I know you were likely expecting the finals to the WDC to take place soon, but then this whole idea about Yuma being taken came to mind. That causes a lot of fallout and accelerates story beats I had for later while also creating whole new story threads. I' by no means going to rush this, but I will endevor to get back to canon events as soon as possible. In the mean time, I hope you enhoy.

Sports Arena

Yusaku looked at Yuji, Kite, and Reiji, still on the ground, before kneeling at Lance's side. "We did it."

Lance was panting. "Just capture Yuji, please."

Yusaku nodded. "Right."

At that moment, Kari and Trey ran into the arena.

"Lance, are you okay!?" Trey asked.

Kari was looking at everything. "What happened here?" She noticed Yusaku. "Who are you? Did you do this to him?"

Yusaku stood and held up his hands. "No, I did not." He shook his head. "A lot happened, but in the end, he and I defeated those three over there."

Kari knelt beside Lance and noticed the shape he was in. "Oh, Lance… your bleeding and so pale."

"It's nothing." Lance stated.

Then, Yusei made his entrance launching over Kite, Yuji, and Reiji before skidding to a halt. Reiji inserted a spell into his duel disk before suddenly vanishing into blue particles. Before anyone knew what was happening, Lance, Kari, Trey, Yusei, and Yusaku vanished as well.

The five of

This left Yuji and Kite, who were just getting up, there alone with the Vendread user realizing his D-pad was busted with sparks running through it. "No!" Yuji's eyes were wide. "With my D-pad in this state, I can't be drawn back to Academia."

"Yours may have been destroyed, but mine is intact." Kite turned on him. "Considering everything, I'll take you in to understand what's going on."

Yuji backed away from Kite as he was more than aware of the young man's skills through their 5-way duel. Fortunately, the Vendread user was valuable to Academia even if he didn't know it himself. This resulted in blue particles appearing in between the two of them.

The particles became a tall, stocky built man with gray, spiky hair swept back and crimson eyes. His attire consisted of a green jacket with four visible pouches over a black shirt and bandages covering his arms.

He also wore gray pants with a black belt and black shoes. His neck was adorned with a silver pendant and his left eye was covered by an eye-patch which partially concealed a scar. Likewise, an X-shaped scar, on his chest, was partially covered by his shirt.

Yuji was shocked. "Barrett…"

Barrett threw back a new D-pad to Yuji. "Use that and get out of here Yuji." He threw out his own duel anchor catching an already stunned Kite off guard. "I shall stay and defeat this Xyz resident."

"I don't understand Barrett." Yuji stated confused. "How are you here? Yugo and I remained thanks to the pendants tied to our D-pads, but no one else was supposed to be able to enter this dimension again until much later."

"The Chancellor ordered it against the wishes of the Professor. As a result, our systems are fried, but return trips are permitted. That said, I'm all that could come and will come. Now, honor the wishes of our Chancellor." Barrett stated.

Yuji nodded. "Thank you, Barrett."

The Vendread user inserted a spell into his duel disc and vanished leaving Kite with Barrett.

"Now that he's gone, why don't you tell me more about this second attack you're planning." Kite stated. "While you're at it, tell me who this Chancellor and Professor of yours are. Why are they interested in me?"

"I will speak no further on what I've said." Barrett stated. "Right now, you and I will duel."

"Considering what you used, I don't have much of a choice unless you wish to disengage." Kite prepared himself before looking at his D-pad to gauge his Photon Mode. "My readings are high, but it's not like I can't just walk away."

D-pad go

Duel Gazer on

Augmented vision link established

(Kite 4000/Barrett 4000)

"I'll go first." Barrett declared. "I activate the field spell Beastborg Stronghold." The sports arena shifted into a factory with various metal parts littered about and beasts roamed about ignoring the duelist. "This card's effects will become apparent after this next card.

I activate Fusion Substitute, which acts as Polymerization, to fuse Panther Warrior and Dark Sentinel. Fusion summon Beastborg Panther Predator(LV 6/1600/2000)." A humanoid, purple panther with machine parts appeared.

"You Fusion summoned on your first turn, but your monster's not that strong." Kite declared. "Given how adept your comrade was in Ritual summoning, I'm betting that monster has an effect to make up for its lack in power."

"My predator isn't the only card with an effect." Barrett declared. "When a Beastborg is special summoned to my field, Stronghold inflicts 100 x the summoned Beastborg's level in damage to you. 6 levels equal 1200 damage. (Kite 3400/Barrett 4000).

