Roughly a month since the last chapter. Not bad for an update time. Thanks goes to Nox Descious, Shimmering Sky, and bladWriter3 for their assistance in writing this chapter and to all of you, my readers, for continuing to support this series. Chaos continues to rise in the Synchro Dimension. What hero will come forth to restore order?

Part 1: Chapter 15 – Mark of the Hero (Part 1)

"Where are we going?" Yuzu called as she held onto Rin's back while riding her D-Wheel. Despite her brief time in the Friendship Cup, she had still not gotten used to the hi-speed machines, especially with Rin's erratic driving. "I thought you said that the underground facility was that way!"

"I'm trying to avoid Security!" Rin called back as she charged straight towards a gap in the runway. "Roger's been sending his entire security force into the streets and I'd rather not have to fight all of them!"

"Rin!? What are you doing!?" Yuzu squeaked as they approached the gap, with Rin showing no signs of stopping. If anything, she was going faster.

"We'll be fine, I'm just gonna jump the gap." Rin explained, eyes focused on her destination. "Yugo and I used to do stuff like this all the time when we trained for the Friendship Cup."

"Stop! We're gonna crash!" Yuzu insisted, flashbacks of her duel against Sergey before the crash flashing through her head.

Rin twisted the accelerator.

Screaming, Yuzu buried her head in Rin's shoulder and held on for dear life, a seemingly irrational response considering she was already dead, but she hardly cared. Sailing through the air, Rin jumped the gap, tires of the supernatural bike squealing before she resumed her course.

"See, what did I tell you?" Rin smirked as she glanced back to see Yuzu shivering with shock. "Nothing to it. You're in good hands, Yuzu."

"Don't…do that…again!" Yuzu gasped, still clinging to Rin.

"Ok, if I was still alive, I think you would have crushed me to death by now." Rin grunted, indicating Yuzu's extremely tight grip. "Seriously, we'll be okay, I know these streets."

"Please…" Yuzu begged, eyes closed as she shook her head, "…I've just had…enough…with crashes today."

Rin's lightning bolt tattooed eyes widened with understanding before she nodded.

"Right." She replied. "Sorry. I'd forgotten how you died. I'm still haunted by my own death sometimes."

Yuzu loosened her grip on Rin.

"No, I should be the one apologizing." Yuzu replied. "I'd honestly forgotten that you were…well…just like me." She looked down at the glowing flower mark on her arm.

"It's a lot to get used to." Rin sympathized as she swerved onto an exit before heading towards another segment of the city.

"How did you die?" Yuzu asked, "If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"It's fine." Rin shrugged, fingers tightening on the handles of her bike. "I don't like that it happened, but I've learned to…erm…live with it. As far as how I died, Ruri and I had been planning to escape from Academia for months. We had been locked up in two separate towers, but one day, they moved us into the heart of Academia, probably to do some experiments on us, they'd done a lot of those since we arrived there."

"How horrible!" Yuzu gasped.

"It wasn't really as bad as I made it sound." Rin shrugged. "But needless to say, they weren't exactly pleasant experiences, any of them. Anyway, the night we were moved to our new rooms, Ruri and I were together, and so we figured that we would use that night to escape. We were planning to take out our honor guard and flee with their security passes when they came to check up on us, when the doors actually opened by themselves."

"What?" Yuzu asked, confused by what she had heard.

"That's exactly what we thought." Rin replied. "Earlier, we had heard the sound of dueling outside our room, not an uncommon experience in Academia with all the drills they do, so we didn't think much of it, but then, before we knew it, our doors had opened up, and resting just outside the door were two security passes, one for each of us."

"Who left those?" Yuzu asked.

"I still don't know." Rin replied, "When I first saw them, I almost thought Yugo had found his way to Academia, but he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe one of the soldiers had a change of heart and decided to release us before fleeing."

"I suppose that makes the most sense at this point." Yuzu agreed, thinking of Sora and how many other Academia students might be like him.

"Whoever did do it," Rin continued, speeding past a mob of protesting civilians, "he or she must have kept themselves secret. Anyway, once we had taken those passes, Ruri and I found ourselves fleeing through the halls of Academia. We were planning on raiding an armory for one of the Academia duel disks that could travel across dimensions, but we were cornered by a squadron of Obelisk Soldiers, who chased us to the edge of a balcony. We were getting ready to duel them but…"

Rin's voice trailed off as she looked down at the handle of her bike. Looking off into the distance, Yuzu began pondering how unexpected her own death was when the sight of a large overturned semi-truck sprawled across the highway caught her attention.

"LOOK OUT!" She shouted at Rin, causing her Synchro counterpart to snap out of her trance.

Reacting quickly, Rin placed her hand on Yuzu's knee before glowing with green energy as she continued speeding forward on the bike. Yuzu braced herself for impact against the overturned truck, only to find herself, Rin, and the bike harmlessly passing through the wreckage as if they were ghosts.

"That's a new trick." Yuzu exclaimed as Rin removed her hand from her knee before the green energy faded away and they continued on their way.

"Yene's taught me a lot of things since I became a Dark Signer." Rin admitted, rounding a turn.

"Yene?" Yuzu asked.

"I believe she'd be referring to me, darling." Rin suddenly replied in a suave masculine voice, eyes and marks on her arm and face glowing a bright green. "Yene Paryaqaqa, God of water and rainstorms, creator of sea creatures, trickster and shapeshifter, and mighty champion and hero of the Earthbound Gods. It's a pleasure to meet you, Dark Signer." The spirit finished, holding out Rin's hand to Yuzu.

Hesitantly, Yuzu took the hand that was offered her before the marks on Rin's face and arm faded slightly and her expression changed to her normal one.

"He's a little boisterous, sometimes." Rin admitted before turning around to focus on the road. "But he's been very helpful to me after I became a Dark Signer. He actually approached me and helped me leave the Underworld when Ruri resurrected me."

"Oh, come now, darling, you're being modest with yourself!" Yene laughed through Rin's mouth. "It was your own power that enabled me to rise from the Underworld with you! Where it not for your help, I'd still be stuck within my Nazca line!"

"Does he…talk through you a lot?" Yuzu asked, disoriented by Rin's constant personality shifts.

"I let him." Rin shrugged. "We're basically sharing the same body, so we try and work together. What about you? Who's your Earthbound God?"

"Well…" Yuzu began before feeling the consciousness of Ti'ika Sara tugging at the back of her mind.

"Well, do I get to introduce myself, Onee-chan?" the spirit giggled in a high-pitched mocking voice. "Or do you want me to sit in the corner of your pocket like a good little girl?"

"I don't really know her that well." Yuzu replied, trying to shake off the irritation she felt at the back of her head.

"That's probably for the best, darling." Yene interjected through Rin with a laugh, patting Yuzu reassuringly on the hand. "Sara is one of those characters who tends to drag others down to her…rather short…level. I wouldn't be surprised if the Matriarch assigned her to you because she thought you'd be a good influence on her."

Yuzu suddenly felt rage flare up within her.

"At least I was chosen!" Yuzu heard Ti'ika Sara snarl through her mouth as the mark over her eye and the mark over her arm glowed a deeper red. "If I recall correctly, you only got to claim your vessel because you were pushier than the others!"

"So, the flower finally blooms!" Yene Paryaqaqa laughed. "I must admit that I was worried! I was beginning to think that you had wilted within your vessel."

"I didn't…" Yuzu stuttered, shocked that the spirit had spoken through her, "I didn't mean to…"

"Forgive me, darling." Yene apologized with a smile. "It can be difficult dealing with Sara, believe me, I should know, and I may have egged her on just a little bit,"

"Stupid, arrogant, vainglorious…" Yuzu heard the spirit mutter within her mind.

"but I can assure you that I have the highest respect for both you and your venerable Earthbound God, Sara." The spirit continued. "Almost as mighty as her sister, Cavillace!"

Yuzu felt even more rage building up within her at the mention of the name, though she had no idea why. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to ignore Sara's growing anger and maintain control over her own emotions.

"So…you all…know each other?" Yuzu asked, trying to remain calm.

"I could tell you all about what that idiot, Paryaqaqa, really is." Ti'ika Sara growled.

"All of us Earthbound share the same creator god and matriarch." Yene Paryaqaqa replied. "We're basically one great family!"

"A family that doesn't seem to get along too well." Rin sighed. "Seriously, Yene, I don't remember you ever acting like this around Ruri's Earthbound God."

"Jatun has a more congenial personality." Yene replied with a shrug. "Plus, she's prettier." He smugly added, eliciting an involuntary angry snarl from Yuzu as she expressed Sara's inner feelings.

"Sorry." Yuzu apologized, feeling remarkably disoriented.

"Sorry, Yene, but could you leave us alone for a bit?" Rin asked. "We were kind of having a conversation before you butted in."

"Ah, you must forgive me, darling." Yene apologized. "Sara's just like a little sister to me, and I find it quite enjoyable to tease her, but I'll leave you two humans alone now."

"Of all the others who could have earned her as a vessel, it had to be an idiot like you." Ti'ika Sara growled from within Yuzu before Yuzu felt the consciousness of the spirit slowly fade from her mind. Once gone, Yuzu almost involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief.

"Like I said, it's a lot to get used to." Rin sighed, as if understanding what Yuzu was thinking. "Still, considering the alternative, I'd rather have to deal with a new roommate if it meant being alive than die alone. Believe me, I know all about loneliness and annoying roommates. Annoying roommates are always the better alternative."

"You and Yugo grew up together in an orphanage." Yuzu recalled out-loud, thinking about Rin's last comment.

"How do you know that?" Rin asked, arching her eyebrow.

Yuzu blushed.

"What?" Rin asked, voice acquiring a more sinister edge.

"Well…I was sort of…Yugo sort of mistook me for you and…erm…accidentally dragged me here when he went out to look for you." Yuzu explained.

"Wait…what!?" Rin exclaimed, sounding shocked. "So, wait…how…was he looking for you here!? Were you just walking the streets when that idiot saw you and dragged you away like some stupid troglodyte!?"

"Well, he was actually in Standard when it happened, and it wasn't really his fault!?" Yuzu sputtered, but Rin only seemed to be paying half attention to her.

"Oh, that is just like him!" she huffed, tightening her grip on the handlebars like she was strangling someone's throat. "First, he rushes off without any plan, not that I mind him taking some initiative, it was actually kind of heroic of him to look for me, not gonna lie, not that I doubted he would, of course, but then, the second he finds someone who looks like me, rather than doing the sensible thing, again, I'm not blaming him for confusing me and you, but come on! At some point it should have been freaking obvious that he wasn't dealing with me! I mean, we're not that interchangeable! But NOOOOOO! Instead, he just drags you on back to, wait, did you say he was in Standard, as in, your dimension?"

"Y-yeah." Yuzu hesitantly replied after a brief pause.

"How did he even get there?" Rin asked, sounding both surprised and impressed.

"He said that his dragon took him there." Yuzu replied, surprised that her last statement sounded far less crazy than everything else that had happened to her that day.

Rin blinked at her.

"Clear Wing, huh? Wow. I didn't know it could do that." She replied after a while. "Well, one thing's for certain. Yugo's still full of unexpected surprises." She turned onto another highway, tires squealing as she avoided another overturned truck and some rioting Commons. "Still, Yugo wasn't rough with you when he dragged you here, was he?"

"He was gentle." Yuzu reassured Rin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rin snapped, eyes narrowing.

"Well, just that, it was really disorienting coming here all of a sudden, b-but he was very kind to me once he figured out that I wasn't you." Yuzu explained, face reddening before she remembered something. "Uhm…here!" she continued, pulling out the handkerchief Yugo had given him. "This is yours. Yugo gave it to me when I first came here. I was upset over being separated from my friends and family, but he gave me this to comfort me. It's yours though, so…"

Gingerly, Rin took the blue handkerchief from Yuzu's hand before placing it inside the left breast pocket of her riding outfit.

"All this time, he never gave up on me." Rin sighed, tears forming at the corner of her eyes as she felt at the contours of the handkerchief sticking out against her clothing with her left hand. "Well," she continued, blinking away the tears before focusing again on the road, "Thanks for holding on to this. I'm glad he was good to you. Still, I imagine it must have been very frightening to end up here all of a sudden. I know I was in utter panic when I found myself in Academia."

"I eased into it." Yuzu replied, glad to see that Rin wasn't upset anymore. "Miss Kimura and the other kids at the orphanage were very accommodating and…"

"You've been to my orphanage?" Rin asked. "I mean, I guess it makes sense, Yugo wasn't just gonna throw you out onto the street, but still."

"Yeah, that's where I stayed." Yuzu replied, rubbing the back of her neck. "I, I hope you don't mind me using some of your clothing and sleeping in your bed while I was there."

"Don't worry about it." Rin sighed, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm used to sharing things at the orphanage, just so long as you didn't touch my diary."

"I promise." Yuzu replied, relieved to see that Rin was fine with her stay at the orphanage.

"Funnily enough," Rin continued, swerving to avoid a pothole, "We'll be passing my orphanage fairly soon with our current path. It actually might be nice to visit them. Hopefully Miss Kimura won't freak out that I have tattoos now, but then again, I do kind of look like a criminal with these. Still, it's not like I'd be the first kid she's taken care of who's had a mark put on their face."

Yuzu nodded her head in agreement, remembering how her own appearance had surprised Yuya. Looking off into the distance where the orphanage lay, Yuzu wondered what Rin's reunion might be like, when the roaring sound of a skyscraper collapsing caught her attention.

"Uhm…Rin?" Yuzu hesitantly asked, eyes widening.

"Look, I'm not gonna be doing more crazy stunts, Yuzu." Rin sighed, taking her eyes off the road to look at Yuzu, "I'll drive-…"

"Look!" Yuzu admonished, pointing in the direction of the sound.

Turning her head around, Rin looked in the direction Yuzu was indicating before her own eyes widened.

"Oh no!" Rin gasped as she spied the distant form of an Antique Gear Chaos Giant marching through the streets, colossal metallic frame bulldozing its way through the nearby building and cars as it continued its rampage.

"Academia!" Yuzu called. "They've already started their invasion!"

"When!?" Rin cried, twisting on the accelerator to increase her bike's speed. "When did they get here!? Where did they come fr-…"

Her eyes widened as she looked in the direction of her orphanage.

"NO!" She cried, urging more speed from her bike as she roared forward. "NOT MY HOME! NOT HERE! NOT NOW!"

Yuzu thought of the destruction she had seen when Dennis had dueled Shun, and of what Yuto and Shun had told her about what had happened to their dimension. She had been powerless to stop the horrible things from happening then.

But she was not powerless now.

"Well stop them!" Yuzu vowed, activating her flower-like duel disk, before gripping Rin's waist. "I don't care what kind of daredevil tricks you have to do! You drive, I'll duel!"

Rin turned towards Yuzu before nodding her head in agreement.

"Now your speaking my language!" Rin replied before charging forward with her bike, engines roaring with fury. "Hold on! This is going to be rough!"

Obelisk Force vs. 6 civilian duelists

Current State of the Duel

Obelisk Red and Blue:

4000 LP each

0 cards in each hand

No cards on the field

Obelisk Gold:

4000 LP

0 cards in his hand

Controls Antique Gear Chaos Giant equipped with two copies of Antique Gear Ultimate Cannon

Antique Gear Chaos Giant / DARK / Level 10 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 4500 + (10 X 200) + (10 X 200) = 8500 / DEF 3000

Civilian 1:

500 LP

0 cards in his hand

Controls Powered Tuner

Powered Tuner / WATER / Level 4 / Dragon / Effect / ATK 1400 + (500 X 4) = 3400 / DEF 1000

Civilian 2:

500 LP

0 cards in his hand

Controls Mist Valley Soldier

Mist Valley Soldier / WIND / Level 4 / Winged Beast / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1700 / DEF 300

Civilian 3:

500 LP

0 cards in her hand

Controls Chaos End Master

Chaos End Master / LIGHT / Level 3 / Warrior / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1500 / DEF 1000

Civilian 4:

500 LP

0 cards in her hand

Controls Delta Flyer

Delta Flyer / WIND / Level 3 / Dragon / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1500 / DEF 900

Civilian 5:

500 LP

0 cards in her hand

Controls Reese the Ice Mistress

Reese the Ice Mistress / WATER / Level 2 / Sea Serpent / Tuner / Effect / ATK 800 / DEF 800

Civilian 6:

500 LP

0 cards in his hand

Controls Archfiend Interceptor

Archfiend Interceptor / DARK / Level 4 / Fiend / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 1600

"Funny, I thought that the people of the Synchro Dimension would be using more, I don't know, Synchro Monsters!?" An obelisk soldier with a gold gem in the center of his helmet laughed before his companions snickered with him.

"Talk about a waste of training!" another soldier with a red gem in his helmet complained. "I mean, come on! This prey's hardly even worth hunting!"

"Forget about it." A soldier with a green gem in the center of his helmet laughed. "Even if they had Synchro Monsters, this still wouldn't be an exciting duel. Nothing can defeat Chaos Giant!"

"A fact that you Synchro scum are about to learn!" the soldier with the gold gem in the center of his helmet agreed, addressing the crowd of cowering civilians as they looked up at the massive machine. "It's time to joint he rest of your pathetic friends! Antique Gear Chaos Giant! Attack each of their monsters and finish them off! Chaos Cannon!"

Lowering one of its massive cannons towards the opposing monsters, Antique Gear Chaos Giant prepared to destroy all of the opposing duelists when…

VROOM!

"The hell!?" the gold-gem soldier shouted as a large black whale-shaped motorcycle roared above their heads before crashing down between the two sides, a pair of girls with glowing tattoos riding on top of the bike.

"Diminuendo the Melodious Diva's effect!" a rider with a flower tattoo on her arm called as she slammed a card down onto one of the holographic petals of her flower-shaped duel disk. "During the battle phase, if I either control no monsters or control a Melodious Monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand! Come forth!"

Through a blue portal, a tiny fairy that looked to be about eight years old appeared to the field. She had immense solid blue eyes, Fluffy golden-blonde hair topped with a yellow-and-white daffodil-shaped hat, and a simple white dress that left her small arms and shoulders bare and her tiny naked feet uncovered.

Diminuendo the Melodious Diva / LIGHT / Level 2 / Fairy / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 1600

INTRUSION PENALTY!

Yuzu: 4000 / 2 = 2000 LP

"Wait…those girls!?" The green-gem soldier sputtered in amazement when he caught sight of their faces after the monster materialized.

"The fugitives!" The gold-gem soldier agreed.

"If we take them both in, we'll be heroes!" the red-gem soldier exulted. "Let's get them!"

"You won't be taking anyone!" the duelist growled, the mark on her arm and the mark over her eye burning with intense red light. "Diminuendo's effect! When she is summoned with this effect, I can negate the attack of your monster, end the Battle Phase, and increase our life points by the original attack of your monster! GO! Fading note!"

Breathing in deeply, so that her tiny diaphragm began to bulge just a little, Diminuendo let out a high-pitched child soprano note just as Antique Gear Chaos Giant fired its weapons. However, before the beam of concentrated energy could hit any of the monsters below, Diminuendo began to slowly dim her voice level down to a silent warbling whisper, causing the beam of energy to shrink in tandem with the volume of her voice until both it and the musical note faded away completely. Curtseying, the tiny fairy began glowing with gentle golden light before Yuzu and the other duelists became enveloped in the same gentle light.

Obelisk Force: 4000 + 4500 = 8500 LP

Civilians: 500 + 4500 = 5000 LP

Yuzu: 2000 + 4500 = 6500 LP

"So long as Diminuendo remains face-up on the field, the ATK of all monsters on the field drops by five-hundred for each Melodious monster I control, meaning your Antique Gear Chaos Giant loses five-hundred ATK!" Yuzu explained as the heads of all monsters on the field drooped slightly as if they were growing sleepy.

Antique Gear Chaos Giant: 8500 – 500 = 8000 ATK

Powered Tuner: 3400 – 500 = 2900 ATK

Mist Valley Soldier: 1700 – 500 = 1200 ATK

Chaos End Master: 1500 – 500 = 1000 ATK

Delta Flyer: 1500 – 500 = 1000 ATK

Reese the Ice Mistress: 800 – 500 = 300 ATK

Archfiend Interceptor: 1400 – 500 = 900 ATK

The gold gem obelisk soldier growled as his attack was stopped.

