"Let's end this!" MetalX shouted. "Battle! Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En, attack NitroGear Warrior!"

"I won't let you!" Blaze Rose shouted back. "I activate my trap, NitroGear Burst!" The card showed Advent Skull Archfiend tearing through NitroGear Warrior's chest, with the later releasing a heat wave from its body. "When you attack my Nitro monster, this trap will destroy both of our monsters and we'll both suffer half of our own monster's attack points as damage!"

---

NitroGear Burst (Trap) Normal

When a "Nitro" monster you control is targeted for an attack: Destroy both your monster and the monster that attacked it, and if you do, both players take damage equal to half their monster's original ATK. You can only activate 1 "NitroGear" Burst per turn.

---

"Do you believe that I'll let you do that?" MetalX asked. "Shi En's effect is able to negate your Trap's activation and destroy it!"

Blaze Rose's Trap Card burst into pixels, leaving her with nothing else to do. Shi En swung its katana at NitroGear Warrior, cutting off both its arms and then with a third swing, cut its body in half, destroying it. Blaze Rose bit her lip, understandably, since she just watched how her ace monster got cut into pieces.

『Blaze Rose LP: 4000 - 700 → 3300』

"Next, for my second attack, I'll use Grandmaster of the Six Samurai to destroy BrioGear Great Star." The old samurai turned toward my golem and cut it in half, destroying it. Thankfully, I didn't suffer any damage since my monster was in Defense Position.

"Skull Dread, attack Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger!" the giant dragon opened its mouth and fired a black stream of energy that eroded Serene's body, destroying her. Sorry for not protecting you!

『Proxy LP: 4000 - 700 → 3300』

"Shadow of the Six Samurai - Shien, attackBrioGear Naiad!" the dark samurai cut through my Link's body, destroying her.

『Proxy LP: 3300 - 1400 → 1900』

All of our monsters were… I gulped, watching the six monsters that were staring right back at me. Two of them haven't attacked yet and their combined attack points were enough to defeat me. But I didn't want to lose! Not again! Not after I met Aqua and promised to protect her, not after I found a reason to keep fighting, not when I was so close to the end of this story!

"My Six Samurai monsters aren't strong enough to end both of you in one turn." MetalX sighed. "So, who should I eliminate this turn?"

"Eliminate me." I looked at Blaze Rose, who had stepped forward and placed a hand on her heart. "You must realize, that I'm the more dangerous one of us. I got more Life Points and through the effect of my Equip Spell, NitroGear Warrior will return back to my field during the End Phase, unless you kill me. Right now! Use your monsters to drop my Life Points to zero!"

"No, don't." I knew what she was doing. "Please, Blaze!"

"You're not fighting for the same thing as the rest of Hanoi, are you?" Blaze Rose continued talking, looking at MetalX.

"No, I'm not." MetalX shook his head. The Knight of Hanoi turned toward me and pointed at my Duel Disk. "That Ignis you're holding, girl, is both the best and worst thing that my hands helped create. When Dr. Kogami came to me and asked me to help in his project, I thought that it was a dream come true. To create the successors of humanity, a species which would rule the digital reality and evolve, until the day comes, when they would reveal themselves to lead humans to a new age."

"But there's regret in your heart," Aqua commented.

"Indeed, there is." MetalX nodded. "But it's not the same as Kogami's. I'm not regretting your creation, and I'm not trying to take away your life."

"Then why are you helping the Knights of Hanoi?" Aqua asked.

"Sorry, but I can't answer this question while we're being watched," MetalX replied. "But I'm going to be merciless enough to grant your friend's last wish. Great General, Kizan, attack Blaze Rose directly!"

"No!" I screamed and reached out for her.

The two monsters charged forward and stabbed her with their blades before I could reach her. No. She coughed, her fingertips starting to already turn into red data while her Life Points dropped down.

『Blaze Rose LP: 3300 - 1700 → 1600 – 2400 → 0』

"Blaze!" I cried out.

The monsters retracted their blades and returned to MetalX's side of the field, while Blaze Rose collapsed on the ground. Even then, she didn't stop smiling at me. Why was I such a failure? She was right, I was a drawback. For her, for Playmaker, everything would have been better if I just didn't exist!

"Why're you sad?" Blaze Rose asked me, even as her body was fading. "I told you already, didn't I? There was no future left for me. The last thing I had was the mission that Evan and Avice left me with, to protect you."

I collapsed on the ground. My legs were too weak to keep me standing. I was sorry! I could never do enough, all of my tries to help them out were futile and brought pain to the people around me. Picaro, Playmaker, now Blaze Rose. I hated it! I hated being such a worthless weakling! I hated being the one walking behind the shadows of others, needing their strength to protect myself. Tears were pouring down and I have clenched my fists so hard, that my nails were digging into the skin.

I felt the anger rising inside my chest, like a burning inferno, it wouldn't die down until the target of my hatred was destroyed. My entire body was shaking with anger, with sadness, pain, self-loathing, all these emotions have grabbed onto me and weren't letting go.

"Calm down, Proxy!" Aqua shouted. "Don't let your emotions get the better of you! Take deep breaths and,"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" I screamed, drowning the Ignis' voice with my own.

I had enough of being the loser! My heart was shredding blood in pain. I was destined for great things; that what you told me Avice! Was that why you let Vermilya give her life for me? Fine! I would live to those expectations by destroying the enemy in front of me!

"It seems that you've lost it." MetalX sighed. "I set a card and end my turn. At this moment, the attack points of all my Six Samurai monsters will return back to normal."

Legendary Six Samura - Shi En, ATK: 3300 - 500 → 2800

Shadow of the Six Samurai – Shien, ATK: 3000 - 500 → 2500

Great General of the Six Samura, ATK: 1700 - 500 → 1200

Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, ATK: 2600 - 500 → 2100

"Firera!" I shouted, shaking my Duel Disk to get the AI out.

"W-what is it?" She showed up alongside Aqua.

"I want you to make it hurt, understand?"

"What do you,"

"It's my turn!" I shouted before Firera could question me. She would understand what I meant when the time comes. "I draw!"

