Yukin has emerged as the winner in his duel. However, his win might have come at a price. Both duelists returned to the arena. While the higher-ups were most pleased with Yukin, the nobodies hated him for what he did.

"Well, I'm glad that Yukin put that common whelp in his place."

"That should put an end to this little rebellion." The higher-ups felt safe. Without Shiro to lead the rebellion, there might not even be a rebellion. For what he did, many others are turning against Yukin.

"Yukin! Do you have any idea what you've done?!" Shiro said with much anger as he ran over to Yukin. "How could you?"

"I'm sorry." Yukin said as he removed his helmet. "I understand why you're upset, but a rebellion isn't the answer to solve your problems. All that is going to do is make things worse."

"You don't get it! They'll never change! They'll never accept us!" Shiro said as his hatred and anger knows no bounds. "You have no idea what you've done. You've probably ruined our only chance to be free from them." Yukin doesn't know what to do about him.

"A most impressive win." They both looked back and were surprised to see Rojin himself was in the arena.

"This is certainly a surprise. Commander Rojin of Nitro City's police force is here himself." Marcy announced as all of them wondered why he was here.

"That was a splendid victory, Yukin." Rojin said as he was acting friendly with Yukin with Yukin finding that strange. "By defeating Shiro, you've put the city more at ease. I thought we would have a real problem with this rebellion stunt Shiro was trying to pull, but it looks like that's put to a rest thanks to you, Yukin." He even placed his hand on Yukin's shoulder and it got Shiro thinking something else was going on. "I thought it was an incredible duel."

"Get your hand off me." Yukin said as he brushed Rojin off.

"I think it's pretty incredible how you rigged the duel so that Yukin would win." Shiro said.

"Say what?" Yukin said as he couldn't believe Shiro would say that.

"Did I hear that right? Shiro is saying Rojin rigged the duel so that Yukin would win." Marcy announced. "Something tells me I better get in closer for this." She hurried down to get the truth.

"I see what's really going on! You two have really been conspiring with each other the whole time!" Shiro said.

"No, it's not like that." Yukin said.

"What makes you say that? What proof do you have?" Rojin said.

"There's Yukin's duel against Jordan." Shiro said. "Out of everyone, you picked Yukin. Yukin lost that duel, but he's standing right in front of me rather than being in Underground Garbage. Your men also knew where to find me and my buddies from before."

"Shiro, you got it wrong! I would never work with this guy!" Yukin claimed.

"I can see why you would think that, but there are simple explanations." Rojin said. "Finding you and the others was rather easy since you've been causing us problems for a long time. As for the duel... If you remember, it was an exhibition match. It wouldn't have mattered who won or lost. I picked Yukin for I hoped to see his elemental summoning, which Yukin here discovered. It's as simple as that. The fact here is that you're making excuses to console the harsh truth that you lost."

"When I get my hands on you..." Shiro was letting anger get the better of him, but Rojin's men stopped him from doing anything by grabbing him and dragged him away.

"Enjoy the Underground Garbage." Rojin said.

"You'll pay for this! You too, Yukin! You're the traitor!" Shiro called out. Yukin couldn't believe this and it looks like some people agreed with Yukin.

"You traitor!"

"How could you ruin our hope?!"

"You really are with the higher-ups!" Many people are against Yukin now thinking he was with the enemy.

"Yukin? Do you have any comments on Shiro's claims?" Marcy asked as she held the microphone to him. Yukin heard the people call him out and he had enough.

"Give me that!" Yukin said as he snatched the microphone and turned to the audience. "Shut up!" He shouted with everyone settling down. "Let me make one thing clear! I'm not on the higher-ups side! In fact, I hate the way this city runs! You all act like it really matters in life whether you win or lose! You act like money is all that matters! That's not true at all, and I plan to change this city! I'm going to bring down this fraud of what you think paradise is!" Once he got his message out there, he tossed the microphone and and hurried to the runner as he revved it up.

"What do you think you're doing?" Rojin said.

"Going after my friend! I'm done playing by your rules! Out of the way!" Yukin demanded as he rode his runner past Rojin and headed straight for the city to find Zoey, to save one friend while he still can.

"Should we stop him?" A fellow officer asked.

"No. Follow him." Rojin said as he had something else in mind. With what just happened, people like Steve and Ryo, who they put their trust in Yukin, has them wondering whose side he's really on.

...

Zoey

At Zoey's last duel, she nearly crashed. She would have been a goner, but Soto showed up and saved her at the last minute. She lost consciousness for a moment, but she began to pull herself together as she woke up and saw she was in a rundown place.

