"Wait, are you serious?" Zan said.

"Yeah, it took awhile but after some following, I've found where Subaru's been going." Yusuke said.

"Please, tell me." Zan said.

"I think it's better if you just follow me." Yusuke said.

"Very well, please lead the way Kitagawa." Zan said.

They soon arrived outside of an old building as they saw Subaru enter.

"What is this place?" Zan asked.

"It's likely an old home that was abandoned. From what I've seen, its serving as Vile Ranma's base." Yusuke said.

Zan let out a surprised gasp as she looked up at it.

"Don't lose it now. We came for Subaru." Yusuke said as they approached the window where they saw Subaru enter with Ranma sitting in a chair.

"So, have you decided yet?" Ranma asked.

"Yes. I have. I will not be joining you. It was never a serious consideration. Just a way to get closer." Subaru said.

"Oh? For what purpose?" Ranma asked.

"A request. Release Seiji and be friends with Yuga again." Subaru said.

"We've already discussed this." Ranma said.

"Oh yes. We even had a buddyfight about it. After that loss, I changed my strategy to delay my decision to get closer to you and gather info. As well as this base. But after that leak, I am going to tell Yuga everything." Subaru said.

"So...he never went and joined his side." Yusuke said.

"Thank goodness." Zan said.

"You fool! Don't you have any idea how much work I've had to do? I even recruited that worthless Seiji just to lure you in. He can't do anything but play chess. He's no use. Give back the card sleeve." Ranma said.

"It's no longer mine to give." Subaru said leaving the building.

"What do you mean?" Ranma asked.

"I have nothing else to say to you." Subaru said leaving.

"Get back here! Destroyer!" Ranma ordered as Destroyer appeared outside. "I don't very much like being made a fool of."

"We need to be ready. If he attacks, we'll need to counter." Yusuke said.

"Yes." Zan said as she drew her spear.

"Get him, Destroyer!" Ranma said.

"I shall do as I please." Destroyer said.

"Now, Gartrio!" Subaru said as the Gartrio emerged with cameras and the broadcasting device.

"Clever. If Destroyer is seen attacking a person, he'll be deemed dangerous and Ranma will lose his place in the tournament." Yusuke said.

"If you hurt Subaru, we'll upload this footage to the net." Garcat said.

"If you attack, Destroyer will be arrested and you'll lose your rights to play in the finals." Subaru said. "Goodbye." he said walking off back to the city.

"I'm going after him." Zan said, following Subaru.

"She can follow him all she wish. For I get the feeling they both are heading to the same place." Yusuke said as he headed back on his own.

"Subaru!" Zan called out.

"So you were following me. Were you worried, Zan?" Subaru asked.

"Of course I was, as well as Cross." Zan said.

"I know. That's why I'm going...to see Cross and return to being buddies." Subaru said.

"He's back on our ship, does that mean we're partners again as well?" Zan said.

"That is a foolish question. We never stopped being partners to start with." Subaru said.

"I understand, just try to tell us next time when you do something like that." Zan said.

"I promise I will." Subaru said as they approached the Galaxy King. "Cross…"

"Subaru.." Cross said with tears as he flew to Subaru and got close to him. "I...well I...I like to…"

"You don't need to say anything." Subaru said as a glow surrounded Cross. "Oh…"

"Incredible…" Zan muttered.

The next day…

"And welcome to the Fort Card Shop! In a surprise, we have a rematch battle here. Between Subaru and Zan vs Seiji and Amir!" Ion said.

"So...are you ready to fall a second time to my mind?" Amir asked.

"No...you'll find things will go much differently than last time." Zan said.

"Let's go! Now… Let the game begin. Luminize! Lostknight Control!" Seiji said.

"Let the game begin! My course has already been plotted out. Luminize! Checkmate!" Amir said.

"I'm guided by the celestial sphere! And the Guidance of a Dragon. Luminize! Triangulum Galaxy!" Subaru said.

"Unity between Demons and Magic will pave the path to peace. Lumenize! Order of Sorcery!" Zan said.

"And...Buddyfight!" Ion said.