『Turn 5 [Proxy] LP: 1900 Hand: 4』

"I Normal Summon BrioGear Drifting Bichir (Lv.1, ATK: 0) and activate its effect! Upon this card's summoning, I can Special Summon a BrioGear monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position with its effects negated and its attack halved! Come back, Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger!"

A black portal opened next to Bichir and Serene raised through it.

"I won't let you!" MetalX shouted. "I activate my trap, Infinite Impermanence! This will negate your monster's effect before it could go off, and in addition, it's going to negate the effects of all Spell and Trap Cards that are in the same column as it. In other words, your Elemental Lords of Gear's effect is negated for the turn!"

Suddenly, the black portal turned into a vortex that consumed Serene back inside itself. But I won't allow that to stop me!

"I'll crush you this turn! Appear, the circuit of life!"

My personalized circuit appeared on the ground in front of me and my monster flew into the mirror flame.

"Arrowhead confirmed! Summoning condition is one WATER monster with a level! I set Drifting Bichir in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Come out, BrioGear Lotaxol (ATK: 600 → 400, Link-1)!" the white hybrid between a fish and lizard landed in the free Extra Monster Zone.

"I now activate Lotaxol's effect!" I continued. "When this card is Link Summoned, I can revive a Level Two or lower WATER monster from my Graveyard and place it in the zone Lotaxol points to. Come back, BrioGear Drifting Bichir (Lv.1, DEF: 0)! My playmaker raised from the graveyard, and with that, its effect was no longer negated. "Now Bichir's effect will activate again. Rise, Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger (ATK: 2300 → 950, Link-3)!"

"These monsters…" Firera muttered, catching up what I was planning to do.

"Now appear for the second time, the circuit of life!" A second circuit appeared above me, Bichir and Storm Serene turned into four beams and flew into the flame. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters! I set BrioGear Drifting Bichir and the Link Three Storm Serene the BrioGear Ranger in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Firera, Firmware Cyberse Dragon (ATK: 2800 → 2600, Link-4)!"

The tiny copy of Firera that was in my Duel Disk disappeared and the large dragon formed appeared on my field, landing at Skull Dread's top Link Arrow.

"A Link Four monster!?" MetalX gasped.

"Because of your own Skull Dread's effect, my monster will gain three hundred attack points!" I pointed out, and Firera roared in agreement.

Firera, Firmware Cyberse Dragon, ATK: 2600 + 300 → 2900

"Next, Firera's effect activates!" I continued. "I draw a number of cards, equal to the number of monsters she points to, and then discard that value subtracted by one. Since the only monster Firera points to right now is your Skull Dread, I draw a card, but don't discard any!"

"So that was your plan?" Firera looked back at me.

"It's time to repent! Firera, attack Skull Dread!" Not just for Blaze Rose, I was going to defeat this Knight of Hanoi for Rocketeer as well. I was going to destroy his monster, set it free from the chains of servitude that bounded it to MetalX's side.

"You've lost your mind!" I heard MetalX shouted.

"At this time I activate Firera's effect to discard BrioGear Octobat and reduce Skull Dread's attack power to zero! Frost Obey!" Firera opened her jaw and fired a blue beam that stuck Skull Dread, freezing it.

Saryuja Skull Dread, ATK: 2800 → 0

"Z-zero!?" MetalX gulped. "But then that means…"

"Game over." I agreed.

"Subzero Flare!" Firera roared.

She slammed her blade-like arms together while her tails began to charge with electricity and flew over to the lower pair of wings, which absorbed it. Small holes opened in the dragon's upper wings and they began to emit a white gas that froze everything around the monster, including its arms. The electricity surged through the dragon's body and connected to the arms. Firera roared and threw her blades to the side, creating an 'X' of electricity and the strange freezing gas that flew through Skull Dread and cut the monster in four pieces.

『MetalX: 2600 - 2900 → 0』

『Winner: Proxy』

"To think that you would manage to pull off a win like this…" MetalX collapsed on the ground, his body starting to turn into data.

The anger, I felt it dying down. But that didn't mean that I would forgive this bastard for what he did to Blaze Rose. Even if he was going to turn into data, it wasn't enough! It just wasn't!

"Don't think that you've won," MetalX spoke up. "I might have lost, but our plan will be complete. As long as Picaro is still alive, we won't lose."

So this one was on Picaro's side? This bastard turned Vermilya into data while fighting on Rocketeer's side? No, I would not allow him to disappear with a sense of satisfaction.

"You're wrong," I told him. "Rocke- Picaro is already gone. Whatever plan you had, is no longer."

"And how do you know that?" He asked me.

"That was written in his last message toward me," I replied and opened the message for him to see.

"This message…" MetalX looked up at me, "So you're that girl… I think… I made a big mistake."

I didn't care what he had to say. It only took a few more moments and the Knight of Hanoi turned into data, which then flew off to be absorbed into the Tower of Hanoi, just like Vermilya. Aqua popped out of my Duel Disk once more and looked at the Tower of Hanoi with a sad expression on her face.

"His biggest regret." She began. "Was that the Lost Incident happened. I could tell, he never wanted to hurt anyone."

"And yet he did." We all did. Fighting each other, taking each other's lives without a reason. War was a truly terrifying thing.

"Let's go," I told Aqua. "The Tower of Hanoi won't stop itself."

"Yes, let's go." She nodded.

---

3rd POV

"I've been waiting for you to come," Nulline said.

The Knight of Hanoi jumped off the balcony she was sitting onto and landed on the street before, blocking the path of a certain idol Duelist. Taking a step back, Blue Angel readied herself. She had expected to run into Nulline again during the siege of the tower, but she didn't think that it would be so soon.

"I've been expecting this moment to come." Nulline continued. "We weren't able to see the end of our last duel, but this time, this will be a duel to the death, we can't cancel it or run."

"Why are you still doing this?" Blue Angel asked. "There are thousands of people who would die if the Tower goes off, most likely, even more, will afterward. Are you willing to take the burden of those lives on your shoulders for revenge against a single person? What will Miyu thinking of it if she saw you like this?"

"I told you back then, it's too late for me to forgive," Nulline stated. "But I'm not standing here for my own petty revenge. I'm fighting for a cause higher than anything you or the Knights of Hanoi stand up for! You can only see the tower's capability to bring destruction, but I see the potential to create a better world, one where Miyu wouldn't have to be sad ever again!"

