This chapter is more like a filling gap before the mini-arc of Nazca. It will take some time with the next mini-arc, so I hope you'll be patient because I have big plans for it along with a CSP fan who gave me some great ideas.

Special thanks to Okazakisan for giving me ideas for this chapter!

The chapter begins in Yusei's point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!

Chapter 91: Hidden Sincerity

The roads in downtown New Domino were destroyed by the attack of the Riding Roids, but some of the path was cleared enough so Crow, Jack, and I could reach the hospital. By the time we made it there and parked our Runners, Crow was holding his injured shoulder while grunting in pain.

"You shouldn't have driven your Runner, Crow", I told him as Jack and I helped him get off the Blackbird.

"I-I'm fine…", Crow grunted. "B-But I'll have a doctor check me while we're here…"

"Yeah, we wouldn't want you to hurt your shoulder even more", Jack nodded.

"Hey, guys!" a familiar voice yelled.

I turned around and sighed inwardly in relief when I spotted Bruno. He drove toward us on his yellow Duel Runner while waving a hand in the air. I had been worried the whole time about him because we lost contact at some point while I was Dueling the Roids.

"Bruno!" I called. "Are you okay?"

He parked next to us before answering. "Yeah. I followed you on another course, but I drove to a safe place when the weather got violent. Are you guys okay?"

"We're still standing, so, yeah…", Crow laughed sheepishly.

"How did you know where to find us?" Jack wondered.

"I got a call from Aki that Estelle's been brought to the hospital, so I assumed you guys would be here as well. She said she contacted Carly and the twins, so they might be on their way here", Bruno explained. "She also told Goodwin about the situation, so he should be coming. She said she tried calling Sherry, but she didn't answer."

"I'm glad to hear everyone is safe after this", I nodded. "Let's go."

The four of us walked inside the hospital and was greeted by a chaotic scene. Several windows were shattered, so there was glass everywhere on the floor. Nurses and patients alike helped each other to clean up the mess so no one could cut themselves. We soon spotted Aki who sat in the waiting room with a little girl sitting right next to her.

"Aki!" I called as we hurried to her.

Aki looked up from the girl and gave us a relieved smile. "Yusei. Everyone."

"Are you okay? How did you end up here?" I asked.

"Yeah, weren't you originally with Estelle?" Jack wondered.

"Yes, but then we got word of a group of Riding Roids attacking the hospital, so I drove here and took care of them", Aki explained. "I decided to stay here and protect everyone while helping out with the patients. This little girl here almost got hurt, but I used my psychic powers to save her before it was too late."

"Hi… I'm Haruka", the girl introduced herself with a nod. "Are you Ms. Aki's friends?"

"We sure are, little one", Crow grinned warmly, his soft spot for children coming out as he gently patted Haruka's head. "I'm Crow the Bullet! Nice to meet you!"

Haruka giggled softly before she shyly turned away, cuddling with Aki.

"Are there any news about Estelle?" Bruno asked.

"No, nothing yet", Aki shook her head. "The whole hospital is a mess, so it might take time before the doctors and nurses get everything organized. Were you able to defeat Primo?"

"Yeah", I nodded before picking up my Accel Synchro Monster card from the pocket of my pants. "I successfully achieved the Accel Synchro summoning, so I defeated Primo's Meklord Emperor with Stardust Dragon's new evolved form; Shooting Star Dragon."

"You did? Congratulations", Aki smiled before her happy face dropped. "What happened to Sherry and Mizoguchi? You took off with them from the Kaiba Dome, right? I tried contacting her earlier, but she didn't answer. Did she get hurt?"

"They were defeated by the Riding Roids that suddenly chose me as their target", I explained. "They did show up again when two other members of Iliaster, Jakob and Lester, appeared and revealed their goal of erasing New Domino City for good. It turned out the Three Emperors of Iliaster are androids, so Sherry and Mizoguchi got hurt while attacking them, but they managed to escape. We're not sure where they are right now."

"I didn't see them coming in here, so…", Aki trailed off as she got a worried expression. "I've got to try calling them again and see if they're fine. I'll be back, Haruka."

"Okay", Haruka nodded.

Aki stood up from the couch and walked outside to make a phone call to Sherry. She had grown very close to the French team, so it was obvious she cared a lot for them. Haruka was called by a nurse, so she waved bye to us before she was led back to her room.

