Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: The Fifth Circuit

by scififan599

To Yuji, Den City is his home. Fighting to protect it as Kingmaker, he ends up pulled into a war between dimensions alongside the Lancers. Follow alongside him and his comrades Hanako Zaizen and Go Onizuka as they navigate the dimensions and do their best to restore peace to their world and others. AU of ARC-V with the addition of the Link Dimension. Third Arc: Xyz Arc

49. Chapter 49: Traitors & Teachers

Responses to Reviews

Thank you to suppes1, TheRealD3lph0xL0v3r, pokemonking0924, LazinessRules, Reader2, FlameFireZero X, LoneTaker, Ethan Kironus, savagemaster1999, A, The Persona, doa570047, Dimension Se7en, donkeyboy100, WelshPerson07, King of Autumn Leaves, Hugo Kanzaki, HunterHQ, Megatron411, Drad1, and Guests for reviewing Chapter 48.

FlameFireZero X: That falls under spoilers. So I won't be answering that.

Megatron411: I have not read it, no.

On a sidenote, I stopped watching Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS early on, and I haven't seen any episodes of Go Rush. I just lost interest in them.

I hope you enjoy Chapter 49. This chapter has two duels, and only one OC card this time.

---

Chapter 49: Traitors & Teachers

"Which wing are we headed to?" Grace asked Amelia as the two ran after Caster and Gloria. "I didn't recognize it from our time here before."

"The vehicle hanger," Amelia answered. "Where we kept all our cars and trucks."

Grace blinked. "Oh. I guess you would need a place like that."

Caster looked back at her, a drop of sweat rolling down his forehead. "Seriously?"

Gloria rolled her eyes. "Don't blame her; it's just not something we had to think about."

"…Fair enough," Caster conceded. "By the way; that woman we saw in the camera feeds. Your sister called her 'Teacher'. Anything you want to share?"

"No," Gloria growled. "It's none of your business. Just leave her to us." What are you doing here, Teacher? Are you telling us you support abandoning us? Or is this another of your tests?

The quartet reached a door that opened automatically in their presence. They walked through into what was easily the largest room in Academia's command center. Normally the hangar was filled with trucks and heavily armored vans, but due to Mamoru's earlier call for reinforcements, it was significantly emptier, with only two vehicles left.

Caster frowned, looking around the room. "No one in sight; they must be hiding."

"Or in the control booth," Amelia pointed out, glancing up at windows high in the wall. "The controls for the doors are there too."

"We'll check out the booth," Gloria said, her sister nodding. The switch is most likely there. Along with Teacher.

"Then we'll look out here," Amelia said. She narrowed her eyes as she and Caster walked towards the far side of the room, while Gloria and Grace headed for the side door that led to the security room.

"Now that we're alone," Caster muttered, glancing at his girlfriend. "Are you alright with this, Amelia? The Final Protocol aside, we're fighting against Academia. Our home for the past few years."

The girl glanced back and smiled softly. "I won't deny having doubts, Caster. Throwing aside everything we've been taught… it's not easy. But being here in the Xyz Dimension…" She frowned. "I knew that what we were doing to the residents of this city was wrong, but I convinced myself that so long as you and Edo were by my side, it didn't matter. And now the Professor has declared every one of us to be expendable." Her eyes narrowed in a glare. "I don't care about Academia; I care about my friends and loved ones. And I won't let anyone who calls them 'expendable' get away with it!"

"…So cute!" Caster cheered. Amelia broke out in a blush as her boyfriend spun in place and seemed to sparkle. "Amelia-chan really is the cutest!"

"S-Stop that, Caster," the girl weakly protested. "W-We have a job to do."

"Ugh. I think I might vomit."

The duo tensed at the words and spun towards the voice. Rufus stepped out from behind one of the remaining cars, then Gregor stepped out from behind the other. The former was glaring at Caster.

"If there's one good thing that came out of this mess," Rufus said, "it's that I finally get the opportunity to shut you up, Caster."

The defector scowled. "You don't have a single romantic bone in your body, Rufus. And while I admit I'm not keen on fighting my old colleagues, the though of kicking your ass is one I have zero doubts about."

"Why are you doing this, Gregor?" Amelia asked the last member of Edo's Advance Guard. "I have never doubted your loyalty to Academia and the Professor, but I was under the impression that you cared about the people under your command." Her eyes narrowed. "Going through with the Final Protocol will doom all of us here. How can you agree that our people are expendable?"

"I do not," Gregor responded calmly, surprising Amelia. "I can see why you think that, but 'expendable' is not the word I would use." He narrowed his eyes. "Is the Final Protocol right or wrong? I am not the person to make that judgment. But the Professor has deemed the Lancers enough of a threat that he invoked it. If he believes the Final Protocol is necessary to defeat them… then I will hold onto my faith in him."

"…I see," Amelia finally said. "So rather than expendable, you believe our fates to be acceptable?" She frowned. "I put my loyalty, my faith, in my comrades, while you place your faith in the Professor."

"I am a soldier, Amelia," Gregor said. "A soldier's purpose isn't to question his superiors; it is to follow orders. While your choices have brought you into conflict with me, know that I do not hate or resent you for it. And while I would not blame you for it, I hope you don't hate me for my choice."

"…No, I do not hate you," Amelia replied. "I do not agree with your choice, Gregor. But I do understand it."

"Well I don't," Caster growled. "I can't accept a twisted-up reason like that. Abandoning your comrades and friends… that is something I refuse to do! And if you two insist on following Professor Cobra, then I'll beat you down myself!"

Rufus scoffed. "Big words from a traitor. I never liked you Caster, so this whole thing is dream come true for me." All four of them raised their Duel Disks.

"This will be a Tag-Team Duel!" Amelia declared.

"Duel!"

Amelia & Caster: 4000 LP

Gregor & Rufus: 4000 LP

"I'll take the first turn!" Amelia continued. "I activate the Spell Card: Reinforcement of the Army and add a Level 4 or lower Warrior monster from my Deck to my hand. Next, I'll activate the Spell Card Fake Hero! I Special Summon an 'Elemental HERO' monster from my hand, but that monster cannot attack and is returned to my hand during the End Phase. Come, Elemental HERO Shadow Mist!" A feminine humanoid in black armor with pale skin and slicked-back blue hair appeared in Attack Position.

Elemental HERO Shadow Mist ATK 1000 DEF 1500 LVL: 4

"Shadow Mist's monster effect! When it is Special Summoned, I add a 'Change' Quick-Play Spell from my Deck to my hand." Amelia took the card from her Deck, then smirked. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mask Change! I send a 'HERO' monster to the Graveyard and Special Summon a 'Masked HERO' monster from my Extra Deck with the same Attribute. I send the Dark Shadow Mist to the Graveyard!" A black mask formed over Shadow Mist's face, and then light consumed her body. "Transformation Summon! Come forth, Level 6! Masked HERO Dark Law!" The light faded, revealing a hunched over humanoid in black armor with gold highlights and gray spikes on its calves and forearms in Attack Position.

Masked HERO Dark Law ATK 2400 DEF 1800 LVL: 6

"So long as Dark law is on the field, any card that would be sent to my opponent's Graveyard is banished instead. I Set two cards. I end my turn."

Gregor frowned in thought. While Amelia's focus in her Masked HERO Fusion Monsters, her Main Deck is loaded with Elemental HEROs, the same monsters Caster uses. This gives them a level in synergy in Tag-Team Duels. A synergy that mine and Rufus's Decks lack. His eyes narrowed. Still, that will not deter me!

"My turn! Draw!" he declared. "By discarding Vision HERO Witch Raider, I Special Summon Vision HERO Faris!" A humanoid in pink armor with large claws appeared in Attack Position.

Vision HERO Faris ATK 1600 DEF 1800 LVL: 5

"Since Faris's effect specifies that I discard a card, instead of saying I send a card to the Graveyard, I can use its effect even while Dark Law is on the field," Gregor said.

Amelia frowned. "Even if that is true, Dark Law's effect still banishes Witch Raider."

"For now. Faris's monster effect! When it is Normal or Special Summoned, I place a 'Vision HERO' monster from my Deck in my Spell & Trap Zone as a face-up Continuous Trap. I place Vision HERO Poisoner in my Spell & Trap Zone. And then I Normal Summon Vision HERO Gravito!" A humanoid in orange armor with a massive shield attached to its left arm appeared.

Vision HERO Gravito ATK 500 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"Gravito's monster effect! When it is Normal or Special Summoned, I target and add a banished 'HERO' monster to my hand. I'll add the banished Witch Raider to my hand." Amelia's frown deepened. "I activate the Spell Card: Vision Fusion! I Fusion Summon a 'HERO' Fusion Monster using monsters from my hand or field as material. In addition, I can also use up to two monsters in my Spell & Trap Zone that are being treated as Continuous Traps by banishing them. I fuse Gravito and Poisoner to Fusion Summon!"

A humanoid in violet armor whose hands ended in cannons appeared, only to spiral into the Fusion vortex with Gravito. "Heroes of defense and corruption, merge your power to become a new hero! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! Vision HERO Adoration!" A new humanoid, in black-and-violet armor with black clothes at its waist and shoulders, emerged from the Fusion vortex in Attack Position.

Vision HERO Adoration ATK 2800 DEF 2100 LVL: 8

Amelia grit her teeth. "Due to Dark Law's effect, Gravito and Vision Fusion are banished with Poisoner!"

"That doesn't matter right now," Gregor retorted. "Adoration's monster effect! I target Dark Law on your field and Faris on my field, and until the end of the turn, Dark Law loses attack points equal to Faris' attack points."

Amelia knew what this meant; Dark Law had 2400 attack points and Faris had 1600 attack points. The result would be Dark Law having 800 attack points, and between Adoration's and Faris's attack points, Gregor could inflict 3600 points of damage in total.

Fortunately, she had a way around it. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Form Change! I return my 'HERO' Fusion Monster to the Extra Deck, then Special Summon a 'Masked HERO' monster with the same Level but a different name. I return Dark Law to my Deck and Special Summon Masked HERO Blast!" A green mask formed over Dark Law's face, and then its body glowed. When the glow subsided, Dark Law had been replaced by a humanoid in green armor with a red scarf around its neck in Attack Position.

Masked HERO Blast ATK 2200 DEF 1800 LVL: 6

Gregor scowled. "Since Adoration's target left the field, its effect resolves without a target."

"Blast's monster effect!" Amelia continued. "When it is Special Summoned, I target one of your monsters, and its attack points become half its current attack points! I target Adoration!" The hero punched a gust of wind at Gregor's Fusion Monster.

Vision HERO Adoration ATK 2800→1400

Rufus grit his teeth. "Damn it," he growled. "Now she has the strongest monster on the field."

"Not for long." Rufus glanced at his partner. "I activate the Spell Card: Double Summon! With this, I can perform a second Normal Summon this turn. I Tribute Adoration and Faris to Tribute Summon Vision HERO Witch Raider!" The two monsters disappeared and were replaced by a woman in a red hat and white coat wielding an oversized rifle.

