Yu-Gi-Oh! ASPECT (Arc 1): Desire of the Duelist

by D'Sceptre Inc

Akaine. Percy. Save. Evy. Ceren. Tidus. These are the stories of the disgruntled and forsaken across three timelines make famous by three card-playing champions, and what they do when their grievances force them to measure up against their heroes. These are the voyages of the ASPECT.

9. The Past vs Present pt2

Been a while, but D'Sceptre. Inc is back - and this story's got more pitfalls than a sleepwalking avocado eater.

Let's get right into the action this time, shall we? It has been a while since we came from that climax moment of Ehris and Yubel - so clearly the endeavors of Ceren, Save and the straggler Duelists must be just as chaotic, yes?

---

?/DYSTOPIA OF DESIRE/?

"And here we are, Dystopia visitors; the common room."

Beholding such a startling sight as a literal goddess's waiting room was almost too much for Blair and Tori to take in, never mind Trudge. The sweeping crescent of the arched walls provided as a backdrop to the raised stone tables at the front of the room beautifully reflected the stars of the eternal night.

As Blair looked closer, she saw that they were but reflections, and… The real stars are from that ceiling above, thought Blair. Indeed, the twinkling lights moved almost rhythmically with the room.

Trudge's attention was drawn to the five raised platforms at the farthest end of the spacious room. Each held an overflowing fountain, the sparkling water changing color at it slipped between each basin before cascading into a beautiful bubbling pool at ground level. Yet the only thing keeping it from falling into the gorge bisecting the room was a raised arch before it and a curtain of vines. And most tellingly, each of the large basins held a particular tree, rich with shiny silver leaves and bearing golden fruit. "Are those apples?" Trudge asked of Ceren.

"Sure are." Ceren turned to him. Before Trudge could speak again, Ceren shook his head and continued. "And no, neither my sister nor our matron has ever divulged why a room was created to both eat and bathe in. All Ehris said was that it was to humanity's loss that the merging of work and pleasure was so taboo."

"Not gonna lie…" Blair raised an eyebrow. "But this 'Ehris' seems like a total perv, 'specially if they're getting their kicks bathing while you're chowing down next door."

Ceren's brow furrowed in angst. "What exactly makes you think Ehris sees that bathing as pleasure?" Realizing how irritable that sounded, he lowered his voice an octave as he ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. "Nah, Ehris sees food as pleasure. She's never bathed here with anyone watching, and it's a surprise to us too, considering she has six wings. But yeah, the food's easy to get here, even if you're limited to the low trees."

Blair finally stopped mid-trek towards one of the pedestal trees at this. "Just those?" was her response.

"Yeah. Water dilutes as it passes through each tree and the… Well, Ehris lost me in some areas, but these trees are everywhere on the lower levels, which is why this palace looks the way it does – lots of the halls shift on rings, so each room's trees can get water from the reservoir below us and light from above. Well, what little of it's here." Ceren finally smiled. "Well, that and to get to certain rooms faster. In fact, get three of those apples and I can show you how one can gain a little privacy for a bath."

Trudge was next to talk. "Seems like you'd never want to leave. Yet you did… and nearly made a mess of our worlds too. Mind explainin' that further?"

Blair, after a long span of silence finally turned and walked towards the others, bracing her arms on one of the chest-high tables surrounding them. "Actually Tori, I'd suggest you get the apples and wash up first. I've had bad experiences with being in trees around... well…" Even if for a second, Tori couldn't un-see the flash of anger, or un-hear the fledgling contempt in Blair's voice as her eyes whipped to Ceren's face.

Pushing herself off of the wall she was leaning on before, Tori nodded knowingly, and then skittered over to the tree on the opposite end of the room.

Ceren's eyes, however, remained on Trudge. "A gilded cage is still a cage, officer. I think you can respect that. And considering it's all that's left of the home Ehris had before some rogue Duel Spirit came down to crush it entirely…"

Well, then; suddenly Trudge did… "… feel a bit rotten prying there now. Guess I should be surprised she hasn't been ripping down parts of this place too." Immediately, Trudge shook his head. "But that still doesn't explain-"

"It does explain quite a bit." Ceren wistfully looked up at the trees as Tori got a clutch on the second golden apple within reach. She'd lucked out before on snatching one falling from the tree before it slipped into the flow of water pooling right at the edge of her shoes. "Because the pain that's present in her eyes when every one of us besides Percy is talking and she thinks we're not noticing is… well, it's haunting. It shows how much work there is to do in our worlds, to keep that from being our portion."

Ceren's voice shook again, and the vocal betrayal made him pause before he continued. "It's Ehris' memorial… and our base. None of us see this as home. Ours are in our own timelines, and we're ensuring they're shepherded from supernatural threats by the best – not just those who play them on TV in-between the apocalypses they start."

"I'd think startin' apocalypses was the Dark Signers' hobby…" muttered Trudge.

"Oh, all the Signers are plenty dark. You've had no opportunity to see just how yet."

"Besides trespassing, resisting arrest, and disrespecting officers, I've been plenty busy with the Signers." Trudge drew himself up to full height, looming over Ceren. "And I know the difference between them and those that actually drew out citizen-consumin' flames from here to New Dom-!"

"Uhm, Ceren. Sorry," Tori finally spoke up, Trudge's grandiose speech dying on his lips at her return only for his eyes to brighten up at the three fruits cradled in her arms. "Y-you said this was what you needed?"

"Yeah…" Ceren took the apples and perched one on the four-cornered stand centered on one of the tables. "Blair, you're up. Touch it."

Blair hesitated. "Relax, I'm not gonna hurt you, Blair. One: Trudge would pummel me for it, and two…" Ceren pointed to Malice and Lilith, both standing over the threshold to the common room. "…they would do worse with my remains for defying Ehris' last order."

Convinced, at last, Blair slowly tapped the fruit at the center of the table… only for a brilliant glow to overtake it, disappearing to reveal a golden four-sided dish piled high with piping hot fried rice, crispy broccoli, and a crown of black-tipped bean sprouts. The apple stem on top, however, was blackened to a crisp. "My bad – heating transformed food's still not an exact science here, but it's an apple from one of the low trees, as I said." Ceren quickly pocketed the stem as Blair pulled up to the table, not willing to trust the burnt object in his hands after a moment of hot-potato with it. "Wow, that smarts! So… yeah, about that trick I was talking about for the benefit of a safe bath." He tapped another button on his Duel Disk, and the crackle of static accompanied his ears. "Ehris, got a minute to move the third ring of rooms clockwise a bit?"

Only the snaps and crackles of the remote tap answered Ceren. "Strange, Ehris is usually punctual about this." He hit another button at this. "Percy, roll over into the commons for a sec, I need you to use your Disk to move the rooms to give the commons baths some private walls. It's the stragglers we left on the rock, don't worry."

"Done and done. Our… other friends just headed up to see Akaine. Give me a minute."

And within a second, the entire room shuddered and moved to the right, Trudge seeing the hallway beyond it shudder past him as he scampered further in due to shock. Blair and Tori's eyes were focused on the gigantic groove in the floor – and the large façade of a wall sliding into the moving room to cross it. It soon divided the room in two with a final WHUMP, the only light greeting the table-filled part of the room now leaking out from an arched window at the top and a small door at the bottom.

"Bath's all yours." Ceren motioned.

Tori immediately raced back to the room after giving a rushed curtsy to Ceren in thanks, Trudge still gaping as his finger pointed from the different expanse of hallway in the doorway they had entered the room from and the new door across from him. "No, seriously, I've gotta be dreamin'." Then he took the apple Ceren offered him, muttering under his breath as he took it to another table.

"You've been quiet," Ceren whispered. Whether it was directed to Trudge or Blair, the latter of whom had shrugged and dug into her plate of food, was unknown. But Trudge did not answer, only giving Blair one last look as he repeated the motion she did upon another table's centerpiece. He was soon greeted by a golden platter of mashed potatoes and a foaming lake of butter before him, the stem of his apple turning into a small spoon to help him with the meal.

Blair would take time to respond, after swallowing down a thick heap of rice with the spoon Ceren offered to her from his Duel Disk. "I've barely eaten all day. You sure you don't want any?"

Ceren politely waved off the offer. "Never could stand those types of meals, and Ehris refuses to mod up meat. Did my eating in my return visits to the HERO Timeline."

"Speaking of…" And it was at this that Blair finally pushed her plate to the side, her eyes narrowing in turn. "…Nevermind what you did to me there – because I'm certain Jaden's just as capable of beating your boss as he did you." Blair then dug her index finger into the table, pondering her next question. "That thunderstorm you brought up that dropped me here wasn't part of your plan either, was it?"

"Clever." Ceren tented his palms at the opposite end of the table. "But that's not for you to hear."

"Wouldn't be for it anyways if your jump back here worked properly." Blair pressed on. "But I'm also guessing you don't leave anything to chance on this… plan, especially not something that important." She leaned forward at last. "So have you thought maybe that blitz was part of someone else's plan?"

"I know what you're doing, and I'll tell you plainly; we're all on the same page. No one in the Aspect has anything to hide and especially not anything to shock us wi-AUGH!"

Malice, having run the length of the hall to the rooms' new position and slammed her palms to the table they were at in frustration, was the reason for Ceren's diatribe ending in an ironic walked up to the doorway two seconds later, idly waving to both Ceren and Trudge, the latter still picking at his meal.

"Y…you may need to consider warning us of these things." Malice hissed.

"Noted." Ceren turned away from Blair. "Now if you don't mind, I'm calling over Save, may I please suggest you start trailing her now? We're fine here."

"Sorry, Viral says you're not to be let out of our sight after the stunt you pulled." Lilith airily responded.
"But we'd be happy to make sure no one's pulling a fast one on you."

Ceren pinched his nose as Lilith and Malice took flight, landing at the crevice left in the dividing wall's topmost edge before another thought snaked in.

"Wait, I thought Ehris was the one who ordered you to watch me, what's this about Vir-"

"AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!"

"Fear not, Yubins, Tori has not moved toward any of the trees."

"I'M STARTING TO THINK I SHOULD HAVE! Get out!"

Trudge stammered to his feet, ready to shout down the Lady of Lament and Maiden of Malice, only for a rumbling roar from far above the room to knock them from their perches. Malice fell into the bathrooms, while Lilith fell feet-first through a table in the commons in a simultaneous CRASH.

Blair's eyes widened as she looked towards the ceiling due to the inhuman cry, then to Lilith – who had endured a ten-foot fall without even snapping a heel on her shoe, let alone the bone beneath it – then snapped to Ceren again. "Again, apparently someone – or some spirit – here is having the time of their lives at your expense."

Ceren raised his head to the emitter on his Duel Disk after a long look at the ceiling. "Save, mind getting here on the double? Malice just fell into Tori's bath – the last thing we need is one of our Duel Spirits getting into a fight they don't need to."

---

No one knew what to do as Ehris charged at Yubel, her hands outstretched towards the other Duel Spirit's throat. But they needn't have bothered, as her hands passed through the fiendess."COME OUT AND FIGHT ME, COWARD!" screamed Ehris. "COME AND FACE ME FOR WHAT YOU DID!"Yubel turned and raised an eyebrow – which only served to piss off Ehris even more. "What did I do to you, again?" she asked.

Ehris struggled to contain her rage as she slowly realized that, callous as she was, Yubel genuinely had no idea what she meant. "How can you not know?!" she demanded. Yubel shrugged. "I did a lot of crazy things back in the day."

"Whoa whoa whoa, time out here." Yusei held up his hand in a gesture for order as everyone turned to look at him. Looking at Ehris, he said. "What do you mean she destroyed your dimension?"

"What the hell else would it mean?" snapped Ehris, turning back to glare at her offender again. To Akaine, she said, "This is the woman I told you about: The one responsible for destroying my home! Let me at her!"

"That's not exactly specific," said Yubel in a tone that meant well but ultimately came off as unhelpful. "Because I've destroyed a lot of people's homes."

The moment she said this, Yusei's head snapped over to look at the still-despondent Jaden. She just admitted that, he thought. And considering this guy's not exactly denying what Akaine said about him, maybe what she said was true. So then this guy is a war criminal! Then he looked over at Yuma. And what about this kid and his glowing friend? Are they war criminals too? He looked back at Jaden. That guy hasn't said a word since Akaine revealed all that stuff about him. I can't tell whether or not he's acting or not, but I better be careful. He may look like he's all bent out of shape about it, but for all I know, it might be a ploy to get sympathy from me. He looked back at Yuma. Meanwhile, this kid's gone on the defensive when it comes to what he and his glowing buddy have been accused of. He's pretty young though, so he probably doesn't realize the bigger implications of what he and that floating guy did. Then he looked at Yubel. Not to mention all that sketchiness surrounding that bat-lady. He shifted his gaze to Ehris and Akaine. And since the Aspect is coming after me too, they probably think I'm just as bad as them. His eyes narrowed. There's no way. I know my own life, and I know for a fact what I did as an Enforcer was for a good cause. "Hold everything!"