"A better world?" Blue Angel asked out loud. "You're going to sacrifice thousands of lives, how can your world be any better if it's built upon blood?"

"I don't want to hear that coming out of an immature child who goes around copying other people to cope with her own miserable self," Nulline said. "I'll end you right here!"

"Duel!"

『Nulline: 5 LP: 4000 (VS) Blue Angel Hand: 5 LP: 4000』

"I'll take the first turn!" Nulline declared. "I'll set a monster and one card. Turn end!"

"Seriously?" Blue Angel muttered.

Nulline was playing more defensively than during their last duel. No doubt, she was trying to bait Blue Angel into attacking, but would the idol do as Nulline wanted, or would she hold back? She had only a limited amount of time before the Tower of Hanoi activated, she didn't have time to be indecisive!

"It's my turn then!" Blue Angel declared. "Draw!"

『Turn 2 [Blue Angel] LP: 4000, Hand: 6』

"First, I activate the Field Spell, Trickstar Light Arena and use its effect on your set card. While Trickstar Light Arena is face-up on the field, you won't be able to activate that set card, and during End Phase, you must choose to either activate it or return it to the hand!" Now Blue Angel has locked down her opponent's set card, it was time to hit her hard. "I Normal Summon Trickstar Candina (Lv.4, ATK: 1800) and activate her effect to add Trickstar Lilybell from my deck to the hand, then I use Lilybell's effect to Special Summon since she was added to my hand by a card's effect."

"Two Trickstar monsters already…" Nulling whispered to herself.

"Battle!" Blue Angel shouted. "I attack you directly with Trickstar Lilybell!"

The smaller Trickstar monster flew over Nulline's set card and hit the Knight of Hanoi with her bell-shaped hammer, knocking the duelist back a few feet.

『Nulline LP: 4000 - 800 → 3200』

"Ouch," Nulline winched, then smirked. "You aren't pulling your punches, I like it."

"But you won't like this!" Blue Angel stated. "Candina, attack her set monster!"

The yellow Trickstar placed her loudspeaker in front of herself and screamed through it, flipping the face-down monster face-up. Much to the idol Duelist's surprise, the creature hiding there wasn't an Aromage, but a jar with four candles of different colors inside of it.

"You feel for it!" Nulline laughed. "Aroma Jar can't be destroyed by battle if it's flipped face-up, and during each of our End Phases, I'll regain five hundred Life Points due to its effect!"

Blue Angel didn't let it show on her face, but she was annoyed by the news. Once again, Nulline was able to play with her and make her mess up. The Knight of Hanoi already knew about the Trickstar Field Spells' ability to freeze set Spell and Trap Cards for the turn, so that face-down card was just to bite out one of Blue Angel's Field Spells.

"I'm still not done!" Blue Angel shouted. She had more than she was able to do during this turn.

"Open, the circuit of dreams and hope!" Blue Angel threw her arms forward and winked as hearts flew out of her hands and transformed into a large square. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition are two Trickstar Monsters! I set Trickstar Candina and Lilybell in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Trickstar Holly Angel (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!"

"So you called out your ace?" Nulline smiled. "But she can't do anything during this turn!"

"Wrong!" Blue Angel threw her arm to the side, and Light Arena's card glowed. "Once per turn, if I Link Summoned a Trickstar Link Monster, I can revive one of its materials, as long as I negate its effects! Come back, Trickstar Lilybell (Lv.2, DEF: 2000)!" The little red fairy flew down from the sky and landed in the middle Monster Zone. "When a monster is summoned next to Holly Angel's Link Market, I can inflict two hundred points of damage to you!"

Holly Angel spread out her wings and fired light needless at Nulline. The Knight of Hanoi raised a hand to cover her face as the needles pierced her shoulders and stomach.

『Nulline LP: 3200 - 200 → 3000』

"Additionally, when you take damage from a Trickstar's effect, Holly Angel gains that much attack points!" A golden aura surrounded Blue Angel's ace as its attack power raised. "Holy Blessing!"

Trickstar Holly Angel, ATK: 2000 + 200 → 2200

"And for the second time, open the circuit of dreams and hope!" Blue Angel summoned a square behind herself once again. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition are two at least two Fairy monsters! I set Lilybell and the Link Two, Holly Angel in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Trickstar Foxy Witch (ATK: 2200, Link-3)!"

"The Link Three now?" Nulline raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Blue Angel wasn't going to hold back anything in this duel.

"Foxy Witch's effect activates!" Blue Angel gestured toward her Link 3 monster. "When it's Special Summoned, I can inflict two hundred points of damage to you for each card you control! Take four hundred more points of damage!"

『Nulline LP: 3000 - 400 → 2600』

"With that, I set a card face-down and end my turn." A single card appeared at Blue Angel's feet.

"Now, during the End Phase of this turn, Aroma Jar's effect will increase my Life Points by five hundred." Nulline pointed out, as her jar released a cloud of smoke with four colors that flew around her.

『Nulline LP: 2600 + 500 → 3100』

"Light Arena's effect activates as well." Blue Angel pointed out. "Will you activate your set card, or return it to the hand?"

"Why, of course! I'll activate it! The Continuous Trap – Dried Wind, activate!" Nulline shouted.

"Dried Wind?" Blue Angel was confused. Nulline could have activated that trap before Light Arena's effect and use it to destroy one of the idol's Trickstar monsters during the End Phase. Why didn't she use it back then?

"It's my turn." A green circle appeared around Nulline's Duel Disk and she placed her fingers next to it, materializing a card within her grasp. "Draw!"

『Turn 3 [Nulline] LP: 3100, Hand: 4』

"I Normal Summon Aromage Jasmine (Lv.2, ATK: 100) and return it to my hand in order to Special Summon Fallen Angel of Roses (Lv.7, ATK: 2400) from my hand, by her own effect!" A woman with pale skin and dark clothes appeared on Nulline's field, holding a whip of thorns in her right hand. "I'll also activate the Continuous Spell, Child's Play! Now every time you summon a monster, I'll regain three hundred Life Points!"

"So, every play I make will heal you…" Blue Angle bit her lips. She couldn't summon monsters because that would heal Nulline, but if she chose not to do anything, Aroma Jar would heal the Knight of Hanoi.

