Chapter Ten

Home

The hastening of Rain's breaths echoed throughout Atlantis's underwater catacombs. She gripped the Millennium Puzzle's chain and scooted back a step, two. Her shoulder blade brushed the lavender diamond trapping Rahlin. The quiet sound of the growing cracks in Rahlin's prison rung out every minute.

Rain squared her shoulders. If she could buy enough time for Rahlin to be freed, Rain could pass off the Puzzle to her. Rahlin would find a way out. She always had a solution. Rain could use the bracelet at her wrist to escape, but Geh would trap Rahlin again – likely in a stronger prison than her current state.

Rain threw the Puzzle's chain around her neck, activated her Chaos duel disk, and said, "You won't lay a finger on my sister or my friend!"

"Your ill-placed conviction brings to mind revolutions throughout human history. Those downtrodden in society seek reform. Violence is their weapon, and blood cakes their guillotines. Revolutions often eat themselves alive due to the power grab from those who sparked the reforms. This is the nature of the humans you protect."

"Not where I'm from," she said. "My friends are humans, yet they changed their society by living the acceptance and unity they wanted to see in the world. They didn't have to use any of the violence you guided me into, hypocrite."

A sinister smile stretched his lips. "Was it wrong to allow you the vengeance you desired? Tell me, my child. Do these 'friends' of yours know of the buckets of blood staining your skin?"

Without missing a beat, she said, "Yes."

"You are too far lost, my child. I will see our dream to fruition with or without you. I activate the Seal of Orichalcos!"

Neon bled over the damp tiles. The green turned the duelists' pale skin sickly. Seeing the six-pointed star used against her turned Rain's insides to ice. "I- I created this for you!"

"And it shall be your undoing," he stated. "I summon Orichalcos Malevolence in attack position and end my turn."

Molten stone dripped off the gargoyle crawling onto Geh's field. Lava left the stone floor steaming. The Seal of Orichalcos formed on the monster's forehead, boosting its 1500 attack to 2000.

"My turn! I'm summoning Vanguard of the Dragon! His effect increases his attack by discarding a Dragon-type. I discard two so he gains 600 points. The White Stone of Legend hit the graveyard, so I get to add a Blue-Eyes White Dragon to my hand!"

Decaying scales gifted power unto Vanguard, whose 1700 attack increased to 2300. Rain said, "You're not getting away with anything! Vanguard attacks Orichalcos Malevolence!"

The beefed-up monster lobbed his spear, which ripped a hole through the lava gargoyle. Geh's life fell to 3700. Geh said, "The effect of Orichalcos Nihil in my hand activates. I special summon Nihil since you destroyed my Orichalcos monster. Child, I thought your time in the future would improve your skills at the card game."

Rain's upper lip hopped in a snarl. "You're quick to treat me like an enemy. My turn's over."

"My resentment for your other half piles ever higher, child," he hissed, "and you are fortunate enough to receive the brunt. I tribute Orichalcos Nihil for Timeater."

Rain had never seen her former patron act so emotional. The scorched-earth type of anger he now showed shocked her; she tried to hide it but understood he could read her feelings nonetheless.

She hadn't believed him to be prideful, either, yet Rahlin pulling the wool over his eyes left him this furious? She shook her head and focused on the field. A muscular blue golem stomped, causing a tremor in Atlantis. The clock embedded in his chest ticked and tocked. Timeater's 1900 attack increased to 2400, 100 more than Vanguard's.

"Timeater battles Vanguard of the Dragon!"

The clock spun out of control. The glass cover cracked. The golem bellowed and charged. He batted Vanguard towards Rain. Her monster collided with her, sending her sprawling to the floor. Her life fell to 3900. Geh said, "Turn end."

Her hand remained on her aching abdomen as she stood. Sweat beaded her face. The duel with Paradox had done more of a number on her than she realized. Geh fawned, "Dear child, remember folding is always an option in Duel Monsters."

A crack sounded from behind her. Rain swiped a card off her deck. "I control no monsters, so at my Standby Phase, I can special summon the Totem Dragon I discarded with Vanguard."

"And now you are given a choice." The word hissed on its way out. "Timeater destroyed one of your monsters. Your Main Phase is now skipped. Choose to enter your Battle Phase or your End Phase."

"Eh?"

The clock on the monster's chest rotated madly. Rain's head spun. "My- my Battle Phase! That way I'll still have my Main Phase 2, which I'll immediately move to!"

"Little good it will do." Geh threw up his hands and shook his head. "I have studied you for ages, child. You focus on blowout attacks to eliminate your opponents. I play a slower game. Your tactics are predictable and avoidable."

A laugh rocked her shoulders. "Consider me kinda different than the child you remember! I'm activating the Eye of Timaeus!"

Through his teeth, he said, "You have Timaeus?"

"I combine him with Totem Dragon to create Timaeus, Tamer of Dragons!" The feathers sprouting from Timaeus's cranium resembled a shaman's headdress. His cobalt scales shifted to a rustic design, and his wings sported bright primary colors in traditional patterns. The dragon held his forearms in an "X" to show his defense position. At 2000 defense, he wouldn't be able to stop Timeater.

Rain said, "I activate his first effect! By discarding a Dragon-type, I can add one a level higher or lower from my deck to my hand. I choose to add Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"

Timaeus's call resembled a flute's whistle. Rain took a card in her hand between her first and second fingers. A sleight of hand showed the card to Geh. "Revealing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon in my hand allows me to special summon Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"

Shocks of black darkened Alternative's hide and wings in a lightning pattern. Rain said, "Alternative's second effect! By giving up his attack this turn, I can target a monster of yours and destroy it! Burn Stream of Destruction!"

Azure flowed through the dark, jagged lines upon Alternative's scales. Alternative's wings spread wide. Blue snaked forward as jolts of lightning and impaled Timeater. The monster didn't stagger. The holes made by the attack filled back in. Rain's jaw dropped.

"When Orichalcos Nihil is used as tribute," Geh explained, "the tribute summoned monster cannot be destroyed."

Couldn't be destroyed period meant battle wouldn't work, either. Rain took hold of the cool metal of the ring on her fourth finger and rotated it once, twice. "I- I end my turn."

"This is who you are, child." Geh's arms fell slack at his sides to express his immeasurable disappointment. "You bash your head against walls to get through them until somebody else opens the door for you. Alone, you have zero potential. You are hopeless without a guide."

She stepped back. Her brows pushed inward, and she chewed her lip. Hopeless was right. If it wasn't for Bakura and Zane, she wouldn't have had a chance against Paradox. If she was alone, she was doomed.

Her fingertip brushed the golden puzzle laying against her chest.

She wasn't alone; not entirely.

"Timeater attacks Timaeus, Tamer of Dragons! When your monster is destroyed, your next Main Phase 1 is skipped yet again. I move to my Main Phase 2. Paying 500 LP allows the special summoning of Orichalcos Kyutora, who I summon in my spell/trap zone. I'll next normal summon Orichalcos Gigas in my frontline."

Geh's life dropped to 3200 while two monsters took the field. The periwinkle fuzzball in the back had a giant eye bearing the six-pointed star, and its 500 attack increased to 1000. The brown-skinned orc in the foreground had 400 attack boosted to 900. A smile thinned Geh's eyes as he lifted a spell card into the air. "Now: Orichalcos Deuteros!"

A second layer enclosed the original Seal. The brightness caught in a drop of sweat falling off the tip of Rain's nose. She said, "Maybe you've forgotten, but I haven't. I made this card so you could live in my world. I put in the work like you did for Rahlin. I'm the one who gave you Dartz's body, and you won't trust me for a millisecond? I reaped hundreds of souls, too, only for you to axe me the instant you doubt me?"

"You lost the trust you earned when you destroyed the Great Leviathan."

