Everyone was in Yuma's house congratulating him on making it into the finals of the Duel Carnival.
Yuma: Thanks guys.
He looked around, except Tori seemed pretty mad about something.
Yuma: Something wrong Tori?
Flip: She's probably still mad that you forgot her in the desert field.
Yuma: I'm sorry I forgot you Tori, I was just focused on the duel is all.
Tori: So I'm not important, is that it?
Yuma: N-no, that's not what I meant.
Fortunately, Lillybot and Yuma's grandma came into the room carrying plates of food.
Lillybot: Eat this Yuma. It will keep you quiet and out of trouble.
Haru: Of course if you kids aren't hungry you can always eat later.
Yuma: No, we'll eat now grandma.
Bronk: Wow, this looks amazing!
Caswell: As usual.
Haru: Dig in. I don't want any leftovers.
Yuma: No problem.
Everyone began reaching for food when Haru stopped them.
Haru: Wait just a minute.
Yuma: What's wrong?
Haru: First we need to give thanks for the food.
Yuma: Let's hear it for grandma!
Everyone: Thanks for this fabulous feast!
Bronk: Eat up Yuma. You'll need all the energy you can get for tomorrow.
Caswell: You'll be facing Shark or Kite or Vetrix.
Yuma: They'll have about as much of a chance against me as this food.
Cathy: Yuma is really feeling the flow.
Tori: Yeah, but he barely won some of his duels before.
Yuma: I didn't want to make it look too easy.
Astral: Whoever Yuma's next opponent is, this will certainly be his most challenging match yet. Vetrix, with his crest and numbers that defeated even Troy and a Chaos Number, Kite, and his Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, and then there is Shark, who has somehow obtained his own Chaos Number. Which begs the question of how Troy and Shark obtained such powerful monsters.
Yuma: I'll polish off anybody who stands in my way tomorrow. I can't wait to pull out my deck and start dueling again.
Astral: No matter who he faces, Yuma will need to keep his cool.
Yuma: It's gone! My deck is missing!
Tori: Calm down Yuma. Where did you have it last?
Yuma: I know I had it in Heartland.
Caswell: I know. Each deck case has a GPS function built in it, so if we input the code for your deck case, we can find it that way.
They followed the signal and found themselves outside the gate to Heartland.
Caswell: According to the tracking app, your deck is in the center of Heartland.
Bronk: Great, except for one small problem. Actually, make that not so small. Heartland is closed for the day.
Yuma: Since I'm a finalist, I have VIP access. Hey guys, open up! I need to get my deck for tomorrow! Come on, this is important!
Tori: Yuma, I don't think they're going to let you in.
Bronk: Now what do we do?
Flip: I have an idea.
Tori: Why am I not reassured?
Flip: Just follow me.
They all followed him for a bit until he suddenly stopped in front of three garbage cans.
Flip: Tada!
Yuma: Flip, those are garbage cans.
Caswell: Wait, I get it. Every night trucks take the garbage from these bins into Heartland.
Flip: Right, so all you gotta do is catch a ride.
Yuma: You're a genius Flip.
Flip: Thanks and good luck.
He then turned and began to run off.
Bronk: Where ya goin' Flip?
Flip: I gotta go home and feed my alligator.
Bronk: Get back here you little sneak!
Yuma: Oh well. Let's get in place.
Yuma lifted one of the lids and climbed in.
Caswell: I can't believe he's really going through with this.
Tori: We can't let him go alone. You should go too Bronk.
Bronk: Me?! Jump in a stinky trash can?
Tori: It's gross, but it's no worse than your gym locker.
Bronk: Gee, thanks.
Cathy: Now hold on a minute! There's still one free can and you can't call it Tori!
Tori: Believe me, I don't want it.
Cathy: Oh sure, you say you're not going with Yuma, but you always end up with him, even though I'd be much more helpful.
Tori: What was that?
Bronk: Now girls, I would be more than happy to give up my place.
Tori: I have a better idea. We'll play rock paper scissors for it.
Cathy: Fine. The winner goes with Yuma and what's his name.
Bronk: Hey!
Tori & Cathy: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!
They both threw, but wound up both throwing paper.
Both: Again! Again!
Astral: I have seen many strange human rituals, but this is the most bewildering by far.
Tori and Cathy went one more time and Tori won.
Tori: Yes! Paper covers rock! I'm going in the trash can- oh yuck.
Yuma: Hurry up and hide before the litterbots come.
Bronk: I can't believe we're doing this.
Tori and Bronk didn't like it, but they climbed in the trash cans and waited for the litterbots to arrive. They didn't have to wait long as three litterbots arrived and collected the garbage, but one of them tossed Yuma out.
Yuma: Hey, wait up! Don't you know you can't leave trash lying on the streets?
In Vetrix's hotel, he was speaking to someone through a dimensional rift.
Vetrix: Excellent. Everything is unfolding like I had planned. Tomorrow, I can begin the final phase and all the numbers will belong to me. It's true that I may have had to use Trey, Quattro, and Quinton to achieve my goal, but I had no other choice. My sons gave up everything to serve my plans, but now that they're out of commission, I'm turning elsewhere for help.
