Zelenin is a good person, her only problem was her ego. I understand her circumstances in the game's story where she was traumatized by demons, but even before that, she had an image of a person who was used to always being right, which got worse when he became an angel.

Jimenez always had his a* and selfish moments, but at least he was more humble than Zelenin.

Both had the potential for kindness, but needed the protagonist's support for that to happen... but if that wasn't possible, the protagonist could still kick both of their a*. Hehehe!-Lucian Naruto

Yup. Chronologically speaking in the au timeline it has been awhile since Strange Journey so the two of them have had time to reflect upon their mistakes. Also, it's implied both of them have talked to Alex.

Chapter 6 NEUTRAL: From You, 25 Years Ago

The others watched as Flynn stretched after getting up from the bed.

"Where is Isabeau? I have a feeling she's doing something important right now.", Flynn said.

"…She's dueling the angels right now.", Nanashi informed, grabbing Flynn's attention.

He sweat dropped when Flynn got very close.

"She just left?!", Flynn questioned, sounding worried.

"Didn't you tell her you were fine with her doing it?", Asahi questioned.

"Yeah but…", Flynn replied awkwardly as he pushed his fingers together.

"But you're stupid I get it.", Nanashi replied as Flynn sweat dropped.

"That's true but you know I want to keep her safe…", Flynn murmured as Navarre sweat dropped.

"You don't have to duel everyone, Flynn. You can try and save some for the rest of us.", Nanashi replied.

"He's a bit…Overprotective of his fellows.", Navarre commented as he sweat dropped.

"I noticed…", Nanashi replied, confusing the Samurai.

"He coddles ya all far too much. That's never a good thing. He doesn't think about what y'all would do if…Something 'unfortunate' happened to him.", Z-ARC said in Nanashi's mind.

"Just trust her, Flynn. She's your comrade. Didn't you have something you're supposed to do too?", Nanashi replied.

"Ah! That's right! We must deliver Ancient Fairy Dragon and defeat Lucifer.", Flynn replied as he lowered his fist onto his palm.

"Did you forget?", Nanashi questioned looking at Flynn like he was an idiot.

"There's nothing wrong with worrying about your allies. As long as you don't take it too far.", Odin said, drawing Flynn's attention.

"Oh…Hoy there, Odin. What brings you here?", Flynn greeted cheerfully.

"I have come to help Nanashi with his training as promised. It's great to see you too, Flynn.", Odin replied with a strange smile.

"Thank you for that. I'm rather busy right now so I can't teach right now myself. Hopefully once this is all over things will get better.", Flynn said with a light bow.

"Don't worry they already have since YOU are here. You are the only one who can save the world.", Odin replied, which made Flynn blush intensely.

Flynn rubbed the back of his head looking embarrassed and the teens couldn't help but agree to at least the first part.

"Heh…Real subtle there, Odin.", Z-ARC murmured, confusing Nanashi.

"Huh…?", Nanashi questioned in confusion.

"It's nothing, kid.", Z-ARC replied.

"Hopefully I won't be gone for long. Once I defeat all the evil spirits this should all end. Farewell.", Flynn said, with a light bow before leaving.

"Always the hero isn't he?", Navarre murmured.

"He doesn't realize that 'saving' the world to Odin and his comrades has a very different meaning. He'll save the world alright by becoming a meat suit.", Z-ARC thought.

With Isabeau…

"I'm detecting a strong spirit nearby. It's threat level is 12 star. Do you want to go on?", Burroughs asked.

She opened the massive golden doors. Oddly everything was dark confusing her.

"I-It's pitch black in here.", Isabeau commented.

"I have heard that Flynn has returned from the world of possibility too. However you stand before me instead. If you are here, does that mean you have come to upset the harmony of my goodwill, Isabeau?", a voice that sounded just like Jonathan said.

"That voice…!", Isabeau gasped as her eyes widened.

"Surely you must know already. Human suffering is what births the spirits that trouble the world so…The weak humans need an absolute as the foundation of their faith. Something that can banish despair…That is God. God wished for man to become the extensions of His order so that we need not harbor unnecessary anxieties. Why can you not see God's affections for us? Perhaps because you are nothing but a human corrupted by the vile perverter of life…", the voice that sounded like Jonathan continued confusing Isabeau.

