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APOPHIS' DOMAIN – LINK VRAINS – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

"You have it done?" Hayabusa asked Ray.

"Yes. Winged Kuriboh has returned to the temple to help Yuri and Celica-san." Ray answered while reading through the letter one more time.

The letter given by Winged Kuriboh consisted of three pages. The first two pages were written by both Yuri and Celica who wrote everything what they knew about the enemies' plan based on what they heard during their stay. The last page was instruction to be given to their comrades to find a way to deactivate the handcuffs and reprogram their Duel Disk'. Both Yuri and Celica have heard and figured they would be forced to wear them. It wasn't just an ordinary handcuff; it needed specific code to take it off. And for safety measure, they needed to reinstall the Real Solid Vision program back into their Duel Disks after the enemies removed them.

Yuri and Celica have instructed Winged Kuriboh to secretly find any electronic device that would connect to the network. Through network, the enemies won't notice Winged Kuriboh delivering the message to their comrades. Of course, Winged Kuriboh didn't expect to find itself in Apophis' domain in LINK VRAINS instead. Fortunately, Ray and the others were around, or else, it perhaps would get lost until it was too late. With Ray's help, Winged Kuriboh could safely logged out to the Lancers' airship and made everything that was necessary as instructed within the letter with the help of the ones staying in the airship.

"With this Winged Kuriboh can free the both of them, giving them the chance to fight back. Whether they escape or not, the rest is up to them. We can only pray for their safety." Ray said. She hoped Winged Kuriboh made it in time before Yuri and Celica reached the altar at the third floor.

"Everyone! Look!"

Ray and Hayabusa turned to their comrade who was pointing at something below. Ray and Hayabusa rushed to the other side of the roof and followed the finger pointing below them. They then spotted someone was running quite far. Those black clothes and dark teal hair. They only knew one person who fit that description both offline and online.

"That's, Ryo Marufuji?"

SECOND FLOOR – TEMPLE OF CALAMITY – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

"Achille took a long time already. Did he lose?" Geist wondered while looking at the direction of the stairs leading down to the first floor. He then smirked. His eyes brightened.

"If he is dead, that means I get to have some fun." Geist eyes turned menacing at the built-up excitement inside.

From the corner of her eyes, Celica stared at Geist with disgust. They were supposed to be fellow offspring, which means they were siblings, but yet they didn't even care a bit if one of them died. And this guy was even delighted at the prospect of his brethren died as long as he could have some fun.

"He is even worse than he was 1,500 years ago when Yuno and I fought him." Celica thought. In her memory, she never thought well of Geist. He has always been not right in the head. He was a type who would kill a small animal just for the sake of seeing it writhing in pain as its life slowly left its body. But now she felt he became worse on a whole new level.

Celica's attention shifted when she noticed something small floating and hiding behind a wall while Geist was still too busy with his own thought. Celica blinked and squinted her eyes to take a better look, and then widened when she realized the little floating furball entering her field of vision.

"Winged Kuriboh!" Celica exclaimed in her mind with relief. Noticing small devices that it was carrying, she knew that it has done what she and Yuri had instructed it to do. Winged Kuriboh flew as quietly as it could while Geist was still preoccupied. It was in its ethereal form, so it was less noticeable.

Moving behind Celica, Winged Kuriboh held the device right in front of the handcuff and plugged the cables into Celica's Duel Disk. Fortunately, it was good at remembering things. All instruction on how to use the device was etched into its head like flipping the back of the hand.

"I wonder when they'll come... I want to have fun soon before the ritual ends..." Geist muttered as his excitement continued to build up.

"In that case, how about have some fun with me?"

Geist blinked before turning back to Celica behind him. To his surprise, the Imperial Adviser has been freed from her handcuff. Before he asks how, he spotted Winged Kuriboh behind her carrying something in its hands. It wasn't difficult to figure out by himself how they she got freed. He had completely forgotten about Winged Kuriboh. They were so busy lately that it won't be weird he and the rest didn't think about the little monster.

"You're too small that I didn't notice you. I am grateful for that." Geist licked his lips while raising his Duel Disk. Winged Kuriboh just gave him a reason to Duel the Imperial Adviser.

"Stay behind me, Winged Kuriboh." Celica said as she activated her Duel Disk, beginning the Duel.

[DUEL!]

"I'm going first! From my hand, I summon Magibullet Musketeer Star (ATK: 1300 / DEF: 1700 / LV: 4)!" Geist summoned Star in Attack Position.

"I activate Magic Card: Foolish Burial. I send a card from my Deck to my Graveyard." Geist discarded Magibullet Musketeer Wild from his Deck to his Graveyard.