Damn – she really thought she had a stronger argument that time.

Geh said, "Using Deuteros allows me to gain 500 life points per monster on my field once a turn. I'll activate and move to End Phase."

The chirp of his life points increasing to 4700 was drowned out by a melodious roar. Rain said, "Timaeus, Tamer of Dragons returns at the End Phase if he's destroyed by battle with anything but a Dragon-type!"

"Persistent in every facet of his existence, isn't he," Geh growled. "I nurse plenty of hatred for your knight 'friends.' Their influence contributed to the swaying of my most efficient Soul Reaper. Keep summoning him, child, and let me make him suffer again and again."

She winced. "I th-thought you didn't want monsters to suffer."

"Those who defy my vision of the world have their own hells to pay!"

"Stupid," she murmured. "I was stupid to believe you wanted the humans gone to make a better world rather than for your own selfish reasons. I summon Flamvell Guard and activate Timaeus, Tamer of Dragons' final effect. I can target a Dragon-type on my field and increase or lower its level by one. I'll lower Timaeus's 8 stars to 7. Guard is a level 1 tuner. Timaeus and Flamvell Guard fall in sync for a level 8!"

The column of glimmering starlight connected like constellations. A shroud of shadows filled the green portals. Gleaming green eyes sliced through the black. Rain said, "Synchro Summon: Dark End Dragon!"

A black dragon flew from the portal upon ruptured wings. Silver horns jutted out the sides of his head like railroad spikes. The dragon's roar doubled – one from his mouth and the other from the smiling mouth embedded in the monster's chest. A shining ruby served as the chest-mouth's clown nose. The dragon seemed to be in a permanent state of mocking her opponent.

"Dark End Dragon's effect!" Rain announced. "By losing 500 permanent attack and defense, I send a monster of yours to the graveyard – which isn't destroying it, meaning Orichalcos Nihil can't protect Timeater! Laughing Feast!"

Disturbing giggles reverberated throughout the cavern. Dark End Dragon's chest mouth opened wide. Dark End soared forward, and his chest swallowed Timeater whole. Dark End's 2600 attack dropped to 2100.

"Now, I'll use my Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon to attack Orichalcos Gigas! Blue Lightning!" The sable lightning pattern shone azure, and Alternative spat an energy beam of matching color. Gigas exploded into shards. In the backline, Kyutora absorbed Blue Lightning. The shards reformed into Gigas, now standing at 1400 attack. "W-what just happened?"

"Kyutora absorbs all damage I would take," Geh explained, "and Orichalcos Gigas can be immediately re-summoned upon destruction at the cost of skipping my next draw. Each re-summon increases his attack by 500."

Rain rubbed a knuckle underneath her lip. She couldn't destroy the monster protecting his life points because of the indestructible monster in his frontline. Like with Timeater, she needed a way to remove it from the field. Dark End Dragon could accomplish that next turn. Something told her he wouldn't survive until then. "I end my turn."

Divine Serpent Geh fanned out the three cards in his human vessel's hand. "My Draw Phase is skipped, which is of little concern. I activate the Ritual Spell Orichalcos Mirror by tributing a level 6 monster in my hand. Mirror Knight Calling is Ritual Summoned in my backline and special summons four Mirror Knight Tokens to my frontline!"

A spinning crystal similar to Rahlin's prison tinged blue built beside Kyutora. Four knights in silver armor wielding reflective shields flanked Orichalcos Gigas. Geh said, "I believe I will now use Orichalcos Deuteros's effect for the life point increase."

With a total of seven monsters, his counter boosted from 4700 to 8300. Rain longed for the lead she once had. Geh said, "Battle Phase. I will first use Orichalcos Gigas to attack Alternative Dragon. The damage is absorbed and Gigas is re-summoned with now 1900 attack. Next, my first Mirror Token battles Blue-Eyes Alternative White Dragon!"

Her brows pushed inward. Why would he attack with one of his zero-attack tokens?

"Mirror Knight Calling's effect applies. Each Mirror Knight Token comes equipped with a Shield Counter. Tokens with Shield Counters have their attacks equal the monster they are battling, and Shield Counters are destroyed instead of my tokens!"

Alternative's Blue Lightning attack shot onto the reflective shield. The blast bounced back, destroying both the shield and the monster. Geh said, "Again. My second Mirror Knight Token battles Dark End Dragon."

Her Synchro was destroyed and her field clear of all resources. His stacked field of seven monsters suffocated her. Geh said, "Finally, I use Mirror Knight Calling's final effect. Once per turn, I can restore the lost Shield Counters unto my Mirror Knight Tokens."

Her breaths quickened. Dark spots filled her vision. There was no, no way to break past his field.

A memory of her friend, the best duelist she knew, reached her: "Remember: no panicking. Ignore its strengths; pinpoint its weaknesses and find a win condition."

Repeating Jack's words in her mind, she breathed in and out. Like with Timeater, destruction wouldn't work. Her monsters would easily be destroyed by battle. There were ways around his abilities in her deck.

She would reach them.

"My draw!" Her hand size increased to four. "I play Trade-In to discard my Blue-Eyes White Dragon and draw two cards. I'll be special summoning my Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit next since I control no monsters and you do. Banishing a LIGHT monster from my grave like White Stone of Legend lets me special summon Black Dragon Collapserpent. I'm using my normal summon on Galaxy Serpent, a level 2 LIGHT tuner. Galaxy Serpent, Tefnuit, and Collapserpent meet the requirements to Synchro Summon my level 12 monster!"

Burgundy glyphs painted over Rain's pale limbs. Flames danced from the tribal symbols. Crimson stained her irises. She threw her arms forward and smiled with fangs. "Akakiryu of the Sacred Flame!"

A fiery tornado scorched the field. The dying light of sunset orange, brilliant yellow of a new day's sunrise, and crimson like an eclipse's blood moon blended for a blinding and burning blaze. Wings stretched and tossed the tornado into cinders. The red rain complemented Akakiryu's fiery hide. His bright yellow eyes surveyed the full field, and Rain felt not a flicker of fear from him. His 3000 attack was greater than any on the field, but that wouldn't matter for the Shield Counters.

"I activate Akakiryu's effect. Once per turn, I can reduce his attack by 1000 to target a monster on the field. That monster gets banished. I'm getting rid of your Mirror Knight Calling Ritual Monster! To Sacred Ashes!"

Flames from Akakiryu's hide took sentience and galloped towards the crystal in Geh's backline. Gray ashes remained where the monster once was. Akakiryu's attack dropped to 2000. Rain said, "I activate Dragon's Mirror. This spell removes from play dragons from my field or graveyard for a Fusion Summon. The materials are two Blue-Eyes White Dragons, and since Alternative's name serves as such in the grave, he counts towards the total! Both combine for Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon!"

Akakiryu's autumn glow reflected off the white dragon emerging from the mirror. A second head sprouted from the Blue-Eyes, and both roared in unison. Stark cerulean cut through Twin Burst Dragon's scales as a neon glow. Twin Burst matched the regular Blue-Eyes with 3000 attack and 2500 defense.

"Finally, I'll be special summoning the last card in my hand. This is White Dragon Wyverburster, which I added from my deck when Collapserpent was sent to the graveyard. By banishing a DARK monster like Collapserpent, Wyverburster takes the field! I'll now be entering my Battle Phase!"

Geh chuckled. "Look at all these fresh sacrifices you've brought for my remaining Shield Counters."

Bearing a grin, Rain commanded, "Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon battles the first Mirror Token! Twin White Lightning!"

White filled the lanes of blue racing along the dragon's hide. Twin Burst fired at the Mirror Knight with both mouths. The shield reflected the blast, and both monsters were consumed.

The attack ended and the arena cleared, revealing both still standing. Geh's nose curled when he growled, "What?"