"Who is she?" one of the Civilians asked.

"Does it matter?" another cried. "She just saved us!"

"You scum may have received a reprieve for now," the gold gem Obelisk Soldier shouted. "But nothing can defeat our monster! Turn end!"

"You Academia punks are going down!" Rin growled as she revved up the engine of her bike. "Yuzu! Throw them out of my city!"

"With pleasure." Yuzu agreed, placing her hand on top of her deck. "Atashi no turn, DRAW!" she called as she began her turn.

"Magic card activate, Yuugo!" Yuzu began, activating a copy of the Fusion Spell Card, much to the apparent shock of both the Synchro civilians and the Obelisk soldiers. "Using the Shopina the Melodious Maestra in my hand and the Tam Tam the Melodious Diva in my hand as Material, I Fusion Summon!" she proclaimed as her two monsters, a tall elegant green haired woman in a blue dress and a smaller fairy with a large tam tam appeared above her head before swirling together into the center of a fusion portal as Yuzu began her summoning chant.

"Supreme composer, echoes of the soul! With the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now come here to the stage! Sing the song of victory! Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir!"

Emerging through the Fusion Portal in an enclosed lotus flower, Yuzu's tiny fairy with swirling blue hair slowly rose from the folds of the petal as the flower opened up.

Bloom Diva the Melodious Choir / LIGHT / Level 6 / Fairy / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 2000

"Tam-Tam's effect activates!" Yuzu declared, stretching her hand towards the Obelisk Force. "If she is used as a Fusion Material for a Fusion Summon, I can decrease the ATK of Bloom Diva by five-hundred in order to inflict five-hundred damage to my opponent's Life Points! GO!"

Civilians: 5000 – 500 = 4500 LP

Obelisk Force: 8500 – 500 = 8000 LP

Bloom Diva: 1000 – 500 (minus 1000 more ATK due to Diminuendo's effect) = 0 ATK

"Are you sure she's here to save us?" one of the Civilians grunted as his Life Points dropped.

"Brace yourselves!" Yuzu warned, "This battle's going to damage a lot of you, but it will destroy Chaos Giant!"

"Seriously!? You're gonna fight that thing!?" a woman exclaimed, stunned into disbelief.

"Your monster has zero ATK thanks to your own monster's effect!" the gold-gem officer growled. "And even if it didn't, it still wouldn't be nearly strong enough to defeat us!"

"BATTLE!" Yuzu countered, stretching her hand towards her monster as Rin and Bloom Diva charged towards Antique Gear Chaos Giant. "Bloom Diva, attack Antique Gear Chaos Giant!"

"Chaos Cannon!" the gold-gem soldier shouted back as his Chaos Giant fired one of its massive cannons at Bloom Diva as the tiny fairy unleashed a wave of sound back at the monster as it began to sing.

"She's going to lose!" one of the civilians cried.

"Don't do it, stop!" another warned.

"Bloom Diva's effect!" Yuzu called, "If it battles a Special Summoned monster, my opponents take damage to their Life Points equal to the difference between the original ATK of Bloom Diva and the monster it is battling before the monster Bloom Diva battled is destroyed! Reflect shout!"

Singing more intensely, Bloom Diva reflected the surge of energy from Chaos Giant's cannon right back at the colossal monster, blowing off the creature's head before causing the entire titanic mass to explode in a blast of gears and scrap metal.

Obelisk Soldiers: 8500 – 3500 = 5000 LP

Civilians: 5000 – 3500 = 1500 LP

Both Obelisk Soldier and Civilian gaped their mouths open at the destruction of the colossal monster. Yuzu, meanwhile, continued her turn.

"I activate De-Fusion in order to shuffle my Bloom Diva into my deck and Summon Tam Tam and Shopina from my graveyard." Yuzu declared as her Bloom Diva split into her original fusion materials.

Tam Tam the Melodious Diva / LIGHT / Level 4 / Fairy / Effect / ATK 1000 – 1500 = / DEF 2000

Shopina the Melodious Maestra / LIGHT / Level 7 / Fairy / Effect / ATK 2300 – 1500 = 800 / DEF 1700

"My monster's effect reduces the ATK of my own monsters, but it doesn't matter." Yuzu continued. "Battle! Shopina the Melodious Maestra, direct attack! Marvelous Wave!"

Raising her baton in the air as she unfolded her butterfly-like wings, Shopina unleashed a storm of wind into the Obelisk Soldier with the gold gem, knocking him back.

Obelisk Gold: 5000 – 800 = 4200 LP

"During my Main Phase, I tribute my Tam Tam and my Diminuendo in order to Tribute Summon Mozarta the Melodious Maestra!" Yuzu declared as her original ace monster appeared to the field, red dress glimmering with sparkling golden light.

Mozarta the Melodious Maestra / LIGHT / Level 8 / Fairy / ATK 2600 / DEF 2000

"Because Diminuendo left the field, her effect no longer applies." Yuzu continued as the other monsters on the field began standing up straighter.

Powered Tuner: 3400 ATK

Mist Valley Soldier: 1700 ATK

Chaos End Master: 1500 ATK

Delta Flyer: 1500 ATK

Reese the Ice Mistress: 800 ATK

Archfiend Interceptor: 1400 ATK

"To end my turn, I'll use my Shopina's effect to add Diminuendo from my graveyard to my hand." Yuzu declared as she added a card from her graveyard to her hand. "Turn end."

"Their Life Points are open and they have no cards left." Rin declared as she turned towards the civilians. "It's up to you all now. You know what to do."

Smiling in agreement, one of the civilians cracked his knuckles before eagerly drawing a card to begin his turn.

"I think it's time for a tactical retreat." The green-gem soldier whimpered as he eyed the advancing crowd.

"You won't win, Synchro scum!" the gold-gem soldier vowed before he and the rest of his team pressed a button on their disks and vanished in a flash of blue light.

"Yeah! You'd better run!" A woman shouted, throwing a broken piece of asphalt in the direction of where the soldiers had stood.

"Thank you, Yuzu." Rin whispered to her friend before revving up the engine of her bike while the crowds were distracted. "Now let's go! We have to stop Academia before they do any more damage!"

"Wait!" a man begged, grabbing Rin and Yuzu's arms before they could get away. "You saved our lives! How can we thank you?"

"I don't have time to stay." Rin replied. "Just tell me if there were more soldiers. Did you see any come from that direction?" she continued, pointing in the direction of her orphanage.

"There might have been." The man admitted. "But it was really chaotic. Security had come down here and was treating us like pigs, when all of a sudden, those other guys showed up and started raising all kinds of hell! Security began dueling them…but…well, it was just us by the time it was over, and we would have all been beaten had you two not shown up!"

"Thank you for telling me." Rin replied, revving up her engine before driving away. "You all need to get somewhere safe before this city is overrun."

"Well, what about you, young lady?" another member of the crowd asked, directing her question at Yuzu. "Surely there must be something we can do for you."

Yuzu looked over at the crowds, her mind wandering back to when she had addressed a similar crowd in the friendship cup. They had not listened to her when she warned of Academia's invasion then, but perhaps they would now.

"More Academia forces are likely to show up!" Yuzu warned. "And Rin and I won't be able to be everywhere at once! If you are going to survive, you'll all need to unite and fight together! It doesn't matter if you're Tops, Commons, or even Security! If you don't unite together as one, Academia will destroy everything!"

"She's got that right!" a civilian from the crowd roared in agreement. "Come on, everyone! Let's show these foreign punks who gets to live here!"

"Wait…is that Yuzu? She was in the friendship cup!" another person in the crowd cried.

"I thought Sergey had killed her!" another woman gaped, tears coming to her eyes.

"It's a miracle!"

"They've come to save us!"

"We have to get ready before more of them come!"

"Wait, young ladies, I need to know something!"

But by that time, Rin and Yuzu had already driven away, Rin gunning her bike at full speed towards her home.

"Those people looked like they needed help." Yuzu whispered to herself, wondering if they would be able to make it if more Academia soldiers showed up.

"We can't stay with them forever." Rin replied, eyes fixed on her destination in the distance. "If anything happens to my home…" her voice trailed off.

"We'll save them." Yuzu vowed. "No matter where Academia is, I promise I'll help you defeat them!"


Jean-Michell Roger's world was in complete chaos. All around him, buildings were burning, people were fighting and rioting, and more and more and more enemies were gathering.

"Sir! Academia forces have captured the distract square! Our security forces are attempting to stop their advance, but they are being overwhelmed!" One subordinate frantically reported, face white with terror.

"The district square?" Roger thought, feeling strangely distant from all the disorder and incompetence surrounding him. "And why should that be my concern? You were supposed to coordinate that defense, not me! You fix it!"

"Tops in district J-218 are requesting assistance!" Another called.

"Let them assist themselves!" Roger almost said out loud. "I have far more important things to worry about than their pampered hides"

"Chief! Academia forces are pushing through to headquarters and surveillance is detecting more teleportation signatures! They are arriving en masse!"

"En masse? Idiot. You have no idea what 'en masse' looks like when Academia truly invades. This is nothing more than a preliminary, a probe designed to prepare the city for Fusion's full invasion. Take care of it! Get rid of them so I can focus on more important enemies!"

"Security forces eliminated!" an officer frantically reported, indicating a screen that was showing a trio of Chaos Giants leveling their cannons at the Public Security Maintenance Bureau Headquarters. "Academia is at our gates! Repeat! Academia is at our gates!"

The building shook in time with the broadcast of a Chaos Giant firing its weapon into the building.

"But of course, you can't do it." Roger raged to himself, "Nobody can do it. I am the only one here who can save all your worthless lives! So, I will! Watch, city, as your savior delivers you from your own weakness!"

Pushing aside a subordinate who was squawking about more bad news, Roger approached his central desk, chess set resting on top of an ornate pedestal before rearranging the pieces so that two rooks were placed directly in front of the queen in a straight line.

Instantly, in response to the rearrangement, the room itself began rearranging, Large metal barricades slamming over the exits, walls lighting up with energy, and a massive holographic screen appearing in the center of the room before a control module with a purple shield-shaped duel disk connected to a VR headset lowered itself to Roger's level.

"Operation Alekhine's gun is now go!" Roger roared as he inserted his right arm into his disk before placing the VR equipment over his eyes and turning towards a male subordinate sitting to his left. "Unleash the volunteers and the GHOST units and place them under my command! Now!"

"All of them sir?" the man yelped. "But half of them haven't had their chips calibrated. The chief of biomechanical engineering said that we'd risk killing them if we activated them-…"

The rest of the subordinate's comment was cut short as Roger pressed a button on his Duel Disk, carding the man instantly.

"All of them." Roger whispered, before releasing the units himself, the rest of his staff doing the first smart thing they had done that day by keeping silent. In front of Roger, the central screen showed the visual feed of his own duel disk armed hologram standing before thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children with blinking chips in the center of their foreheads and a smaller legion of mechanical soldiers, whose robotic legs were built directly into their sleek black D-Wheels.

"Behold city!" Roger and his hologram proclaimed in unison, "Behold your salvation! An endless legion of perfectly loyal soldiers commanded by an immortal leader!"


General Magni stood before the walls of the Public Security Maintenance Bureau, the cowlick of his emerald green hair flying in the wind as a trio of Antique Gear Chaos Giants fired a battery of energy at the building's crumbling defenses. He had served in many campaigns for Academia, even before Leo Akaba became the professor, but this latest conflict had to be his most glorious, for if he succeeded here, he might very well go down in history as the general who conquered Synchro before the main Academia force had even arrived.

"Progress report, Lieutenant Martell." General Magni demanded of a shorter, straw-haired Obelisk officer who, like himself, had chosen to remove his battle mask in favor of displaying his face to his troops.

"Assault squadrons have successfully cleared out all Security forces outside the Public Maintenance Security Bureau HQ." Lieutenant Martell reported, observing a holographic screen projected from his duel disk. At our current rate, we should have their headquarters under our control within an hour.

"Unacceptable!" General Magni barked. "We are making history here! I did not assemble some of Academia's finest soldiers here just so that we could be overshadowed by the likes of Daniel Tarleton and Yuri when those pompous fools deign to march in! Tell the men to redouble their efforts! I want this dimension's political leaders licking my boots within the next half hour!"

"Understood, general." Lieutenant Martell acknowledged.

"What's the status on our perimeter teams?" General Magni continued, impatiently tapping his foot as another barrage of energy from Academia's monsters fired into the fortified Headquarters.

"Most of the perimeter teams have encountered only minor resistance." Lieutenant Martell reported. "Although a few of our soldiers have run into some difficulty with some especially powerful Security forces who, in their words, 'use strange summoning techniques.' Several squadrons have been forced back to Academia for treatment and the remaining forces are requesting backup."

General Magni ground his teeth together with frustration.

"Tell them that the only backup they will be receiving from me is my boot back up their *sses if they can't keep our flanks secured! If I see even one Security squad slip through our perimeter because of their incompetence, then the last thing they will have to worry about will be 'strange summoning techniques!'"

"One of the squadrons reported seeing the fugitives, sir." Lieutenant Martell calmly reported, seemingly unfazed by his superior officer's rant.

General Magni's eyes widened, a flash of fear coming over his face before he turned his attention back towards the Chaos Giants bombarding the HQ building.

"The professor has ordered us not to engage with the fugitives." General Magni replied. "He has other arrangements in mind for them. Our task is to secure this city so that the main invasion force can have a base of operations through which they can finish conquering the dimension. And if my theory is right," he continued, holding up a bloody brain-control chip he had extracted from the skull of a Security officer earlier that day. "then if the Public Maintenance Security Bureau Headquarters falls to our control, then we should be able to nullify this city's entire defense force."

"I have high confidence that you will be correct in your prediction, General." Lieutenant Martell nodded.

"I don't need your confidence." General Magni growled, "What I need is that Uria Scout! Where is he!? He should have finished up his reconnaissance mission and reported to me by now!"

"You'd better calm down, General." A calm friendly voice called seemingly from thin air. "If your heart-rate goes as fast as your expectations, it might end up exploding."

Whipping their heads around, General Magni and Lieutenant Martell faced the direction the voice had come from, but only saw empty air.

"Wipe the smirk off your face, Agent Ichiyanagi, and deactivate your cloaking device." General Magni growled, addressing the empty air.

In response, the air in front of General Magni and Lieutenant Martell began shimmering as light began to bend around a humanoid shape. In a few moments, the illusion of empty air faded away, revealing the form of a short Academia soldier wearing armor and a helmet styled after Uria, Lord of Searing Flames, one of the legendary deities the Shadow Riders of the old Academia worshiped. Stepping forward, the Academia agent removed a field spell card from the slot of his Duel Disk before typing a command onto the screen of his disk, causing his Uria uniform to fold away into a plain blue hoodie he was wearing underneath, revealing a spikey blue-haired boy with dark brown eyes and pale skin.

"You are late, Ibuki," Lieutenant Martell scolded, addressing the boy. 'Your general expected you to finish your reconnaissance of the Security Headquarters fifteen minutes ago."

"My apologies, Lieutenant." Ibuki replied with a modest salute. "But I think you will all be pleased to learn what I found out in that extra fifteen minutes."

"Did you find the control terminal for the brainwashing devices?" General Magni asked, rubbing the blood-stained chip between his fingers.

"I have, General." Ibuki replied with a smile before bringing up a holographic map with his duel disk. "And I have successfully mapped out some secure routes to that terminal for our infiltration teams to follow."

"Good." General Magni grunted, tapping in a few commands into his own disk in order to upload the map into his data. "Once we've breached the wall, our assault forces will storm that terminal and cripple the city's defenses. What else did you find out?"

"Oh, believe me, you'll really like what I have to say next." Ibuki replied, smiling knowingly as he paused for effect.

"Answer your general's question and stop wasting our time!" Lieutenant Martell demanded.

"I was getting to that." Ibuki protested, raising his hands in surrender. "It would seem that the turncoat, Jean-Michell Roger, is the one running Security. He's barricaded himself in his very disorganized control room, and from the looks of things when I last saw him, he's unraveling by the second."

"Jean-Michell Roger!?" Lieutenant Martell exclaimed in shock.

General Magni, meanwhile, clenched his fists.

"Tell our forces to card everyone in that building except Jean-Michell Roger." Magni growled. "Tell them I want him brought before me alive so that I can personally parade him through the streets of Academia as my trophy before publicly executing the traitor myself!" he finished, snapping the chip between his fingers in half as his grip tightened.

"I shall be certain to do so." Lieutenant Martell replied, making a note on his duel disk. "Is there more you have to report, Agent Ichiyanagi?"

"There is." Ibuki admitted, tapping on his duel disk screen to display a photo of a large machine within the facility. "There is a hazard we should be aware of once we begin the full-scale assault on the Headquarters. It seems that Roger has been using some of the Professor's technology to create a massive trans-dimensional warp system."

"And why would he need to build that?" Lieutenant Martell mused, examining the photo of the immense machine. "He already has his duel disk. He could run away from us any time he wanted to. Not that it would do him any good in the end once we have all dimensions under our control."

"Roger has no intention of retreating." General Magni replied. "I know him. He's an arrogant fool, determined to hold onto this city at any cost. How much power does the machine have?"

"Hard to say." Ibuki admitted. "They don't seem to have ever used the machine before, but it would seem that they designed it to warp away at least half the city at full power."

"Half the city!?" Lieutenant Martell exclaimed in shock. "Where in the multiverse would he need to move it!?"

"Not move it. Destroy it." General Magni concluded with grimness. "He knows what we'll do to him once we capture him, so he intends to take us out with him, in one of the greatest funeral fires in history."

"He can't be that insane!" Lieutenant Martell protested.

"Are you calling me a liar?" General Magni growled, glaring at his lieutenant.

"N-no sir!" Lieutenant Martell sputtered, hastily correcting himself. "I, I just meant…I'm just surprised that Roger would resort to such extreme measures!"

"He would." General Magni coldly replied, looking off into the distance. "He's an insecure egomaniac who betrayed and abandoned his own family for the sake of his pride before he did the same thing to his own dimension. He's a volatile, unstable man, and the universe would be well rid of him."

"I heard his treachery was inherited by his daughter." Ibuki smirked. "Apparently she got cold feet during the Xyz invasion and deserted her unit. Apple really doesn't seem to fall far from the tree."

General Magni snorted, not seeming to care about Ibuki's little anecdote.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"Just one more thing." Ibuki replied. "It would seem that Roger was busy rounding up his own civilians. I saw several thousand of them herded into cramped warehouses, with even more vehicles delivering additional civilians."

"Evacuation?" Lieutenant Martell asked.

"They seemed to be storing them." Ibuki reported, bringing up a few photos depicting rows upon rows of men, women, and children standing still in dimly lit warehouses.

"What's your game, Roger?" General Magni mumbled to himself before something else caught his attention.

"Why have our batteries stopped?" General Magni growled, noticing that the Chaos Giants had ceased firing their weapons into the Headquarters and were instead turning their heads towards the eastern and western wings of the building.

Lieutenant Martell's eyes widened.

"General…?" he began.

Ibuki activated his Duel Disk.

Looking into the distance, General Magni spied what was approaching his armies from the left and right flanks.

"Well what do you know." He mused as he activated his own Duel Disk. "I never expected you'd be this bold."

Closing in on his army from the east and west were legions of men, women, and children, faint red lights blinking on the center of their foreheads. They were ill equipped, with at least half of them not even armed with a duel disk. Now and then, within the mass of people who were shambling towards Magni's forces like a horde of zombies, an individual would keel over before falling to the ground, eyes, nose, and ears bleeding as they lay still. Zooming around the flanks of the legion on D-wheels were several dozen robotic soldiers, half of them with wires and circuitry poking out of their incomplete limbs and faces. All in all, though it was a massive force, it seemed to be a rather unimpressive one when compared to the disciplined Academia soldiers, who were already arranging themselves into their battle formations. Once they formed up into their ranks, the horde of civilian soldiers and mounted machines stopped before both sides began staring at one another, tension rising as neither faction made a move.

Then, from the center of the horde, marching proudly towards Magni's forces with a smug expression on his face like an overconfident emperor, was none other than Jean-Michell Roger himself. He was wearing his usual posh purple robes, only they were now accented with white highlights. Over his right arm, he was wearing his duel disk. As he approached General Magni's army, a smile playing on his face as if he had no care in the world, General Magni motioned away a pair of Obelisk Squadrons before he and Lieutenant Martell approached the Academia traitor.