Vision HERO Witch Raider ATK 2700 DEF 1900 LVL: 8

"Witch Raider's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, all Spell and Trap Cards you control are destroyed!" The woman raised her rifle and fired a shot, piercing Amelia's face-down card. Gregor glanced at the destroyed card. "Negate Attack, huh? With that gone, I can attack without worry. Battle! Witch Raider attacks Blast!" The woman raised her rifle with one hand and fired a beam of energy. The beam impacted with the green-armored humanoid, making it explode. Amelia winced as she was pushed back.

Amelia & Caster: 4000→3500 LP

"Amelia!" Caster gasped. "How dare you, Gregor!"

"Caster, I am fine," his girlfriend insisted, placing her hand on his arm.

"I end my turn," Gregor said.

"Gregor, you bastard," Caster growled. "How dare you hurt my goddess of love! I'll make you pay for that!"

"Caster, cut it out," Amelia pleaded, a light blush on her face.

While Gregor was impassive to Caster's threat, Rufus gave their opponent a flat glare. "Do you think about what you're going to say before you say it?" he wondered.

"My turn! Draw!" Caster declared, ignoring Rufus's comment. "I activate the Spell Card: The Warrior Returning Alive! I return a Warrior monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Amelia's Shadow Mist to my hand. I summon Elemental HERO Solid Soldier!" A humanoid in white armor appeared.

Elemental HERO Solid Soldier ATK 1300 DEF 1100 LVL: 4

"Solid Soldier's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'HERO' monster from my hand. Come, Elemental HERO Blazeman!" A humanoid in a skintight red, gray, and black bodysuit appeared in Attack Position.

Elemental HERO Blazeman ATK 1200 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Blazeman's monster effect! When it is Special Summoned, I add Polymerization from my Deck to my hand. And now I'll activate the Spell Card: Polymerization and fuse Solid Soldier on my field with Shadow Mist in my hand! Secret hero of the surface, merge with the heroine of darkness, and let your natures give birth to a new hero! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! The hero that strikes from the depths of night! Elemental HERO Escuridao!" A humanoid covered in black armor, with only its white neck exposed, emerged from the Fusion vortex in Attack Position. Four black spines extended out of its back, its right hand ended in massive claws, and its face was covered by a black mask and helmet.

Elemental HERO Escuridao ATK 2500 DEF 2000 LVL: 8

"As Shadow Mist and Solid Soldier were sent to the Graveyard, their effects activate. I add a 'HERO' monster from my Deck to my hand and Special Summon a 'HERO' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position. I'll add Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier to my hand and Special Summon Shadow Mist." The female in black armor reappeared.

Elemental HERO Shadow Mist ATK 1000 DEF 1500 LVL: 4

"Furthermore, Escuridao gains 100 attack points for each 'Elemental HERO' monster in my Graveyard."

"But you only have one 'Elemental HERO' in your Graveyard," Gregor pointed out.

Elemental HERO Escuridao ATK 2500→2600

"I only have one in my Graveyard right now," Caster corrected. "But that's going to change really quick." He took a card from his hand and showed it to his opponents."

Rufus blinked. "You already had Polymerization in your hand before you used Blazeman's effect?"

"I did. And I fully intend to use it. I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization and fuse Blazeman and Shadow Mist on my field! Hero whose fire burns away darkness, merge with the heroine of the night, and let your natures give birth to a new hero! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! The hero whose hands create the great inferno! Elemental HERO Nova Master!" A new humanoid in glowing red-and-orange armor emerged from the Fusion vortex in Attack Position, spikes on its shoulders and a cape at its back.

Elemental HERO Nova Master ATK 2600 DEF 2100 LVL: 8

"Two more 'Elemental HERO' monsters went to the Graveyard, so Escuridao's attack points increase again."

Elemental HERO Escuridao ATK 2600→2800

"Unfortunately, I'm going to have to reduce its attack points, but only temporarily. I activate the Spell Card: Fusion Recovery, which lets me add Polymerization and the Solid Soldier that was used as Fusion Material from my Graveyard to my hand."

Elemental HERO Escuridao ATK 2800→2700

"For a third time, I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization! I fuse Elemental HEROs Liquid Soldier and Solid Soldier in my hand! Secret hero of the surface, merge with the secret hero of the water, and let your natures give birth to a new hero! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 6! The hero whose fists shake the earth! Elemental HERO Gaia!" A humanoid machine in heavy black armor, much larger than its predecessors, emerged from the Fusion vortex in Attack Position.

Elemental HERO Gaia ATK 2200 DEF 2600 LVL: 6

Elemental HERO Escuridao ATK 2700→2900

"Three Fusion Summons in a single turn," Gregor muttered, his eyes narrowed. "Caster is really taking this seriously."

"And yet it took the Final Protocol for him to get serious," Rufus mused. "Is that funny or sad?"

"Since Liquid Soldier was sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material, I draw two cards and then discard one. Gaia's monster effect! I target one of your monsters, and until the End Phase, that monster's attack points are halved while Gaia gains the same amount of attack points. I target Witch Raider!"

Vision HERO Witch Raider ATK 2700→1350

Elemental HERO Gaia ATK 2200→3550

"I'll end this duel right now!" Caster declared. "Battle! Nova Master attacks Witch Raider!" The Fusion Monster's fist erupted into flames as it charged forward. The monster's fist struck the woman's chest, making her explode. Gregor and Rufus grunted as they were pushed back.

Gregor & Rufus: 4000→2750 LP

"Nova Master's monster effect! When it destroys your monster by battle, I draw a card. And now Escuridao attacks you directly, Gregor!" The spines on the monster's back lit up with dark energy and then fired in four beams at Gregor. The man just narrowed his eyes and took the last card in his hand.

"When your monster declares a direct attack, I discard Swift Scarecrow to negate that attack!" A metal scarecrow with a beaten hat and two sticks in its hands appeared on the field. The beams of dark energy hit it and made it explode, but only the smoke hit Gregor and Rufus. "Swift Scarecrow's effect then ends the Battle Phase."

Caster grit his teeth. Well, at least he paid Gregor back for hurting Amelia. "I Set three cards. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Gaia's attack points return to normal."

Elemental HERO Gaia ATK 3550→2200

"You may have survived the turn Gregor, but on my goddess's next turn, she'll wipe the floor with you!"

"Caster, please stop calling me that," Amelia pleaded.

Rufus groaned. "My god, do you have even the slightest amount of self-awareness Caster?" He sneered. "Well, once I card you, I won't have to listen to your nonsense ever again! My turn! Draw! By discarding Evil HERO Adusted Gold, I can add Dark Fusion or a card that mentions it from my Deck to my hand." Rufus took a card from his Deck, then played it. "I activate the Field Spell Card: Supreme King's Castle! If I would Fusion Summon a monster that requires Dark Fusion, I can use other cards or effects."

"That card's name is so weird," Caster pointed out. "Why is an 'Evil HERO' Field Spell called that?"

"How should I know?" Rufus responded before ploughing on. "I Special Summon Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy!" A black-and-brown-skinned humanoid fiend appeared in Attack Position.

Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy ATK 300 DEF 600 LVL: 2

"I activate the Spell Card: Evil Mind! Since I control a Fiend monster, I can activate one of three effects, depending on the number of monsters in my opponent's Graveyard." Rufus smirked. "Since you have more than four monsters in your Graveyard, I can add a 'HERO' monster or Dark Fusion from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Evil HERO Sinister Necrom to my hand. Then, I'll activate the Spell Card: Polymerization and fuse Infernal Prodigy on my field with Sinister Necrom in my hand! Fallen hero of a sharp mind! Fallen hero of the grave! Cast your righteousness aside and become a new darkness! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! Evil HERO Malicious Bane!" A fiend in violet armor with claws on its back, shoulders, and wrists emerged from the Fusion vortex in Attack Position, a tattered cape at its back.

Evil HERO Malicious Bane ATK 3000 DEF 3000 LVL: 8

"You built an impressive board Caster, but now it's going to fall apart! Malicious Bane's monster effect! Once per turn, I destroy all monsters you control whose attack points are less than or equal to Malicious Bane's. Shadow Fall!" The monster's claws lit up. It swung its arms, sending a wave of dark energy at Caster's field.

"Not all of my board!" Caster countered before gesturing to his field. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Forbidden Dress! One monster loses 600 attack points until the end of the turn, but it cannot be targeted or destroyed by other card effects this turn! I target Escuridao!" A white light formed around the hero in black armor.

Elemental HERO Escuridao ATK 3000→2400

The wave of dark energy hit Caster's field, shredding Gaia and Nova Master. But when it hit Escuridao, the wave broke apart. Rufus grit his teeth. "Malicious Bane gains 200 attack points for each monster destroyed by its effect."

"And Escuridao gains 100 attack points for each 'Elemental HERO' monster in my Graveyard," Caster reminded Rufus.

Evil HERO Malicious Bane ATK 3000→3400

Elemental HERO Escuridao ATK 2400→2600

"If you think saving a single monster will let you survive, then you're mistaken," Rufus growled. "I activate the effect of Sinister Necrom in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I Special Summon an 'Evil HERO' monster from my hand or Deck. Come, Evil HERO Malicious Edge!" A blue-skinned fiend with dark blue leather bindings wrapped around its chest, legs, and arms appeared in Attack Position, claws emerging from its knuckles.

Evil HERO Malicious Edge ATK 2600 DEF 1800 LVL: 7

"I summon Evil HERO Infernal Gainer!" A tall, red-and-black fiend with spikes on its shoulders appeared.

Evil HERO Infernal Gainer ATK 1600 DEF 0 LVL: 4

"Infernal Gainer's monster effect! I banish it and target Malicious Bane. During each Battle Phase I control Malicious Bane, it can make a second attack." Rufus gestured to his field. "Battle! Malicious Bane attacks Escuridao!" The claws on the Fusion Monster's hands lit up with dark energy. "At this point, Supreme King's Castle's effect activates! When my Fiend monster battles your monster, I can send an 'Evil HERO' monster from my Deck or Extra Deck to the Graveyard, and until the end of the turn, Malicious Bane gains attack points equal to that monster's Level times 200. I send the Level 8 Evil HERO Malicious Fiend from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard!"

Evil HERO Malicious Bane ATK 3400→5000

Malicious Bane charged Caster's Fusion Monster, prompting the defector to grit his teeth and gesture to his field. "Trap activate! Intrigue Shield! I target and equip this card to Escuridao!" A golden shield with two horses emblazoned on it appeared in Escuridao's left hand. "The Attack Position monster equipped with Intrigue Shield cannot be destroyed in battle once per turn, and I take no battle damage from attacks involving it!" Malicious Bane's claws hit the shield, making a scraping noise, but the shield held.

Rufus grit his teeth. "It seems I was right to use Infernal Gainer's effect. Malicious Bane attacks Escuridao again! Edge Tear!" The Fusion Monster raised its right hand, dark energy enveloping it. It brought its fist down on the shield, shattering it along with Escuridao.

"You may destroy Escuridao with this attack, but thanks to Intrigue Shield, we don't take any damage!" Caster reminded Rufus.

