The time that Conner has been waiting for is here. He finally gets to face Ichika in a duel and prove that he's the better duelist. As he remained at the top of the tower, he awaited Ichika's arrival. Senshi soon came up as he walked to the top of the tower and was ready for this duel. Despite what he saw happened to Houki, he's pushing on ahead and doing everything he can to win this because he has to.

"You came. I was beginning to think that you wouldn't." Conner said. "You seem rather disappointed over what happened to Shinonono. Get over it and focus on what's happening to you."

"Conner, you certainly are cruel, but there are some who believe you have a good heart." Senshi said. "It's not a form of weakness or anything to show your emotions, to show that caring heart."

"Save me your lectures." Conner said. "I'm not interested in any of that. I've only had to look after myself. I got to where I am using my own power. All that really matters to me is that I finally redeem myself by beating you. Ever since you handed me my first defeat, I haven't been the same. Time to get my head on straight again." Conner has proven many times that he's strict because dueling means everything to him. He never needed help from anyone and feels like the only thing he really needs is the proof that he's the best. That's what he intends to get once he wins this.

"You say that, but what about Mila?" Senshi questioned as he raised a good point on that. "You have a little sister that thinks the world of you. Where does that leave her in your little world?"

"What I do shouldn't really be any of your business." Conner said.

"Conner, you have so much potential." Senshi said. "You're capable of even more than you think if you would just open that heart of yours and let others in."

"Will you knock it off?" Conner said as he doesn't really care about any of that. "I'm not buying any of that stuff you're saying. Besides, we're not here to have some sort of group therapy session. We're here to duel and prove once and for all who is the better duelist. I will at last defeat you, and I will take Izanagi as a trophy of my victory! That will show the world who the better duelist really is! After that, I'm going for Meldrick and plan to take Izanami. The one thing I did believe from Tatenashi is that having those two cards will make me an unbeatable duelist. That is what I intend to make happen."

"Sorry, Conner. That isn't going to happen." Senshi claimed. "There's too much depending on me to win this and defeat Meldrick! I can't afford to be defeated here! If dueling you is really the only way to get through to you, so be it!" He activated his duel disk and was ready to go. If words can't get through to Conner, maybe Senshi's cards will."

"Seems like we're getting on the same page now." Conner said as he activated his duel disk.

"Now! The second semi-final duel against Conner Knight and Ichika Orimura will now begin!" Tate announced. "The winner advances to the final duel to face Meldrick! You both may begin when you are ready!"

"Let's duel!" Both of them said as their awaited duel was finally beginning. They both had 4000LP and were set to go.

"Since this is my tournament, I'm making the first move." Conner said. He looked down at his hand and he already had everything he needed for a strong start.

'We've got to be careful with how we do this.' Ichika thought as he was telepathically speaking with Senshi. 'Conner has found a way to make his three White-Eyes Silver Dragons even stronger with link, synchro, and xyz summoning.'

'Yes, and I believe we haven't seen everything just yet.' Senshi thought as he had a bad feeling of what was going to happen.

"I'll begin my turn by playing my Melody of Jubilation!" Conner said as he already had a strong start going. "By dropping my monster's attack points to zero, I can special summon it and half of it's attack points are added to my life points! I think you know which monster I plan to summon."

"I do." Senshi said as this already didn't look good for him.

"That's right! I summon White-Eyes Silver Dragon!" Conner claimed and brought out his mighty dragon right from the start. His dragon emerged with his dragon's attack points dropping to zero and Conner's life points rising to 5500.

"So, not only did you summon your ace monster right from the star, you increased your life points at the same time." Senshi said. "Most impressive, Conner."

"I'm not pulling my punches with this one, Orimura." Conner claimed as he was looking forward to all of this. "Next, I summon my White Shimmer tuner monster!" He summoned out his angel-like tuner as it came out with 400atk points. "Now, I tune my level one White Shimmer with my level eight White-Eyes Silver Dragon! Watch as the light pierces through all, good or evil!" The summoning progress began again as the two molecularly broke apart and turned into nine circles with a beam shooting through. "I synchro summon White-Eyes Shimmering Dragon!" He summoned out his new dragon out and had 3200atk points. Conner already brought out one of his new monsters.

'Just as I thought. Conner wants to prove his dominance and will use every powerful monster he has to do that.' Senshi thought.

"Next, I activate my dragon's ability to add my second White-Eyes Silver Dragon to my hand, but I can't summon it this turn!" Conner said as he took his card and added it to his hand. "Since this is the first turn and I can't attack, I'll just place one card facedown and that ends my turn."

"You might have had a strong start, but that can easily backfire against you." Senshi said as he got ready to make his next move.

...

