Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: In a New World Redux

by SakushiRyu

Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V is about to air, and an excited youth can't wait. But when the episode starts, he is suddenly thrown into a Yu-Gi-Oh! series, ARC-V itself! Watch as he makes friends, rivals, and foes in this isekai and discovers his role in a war between dimensions and gods from the past, present, and future! (Rewrite of "Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V In A New World") (Cover Art made by AiraAura)

19. To Survive

Hey there, everyone! Phew, this chapter proved to be more challenging to write than any of the previous ones. It's packed with both action and drama, not to mention much longer than I anticipated it to be. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!

- In response to LegacySpellsword's review:

"Yeah, since Gilgamesh is an already existing D/D/D Link Monster, he might appear in the art of a fan-made card at best."

- In response to LucasVAMP's review:

"It really warms my heart to know you like the Mythorrors! As a matter of fact, I've already created one such Monster, namely Coco. I admit his legend doesn't originate in Brazil, but he should be well known there too, right?"

- In response to Guest's review:

"That will be touched on in this particular chapter, actually."

[Using Anime/Manga Effects.]

---

Jean Michel Roget's POV

When Ren vanished from existence through a portal, I, unfortunately, couldn't stop myself from punching the chessboard beside me in frustration, causing the chess pieces I've been diligently arranging and moving on it to scatter about. That will be a bother to put back in place.

"Curse him...!" I muttered through gritted teeth. It was already irritating to discover he wasn't your run-of-the-mill fugitive. Then he eluded my grasp—again!

The Lancers made it clear Vincent was one of their own when we had our meeting with the Executive Council, and sure enough, he wields multiple Summoning Methods—all of them, actually, including the notorious Pendulum Summoning. But Ren? Who was he? Or, what's more important to me at the moment, whose side was he on?

He obviously wasn't from Synchro. He seemed to know a few things about this Dimension, but those were trivial information anyone could gather through a week of espionage. And he certainly didn't act like a filthy Common or a haughty Top. He wasn't working for the Executive Council, either. If he was, he could've used his position to escape any trouble up to this point, or he would've revealed he works for them by now so those old geezers could flaunt about their strong subordinate. To begin with, why would they keep an unknown stranger under their sleeve when they already had Valkyrie, their poster girl, rumored to be Jack Atlas's pupil?

Ren wasn't from Standard, either. The Lancers didn't mention they were looking for him too, and he and Vincent didn't interact like two people who know each other at all. And it didn't make sense for there to be a second group that traveled from Standard to Synchro; they would've come together, ensuring their plan will work.

Xyz was out of question as well. The Duelists of the Xyz Dimension don't fight like that. Ren was enjoying himself back there, something that's impossible for the people of Xyz after what Academia did to them through Dueling. That leaves Fusion, but it still didn't make sense. Academia's Duel Soldiers don't fight like that, either! And a spy sent to infiltrate their ranks would've never revealed their true colors in such a way.

I rolled my eyes. A true spy would've dedicated a monologue to describe Academia's so-called greatness or how their Fusion Monster prevails all. Ah, he would've definitely summoned a Fusion Monster, too. It all comes on instinct.

That left only one logical answer: an unknown organization, one that's been acting in the shadows for all this time and has strength to boast. From where? What's their goal? More importantly, will they get in my way?

I fiddled with a white chess piece. Ren quickly left so he won't be captured by me. This was the perfect chance to apprehend him considering he lost and he would've been sent to the Underground Labor Facility. But Ren himself realized that. I tightened my hold on the chess piece, my frown now replaced by a glare.

Bringing here Vincent or their friend, Antinomy, was out of question since they're still under the protection of the Executive Council. Not to mention, if Ren could warp away, it's normal to assume Antinomy could too.

"I guess I'll keep my sight on Vincent, then..." there's always the chance he knew nothing else of Ren and Antinomy and their party, but better be safe than sorry. I'll personally make sure he loses in the next round, capture him, and make sure I get my answers!

---

Turn 19:

To Survive

---

Sakushi Vincent's POV

"ACHOO!"

"Eew, you sneezed with your mouth full of food!"

"Don't be like that, Fey. You saw me use my hand to cover it!" I reminded the fairy before using a napkin to wipe my hand and mouth. She made another disgusted sound, prompting me to roll my eyes with a chuckle. If anything, she should complain to the person that's thinking about me who knows where. "As I was saying, this food's amazing!"

There was meat, fish, soup, different types of vegetables, bread, and toppings, as well as water and juice to choose from—hoho, we Friendship Cup participants were seriously getting the royal treatment, they even made sure to please the picky eaters. Well, I wasn't one, so I tasted everything that was on the table they brought to my room, and man, the food was first-class level too! Not to mention, this meal felt well-deserved after winning.

Ren...I'm really grateful for his test. I was able to fire things up and deepen my bond with my children. It was a lot of fun figuring out Bihamut's effect together...and I think I got a tad bit closer to Demiurge and his servants, too. It didn't mean anything they took part in the test, but it was better than nothing, right?

"The meat and fish aren't tempting me..." Fey spoke up again.

Nekomata gasped. "Nya~!? N-Not even the fish...!?" thinking of it, she sounded hungry when we had first seen Ren's Monsters. I guess fish's her favorite dish. What a shame I couldn't share my food with them... I hated to eat in front of them for that, but they always insist it wasn't a problem—and I was hungry—so I reluctantly heed their words and eat. I try to finish as fast as possible, though.

"Nope! Fairies like me can't digest it," Fey explained. "Unlike Mr. Bri'ish, who can because he's part beast."

I hastily hid my grin behind my napkin, faking I was wiping my mouth again. "I...beg your pardon?" Reynardine, confused by the sudden nickname which fit him quite well in my opinion, cleared his throat. "What Lady Fey said is correct. I'm capable of eating many things in a similar fashion to humans."

"Aren't you fairies full of surprises?" Ixtab commented, and I quickly hummed to catch her attention.

"Speaking of surprises! Is Bihamut an acquaintance of yours? You seemed to recognize him when he was summoned and you knew he was a male before Ren revealed it..."

I felt Demiurge and his sentient followers grow restless at my question, a feeling they often emitted when discussing the masked man and his Monsters, but I decided to ignore them this time around. I was really curious, after all, Ixtab had no connection to a double-headed creature mythology-wise. And maybe I could finally find out why they feel that way.

"Ah, that? Yes, I met him once, in the past." by her tone, I could tell she just waved a hand, alluding this was no interesting matter. "It was during a meeting between gods from various myths, actually."

"Really?" my eyes widened in curiosity. Oi, this was interesting! Well, to me, at least. "What was it about?"

"We had to decide the direction to head in following the Great War." I froze on the spot. Oh...um...yeah, OK, it all made sense now. Demiurge's side lost that battle and we're currently talking about their enemies, no wonder they hated this topic. "Contrary to Bihamut, I didn't fight in the Great War, however, I was called in nonetheless. I met him there...oh, and Charon's owner, too."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Owner...?" did she mean Hades?

"Lord Hades is my master. My life lies in the palm of his hand, therefore, I'm his property." Charon confirmed my thoughts, his tone plain like he was stating a universal fact, which caused me to frown. I hated the sound of that...also, why's he describing himself as if he's an object, someone with no freedom? At the moment, he's right here, with us. He could've stayed by Hades's side, the god he considers to be his master to this day, but he didn't. That must mean something!

"I'm well aware of how you view him." Ixtab sighed. "It's admirable, really. Hades carries the weight of the underworld on his shoulders, and he isn't a ginormous prick like his two brothers. It's good to know someone like you serves him. He needs it, especially after a certain Titaness betrayed him—"

"Be quiet." Styx interrupted her coldly, causing the room to fall into an uncomfortable silence. Dammit, Ixtab, don't rub salt into an old wound! At least, not to her. Compared to Demiurge and his followers, Styx didn't deserve it. She surely had her reasons.

"Come now, I was simply stating the facts." Ixtab, you were supposed to stop there! "It was you who joined the opposite party just to lose at the hands of Bihamut and Caesar with Tiamat by your side—"

"Ixtab!" Charon and I scolded her in unison, shutting her up for the second time.

While I was a sucker for any lore-related information, the tension rose to a dangerous level with her last remark...Demiurge's side was angry now, even Tiamat. So the WATER Attribute D/D/D Caesar defeated Tiamat and Styx with Bihamut, huh...? I guess that explained why Tiamat was restless when Styx fought the White God in the Duel. It must've reminded her of the past.

"...Sorry." Ixtab sighed again. Her apology sounded uncharacteristically sincere. "I could've avoided saying that, but my respect for Hades clouded my judgment."

"...At least you realized you're in the wrong for once." was all Styx said back. She was taken aback by the goddess's apology, but she didn't forgive her, either.

"...Soo, anywho~!" Adaro unceremoniously raised his voice to divert our attention from the topic at hand, which I was thankful for. "When will you accept a challenge like that again, Master?"

"This time, with me by your side, if you wouldn't mind." I blinked at Ereshkigal's words. It seems she wasn't too happy she was left out of it...

"As soon as possible!" I reassured them, much to their delight. "Depending on who our next opponent will be in the second round, I might get the chance sooner than expected."

"Unfortunately, you could say that again..." Demiurge muttered. He's only looking forward to Harald, wasn't he?

"You're correct, King Vince! But sadly, there won't be another opponent like Ren." I nodded to Seth's words. Hmm, we're been talking about the masked man for a while now...who knows where that portal took him, and what he'll be doing while we're focusing on the tournament?

---

Third-person POV

"ACHOO!"

"Another sneeze? You became quite famous back in Synchro, I see."

"Nah, it's probably just Vince thinking about our Duel or where I vanished to, Isaac."

The young man with long hair and glasses hummed in thought. "Yes, probably." he then turned his attention from the monitors in front of him to his interlocutor. "What did you want to know, Ren?"

"Do you have any news regarding Antinomy?" the masked man inquired while massaging his right hand with his left one. "I wasn't able to get in touch with him because, apparently, the comms of the participants' Duel Disks are jammed while they're in the penthouse and the Duel Palace."

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "They are? Hm, must be their way to prevent the players from conspiring together." weird, they didn't find anything about that online before Ren and Antinomy departed for Synchro. No one thought it was worth mentioning? Or maybe the Executive Council had something to do with it...? Well, it didn't hinder their plans, so it was of no matter. They weren't in harm's way in the penthouse, and if any unforeseen events arose, teleportation was always a handy thing. Though they're slowly running out of energy to burn for that...

Isaac adjusted his spectacles and answered his friend's query. "I was waiting for Antinomy's report, truth be told. But with this new piece of information, I believe it's useless to wait any longer or to attempt to contact him. That said, there's no reason to panic. The participants are treated with the utmost care as you've experienced yourself, and if anything happens, Antinomy can teleport back here."

"Yeah." Ren nodded with a sigh. "Knowing him, he probably ate little to nothing, and he's making adjustments to his deck instead. He's such a workaholic..."

"He isn't like us, remember? I worry about him myself, but he knows his limits very well. He always abides to them, especially after getting that earful from Eve to make sure to do so."

"It almost sounds like you're talking of yourself." Ren remarked, to which the long-haired man cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment.

When Isaac met Antinomy and discovered he was also willing to work to unimaginable extents—at least, in Ren's opinion they were—his sleep schedule became a mess. He was practically drinking more coffee than water. Antinomy, maybe not as regularly and as much, needed sleep himself. They simply wished to support their team's cause to the maximum. Their leader was baffled by their resolve...however, she still got mad, and made sure to put them back into a healthy schedule. Ren was glad of that.

"Ah...now that you mentioned her, how's Eve?"

"Fine, actually." Isaac stated, sounding pleased. "She has some trouble standing on her legs, but the pain has been leaving her body in these past days."

