Chapter five: Confrontation.

The first words that Mammon heard come out of Playmaker's mouth, gave him all he needed to know "Cyberses are gone from my field."

"He sealed away Cyberse." Playmaker mopped some more before coming to a realisation "That's why you didn't play Topologic Bomber Dragon!"

Revolver laughed before replying "That is what happens when you rely on Ignis."

"Ignis?"

"It seems you don't know what Ignis is." Revolver said, intriguing both Playmaker and Mammon "I'll tell you before you lose. Ignis isn't an ordinary Ai."

Mammon whilst shocked had assumed this from the beginning 'After Playmaker got that Ai, I got a new task alongside eliminating Playmaker, truly if that malevolent being was just ordinary it would be of no concern.'

"Since long ago, there have been tests to create life within the network. But only regular programs were able to be created," Revolver began to explain "They lacked a certain something to be considered a life form."

"What do you mean?" Playmaker asked.

"Free will." Revolver answered bluntly "Even in humans, we don't know where free will is located inside our bodies. But someone created it in a program. He accomplished what God did. In ancient mythology, God gave heaven's forbidden fire to humans. This fire quickly evolved mankind. Modelled after the myth, he named the life form 'Ignis'. However this man wasn't the only one to attempt this feat," Mammon's eyes widened as he realised what Revolver was beginning to talk about. "Another person, one who thought they could play God tried. They attempt to replicate the original results. They did not succeed. It was for one simple reason that they failed. Ignis is AI with free will."

"Free will?" Both Mammon and Playmaker said at the same time. "No way! A program can't have free will!" Playmaker responded, Mammon remained silent.

"I naturally expected that reaction. But it doesn't matter whether you believe this story or not. Ignis created the Cyberse and is trying to conquer the network. We'll do whatever it will take to kill Ignis and the Cyberse!" Revolver declared emphatically.

"Now I'll continue this duel and end you! Here I go, Playmaker! My turn! I draw! Beltlink Wall Dragon's effect." The Dragon behind Revolver lurched forward and had the last light on its face light up "It gains a wall counter during each of our turns."

"Next is Three Burst Blast Dragon's effect. By tributing this card, I special summon a link monster from my graveyard. And I special summon a Dragon from my hand! Twin Triangle Dragon from my graveyard! I special summon Sniffer Dragon from my hand!" The two Dragons appeared beside each other and bared down on Playmaker.

"Sniffer Dragon's effect activates. When it's summoned or special summoned, I add one Sniffer Dragon in my deck to my hand. I summon another Sniffer Dragon!" The duplicate came into being next to the original copy.

"Appear! The future circuit that lights up my path! Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least three effect monsters. I set Link 2 Twin Triangle Dragon and two Sniffer Dragons in the Link Markers!" The three Dragon monster transformed into red energy and flew to the link square "Circuit combine! My new wind that pierces through the closed world! Link summon! Appear, Link 4 Borreload Dragon!" A dragon that was covered in sliver amour, had luminous neon green wings and a torso which looked like a revolver appeared on Revolver's field.

Playmaker gritted his teeth "That Dragon…" He though back to an incident that had occurred between the two of them not long ago "From Before! It's his ace monster!"

"Due to Fire Prison's effect, your Cyberse monsters have vanished! Go, Borreload Dragon! Attack Playmaker directly!" The gun barrel in Borreload's chest snapped into action, crackling with purple electricity as it spun round "Charging energy! Varrel mode change!" A canon made its way out of Borreload's mouth and locked onto the helpless Playmaker. "Target, locked on! Anti-glare protection!" A visor dropped down from Revolver's mask. "Final safety removed! Take this! Thunder Varrel canon!" The energy that had gathered in the Borreload's cannon was at last unleashed in al mighty burst.

The blast struck Playmaker head on and blew him away as a massive smoke cloud appeared in the blast radius, it was even strong enough to pierce the walls of the data storm. When the cloud cleared, Playmaker was face down on the ground, his life points tumbling down from 3600 to 600. "Serves you right, Playmaker." Mammon muttered "It is time, that you learned your place."

"I end my turn." Revolver said, looking quite pleased about how the duel was going. When Playmaker still didn't get up Revolver couldn't help but gloat "It seems this duel ended before he ran out of life points."

Playmaker's eyes twitched as he thought back to a certain incident. He remembered the pain, the suffering, every time the robotic voice said "You lose." Every time he struggled back to his feet after every single defeat. Then a moment of salvation came "Get up." A voice called out "Who is it?" He remembers asking it "Three." The voice said "Think of three things. Three things to live. Three things to go home. Three things to defeat the enemy. By thinking, you can still live."

'That's right. Three.' He thought 'Three reasons why I must win this duel. 1: To regain those memories. 2: To learn the truth about then and connect all the moments of my life.' He opened his eyes and struggled to his feet, shaking all the while '3: To find that person. If that person is still captured, I must rescue that person!'