"Raise the flag!" they said.

"Star Dragon World!" Seiji and Amir said.

"Star Dragon World!" Subaru said.

"Magic!"

(Cue- Hitohira (Dimensions Remix)- Dead or Alive)

"Lost Knight: Nero Lance!" Seiji said.

"King: Order the Pawn!" Amir said.

"Skyseer Ardent Dragon, Cross Farnese Astrologia!" Subaru said.

"Overturn Demon Lord, Asmodai!" Zan said.

"And here we go! Seiji and Amir have first move!" Ion said.

"I draw! Charge and draw! I buddycall Nero Lance to the right!" Seiji said.

10-11

"Oppress the left area!" Seiji said. "Now your Galaxy Formation is useless! Equip! Grandmaster Cane! Nero Lance, attack the fighter!"

10-8

"Now Grandmaster Cane's ability!" Seiji said.

8-7

"I end my turn. Nero Lance! Your ability!" Seiji said.

"Subjugation!" Nero Lance called.

7-5

"Hehehe. My turn. Draw! Charge and Draw!" Amir said. "I pay a gauge and a life and equip! Grandmaster Crown! Then call Rook: Viola Sword to the center, Bishop: Giallo Mace to the left and then Buddycall King: Order the Pawn to the right! Then I cast! Knowledge Wave! Add a card and put the rest into my gauge! Now...I use the last of my gauges and have Viola Sword and Giallo Mace oppress the left and right areas of your field!"

"Amir's holding nothing back, as he completely locks down Zan's field with his monsters!" Ion said.

"Go ahead and attack." Zan said.

"Quick to surrender. I'm happy to oblige! Giallo Mace! Attack!" Amir said.

10-8

"I end my turn." Amir said.

"They won't get the better of us this time." Subaru said to Zan.

"Indeed." Zan said.

"I draw! Charge and draw! I equip! Skyseer Bow, Kaus Alnasl!" Subaru said. "Then Buddycall Skyseer Ardent Dragon, Cross Falnese Astrologia to the center! " he said as Cross appeared now with more colorful feathers and armor.

"Behold! This is my new form!" Cross declared.

"Amazing! Cross evolved!" Sora said.

"It happened the other day. I thought I got blinded when I saw the light outside." Ibuki said.

"Thanks to there unbreakable bond, Cross was able to become stronger." Zan said.

"And with this appearance, he has gained a new power. Now I call to the right, Seerfight Dragon, Sultarion! Now...Galaxy Formation!" Subaru said.

"What?!" Amir and Seiji asked.

"That cannot be! Galaxy formation only works when a monster is in your left position, you can't use it on the right!" Amir said.

"On the contrary, I can. Thanks to Cross's new ability. I can use a new kind of Galaxy Formation. On the right, all my monsters and items get penetrate and 5,000 power!" Subaru said. "Now I activate Sultarions effect to destroy Nero Lance!"

"Too bad, he has soul guard. But...he still has Cross." Amir said to himself.

"I also have my item. I attack with my bow!" Subaru said.

"I cast! Queenside Castling!" Seiji said.

11-13

"Double attack!" Seiji said.

"I cast once again! Queenside Castling!" Seiji said.

13-15

"Cross, reclaim the left!" Subaru said as Cross finished off Nero Lance. "Now...attack the fighter!"

15-13

"Sultarion!" Subaru said.

13-11

"That's all I can do! Zan!" Subaru said.

"I draw! Charge and draw!" Zan said. "Now...consecutive cast! Magical Goodbye! Using both of them on the rook and bishop, sending them back to your hand!"

"Big deal. I can call them out next turn." Amir said.

"Have you forgotten Order the Pawn's ability?" Zan said.

"Order the...ah!" Amir said. "That's right. It's size gets reduced by two but only when another Drametal monster is out before its called. With both of them gone…"

"Order the Pawn is no longer a size 1, but back to size 3." Zan said. "Meaning...you can no longer call out monsters to oppress me!"

"What? This...this can't be!" Amir said.

