Veil Of Greed: Hunt For The Numbers!

by Fireking492-BlazeWarriorWolf

A era of no big villains has come again. But now, new threats threaten to throw everything into chaos once again. A predatory corporation sets its sites on the hundreds of number cards scattered after A Calamity In Time's final battle. Adam, Blaze, Dominic, and the others will meet all sorts of interesting characters while they risk their lives again.

5. Ignis Return

Veil Of Greed: Hunt For The Numbers

Chapter 5: Ignis Return

Date: July 13th, 2022

Last time on Veil Of Greed: Hunt For The Numbers. Adam and all members of Miitopia BRAINS have been taking time off from missions and taking care of themselves. They finally announced what happened a week after it did, a horrifying genocide on an Earth not too unlike Adam's Earth. On the day of Adam's first mission in over a week, Bray check in on everyone. Soon, it was Adam's turn to be checked on and to start a rough journey to Den City in Link VRAINS. With several others, Adam went into a card shop after teleporting to an alley to get duel disks to get into Link VRAINS. They received some help for getting in and so after logging in and creating avatars, they split up to look for Playmaker and whoever had the 4 number cards. Adam finds them both dueling. Playmaker is defeated and the foe vanishes with him. Adam told the others through a messaging thing and so they changed where they search. Yusei found who they were looking for and lost to the villain. Mai, Jounochi, Yuma, Yuya, Reiji, and Adam also lost to the enemy. While that happened, Revolver showed up and Adam convinced him they and the others could be trusted to tell truthful information. Eventually, Revolver left and Adam and Yusei helped free Playmaker of the chains he was binded to. Now, Adam as Swiftdrawer and Playmaker will duel together against the cheater like enemy.

"We'll see who of us uses the metaphor of a canvas can win! Me and Playmaker will share a field and life points if that's alright with you." "I'm feeling really lucky about this duel so sure! Do as you wish so I can turn your confident smiles upside down into defeated frowns. I can't wait for you to suffer greatly! It's going to be so pleasing to my master!" "I have a feeling things will not go the way you hope. I protect my friends and I will certainly protect them from you much more successfully. You'll see my circuit really go beyond the imagined limitations." The 3 of us say at the same time: "Let's Speed Duel!" I take the first move as our duel boards start accelerating: "The optimal strategy in this duel will require our best efforts and coordination, Playmaker. I already know your deck and strategies quite well. You're known for Link summoning 4 times in just one turn. We must apply a process much like the creative process found in graphic design. Every element has to have significant meaning to the composition that is our goal. We must correct any mistakes we make as soon as possible." "I've never heard anyone talk about dueling like that. It's very interesting. But I agree completely, we have to give it our all." "You don't hang with artists so I understand that difference in experiences we have. Now then, I draw a card! Aha! Yes! I have the perfect materials to draw a fantastic first turn! I set the Pendulum scale with scale 1 Traditional Master Artist Meteros and scale 12 Artistic Magician Dawn! I can summon comrades with levels between 2 and 11 at the same instant in time!" "What in the?! Yappa Yappa said you played like a loser against him with artist cards! You hid so much from us! Damn you!" "The file size of my field is about to get much larger! You haven't even begun to see just what kind of cards I have! We can win this duel! Through our passion and our strategy, convictions, and strength, we will pull through this and put you down for what you've done!"

Suddenly, a pink aura surrounds me: "What is this? What's happening?" At the same time, a very strong gust of wind nearly knocks me off the duel board: "Arg! This isn't meant to happen like ever! Something incredible must be revealing itself in the midst of this very duel already!" A card in my extra deck begins to glow pink as well. I know which one it is without even looking. Regnes. "Impossible! No loser like you deserves to have something so cool happen to you! This is an outrage! I'm going to slaughter whoever is putting the spotlight on Swiftdrawer!" I take Regnes out of my extra deck for a second to investigate why he's glowing pink. But then, the wind knocks Regnes out of my hand: "Hey! Give me back Regnes!" I race after the wind current taking the number away from me on the duel board. My determination causes the board to accelerate on its own. Our opponent yells in anger while following behind me. Playmaker catches up and watches in great interest. After 30 seconds, I finally retrieve Regnes and the pink glow causes my vision to go black for some reason. In the darkness of unconsciousness, lots of code I can't even understand overwhelms me. And then I feel a slight pain in my left eye even though I'm passed out: "Ouch! What was that for?! Why is my eye hurting? I hate when this happens so much. It's so annoying." The code breaks away to reveal a vision of the Advanced Artistic Haven field spell where the pink glow from before comes out from the center and spreads out like a giant sphere field. The glow strikes my left eye and I wake up with Playmaker stunned: "That pink glow entered your eye and you were only out for a few seconds!"

I try to answer but my mind is bombarded with new information. That's when he says: "There's another pink glow coming from where your left eye should approximately be underneath your mask!" It all clicks for me. I resume moving with the duel board while the villain looks on in rage and Playmaker races after me: "It's all clear now. I didn't have a skill going into Link VRAINS but now I do. The composition of my hand is really missing something. I need something else, something that really completes this design of a fantastic field I'm thinking up. I got it. My Artist's Eye reveals to me what's missing! I activate my latest tool, my own skill Artist's Eye! It lets me add an Artist card of my choice from my deck from my hand! I must pay 500 life points and remove from play one random card from my deck to do this but it'll be so worth it! Now to find the perfect accent to my strategy. *looks through deck* I know the one! I add Nightmare Fusion to my hand!" "Nightmare Fusion?! You can fusion summon?! I counted on you just being a foolish Pendulum and Xyz user! Gah! You make me want to kill you so much more!" "You won't stop me! The world of art is a complicated and misunderstood one. There's always something new that could rock it permanently. Let me show you my friends who bring art to a whole new level! I design the path towards a difficult and risky fight! The Pendulum will now swing with paint dripping from it! Come on out from layer 1! Artistic Silhouette Reference(ATK: 1300, DEF: 100) and Artistic Fusion Markers(ATK: 200, DEF: 600)! My Reference's effect lets me add 1 spell card to my toolbar aka my hand! You're in trouble! I add Advanced Tuning to my hand!" "Just how many summoning methods have you mastered, Swiftdrawer?"