"He sounds like Jonathan, but he would never demean me or Flynn in such a way.", Isabeau thought.

"That is you, isn't it, Jonathan? What are you saying…!?", Isabeau questioned, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"I am no longer the son of man you know as Jonathan.", the voice that sounded like Jonathan replied.

The darkness slowly cleared away revealing a figure that resembled Judgment Dragon but its feathers were tainted and messy.

"I am the Lord's chariot…the seraph Punishment Dragon. Foolish one who churlishly refuse the hand of salvation that the Lord has extended to you…I shall reduce you to ash for the sake of a new millennium of order.", the being said.

"I suppose we shall have to duel then! When I defeat you will let Jonathan go!", Isabeau replied, fiercely as she glared at the spirit.

"That cannot be done. As I said I am no longer Jonathan.", Punishment Dragon replied.

"I shall avenge him then by stopping your twisted schemes.", Isabeau replied.

"Duel!/Holy duel!", the two said.

Isabeau LP 4000

Punishment Dragon LP 4000

"Salvation is no longer open to you. The Lord has withdrawn mercy from you for all of eternity. Heretic and Unclean One…Be sundered by the Lord Almighty's power and perish! For the Lord! I draw!", Punishment Dragon said.

Punishment Dragon

Hand: 6

With Flynn…

Flynn flinched when he found himself swarmed by people upon exiting the room. Nozomi looked back at him, sweat dropping.

"Hey! He needs to go do important Liberator stuff! Please let him past!", Nozomi said as she waved her arms and the crowd backed up a little bit.

"Hehe. I will come back here eventually. Thank you, madam Nozomi.", Flynn said as he sweat dropped.

"Let's go!", Nozomi replied.

They quickly scurried off to the Terminal then teleported to Shinjuku. After that they quickly found the fairies.

"We have recovered Ancient Fairy Dragon as you asked.", Flynn said as the fairies eyes lit up.

"Really?!", the fairy questioned as Nozomi raised up the card.

They suddenly jumped with the card started glowing. The dragon partially materialized herself.

"Thank you, humans. I could not have returned without you, but unfortunately there is a problem.", Ancient Fairy Dragon said.

"What's wrong, madam?", Flynn asked.

"Our ability as Signer Dragons to fully materialize on our own was restricted when the Asura Kai created their mediums. That means I will need someone to help me act out my duties.", Ancient Fairy Dragon explained.

They looked between the two of them and Nozomi sweat dropped when Flynn was about to step forward.

"No you don't. Did you seriously forget why you needed me to carry the card in the first place?", Nozomi questioned as she put her arm in front of Flynn.

"Indeed. I can feel a high amount of Ultimitl Bishbaalkin's power being concentrated into your body. If you receive anymore you'll be possessed by him. I feel…That the next time it happens he won't intend to let go of you.", Ancient Fairy Dragon warned.

Flynn's eyes widened at the warning.

"I'll really be possessed?", Flynn questioned, remembering what his fellows said not too long ago.

The idea made anxiety spike up inside him. His thoughts drifted to those who were overtaken by spirits.

"Unfortunately yes.", Ancient Fairy Dragon replied.

"Then, I will just have to do it.", Nozomi replied.

"Are you sure, madam Nozomi?", Flynn asked.

"I need to do more for Tokyo…It's embarrassing how much we've been unable to help ourselves. Don't get me wrong it's nothing against you and your fellows, but there should be more people able to protect Tokyo.", Nozomi explained and Flynn nodded.

"I understand.", Flynn replied.

"I shall accept you as my new master.", Ancient Fairy Dragon said, before she vanished.

Nozomi flinched suddenly, wincing in pain when the red glowing mark of the foot of the Crimson Dragon appeared on her arm.

"You're a Signer now…?", Flynn questioned with wide eyes.

"Just great…now I'm roped into this…", Nozomi commented as she sweat dropped.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help more, madam Nozomi.", Flynn replied.

"It's fine, Flynn. Trust me you've done more than enough for all of us.", Nozomi replied.

"If you say so. I shall defeat Lucifer and his evil spirits then.", Flynn said.