I'll compound that damage with my Panther Predator's effect. Once per turn, I can inflict damage to you equal to Predator's ATK (Kite 2600/Barrett 4000). I'll end my turn with 1 face down."

"Just from his first turn, it seems my opponent runs a fusion/burn deck." Kite reasoned. "No doubt he's got cards to protect his cards as well; however, I got cards to counter them." Kite drew. "I summon Photon Chargeman(LV 4/1000/1000)."

A blue body suited warrior with silver armor over top appeared. "Since I control a Photon monster, I can special summon Photon Vanisher(LV 4/2000/0)."A silver and light, glowing blue soldier with a riffle appeared

"When Vanisher is special summoned, I can add a Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon to my hand. Then, I can activate Chargeman's effect to double his ATK."Photon Chargeman(LV 4/2000/1000).

"By tributing these monsters, with at least 2000 ATK, I can special summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon(LV 8/3000/2500)." A purple and galaxy blue dragon appeared."Since I control my dragon, I can special summon Galaxy-Eyes Afterglow Dragon(LV 8/3000/2500)."

A light blue glowing Galaxy-Eyes appeared. "I overlay my two level 8 monsters. Xyz summon Number 38:Hope Harbinger Dragon(R 8/O 2/3000/2500)." A large blue and white dragon appeared.

"So, those are the Number Cards we've heard about. I won't deny they are impressive, but a true soldier won't cower to them." Barrett interrupted. "They are useless to everyone where I'm from, and you will not win with them.

Because you've summoned a monster from your extra deck, I can activate Beastborg Medal of the Crimson Chain preventing your monster from attacking, changing modes, and it can't be destroyed by battle. Also, you can't normal/special summon and your spell/traps will be sealed."

"You might want to rethink your stance on the power of the Number because mine will counter that trap." Kite declared. "Once per turn by detaching one overlay unit from Harbinger I can negate that effect and attach it to my Number as an overlay unit."

Barrett grit his teeth.

Kite pointed at his dragon. "Now Harbinger destroy Predator Panther."

"This duelist is skilled, but I'm not out yet." Barrett looked at Kite. "I activate Battle Fusion. Since an attack was declared involving my Beastborg Panther Predator(LV 6/4600/2000 effect), he gains ATK equal to the attack of your monster (Kite 1000/Barrett 4000)."

"I set one card." Kite declared confidently.

Barrett drew. "I activate Beastborg Resources allowing me to draw two cards since I control a Beastborg. I then activate Panther Predator's effect dealing you another 800 life points of damage."

"I activate my trap Prevent Draw." Kite declared. "Since you're using an effect to deal damage, I can reduce it to zero, and draw one card."

"Then my Panther Predator will attack you directly." Barrett declared.

"Not happening." Kite returned. "I activate the effect of Cipher Kuriboh, who I just drew, to discard him. From here on out, for the rest of the turn, I am immune to life point damage if I pay half my life points now (Kite 500/Barrett 4000)."

"Very well." Barrett stated. "I set two cards ending my turn."

Kite drew. "I activate the effect of Cipher Kuriboh from the grave. By banishing him, all cards on your field have their effects negated until the end of the turn."

Barrett was shocked. "What!?"

Kite smirked. "You thought you had me on the ropes, but as long as you threaten the world my siblings call home, I will not lose no matter the odds. I activate Galaxy Rebirth allowing me to return a Galaxy monster to the field form my grave.

Come back Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon(LV 8/3000/2500). Next, since I control a Galaxy or Photon monster, I can normal summon Galaxy Knight(LV 8/1800/2600 effect); however, his ATK goes down until the end of the turn."

"You're going to overlay with two monsters once more." Barrett stated.

"Wrong." Kite declared. "I'll be using three monsters to build the overlay network because the equipped Galaxy Rebirth can be treated as a monster with the same level as the monster it's attached to. So, I build the overlay network with my three monsters.

Xyz summon Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon(R 8/O 3/4500/3000)." A huge, red glowing dragon with two smaller heads on its shoulders appeared. "Not like it matters, but since he was summoned using Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, your face up effects are negated."

Barrett looked at Kite. "You may have a powerful monster, but I still have Panther Predator on the field. Even without my effects, I will survive."

"You would were it not for the last card in my hand." Kite declared. "I activate Photon Stream of Destruction. Since I control a Galaxy-Eyes monster, I can banish your Panther Predator."