"I can still fight!" Playmaker shouted in defiance to what appeared to be his imminent failure.

"Oh, he got up." Mammon said.

"I failed to erase his fighting spirit." Revolver observed.

"My turn! I draw!" Playmaker began his turn, but he quickly staggered back 'If I don't do something this turn, I'll definitely lose. But what can I do?' He then looked down and noticed a blue glow coming out of his duel disk "This is…" A shadowy dragon appeared in Playmaker's thoughts 'The new pulse of the Cyberse inside my deck hasn't vanished yet.'

He thought back to something Ai had said to him during his speed duel with Revolver "Is this your link sense? You can sense the presence of the network. Since when?"

"Since I was young. That's right. I could sense the pulse of the network since then. Cyberse's fire hasn't been extinguished yet! Ai, are you still there? Can you hear me? Answer me, Ai!"

Ai who had previously had its eye closed, suddenly snapped it open 'Playmaker!'

"I know you're there, so lend me your strength! Respond, Cyberses! I activate the field spell, Cynet Universe! Link monsters on my field gain 300 attack points!"

"Whatever you try is pointless. Cyberses are already gone." Both Mammon and Revolver said mimicking the other perfectly.

"You're wrong. Cyberses are still here. I can hear their pulses!" Once again Revolver and Mammon parroted each other in perfect symmetry. Shock was the only expression they could muster.

"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future!"

"What are you going to do?" Revolver questioned.

"Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least two monsters! I set Link 3 Decode Talker and Encode Talker in the link markers!"

"You're using your two ace monsters?"

"Circuit combine! Here I go, Revolver! This is the Cyberse's new potential! Appear, Link 4! Firewall Dragon!" The shadowy dragon that had appeared in the back of Playmaker's mind slowly came into the world. It looked like a more pure version of Revolver's Borreload Dragon.

Revolver staggered back "So that's the monster you got from the data storm!" The fire prison card appeared before Revolver it then burst into particles. The cage surrounding the two of them began to disappear into nothingness until it as gone entirely.

Revolver looked around stunned before begrudgingly speaking "When the Cyberses that Fire Prison sealed away all leave the field, Fire Prison is destroyed."

There was a purple light that glowed from Playmaker's disk, Ai had returned "Ai." Playmaker said.

'Huh? Where am I?'

"You're back to being a hostage." Playmaker answered the Ignis' concerns.

'Playmaker… Was I sleeping?'

"Yeah. Deeply."

'You didn't lose, did you?'

"Of course not. But my life is like a candle in the wind."

Ai then caught sight of Playmaker's life points '600 life points? Playmaker, you're in a pinch.'

"You can go back to sleep if you want." Playmaker said.

Ai narrowed its eye 'But the fact that I woke up means…'

"Fire Prison is destroyed." Playmaker finished "Now's the only chance to defeat him! Fire Prison's effect is now gone, so Beltlink Wall Dragon's defence decreases from 2400 to 2100! Due to the field spell Cynet Universe's effect Link monsters on my field gain 300 attack points!" Firewall's attack was raised from 2500 to 2800.

'Whoa! You have an incredible monster! Did you get it during the speed duel via Storm Access?' Ai asked. He then took notice of Borreload Dragon 'Whoa! He has an incredible monster too!'

"Firewall Dragon attacks Beltlink Wall Dragon!" Firewall Dragon screeched, it let its wings out and charged its energy, it formed a purple blast of energy and unleashed it "Go! Tempest attack!"

It struck Revolver's Dragoon and obliterated it, forcing the leader of Hanoi to abort his position on top of the monster. "Beltlink Wall Dragon…"

"The field spell Cynet Universe's effect! I return Encode Talker from my graveyard to my extra deck! I set two cards face down and end my turn!"

"My turn! I draw!" Revolver began to start his turn, however…

"My trap activates!" Playmaker interrupted "Parallel Port Armour! Your cards can't target Firewall Dragon and it can't be destroyed by battle!"

"But I activate a spell card from my hand! Marker Charge! When the Extra Monster Zone has monsters with the same Link number I draw two cards from my deck. I summon Anesthrokket Dragon!" A mechanical dragon with a syringe on top of its head appeared. "I activate a quick-play spell card from my hand!"

Out of the two cards Revolver held out the left hand one disappeared "Squib Draw! I destroy one Rokket monster on my field." Anesthrokket burst into particles "I draw two cards from my deck. From my hand, I activate the field spell, Revolver Boot Sector! I special summon up to two Rokket monsters in my hand in defence position! I special summon Autorokket Dragon and Anesthrokket Dragon!" Autorokket was a bronze Dragon which had a missile on top of its head.

"Due to Revolve Boot Sector's effect, Rokket monsters gain 300 attack and defence points. Borreload Dragon's effect. Once per turn, one monster loses 500 attack and defence points. I use this effect on Autorokket Dragon. Anti-enemy Varret!"

