Even in his naps, Yuma couldn't escape from the nightmare. At least the door only haunted him at night. Here though Yuma stood face to face with the King of the Netherworld. Jolting awake, Yuma found himself leaning on Yusei's shoulder within the Limousine that Goodwin had sent for the Signers.

"Something wrong?" Yusei asked.

"Just a bad dream." Was the automatic answer that came out of his mouth.

Glancing at the blurring seas of green outside, Yuma frowned. How long had it been since he last went camping?

Maybe after this whole saving the world thing was over he could arrange for a camping trip. The light pollution in Neo Domino propper was so bad, the sky was practically a void of ink at night. But out in the forest…..

Yuma choked on the water he was drinking, drawing him away from his thoughts. Reading the label on the bottle, he gagged. "Ugh, carbonated water."

Yusei chuckled. "Yeah, I thought it tasted weird too."

Jack, who sat across from them, scoffed. "You two have no taste."

(-.-)

"...Even Jack and Yusei were able to glimpse into the past and show you the danger that awaits us all. And you, Yuma," Here Goodwin turned to him. Yuma shivered under the man's gaze. " Although there is no record of a signer with a mark such as yours in history. Even you were able to show the destruction that would happen should the Earthbound Immortal be allowed to roam free. Satellite or Neo Domino, ruins are coming for all."

The man explained more about the Signer, the Earthbound Immortal, the Crimson Dragon itself. Yusei added on with his own battle against the Dark Signer.

It was worrisome when Goodwin revealed that there had already been three duels with the Dark Signer and two of them nearly killed Yusei and Akiza. Not to mention the chances of returning the Dark Signer to who they were is questionable at best.

"We still have to fight." Yuma insisted. "Just because they have never lost before doesn't mean they can't lose. Yusei, Akiza you guys know what kind of tricks the Dark Signer will be pulling. You guys can prepare for it. This war…"

He thought about Heartland, crumbled and broken. About all those people sacrificed to Don Thousand. About Trey and Fuya and Master Rokujuko and Tetsuo and Anna and Droite and Gauche and everyone who died for him. "It will be hard and we might have to sacrifice everything we hold dear. But it's not hopeless. We just have to work for that hope."

Not everyone was convinced. Yusei, after fighting with his best friend, was still hesitating. While Luna and Akiza looked more confident in their decision than ever.

(-.-)

Yuma had no way to comfort Yusei, how can he when Shark chooses to face Yuma out of his own free will while Kalin was being backseat driven by an evil god. Heck, Vector decided to betray Yuma freely, even if that choice was influenced by Don Thousand's messing with his memories.

Jack held him back from talking to Yusei, saying that Kalin was his friend too and that he'll deal with this.

He made his way toward the dining hall hopping to grab a snack only to find Leo and Luna having a rather serious discussion so he let them be. So he ended up walking through the garden.

Grandma would have loved having a garden like this, Yuma would have hated it though since he'd be the one she asked to take care of it. They might have to add a bit more variety into the place though. Some Alyssum perhaps. Maybe Tulips, Akari liked those.

Sitting down on a nearby marble, he enjoyed the bright sunlight. Pulling out the first, and as far as he knew, only Xyz monster within this world. Yuma mused.

Number F0: Pledge of Wishes - Utopic Future.

Numbers…..

Did Numbers monster exist within this world? Did Astral? What about the Barian?

He hadn't encountered any sign of the Number, even if Astral was sealed somewhere the first 50 Numbers should have already been scattered throughout the world. Did Heartland City even exist?

Did his family exist in this world?

Judging by the year, mom would still be a baby. It would be years before she met dad, after she changed career choice from Pro-Duelist to Archeologist.

God, mom was from Domino City. Was Grandfather and Grandmother even alive after Zero Reverse to give birth to his mother?

Did that mean HE does not exist in this universe? What about Akari?

Why didn't he think about any of this until now?