"I guess all we have to do is wait for words about Estelle?" Crow questioned.

"It appears so", Bruno nodded.

"Team 5D's?" a familiar voice called.

We turned around and came face to face with Breo. That was unexpected. "Breo? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I got here when I caught word of the hospital being under attack, so I hurried here to check on Jean and Andre", Breo explained. "I decided to stay behind and help out with as much as I can, including cleaning up the mess."

"Maybe we should that too while waiting for Estelle", Bruno suggested.

"Estelle? She got hurt?" Breo asked concernedly.

"Yeah, but we don't know when we can see her", I explained.

"We might as well help out too with the cleaning", Crow suggested as he patted his hurt shoulder. "I can hold a broom- Ow!"

"You might have to sit out this one, Crow", Bruno sweat dropped.

"Then Jack's got to clean my part", Crow commented.

"No way am I going to clean anything at all!" Jack argued.

I could just sigh tiredly at the scene. The large adrenaline kick I had before had now vanished, so the fatigue was slowly consuming my body. However, I still had enough energy to help out just a little bit with the cleaning. It was enough distraction while waiting for the word from the doctor about the condition of my crush.

XXXXXXXXXX – Sherry's POV

Iliaster…

I found them!

Mizoguchi and I followed the traces of Yusei's Turbo Duel and it led us straight to the leaders of the organization that attacked my family years ago. I was desperate to rip them apart limb by limb to cause them the same pain they inflicted on me when they murdered my parents. I had them right in my grasp when I found out the main leader's body was as hard as steel and not as vulnerable and soft as a human's body. I vaguely remembered the leader managed to get a hold on my neck, nearly choking me to death before he threw me off the monument. The last thing I remembered seeing was Mizoguchi jumping off the monument to save me before I lost consciousness.

I let out a huge gasp of air as I woke up. I took big deep breathes to calm down my heart from the dream I just had. I slowly sat up, but I immediately grunted as I sensed pain coming from the neck and collarbone area. I had no choice but to lie down on the soft bed. I looked around and quickly recognized my room in the shabby motel where Mizoguchi and I had been staying in since we arrived to New Domino City. I felt the texture of bandage wrapped around my neck and collarbone, so my injuries had been treated while I was unconscious.

"Milady!" Mizoguchi's voice called before he appeared within my sight.

"Mizoguchi…", I mumbled in relief, but my mind swiftly traveled to the incident. "I… I had them…" I raised my arms to look at my hand before clenching them into fists. "They were right there in my grasp…! But they… Iliaster's leaders… They aren't human!"

Mizoguchi gently took my left fist in his hand to comfort me. "I know, Milady. We were unable to destroy them today, but now we have seen their appearance. We will have a better chance finding them again."

I nodded softly to make sure not to cause any pain. I rested my arms on the bed before releasing another sigh in defeat. Finally… After all these years of hunting down Iliaster… It came to fruition.

Papa… Mama… I shall soon have my revenge!

I took a deep breath through my mouth before I started coughing. The air had tickled my dry throat, which I didn't notice until now. "Mizoguchi… Get me some water."

Mizoguchi nodded before he left the bedroom to get a glass of water for me. As soon as he closed the door, I pushed myself up with the elbows to lean against the headboard with the pillow to make it comfortable for my back.

I recalled the moment I had discovered the leaders of Iliaster weren't humans. The large man's body didn't feel like soft flesh when I tried ripping his arm off. Did he wear armor beneath his robes? No, there was something else behind of it and I think I knew the answer.

As ridiculous as it sounded, the leaders of the organization were just like the Riding Roids. They were androids! But they were entirely different from the other robots. They had their own mind and acted humane with their own thoughts instead of sounding like they were programmed to say specific lines in monotone voices. There were emotions behind their voices. That shouldn't be possible. The technology was highly advanced, but the artificial intelligence wasn't perfect yet, so how was someone able to create Iliaster? Unless they came from another planet that was inhabited by highly intelligent beings… No, that couldn't be the case because Iliaster had existed since thousands of years back in history and no one knows their true identity…except one. She must know more about Iliaster than what she claims!

I snapped out of my thoughts when Mizoguchi returned with a glass of water and my vibrating flip phone. "Ms. Aki has tried calling you a couple of times, Milady, but I was unable to answer it while I brought you back to the motel", he explained as he handed me the glass.

I took the glass in both my hands and took a few sips. I held back a sigh of relief as the cold liquid moistened my throat. "Give me the phone", I said in a clearer voice.

