Hello, all! Here is the next chapter!
Before we get started, I've got something to say: To the Guest reader that has been asking questions/giving feedback on card effects: Your notices have been corrected, or explained further, for the last two chapters. Thanks for asking these questions/making these notes, and I am sorry I haven't fixed them sooner.
Moving on, here is the listing of Japanese-English names for this chapter. They are below:
Divine = Sayer
Aki = Akiza
A bit of warning: This chapter will have multiple changes of POV in it. It also doesn't have a Duel, but... something similar. Take a look for yourself.
DISCLAIMER: The author does not own the 'Reverse of Arcadia' video game, the 'Yugioh' TCG, or any canon events of the 'Yugioh 5D's' anime. The author does own the character 'Epsilon', and any custom elements they choose to introduce into the story.
Onward to the Chapter!
[DIVINE POV]
Epsilon's mind yields to my mental pulse, as I expected would happen. His head feels warm to my touch, his skin smooth to my hand, as I stand by his bed. I expected Epsilon would want to rest after the Duel, since he was tossed into an emotionally taxing situation shortly after waking up. Now that his conscious mind is dispelled, I can tap into his subconscious without fear of interruption.
"Epsilon," I say physically, and mentally. "Open your eyes, but remain asleep." The left eye instantly opens to reveal a glazed shade of blue, while the right eye glows a dim green. I crack a small smile at the sight, and then move to the next step of my plan.
"You don't need to worry," I tell Epsilon. "You're safe within the Movement. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir." Epsilon's voice is quieter than I expected. But, I don't lose my focus.
"Repeat after me," I begin. "You are a part of the Movement."
"I am a part of the Movement." Epsilon's response is instant and focused.
"You can trust the Movement."
"I can trust the Movement." I sense no resistance in Epsilon's mind as I continue this pattern of mental repetition.
"You are a part of the Movement."
"I am a part of the Movement."
"You are safe with the Movement."
"I am safe with the Movement."
"You are safe only with the Movement."
"I am... only…" Epsilon hesitates as I sense a sudden flare of mental resistance. But, I have a way to snuff this flare out.
"You are a part of the Movement."
"I am a part of the Movement." That part doesn't have any resistance, so I focus on it instead. If I can't break his resistance by force, then I'll find a weak spot to exploit.
"You can trust the Movement."
"I can trust the Movement."
"I am the Movement's leader."
"You are the Movement's leader."
"You can trust me."
"I can trust you."
"I work to keep the Movement safe. This includes you."
"You work to keep the Movement safe. This includes me." The flare of resistance dies down to a flicker, but the fact the flare is still there concerns me.
A beep from a watch around my wrist tells me I don't have much time left. I had planned to see Aki in a test duel against the computer system soon. Her defeat in the Fortune Cup has made her volatile, a powder keg waiting for a spark. I can't leave her alone for long, or something will set her off.
I'll have to set up something simple, for now, to keep Epsilon in line. I can reinforce it later.
"Epsilon," I say to the resting boy. "I want you to create a container in your mind. It can be any shape, size, and design you want, but it needs to be open, and have a coded lock to seal it shut. Tell me when you have made it."
It takes Epsilon a few seconds before he says, "I have made the container."
"Is it open?"
"Yes."
"Does it have a lock?"
"Yes."
"What is currently inside the container?"
"Nothing."
"Good. Now, I know you believe too much emotion is dangerous for your health, and the health of those around you. I am going to help you fix that. Do you want my help? Do you trust me?"
"Yes. I want your help. I trust you." I smile at Epsilon's gullibility before I continue.
"I want you to take all those emotions you are worried about, Epsilon. Your anger, your distress, your anxiety, your fear, your overconfidence, your resistance, and all the rest. Feel them form into a single, solid shape, something you can see. When all your emotions have been shaped this way, I want you to put that shape into the container, and tell me you have done so."
Epsilons fingers twitch, his mouth wriggles, for a few seconds. I sense the flame of resistance brighten with fresh emotion, but it soon gets overwhelmed by other feelings and ceases to be an issue.
It takes several more seconds before Epsilon reports, "I have placed the shape inside the container."
"Is it completely inside the container? Nothing is poking out?"
"It is completely inside the container."