"Let's battle!" Nulline shouted. "Fallen Angel of Roses, attack Trickstar Foxy Witch!"

The dark angel screamed and swung her whip, hitting the idol. Foxy Witch gripped her chest in pain and cried out as she exploded.

"I activate the final effect of Trickstar Light Arena!" Blue Angel quickly countered. "Once per turn, when a Trickstar Link Monster battles, I can make the damage zero, and gain Life Points equal to the damage negated!"

『Blue Angel LP: 4000 + 200 → 4200』

"A Trickstar card with a defensive effect?" Nulline wondered. "I see… You must have updated your deck since our last encounter, right?"

"It's not over yet!" Blue Angel shouted. "Because Foxy Witch was destroyed, her effect activates! I Special Summon a Trickstar Link Two or lower monster from my Extra Deck, and you take two hundred points of damage for each card on your field. Come out, Trickstar Black Catbat (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!"

The dark Trickstar monster landed in the Right Extra Monster Zone and winked before swinging her wand around, unleashing a beam of purple energy that hit Nulline head on.

『Nulline LP: 3100 - 800 → 2300』

"Don't forget that due to my Continuous Spell, I regain three hundred Life Points every time you summon a new Trickstar!" Nulline shouted, her own card responding to the harmful effect of the Trickstar by healing the Knight of Hanoi.

『Nulline LP: 2300 + 300 → 2600』

"And because of Dried Wind's effect, when I regain Life Points, I can destroy a monster on your field." Nulline pointed out. "So, bye, bye Black Catbat!"

A red whirlwind was fired from the trap card, engulfing Black Catbat, before slamming the monster in the ground, destroying it. Blue Angel only bit her lips. That was two Trickstar Link Monsters destroyed in a single turn.

"And now, at the end of this turn, Aroma Jar's own effect will heal me again." Nulline reminded her opponent as another cloud engulfed her body, healing it.

『Nulline LP: 2600 + 500 → 3100』

"It's my turn then." Blue Angel muttered. "I draw!"

『Turn 4 [Blue Angel] LP: 4200, Hand: 4』

"I Normal Summon Trickstar Nightshade (Lv.1, ATK: 100)." A young Trickstar monster flew onto Blue Angel's field.

"Because of Child's Play's effect, I gain Life Points." Nulline pointed out.

『Nulline LP: 3100 + 300 → 3400』

"And now Dried Wind's effect's effect is going to destroy your Nightshade!" Nulline laughed, sending a second red whirlwind toward Blue Angel's field.

"I'll activate the Spell Card, Trickstar Bouquet to return Nightshade back to my hand and increase Aroma Jar's attack points by Nightshade's!" Blue Angel's monster flew away from the wind and landed back into the idol Duelist's hand, while the Aroma Jar gained 100 attack points.

Aroma Jar, ATK: 500 + 100 → 600

"Next I activate Trickstar Vision to Special Summon Nightshade back to my field with her attack points halved, and her effects negated!" the fairy reappeared and winked. "Then we both draw a card!"

"Don't forget that due to my Continuous Spell, I gain three hundred extra Life Points." Nulline pointed out.

『Nulline LP: 3400 + 300 → 3700』

"Open, the circuit of dreams and hope!" Blue Angel threw her hand forward and hearts shoot out of her wrist, transforming into a large square in the sky. "Arrowhead confirmed. Summoning condition is one Level Two or lower Trickstar monster. I set Trickstar Nightshade in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Trickstar Bloom (ATK: 100, Link-1)!"

A young fairy in a green dress appeared on Blue Angel's Extra Monster Zone. Even though that would trigger Child Play's effect, Blue Angel didn't have much of a choice, but to try and push Nulline's Life Points recovering effects with stronger burn effects.

『Nulline LP: 3700 + 300 → 4000』

"I activate the effect of Light Arena to revive Nightshade from my graveyard." The young fairy flew to the field once more, and Nulline's Life Points raised to 4300. "Open now, the circuit of dreams and hope!"

"Aw, you won't give me an extra card from Bloom's effect?" Nulline frowned as a second square appeared in the sky.

"Arrowheads confirmed. Summoning conditions are two Trickstar monsters. I set Nightshade and Bloom in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Trickstar Crimson Heart (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!" Another fairy in an all-white dress, carrying giant handcuffs as her weapon, appeared in the Extra Monster Zone.

『Nulline LP: 4300 + 300 → 4600』

"Nightshade's effect now activates from my graveyard, reviving, since she was used as Link Material." The little fairy appeared for the third time. "Crimson Heart's effect activates! Because a Trickstar monster was summoned next to her Link Arrow, I gain two hundred Life Points."

『Blue Angel LP: 4200 + 200 → 4400』

"Don't forget, because you just summoned a monster, I get a tread as well." Nulline clicked her fingers.

『Nulline LP: 4600 + 300 → 4900』

"I'll now activate Crimson Heart's effect." Blue Angel gestured toward her monster. "By discarding a card, each one of us will get to draw a new card. And since the card I discarded was Trickstar Mandrake, I can Special Summon it on my field." A Trickstar wearing a purple and aqua green dress appeared beside Nightshade.

『Nulline LP: 4900 + 300 → 5200』

"And again, appear the circuit of dreams and hope!" for the third time, a square opened over Blue Angel's head. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Level Three or lower Trickstar monsters! I set Nightshade and Mandrake in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Come forth, Trickstar Divaridis (ATK: 1800, Link-2)!"

"Useless, useless, useless!" Nulline laughed. "Because of my Continuous Spell, I gain three hundred more Life Points!"

『Nulline LP: 5200 + 300 → 5500』

"Because of Crimson Heart's effect, I'll gain two hundred Life Points." Blue Angel said. "And because of Divaridis' effect, you'll suffer two hundred points of damage!"

『Blue Angel LP: 4400 + 200 → 4600』

『Nulline LP: 5500 - 200 → 5300』

"Next, I'll activate my trap card!" Blue Angel continued, activating the card she set on her last turn. "Trickstar Maribold allows me when I Link Summon a Trickstar monster, to return a Trickstar monster from my Graveyard to the hand, and during this turn, I can Normal Summon for a second time! So, I'll return and summon Trickstar Candina (Lv.4, ATK: 1800)!"

