Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: The Fifth Circuit

by scififan599

To Yuji, Den City is his home. Fighting to protect it as Kingmaker, he ends up pulled into a war between dimensions alongside the Lancers. Follow alongside him and his comrades Hanako Zaizen and Go Onizuka as they navigate the dimensions and do their best to restore peace to their world and others. AU of ARC-V with the addition of the Link Dimension. Third Arc: Xyz Arc

46. Chapter 46: Those Left Behind

Responses to Reviews

Thank you to LazinessRules, pokemonking0924, Xyzdragon1234, kirbypikachu2, donkeyboy100, ThePLOThand, Dimension Se7en, DivadX, HunterSilas, naminexriku2468, Ethan Kironus, Cdswalkthrough, doa570047, FlameFireZero X, Star-Vader Chaos Breaker, LHOCIN, blizzardblaze174, Yusaku Fujiki, Spitfire377, and Guests for reviewing Chapter 45.

Let me get ahead of the curve; some of undoubtedly know that a preview of Cyberstorm Access, the next major booster pack, was released, and it included new Firewall, Code Talker, and general Cyberse cards, including the Link-6 Firewall Dragon Singularity. If I was a reader of this story instead of the author, I know that I would be wondering if any of these new cards would appear in Fifth Circuit, so let me cut off speculation. First, none of the new Firewall cards will appear in Fifth Circuit. I want to differentiate Yuji and Yusaku, and Yuji not using Firewall cards is one of the biggest differences, and I'm not changing that. So no, Firewall Dragons Darkfluid and Singularity won't be appearing in this story. As for the other cards – Cyberse Sage, Protectcode Talker, etc. – I won't say anything definite, just don't be disappointed if they do or do not show up.

Now, while Yuji won't use the new cards, will Yusaku in Hidden Memories? That is a much better question, and one I will not answer. Though if he does use them, it'll be a long way off.

Thank you once again for your continued support of Fifth Circuit. I hope you all enjoy Chapter 46!

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Chapter 46: Those Left Behind

THUMP

Yuji grit his teeth in frustration and pain, the latter a result of punching a partially collapsed wall. He didn't lower his right hand, standing there as his body shook.

"I was so close," he muttered. "He was right there… and I…"

He had almost grabbed that Academia duelist. Logically, Yuji knew that meant he would have been teleported to Academia with them. But if that had been the case, then there would at least have been a chance to break Serena out. And maybe find Hanako…

Yuji growled, his frustration building. I wasted time dueling Barrett like I did, he thought. I should have opted for a quicker method. Instead, I allowed my satisfaction with our duel to get to me. If I hadn't done that, I… I…

He could waste his entire day pondering what-if's. What if he had been faster, what if he had managed to shorten the recharge time on his Data Anchor so he could have cast it, what if he had insisted Serena stay with him while he dueled Barrett…

But in the end, such thoughts were just that: what if's. They couldn't change the reality: Serena had been taken back to Academia. He had failed to protect his comrade. He had lost his… his…

"Yuji!"

The teen blinked and looked up at the familiar voice. "Sawatari?" His eyes widened at the group that had turned the corner.

Kaito Tenjo was in the lead, an unconscious Shun on his back. Flanking him were Sawatari and Leila, and behind them were a battered and bruised Allen, Anna, Sayaka, and Gongenzaka, the last of whom was leaning on a makeshift staff.

"Where the hell have you been?" Sawatari demanded. "You missed all the excitement! And where's Serena?"

Leila frowned when Yuji tensed. "Yuji, what's wrong?"

"…Serena and I saw smoke in the distance, so we headed towards it," the Link duelist answered. "We were intercepted by an Academia duelist, and I stayed back to fight him while Serena went on." His frown deepened and his fist shook. "But there was another duelist waiting for Serena. And while I defeated my opponent, she…"

"Serena was taken to Academia?" Sayaka gasped. Yuji lowering his head was the only answer she needed. Sayaka and Leila lowered their own heads while Gongenzaka, Sawatari, and Allen grit their teeth. Kaito just frowned.

"…What about you?" Yuji finally said, looking up. "Why is Kurosaki hurt? And where is Yuya?"

Allen, Gongenzaka, and Leila took turns answering his question. Allen had found Sayaka, only for the two to encounter twin Academia duelists. They had lost, then Anna and Gongenzaka had dueled the twins, only to lose as well. Yuya and Shun had appeared and managed to defeat the twins before retreating, but then they encountered the Obelisk Force. Yuya and Shun dueled them, but one of the Obelisk Force had summoned Chaos Ancient Gear Giant. Sayaka hung her head in shame as she explained that she had a panic attack and Shun had gotten himself injured saving her from falling rubble. Kaito had then intervened and defeated the Obelisk Force.

But before they could leave, more Academia forces had trapped them, and Yuya had been pulled into a duel against the Academia commander. Leila and Sawatari had shown up shortly after and helped Kaito defeat the Academia forces. As Yuya had been trapped in a cage by his opponent, the Lancers and Resistance had decided to return to the Duel Lodge to get help for Shun and the others.

When they were done talking, Yuji frowned. "I can't say I'm happy you left Yuya behind… but I understand your logic." He turned to the only uninjured – and sensible – people present. "Are you going back for Yuya after going to the Duel Lodge?"

Kaito and Leila nodded. "There are other Resistance duelists there; we'll grab them and head back to help Yuya."

"You'll go there yourself now, Yuji?" Sawatari asked.

"You're going nowhere, Kogami!"

Yuji and the others tensed and turned at the voice. The Link duelist's eyes narrowed as he saw the person standing atop a building. "You're…"

Violet uniform, pale skin, short spiked black hair. And burn scars crisscrossing his face.

Leila's eyes widened in recognition. "That's-!"

"Abelard," Yuji finished, grimacing to himself. He had let his guard down. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kaito had a similar annoyed expression.

"Abelard?" Allen repeated. His eyes widened. "Isn't that the Invoked duelist who led the destruction of Diamond?"

"He is," Anna confirmed grimly. Then she sneered. "He also happens to be another person who lost to Hanako."

Abelard's right eyebrow twitched at the reminder, but his gaze didn't leave Yuji. "I'm not here for you Resistance remnants. I'm here to get payback for what he did to me in the Synchro Dimension!"

"Those scars give you a more rugged look," Yuji said calmly. "Some people like that kind of thing."

"I am not one of them," Abelard growled. "I will make you pay for what you did to me, Kogami!"

"And what makes you think we'll let you face Yuji?" Sawatari demanded. "You'll have to get through us-!"

"Alright."

"-first!" Sawatari blinked. Then he turned to Yuji. "What!? Yuya's alone! Why would you want to waste time on this idiot?"

That word doesn't mean as much as it would when you're the one saying it, Leila thought with a roll of her eyes. Sawatari evidently caught her train of thought, as he turned to glare at her next.

"I can fight my own battles Sawatari," Yuji said. "And honestly? I could really use some stress relief right now." Going to town on Abelard again sounded cathartic after losing Serena.

Abelard sneered down at Yuji. "And what makes you think I came here to fight you alone?"

The sound of footsteps on rock drew their attention to the door of a nearby building. Out stepped another man in a violet uniform. Except this man had dark skin and his brown hair was tied back in cornrows.

This time, it was Yuji's and Gongenzaka's eyes that widened in recognition. "You're-!"

"We finally meet again," Joseph said, glaring at the Link duelist. "It's time you paid for what you did, Yuji Kogami! You murderer!"

Sawatari blinked. "Murderer? Oi, Yuji, you didn't kill someone, did you?"

"That is a very serious accusation to just fling around," Leila said with a frown. "I don't recognize you, but if you are accusing my ally of-."

"His name is Joseph," Yuji interrupted. "He's an Academia duelist I fought in the Standard Dimension. As for the 'murderer' part…" He frowned. "I see you're still upset about that game console of yours."

That made every Lancer and Resistance duelist blink. "Game console?" Allen repeated confusedly.

"It was not just any game console!" Joseph shouted. "It was a PlayStation Portable! Do you have any idea how rare it is to find an affordable one these days?! I still haven't found one! And I was halfway through Persona 3 Portable when you wrecked it!"

"…I understand your pain."

Everyone turned to look at Sawatari, who was tearing up. "My father got me a Sega Genesis for my birthday last year. It was the only one of its kind left in Maiami City. I've played so much Donkey Kong Country on it. If someone were to smash it…"

Joseph stared at Sawatari, his own eyes starting to water. "M-Mood kindred…?"

Sawatari smiled widely. "MOOD KINDR-!"

THWACK!

"Stop sympathizing with the enemy!" Leila shouted, her fist hovering over Sawatari's crumpled body and a tic mark on her brow.

"Will you cut it out with the comedy routine!?" Abelard shouted in exasperation. He growled. "The point is that we're here for you, Kogami. And we're not leaving until we're satisfied!"

"Satisfied, huh?" Yuji muttered. "Well, it doesn't matter if there's one or two of you; I'll still take you on and win."

"And what makes you think we'll let you take them on alone, Yuji?" Sawatari growled as he stood up. "There's more of us, so there's no reason for you to duel two on one."

"Sawatari's actually right for once," Leila agreed, stepping forward. "We'll-."

"Wait."

Leila blinked at the arm blocking her path before looking at its owner. "Kaito?"

"Leila, you take Shun back to the Duel Lodge," the Xyz duelist ordered. "I'll duel with Yuji."

"Eh?" Sawatari blinked.

"Kaito?" Allen said in surprise.

"Oi, what are you doing?" Anna asked. "There's enough of us here to-."

"Shun needs help right now, and most of you aren't at your best," Kaito said. "There's no telling if there are more Academia forces between here and the Duel Lodge, so Leila, you and the annoying one can escort the others."

"The annoying one?" Sawatari sputtered. "I have a name; it's the great Shingo Sawatari!"

"Are you sure, Kaito?" Leila asked.

"Yes."

"…Alright."

"You're going along with this?" Sawatari shouted, shocked as Kaito shifted the unconscious Shun to Leila's back. "What is wrong with you people?"

"Kaito," Sayaka said softly. "Are you…?"

"This is for my own reasons," Kaito said, stepping forward to stand next to Yuji. "The rest of you, get out of here!"

"We're only here for Kogami; the rest of you are distractions," Abelard said. "You're free to leave, though I might hunt you down after carding these two."

"Fat chance!" Allen scoffed. "Kaito's the best duelist in Heartland! You'll never defeat him!"

"Come on," Leila said, turning around. "Let's get back to the Duel Lodge as fast as possible."

"But Leila-."

"Now, Anna." The girl flinched but fell into step behind her friend. Gongenzaka, Sawatari, and Allen stared at Yuji's and Kaito's backs before joining them, leaving Sayaka to stare at them.

"…Win, Kaito," Sayaka said softly. "For Ruri, Serena, and Hanako." She then turned and followed the others.

Yuji looked at Kaito out of the corner of his eye. "You're not doing this for practical reasons," he stated.

"…I could only watch helplessly as Hanako Zaizen was kidnapped in front of me," Kaito said. "I wasn't even aware Ruri had been taken until after it had happened. And now another comrade has been taken, while the Resistance was powerless to stop it." He looked over, his eyes narrowed. "I know exactly what is going through your mind and heart right now. I couldn't protect Hanako. So I'll make up for that failure by protecting her comrade."

"…Acceptable." Yuji said, returning his eyes to their opponents.

"Enough stalling," Abelard sneered. "It's time for payback!"

"So we're going co-op mode, huh?" Joseph said. "Fine by me. We'll do Battle Royal rules instead of a Tag-Team Duel."

That worked to their advantage as well. Yuji and Kaito activated their Duel Disks without a word, and their opponents followed suit.

"Field Spell Card: Crossover."

"Duel!"

Yuji Kogami: 4000 LP

Kaito Tenjo: 4000 LP

Abelard: 4000 LP

Joseph: 4000 LP

"Master Rule Override activated."

"I'll take the first turn!" Abelard declared. "I activate the Field Spell Card: Magical Meltdown! When this card is activated, I add Aleister the Invoker from my Deck to my hand. And so long as Magical Meltdown is on the field, the activation of my cards and effects that perform a Fusion Summon cannot be negated, and my opponents cannot activate cards or effects when a monster is Fusion Summoned."

Which means we can't stop them from Fusion Summoning, Kaito thought.

"I summon Aleister the Invoker!" A young man in white-and-gold robes holding a book and staff appeared.

Aleister the Invoker ATK 1000 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Aleister's monster effect! I add Invocation from my Deck to my hand. I activate the Spell Card: Invocation! I fuse monsters in my hand to Fusion Summon, but if I am summoning an 'Invoked' Fusion Monster, I can also banish monsters from my field and any player's Graveyard. I banish Aleister from my field and fuse it with Armageddon Knight in my hand! Bringer of madness, become one with the paladin of the apocalypse and unleash a new power! Fusion Summon! Appear, beast of chained madness! Level 4! Invoked Caliga!" A pink-skinned fiend in tattered robes emerged from the Fusion vortex at the right Extra Monster Zone in Defense Position.

Invoked Caliga ATK 1000 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

Yuji frowned. "Kaito," he said. "That monster limits each player to activating one monster effect each turn and attacking with only one monster during the Battle Phase." Kaito frowned as well at that information.

"I'm glad to see you remember Caliga," Abelard said. "I activate the effect of Invocation in my Graveyard! By shuffling it into my Deck, I can add the banished Aleister the Invoker to my hand. I Set three cards. I end my turn."