"I always knew you were insane, but I admit that even I didn't think you'd be this crazy." General Magni mocked, addressing the pompous Synchro dictator. "Just what exactly do you hope to accomplish with this rabble?"

"Thaddeus Magnison, it's been a long time." Roger gushed, brushing off the mockery with a condescending smile.

"I'm called General Magni now," General Magni growled.

"After the Nordic God?" Roger exclaimed with a laugh, "Well then, I must say, you've come a long way from being that drooling schoolboy who couldn't tell the difference between attack and defense position. It looks like Akaba Leo gave you your own army! What an achievement. Of course, I've been building up my own army since I left Academia." He continued, indicating the people and machines behind him. "Though, in my case, I didn't need someone to give it to me."

"You call this an army!?" General Magni laughed, stepping towards Roger so that he was staring down at the dictator's forehead. Roger, unfazed by the general's imposing figure, looked on with a calm expression, hands clasped behind his back while General Magni indicated the army behind him. "I see a bunch of flea-bitten scum, and rust-caked tin cans you dug up out of the landfill! These shambling corpses are hardly even worth being prey for my men! Half of them aren't even armed! Don't think I don't know what you're doing here, Jean! I saw what you did to the Security forces around here. I drilled open one of their skulls and found this!" he held up the remains of the chip. "Not only did you betray your own dimension, but you stole some of our technology when you did! But it's all gonna come back to bite you. Once I deal with you, these mindless drones will have nobody to lead them, or at least, nobody to lead them until I take the controls. Thank you for this gift, Jean. I might actually let you live for one day just so you can see me put in charge of your own city."

"Take control of my city?" Roger sneered, shaking his head "no." "I think not. Besides, Thaddeus, what would an oaf like you even do with my city? Could you be planning your own coup against the Professor?"

General Magni clenched his fists.

"Unlike you, traitor," General Magni growled, "I have stayed loyal to Academia. And look where it's got me. I have my own army, I have men who obey and respect me, and soon, I'll have your city under my thumb! You, on the other hand, will be lucky if you end up being carded! In the end, you'll die a traitor and a cowardly turncoat. Such a waste, when you were no less than a commanding instructor in Academia!"

"Did you really think that after living under Kagemaru's shadow for my entire life, that I would let myself continue being someone else's pawn when Leo Akaba started his own regime?" Roger growled, looking indignant.

"You could have thrived under the Professor's rule!" General Magni countered. "But instead, you chose to be ground into dust underneath my boots!"

"So, you wish to do battle with me?" Roger asked, an amused grin coming over his face.

"I'm always happy to stamp out scum." General Magni sneered. "I'll just be sure to have your 'army' lick your muck from the sole of my boot once I'm done with you. Wouldn't want your traitor's blood staining my uniform in the moment of my glory."

"Well, I suppose this was inevitable." Roger shrugged as he activated his own duel disk. "Though this hardly seems fair."

"Fair!?" General Magni snorted, "Well who cares if it's fair, Jean! The strong crush the weak and take everything they have! It's the harsh reality of nature, and once I am finished with you, I'll-…"

"It ought to be me against you and two more of your men, just to even things out." Roger sneered, interrupting General Magni mid-speech.

General Magni's face reddened with rage.

"You're being awfully stupid, mocking me at a time like this." General Magni threatened.

"And here I thought that the great and loyal 'General Magni' wouldn't be afraid to face me if his soldiers were helping him." Roger sighed, shaking his head with mock disappointment. "Oh well, I suppose I'll accept your surrender, in that case."

General Magni glowered at him.

"I'll give you one last chance to take that back. Otherwise, I really will have my soldiers gang up on you."

"I welcome the challenge!" Roger countered, before clapping his hands. Around the perimeter of the sky platform where the Public Security Maintenance Bureau HQ stood, immense holographic screens appeared, showing Roger facing off against General Magni. "The whole city will see the duel, and once I defeat you and your so called 'army,' then none will question my position as the true king and ruler of this dimension!"

General Magni looked up at the immense holographic screens, amazed that Roger had given him such a wonderful opportunity.

"If you really want to die that badly, then I'll gratify your wish, Jean." He growled before signaling over Lieutenant Martell. "But I'm not going to stain my honor by fighting you three on one. Lieutenant Martell has trained as my tag partner in past duels, you will find him to be an immensely suitable opponent for your, erm, kingly duel."

The rest of General Magni's soldiers began snickering as Lieutenant Martell joined his general's side.

"But know this, people of Synchro!" General Magni continued, addressing the screens, "I, being the generous leader that I am, humbly gave your head of Security the chance to surrender peacefully, but he spat my offer in my face and condemned you all to inevitable destruction! Today, you will all see the strength of Academia as I, General Magni, no, The Great General Magni, crush your foolish leader with my own hands! Tremble, people of Synchro, and know that your turn will come next, unless you fall down to your knees and surrender this dimension to my control! Any speck of resistance will be wiped out without mercy! Do not make the mistake of this man, or you will all receive his fate!"

"A stirring speech." Roger mocked, sarcastically clapping his hands. "But you forget that I am still here."

Turning towards the screens, he addressed the city with his own speech.

"Citizens of Synchro! Your city is even now threatened by the invading forces of this man! But I, your courageous leader, will deliver you from this horror! Witness your savior now, Synchro, and take heart knowing that I, Jean-Michell Roger, shall defeat all the enemies that threaten us!"

He turned towards Magni and Martell, all three of them placing their hands on their duel disks while the two armies and several million citizens of the City looked on with bated breath.

"All forces! Engage the enemy! Wipe them out!" General Magni ordered as he and Martell began their duel against Roger.

"DUEL!" Magni, Martell, and Roger screamed in unison as, all around them, their armies clashed.

"Martell!" General Magni barked, "Start things off!"

"Yes general!" Lieutenant Martell began, "It's my move and I'll start by activating the Magic Card, Unexpected Dai!"

Slamming a card onto his duel disk, a magic card showing Warrior Dai Grepher warping through a section of interdimensional space appeared before a small tear in the air above Martell's head opened up.

"Since I control no monsters," Martell explained, "I can Special Summon one Normal Monster directly from my deck. Using this card's effect, I Special Summon Gamma the Magnet Warrior! Come forth!"

Appearing through the portal, a pink robotic knight made of magnets appeared to Martell's field before posing in front of him.

Gamma the Magnet Warrior / EARTH / Level 4 / Rock / ATK 1500 / DEF 1800

"Next," Martell continued, slamming another card onto his duel disk, "I Normal Summon Beta the Magnet Warrior. Come forth!"

Through a blue portal, a golden robot with a more spherical head and body made of magnets appeared to the field, round hands reaching out with magnet hands like claws.

Beta the Magnet Warrior / EARTH / Level 4 / Rock / ATK 1700 / DEF 1600

"Setting a card face-down, turn end." Martell finished, looking over at his General.

"I'm surprised." Roger sneered. "I would have suspected a stronger start from an Academia Lieutenant."

"Battle Royal rules prevent anyone from attacking on the first turn." General Magni lazily replied. "So basically, it means you'll get a bit of a reprieve before any of us decide to go all-out. Speaking of which…" he placed his hand on top of his deck, "It's my turn now…DRAW!"

Yanking a card from the top of his deck, he gave his hand a brief look before idly removing two cards from his hand.

"I'll start by setting a card face-down before normal summoning Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior from my hand."

Through a blue portal, a tall blue machine wielding a shield and a tall staff made up of a rod with copper coiling appeared to the field, electromagnets sparkling with electricity as it lowered its weapon towards Roger.

Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior / EARTH / Level 3 / Rock / Effect / ATK 1700 / DEF 1100

"When Alpha is summoned, it's effect allows me to add one level eight Magna Warrior from my deck to my hand. Using this effect, I'm adding Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior from my deck to my hand. Turn end." General Magni finished as he tore a card from his deck before showing it to Roger and adding it to his hand. "Now let's see what you power you can muster, traitor."

"My turn." Roger simpered, delicately placing his hand on top of his deck. "Draw!" Scanning his hand with a thoughtful expression he stood still for a considerable amount of time.

"WELL!?" General Magni growled, losing patience. "Are you going to get a move on, or are you just trying to stall because you know you're gonna lose?"

"Patience, Thaddeus." Roger sneered. "Duel Monsters is a game of thought. One cannot simply rush through their turn and expect to win." He looked at General Magni's field, "Though it would seem there are still plenty of those who still try."

General Magni clenched his fists.

"On to business then." Roger continued, extracting a card from his hand and placing it on his duel disk. "I'll start by summoning the level two monster, Chess Master White Pawn, to my field."

Through a blue portal, a large man-sized stone pedestal with an equally tall statue of a medieval soldier standing on top while wielding a marble spear, shield, and plain stone helmet, appeared to Roger's field, blank white eyes staring down at General Magni and Lieutenant Martell as the stone monster stood still.

Chess Master White Pawn / LIGHT / Level 2 / Warrior / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

"Chess?" General Magni scoffed. "That's what your deck is, Chess!?"

"I find that life itself is very much like a game of Chess." Roger replied as he lazily removed another card from his hand. "One must constantly be positioning, sacrificing, and planning with their pieces in order to overpower their opponent. Speaking of which," he continued, placing the card he had removed from his hand onto his duel disk, "Since I normal summoned one of my pawns, I can activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, Chess Master Move – Torre Attack! This card allows me to Special Summon one level four Chess Master monster from my hand or deck whose attribute is the same as the Pawn I summoned. Behold my opening gambit! Chess Master White Knight!"

Through a blue portal, a marble statue of a knight riding on top of a white horse appeared to Roger's field, hand holding a large stone lance as it stared motionlessly at Magni and Martell.

Chess Master White Knight/ LIGHT/ Level 4/ Beast/ Effect/ ATK 2000/ DEF 1000

"Setting two cards face-down." Roger concluded as two face-down cards appeared in his Spell/Trap Zone before vanishing. "Turn end."


During her time as a professional news reporter, Melissa Claire had witnessed plenty of riots and other citywide upheavals that most sane people would never have ventured near. She, however, had done her duty as a news agent each time, diving right into the action, sometimes with bodyguards, just to capture the full story…while occasionally covering up other details when she received the directive to do so from Security. She was not one to normally flee from the action, especially when there was a big story to get out of it.

This, however, was different.

In all her time as a news reporter, she had never yet witnessed this level of city-wide chaos. Civilians everywhere were rioting, fleeing, and generally wreaking havoc as they panicked, used the chaos to their advantage, or both. Meanwhile, throughout the streets, rank after rank of masked soldiers with legions of destructive machines at their command, were marching through the city, smashing buildings to rubble and causing civilians to disappear in flashes of purple light. Security was fighting back, but they were getting quickly overwhelmed as new ranks of soldiers appeared, seemingly from nowhere.

"Oh, why couldn't this just be a normal tournament!" Melissa wailed, thoughts of how the morning had quickly spiraled out of control, starting with the rather shocking announcement that Security had taken her sister into custody, and insinuated that harm would come to her if she didn't attempt to silence the Shinji boy's talk of rebellion. She had done her best, and yet, despite her best efforts, the city had just continued to descend into Hell! Now she didn't know what to do.

Her mind drifted to her sister, Aleisha, who had been taken by Security. She had never been that close to Aleisha, what with college, and later, the work of a reporter to keep her busy and Aleisha's tendency to wander off and disappear in order to do who-knows-what with her rather eccentric friends. Melissa had told Aleisha to act like an adult and take responsibility for her life several times, but Aleisha would always ignore her, so she had not bothered with her sister for a while, instead deciding that Aleisha would just have to face the consequences of her actions eventually. She had expected she might get in trouble eventually, but she had never imagined…

A sudden explosion interrupted Melissa in her thoughts. Looking in the direction of where the sound had come from, she saw a trio of massive mechanical giants firing energy weapons into the Public Security Maintenance Bureau Headquarters, the same building her sister was staying in.

If the fighting was spreading there…

Melissa tried to reassure herself, to tell her that the Public Security Maintenance Bureau was one of the most heavily fortified structures in all of Neo Domino City. Even if Aliesha was a prisoner, she would surely be safe from the invasion.

Beneath her helicopter, the immense form of another Antique Gear Chaos Giant materialized into existence before leveling a score of small buildings with one sweep of its massive energy weapon.

Who was she kidding? Whoever this invasion force was, they were crushing the city's defense forces, and more were materializing into existence by the second. Soon, nowhere in the city would be safe.

She and Aliesha would be captured…or worse.

She and her sister had to get out of the city before it was too late. If she hurried, they might be able to hide in another country until the chaos blew over. But first, she had to get her sister.

"Take us there!" Melissa instructed the helicopter pilot, pointing in the direction of the Headquarters.

"It's not safe there!" the helicopter pilot protested. "Scoop or no scoop, we've gotta get out of this city or we'll be the next that invading army kills!"

"I don't care about the scoop!" Melissa hissed, annoyed that the pilot thought her only motivation was to score another sensational news story. "Nowhere in this city is safe, and it's just going to get worse, but I'm not going to just leave here without my sister!"

"Sister?" the helicopter pilot asked, having never heard of her.

"She's in the Public Security Maintenance Bureau Headquarters." Melissa explained. "And besides, this chopper isn't getting very far on the fuel it has. We can quickly refuel at one of the landing pads there and then get far away from this city!"

"I'm pretty certain we have enough fuel to get away now!" the pilot protested.

"Just do it! Please!" Melissa begged. "She's all the family I have."

The helicopter looked Melissa in the eye.

"Very well ma'am" He replied before turning the helicopter towards the battle raging at the top of the sky platform. "But if we get killed, you'll only have yourself to blame."

"Thank you." Melissa wept as they flew towards the building in erratic patterns, desperately attempting to evade the shots fired from the invading army's monsters, and the various soldiers swooping down onto the city with air gliders.

When they reached the platform, Melissa's pilot began searching for a place to land. Meanwhile, Melissa scanned the battlefield, observing the duels occurring below.

GHOST Beta 021 vs. Three Obelisk Soldiers

"So, what's this tin can supposed to be?" An Obelisk Soldier with a green gem in the center of his helmet asked, eyeing the mounted machine with a wary eye as the robotic duelist stared back at them with a pair of glowing yellow eyes.

"Obelisk Soldiers," the machine droned, "you have been designated enemies of the state by the Public Security Maintenance Bureau. Lay down your arms and surrender or you will be eliminated."

The Obelisk Soldiers began laughing.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!" an Obelisk Soldier with a gold gem guffawed. "This thing looks like it was ripped from some dystopian cyberpunk movie! What are you gonna do? Terminate me?"

"Hey, HAL! Open the pod bay doors!" an Obelisk Soldier with a red gem laughed.

In response, the machine extended the arm wielding its duel disk towards the soldiers before firing.

"HEY!" All three soldiers cried as three cables of red solid vision shot out from the machine's duel disk before ensnaring their own arms and pulling them in like fish.

"In accordance with directive, Alekhine's Gun, your trial will now be conducted as a trial by combat." The machine droned in an emotionless voice. "All combatants will be given the opportunity to defend themselves with their dueling skills. None will be allowed to disengage until the trial is complete. Due to the state being placed under Martial Law, the victor of the trial shall have the express authority to determine the loser's sentence upon the completion of the trial. The trial shall now commence. Boku no turn!"

Without waiting for the opposing Obelisk Soldiers to steady themselves as they struggled against the immense strength of the machine and its cables, the robotic duelist pulled a card from its hand.

"Summoning monster in attack position, Grand Core Mark II!" the machine called as a large spherical object with small antennae on the side and an immense engine within its yellow-brown metal shell appeared to its field through a blue portal.

Grand Core Mark II / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"Setting three cards face-down." The machine droned as it set three cards into the Spell/Trap Zone. "Turn end."

"You're gonna regret this, you overgrown crash dummy!" The obelisk soldier with the green gem threatened. "It's my move now! I draw and will start by summoning Antique Gear Search Hound!"

Antique Gear Search Hound / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 600 / DEF 200

"The effect of Search Hound activates when it is summoned!" the obelisk soldier declared as his black mechanical blood hound let out a low howl, conjuring a blue portal. "Using its effect, I Special Summon Antique Gear Hound Dog! Come forth!" he ordered as a larger mechanical hound leaped onto the field before baring its steel fangs at the android.

Antique Gear Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 3 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

"Antique Gear Hound Dog's effect!" The Obelisk Soldier declared. "Even though I can't attack you since this is a battle royal, that doesn't mean your life points are safe! Once per turn, if my opponent controls a monster, I can inflict six-hundred damage to your life points! Go! Hound Flame!"

Opening its mouth wide, Antique Gear Hound Dog let out a gout of flame, which flew strait towards the mechanical duelist.

"Trap activate!" the machine declared before the flame could hit it. "Mekcore Aura!"

To the GHOST drone's left, a trap card depicting the silhouette of an immense machine standing behind a glowing spherical container with an ∞ symbol on its front flipped up. Before the flame could make contact, Grand Core Mark II opened up, sucking the stream of flame into its center before glowing with energy.

GHOST Beta 021: 4000 LP

Mekcore Aura: 6 Aura Counters

"What gives!?" the Obelisk Soldier protested, seeing that his attack had left the drone completely undamaged.

"While Mekcore Aura is active and I control a Core or ∞ monster," the machine droned, "any damage this unit would take is negated, and for every one-hundred points of damage negated, one Aura Counter is placed on Mekcore Aura."

"So, you've sealed off effect and battle damage." The Obelisk Soldier mused. "You know, most duelists would probably just surrender at this point, but not us! We're the Obelisk Force, and if there's one thing we know how to do, it's damage Life Points! I activate the effect of my Antique Gear Hound Dog! Since I control an Antique Gear Monster other than itself, I can fuse it with another Antique Gear Hound Dog in my hand in order to Fusion Summon Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog! Yuugo Shoukan!" he declared as his two monsters merged together within the fusion portal before leaping onto the field as a larger twin-headed mechanical hound.

Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 5 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 1000

"But I'm not done yet!" the soldier continued. "I next activate Fusion in order to fuse Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog and Antique Gear Search Hound, which can be treated as Antique Gear Hound Dog, together in order to Fusion Summon Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog! Yuugo Shoukan!"

Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 7 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 1000

"I next activate the continuous Magic Card, Fusion Screen!" The soldier declared, as a large translucent energy shield appeared around himself and his companions. "While this card is active, if any player's Life Points would change due to the effect of a card, that player can send one Fusion Monster from their Extra Deck to the Graveyard instead."

"And we have plenty of Fusion Monsters." The Obelisk Soldier's companion with a red gem on his helmet gloated.

"Which means I can now do this!" the Obelisk Soldier declared. "I next activate Fusion Recovery in order to recover the Fusion and Antique Gear Search Hound I used in the Fusion Summon of Triple Bite and add them to my hand before activating Fusion one more time! Behold! I fuse the Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog on my field with the Antique Gear Search Hound in my hand together in order to fusion summon Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog! Yuugo Shoukan!"

Lumbering onto the field, an immense chimeric fusion of robotic hound heads appeared to the Obelisk Soldier's field before bearing the fangs of its immense central mouth at the GHOST drone.

Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 9 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 2000

"The effect of Ultimate Hound Dog now activates!" the Obelisk Soldier declared. "When my monster is Fusion Summoned, I can halve the Life Points of all my opponents, meaning that even with your Mekcore Aura active, you'll still lose Life Points since the effect technically does not inflict damage! Furthermore, my companions will be safe, since they can just send their own Fusion Monsters to the Graveyard to avoid the damage! Go! Ultimate Hound Flame!"

Leaping forward, the Obelisk Soldier's Mechanical Hound Dog unleashed an immense geyser of flame from its mouth, searing the metal of the GHOST drone while the other two Obelisk Soldiers each sent a copy of Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog from their Extra Decks to the Graveyard to deflect the damage.

GHOST Beta 021: 4000 / 2 = 2000 LP

"Setting a card face-down. Turn end." Green declared before motioning towards his companion with a gold gem on the center of his helmet.

"We told you you'd regret facing us!" Gold mocked as he drew a card from the top of his deck. "I activate Fusion from my hand in order to fuse two copies of Antique Gear Hound Dog and one copy of Antique Gear Rescue Hound together in order to Fusion Summon Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog! Yuugo Shoukan!" he declared as his three-headed mechanical dog leaped onto the field.

Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 7 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 1000

"Next," the gold-gemmed Obelisk Soldier declared, "I'll activate my own copy of Fusion Recovery in order to add Rescue Hound and Fusion from my graveyard to my hand before Normal Summoning the Antique Gear Rescue Hound I returned to my hand. Come forth!"

Appearing through a blue portal, a large white robotic Saint Bernard leaped next to Triple Bite Hound Dog.

Antique Gear Rescue Hound / EARTH / Level 4 / Machine / Effect / ATK 800 / DEF 2000

"The effect of Rescue Hound activates when it is summoned!" the Obelisk Soldier declared. "Using its effect, I Special Summon one of the Antique Gear Hound Dogs in my graveyard!"

Letting out a low growl, Antique Gear Rescue Hound dug up a hole in the ground with its large shovel-like paws before shooting a pair of towing cables into the ground and pulling up the smaller Antique Gear Hound Dog.

Antique Gear Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 3 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

"Next, I activate the Fusion I recovered from my graveyard, Fusing the Triple Bite Hound Dog and the Search Hound on my field together in order to Fusion Summon Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog! Yuugo Shoukan!" he declared as his immense chimeric hound lumbered onto the field.

Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 9 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 2000

"It's effect now activates!" the gold-gemmed soldier sneered. "GO! Ultimate Hound Flame!"

While the GHOST drone took the full force of the blast, the other two Obelisk Soldiers each deposited a copy of Triple Bite Hound Dog into their Graveyards in order to prevent their Life Points from changing.

GHOST Beta 021: 2000 / 2 = 1000 LP

"Had enough?" the Obelisk Soldier taunted. "Or would you like us to shave off a few more of those Life Points?"

In response, the Android merely straightened itself out, seeming completely unfazed by how low its Life Points were getting.

"The current state of this unit's Life Points are irrelevant." The machine droned. "The opposing players have utilized standard Fusion tactics in precisely the manner this unit predicted. The current threat level of the Obelisk Force is…minimal."

The Obelisk Soldier looked ticked off at that.

"Oh, so you think we're a minimal threat, huh?" he growled. "Well why don't I show you the full extent of our power! I activate Antique Gear Double Imitation, Special Summon Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog and Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog from my graveyard!"

Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 5 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 1000

Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 7 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 1000

"And finally," the Obelisk Soldier proclaimed, raising his hand into the air, "I activate the effect of my Antique Gear Hound Dog in order to Fuse all four of my monsters together into Academia's ultimate superweapon! "Mechanized hounds that inherited ancient souls! Merge your ten heads, and become chaos and tremendous power! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 10! Antique Gear Chaos Giant!"

In a sudden explosion of light, the Obelisk Soldier's monster, the same colossal mech Melissa had seen Dennis use in his duel against Shun, appeared to the field, forcing Melissa's pilot to swerve out of the way as it nearly came into contact with the machine's immense shoulder plate.

Antique Gear Chaos Giant / DARK / Level 10 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 4500 / DEF 3000

"I cannot attack now." The Obelisk Soldier explained as he looked up at his impressive monster. "But at this point, our victory is sealed! This entire dimension is ours now!"

"A-Antique Gear Chaos Giant drives Security into a corner!" Melissa found herself shouting through her microphone out of sheer habit before she stopped herself. Overhead, she saw the face of the Security Chief, Jean-Michelle Roger, projected from an immense holographic screen as he addressed the city.

"Stand firm, citizens of this glorious city!" his voice boomed. "Our victory is at hand! With your glorious leader at the head of this mighty army, we cannot fail!"

But what Melissa Claire saw on the actual battlefield told a different story.

Uria Scout, Ibuki Ichiyanagi vs. Moira, Clark, and Timothy

"So, did you all use to duel a lot before today?" Ibuki asked in a friendly voice.

All three of the Synchro civilians, Moira, a teenage girl with curly black hair, Clark, a middle-aged man in a sweat-shirt, and Timothy, a very young and dirty boy who couldn't have been more than ten, stared at him with blank faces, red lights blinking on their foreheads.

"I'll…take that as a 'no.'" Ibuki shrugged. "So, I'll go easy on you all for my first turn. I Summon Sea Scales Amazoness from my hand!"

Appearing to Ibuki's field was a tall muscular mermaid with bronze human skin with bright bluish-green scales covering her extremities. In one of her hands, she wielded a large fish spear with wave patterns carved into the shaft.

Sea Scales Amazoness / WATER / Level 1 / Sea Serpent / Effect / ATK 2600 / DEF 2600

"When Sea Scales Amazoness is summoned or flipped face-up, I banish all cards I control." Ibuki explained as his monster raised her spear into the air before a massive tidal wave splashed over her, causing the monster to vanish. "With that, I'm ending my turn." He finished with a smile.

"My turn, draw." Moira droned in a completely emotionless voice. "I summon Rose Warrior of Revenge."

Through a blue portal, a red-haired woman wearing black armor and wielding a straight long-sword with a pink hilt appeared to the field.

Rose Warrior of Revenge / FIRE / Level 4 / Warrior / Tuner / Effect / ATK 1600 / DEF 600

"That's a pretty impressive tuner." Ibuki whistled. "And not bad on the eyes either. Planning on doing a Synchro Summon with it?"

"Turn end." Moira concluded before Clark stepped forward.

"Oh, come on, is that it?" Ibuki complained, sounding a little disappointed.

"My turn, draw." Clark echoed as he began his own turn. "I normal summon Chainsaw Insect in attack position."

Rampaging onto Clark's field, a large insect with whirring chainsaws for jaws appeared before causing Ibuki to jump back as it roared at the Uria scout.

Chainsaw Insect / EARTH / Level 4 / Insect / Effect / ATK 2400 / DEF 0

"Now that's the kind of attack power you don't normally see in a Level four monster!" Ibuki exclaimed. "Maybe I shouldn't have wanted you guys to go all-out."

"Turn end." Clark droned.

"Then again, you guys don't seem to be able to do anything much more advanced than a Normal Summon." Ibuki shrugged. "So, what are you gonna do, kid?"

"My turn, draw." Timothy mumbled. "I set one monster face-down before setting one card face-down. Turn end." He finished as two face-down cards appeared to his field.

Ibuki narrowed his eyes at his opponents.

"You know, it really disgusts me that Roger would try and shield himself with you people. You guys aren't even real duelists, like as not." He looked at his hand before returning his attention to his opponents. "It's nothing personal, guys, but I've got a mission to accomplish so… my turn! Draw!"

Quickly plucking a card from the top of his deck, Ibuki began his next turn.

"I activate the Magic Card, Treasures of the Deep! This handy card allows me to draw two cards before banishing one WATER monster from my hand. Using this effect, I draw two cards from my deck before banishing Sea Scales Priestess from my hand."

In the air above Ibuki, the dim afterimage of a mermaid wearing a bead of pears around her forehead and ceremonial robes over her human body, briefly appeared before vanishing.

"Next," Ibuki continued, "If I have a banished Sea Scales monster or a banished Tidal Magic or Trap Card, I can send that card to my graveyard in order to Special Summon Sea Scales Sagess from my hand! I send Sea Scales Amazoness and Sea Scales Priestess to my graveyard in order Special Summon two copies of Sea Scales Sagess to my field! Say hello to the ladies everyone!"

Through two blue portals, two smaller mermaids with bright, long sea-green hair and a ribbon of kelp covering their chests appeared to the field, staring at Ibuki's opponents with a knowing look in their storm-cloud grey eyes.

Sea Scales Sagess / WATER / Level 1 / Sea Serpent / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 50

"Unfortunately, these lovely ladies won't be staying for long." Ibuki continued as he plucked another card from his hand. "I next activate the Magic Card, Tidal Insight!"

Next to Ibuki, a Spell Card depicting Sea Scales Sagess discovering a bright green gem as the tides receded, appeared before glowing with bright blue light and conjuring a massive solid-vision wave of water to crash down on top of his two monsters.

"If I control at least two Sea Scale cards," Ibuki explained, "I can banish all cards I control in order to add any card I want from my deck to my hand. With this effect, I banish the two Sea Scale Sagess I control in order to add the Ritual Spell Card, Birth of the Tidal Dragon from my deck to my hand."

As quickly as the waves came, they suddenly receded, leaving behind a single Spell Card on the ground, which Ibuki picked up and added to his hand before continuing with his turn.

"I'm setting a card face-down." He continued as a single set card appeared in his Spell/Trap Card Zone. "And now, it's time for the real fun to begin! Since I haven't Normal Summoned anything this turn, I Normal Summon the lovely Sea Scales Seductress to my field!"

Swimming through the air, an elegant mermaid with luxuriant locks of deep blue hair, deep ruby-red eyes, and strings of shimmering pink, white, and black pearls covering up her upper half, appeared to Ibuki's field before the creature winked at Ibuki's opponents.

Sea Scales Seductress / WATER / Level 1 / Sea Serpent / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 650

"When Sea Scales Seductress is Normal Summoned, I can banish all cards I control in order to take control of up to three monsters my opponent controls, so long as I banished at least two of my own cards with this effect." Ibuki explained before another massive tidal wave rose up behind Sea Scales Seductress. "Using this effect, I banish my field in order to take control of Rose Warrior of Revenge, Chainsaw Insect, and the set monster! Go! Tidal Allure!"

The massive tidal wave crashed over Sea Scales Seductress and the other monsters before slowly receding, causing Sea Scales Seductress to vanish while Rose, Chainsaw Insect, and the set monster to settle onto Ibuki's field.

"Now, during the end of this turn, I'll have to give control of the monsters I took with Seductress back to their owners before banishing all cards I control, but that's okay because I'm not done yet!" Ibuki declared, revealing the Ritual Spell Card he had added to his hand earlier. "I next activate the Ritual Magic Card, Birth of the Tidal Dragon!"

In a surge of water, the entire duel field containing Ibuki and his opponents became flooded before a large whirlpool formed in the center of the pool of water and a massive choral-covered statue of two sea serpents with gaping jaws, one with a large narwhale-like horn in the center of its head, and another with a broad shield-like fin in the center of its head, rose up from the maelstrom.

"Using the power of Birth of the Tidal Dragon, I return both my banished Sea Scales Sagess to my graveyard in order to Ritual Summon a Sea Scales Ritual Monster from my deck whose Level is equal to the Level of the monsters I returned to my graveyard with this effect!"

In the air next to the statue, the dim afterimages of both of Ibuki's banished Sea Scales Sagess appeared before flying into the mouth of the statue with the horn as Ibuki began his summoning chant.

"Though the tides may recede, the force of the sea can never be held back! Crash upon the shore now with the force of a tidal wave! Gishiki Shoukan! Arawayo! Level two! Sea Scales Striking Dragon!"

Around the statue, the waters suddenly rose up before both of the monolithic sea serpents were submerged. Beneath the surface of the water, bubbles began breaking the surface before an immense living sea serpent, identical to the statue with a narwhale horn on the center of its forehead, appeared to Ibuki's field with an immense splash of water.

Sea Scales Striking Dragon / WATER / Level 2 / Sea Serpent / Ritual / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 3400

"But I'm not done yet!" Ibuki continued. "Sea Scales Striking Dragon never hunts alone! When it is successfully Ritual Summoned, I can Special Summon the Fusion Monster, Sea Scales Shielding Dragon, from my Extra Deck, treating it as if it were properly Fusion Summoned!"

Rising up from the center of the pool of water, the monolithic statue of the sea-serpents rose up once more, the horned statue noticeably missing from the stone pillar. Swimming up close to the statue, Sea Scales Striking Dragon began spraying the statue with water as Ibuki began a second summoning chant.

"As the sea must rise, so must it fall! With the pull of gravity, merge the waters of the tides together before rising once again as the ocean's guardian! Yuugo Shoukan! Arawayo! Level two! Sea Scales Shielding Dragon!"

With a final spray of water, Sea Scales Striking Dragon, blasted off the stone and choral of the remaining sea serpent statue, revealing an immense living sea serpent with a large shield-like fin in the center of its forehead beneath the hard stone. Roaring back at its companion, Sea Scales Shielding Dragon charged towards its companion before the two monsters entwined their two serpentine bodies together so that they looked like a single sea serpent with one horn-tipped head and one shield-covered head.

Sea Scales Shielding Dragon / WATER / Level 2 / Sea Serpent / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1600 / DEF 0

"The hunting game is about to come to end!" Ibuki declared. "I now activate the effect of Sea Scales Striking Dragon! During the turn it was Ritual Summoned, I can inflict damage to my opponent's Life Points equal to the number of Sea Scales Monsters I banished this turn times four-hundred and fifty! Since I banished Sea Scales Priestess, two copies of Sea Scales Sagess, and Sea Scales Seductress, that's eighteen-hundred damage to your Life Points! Go! Tidal Spray!"

Opening its mouth wide, Sea Scales Striking Dragon let out a gout of Sea Water into the mind-controlled civilians, hosing them all back.

Moira: 4000 – (450 X 4) = 2200 LP

Clark: 4000 – (450 X 4) = 2200 LP

Timothy: 4000 – (450 X 4) = 2200 LP

"Sea Scales Shielding Dragon's effect!" Ibuki declared. "Any time my opponents take damage while I control Striking Dragon, I can gain Life Points equal to the total damage they took! Go! Tidal nourishment!" he declared as a wave of water washed over him before causing his body to glow.

Ibuki: 4000 + (1800 X 3) = 9400 LP

"And now, Battle!" Ibuki declared, "Sea Scales Striking Dragon, attack player two directly!" he declared, pointing at Moira.

"Trap activate." Timothy droned as Ibuki's monster charged forward with its horn glimmering in the sunlight. "Mirror Force. All attack position monsters my opponent controls are destroyed."

"Nice try." Ibuki countered, "But I activate another effect of Striking Dragon! Once per turn, if my opponent activates the effect of a card, I can banish all cards I control! Go! Tidal Evasion!"

A burst of energy shot out from the trap card, but before it could make contact with any of Ibuki's monsters, they all suddenly vanished in a tidal wave of water, leaving the burst of energy to hit nothing.

"And now," Ibuki continued, "this is where the second effect of my Shielding Dragon comes into play! During the turn it and Striking Dragon were banished simultaneously, I can activate its effect in order to return all monsters that were banished at the time both Striking Dragon and Shielding Dragon were banished back to the field in their original positions! Return now!"

In another crash of waves, all of Ibuki's monsters suddenly returned, as if nothing had happened.

"Battle!" Ibuki declared. "Sea Scales Striking Dragon, attack player two! Tidal Strike!"

Lashing forward, Ibuki's monster, struck at Moira with its horn, knocking the brain-controlled civilian back.

Moira: 2200 – 2000 = 200 LP

Ibuki: 9400 + 2000 = 11,400 LP

"Sea Scales Shielding Dragon," Ibuki continued, "Attack Player four's Life Points directly! Tidal Crash!"

Bashing its large shield-like fin against Timothy, Ibuki's second monster knocked the kid onto his back, where he gazed up at the sky with a blank expression on his face.

Timothy: 2200 – 1600 = 600 LP

Ibuki: 11,400 + 1600 = 13,000 LP

"Next," Ibuki continued, "just because I want you guys to go out with some dignity, I think I'll finish you off with your own monsters. Chainsaw Insect, attack player three's Life Points directly!"

Hopping forward, Clark's immense insect clamped its jaws against the man's chest before throwing him back.

Clark: 2200 – 2400 = 0 LP (LOSE)

Ibuki: 13,000 + 2200 = 15,200 LP

"And now for the final attack!" Ibuki declared. "Rose, Warrior of Revenge, attack Player Four's Life Points directly!"

Racing forward, Rose quickly struck her sword against Timothy before leaping back onto Ibuki's field.

Timothy: 600 – 1600 = 0 LP (LOSE)

Ibuki: 15,200 + 600 = 15,800 LP

"Rose's effect now activates." Ibuki declared. "Since she inflicted battle damage to your Life Poits, she inflicts 300 damage to my opponent's Life Points. Thanks for the hunting game, everyone, but I'm afraid it's all over now!"

Leaping forward, Rose struck Moira across the chest with her sword, causing the last remaining civilian to fall to the ground.

Moira: 200 – 300 = 0 LP (LOSE)

Ibuki: 15,800 + 200 = 16,000 LP

"So, who's next?" Ibuki asked as he pressed a button on his duel disk, carding his opponents before his monsters were banished by the effect of Sea Scales Seductress.

"INTRUSION PENALTY!" a duel disk declared as a GHOST drone sped onto the duel field.

GHOST Delta 004: 4000 / 2 = 2000 LP

"Robot, huh?" Ibuki mused. "I wonder if you'll be-WOAH!" he exclaimed as he just barely managed to dodge the solid vision cable the machine shot from its duel disk. Just as Ibuki managed to regain his feet, the machine shot another solid vision cable from its duel disk, this time managing to ensnare Ibuki's duel disk arm

"Boku no turn." The machine droned as it retracted its cable before slamming down a card. "I discard Marinel Top from my hand in order to add Marine Core Mark II from my hand before normal summoning it."

In front of the GHOST unit, a spherical black machine with small glass portholes on the front and large submarine turbines on either side of its body appeared to the field.

Marine Core Mark II / WATER / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"The defeat of Academia is inevitable." The machine droned as Ibuki looked upon its monster with skepticism. "You have one chance to surrender before you are destroyed."

"I personally like to defy chance." Ibuki grunted as he stood his ground.


Melissa looked away from the duel. Despite having no love for the Chief of Security, seeing her fellow citizens get crushed left and right by the invading army filled her with despair. At this rate, it would only be a matter of time before they managed to defeat Jean-Michelle Roger himself. And even if Roger had turned out to be a tyrant, Melissa shudder to think what the new overlord would do to her city.

"You're, heh heh, army doesn't seem to be doing its job." General Magni's voice mocked from the big holographic screens as he watched dozens more of Roger's civilian soldiers fall to his men.

"Not too surprising considering the strongest ace monster I've seen is so far is Luster Dragon." Lieutenant Martell added, snickering by his general's side.

"Your lieutenant seems almost as overconfident as you, Thaddeus." Roger sneered, seemingly unfazed by the losses his forces were sustaining. "I must say, I really will look forward to seeing both your faces once victory is snatched from you."

"I don't think you have any idea who you're up against!" Martell growled. "I am an Academia honor student and General Magni's own pupil!"

"I was wondering why your dueling seemed so second-rate." Roger mocked.

"We'll see how long you can keep making snide comments once you see what's coming next." Martell countered. "It's my move! I draw and normal summon Delta the Magnet Warrior from my hand!"

Through a blue portal, Martell's new monster, a blue robot composed of several prismatic magnets, appeared to the field.

Delta the Magnet Warrior / EARTH / Level 4 / Rock / Effect / ATK 1600 / DEF 1400

"Delta the Magnet Warrior's effect activates when it is summoned." Martell declared, extracting a card from his deck before showing it to Roger. "Using its effect, I send Alpha the Magnet Warrior from my deck to the graveyard."

Appearing briefly to the field, the faded afterimage of another magnetic soldier with a sword and shield materialized before sinking into a black portal as Martell deposited the card into his graveyard.

"And now it's time for the fun part!" Martell leered as he placed another card from his hand onto his duel disk. "I activate the Magic Card, Dark Hole in order to destroy all monsters on the field!"

In the center of the field, a massive singularity opened up, which began to pull every monster on the field into its center. Bracing against the sudden surge of gravity, Roger extended his hand towards one of his face-downs.

"Trap activate!" he declared, "Chess Master Move – Terrasch Defense! Until the end of this turn, Chess Master monsters I control cannot be destroyed by card effects!"

Each of Martell and General Magni's monsters were torn to pieces as they entered the center of the singularity, however, before the black hole could suck in Roger's monsters, the chess monsters suddenly came alive, limbs moving as the pawn raised his shield into the air and the knight braced himself against the gravitational pull until the singularity faded away.

"So, you've managed to lose all your monsters and accomplish nothing in the process." Roger sneered. "It would seem Leo's really lowered his standards when it comes to honor students."

"Your monster's survival is only a minor inconvenience." Martell countered. "Behold! I activate the second effect of Delta the Magnet Warrior! If it is sent to the graveyard, I can banish Alpha the Magnet Warrior, Beta the Magnet Warrior, and Gamma the Magnet Warrior from my graveyard in order to summon my ultimate weapon! Come forth! Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!"