'He lowered his own monster's defence?' Ai questioned the validity of Revolver moves.

"At this moment, Autorokket Dragon's effect! When it is targeted by a Link monster it's destroyed, and one spell or trap card on the field is sent to the graveyard." Autorokket transformed into a ball of orange energy and was loaded into Borreload's barrel "I send your Parallel port armour to the graveyard!" Borreload launched its bullet and Playmaker's trap was no more.

"That effect activates when it is targeted by an effect!" Playmaker said.

"Thank you Playmaker, I wasn't quite sure of the effect myself." Mammon sneered.

'Will he use the other Rokket monsters as Borreload's bullets?' Ai asked.

"Now your Firewall Dragon can be destroyed. Here I go! Borreload Dragon attacks Firewall Dragon!" As the attack went on Revolver declared something else "Borreload's effect! Strange Trigger!" The bullet struck Firewall but it didn't destroy the monster, instead it turned into some glowing ooze.

Firewall then began to glitch startling Ai 'What what what?' The glitch ended and Firewall appeared on Revolver's field 'His incredible Dragon took our Incredible Dragon!'

"That effect takes control of the opponent's monster!"

"Seriously? Do you enjoy stating the obvious, Playmaker?" Mammon sneered again, then smirked "However, seeing your own monster bury you will be payment enough."

"Firewall Dragon, attack Playmaker directly! Tempest attack!" Playmaker now appeared to be staring right at defeat "Your own Cyberse will end you, Playmaker!"

'P-p-playmaker!' Ai stuttered.

"I know! I activate the trap, Cynet Refresh! When a Cyberse monster attacks, all monsters in the main monster zone are destroyed!"

Revolver grunted as Firewall and Anesthrokket were destroyed "You avoided Firewall's attack. I set one card. But my field's defence is impenetrable. When a battle or effect destroys Anesthrokket and sends it to the graveyard I can special summon a different Rokket from my deck at the end of the turn. And the destroyed Autorokket has the same effect. I special summon two copies of Magnarokket Dragon." Magnarokket was a blue armour plated dragon. "Due to the field spell Revolver Boot Sector's effect, Rokket monsters gain 300 attack and defence points." Both the Magnarokkets defence points were raised to 1500

'Whoa! He resurrected two of his monsters!'

"Due to Cynet Refresh's effect I special summon a Cyberse Link monster from my graveyard that this card destroyed!" Out of the purple vortex came "Resurrect, Firewall Dragon! Due to Cynet universe's effect, the resurrected Firewall Dragon gains 300 attack points. I activate the trap, Recoded Alive! I banish Decode Talker from my graveyard. Then I special summon a monster with 'Code Talker' in its name from my extra deck! Come, Encode Talker! Encode Talker also gains 300 attack because of Cynet universe's effect."

"Encode Talker…" Mammon muttered "That's the monster he used to take out Blue Angel."

"The real fight is only getting started!" Playmaker declared "Firewall Dragon's effect! For every monster that is linked to this card a monster on the field or in the graveyard is returned to the owner's hand. One monster is linked to Firewall. Emergency escape!"

"I see. That's a powerful effect. But monster effects can't target Borreload Dragon."

Ai moaned 'Aww really? That's the monster I want to get rid of!"

Begrudgingly Playmaker chose another card "I return Magnarokket Dragon to your hand."

Revolver smirked "But Magnarokket's effect now activates! When a link monster's effect targets it, I can destroy it. Then I send one monster on the field to the graveyard. I send Firewall to the graveyard!"

Playmaker took the time to think through his next move 'Magnarokket's effect removes monsters.'

He was interrupted by Ai 'Hey! If you lose Firewall…"

"I know! I banish Cynet Refresh from my graveyard to activate its effect! Card effects can't affect my monsters this turn." A blue barrier surrounded Firewall protecting it against the ensuing blast from Borreload.

"You prevented Firewall's destruction." Revolver stated and at this point Mammon was practically pulling his hair out "Jesus Christ! Is everyone stating the obvious today?!"

He was too busy fuming over this matter to pay attention to Revolver's next move "But I activate Magnarokket's other effect! When a battle or an effect destroys it, at the end of the turn I special summon a different Rokket from my deck." Another copy of Anesthrokket came to the field "I end my turn."

'Phew! He finally ended his turn.' Ai breathed a sigh of relief.

Calming down, Mammon took the time to scan the field 'So he managed to destroy Fire Prison and dodged Borreload's effect and attack, but still he is hanging on desperately, he's going to have to pull something out of the bag if he's to win. Well… Do you think you can do it? Playmaker.'

'Revolver is undamaged, while we have only 600 life points. And no cards in our hand! Everything will depend on this draw.' Ai pointed out.