"My turn!" Kaito declared. "Draw!" He looked at his cards, then at the field and nodded. "I activate the Field Spell Card: Cipher Zone!" The card showed a floor of glass beneath a digital sky. The floor was colored a multitude of blues, pinks, and purples. "When this card is activated, I can add a 'Cipher' monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Cipher Wing to my hand, which I'll then summon!" A golden machine with six green holographic wings appeared.

Cipher Wing ATK 1400 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

"Since I control Cipher Wing, I can Special Summon a second Cipher Wing from my hand!" Another monster appeared in Attack Position.

Cipher Wing ATK 1400 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

Joseph frowned. That wasn't an activated effect, so it didn't count towards Caliga's effect.

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Double Exposure! Once per turn, I can activate one of two effects. I activate the first effect, targeting my two Cipher Wings. As my Cipher Wings have the same name, their Levels become double their current Levels."

Cipher Wing LVL: 4→8

"With my two Level 8 Cipher Wings, I build the Overlay Network! Galaxy shining in the darkness, dwell in the demonic god of revenge and become my very servant! Xyz Summon! Descend, Rank 8! Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!" A light blue and dark blue dragon emerged from the Xyz portal, its golden spines projecting holographic blue wings. It roared from the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position as two yellow lights circled it.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 3000 DEF 2500 RNK: 8 OU: 2

"An Xyz Monster with 3000 attack points," Abelard muttered. Even if he used Abelard's effect to increase Caliga's defense points, it wouldn't be enough. "The rumors of Kaito Tenjo's strength weren't as exaggerated as I thought."

"Cipher Dragon's monster effect!" Kaito declared. "I use one Overlay Unit and target Invoked Caliga!" The dragon roared as one of its lights burst.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon OU: 2→1

Abelard smirked. "So you want to use your ace monster's effect? Well that won't be happening! Counter Trap-!"

"You can't," Kaito interjected. "While Cipher Zone is on the field, you cannot activate cards or effects when my 'Cipher' Xyz Monsters activate their effects."

"What?!" Abelard gasped. He couldn't activate cards or effects!?

"Cipher Dragon's effect takes control of Caliga until the End Phase! Cipher Projection!" The Xyz Monster's wings emitted light that enveloped Invoked Caliga. The Fusion Monster broke apart before reforming on Kaito's field. "While I control Caliga, its name becomes Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, its attack points become 3000, it cannot attack directly, and its effects are negated." A projection of Kaito's Xyz Monster formed over Caliga.

Invoked Caliga→Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 1000→3000

Abelard grit his teeth. This wasn't good. "I activate Cipher Zone's effect!" Kaito continued. "Once per turn, if I control two 'Cipher' monsters with the same name, I can target and destroy one Spell or Trap Card my opponent controls!" He pointed to one of Abelard's cards. The card shattered.

Yuji glanced at the destroyed card. Divine Wrath. That card can negate one monster effect. That must have been the card Abelard had intended to activate when Kaito used Cipher Dragon's effect. If not for Kaito's Field Spell, he would have lost his dragon.

"Battle! Cipher Dragon attacks you directly! Cipher Stream of Annihilation!" The original dragon fired a beam of blue energy at Abelard.

"Trap activate!" Abelard declared, gesturing to his remaining Set card. "Damage Diet! All damage I take this turn is halved!" The light hit the ground in front Abelard and pushed him back with a grunt.

Abelard: 4000→2500 LP

"When I take control of a monster with Cipher Dragon's effect, that monster cannot attack directly," Kaito said, not reacting to the reduced damage. "I activate the Spell Card: Cipher Send-Off!" The card showed two Cipher Biplanes, with one of them disintegrating. "If I control two 'Cipher' monsters with the same name, I can Tribute one of them to draw two cards." The Cipher Dragon that used to be Invoked Caliga shattered as Kaito drew. "I Set two cards. I end my turn."

If Kaito had kept Invoked Caliga around, it would have changed control back to Abelard, Yuji thought. That would have restored its effects and limited Joseph to only one monster effect per turn as well, but then it would have done the same for me, and I had more trouble with that monster then Kaito did just now. His eyes narrowed. Kaito either did that for my sake, or to draw new cards. Likely both.

Joseph sighed. "PvP can be a real pain, especially when players team up. Though I suppose the challenge can be pretty fun at times. My turn! Draw! I activate the Spell Card: Foolish Burial and send Spiritual Beast Pettlephin from my Deck to the Graveyard. I summon Ritual Beast Tamer Lara!" A blonde girl in green robes and cloak appeared, leaning on a wooden staff.

Ritual Beast Tamer Lara ATK 100 DEF 2000 LVL: 1

"Lara's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a 'Ritual Beast' monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Pettlephin!" A pink dolphin with a blue gem on its forehead appeared in Defense Position.

Spiritual Beast Pettlephin ATK 0 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

Yuji narrowed his eyes. "Kaito!" he said. "Joseph can Fusion Summon by banishing a 'Spiritual Beast' monster and 'Ritual Beast Tamer' monster from his field!" Kaito narrowed his eyes.

"Hey!" Joseph protested. "Stop handing out spoilers! It's rude! Besides, me Fusion Summoning isn't what he should be concerned about right now. Pettlephin's monster effect! Once per turn, by banishing a 'Ritual Beast' card from my hand, I can target one of my opponent's cards and return it to their hand. I'll banish Spiritual Beast Apelio, and I think I'll return that Cipher Dragon of yours to your hand!"

"That won't be happening," Kaito said. "Trap activate! Cipher Prism Armor!" The card showed Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, its body covered in glass plates that reflected light. "I equip this card to Cipher Dragon!" The skin of said Xyz Monster turned reflective. "While Cipher Dragon is equipped with Prism Armor, it is unaffected by my opponent's monster effects!"

Joseph frowned at that. "Well that's inconvenient."

"More than you realize; Prism Armor also prevents my opponents from declaring attacks, except to attack Cipher Dragon."

"That effect affects the players, not the monsters," Yuji noted. "So unaffection effects won't work against it."

"Prism Armor is not the only weapon I have," Kaito continued. "I activate Double Exposure's second effect! I target one monster, then another monster with the same controller. The first monster's name becomes the same as the second monster's! I target Pettlephin, and then Lara!" Pettlephin changed into a glowing version of Lara.

Joseph smirked, reluctantly impressed. "I'm guessing this is because of what Yuji said. My Fusion Monsters need a 'Ritual Beast Tamer' and a 'Spiritual Beast' monster to summon themselves. But now, instead of controlling a 'Ritual Beast Tamer' and 'Spiritual Beast', I control two 'Ritual Beast Tamer' monsters. Very clever."

"Don't compliment the enemy, Joseph," Abelard growled. "Especially not when he's keeping us from attacking Kogami."

I am the only player without a monster, Yuji thought. There was nothing to stop Joseph from attacking me directly. But thanks to Kaito's Cipher Prism Armor, Joseph cannot attack except to attack Cipher Dragon. And with the monsters he has right now, he cannot Fusion Summon. Yuji narrowed his eyes. Kaito really is thorough. He protected not only himself and his own monster, but me at the same time.

"A gamer like me can appreciate good moves, Abelard," Joseph replied. "Especially since they just make me work a little harder." He raised his right hand. "Appear, the fused circuit!"

Kaito's eyes widened while Yuji grimaced. "What?" the former gasped.

"Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two 'Ritual Beast' monsters. I set Lara and Pettlephin in the Link Markers!" Said monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos!" The monster that emerged from the portal was a massive green bird wearing spiked green armor, with a green-haired woman riding on its back. The bird cawed from the right Extra Monster Zone.

Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘

"Academia has Link Summoning?" Kaito breathed.

"The others must have forgotten to tell you." Kaito looked over at his grimacing partner. "Academia used Hanako's Link Monsters as a base to create their own."

"…" Kaito clenched his fists. Yet another crime committed by Academia against those who opposed them.

"Your Link Monsters gave me a lot of trouble when we dueled," Joseph said. "So when the Professor created our own Link Monsters, I made sure to get one. Ulti-Kimunfalcos's monster effect! Once per turn, I can banish a 'Ritual Beast' card from my Graveyard to Normal Summon one 'Ritual Beast' monster from my hand. I banish Lara to Normal Summon Ritual Beast Tamer Wen!" A young blonde girl wearing a violet skirt appeared, holding a staff with a blue top.

Ritual Beast Tamer Wen ATK 1500 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"Wen's monster effect! If it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a banished 'Ritual Beast' monster. Come, Spiritual Beast Apelio!" A red-skinned lion appeared and roared in Attack Position.

Spiritual Beast Apelio ATK 1800 DEF 200 LVL: 4

"Apelio's monster effect! Once per turn, I can banish a 'Ritual Beast' card from my Graveyard, and for the rest of the turn, all 'Ritual Beast' monsters I control will gain 500 attack and defense points. I banish Pettlephin from my Graveyard." The lion roared as a red aura briefly appeared around Joseph's monsters.

Ritual Beast Tamer Wen ATK 1500→2000 DEF 1000→1500

Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos ATK 1800→2300

Spiritual Beast Apelio ATK 1800→2300 DEF 200→700

"And now I banish Apelio and Wen to perform a Fusion Summon! Beast of the plains! The apprentice tamer! Enter the realm of the spirits, and combine your power into a new form! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 6! Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio!" A much larger lion emerged from the Fusion vortex, with a blonde woman riding on its back. The lion roared from Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position.

Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio ATK 2600→3100 DEF 400→900 LVL: 6

Kaito grit his teeth. I couldn't prevent him from Fusion Summoning. In fact, I might have helped him along by forcing him to use Link Summoning.

"Ulti-Kimunfalcos has another effect," Joseph continued. "'Ritual Beast' monsters that it points to gain 600 attack and defense points."

Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio ATK 3100→3700 DEF 900→1500

"3700 attack points," Kaito muttered.

"It's not as bad as you think, Kaito." The Resistance duelist glanced at Yuji. "I remember Ulti-Apelio from my duel with Joseph. When it attacks, Ulti-Apelio becomes unaffected by other cards' effects until the end of the Damage Step. That includes Joseph's own cards."

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "So if Ulti-Apelio attacks, it will do so with 2600 attack points?" Yuji nodded.

"That may be true, but I have a way around that," Joseph said. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Ritual Beast's Roar!" The card showed Ritual Beasts Ulti-Apelio and Ulti-Cannahawk, their mouths open and emitting powerful sound waves. "I target a 'Ritual Beast' monster whose current attack points is different from its original attack points, and until the end of the turn, your monsters lose attack points equal to the difference!" Kaito's eyes widened. "I target Ulti-Apelio!" Cipher Dragon groaned as it was weakened.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 3000→1900

"Battle! Ulti-Apelio attacks Cipher Dragon! Ulti-Apelio's monster effect! When it attacks, it is unaffected by other cards' effects until the end of the Damage Step!"

Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio ATK 3700→2600 DEF 1500→400

The lion charged forward and raked its claws across Cipher Dragon's chest. The dragon cried out as it exploded, the resulting shockwave pushing Kaito back.

Kaito Tenjo: 4000→3300 LP

Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio ATK 2600→3700 DEF 400→1500

Kaito grimaced at his empty field. "Cipher Prism Armor's effect! If it is sent to the Graveyard while equipped to a monster, I can add a 'Cipher' monster from my Deck to my hand." Kaito took the card, then gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cipher Spectrum! When my 'Cipher' Xyz Monster is destroyed while it has an Overlay Unit, I can Special Summon that monster from the Graveyard, then Special Summon an Xyz Monster with the same name from my Extra Deck. Resurrect, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!" Kaito's dragon reappeared in Attack Position. "And from my Extra Deck, a second Cipher Dragon!" An identical copy of the Xyz Monster appeared at the right Extra Monster Zone, also in Attack Position.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 3000 DEF 2500 RNK: 8 x 2

"So now you have two Cipher Dragons," Joseph said. "But neither of them has Overlay Units, so they can't use their effects." He smirked. "That's alright; I wasn't planning to attack you anyway. Ulti-Kimunfalcos attacks Yuji Kogami directly!" The armored bird divebombed the Link Duelist, who kept an expressionless face even as he took a card from his hand.

"I activate the effect of Lockout Gardna in my hand! If my opponent's monster attacks me directly, I can Special Summon Lockout Gardna in Attack Position!" A bipedal machine with a red body and black and gold limbs appeared.

Lockout Gardna ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"In that case, Ulti-Kimunfalcos attacks Lockout Gardna!" The bird's beak hit Lockout Gardna head on and created a shockwave.

"The turn Lockout Gardna is Special Summoned by its effect, it cannot be destroyed by battle!" Yuji said.

"But you will still take damage!" Joseph reminded him. Yuji winced at the blowback.

Yuji Kogami: 4000→2700 LP

Joseph sighed. "Not as much damage as I was hoping to inflict, but it's still something. I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Apelio's effect ends."

Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio ATK 3700→3200 DEF 1500→1000

Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos ATK 2300→1800

"My turn! Draw!" Yuji looked at his card, then at the fields. Abelard has no cards to defend himself, but he knows that. There's a chance he or Joseph will go for Action Cards. Then there's Joseph's Set card. He frowned as he remembered his last duel with Joseph, including the latter's Trap Card: Ritual Beast Steeds. There was a chance Joseph's Set card was that Trap again. If that's the case…

"I activate the Field Spell Card: Viral World!" The card showed a golden tower circled by six floating rocks, each a different color – purple, blue, brown, yellow, orange, and green. Radiating out from the tower was a volcano, a golden land, mountains, an ocean, green forests, and a giant chasm. And spread out across the world and climbing up the tower were red and blue lines. "While this card is on the field, my Cyberse and Dragon monsters cannot be destroyed by my opponent's card effects."

