Shark awoke in the hospital in a slight panic before he looked around and realized where he was. He got out of the hospital bed and went to the window, seeing the Sphere Field in the distance.
Shark: Yuma.
Vetrix: 3800 LP
Yuma: 500 LP
Vetrix's field: Number 69: Heraldry Crest
Yuma's field: Number C39: Utopia Ray, ZW - Lightning Blade, one face-down
Vetrix: I have to give you credit for using Bacon Saver's special ability. Too bad you can't do it again. Why don't you give the crowd a memorable show and give up now? You can play the part of the noble and pathetic losing duelist and I can be the winner!
Yuma: I'm not quitting this duel. There are too many people counting on me, and I'm not gonna give up and let them down!
Vetrix: Then you're just setting them up for disappointment. I draw! And now I activate the effect that Heraldry Crest stole from your Utopia Ray! By using one overlay unit, Heraldry Crest gains 500 attack points this turn and Utopia Ray loses 1000 attack points this turn!
Crest: 3100-3600 ATK
Utopia: 3700-2700 ATK
Yuma: Great.
Vetrix: Now I'll defeat you using your own monster's special ability! Heraldry Crest, destroy Utopia Ray with Dark Matter Demolition!
Heraldry Crest launched a bolt of lightning into a portal above it before the portal flashed and a beam of purple energy came out, heading straight for Utopia Ray.
Yuma: I activate the trap Half Unbreak! Not only does this card prevent Utopia Ray from being destroyed by your attack, but it halves the damage I take!
An energy barrier appeared in front of Utopia Ray, protecting him, but the impact from the blast sent Yuma flying against the wall of the Sphere Field.
Yuma: 50 LP
Tori: Yuma!
Flip: He only has 50 life points left!
Vetrix: Persistent pest.
Yuma: It's not over yet, Vetrix. I still have life points!
Vetrix: When I see that unyielding will of yours, I'm reminded of Kazuma. You're just as annoying as he is!
Yuma: I won't let you insult my father!
Astral: Calm yourself Yuma. Victory is within our grasp now.
Yuma: What do you mean?
Vetrix: Astral. You think that because Heraldry Crest ran out of overlay units, that now you have a chance to win? Allow me to prove you wrong. I activate the effect of Heraldic Beast Twin-Headed Eagle in my graveyard! By banishing it, Heraldry Crest regains 2 overlay units! Next, I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Crest: 3600-3100 ATK
Utopia: 2700-3700 ATK
Bronk: 3800 life points versus 50.
Flip: The match is basically over.
Caswell: In the end, I'm afraid Yuma may have met his match.
Tori: Yuma…
Astral: Yuma-
Yuma: I know, we're in trouble.
He dropped to his knees and angled his head downward.
Astral: Yuma, are you alright?
Yuma: My stomach. Man, I'm starving.
Astral: How can you think of food at a time like this?
Yuma: It's not me thinking of food, it's my stomach.
Astral: You are unbelievable.
Yuma: Wait, I've still got the rice ball Tori gave me.
He pulled it out and unwrapped it before he began eating.
Flip: What is he doing?
Caswell: Does this mean he's given up the duel?
Cathy: No way.
Bronk: You're wrong. Yuma ain't done yet.
Tori: Go Yuma!
Vetrix: Now this is something. Eating while dueling.
In Yuma's mind, Astral could feel the sensation of eating thanks to their Zexal link.
Astral: What's this sensation?
Yuma: Oh yeah. This is your first time eating anything.
Astral: So this is "eating"?
Yuma: Can't duel on an empty stomach.
Astral: Unbelievable! I can feel my fighting spirit burning inside me.
Yuma: Ain't that right?
Astral: So this is how it feels to be alive. Even if it goes away, this feeling is unbelievable! It's quite interesting. It has become very interesting staying with you Yuma!
Yuma: Let's win this Astral!
Astral: Yes. Our winning formula is set, Yuma.
Yuma: Alright, it's my turn! Light and strength, gather on me! Illuminate the path towards hope once again! Final Shining Draw!
Astral: It is the card we have been waiting for!
Yuma: I equip Utopia Ray with Zexal Weapon Tornado Bringer!
