Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Obscured Truth

by DivadX

Yuhiro Furutani, one of 8 children kidnapped 10 years ago by an unknown group, now works as Raguel, an agent in LINK VRAINS' Black Market. One day, he fights the Knights of Hanoi and encounters Playmaker, who becomes his newest assignment. Follow Yuhiro as he now must decide who he wants to become: as both a duelist and as an individual.

42. Chapter 42: The Cyberse Quest

Response to Reviews

Thank you to ZarcEternal, Guest, E.T. 2000, HunterHQ, ZeroMK7, Noobmaster, Kingdom Hearts Guy, Guest, Guest, Donjusticia, Guest, Unknown, Unnamed, and Guest for reviewing Chapter 41 of Obscured Truth.

Hello everyone! I hope you're doing well and are staying safe. As always, I appreciate everyone's reviews and constructive criticism. It allows me to not only write a better story, but improve as a writer as well.

Anyhow, let's get to answering some reviews:

ZarcEternal: Glad you appreciated the chapter. Means a lot.

Guest: If you've seen the Avengers movies and Zack Snyder's Justice League, then know I'm planning some big things for this story. If you like the story and where it's heading, I encourage you to tell others about it, so they get the opportunity to enjoy it as well. To answer your question about the Top 10, yes. I have made a decision on it, and the list of the Top 10 duelists will be revealed in Chapter 45.

E.T. 2000: Don't worry about it. I hope the release of Chapter 41 was a great birthday gift for you to enjoy. Good observations on Herald and Wraith. As for your comment on Yuhiro learning new summoning methods, he will once NEW LINK VRAINS (LINK VRAINS 2.0 in the English version) is opened.

HunterHQ: Emma's mother wasn't touched upon in the anime, so it would be a crime if she wasn't in the story one way or another. Guns killed Miyu's parents, not Yuhiro's. As shown in the recent profile, Roxy took on the name Angelica after the character Angelica from Pirates of the Caribbean 4. I appreciate your constructive criticism on the pacing, and will do better to slow things down in future chapters. As for your comment about Watchman, well, read on and see...

ZeroMK7: Glad you liked the duel. I appreciate your constructive criticism on the pacing. What I'll do for the future is slow things down so that readers will have the chance to understand what's going on. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Noobmaster: The Matsuo Family, although not a crime family, is a well-known family in Den City. Who knows whether you'll see other family members of the Matsuo Family in the future. Good observations regarding Ghost Girl. As for your other questions, you'll just have to read on and see.

Kingdom Hearts Guy: Are you referring to Galeem from Super Smash Bros: Ultimate? Or something else? Please explain further either in your next review or in a PM.

Guest: The Scarclust clan is a duel gang that works on the black market. Because of the armistice, Miles' dad and Norman won't be released from jail until they serve their sentence, lest they risk breaking the peace. As for how Quinton found out that Aoi is Blue Angel, all I'll say is this: A magician never reveals his tricks.

Guest: The OC girl who'll be paired with the main OC won't have Stardust Dragon unfortunately. But have hope, for you never know what will happen. The main OC won't have the personality of Ryoken when he duels, nor will he use Rush Dragon Dragears. Zarc will be stronger than the main OC because he's the strongest duelist in the Original Dimension obviously. As for Chronograph Sorcerer, Zarc will have it later on as well.

Donjusticia: Oh God, not again. Miyu isn't the type who would bind Yuhiro to a bed. She's shy and innocent, so just why? Regardless, I'm glad you enjoyed the duel.

Guest: Recall that Herald and Wraith left the Cyberse World along with a few Cyberse creatures prior to the Knights of Hanoi's attack on the Cyberse World.

Unknown: The origins of VRAINS and Link Monsters will be addressed, and the new rule change won't be shown until Season 4. As for Monty, you'll just have to read on and see.

Unnamed: Your quote is definitely applicable to the story and beyond, especially for the characters involved.

Guest: What made Roxy decide to adopt Yuhiro was two things. One: To change the life of someone who's also been through the Lost Incident. Two: To investigate further into the Lost Incident, and bring whoever was responsible for what happened to him and Miyu to justice. The video game challenge is obviously public, as tons of people play video games (think of online-multiplayer video games like Call of Duty). You're not the only one who's asked about Watchman. Just read on and see for yourself...

With all reviews answered, let's get onto Chapter 42! Enjoy!

Chapter 42: The Cyberse Quest

The sky appears, full of clouds. Playmaker races through the clouds on his duel board, followed by Raguel, Soulburner, and then a male individual wearing a black outfit with green accents and a gold, bird-like mask over his eyes. The individual had dark green hair, which was spiked upwards before a medium sized portion of it went over the right side of his mask. Two swords then slice the clouds completely to reveal NEW LINK VRAINS. One of the swords, a katana with symbols inscribed on the blade, crosses downwards to the left. Crossing downwards to the right was a typical western sword, with a golden rain-guard and a blue grip. The sword also had symbols inscribed on the blade as well. The two swords made a shining X, causing the Yu-Gi-Oh VRAINS! logo to appear, and underneath it, the words "OBSCURED TRUTH" ominously appear.

Yuhiro and Yusaku are walking down the street to school. Naoki runs past them, a large smile on his face. Aoi walks past them on the other side, smiling lightly and blushing at Yusaku. Then Takeru walks up behind them and wraps one arm around Yusaku. He then wraps the other arm around Yuhiro, surprising him for a few moments before being pulled to the side by Rachel, who's clearly happy to see him. Yuhiro smiles back at her.

Tsubaki and Hideki are shown boarding an airplane as they head to their destination. After sitting down next to each other in their respective seats, Tsubaki looks out in the window, which shows a reflection of Rosetta, while Hideki picks up the airplane guide and reads it. In the sky above them is Ace, a malicious sneer on his face.

Go Onizuka is shown wearing a hoodie as he leaves the waterfront for the last time. Outside of his home, he encounters Kenmochi and Yoroizaka, who are waiting for him. Smirking, the three of them raise their left arms into the air and enter NEW LINK VRAINS, with Go in his new avatar riding beside his new allies. Stregone crosses his arms as he looks down at them, a look of shock and disappointment on his face.

Kusanagi is then shown with Roxy at a nearby picnic table, both enjoying food and laughter while talking about technology. Flame and Ai are shown arguing in Café Nagi, while Herald ends up getting annoyed with their bickering. As a result, he snaps his fingers, causing Progleo to jump onto the desk and startle Ai and Flame.

At SOL Technologies, Akira Zaizen and Hayami are shown in Queen's office, with Queen handing them a signed order regarding Playmaker and Raguel. A look of hesitation appears on Akira's face, but he hides it just in time.

Azrael and Wraith are then shown with Ace and Athaliah standing behind them, shrouded in shadow along with their ace monsters Zerrziel, Ruler of the Evil Eyed and El Shaddoll Construct. Standing behind Azrael and Wraith though, is a black, bipedal dragon with red sclera, white irises, and black pupils obscured in shadow. The dragon roars before disappearing with Zerrziel and El Shaddoll Construct. Jumping above Azrael and Wraith is a short creature with deep purple skin, red sclera, white irises, and pointed tentacles sprouting above his head. The creature wore black baggy pants with a golden horned buckle. Sporting a demonic expression, the creature extends its right arm forward towards the screen, darkening it completely.

When the screen becomes clear, Playmaker and Raguel are shown riding their duel boards next to each other, with Cyberse Witch and Cyberse Magician in front of Playmaker, and Cyreath Hercules and Cyreath Medusa in front of Raguel. The two are chased by Blood Shepherd, who directs two copies of Battledrone Sergeant to fire at them. Although the two of them are hit by the explosions the missiles caused, they escape unharmed. Suddenly, a young man wearing an elaborate purplish coat with black inner lining and cuffs intricately decorated by red-coloured motifs, as well as grey shirt with crimson leather pants orders a red-eyed dragon with black skin to fire at them. In response, Playmaker and Raguel are shown swerving left and right to avoid the consecutive blasts. Joining the young man in the hunt is another man, with red hair spiked backwards and dark purple eyes, as well as wearing a stylish white coat with yellow lines and a black shirt underneath it. Draped around his lower body is a white waist cape with yellow lines as well. The man orders a male, humanoid monster wearing several components of futuristic armor pieces to attack Playmaker, but Raguel turns his duel board around and activates a card, causing Hercules to glow a bright light before transforming into a colossal, statue-like man with long, shaggy black hair and elbow protrusions. His eyes glowing red, Hercules charged forward with his axe sword and clashed with the male humanoid.

The screen then shifts to the male individual from the opening's beginning watching the duel between Playmaker and an obscured Bohman, while Raguel duels the spiked red-haired man with a white coat and a white waist cape. Noticing Haru, who's also watching the duel between Playmaker and an obscured Bohman, the individual takes a card and summons a white and black dragon covered in white, blue, and black armor, who roared at the boy. The dragon had neon green crystals attached to her body, which acted like wings that shone with bright light. Haru, in response, takes a card and summons Hydradrive Nagini, who hissed at the dragon in the process.

Blue Angel and Rosetta are shown in NEW LINK VRAINS at a picnic table, laughing and enjoying each other's company. The two of them then turn their heads towards the duels going on in the sky, a look of concern on each of their faces.

Watchman's group is then shown, with Percival standing slightly apart from them as he makes a fist with his left hand. Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty and Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon appear before a massive, red-skinned demonic looking monster with golden elements, several eyeballs embedded on its body and four tentacles with bladed claws rises from behind them.

The Knights of Hanoi are shown summoning their monsters. Motor Worm Spread Queen, Helixx Necro Darwin, and Dark Mummy Surgical Forceps first appear before fading into the background. Next is Dark Magician, Berserker of the Tenyi, and Lucifer, Condemner of the Burning Abyss, with Sunavalon Dryanome behind them. Borreload Savage Dragon then rises from behind the four monsters and roars loudly.

Akira is shown at Green Park with Emma, Gekiryushi, and Aoi, giving them details on finding the Ignis. Emma proceeds to make a flirtatious gesture at Akira, making Gekiryushi facepalm and comment on how flirting can be useful at a time like this. The two women then begin to argue, with Akira and Aoi trying to break up the argument.

Yuhiro and Progleo are shown with Miyu at the Den City Hospital, trying to help her walk. Miyu, who's using the parallel bars, ends up slipping, only for Yuhiro to immediately catch her from behind and help her stand up. Roxy then runs out of nowhere and starts pummeling Yuhiro, causing Miyu to almost fall backwards again to their shock. Catching her this time though is Medusa, who appears behind her and smiles, much to everyone's relief. Miyu smiles back, grateful for Medusa's help. The screen then flips around before showing Yuhiro on his knees, clasping an unconscious Miyu's hand in sadness and rage.

Cyreaths Hercules, Medusa, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus are then shown in the air, with Turboblaze Dragon racing past them. The five of them prepare to attack alongside Turboblaze Dragon, who unleashes his Desolation Flare attack as well.

Raguel and Herald are then shown on top of a tower, facing off against Azrael and Wraith in a duel. Behind Raguel and Herald is Turboblaze Dragon, while behind Azrael and Wraith is the black, bipedal dragon from earlier in the opening. Both dragons roar at each other. Raguel reeves up his sword, while Azrael unsheathes his katana before the two of them and their dragons charge at each other.

Yuhiro, Roxy, Miyu, Kusanagi, Takeru, and Yusaku are all shown sitting outdoors at a picnic table near the Den City Hospital, all of them eating hot dogs, and Takeru, Kusanagi, and Roxy are laughing. Three duel disks are shown on the table, with Flame lecturing Ai while Herald plays a game on Yuhiro's tablet.

Yuhiro, Roxy, and Miyu are sitting down on a bench outside the Den City Hospital, with Medusa standing nearby them and Progleo on Roxy's lap. Miyu proceeds to rest her head on Yuhiro's shoulder, causing him to blush as she smiles. Yuhiro smiles back at her, while Roxy and Medusa both smile at them, happy they're able to find happiness with each other. The scene then switches to NEW LINK VRAINS, with Raguel, Playmaker, and Soulburner standing on a building and looking out into the radiant sky.

At Café Matsuo, in the morning...

"Mmm..."

Yuhiro slowly opened his eyes as he laid in bed. The sun was shining outside the window, just peeking over the horizon. Yup. It was going to be a good day today.

He got out of bed and walked downstairs to the kitchen section of the living room, only to find Roxy and Progleo at the dining table, having already got a head start on breakfasts. As for Herald, he was on the table playing Fate/Grand Order on Roxy's tablet.

"I thought you were going to cook those famous chocolate-chip pancakes of yours." Yuhiro said, going over to get his usual breakfast of a banana, blueberry tarts, and yogurt.

"We ran out of pancake batter!" Roxy pointed out, turning her head to Yuhiro as he walked over and sat down on the other side of the table facing her. "These things happen, you know."

"Sorry." Yuhiro and Roxy proceeded to eat their breakfasts in silence until Herald broke it.

"You know, it baffles me as to why Jason is practically a one-star in Fate/Grand Order." Herald said, a hand on his chin. "I made him as a Link monster that incorporates all his traits, which enables him to assist the 'Cyreath' deck in activating a new Field Spell. As the leader of the Argonauts, shouldn't he be at least a three or four-star?"

"If every Servant in the game was a three, four, or five-star, then Fate/Grand Order would be busted." Roxy answered, taking a bite out of her cereal. "Just be grateful that Hercules is a four-star and Medusa is a three-star."

"But isn't there an alternate form of Hercules?" Yuhiro asked, his curiosity having dragged him in the conversation. "I mean, they practically released so many versions of Artoria Pendragon that they could at least release an alternate version of Hercules."

In response, Roxy gave him a cold glare that made him sweat drop. "Do not underestimate Artoria Pendragon. She may look like a woman, but she can kick ass. That is why Artoria Pendragon has appeared as a Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, and Ruler."

"Then why haven't you used your free four-star ticket on Saber Alter?" Yuhiro questioned, causing Roxy to make a scary smile upon hearing the question.

"BECAUSE I PREFER TO HAVE THE GOOD VERSION OF ARTORIA PENDRAGON ON MY TEAM, NOT EVIL!" Roxy firmly shouted, scaring Yuhiro. She would have said more had Herald not interrupted.

"Uh, sorry to interrupt," Herald said, "but there is an alternate form of Hercules." He turned the tablet so Yuhiro could look at it. It showed a man with long black hair and red skin, having shrunk from his regular size as a Berserker to the size of a human. Over his chest near his heart, his skin has been dyed white, much like a scar from ripping out his own heart. He also donned a black and gold shroud to cover his face. In his right hand was a set of arrows containing venom, while his left hand held the Bow of Hydra.

"Alcides," Yuhiro read on the tablet. "Damn. Can't believe he got corrupted to look like that." Another thought entered his mind. "Isn't Alcides Hercules' real name?"

"Yup." Herald confirmed. "It is said that Alcides' name was changed to Hercules to spite Hera." He closed the web page before opening up another one and doing a web search. After a minute passed, he gasped upon finding something that got his attention. "Yuhiro, Roxy. Get over here!"

"What is it?" Yuhiro and Roxy said at the same time, going over to where Herald was. Upon looking at the tablet, they too were shocked at what they saw. On the screen was an advertisement for a challenge, where the winner would get Cyberse cards!

"I will be right back." Roxy said, going downstairs to the backroom and getting her laptop.

"Herald, are you for certain?" Yuhiro asked, taking the tablet from Herald so he could get a closer look at the ad.

