Laura was the only one who was separated from the rest of the group. She was on her own with Meldrick's men after her. Luckily, she can hold her own in a fight. She was able to fight them off and keep herself safe. Two of them were beaten to the ground while she was down to just one more, and he seemed rather scared. Laura was catching her breath, but the guy didn't bother moving.

"Oh man. This chick is crazy."

"Want some more?" Laura taunted. The guy was rather scared and decided to try and run, but Laura acted faster. She grabbed a hold of him and threw him against the wall. "I did not say you could leave. I want to know why it is you're after me in the first place."

"I don't have to tell you anything." The guy refused to answer, but Laura grabbed a hold of him and was scaring him more. "It's just that our master wanted you. He wanted to use you against Ichika."

"Against Ichika?!" Laura said as she couldn't believe it.

"We already got two others." The man claimed. Laura knew he had to be talking about Houki and Charlotte. That means she knows her friends are in danger.

"Where are they?!" Laura said as she demanded answers.

...

The Duel

This duel was a tough one. Senshi might have the lead with him having Infinite Stratos Akatsubaki at 2400atk points and 3500LP, but that could change. Houki and Valatin had Coronix having 2400atk points as well, plus 2300LP. However, the bigger problem is Valatin's two continuous spells: Virus Antidote and Virus infect. With those two, they'll constantly gain life points while Senshi constantly loses life points.

"You going to make another pointless attempt to break Houki from my master's hold or are you going to get on with your turn." Valatin taunted.

"I'll just place two cards facedown and that will end my turn." Senshi said as he played a couple cards and that was it. 'I'm sure they're going to attack with Coronix again to have both our monsters destroyed. When that happens, they'll just remove another card from their graveyard to bring Coronix back. I have to try and prevent that from happening. Akatsubaki's ability will allow me to buy some time until I can figure something out.'

'Senshi, what are we going to do?' Ichika asked. 'We need to free Houki, but we also have to do something to help Charlotte over there. You know Meldrick isn't just going to let them go.'

'I'm trying to figure that out, Ichika. We have to reach to the real Houki, and I think I know how.' Senshi claimed as he had something planned. 'Getting Fortune Swordsman in her hand might be what helps us with that. Luckily, one of my cards can do that.'

"It's my turn!" Valatin said as he drew his next card. "Since it is, my two spell cards activate! I gain life points while lose them!" His combo activated once again. While his life points increased to 2600, Senshi's decreased to 3200.

"Oh dear. Ichika is in a real bind." Cecilia said.

"You can say that again." Rin said.

"Conner, is there anything Ichika can do?" Mila asked.

"That Valatin has pulled quite an effective combo. He's made it so that every time his life points increase, Ichika loses life points." Conner said. "It can be an effective combo. However, if Orimua can deal more damage than they can recover." 'The real question is if Orimura can really do it. If he wins, Houki is a goner. I might not like the gang, but even I wouldn't want this.' Conner doesn't really like this, but he is more of a man of action.

"This card could work. By removing one cyberse-type monster in my graveyard from play, I can bring out this bad boy." Valatin claimed as he removed his Virus Code Thrasher. "I summon Virus Code Berserker!" He summoned out another dark purple armored monster that was much bigger and bulkier than his last one. His warrior came up with 2000atk points. "You're in real trouble with this guy! I activate Virus Code Berserker's ability! He can lower your monster's attack points by 600!" His monster unleashed a a dark energy wave and it hit Akatsubaki with her acting like she got infected by a virus. Her power dropped to 1800.

"You're not going to attack with Coronix?!" Senshi said.

"Did you honestly think we would try the same trick twice?!" Valatin taunted. "Think again! Berserker, attack Akatsubaki!" Berserker went on the attack and tried to destroy her.

"Not so fast! I still have this trap ready! Go, Mirror Blast! (AN: that's really Mirror Shatter. Gave it the wrong name.)" Senshi said as he revealed his trap. "Now all your monsters are destroyed and you lose 500LP for each monster destroyed!" Valatin's Berserker smashed into a barrier. The energy was reflected back with both monsters destroyed and their life points dropped to 2100.

"You think that will save you?! Think again!" Valatin claimed. "Houki, activate Coronix's ability!"

"I remove Hito of the Blazing Flame from my graveyard to bring back Coronix!" Houki said as she did just that and Coronix rose back to the field.

"That's not all! I play my spell!" Valatin said as he activated a spell from his hand. "Virus Restructure brings back a cyberse-type monster that was destroyed by an effect this turn, while also you 300 points of damage!" His berserker came back with Senshi's life points dropping to 2900. "I might not be able to attack Coronix, but I can attack with Berserker!" Berserker went on the attack again and smashed its giant fist against Akatsubaki. She ended up destroyed and Senshi's life points dropped to 2700.

"Nothing Ichika tried is working." Cecilia said. "He keeps taking damage!"

"And without Akatsubaki to restore his life points, he'll keep taking damage." Rin said.

