Duels were happening all around the city, and many people were watching. One of those pedestrians were Ryu. He walked through the streets and watched the duels.

"Everyone is really getting into the spirit of things." Ryu said as he was pleased to see things. Suddenly, it all changed. The spirit that loves to inhabit Ryu suddenly took over him without warning.

'I sense something.' Evil Ryu thought. 'I sensed this once before, from when someone was controlling the mind of Bane. There's something quite ominous in the air, and that means I could get my hands on another artifact.' It looks like someone else is after something other than duels. If he enters it, what does this mean for Ichika and the others.

...

The Duel

Senshi was in some serious trouble. Zen, being controlled by Meldrick through the duration of the duel, had Izanagi out with a variety of abilities at 4000atk points and had only 2200LP. He also had an active field spell, but that was a neutral point at this point. Senshi had nothing left on his field and had only 1700LP. This duel is about to reach it's end, but who is the one that is going to walk out as the winner.

"Ichika's in a bind, isn't he, Conner?" Mila questioned.

"Yes, but I do know that Ichika will find some way out of it. The only one who is really allowed to beat him is me." Conner said. "You two down there!"

"Is he talking to us?" Cecilia questioned.

"Unfortunately." Rin complained.

"What abilities does Izanagi have?" Conner questioned like he was demanding answers.

"First, I would lose the attitude if I were you." Rin said with annoyance.

"It's got quite a few. One is that it's perfectly immune to spells and traps." Cecilia said.

"It can also some something called the Iza token by removing a card from the graveyard during the standby phase, but it's best ability is that it can tribute those tokens to increase Izanagi's power by one-thousand." Rin explained.

"So, it has the potential to grow stronger every turn, and only monsters have any affect on it." Conner said as he was trying to get familiar with it. "Well, I'm curious to see how Orimura is going to get himself out of this one."

"The answer is that he can't." Meldrick claimed. "This duel is just about over. You can fight all you want, but there is nothing you can do. No card can withstand the great power that Izanagi holds."

"You haven't won yet, Meldrick." Senshi said. "Izanagi is powerful, but no monster is without its weaknesses and I already know Izanagi's."

"I beg your pardon?" Meldrick questioned.

"That's right. I believe I figured out how to beat Izanagi. I have the card to do that. All I have to do is get it out." Senshi claimed. "It might seem like the odds are against me, but I know my deck won't let me down."

"You'll have to do more than just believe and talk." Meldrick claimed. 'There's nothing he can do. He doesn't have any monsters that could possibly defeat Izanagi. His power will soon be mine.' He thought as victory was just in his reach.

"It's my turn!" Senshi said as he drew his next card. The result of this duel could come down to the draw. "I activate my spell card: We Browsing! By banishing one monster, one spell, and one trap from my graveyard, and if I have less than five cards in my hand, I can draw three cards!"

"You get to draw three cards?!" Meldrick said.

"That's what I said, isn't it?" Senshi said as he banished Rocket Flyer, Trading Places, and Rebooted Energy. Once he got rid of those three, he was able to draw three more cards. Hopefully, there's something in there that can help him.

"Do you think he got something good? Do you think he had the card he's looking for?" Rin said.

"I'm sure of it. He always finds a way to pull out a win no matter what opponent he is up against." Cecilia said.

"Next, I activate Stratos Takeoff! This spell allows me to summon an Infinite Stratos from my hand, and I have just the one to do that! Take flight, Infinite Stratos Byakushiki!" Senshi said and brought out his ace monster. Byakushiki flew out with him having 2500atk points.

"Ichika brought out his ace monster! That's great!" Mila said. "That has to be the monster he was talking about."

"Not quite." Conner said. "Byakushiki's ability would allow him to destroy a monster instantly and deal damage, but only if that monster is in defense mode. Izanagi is in attack mode and has nearly twice the power. That ability wouldn't work, especially since he probably doesn't have a card in his hand to change Izanagi's mode. Not that it would matter since Izanagi is immune to spells and traps."

"Then, what is Ichika thinking?" Mila questioned.

"Next, I activate Monster Reborn!" Senshi said as he played another spell. "With this, I can revive one monster from the graveyard, and the one I choose is Stratos Buster!" He revived Stratos Buster as it came back with 2600atk points.

"Awesome! That's the monster that he used to deal damage!" Rin said. "He must be planning to use both of them."

"Wait just a moment." Cecilia said as she saw more problems. "Stratos Buster might cut the attack points in half, but together can only deal 1100 points of damage. He'll still have life points remaining. So, what is Ichika really thinking?"

"This is what I'm thinking!" Senshi said. "I now overlay my level seven Byakushiki and Stratos Buster!" He was bringing his monsters together as an X formed over the field. When it showed, a couple beams shot at both of his monsters and absorbed both of them. When that happened, the X unleashed a powerful beam. "I xyz summon Stratos Buster!" Senshi summoned out Stratos Buster as it descended down with 3000atk points.

"That's the same monster he used to beat Houki!" Cecilia remembered.

"And I remember what that thing can do!" Rin said as she sees his plan.

"As powerful as that monster is, it's not enough to defeat Izanagi." Meldrick claimed.