"Yeah!" Herald answered. "To think that Cyberse cards would show up again after the events of the Tower of Hanoi." He started getting teary-eyed. "It's a sign that the Cyberse are showing up again."

"Or maybe it sounds too good to be true." Yuhiro theorized, sitting down at the chair beside Herald.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Herald inquired, crossing his arms.

Yuhiro turned to Herald. "Herald, the fact everyone's online these days means that criminals have an opportunity to scam others. They can do this by providing false information for the purpose of tricking victims out of money, property, and inheritance." Herald's eyes widened upon hearing this.

"I didn't know that..." he muttered.

"Don't feel bad. After all, you learn something new every day." Yuhiro assured him. Roxy then came back upstairs, carrying her laptop as she sat down beside Yuhiro. After turning it on, she motioned to Yuhiro to hand her the tablet, which he did. From there, she did several keystrokes on the computer to double check the ad. Roxy then sighed after completing them.

"Well, the ad's legit guys." Roxy confirmed. "Which means there will be a change in today's plans."

"A change in today's plans?" Yuhiro repeated, an eyebrow raised. While he didn't know what the change was, he had a feeling that it wasn't good.

"You and Herald will investigate the ad and complete the challenge, while I'll go and visit Miyu." Roxy explained, standing up from her seat happily.

"Hold up." Yuhiro stood up from his seat as well. "I've been on my best behavior whenever I went to visit Miyu. Can't we do this later?"

"And let some rotten thief take the cards?!" Herald exclaimed, causing Yuhiro to turn to him. "As an Ignis, I will not let anyone except for myself to win the opportunity to retrieve those cards!"

"Come on, Yuhiro." Roxy put a hand on his shoulder. "Can you take one for the team? Pretty please?"

Yuhiro groaned. "Fine. But just this once."

Roxy smiled. "Great! Thanks a ton, Yuhiro!" She then went downstairs to the entrance of Café Matsuo and put on her jacket. After grabbing her purse, Roxy then exited Café Matsuo and left for the Den City Hospital.

Yuhiro sat down on the chair beside him, sighing in the process. Progleo went over to where he was and got his attention, causing him to look at him momentarily before picking him up and putting him on his lap. "And I was really looking forward to seeing Miyu today too," he said, annoyed with everything that just happened.

"You can see her after we get the job done, Romeo." Herald replied, annoying him in the process. "I looked at the ad's details, and found that it's a video game challenge online."

"Which video game?" Yuhiro asked, curious as he ruffled Progleo's fur. Whatever the video game was, it had to be one that was challenging for everyone to complete.

"A video game called Fortnite." Herald answered in surprise. Okay. That made sense. If there were lots of people who sought after Cyberse cards, there needs to be a game that can flush out the losers. "It says that you must win a battle royale match online under this server: jdk3845jg83902y94."

"Then it's a good thing we have Fortnite on the PS4." Yuhiro replied, putting Progleo down and getting up from his seat. Picking up his duel disk, he then walked over to the living room section of the second floor, with Progleo following after him. After turning on the PS4 and sitting on the couch, he clicked the Fortnite icon on the screen, enabling him to access the game.

"Wait!" Herald said, getting Yuhiro's attention. "Shouldn't we both enter the challenge? After all, between us, I'm the superior video game player."

"Tell that to the video gamers around the world." Yuhiro retorted. "Some are famous just for playing eSports." Despite this, he did see a point in Herald's proposition. Taking off his Duel Disk, he went to the basket nearby and grabbed a second PlayStation DualShock 4 Wireless controller. After taking off his Duel Disk and putting it on the table near the TV, he synchronized it with the game before handing it to Herald.

"Go, Team Yuhiro!" Progleo cheered, who was sitting beside them on the same couch.

"You mean Team Herald, right Progleo?" Herald inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"As long as one of us wins, we'll have a shot at getting the Cyberse cards." Yuhiro reminded Herald. Thank goodness I still have my Fortnite account, Yuhiro thought, as he entered the server's coordinates into the server region for Battle Royale. He then made Herald as a guest fighter because he didn't have a Fortnite account. "Is this your first time playing a shooting game, Herald?"

"Well, I had some experience playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 3." Herald admitted. "Why?"

"Because in Fortnite, it's a bit different for three reasons." Yuhiro replied. "One: Its from a third-person perspective. That means you'll be able to see more of the area around your character. Two: You'll have access to supplies to build things such as walls. This will be essential in order for you to survive and acquire more weapons. Three: There are exclusive weapons such as lightsabers and the Infinity Gauntlet."

"Interesting." Herald thought this over. "Do we get to be other characters in Fortnite?"

"If you meet the requirements, then yes." Yuhiro confirmed. "Oh. Looks like the match is about to begin. Just follow my lead and we'll win this thing." The screen then showed a blue bus being hoisted in the air by a massive balloon. The screen then started counting down, indicating that players had to jump off as soon as possible. "Okay, Herald. Jump and follow me!" On the screen, Yuhiro and Herald's characters jumped off the bus and headed towards an area called the Frenzy Farm. Both characters then deployed their parachutes, enabling Yuhiro and Herald to guide them down to the ground.

Unfortunately, immediately after landing, both of them heard gunfire in the game.

"GAH!" Herald said, moving his character to find shelter. "We need to hide and find weapons!"

"No kidding." Yuhiro replied, as he followed Herald's character into the house he was running in. "You found a treasure chest already? Good job, Herald." The treasure chest contained ammunition and two sets of guns, which were a rare tactical shotgun and a rare assault rifle. "I call the assault rifle!"

"Hey, I wanted that weapon." Herald complained.

"There will be better ones as the match continues." Yuhiro assured him, as his and Herald's characters left the house. "For now, lets kick some asses."

For the next ten minutes, Yuhiro and Herald proceeded to gun down any player that got in their way, making use of their surroundings in the process. They picked up more weapons and ammunition, as well as materials to make things.

"Storm eye is shrinking." Yuhiro warned Herald, getting his attention.

"Storm eye?" Herald repeated. "What's-?" He then noticed that the purple dome around the field was shrinking. "Oh." His and Yuhiro's characters than ran away from the purple dome closing in on the area. Unfortunately, they were met with gunfire from other player's characters. "Damn it! We're getting hit!"

"I can see that." Yuhiro said, firing back at the enemy as his and Herald's characters ran for their lives. Luckily, they were able to find cover at an abandoned shed. "Okay, here's the plan. We'll throw the flash grenades at the enemy and stun them. Afterwards, we'll-."

"Look at that." Herald said, causing Yuhiro to turn his character to the direction Herald's character was facing. The screen showed a golden gauntlet with six colored jewels at each of the knuckles, as well as the center of the back of the hand. "That's the Infinity Gauntlet! I'm getting that gauntlet!"

"Herald, don't! It's a trap!" Yuhiro yelled, as his character pursued Herald's character. Sure enough, it indeed was a trap, as there were other player's characters vying for the gauntlet as well.

"Out of the way, scumbags!" Herald shouted, firing the trigger button at each player's character and avoiding their return fire. "Only I can wield the power of the Infinity Gauntlet! HAHAHAHA!" Sure enough, Herald's character reached the Infinity Gauntlet, transforming him into Thanos. "Woah! I became Thanos!"

"Okay, we're gonna win this thing." Yuhiro declared, a smile on his face. For ten more minutes, the two of them proceeded to attack any player that stood in their way. While Yuhiro had his character take a sniping position, Herald's character (as Thanos) attracted the enemy's attention as he battered, blasted, and whittled down their hit points, enabling Yuhiro to finish them off.

Despite this, there were still at least forty more players left in the game, and the Storm's Eye was further closing in all the players.

"At this rate, it'll take another ten minutes to find and wipe out." Herald pointed out.

"Yeah, but you're Thanos right now." Yuhiro countered, who had his character follow after Herald's (who was still Thanos). "Uh oh."

"What is it?"

"We got lots of company." Yuhiro replied, as various player's characters charged and opened fire at them. While Yuhiro had his character run away from the enemies, Herald's character just stood there and charged up power.

"Then leave this to me." Herald said, laughing manically. "You should have gone for the head." Herald's character then snapped his fingers, literally turning every player into dust, leaving Herald's character as the last one standing.

"Wait, wait, wait. What?" Yuhiro was shocked at what happened. Thanos never had the ability to use the Snap and wipe all the other players. He turned to Herald, knowing that it meant only one thing. "You hacked the game, didn't you?"

"For a good cause." Herald admitted, crossing his arms. "You're welcome."

"Hooray, Team Yuhiro!" Progleo cheered.

"We could have won that fair and square." Yuhiro pointed out, picking up his duel disk and attaching it to his right arm so Herald could look at him. "If someone found out what you did-." Suddenly, Yuhiro's phone vibrated. "Hold that thought." Taking out his phone and opening it up, he found that he received an email from an unknown email address.

He and Progleo then walked downstairs to the backroom of Café Matsuo, intent on double-checking the email to confirm that it wasn't a phishing scam. The email isn't a phishing scam, Yuhiro thought, finishing up his keystrokes on the computer's digital keyboard. Yet it could still look suspicious. "Herald, can you look into this email and see if there's anything that catches your attention?"

"Of course." Herald replied, as Yuhiro connected his duel disk to the computer itself. After Herald inspected the email for an entire minute, he came back to the duel disk. "Looks safe to me."

"Then lets open it." Yuhiro clicked on the email and opened it, which read the following:

Congratulations!

You are among the many winners of the Fortnite Battle Royale Cyberse Challenge. As such, below is an address to LINK VRAINS, which will take you to the second part of the challenge:

Dkeo2804j5o203hjfpa9djp201j

If you complete the second challenge, you will be able to have a shot at winning the Cyberse Cards.

Good luck,

Unknown.

"Judging from this email, it looks like we'll have to go into LINK VRAINS." Herald deduced.

Yuhiro thought this over. With the next part of the challenge requiring them to log into LINK VRAINS, as well as Roxy being absent for the time being, that meant they had only one option available.

"We're gonna need some help." Yuhiro realized.

Meanwhile, at the Den City Lakeside Rehabilitation Center...

Yusaku was nearby, watching as a nurse led Jin to the fence to look out over the water. A few days after the Hanoi were defeated, Kusanagi went to visit his younger brother and give him the good news. Upon hearing them, Jin was not only able to recognize his older brother once again, but had also been more lively. One example of this was him going outside and enjoying the fresh air more often, a sign that his condition was improving.

While Yusaku was able to get justice on the Hanoi for the Lost Incident, he was also glad that Kusanagi and Jin were finally able to get peace after many years of torment and pain. Overall, he was happy that everything they went through was finally over.

"There you are, Yusaku."

Yusaku turned around, only to see Kusanagi approaching from behind him.

"Finished your phone call already?" Yusaku asked, as Kusanagi stopped walking and stood beside him.

"Yup." Kusanagi confirmed, turning to face Yusaku. "That was my cousin, Katsuya. He called to see how things were back at home."

"I didn't know you had a cousin." Yusaku said, turning to face Kusanagi, who sheepishly scratched the back of his head and chuckled.

"Well, better to know now than later, I guess." Kusanagi turned away from Yusaku and looked at Jin, who was clearly enjoying the outdoors once again. "Growing up, Katsuya cared for Jin and me as if we were his little brothers. He kept an eye on us when our parents could not for many years. Even after the Lost Incident, Katsuya called to check in and see how we were doing. He also sent some money every now and then for Jin's treatment." He sighed before continuing. "When I told Katsuya that Jin was finally feeling better over the phone, there was a complete moment or two of silence from his end before he wanted to confirm if it was true or not. After I confirmed the good news, I swear I could hear sounds of happiness on the other end of the phone."

"That is wonderful news." Yusaku stated, a rare smile on his face. Another thought then entered his mind. "After Jin's fully recovered, do you have any plans in mind for him for the future?"

Kusanagi thought over Yusaku's question for a minute before responding. "Well, I was thinking of showing him the ropes at Café Nagi. Get him a job that he could do when not attending school. And speaking of school, he'll have to complete some work, but I think he'll be able to get into Den Academy with some help and persistence. What about you, Yusaku? What are you going to do now that the Hanoi have been defeated?"

Before Yusaku could even begin thinking about Kusanagi's question, his phone started vibrating. "Excuse me," he said, as he walked away and picked up his phone, answering it. "Hello?" His eyes widened. "What? Are you sure? Hold on." Yusaku put his phone away and ran over to where Kusanagi was.

"Everything alright, buddy?" Kusanagi asked, a look of concern on his face.

"You're not going to believe what Furutani told me," was all Yusaku replied with.

Five minutes later, at Café Nagi...

"So that's pretty much the story," Yuhiro finished, who was on the video screen along with Herald and Progleo. After telling Kusanagi about the Cyberse cards, the two of them proceeded to head back to Café Nagi, where they immediately contacted Yuhiro for more information on this development.

"Okay, so let's roll back here." Kusanagi had a hand on the side of his head. "Herald found an ad for Cyberse cards, you two participated in a shooting game called Fortnite to receive the server address, and now you need our help?"

"Pretty much." Yuhiro confirmed. "As Roxy is otherwise occupied at the moment, that's why I'm reaching out to you for assistance."

"What Yuhiro is saying is that Roxy left to visit Miyu, and left us to deal with today's task." Herald humorously added, causing Yuhiro to flick him in the face. "Ow! Come on!"

"Are you sure the ad's legit?" Yusaku asked, an eyebrow raised. Even if the advertisement regarding the Cyberse challenge looked true, it could still be a phishing scam. And if people were fooled by phishing scams, they could lose more than they anticipated.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Herald complained. "When I saw that ad, I instantly saw a sign that the Cyberse are showing up again. Yet everyone is walking on their tip toes as if they were avoiding a mine field. Why is that?"

"Because there are people unfortunately who make a profit from deceiving others online." Kusanagi answered, typing on the digital keyboard. "But if it makes you feel any better, I'll do one last check on the ad and email to ensure they're legit." After typing for a minute, the scan came back as positive. "They're legit alright."

"Aside from the server's address, it doesn't provide any other details on what the second challenge can be." Yusaku said, re-reading the email that Yuhiro shared with them on the screen. "If you intend on logging into LINK VRAINS, you'll need backup." He proceeded to stand up from his seat.

"I would appreciate that." Yuhiro replied. "This way, Kusanagi can keep an eye on the both of us. See you there, Fujiki." He then hung up, thus ending the call.

"You sure you want to go in?" Kusanagi asked, turning to Yusaku.

"Yes. For three reasons." Yusaku answered. "One: Even though we defeated the Hanoi right now, they will return, only much stronger. If we obtain the Cyberse cards, we'll be prepared to fight against them once they show up again. Two: Last time, Watchman wanted us to find World Gears of Theurlogical Demiurgy, as well as two Cyberse cards and bring them to him. If he shows up again, I'll have a chance to get more information out of him regarding the Crisis. In other words, what exactly it is, and why he needs our help."

"That, or you'll have to duel him." Kusanagi interrupted.

"Three: I'm not sure why, but this Cyberse challenge reminds me of the dungeon we went into when we first obtained Cyberse cards." Yusaku finished, ignoring Kusanagi's commentary. "Therefore, its something that I need to investigate."

"Well, if you or Yuhiro find anything, let me know." Kusanagi told Yusaku, as he went over to the sealed room, which closed once he entered inside.

"Deck Set! Into the VRAINS!" Yusaku shouted, putting his deck into his duel disk as he logged into the network.

In LINK VRAINS...

Raguel blasted out of a portal and landed on the ground on one knee in a jungle-like field. It also had several green plains and ridges throughout the landscape. Mandrills were swinging through the trees, with some of them observing the newcomer.