"Oh don't worry, Playmaker. I've mastered every single one you have used alongside Pendulum summoning. Now I activate Meteros' effect! Pendulum zones don't exist here but spell/trap zones do so I can still do this! I now add 1 Fire type Artist monster from my deck to my hand! I choose Animation Artist Derek! I can't summon Derek this turn due to Meteros but guess what?! The entertainingly frightening side of art is about to open its creaking doors for you, foe! I use Nightmare Fusion! I can now fusion summon a dark fusion monster with at least one required material from the field or graveyard! I can use cards from my hand, field, and graveyard! Normally, this would be a problem with what I have but Playmaker and I are sharing fields and we're tag dueling. Playmaker, could you spare a monster? I will put them into good use." Playmaker replies: "I have several, actually." "Unfortunately, I can't directly see your hand as per the rules of tag dueling but let's go with your rightmost card!" "Okay. It's Dotscaper." "Perfect! That's exactly one of the most optimal cards to use as a substitute. Now then, thank you so much and watch as I unleash one of my most terrifying comrades onto the field! I send Dotscaper, Derek, Markers, and Reference to the graveyard. A nightmare fueled by the dark vibe of a disturbed soul and sounds that musically spell the end of someone for good! Not even an orchestra of grief can match this artist in bringing the chills and making people's skin crawl with hairs raised due to goosebumps. The bells tome for you in preparation for your fate, dear enemy of mine. Not even lowering to opacity to 0% will hide what's coming. Give a panicked welcome to the fusion ace of the artists! Player Of Impending Doom: Corrupted Undead Mutant Jammer(ATK: 4800, DEF: 2400)!"

Jammer is a frightening artist. A rusted electric guitar with dusty strings is held by the half broken right hand with bones exposed and flesh rotted. A purple cloak conceals many bones and much more rotted flesh. Black spots are all over Jammer and the general body shape looks like something caused by a science experiment gone horrifically wrong: "What are you, a lame horror movie fan? Your monster doesn't scare me at all. If your pathetic strategy was to make me scared, you're going to lose miserably after Playmaker makes his own last move!" "Jammer doesn't have to scare you. This is just the beginning. I activate Advanced Tuning to pull my last move for the turn. I reveal the monster I want to summon. Here she is. Master Painting Artist Synchro Selena! Now I must banish the require materials from my deck to summon her. Easy. I banish Level 7 Comedy Horror Artist Twisted Clown and Level 3 tuner Artistic Egg! Now then, let the elements of art in 2 form the framework for another! Defy the norms of mainstream design! Synchro summon! Level 10 Painting Artist Synchro Selena(ATK: 3300, DEF: 1200)! That's how I end my turn. Keep the momentum going, Playmaker!"

"I intend on it. It's my turn. I draw. My mistake the first time was using Accesscode Talker's effect while battling. I won't make the same mistake. I use Swiftdrawer's cards to Pendulum summon Clock Wyvern(ATK: 1800, DEF: 1000), Overfloater(ATK: 1400, DEF: 1200), Bitrooper(ATK: 1500, DEF: 2000), and Backup Secretary(ATK: 1200, DEF: 800). I create my ultimate circuit. To Link summon, I require 2 Effect monsters. I set Bitrooper and Backup Secretary into the Link arrows. I Link summon. Link 4. Decode Talker. I create my ultimate circuit again! I require 2 Effect monsters. I set Overfloater and Decode Talker into the Link arrows. I Link summon. Link 4. Accesscode Talker. I end my turn. Let's see what you can do." "Finally! I will murder your monsters in one move, you should stop wasting time on such pointless moves that do nothing for you! Hey I got lucky again! Chaos Draw! I use Double Summon to bring out 2 Shiny B Squadders, special summon Baron Robert from my hand due to this, and do what I need to to Xyz summon! Come out so you can murder everything, Number 504: Baron Ruler Bernie! Next I activate Rank Up Magic Barian's Force! Chaos Xyz Evolution! Barian power, born of chaos. Cast your judgement upon this world of filth. Chaos Number 504: Great Baron Overlord Bernie! Now by eating 3 overlay units and cutting at 1000 of my own life points, I destroy all cards on Swiftdrawer's field! Damn it! I couldn't destroy Playmaker's too! Oh well, Accesscode Talker can't touch me. Not when it's my turn and not yours!"

I laugh: "You fell right into my hands. While you were acting so cocky, I chained and used Dawn's Pendulum ability. By giving up 500 of our life points, Jammer was spared! But that's not all. Selena's ability now kicks in. By returning her from my graveyard to my extra deck, I banish Overlord Bernie until your next turn!" "Noooooo! *Overlord Bernie is banished* How dare you! I'm going to enjoy ripping your flesh off your body while you watch and suffer in agony! I will skin you alive! I use my 2nd skill as well! Now Overlord Bernie comes back from being banished! But I only have 1000 life points. Wait. No. No! No you didn't! Aaaaaa!" "So you finally realized it? You used up all your skills and can't decimate either of our fields again!" "Tsk tsk tsk! I'm going to enjoy killing your monsters and then you so much! Just you wait! I will turn this around by killing Accesscode Talker with Overlord Bernie!" "Accesscode Talker! Damn it! Why didn't you go after my other monster?" "I wanted to get payback for all the pain you two have put me through! Your Accesscode Talker is a symbol for you so destroying it to torment you was worth it! Clock Wyvern doesn't scare me! Come on! Just let me skin and boil you alive! That's all I want to do! I end my turn and without Pendulum monsters in the spell/trap zones, there's no way you can win or bring back all the ones that got sent to the extra deck!"

"Say whatever you like but it's my turn! I draw! Funny how you say there's no way we can win. Very funny. I just drew the equivalent of the exact card we needed. Thank you so much for using the same strategy with the same exact cards so many times! If you had branched out, we would have had a much harder time with one of your other number cards but now, you've absolutely fucked yourself! I set the Pendulum scale with scale 2 Multimedia Artist Adam! Now Adam's effect lets me start finishing up the design of your defeat! Also, I've pulled a similar move to you many times in Duel Links." "Well, what's your point, you worm?" " I didn't have a skill to set my hand just how I wanted before really beginning my first turn. And still, I was pulverized by Blue Eyes after Blue Eyes, I used Harpies and they stood little chance against Blue Eyes Twin Burst Dragon for instance. Let it be known that the same exact strategy doesn't always win you duels. When you duel someone, you're not that likely to know what cards, moves, and skills they possess already. That's what makes Duel Monsters such an exciting game. People like you who use it to hurt people are total scumbags." "Says the mask wearing freak!" "Please watch your tongue while I go on. It's distracting and I as an artist need to focus! It's time. Adam's effect lets me add a spell card from my deck to my hand when they're in the Pendulum zone." "Hold on a second, that resembles the Adam that Yappa Yappa easily beat! Can it be? You're really that person?! The one who helped put down Gorganan, the Supreme Dark Lord, 2 powerful wizards, and more?!"