"What happened?" Zoey said as she tried to sit up. Fortunately, she wasn't in too much pain. She took a second and remembered what happened to her. "How did I get here?" She wasn't sure what happened, but at least she's okay.

...

The Council

The Council still watched the duels unfold from their private chamber with Renji standing with them. After what happened with the last two duels, Renji was wondering if this persuaded the councilmen to change their minds.

"What do you think now?" Renji asked.

"I'm still not convince." Maribel said.

"Neither am I." Takato said. "Yukin does seem to have skill, but he appears to be the only one that really shows any merit."

"What about Siri and Shun?" Pier asked.

"I suppose that all depends on how they do in their next duels." Tensen said. This hasn't gone the way Renji wanted, but it is what he expected more or less. The council is only willing to work with winners. Renji thought these higher-ups would be more lenient, but perhaps they aren't much better. While they were discussing these matters, Rojin was making his move. He hacked his way into the council building and initiated lockdown. They all noticed the lockdown happening and found it rather strange.

"Oh my! What is this?" Palice questioned.

"That would be my doing." All of them looked and saw Rojin appearing on their monitors.

"Commander Rojin?! What is the meaning of this?!" Tensen questioned.

"It's something I've been planning for quite a while and it's time I take matters into my hands." Rojin said. "This is my city and I'm claiming it!"

"What do you mean?" Takato questioned.

"You didn't really think I was going to be your loyal commander for the rest of my life did you?" Rojin questioned. "I've been planning to take control of this city from the very beginning. Now, you're all my captives. Although, I must expect that I wasn't expecting the likes of you, Renji Abarin, to show up with this little team to bring down Promin Academy."

"I take it you're quite familiar with Promin Academy." Renji said.

"More than you know." Rojin said. "I was once an instructor there. I was first sent here on recon for Promin, but I soon decided on something. Why should I obey the likes of him? I've decided to take matters into my hands. I'll start by taking Nitro City, and have Promin bow to me. I was a little concerned, but you made quite a good distraction to keep the eyes off me, and now some of your own have been taken out of the equation. Now, no one can stand in my way." Rojin is starting to show his true colors to take control of the city. Now that he's taking them all hostage, he believes no one can stop him, but Renji has something else in mind.

...

Yukin

With Rojin making his big move, Yukin is really worried about his friends now. He needs to find Zoey, but he needs to find Soto to find. He might have been able to get back into the city, but he couldn't find Soto anywhere.

"Come on. Where is he?" Yukin said as he was getting more and more worried about Zoey.

"Yukin!" Soto called as he showed himself in an alleyway. "This way, and hurry! You're being followed!" When Soto claimed he was being followed, Yukin looked behind him and spotted a couple of Rojin's security officers. Knowing they were going to try and stop him, he hurried and followed Soto. The security officers followed after him to stay close, but they soon lost him when they went into the alleyway.

"Where did he go?"

"He's got to be around here somewhere." The two of them began searching for Yukin. What they didn't know was that Yukin already took cover inside one of the buildings. Soto was two floors up in one. He looked out the window and saw them leaving, but continued searching.

"We should be safe for now." Soto said. He turned to Yukin, but Yukin grabbed Soto by the shirt and shoved him against the wall. "Is this how we're saying hello now?"

"You've got a lot of nerve to show yourself." Yukin said as he never forgot how Soto lied and betrayed them. "What are you even doing here?!"

"Yukin, I know you're upset with me, but I'm here to help." Soto said.

"You expect me to believe that after you lied to us?" Yukin said. "Now tell me where Zoey is or else."

"Soto, I promise that she's safe. If I was here to take her back to Promin Academy, I would have done that by now and you never would have known." Soto said. "Why else would I tell you to come look for me? I know you're upset with me, but just hear me out." Yukin kept his guard up, but he let Soto go and listened to him.

"Start explaining. What are you even doing here?" Yukin said.

"Well, it started when we last saw each other." Soto said as he started to explain himself. "I know I've done somethings you wouldn't agree with, but I was simply following orders. After our last duel, the first thin that came to me when I heard Zoey was...fear. I was actually afraid of what might have happened to her. So, I teleported straight back to Promin Academy and tried to find her."

"You were actually worried?" Yukin questioned.

"Yeah. It surprised me, too." Soto said. "The thing is... You and Zoey were actually the first real friends I made. I had classmates in Promin Academy, but I don't think any of them were really my friends. In Promin Academy, we're trained to become soldiers. I don't know about making friends there. When I got back to Promin Academy, I searched around for her. I couldn't find her and I was worried something happened. Then, I overheard that an agent found Zoey here in Nitro City."