"Those are great news." Ren was pleased, too. "Let's hope it will stay that way."

"Let's." Isaac agreed with a nod. It always annoyed him to know their leader was in pain. He sometimes had trouble focusing on his work because of that. Eve said not to worry about her, but how could he not? He'll do his best to put an end to this chaos and her pain.

---

Sakushi Vincent's POV

(...The next day...)

[The City is one! We're all friends!] fireworks colored the sky and cheers resounded in the Duel Palace as Melissa marked the start of a new day by shouting the tournament's—ill-suited—slogan. [Doing great, everyone!? Now, the second day of the Friendship Cup has officially begun! The first match in today's line-up is...]

Two holograms materialized in the middle of the Duel Palace one after the other, and I gasped when I saw who they were.

[Manek Wierrd! Aaand...! Izayoi Aki!] she concluded, spreading her free arm with an excited smile.

"Manek and Aki...!?" I parroted their names in shock. I was really glad I'm finally going to see her Duel, but Manek was still my friend...at least, him to me, but that's not important right now. I couldn't just forget about him and cheer only for his opponent!

"The actor fighting against a possible user of Quetzalcoatl's spawn?" Demiurge scoffed in amusement. Actually hearing those words made the already uneasy Xolotl tense even further. "A peculiar line-up."

"I'm guessing the pink-haired girl is screaming her idol's name at the moment." Adaro pointed out, to which I agreed with a sheepish nod. Considering how Yuzu reacted to his debut in the Maiami Championship, it was only obvious. "Master, on the other hand, is somehow keeping his inner fanboy at bay."

"Oi!" feeling my cheeks warm up, I scolded the merman. Ugh, he got a bull's-eye with me, too...

"Somebody's got a crush~." Sidonia sang teasingly.

"I don't!" great, now I won't hear the end of it!

---

Izayoi Aki's POV

Not counting the people watching us on TV, I have over twenty thousand eyes on me at the moment... I've watched all the Friendship Cups of the past years, so I'm no stranger to this amount, but to actually experience it is a different story. Haah, it's a little intimidating, to be honest...

Were my thoughts as I drove my Bloody Kiss into the Duel Palace following my opponent, Manek, who was wearing a red and dark blue Riding Duelist attire and silently riding a matching D-Wheel. He, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed by the crowd's intense cheers and answered them with a wave of his hand, albeit sporting a 'lost in my own thoughts' type of expression.

"Are you nervous?" as expected of her, Black Rose immediately noticed it.

"Yeah..." this wasn't my first time fighting in front of an audience. I used to do it all the time back at the university whenever I Dueled on campus. They even called me the 'Queen of Queens', which had a nice ring to it, but honestly, it was a little embarrassing. But now... "So many people are watching me. And I don't want to disappoint papa and mama, especially not after persuading them to allow me to enter the tournament."

"Oh, speak of the devil! Your parents are getting closer."

True to Black Rose's words, I spotted papa and mama in the Tops' stand before I would've passed them. Papa was smiling pridefully for seeing me make my debut in a tournament, maybe a few Tops even congratulated them and wished me good luck too, while mama was waving her hand at me, to which I quickly replied in kind with a smile of my own.

It felt great and reassuring to see them. "Don't sweat the details, Aki." Black Rose suggested. "Please, enjoy your first, official Riding Duel. You won't disappoint your parents if you keep being yourself and have fun."

"Ganbare, Queen of Queens~!" my other Monsters shouted.

"Everyone..." they grew quite fond of that nickname, didn't they? Great to know they had my back, too. "Let's do this."

"Daughter to Izayoi Setsuko, the most renowned doctor in the City, and Izayoi Hideo, who works directly for Gael of the Executive Council, it's Izayoi Aki!" Melissa's introduction was met by animated cheers from the Tops, while the Commons scowled and began muttering among themselves. I frowned; it was an expected reaction, but that didn't sugarcoat it for me. Why must Tops and Commons hate each other so? "Kyaa~! I'm so glad I got the chance to comment on the Duel of yet another female star!"

If I were in an anime, I would've sweatdropped right now. She's showing clear favoritism towards female participants...and she wasn't hiding in the least. Well, no reason to complain since it won't make things different for me. And you had to admit, Yuzu and Serena were a blast to watch, so it made sense she was fangirling for them.

I looked at Manek when I came to a stop at the starting line beside him. Much to my surprise, it took him a second to realize I was staring at him, and he briefly met my gaze before focusing back on the road. I blinked in confusion. Was it my imagination...or did his eyes look empty?

"Let's get this started! Action Field on!" Melissa declared, prompting me to focus on the road as well. This Duel will help me ascertain if I saw that right or not. "Field Spell, Crossover Acceleration!"

A yellow pulse of light spread across the sky, causing our surroundings to take on a bluish hue and Action Cards to scatter around the arena.

[Duel Mode, on. Auto-pilot, stand-by.] our Duel Disks declared and deployed their energy blades.

"Riding Duel...!" the count down reached zero, and Melissa announced, "Acceleration!"

"DUEL!" we shouted and drove off in unison.

Manek: LP 4000

VS

Aki: LP 4000

It started as a close race, but I managed to take the lead thanks to my D-Wheel being an advanced model, its speed on par with the Duel Chasers' own.

"Taking the first corner is Aki!" Melissa announced. "Show 'em girl power!"

"S-Sure..." I nodded sheepishly at her vehement tone. "Watashi no turn! I summon Ruddy Rose Witch from my hand!"

A petite witch clad in a beautiful, red and white dress decorated with roses and holding a wooden staff with a gem on its tip appeared beside me.

Ruddy Rose Witch: Light / Plant / Tuner / Effect / ATK: 800 / DEF: 1700 / LV: 1

"By releasing herself, Ruddy Rose Witch is permitted to activate her effect!" she waved her staff at my words, causing a dark fog with red sparkles to envelop her. "I add Witch of the Black Rose from my Deck to my hand, then take one Level 3 or lower Plant-Type Monster from my Deck and place it on top of my Deck. I choose Rose Fairy!"

Ruddy nodded. "So the usual." she left the field in a shower of particles, which were then sucked into the card I added to my hand.

"Her effect continues," I explained to the viewers. "I can now Normal Summon Witch of the Black Rose from my hand!"

"Reporting for duty thanks to nee-san." a new petite witch materialized beside me, this one clad in an equally beautiful, black and white dress decorated with roses and holding a wooden staff with an azure gem on its tip.

Witch of the Black Rose: Dark / Spellcaster / Tuner / Effect / ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 4

"Her effect activates on Normal Summon." hearing my words, Black waved her staff like her older sister, causing a dark fog with purple sparkles to envelop my deck. "I must draw a card and reveal it. If it isn't a Monster, then Witch of the Black Rose is destroyed. Draw!"

After doing so, "As you've probably guessed, it's Rose Fairy. Her own effect activates in this instant, Special Summoning herself as she was added from my Deck to my hand via a card effect!"

Yet another petite girl joined the fray, this time a four-winged fairy with a rose attached to the back of her head.

Rose Fairy: Wind / Plant / Effect / ATK: 600 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 3

"What brilliant team play!" Melissa commented. "Aki made sure to cover for her Monster's weakness by using Ruddy Rose Witch's effect, as well as gather the materials for a Synchro Summon!"

"Their reaction brings back a lot of memories." Rose Fairy giggled.

"They sure do." the people at the university were in awe as well when they witnessed my Dueling for the first time. Manek kept calmly staring in my direction, prompting me to proceed with my turn. "Let's go, you two! I tune the Level 4 Witch of the Black Rose with the Level 3 Rose Fairy!"

As my witch's body morphed into four green rings that surrounded my fairy and turned her into three stars, I chanted.

"Lofty rose that buds in a garden of integrity! Bloom here, watered by blue moonlight! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Level 7! Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"

A bright beam shot through the rings, from which my ace emerged with a graceful roar. The light red rose petals that covered her dark scales looked to be rigid like actual armor, and they reflected the sun's rays like the moon. A fitting appearance, considering her namesake.

Black Rose Moonlight Dragon: Light / Dragon / Synchro / Effect / ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 7

"Level 7 and 2400 Attack! And above all, look at that appearance! As expected of a female star, her Synchro Monster radiates power and beauty in unison!" Black Rose beat her wings pridefully at Melissa's praises.

"I set two cards and end my turn." show me what your Dueling's all about, Manek.

"My turn!" Manek announced in English. "Draw! I play the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing together five Dopants from my hand!"

My eyes widened. "Fusion?" he uses one of those never-before-seen Summoning Methods, too?

His Monsters turned into red, blue, yellow, green, and purple energy respectively, which then spiraled into a portal as he chanted.

"Of all memories that are passed down the line of blood, one rules supreme! Harvest this primal memory to remind everyone what it is! The test of courage! A king of the Dopants! Fusion Summon! Presenting the Level 10, Dopant of Terror!"

To emerge from the portal with a villainous chuckle was a tall man clad from head to toe in a black suit, wearing a white and gold mask on his face, a red kilt, and an alien-like headdress. I tightened my grip on the handles when his aura reached me. It was...ominous, to say the least.

Dopant of Terror: Dark / Fiend / Fusion / Pendulum / Effect / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 10 / SC: 1

Melissa blinked twice. "Manek used his entire hand...to summon a 0-Attack Monster?" yes, and it was Level 10. All the more reasons to be wary of him.

"Black Rose no kōka hatsudō!" but luckily for me, I already had a way to dispose of him. "If she's Special Summoned, or a Level 5 or higher Monster is Special Summoned to your field, I must target one Special Summoned Monster you control and return it to your hand! Rose Ballad!"

"By the powers the moon deities bestowed upon me, return to slumber!" my dragon spread her wings wide as their glow intensified, washing over Terror.

"A cool trick, but it won't work." Manek clicked his fingers, and the light around his Fusion Monster became purple. "Due to his effect, Terror can't be destroyed by battle and he's unaffected by your card effects."

The crowd cheered in awe. "Manek successfully evades Aki's sudden counter!" Melissa, on the other hand, was concerned. "Since he summoned Terror in attack mode, it's safe to say he has big plans. What will Manek do next!?"

"Aren't you eager to find out?" grinning, Manek thrusted an arm forward. "Battle! Terror, attack Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"

My eyes widened in confusion. "You're attacking!?" a battle-related effect, perhaps?

"Terror's the only Monster I control, therefore, his other effect kicks in! All damage I would take is inflicted to you, instead! Terror Mirror!"

All damage, huh? What a nasty effect. "Torappu hatsudō: Rose Blizzard!" I quickly stated. "I can activate this card when you target a Monster I control for an attack. The attacking Monster is changed to defense mode and the attack is negated!"

"Terror's unaffected by your card effects." Manek reminded me.

"But the attack is still negated." true to my words, a blizzard of cold wind and rose petals shot out of my card, forcing the opposing Fusion Monster to stop his advance.

"That's the end of my turn, then." Manek sighed in disappointment, but his grin remained. "I guess I should also inform you that Terror forces every Attack Position Monster you control to attack him during the Battle Phase."

"Destruction caused by battle and special abilities are meaningless against that follower, and if that wasn't enough, we must attack it?" Black Rose recoiled in shock. "His strength certainly matches his aura..."

Yeah, you could say that again... "Aki seemed to be doing well at first, but Manek drove her into a corner without breaking a sweat!" Melissa reported. "Switching her dragon to defense mode won't matter since Manek can simply attack it himself—agh, she's in trouble, folks!"

"I'll find a way around it! Watashi no turn!" I drew after we turned a corner. "I summon Twilight Rose Knight!"

A male youth clad in dark violet armor with a cape strapped to his shoulders appeared, brandishing his sword with a valiant battle cry.

