Starting Notes:
Welcome back! Chapter 16 is being such a pain to write that I decided to just post this a little earlier than intended. This is probably my favourite chapter so far, to be honest. Enjoy! ;) Also, as requested, there is an OP in this chapter. Just as a warning though—the OP is written to work specifically with symbolism, so what appears in it may not necessarily be something that happens in the arc, it just symbolises something that happens. For example, if two characters are shown fighting together, it doesn't mean that they actually will. Feel free to skip it! It was just a bit of fun that I did, since Chapter 16 was such a pain. Just an OP though, and it only applies to the Standard Arc—if I ever decide to do an ED, I'll post it in the last chapter of this arc. That's not likely though.
OP: A Cruel Angel's Thesis
Like a cruel angel,
young boy, become the legend!
(Six differently coloured orbs—orange, purple, white, black, light blue and dark blue—move past the screen, before the six orbs form a circle, spinning clockwise.)
(During the instrumental, images of Yuya, Yuri, Yugo, Yuto, Yuji and Yuno flash in the middle of the six spheres, each of them with the shadowed silhouette of their dragon behind them.)
A blue wind is now
knocking at the door to your heart, and yet
(The orbs fade into a flash of light. A figure walks through the light, flashing between the appearances of the six Yu boys, as though glitching. The camera is facing towards the back of the Yu boys, so their faces are not seen. Then, they are cast in silhouette, so that it is impossible to tell which one is standing there.)
you are merely gazing at me
and smiling.
(Images form within the light, showing Yuzu, Serena, Ruri, Rin, Chiaki and Miharu. The Yu boy reaches out a hand, but the images spiral away into a void.)
Something gently touching—
(Yuji and Chiaki appear, sitting in a park with Kyorin, Asuka and Johan. There is a clear gap between the first two and the other three. Yuji and Chiaki are sitting in the sunshine, while Asuka and Johan are shrouded by the shade of the tree they are sitting under. Kyorin is half-sheltered by the tree. Chiaki is clearly teasing Yuji about something.)
you're so intent on seeking it out,
(Yuji glances away for a moment, the briefest silhouette of his dragon appearing in his eyes.)
that you can't even see your fate yet,
with such innocent eyes.
(Chiaki pulls his attention back. Johan, Kyorin and Asuka laugh. The camera pans over to the security camera on the lamppost, which is reflecting the teenagers. However, in the reflected image, all of the teenagers except Kyorin are cast in shadows. The security camera's lens seems to blink.)
But someday I think you'll find out
that what's on your back
(A cut to the Link Dimension. Yuno, in the avatar of Boundless Sea, is cheerfully performing acrobatic stunts through the air. Magnetic Current Link Dragon catches him as he flips through the air, throwing him to Marincess Marbled Rock. Blue Angel and Soothsayer are in the background. He turns to look towards the left of the screen, Yuno's real appearance flashing across the screen for a moment.)
are wings that are for
heading for the far-off future.
(There is a cut to Miharu looking towards the right. Then, she turns around, transforming into Dazzling Spring and meeting up with the other Knights of Hanoi (Revolver, Baira, Faust, Dr Genome) in their avatars, with their real life appearances flashing across them for a moment. The group of them set off, with a glitchy matrix seeming to surround the screen.)
The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window,
(There is a sharp cut to Yuno and Miharu fighting against Obelisk Force members back to back in the Iceberg Area, Sunavalon Dryanome appearing and tanking a blast that is aimed for Yuno, while Magnetic Current blasts away a dog that dashes towards Miharu. There is then an explosion, and the two of them look upwards.)
with surging, hot pathos,
if you betray your memories.
(From within the explosion, Yuji steps out with an apathetic expression. His eyes narrow at the sight of Yuno, cards falling around them. One of the cards has an Obelisk Force member's face on it. The rest are blank. Yuno gestures for Miharu to step back, while he steps forward and faces Yuji.)
Embracing this sky [universe] and shining,
young boy, become the legend!