Cue a collective "huh?" look from everyone around him as they – even Jaden – looked at him. "I'm not denying that you've got beef with Yubel, Ehris. And I'm not trying to get in the way of that, but right now you're not the only one with something to settle. And since you're also on the field right now, I'm gonna need you to get back in your corner and wait until I'm finished before you do whatever it is you were gonna do with Yubel, got it?"

He felt the brunt of Ehris' glare. "You dare to get in my way?"

"You're the one derailing a whole Duel for vengeance. And like I just said, I'm not here to get in the way of your beef; I just need you to get back in your corner so we can finish this Duel. Once that's over and done with, by all means, go ahead and try to kill the bat-lady." He held Ehris' gaze for a while, not buckling under her glare until the goddess finally relented and floated back over to Akaine's side of the field. "Okay, it's still your turn Akaine."

"You're gonna regret saying that." The salt-and-pepper-haired girl fixed her gaze on him before thrusting her arm forward. "Utopia, attack Yuma directly!"

Yuma braced himself as best he could, but it wasn't enough to withstand the impact of the gold-and-white warrior's blade across his sternum. The force of the blow sent him reeling, landing flat on his back and knocking the wind out of him. (LP: 8150 - 5650) "I end my turn."

"Okay! My turn!" Yuma drew his card, his arm swinging in a wide arc. But his eager disposition soon gave way. "Aw man!" he moaned, placing a card horizontally in his Monster Zone. "I Set a monster and end my turn."

"Hold it!" said Akaine. "Before you do, I activate my face-down card, 'Monster Reunification'! This card Special Summons an Immortal monster from my Graveyard, but if I control no Immortal monsters, I can bring back an additional monster with the same Level! So I'll bring back my Maiden of Mirth and Helikuriboh!"

The field glowed, and within seconds the light-skinned spear-wielder and the black-and-white ball of menace had materialized. "Well… that's all for me," Yuma finished, defeated.

"I'm up then!" said Yusei, drawing boldly. "And to start things off, I'm Summoning Satellite Synchron!" He slapped the card down onto his Duel Disk with a flourish, and the anthropomorphized piece of space equipment appeared in front of him, complete with solar panels. "Next I tune Level Two Satellite Synchron with my Level Eight Stardust Dragon!" Yusei slipped the cards into his Graveyard slot and thrust his arm upward. "To Synchro Summon 'Satellite Warrior'!"

His voice echoed through the chamber as Satellite Synchron's speedometer rings enveloped Stardust Dragon, who glowed and split up into eight orbs of white light before amassing into a column, through which a massive warrior with a similar gold-and-white color scheme to Utopia emerged. [Satellite Warrior/DARK/Warrior/Synchro/Level 10/ATK 2500/DEF 2000]

"And next, its Skill Sat effect activates!" Yusei announced. "When it's Synchro Summoned, I can destroy one card of yours for each Synchro Monster in my Graveyard, and if I do, Satellite Warrior gains one thousand Attack Points for each card destroyed! Now, Stardust may be the only one-" He thrust his arm forward and pointed at Akaine's Fusion Monster. "-but it's all I need! Satellite Warrior, take down her Emissary of Dystopia!"

"Hold it!" interrupted Akaine. "Ehris' effect prevents that! Unless you banish a card from your hand to negate her effect, your Satellite Warrior's not doing anything!"

"Fine by me!" replied Yusei undeterred, placing one card from his hand in his jacket pocket. "Satellite Warrior, as you were!"

The large warrior opened up a compartment on its back to reveal a laser, which it promptly aimed at the Emissary in question before blasting it to smithereens. (Satellite Warrior's ATK: 2500 - 3500) "And before I finish, I'll have Satellite Warrior attack Utopia!"

"Oh no you don't!" said Akaine. "I'll use one of Utopia's Overlay Units to negate that attack – even if it means banishing a card from my hand," she added gingerly, placing one of them in her back pocket. "But now that an attack's been negated, Yuma's Rising Sun Slash card's effect activates! Since an attack was negated, Rising Sun Slash gains a Rising Sun Counter, and with each one Utopia gains five hundred Attack Points!"

Yusei gritted his teeth as his big play came to nothing right before his eyes. (RSS: 0 - 1; Utopia's ATK: 2500 - 3000) Slipping a card into his Spell & Trap Zone, he finished with, "I'll Set one card and end my turn."

Akaine drew for her turn. "I activate my 'Card of Demise'! This Spell lets me draw until I have three cards in my hand!" To make a long story short, she added them. "Next I'll sacrifice Helikuriboh to bring out 'Eieno Negai – Iris, the Corrupted Earth' in Attack Mode!"

The teary-eyed ball of fur dissipated, replaced by a light-skinned woman in a low-cut gown with a slit on the side, and what appeared to be black angel wings coming out of her bra. [Iris/DARK/Fairy/Immortal/Level 6/ATK 2450/DEF 1250] "Now Iris, attack Yuma's face-down monster – with your Earthending Flurry!"

The earth mother that didn't quite look it flexed her wings, dislodging a ring of black feathers she promptly aimed at Yuma's hapless mystery creature. Their sharp edges sank into the back of the card, which glowed and revealed a rotund stone man who was none the worse for wear. "Sorry, Akaine!" said Yuma. "But Gogogo Golem's effect protects it from being destroyed by battle once each turn!" As Yusei raised an eyebrow at the formidable-looking monster and its ridiculous name, Akaine gritted her teeth. "I Set two cards and end my turn."

"Hold it!" interrupted Yusei, pressing a button on his Duel Disk. "I activate my face-down card, 'Twinkle Twinkle'! Since I have a Stardust Dragon in my Graveyard and it was sent there from the field, I can mill and apply the effect of a Trap Card in my Deck - like my 'Shooting Star' Trap, which destroys one card on the field!" He pointed at Ehris. "So even though I'd rather not use this card so early, I'll destroy your Goddess of Chaos!"

"WHAT?!" Ehris gave a distraught look as Yusei's Trap Card released a burst of white energy that pierced her midsection. She glared at him for a split second before shattering to pieces. But to Yusei, Yuma, Yubel and Jaden's surprise, she simply appeared in transparent form behind Akaine arms hung at her sides. "Akaine…" she began.

Immediately, though, the twin spirits of Eternal Seeker and Eternal Chaser arrived on the scene, Yusei's bike carried between their linked hands. Upon a snap of Akaine's fingers, they lowered the vehicle to the ground beside Jaden, marched over as one, and grasped each of Ehris' arms, frog-marching her into the lower chambers of the Dystopia in haunting silence. "Say no more," Akaine whispered. "I'll avenge you."

---

Save had split with Ceren as they moved into the fortress, Viral and her moving further into the inner chambers as Ceren and the stragglers broke right. Their venture to the central infirmary was uneventful until Viral stopped. "Yeah?" Save inquired, pulling back to meet the Duel Spirit, stuck in a dead halt.

Viral's eyes swept up to the higher levels of the Dystopia before resettling on Save. "Ehris is not in that room and neither is Evy – would yo-you care to explain this discrepancy, Sa-sasasaSAVE, or should I wait fo-for you to blurt that out in front of three strangers too?"

Save shrank back at Viral's change in tone. "How-?! I didn't even know you could see that fa- Wait! I didn't mean to let that part out, Ceren was asking and I th-thought that it wa-"

Viral's finger went up, stunting Save's attempt at parsing her question. "This is whwhwh-WHY you keep your answers to a minimum! Or do you want the Aspect's plans to fall to pieces because of yo-yo-your loose lips?"

The staccato in Viral's voice only caused Save to meep beneath the layers of her cloak. "B…but I mean... you said it, it's our Aspect. I... I would never… do something that terrible… a-and the guests just looked so happy to see the Dystopia… I thought that…"

Viral was already turning away from her. "Hmph. With rug-pullers like you, Akaine doesn't even need her va-va-va-vaunted 'high ground.'"

Save fought back a sniffle at this, before her eyes met Viral again. "Se…seriously, Viral, I don't remember you being like this before… is it because of this plan? Because of what you saw? Please, tell me!" Her voice wavered before that last crescendo, but she did not break eye contact.

Viral's look only made her want to vanish insider her hood, turning to face her as her voice hit a new frightening tempo. "It is becaca-CAUSE of your shoddiness. From the clearly tampered tech you allowed Evy to we-wear, to the secrets you spill every time you trip on your tw-tw-TWO left feet. And the Aspect ma-ma-ma-MAY let your chaos flourish, but while you claim to be a member of this group Ehris has empowered, yo-yoyoyoyo-you will know, breathe and ensure order!" The Duel Spirit finally took a menacing step forward. "Even if I must see you do so myse-se-se-SELF."

Viral's eyes only flickered slightly towards the ceiling again before turning away, as a shudder of shifting rock rang out through the Dystopia. "I ha-have labored over your headaches, assuaged yo-your doubts, reminded you again and aga-ga-ga-ga-GAIN of what your new life demands of you, and yet…" She pointed a finger to the ceiling. "Perhaps I was ri-ri-right to think you're concussed."

"Well…well, let me fix this!" Save proclaimed, thrusting a hand to her chest. "I've already stood up to Yusei, and I can do it again! I already saved Evy…and myself… from the brink! And I can do it again!" Save continued, her confidence having returned. "And… and you're not blameless either! I haven't had amnesia about that time and I know I remember talking to you about it then too-"

A fresh wave of pain sent Save to her knees again. Before her, a scowl tore across Viral's face as she looked at her struggling, unwilling to help – or to tear away from her gaze from the vividly twinkling amulet bouncing on her heaving breast. Before Save could press her inquiry further, the clap of a rattling explosion from above sent her tumbling to her feet. "That sounds too loud to be a simple Duel Monster cla-claclacla-clash," Viral muttered.

"It may be Ehris!" Save's face whitened in despair. "Or Evy!" Without a second thought, Viral was being dragged by her sleeve behind the short Duelist. "Let's go!"

The soft trilling beep underneath Save's Duel Disk would bring her to a halt. Holding down the button, Save was immediately greeted by Ceren's hoarse tone. "Save, mind getting here on the double? Malice just fell into–"

Viral tore herself from Save's grasp and shoved her into the infirmary door, cutting off the rest of the conversation before Save could hear it. "Do not keep Ceren waiting. I will not let hi-hi-his impatience ruin the plan."

Save gulped. "R-right." Soon she was at a brisk jog, Viral floating behind her. Just as they came upon the area where the room once was, Save was met with only smooth walls and the far-off door to another room that looked nothing like the common room. "That rumble before – maybe Ceren moved the room!"Another shrill scream alerted Save to precisely where that room could have gone. "Follow me!"

Moving along the curve of the circling hall, Save finally came face-to-face with Lilith within half a minute, who was just stepping out of the common room. "Well, didn't think I'd see you here so soon."

"Apologies," Save panted, wiping at her brow with the edge of her hood. "Responding to house calls are… taxing, let's say."

But Lilith's eyes were not on her, Save too doubled over with exhaustion to notice anyhow. The dark glint in Viral's eyes shut Lilith up all the same.

"Indeed." Viral's finger jutted back into the room Lilith left, giving all the elaboration to her answer that the black-suited Duel Spirit would ever have. Wordlessly, Lilith obeyed, sidling back into the room."Right, tha-tha-THAT'S quite enough." Viral roughly pulled Save to her feet, a harsh contrast to her mollifying words.

"I… I can get up without help, Viral," Save spluttered, the slightest bit of bitterness in her voice. "And th… there's no reason for you to be this mean."

Viral's pose remained straightened and stiff. "I am the one who ha-hahaha-HAS to pick up and fix your bike after finding out what happened above. Give me a reason for th-that jubilation you so desperately seek when I re-re-re-TURN." With no hints given to the venom seeping through her whispered words, Viral was gone in a whistle of rushing wind.

Save shook her head and finally turned to face the threshold of the common room door – and nearly choked on her saliva to come eye-to-eye with Tori, arms folded and swathed in Trudge's jacket as her limbs shook from the bath she'd taken only minutes before.

"H... hi Tori." Save retreated again. "I... was just about to see what was up."

"I'd say Malice already got a good look at what was up." Tori chattered out through her chattering teeth, her reddened face and school uniform still dripping. "But he's the guy you want." And her thumb jutted out to Ceren, still cradling his head in his hands from the spectacle he had witnessed.

Within seconds, Save and Tori were by his side. "Ceren, don't worry – I heard that explosion too, it's either Evy or…"

"Ehris, I figured." Ceren finally lifted his head. "Anyways, I was wondering if you could take Malice and Lilith back to the… center of the castle."

