The Birthmark's Fate

by Wolfytoki

A young girl named Naomi Kobiyashi is dragged into a war because of her strange birthmark, but it isn't all that it seems. As she is dragged into this war, questions waiting to be answered, trials waiting to be overcome, looking into memories, and even encountering similar people, without knowing this was all because she wears a birthmark. Canon Divergence. OC-insert.

26. Chapter 26

Author's Warning: This Chapter contains violence.

Chapter 26: Battle Royale

Recap: The day has finally arrived. From the message, Yuki-san sent, Academia is going to invade to bring back a girl named Serena and capture her. Yuki-san states there is a huge possibility that Yuzu-chan and I will be captured due to the resemblance to our counterparts' faces. I know that the Battle Royale will be a war zone for us, 19 competitors.

LDS 2nd Stadium Back Area_Naomi's Pov_

Regarding Yuki-san's message, I sent her information to Yuya-san, Yuzu-chan, and Gongenzaka-kun in our group chat. As I expected, they reacted to my message.

Yuzu-chan: Academia is going to invade our dimension at the Battle Royale!?

Yuya-san: Tsk! To think they are going to do the same thing again as they did to the Xyz Dimension! I won't let that happen!

Gongenzaka-kun: These are the same invaders who were too cowardly to face duelists head-on and decided to plan a sneak attack is unforgivable!

Me: Yes, but most importantly, they will be after Yuki-san, Serena, Yuzu-chan, and me.

Yuzu-chan: B-But why?

Me: I have no idea why they want to capture us as they did with Ruri-san. But we will not be kidnapped by Academia! Even if the Obelisk Force comes after us!

Yuya-san: Obelisk Force?

Gongenzaka-kun: Will these Obelisk Force be just as merciless as the rest of the invaders?

Me: Yes, we heard and saw that these people would be heartless and do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. So please be on the lookout for these invaders during the tournament and act normal. And I'm sure Reiji-sama doesn't want people freaking out, so please, let's keep this to ourselves.

Yuzu-chan: Alright! I won't be taken away by some no-good jerks who think they can do whatever they want! I promise I will give them a good beating if I see them!

Yuya-san: Yosh! But Naomi and Yuzu, be careful if you run into them. Be on your guard, and try not to be reckless. If you feel like you are outnumbered, then, by all means, run away until we find you two.

Gongenzaka-kun: Everyone, let's communicate using our duel disk for emergencies. We don't want the enemy to know your location and capture you two.

Me: Thank you for being concerned about our well-being Yuya-san. Good idea Gongenzaka-kun, meaning the four of us will have to split up, but if we happen to run into each other, it is simply a coincidence. Let's survive, and please don't get carded by the enemy or, in our case, captured.

Yuzu-chan: I won't. I'll see you guys at the Arena!

Gongenzaka-kun: I will also fight to protect my friends and my father! I will never waver to Academia or its forces! I will show them the absolute defense of my steadfast dueling!

Yuya-san: Yosh! Let's do our best and survive Academia forces. Naomi, Yuzu... I'll say this again, please be careful.

Yuzu-chan: You too, Yuya.

Me: We will, Yuya-san. You and Gongenzaka-kun need to be careful as well. See you all at the Arena.

With the last message I had sent, I turned off my duel disk and took a deep breath. Now since Yuzu-chan and the others have more information about the incoming situation. I don't have any more worries about anything except for their safety and Yuki-san's.

I took a deep breath before returning to the Arena as I prepared myself for the incoming event.

LDS_Second Stadium_Arena_Naomi's Pov_

I noticed all the competitors were here except for two people, Shun-san and Yuki-san.

By glancing at each duelist besides the ones I was already acquainted with, there were many different people I'd never seen before. Maybe if we weren't about to be in a life-threatening situation, then I could have used this opportunity to meet new people. Well, except for those two from Ryozanpaku School. If I were to make any contact with them, it would be really ugly, even though I took aikido. So yeah, I'll avoid them. The announcements have started, and just like the message Yuki-san sent, it will be a Battle Royale.

"The match will begin promptly at noon! When that happens, some Action Cards will spread throughout the field and Pendulum Cards!"

Nearly everyone was surprised except for Yuya-san, Yuzu-chan, and myself. This is most likely because Yuzu-chan and I have Pendulum Cards. Still, Yuya-san has already overcome the hurdle of the possibility of everyone owning Pendulum Cards by proving to become better at the summoned he created and setting a path for them towards the future.

"Competitors need to find two of them and duel. The matches will be held under the Ante Rule with the Pendulum Cards on the line! The winner takes the loser's cards from them and acquires them. The time limit is twenty-four hours!"

I narrowed my eyes. "So, we'll be in the city for at least one day," I noted quietly. Nico gave more information about the covered city with the Action Field Spell: Wonder Quartet. I felt nervous, but I knew I needed to stick to the plan we'd created, which was to act normal and not get captured. Seems pretty easy if you think about it.

Normal Pov_

Naomi nodded at her friends as they nodded in response. They each activated their duel disks and waited for the countdown. Naomi took a couple of deep breaths and said one last prayer, hoping everything would be alright. It was just Reiji and Yuki being cautious about Academia. That's nothing going to happen during the Battle Royale. However, if it does happen, she hopes every competitor is okay, most importantly, her friends.

When Nico finished, all nineteen contestants except for Shun and Yuki ran out of the Arena. Naomi and the others separated from each other and went their ways with the plan still in their minds. The time was noon as the whole of Maiami City changed into four different locations: Volcano, Ancient Ruins, Jungle, and Icebergs. Naomi was in the Jungle area searching for Pendulum Cards, and with the help of Clear Kuriboh, she found two of them as fast as possible. She had Risebell the Summoner and Mandragon. Two Normal Pendulum Type Monsters.

Naomi smiled at the voices and placed them in her Deck. She heard footsteps coming from behind her, and she turned around, getting into a fighting stance. Naomi's eyes widened when she saw the person who matched Yuki's description in the message the black-haired girl sent.

"Serena.."

LDS Control Room_

Reiji noticed that Naomi had already encountered Serena as he clicked his teeth. He didn't expect anyone would encounter Serena so early in the Battle Royale.

"Switch the cameras to someone else who is in the Jungle Area!" Reiji commanded, and his team immediately switched the feedback to Michio, who happened to be in another place in the forest-like area.

"To think Naomi Kobiyashi would already encounter Serena. However, due to her resemblance to Shimizu. Serena will, without a doubt, mistake her for either Shimizu or Akemi Shima," Reiji speculated. "But if it is the first option, then let's hope Naomi Kobiyashi wins the duel."

Reiji thought about the aftermath of Naomi potentially being carded due to having the same face as her Xyz counterpart. If Yuki happened to find out that Naomi was carded, then the consequences will be drastic for him since it would either lead Serena to become injured or Yuki to be carded.

"If she doesn't, then I will have to send them to her location."

Back to the Jungle Area_

"You're Serena, right?" Naomi asked. She was met with a glare.

"You're that girl from yesterday! This time I will duel you without any interruptions!" Serena activated her duel disk. Naomi often felt tired of being mistaken for her Fusion and Xyz counterpart. If the next person mistakes her for somebody else, then she will immediately introduce herself to fix any further problems whatever her counterparts do in the future.

"Yes, this is Serena" Naomi confirmed her suspicions, especially when Yuki stated in her message that Serena would act hostile towards her since they look similar. Naomi couldn't help but wonder what had happened between them.

She will have to ask Yuki when she sees her again.

"Fine. Let's duel to prove I'm not an Xyz Remnant."

Naomi knew that the faster she agreed, the quicker she could fix the misunderstanding between her and Yuki.

Serena smirked as she stood across from Naomi.

Finally, she will be able to her match and prove to the Professor his mistake of not sending her to the Vanguard Squadron.

"DUEL!" Both female junior youths shouted in unison.

Naomi vs Serena; 4000 LP Each, H:5 Each

"I will go first. If that's alright with you," Naomi announced. When she heard no response, it made her sweat due to the lack of interaction.

"Alright then," Naomi thought as she looked at her opening hand.

Turn 1

H:5

"I activate the Spell Card 'Foolish Burial' to send a monster to my Graveyard. I choose to send Mana" Naomi sent the declared monster and then added two Fairy-Type Monsters to her hand via Mana's effect. "Next, I Special Summon Aretha by banishing Mana from my Graveyard."

The female elf appeared on the field. She had blonde hair, wore a white dress with light-colored accessories, and wore white sandals.

Light/Level 5/Fairy/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1000

"Due to her effect, I can add a Level 4 or below Fairy-Type Monsters to my hand through Marian's effect. When this card is added to my hand except by drawing it. She is Special Summon!" Naomi continued her turn. Marian had aqua blue hair tied up in pigtails, wearing a strapless blue dress as the end resembled the head of a jellyfish, a blue spiral bracelet, and aqua seafoam stockings.

Water/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1200

"When Marian is Special Summon, I can add a Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I choose to add the Spell Card Angelic Fusion!" Naomi added briefly, revealing the added card.

"What will you do since you summoned two weaklings on your field?" Serena commented. Her words made Naomi's left eyebrow twitch.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Angelic Fusion' to fuse my monsters! Maiden of the sea! Maiden of light! Combine your powers into a new kind of hope! Fusion Summon! Appear before us, the goddess of love! Aphrodite!" Naomi summoned Aphrodite to her side of the field.

Light/Level 8/Fairy/Fusion/Pendulum/Effect/ATK 2000/DEF 1000/P.S:3

"So you can Fusion Summon. I expect an Xyz Remnant to despise Fusion Summon since Academia won against your dimension and succeeded. But to think you would use the method itself, don't you have any pride as a duelist?" Serena said in a conceited tone.

Serena's tone and words made Naomi have a vein on her face. She held it in and started to chuckle. "I see. You may look like my friend, but the difference between you two is that she uses her brain. While you, on the other hand, think I am Yuki-san from the Xyz Dimension, whose homeland was invaded. But believe Academia won fair and square," Naomi remarked, causing Serena to look at her.

"But in reality, they are truly the lowest of the low to attack a dimension where no one would least expect it and flaunt their so-called 'success' telling everyone that they fought and won. It's so pitiful it makes me laugh. Truly, Serena-chan, you are not only stupid but also naive."

To say that Serena wasn't furious at Naomi would be an understatement. "How dare you mock Academia! What Academia did to the Xyz Dimension is noble, and they became victorious! What does a cowardly Xyz Remnant know about us!" Serena growled. She clenched her fist hard to the point it could have been bleeding. "Hurry up and end your turn, so I can finish you to find the others! I'll make you pay by calling me stupid and naive!"

Naomi sighed. "I set two cards and end my turn. Honestly, if Yuki-san had been here and heard what Serena-chan said, then I'm pretty sure she would have a killing intent that could rival my mom's."

"It is now my turn! Draw!" Serena yelled, drawing her card.

Turn 2

H:5-6

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card 'Power of the Moonlight' all 'Moonlight' Fusion Monsters gain 500 ATK for each Fusion Monster material used to summon that card. Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Fusion' to fuse Moonlight Crimson Fox and Moonlight Blue Cat!"

Serena's monster was swirled in a vortex as the latter chanted.

"Tricking its prey in the red moonlight! The cat prowling in the azure darkness! Swarm in a vortex of moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me, beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! Moonlight Cat Dancer!"

A pink-haired mature feline woman wearing blue exotic dancing clothing appears, holding twin daggers in her hands.

Dark/Level 7/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 2000

"Power of the Moonlight's effect increases Cat Dancer's ATK by 1000. Also, when Crimson Fox is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect. Your monster's ATK becomes 0," Serena revealed. The red human-like fox briefly appeared before Aphrodite and then turned to dust as the female monster lost her power.

"I summon Moonlight Emerald Bird," Serena summoned a green-skinned girl wearing a green jumpsuit with wings attached to her arms.

Dark/Level 4/Beast-Warrior/Effect/ATK 1200/DEF 1000

"When Emerald Bird is summoned, I can send a Moonlight Monster from my hand to the Graveyard to draw one card. I send Moonlight Kaleido Chick to the Graveyard, and due to Kaleido Chick's effect when it's sent to the Graveyard because of a card effect, I can add the Spell Card Fusion to my hand," Serena sent the declared card and drew her card.