Twilight Rose Knight: Dark / Warrior / Tuner / Effect / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3

"When this card is Normal Summoned, I can activate his effect to Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Plant-Type Monster from my hand." the knight pointed his sword at the sky. "Appear, Rose Princess!"

"Come, serve your queen!" following his command, a human-sized fairy materialized on my field with a cheerful giggle and twirl. I may be their 'queen', but she was a princess nonetheless, and Knight greeted her the old-fashioned way, namely by kneeling and kissing the back of her hand.

"Here I am, my little knight." Princess giggled again, though not out of embarrassment.

"Ahem. We already went over this, milady. I'm not little."

The princess waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, sure~!" a cross-shaped vein throbbed on the knight's forehead, but he said no more.

Rose Princess: Earth / Plant / Effect / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 800 / LV: 3

"I tune the Level 3 Twilight Rose Knight with the Level 3 Rose Princess!" as my knight's body morphed into three green rings that surrounded my princess and turned her into three stars, I chanted. "Warrior of virtuous thorns guarding the sacred forest, with your sword of integrity in hand, come forth now! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Twilight Rose Prince!"

A bright beam shot through the rings, from which an adult version of the Tuner used as Synchro Material jumped out. He was much taller now, had purple and green highlights in his cyan hair, and a stylized, red rose tattoo on his left cheek. His headpiece was replaced by a rose-themed crown and he wore a left-shoulder cape in this form. Lastly, his sword had a rose-shaped, golden guard, as well as red gems embodied on the surface of its blade.

Twilight Rose Prince: Dark / Plant / Synchro / Effect / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 6

"I told you I wasn't little, milady." the now-prince boasted, even if he knew Princess couldn't hear him anymore.

"Another Synchro Monster?" Manek raised an eyebrow. "What does he do?"

"For starters, as long as Twilight Rose Prince is on the field, you may only target him for attacks. You'll find out the rest in a moment. I switch Black Rose to defense mode."

My dragon folded her wings in front of herself, assuming her defensive stance.

"And now, Battle!" I extended an arm to the side. "Twilight Rose Prince, attack Dopant of Terror!"

"Attack?" Manek snorted. "Did you forget you'll be the one to take the damage!?"

"Be our guest!" followed by a chuckle, his Fusion Monster's eyes flashed gold and he shot a stream of dark energy from his headdress.

"I activate Twilight Rose Prince's effect!" I gestured at the said Monster with my already outstretched hand. "The damage I would take from a card's effect or a battle involving him is negated! Also, he gains one Twilight Rose Counter!"

"As you wish, my queen!" Prince yelled. He then moved behind me, blocking the stream with the blade of his weapon and causing a red gem on it to lit up.

(Prince: 0→1 Twilight Rose Counter)

Manek scoffed at his plan's failure. "Aki did it!" Melissa punched the air with delight. "Since her opponent can only attack Twilight Rose Prince, its effect seals off Terror's own."

This should push him to apt for a new strategy, hopefully, one that removes Terror from the field in the process.

"I activate Prince's other effect." the red gem on his sword lost its glow. "I remove all counters from him to send an equal number of cards from the top of either Deck to the Graveyard. With one counter removed, I ditch the top card of my Deck. I end my turn!"

(Prince: 1→0 Twilight Rose Counters)

"My turn! Draw! By targeting Terror, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Pendulum De-Fusion!" a card, which depicted a similar scenario to Polymerization, appeared. An orange fiend and a green dragon were spiraling out like mist from a pendulum-like ornament instead of a portal. "I place my target in one of my empty Pendulum Zones and Special Summon all Fusion Materials used for its summon from my grave!"

"What!?" I glanced backwards in surprise. Five new Monsters, just like that!?

"Revive: Dopant of Metal! Dopant of Cyclone! Dopant of Dummy! Futo Dopant: Road! And Dopant of Trigger!"

Following Manek's words, a stylized pentagram of purple energy opened under Terror's feet, and he fell into it. Seconds later, he reappeared in a pillar of blue light on his user's left, and five new Dopants jumped out of the pentagram one by one with their respective battle cries.

Dopant of Metal: ATK 2700 / DEF 2000 / LV: 7

Dopant of Cyclone: ATK 2800 / DEF 2000 / LV: 8

Dopant of Dummy: ATK 0 / DEF 0 / LV: 1

Futo Dopant: Road: Earth / Machine / Effect / ATK: 2600 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 8

Dopant of Trigger: Earth / Warrior / Effect / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 0 / LV: 4

"A full field!?" Melissa's eyes widened, her shriek surpassing the volume of the audience's cheers. "Manek sure pulled an amazing move there... Aki's dragon may be in defense mode and her prince's effect may negate an instance of battle damage, but it won't be enough to survive this assault! She's in trouble again!"

Black Rose gritted her fangs. "I believe that would be putting it lightly..." probably.

Manek grinned slowly. "I activate Dummy's effect. Once per turn, I can send a 'Dopant' Monster from my hand or Deck to the Graveyard and have Dummy gain their name, Level, and stats until the end of this turn. I choose Dopant of Heat from my Deck!"

True enough, Dummy morphed into a female Monster riding a bike.

(Dummy→Heat, 0→2400 ATK, 0→2000 DEF, Level 1→7)

"I now enter the Battle Phase! Go, Cyclone!" my opponent aimed a finger in my direction. "Attack Prince!"

"I won't lose so easily!" I warned him with narrowed eyes. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Frozen Rose, sending Black Rose to the Graveyard as a cost!"

She gained a purple outline after those words and burst into a shower of rose petals of the same color seconds later. "I sacrificed a non-Plant-Type Monster this way, therefore, I can add one Level 4 or lower Plant from my Deck to my hand."

"Why bother?" Manek raised an eyebrow. "Sure, a replay now occurs, but Cyclone will just target your remaining Synchro Monster for an attack again."

"Yes, but now I have her in my hand." I revealed the Monster I'd fetched. "By discarding Rose Nez from my hand, during this Battle Phase, Twilight Rose Prince can't be destroyed by battle, but his Attack drops to 0 at the end of the Battle Phase! I also activate Prince's effect! Night Bloom Cover!"

A fair-skinned young elf woman with pink eyes that had slitted pupils, short green hair, and stylized, red plant tattoos on her left cheek, arms, and legs appeared before Prince with a wink. She wore vine-rimmed, rectangular glasses, a white lab coat, which had a red rose mark on its breast pocket, over a light green one-piece dress, and brown high-heeled boots.

Manek frowned as Nez threw several vials at the advancing Cyclone before vanishing, which exploded and created a wall of pungent smell. The Dopant coughed violently once she caught a whiff of it, prompting her to quickly blow it away with a burst of wind that also headed for Prince, who easily dismissed the attack with a swing of his sword.

(Prince: 0→1 Twilight Rose Counter)

"Aki successfully escapes the jaws of defeat!" Melissa smiled wide, watching us turn a corner. "Well done, girl!"

Manek, on the other hand, merely sighed. "Doing all that was useless." what did you say? "I end my Battle Phase, so your prince's Attack becomes 0. Not that it matters because I activate Cyclone's effect, targeting Prince and Dummy for it."

Raging green winds enveloped the stated Monsters, "Only once during a turn, at the cost of sealing her direct attack for this turn, I can do that in order to return both targets to the hand!" and caused them to vanish into nothingness.

It was my turn to frown. "He had a safety measure at the ready?" Prince, as expected, was annoyed, a sentiment I shared as well. My field was emptied, to boot. And I had the feeling he wasn't done with his turn yet...

"Trigger will activate his effect next!" I was soon proven correct. "Only once during a turn, at the cost of halving his Attack until the End Phase and sealing his attack, he burns your Life for an amount equal to his current Attack! Hunting Shot!"

(Trigger: 2000→1000 ATK)

The blue-armored Dopant assumed a kneeling position and fired an energy bullet from the large rifle attached to his right arm, striking me in the back and earning a pained gasp in return.

Aki: LP 4000 - 1000 = 3000

"I summon Dummy and activate his effect again, this time assuming Dopant of Death's appearance." the said Dopant returned to his field and took the shape of a Grim Reaper-like Monster. "I activate Terror's Pendulum Effect too, shuffling Trigger into the Deck to Special Summon him from the Pendulum Zone in defense mode!"

Trigger left the field in a shower of particles, which surrounded Terror and helped him leave the pillar of light, joining Manek's other Monsters. He got him back, huh? He won't reflect any damage since he isn't the only Monster he controls, but an untouchable foe was still a pain in the neck.

"I end my turn now, meaning Dummy returns to normal."

"Watashi no turn!" let's turn the tides in my favor again, shall we? "Draw!"

"Dummy's effect can be activated on both players' turns." Manek immediately interrupted me. "Using it, I send Duo Dopant - Double from my Deck to the Graveyard and have Dummy become him until the end of this turn!"

Now Dummy morphed into a warrior clad from head to toe in armor, half of its body colored cyan with torn cloth wrapped around it while the other black adorned with spikes, and a voice announced [Double!] as he struck a pose above his user.

(Dummy→Double, 0→2500 ATK, 0→2000 DEF, Level 1→8)

He's been sending many Monsters to the GY that way...there must be more to it. His shrewd strategy from earlier was proof of that. "I summon Baobaboon!"

A walking baobab tree with the face of a baboon on its front appeared.

Baobaboon: Dark / Plant / Effect / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3

"His effect activates if he's Normal or Special Summoned, enabling me to draw a card, then place one card from my hand on either the top or bottom of my Deck." I smiled at the card I got. Alright, with this, I can wipe his field clean! "I place the other card in my hand on the top. Next, I activate the Spell Card Fragrance Storm! By destroying the Plant-Type Baobaboon, I can draw a card!"

After doing so, "I drew Glow-Up Bulb, a Plant-Type Monster. By doing so, Fragrance Storm's effect lets me draw an additional card. Baobaboon's effect activates as he was destroyed! I can now Special Summon the remaining Baobaboons from my Deck!"

A baobab tree appeared above me and split into two perfect copies of itself. They then spun around, revealing they each had a snickering baboon face on them.

"Moving on, I activate Rose Nez's effect from my Graveyard. By banishing her, I can Special Summon one Level 3 or lower Plant-Type or 'Rose Dragon' Monster from my hand. Bloom, the Tuner Monster, Glow-Up Bulb!"

Following my words, the round-shaped Plant made of dirt with an eye in its centre and a flower on its 'head' materialized on my field.

Glow-Up Bulb: Tuner / ATK 100 / DEF 100 / LV: 1

"That's what I'm talking about!" Melissa cheered. "With a series of effects, Aki's gathered herself the needed materials for a Level 7 Synchro Summon! What type of plant will she summon next? Or will it be another dragon!?"

"It will be a dragon all right, though not one you'd expect." I allowed myself to smirk before raising a hand to the sky. "I tune the Level 1 Glow-Up Bulb with the two Level 3 Baobaboons! Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Level 7! Black Rose Dragon!"

If Black Rose's wings reflected the sun's rays like the moon, then in this form their colors are vibrant like the sun itself, looking alive as if actual rose petals adorned them as feathers would to an angel's wings. Flames, which weren't hot but instead cold, escaped the sides of her mouth as she opened it to release a resounding roar.

Black Rose Dragon: Fire / Dragon / Synchro / Effect / ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 7

"Black Rose?" Manek blinked twice, taken aback. "She...has multiple forms?"

I nodded. "That she does." she once explained to me why. It's because her father, the Crimson Dragon, better known as Quetzalcoatl in myths, had different forms—'aspects', she called them—himself, each revolving around a specific concept. She mentioned his Ehecatl aspect, a form in which he completely embraces the wind, gets associated with all the cardinal directions, and becomes overly fierce.

This was Black Rose's original persona, after which she obtained her Moonlight aspect, as well as another one I've yet to reveal. "And each form is bad news for you." I pointed out to the black-haired youth. "Black Rose no kōka! When she's Synchro Summoned, I can destroy all cards on the field! Black Rose Gale!"