Barrett grit his teeth. "Since he didn't destroy Panther by battle, I can't activate his effect in the grave returning the materials to the field. With all my other effects negated, and nothing in my hand, I'm defenseless."

"Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon attack my opponent directly (Kite 500/Barrett 0)!" Kite declared.

With the duel over, the anchor faded, and Kite fell to one knee as his clothes reverted to normal. He began panting heavily. That last little bit had pushed him to his limits. Didn't help that he faced down that Odd-Eyes Supreme Dragon before this.

Barrett got to his feet. "Kite Tenjo." Kite looked up at him. "Two more times, the Fusion Dimension will come. You may not be important to them, but now you have earned my respect. That is why I will warn you. There is duelist who surpass me where I'm from."

Barrett then vanished into blue particles.

Kite slowly rose back to his feet. "He may not have said much, but I've gleamed enough. At first, I thought Academia was Duel Academy, but I don't think that's the case anymore. Even with that no longer being the case, they're going to be a problem like Zach."

The Galaxy user started to walk towards the nearest exit. "As much as I don't want to admit it, if what Barrett just said is true, then Shay and I won't be enough. Not even Dextra, Nistro, and Kala on our side will be enough. If we need allies, then maybe Zach and Yuma could work.

That said, Numbers have become useless given our current circumstances. If we were to offer all the Numbers to them, we would likely secure an alliance. Considering his skills, and relation to Zach, he may just be what we need to get over Zach.

Not to mention Yuma and he did help us even if we didn't get our siblings back. Not to mention that Rio girl had the run of our duel before I improved my deck. Its likely Lance knows others who can help as well."

Kite stepped outside the arena and looked at the now rainless night. "I'll have to talk it over with Shay and Yuto, but they'll likely agree if it means saving Lulu and Hart. With Barrett's strength, it's likely We'll need everyone we can get to defeat Academia.

No one I've met makes a deck based around Rituals and can use them as effectively as that Vendread user. Barrett came close to defeating me. There will be no point in saving Lulu and Hart if Heartland's going to be attacked."

Home of the Dragons:Ruins

Kari, Trey, Yusaku, Lance, and Yusei appeared inside the temple dedicated to Draco. More specifically, they appeared before the chained blade adorned with the five dragons. The moon bore down on them.

Kari looked around frantically. "What was that? Where are we?" She then looked at Lance who was on the ground still in the same position as before. "Lance, are you okay?"

"Still fine." Lance coughed up more blood.

"You are not fine young man, and you have a lot of explaining to do; however, that can wait until we somehow get home to better tend to your injuries." Kari stated.

"I'm not certain what just happened myself Kari, but I think whatever brought us here, wants us here for a reason." Trey stated.

"It could have wanted us or maybe we just got caught up." Yusei stated as he got off his duel runner. "At least this doesn't seem as malevolent as what I've normally been caught up in."

Yusaku nodded. "That is fair, but we must ask the question of who it was that brought us here?"

To answer that question, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon appeared in his human form; however, he was not alone as Number 39, who had just shrunken his form, appeared alongside him. Both were naturally as transparent as duel monster spirits normally are.

Kari screamed. "Ghost? Are ghost real just like magic? Was what Lance even used magic."

"Utopia, if you would you please share yours and Lance's memories with everyone here." Odd-Eyes looked at the Number. "I believe this will all go far smoother without having to explain hours of information to the uniformed."

"It would certainly make things easier." Utopia agreed.

Number 39 glowed a brilliant gold. That same glow began to appear around the humans in the room. It started with Lance before spreading around the group telling them everything Lance knew, and Yuma had known.

This meant everyone in the room knew everything about the Numbers, Number Hunters, Barian and Astral World, Declan and his people, and Fusion Dimension's Academia. Kari was, understandably, the most shocked out of everyone.

"Academia." Yusei thought. "That clothing they wore looked like the clothing in the museums. Considering Damien and I were confronted by people wearing clothes like that, it's likely they are to blame for what's happened back home.

Why did the Crimson Dragon bring me to this Xyz Dimension then? I also know the Crimson Dragon rescued and/or pulled anyone between dimensions, I guess that's what that was, out of there. If so, where are Damien and those girls? Are they here?"

"All of this does help explain why Lance is as strong as he is. Multiple souls and a grasp of all the summoning methods coming from the future is a big boon." Yusaku thought. "He might be an integral part of returning things where they belong.

"All this time." Kari thought shocked. "Yuma and Lance have been dealing with all of this. Some of it they could have avoided if they never dueled in the first place, but other aspects were going to happen regardless."