With Isabeau…

"I shall activate Charge of the Light Brigade to add Lumina to my hand.", Punishment Dragon said.

The cards sent were: Wulf, Raiden, and Solemn Wishes.

"As you know, filth, my Wulf special summons himself. Then, I shall summon Lumina and use her effect to special summon Raiden.", Punishment Dragon said.

Punishment Dragon

Hand: 4

"I shall use Raiden's effect to send the top two cards of my deck to the graveyard.", Punishment Dragon said.

The cards sent were: Photon Thrasher and Wulf.

"Another one…? Jonathan was certainly never this lucky.", Isabeau commented.

"That is because I as the Lord's seraph have his blessing. I shall special summon Wulf and then tune Raiden and Lumina! With time the sacred guardian in metal armor's spirit has not drained, instead his determination for order grows! He will rise up carrying the hopes of the Lord's chosen ones on his back using his mechanical body to surpass all the filth! Synchro summon! Level 7! Power Tool Dragon!", Punishment Dragon chanted.

Isabeau sweated as she saw the dragon's head lowered. It was clear the mechanical dragon didn't like Punishment Dragon at all.

"I shall activate his effect! Holy Armorment Roulette!", Punishment Dragon said.

The cards he revealed were: United We Stand, Mage Power and Broken Bamboo Sword.

"I shall continue the middle card.", Isabeau said.

Punishment Dragon revealed United We Stand.

"You've got to be kidding me…", Isabeau replied.

"I shall equip Power Tool Dragon with United We Stand.", Punishment Dragon said.

Power Tool Dragon ATK 2300 (2x800) = 3900

"I shall set two cards. You stand no chance at victory, filth. Even if you grovel you shall no be forgiven for your sins.", Punishment Dragon said.

Punishment Dragon

Hand: 2

"We shall see! I draw!", Isabeau said.

Isabeau

Hand: 6

"I shall activate Reinforcement of the Army to add Photon Thrasher to my hand. Then, I shall special summon it with his effect.", Isabeau said.

Isabeau

Hand: 5

"Then, I shall summon Fulhelmknight.", Isabeau said.

Isabeau

Hand: 4

"From a single seed sprouts the life of a fierce dragon! Please lend me your destructive power to help me protect the innocent! Level 7! Black Rose Dragon!", Isabeau chanted

"You are use one of the Lord's agents against me, filth?", Punishment Dragon questioned.

"You dare use Jonathan's deck against me? I shall activate her effect destroying every card on the field! Wrath of Nature!", Isabeau replied as she narrowed her eyes.

"I shall activate the effect of Power Tool Dragon protecting him!", Punishment Dragon countered.

"Then, I shall activate Monster Reborn to return her to the field.", Isabeau said.

Isabeau

Hand: 3

"I shall attack Power Tool Dragon with Black Rose Dragon! Black Rose Flare!", Isabeau declared.

The two dragons' claws clashed but her dragon overwhelmed the other and then blasted him with flames.

Punishment Dragon LP 4000 - 100 = 3900

"I shall set a card and end my turn.", Isabeau said.

Isabeau

Hand: 2

"You Unclean filth…with soul polluted by the vile necromancer…", Punishment Dragon crumbled.

"Who exactly are you referring to?", Isabeau questioned as if she didn't know.

"The one you know as Flynn obviously. His filth has polluted all your hearts and minds. Even the Lord's chosen wasn't immune to his taint. A filthy avatar of a corpse demon.", Punishment Dragon explained.

"I assure you it wasn't Flynn that made us oppose you. We decided that for ourselves after you revealed your true intentions.", Isabeau replied.

"Nonsense…! Your hearts are all tainted by filth! He has even gotten the Unclean Ones to worship him as their heretical false god.", Punishment Dragon replied.

"Flynn wasn't trying to make people worship him. They ended up worshiping him because he actually helps people.", Isabeau replied.

"You heretic…! Overflowing with filth! I draw!", Punishment Dragon said.

Punishment Dragon

Hand: 3

"I shall activate the effect of Judgment Dragon to special summon him! O divine dragon of our great Lord G.O.D. I beckon you! Deliver punishment to the vile sinners abusing the weak and bring salvation to those who believe! Level 8! Judgement Dragon!", Punishment Dragon chanted as lightning crackled from the Heavens.

