Yuma: You're going to destroy Astral World?
Faker: Yes, and you're going to help me do it. You are going to be part of the energy blast fired by my Sphere Field Cannon, which will annihilate both you and Astral World!
Yuma: Sphere Field Cannon?
Astral: Yuma, look down.
Yuma directed his gaze beneath him and saw the same chasm he, Bronk, and Tori had nearly fallen into a few days ago.
Yuma: The garbage facility? What are we doing here?
Faker: At this very moment, the Sphere Field you're in is being loaded into a cannon. Once it's online, the cannon will set its sights on Astral World.
Yuma: Astral World?
Astral: These memories I have been experiencing, it is Astral World.
Faker: You've helped me create the ultimate weapon. This Sphere Field has gathered all the numbers' power into one massive confluence of energy. Once the cannon fires this energy, there will be no saving Astral World.
Just then, Kite burst into Hart's room only to find that his brother wasn't there.
Kite: What happened to Hart? Find out where he is Orbital, now!
Orbital: I-I'm on it.
Yuma: You're telling me you were planning to gather the numbers for this?
Faker: Yes, as was creating the World Duel Carnival. I'll admit, I grew a bit nervous when Kite lost to Byron, but my plan became a reality regardless of his failure. The only thing that mattered was that the numbers ended up in one place during the finals, and that's exactly what happened!
Yuma: You're telling me that Vetrix, me, Kite, my friends, we were all just puppets in your plan?
Faker: Exactly!
Yuma: Well it's not gonna happen!
He rushed forward and tried to strike Faker, but he just hit a hologram.
Faker: You can't stop me now. It's time to shine, Hart. The moment we've been waiting for is almost upon us, my boy.
Yuma turned around and saw Hart being raised up on a levitating platform.
Yuma: No!
Meanwhile, Orbital was leading Kite through Heartland Tower.
Kite: Are you sure we're heading in the right direction?
Orbital: Positive. Signals indicate that Master Hart is at the bottom of the tower.
Kite: Is he okay?
Orbital: He's normal, but at that location, Master Hart is being used as part of the Sphere Field Cannon.
Kite: He's what?
Back in the cannon room, Yuma was desperately trying to break out of the Sphere Field.
Yuma: Hart, you have to snap out of it! You can't let Dr. Faker destroy Astral World!
Faker: His destiny awaits. Soon Hart will become the trigger that seals Astral World's fate!
Yuma: What is he talking about?
Astral: I see. He intends to position Hart as an energy conduit.
Yuma: What does that mean?
Astral: He is going to use Hart's power to trigger the Sphere Field Cannon.
Hart moved forward and aligned himself with an open section of the cannon, machinery appearing to bind him to it.
Faker: Once Astral World is destroyed, Barian's power will be mine, and with that power, the entire world will kneel before me!
Outside the tower, everyone was evacuating from Heartland in a panic.
Bronk: Did everyone get out okay?
Flip: I don't know.
Bronk looked around and noticed someone was missing.
Bronk: Where's Tori?
Caswell: I thought she was right behind us.
Cathy: Do you think that she went after Yuma?
Just then, Kari arrived on her bike, pulling to a stop in front of Bronk.
Kari: Is everyone okay?
Bronk: Yuma disappeared along with the duel field.
Cathy: And we don't know where Tori is.
Kari: We have to find them!
Meanwhile, Tori was running to Heartland Tower, but the whole structure was coming undone.
Tori: Yuma!
Inside the tower, Kite was running to get to Hart when his deck began pulsing.
Kite: What in the world?
His deck case opened to reveal it was his Neo Galaxy-Eyes that was glowing.
Kite: This card is connected to Hart, which means Hart is trying to call out to me.
The tower shook again as the top of Heartland Tower broke off and crashed to the ground. Inside the cannon room, Hart's power was still charging the Sphere Field Cannon, causing him to cry out in pain.
Faker: Excellent, keep it up my boy!
On the wall to Heartland, Kari and the others were looking out over the city while Kari tried to contact Tori with her holocom.
Kari: Tori, can you hear me?
Tori: Kari?
Kari: Tori, you had us worried. Where are you right now?
Tori: I'm at the bottom of Heartland Tower.
Kari: That thing is falling apart! What are you doing there?
Tori: I'm looking for Yuma, he's gotta be here.
Orbital: Master Kite!
Tori looked up ahead and saw Orbital in front of Kite, who was pinned under the rubble.
Tori: Kari, I have to go.
Kari: Tori, don't hang up! Tori!
Tori dropped the call and ran up to Orbital. Just then, Shark and Troy ran into Heartland Tower, but shortly after arriving, they found Tori and Orbital trying to lift the rubble off of Kite.
Tori: Come on, put your motor into it.
Orbital: I don't see you doing much better.
Troy: Guys!
Tori: Troy?
Orbital: Help us!
Troy: Shark, give us a hand.
Shark: Fine.
They all tried to lift the slab, but they couldn't get it to budge.
Tori: It's too heavy.
Orbital: We have to keep trying.
Troy: Stand back.
Shark: What?
Troy: Trust me. Just stand back.