"But you will take damage from this attack! Malicious Edge attacks you directly! Needle Burst!" Bolts of black energy shot out of the Fiend monster's claws, hitting Amelia and Caster, making them cry out and stumble.

Amelia & Caster: 3500→900 LP

"Amelia! Are you alright!?" Caster gasped.

"Yes," the girl breathed. She grit her teeth. "Though I won't deny that was unpleasant."

"There's more where that came from," Rufus promised. "I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Supreme King's Castle's effect ends, and Malicious Bane's attack points return to normal."

Evil HERO Malicious Bane ATK 5000→3400

Amelia's eyes narrowed. Gregor and Rufus had two monsters, one of which couldn't be destroyed by battle or card effects, a Field Spell that could empower either of them during battle, and a Set card. Meanwhile, she and Caster had only a Set card.

And what is that card? she wondered. She tapped on her Duel Disk, checking it. Her eyes widened. "Caster," she whispered. "This card is-."

"I know, I'm the one who Set it," he affirmed. Her boyfriend. "I figure you could use it more than me."

She stared at him before smiling. "Thank you." She turned to glare at Gregor and Rufus. "I won't berate either of you for being loyal to what you believe in. But I in turn will be loyal to what I believe in. And more importantly, the people I believe in!" She placed her hand on her Duel Disk. "For Edo's sake, I will stop the Final Protocol! My turn! Draw!"

She looked at her card, then played it. "I activate the Spell Card: Fifth Hope! I shuffle five 'Elemental HERO' monsters in my Graveyard into the Deck, then draw two cards. I shuffle Shadow Mist into my Deck, and Escuridao, Gaia, Liquid Soldier, and Nova Master into Caster's, and draw!"

Amelia glanced at both of her cards and smiled. With Caster's card, this will be perfect. "I activate the Spell Card: Extra-Foolish Burial! By paying half my Life Points, I send a monster from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard, but I cannot Set Spells or Traps this turn. I send Masked HERO Acid to the Graveyard."

Amelia & Caster: 900→450 LP

Gregor narrowed his eyes. "You are sending a Fusion Monster to the Graveyard?"

"She's up to something," Rufus muttered.

"I will defeat you here and now with mine and Caster's combined power!" Amelia declared. She gestured to her field. "I activate the card Caster Set last turn! The Spell Card: Miracle Fusion!"

"Miracle Fusion!?" Rufus gasped.

"I Fusion Summon an 'Elemental HERO' monster by banishing monsters from my field or Graveyard!" Amelia continued.

"But you don't have any 'Elemental HERO' Fusion Monsters!" Rufus countered.

"Actually, I do. I banish Masked HERO Acid and Masked HERO Blast to Fusion Summon!" The two heroes appeared and then spiraled into the Fusion vortex. "Transforming hero of the water! Transforming hero of the storm! Merge your natural powers and become a new hero! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 9! The hero who wields light and darkness at will! Contrast HERO Chaos!" The humanoid monster that emerged from the vortex in Attack Position wore blue armor, with a scarf trailing behind it. But the left side of its armor was a light blue over white skin while the right side of its armor was a navy blue over black skin, and its scarf was split into black and white.

Contrast HERO Chaos ATK 3000 DEF 2600 LVL: 9

"That monster isn't an 'Elemental HERO'!" Gregor protested.

"Contrast HERO Chaos is always treated as an 'Elemental HERO' card," Amelia revealed, making her opponents grit their teeth while Caster gave them a smug grin. "Chaos's monster effect! Once per turn, during either player's turn, I can target one face-up card and negate its effects until the end of the turn. I target Supreme King's Castle!" The Field Spell grayed out at her words.

Rufus glared at her. "Even if you negate my Field Spell's effects, the most damage you can inflict is 400 points. You can't stop Gregor from using Malicious Bane's effect next turn to end this."

"There won't be a next turn," Amelia declared. "I activate the Equip Spell Card: Favorite Hero and equip it to Chaos! Battle!" She gestured to her field. "At the start of the Battle Phase, Favorite Hero's effect activates! I activate one Field Spell directly from my hand or Deck."

"A Field Spell from your hand or Deck?" Gregor repeated in surprise.

"I activate the Field Spell Card: Skyscraper from my Deck! And while there is a card in my Field Zone, the monster equipped with Favorite Hero gains attack points equal to its original defense points and cannot be targeted by my opponent's card effects!"

Contrast HERO Chaos ATK 3000→5600

"5600 attack points?" Rufus gasped.

"Chaos attacks Malicious Edge!" Amelia continued. "Chaos Star!" Four-pointed stars formed on either side of the Fusion Monster and then fired beams of light blue and dark blue light at Rufus's Fiend monster.

Rufus grit his teeth. "I don't have a choice! Trap activate! Half Counter! When my monster is attacked, I target my monster, and it gains attack points equal to half the original attack points of the attacking monster until the End Phase. I target Malicious Edge!"

Evil HERO Malicious Edge ATK 2600→4100

The beams hit the Fiend, making it explode. Gregor and Rufus grunted as they were pushed back.

Gregor & Rufus: 2750→1250 LP

"Damn it," Caster growled. "If not for that Trap Card, you would have beaten them!"

"Don't worry, Caster," Amelia assured him. "All Rufus did was delay the inevitable by a few minutes." Caster blinked at that declaration. "I activate Favorite Hero's final effect! When the equipped monster attacks and destroys your monster by battle, I can send Favorite Hero to the Graveyard to let Chaos make a second attack in a row!"

Contrast HERO Chaos ATK 5600→3000

"Why would you let it attack again?" Rufus asked. "Without your Equip Spell, Chaos's attack points are lower than Malicious Bane's."

"That's the point," Amelia said, surprising Gregor and Rufus. "As I said, Chaos is always treated as an 'Elemental HERO' card, and when an 'Elemental HERO' monster attacks a monster with higher attack points, the Field Spell Card: Skyscraper increases that monster's attack points by 1000 during damage calculation! Chaos attacks Malicious Bane!"

Contrast HERO Chaos ATK 3000→4000

"Chaos Star!" Beams of blue light shot out at Rufus's Fusion Monster.

"Malicious Bane cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!" Malicious Bane crossed its arms in front of its face and withstood the light, but the shockwave from the attack continued on and pushed Gregor and Rufus back.

Gregor & Rufus: 1250→650 LP

Contrast HERO Chaos ATK 4000→3000

"What was the point of that?" Rufus asked. "You couldn't destroy Malicious Bane, nor could you defeat us. So why attack?"

"To be honest? Self-satisfaction," Amelia answered. "Because Chaos didn't need to attack; I already have the key to victory."

"And what key would that be?" Gregor demanded.

Amelia held up the only card in her hand, then spun it around. Gregor and Rufus tensed. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mask Change! I send a 'HERO' monster to the Graveyard to Special Summon a 'Masked HERO' monster from my Extra Deck with the same Attribute the sent monster had on the field. And while Chaos is naturally a Dark Attribute monster, while it is on the field, it is also a Light Attribute monster! I send the Chaos treated as Light Attribute to the Graveyard and Transformation Summon!"

Chaos's body glowed as a yellow mask appeared on its head. "Come forth, Level 8! Masked HERO Koga!" The glow faded, revealing a humanoid in golden armor, two blades attached to its wrists, in Attack Position.

Masked HERO Koga ATK 2500 DEF 1800 LVL: 8

Rufus's eyes were wide. "…Shit."

"Koga gains 500 attack points for each monster my opponent controls."

Masked HERO Koga ATK 2500→3000

"Koga's monster effect! I banish a 'HERO' monster from my Graveyard and target an opponent's monster. Until the end of the turn, your monster loses attack points equal to the banished monster's attack points. I banish Chaos and target Malicious Bane!"

Evil HERO Malicious Bane ATK 3400→400

"Koga attacks Malicious Bane! Razor Fang!" Koga's blades lit up as it charged forward.

"Malicious Bane cannot be destroyed by battle!" Rufus panickingly reminded her.

"It cannot," Amelia agreed. "Malicious Bane will survive this attack. But you won't." Koga brought its blades down in an "X" across Malicious Bane's chest. The Fiend cried out, and the shockwave of the attack continued onwards to Gregor and Rufus. It hit them, knocking them off their feet with a cry. The two flew past the parked cars and hit the ground unconscious.

Gregor & Rufus: 650→0 LP

"That was a good finish, Amelia," Caster said as the monsters vanished.

"Thank you." Amelia looked over at their fallen former friends. After a few seconds, she said, "It seems their emergency return protocols weren't activated. We'll have to tie them up."

Caster nodded and pulled a set of handcuffs out from the inside of his uniform. "We'll bind them then keep looking for the switch. If it's not down here, then we'll hope the Tyler sisters found it in the control booth."

---

Gloria and Grace opened the door and looked up at the staircase. They didn't rush up it; instead, they glanced around first, looking for tripwires and possible traps. Normally they wouldn't have bothered, but after seeing her in the cameras, they weren't taking any chances.

"Gloria," Grace muttered. "Could we have been mistaken? Teacher would never side with Cobra over us."

"I'd like to believe that Grace, but we both recognized her," Gloria responded just as softly before heading for the stairs. "But I don't believe she's sided with Cobra. You know what she's like; this may just be another test for her."

Grace frowned but nodded in agreement and understanding. She remembered their Teacher's "tests" all too well. Camping out in the wilderness and catching their own food until they came back to the city covered in dirt, leaves, and scratches. Swimming laps around the Academia until they collapsed from exhaustion. Running laps through the city in a sports bra and shorts until they were covered in sweat.

Actually, Grace hadn't minded that last one too much; it had been genuinely good exercise, even with all the crowds of young men staring at them. Though for some reason, Gloria had come back from it angrier than normal.

The two walked up the stairs, then turned at the landing before facing a closed door. Their eyes narrowed, they approached it, and it opened on its own.

"Well. About time you two showed up." The sisters tensed at the voice. The control room was a wide-open space, with all the chairs pushed to the edges and the various panels shut down. The switch the Tyler sisters had come for was placed on top of the center controls, and the owner of the voice stood in front of it.

She had tanned skin, blue eyes with claw scars over the right eye, and red-brown hair pulled back in a ponytail that reached past her waist. She wore a dark blue tank top, black combat pants, two belt buckles wrapped around her waist, black shoes, and gold ankle bracelets. Her muscular shoulders and upper arms were exposed, while her forearms and hands were covered by dark blue gloves with studded knuckles. A dark orange Academia Duel Disk was attached to her left forearm.

The woman smirked at the Tyler sisters. "I heard the Lancers had someone who was handy with computers on their side. If they got the cameras, I figured you two would come gunning for me."

"…Ms. Tania," Gloria finally said.

"Teacher," Grace said softly. "Why are you here?"

Tania raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking why I'm in the Xyz Dimension? Or are you asking why I'm helping Cobra with his Final Protocol?"

"…Both." Grace scowled. "Setting the Resistance and the Lancers aside, the Final Protocol explicitly involves abandoning Academia's own people here. Abandoning us."

"That's right," Gloria agreed. "You've taught us since we were children. You taught us what it meant to be proud duelists." Her eyes narrowed. "I can't see you ever approving a cowardly action like this."

