Ichika had to be on alert. Meldrick was hunting him down, and now one of his minions has a powerful and dangerous card just waiting to use it on him. Without knowing who it is, Ichika had to be on alert.

"Ichika, are you okay? You've been on guard since your last duel." Cecilia said.

"Of course he is. Someone is after him, and that creepy warning has him on alert." Rin said.

"Rin's got a point. Meldrick isn't going to give up so easily. Any of minions could be anywhere." Ichika said. "I've got to stay on alert." The three of them just had to keep moving and keep their eyes open for anything. What they didn't know was that Valatin already had his eyes on them and was stalking them.

"The fools don't realize they're already walking into our clutches. I don't know if you can even hear me, but you better be ready for this." Valatin as he was speaking with someone. This person had a shaved head with multiple piercings in his face. He wore a clock on a chain like a necklace with him wearing black and white striped clothes like a prisoner. The creepy part was that he had blank look on his face. Just who is this man?

"I'm getting rather anxious and nervous. Can we please talk about something else." Cecilia said as she was feeling uneasy.

"I am wondering how Houki is doing." Ichika said as he stared up in the sky. "I bet she's kicking all kinds of butt in this tournament."

...

Houki

"Coronix, attack him directly and put an end to this!" Houki ordered as she was finishing up another duel. Her opponent was taken out and he was beaten. "That's right. Another win for me." She said as she gained more points that went up 1630. "Well, that went rather well."

"Nice work, Houki. You are getting closer and closer to the finals." Charlotte said.

"Quite so." Laura said. "Although, might I suggest that you find more challenging opponents if you want to get the most points possible."

"I get that, but it's hard to find anyone who can really put up a fight." Houki said. "There's got to be someone who can actually provide me a challenge." Houki is hoping to find someone who can give her a more challenging duel. Ask and you shall receive.

"Excuse me." Houki looked behind her and was surprised to see a little boy.

"Can I help you with something?" Houki asked.

"You're Houki Shinonono, right? The same duelist that finished second in Duel Island?" The boy asked.

"I am." Houki confirmed.

"That is so cool!" The boy said as he seemed very excited. "If it's not too much trouble, could I shake your hand?" He asked if he handed one out. Houki was quite surprised by all of this and was feeling a little shy. She never felt or acted like a celebrity before."

"How about that, Houki? You have a little fan." Charlotte said as she thought that was adorable. "You might as well do it."

"Uh... Okay..." Houki said as she just went and did it as she shook her hands. When she did that, the boy took a look at her duel disk.

"Is that your duel disk? That looks rather cool." The boy said. "If it's not too much trouble, may I have a look at it?"

"Well, okay... Just be careful with it." Houki said as she wasn't sure what else to do. She removed her duel disk with her deck in it and handed it over to him.

"Wow!" The boy said as he appeared to be amazed by just holding it. "This is so cool."

"Glad you like it, but can I have that back now? Houki asked as she tried to get it back, but the boy had other ideas in mind. He took out a can of silly string and sprayed it right in her face. "Hey! What's the big idea?!" The girls weren't expecting that as the boy just took off. He tried running off with Houki's deck and duel disk, but he didn't get that very off. Laura just appeared out of nowhere right in front of him and got a hold of him.

"How did you do that?" The boy said.

"That wasn't very smart of you." Laura said as they weren't going to let that boy go easily. After reclaiming her deck and duel disk, they had him sit down and explain himself. It did seem like he felt ashamed of what he did.

"Start talking. What exactly were you trying to pull there?" Houki questioned.

"I'm really sorry. The truth is that I'm in the tournament too, but my deck and my duel disk was stolen." The boy claimed.

"Stolen?!" Charlotte said.

"And you tried doing the same thing to stay in the tournament? Not very smart." Houki said.

"I said I was sorry, but I didn't know what else to do. The guy just took off and disappeared with everything." The boy said.

"Who was that? Did you at least get his name or what he looked like?" Laura said.

"Yeah. He had a bunch of insects in his deck, and he said his name was William." The boy said.

"William?!" The girls said as they remembered him from the island, and how he tried some rotten tricks just so he could win like almost ruining Ichika's deck.

"I can't believe it. That little bug is still trying to cheat his way to the top. Didn't he learn his lesson the last time?" Houki said.

"Let us find him. He couldn't have gotten too far. Where was the last place you saw him?" Charlotte asked.

"In the park near the fountain." The boy said.

"Let's go get back what that little vermin stole." Laura said with the others agreeing to help. The three of them took off with the boy satisfied they're doing this, just not for the reasons he claimed. When they were gone, he ducked inside an alleyway, where the bug known as William was waiting for them.

"Did you do it?" William questioned.

"I did. So, you'll give me a rare card, right?" The boy asked.

"Of course. Your payment." William said as he handed him an envelope. "This card is one of a kind."

"Really?! Awesome!" The boy said as William just left the place. The boy opened up the envelope, excited for a new card. However, it wasn't what he thought. It was just a drawing that William made himself to scam the poor kid, but what tricks could William be up to this time.

...

The Park

Houki, Charlotte, and Laura looked around for where William could be. They went to the park and to the fountain like that boy said, but there was no sign of him.

"Do you see that little stinkbug?" Houki said.