The others looked between them in confusion, but did as Troy asked and stood aside.
Troy: I just hope this works.
He concentrated and created a sphere of red energy in his hand.
Shark: What the?
Troy then launched the orb at the debris, breaking it apart and freeing Kite.
Orbital: Master Kite!
Tori: Troy, you did it!
Her congratulations were cut short as Troy dropped to the floor on his hands and knees, panting for breath.
Tori: Troy!
She rushed forward and helped him into a sitting position while Orbital did the same for Kite.
Tori: Troy, are you okay?
Troy: I'll… be alright. What about… Kite?
Kite: I'll live.
Shark: How did you do that?
Troy: To be honest, I don't know. I've been getting these weird energy surges since I started collecting number cards.
Shark: Tori, get them out of here.
Troy: I'm not leaving. Yuma needs help, and I owe him after he saved me and my sister.
Kite: And I'm not going anywhere without my little brother.
Tori: Hart is here too? Do you know where he is?
Orbital: It's complicated.
Kite: Zip it Orbital.
Tori: Where is he?
Orbital: Well, you see, um-
Tori: Out with it you bucket of bolts!
Orbital: Hart is being used by Dr. Faker to power the Sphere Field Cannon.
Troy: You're telling me Faker actually built that thing? I thought that was just a rumor.
Tori: What's a Sphere Field Cannon?
Orbital: It is the ultimate weapon created to destroy Astral World. In order to complete it, he made Master Kite gather the number cards so he could harness their energy to-
Shark: We're wasting time. If this thing is as dangerous as you say, we have to destroy it, so where do we find it?
Kite: This doesn't concern you. Let's go Orbital.
Shark: Where do you think you're going?
Kite: I don't have time to settle a score if that's what you want.
Shark: You think I care that you beat me before? I just want to help Yuma. If he's still in the Sphere Field and they're using it as a weapon, things aren't going to end well.
Tori: What can we do?
Shark: I don't know. All I know is that I can't do nothing when my friend is in trouble. Now talk you lousy vacuum cleaner! How do we get to the Sphere Field Cannon?
Orbital: I am not a vacuum c-cleaner! I am a highly sophisticated artificial intelligence unit! Hmph!
Tori: Kite please, I wanna help save Yuma too.
Troy: You know that you, me, and Shark wouldn't even be standing here if it wasn't for Yuma.
Kite: Let's go Orbital.
Orbital: Yes sir.
Tori: But Kite.
Kite: We're done talking about this. We need to get to the garbage treatment facility.
Shark: Was that his way of saying "follow me"?
Tori: I guess so.
Inside the treatment facility, Yuma could feel his energy draining.
Yuma: I feel so tired.
Astral: I fear that is my fault. My life force is weakening by the minute.
Yuma: Don't say that.
Astral: You might be able to save yourself if you-
Yuma: Don't even finish that sentence. We're friends, and I won't leave you behind.
Meanwhile, the others were making their way to Yuma, but found their path blocked by fallen debris.
Tori: Now what?
Shark: Troy, can you clear this rubble?
Troy: No chance. After that last blast, I couldn't clear half of this if I tried.
Kite: Orbital, scan the building schematics to find another route.
Orbital: I would, but the access panel that would allow me to do so has been destroyed by fallen debris.
Shark: Stop making excuses you worthless scrap pile!
Orbital: I don't see you doing anything to help, you hairless ape!
Tori: Wait, maybe Kari can help.
She pulled out her holocom and called Yuma's sister and told her about the situation. Kari pulled out her duel tab and began accessing the blueprints for the tower.
Kari: I've got it. There's a stairwell three blocks to the west from where you guys are. You can get underground from there.
Tori: Thank you Kari.
Kari: No problem. I'm here if you need me.
Bronk: Don't do anything Yuma would do.
Caswell: Good luck Tori. We're all counting on you.
Tori: Alright, let's go!
They all took off running down the hall to reach the stairwell.
Tori: Hang in there, Yuma. We're coming to save you.
They found the stairwell and made their way down it.
Orbital: These stairs are n-not good for my shocks.
Troy: File a complaint with HR later.
Shark: Which way tin can?
Orbital: We're almost at the bottom. Master Hart is just up ahead.
They soon reached the bottom and raced down the hallway at the bottom, only to find themselves met by Mr. Heartland.
Heartland: Welcome. I'm so glad you could find it in you to join us. Unfortunately, if you're looking for Hart, he's a bit indisposed at the moment.
Kite: Where is he?
Heartland: He's right here.
They all looked up and saw the Sphere Field Cannon above them.
Kite: Hart, can you hear me?
Tori: Guys, look! Yuma's up there too!
Heartland: It was nice of you all to drop by, but I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave now. We have a world to destroy. Litterbots, take out the trash.
The walls opened up to reveal hordes of litterbots that began to charge at the group.
Kite: Orbital, get to it!
Orbital: You got it.
Orbital's limbs began to expand, him now towering over the litterbots and a large drill protruding from his left arm. The group then began demolishing the litterbots, but they just kept coming.
Kite: I've got to get Hart down from there.
Heartland: Hart's not going anywhere. Besides, I'm sure he's happy right where he is.