"Certainly, but..." Save struggled for her next words. "Look, Ceren. It's about Viral, she's…"

Ceren, at the mention of the white-suited Duel Spirit, sprang upright. "Oh snap, VIRAL! You're right! I left her in the Dystopia when I went to get you, I have to explain it to her before…!" Bolting for the door, he whipped his head to Lilith and Malice. "Stay. Please."

Lilith stared at him and relaxed her shoulders, dragging the softly-whimpering Malice to her. "Done and done. Apparently, here is where we're needed now."

Malice pathetically looked up to her red-haired compatriot. "But I thought that V-"

Thankfully, Ceren was out of earshot, and Save was too busy drying off Tori with her cloak to notice Lilith's hand shooting out and closing around Malice's throat, cutting off her sentence abruptly.

As Lilith drew the blue-haired Duel Spirit up to hiss something in her ear, Save caught Ceren's shoulder once more. "What I meant to say was that Viral's acting weird, even for her! Just… be careful."

Ceren gave a half-smile in an attempt to assuage the young girl. "I can manage. Heck if anyone's gonna get both barrels today, it's Evy, if that's her. One Psychic Burst was already too much to handle."

The reminder of that event only destroyed Save's resolve further, her gaze dropping to the floor. Behind them, Blair offered what was left of her meal to the still-shivering Tori before leaving for the baths herself. "I… I'm not sure I wasn't at least part of why the emergency recall was needed." Save shuddered, but continued. "And… I'm scared I'm becoming a liability to the Aspect. If a Duel Spirit could see how useless I am…"

Ceren knelt to meet Save's eyes and put his hands reassuringly on her shoulders. "I don't know who you're talking about, and I don't care. You're. Not. Useless. You're the part of the team that everyone agrees on, and with. You were done the dirtiest; rose out of it the fastest, temper all of our worst impulses, and… hold the most promise." Ceren took a fleeting glance at Trudge, finishing the last of his meal before bounding to the bath's door, guarding it from the view of any other. "If what Trudge said is true, you're the embodiment of the person we're doing this for across every timeline we can reach."

After a sniffle, Save cast her gaze upwards. Ceren hugged her, letting out several ragged breaths, then slowly turned and went for the door. "Save." And the aforementioned Duelist shot back a weak smile. "Don't worry. We've still got a chance at making this right. Just keep your ears, eyes… and heart… open."

With that, Ceren whirled out of the door's thresh, a fountain of red and yellow coattails heralding his departure.

---

"You'll have to wait your turn for that because it's my turn now!" announced Yuma, drawing his card. "And on my first step to taking back this Duel, I Summon 'Gagaga Caesar' in Attack Mode!"

Yusei closed his eyes, inhaled, then exhaled, deciding he'd need to get used to Yuma's monsters' odd names as a regal-looking blue-haired white-clad man holding a long staff emerged onto Yuma's field. [Gagaga Caesar/Warrior/EARTH/Level 3/ATK 1800/DEF 1800]

"Next, I activate the effect of Dodododwarf Gogogoglove in my Graveyard!" Yuma continued. "Since I control a 'Gogogo' monster – like my Gogogo Golem – I can bring it on back from my Graveyard!" As if to demonstrate his point, the space next to Gogogo Golem glowed yellow as what could only be described as a masked Viking with huge hands reappeared next to the aforementioned golem. [Golem/EARTH/Rock/Level 4/ATK 0/DEF 1800] "But that's not all! Since a 'Gogogo' monster was Special Summoned, I can Special Summon 'Gogogo Gigas' from my Graveyard in Defense Mode!"

Once Gigas was on the field, he went on, "Now I overlay my Level Four Gogogo Gigas and Dodododwarf Gogogoglove!" announced Yuma as both monsters transformed into two yellow masses of energy. The two masses shot up until they reached the center of the red spiral nexus swirling into existence on the floor. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network, and Xyz Summon my 'Gagagaga Magician'!"

Yusei patiently took a deep breath as a black-clad mage in chains emerged from the nexus. [Gagagaga Magician/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Rank 4/ATK 2000/DEF 2000] "Next, I'll activate Gagagaga Magician's Exceed Recall ability! By using one Overlay Unit, I can bring one Xyz Monster back from my Graveyard! So please welcome back Gagaga Cowboy!"

The familiar gunslinger was back in a flash. "Now I activate Onomatopickup's second effect! I can select one 'Gagaga', 'Gogogo', 'Dododo', or 'Zubaba' monster I control, and the Levels of all other monsters I control become the same Level as the monster I chose! So I'll choose my Gagaga Caesar to have all my monsters become Level Three! And now I overlay my now Level Three Gogogo Golem and Gagaga Caesar!"

As another red nexus appeared on the floor, Yuma's two monsters transformed into two yellow masses of energy, which, like the others before them, shot up until they reached the ceiling, then spiraled down into the nexus. "With these two monsters," Yuma repeated, "I build the Overlay Network again, and Xyz Summon 'Gagagaga Girl' in Defense Mode!"

Does this kid ever get tongue-tied saying the same syllables over and over? Yusei's train of thought was braked by a short, blonde, pixie-teen-punk-esque girl in a similar dragon-embroidered indigo robe to the Xyz Monster beside her as she emerged from the nebula. [Gagagaga Girl/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Rank 3/ATK 1500/DEF 1800] "Now, returning to my Gagagaga Magician for a second, I'll overlay him with Gagaga Cowboy!"

His two Xyz Monsters each glowed – Gagaga Cowboy changing to yellow as Gogogo Golem and Dodododwarf Gogogoglove had done, while Gagagaga Magician turned a deep purple – and shot up into the air as yet another spiral nexus formed beneath them. But unlike the past two nexuses which had been red, this one had the same galaxy pattern as the one Utopia had sprung from. "With these two monsters," Yuma said for the third time as the two masses of energy swirled down into it. "I build the Overlay Network for a third time, to Xyz Summon 'Number F-Zero: Utopic Future'!"

What looked like a smaller black-and-red version of Utopia emerged from the nexus onto Yuma's field. [Number F0/LIGHT/Warrior/Xyz/Rank 0-1/0 ATK/0DEF] "Then I'll activate Gagagaga Girl's Exceed Phone-In effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can add one 'Gagaga' or 'Xyz' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand, such as my Gagaga Academy Emergency Drill!" He took the card from his Deck as Gagagaga Girl's chirruping cell phone dialed up its name for all to see, added it to his hand, and waited as his Deck shuffler went to work. "Last, I'll lay one card face-down and end my turn!"

"Finally," muttered Akaine.

"Oh and your turns just break all the speed limits, don't they?!" Yuma scoffed.

Yusei drew for his turn. "To kick off my turn, I'll Summon 'Synchron Explorer' in Attack Mode!"

A maroon-colored rotund widget appeared on his field. [Explorer/EARTH/Machine/Level 2/0 ATK/700 DEF]"And by Summoning it, I've activated its effect! When Synchron Explorer's Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon one 'Synchron' monster from my Graveyard at the cost of negating its effects! So without further ado, let's welcome back my Junk Synchron!"

The all-too-familiar white-and-orange widget-looking man appeared on his field next to his Synchron Explorer. "Now I tune my Level Three Junk Synchron with my Level Two Synchron Explorer to Synchro Summon 'Junk Speeder'!"

The former of the two monsters jumped up and transformed into three green speedometer rings, which encircled the latter monster – now turned into two glowing orbs soon threaded through those rings in a lance of light. What revealed itself from that lightshow was an armored silver giant of a mech, the emerald contrails surrounding it as it zipped between positions around Yusei telling the tale of its agility. [Junk Speeder/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/Level 5/ATK 1800/DEF 1000]

"And Junk Speeder's got an effect too!" Yusei went on. "If he's Synchro Summoned, its Speedforce Summon ability can bring out any number of 'Synchron' Tuner monsters with different Levels from my Deck in Defense Mode! So without further ado, I'll bring out Nitro Synchron!"

An anthropomorphic soda can with arms, legs, and a tap on its head emerged onto his field, turning blue in the process. [Nitro Synchron/Machine/Tuner/FIRE/Level 2/ATK 300/DEF 100] "Let's try this again," said Yusei, looking up at his biggest monster and pointed at Akaine's lone Xyz Monster. "Satellite Warrior, attack Utopia one more time!"

"I activate Utopia's effect!" replied Akaine. "I'll use his other Overlay Unit to negate that attack!"

To Yusei's chagrin, Utopia absorbed the last ball of yellow-white light orbiting around it and folded its wings together in front of it to intercept the attack. "And as you know…" Akaine continued, "…each time an attack is negated, Rising Sun Slash gains another counter!" (RSS: 1 - 2; Utopia's ATK: 3000 - 3500)

"Doesn't bother me," said Yusei, turning to his other Synchro Monster. "Now, Junk Speeder, attack her Corrupted Earth!"

"What effect does it have?" asked Akaine suspiciously.

"Glad you asked," answered Yusei. "When Junk Speeder's involved in an attack that happens on the turn it was Synchro Summoned, I can use its Double-Time ability to double its original Attack Points until the turn ends!" He smiled as the sleek warrior charged forward with nothing to impede it. (ATK: 1800 -3600) Akaine clenched her jaw as the earthly fallen angel broke into pieces. (LP: 7200 - 6050) "It doesn't matter," she insisted. "I'll come back from this."

"I'm sure you will," said Yusei coolly. "Now in the meantime, I tune my Level Two Nitro Synchron with Level Five Junk Speeder to Synchro Summon 'Nitro Warrior'!"

The soda can jumped up and turned into two green speedometer rings which encircled Junk Speeder, who turned into five balls of light. They then lined up, connected, and widened to admit a gaunt-faced green demon onto the battlefield, rockets grafted to its tail and elbows that pumped smoke into the air. [Nitro Warrior/FIRE/Warrior/Synchro/Level 7/ATK 2800/DEF 1800] "Nitro Synchron's effect now activates!" said Yusei. "If it's used to Synchro Summon a 'Nitro' Synchro Monster, I get to draw one card, which I Set face-down to end my turn."

"About time!" said Akaine, drawing to start her turn. "First, I'll Summon 'Eieno Negai – Vanity Incarnate' in Defense Mode!"

An ornate, purple-skinned, sinister-looking creature emerged from a dark pool on the floor and crossed its arms. [Vanity Incarnate/DARK/Fairy/Immortal/Level 4/ATK 1000/DEF 1800] "Next I activate Vanity Incarnate's Vain Split effect! By banishing one Fairy-Type Dark monster from my Graveyard, I can create a Vanity Token with the same Attack and Defense Points as the monster I banished! In this instance, I'll banish my Boundless Beautician."

She took the card out of her Graveyard slot and jutted it into a slot at its base, as a miniature version of her with Vanity Incarnate's color scheme flashed into life before her. [Vanity Token/Fairy/DARK/Level 2/ATK 1000/DEF 1500] "Next I activate my face-down card, 'Bond of the Boundless'! This card will fuse Vanity Incarnate and my Vanity Token to Summon an 'Eieno Negai' Fusion Monster!"

The two monsters of hers jumped up and coalesced together, glowed, then faded and untwisted to reveal a ghastly skeleton grasping a huge sword. "Behold, my 'Eieno Negai – Altered Beast of Talwar'!" Akaine arm swept out in an arc to greet the green ghoul before her [Talwar/Fairy/Fusion/Level 6/ATK 2450/DEF 2200], before moving down to swipe at a button on her Duel Disk. "Next I'll activate my other face-down, the 'Ring of Devotion' Trap Card! At the cost of banishing a Level Six or lower Dark monster from my hand or field, this card brings one Level Ten or lower Dark monster with zero Attack and Defense Points back from my Graveyard! So I'll banish my Maiden of Mirth to bring back…"

"…ME!" finished Ehris, shoving Maiden of Mirth out of the way as she reappeared on Akaine's field. "And I'll be sure to get payback on you, Yusei, for that stunt you pulled!"

"Which is why I used the Ring!" put in Akaine. "Because at the cost of negating her effects, Ring of Devotion gives Ehris three hundred Attack Points times her Level!"

"Thanks, Akaine!" said Ehris cheerfully, slipping the ring around her finger. (Ehris' ATK: 0 - 2700) "And now Helikuriboh's effect activates! Since Maiden of Mirth was banished, I can add it to my hand!"

"Oh no you don't!" said Yuma, pressing a button on his Duel Disk. "I activate my face-down card, Gagaga Academy Emergency Drill! I'll have it lower Gagagaga Girl's Attack Points by fifteen hundred to negate Helikuriboh's effect! But that's not all, I'll also activate Gagagaga Girl's effect too, to Set Xyz Reborn from my Deck!"

Akaine clenched her jaw again as her effect came to nothing. (Gagagaga Girl's ATK: 1500 - 0) "No matter!" She threw out her hand. "Altered Beast of Talwar, attack Yuma's Utopic Future!"