"…Before I answer that accusation, why don't you two answer a question for me," Tania said, her own expression turning serious. "Why have you decided to ally with the Lancers and Resistance? Being opposed to the methods of your superiors is not the same thing as joining the enemy. And yet you've done the latter wholeheartedly. So why have you joined them?"

"…That's easy," Grace said, adopting an earnest smile. "It's because I want to see more of Yuya Sakaki's Entertainment Dueling."

Both of Tania's eyebrows rose this time. "Oh?"

"I've never seen dueling like Yuya's before," Grace gushed. "Such spectacle and joy. I've never felt more alive than when I dueled him. I want to learn more about his dueling and experience it even more!" She tilted her head. "And while the idea of being stuck in this dimension for over a year with Yuya sounds appealing, it could get boring really quickly, so I'd like to stop Cobra."

Gloria sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Grace…"

"…Pfffhahahaha!" Tania burst out laughing. But it wasn't mean-spirited or contemptuous; rather, it was genuine and born of amusement. "I don't know why I expected something else from you, Grace! I always taught you girls to follow your passions! Be it dueling or relationships!" Her laughter subsided but her smile remained. "That was a good answer, little warrior! But what about you, Gloria? Why did you sign up with these Lancers? You interested in this boy and his dueling too?"

"No!" Gloria growled. Her glare met Tania's amused look for a few seconds before she glanced to the side. "Okay, maybe a little."

"Ha!" Tania barked.

"But that isn't why I'm here!" Gloria declared, getting back on track. "Until now, we've served the Professor with loyalty and strength, and yet he's willing to cast us aside if it means defeating the Lancers! The utter callousness of that man… I can't forgive that!"

"Ah. So you want revenge." Tania nodded. "You want revenge, and Grace wants a boy." She chuckled and shook her head. "Those are such selfish motivations. I've never been prouder of you two."

Grace smiled. "I suppose you would understand us, Teacher."

"Of course I do. Humans are selfish beings. We do what we want, and we do it because we like it." Tania smirked. "Whatever you choose to do, so long as you enjoy doing it, that is what matters most."

She sighed. "Then again, I'm not in much position to talk about enjoying anything. The reason I'm helping Cobra is because he offered me a large payment for it."

Gloria frowned. "So that's why you're here. You aren't an official member of Academia, but a duelist-for-hire."

"A mercenary, yes," Tania said. "I figured that the Lancers and Resistance would try to stop it, so I thought this would be a good chance to gauge their strength for myself." She smiled. "But then I heard a report that Edo's Occupation Force along with you two had joined up with them. So now I've decided to take this opportunity."

"Opportunity for what?" Grace asked.

"To test you." Tania's smile widened into a smirk. "As far as I'm concerned, this Final Protocol business is just a job. But you two? I've watched over you since you were small, and you're easily the best duelists I've had the pleasure of training. But you're still just cubs, trying to be tigresses. You can consider this your graduation test."

"Oh?" Gloria smirked, as did Grace. "A graduation test? That sounds like you, Teacher."

"I'm much more eager for this now," Grace said excitedly. "The Lancers and Resistance were good opponents, but they weren't you, Ms. Tania. Gloria and I have both gotten stronger since the last time we fought you."

"I would hope so; this would be boring otherwise." Tania activated her Duel Disk's bright orange blade. "Grace and Gloria Tyler! I stand before you as an enemy! Defeat me and shut down this switch to end the Final Protocol!" Her smile widened further. "Prove to me how far you've come since last I saw you!"

"With pleasure, Teacher!" The Tyler sisters activated their own blades.

"Duel!"

Grace & Gloria Tyler: 4000 LP

Tania: 4000 LP

"This'll be a Tag-Team Duel, your specialty," Tania said. "This wouldn't be a proper test if you couldn't give it your all."

"In that case, I'll take the first turn!" Gloria declared. "I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization! I fuse Amazoness Queen and Amazoness Paladin in my hand! Queen of the jungle. Receive the power of the warrior champion, and build an empire that rules over everything! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! Amazoness Empress!" A tanned woman in a cape with a skull crown emerged from the Fusion vortex in Attack Position, swinging a massive bone sword.

Amazoness Empress ATK 2800 DEF 2400 LVL: 8

"I Set one card. I end my turn," Gloria braced herself. It was Tania's turn now, and even in training the woman had never held back; Gloria was under no illusions how difficult this next turn would be for her and Grace.

"My turn! Draw! I summon Amazoness Princess!" A young girl with white hair in red clothes appeared, wielding a short spear.

Amazoness Princess ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Princess's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I add an 'Amazoness' Spell or Trap from my Deck to my hand." Tania took the card, then played a different one. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Amazoness Call! I take an 'Amazoness' card from my Deck, and either add it to my hand or send it to the Graveyard. I'll add it to my hand."

Tania smirked. "Before I came here, the Professor decided to give me a gift. So I think I'll try this new summoning method out." Grace's and Gloria's eyes widened at her words. "I set the Scale 1 Amazoness Golden Whip Master and the Scale 7 Amazoness Silver Sword Master in the Pendulum Scales!" Two blue pillars appeared on either side of Tania's field, and two monsters floated upwards in the pillars. One was a tan woman in golden armor and a violet cloak, a whip in her right hand. The other was also a tan woman, but she wore silver armor with a brown cape and held a silver sword in her right hand.

Amazoness Golden Whip Master Scale 1

Amazoness Silver Sword Master Scale 7

"Amazoness Pendulum cards?" Gloria breathed.

"The Professor had something like this, and he didn't give it to us?" Grace demanded indignantly.

Tania chuckled at her pupils' reactions. "Maybe he thought these would make a good reward for when you came back victorious? But you should keep your mind on the duel. While Golden Whip Master and Silver Sword Master are in the Pendulum Zones, they each increase the attack points of my 'Amazoness' monsters by 100 times their Levels!"

Amazoness Princess ATK 1200→1500→1800

Gloria narrowed her eyes. "A double attack point boost?"

"The Lancers make use of this summoning method all the time, right? So I guess it's my turn now. With the set Pendulum Scale, I can summon Level 2 to 6 monsters at the same time! Pendulum Summon! Appear, my champions! Amazoness Spiritualist and Amazoness War Chief!" Two lights shot out of the Pendulum portal and reformed into a tan woman in green and red holding a staff and a muscular orange-haired woman in red wielding an ornate spear, both in Attack Position.

Amazoness Spiritualist ATK 800→1000→1200 DEF 1800 LVL: 2

Amazoness War Chief ATK 1900→2400→2900 DEF 0 LVL: 5

"Spiritualist's and War Chief's monster effects! When they are Special Summoned, I can add Polymerization from my Deck to my hand and Set one 'Amazoness' Spell or Trap or one Polymerization directly from my Deck. I'll Set Amazoness Archers."

Gloria grit her teeth. Three Amazoness monsters like that, and all with boosted attack points? This was bad. But fortunately, they did have one advantage. "Continuous Trap activate! Amazoness Hall! Whenever monsters are Special Summoned to my opponent's field, we gain Life Points equal to those monsters' total attack points!"

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 4000→6700 LP

Tania's confident expression didn't change. "You're going to need those extra Life Points, you know? So long as Amazoness Princess is on the field, its name is treated as Amazoness Queen. I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization! I fuse Princess treated as Queen with Spiritualist! Princess of the jungle. Receive the power of the forest's priest, and build an empire that rules over everything! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! Amazoness Empress!" A monster identical to Gloria's Fusion Monster emerged from the vortex in Attack Position.

Amazoness Empress ATK 2800→3600→4400 DEF 2400 LVL: 8

"Since you Special Summoned again, Amazoness Hall increases our Life Points!"

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 6700→9500 LP

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Amazoness Secret Arts!" Tania declared. "I Fusion Summon an 'Amazoness' Fusion Monster using monsters from my hand or field. I fuse Empress and War Chief! Chieftain of the jungle tribes! Obtain the sword of the warrior queen and become ruler to the world itself! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 10! Amazoness Augusta!" The tanned woman who emerged from the Fusion vortex wore an elaborate top and waistcloth, with a red cape and bone structures on her head and shoulders. She swung a massive steel sword in her right hand in Attack Position.

Amazoness Augusta ATK 3200→4200→5200 DEF 2800 LVL: 10

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 9500→12700 LP

Grace gave her sister a tense smile. "5200 attack points. Teacher really isn't holding back, is she?"

Gloria matched her tense smile. "It would be an insult to us if she did."

"Augusta's monster effect!" Tania continued. "When it is Fusion Summoned, I can Special Summon one 'Amazoness' monster from my Deck. Come, Amazoness Queen!" A blue-haired woman in a multicolored top with a red cape and steel sword appeared in Attack Position.

Amazoness Queen ATK 2400→3000→3600 DEF 1800 LVL: 6

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 12700→15100 LP

We have over 15000 Life Points now, Gloria thought. We reached over 10000 against Yuya and Kurosaki, and we let it get to our heads that we were invincible because of that. Her eyes narrowed. But against Teacher? 15100 doesn't feel like nearly enough.

"Battle!" Tania declared. "Augusta attacks Empress!" She smirked as the woman raised her sword. "At this point, Golden Whip Master's and Silver Sword Master's Pendulum effects activate! When an attack is declared involving my 'Amazoness' monster, I target one Spell or Trap on the field, and one 'Amazoness' Spell or Trap in my Graveyard. The first target is destroyed, and the second target is added to my hand." Gloria's eyes widened. "I target and destroy Amazoness Hall, and target and add Amazoness Call from my Graveyard to my hand."

The Continuous Trap Card shattered, and then Augusta brought her sword down, sending a wave of white light at the Tyler sisters' field. "While Amazoness Empress is on the field, our 'Amazoness' monsters cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!" Gloria reminded Tania. Sure enough, her Fusion Monster raised her own sword till it was parallel to the ground.

"I know. But you will still take the damage." The wave hit Empress's sword, and while the monster held with a groan, the shockwave of the attack hit Gloria and Grace, making them wince.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 15100→12700 LP

"Since Augusta was Fusion Summoned using Amazoness Empress, it can make a second attack during each Battle Phase. Augusta attacks Empress again!" The woman spun around and leapt into the air, bringing her sword down on Gloria's Fusion Monster. Empress intercepted the sword with her own, but Gloria and Grace cried out from the resulting shockwave.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 12700→10300 LP

"The third attack! Amazoness Queen attacks Empress!" Augusta leapt back, and then Queen took her place, swinging her own sword. Empress blocked it, but Gloria and Grace were still pushed back by the attack.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 10300→9500 LP

Grace laughed nervously. "Over 5000 points of damage in a single turn. I almost forgot how absurd Ms. Tania can be when she gets serious."

Tania belted out a confident laugh at Grace's statement. "If you're going to do something, you should do your best to excel at it! I Set one card. I end my turn."