Mizoguchi placed the flip phone in my right hand and took the glass from my left hand before I answered the call. "Hello…"

"Sherry? Are you okay?" Aki's voice echoed from the phone. "I heard from Yusei that you and Mizoguchi got hurt by Iliaster, but I never saw you coming to the hospital."

"Hospital?" I mumbled before I got concerned. "Are you at the hospital? Did you get hurt?"

"No, I never got hurt. I heard some Riding Roids were attacking the hospital, so I hurried there to stop them. I chose to stay to help out, which was a good thing. Where are you?"

"Back at the motel where Mizoguchi and I are staying", I relaxed after hearing Aki was safe. "And we're okay. I just have a small bruise." I noticed how Mizoguchi held back a grimace, which meant the bruise I had around my neck was bigger than what I assumed.

"I'm glad to hear that. I tried calling you before, but you never answered. It's a relief to hear your voice."

"Same here", I couldn't help but smile at the sound of the girl's voice before I got serious. "However, I have a message to the others. Once the situation has calmed down, I need to talk with the others about Iliaster and demand answers from Estelle."

"I agree. Unfortunately, she got injured, so it might take some time before we can get answers from her."

"I see… Let me know when she's awake and then we can talk. Be careful, Aki."

"You too, Sherry. And tell Mizoguchi I said hi."

"Of course, Aki."

XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV

I opened my eyes and was greeted by a blurry white ceiling. The scent of disinfectant tickled my nose, so I knew I was in the hospital or in the private hospital room in Goodwin's mansion.

I blinked my eyes to get rid of the grogginess. Some teardrops gathered in my tired eyes, so I lifted my right hand to wipe them. It was a hard task because my arm felt stiff and heavy.

I soon remembered what happened before I lost consciousness. I had an extremely tough battle with Primo and that had forced me to push myself through the limits. It must be because of my inexperience that the muscles in my whole body were stiff. I may have a better condition now than before I arrived to this world, thanks to the self-defense classes and training every morning, but swordsmanship was more difficult than you could believe.

I managed to push myself up, despite sensing pain in my abdomen where Primo had kicked me with his sharp heel, so I leaned against the headboard. I could feel the soft texture of bandages wrapped around several parts of my body, including my back that felt like it was on fire whenever I moved a little bit.

It didn't take long before the door to the room opened and a female nurse appeared in my sight. "Ms. Goodwin! I'm relieved to see you're awake."

"W-Where am I…?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

"You're in New Domino Hospital", the nurse replied as she checked the equipment next to the bed, including the IV that was attached to my left hand. "You've been unconscious for three days. You were suffering from a concussion."

"Three days…?" I mumbled in surprise before I started coughing due to my dry throat.

The nurse grabbed a glass jug from a nightstand and poured some water into a glass mug before holding it up to my lips and tilted it slowly. I took a few sips of the fresh water, sighing inwardly in relief as my throat moistened by the liquid.

"Thank you", I spoke in a clearer voice.

"You're welcome", the nurse smiled before she placed the glass on the nightstand. "I'll go and get your doctor. Do you need something?"

"I…would like to contact my…father."

I rarely called Goodwin "father", so it was still very foreign for me to say that. I only had to call him "father" for special occasions, like now, or else it would look weird to the public eye.

"Certainly", the nurse nodded.

XXXXXXXXXX

The doctor told me I had strained my muscles so much I had to take it easy for the next couple of days. I took a blow to my head, so the doctor made a brain scan and found out I had a small fracture in my skull, so they had an emergency surgery to fix it. I had to wear the bandage for a few weeks and make sure to change it every other day until the wound was healed. That meant I was going to have a bald spot after the bandage was removed. I had a bad burn mark on my back that had to carefully treated, so I couldn't take a shower for some time. I had a large bruise on my abdomen where Primo had kicked me, but I didn't have any internal damage, much to my relief. The doctor still wanted to keep me at the hospital for a few more days to extra precaution.

I was left alone in my room after the doctor had told me about my condition, but it didn't take long before the door opened again. This time it was Goodwin and Ish.

"Hi", I greeted the adults with a small smile.

"Oh, Estelle! We've been so worried for you", Ish told me before she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "We thought you've been seriously injured when we got word about you being at the hospital."

"I had quite the fight with Primo and he used a dirty trick to get the advantage", I explained before Ish let go of me so I could point at my wrapped head.

