Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Obscured Truth

by DivadX

Yuhiro Furutani, one of 8 children kidnapped 10 years ago by an unknown group, now works as Raguel, an agent in LINK VRAINS' Black Market. One day, he fights the Knights of Hanoi and encounters Playmaker, who becomes his newest assignment. Follow Yuhiro as he now must decide who he wants to become: as both a duelist and as an individual.

39. Chapter 39: Threat in the Shadows

Response to Reviews

Thank you to ZeroMK7, HunterHQ, Guest, Anonymous, Noobmaster, Gundam 09, Ambiguous, Anonymous, ZarcEternal, Yuman28, Kingdom Hearts Guy, Revolver, E.T. 2000, Unnamed, Unknown, Portal, Donjusticia, Guest, Edgar, Guest, Guest, and Guest for reviewing Chapter 38 of Obscured Truth.

Alright, folks! It's time for the premiere of Season 2! And what better way to kick it off than a chapter that focuses only on Azrael and Wraith! That's right, it's Azrael's duel debut! I sure hope you enjoy it!

I want to thank those that took the time to answer the QOTC from Chapter 38. As a result, I'll use your feedback to implement some changes in the story. One of these changes is an Opening and Ending for each chapter, which will be in bold. As a result, the story will go like this: Response to Reviews, Opening, Chapter Content, Ending, Card Gallery, QOTC, Chapter Preview, and Author's Notes. Since this is my first time writing an opening and ending, I would appreciate any feedback from you guys to come.

Anyways, let's get to answering some reviews:

ZeroMK7: Glad you enjoyed the duel. Thanks for the OC Suggestions as well.

HunterHQ: Miyu appearing before Yuhiro was definitely a nice way to help him wake up. Regarding the question on how Miyu learned the three things idea, that will be addressed in a later chapter. Also, it wasn't a dream. In Greek Mythology, Myrmekes basically means 'giant ant'. The reason why Infearno handed World Gears back to Yuhiro was because he acknowledged his strength, and that he couldn't beat him. I wouldn't say their issues are resolved, as there's certainly some bad blood between them. However, the two of them are on slightly better terms with one another. Overall, very happy you enjoyed the chapter.

Guest: Unfortunately, since Miyu's been in a coma for eight years, she'll have to do physiotherapy to regain the ability to walk. As for your other question, you'll just have to read on and see.

Anonymous: You'll just have to read the chapter to find out the answer to your question.

Noobmaster: Yusaku wouldn't rob someone's house just for info. Regarding your question on Infearno, I think he took another step closer in obtaining his answer. The other part to your question will be answered later on. And yes, the Hanoi were all on Ryoken's boat. As for the cards, yes. I can confirm their data's restored and have been returned to their respective owners. Lastly, Ai left in a hurry. He didn't have the chance to either say goodbye to Herald or invite him to come along.

Gundam 09: Glad you enjoyed the Ansem, Seeker of Darkness scene.

Ambiguous: Roxy is Miyu's mother's younger sister. If I recall, she's older than Kusanagi by a couple of years. Probably in the very early 30's. Also, I meant Café Nagi, not Café Junpei. Sorry for misleading you there. As for your comment on Chapter 43, expect a lot of info to appear.

Anonymous: I can tell you now: SOL Technologies (with persuasion from Akira) had pardoned Tsubaki for her crimes. However, just because you're pardoned doesn't mean you are free from the crimes you committed. You have to find a way to atone for what you done. And Tsubaki will have to find a way to do that.

ZarcEternal: Happy you enjoyed the duel. I can see why you find the backstory a common stereotype now. Thanks for explaining it to me. As for Revolver's reaction, I can imagine him being very angry for what Azrael did to the base.

Yuman28: First off, I just want to say thank you very much for enjoying the chapter. I'll do my best to put in some more sub lines into the story. In my opinion, there are times when Lightning's voice can be annoying, but it can be ominous as well. Regarding your comment on Miyu's appearance, why do you think Lightning was responsible for it? It just feels... odd. Infearno summoned his Fusion, Synchro, and Xyz monsters in order to defeat Raguel with their attack power. He had the card Absolute End in his deck because it was a final resort if anyone attacked him. Plus, he got a case of bad luck and drew it. As for the Rosetta and Raguel ship, that will be immediately dealt with in the coming chapters. Now onto your QOTC. I'll make sure Yuhiro gains another motivation to fight other than Miyu. As for your desire to see Yuhiro in a situation he can't overcome, you might just get your wish. In addition, Yuhiro's Link Trigger ability will be addressed further in the story. Lastly, regarding your other suggestion, I'm going to warn you: Be very careful what you wish for. It might just come true.

Kingdom Hearts Guy: The Hanoi are indeed finished... for now. Duh Duh Duh.

Revolver: Happy you enjoyed the ending.

E.T. 2000: Glad you enjoyed the Season 1 finale. Good point you bring up as well. Miyu does have the mentality of a little girl right now, but she'll mature to her age soon. As for your suggestions, I like them. I'll start bolding new cards, as well as ensure Yuhiro doesn't get too OP in the coming duels (you weren't the only one to suggest this, so don't worry).

Unnamed: Interesting points you point out there.

Unknown: Project: VIII consisted of two parts. The two Lost Incidents, with the first one being shut down and the second one launched by Dr. Kogami, and Project: Apotheosis. The point of Project: VIII was to reach the Root of all knowledge and obtain salvation for humanity. Yes, the first project did fail to create the Ignis. As for your suggestion on a Divine Ignis, that won't be happening, but a Divine Cyberse archetype? That is definitely food for thought.

Portal: Don't worry. There's always next time.

Donjusticia: If it weren't for Ant-Thony, then Raguel and Herald would have had a harder time against Infearno. If you watched Fate/Zero, know I got big things planned for Percival and Demeter. As for Lightning and Wraith's first interaction... well, you'll just have to read this coming chapter.

Guest: My best guess on how Kitamura was able to get a hand on it was either by purchasing a sample through illegal methods, or he hired someone to make a deadly variant of the Another Virus.

Edgar: Happy you enjoyed Progleo and Mrymekes' appearances (go Ant-thony!). As for Lightning vs Raguel, hmmm...

Guest: Dark Angel is pretty much gone because Ai ate it. Hope that clears things up for you.

Guest: You'll just have to read on to find out.

Guest: You could say the Spatial Cube is like an ancient treasure in the Cyberse World. And yes, something did happen to him that made him weaker than he already is. Also, at the time, Yuhiro was in no position to demand questions about his past.

And with that, it's time to move on to the chapter. I sure hope you enjoy it below!

Chapter 39: Threat in the Shadows

(This is the opening. If you have suggestions, don't hesitate to send me a PM or input it in your review.)

The sky appears, full of clouds. Playmaker races through the clouds on his duel board, followed by Raguel, Soulburner, and then a male individual wearing a black outfit with green accents and a gold, bird-like mask over his eyes. The individual had dark green hair, which was spiked upwards before a medium sized portion of it went over the right side of his mask. Two swords then slice the clouds completely to reveal NEW LINK VRAINS. One of the swords, a katana with symbols inscribed on the blade, crosses downwards to the left. Crossing downwards to the right was a typical western sword, with a golden rain-guard and a blue grip. The sword also had symbols inscribed on the blade as well. The two swords made a shining X, causing the Yu-Gi-Oh VRAINS! logo to appear, and underneath it, the words "OBSCURED TRUTH" ominously appear.

Yuhiro and Yusaku are walking down the street to school. Naoki runs past them, a large smile on his face. Aoi walks past them on the other side, smiling lightly and blushing at Yusaku. Then Takeru walks up behind them and wraps one arm around Yusaku. He then wraps the other arm around Yuhiro, surprising him for a few moments before being pulled to the side by Rachel, who's clearly happy to see him. Yuhiro smiles back at her.

Tsubaki and Hideki are shown boarding an airplane as they head to their destination. After sitting down next to each other in their respective seats, Tsubaki looks out in the window, which shows a reflection of Rosetta, while Hideki picks up the airplane guide and reads it. In the sky above them is Ace, a malicious sneer on his face.

Go Onizuka is shown wearing a hoodie as he leaves the waterfront for the last time. Outside of his home, he encounters Kenmochi and Yoroizaka, who are waiting for him. Smirking, the three of them raise their left arms into the air and enter NEW LINK VRAINS, with Go in his new avatar riding beside his new allies. Stregone crosses his arms as he looks down at them, a look of shock and disappointment on his face.

Kusanagi is then shown with Roxy at a nearby picnic table, both enjoying food and laughter while talking about technology. Flame and Ai are shown arguing in Café Nagi, while Herald ends up getting annoyed with their bickering. As a result, he snaps his fingers, causing Progleo to jump onto the desk and startle Ai and Flame.

At SOL Technologies, Akira Zaizen and Hayami are shown in Queen's office, with Queen handing them a signed order regarding Playmaker and Raguel. A look of hesitation appears on Akira's face, but he hides it just in time.

Azrael and Wraith are then shown with Ace and Athaliah standing behind them, shrouded in shadow along with their ace monsters Zerrziel, Ruler of the Evil Eyed and El Shaddoll Construct. Standing behind Azrael and Wraith though, is a black, bipedal dragon with red sclera, white irises, and black pupils obscured in shadow. The dragon roars before disappearing with Zerrziel and El Shaddoll Construct. Jumping above Azrael and Wraith is a short creature with deep purple skin, red sclera, white irises, and pointed tentacles sprouting above his head. The creature wore black baggy pants with a golden horned buckle. Sporting a demonic expression, the creature extends its right arm forward towards the screen, darkening it completely.

When the screen becomes clear, Playmaker and Raguel are shown riding their duel boards next to each other, with Cyberse Witch and Cyberse Magician in front of Playmaker, and Cyreath Hercules and Cyreath Medusa in front of Raguel. The two are chased by Blood Shepherd, who directs two copies of Battledrone Sergeant to fire at them. Although the two of them are hit by the explosions the missiles caused, they escape unharmed. Suddenly, a young man wearing an elaborate purplish coat with black inner lining and cuffs intricately decorated by red-coloured motifs, as well as grey shirt with crimson leather pants orders a red-eyed dragon with black skin to fire at them. In response, Playmaker and Raguel are shown swerving left and right to avoid the consecutive blasts. Joining the young man in the hunt is another man, with red hair spiked backwards and dark purple eyes, as well as wearing a stylish white coat with yellow lines and a black shirt underneath it. Draped around his lower body is a white waist cape with yellow lines as well. The man orders a male, humanoid monster wearing several components of futuristic armor pieces to attack Playmaker, but Raguel turns his duel board around and activates a card, causing Hercules to glow a bright light before transforming into a colossal, statue-like man with long, shaggy black hair and elbow protrusions. His eyes glowing red, Hercules charged forward with his axe sword and clashed with the male humanoid.

The screen then shifts to the male individual from the opening's beginning watching the duel between Playmaker and an obscured Bohman, while Raguel duels the spiked red-haired man with a white coat and a white waist cape. Noticing Haru, who's also watching the duel between Playmaker and an obscured Bohman, the individual takes a card and summons a white and black dragon covered in white, blue, and black armor, who roared at the boy. The dragon had neon green crystals attached to her body, which acted like wings that shone with bright light. Haru, in response, takes a card and summons a large, thick green snake with the Hydradrive sigil wrapped around her neck, hissing at the dragon in the process.

Blue Angel and Rosetta are shown in NEW LINK VRAINS at a picnic table, laughing and enjoying each other's company. The two of them then turn their heads towards the duels going on in the sky, a look of concern on each of their faces.

Watchman's group is then shown, with Percival standing slightly apart from them as he makes a fist with his left hand. Simorgh, Bird of Sovereignty and Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon appear before a massive, red-skinned demonic looking monster with golden elements, several eyeballs embedded on its body and four tentacles with bladed claws rises from behind them.

The Knights of Hanoi are shown summoning their monsters. Motor Worm Spread Queen, Helixx Necro Darwin, and Dark Mummy Surgical Forceps first appear before fading into the background. Next is Dark Magician, Berserker of the Tenyi, and Lucifer, Condemner of the Burning Abyss, with Sunavalon Dryanome behind them. Borreload Savage Dragon then rises from behind the four monsters and roars loudly.

Akira is shown at Green Park with Emma, Gekiryushi, and Aoi, giving them details on finding the Ignis. Emma proceeds to make a flirtatious gesture at Akira, making Gekiryushi facepalm and comment on how flirting can be useful at a time like this. The two women then begin to argue, with Akira and Aoi trying to break up the argument.