『Nulline LP: 5300 + 300 → 5600』

"When Candina is summoned, I can add a Trickstar card from my deck to the hand. I add Trickstar Temptation and activate it to return Aroma Jar back to your hand since its current attack power is different from its original attack power!" All three of Blue Angel's Trickstar monsters threw her arms forward and unleashed a purple wind, which engulfed Aroma Jar and removed it from the field.

"So you found a way to get rid of Aroma Jar," Nulline muttered, placing the card back into her hand. "But none of your Trickstar monsters are powerful enough to take on my Fallen Angel of Roses!"

"I'll change that." Blue Angel said and raised her hand. "Open, the circuit of dreams and hope!"

"Another Link Summon!?" Nulline gasped as another square opened over Blue Angel's head.

"Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are at least two Trickstar monsters! I set the Link Two Crimson Heart and Divaridis in the Link Markers! Link Summon! My Link Four, Trickstar Bella Madonna (ATK: 2800, Link-4)!" the idol's Link 4 ace flew through the circuit and landed on the left Extra Monster Zone.

『Nulline LP: 5600 + 300 → 5900』

"I'll show to you, now, why I love Trickstars so much!" Blue Angel shouted. "Bella Madonna's effect activates! I inflict two hundred points of damage to you for each Trickstar monster with a different name in my Graveyard! There are nine, so you take eighteen hundred points of damage!"

"How much!?" Nulline's eyes widened.

The Link 4 Trickstar swung her ax, unleashing a wave of pink energy that cut through Nulline's body and knocked her down.

『Nulline LP: 5900 - 1800 → 4100』

"Now battle!" Blue Angel pointed forward. "Bella Madonna, attack Fallen Angel of Roses!"

The Link 4 Trickstar swung her ax once again, cutting through Nulline's monster and reducing the Knight of Hanoi's Life Points even further.

『Nulline LP: 4100 - 400 → 3700』

"And next, Candina attacks you directly!" The yellow Trickstar raised her loudspeaker and screamed in it. Nulline cried out and placed her hands over her ears.

『Nulline LP: 3700 - 1800 → 1900』

"I'll now set a card and end my turn." Blue Angel finished, placing a new face-down. "Just give up, Nulline! I've got trained by one of the best duelists in LINK VRAINS, and I learned how to fight opponents with decks built to counter my own! There's nothing you have, which I don't have an answer to!"

"Heh, I agree that you aren't a weakling." Nulline chuckled. "You're able to adapt, but that doesn't mean you can't be beaten!"

"Please, stop it!" Blue Angel implored her. "You're pushing yourself too far, and for what? To watch the world burn? Do you think that people would look at you as a hero for helping destroy the network? For taking part in the murder of thousands of innocent people, most of whom are just children?"

"Will you just shut up and fight?" Nulline asked. "I told you, what I fight for is different from the others. Destroy the network? I'm trying to find the hidden Garden of Eden that lies hidden within this world of data! Instead of trying to talk me out of it, think what you're fighting for? To protect others? From what? The only thing that humans needed protection from is themselves! It's because of their self-righteousness that Miyu was kidnapped and used as guinea pig for the Lost Incident!"

"She participated in the Lost Incident?" Blue Angel placed a hand over her mouth.

The incident that broke Playmaker and turned him into the type of vengeful person that he was today took Miyu as well. That was the worst thing that Blue Angel heard since the news of her parents' death. Her one and only childhood friend had to suffer through the same pain as Playmaker did.

"I've allied myself with people that have the same views as me," Nulline said. "We'll clear the network from the type of scum that dared hurt my friend. Our friend! And what'll you do? You'll protect them from the punishment that they deserve!"

"You're wrong."

"Huh?" Nulline blinked in confusion. Blue Angel lowered her head, the blue bangs on her forehead covering her eyes.

"They deserve to be punished, they will be punished. But not like this. Not at the cost of so many lives!" Blue Angel raised her head and looked at Nulline. "Your actions, they are no different from the type of self-righteousness that you're blaming on the Knights of Hanoi. Your words, they won't make my determination to waver. It's your turn!"

"Then you're beyond saving." Nulline spat. "As you asked, I'll take my turn. Draw!"

『Turn 5 [Nulline] LP: 1900, Hand: 5』

"At this moment, I'll activate my Trap Card – Trickstar Reincarnation!" Blue Angel declared, activating her trump card. "Through my trap's effect, you must banish your entire hand and draw a new one!"

"You annoying…" Nulline frowned as the cards in her hand dispersed and she was forced to draw a new one. "Is that to show how scared you're of Aroma Jar's effect? I Summon Lonefire Blossom (Lv.3, ATK: 500), then I release it in order to Special Summon Aromage Bergamot (Lv.6, ATK: 2400) from my deck!"

"That one again." Blue Angel narrowed her eyes. Nulline was always using that move to bring out Aromage Bergamot.

"I'll then activate the Field Spell, Aroma Garden and use its effect to gain five hundred Life Points, as well as increase the attack and defense of all my Aromage monsters, Bergamot in this case, by five hundred points!"

『Nulline LP: 1900 + 500 → 2400』

Aromage Bergamot, ATK: 2400 + 500 → 2900, DEF: 1800 + 500 → 2300

"Additionally, the effects of both Dried Wind and Bergamot activate!" Nulline threw her arms to the side. "First, because I gained Life Points, Dried Wind is going to destroy Candina, and second, because I gained Life Points, Bergamot is going to gain a thousand extra attack and defense points by its own effect."

Aromage Bergamot, ATK: 2900 + 1000 → 3900, DEF: 2300 + 1000 → 3300

A powerful whirlwind shot out of Nulline's Trap Card and slammed into Trickstar Candina, tearing Blue Angel's monster apart. The idol Duelist narrowed her eyes, Nulline knew about Bella Madonna's defense.

"I won't let you recover!" Nulline yelled. "I activate Wonder Clover and discard Aromage Rosemary to give Bergamot the ability to attack you twice this turn, but at the cost of no other monster being able to attack. Now, destroy Bella Madonna!"