My ace let loose of a second roar and spread her wings, conjuring a miniature twister of rose petals in the Duel Palace.

"W-What an effect!" Melissa shouted over the howling wind, clutching her hat to avoid losing it, while the crowd shielded their faces with their arms. Black Rose, at her core, was a destructive dragon; it's her aspects that bring out her more protective capabilities. "Unlike before where she tried to return her opposition to the hand without hurting them, Aki now intends to destroy everything! Her own dragon, too!"

"Doing that is useless!" Manek remarked. "Did you forget Terror is unaffected by your card effects!?"

"I didn't. I'm doing this precisely for that, actually." his eyes widened at my calm words. "I banish the Trap Card Tenacity of the Darkest Rose from my Graveyard in order to activate its effect!"

"From the grave?" Manek jerked, surprised again. "The card you milled with Prince?"

The spectral image of a Trap Card, which depicted Black Rose Dragon angrily lashing out at her surroundings with her vines, whose thorns were much longer than normal, appeared before turning into red energy that enveloped her.

"This forces you to banish all your cards that don't leave the field by Black Rose Gale! Since this doesn't affect Terror but you, the player, his effect won't save him!"

"Meaning you're all mine!" my dragon proclaimed, followed by all our cards leaving the field in a shower of rose petals. Good, we did it! And because Terror was banished, he can't revive him through a Pendulum Summon, either.

"Five Monsters gone, just like that!" Melissa's happiness returned. "Aki left herself wide open, but I guess the results make up for that aplenty! Manek has no cards in his hand, so he'll have a hard time recovering from that."

I hope that, too. "I end my turn with a set card."

"...Humph. That wasn't a bad move." Manek grinned anew, prompting me to frown. He's got a good drive, that's for sure. "Sadly, emptying my field and having no cards in my hand won't win you the game. I'm not some third-rate Duelist! My turn, draw! Have you ever considered what happens to the things we daily toss aside?"

"Huh? A quiz?" Melissa tilted her head to the side. "That came out of the blue..."

Why would he ask that, was my question? To prove a point, no doubt. "Trash should be transported to a waste disposal processing facility, where it is sorted and categorized." I replied, but then frowned. "It depends where it's thrown, though..."

I was aware of the harsh lives people must endure in a corrupted and competitive society like the City. Tops who in time get richer and richer, and toss barely eaten food off their balconies; Commons who stay poor no matter their accomplishments and fight for the food that falls from the sky because they can't afford themselves a proper meal. The only person who ever broke that cycle was Jack Atlas, a Top and a Common simultaneously, the King of our city.

I was blessed to be born into a rich and loving family. I didn't know the pain of the Commons, but I knew what feeds it, and how to resolve it. Alas, resolving it...won't be easy. But I won't stop believing it's possible. I want to help the Commons, as well as the Tops, just like mama, though in my own way as a psychologist.

"...I simply hope people dispose of things they don't need anymore properly." was my finalized answer.

"A careful approach, huh? A good choice when your foes are the Dopants." my eyebrows furrowed. His Monsters...? What did he mean? "The trash might just come back to haunt you! By banishing six 'Dopant' Monsters from my Graveyard with different names, them being Metal, Cyclone, Double, Death, Heat, and Dummy, I can Special Summon this card from my Extra Deck!"

That's why he was using Dummy's effect. To increase the number of sacrifices in his GY! The spectral images of the six Dopants emerged from the ground around Manek and floated into the air, where they merged to form a creature of toxic matter as he chanted.

"The path of everything that is thrown away, all of it ends up in a single place! Accumulate, Rank 12! Futo Forbidden Dopant: Trash!"

One half of the Monster's body retracted, revealing a humanoid body wearing a helmet and a belt made from scrap parts, as well as an oversized glove and a small sneaker, hidden within.

Futo Forbidden Dopant: Trash: Dark / Fiend / Xyz / Effect / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / RK: 12

This time it's Xyz...with the same ominous aura his Fusion Monster had. "R-Rank 12...but with 0 Attack!?" Melissa was confused once again. "With how troublesome Terror ended up being, who knows what it has in store for Aki!"

"Too bad for you, there's only one way to find out." I gritted my teeth at Manek's teasing tone. "I play the Spell Card That Grass Looks Greener. I must send cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard so I match the number of cards in your Deck."

Five cards ejected from the top of his deck, "The difference is five as you can see. Together with the Spell Card itself, those are six cards heading to my Graveyard." as he slid them into the GY slot, his grin widened. "Trash's continuous effect: any cards sent to the Graveyard are attached to him as Overlay Units instead!"

Wire tendrils shoot out of Trash's toxic half and enter a GY Portal, extracting six glowing lights which started orbiting his body.

"He also gains 500 Attack for each Overlay Unit attached to him! Matter Eating!" he grows stronger by absorbing the cards we use!? His question from earlier made sense now...!

(Trash: 0→3000 ATK)

"This is our stage! Battle!" Manek gestured forward. "Attack her, Trash! Sludge Cannons!"

"No, no, no! Its Attack is the same as Aki's Life Points!" Melissa cried out in panic as Trash fired three toxic sludge projectiles from his left arm. "I know you can dodge this, Aki! I'm rooting for you!"

"Torappu hatsudō: Blooming of the Darkest Rose!" I hastily declared. "In the end, an Action Field is a Field Spell Card, right? Since we both control one, this Trap enables me to Special Summon two Rose Tokens to my field in defense mode!"

Two human-sized roses bloomed behind me, crossing their leaves in front of themselves as if they were arms meant to guard them.

Rose Token: Dark / Plant / ATK: 800 / DEF: 800 / LV: 2 - (x2)

Trash's wire tendrils shot forward, grasping my Trap and changing it into an Overlay Unit, thus raising his ATK to 3500. The projectiles then hit a Rose Token, causing it to melt into nothingness. D-Damn...I didn't want to start imagining what would've happened if that was me.

"Tsk." Manek gritted his teeth before leaning down to grab an incoming Action Card which I ignored. "Akushon Majikku: Wonder Chance! By targeting Trash, he can attack again this turn. Matter Eating also absorbs Wonder Chance and raises his Attack to 4000 points! Melt her remaining rose, Trash!"

The same scene from moments ago repeated itself. My field's empty again...

"Look, Aki!" Black Rose snapped me out of my thoughts. "It's the same card he played just now!"

True to her words, another bubble containing a card was up ahead. I didn't waste my chance to grab it. "Good, I can use this. Akushon Majikku: Single Destruction! Since you control exactly one Monster, I can target and destroy it!"

The Action Magic shot a yellow beam at his Xyz Monster, piercing his left half and earning a pained moan.

"You've only scraped the top of the garbage mountain." Manek didn't lose his cool at that. "I activate Trash's other effect. By banishing an Overlay Unit, he won't be destroyed! I banish your Blooming of the Darkest Rose. Trash Assimilation!"

I frowned. "Self-regeneration, you say...?" Trash's wire tendrils crushed an orbiting light in a death grip, which caused the hole I made to close up. The same tendrils then absorbed my Action Card, keeping his ATK at 4000.

"That's the end of my turn!"

"First it was Terror with no Attack, now it's Trash which reached 4000 Attack!" Melissa noted in concern, unlike the crowd that cheered as we turned a corner. "And it will only get stronger with the more cards both players use! But if Aki found a way to prevail the first time, I'm positive she can do it again!"

"On that, we agree." Trash couldn't be destroyed, but my deck had plenty of removal-effects, as well as ATK manipulation. My next counterattack relied on what I draw. "Watashi no turn! Draw! I summon White Rose Dragon!"

A Rose Dragon similar to Black Rose but with white rose petals and hoofs instead of feet appeared with a flap of her beautiful wings.

White Rose Dragon: Dark / Dragon / Effect / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4

"When she's Normal Summoned successfully, her effect activates!" her eyes flashed blue, conjuring a GY Portal made of vines. "I can Special Summon one 'Rose Dragon' Monster from my hand or Graveyard, except another White Rose. Bloom back to life, Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"

My ace in her Moonlight aspect flew out of the portal with a graceful roar, nodding in appreciation to her fellow Rose Dragon who replied in kind.

"Black Rose no kōka!" I gestured backwards with a smile. "As she was Special Summoned, I target your Special Summoned Futo Forbidden Dopant: Trash and return him to your hand! Rose Ballad!"

Manek gritted his teeth as he watched my dragon spread her wings wide as their glow intensified, washing over Trash and prompting him to vanish with a pained moan.

"The 4000-Attack monster is no more!" Melissa shouted over the audience. "And what's this? Another Action Card is coming up! Will it help Aki win this fight!?"

"Here it goes." I picked up the said card, my smile widening once I saw its content. "The goddess of luck seems to be on my side today. I activate the Action Magic Power Gem, increasing White Rose's Attack by 800!"

White Rose gave a small roar once her ATK became 2000.

"Battle!" I turned my D-Wheel sideways and aimed a finger at the black-haired youth. "White Rose attacks you directly!"

The said dragon flew across the field, striking Manek's D-Wheel with her hoofs and causing it to spin out of control for a couple of seconds.

Manek: LP 4000 - 2000 = 2000

"The last Battle! Go, Black Rose! Attack Wierrd-kun directly with Rose Requiem!"

At my command, Black Rose unleashed a golden stream of energy from her mouth, which managed to hit its mark and engulf my opponent in smoke. Did we do it?

"It's decided, folks! After numerous backs and forths, Manek was—" right in that instant, the Dopant user shoot out of the smoke with a sly smile, prompting Melissa to stutter out of shock. "N-N-Not defeated!? But how!?"

"I activated Memory Gadget - Denden Sensor's effect in my Graveyard, banishing it and returning the banished Double to the Graveyard for it." Manek clicked his fingers, and the spectral image of a Trap, which depicted a mechanical, black and orange snail in what I assumed was its base form in the foreground and its goggles form in the background, appeared beside him for a moment. "Double's Attack is 2500. Since the damage was less than that, it was negated. You aren't the only one who can use Traps' effect from the grave, ya know?"

"Apparently not..." I muttered begrudgingly—or, better yet, annoyed. Not by the fact I wasn't able to win, mind you; I didn't face such a challenging opponent in a long time, so I was having a blast. The problem was my opponent himself, whose taunts felt...fake.

Not only his taunts. His excitement, his exasperation, his expressions... The longer this Duel prolonged, the easier it was for me to notice. Maybe it was thanks to his empty eyes that I managed to notice all of this. It felt as if he was executing the obvious response to a certain action, like an actor following a script. The actor performs the action you'd expect from the situation, but you also know it's only an act, that there are no actual feelings behind it.

Why was Manek behaving that way? "I end my turn." I slowed down my D-Wheel so we'd be side by side. I smiled at him in a welcoming manner. "I'm surprised by how many people use these new Summoning Methods, but we only heard of them for the first time at the opening ceremony two days ago. Do you know each other, by any chance? Are you friends?"

"...If anything, we're only acquaintances." he eventually said after a short stare. "If it counts, I trust Reiji...and Reira? But everyone else? People I'm forced to work with."

He must've spent more time with them than the others to trust them. "Do they think the same?" he shrugged, not bothered to hide his disinterest, earning another question from yours truly. "If they show interest in the idea of becoming something more than simply acquaintances, why are you rejecting them?"

He scoffed loudly, now annoyed. "That would bring no benefit to our objective. Stable cooperation and a wise leader's orders are more than enough for that. Now tell me, what are you getting at?"

He immediately went on the defensive, as expected. And what he said is probably a cover for the actual reason. I cleared my throat and moved on. "The Dueling of those who wield different Summoning Methods is always capable of captivating the crowd. And these people aren't easy to please, trust me. You must have realized it with Sakaki Yuya-kun, too. So, what I'm trying to say is...you entertain the crowd, Wierrd-kun, but I get the feeling you're leaving yourself out."