"Twin Burst's effect! He can't be destroyed by battle, and if a monster survives his attack, they're banished at the end of the Damage Step! White Erasure!" Light exploded from within the dragon and swallowed the token whole. Geh's shock earned a giggle from her. She said, "Not over yet! Blue-Eyes Twin Burst gets two whole attacks per Battle Phase, so I'll be taking another of those tokens!"

The repeating process banished another token. Rain said, "Next, White Dragon Wyverburster clanks with the third Mirror Knight Token! After he and the Shield Counter are destroyed, I get to add Black Dragon Collapserpent to my hand. That Mirror Token is free for the taking! Akakiryu of the Sacred Flame attacks and destroys your Knight! Blazing Crimson Flight!"

Cloaked in pyres, Akakiryu tore through the next to last token. Kyutora absorbed the damage from the strike. Rain flashed a grin, saying, "I'll end my turn there!"

"Only an ignorant child could take pride in the miniscule actions she has accomplished," Geh said. "The White Dragons trusted you to create their optimal world, and your betrayal squandered that trust. I'll show you. First, I use Orichalcos Deuteros to increase my life points to 9700. Next, I activate a Continuous Spell known as Twin Bow Centaur."

A pair of headless, stone centaurs with merged bodies appeared between his and her field. The drawn bows in their human arms pointed towards both fields. The bow aiming at Rain's field had an arrow loaded whereas Geh's side had an empty notch.

"At the cost of skipping my Battle Phase, I activate this spell once per my turn. I target a monster on mine and your field. My Mirror Knight Token and your Blue-Eyes Twin Burst Dragon are my selections. I flip my coin and call Heads!"

The ringing of the flying coin resounded from above the twin centaurs. The statue rumbled and rotated with each turn of the coin. The Atlantian gold landed, bounced, and fell flat. The showing side was the profile of Dartz Orichalcum, King of Atlantis.

The centaur's arrow pointed at her dragon's heart. Geh's smile stretched. "Your monster is banished, and you take damage equal to its attack."

The arrow flew. Stone pierced her dragon and conducted the element of lightning within Twin Burst. The arrow transformed into an electric pillar, maintained the momentum of the shot, and hit Rain square in the stomach. She cried out, and her back slammed into the bounds of the Seal of Orichalcos Deuteros. Her body crumpled as her life dropped to 900.

"Turn end," Geh said, a lilt of amusement in the words.

Rain shut her eyes and hugged her abdomen. She struggled to regain the air knocked from her lungs. Aches pulsed with her heartbeat from the point of impact. A loud clanging had landed beside her. She cracked open an eye.

The Millennium Puzzle stared back.

The heels of Rain's hands scraped against stone as she pushed herself up to a knee. The struggle was painful beyond imagination, but rise she did.

Geh shouted, "You shouldn't feel a flicker of sympathy for the pharaoh trapped within the Puzzle! He's the reason why Rahlin is absent from the human vessel I prepared for you. I bet he didn't tell you that truth. He commanded the attack that killed her."

"He… what?"

"With the seal broken on Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos, the pharaoh called upon them with Legend of Heart. His answer to me, the strongest Duel Monster, was to combine them and heartlessly sacrifice the Legendary Knight of Destiny in mutual destruction."

Rain's bushy eyebrows furrowed. That made zero sense. The prince had said, "I would not hesitate to call Rahlin Orichalcum my friend."

"The fact that he had the Legendary Knight of Destiny says a lot," Rain murmured. "Rahlin trusted him enough to give him her card."

"For him to spit in her face!" Geh roared. "It's more likely he stole it from her!"

Rain shook her head. "Rahlin knows what she's doing. She would have foreseen that kind of ending."

"You give much credit to a person you've never met." Geh's glower caused his brow to cast shadows over his turquoise eyes, their pupils slit. "The traitorous child behind you is just that: a child. She quite literally stumbled into a victory since she fails even at walking properly."

Rain threw the cane by Rahlin a pained glance. Her eyes closed, and her expression evened. "You… have no idea what us 'children' are capable of! My draw! During Standby, Akakiryu's attack returns to its normal 3000!"

Slicing the top card off her deck shifted her determined features to excitement. "I'll normal summon my Priestess with Eyes of Blue, and she'll let me add another level 1 LIGHT Tuner to my hand – like Sage with Eyes of Blue. Sage's effect will discard himself and send Priestess to the grave so that I can special summon any Blue-Eyes monster from my deck! I'm bringing out Dragon Spirit of White!"

A smooth-skinned Blue-Eyes with dove-white skin glided onto her field. The tips of his hands, feet, wings, and tail shimmered with azure glitter. Unlike the regular Blue-Eyes, Dragon Spirit of White had 2500 attack and 2000 defense.

"When White is normal or special summoned, I can banish a spell or trap of yours!" Rain shouted. "I'm taking Twin Bow Centaur out of the game!"

A wingflap threw a gust laced with blue sparkles, which tore apart the statue in the middle of the field. Rain said, "Next, I'm using Akakiryu of the Sacred Flame to banish the indestructible Orichalcos Gigas!"

A blast of flame reduced the troll to ashes. Akakiryu's attack fell to 2000. "I'll now be special summoning the Black Dragon Collapserpent added to my hand last turn by Wyverburster's effect. The LIGHT monster I choose to banish is Sage with Eyes of Blue!"

The black hole created by Sage's banishment allowed the black-and-red dragon to slither onto her field. "Black Dragon Collapserpent attacks your last Mirror Knight Token, destroying himself and the Shield Counter! I'll add another White Dragon Wyverburster to my hand through Collapserpent's effect. Dragon Spirit of White now attacks your open Mirror Knight Token! Redemption Stream of White!"

Sapphires were laced into the white beam Dragon Spirit spewed towards the token. Kyutora sucked in the excess damage. Rain said, "Your frontline is empty. After this, you'll finally take some damage! Akakiryu of the Sacred Flame battles Orichalcos Kyutora! Blazing Crimson Flight!"

Akakiryu burned the fuzzball to a crisp. Geh's 9700 life points remained untouched since Kyutora's final saving grace absorbed the damage from its own death. A corner of Rain's mouth lifted. They weren't touched, no, but they soon would be.

"Orichalcos Kyutora was destroyed with damage absorbed, meaning you have won a fabulous prize, child!"

A monster like an armless, ancient doll materialized from the cinders of Kyutora's remains. Rain's smirk slacked. A right arm and left arm formed beside the monster and attached to its shoulder joints.

"Orichalcos Shunoros comes equipped with Orichalcos Dexia and Orichalcos Aristeros. Shunoros has a listed zero attack. Do not bother breathing easily. Its first effect gifts the attack absorbed by Kyutora unto Shunoros! The grand total of the damage you attempted to deal adds up to 9700!"

The Seal glowed on the monster's forehead, increasing the original 9700 attack to 10300. Rain's legs wobbled. All that work only to create a greater enemy for herself – one with attack exceeding 10000.

Winning was impossible. Her knees gave and hit the stone. One attack from that thing meant it was all over for her and the prince she tried to protect. Not only him. Geh would push her aside and lock Rahlin away for good. She'd used all her abilities, and the single card in her hand was the White Dragon Wyverburster whose summoning wouldn't help her a bit.

"None but you are to blame for the despair dripping from your lost thoughts," Geh scolded. "We both know your efforts consistently result in failure. No one needed to tell you how worthless and useless you are on your own. You're an obedient soldier with no room for creativity. Look how you again cracked your skull bashing your head against this wall and how now it caves in upon you. You refuse to acknowledge how you are making the wrong choice. The stubbornness of those humans has infected you. Allow the Seal of Orichalcos to consume the pharaoh's soul, child, and you will walk free to see the world as it is meant to be."