"Then, close the container."
A pause. Then, the words, "It is closed."
"I am going to lock the container with my own psychic powers. You will not resist this, because you trust me. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I trust you. I will not resist."
I press my hand into Epsilon's forehead, spread my powers through his brain. I quickly come across the container in question; a closed gray box with pulsing lines of red, blue, and green across its surface. It is sealed with a white lock, and a holographic keyboard to enter the code is above it. My mental fingers press a sequence of numbers on the keyboard, and then the 'ENTER' button.
"The container is sealed," I state as a loud cachunk echoes in my ears. "What does this contain, Epsilon?"
"My negative emotions."
"Did you see me enter the code?" He could have seen my mental fingers, since we both have psychic abilities.
"No."
"Then, only I can open this container again, and release these emotions. Do you trust me with this knowledge?"
"I trust you." No resistance.
"Very good." I slide my mental fingers out of Epsilon's mind with practiced ease, and double-check my watch. I have a minute or so left before I need to see Aki. I'd better end this programming session on a positive note.
"Epsilon," I say, my physical hand still on his forehead. "When I leave this room, I want you take this container and bring it to the deepest place in your subconscious you can find. Then, leave it there. No harm will come to it, and it will not bring any harm to you, because it is sealed by my code. You trust me with this knowledge. Once you have left the area where you leave it, you will go to sleep. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Where will you take the container to when I leave this room?"
"The deepest level of my subconscious."
"What will you do with it?"
"I will leave it there, and go to sleep once I have left that area."
"Very good." I remove my hand from his forehead, and exit the room with a calm smile. When I step out of the doors, I focus my energy into his room. Epsilon is already asleep, which doesn't surprise me. The subconscious mind can move much faster than conscious thought, and be programmed with much less trouble. I make a note to send someone down to check on Epsilon as I head to meet up with Aki.
If all goes well, I will have two powerful Psychic Duelists under my control…
[AKI'S POV]
Something's out of place. Well, besides the things I know are out of place, but I can't talk, or think, about.
These 'things' gnaw at the corners of my brain, whisper softly in my ear when I'm alone. Even now, as I double-check my dress in a full-length mirror, I hear their sweet nothings and nonsensical phrases. I smooth out a wrinkle on the dress, and that helps for about three seconds.
Ever since the Fortune Cup, I've felt unsure of my skills as a Duelist. I represented the Arcadia Movement as it was first revealed to the public, and I lost in the semifinals. What's more, I had to face against a rogue's gallery of other Duelists, most of them male. Two men in particular were important. They have both influenced my life in some way, in Dueling or otherwise.
One was in the distant past, a lover come back from the grave to change me into something he claimed was better. The other is a more recent acquaintance, but the… experiences I've had as his opponent opened my eyes to a greater threat. This threat involves him, me, and a few other choice individuals in the city. I don't know when this threat will appear, but it seems like the worst possible fate for the city's people, myself included.
I've killed one of these men. Twice. And yet, I know in my heart he is still alive. In fact, he's here, within the Movement headquarters. I haven't had the time, or the courage, to go search for him. Who knows if we'll even recognize each other if I do? If he is a member of the Movement, then Divine will certainly be keeping him under heavy guard. He won't want me to interfere.
I can trust Divine on keeping him safe, right?
I flex my fingers as I attach my custom Duel Disk to my left arm. The power of my cards touches my mind, and I embrace it like an old friend's caress. I indulge in the sense for a moment, a respite against the whispers that threaten to consume my rational thought. I feel the beginnings of a headache come on, and dispel it through sheer willpower. Divine has already taught me how to resist minor physical pain.
The whispers grow louder, and I close my eyes to stop them. All that does is spawn screaming faces in my inner eye. I clench my fists as the screams start to sound recognizable, like people I've hurt in the past. The center of my forehead turns cold as ice as I recall a tendril that touched there. That tendril came from the source of the whispers, showed me another layer of the City that wants to remain secret until the time is right.
The door to my room opens, and the screams fade away. I open my eyes, and look in the mirror, to see one of the many lower-rank Movement members. This one is a young man. The only difference he has from all the other young men here is his platinum blond hair, and that's not much of a difference. His hair covers his eyes, but I know his gaze is on me. What else would it be on, when he is here for a specific purpose?