"Why should I not?" he asked as a matter of fact. "My heart never wanted it, but my body needed a place to stay, food to eat, and a way to earn money. I got my foot in the door, and the rest is history."

"In the name of the Naturia Sacred Tree, what tragedy befell him?" I would like to know it myself, Prince. It wasn't strange for youths to develop such a mindset here in the City, but that didn't mean it eased the blow to hear it be said.

Manek tightened his grip on the handles in anger. "I'm a famous actor from where I come, and all everyone back home sees is 'Manek the Actor'. They don't think about 'Manek the person'. It sticks in my craw every time I hear them cheer my name."

I blinked twice. "You're a famous actor?" I had never heard of him, though. Where was he from—no, wait, that wasn't important! It's scary how I made an example involving actors and he turned out to be one... "However, what your heart never wanted was to entertain a crowd. Are you really sure rejecting your comrades is the correct decision?"

With a wave of my hand, I gestured at our viewers who were muttering among themselves, unsure what to think of our conversation. "Man is by nature a social animal," I explained to him. "You may distance yourself from society, but deep down, you won't stop wishing for someone to have your back. Not even your heart can neglect that."

"I'm already fine in that department." Manek glared at me. "So don't assume I'm some sort of loner. You're sharing with me your insight, but did I ask for it? I don't want to be friends with the Lancers. What's wrong with that, o good samaritan?"

White Rose growled at the insult, but I signaled her to ignore it. He had a point, after all. He didn't ask for my point of view. Yet I couldn't help but wonder, "Then why?" I voiced my confusion. "Why act like this if you're already fine?"

"Conceal how you would respond. React as if you were them. Make the viewers see what they want to see, whether they know it or not. That would then make them look 'closer' to you, which is a good thing. Because the closer they look, the less they actually see." Manek automatically recited without a second of delay, shocking all of us. His eyes then darted around, almost as if he had forgotten where he was—or who could hear him. "My...personal advice and rules when it comes to acting..."

My mouth, which couldn't keep up with my racing thoughts, simply hang open. "This child puts up an act to prevent his teammates from finding out more about him?" Black Rose was equally shocked, but she managed to speak. "Because if they do, he fears he'd grow attached to them and become friends, huh...?"

Yeah, you sadly got it in one. I...I didn't expect this when our eyes met for the first time earlier. For how long has he been keeping these walls up? "Wierrd-kun, I understand what you've said so far, but please, think about it. You aren't being yourself! Aren't you tired of acting in front of others? At this point, you aren't living properly."

"Living?" eyes widening in anger, Manek growled. "I haven't lived properly ever since I lost Mom when I was eight! Your parents are big shots, aren't they? You have it easy! I had no parents that spoiled me rotten! I had to claw my way to where I currently am! I got a job just so I could have a place to return to! I never wanted to give up 'living', but I had no choice if I wanted to stay alive!"

I couldn't do else but stay silent as my opponent continued yelling at me, completely at a loss of words. "That's the difference between you and me!" he hissed. "There isn't only a single path in front of you. You still have a chance to do whatever you wish with your life. Me? That choice is something I made three years ago when Dad and my new mother kicked me out!"

He then sped up, leaving me behind. "And I will never...never regret making that choice! You have no right to tell me how I should survive the crazy world known as life! So let me survive, then figure out how to live!"

I tightened my grip on the handles and tailed Manek. All traces of his persona from before our conversation were gone. All that was left...was a person merely seeking out an ordinary life. Maybe I...underestimated the problem. One, simple talk won't be enough to solve anything. He's afraid of accepting the Lancers as his friends because that would leave him exposed to the risk of losing them...of feeling that loneliness for the third time in his life.

"Aki."

"I know." I nodded to Black Rose. I took a big inhale, then exhaled. "I'm ready." he's about to unleash all of his suppressed anger...at me. But this will help him. I will ease his pain through my Dueling.

"My turn!" Manek drew after we turned a corner. He then showed it to us. "This card can only be activated if I draw it during my Draw Phase and I have 2000 or less Life Points. Go, Fang Memory!"

A Spell Card, which depicted a similar scenario to Denden Sensor but had a dinosaur in the foreground and its USB-like device form in the background instead, appeared with an ominous glow.

"I must send all cards I control and Dopant of Joker from my Deck to the Graveyard," the said Dopant appeared on his field and burst into particles of various dark colors alongside the Spell Card, which then spiraled together to form a Fusion Portal. "In order to Fusion Summon, ignoring his Summoning conditions, this Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck!"

"Fusion again?" a gasp left my mouth. "But now with only one material instead of five?"

"Behold!" Manek spread his arms. "This is my wrath! Using the body of a fighter, I'll infuse the unstable memory to bring forth a frightening force! Fusion Summon! Come on! Wild Duo: Fang and Joker!"

A warrior clad from head to toe in armor, half of his body colored pristine white while the other jet-black, emerged from the portal accompanied by heavy metal guitar riffs and an orchestral hit sound effect.

Wild Duo: Fang and Joker: Dark / Warrior / Fusion / Effect / ATK: 3000 / DEF: 0 / LV: 8

"W-With a single effect and material...Manek managed to summon a 3000-Attack Fusion Monster...!" Melissa, as well as the audience, were slowly breaking out of their trance. "B-But! Aki still has her dragon!"

"Exactly! Black Rose Moonlight Dragon's effect activates as you Special Summon a Level 5 or higher Monster!" I extended an arm in front of me. "I target Fang and Joker and return it to your hand! Rose Ballad!"

"When will you learn that effect is useless against us?" my eyes widened. "By banishing Memory Gadget - Spider Shock from my Graveyard, I activate its effect! I target your dragon and negate her effects until the end of this turn!"

"What!?"

A mechanical, black and yellow spider jumped out of a miniature GY Portal beside the Fusion Monster and attached itself to him by transforming into a wrist watch. He then proceeded to fire a grappling hook from it, wrapping around Black Rose and preventing her from spreading her wings and light.

"Ugh! He's putting...the cards Trash sent to the cemetery...to good use!" she growled, trying to break free from her bindings.

"As I was going to say before you interrupted me, Fang and Joker's effect activates when he's Fusion Summoned," Manek explained. "I can send up to three face-down cards from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard. I discard Masked Warrior - Eternal, Memory Duo: Heat and Metal, and Memory Duo: Luna and Trigger from my Extra Deck!"

After doing so, "I also banish Memory Gadget - Frog Pod from my Graveyard to activate its effect, returning my banished Dopants of Terror, Cyclone, and Death to the grave."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "You're filling your Graveyard with Dopants again..." he even sent Monsters directly from his Extra Deck to the GY. "Another Trash, perhaps?"

"Wrong." was Manek's short and cold answer. "I run only one copy of Trash. If you're so eager to meet your doom, who am I to stand in your way? I activate Fang and Joker's other effect! Once per turn, during either player's turn, I can target one 'Masked Warrior' Monster in my Graveyard to have him gain its name and replace this effect with its effects!"

"Lend me your powers, Eternal!" Fang and Joker urged, causing a dark aura to envelop him.

"Eternal, in turn, allows him to inherit the names and effects of all Dopants resting in my Graveyard!" Manek revealed, drawing several gasps from the viewers, including me.

"ALL of them!?" what a terrifying effect...! How many Dopants were in his GY again? He mentioned five of them up to this point...the majority of which I didn't know the effects. I wasn't a defeatist, but...maybe I've bitten off more than I can chew.

"The Memory Duos are always treated as 'Dopant' Monsters, too." great, add two others to the list. "Via Eternal, Fang and Joker gains Terror's effects! He can't be destroyed by battle, he's unaffected by your card effects, you must attack him during your Battle Phase, and since he's the only Monster I control, all damage I would take is reflected to you!"

"S-Seriously!?" Melissa held her head in disbelief. "Manek continues to bring out OP boss Monsters, but this one takes the cake! If all the effects his Fusion Monster gained were to be written down on its card, it would surely reach a word limit! And if there isn't one, well, I think it's about time it did!"

"Enough chit-chat! Battle!" Manek threw a hand to the side. "Attack Black Rose, Fang and Joker! Maximum Saber Slasher!"

"I won't let you!" I revved Bloody Kiss' engine, zooming ahead to seize an incoming card in a bubble. "Akushon Majikku: Miracle! Black Rose won't be destroyed by this battle, also, the battle damage is halved!"

"A miracle won't stop me." Manek proclaimed, seizing an incoming Action Card himself. "I activate Fang and Joker's effect inherited from Dopant of Joker! When you activate a card or effect during his attack, I can discard a card from my hand to negate that activation!"

He slid the Action Card into his GY slot, causing mine to shatter like glass. Fang and Joker hauled the grappling hook forward, making Black Rose lose her balance and topple to the ground with an irritated roar. He then leaped into the air as a blade jutted out of his right ankle, and dive-kicked my dragon on the back, creating a large explosion.

"B-Black Rose!" I gritted my teeth when the shock waves washed over me.

Aki: LP 3000 - 600 = 2400

"Don't think you're safe yet. Via Luna and Trigger, Fang and Joker gains 300 Attack each time in defeats an opposing Monster by battle." his Fusion Monster's ATK rose to 3300. "And thanks to Heat and Metal, once per turn, if he destroys an opposing Monster by battle, he inflicts you damage equal to that Monster's original Attack or Defense, whichever is higher!"

"Aki's dragon had 2400 Attack!" Melissa reminded us as flames began burning in Fang and Joker's belt. "Her Life is exactly 2400! If this hits its mark, she'll—"

"Vanish!" Manek shouted over her, prompting his Fusion Monster to unleash a wave of flames in my direction.

"My queen!" Prince cried out in concern, followed by my other Monsters.

"Aki! Up, in the air!"

"Yeah, I saw it too!" I reassured my ace with a nod. I took a big inhale and gathered the courage to speed up, using the sides of the arena to propel myself into the air and catch a floating Action Card while performing a barrel roll. "Akushon Majikku: My Trust as a Shield!"

I landed on the ground with a yelp, and a card that depicted an armored, humanoid silhouette tanking a hit from a slime creature appeared.

"I release one Monster under my control as a cost!" White Rose folded her wings and she burst into petals, forming a shield to block the flames. "For the rest of this turn, any damage I would take that's equal to or higher than that Monster's Attack is negated!"

"SHE DID IT!" Melissa cheered with the crowd. "As expected from a female star, she won't go down without a fight!"

"Tsk. No reason to stay in the Battle Phase..." Manek's eyes narrowed. "I end my turn! It took you two miracles to remain on your feet. You won't get any in my next turn. This is your punishment. What gives you the right to tell me how I should survive?"

...Who was I looking at?

I believe that's what I should answer first, to myself. Because how I'll answer him will be the decisive factor in this conversation. It will either spur him to consider my plea or anger him to the point of no return.

Manek...when he was an eight-year-old, saw a flatline on a heart monitor and heard the endless beep which accompanied it, while his deceased mother laid in the hospital bed. If I were in his shoes, I would feel devastated. Scared. Alone.

Then he saw his father find a new partner. How would Manek react to that? His father gathered the courage to move on, to leave the past behind, but Manek was still a child. His heart probably wasn't ready yet. If so, then he thought his father had betrayed his dead mother. His new mother, on the hand, was perceived as a replacement.

Lastly, they rejected him, and he was thrown into the world of adults without a warning. He was too young yet. It's a miracle he even survived on his own! His future paths, the doors to the haven he called home, were suddenly closed. He was angry. Desperate. Alone...again.