Yuhiro and Progleo are shown with Miyu at the Den City Hospital, trying to help her walk. Miyu, who's using the parallel bars, ends up slipping, only for Yuhiro to immediately catch her from behind and help her stand up. Roxy then runs out of nowhere and starts pummeling Yuhiro, causing Miyu to almost fall backwards again to their shock. Catching her this time though is Medusa, who appears behind her and smiles, much to everyone's relief. Miyu smiles back, grateful for Medusa's help. The screen then flips around before showing Yuhiro on his knees, clasping an unconscious Miyu's hand in sadness and rage.

Cyreaths Hercules, Medusa, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus are then shown in the air, with Turboblaze Dragon racing past them. The five of them prepare to attack alongside Turboblaze Dragon, who unleashes his Desolation Flare attack as well.

Raguel and Herald are then shown on top of a tower, facing off against Azrael and Wraith in a duel. Behind Raguel and Herald is Turboblaze Dragon, while behind Azrael and Wraith is the black, bipedal dragon from earlier in the opening. Both dragons roar at each other. Raguel reeves up his sword, while Azrael unsheathes his katana before the two of them and their dragons charge at each other.

Yuhiro, Roxy, Miyu, Kusanagi, Takeru, and Yusaku are all shown sitting outdoors at a picnic table near the Den City Hospital, all of them eating hot dogs, and Takeru, Kusanagi, and Roxy are laughing. Three duel disks are shown on the table, with Flame lecturing Ai while Herald plays a game on Yuhiro's tablet.

Yuhiro, Roxy, and Miyu are sitting down on a bench outside the Den City Hospital, with Medusa standing nearby them and Progleo on Roxy's lap. Miyu proceeds to rest her head on Yuhiro's shoulder, causing him to blush as she smiles. Yuhiro smiles back at her, while Roxy and Medusa both smile at them, happy they're able to find happiness with each other. The scene then switches to NEW LINK VRAINS, with Raguel, Playmaker, and Soulburner standing on a building and looking out into the radiant sky.

In LINK VRAINS, at an unknown location...

A portal appeared out of nowhere, and stepping out of it was Azrael and Wraith. As they looked around the new location they were in, the portal behind them closed.

"A desolate location..." Azrael muttered, observing the terrain. The land was practically nothing but ground. In addition, there wasn't much wildlife in the area as well.

"Which makes it a perfect hiding spot." Wraith deduced, also looking around the area. Suddenly, he noticed something. "And here's the only building in this area as well!"

Azrael turned his head to look at what Wraith was looking at. It was a large brown palace, which had a castle-like structure and lights at the towers. He then started walking towards it.

"Whoever this Ignis is, it'll be interesting to meet him or her."

Wraith nodded in response to Azrael's comment. "It'll be good to see them again after spending so many years away from the Cyberse World."

"Let's get their attention then." Azrael decided, as he slid back and quickly unsheathed and sheathed his katana, causing a black and blue distortion ripple to appear before a series of slashes in different directions cut the door down. He then ran inside, intent on meeting whichever Ignis was inside. Soon, an alarm began to ring in the palace.

"One question." Wraith said. "Why didn't you let me get their attention? If you had, we wouldn't have triggered the security systems!"

"It's to see how strong this Ignis is against a human like me." Azrael answered, as he kept running. "I want to assess their strengths and weaknesses directly."

"Halt right there!"

Two tall and thin men, one colored blue and the other red, each with their eyes covered, ran at Azrael, intending on stopping him. Both of them fired Duel Anchors at him, but Azrael teleported at the blue, tall and thin man before unsheathing his katana and slicing his head off. He proceeded to immediately stab the red, tall and thin man before slicing upwards and sheathing his katana, killing him as well.

"Judging by their appearances, they weren't human." Azrael noted, as he continued running.

"They were more AI than they were human." Wraith pointed out. "Whoever this Ignis is, they're quite capable of making AI's." The next thing they knew, more blue and red, tall and thin men appeared in front of them. In response, Azrael slid back and quickly unsheathed and sheathed his katana several times, causing three black and blue distortion ripples to envelop the group of AI's before a series of slashes in different directions cut them all down. "You know, it would benefit us if we had an AI assisting us."

"Are you saying you can make an AI?" Azrael asked curiously, as he continued running down the hallway.

"Yes." Wraith answered. "But to do it, I'll need a few things. A base, some data material, and... something else. Which means if you keep slicing and dicing these AI's, I can't get that blueprint." Suddenly, out of nowhere, two Duel Anchors shot out from both sides of Azrael and wrapped themselves around his right wrist before disappearing. "And it looks like a golden opportunity fell before us."

"We knew we'd snare him in eventually," the red, tall and thin man said, as he walked out of the shadows from Azrael's right side. "Right, Boot?"

"Correct, Bit," the blue, tall and thin man replied, as he walked out of the shadows from Azrael's left side. "You know what you got yourself into, right?"

"The both of you just used Duel Anchors." Azrael deduced, as Bit and Boot approached the middle of the room and stood in his way. "Until I beat you both in a duel, I'm not allowed to proceed. If you like..." A smirk appeared on his face. "I can duel you both at once."

"It looks like we got a funny human in front of us." Bit observed, emphasizing the word 'human'.

"One that wants to get crushed." Boot added. "We AI's won't fall for your tricks, funny man." He turned to Bit. "Shall we initiate the combinatrix sequence?"

"Yes." Bit confirmed, as his right side turned into red data while Boot's left side turned into green data. The two AI's then overlapped with one another, connected by squares of red and green data. Once the process was done, the newly formed AI looked just like Bit and Boot. The right side of the body represented Boot, while the left side of the body represented Bit. They also had a black tie. "Together, we are Bitboot!"

"Huh. An AI that can merge together..." Azrael muttered, a hand on his chin. "Will this do, Wraith?"

"Maybe." Wraith replied. "It depends on how good of a duelist this AI is."

"Then it's a good way there's a method to find out." Azrael agreed, as he activated his Duel disk. It emitted a black blade with several blue demonic crests on it.

"Once we defeat you, we'll ensure your carcass is expunged from this place!" Bitboot declared, as they activated their own Duel disk.

"Duel!" Azrael and Bitboot said at the same time.

Azrael: 4000 LP

Bitboot: 4000 LP

"We'll go first!" Bitboot said, immediately proceeding to look at their hand. They smirked, having got an excellent set of cards to ward off this intruder in front of them. "We'll start by activating two copies of the Spell card D-Scale Salvage from our hand!" Both of the cards showed a fisherman successfully catching D-Scale Saber Sardine using his fishing rod. "When this card is activated, it allows us to Special Summon one 'D-Scale' monster from our deck. However, we can't attack the turn we activate this card. But since it's our first turn, it doesn't really matter anyway. So using the two copies of D-Scale Salvage, we'll summon two copies of D-Scale Saber Sardine from our deck!" Bitboot took two cards from his deck and placed them on their Duel disk, resulting in two blue and grey mechanical fishes appearing all at once.

D-Scale Saber Sardine ATK: 600 DEF: 300 LV: 2

D-Scale Saber Sardine ATK: 600 DEF: 300 LV: 2

"We activate the effects of both of our Saber Sardines. By paying 500 life points each, we get to Special Summon one 'D-Scale' token to our field." As Bitboot's life points dropped, two small blue and green orbs appeared on their field in defense position.

Bitboot: 4000 – (500 X 2) = 3000 LP

D-Scale Token ATK: 100 DEF: 100 LV: 1

D-Scale Token ATK: 100 DEF: 100 LV: 1

"Appear, our circuit!" Bitboot declared. "The summoning conditions are two 'D-Scale' monsters. We set one of our D-Scale tokens and one of our Saber Sardines into the Link Markers!" Saber Sardine went into the left arrowhead and the D-Scale Token went into the bottom arrowhead, turning them red. "Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! D-Scale Battle Coela!" A large, purple mechanical fish with yellow eyes and green lines running over its body emerged from the Link Portal to the right Extra Monster Zone on Bitboot's field.

D-Scale Battle Coela ATK: 1800 LINK-2 ⬅️⬇️

"We activate the Equip Spell card, D-Scale Torpedo, and equip it onto Battle Coela!" A set of cannons soon attached themselves to Battle Coela's back. "Battle Coela's effect! Once per turn, we can move it to a Main Monster Zone it points to." The mechanical fish moved backwards, signifying it changed zones.

A monster that moves to the Main Monster Zone, Azrael thought. He had to admit, he was curious as to what this AI in front of him will do next.

As if to answer his curiosity, Bitboot raised their hand along with a card in their hand. "Three arrows, shine! Fire at the enemy who stands before us! We activate the Link Spell card, Judgment Arrows!"

"A Link Spell card?" Azrael and Wraith repeated, as Judgement Arrows appeared in the Spell & Trap card zone Battle Coela was pointing to.

Judgment Arrows ↖️⬆️↗️

"That's correct!" Bitboot confirmed. "When a Link monster Judgement Arrows points to battles, its attack points are doubled. However, should Judgment Arrows leave the field, all monsters it points to will be destroyed."

Or in other words, a double-edged sword, Azrael concluded in his mind, a frown on his face.

"Battle Coela's second effect! Once per turn, we can move this card to the Link Marker of a card linked to it. Therefore, Battle Coela moves to Judgment Arrows' far-right Link Marker." Battle Coela performed said action, moving further away from Bitboot.

"We also activate the effect of D-Scale Torpedo!" Bitboot added. "Once per turn, we can inflict 800 points of damage times the number of times the equipped monster moved this turn. Since Battle Coela moved twice, you take 1600 points of damage! Voyage to Hell!" Bitboot smirked as the cannons on Battle Coela's back opened and fired at Azrael and Wraith. However, they were not fazed by this.

"I activate the effect of Cychaic Sabine from my hand." Azrael calmly interrupted. "By sending this card from my hand to the Graveyard, any effect damage I would take this turn is reduced to zero."

"What?!" Bitboot gasped in shock as a woman wearing a blue roman dress and golden armlets suddenly appeared on Azrael's field. The woman's brunette hair was braided into a bun, with a golden accessory on top of it. The woman raised her hands in front of her, creating a barrier and repelling the cannon blasts.

"You'll have to try much harder to beat us!" Wraith taunted Bitboot, making the AI grit their teeth.

"We Set one card face-down and end our turn." Bitboot concluded, clearly annoyed with what happened.

"My turn! I draw!" Azrael said, drawing the top card of his deck. "I'll start by using the Scale 1 Cychaic Romulus and the Scale 8 Cychaic Remus to set the Pendulum Scale!"

"P-Pendulum?" Bitboot repeated in shock. This opponent they were facing was not ordinary at all. Soon, two pillars of light appeared on Azrael's field. In the pillar on the right was a bronze-skinned man with red eyes. He wore black roman armor covering his chest and back, with four black and bronze circles at the straps. He also wore black forearm guards on each of his arms. In addition, he wore sandals on his feet.

In the pillar on the left was a man with long, dark hair that went down to his neck and spread out to the sides of his head. Unlike Romulus, this man wore a blue, Roman tunic with a red sash around the waist. On each of his arms was a gold and red armlet.

Cychaic Romulus Scale: 1

Cychaic Remus Scale: 8

"I activate the effect of Romulus." Azrael continued. "Once per turn, if 'Cychaic Remus' is in my other Pendulum Zone, I can add one 'Cychaic' Spell or Trap card from my deck to my hand. In addition, I activate the effect of Remus. Once per turn, if 'Cychaic Romulus' is in my other Pendulum Zone, I can add one 'Cychaic' monster from my deck to my hand." Two cards popped out of his deck, which he added straight to his hand.

"Swing, Pendulum of dominance, and open the gates of absolute power! With the set Pendulum Scale, I can Special Summon monsters between Levels 2 and 7 at the same time! Be born, Cychaic Lemures, Cychaic Crocodile, and Cychaic Wolf!" Within moments, a portal opened between the two pillars, where three lights emerged. The lights hit the field and then dissipated, revealing three monsters.

The first monster was a skeletal specter wearing a long hood with chains dangling all over its body.

The second monster was a dark-green skinned crocodile with yellow eyes.

The third monster was a large, four-legged creature with black fur all over its body. It had a long bushy tail with a black tip.

Cychaic Lemures ATK: 1000 DEF: 1000 LV: 4

Cychaic Crocodile ATK: 800 DEF: 800 LV: 3

Cychaic Wolf ATK: 1500 DEF: 1500 LV: 4

"Crocodile's effect! Once per turn, when it's Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one 'Cychaic' card from my deck to my hand." A card then popped out of Azrael's deck, which he took and added to his hand.