"Divine is waiting for you at the Arena, Ms. Izayoi." The boy's voice is hollow to my ears—no tone, no flavor to make it unique. I suppose that's one thing that makes Divine special; his voice touches me in a way no other voice can. I nod to the boy, and follow him out to the Arena. The whispers fade as I set my mind on making sure I still have the strength to be the Movement's representative.
I have felt so much pain, these whispers shouldn't mean anything to me. But, how much more pain will I need to feel, or deal out, before I can be happy?
[EPSILON'S POV]
I open my eyes to a blinding white light. I close my eyes again, the air colder than I can last remember. A throbbing in my limbs makes me try to tug them. All the response I get from my arms and legs is a limp hanging. I open my eyes, and raise my head to my body, to see what's holding me down. Something around my neck and forehead keeps me held in place. I don't have anything on over my chest, but that's not a big concern right now.
My heart beats faster as I realize my arms and legs hang by a series of wires. Several sections of my limbs feel cold, but I can't see if anything is in them. Nothing I do gives me any sort of additional strength to move around. I flick my eyes around as best I can, but the light above my head blocks out much of the things around me. I do hear some odd beeps, like some machine, in the same area as I am. My quarters in the Movement didn't have any complex machinery, did it?
The light dims enough for me to see three men around me. Each of them stands behind a separate computer console, their glasses or goggles reflecting the light of their console's screens. But, each of them is also quite different in appearance. I look at each of them separately, and note what makes them unique.
The man on my left wears a white lab coat that's too large for him, as well as a purple tie, over his dark blue skin. He stands at a slouch, his face constantly at a wide grin, his black hair slicked to one side. I do a double-take when I see the two thick, curled horns jutting out of his forehead, and the black spikes that break out of his coat. Is he some kind of fiend, or demon, to have those horns and that color skin? I don't recall seeing a demon scientist before now.
The man to my right has yellow-colored skin, a blue visor over his eyes, and red hair that poofs out like some kind of curly wig. He wears a faded blue and green shirt underneath a white lab coat. He doesn't have the same horns as the first man, but the way he moves seems more spastic than a normal human would. He seems nervous to do whatever it is these three men have planned for me.
The man in front of me has pale skin, and wears dark purple goggles that match the purple hair on the back of his otherwise bald head. He, too, wears a white lab coat, but he also wears a strange golden necklace. His movements are the most human-like; methodical, calculated. He knows what he's doing, and he looks the calmest while doing his work.
The blue-skinned man cackles every few seconds. The purple-haired man doesn't laugh, but he carries a similar dark grin. The red-haired man's movements turn jittery, but don't lose their speed. These three people seem to be in control of this place. I am their subject, placed here against my will. What's going to happen to me?
"The subject is awake," the purple-haired man says with a calm tone as I see him look at me. "Ready the Iron Core for implementation."
The blue-skinned man cackles and rubs his hands together, while the red-haired scientist chuckles nervously and presses a button. Something tugs at the back of my neck, forces my head back until I look straight up at a hanging object above me.
It's the Iron Core of Koa'ki Meiru. The actual core. Orange wires stretch down from it towards me. These wires are probably what hold me in place. I try to move, but the wires lock me in place without any hope of movement. Something begins to rumble as the Core starts to glow an orange-yellow light.
"Hold on," the red-haired scientist shouts out as the rumble gets louder. "The success probability of this implementation is abysmally low. I'm getting literally zero percent!"
"We can handle this," the fiendish man says with a quick giggle. "We've had zero percent readings before now, and they haven't turned out bad. Besides, we've already tested the Core's energies on a human. That 'Bergzak' character is what we got from that, remember?"
"We know, Kozaky," the purple-haired scientist quickly states. "But, every subject offers something new for us, no matter what species. What's more," he continues as he turns his words to the red-haired scientist. "Any percentile of success, even zero percent, shouldn't affect the desire to experiment, to create. We're scientists, correct?"
I don't hear what the red-haired scientist says back due to an overwhelming pain. Some liquid, or energy, flows into my body through the wires. I feel both fire and ice spread inside my veins. The sensation draws my senses inward, but my eyes remain caught on the Core. The device is circular, but with several square pieces inside it connected by large tubes. The same symbol on the 'Koa'ki Meiru' cards in my Deck is on the Core's front.
