Subaru made small steps towards the place of the duel, ignoring the voices of those who told him he would be better off resting. The darkness duelist may have lost his duel, but he had to make sure that at least the war would be won. Stopping on front of the barrier, he knocked on it a few times until Blane turned his face soaked in tears to him. It pained him to see his brother suffer so much, but time was running out and something had to be done. Clenching his fist, trying not to cry himself, Subaru finally spoke to him:
"Blane, listen to me!"
No response came from the brown haired duelist's mouth, but since he was looking at him, the black haired teen decided to resume his speech:
"All of the Zero cards that Roger has collected possess enormous power. We all know what happens when such power ends up on the wrong hands."
All that Blane did was to shake his head a bit and let more tears fall. He clearly did not care about morals and ethics at that point.
"But have in mind the reason Leona fought Roger and sacrificed herself!" Subaru insisted, Blane finally showing interest in what he was saying. "She died to stop him from taking over our world!"
"I don't care, I want my Leona back!" the swordsman cried.
"Think about the world around us! Think of all the children which are basically our future generation of duelists, think of all the happy families and friends which grew bonds with this wonderful game, think of the very reason we are even here!" the darkness duelist said, a tear forming in his right eye. "This world… it has suffered a lot. Our city is prime example, always being crushed by the forces of evil. And yet, it still stands and rebuilds itself. This is proof that the greater good always triumphs!"
"Leona…"
In his mind, Blane recalled the day he met the girl, back when she was still a murderer. After he defeated her and having impressed her with his dueling skills, they began traveling together. Around this time, he showed her how to tame her power and use it for the greater good through dueling training. It was Duel Masters that brought them together.
"Leona… I won't let your memory go to waste!" Blane murmured as he got back up.
"Blane…" Tiger uttered upon seeing him back on his feet.
"This world… it needs a hero… now more than ever!" the brown haired duelist declared.
"Heh, the death of your girlfriend no longer bothers you?" Roger arrogantly brought up.
"No, Leona is alive."
"Oh?"
"Leona's soul is still alive here in this world. As long as we duel in the honor of those who died for us to be free to live and duel in peace, it will serve as proof that Leona is alive!"
Upon hearing that, smiles were brought to the faces of the heroes. Blane looked in his pocket at the small purple token with the Darkness civilization mask and then he turned his sight to Subaru, giving him a thankful smile. The black haired sibling nodded and returned to his friends.
"My turn, I cast Natural Snare and send Beethoven to the mana zone!" Blane said and many purple vines surrounded the Zenith Dragon which screeched as it disappeared.
"Eternal Omega, Beethoven goes back to my hand." Roger calmly replied. "It seems that the former darkness duelist's small speech served to bring back hope to you all. However, I promise you here and now that I will turn your hope into absolute despair!"
"What?"
"Let's see what fate decides now – I cast Mystery Cube!"
Roger's deck got shuffled once more and the top card was Child Festival of Faerie Fire which went into his mana zone. However, that did not pose much problems to the pianist, as he began tapping the cards in his battle zone.
"Necrodragon Odol Needle, break his shield!"
The dark blue Dragon filled with spikes flew towards its master's opponent and went through one of his shields. However, the shield shards reunited into a card which shone green and Blane said:
"Shield trigger, I cast Faerie Life!"
The top card of his deck which was Magmadragon Balga Geyser went into his mana zone.
"Trueking Viola Sonata, triple break his shields!" another order came from Roger.
The pink horned Dragon swung its blue swords and used them to slash three of Blane's shields. He took cover from the shards and waited for them to reform into cards, the three of them going into his hand. A smile appeared on his face as he showed one of them to his opponent and said:
"Shield trigger, I cast Natural Snare, send Viola Sonata to the mana zone!"
Another pair of purple vines caught the pink Dragon as well and made it go green until it disappeared and its card landed in Roger's mana zone. All of a sudden, Blane's hand erupted with a burning red aura of Fire kaijudo energy. Excitement grew between his friends while Roger looked at him with great interest, everyone eager to see his next move.
"Haya!" he shouted as he drew his next card. "My turn, I charge mana and summon Bolbalzak Ex!"
A white winged horned Dragon with red armor, cannons on its shoulders and a burning X scar on its chest appeared in the battle zone and roared as Blane's mana got untapped. Afterwards he tapped them all once more and said:
"Then I summon Balga Raiser, the Dragonic Meteor!"