"We don't know what you're doing, but we do know it's anything but good for us." Bitboot said. "Which is why we activate our Trap card, Link Evolution!" The card showed Security Dragon roaring as it evolved into Firewall Dragon. "By tributing one monster on our field, we can Link Summon one Link monster from our Extra Deck whose Link rating is higher than a Link monster we control by using monsters on our field. We first tribute the D-Scale token." The D-Scale token exploded into particles as Bitboot pointed their right hand to the sky. "Appear, our circuit!" A Link Portal appeared in the sky above Bitboot. "The summoning conditions are two or more 'D-Scale' monsters. We set D-Scale Battle Coela, which is a Link 2 monster, and our second D-Scale Saber Sardine into the Link Markers!" The second Saber Sardine went into the bottom arrowhead, while Battle Coela split into two tornadoes of energy and entered the left and right arrowheads.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! D-Scale Full Metal Dunkle!" A large, black metal fish with yellow jaws, fins, and missile launchers on its back appeared on Bitboot's field at Judgment Arrows' top-left marker.

D-Scale Full Metal Dunkle ATK: 2400 LINK-3 ⬅️⬇️➡️

"That AI believes a bigger fish will help him win..." Wraith muttered, a hand on his chin. "But I say the bigger they are, the harder they fall." Azrael smirked at Wraith's comment, which made Bitboot uneasy.

"Appear, the circuit of absolute power!" A Link Portal appeared above Azrael. "The summoning conditions are one 'Cychaic' monster. I'll set Cychaic Crocodile into the Link Markers!" Crocodile went into the top arrowhead, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cychaic Vulcan!" A dark-skinned man wearing a bronze-toga with a metal strap over his right shoulder jumped onto Azrael's field in the left Extra Monster Zone. The man's head consisted of red lines over his head and no pupils in his eyes, along with him sporting a blazing beard and a strand of blazing hair on top of his head. He had a grey and brown cloth around his waist with black buttons, which was hoisted up by a huge, grey belt. On his feet and arms were bronze shin guards. In his right hand, he carried a small smouldering hammer, which was connected to the chain his left hand grabbed onto.

Cychaic Vulcan ATK: 1000 LINK-1 ⬆️

"I activate the Spell card, Cychaic Reborn!" Azrael added. The card showed a blue Graveyard portal surrounded by blue-colored mirage blades. Emerging from the portal was a demonic crest, with two mirage blades making an X and a katana slashing it down the middle. "This card lets me target one 'Cychaic' monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it to my field. Be reborn, Crocodile!" At Azrael's command, Crocodile reappeared on his field.

Cychaic Crocodile ATK: 800 DEF: 800 LV: 3

"From there, I'll activate Lemures' effect! By destroying one card on my field, I can target one monster you control and move it to an unoccupied Main Monster Zone a 'Cychaic' Link monster points to. I'll destroy Crocodile to move Full Metal Dunkle to the Main Monster Zone Vulcan points to." Lemures fired ghostly lightning at Crocodile, turning it into particles before telepathically throwing them at Full Metal Dunkle, causing the giant fish to move one space to the Main Monster Zone Vulcan was pointing to.

"Crocodile's effect!" Azrael continued. "Since it was destroyed by a card effect, I can choose one 'Cychaic' card and place it on top of my deck." A card popped out of Azrael's deck, which he took and placed at the top before thrusting out his hand. "I'll also activate Vulcan's effect! Once per turn, if he's pointing to a monster you control, you take 500 points of damage."

"What?" Bitboot gasped in surprise, as Vulcan swung his chained hammer at the AI, pushing them back a few feet.

Bitboot: 3000 – 500 = 2500 LP

"Appear, the circuit of absolute power!" Azrael declared, as a Link Portal appeared above him. "The summoning conditions are three 'Cychaic' monsters. I'll set Cychaic Vulcan, which is a Link 1 monster, Cychaic Lemures, and Cychaic Wolf into the Link Markers!" Vulcan went into the top-left arrowhead, Lemures went into the top arrowhead, and Wolf went into the top-right arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! The strongest warrior will break his oppressor's yoke and lead the charge to freedom! Link 3! Cychaic Spartacus!" A massive, dark-grey skinned man with blond hair and covered in innumerable scars leapt out of the Link Portal and landed on Azrael's field in the left Extra Monster Zone. He wore a metal harness over his upper body, as well as metal underwear around his groin area. He also wore metal straps over his face, which didn't cover his eyes. In his right hand, he carried a roman sword. Upon looking at Bitboot, Spartacus gave them a wicked smile, showing teeth.

Cychaic Spartacus ATK: 2500 LINK-3 ↖️⬆️↗️

"Wolf's effect activates! Since it was used to Link Summon a 'Cychaic' Link monster, I can destroy one card on your field! And the card I destroy is Judgement Arrows!" A silhouette of Wolf appeared before running towards Judgement Arrows and tearing it to shreds.

"With Judgement Arrows gone, your Full Metal Dunkle goes bye-bye." Wraith reminded Bitboot, as Judgement Arrows fired three arrows at light in the Main Monster Zones it pointed to. However, one of the arrows bounced off Full Metal Dunkle, causing Wraith to raise an eyebrow. "I'm guessing your monster can't be destroyed by card effects?"

"Full Metal Dunkle can't be destroyed by battle or card effects once per turn!" Bitboot confirmed. "And when this effect is activated, we can move Full Metal Dunkle to a Main Monster Zone it points to. So we'll move it to the Main Monster Zone it points to on the left!" Full Metal Dunkle then shifted one Main Monster Zone to the left. "Unfortunately, since there's no other monster's in its column, we can't activate its other effect. But regardless, we'll survive this turn."

"I highly doubt that." Azrael coldly replied, making Bitboot shudder. "I activate Spartacus' effect! If a card you control is destroyed by a card effect, all monsters Spartacus is pointing to are destroyed, and then you take damage equal to the monster with the highest attack points that was destroyed by this effect! Unrelenting Destruction!"

"Oh, crap!" Bitboot panicked as Spartacus slashed Full Metal Dunkle with his roman sword, destroying the giant fish completely in a massive explosion.

Bitboot: 2500 – 2400 = 100 LP

"Battle!" Azrael declared. "Cychaic Spartacus attacks you directly! Crying Warmonger!"

"HAHAHA! REBELLION!" Spartacus cried out, as he charged energy in his mouth before firing a massive beam of energy straight at Bitboot, knocking them off their feet as they fell to the ground from the attack, their life points dropping to zero.

Bitboot: 100 – 2500 = 0

"These AI were a waste..." Azrael muttered, looking down at the damaged Bitboot. "Do you still want to scan them?"

"It's better to have something than nothing." Wraith replied, as his eyes emitted a ray of light at Bitboot, scanning him from top to bottom. "Come to think of it, there might be better AI's in this place than those stupid Bits and Boots."

"Let's hope so. Otherwise, whichever Ignis we're about to meet lacks imagination." Azrael replied, as he walked forward and away from the damaged Bitboot. As he continued to walk deeper into the palace, Azrael noticed a room with no door. The room was unlit, and at the center was a pit of slime.

"What do we have here?" Azrael muttered, as he entered the room. "Wraith, do you detect any lifeforms in this pit of slime?" Wraith's eyes glowed as his eyes emitted a ray of light at the pit, scanning it from top to bottom.

"Yes, there appears to be a-." Wraith began, but he suddenly heard a sound. "Look out!" As if on cue, three arrows of light fired from both directions, causing Azrael to perform a backwards somersault and quickly unsheathe and sheath his katana, causing two black and blue ripples to envelop the arrows. Within moments, a series of slashes destroyed the arrows in multiple directions. The next thing Azrael and Wraith knew, the room was closed before dimmed lights lit up the room.

"I don't know what you're doing here," a voice said, getting their attention, "but you aren't welcome here." Emerging from the shadows in front of Azrael and Wraith was a young boy with blond hair and orange and red highlights. He wore a blue long-sleeved shirt with a red tie and a white blazer with yellow accents. On the blazer's collar was a large red star with a tie that went downwards. In addition, the boy wore orange pants with yellow and blue accents, a pink belt with silver and blue details, and yellow-white shoes with pink trim and stars.

"Unless you want to end up like that Bitboot loser, get lost, boy!" Wraith ordered, pointing at the boy.

"You have an Ignis?" the boy said in surprise. "And Bitboot lost?"

"You're correct regarding both questions." Azrael answered. "Judging by your appearance, you seem to be a human. Yet at the same time... you're not."

The boy narrowed his eyes. "First off, my name's Haru. Second, while I may look like a human, I'm anything but one."

"I see." Azrael readied his duel disk. "Then perhaps you're willing to tell me what's in this pit of slime? Unless you want to do this the hard way, that is."

Haru, anticipating Azrael's intentions, also readied his duel disk. "I don't know what you plan on doing, but there's no way I'll let you hurt my brother, Bohman. Nor will I let you take him from me."

"Bohman." Azrael repeated. From what Haru said, this Bohman must mean a great deal to him. Which would make him the perfect specimen for their AI servant. "Very well then. Show me your motivation."

"Duel!" Azrael and Haru said at the same time.

Azrael: 4000 LP

Haru: 4000 LP

"I shall go first." Azrael declared, looking at his hand. "I Special Summon Cychaic Genius Loci from my hand." A small stone pillar with a bowl on it appeared on Azrael's field. Wrapped around the pillar was a snake.

Cychaic Genius Loci ATK: 100 DEF: 100 LV: 1

"I can Special Summon this card from my hand if I control no 'Cychaic' monsters." Azrael explained. "In addition, I also summon Cychaic Crocodile from my hand." A dark-green skinned crocodile with yellow eyes appeared on Azrael's field.

Cychaic Crocodile ATK: 800 DEF: 800 LV: 3

"Crocodile's effect! Once per turn, when it's Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one 'Cychaic' card from my deck to my hand." Azrael added, as a card then popped out of his deck, which he took and added to his hand.

"Appear, the circuit of absolute power!" Azrael declared, as a Link Portal soon appeared above him. "The summoning conditions are two 'Cychaic' monsters. I'll set Cychaic Genius Loci and Cychaic Crocodile into the Link Markers!" Crocodile went into the top arrowhead while Genius Loci went into the bottom arrowhead, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cychaic Leonidas!" A male warrior wearing a golden spartan helmet and a long red cape leapt onto Azrael's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. He wore golden shin guards on his forearms and lower legs, along with golden boots. Red lines were artistically drawn all over his body. In his right hand, he carried a spear, while a golden large shield was strapped on his left forearm.

Cychaic Leonidas ATK: 2000 LINK-2 ⬆️⬇️

"I Set one card face-down and end my turn." Azrael concluded. "Try not to bore me in this duel."

"My turn! I draw!" Haru said, drawing the top card of his deck. "I Special Summon Hydradrive Booster from my hand." A mechanical monster that resembled a gold and silver dragonfly appeared on Haru's field.

Hydradrive Booster ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1

"I can Special Summon this card when neither of us have any monsters in our Main Monster Zones." Haru explained, before pointing his right hand high above his head. "Appear, my circuit!" A Link Portal soon appeared above Haru. "The summoning conditions are one 'Hydradrive' monster. I'll set Hydradrive Booster into the Link Markers!" Hydradrive Booster went into the bottom arrowhead, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Flow Hydradrive!" A bipedal green and dark blue dragon emerged from the portal and landed on Haru's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. Its face had a green visor on it, while at the center of its body was the Hydradrive sigil.

Flow Hydradrive ATK: 1000 LINK-1 ⬇️

"I activate the Spell card, Hydradrive Rebuild! This card lets me target and destroy a 'Hydradrive' monster on my field. I target and destroy Flow Hydradrive!" Flow Hydradrive exploded into particles.

"He destroyed his own monster?" Wraith asked in confusion. "Must be a part of his strategy." Azrael couldn't help but narrow his eyes behind his mask.

"It is, Ignis." Haru confirmed. "Because when Flow Hydradrive is destroyed, I can Special Summon one 'Hydradrive' token to my field." A small mechanical bug with the Hydradrive sigil appeared on Haru's field in defense position.

Hydradrive Token ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1

"Hydradrive Rebuild's second effect! If the 'Hydradrive' monster destroyed by this effect activates its own effect in the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one 'Hydradrive' monster from my Graveyard. However, it can't attack, its effects are negated, and is destroyed at my End Phase. Return to the field, Flow Hydradrive!" At Haru's command, Flow Hydradrive reappeared on his field in the middle Main Monster Zone.

Flow Hydradrive ATK: 1000 LINK-1 ⬇️

Upon seeing the Spell & Trap card zone that Flow Hydradrive was pointing to, something clicked in Azrael's mind. "I see," he said. "You have Judgment Arrows in your hand to use, correct?" Haru gasped.

"How... How do you know about that?"