"She's going for another Fusion Summon when her turn comes again. But to power up Cat Dancer to 3400. She plans to inflict huge damage on my LP," Naomi narrowed her eyes. She was prepared to strike back.

"I activate Cat Dancer's effect! By tributing Emerald Bird, Cat Dancer can attack all monsters you control twice. The first time Cat Dancer battles your monster, it is not destroyed however, the second time, it is!" Serena revealed, going into her Battle Phase.

"Go Moonlight Cat Dancer attack Aphrodite!"

Cat Dancer got out her dagger. She was heading towards Aphrodite to slash her in half.

"I send Pendulum Kuriboh to the Graveyard to negate all damage I take this turn to 0!" Naomi shouted. Pendulum Kuriboh grew larger as he took the attack and defended his friend from the other fusion monster's ferocious yet elegant attack.

"Tsk! However, I can attack again, and this time your monster will be destroyed!" Serena yelled, pointing at her ace monster to attack Aphrodite again, even though she wouldn't be able to deal damage this turn. At least Naomi wouldn't have a monster on her field.

"I send Alice to the Graveyard to negate Aphrodite's destruction!" Naomi sent Alice to the Graveyard. The young blonde-haired girl wearing a blue dress with a black apron faintly appeared, protecting Aphrodite from attack.

"So you escape that one! It doesn't matter. When Emerald Bird is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can Special Summon a Moonlight Monster from my Graveyard by negating its effects. I choose to Special Summon Blue Cat in Defense Position," Serena added. A young girl wearing a blue jumpsuit with cat-like features appeared on Serena's field.

Dark/Level 4/Beast-Warrior/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1200

"I set one card and end my turn! Now come at me!" Serena shouted. Naomi analyzed Serena's strategy to be straightforward. To power up your monster that can attack twice this turn, the first time it attacks your Opponent's monster, it is not destroyed, but the second time it is.

Naomi knew if she didn't have Pendulum Kuriboh in her hand, she would have taken major damage this turn. If she didn't have Alice, then Aphrodite would have been destroyed. Naomi also concludes that Serena was going for a One Turn Kill but failed. In short, a very straightforward strategy like hers can be defeated easily.

"My turn!" Naomi drew for her turn.

Turn 3

H:1-2

"I banish Angelic Fusion and Alice to activate their effects," Naomi started her turn. "First Angelic Fusion allows me to add Marian back to my hand, and I can Special Summon her via Marian's effect. When she is Special Summoned, I can add a Spell/Trap Card in my Deck."

Marian appeared on Naomi's field as she shielded herself with her arms. Naomi added a card from her deck.

"Next, Alice's effect will inflict damage to you equal to her ATK! So Serena-chan takes 1600 damage!"

Alice appeared behind Serena. Her eyes are shadowed by her hair as she smiles in a creepy-like way and then screams out loud. Her voice caused everyone to cover their ears due to the intensity of her emitting sound.

Serena:4000-1600=2400 LP

"So you're using the same strategy as Akemi. Then defeating you will be worth it after all" Serena stated. Naomi frowned as she was being compared to Akemi again, which made her curious about her Fusion counterpart.

"Let's continue. I activate Sereia's effect from my hand. When I control a WATER Monster, I can Special Summon her," Naomi said.

Seraia was a long blue hair mermaid wearing an aqua blue mermaid dress with sea accessories across the dress.

Water/Level 5/Fairy/Effect/ATK 2200/DEF 1000

"I choose to make Seraia a Level 4. So now, my Level 4 Marian and Seraia, I will Overlay!" Naomi shouted. Both of her monsters went into the network, creating a stream of light from the portal.

"Slumbering powers of sea and earth, weave the light of new life and come forth! Xyz Summon! Awaken! Rank 4! No.37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark!"

A white diamond cracked, transforming into a white hybrid between a shark, dragon, and spider.

Water/Rank 5/Sea Serpent/Xyz/Effect/ATK 2600/DEF 2100/OU:2

Serena now had a grin on her face. "So you finally Xyz Summon. If I defeat you, then I can prove to the Professor that I'm stronger than he thinks," Serena said.

Naomi sighed as she started to get annoyed. "She still thinks I'm an Xyz Remnant. Even though I use effect damage like Akemi and I have a Fusion Monster on the field," Naomi scowled in her mind. She noticed Aphrodite gave her a kind smile, and so did Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark. Well, in his case, a huge grin showed its teeth.

"I detach an Overlay Unit from Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark to make all monsters you control lose 1000 ATK until the End Phase" Naomi activated her effects, and the hybrid shot web towards Cat Dancer and Blue Cat however, Crimson Fox appeared before the webs to take the hit instead.

"I banish Crimson Fox to negate the damage, and we both gain 1000 LP" Serena showed her effect as she and Naomi were surrounded by green light.

Naomi:4000+1000=5000 LP

Serena:2400+1000=3400 LP

"Then change of plans. I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Light Brilliance' since I control a LIGHT Monster all monsters you control ATK is changed to 0!"

Aphrodite blew flowers toward the Moonlight Monsters, which made them powerless.

"Then I activate my set card, Quick-Play Spell 'Fairy Impact' to inflict piercing battle damage to you this turn!" Naomi yelled, then went into her Battle Phase.

"Aphrodite, attack Moonlight Cat Dancer!"

Aphrodite created a whirlwind out of her hands, heading toward Cat Dancer. A Trap Card appeared in front of Cat Dancer, showing a yellow moon above an ocean with waves swaying back and forth. "I activate the Trap Card 'Luna Light Tides' to negate the attack and destroy Aphrodite!" Serena countered, saving her ace monster from destruction and her LP from hitting 0.

The Trap Card blasted a yellow beam that shot Aphrodite. She screamed in pain and was now destroyed due to the Trap's effect.

"Now, since you don't control Aphrodite anymore, your Quick-Play Spell Card's effect is useless, and my monster's ATK returns to normal."

Naomi narrowed her eyes and proceeded with her turn. "I banish Aphrodite from my Extra Deck to Special Summon another Fairy-Type Monster when she is destroyed by battle or by a card effect. Appear, Duclina, the Fairy of Autumn!" Naomi exclaimed as she summoned another monster to the field.

A tan skin woman with orange hair wearing an orange floral dress appeared with wings on her back that resembled autumn leaves with the color scheme of orange and red.

Fire/Level 8/Fairy/Fusion/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2000

"Battle! Duclina, attack Blue Cat!"

Duclina blasted a red flame toward the crouched animal creature as Blue Cat was now burned, and Serena winced from the attack.

Serena:3400-1800=1600 LP

"I move to my Main Phase 2. I activate Duclina's effect to destroy all Spell and Trap Cards you control!" Naomi destroyed the Continuous Spell Card that powers up Serena's monsters tremendously.

"Of course, this is what you would go for," Serena grumbled.

"I set one card, and I end my turn" Naomi concluded her turn with a set card on her field.

"Serena-chan, I will admit your strategy is amazing. However, it's dull because of how straightforward it is," Naomi confessed.

"What?" Serena muttered with narrowed eyes.

"I'll put it bluntly since that is the only way you can understand me. Your dueling is too predictable after observing your first turn. You power up your ace monster to make sure it inflicts as much battle damage if your Opponent controls as many monsters as they can, which puts you at an advantage. So, by your Moonlight deck tactics, you always plan to go for a One Turn Kill."

Naomi closed her eyes. "It's a simple tactic indeed. However, it's easy to overcome with the right strategy to overcome decks like yours," Naomi concluded her observations.

Naomi's words made Serena see red, reminding her of a certain person who said the same thing about her deck. "How dare you mock my tactics! A duel without any tactic is nothing but a game," Serena scowled. "I'll beat you with my way and continue to do so!"

Naomi replied, "then show me your power."

Serena took that as a challenge and drew for her turn.

Turn 4

H:1-2

"I activate the Spell Card 'Lunar Rays' by discarding the Spell Card Fusion to banish Moonlight Monsters on my field and my Graveyard. I banish Cat Dancer and Kaleido Chick!" Serena cried out, and both of her monsters swirled in a vortex.

"The beautiful wild beast dancing under the moonlight! Little bird gliding through the mixed darkness! Swarm in a vortex of moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me! Elegant beast dancing in the moonlight! Moonlight Panther Dancer!"

Serena finished her chant, and a mature dark-skinned woman with panther features while wearing a dress appeared on her field.

Dark/Level 8/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 2500

"When a monster is summoned using Lunar Rays, I can draw two cards" Serena draws two cards from her deck.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Moonlight Perfume' to Special Summon Blue Cat from my Graveyard," Blue Cat arrived on the field, growling at the white hybrid shark as the latter snarled at her back.

"When Blue Cat is Special Summon, Panther Dancer's ATK is doubled!" Serena yelled. Panther Dancer powered up to 5600.

"Battle! Moonlight Panther Dancer attack Duclina! Panther Dancer is the same as Cat Dancer however I don't need to tribute a monster to activate this effect! In addition, whenever Panther Dancer destroys your monster, it gains 200 ATK!" Serena revealed, nearly causing Naomi to be taken back.

"I activate Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark's effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit, Panther Dancer loses 1000 ATK!" Naomi cried out. The white hybrid monster shot webs toward Panther Dancer, causing her to be attached to the webs and lose her attained strength.

Panther Dancer slashed Duclina across the chest, making Duclina groan in pain. Naomi winced from the impact.

Naomi:5000-1600=3400 LP

"Regardless, your monster will still be destroyed! Panther Dancer, attack again!" Serena demanded. Panther Dancer launched another attack on Duclina, slicing her in half as the fusion monster exploded due to impact. Naomi skidded back.

Naomi:3400-1600=1800 LP

"Now Panther Dancer attack Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark!"

Panther Dancer slashed the white hybrid in half and kept going until there was a cloud of dust in the jungle area. Naomi activated one of her set cards on the field.

"I activate the Trap Card 'Hallowed Life Barrier' by discarding a card in my hand. All damage I take this turn is reduced to 0" Naomi discarded a card. A light shield protected Naomi from the shockwaves of Panther Dancer's attack.

"That settles it," Serena smirked, satisfied she defeated an Xyz Remnant who not only Fusion Summons but looked like her childhood friend and rival.

"I'm still in this game!" Naomi revealed she was okay from the Fusion Monster's vicious assault, much to Serena's dismay.

"Tsk! You activated a card effect at the last minute. However, when my turn comes again, you'll be finished. Finally, I have proved the Professor wrong about not choosing me for the Vanguard Squadron!" Serena declared. The fierce intensity in her eyes reminded Naomi of Yuzu when she declared her new will when they dueled each other.

"With that, I end my turn!" Serena concluded her turn, and Naomi started her by drawing a card.

Turn 5

H:0-1

"I activate Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark's effect when he is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. I can Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard. I choose to Special Summon Duclina!" Naomi summoned her fusion monster back to the field.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Advance Draw' by tributing Duclina. I can draw two cards" Naomi drew her cards by releasing her monster as she played one of her drawn cards.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Fairy's Gift' by discarding Majestic Mech - Ohka. I can draw three cards" Naomi discarded her monster to increase her hand size.

"I summon Maris the Water Pixie, from my hand."

A girl with overflowing blue hair with blue eyes as she wore a white dress with blue sandals that completed her simple outfit.

Water/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1400

Naomi summoned Maris to her field. "Due to her effect, I can draw a card, and if the drawn card is a monster, I can Special Summon it, regardless of its summoning conditions."

Naomi drew her card and flipped it, revealing it to be a monster card.

"I Special Summon Luna the Dark Spirit via Maris' effect," Luna appeared next to Maris. The latter couldn't help noticing this woman with the same name as her friend.

Dark/Level 4/Fiend/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1200

"2 Level 4 Monsters. She is going to Xyz Summon again," Serena observed with narrowed eyes.

"With my Level 4 Maris and Luna, I will Overlay!" Naomi shouted. The two monsters entered the galaxy-like portal before it exploded, creating a stream of light.

"Priestess of the ice who leads the souls to the afterlife. Rise with your godly powers! Xyz Summon! Appear funerary maiden of ice! Rank 4! No. 103: Ragna Zero!"