(Yuji is thrown back, but a pair of angelic wings saves him from falling off the icy cliff. For a moment, he thinks of Chiaki's face. On the other side of the ice, Yuno is staring at Yuji, before a large vortex of dark flames consumes his entire field.)
(A long instrumental section.)
(There are cuts between groups of people. Sawatari is boasting as a shadow watches from behind him, before the shadow walks off and is revealed to be Yuto. Meanwhile, Mion and Nue face off against a gigantic white dragon made of glass. Shun eyes Dennis from the background, and when he turns around, Dennis grins, as Shino and Sora come into view.)
Sleeping for a long time
in the cradle of my love
(Yuto thinks about Ruri and him hanging out in Heartland's park, before turning to watch as Yuzu, Yuya, Miharu and Yuno are sitting together in the Maiami City's Central Park. There is a wistful look on his face.)
The morning is coming when you alone will be called
by a messenger of dreams.
(Yugo charges through snow, before he sees Yuji, who turns around and walks away from him, before they are consumed in a snowstorm. For a moment, Yugo sees Rin in the snow, and his expression turns to anger.)
Moonlight reflects off
the nape of your slender neck.
(Serena touches her bracelet, walking through an alleyway, pausing as she sees a vibrant green and yellow flower on the ground. The moonlight is shining brightly above her.)
Stopping time all throughout the world
(The gates to the Maiami Championship Battle Royale open. Yuya and Yuno fistbump, and Miharu tucks a flower into Yuno's hair, before she runs off.)
I want to confine them, but…
(For a moment, Yuno sees Miharu getting swept away by strong winds and knocked down, but he blinks and she's gone.)
So if two people being brought together by fate
has any meaning,
(Yuya's eyes start glowing for a split second, before the camera zooms towards the pendulum around his neck. Within the pendulum, a hand made of light at the top reaches out towards a pulsing darkness beneath it.)
I think that it is a "bible"
for learning freedom.
(Reiji and Reira watch the Maiami Championship, and Reiji pats Reira on the head comfortingly. The screens linger on Miharu and Yuno.)
The cruel angel's thesis.
The sorrow then begins.
(Cards scatter past the screen, each with a person's face on them. Yuya and Yuto, one in the Ruins Area and the other in the stadium, both let out screams, as Odd-Eyes Rebellion Dragon seems to burst through the screen in front of them.)
You held tight to the form of life
when you woke up from that dream.
(Chiaki, Ruri and Rin run through the halls of Academia, their bracelets blinking rapidly. Saffira, Queen of Dragons, Lyrical Luscinia - Assembly Nightingale and Wind Witch - Winter Bell blow away tons of soldiers, before they come face to face with a figure shrouded in darkness, a three-headed dragon behind him, which fires off three blasts, scattering their monsters.)
You shine brighter than anyone else.
(The screen fades to darkness, and three stars shine above.)
Young boy, become the legend!
(The camera pans down to Miharu and Yuzu, standing in the Iceberg Area, before Starving Venom Fusion Dragon bears down on them. On top of the cliff, Yuri grins, but there are traces of sadness as he glances to the side.)
People create history
while weaving love.
(Serena drags Shun into the Volcano Area, while flashes of her counterparts' faces can be seen above her head, as she thinks about them. She lingers the longest on Ruri, before she looks down at Shun, a determined look on her face.)
Even knowing I'll never be a goddess or anything like that,
I live on.
(Flowers bloom across the ground, before winds pick up, causing birds to scatter through the sky, even as the moon hangs overhead. Two large trees grow rapidly, a cherry blossom tree and an autumnal maple tree. The bottom half of a woman's face can be seen under a hood, and two tears fall from her face, hitting the ground.)
The cruel angel's thesis
will soon take flight through the window,
(A dove flies through the sky over a ticking clock that hits noon. A photograph flutters through the sky, slowly falling through the backgrounds of Domino City, Den City, Academia, Neo Domino City, the destroyed Heartland and Maiami City.)
with surging, hot pathos,
if you betray your memories.
(The photograph finally falls on the ground, though someone steps over it, walking forward.)
Embracing this sky and shining,
young boy, become the legend!