"The AI known as Bitboot also had that same card." Azrael answered. "While the both of you aim on finishing the opponent off with raw power, there are some differences. For instance, Bitboot has monsters that move to the Main Monster Zone, as well as a card that inflicts effect damage. You, on the other hand, have Link monsters with different attributes. While I may not know the full extent of your Hydradrive deck, I do know you intend on using your monster's effects to ensure you can finish the opponent off with a strong attack. In a way, we're similar."

Haru grit his teeth. "Similar? Similar?" he repeated. "I doubt that. And what's more, I'll make you regret that confidence of yours." He thrusted his hand upwards. "Appear, for a second time, my circuit!" A Link Portal soon appeared above Haru. "The summoning conditions are one 'Hydradrive' monster. I'll set the Hydradrive token into the Link Markers!" The Hydradrive token went into the bottom arrowhead, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Burn Hydradrive!" A red and orange segmented mechanical dragon emerged from the portal and appeared on Haru's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. Like Flow Hydradrive, it had a visor on its face, as well as a Hydradrive sigil on its chest.

Burn Hydradrive ATK: 1000 LINK-1 ⬇️

"I'll now activate the card you mentioned." Haru added. "The Link Spell card: Judgment Arrows!" The Spell card appeared in the middle Spell & Trap card zone and glowed at Flow Hydradrive's Link Marker.

Judgment Arrows ↖️⬆️↗️

"Appear, for a third time, my circuit!" A third Link Portal appeared above Haru. "The summoning conditions are two 'Hydradrive' Link monsters! I'll set Flow Hydradrive and Burn Hydradrive, which are both Link 1 monsters, into the Link Markers!" Flow Hydradrive went into the top arrowhead, while Burn Hydradrive went into the bottom arrowhead, resulting in both arrows turning red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Hydradrive Nagini!" A large, thick green snake with the Hydradrive sigil wrapped around her neck slithered to Haru's field at Judgment Arrows' top-right marker.

Hydradrive Nagini ATK: 2000 LINK-2 ⬆️⬇️

"Nagini's effect! When she's Link Summoned, her attributes become the same as her Link Materials, in addition to Earth." Haru continued. "So her attributes become Fire and Wind along with Earth." Soon, Nagini's skin briefly glowed red and green.

"A Link monster that wields multiple attributes..." Wraith muttered, before turning to Azrael. "What are your thoughts on this?"

"Perhaps that's the purpose of his deck." Azrael responded. "The more attributes you wield, the more terrain the wielder can control over their opponent." This boy is interesting, he thought to himself. Let's see what else he can do.

"Battle!" Haru declared. "Hydradrive Nagini attacks Cychaic Leonidas! And when a Link monster Judgment Arrows points to battles, its attack points are doubled!" Azrael and Wraith were unfazed by this as Nagini was surrounded by a golden aura, which powered her up.

Hydradrive Nagini ATK: 2000 X 2 = 4000

"In addition, I activate Nagini's second effect! If she battles a monster whose attribute is the same as hers, your monster loses 1000 attack points until the End Phase! And last I checked, Leonidas' attribute is Earth, which means he loses 1000 attack points! Venom Shot!" Nagini fired a burst of venom at Leonidas, who blocked it using his shield. However, the venom caused the shield to erode in the process.

Cychaic Leonidas ATK: 2000 – 1000 = 1000

"Venom Lash!" Nagini lashed forward at Leonidas and constricted him before biting his neck, causing an explosion. Haru smirked upon seeing this. "How's that? With your Leonidas gone, your life points are in the red zone!"

"Are you sure about that?" Azrael asked, causing Haru to gasp. When the smoke cleared, it revealed a yellow and white-skinned lion with golden armor all over its body, as well as a bushy mane on Azrael's field. In addition, Leonidas was still there as well!

Cychaic Leo ATK: 2500 DEF: 1000 LV: 6

"How did you survive?" Haru demanded. "And how the hell did you bring out that monster on my turn?!"

"Simple. When you attacked, I activated the Trap card, Cychaic Change." Azrael responded, showing an activated card in his Spell & Trap card zone. The card showed Crocodile's body withering away into particles, which went upwards and formed a portal with a demonic crest on it. Jumping out of the portal was Leo. "When you target a 'Cychaic' monster I control for an attack, I'm allowed to Special Summon one Level 8 or lower 'Cychaic' monster from my hand, and by doing so, I can reduce the damage I would have taken by 500 times its level."

"Normally, we would have taken 3000 points of damage." Wraith said. "But Leo's level is six, which reduces the damage by 3000 and all the way to zero. Not only that, Leonidas cannot be destroyed in battle once per turn as well."

"Damn it..." Haru muttered. "I Set one card face-down and end my turn, which means both Nagini and Leonidas' attack points return to normal."

Hydradrive Nagini ATK: 4000 / 2 = 2000

Cychaic Leonidas ATK: 1000 X 2 = 2000

The card I set is Hydradrive Retaliation, Haru thought. The card showed Trident Hydradrive Lord rising from a portal and stabbing Decode Talker to avenge Twin Hydradrive Knight's death. If a 'Hydradrive' Link monster is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can Special Summon that monster to my field and inflict damage equal to its attack points. So even if Nagini is destroyed, I'll be able to bring her back and inflict some damage, as well as protect my life points in the process. Which will buy me a turn to set up a counterattack!

"My turn! I draw!" Azrael said, drawing the top card of his deck before turning his gaze to Haru and frowning at the boy. "How disappointing. I expected more from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Haru demanded. "You talk like you're gonna end the duel on this turn. Are you that arrogant or something?"

"On the contrary, I'm confident I will defeat you this turn." Azrael coldly replied, causing Haru to widen his eyes. "That's because I'm self-assured in my abilities to complete my goal, no matter the cost. As for you, know this: Unlike the AI I dueled earlier, I see potential for you to grow."

Haru opened his mouth, but then closed it, uncertain of what to say next. This man sees potential in me, he thought. Why is that? Is it because of how I can contribute to the overall cause? Or is it because of something else?

"Enough talk. It's time to end this farce!" Azrael stated. "I activate the Spell card, Cychaic Judgment Cut!" The card showed Azrael sliding back away from the enemy in front of him and slashing so quickly that he appeared to be unsheathing and sheathing his katana. As a result, a black and blue distortion ripple enveloped the enemy and severely killed them in a series of slashes. "When this card is activated, I can target one 'Cychaic' Link monster I control and destroy cards on your field equal to that monster's Link rating. Since Leonidas has a Link rating of two, I can destroy two cards on your field. And the cards I choose to destroy are Judgment Arrows and your face-down card!"

"What?!" Haru gasped in shock as Azrael slid back before quickly unsheathing and sheathing his katana twice, resulting in two black and blue distortion ripples to envelop Judgment Arrows and Haru's face-down card. Within moments, a series of slashes went through the ripples and destroyed the cards.

"With Judgment Arrows gone, your monster is destroyed!" Wraith added, as Judgement Arrows fired three arrows at light in the Main Monster Zones it pointed to. One of the arrows of light pierced Nagini, turning her into particles in the process.

"This isn't good..." Haru panicked. With Hydradrive Retaliation gone, he couldn't bring Nagini back. And without her, he was as good as finished.

"Battle!" Azrael declared. "Cychaic Leo attacks you directly!" Leo ran forward and slashed Haru with its claws, causing the boy to take two steps back as his life points dropped.

Haru: 4000 – 2500 = 1500 LP

"Cychaic Leonidas attacks you directly as well! Spartan Charge!" Leonidas held his spear and shield in front of him before charging at Haru, hitting the boy with a combined impact of both spear and shield. As a result, Haru was sent flying several feet before he landed on the ground, his life points dropping to zero in the process.

Haru: 1500 – 2000 = 0

"At the level of strength you displayed, you won't be able to protect your brother." Azrael admonished Haru, as he walked over to the fallen boy, making him grit his teeth in anger. Wraith's eyes glowed as he scanned Haru from top to bottom.

"I'm not done with you yet." Haru said, slowly standing up. But before he could do a thing, blue-mirage blades fell downwards and surrounded the boy, trapping him in a process.

"I think you are." Wraith countered, as Azrael went over to the pit of slime where Bohman was.

"STOP!" a voice boomed, getting everyone's attention. "Apologies for the reception, my friend, but desperate times call for desperate measures, yes?" Soon, a yellow portal opened up on the other side of the room. "As the host of this palace, I invite you to my throne room for a chat."

"That must be the Ignis." Azrael whispered. "Can you confirm, Wraith?"

"It is indeed an Ignis." Wraith whispered back. "I guess the commotion got his or her attention in the end." Azrael then started walking towards the portal, curiosity getting the better of him.

"A wise choice, my friend," the voice said. "But would you do me a favor and release Haru? He was under orders to protect Bohman. And in the battle to come, I can't afford losing my AI's." Azrael then snapped his fingers, causing the blue-mirage blades to disappear around Haru. "Thank you. Now follow our guest to the throne room, Haru."

"As you wish." Haru complied, as he staggered behind Azrael, the two of them entering the portal along with Wraith. Once all three individuals entered the portal, it closed behind them.

When Azrael entered the throne room, he looked around. It was a massive and circular room, surrounded with diamond walls. Four golden pillars evenly supported the room on all sides. At the middle of the room was a throne, and sitting on it was a male, tall person covered in black and with a holy light surrounding him. As if knowing what to do, Haru crouched on one knee in front of the person. Azrael, on the other hand, didn't.

"Welcome, my friend," the person greeted Azrael. "When I heard the alarm flare out in my palace, I thought you were another human who stumbled in the wrong place at the wrong time. But you displayed unusual abilities for a human, especially in your duels against Bitboot and Haru. Which raises a question: Just who or what are you, exactly?"

"This is Azrael, who believe it or not is a human." Wraith said. "It's been a while, hasn't it, Light Ignis?" Haru and the person gasped upon hearing Wraith say that. Soon, Wraith's eyes glowed, which broke the person's body apart before forcing him to reveal his true form. It was a small, digital humanoid being, with neon green eyes and a yellow body. His body had a light lemon yellow with dandelion yellow diamond markings at different spots. He also had an oval-shaped head with two strands pointing in opposite directions.

"I must admit, your ability to break things down completely hasn't lost its touch," the Light Ignis said, impressed. "It's been a long time since I saw you." He turned to Haru. "Why didn't you inform me about this?"

"It's because I was dueling this guy to protect Bohman!" Haru answered. "Didn't you assign me to-?"

"Yes, yes. I did." The Light Ignis sighed. "But it seems you need to get stronger." He then turned to Azrael and Wraith. "As for the both of you, congratulations on your victories. Although I do wonder two things, Black Ignis: Do you have a name, and have you controlled your partner?"

"His name's Wraith." Azrael answered. "And no, he's not controlling me. Nor am I controlling him. You could say that we-."

"Have a bond," the Light Ignis finished, his eyes narrowed sharply in anger. "I truly do apologize for this, Wraith. But if you refuse to control your human partner, then you leave me no choice." Soon, the Light Ignis leapt into the air and released a burst of power from his hand, pushing Azrael back and trapping him in a blue sphere. "I'll eliminate your human partner and free you from this connection you have with him, Wraith."

"Take that, intruder!" Haru said, a big smirk on his face.

Wraith sighed and put a hand on his face. "Oh, Light Ignis," he said. "You shouldn't have done that."

"What do you-?" the Light Ignis was about to question, before a bright light burst out of the blue sphere and caused it to explode into several pieces, shocking both the Light Ignis and Haru. Emerging out of the sphere was a blue-humanoid creature with fangs that showed, as well as demonic feet. Black imprints were on his overcoat and the coat tails separated into four. His swept-back hair changed to a crest with a fin shape at the top, and his neck gained a membrane that curved inwards. The sheath he carried turned into a clawed appendage that attached to his left sleeve, which housed his katana in it. A bright blue aura surrounded Azrael as he glared at the Light Ignis.

"Do you really think that will contain a being like me?" Azrael asked in a demonic voice, surprising the Light Ignis. Four blue-mirage blades appeared on Azrael's left and right sides before he fired them at the Light Ignis, causing him to easily dodge them one by one. However, one of them managed to nick the Light Ignis in the process.

"Gotcha!" Azrael teleported to where the Light Ignis was and slammed him to the wall, surprising him in the process.

"Hold on!" Haru said, standing up and generating energy in his hands, but before he could do a thing, blue-mirage blades rained down from above and trapped him. "Oh, come on! Not this again!"

"You may be the fastest Ignis in the Cyberse World," Wraith said, "but I'm the Ignis that excelled in teleportation. You were hit by one of my mirage blades, which means no matter where you go or how fast you run, I, or should I say we, can find you." The Light Ignis's eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.