A dragon appeared in the sky above Utopia Ray before it merged with his sword.
Vetrix: Another Zexal Weapon?!
Yuma: That's right. And due to the effect of Tornado Bringer, Utopia Ray gains 1300 attack points!
Utopia: 3700-5000 ATK
Yuma: And that's not all, because while Tornado Bringer is equipped, Utopia Ray can't be targeted by the effects of cards that would destroy it. And since Lightning Blade protects my spells and traps from being destroyed, you can't destroy either of my Zexal Weapons!
Vetrix: If what you're saying is true, then that means I can't destroy any of your cards with Heraldry Crest's special ability.
Yuma: That's right. Utopia Ray's twin sword Zexal Weapon combo is invincible! Go Utopia Ray! Destroy Heraldry Crest with Rising Sun Double Chaos Slash!
Utopia Ray raised both his swords and charged towards Heraldry Crest.
Yuma: You're finished!
Vetrix: You sure?
Yuma: What?
Vetrix: I activate the trap Heraldry Burst! Not only does this card return all your spells and traps to your hand, but it ends your battle phase!
A wave of flames shot from Vetrix's trap, sending the Zexal Weapons back to Yuma's hand.
Yuma: I don't believe it.
Vetrix: And there's more! At the end of this turn, you take 500 points of damage for every card that was returned to your hand!
Yuma: Say what?
Vetrix: Your battle phase is over, so all that's left is for you to end your turn. And once you do, you both will lose!
Yuma: We won't give up, you got that?!
Astral: Your resolve is admirable, but do you have any plan to win?
Yuma: About that…
Astral: Same as always, huh? At least you have the "not giving up" part down.
Vetrix: It's getting unsightly Astral. Your battle phase is over, so what can you possibly do?
Astral: As I said earlier, our winning formula is set.
Vetrix: What?
Astral: Let's go, Yuma!
Yuma: You got it Astral! I activate the spell card Zexal Catapult! This card lets me special summon a Zexal Weapon monster from my hand, so come out, Zexal Weapon Lightning Blade!
Level 5/Light/Warrior
ATK 1200/DEF 2000
Vetrix: Pointless. Did you forget that as long as I control Heraldry Crest, the effects of all other monsters on the field are negated?
Yuma: I activate the effect of Amarylease in my graveyard! By banishing it, I can summon a monster with one less tribute during this turn. Using this effect, I summon Zexal Weapon Tornado Bringer!
Level 5/Wind/Warrior
ATK 1300/DEF 1800
Vetrix: But now its effects will also be stolen by Heraldry Crest.
Bronk: Now way. He's out of options now.
Flip: It's over…
Tori: Yuma…
Vetrix: And that's the end of your pointless struggles.
Astral: They were not pointless. The levels of Lightning Blade and Tornado Bringer are both 5.
Yuma: Which means everything is set!
Vetrix: Don't tell me that you plan to-
Yuma: Do this? I overlay level 5 Lightning Blade and Tornado Bringer! With these two monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Zexal Weapon Leo Arms!
Rank 5/Light/Beast
ATK 3000/DEF 1200
Vetrix: A Zexal Weapon that's an xyz monster?!
Yuma: And now I activate Leo Arm's special ability! It can equip onto Utopia Ray, giving him an extra 3000 attack points! And this ability can't be negated!
Utopia: 2500-5500 ATK
Yuma: With 5500 attack points, Heraldry crest doesn't stand a chance.
Vetrix: Aren't you forgetting something? Your battle phase is already over!
Yuma: That doesn't matter, because I activate another one of Leo Arms' special abilities! The monster equipped with it can make one attack during my main phase 2!
Vetrix: An attack outside of the battle phase?!
Yuma: This is the ultimate Zexal Weapon!
Vetrix: But even so, without your twin-sword combo, Utopia Ray can't avoid destruction. I activate Heraldry Crest's special ability! I use one overlay unit to destroy Utopia Ray!
Yuma: I don't think so, Vetrix! I activate Leo Arms' final effect! Not only does it negate Heraldry Crest's effect, but it cuts his attack points in half!
Crest: 3100-1550 ATK
Vetrix: Impossible!
Yuma: Rising Sun Triple Chaos Slash!