(The OP pans over the photograph on the ground, displaying all of the characters in the current cast, sorted by their dimension, in six different scenes. For the Standard photograph, Yuya is shaking hands with Reiji, while Yuzu, Reira, Gongenzaka, Sawatari, Mion, Tsukikage and Hikage watch incredulously. For the Link photograph, it is a photograph of Miharu, Hitoda and Yuno, seated in the city square below the SOL Corporation building, eating sandwiches together, even as billboards in the background show the Charisma Duelists' avatars. For Xyz, Ruri, Sayaka, Allen, Shun, Kaito, Nue and Yuto are having a picnic together. For Synchro, Rin and Yugo are cheerfully taking a selfie on a bike together, with a bunch of children from their orphanage also posing in the background. For Fusion, Shino is dumping a bucket of water on Yuri's head, even as Yuri glares at her murderously, Sora watches in absolute horror, Dennis laughs his ass off and a figure in dark clothes watches from the background, his face not visible. Meanwhile, Serena is watching from behind a hedge, torn between laughing and sadness. For Ritual, Kyorin, Chiaki and Yuji are skipping school, sitting on a rooftop, while Chiaki offers a piece of cake to Kyorin, smirking. Yuji is rolling his eyes.)
Chapter 15: In Broad Daylight
When Serena arrived in the Standard Dimension alongside Barrett, for a moment, she was simply surprised by how different everything was. She adjusted her hood, feeling wary of being spotted. Even her clothes would give away exactly where she had come from, if someone here knew about Academia. (And really, the only people here who would know about Academia would be Xyz remnants. After all, Standard hadn't been invaded yet, unlike Xyz and… well, anyway, she had to make sure that she was hidden properly.
"Serena-sama," Barrett said. Serena turned to him. While she admittedly didn't like being told to do anything, the fact that Barrett seemed to genuinely respect her free will led her to at least be willing to hear him out. "According to what other things I managed to hear about Sora Shiun'in's experiences here in Standard, it seems that he entered a tournament of some kind. Shall we search for any information on that tournament?"
"... that's a good idea." Serena glanced around. There were a lot of buildings—everything honestly looked so unfamiliar that it was somewhat overwhelming. She didn't let it faze her though. "Let's go, Barrett."
"Yes, Serena-sama."
The two of them walked through the dark alleys, avoiding the human eye.
"You're amazing, Kogami-san!" Yuzu praised. Miharu looked up at her with a slightly confused expression. She had a flowerpot in her hands—one of the plants that had been drying up in the heat, despite Yuzu and her father's best efforts. Yuzu had asked her for help after Yuno had mentioned that she was good with plants. Miharu had gone looking for certain plant care necessities, only to realise that a lot of the brands in this dimension were different from the ones that she was used to.
"Just Miharu," she reminded after a moment. It wasn't the first time that she had to tell Yuzu this. "It's nothing." She placed the flowerpot back on the ground. "... I left the extras in the shed near the back."
"Hmm? Didn't you pay for them though?"
"It was Reiji Akaba's money," Miharu said calmly, eliciting a laugh from Yuzu. "But besides, I have some better plant nutrients back home. You can keep them. I don't feel like bringing them home."
"... right." Yuzu sat down on the kitchen counter, sighing. "It's still a bit hard to comprehend that you come from another world."
"... I can't wait to go home," Miharu admitted. Oddly enough, talking to a girl with the same face as her made it easier for her to be somewhat more honest. She walked over to the kettle, which had been boiling, and she began to prepare two cups of lavender tea for herself and Yuzu. As an afterthought, she also began making a cup for Shuzo. Hopefully, Yuzu would take it up to his office too.
"Did you have a lot of friends back home?"
"My only friend was Yuno," Miharu said. She glanced away. "And he was a person with a lot of friends."
Yuzu frowned. "I don't want to sound insensitive, but in that case, what is there for you to return to?"
Ah.
"It is a little insensitive," Miharu said, her fingers tensing for a moment on the kitchen counter. "But I understand the question. I… want to go home to my family."