Two Overlay Units surround a woman wielding twin ice blades in her hands.

Water/Rank 4/Fairy/Xyz/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 1200/OU:2

"I activate the Spell Card 'Monster Reborn' to revive Duclina!" Naomi revived her monster and proceeded with her next move.

"I activate my set card Quick-Play Spell 'Forbidden Chalice' so Moonlight Panther Dancer gains 400 ATK however her effects will be negated," a beam struck Panther Dancer, causing the monster to lose its color.

"Damn it! Even if you take her effect away, her ATK is higher than both of your monsters!" Serena shouted but felt confused as to why she suddenly saw Naomi smile.

"I activate Ragna Zero's effect by detaching an Overlay Unit to destroy Panther Dancer since her ATK is different from her original ATK!" Naomi shouted. Ragna Zero slashed one of her Overlay Units and blasted Panther Dancer, which destroyed the monster after turning it to ice.

"Ragna Zero's effect lets me draw a card" Naomi drew her card and placed it in her hand.

"Battle! Duclina attack Blue Cat! Ragna Zero, attack the player directly!" Naomi shouted. Duclina once again burned Blue Cat to ashes. Ragna Zero slashed Serena, causing the latter to be sent flying into a tree. Serena winched in pain from the impact.

Serena: 1600-2400=0 LP

Naomi deactivated her duel disk and walked over to Serena. She crouched over to where Serena was and noticed the girl glaring at her.

Naomi smiled and patted Serena on the head, confusing the Moonlight Duelist with her action. "Bad, Serena-chan. Next time don't assume people are Xyz Remnant just because they Xyz Summon. Okay," Naomi chastised softly.

"Stop treating me like a wild animal! If you want to card me, hurry up already!" Serena snapped, slapping Naomi's hand away as she waited for her opponent to card her already since she lost the duel, and having to wait like this damaged her pride.

"I already told you I'm not an Xyz Remnant, so I can't card you, and I won't card you," Naomi shook her head. "My name is Naomi Kobiyashi, and I'm a resident of the Standard Dimension. So, of course, I would know how to Xyz, Fusion, and Synchro Summon. Also, please don't go after the people of the Xyz Dimension you called Remnants until you know what truly happened to their homeland."

Naomi stood on her own two feet and started walking away from Serena. When Serena saw her retreating figure, she couldn't help but see Akemi's figure replace Naomi's. It reminded Serena of the distance between her and Akemi.

"Tsk...I was this close to being one step closer to my goal. But I'm not going to give up. I will keep getting stronger for my sake and hers," Serena mumbled before standing. She looked at the screen where it displayed the Volcano Zone. She saw Dennis riding an Xyz Monster as a thought swarmed in her mind. "I think I have found my next opponent or punching bag."

On the way towards the Volcano Zone_

Naomi is currently conversing with her ace monster, Eternia, about what happened in the Jungle Area.

"You look pretty upset back there, Naomi. What did she say that offended you?" Eternia questioned. She's curious about why Naomi acted that way as if she would severely injure Serena if the latter kept pressing her buttons.

"Well, that's because she insulted my monsters," Naomi replied with a pout. "You can insult me all you want, but you will not talk bad about my mom, my friends, and especially my monsters. I just reminded her of that."

Eternia gave an amused smile. "I figured it had something to do with how she looked down on Aretha and Marian. They are glad that you got angry for their sake, but next time try your hardest to calm down," Eternia advised.

"I will, but if something like that happens again, then I can't promise it's going to be pretty," Naomi replied. She huffed her chest but still managed to be cautious of her surroundings. Especially since Serena might not be the only person, who's not supposed to be a contestant. Then Serena's presence gave Naomi a good reason to be on her guard.

It took Naomi five minutes to reach the blazing volcanic field. She views the entire area as she walks toward the bridge. That's when she sees a boy around the same age as her on the other side, with the same maroon red-colored hair and yellow eyes.

Naomi recalled the boy standing across from her was Riko's older twin brother, Eijirou Ando.

"You're the girl that beat Riko-" Eijirou pointed at Naomi, who shook her hand.

"That was Yuki Shimizu-san. My name is Naomi Kobiyashi" Naomi cut Eijirou off as soon as he was about to mistake her for Yuki.

"Naomi Kobiyashi-san?"

"Yes. I am Naomi Kobiyashi, Eijirou-kun."

"Really?"

"Yes. Really."

The two stared at each other for a long while until Eijirou broke off the contact, sighing.

"Guess it can't be helped. Well, since I'm here now, I will duel you while betting our Pendulum Cards" Eijirou showed his two Pendulum Cards he found in Volcanic Area. The two cards were Dragodies, the Empowered Warrior, and Dragonox, the Empowered Warrior.

Naomi smirked and showed her recently found Pendulum Cards. She needed to blow off some steam and get her mind off Academia-related things. Especially since she ran into Serena, she can also use this opportunity to have fun without risking her life in the incoming threat.

Both Junior Youths stood on either side of the bridge.

"DUEL!"

Naomi vs Eijrou; 4000 LP Each, H:5 Each

"I'll take the first turn!" Naomi declared, looking at her hand.

Turn 1

H:5

"I summon Guiding Ariadne," Naomi started. She summoned a white female machine with yellow designs that appeared on the field.

Light/Level 4/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect/ATK 1700/DEF 800/P.S:3

"I set one card and end my turn," Naomi finished looking at her opponent.

"Then it's my turn!" Eijirou declared, drawing his card.

Turn 2

H:5-6

"I activate the Spell card 'Painful Decision' to send a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my deck to the Graveyard," Eijirou started as a card slid out from his deck, "the card I choose is Level 2 Metalfoes Steelen to the Graveyard to activate Painful Decision's additional effect."

Eijirou slid the card into the graveyard slot as he added another card from his deck. "I'm able to add the card with the same name as the one I sent to the Graveyard, so my second Level 2 Metalfoes Steelen is added to my hand" Eijirou explained, showing the card.

Naomi's eyes widened when she saw the shown monster was, in fact, a Pendulum Monster. "He runs a Pendulum-based deck?!" Naomi was shocked because someone else owned Pendulum cards besides herself, Yuzu, Yuya, and Reiji. She concluded that Reiji probably constructed the cards for Eijirou. It makes sense since Reiji is the type of person to make cards for someone if it benefits him in the process. Naomi pushed these thoughts to the side and continued with the duel.

"So that's why he sent his card to the graveyard to get another one in his hand," Naomi noted in her mind.

"A Pendulum Monster would go to the Extra Deck when it was sent to the Graveyard directly from the field, however, since I sent this card to the Graveyard from my Deck, it stays there, right" Eijirou explained as Naomi confirmed the information was correct from what she remembered from to what happened Yuya and Sora's duel.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Fusion' to fuse my two Metalfoes Goldriver!" Eijirou said as the monsters swirled into a vortex.

"Two psychic warriors clad in metals! Swirl in a vortex of the intelligence and create a new metal ally! Fusion Summon! Level 1! Fullmetalfoes Alkahest!" Eijirou chanted as a metallic man wearing green armor and a green hat while wielding a staff appeared on the field, emitting a small blue aura indicating it was in defense mode.

Fire/Level 1/Psychic/Fusion/Effect/ATK 0/DEF 0

"It has 0 ATK and 0 DEF?" Naomi said, confused but thinking the monster must have some strong effect despite not having any ATK or DEF.

"I set two cards and end my turn" Eijirou finished his turn. Naomi drew her card for her next turn.

H:2

Turn 3

H:3-4

"I-" Naomi started before being interrupted by Eijirou.

"I activate Alkahest's effect during my opponent's turn! I can equip a monster they control onto Alkahest!"

Alkahest teleported behind Guiding Ariadne, transformed her into a white shield, and placed it on his arm.

"What!" Naomi gasped as her monster disappeared and was now on her opponent's side of the field but in a different form.

"Now Alkahest's effect when it has a monster equipped to him, his DEF is increased by the equipped monster amount," Eijirou added as the Fullmetalfoes monster's DEF powered up to 1700.

Naomi looked at her hand, saw her options, and knew what she could do next.

"When my opponent controls and I don't, I can Special Summon Brooke from my hand."

Brooke appeared on the field, crossing her arms together.

Earth/Level 5/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1500/DEF 2500

"Brooke's effect allows me to add either a Ritual Spell or a Ritual Monster" Naomi showed the card revealing it to be a Ritual Spell as she activated it.

"I activate the Ritual Spell 'Primal Cry' to tribute Level 6 Herald the Perfection and Level 2 Herald the Purple Light!"

A shrine appeared, giving a soft glow, and multiple colors of light shone upon the shrine.

"The bright graceful bird of beauty. Be reborn into this new realm of light! Ritual Summon! Appear! Vennu Bright Bird of Divinity!" Naomi chanted a golden bird with beautiful bright accessories in its body. It had a purple cloth around the lower area of the body's descent on the field.

Light/Level 8/Fairy/Ritual/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 2000

"Now I release Brooke to Advance Summon Luna, the Night Pixie from my hand!"

Brooke disappeared in yellow dust as a black-haired fairy with pale skin and yellow eyes was wearing a white moon crescent as she had a floral black dress as she appeared on the field.

Dark/Level 5/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect/ATK 1400/DEF 1600/P.S:2

"When Luna is Advance Summoned, I can draw one card however, if the drawn card is a monster or Spell Card, it is sent to the Graveyard" Naomi drew a card and flipped it over, revealing it to be the Monster Card-Mana. She slid the card into her Graveyard slot. "Mana's effect activates when she is sent to the Graveyard. I can add two Fairy-Type monsters from my Deck to my hand, and Vennu's effects allow me to target a monster in my Graveyard when another monster has been tributed! I add Brooke, Entermate Angel Juggler, and Rhythm the Fairy Songstress to my hand."

Entermate Angel Juggler and Rhythm the Fairy Songstress. Two Pendulum Monsters she received from the same night Yuzu received her Pendulum Cards. These two monsters represent the bond she shares with her closest friends. Seeing these cards proves to her that they are somewhere in the Battle Royale, facing a strong opponent but striving to move forward.

Because of that fact, Naomi will never give up in her duels. She will try her hardest until the last card is drawn or her LP hits 0.

She turned her focus back on the duel.

"Battle! Vennu attack Metalfoes Alkahest!" Naomi thrust her hand forward. Vennu blasted a green tornado destroying the metallic warrior. However, Eijirou didn't take any damage.

"Now Luna attack-!"

"Trap Card 'Metalfoes Counter' when a card I control is destroyed, I can Special Summon Metalfoes Volflame from my Deck! Appear! My monster!" Eijirou countered. A portal opened up Volflame drove through and protected Eijirou from the incoming attack.

Naomi clicked her teeth and stopped her attack, much to Luna's dismay. The night pixie pouted and returned to her place. Naomi gave Luna a reassuring smile.

"I end my turn" Naomi concluded her turn.

"Well, then it's my turn!" Eijirou announced, drawing his card.

Turn 4

H:2-3

"I activate my Continuous Trap 'Metalfoes Combination' when a Fusion Monster is Fusion Summoned. I can target a Metalfoes in my Graveyard whose Level is lower than the summoned monster" Eijirou explained. "Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Metalfoes Fusion' to fuse Metalfoes Volflame and Steelen in my hand."

"Another Fusion Summon... So that's why he activated his Trap Card so he can use it," Naomi thought out loud as she wondered did Eijirou know that he was going to perform another Fusion Summon or was it all plain luck.

"Metals allies' armor which is clad in metal! Swirl in a vortex of the intelligence and create a new metal ally! Fusion Summon! Level 8 Metalfoes Orichalc!"

Fire/Level 8/Psychic/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 2200

A man wearing golden armor as he wields two fire axes in his hand. He had two like wheels on his back as they were covered in gold.

"Now Metalfoes Combination's effect activates! I Special Summon Metalfoes Volflame from my Graveyard!"

This time a red and green vehicle with fire designs at the end of the vehicle appeared on the field, coming out of the scorching hot lava.

