Yuma: Alright, we won Kite!
Quattro: This is embarrassing. We just lost. We lost.
Suddenly, Kite felt a shock run through his body and he fell to one knee.
Yuma: Are you okay?
Kite got to his feet and took a few steps towards Trey and Quattro.
Kite: You're finished. Now tell me where Hart is. Where's my brother?
Quattro: Sorry, all of a sudden I can't remember.
Kite: Okay I got ya. Maybe you won't talk, but your soul will!
He tried used his Photon Hand to take Quattro's number cards and his soul but was blocked when his crest glowed and pushed him back. Astral tried to take Trey's number card, but his crest glowed and stopped him as well, while also making him momentarily visible to Trey.
Astral: I cannot recover their numbers.
Yuma: Astral!
Trey: What was that just now? Could that be?
Yuma: What happened?
Astral: I am not sure.
Quattro: Nice try, but these crests of ours protect us from your little tricks.
Kite: So that's why I couldn't take his numbers.
Quattro: You can't touch us. You and your little buddy may have lucked out this time, but – What?!
A portal appeared behind him and he was sucked into it.
Tori: He vanished.
Trey: Who was that being?
Vetrix: Come Trey, it's time to go home.
Kite: Where's my brother? Tell me!
Vetrix: Trey, come.
Kite: Where have you taken Hart?
Trey didn't answer and disappeared into the portal.
Yuma: Where did they go? They just vanished.
Quinton: Your brother is right here.
Kite turned around and saw his former teacher holding his little brother in his arms.
Kite: Hart! Are you okay? Hart, please answer me.
Quinton's crest glowed and Hart was slowly levitated down to the floor.
Kite: Hart, what did they do to you?
Orbital 7: Master Hart.
Kite: How could you do this to him?!
Quinton: That's a simple question with a very complex answer, one that will have to wait for another time. You should know that after all he went through, he still had a little strength left, but he chose to give it to you.
Kite: You mean, he's like this because of me?
Yuma: You've got a lot of explaining to do pal, so start talking.
Quinton: You are as persistent as your father.
Yuma: What do you know about my father?
Quinton: Your father is alive Yuma. He's in Astral World.
A portal opened behind him and he disappeared like Trey and Quinton had.
Tori: Kite, are you going to be alright getting Hart out of here by yourself?
Kite: I'll call in to have someone come get us in a chopper, don't worry.
Later on, Yuma and Tori were walking through the streets, and Yuma was thinking about what Quinton said.
Yuma: What if he was telling the truth? Could my dad really be in Astral World? Astral, is there a chance you know my dad?
Astral: I do not know Yuma, he does not exist in the memories contained in the numbers we have collected so far.
Yuma: Well, maybe one of the ones we don't have yet has a memory of my dad.
Astral: That is possible.
Yuma: Then we need to gather as many as we can. But, if we do that, then Kite won't be able to make Hart better. But if we let Kite get all the numbers, you could disappear, Astral. It's like no matter what I do, things are gonna end badly! Wait, one thing at a time. I know where my dad might be, so Astral World, here I come.
Tori: Yuma, wait!
Inside Heartland Tower, Kite and Hart had just arrived and Hart was rushed off on a hospital bed.
Kite: Where are you taking him?
One of the doors closed in front of him, with him just narrowly avoiding crashing into it.
Nistro: Calm down. Why don't you go for a walk or something?
Kite: Move it.
Nistro: You know I can't let you past these doors Kite.
Kite: So you're not moving then. Then I guess we're doing this the hard way.
Dextra: Back off Kite. You have to trust Mr. Heartland. He'll do everything he can. I know you're concerned about Hart, but there's nothing any of us can do for him right now.
Nistro: So why don't you tell us Kite, why didn't you inform the rest of us when you learned the original number aligned himself with Yuma Tsukomo?
Kite: You know about that?
Nistro: We do.
Kite: Don't worry, I plan on dealing with him.
Nistro: Deal with him? You two just had a tag duel like a couple of grade school pals. I hear you did well together. I will deal with him Kite, leave it to me.
Kite: You do not wanna get in my way Nistro. Bad things will happen.
In the room where Hart was being studied, he was still unconscious, and Dr. Faker was looking at him through a video screen.
Faker: Hart, I can't help but feel that this state you're in is all my fault.
Heartland: Rest assured Dr. Faker, my people are doing everything they can.
Faker: Who did this to him Mr. Heartland? Tell me, who took his power?
Heartland: According to what Troy told us, we know that the one who took Hart was Chris Arclight.
Faker: Wait, did you say Chris Arclight?
Heartland: Yes sir.