"My turn! Draw!" Grace looked at her card, then at Amazoness Augusta and frowned. Tania's ace monster, the evolution of Gloria's ace monster, and the one she hoped to use one day. While it couldn't prevent destruction by battle like Empress could, it did prevent Grace from targeting any of Tania's other "Amazoness" cards with effects or destroying them with effects. And with Tania having Amazoness Queen on the field as well, Augusta and Queen couldn't be destroyed by battle.

Grace smiled again. "I suppose I'll just have to do the best I can this turn. By revealing the Amazoness Paladin in my hand, I can Special Summon Amazoness Spy!" A woman in a black cloak with a red mask appeared in Attack Position, a dagger held in her right hand.

Amazoness Spy ATK 800 DEF 1200 LVL: 3

"When an 'Amazoness' monster is Normal or Special Summoned to my field, I can Special Summon this card from my hand. Come, Amazoness Baby Tiger!" A small red tiger kitten appeared in Attack Position and meowed as fiercely as it could.

Amazoness Baby Tiger ATK 500 DEF 500 LVL: 2

"Baby Tiger's name becomes Amazoness Tiger while on the field, and it gains 100 attack points for each 'Amazoness' card in my Graveyard."

Amazoness Baby Tiger ATK 500→800

"I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization!" Grace declared. "I fuse Baby Tiger treated as Tiger and Spy! Newborn beast of the jungle with vicious fangs. Obtain the eyes of the warrior who hunts down her prey, become a new savage beast, and appear! Fusion Summon! Come out, Level 7! Amazoness Pet Liger!" A pale, maned liger with a scarred right eye and armor on its shoulders emerged from the Fusion vortex and roared in Attack Position.

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2500 DEF 2400 LVL: 7

Tania smirked. "So now you both have your ace monsters out. But my Augusta has over 5000 attack points; do you have a plan to counter that, Grace?"

"Let's find out," Grace answered playfully. "I summon Amazoness Paladin!" A blonde woman in beige clothing appeared, swinging a longsword.

Amazoness Paladin ATK 1700 DEF 300 LVL: 4

"Paladin gains 100 attack points for each 'Amazoness' monster I control."

Amazoness Paladin ATK 1700→2000

"I activate the Spell Card: Gift of the Martyr! I send a monster on my field to the Graveyard, and another monster gains attack points equal to the sent monster's original attack points until the end of the turn. I send Paladin to the Graveyard and increase Empress's attack points!"

Amazoness Empress ATK 2800→4500

Tania looked from Empress to her field, specifically to Queen. She smirked. "So that's your plan. Well, I might as well act now. I activate my Set Quick-Play Spell Card: Amazoness Call! I take a second Amazoness Spiritualist from my Deck and add it to my hand."

Grace frowned. Spiritualist allowed Tania to add Polymerization to her hand when it was Special Summoned. Another Fusion Summon is coming next turn. Out loud, she said, "Battle! Empress attacks Amazoness Queen!" The Fusion Monster held her sword out to the side.

Tania's smirk remained. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you? Trap activate! Amazoness Archers!" Grace's and Gloria's eyes widened as five women armed with bows appeared on Tania's field. "Since your monster declared an attack while I control an 'Amazoness' monster, all monsters you control are changed to face-up Attack Position, they lose 500 attack points, and they must declare an attack this turn!" The women released their arrows, striking Empress and Pet Liger and making them groan.

Amazoness Empress ATK 4500→4000

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2500→2000

"And since an attack was declared involving my 'Amazoness' monster, Silver Sword Master's Pendulum effect activates, and I add Amazoness Call from my Graveyard to my hand."

"Empress's attack continues!" Grace said, undeterred. The woman swung her sword, sending a wave of light at Queen.

"While Amazoness Queen is on the field, my 'Amazoness' monsters cannot be destroyed by battle," Tania reminded Grace. She then smirked ruefully. "Of course, that does nothing to reduce the damage." The wave struck Queen, who grunted but remained standing. The wave continued on to Tania, who also grunted but did not budge.

Tania: 4000→3600 LP

"Pet Liger's monster effect!" Grace declared. "When my 'Amazoness' monster attacks an opponent's monster, I target a monster and reduce its attack points by 800!"

"While Amazoness Augusta is on the field," Tania reminded her, "my other 'Amazoness' cards cannot be targeted by your effects."

"Then I'll just target Augusta itself!"

Amazoness Augusta ATK 5200→4400

Grace grit her teeth. This was going to hurt. "Pet Liger attacks Queen! When Pet Liger attacks, it gains 500 attack points during the Damage Step!"

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2000→2500

"That still isn't enough!" The massive feline leapt at Queen, only for the woman to whip around and roundhouse kick the beast away. The force of the kick sent a blast of wind at Grace, making her flinch.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 9500→8400 LP

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2500→2000

"Pet Liger's monster effect! I target Augusta and reduce its attack points by 800 again!"

Amazoness Augusta ATK 4400→3600

Grace sighed. She had hoped to do more damage, but at least she had dealt some damage. And with Augusta weakened, Gloria might be able to pull off a win on her turn. Assuming they survived the next turn. "I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Gift of the Martyr's effect ends, and Empress's attack points return to normal."

Amazoness Empress ATK 4000→2300

Tania smiled. "Not bad, Grace. Your offense game is on point. But let's see if your defense measures up. My turn! Draw! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Amazoness Call! I take Amazoness Swords Woman from my Deck and add it to my hand." Tania raised her right hand. "With the set Pendulum Scales, I can Special Summon monsters Level 2 to 6 at the same time! Pendulum Summon! Appear, my champions! Amazoness Spiritualist and Amazoness Swords Woman!" Another woman in green and red wielding a staff appeared, this time accompanied by a brown-haired woman in blue wielding a curved sword, both in Attack Position.

Amazoness Spiritualist ATK 800→1000→1200 DEF 1800 LVL: 2

Amazoness Swords Woman ATK 1500→1900→2300 DEF 1600 LVL: 4

"Spiritualist's monster effect! As it was Special Summoned, I add Polymerization from my Deck to my hand." Tania smirked. "I activate the effect of Amazoness Secret Arts in my Graveyard! By banishing it, once this turn, if I would Fusion Summon an 'Amazoness' Fusion Monster this turn, I can also send an 'Amazoness' monster from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard as material."

Grace's and Gloria's eyes widened. "From the Extra Deck?"

"That's right. I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization, and with Secret Arts' effect, I fuse the Amazoness Pet Liger in my Extra Deck with the Amazoness Spiritualist on my field! Savage beast of the jungle with merciless fangs. Obtain the power of the jungle's priestess, become the ultimate king of the beasts and appear! Fusion Summon! Come before me, Level 9! Amazoness Pet Liger King!" A feline even larger than Grace's emerged from the Fusion vortex. It had the same skin tone and scarred eye, but the armor on its upper body had red crystalline spikes and there was a metal horn on its head. The liger roared in Attack Position.

Amazoness Pet Liger King ATK 2900→3800→4700 DEF 2800 LVL: 9

Grace smiled tensely. "Oh, Pet Liger's big brother is here. And with 4700 attack points. Lovely."

"More lovely than you think," Tania said. "While Pet Liger King is on the field, your monsters cannot attack my other monsters. While your Pet Liger can negate any attack made against any other target. But Pet Liger King has one more effect. Pet Liger King's monster effect! I target one 'Amazoness' card I control and one 'Amazoness' Warrior monster in my Graveyard. The first card is destroyed, and the monster is Special Summoned. I destroy Swords Woman to Special Summon my Amazoness Empress!" The woman with the curved sword vanished and was replaced by a caped woman armed with a bone sword in Attack Position.

Amazoness Empress ATK 2800→3600→4400 DEF 2400 LVL: 8

"Pet Liger King cannot attack the turn this effect is activated, but we all know that won't matter. I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Burden of the Mighty! All of your face-up monsters lose attack points equal to their Levels times 100!"

Amazoness Empress ATK 2300→1500

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2000→1300

Grace grit her teeth. Tania now had four monsters: two with 3600 attack points, one with 4400 attack points, and one with 4700 attack points. And even if the last one couldn't attack and Grace's and Gloria's monsters couldn't be destroyed, Augusta could attack twice, and when Tania's monster attacked, Golden Whip Master would destroy Grace's Set card.

Grace didn't have a choice. "Trap activate! Inspiration! One of my monsters gains 700 attack points until the end of the turn. I target Pet Liger!"

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 1300→2000

Tania and Gloria blinked in surprise. "You still have that card?" the latter asked her sister. "We haven't used that since we were children!"

Grace chuckled lightly. "I guess I was feeling a little nostalgic."

Tania could only chuckle in response to that. "Nostalgia isn't bad, so long as it doesn't stop you from focusing on the present." She gestured to her field. "Battle! Augusta attacks Pet Liger!" The woman's oversized sword glowed. "Silver Sword Master's Pendulum effect! I add Amazoness Archers from my Graveyard to my hand." Augusta brought her sword down, sending a wave of light at Grace's Fusion Monster.

"Since Amazoness Empress is on my field, Pet Liger cannot be destroyed by this battle!" Grace reminded Tania.

"But you will take damage!" The wave rippled over Pet Liger and made it groan in pain before it hit Gloria and Grace.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 8400→6800 LP

"Augusta makes her second attack!" The woman swung her sword again, and another wave of light hit Pet Liger. The feline growled but stayed standing, while Grace and Gloria grunted.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 6800→5200 LP

"Now Empress attacks Pet Liger!" The monster identical to Gloria's Fusion Monster roared and charged, bringing her sword down. Pet Liger leapt back, avoiding the impact, but the shockwave of the sword hitting the ground struck the Tyler sisters.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 5200→2800 LP

"And finally, Queen attacks Pet Liger!" The woman yelled and swung her sword, hitting the ground and sending a shockwave towards Tania's opponents. The feline groaned as the shockwave went past it and hit its masters. Gloria and Grace cried out as they were knocked off their feet and hit the walls on either side of the door before slumping to the ground.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 2800→1200 LP

Tania sighed. "If not for that Trap Card of yours Grace, I would have won. But there is still a chance for your victory. You just need to find it and seize it. I Set two cards. I end my turn."

Grace grit her teeth as she pushed herself to her feet. "During the End Phase, Inspiration's effect ends."

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2000→1300

A panting Gloria pushed herself to her own feet. "Damn," she gasped. "Teacher is even stronger than I remember her being."

"Yeah," Grace agreed. "Incorporating Pendulum Summoning has really upped her game." She couldn't help but giggle. "If not for you sister, we would have lost three times over already."

Gloria chuckled as a wry smile crossed her lips. "That just shows how far we still have to go to reach her. Even after all these years…

"Thank you for coming here, Ms. Tania. I swear I'm out of options at this point."

"Then you don't have a very active imagination. Two kids are really causing you so much trouble?"

"They're rambunctious, they don't listen to me, and they keep getting into fights with the other children."

"Hehe. I see. Don't worry. I'll take care of them."

And she had. Tania had taken them from the orphanage Gloria and Grace were in and given them the excitement they craved. She had taught strength and discipline, to be warriors who took joy in life. Even if the things they took joy in weren't appropriate to most people, it mattered to them. Tania had taught them to follow their passions no matter where they led. And that was something the Tyler sisters had no problem doing.