Joseph frowned. Seems he remembers what happened last time.

"I activate Viral World's effect! Once per turn, I can shuffle a Cyberse or Dragon monster in my hand into my Deck, then add a Cyberse or Dragon monster with a different name from my Deck to my hand. I'll shuffle Viral Hydra into my Deck to add Clock Wyvern to my hand." Joseph's frown deepened. He remembered that monster. "I summon Clock Wyvern!" A blue and violet mechanical dragon appeared.

Clock Wyvern ATK 1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"Clock Wyvern's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can halve its attack points to Special Summon a Clock Token!" A cluster of violet gems attached to a gray rock appeared in Defense Position.

Clock Wyvern ATK 1800→900

Clock Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster. I set Lockout Gardna in the Link Marker!" Said monster entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Link Disciple!" A humanoid white, red, and black machine emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Link Disciple ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓

"Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster. I set Clock Wyvern in the Link Marker!" The mechanical dragon entered the top arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Link Devotee!" A dark blue and white mechanical monster with a dark blue ring above its body emerged from the portal at Link Disciple's Link Marker.

Link Devotee ATK 500 LINK-1 ↑

"Link Disciple's monster effect! I Tribute a monster at its Link Marker to draw a card, then place a card from my hand on the bottom of my Deck. I Tribute Link Devotee." The monster shattered, Yuji drew, then placed the card on the bottom of his Deck without even looking at it. "The co-linked Link Devotee's monster effect! When it is Tributed, I can Special Summon two Link Tokens!" Two white and dark blue crystalline monsters appeared in Defense Position.

Link Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1 x 2

"For a third time, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I set Link Token and Link Disciple in the Link Markers!" The two monsters entered the bottom and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Clock Spartoi!" A red warrior in silver and gold armor emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, wielding a pike.

Clock Spartoi ATK 800 LINK-2 ↓↘

"Clock Spartoi's monster effect! When it is Link Summoned, I can add Cynet Fusion from my Deck to my hand."

Kaito stiffened. "Fusion!?"

"So he's about to use the monster that defeated you?" Abelard asked Joseph, who grimly nodded.

"Kaito." The Xyz duelist glanced at his partner. "To me, dueling has always been a tool to achieve a goal. A weapon to complete my objective. Summoning methods are no different, be they Link, Ritual, Synchro… or even Fusion." Yuji glanced back. "I hope you can understand that."

Kaito stared before reluctantly nodding. "Do what you have to do, Yuji Kogami."

"I always do. For a fourth time, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I set Clock Token and Link Token in the Link Markers!" The two tokens entered the left and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyberse Connector!" An armored humanoid emerged from the portal at Clock Spartoi's bottom Link Marker. It had white skin covered in black armor on its chest, shoulders, forearms, legs, and waist. Its hands were covered by black gauntlets, and it wore a visorless helmet that revealed a white face with two blue eyes. The monster spun a rope dart in its hands, but the dart itself, instead of ending in a sharp point, ended in a USB head.

Cyberse Connector ATK 1000 LINK-2 ←→

"Clock Spartoi's monster effect! When a monster is Special Summoned to its Link Marker, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. Resurrect, Clock Wyvern!" The dragon reappeared at Cyberse Connector's right Link Marker in Attack Position.

Clock Wyvern ATK 1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"Cyberse Connector's monster effect! When a monster is Summoned to its Link Marker, I can add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Lockout Gardna to my hand." Yuji narrowed his eyes and took one of the cards in his hand. "I activate the Spell Card: Cynet Fusion! I fuse Clock Wyvern, Cyberse Connector, and Clock Spartoi to Fusion Summon! The strong ones gather before its grand wings! Become a new legend! Fusion Summon! Come out, Level 7! Cyberse Clock Dragon!" The Fusion tornado broke apart, revealing a violet and black dragon with segmented golden wings. Its four blue eyes gleamed as it roared from the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 2500 DEF 2000 LVL: 7

"Fusion Summoning," Kaito muttered. Joseph and Abelard braced themselves.

"Clock Dragon's monster effect!" Yuji declared. "When it is Fusion Summoned, I can send cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard equal to the Link Ratings of its materials. Clock Spartoi and Cyberse Connector were both Link-2, so I send four cards to the Graveyard. And for each card sent, Clock Dragon gains 1000 attack points!"

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 2500→6500

"6500!?" Abelard gasped. Kaito's eyes widened; attack points like that, he could understand Yuji using Fusion Summoning.

Joseph grimaced. If Yuji attacked Ulti-Kimunfalcos, then he would lose. And if Yuji attacked Abelard directly, the latter would lose. Well, it seemed Joseph's options were clear.

"Ulti-Kimunfalcos's monster effect!" the gamer declared. "By returning it to the Extra Deck, I can Special Summon a banished 'Ritual Beast Tamer' and 'Spiritual Beast' in Defense Position." The armored bird vanished, and in its place appeared Tamer Lara and Pettlephin.

Ritual Beast Tamer Lara ATK 100 DEF 2000 LVL: 1

Spiritual Best Pettlephin ATK 0 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio ATK 3200→2600 DEF 1000→400

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Ritual Beast's Bond!" Joseph continued. "By banishing two 'Ritual Beast' monsters I control, I can Special Summon a 'Ritual Beast' monster from my Extra Deck. I banish Lara and Pettlephin to Special Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin!" The two new monsters vanished and were replaced by an armored pink dolphin being ridden by a blonde girl at the Extra Monster Zone in Defense Position.

Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin ATK 200 DEF 2800 LVL: 6

Yuji frowned but pointed to the field. "Battle! Clock Dragon attacks Abelard directly!" The dragon opened its mouth as pink lightning danced over its body.

Joseph grit his teeth, then to Yuji's and Kaito's surprise, leapt upward onto one of Crossover's platforms, then onto the second floor of a ruined building. His hand lashed out and-. "Action Spell Card!" he declared. "Battle Change! When your monster attacks, I can change the attack target to one of my monsters. I'll make Clock Dragon attack Ulti-Pettlephin!" The dolphin swum out in front of Abelard.

Yuji narrowed his eyes… then smirked. "That's alright," he said, surprising Joseph. "I thought you might try something like this. Which is why I used Cyberse Connector; if it is sent to the Graveyard, then for the rest of the turn, when my Cyberse monster attacks your Defense Position monster, that battle inflicts piercing battle damage!"

Joseph's eyes widened. The difference between Clock Dragon's attack points and Ulti-Pettlephin's defense points was 3700. He wouldn't lose, but he'd be a hairsbreadth away from it.

Abelard grit his teeth before running to the side. He slid on the ground and grabbed a card. "Action Spell Card: Miracle! Ulti-Pettlephin isn't destroyed by this battle and battle damage is halved!"

Yuji frowned but raised his hand anyway. "Continue the attack, Clock Dragon! Pulse Pressure!" The pink lightning gathered in the Fusion Monster's maw, which it then fired in a beam. The attack hit Ulti-Pettlephin and created an explosion that pushed Joseph back, but he remained standing atop his building and his own Fusion Monster remained on the field.

Joseph: 4000→2150 LP

"I Set one card. I end my turn."

Abelard sneered at Yuji. "You tried to take me out before my next turn. Not very honorable of you."

"Have I ever struck you as the kind to put honor before pragmatism?" Yuji asked.

"Seeing as how it was your honor that kept you fighting Barrett, I'd say yes."

Yuji stiffened. "How do you-?"

"We were watching back then," Joseph answered. "We saw you dueling Barrett. Magnificent finish, by the way. We would have challenged you, but you ran off after Serena before we could do so. And we didn't catch up to you until right before the Lancers and Resistance did."

"Which means we know about the Kaiser. And how you failed to save Serena," Abelard said. "When we first met, I told you about Nature Queen, and now we meet again right after you failed to protect Serena." His sneer widened. "You're not very good at protecting your comrades, are you?"

Yuji clenched his right fist and glared at Abelard, an expression and stance mirrored by Kaito. Seeing this, Joseph sweatdropped. "Hey, could you tone it down a bit?" he asked Abelard. "I want payback too but making these guys angry doesn't seem like a good idea."

Abelard scoffed. "You get revenge your way Joseph, and I'll get it my way. My turn! Draw! I activate the Spell Card: Pot of Greed!" Abelard drew two cards, then gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Reckless Greed! By skipping my next two Draw Phases, I can draw two cards!" He drew again. "I activate the Spell Card: Foolish Burial, and use it to send Homunculus the Alchemic Being from my Deck to the Graveyard. I summon Aleister the Invoker!"

Aleister the Invoker ATK 1000 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Aleister's monster effect! I add Invocation from my Deck to my hand. And now, by banishing the Light Attribute Homunculus the Alchemic Being from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Diana the Light Spirit from my hand!" A pale-skinned woman with long blonde hair in a white dress appeared in Attack Position.

Diana the Light Spirit ATK 1700 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

The Academia duelist sneered again. "You should remember this next part, Kogami. Appear, the fused circuit!" Yuji tensed at the Link portal. "The summoning conditions are two monsters with different Types and Attributes. I set Aleister and Diana in the Link Markers!" The two monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Aleister the Invoker of Madness!" A human man in white robes with a red left hand, red horns, and red wings emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Aleister the Invoker of Madness ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘

"He can Link Summon too," Kaito muttered. He glanced at Yuji. Abelard must have been the one to reveal that fact to Kogami.

"I activate the Spell Card: Invocation!" Abelard declared. "I fuse monsters in my hand, or if I would Fusion Summon an 'Invoked' Fusion Monster I can banish monsters from my field or either player's Graveyard." Abelard smirked. "I banish Aleister from my Graveyard and the Light Attribute Cipher Wing from your Graveyard, Tenjo!"

Kaito glared as his monster briefly appeared on Abelard's field before spiraling into the Fusion vortex with Aleister the Invoker. "Bringer of madness! Become one with the machine of light and unleash a new power! Fusion Summon! Appear, machine lord of light! Level 9! Invoked Mechaba!" A mechanical charioteer with the front half of a beast emerged from the vortex at the Invoker of Madness's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position.

Invoked Mechaba ATK 2500 DEF 2100 LVL: 9

Yuji grimaced as he remembered this monster's effects. Kaito mirrored his expression when he looked at the card.

"Invoker of Madness's monster effect! When a monster is Fusion Summoned, I can discard a card to add Invocation or The Book of the Law from my Deck to my hand. I'll discard Spirit of Flames to add Invocation to my hand."

Abelard's sneer widened. "When I decided to come to Heartland to get revenge on you Kogami, I didn't just ask Joseph to come along for backup; I also made sure to improve my Deck. And now you'll witness my evolution! I activate the Spell Card: Invocation! The Invoker of Madness's name becomes Aleister the Invoker while it is on the field, so I'll banish Invoker of Madness from my field, Spirit of Flames from my Graveyard, and the Earth Attribute Link Disciple from your Graveyard, Kogami!"

Abelard raised his hands as the Fusion vortex appeared behind him and the monsters he named spiraled into it. "Uplifted bringer of madness! The personification of fire! The future machine! Unite your powers into a new creation! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 8! The child of heroes and heaven! Invoked Perseid!"

The monster that emerged from the vortex was had the upper body of a humanoid, but the lower body of a serpent. Its body was made of black rock, with veins of fire all over its body. Spikes of rock grew at its shoulders and elbows, and its hands ended in a black lance lined with fire and a black shield emblazoned with the head of Medusa. Its head was human, but in place of hair it had an aura of red fire, and its eyes were bloodred. The monster opened its mouth and roared a challenge from the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.

Invoked Perseid ATK 2900 DEF 2100 LVL: 8

Yuji narrowed his eyes. This is a new one. And if he is summoning it, he must think it can defeat Clock Dragon.

"I activate the effect of Invocation in my Graveyard! By shuffling it into my Deck, I add the banished Aleister the Invoker to my hand." Abelard smirked. "I activate the effect of Aleister the Invoker! By discarding it, one of my Fusion Monsters gains 1000 attack and defense points until the end of the turn."

"It won't," Kaito interrupted.

"What?"

"I activate the effect of Cipher Refractor in my hand!" The card showed a crystalline falcon with beams of light passing through its wings and being refracted at 90-degree angles. "If you activate a card or effect that would increase the attack points of one monster while I control a 'Cipher' monster, I can discard Cipher Refractor to negate that effect!"

Abelard blinked and then growled. "Clever Resistance. But did you prepare for this? Invoked Perseid can make up to three attacks on my opponent's monsters during the Battle Phase. And when it attacks a Special Summoned monster, that monster's effects are negated, and its attack points are halved during the Damage Step!" Kaito's and Yuji's eyes widened. "Battle! Invoked Perseid attacks Clock Dragon!"

The rock monster's shield and lance lit up with red light. "Clock Dragon's effects are negated, and its attack points are halved." Perseid held its shield out, and Yuji's Fusion Monster groaned as it glowed red and turned to stone.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 6500→1250

Abelard's Fusion Monster then shoved its lance forward and fired a beam of red flames at the petrified Clock Dragon, making it break apart. Yuji cried out as he was pushed back by the stream, but as his feet moved, he heard something brush against his shoe.