Punishment Dragon

Hand: 2

A trumpet could be heard as a beam of light struck the ground revealing the holy dragon.

"Now, exterminate the filth! All other cards on the field are destroyed!", Punishment Dragon said.

"I will chain my facedown card Book of Moon to change your Judgment Dragon to facedown defense position!", Isabeau countered.

Before the dragon could destroy everything its image disappeared and was replaced with a facedown card.

"You…!", Punishment Dragon growled.

"What shall you do now, Punishment Dragon? You might think you can beat me into submission like Jonathan, but you're sorely mistaken. It's quite a shame though…He's a better man than you'll ever be. The truth is that you aren't some savior. You are just another evil spirit no different than Mazera or Beelze.", Isabeau said as she glared at the spirit.

Flashback

A young Isabeau was reading a book as she heard dueling in the background. She was annoyed when yet another boy approached her dreading yet another duel. The other kids looked at the boy like he was insane for approaching her.

"Hoy, are you alright?", the boy asked, surprising her.

She lowered her book to see a young Jonathan.

"I heard that George was harassing you yesterday. What did he do to make you angry enough to leave him in that state?", Jonathan asked.

Isabeau raised her eyebrow confused at the question.

"What makes you think it's not just because I'm some evil witch or something?", Isabeau questioned.

"Well…You're not the first girl he's harassed. I've interacted with him many times and all I've found is that he is very deplorable. II mean he seriously took food from a poor beggar and then threw it in his face.", Jonathan explained.

"He gave off that kind of vibe…Yeah, he kept messing with me and he wouldn't stop. He was the one who challenged me in the first place. But…It's not like I really wanted to hurt him…My power is really strong and I can't control it.", Isabeau explained.

"Ah! That explains it! You don't seem like the kind of person the adults have been saying you are. I mean you just keep to yourself and don't go looking for trouble.", Jonathan replied as his eyes widened.

"You really believe me…?", Isabeau questioned, in disbelief believing everyone except her father had thought she was a monster.

"Of course! I have seen dastardly people and you don't fit the bill!", Jonathan replied as Isabeau sweat dropped.

Isabeau definitely felt like Jonathan was a rather silly person, but it was definitely an improvement over most people.

Flashback end

"Right…Jonathan used to be rather silly with the way he saw the world. He used to think it was a simple black and white without any ability to comprehend its true grayness. But, he grew up after all the adventures we've had as Samurai. I was proud of him and interested to see where he could have gone from there. But, you took him away because of your own selfishness. You took his body and devoured his soul. Please explain to me Punishment Dragon how are you different from ANY evil spirit we have fought in the past?", Isabeau said.

"I am not an evil spirit! I am the Lord's chariot acting in his will! If the Lord decrees it is good!", Punishment Dragon replied.

"Then is the Highlander good? He served a Lord and master too similarly stealing a body of one of our number to fulfill his ends. That master was Beelze who also tried to annihilate Tokyo albeit for different reasons. So are you saying that both him and Beelze are good?", Isabeau questioned.

"Of course not! He acted not on the Lord's will! He was acting upon his greedy desires!", Punishment Dragon replied.

"Okay then. Why does the Lord want to destroy Tokyo anyway? Wholesale. Every man, woman, and child.", Isabeau questioned.

"Because they are sinners! They haven't learned their lesson from last time and continued to mess with powers they don't understand!", Punishment Dragon replied.

"Like what?", Isabeau questioned.

"Synchro summoning. Do you daughter of man, have any idea what actually happens when you Synchro summon?", Punishment Dragon replied.

Isabeau raised her eyebrow completely perplexed.

"What do you mean? It summons a monster from the extra deck.", Isabeau replied.

"I don't just mean in the game. If that was all Synchro summoning was capable of, the Lord wouldn't have punished humanity so harshly. Synchro summoning creates a special kind of energy unique to itself. It could power anything in the reality for eternity. However it's also very dangerous and volatile. Prolonged exposure to its radiation can adversely affect the souls exposed to it. The Lord specifically made the people of Mikado immune to this radiation.", Punishment Dragon explained.

"What do you mean by affecting people's souls? What does it do?", Isabeau questioned, incredulously.