"When a Magic or Trap is activated on Star's column, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Magibullet Monster from my Deck in Defense Position." Geist summoned Magibullet Musketeer Wild (ATK: 1700 / DEF: 900 / LV: 4) in Defense Position.

"I activate Magic Card: Double Musket. I discard a Magibullet card to double the Level of Magibullet monsters I control!" Geist doubled Star and Wild's Level to 8.

"Two Level 8 monsters... An Xyz Summon?" Celica questioned.

"Exactly. I overlay Star and Wild! Xyz Summon! Apppear! Rank 8! Demon Roar God Jekyll (ATK: 4500 / DEF: 2000 / RNK: 8 / ORU: 2)!" Geist summoned Jekyll in Attack Position.

"Demon Roar God? I thought that's supposed to be Neon's card." Celica asked. She had heard from Yugo that after Hyde died, Neon had revived him as her Duel Monster servant. And since Neon was dead, she had thought the Deck disappeared together with her.

"It is the last gift given by my dear Neon. Shouldn't I now use it? I end my Turn." Geist said as he concluded his Turn. He had taken a liking to Hyde like Neon did, so when she was dead, he decided to add the Duel Monster Hyde has become into his Deck. The addition gave more varieties to his Deck and strategies, giving him more ideas of fun.

"Both you and Neon are always the worst amongst the others." Celica remarked. Geist alone was already a nightmare, teaming up with Neon would be doubling that nightmare. She still remembered the time when Geist teamed up with Neon 1,500 years ago, they annihilated three armies of the Empire's 10 armies.

"Thank you very much for the compliment." Geist responded with a playful sweet smile.

"My Turn! From my hand, I summon Erial, Priestess of the Nekroz (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 4)!" Celica summoned Erial in Attack Position.

"When a Nekroz Monster is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon Creed, Priest of the Nekroz (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 4) from my hand!" She summoned Creed in Attack Position.

"I activate Ritual Spell: Reincarnation Technique of the Nekroz! I can Ritual Summon a Nekroz Monster whose Level is exactly equal to the total Level of a monster tributed!" Celica revealed the Ritual Spell in her hand, releasing Erial.

"At this moment, I activate Jekyll's effect! I detach an Overlay Unit to destroy all your Magic and Trap!" Geist detached Jekyll's first Overlay Unit. Jekyll blew a miasma towards the Ritual Spell, but Celica then pointed at Creed.

"I activate Creed's effect! When an effect is activated while I perform Ritual Summon, I can negate that effect!" Celica revealed as Creed blocked the miasma by forming a blue-colored force shield, allowing the Ritual Summon to continue.

"Ritual Summon! Appear! Level 4! Nekroz of Unicore (ATK: 2300 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4)!" Celica summoned Unicore in Attack Position.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Celica concluded.

"My Turn! Battle! I attack Nekroz of Unicore with Demon Roar God Jekyll!" Geist declared Battle Phase. Jekyll dashed forward with its giant black scalpel. It was read to cut the Ritual Monster's body into half. Celica could feel the bloodlust coming from the monster who was Hyde's reincarnation. Even after being reincarnated, Hyde was still the same.

"Trap Card: Magician's Curtain Welcome! When a monster I control is targeted for an attack while I have Magician-Type Monster in my hand, I can Special Summon one Magician-Type Monster from my hand and shift the attack to that monster!" Celica summoned Lemon Magician Girl (ATK: 800 / DEF: 600 / LV: 2) in Attack Position as it faced the attack.

"Are you a fool? Directing the attack to a monster with lower ATK? You're inviting your own death!" Geist exclaimed, sneering at Lemon Magician Girl's low ATK compared to Jekyll.

"I activate Lemon Magician Girl's effect! When this card is being attacked, I can Special Summon one Magician-Type Monster form my hand whose Level is higher with its effect negated and shift the attack to that Monster with the attacking monster's ATK halved!" Celica Special Summoned Apple Magician Girl (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 800 / LV: 3) in Attack Position and then halved Jekyll's ATK to 2250.

Both Lemon Magician Girl and Apple Magician Girl together joined their staff together against the incoming Jekyll. They focused their energies into one to form a barrier. The scalpel hit the barrier, fiercely trying to pierce through it. However, the clash caused both the scalpel and barrier to crack until the barrier explode, deflecting Jekyll and the two Magicians back from each other.

CELICA LP: 4000 = 2950

"I end my Turn. I don't recall you have those Magicians 1,500 years ago. They are your new additions?" Geist questioned while pointing at the two Magician Girls.