Yuji Kogami: 2700→1050 LP

"The second attack! Perseid attacks Cipher Dragon!" The shield glowed with red light, and the corresponding Xyz Monster roared in pain as it turned to stone.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 3000→1500

The lance then shot a second beam of fire that shattered the dragon and pushed Kaito back.

Kaito Tenjo: 3300→1900 LP

"The third attack! Perseid attacks the second Cipher Dragon!"

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 3000→1500

A third stream of fire tore through the third petrified dragon and hit Kaito, making him cry out as he was knocked back through a wall.

Kaito Tenjo: 1900→400 LP

Abelard sneered in victory. "And now you're defenseless! Mechaba, attack Kogami directly!"

Joseph blinked and turned in surprise. "Wait, wha-?"

The charioteer charged at Yuji, who took a card from his hand. "Since you declared a direct attack, I can Special Summon Lockout Gardna in Attack Position!" The red mechanical monster reappeared.

Lockout Gardna ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"That doesn't matter!" Abelard dismissed. "Mechaba has 2500 attack points, and you have 1050 Life Points; you lose, Kogami!"

Yuji glanced at his Set card, but then reached down and grabbed the card that his foot had displaced earlier. "Action Spell Card: Damage Banish! If I would take battle damage, it is reduced to 0!" Abelard's eyes widened as Mechaba's spear hit Lockout Gardna head on, but aside from shaking with the impact, nothing happened. "Lockout Gardna cannot be destroyed by battle the turn it is Special Summoned, and with Damage Banish, I take no damage."

Abelard glared at Yuji before gritting his teeth. "I Set one card. I end my turn."

"So I was right," Yuji surmised. "Mechaba can negate a card's activation if you discard a card of the same type. If you had been holding a Spell Card, you could have negated Damage Banish." His eyes narrowed. "But instead, you were holding a Trap Card, and you were planning to negate my Set card's activation and banish it."

"That's not the only mistake he made," Joseph grumbled. His partner turned to glare at him. "You could have attacked Tenjo and defeated him, but instead you attacked Kogami. That Action Card Kogami used only works if he's the one taking battle damage; he couldn't have stopped Tenjo from taking damage."

Abelard growled and turned back. "Whatever. You'll just defeat Kogami and Tenjo on your turn."

He prioritized defeating Kogami over defeating me, Kaito thought. Vengeance has blinded him. His eyes narrowed. I will teach him how that was a mistake. "My turn! Draw!"

"Trap activate!" Abelard declared. "Storming Afterlife Reversal!" The card showed a massive tornado tearing through a cemetery, with a Skull Servant being launched into the air. "I target and destroy one Spell or Trap Card my opponent controls! I destroy Cipher Zone!" Kaito frowned as his Field Spell shattered. "I can then add one monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Aleister the Invoker to my hand."

Kaito frowned, and Yuji shared his consternation. With Cipher Zone gone, Abelard and Joseph can activate card effects in response to the effects of Kaito's "Cipher" Xyz Monsters. And since Abelard added Aleister the Invoker to his hand, that means he can use Mechaba's effect to negate the effects of Kaito's monsters. Not to mention Aleister's own effect of increasing a Fusion Monster's attack and defense points.

"I activate the effect of Cipher Send-Off in my Graveyard!" Kaito declared. "By banishing it, I can add a 'Cipher' card from my Deck to my hand."

"If you're thinking of using a Spell Card, then I'm afraid you're out of luck," Abelard said with a smirk. "After all, this is an Action Duel. So I think I'll take advantage of that fact."

Kaito's eyes widened. If Abelard found an Action Card, he could just discard it for Mechaba's effect!

Abelard made to leap towards a platform, only to find myself pulled back down. "What-?!" His eyes widened on seeing a blue cord wrapped around his Duel Disk. "What is this!?"

"Nice try." He looked up, following the cord to Yuji's Duel Disk. "But you're not getting any Action Cards right now." The Link Duelist glanced at his partner. "Do what you have to do Kaito."

The Xyz duelist nodded. "I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cipher Support Unit!" The card showed Cipher Wing atop the shield of Cipher Bit, glowing with light. "I Special Summon a 'Cipher' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position and equip Cipher Support Unit to it. Resurrect, Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!" The blue dragon with multicolored wings reappeared and roared.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 3000 DEF 2500 RNK: 8

Abelard grit his teeth. "Even if you bring that dragon back, without Overlay Units it is powerless!"

"Are you sure about that?" Kaito questioned. "By using the Rank 8 Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon as material, I rebuild the Overlay Network!" Abelard and Joseph gasped while Yuji's eyes widened as Kaito's Xyz Monster turned into energy and entered the Xyz portal. "Galaxy shining in the darkness. Wield the infinite light as an invincible weapon, and become my sword! Rank-Up Xyz Change! Descend, Rank 9! Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon!"

The dragon that emerged from the portal had light blue skin like Cipher Dragon and was covered in blue and red armor. The spines of its wings were gold like Cipher Dragon's, but its multicolored wings were even larger, and attached to its wrists were two long blades of light. The new dragon roared from the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position as one yellow light circled it.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon ATK 3200 DEF 2800 RNK: 9 OU: 1

"Rank-Up without a Rank-Up-Magic?" Abelard gasped. "And 3200 attack points?"

Joseph grit his teeth. "This isn't going to end well."

"A Rank 9 Dragon," Yuji muttered. This would be interesting to watch.

"As Cipher Support Unit was sent to the Graveyard because the equipped monster was used to Xyz Summon a monster," Kaito continued, "I can attach a 'Cipher' monster from my hand or Graveyard to Cipher Blade Dragon. I'll attach Cipher Refractor to Cipher Blade Dragon." A second yellow light started circling the Xyz Monster.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon OU: 1→2

"Cipher Blade Dragon's monster effect! Once per turn, I can detach one Overlay Unit to target and destroy one card on the field!"

"Hah!" Abelard scoffed with a sneer. "Idiot! Mechaba's effect-!"

"Can't be used," Kaito interrupted. "Since Cipher Blade Dragon has Cipher Refractor attached as an Overlay Unit, my opponents cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of its effects!"

Abelard gasped as Cipher Blade Dragon bit down on one of its lights.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon OU: 2→1

"I target and destroy Invoked Mechaba! Cipher Cross!" The dragon roared as the blades on its forearms glowed. It swung its arms, creating an "X" of light that tore through Mechaba, shattering the charioteer. "Battle! Cipher Blade Dragon attacks Ulti-Apelio!"

Joseph smirked. "So you're going for me next, huh? In that case, Ulti-Apelio's monster effect! By returning it to my Extra Deck, I can Special Summon a 'Ritual Beast Tamer' and 'Spiritual Beast' monsters that were banished in Defense Position! Return to me, Ritual Beast Tamer Lara and Spiritual Beast Pettlephin!" The lion and its rider vanished, and in its place appeared a pink dolphin and a blonde girl in green.

Ritual Beast Tamer Lara ATK 100 DEF 2000 LVL: 1

Spiritual Beast Pettlephin ATK 0 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"It wasn't just Ulti-Kimunfalcos; my Fusion Monsters can return to the Extra Deck too," Joseph informed Kaito.

"That's fine," the Xyz duelist said. "Cipher Blade Dragon attacks Ritual Beast Tamer Lara! Cipher Spiral of Destruction!" The dragon fired a beam of blue and red light from its maw. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Xyz Breakthrough!" The card showed Gaia Dragon, the Thunder Charger enveloped in wind, its lances piercing through multiple magical circles. "I target an Xyz Monster I control, and for the rest of the turn, that monster inflicts piercing battle damage!"

"What?" Joseph gasped.

"I target Cipher Blade Dragon!" The multicolored beam hit the blonde girl, and she screamed as she exploded. Joseph cried out as he was knocked off his feet and fell down a hole in the floor back to the ground floor.

Joseph: 2150→950 LP

"Ow," Joseph groaned, pushing himself up. "My back…"

"I Set one card," Kaito said. "I end my turn."

Joseph stood up shakingly and exited the building, rubbing his back. "That hurt," he complained. "Can't say I was expecting a card like that. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised; bosses like you always have hidden gimmicks. My turn! Draw!"

Joseph looked at his card, then at Yuji. "I'm going to end this duel right now. I've seen enough fighting games to know that if I give you the chance, you'll pull off some super move on your next turn. Ulti-Pettlephin's monster effect! I return it to my Extra Deck and Special Summon the banished Ritual Beast Tamer Wen and Spiritual Beast Apelio in Defense Position!" The larger dolphin and its rider vanished, and in its place appeared a little blonde girl with a staff and a red-skinned lion.

Ritual Beast Tamer Wen ATK 1500 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

Spiritual Beast Apelio ATK 1800 DEF 200 LVL: 4

"Apelio's monster effect! I banish Lara, and for the rest of the turn, my 'Ritual Beast' monsters gain 500 attack and defense points."

Ritual Beast Tamer Wen ATK 1500→2000 DEF 1000→1500

Spiritual Beast Apelio ATK 1800→2300 DEF 200→700

Spiritual Beast Pettlephin ATK 0→500 DEF 2000→2500

"I activate Double Exposure's effect!" Kaito declared. "I target Wen and Apelio, and for the rest of the turn, Wen is treated as Spiritual Beast Apelio!" The girl was covered by a shinier version of the lion.

"This trick again? Then you should know what my response to that is. Appear, the fused circuit! The summoning conditions are two 'Ritual Beast' monsters. I set Pettlephin and Wen in the Link Markers!" Said monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos!" The armored bird and its rider reappeared at the right Extra Monster Zone with a caw.

Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos ATK 1800→2300 LINK-2 ↙↘

"I summon Ritual Beast Tamer Elder!" An old man in beige and green robes appeared, a staff in his right hand and a white beard on his chin.

Ritual Beast Tamer Elder ATK 200→700 DEF 1000→1500 LVL: 2

"I banish Apelio and Elder to perform a Contact Fusion! Beast of the plains! The master tamer! Enter the realm of the spirits, and combine your power into a new form! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 6! Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk!" A bird of prey with bright green and black feathers emerged from the Fusion vortex, black armor on its chins and an old man on its back. The new bird cawed from Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position.

Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk ATK 1400→1900→2500 DEF 1600→2100→2700 LVL: 6

"Ulti-Cannahawk's monster effect! I target two of my banished 'Ritual Beast' cards and return them to my Graveyard, then I add a 'Ritual Beast' card from my Deck to my hand. I return Apelio and Elder to my Graveyard and add a second Tamer Lara to my hand." Joseph smirked. "Since Elder was previously Normal Summoned this turn, I can Normal Summon a 'Ritual Beast' monster during my Main Phase this turn. I summon Ritual Beast Tamer Lara!" Another blonde girl appeared.

Ritual Beast Tamer Lara ATK 100→600 DEF 2000→2500 LVL: 1

"Lara's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a 'Ritual Beast' monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Spiritual Beast Pettlephin!" The pink dolphin reappeared in Defense Position.

Spiritual Beast Pettlephin ATK 0→500 DEF 2000→2500 LVL: 4

"And now, I banish Lara and Pettlephin to perform a Contact Fusion! Tamer of the wind! Beast of the sea! Enter the realm of the spirits, and combine your power into a new form! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 6! Ritual Beast Ulti-Rampengu!" The monster that emerged from the Fusion vortex was an oversized green and beige penguin wearing green and yellow armor on its chest, head, and flippers. On its back rode a short green-haired girl in a green robe. The penguin cried out from Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position.

Ritual Beast Ulti-Rampengu ATK 2400→3500 DEF 600→1700 LVL: 6

"Ulti-Rampengu's monster effect! I banish one 'Ritual Beast' monster from my Deck to add a 'Ritual Beast' card from my Deck to my hand. I banish Spiritual Beast Cannahawk to add Ritual Beast Onslaught to my hand." Joseph gestured to his field. "Ulti-Cannahawk's additional effect! I return it to my Extra Deck to Special Summon two banished 'Ritual Beast Tamer' and 'Spiritual Beast' monsters in Defense Position. Come forth, Ritual Beast Tamer Lara and Spiritual Beast Cannahawk!" The large bird of prey vanished, and in its place a blonde girl and a hawk with yellow lines on its body appeared.

Ritual Beast Tamer Lara ATK 100→600 DEF 2000→2500 LVL: 1

Spiritual Beast Cannahawk ATK 1400→1900 DEF 600→1100 LVL: 4

Yuji tensed. He recognized this formation from his last duel with Joseph.

"By banishing Ulti-Rampengu, Lara, and Cannahawk, I perform a Triple Contact Fusion!" Joseph declared. "Spiritual avian of the frozen lands! Tamer of the wind! Hunter of the skies! Enter the realm of the great spirits, and reveal a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 10! The king of the spirits and beasts! Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio!" A massive lion emerged from the Fusion vortex, a tree on its back, silver-and-black armor on its body, and flames around its neck. It roared from Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position, a blonde woman in green robes on its back.

Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio ATK 3200→4300 DEF 2100→3200 LVL: 10

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "His boss monster…"

"I take it you remember this monster Kogami?" Joseph asked. "If you do, then you know you can't stop what comes next. I activate the Equip Spell Card: Ritual Beast Onslaught!" The card showed Ulti-Gaiapelio standing over Ulti-Apelio, Ulti-Cannahawk, and Ulti-Pettlephin and roaring. "I equip this card to Ulti-Gaiapelio, and while it is equipped, you cannot target my other 'Ritual Beast' monsters for attacks or effects, and Ulti-Gaiapelio can make two attacks on my opponents' monsters during the Battle Phase."