"I've done everything I can in order to battle him. And built a deck to defeat him. For this one moment, I know my deck will respond. This draw is my destiny draw! My turn! I draw!" Playmaker put every last ounce of his strength it the draw to turn this duel around "Yes! This card will do! From my hand, I activate the continuous spell, Battle Buffer! As long as Encode and Firewall are linked to each other Anesthrokket Dragon and Magnarokket Dragon's effects are sealed!" Two blasts launched from that card greyed out the colouring of the two mechanical dragons.

'All right! Now they can't become Borreload's bullets!' Ai said happily 'Let's go, Playmaker!'

"Battle! Firewall Dragon attacks Borreload Dragon!"

"You're attacking Borreload Dragon even though Firewall Dragon has lower attack?" Revolver questioned.

"Encode Talker's effect! Monsters linked to it aren't destroyed in battle nor do I take damage." Playmaker replied

"What are you thinking?" Revolver said still confused.

'It means our strategy isn't over yet!' Ai said coolly, causing both Mammon and Revolver to recoil in shock.

"Go, Firewall Dragon! Tempest attack!" Firewall's attack struck Borreload and as expected it had no effect as Revolver's Link monster "Encode's additional effect activates! Firewall gains attack equal to Borreload's attack!"

"Is there any point in raising Firewall's attack after it has attacked?"

'There is!'

"Battle Buffer's effect! I place one battle buffer counter on this card. Cyberse Link monster on my field gain 700 attack points per counter." This effect raised Encode's attack to 3300 while Firewall's went up to 6500.

'Encode Talker now has more attack than Borreload Dragon!' Ai said.

"I see. That's what you were going for." Revolver said knowingly.

"Go, Encode Talker! Attack Borreload Dragon! Final Encode!" Encode went to strike Borreload but.

"Borreload Dragon's effect! Anti-enemy varrett! Once per turn, one monster on the field loses 500attack and defence points. This effect can activate on your turn. And you can't activate a card to counter this effect."

'No way!'

"Naturally, I'm reducing Encode Talker's attack!" Borreload's blast hit Encode and the link monsters attack went tumbling down to 2800 "Strike back, Borreload!" The attack on Encode resulted in the termination of the monster and Playmaker's life points going down to a mere 400.

'Encode Talker was destroyed!' Ai shouted, fearfully.

"But now, Battle Buffer's effect! I place one battle buffer counter. Firewall's attack increases once again" Playmaker said, still refusing to give up.

"But your monsters aren't linked to each other anymore." Revolver smirked "So Battle Buffer can't seal away effects. Anesthrokket and Magnarokket Dragon's effects return."

'Well it seems like you were unable to win. You can't attack anymore, and next turn will be your glorious defeat.' Mammon thought. 'Since Battle Buffer is no longer sealing effects next turn Revolver can use Magnarokket's effect to remove Firewall, leaving you with no way to stop his attack.'

"It seems this match is over." Revolver said smugly "You can't attack anymore this turn."

"Are you sure about that?" Playmaker commented.

"What?"

'You're going for it?' Ai asked its owner.

"Since Borreload's effect is now over, I don't have to worry about Magnarokket's effect. This is my only chance to beat him!" Playmaker said with determination.

'Don't mess up!' Ai snarked.

"You don't need to tell me!" Playmaker said harshly. "Here I go. I banish Recoded Alive from my graveyard to activate its effect!"

"A trap from the graveyard?" Revolver said.

"Resurrect, Decode Talker! Decode Talker gains 500 attack points for every monster that's linked to it! Your Borreload is linked to it! Power integration!" Decode's attack went from 2300 to 2800.

'There's still more! Due to Cynet Universe's effect Decode Talker gains 300 attack points!' Ai started.

"And the continuous spell Battle Buffer's effect! Cyberse Link monsters gain 700 attack per counter! Decode gains 1400 attack!" Playmaker finished.

'Good! It'll work this time!'

"Decode Talker! Attack Borreload! Decode end!" Playmaker declared.

"I activate the trap, Borrel Refrigeration!" Revolver interrupted "By tributing Anesthrokket, I equip this card on Borreload. Borreload can now select one monster on my field. That monster can't be destroyed in battle or by effects. I select Magnarokket, of course! Magnarokket's effect! When a link monster's effect targets it, I can destroy it. Then I send one monster on the field to the graveyard! I send Decode Talker to the graveyard!" Decode was blow away and sucked into the waiting purple vortex.

"It's really over this time, Playmaker." Revolver said confidently "Only Firewall Dragon remains on your field. It's powered up, but it already finished attacking. You have no cards in your hand and only 400 life points. You'll lose on my next turn!"

"No, I won't lose." Playmaker started "I have three reasons why I must defeat you! 1: I'll defeat you and uncover the truth about what happened ten years ago!" Revolver looked startled, Playmaker continued on without any regard "2: I'll regain the time that I lost! 3: I'll save my friend that saved me!"

Mammon couldn't help but be amused 'Playmaker, that friend, that voice both you and Gumina heard, they may very well be the one you least suspect.'