"Hang in there, Ichika!" Charlotte called from her restriction chair. "I know you can figure out a way out of this!"

"Shut it, Blondie, or I will drop it!" Meldrick's minion called threating to drop the freight on top of her.

"It's my turn now!" Senshi said as he drew his next card, but now that he doesn't have Akatsuabki to help restore his life points, he's got to try and hold out for as long as he can to save the girls.

'Senshi, hold on a minute.' Ichika told him. 'I know winning is important, but if we can get Houki to snap out of it, she can help us.'

"I know and I'm trying, Ichika." Senshi whispered.

'You are, but I think I should take over. At least let met talk to her.' Ichika said with Senshi a little shocked he would suggest that. 'I've known Houki for years. She might listen to me, the real me.' Senshi didn't want to put him in danger, but it would make sense.

"Very well, but I sure hope this works." Senshi said as he allowed it. The two of them switched places and Ichika was the one in control this time.

"Houki! Look at me!" Ichika called as the real Ichika tried to reach the real Houki. "Houki, we've known each other since we were children! You were really the first friend I ever made! That's why I know you're stronger than Meldrick!" Ichika's words seem to be getting through to Houki.

"How many times do I have to tell you that it's pointless?!" Valatin said as he was getting annoyed.

"Houki, you have to free yourself from Meldrick!" Ichika said. "You're one of the toughest girls I know! You're great at kendo, a great duelist, and a great friend! You risked your life to save my deck when William threw it off the ship! You did everything you could to help me save Chifuyu from Peggrin! Are you really going to let this creep get the better of you?!" Ichika's words appeared to be getting through as Houki's head was starting to feel like something was pounding it. She clutched it and it seemed like his words was getting through to him.

"Impossible!" Valatin said as he never saw anyone resist Meldrick's control.

...

Meldrick

Meldrick was feeling his hold on Houki's mind was weakening. He's trying to enforce it, but it looks like she was resisting pretty well.

"Ichika is trying to break my hold on her. The fool doesn't understand that my power is stronger." Meldrick said as he was keeping a firm grip. "Obey me! You will obey me!"

...

The Duel

Meldrick's hold on Houki was tightening. It seemed like Ichika was getting through for a moment, but Meldrick regained control. That was the opposite of what Ichika wanted.

"I know I'm getting through to her." Ichika said.

"You don't know what you're doing." Valatin claimed. "No one has ever broke free from Master Meldrick's power and no one ever will. You might as well say goodbye to your friend because she is never coming back."

"You're the one who doesn't know anything!" Ichika claimed. "Houki is stronger than you think, and I know she can break whatever hold Meldrick has over her. I know she can, and I have a way to help with that." He looked down at the face-down he had. It's his only chance to get Houki back. "Since I have no monsters on the field, I can summon Infinite Satellite to the field!" He summoned out his satellite as it came up with 2200def points. "That ends my turn."

"Pathetic. Houki, put an end to this." Valatin said. Houki drew her next card. "Since Houki is taking her turn, my two spells activate again." A change in life points happened again as Ichika's life points dropped to 2400 and theirs increased to 2400 as well. "Our life points are even, but that's about to change. Houki, show him the you he knew is gone." Houki looked down at what she drew and it was a powerful spell. With her under Meldrick's control, he too was aware of what she had.

'That spell card is Release Wave. That would destroy all face-up spells and traps, but it would also negate one monster's special abilities.' Meldrick thought for Houki. 'If this is played right, this is where Ichika meets his end here.'

"Wait just a minute!" Ichika called as he had a surprise for everyone. "I activate my trap card! I play Enemy's Favor! This trap card allows me to select one card in your deck and it's added to your hand!"

"Wait! You're giving a card to Houki?!" Valatin said as that move made no sense to him or anyone.

"Yeah, and I know which one to give her!" Ichika claimed. "It's the same one I gave you before, Houki! The card I choose is Fortune Swordsman!" When he selected that card, it popped out of Houki's deck. When she drew it, something in her triggered. A sensation travelled through her like something in her was resonating with her and the card.

"Wait a minute. Fortune Swordsman is the card Ichika gave her!" Cecilia said. "I see what Ichika is trying to do. He's trying to use that card to reach Houki!"

"And I think it's working! Look at her!" Rin said as they could all see that Houki was mentally struggling.

"In exchange for this, I get to draw one card!" Ichika said as he drew another card. "Houki, you need to remember! Remember who you really are!" It looks like it was working. Images of Ichika, all their memories together, all her feelings, and everything was flashing in her mind. Meldrick's hold was weakening, but he was doing everything he could to prevent that from happening.

'No! You obey me now! You will do as I say!' Meldrick demanded, but Houki is trying to resist. It's a mental struggle like none other. What happens in this duel now could depend on whether or not Houki can actually free herself.

'Come on, Houki. You need to snap out of it.' Ichika thought as he's hoping this works because the consequences for failing are dire. 'If you don't, I could lose you forever.'