Fire/Level 7/Psychic/Pendulum/Normal/ATK 2400/DEF 2000/P.S:8

"Now, by Metalfoes Fusion's effect, when this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can shuffle this card back to the deck, and if I do, I can draw one card," Eijirou added as the card slot out of the Graveyard. The maroon red-haired boy slid the card back to the deck as it shuffled itself, and he drew a card.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Metalfoes Charity' by banishing Metalfoes Steelen from my Graveyard. I can draw two cards" Eijirou drew his cards and played the one on the right.

"Now, I have to get rid of the most troublesome card on your side. I will do that by activating the Spell Card 'Parallel Twister' by destroying Metalfoes Combination. I can destroy a card on the field and the one I choose is your Vennu, Bright Bird of Divinity!" Eijirou declared as a wind blew his Trap Card away and Naomi's Ritual Monster off the field, leaving the latter nervous.

"Since Metalfoes Combination went from the field to the Graveyard, I can add a Metalfoes monster from my deck and add it to my hand," Eijirou informed as a card slot out as he added it to his hand and showed it to his opponent. "The card I added is Metalfoes Ironslicer."

"He completely planned this...By taking my monster in the beginning and Fusion Summoned twice as he took advantage of destroying his Continuous Trap and added a Metalfoes Monster by his hand through his trap card effects when they are destroyed. He's skilled just like Yuki-san and Izumi-san, but I still won't give up!" Naomi thought, bracing herself.

"I activate Metalfoes IronSlicer from my hand! By returning Volflame to my hand, I can Special Summon this card!"

Eijirou summoned a yellow-haired female wearing orange-clad armor as she rode a black bicycle with a sword attached to the wheels.

Fire/Level 2/Psychic/Effect/ATK 1200/DEF 1000

"Ironslicer's effect allows me to Fusion Summon to using monsters I control and, in my hand, including this card without having to use a Fusion Spell Card!" Eijirou shouted as his monsters fused in a portal.

"A Fusion Summon without a Fusion Spell Card, just like Blue Nyx and Yuzu-chan's Soprano effect" Naomi noted. She was worried about the monster the boy would summon to worsen her situation.

"Psychic warriors clad in metals! Infinite monsters from beyond! Swirl in a vortex of the intelligence and create a new metal ally! Fusion Summon! Level 6! Metalfoes Mithrilium!"

A purple-haired person wearing red and silver armor with wings appeared next to Orichalc.

Fire/Level 6/Psychic/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2600/DEF 1000

"Mithrilium's effect shuffles my two Goldrivers back to my Deck and returns Luna to your hand!"

Mithrilium blasted multiple beams toward Luna, and the girl screamed and disappeared from the field. Leaving Naomi without a monster to defend herself.

"Crap," Naomi grumbled, glancing at her set card, hoping it would save her from the attacks.

"Battle! Mithrilium attack Naomi Kobiyashi directly!" Eijirou shouted, declaring an attack.

Mithrilium once again blasted a beam toward Naomi, who dodged the attack but saw her LP go down on the screen.

Naomi:4000-2600=1400 LP

"Now, Orichalc finish this duel!"

"I'm not done yet!" Naomi shouted, flipping her set card, revealing it to be Eternia calling multiple friends to her side.

"Quick-Play Spell 'Fairy's Calling' I Special Summon Tualatin in Defense Position!"

Light/Level 8/Fairy/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 2500

Tualatin shielded Naomi from the attack that would have wiped away all of her LP in a single strike.

"Orichalc's effects when Metalfoes monster attacks a Defense Position monster, they can inflict double piercing battle damage onto my opponent" Eijirou revealed, causing Orichalc to slash Tualatin repeatedly, but the monster wasn't going to back down from the relentless attacks.

However, it was thanks to Tualatin that Naomi didn't take major damage, but her monster was still destroyed after the ferocious attacks on him. She thanked him for protecting her.

Naomi:1400-600=700 LP

"I notice you didn't use Action Cards even though they were around you," Eijirou observed, he recalled he noticed three Actions Cards near Naomi, but the girl didn't go for a single card.

"I can say the same for you. Are you like Izumi-san, who doesn't like to use Action Cards?" Naomi remarked. She noticed the same thing about her opponent.

"You are partially correct, but I simply choose not to use those cards, especially if they don't turn well in my favor" Eijirou replied. He remembered when he was in a duel and ran into many Action Traps that nearly cost him the duel. So ever since then, he hasn't been too reliant on those Action Cards.

Naomi nodded and understood where Eijirou was coming from. She had the same problem and witnessed her friends running into Action Traps or even Action Spell cards that would purposely reduce your LP.

She always wondered in the back of her mind, whenever Yuya duels, does the Entermate Duelist needs those cards to win the duel, or was he just really lucky? But fortunately, it seems he doesn't rely much on those Action Cards as he did in the past. To her, it showed that he had improved his skills greatly.

"I end my turn. But be careful because I'll be ending this duel in my next turn, so choose your moves carefully, Naomi-san" Eijirou warned. Naomi nodded at the warning as she prepared herself to draw.

Turn 5

"I need to draw that card to summon that monster and end this duel in an OTK," Naomi thought, placing her hand on the deck and drawing the card as a green stream of light emitting from her.

H:4-5

Naomi looked at the card and flipped it, seeing it was a Spell Card Pot of Extravagance, and she sighed in relief before activating it.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Extravagance' by randomly banishing three monsters from my Extra Deck. I can draw one card!" Naomi hoped she didn't banish the monster she needed to win, or otherwise, she was going to lose this duel because of her somewhat bad luck.

She drew her card and smiled.

"Everyone! Are you ready!" Naomi called, igniting cheers from the crowd. She grabbed her two Pendulum Cards and showed them.

"Now I set Scale 2-Entermate Angel Juggler and Scale 10-Rhythm the Fairy Songstress to set the Pendulum Scale!" Naomi said, setting the cards as her duel disk as the two blue pillars showed up.

In one blue column was a mature woman with white hair wearing a black top hat with a red ribbon as she wore a renaissance dress with long red sleeves. She had a black corset that had white frills down her thighs. She wore orange and gray stockings with black boots, and below her was number 2. The other blue column was a young girl with pink cotton hair, a wing clip with a blue feather, wearing a long sleeves sky blue princess dress with a cotton collar on, and white strap heels behind her back were white angel wings as she held a harp in her hands, and below her was the number 10.

"Now I can summon monsters whose Levels are 3 through 9 all simultaneously! Shine so everyone can hear your voices across the heavens! Pendulum Summon! Naomi chanted as her birthmark glowed green. "Come forth! My monster friends!"

"Level 7 Athena, the Fairy Warrior! And Level 7 Guardian Angel Joan!"

A woman who resembles Athena appeared on the field as she wore archangel clothing with golden silk. She had a two-sided spear in her hand and a golden shield in the other. The other one was a mature woman wearing a golden dress.

Athena, the Fairy Warrior: Light/Level 7/Fairy/Pendulum/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 1800/P.S:1

Guardian Angel Joan: Light/Level 7/Fairy/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 2000

Naomi smiled as her monster evolved and remembered Eternia's words that some monsters in her Deck evolved into Pendulum Monsters. It was because of Naomi's progress to become stronger to evolve into a new person. So, her will to evolve caused some monsters to evolve into Pendulum Monsters in response to her will and to gain new monster friends who represent her bond with her loved ones.

"I'm really lucky to have friends like you guys," Naomi thanked and heard Athena and Joan responding to her feelings.

"We're really grateful to have such a kind master like you, Naomi."

Naomi smiled as she raised her hand. "I will now overlay Level 7 Guardian Angel Joan and Athena, the Fairy Warrior!" Naomi shouted, creating the network as both of her monsters turned into yellow balls of energy.

"The fairy of the night, emit your brilliance across the world! Xyz Summon! Rank 7! Umblina, the Bright Fairy!" Naomi chanted. A mature woman wore a strapless white dress with a jewelry sash on her stomach as she had a purple silk sash across her chest. She wore white evening gloves with white straps and heels. Her hair was a blonde color as it was in a bun held up by an angel wings accessory. She opened her purple eyes and gave a wink before being surrounded by two golden lights rotating around her.

Light/Rank 7/Fairy/Xyz/Pendulum/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2000/P.S:2/OU:2

"A Pendulum-Xyz Monster!" Eijirou gasped in surprise.

"That's right, and it's because of my bond with my friends that I was able to create this monster!" Naomi answered.

Before Yuya's duel against Gongenzaka, this monster appeared in her Extra Deck. She tried to figure out why this monster hybrid appeared in the first place until she recalled the time she spent with Yuki, Yuto, and even Shun. Like the monster's name, the card shined in bright white light, resembling the light taken away from Heartland by Academia. However, with these cards, Naomi will make sure the city that her Xyz counterpart and her friends love will retain its brilliance again after this war. That is a promise Naomi intended to keep.

"I activate Umblina's effect! I can detach one Overlay Unit to destroy Level 5 or higher monsters that you control," Naomi said. Umblina absorbed one of her Overlay Units and threw a barrage of yellow lights at the two Metalfoes Monsters.

"What!" Eijirou shouted, surprised by the monster's effect.

"Bright Brillance!" Naomi shouted. Umblina destroyed Metalfoes Orichalc, and Mithrilium. She caused them to turn into dust.

"Now, since I did, I can inflict damage equal to the original ATK of the monsters destroyed by this effect!" Naomi added, winking as Eijirou blushed a pink color on his cheeks from Naomi's cuteness.

"Since Orichalc ATK was 2800 and Mithrilium ATK was 2600, you take 5400 damage, Eijirou-kun!" Naomi yelled, igniting the effect to go through.

Umblina shot streams of light toward Eijirou as he was blasted off the ground from the effect damage while making a light shower for the audience.

Eijirou:5400-4000=0

"Yeah!" Naomi cheered before giving a wink face. "That's it, everybody!"

In the LDS Stadium_

"Kobiyashi just won her duel and ended with her famous idol duelist style with a little bit of entertainment style," Nico announced.

"My cute daughter is so excellent! So amazing, so cute!" Chou cooed, waving her glow sticks.

"That brings me shivers~" Futoshi cheered, doing his signature dance, shaking his body back and forth along with Chou's constant screaming as the others sweat-dropped at their antics.

In the Volcanic Zone_

"Here, both of these Pendulum Cards that I wagered," Eijirou recalled handing Dragodies, the Empowered Warrior, and Dragonox, the Empowered Warrior, to Naomi.

"Thank you, Eijirou-kun. I hope we can duel again sometime in the future," Naomi said, smiling as the boy was flustered.

"O-of course but this time, I'll beat you!" Eijirou declared, coughing in the other direction to hide his blush. Naomi pressed her lips in a straight line. She wanted to tell Eijirou about the possible invasion but wondered whether she could tell him. She decided to warn Eijirou to watch out for suspicious people during the Battle Royale.

Much to his confusion, he pressed Naomi to elaborate further on what she was talking about. But all Naomi could do was warn him to stay on his guard and avoid people whose duel disk is shield-shaped, and its glow is shaped like a sword.

With those words, the two of them went on their separate ways. Naomi prayed for Eijirou's safety. She continued to walk around the molten area until she saw Yuzu, Serena, and a fallen Dennis.

"Yuzu-chan, why are you with Serena-chan? What happened to Dennis-san?" Naomi questioned. She noticed Serena getting into a fighting position. Naomi turned around, and when she did, she gasped at who she saw.

Several Moments Ago_In the Ancient Ruins Area_

Yuki leaned against a pillar to witness Shun defeating the Knights of Duels. She decided to stand on watch from the sidelines. She then saw Yuya approaching Shun. Yuki knew the latter would confront the former about having Yuto's ace monster Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon. She understood Shun's actions because if she was in his shoes and didn't know anything about what happened to their friend. Then she would have been very upset about the situation. It didn't help the situation when she didn't tell him what happened due to her being in a state of depression.

Nonetheless, Yuki told Shun that Yuto was fine. She was grateful that Shun didn't press the matter any further but informed her that he would confront Yuya about what truly happened that night. She allowed him to one condition: that he will listen to what Yuya had to say before jumping to conclusions. Shun agreed to her condition and waited for Yuya to arrive in the area.