"Family…" Yuzu smiled. "What's your family like? It's always just been me and my father, and Aunt Yoko has kind of been a bit of a mother figure to me too, but…"
"... I have a father and a brother." Miharu didn't look at Yuzu directly. "Ryoken has always been one of the strongest duelists I know. He taught me how to duel too. My Link Summoning chant is derived from his—I used to just use the same summoning chant as him." She tapped her duel disk. "My father was the one that gave me my current deck. He adopted me. And… I have a few other people that are family too."
"Adopted family?"
"Kind of." Miharu closed her eyes. "... family aren't friends, and friends aren't family. I have a lot of family. I think I prefer that over friends."
"We're friends though, right?"
Miharu looked over at the kind-hearted girl. Slightly embarrassed, she pushed the cup of tea over. Seeming to understand, Yuzu nodded and took it. "Don't scald yourself," Miharu said after a moment.
They drank their tea in silence for a moment.
"But, Miharu-san," Yuzu said. "If you and Yuno go to another world… I'd like for us to still be friends."
If.
As though it wouldn't be necessary for them to go to the other dimensions, to defeat Academia before they could go home.
As though it would be that easy to go home.
Even so…
I want to go home.
But home was now too far away.
The best she could hope would be that Yuzu would be left out of this mess, but knowing what they knew about the girls and boys with the same faces…
Yuzu Hiiragi and Yuya Sakaki would be dragged into this, one way or another.
The best she could hope for was that they would all be safe. Yuya and Yuzu, the kind Gongenzaka, the three kids, still so innocent, Masumi, Yaiba and Hokuto, who had welcomed them with open arms. The Standard Dimension, which was so bright and colourful, longing to perform.
Two days later:
Hokuto Shijima smirked, walking through the city. Alright! He still had three hours before his next match, which was why he had left the stadium to get a cold drink beforehand. Now, all he had to do was cut through this alleyway and get to the main city square—
"You there."
A dark red line connected to his duel disk.
[Duel Anchor Engaged.] A voice came from the duel disk of the person behind him. Hokuto whirled around as two figures stepped out of the alley.
"You," the person who had spoken said—she sounded like a girl, but there was something harsh to her tone. "You're from Xyz, aren't you?"
"Huh? I mean, I'm from LDS's Xyz Course—"
"So you are Xyz." The girl raised her duel disk. "Well?"
What? Did this girl have some kind of strong prejudice against Xyz Summoning or something? Well, judging from the fact that his duel disk had been forcibly activated by the strange red line that she had used, it seemed that he didn't have a choice but to duel her.
In the end, he raised his duel disk as well.
He'd just have to beat her, and hopefully, he wouldn't be late for his next match.
[DUEL!]
Hokuto Shijima: 4000LP
Serena Akaba: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Hokuto] [H:5]
"Akaba—you're an Akaba?" Hokuto exclaimed, flinching for a moment. From that Akaba family? But the only Akabas were Himika Akaba and her two children, right?
"It's your turn, Xyz. Hurry up." This girl, Serena, didn't seem like she wanted to elaborate on anything. So all that Hokuto could do was draw his hand and begin his turn.
"I will Normal Summon Constellar Pollux!" He called, placing down the card. A white knight appeared in front of him. "And with Pollux's effect, I can Normal Summon another "Constellar" monster this turn, so meet Constellar Kaus!" A pale knight holding onto a golden bow appeared, stringing an arrow onto the bow.
[Constellar Pollux (4*/1700/600/LIGHT/Warrior/Effect)]
[Constellar Kaus (4*/1800/700/LIGHT/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]
"I will then activate Constellar Kaus's effect! Twice per turn, I can increase or decrease the Level of a "Constellar" monster on the field by 1! I will increase both Pollux and Kaus to Level 5! Bolstering Bow Blast!" Kaus shot off an arrow at Pollux, imbuing the other knight with a bright glow, before it was surrounded with the same glow.