From three black portals, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma rose into the air before their magnetic bodies broke apart and began reforming, combining together until the became a single gigantic magnetic soldier composed of parts from all three of the original magnet warriors.

Valkyrion the Magna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 3850

"And just in case I need to, I'll activate Burial from a Different Dimension, returning each of my banished Magnet Warriors to my graveyard to be used for later." Martell explained, returning his three monsters to the graveyard. "But now that that's done, I can get back to crushing you! Valkyrion the Magnet Warrior, attack and destroy Chess Master White Pawn! Magnetic Blade!"

"Trap activate." Roger lazily replied, not even bothering to look at either Martell or his monster as he stretched his hand towards his face-down. "Chess Master Move – Sicilian Defense. If a Chess Master monster I control would be destroyed by battle, I can make it so that it is not destroyed, and before you argue that I will still take the damage, my Trap Card also makes it so that I take no damage from that battle."

Valkyrion swung its sword down at the white pawn, but before it could connect with the stone chest of the monster, the marble soldier suddenly became animated once again and instead raised its shield into the air in order to deflect the blow.

"Pointless." Roger sneered, shaking his head derisively. "Absolutely pointless. Chess Master Move – Sicilian Defense can be re-set to my field after I activate it, so long as I banish it when it leaves the field next time, so I will be perfectly protected from the next attack that comes my way."

"Turn end." Martell growled, gritting his teeth.

"Keep your composure, lieutenant." General Magni drawled as he lazily drew a card from his deck before beginning his own turn. "Thanks to your plays, our little fugitive is now nearly defenseless."

"And your field is nearly empty." Roger shot back, indicating the lone face-down Magni possessed.

"Not for long." General Magni growled, revealing a card in his hand before stretching his hand towards his field. "It's time to call on my own ace monster. I banish Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior from my graveyard, Beta the Electromagnet Warrior from my hand, and Gamma the Electromagnet Warrior from my hand in order to summon Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior! Elecromagnetic soldiers, combine!"

Appearing to General Magni's field, three robotic soldiers, similar in appearance to Alpha, Beta, and Gamma the Magnet Warriors, but with coiled electromagnets making up their bodies, rose into the air before breaking apart and reforming into a much larger electromagnetic soldier wielding a large electromagnetic pole like a two-handed sword.

Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2800

"Congratulations," Roger mocked, sarcastically clapping his hands together. "You essentially repeated your subordinates turn, only you managed to summon a much weaker monster than his."

"This just shows that you've never mastered the art of teamwork." General Magni shot back as he stretched his hand towards his face-down. "Trap Card activate, Magnetic Warrior Attraction! Once per turn, if I control a face-up Magnet Warrior, Magna Warrior, or Superconductive monster, I can target one Magnet Warrior, Magna Warrior, or Superconductive monster my opponent controls in order to take control of it! Join my field now! Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!"

Raising its large electromagnetic baton into the air, Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior began attracting Valkyrion to itself before it occupied the monster zone adjacent to Magni's monster. In unison, the two monsters then turned towards Roger, bearing their weapons as they prepared for battle.

"I will next activate Night Beam from my hand, destroying your set Chess Master Move – Sicilian Defense." General Magni continued as his magic card obliterated Roger's set card with a beam of energy, causing Roger to grit his teeth with annoyance.

"Battle." General Magni growled in a cold voice. "Valkyrion the Magna Warrior, attack and destroy Chess Master White Pawn, Magnetic Sword."

Charging towards Roger's marble soldier once more, Valkyrion met with little resistance this time as it cleaved the stone soldier into two pieces with relative ease before bashing Roger with its shield, sending the purple-and-white robed dictator screaming as he flew through the air before landing on his rump.

Roger: 4000 – 2500 = 1500 LP

"Continue the attack." General Magni ordered, not even giving Roger time to get back up as he glared at the Academia traitor with contempt. "Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior, attack and destroy Chess Master White Knight. Electromagnetic Baton."

Coming to life, Roger's Chess Master White Knight charged towards Magni's Berserkion, but with a single swipe of its large electromagnetic baton, Berserkion easily brushed the stone creature aside, smashing it into gravel before bringing down one of its fists against Roger, pounding him right back into the ground just as the dictator managed to get up.

Roger: 1500 – 1000 = 500 LP

"Behold your brave leader, Synchro!" General Magni mocked, addressing the large holographic screens above his head. "His doom is upon him, but I, being the generous leader that I am, shall give him one chance to surrender and acknowledge me as this city's true overlord! Pray that he accepts my offer, otherwise I will grind all of you into the dust, just as I ground this wretched failure into the dust!"

In response, Roger, to the general's amazement, began laughing.

"You really think you've won?" he snickered as he got up before brushing the dust off himself. "Why, my dear colleague, our battle is just beginning!"

"Don't you dare mock your new overlord!" Lieutenant Martell warned. "You have only five-hundred life points and no cards on your field! You should be begging for mercy rather than running your mouth! How can you possibly expect to beat us?"

"End your turn and I'll show you." Roger replied, a knowing smirk coming over his face.

"I would like to see you try." General Magni replied, "If only to see just how spectacularly one man can fail at everything. But first, before I end my turn, I think you ought to catch a glimpse of my full power before you are defeated! Using my face-up Valkyrion the Manga Warrior and Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior as material, I perform a Contact Fusion!"

Upon General Magni's command, his two immense magnet soldiers broke apart into individual magnetic pieces before merging together as Magni began a summoning chant.

"Magnetic Soldiers, with the combined forces of ferromagnetism and electromagnetism, pull yourself together and become an unstoppable force of attraction! Yuugo Shoukan! Crush my pathetic opposition! Level ten! Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot!"

Galloping onto the field with a set of four magnetic hooves, General Magni's new monster, a centaur-like magnet robot with large pink wings on its horse-back, an armored humanoid upper half, a sword in its right hand, and a large electromagnetic cannon over its left shoulder, appeared to General Magni's field.

Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot / EARTH / Level 10 / Rock / Fusion / Effect / ATK 4000 / DEF 4000

"And now," General Magni continued as Roger gazed up at his immense fusion monster, "I think I'll end my turn. Try not waste too much of my time with your last turn. I have a dimension to rule."

"The only part of this dimension I will ever let a piece of scum like you rule is your own personal prison cell." Roger growled, his calm demeanor now gone as a look of immense rage came across his face.

"I'll make you wish you could spend the rest of your days in prison, traitor." General Magni threatened. "Now do your turn!"

"Ore no turn," Roger growled, "draw!"

Looking through the cards in his hand, he sneered before looking at Magni's ace monster.

"I think the first item on the agenda will be dealing with that annoying Fusion Monster." Roger began as he placed a card on his duel disk. "So, I'll start my turn with this monster! Come forth! Chess Master White Rook!"

Ascending up from the ground, a massive marble tower with the statue of a soldier manning a cannon rose into the air before holding still.

Chess Master White Rook / LIGHT / Level 4 / Rock / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 2000

"And what do you plan on doing with that monster?" General Magni asked, examining White Rook's stats with a skeptical expression on his face.

"Why don't I show you?" Roger asked. "I next banish Chess Master Move – Terrasch Defense from my graveyard in order to activate its second effect, enabling me to add one Chess Master Move card from my deck to my hand, and the card I choose to add to my hand is this," Roger continued as a card popped out of his deck before he added it to his hand, "Chess Master Move – Vienna Game. Would you like to know what this card does?"

"I don't think I particularly care." General Magni coldly replied.

"Well how about I show you rather than explain." Roger replied, slamming down the Spell Card. "I discard one card from my hand in order to activate Chess Master Move – Vienna Game! Now I can target up to two Chess Master monsters in my graveyard in order to Special Summon one Chess Master monster from my hand or deck whose name is the same as each respective target, and the targets I choose are, naturally, Chess Master White Knight and Chess Master White Pawn."

General Magni quickly brought up some data on his duel disk, scowling as he reviewed the stats of Roger's monsters.

"I don't know what your game is, Jean, but I'm not gonna let you play it." General Magni growled. "In response to the activation of your Spell Card, I activate the effect of my Imperion Magnum! Once per turn, I can negate the activation of one of your Magic, Trap, or Monster effects, and if I do, destroy the card! Go, Imperion Magnum! Electromagnetic Pulse!"

Leaning forward, Imperion Magnum aimed its large electromagnetic cannon at Roger's Spell Card before firing a pulse of energy into Roger's card, obliterating it before its effect could go off. Roger grimaced at the destruction of his card, but seemed to quickly recover.

"Very well then." He shrugged. "I don't need Vienna Game to win anyway. I can easily adapt my master strategy to this minor inconvenience. Chess Master White Rook!" he ordered, stretching his hand towards the stone soldier resting atop the white marble tower. "Attack and destroy Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot!"

"And how exactly do you plan on beating my monster with that glorified chess piece?" General Magni mocked. "You could have at least attacked my lieutenant directly, or are you just trying to go out with more dignity with one final glorious suicide rush?"

"I find nothing particularly dignifying about suicide." Roger replied. "It's just another way of being defeated. No. I told you I planned on destroying your monster, and that is exactly what I am going to do. Chess Master White Rook gains ATK equal to the ATK of the monster it is battling when it attacks. Go my monster! Prepare to fire on my mark!"

Suddenly leaping to life, the stone soldier standing on top of the aimed the stone cannon it was manning at General Magni's Imperion Magnum before igniting a torch and holding it over the cannon's fuse.

Chess Master White Rook: 1000 + 4000 = 5000 ATK

"FIRE!" Jean-Michell Roger ordered.

Upon his command, the stone soldier brought the torch down on the cannon's fuse, creating a thunderous boom as the marble cannon fired a round stone projectile into General Magni's Imperion Magnum, blasting the massive machine soldier into thousands of pieces and knocking back General Magni.

General Magni: 4000 – 1000 = 3000 LP

"Chess Master White Rook loses the ATK it gained at the end of the damage step and changes to defense position after it attacks." Roger smugly explained as the stone soldier retreated back to its pedestal behind the tower's crenulated surface.

Chess Master White Rook: 1000 ATK / 2000 DEF (Defense Position)

"But with that attack done, your 'most powerful monster' has been obliterated with a single blow, leaving both of your life points wide open." Roger exulted, looking very pleased with himself.

"You sure about that?" General Magni countered with an unconcerned look on his face as he brushed himself off. "I activate the effect of Imperion Magnum. When it is destroyed, I can Special Summon one Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior and one Valkyrion the Magna Warrior from my deck, ignoring their summoning conditions. Magnetic champions, reform!" he ordered as the pieces left behind from Imperion Magnum's explosion suddenly rose into the air before reforming into Berserkion and Valkyrion.

Valkyrion the Magna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 3850

Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2800

"You're just as pathetic of a duelist as I remember." General Magni went on. "No wonder The Professor rescinded your position as an instructor. Had you been the one teaching Academia's future soldiers combat techniques, we would have lost every one of our campaigns."

"We'll see whose tactics are inferior in the end." Roger replied, pulling out one more card from his hand. "I set one card face-down. Turn end."

"Shall I finish him off, General?" Lieutenant Martell begged.

"Be my guest." General Magni replied with a bored expression on his face. "As entertaining of a punching bag this traitor has been, I'm beginning to find even his torment to grow boring."

"I was hoping you would say that." Lieutenant Martell sneered. "Here I go then. It's my move! Draw!"

Looking at the card he drew from the top of his deck, the Lieutenant nodded, a pleased expression coming over his face as he played his card.

"I activate the magic card, Painful Decision, in order to send Beta the Magnet Warrior from my deck to the graveyard and a second copy of Beta the Magnet Warrior to my hand, which I will now summon. Come forth!"

Beta the Magnet Warrior / EARTH / Level 4 / Rock / ATK 1700 / DEF 1600

"And now," Lieutenant Martell continued, "Since I control a Magnet Warrior monster, I will activate this, my own copy of Magnetic Warrior Attraction! Return to me now, Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!"

Stretching out its magnetic hands, Beta the Magnet Warrior pulled General Magni's Valkyrion the Magna Warrior towards himself before the massive robot settled onto Martell's field.

"It's over now!" Lieutenant Martell gloated. "First, Valkyrion the Magna Warrior destroys your defense position Chess Master White Rook! Go! Magnetic Blade!"

Charging forward, Valkyrion the Magna Warrior sliced multiple deep gashes into the side of the tower with its enormous blade, gradually destabilizing the structure before the entire stone edifice crumbled into rubble.

"And now to finish you off!" Martell declared. "Beta the Magnet Warrior, direct attack!"

"Trap activate!" Roger countered, revealing his face-down card, "Chess Master Move – Queen's Gambit! Using my Level two Tuner monster, Chess Master White Pawn, my Level four Chess Master White Knight, and my Level four Chess Master White Rook as Materials, I Synchro Summon!"

"Synchro Summon!?" Lieutenant Martell exclaimed, looking both shocked and amazed.

"Yes, Synchro Summon, you idiot." Roger replied, his contempt now very evident with the expression he was giving Lieutenant Martell. "Did you really think I would spend all this time in this dimension without learning their arts? It's time for you to behold my ace monster! He declared as his White Pawn morphed into a trio of two rings, which enveloped his White Knight and White Rook before causing the two monsters to fade away into a column of eight white spheres as Roger began his summoning chant.

"Pieces set in position by the master of games, unveil the true champion now and place my opponent into check! Synchro Shoukan! Arawayo! The regal mistress of the gentleman's game! Chess Master White Queen!"

Appearing from a pillar of white light, Roger's new monster, a tall and elegant white marble statue of a graceful queen wearing a stylish wig and ballroom gown dress while wielding a large two-handed sword, which she held close to her shapely bosom, appeared to the field, stone eyes staring coldly at General Magni and Lieutenant Martell as she gazed down at them with a disdainful expression on her pale face.

Chess Master White Queen / LIGHT / Level 10 / Fairy / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 3000 (Defense position)

"What…Synchro Summon…but the records show that you…" Martell sputtered, looking through some holographic notes he had pulled up on Jean-Michelle Roger's days in Academia.

"What, did you honestly think I would just copy that pompous Cronos de Medici's dueling style like everyone else?" Roger mocked. "You're a little late to be surprised on that count. Frankly, I think that Academia's dueling strategies have long been in need of an update."

"So, you've thrown your lot in with both a pathetic dimension and their pathetic summoning technique?" General Magni asked, shaking his head with disapproval. "Honestly, Jean, I didn't think I could feel this much contempt for one man, but you're proving me more wrong by the second."

"If you want to feel contempt for someone, why don't you look to your idiotic Lieutenant?" Roger asked, indicating the still blustering Martell. "That fool could have finished me off this turn had he had the presence of mind to take your Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior, rather than that overgrown hunk of metal, Valkyrion. With Berserkion's effect, he could have obliterated my field and attacked me directly, but then again, I've learned from long and hard experience that one generally cannot count on one's subordinates to do the job right."

"General…I…" Martell began as General Magni looked down at him with a stern expression on his face.

"Stop humiliating Academia and end your turn so I can finish things myself." General Magni growled.

"Turn end!" Lieutenant Martell hastily replied.

"Good." General Magni grunted. "I actually like this better, Roger. Now it will be me who gets to destroy you, while everyone in this city watches. Prepare to meet your fate! Draw!"

Quickly pulling a card from his hand, General Magni began his turn.

"I Normal Summon Beta the Electromagnet Warrior," Magni began as a small robotic magnet soldier with an enlarged head entered his field. "And next, I will activate the effect of my Magnetic Warrior Attraction! I take control of Valkyrion the Magna Warrior, and with that done, it's time to contact fusion once more! Return to my field, Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot!"

Breaking apart into thousands of individual magnetic pieces, Magni's Fusion Monster reappeared to the field, metal hooves pawing at the ground as it stared down at Roger's Chess Master White Queen.

"It's over now." General Magni growled. "Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot, attack and destroy Chess Master White Queen! Superconductive Battle Sword!"

With a single blow of its sword, Imperion Magnum obliterated Roger's White Queen, leaving him wide open for an attack.

"Behold the fall of your leader, Citizens of Synchro, and know that your fall comes next! Beta the Electromagnet Warrior, direct attack! Glory on the Academia!" General Magni proclaimed as his monster charged forward, before bashing its fists against Roger's head, sending the dictator flying through the air before roughly landing on the ground.

Roger: 500 – 1500 = 0 (LOSE)

Slowly, General Magni began walking over to where Roger was laying, finger raised above the screen of his duel disk.

"It's over for you now." He whispered as he looked down on Roger, face full of contempt. "Time to die a traitor's death."

Groaning, Roger managed to raise himself slightly from the ground before looking up at General Magni with a knowing expression on his face.

"How can you kill someone who is immortal?" he mocked.

Snarling, General Magni pressed the button on his duel disk, activating the carding function in order to rid himself of Roger once and for all. There was a flash of light, and Roger was instantly gone. Vanished into thin air like every other person who was ever defeated by an Academia soldier.

Only, when the general checked his duel disk, no card of Roger's screaming face came out.

"INTRUSION PENALTY! TWO-THOUSAND LIFE POINTS!" General Magni and Lieutenant Martell's duel disks suddenly declared.

"What?" General Magni growled, looking down at his duel disk to see if something had malfunctioned.

"General?" Liuetenant Martell called, sounding afraid.

"What is it, Lieutenant?" General Magni barked, turning towards his Lieutenant before something else caught his attention, causing his eyes to widen with disbelief.

Jean-Michelle Roger was strolling towards them, sparkling with electricity as he took the intrusion penalty, but otherwise looking absolutely confident. His robes had changed slightly from a moment ago, purple robes now streaked with blood-red highlights instead of white highlights and there was an odd reddish tint to his eyes as if he had been possessed by a demon.

Jean-Michelle Roger: 4000 – 2000 = 2000 LP

"Impossible." General Magni breathed.

In response, Roger began laughing.

"Impossible, General? Then how am I standing before you?" he mocked, voice much more vicious sounding than it had previously been.

"This is wrong!" General Magni protested with a furious roar. "I defeated you!"

"And yet here I stand, General, very much alive and un-defeated." Roger sneered. "You, see, my dear colleague, unlike most plebeians, my position as Chief of Security affords me certain privileges not available to the average duelist, one of those being immortality."

"Immortality?" Lieutenant Martell sputtered. "But that's impossible!"

From up above in her helicopter, Melissa looked on with a mixture of confusion and horror, unable to understand how the Chief of Security was still standing. What other powers could he be hiding, and what would he do if he found out she was about to commit treason by breaking one of his prisoners free?

The red-tinted Roger inhaled through his nose, as if he could smell his inevitable victory, before addressing his opponents, looking upon them as if they were insects.

"If there is one thing I have learned since coming to this dimension, it's that nothing is impossible." He explained, strolling towards them, while spreading out his arms for dramatic emphasis, "Godly power, omniscience, omnipotence, immortality, all of these things are within my grasp! You, on the other hand, will get to taste every faculty of mortal weakness now as you suffer ultimate defeat at my hands! Ore no turn! DRAW!"

Yanking a card from the top of his deck, an utterly mad expression on his face, Red Roger began his turn.

"I'll start by summoning a monster!" Red Roger declared. "Come Forth! Chess Master Red Pawn!"

Appearing to Roger's field, an exact duplicate of his Chess Master White Pawn, save for the fact that it was made out of blood-red stone, materialized to one of Roger's monster zones, spear glittering in the sunlight as if it were dripping with actual blood.

Chess Master Red Pawn / DARK / Level 2 / Warrior / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 1000

General Magni managed to recover from his shock just enough to examine the stats of Roger's monster before laughing.

"Nice try, Jean." He nervously laughed. "But even if you've somehow managed to come back from the dead, your dueling is just as pathetic as before! There's no way you can defeat my Imperion Magnum!"

"That's where you are wrong, my simple-minded colleague." Roger laughed. "Just as you have been wrong about so many other things. I activate Chess Master Move, Torre Attack in order to Special Summon a Level four Chess Master monster from my deck whose Attribute is the same as Chess Master Red Pawn's."

"Oh, so trying to summon another Rook, are we?" General Magni growled. "Well sorry to disappoint you, Roger, but I won't let you! I activate Imperion Magnum's effect! Electromagnetic Pulse!"

Before Roger's Spell Card could activate its effect, Imperion Magnum blasted it with the electromagnetic cannon on its soldier, obliterating the physical manifestation of the card in a shower of sparks.