"That's not how this was made to work," she uttered. The gold of the Puzzle was cool in her palms. "If I lose, my soul will be taken. I'm the one in combat."

"So it may seem, but the Millennium Items have abilities beyond your feeble knowledge. The pharaoh shares a vessel – one body, two souls. I have witnessed the pharaoh in combat yet his soul not be lost. He feigns selflessness. I am sure this is a sacrifice he would make, pretentious as he is."

Her eyes tilted downward. "You think that, once I lose-"

"The one you call 'the prince' will take your place," Geh explained, "and humanity will be lost."

No way that would happen. Even if it was possible, she spoke to him for all of two minutes. He wouldn't… would he?

"A true shame to see both children die by my hand," Geh said, "and both with incredible potential never blossoming to fruition. You let the pettiest distractions persuade you from your goals."

"No it- it's called keeping an open mind and heart! You would understand if you didn't have the worst tunnel vision I've ever seen!"

He scoffed. "'Tunnel vision,' the young fool calls it. Did you know? Rahlin Orichalcum was my greatest Soul Reaper. Through the card game, she reaped tens of souls in a matter of days at my behest. She wanted so desperately to please me.

"I believe you know something about her you are not voicing, Rain. The fear you feel when I mention Rahlin being my Soul Reaper speaks volumes. You mentioned Rahlin being capable, but you didn't say of what. Her flip-flopping back and forth on the nature of humanity makes her a threat to you as well. I believe you reject your own truth. I believe you sincerely would rather Rahlin remain trapped to keep your precious humans safe."

Rain understood the fear he spoke of. She knew more than anyone what Rahlin was capable of. Dripping, inky black and a grand, white throne made frequent appearances in her nightmares.

"My child." There was a gentle wavering to Geh's tone. "I understand how difficult you find it to wrangle your empathy. Give up with that Puzzle around your neck, and you will have no reason to fear any longer."

She was too far lost in thought to hear his attempt at convincing her to fold. Rahlin was nigh impossible to sway when she set a goal, Rain thought. What had opened her mind to humanity?

Right. Before the duel, Geh complained about how her true goal was relieving Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos of their curses. The only way would be to get to know humans who fit their descriptions: Purity, Conviction, and Serenity. To even believe there could be a "pure" human would take thinking outside the box.

Rahlin had accomplished it despite her not-so-high opinion of humanity and while reaping souls to throw Divine Serpent Geh off her scent. Rain thought to the Rahlin she knew in the future and the unimaginable inventions she created. Geh was right in a way. There was something scary about Rahlin's shrewdness.

But was changing her mind back – returning to the Rahlin who despised humanity – possible?

It didn't matter. It wasn't relevant, she told herself, because she swore to Rahlin she would change her future.

The fact that the promise was made atop a humanity-ending machine created by Rahlin's own hands should have been irrelevant. As should the few humans who survived Rahlin's first attempt at this machine, who Rahlin manipulated into helping her decimate the human race they strived to reinstate. In a way, the cunning shown in defying Divine Serpent Geh matched that aspect of Future Rahlin.

Gnawing doubt returned. It had to be true. Geh was right – and the Spirit of Ryo's Millennium Ring, too. Rahlin could very well go on to realize a terrifying future if she was freed.

In that case, the outcome of this duel was a lose-lose.

"My child," Geh cooed, "cut off your suffering, I beg of you. End this now for your own health."

Her pulse thrummed down to her fingertips, which lingered above her deck.

An odd sight stole Rain's attention.

An azure butterfly flitted through the cavern and landed on her thigh. The flaps of its wings slowed to a stop.

"Impossible," Geh spat. "Again? It can't-"

His eyes widened, and those slit pupils of his shrank.

The butterfly belonged to Rahlin, the real Rahlin she knew in the future. Rahlin had gone to lengths to save her partner for no more reason than the fact Rain cared for him. That Rahlin was the same as in the cycles, not the woman in white dreamed up by a wicked god. Yes, that Rahlin was a far-off possibility, but the same could be said of the capability for evil in any given sentient being.

The one and only Rahlin Orichalcum:

Three thousand nine hundred forty-five times promised Rain she'd live the long, fulfilling life she deserved.

Three thousand nine hundred forty-five times swore to defy Rain's ending – that of cruel, fated death.

Three thousand nine hundred forty-five times defied a wicked god despite the impossible odds stacked against her.

And only once had to say that Rain was worth every second.

Sound resonated near her eardrums: the ringing of bells. That stole Rain's mind away to the Spirit World's bell tower. She once met a knight at its spire who told her she always had a home there; the same knight assured her time and time again that Rain didn't have to worry.

Worry she didn't.

Rahlin was pragmatic, but she wasn't evil – not in the slightest. Her heart changed. Rain was sure that…

Bong, bong, bong rang the bells. They almost sounded closer, but that wasn't possible. Dinging like gems spilled on stone joined the chorus of the bells. Rain shook her head, placed her palms on the ground, and shouted, "I'm sure that Rahlin is a hero, and I'll do whatever it takes to defy her ending!"

She waited for Geh to snap back about Rahlin or about the hopeless situation she was in.

When she opened her eyes, Geh was trapped in utter shock. Rain peered at the butterfly's perch, but the insect was gone. Blue cinders remained. Geh's line of sight was locked onto something behind her.

"Summon: Gabrion, the Timelord."

Rain's breath caught. The voice, soft yet firm; the way the command was issued to not mince words…

"Gabrion battles Orichalcos Shunoros. No battle damage is received per Gabrion's effect. Upon successful attack, every card you control returns to your deck, and you draw that amount."

Rain pushed to the side and twisted to view the new duelist. Her jaw slacked slowly, and her lips quivered.

Violet shards trailed behind Rahlin Orichalcum. Her left arm gripped her cane and its forearm held her active duel disk, which had the single monster on it. The Timelord looming behind her was easily twice her size.

A dusting of cosmos surrounded its bottom half; the cerulean and lavender nebulae whisked around Rahlin's ankles. The blue, humanoid monster had a reflective chest plate between its purple wings, and its arms hung at its sides. Gabrion shifted, and an unamused face appeared in its chest plate. Rahlin thrust her right arm forward, and the Timelord mimicked the gesture.

Her eye blazed despite her neutral expression. She stated,

"Timeline
Reset."

A cloudy rush of stars spewed from Gabrion's palm and swept away Geh's field. The blast of air threw Rahlin's silver locks over the shoulder of her black suit coat and disheveled her dark tie.

Rain lifted a shaking leg, and the sole of her tennis shoe scuffed against the ground. Her eyes were wide and glistening. Her shoulders shook with every other limb. The focus of Rahlin's eye glanced over her. Rahlin stepped forward with the heavy thunk of her cane. She extended a hand to Rain.

"I hope you don't mind," she said. "I dealt myself in."

Rahlin followed up with her small smile, the one that showed everything would turn out alright even if it meant her traveling to the ends of the earth for it to be so. Rain bit her quivering lower lip. Don't cry, don't cry. Now was not the time to-

She propelled to her feet, threw her arms around her sister's neck, and bawled. Rahlin laughed a little and touched the small of Rain's back with her formerly outstretched hand. Rain stumbled through ten half-sentences and couldn't finish a single one. Rahlin said, "It's okay. You'll be fine. I'm here for you."

Her sobbing worsened. She put space between them and bit on her knuckle to stop the ungodly sniffles. A heavy breath escaped Rahlin. She took Rain's left hand by the palm and studied her ring.

"It's beautiful," she whispered. Rain smiled and nodded repeatedly. She swiped the tears off her cheeks but, despite her smile, they kept falling. Rahlin said, "I don't want to have to wait to catch up, but the blight across the field needs eviscerating."