...Were Manek's eyes truly empty? Or were they simply broken, like the rest of him? Broken by society. He, as a person, ignored by his fans. Hidden behind masks and lies to avoid the love of others. Scared to be alone. Angry at the world. Surviving.

That's right. I was looking at someone who's trying their best to survive.

"I want to help you." I replied at last. I didn't care if it sounded childish. I want to help him—nay, I will help him. For I have the strength to make that possible.

"Help? Humph. You're just like Vince." Manek shook his head in exasperation. Vince, he said? The Mythorror user from yesterday? He tried to help him, too? "Wake up, this isn't some sort of fairytale. Determination and goodwill won't solve your problems. Nor smiles like Yuya thinks."

He slowed down his D-Wheel so we'd be side by side and narrowed his eyes at me. "Tell me," he demanded. "What's hard to break, harder to put together, yet you can't break with your own two hands?"

A riddle? "Eh?" Melissa tilted her in confusion. "That came out of nowhere... However, I can't help but wonder what's the correct answer? If you can't touch it, how do you break it in the first place...?"

It must have to do something with our current conversation, like when he brought up the trash topic earlier. "Is it...a human brain?" I asked. "You can 'break' one through your words or actions. For example, it can be easily achieved by gaining someone's trust and then backstabbing them. The person's brain, and soul, will break to pieces, and putting them back together is a hard and long process—"

As those words left my mouth, my eyes widened in horror as realization hit me hard. Manek merely raised an eyebrow, as if saying "there's your answer."

"No... No, Vince...he wouldn't...!"

"Here's a lesson to you." the one to speak was Fang and Joker, whose fists clenched in irritation, a sentiment shared by his user as unpleasant memories resurfaced. "Unless you know everything, you know nothing. We almost lost Manek because of Vince and his Monsters, and you're trying to defend him when you've never met him once!?"

I frowned. He made a good point there... I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. A simple Duel wasn't enough to ascertain a person's true self, Fang and Joker's wielder being a prime example. But Vince...for some reason, I just couldn't imagine him hurting Manek. In fact, he looked like the exact opposite, someone who'd help others, as he apparently tried to do! I'll make sure to ask Vince's side of the story when we meet face-to-face for the first time.

"You said someone has your back... I finally understand what you meant." it wasn't easy to spot, honestly. But if you looked closely, you could notice how Manek acted differently with his cards. The fact he could hear their voices as I do was already something on its own. How he addressed them by their correct pronouns, respected them as actual people, the fond glances he shot them... It all pointed at one, simple truth. "Your Monsters are your family."

Manek immediately glanced at his Fusion Monster, who did the same. His expression seemed to soften, an action that made me smile internally. "...You got one thing right, at least." the actor/Duelist slowly nodded.

When Vince and his Mythorrors nearly took Manek from his family, be it an accident or not, it left a scar on their hearts. They'll never forget the fear of almost losing each other. So it's only natural they would hate Vince and co. and reject my assistance. The saddest thing about betrayal was that it never came from your enemies. They're wary of everyone. Maybe that's another reason why Manek doesn't want to be friends with the Lancers...

"We're chitchatting again." Manek snapped me out of my thoughts with a long sigh. "I don't need your help. You'll only worsen things. Now go and make your move. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, anyway."

"Does it, really?" I inquired rather haughtily, prompting him to raise an eyebrow. His Fang and Joker was one of the most dangerous Monsters I've faced so far, who combined the strength and wishes of Manek's family into one, big bulldozer. However, it wasn't correct to say he was invincible. And what a coincidence: I knew and had a way to defeat him.

The problem was actually something else. No cards in my hand or on my field... It seems I'll have to bet things on my next draw.

"Watashi no turn!" I sped up, surpassing Manek and turning the incoming corner for first. I gripped the top card of my deck firmly. Here goes—

"AKIII! KEEP GOING!"

"YOU CAN DO IT! WE BELIEVE IN YOU!"

I blinked twice. Wait, we're about to reach the starting line again, weren't we? Which means...papa and mama were coming up again! In fact, they should be sitting somewhere around there—what in the world!?

I watched in disbelief papa wave from side to side a large flag that read [IZAYOI], standing on his seat and smiling as wide as possible together with mama as their cheers seemingly surpassed those of everyone else. The Tops were shooting them weirded-out looks, probably disgusted by their unrefined behavior, but they didn't give a damn.

And neither did I. "Papa, mama...fufu...hahahaha!" a few tears formed in the corners of my eyes, deeply moved by their actions. Yet I couldn't help but laugh. They were cheering for me so earnestly that it put a smile on my face and made all my worries perish. They always got my back, ever since I was a child...

FLASHBACK

The ability to see and hear Duel Spirits was rare. As a matter of fact, Duel Spirits were considered a simple myth, and those who could interact with them were either ignored or called weirdos by those who didn't believe in anything which couldn't be proven scientifically.

I remember...when I first discovered the existence of Duel Spirits, I was eight. Before that, I wished to gain the power to speak with my Monsters. Kids let their imagination run wild without a care in the world; just thinking of all the questions I could ask my Plant-Type Monsters was exciting. I've always loved plants, especially roses. How ironic, right?

"Dear, what happened?" mama inquired when we got home from school. She already knew though, courtesy of my teacher who explained to her I had quarreled with two of my classmates. The matter was resolved of course, and we made peace, but I was still confused about why it actually happened since I was in the right.

"My classmates...they were Dueling." I started slowly, the unpleasant memory causing me to grimace. "And then...I heard one of their Monsters cry..."

"You did?" mama's eyes widened.

I nodded, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. "Petit Angel was really scared by Man-Eater Bug...I felt it. Sh-She thought he w-will eat her...!"

"Aki..." mama whispered in concern, placing her hands reassuringly on my shoulders.

"I-I stopped the Duel, but they...they didn't believe I heard Petit Angel! But I really did, mama! Petit Angel later thanked me for saving her! She was so happy..."

"Shh, it's alright, Aki." she squeezed me tight and kissed me on the top of my head. "Don't be angry at your classmates, they did nothing wrong. Unlike you, they weren't able to hear Petit Angel's cries, so it's only obvious they would doubt you."

"Do...do you believe me, mama?" I looked up at her, scared she would also call me a liar like my classmates did.

"Of course I do!" she beamed proudly. "You did the right thing, dear. You saved a perso—um, a Duel Monster who was pleading for help!" she quickly corrected herself.

This time, tears of happiness left my eyes. "Mama...thank you!" I shouted and hugged her. I knew mama would understand!

"Dear, you said...you've also felt Petit Angel's fear? Her happiness too, maybe?"

"Hm-hmm, I did! It was like...I was suddenly scared and happy as well." I tried my best to describe how I had felt back then, earning a surprised look from mama.

"That's amazing, dear! You can see and hear what others don't, as well as feel their emotions as if they were your own. That's a blessing. It isn't easy to help those around you, but if you're able to connect to them on such a deep level...you have the strength to ease their pain."

My eyes widened in utter shock. "Like mama?"

"No, even more." I gasped at that. "I can only see where others are hurt, but you are capable of healing wounds no one else can see, maybe not even the patients themselves!"

I wasn't sure to this day why mama made such a big deal out of it. She certainly managed to raise my morale. What she didn't realize though was that this became a turning point for me. I was filled with wonder, as any kid would after such a speech. The idea of using my newfound powers to heal others like mama does to her patients was exhilarating. I wanted to become a doctor like her!

"But...what if I can't help them, mama?"

The dark burgundy-haired woman kneeling in front of me equipped a confident smile, one that erased any doubts from my mind.

"Grow big and strong so nothing will stop you, Aki."

END OF FLASHBACK

"Watashi no turn!" I cried out for a second time. Here goes! "DRAW!"

"Wh-What a marvelous sight!" Melissa was in tears herself. The Commons remained silent, finding it hard to believe the Tops they loathe were capable of being so...humane. "Aki performs one of the most confident draws I've ever seen after hearing the cheers of her parents! Will their love trample over the terrifying Fang and Joker and defeat Manek!?"

"I activate the Spell Card Card of Sanctity! We both draw until we have six cards in our hand!" I nodded once I saw my new cards. Exactly what I needed.

"So you refilled your hand..." Manek scoffed defiantly out of the blue. "Whatever you're scheming, you're in for a nasty surprise. I activate Fang and Joker's effect inherited from Dopant of Death! I can target one Monster in either Graveyard and Special Summon it to my field, ignoring its Summoning conditions!"

I gasped in shock. "Either Graveyard?" but that means...!

"Yes." my opponent grinned wide. "I resurrect Black Rose Moonlight Dragon! Memorable Rebirth!"

Grasping his hands together and raising them into the air, the Fusion Monster threw his arms to the side, creating a strand of black energy between his palms that shot into the air and created a GY Portal. My ace in her Moonlight aspect emerged from it, her eyes glowing purple to signify she was under the enemy's control.

"A-A-Aki's dragon was stolen by Manek!" Melissa gripped her head in pure dread. "This means he can use its Rose Ballad to return any Monster Aki would summon to the hand! On top of that, Fang and Joker inherited Terror's effect which forces her to attack it, meaning she can't destroy Black Rose via battle!"

She slumped into her seat, completely crestfallen. "How will she win at this rate...?"

"I told you you'll only worsen things." Manek sighed in a bored tone. "My formation is unbeatable."

"...That's what you and probably everyone else thinks." I glanced backwards with a smirk, causing him to blink. "Ready for me to prove you wrong? I activate Glow-Up Bulb's effect in my Graveyard. By sending the top card of my Deck to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it in attack mode!"

The small Tuner returned to my field through a GY Portal, and the flower on its head bloomed as a result.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card Creature Swap!" Manek's eyes shot open at that. So he already knew of this card, eh? "We both choose one Monster we control and switch control of those monsters with each other. Obviously, I choose Glow-Up Bulb!"

"...Tsk! Does it look like I have a choice?" Manek gritted his teeth in frustration. "It will be Black Rose."

The stated Monsters swapped places, prompting my ace's eyes to lose their purple glow.

"Thanks, Aki, Bulb..." she sighed in relief and flapped her wings. Glow-Up Bulb spun around to display its contentment at having successfully helped its leader. "That was really annoying, even if it was for a short period of time."

"Yeah, I can tell." I nodded at her words with a chuckle. "By discarding Violet Rose Dragon from my hand, I activate her effect. Moonlight's name becomes 'Black Rose Dragon'!"

A dragon that resembled White Rose but, surprise surprise, had violet petals and a horn-shaped branch jutting out of her forehead's right side materialized above me. She folded her wings and burst into petals, which then enveloped my ace as she gained a fiery aura.

"Now I activate the Spell Card Basal Rose Shoot, which enables me to Special Summon one 'Rose Dragon' Monster from my hand or Graveyard in defense mode. Bloom from my hand, Roxrose Dragon!"

Following my words, a quadrupedal Rose Dragon with pink petals adorning her body appeared.

Roxrose Dragon: Dark / Dragon / Tuner / Effect / ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 3

"Her effect activates on Normal or Special Summon," she shook her body, causing a few petals to fall off and fly around me for a few seconds. "I add one card that specifically lists Black Rose Dragon in its text from my Deck to my hand, except Roxrose Dragon. It will be Thorn of Integrity! Then I banish Ruddy Rose Witch from my Graveyard to return Black Rose Dragon, who's also in my Graveyard, to the Extra Deck!"

After doing so, I raised a hand to the sky, "The field is set. Your reign of terror...ends now!" and clenched it. "I tune the Level 3 Roxrose Dragon with the Level 7 Black Rose Moonlight Dragon!"

As Roxrose's body morphed into three rings of swirling petals that surrounded Black Rose, who folded her wings and turned into sevens stars, I chanted.

"A divine flame envelops the world, and within its incandescent light, a dragon's roar resounds! Touch the soul of the Crimson Dragon, and set into bloom!"