The Aromage monster pointed her wand at Blue Angel's Link Monster and fired a crimson whirlwind that pierced through the Link 4, destroying it

"I activate Light Arena's effect to negate the damage, and take that much Life Points instead!" Blue Angel's Field Spell shined as its effect healed the idol instead of damaging her.

『Blue Angel LP: 4600 + 1100 → 5700』

"But don't forget about the second attack!" Nulline's monster swung her wand and hit Blue Angel, knocking her back.

『Blue Angel LP: 5700 - 3900 → 1800』

"I'll now set a card face-down and end my turn." Nulline finished.

"Not so fast!" Blue Angel cried out. "I activate the effect of Trickstar Reincarnation from my Graveyard! I banish that card, to revive Trickstar Bella Madonna (ATK: 2800, Link-4)!"

"You just don't know when to quit, do you?" Nulline hissed. "Because of Child Play's effect, I gain three hundred Life Points. And at the end of this turn, the effect of Bergamot ends, dropping her attack and defense points by a thousand!"

『Nulline LP: 2400 + 300 → 2700』

Aromage Bergamot, ATK: 3900 - 1000 → 2900, DEF: 3300 - 1000 → 2300

"It's my turn, I draw!" the idol Duelist stated.

『Turn 6 [Blue Angel] LP: 1800, Hand: 2』

"I'll activate the effect of Bella Madonna to inflict two hundred damage for each Trickstar in my Graveyard!" Blue Angel shouted. "And thanks to you sending Candina to the grave on the last turn, you're going to take two thousand points of damage!"

The Link 4 Trickstar swung her ax, unleashing a wave of pink energy that cut through Nulline's body once more, dropping her on her knees.

『Nulline LP: 2700 - 2000 → 700』

"I'll use Light Arena's effect to seal your set card, now let's battle!" Blue Angel threw her arms forward. "Bella Madonna, attack Aromage Bergamot!"

"Attacking using a monster with less attack power?" Nulline raised an eyebrow. "Please, your tricks are obvious to me! I discard Aromaseraphy Angelical from my hand and target Aromage Rosemary in my Graveyard to gain Life Points equal to her attack power!"

『Nulline LP: 700 + 1800 → 2500』

"Then Dried Wind's effect is going to destroy your monster!" Another red whirlwind shot out of Nulline's Trap Card, piercing through the Link Monster. "Your monster might have the ability to be unaffected by card effects while it doesn't point toward a monster, but it works only if it was Link Summoned."

"Then I'll activate Pot of Avarice to return Bella Madonna, Holly Angel, Bloody Mary, Bloom, and Divaridis back to my Extra Deck and draw two cards!" the spirits of the five Link Monsters appeared in front of Blue Angel and then flew back into her Extra Deck, after which she drew two new cards.

"I destroy Light Arena to activate Trickstar Live Stage and through her effect, I'll return Trickstar Candina back to my hand. I Normal Summon Trickstar Candina (Lv.4, ATK: 1800) and activate her effect to add Trickstar Magicorolla from my deck to the hand." A card popped out of Blue Angel's Duel Disk and she showed it to her opponent.

"Useless!" Nulline laughed. "Child Play's effect will increase my Life Points by three hundred since you just summoned another monster!"

『Nulline LP: 2500 + 300 → 2800』

"I set a card and end my turn." Blue Angel finished.

"At this moment, the effect of Aroma Garden ends and Bergamot's attack and defense return to normal." Nulline pointed out as her monster's ATK dropped back to 2400. "It's my turn now. Draw!"

『Turn 7 [Nulline] LP: 2800, Hand: 1』

"I'll activate Aroma Garden's effect to increase my Life Points, as well as the attack and defense points of Bergamot by five hundred." Nulline's Field Spell glowed, increase her and her monster's power.

『Nulline LP: 2800 + 500 → 3300』

Aromage Bergamot, ATK: 2400 + 500 → 2900, DEF: 1800 + 500 → 2300

"Additionally, the effects of both Dried Wind and Bergamot activate once again!" Nulline snapped her fingers. "Because I gained Life Points, Dried Wind is going to destroy Candina, and second, and Bergamot is going to gain a thousand extra attack and defense points by its own effect."

Aromage Bergamot, ATK: 2900 + 1000 → 3900, DEF: 2300 + 1000 → 3300

"I already know what your set card is." Nulline pointed out. "If I attack you now, you'll be able to bounce back your Field Spell and use its ability to take back Candina and use her next turn. So instead of attacking you with Bergamot, I'm going to activate Fragrance Storm and destroy Bergamot to draw a card." The Aromage monster looked back and nodded before exploding into particles.

"Since the card I drew was the Plant, Botanical Girl, I get to draw one more card." Nulline looked through her cards and then turned back to Blue Angel. "Because an Aroma monster was destroyed, the effect of Aroma Garden is going to increase my Life Points by a thousand."

『Nulline LP: 3300 + 1000 → 4300』

"I'll now Normal Summon Aromage Jasmine (Lv.2, ATK: 100 + 500 → 600) and activate her effect to Normal Summon a second time. Come out, Botanical Girl (Lv.3, ATK: 1300 + 500 → 1800)!" Two new monsters quickly raised in place of her destroyed Bergamot. "Additionally, if there is an Aroma monster on my field, I can Special Summon Aromaseraphy Angelical (Lv.1, ATK: 0 + 500 → 500) from my Graveyard, but I must banish it if it leaves the field again."

Blue Angel took a step back. Nulling head enough attack points to end her this turn. That wasn't worrying the idol, who glanced at her set card. It would be enough to keep her alive for the turn, but she was hoping to save it for later at least.

"Let's see what your set card is!" Nulline shouted. "Battle! Botanical Girl, attack Blue Angel directly!"

"I don't have a choice." Blue Angel muttered. "I activate my Trap Card – Trickstar Cascade. Through its effect, I return Live Stage to my hand and negate your monster's attack!"

Botanical Girl threw her fist forward, but a barrier appeared in front of Blue Angel, blocking the direct attack.

"Then I'll attack you directly with Jasmine and Angelical!" The two Aroma monsters leaped forward and attack Blue Angel. The idol crossed her arms in front of herself as the two Plants hit her with everything they got. Blue Angel screamed, as her body was flung back and hit the ground.