"I've heard about you from Yusei and the others", Goodwin spoke up. "Ms. Izayoi informed me as soon as you were brought here."

"How are the others?" I asked. "I remember Yusei showed up before I blacked out."

"Everyone is fine", Goodwin said while placing a hand on my left shoulder. "No one got seriously wounded, but they are worried about you. They've also met the Three Emperors of Iliaster and they have many questions, just as I do, so… Once you feel better, we would like to ask you some of them."

"Of course", I nodded. "It's about time I'll tell you what I know about the members of Iliaster."

"Iliaster…", Ish mumbled in the background.

I didn't pay much attention to that, so I thought it was nothing.

"What's going to happen to the World Racing Grand Prix?" I asked.

"Kaiba and I have decided to postpone the Grand Prix qualifying rounds until we've rebuilt the city and the contestants' injuries have healed", Goodwin replied. "The estimated time is about a month, or it might extend depending on obstacles."

XXXXXXXXXX

It was a huge relief to return home after I was discharged. I had contacted my friends and told them I was okay, but I needed some space to collect my thoughts about Iliaster and mentally prepare myself for their questions. They respected that, so I spent a few hours writing down everything I knew so I could get a clear overview. I thought of telling my friends about the four main members of Iliaster, but I was debating with myself about Antinomy AKA Bruno. He was sent by Z-one to assist Yusei to achieve the Accel Synchro summoning because a part of Z-one was still believing in a bright future instead of the apocalyptic fate. If the Signers knew about Bruno's true identity and connection to Iliaster, they might attack and freeze him out of the group, treating him like a traitor.

Right now, we couldn't afford to split apart because of Bruno, so it would be best to discreetly talk about him without exposing his identity.

XXXXXXXXXX

I invited the Signers and Sherry the next day for the group meeting about Iliaster. I received some tight hugs by Leo, Luna, Aki, and even Crow gave me a side hug with his good arm. The burn mark on my back was better than before, but it still tingled whenever someone touched it. Carly was absent because of her job and she wasn't heavily involved with this matter as the Signers and Sherry.

We settled down in the living room with some snacks and drinks served by the maids before they left us alone for the private meeting. Goodwin was obviously with us, since he needed to learn more about the organization so he could protect the city from further harm.

"I heard from Goodwin you met the Three Emperors of Iliaster after the invasion was over", I began. "How much did they tell you?"

"Well, it turns out they were the ones who ordered Lazar to steal the program Yusei and Bruno worked on and they used that to create the Riding Roids", Crow replied.

"I always had a feeling that clown was going to backstab us sooner or later", Jack frowned loudly with his arms and legs crossed.

"I have worked with Lazar for a long time, but I never expected him to betray my trust by being a double-agent for Iliaster", Goodwin said.

"You still haven't found him?" Luna asked.

"Sector Security has tried locating him and his family, but our searches have been fruitless", Goodwin shook his head. "We contacted his family, but they still haven't heard from him."

"Why would Lazar be hiding anyway?" Leo wondered.

"I suspect Iliaster threatened Lazar to hurt his family after they double-crossed him when we were locked inside the facility with the Guard Robot", I explained. "He feared they would come after him, so he took his family and hid somewhere within the city."

"So they could still be in New Domino City or Satellite?" Bruno asked.

"Yes", I replied. "And, sadly, we know Iliaster won't hesitate to use brute force to eliminate the people they find unworthy or disloyal."

"But why would Lazar betray Director Goodwin in the first place?" Aki wondered.

"Probably for power", I replied. "If I remember it right, Lazar always wanted to have power to control the people around him, so he might've been manipulated by Iliaster who gave him a fake promise to fulfill his wishes, but they ended up backstabbing him."

"It makes more sense", Goodwin nodded. "He looked disappointed when I informed him I had cut ties with Iliaster. I advised him to do the same, but apparently he didn't heed my words and now he had to deal with the consequences for his mistake."

"Do you think he could still be alive?" Leo asked.

"I hope so", I replied.

Yusei had been silent the entire time, but now he finally spoke up. "Iliaster said…my father caused further damage to the future because of the Ener-D Reactor he invented. They were the ones who manipulated Roman to unlock the door to the Netherworld and free the Earthbound Immortals, so they could use him to destroy the reactor. Their plan failed, so now they want to change history by erasing New Domino City. They also said we have to make it to the finals of the World Racing Grand Prix to find out the rest because they are going to participate as well."