"Oh so you've heard of me. I confirm it. I bet you've had suspicions that I was Adam the whole time but didn't bother to say anything. From a logical standpoint, I can't let you out of my sight with that knowledge. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to help make sure you don't escape from us once this is all over. I'd rather not but for the safety of existence, I must." "You damn pesky warrior! My master loved learning about those legendary dark beings and you were partly responsible for their downfalls?! I hate you! I want to not only skin and boil you alive now but also gauge your eyes out and paralyze you from the tailbone up!" "Not likely to happen. I add Monster Reborn to my hand from my deck. As a symbol of our teamwork, I will use it to bring back Accesscode Talker to Playmaker's field! Playmaker, don't let anything this clown says go to your head. Their threats remain empty unless they can manage to somehow turn this duel around out of nowhere! Now then, Jammer! It's your time to horrify this jerk! Attack Overlord Bernie with Song Of Withering Life!" Jammer in a raspy and creepy voice sings in a language unknown to all of us while playing a terrifying set of guitar chords with an incredible gloomy and thick vibe right at Overlord Bernie. The number isn't destroyed but I say: "Prepare to take a lot of damage as the scary song comes to an end and leaves your monster quivering, trying to stay confident!"

"How dare you! I remove Robert from play to end your turn before damage calculation can apply! I so can't wait to do all sorts of twisted things to you while my master looks on and I do the same to Yappa Yappa! Frankly, I hate Yappa Yappa! He's always been master's favorite and yet I've won the most out of the 2 of us!" "You just spent your last trick on me. It was unavoidable of course because you would have lost if you hadn't pulled that at the right moment. Playmaker, finish this! You got this in the bag! You know what to do!" "That's right. In memory of my missing friend Ai, I will take you down unidentified enemy! I won't lose again knowing that Ai is out there somewhere! I take my turn! I draw. Swiftdrawer, do you mind if I borrow your monster?" "Oh don't worry about it! Go for it! Jammer's part to play in this duel has basically concluded at least under my directives. He can soon rest easily tonight knowing he helped make something incredible possible! Don't you need Adam to pull this off, too?" "Yes. But how will that be possible?" "I have you covered. I activate another ability of Adam's. By paying 1000 life points and skipping my next Main Phase, I can move Adam onto a monster zone! Their 2100 attack points and 2300 defense points alone can't win us this duel but when used for your best card, things change! Too bad I didn't get to summon the number I trust the most out of all the comrades I have cards for but that's okay! We only have 1100 life points left. Make this count!" "Thank you. Okay then, I have everything I need to end this duel now. From my hand, I activate Cynet Fusion!" "Ha! What are you going to do? Summon Cyberse Clock Dragon? Oh please, that won't save you!" "That's exactly what I'm going to do."

"What?! Are you that dumb?! That's not how you can win at all! When Overlord Bernie returns, I'm going to crush you!" "You forget, I can win with Cyberse Clock Dragon." "No! How could I forget something that you a loser actually remembered?!" "I fuse Clock Wyvern and Accesscode Talker in order to summon Cyberse Clock Dragon. But I'm not done. I won't be taking any chances with you. I seek justice." "Dang it, I forgot about Clock Dragon's effects too! Wow, you're really going for the overkill in the most iconic way you can?! Go for it!" "I create my ultimate circuit one more time. Link arrows authorized. The summoning conditions are 3 Effect monsters. I set Cyberse Clock Dragon, Multimedia Artist Adam, and Player Of Impending Doom: Corrupted Undead Mutant Jammer into the Link arrows. Let this summoning be a testament to the journey Swiftdrawer, I, and the others shared to win this duel. I Link summon! Link 4! Firewall Dragon Darkfluid!" "No no no no! Not that! Not that!" "Your overconfidence has costed you the entire duel. When I Link summon Firewall Dragon Darkfluid, I can place a counter on it for the number of different types of Cyberse monsters in my graveyard of a different monster type. I have Cyberse Clock Dragon in my graveyard so Firewall Dragon Darkfluid gains a counter and in battle, 2500 attack points. Battle! Firewall Dragon Darkfluid, attack Chaos Number 504: Great Baron Overlord Bernie and end this duel!"

"This can't be happening! This must be some sort of dream or you cheated! No! No! No! This is not fair, a bunch of losers defeat me? Impossible!" The blast from Firewall Dragon Darkfluid causes him to tremble while trying to remain standing as we all come to a stop. Yuya congratulates Playmaker and I: "Great work you two! That was awesome!" Playmaker and I say at the same time: "Those words aren't needed but are appreciated. Hey are we thinking the same things?!" The villain appears to stop trembling and start laughing: "You may have defeated me at Duel Monsters but I can fight by other means too! After all, I am Smasher! Yes that is my name and now I'm going to slaughter you all here and then finish slaughtering you in Den City! Nothing will stop my drive to kill! I will kill everyone I come across, not just you losers who didn't stand a chance against me until you managed to use teamwork in a tag duel in a 2v1 style!" I respond: "We'll see about that. Let's fight. Just you and me and that building over there. What do you say?" "I find it more enjoyable if my victim's friends have to watch idly by as the victim gets slaughtered! You're going to regret challenging me to a one on one fight!" Playmaker is stunned: "This person can use physical combat too? Are you sure you can fight them, Swiftdrawer?" "Oh don't worry! I have already prepared for every possible scenario, even death! Just last night before getting to Den City, I updated my very own will and last words. That way if I unexpectedly die then at least those I care about will have something. My mom passed away earlier this year suddenly. I can tell you more another time but all you need to know right now is that it's been weird and shocking. I won't die without leaving a deliberate crumb of my thoughts behind! Let me show you that I'm not just an artist."