"I didn't expect a human to have this kind of power," the Light Ignis said, surprised by what just happened. "You've piqued my interest, Azrael. Let me go, and we'll work something out."

"Only if you promise not to erase my Origin." Wraith requested.

"Ah. I see." The Light Ignis nodded in understanding. "That's why you didn't want me to erase him. Very well, I'll grant that request."

"Good. Azrael, you can let the demon out now." Azrael sighed as he reverted back to his human form, releasing the Light Ignis in the process. He then snapped his fingers, causing the blue-mirage blades to disappear around Haru. Afterwards, he walked away from the Light Ignis, who followed after him.

"I must admit, I'm curious," the Light Ignis said. "Azrael, how does a human like you have that form of power?"

"I'm not one to spill my secrets," was all Azrael said in response.

"A clever answer, my friend," the Light Ignis replied. "After all, with humanity attacking us twice and the war against them to come, the less the enemy knows, the better."

"War against humanity? And the Cyberse World was attacked twice?" Wraith repeated, turning to the Light Ignis. "What do you mean? More importantly, what happened since we last saw each other?"

The Light Ignis sighed and turned to Wraith. "You see, Wraith. After the Knights of Hanoi attacked the Cyberse World and the Dark Ignis hid the Cyberse World, I thoroughly re-examined the defense program. But it didn't run."

"How come?"

"Because it was in scan mode," the Light Ignis put simply. "While you, the Dark Ignis, and the White Ignis were elsewhere, we had to hide in the network."

"Did the Knights of Hanoi know this weakness?" Azrael asked, getting the Light Ignis's attention.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not." The Light Ignis shrugged his shoulders. "Regardless, it shows that humanity views us as the enemy, and they will attack us at any given notice. As evident by this." The Light Ignis then formed a sphere of energy in his hand and released it in front of him, which formed into a screen.

The screen showed a large black thing with one red eye land in the Cyberse World and roar so loudly that it caused shockwaves. The creature had a ribcage on the outside of its stomach and yellow claws as well. It then fired a massive beam of energy at the landscape of the Cyberse World, scorching the land and causing burn marks on it, as well as destroying the infrastructure.

"No..." Wraith fell on his hands and knees, shock having overcome him. Tears started to come out of his eyes. "This can't be..."

"It's a shame really," the Light Ignis said. "In the midst of our discussions on whether we could coexist with humans, they decided to attack us."

"If I can be honest, I've grown to despise humanity." Azrael said, surprising the Light Ignis. "Wraith, if the Cyberse World was beautiful as you said it was, then it's something I want to see myself after we win this war. Even if I must fight for it in the process. After all, this is a golden opportunity I can't let pass."

Wraith stood up and wiped his eyes before turning to his partner. "Thank you, Azrael."

"You'd be willing to betray your kind?" the Light Ignis asked in curiosity. "I must say, you're full of surprises, my friend." He then pondered for a few moments before turning to Azrael. "If you wish to help your fellow Ignis and I in fighting for the Cyberse, I must know what you can bring to the table."

"This." Azrael pressed a few buttons on his duel disk, causing a blue sphere to appear before he tossed it to the Light Ignis, who caught it. "It's all the information we stole on the Hanoi. Assets, resources, strategies. It'll help you stay one step ahead of them."

"... I see." The Light Ignis opened the sphere before looking at it, his eyes widening before curving into a smile. "Now this is truly a wonderful gift."

"I can also give you the allegiance of two other humans whom I've had my eye on as well." Azrael offered. "Believe me when I say I can be very persuasive."

"We'll need about three days tops to find, free and coerce them." Wraith pointed out. However, the Light Ignis dismissed that point with a wave of his hand.

"Take the time you need, Wraith," the Light Ignis said. "After all, I have other matters to attend to, considering what you did to my AI's. You can both go now." Azrael then unsheathed his katana and sliced the air in two, creating a portal large enough to travel through. But before he could go, the Light Ignis spoke up. "What is it you want in exchange? I did say we'd work something out, after all."

Azrael turned his head to the Light Ignis. "Two things. As we both have common interests in this truce, you'll keep to your sphere of influence and I'll do the same. As for the other thing, you'll help me get into SOL Technologies' dark vault." He was about to head into the portal when the Light Ignis spoke up for a second time.

"And what is it you hope to find there?" the Light Ignis asked, causing Azrael to turn his head again.

"The information on Project: VIII." Azrael answered. "In other words, my birthright." He and Wraith then walked through the portal before it closed from behind them.

"I really don't like that guy." Haru stated. First, Azrael was an enemy, and now Haru was expected to ally with him? This was unexpected.

"I know how you feel Haru, but we need allies," the Light Ignis told Haru. "Besides, I trust Wraith. He and Azrael have come to aid us in our time of need. In the meanwhile, go wake Bohman up. It is time to teach him how to duel."

"Very well." Haru bowed in front of the Light Ignis before he walked out of the throne room.

Meanwhile, the Light Ignis raised his arms in front of him to create another tall person covered in black and with a holy light surrounding him. As good as it was to see you again, Wraith, he thought, I can't help but wonder if you changed or not. Only time will tell me whose side you're really on.

Three days later, at night, in Den City...

A young man with swept back white hair and wearing an azure overcoat over a jet-black suit was on top of a skyscraper overseeing the busy streets. Black X's with blue lines running in them were at the sleeves of the man's overcoat, as well as below the knee portion of the jet-black suit. Unlike in LINK VRAINS, he didn't wear a mask. Instead, his cyan-colored eyes surveyed the roads through his binoculars.

After doing research on Akihiko Akutagawa and Athaliah, he learned they were going to be transported tonight to Sincero Penitentiary, where they'd be held until their trials and sentencing. Which meant he only had tonight to bust them out of the transport.

"You're seeing this, right Wraith?" the young man asked Wraith, as he looked down the busy streets through his binoculars.

"Definitely, Yukage." Wraith confirmed. "Three tanks and a massive prison transport for criminals. With two of them being Akihiko and Athaliah." He turned to Yukage. "You sure you want to do this?"

"I'm a man of my word." Yukage answered, pulling out a white-sapphire pendent from his jet-black suit that was wrapped around his neck. He looked at it for a few seconds before tucking it back in. "And besides. It'll be good to stretch my abilities a bit."

"In that case, let the bloodbath begin." With the katana in his left hand, Yukage then leapt off the skyscraper, feeling the wind push up against him. He then landed with one knee on the ground, punching it in the process before following after the prison transport.

As soon as he began to run on the street and follow the prison transport, the turret on one of the tanks turned behind and shot a blast of cannon fire at Yukage, which he easily dodged. Yukage dodged the next two blasts of cannon fire before increasing his speed in a short burst, unsheathing his katana and slicing through the first tank, destroying it in the process before sheathing his katana.

He then skidded to avoid the next two blasts of cannon fire fired from the second tank before increasing his speed in a second short burst, causing him to run parallel with the prison transport. After skidding in front of the prison transport, Yukage jumped on top of it.

Behind the prison transport, the hatch on top of the turret opened up, revealing a man wearing military gear and carrying a subatomic machine gun. In front of the prison transport, the hatch on top of the turret, with several men in military gear and carrying subatomic machine guns to exit before climbing on top of the transport.

"Open fire!" one of the men shouted, as they released a bullet spray at Yukage in all different directions. In response, Yukage unsheathed his katana and spun it in front of him in various directions at superspeed, slicing each of the bullets into little pieces. Several blue-mirage blades then appeared behind him, which impaled the shooter in the tank behind him, as well as the tanks systems. As a result, the tank rolled down the street and was reduced to the status of a destroyed vehicle.

Yukage then sped towards the shooters in front of him, continuing to spin his katana in front of him. Multiple blue-mirage blades appeared in front of him, which went straight for each of the soldiers, killing them in the process and causing their bodies to fall off the truck.

Before Yukage could cut a hole in the prison transport using his katana, the tank in front of the transport fired several cannon blasts, causing him to avoid each one with ease. In response, blue-mirage blades rained down from above and pierced the tank, destroying it and causing the prison transport to swerve to avoid the destroyed vehicle. Yukage then jumped off the prison transport as the vehicle lost control and tumbled down the street.

Four men in military gear emerged out of the prison transport to defend it, aiming their subatomic machine guns at Yukage before firing at him. To their shock, Yukage dodged each bullet as he ran right towards them!

"Hit him! Hit him!" one of the men shouted.

"With what, insults?" one of the other men asked, before Yukage suddenly appeared and stabbed him using his katana. Before one of the other men could even react, Yukage teleported in front of him and slashed him upwards, flinging himself into the air in the process. Within mere moments, Yukage turned to the other two men and quickly unsheathed and sheathed his katana, causing a black and blue distortion ripple to envelop the men before a series of slashes proceeded to kill them.

Landing on the ground, Yukage was about to head towards the prison transport when he saw the driver record what happened. The driver, knowing he was spotted, began to run away from him.

"No witnesses, remember?" Wraith reminded Yukage. Knowing what needed to be done, a blue-mirage blade appeared beside him before hurling towards the driver's head, killing him in the process.

Yukage then headed towards the prison transport and slashed the doors on the back of the transport open using his katana, which revealed a captive Akihiko and Athaliah inside.

"The hell are you?" Akihiko demanded, as the restraints surrounding him and Athaliah suddenly released them, causing the both of them to land on their feet.

"I'll see the both of you in the network," was all Azrael replied with, as Wraith threw two balls of data at Akihiko and Athaliah, rendering the both of them unconscious.

"That was easier than I thought." Wraith commented. "Although we should take them before anyone notices."

"I know a place where they won't be found." Yukage assured him, going into the prison transport and picking up Akihiko and Athaliah's unconscious bodies. He then fled the scene and into the night, their bodies in tow.

In LINK VRAINS, on the streets in an unknown area...

When Ace's eyes opened, he realized he was in LINK VRAINS! But how did he get here? Oh yeah. He and Athaliah were being transported to Sincero Penitentiary, and the next thing they knew, they were broken out by someone. Which led to them appearing in the network.

"Are we... free?" Ace wondered, as he slowly got up on his feet. He then started laughing. Laughing at the fact that he, the great Ace, was freed by some miracle. Or was it fate that wanted him freed? He then heard Athaliah slowly wake up before getting up on her feet.

"It is good to be freed." Athaliah agreed, flexing her hands to make sure they were working.

"So the two of you are awake, now. Good." Azrael said, getting their attention as he leapt down from a nearby building and onto the ground in front of him.

"Hang on, you're the man who freed us!" Ace deduced. "If so, then I should sincerely thank you for-."

"On that, you're correct." Wraith confirmed, surprising Ace and Athaliah.

"You have an Ignis?" Athaliah demanded. That meant the person who freed them was... one of the eight children of the Lost Incident. But why would he do so? "Explain yourself!"

"Getting straight to the point? Very well." Azrael complied. "In the network, I'm known as Azrael, and I'm the one who freed the both of you in the real world. As such, you can repay my kind actions by pledging your services to me only." The only response Azrael got was from Ace, who laughed.

"Me? Serve you?" Ace repeated. "I don't think so. In the network, I'm known as the head of the Black Market's Alpha Branch. As such, I have the power to send powerful agents to hunt and destroy you!"

"Is that so?" Azrael questioned in a cold voice. "They seem confused, Wraith. You want to tell them?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" Wraith replied before turning to Ace and Athaliah. "We infected the both of you with the Another virus." Upon hearing this, Ace and Athaliah's eyes widened.

"How the hell did you get your hands on that virus?" Athaliah demanded. "I heard SOL Technologies destroyed all traces of it!"

"If you were thinking of curing yourselves with the vaccine SOL Technologies provided, it won't work." Azrael pointed out, as two blue data cards then formed in his hand. "These are the vaccines to the virus that Wraith altered. If you defeat me in a duel, not only will I give them to you, I'll also let you both go free."

Ace raised an eyebrow. "That's a generous offer," he said. "But what happens if we lose?"

"Simple. You serve Azrael and I." Wraith answered. "As well as our ally."

"Your partner?" Athaliah repeated. While she was curious as to who Azrael's mysterious ally was, that was something she and Ace would have to figure out later. Right now, the priority was getting that vaccine and ensuring their freedom. "It looks like this pest needs to be taught a lesson." Athaliah activated her Duel disk.

"As much as I'm grateful for freeing us, you need to know your place, Azrael." Ace agreed, also readying his Duel disk. "For no one tells Ace what to do!"

In response, Azrael activated his own duel disk, ready to throwdown.

"Duel!" Azrael, Ace and Athaliah shouted in unison.