"But they aren't in the Grand Prix right now, right?" Luna wondered. "Or else we should've heard about them and their Meklord Emperors."

"They aren't in the Grand Prix yet", I confirmed. "They will use their power to alter history and manipulate the teams in the finals."

"So they will intentionally replace one of the teams?" Aki asked.

"Yes. They will probably go by the name Team New World."

"Did you know those Three Emperors of Iliaster were androids this whole time?" Crow asked.

"Yes", I confessed.

"Why didn't you tell us that sooner?!" Sherry exclaimed with green raging eyes. "I knew Iliaster were dangerous, but I never once assumed they were androids!"

"I didn't know when the right time to tell you the truth was", I explained while looking down on my lap. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I won't hold back anymore. I'll tell you know everything I know about Iliaster."

Sherry kept glaring as she leaned back against the couch with her arms crossed. "Naïve."

I knew myself I could be naïve at times, but it still hurt a little bit for hearing that comment. I was working on being less naïve. I shook it off and concentrated on the main topic of this meeting. "They are actually three parts of another android, which is one of the four main members of Iliaster, codenamed Aporia."

"Aporia… That's a Greek word which means to question or wonder", Goodwin said. "Or it could derive from another Greek word that is similar to 'Aporia' and that one means result."

"I had no idea you knew Greek, Goodwin", I commented.

"I happened to read a little Greek while I was studying in the university while learning Latin", Goodwin confessed.

"Wait a minute! You mean the three androids are just parts and they can fuse to become one android?" Crow asked in disbelief.

"It kind of reminds me of my Piece Golems…", Jack mumbled.

"That's correct, Crow", I replied. "The Three Pure Nobles are actually based on the three despairs Aporia went through in his lifetime when he was a human being."

"So Aporia used to be human?" Luna asked.

"Yes. In fact, all four main members of Iliaster used to be humans before they were turned into androids…to cheat the human life and live long enough to change the future."

"Change the future…", Yusei mumbled before he realized something. "Then… Was Paradox an android too?"

"Yes. And I…kind of lied when I said there was a war happening in the future", I confessed. "The truth is…the future, where I was, was on the verge of dying."

Everyone was quiet as they comprehended the new information.

"So…", Yusei continued. "What Paradox said about the future being in ruins…was true?"

"Yes", I nodded.

My crush looked down on his lap with hollow eyes, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing and wanted to escape from the harsh reality.

"So our planet is doomed…?" Leo asked in a shaking voice.

"The unfortunate truth is the rapid evolution of humanity caused more harm than good", I explained. "The Meklord Emperors are the proof of it. They were created by the Ener-D Reactor, affected by mankind's negative emotions. They almost brought the humanity to extinction, but there was a group of resistance that had their goal set on destroying the Meklords. I was fortunate to meet them when Paradox sent me to the future."

"But I guess they were unable to save the world?" Sherry asked.

I glanced at Yusei again to check his reaction. He was still looking on his lap with empty eyes. It hurt my heart to see him like that, but I couldn't back down now. I had to tell my friends the truth.

"That's right", I responded to Sherry's question. "The Ener-D Reactors across the world reached their final limits and caused a worldwide large meltdown, destroying everything on the planet."

"No way…", Aki mumbled while her face turned pale in fear.

Everyone's faces, except Goodwin and Mizoguchi, turned pale as they tried to take in the truth of the future. The middle-aged men were silent, but their faces exposed deep concern about the information.

"There were only four survivors after the meltdown, and those were the human beings of the four members of Iliaster", I continued. "They spent their final years to find a way to save the future and restore humanity, but they passed away one by one of old age. The leader connected himself to a machine to prolong his life, making him the last survivor of mankind."

"Machine… Are you talking about the weird machine we saw when we scanned my card?" Sherry asked.

"Yes", I nodded. "He's the leader of Iliaster… Z-one."

"Z-one? He has the same name as my card?" the blonde French asked in disbelief.

"Yes", I replied. "After the three other members passed away, he created cyborgs with their appearance and memories; Aporia, Paradox, and Antinomy, with the hopes to use them to change history by sending them to the past where everything began with Duel Monsters."

"It starts to make sense…", Yusei mumbled quietly. "Paradox said the destruction of the planet began with the Duel Monsters… And the Ener-D Reactor was created as an energy source that was produced by Duels."