Two attacks. Yuji grit his teeth. He and Kaito both controlled monsters, and the difference between Ulti-Gaiapelio's, Cipher Blade Dragon's, and Lockout Gardna's attack points was more than he or Kaito could handle.

"I activate Ritual Beast Onslaught's effect! Once per turn, I can shuffle a banished 'Ritual Beast' monster into my Deck to add a different banished 'Ritual Beast' monster to my hand. I shuffle the banished Cannahawk into my Deck to add Lara to my hand."

Joseph gestured to his field. "Battle! Ulti-Gaiapelio attacks Lockout Gardna! Nature's Force!" The lion breathed a stream of fire at Yuji's monster.

Yuji grit his teeth. He remembered what happened last time. But it was the best option he had. "Trap activate! System Overdrive!" The card showed Binary Blader and Binary Sorceress, their bodies glowing with light. "When my Cyberse monster battles, that monster gains attack points equal to the attack points of the monster it is battling during damage calculation!"

"Ulti-Gaiapelio's monster effect!" Joseph countered. "As a Trap Card was activated, I banish a 'Ritual Beast' card from my hand to negate the activation of System Overdrive and destroy it! Gaia's Vengeance!" The woman on the Fusion Monster's back shot energy from her staff and blew apart Yuji's Trap Card. "You can't stop this attack, Kogami!"

"Be blown away!" Abelard shouted. "Fall apart into failure, just like Serena did!"

Yuji tensed at that and turned-.

"Action Spell Card: Hyper Nutrition!" Everyone turned to look at Kaito, who had leapt up to a platform. The card showed a pill bottle with the number "X000" written on it. "I target a monster on the field, and one player gains Life Points equal to that monster's current attack points, but for the rest of the turn no players take effect damage. I target Ulti-Gaiapelio and increase Yuji's Life Points!" Yuji's eyes widened as a glow surrounded him.

Yuji Kogami: 1050→5350 LP

Joseph frowned. "The attack continues!" Ulti-Gaiapelio's flames struck Lockout Gardna, making it blow up. Yuji cried out as he was knocked backwards and fell on his back.

Yuji Kogami: 5350→2050 LP

"You saved Kogami for the moment, but you won't save yourself!" Joseph said, turning to Kaito. "Ulti-Gaiapelio attacks Cipher Blade Dragon!" The monster breathed fire again, this time at Kaito's Xyz Monster.

Yuji grit his teeth as he pushed himself up. "I activate the effect of System Overdrive in my Graveyard!" he declared. "By banishing it, one monster gains 1000 attack points until the end of the turn! I target Cipher Blade Dragon!"

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon ATK 3200→4200

The flames overwhelmed the dragon, destroying it, and the resulting shockwave pushed Kaito off his platform. He rolled with the impact on the ground and came up on one knee.

Kaito Tenjo: 400→300 LP

"Cipher Blade Dragon's monster effect!" Kaito declared. "If it is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can Special Summon Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon from my Graveyard!" Kaito's ace monster reappeared in Attack Position with a roar.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon ATK 3000 DEF 2500 RNK: 8

"That dragon is one of the most persistent bosses I've ever seen," Joseph muttered. "I'll give you credit for surviving the turn, but you only saved Kogami for a moment. Ulti-Kimunfalcos has 2300 attack points, and Kogami has 2050 Life Points. The result is obvious. Ulti-Kimunfalcos attacks Yuji Kogami directly!" The bird cawed and fired a soundwave at the Link duelist.

Yuji grit his teeth and jumped to his feet before running towards a nearby building. He reached out and grabbed a card off the ruined wall. "Action Spell Card: Sacred Gem! I gain 600 Life Points!"

Yuji Kogami: 2050→2650 LP

The soundwave struck him and sent him flying into the building with a shout. He impacted the wall, only for the wall to crumble. And with it, the building itself collapsed on top of him.

"Yuji!" Kaito cried out.

Joseph grimaced. That… was messier than he had wanted. Abelard meanwhile was staring at the rubble with an almost hopeful look in his eyes.

The three watched as the dust settled… and then one piece was overturned. Yuji gasped as he pushed the concrete off of him, practically covered in dust.

Yuji Kogami: 2650→350 LP

Kaito sighed in relief while Joseph just frowned in consideration. Abelard swore under his breath.

"I guess you'll get another turn after all," Joseph said evenly. "I end my turn. During the End Phase, Apelio's effect wears off."

Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio ATK 4300→3800 DEF 3200→2700

Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos ATK 2300→1800

Yuji gasped for breath as he pushed himself out of the rubble. That had been too close for comfort. But while he had survived, the situation wasn't optimal. He and Kaito had 650 Life Points between them while Abelard and Joseph had the advantage in both monsters and Life Points. If Abelard got his turn next, Invoked Perseid would attack and defeat Kaito's Cipher Dragon, defeating Yuji's partner. At the very least, Yuji needed to destroy Invoked Perseid so Kaito could get his turn, but Yuji couldn't see a way to do that.

Yuji clenched his fist. Being cornered like this… he didn't like it. Feeling powerless in the face of the enemy… it wasn't a situation he liked. But still, he would persevere. He owed that to Serena. To Hanako.

"My turn! Draw!"

"I activate Ritual Beast Onslaught's effect!" Joseph interceded. "I shuffle the banished Lara into my Deck to add the banished Apelio to my hand."

Fuel for Ulti-Gaiapelio's effect. Yuji looked at the three monsters in his hand: Backlinker, Backup Operator, and Balancer Lord. The only card he controlled was Viral World. Backlinker's effect was the most obviously useful, but Ulti-Gaiapelio would negate it immediately. Backup Operator required a Link Monster for its effect to work, and his Life Points were too low to use Balancer Lord's effect.

Yuji grit his teeth. He couldn't see the way forward. Not past Ulti-Gaiapelio's effect. He couldn't see a way to defeat Invoked Perseid. He… he couldn't do anything.

Abelard laughed on seeing Yuji's frustration. "You finally realized it, didn't you? How hopeless your fight is? Why don't you do yourself a favor and surrender so we can card you right now? Honestly, you'll be more useful to Serena and Hanako as a card; that's really the only way you'll be reunited!"

Yuji growled as he raised his head. His temper and frustration were rising. His eyes started to glow-

"Is this all it takes, Kogami?"

He blinked and turned to Kaito, who was glaring at him. "You told me before that rescuing Hanako Zaizen was your responsibility, Yuji Kogami. Is this fool's taunting all it takes for you to give that up?"

Abelard had a retort, but Yuji didn't hear it; he was too focused on Kaito. "We both know what it feels like," the latter continued. "To still stand when others fell. To survive when others did not. It hurts. The guilt of living when they did not, the anger of being unable to save them, the powerlessness…"

Kaito grit his teeth. "That feeling consumes us, until all that is left is guilt and anger. And everything we do is an attempt to escape those feelings." He lowered his head. "I lost myself to my anger; I lashed out at Academia for taking my brother and father from me. I lashed out at Shun. If not for Sayaka's and Shun's words, I would have lost myself. But…"

He raised his head and looked Yuji in the eye. "I cannot deny that anger. I still feel it. Anger at Academia for what they did to my family. To my city. But I am done letting that anger control me. Now, I'll use it. To save my comrades. To pay back the injustices committed against us.

"You have lost people to Academia, same as me. Are you going to lash out, like I did?" Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Or are you going to use that anger? Control it, and save your friends? What are you going to do, Yuji Kogami?"

…

"Friends?" Yuji whispered. He didn't have friends; he had colleagues and allies. Ever since the fire, his emotions had been stunted. Nothing gave him pleasure; nothing made him feel… anything. A broken creature like him couldn't have friends. He didn't have anyone who could understand him. And yet, since arriving in the Standard Dimension, joining in the Lancers, fighting in the City… he had been feeling so much.

Kiryu had taught him the value of satisfaction. And he had enjoyed his duel with Barrett. He had fought alongside Yuya, Sawatari, Serena, Kurosaki, Gongenzaka; he had seen the struggles of the Commons and the Resistance. And the look Kaito was giving him… it was one he had seen in the mirror far too many times.

Yuji's fist stopped shaking. "Yes," he said. "Friends; that is the right word for them, isn't it?" He was angry; angry at Academia for taking Hanako and Serena. He would not feel that way if they weren't important people to him. And when he thought of Academia taking Go or Ryoken, or the Lancers… the same unpleasant feeling bubbled up inside him.

Yuji glared at Abelard and Joseph. "I see now. The Lancers, Go, Ryoken, Hanako; they are my comrades. My friends. And Academia… they hurt them and kidnapped them. I won't forgive Academia for their actions." His eyes narrowed. "I will find Hanako and Serena. And I will save them. Because they are my friends!"

BA-BUMP

Yuji didn't look as Hanako's pendant glowed softly. But he did hear a roar. A roar in his mind from a new entity.

In another dimension, a girl's bracelet glowed a soft and gentle blue.

"I will not lose here!" Yuji declared. "Since my opponents are the only ones that control a monster in the Extra Monster Zone, I can Special Summon Backlinker!" A small blue and red mechanical raptor appeared in Attack Position.

Backlinker ATK 1600 DEF 0 LVL: 3

"Backlinker's monster effect! I Tribute it to send all monsters in the Extra Monster Zones to the Graveyard!"

"Ulti-Gaiapelio's monster effect!" Joseph interceded. "By banishing Spiritual Beast Apelio from my hand, Backlinker's effect is negated!"

"But now you have no cards in your hands," Yuji pointed out. "You cannot negate any more effects. I activate Viral World's effect! I shuffle Backup Operator in my hand into my Deck to add Grid Sweeper to my hand. And since there is an active Field Spell, I can Special Summon Grid Sweeper!" A green and gray triangular robot with lights at its points appeared in Attack Position.

Grid Sweeper ATK 100 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"I summon Balancer Lord!" A humanoid in white armor appeared, wielding a sword and shield.

Balancer Lord ATK 1700 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

Yuji closed his eyes. This is for you, Hanako. And Serena. He opened his eyes. "I overlay the Level 4 Balancer Lord and Grid Sweeper!" He brought his Duel Disk in front of his face, then raised it above his head to release a bolt of blue lightning that struck the sky. From where the bolt struck, the field changed into a black space, streams of blue data in the air.

"W-What the-?" Abelard gasped.

"The hell?" Joseph breathed, head whipping around.

Kaito stared at the scene before smirking. He remembered the last time he had seen something like this.

"With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" Yuji declared. A blue digital cross with four red dots at its corners appeared beneath his monsters, who dissolved into blue data. The particles entered two of the dots, and a red circle appeared beneath the cross. The ends of the cross fired blue beams that converged into a single point, creating a galaxy that exploded with energy.

"The power of space-time that annihilates everything!" Yuji chanted as his Duel Disk kept glowing. "Manifest in the dragon's eyes! Xyz Summon!" The galaxy reformed into a DNA strand before turning into a sphere. "Take flight, Rank 4! Cyberse Tachyon Dragon!"

The sphere reformed into a bipedal dragon with two arms. Its skin was black with dark blue lines running over it, but its chest, shoulders, forearms, legs, and ankles were covered by armor. Said armor was colored black with indigo lines, and the center of its chest had a single indigo sphere, with three indigo rectangles at its left, right, and bottom. The armor on its legs was raised with six edges, the sides being longer than the top and bottom. The wings on its back had black spines with dark blue circles at the joints, and each wing had four black segments with dark blue lights near the ends. Its tail ended in a black spike, with indigo lines on the sides, and spikes lined its spine up to the back of its head. Said head was angular and flat, with two segments on the sides of its jaw that had spikes jutting backwards, and a single spike on the top of its head pointing backward. The top of its head was black with dark blue lines, while the lower half was gray. Four blue eyes rested in its head. With a roar, the dragon spread its wings and posed in the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position, two golden lights circling behind it.

Cyberse Tachyon Dragon ATK 2500 DEF 2000 RNK: 4 OU: 2

"An Xyz Monster?" Abelard gasped. "How is that possible!?"

"He Xyz Summoned?" Joseph said in surprise. He grit his teeth. "This guy's getting powerups like a shonen protagonist!"

Kaito stared at the dragon. "Tachyon…"

Yuji looked at the back of his dragon before refocusing on his opponents. "This duel ends now!" he declared.

Abelard grit his teeth. "That Xyz Monster might be a surprise, but it's weaker than both of our monsters! How do you expect to win with that?"

"Like this." Everyone turned to look at Kaito as he gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cipher Gift!" The card showed Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon roaring behind and above Grenosaurus. "I Tribute a 'Cipher' monster and target an Xyz Monster; that Xyz Monster gains attack points equal to half the original attack points of the Tributed monster and can make up to three attacks during each Battle Phase!"

"What!?" Abelard gasped. Cipher Dragon burst into light, and its particles were then absorbed into Tachyon Dragon, making it roar.

Cyberse Tachyon Dragon ATK 2500→4000

Yuji smirked at Kaito. "Thank you, Kaito." He turned back to his opponents. "It's time to end this. Tachyon Dragon's monster effect! At the start of the Battle Phase, I can detach one Overlay Unit!" One of the lights circling the Xyz Monster lit up, and the dragon roared as the segments of its wings separated and projected dark blue holographic wings.