The Core brightens even more as the seconds go by. The energy inside me moves to my legs, makes me writhe with wild strength all on their own. I tug, pull, kick, and sway with a speed I never knew I had. The wires hold back most of my efforts, but I can get a small bit of movement. That small bit inspires me to work harder, to break my bonds.
The sensations start to dull down as I slowly lower my head down against the wire's grip. I can now see the purple-haired scientist smile back at me. I glance to my arms and see muscles grow where there weren't muscles before. I stare in mute shock at my new, strengthened limbs. I don't fully recognize them as my own. Has the Iron Core made it this way, or something else these men have made to test on me?
The wires sharply tug my head back up, despite my choked gasp of protest. The Core's light burns into my eyes, brighter than anything I've ever seen before. I feel it reach back beyond my eyes, travel into my brain. The energy from the wires touches my mind at the same moment, the two forces intertwined inside my head.
Suddenly, I scream as something changes the energy inside me. The Core's light turns to a burning red, the heat and cold changes from pleasant to painful. I tug at my bonds, try to escape this pain, but nothing budges. My senses warp as the Core's energy bounces inside my skull without any clear function. My muscles stretch and contract like someone's squeezing them dry.
Something tugs at my mind, dissipates the bouncing energy, forces me to look back at the Core. The three dragons on the device's emblem spin before my eyes. They form a tight ring around the center circle. A ring of unlimited power. The ring fills my vision, becomes a gateway that sucks my mind into it.
Suddenly, everything rewinds. The ring releases me, or spits me back out and into the chamber below it. The wires keep body frozen in place as my senses return to their original state. I feel tears run down my cheeks, but my throat is too raw to make a sound. How long was I screaming, just now?
"Damn it!" the red-haired scientist shouts. "I knew there'd be trouble. The Core didn't accept the subject's mind. We can't properly implement him if we can't control him!"
"Or," the one named 'Kozaky' lets out, "Or, the host's mind could have rejected the Core. We can't let that possibility go unchecked. This is just like with the red demon from before!"
"Yes," the purple-haired scientist concludes as the lights around the chamber shut out, but the individual computer screens still glow. "We need to look closely into every possible reason. Prepare the subject for examination."
"Oh, goody!" Kozaky says as I hear the clapping of hands. "Dissecting a body is one of my favorite experiments!" Kozaky's cackle makes me pray for this to be some terrible nightmare. My mind shuts off as the pain becomes too much to bare…
My chest throbs as I open my eyes. The plain surroundings of my quarters are actually a nice sight. My robe feels sticky against my skin. Oh, wait, that's actually a layer of sweat. Is my bed damaged? I should probably check it.
I slip off the bed and look at the mattress. There's no trace of sweat on the sheets, but my robe feels soaked through the longer I stand in it. I look to the open closest and see another robe inside. I really should change; no one else is here right now.
Wait, did Divine come by here? I thought someone came in, but… I can't remember exactly if anyone stayed. All I can think about is that dream, or nightmare, I just had. It must have been so realistic, if it made me sweat like this in reality.
I change into the spare robe as quickly, but also efficiently, as possible. No need to mess up these clothes, since they are provided by the Movement. I fold up the first robe as best I can, and make a mental note to tell someone it needs cleaning. The folded robe goes by the bed, and I sit back on the mattress.
I feel refreshed, now that I'm wearing a fresh set of clothes. I've discarded the effects of that nightmare with this change. I'm… happy.
The door opens. I jump to a standing position, but my anticipation falters a bit as I see Seria step in. Still, I smile at her arrival. She's someone I can trust in this place, and that's important to me. Her expression seems distant as we exchange greetings, like she has something else on her mind right now.
"Dvine had said you were taking a nap," she says as she notices my folded robe. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not really," I admit. "I had a pretty vivid nightmare. Is that expected to happen for newcomers to the Movement like me?"