"Nice superhero landing." Herald said. "But doesn't it hurt the knee a bit upon impact?"

"A bit." Yuhiro admitted, shaking his right leg a bit before putting it back on the ground. "But we're here now, and that's all that matters."

"Raguel."

Raguel turned around, only to see Playmaker jump from his duel board and land beside him.

"This is the server, right?"

"Yes." Raguel confirmed. "Although there's no one else here aside from-."

The next thing the two of them knew, they started hearing a series of drumbeats that echoed across the entire jungle-like field.

"Oh no..." Herald said, apparently recognizing the series of drumbeats. "Raguel, you remember that movie we watched a couple of nights ago? The one where the teenagers got sucked into a video game and had to overcome various levels?"

"Yup..." Raguel answered. This was not good at all. Suddenly, the mandrills in the area started throwing coconuts at Raguel and Playmaker, causing the two of them to evade the attacks as they started running.

"I'm guessing this is the second challenge?" Playmaker questioned, as he ducked from a coconut being thrown at him.

"Well, whoever made this challenge had to figure out someway to weed out the winners from the first challenge." Raguel pointed out, using his arms to shield himself from ongoing coconut fire.

"Apologies for interrupting," Kusanagi said through Playmaker's earpiece, "but I managed to figure out the details for the second challenge. Its pretty simple to be honest. Just reach the entrance of the temple before the swarm of mandrills either bludgeon you with coconuts or overrun either of you."

"Can you give us the fastest route there, Kusanagi?" Playmaker asked, evading another coconut thrown by a mandrill. Other mandrills took up sniping positions as they grabbed more coconuts to throw.

"One escape route coming up." Kusanagi replied, typing on the digital keyboard. "I'll admit, Yusaku. Seeing you get attacked by monkeys is something I thought would never happen, least of all to you."

"I fail to see anything humorous about Raguel or I being pelted with coconuts from mandrills," Playmaker replied, "but please. Continue."

"Okay. I had enough of these guys." Raguel decided. "Time to pull out the Surpriser!" After pressing a few buttons on his duel disk, the Surpriser gauntlet appeared on the screen before Raguel pressed the 'Confirm' button, causing his right arm to be outfitted with said gauntlet. He then fired several small blasts of energy from the Surpriser, creating portals that appeared in front of the mandrills, confusing them. Before they could get their bearings together, Raguel loaded his double-barreled revolver and fired an exploding bullet through one of the portals, causing one group of mandrills to be incinerated. He did the same thing for the other group after they were shocked at what happened.

"You incinerated those animals within seconds!" Herald exclaimed, looking at the scorched wildlife and mandrills.

"Thank goodness I kept those heat-seeking bullets from the Black Market." Raguel said, wiping the sweat off his forehead. He and Playmaker then reached a large chasm, with the Mayan temple being on the other side of the chasm. Connected between both sides was a series of rope-bridges, each with jungle-like elements.

"Uh, Yusaku?" Kusanagi said, getting Playmaker's attention did. "Whatever Raguel did, I think it made the mandrills very angry." As if to illustrate Kusanagi's point, a swarm of angry mandrills ran towards Raguel and Playmaker, intent on avenging their dead comrades.

"I can see that Kusanagi." Playmaker replied, turning immediately towards the rope bridges.

"Jump!" Raguel told him, as he and Playmaker jumped onto the same rope bridge. The two of them then started running on the rope bridge before jumping onto another one, the mandrills doing the same.

"Okay. Jump to the rope-bridge at your left." Kusanagi told Playmaker and Raguel. "They'll destabilize after a minute, so you might want to move it." Playmaker and Raguel did just that, while a few pursuing mandrills fell once the bridge they were on destabilized.

"How did you know that was going to happen, Kusanagi?" Herald asked him. "GAH! Raguel, look out!" A mandrill on their right attempted to lunge at Raguel from a nearby rope-bridge, only for him to shoot at it in response, causing the creature to fall to the depths of the chasm.

"I looked on the forums." Kusanagi admitted. "Okay. Now jump to the rope-bridge on your right." Playmaker and Raguel did just that.

As the duo kept running, they soon noticed the rope-bridge they were on was starting to turn.

"Which way, Kusanagi?" Playmaker asked him.

"Just hold on." Kusanagi replied, typing in some algorithms and reading the forum. "Just drop down to the bridge below. Like now!" A mandrill attempted to attack Playmaker from behind, only for Raguel to shoot it at the last minute. The two of them then jumped down to the rope-bridge below.

"Thanks for the save." Playmaker stated.

"You can thank me after we cross this series of rope-bridges." Raguel responded. He then fired several small blasts of energy from the Surpriser, creating portals that appeared in areas in front of the mandrills. After loading another heat-seeking bullet into his double-barreled revolver, Raguel fired another blast of energy nearby before firing into it, which incinerated a group of mandrills behind them. "That should delay them a bit."

"Yusaku, look out!" Kusanagi warned Playmaker. Unfortunately, it was too late, as a mandrill nearby jumped onto a rope-bridge before tackling him off the rope-bridge he and Raguel were on.

"Playmaker!" Raguel said, launching his duel anchor at the rope bridge Playmaker was on before swinging down and landing on it. He then pulled out his sword and slashed the mandrill in two, killing it in an instant. Several other mandrills on rope-bridges nearby began to surround the duo. "You alright?" He offered Playmaker a hand.

"Yeah." Playmaker replied, letting Raguel pull him up. The two of them then stood back to back, ready to face the mandrill army. "Any ideas?"

"Incoming rope-bridge within twelve seconds!" Kusanagi informed the duo. "If you get those mandrills off your back, then you can make it."

"I see." An idea then appeared in Playmaker's mind as he took a card from his Extra Deck. "Go, Decode Talker!" Decode Talker immediately appeared and sliced the bridge using his sword, causing it to fall forward with Playmaker and Raguel holding on tight for a few seconds before jumping down to the rope-bridge below, evading the attacks from various mandrills. Decode Talker then dematerialized soon after.

"Nice idea, Playmaker!" Raguel said, as the two of them kept running on the rope-bridge they were on, the mandrills still chasing them. He then noticed the other side of the chasm. "We're almost there!" The next thing they knew, a mandrill jumped out of nowhere and slashed two of the ropes supporting the rope-bridge, causing them to fall. Had Playmaker and Raguel not grabbed onto the rope-bridge below them at the last second, they would have fallen to the depths of the chasm.

"Almost there, Yusaku." Kusanagi informed him. "Just climb back up and keep running." The two of them did just that and kept running away from the mandrills. A bridge with two of its supports gone then started to appear, giving Raguel an idea on how to get to the other side.

"Give me your hand!" Raguel told Playmaker.

"What?" Playmaker replied.

"Trust me!" After Playmaker grabbed onto Raguel's hand, Raguel proceeded to grab onto one of the ropes before swinging forward and using the momentum to release Playmaker forward, causing him to fly high in the air before he landed on the other side of the chasm. Raguel then swung back and kicked one of the mandrills that lunged at him back to its comrades before swinging back and letting go. Unfortunately, he let go too soon, as he was a few inches away from the ledge.

"Oh, shit!" Raguel activated his duel anchor and launched it at one of the wooden towers, which prevented him from falling to the chasm's depths just in time. Playmaker ran over towards where the duel anchor was and pulled Raguel up until he climbed over the ledge.

"Are you alright?" Playmaker asked Raguel as he got over the ledge.

"Yeah." Raguel replied.

"Guys, look! The temple! We did it!" Herald cheered, causing Raguel and Playmaker to look forward in their direction. Sure enough, there it was. The Mayan temple.

"That must be where the Cyberse cards are located." Playmaker deduced, walking forward.

"And we're gonna get them." Raguel added, following after Playmaker. Unbeknownst to either of them, a malnourished human began to follow after the duo, but far enough so they wouldn't notice him.

Once Raguel and Playmaker reached the temple's entrance, it opened for them, allowing the duo to enter inside. As they kept walking, Playmaker noticed the murals that were on the walls. One of the murals showed eight rooms with small figures in them. The next mural showed eight figures, which looked like Ignis's, creating parts of the Cyberse World. The following murals showed them creating the first Cyberse creatures, hanging out with one another, and enjoying their existence. One particular mural showed Revolver and several Cracking Dragons destroying parts of the Cyberse world, along with trapping five out of the eight Ignis's.

What is with these murals, Playmaker thought, looking at each one. Its as though they're showing the life of not just the life and events of the Ignis, but of the Cyberse itself. Could they be related to the dungeon Kusanagi and I visited when we obtained Cyberse cards after completing that challenge?

"Playmaker." Raguel said, getting his attention. "Something on your mind?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." Playmaker answered, as the two of them kept walking deeper and deeper into the temple. "This place we're in reminds me of when Kusanagi and I went to a dungeon to retrieve Cyberse cards."

"Cyberse cards you say?" Herald said, now interested in what Playmaker is about to say. "I'll admit, I've been curious in how you the Cyberse cards that made your deck, Playmaker." As the duo kept walking down deeper into the temple, Playmaker told them of a dungeon that was in LINK VRAINS, and how he and Kusanagi went into it in order to retrieve the Cyberse cards there. To obtain the cards, they needed to solve a duel puzzle, but once the duel concluded, it led them to find the deck in the real world at a pier in Den City.

"Interesting..." Raguel muttered to himself, recapping as many of the details of the story he could. "I must say, whoever turned the puzzle into a map of the Den City's pier was a genius."

"Still, when I think back from that puzzle, there's something that I'm suspicious about." Playmaker said, a hand on his chin. "Like that giant snake who devoured those who failed the puzzle. How come it resembles Ai to an extent? Could he have made the puzzle to find someone worthy to wield the Cyberse cards?"

"I doubt it was Ai." Herald told Playmaker. "He may have discovered the way to give Cyberse creatures sentience, but he's lazy most of the time. There's no way Ai would have taken the time to make that dungeon, especially when he was on the run from the Knights of Hanoi."

"True." Playmaker agreed with Herald. He decided to keep those suspicions in the back of his mind, and focus on them at a later time.

Soon, Raguel and Playmaker reached the bottom of the temple, with a door in front of them. As if knowing their intent, the door opened, enabling them to pass through to the room on the other side, which was large enough to hold two duel fields. Behind Raguel and Playmaker was the entrance, with lanterns to welcome those who entered. On the far end of the room was a horizontal coffin, which appeared to be storing a relic. Two torches were on both sides of the coffin, as if to give significance to what was being guarded.

Right now, a man was dueling against a figure that wore a large black rag over its body. It had a ghostly pale face, with a white beard as if it were bound to the temple as its guardian for a long time. The ghost also had a golden accessory with a red jewel in the center. Behind the ghost was the horizontal coffin, which was on an elevated platform.

"When Magic Cylinder is activated, your attack is negated, and you take damage equal to your monster's attack!" the ghost declared.

"This can't be!" the man exclaimed, as a beam of energy went into one cylinder before firing out of another, hitting the person and causing them to fly backwards off the ground before landing on it. "Damn that Ancient Ghost," he muttered. "At least I get another shot though." As if to disprove his point, the duel field then disappeared, enabling a giant black snake with purple highlights and orange eyes to emerge from underneath the chasm. The man attempted to run away, but the giant snake lunged forward and chomped on its prey several times before retreating back into the depths, satisfied with its meal.

"Okay, I did not see that coming!" Raguel exclaimed, having been caught off guard by what he just saw.

"Yusaku, that's the same giant snake who gobbled up the Knight of Hanoi in the dungeon!" Kusanagi realized. "If that's the case..."

"Then whoever created the duel puzzle also created this video game challenge for the Cyberse cards." Playmaker realized, stepping forward and looking at the Ancient Ghost. "The last time we met, I dueled you in a duel puzzle for Cyberse cards. Why have you returned?"

Upon seeing Playmaker, the Ancient Ghost was looked at him with full interest. "Its you..."

"Who are you really?" Playmaker asked, but the Ancient Ghost made no reply. Instead, it motioned Playmaker to come forward. "It seems that the ghost wants me to duel."

"If that's the case, then be careful, Playmaker." Herald advised him. "The last time you two fought, it was in a duel puzzle. This time, it will be a full-on Master Duel, which means there's no telling what tricks the ghost will have up its sleeves."

"Noted." Playmaker then stepped forward and held up his duel disk to accept the challenge. Soon, the duel field reappeared as both duelists readied their duel disks.

"Time to duel!" Playmaker and the Ancient Ghost said in unison.

Playmaker: 4000 LP

Ancient Ghost: 4000 LP

"I will take the first turn," the Ancient Ghost decided. Playmaker didn't object, for he wanted to see how his opponent used Cyberse cards. "I activate the Spell card, Cynet Mining. By sending a card from my hand to the Graveyard, I can add one Cyberse monster from my deck to my hand." The Ancient Ghost touched a card in its hand, which exploded into particles before it took one from its deck and added it to its hand. "Next, I summon Clock Wyvern from my hand." As the Ancient Ghost touched the card in front of it, a mechanical blue and purple dragon appeared on its field and roared in attack position at Playmaker.

Clock Wyvern ATK: 1800 DEF: 1000 LV: 4

"Clock Wyvern's effect! When it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can halve its attack points to Special Summon a Clock token to my field!" As Clock Wyvern's strength was halved, a cluster of purple crystals appeared in defense position.

Clock Wyvern ATK: 1800 / 2 = 900

Clock Token ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1

"Materialize, my circuit!" A Link Portal appeared high above the Ancient Ghost. "The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I'll set Clock Wyvern and the Clock token into the Link Markers!" Clock Wyvern went into the bottom-left arrowhead, while the Clock token went into the bottom arrowhead, turning red in the process.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyberse Witch!" A red-haired woman wearing brown robes and silver armor appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. She swung a black staff topped by a green orb, ready for battle.

Cyberse Witch ATK: 800 LINK-2 ↙️⬇️

"I activate the Spell card, One-Time Passcode," the Ancient Ghost continued. "This card lets me Special Summon a 'Security' token to my field in Defense Position." Soon, a blue card with a lamb silhouette on it appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field in defense position. More specifically, in the Main Monster Zone Cyberse Witch was pointing to.

Security Token ATK: 2000 DEF: 2000 LV: 4

"From there, I activate Cyberse Witch's effect! As a monster was Special Summoned to a Main Monster Zone she points to, I can banish a Spell card from my Graveyard to add one Cyberse Ritual monster and one Cynet Ritual from my deck to my hand. I banish Cynet Mining from my Graveyard to add Cyberse Magician and Cynet Ritual from my deck to my hand." The Ancient Ghost took two cards from its deck and added them to its hand before selecting one other card in his hand. "In addition, if this effect was activated this turn, I'm allowed to target one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it to my field. I Special Summon Widget Kid!" Witch raised her staff above her, causing a portal to appear before a boy in blue and white with a toy blaster in his hand appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field.

Widget Kid ATK: 1500 DEF: 900 LV: 3

"Widget Kid's effect!" the Ancient Ghost added. "When he's Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Cyberse monster from my hand in defense position. Emerge, Cyberse Synchron!" A small white machine with blue eyes connected to the middle of a white ring appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field. In the middle of the ring was a translucent, blue energy field. Surrounding it were three boosters. One on the top, one on the bottom-left, and one on the bottom-right.

Cyberse Synchron ATK: 100 DEF: 100 LV: 1

"A Cyberse Tuner monster..." Playmaker muttered, his interest now further piqued by what was about to happen next.