The fleeting image of a serpentine dragon, whose entire body burned with pure, sacred fire and radiated indisputable, cosmic might, flew through the rings behind Black Rose, seconds before a pillar of the same fire shot through them as well.

"Synchro Summon! Appear now, Level 10! Ruddy Rose Dragon!"

The ground cracked, followed by a myriad of thorny vines bursting out of it and growing towards the sky where they tangled together. A large, blood-red rose with pink trims bloomed on its tip, but it then split into four different directions, revealing Ruddy Rose Dragon's body hidden within it. She hit the ground with her vines, as if she was cracking a whip, and let loose of a resounding roar.

Ruddy Rose Dragon: Fire / Dragon / Synchro / Effect / ATK: 3200 / DEF: 2400 / LV: 10

Black Rose, on top of all the aspects she has, also possessed a human appearance. She once showed it to me, and what instantly caught my attention was the blazing mark of a dragon's foot on her right arm. The feet of the Crimson Dragon which can trample all and leave a fertile soil in its wake—Black Rose bore these powers herself. Life bows its head to death, and nothingness celebrates the dawn of creation.

The crowd was simply in awe. "Aki got back her ace...and proceeded to evolve it!?" Melissa exclaimed.

"You don't get it, do you?" Manek glared in exasperation. "Summon all the variants you want, but none of them can lay a finger on my Wild Duo!"

"Yes, you're absolutely right. That's why I'll aim at something else." he jerked in surprise. "Ruddy Rose Dragon's effect activates on Synchro Summon, banishing all cards from our Graveyards!"

"What did you say!?" Manek and his Fusion Monster cried out in unison.

Ruddy Rose stabbed the ground with her vines, "My flames will cleanse all Creation!" and several others burst out of the ground, each impaled with a card that's been in the GY on one of its thorns. The dragon then unleashed a tide of chilling flames, burning everything down to ashes.

"Since she was Synchro Summoned using Black Rose Dragon as material, her effect's second part resolves!" I stated. "All other cards on the field are destroyed! Ruddy Rose Turbulence!"

She let loose of a second roar and spread her four wings, conjuring a large twister of rose petals and fire in the Duel Palace. Fang and Joker and Glow-Up Bulb left the field in a shower of burning rose petals.

"What a huge comeback!" Melissa yelled over the cheering crowd. "First she banished all cards from the Graveyards to remove Fang and Joker's inherited effects, then she destroyed it with an effect! As I expected, our female star had everything under control!"

"Says the one who was ready to throw in the towel..." I muttered, eyeing her with playful exasperation. I shook my head and focused back on the Duel. "I equip Ruddy Rose with the Equip Spell Thorn of Integrity!"

The Synchro Monster coiled two of her vines together as their thorns lengthened, creating a makeshift shield with a rose blooming on its front.

"This card raises her stats by 600 points each!" her ATK and DEF rose to 3800 and 3000 respectively. "Battle! Ruddy Rose Dragon attacks you directly, Wierrd-kun! Ruddy Rose Inferno!"

"I don't think so! I activate the Trap Card Invisible Memory from my hand!" a card, which depicted a woman caught in a spotlight up against a wall, appeared. She was grinning and holding something in her hand, while her left leg and right side of her face were literally fading into nothingness, not leaving behind even a shadow. "I can activate this card from my hand by paying half my Life. This turn, all battle damage I would take involving 'Dopant' Monsters and direct attacks becomes 0!"

Ruddy Rose unleashed a swirling stream of divine fire from her mouth, which got deflected by an invisible barrier that formed around Manek.

Manek: LP 2000 / 2 = 1000

"Allowing you to draw earlier came back to bite me, huh?" well, he could've used an Action Card to save himself, so maybe that wasn't fully the case. It was still annoying, though. "I set two cards and end my turn!"

"She gained strength because of her family's backup..." I could swear I heard Manek mutter to himself as he stared at his lap, deeply absorbed in thought. He eventually sighed, and raised his gaze with a smile I could feel was genuine. "You're no pushover, Izayoi Aki."

That made me smile wide. "Right back at you, Wierrd-kun." I remarked with a nod. "Truth be told, I'm having a lot of fun. I'm glad to have met you, and while I understand your situation, I hope you will take my words into consideration."

"That remains to be seen." was all he said back. That's good. I'm happy with that answer.

"However..." my smile morphed into a smirk. "As you saw, I have people rooting for me. I don't wish to disappoint them, therefore, I'll give it my best to emerge victorious."

"People rooting for you, huh? Wish I had that too..." Manek tilted his head to the side with a forlorn gaze.

"I'm sure somebody must be rooting for you." I told him. "Like your teammates, the Lancers."

"My turn!" instead of acknowledging my words, Manek began his turn. "Draw! I Special Summon Dopant of Arms from my hand!"

A humanoid warrior whose body seemed a fusion between flesh and metal, held a sword in his right hand, and had a gun attached to his left arm materialized in front of him with a battle cry.

Dopant of Arms: ATK 2300 / DEF 1000 / LV: 6

"I'm permitted to do this when I control no Monsters," Manek explained. "And now that I control a 'Dopant' Monster, I can Special Summon Dopant of Bat from my hand!"

To appear next was a humanoid Monster with a bat-like face and possessing bat features.

Dopant of Bat: ATK 2200 / DEF 1000 / LV: 6

"I activate Bat's effect!" Manek outstretched an arm. "Only once during this turn, I can target one Spell or Trap Card you control and return it to your hand. I return the set card on my left!"

Bat unleashed an ultrasonic wave from her mouth at the stated card, causing it to disintegrate into particles.

"And now, by returning these two Dopants I control to my hand, I can Special Summon this card from my hand via his own effect! Come forth, Dopant of Utopia!"

Following those words, Bat and Arms turned into golden particles and formed a circular portal from which a warrior clad in white armor and a red cape leaped out, striking a pose above his user.

Dopant of Utopia: ATK 3000 / DEF 3000 / LV: 8

"Manek summons yet another boss Monster!" Melissa noted. "Too bad its Attack is no match for Aki's evolved dragon."

"Tsk, tsk." the actor/Duelist wagged a finger, prompting me to frown. This new Dopant must have some sort of effect to turn the tides in his favor. "Since Utopia was Special Summoned, his effect activates. All other cards on the field return to their owner's hand! Terrible Paradise!"

A troublesome effect, as expected. "I activate the Trap Card Breakthrough Skill!" I quickly declared as a cane materialized in Utopia's right hand. "I target your Monster and negate his effects until the end of this turn!"

The golden glow which began forming around Utopia suddenly dissipated.

"Not bad. But this is only the beginning." Manek warned me. "I discard Bat in order to activate the Equip Spell D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation! I target my banished Duo Dopant - Double and Special Summon him in attack mode by equipping him with this card!"

A dimensional fissure opened on his field, from which the mentioned Dopant emerged as a voice announced [Double!].

Duo Dopant - Double: ATK 2500 / DEF 2000 / LV: 8

"Now that I control a Level 8 'Duo' Monster, I can Special Summon this card from my hand. Come to the stage, the Tuner Monster, Memory Gadget - EXtreme!"

Flying down from the sky at high speed, accompanied by a turbine whirring and an epic orchestra sound effect, was a mechanical, black, green, and golden bird-like gadget that came to a stop beside Double.

Memory Gadget - EXtreme: Light / Machine / Tuner / Effect / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 4

"Manek reveals a Tuner at last! We all know what that means, right?" Melissa, for the first time during this Duel, seemed excited about a play that wasn't mine.

"Watch, this is my Synchro! I tune the Level 4 EXtreme with the Level 8 Double!" as the gadget's body morphed into four green rings that surrounded his Dopant and turned him into eight stars, he chanted. "The true powers of planet Earth, manifest into a single avatar to strike down all that oppose you! Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 12! Ultimate Duo - EXtreme!"

A bright beam shot through the rings, from which a warrior clad from head to toe in armor, half of its body colored green while the other black with a white stripe in the middle which went from his head to his shoes, emerged as a turbine whirring and an epic orchestra sound effect echoed in the background.

Ultimate Duo - EXtreme: Light / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / ATK: 4000 / DEF: 4000 / LV: 12

"4000 Attack!? Level 12!?" Melissa voiced the shock of the entire audience, including mine. To think he could call forth a behemoth even in the endgame...!

"Memory Gadget - EXtreme, which was Special Summoned by its own effect, is banished when it leaves the field." Manek said. His face then split into a wide smile. "Let the grand finale commence! Battle! At this moment, Ultimate Duo - EXtreme's effect comes into play. During my Battle Phase, the effects of all face-up cards you control are negated!"

"No way!" I blanched, not expecting another absurd effect of that level. Seriously, his deck was filled with terrifying effects! "I can't use Action Cards to protect myself, either... As Thorn of Integrity's effects are negated, Ruddy Rose's stats return to normal."

"To think we would be cornered so easily for the umpteenth time...!" Ruddy Rose growled in frustration as her shield fell apart, leaving her with 3200 ATK, defenseless.

"If it makes you feel better, due to EXtreme's other effect, other Monsters I control aren't allowed to attack." good, he had some sort of downside. Considering his effect, that was in order... If only EXtreme will attack, then I can survive this turn! "Battle! Do it, EXtreme! Lay waste to Ruddy Rose Dragon with Prism Slash!"

Outstretching an arm towards us, EXtreme summoned a futuristic sword in his hand, which started emitting multicolored light. He then swung it to the side, unleashing a blinding energy wave that caused my dragon to roar in pain upon contact and leave the field in a colorful explosion. I gritted my teeth as I almost lost control of my D-Wheel, a slip my opponent used to take back the lead.

Aki: LP 2400 - 800 = 1600

"Oh no! Aki's evolved ace was destroyed!" Melissa, who was standing on her table at this point, was panicking. "However! Manek can't declare other attacks because of his Syn—NO! Why must an Action Card come up right now!?"

True to her words, and much to my own dismay, Manek collected the incoming Action Card and wasted no time in playing it.

"Ego Beam!" a card, which depicted a humanoid silhouette with its hands on its waist and laughing arrogantly as a blinding light illuminated it from behind, appeared. "You take damage equal to half of EXtreme's Attack, in this case 2000!"

Damn, he got exactly what he needed! His Synchro Monster thrusted his sword in my direction, firing a beam of multicolored light that washed over me and made me cry out in pain. Steam was then emitted from my D-Wheel's front, causing it to eventually come to a stop.

Aki: LP 1600 - 2000 = 0

Winner: Manek!

"W-We have a winner!" strangely, Melissa's words weren't as audible as they usually are due to the crowd's cheers. She slumped into her seat once more. "Ugh, maan, I really wanted for Aki to win this one... Now there's one less female star in the tournament!"

Her reaction at the end result earned a giggle from yours truly. "I guess...this is how it was supposed to go." I sighed while removing my helmet, thus freeing my hair. I extracted the hair holder I kept in the storage area situated under my seat.

"Pfft! Your display of beauty and power was undeniably the true winner of this fight!" Ruddy Rose Witch remarked, and I had no trouble picturing the prideful smirk she's surely sporting.

"But, nee-san, we didn't see anything after we went to the graveya—"

"Y-You aren't supposed to say that!" we all chuckled at Ruddy's and Witch of the Black Rose's exchange.

"Thanks, everyone." I sighed for the second time as I finished tying my hair. I was really glad they were trying to lighten my mood, but the fact I lost after all that happened still remained. "I'll have to apologize to papa and mama later..."

"That won't be necessary, Aki. Look at your parents." I did as Black Rose instructed, and much to my relief and joy, papa and mama were on their feet and clapping earnestly at yours truly. "I told you you won't disappoint them if you keep being yourself and have fun."