"It is expected, yes," Seria says as walks over to my bed. "Many Psychic Duelists come to us with torn emotions and broken trust. Nightmares are one symptom of this problem." She then picks up my folded robe, and her expression briefly flashes disgust as she feels the sweat stains. Thankfully, she doesn't say anything as she refolds the robe and holds it in one hand.
"I'll get this washed and brought back here," she says. "Divine wanted me to check whether you were awake."
"How long did I sleep?" I don't know how much time passed while I was in that nightmare.
"Just over an hour. No offense, but you got a lot of rest while you were in that pod." I blush for a second, and Seria notices with a small smile.
"Anyway," she continues as she walks to the door. "Now that you're awake, we can move on to the next phase of your training."
"There are phases to this?" I realize how stupid that question sounds the moment after it leaves my mouth.
"Yes, silly," Seria replies back as the doors open for her. "What did you think? Actually, I don't need to know that. Just grab your Deck and Duel Disk, and follow me to a simulation room. Divine wants to test your problem-solving skills with a Duel Puzzle."
"… There are Duel Puzzles?!"
Apparently, 'Duel Puzzles' are a thing that I never knew about. Seria explains how the Puzzles work as we head over to a room at the far end of the floor. My Disk and Deck are attached to my arm, ready to use if needed.
From what Seria tells me, Duel Puzzles are designed to test a Duelist's skill at analyzing all aspects of the game. There are puzzles for many different mechanics, showing off certain combos, and getting out of sticky situations. The biggest of these puzzles have you, Seria quotes, 'snatch victory from the jaws of defeat'. The phrase does make sense to me, but it sounds like these Puzzles are tough challenges.
"When are these puzzles ever used," I ask as we reach a larger set of doors. "If they're based off of Duel Monsters, why make the original game more challenging?"
"These puzzles don't replace Dueling," Seria corrects me as the doors open to a blue-walled room about four times the size of my quarters. "They help Duelists like us learn the intricate workings of different cards. Every card means something in a Duel, you know."
"I suppose you're right…" I mutter as Seria moves to a computer terminal near to the doors. She types in several lines of code, and then turns to face the walls around us. A Duel field projects itself before us in Solid Vision, along with several different holograms of Monsters, Spells, and Traps. Two displays of Life Points also float above the fields.
"Here's how this will work," Seria tells me. "You need to win the Duel in one turn, using all the cards on your field and hand to do so. You control the left-hand side of the simulation. You are considered to be in Main Phase 1 of your turn right now. You have as much time as you need to look over all the cards you have. However, I won't tell you what cards are in your Deck.
"If you want a Set card on your field accessed, I'll tell you it's effects without activating it. I'll also plug any moves you make into the simulation, even incorrect ones. Once you make a move, you can't take it back. Any questions?"
"What happens if I fail?" I know that's an obvious question, but I want to make sure I know the most I can about how this works.
"If you fail, I'll reset the simulation so you can try again. But, Divine thinks you can solve this one in a single go. Give it your best shot." The smirk Seria gives me doesn't make me feel any better. I swallow a lump in my throat as I look over the simulated field. I may not be in an actual Duel, but this feels pretty close to it.
The situation looks dire for my side. I have 300 Life Points left, while my opponent has 3000. My opponent has three Monsters called 'Marshmallon' in Defense Mode, and the Continuous Trap 'Gravity Bind' activated. I ask Seria what each card does, and she explains their effects.
'Marshmallon' can't be destroyed by battle, and 'Gravity Bind' prevents all LVL 4 or higher Monsters from attacking. 'Marshmallon' also deals 1000 points of damage to the controller of a Monster whose attack flips it face-up, but that's not a concern right now. My opponent also has no cards in their hand, Graveyard, or Deck.
As for me, I have a Set Monster named 'Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter', and two Set Trap Cards. One of them is the Normal Trap 'Jar of Greed', and the other is the Continuous Trap 'Solemn Wishes'. My hand holds the Monster 'Tethys, Goddess of Light'. There are 5 cards left in my simulated Deck, and no cards in my Graveyard.
My card's effects are explained one at a time. 'Ryko' can destroy one card on the field when Flip Summoned, and then I have to immediately send the top 3 cards of my Deck to the Graveyard. 'Tethys' allows me to draw an extra card each time I reveal a Fairy-Type Monster that I just drew. 'Jar of Greed' lets me draw 1 card from my Deck when activated. 'Solemn Wishes' gives me 500 Life Points each time I draw a card from my Deck.