"1,500 years I continue to polish my skill as Duelist, trying different strategies and cards. As an Imperial Adviser, I can't afford myself to lose my touch." Celica answered. She entrusted the future to the new generation when she retired and became Imperial Adviser. But it didn't mean she had stopped Dueling. The dread that one day, Apophis will awaken push her to continue dueling. But above all, she enjoyed dueling. As long as there was a room for improvement, she will take it.

"My Turn! I activate Magic Card: Nekroz Draw! When I control exactly one Level 5 or lower Nekroz Ritual Monster, I can draw cards equal to that Monster's Level!" As she controls Level 4 Nekroz of Unicore, she drew four cards into her hand.

"I release Creed to Advance Summon Kiwi Magician Girl (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 5)!" Celica summoned Kiwi in Attack Position.

"I activate Ritual Spell: Nekroz Charm! I can Ritual Summon a Nekroz Ritual Monster from my hand or Deck whose Level is equal or higher than the tributed monsters!" Celica released Nekroz of Unicore, Apple Magician Girl, Lemon Magician Girl, and Kiwi Magician Girl. The four different type monsters turned into four colored flames entering the golden cup at the center of the altar. From the cup, a pillar of light burst out along with a monster within the pillar that started to emerge.

"Ritual Summon! Appear! Level 11! Nekroz of Sophia (ATK: 3600 / DEF: 3400 / LV: 11)!" Celica summoned her strongest monster in Attack Position.

"I activate Nekroz of Sophia's effect! Once per Turn, I can lower the ATK of the opposing monster by 500 for each monster used to summon this card!" Celica lowered Jekyll's ATK to 1500. Nekroz of Sophia threw black flame that was formed from its left hand, burning and weakening the Xyz Monster.

"That Sophia of yours is troublesome as always." Geist commented while staring at Sophia with amusement. Amongst Celica's entire monster, her Sophia was always the one that gave him trouble when he dueled her 1,500 years ago.

"Battle! I attack Demon Roar God Jekyll with Nekroz of Sophia!" Celica declared. Sophia formed black flame and white flame in both of her palms. Sophia fused them together and shot it straight towards the Demon Roar Xyz Monster.

"I activate Jekyll's third effect! I detach an Overlay Unit to negate its destruction by Battle!" Geist detached the remaining Overlay Unit, allowing Jekyll to endure the attack. Geist got pushed backwards by the backlash.

GEIST LP: 4000 = 1900

"In that case, I'll show you the newest addition of my monster. My Turn! I summon Tuner Monster, Magibullet Avenger (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 1)!" Geist summoned Avenger in Attack Position from his hand.

"A Tuner?!" Celica was surprised. Geist's Magibullet's Deck consisted of Effect Monsters. With the addition of Parasite cards that Yuya have told her, he has learned Fusion as well. But now he also Synchro Monster? She certainly didn't expect that. However, if he wanted to do Synchro Summon, he needs monster with a Level. He only has Xyz Monster on his Field. Unless…

"I activate Magic Card: Cursed Bullet. I can give a Level to an Xyz Monster I control." Geist gave Jekyll Level 8.

"I knew it…" Celica inwardly groaned. This only meant one thing…

"I tune Demon Roar God Jekyll with Magibullet Avenger! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 9! Magibullet Lunatique Temptress (ATK: 3800 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 9)!" Geist summoned a female monster with black hair that splays out around it in tendrils. It wore a violet headband with four ribbons finished with blue beads and yellow tassels. The headdress has two long plumes that zigzag. It has yellow eyes. It wore a violet-and-black bra with a curlicue design linked in front by a violet chain, and a black thong, a thin yellow-tasseled belt, red bracelets, violet armbands and wristbands, green sashes, silver anklets and a blue garter around its left thigh. It wore a black bead necklace resembles seashells or fangs.

"How do you like Neon's new beautiful look, Celica?" Geist said while Lunatique Temptress hugged Geist from behind, smiling sinisterly at Celica that made the Imperial Adviser shudder.

"You also…revived Neon into your monster…" Celica remarked uneasily. That gaze and grin gave away everything. That monster was no doubt Neon. Only she would give people that kind of look.

"But of course. Neon still wants to play in this world, especially with Yugo boy. I'm granting her wish." Geist said while placing a hand on top of Lunatique Temptress' hand, motioning her to be prepared for action.

"I activate Lunatique Temptress effect! I can lower the ATK and DEF of a monster my opponent controls equal to the ATK of a Magibullet monster in my Graveyard!" Geist lowered Nekroz of Sophia's ATK and DEF equal to Wild's, making the Ritual Monster's current ATK and DEF 1900 and 1700, respectively. Lunatique Temptress has Nekroz of Sophia chained, draining its power and rendering the monster unable to move.