"It's not possible!" The features of Geh's face contorted amidst his roar. "It is inconceivable that your mind returned to the vessel in this world, and you passed through the bounds of the Seal! How do you defy reality?"

"Reality extends beyond what you comprehend. Unlike the original, the Seal of Orichalcos Deuteros was designed to lock combatants inside and forgets the clause to keep outsiders away."

Rain's head tilted. "How'd you know?"

Both hands folded over her cane, and her hand of cards was caught between her first and second fingers. Her eye closed and her smile spread. "It would be disrespectful to forget the details of our own creation. He may be using them now, but those cards rightfully belong to us. We'll reclaim them once his soul is locked away from this world for eternity. I set two cards and end my turn."

She pushed the cards into their slots with her knuckle and threw up her free arm, eye still closed. Gabrion, the Timelord copied the gesture. Rain knew she should return to her part of the field.

Awe locked her in place. Her fears, doubts, and hopelessness scattered like dandelion seeds in the wind.

Rahlin was more than a hero; she was an architect of miracles.

"Do not fool yourself into thinking the fate of your beloved humans has changed," Geh spat. He drew a fifth card for his hand. "I activate yet another Orichalcos Mirror by utilizing the Timeater in my hand as tribute. Four Mirror Knight Tokens take the frontline with Mirror Knight Calling existing in my backline. I pay 500 life points to special summon another Orichalcos Kyutora next to Mirror Knight Calling, and I normal summon Orichalcos Gigas beside my tokens. Now: Orichalcos Deuteros!"

His 9700 LP dropped to 9200 for the summoning of Kyutora then boosted to 12700 total. Geh announced, "Battle Phase! Share your farewells with your new god, child. Mirror Knight Token battles Akakiryu of the Sacred Flame!"

Her expression was pinched as the suit of armor approached her field with stilted steps. The building illumination from the start of Akakiryu's attack reflected in the knight's shield. Akakiryu flapped a firestorm towards the token. The surface of the shield bounced the attack back as a laser aimed at Akakiryu's snout.

An invisible force blocked the beam. Three sages in aqua blue robes whispered prayers behind Rahlin. Geh's lips curled back from his teeth, and a vein was visible on his forehead. She said, "Waboku prevents destruction by battle this turn."

Akakiryu's head angled towards his savior. Both of his eyes, blazing yellow like the sun, stared at Rahlin. His head lowered in a bow. The threading of Rahlin's eyebrows expressed discomfort. "Your monsters are… realer than usual."

"He knows you," Rain assured. "He admires you, I think."

"I've never seen a monster like him before," Rahlin murmured. Her eye scanned the namesake sacred fire crawling along Akakiryu's hide in a red, gold, and black mix like molten lava.

Rain gave a toothy smile. "He's special. This is the Crimson Dragon, one of my very best friends."

Her eye widened. "You mean this is the god?"

"He whom enslaved Rain," Geh shouted, "and he who shall fall in time! I attack Dragon Spirit of White with Orichalcos Gigas and move to End Phase."

Geh's monster was destroyed, Kyutora absorbed the LP damage, and Gigas returned with 1400 attack. Rain lifted the top card off her deck. "Akakiryu's effect banishes your Gigas! To Sacred Ashes!"

A heat wave burned the troll to a crisp. Rain said, "I swap my monsters to defense position, set a card, and end my turn."

"Oh?" Geh said. "Where is the drive from earlier? Now you don't even attack! The number of duelists may be in your favor, but that is the only statistic."

"No worries; the numbers are volatile," Rahlin said. "At my Standby, Gabrion shuffles himself into my deck via his own effect. I will now summon Sandaion, the Timelord."

Electricity danced upon the Timelord's yellow gauntlets. Its silver, bell-shaped abdomen hovered behind Rahlin. The cross-shaped symbol upon its chest displayed the grinning face of a golem, his smile sinister. Unlike Gabrion, Sandaion had 4000 attack.

"Sandaion battles a Mirror Knight Token. The Shield Token is destroyed, and like all Timelords, Sandaion cannot be destroyed. However. After a successful battle, Sandaion deals my opponent 2000 damage. Time's End."

Lightning struck from Sandaion's fingertips. Geh shouted as the ability electrified him, and his life points fell from 12700 to 10700. Rahlin was unmoved by his pain; she said, "Set one and pass turn."

He clutched at his shoulder and roared, "I summon Orichalcos Gigas and use Orichalcos Deuteros' effect! Your struggles are meaningless; your lives are like that of ants to me! I enter my Battle-"

"Threatening Roar," Rahlin stated, "is a trap that will prevent you from entering Battle Phase this turn."

"Forestalling the inevitable is all you are capable of! Turn end!"

Rahlin closed her eye. A corner of her mouth lifted. "That's fine. I'm not the only duelist on this side, after all."

"I'm activating Angel Baton!" Rain said. "I draw twice and send a card from my hand to the grave. I choose White Dragon Wyverburster. Now, I use the effect of Priestess with Eyes of Blue in the grave. By returning Dragon Spirit of White to my deck, I can special summon her. I'll normal summon Magna Drago beside her.

"I activate my face-down Continuous Trap, Descending Lost Star! I can special summon a Synchro from my grave in defense position, lower its level by 1, and set its defense to zero. I choose the fallen Dark End Dragon! The tuners level 2 Magna Drago and level 1 Priestess can now connect with level 7 Dark End Dragon for a Synchro Summon!"

The ten combined stars scattered. Stark white lines connected the sparkling orbs. A blanket of black spread behind the constellation. The black wrapped around a draconic silhouette. The monster was draped in the night with lines between the stars dotting his hide. The lifting of his wings created a mesmerizing show of the universe's symphony of stars.

"Upon the Synchro Summon of Constellation Dragon while my hand is empty," Rain said, "every other card on the field is banished face-down."

"Everything?" Geh said. "Everything is erased?"

The flair of a wink and a snap of the fingers was very much not like Rain yet perfectly befit the Signer Dragon she borrowed. "Nebulae Explosion!"

A purple cloud laced with stars thundered from Constellation Dragon's throat and flooded the field. The nebulae removed Rain's Akakiryu, Rahlin's Timelord, and Geh's full field from the game forever.

"You're now open for a direct attack," Rain said. "Constellation Dragon! Orion's Arrow!"

Stars winked into existence in front of the Synchro. The connections between them formed the shape of a hunter, who drew back his bow. A starry arrow lanced through Geh. His eyes widened as he patted his chest. Rain assumed he was shocked to be unharmed.

Like his original owner, the monster under her control refused to harm. Geh's life dropped from 14700 to 11500. Rain said, "I'm setting a card before ending my turn."

"By the stars," Rahlin muttered, "it's gorgeous. Honestly, I'm used to strong monsters being some form of grotesque. Yours are stunning."

"Not just mine," she whispered. "Hey. Did anything specific make you pick Timelords?"

"I didn't pick them. I believe someone I met recently gave them to me. It's strange. I thought I met that person in a dream."

Rain's breaths quickened. "What person?"

She shook her head. "We'll have to talk about it later. For now, it's my turn. Since Rain got rid of my monster, I have an empty field. This means I can normal summon Lazion, the Timelord. Enter Battle Phase and direct attack. No damage is dealt, but at the end, you shuffle your graveyard into your deck."

Geh grit his teeth as he conjoined the two piles of cards and shuffled. The new Timelord behind Rahlin wore crimson armor, and flames rose from its shoulders. The reflective plate on its breast showed a bearded king wearing a helm. Rahlin said, "Turn end."

"I draw!"

"Lazion's effect triggers," Rahlin stated. "When you draw, Lazion inflicts 1000 damage. Scorn of 1000 Timelines."