Meanwhile, Shark was riding his motorcycle down the highway.
Shark: I'm coming for you Vetrix.
Suddenly, Vetrix appeared in the road in front of him, forcing Shark to swerve to avoid him. He came to a stop and saw Vetrix outside of a nearby alley before heading inside it.
Shark: Get back here!
He ran into the alley after him, but lost sight of him. Fortunately for Shark, the only place Vetrix could have gone was into a nearby building. Shark ran up to the door and threw it open.
Shark: Enough games, come out!
Shark entered the building and began looking for Vetrix, but he snuck up behind Shark and placed his hands over Shark's eyes before activating his crest.
Vetrix: That was too easy. I'm disappointed in you Shark, but that will be the last time that happens. As you know, a seed of darkness was placed in your heart during your duel with Trey. You thought you had overcome this darkness, but you were wrong. The seed will grow until it seizes control of you, then you'll use the darkness to destroy your next opponent: Yuma.
At Heartland, another group of trucks had just arrived and the litterbots inside were moved to the conveyor belts to dispose of the garbage they had collected. The newest batch opened up and Tori, Bronk, and Yuma were dropped on the conveyor belt, unaware they were being watched by Dr. Faker.
Faker: At long last, the son of Kazuma Tsukumo.
Tori: Thanks Yuma, I feel totally grungy now.
Yuma: Hey, at least the worst part is over, right?
He looked ahead and saw they were about to be dropped into a giant pit.
Yuma: Run!
They all got up and tried to run in the opposite direction, but had a hard time making any headway.
Astral: Yuma!
Fortunately, they caught a break as the conveyor belt stopped moving.
Tori: Look there. There's an exit right there.
They climbed up a ladder and went through the door next to it, finding themselves standing on a balcony overlooking the pit they just escaped falling in.
Yuma: Look at all that junk. Who knew this city produced so much trash?
Bronk: Yeah, and it all gets dumped in a big pit.
Tori: Incredible.
Yuma: There's tons of garbage spilling out every second. Just how deep does this hole go?
Suddenly Astral was struck with a memory of a blue galaxy being struck with giant red blasts of energy.
Astral: That vision is of Astral World! I sense something strange about this place. Yuma.
Yuma: Yeah Astral?
Astral: Hart is right above us.
Yuma: If that's true, we have to go find him.
Yuma, Tori, and Bronk then began to carefully make their way through the halls of Heartland Tower.
Tori: The cost is clear.
Bronk: You sure you wanna go through with this Yuma?
Yuma: I am. Come on, I've gotta find Hart. I need to talk to him.
They ran through the hall until they reached a large room with an elevator in the center of the room.
Bronk: I don't like this Yuma. It seems too easy.
Yuma: I have to get to Hart.
He took a step forward, but a siren went off and a large robot came up out of the floor.
Robot: Eliminate the intruders. Switching to duel mode.
Tori: Wait, it wants to duel us?
Yuma: Okay, let's take it to this mechanical creep.
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established
All: Let's duel!
Suddenly, numerous numbered panels appeared on the floor in front of Yuma, Tori, and Bronk.
Yuma: What's with these?
Bronk: Beats me.
Tori: Look.
Yuma and Bronk looked up and saw various xyz monsters appear beside the panels on the floor.
Tori: Are these the cards we're expected to use?
Yuma: If we are, I'm not sure how we can even summon them.
Robot: Initiating summoning software. Calling Scrap Recycler to the field, attack mode.
Level 3/Earth/Machine
ATK 900/DEF 1200
Yuma: Another robot? How are we supposed to battle it?
Bronk: Wait, I have an idea. Maybe we can summon these xyz monsters by using the number pads.
He jumped forward, landing on a 3 key.
Bronk: Tori, jump on that 3 in front of you.
Tori: Okay.
Tori jumped forward, landing on the requested key.
Bronk: Since we lit up two level 3 keys, I'll xyz summon! Don't let me down, Wind-Up Zenmaines!
Rank 3/Fire/Machine
ATK 1500/DEF 2100
Yuma: You did it Bronk!
Tori: Way to go!
Bronk: Alright Zenmaines, destroy Scrap Recycler!
Zenmaines launched its pincers at Scrap Recycler, destroying it in one blow.
Robot: Summoning Scrap Searcher.
Level 1/Earth/Machine
ATK 100/DEF 300
Bronk: Yuma, Tori and I can handle this. You go on ahead and do what you have to do.
Yuma: Are you sure Bronk?
Tori: Hart needs your help more than we do Yuma, so go.
Yuma: Alright.
He managed to slip past the robot while Tori and Bronk dueled and made it into the elevator. He made it to the top and he and Astral found themselves in Hart's room.
Yuma: Where is he?
Astral: Over there.
Astral pointed to the opposite side of the room where Hart was asleep on his bed.
Yuma: He looks just like when he was with Quinton.
Astral: I do not believe he is simply asleep. I believe he has been unconscious this entire time.