"Exactly", Goodwin nodded. "The Ener-D Reactor was created so we could reduce the pollution and use clean energy instead of fossil fuel. But what mainly concerns me is Iliaster has a power to alter history and they've been known since ancient times."

"I believe Iliaster used their power to travel back to the ancient times to leave traits of their organization and they somehow got involved with the legend of the Crimson Dragon and the Earthbound Immortals", I speculated. "With their involvement, they manipulated Roman to accept the power of the Shadows and destroy the Ener-D Reactor to eliminate it from history. Since that plan failed, they tried erasing Duel Monsters from existence by killing Pegasus. Without Duel Monsters, Yusei's father wouldn't have discovered the Planetary Particles and create the first Ener-D Reactor. But that plan failed too because Yusei, Yugi, and Judai defeated Paradox before he could murder Pegasus. So now… They're desperate to bring the flying fortress, Ark Cradle, to New Domino City by collecting Ener-D and destroy us and the Ener-D Reactor to guarantee that a new reactor is never built again."

It was eerie quiet in the living room after that. No one said a word as I nervously waited for the next questions.

"In other words, Iliaster want to destroy the Ener-D Reactor in our time to save the future", Bruno spoke up.

"Yes", I added. "They don't care about the safety of the people in the city or Satellite. All they want is to save the future so they can have a peaceful life in their era."

"B-But… Isn't there another way to save the future?" Luna's voice shook while she had tears in her eyes. "D-Do Iliaster really have to…destroy us?"

"Don't worry, Luna!" Leo comforted his sister by wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I'll protect you before Iliaster can yell 'Duel'!"

"That is entirely up to how you guys want to protect the future", I replied. "Even if you defeat Iliaster in the Grand Prix, that alone won't change the future. You have to do more to make sure your descendants can live in a peaceful world."

"What about the Antinomy guy?" Crow asked. "We know Paradox was responsible for almost erasing Duel Monsters from history, and the Three Emperors of Iliaster are parts of Aporia who tried to destroy the city with this invasion to collect Ener-D for this summoning thing. Where has the third guy been this whole time?"

"We've already met him", I replied, noticing how Bruno froze in his seat. "It's Dark Glass."

"Dark Glass? Wait, isn't that the Duelist who taught Yusei the Accel Synchro summoning?!" Jack exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes", I nodded.

"But isn't he supposed to be a bad guy?" Aki wondered. "Why did he help Yusei?"

"Because… A small part of Z-one still believes that the mankind can change the present with the help of some guidance", I explained. "He believes the man who built bridges between people has the power to change the future."

Everyone turned their attention at the raven-haired Signer who quickly realized I was talking about him. "Me…?" Yusei mumbled.

"Yes", I nodded. "In the future, before the Meklord Emperor Genocide, you were a legendary Duelist because of your achievements and how you connected people, just like what your name means. In order to change the future, Z-one sent Antinomy to you to teach you Clear Mind and Accel Synchro, the next evolution, so you can use them to change the present for the better good."

"I… I don't know if I can do that", Yusei hesitated before he got serious. "But I do know I have to protect my home and try finding a solution to prevent the destruction from happening in the future. Therefore… We must continue participating in the Grand Prix to stop Iliaster from summoning that Ark Cradle. I won't let the tragedy happen again."

He may not have showed it, but I sensed his hesitation through our Marks. He still doubted himself, and I had a feeling it was about the old Zero Reverse.

"Right! We're Signers, so we were chosen by the Crimson Dragon for a reason!" Crow agreed.

"There's no way in hell that I, Jack Atlas, will let Iliaster destroy our home!" Jack exclaimed determinedly.

"We managed to save the world before. We can do it again", Aki nodded.

"Luna and I may be small, but we're packed with power!" Leo added.

"Right!" Luna nodded.

"I may not be a Signer, but I won't allow Iliaster harvest more blood than what they already have", Sherry said.

"And I shall be there to protect you, Milady", Mizoguchi spoke up.

"I'll do my best by upgrading everyone's Duel Runners and assist you in any way I can", Bruno nodded.

"As the Director of Sector Security, it's my duty to guarantee the citizens' safety", Goodwin said. "If the Ark Cradle will appear, I'll evacuate the city immediately."

"It's too bad the Grand Prix got postponed, though", Crow commented sadly.