I couldn't help but smile as a few tears left my eyes. "Yeah...you sure did. Sorry." she purred reassuringly. I replied to my parents' applauses by waving my hand in their direction. "Thank you, papa, mama!" I did the same to the other viewers. "Thanks, to all of you!"

"...Izayoi." hearing a familiar voice call out my name, I turned around and saw Manek, who was holding his helmet under an arm. He was staring off to the side, sporting an impassive look. "That was a good Duel."

"It was." I concurred with a nod, glad to see he was back to normal. Or, um...not angry anymore. "I hope we'll Duel again in the future, Wierrd-kun."

"You said somebody must be rooting for me, too." he changed the subject and met my gaze. "My Duel Spirits—my family, as you said, are always rooting for me. But that's it. I never heard other shouts apart from theirs."

"...I see. It sets my mind at ease to know you share such a bond with your cards." choose your next words carefully, me. This could be a turning point for him, like mama's words were for me all those years ago. "However...have you ever tried lowering the volume of their voices? Not ignoring them of course, simply listening for something else, even if it's just for a split second."

He opened his mouth but immediately closed it. "I meant it when I said somebody must be rooting for you too." I continued, instead. "They're waiting for you to hear their shouts, and finally glance in their direction."

His eyes slightly widened, and for the first time, they appeared to be...hopeful? As soon as it happened, they returned to normal. "I'll be waiting for that day. Although...I don't know if it will come." were his last words before walking away.

"I'll pray for it to come." I vowed in a low tone, watching him disappear into the pits. You deserve an ordinary, peaceful life, Wierrd-kun. To stop surviving, and finally start living...

---

Fan-made Cards:

Action Cards:

My Trust as a Shield

Action Spell

Tribute 1 monster you control, and if you do, for the rest of this turn, any damage you would take that's equal to or higher than that monster's ATK is negated.

[Trivia: This card's name and art are a reference to the Quick-Play Spell "My Body as a Shield".]

Ego Beam

Action Spell

Target 1 monster you control; inflict damage to your opponent equal to half its ATK, also it cannot attack for the rest of this turn.

Manek:

Dopant of Terror (Dark/Fiend/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 10/SC: 1)

Pendulum Effect: You can only Pendulum Summon "Dopant" monsters. This effect cannot be negated. You can shuffle 1 "Dopant" monster you control into the Deck; Special Summon this card from the Pendulum Zone. You can only use this effect of "Dopant of Terror" once per turn.

Monster Effect: 5 "Dopant" monsters

Cannot be destroyed by battle, also unaffected by your opponent's card effects. During your opponent's Battle Phase, your opponent must attack this monster with any Attack Position monsters they control (if able). If this card is the only monster you control, all damage you would take is inflicted to your opponent, instead. If this card in the Monster Zone is destroyed: You can place it in your Pendulum Zone. You can only use this effect of "Dopant of Terror" once per turn.

Pendulum De-Fusion

Quick-Play Spell

Target 1 Fusion-Pendulum Monster you control; place it in your Pendulum Zone, then, if all the Fusion Materials that were used for its Fusion Summon are in your GY or face-up Extra Deck, you can Special Summon all of them.

Futo Dopant: Road (Earth/Machine/Effect/ATK: 2600/DEF: 2000/LV: 8)

If there is a face-up card in the Field Zone, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand) in Defense Position. Once per turn, if an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can target the attacking monster; banish this card, and if you do, negate that attack. During the end of the Battle Phase: Special Summon this card banished by this effect.

Dopant of Trigger (Earth/Warrior/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 0/LV: 4)

During your Main Phase: You can halve this card's ATK until the End Phase, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its current ATK. This card cannot attack the turn you activate this effect. You can only use this effect of "Dopant of Trigger" once per turn.

Futo Forbidden Dopant: Trash (Dark/Fiend/Xyz/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/RK: 12)

5 level 12 monsters

Must first be either Xyz Summoned, or Special Summoned (from your Extra Deck) by banishing 6 "Dopant" monsters with different names from your GY. You can only Special Summon 1 "Futo Forbidden Dopant: Trash(s)" per turn. Any card(s) sent to the GY is attached to this card as material instead. If this card would be destroyed, you can banish 1 material from this card instead. Gains 500 ATK for each material attached to this card.

[Note: The ATK and Xyz Material accumulation effects are based on how trash can be 'built up' frequently by 'throwing out' things.]

Memory Gadget - Denden Sensor

Continuous Trap

Activate if you control a "Duo" monster. While you control a "Duo" monster, your opponent must keep their hand revealed. (Quick Effect): You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 of your banished "Duo" monsters; return it to the GY, and if you do, for the rest of this turn, all battle damage you would take that's equal to or less than its ATK is negated.

Fang Memory

Normal Spell

To activate this card, you must draw it for your normal draw in your Draw Phase, reveal it, and keep it revealed until the start of Main Phase 1. At the start of your Main Phase 1 that same turn, if you have 2000 or less LP, you can: Send all cards you control to the GY, then send 1 "Dopant of Joker" from your hand, Deck, or Banish Zone to the GY; Special Summon, ignoring its Summoning conditions, 1 "Wild Duo: Fang and Joker" from your Extra Deck. (This is treated as a Fusion Summon.) You can only apply the effect of "Fang Memory" once per Duel.

Dopant of Joker (Dark/Warrior/Effect/ATK: 2300/DEF: 1100/LV: 6)

If your opponent controls 2 or more monsters, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). When your opponent activates a card or effect between this card's attack declaration and the end of the Damage Step (Quick Effect): You can discard 1 card; negate the activation. You can only use each effect of "Dopant of Joker" once per turn.

Wild Duo: Fang and Joker (Dark/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 3000/DEF: 0/LV: 8)

"Dopant of Joker" + 1 Level 8 or higher DARK Monster

(This card is also always treated as a DARK Fiend "Masked Warrior" monster.)

Must be Special Summoned by the effect of "Fang Memory" and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. When this card is Fusion Summoned: You can send up to 3 face-down cards from your Extra Deck to the GY. Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 "Masked Warrior" monster in your GY; this card gains that monster's name, and replace this effect with that monster's effects. This card on the field cannot be banished, also, you cannot draw during your Draw Phase.

Memory Gadget - Spider Shock

Normal Trap

When your "Duo" monster is attacked: Change all monsters your opponent controls to face-down Defense Position, then end the Battle Phase. During your turn (Quick Effect): You can banish this card from your GY, then target 1 face-up Effect Monster your opponent controls; it has its effects negated until the end of this turn.

Memory Duo: Luna and Trigger (Light/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2800/LV: 8)

"Dopant of Trigger" + "Dopant of Luna"

(This card is also always treated as an EARTH Fairy "Dopant" monster.)

Cannot be destroyed by card effects. Can attack all monsters your opponent controls, once each. Gains 300 ATK each time this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle.

Memory Gadget - Frog Pod

Normal Trap

If you control a "Duo" monster: Target 1 "Memory Gadget" Normal Spell/Trap in your GY; this effect becomes that target's effect when it is activated (you have to pay eventual costs). You can only activate 1 "Memory Gadget - Frog Pod" per turn. You can banish this card from your GY, then target up to 3 banished monsters; return them to the GY.

Invisible Memory

Normal Trap

This turn, all battle damage you would take involving "Dopant" monsters and direct attacks becomes 0. You can activate this card from your hand by paying half your LP.

Memory Gadget - EXtreme (Light/Machine/Tuner/Effect/ATK: 0/DEF: 0/LV: 4)

(This card is also always treated as a WIND Winged-Beast monster.)

If you control a Level 8 "Duo" monster and this card is in your hand or GY: You can Special Summon this card, but banish it when it leaves the field. Once per turn, during your opponent's turn, you can (Quick Effect): Immediately after this effect resolves, Synchro Summon using this card and 1 Level 8 "Duo" monster you control.

Ultimate Duo - EXtreme (Light/Warrior/Synchro/Effect/ATK: 4000/DEF: 4000/LV: 12)

"Memory Gadget - EXtreme" + 1 Level 8 "Duo" monster

(This card is also always treated as a WIND, DARK, "Dopant", and "Masked Warrior" monster.)

Must be Synchro Summoned and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. Gains the original effects and original names of all other "Dopant" monsters you control, also, other monsters you control cannot attack. During your Battle Phase, the effects of all face-up cards your opponent controls are negated. You can only control 1 "Ultimate Duo - EXtreme".

Aki:

Twilight Rose Prince (Dark/Plant/Synchro/Effect/ATK: 2000/DEF: 2000/LV: 6)

1 Warrior Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters

Your opponent cannot target monsters for attacks, except this card. If you would take damage from a card's effect or a battle involving this card (Quick Effect): You can negate that damage, also place 1 Twilight Rose Counter on this card. You can remove all Twilight Rose Counters from this card; send cards from the top of your and/or your opponent's Deck to the GY, up to the number of removed counters. You can only use this effect of "Twilight Rose Prince" once per turn.

Rose Nez (Earth/Plant/Effect/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1600/LV: 3)

During damage calculation, if a monster you control would be destroyed by battle (Quick Effect): You can discard this card; it cannot be destroyed by battle this Battle Phase, also, at the end of the Battle Phase, its ATK becomes 0. You can banish this card from your GY; Special Summon 1 Level 3 or lower Plant or "Rose Dragon" monster from your hand. You can only use this effect of "Rose Nez" once per turn.

[Trivia: Nez is the French word for "nose". It's an affectionate term for expert perfumers.]

Tenacity of the Darkest Rose

Normal Trap

If you activate the effect of a Level 7 "Black Rose" Synchro Monster you control that would remove an opponent's card(s) from the field: Your opponent banishes all their cards that do not leave the field by that effect after it resolves. You can activate this effect by banishing this card from your GY. You can only activate 1 "Tenacity of the Darkest Rose" per turn.

Violet Rose Dragon (Dark/Dragon/Effect/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1200/LV: 4)

You can discard this card or banish it from your GY, then target 1 Dragon Synchro Monster or 1 Plant monster you control; that target's name becomes "Black Rose Dragon". During the turn this card was Normal Summoned, you can Normal Summon 1 Plant monster or "Rose Dragon" monster in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. You can only use each effect of "Violet Rose Dragon" once per turn.

Thorn of Integrity

Equip Spell

Equip only to a Dragon Synchro Monster or a Plant monster, and if it is "Black Rose Dragon", you gain 600 LP immediately after it resolves. The equipped monster cannot leave the field by its own effect, it gains 600 ATK/DEF, any effect damage you would take that is equal to or less than its Level x 200 becomes 0, also, if it would be destroyed, you can destroy this card instead.

---

The fact Konami recently released Ruddy Rose Dragon, the perfect counter to Fang and Joker, is just *chef's kiss*. As always, a big thank you to ghost83, the creator of Manek's fan-made cards and who helped me write the scenes that have his OC in them.

As...challenging as it was to write this chapter, admittedly, I had a lot of fun. Unlike in 5D's where Aki becomes a doctor like her mother is in this version, here Aki wants to become a psychologist due to what happened to her when she was eight. That helps her realize Manek wasn't actually being himself, and we finally get to know what happened to him, too. Aki did her best, now it's up to the other characters to help him fully leave his shell.

I had to change the order of the matchups in this version for a reason that will be revealed later on. And as you can see, Aki has access to Black Rose's anime and manga versions, and I plan for her to a fan-made one as well. Since many of her cards specifically mention "Black Rose Dragon", instead of making her new variant be treated as such via her own effect, I decided to give Aki all of them. So will the same apply to Jack, you might ask? If the chance arises, yes.

As a final note, Black Rose Moonlight Dragon and Rose Princess use their actual effects for convenience's sake, and will continue doing so unless stated otherwise. I'll skip the usual Secret of the Chapter this time around because I'm drained, but it will come back in the next chapter, and with more than just one secret!