Smasher and I get onto the building while the others watch: "I've shown off the path of the artist, it's now time to show the path of the warrior!" "You fool! You're going to lose so badly to me and I'm going to enjoy every moment of it!" "Okay, smiles. Why don't you back it up with evidence already?" "With pleasure! *Smasher pulls out not that weapon from before but a gun* Try my bullets!" They start having their gun shooting bullet after bullet at me with a rapid fire setting but I pull out my big paintbrush and reveal what's inside of it: "Reveal yourself, digital copy of my real sword!" That's right, I secretly customized my accessory to have a sword inside identical to the one I actually use. I pull the sword out of the paintbrush just as the bullets start getting within inches of me and slice right through the bullets with ease: "Guns are practically useless against me. Modern guns cannot match the precision I have acquired from years of leveling up in the art of the sword. I can easily focus on a specific task and hold nothing back as I exert all effort I wish to into it. My nature is to be chill and lazy. That being said, I have evolved to become far more than just chill and lazy over the years. Once upon a time, I was an extremely shy kid who had a lot of fun and imagination but little self confidence and difficulty in social settings. Now, my intellectual development has allowed me to gain so many skills and much knowledge. I can write full length novels now. I can create original graphic designs. I've grown so much as a person. I now have someone I call my boyfriend who loves me, someone I love back. You won't shake me easily. Try harder to fight me. Ditch that gun. I honestly can't stand looking at it."

"Damn you! Fine, I guess I have to put actual effort into killing you with my own muscles and weapon! I will kill you with my dagger, I've chopped up countless victims with it. The real one shows everyone I killed with what's still on it!" We clash blades and it's clear the difference in our power levels. Smasher is definitely stronger than me, it's plain obvious, the gap between our strengths is quite wide. But that doesn't deter me: "It's obvious that you're stronger than me by a significant amount. I can tell that you're holding back. You want to enjoy killing me more by slowly doing it, right? In that case, I will change my strategy for this fight." "How perceptive of you! I'm so impressed I want to draw out this fight even longer! If I used my full power, you'd be dead already!" Our blades get into a stalemate: "Assuming things? Such a human thing to do. We humans always make assumptions about others even if they are cruel and outrageous, allowing for the further villification of marginalized people. We won't know the real winner until both of us take this fight seriously." "What?! You're not giving it your all either? I hate you so much! I might as well start skinning you alive as soon as I defeat you!" "Egotistical confidence in yourself allows you to keep going longer without giving up because you become more stubborn, unwilling to lose no matter the cost. But individuals like you will also step on and crush others if it means you get to be more successful in life. And you'll do it and tell others that it was necessary for the greater good too. You'll kill somebody, silence the opposition, censor things you don't like, lock somebody up all in the name of making something greater. That's why you've pissed me off several times today. Your confidence has already cost you a vital duel in Link VRAINS. Let's see what other costs it comes with. Extremely Risky Spin Slash!"

The wind in the area surrounds my sword as I use the friction generated by my attack to draw it all in and spark flames. Soon, a flame tornado descends upon Smasher: "I've heard of this annoying attack! I'm going to get you for using it! It burns! Dark Blade Destruction!" Around his dagger comes a big ball of dark energy with blue electricity flickering inside. It is thrown at my tornado, dissipating it in an instant. But I'm not worried just yet: "I didn't even feel any burning in my virtual muscles due to virtual lactic acid. That means I can use that attack up to 2 or 3 more times with the same amount of effort! My training appears to be paying off. I grow a little stronger every day, a little more in tune with the might of the sword. Your counter didn't harm me one bit. Come on, really give it your all!" "You insolent pest! Why can't you just let me kill you slowly without forcing me to cancel out your attacks? Fine! I'm sick of taking my time anyway! Suffer! Super Dark Blade Destruction!" I stand in place to gain some stamina back and rest a little before waiting for the perfect moment to counter. I find it and put in as much effort as I possibly can into another Extremely Risky Spin Slash: "This is the product of my loyalty to what and who I care about, distaste for authority, my convictions, hard work, training, experiences, courage, and dedication! I won't let you kill anybody without first throwing everything I have at you! Haaaaa! Take another Extremely Risky Spin Slash but this time with ounces upon ounces of effort! I'm risking more than just intensive bodily harm for my virtual body here. I'm risking my very well being so somebody can beat you in combat! That is the way I want to live my life in my world but there, I have far too many shackles on me to do so. The burden of being surrounded by people who won't understand me because they don't want to. A family I can't entirely trust if the establishment puts me on a hit list or something. Fear of the unknown and the horrific state of society. And more."

I take a deep breath to slow the lactic acid build up a bit before continuing: "Let this be a lesson in the question of what is a warrior! And the question of what is true devotion! And finally, what happens when someone is both an artist and a warrior while having the will to survive even as part of marginalized groups! The calming gradual process of high quality artwork is opposite to that of the process of fighting with a sword but it is the adaption to both that can give someone a chance to grow beyond what they used to think was their limit and risk it all!" "I don't care! My attack is going to leave you just barely alive enough to experience ultimate suffering! Your deathbed will be picked out to be extremely painful just for you by me!" "Yeah you come at me with that attitude. Do it and witness the power of my resolve! *huff puff* I'm running out of breath and the lactic acid is really building up. It burns but I still have some more to give! The agony will continue to rise until my will finally gives in but don't count on it just yet!" "How are you still going? You're making yourself suffer so much that it brings pure joy to me! Your attack is winning. I can't have that, now can I?" Smasher gives more power to their attack while I'm silently continuing my attack because talking any more will add unnecessary strain to my body. It hurts! It burns! I just want to give up and sit down somewhere! Just like that one time I walked to my local park and pushed out of my comfort zone to keep walking even as my legs hurt and burned due to the lactic acid buildup. But this is different because this body is much stronger and far more fit.

If I got into a fight with my currently in use physical body in my world, hardly anybody would be able to stop me. Most people wouldn't stand a chance. I must keep going! I will not give up even as my virtual body is practically screaming more and more by the second! My muscles will have to refuse to keep going before I let myself finish! Back during IndyFurCon 2021, I danced enough to where my body refused to dance anymore. It didn't come with intense lactic acid but still. Crap. My spine is starting to hurt a lot! I think it might actually be my spine that gives up and costs me the fight: "You're so dumb and reckless! Look at you so desperately trying to hold on and not give up! You're almost out of it completely! I can keep going like this for at least an hour longer!" I won't allow them to have the chance to keep going with this attack. This is it. The 2nd limit of my strength. The first was a significant chunk of the lactic acid buildup. The 2nd is my spine. Damn it. My hands are starting to go numb and the bottom of my feet hurt. I will push just a little further. I can do this. My virtual nerves are all screaming at the top of their lungs but there's still more I can give. A few seconds pass and I finally give out. But all that effort I exerted in the attack is starting to really pay off. My Extremely Risky Spin Slash fire tornado manages to beat out Smasher's Super Dark Blade Destruction. I have just barely enough strength left to keep myself from falling to the floor of the building. Just enough to end up on it with no injuries.