The Ship

Everyone remained on the ship because they were all concerned about Houki. The doctor was doing everything he can to help her, but there isn't much he can really do. All that can really be done was wait until help arrives. At the same time, Charlotte is so concerned about Ichika. If he wins, he'll have to face the creep that hurt their friends. If he doesn't, the world could be in danger. There's a lot of pressure on this duel and it's affecting her more than him.

"Charlotte, you shouldn't worry so much." Laura said. "Ichika said he was going to be fine. We should just believe in him."

"Laura's right. His duel against Conner should have started by now, but I bet Ichika is winning and doing very well out there." Cecilia assured.

"Yes, but that would have to mean he will have to face Meldrick." Charlotte said as that's what worries her the most.

"I get you all are feeling some doom and gloom, but save some of that for when Meldrick wins." Tatenashi said. "It's not the end of the world yet, so don't act like it is."

"That is true. It all depends on what Ichika is capable of." Laura said. "Hopefully, he can defeat Conner and then defeat Meldrick."

"There is no hoping. He WILL win against both of them!" Rin claimed. They all want to believe that, but Charlotte was having a hard time with that, and Laura had her doubts. Cecilia and Rin could see that and they both agreed on something. "Listen, Charlotte and Laura. Why don't you go watch and see for yourselves that Ichika will be just fine?"

"Rin is right. We've been watching him since this whole tournament started. You two should have a turn now." Cecilia insisted. That did sound nice to both of the girls.

"Thank you." Charlotte said as she and Laura hurried out to catch whatever of the duel they can.

"Hey." Both of them looked and saw Mila. "I kept sending out messages to help your friend. No response so far."

"It could be possible we're too far away for any local hospitals or such to receive the message." Laura suggested. That wasn't good.

"I've done all that I can. I'm sorry." Mila said. "Are you two heading to see the duel? I was on my way myself."

"Sure. Let's go, Mila." Charlotte invited as all three of them hurried over to catch the duel.

...

The Duel

"My turn!" Senshi said as he drew his card. "I'll begin my turn by playing Stratos Takeoff! With this, I can now summon Infinite Stratos Shenlong!" He summoned out Shenlong with her attack points being 1500. "Next, I activate her special ability! It allows me to take a look at your face-down!" Shenlong fired a blast at Conner's facedown and that showed Conner's trap card being one called Birthright. That was a trap Senshi had to be weary of.

"Well, now that you see what I have, can you figure out what I'm planning?" Conner taunted, but Senshi just ignored it.

"Next, I summon my own tuner monster, Stratos Synchron, to the field!" Senshi said as he brought out his tuner monster with it only having a 1000atk points. "Next, I tune my level three Stratos Synchron with my level four Infinite Stratos Shenlong!" The synchro summoning process began as Senshi did the same as Conner. "The border between chaos and order is broken from a single shooting star! I synchro summon Stratos Sniper!" His own synchro monster flew out on the field with it having 2600atk points.

"A synchro monster against another synchro monster, but mine appears to be the stronger one." Conner claimed.

"It won't be that way for long. I activate Stratos Sniper's special ability!" Senshi said. "For every card I'm holding in my hand, your Shimmering Dragon will lose 400atk points. Right now, I'm holding three! That means your dragon loses 1200atk points! Fire away with Discharge Warning!" His sniper took aim with its blaster and fired multiple shots at Conner's dragon. Each blast knocked down his dragon's attack points as it dropped down to 2000. "Now that your dragon is weaker, Stratos Sniper can destroy it! Attack with Shooting Star Destructor!" His sniper gathered power in its weapon and unleashed it in a single shot. Senshi's dragon was destroyed by a powerful blast with Conner's life points dropping down to 4900.

"Not bad, Orimura. However, this duel has only just begun." Conner claimed.

"Believe what you wish, Conner, but I cannot afford to lose this duel." Senshi said. "Meldrick is a dangerous force. You saw with your own eyes what he is capable of. Tatenashi said that I must be the one to stop him."

"You're right." Conner said. "I believe what I want, and I don't believe that stuff. I don't believe in magic, I don't believe in Tatenashi's crazy predictions, and I do believe you people are just throwing the whole things out of proportion. Losers make up excuses for their shortcomings."

"You saw it all yourself what Meldrick has done!" Senshi called. "Look at what he just did to Houki! You were there when he controlled her mind to duel me!"

"Smokes, mirrors, and whatever cheap tricks there is." Conner said. "I don't know what the deal is with your friend, but it's clearly and act or something. She clearly can't handle that she lost. Shinonono lost her duel and that's really all there is to it."

"Conner, you must listen!" Senshi called.

"Enough!" Conner said as he doesn't want to hear anymore. "You're just saying all this to distract me, and it's not going to work! The only thing that matters to me right now is defeating you! Then, the whole world will know that I am the strongest!" Conner has made it clear that he desires to beat Ichika and be the best above everything else. Conner's putting his pride and very being into this, but that could come back to bite him. It all depends if Senshi can actually keep up the pressure and take Conner down before Conner does it himself.