"It corrupts those affected by its radiation. I'm sure you are familiar with the hive of depravity that is Tokyo. They used it as their primary power source 25 years ago. It made their greed and hubris grow as more feats became possible for humans to achieve. However…If the Lord did not intervene the human race would have been annihilated.", Punishment Dragon explained.

"What?!", Isabeau questioned.

"Humans would have committed an act of peak arrogance…creating their own life. Those beings they created powered by Synchro energy would be far superior to them and eventually annihilate them. The Lord foresaw this which led to him preemptively punishing the sons of man and removing any way for them to harvest that power themselves to prevent them from becoming architects of their own downfall.", Punishment Dragon explained.

"Why did he punish everyone then? Surely not everyone was responsible for that.", Isabeau replied.

"It's too late for the people of Tokyo. They have been affected by the pollution for too long. Their hearts have already become rotten. That's why the Lord felt it necessary to wipe the slate clean.", Punishment Dragon replied.

"What makes you say that? I mean sure there's very bad people in Tokyo, but that's not everyone.", Isabeau replied.

"…..It seems there's only one way you can understand.", Punishment Dragon said as he waved his hand and Isabeau tensed.

She expected some sort of attack, but she wasn't hurt at all. A bunch of images started filling her mind as her eyes widened. Isabeau found herself seeing Tokyo 25 years ago before the ceiling was erected.

The ruined buildings were in perfect condition and seemed to stretch into the Heavens. All around there were various mystic relics including automated ones like some spirits she's seen. Her mind was blown at seeing the mystic relics handling everything for everyone. They cleaned up the trash, ran the shops, were working on construction, and various other duties. The people spent their time on the butts or playing around.

However not everything was quite perfect. Her eyes widened as she saw children taking drugs and being tricked into being kidnapped. She put her hand over her mouth when she saw a factory where people's organs were harvested out of them like livestock. Ironically underneath the frivolous city were old damaged buildings in disrepair where the poor lived. She winced when she saw a person holding food get emotionlessly beat down by the law enforcement made of completely mystic relics.

"I-I swear I didn't steal it! I've been saving up for this beef for months!", the beaten man said shakily.

"Hey!", Isabeau was stunned to hear a familiar voice.

A man who looked like Walter with a black leather jacket like he had threw a rock at the mystic relic. His cheek and nose had scars and his hair was much messier. He wore a pair of glasses with black lenses on his head. It was Kenji.

The person turned to him as the man who looked like Walter drew their attention.

"Warning civilian. You are assisting a criminal you will be charged.", the mystic relic said.

"Then, his charge will be lifted when I beat you.", a familiar voice said as Isabeau gasped.

She saw a man who looked completely identical to Flynn. He wore the same clothes as Walter. The man raised up a duel disk that seemed to be made of scraps. It was Ryou.

"You should know citizen of you lose you are going to the farm.", the mystic relic warned.

"Good thing Ryou won't lose then!", a man who looked like Jonathan replied.

"It's the three of them just like that photo! I can't believe it!", Isabeau thought, remembering the photo.

She found it incredibly bizarre. It seemed Flynn, Walter, and Jonathan truly were friends in a previous life.

He had shorter and less curly hair. He wore the same uniform as the other lookalikes along with the scrap duel disk. It was Kiyoharu. The man pulled the beaten man away from the mystic relics.

"Scanning faces…You are the troublemakers known as the Enforcers. Threat level 7. Know that your punishment for losing will not be light.", the mystic relic replied.

"We'll see about that!", Ryou replied as he held up his duel disk and the mystic relic did the same.

She noted that he used a rather thrown together deck. It had a central strategy of Synchro summoning, but there was no unifying factor with his cards except special summoning. Ryou defeated the mystic relic making his fellows and the beaten man cheer. However more mystic relics flooded in.

"It's time to run!", Kenji said as he sweated intensely.

Their group all scrammed with the man in tow. For the next few days they found themselves in hiding. The mystic relics were completely relentless in chasing them. She looked very sympathetic towards the men that resembled her friends.

Isabeau glared when she saw a familiar face on the phone in a glamorous sky scraper.