Cyberse Tachyon Dragon OU: 2→1

"Tachyon Dragon's effect then prevents my opponents from activating cards or effects during this Battle Phase!" Yuji continued. "Frozen Time!" The dragon roared again as its wings emitted indigo light. Invoked Perseid and Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio both groaned as dark blue auras wrapped around their bodies. "Battle! Cyberse Tachyon Dragon attacks Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio! Rising Tachyon Spiral!" The dragon opened its mouth and gathered dark blue energy. It then released the energy in a stream. It hit Ulti-Gaiapelio dead on, making it explode and pushing Joseph back.

Joseph: 950→750 LP

"Tachyon Dragon's additional effect!" Yuji declared. "The turn it activates its effect, when it destroys a monster in battle, that monster is shuffled into its owner's Deck, and my opponent takes damage equal to that monster's original attack points!"

"What!?" Joseph gasped.

"Tachyon Termination!" The dragon launched another beam of dark blue energy. This one continued on and struck Joseph himself, knocking him off his feet with a yell.

Joseph: 750→0 LP

"The hell!?" Abelard gasped.

"Your turn," Yuji growled. "Cyberse Tachyon Dragon attacks Invoked Perseid! Rising Tachyon Spiral!" The dragon fired a beam of blue energy at the humanoid magma monster. It raised its shield and blocked the attack, but the shield immediately began to crack. "Tachyon Dragon's additional effect! Invoked Perseid is shuffled into your Extra Deck, and you take damage equal to its original attack points! Tachyon Termination!" The stream broke through the shield and consumed the wielder.

"N-No, not again!" Abelard screamed in a panic at the approaching wave. "I can't lose aga-!"

BOOM

Abelard yelled out as he was knocked off his feet and hit the ground.

Abelard: 2500→1400→0 LP

Yuji breathed heavily as the platforms and his dragon disappeared. Kaito walked forward and stood above their opponents' unconscious forms. "You were the one who defeated them," he said to Yuji. "Should I card them?"

"…It would be the pragmatic choice," Yuji said softly. "They are both formidable duelists; removing them from Academia's forces would be a smart move."

Kaito raised his Duel Disk and his right hand.

"But would that bring us peace?"

His right hand halted. He looked over his shoulder at the frowning Link duelist.

"Say you card them," he continued. "They surely have friends back in Academia. They learn what you did and swear vengeance. They find and fight us, and you card them, or they card you. At which point, their friends or your friends swear vengeance and hunt down the victor." His frown deepened. "It's a cycle. A circle that never stops. Not until one side is completely eradicated. And when that side is gone, and the victor remains… what then? What do you when your enemies are all gone? What kind of person will you be if you are the only one standing in the end?"

"…"

"I think I understand it now, just a little," Yuji admitted, lowering his head. "What Yuya is trying to achieve. That philosophy of his, of dueling with smiles, where both duelists have fun. Where two duelists connect and understand each other." He smiled softly. And sadly. "We can't keep hating each other, can we? If we keep doing that… will the people we care about recognize us when they see us again?"

Yuji placed his hand on his chest. The anger and frustration were gone, replaced by contemplation. They had burned like an emergency flare, hot and bright, but all too short. But the satisfaction he had felt when dueling Kiryu and Barrett… that had lasted much longer. That satisfaction had been like a fire on a grill. It didn't burn hot like his anger had… but it had stayed. It had left him feeling full. It had left him… feeling complete. This fire… this fire left him feeling empty.

He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.

Kaito kept staring at Yuji before looking back at Abelard and Joseph. He stared at them for a moment longer… then lowered his Duel Disk. He watched as they disappeared into blue particles, returning to Academia.

"Yuji! Kaito!"

The duo turned as Allen, Sayaka, Gongenzaka, Sawatari, Leila, and Anna ran up to them. And following them were several Resistance duelists.

"You won after all!" Sawatari said. "Of course the great me expected no less."

"What are all of you doing back here?" Yuji asked.

"You were supposed to go back to the Duel Lodge," Kaito said.

"We did, and we left Shun there," Leila answered. "But Dr. Arclight patched us up, so we decided to grab reinforcements and come back for you two and Yuya."

Yuji frowned; in all the excitement, he had forgotten about Yuya. "Come on. Let's make up for lost time."

Kaito let the way to where Yuya had last been. To their collective unease, Yuya was surrounded by Academia duelists. But to their even greater surprise, Commander Edo Phoenix was standing next to him, along with the Tyler sisters, and the former was trying to convince the rest of the present Academia forces to surrender.

"Well, that's unexpected," Allen said dumbfoundedly.

"I'd normally hit you for stating the obvious," Anna said in the same tone. "But this time I'll give you a pass."

While Yuya had seemed to succeed in getting Edo and the Tyler sisters on his side, the Mamoru Noro was unconvinced. "The moment Edo declared his rebellion, I officially ascended to the position of the Occupation Force commander. Now, go! Academia Army!"

"Hey, did you forget a few people?" Kaito called out. Mamoru looked over and blanched as the Xyz duelist and Yuji stepped forward.

"Kaito!" Yuya cried out. "Yuji!"

"I'm the one on wanted posters all over Academia," Kaito continued. "You'll need to beat me first, right? Though I don't you can defeat me. Or rather…" He glanced at Yuji. "That you can defeat us."

"You're not a duelist," Yuji observed. "You're not wearing a Duel Disk, and you have no Deck." His eyes narrowed. "The Lancers and Resistance have pledged to put our lives on the line to protect those we call allies. And friends. If you're so confident in Academia's strength, then why don't you test it yourself against us?"

Mamoru somehow managed to get even paler. "N-No… I'd rather pass, I think…" He crumpled to his feet in dejection and tears.

"Everyone, listen!" Edo shouted. "We have been tasked with what is called the Arc Area Project, but it is actually an invasion plan. This is against our ideals! Thus, we must abandon this plan, and work to restore the Xyz Dimension! This is not an order; I permit those who disagree to return to Academia. Those who wish to atone for the crimes we have committed, please stay and help me."

Several of the surrounding students hesitantly lowered their Duel Disks, but Yuji noticed some students clench their jaws. He moved his foot, preparing to leap down to Yuya-

"Edo!"

The silence was broken by a single cry. Everyone turned to look as Takuma Saio ran into the area, flanked by Amelia and Caster. But their appearance wasn't just what surprised everyone; it was the horrified looks on their faces.

"Takuma!" Edo said. "Amelia, Caster! What is it?"

"We have an emergency, Edo!" Takuma said urgently. "The Tactical Squad has arrived. And they've been given authorization for the Final Protocol!"

---

A man stood in the command center of the Heartland Occupation Force. But he wasn't its commander. He had been sent with a special order by the Professor.

The Tyler sisters and Obelisk Force had failed to defeat the Lancers. The person of interest had been retrieved. And Leo had doubts about the loyalty of Commander Phoenix and some of his top subordinates. He had decided to cut his losses. And so he had given the command.

"We are here for one reason, and one reason alone," the man said. He stood tall, taller than most people. His body, underneath his violet Academia uniform, was muscular. His skin was tan, and his black hair had been styled into a sharp point not unlike a horn. His black eyes looked over the screens of the commander center. "The Professor has deemed the Heartland occupation untenable. The Lancers have been allowed to run rampant for too long."

He turned around from the screens to face his squad. The ten duelists under his command. To the side, Rufus and Gregor stood stonily at attention. "The Professor has given me a command. To enact the Final Protocol, and seal off the Xyz Dimension from all dimensional travel." His eyes narrowed. "This will strand the Heartland Occupation Force. But the Professor believes this loss is acceptable.

"As members of the Tactical Squad, our purpose is not to question. It is to obey. It is to undertake the most dangerous missions, the ones with the greatest chance of failure, and see them through with ruthless efficiency. So have we performed before, and so shall we perform today."

Professor Cobra brought his fist to his chest. "Glory to the Academia!"

The members of the Tactical Squad and the two loyal members of Edo Phoenix's Advance Guard returned his salute. "Glory to the Academia!"

---

Yuji Kogami & Kaito Tenjo vs. Abelard & Joseph

This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel and a Battle Royal, with each player having their own field. At the start of the Duel, the Field Spell Card Crossover is activated, as per the rules of an Action Duel. It will allow the players to use Action Cards, but they may only have one in their hand at a time.

Turn 1: Abelard

Abelard activates the Field Spell Card Magical Meltdown. While Magical Meltdown is on the field, the activation of Abelard's cards and effects that include an effect that Fusion Summons a Fusion Monster cannot be negated, and Kaito's and Yuji's cards and effects cannot activate when a monster is Fusion Summoned. As Magical Meltdown was activated, Abelard can add 1 Aleister the Invoker from his Deck to his hand. Abelard Normal Summons Aleister the Invoker (1000/1800/4). As Aleister was Normal Summoned, Abelard adds 1 Invocation from his Deck to his hand. Abelard activates the Spell Card Invocation, which lets him Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster using monsters from his hand as material, but if he would Summon an "Invoked" Fusion Monster, he can also banish monsters from his field and/or any player's GY. Abelard fuses Armageddon Knight in his hand and banishes Aleister from his field to Fusion Summon Invoked Caliga (1000/1800/4) to the right Extra Monster Zone in Defense Position. While Caliga is on the field, each player can only attempt to activate 1 monster effect per turn, and each player can only attack with 1 monster during each Battle Phase. As Invocation is in his GY, Abelard activates its effect, shuffling it into his Deck to add the banished Aleister the Invoker to his hand. Abelard Sets 3 cards. He ends his turn.

Turn 2: Kaito Tenjo

Kaito draws. He activates the Field Spell Card Cipher Zone. As Cipher Zone was activated, Kaito can add 1 "Cipher" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cipher Wing to his hand. Kaito Normal Summons Cipher Wing (1400/1200/4). As he controls Cipher Wing, Kaito can Special Summon the 2nd Cipher Wing (1400/1200/4) from his hand in Attack Position. Kaito activates the Continuous Spell Card Double Exposure. He activates Double Exposure's 1st effect, targeting his 2 Level 4 Cipher Wings and making their Levels become double their current Levels (Cipher Wing: 4→8 each). Kaito overlays his 2 Level 8 Cipher Wings to Xyz Summon Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon (3000/2500/8/2) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Kaito activates Cipher Dragon's effect, detaching 1 Overlay Unit (Cipher Dragon: 2 OU→1 OU) to target 1 face-up monster Abelard controls and take control of it until the End Phase. Abelard attempts to activate his Set card, but while Cipher Zone is on the field, Kaito's opponents cannot activate cards or effects in response to the effect activations of his "Cipher" Xyz Monsters. Kaito targets and takes control of Invoked Caliga. Caliga's name becomes Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, its ATK becomes the same as Cipher Dragon's (Cipher Dragon/Caliga: 1000→3000), it cannot attack directly, and its effects are negated. As Kaito controls 2 "Cipher" monsters with the same name, he activates Cipher Zone's effect to target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card Abelard controls. He targets and destroys Abelard's Set Divine Wrath.

Cipher Dragon attacks Abelard directly. Abelard activates his Set Trap Card Damage Diet, which halves all damage he takes this turn. The attack continues (Abelard: 4000→2500 LP). As he controls 2 "Cipher" monsters with the same name, Kaito activates the Spell Card Cipher Send-Off, which lets him Tribute 1 "Cipher" monster to draw 2 cards. He Tributes Caliga treated as Cipher Dragon and draws. Kaito Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn.

Turn 3: Joseph

Joseph draws. He activates the Spell Card Foolish Burial, which sends a monster from his Deck to the GY. He sends Spiritual Beast Pettlephin to the GY. Joseph Normal Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Lara (100/2000/1). As Lara was Normal Summoned, Joseph can Special Summon 1 "Ritual Beast" monster from his GY. He Special Summons Pettlephin (0/2000/4) in Defense Position. Joseph activates Pettlephin's effect to banish 1 "Ritual Beast" card from his hand to target 1 card Kaito controls and return it to his hand. He banishes Spiritual Beast Apelio and targets Cipher Dragon, but Kaito chains his Set Trap Card Cipher Prism Armor, targeting and equipping it to Cipher Dragon. The monster equipped with Cipher Prism Armor is unaffected by Kaito's opponents' monster effects, and Kaito's opponents cannot declare attacks, except to attack Cipher Dragon. Pettlephin's effect resolves, but Cipher Dragon is unaffected. Kaito then activates Double Exposure's 2nd effect, targeting Pettlephin, then Lara, and for the rest of the turn, Pettlephin is treated as having the same name as Lara. Joseph uses Lara and Pettlephin treated as Lara to Link Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos (1800/2/↙↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Joseph activates Ulti-Kimunfalcos's effect, banishing Lara from his GY to Normal Summon 1 "Ritual Beast" monster from his hand. He Normal Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Wen (1500/1000/3). As Wen was Normal Summoned, Joseph can Special Summon 1 banished "Ritual Beast" monster. He Special Summons Spiritual Beast Apelio (1800/200/4) in Attack Position. Joseph activates Apelio's effect, banishing Pettlephin from his GY, and for the rest of the turn, all "Ritual Beast" monsters Joseph controls gain 500 ATK/DEF (Apelio: 1800→2300/200→700) (Ulti-Kimunfalcos: 1800→2300) (Wen: 1500→2000/1000→1500). Joseph banishes Apelio and Wen to Special Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio (2600→3100/400→900/6) from his Extra Deck to Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position via its effect. "Ritual Beast" monsters Ulti-Kimunfalcos points to gain 600 ATK/DEF (Ulti-Apelio: 3100→3700/900→1500). Joseph activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Ritual Beast's Roar, which lets him target 1 "Ritual Beast" monster whose current ATK is different from its original ATK, then reduce the ATK of his opponent's monsters by the difference until the end of the turn. Joseph targets Ulti-Apelio (Cipher Dragon: 3000→1900).