"A yen for your thoughts?" Akiza asked, jolting Yuma out of his thoughts.

She joined him on a bench, her face much more cheerful than the day before.

"It's nothing. I'm just a bit homesick. That's all." Yuma reassured her. Tucking Utopic Future back into his deck box. "How did your parents took this whole Signer thing?"

"Mom didn't want me to go but dad understood that this is something I have to do." Akiza replied, her eyes glued to her arm. "Hey, Yuma about your parents."

"I'm still not sure how to feel about them, to be honest." Yuma confessed. "I know they love me, but it doesn't change the fact that they've hurt me and worst part is…."

He wiped away the stray tear on his cheeks. "I can't even see them anymore."

Akiza placed her hand onto his. "I'm sorry, Yuma."

"Do you think," Yuma bit his lips, unsure on what to say. "Do you think that I'll ever decide on how to feel about them?"

Akiza paused before answering him. "I don't know. The thing with love is, it's messy and you just don't stop loving someone just because they hurt you. Maybe we just need more time to work out our feelings. At least we don't have to do this alone."

The uncertain answer was surprisingly comforting to Yuma. " I'm okay with that."

(-.-)

Goodwin opened his mansion for everyone to use for preparation. And although Yuma couldn't enjoy what a fully furnished garage could offer, he did enjoy the turbo duel race track.

Jack turbo duel rougher than Yusei did, beating down onto Yuma's poor monster and burning whatever was left on Yuma's field.

Not to mention he apparently caught on to Yuma's favor to Trap cards. Cursed that Trap Eater

Even with the mouth guard, Yuma's giggles echoed through the wind much to Jack's annoyance.

"Take this seriously! This isn't a game." Jack scolded him once their Duel Runner ran side by side.

"Sorry, but I can't help it." Yuma told him as he summoned the Scared Spirit to join his Spellbreaker. For a moment he wanted to Xyz summon but the two monsters didn't meet Utopic Future. "I wanted to duel you for a long time now. And this is finally my chance, even if you aren't the King any more."

Yuma swore he saw Jack's eyes twitched.

(-.-)

To say that the ride to Satellite was rough is an understatement. Still they didn't crash so Yuma didn't complain.

Mina explained to everyone about the old reactor on the way there, how it malfunctioned and released negative energy. To everyone's surprise, the reactor was Yusei's father's project.

They landed by an old building, much more kept together than what Yuma had imagined. An old woman stepped out of the building, Jack and Yusei greeted her with great familiarity. Jack even kneeled down like a knight and kissed the woman's, Martha's, hand. Yusei on the other hand went to greet his Satelite friends, glad that they were alright leaving everyone else to stand around awkwardly.

Other than a couple of kids, it appeared that no else was around. No sign of a gruffed hacker that Yuma was expecting.

"Wait, where's Blister?"

Martha shook her head sadly. "I'm not sure. He went out to get groceries and hadn't come back."

Yuma bit his lips at the information, dread bloomed within his stomach but he tried not to let it show. Martha ushered them into the house, asking that they made themselves at home.

He tried to distract himself with the kids, hoping playing with them could chase away this chill in the back of his head. The seemingly eternal dark sky did little to help.

Dinner brought forth a better distraction, Blister was nowhere to be found but Trudge's reaction to his own steaming hot cooking lightened the mood. For a moment, things were fine. Yusei announced his deal with Goodwin to build the bridge.

For a moment it was peaceful.

Yuma went in for another spoonful of stew when a flash of light ran across his eyes. Dropping his spoon he yelled. "Everyone, get down!"

Lightning struck, windows shattered. And from the shadows, a dead man appeared.

"Sorry to interrupt your dinner." The Dark Signer pulled off his hood. A sickly purple mark glowed on his hand "I heard we five Signer vistising. I thought I should come and welcome you. Of course, we Dark Signers are very eager to meet the newly marked Signer of Scale."

Blacken eyes zeroed in straight onto Yuma.