"Hah! Utopic Future has several effects!" replied Yuma. "It can't be destroyed by battle, neither one of us takes any damage from its battles, and when the Damage Step ends, if it battled an opponent's monster, I get to take control of that monster until the Battle Phase is over!"

"And none of those effects will help you!" Akaine countered. "Because Altered Beast of Talwar's Sword Supremacy ability negates all the effects of its attack target! So Utopic Future's counterattack will come to nothing!"

"Oh no!" Yuma cried in dismay as his other ace was bisected by the Talwar. (Yusei & Yuma's LP: 5650 - 3200) "And don't think I've forgotten about you, Yusei!" said Akaine. "Utopia, attack his Satellite Warrior with Rising Sun Slash Plus!"

"What're you doing?" asked Yusei in disbelief. "They'll both be destroyed!"

"Doesn't matter!" said Akaine as both gold-and-white warriors stabbed each other and broke apart. "Now, I'll end my turn. But once my turn ends, Bond of the Boundless' effect activates! I shuffle both it and a Fusion Monster it Summoned into the Deck to bring back a number of my banished monsters equal to the Fusion Monster's Level! So goodbye Altered Beast of Talwar, welcome back Maiden of Mirth and Vanity Incarnate!"

In order: Altered Beast of Talwar disappeared, Akaine shuffled her card back into her Deck, and the over-adorned noble and white-skinned woman appeared on her field once more. "And there's one more thing! Altered Beast of Talwar's effect activates: If it leaves the field, its Departing Blow effect banishes all Spell and Trap Cards you control!"

Now it was Yusei and Yuma's turn to clench their jaws as the former's Reinforce Truth and the latter's Xyz Reborn were wiped clean off the field. Placing his card into his vest pocket, Yuma then drew for his turn… and frowned. "I use Gagagaga Girl's effect to add Gagagashield from my Deck to my hand. Then I Set a card and end my turn."

"My move," said Yusei, drawing. Darn it. This is all I have? He sighed. "I Summon Fortress Warrior in Attack Mode and end my turn." A quadruped golem made of stone holding a giant slab over its head inlaid with windows appeared. [Fortress Warrior/Warrior/EARTH/Level 2/ATK 600/DEF 1200]

Akaine drew for her turn and eyed Yusei suspiciously. Why'd he Summon it in Attack Mode if he's given up? She looked at his Fortress Warrior up and down. It must have an effect to make it worthwhile. Then she looked at Yuma's field. That Gagagaga Girl's not a problem, but his face-down card could potentially be a pain if I try to get her off the field. She looked at her empty hand. If only I had more resources. Then she saw what card she drew. Perfect! "I activate the Spell Card, 'Pot of Avarice'! I shuffle Illusionist Faceless Minister, Helikuriboh, Fuchsia the Flirt, Ehris, and Iris the Corrupted Earth from my Graveyard into my Deck so I can draw two cards!"

"Before you do," Yuma cut her off, "I activate Gagagaga Girl's second effect! By using one Overlay Unit, her Exceed Dial-Up ability can Set one Spell or Trap Card with an effect of Special Summoning Xyz Monsters from my Deck! So I'll Set Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force!"

"Fine with me," said Akaine, shuffling her monsters into her Deck as Yuma Set his card, then drawing two more. "Now I sacrifice Maiden of Mirth and Vanity Incarnate to Summon Eieno Negai – Genesis Empress in Attack Mode!"

The two monsters on her field disappeared, replaced by a towering, ornately-decorated woman. Akaine pointed to Yusei's lone monster. "Now, Genesis Empress, attack his Fortress Warrior!"

The towering woman raised her arm and brought down a lightning storm on the defenseless slab-bearer. But when the smoke cleared, Akaine saw Yusei and his monster no worse for wear. "What gives?!" she demanded.

"Fortress Warrior's effects give," replied Yusei. "I take no damage from its battles, and once each turn, it can't be destroyed by battle."

"Only once?" asked Akaine. "Well in that case…" she took her other card from her hand and placed it in her Spell & Trap Zone. "…I activate the Spell Card, 'Genesis Star Attack'! This card lets Genesis Empress make a second, third, and fourth attack this turn and halves the Attack Points of all my opponents' Effect Monsters they control permanently!" She pointed once again at the slab-bearer. "So once more: Genesis Empress, attack Fortress Warrior!" (Fortress Warrior's ATK: 600 - 300; Nitro Warrior's ATK: 2800 - 1400)

Genesis Empress raised her hand and brought down another lightning strike on the slab-bearer. Like before, Yusei and Yuma's Life Points were spared, but this time Fortress Warrior wasn't so lucky; it shattered to pieces. Akaine then pointed at Yusei's only other monster. "Now attack Nitro Warrior!"

Within seconds, Yusei's Nitro Warrior was gone, his field now empty. (Yusei & Yuma's LP: 3200 - 1650) Akaine then pointed at Yuma's only monster. "Last one! Genesis Empress, attack Gagagaga Girl!"

"Forget it, Akaine!" said Yuma defiantly. "My Gagagaga Girl's goin' nowhere! I activate my Trap, 'Gagagashield'! This card equips to a Spellcaster-Type monster I control, and up to twice a turn it can't be destroyed by battle or card effects!"

"Nngh…" Akaine expression clouded as her attack came to nothing. "I end my turn," she said at last.

"I'm up then!" said Yuma. "Here goes!" He drew for his turn and sighed. "I Set one card and end my turn."

Before drawing, Yusei surveyed the field. Her Genesis Empress is the strongest monster out, and even though Yuma's gonna be okay, my field's completely empty. He checked his hand. I need something that can at least protect me if not turn the tables. I'll need a really good draw. "Here goes!" He drew for his turn… and his face fell in disappointment too. "I Summon Drill Synchron in Defense Mode," he said, resigned, as a mechanical ball with drills for hands and triangular caterpillar tracks emerged onto his field and turned blue. "And end my turn."

Akaine wanted to say something about how they'd failed to come up with a countermeasure for her Empress. But she realized it'd only give them more reason to resist her and her group's efforts, and so said nothing, preferring to draw silently. "I'll attack Drill Synchron with Genesis Empress," she said, as the monster in question charred Yusei's only line of defense to ashes. "Then I'll Set one card face-down and end my turn."

Yuma took a deep breath. "Here I go," he said. C'mon Deck! Please! He drew at last. "Sweet! I activate 'Gagagadraw'! It'll banish my Gagaga Cowboy, Head, and Mancer from my Graveyard to draw two cards!" His bounty proved pivotal. "YES!" He looked at Akaine, grinning triumphantly. "Gotta admit, Akaine, you had me going there for a second, but it's time for us to turn the tables! I activate the Spell Card 'Monster Reborn', to bring back Number Thirty-Nine: Utopia from my Graveyard!"

A portal opened up on the floor, letting a bright yellow glow into the dimly-lit room. Yuma's confidence swelled as his signature monster returned to the field in all its utopic glory, folding its arms across its chest, its expression saying What, you thought you could get rid of me? to Akaine. "But there's more!" Yuma went on. "Next I activate my face-down Spell Card, 'Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force'! This card overlays Utopia and Xyz Summons a monster two Ranks higher than him!"

As he spoke, Utopia changed into a golden mass of energy, which shot up as a galaxy-themed nexus opened up beneath it. Utopia's mass of energy rocketed into it. "Behold…" Yuma bellowed. "…because with Utopia, I build the Overlay Network, and Xyz Summon 'Number Thirty-Nine: Utopia Beyond'!"

Four serrated metal wings and a collage of glowing white armor framed this newest version of Number Thirty-Nine, bulked out and battle-ready as it descended to take its predecessor's place on the field. [Beyond/LIGHT/Warrior/Xyz/Rank 6/ATK 3000/DEF 2500] "And there's more in store!" said Yuma excitedly. "Utopia Beyond's effect activates! If it's Xyz Summoned, the Attack Points of all my opponent's monsters become zero!"

"I won't allow that!" said Akaine. "I Chain my Fleeting Love's effect! I can remove one counter from it to declare a card type, and this card immunizes my Immortal monsters to all effects of the declared type! So I'll declare monsters to protect my Genesis Empress!"

"Maybe," said Yuma. "But too bad for Ehris though!"

"What? No!" Ehris screamed as her ring sparkled and fizzled out (Ehris' ATK: 2700 - 0). "I'll get you for this!"

"I'll do what I can," Akaine promised her. "I'll Chain my face-down Fires of Doomsday to Fleeting Love! This card Summons two Doomsday Tokens to my field!"As she spoke, two one-eyed fiery wraiths appeared on her field. [Doomsday Token x2/Fiend/DARK/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0]"Those Tokens will do you no good!" said Yuma. "Utopia Beyond, attack Genesis Empress! Rising Sun Beyond Slash!"

At his command, the white, black, and gold warrior brought its sword down and split Genesis Empress in half. (Akaine's LP: 6050 - 6000) "Nice try, Yuma!" said Akaine. "But you've triggered Genesis Empress' Immortal effect! I'll sacrifice one of my Doomsday Tokens to bring her back to the field the same way she left!" And with that, it was as if Yuma's attack hadn't occurred at all. "No way!" said Yuma.

"Oh, way," replied Akaine. "And what's more, Genesis Empress' other Immortal effect activates. When she's brought back through her Immortal effect, I can use her Cosmic Chains ability to negate the effects of one face-up card on the field!" She pointed to her Trap Card. "But that's not all! Fleeting Love's first effect Chains to my Empress', replenishing the counter it lost to protect her!"

First Akaine's Trap gained its counter. Then she pointed to Utopia Beyond. "And now Genesis Empress' effect will negate those of Utopia Beyond!"

"That's fine with me!" Yuma shot back, even as several indigo bonds latched onto his Xyz Monster. "Because I only have one more thing left to do!" He pointed at Ehris. "Utopia Beyond, attack her Goddess of Chaos!"

"You little-" Ehris was cut off as Utopia Beyond's sword sliced right through her. (Akaine's LP: 6000 - 3000) She reappeared, immaterial, behind Akaine. "Are you okay, Ehris?" asked her protégé.

"No," the spirit replied. "That attack took a lot out of me. I need to go heal." She glared at Yuma. "Just get him for me, would you?"

"Sure thing," promised Akaine as Ehris disappeared, flanked by the Eternal Seeker and Chaser.

"You're gonna have to wait," interrupted Yusei. "Because I'm up next after this."

"Go right ahead," said Yuma. "I end my turn."

---

Two girls – one with antler-like horns, the other's ram-like – raced down into the infirmary from the stairs above, their trajectory only slowed by the shuddering ripples their outlines were taking and the labored moans of the six-winged angel they were holding between them by the limbs.

It was this scene that Percy finally burst onto, his three braids swinging and spiraling behind him as his jaw dropped. "Did Evy lose control again?"

"Shockingly enough, no!" This came from Eternal Chaser, another shudder rolling through her body as they righted up Ehris so she was braced against the wall.

Eternal Seeker was the next to speak. "Ehris went loco the second she laid eyes on Yubel!"

"We had to link our integrity fields to hers to get her away from the action safe 'n sound!" Eternal Chaser continued.

"And breaking news: Ehris thinks Yubel wrecked her home!" Evy finished, clambering down the stairs with them.

"WHAT?!" Percy's uttered, bowled over by Evy's revelation. That word slipped forth again as he noticed the Eternal Seeker and Chaser, horns aglow, summoned replicas of those horns around each of Ehris' wrists and shins, restraining each to the other. "How can you do that? I mean the integrity, an-and this!"

"We're made from the power soaked in Ehris' golden apples, duh," Eternal Seeker spun out one of her hands in exasperation. "And the original one's right here." Raising the spirit's bound hands, the original article of forbidden fruit sprang to life in Ehris' hands, vibrating rapidly in the air. Eternal Chaser tapped each of the bonds before turning to face both Aspect members. "But none of this is easy. Thankfully…"

"…I'm helping them."

Both Percy and Ehris turned to face Evy, her face slightly screwed up as her Psychic powers kept Ehris still within a field only tinged with the lightest green. Ehris had only just come to and was the first to speak. "It was Yusei, wasn't it?"

"You bet!" both Eternal girls chorused at once.

"And I'm not gonna let you ruin Akaine's one chance at solving this diplomatically, Ehris." Evy winced at the withering look the six-winged Duel Spirit shot her. "No-no offense."

Percy let out a long sigh, only to turn to Evy. "Can't believe I'm saying this, but thanks for shutting down an Aspect member's tantrum, Eves. Know where Tidus is?"

"Upstairs, keeping up appearances." Evy's head shook. "Curse it all, the plan shouldn't be running into these many obstacles! And I would've just told you to be there instead, but now I've gotta be here to keep Ehris from bringing the roof down on us all -"

"Which I assure you I'm past now. I'm a goddess; I have it under control."

