With this, the first batch of Visions is officially complete! And you know what that means, right? Next up, Synchro land and card games on motorcycles!

"To love someone" can mean many things due to love's oddity of taking many shapes and forms at once. To some, it's a display of affection. To others, it's a way to fill a void in one's heart. Then there were those who see it as an attempt to satisfy one's needs. And so on, so on...

Throughout her countless eons of servitude to her Mistress, The Many-Mother had the opportunity to witness a plethora of types of love, so many, in fact, that she's confused how such a feeble, primordial emotion had as many forms as there are stars in the sky. On top of that, to this day, she wasn't sure if she could define them as love.

The Many-Mother noticed the way her Mistress and Him Who Is Not to be Named act when they interact with one another, how their postures seem to relax and they talk more freely. That wasn't love, right? Or maybe it was, just...in its own, unique way? How confusing.

Or when her Mistress mated with the Beyond-One? That wasn't love, no. Then...what? Why did they bed? Lust, or maybe a strictly professional reason? She won't lie the Twin Blasphemies came in great help here and there so that last one would make sense.

There was a type of love that, undeniably, was love: you feel it towards those who share the same blood, in other words, your family. The Many-Mother always feels it whenever she tends to her dear children and will continue to do so until the day she draws her last breath.

As their mother, she wanted the best for them. She wanted them to live a happy and peaceful life. But that was impossible in a world like theirs, where order was continuously put in question and disrupted. That's why The Many-Mother joined her Mistress to begin with, in order to put an end to the madness.

They were taking their baby steps towards a better future, but at what cost? The Many-Mother wasn't a strong fighter. She could hold her ground against an opponent, sure, but her chances at victory weren't always stellar. Her children? They were strong, just like her. However, no matter how many soldiers she gave birth to, they would always die, be it because of battle or age.

She had to endure so much pain... She could remember all the deaths of her dear children. No, scrap that; it wasn't an option. She can't forget. Honestly, it was getting tiring seeing her children fall one after the other. She started regretting her choice, which her Mistress noticed.

She told The Many-Mother she could leave, whenever she wanted, she won't force her to stay. On second thought, she said the same thing when she joined her, too. Was it kindness? Or she simply didn't care, considering the vast number of allies she had? Was it...love? It's impossible to tell what's on that deity's mind half of the time.

But The Many-Mother knew her Mistress was good at heart, another reason why she sided with her. Their bond was forged on aligned intentions, but it grew into a strong camaraderie. Neither of them wanted to part ways, but The Many-Mother made up her mind.

Living in solitude and hiding didn't matter, as long as her children could live a quiet life with her.

She came to regret that choice as well... I narrowed my eyes in sympathy, standing beside the Mistress and watching The Many-Mother walk away from us. That's why she's fighting by my side now. However...what made her choose me and not her former master...?

A melodic yet deep giggle reached my ears, causing me to stiffen. This was a Vision, so the Mistress couldn't react to my thoughts...right? She was amused by something else, surely. My head turned in her direction out of curiosity, but instead of her, I saw a succubus, in the middle of working her magic on a man in bed.

What was love to a demon who drew power from sexual intercourse? Nothing special, trivial, with no merit whatsoever. This succubus, though, was a little different from her sisters and incubi brothers. She holds love in high regard; to her, it was something beautiful, something worth fighting for, something everyone had the right to experience in their lives.

Then why did love become so ugly and rotten? It's slowly losing its glamour. Envy, hate, lust—they still haven't tired themselves out with those thoughts? The succubus sighed in exasperation. Her sisters and brothers, and the demon race in general, was one thing, but humans? Why can't they think...as normal humans should? Were they competing with demons or something?

And if that wasn't enough, her own nature as a succubus got on her nerves. All this meaningless sex just to avoid crippling down...! True, she could live without it, but she wouldn't even have the strength to stand on her legs. Like it or not, she was bound to it.

Not once did she wish to change herself, don't get her wrong. She liked what and who she was. Liking something that goes against your own nature happens, which she accepted a long time ago. But...she would like to feel love at least once in her life, that "true" love. The type that makes butterflies flutter in your stomach, that makes even the strongest blush and stutter, that makes everyone laugh and equals.

How cheesy. the succubus chuckled at her wish. She then noticed the man under her was breathing heavily, drawing out another yet not so innocent chuckle from her. "Oya? Spent already? For your information, I'm only getting started~."