『Blue Angel LP: 1800 - 600 → 1200 – 500 → 700』

"You were able to survive, but you won't be able to do much on your next turn!" Nulline declared. "I tune the Level Three, Botanical Girl and the Level Two, Aromage Jasmine, to the Level One, Aromaseraphy Angelical!"

Six blue rings stacked on top of each other as the numbers 1, 2 and 3 appeared in front of them and then they turned into the number 6, announcing the Synchro Summon. A beam of light shot through the rings and Nulline began to chant.

"The queen ruling over a kingdom of thorns, stand from your throne and punish the insolent fools with the might of mother Gaia herself! Synchro Summon! Queen of Thorns (Lv.6, ATK: 2200 + 500 → 2700)!"

A half-human, half-plant monster appeared on the field. She had a dress made of leaves and there were human-eating plants attached to her arms in place of hands. Blue Angel took a step back in surprise, this was the first time that Nulline summoned this monster.

"Let's see how you plan to defeat me without using monsters, Blue Angel!" Nulline laughed. "Due to Queen of Thorns' effect, we both must pay a thousand Life Points to summon a monster from our hand, except for a Plant-Type monster!"

"But then that means…" Blue Angel, took a step back in realization.

"You can no longer summon any monsters!" Nulline agreed. "With this, I end my turn!"

Blue Angel looked at the card in her hand: Trickstar Live Stage, Trickstar Magicorolla and Trickstar Corobane. The best she could do would be to use Trickstar Live Stage and Magicorolla to Link Summon without using monsters in her hand as materials, but her monsters would all be destroyed the moment they hit the field due to Child's Play and Dried Wind's effects.

There was still hope. Her Trickstar deck hasn't betrayed her. Ever since she came back from her coma, Blue Angel has been constantly looking at videos of her duel against Playmaker, trying to find ways to update her deck, make it stronger. This new, updated, Trickstar deck she made was her answer. She placed all of her knowledge and heart into building it. There was no way for it to betray her at a time like this!

"My turn, Draw!" Blue Angel declared.

『Turn 8 [Blue Angel] LP: 700, Hand: 4』

"It's here!" Blue Angel declared triumphantly. "I activate Trickstar Live Stage and use its effect to return Trickstar Mandrake from my Graveyard to the hand, then I activate Twin Twister and discard Mandrake to destroy both to Child Play and Dried Wind!"

"My cards!" Nulline cried out. Two twisters shout out of Blue Angel's Spell and destroyed her cards, fractured the Knight of Hanoi's heal and destroy combo.

"The discarded Trickstar Mandrake, can Special Summon itself on my field." The aqua green Trickstar raised from the Graveyard. "I'll now activate Trickstar Live Stage's other effect. Since there's a set card in your Spell and Trap Zone, I can Special Summon one Trickstar Token (Lv.1, DEF: 0)!" a small heart-shaped monster appeared on Blue Angel's field.

"Open, the circuit of dreams and hope!" Blue Angel threw her arms forward and hearts flew out of her hands, transforming into a square above her head. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Trickstar monsters! I set Trickstar Token and Mandrake in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Trickstar Holly Angel (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!"

Blue Angel's ace monster landed in the Extra Monster Zone once again, crossing her arms.

"And now, since I control a Trickstar Link Monster, Live Stage's effect allows me to Special Summon one Trickstar Token (Lv.1, DEF: 0)!" a second heart-shaped Token appeared on the idol's field. "And since a Trickstar was summoned to a zone Holly Angel points to, you take two hundred points of damage."

Holly Angel spread out her wings and a red aura surrounded Nulline. The Knight of Hanoi fell on her knees and gritted her teeth as she took damage from the Trickstar's effect.

『Nulline LP: 4300 - 200 → 4100』

"Additionally, when you take damage from a Trickstar's effect, Holly Angel gains that much attack points!" A golden aura surrounded Blue Angel's ace as its attack power raised. "Holy Blessing!"

Trickstar Holly Angel, ATK: 2000 + 200 → 2200

"And once again! Open, the circuit of dreams and hope!" Blue Angel summoned a second square in the sky. "Arrowhead confirmed. Summoning condition is one Level Two or lower Trickstar monster. I set Trickstar Token in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Trickstar Bloom (ATK: 100, Link-1)!" the small green Trickstar landed at Holly Angel's Link Marker.

"And since another Trickstar was summoned at Holly Angel's Link Marker, you take two hundred more damage!" Blue Angel declared.

『Nulline LP: 4100 - 200 → 3900』

Trickstar Holly Angel, ATK: 2200 + 200 → 2400

"I activate Trickstar Magicorolla to revive Trickstar Foxy Witch (ATK: 2200, Link-3)!" the Link 3 monster raised on Blue Angel's field once more and winked.

"Now Foxy Witch's effect is going to inflict two hundred points of damage for each card you control and Holly Angel will inflict two hundred extra damage!" The Link 3 and 2 Trickstar Monsters spread out their wings together and fired a pink fireball at Nulline, knocking the Knight of Hanoi on her back.

『Nulline LP: 3900 - 600 → 3300 – 200 → 3100』

"Because you took damage from a Trickstar monster, Holly Angel will gain attack points once more. Holy Blessing!" A golden aura surrounded the Link 2, raising its attack power.

Trickstar Holly Angel, ATK: 2400 + 800 → 3200

"And for the third time! Open, the circuit of dreams and hope!" A third square opened in front of Blue Angel. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are two Trickstar Monsters! I set Bloom and Foxy Witch in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Trickstar Crimson Heart (ATK: 2000, Link-2)!" the crimson Trickstar raised behind Holly Angel.

"Holly Angel's effect inflicts two hundred points of damage." Blue Angel said.

『Nulline LP: 3100 - 200 → 2900』

Trickstar Holly Angel, ATK: 3200 + 200 → 3400

"I activate Crimson Heart's effect!" Blue Angel said. "I discard Trickstar Corobane, so we both get to draw a card!"

Both the idol and the Knight of Hanoi drew a card and looked at what they got - Trickstar Lycoris and Lonefire Blossom. The Duelists smiled and looked back at each other.