"I'll admit to having a mixed view of the Lancers and Resistance," Gloria said. "But even when their backs are against the wall, they continue to fight in the hopes of a tomorrow. I can't help but respect that." Her smile widened. "I don't know what tomorrow they all envision, but I want to see it. To see that tomorrow… Grace and I will definitely surpass you, Teacher!"

"Then do it!" Tania challenged, a smile on her own face. "Show me you have the strength to face the future!"

"My turn! Draw!" Gloria looked at her card, then took the only other card in her hand. The card that had been left over after her first turn. "I activate the Spell Card: Giant Trunade!"

Tania's eyes widened. "Giant Trunade?"

Gloria smirked as wind started to whistle around them. "Giant Trunade returns every Spell and Trap Card on the field to the owners' hands."

"Amazoness Augusta prevents the destruction of 'Amazoness' cards," Grace reminded Tania. "But it does nothing against effects that return cards to the hand."

Tania smirked. "I'm proud you found that workaround. Pity it won't work though. Counter Trap activate! Draw Bribe!"

It was Gloria's eyes' turn to widen. "Dark Bribe?"

"Since you activated a Spell Card, Dark Bribe lets you draw one card, then the activation of Giant Trunade is negated and it is destroyed."

Gloria grit her teeth and drew, angry as the wind died down. Grace frowned. Ms. Tania's second Set card is absolutely Amazoness Archers, she thought. If she activates that, Empress and Pet Liger will lose even more attack points and be forced to attack. We'll lose.

"What's with that face, Grace?" The girl turned to face her smirking sister. "Are you thinking we're about to lose?"

Grace blinked and then smirked back. "Well, this doesn't look good, but you've always been confident, Gloria. I assume you do have a plan to get around this?"

"Of course I do. And it's thanks to Teacher that I can do this."

Tania raised an eyebrow. "Thanks to me?"

"The card you just let me draw," Gloria explained. She then played said card. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Amazoness Triumph!" The card showed Amazoness Empress standing over the bloody body of an enemy, raising her sword as other Amazoness monsters raised their fists and cheered. "Since I control a Level 7 or higher 'Amazoness' monster, I can discard Amazoness Willpower. And until the end of the turn, the effects of all of my opponent's face-up cards are negated!"

Tania's eyes widened again. "What?" She watched as her field of monsters all groaned, then Burden of the Mighty grayed out and the two monsters in Tania's Pendulum pillars fell to the ground on one knee each. Meanwhile, Gloria's and Grace's Empress and Pet Liger straightened up and roared.

Amazoness Empress ATK 1500→2300

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 1300→2000

Amazoness Augusta ATK 3600→1600

Amazoness Empress ATK 4400→2800

Amazoness Pet Liger King ATK 4700→2900

Amazoness Queen ATK 3600→2400

"If we can't destroy your cards, then we'll just negate them," Gloria said smugly. "With your Pendulum Monsters' effects negated, your monsters' attack points have returned to normal, with Pet Liger King's effects negated, we can attack other monsters, and with Empress's and Queen's effects negated, we can destroy your monsters. How is that, Teacher?"

Tania stared at Gloria before she burst out in laughter. Incredulous, happy laughter. "Not bad, Gloria! But you'll still need to do better than this! I have 3600 Life Points, and your Spell Card's effect only lasts until the end of the turn. So if you're going to win, you need to do it this turn."

"That's true. So I might as well get to it! Battle! Pet Liger attacks Amazoness Queen!" The feline roared and leapt into the air.

Tania raised an eyebrow but gestured to her field. "Trap activate! Amazoness Archers! Since you attacked while I control an 'Amazoness' monster, your monsters lose 500 attack points and must attack this turn!" The five women reappeared and shot arrows at Pet Liger and Empress, making them wince.

Amazoness Empress ATK 2300→1800

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2000→1500

"Pet Liger's attack continues!" Gloria said, undeterred. "When Pet Liger attacks, it gains 500 attack points during the Damage Step!"

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 1500→2000

"Queen is still stronger! And while Pet Liger might not be destroyed by this, you'll still take damage!" Queen yelled and swung her sword, knocking Pet Liger out of the air and back onto Grace's and Gloria's side of the field.

Gloria & Grace Tyler: 1200→800 LP

Amazoness Pet Liger ATK 2000→1500

"Pet Liger's monster effect!" Gloria declared. "When my 'Amazoness' monster attacks your monster, I target a monster and reduce its attack points by 800! I target Augusta!"

Amazoness Augusta ATK 1600→800

Tania narrowed her eyes. "So that is what you're going for; you knew I would use Amazoness Archers, so you used Pet Liger's effect to weaken Augusta even more."

"That's right. Empress attacks Augusta!" The woman gave a battle cry as she charged forward, swinging her sword. Augusta met the shorter woman's sword with her own and managed to lock their blades together. But only for a few seconds. With a yell, Empress pushed until Augusta's sword broke and stabbed Augusta in the chest. The woman yelled in pain before she exploded, pushing Tania back.

Tania: 3600→2600 LP

"At this point, I activate the effect of Amazoness Triumph in the Graveyard!" Gloria declared. "When my 'Amazoness' monster destroys your monster by battle, I banish Triumph to inflict 600 points of damage for each 'Amazoness' monster on the field!"

Tania's eyes widened. "What?"

"On every field, not just ours," Grace clarified with a smirk. "That means you take damage for ours, and your 'Amazoness' monsters."

"That's five monsters total," Gloria said. "Which means you take 3000 points of damage!" Her smirk threatened to split her face. "How is this for surpassing you, Teacher!?" The Spell Card reappeared and fired a beam of yellow energy at Tania.

The woman stared at the beam before closing her eyes. She smiled. "Not bad, little cubs. No, not cubs." She opened her eyes and faced the light head-on. "You're full-grown tigresses now."

BOOM

Tania was flung backwards and fell onto one of the control panel's chairs, which broke under her weight and momentum.

Tania: 2600→0 LP

"We did it!" Grace cheered as the monsters disappeared. "We finally defeated Teacher!"

"Heh," Gloria smirked. "It was bound to happen eventually. But for it to happen after we leave Academia… I guess this path might be the right one."

"'Might be' doesn't exist for you." They looked up as Tania pushed herself to her feet. "No matter what a person does in life, they should do it with as much certainty as possible. If they can't, then they'll only end up regretting their choices. And that is something I don't want for either of you."

She smiled. "Well done. I'd say the two of you passed my little graduation test with flying colors. And since you passed, you should get a reward."

Tania pulled an envelope out of a waist pocket and tossed it to Gloria. The girl opened it and her eyes widened in shock. "These are-!"

"Pendulum cards of your own," Tania finished. "For both of you to use. And copies of Augusta and Pet Liger King for yourselves. It's the role of a teacher to prepare her students for the road ahead. And if you are going to fight Academia, then you'll have a very hard road to walk." With those parting words, Tania pressed a button on her Duel Disk and vanished into blue light.

"An attack on Academia is inevitable now," Grace noted with a note of sadness in her voice. Despite their tendencies, her sister and her did have friends on the island. The thought of opposing them… it didn't deter Grace from her choice, but it did sadden her. "Do you think Teacher will be part of the defense?"

"As long as the Professor pays her? Yes." Gloria walked forward and pulled the handle on the switch Tania had been protecting. With it pulled, all three lights next to it lit up. "It looks like the others got their switches too. Yuji and Yuya should have a clear path to Cobra now."

"Then let's hurry back!" Grace urged excitedly. "I can't wait to see more of Yuya's Entertainment Dueling!"

---

"Go, Odd-Eyes!" The dragon roared as it charged, knocking three Academia duelists off their feet.

"Cyberse Sorcerer! Cyberse Sorcery!" The robed man fired beams of dark blue energy from its staff, tearing through the multiple Ancient Gear Hunting Hounds.

Yuya's and Yuji's Duel Disks deactivated as their opponents collapsed. The latter glanced at the door panel and his eyes narrowed. "Yuya!"

"Huh?" The other Lancer followed Yuji's gaze and his eyes widened. "The light! Does that mean-?"

"The switches are down. The door can be opened." Yuji pressed one of the buttons, and with a whirling sound, the door to the transporter room eased open.

"How much time do we have left?" Yuya asked.

"One hour," Yuji answered. "In that time, we have to defeat this Professor Cobra and shut down his device." He glanced at his fellow Lancer. At his friend. "Are you ready?"

"Of course." Yuya's eyes narrowed. "It's time to put an end to this!"

---

Amelia & Caster vs. Gregor & Rufus

This Duel is conducted as a Tag-Team Duel. Each team shares a field, GY and LP. Card effects that target cards in a player's hand may target their partner's hand.

Turn 1: Amelia

Amelia activates the Spell Card Reinforcement of the Army, which lets her add 1 Level 4 or lower Warrior monster from her Deck to her hand. She adds Elemental HERO Shadow Mist to her hand. Amelia activates the Spell Card Fake Hero, which lets her Special Summon 1 "Elemental HERO" monster from her hand, but that monster cannot attack and returns to the hand during the End Phase. She Special Summons Shadow Mist (1000/1500/4) in Attack Position. As Shadow Mist was Special Summoned, Amelia can add 1 "Change" Quick-Play Spell Card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Mask Change to her hand. Amelia activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Mask Change, targeting Shadow Mist. Shadow Mist is sent to the GY, then Amelia can Special Summon 1 "Masked HERO" monster from her Extra Deck with the same Attribute. She Transformation Summons Masked HERO Dark Law (2400/1800/6) in Attack Position. While Dark Law is on the field, any card sent to Gregor's and Rufus's GY is banished instead. Amelia Sets 2 cards. She ends her turn.

Turn 2: Gregor

Gregor draws. By discarding Vision HERO Witch Raider, he Special Summons Vision HERO Faris (1600/1800/5) in Attack Position. As Faris was Special Summoned, Gregor can place 1 "Vision HERO" monster from his Deck in his Spell & Trap Zone as a Continuous Trap. He places Vision HERO Poisoner in his Spell & Trap Zone. Gregor Normal Summons Vision HERO Gravito (500/2000/4). As Gravito was Normal Summoned, Gregor can add 1 of his banished "HERO" monsters to his hand. He adds the banished Witch Raider to his hand. Gregor activates the Spell Card Vision Fusion, which lets him Fusion Summon 1 "HERO" Fusion Monster using monsters from his hand or field as Fusion Material, and he can also use up to 2 monsters in his Spell & Trap Zone that are being treated as Continuous Traps as Fusion Material by banishing them. Gregor uses Gravito and banishes Poisoner to Fusion Summon Vision HERO Adoration (2800/2100/8) in Attack Position. Gregor activates Adoration's effect, targeting Dark Law and Faris, attempting to reduce Dark Law's ATK/DEF by Faris's ATK until the end of the turn. Amelia chains her Set Quick-Play Spell Card Form Change, which lets her target 1 "HERO" Fusion Monster she controls, return it to the Extra Deck, then Special Summon 1 "Masked HERO" monster with the same Level but a different name from her Extra Deck. She targets Dark Law, returns it to the Extra Deck, then Special Summons Masked HERO Blast (2200/1800/6) in Attack Position. Adoration's effect resolves without a target. As Blast was Special Summoned, Amelia can target 1 face-up monster Gregor controls and make its ATK become half its current ATK. She targets Adoration (Adoration: 2800→1400). Gregor activates the Spell Card Double Summon, which lets him Normal Summon/Set a 2nd time this turn. He Tributes Adoration and Faris to Tribute Summon Vision HERO Witch Raider (2700/1900/8). As Witch Raider was Normal Summoned, Gregor destroys all Spell/Trap Cards Amelia controls. He destroys her Set Negate Attack.