Rahlin closed her fingers into a fist, and the Timelord copied the movement. The flames blazed higher and split into a thousand strands. The flaming bolts shot through Geh, singing his robes. His life dropped to 10500.

"Enough," Geh said. He threw the single card in his hand onto his monster zone. "I pay 500 LP to special summon Orichalcos Kyutora and attack Constellation Dragon!"

The dragon batted away the 1000 attack monster like the swatting of a fly. Kyutora swallowed the 2200 damage prior to its destruction. Rain bit her thumb nail and murmured, "No, that means-"

"Orichalcos Shunoros is now special summoned!" Geh pronounced. The ancient doll materialized with a much smaller 2200 attack boosted to 2700 this time. The left and right arm, Orichalcos Aristeros and Dexia, attached to its flanks. "Orichalcos Dexia attacks Constellation Dragon. Its ability changes its attack to your monster's plus 300!"

Dexia's attack increased to 3500. A six-pointed star formed in front of Shunoros's right arm. Beads of light pelted Rain's monster. She winced as her life dropped to a mere 600. She couldn't open her eyes again. She couldn't, because she knew the monster he trusted her with would be gone, and a broken heart was too much pain.

"How has your monster survived?" Geh shouted.

Rain cracked open an eye. Sure enough, Constellation Dragon remained. A celestial statue with brilliant, pink wings curving downward kept a watchful stance over her dragon. Rahlin said, "The Continuous Trap Dimension Guardian equips to a monster and protects it from destruction."

Again. She'd saved Rain again and again and again and-

Shunoros's attack dropped to zero as a result of Dexia's strike. He ranted again about Rahlin's stalling strategies.

No matter which Rahlin she met, each seemed to know the value of time.

"My move!" Rain said. The sight of the card in her hand near knocked the air from her lungs. "I'm putting an end to this! I activate Raigeki!"

A divine bolt of lightning struck down Shunoros, Dexia, and Aristeros. Rain grinned at the zapped remains of his monsters. Her focus moved beyond to the duelist opposite her.

His smile curled up.

"Orichalcos Shunoros was destroyed. Now, I have the option of paying ten thousand life points to bring out the most powerful Duel Monster known to all."

Turquoise drained from Geh's irises. Blank eyes rolled back in their sockets. His human form withered unto nothing. The flesh-and-bone remains twined together to forge the muscles and scales of a serpent the size of an aircraft. The snake's body slithered around the inner ring of Orichalcos Deuteros.

The attack power of the new monster hovered above its venomous fangs: ∞.

"The song of your fear reverberates like the drums of war," Divine Serpent Geh whispered. The hissing of the "S" sounds caused Rain's eardrums to ache. She could hardly hear her own thoughts over the beats of her heart.

The snake's head thrusted beside her, and she yelped. Its jaw unhinged. Poison dripped from its saber-length fang. "Your demise is nigh."

"Nonono," she whimpered. Geh's life points may have been at zero, but as long as the monster remained, it was impossible for him to lose. "I change Constellation Dragon to defense position and end my turn!"

She watched Rahlin's draw. Lazion, the Timelord shuffled itself into her deck through its own effect. Surely fate would bend to guide her victory. Surely she would have something, anything.

Rahlin pushed a card into her spell/trap slot. The large, holographic card appeared as the only unused resource on her field. "Turn end."

The series of hisses in Rain's mind must have been Geh's mocking laughter. The serpent's body, black as shifting shadows, coiled about Rahlin's field. He enclosed her inch by inch.

"Your death will be long and painful. The poison's infection represents the venomous lies you intermingled with your spittle. You will be buried with the scum of society – the thieves, the murderers, the assaulters. My spitting on your grave will be the site's only visitation."

The coil completed to its tightest point around her feet and the steady root of her cane. Divine Serpent Geh's gleaming yellow eyes and silver fangs had zero effect on Rahlin's firm stature. His unhinged jaw loosed a hot and bitter breath, disturbing her bangs.

"This is a traitor's doom and your future, Rahlin Orichalcum."

The ancient monster's neck lashed forward fast as the crack of a whip. Rahlin did not flinch. The fang's tip grew larger and larger in the reflection of her blue iris.

His fangs pierced a black hide laden with stars. Rain said, "Shift changes your target to my Constellation Dragon!"

"What?"

"Does she need to explain it twice?" Rahlin said. "Perhaps you should consider the probability of all variables before diving into your monologues on my death."

"Here is an unseen variable for you."

Rahlin's Dimension Guardian rapidly healed Constellation's wounds. A tempest raged around the statue. The end of the storm left Dimension Guardian as pebbles falling on Constellation's hide. The serpent's venom took hold, spreading the holes in the dragon's wings. The damage of the poison caused the dragon to suffer into destruction.

"Mystical Space Typhoon destroys your monster's protection," Geh spat. "Even better. By next attack, I'll have my pick of who dies first."

"Rain," Rahlin whispered, her tone gentle. "It's alright. You kept us here another turn. You don't need to cry."

The tears darkened the stone beneath her feet. She sniffled. "I j-just really like that dragon. M-my draw!"

A cold cage formed around her beating heart.

"I…"

Her mouth twitched down wildly.

"I end my turn."

The hissing laughter started up again. Rain bit down hard on her lower lip and shut her eyes. "Two of you existing has only accomplished multiplying your uselessness. You require leadership – guidance to spearhead your potential. Otherwise, you cannot accomplish anything. Rain. Forget the traitorous being you created. Let the pharaoh lose his soul with hers. You, at least, are salvageable."

"As a tool only," Rahlin said. "That is how he sees every being he comes across. He admitted to destroying the lives of three humans solely for the purpose of turning him into his henchmen. He did the same to us."

"He- he did?"

"We would have saved Bird Noises," Rahlin said. "We would have saved our cat from drowning, but he dragged it just deep enough. He wanted us broken by it. He always saw us as his own child soldiers."

"B-Bird Noises could've…" Her eyes shivered in their sockets. "You're evil. You've never been anything but evil."

"Her traitorous words sway you easily," Geh said. "You are not salvageable after all."

"He says as though his plans for you extend beyond disposing of you at the soonest opportunity," Rahlin said. "I'll tell you one thing. He calls us children because he has that level of respect for us. That's what made him vulnerable to deception. You'd think a monster capable of reading my emotions would see through my lies, but his thinking so little of me made my job simple."

"Disrespect? No! It was trust in you to keep a handle on Timaeus, Critias, and Hermos. You turn around and free them – bring humans you despise to taint our realm! Seto Kaiba's actions prevented you from walking ever again, yet you sided with his species!"

"That is correct."

Geh roared, "You are a child! You have no semblance of right nor wrong. Your logic is backwards! Like the countless times before, you will lose and fail. You may have performed work, Rahlin, but you have the most losses out of my Soul Reapers. By the statistics you seem to adore referencing, you are a failure."

Her hum suggested her loss in deep thoughts. "Are you aware of the Law of Infinite Probability?"

"The what?"

"The Law states that, every time an event fails to occur, its likelihood of success increases," she explained. "In theory, failures compound towards success."

Rain muttered, "So even if somebody were to fail to find a solution to a problem 3,945 times…"

"That's 3,945 times the chances of discovering a solution has increased, though that is an oddly specific example."

Rain's stomach turned. No wonder Rahlin manufactured miracles. All her belief was fueled by logic. Geh said, "You spew nonsense to appear wise to yourself. Your facts are fake as your wisdom. Otherwise, you may have planned ahead and survived."

"Ah, you're right." She feigned pain. "If I knew anything, I wouldn't have given the prince the Legendary Knights. I wouldn't have allowed the Legendary Knight of Destiny to fall into his hands! It's almost as if I wanted your soul to be lost so that you'd return to the Spirit World the same time as me; it's almost as if I wanted to execute you with my own two hands."