"I knew you would do that, fool." Roger sneered. "Any great chess master will tell you that in order to succeed, one must think several steps ahead of one's opponent. And such is the case here. I activate two copies of Chess Master Move – Vienna Game, discarding a copy of Chess Master Red Bishop and Chess Master Red Knight from my hand in order to Special Summon a copy of Chess Master Red Bishop and a copy of Chess Master Red Knight from my deck! Come forth! Chess Master Red Knight and Chess Master Red Bishop!"

Appearing to Roger's field, a blood-red statue of a knight riding on a horse and a blood-red statue of a Catholic Cardinal with an elegant staff in his hands materialized to Roger's monster zones, the surfaces of their body glittering in the sunlight as if they were bleeding.

Chess Master Red Knight / DARK / Level 4 / Beast / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 1000

Chess Master Red Bishop / DARK / Level 4 / Spellcaster / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 2000

General Magni looked through Red Roger's field, sweat beading on his forehead.

"You…can't do anything with those monsters." He growled. "None of them are strong enough to defeat Imperium Magnum, and even if you focused your attacks on Lieutenant Martell, you still wouldn't have enough ATK to defeat him!"

"That's where you are wrong, as usual, General." Red Roger sneered. "Chess Master Red Bishop has the ability to destroy whatever monster it attacks at the start of the damage step AND inflict damage to the controller equal to the ATK of the monster destroyed, meaning that I could easily finish either of you off right now."

General Magni began backing away, repeatedly whispering, "…this is impossible…this is impossible…" to himself as Lieutenant Martell looked on with a very worried expression.

"However," Red Roger continued, "I don't intend to attack you with my bishop, that just feels anticlimactic, don't you think?"

"You can't be beating me…I already beat you!" General Magni protested. "You should be carded by now!"

"Yes, crushing you with a Fusion Monster of my own sounds much more appropriate." Roger mocked, a demonic grin coming over his face.

"A fusion monster?" Lieutenant Martell gasped.

"Naturally." Red Roger replied, reveling in the moment. "As wrong as the two of you have been on nearly everything else, I do have to agree with you both on one thing. Synchro Summoning really does seem to pale in comparison to the might and majesty that is the Fusion Summon, so I think I will use it now!"

"But you don't have any cards in your hand!" Lieutenant Martell protested. "You don't have any copy of Fusion to Fusion Summon anything!"

"And what has your general been doing this entire duel?" Red Roger replied, an annoyed expression coming over his face. "Don't tell me that a so-called 'honor student' like yourself never learned the mechanics of contact fusion."

Lieutenant Martell stared at Roger with his mouth agape.

"Consider this my personal lesson to you, then." Red Roger growled. "Using the summoning condition of the Chess Master Red Queen in my Extra Deck, I send Chess Master Red Pawn, Chess Master Red Bishop, and Chess Master Red Knight from my field to the graveyard in order to perform a contact fusion!"

Above Roger's head, a glowing blood-red fusion portal with the silhouette of a chess board in the background appeared before all three of his monsters rose into the center of the portal and blended together in a swirl of blood-red light as Roger began his summoning chant.

"Dark playing pieces of the gentleman's game, sacrifice your life now for my own amusement in order to give way for a stronger piece to take the board! Yuugo shoukan! Arawayo! Dark mistress of the gentleman's game! Level 10! Chess Master Red Queen!"

Floating down from the red fusion portal, Roger's new chess piece, an exact copy of Chess Master White Queen, but made of blood red stone, descended down to the dictator's field, stony, pupil-less eyes glimmering as if blood were dripping from them as she hefted an equally bloody-looking two handed sword close to her crimson breasts.

Chess Master Red Queen / DARK / Level 10 / Fairy / Fusion / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 3000

"Chess Master Red Queen has the ability to change the ATK of the monster she is attacking to zero until the end of the Damage Step." Roger explained with a sneer. "And with just three-thousand life points remaining to you, General, well…I'm afraid you won't be ruling any dimension any time soon."

"This isn't possible…" General Magni breathed.

"Funny, I was hoping you'd come up with better last words." Roger snorted. "Battle then. Chess Master Red Queen attacks Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot! Checkmate!"

Opening her stone mouth, Chess Master Red Queen let out a shrill banshee-like battlecry before raising her blood-red sword into the air and charging at Magni's monster.

"Martell!" General Magni quickly ordered. "Use the trap card! Protect Imperion Magnum!"

"Right, general!" Martell replied. "I activate the effect of Magnet Warrior Attraction, taking control of Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot!"

Chess Master Red Queen was just a few feet from Magni's monster, but before she could cleave the monster in two, a sudden magnetic pull from Martell's Beta the Magnet Warrior suddenly yanked Imperion Magnum away before setting the monster on his own field.

Roger eyed the field before snorting with derision.

"So, you've decided to pass the baton to your lieutenant." Roger sniffed. "You know I won't waste my attack on Martell, since my Queen doesn't have enough ATK to destroy him, so you're giving him your ace monster, hoping that he'll be able to defeat me in your place."

"Yes." General Magni growled, clenching his fists. "I don't know how you did it, except that you probably cheated somehow, but be that as it may, I'm no fool. I can see when I'm going to lose. But even if I fall today, I still have my army and Academia has far more soldiers coming this way. You will never defeat all of us!"

"Trusting your subordinates to get the job done right." Roger snorted. "How pathetic. Still, I suppose they were much better last words at least. Chess Master Red Queen, attack and destroy Beta the Electromagnet Warrior."

Beta the Electromagnet Warrior: 0 ATK

Leering with an evil smile that caused her stone cheeks to crack slightly, Chess Master Red Queen charged forward before bringing her weapons down on General Magni's monster, cleaving it in two before slicing into Magni and sending the general flying backwards.

General Magni: 3000 – 3000 = 0 LP (LOSE)

"Checkmate." Roger lazily droned as General Magni's duel disk initiated a forced return, causing the unconscious body of the general to disappear. Once he had vanished, Roger turned towards the cowering Lieutenant Martell.

"Your turn, Lieutenant." Roger mocked as his monster faced Martell, actual blood from General Magni now dripping from her sword.


"My turn! Draw!" the Obelisk Soldier with the Red Gem in his helmet declared as he ripped card from the top of his deck. "I'll start by activating Antique Gear Double Imitation in order to Special Summon Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog and Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog from my graveyard!"

Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 7 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 1000

Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 5 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 1000

"Next is the magic card, Fusion!" the red-gemmed Obelisk Soldier declared. "I fuse my two monsters together in order to Fusion Summon Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog! Yuugo Shoukan!" he declared as a his massive hound lumbered out of the fusion portal before activating its effect, knocking back the GHOST drone while his fellow Obelisk Soldiers protected themselves with the effect of Fusion Screen.

Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog / EARTH / Level 9 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK 2800 / DEF 2000

GHOST Beta 021: 1000 / 2 = 500 LP

"Now it's time to turn this overgrown tin can into scrap metal." The red-gemmed soldier declared. "I Normal Summon Antique Gear Hound Dog before tributing it in order to activate my Magic Card, Antique Gear Chaos Research! Using the effect of this card, I can add one Antique Gear Chaos card from my deck or graveyard to my hand, and the card I choose is Antique Gear Chaos Factory, which I will now activate!"

Behind the Obelisk Soldier, an immense clock-work factory stuffed with various pieces of Antique Gear machines and dominated by an immense flaming furnace materialized.

"And now it's time for my own chaos monster to appear!" Obelisk Red gloated. "Using my Antique Gear Chaos Factory, I banish the Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog on my field, and the Triple Bite and double bite in my graveyard in order to Fusion Summon!"

From within the factory, a series of clockwork claws reached out before grabbing Red's Ultimate Hound Dog and dumping it into the immense furnace before scrap metal from Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog and Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog were thrown into the slurry of molten metal as Red began his summoning chant.

"Mechanized War Hounds who inherit the souls of ancient soldiers, bare your fangs now and strike down my enemies in the flames of conquest! Yuugo Shoukan! Arawayo! Level ten! Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught!"

In an explosion of flame, Red's new monster, a massive clockwork tank with the head of a robotic wolf, twin cannons capped with the heads of robotic dogs, and a missile turret on the top, rolled onto Red's field on a pair of massive treads, Wolf head roaring as it brought its weapons to bare on the GHOST drone.

Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught / DARK / Level 10 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK ? / DEF ?

"Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught's ATK and DEF are each equal to the combined Levels of its Materials times three-hundred." Red explained as his immense machine glowed with dark energy.

Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught: 6300 ATK / 6300 DEF

"And now I activate Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught's effect!" Red declared. "Once per turn, I can destroy all Magic and Trap Cards one of my opponent controls in order to inflict damage to their Life Points equal to the total amount of their Magic and Trap cards destroyed with this effect times six-hundred! Go! Chaos Barrage!"

Roaring through its central wolf mouth, Chaos Dreadnaught fired a barrage of missiles and artillery rounds from its weapons, which came flying towards the GHOST drone's field in an explosion of flame.

"The conditions for victory have been met." The GHOST drone mused in an emotionless voice. "Phase two can initiate." Jerking its robotic hand towards one of the face downs, the machine responded to the attack.

"Trap activate!" it declared. "Mektimed Pulse!"

Flipping face-up, the GHOST drone's trap card, which depicted a robotic EMP with an ∞ symbol on its front, activated before causing the GHOST drone's Grand Core Mark II to send out a pulse of electric energy, which deflected the incoming missiles and cannon shots before slamming into Chaos Dreadnaught, causing the immense tank to short circuit.

"The heck?" Red exclaimed.

"Mektimed Pulse can, once per turn, negate the activation of a card or effect that would destroy a card or cards on the field." GHOST Beta 021 explained. "Additionally, each time Mektimed Pulse is used, I must destroy one Meklord or Core monster I control, in this case, Grand Core Mark II."

"You're destroying the only monster you control?" the green-gemmed Obelisk soldier asked, as the GHOST drone's Grand Core Mark II began to implode in on itself, creating a small black hole.

"When Grand Core Mark II is destroyed by a card effect," the GHOST drone explained, "All monsters on my side of the field are destroyed before five new monsters are summoned to my field. Initiating Meklord assembly!"

Raising its right robotic arm into the air, the duel disk over its wrist began to transform, becoming broader and more tablet-like as the monster zones rearranged into a plus-shaped formation. From the center of the singularity where Grand Core Mark II once stood, the holographic images of five cards appeared before transforming into new monsters.

"Assemble to the field." The GHOST drone ordered. "Granel Top Mark II!"

Appearing first, a tall thin orange robotic head with a single red robotic eye in its center emerged from the top of the singularity.

Granel Top Mark II / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 500 / DEF 0

"Granel Guard Mark II!" GHOST Beta 021 continued as a long serpentine orange robotic arm with a broad diamond-shaped shield on its front appeared.

Granel Guard Mark II / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 500 / DEF 1000

"Granel Attack Mark II!" the machine continued as a large orange serpentine robotic arm with an immense cannon on its end appeared.

Granel Attack Mark II / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1300 / DEF 0

"Granel Carrier Mark II!" it proclaimed as an immense orange robotic base with a pair of tank treads on either side emerged from the bottom of the singularity.

Granel Carrier Mark II / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 700 / DEF 700

"And finally," the GHOST drone proclaimed as a new monster that looked like an orange spherical robotic chest with an infinity symbol on its front emerged from the very center of the singularity, "Kikai shikkō kikan Granel ∞ Mark II!"

Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"All pieces of Granel act as a single unit." The GHOST drone declared as each of the monsters summoned by Grand Core Mark II began transforming. "Combine now!" it declared as the pieces of the machine joined together, Granel Carrier Mark II detaching to the bottom of Granel ∞ to form the machine's base, Granel Guard and Granel attack becoming the machine's right and left arms respectively, and Granel Top becoming the machines head before the center of the machine opened up to reveal a pulsating core of energy within its infinity symbol.

"Furthermore," the GHOST drone continued, "Kikai shikkō kikan Granel ∞ Mark II's ATK and DEF are each equal to half its controller's Life Points."

Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II: 250 ATK / 250 DEF

"But you only have five-hundred life points, so it's not really that strong." The green-gemmed obelisk soldier observed.

"Exactly." The gold-gemmed soldier agreed. "All you managed to do was summon five weak monsters that my Chaos Giant can destroy."

"Basically, you have one last turn before we destroy you." Red concluded. "Turn end."

"Final turn commencing, draw." the GHOST drone began, mechanically drawing a card from the top of its deck.

"Final turn?" Red mocked. "What, do you plan on committing suicide with your monsters before we can get to you?"

"Trap active." Beta 021 droned, extending its robotic arm towards one of its face-downs.

"Meklord Overdrive. If I control a Meklord monster, all machine-type monsters I control gain ATK and DEF equal to their respective Levels times three-hundred."

Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II: ATK 250 + 600 = 850 / DEF 250 + 600 = 850

Granel Top Mark II: ATK 500 + 600 = 1100 / DEF 0 + 600 = 600

Granel Guard Mark II: ATK 500 + 600 = 1100 / DEF 1000 + 600 = 1600

Granel Attack Mark II: ATK 1300 + 600 = 1900 / DEF 0 + 600 = 600

Granel Carrier Mark II: ATK 700 + 600 = 1300 / DEF 700 + 600 = 1300

"Furthermore," GHOST Beta continued as his trap and five monsters began crackling with electrical energy, "After the effect resolves, I take damage equal to the total levels of all Machine-Type monsters I control times three-hundred."

"So, you really are just committing suicide?" the red soldier asked with incredulity.

"Mekcore Aura's effect!" GHOST Beta countered. "Since I control a Meklord monster, all damage I take is negated."

Mekcore Aura: 42 Counters

"Furthermore," GHOST Beta continued as his trap card began glowing with immense energy, "since there are over forty counters on Mekcore Aura, Mekcore Aura destroys itself with its own effect, and I gain one-hundred Life Points for each Aura Counter that was on Mekcore Aura."

With a sudden surge of energy, Mekcore Aura exploded in a shower of sparks before the chest of GHOST Beta opened up, revealing a power core within its body, which pulsated with a sphere of pitch-black energy. Sucking an aura of glowing yellow energy from the trap card into its central core of energy, GHOST Beta began crackling with electricity as its Life Points rose.

GHOST Beta 021: 500 + (100 X 42) = 4700 LP

Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II: ATK (4700 / 2) + 600 = 2950 / DEF (4700 / 2) + 600 = 2950

"So, you've restored your life points and slightly boosted the ATK of one of your monsters, big deal." Obelisk Gold scoffed. "My Chaos Giant can still easily destroy you!"

"Kikai shikkō kikan Granel ∞ Mark II no kouka." GHOST Beta droned. "Once per turn, an ∞ monster I control can absorb one of my opponent's Special Summoned monsters in order to gain ATK equal to half that monster's original ATK, plus one-thousand additional ATK if that monster was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck. The target is Antique Gear Chaos Giant. Universal Absorption!"

"What!?" Obelisk Gold exclaimed as the infinity symbol on Granel's chest plate opened up before launching dozens of glowing white tendrils of energy into Gold's immense Fusion Monster. Wrapping around the Fusion Monster like tentacles, the tendrils of energy began pulling Antique Gear Chaos Giant towards Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II, causing the massive fusion monster to compact into a smaller and smaller mass of energy until it was absorbed into the machine's power core, which closed up into its normal infinity symbol with a short loud buzz.

Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II: 2950 + (4500 / 2) + 1000 = 6200 ATK

"Sixty-two hundred ATK!?" Melissa Claire exclaimed from her helicopter as she watched the duel, pilot attempting to avoid various attacks from the roiling chaos below.

Meanwhile, GHOST Beta scanned its monster with its golden eyes, incomplete face set in a completely emotionless stare while the Obelisk Soldiers backed away in fear.

"ATK power levels insufficient." The machine droned. "Additional power levels will be required to execute final verdict. Equip Magic Card activate, Meklord ∞ Matrix!"

Over the Meklord's chest, an upright infinity symbol appeared, perpendicular to the infinity symbol already over its chest before a second core of white energy appeared next to the first energy core within.

"Meklord ∞ Matrix enables one ∞ monster I control to equip one additional monster to itself with its own effect." GHOST Beta explained."Furthermore, once per turn, I can target one monster equipped to my ∞ monster with its own effect in order to give it that monster's effects until the end of the turn. Kikai shikkō kikan Granel ∞ Mark II no kouka!" it proclaimed, raising its robotic hand into the air as the infinity symbols on the chest of its immense machine shot out an army of tentacles towards Obelisk Green's Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog. "Target Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog! Universal Absorption!"

Howling like an actual dog in the grip of terror, Ultimate Hound Dog began struggling against the grip of Granel until the immense machine compacted it into a mass of energy before absorbing it into its core.

Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II: 6200 + (2800 / 2) + 1000 = 8600 ATK

"Granel Top no kouka." GHOST Beta continued. "Once per turn, Granel Top can target one monster my opponent controls in order to negate its effects. The target is Antique Gear Choas Dreadnaught."

Firing a beam of red energy from the single eye on its narrow head, Granel caused Obelisk Red's Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught to roar with pain before seemingly shutting down as Granel Top's effect weakened it.

Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught: 0 ATK / 0 DEF (Effects Negated)

"Meklord ∞ Matrix's second effect." Granel declared. "By targeting the equipped Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog, Kikai shikkō kikan Granel ∞ Mark II gains the original effects of the equipped monster, enabling it to attack three times this turn, while preventing the opposition from activating the effects of Magic or Trap Cards, rendering your face-down cards irrelevant."

"This isn't possible!" Obelisk Gold sputtered.

"Get us out of here!" Obelisk Green protested struggling against the anchor of solid vision before jamming his finger against the teleport button on his duel disk to no avail.

"Why aren't these working!?" Obelisk Red wailed.

"I have nullified the trans-dimensional warp capabilities of your technology." GHOST Beta explained as it crackled with black electricity, golden eyes focused on the three Obelisk Soldiers.

"A verdict has been reached. Under the authority given to this unit by directive, Alekhine's Gun, you are all hereby sentenced to immediate and unequivocal liquidation. Battle. Kikai shikkō kikan Granel ∞ Mark II, destroy all three Obelisk Soldiers. Grand Genocide Cannon."

Lowering its immense cannon towards the Obelisk Soldiers, Granel ∞ Mark II fired a powerful beam of golden energy into Obelisk Green before making a slow sweep towards the remaining two Obelisk Soldiers, who remained trapped by their bindings. Watching from her helicopter, Melissa stared at where Obelisk Green had been before immediately screaming and averting her eyes after realizing that the entire upper half of the soldier's body had been disintegrated.

Obelisk Green / Gold / Red: 0 LP (LOSE)

"Targets eliminated." GHOST Beta reported in a completely emotionless voice as it deactivated its tablet-like duel disk before riding past the charred remains of the Obelisk Soldiers. "Moving on to next objective."

"There should be a landing pad on the south side of the facility." Melissa gagged, unable to erase the graphic scene from her mind. "Get us over there before it's too late!"


"I need to get out of here." Ibuki thought as he staggered against the effect of the GHOST drone's spell card, which had generated an immense black hole in the center of the duel field that was sucking both players in.

GHOST Delta 004: 2000 / 2 = 1000 LP

Ibuki Ichiyanagi: 16,000 / 2 = 8000 LP

"In addition to halving the Life Points of all players," the machine droned. "Chaos 0 destroys all monsters I control."

Falling into the center of the singularity, Marine Core was crushed into nothingness by the gravitational forces of the black hole. However, the instant the monster was destroyed, a circular portal opened up through which the images of five white cards appeared.

"Marine Core Mark II's effect!" the GHOST drone declared as the blade of its duel disk morphed into a more tablet-like shape. "From my deck, I Special Summon Marinel Top Mark II!"

Appearing first was a black spherical head, similar to a diver's helmet with multiple viewing ports like the eyes of a spider, which glowed with white light.

Marinel Top Mark II / WATER / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 300 / DEF 200

"Marinel Guard Mark II!" the drone continued as scaffold containing ten black robotic tentacles like the tentacles of a squid appeared at the right of the portal.

Marinel Guard Mark II / WATER / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 1800

"Marinel Attack Mark II!" it declared as a set of what looked like spider pincers with hooked harpoon-like tips appeared.

Marinel Attack Mark II / WATER / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1000 / DEF 400

"Marinel Carrier Mark II!" the drone continued as a large shell-like submarine body with five submarine turbines affixed to its back rose into the air.

