It was the next day after the Barian's defeat, and Kite was preparing for his duel against Yuma.
Kite: It's funny, but for all the dueling these hands have done, I can't remember why I ever picked up a deck. All my dueling was for Hart. My whole reason for being was to gather numbers to save him, but now that he's safe, what's next for me?
He heard someone enter the room and turned to see Hart walking towards him.
Hart: Hey Kite, be careful.
Kite: Don't worry about a thing Hart. This time there's nothing we stand to lose. I only agreed to this as a favor to Yuma. Besides, he's never been a challenge. Be sure to watch the duel. I promise to put on a good show.
Kite then turned and left the room to get and face Yuma.
Hart: Good luck.
Across town, Yuma and his friends were waiting at the park for Kite to arrive.
Yuma: You know Astral, I'm really excited for this duel.
Astral: Yes, as am I.
Yuma: I mean in our first duel, he would've beaten us, then when we squared off in the Emperor's Key and used Zexal for the first time, he still managed to tie, and then we partnered for a tag duel to save Hart. I've always been amazed by his dueling, and the more impressed I became with his skill, the more beating him became a goal I had to reach. And today I think I'm finally ready for him, Astral.
Bronk: Man, Yuma is super pumped to take on Kite.
Flip: Guys, am I the only one who thinks Yuma is in way over his head?
Caswell: You're not alone Flip. I think Yuma may be outmatched this time.
Troy: Yuma has come a long way as a duelist. Now he has to see for himself if he can overcome the wall that is Kite.
Tori: Either way, you have our support Yuma.
Yuma: Thanks you guys.
Suddenly they heard a noise like a jet plane, and when they looked up, Kite was flying towards them on Orbital. He got to the park and disconnected from Orbital, dropping to the ground across from Yuma.
Yuma: Kite, today's the day I finally beat you!
Astral: With our duelist's pride on the line, we will challenge you and win.
Kite: Yuma, Astral. With my full strength… I will fight you!
Yuma: Let's get started!
Dextra and Nistro then arrived and stood next to Orbital.
Nistro: This should be a good duel.
Orbital: I can tell you how it will end: with Master Kite's victory.
Yuma: Enough talk. Duel Disk, go!
Kite: Alright then, Photon Transformation!
Yuma: Duel Gazer, let's roll!
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established
Both: Let's duel!
Yuma: 4000 LP
Kite: 4000 LP
Meanwhile, Faker and Hart were watching Kite's duel from the hotel, but Hart was still worried about his brother.
Hart: Kite…
Bronk: Go Yu-
Tori: Yuma! You can win, just don't mess up 'kay?
Yuma: Thanks Tori.
Tori: That goes for you too Astral. Stop looking so gloomy!
Yuma commented that Astral always looks that way before he realized what Tori just said.
Yuma: Wait, you can see Astral?!
Tori: Yeah. I don't know why, but I just can.
Astral: My recent battles have made me visible to some individuals. A truly interesting phenomenon.
Yuma: Well, I was first. You're all just copying me.
Kite: Hey you two, if you're done gabbing with your fan club, let's get this duel started.
Yuma: Alright then, I'll go first. I draw! And I summon Ganbara Knight in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 0/DEF 1800
Bronk: Say what?! Yuma's pulled some bone-headed dueling moves in the past, but this one might just take the cake!
Caswell: In the end, summoning a monster with 0 attack points in attack mode is rather eccentric. Oh who am I kidding, it's totally nuts.
Astral: Yuma…
Yuma: Yeah Astral?
Astral: Good move.
Yuma: Thanks. I play the continuous spell Zerozerock! While this card is in play, neither of us can attack monsters that are in attack mode if they have 0 attack points.
Troy: Now I get it.
Bronk: Get what?
Troy: Yuma must be expecting Kite to summon Galaxy-Eyes off the bat, so with his spell, Kite won't be able to attack, and even if he gets rid of Yuma's spell, due to Ganbara Knight's effect, if it's attacked while in attack mode, it switches itself to defense mode, so Yuma's life points will be safe.
Flip: I guess Yuma has gotten better after all.
Yuma: I end my turn, so come at me Kite!
Kite: If you insist. I draw! And since there are no monsters on my field, I can special summon Photon Thrasher from my hand!
Level 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 2100/DEF 0
Kite: Next, I summon Photon Crusher!
Level 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 2000/DEF 0
Yuma: Two monsters with 2000 attack points.
Kite: I tribute Photon Thrasher and Photon Crusher. The galaxy that lurks in the darkness. Become the light of hope and my very servant. The embodiment of light, now descend! Appear now, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!
Level 8/Light/Dragon
ATK 3000/DEF 2500
Yuma: You may have summoned Galaxy-Eyes, but due to Zerozerock's effect, it can't attack Ganbara Knight!
Kite: Is that so?
Yuma: I don't like the sound of that.
Kite: Then you really won't like this. I activate the spell Galaxy Burst! By halving the attack points of Galaxy-Eyes this turn, the effect of both your spell and monster are negated!
Galaxy-Eyes: 3000-1500 ATK
Yuma: No way!
Astral: Not only did Kite immediately summon Galaxy-Eyes, but he also neutralized our defense.
Kite: Galaxy-Eyes, destroy Ganbara Knight with Photon Stream of Destruction!
Galaxy-Eyes' body glowed before it fired a beam of energy from its mouth that tore through Ganbara Knight and knocked Yuma flat on his back.
Yuma: 2500 LP
Bronk: Yuma lost almost half his life points!
Tori: Yuma, stand up!
Yuma: No way am I taking this lying down.