"And you called him to the right...leaving your center wide open." Zan said. "Here I go! I pay 1 gauge to equip Sorcery Book, Goetia! And by paying 2 more gauges, I Buddycall, Overturn Demon Lord, Asmodai to the center! And paying one more gauge, I cast Solomon's Great Barrier!"

"This is not good. No way to defend. I'm totally open. I need to think of something fast." Amir said.

"It's time for the execution." Zan said. "I now call, Great Duke, Astaroth to the left! And now, I activate Asmodai's Overturn! And I have him grant its power to Astaroth!"

"What amazing plays by Zan!" Ion said.

"She could end it right here." Hope said.

"I can't lose it now...I can't…" Amir said. "Boss...I will pull out."

"This is it. Attack!" Zan said. "First, I attack with Goetia!"

10-9

"Next, Asmodai!" Zan said.

9-7

"Finally, Astaroth! And he has a critical of 5 and double attack!" Zan said. "An elegant finish! The first attack!"

7-2

"And I will…" Zan said.

"I cast! Cho-Tokyo Gambit!" Amir said. "With this card, I return all monsters on our fields to our hands."

"It matters not. I end my turn." Zan said.

"What is she...gah!" Amir said seeing his gauge was empty.

"Amir used the last of his gauge to oppress Zan's field earlier. Even when he gains one, he can't do anything to call back his buddy. And the most he could oppress would be one." Akira said.

"You rock, Zan! You totally played him!" Flamberge cheered.

"(I just...need...to...wait...what am I thinking? I don't need to oppress her. With my Grandmaster Crown, I can just give two monsters double attack and finish her.)" Amir thought. "(It all depends on this turn.) Now before Seiji can attack! I will call Rook: Viola Sword to the left, Bishop: Giallo Mace to center and Knight, Argento Lance to the right! And with Grandmaster crown, I grant Viola Sword and Giallo Mace double attack! Now...all of you! Finish her!"

"I cast! Solomon's Shield!" Zan said. "And once again!"

"Hahahah! Useless! I will finish this with Viola Sword and Giallo Mace's double attack!" Amir said.

"Heh...no you won't." Zan smirked as the attacks hit.

9-5

"It...wasn't enough. But...my plans never fail. How could...this have happened?" Amir said falling to his knees as he looked to Seiji who couldn't land a hit on Subaru. "Even Seiji can't…" he said thinking back to a rainy alley as he sat there with large sacks of goods.

"Hey, young man...are you cold?" a voice asked.

"I don't need anyone. I just need to depend on my genius and lackeys." he said.

"That's not a good way to live. After all, isn't it with others that plans can succeed?" the figure asked.

"Who asked you?" he said trying to punch the man who grabbed the fist as the clouds began to part.

"You're pretty smart aren't you? But have no place in this world. Please...come follow me. But remember this…" Arthur said being seen.

"I'm...not above anyone in this world. We are...all equal." Amir said in real time as he looked to Zan. "I….I end my turn." he said as he stood up with arms open. "I willingly...accept my fate."

"You were truly a great opponent, Amir." Zan said to herself.

"Now let's finish this. Zan?" Subaru asked.

"Of course, Subaru." Zan said. "This ends now! Astaroth, clear away Giallo Mace! And with your double attack… attack Amir!"

Astaroth did so, and the match was over.

2-0

Game over: Amir! Winner: Zan Partizanne!

"Now it's my turn! I cast! Notify: Enhancement Tactics! Cross, go and let's settle this!" Subaru said he and his monsters attacked Seiji.

11-5

"Final Phase!" Subaru said. "I cast! Tri-Star Decision!" Subaru said as Cross fired the arrow of light.

5-0

Game over, Seiji! Winner: Subaru Hoshiyomi!

"It is all in the mind." Subaru said.

"They did it. Well played, guys." Flamberge said.

"Yeah, baby! The Ace of Study is back!" Eddy cheered.

"Eddy… He never even left us." David said.

"He meant Subaru's back on a roll." Hope said. "All the same… I'm glad we didn't lose Subaru at all."

"He had us all pretty worried for a moment, though." Gallantmon said.

"Somehow...I get the feeling things are going to go up from here." Jack said.