However, to her dismay, the two boys' conversation was interrupted by a purple slash. Yuki saw the Knights of Duels using a duel as an excuse to hurt Shun on purpose, knowing he would receive the 2000 LP intrusion penalty if he did join the duel.

Unfortunately for them, she didn't care about the penalty.

"Then I will have to teach you three no-good bastards a lesson!" Yuki declared, her white duel blade out.

"INTRUSION PENALTY! LOSE 2000 LP!"

Yuki's duel disk gave her light shocks, but they were harmless to her, considering half of the monsters in her deck use lightning attacks.

Turn 4

H:5-6

"I activate White Dragon's chick effect from my hand. When I control no monsters, I can Special Summon this card," Yuki said as a small blue-eye white dragon appeared on the field.

Dragon/Level 1/Dragon/Effect/ATK 800/DEF 500

"Now I activate its effect. I can tribute this card to Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my Deck" Yuki tributes the small dragon into its larger form as the said dragon roared when it appeared on the field.

Light/Level 8/Dragon/Normal/ATK 3000/DEF 2500

"I activate the Spell Card 'Ancient Rules' to Special Summon another Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand."

Another Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared on the field, roaring next to its twin.

Light/Level 8/Dragon/Normal/ATK 3000/DEF 2500

"Now I will overlay with my 2 Level 8 Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Yuki shouted, with both of her monsters going into the network. "Made from thunder itself! Crash down and strike down everything in your path that dare stands in your way! Xyz Summon! Show yourself! Rank 8! Thunder End Dragon!"

Light/Rank 8/Dragon/Xyz/Effect/ATK 3000/DEF 2500/OU:2

Yuki motioned towards the three same Slash the Assault Knight on Ashley, Carl, and Bram's field.

"I detach an Overlay Unit to destroy all monsters on the field, excluding my ace monster!"

Yuki turned towards her ace monster. "Thunder End, if you can, please." He knew what Yuki wanted from him and agreed with a savage grin.

He destroyed one of his Overlay Units. The whole area was covered in white lightning, shocking everything in its place. Slash the Assault Knights were enveloped by lightning and paralyzed by the intensity as they all vanished from the field, leaving the Knights of Duels defenseless.

"Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Overlay Rage' since Thunder End Dragon activated his effect and destroyed three monsters by his effect. He can attack three more times," Yuki explained, taking a card out of her hand.

"Then I equip Thunder End Dragon to the Equip Spell Card 'Xyz Unit' through this card's effect. He gains ATK equal to his Rank times 200! He's a Rank 8 Monster, so he gains 1600 ATK!"

Thunder End Dragon powered up and unleashed more lightning toward the three frightening males. Who clearly understood the situation that was in front of them.

Yuki snapped her fingers together, and Thunder End Dragon launched his signature attack but held back enough to cause terror into the Knights of Duels so they won't pull the same cowardly act again.

Bram:4000-4600=0 LP

Ashley:4000-4600=0 LP

Carl:4000-4600=0 LP

"Repent for your actions, scumbag" Yuki glared at the fallen men covered in bruises as her ace monster huffed in agreement. Before she could walk away, an unknown force caused her to hit a pillar with brute force.

Thankfully, Thunder End Dragon was there to catch her from falling to the ground.

"Are you okay, Yuki?!" Thunder End asked with concern laced in his voice.

Yuki nodded and turned her attention toward the force that caused her to slam on the hard pillar. When she saw the source, she narrowed her eyes.

"You..."

Back to the Volcanic Area_

Naomi saw her opponent from the first match of the Junior Youth Championship, Umi Hojo, appear with these strange-looking men wearing the same blue uniform as she appeared in different clothing. Naomi remembered from Yuki's message that these strange-looking men were the Obelisk Force.

"Umi-chan, why are you with the Obelisk Force?" Naomi asked, confused, taking a step back when a grin formed on the girl's face.

"I'm disappointed that you saw me like this, but it's time to tell you the truth. I am part of Academia Naomi Kobiyashi-chan," Umi revealed. "My mission is to capture and bring you to the Professor."

Umi recalled the mission the Professor had given her an hour ago.

Fusion Dimension_Academia_Professor's Chamber_One Hour Ago

Umi kneeled in front of Leo Akaba. She held in her excitement. Today is the day she returns to the Standard Dimension to complete the assignment the Professor gave her. That assignment is to capture Naomi Kobiyashi.

"Umi Macfield, I expect Naomi Kobiyashi to be brought back in one piece. She must not be harmed," Leo ordered, narrowing his eyes at the last statement. "However, you will not be going alone on this assignment."

Leo snapped his fingers, and six members of the Obelisk Force showed up. Another girl who was a year older than Umi showed up.

She has white hair with blue highlights and crystal blue eyes. She wore a white jacket over a black shirt with a blue collar. She wore a blue skirt held up by a brown belt and dark blue boots. Umi's eyes were dilated by the girl's appearance. This girl is Kori Mizugochi, one of the elite duelists in Academia. To think she was also ordered to come to the Professor's Chamber like her. But it was to be expected. She is an elite duelist, after all.

"While Kori Mizugochi, your assignment is to capture Yuki Shimizu. She is to be unharmed and brought back here in one piece, or else there will be consequences," Leo added. Kori simply smiled.

"I understand, Professor. If I come across her, I will bring her back alive, and the same thing goes for Naomi Kobiyashi," Kori answered with a cold smile.

"They will be brought back here. No matter what."

Standard Dimension_Battle Royal_Volcanic Area_Present Time_

Yuzu took a step toward Naomi and placed an arm in front of her. "I won't let Academia have Naomi-chan! If you want her, you will have to get through me first!" Yuzu shouted, activating her duel disk. Umi stared and activated hers in the process.

It was a real pain to duel someone she didn't want to. Especially small fries she can handle. But it seems like she doesn't have a choice in the matter.

Before they could start the duel, smoke was thrown in their faces causing the girls to cough.

Suddenly Umi was surrounded by four people who were a year older than her. They all activated their duel disk.

Umi glared at the spot where Yuzu, Naomi, and Serena were and clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Hey! You three go after them now!" Umi shouted in pure anger that she was hindered again, but this time by these four boys, and decided to take her anger out on them.

"Yes, ma'am!" The three Obelisk Force disappeared from their spots, and Umi turned her attention back to the four boys in front of her.

"I'll teach you punks about getting in my way!" Umi snarled. Her eyes flashed dangerously.

To the Ancient Ruins Area_

"Kori Mizugochi," Yuki glared at the one who sent her flying. Kori bowed her head and gave a smile.

"Hello there, Yuki Shimizu-san. Now let's go back to Academia before someone gets hurt" Kori smiled, but to Yuki, her smile had a hidden meaning.

"To let you know that person won't be me by any chance."

Like before, smoke covered the area as the two girls covered their eyes. Yuki felt herself being carried in someone's arms.

When the smoke cleared, Kori was surrounded by a group of four boys, and one of them was Yu Sakuragi.

"We won't let Academia have its way. We will stop you right here," Yu declared. Kori gave a chuckle and shook her head.

"Ah...I was hoping to avoid unnecessary damage to noisy bystanders, but it can't be helped," despite being surrounded, Kori felt amused by the situation around her.

Her smile turned cold, and her eyes flashed. "It seems I have to teach you a lesson in manners. Give me the best you got," Kori warned, a dark blue aura enveloping her as she unleashed a blizzard freezing the ruined area. "Because I'm not going to hold back."

Back to the Volcano Area_

Naomi and Yuzu dragged an unwilling Serena away from the area. But the latter kept struggling until they stopped and unleashed their hands on her jacket's sleeves.

"What was that for?!" Serena yelled at the two girls. "I could have handled her perfectly! Why did you two get in my way!"

Yuzu glared right back at Serena. "We were trying to help you, Serena. If you and Umi are from the same place, then you know what Academia did to the Xyz Dimension, right" Yuzu said. Serena scoffed in retaliation for Yuzu's words.

"Of course. Academia won against the Xyz Dimension with pride. I don't know what sob story the Xyz Remnants told you, but they are all lies," Serena replied. Naomi sighed.

"Serena...what Academia did to the Xyz Dimension was-"

Before Naomi could continue to tell Serena what her dimension truly did to the Xyz Dimension again. She was interrupted by a rough voice.

"There's Serena-sama, Naomi Kobiyashi-sama, and Yuzu Hiiragi-sama."

The three girls turned around towards the source and got their duel disks ready. It was the Obelisk Force Umi was with. The three men with the same uniform with different colored gems on their helmets: green, yellow, and red.

"Now come back to Academia peacefully, Serena-sama," Obelisk Red said, "the same goes for you two as well. Naomi Kobiyashi-sama and Yuzu Hiiragi-sama."

Serena narrowed her eyes. "If you want me to come back, then you will have to do it by force!"

"The faster we take these guys out, the faster we can tell Serena-chan the truth," Naomi whispered to Yuzu. If they tell Serena what happened to the Xyz Dimension, the girl might be on their side and fight against Academia. And they need to contact Yuya and Gongenzaka and hope they are still alive and not carded.

"That sounds like a good plan," Yuzu agreed.

"Very well. If you three lose, then you will return back to Academia," Obelisk Yellow stated as he and his comrades activated their duel disk.

"If we lose," Naomi pointed out, preparing herself to duke it out against the three men.

"DUEL!"

Naomi, Yuzu, and Serena vs Obelisk Force: Green, Yellow, and Red; 4000 LP Each, H:5 Each

Turn 1

H:5

"I will go first," Naomi declared, playing a card.

"When I control no monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Madolche Puddincessoeur from my hand!" Naomi summoned a younger version of Puddincess.

Earth/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1400/DEF 1400

"Puddincessoeur's effect allows me to Special Summoned Puddincess from my Deck but at the cost of reducing her Level by 1!" Appearing from a portal was Puddincess as she smiled at her younger counterpart.

Earth/Level 5/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 1000

"With my now Level 4 Puddincess and Puddincessoeur, I will Overlay!" Naomi yelled, creating her network.

The sweet queen who rules over the magical dolls! Bring joy to the world! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Madolche Queen Tiaramisu!" Naomi chanted. Tiaramisu appeared with two orange Overlay Units swirled around her.

Earth/Rank 4/Fairy/Xyz/Effect/ATK 2200/DEF 2100/OU:2

"I summon Madolche Magileine from my hand" this time, Naomi summoned a small girl with purple hair wearing a purple dress and a witch hat while holding a fork in her hand.

Earth/Level 4/Spellcaster/Effect/ATK 1400/DEF 1200

"When Magileine is Flip or Normal Summoned, I can add a Madolche Monster from my Deck to my hand. I add the Tuner Monster Madolche Mooilk to my hand, and due to its effect, I can Special Summon this card from my hand."

A white-haired girl wearing a cow-like pattern dress had a brown horn. She was holding a tray in her hands.

Earth/Level 3/Beast/Tuner/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 800

"I tune my Level 4 Magileine with Mooilk! Sweet Empress of the magical's dolls! Bring joy and peace to your kind! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 7, Madolche Vanilla Empress!"

A white-haired woman with brown eyes wearing a white dress with blue and red frills at the bottom. She had blue ribbons around her wrist and wore white heels covered with sweets at the bottom. She wielded twin swords whose handles were covered in the dark chocolate substance.

Earth/Level 7/Fairy/Synchro/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 2100

"I set two cards and end my turn!" Naomi finished her turn with two face-down on the field.

Yuzu glanced at Naomi, and the latter gave a reassuring smile to ease Yuzu's worries.

"It's my turn!" Obelisk Green starts his turn.

Turn 2

H:5-6

"I summon Antique Gear Hound Dog!"

Earth/Level 3/Machine/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 1000

A green mechanical dog appeared on the field.

"When you control a monster, you take 600 damage due to Hound Dog's effect!" Obelisk Green activates his effect. Hound Dog shot flames toward Naomi. But Vanilla Empress protected Naomi from the flames.

Naomi:4000-600=3400 LP

"Thanks, Vanilla Empress" Naomi smiled despite taking some damage.

"Battle! I attack her directly!"

Green declared an attack on Yuzu, who was defenseless. "Tsk! Cowards!" Serena growled when they would attack someone without a monster than someone who controls one.