"Ten years ago… Three things…" Revolver said, still looking a bit uneasy "You're the one from the incident ten years ago?"

Playmaker closed his eyes "That's right. I'm that emissary of revenge!" He opened his eyes wide and Revolver gritted his teeth.

"You're a fool, Playmaker. To help SOL Technologies without knowing the truth!"

Playmaker clenched his fist "There's only one thing I must do. I'll crush the Knights of Hanoi and learn everything!"

Revolver staggered back as to did Mammon 'I've already told you before Playmaker. To take out all of Hanoi by yourself? First of all that's impossible, second if you think you'll defeat me you've got another thing coming. Finally, you've yet to witness the true power of Hanoi!'

"I activate Parallel Port Armour's effect from the graveyard! I can activate it by banishing this card and two Link monsters from my graveyard! My Link monster can battle twice this turn!"

"What? Firewall can attack again?"

"No way!" Mammon involuntarily shouted.

'Go, Playmaker!'

"Firewall attacks! Tempest attack!"

As the attack reached Borreload, Ai remained Revolver of something 'Borreload can't be destroyed but you still take the damage!'

The powerful blast charged head on into Revolver's monster, completely and utterly annihilating the Link monster, the blast was strong enough to knock Revolver off his feet and send him careening into the rocks behind him. His life points hitting zero.

Mammon was totally stunned "Impossible…There's no way that just happened… Playmaker… Won…"

Revolver looked absolutely livid, Playmaker spoke up "As promised, I'll take the information you have!"

Suddenly there was a bright purple light then shadows began to pour out of Playmaker's disk and Ai came out, morphing into a hideous creature 'I'll eat it up!' Ai then lunged at Revolver causing the leader to try and defend himself, causing the Ignis to tear its teeth into his right arm 'I'll eat up everything!' Just as Ai was about to go in for a second strike, there was a burst of lighting acting as a wall which halted the Ignis' advance.

"What?"

"Father!" Revolver said as a green beam lifted him away to safety.

"Interference from the outside." Playmaker growled. "Ai! Return!" Reluctantly the Ignis retreated back into Playmaker's disk. 'Damn!' The wall vanished just as Ai returned 'Hey! Trying to escape?'

Holding the fragments of what was previously his right arm, Revolver replied "I keep my promises." A card appeared and Revolver threw it at Playmaker's disk "Take this! It's the removal program. Playmaker! The wind didn't blow for me today. But as long as you have that Ai, this duel was only the start. We will meet again." Revolver then vanished, leaving Playmaker and Mammon behind.

'Aww! He escaped! We were so close!'

"Revolver…" Playmaker said.

"Playmaker… Playmaker…" Mammon looked as if he was about to burst a blood vessel "PLAYMAKER!"

Playmaker turned and locked eyes with the frenzied hunter, Ai was the first to comment 'Eh Heheheh, what do you think of us now Mammon? Not so though now that your leader's bitten the dust!'

Mammon clenched his fist "Maniac, that's the only word I can find to describe you Playmaker. As for the Ignis, demon is a word that comes to mind. You may have won this battle but as Revolver and I have said, the next time either of us meet you, we'll be sure to win. At all costs!"

Playmaker watched in silence as Mammon vanished from the platform, presumably having either logged out or retreated to Hanoi's base, Ai felt the need to speak again 'What's that creep's deal? He speaks exactly like Revolver, it's like they're of the same mind.'

The raging Data storm began to collapse in on itself, the platforms started to disintegrate and eventually the storm itself dissipated into nothingness. Soon after Playmaker reappeared in the church, as too did Colt having successfully retrieved Ghost girl.

Akira and Zitor who had been unable to see the Master duel, both looked at each other as Playmaker approached "Playmaker!" Akira said with Playmaker approaching Blue Angel's resting place.

"This is the removal program." He said bluntly, raising his hand over her body "With this, she'll be…" His hand turned green and data commenced to flow into Blue Angel's body. Then her head twitched slightly up, she smiled weakly before her body vanished into blue pixels.

"Where's Aoi?" Akira asked.

"It seems she was able to log out." Colt replied.

"That means…"

Colt nodded "You should go to her." He turned off "I've got to deal with her, so I'll see you later." Colt logged off, taking Ghost girl with him.

"Okay!" Akira said happily "Playmaker!" He went to say but all he saw was Playmaker walking away.

"Oh, going so soon?" Zitor said, Playmaker didn't reply as he too logged out of the system "How rude." The head of development moaned.

'Playmaker. Thank you.'

(Hanoi)

Revolver materialised into the safe haven of the base, although his arm was still gone. "Let your guard down?" Kogami's voice came as he too materialised into the base "It's not like you. Or were you shaken when he talked about ten years ago?"

"I'm sorry, father." Red data began to pull itself together and formed into a new arm for Revolver "But next time, I promise!" He clenched his fist.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. I was able to get useful data from the duel. But if we can't acquire that Ignis, I must proceed with the final plan. I'll be making preparations."