Ulti-Apelio attacks Cipher Dragon. When Ulti-Apelio attacks, it is unaffected by other cards' effects until the end of the Damage Step (Ulti-Apelio: 3700→2600/1500→400). Cipher Dragon is destroyed (Kaito: 4000→3300 LP) (Ulti-Apelio: 2600→3700/400→1500). As Cipher Prism Armor was sent to the GY while equipped to a monster, Kaito can add 1 "Cipher" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cipher Refractor to his hand. As his "Cipher" Xyz Monster was destroyed by battle while it had an Overlay Unit, Kaito activates his Set Trap Card Cipher Spectrum, targeting Cipher Dragon in his GY. Cipher Dragon is Special Summoned (3000/2500/8) in Attack Position, then Kaito Special Summons a 2nd Cipher Dragon (3000/2500/8) from his Extra Deck to the right Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Ulti-Kimunfalcos attacks Yuji directly. As Yuji's opponent declared a direct attack, he Special Summons Lockout Gardna (1000/1000/3) in Attack Position. A replay occurs and Kimunfalcos attacks Lockout Gardna, but Lockout Gardna cannot be destroyed by battle the turn it is Summoned by its effect (Yuji: 4000→2700 LP). Joseph Sets 1 card. He ends his turn, and Apelio's effect ends (Ulti-Apelio: 3700→3200/1500→1000) (Ulti-Kimunfalcos: 2300→1800).

Turn 4: Yuji Kogami

Yuji draws. He activates the Field Spell Card Viral World. While Viral World is on the field, Yuji's Cyberse and Dragon monsters cannot be destroyed by his opponents' card effects. Yuji activates Viral World's effect to shuffle 1 Cyberse or Dragon monster in his hand into his Deck, then add 1 Cyberse or Dragon monster with a different original name from his Deck to his hand. He shuffles Viral Hydra into his Deck and adds Clock Wyvern to his hand. Yuji Normal Summons Clock Wyvern (1800/1000/4). As Clock Wyvern was Summoned, Yuji halves its ATK (Clock Wyvern: 1800→900) to Special Summon 1 Clock Token (0/0/1) in Defense Position. Yuji uses Lockout Gardna to Link Summon Link Disciple (500/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. He uses Clock Wyvern to Link Summon Link Devotee (500/1/↑) to Link Disciple's Link Marker. As Link Devotee was Special Summoned, Yuji cannot Link Summon Link-3 or higher Link Monsters for the rest of the turn. Yuji activates Link Disciple's effect to Tribute a monster at its Link Marker to draw 1 card, then place 1 card in his hand on the bottom of his Deck. He Tributes Link Devotee, draws, then places that card on the bottom of his Deck. As the co-linked Link Devotee was Tributed, Yuji Special Summons 2 Link Tokens (0/0/1 each) in Defense Position. Yuji uses 1 Link Token and Link Disciple to Link Summon Clock Spartoi (800/2/↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Clock Spartoi was Link Summoned, Yuji adds Cynet Fusion from his Deck to his hand. Yuji uses Clock Token and Link Token to Link Summon Cyberse Connector (1000/2/←→) to Clock Spartoi's bottom Link Marker. As a monster was Special Summoned to Clock Spartoi's Link Marker, Yuji targets and Special Summons Clock Wyvern (1800/1000/4) from his GY to Cyberse Connector's right Link Marker in Attack Position, but its effects are negated. As a monster was Summoned to its Link Marker, Cyberse Connector's effect activates, letting Yuji target 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster in his GY and add it to his hand. He adds Lockout Gardna to his hand. Yuji activates the Spell Card Cynet Fusion, fusing Clock Wyvern, Cyberse Connector, and Clock Spartoi to Fusion Summon Cyberse Clock Dragon (2500/2000/7) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. As Clock Dragon was Fusion Summoned, Yuji can send cards from the top of his Deck to the GY, equal to the combined Link Ratings of its Fusion Materials, and for each card sent, Clock Dragon gains 1000 ATK, also Yuji's other monsters cannot attack. Yuji sends 4 cards to the GY (Clock Dragon: 2500→6500). As the Link Summoned Cyberse Connector was sent to the GY, for the rest of the turn, if Yuji's Cyberse monster attacks a Defense Position monster, it inflicts piercing battle damage. Joseph activates Ulti-Kimunfalcos's effect, returning it to his Extra Deck to Special Summon 2 banished monsters (1 "Ritual Beast Tamer" monster and 1 "Spiritual Beast" monster) in Defense Position. He Special Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Lara (100/2000/1) and Spiritual Beast Pettlephin (0/2000/4) (Ulti-Apelio: 3200→2600/1000→400). Joseph activates his Set Quick-Play Spell Card Ritual Beast's Bond, which lets him banish 2 "Ritual Beast" monsters he controls to Special Summon 1 "Ritual Beast" monster from his Extra Deck, ignoring its summoning conditions. He banishes Lara and Pettlephin to Special Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin (200/2800/6) to the Extra Monster Zone in Defense Position.

Clock Dragon attacks Abelard directly. Joseph finds and activates the Action Spell Card Battle Change. As Yuji's monster declared an attack, Joseph can change the attack target to 1 monster Joseph controls. He changes the attack target to Ulti-Pettlephin. Abelard finds and activates the Action Spell Card Miracle, targeting Ulti-Pettlephin. Ulti-Pettlephin cannot be destroyed by this battle, and all battle damage is halved. The attack continues, but Ulti-Pettlephin isn't destroyed (Joseph: 4000→2150 LP). Yuji Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 5: Abelard

Abelard draws. He activates the Spell Card Pot of Greed and draws 2 cards. He then activates his Set Trap Card Reckless Greed, drawing 2 cards, but he must skip his next 2 Draw Phases. Abelard activates the Spell Card Foolish Burial and sends Homunculus the Alchemic Being from his Deck to the GY. He Normal Summons Aleister the Invoker (1000/1800/4). Its effect activates, and Abelard adds Invocation from his Deck to his hand. By banishing the Light Homunculus the Alchemic Being from his GY, Abelard Special Summons Diana the Light Spirit (1700/100/4) in Attack Position. Abelard uses Aleister the Invoker and Diana the Light Spirit to Link Summon Aleister the Invoker of Madness (1800/2/↙↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Abelard activates the Spell Card Invocation and banishes Aleister the Invoker from his GY and the Light Cipher Wing from Kaito's GY to Fusion Summon Invoked Mechaba (2500/2100/9) to Aleister the Invoker of Madness's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position. As a monster was Fusion Summoned, Aleister the Invoker of Madness's effect activates, and Abelard discards Spirit of Flames to add 1 Invocation from his Deck to his hand. Abelard activates the Spell Card Invocation, banishing Aleister the Invoker of Madness, which is treated as Aleister the Invoker, from his field, Spirit of Flames from his GY, and Link Disciple from Yuji's GY to Fusion Summon Invoked Perseid (2900/2100/8) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Abelard activates the effect of Invocation in his GY, shuffling it into his Deck to add the banished Aleister the Invoker to his hand. Abelard activates the effect of Aleister the Invoker in his hand, discarding it and targeting Perseid to increase its ATK/DEF by 1000 until the end of the turn. As his opponent activated a card or effect that would increase the ATK of exactly 1 monster while he controls a "Cipher" monster, Kaito activates the effect of Cipher Refractor in his hand, discarding it to negate the activation of Aleister the Invoker's effect.

Perseid can make up to 3 attacks on Abelard's opponent's monsters during each Battle Phase. Perseid attacks Clock Dragon. When Perseid attacks a Special Summoned monster, that monster's effects are negated and its ATK is halved during the Damage Step (Clock Dragon: 6500→1250). The attack continues and Clock Dragon is destroyed (Yuji: 2700→1050 LP). Perseid attacks the 1st Cipher Dragon (Cipher Dragon: 3000→1500). Cipher Dragon is destroyed (Kaito: 3300→1900 LP). Perseid attacks the 2nd Cipher Dragon (Cipher Dragon: 3000→1500). Cipher Dragon is destroyed (Kaito: 1900→400 LP). Mechaba attacks Yuji directly. As Abelard's monster declared a direct attack, Yuji Special Summons Lockout Gardna (1000/1000/3) in Attack Position. A replay occurs and Mechaba attacks Lockout Gardna. Yuji finds an Action Card. The attack continues, and as he would take battle damage, Yuji activates the Action Spell Card Damage Banish, reducing the battle damage to 0. Lockout Gardna is not destroyed due to its effect. Abelard Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 6: Kaito Tenjo

Kaito draws. Abelard activates his Set Trap Card Storming Afterlife Reversal, which lets him target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card his opponent controls, then add 1 Monster Card from his GY to his hand. He targets and destroys Cipher Zone, then adds Aleister the Invoker from his GY to his hand. Kaito activates the effect of Cipher Send-Off in his GY, banishing it to add 1 "Cipher" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cipher Support Unit to his hand. Kaito activates the Equip Spell Card Cipher Support Unit, which lets him Special Summon 1 "Cipher" monster from his GY in Defense Position and equip it with Cipher Support Unit. He Special Summons Cipher Dragon (3000/2500/8). Kaito performs a Rank-Up Xyz Change with Cipher Dragon to Xyz Summon Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Blade Dragon (3200/2800/9/1) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. As Cipher Support Unit was sent to the GY because the equipped Cipher Dragon was used as Xyz Material, Kaito can attach 1 "Cipher" monster in his hand or GY to Cipher Blade Dragon as an Overlay Unit. He attaches Cipher Refractor to Cipher Blade Dragon (Cipher Blade Dragon: 1 OU→2 OU) Kaito activates Cipher Blade Dragon's effect to detach 1 Overlay Unit (Cipher Blade Dragon: 2 OU→1 OU), then target and destroy 1 card on the field, and as Cipher Refractor is attached to Cipher Blade Dragon, Kaito's opponents cannot activate cards or effects in response to its effect activations. He targets and destroys Mechaba.

Cipher Blade Dragon attacks Ulti-Apelio. Joseph activates Ulti-Apelio's effect, returning it to his Extra Deck to target 2 of his banished monsters (1 "Ritual Beast Tamer" monster and 1 "Spiritual Beast" monster) and Special Summon them in Defense Position. Joseph Special Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Lara (100/2000/1) and Spiritual Beast Pettlephin (0/2000/4). A replay occurs, and Cipher Blade Dragon attacks Lara. Kaito activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Xyz Breakthrough, targeting Cipher Blade Dragon. For the rest of the turn, if Cipher Blade Dragon attacks a Defense Position monster, his opponent takes piercing damage. The attack continues and Lara is destroyed (Joseph: 2150→950 LP). Kaito Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 7: Joseph

Joseph draws. He activates Ulti-Pettlephin's effect, returning it to his Extra Deck to target 2 of his banished monsters (1 "Ritual Beast Tamer" monster and 1 "Spiritual Beast" monster) and Special Summon them in Defense Position. He Special Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Wen (1500/1000/3) and Spiritual Beast Apelio (1800/200/4). Joseph activates Apelio's effect, banishing Lara from his GY, and for the rest of the turn, all "Ritual Beast" monsters Joseph controls gain 500 ATK/DEF (Apelio: 1800→2300/200→700) (Pettlephin: 0→500/2000→2500) (Wen: 1500→2000/1000→1500). Kaito activates Double Exposure's 2nd effect, targeting Wen, and then Apelio, and for the rest of the turn, Wen is treated as having the same name as Apelio. Joseph uses Pettlephin and Wen to Link Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Kimunfalcos (1800→2300/2/↙↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Joseph Normal Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Elder (200/1000/2). Joseph banishes Apelio and Elder to Special Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk (1400→1900/1600→2100/6) to Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position via its effect. "Ritual Beast" monsters linked to Ulti-Kimunfalcos gain 600 ATK/DEF (Ulti-Cannahawk: 1900→2500/2100→2700). Joseph activates Ulti-Cannahawk's effect to target 2 of his banished "Ritual Beast" cards, return them to the GY, then add 1 "Ritual Beast" card from his Deck to his hand. He returns Apelio and Elder to his GY to add a 2nd Ritual Beast Tamer Lara to his hand. As Elder was Normal Summoned this turn, Joseph can Normal Summon 1 "Ritual Beast" monster during his Main Phase this turn. He Normal Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Lara (100→600/2000→2500/1). As Lara was Normal Summoned, Joseph can Special Summon 1 "Ritual Beast" monster in his GY. He Special Summons Spiritual Beast Pettlephin (0→500/2000→2500/4) in Defense Position. Joseph banishes Lara and Pettlephin to Special Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Rampengu (2400→3500/600→1700/6) to Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position via its effect. Joseph activates Ulti-Rampengu's effect to banish 1 "Ritual Beast" monster from his Deck, then add 1 "Ritual Beast" card from his Deck to his hand. He banishes Spiritual Beast Cannahawk and adds Ritual Beast Onslaught from his Deck to his hand. Joseph activates Ulti-Cannahawk's effect to return it to his Extra Deck, then target 2 of his banished monsters (1 "Ritual Beast Tamer" monster and 1 "Spiritual Beast" monster) and Special Summon them in Defense Position. Joseph Special Summons Ritual Beast Tamer Lara (100→600/2000→2500/1) and Spiritual Beast Cannahawk (1400→1900/600→1100/4). Joseph banishes Ulti-Rampengu, Lara, and Cannahawk to Special Summon Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio (3200→4300/2100→3200/10) to Ulti-Kimunfalcos's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position via its effect. Joseph activates the Equip Spell Card Ritual Beast Onslaught, equipping it to Ulti-Gaiapelio. Kaito and Yuji cannot target Joseph's "Ritual Beast" monsters for attacks or with card effects, except Ulti-Gaiapelio, and it can make up to 2 attacks on monsters during each Battle Phase. Joseph activates the effect of Ritual Beast Onslaught, shuffling the banished Cannahawk into his Deck to add the banished Lara to his hand.