All of this is quite overwhelming at first, so I spend several seconds in silent thought. It looks like my opponent has set themselves up in a very defensive position. In order to win, I need to break through that defense. Is there one way to do so, or is Seria forcing me to figure something out on my own?
My metal eye suddenly brings up a notification: [The 'Lightsworn' archetype is known for sending cards from the top of their controller's Deck to the Graveyard as a cost for their abilities. Some of their cards use this cost to appear on the field in abnormal ways].
'Abnormal ways'? How abnormal, exactly? I don't remember ever seeing any 'Lightsworn' cards in a Duel, so how can I trust what this notification says? I really need an explanation as to how this metal eye works!
"Something wrong, Epsilon?" Seria asks me. "Is this simulation a bit overwhelming for you? I'm sure Divine will understand if you don't think you can handle it—"
"It's fine, Seria," I interrupt with a wave of my hand in her direction. "I just need a bit longer." I feel a bit guilty for cutting her off like that, but I'm not going to back out of this puzzle after seeing all its pieces. I've just got to figure out how this works out in my victory.
"Seria," I order after a few more seconds pass, "I'm ready. I first activate Solemn Wishes." She does so from the computer, and the card reveals itself in Solid Vision form. The image shows a woman in a purple dress smiling and dancing amidst a shower of rain, though sunlight breaks through the clouds.
"I then Flip Summon Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter. I use its effect to destroy itself." Seria inputs the commands, and Ryko reveals itself as an Akita Inu dog with a white fur coat and light-red eyes. An assortment of golden armor covers its hind legs, shoulders, and neck. A golden sigil on its forehead glows as it is Summoned. That glow turns into a beam of white light that flies back onto itself and shatters it apart. Then, the top 3 cards on my simulated Deck flip over and float into my Graveyard.
The cards sent are named 'Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner', 'Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress', and 'Wulf, Lightsworn Beast'. The last of these cards flashes with a golden light when it lands in the Graveyard. Then, before I can say anything, it floats over to my field and appears as a warrior with a wolf's head. He wears white-and-gold battle armor over his shoulders, arms, and legs. Both hands have a set of three golden claws that project from a gauntlet over each hand, and his left hand also wields a large double-bladed axe.
A notification pops up in my metal eye: ['Wulf, Lightsworn Beast' is automatically Special Summoned to the field by its own effect when sent from the Deck to the Graveyard]. So, that question is answered. But, even with Wulf's high Attack Point value of 2100, the three 'Marshmallon' are still an impassable barrier. I need to do something else to win.
"I release Wulf to Advance Summon Tethys, Goddess of Light." Wulf leaves the field, and a shining woman floats down from above. She has pale skin, silver eyes, and flowing white hair. She wears white-and-gold armor encrusted with jewels over a white gown that extends beyond her feet. A pair of white-feathered wings float by her shoulders and flap every few seconds to keep her aloft.
Her face holds an expression of content with the world around her. Her hands are spread open in what I assume to be a welcoming gesture. The glow around her body spreads out as she lands, but doesn't blind my eyes. In short, this woman is a beautiful person that seems at peace with her current situation. Again, how can Solid Vision create such lifelike images that affect me like this?
I force my eyes away from this winged woman and turn to face Seria. I then continue with my turn's plan with the words, "I activate Jar of Greed to draw 1 card."
Seria inputs this in as I turn back to the simulated field. The Trap shows a large red jar filled with glittering treasures, but the jar itself has a grinning, golden face. I meet the Jar's eyes, and feel shock as some primal fear makes me turn away. I don't like that grin, not one bit. Not since… a time that I can't recall right now. I don't want to remember what gave me this fear.
As the simulated card rises from the Deck, Tethys's light spreads out like a glittering star. My Life Point counter also jumps up due to Solemn Wishes, to a total of 800. I look at the new card, and see I've drawn the Monster 'Celestia, Lightsworn Angel'. The simulation recognizes her as a Fairy-Type Monster, which explains Tethys's reaction. However, it doesn't explain why she turns her head to look right at me.