"There's nothing we can do about it, Crow", Yusei shook his head. "Primo and his Riding Roids caused so much destruction that even the courses are damaged and unsafe to drive on."

"While I agree it's quite the misfortune, it gives us the advantage to prepare our Decks to battle against the Meklord Emperors", Sherry said. "Yusei may have that Accel Synchro Monster, but the rest of us are at disadvantage with our Synchro Monsters. We must find a way to protect them from getting absorbed by the Meklords."

"Sherry is right", I nodded. "The rest of us have to keep experimenting until we've found a way to use our Synchro Monsters without losing them."

XXXXXXXXXX – Normal POV

Jakob and Lester were sitting on their thrones as they spied on the meeting the Signers and their friends were having. Primo was in a different location getting repaired after suffering major damage from the Turbo Duel with Yusei.

"So the Priestess has exposed Iliaster's objective", Jakob said calmly.

"Tsk! She had to open her mouth and tell the Signers everything!" Lester irritably clicked his tongue. "Can't we use Infinity to get rid of her?"

"We cannot, because she, the Signers, and even Director Goodwin are protected by the Crimson Dragon", Jakob replied. "The power of Infinity won't affect them, so we cannot erase them from existence."

"Primo won't be happy by the news when he's activated", Lester crossed his arms before giggling like crazy.

"Even with the knowledge, the Signers are unable to prevent the Ark Cradle from being summoned", Jakob said. "If they somehow find this place and discover the Circuit, they cannot damage it."

"Well, you're right about that", Lester shrugged. "We don't have much to worry about, so we can take it easy until the Grand Prix continues. And if they miraculously manage to stop us and God, what can they do to protect the future? Sure, Fudo Yusei was the symbol of hope and mankind's evolution, but what can a lone man do?"

"You have a good point", Jakob nodded. "A single man cannot change the future, no matter how much effort he puts into it. The devastating future was created by mankind's rapid evolution and their negative emotions fed the Ener-D Rectors, so it is up to mankind itself to repair the damage they inflicted upon themselves."

"Humans tend to repeat the history over and over again, and yet they never learn from their mistakes", Lester sarcastically sighed loudly.

XXXXXXXXXX – Yusei's POV

I felt like I was now motivated than ever to stop Iliaster from destroying our home after hearing what their main goal was, but there was one thing that kept bothering me… Estelle said Antinomy was sent to me by Z-one to help me achieve Clear Mind and Accel Synchro to use them to change the future. Basically, I was the future mankind's only hope.

If I ended up finding a solution to prevent the Ener-D Reactors from going out of control and didn't create the Meklord Emperor Genocide, that would be perfect, but what if I couldn't do that? What if I caused more harm to the future instead? I was carrying Father's burden… Father's curse, as Lester had put it… Was I meant to do something right or the opposite?

Father's project, the Ener-D Reactor, had already slaughtered so many people when Zero Reverse occurred. I never wanted to let that happen ever again, but what if history repeated itself and it would be my fault?

Everyone else was leaving the living room to get some alone time to comprehend the crucial information, but I needed to speak with Estelle about my worries.

"Estelle", I called, getting her attention as she was about to step out of the living room.

"Yeah?" she responded as she turned around to face me.

I walked up to her as I tried to hide my concerned expression. "I want to talk to you about something important. Is that okay?"

"Of course", Estelle nodded. "Want to talk outside in the garden?"

"Sure."

Estelle and I waved bye to the others before we walked out to the large park of the garden where Jack and I fought a long time ago before we went to Satellite to stop the Dark Signers. I couldn't believe it had been almost a whole year since that event. I laughed inwardly, thanking Jack for punching the negative thoughts out of my head from that time.

We sat down on a bench in front of a fountain that was shaped like a Blue-Eyes White Dragon. It must have been recently installed because I couldn't remember a Blue-Eyes White Dragon fountain last time I was in the garden park.

"So… What's on your mind, Yusei?" Estelle asked in a soft voice.

I sighed deeply as I formed the sentences in my head. "I understand my existence served a purpose in the future. I was a Duelist that people admired and looked up to, even with the dark past of my father constructing the first Ener-D Reactor that killed so many people and unconsciously changed their lives. I know it was Roman's fault for causing Zero Reverse after the Earthbound Immortals took control over him, but still…" I held the palms of my hands up and stared at them, almost imagining they were stained by blood. "My father's curse is living within me because I'm his son. I'm afraid…I might make things worse if I try finding a solution to prevent the future from falling into ruins. What if I can never make the future safe for the next generations? What if my curse ends up destroying the world? I don't want to let that happen, but I'm afraid to make everything worse!"