Witch Raider attacks and destroys Blast (Amelia & Caster: 4000→3500 LP). Gregor ends his turn.

Turn 3: Caster

Caster draws. He activates the Spell Card The Warrior Returning Alive, which lets him add 1 Warrior monster from his GY to his hand. He adds Shadow Mist to his hand. Caster Normal Summons Elemental HERO Solid Soldier (1300/1100/4). As Solid Soldier was Normal Summoned, Caster can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "HERO" monster from his hand. He Special Summons Elemental HERO Blazeman (1200/1800/4) in Attack Position. As Blazeman was Special Summoned, Caster adds Polymerization from his Deck to his hand. Caster activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Solid Soldier on his field with Shadow Mist in his hand to Fusion Summon Elemental HERO Escuridao (2500/2000/8) in Attack Position. As Shadow Mist was sent to the GY, Caster can add 1 "HERO" monster from his Deck to his hand, and as Solid Soldier was sent from the Monster Zone to the GY by a Spell effect, Caster can target and Special Summon 1 "HERO" monster from his GY in Defense Position. He adds Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier to his hand and Special Summons Shadow Mist (1000/1500/4). Escuridao gains 100 ATK for each "Elemental HERO" monster in Caster's GY (Escuridao: 2500→2600). Caster activates a 2nd Polymerization, fusing Blazeman and Shadow Mist on his field to Fusion Summon Elemental HERO Nova Master (2600/2100/8) in Attack Position (Escuridao: 2600→2800). Caster activates the Spell Card Fusion Recovery, adding Polymerization and Solid Soldier from his GY to his hand (Escuridao: 2800→2700). Caster activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Liquid Soldier and Solid Soldier in his hand to Fusion Summon Elemental HERO Gaia (2200/2600/6) in Attack Position (Escuridao: 2700→2900). As Liquid Soldier was used as Fusion Material for a "HERO" monster and sent to the GY, Caster draws 2 cards, then discards Elemental HERO Heat (Escuridao: 2900→3000).As Gaia was Fusion Summoned, Caster can target 1 monster Gregor controls, and until the End Phase, that monster's ATK is halved, and Gaia gains the same amount of ATK. Caster targets Witch Raider (Witch Raider: 2700→1350) (Gaia: 2200→3550).

Nova Master attacks and destroys Witch Raider (Gregor & Rufus: 4000→2750 LP). As Nova Master destroyed Gregor's monster by battle, Caster draws 1 card. Escuridao attacks Gregor directly. As Caster's monster declared a direct attack, Gregor activates the effect of Swift Scarecrow in his hand, discarding it, negating the attack, then ending the Battle Phase. Caster Sets 3 cards. He ends his turn. During the End Phase, Gaia's ATK returns to normal (Gaia: 3550→2200).

Turn 4: Rufus

Rufus draws. He activates the effect of Evil HERO Adusted Gold in his hand, discarding it to add Dark Fusion or 1 card that mentions it from his Deck to his hand. He adds Supreme King's Castle to his hand. Rufus activates the Field Spell Card Supreme King's Castle. If he would Fusion Summon a monster that must be Special Summoned with Dark Fusion, he can use effects other than Dark Fusion. As he controls no monsters, Rufus Special Summons Evil HERO Infernal Prodigy (300/600/2) in Attack Position. As he controls a Fiend monster, Rufus activates the Spell Card Evil Mind, which lets him activate 1 of 3 effects, based on the number of monsters in Caster's GY. As Caster has 4 or more monsters in the GY, Rufus activates the 2nd effect to add 1 "HERO" monster or 1 Dark Fusion from his Deck to his hand. He adds Evil HERO Sinister Necrom from his Deck to his hand. Rufus activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Infernal Prodigy on his field with Sinister Necrom in his hand to Fusion Summon Evil HERO Malicious Bane (3000/3000/8) in Attack Position. Rufus activates Malicious Bane's effect to destroy all monsters Caster controls with ATK less than or equal to Malicious Bane's, then Malicious Bane gains 200 ATK for each destroyed monster. Caster chains his Set Quick-Play Spell Card Forbidden Dress, targeting Escuridao. Until the end of the turn, Escuridao loses 600 ATK, but it cannot be targeted or destroyed by other card effects (Escuridao: 3000→2400). Malicious Bane's effect resolves, and Gaia and Nova Master are destroyed (Escuridao: 2400→2600) (Malicious Bane: 3000→3400). Rufus activates Sinister Necrom's effect in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon 1 "Evil HERO" monster from his hand or Deck. He Special Summons Evil HERO Malicious Edge (2600/1800/7) from his Deck in Attack Position. Rufus Normal Summons Evil HERO Infernal Gainer (1600/0/4). Rufus activates Infernal Gainer's effect, banishing it and targeting Malicious Bane. While Rufus controls Malicious Bane face-up, it can make a second attack during each Battle Phase.

Malicious Bane attacks Escuridao. As Rufus's Fiend monster is battling Caster's monster, Supreme King's Castle lets Rufus send 1 "Evil HERO" monster from his Deck or Extra Deck to the GY to increase Malicious Bane's ATK by the Level of the sent monster x 200 until the end of the turn. He sends Level 8 Evil HERO Malicious Fiend from his Extra Deck to the GY (Malicious Bane: 3400→5000). Caster activates his Set Trap Card Intrigue Shield, targeting Escuridao. Intrigue Shield is equipped to Escuridao, it cannot be destroyed by battle once per turn while it is in Attack Position, and Caster takes no battle damage from attacks involving it. The attack continues, but Escuridao is not destroyed, and Caster takes no damage. Malicious Bane attacks and destroys Escuridao, but Caster takes no damage. Malicious Edge attacks Caster directly (Amelia & Caster: 3500→900 LP). Rufus Sets 1 card. He ends his turn, and Supreme King's Castle's effect ends (Malicious Bane: 5000→3400).

Turn 5: Amelia

Amelia draws. She activates the Spell Card Fifth Hope, which lets her target and shuffle 5 "Elemental HERO" cards in her GY into the Deck, then draw 2 cards. She shuffles Shadow Mist into her Deck, then shuffles Escuridao, Gaia, Liquid Soldier, and Nova Master into Caster's Deck, then draws. Amelia activates the Spell Card Extra-Foolish Burial, which lets her pay half her LP to send 1 monster from her Extra Deck to the GY, but she cannot Set Spells/Traps this turn (Amelia & Caster: 900→450 LP). She sends Masked HERO Acid from her Extra Deck to the GY. Amelia activates her Set Spell Card Miracle Fusion, which lets her Fusion Summon 1 "Elemental HERO" Fusion Monster from her Extra Deck by banishing its Fusion Materials from her field or GY. She banishes Masked HERO Acid and Masked HERO Blast from her GY to Fusion Summon Contrast HERO Chaos (3000/2600/9) in Attack Position, which is always treated as an "Elemental HERO" card. Amelia activates Chaos's effect to target 1 face-up card on the field and negate its effects until the end of the turn. She targets and negates Supreme King's Castle's effects. She activates the Equip Spell Card Favorite Hero, equipping it to Chaos.

At the start of the Battle Phase, Favorite Hero's effect lets Amelia activate 1 Field Spell directly from her hand or Deck. She activates the Field Spell Card Skyscraper from her Deck. As Amelia controls a card in her Field Zone, Favorite Hero increases Chaos's ATK by its original DEF, and Rufus cannot target it with card effects (Chaos: 3000→5600). Chaos attacks Malicious Edge. As a monster he controls is being attacked, Rufus activates his Set Trap Card Half Counter, targeting Malicious Edge. Until the End Phase, Malicious Edge gains ATK equal to half of Chaos's original ATK (Malicious Edge: 2600→4100). The attack continues and Malicious Edge is destroyed (Gregor & Rufus: 2750→1250 LP). As the monster equipped with Favorite Hero attacked and destroyed Rufus's monster by battle, Amelia activates its effect, sending Favorite Hero to the GY (Chaos: 5600→3000) and allowing Chaos to make a second attack in a row. Chaos attacks Malicious Bane. As an "Elemental HERO" monster attacked a monster with a higher ATK, Skyscraper's effect increases the attacking monster's ATK by 1000 during damage calculation only (Chaos: 3000→4000). The attack continues, but Malicious Bane cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects (Gregor & Rufus: 1250→650 LP) (Chaos: 4000→3000). Amelia activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Mask Change from her hand, which lets her target 1 "HERO" monster she controls, then send it to the GY and Special Summon 1 "Masked HERO" monster from her Extra Deck with the same Attribute it had on the field. She targets and sends Chaos, which is also treated as Light Attribute when on the field, to the GY and Transformation Summons Masked HERO Koga (2500/1800/8) in Attack Position. Koga gains 500 ATK for each monster Rufus controls (Koga: 2500→3000). Amelia activates Koga's effect to banish 1 "HERO" monster from her GY, then target and reduce the ATK of 1 face-up monster by the ATK of the banished monster until the end of the turn. She banishes Chaos from her GY and targets Malicious Bane (Malicious Bane: 3400→400). Koga attacks Malicious Bane, but Malicious Bane is not destroyed (Gregor & Rufus: 650→0 LP). Amelia & Caster win.

---

Grace & Gloria Tyler vs. Tania

This Duel is conducted as a Tag-Team Duel, with Grace and Gloria teaming up against Tania and sharing the same field, GY, and LP.

Turn 1: Gloria

Gloria activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Amazoness Queen and Amazoness Paladin in her hand to Fusion Summon Amazoness Empress (2800/2400/8) in Attack Position. Gloria Sets 1 card. She ends her turn.