A black armored Dragon with burning wings and two swords in its hands appeared and gave a battle roar as well.
"Heh, you summoned some Dragons at last? Let's see how good that move will be." Roger crossed his arms and waited.
"Bolbalzak Ex, attack Odol Needle!" Blane ordered and the red armored Dragon fought the spiked one, both of them disappearing in an explosion. "Then I attack with Balga Raiser and reveal the top card of my deck. If it's a Dragon it goes to the battle zone!"
Much to Roger's surprise, that card was Codeking Ludwig. Upon seeing it, the pianist mumbled:
"Rita's card?!"
"Yes, that's right, it's one of the cards you bastard didn't take back from your sister, and a damn good card, I might add!"
"She gave Ludwig to you?!"
"Yes, she may not be here now, but she said she wanted to help us in this final battle through whatever means. So consider this being your sister giving you a spanking – I put Codeking Ludwig in the battle zone!" Blane shouted and then a black winged Dragon dressed in a red knight armor with golden horns and white gloved claws appeared by his side, Roger making a step back and being genuinely shocked that one of his own King Command Dragons was now against him. "Balga Raiser, break his final shields!"
The black armored Dragon swung its swords and slashed the remaining two shields of Roger. But then one of the cards from those shields glowed purple and the man tossed it on the table while replying:
"Shield trigger activate, I summon Necrodragon Odol Needle and put him tapped in the battle zone!"
"Tsh, if my creatures attack, they must attack Odol Needle. At least Ludwig can take care of him." Blane thought and then he spoke. "Codeking Ludwig, attack Odol Needle! By Ludwig's effect, I must destroy one of your creatures with 7000 power or less, so Odol Needle dies before the battle happens!"
Spitting fire from its mouth, Ludwig made sure that Odol Needle melted into nothingness. With that, Blane ended his turn. What followed next was a wave of cheers from his crowd.
"Alright, brother Blane's got him on the run!" Tamma shouted.
"Go Blaney, make us proud!" Edo cheered.
"Blane, hold on, we believe in you!" Sora declared.
"There are fifteen minutes left, but you can still do it!" Luna reminded him.
"Lad, show that sad excuse of a villain how real duelists play!" Tabitha encouraged.
"He's got no shields left, resist for one more turn and the game's yours!" Rad advised.
"We all believe in you, Blane! You can do it, defeat Roger!" Subaru shouted the loudest.
"Heh, you see that, pal?" Blane asked his opponent with a large grin on his face.
"A gallery of supporters, what is so special?" Roger coldly asked.
"These 'supporters' believed in me and helped me out through this entire journey. It's because of them that I'll win tonight!"
"Hah, if what you need to win is a bunch of barking fans, then there is no wonder you haven't gone far!"
"You could never understand this great feeling of having other people help you not because of promises of power or out of fear, but from sheer kindness. It's what we call friendship."
"Fluffy concepts to warm lonely children at night, that's what you've wasted my time with. And now let me show you what it takes to actually be a strong duelist, Blane Kaminaga!"
All of the eleven cards in Roger's mana zone tapped themselves and with a satisfied grin on his face, the pianist showed a Zero creature which he immediately put in the battle zone.
"I summon VAN Beethoven, Zenith of "Fighting"!"
A white armored Dragon with long blonde mane, a rainbow sol key shaped shield in its left hand and a rainbow spear in its right hand appeared in the battle zone. White waves came out of the shield and then both Balga Raiser and Ludwig disappeared, their cards returning to Blane's hand.
"What the hell?!" the brown haired teen reacted.
"When VAN Beethoven is summoned, I return all of your creatures to your hand. Also, when you put a Command or Dragon in the battle zone… it is put into the graveyard instead of the battle zone!" Roger announced with a highly satisfied smile.
Blane froze upon hearing that. A few other duelists from the crowd who used the aforementioned creatures also got shivers upon hearing that effect.
"Such an effect… it's reminiscent of the now banned King Alcadeias, Holy Gaia." Subaru remarked.
"Indeed it is. He won't even be able to use his creatures' CIP effects, since they technically don't reach the battle zone and are put directly in the graveyard." Luna deduced with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"And since Blane uses only Dragons and Cocco Lupia…" Rad recalled.
"…his deck is pretty much locked down." Tabitha finished the sentence.
"Heh, a power similar to that of the glorious Alphadios…" Tsugumi reflected.