Utopia Ray raised his sword and charged Heraldry Crest, slicing the monster to pieces and sending Vetrix flying.
Vetrix: 0 LP
Winner: Yuma.
Tori: He did it! Yuma won it all!
Bronk: Alright!
Caswell: Yuma just beat Vetrix!
Flip: Way to go Yuma!
Heartland: Yuma Tsukumo… has won? The winner of the World Duel Carnival is Yuma Tsukumo!
Faker: Byron has been defeated? That is not the outcome I anticipated, but it doesn't make a difference because I'm going to strip them of their numbers anyway.
The Sphere Field began to ripple and emit large amounts of electricity.
Yuma: What's going on?
Vetrix: I don't-
They were both struck by the electricity and their numbers were pulled from them, moving to the center of the Sphere Field.
Yuma: The numbers!
Vetrix: You can't do this to me Faker! I won't let you!
He tried to use his crest, but it vanished before he could do anything. The whole tower began to emit electricity as the structure began to crumble. Then, an explosion rocked the base of the tower and everyone in the crowd began to flee the stadium in a panic. In the hospital, Shark had just finished putting his clothes back on and began to run to the stadium.
Faker: It's over Byron. Now that you've lost the numbers, you've lost all your power as well.
Inside the Sphere Field, Yuma and Vetrix were thrown against the wall of the field before the sphere generated by the numbers began to pull against Vetrix, dragging him towards the center.
Yuma: Vetrix!
Faker: Goodbye Byron!
Yuma launched himself towards Vetrix, grabbing his wrist and pulling him away from the orb before manifesting his Zexal Weapon Lightning Blade, embedding it in the wall of the Sphere Field to keep himself and Vetrix anchored.
Vetrix: Yuma…
His mind flashed back to when Faker betrayed him and Kazuma, and how Kazuma risked everything to try and save him.
Yuma: Vetrix, tell me what's happening!
Vetrix: Yuma, Astral, this Sphere Field was created to absorb all the power of the numbers.
Astral: Oh no!
Yuma: What do you mean?
Vetrix: Faker knew the two finalists would be in possession of number cards. This was his chance to put the final pieces of his plan in place.
Yuma: So this whole thing was a trap from the beginning, wasn't it?
Vetrix: Yes. Faker wanted us to battle so that we would unleash the full power of our numbers.
Yuma: That dirty-
Lightning Blade began to dislodge from the wall.
Vetrix: Let me go! If you let me go, you might be able to save yourself! Get away while you can!
Yuma: No way! I'll never let go!
Vetrix: Why? Why are you saving me?
Yuma: Why wouldn't I? We just dueled, so we're friends, aren't we?
Vetrix: Huh?
Yuma: I may not know a lot of things, but I do know that duels create special bonds, and that bond is stronger than anything in this world.
Vetrix: I guess I get it now. I finally understand you.
Yuma: You do?
Vetrix: For me, dueling is about revenge, but for you it's about friendship. Yuma, I wish I could duel with the same spirit you have, but I can't. The one thing I can do is right the wrongs I've done, so I release all the souls I captured!
A bright light from the left side of Vetrix's face and all the souls he had collected returned to their rightful bodies. Troy woke up in the hospital and looked around and realized what must have happened.
Troy: Thank you Yuma.
He felt his heart pulse, except it felt different than before.
Troy: Yuma? He needs help!
Vetrix: And so I say goodbye. Farewell Yuma, Astral.
He let go of Yuma's hand and let himself drift into the energy sphere.
Yuma: Vetrix!
Vetrix thought back to memories of his sons before they were separated, and he felt joy as he recalled the time they had spent together.
Vetrix: I'll never forget those times now. Forgive me my sons.
He was then sucked into the orb and vanished.
Yuma: Vetrix!
The Sphere Field glowed before it was sucked into the top of Heartland Tower. Shark and Troy left the hospital and saw the top of the tower glowing.
Both: Yuma!
Inside Heartland Tower, Yuma was still trapped in the Sphere Field and he could hear Faker's cackling around him.
Faker: I've been waiting for this moment, Yuma Tsukumo, Astral!
Yuma: Dr. Faker.
Faker: Now it's time for the grand finale, which just so happens to be the total destruction of Astral World!