I feel a sense of questioning from her gaze, which confuses me until I remember that Tethys's effect isn't mandatory. I could activate it, or let it pass by. Considering there's only 1 card left in my simulated Deck, I suppose I'd better see what it is.
"I activate Tethys's effect," I say to Seria, without breaking my gaze from the glowing Monster. "I reveal Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, and draw another card." Tethys gives the briefest of nods at my words, and then opens her wings and hands wide as she raises her head to look at the room's ceiling. A faded silhouette of another winged woman appears above her head, and then vanishes as the last card in my simulated Deck comes into view. The Life Point counter on my side jumps up by 500 Points, to a total of 1300.
My metal eye instantly flashes a blinking notification: [PRIORITY ALERT: No cards remain in your simulated Deck. A player that is unable to draw a card from their Deck when their turn begins, or when a card effect requires it, loses the Duel instantly]. I nod to myself at this message, and then look at the last card in my Deck. It is the Monster 'Judgement Dragon'.
My knees shake the moment I see this card. I almost fall to the floor. My vision turns red as my ears fill with a roar of some suffering creature. Something about this card stabs through my mental state, peels back a layer of my mind. I clutch my chest as my heart beats a mile a minute. I can't breathe, can't vocalize this sudden pain that I know, and yet don't.
Seria's cry of, "Epsilon! Snap out of it!" returns me to reality. I'm against the room's wall, with Seria right in front of me. Her arms hold mine in a tight grip, her eyes full of concern. I blink and let out a shuddering breath.
"What happened," Seria quickly asks. "You looked like you were having a heart attack!" I don't respond to her because I need fresh air in my lungs. Once that is met, I see my metal eye has another notification for me.
['Judgement Dragon' is one of the strongest Monsters in the 'Lightsworn' archetype, despite not having the 'Lightsworn' name in its title. It symbolizes the end of the world, the "Judgement Day" that many religions state will one day occur].
"I… I don't know," I say to Seria as I read this notification over. "The moment I saw that last card, I just… freaked out." I look to her as I then ask, "Is this another 'symptom' of my broken memories?"
Seria doesn't answer. Instead, she looks away with watery eyes. Does this mean she doesn't have an answer, or she can't answer for some reason? Why doesn't she just tell me?!
"Divine will want to know this," I hear Seria mutter as she releases me. She then faces me with the order, "Finish the simulation, Epsilon." I open my mouth to ask a question, but she turns away again without a word. Frustrated, I turn back to the field and look over 'Judgement Dragon' for any useful abilities beneath its fearsome appearance. Then, I announce my plan.
"Since I have at least 4 'Lightsworn' Monsters in my Graveyard with different names, I..." I freeze up for a second as I swallow a lump in my throat before I finish the sentence. "I Special Summon Judgement Dragon through its effect."
The simulated card floats onto the field, and a large dragon that takes up a considerable size of the room emerges from a ray of light. The dragon has grey feathers all along its body, and its claws match the glittering red of its eyes. Grey whiskers trail from the sides of its jaw, and its wingspan covers the room wall-to-wall.
"I use Judgement Dragon's second effect," I slowly announce, my heart pounding very fast because this dragon is very close to me. "By paying 1000 Life Points, Judgement Dragon destroys every other card on the field." The dragon lifts its wings up, and my Life Point counter drops down to 300 again. The dragon then beats its wings with enough force to create a simulated gust of wind that shatters every other card in play. All my opponent's defenses are gone in an instant, but Tethys and Solemn Wishes also go to the Graveyard.
"Battle," I command. "Judgement Dragon attacks the opponent directly." The dragon opens its mouth and releases a beam of light that slams into the opposing Duel Field with enough force to shatter the floor. Suitable for a Monster with 3,000 Attack Points. I look away from a final burst of light, but I'm sure my opponent's Life Points instantly drop to 0. I loo back a second later to see the damage to the floor vanishes, along with the rest of the simulation.
"Good work, Epsilon." Seria's voice is monotone, her back to me as I turn to face her. "Divine will be pleased with your success. I'll inform him of what happened after I bring you back to your quarters. He'll meet you there, and bring you to the next phase of your training."
I don't argue with her. I have some big things to think about…
Alright, that's all for now.
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Draconos is taking off!