Azrael: 4000 LP

Ace and Athaliah: 4000 LP

"I will go first." Azrael said, looking at his hand briefly. "To start, I activate the Continuous-Spell card, Cychaic Summoned Swords!" The card showed a silhouette of Azrael facing off against a group of enemies. Several blue-colored mirage blades hovered on his left and right sides, ready to pierce the enemies. "Each time I Normal or Special Summon a 'Cychaic' monster, I can place one 'Mirage Sword' counter on this card. Next, I Special Summon Cychaic Genius Loci from my hand." A small stone pillar with a bowl on it appeared on Azrael's field. Wrapped around the pillar was a snake.

Cychaic Genius Loci ATK: 100 DEF: 100 LV: 1

"I can Special Summon this card from my hand if I control no 'Cychaic' monsters." Azrael explained. "And since I summoned a 'Cychaic' monster, the effect of Cychaic Summoned Swords activates!" Soon, a blue-mirage blade appeared on Azrael's left side.

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 0 + 1 = 1

"I also summon Cychaic Catoblepas from my hand." A grey-skinned buffalo with a long stocky body and short but thickset legs appeared on Azrael's field. The horns on the sides of its head curved close together, as if it was forming a shield before curving upwards. It wore silver armor all over its body, as well as a silver helmet protecting its face.

Cychaic Catoblepas ATK: 900 DEF: 1800 LV: 3

"Cychaic Summoned Swords' effect!" Soon, a second blue-mirage blade appeared, only on Azrael's right side.

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 1 + 1 = 2

"Appear, the circuit of absolute power!" Azrael declared, as a Link Portal appeared in the sky above him. "The summoning conditions are two 'Cychaic' monsters. I'll set Cychaic Genius Loci and Cychaic Catoblepas into the Link Markers!" Genius Loci went into the top arrowhead, while Catoblepas went into the bottom arrowhead, turning both of them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cychaic Leonidas!" A male warrior wearing a golden spartan helmet and a long red cape leapt onto Azrael's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. He wore golden shin guards on his forearms and lower legs, along with golden boots. Red lines were artistically drawn all over his body. In his right hand, he carried a spear, while a golden large shield was strapped on his left forearm.

Cychaic Leonidas ATK: 2000 LINK-2 ⬆️⬇️

"As I summoned a third 'Cychaic' monster, the effect of Cychaic Summoned Swords activates for a third time." A third blue-mirage blade appeared beside Azrael, only on the left side.

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 2 + 1 = 3

"I Set one card face-down and end my turn." Azrael concluded. "Make me actually try in this duel. Or else I'll eliminate you like I did with everyone else."

"How dare a pest like you look down on us!" Ace exclaimed, infuriated that Azrael would do something like that. "Athaliah, why don't you go first and set the stage for our victory?"

"With pleasure!" Athaliah said, stepping forward and putting her right hand on the top card of her deck. "My turn! I draw!" She drew the top card of her deck. "I Set one monster face-down on my field." A face-down card then appeared on their field in face-down defense position. "I'll also Set three cards face-down and end my turn."

"Is that it?" Azrael raised an eyebrow behind his mask. "I expected more from the both of you. After all, I saw your duels during the Tower of Hanoi crisis." Athaliah narrowed her eyes in response.

"So you were eavesdropping on my duel and Ace's, huh?" Athaliah said. "How come? Did you and your Ignis intend on interfering?"

"No. We just wanted to analyze both of your strengths." Azrael answered. "But so far, what I'm seeing is just... disappointing. And I don't have time to deal with people who bore me." He then put his right hand on the top card of his deck. "My turn! I draw!" He drew the top card of his deck.

"Trap card, activate!" Athaliah interrupted. "Sinister Shadow Games! By sending a 'Shaddoll' card from my deck to my Graveyard, I can change any number of face-down 'Shaddoll' monsters on my field to face-up defense position!" A card then popped out of her deck, which she grabbed and sent to the Graveyard. Sinister Shadow Games then grabbed Athaliah's face-down defense position monster and literally flipped it up, revealing a purple-colored lizard with golden armor on it. Its legs were also bound by several purple strings.

Shaddoll Squamata ATK: 1800 DEF: 1000 LV: 4

"In addition, I activate Shaddoll Squamata's effect! Since it was flipped face up, I can target one card you control and destroy it! I therefore choose Leonidas!" Squamata fired a blast of purple energy at Leonidas, disintegrating him and sending him to the Graveyard.

"Since Leonidas was destroyed by a card effect, I can Special Summon one 'Cychaic' monster from my Graveyard." Azrael explained in response. "Be reborn, Catoblepas!" The armored buffalo from before reappeared on Azrael's field. "Cychaic Summoned Swords' effect!" A fourth blue-mirage blade appeared beside Azrael, only on the right side.

Cychaic Catoblepas ATK: 900 DEF: 1800 LV: 3

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 3 + 1 = 4

"I also activate the effect of Shaddoll Beast in my Graveyard!" Athaliah replied. "Since it was sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can draw one card from my deck." She then drew the top card of her deck. "But that's not the only thing I can do. I activate the Continuous-Trap card, Shaddoll Schism. This card lets me Fusion Summon one 'Shaddoll' Fusion monster from my Extra Deck, by banishing Fusion materials listed on that monster from my field or Graveyard. However, it cannot attack directly."

"A Fusion Summon on my turn?" Azrael repeated. Now this got slightly interesting.

"I banish Shaddoll Squamata on my field and Shaddoll Beast in my Graveyard to use them as Fusion Materials!" Squamata turned into red particles of energy while Beast turned into blue particles of energy, the both of them going upwards and swirling into a vortex. Two tornadoes of energy shot upwards and merged to form a white and yellow whirlwind.

"With these meshed dark energies, the Construct gives you renewed life as its envoy." Athaliah chanted. "Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 5! El Shaddoll Winda!" A dark, purple Chinese dragon with purple strings on its claws and feet emerged from the black puddle and onto Ace and Athaliah's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. Each of its eyes looked in different directions before being directed towards Azrael and Wraith. On the dragon's back was a teenage female sorceress with light-green hair tied in a ponytail. In her right hand was a long staff.

El Shaddoll Winda ATK: 2200 DEF: 800 LV: 5

"The second effect of Shaddoll Schism activates!" Athaliah continued. "After I Fusion Summon, I'm allowed to send one monster on your field to the Graveyard that shares the exact attribute as the Fusion Summoned monster. Since your Catoblepas is a dark attribute monster like my Winda, I can send it straight to the Graveyard!" She laughed as Shaddoll Schism fired a dark burst of energy at Catoblepas, causing it to turn into particles. "And in case you were thinking of summoning multiple monsters, I'll have you know that all three of us can only Special Summon once during our turns while Winda's on the field."

"So not only did Athaliah Fusion Summon on our turn, she also destroyed Leonidas and sent Catoblepas right back to our Graveyard." Wraith surmised, a hand on his chin. "On top of that, she's locked us down."

"But only for the time being." Azrael reminded Wraith.

"Excellent job, Athaliah." Ace praised Athaliah. "We got him on the ropes now!"

"From what you just did Athaliah, you faced a Cyberse user before, correct?" Azrael inquired, getting their attention.

"You are correct on that." Ace confirmed. "I got to face Playmaker a while back, while Athaliah had to deal with Numera during the Tower of Hanoi. Since decks with Cyberse monsters rely on Link Summoning, we have to prevent that from happening after all. Why do you ask?"

"It's none of your concern." Azrael answered. "Back to the duel! I summon Cychaic Crocodile from my hand. And by doing so, the effect of Cychaic Summoned Swords activates once again." A dark-green skinned crocodile with yellow eyes appeared on Azrael's field. Then a fifth blue-mirage blade appeared beside Azrael, only on his left side.

Cychaic Crocodile ATK: 800 DEF: 800 LV: 3

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 4 + 1 = 5

"Crocodile's effect! Once per turn, when it's Normal or Special Summoned, I can add one 'Cychaic' card from my deck to my hand." A card then popped out of Azrael's deck, which he took and added to his hand. "I end my turn."

"My turn! I draw!" Ace said, stepping forward and drawing the top card of his deck. "I activate the Spell card, Terminal Port. This card lets me target one Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz monster in the Extra Monster Zone and move it to a Main Monster Zone on our field. I'll target Winda and move her to the middle Main Monster Zone on our field." Winda then moved to the Main Monster Zone on their field. "I summon Evil Eye Necromancer from my hand." A dark-hooded figure who wore the Evil Eye of Selene around his neck as a medallion emerged on Ace and Athaliah's field.

Evil Eye Necromancer ATK: 1000 DEF: 1000 LV: 4

"Next, I activate Necromancer's effect. By cutting his attack points in half, I can conduct an additional Normal Summon this turn. I'll therefore cut Necromancer's attack points in half to summon Catoblepas, Familiar of the Evil Eye from my hand." Necromancer rose his hands high in the air, creating a black portal beside him as his strength was cut in half. Jumping out of the portal and appearing on Ace and Athaliah's field was a buffalo with grey and purple skin wearing cyan armor. On its forehead was a red eyeball.

Evil Eye Necromancer ATK: 1000 / 2 = 500

Catoblepas, Familiar of the Evil Eye ATK: 600 DEF: 1900 LV: 3

"Appear, the circuit of the all-consuming Evil Eye!" A Link Portal soon appeared in the sky above him. "The summoning conditions are exactly two 'Evil Eye' monsters! I'll set Evil Eye Necromancer and Catoblepas, Familiar of the Evil Eye into the Link Markers!" Catoblepas went into the right arrowhead, while Necromancer went into the bottom arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Quarrion, Familiar of the Evil Eye!" A velociraptor with a slender neck and dark-purple skin appeared on Ace and Athaliah's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. All over the velociraptor's body were little eyeballs. Quarrion raised its head and screeched at Azrael and Wraith.

Quarrion, Familiar of the Evil Eye ATK: 2100 LINK-2 ➡️⬇️

"Quarrion's effect activates!" Ace added. "When it's Link Summoned, I can add an 'Evil Eye' card from my deck to my hand!" A card popped out of Ace's deck, which he added to his hand. "From there, I activate the Equip Spell card, Evil Eye of Selene, and equip it onto Quarrion." A red and silver mechanical device appeared and attached itself on Quarrion's left eye. "I'll inform you now that while Quarrion is equipped with Evil Eye of Selene, it can no longer be destroyed by battle or card effects. Nor can you target it with your card effects!" Unfortunately for Ace, he got no reaction from Azrael whatsoever.

"Not quaking in your feet? Fine, then. How about this? Once per turn, I can target one monster you control and one 'Evil Eye' monster in my Graveyard. By doing so, your monster loses attack points equal to the 'Evil Eye' monsters attack points in my Graveyard. I target your Crocodile and my Necromancer in my Graveyard. Which means it loses 1000 attack points!" Quarrion fired a toxic burst of energy from its mouth at Crocodile, poisoning the creature and draining it of its strength.

Cychaic Crocodile ATK: 800 – 1000 = 0

"Evil Eye of Selene's effect activates!" Ace said. "Whenever the equipped monster activates its effect, or I activate the effect of another 'Evil Eye' Spell or Trap card, it gains 500 attack points, and we lose 500 life points." As Quarrion powered up, Ace clutched his heart as though he were in pain. But what was disturbing was that he enjoyed it.

Quarrion, Familiar of the Evil Eye ATK: 2100 + 500 = 2600

Ace and Athaliah: 4000 – 500 = 3500 LP

"Battle! Quarrion, Familiar of the Evil Eye attacks Cychaic Crocodile!" Quarrion charged forward at Crocodile and hit it using its tail, destroying it in a massive explosion.

"That should teach you for looking down on us!" Ace boldly exclaimed. However, when the smoke cleared, it revealed a pale-skinned elephant standing on its hind legs on Azrael's field. It had frontal paws with claws that were shaped like human hands. It also had sharp tusks and a snout with a spiked ball on it, along with a red cloth wrapping all three together. The pale-skinned elephant even wore bronze armor protecting its arms, waist, tusks and even snout. Furthermore, a sixth blue-mirage blade was beside Azrael, only on his right side.

Cychaic Elephantaur ATK: 2800 DEF: 1000 LV: 8

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 5 + 1 = 6

"W-W-What?!" Ace exclaimed in shock. "How the hell did you survive?"

"I activated the Trap card, Cychaic Change." Azrael calmly responded. "When you target a 'Cychaic' monster I control for an attack, I'm allowed to Special Summon one Level 8 or lower 'Cychaic' monster from my hand, and by doing so, I can reduce the damage I would have taken by 500 times its level."

"Normally, we would have taken 2600 points of damage." Wraith said. "But Elephantaur's level is eight, which reduces the damage we take by 4000. While our Crocodile is gone, we were able to reduce the damage all the way to zero."