"That's where you're wrong, Meldrick!" Senshi claimed.

"What?!" Meldrick questioned.

"By using one overlay unit, Stratos Buster can destroy your field!" Senshi said with Meldrick shocked to hear that. "Izanagi might be immune to spells and traps, but my monsters still have an effect on it!" His plan was working. When an overlay unit entered its mace. He twirled his mace around and smashed it into the ground. When he did that, an explosion went off that Izanagi got caught in it and ended up being destroyed. "With Izanagi gone, there is nothing left to protect you! Stratos Buster, attack him directly and end this!"

"No! I had the advantage! This can't be!" Meldrick shouted in disbelief for there's nothing he can to to stop it.

"Meteor Collision!" Senshi's monster went on the attack as it threw its mace with a combo of momentum and heat. It smashed right into Zen and eliminated the last of his life points. This duel was over and Senshi bested Izanagi.

"Senshi really won! That's incredible!" Mila said.

"Of course he won." Conner said because of his own desires. Senshi looked down at his points and saw they jumped all the way to 3410. Probably from defeating a card like Izanagi. That means he's one big step closer to the finals now.

...

Meldrick

"No! This can't be!" Meldrick shouted and now wants vengeance for this loss. "Not only have I lost the duel, but I've also lost Izanagi! Ichika Orimura, I will make you suffer for this!"

"Master Meldrick, we approaching the city." Oberin alerted him. Meldrick looked ahead and spotted the city. Now that he's arriving at the city, he'll soon take matters into his own hands.

"I may have lost this duel, but I will take Izanagi back, and I now know how to do just that." Meldrick claimed as he had something planned.

...

The River

"Well, now that that's over, to the victor goes the spoils." Rin said as she walked over to a fallen Zen and took his Izanagi card.

"Hold on. You can't just take his card." Mila said.

"Relax, Mila. These two had a deal that the winner would get this card. It's much better off with Ichika in the first place." Rin said as she handed the card over to Senshi. He took a hold of the card and could just feel the power. This one card was half of unlocking Senshi's true past. Meanwhile, Valatin was at the top of the bridge and saw what happened. He wasn't pleased with this himself.

"I can't let them just take that card. It looks like I'll have to duel Ichika myself." Valatin claimed as he was ready to jump right in and take the card back.

"I must be careful with such a powerful card. I can't afford to lose it or be reckless with it." Senshi said.

"Just don't get to attach to it. My brother wants that card himself, and he'll win it from you." Mila claimed.

"Excuse me?" Senshi questioned.

"Ichika..." Conner said with Senshi turning to him. "You and I are dueling for that card now."

"Why do you want it, Conner?" Senshi questioned.

"I heard that if I have that card with another one called Izanami, I could reign as the strongest duelist in the world." Conner said. "Of course, I'm willing to give you a fighting chance."

"I'm sorry, Conner. This card could be dangerous in the wrong hands. I'm afraid it's too important to me." Senshi said.

"Get real. It's just a card, and you just got it." Conner said as he wasn't buying it. "Now, get your deck ready for a duel." Tension was building between them and it looked like there might be a showdown. Suddenly, Zed got back up and was still under Meldrick's control.

"Don't think this is over." Meldrick claimed. "You might have Izanagi, but I can just reclaim it when I arrive. I have minions everywhere. You will never be able to escape me."

"What is this freak talking about?" Mila questioned.

"It's a little complicated, but he's not in control. A sinister man named Meldrick is controlling him from some place far." Cecilia said.

"Yeah, right." Conner said as he didn't really believe that.

"I just need to find the right minion that can defeat you, or perhaps I just need to find new ones." Meldrick claimed as he had his sights set on a new set of minions. "I wonder...what would you do if you had to duel one of your friends? Let's say Houki Shinonono, or maybe one of the other two that are with her." Hearing that filled Senshi with fear for them and rage.

"Meldrick, leave them alone!" Senshi demanded. "This is between you and me! Leave them out of this!"

"After a reaction like that, I think I found the perfect weapon to use against you." Meldrick claimed before he released his hold on Zen and Zen collapsed to the ground.

"Oh no! He's going after Houki and the others!" Cecilia said as she and the others were afraid what might happen if Meldrick gets to them.

"Hurry!" Senshi said as he ran off with Rin and Cecilia following him.

"Hey! Get back here!" Conner called.

"I can't duel you now, Conner. I need to ensure my friends are safe first." Senshi claimed and kept going.

"Good luck." Mila said as she was concerned for them.

"Running from a challenge? That's looked down upon, but it seems like things might get interesting." Conner said as he had a feeling he might want to see this. As for Valatin, he settled down and liked the sound of things.

"Turning his friends against him? Brilliant as always. I suppose that means I should go and meet up with him." Valatin said as he left the area to meet with Meldrick. Ichika and the others could be in real trouble. Meldrick is planning to turn Houki and the others against him. They need to do something fast.

'We've got to find our friends before Meldrick does. I just hope we're not too late.' Ichika thought. It was a race now. Houki, Charlotte, and Laura are in danger and they don't even know it. Can they get to them in time?