My throat is sore from the exhaustion but I still say: "Heh. I broke through your attack and bought time. This is great. I am Swiftdrawer. A warrior and an artist who goes too far with their work yet is unemployed and under threat of direct oppression and suppression on their home world. Perfection. Yo Yusei and Jounochi. You got street smarts. Kick Smasher's ass for me. I can't move. Oww this hurts. Like Shikamaru would say, this is such a drag." Yusei replies: "We would but we're not equipped to." That's when Playmaker steps in: "I cannot beat Smasher on my own in physical combat. He appears to be taking a short rest. There is one thing I can do. I can use my hacking skills to capture him." The villain gets up without trouble suddenly and says: "Just try to do that! I dare you! You won't be able to get me, I promise you! Looks like I have to take care of all of you before I can skin Swiftdrawer alive or should I say, Adam?!" That's when Reiji says: "Or you can duel Yuya and I at the same time." "No thanks! I'm not interested in dueling again! Instead, I'm just going to kill all of you right here right now! You can't dodge this at all! Super Dark Blade Destruction!" An annoying but friendly and familiar voice interrupts: "But I can!" Ai, Playmaker's best friend and Ignis shows up literally out of nowhere. As Smasher forms his attack, Ai flies over and eats it whole: "Aaa! That tickles!" "No way! You fucking Ignis! How dare you eat my attack so effortlessly?! I'm going to kill you for that stunt! You're going to be erased forever!" Playmaker couldn't believe it: "Ai! Ai! It's really you! This is unbelievable. Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you, partner."

"Well, I'm your Ignis. I knew you were in trouble the whole time. It took a while to get past that bastard who keeps every file that's been erased from the digital network in a hidden trash world. And then Windy and Lightning got in my way, desiring to break free too in order to get revenge on you, Revolver, Soulburner, Specter, and the others!" The Ignis aka the Dark Ignis has yellow beady eyes, a humanoid body shape, overall black body, and a bunch of purple lines and stuff: "Arrrg! You managed to escape that place all on your own? The United Mining Company sneaks in there every so often to find any useful data we can use for our ultimate goals! You're going to pay for that little stunt you did just now! Supreme Dark Blade Destruction!" A far larger version of Super Blade Destruction appears but then, Revolver, Soulburner, The Gore, The Shepard, Ghost Gal, Blue Maiden, Akira Zaizen, Earth, Aqua, Flame, Pandore, and The Knights Of Hanoi all show up together. Ai says: "Oh yeah and I brought some friends along with me. Revolver was already on his way with most of them but I got Flame, Aqua, and Earth back with us too. It's too bad Windy and Lightning are still mean and not like they used to be before the Cyberse was attacked!" I rest enough to get up into a sitting position and prepare to take Smashers' numbers when they say: "I'm sorry but it looks like I'm going to have to destroy Den City first before I can kill all of you! I'm out of here! Toodles for now!" And then 3 words that would go down in infamy for good reason come out of the mouths of myself, Ai, Bray, Playmaker, Dominic, Revolver, Dr. Bonesbane, Specter, Kaito, Vetrix, and more as much of the BRAINS Collective just end up showing up to block Smashers' escape:

"Not so fast!" I connect with Regnes and use his power to go right for their body, Ai prepares to chow down on some of their data, Bray casts a digital binding spell, Dominic use a freeze ray, Dr. Bonesbane throws a gel like substance among other things. Dominic exclaims: "You won't be escaping anything! Bray and I have been watching this whole thing play out the entire time. Honestly, I wanted to take a nap several times during the repetitive duels but that's over now." "Who the hell are all of you and where did you come from?" The villain's question shows their fear, anger, and confusion all at the same time. Bray responds: "We shall not divulge much of that information to you. But I know you know me as Miitopia's Great Sage Bray. Talking here is not a good idea, we should all get out of Link VRAINS. This scene is sure to attract young aspiring duelists who idolize a few people gathered here." A disturbing voice I recognize from last month echoes from nearby: "Well well well, we meet again, Swiftdrawer. Last time I didn't express how much I resent the likes of you. You're in my way. But anyway, I see the t***nny is here too! Just great! I'm going to take back my trusted employee myself. He didn't succeed. Actually, I'm just kidding. Smasher, you're fired!" The man in the business suit finally shows himself with his face concealed: "Master! But why?! Why are you firing me?! I can make it up to you! I just have to beat these fools to getting out of Link VRAINS with your help and then kill all of them!" "My help? You don't understand me. Yappa Yappa's failure was a huge blow on the company. We spent millions on him after that and I have no patience for failure from you. You brat. You should be glad I kept your jealous ass this long. I could use you and now I'm going to kill you myself and nobody will stand in my way!"

Immediately, he frees and teleports Smasher to him and begins killing his virtual body. That's when my comrades step in. Bray shouts: "We won't allow you to do that! We need Smasher alive and in good health! You just throw away people you don't need anymore like garbage instead of respectfully letting them go or finding a way for them to remain useful for you! The short lived Miitopian Magical Corporation that was around several decades ago was the same way. They tried to monopolize magic but I still a young mage in training managed to defeat them all by myself anyway." Madeline adds: "If we must, we will punish you greatly. Righteous Anger!" Thrashbeak flies off of Pirate Blaster's shoulder and starts pecking at the businessman while ranting again: "Capitalism bad! United Mining Company sucks! Gawk!" Pirate Blaster follows up by pulling out his uniquely shaped sword and charging: "I'm going to help plunder your attempted murder! Your plan will be sunk to the bottom of Kanoka Bay or my name isn't Pirate Blaster!" The Wacky Clowns emerge from a digital version of their UFO looking ready to create a lot of mayhem while Fluffy Afro comes out of giant mushroom that just came out of nowhere with his afro on fire again. Instead of screaming, he goes right for the businessman in an attempt to light him on fire. The others do their best to support this offense against the perpetrator of the crap that's been going on with the United Mining Company. I'm too beat to do much of anything still. After some time, the man fails to kill Smasher so he retreats, declaring: "We will get all of you one day! Just you wait! You forced me to give up on killing one of my loser former employees, I will never forget that you f**s, furry freaks, annoying nerds, t****ies, and more did this!"