"Speaking of which, thanks for letting me use this baby, it's really strong!" Ren said as he offered back Tsugumi her deck.
"I hope you enjoyed using it!" the blonde girl said as he took it and hid it in her dress.
"Indeed I did. Once Roger is done with Blane, I think we should take care of him." the white haired boy suggested.
"No, Tabitha is the only one out of them all who is still able to duel. She'll most likely wish to try and defeat him as well. If Roger finishes her off too, then I will take care of this nuisance."
"As you say, though I don't think time is on our side."
Blane looked at all the cards in his hand, including the one he recently drew. All of them were Dragons, all of them were unable of reaching the battle zone and giving the pianist that final attack which would defeat him and save the world. Like Subaru, he was so close to victory, and yet it was still unreachable. It seemed that bad luck was in the stars of both brothers that night. It was over, he had failed them, the world, his brother, his friends, his love, everyone. Clenching his fist, Blane cried out his pain once more.
"Roger!" Tabitha shouted as she ran to the barrier, the pianist turning his attention to her. "Just take Kiramaru from him and let the boys go, please!"
"No." Roger responded coldly. "We must see this duel until the end."
Turning back to his opponent, Roger analyzed the situation. Blane's Dragons were not able to come out, so that meant that his only threat was another potential Natural Snare shield trigger. However, he would have a backup plan for that sort of unwanted event.
"I summon Beethoven, Zenith of "Horror"!" the pianist said and his other trump appeared by the side of its VAN incarnation. "With Beethoven's effect I return Trueking Viola Sonata, Codeking Wilhelm and Codeking Mozart to my hand and I put the top three cards of my deck to my mana zone. Then I tap Beethoven. VAN Beethoven, break his final shield!"
Swinging its rainbow colored spear, the white armored Dragon Zenith slashed the remaining shield of Blane. The teen took it into his hand and then he cursed:
"Shit! Shit! Damn you and your King Command Dragons to hell!"
"Blane!" Tiger shouted as he struggled in his chains.
Outside, everyone hopelessly stared at the situation that was going on while both Tabitha and Subaru were punching the barrier as hard as they could, hoping that maybe technology would for once give up in front of man's natural strength. But the inevitable still happened in the end. Letting go of all control, Roger began laughing maniacally, his hair messing up badly. Then, with the look of a deadly predator, he spoke:
"VAN Beethoven, todomeda!"
The Zenith Dragon's red eyes shone brightly as it fired a multicolored laser from both its spear and shield. Blane lowered his head in shame, awaiting his demise. But then something unexpected happened.
Tiger finally managed to break free from his chains, and wounded, starved and tired as he was, he rushed all over to the dueling table of his friend and pushed Blane from the attack of VAN Beethoven, receiving the full blow himself. Everyone gasped in reaction to that. Tiger's body ended up against the barrier as the laser's power was beginning to slowly burn it away. With a smile of peace on his face, the blonde teen spoke:
"For most of my life I was a loner. But then I discovered you guys and you all gave me a reason to keep fighting on. Thank you for the memories. And you, Blane, thank you for caring enough about me that you came all this way to rescue me. You truly are a great friend."
"No…" Blane mumbled and then he screamed Tiger's name as the duelist burned to ashes.
Once the attack was over, the barrier finally disappeared. Roger's right hand glove shined with a bright white aura and the man claimed Kiramaru, Great Miracle from Blane's pocket, the card flying right into his grasp. At long last, he had all Zero cards. Not being able to take all that emotional pain anymore, Blane mentally collapsed, doing nothing else but cry uncontrollably. Subaru and Tabitha rushed to the aid of the defeated one while Roger let the final card rejoin the others in the middle circle.
All of a sudden, the four circles shone bright white and took the form of a gate. The entire castle shook and everyone watched with awe how the gate grew in size. At its other side, they could see the shapes of different creatures taking form and becoming bigger and bigger. Between them they could recognize Radio Roses, Zenith of "Wisdom", Wedding, Zenith of "Celebration" and VAN Beethoven, Zenith of "Fighting". Roger kneeled beneath the circle and welcomed the creatures with open arms, all while laughing maniacally.
"Time's run out, what are we going to do now?!" Ren desperately asked Tsugumi.
"I have no idea…" the girl barely replied.
"No, it's too late now." Luna said as she looked at the phone and saw that it was midnight.