"Gonna need more than your I.D. to let you pass this time." Evy continued. "And I'm not even sure I can keep Ehris from forcing her way past because all the stuff that allowed me to focus my power…" and at this, Evy scooped up the discarded breastplate of hers in her hand. "…is utterly busted now!"

As Evy was about to slam the plate at the foot of the bed now between her and Ehris, the Duel Spirit's eyes caught something in the joint of the armor, just to the right of Evy's thumb. "WAIT!"

Evy froze in place, still holding the chunk of metal. "What's that at the edge of that plate?" asked Ehris. Evy, after a minute, brought it to eye level.

"I'm not seeing anything."

But the Eternal Chaser trotted over to look at it nevertheless. "Yeah, I see it too, Ehris." Her study of the plate in Evy's hands got Percy's attention, but as much as they turned the piece of metal over and over in their hands…"…I can't see a thing there." Percy whistled. "So either I'm going blind…"

"…or it's something only a Duel Spirit can see." Eternal Seeker replied. "I'll bet it's something a spirit placed too – Evy, was there any person in your visit to the Satellite that could have done this?"

Evy shook her head. "No, and…wait. Wait! I can see it too now. It's faint, but I can. Think… it might be because I'm a Psychic Duelist?"

Both Eternal sisters shrugged at the question. "Maybe it was… Akiza." The last word came out in a low snarl. "She must have done this!"

"N… no." Ehris craned her neck to peer at the plate as well. "Where she was in a position to lay that under your armor, I have doubts that you would have ever overpowered her."

"Okay, seriously then; what is that thing?" Percy asked. "Is it a bomb?"

"No. A… battery of sorts, and a simple one at that," Ehris explained. "Any Duel Spirit made can manifest such a tether. Often, they need to." Ehris' tone became withdrawn at this fact. "It's what usually keeps a Duel Spirit not strong enough to survive on its own present in your world. But in the spot it's in… it may not be a bomb, but it turned the suit Evy was in into one. A bomb that would have sent her Psychic Burst across three timelines… and possibly beyond, had we not called back everyone."

"That means it was sabotage!" Eternal Seeker relayed. "Ooo, a mystery! Well, it couldn't be us, Ehris."

"No – you were only created recently, and haven't been close to Evy until now. That means it is likely either a Spirit in this Dystopia…" Ehris, if it was possible, paled even further than her silver skin could conceal. "Or one from below trying to breach it."

"They're not supposed to be that devious, though!" yelled Eternal Chaser, clasping to her sister in shudders of shock. "What do we do?"

"Head to the edge of the Dystopia and keep watch over the King's Comet!" Ehris bellowed. "I'll survive, and Akaine knows how to call me back if she needs me! Now go!"

As the twin Duel Spirits clambered out of the infirmary door, Percy turned to Evy. "Ehris said it could be someone in this Dystopia too – you stay with Ehris, I'll find Viral, and have her call up Malice and Lilith. No way she wants something like this happening behind her back."

"Good luck… finding her!" A series of wheezes punctuated the statement, but even before Ehris could respond, Percy and Evy were helping up Ceren from his hunched-over stance beside the infirmary's door. "Only just came upon her tweaking Save's bike, then she vanished with it! I didn't even have a chance to say hello! I thought she was pissed before, but…"

"If she's got the bike, then…" Ehris finally calmed down. "Viral is upstairs. My Seeker has brought up Yusei's Duel Runner, it would only make sense that she would accompany their efforts." Turning to Percy, the Duel Spirit continued. "I am very aware of the error of my ways, but I fear we've more to worry about. Find Save and the other Duelists we brought here – bring them in here if you do not trust me to leave this room! We need those stranded Duelists returned home now!"

Percy nodded vigorously. "Right, I'll be back!" And he was out of the door, the slap-slap-slap of his dress shoes ricocheting around the bronzed brick halls of the Dystopia.

Evy wearily turned to Ehris again, trying hard to not meet her glance. "So… the she-devil we just saw blew up a dimension…" Her hands finally locked in at her hips. "Y'sure we've made the right call trying to beat 'em all?"

Ehris snorted. "You... you, of all in the Aspect, are worried about a foe being too much to handle." It wasn't a question.

"Because our allies are such monumental models of restraint. Oh, wait, that's my role now." Evy was now purposefully avoiding Ehris' glance as the silence hung over the room, broken only by Ceren's pants for air. "Me, of all in the Aspect."

The silence seemed to stretch for eons in that circular, high-ceilinged room. Then, Ehris and Evy broke the din by bursting into laughter. Their whoops spurred Ceren onto his feet again, his eyes sweeping over both occupants in the room in building disbelief.

With a shake of his head, he traipsed up the steps to the antechamber above, his only accompaniment being a muttering of, "Shoulda stayed with Save, shoulda stayed with Save…"

---

"All right!" Here goes!" Yusei drew for his turn… and grimaced. "I Set a monster in Defense Mode and end my turn."

"That was quite a wait," said Akaine sardonically as she drew for her turn. "As for me, I'll equip my Genesis Empress with the Equip Spell Card, 'Eieno Negai – Arsenal of Adonis'! This card gives my Genesis Empress five hundred Attack Points!"

Out of the ether emerged a giant bladed… collage of weaponry, which Genesis Empress took into her hands. (ATK: 2950 - 3450) "Now, Genesis Empress, attack Utopia Beyond!"

"Hold it!" said Yuma. "I activate my face-down Trap Card, 'Xyz Revenge Shuffle'! When an Xyz Monster I control is attacked, this card returns that Xyz Monster to my Extra Deck and brings another Xyz Monster back from my Graveyard, then becomes one of its Overlay Units! So I'll return Utopia Beyond to my Extra Deck and salvage my Gagagaga Girl!"

"Makes no difference to me," said Akaine. "Genesis Empress, attack Gagagaga Girl instead!"

Yuma's face fell as his revived Xyz Monster broke apart, having only been on the field for a few seconds. "What was the point to that, really?" asked Akaine. "You would've ended up with no monsters to protect you whether you activated your card or not."

"Not true," replied Yuma. "Because now Gagagaga Girl's other effect activates! If she's sent to the Graveyard while still having Overlay Units, I get to bring a 'Gogogo', 'Dododo', or 'Zubaba' monster back from my Graveyard! So I'll bring back my Gogogo Gigas in Defense Mode!"

"Fine," said Akaine, tired. "I end my turn."

Yuma drew for his turn. "Darn it," he murmured. "I pass."

It's up to me now, thought Yusei. But what is there to do? He looked at Akaine's field. Even if I Summoned a monster that could bring down that Empress, there's still that Fleeting Love card! Then it hit him. That's it! If I can make her Fleeting Love card useless, then we might have a chance! He looked at his Deck. Since Yuma's last draw was a bust, I'd better make this one count! "I draw!" He looked at the card he'd drawn. That'll have to do. "I activate The Warrior Returning Alive to bring Junk Synchron back to my hand! Next, I'll Summon him in Defense Mode!"

The white-and-orange engine-man popped onto his field. "And now his effect activates! When he's Summoned, I can bring a Level Two or lower monster back from my Graveyard in Defense Mode! So once again I'll bring Synchron Explorer to the field!"

Once the maroon orb with limbs was back, Yusei continued. "Next I'll reveal my face-down monster, Sonic Chick!" As the small pink bird emerged, Yusei prepared for his next move. [Sonic Chick/Winged Beast/EARTH/Level 1/ATK 300/DEF 300] "Now I'll tune Level One Sonic Chick with Level Two Synchron Explorer and Level Three Junk Synchron to form…" He paused as Junk Synchron jumped into the air and became three speedometer rings, which encased his two other monsters, who became three glowing orbs which lined up, connected, then expanded to reveal… "…my Junk Gardna!"

…a robotic warrior with overly large arm guards, which promptly folded them upon taking its place on Yusei's field. [Junk Gardna/Warrior/Synchro/EARTH/Level 6/ATK 1400/DEF 2600] "Next I'll activate Junk Gardna's effect! Once a turn on either player's turn, I can change the Battle Mode of one monster you control! So I'll change your Genesis Empress to Defense Mode!"

"Not happening!" said Akaine. "I activate Fleeting Love's effect! I'll remove a counter from it and declare monsters to immunize her from your Gardna's effect!"

"You got me," said Yusei, shrugging. "I end my turn."

"Good!" Akaine drew for her turn. "Let's make sure you can't pull that stunt again! Genesis Empress, attack Junk Gardna!"

"I activate Junk Gardna's effect!" announced Yusei. "I'll use it to once again change Genesis Empress to Defense Mode!"

"Oh no you won't!" said Akaine. "Once again I activate Fleeting Love's effect in response! I'll remove its last counter and declare monsters! Now Junk Gardna's effect will fail for the second time!"

Yusei could do nothing but watch as his only line of defense fell to Akaine's Empress. "I activate Junk Gardna's other effect! If he's sent to the Graveyard, I can change the Battle Mode of one monster you control! So I'll try one more time to change Genesis Empress to Defense Mode!"

"Three strikes in a row," said Akaine. "Fleeting Love's effect lasts until the turn ends, so all you've done is waste an effect." Putting a card from her hand into her Spell & Trap Zone, she added, "I Set one card face-down and end my turn."

Yuma drew for his turn and his shoulders slumped. "I gotta pass again," he moaned.

Yusei drew for his turn. My draw's not much better. "I Set a monster in Defense Mode and end my turn."

"Before you do," said Akaine, "I activate my face-down card, 'Return to Dystopia'! I draw two cards, then discard an Immortal monster! And now that it's my turn, I'll draw again!" She did so. "And I'll start my turn off by Summoning 'Eternal Chaser' in Attack Mode!"

A demon that looked like a cross between a butler and an office worker appeared on her field. [Eternal Chaser/Fairy/Immortal/DARK/Level 3/ATK 1000/DEF 2000] "Now, since I control an Immortal monster, I can Special Summon 'Eternal Seeker' from my hand!"

Another demon – this time one with horns and large decorations on her arms – appeared on her field. [Eternal Seeker/Fairy/DARK/Level 3/ATK 1100/DEF 800] "Finally," said Akaine. Then, to Yusei and Yuma… "Now's my chance. It's time to show you two one reason – the embodiment – of my group's fitness to fix your mistakes in your timelines, and why we deserve to be the heroes of them instead of you. Are you ready?"

"By all means, enlighten us," said Yusei, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Akaine ignored him. "I combine my Level Three Eternal Seeker and Eternal Chaser with my Fleeting Love and my face-down Dystopic Dictate, to perform a Summon as you've never seen before!"

As she spoke, her two Eternals glowed orange while her Traps glowed pink. The four cards transformed themselves into masses of energy and shot up into the air. But rather than spiral into a nexus for an Xyz Summon, they each formed one side of a helix.

Jaden perked up. "I recognize this!" he said, startling the others to looking at him. "You know about this?" asked Yusei after getting his bearings. Jaden nodded. "It's a kind of Summoning – one that doesn't exist anywhere else. I saw her brother do it a while back!"

"How right you are, Jaden!" said Akaine. "This right here is called an Advent Summon, and it's done by adding up the Levels of monsters with the number of Spell and Trap Cards to equal the Level of the Advent Monster that's being Summoned! So that's six Levels from both Eternals Seeker and Chaser for a total of six, plus two more from my two Trap Cards for a grand total of eight! I call on the Arch of the Advent and Advent Summon the all-powerful, Level Eight –PRISM-WARPED DRAGON!"

The two semi-helices finally converged and formed a bridge. Coming across the bridge and emerging onto Akaine's field was an enormous dragon bedecked in rainbow-pulsing scars and bonds. [Prism-Warped Dragon/DARK/Dragon/Advent/Level 8/ATK 3000/DEF 2500] "So that's it?" asked Yusei. "You think your group gets to replace us because you went and invented a brand-new Summoning method?!"

"No!" said Akaine in a you're-not-getting-it tone of voice. "Not because of that alone! Obviously not!" She put a hand on her dragon's haunch. "Do any of you know what this dragon is?" she asked. The three boys exchanged looks, but ultimately none had the answer. "Okay, so here's the story of this monster: Ten years ago – from my time, that is – Seto Kaiba – who as you know possessed three Blue-Eyes White Dragons – wanted to acquire the fourth one in existence – I forgot to mention there were only four in existence – so that it could never be used against him. The fourth Blue-Eyes belonged to a game store owner in Domino City."

At the mention of Domino City, Jaden perked up. I think I might know who she's talking about.

"So Kaiba wanted to be the only one to own a Blue-Eyes White Dragon," Continued Akaine. "And to that end, he challenged the game store owner to an ante Duel for it. Which he won; but do you know what he did afterward?" she asked. Seeing no one answer, she answered for them. "He tore it up in front of that owner and his grandson! Can you believe that?! Imagine being so childish you couldn't stand the idea of someone else having the same card as you so you take their card and tear it up! That's insane! Can you agree that that's way too far to go over a single trading card?"