I couldn't help but yell out the last part in frustration as anxiety flowed within me. I had never felt so much anxiety in my life. It was like the weight of the burden had increased now that I knew I had such an important role in the future. What if I couldn't live up to all the expectations? What if the curse gets in my way and I'll lose sight of everything precious to me?!

The next thing I knew, Estelle had wrapped her arms around my shoulders and brought me into a hug. My chin rested on her shoulder as she gently caressed my hair. I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around her waist, suddenly feeling like a child seeking comfort from its mother. We stayed like that for a short moment before Estelle spoke up.

"What makes you think you have a curse?"

I opened my eyes, not realizing they were wet by tears. I blinked them away before they could run down my cheeks. "Lester claimed…my father's curse is living within me…because I'm his son. The son of the man who built the Reactor…that killed so many innocent lives… I'm carrying Father's sins and I can't erase them…no matter how hard I try."

"Do you believe you have a curse?" Estelle questioned. "Or do you believe that because other people tell you?"

I was quiet for a few seconds before responding. "A little bit of both…"

Estelle let out a loud sigh before she cupped my cheeks and held my head up so she could at me in the eye. "Yusei… I know you keep blaming yourself about Zero Reverse… But it was never your fault."

"I… I know that", I replied while looking away with my eyes. "My brain tells me that, but my soul claims it's still my fault because Father's curse was passed to me."

"Then… Turn that curse into a blessing", Estelle said.

"Blessing…?" I mumbled confusedly as I looked back at my crush.

"Yes, a blessing", Estelle repeated with a nod. "Curses and blessings are two sides of the same coin. You have the power to change it. You decide what you're carrying is considered a curse or a blessing. No one can decide it for you, not even God." She leaned closer so our foreheads and noses were touching each other as she gave me a smile. "But in my eyes… You are a blessing. You were born because your parents wanted to share their love with a third person. You were their blessing, a gift in life, and your father wanted to protect you, so that's why he sent you to a safe place before Zero Reverse could claim your life. You are blessed because you got to grow up and live a life with your closest friends and family. You are blessed because you inherited your parents' intelligence. You can use your intelligence and knowledge to flip your father's curse into a blessing. You are strong to overcome the obstacles in your path. And if you happen to lose sight of yourself… Your friends and I will be there to guide you back to the light where you belong. We'll always be there to give you the strength to stand up when you fall down. Remember that you're not alone; we'll carry your burden together."

A blessing… I was a blessing? I could flip the curse into a blessing and make something good to protect my precious friends and family? My home and the future?

But… Was I strong enough to do that by myself?

No. I wasn't alone.

Estelle, the woman from another dimension who I had fallen in love with, was right here with me. Not just her; my friends, my family… They were all there by my side. If I were to lose hope, they were going to help me get up and lighten the burden on me.

Fresh tears accumulated in my eyes as I realized I had so many people that cared and loved me, despite knowing I was the son of the man who created the Old Ener-D Reactor that split Satellite apart from New Domino City in the past. They didn't harbor any resentment toward me. They loved me for me, both my good and bad sides.

As soon as Estelle let go of my cheeks, I buried my face against her collarbone while my arms were wrapped around her waist. "Thank you…", I whispered softly, my lips grazing her smooth skin.

I felt Estelle's chuckle as she groomed my hair with her fingers. "Don't ever think you're alone with this burden, Yusei…", she whispered. "We will help you protect the future…together."

The future… I was now looking forward to see what the future had in store for me. I briefly imagined Estelle cradling a small bundle wrapped in a blanket in her arms, but I quickly erased that thought. It was too soon to think about that, but it was something I would love to share with her someday.

And in order for that to happen, I had to guarantee the safety of the future, using my intelligence, knowledge, and skills to make sure Zero Reverse would never happen again, not in my lifetime and definitely not in the future.

But first things first… We had to deal with Iliaster and stop them once and for all.

XXXXXXXXXX

The last part of the chapter was inspired by the final episode of "Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV".

I hope I kept Yusei in his character, but I assume he must have lots of emotions inside him that he didn't want to show to others in the anime. And he's still human, so of course he might have his own meltdown when the burden gets too heavy on him.