"No. He probably moved tp another area by now." Laura said.

"Someone had to have seen him." Charlotte said as they wondered how they were going to find him.

"Looking for little handsome me?" They all look and saw that William came out of hiding.

"You're about as handsome as a beetle." Houki said. "You stole someone else's deck and duel disk. What's that about William? Didn't you learn your lesson the last time when Ichika beat you?"

"All I learned is how much I hate loosing, but I'm afraid I don't have anyone's duel disk or deck." William said.

"Just more of your lies." Charlotte claimed as they knew not to trust a thing that William says. "William, your little tricks are pointless. How can you be happy with the way you win?"

"That's easy, it's because I win." William said. "Honestly, who cares how you win as long as you do win. That's really all that matters. I don't see why you people get so frantic about that."

"Maybe that's because we rely on our actual skills, not rotten tricks." Houki said. "That's how Ichika was able to beat you, even after you tried to get rid of his deck."

"Ha! That punk just got lucky, and I intend to get my revenge in the finals." William said. "Of course, I could you use a little warm-up for when that happens. I can just imagine the look on Ichika's face when I beat you, Houki Shinonono!" He challenged as he had his sights set on Houki. "My insects would just love to take a bite out of you. Plus, you came here looking for me. What better way to settle our little issues than with a duel?"

"You want to duel me? Bring it on then." Houki said as she wasn't backing down from the likes of him. "I'm going to enjoy squashing you and your little bugs."

"Houki, are you sure?" Charlotte asked.

"She's right. William will certainly try some rotten trick on you to win." Houki said.

"Just keep your eyes open for anything." Houki said. "Besides, this little twerp can't just keep getting his way. He clearly didn't get it the first time. Plus, if Ichika could beat him, I'm certainly not going to have much trouble with him. Let's duel, William!"

'Good. Step into my web.' William thought as he really did had something planned.

"Let's duel!" They both said as they were getting this duel started and had 4000LP.

"You're in for it now, Houki." William said. "I've improved my deck with new and stronger insects. Let me show you by summoning Insect Knight to the field in attack mode!" He summoned out a humanoid insect that carried a sword and shield with it having 1900atk points. "Next, I'm placing two cards facedown and ending my turn."

"That Insect Knight is as gross and disgusting as he is." Charlotte said.

"I'm sure he has other surprises up his sleeve." Laura said.

"I never liked bugs, but I always liked squishing them. My turn!" Houki said as she drew a card. "You're going to need more than that mere bug to protect you. I summon Hito of the Blazing Fire in attack mode!" Houkis summoned out her blazing samurai with it having 1700atk points. "Next, I equip with with Fusion Sword Murasame Blade! this card gives my monster an extra 800atk points!" Houki's samurai gained a different sword with his power increasing to 2500. "Hito, take down his Insect Knight!" Hito's sword ignited in flames and he went on the attack. He slashed against William's monster and it was destroyed in flames with William's life points dropping to 3400. "And Hito's special ability deals even more damage when he destroys a monster!" Hito unleashed a slash of fire and William lost even more life points from it as they dropped down to 3100.

"Oh no! How could I not take countermeasures?!" William claimed. "Wait. I did. I activate my trap: Insect Reincarnation! When you destroy an insect monster in battle, this trap card allows me to summon another insect that's one level higher! My Insect Knight was a level four. That means I can summon an insect that's level five!"

"Great. We're going to get an even bigger and grosser bug." Houki said as she didn't like the sound of that.

"Well, I would brace yourself. I summon Ultrasonic Cricket!" William said. He summoned out a giant black cricket that had a pattern around it's body that looked like a circuit system. It also had 2200atk points.

"That monster's not enough to beat Hito. I place one card facedown and end my turn." Houki said.

"My turn!" William said as he drew his card. "I think it's time you saw the charm of my insects." He claimed with a sneaky grin on his face. "I play my Insect Wall continuous spell!" He claimed with a series of rays forming a wall around him. "This will prevent you from attacking me with any insects."

"What are you talking about? My monsters aren't insects, they're warriors." Houki said.

"We'll see about that. I activate Ultrasonic Cricket's ability! It forces an insect to come out on your field from your deck!" William said.

"But I don't have any insects." Houki said.

"Wrong. There is one insect you have. I force you to summon Infectious Parasite!" William said. Somehow, his call worked. A card came out from Houki's deck and she played it. It ended up being a monster, a dark purple insect that resembled a parasite with it having 300def points. "And as long as that insect is on the field, every monster on your field is an insect."

"You're kidding!" Houki said as she wasn't expecting that. That parasite took in affect as tendrils stretched out of its body and began to infect Hito. He began changing with him gaining insect-like features.

"That's disgusting!" Charlotte said as she felt revolted.

"I don't get it. I never had this thing in my deck before. Where did it come from?" Houki questioned. She has no idea where that insect came from until some realization hit her. "That little brat must have been working for William! You little cockroach! You set this whole thing up and had that kid slip this card in my deck!"

"It's not my fault you weren't smart enough to check your deck." William taunted. "Either way, that parasite is going to be the key to my victory!" William has pulled his old tricks once again. Now Houki is the one getting swarmed by insects. Unless she can figure out how to get rid of that insect, they'll eat her alive.