"Uh-huh," said Yuma.

"Definitely," said Yusei.

"Overboard," said Jaden.

"Good," said Akaine, casting a contemptuous look at Jaden. "But yes; this poor creature's been through a lot. I found its spirit – which even tape couldn't make whole in this world – and made it new again. Kaiba wanted to make sure it would never know another owner's care, but I decided 'screw his rules'. Its spirit is in this world, and with Ehris' help, it has new life through the Arch of the Advent. The fourth Blue-Eyes was reborn as my Prism-Warped Dragon." She turned to the three of them. "That's why my group and I deserve to be your timelines' heroes. Well, at least one of them."

"Because you took someone else's card and made it yours?" asked Yusei.

Akaine's look darkened at the retort. "No! Because I took in something that had been mistreated and helped it flourish in my ranks! I gave back what that thoughtless scumbag Kaiba took from it! That's what I do – help those that have been mistreated or discarded to be something beloved again!"

"Hold on a minute," said Jaden. "I know what game store owner you're talking about! He treasured that card. And you just took it for yourself?"

"I've stolen nothing from him!" bristled Akaine. "And no one else wanted a torn-up card in his world – but here, any spirit can be redesigned!" She looked at their faces. "Okay, it's obvious to me that none of you are getting it, so let's just continue with the Duel. Upon being Advent Summoned, my Prism-Warped Dragon gains one Advent Counter for each of its Advent Materials – four counters for four cards." She thrust her hand out toward Yusei's field. "And now Prism-Warped Dragon will attack Yusei's Set monster!"

The rainbow drake opened its mouth and shot out a blast of energy that struck Yusei's face-down monster – which revealed itself to be a small green lizard with feathered wings. "Sorry Akaine, but my Shield Wing's going nowhere!" said Yusei. "Up to twice a turn it can't be destroyed in battle!"

Akaine gritted her teeth. "Fine then." She looked at Yuma's field. "Genesis Empress, bring your Genesis Star Attack to that Gogogo Gigas!"

The Empress raised her hand and brought down a bolt of lightning onto Yuma's hapless Gigas, which burst into pieces. "Lastly, I activate Prism-Warped Dragon's Engine of Desire ability – which, once a turn, lets me place three Advent Counters on it for a total of seven! With this, I end my turn."

Those Advent Counters must be important somehow, Yusei thought as Yuma drew for his turn. Striking while it's busy building those up must be the key to defeating it!

---

Percy traversed through the Dystopia, which for a minute, felt like it got more cramped the more he traced the route he'd seen Save and Viral go down. With the shifts in the rings of hallways he passed through, he would end up having to stop at the second ring, to catch his breath and gauge his surroundings.

Those straggler Duelists have to be somewhere! Percy thought, failing to reassure himself.

But the time it took for him to realize it gave him the breath to continue – and nearly crash headlong into Viral Vector. "Sweet stars, what are you doing here?" he spluttered, only barely keeping himself from colliding into another wall.

"Sh-sh-should I be asking you that question instead?" Viral Vector responded, studying him. "Me wrapping up the jobs yo-yoyoyo-YOU have left for me isn't exactly easy."

"Point taken." Percy winced. "You tried to help me somewhat after my foul-up in the Astral World – thanks for keeping the Arclight family off our tails."

Viral would only tip him off, before making a dash for the doorway Percy had originally left – and deeper into the Dystopia. However, a sharp "Wait!" from Percy halted her again. Trying hard to not show his shock at Viral's look of growing apprehension, Percy continued. "I've got to ask something from you first."

Viral – having stopped floating and landed on the ground – tapped her foot impatiently. "Well, Shaddeus?" she replied in a tone possibly too high to belay actual curiosity in an answer.

Percy gave her one regardless. "I… just wanna thank you. You've already done so much for all of us, especially consider-okay, now, really hold up." Percy jutted a finger toward the arched opening Viral was situated in. "Can't you just warp back to where you're going? Ceren could barely keep track of you before."

"Ceren isn't my concern, Percy -"

"Then perhaps your concern is about Save, whose bike you ollied out with when Ceren wanted to talk with you, right?"

"He was there-?! Nevermi-mi-mi-MIND. Is there going to be a point to this-"

"Yeah, there is. Actually…" Percy shook his head. "Also, wasn't Ehris ordering Malice and Lilith to tail Ceren? How come he came to the infirmary alone? I know I heard her do at least that before…"

"Perhaps you've mishea-hea-HEARD, then. Now I really have to get going, Percy, as lovely as this conversation's been."

"Look Viral, I'm the one who has to transcribe Ehris' orders – to make sure loopholes like the one Tidus and I experienced in our first time here don't repeat!" Percy stated, hand slapping into his other palm at the word repeat. "The whole system we got is to make sure things like the possible monster rebellion happening on the comet below us don't! And the only ones here who even can override Ehris' orders to a Duel Spirit are Akaine and-"

Viral gave no response except to turn her head away. "…Viral…" Percy's tone was deathly quiet now. "If Malice and Lilith aren't following Ehris' orders here… whose orders have they been following?"

"If thi-thi-THIS is about Malice and Lilith's proclivities, ma-may I remind you Ceren is the first to strand them when he rus-rusrusrus-rushed off to play medicine man with the stragglers?"

"N…no," Percy started piecing together the inconsistencies in the events he'd seen. "That's actually why I'm concerned! I mean – right, Ceren went to another celestial body and Malice and Lilith followed him there and back – I know this, Ceren said as much for why you and Save had to meet him in the commons, I overheard that too! But they're not trailing him for five rings of halls in the same castle!?"The deacon's breaths and statement came out almost like an overflowing river at this point, as Viral remained unmoved, a silent witness to his budding realizations. "A…and Ehris' takedown was before you both passed my post! But Seeker and Chaser still obeyed when Akaine told them to corral Ehris, so I know where Akaine's been! The only question is… no, the only answers as to who could have countermanded Ehris' orders and been close enough to Evy to sabotage her armor-"

"O, Percy, are you okay?"

A Duel Spirit spoke the words, but it was not Viral. Percy whirled around to see a shock of blue hair before the fiendess it belonged to grasped both of his arms. Another pair of claws forced his head forward, his jaw clenched so tightly to his skull that all he could utter was a series of shrill grunts as Viral turned to face him at long last.

The cards 'Lilith, Lady of Lament' and 'Malice, Lady of Lament' shone in her left hand. Her right went to Percy's forehead. Despite his attempts to shake it away, it flicked him in the temple, a cluster of four bright white stars splashing into his corneas. Percy's eyes went glassy, even the glow from his left hand in a mad bid to use his Midas Hand ability fading to nothing between the three fiendess' constraints.

Viral tucked her head chillingly close to the deacon's ear. "Might wanna let Save know to come up and see the Duel. After all…" And Viral's tone turned sinister. "… it's a stra-straight road to the Duel, and you've met no one running it. Not one."

The three fiendish Duel Spirits disappeared with a snap of Viral's fingers, and Percy came to as if roused from a coffin, placing a hand to his head and massaging until the sparks left his eyes.

"Man… what was that? Think Save was right in how contagious those migraines were." And he shuffled over to the common room, only several dozen feet away. "The sight of a great Duel'll do us both some good, then. Dystopia's been feeling like a ghost town these days."

---

"Alright!" said Yuma. "I activate the Spell Card 'Dodododraw'! I discard my Dododo Buster to draw two cards!" Doing so, his face brightened. "Sweet! Next, I Summon Utopic Onomatopoeia in Defense Mode!"

A miniature version of Utopia appeared on Yuma's field, the sword it brought out threading ribbons of light in front of him. [Onomatopoeia/LIGHT/Warrior/Level 4/ATK 1500/DEF 1500] "Next I activate Utopic Onomatopoeia's effect to bring out 'Gagaga Magician', 'Gogogo Giant', and 'Dododo Witch' from my hand all at once!"

The three monsters popped up in the order he called them. [Gagaga Magician/DARK/Spellcaster/DARK/Level 4/ATK 1500/DEF 1000; Gogogo Giant/EARTH/Rock/EARTH/Level 4/ATK 2000/DEF 0; Dododo Witch/EARTH/Warrior/Level 4/ATK 1200/DEF 1600] "Next, I overlay my Utopic Onomatopoeia and Dododo Witch to build the Overlay Network, and Xyz Summon 'Heroic Champion – Excalibur'!"

The sharp-angled crimson armor of Yuma's newest Xyz Monster allowed it to cut an impressive figure, especially as it leveled its sword at Akaine's dragon.[Excalibur/LIGHT/Warrior/Xyz/Rank 4/ATK 2000/DEF 2000]"Next I activate Heroic Champion – Excalibur's effect! By using both its Overlay Units, I can double its original Attack Points until the end of your next turn!"

The futuristic knight opened up its chest cavity and absorbed both orbs of light orbiting around it. (Excalibur's ATK: 2000 - 4000) "Now it's time to end Genesis Empress' reign of tyranny! Heroic Champion – Excalibur, attack Genesis Empress!"

Excalibur raised its sword-bearing arm and swung in a wide arc, slicing through Akaine's Empress, who promptly shattered. (Akaine's LP: 3000 - 2450) "Arsenal of Adonis's effect activates!" said Akaine. "I reveal three Fairy-Type Dark monsters from my Deck for you two to pick one of them: I add the one you chose to my hand and banish the rest." She took three orange cards from her Deck and showed them to them. "Your choices are three 'Eieno Negai' monsters: Exotic Enigma, Starstruck Pacesetter, and Beaming Upstart."

Yusei and Yuma looked at each other. "Which one should we choose?" asked Yuma.

Yusei looked at the three cards, then back to Yuma. "Let's go with Exotic Enigma."

"Okay. We choose Exotic Enigma!"

"Works for me," said Akaine, putting the other two cards in her Duel Disk's Banished Zone and adding the third to her hand. "Okay then," said Yuma, checking to see if he had anything else to do. "I end my turn."

"Here I go," said Yusei, drawing his card. He frowned. "I pass. Your move."

Akaine drew for her turn. "I activate 'Pot of Extravagance'. I banish six monsters from my Extra Deck face-down to draw one card for every three monsters banished."

"Six whole monsters?" said Yuma in disbelief. "Jeez, that's so steep!"

"Maybe," said Yusei. "But she can't get them back, which means she can't use them against us."

"Perhaps not," said Akaine, whose hand was now two cards richer. "But it was worth it in the end! First, I Set two cards. Next, I'll have my Prism-Warped Dragon attack Gogogo Giant!"

The dragon reared its head back and blew Gogogo Giant to smithereens with its Blight Vortex. "And once more Prism-Warped Dragon's Engine of Desire will give it three more Advent Counters. Should be ten, if the math's right." She grinned. "This means it's time to end this Duel, fellas. Don't worry though; we'll take good care of your timelines." She pointed upwards. "I activate Prism-Warped Dragon's final ability! By removing eight Advent Counters from it, its Dirge of Dystopia superpower can deal you each three thousand damage, banish three cards on the field, and draw three cards!"

"No way!" gasped Yuma.

But Yusei was ready. "I don't think so!" he replied. "I activate my Effect Veiler's effect in my hand! By sending her to my Graveyard, I can negate the effects of one face-up monster you control for the turn! So forget about finishing us off – now, or any time soon!"

Akaine frowned. "Some people have all the luck. I end my turn, and with it, Yuma's Heroic Champion – Excalibur's Attack Point boost as well." (HCE's ATK: 4000 - 2000)

"I draw," said Yuma, doing so. "I activate the Spell Card, 'One Day of Peace'! Each one of us draws a card, and none of us take any damage until the end of your next turn!" He turned to Yusei. "I'll give this effect to you."

Yusei was surprised. "Uh… sure," he said, drawing his card as Akaine drew hers. "Thanks."

"No prob," said Yuma. "Now I'll switch Heroic Champion – Excalibur to Defense Mode and end my turn!"

"I'm up," said Yusei, drawing his card. Gotta admit, I wasn't expecting Yuma to help me draw. Either he's being strategic and thinking ahead, or he's trying to earn my trust. Either way, I can't let his efforts go to waste! "I Summon 'Steam Synchron' in Defense Mode!"

A short and stout robot with pipes belching smog around the circle of light that brought it out spun into action. [Steam Synchron/WATER/Machine/Tuner/Level 3/600 ATK/800 DEF]. "Next I'll Set a card and end my turn."

"All your turns have been disappointing lately," said Akaine, drawing for hers. "And I'm tired of sitting through them. First I activate Prism-Warped Dragon's Engine of Desire to give it three more Advent Counters for a total of five."

That means on her next turn she'll be able to use its effect again, Yusei realized. I hope what we have so far is enough.

"Next I activate the Spell Card, 'Blight Vortex'!" continued Akaine. "This card has two very similar effects: I can banish either all face-up or all face-down monsters my opponents control. Since all of your monsters are face-up, I'll pick the former."