Revolver bowed "Understood." Kogami vanished and Revolver spoke aloud "Three things… That speech pattern…" Suddenly, something clicked in his head and he came to a conclusion he didn't want to be true "Playmaker… Are you..?"

(Real World) (Night Time)

Akira came racing out of the SOL Technologies building, only to be surprised to see his car with the back door open, with the guard/chauffeur standing nearby "Isomaki?" He said coming closer "What are you doing here?"

"I received an anonymous tip." Isomaki responded "Please get in. I'll take you to the hospital."

"Must be Nem." He wondered aloud "Thanks."

Elsewhere Yusaku staggered limply out of the access room in the back of Shoichi's van "Yusaku!" Shoichi caught the blue haired boy as he fell down "What happened? Did you win? Did you beat Revolver?"

"Yeah, to the last two." Yusaku etched out "How's Aoi Zaizen?" He was seemingly unconcerned about his own state.

Having arrived at the hospital, Akira sprinted down the corridors not caring about the gaping mouths of the numerous doctors "Aoi!" He said bursting into the room "Aoi! Aoi!"

"Brother…" Aoi muttered as her eyes fluttered open.

"Aoi!"

"Brother, I'm sorry." Aoi said.

"It's fine." Akira said shocking her "You don't have to say anything. Just rest." Aoi smiled then tried to go sleep but Akira continued "Thank goodness." Looking she could see tears stream down Akira's face "Truly."

"She's okay." Shoichi said to Yusaku, having hacked into the hospital's cameras to witness the reunion.

'Huh?' Ai said 'He fell asleep. How lazy.' Sure enough Yusaku was fast asleep in his chair.

Shoichi laughed looking at Yusaku "Heroes need rest too."

'You think he's a hero?' Ai scoffed 'A hero is someone like me! Smart and wonderful and cool-' Ai was interrupted by Shoichi placing his hand on the top of the disk bring it closer to him 'What are you doing?'

"I'm going to analyse the program you ate." Shoichi answered.

'What? You're going to look at my private parts? You're a pervert.' Ai said, narrowing its eye.

"To tell you the truth, I don't need to do this. If you tell me what program you ate." Shoichi making the Ai slightly nervous.

'It's… Umm… It's…'

"It was pointless to ask."

'You're no fun.' Ai whinged.

Meanwhile covered by the darkness of his room, with the only light being that of the glare of his computer, leaned back in his chair Sateriasis still couldn't believe what he had seen unfold before his eyes. For Revolver to lose meant that something went seriously wrong. Even though he tried to take his mind off it, it still remained the only thing he could think about 'Playmaker, there are no words to describe how much I hate you.' He turned to his computer 'Once I expose your identity, I'll show you no mercy.'

At this moment his phone rang, he quickly answered it "Hello… Yes, I am… Wait, really? Oh, alright then. I'll see you soon." With that he disconnected the call and headed out the door

Roughly twenty minutes and one near collapse from a combination of sleep deprivation and copious amounts of stairs/hills, Sateriasis had finally reached the door of the house that stood on the cliff overlooking Stardust Road.

Just as he was about to keel over for the second, the door opened before him revealing the real life Revolver "Sateriasis. Come in."

Sateriasis followed Revolver into what could be consider more of a manor than a house. They stopped in the room which had a mechanical life support system that contained within it a comatose body. Revolver stopped by the window, looking out gave him a view of the vast ocean beneath.

Sateriasis approached and stood beside him "Why did you want to speak to me, Revolver?"

"Ryoken." Hanoi's leader responded, correcting Hanoi's hunter.

"What?" Sateriasis said, somewhat confused

"Last time we meet each other in real life, you asked me my name. It's Ryoken." Was the given explanation.

"Why'd you call me here?" Sateriasis repeated, not giving up on the original topic.

Ryoken placed his hand on the glass and looked out to the sea "Not going to let the topic slip by that easily are you?"

Sateriasis grinned "It was one of the things my father taught me, when he was still around."

"I see. The news I have to give you is that…" Ryoken struggled to get the words out of mouth "You're being… Relieved of your contract with Hanoi." Each word was a betrayal to the past three years of work Sateriasis had given.

"Wait, what? Relieved?" Sateriasis just couldn't comprehend this situation, this was the man who had found him in his moment of hopeless, the one had reached out to him when no one else would, now he too was leaving him alone.

Ryoken couldn't bring himself to look at the devastated face of the person beside him "That's right. Relieved. Your services are no longer required."

He then noticed Sateriasis place his hand on the window too, it was trembling bringing back memories of the distressed thirteen year old of years past "Please. Please don't leave me alone."

Sateriasis continued to beg but there was a form of anger behind the words "This can't be about my failure with Playmaker. If so then you would've let me go then. Tell me what the issue is, I can fix this!"

"Sateriasis, this is something that only I can rectify." Ryoken explained.