Geh's head reared. "You are the vilest of traitors! End your turn and die!"

Her first two fingers rested atop her deck.

"It'll be something good, right?" Rain asked.

The focus of her eye lingered on Rain. "Odds are slim."

"Does that matter?" Rain asked.

"Not a bit," Rahlin said. She swiped the top card off her deck. "I summon Zaphion, the Timelord!"

The creature that materialized behind Rahlin showed a peaceful, smiling woman's face upon its chest plate. The cool blue tinge of the reflection matched the color of its flowing hair and thin limbs. A wave of bubbles rose with the monster. Their iridescent rims shimmered in the firelight.

"Is it one like before," Rain asked, "where it can return Geh to his hand?"

"This one's effect won't help us, but that's alright," Rahlin said. "I activate the spell I drew last turn – Tree of Probabilities."

A dove-white tree with a soft glow sprouted behind her. Its branches branched and branched seemingly upward into infinity. Rain noticed a bright blue blossom growing on a single bough.

Rahlin said, "When I control a Timelord, I can activate Tree of Probabilities to special summon a token. This token has two special qualities: one, it is DIVINE-attribute, and two, it is treated as a tuner. This is called my White Throne Token."

An all-too familiar throne rumbled into being before Rahlin. Rain double checked that the white coat was still wrapped around her waist.

Her brows threaded. A hole had formed in the coat. Ashes sprinkled from the sleeves.

The piercing sound of Geh's chuckles bounced around her mind. "Your divinity is a farce. Godhood suits me better. I am far more ancient and eons wiser than you. In the grand scheme, I am the god and you are the ant."

"I see," she whispered, her features downcast. "In that case…"

The idea of her steadiness finally cracking excited the serpent. "In that case?"

"You are one more god to bury." She held out her palm facing skyward. "White Throne Token and Zaphion, the Timelord align to Synchro Summon a law of nature manifested – Probability Dragon!"

Miles of strings of ones and zeroes like the rules governing a machine gathered in a spiral. The serpent-like dragon had a spine that constantly grew and retracted like the infinite branches of Rahlin's tree of probabilities. The ones and zeroes flickered in constant dynamism similar to the myriad of possibilities life allowed.

Two glowing orbs of white marked the dragon's eyes. Rain squinted. The spheres themselves were tinier and tighter lines of binary language. The display faltered a bit, shifting between lines of code, before showing the Synchro's attack as ∞.

"My monster here is a game of odds," Rahlin said. "It's unaffected by the effects of other cards, cannot attack, and can't be any sort of material. I'm locked out of summoning other monsters so long as it exists. Once a turn, though?"

She rolled out her elbow. A pair of dice tumbled down her sleeve; she caught the first between her index and middle fingers and the second between her ring and pinkie fingers. "I roll dice, and the result decides my monster's ability this turn."

"What sort of abilities?" Geh hissed.

"They vary depending on the result, and the most common results don't benefit me. As they reach away from the high probabilities, though, my dragon's power becomes unmatched. I'll give you an example. If I roll a seven, which is the most common result from two six-sided dice, it immediately moves to the End Phase. If I nail the one in thirty-six chance to roll snake eyes? I get to negate the effects of up to two face-up cards on the field!"

Rain exhaled. "And if his effects are negated…"

"We win."

"Odds you cannot overcome!" Geh shouted.

"Let's see!" Rahlin said. "Effect activate: Probability Limited!"

She threw the dice onto the field. They expanded as they tumbled end-over-end. Rain wrapped a strand of hair tightly around her finger. A die stopped on one. Her breath caught. The other spun on its tip, spun, spun. The die halted. Its top face showed six dots.

Geh's laughter dampened her spirits. "End of turn! You chose a monster whose chances work against you, and Rain will die for your brash stupidity! How ironic, too, that your results are the uncommon ends of the spectrum you so desired: one and six. Fate mocks you!"

"Unless."

"Unless?"

"Reality is mine to decide," she said, "and I manipulate the odds."

"That's impossible," he hissed, "and if not, it's cheating!"

"Infinite probabilities defy the impossible," Rahlin said. "I activate That Six! I can change the result of a die to one or six depending on the current result. I'll be changing the one I rolled to a six, changing the seven I rolled into a twelve!"

"W-what's the twelve ability?"

"Why, the greatest of all. A twelve result negates Probability Dragon's abilities. If my dragon has no restrictions-"

"It can attack," Rain said, breathless. The infinite-powered beast above Rahlin flickered out of existence and returned. Something brushed Rain's leg. More ashes had fallen from the white coat, whose holes had grown. She noticed the same gray remains floating from the deck on Rahlin's duel disk.

"Battle Phase," Rahlin announced.

"Stay your hand!" Geh pleaded.

"I supposed there is a variable I hadn't considered until now," Rahlin said. "You could save yourself the pain. Take it from me: sometimes the right answer is giving up."

"You should be the one giving up. Imagine the world as it could be!"

"A world without you," she said, "is perfection I can achieve. Probability Dragon attacks Divine Serpent Geh! Logic Defiance!"

The white, serpentine body forged of binary did not move. The branches growing and retracting shot downward and propelled the body forward. Probability Dragon's branches lifted it to look down on the fearful Divine Serpent Geh, acclaimed greatest of all Duel Monsters.

At once, thousands of branches sprouted from Probability Dragon's body like uncountable arachnid legs. The infinite strands skewered Divine Serpent Geh. Black blood spurted. The blood's poison ate away at the binary forming Probability Dragon. A few ones and zeroes plinked to the ground before the Synchro faded.

Geh's body remained. Orichalcos Deuteros shrank to the serpent's size. Neon green shot skyward. The immortality protecting Geh left with his soul, and the body remaining aged eons in milliseconds. The weathering of scales, skin, and muscles caused Rain to heave.

The sight of the golden puzzle around her neck brought back her sanity. "We did it. You're safe. We're actually gonna be okay!"

She turned her smile towards Rahlin, who was watching her deck. The cards, including Probability Dragon, were crumbling as though on fire. She said, "I don't understand."

"I can try to explain… hey, um, does this mean anything to you?"

Rain untied the white coat around her waist and held it out to Rahlin. The instant Rahlin touched the suit coat, the item and the cards shattered into ashes. The twins were stunned and silent.

Rain started to say something, but Rahlin held up a hand. "Don't tell me. Mysteries are thrilling. I mean, there's something fun about speculating, don't you think?"

"Right. Yeah." With the tension streaming out of her, she managed to laugh. "Hey, Rahlin?"

"Yes?"

She threw herself forward and hugged onto her sister's neck. The words tried to form but stuck in her throat. A tear slipped. She managed, "Thank you for saving me."

Rahlin muttered her awkward reassurances about how it's natural for family and they needed to look out for each other.

She would never know holding a cold body in a crater, in the rain, beneath a dark sign, and again and again and again.

That was for the best, so Rain chewed the inside of her cheek to stop her tears and backed away.

"We have a decision to make," Rahlin said. Rain followed her slow steps towards the back of the chamber. Two souls remained on the wall: Dartz Orichalcum and Divine Serpent Geh. "They can remain trapped here and they'll never harm anyone again. No one else knows of this place, so we can leave them and Atlantis forever."

"Free them."

"What?"

"We should free them," Rain repeated. "They shouldn't be stuck in limbo forever. Geh will go back to the Spirit World for execution and Dartz will move on to the afterlife he should've had thousands of years ago."

"It's a risk."

"It's right."

Rahlin scanned her. A gentle smile lit her face. "I hope to be as forgiving as you in due time. Please help me. I don't have the balance to do it myself."

She flipped her cane in her hand, and after the twirl, she held a white blade in her grip. Rain moved to support her so she could raise the blade and stab the wall of souls. Two green orbs screamed by. Her cane was left in her hold. She relied on it and started back towards the entrance. Geh's loss had restored the portal wall out of Atlantis.