He then vanishes off the face of Link VRAINS. Revolver spots me and demands: "What was that all about? Tell me or else!" "Slow down, Revolver. I can't talk much in this virtual body. We really do need to get out of Link VRAINS. Tell the others to meet us at Kolter's hot dog truck. If you don't, you ain't hearing a peep out of me!" "As you wish but you will owe me for this." "I thought the Knights Of Hanoi were above owing things." "Damn you!" I shrug as he goes elsewhere. Playmaker comes over and helps me to my feet: "That was an impressive fight you had with Smasher. Thank you so much for everything. I couldn't have done it without you or your friends." "Hey, no problem. We were here on important number card business and then bam, I see you dueling against the person with the numbers we were after. There's a lot to explain. Could you help support me? My throat really hurts just talking and I'm so worn out." "I will." "Thank you." And then, Dominic says: "I know where Smasher's real body is. I will force log him out when I reach him there. Bray, please keep Smasher restrained for now here." Bray nods: "You can always count on me, dear friend. I shall do what it takes for this all to succeed." "I'm counting on it! Otherwise, I'd really want to have a nap right about now." Dominic logs off. Bray has Smasher in another binding spell plus one of Dominic's own sphere fields. Kaito approaches Playmaker and I: "Adam, did you get the numbers?" I nod, they're still in one of my hands: "Do you mind if I take them from you? I will study them with V back in Heartland to see what kind of special characteristics they may have."

"Please do! I can't exactly hold onto them. *gives them to Kaito and Kaito moves away towards Yuma* Also Playmaker, I don't know what a number would do to you so until we can find out, please refrain from touching any number cards. They have the power to bring out the deepest negative desires or emotions of those who pick them up and intensify those desires or emotions to an extreme. Kaito who just talked to me is a seasoned number hunter. One time, he took a number from someone who was causing a big scene at a mall and had hostages. Numbers aren't usually the catalyst for incidents like that but much like indoctrination into capitalism in my world, they sure are powerful triggers for huge problems." "So that's why all of you came here. If the numbers didn't do anything like that then you could have waited a long time before coming here to get them." "That would be true but that United Mining Company is after them too. One time, I helped destroy their plans to steal the resources from a jungle world for their own greedy purposes. I will share more once we get to Kolter's. Make sure you tell him we're coming after you log out with Ai." "I understand and I will. Wait, there's Ai over there bickering with Flame, Soulburner's partner. Are you able to move on your own again?" "Just enough to control the duel board and log out but yeah." "Okay. Please tell your friends the plan and I will tell my friends." "Certainly." Playmaker and I part ways for the time being and I relay the plan to Yuma, Jounochi, Mai, and everyone else.

Most of the BRAINS members who rushed to our aid go home to not complicate things in Den City. After the plan is shared, we all log off. I wake up in Den City and immediately stretch out my body. It feels good to be back in it! No one swiped my stuff because I got a little friend to guard me for after I began creating my avatar from Link VRAINS. The ice blue eyes of the husky stare with a look of excitement while they, Willy bark in excitement: "Thank you so much for agreeing to watch my stuff, Willy! Come here! Let me give you a belly rub!" Willy obliges and rolls over to let me scratch their belly: "That's the stuff! Okay! Now off to Kolter's hot dog truck. I never want to eat hot dogs in my life but hey, independent business rules and Kolter is an excellent person from what I've seen in the TV show. Time to go meet him and officially meet the others." Willy nods and makes a gesture, offering to let me ride them: "Willy, I don't want to treat you as just a pet or mount. You're much more than that. You're a friend I can count on to support me when I'm feeling down. As a plushie, you make me feel more comfortable and safe. To me, you represent my mother's kindness, my hope, and many good memories. I see your adorable face, tail, and so on every day and never tire of them. Besides, we will attract unwanted attention if I'm riding you and carrying around a whole lot of baggage. That might not feel too good for your bones or nerve cells."

Today would become the day Willy began to shake away the reputation of not being much of a talker: "I understand completely. I love how you think of me that way! Let's go! Let's go! You're an awesome friend! Come on! Come on!" "Wow, Willy! I never knew you could speak in Multiversal Standard! Blaze and Dr. Bonesbane must be behind this somehow. I'll ask them tomorrow. I hope the future of the Earth we are often together in isn't as grim as I think. I hope we can fight back there and actually win." With that, the two of us are off. Willy's sense of smell really comes in handy for finding Kolter's hot dog truck. In fact, it is so helpful we are the first two to show up besides Yusaku. Kolter greets us: "Hello there, are you here for a hot dog? Is that your dog down there?" "No, I have no interest in hot dogs. The interest that led me here is dueling. Oh and I have a thing against saying that Willy here is my dog. It just makes it sound like I'm the master and owner of Willy. I abhor even the concept. We shouldn't treat our animal companions as mere pets for our amusement. Willy is my friend. I would protect them with my life if I had to." "You remind me a lot of my friend Yusaku." "Of course. I figured as much you would say that. I met Yusaku in Link VRAINS today." "Did you just say today? Just who are you?" "My name is Adam or as I am known as in Link VRAINS, Swiftdrawer." "So it's you! Yusaku told me a lot about you. Yusaku, Swiftdrawer is here!" Yusaku comes out of the back of the truck. I like how he made sure he had green eyes in Link VRAINS just like he really does. His hair is in the same style as when he's Playmaker but its instead dark blue, light blue, and pink. His outfit is the Den City High School uniform. Wow, Yugi, Yuma, Yuya, and Judai often wear their school uniforms too.

It's fascinating: "You're Swiftdrawer? I imagined you to look very differently." "Don't worry. I'm the real deal. And meet my husky friend Willy! They're actually a really great friend to have. Their speed, strength, and intellect is nothing short of impressive." Willy greets Yusaku: "Hello Yusaku!" "Willy can talk?! But dogs can't talk." "Not ordinary dogs from most universes. Willy's story is complicated but all you need to know is that Willy resides on a planet called Kohnanix populated by birds, spiders, bats, bees, cats, dogs, wolves, and much more who are extremely human like. One of my counterparts and closest friends from another universe is one. You won't be meeting them here because they are really busy today. Something about a raccoon attacking others with garbage in Kohnanix." "That's very interesting. Do you know when the others are coming? My friends will be here soon." "Let's see. *checks phone* They're very close to us. Once everyone is gathered, we need to look for any eavesdroppers. This is a good place to talk but we need things to be confidential. Also, this will take hours so another friend from a different universe is going to help. His name is Acheron." We sit down and while waiting, discuss dueling strategies and favorite things. Willy stays quiet to not interrupt our pleasant conversation. And just then, Dominic arrives at high speed with an unconscious Smasher over his shoulder: "Am I late? Restraining this guy was quite the challenge." Playmaker replies: "No. And aren't you the one with the freeze ray?"