"When Antique Gear Hound Dog attacks, you cannot activate any Spell or Trap Cards!" Green revealed. Yuzu glanced at a card in her hand and quickly activated it.

"I send Giocoso the Melodious Songstress to the Graveyard to reduce the damage to 0!" Yuzu saved herself just in time as Giocoso blocked Hounding Dog from touching her master.

"Tsk! I set two cards and end my turn!" Obelisk Green finished his turn, and just before Yellow could start his turn, Serena drew her card.

"I will go next!" Serena shouted, playing her drawn card.

Turn 3

H:5-6

"I activate the Spell Card 'Fusion' to fuse Moonlight Blue Cat and Purple Butterfly!" Serena cried out, fusing her monsters. Naomi glanced at one of the set cards on their opponent's field.

"They must have something to counter Serena-chan's deck," Naomi noted quietly.

"The cat prowling in the azure darkness! Butterfly with violet poison! Swarm in a vortex of moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me, beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! Moonlight Cat Dancer!"

A pink-haired mature feline woman wearing blue exotic dancing clothing appears, holding twin daggers in her hands.

Dark/Level 7/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 2000

"I summon Moonlight Kaleido Chick," Serena summoned Kaleido Chick to her field.

Dark/Level 4/Beast-Warrior/Effect/ATK 1400/DEF 800

"I tribute Kaleido Chick, so Cat Dancer can attack your monsters however they are not destroyed the first time but the second time they are!" Serena yelled, Kaleido Chick disappeared, and Serena added the Spell Card Fusion back to her hand through her effect.

Just before Serena could go through with her attack, but was stopped by a shout.

"That won't work! I activate the Trap Card 'Fusion Dispersal'!" Green revealed much to Serena's confusion.

"Fusion Dispersal?" Yuzu repeated. She clicked on the card on her duel disk and read the effects. When she was finished, her eyes widened. She turned towards Serena in concern.

"Moonlight Cat Dancer returns to the Extra Deck, and the monsters used to summon Moonlight Cat Dancer are Special Summoned back to your field! Serena-sama, you take damage equal to one of the Fusion Monster Materials with the highest ATK!"

Blue Cat and Purple Butterfly return to Serena's field.

Blue Cat: Dark/Level 4/Beast-Warrior/Effect/ATK 1600/DEF 1200

Purple Butterfly: Dark/Level 3/Beast-Warrior/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 1000

The Trap Card blasted a yellow beam, and Serena skidded back due to the 1600 damage she had just taken.

Serena:4000-1600=2400 LP

Naomi's suspicions were correct with Yellow's next words. "We know everything about your deck. There's nothing you can do," Yellow snickered.

Serena glanced at her cards and picked one up. Now looking back on Naomi's words, not only was her strategy beaten again, but her Deck was revealed, and the enemy knew every single card in her possession. However, there is still one thing she can do.

"I set one card and end my turn" Serena finished her turn.

"My turn!" Obelisk Yellow drew his card.

Turn 4

H:5-6

"I activate the Spell Card 'Fusion' to fuse my three Antique Gear Hound Dogs! Mechanical hounds who carry on the ancient spirits! Flock together and become one with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog!"

A blue triple-headed mechanical dog appeared on Yellow's field.

Earth/Level 7/Machine/Effect/ATK 1800/DEF 1000

"Battle! When Triple-!" Yellow started before being interrupted by a shout.

"I activate my set cards! First, the Quick-Play Spell 'Effect Shut' to negate Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog's effect, and second the Trap Card 'Doll's Play' so you cannot activate any card effects during this battle phase!" Naomi's cards shot a beam toward the tripled-headed monster, effectively destroying it and sealing Obelisk Green's other facedown.

Serena glanced at Naomi, who saved her monsters from being destroyed and her from taking minimal damage.

"Good play Naomi Kobiyashi-sama! I set two cards to end my turn!" Yellow snarled. Naomi narrowed her eyes when one of the members said her full name for the third time.

"How do you know my name?" Naomi asked.

"It's obvious the Professor ordered us to bring not only back Serena-sama but you, Yuzu Hiiragi-sama, and Yuki Shimizu-sama as well," Obelisk Red answered. Yuzu and Naomi narrowed their eyes.

Their early suspicions were correct, and now they have to make sure they win this duel against them, or otherwise Serena, Yuki, and they will be going to Academia against their free will.

"That's not going to happen because you three are going back empty-handed!" Serena replied with narrowed eyes.

"She's right. I don't know why the Professor would want us, but we refuse to be taken away so easily! Now it's my turn!" Yuzu drew her card and placed it in her hand.

Turn 5

H:4-5

"I activate the Spell Card 'Fourth Movement' when I control no monsters, I can Special Summon 4 Level 4 or lower Melodious Monsters from my Deck. However, the monsters Special Summoned by this effect will have their effects negated. Their ATK and DEF changed to 0! I chose Lyra the Melodious Songstress, Hemiola, Sonata, and Opera the Melodious Diva" With those words, Yuzu Special Summoned the declared monsters, and one by one, they appeared from the portal.

Lyra the Melodious Songstress.

A green-haired woman wearing a blue dress with a single wing on her back.

Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1300/DEF 1600

Hemiola appeared alongside Lyra.

Light/Level 3/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 1000

Sonata started to sing when she showed up next to her friends.

Light/Level 3/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1200/DEF 1000

Finally, Opera appeared beside them with a smile on her face.

Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 2300/DEF 1000

"I activate the Spell Card 'Fusion' to fuse Lyra and Hemiola together! Harmonies of the harps! Gentle rhythm! Guided by the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Sing your song of victory! Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint!" Yuzu chanted. Bloom Diva appeared on Yuzu's field.

Light/Level 6/Fairy/Fusion/Effect/ATK 1000/DEF 2000

"When Lyra the Melodious Songtress is sent to the Graveyard, I can a Melodious Monster with the same Level as her. So I add Soprano the Melodious Songstress to my hand" Yuzu showed the card and summoned the added monster.

Light/Level 4/Fairy/Effect/ATK 1400/DEF 1400

"Soprano's effect allows me to Fusion Summon using monsters I control without having to use the Spell Card Fusion! I fuse Soprano and Sonata!"

Yuzu cried out as her monsters swirled into another vortex.

"Angel's song! Flowing melody! Guided by the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now come here to the stage! Meisterin Schubert the Melodious Maestra!"

Light/Level 6/Fairy/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2400/DEF 2000

Meisterin Schubert arrived from the portal, and Yuzu knew what she would do next.

"I can target the three Antique Gear Hound Dogs and the Spell Card Fusion in your Graveyard, so Meisterin Schubert gains 200 ATK for each card banished this way!" Yuzu pointed at Obelisk Yellow's Graveyard. Meisterin Schubert blasted a multicolored beam at the ground as her ATK increased to 3200.

"Battle! Meisterin Schubert attack Antique Gear Hound Dog! Wave of the Great!"

Meisterin Schubert blasted music notes towards the rusted dog, causing explosions to resonate in the Volcano Area. Obelisk Green skidded back due to the damage he took.

Obelisk Green:4000-2200=1800 LP

"However, I still have LP left!" Green reminded.

"Not for long!" Yuzu activated a card from her hand.

"Quick-Play Spell 'Melodious Octave' Bloom Diva gains ATK equal to the number of Melodious Monsters in my Graveyard times 200! There are four, so Bloom Diva gains 800 ATK!"

The floral saint was covered in a yellow aura as her ATK increased to 1800. The same amount as Obelisk Green's LP.

Bloom Diva blasted a green tornado causing Obelisk Green to be thrown off his feet as he fell to the floor. His LP was depleted.

Green:1800-1800=0 LP

Green vanishing from the area in blue light, the remaining two members look back at Yuzu.

"With that, I end my turn," Yuzu concluded her turn.

"Nice one, Yuzu-chan!" Naomi shot a thumbs up at Yuzu for taking out a member and reducing their opponents, and Yuzu returned the gesture.

"Don't get cocky, little girls! It's my turn!" Obelisk Red shouted, drawing his card.

Turn 6

H:5-6

"I activate the Spell Card 'Antique Gear Double Imitate' to Special Summon Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog from Yellow with its effects negated!" Red shouted Triple Bite Hound Dog appeared on his field.

"I activate the Spell Card 'Fusion' to fuse Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog and Hounding Dog! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level 9! Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog!"

A purple-reddish mechanical rusted hound appeared on his field. The girls covered their ears when the monster roared because of the screeching noise.

Earth/Level 9/Machine/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2800/DEF 2000

"When this card is Fusion Summoned, all of your LP is halve!"

The Fusion Monster blasted four yellow beams toward Naomi, Yuzu, and Serena. All of them skidded back and winced through the pain they felt.

Naomi:3400/2=1700 LP

Yuzu:4000/2=2000 LP

Serena:2400/2=1200 LP

"Battle! Serena-sama, with this, your LP will be reduced to 0!"

Ultimate Hound Dog shot a beam toward Blue Cat just before the attack could connect. Naomi activates a card from her hand.

"I activate Madolche Jeldoggo's effect to switch your attack target to Vanilla Empress!"

A blue jelly dog-like creature moves the attack to Vanilla Empress.

"Vanilla Empress' effect allows me to banish Mooilk, so she gains ATK equal to Mooilk" Naomi increased her monster's ATK to 3500.

"Counter it, Vanilla Empress!"

Vanilla Empress slashed the beams and lunged toward the rusted dog. She created multiple slashes across its bodies and sliced the heads completely off.

Obelisk Red:4000-700=3300 LP

"You've managed to escape that as well, but when my turn comes again. You will be finished!" Red declared before setting a card on the field.

Before Naomi could start her turn, Obelisk Yellow cards were activated.

"I activate the Continuous Trap Card 'Antique Gear Reborn' to Special Summon Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog with its ATK increased by 200!" Obelisk Yellow revived his comrades' monster on his field. The summoned monster's ATK was now 3000.

"Now I activate my other Continuous Trap Card 'Antique Gear Spark Shot-!"

"I won't let you do that! I activate my Counter Trap Card 'Moon Counter' since I control a Moonlight Monster! Your Trap Card is negated and destroyed!" Serena saved herself, Naomi, and Yuzu from taking major damage if that card effect had gone through.

She remembered a certain duel when Akemi faced the Obelisk Force for fun and recalled the men's three Continuous Trap Cards deadly combo around the time. However, her friend proved to be the winner with her deck's strategy to inflict effect damage above 1000. Serena may not have known all the cards in the Obelisk Force deck, but she knows that combo, at least. Besides, she can use this duel not to counter the Trap Card they have specifically for her next time.

"Thank you, Serena-chan! I promise I will end this on my turn" Naomi smiled at Serena and thanked her for her efforts. She promised she wouldn't let them be in vain.

"Go for it, Naomi-chan!" Yuzu gave a thumbs up. Naomi nodded and turned her attention back to their opponents.

"That won't happen! I activate the Continuous Trap Card 'Fusion Trench' now. Only Fusion Monsters can attack this turn!" Obelisk Red shouted, but that didn't faze Naomi in the slightest.

"My turn" Naomi drew her card and smiled. This duel has now reached its conclusion.

Turn 7

H:0-1

"I activate Tiaramisu's effect. By detaching an Overlay Unit, I can shuffle Magileine and the Trap Card Doll's Play back to my Deck to shuffle the two Continuous Trap Cards Fusion Trench and Antique Gear Reborn back to your Deck. Now they are removed from the field."

Tiaramisu waves her staff and creates a wind that sweeps up the two cards as the only thing left on the field is a 3000 ATK Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog.

"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Madolche Present' to tribute Tiaramisu to draw two cards" Naomi continued with her turn as her Xyz Monster vanished, and she drew two cards.

"Then I activate the Spell Card 'Magical Dolls Fusion' by returning Tiaramisu and Madolche Jeldoggo to my respective decks! I can fuse them!" Naomi cried out, her monsters swirling in a portal.

"Queen of the sweets! Energetic fluffy dog! Combine your powers into a new kind of hope! Fusion Summon! Descend! The knight of the magical dolls! Madolche Devil's Knight!"

From the portal, a red-haired male with white eyes wearing a suit of armor had a black cake at the ends of his torso. He wielded a gigantic javelin with a peppermint handle.