"Damn you!" Ace shouted, pissed off. "I Set two cards face-down and end my turn." Thanks to Athaliah's Winda, he thought, this Azrael can only Special Summon once. Also, my two face-down cards are two copies of Evil Eye Retribution. So if he activates a Spell or Trap card, I can negate the activation and destroy it. If he somehow gets through all of those hurdles, then Defense Draw will stop his attack, saving us from one instance of battle damage, as well as letting Athaliah draw one card from her deck.

"My turn! I draw!" Azrael said, drawing the top card of his deck. "I activate Elephantaur's effect. Once per turn, I can shuffle up to three 'Cychaic' monsters in my Graveyard to my deck and Extra Deck, and then I can destroy one card you control for each monster shuffled back into my deck. Also, if a 'Cychaic' Link monster is shuffled into my Extra Deck by this effect, I can negate the effects of one monster on your field."

"What?!" both Ace and Athaliah said in shock.

"I shuffle Genius Loci and Crocodile into my deck, as well as Leonidas back into my deck and Extra Deck." Azrael stated. "As such, I'll destroy the three cards that are face-down on your field." Elephantaur let out a massive screech at those cards, causing them to flip up and reveal Defense Draw and two copies of Evil Eye Retribution before turning them into particles.

"I'll also negate the effects of Winda as well." Elephantaur then directed its screech at Winda, greying both her and the Chinese dragon in the process.

"From there, I activate the Spell card, Cychaic Reinforcements." Azrael continued. The card showed Spartacus pointing his finger at an opposing army ahead of them as roman soldiers opened the cages Wolf and Elephantaur were in, causing both creatures to run towards the enemy. "If I control a 'Cychaic' monster, I can Special Summon two 'Cychaic' monsters with different names from my deck. However, I can't Special Summon any monsters from my deck for the rest of this turn, except 'Cychaic' monsters." Two cards popped out of his deck, which he took and added to his hand. "Be born, Cychaic Wolf and Cychaic Lemures!" Soon, two monsters appeared on his field.

The first monster was a skeletal specter wearing a long hood with chains dangling all over its body, while the second monster was a large, four-legged creature with black fur all over its body. It had a long bushy tail with a black tip.

Cychaic Lemures ATK: 1000 DEF: 1000 LV: 4

Cychaic Wolf ATK: 1500 DEF: 1500 LV: 4

"Cychaic Summoned Swords' effect!" Two blue-mirage blades, one on each of Azrael's sides, then appeared.

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 6 + 2 = 8

"Appear, the circuit of absolute power!" A Link Portal appeared in the sky above Azrael. "The summoning conditions are three 'Cychaic' monsters. I'll set Cychaic Lemures, Cychaic Wolf, and Cychaic Elephantaur into the Link Markers!" Lemures went into the top-left arrowhead, Wolf went into the top arrowhead, and Elephantaur went into the top-right arrowhead.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! The strongest warrior will break his oppressor's yoke and lead the charge to freedom! Link 3! Cychaic Spartacus!" A massive, dark-grey skinned man with blond hair and covered in innumerable scars leapt out of the Link Portal and landed on Azrael's field in the right Extra Monster Zone. He wore a metal harness over his upper body, as well as metal underwear around his groin area. He also wore metal straps over his face, which didn't cover his eyes. In his right hand, he carried a roman sword. Upon looking at Ace and Athaliah, Spartacus gave them a wicked smile, showing teeth.

Cychaic Spartacus ATK: 2500 LINK-3 ↖️⬆️↗️

"The effects of Wolf and Cychaic Summoned Swords both activate! First, since Wolf was used to Link Summon a 'Cychaic' Link monster, I can destroy one card on your field! And the card I destroy is Evil Eye of Selene!" A silhouette of Wolf appeared before running towards Quarrion and ripping the Evil Eye of Selene off its face before destroying it.

"Second, Spartacus' effect activates!" Azrael added. "If a card you control is destroyed by a card effect, all monsters Spartacus is pointing to are destroyed, and then you take damage equal to the monster with the highest attack points that was destroyed by this effect! Unrelenting Destruction!"

"This can't be!" Ace gasped while Athaliah's eyes widened in shock as Spartacus slashed Winda using his roman sword, destroying both dragon and sorceress in a massive explosion.

Ace and Athaliah: 3500 – 2200 = 1300 LP

"Third," Azrael said, "Cychaic Summoned Swords gains another 'Mirage Sword' counter." A ninth blue-mirage blade appeared, only on Azrael's left side.

Cychaic Summoned Swords MSC: 8 + 1 = 9

"Last but not least, I activate the second effect of Cychaic Summoned Swords. Once per turn, by removing all 'Mirage Sword' counters from this card, all monsters you control lose 100 attack points for each 'Mirage Sword' counter removed by this effect."

"Since nine 'Mirage Sword' counters were removed, Quarrion loses 900 attack points." Wraith stated, as all nine blue-mirage blades hurled towards Quarrion and stabbed the velociraptor in different places, making it screech in pain.

Quarrion, Familiar of the Evil Eye ATK: 2600 – 900 = 1700

"Battle!" Azrael declared. "Cychaic Spartacus attacks Quarrion, Familiar of the Evil Eye! Crying Warmonger!"

"HAHAHA! REBELLION!" Spartacus cried out, as he charged energy in his mouth before firing a massive beam of energy at Quarrion, vaporizing the velociraptor and causing Ace and Athaliah to shield their eyes using their arms.

Ace and Athaliah: 1300 – 800 = 500 LP

"When Spartacus destroys a monster by battle," Azrael explained, "I can destroy one card on my field to Special Summon one 'Cychaic' monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. I destroy Cychaic Summoned Swords to resurrect Elephantaur!" As Cychaic Summoned Swords exploded into particles, a portal appeared on Azrael's field before Elephantaur jumped out of it.

Cychaic Elephantaur ATK: 2800 DEF: 1000 LV: 8

"Also, if Cychaic Summoned Swords is destroyed by a card effect, I can draw one card." Azrael drew a card from the top of his deck before thrusting out his right hand. "The battle still continues! Cychaic Elephantaur attacks the both of you directly!" Elephantaur charged forward at Ace and Athaliah before punching them with its fists, causing the both of them to fall backwards to the ground.

Ace and Athaliah: 500 – 2800 = 0

"And that's game." Wraith said, as Azrael approached his fallen opponents. "Which means you serve us now."

"Like hell I will!" Ace snarled, attempting to get up, only for Azrael to press a button on his duel disk. As a result, Ace felt immense pain throughout his body, causing him to drop to one knee.

"If you go so far as to betray me or our ally, one press of this button will have the Another virus in your bodies kill you from the inside out." Azrael threatened, turning his back behind them as he unsheathed his katana and sliced the air in two, creating a portal large enough to travel through. "Now follow me." He then went into the portal, with a staggered Ace and Athaliah following after them. After entering the portal, it closed behind them.

At the Light Ignis's palace...

Azrael entered the throne room, a triumphant look on his face as Ace and Athaliah staggered out of the portal behind them.

"Welcome back, Azrael and Wraith," the Light Ignis greeted them. "Well done in bringing these humans to me."

"You're ally is an Ignis?!" Athaliah demanded from Azrael.

"That is correct, my new friend," the Light Ignis replied to her. "I am the Light Ignis, and I'm glad you chose the right side in this coming war."

"A war?" Ace repeated. "I only followed after Azrael to save my own hide. Other than us living, what's in it for us if we agree to work for you, Light Ignis?"

"You mentioned you were the lead of the Black Market's Alpha Branch, right?" Azrael questioned Ace, causing him to nod. "Isn't there some part of you that wants more control and dominance?" He then turned to Athaliah. "As for you, is there not a part of you that wants to continue your experiments without interference?"

"You know how much Ace and I want those things!" Athaliah boldly exclaimed. "However, it led to our defeats!"

"If you agree to work for us," the Light Ignis said, "we'll ensure your dreams become reality, my new friends. After all, a reckoning is coming. The question is: Who's side will you be on when the war comes?" Ace and Athaliah thought about this for a moment before coming to a conclusion.

"Very well." Ace decided. "It's only natural for humans to achieve more power. So I guess siding with the winning team is the most logical decision for me."

"Splendid." The Light Ignis turned to Athaliah. "What about you?"

"As long as you let me continue with my experiments, I will serve." Athaliah conceded.

"Excellent," the Light Ignis said, a smile on his face. "Azrael and Wraith, you're dismissed for now. I need to educate our newest recruits on everything going on. Once I'm done, I'll need to talk to the both of you."

"Take the time you need." Wraith replied. "After all, I bet there's a lot they need to be filled in on." Azrael didn't say anything as he and Wraith exited the throne room.

While walking through the hallway, Azrael was about to pass by the room where he encountered Haru when he noticed him training a dark-skinned man with orange eyes that had irises lined in yellow in a duel. The man had long and wild hair that flared out in the shape of his shoulders. It was colored predominantly brown with the top section blonde and a small section of red at the border between brown and blonde hair. A large bang of his hair, his eyebrows, the thin fringe of his hair, and his braids that were held in aquamarine bands extending from his sideburns were all colored orange. An aquamarine diamond symbol was on his forehead and chin, with the one on his chin melding with his red "chin-strap", which in turn melded with the pink sections on his cheeks. He was also extremely muscular, leaving his upper torso mostly bare.

The man's appearance consisted of a skin-tight jumpsuit that was silver on the legs, purple on the knees and calves, and pale-blue on the feet and the torso, which exposes his abs, chest, and shoulders. The torso section covered his sides and underarms, and wrapped around his biceps, ending in purple cuffs. A strange, star-shaped symbol resembling the Southern Cross appeared prominently over the man's body. There was a yellow one on his bare chest and ankle cuffs, orange sections that are part of his braids, and blue ones on his forearms.

That must be Bohman, Azrael deduced, walking away before either of them could notice him witnessing the duel.

"It looks like our plan is now set into motion." Wraith said, turning to Azrael.

"Yes." Azrael agreed, pulling out a white-sapphire pendent from his jet-black suit that was wrapped around his neck. He looked at it for a few seconds before tucking it back in. "Soon, I'll obtain my birthright, and no one will stand in my way."

(This is the ending. If you have suggestions, don't hesitate to send me a PM or input it in your review.)

A light shines and the letters spelling out VRAINS light up the screen before a network is formed and several cards are drawn in towards a pillar of light. Playmaker, Raguel, and Soulburner are shown with their respective Ignis and stats, along with real-life forms that across the backgrounds that match their Ignis' colors. The screen then shows each of them being shocked while wearing VR sets as kids, along with a kid with light-green hair that flowed backwards and curled at the back. The kid also had dark-green hair spikes on the sides of his head, with light-green spikes at the back of his head as well.

The screen gets swallowed with darkness at it reveals a shadowed child huddled up and crying, his shadow shrinking behind him before taking the form of Wraith and comforting him. The child looks up with a menacing and soul piercing glare before the darkness consumes him and he's replaced with an older version of himself. Azrael and Wraith are then shown in NEW LINK VRAINS, as they look out into the digital sky. The scene then shifts to Bohman standing tall above NEW LINK VRAINS and holding the earth in his hands with Haru by his side. The short creature with deep purple skin grins in the shadows behind them, his red eyes shining bright in the process.

A drop of light falls down, and as it explodes, it reveals Playmaker, Raguel, and Soulburner, standing on buildings watching over the network, alongside the male individual wearing a black outfit with green accents and a gold, bird-like mask over his eyes as well. Blood Shepherd is shown commanding a trio of Battledrone Sergeants before the screen shifts to a young man wearing an elaborate purplish coat with black inner lining and cuffs intricately decorated by red-coloured motifs, as well as a grey shirt with crimson leather pants commanding a red-eyed dragon. The screen then shifts a third time to another man, with red hair spiked backwards and dark purple eyes, as well as wearing a stylish white coat with yellow lines and a black shirt underneath it. Draped around his lower body is a white waist cape with yellow lines as well. Above the man was a male, humanoid monster wearing a black and white suit that had electricity crackling from his wrists and head, as well as several other monsters that resembled futuristic armor parts. The screen then shows Go Onizuka, Kenmochi, and Yoroizaka with Dinowrestler King T Wrextle, Gouki the Blade Ogre, and Gouki the Solid Ogre behind them ready for battle.