Oh no! Yusei's mind raced with possibilities of what he could do. But it ultimately came to nothing. All he and Yuma could do was watch helplessly as a storm whipped up and swept Heroic Champion – Excalibur, Steam Synchron, and Shield Wing away. "It's over now," said Akaine as her two opponents put their banished monsters in their jacket and vest pockets. "Prism-Warped Dragon, attack Yusei directly!"

Thank goodness! Yusei thought. "Not so fast! I activate my face-down card, 'Spirit Force'! This card reduces the Battle Damage I take from this attack to zero, then lets me add a Warrior-Type Tuner monster with fifteen hundred or less Defense Points from my Graveyard to my hand!" He took a card from his Graveyard slot and showed it to Akaine. "I'm sure you're familiar with Junk Synchron."

"Of course. How could I forget?" Akaine turned to Yuma. "I end my turn. You're up."

"Alright, my move!" said Yuma.

"Wait," said Yusei. "Before you draw, I need to tell you something. Akaine's Prism-Warped Dragon will have all the counters it needs to blow us away on her next turn. If we don't do anything about it now, we're gonna be screwed when it happens, okay?"

"Got it."

"Okay."

"Here I go!" said Yuma bravely. He drew. He gulped. He looked at Yusei with an apologetic look on his face. "I Set one card face-down and end my turn. I'm so sorry, Yusei."

"Not your fault. You had a bad draw, it happens to the best of us." Yusei drew for his turn. "Plus I've got everything I need to bring that dragon down! I'll start by Summoning Junk Synchron!"

Once it appeared on his field, he continued. "Next, as I'm sure you know, Junk Synchron's effect activates! When it's Normal Summoned, I can bring back a Level Two or lower monster from my Graveyard! So once again say hi to Synchron Explorer!"

As the maroon widget appeared on his field, Yusei revealed to Akaine the last card in his hand. "Next I activate the effect of Doppelwarrior in my hand! Since a monster was Summoned from my Graveyard, I can bring him out from my hand!"

Once more, a small warrior with an afterimage appeared. [Doppelwarrior/Warrior/DARK/Level 2/ATK 800/DEF 800] "Next I'll tune my Level Two Synchron Explorer and Doppelwarrior with the Level Three Junk Synchron!"

Three rings. Four orbs. One bright flash of light revealing a hefty red metallic titan. "Say hello to 'Junk Berserker'!" [Berserker/Warrior/Synchro/WIND/Level 7/ATK 2700/DEF 1800]

"And next, I activate Junk Berserker's effect!" Yusei continued. "I can banish one 'Junk' monster from my Graveyard and reduce the Attack Points of a monster you control by those of the banished monster! So I'll banish my Junk Speeder and use his power to weaken your Prism-Warped Dragon!"

"I activate Prism Warped Dragon's Warped Wellspring effect!" Akaine responded. "If my opponent activates a card or effect on the field, I can remove two Advent Counters from my dragon and banish two cards of the same type from my Graveyard to immunize it from your effect!" Taking two cards from her Graveyard slot and putting them in her Duel Disk's Banished Zone slot, she continued. "I'll banish two Spell Cards – my Genesis Star Attack and Blight Vortex!"

"Darn it," muttered Yusei. "That was all I got. I end my turn." But at least she won't be able to use her dragon's last effect so soon, he thought to himself gratefully.

Akaine drew for her turn. "This'll be a quick one," she said. "I Summon 'Eieno Nagai – Summoner Minx' in Attack Mode!"

A purple-skinned Lolita succubus appeared at her command, shooting a provocative grin across the field. [Minx/DARK/Fairy/Immortal/Level 4/ATK 850/DEF 1650] "Next I'll attack Junk Berserker with my Prism-Warped Dragon!"

Yusei could do nothing as his warrior was blown away. (LP 1650 - 1350) "And next, Summoner Minx attacks you directly – hit Yusei with your Delight Driver!"

Yusei was nearly knocked off his feet from the Minx's furious claw swipes. (LP: 1350 - 500) "Finally, I'll activate Prism-Warped Dragon's Engine of Desire effect to give it three more Advent Counters and end my turn." Akaine waved to Yuma. "Over to you." (PWD's Advent Counters: 3 - 6)

This is bad, thought Yuma. Yusei and I have each used up a ton of cards trying to beat this chick. And now we're also almost out of Life Points. "Here I go." He drew, and almost smiled, but realized Akaine would counteract it if she knew he'd drawn a good card, he pretended to be in a slump. "I Set a monster in Defense Mode and end my turn."

"I draw," said Yusei, seeing what he drew. "My turn's the same," he let out, placing a card horizontally in his Monster Zone. We couldn't stop it.

"My turn," said Akaine, satisfied as she drew. "First, Prism Warped Dragon's getting three more Advent Counters." (PWD'S AC 6 - 9) "Next I'll remove eight Advent Counters from it to once again strike with Dirge of Dystopia – to deal you both three thousand damage, banish three cards on the field and draw myself three cards!"(PWD'S AC 9- 1)

"Oh no you don't!" said Yuma defiantly. "I activate my Trap Card, 'Memory Loss'! When a face-up monster you control in Attack Mode activates its effect, this card negates that effect, and if so, changes your monster to Defense Mode!"

Akaine frowned as her dragon crossed its arms, its power nullified. "I end my turn."

"Okay!" Yuma boomed, drawing. "Alright! I Tribute my face-down 'Bacon Saver' to Summon 'Gagaga Dean' in Attack Mode!" His face-down monster disappeared, replaced by a woman in sweeping robes, her iron gaze affixed on Akaine. [Dean/DARK/Spellcaster/Level 5/ATK 1900/DEF 1650] "Next, I'll activate her After-Class ability! By lowering her Level by one, I can add a 'Gagaga' monster whose Level equals her new Level from my Deck to my hand! So I'll lower Gagaga Dean's Level from Five to Four and add Gagaga Gardna to my hand!" He did so. "Next I'll have Gagaga Dean attack your Summoner Minx – with her Gagagablaze!"

Akaine gritted her teeth as the Gothic succubus shattered to pieces in the Dean's pyrotechnic onslaught. (LP: 2450 - 1400) "Summoner Minx's effect activates!" she announced. "When she's destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a Level Four or Eight 'Eieno Negai' monster from my hand or Graveyard! So please welcome back my Vanity Incarnate!"

The richly-adorned noble fiend returned in a flash of purple fire. "I end my turn," said Yuma.

Yusei drew for his turn and frowned. "I Set one card and end my turn."

"Alright then," said Akaine, drawing for her turn. "First I'll switch Prism-Warped Dragon back to Attack Mode and use its effect to give it three more Advent Counters." (PWD'S AC: 1 - 4) "Next, I'll activate Vanity Incarnate's Vain Split ability again; I'll banish Haiz, the Emissary of Dystopia from my Graveyard so that I can Summon a Vanity Token with its Haiz's Attack and Defense Points!"

She placed the card in her Duel Disk's Banished Zone slot as a miniature version of Haiz appeared on her field. "Next I'll have my Vanity Token attack Yusei's face-down monster!"

The smaller Haiz shot out its hand and blasted Yusei's monster with a purple blast of energy. The Set monster shattered. "Before you do anything else," said Yusei, "My Ghost Gardna's effect activates! When it's destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I get to reduce the Attack Points of one of your monsters by one thousand until the end of this turn!" He pointed to Akaine's purple noble. "So before you get any ideas of trying to finish us off with Vanity Incarnate, I'll choose him!" (Vanity Incarnate's ATK: 1000 - 0)

"That's odd," said Akaine. "Thought you would've chosen Prism-Warped Dragon since it's the strongest monster I have."

"It doesn't matter either way," Yusei replied. "You're not gonna finish me off no matter what monster you use."

"Oh?" said Akaine, a little irked. "Why don't we test that right now? Prism-Warped Dragon, attack Yusei directly!"

"I activate my Trap Card!" said Yusei in response to the incoming Blight Vortex. "Reveal, 'Stardust Re-Spark'! When your monster attacks directly and has more Attack Points than my Life Points, this card negates that attack, draws me a card, and brings out a 'Stardust' Synchro Monster from my Extra Deck! So nice try Akaine, but we're going nowhere but back home!"

As he drew his card, his Trap Card glowed with white light, calling forth a colossal white-armor-clad monster. "Say hello to 'Stardust Warrior'!" Yusei smirked triumphantly as his renewed offense took to the field. [Stardust Warrior/WIND/Warrior/Synchro/ Level 10/ATK 3000/DEF 2500]

Akaine grimaced. "I'll Set one card face-down, then switch Vanity Incarnate to Defense Mode and end my turn – which means its Attack Points return to normal."

"My turn!" announced Yuma boldly, drawing for his turn. "I Summon Gagaga Gardna in Attack Mode and overlay it with my Level Four Gagaga Dean!"

Once more, a spiraling nebula opened up on the floor as Yuma's two monsters became masses of energy and flew into its cradle. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network and Xyz Summon 'Number Thirty-Nine: Utopia Double'!"

A glowing translucent double of Utopia – as its name implied – appeared on his field. [Double/LIGHT/Warrior/Xyz/Rank 4/0 ATK/2000 DEF] "Next, I activate Utopia Double's effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can add a Double or Nothing from my Deck to my hand!" Yuma took the card and placed it with his other ones as his Deck shuffler did its work. "But it's not done yet, because I can overlay it to Xyz Summon another monster! And with it, I Summon 'Number Thirty-Nine: Utopia Roots'!"

A miniature version of Utopia, skin beneath the armor the same brilliant blue as the aura surrounding it. [Roots/LIGHT/Warrior/Xyz/Rank 1/500 ATK/500 DEF] "Now it's time to take it to your Prism-Warped Dragon!" said Yuma. "Utopia Roots, attack!"

"What're you doing?! You're gonna cost us the Duel!" Yusei admonished.

"Oh no, I won't!" Yuma assured him. "Because I activate Utopia Roots' effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can negate his attack, and since I negated an Xyz Monster's attack, Utopia Roots gains five hundred Attack Points times its Rank! What's more, since I Summoned Utopia Roots using Utopia Double, Utopia Roots' Attack Points are doubled!" (Utopia Roots' ATK: 500 - 1000 - 1500) "But that's not all!" continued Yuma, "I activate the Spell Card 'Double or Nothing'! When a monster's attack is negated, this card lets it attack again, only this time its Attack Points are doubled even further! So now Utopia Roots, take it to that Prism-Warped Dragon, with your fully charged Rising Sun Roots Slash!"

Without a second's hesitation, the incandescent warrior took both of its swords, charged them, and leaped at the prismatic dragon above it that reared its head and gathered flames in its maw to meet its charge.

The illumination both attacks gave off revealed another being just behind Akaine – that of a white-suited girl with far-too-sharp fangs, revealed in a coquettish grin as the two Duel Monsters drew closer above her.

---

"So, are we gonna get to our friends soon?"

Tori's words tinkled over her platter of food – a fruit salad of slices of apples, pears, and pomegranates, atop a spongy rainbow confetti cake. Blair had been shaking out the wrinkles in Trudge's damp jacket, and the officer himself was at Save's side, his eyes now locked on the door leading out of the common room instead.

"The second that-" Save stopped before she could finish her statement suggesting they wait until Ceren returned. Her eyes took a quick sweep of the room showed that neither Duel Spirit was present. "Weird. Usually, Ehris doesn't let Spirits wander up here. But if Ceren's coming back, then that might be… "

The sloppy sliding of feet heralded the arrival of Percy. Save's eyebrows arched up further at his sluggish state and the notable lack of Duel Spirits trailing him. "Oh, Percy; do you know where Mal and Lili went?"

"Humph." Percy drew a finger to his chin. "Didn't see 'em. But you gotta see this, Save – apparently, Akaine's Duel is still going strong! I'll bring you to her."

"Percy, I mean…" Save stumbled for words. "I'd love to but… are you sure? Trudge, were the two Spirits heading in his direction?"

"I'm shocked he didn't wing them on the way here, the way they marched out. Nearly ran over Blair, too!" Trudge's attention was soon drawn to the uncharacteristic hop in Percy's step. "You sure you're alright, kid?"

"Huh? Who're you? I'm only here to get Save to watch Akaine at work, sir." Percy bowed as quickly as possible, but the attempt cost him what was left of his fleeting equilibrium and he faceplanted – first into the table, then to the floor. Save was there to catch him before that second crash, though, and they heaved him onto Trudge's shoulders. "This normal either?" Blair asked of Save.