"Ah. So that's what it's about. Your biggest regret, I guess you just have a penchant for giving people hope." Sateriasis said, knowingly "After all, that person isn't the only one you helped."

"That doesn't change my mind."

"It wasn't meant to do so, I'm just stating the facts." Sateriasis maintained the mixture of desperation and anger in his voice. "I'm asking you as my contractor, to allow me to help you rectify this issue."

"Humph." Ryoken grunted "My statement still remains the same, I am no longer your contractor and that contract you have with us is now null and void."

Sateriasis was trying to keep a tight lid on his emotions as they threatened to spill over "Still! Even if I'm not under contract, I can still assist you. Do the last few years mean nothing to you?!"

Ryoken dropped his hand from the window "They do and believe me when I say it was a difficult conclusion to come to, but this is the path that must be taken."

It was no longer possible for the purple haired teen to prevent his emotions from flowing out, it started with the tears rolling down his pale cheeks. The formerly calculating façade of Sateriasis had been torn to shreds and revealed deep down he was still the distressed lonely thirteen year old. "I hate to repeat myself but you and Hanoi are all I have left. Inferno ripped my childhood away from me, my father was killed by SOL because he sought the truth and Gumina lost her livelihood to the Cyberse. When we first met I told you my loyalty would be undying. You saved me from myself and for that I will follow you."

It took what felt like an eternity to Sateriasis for Ryoken to respond "I knew it wouldn't be that easy to make you leave. It seems like you truly are devoted to Hanoi and for that I applaud you." Ryoken extended his hand out to Sateriasis causing the hunter's tears to cease "Let me ask you one question before we continue. Sateriasis Marlon, are you willing to give everything to see Hanoi's plan come to fruition?"

"Indeed I am, after all. Sin is truly my only consideration, in my corrupted sense of judgment." Sateriasis said, bowing respectfully. "You have my word and honour as a hunter, Master Revolver."

There was a faint glow that worked its way into the room, looking out Sateriasis saw the ocean illuminate into a neon blue colour leaving him awestruck "It's beautiful."

"That's the name sake of this place, the stardust road. Periodically the luminescent plankton will align perfectly to create this phenomenon." Ryoken said "Many a time, it has guided me through the difficult choices I've made."

"I guess it is here for me this time," Sateriasis expression turned irate "I'll make those wretches and scoundrels at SOL pay for everyone they've wronged."

Ryoken placed a hand on his opposite number's shoulder "And that you will accomplish. But you're not the only one who wishes that." He motioned Sateriasis over to the life support machine.

"What's this?" Sateriasis said "And who's that in it?"

"Years ago, my father was a researcher at SOL. Without the authorisation of the executives he executed an experiment with the help of two of his trusted assistants, six children were kidnapped and locked into rooms, they were forced to duel to survive, win and they could eat, lose and they got nothing."

"Wait, you don't mean that this was-? And he is-?"

Ryoken nodded "Indeed. This was the lost incident and the experiment my father supervised was the Hanoi Project. Father is the one residing in the machine. If you wish to know, in the aftermath of the project he spent the next three years imprisoned by SOL, then one day he came back but he wasn't the same. SOL had infected him in an attempt to silence him, I was able to remove the virus and restore his consciousness in the virtual world. But not here and thus you see him as he is now in the real world."

"Oh, so he's the one I see you talking too occasionally and stalking the base." Sateriasis said, remembering his brief encounters with the founder.

He then turned off and headed for the door "I'll see you online tomorrow," the hunter yawned "I think days of not properly sleeping are starting to have an effect. Goodbye."

"It seems you don't know what Ignis is." Even in his sleep, Yusaku couldn't stop thinking about what Revolver had said. Was it really possibly for an Ai, a lifeless machine to have free will? It just didn't seem like a logical explanation "Ignis isn't a regular Ai."

Then there was the issue of the incidents Revolver mentioned "Since long ago, there have been tests to create life within the network. But only regular programs were able to be created. But someone created it in a program. He accomplished what God did. In ancient mythology, God gave heaven's forbidden fire to humans. This fire quickly evolved mankind. Modelled after the myth, he named the life form 'Ignis'" This part was clearly referencing the Hanoi project but the second part still remained obscured in mystery "Another person, one who thought they could play God tried. They attempt to replicate the original results. They did not succeed. It was for one simple reason that they failed."

Next was the real kicker "They lacked a certain something to be considered a life form."

Yusaku awoke with jump "I…"

"You're awake." Shoichi said "I'm almost done analysing Ai's data."

"Did you learn anything?" Yusaku asked, still a bit jumpy from reminiscing.

"About what?" Shoichi replied, noticing how on edge Yusaku really was. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Yusaku tugged at his collar before responding "During my duel with Revolver, he mentioned something about Ai."