Faker: How could he have done something like this?
Heartland: According to Kite's report, he and his associates bear a powerful crest. In fact, they used it to prevent Kite from taking their numbers when they lost their duel with him.
Faker: I see. By the way Mr. Heartland, how is Troy?
Heartland: He took a beating in his duel with Chris, but he came away with not that many injuries other than a slight fracture in his left leg.
Faker: Good. Troy is one of our best number hunters, and I don't want him out of commission for long.
Heartland: You don't have to worry about that sir. No sooner than we had put a brace on his leg than he went straight out to continue hunting numbers.
Faker: What? So soon?
Meanwhile, Troy was walking through the building looking for Kite. He bumped into Dextra and asked if she had seen him.
Dextra: Yes, he was getting ready to head out to find more numbers when I saw him last. Are you sure you're okay to be up and walking around?
Troy: I'm fine. If you'll excuse me, I need to talk to Kite.
He kept walking and found Kite.
Troy: Kite!
Kite: Troy? Shouldn't you be resting?
Troy: I'll be fine. How's Hart?
Kite: I don't know. They carted him away as soon as we got back, and I haven't heard anything about his condition yet.
Troy: I see. I'm so sorry Kite. If I hadn't let Quinton take him away, none of this would've happened.
Kite: I'm not mad at you. I know firsthand how good a duelist Quinton is, and I don't blame you for what happened. Right now, my only concern is making them pay for they did to my little brother.
Meanwhile, Yuma snuck in through his window and began packing a bag.
Astral: Yuma, you don't even know how to get to Astral World.
Yuma: That occurred to me. But when my dad disappeared, he was looking for the edge of the world, so that's what I'm gonna do.
Astral: But what about the numbers? What about helping me regain my memories?
Yuma: Come on, don't try and guilt trip me. It's just that he's my dad, and I have to bring him back.
He went out his window and tried to sneak away, but was confronted by his sister, Tori, and his grandma.
Kari: So what's in the bag Yuma? Are you finally doing your laundry?
Yuma: You're probably not going to believe me, but there's something you need to know.
Kari: Is this about dad being in some alternate universe or something? Yeah, Tori told me everything. So, what, you're gonna go to this other world? False, now just go back inside.
Yuma: Look, as much as I'd love to sit and explain all this, I can't. Now if you'll excuse me.
He jumped down the stairs and ran off.
Yuma: Don't worry dad, I'm gonna find you no matter what it takes.
?: So, does this mean you're giving up on the Duel Carnival?
Yuma: Who's there?
?: Up here.
Yuma looked up to see Roku sitting on top of his bag before he jumped down.
Roku: Long time no see Yuma.
Yuma: Master Roku! It's been forever since that day we dueled at the sanctuary. How've you been old-timer?
Roku: You have the look of someone who is running away from something. What are you running from Yuma?
Yuma: Well, you see...
One explanation later
Roku: Well, I wanted to see how my promising young pupil was doing. I expected to see you giving the tournament all you've got, but little did I know you were facing such a difficult situation.
Yuma: Great. Well, it sounds like you understand, so I'll be going now.
Roku: Not so fast. I hereby challenge you to a duel Yuma!
Yuma: Thing is, I'm really not in a dueling mood right now, so...
Roku: I am your dueling master, and my request will not be denied! If you think you're ready to do what you're about to do, then prove it!
Yuma: Alright, let's do this thing.
Astral: I cannot lend you any assistance. I think you need to do this alone.
Yuma: I don't need any help proving myself.
Roku: Bring it!
Yuma: You asked for it gramps.
Meanwhile in a hotel in the city, Vetrix was getting used to his new powers.
Vetrix: I can feel Hart's power beginning to awaken inside me.
He created a small ball of energy in his palm before letting it float into the middle of the room where it grew in size, beginning to tear up the floor tiles. Back at the duel, Yuma had just begun his turn. He had 3800 life points and his Gagaga Magician, Gogogo Giant, Zubaba Knight, and Gogogo Golem on his field, while Roku had 500 life points, one set monster, and one face-down card in his spell and trap zone.
Yuma: I summon Gagaga Girl.
Level 3/Dark/Spellcaster
ATK 1000/DEF 800
Yuma: How do you like them apples old-timer? My field is loaded with monsters ready to attack. Now Gogogo Giant, attack Roku's face-down monster!
Roku: I reveal my trap card: Mirror Force. Since you attacked, all your monsters in attack mode are destroyed.
Yuma's monsters crashed into identical versions of themselves and were destroyed.
Yuma: They're all gone.
Roku: You were so impatient to end this that you didn't stop to strategize.