"You're telling me none of your bots can catch a few brats? This is the 4th time they've interfered. They should have been hanged with their body parts shipped off to Russia by now. You better catch them before some more stupid kids start thinking they can rebel.", Tayama said, looking much younger.

He seemed to be more in his twenties at this time.

"These lousy Commons are starting to think they can actually move up in the world without retribution. If they move up in society, who will we have to go mine for metal? We only have so many bots. There's not enough for them to do that on top of everything else.", Tayama replied.

"Commons…that sounds an awful lot like Casualry…", Isabeau commented.

"Who do you think installed that insidious system? Remember Aquila and his fellows who came to the surface with him were Unclean Ones.", Punishment Dragon said, suddenly appearing.

"That's the reason Mikado had a cast system?", Isabeau questioned.

"Of course. It was never in the Lord's design for Mikado. Once again the Unclean Ones were unable to drop old habits. When Aquila made it to Mikado they turned the Lord's chosen into their new Commons. The term changed over the years becoming the one you're familiar with.", Punishment Dragon explained.

They saw more scenes instead of those living in luxury. Isabeau ended up shielding her eyes at some of the dubaturious acts she witnessed. She swore some of the things she saw she imagined evil spirits or demons doing. The truly horrifying part was that it wasn't all adults which made her nauseous. Some of them even dined on their own kin as a perverse way to flaunt their status or created art made from body parts to display. Others forced Commons into tournaments to the death for their amusement not too dissimilar to the Hunter Tournament.

The Samurai couldn't comprehend why the mystic relics weren't arresting them instead for some of the horrendous acts she saw. She had to shield her ears from the screams she heard. Her heart pounded against her chest as she wanted to shut it all out.

She gasped when she found herself back in reality. Isabeau was drenched in sweat feeling completely repulsed.

"Do you understand now?", Punishment Dragon said.

Isabeau fell to her knees, hardly able to believe what she saw.

"That must be an exaggeration! There's no way that could be real!", Isabeau replied, shakily.

"What you just saw was peak human degeneracy. Those were the 'innocents' the Lord punished. Do you even understand what you're doing?! The rise of the Unclean Ones only means that this degency will be repeated. So yes…as far as I am concerned whatever steps must be taken to prevent that are justified.", Punishment Dragon replied.

Isabeau thought back to the Hunter Tournaments when the audience cheered for violence and death. She remembered all the sick acts of the Asura Kai.

"You are an overly compassionate fool. Compassion becomes foolishness when it becomes destructive or the one you're trying to defend is depraved. You thought you were protecting innocent people when you were defending a people worse than the most vile spirits.", Punishment Dragon replied.

"…..You're wrong.", Isabeau replied, sounding quite.

"Are you serious?", Punishment Dragon questioned.

"Even if it was a few there was kind people back then like Ryou and his fellows!", Isabeau replied.

"That's what you took away? After all the depravity you witnessed?", Punishment Dragon replied, perplexed.

"Even if there's a single innocent one among them I refuse to accept them all being destroyed.", Isabeau replied.

"You are foolish beyond repair. Did you not hear me earlier? It does NOT matter. They shall be squashed under the boot of the depraved majority. We saw that, Isabeau! In case you've forgotten!", Punishment Dragon replied, sounding like Jonathan for a moment.

"So they don't deserve to be saved?! That's just heartless!", Isabeau replied.

"It's too late for them. They're already a part of the cycle of abuse. As soon as they come into any kind of power they will do the same as their oppressors just like the Ritual heretics! They knew what it was like to be dominated and hurt by the Luxurors, but rather than bettering themselves they became even worse. They became that way because of Tokyo's taint. All in Tokyo must be eradicated before the rest of the people of Mikado are corrupted as well.", Punishment Dragon replied.

"…..No.", Isabeau replied, stubbornly.

"Black Rose truly does fit you. You both will foolishly destroy everything including yourselves. All you will accomplish is returning true hell back onto Earth.", Punishment Dragon replied.

To be continued…

I feel like I'm unsubtly coming out as a neutral hater this chapter. Anyone who had read SMT IV Corrupted may have seen little hints of it. But yeah…plot twist…I actually think Merkahbah is unironically right. I don't think I've ever really explained why exactly in depth though. It's a very long explanation. Longer than this chapter probably.