Marinel Carrier Mark II / WATER / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 700 / DEF 600

"And finally, Kikai shikkō kikan Marinel ∞ Mark II!" the GHOST drone proclaimed as a pitch-black thorax-like robotic piece with a glowing white infinity symbol on its front appeared before the individual pieces of the monster began attaching themselves to it, Marinel Top Mark II forming the monster's spider-like head, Marinel Guard Mark II attaching to the monster's underside so that it had ten squid-like tentacles with large clawed robotic tips, Marinel Attack Mark II attaching itself to Marinel ∞ just below the head in order to form a pair of robotic fangs, and Marinel Carrier Mark II attaching to the back of Marinel ∞ in order to form the monster's shell-like body.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II / WATER / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 0

"Well, that's quite the monster." Ibuki gaped as the immense machine stared down at him with multiple glowing white viewports, tentacles and fangs snapping viciously in the air.

"Kikai shikkō kikan Marinel ∞ Mark II's ATK and DEF are each equal to the total ATK and DEF of its parts." The GHOST drone explained nonchalantly as the center piece of its monster began glowing with energy.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 2000 / DEF 3000

"It's a cool monster." Ibuki observed, looking over the stats of each piece, "But I already prepared for it. "I've got enough life points to withstand any attack you throw at me. Plus, with the way my deck works, I'll be able to quickly rebuild my field."

"The path to victory has already been calculated." The GHOST drone countered. "This turn will be your last, the inevitable outcome being immediate execution."

"We'll see about that." Ibuki replied, subtly reaching for a button on his Duel Disk.

"The teleportation function on your duel disk has been disabled." The drone commented, noticing what Ibuki was trying to do. "You will not escape."

Ibuki gritted his teeth, bracing himself against the attack.

"Initiating upgrade process." The drone continued, revealing a card in its hand. "First, by tributing Marinel Guard Mark II, Marinel Guard Mark IV can be Special Summoned."

The tentacles on Marinel's underbelly began evolving, the tips growing a pair of larger pincer-like claws.

Marinel Guard Mark IV/ WATER/ Level 4/ Machine/ Tuner/ Effect/ ATK 400 / DEF 2000

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 2400 / DEF 3200

"Furthermore, by tributing Marinel Attack Mark II, Marinel Attack Mark IV can be Special Summoned."

The spider-like mouth of the machine began to transform, growing an extra pair of pincers before all four pincers enlarged and began crackling with electricity.

Marinel Attack Mark IV / WATER / Level 4 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 600

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 2800 / DEF 3400

"Finally," the GHOST drone continued, "By tributing Marinel Attack Mark IV, Marinel Attack Mark VI can be Special Summoned."

The pincers of the machine expanded, grew wider, and spread out into an X pattern, lightning crackling between the prongs of the fangs before a central spike erupted from the center of the mouth.

Marinel Attack Mark VI / WATER / Level 6 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 1000

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 3200 / DEF 3800

"Marinel Attack Mark VI's effect." The GHOST drone declared. "Once per turn, one ∞ monster I control can equip one banished monster to itself in order to gain ATK and DEF equal to the respective original ATK and DEF of the targeted monster. The target is Sea Scales Striking Dragon. Initiate Universal Absorption."

Letting out a high-pitched shriek through its insectile mouth, Marinel launched its robotic pincers into the air with a length of steel cable before the harpoon-like pincers opened up a dimensional tear in the air through which the central harpoon entered. Reeling in the cable, Marinel pulled in Ibuki's Striking Dragon, which had been speared through the body with the central harpoon. Writhing furiously, Ibuki's Ritual Monster struggled in vain as the four other pincers of Marinel's weapon clamped onto the monster's neck before pulling it in, causing Striking Dragon to shrink into a mass of energy which the infinity symbol on Marinel's thorax absorbed.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 5200 / DEF 7200

"Striking Dragon!" Ibuki cried out, unable to stop his monster from being captured.

"Battle." GHOST Delta 004 continued without emotion.

"Kikai shikkō kikan Marinel ∞ Mark II, direct attack." Lashing out its tentacles, Marinel pinned Ibuki to the ground, a loud snap from Ibuki's left arm splitting the air.

Ibuki Ichiyanagi: 8000 – 5200 = 2800 LP

"Marinel Top, direct attack." The Drone ordered as Marinel slammed another tentacle into Ibuki.

Ibuki Ichiyanagi: 2800 – 300 = 2500 LP

"Marinel Guard Mark IV, direct attack." It continued as yet another tentacle slammed into Ibuki.

Ibuki Ichiyanagi: 2500 – 400 = 2100 LP

"Marinel Carrier Mark II, direct attack." GHOST Delta 004 continued, watching through black robotic eyes as its immense machine ripped Ibuki from the ground before raising him to the level of its spiked mouth.

Ibuki Ichiyanagi: 2100 – 700 = 1400 LP

Ibuki spat out blood as he looked blearily into the glowing eyes of Marinel. Somehow, it seemed that Roger had managed to take the solid vision of these monsters a step further. Glancing down at the GHOST drone, he noticed a spark of black electricity crackle against the drone's chest.

"Marinel Attack Mark VI," The GHOST Delta 004 droned as Marinel's jaws crackled with electricity while snapping at the air. "direct attack."

Ibuki braced himself for the impact of the jaws, doubtful that he would be able to survive the spiked harpoons tearing open his flesh.

"BATTLE ROYAL MODE COMMENCING! JOINING!" Ibuki's duel disk suddenly declared, causing Ibuki, Ibuki, and Marinel to turn their heads around.

Stumbling towards them with Valkyrion and Berserkion at his flanks, Lieutenant Martell had limped onto Ibuki and GHOST Delta 004's duel field, causing the duel to transition into a battle royal format. A wide gash had opened up Martell's chest, causing blood to flow onto his Obelisk uniform, while he tried to staunch the flow with one of his free arms. A few meters behind Martell, Roger, now dressed in purple robes with white highlights, was strolling towards them, a look of supreme confidence on his face while the tall statue of a white queen with a bloody sword glided emotionless by his side.

Lieutenant Martell: 1000 LP

Controls Valkyrion the Magna Warrior and Berserkion the Magna Warrior

Valkyrion the Magna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 3850

Berserkion the Magna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2800

Jean-Michelle Roger: 2000 LP Controls Chess Master White Queen

Chess Master White Queen / LIGHT / Level 10 / Fairy / Synchro / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 3000

"Epsilon the Magnet Warrior's effect!" Martell declared, slamming down a card from his hand. "If an opponent's monster declares an attack, I can Special Summon this card from my hand in order to change the attack to this monster!"

Marinel fired its harpoon-like mouth at Ibuki. However, before the spear-like jaws could hit Ibuki, a small robot made out of magnets, with two immense epsilon shaped magnet claws on its hands, appeared in front of Ibuki before taking the attack.

Epsilon the Magnet Warrior / EARTH / Level 4 / Rock / Effect / ATK 1300 / DEF 300

The small magnetic robot exploded into dozens of pieces, some of which slammed into Marinel's head, causing the immense machine to drop Ibuki before rubbing at its face with its tentacles.

"If Epsilon is destroyed, I can add one Magnet Warrior or Magna Warrior monster from my deck to my hand before sending one Level 4 Magnet Warrior from my deck to the graveyard." Martell continued, adding a copy of Valkyrion to his hand before depositing a copy of Alpha the Magnet Warrior into his graveyard.

"New variables coming into play." GHOST Delta 004 droned. "Adjusting tactics in light of new situation. Kikai shikkō kikan Marinel ∞ Mark II no kouka! Once per turn, it can target one Special Summoned monster in order to equip itself with the monster and gain ATK equal to half the ATK of the equipped monster. The target is Valkyrion the Magna Warrior, initiate Universal Absorption!"

Infinity symbol on its chest suddenly expanding, Marinel unleashed a swarm of white tentacles, which wrapped around Valkyrion before pulling the struggling monster into its center, where it dissappeared.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 5200 + (3500 / 2) = 6950 ATK

"Marinel Top no Kouka!" the GHOST drone continued. "Once per turn, Marinel Top Mark II can target one monster in order to set that monster into face-down defense position! The target is Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior!"

Swimming forward, Marinel unleashed a cloud of black smoke from its tentacles, similar to an octopus ejecting ink, which covered up Berserkion, obscuring the monster before the smoke faded and a face-down card stood in place of Martell's monster.

"Kikai shikkō kikan Marinel ∞ Mark II's second effect!" GHOST Delta declared. "Once per turn, it can target one set card on the field in order to banish it."

Glowing with energy, the infinity symbol on Marinel's chest lit up before firing a glowing torpedo-like weapon from its core, which blasted against the face-down, causing Martell's Berserkion to explode into nothingness.

"All opposition monsters eliminated." GHOST Delta summarized. "Chances of defeat low. Turn end."

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Roger laughed. "Considering that the two of you have no cards on the field or in your hands, I'd say this duel is pretty well wrapped up. A pity Magni's apprentice couldn't protect either his master or his master's army, much less himself!"

"I don't care how low my chances are! I'm seizing control of this duel with my hands!" Martell roared, blood flying from his arm as he ripped a card from the top of his deck. "DRAW!"

"You're not looking good there, Lieutenant." White Roger mocked as he approached the outskirts of the duel field, a cruel smile on his face. "Neither is your friend. Are you sure you both don't want to give up? I assure you, it'd be a lot more pleasant than enduring whatever torment my new favorite toy has planned for you. Isn't that right…erm…Delta 004?" he asked, looking at the label on the GHOST drone's chest.

GHOST Delta 004 remained silent.

"I'm not letting you get away with this!" Martell snarled. "Not after what you did to General Magni!"

"General Magni?" Ibuki groaned, wondering what had happened to their commander. From the look of Martell, it couldn't have been anything good.

"Besides..." Lieutenant Martell breathed, face contorted with pain, "the gods of victory haven't left me yet! I activate the card I just drew! Geomagnetic Reversal! By paying half my life points and banishing one Superconductive Fusion Monster from any player's graveyard, I can Special Summon one each of Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior and Valkyrion the Magna Warrior from among the cards in my hand, deck, graveyard, or which are banished! Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot General Magni entrusted me with for this effect!"

Lieutenant Martell: 1000 / 2 = 500 LP

"Return to me now! Valkyrion the Magna Warrior and Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior!" Lieutenant Martell proclaimed as his two monsters reappeared to his field, reassembling from the ghostly glowing pieces of Imperion Magnum.

Valkyrion the Magna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3500 / DEF 3850

Berserkion the Magna Warrior / EARTH / Level 8 / Rock / Effect / ATK 3000 / DEF 2800

Roger sniffed, looking unimpressed.

"I activate Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior's effect!" Ibuki declared, raising his arm into the air. "Any number of times per turn, I can banish one Magnet Warrior monster from my graveyard in order to target and destroy one card my opponent controls, and I think I'm first going to be destroying that overgrown tin can! Go! I banish Alpha the Magnet Warrior in order to target and destroy Marinel ∞ Mark II! Electromagnetic Blast!"

"Kikai shikkō kikan Marinel ∞ Mark II cannot be targeted by an opponent's card effects." GHOST Delta 004 countered, regarding Lieutenant Martell with its soulless black eyes. "Furthermore, Marinel Guard Mark IV prevents any other Marinel Monsters I control from being targeted for attacks or by an opponent's card effects." It continued as Marinel's tentacle arms swarmed around the machine to create a protective barrier.

"Then I'll change the target to Marinel Guard Mark IV!" Martell countered. "Go! Electromagnetic Blast!"

Firing a pulse of energy from its large electromagnetic baton, Berserkion obliterated the tentacles of Marinel, leaving the rest of the machine exposed.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 6550 / DEF 5200

"I next banish a copy of Beta in order to target and destroy Marinel Attack Mark VI!" Martell declared. "Electromagnetic Blast!"

With a second blast from its baton, Berserkion blasted the robotic jaws of Marinel to pieces, sending the robot reeling back.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 4750 / DEF 4200

"Next, I banish my other two copies of Beta and a copy of Gamma the Magnet Warrior from my graveyard in order to destroy Marinel Top, Marinel Carrier, and the equipped Sea-Scales Striking Dragon!" Martell roared, sweat beading on his forehead as his wound continued to bleed. "Electromagnetic Blast!"

Leaping into the air, Berserkion slammed its baton into Marinel's robotic frame, bashing off its head and robotic shell body until only its floating torso remained. Reaching into the infinity symbol on the monster's chest, it removed the ghostly form of Sea Scales Striking Dragon, causing the mass of energy to fly into Ibuki's deck.

"Thank you." Ibuki groaned.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II: ATK 1750 / DEF 0

"And don't think I've forgotten about you, Roger!" Martell roared. "I banish Epsilon the Magnet Warrior from my graveyard in order to destroy Chess Master White Queen! Electromagnetic Blast!"

Twirling its baton into the air, Berserkion slammed its baton into the ground, sending a shockwave into Roger's Chess Master White Queen, which blew his monster into a pile of rubble.

"Well, you do seem to be learning." Roger shrugged. "Too bad it's all for nothing at this point. Or did you forget what happened last time you 'defeated' me?"

"BATTLE!" Martell roared, ignoring Roger. "Valkyrion the Magna Warrior, attack and destroy Marinel ∞ Mark II! Electromagnetic Baton!"

With a single swing of its immense weapon, Valkyrion sent both Marinel and GHOST Delta 004 flying backwards before both machines shorted out and shut down.

GHOST Delta 004: 1000 – 1250 = 0 (LOSE)

"Aw, and I liked that one." White Roger sighed. "These new models are far superior to their anti-synchro predecessors, though I suppose I can't blame the poor people of this dimension for their ignorance regarding other summoning techniques."

"Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior!" Martell continued, pointing at Roger. "Direct attack!"

Roger didn't even flinch as Berserkion charged forward, sending the dictator flying backwards with one blow of its baton.

White Roger: 2000 – 3000 = 0 LP (LOSE)

"Surrendering duel." Martell gasped, unexpectedly placing his hand over his duel disk and conceding.

Lieutenant Martell: 500 – 500 = 0 (Conceded)

Ibuki staggered to his feet as Lieutenant Martell ran towards him.

"There's not much time!" Martell gasped. "Roger will be coming back any moment now! We have to retreat while we still can!"

"But you defeated him." Ibuki protested before the two of them began fleeing from the battlefield.

"There's no time to explain!" Lieutenant Martell replied. "I need you to get out of here! Roger's developed some powerful weaponry Academia needs to know about if the invasion is to succeed. I need you to scout out Roger one more time. Figure out how to destroy his weapons and inform the main invasion force before it's too late!"

More Obelisk Soldiers were joining them, running alongside one of their commanding officers as they fled from Roger's encroaching forces. "What about you?" Ibuki protested as he pressed a button on his duel disk, causing his Uria Scout uniform to cover his body and face as it unfolded from his blue hoodie.

"I'm holding the line!" Martell growled. "I'm not giving up on General Magni's ambitions. We WILL destroy Roger and conquer this dimension!"

"Academia forces…" a hoarse voice behind them breathed, "…you are to be eliminated."

Ibuki turned his head, spying a red-haired civilian with a horrific scar disfiguring the right side of his face and a duel disk over his right arm. He was approaching them alone, a glowing red chip blinking on his forehead.

"Go! Now!" Martell barked, forming up with the other Obelisk Soldiers. "We can handle this one easily enough! We just need you to figure out how to destroy Roger and his other machines!"

Nodding his head, Ibuki fished a card from his deck before placing it on his duel disk. "Field Magic, Cloaking Field, activate." Ibuki murmered, suddenly becoming totally transparent before he ran away.

Lieutenant Martell stood at his full height, grimacing against the pain of his wound as he faced the lone civilian fighter with the twelve Obelisk Soldiers who had joined him. It wasn't much of a force, but they would be able to last for a while against Roger's forces.

"Steady men!" Martell called. "This first opponent will be easy, but prepare for whatever reinforcements Roger sends once we defeat him!"

"My turn," the red-haired duelist droned, energy suddenly radiating from his body as he drew the top card of his deck. "Draw!"

Sayer Priuer (Divine) vs. Lieutenant Martell and twelve Obelisk Soldiers


Kneeling beside the smoking ruins of what had once been her orphanage, Miss Kimura looked up at the massive holographic screens in the sky as they re-played Jean-Michelle Roger's glorious victory against the Academia invaders.

For Miss Kimura and the orphans gathered around her, however, it didn't feel like there was much of a victory to celebrate.

Their home had been destroyed just a few moments after the first warnings of the invasion had blared over city-wide alert systems. Miss Kimura had been evacuating the children under her care when a uniformed soldier had confronted them, a large mechanical dog by his side. Luckily, Security forces had arrived soon afterwards, but by then…

She cradled several cards in her hand, images of the screaming children under her care etched in their frames.

"Area secured." A burly Arrest Corps officer grunted through his mask, speaking into a hidden microphone, which was broadcasting his words to fellow officers. "Preparing to secure civilians as per the protocol outlined under directive Alekhine's Gun."

"Are they going to arrest us?" One of the children by Miss Kimura's side whimpered, looking up at the masked faces of the Arrest Corps officers with fear.

"Where's Milly!?" another boy bawled, tears streaming down his face while Miss Kimura pocketed the cards she was holding before running over to his side to comfort him.

"It's okay." Miss Kimura soothed. "We're going to be alright. Security is here to protect us."

"Citizens!" the Arrest Core Officer barked, grabbing the caretaker's attention.

"As per the ordinances outlined under directive Alekhine's Gun, you are hereby tasked with engaging in voluntary civil service."

"Civil service?" Miss Kimura asked as the remaining children huddled around her.

"On your knees." The officer growled, he and other officers approaching them with sinister-looking devices, which held a glowing red chip at their ends.

"Officer, if you'd please," Miss Kimura protested, "I don't understand what you-…"

Before she could finish, the officer had grabbed the small woman by one of her arms before kicking her in the gut, sending her gagging as she fell to her knees before he pressed the device against her forehead.

"Miss Kimura!" one of the children screamed before the other officers swarmed them, pressing more devices against their foreheads as they held the squirming, screaming, and crying children in place. Looking up into the officer's emotionless mask with fear, Miss Kimura felt her heart-rate rise until she heard an immense throbbing in her ears.

Only…now that she focused on it…the rumbling she heard could not have been her heart.

Turning around their heads in unison, the Arrest Core Officers suddenly removed the devices from Miss Kimura and the children as they all registered the deep thumbing of a motorcycle engine.

"Assets sighted!" the Arrest Core Officer excitedly reported, as they all activated their duel disk. "Repeat! Assets sighted! Send backup immediately!"

Peering into the distance where the officers were looking, Miss Kimura spied a strange whale-shaped D-wheel roaring towards them. But what caught her attention even more than the strange vehicle was the rider piloting it.

"Rin?" she breathed, tears coming to her eyes.

Featured Original Characters

Name: Thaddeus Magnison (General Magni) / Original Concept by: thetiger39 / Deck: Electromagnet Warrior / Allegiance: Academia / Status: unknown

Name: Lieutenant Martel / Original Concept by: Donjusticia / Deck: Magnet Warrior / Allegiance: Academia / Status: Active

Name: Ibuki Ichiyanagi / Original Concept by: ThePLOThand (the hand that plots, the plotting hand, the hand that controls the plot, the plot of land in which the hand lies) / Deck: Sea Scales / Allegiance: Academia / Status: Active

Name: Miss Kimura / Name and personality by: Donjusticia (the unnamed background character Miss Kimura is based on appears when Yuzu and Yugo visit the orphanage) / Deck: None / Allegiance: Synchro Dimension / Status: Active

Names: Moira, Clark, and Timothy / Original concepts by: Donjusticia / Decks: Miscellaneous cards / Allegiance: Jean-Michelle Roger's regime / Status: Deceased

Designation: GHOST Beta 021 / Original concept by: Donjusticia / Deck: Granel / Allegiance: Jean-Michelle Roger's regime / Status: Active

Designation: GHOST Delta 004 / Original concept by: Donjusticia / Deck: Marinel / Allegiance: Jean-Michelle Roger's regime / Status: Destroyed

FEATURED FAN CARDS

Lieutenant Martell's monsters

Epsilon the Magnet Warrior / EARTH / Level 4 / Rock / Effect / ATK 1300 / DEF 300 / If an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, change the attack to this card. If this card is destroyed: You can add 1 "Magnet Warrior" or "Magna Warrior" monster from your deck to your hand, and if you do, send 1 Level 4 "Magnet Warrior" monster from your deck to the GY. (Each effect of "Epsilon the Magnet Warrior" can only be used once per turn).