Yuma leapt back to his feet, ready to keep going.
Yuma: That was a good move Kite, but this duel is far from over.
Kite: Yuma… no matter how hopeless things look, you always face forward with passion in your heart. I activate the continuous spell Battle Gravity! At the end of each of our turns, if we control a monster that didn't attack that turn, we take 1000 points of damage.
Astral: Now we must battle against Galaxy-Eyes or lose life points every turn.
Kite: I place one card face-down and end my turn, which means the effect of Galaxy Burst ends and the attack points of Galaxy-Eyes and the effect of your Zerozerock return to normal.
Galaxy-Eyes: 1500-3000 ATK
Kite: No matter what moves you two make, I'll always be three steps ahead.
Yuma: We'll see about that. After all, this is what dueling is all about. Facing off against strong opponents and giving it your all to beat them, don't you think it's fun?
Kite: There's nothing fun about it. It's a job, a means to an end.
Yuma: You've got it all wrong. See dueling for what it really is, a contest between friends.
Kite: Maybe for you, but not for me.
Yuma: Look at things a different way. Dueling connects the hearts of people and forges friendships that last lifetimes.
Bronk: He's right.
Caswell: We're all connected through dueling.
Flip: Thanks to dueling, we've all become friends.
Yuma: You see Kite? Dueling has allowed me to make so many valuable friends, just like you.
Kite: Give it a rest. I'm not your friend Yuma, and if you want to beat me, you'll have to show me your best. Show me your numbers.
Yuma: Alright Kite. If that'll help you see the truth about dueling, I'll fight you with everything I've got! I draw! And I summon Goblindbergh in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1400/DEF 0
Yuma: And when this monster is normal summoned, I can special summon another level 4 or lower monster from my hand to join him, so come on out, Gagaga Magician!
Level 4/Dark/Spellcaster
ATK 1500/DEF 1000
Yuma: And now I overlay level 4 Goblindbergh and Gagaga Magician! With these two monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Number 39: Utopia!
Rank 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Tori: Yuma summoned his best monster!
Troy: But will it be enough to beat Galaxy-Eyes?
Yuma: Now Utopia, attack Galaxy-Eyes!
Cathy: What? But Utopia has fewer attack points!
Yuma: I activate Utopia's special ability! By using one overlay unit, Utopia's attack is negated!
Kite: I don't know what you're after, but due to the effect of Battle Gravity, you'll take 1000 points of damage at the end of this turn.
Astral: Yuma, the spell card.
Yuma: Right. I activate the quick-play spell Flash Effect! Since a monster effect was activated during the battle phase, until the end of the battle phase, the effects of all monsters on the field are negated and Utopia gains an extra 800 attack points!
Utopia: 2500-3300 ATK
Kite: No way!
Troy: Perfect! Since all monster effects are negated, Utopia's attack continues and Galaxy-Eyes can't use its effect to stop Utopia's attack!
Yuma: Utopia, continue your attack!
Kite: Dream on. I play the trap Battle Simulation! Not only does this card halve the attack power of both our monsters this turn, but Galaxy-Eyes won't be destroyed by your attack!
Galaxy-Eyes: 3000-1500 ATK
Utopia: 3300-1650 ATK
Dextra: Not a bad move.
Nistro: With that, he can save Galaxy-Eyes and some life points.
Orbital: Which means it can counter attack next turn.
Yuma: I thought you'd play that card.
Kite: Say what?
Yuma: I activate the spell Double Bind! Since Utopia's attack power was decreased, this card not only doubles Utopia's attack power, but also negates Battle Simulation's effect to prevent Galaxy-Eyes from being destroyed!
Utopia: 1650-3300 ATK
Kite: You had a card like that waiting?
Yuma: Utopia, cut through Galaxy-Eyes with Rising Sun Slash!
Utopia raised its sword and cleaved through Galaxy-Eyes, knocking Kite to the ground.
Kite: 2200 LP
Yuma: I'll end my battle phase, which means the effects of my spells wear off and Utopia's attack points and effects return to normal. Next, I'll place one card face-down and end my turn. Yes, I beat Kite's Galaxy-Eyes!
Yuma did a backflip before doing a little victory dance for beating Kite's ace. Kite sat up and saw Yuma celebrating his small win.
Kite: He really is quite remarkable. No matter how many times he gets knocked down, Yuma always gets back up to keep fighting. But for me…
Kite got to his feet, a somber look etched onto his face. Astral saw this and directed Yuma's attention to Kite.
Yuma: Kite, what's wrong?
Kite: Yuma… I can't continue the duel.
Yuma: What are you talking about?
Kite: I can't find any importance in dueling anymore. Up until now, I've been dueling to save Hart, but now that he's safe, I don't have any reason to duel anymore.
Yuma: Give me a break! Beating you has been my goal! You can't just quit like that!
Kite: Yuma, I'm not like you. I can't find any passion in dueling anymore.
Astral: You are wrong Kite. Yuma is fighting with me to collect the numbers. Collecting them will bring back my lost memories, but they are just a collection of the past. Dueling with Yuma brought something much more important to me.
Kite: Something more important?
Astral: It's friends. Through dueling, you are talking from heart to heart, deepening the bond between friends. Kite, you are also an important friend to me. Memories are things of the past, but friends represent the future. You don't need to be tied to the past anymore. Instead, live for the future.
Kite: I…
Yuma: He's right. Face forward Kite!
Kite: You never stop talking about friendship, do you? But still, I may not know what my future holds, but I'll open my own path, with my own duel!
Yuma: Alright then Kite, give me everything you have!
To be continued…