"I didn't know a Cyberse Tuner monster existed." Herald said, looking at the Ancient Ghost's field before turning to Raguel. "Thoughts?"

"The existence of a Cyberse Tuner monster opens new possibilities for Playmaker's opponent." Raguel explained. "Whatever happens, Playmaker needs to be on his guard."

"I activate Cyberse Synchron's effect!" the Ancient Ghost said. "Once per turn, I can target one Level 4 or lower monster on my field and increase its current level by its original level until the End Phase. I target Widget Kid, and increase its level by three!" The boosters on Cyberse Synchron glowed as Widget Kid's level increased by three.

Widget Kid LV: 3 + 3 = 6

"I now activate the Ritual Spell card, Cynet Ritual! By tributing monsters from my hand or field whose levels equal or exceeds a Cyberse Ritual monster in my hand, I'm allowed to Ritual Summon that Cyberse Ritual monster from my hand to my field! I tribute the Level 6 Widget Kid and the Level 1 Cyberse Synchron on my field!" Soon, a blue circle with seven blue flames materialized in front of the Ancient Ghost. Widget Kid and Cyberse Synchron broke into blue particles, which went into the circle and produced a beam of light.

"The contract's been made!" the Ancient Ghost declared. "Ritual Summon! Appear, Cyberse Magician!" A black and blue staff parted the pillar of blue light. Soon, a man with long green hair wearing green, grey, and dark blue robes topped with silver armor and boots held the staff as he appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field. He wore a visor as well, with one of his eyes being uncovered.

Cyberse Magician ATK: 2500 DEF: 2000 LV: 7

"He used Cyberse Synchron to Ritual Summon?!" Herald exclaimed out of shock. Raguel raised an eyebrow at this development. Why would the Ancient Ghost use Cyberse Synchron to Ritual Summon? It could have done so using the Security token and Widget Kid, but it instead used Cyberse Synchron. What was its plan?

Meanwhile, Playmaker frowned at what the Ancient Ghost did to bring out Cyberse Magician. Cyberse Synchron must have an effect that activates in the Graveyard, he deduced.

"I Set one card face-down and end my turn." The Ancient Ghost concluded, tapping a card in front of it before it appeared in the Spell & Trap card zone.

"My turn! I draw!" Playmaker said, drawing the top card of his deck. "I activate Link Apple's effect from my hand! I reveal this card in my hand and banish a random face-down monster from my Extra Deck. If its a Link monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand. If not, I must discard this card and draw one card from my deck." Playmaker's Extra Deck was then shuffled before stopping momentarily. After looking at the card that was just banished, he turned his attention to the Ancient Ghost. "The card banished was the Link 3 Cyberse monster, Tri-Gate Wizard. That means I can Special Summon Link Apple from my hand." A red apple with a computer screen on it appeared on Playmaker's field, beaming with happiness.

Link Apple ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1

"And to follow that up, I summon Draconnet from my hand." A white dragon machine with blue lines running over it also appeared on Playmaker's field.

Draconnet ATK: 1400 DEF: 1200 LV: 2

"Draconnet's effect!" Playmaker continued. "When this monster is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower Normal monster from my hand or deck in defense position!" A card popped out of Playmaker's deck, which he took. "I Special Summon Bitron from my deck in defense position!" A small white machine with blue eyes joined Playmaker's field as well in defense position.

Bitron ATK: 200 DEF: 2000 LVL: 2

"I will now create my circuit!" A Link Portal appeared high above Playmaker. "The summoning conditions are one Normal monster! I'll set Bitron in the Link Markers!" Bitron then entered the bottom arrowhead, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Link Spider!" A black mechanical spider emerged from the Link Portal and was summoned to the right Extra Monster Zone on Playmaker's field.

Link Spider ATK: 1000 LINK-1 ⬇️

"Link Spider's effect!" Playmaker added. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Normal monster from my hand to the Main Monster Zone it points to. Come on out, Leotron!" A mechanical lion appeared on Playmaker's field in the Main Monster Zone Link Spider pointed to.

Leotron ATK: 2000 DEF: 0 LV: 4

"I activate Micro Coder's effect from my hand! If a Cyberse monster on my field would be used as Link Material for the Link Summon of a 'Code Talker' Link monster, I can also use this card from my hand as Link Material as well!" He gestured upwards to the ceiling. "I will now create my circuit once again!" A second Link Portal appeared high above Playmaker. "The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I'll set Leotron on my field and Micro Coder in my hand into the Link Markers!" Leotron went into the left arrowhead, while Micro Coder went into the right arrowhead, turning both of them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Code Talker Inverted!" A light-purple armored warrior appeared on Playmaker's field in the Main Monster Zone Link Spider pointed to. In the warrior's hands was a silver lance.

Code Talker Inverted ATK: 1300 LINK-2 ⬅️➡️

"The effects of Micro Coder and Code Talker Inverted both activate!" Playmaker added. "First, since Micro Coder was sent from the hand or field as Link Material for the Link Summon of a 'Code Talker' Link Monster, I can add one 'Cynet' Spell or Trap card from my deck to my hand." A card popped out of Playmaker's deck, which he added to his hand. "Second, Code Talker Inverted lets me Special Summon one Cyberse monster from my hand to a Main Monster Zone it points to. Come on out, Datacorn!" An acorn with eyes and a USB drive on its bottom appeared on Playmaker's field in one of the Main Monster Zones Code Talker Inverted pointed to.

Datacorn ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1

"And since Datacorn was Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a Data Acorn token to my field!" A smaller version of Datacorn appeared on Playmaker's field as well.

Data Acorn Token ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1

"I will now create my circuit for a third time!" A third Link Portal appeared high above Playmaker. "The summoning conditions are two or more effect monsters. I'll set Link Spider, which is a Link 1 monster, and Code Talker Inverted, which is a Link 2 monster, into the Link Markers!" Link Spider went into the right arrowhead, while Code Talker Inverted split into two tornadoes of energy that went into the top and bottom arrowheads respectively.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Transcode Talker!" A brown and white armored humanoid warrior appeared on Playmaker's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. On Transcode Talker's back was a folded cannon, ready to be used.

Transcode Talker ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬆️⬇️➡️

"Hey, that's the Link monster Playmaker got from the Data Storm..." Herald commented.

"The one that almost defeated Revolver as well." Raguel added, now curious as to what Playmaker had next in store.

"I activate Transcode Talker's effect!" Playmaker said. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon one 'Code Talker' monster from my Graveyard to a zone he points to. Return, Code Talker Inverted!" At Playmaker's command, Code Talker Inverted reappeared on his field, only in the Main Monster Zone Transcode Talker pointed to.

Code Talker Inverted ATK: 1300 LINK-2 ⬅️➡️

"But why stop there, when I can create my circuit for a fourth time!" A fourth Link Portal appeared high above Playmaker. "The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I'll set Code Talker Inverted, which is a Link 2 monster, and Datacorn into the Link Markers!" Datacorn went into the top arrowhead, while Code Talker Inverted went into the left and right arrowheads respectively, turning all of them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Excode Talker!" A green armored humanoid giant with shields on his wrists appeared on Playmaker's field in the Main Monster Zone Transcode Talker pointed to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another.

Excode Talker ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬅️⬆️➡️

"The effects of both Excode Talker and Transcode Talker activate!" Playmaker told the Ancient Ghost. "First, since Excode Talker was Link Summoned, for every monster in the Extra Monster Zone, one of your Main Monster Zones can't be used while he's on the field. The Main Monster Zones I choose are the remaining one Cyberse Witch is pointing to, and the one on the far left. Grasp Zone!" Excode Talker formed two balls of green energy and flung them at the remaining Main Monster Zone Cyberse Witch was pointing to, as well as the one on the far left. "Also, monsters Excode Talker points to gain 500 attack points, and can no longer be destroyed by card effects." Transcode Talker glowed as his strength increased.

Transcode Talker ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800

"Second, Transcode Talker not only gives himself and monsters he's co-linked to an additional 500 attack points, you can no longer target either of them with card effects!" Both Transcode Talker and Excode Talker glowed as their strength increased.

Transcode Talker ATK: 2800 + 500 = 3300

Excode Talker ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800

"He's pulling out all the stops, isn't he?" Herald said, looking at Playmaker's field.

"Yup." Raguel agreed, crossing his arms.

"I will now create my circuit for the fifth time!" Playmaker declared, as a fifth Link Portal appeared high above him. "The summoning conditions are three monsters. I'll set Draconnet, Link Apple, and the Data Acorn token into the Link Markers!" Draconnet went into the left arrowhead, Link Apple went into the right arrowhead, and the Data Acorn token went into the bottom-left arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Powercode Talker!" A humanoid warrior in red armor with large shoulder pads and bracers appeared on Playmaker's field in the left Main Monster Zone Excode Talker pointed to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another.

Powercode Talker ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬅️➡️↙️

Powercode Talker ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800

"Powercode Talker's effect! Once per turn, I can target one face-up monster on the field and negate its effects until the End Phase. And the monster I target is Cyberse Magician. Withering Wire!" A clawed wire was released out of Powercode Talker's right gauntlet, as he swung it towards Cyberse Magician, which latched onto him and stripped him of his effects.

"Battle!" Playmaker declared. "Transcode Talker attacks Cyberse Witch! Transcode Finish!" The cannon on Transcode Talker's back began to unfold into a massive one, which Transcode Talker grabbed and aimed at Cyberse Witch before firing a blast that came out of it.

"Counter-trap, activate! Negate Attack!" the Ancient Ghost said. "This card not only negates your monster's attack, but also ends the Battle Phase." A barrier appeared in front of Witch and protected her from the blast.

"Tch.." Playmaker grit his teeth. "In that case, I Set two cards face-down and end my turn, which means Cyberse Magician regains his effects." Cyberse Magician broke free of the wire, ready for battle.

"Playmaker may not have dealt any damage, but he's got three strong Link-3 monsters supporting one another." Herald said, trying to look at the positive. "Transcode Talker is not only giving himself and Excode Talker 500 attack points, he's also protecting himself and Excode Talker from being targeted by card effects."

"Not to mention Excode Talker's effects." Raguel added. "He's giving 500 attack points to both Transcode Talker and Powercode Talker, as well as preventing them from being destroyed by card effects. That, combined with Playmaker's face-down cards, helps him be prepared for whatever the Ancient Ghost has against him."

"My turn! I draw!" the Ancient Ghost said, drawing the top card of its deck before tapping one in its hand. "I activate the Spell card, Cache Upload. This card lets me target one Link monster you control, and draw cards equal to its Link rating. I target your Powercode Talker." Cache Upload released a green scanning wave, which scanned Powercode Talker from top to bottom.

"As Powercode Talker is a Link 3 monster, I can draw three cards from my deck." The Ancient Ghost drew the top three cards of its deck. "I summon ROM Cloudia from my hand." A ram with black fur and pink horns appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field.

ROM Cloudia ATK: 1800 DEF: 0 LV: 4

"When ROM Cloudia is Normal Summoned, I can add one Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand." A card popped out of the Ancient Ghost's Graveyard, which it took and added to its hand before gesturing upwards. "Materialize, my circuit!" A Link Portal appeared high above the Ancient Ghost. "The summoning conditions are two monsters. I'll set ROM Cloudia and the Security token into the Link Markers!" ROM Cloudia went into the top arrowhead, while the Security token went into the bottom arrowhead, turning both of them red respectively.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Security Dragon!" A small white and red mechanical dragon appeared in the Main Monster Zone Witch was pointing to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another.

Security Dragon ATK: 1100 LINK-2 ⬆️⬇️

"Security Dragon's effect!" the Ancient Ghost continued. "Once, if it's co-linked, I can target one monster you control and return it to your hand. I target your Powercode Talker." Playmaker could do nothing but grit his teeth as Security Dragon fired red electricity from its head at Powercode Talker, electrocuting him into particles and returning him back to the Extra Deck.

"I'll then activate the Spell card, Cynet Fusion. This card lets me Fusion Summon one Cyberse Fusion monster from my Extra Deck, by using monsters in my hand or field as Fusion Material. I use Clock Wyvern in my hand, and Security Dragon and Cyberse Witch on my field to Fusion Summon!" One of the cards in the Ancient Ghost's hand turned into red particles of energy, while Security Dragon turned into blue particles of energy, and Cyberse Witch turned into green particles of energy. The red, blue, and green particles of energy then swirled together into a vortex, causing three tornadoes of energy to shoot upwards and merge to form a magenta whirlwind.

"Fusion Summon! Rise, Level 7! Cyberse Clock Dragon!" A purple-colored dragon with pink lines running across its body emerged out of the whirlwind and appeared in the right Extra Monster Zone on the Ancient Ghost's field. It had black armor on its thighs, lower arms, shoulders, and the back of its neck and tail. Its hands and feet were pink with white claws, and its wings were split into six golden sections. Its four blue eyes gleamed as Clock Dragon roared at Playmaker.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK: 2500 DEF: 2000 LV: 7

"That guy has a Cyberse Fusion monster too?!" Herald exclaimed, surprised with Cyberse Clock Dragon's appearance. Raguel didn't say anything because he didn't know what to say at all. That, and his Link Trigger was going off, telling him that Clock Dragon was dangerous.

Playmaker, whose Link Sense was going off as well, looked at Clock Dragon, surprised by how much strength it was emitting. I have to be careful, he thought. Because this monster could be more dangerous than expected, especially since its a Cyberse monster.

"When Clock Dragon is Fusion Summoned, I can send a card from the top of my deck to the Graveyard equal to the combined Link ratings of the Fusion Materials used for its Fusion Summon," the Ancient Ghost explained. "Both Cyberse Witch and Security Dragon have a Link rating of two, which means I send the top four cards of my deck to the Graveyard." It took the top four cards of its deck and sent them to the Graveyard. "And for every card sent to the Graveyard by this effect, Clock Dragon gains 1000 attack points! Cyberse Clockup!"

"What?" Playmaker said in surprise, as Clock Dragon glowed red and roared.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK: 2500 + (1000 X 4) = 6500 ATK

"If that ghost attacks Playmaker with both Clock Dragon and Cyberse Magician, it'll be over for him!" Herald panicked.

"Relax, Herald." Raguel told him. "If I know Playmaker, he'll survive this turn. Just you watch."

"Battle!" the Ancient Ghost declared. "Cyberse Clock Dragon attacks Excode Talker! Pulsating Surge!" Purple lightning gathered across Clock Dragon's wings and upper body and gathered in its mouth.

"Not so fast!" Playmaker said, interrupting the attack. "I activate my Trap card, Half or Nothing! When this card is activated, you get to choose one of two effects. You either end the Battle Phase immediately, or the attack points of all monsters you control become halved until the end of your Battle Phase."

The Ancient Ghost was silent for a moment, as if contemplating the choices that were available. Finally, it said, "I'll choose the second effect, which cuts the attack points of my monsters in half for the duration of this Battle Phase." Half or Nothing then glowed an eerie color, halting Clock Dragon's attack and halving both it and Cyberse Magician's attack points.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK: 6500 / 2 = 3250

Cyberse Magician ATK: 2500 / 2 = 1250

"Resume your attack, Clock Dragon! Pulsating Surge!" Clock Dragon fired the energy gathered in its mouth at Excode Talker, destroying him and causing Playmaker to use his right arm to shield himself from the blast.

Playmaker: 4000 – 450 = 3550 LP

"Since Excode Talker left the field, his effects end, and you're now able to use the Main Monster Zones he blocked using his effect." Playmaker pointed out. "Also, Transcode Talker loses his attack point boosts." A red aura surrounded Transcode Talker, sapping away his strength and reverting it back to normal.