Yuma: Yeah well, I've still got the advantage old timer. I end my turn.
Roku: Let's see what I can do about that advantage of yours. Interesting. First, I flip summon my Queen's Knight.
Level 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 1500/DEF 1600
Roku: Next I summon King's Knight from my hand.
Level 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 1600/DEF 1400
Roku: And when King's Knight is summoned while I control Queen's Knight, his special ability allows me to summon Jack's Knight from my deck.
Level 5/Light/Warrior
ATK 1900/DEF 1000
Astral: Not good.
Roku: Now I activate Polymerization to fuse my three Knights in order to summon Arcana Knight Joker!
Level 9/Light/Warrior
ATK 3800/DEF 2500
Yuma: It's got 3800 attack points?!
Roku: You thought you had the advantage, but you were blinded by your impatience. This duel is over. Arcana Knight Joker, attack Yuma directly!
Yuma: 0 LP
Winner: Roku
Tori: Yuma!
Yuma: Come on, let's duel again.
Roku: No. What are you so impatient for Yuma? I your current state, we could duel a hundred times and you would never win. Right now, you're a fool, all impulse and no thought.
Yuma: It's just that, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. If I help Hart, Astral gets hurt, but if I let Kite get all the numbers, then Astral could disappear.
Roku: So you decided you would run away from your problem?
Yuma: It's not that.
Roku: Running off to find your father is certainly brave in theory, but with you not knowing where to even start looking, it really seems that you're just running off. And look at all you'd be abandoning: your dueling, the carnival, your friend Astral. All that you've been fighting and training for. I think you're scared to face your problem. But Yuma, I want you to look at your feet. Those feet are firmly rooted in dueling, it's a part of who you are, and it's the bond between you and your father. You must trust that the path of the duelist will lead you to the answers you seek.
Yuma: Okay. Yeah, you're right. I can do this. I just have to take it one duel at a time!
In the hotel, the sphere Vetrix had created had grown to a massive size.
Vetrix: This power, it's like nothing I've ever felt before! Even with the crest, I'm having a hard time controlling it!
He let the orb fade away, leaving the room in shambles.
Vetrix: I hope you're ready Dr. Faker. Soon I will ruin you with the very power you so desire. Your end is coming.
Yuma: So this guy who's put the duel carnival together, do you know anything about him Master Roku?
Roku: Every light casts a shadow, and every puppet has a puppeteer. That is what I know.
Yuma: Wait, are you saying Mr. Heartland is working for someone?
Roku: Exactly. He is just a face, a smile, and a voice, but he is not the words.
Yuma: Then who is?" Yuma asked. "The man who is said to have built Heartland City is a brilliant scientist named Dr. Faker.
Yuma: So what's his story?
Roku: His story is pretty much a mystery. Is he still here, or has he moved on? Nobody knows much about it, and that is most likely how he wants it to be.
Haru: He did leave once. Your father led him on an expedition. In fact, it was his last expedition before disappearing.
Astral: Your father, Dr. Faker, and Mr. Heartland are all connected. This cannot be written off as mere coincidence Yuma.
Yuma: Astral is right, I have to keep going. I have to win the duel carnival.
Vetrix: What, that boy just now?
Quinton: Yes. Yuma Tsukomo has teamed up with the original number.
Vetrix: Did you say Tsukomo? As in Kazuma Tsukomo's son?
Quinton: Yes.
Vetrix: It can't be. That's impossible.
Quinton: There's one more thing Vetrix.
Vetrix: What is it Quinton?
Quinton: The boy I dueled on top of the tower in the bay, there is something strange about him.
Vetrix: Strange how?
Quinton: I was unable to collect his number card after our duel ended. And he was unaffected by his number card without using the same transformation as Kite. I did a little digging, and his name is Troy Diablo, and he's one of Dr. Faker's number hunters.
Vetrix: If he's working for Faker, then that makes him our enemy. That aside, this Troy sounds like a most intriguing duelist. I'd like for you to keep an eye on him Quinton.
Quinton: Yes sir.
Trey: That figure I saw at the end of our duel, I'm certain it was him, the envoy from Astral World, but what's Yuma's connection with him?
Back in Yuma's home, he was going over his deck.
Astral: Choosing that card makes choosing the one before unnecessary.
Yuma: You mentioned that, but I want both cards in my deck so both cards it is!
Astral: Well then at least protect it with that trap card.
Yuma: Which trap card?
Astral: That one right there.
Yuma: Let's win this thing Astral.
Astral: That is the plan.
Yuma: Speaking of plans, you got one for Roku's snoring?