Earth/Level 8/Warrior/Fusion/Effect/ATK 2500/DEF 1500

"Through Devil's Knight's Effect, all Madolche Monsters gain 800 ATK and DEF!"

Devil's Knight struck down as he and Vanilla Empress powered up to 3300 ATK and 2300 DEF and 3300 ATK and 2900 DEF, respectively.

"Battle! Vanilla Empress, attack Antique Gear Ultimate Hound Dog!"

Vanilla Empress created a gigantic slash mark slicing the rusted dog in multiple places. The places scatter, hitting the surrounding areas.

Obelisk Yellow:4000-300=3700 LP

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell 'Madolche Strike' now you take damage equal to Vanilla Empress' ATK plus 2000!"

Naomi activated her final card in her hand. The Spell Card blasted a stream of white, annihilating Obelisk Yellow LP and sending him flying.

Obelisk Yellow:3700-5300=0 LP

"Just like I promise I will finish this duel. I will banish Madolche Strike, so Devil's Knight can attack twice!" Naomi reminded. The last member froze and realized there was nothing he could do.

Devil's Knight shot its weapon toward Obelisk Red, nearly missing him by an inch, and then he went up to the member and punched him hard in the gut.

Obelisk Red:4000-3300-3300=0 LP

The girls won the duel and saw the two members of the Obelisk Force vanish the same way Obelisk Green did.

Yuzu and Naomi smiled at each other as Serena looked away. She recalled what occurred during the duel. If one of the most elite squadrons of Academia can pull such underhanded tactics, then who's to say that Academia really did invade the Xyz Dimension and even treated it as a hunting game?

"Come on, let's go somewhere else where we can talk," Yuzu suggested. Naomi nodded and hoped to contact the others but just before, she was about to take a step forward. She fell over and gripped her left arm in pain. Naomi's birthmark was glowing and throbbing. It was as if the sensations were even stronger the last time this happened.

"Naomi-chan! What's wrong?!" Yuzu got down and checked to see if Naomi had gotten any injuries during their previous duel. But all Yuzu saw was nothing. Not even a single scratch. However, she noticed how badly the girl's birthmark was throbbing immensely.

"What exactly is going on with your birthmark?" Yuzu asked. Naomi couldn't even answer because of the intense pain she was in. Even Serena checked the glowing birthmark and found it was throbbing, and the latter's veins turned red on her arm.

Yet unbeknownst to the two girls, their bracelets were flashing faintly.

Back to the Ancient Ruins Area_

Yuki stared at the person holding her, revealed to be Tsukikage.

The ninja placed her on the ground when he made sure the area was safe and there were no enemies after them.

"Thanks, Tsukikage-san, but I will be fine. I'm worried about Naomi. Please keep an eye on her," Yuki begged. She was concerned about her Standard counterpart, especially now that there were strong enemies, except for the Obelisk Force, after her and the others. Tsukikage nodded and disappeared from his spot.

Yuki turned her attention toward Yuya and noticed the boy's change in behavior. She watched him go against the Obelisk Force and was about to help him until she felt pain in her right shoulder. She grimaced when she realized she must have hit the pillar harder than she thought.

"Crap. Even if I wanted to help Yuya-kun, I'd just be in the way," Yuki grunted. She held her bruised shoulder and saw Gongenzaka and a young orange-haired girl holding a crystal apple. She decided not to question why the girl was here in the first place. Can't she see that she will be in danger if she stays? Yuki wondered if the girl was brave or foolish to come here.

Yuki limped towards the pair until she felt a sense of dread in her chest. She panted harshly and held herself up against a street pole. She felt like her left arm was on fire even though it wasn't. It was as if the dread she felt from before was steadily increasing, and she couldn't breathe properly. She looks at her birthmark glowing and throbbing. And all she wants to know is how to make the pain stop or why she was in pain. However, her questions could not be answered, and she fell off the pole.

Gongenzaka heard a thud behind him and saw a body on the ground. He rushed towards the figure, revealing a familiar face. Yet her face was scrunched up in agony.

"Naomi! Naomi! Pull yourself together, Naomi!" Gongenzaka shook Yuki but didn't get a response from the injured girl.

"Damn it!" Gongenzaka cursed at the dire position he was in. On one hand, a very strange Yuya is facing the Obelisk Force alone, while on the other hand, Yuki, who he assumed was Naomi, is in pain. He doesn't want to leave his friend to take care of the enemies alone. He had to make sure the wounded girl was alright.

"Yuya! I don't know what happened to you but win! Because Naomi is in pain and needs to be treated immediately!" Gongenzaka called out. An enraged Yuya glanced over, even though it was supposed to have the opposite effect. Seeing Yuki in her state only fueled his anger even more.

After that, despite taking damage through Antique Gear Hounding Dog's effect and receiving two direct attacks. In his rage, Yuya summoned his ace monster, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon, and Yuto's ace monster, Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon. Finally, he finished the duel and the Obelisk Force with The Supreme King Black Dragon - Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon.

Yuki felt sweat running down her temples, and it seemed that the pain wasn't going to go away any time soon. She kept pondering what can she do to bring Yuya back to his senses.

It seems like a familiar voice heard her pleads. Yuki tried to make out what the voice was trying to tell her.

"Go near him...I will do the rest..."

Yuki groaned as she tried to sit up. "Naomi! You have to lie down. You are in no condition to be getting up," Gongenzaka ordered, trying to push Yuki back down, but the girl wasn't going to sit back and let Yuya continue to rampage in his current state. Not if she can do something about it. If what the woman's voice said was true, then she could snap Yuya and Yuto, who were probably inside the former, back to normal.

The group heard a pillar breaking as it was going to land on Yuya, who didn't notice the pillar falling on him. Gongenzaka saw it and ran towards Yuya, taking the fall instead of his friend. It didn't help when Yuya started to growl and became frantic from underneath Gongenzaka.

"Hurry and go get help!" Yuki shouted to a scared and frantic Mieru. "Move and get someone to help him!"

Thankfully, Mieru got the message. Yuki stumbled towards the boys despite the pain in her arm pulsing continuously. She felt exhausted from the unknown cause she was feeling. She prayed that Mieru would get someone soon because if she didn't, then there was no telling what would happen to Gongenzaka, Yuya, and herself, specifically since Kori was in the same area as them.

Yuki hoped her prayers were answered, and they were. Ten minutes later, Mieru arrived with Teppei and Michio. They moved to the Jungle Area, where the boys held down an enrage and violent Yuya.

But the furious Entermate duelist kept punching the group, trying to hold him down. Mieru explained to the group with her crystal apple that Yuya contains two souls within himself. There was a dark shadow covering the two souls. Yuki's eyes enlarged because it seemed Yuya was right about Yuto being inside of Yuya.

However, before Mieru could explain, even more, her crystal apple broke in the middle, nearly causing everyone to back away from the shattered object.

Yuki frowned and moved toward Yuya placing her hands on each side of his cheek. She forced him to look into her eyes. Much to his and everyone's confusion, she gave a smile.

One full of life, gentleness, and kindness. In her eyes, she saw a frantic Yuto looking back at her in astonishment. In Yuya's eyes, he saw Naomi giving a warm smile. For a split second, the figures were replaced with a woman with long purple hair, but her face remained hidden. A man with gray hair as his face was hidden.

In that moment, Yuki pressed her lips against his forehead, unaware she was being watched by onlookers. She left a lingering feeling on his forehead. Her birthmark gave a soft white glow, calming the boys from their enraged state.

Slowly but surely, warmth was coursing through his body. He stops rampaging and stops emitting the malicious aura. His eyes stopped glowing as he closed them, indicating that he was now asleep.

Yuki pulled away and glanced at her birthmark, which had now stopped glowing and throbbing. She felt much better than she did moments before. She remembered something like this had happened before, and it was during Yuya's duel against Kachidoki. He was in the same state when he summoned Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon. She thought there was a connection between whenever Yuya was in that state. Then she would feel the same pain she felt minutes ago.

Yuki was worried about Naomi. She hoped Naomi was okay, but with the pain, she just felt. Then what Naomi is experiencing must be ten times worse than what she just went through.

Yuki was so deep in her thoughts she didn't hear Mieru yelling at her.

"H-How dare you kiss darling's precious forehead, Naomi Kobiyashi!" Mieru stuttered, her face flushed due to her anger. But Yuki just gave her a blank stare and turned her attention to the rest of the group.

"Watch over Yuya. I'll be in the Iceberg Area," Yuki informed the group, mainly Gongenzaka.

She quickly ran towards the other side of the forest to head towards the cold land.

Gongenzaka looked back at the spot where Yuki was as a thought came to his mind.

"Was that Naomi just now?"

Gongenzaka dismissed the thought because the black-haired girl's behavior differed from Naomi's. However, her appearance, specifically her face, was similar to his friend's. He remembered how Naomi said someone named Yuki looked just like her. If what the girl's words said were true, then Yuki could also be in trouble as well.

Gongenzaka clenched his fist hard enough to cause blood to show. He felt useless for not preventing Yuki from leaving. Now Yuya was unconscious due to an unknown spirit possessing him earlier. To make matters worse, he cannot contact Naomi or Yuzu to warn them about the invaders they mentioned in their chat before this Battle Royal happened.

Gongenzaka strongly hoped his friends would be unscathed when this invasion ended. He hoped that they were safe somewhere in these four zones.

To the Volcanic Area_

Umi panted as she finished her last opponent. She glanced at the four cards on the floor containing the four boys who dared to stand in her way. She's glad she could release her pent-up anger toward the fallen youths.

She wipes her sweat and figures the Obelisk Force failed, and now her assignment is somewhere in this bizarre place. But it doesn't matter since Kori is somewhere in this place and is looking for them.

Umi couldn't help but feel bad for the poor unfortunate souls who ran into Kori. If the rumors about the latter were true, those people would be in for a hell of a storm.

To the Ancient Ruins Area_

Kori wiped the dust off her jacket and cracked her neck. She just finished her last opponent, whose name was Yu Sakuragi, right? Well, it didn't matter to her anyway.

"Well, since Yuki Shimizu-san has moved to another area, but the question is, which area?" Kori tapped her finger against her lip. She considered three more areas she could check out to find her target. She also considers Umi could be one of the three areas besides the one she is currently in.

Kori sighed but decided to settle it with a coin flip. If it lands on heads, she will go to the Iceberg Area, but if it lands on tails, she will go to the Jungle Area. She takes out her coin and flips it in the air.

She caught the coin revealing the result of the coin toss: tails. Very well, she will head towards the Jungle Area.

"Well, I enjoyed our little time together, but it looks like fate has other plans for me" Kori waved her hands. "See you again Yu Sakuragi-san."

Kori walked out of the field and turned her attention back to the frozen sculpture resembling Yu Sakuragi.

"Whenever you defrost sometime soon."

To the Iceberg Area_10 minutes Ago_

Yuzu carried Naomi, who fell unconscious due to her immense pain. Yet the collapsed girl kept sweating bullets in her sleep and kept tossing her head. Serena kept checking Naomi's birthmark but found the odd pulsing mark wasn't stopping for even a second.

She found it strange that something this small is causing this much pain to Naomi. Serena continued to examine the mark while Yuzu wiped the sweat off Naomi's forehead and tried to calm the suffering girl in her state.

Serena tensed up when she heard footsteps approaching them. She activated her duel disk and got in a fighting stance.

"Hello, is anybody there!" Eijirou called out. He looked down and noticed the situation from a glance. He even turned his attention towards Serena but mainly her duel disk. As its shape and blade exactly matched Naomi's description of the invaders.

"Y-You are from this so-called Fusion Dimension! Why are you here in our Battle Royale?!" Eijirou questioned, getting ready to duel until Yuzu stopped him.

"W-wait a minute! Serena is being chased by Academia herself!" Yuzu stated quickly before the situation became even worse.

"She is?" Eijirou tilted his head in confusion. He asked why someone allied with this so-called Academia would be chased by their allies.

"It's because I didn't follow the Professor's orders," Serena answered.

"The Professor," Yuzu and Eijirou repeated.