Transcode Talker ATK: 3300 – 1000 = 2300

"I'll activate the Quick-Play Spell card, Cynet Backdoor as well. This card lets me target a Cyberse monster on my field and banish it. By doing so, I can add one Cyberse monster from my deck whose attack points are lower than the monster I banish. I target and banish Transcode Talker." A portal appeared behind Transcode Talker, who jumped in it and disappeared from the field as Playmaker took a card from his deck and added it to his hand.

Seeing this, the Ancient Ghost was curious. Why would Playmaker do something like that? Didn't he know this would leave him wide open for a direct attack? Regardless, it was the Ancient Ghost's chance to deal more damage. "Cyberse Magician attacks you directly. Cyberse Magic attack!" Cyberse Magician spun his staff before firing energy from it towards Playmaker, causing an explosion and slightly pushing him back.

Playmaker: 3550 – 1250 = 2300 LP

"I Set one card face-down and end my turn," the Ancient Ghost concluded. "Which means Half or Nothing's effect ends, and my monster's attack points revert back to normal."

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK: 3250 X 2 = 6500

Cyberse Magician ATK: 1250 X 2 = 2500

"Okay, that was a close one." Herald commented. "Had it not been for that Trap card, Playmaker would have lost."

"Come now, Herald. Did you really think Playmaker was going to lose?" Raguel asked him, an eyebrow raised.

"Uh, no! Of course not!" Herald responded, trying to save himself from the situation he was in.

"It's my turn! I-!" But before Playmaker could draw a card, ominous laughter filled the room.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, three chained daggers attached to a wired stump lashed out at Playmaker out of nowhere, intent on piercing him.

"Watch out!" Raguel warned Playmaker, grabbing his sword and getting in the way of the attack. But before he could repel the attack, the daggers wrapped themselves around his right arm before stabbing into his skin, catching him off guard as he screamed in pain.

"Raguel!" Herald exclaimed, as he tried to pull the daggers out. To his surprise, the daggers came out of Raguel's skin and zipped back to its owner, allowing Raguel to grip his right arm.

"I can't believe you fell for it," a sinister voice said, as its owner walked out of the entrance of the bottom chamber. The person before Raguel was a young man in his late teens with curly, seaweed-like blue hair and thin blue eyebrows. He had a metal jaw with a small spine at the bottom strapped to his mouth that gave him an inhuman look. It was obvious to Raguel that the young man was malnourished, as evident by the ribs that were showing. Black bandages were wrapped around each of the person's arms and legs to cover various wounds all over his body. His right arm was replaced with a wired stump that had three chained daggers attached to it. Lastly, the young man had a large black cloth wrapped around his waist.

"Who are you?" Raguel demanded. "And what the hell did you do?"

"You can call me Speckles," the young man introduced himself. "As for your other question, my daggers pierced you Raguel, which means two things. One: You're locked in a duel against me. Two: I'm in the process of hacking and retrieving ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION!"

"What?!" Raguel said with shock. This was not good at all. If what Speckles was saying is true, that meant he can steal all of Raguel's secrets, which would definitely go out to the world if he wasn't defeated here and now.

Meanwhile, Playmaker looked behind him with concern for Raguel. "Kusanagi, can you find out who this Speckles is?"

"On it, buddy." Kusanagi answered, typing on the keyboard. After finding what he was looking for, his eyes widened. "Uh oh."

"What is it?" Playmaker asked through the earpiece.

"I got good news and bad news." Kusanagi answered. "The good news is I figured out who Speckles is. The bad news is that he's a student who goes to the same school you and Raguel go to."

"Crap..." Playmaker muttered, gritting his teeth. "Can you slow him down?"

"Way ahead of you, buddy." Kusanagi replied, furiously typing on the digital keyboard. "I'll do the best I can. So tell Raguel to hold on tight."

"Intruder detected," the Ancient Ghost said, raising its arms and generating energy. "Commencing duel cancellation. Expunging all duelists from-."

"Wait!" Raguel told the Ancient Ghost, surprising both it and Playmaker. "I'll take care of this guy. Let Playmaker continue his duel against you."

"Are you sure about this?" Playmaker asked Raguel.

"Trust me, Playmaker. This is nothing but a flesh wound. I'll be fine." Raguel assured him. Playmaker nodded in response, turning to face the Ancient Ghost. Having heard this, it lowered its arms.

"Very well," the Ancient Ghost complied. "It is your turn."

"Indeed." Playmaker agreed before placing a hand on the top card of his deck. "My turn! I draw!"

At Raguel and Speckles' duel...

"I'm guessing that if I beat you, then your attempt to hack into my systems will stop?" Raguel questioned his opponent in front of him.

"Of course, of course." Speckles confirmed. "But there's no way in hell that I'll let out happen. Because by stealing your Cyberse cards and Ignis, as well as killing you and Playmaker, I'll be granted the freedom to do whatever I want in the network without fear of getting arrested!"

"We'll see about that." Raguel replied, activating his Duel Disk.

"Duel!" both Raguel and Speckles shouted in unison.

Raguel: 4000 LP

Speckles: 4000 LP

"I shall go first." Speckles declared menacingly, looking at the cards in front of him before tapping one. "I'll start by activating the Field Spell card, World Legacy in Shadow. Now all 'Krawler' monsters on my field gain 300 attack and defense points."

"Krawler?" Yuhiro repeated. Oh great. That archetype? Considering how it was related to the World Legacy story, this duel was going to be a pain in the ass.

"Next, I activate the Spell card, World Legacy Survivor." Speckles continued, tapping another card in front of him. "This card lets me excavate the top five cards from my deck, add a 'Krawler' monster or 'World Legacy' card among them, and send the rest to my Graveyard." He took five cards, chose one, and sent the rest to the Graveyard. "From there, I Set one monster and activate the second effect of World Legacy in Shadows. Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 2 or lower Insect monster from my hand in face-up or face-down defense position. I'll therefore Set another monster from my hand, as well as Set one card face-down to end my turn." A total of three Set cards were on Speckles' field. Two in the Main Monster Zone, and one in the Spell & Trap card zone.

"My turn! I draw!" Raguel said, drawing the top card of his deck. "I'll now use the Scale 1 Cyreath Sigma and the Scale 8 Cyreath Endymion to set the Pendulum Scale!" Soon, two pillars of light appeared on both sides of Raguel's field.

In the pillar on his right was a small, red and white-chromed robot with orange lines. It had orange eyes and a small mouth on its face, along with a ribbon on top of its head. It carried two small swords in its left and right hands.

In the pillar on his left was a man wearing bright-white and purple robes all over his body. The man had brown hair and a beard on his face. In his right hand, he carried a long scepter with a purple orb at the top.

Cyreath Sigma Scale: 1

Cyreath Endymion Scale: 8

"Cyberse Pendulum cards..." Speckles muttered in shock, unaware that such a thing existed. "Even against something I haven't learned about, I'm not letting that stop me. Continuous-Trap card, activate! World Legacy Pawns! This card lets me activate one of two effects per turn. I choose the first effect, which lets me target a face-down monster I control and change it to either face-up attack position or defense position. I change the face-down defense position Krawler Axon to face-up defense position." On Speckles' command, a mechanical insect that stood on its hind legs appeared on his field in defense position.

Krawler Axon ATK: 500 DEF: 1800 LV: 2

Krawler Axon ATK: 500 + 300 = 800 DEF: 1800 + 300 = 2100

"Axon's Flip effect! I can target and destroy a Spell or Trap card on the field. Say goodbye to Sigma!"

"What?!" Raguel exclaimed, as Sigma screamed in pain before turning into particles. "You'll pay for that!"

"I highly doubt that." Speckles taunted back.

"Do not let your emotions control you, Raguel." Herald said, getting Raguel's attention. "There's many other options we can use against this guy."

Raguel nodded. "That's right," he replied, getting his bearings together. Looks like I'll have to go with Plan B, he thought. "Since you control a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon Cyreath Satyr from my hand." A creature with the upper body of a man and the horns and legs of a goat appeared on Raguel's field. The creature had bronze pieces of armor on its head, arms, and legs, as well as long claws on its hands.

Cyreath Satyr ATK: 2300 DEF: 1400 LV: 5

"Appear! The circuit showing the highest mountain!" A Link Portal appeared high above Raguel. "The summoning conditions are one 'Cyreath' monster. I'll set Cyreath Satyr into the Link Markers!" Satyr went into the bottom-left arrowhead, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cyreath Ceryneian Hind!" A female deer with light-brown skin appeared on Raguel's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. Unlike other deer though, she had male-like antlers made of gold and hooves made of bronze. She also had a dappled hide as well.

Cyreath Ceryneian Hind ATK: 1000 LINK-1 ↙️

"When Ceryneian Hind is Link Summoned, I can draw one card from my deck." Raguel explained, as he drew the top card of his deck. "Also, the effect of Endymion activates. Each time I Link Summon a 'Cyreath' Link monster, I can place one Moon counter on this card." A white orb went into Endymion's scepter.

Cyreath Endymion MC: 0 + 1 = 1

"I'll then summon Cyreath Icarus from my hand." Raguel continued, as an angelic warrior wearing a white tunic and brown sandals flew onto Raguel's field.

Cyreath Icarus ATK: 1200 DEF: 1100 LV: 3

"Appear once again! The circuit showing the highest mountain!" A second Link Portal appeared high above Raguel. "The summoning conditions are two 'Cyreath' monsters. I'll set Cyreath Ceryneian Hind, which is a Link 1 monster, and Cyreath Icarus into the Link Markers!" Ceryneian Hind went into the top arrowhead, while Icarus went into the bottom arrowhead, turning them both red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Lead the Argonauts on their quest for the Golden Fleece! Link 2! Cyreath Jason!" A handsome blond-haired man with emerald colored eyes leapt onto Raguel's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. He had pieces of golden armor attached to his arms, shoulders, and upper body, as well as on his shins. Strapped around his waist was a medium-sized green waist cape, with a golden belt as well.

Cyreath Jason ATK: 1500 LINK-2 ⬆️⬇️

"When Jason is Link Summoned, I'm allowed to activate the Field Spell card Cyreath Argo straight from my deck!" Raguel continued, taking a card from his deck. "I now activate the Field Spell card, Cyreath Argo!" The card showed a long, massive ship with a large white mast. On the ship was Jason pointing his right finger in the direction the ship was going in, with Hercules and several other members of the Argonauts with him. "While this card is on the field, all 'Cyreath' monsters on my field gain 300 attack and defense points, and they can't be destroyed by your card effects as well." Jason was surrounded with a yellow aura as his strength increased.

Cyreath Jason ATK: 1500 + 300 = 1800

"And since I Link Summoned a 'Cyreath' Link monster, Endymion gains another Moon counter."

Cyreath Endymion MC: 1 + 1 = 2

"Jason's effect." Raguel added. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon one 'Cyreath' monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated to a Main Monster Zone he points to. Return, Satyr!" At Raguel's command, Satyr reappeared on his field, only in the Main Monster Zone Jason pointed to.

Cyreath Satyr ATK: 2300 DEF: 1400 LV: 5

Cyreath Satyr ATK: 2300 + 300 = 2600 DEF: 1400 + 300 = 1700

"Battle!" Raguel declared, pointing his right finger at Krawler Axon. "Cyreath Satyr attacks Krawler Axon!" Satyr jumped towards Axon and landed a kick on its head, turning it into particles.

"I activate World Legacy in Shadow's other effect!" Speckles said. "When my Flip monster is destroyed in battle by your monster, I can send it straight to your-!"

"Yeah, like I'm letting that happen!" Raguel interrupted him. "I activate Endymion's second effect in the Pendulum Zone. If a face-up 'Cyreath' card I control would leave the field, I can remove one Moon counter instead."

"What?" Speckles replied, as a white orb came out of Endymion's scepter and went into his hand, which he fired at Satyr, surrounding it in a white aura as the eerie waves fired from World Legacy in Shadow bounced off of it.

Cyreath Endymion MC: 2 – 1 = 1

"The battle still continues. Cyreath Jason attacks your face-down defense position monster." As Jason ran forward, the card flipped over, revealing a brown insect with thin legs and upraised wings.

Krawler Glial ATK: 700 DEF: 1500 LV: 2

Krawler Glial ATK: 700 + 300 = 1000 DEF: 1500 + 300 = 1800

"My Set monster is Krawler Glial." Speckles announced, as it appeared on the field. "Its Flip effect activates, which lets me Special Summon one 'Krawler' monster from my hand or Graveyard in face-up attack position or face-down defense position. I choose Krawler Axon and Special Summon it back in face-down defense position." A Set card appeared on Speckles' field.

"...!" Raguel narrowed his eyes. Since Glial's defense points were equal to Jason's attack points, there was no point in attacking any further. "I cancel my attack. I also Set one card face-down and end my turn."

"Raguel. It's important we be careful in this duel." Herald said, getting Raguel's attention. "Although the both of us are aware of the 'Krawler' archetype, we need to finish this guy off as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, everything we have will not only be stolen, but will be revealed to the world." Raguel finished, a look of dread on his face.

"YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!" Speckles interjected, causing Raguel and Herald to both look at him. "I'll let you in on a little something. As this duel goes on, your systems are slowly being hacked into as I speak. And once I finish you, your secrets will all be mine! Well, my boss will also have them as well. But regardless, they'll still be mine!"

"Who hired you?" Raguel demanded.

"Let's just say a washed up client wants revenge." Speckles responded. "So much he wants you and Playmaker dead."

A washed up client, Raguel thought. Who would be washed up and want him-? He sighed. Of course. It had to be obvious now. "Well. At least I know who wants us dead."

"You do?" Herald asked, now curious. After Raguel whispered the answer to him, Herald's eyes widened. "Ah. That makes sense. Although it doesn't make our situation any better, doesn't it?"

"No it does not." Raguel agreed. Let's hope Playmaker is having better luck than us, he thought.

At Playmaker and the Ancient Ghost's duel...

"I activate Cynet Backdoor's second effect." Playmaker said. "It lets me Special Summon the monster that was previously banished. Return, Transcode Talker!" A portal appeared on Playmaker's field, which Transcode Talker jumped out of, enabling him to reappear on his field. Only this time, he was in the Main Monster Zone below the right Extra Monster Zone.

Transcode Talker ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬆️⬇️➡️

"I then activate Transcode Talker's effect. Once per turn, I can Special Summon one 'Code Talker' monster from my Graveyard to a zone he points to. Come back, Excode Talker!" At Playmaker's command, Excode Talker reappeared on his field in the Main Monster Zone Transcode Talker pointed to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another.

Excode Talker ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬅️⬆️➡️

"The effects of Transcode Talker and Excode Talker both activate, just like last time!" Playmaker added, as Transcode Talker and Excode Talker were surrounded in an aura that increased their strength.

Excode Talker ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800

Transcode Talker ATK: 2300 + 500 + 500 = 3300

"I Special Summon Cyberse White Hat from my hand." A cowboy in a white coat with black armor on his chest and legs appeared on his field in attack position.

Cyberse White Hat ATK: 1800 DEF: 1000 LV: 6

"I can Special Summon Cyberse White Hat if I control two or more monsters with the same type." Playmaker explained, before gesturing upwards. "I'll now create my circuit." A Link Portal appeared high above Playmaker. "The summoning conditions are two or more effect monsters. I'll set Excode Talker, which is a Link 3 monster, and Cyberse White Hat into the Link Markers!" Excode Talker split into three tornadoes of energy that went into the top, left, and right arrowheads, while Cyberse White Hat went into the bottom arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Firewall Dragon!" A massive blue and white dragon with circles all over its body appeared on Playmaker's field in the right Extra Monster Zone, which Transcode Talker pointed to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another.