"Yes, that is one of my least complicated contraptions. Seriously, when I made it, I used the design of a toy water gun as inspiration. I'm so going to have a nice nap after this. Oh btw, Acheron will be here soon too, Adam. Also, Fluffy Afro and The Wacky Clowns have agreed to be a distraction to make sure no one around here notices time being stopped. We won't have much time here before we have to go to the Ark due to Acheron's power." "Thanks for the heads up. Make sure to cover that guy with something really good. Or you could just summon the Giant Goat from the Goat Simulator universe with Quantum Leap!" Yusaku looks at me with confusion: "Goat Simulator?" "Later when we have time. Hey Dominic, why don't you discuss some of your inventions with Yusaku? I think Willy is hungry and I happen to have food in my ender chest." I feed Willy a big pretzel and talk with them. 10 minutes later, everyone is assembled. It's too bad Kaito had to go, he could have made time move 1/10000th of a second with the power of his Photon Transformation and let us stay here. Dominic, Bray, and I make turns explaining everything to our new allies: the BRAINS Collective, the multiverse theory, the conflicts of the past, some things about various members, information about BRAINS branches and allies, and so on. During that, we had to go to the Ark to talk. But it was so worth it. In the end, Yusaku and the others got the whole thing and now they understand it all.

After all that, I say to the members of The Knights Of Hanoi and Playmaker's faction: "Here's an interesting proposal. Would you consider joining the BRAINS Collective under a new branch revolving around Link VRAINS? We need all the allies we get. We're finding more clues lately that our most important battle for the fate of everything is still years off. Besides, we could learn a lot from all of you and you could learn a lot from us and check out places you otherwise could not like the theme park I founded and am working on: Twisted Land. In fact, we're planning on going there after this. Care to join us? Even if you don't like intense thrilling attractions, there's still plenty to do. It's very much a work in progress so don't expect everything to be awesome there." After a lot of discussion, they agree and so, Den City BRAINS is born. After that, Dominic, Bray, and I teleport everyone except Acheron who wished to stay in the Ark to watch over his universe straight to Twisted Land. More specifically, the mostly empty Times Past themed area. I give everyone maps of Twisted Land and say: "Smasher should be waking soon. We need information from him. That's the whole reason we're here and why I negotiated with my fellow Twisted Land workers to have the park be closed for a special event days ago. I figured we might need the park today. There's things going around in this and several universes by chance all called Covid 19 that have the same symptoms and mutations going on more or less. Don't worry about it here, Dominic, Dr. Bonesbane who you saw earlier, and several other scientists came together months ago to develop the ultimate Covid vaccine. It's technology makes the mRNA technology used for the vaccine shots I got on my world seem weak. We members of BRAINS all have gotten that ultimate vaccine. There were no strings attached, profit to them was just a repugnant idea."

Revolver or should I say Roken looks impressed. I smile while saying: "Anyway, I'm off to Escape From Kanoka! to get Smasher to talk. It's that red roller coaster that comes out of that volcano. Let's meet up when the sky above shows it's dark. At the moment, time here moves the same pace our worlds do for some reason. If you're ever hungry, we serve free food and drinks at many different restaurants mostly in Action Town and the Twisted Land Boardwalk & Arts Center. See y'all later. I think I'm going to get some pizza after dealing with Smasher. I doubt he's the type who likes roller coasters given the fact the United Mining Company avoids theme parks for some reason from what I've seen of their activity." I take Smasher from Dominic and walk all the way across the park towards the Wild Waters water park, past Action Town, and head by the entrance for Coconut Drop, the newest completed roller coaster in Twisted Land. I go down around 30 meters into the station for Escape From Kanoka! Once there, I set Smasher down and he wakes up: "Where am I? What are you doing? Adam! I'm going to kill you!" I squeeze his arms with my hands: "You are in no position for making threats. I know you won't spill any information even if I ask nicely so I'm going to get straight to the point. I hate making others do things I want them to but one can't always play nice to get vital information about the enemy. We're in the station for the craziest and longest in duration roller coaster I've ever built. It's called Escape From Kanoka! and is like 6 minutes long with a mind boggling amount of drops, turns, lava, and theming." "No! No! Not a roller coaster! Aaaaaa! I hate them! I hate roller coasters!"

"Just as I thought. But hey, maybe you'll end up liking this one. After all, the theming is quite well done for something I've built! I wonder if Yusaku will ride this roller coaster. I doubt Roken will ride any. He'll probably just look around for any secrets and see if Im hiding anything. What he doesn't know is that the park maps I gave everyone have secrets guides on the back of them. Anyway, it's time to ride! You do kind of owe us for saving you from your former boss. So you should consider this as how you pay us back." "But why would you save a failure like me? I wanted to kill you! Even if you let me die, you could have found what you wanted to know some way else!" "Well, you failed at killing us, I want to let you have a 2nd chance but on a tight rope of sorts, and we need the intel from you because it would be easiest to extract it from you. Oh btw, Dominic already checked for any spying equipment or spells in case you and your ex boss were trying to fake their way into getting information about us. Bray and some others did too including me. Nothing could escape our combined senses. Nothing." And just like that, I fit him and me into one minecart and push it forward. His jaw drops at everything. We first descend downward by many meters with a cave that was partly my handiwork and partly not always on one side to us. After that, we entered the volcano. In there, there's so much track and theming. Hundreds of blocks of lava light much of it up including in the volcanic chamber where the lava builds up and gets released. I put part of the coaster in there and encased it in glass.

After like 4-5 minutes of ride time, we exit the volcano and go around, up, down, around, and blah blah blah. By the time we go back down towards the station, Smasher is frightened and looks ready to hurl. His impossible to understand words make it seem like the wind was knocked right out of him. Now that's how you shell shock someone into giving you information. It's also way more ethical than actual torture or crap like death threats which are never okay. Meanwhile, I had a blast and momentarily forgot about why I had him riding it with me. But then I remember. After we get off, I lead him all the way up and towards the lobby for Twisted Land's Distorted Hotel. It's not that far away from the exit of the coaster but the going up part is one hell of a doozy. After arriving, we both sit down in chairs I placed there over a year ago. He appears cooperative: "I hate you so much, Adam but I will cooperate." "Good because I have a whole collective of my roller coaster creations here that can further rattle you up. One of them is a very hilly roller coaster called Neck Breaker. Another is a pretty high speed wooden coaster called Floral Power. Then there's all them tower drop rides. On them, you spiral up around a tower, go into the top of it and drop straight down without rails in the minecart. Pretty scary, don't you think? You may be my enemy but I'm setting aside my biases against you for information. I won't call you names or anything like that. Just tell me everything about the United Mining Company you know. Please."