"There's no coming back once we leave," Rahlin said. "Any last wishes?"

Rain didn't look back.

"Not one."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Their trip through the portal was rough sailing. Rain fell headfirst into the KaibaCorp boardroom while Rahlin landed on her backside. Rahlin struggled to adjust to the bright lighting. Her cane fell beside her. In reaching for it, she noticed a pair of pristine white shoes in front of them.

"Oh, great. The streetrats are multiplying."

Seto Kaiba's white pinstripe suit managed to be more blinding than the lights. He hadn't appeared to age, so Rahlin assumed she wasn't gone long. Time was difficult to keep track of in the other world.

"S-sorry!" Rain shot to her feet and stood straight as a saluting soldier. "We're just trying to leave!"

"There's always the roof exit," Kaiba scoffed. "Where's Yugi? He was supposed to be with you. You have his necklace."

His icy glare landed on the solid gold Millennium Puzzle Rain wore. Rahlin struggled to a standing position. Rain stuttered through excuses. Rahlin guessed she'd met the intimidating man already. Rahlin said, "I know you were worried, but he's fine now."

His nose twitched. He reached for a landline. "I'm calling security."

"We're going!" Rain said. She hurried for the elevator, remembered Rahlin, and returned to match her slow gait. Rain pouted and practically leapt into the elevator when it opened.

Rahlin smiled to herself.

The instant the door closed behind them, Rain said, "Doesn't he know you saved him? Without you, his soul wouldn't have come back! And he used Critias, right? You led him to Critias! He should be thankful!"

Rahlin said, "Wasted breath, I'm afraid. Believe me when I say I've had my attempts to reason with him."

"Hopefully convincing him of how much a jerk he is," she murmured.

"That was a part of it, yes."

Rain cracked up. Rahlin laughed with her. The elevator dinged. Rain rushed for the exit, remembered Rahlin, again, and walked with her. "It's okay, you know. I'll get there eventually."

She tugged the brim of her hat low. "I'm sorry! I'm really excited and you're here finally and and and I love you!"

Outside the building, Rahlin stopped. The shower of sunshine was a natural light she doubted she'd ever be accustomed to. The bustling humans continued about their lives as though a groundbreaking event hadn't occurred deep beneath the distant sea. As it always was with this world, Rahlin felt horribly out of place. She said, "What do you mean by that?"

"I love you?"

"What does that mean to you, though?"

"Oh," she muttered, "sorry. It's different now. I'm different, I think. I have a lot of friends waiting for me. My fiancé, too. That's what they call the person you're engaged to. It's French. For some reason they randomly use French words in their language, like fiancé and résumé and déja vu. 'I love you' just means you care for someone. To me it means I'd do anything I could to help them, I guess. I'd always be there for you if I could. I love you."

Light laughter tumbled out of Rahlin. "I have to tell you, Rain…"

"Yeah?"

Rahlin lifted her arm and watched the sun through her open hand. Rays of sunshine spilled through the holes separating her fingers. Seeing the rays in the Spirit World wasn't possible because that sun was a reflection this world – the real one.

A smile eased across her lips. "I visited you. I found your crystal, where the Crimson Dragon was waiting for you. I told you I love you with the same exact meaning. I figured you'd realize the true definition also, but I didn't think that-"

Her throat felt swollen. "This is hard to say out loud. I didn't think I'd get to speak to you or anyone else again. I'm- I've been lonely for a long time. I met people here, sure, but I had to lie to their faces. Geh revived me with a scalding warning and didn't give me back my eye to boot. The instant I returned to the Spirit World, I was locked away for crimes I didn't remember committing. I'm sorry. I'm speaking all over the place. I suppose, what I'm trying to say is – coming back to you crying and holding onto me – I've never had a welcome that made me feel loved like you say. I hadn't thought it of this place before, but…"

A river of tears rolled over her sun-graced smile.

"I feel like I'm home."

End of Chapter Ten

A/N: It's long, and a lot... bless you for making it this far. Genuinely. Reaching the real ending my girl deserves. There is 1 chapter and an epilogue after this. I won't be updating this fic next week since this chapter is so massive. Thank you again for being here; it means everything

The OG card section is loooong today, lol. Probability Dragon is ridiculous and overpowered and should never exist. This is my last hurrah. I try to keep my cards balanced, but I figured I'd let Rahlin really win one heheh.

Below are the descriptions of the original cards appearing in this chapter:

Orichalcos Nihil

1-Star, DARK Attribute

[Rock/Effect] [0 ATK / 0 DEF]

When an "Orichalcos" monster on your side of the field is destroyed by battle or card effect, you can special summon this card from your hand. A Tribute Summoned monster that used this card as tribute cannot be destroyed by battle or card effect.

Timaeus, Tamer of Dragons

8-Star, DARK Attribute

[Dragon/Fusion/Effect] [200 ATK / 2000 DEF]

You can discard 1 Dragon-type monster: add 1 Dragon-type monster whose level is 1 higher or 1 lower than the discarded monster's. Once per turn, you can target 1 Dragon-type you control: increase or lower its level by 1. If a monster destroys this card by battle, Special Summon this card at the End Phase unless that monster was Dragon-type.

Constellation Dragon

10-Star, DARK Attribute

[Dragon/Synchro/Effect] [3200 ATK / 3200 DEF]

2 Tuners + 1 non-Tuner DARK Dragon-Type Synchro Monster

When this card is Synchro Summoned while you have no cards in your hand, you can banish all other cards on the field face-down. (Ability Name: Nebulae Explosion)

Akakiryu of the Sacred Flame

12-Star, LIGHT Attribute

[Dragon/Synchro/Effect] [3000 ATK / 2500 DEF]

1 LIGHT Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monster(s)

When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can destroy all Spell and Trap Cards your opponent controls. [Ability Name: Ignite the Sacred Flame] Once per turn, if this card is targeted by your opponent's card effect (Quick Effect): you can negate and banish that card. [Ability Name: Sacred Cinder Disarmament] Once per turn: you can deduct 1000 ATK from this card to target one monster on the field; banish that target. During your next Standby Phase, this card's ATK becomes its original ATK. [Ability Name: To Sacred Ashes]

Tree of Probabilities

Normal Spell

Can only be activated by discarding 1 card when you control a "Timelord." Special summon 1 "White Throne Token" (Rock-type/DIVINE/Level 2/Tuner/ATK 0/DEF 0). The Synchro Summon of monsters using "White Throne Token" as material cannot be negated.

Probability Dragon

12-Star, DIVINE Attribute

[Dragon/Synchro/Effect] [∞ ATK / 0 DEF]

1 DIVINE Tuner + 1+ "Timelord" Monsters

Must be Synchro Summoned and cannot be Special Summoned other ways. When this card is Synchro Summoned: banish all other cards you control face-down. Unaffected by other cards' effects. This card cannot declare an attack or be used as material. While this card is face-up on the field, you cannot summon other monsters. Once per turn, you can roll two six-sided dice. Apply one of the following effects based on the result: 2: Target up to 2 face-up cards on the field: negate those targets' effects. / 3: Destroy all other monsters on the field. / 4: Banish this card until your opponent's End Phase. / 5: This card's ATK becomes 0 until your opponent's next End Phase. / 6: Gain 1000 LP. / 7: It is now the End Phase of this turn. / 8: You can excavate the top 3 cards of your Deck. Place the excavated cards on top of your Deck in any order. / 9: Banish all other cards on the field until the End Phase. / 10: Target up to 2 cards on the field; return those targets to the hand. / 11: Inflict 1000 damage to your opponent. / 12: Negate this card's effects while face-up on the field.