Kite: Yeah right.
Heartland: He's making his father proud. You on the other hand are turning out to be quite the disappointment. You played your part for a while and we certainly appreciate you gathering number cards, but now you've seemed to have lost your way. Your father hopes you'll come around, but I know better. You've always been ungrateful and arrogant, and now it's time for you to vanish alongside all your little friends, including Yuma!
The ground beneath them shook and the floor began to separate, creating a large hole in the center of the room.
Shark: This doesn't seem good.
Heartland: Below us is a portal to Astral World.
Shark: Everybody, get away from the edge and run towards the wall!
Kite: Hart, you have to fight it!
Faker: The moment I've been waiting for is almost at hand! The cannon is almost ready to fire!
Heartland: Litterbots, toss all of this trash into the vortex!
More Litterbots came out of the wall, advancing on the group. As the fight went on, one of them managed to catch Shark in the side.
Shark: They just keep coming. Hey toaster oven! Can't you do something about this?
Orbital: I am not a toaster oven! I am a sentient artificial intelligence designed to-
Tori: Stop fighting! These litterbots have to be receiving their orders from somewhere, right? If we can find the source of their signal and destroy it-
Orbital: Excellent idea! I shall investigate immediately. All orders are transmitted from a host computer. If I can somehow hack into the host and hit it with a large amount of voltage- ah-hah! I found it! By hooking into that remote access point, I can-
Shark: Again with the explanations, just do it!
Orbital: If I could get through this army of litterbots, maybe I could.
Troy: Orbital, If you can get me to that access panel, do you think I could short it out with an energy blast?
Orbital: Theoretically, yes, but the backlash could be devastating to your body.
Tori: Troy don't! There has to be another way!
Troy: We don't have time to debate this. Orbital, get me close.
Kite: Do it Orbital!
Orbital: Yes sir.
Troy grabbed onto Orbital's back and began charging energy in his right hand.
Troy: This had better work. Go!
Orbital: Hang on!
Orbital poured on the speed and shot across the room, approaching the litterbots. Troy got ready and when Orbital crashed into the litterbots, he pushed off from Orbital, flying over the robots and straight towards the access point.
Heartland: No!
Troy rammed his fist into the access panel and unleashed as much energy as he could, overloading the system, but the backlash sent a surge of electricity through his boy, causing him to yell in pain.
Tori: Troy!
Troy dropped to the floor as all the litterbots stopped in their tracks.
Shark: He did it!
Faker: Impossible! Why is Hart's energy decreasing?
The power surge caused Heartland to lose control of his platform and he fell into the abyss. Tori ran over to Troy and turned him over onto his back.
Tori: Troy, are you okay?
Troy looked at her and gave a weak smile.
Troy: That was the most shocking experience of my life.
Tori: Hey, Troy's alright!
Yuma then awoke inside the Sphere Field.
Yuma: What happened?
He looked beneath him and saw all his friends down below.
Yuma: Tori, Shark, Kite, and Troy? Why are they here?
Astral: The Sphere Field's energy is weakening. This may be your moment to escape. We must break the Zexal bond.
Yuma: No, we can't break the bond.
Yuma's body began to glow, completely obscuring him from everyone else.
Kite: What's going on?
Inside the Sphere Field, Yuma found himself face to face with Astral, their Zexal bond undone.
Yuma: Why did you do that?
Astral: Yuma, go. You might not have another chance to escape.
Yuma: Well, what about you? We're getting out of here together.
Astral: That cannot happen. I am one with the numbers, and now that the numbers have been gathered in this Sphere Field, I cannot leave. I cannot exist outside.
Yuma: What? That can't be.
Just then, Utopia and Shark Drake floated in front of Yuma.
Yuma: Why are-
Astral: I am entrusting the future to you Yuma. You must go, now.
Yuma: But what about you? What's gonna happen?
Astral: That does not matter. What matters is that you save Hart, and in doing so, save Astral World. The future is in your hands.
Astral waved his hand and Yuma was expelled from the Sphere Field, landing beside Kite and Shark.
Shark: Yuma!
Tori: You're back!
Faker: Did you really think I would take so long putting my plans into motion and not have a backup system in place?
A panel in the wall began to open, revealing Dr Faker on the other side.
Faker: Once it comes online, the cannon will repower itself, and Astral World will cease to exist, and you will soon be finished along with it! It's over!
Yuma: It's not over yet, Faker!
He looked at his hand and realized he was holding Utopia and Shark Drake.
Yuma: I understand now. Shark, Kite, you guys ready to rumble? As long as my friends and I are still here, we're gonna keep fighting!
Shark: Do you really think we can stop him?
Yuma: We have to try Shark. Come on Kite, what do ya say?
Kite: Alright.
Shark: Count me in.
Yuma: Alright, we can do this. Together!
Faker: If it's a duel you want, it's a duel you'll get. I'll demolish you and get rid of the lot of you once and for all. Your days of meddling in my affairs will come crashing to an end. After that, this world is mine for the taking!
Tori: Come on guys, you can do this.
Troy: Everything is riding on you three. Stand up for our future, and for Astral World's.
To be continued…