Lieutenant Martell's Spells

Geomagnetic Reversal / Spell / Normal / Pay half your LP and banish 1 "Superconductive" Fusion Monster from any player's side of the field or GY: Special Summon 2 "Magna" Warrior monsters with different names from among the cards in your hand, deck, GY, or among the cards currently banished

Lieutenant Martell and General Magni's Traps

Magnetic Warrior Attraction / Trap / Continuous / Once per turn, if you control a "Magnet Warrior", "Magna Warrior", or "Superconductive" monster: You can target 1 "Magnet Warrior", "Magna Warrior", or "Superconductive" monster your opponent controls; Take control of that target.

Jean-Michelle Roger's monsters (his first deck was actually the "Checkers Novice" archetype, but he ditched it in favor of something that would make him seem more sophisticated)

Chess Master White Pawn/ LIGHT/ Level 2/ Warrior/ Tuner/ Effect/ ATK 1000/ DEF 1000/ You can tribute 1 monster your opponent controls: Special Summon this card to your opponent's side of the field. If your opponent controls a "Chess Master Red" monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Chess Master Red Pawn" from your hand or deck to your opponent's side of the field. You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master White" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks, increase the ATK of this card by 200 for each "Chess Master White" monster you control. If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, you can tribute this card: Special Summon 1 "Chess Master White" monster from your graveyard.

Chess Master White Knight/ LIGHT/ Level 4/ Beast/ Effect/ ATK 2000/ DEF 1000/ You can tribute 1 monster your opponent controls: Special Summon this card to your opponent's side of the field. If your opponent controls a "Chess Master Red" monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Chess Master Red Knight" from your hand or deck to your opponent's side of the field. You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master White" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks, your opponent cannot activate any cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step.

Chess Master White Rook/ LIGHT/ Level 4/ Rock/ Effect/ ATK 1000/ DEF 2000/ You can tribute 1 monster your opponent controls: Special Summon this card to your opponent's side of the field. If your opponent controls a "Chess Master Red" monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Chess Master Red Rook" from your hand or deck to your opponent's side of the field. You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master White" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks, this card gains ATK equal to the ATK of the attack target until the end of the Damage Step, also, change this monster to defense position at the end of the Damage Step. If a "Chess Master White King" you control would be destroyed, you can tribute this card instead.

Chess Master Red Pawn/ DARK/ Level 2/ Warrior/ Effect/ ATK 1000/ DEF 1000/ You can tribute 1 monster your opponent controls: Special Summon this card to your opponent's side of the field. If your opponent controls a "Chess Master White" monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Chess Master White Pawn" from your hand or deck to your opponent's side of the field. You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master Red" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks, increase the ATK of this card by 200 for each "Chess Master Red" monster you control. If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, you can tribute this card: Special Summon 1 "Chess Master Red" monster from your graveyard.

Chess Master Red Knight/ DARK/ Level 4/ Beast/ Effect/ ATK 2000/ DEF 1000/ You can tribute 1 monster your opponent controls: Special Summon this card to your opponent's side of the field. If your opponent controls a "Chess Master White" monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Chess Master White Knight" from your hand or deck to your opponent's side of the field. You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master Red" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks, your opponent cannot activate any cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step.

Chess Master Red Bishop/ DARK/ Level 4/ Spellcaster/ Effect/ ATK 0/ DEF 2000/ You can tribute 1 monster your opponent controls: Special Summon this card to your opponent's side of the field. If your opponent controls a "Chess Master White" monster, you can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Chess Master White Bishop" from your hand or deck to your opponent's side of the field. You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master Red" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks a monster, destroy that monster at the start of the Damage Step, and if you do, inflict damage to the controller of that monster's LP, equal to the ATK of the destroyed monster.

Jean-Michelle Roger's Extra Deck

Chess Master White Queen/ LIGHT/ Level 10/ Fairy/ Synchro/ Effect/ ATK 3000/ DEF 3000/ 1 "Chess Master White Pawn" monster + 2 "Chess Master White" monsters If your opponent controls the required Synchro Materials, you can Synchro Summon this monster to your opponent's side of the field using monsters he/she controls as Materials. You can only control 1 "Chess Master White Queen," You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master White" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks, change the ATK and DEF of the monster this card is battling to 0.

(Before eventually settling down with Chess Master White King, she starred in Duel Monster's "Most Eligible Bachelorettes" but that season didn't get very far after all the contestants dropped out. Apparently, aristocratic statuettes don't make great dates).

Chess Master Red Queen/ DARK/ Level 10/ Fairy/ Fusion/ Effect/ ATK 3000/ DEF 3000/ 1 "Chess Master Red Pawn" monster + 2 Level 4 "Chess Master Red" monsters Must be Fusion Summoned by sending the above Fusion Materials to the graveyard (You do not use Polymerization). If your opponent controls the required Fusion Materials, you can Fusion Summon this monster to your opponent's side of the field by sending the required Fusion Materials he/she controls to the graveyard (You do not use Polymerization). You can only control 1 "Chess Master Red Queen," You cannot summon/set monsters except "Chess Master Red" monsters. You can only attack with 1 "Chess Master" monster per turn, also, this card cannot attack your opponent's LP directly. If this card attacks, change the ATK and DEF of the monster this card is battling to 0.

(Despite her bloody exterior, she's actually a very congenial duel monster once you get to know her.)

Jean-Michelle Roger's Spells

Chess Master Move – Torre Attack / Spell / Quick-Play / If you Special Summon a "Chess Master White Pawn" monster or "Chess Master Red Pawn" monster: You can activate this effect; Special Summon 1 Level 4 "Chess Master" monster from your hand or deck whose Attribute is the same as the Attribute of the "Chess Master White Pawn" or "Chess Master Red Pawn" you control.

Chess Master Move – Vienna Game / Spell / Normal / Discard 1 card to target up to 2 "Chess Master" monsters in your GY; For each target, Special Summon 1 "Chess Master" monster from your hand or deck whose name is the same as that target's name.

Jean-Michelle Roger's Traps

Chess Master Move – Terrasch Defense / Trap / Normal / "Chess Master" monsters you control cannot be destroyed by card effects this turn. During your turn, except the turn this card was sent to the GY: You can banish this card; Add 1 "Chess Master Move" card from your deck to your hand.

Chess Master Move – Sicilian Defense / Trap / Normal / If a "Chess Master" monster you control would be destroyed as a result of battle: You can negate the destruction of that card and change any battle damage you would have taken as a result of that battle to 0. After resolving the effects of this card, you can set this card to your side of the field instead of sending it to the GY, but banish it when it leaves the field.

(Original Concept by: Nox Descious)

Chess Master Move – Queen's Gambit / Trap / Normal / Activate 1 of the following effects:

1. Synchro Summon 1 "Chess Master White" monster from your Extra Deck by banishing monsters from your GY as Synchro Materials.

2. Fusion Summon 1 "Chess Master Red" monster from your Extra Deck by banishing monsters from your GY as Fusion Materials (ignoring the summoning conditions).

GHOST Beta's monsters

Grand Core Mark II/ EARTH/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 0/ DEF 0/ Once per turn, if this card would be destroyed by battle, it is not destroyed. If this card is destroyed by a card effect, destroy all monsters you control: Then, you can Special Summon 1 each of "Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II," "Granel Top Mark II," "Granel Guard Mark II," "Granel Attack Mark II," and "Granel Carrier Mark II" from your hand, deck, or graveyard.

Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II/ EARTH/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 0/ DEF 0/ If this card was Special Summoned by the effect of "Grand Core Mark II", it gains ATK and DEF equal to half the controller's LP. Cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. Once per turn, you can target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls: Equip that target to this card. This card gains ATK equal to half the original ATK of the monster equipped to this card with this effect and gains an additional 1000 ATK if that monster was a Special Summoned from the Extra Deck. You can only equip 1 monster at a time to this card with this effect. Once per turn: You can target 1 monster equipped to this card; Special Summon it in defense position. You can only control 1 "Meklord Enforcer Granel ∞ Mark II."

(Trivia: It's Japanese name used by the GHOST drones translates to "Machine Imperial Enforcer.")

Granel Top Mark II/ EARTH/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 500/ DEF 0/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, you can target 1 monster your opponent controls: Negate the effects of that Target until the End-Phase of this turn. You can discard this card; Add 1 "Grand Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

Granel Guard Mark II/ EARTH/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 500/ DEF 1000/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. If a face-up "Granel" monster you control is selected as an attack target, you can change that target to this card instead. You can discard this card; Add 1 "Grand Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

Granel Attack Mark II/ EARTH/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 1300/ DEF 0/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. If a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster you control destroys a defense position monster by battle, you can activate this effect: That monster can attack once again in a row. You can discard this card; Add 1 "Grand Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

Granel Carrier Mark II/ EARTH/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 700/ DEF 700/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, if a "Granel" monster you control would be destroyed by battle, it is not destroyed. You can discard this card; Add 1 "Grand Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

GHOST Beta's Spells

Meklord ∞ Matrix/ Spell/ Equip/ Equip only to an "∞" monster you control. That monster can equip 1 additional monster to itself with its own effect. Once per turn, during either player's turn, you can target 1 monster equipped to the equipped monster by its own effect; The equipped monster gains the effects of that target until the end of this turn. You can destroy 1 card equipped to the equipped monster: Inflict 500 damage to your opponent's LP. If this card is destroyed, you can Special Summon 1 "Meklord", "Top", "Guard", "Attack", or "Carrier" monster from your graveyard.

GHOST Beta's Traps Mekcore Aura / Trap / Continuous / While you control a "Core" monster or there is an "∞" monster on your side of the field: Any damage you take is negated, also, place 1 Aura Counter on this card for every 100 points of damage that was negated. If this card is destroyed: Gain 100 LP for each counter that was on this card. If there are 40 or more counters on this card: Destroy this card.

Mektimed Pulse / Trap / Continuous / Once per turn: If a card or effect is activated that would destroy a card(s) on the field while you control a "Meklord" or "Core" monster: You can negate the activation of that effect, and if you do, destroy 1 "Meklord" or "Core" monster you control.

Meklord Overdrive / Trap / Normal / If you control a face-up "Meklord" monster: Increase the ATK and DEF of each Machine-Type monsters you control by 300 X its respective Level, and if you do, take damage equal to the total Level of all Machine-Type monsters you control X 300. You can banish this card from the GY to target 1 "Meklord", "Top", "Guard", "Attack", or "Carrier" monster you control: Increase its ATK and DEF by 1000.

GHOST Delta's monsters Marine Core Mark II/ WATER/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 0/ DEF 0/ Once per turn, if this card would be destroyed by battle, it is not destroyed. If this card is destroyed by a card effect, destroy all monsters you control: Then, you can Special Summon 1 each of "Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II," "Marinel Top Mark II," "Marinel Guard Mark II," "Marinel Attack Mark II," and "Marinel Carrier Mark II" from your hand, deck, or graveyard.

Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II/ WATER/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 0/ DEF 0/ This card gains ATK and DEF equal to the total ATK of all other face-up "Marinel" monsters you control. Cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. Once per turn, you can target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls: Equip that target to this card. This card gains ATK equal to half the original ATK of the monster equipped to this card with this effect, and gains an additional 1000 ATK if that monster was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck. You can only equip 1 monster at a time to this card with this effect. Once per turn: You can target 1 set card your opponent controls; Banish it. You can only control 1 "Meklord Enforcer Marinel ∞ Mark II."

Marinel Top Mark II/ WATER/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 300/ DEF 200/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, you can target 1 monster your opponent controls: Change that target to face-down defense position. You can discard this card; Add 1 "Marine Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

Marinel Guard Mark II/ WATER/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 0/ DEF 1800/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Other "Marinel" monsters you control cannot be selected as an attack target. You can discard this card; Add 1 "Marine Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

Marinel Guard Mark IV/ WATER/ Level 4/ Machine/ Tuner/ Effect/ ATK 400 / DEF 2000 / You can Special Summon this card, from your hand, by tributing 1 "Marinel Guard Mark II" you control. If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Other "Marinel" monsters you control cannot be targeted for attacks or by card effects. Once per turn, you can target 1 set card your opponent controls: Destroy it. (Cards and effects cannot be activated in response to the activation of this effect). Cannot be used as a Synchro Material the first turn it is summoned.

Marinel Attack Mark II/ WATER/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 1000/ DEF 400/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, if a "Marinel" monster you control attacks a defense position monster: You can change that target to face-up attack position, and if you do, halve the ATK of that monster. You can discard this card from your hand: Add 1 "Marine Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

Marinel Attack Mark IV / WATER / Level 4 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1400 / DEF 600 / You can Special Summon this card by tributing 1 "Marinel Attack Mark II" you control. If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, if a "Marinel" monster you control attacks a defense position monster: You can change that target to face-up attack position, and if you do, change that monster's ATK and DEF to 0. Any monster destroyed in battle by a "Marinel" monster is banished.

Marinel Attack Mark VI / WATER / Level 6 / Machine / Effect / ATK 1800 / DEF 1000 / Must be Special Summoned by tributing 1 "Marinel Attack Mark IV" you control. If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn, if a "Marinel" monster you control attacks a defense position monster: You can change that target to face-up attack position, and if you do, change that monster's ATK and DEF to 0 and negate its effects. Any monster destroyed in battle by a "Marinel" monster is banished. Once per turn, one "∞" monster you control can equip 1 banished monster to itself, and if it does, that "∞" monster gains ATK and DEF equal to the original ATK and DEF of the equipped monster. (This ATK and DEF change remains even if this card leaves the field).

Marinel Carrier Mark II/ WATER/ Level 2/ Machine/ Effect/ ATK 700/ DEF 600/ If you do not control a face-up "Meklord Enforcer" monster, destroy this card. Once per turn: If a monster attacks a "Marinel" monster you control; You can change the ATK of the attacking monster to 0 until the end of the turn. You can discard this card from your hand: Add 1 "Marine Core Mark II" from your deck to your hand.

GHOST Delta's Spells

Chaos 0 / Spell / Normal / Activate only if you control a "Core", "Wisel", "Granel", "Skiel", "Marinel", or "Orbitiel" monster. Halve the LP of all players, and if you do, destroy all monsters you control.

Ibuki Ichiyanagi's Monsters

Sea Scales Amazoness / WATER / Level 1 / Sea Serpent / Effect / ATK 2600 / DEF 2600 / When this Card is summoned or flipped face-up: Banish all cards you control.

Sea Scales Sagess / WATER / Level 1 / Sea Serpent / Effect / ATK 0 /DEF 50 / You can banish all cards you control (min. 2), and if you do, choose 1 card from your deck and place it on top of your deck. If you have a banished Sea Scales or Tidal card you can special summon this card (from your hand)

Sea Scales Seductress / WATER / Level 1 / Sea Serpent / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 650 / You can banish all cards you control (min. 2) and if you do, take control of up to three monsters your opponent controls. Those monsters cannot change their battle positions, also, during the End-Phase of the turn this effect was activated, return control of all monsters your opponent owns to their side of the field, and if you do, banish all cards you control.

Sea Scales Striking Dragon / WATER / Level 2 / Sea Serpent / Ritual / Effect / ATK 2000 / DEF 3400 / This Card must first be special summoned by the effect of Birth of the Tidal Dragon. When this card is special Summoned; immediately after this effect resolves, special Sea Scales Shielding Dragon from your extra deck (this is treated as a fusion summon). During the turn this monster was Ritual Summoned: You can inflict damage to your opponent's LP equal to the number of Card that were banished this turn X 450. (This effect can only be used once during your turn). During your opponent's turn, if your opponent activates the effect of a Spell, Trap, or Monster: You can banish all cards you Control. "Sea Scales Shielding Dragon" cannot be destroyed by battle, while in attack position and you take no battle damage from battles involving it.

Ibuki Ichiyanagi's Spells

Treasures of the Deep Sea / Spell / Normal / Draw 2 cards, then banish 1 Water monster from your hand, or, if you do not have any in your hand, send your entire hand to the Graveyard.

Tidal Insight / Spell / Normal / If you Control at least two "Sea Scale" Cards: You can banish all Card you Control; Add 1 Card from your deck to your hand.

Birth of the Tidal Dragon / Spell / Ritual / Return a number of your banished "Sea Scales" monsters to your graveyard, whose total Level is equal to the Level of a "Sea Scales" Ritual Monster that is in your deck or banished, and if you do, Ritual Summon that "Sea Scales" Ritual Monster. If a "Sea Scales" Monster or "Tidal" Card you control would leave the field without being banished while you control a "Sea Scales" Fusion and Ritual Monster, you can banish this card from your GY Face-down instead.

Ibuki Ichiyanagi's Extra Deck

Sea Scales Shielding Dragon / WATER / Level 2 / Sea Serpent / Fusion / Effect / ATK 1600 / DEF 0 / 2 "Sea Scales" monsters

During a turn this card and a "Sea Scales Striking Dragon" are banished simultaneously: You can activate this effect; Return all Cards that left the field at the time this card and "Sea Scales Striking Dragon" were banished back to the field in their original positions. (This effect can only be used once per turn). If your opponent takes damage while you control a "Sea Scales Striking Dragon", you can gain LP equal to the damage he/she took. "Sea Scales Striking Dragon" cannot be destroyed by battle while it is in defense Position and you take no piercing damage from battles involving it.

Obelisk Force's monsters

Antique Gear Search Hound / EARTH / Level 2 / Machine / Effect / ATK 600 / DEF 200 / If this card is summoned: You can activate this effect; Special Summon 1 "Antique Gear Hound Dog" from your deck. (You can only use this effect of "Antique Gear Search Hound" once per turn). You can treat his card as "Antique Gear Hound Dog" for the Fusion Summon of an "Antique Gear" monster.

Antique Gear Rescue Hound / EARTH / Level 4 / Machine / Effect / ATK 800 / DEF 2000 / If this card is summoned: You can activate this effect; Special Summon 1 "Antique Gear" monster from your GY. (You can only use this effect of "Antique Gear Rescue Hound" once per turn). You can treat his card as "Antique Gear Hound Dog" for the Fusion Summon of an "Antique Gear" monster.

Obelisk Force's Extra Deck

Antique Gear Chaos Dreadnaught / DARK / Level 10 / Machine / Fusion / Effect / ATK ? / DEF ? / 3 "Antique Gear" monsters

Must be Fusion Summoned with an "Antique Gear Chaos" Spell/Trap Card and cannot be summoned other ways. This cards ATK and DEF are each equal to the combined Levels of the monsters used in this card's Fusion Summon X 300. Once per turn, you can destroy all Spell/Trap Cards one opponent controls, and if you do, inflict 600 damage to that opponent's LP for each card destroyed with this effect.

Obelisk Force's Spells

Fusion Screen / Spell / Continuous / If a player(s) LP would change by a card effect: That player can send 1 Fusion Monster from his/her Extra Deck to the GY; This turn, that player's LP cannot be changed by a card effect.

Antique Gear Chaos Research / Spell / Normal / Discard 1 card OR tribute 1 "Antique Gear" monster you control; Add 1 "Antique Gear Chaos" card from your deck or graveyard to your hand (Except "Antique Gear Chaos Research").

Antique Gear Chaos Factory / Spell / Continuous / During each of your Standby-Phases, discard 1 "Polymerization" or "Fusion" Spell/Trap Card (except "Diffusion Wave Motion") or destroy this card. Once per turn, you can Fusion Summon 1 "Antique Gear" monster from your Extra Deck using monsters from your side of the field, hand, or GY as Material.

Yuzu's monsters

Diminuendo the Melodious Diva / LIGHT / Level 2 / Fairy / Effect / ATK 0 / DEF 1600 / During the Battle Phase, if a monster declares an attack while you control no monsters or control a "Melodious" monster(s): You can Special Summon this card from your hand to negate the attack, end the Battle Phase, and increase the LP of all players by the original ATK of the monster whose attack was negated. Monsters on the field lose 500 ATK and DEF for each "Melodious" monster you control.

Thank you all once again for your continued support. I aim to complete the next chapter by February 24th, so stay tuned for the return of Yuzu and Rin as they continue to face new threats and come to grips with their growing powers. See you all then.