I blinked twice, now awake and with my head throbbing like crazy. I greeted the new day with a "Dammit..." like yesterday and stood up, dressing up and making the bed on autopilot.

With that, I had a Vision involving all my Mythorrors, except Legacy of the Mythorror Familia and Shadow but that came as no surprise. Familia wasn't an actual being but a "concept", while Shadow...well, calling them a living being was a stretch. They never talked or emitted emotions; they're an empty shadow that can only carry out orders.

What about Demiurge and his followers? Will I get Visions with them, too...? Despite the fact a week already flew by, we—actually, my Mythorrors weren't trying to, so I didn't manage to get any closer to them. Knowing their past would help me a great deal in that. But why was I having these Visions to begin with? Was it thanks to my ability to interact with Duel Spirits? My tie with Demiurge? Something else entirely?

As I was heading to the kitchen, a hand was suddenly placed on my shoulder, causing me to quickly turn around and see it was Yuzu.

She looked mildly concerned. "Vince...?" she sounded like she had just repeated herself.

"S-Sorry, I was absorbed in my thoughts." I scratched the back of my neck with a forced smile, but I doubt it will fool her. "You were saying?"

Yuzu slowly removed her hand and narrowed her eyes. She and Shuzo immediately noticed something was wrong since my first Vision, but I always told them I had a nightmare and didn't want to talk about it—which wasn't a lie, mind you. They promised to lend me their ears whenever I felt ready to tackle this matter, which was incredibly kind of them, but that didn't stop them from worrying. In fact, seeing me in a horrible state each morning for a week caused their concerns to triple!

"I was thinking of making some tea." she smiled faintly- and in sympathy- as she said that. "Would you care to join me?"

"Yuzu..." my smile became genuine. There she goes again, being all kind and supportive. It's about time I repay her and Shuzo's kindness by being honest, or as much as I could be, at least. Revealing them my Visions could freak them out, so we'll stick with simple 'nightmares'. "Yes, thank you."

...

"Why were you keeping all that to yourself?" Yuzu muttered in exasperation once I've given a very brief summary of my 'nightmares'. I stared at my tea in silence, left untouched and now cold like Yuzu's, not knowing what to say.

I accidentally left my cards upstairs, which meant the spirits of my Monsters weren't here with us. That made it a little easier to talk, to be honest. Demiurge didn't speak up yet, so he was probably meditating or something. Shuzo, on the other hand, left before I woke up to go shopping. It was just me and the pink-haired youth.

"Dried tears, ripped blanket, trembling fingertips, not knocking before entering...now it all makes sense." she listed with a sigh, prompting me to blush in embarrassment. Did you really have to remind me of that...? "But I agree with you. Your Mythorrors are the first ones that deserve a happy ending."

"...What should I do, Yuzu?" I tightened my hold on my cup. I want to give them a happy ending more than anything right now. But how? This question angered me the most. What could I do to ease their pain, to free them from their unfair treatment? I wasn't a god. A human couldn't bring about miracles.

"...They smile." huh? I glanced up in surprise, but Yuzu was staring at her tea with a thoughtful expression. She continued, "I don't know how to explain it, but it feels genuine. The action itself, I mean. Like it's real, and not something the program makes them do. Each time you use them in a Duel, they smile."

She raised her head. Her resolute expression made my eyes widen. "You make them smile. If it's you, then I'm sure they're in good hands." she smiled warmly. "You have the strength to give them a happy ending."

"I...do?" I inquired in a whisper, to which she nodded.

She...she was correct. I noticed that myself, but I never thought of it like that. If my Dueling has the power to light up their lives, then that's the answer! I will turn my Dueling into their salvation. Our pent-up sadness, anger, despair...we'll release it all through Dueling, and together with the Entertainment style, we'll have fun too.

They'll finally...finally break free from the yokes of fate.

A giggle snapped me out of my thoughts. "Your Monsters are lucky to have you as their user." Yuzu commented, relieved to see me back in high spirits.

"Yeah..." I smiled wide and lowered my head a little. "I should've asked for your and Shuzo's help from the beginning. Sorry..."

"Don't sweat it, Vince. It was a sensitive topic to tackle, no surprise you didn't want to address it right away."

"Yeah. Thanks, Yuzu!"

"Anytime."