Firewall Dragon ATK: 2500 LINK-4 ⬅️⬆️⬇️➡️

Firewall Dragon ATK: 2500 + 500 = 3000

Transcode Talker ATK: 3300 – 500 = 2800

"Cyberse White Hat's effect!" Playmaker continued. "When he's sent to the Graveyard as Link Material, all monsters on your field lose 1000 attack points until the End Phase." Clock Dragon and Cyberse Magician screeched as their strength decreased.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK: 6500 – 1000 = 5500

Cyberse Magician ATK: 2500 – 1000 = 1500

"I'll then activate the Spell card, Cyberse Cache. Since I control a Cyberse monster whose attack points are different than its original attack points, I get to draw two cards from my deck." Playmaker drew the top two cards of his deck. "Firewall Dragon's effect! Once, when its on the field, I can return monsters on the field or Graveyard back to their owner's hands up to the number of monsters co-linked to this card. Firewall Dragon is co-linked with Transcode Talker, which means I'll return Clock Dragon back to your hand! Emergency Escape!" Firewall Dragon fired blue electricity from its head at Clock Dragon, electrocuting it into particles and returning it back to the Extra Deck.

"I now activate the third and final effect of Cynet Backdoor!" Playmaker continued. "The monster I banished on my previous turn can now attack you directly this turn!" He pointed his right finger at the Ancient Ghost. "Battle! Transcode Talker attacks you directly! Transcode Finish!" The cannon on Transcode Talker's back began to unfold into a massive one, which Transcode Talker grabbed and aimed at the Ancient Ghost before firing a blast that came out of it.

"Cyberse Magician's effect!" the Ancient Ghost responded. "Any damage I would take is halved! Cyberse Architect!" Cyberse Magician's visor shot out a beam of red light, which managed to cut the blast in half. While the blast hit the Ancient Ghost, the impact was reduced due to Cyberse Magician's effect.

Ancient Ghost: 4000 – (2800 / 2) = 2600 LP

"The battle still continues!" Playmaker stated. "Firewall Dragon attacks Cyberse Magician! Tempest Terahertz!" Firewall Dragon's wings transformed into eight pieces that formed rings of energy around it. The dragon then gathered energy in its mouth before firing it at Cyberse Magician.

"Trap card, activate!" the Ancient Ghost said. "Doppler Phase Coating! Upon activation, I can equip this card to a Cyberse monster on my field, and the first time it would be destroyed by battle each turn, it is not destroyed. Cyberse Magician's third effect activates as well! When he battles a Link monster, he gains 1000 attack points!" Cyberse Magician's staff slightly extended and glowed green as he powered up, ready to withstand Firewall Dragon's attack.

Cyberse Magician ATK: 1500 + 1000 = 2500

"And just like before, Cyberse Magician cuts any damage I take in half! Cyberse Architect!" Cyberse Magician's visor shot out a beam of red light at Firewall Dragon's attack, which mitigated the blast. However, it still hit the Ancient Ghost, causing its shoulder to fizzle.

Ancient Ghost: 2600 – (500 / 2) = 2350 LP

"I Set one card face-down and end my turn, which means Cyberse White Hat's effect ends." Playmaker concluded. "You're up."

"My turn! I draw!" the Ancient Ghost said, drawing the top card from its deck before tapping on one. "I activate the effect of Cynet Restoration from my Graveyard." A silhouette of a card then appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field, which showed Backup Operator repairing the damage on Cyberse Gadget. "By banishing this card and one Cyberse monster from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Cyberse monster with a different name from my Graveyard. I banish Cynet Restoration and ROM Cloudia to Special Summon Clock Wyvern from the Graveyard!" At the Ancient Ghost's command, Clock Wyvern reappeared on its field.

Clock Wyvern ATK: 1800 DEF: 1000 LV: 4

"Clock Wyvern's effect! Just like before, I can halve its attack points to Special Summon a Clock token to my field!" As Clock Wyvern's strength was halved, a cluster of purple crystals appeared once again in defense position.

Clock Wyvern ATK: 1800 / 2 = 900

Clock Token ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1

"Materialize, my circuit!" A Link Portal appeared high above the Ancient Ghost. "The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I'll set Clock Wyvern and the Clock token into the Link Markers!" Clock Wyvern went into the bottom arrowhead, while the Clock token went into the bottom-left arrowhead, turning both of them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Clock Lizard!" A metallic blue lizard with violet crystals covering its back appeared on the Ancient Ghost's field in the right Extra Monster Zone.

Clock Lizard ATK: 1200 LINK-2 ↙️⬇️

"I then activate the Spell card, Extra-Foolish Burial," the Ancient Ghost continued. "By paying half of my life points, I can send one monster from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard." As the Ancient Ghost took a card from its Extra Deck and sent it to the Graveyard, its life points dropped by half.

Ancient Ghost: 2350 / 2 = 1175 LP

"Clock Lizard's effect! By tributing it, I can return one Fusion Monster from my Graveyard back to my Extra Deck. Afterwards, I can Fusion Summon that monster by banishing monsters from my Graveyard as Fusion Materials."

"Say what?" Playmaker said, surprised that the Ancient Ghost was about to Fusion Summon without using a Fusion Spell card.

"I banish Clock Wyvern, Security Dragon, Cyberse Witch, and Clock Lizard from my Graveyard as Fusion Materials!" Soon, red, blue, green, and orange particles of energy shot out of the Ancient Ghost's Graveyard before swirling together into a vortex, causing four tornadoes of energy to shoot upwards and merge to form a magenta whirlwind.

"Fusion Summon!" the Ancient Ghost declared. "Rise, once again! Cyberse Clock Dragon!" Clock Dragon reappeared once again on the Ancient Ghost's field in the right Extra Monster Zone, roaring at Playmaker in the process.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK: 2500 DEF: 2000 LV: 7

"When Clock Dragon is Fusion Summoned, I can-."

"Not so fast!" Playmaker interrupted. "I activate the Trap card, Cyberse Shatter. When I control a Cyberse monster and a card or effect that changes the attack of exactly one monster is activated, I can negate the activation and draw one card."

"...!" The Ancient Ghost was silent with shock as Cyberse Shatter fired a wave of energy at Clock Dragon, negating its effects as Playmaker drew one card from his deck.

"Your monster is one of the most powerful cards I've ever faced." Playmaker told the Ancient Ghost. "However, facing similar, if not different monsters with effects regarding attack point boosts enabled me to prepare against Clock Dragon."

"I see," the Ancient Ghost muttered. It then pointed its right hand at Transcode Talker. "Cyberse Magician attacks Transcode Talker!" Cyberse Magician spun his staff and charged at Transcode Talker. "When he battles a Link monster, he gains 1000 attack points!" Cyberse Magician's staff slightly extended and glowed green as he powered up further.

Cyberse Magician ATK: 2500 + 1000 = 3500

"Cyberse Magic Attack!" Cyberse Magician fired a blast of energy from his staff at Transcode Talker, causing an explosion and making Playmaker shield his eyes with his arms to protect them from the smoke.

Playmaker: 2300 – 700 = 1600 LP

"Since Transcode Talker left the field, Firewall Dragon's attack points return to normal." Playmaker pointed out, as Firewall Dragon's attack points reverted back to normal.

Firewall Dragon ATK: 3000 – 500 = 2500

"The battle still continues!" the Ancient Ghost declared. "Cyberse Clock Dragon attacks Firewall Dragon! Pulsating Surge!" Purple lightning gathered across Clock Dragon's wings and upper body and gathered in its mouth. In response, Firewall Dragon's wings transformed into eight pieces that formed rings of energy around it. The dragon then gathered energy in its mouth before firing it at Clock Dragon, who fired the energy gathered in its mouth to meet the oncoming attack. The two blasts collided with each other for several seconds before causing a massive explosion, resulting in Playmaker shielding his eyes with his right arm once again.

It attacked, knowing that Clock Dragon would be destroyed in order to take Firewall Dragon down, Playmaker deduced. But to his surprise, Clock Dragon was somehow on the Ancient Ghost's field! "How is Clock Dragon still on your field?!"

"If a monster I control would be destroyed by battle or card effect, I can banish Cyberse Synchron instead to prevent its destruction," the Ancient Ghost explained.

Playmaker narrowed his eyes. He knew Cyberse Synchron had an effect in the Graveyard, but for it to prevent destruction? How unexpected indeed.

"I end my turn, which means Cyberse Magician's attack points revert back to normal."

Cyberse Magician ATK: 3500 – 1000 = 2500

As long as I still have a single life point left, I still have a chance in this duel, Playmaker assured himself. He then looked at his deck. The next card he drew would determine the outcome of this duel.

Meanwhile, at Raguel and Speckles' duel...

"My turn! I draw!" Speckles said, drawing the top card of his deck. He wickedly grinned upon looking at it. "I activate the effect of World Legacy Pawns once again! And just like before, I can choose one of two effects! I choose the first effect, which lets me target a face-down monster I control and change it to either face-up attack position or defense position. Once again, I change the face-down defense position Krawler Axon to face-up defense position." On Speckles' command, Axon reappeared on his field.

Krawler Axon ATK: 500 DEF: 1800 LV: 2

Krawler Axon ATK: 500 + 300 = 800 DEF: 1800 + 300 = 2100

"Axon's Flip effect! I can target and destroy a Spell or Trap card on the field. I choose to destroy your Endymion!"

"I don't think so!" Raguel responded. "I use Endymion's effect once again to protect himself." The third and final white orb came out of Endymion's scepter and went into his hand, surrounding him with a white barrier and preventing himself from getting destroyed.

Cyreath Endymion MC: 1 – 1 = 0

"But now you're out of Moon counters!" Speckles pointed out. "Which means you can no longer protect your cards from being destroyed!"

Raguel narrowed his eyes. If Endymion were to gain more Moon counters, he'd have to Link Summon. Unfortunately, it was Speckles' turn now, and he couldn't do that.

"I'll now infiltrate my circuit!" A Link Portal appeared high above Speckles. "The summoning conditions are two 'Krawler' monsters. I'll set Krawler Axon and Krawler Glial into the Link Markers!" Axon went into the bottom-left arrowhead, while Spine went into the bottom-right arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! X-Krawler Qualiark!" A flying insect with cannons attached to its back appeared on Speckles' field in the right Extra Monster Zone.

X-Krawler Qualiark ATK: 2000 ↙️↘️

X-Krawler Qualiark ATK: 2000 + 300 = 2300

"I activate the effect of World Legacy's Mind Meld from my Graveyard." Speckles continued. "By banishing this card from my Graveyard and targeting one Link monster on my field, I can Special Summon one 'Krawler' monster from my hand, deck, or Graveyard in face-down defense position to a Main Monster Zone that Link Monster points to. From my Graveyard, I Special Summon Krawler Glial to one of the Main Monster Zones Qualiark points to." A Set card appeared on Speckles' field, in the left Main Monster Zone Qualiark pointed to.

"I'll then activate the Spell card, World Legacy Hive Call!" The card showed Deus X-Krawler firing a beam of energy from its core, attracting a swarm of smaller Krawler Monsters. "If I control a 'Krawler' Link monster, I can Special Summon 'Krawler' monsters from my deck or Graveyard up to the total Link rating of all Link monsters in the Extra Monster Zones. However, any damage inflicted is halved until the End Phase, and only monsters in my Main Monster Zone can attack this turn as well. Also, I must send any monsters summoned by this effect to the Graveyard at the End Phase. Since the total Link rating of the Link monsters in the Extra Monster Zones is four, I can Special Summon up to four 'Krawler' monsters with different names from my deck or Graveyard to my field. Emerge, Krawler Axon from my Graveyard, and Krawler Dendrite, Krawler Ranvier, and Deus X-Krawler from my deck!" Soon, four different Krawler monsters appeared on Speckles' field in attack position.

The first monster was Axon, who reappeared on Speckles' field for a third time.

The second monster was a hulking brown insect standing on four legs.

The third monster was a brown mechanical insect with two eyes atop each other and a rotating maw of teeth.

The fourth and final monster was a massive bug in the shape of a golden frisbee with a red power core at the top. It had five legs on each side, as well as intestines that overflowed the holes in its body.

Krawler Axon ATK: 500 DEF: 1800 LV: 2

Krawler Axon ATK: 500 + 300 = 800 DEF: 1800 + 300 = 2100

Krawler Dendrite ATK: 1300 DEF: 600 LV: 2

Krawler Dendrite ATK: 1300 + 300 = 1600 DEF: 600 + 300 = 900

Krawler Ranvier ATK: 1100 DEF: 900 LV: 2

Krawler Ranvier ATK: 1100 + 300 = 1400 DEF: 900 + 300 = 1200

Deus X-Krawler ATK: 2000 DEF: 3000 LV: 9

Deus X-Krawler ATK: 2000 + 300 = 2300 DEF: 3000 + 300 = 3300

"His entire field's infested with bugs!" Herald exclaimed. "Now I get why Roxy's so hellbent on eradicating them all."

"X-Krawler Qualiark's effect now activates!" Speckles added. "It gains effects equal to the number of 'Krawler' monsters on my field. First, since there's two or more 'Krawler' monsters on the field, every monster on my field gains 300 attack and defense points." All of Speckles' monsters glowed as their strength increased.

X-Krawler Qualiark ATK: 2300 + 300 = 2600

Krawler Axon ATK: 800 + 300 = 1100 DEF: 2100 + 300 = 2400

Krawler Dendrite ATK: 1600 + 300 = 1900 DEF: 900 + 300 = 1200

Krawler Ranvier ATK: 1400 + 300 = 1700 DEF: 1200 + 300 = 1500

Deus X-Krawler ATK: 2300 + 300 = 2600 DEF: 3300 + 300 = 3600

"Second, since there's four or more 'Krawler' monsters on my field, your cards and effects cannot be activated during the battle phase." Raguel gritted his teeth, causing Speckles to laugh. "Last but not least, since there's six or more 'Krawler' monsters on my field, MY MONSTERS CAN ATTACK YOU DIRECTLY!"

"That can't be!" Raguel said, a look of shock on his face. He couldn't activate his face-down cards, which meant he'll take the full brunt of the damage head on.

"You see there? That's the face I want to see before I crush you for good!" Speckles declared, pointing his right finger at him and laughing. "Time to battle! First, Krawler Axon attacks you directly!"

"Hold on, Raguel!" Herald said, as Axon leapt forward and headbutted Raguel, causing him to take a step back.

Raguel: 4000 – (1100 / 2) = 3450 LP

"That was nice." Speckles said, putting a hand on his metal jaw. "But I want you to scream more! Krawler Dendrite attacks you directly!" Dendrite leapt forward and punched Raguel, causing him to hold his left arm as his life points dropped.

Raguel: 3450 – (1900 / 2) = 2500 LP

"Krawler Ranvier attacks you directly!" Ranvier fired a laser blast at Raguel from each of its eyes, hitting his stomach and causing him to hold it in pain.

Raguel: 2500 – (1700 / 2) = 1650 LP

"Deus X-Krawler attacks you directly as well! Infection Bomber!" The intestines in Deus X-Krawler whipped towards Raguel, restraining him before the massive bug fired a blast of energy at him. As a result, he was forced to fall to the ground on one knee, panting in pain.