Ulti-Gaiapelio attacks Lockout Gardna. Yuji activates his Set Trap Card System Overdrive. As his Cyberse monster is battling, he can increase its ATK by the ATK of the monster it is battling during damage calculation only. As a Trap Card was activated, Joseph activates Ulti-Gaiapelio's effect, banishing Lara from his hand to negate the activation of System Overdrive and destroy it. Kaito finds and activates the Action Spell Card Hyper Nutrition, targeting Ulti-Gaiapelio. 1 player gains LP equal to Ulti-Gaiapelio's ATK, but no player takes effect damage for the rest of the turn. He chooses Yuji (Yuji: 1050→5350 LP). The attack continues and Lockout Gardna is destroyed (Yuji: 5350→2050 LP). Ulti-Gaiapelio attacks Cipher Blade Dragon. Yuji activates the effect of System Overdrive in his GY, banishing it and targeting Cipher Blade Dragon. Cipher Blade Dragon gains 1000 ATK until the end of the turn (Cipher Blade Dragon: 3200→4200). The attack continues and Cipher Blade Dragon is destroyed (Kaito: 400→300 LP). As the Xyz Summoned Cipher Blade Dragon was destroyed by battle and sent to the GY, Kaito can target and Special Summon Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon (3000/2500/8) from his GY in Attack Position. Ulti-Kimunfalcos attacks Yuji directly. Yuji finds and activates the Action Spell Card Sacred Gem, increasing his LP by 600 (Yuji: 2050→2650 LP). The attack continues (Yuji: 2650→350 LP). Joseph ends his turn, and Apelio's effect ends (Ulti-Gaiapelio: 4300→3800/3200→2700) (Ulti-Kimunfalcos: 2300→1800).

Turn 8: Yuji Kogami

Yuji draws. Joseph activates Ritual Beast Onslaught's effect, shuffling the banished Lara into his Deck to add the banished Apelio to his hand. As only his opponent controls a monster in the Extra Monster Zone, Yuji Special Summons Backlinker (1600/0/3) in Attack Position. Yuji activates Backlinker's effect, Tributing it to send all monsters in the Extra Monster Zones to the GY. Joseph chains Ulti-Gaiapelio's effect, banishing Apelio from his hand to negate the activation of Backlinker's effect. Yuji activates the effect of Viral World, shuffling Backup Operator in his hand into his Deck, then adding Grid Sweeper to his hand. As there is a Field Spell in the Field Zone, Yuji Special Summons Grid Sweeper (100/2000/4) in Attack Position. Yuji Normal Summons Balancer Lord (1700/1200/4). Yuji overlays his Level 4 Balancer Lord and Grid Sweeper to Xyz Summon Cyberse Tachyon Dragon (2500/2000/4/2) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Kaito activates his Set Trap Card Cipher Gift, Tributing Cipher Dragon and targeting Tachyon Dragon. Tachyon Dragon gains ATK equal to half of Cipher Dragon's original ATK and can make up to 3 attacks during each Battle Phase this turn (Tachyon Dragon: 2500→4000).

At the start of the Battle Phase, Yuji activates Tachyon Dragon's effect, detaching 1 Overlay Unit (Tachyon Dragon: 2 OU→1 OU). Abelard and Joseph cannot activate cards or effects during the Battle Phase this turn, and if Tachyon Dragon destroys a monster by battle, that monster is shuffled into the Deck and Yuji's opponent takes damage equal to that monster's original ATK. Tachyon Dragon attacks and destroys Ulti-Gaiapelio (Joseph: 950→750 LP). Joseph takes damage equal to Ulti-Gaiapelio's original ATK (Joseph: 750→0 LP). Tachyon Dragon attacks and destroys Invoked Perseid (Abelard: 2500→1400 LP). Abelard takes damage equal to Perseid's original ATK (Abelard: 1400→0 LP). Kaito and Yuji win.

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Kaito Tenjo:

Cipher Refractor
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Machine/Effect] ATK 800 DEF 1300 Level: 4
When a card or effect is activated that would change the ATK of exactly 1 monster on the field, while you control a "Cipher" monster (Quick Effect): You can discard this card; negate the activation. You can only use this effect of "Cipher Refractor" once per turn. A "Cipher" Xyz Monster that has this card as material gains this effect.
-Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of this card's effects.

Cipher Zone Field Spell Card
When this card is activated: You can add 1 "Cipher" monster from your Deck to your hand. Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the effect activations of your "Cipher" Xyz Monsters. Once per turn, if you control 2 "Cipher" monsters with the same name: You can target 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls; destroy it. You can only activate 1 "Cipher Zone" per turn.

Cipher Send-Off Normal Spell Card
If you control 2 or more "Cipher" monsters with the same name: Tribute 1 "Cipher" monster you control; draw 2 cards. You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 "Cipher" card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use 1 "Cipher Send-Off" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

Cipher Prism Armor Normal Trap Card
Target 1 "Cipher" monster you control; equip this card to it. It is unaffected by your opponent's monster effects. Your opponent cannot declare attacks, except to attack the equipped monster. If this card is sent to the GY while equipped to a monster: You can add 1 "Cipher" monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only control 1 "Cipher Prism Armor".

Cipher Support Unit Equip Spell Card
Activate this card by targeting 1 "Cipher" monster in your GY; Special Summon it in Defense Position and equip it with this card. If this card is sent to the GY because the equipped monster was used as Xyz Material: You can attach 1 "Cipher" monster in your hand or GY to 1 "Cipher" Xyz Monster you control as material. You can only use each effect of "Cipher Support Unit" once per turn.

Xyz Breakthrough Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 Xyz Monster you control; if that monster attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent. During your Standby Phase, if you control an Xyz monster, while this card is in your GY: You can add this card to your hand. You can only use each effect of "Xyz Breakthrough" once per turn.

Cipher Gift Normal Trap Card
Tribute 1 "Cipher" monster you control, then target 1 Xyz Monster on the field; until the end of the turn, that monster gains ATK equal to half the Tributed monster's original ATK and can make up to 3 attacks during each Battle Phase. You can only use 1 "Cipher Gift" per turn.

Joseph

Ritual Beast Ulti-Rampengu
Attribute: WIND Type: [Beast/Fusion/Effect] ATK 2400 DEF 600 Level: 6
1 "Ritual Beast Tamer" monster + 1 "Spiritual Beast" monster
Must be Special Summoned (from your Extra Deck) by banishing the above cards you control, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. (You do not use "Polymerization".) Once per turn: You can banish 1 "Ritual Beast" monster from your Deck; add 1 "Ritual Beast" card from your Deck to your hand. (Quick Effect): You can return this card you control to the Extra Deck, then target 2 of your banished monsters (1 "Ritual Beast Tamer" monster and 1 "Spiritual Beast" monster); Special Summon them in Defense Position.

Ritual Beast's Roar Quick-Play Spell Card
Target 1 "Ritual Beast" monster who's current ATK is different from its original ATK; all monsters your opponent currently controls lose ATK equal to the difference between that monster's current ATK and original ATK until the end of the turn. You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 "Ritual Beast" monster that is banished or in your GY to your hand. You can only use 1 effect of "Ritual Beast's Roar" per turn, and only once that turn.

Ritual Beast Onslaught Equip Spell Card
Equip only to a "Ritual Beast" monster. Your opponent cannot target "Ritual Beast" monsters you control for attacks or card effects, except the equipped monster. The equipped monster can make up to 2 attacks on your opponent's monsters during each Battle Phase. (Quick Effect): You can shuffle 1 of your banished "Ritual Beast" monsters into the Deck; add 1 of your banished "Ritual Beast" monsters with a different name to your hand. You can only use this effect of "Ritual Beast Onslaught" once per turn.

Yuji Kogami:

Cyberse Connector
Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 1000 LINK-2 ←→
2 Cyberse monsters
If a monster(s) is Normal or Special Summoned to a zone(s) this card points to (except during the Damage Step): You can target 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster in your GY; add it to your hand. If this Link Summoned card is sent from your field to the GY: You can activate this effect; for the rest of the turn, if your Cyberse monster attacks your opponent's Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage. You can only use each effect of "Cyberse Connector" once per turn.

Cyberse Tachyon Dragon
Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Xyz/Effect] ATK 2500 DEF 2000 Rank: 4
2 Level 4 monsters
While you control a Link Monster(s), your opponent's monsters cannot target other monsters you control for attacks, also your opponent cannot target other monsters you control with card effects. At the start of the Battle Phase: You can detach 1 material from this card; your opponent cannot activate cards or effects during the Battle Phase, and if this card destroys your opponent's monster by battle, you can shuffle that monster into the Deck and inflict damage to your opponent equal to its original ATK. You can only use this effect of "Cyberse Tachyon Dragon" once per turn.

Viral World Field Spell Card
Cyberse and Dragon monsters you control cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects. You can only use each of the following effects of "Viral World" once per turn.
-You can shuffle 1 Cyberse or Dragon monster from, your hand into the Deck; add 1 Cyberse or Dragon monster with a different original name from your Deck to your hand.
-You can target 1 face-up monster on the field; until the end of the turn, that monster is treated as a Level 5 monster.

System Overdrive Normal Trap Card
When an opponent's monster declares an attack on a Cyberse monster you control: Your monster gains ATK equal to your opponent's monster's ATK until the end of the Damage Step. You can banish this card from your GY and target 1 monster on the field; it gains 1000 ATK until the end of the turn. You can only use each effect of "System Overdrive" once per turn.

Abelard:

Invoked Perseid
Attribute: FIRE Type: [/Fusion/Effect] ATK 2900 DEF 2100 Level: 8
"Aleister the Invoker" + 1 EARTH monster + 1 FIRE monster
Cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects. While face-up on the field, this card is also EARTH-Attribute. Can make up to 3 attacks on your opponent's monsters during each Battle Phase. If this card attacks your opponent's Special Summoned monster: You can negate that monster's effects and halve its ATK during the Damage Step only.

Storming Afterlife Reversal Normal Trap Card (name credit to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC)
Target 1 Spell/Trap your opponent controls; destroy it, then you can add 1 monster from your GY to your hand. You can only use 1 "Storming Afterlife Reversal" per turn.

Action Cards

Hyper Nutrition Action Spell Card
Target 1 face-up monster; 1 player gains LP equal to that monster's current ATK, also for the rest of this turn after this card resolves, no player takes effect damage.

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Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: The Fifth Circuit. Chapter 47 – The Tactical Squad

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Question of the Chapter

What are your thoughts on Cyberse Tachyon Dragon? I based its design off of Firewall eXceed Dragon, Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon, and Segmental Dragon.

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Author's Notes

A big thank you to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC for helping with the duel and OC cards. And before I discuss the duel, I wanted to say this: I believe I said once that Yuji would have a duel with Kaito. I do not recall ever saying Yuji would have a duel against Kaito.

Well, this chapter was shorter than the last one, but still longer than I expected. I ended up creating new OC Fusion Monsters for Abelard and Joseph; writing duels is no fun if the antagonists don't evolve too, right? Kaito got a lot of new support – which shouldn't be surprising, considering how small the Cipher archetype actually is – and got the chance to summon Cipher Blade Dragon. And most importantly, Yuji got his Xyz Monster.

But the biggest takeaway should be Yuji's development as a person I feel. He's finally admitted to himself that he considers the Lancers, Go, and Hanako as his friends, and for hurting his friends, he lashed out at Abelard and Joseph. And then we got the other big moment. I understand that people want revenge and the bad guys to suffer. Laser-Guided Karma and Catharsis Factor are tropes for a reason. But one of the lessons of ARC-V, a lesson I don't think they always succeeded in getting across, was how self-destructive revenge can be. We've seen this in other works, like Fullmetal Alchemist, Naruto, and FE: Three Houses. What seeking revenge did to characters, how it changed them, and left them worse off. Hatred and anger can burn extremely hot, but they're momentary. You can't maintain them the way you can more positive emotions like love.

And in understanding that lesson, Yuji came one step closer to understanding Yuya. Understanding and connecting to people is a two-way street; Yuya doesn't just need to understand Yuji. Yuji also needs to understand Yuya. And here, he's taken the first step towards that.

And then there's the end, with the reveal of the Tactical Squad and their commander: Professor Cobra. Watchers of the GX dub know him as Professor Thelonius Viper. What is the Final Protocol? That'll be for the next chapter. But the fight with the Tactical Squad will take up the next four chapters, which will also end the Xyz Arc. And just so you all know, I'll be writing 10 duels for those 4 chapters, and I'll be going on vacation for the last third of December. All but one of those duels will be only 5 turns long at most, but still; it's ten duels.

Thank you once again for reading Fifth Circuit. I'm sorry if I sounded preachy above, but I wanted to convey a point, and I hope I got that point across. Please leave a review, and look forward to just who is in the Tactical Squad.