Tears came to the reporter's eyes. "It's my fault Yuma's gone." She shook her head. "If I hadn't opposed you two, then you'd be stronger. He wouldn't have lost to that Yugo guy, and he'd still be here."

Lance crawled over to Kari before falling next to her. "It's not your fault Kari." Kari looked at him. "It's mine. Astral was a better teacher than I. If I'd done better, Yuma would have been stronger. If I'd gone with him, I could have protected him. I'm to blame. Not you."

Trey decided to speak up. "No one's at fault except for the Fusion Dimension." Everyone looked at him. "They made the choice to come here, duel us, and try to capture us. Any other threat are those threats making their choices.

My father, Barian World, Number Hunters, and anything else that may come. The fact is, Yuma wasn't strong enough, but he wasn't expected to be. None of us knew what was going to happen or who our enemies were. Now we do.

With this knowledge, each of us can endeavor to be ready for them. What matters now is that we improve to protect our dimension and get anyone they have back. We only know of Yuma, but there's no telling if others are in their grasp."

The Chronomaly user knelt beside Lance with a smile. "I already offered my help but let me reaffirm it. Lance, as your friend, I'll be there to back you up. The thing you need to do is not push us away like you did at the stadium."

He shook his head. "I may not have known him as long as you did, but I don't think Yuma would want you to do that. If he were here, I'd bet he'd tell you to feel the flow and high five the sky as opposed to what you've done."

Lance looked from Trey to Kari as he processed what was said.

Eventually, the multi-deck user chuckled. "You're right Trey. I was a fool who let my rage blind me. I'm apologize to both you and Kari, Trey. I'm sorry."

Kari wiped her eyes. "We forgive you, Lance." She put a hand on his back. "Grandma gave me a deck, and I'm going to learn how to use it. That way I can back you up as well. I won't let them take you like they've taken lance."

"The Crimson Dragon brought me here and led me to you. That means there must be some importance to helping you. You must be the key to saving my home." Yusei nodded. "So, You got my help."

Yusaku crossed his arms. "I learned the Fusion Dimension was responsible for the fusion of not only it and my dimension, but that of the Ritual Dimension. I won't let that happen to this or any other dimension. You got my help and that of my comrades."

Lance genuinely smiled at that. "Great because we're going to need all the strength we can get for the future." He forced himself to turn and look at Odd-Eyes. "I'm not able to yell it to the heavens, but Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"

Odd-Eyes put his hands in his pockets. "Good enough." He looked at Yusei, Yusaku, Trey, and Kairi. "First, sorry about pulling you four in. If you want to stay and train, you can, but I don't think Yusei and Yusaku need it.

That said, it should be wrapped up by morning if you all want to stay. Yusaku and Yusei, you two can duel each other for training, I'm sure Trey can help Kari learn how to duel, and Utopia and I can focus on balancing out Lance and making sure all his decks are usable."

"What do you mean balance him out?" Kari asked. "Surely you can't expect Lance to duel in this condition?"

"It's okay Kari." Utopia stated. "All the training will be in the mind. As Lance trains, we'll work on healing his body. Once morning comes, all of you will come back to consciousness. Some vastly stronger while others less so. No dangers to anyone's body."

Lance said, "If it lets me use all decks, without falling into this condition, I'll agree."

Kari nodded. "I did say I want to learn." She looked at Trey. "If you're the one they recommend train me, I'll accept. Doesn't seem like you'll get anything out of it though."

"Sometimes going over the basics is a great way to train." Trey smiled. "I'm certain I can have you dueling before morning. We may even get an actual match in."

"My friends back in Heartland City should know I'm fine, so I can stay to train with Yuse." Yusaku stated. "You seem to know he's skills, so that's good enough for me."

"Honestly, at this point I'm not certain about my deck as I believe it's become an amalgamations of two sets of memories. Getting in a duel with someone strong may just be what I need." Yusei stated.

"Then it's settled." Odd-Eyes held out the palm of his hands and a door slid down behind the sword revealing a room. "If someone wants to carry Lance, you can all lie back here, and we can get started."

"I got him." Yusei stated before picking Lance up. "Let's go."

Everyone walked into a room which contained 10 stone beds.

"You all just need to lie back on your own stone bed, and we can begin." Odd-Eyes stated.

Yusei laid Lance on a bed and everyone else took their own. Without another words, the room glowed red, gold, and white before everyone was knocked out.