Raguel: 1650 – (2600 / 2) = 350 LP

"You survived?" Speckles questioned, an eyebrow raised. "That's just... lame. But you know what they say. You just have to roll with what happens." He motioned upwards. "Just like before, I'll infiltrate my circuit." A Link Portal appeared high above Speckles. "The summoning conditions are two Insect monsters. I'll set Krawler Axon and Krawler Dendrite into the Link Markers!" Axon went into the left arrowhead, while Dendrite went into the right arrowhead, turning both arrowheads red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! X-Krawler Neurogos!" A blue and yellow scorpion appeared on Speckles' field in the right Main Monster Zone Qualiark pointed to.

X-Krawler Neurogos ATK: 1900 ⬅️➡️

X-Krawler Neurogos ATK: 1900 + 300 + 300 = 2500

"I will now infiltrate my circuit for a third and final time." A third Link Portal appeared high above Speckles. "The summoning conditions are two earth monsters. I'll set Deus X-Krawler and Krawler Ranvier into the Link Markers!" Deus X-Krawler went into the left arrowhead, while Ranvier went into the right arrowhead, turning both arrowheads red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! X-Krawler Synaphysis!" A blue and brown insect that stood on four legs appeared in the left Main Monster Zone Neurogos pointed to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another.

X-Krawler Synaphysis ATK: 1800 LINK-2 ⬅️➡️

X-Krawler Synaphysis ATK: 1800 + 300 + 300 = 2400

"The effects of both Neurogos and Synaphysis both activate!" Speckles stated. "First, all 'Krawler' monsters that Neurogos points to cannot be destroyed by battle, gain 300 attack and defense points, and deal double battle damage!" As if to emphasize his point, Synaphysis glowed with energy, indicating its strength was increasing.

X-Krawler Synaphysis ATK: 2400 + 300 = 2700

"Second, all 'Krawler' monsters Synaphysis points to cannot be destroyed by battle, gain 300 attack and defense points, and can make up to two attacks on your monsters during the Battle Phase." This time, Neurogos and Speckles' Set card glowed, indicating their strength was increasing.

X-Krawler Neurogos ATK: 2500 + 300 = 2800

"And with that, I end my turn." Speckles concluded.

"Raguel, are you alright?" Herald asked him. "I'll get to slowing your injuries down right away."

"That would be-GAH!" Raguel screamed, panting as he was forced to fall to the ground on one knee. "The hell's happening with me?!"

"Raguel!" Playmaker turned around in concern before looking at Speckles. "What did you do to him?"

"Yusaku, I got some major bad news buddy." Kusanagi interrupted. "The hacking rate done by Speckles has increased. I'm not sure if I can delay it any longer."

"When a duelist locked into a duel against me loses life points, any online defenses protecting their information gets reduced to the point of deletion." Speckles explained. "In other words, once Raguel's life points drop to zero, all of his information will be mine!"

"Damn you!" Raguel snarled.

"You know, compared to this job, hacking into the Hanoi's database and finding their location was a calculated risk." Speckles taunted, a cruel smile on his face. "Especially with the consequences that occurred afterwards."

Raguel's eyes widened, as well as Playmakers. "That was you? You gave those coordinates to Kitamura?"

"Of course." Speckles confirmed. "I don't care if lives were endangered. All I care about is getting paid and staying on top." To Speckles' surprise though, Raguel stood up on his feet, actually pushing through the pain the Krawler monsters inflicted on him. "What? What's going on? He's different. He's changed."

Raguel coldly glared at Speckles, causing him to take a step back out of surprise. "I can't let you take your unhappiness out on other people anymore. Not after what you did to a friend of mine."

"What are you talking about?!" Speckles defiantly responded. "I kill and steal when I want. The weak die, and the strong survive!"

"All right then. We'll play by your rules, Speckles!" Raguel declared. He turned to Playmaker. "Finish your duel, Playmaker. This bozo is mine." After Playmaker nodded, Raguel turned his attention back to the duel. "My turn! I draw!" He drew the top card of his deck. "I activate the effect of Cyreath Doppelganger from my hand. Since I control a 'Cyreath' monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand!" A pale, shadowy man materialized itself on Raguel's field.

Cyreath Doppelganger ATK: 500 DEF: 500 LV: 4

Cyreath Doppelganger ATK: 500 + 300 = 800 DEF: 500 + 300 = 800

"Appear! The circuit showing the highest mountain!" A Link Portal appeared high above Raguel. "The summoning conditions are two 'Cyreath' monsters. I'll set Cyreath Satyr and Cyreath Doppelganger into the Link Markers!" Doppelganger went into the bottom-left arrowhead while Satyr went into the bottom arrowhead, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyreath Teumessian Fox!" An orange fox with black stripes all over its body appeared on Raguel's field in the Main Monster Zone Jason pointed to.

Cyreath Teumessian Fox ATK: 1000 LINK-2 ↙️⬇️

Cyreath Teumessian Fox ATK: 1000 + 300 = 1300

"Endymion's effect!"

Cyreath Endymion MC: 0 + 1 = 1

"I activate the effect of Doppelganger from my Graveyard!" Raguel continued. "By banishing a 'Cyreath' monster from my Graveyard, I get to Special Summon this card to my field in attack position. I banish Satyr from my Graveyard to activate its effect and summon it back to my field!" Doppelganger, for a second time, materialized itself onto Raguel's field.

Cyreath Doppelganger ATK: 500 DEF: 500 LV: 4

Cyreath Doppelganger ATK: 500 + 300 = 800 DEF: 500 + 300 = 800

"Appear, for a second and final time! The circuit showing the highest mountain!" A second Link Portal appeared high above Raguel. "The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyreath' monsters, including a 'Cyreath' Link monster! I'll set Cyreath Teumessian Fox, which is a Link 2 monster, and Cyreath Doppelganger into the Link Markers!" Teumessian Fox went into the top and bottom arrowheads, while Doppelganger went into the bottom-right arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Bewitch those that dare gaze upon you! Link 3! Cyreath Medusa!" A woman with very long, light-purple hair appeared on Raguel's field in the Main Monster Zone Jason pointed to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another. She wore a short, black dress with violet lines that covered her waist. She also had black sleeves with four violet chokers across her arms, along with high-stockings and boots. Her eyes were covered by a violet eye cover, with two silver straps on it. In her left and right hand, she carried a long chain with a dagger at the end of it.

Cyreath Medusa ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬆️⬇️↘️

Cyreath Medusa ATK: 2300 + 300 = 2600

"I have arrived in response to your summons." Medusa said, turning behind her in acknowledgement to Raguel. "I'm assuming the situation is grave enough for you to summon me, yes?"

"We have a bug problem to deal with." Herald answered. "Which can be solved by kicking our opponent's ass!"

"The effects of Endymion and Teumessian Fox activate." Raguel said. "First, Endymion gains a Moon counter because I Link Summoned another 'Cyreath' Link monster."

Cyreath Endymion MC: 1 + 1 = 2

"Second, since it was used to Link Summon a 'Cyreath' Link Monster, the Link Summoned monster can attack directly this turn!" As Raguel said this, an orange aura surrounded Medusa, causing Speckles to widen his eyes in shock. However, he regained his composure upon putting two and two together.

"Like hell I'm losing to you!" Speckles exclaimed. "I activate the Trap card, Titanocider! This card will-!"

"Fail to save you." Raguel interrupted. "I activate Medusa's effect! Once per turn, during either player's turn, when you activate a card effect, I can negate and destroy it! Go, Mystic Eyes!" Medusa temporarily took off her violet eye cover and blasted a beam of light at Titanocider, turning it into stone and making it crumble into pebbles, much to Speckles' shock and horror.

"I now activate the Spell card, Cyreath Empowerment. By tributing one 'Cyreath' monster, I can double the attack and defense points of one other 'Cyreath' monster on my field until the End Phase. I tribute Jason and double Medusa's attack points!" Jason turned into particles, which were absorbed by Medusa before increasing her strength.

Cyreath Medusa ATK: 2600 X 2 = 5200

"Battle!" Raguel declared, as he and Herald pointed at Speckles. "Cyreath Medusa attacks you directly! Bloody Lash!" Medusa charged forward directly at Speckles, intent on ending the duel with one blow. She stabbed Speckles with the daggers attached to the end of the chains before they were soaked in blood, making him scream as she smashed him to the wall behind him. Grabbing each of the chains with her hands, Medusa then spun Speckles around and around before making him hit the same wall. He sunk to the ground as his life points dropped to zero.

Speckles: 4000 – 5200 = 0

Elsewhere, at Playmaker and the Ancient Ghost's duel...

"My turn! I draw!" Playmaker said, drawing the top card of his deck. "I activate the Spell card, Monster Reborn. This card lets me Special Summon one monster from either of our Graveyards. Come back, Transcode Talker!" At Playmaker's command, Transcode Talker reappeared on his field in the Main Monster Zone below the right Extra Monster Zone.

Transcode Talker ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬆️⬇️➡️

"Transcode Talker's effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon one 'Code Talker' monster from my Graveyard to a zone he points to. Return, Code Talker Inverted!" At Playmaker's command, Code Talker Inverted reappeared on his field, only in the Main Monster Zone Transcode Talker pointed to, resulting in both monsters being co-linked with one another.

Code Talker Inverted ATK: 1300 LINK-2 ⬅️➡️

"Transcode Talker's second effect also activates!"

Transcode Talker ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800

Code Talker Inverted ATK: 1300 + 500 = 1800

"As there's a Cyberse monster on my field, I can Special Summon Backup Secretary to my field as well!" Playmaker added, as a woman with white clothes and a purple cape appeared on his field.

Backup Secretary ATK: 1200 DEF: 800 LV: 3

"I will now create my circuit!" A Link Portal appeared high above Playmaker. "The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I'll set Code Talker Inverted, which is a Link 2 monster, and Backup Secretary into the Link Markers!" Code Talker Inverted went into the top and bottom arrowheads, while Backup Secretary went into the bottom-right arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Encode Talker!" A warrior in bright blue and gold armor was summoned to Playmaker's field in the right Extra Monster Zone, resulting in both him and Transcode Talker being co-linked with one another. In his right hand, he carried a shield.

Encode Talker ATK: 2300 LINK-3 ⬆️⬇️↘️

Encode Talker ATK: 2300 + 500 = 2800

"Battle!" Playmaker declared. "Transcode Talker attacks Cyberse Magician! Transcode Finish!" The cannon on Transcode Talker's back began to unfold into a massive one, which Transcode Talker grabbed and aimed at Cyberse Magician.

"Cyberse Magician gains 1000 attack points whenever he battles a Link monster," the Ancient Ghost pointed out, as Cyberse Magician extended his staff, which glowed green as he powered up.

Cyberse Magician ATK: 2500 + 1000 = 3500

"I was hoping you would do that." Playmaker responded, surprising the Ancient Ghost. "I activate Encode Talker's effect! When a monster he points to battles a monster you control with higher attack points, my monster cannot be destroyed by battle, and I take no battle damage!" Transcode Talker fired a blast out of his cannon at Cyberse Magician, who responded by firing a blast of energy from his staff. The two blasts collided, causing an explosion to occur. However, neither monster was harmed. "Then either Encode Talker or a monster he points to gains attack points equal to your monster's attack points until the End Phase. I therefore increase Encode Talker's attack points!" A bright blue aura surrounded Encode Talker as he powered up.

Encode Talker ATK: 2300 + 3500 = 5800

"The battle still continues. Encode Talker attacks Cyberse Clock Dragon!" Encode Talker charged at Clock Dragon, a sword emerging from his shield.

"Cyberse Magician's effect!" the Ancient Ghost responded. "Any damage I would take is halved! Cyberse Architect!" Cyberse Magician's visor shot out a beam of red light at Encode Talker, who blocked the beam using his shield.

"Even if the damage is halved, its still enough to defeat you." Playmaker reminded the Ancient Ghost. "Final Encode!" Encode Talker slashed Clock Dragon, creating a massive cloud of smoke that resulted from the attack, reducing the Ancient Ghost's life points to zero in the process.

Ancient Ghost: 1175 – (3300 / 2) = 0

"That's game." Playmaker declared, as the duel field disappeared. Then several pillars rose out of the chasm, creating a make-shift bridge for Playmaker to cross over to the other side of the chasm.

"You had one job. One job!" Speckles told himself, as he got up. "And I'll fulfill that job, even if it means killing you bitches first!" Speckles ran forward at Raguel and jumped upwards, attempting to do a roundhouse kick in the air, but Raguel responded by punching Speckles in the jaw with his right hand. The punch was so powerful that it sent him flying to the wall.

"Take this, you piece of shit!" Speckles launched the three chained daggers attached to his wired stump at Raguel, who moved out of the way and pulled his sword before cutting them off, causing him excruciating pain.

Raguel then made it over to where Speckles was and picked him up by the shoulders before slamming him to the wall. "Stop the hacking attempt right now. Or what I did to your arm will pale in comparison to what I'll do to you next!"

"I... can't." Speckles answered. "Once the hacking starts, it cannot be stopped." Raguel's eyes widened as Speckles laughed. "I may have lost the battle, but I won the war." He continued to laugh as he logged out, leaving Raguel in a state of fury.

"I have to go, Playmaker!" Raguel told him. "Get the Cyberse cards!" After Playmaker nodded in confirmation, Raguel then logged out immediately afterwards.

Playmaker walked across the make-shift bridge to the other side of the chasm, where the Ancient Ghost was waiting for him.

"Congratulations on winning the challenge," the Ancient Ghost congratulated him, moving aside as the platform the coffin was on went down to the ground. "In this coffin lies your prize."

After opening the coffin, Playmaker looked inside before reaching to pick up the cards that were within the coffin. Within seconds, the cards exploded into data before going into Playmaker's duel disk.

"What will happen to you now?" Playmaker asked, turning to the Ancient Ghost.

"My role as guardian is over," the Ancient Ghost answered. "Just like how I will disappear, this place will disappear too."

"Then answer me a question." The Ancient Ghost looked at Playmaker, giving him its full attention. "Are you affiliated in any way with Ai? Just like last time, the giant snake that appeared resembled him." This question would confirm whether Ai was behind creating both the duel puzzle and the video game challenge.

The Ancient Ghost thought this over for a moment. "There are no accidents," it finally said, before exploding into purple strands of data that eventually disappeared from the area. As a result, the place started to collapse.

"Yusaku, you have to get out of there!" Kusanagi told him. "Yuhiro needs our help to stop Speckles from hacking into Café Matsuo's servers, and if I'm being honest, I could use a hand."

"On it." Playmaker replied, logging out in the process.

At Café Matsuo's backroom...

Yuhiro ran out of the closed-off space as it opened, a look of panic and dread on his face. He immediately sat in his spot and began typing on the digital keyboard to assess the damage. After doing a few keystrokes, he realized that over 90% of the system has been hacked into!

"Damn it!" Yuhiro said, furiously running more keystrokes in an attempt to slow down and eliminate Speckles' attempt to steal his information. As if things couldn't get anymore worse, his duel disk glowed before a holographic image of Watchman appeared, surprising Herald once again and annoying Yuhiro.

"Ah, Raguel." Watchman said. "I was hoping if we could-."

"You had to call now of all times?!" Yuhiro exclaimed, interrupting Watchman. "Because I am in the middle of something that could make me lose everything if I fail to stop this hacking attempt!" The holographic image of Watchman then turned to face the screens, understanding Yuhiro's dilemma.

"I see." He turned to Yuhiro. "Hook your duel disk up to the computer."