Turn 2: Tania

Tania draws. She Normal Summons Amazoness Princess (1200/900/3). As Princess was Normal Summoned, Tania can add 1 "Amazoness" Spell/Trap from her Deck to her hand. She adds Amazoness Secret Arts to her hand. Tania activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Amazoness Call, which lets her take 1 "Amazoness" card from her Deck, then either add it to her hand or send it to the GY. She takes Amazoness Golden Whip Master from her Deck and adds it to her hand. Tania activates Amazoness Golden Whip Master (PS: 1) and Amazoness Silver Sword Master (PS: 7) in her Pendulum Zones. Golden Whip Master's and Silver Sword Master's Pendulum effects increase the ATK of Tania's "Amazoness" monsters by their Level x 100 each (Princess: 1200→1500→1800). Tania Pendulum Summons Amazoness Spiritualist (800→1000→1200/1800/2) and Amazoness War Chief (1900→2400→2900/0/5) from her hand, all in Attack Position. As Spiritualist was Special Summoned, Tania adds Polymerization from her Deck to her hand. As War Chief was Special Summoned, Tania can Set 1 "Amazoness" Spell/Trap or 1 Polymerization directly from her Deck. She Sets Amazoness Archers. Gloria activates her Set Continuous Trap Card Amazoness Hall. If a monster(s) is Special Summoned to Tania's field, Gloria gains LP equal to the total original ATK of those monsters (Gloria & Grace: 4000→6700 LP). While Princess is on the field, its name becomes Amazoness Queen. Tania activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Princess treated as Amazoness Queen with Spiritualist to Fusion Summon Amazoness Empress (2800→3600→4400/2400/8) in Attack Position (Gloria & Grace: 6700→9500 LP). Tania activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Amazoness Secret Arts, which lets her Fusion Summon 1 "Amazoness" Fusion Monster using monsters from her hand or field. She fuses Empress and War Chief to Fusion Summon Amazoness Augusta (3200→4200→5200/2800/10) in Attack Position (Gloria & Grace: 9500→12700 LP). As Augusta was Fusion Summoned, Tania can Special Summon 1 "Amazoness" monster from her Deck. She Special Summons Amazoness Queen (2400→3000→3600/1800/6) in Attack Position (Gloria & Grace: 12700→15100 LP).

Augusta attacks Empress. As an attack was declared involving her "Amazoness" monster, Tania activates Golden Whip Master's and Silver Sword Master's effects, letting her target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap on the field, and target and add 1 "Amazoness" Spell/Trap in her GY to her hand. She targets Amazoness Hall on Gloria's field and Amazoness Call in her GY, destroying the former and adding the latter to her hand. The attack continues, but while Empress is on the field, Gloria's "Amazoness" monsters cannot be destroyed by battle (Gloria & Grace: 15100→12700 LP). As Augusta was Fusion Summoned using Amazoness Empress as material, it can make a second attack during each Battle Phase. Augusta attacks Empress, but Empress is not destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 12700→10300 LP). Queen attacks Empress, but Empress is not destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 10300→9500 LP). Tania Sets 1 card. She ends her turn.

Turn 3: Grace

Grace draws. By revealing Amazoness Paladin in her hand, she Special Summons Amazoness Spy (800/1200/3) in Attack Position. As an "Amazoness" monster was Summoned to Grace's field while it is in her hand, Grace Special Summons Amazoness Baby Tiger (500/500/2) from her hand in Attack Position. Baby Tiger's name becomes Amazoness Tiger while on the field or in the GY, and it gains 100 ATK for each "Amazoness" card in Grace's GY (Baby Tiger: 500→800). Grace activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Baby Tiger treated as Tiger and Spy on her field to Fusion Summon Amazoness Pet Liger (2500/2400/7) in Attack Position. Grace Normal Summons Amazoness Paladin (1700/300/4). Paladin gains 100 ATK for each "Amazoness" monster Grace controls (Paladin: 1700→2000). Grace activates the Spell Card Gift of the Martyr, sending Paladin to the GY and targeting Empress. Until the end of the turn, Empress gains ATK equal to Paladin's (Empress: 2800→4500). Tania activates her Set Quick-Play Spell Card Amazoness Call and takes a 2nd Amazoness Spiritualist from her Deck and adds it to her hand.

Empress attacks Queen. As Grace's monster declared an attack while she controls an "Amazoness" monster, Tania activates her Set Trap Card Amazoness Archers. All monsters Grace controls are changed to Attack Position, they lose 500 ATK, and they must attack this turn if able (Empress: 4500→4000) (Pet Liger: 2500→2000). As an attack was declared involving Tania's "Amazoness" monster, she activates Silver Sword Master's effect, targeting Amazoness Call in her GY. Tania adds Amazoness Call to her hand. The attack continues, but while Queen is on the field, Tania's "Amazoness" monsters cannot be destroyed by battle (Tania: 4000→3600 LP). As Grace's "Amazoness" monster attacked Tania's monster, after damage calculation, Grace activates Pet Liger's effect to target 1 monster Tania controls and reduce its ATK by 800. While Augusta is on the field, Grace cannot target Tania's other "Amazoness" cards with card effects. Grace targets Augusta (Augusta: 5200→4400). Pet Liger attacks Queen. When Pet Liger attacks, it gains 500 ATK during the Damage Step only (Pet Liger: 2000→2500). The attack continues, but Pet Liger is not destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 9500→8400 LP) (Pet Liger: 2500→2000). Pet Liger's effect activates, and Grace targets Augusta (Augusta: 4400→3600). Grace Sets 1 card. She ends her turn. During the End Phase, Gift of the Martyr's effect ends (Empress: 4000→2300).

Turn 4: Tania

Tania draws. She activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Amazoness Call and takes Amazoness Swords Woman from her Deck and adds it to her hand. Tania Pendulum Summons Amazoness Spiritualist (800→1000→1200/1800/2) and Amazoness Swords Woman (1500→1900→2300/1600/4) from her hand in Attack Position. As Spiritualist was Special Summoned, Tania adds a 2nd Polymerization from her Deck to her hand. Tania activates the effect of Amazoness Secret Arts in her GY, banishing it, and once this turn, if she would Fusion Summon an "Amazoness" Fusion Monster, she can also send 1 "Amazoness" monster from her Extra Deck to the GY as material. Tania activates the Spell Card Polymerization, fusing Amazoness Pet Liger in her Extra Deck and Amazoness Spiritualist on her field to Fusion Summon Amazoness Pet Liger King (2900→3800→4700/2800/9) in Attack Position. Tania activates Pet Liger King's effect, targeting Amazoness Swords Woman on her field and Amazoness Empress in her GY. Swords Woman is destroyed, and Tania Special Summons Empress (2800→3600→4400/2400/8) in Attack Position, but Pet Liger King cannot attack this turn. Tania activates the Continuous Spell Card Burden of the Mighty. Grace's face-up monsters lose 100 ATK x their Levels (Empress: 2300→1500) (Pet Liger: 2000→1300). Grace activates her Set Trap Card Inspiration, targeting Pet Liger. It gains 700 ATK until the end of the turn (Pet Liger: 1300→2000).

Augusta attacks Pet Liger. As an attack was declared involving Tania's "Amazoness" monster, she activates Silver Sword Master's effect, targeting Amazoness Archers in her GY and adding it to her hand. The attack continues, but Pet Liger is not destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 8400→6800 LP). Augusta attacks Pet Liger, but Pet Liger is not destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 6800→5200 LP). Empress attacks Pet Liger, but Pet Liger is not destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 5200→2800 LP). Queen attacks Pet Liger, but Pet Liger is not destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 2800→1200 LP). Tania Sets 2 cards. She ends her turn, and Inspiration's effect ends (Pet Liger: 2000→1300).

Turn 5: Gloria

Gloria draws. She activates the Spell Card Giant Trunade, which would return all Spell/Trap Cards on the field to the hand. As her opponent activated a Spell Card, Tania chains her Set Counter Trap Card Dark Bribe. Gloria draws 1 card, and the activation of Giant Trunade is negated, and it is destroyed. As she controls a Level 7 or higher "Amazoness" monster, Gloria activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Amazoness Triumph. She discards Amazoness Willpower, then negates the effects of all face-up cards Tania controls until the end of the turn (Empress: 1500→2300) (Pet Liger: 1300→2000) (Augusta: 3600→1600) (Empress: 4400→2800) (Pet Liger King: 4700→2900) (Queen: 3600→2400).

Pet Liger attacks Queen. As Gloria's monster declared an attack while Tania controls an "Amazoness" monster, Tania activates her Set Trap Card Amazoness Archers. Gloria's monsters lose 500 ATK and must attack this turn, if able (Empress: 2300→1800) (Pet Liger: 2000→1500). As Pet Liger attacked, it gains 500 ATK during the Damage Step (Pet Liger: 1500→2000). The attack continues, but Pet Liger isn't destroyed (Gloria & Grace: 1200→800 LP) (Pet Liger: 2000→1500). As Gloria's "Amazoness" monster attacked Tania's monster, Gloria targets Augusta and reduces its ATK by 800 (Augusta: 1600→800). Empress attacks and destroys Augusta (Tania: 3600→2600 LP). As Gloria's "Amazoness" monster destroyed Tania's monster by battle, Gloria banishes Amazoness Triumph from her GY to inflict damage to Tania equal to the total number of "Amazoness" monsters on the field x 600. There are 5 "Amazoness" monsters on the field (Tania: 2600→0 LP). Gloria & Grace win.

---

Grace & Gloria Tyler:

Amazoness Triumph Quick-Play Spell Card
During your Main Phase, if you control 1 Level 7 or higher "Amazoness" monster: Send 1 card from your hand to the GY; negate the effects of all face-up cards your opponent controls until the end of the turn. If your "Amazoness" monster destroys an opponent's monster by battle: You can banish this card from your GY; your opponent takes damage equal to the total number of "Amazoness" monsters on the field x 600. You can only use each effect of "Amazoness Triumph" once per turn.

---

Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: The Fifth Circuit. Chapter 50 – Poisonous Intentions

---

Question of the Chapter

New "Volcanic" cards are slated for release with the pack Duelist Pack: Duelists of Explosion. The same pack also has new "Battlin' Boxer" cards and since Soulburner is on the front, will probably include new "Salamangreat" cards. Which of these new cards are you the most interested in?

---

Author's Notes

Thank you to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC and SakushiRyu for helping with the duels of this chapter, and a second thank you to the former for giving feedback on the OC card. When I wrote this chapter, I was determined to make use of 0 OC cards for once, to make the duels feel more realistic. And I achieved that with Amelia & Caster vs. Gregor & Rufus but found that I had to make one for the second duel. If nothing else, I'm glad I got through one duel without OC cards. In a way, this is me making up for next chapter, as that chapter will have a lot of OC cards. An unfortunate necessity considering the OCG/TCG pure "Venom" Deck is shit.

Wow, this took a long time to get out. The second duel gave me a lot of trouble, and real-world problems have been kicking my ass. I'll give a heads-up just in case: I have finished the duel for the next chapter, but I still need to write the chapter itself, and I'm expecting to be very busy for the next few weeks. I'm hoping to move into a new apartment before the end of May, I have a massive backlog of video games to finish, FGO will be releasing Lostbelt 6 in early June, I just bought a PlayStation 5 so I could play Jedi: Survivor, I need to upgrade my computer's CPU, motherboard, and graphics card for future games, and I still haven't been able to find the time to watch The Mandalorian season 3!

In short, the next chapter will likely take a while to release. And just to remind everyone, Chapter 50 is the last chapter of the Xyz Arc; Chapter 51 will be the start of Arc 4. And once I start Arc 4, I will also be resuming Hidden Memories, which is at the start of season 3. Look forward to both of them!

As always, thank you for your continued patronage of Fifth Circuit. Please write a review and tell me what you liked or didn't like about this chapter. And look forward to the final duel of the Xyz Arc: Yuya & Yuji vs. Professor Cobra!