"N…no. Not without warning. And speaking of…" Save tapped that button under her Duel Disk again, static ringing through the room as she pardoned herself and raced into the hall to take the call. "Ceren, Percy's here and looks like he's run into every wall on the way over, any guesses why?" A pause was all Trudge and Blair could hear as Save received more information. "What do you mean you're still looking for Malice and Lilith? We're waiting on you to come back here and let us know that-" Another pause. Tori's eating ceased as she pushed aside her plate and joined her fellow estranged Duelists. Even her face was wrought with worry now. "Oh…oh my. Yes, I understand."

Save's head finally peeped around the arched doorway's corner. "Okay so… Viral's standing guard at the amphitheater and has no clue where Malice and Lilith are. And we think the Duel Spirits on the planet below us might make a move. We should, too."

"W-wait, now? Here? And where are we gonna go?"

"T…toward the center of the room. Ceren permitted me, but I'm… gonna need to ask you to stay outside the big center room until we can make sure we've got everyone's stories straight."

"Done and done, now let's go!" With Trudge almost at her heels, the four Duelists set out in the cavernous halls of the Dystopia, Percy still muttering about the Duel in the crook of Trudge's back.

Within five minutes, Save burst through the infirmary archway, her eyes drawn first to Tidus, Ceren, and Evy in the room. But the Psychic Duelist's eyes were only locked on Ehris. And Ehris herself was staring at the floor in awkward silence, her wrist locked together with interlocking golden horns that seemed to sprout from her very palms.

"Most of the team's here now – let's go over this one last time." Tidus pointed at the table, and Ceren swiftly left the room through the front entrance. A second later, he brought in Percy and leaned him against the right wall, Ehris finally taking notice of his wavering head and slurred speech. "Duel… gotta go… castle's so empty… Save's with me, don't worry…"

"I'd… like to try something, if you don't mind." Ehris piped up. Her eyes had locked on Percy. "We've already struck paydirt with the breastplate, maybe this is…"

Ceren, after a minute, stepped away from Percy, his head lolling back toward the wall after he did so with a soft thunk. "Go for it, but I still think it's running fatigue-" And without warning, a golden apple smacked into Percy's chest from across the room, a brief golden flash accompanying it before it clattered to the ground and Percy's eyes refocused in a flash.

"Holy-!" Shaking his head, he took in the room of widened eyes accompanying both Ehris's action and his break from lethargy. "Okay, how'd I end up back here? Swear I was out to go find Sa-"

And then Percy promptly tripped on the apple, spinning in the air alongside the golden fruit as it rebounded back into Ehris' restrained hands like an intercepted hoop-shot. Percy was not so lucky. His headlong crash into the floor sent pain shooting across the back of his skull. "OW! Okay, really up now!"

"Alas, the same trickery that hit Evy's hit my darling!" Ehris cooed. "In a way only a Duel Spirit can deliver, too!"

Tidus raised one finger to Ehris, as if debating whether yelling at her or Percy would speed along his investigation. Electing for option C, he helped Percy to his feet, dusted off his clothes, then spun back to face the others. "The topic at hand, please! Apparently, we may have a rebellion of the Comet spirits on our hands!"

"No dice," Ehris responded once more. "The Seeker and Chaser have seen no changes in those Immortal spirits. Any issue in this Dystopia is limited to this Dystopia. They'll sweep over for one more round, and then make haste back to us."

"…well, great." Tidus continued apace. "Then that means Malice and Lilith have likely sabotaged Evy's armor – for what purpose, I don't know." He then turned to Ehris. "This - and this alone - is what you're being let out on probation to find out. There's nowhere else for them to hide but this citadel, and you're the best… spirit suited to bring them in swiftly and safely. Evy?"

"Ah. Well, then, I'll be on my best behavior, for you… and your wonderfully recovered deacon." Ehris declared as the stasis field finally fizzled away, though the horns' bonds held strong. Evy touched her head to the cool steel of the main medical table in relived exhaustion.

"If only I could forget hearing that recently too," shuddered Percy the second the tips of Ehris' wings vanished from sight.

Tidus rounded on Percy. "Relieve your tension another time, Percy. We've got stories to corroborate, starting with yours."

"Got nothing." Percy rolled his neck, attempting to soothe the cramps in it from his trip on Trudge's shoulders. "Ehris' little trick fixed my nerves, not my memories. And I'm not sure if they're wholly trustworthy, myself."

"Understandable. Still, even the lack of evidence could've been evidence – something to establish time, place, opportunity…" Tidus turned to Ceren. "You? After all, you've been alone the most here."

Ceren was quick to respond. "I ported down to the planet fast enough to see–Trudge, was it; that officer? – bring out this new monster to defend them. Didn't want to get into the fray unprepared, so I waited for Malice and Lilith to touch down on the comet too before I made my presence known."

Ceren's face brightened as he continued. "I ferried the stragglers up and into the Dystopia, talked with Trudge and Blair some…" Tidus quietly noted the drop in cheerfulness in Ceren's voice as he got to Blair's role in the tale. "…then I left the commons to try and apologize to Viral. Saw her warp away with the bike, and made my way back to you until the others returned. That's it, I think."

"Right." Tidus' gaze went to Save next. "We'll forego what happened in the common rooms right now – both Ceren and the estranged Duelists can fill in the whole timescale there anyways. Did anything happen in the time between you splitting up with Ceren and racing back to meet him?"

Save bit back a gulp at this question. "Well… Viral and I were… talking. Uhm, about the job I've been doing with helping the Aspect." She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. Nothing important."

"Wait!" Percy finally spoke at this. "I think I do remember something from when we last met! You and Viral were called to the commons, to help with some… incident with Malice?"

Tidus turned toward the doorway. "Okay, never mind; bring in Trudge. Ceren, since you've given a deposition, you keep the girls safe until he's returned."

Again, Ceren turned the corner from the door into the first ring of halls, the Sector Security officer filling the doorway mere seconds later. "You called?" Trudge gruffly asked.

"Indeed." Tidus ceded his seat to Trudge before facing him once more as he sat. "Detective DeLuge, nice to meet you."

"Officer Trudge. Nice to see someone on the force, though I don't think we've met."

"No. A pity." A beat of silence reigned before Tidus spoke once more. "The incident that Ceren called Save and Viral to your location for – what was it about? Spare no detail, this may expedite your safe journeys home."

"Sure, but…not without Yusei. He's a Satellite citizen, and I still need to get his account on what happened with Save." Getting only a curt nod from Tidus, Trudge tentatively continued, giving several breath-freeing tugs to his tie. "But yeah, Malice and Lilith looked over the wall of that room's bath and caught Tori bathing! Malice fell in and… well, if I needed any more proof Lilith was a Duel Spirit too, seeing her crash through a table without a scratch did it! Then, I stood guard over the door while Blair washed up to keep a repeat performance from happening, and then…" Trudge finally trailed off. "You… you said spare no detail, so here goes."

Trudge's voice dropped an octave. "Just before Malice and Lilith left, I noticed Lilith had Malice in a chokehold – just as Malice was saying something. I… I don't think I was close enough to hear it but… do Duel Spirits usually act like that? Just off of a few words?"

"Keeping a few words off… maybe." Tidus pursed his lips, contemplating. "Was that the only event that stuck out?"

"No, in fact, the second was only one I'd realized from bein' in this crazy world." Wildly looking around at the proclamation Trudge amended his statement. "No offense."

"It's a shard of a wrecked dimension, don't worry. Continue with the second… disparity you witnessed."

Trudge was surprised at how Tidus was able to say something like that so readily in the presence of his comrades. "W-well, just before those two spirits left the room… they both stiffened up. Like… well, sorta like my Jutte Lady did before it nearly attacked 'em. And then they left in a march. Nearly collided with Blair before they left, like she wasn't even there!"

"I see." Tidus stood up straighter. "I think that those very actions may have had bigger implications than you noticed. The actions, even for spirits made by Vector, are far more sporadic than should be allowed. Which means either they were hiding something from everyone in that room – the Aspect included, if Save and Ceren's confessions are to be judged – or…"

"They're hiding something for someone else not in that room." Ehris was back within the thresh of the door, and even as Trudge's eyes ballooned open at the sight of the six-winged Duel Spirit, Tidus' attention was laser-focused on the two beings wrapped within her constraining wings – the previously incognito Malice and Lilith. Both were mouthing something repeatedly, like a mantra, but no sound escaped their lips.

Save's hands rushed to her mouth, Percy took several steps back in horror, and Evy's pose became as rigid as theirs under their blank suffocating gaze. Tidus had an inquiry ready to level at Ehris, but her sudden explanation fulfilled the unspoken request." Found them trying to uproot the apple tree in my observatory. Much as I worried about upsetting Akaine's set-up there, I did do some damage capturing them. Without my handsfree, it couldn't be helped. Their stunts left them ill-suited for excuses, for after I ripped apart their alibis for being there, they… well… look at them."

Releasing her wings from around them, Malice and Lilith both stayed stock-still, still mouthing their muted mantra. "It seems your case is solved, detective. I'll take my place at Akaine's side again, with your thanks." Ehris took her leave, floating up the steps into the upper amphitheater, still trickling the sounds of combat down into their room.

"Okay, something's not right." Ehris stopped at Tidus' words, as his eyes flittered rapidly between Malice, Lilith, and Ehris. "No, Ehris – you can go, I think you being near Akaine is what's best right now." Turning to the other Aspect members, Tidus finally explained. "T-this makes no sense. All of this ties back to Malice and Lilith being the ones that sabotaged Evy's armor and led us to believe the Comet spirits were rearing for an attack but… why hang back with Save and the others if they needed to take one of Ehris' trees? Why do that after Ehris was incapacitated? And-"

Tidus whipped back to face Ceren again. "You! You said something in your deposition about Viral and the bike, relay that for me again?"

"Wait. You mean that she took it up to the amphitheater?"

"And what made you think that?"

"I mean… Seeker and Chaser brought Fudo's bike there, I assumed they were working with Viral to fix them on site. I-I mean, she was there already, so-"

"-Okay, I need you to really think about this since I went down after you came up to relieve me for this investigation. Did you actually see Save's bike anywhere in that room with Viral?"

"Of course, it was-!" Suddenly, a dark chill rippled through Ceren's body as he ruminated on his vision of the room. Again. Then once again. "No. No, I didn't. But where could it be if it's not there? I mean, it's not like we had a room for it to begin with, and…"

Trudge sprang to his feet with a jolt. "The better question is – how did Ehris find the two spirits so easily when they walked out into Percy's face and he didn't?"

"…Because they didn't want to be found." Percy slammed a hand to his temple. "And I'll bet one of them messed with my mind when I did!"

"Think I can shore that down – quit giggling, Evy – a bit faster for you all." Tidus' summation was only interrupted by Evy's light titter at the accidental pun the Water Duelist threw out. Tidus quickly counted off on one hand. "Ehris was within at least one of our sights until Malice and Lilith moved on one of her trees. Akaine's been busy working over the other heroes upstairs… and Percy's Midas Hand ability doesn't work on himself! Who's the only other person here that even can alter Percy's mind?!"

The chorus was instantaneous.

"VIRAL!"

Evy was the first charging up the steps, Percy only a step behind her. "Hope we're not too late! If Viral's done that to Percy's memory, I'd hate to see who else she's got under lock and key." Evy mournfully whispered as her panicked eyes swiveled to another rush of movement.

Trudge was about to rush back to the hallway – and likely towards Tori and Blair, to get them moving in the opposite direction from the Aspect and the chaos about to unfold – until Tidus whipped back his head to alert him. "No! At this point, we've no clue what else Viral's set up in this castle and you're not equipped to brave them alone! Get the others and follow us – we're getting you home now!"

Without a second thought, Trudge rushed into the hallway, Tori and Blair beating feet behind him in an instant. With Tidus in front and Save flanking them, the group moved up the stairs together.

Their trek only ended at the maw leading them into the amphitheater – and within sight of the cornered Viral, whose bulging eyes suddenly narrowed in glee as they locked onto Save, then looked around at everyone in the room. "Well wellwe-wewewewew-WELL. The time has come."

"Can it, Viral!" said Percy. "We know what you-"

But Viral didn't even let him finish: She turned intangible and bolted right toward Save - disappearing into her with a flash of white electricity. Save's eyes flickered for a moment before her irises changed to reflect the new person in charge. "What're you doing?!" she asked, her voice trailing off.

But Viral didn't say anything. Instead, she grabbed the locket around Save's neck and yanked it off, the chain breaking with a small noise. Before anyone could stop her, she reeled her arm back and thrust the locket over everyone's heads where it was broken apart by Utopia Roots' sword, revealing… a twisting mass of swirling colors. Then, it was struck by the violent blast of energy from Prism-Warped Dragon's Blight Vortex. Everyone only had a second to process what had just happened before gravity took hold of them, dragging them all screaming into its expanse.

Then everything went white.

---

The game's changed - for both the canon characters and the ASPECT.

Next chapter, we'll see just how, in the thrall of the Memory Locus.

Till then, gentlemen and ladies.