"That had to have been Klaus." Yukin said.

"So, I came here and sent Klaus back to Promin Academy." Soto said. "After that, I found Zoey and was able to save her before she crashed. I hid her away, and a good thing too. Promin Academy is on it's way here."

"They are?!" Yukin said. That's the last thing they needed.

"Yeah. They'll be coming for Zoey, and they know Siri is here too." Soto said.

"Why is Promin after Zoey?" Yukin asked.

"I don't know. I might understand with Siri since she's a traitor, but I don't know why he wants Zoey." Soto said. "In fact, he has these two other girls that look like Zoey named Brui and Rini."

"Brui?! That's who Drewsin and Shun are looking for!" Yukin said. "What could he want with them?"

"I don't know, but they will follow through with it." Soto said. "I don't want Zoey to fall into his hands, so I have an idea. I can help you and Zoey get out of here, Yukin. If we hand Siri over to them, I can make sure you guys get out."

"You want to give Siri to Promin?" Yukin questioned.

"Siri's from Promin Academy, Yukin. They'll come after her no matter what. They'll track her down and make sure she's sent back there." Soto said. "If you give her to me, I can protect you and Zoey."

"No way." Yukin said as he refused the offer without a thought.

"But why? Siri's from Promin Academy. Why protect her?" Soto questioned.

"Siri didn't know what Promin Academy was really doing. Now that she does, she wants to help stop them." Yukin said. "If they want her, we'll protect her."

"Yukin, come on. Why bother protecting her? Just give her up for Zoey." Soto said as he still didn't get it.

"I won't sell out one friend for another. Zoey wouldn't want that either." Yukin said as he was getting mad at Soto again. "I was starting to think that you were beginning to understand, but I guess I was wrong if you're suggesting something like this. I thought beginning to see that what you've been doing is wrong."

"Well, Promin Academy won't stop for anything. They don't tolerate disobedience, betrayal, or anything like that. What am I suppose to do?" Soto questioned.

"Leave Promin Academy!" Yukin said with Soto shocked like the thought never occurred to him. "If you know what you're doing is wrong, join us. Just walkaway, Soto. I don't know what Promin is planning, but it's crazy. Just leave them and join us."

"Leave Promin Academy...?" Soto said.

"Why would you even stay with them?" Yukin said. "Knowing what's going on, why would you ever work for someone like them?"

"Because we don't have a choice!" Soto said with Yukin getting surprised. "Promin rules Promin Academy with an iron fist. He makes it clear that it's not our place to question him. His word is absolute. We either follow his orders without question or we be punished. Some of us believe we're making the world a better place by doing this, but some do have their doubts. If we don't do what he says, we're punished. If we still go against him, we could be turned into cards. Do you get it? The mere thought of going against Promin Academy is terrifying." Yukin could see the fear Soto had when he explained all of this and could see things more clearly.

'I get it now. That explains why this guy has so many followers.' Yukin thought. 'He rules over them with fear, and if they still choose to oppose him, he'll punish them. He makes it so they don't have a choice.' From what Yukin could see, Soto was one of those suffering from the fear. "Soto, it doesn't have to be that way. Look where you are now. If they found out what you did, you're in for it and you still chose to help us. This could be your chance to leave."

"Leave? I could really do that?" Soto said.

"If you really see Zoey and I as your friends, you'll join with us." Yukin said. "We can put an end to this. We can bring Promin Academy down. You know she and I are going to everything we can to stop them."

"But what if you get turn into a card?" Soto asked.

"I won't, and if I do, I know my friends will find a way to save me." Yukin said. "Soto, this could be your chance to leave. You can start by taking me to Zoey." Yukin was trying to appeal to whatever humanity Soto has. Soto has come to view both of them as his friends, and friends put their trust in each other. Soto agreed to start by showing him where Zoey is. When they believed the coast was clear, they got moving.

"There!" They stepped right into a trap when they found security. One launched a net, but Yukin pushed Soto out of the way.

"Soto, go! Make sure Zoey is safe!" Yukin called. Yukin's putting his trust in Soto again. Soto isn't going to let him down again. He hurried off and hoped he gets to Zoey before it's too late.

...

The Arena

"That was crazy, but we still have a tournament going on." Marcy announced as they continued on with the event. "The next duel is going to be between Shun and Ryo!" The tournament continues on, but the danger is coming. Nitro City might seem like a paradise, but it's about to reach disaster.