"Now my dear, let's give the lady over there a taste of your new power, shall we?" Geist told the Synchro Monster who winked in return. Using Jekyll and Parasite Devil were fun, but using Lunatique Temptress who used to be Neon was perfect. Even as Duel Monster, Neon was still his favorite.

"Battle! I attack Nekroz of Sophia with Lunatique Lady! When it battles a Special Summoned Monster, the damage is doubled!" Geist declared Battle Phase.

Lunatique Temptress tightened her chains that binding Nekroz of Sophia. She then used the remaining chains to whirl it around her body while she dashed down towards the Ritual Monster like a black whirlwind. Nekroz of Sophia struggled fruitlessly against her chains, as the Synchro Monster was getting closer. Celica gritted her teeth, as she has no cards that could evade the attack.

"I don't have any choice!" Celica turned to Creed with reluctance. "I activate Creed's effect! When a Nekroz Monster is targeted for an attack by a Monster with higher ATK, I can release it and the damage is inflicted to the both players!"

Lunatique Temptress clashed against Creed in its ethereal form appearing right in front of the chained Nekroz of Sophia. The two forces pushed against one another, refusing to lose. As each monster intensified their respective attack the forces blend into one, resulting in an explosion that blew away both Celica and Geist.

CELICA LP: 2950 = 0

GEIST LP: 1900 = 0

The two Duelists crashed against the wall behind them. The crash was hard one, but they were still able to stand on their feet. The whole floor was in a mess, but fortunately was still intact and has yet to fall apart.

"That's a nice surprise… But don't think this will stop me." Geist said while wiping the dust and dirt from his clothes. He raised his Duel Disk, ready for the second round. Celica was ready to restart the Duel as soon as possible since she knew she couldn't pass until she defeats Geist.

"Switch, Geist."

Celica and Geist gasped as they saw Shing came from upstairs, jumping and then landed beside Geist. He gave Geist a smack on his back, earning a yelp from the latter whose back was already hurt from crashing the wall.

"His Excellency's order. In your current condition, you're more useful in LINK VRAINS. Switch with me." Shing said, pulling and then pushed Geist to the stairs leading to the altar.

"Since this is His Excellency's order, I have no choice…" Geist sighed before walking upstairs. Celica intended to give a chase but Shing immediately came between her and the stairs.

"I'm your opponent." Shing said, raising his Duel Disk to fight.

"Then next, I shall be your opponent."

From the stairs behind Celica, Reiji and the others have arrived. Celica was relieved to see Yuya and Serena and the young man in glasses who appears to be their friend came to help. However, the fourth person who came behind them shocked both Celica and Shing that they were rendered speechless. Celica walked closer to the fourth person with one hand covering her mouth and her eyes went teary as she continued to stare at the fourth person.

"You're...!" Celica opened her mouth, but 'Odd-Eyes' placed a finger in front of her lips, silencing her.

"Talk later. Yuri doesn't have much time." He told her, reminding the boy who has gone upstairs ahead of them. He himself wanted nothing more but to have a talk, but Yuri's very life was at stake. He was glad that Celica didn't let her emotion overwhelmed her and kept her priority in mind.

"You think I'm going to let you pass?" Shing said as he moved closer to the stairs to stop them, only for a red cord attached itself to his Duel Disk. Shing turned to where the cord came from and found the cord was connected to Reiji's Duel Disk.

"This is Duel Anchor. Until the Duel is finished, neither of us can leave." Reiji said as he fixed his glasses. With the cord connected to Shing, the Action Field was activated, forming a dome that trapping himself and Shing.

"The three of you go on ahead. I'll hold him off." Reiji told Yuya, Serena, and Celica. Any time wasted would mean closer for Yuri to reach his death door.

Yuya didn't need to ask again. He pulled Serena and Celica with him to run upstairs. Reiji was one of Yuya's strongest rivals. He understood well how strong Reiji was. He won't go down so easily. Reiji could do it. He will defeat Shing and catch up to them. He believed in him. Serena also realized this and didn't say anything more. Celica didn't know how strong Reiji was, but Yuya and Serena seemed to trust him enough to leave him alone, meaning Reiji could take care of himself. She will place her trust in the person whom Yuya and Serena trusted.

"I won't hesitate." Reiji said, facing against Shing calmly with silent burning determination.

"Me too. Looks like we're a match." Shing smiled, feeling excited at the prospect of fighting against one of the strongest Duelists in ARC-V.