Blue Angel, Ghost Girl, Numera and SengokuQueen are then featured together riding their duel boards across the night sky with shooting stars flying across them. Trickstar Holly Angel was with Blue Angel, while Numera was with Geomathmech Final Sigma. Ghost Girl was with a large dark-blue, light-blue, and white Altergeist monster that had four clawed arms, two hind-legs, three raised tails behind her, and a mane of green hair on her head. In her right hand, she carried a staff. SengokuQueen was with a male shinobi wearing grey robes and armor pads with neon-yellow lines running over them. The man had a red scarf around his neck, along with a face-mask and face visor on his head. He also had spiked-brown hair and a ponytail as well. In his right hand, he carried a Sai, while the brass knuckle on his left hand emitted four translucent blades.

The screen then changes to Raguel, Playmaker, and Soulburner riding on their duel boards with Cyreath Medusa and Cyreath Hercules in his new form, Cyberse Magician, Cyberse Witch, and Salamangreat Heatleo behind them. Following the trio is the male individual from before, with a white and black dragon covered in white, blue, and black armor, as well as neon green crystals attached to her body, which acted like wings that shone with bright light. The four of them join together with a fist bump and smile in the real world as the wind blows, with Kusanagi, Roxy, and Greg watching them from Kusanagi's truck. Rachel then runs toward the quartet, and more specifically, Yuhiro, a look of joy clearly on her face. Unbeknownst to everyone, they're watched from the shadows by a cloaked person who glares at them, biding his time.

Card Gallery

Azrael:

Cychaic Romulus (LV: 6/Cyberse/Pendulum/Dark/ATK: 2100/DEF: 1400/Scale: 1)

Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, if 'Cychaic Remus' is in your other Pendulum Zone: You can add 1 'Cychaic' Spell or Trap card from your deck to your hand.

Effect: If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can target 1 'Cychaic' card in your GY; add it to your hand.

Cychaic Remus (LV: 3/Cyberse/Pendulum/Fire/ATK: 700/DEF: 1400/Scale: 8)

Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, if 'Cychaic Romulus' is in your other Pendulum Zone: You can add 1 'Cychaic' monster from your deck to your hand.

Effect: If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can destroy 1 card your opponent controls.

Cychaic Lemures (LV: 4/Cyberse/Dark/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000)

Effect: Once per turn, if you control a 'Cychaic' Link Monster: You can destroy 1 card on your field, then target 1 monster your opponent controls; move it to a Main Monster Zone your 'Cychaic' Link Monster points to. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; it loses 500 ATK until the End Phase.

Cychaic Crocodile (LV: 3/Cyberse/Water/ATK: 800/DEF: 800)

Effect: When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 'Cychaic' card from your deck to your hand. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can choose 1 card from your deck and place it on top of your deck. You can only use each effect of 'Cychaic Crocodile' once per turn.

Cychaic Wolf (LV: 4/Cyberse/Dark/ATK: 1500/DEF: 1500)

Effect: Once per turn, when this card battles a monster your opponent controls, destroy that monster without applying damage calculation. If this card is used as Link Material for the Link Summon of a 'Cychaic' Link Monster: You can destroy 1 card your opponent controls.

Cychaic Sabine (LV: 2/Cyberse/Light/ATK: 200/DEF: 200)

Effect: If you would take effect damage: You can send this card from your hand to the GY; any effect damage you would take this turn is reduced to zero. If this card is destroyed by a card effect, any battle damage you would take this turn is reduced to zero. You can only activate 1 'Cychaic Sabine' effect per turn.

Cychaic Genius Loci (LV: 1/Cyberse/Earth/ATK: 100/DEF: 100)

Effect: If you control no 'Cychaic' monsters: You can Special Summon this card from your hand. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; its effects are negated until the End Phase. You can only use each effect of 'Cychaic Genius Loci' once per turn.

Cychaic Catoblepas (LV: 3/Cyberse/Dark/ATK: 900/DEF: 1800)

Effect: You can return 1 'Cychaic' monster on your field to your hand; Special Summon this card from your hand to your field. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can target 1 'Cychaic' monster you control; it is unaffected by your opponent's card effects until the End Phase. You can only use each effect of 'Cychaic Catoblepas' once per turn.

Cychaic Leo (LV: 6/Cyberse/Earth/ATK: 2500/DEF: 1500)

Effect: You can Normal Summon this card without tributing, but it is destroyed the turn you summon this card using its effect. If this card is destroyed by a card effect, except by its own: You can add 1 'Cychaic' monster from your deck to your hand, except 'Cychaic Leo'. You can only use this effect of 'Cychaic Leo' once per turn.

Cychaic Elephantaur (LV: 8/Cyberse/Dark/ATK: 2800/DEF: 1000)

Effect: Once per turn, you can shuffle up to three 'Cychaic' monsters in your GY to your deck and Extra Deck; destroy cards your opponent controls equal to the number of 'Cychaic' monsters shuffled into your deck and Extra Deck by this effect. Then, if any 'Cychaic' Link Monsters were shuffled into your Extra Deck by this effect: You can negate the effects of 1 monster your opponent controls. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can shuffle 1 monster your opponent controls into their deck.

Cychaic Reborn (Normal Spell card)

Effect: Target 1 'Cychaic' monster in your GY; Special Summon it to your field.

Cychaic Reinforcements (Normal Spell card)

Effect: If you control a 'Cychaic' monster: You can Special Summon two 'Cychaic' monsters with different names from your deck. You cannot summon any monsters from your deck the turn you activate this effect, except 'Cychaic' monsters. You can only activate 1 'Cychaic Reinforcements' per turn.

Cychaic Judgment Cut (Normal Spell card)

Effect: Target 1 'Cychaic' Link Monster on your field; destroy cards your opponent controls equal to its Link Rating. You can only activate 1 'Cychaic Judgment Cut' per turn.

Cychaic Summoned Swords (Continuous-Spell card)

Effect: Each time you Normal or Special Summon a 'Cychaic' monster: You can place 1 'Mirage Sword' counter on this card. Once per turn: You can remove 'Mirage Sword' counters from this card; monsters your opponent controls lose 100 ATK for each 'Mirage Sword' counter removed by this effect. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can draw 1 card from your deck.

Cychaic Change (Normal Trap card)

Effect: When your opponent targets a 'Cychaic' monster you control for an attack: You can Special Summon 1 Level 8 or lower 'Cychaic' monster from your hand, and if you do, damage you would have taken is reduced by 500 X the Special Summoned monster's level.

Cychaic Vulcan (LR: 1/Cyberse/Fire/ATK: 1000/⬆️)

Effect: 1 'Cychaic' monster. Once per turn, when this card is pointing to a monster your opponent controls: You can inflict 500 damage to your opponent. If this card is destroyed by a card effect, monsters your opponent controls lose 500 ATK until the End Phase.

Cychaic Leonidas (LR: 2/Cyberse/Earth/ATK: 2000/⬆️⬇️)

Effect: 2 'Cychaic' monsters. Once per turn, this card cannot be destroyed by battle. You can destroy 1 'Cychaic' monster this card points to, then target 1 'Cychaic' monster on your field; it gains 500 ATK and DEF until the End Phase. If this card is destroyed by a card effect: You can target 1 'Cychaic' monster in your GY, except this card; Special Summon it to your field. You can only use each effect of 'Cychaic Leonidas' once per turn.

Cychaic Spartacus (LR: 3/Cyberse/Dark/ATK: 2500/LINK-3/↖️⬆️↗️)

Effect: 3 'Cychaic' monsters. When this card destroys a monster your opponent controls by battle (Quick Effect): You can destroy 1 card you control; Special Summon 1 'Cychaic' monster from your GY, but negate its effects. If a card your opponent controls is destroyed by a card effect: You can destroy all monsters this card points to, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the monster with the highest ATK that was destroyed by this effect (your choice, if tied). You can only use each effect of 'Cychaic Spartacus' once per turn.

Haru:

Hydradrive Retaliation (Normal Trap card)

Effect: If a 'Hydradrive' Link Monster you control is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can Special Summon that monster from your GY to your field, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original ATK. You can only activate 1 'Hydradrive Retaliation' per turn.

Hydradrive Nagini (LR: 2/Cyberse/Earth/ATK: 2000/⬆️⬇️)

Effect: 2 'Hydradrive' Link Monsters. When this card is Link Summoned: You can target all 'Hydradrive' Link Monsters used as Link Material; this card is also treated as those attributes while face-up on the field, in addition to EARTH-attribute. If this card battles a monster whose attribute is the same as this card, the opponent's monster loses 1000 ATK until the End Phase.

Bitboot:

D-Scale Salvage (Normal Spell card)

Effect: When this card is activated: You can Special Summon 1 'D-Scale' monster from your deck. You cannot conduct your Battle Phase the turn you activate this card.

Link Evolution (Normal Trap card)

Effect: If you control a Link Monster: You can tribute 1 monster on your field; immediately after this card resolves, Link Summon 1 Link Monster from your Extra Deck with a higher Link Rating than the Link Monster on your field, by using monsters only your field.

Ace:

Evil Eye Necromancer (LV: 4/Fiend/Dark/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000)

Effect: You can halve this card's ATK, and if you do, you can Normal Summon 1 'Evil Eye' monster from your hand this turn. If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 'Evil Eye' monster from your GY, except this card. You can only activate 1 'Evil Eye Necromancer' effect per turn, and only one that turn.

QOTC

What are your thoughts on the Cychaic archetype? Now that you've seen Azrael duel for the first time, what are your thoughts on him?

Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Obscured Truth. Chapter 40: A New Start. A week has passed since the Tower of Hanoi has fallen. With Miyu awake, Yuhiro and Roxy couldn't be any happier. One day, Tsubaki requests to speak with Yuhiro, as she needs help finding a new purpose now that the Hanoi are gone...

Author's Notes

Ah, what a chapter! I'm so happy to finally be done with the first chapter of Season 2! Thank you to everyone for being so patient while I wrote it. It honestly means a lot! Anyways, let's get to what happened, shall we?

As this was Azrael's debut as a duelist, I wanted to demonstrate his strength by having him duel three times! That's right, I said three! His deck is a Cyberse deck called Cychaic, which focuses on destroying cards. While it appears basic, non-targeted destruction can be dangerous if one is not prepared for it. In addition, the user's own cards get additional effects that activate if they're destroyed by a card effect.

For the duels, I had Azrael first face off against Bitboot, which ended with a one-turn victory. Next, I had Azrael duel Haru because in the anime, Haru got to duel only once, which annoyed me. That said, I'll ensure two things for Haru. One: Him dueling more than in the anime. And two: With the evidence of Hydradrive Nagini, Haru will have unique Hydradrive monsters that belong to him. So while Bohman and Haru will use the same deck, they'll use different ace monsters and strategies. In Bohman's case, it's about negating effects and maintaining control over the field, whereas Haru focuses on dealing massive damage through various means. As for what I mean, you'll just have to read and find out for yourselves. Lastly, to give Azrael a challenge, I had him duel Ace and Athaliah at the same time. By doing this, it gives him a chance to show how he can handle against control decks like Shaddoll.

Other than the duels, two additional things happened. First, there was Azrael and Wraith's meeting with the Light Ignis. For those of you who are wondering why I'm not calling him by Lightning yet, you have to remember: This occurs before Ai gives the Light Ignis his name. So just a reminder for those that forgot. In exchange for Azrael and Wraith helping the Light Ignis with his plans, he requests two things. One: He'll keep to his sphere of influence as long as the Light Ignis does the same with his group. Two: Azrael requests the Light Ignis's help in breaking into SOL Technologies' dark vault. What exactly is it? While the answer won't be revealed until later on in Season 2, I want you to speculate as to what's in there.

The other thing that happens is Azrael breaking Ace and Athaliah out of a prison transport using nothing but his katana. We also learn his name in the real world: Yukage. What's his last name? I'm not revealing that yet. That'd be too early.

Thank you to everyone for reading Chapter 39 of Obscured Truth. As always, please let me know your thoughts about the chapters below in your reviews. Also, constructive criticism is appreciated, as your tips and advice helps make the story better. In addition, don't forget to favorite and follow the story. That way, you will get a notification once the next chapter is released.

Next up, there will be an update to Roxy's Reports, which will cover Specter's profile and Revolver's updated profile. From there, I'll work on Chapter 40, which will definitely take less time than this chapter (way less duels to write for Chapter 40, haha). I'll try to release Chapter 40 mid-February to the end of the month, as I got a week off in the middle of that month.

What was your favorite part of the chapter? Was it the opening and/or ending? Azrael kicking butt against Bitboot, Haru, Ace, and Athaliah? Azrael freeing Ace and Athaliah from the prison transport? Or is it something else?

Now that you read the first chapter of Season 2, don't hesitate to let me know what you're looking forward to for Season 2. In my opinion, Season 2 was my favorite season of the anime, and I want to write one that was better than the anime. With your support, I know I can do it. So thank you for reading, and see you next time!