"Okay, okay. I will! No more roller coasters! Please no! The United Mining Company is a secret company that doesn't even exist on the New York Stock Exchange in your world. It operates with small amounts of funding coming from anonymous donors representing the 2 political parties who hold nearly all political power in your home country. Yappa Yappa would laugh at me before killing me for revealing this! The company's founder and CEO, my former master is named Nedib Pmurt. The company has several goals: gain ultimate power with the number cards, kill you and everyone else who was involved in defeating Gorganan and the SDL, achieve supremacy over everything by creating a corporate empire spanning universes, and destroy those who we see as abnormal freaks like the queers for example." "What the fuck! Honestly, that's all I need to hear. But do tell more, what's the company's next move?" "After Yappa Yappa stopped being annoying yesterday, I overheard my master say what the next plan was if I failed. They're going to attack UA High School and the city it's in, capture any number cards there, and recruit the villains from that world next month on the 1st." "UA High School? Uh oh. That's a problem! I'm calling Dominic. Sit tight. If you don't, I can call in Twisted Land's defense team The Dynamic Force to deal with you. Those robots have AI technology and we make sure they are treated as well as we are within the Twisted Land Workers Union and Minecraftian Commune."

"Damn you! I want to kill you and destroy your whole park as you slowly pass away!" "That won't be happening." I call Dominic to report the intel in and leave the rest to him. In seconds, he appears with a Cincinnati chili cheese coney in his left hand: "Hello again, Smasher. I'm going to deal with you from here on out. We're going to go to Miitopia. Please take my hand unless you want me to complain about wanting a nap and use my freeze ray on you." Smasher is speechless at Dominic's words. After the 2 head off, I go see what everyone's doing. Funnily, I find Yusaku, Ai, and Kolter in the Skyline Chili I built. Kolter is saying to Yusaku: "Yusaku, just because these hot dogs have chili and cheese on them and are called cheese coneys does not mean they're sandwiches." "But I still believe they're sandwiches. Hot dogs much like sandwiches have something in between bread." I walk over to them and add: "I don't particularly care what they're classified as but technically, they are sandwiches. I mean, hot pockets are. Those things are essentially cheese and sauce stuffed into pizza bread you know." Kolter, Ai, and Yusaku jump at the sound of my voice: "Woah! What are you doing here? I thought you were dealing with Smasher!" "I was, Ai. I just finished quickly and let Dominic take over. He'll get more information out and try to get Smasher to join our side and work towards self redemption. May I sit here in just a minute? Being here makes me hungrier for chili than pizza. I'm going to get myself a 3-way. It's spaghetti with chili poured over it and topped with cheese. My 2nd favorite food just after cheese pizza."

They all agree to let me sit with them so I go ahead and order by first greeting my comrade fellow Twisted Land worker Brady who is taking orders: "Hey Brady! It's been a while! How have you been?" She has teal hair with bright orange eyes and is wearing a Progress Pride dress: "It has been! You're always so busy! Thank you so much for helping allow me to do what I love in the theme park you founded and work on! What can I get you?" "I just want 4 packs of oyster crackers, a 3 way, and a glass of water!" "I should have guessed that! Please wait here. I'll go get your food and water. By the way, aren't you in charge for paying everyone who doesn't live in an area where money has been abolished at the end of this week?" "Yes, yes I am! Don't worry, it'll be the usual 500 gold blocks. Well more than enough to live amazingly. Of course to afford the cost of living in the most expensive area in all the lands controlled by capitalist tyrants, you'd need about 200 per week." 2 minutes later, she hands me everything on a tray: "Thank you so much for visiting! See you next time!" "Yeah! Till then!" I know the names of everyone who works in Twisted Land. Most of them along with me struggled against a bunch of capitalist pricks to truly liberate Twisted Land from the greedy hands of rich people last year. I take my time so I don't spill anything to return to the table where Kolter, Yusaku, and Ai are still eating: "Hey guys, I'm back! Don't touch this 3-way! It's mine to eat!" Yusaku gives a rare grin: "Hey Adam!"

"Yo Yusaku! Oh and fun fact. Do you like what you're eating? Our chili and other meaty foods are not made from animal products. We don't even extract milk from cows for our ice cream. My friend Dominic invented some devices to synthesize meat and other animal products such as milk and eggs from air molecules. This way, the wants of ourselves and our guests don't cause the direct exploitation or slaughter of animals. Factory farms are a thing on my world and it's horrifying to think about that." "That's really cool! But why did you take Yusaku's side on the hot dog sandwich debate?" "We humans have a habit of labeling everything and besides, the definition of a sandwich is pretty broad." I hang out with them for a while and really get to know them while eating my 3-way. It was so good I know it was cooked with love! Oh yeah! And the water, sourced from Kanoka Bay is so fresh and clean. A sanitation device was also invented by Dominic and it allows for the drinking water from Kanoka Bay to be amazing. It goes to show what innovation inspired by a truly kind hearted want to better the world can accomplish. Once we are done eating, I show the 3 around the park and ride multiple things with them. My favorite moment was going on Art Attack! with them and all of us struggled to hit many of the targets. To be fair, I couldn't make it make slower than it can get without the shooting ride and coaster hybrid valleying and rolling back. After some time, it gets dark out so every one of us meets back in Times Past.

I speak before we all part ways while Bray gives our new friends/allies their own Quantum Leap bands: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the hearts of everyone else dedicated to Twisted Land for coming. I hope you come back and visit sometime. Did you all have a good time?" Most everyone except literally just Roken nod and so, we all say goodbye and go our separate ways on a high note despite the chaos in Link VRAINS.

Outro: Thank you for reading this chapter! I truly appreciate it! I just love how this turned out. The duel with just 5 turns between Swiftdrawer, Playmaker, and Smasher was pretty intense and then that whole extreme determination even with burning painful lactic acid buildup and everything else really elevated things! And of course Twisted Land just had to be featured a bit! That's all I have for now, see you next turn! Bye bye!