He paused then spoke again "He said that Ai was a special type, an Ignis. According to him Ignis are Ai with free will." Much like Yusaku when he first heard it, Shoichi's mouth feel agape

"There's no way that's possible. A program can't have free will." Shoichi came to exactly the same conclusion as Yusaku did "It's just a bunch of 1s and 0s."

"Revolver said that free will equals life." Yusaku said "That means this thing is alive. That's why the knights of Hanoi desperately want him."

"But how can you prove he's alive? It's not like he has a beating heart." Shoichi said, trying to make sense of the situation.

'Hey, what are you talking about?" Ai said, deciding to weigh in on the conversation.

"We're discussing whether you are alive or not." Shoichi answered back.

'Oh, I get it now." Ai narrowing his eye 'So that's what Revolver was talking about when I was asleep. Of course I'm alive! I can do this!' He then started to roll his eye around the disk

"Prove it." Neither Yusaku nor Shoichi were impressed.

'You'll learn soon enough.' Ai muttered cryptically just as one of the screens showed the outline of an image drowned out by the static.

"What's this?" Yusaku asked "Is it image data?"

"This program is incomprehensible." Shoichi remarked "It can't be properly analysed."

'That's because- Do you want me to tell you? I've already finished analysing it.'

Yusaku looked sternly at the Ignis "Don't be arrogant." He said harshly "Or I will disassemble your program."

'Now now. Don't be impatient. I don't know if I should show it to humans…But you're special! You should thank me.' With that Ai vanished from Yusaku's disk and a bright light radiated out, Yusaku and Shoichi watched in shock as two black limbs with purple highlights stretched out and grasped the edges of the disk, they started to tug the edges soon what appeared to be a massive a body emerged out of it, eyes glowing a bright orange as the light disappeared.

'Ta da!' Turns out Ai just know how to make an entrance as in actuality his body was rather scrawny looking 'How's this! This my true form! I retrieved my body's program from the Knights of Hanoi!' He looked to see Yusaku and Shoichi staring blankly at him 'Well? I'm cute and cool, right?'

"Is that it?" Yusaku was remarkably unimpressed.

"You don't remember anything else?"

Ai paused for a minute then shook his head "No. The program I ate only contained my body."

There was a momentary pause as the three looked at one another then Shoichi and Yusaku totally ignored Ai, returning to work "Recheck and see if we overlooked anything."

"Yeah."

'Hey hey hey! Wait a second! No reaction after seeing this body? Like surprise? Or being happy for me?' Ai grew desperate to gain their attention even for a second 'C'mon! Look at me!'

(SOL Technologies)

"Lucifinia, you understand why we called you here?" The virtual chessboard was laid out again, this time it was the head of development's turn to face the three executives. It was Bishop that initiated the conversation.

"Yes, sir." Zitor bowed respectfully, "I let that situation grow out of hand and for that I am deeply sorry."

Knight spoke next "We provided you with that program so that you could control Zaizen and his partners."

"If it weren't for the intervention of Mammon, Ghost girl possibly could've infiltrated the data storm and relayed the duel of Playmaker and Revolver." Rook stated, making Zitor loosen his tie.

"I highly doubt that anything of note came up in that duel though." Despite his body language, Zitor's voice didn't show any show any signs of cracking under pressure.

But Bishop dropped a dagger "You're wrong. During the duel the incident of ten years ago came up, had Mammon not prevented the recording Zaizen would've learned about the project and become curious."

Zitor held his chin in thought, regaining some of his lost composure "I'm truly sorry for allowing this to devolve so far, however that doesn't mean this situation can't be used to benefit SOL."

"What do you mean?" Knight asked

"It's simply really. It relies on three things." Zitor placed his hands in his pockets and smirked "One: Who you replace Zaizen with, if it is a predictable scoundrel then you should have no issue controlling them. Zaizen will always stick his nose in places it isn't welcome. Two: Thanks to what you told me, I now have only a select few candidates for the real identity of Playmaker. Three: If Playmaker is related to that incident of ten years prior, then he will no doubt eventually look for a way into the databank to collect the information, there the Master of the Hellish Yard will be to guard it." He finished off resolutely.

Bishop glowed blue again "We're putting our faith in you Lucifinia. Do not fail us."

The head of development bowed again "You needn't worry about that sir, after all I simply won't allow myself to do so." With that he left the room but the board didn't dissipate.

"How about Kitamura for Zaizen's successor?" Knight suggested. "Like what Lucifinia said, he's ambitious. If we entice him with a promotion he'll happily accept."

"He's so predictable." Rook scoffed, almost laughing "Those kinds of pieces are good pieces."

A/N: So I got this out much earlier than expected. I honestly just had the drive to write more of this since I was having fun.

Now it is time for the question of the chapter: What is your opinion on the main OC characters so far? This includes Personality, dueling style and the history.

I'm thinking of allowing OCs from you readers. But I'll need to go over the parameters before I make any official decision.

With that I'm done because I'm posting this at midnight and need to get to sleep.