"For the last time, open the circuit of dreams and hope!" the square appeared for the fourth as Blue Angel prepared to Link Summon again. "Arrowheads confirmed! Summoning conditions are at least two Trickstar monsters! I set the Link Two Holly Angel and Crimson Heart in the Link Markers! Trickstar Bella Madonna (ATK: 2800, Link-4)!" The two Link 2 monsters flew into the square and the Link 4 Trickstar appeared in their place.

"This is going to hurt a lot." Nulline gulped.

"Trickstar Bella Madonna's effect activates, inflicting two hundred damage to you for every Trickstar in my Graveyard!" Bella Madonna swung her ax, unleashing a wave of pink energy that cut through Nulline's body, sending her rolling across the street.

『Nulline LP: 2900 - 1800 → 1100』

"With this, it's over!" Blue Angel declared. "Bella Madonna, attack Queen of Thorns! Shining Espoir!" The Link 4 leaped forward and swung her ax at the Synchro.

Nulline looked down at his set card. Wall of Thorns would destroy any Attack Position monster that Blue Angel controlled when she attacks a Plant-Type monster. Problem was that Bella Madonna was unaffected by card effects when she didn't point to any monsters.

So, closing her eyes, the Knight of Hanoi let Bella Madonna cut Queen of Thorns into pieces, destroying the last wall that protected her Life Points.

『Nulline LP: 1100 - 600 → 500』

"Now I activate the effect of Trickstar Lycoris from my hand." Blue Angel said, revealing the last card in her hand. "I target Bella Madonna and Special Summon Trickstar Lycoris, then return Bella Madonna to my Extra Deck!" the Trickstar appeared at the left side of Bella Madonna, who remained unaffected by her fellow Trickstar's effect. "Now battle! Lycoris, attack Nulline directly!"

"To think that I'll go out like this." Nulline sighed. Trickstar Lycoris aimed her knife at the Knight of Hanoi and fired pink electricity off the tip.

『Nulline LP: 500 - 1600 → 0』

『Winner: Blue Angel』

"In the end, I wasn't able to achieve revenge." Nulline sighed.

The Knight of Hanoi lied defeated on the ground. She looked over Blue Angel who walked up to her and smiled.

"I still hate you, even if it wasn't your fault, I just can't stop hating you," Nulline admitted. "If Picaro was able to hack into the Tower, she would have fired by now, so I take it that he failed as well."

"I promise to save you once all of this is over." Blue Angel said.

"Oh?" Nulline looked at the idol and smiled. "Sorry, but you won't. You'll never be able to beat Revolver, he's too powerful for you. And even, if by some miracle, you manage to defeat him… I can't feel it. An evil presence. So wrong and twisted, it won't let you succeed."

"I won't give up." Blue Angel replied.

"If you say so." Nulline closed her eyes. Her body turned into her data and disappeared, leaving the idol alone once more.

"Goodbye, Nulline." Blue Angel sighed. "I promise, I'll save everyone."

"Oh, then I believe that you will help me as well."

Blue Angle turned around startled and saw another Knight of Hanoi approaching her. This time it was a male, with light grey hair and a white suit.

"You were just on…" Blue Angel muttered. She could recall it, this was the person who defeated Kitamura.

"My name is Specter." The Knight introduced himself. "This is the second time we met, Blue Angel."

"Second time?" the idol asked.

"Let me open the door deep in your heart." Specter snapped his fingers.

Blue Angel's eyes widened as certain memories resurfaced back to her mind. She remembered the card that caused her to fall into a coma, the person who gave it to her and who used her to fight Playmaker. It was him, Specter.

"You implanted the computer virus in me!" Blue Angel shouted.

"It was a present," Specter argued. "Because I'm your fan."

"Tell me why you're doing this!" Blue Angel ordered.

"There's no point telling you." Specter smiled. "You're just the bait that's going to lead the big fish over to me. You'll lead me to my true opponent."

"What are you-" Blue Angel began to say when the ground below her began to shake and massive vines covered in thorns emerged from the ground and wrapped themselves around the idol, imprisoning her inside a cage.

"What's this?" Blue Angel asked, reaching out for the vines.

"Ah, ah." Specter waved a finger. "I wouldn't do that if I was you. There is a strong computer virus in those vines. If you touch it, you'll turn into data, just like dear Nulline did."

"Show some respect, she was your ally!" Blue Angel shouted.

"Ally?" Specter chuckled at that. "She was a rat who used Revolver's mercifulness to try and backstab him. She got what was coming for her, and so will you, once I'm done."

"You're a coward!" Blue Angel yelled. "If you were a duelist, you would face me like one and not use dirty tricks to gain the advantage."

"Oh, believe me, I would be more than happy to crush you in a duel," Specter smirked. "However, there's someone more important than I must eliminate first. And the only way to make them show up is by threatening something they hold dear."

Blue Angel bit her lip in anger and Specter laughed victoriously. He got the bait, now all he had to do was wait for the big fish to bite.

---

Ever since Great General of the Six Samurai was revealed, I knew that I needed to give MetalX one more duel. Sadly, I wanted to show him summon all Six Samurai Extra Deck monsters at once, but since all of the best Six Samurai Main Deck monsters were EARTH and its summoning requirements were monsters with DIFFERENT attributes, the Fusion had to sadly be left out.

Other than that, I LOVE writing Duels between Trickstars and Aromage, even though Nulline didn't use that many Aromage monsters during this duel. Just the idea of having the Trickstars' burn deck be blocked by Aromage's healing and Aromage's offensive effects gained by healing themselves storming Trickstars' defenses is an exciting thing to think about. I bet of those were Duel Terminal decks, they would be rivals.

Thanks to summer490 for the follow and the favorite on this story!

Now onto the reviews!

So, since I don't want to insult Playmaker's dueling abilities, Is won't address the two Guests' reviews in too many details, though I'll just say... PhantomFie IS overpowered even by Don Thousand standards, so yeah... Playmaker won't stand a chance even in a rematch.

ScalchopWarrior: My comment about PhantomFire not being overpowered was sarcasm, but given how much I like that specific OC of mine, I won't blame you for thinking that I'm defending him.

And that's... Really all I've got the say. There will probably be more stuff in the A/N of chapter 37 since I'm posting these together. But thanks for reading!