Heartland Tower: Basement

Organization entered the sealed room to check on the progress of his little project. When he saw that a yellow, humanoid figure was laying on the ground, unconscious, he smirked.

"Oh, you were not prepared to die, were you?" Organization chuckled. "The fact that your survived and that I could sense you out there is a testament to the raw dueling power you possess.

Yes, I can feel three intense powers, faintly, around you." He stopped and looked at the figure before smirking. "Malefic. Indeed, a powerful deck. I'm not certain this body's Kingdom Hearts Deck could even be a challenge, but my deck is a different story.

That said, even in this state, you aren't going to be as susceptible to chaos as I'd like, but given the right incentives, you should obey my orders." He chuckled and pulled out three cards that glowed a brilliant crimson.

"It took a great deal of my power to make these, but at least you were the right call." Organization took one of the cards and threw it at the figure. I'm ever so interested to see just how strong this can make you and your deck."

The card flew into the figure's chest and Barian energy, in the form of a red wave, washed over the figure's form. "This may not be the way I've made the past Barian Emperors, but I must do everything in my power to crush Astral." He looked at the remaining two cards.

"That means using these to create what emperor's I can. The prison is more for pawns, but I can feel a growing envy and desperation for power in the city as well as a healing loneliness." He walked out of the room and sealed the doors shut.

"I can start with them. Even if they won't be fit for the current plan, they'll make a great back up like the other Barian Emperors. Thanks to Sirius, one of them has a difficult deck that I should destroy upon her defeat."

Heartland City: Duel Park

Caswell had been here, alone, working on his skills and deck all day. When it rained, he moved to a protected area and continued training. Now, with the rainstorm over, he stood out in the open practicing his lesser known combos. A cat jumped onto a nearby fence to stare at him.

"I overlay Wind-Up Juggler and Wind-Up Magician to Xyz summon Wind-Up Zenmaister." A white, blue, and green robot appeared. "For each…" Caswell clenched his fist. "For each overlay unit, he gains 300 ATK, but I choose to…"

Caswell took off his duel pad and looked at it angrily. "What's the point?" He shook his head. "No matter how hard I work, I never catch up to Lance or Shark while I just fall behind everyone else.

No matter what combos I master, I end up losing when it counts. Every win I had was against an unexperienced Yuma or in a team. Now, I hold everyone back with my lack luster skills." Caswell clenched his teeth before throwing his duel pad.

"I'll never be good enough to help them. What's the point?" He rubbed his head in frustration. "Just what is the point of any of this!" Caswell's frustration and anger had reached its boiling point. "How can I be any help to anyone with how weak I am!"

"Caswell…" Cat stated worriedly.

Caswell's eyes went wide before he took a deep breath and turned to the girl. "What are you doing here Cat?"

Cat approached him. "I was going to and should be the one asking you that." She shook her head. "That said, I think I know the answer. You're out here training, but it's so late. At some point, you got to know that you've passed training and are just torturing yourself."

Caswell looked over at his discarded duel disk. "Cat, I'm weak." He clenched his fist. "I have nothing to contribute to the club, and I can't do anything to protect the friends I've made. The only thing I'm good for is buying time, and not even much of that."

Cat put a hand on the young man's back. "So what?" Caswell looked back at her surprised. "So, what if you can only buy time. That's all I'm good for as well, yet maybe that's all we need to be. If it's not, how about I help you?"

She offered a kind smile. "If the two of us train together, I know you'll get better because you're a stronger duelist than I could ever be. Just please stop thinking your weak because no weak person would want to grow for the sake of his friends."

"Cat…" Caswell looked back at his discarded device before sighing. "I don't know if that will help."

Any further discussion was cut off as a black octahedron containing a mini red-colored sphere pulsating with electricity hit the ground near the two of them. It broke open and the red sphere within expanded around them. They turned to see Organization standing across from them.

"It won't." Organization stated. "I gave her a powerful deck, yet Cat has wasted it. She cannot help you grow stronger, but I can. I can grant you power and skills beyond what you currently are. If Cat proves herself properly, I'll let her join as well."

Caswell and Cat looked at one another, nodded, then turned their attention to Organization.

"That's a tempting offer, but we'll have to say no." Caswell stated.

"If you're here for a duel, take us on." Cat stated. "If not, you should leave."

Organization chuckled. "I figured it'd come to this." He revealed his D-pad with a smile. "Hoping for it because you two will be the ones to test my massively improved Kingdom Hearts deck. With it, I'll prove your weaknesses and make you want to join me."