Yuma: Hart, it's me Yuma. I survived and I'm still competing in the Duel Carnival. I wanted to see you so that I could give you my promise to defeat Vetrix and win the carnival. I'm hoping to face your brother in the final match, and if I do, I'm sure it'll be the most awesome battle ever! There's one more thing I wanted to say. I'm sorry Hart. If I had just locked the window, none of this would've happened to you.
Yuma began to shed a few tears, one of them dropping onto Hart's face. Then, Hart's body began to emit a blue light.
Hart: Yuma? Can you hear me?
The light faded and Yuma and Astral found themselves in front of a house overlooking a green field.
Astral: Interesting.
Hart: Yuma. Astral.
The two turned to Hart's voice and saw him standing on the porch of the house, but he was wearing different clothes and looked totally healthy.
Hart: Hi Yuma. I felt in my heart you could come here to visit me, and I was right.
Yuma: I can't believe it. I'm glad to see you, Hart.
Hart: I have a favor to ask Yuma. Will you please save my big brother Kite?
Yuma: Save Kite?
Hart: My brother is growing weaker all the time. I want to help him, but I can't leave this place. Please help my brother.
Hart then began to glow again.
Yuma: Wait, don't go!
The light faded and Yuma and Astral found themselves back in Hart's room.
Yuma: Where were we?
Astral: Inside Hart's mind.
Yuma: How could that be?
Astral: Simply put, although Hart seems unconscious, his mind is actually quite active. If we could free Hart from his present state, there is a chance he will return to normal.
Yuma: What do we have to do to free him?
Astral: I am not sure, but remember that Kite has claimed he collects numbers to help his younger brother.
Yuma: That's right. What am I gonna do? If I collect all the numbers, Hart will never be saved, but if I don't, then I can't keep my promise to help you get back your missing memories. What am I supposed to do Astral?
Astral: You are the one who must battle. The decision is yours alone.
Yuma: You really believe I can decide something so important?
Astral: I do. It has been an honor for me to duel alongside you, Yuma. To my great surprise, I have learned much from you during our time together, and the most important thing of all is that I can trust your judgment. Whatever path you decide on, I will accept it. I know you will do what you believe is best.
Yuma: Thanks Astral. That means a lot to me, but that really didn't help me at all. It would be a lot better if you told me what to do. Just tell me that I should get the numbers for you and your mission. If you do that, then I won't be forced to choose at all. I don't understand why you're leaving this all up to me.
Suddenly, green sparks flashed in the room and a giant hologram of Dr. Faker appeared behind them.
Faker: Welcome to my domain, Yuma Tsukumo. I am the notorious genius Dr. Faker!
Yuma: You're Dr. Faker? I've heard of you. You're Kite and Hart's father.
Faker: That's right. What a pleasure to meet the son of Kazuma Tsukumo, and your associate, the original number.
Yuma: Astral, if he knows you're here-
Astral: Then clearly he can see me. So tell me Dr., why are you trying to collect numbers? I need them to restore my memory.
Faker: It was all part of the agreement I made with Barian World.
Astral: What do you know of Barian?
Faker: I know that it is a distant world that is quite hostile to your home of Astral World. I agreed to destroy Astral World for the Barians, and in return, they will give me unimaginable power. With that power, I will be able to conquer the Earth and rule over it!
Yuma: That's sick! You forced Kite to become a number hunter just so you could get power? Kite and Hart are both suffering because of you. How could you treat your own sons this way?
Faker: Their fate was necessary.
Yuma: Necessary?
Faker: My sons' wellbeing means nothing compared to the power within my grasp. I'll willingly sell out anyone to gain such power, just like I did your father and Byron. A true genius like me cannot allow lesser creatures to stand in my way.
Yuma: You're still gonna have to get past me!
Faker: That will be easy. You're destined for destruction Yuma, the same way Astral World is doomed. Thanks for dropping in, now drop out.
The floor underneath Yuma glowed before it vanished, causing him to fall down a long shaft, Astral following close behind. Back with Tori and Bronk, the floor underneath them vanished as well and they fell into the same shaft as Yuma. They kept falling for a minute before they landed in a room full of garbage.
Yuma: At least we sorta made a soft landing.
Just then, something fell on top of Yuma's head before it landed in his lap.
Yuma: Hey, it's my deck!
Tori: Yuma, the next time you lose your deck, go find it on your own!
Yuma: Dr. Faker, I'm gonna put a stop to your plans, no matter what it takes.
The next day, the semifinals of the Duel Carnival were getting underway.
Heartland: It's gonna be a dynamic day, duel devotees as we prepare to launch the thrilling World Duel Carnival Semifinals! We're down to our last four duelists. The survivors of the duel coaster will face off to determine who will become champion of the first ever World Duel Carnival! This stadium's about to get hotter than a barbecue grill as Vetrix goes toe to toe with Kite and Shark aims his sights on Yuma!
Yuma: I can do this Astral. I'll find a way to take the top prize and help you and all the friends who are counting on me.
Astral: Yes.
Yuma: Come on, let's hi-five the sky!