"Yes, at Academia, the Professor's orders are absolute however, I broke that rule to prove my worth," Serena continued her tale. Serena told them about her jealousy of the duelists that were able to join the frontlines of the Xyz Dimension and even be part of the Vanguard squad. She had to stay behind countless times because the Professor ordered her to. Still, she refused and headed to the Standard Dimension to look for the Xyz Remnants.

"W-Wait, Xyz Dimension? Standard Dimension?" Eijirou asked, completely confused about what Serena was saying. Yuzu explained to Eijirou the whole story about the four dimensions, including Academia and the invasion they launched on the Xyz Dimension.

Eijirou's eyes enlarged. He turned his attention back to Serena. He was completely shocked about what he had just heard, but what stood out was that Serena wanted to prove herself to this Professor, the same person who attacked an innocent dimension, all for peace and unity. It sounded completely stupid.

"You wanted to become part of that no-good group!"

Serena scoffed. "Yes, to prove my strength. However, I will not believe a word you say until I see for myself what exactly those duelists did during the invasion," Serena stated. Even though she had heard the same story three times, she wanted to see the events that transpired during that time.

Yuzu realized two people could make Serena see the truth because they were right there went it happened. "The Xyz Remnants you are looking for are Kurosaki and Yuki. If you want to know the truth, then go to them," Yuzu informed her Fusion counterpart about the two residents of the Xyz Dimension.

"I know Yuki Shimizu, but I will keep an eye out for Kurosaki" Serena nodded. Yuzu smiled softly and turned her attention back to Naomi.

"But now we have to find out what is causing Naomi to be in so much pain?" Yuzu wiped the sweat off Naomi's forehead to calm the pained girl down in her sleep.

"Do you have any idea what triggered her pain?" Eijirou asked, observing the throbbing mark. He winced at how red Naomi's veins were and swallowed when he saw how red her birthmark was.

"It looks like she probably hit something poisonous, and it's suffering from its effects," Eijirou suggested.

"No, we didn't encounter anything like that. She was fine one minute ago, and then she just fell over in pain holding her arm," Yuzu answered.

She was concerned about Naomi, and she felt helpless. Yuzu couldn't do anything to ease the pain a little. All she can do is watch her friend suffer. To make things worse than they already are. She couldn't contact Yuya or Gongenzaka to tell them their location. And it doesn't help her that Academia is pursuing Naomi, Serena, herself, and with Naomi's current condition. They will lose stamina because they had to duel the forces Academia sent. And depending on how many people they duel, they will become exhausted. If that happens, they won't be able to protect the sick girl.

Yuzu hoped for a miracle to happen right now. Someone to help them out or one of their friends to come to where they are. Fortunately, a miracle happened.

Naomi's birthmark stopped pulsing and glowing. It seems the girl was feeling better because of how relaxed she was. Naomi opened both of her eyes and took a glance at her surroundings.

"Yuzu-chan... Eijirou-kun...Serena-chan," Naomi blinked, sitting up. Yuzu had tears pooling in her eyes. She embraced Naomi confusing the latter in the slightest.

"I'm so glad you're feeling better...I was so worried, Naomi!" Yuzu cried on Naomi's shoulder. The Fairy-Type duelist smiled and hugged her friend back.

"Sorry, I worried you," Naomi apologized for being sick out of nowhere. She thanked Serena and Eijirou for looking after her along with Yuzu. Naomi looked down and noticed her mark, which gave her so much pain, now giving a faint glow.

It told her one thing. Yuki is nearby. True to her words, the black-haired girl showed up with Tsukikage.

When Yuki's eyes locked with Serena, there was so much tension in the air that you would have to cut it with a knife. Tsukikage got in Yuki's line of vision and reminded her of what Reiji had instructed. The Mixed Deck duelist clicked her teeth and looked somewhere else. Tsukikage checked the area for enemies approaching in their direction.

Eijirou decided to cut the tension. "Okay, let's get straight to the point. Yuki, since you were there during the invasion, can you please tell Serena about what Academia did" Eijirou summarized. Yuki narrowed her eyes and glared at Serena.

"So you want to know what Academia did, correct" Yuki stated when she saw Serena nod. Yuki glared deepened "very well, I will show you what your school did to my homeland."

Yuki's birthmark flashed a bright white light enveloping the group as they covered their eyes.

When they opened their eyes, they first noticed flames covering the area. Naomi frowned softly when she glanced at her surroundings. She recognized this place when it occurred during Sora's duel against Shun.

This place was Heartland...on the brink of its destruction.

The sky was covered with gray from the fumes of the burning rubbish. The group heard screams fill the air as they saw people running away from Academia soldiers. They heard glass being smashed from the tall buildings as they fell from the ground. When someone walked in their direction, they just passed through them.

"We are simply observers here. They can't see us, but we can see them. Everything you see here is based on my memory of what happened that day," Yuki explained.

The group heard more explosions, and screams rang in the area. Naomi closed her eyes tightly and waited until the memory stopped opening them. This is her third time seeing this sight, and she still doesn't like it. She hoped she didn't have to see it ever again. Naomi forced herself to block out all the screams and focus on Clear Kuriboh, calming her down with his reassuring words.

Eijirou turned to see a huge building falling, but what shocked him was that the building was falling on a young girl.

All he could do was helplessly watch the building crush the young girl. He felt like throwing up when he saw blood forming underneath the building. He forced himself to look in the other direction.

He prayed for the young girl to be alright and that he didn't want to think about the possibility of her being... dead. Like the others, he watched Heartland's destruction as he heard more pleads and screams in the air.

Yuzu gasped when she saw a plane hit by a beam from one of Academia's student monsters. It was sent spiraling out of control as it was enveloped in flames. But fortunately, Yuto's ace monster, Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, prevented the plane from crashing straight to the ground. Out of nowhere, Yuto was sent flying a few meters away.

It was revealed to be one of the members who used their monster to attack the boy from behind. Even though the Phantom Knights user was fine despite taking a huge hit from the blast. Yuzu saw a huge gash wound on his upper left arm, where his red scarf is usually tied. She noted that he uses the material as a bandage to patch the wound and has worn the material like that ever since.

Yuzu heard someone crying and turned her head toward the source. Yuzu saw Ruri crying tears while holding Shun's unconscious form. Yuzu shakily took a step towards the pair and saw Shun got a concussion from what had occurred moments ago. She focused on how Ruri's face looked similar to hers, just like Naomi said she did. But she pushed the thought down when Shun didn't respond to his sister's pleas to wake up.

Yuzu felt herself tearing up at the sight and feared what if that happened to her dad. If he had received an injury, that could have caused him to be in a coma, just like Yuya. Or even worse.

While the attention of the others was somewhere else, Serena felt everything she's been taught had been a lie. That Academia didn't fight honorably during the invasion but the opposite. She felt like a complete fool.

Finally, the memory stopped, and they returned to the ice-covered field.

Hearing it and seeing it were two very different things. Yuzu gasped when she remembered every horrific image now engraved in her brain. Yuzu felt more tears pool in her eyes. She felt bad for the citizens of Heartland. Now she figured out why Yuto didn't want her to Fusion Summon in the first place. It was because Academia used Fusion as a weapon to cause so much pain and sorrow to them. They turned the dueling they loved so much into a weapon. They made created their homeland a living hell for them. Just like how Shun said they did.

Yuzu felt a hint of anger towards them when she remembered how they treated the whole thing as a game. They took many innocent people's lives without a hint of remorse. They just smiled evilly throughout the whole time.

They even kidnapped Ruri from her homeland. Yuzu felt determined to save her Xyz counterpart and restore her homeland to how it was.

Eijirou swallowed the lump in his throat. What he just witnessed was horrifying. He shudders and thinks, what if Academia invades his homeland as they did with Heartland? They would show no mercy to anyone as long as they complete their goals. Then his mom, dad, and his younger twin sister, Riko, will be in serious trouble. They could either be carded, severely injured, or worse...be killed.

Eijirou remembered the little girl who was crushed by the building. He shuddered and wondered what if that was Riko. What if she was crushed by a building taking her life away? To never see her parents again. To never be able to live her life because it was taken away from her too soon.

The more Eijirou recalled the horrific scene, the more he held the urge not to vomit. But he failed and threw up on the floor. He leaned against the wall to support himself and recollect his thoughts.

While the citizens of Maiami City were in shock, Serena was affected more by the revelation.

She couldn't believe what she saw. No, she still couldn't believe it, but it was the truth, no matter how much she tried to deny it. The duelists that were deployed to Xyz Dimension acted like wild animals. They didn't act honorably in the slightest.

They targeted whoever they encountered and mercilessly carded anyone in their way. They destroyed, crushed, and annihilated anyone. They didn't care who it was: children, adults, or the elderly. They still crushed them.

Serena felt disgusted with herself and ashamed of her previous actions. She wanted to prove her worth and was willing to do anything to accomplish that goal. But now, what's the point if she was proving her strength to the wrong people? She doesn't want to be affiliated with Academia any longer, especially if they are dishonorable to treat the invasion as a game and crush innocent civilians besides duelists.

Serena wants to change now that she knows the truth. She doesn't want to end up like them. She wants to become a better person.

It took a couple of minutes for the group to recollect themselves.

"Now we have to find Shun-kun and the rest of the participants," Yuki said, "to see what kind of plan we can come up with to fight against the invaders and survive in the process."

"Yes. I agree with your plan, but there is a slight flaw, Yuki-san," Naomi pointed out. She told Yuki about Umi's presence and mission to capture her. Not much of a surprise, Yuki also revealed a girl named Kori who was here to capture her.

"Academia's main goal is to bring back the bigger threat meaning they would want to capture Serena-chan and Yuki-san," Naomi deduced. Yuzu got an idea.

"Then how about we switch clothes," Yuzu suggested, "me and Serena, Yuki and Naomi-chan. Besides, we have the same face, so I'm sure they won't be able to tell the difference."

Naomi and Yuki found the truth in Yuzu's words since they also switched clothes and pretended to be each other for one day. And no one suspected them when they switched places except for Sora. So, they took a chance that it would work again, even if it would be for a short time.

"Fine! Let's do this!" Serena pulled up her shirt, much to Yuzu's confusion.

"W-Wait!" Yuzu prevented Serena from stripping in front of Eijirou, much to the girl's confusion. Yuki shot him a cold glare, and the Metalfoes duelist took that as a hint to go somewhere for the time being.

The girls hide behind a rock and switch clothes with their counterparts.

Naomi was in Yuki's clothes. However, she wore her hair down and wrapped her white ribbons around her wrists. The sleeves successfully hid the hair attachment. While Yuki wore Naomi's clothes, she used her red scarf to create makeshift ribbons to tie her hair up in twin-tails like how her Standard counterpart wore her hair.

They kept their duel disks. Yuzu and Serena switched clothing however they kept their hair accessories and their duel disks as well.

"Eijirou, you can come back now. We're finished," Yuki called the boy back as he kept his eyes closed and even covered them with his left hand to make sure he could look before removing his hand. He took a peek and sighed in relief. Good, they're decent.

"Shun-kun was in the Ancient Ruins area last time I checked, so who's going with me" Yuki looked at the group, and Serena raised her hand, to their surprise.

"I will accompany you to find Kurosaki!" Serena left no room for any arguments. Yuki stared at her for a long while. Yuzu, Naomi, and Eijirou's sweat dropped from their temples at the strong hostility they felt from the black-haired girl. It seems like knowing Serena was allied with Academia still angered Yuki despite having an empty expression. Yuki stares in the other direction.

"Do whatever you want..."

"Then I'll go with Yuki and Serena to make sure they don't go at it," Eijirou volunteered. He glanced toward the mentioned girls. Even though the tension between the two girls was one-sided, Eijirou still felt the need to make sure they didn't fight with each other at a time like this.

"Thanks, Eijirou," Yuzu bowed her head. The Standard Counterparts went in one direction while Yuki and Serena went in the other, with Eijirou following them.

Unknown to the group, Dennis was behind an ice wave on top of a building, listening to their conversation this entire time. Just as he was about to move, a light shone behind them. He turns his head towards the light and smiles.

"It's just you two...Yuri and Akemi," Dennis said. The two mentioned people give two different smiles: one filled with coldness and the other with malice.