APOPHIS' DOMAIN – LINK VRAINS – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARTIFICIAL DIMENSION

When Yuri opened his eyes, it was dark. Almost everything was pitch black. He was at a room with cold, dark stonewalls, a damp taste to the air. There were torches, but they were very sparse. Aside from them, there was a Data Storm in a far distance. This was the kind of room that ate away at light and put a fear of the dark into someone. Yuri sat up and then realized his outfit has changed. It was the outfit he wore when he logged into LINK VRAINS. Does that mean he was in LINK VRAINS? How? Since when?

Yuri shook his head, trying to recall his memories before he awakened here. He was taken into the temple with Celica by the Apophis offspring. And then Tsukasa and Kurt took him up to the second floor while leaving Celica with Geist and Achille. When they arrived at the third floor, he remembered seeing an altar with chains affixed to each corner with dried blood on the grooves. The entire table was stained with bloodstains—the chains were bloody, too, but mostly on the inside, implying that whoever had been chained here had rubbed so badly against the chains that they had bled into them.

Yuri felt sick.

And then his handcuffs were removed. He knew it would be too naïve to think it means he has a chance to escape because Tsukasa immediately turned on the collar he was wearing, shocking and rendering him paralyzed enough for Tsukasa to carry him and chained him to the altar. Turned out while he was unconscious after defeated by Ryo at the party, they have made a few adjustment with his collar to make sure he couldn't escape. The shock produced by the collar was even worse than the normal one. After he was chained, Kurt strapped his Duel Disk on his wrist and it activated by itself to his confusion.

That was the last thing he remembered.

"I see. I was forcefully logged into LINK VRAINS. But what are they planning to do with me here? Are they going to sacrifice me while leaving my consciousness here?" Yuri wondered while looking around for any possible sign of exit. He wasn't afraid of dark, but he didn't want to be imprisoned here while his body was in that bloody altar.

Yuri's eyes narrowed whe he sensed a presence behind him. He raised is Duel Disk, taking a stance ready for a combat.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" Yuri demanded.

Following his question, the torches flared up more one by one. The dark space lightened up, revealing the presence. Yuri shuddered when the very presence turned out to be a familiar huge black dragon. Its distinctive feature made it easy for Yuri to recognize the dragon. He had only seen it once in the photo shown by Yuno, but it etched in his mind. He had to admit that he didn't expect this at all. To think he would meet face-to-face with the enemy's boss this way.

"Apophis…what a pleasure to meet you." Yuri said sarcastically, earning him a laugh from the Dragon of Calamity.

"You are just like what Shing and Kurt have said." Apophis responded, eyeing Yuri with interest.

"I heard you're going to turn me into your Duel Monster, so why I am here instead of being sacrificed? What business do you have with this poor little me trapped in this dirty prison?" Yuri asked in his casual manner when dealing against his enemy. Truthfully, inside, he was quite unnerved by the mere presence of the black dragon.

Apophis smirked and his eyes narrowed. His dragon form then dissolved into black smoke that focused into one. When the smoke dispersed, Yuri was taken aback that a person who appeared to be around twenties now was standing in front of him. He was dressed in coat adorned with dozens of wave symbols. He has two green belts on his waist and what seem to be black feathers on his right shoulder in place of armor. Several cords crisscross in front of his torso, connecting to massive, oblong pieces of armor worn on each arm. Has dark skin with glowing green eyes.

Apophis took a few steps forward and Yuri, without himself realizing, took a step back as he was getting closer. Apophis stopped once he was close enough to properly face the violet haired youth and raised his right arm, revealing his Duel Disk.

"I'm going to give you despair."


NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

Whisper of the Devil – Yuri is forced to log into LINK VRAINS and is confronted by Apophis himself who challenge him to a Duel while using his avatar. At the same time, Reiji begins his Duel against Shing.


I've always loved Magician Girl archetype and want to include it no matter what, so I choose Celica to use them. Sorry, but the Duel between Reiji and Shing will have to be continued later. I'm having a difficult decision in this Duel. I don't want Celica to lose, but Geist has already enough lost and adding more won't be good for his record when he is actually strong and going to be a big threat in later chapters. For that reason, I make the Duel ended in a Draw. About Nekroz of Sophia, I've changed its effect in Bonds of Pendulum, but later it will change under certain circumstances.

And to Yuri fans out there, I'm very sorry but the next chapter will be hard for Yuri. Please bear with it for the sake of character development and story. By the way, I make a poll about the boys and girls pairing, out of curiosity. Please give me your vote. You can see the poll in my profile.

Please don't forget to review this chapter!