"Why would he do that?" Herald asked Watchman. "And this duel disk is my home, man."

"Do you want my help or not?" Watchman responded. With little choice, Yuhiro quickly grabbed his duel disk and hooked it into the computer, causing a stream of orange strands of data to go from his duel disk into the computer. The hacking attempt was then purged out of the system, sending Speckles a screen containing a white figure that said 'Try harder next time' before returning back to normal.

"The systems are saved. Thank goodness." Yuhiro said, breathing a sigh of relief. All the information on the computer was safe once again.

"I took the time to upgrade your firewalls and processing speed, as well as installing a piece of anti-virus software that will prove beneficial to future hacking attempts." Watchman explained, as a screen appeared on the computer, showing his face.

"Hey, Yuhiro." Kusanagi interrupted. "I'm not sure what happened, but the hacking attempt just-WHOA!" He stopped talking upon seeing Watchman was also on the chat.

"Hello there, Shoichi Kusanagi. You as well, Playmaker." Watchman said, greeting them.

"I had a feeling you'd show up one way or another." Yusaku said, also on the screen. "Why did you call?"

"Well, I was calling to see if you obtained the Cyberse cards that popped up." Watchman replied. "And judging from what happened, it appears one of you was successful in doing it."

"Fujiki dueled a ghost to obtain the cards." Yuhiro explained to Watchman. "But halfway through the duel, someone called Speckles attempted to interfere with it. I ended up defeating him in a duel, and had it not been for you, it would have taken much longer to stop the hacking attempt."

"Speaking of ghost, did you create it Watchman all those years ago?" Yusaku asked him. Watchman in response laughed.

"If I created something, it would have pieces of my code in it." Watchman answered. "But to answer your question, no. I did not create the ghost that you dueled now and all those years ago."

"But why did that ghost have a giant snake resembling Ai?" Kusanagi inquired.

"When I asked the ghost whether it was affiliated with Ai, all it said was that there were no accidents before disappearing." Yusaku explained. And what was with those murals, he thought.

"Well, good job to all of you for obtaining the Cyberse cards." Watchman congratulated them. "I'd ask you to hand them over to me for safekeeping, but there's a chance you'll say no."

"If the Knights of Hanoi return, they'll be stronger than before." Yusaku pointed out. "Which is why all of us need to get stronger in response. To prepare for whatever may come in the future."

"And for the Crisis as well." Watchman added, a moment of silence occupying the air. Whatever the Crisis was, it was anything but good. "Pardon me for asking you two, but may I speak with Raguel and his Ignis in private?"

"Very well." Yusaku answered. "But I have some questions to ask you afterwards." The screen showing Yusaku and Kusanagi then disappeared as they hung up.

"Okay, you have our full attention." Yuhiro said, his arms crossed. "What is it?"

"The last time I reached out to you, I wanted to let you know that Miyu woke up from her coma." Watchman replied.

"We know this already." Herald pointed out. "She woke up following the collapse of the Tower of Hanoi."

"But have either of you wondered how?" Watchman retorted.

"What do you-?" Yuhiro thought it over for a few moments. There was no way Miyu could have woken up on her own, and at that exact moment to. Unless... "She woke up with your help, didn't you?"

"When you have a neurobiologist on your side, its quite beneficial." Watchman explained. "Demeter used her skills in neurobiology to create a digital replica of Miyu's brain to see how to repair the areas that were affected by the coma. After identifying those areas, I created a program that would not only repair those areas, but also prompt her to wake up without further harm."

"I... I don't know what to say..." Yuhiro said, coming to terms with this information. "Actually, I do know what to say. Thank you for keeping your word."

"And you as well." Watchman replied. "I heard you've been keeping World Gears under your care."

"Yup." Herald confirmed. "We have been guarding the card since obtaining it."

"I was thinking you could create a server for World Gears to reside in." Watchman suggested. "After all, I just learned you've been playing Sim City, am I correct?"

"Wait, how did you-?" A flustered look appeared on Herald's face as both Yuhiro and Watchman laughed.

"We'll consider it." Yuhiro told Watchman.

"It's a good idea, especially if you obtain more Cyberse cards in the future." Watchman advised them. "Anyhow, I will keep in touch." And with that, Watchman hung up, the screen showing his face disappearing in the process. Yuhiro sighed as he leaned back on his seat, tired from everything that happened.

"What a day..." he muttered.

"There's nothing wrong with playing Sim City!" Herald stated. "After all, you can learn many things from playing the game!"

"Like what? The addiction that comes out of it?" Yuhiro replied, as Herald was flustered once again. Even though Yuhiro was tired, he could still roast Herald when needed.

At the Den City Hospital, in the evening...

"And so that's pretty much what happened today." Yuhiro summed up.

"Aw. You must be exhausted, Yuhiro." Miyu said, a sympathetic smile on her face.

"Yeah." Yuhiro agreed. "But it still doesn't explain how my head's on your lap right now."

Miyu proceeded to stroke Yuhiro's hair, aware he had an exhausting day. "You yawned three times as you tried to explain what you did today," she pointed out, the smile still on her face. "Considering how it drained your energy, you definitely need to rest."

"I know, but..." If Roxy found out what was happening at this moment, Yuhiro would be screwed. A part of him had to admit though. He enjoyed this. Before he could make further assumptions, Progleo's barks brought him back to reality.

"I gave you attention earlier, Progleo. Now its Yuhiro's turn. " Miyu firmly told him, who was on the bed. "You'll just have to be a good boy and wait your turn."

"Aw come on." Progleo whined. "I want you to ruffle my fur so bad."

"If you like, I could ruffle your fur." Herald offered, who was beside Progleo, but the cub shook his head.

"It isn't the same as how Miyu or Yuhiro does it." Progleo pouted.

"I'm back, Miyu! And I got your favorite meal!" Roxy announced, carrying two bags containing food and setting them on the bed.

"Hi, Roxy. Mission successful..." Yuhiro greeted her.

"Hey there, Yuhiro! Didn't see you there!" Roxy responded. "Wait..." It took her a full ten seconds to realize where Yuhiro was in the room. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?! WHY IS YOUR HEAD ON MIYU'S LAP?!" She immediately went over and grabbed Yuhiro before throwing him to the ground, pummeling him in the process. "Did Yuhiro hit on you inappropriately, Miyu?"

"Of course not, Auntie." Miyu answered, sweat dropping out of surprise of what happened. "Yuhiro just had a really rough day today, so I offered him to rest on my lap."

"As sweet as that sounds, you can't let people take advantage of you." Roxy pointed out to Miyu. "And besides, someone has to disapprove any guy that tries to approach you."

"I saved the systems from being hacked into. Why am I getting punished?" Yuhiro complained, getting up on this feet. Unfortunately, this resulted in Roxy going over to where Yuhiro was and shaking him by the shoulders.

"YOU ALMOST LET THE SYSTEMS GET HACKED, YUHIRO?!" Roxy exclaimed, before pummeling him once again.

"Oh, come on!" Yuhiro said, receiving the punches from Roxy. "Help me out here, Herald. Tell her that I'm telling the truth."

"I think I'll pass." Herald replied, much to Miyu's shock. A smirk appeared on Herald's face. "Yuhiro, consider this payback for leaving me at the mercy of Roxy's wrath the other night."

"Aw man..."

Meanwhile, Miyu looked at Yuhiro and Roxy, who were still bickering with one another. A smile formed on her face. They may not be perfect, she thought, but they are my family. And they'll always be important to me, no matter what.

A light shines and the letters spelling out VRAINS light up the screen before a network is formed and several cards are drawn in towards a pillar of light. Playmaker, Raguel, and Soulburner are shown with their respective Ignis and stats, along with real-life forms that across the backgrounds that match their Ignis' colors. The screen then shows each of them being shocked while wearing VR sets as kids, along with a kid with light-green hair that flowed backwards and curled at the back. The kid also had dark-green hair spikes on the sides of his head, with light-green spikes at the back of his head as well.

The screen gets swallowed with darkness at it reveals a young Yukage huddled up and crying, his shadow shrinking behind him before taking the form of Wraith and comforting him. Yukage looks up with a menacing and soul piercing glare before the darkness consumes him and he's replaced with an older version of himself. Azrael and Wraith are then shown in NEW LINK VRAINS, as they look out into the digital sky. The scene then shifts to Bohman standing tall above NEW LINK VRAINS and holding the earth in his hands with Haru by his side. The short creature with deep purple skin grins in the shadows behind them, his red eyes shining bright in the process.

A drop of light falls down, and as it explodes, it reveals Playmaker, Raguel, and Soulburner, standing on buildings watching over the network, alongside the male individual wearing a black outfit with green accents and a gold, bird-like mask over his eyes as well. Blood Shepherd is shown commanding a trio of Battledrone Sergeants before the screen shifts to a young man wearing an elaborate purplish coat with black inner lining and cuffs intricately decorated by red-coloured motifs, as well as a grey shirt with crimson leather pants commanding a red-eyed dragon. The screen then shifts a third time to another man, with red hair spiked backwards and dark purple eyes, as well as wearing a stylish white coat with yellow lines and a black shirt underneath it. Draped around his lower body is a white waist cape with yellow lines as well. Above the man was a male, humanoid monster wearing a black and white suit that had electricity crackling from his wrists and head, as well as several other monsters that resembled futuristic armor parts. The screen then shows Go Onizuka, Kenmochi, and Yoroizaka with Dinowrestler King T Wrextle, Gouki the Blade Ogre, and Gouki the Solid Ogre behind them ready for battle.

Blue Angel, Ghost Girl, Numera and SengokuQueen are then featured together riding their duel boards across the night sky with shooting stars flying across them. Trickstar Holly Angel was with Blue Angel, while Numera was with Geomathmech Final Sigma. Ghost Girl was with Altergeist Dragvirion, while SengokuQueen was with a male shinobi wearing grey robes and armor pads with neon-yellow lines running over them. The man had a red scarf around his neck, along with a face-mask and face visor on his head. He also had spiked-brown hair and a ponytail as well. In his right hand, he carried a Sai, while the brass knuckle on his left hand emitted four translucent blades.

The screen then changes to Raguel, Playmaker, and Soulburner riding on their duel boards with Cyreath Medusa and Cyreath Hercules in his new form, Cyberse Magician, Cyberse Witch, and Salamangreat Heatleo behind them. Following the trio is the male individual from before, with a white and black dragon covered in white, blue, and black armor, as well as neon green crystals attached to her body, which acted like wings that shone with bright light. The four of them join together with a fist bump and smile in the real world as the wind blows, with Kusanagi, Roxy, and Greg watching them from Kusanagi's truck. Rachel then runs toward the quartet, and more specifically, Yuhiro, a look of joy clearly on her face. Unbeknownst to everyone, they're watched from the shadows by a cloaked person who glares at them, biding his time.

Card Gallery

Ancient Ghost:

Cynet Restoration (Normal Spell card)

Effect: When this card is activated: Add 1 Cyberse monster from your GY to your hand. If this card is in your GY, except the turn it was sent there: You can banish this card and 1 Cyberse monster from your GY; Special Summon 1 Cyberse monster from your GY with a different name than the monster banished by this effect.

Raguel:

Cyreath Argo (Field Spell card)

Effect: 'Cyreath' monsters on your field gain 300 ATK/DEF; also, they cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects. If this card is in your GY: You can shuffle 1 'Cyreath' monster on your field to your deck; add this card to your hand.

Cyreath Jason (LR: 2/Cyberse/Water/ATK: 1500/⬆️⬇️)

Effect: 2 'Cyreath' monsters. If this card is Link Summoned: You can activate 1 'Cyreath Argo' directly from your deck. Once per turn: You can target 1 'Cyreath' monster in your GY; Special Summon it to a Main Monster Zone this card points to, but negate its effects. Your opponent cannot target this card for attacks or effects while it points to a 'Cyreath' monster.

Speckles:

World Legacy's Hive Call (Normal Spell card)

Effect: If you control a 'Krawler' Link Monster: You can Special Summon 'Krawler' monsters from your deck or GY up to the total Link Rating of all Link Monsters in the Extra Monster Zones, but any battle damage inflicted is halved; also, only monsters in the Main Monster Zones can attack this turn. At the End Phase: Send any 'Krawler' monsters to your GY that were Special Summoned by this effect. You can only activate 1 'World Legacy's Hive Call' per turn.

QOTC

What are your thoughts on Speckles as a character in the story?

Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Obscured Truth. Chapter 43: An Angel's Origin. A month has passed since the Tower of Hanoi, and life has returned to normal. Rachel, eager to celebrating her birthday, decides to spend it with Yuhiro. Taking her to Café Nagi, Yuhiro visits Kusanagi and Yusaku and tells them how he started out as an agent on the black market, as well as how he found the Cyreath cards...

Author's Notes

And with that, another chapter is concluded! I sure hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed typing it. Let's recap everything that happened, shall we?

The main thing that happened was the Cyberse Quest, which involved solving two video game challenges before getting the chance to duel for the Cyberse cards. This chapter was written for the sole purpose of answering how Yusaku obtained Cyberse Magician, Cyberse Clock Dragon, and other Cyberse cards that appeared in Season 2. The first challenge was a simple Fortnite Battle Royale, while the second part had players participate in a Jumanji-like challenge to reach the temple. Regardless, I hoped you enjoyed seeing Yuhiro and Herald play video games together, as well as Raguel and Playmaker escaping from the mandrills.

The second part were the duels. The first duel, which was between Playmaker and the Ancient Ghost, took some time to write because I had to re-read and edit some parts that didn't flow. I did my best to give Playmaker a challenge for this duel, and I hope it met your expectations.

On the other hand was the second duel, which was between Raguel and Speckles. For those of you who are wondering what Speckles looks like, his appearance is based off of Shinji Matou from Fate Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya: Vow in the Snow, both in-real life and in the network. Speckles uses a Krawler deck, which focuses on swarming and Flip summoning before overwhelming the opponent. He was hired by Kitamura to acquire Raguel and Playmaker's Cyberse Cards and Herald before killing them afterwards. He was also hired to steal their personal information as well. Despite him being a pain in the butt, Raguel managed to defeat him using Medusa. Let me know your thoughts on Speckles as a character, which is this chapter's QOTC, as I'm curious as to what theories you'll come up with.

Other than that, there isn't anything else to recap. So without further ado, thank you all for reading Chapter 42 of Obscured Truth. As always, please let me know your thoughts about the chapters below in your reviews. Also, constructive criticism is appreciated, as your tips and advice helps make the story better. In addition, don't forget to favorite and follow the story. That way, you will get a notification once the next chapter is released.

In terms of pacing, I slowed it down for readers so that they'll be able to know what's going on. I hope I did a good job this time around.

Now before I get to what will come next, I have an announcement. The good news is that I only have two final exams: a take home and a regular one. That means by April 24th, I'll be done school until September. Since the finals are reasonably spaced out, I should be able to release the next Roxy's Reports in between before Chapter 43. I hope you're excited for what's to come.

After the next Roxy's Reports update, I will release Chapter 43 hopefully before or in the beginning of May. This chapter is also one that I'm looking forward to, as it will answer questions that you may have on your mind, such as how Rachel got her Cyberse cards, how Yuhiro became a black-market agent, and how he obtained the Cyreath cards. The chapter also celebrates Rachels birthday as well, so expect some great scenes with Rachel and Yuhiro.

What did you enjoy the most about the chapter? Was it the duels? The video game challenges? Jin and Watchman's appearances? The introduction of Speckles? Or something else?

That's all for now. Stay tuned, as next time, we'll be going back to memory lane!