[Constellar Pollux: 4* + 1* = 5*]
[Constellar Kaus: 4* + 1* = 5*]
"I will then overlay the Level 5 Pollux and Kaus! Light of the stars, descend and shake this very earth! Xyz Summon! Rank 5! Constellar Pleiades!" A silver and gold knight with a midnight blue cloak appeared, proudly raising a clenched fist in the air. In his other hand, he was holding onto a golden, curved weapon as well.
[Constellar Pleiades (R5/2500/1500/LIGHT/Warrior/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"So you Xyz Summoned." The girl snorted. "Good. It wouldn't be worth beating you if you couldn't do that much."
What the hell was her deal?
"I'll end my turn. Over to you!"
[Turn 2: Serena] [H:6]
"Draw!" Serena drew a card from her deck. Her tone was rather fierce, though Hokuto still couldn't see her face. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Moonlight Fusion! With its effect, I can perform a Fusion Summon of a "Moonlight" Fusion Monster using materials in my hand and field! Furthermore, since you control a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can use a "Moonlight" monster in my deck too! I'll fuse Moonlight Blue Cat in my hand and Moonlight Yellow Marten in my deck! Blue cat that prowls through the darkness! Crescent-tailed moon creature that dances through the night! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me! Beautiful beast that dances in the moonlight! Moonlight Cat Dancer!"
A graceful masked dancer appeared in front of her, ribbons streaming through the air. They were very bright in colour—very striking in appearance.
[Moonlight Cat Dancer (7*/2400/2000/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"There is a very high Fusion Summoning energy signature downtown!"
Reiji Akaba turned over. Hmm. It was clearly an abnormal signature, but any large movements could disrupt the Maiami Championship, especially after Sora and Shun had made such a large scene—
"I'll go."
Reiji turned to the girl that had spoken. Miharu Kogami had stood up, adjusting her face mask.
"I don't have a match today, anyway."
"You do realise that you're exactly who Academia is after," Reiji said.
"I am aware. Thus, I am bait." Miharu looked directly at him. "Make an excuse to leave, then follow where we are. I'll stall them until you get there—after all, I'm the one they want."
"I will activate the effect of Moonlight Yellow Marten. I will add a "Moonlight" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand. Then, I will activate the Spell Card, Moon Light Perfume. Revive—Moonlight Blue Cat!" The blue-skinned warrior appeared on her field. "I will use Blue Cat's effect to double the attack points of Cat Dancer!"
[Moonlight Cat Dancer: 2400 x 2 = 4800ATK]
"So that's your strategy!" Hokuto raised a hand. "I'll activate the effect of Pleiades! By detaching an Overlay Unit, I will return your monster to your hand!" A star shot out towards Cat Dancer, sending it back to the Extra Deck. "So it doesn't work the way that you want it to!"
[Constellar Pleiades: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]
"Who said I was done?" Serena said coldly. "I'll Normal Summon Moonlight White Rabbit!" A dancer wearing a white jacket with rabbit ears appeared, adjusting their masquerade mask.
[Moonlight White Rabbit (2*/800/800/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]
"With White Rabbit's effect, I will revive Moonlight Yellow Marten to my field!" The yellow dancer reappeared on the field. "I'll activate the effect of Moonlight Black Sheep in my hand. I will discard it and add the Spell Card, Polymerization, from my deck to my hand! And I will activate it, fusing White Rabbit and Yellow Marten! Now, reappear on my field with a new power—Fusion Summon! Moonlight Cat Dancer!" Her ace emerged from a dark vortex on her field, though obviously, it had lost the boost from Blue Cat.
"So you managed to bring it out anyway…"
"I did," she said. "And your cheap tricks won't work again. I'll activate the Spell Card, Fusion Recovery. I can add Polymerization and Moonlight White Rabbit from my graveyard to my hand. And now, I'll activate Polymerization again! And I'll fuse Moonlight Blue Cat and Moonlight Cat Dancer!"
"You're fusing your Fusion Monster?"
The girl pressed her hands together. There was something unmistakably confident to her posture.
"The beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! Blue cat that prowls through the darkness! Swarm in the vortex of moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Elegant beast dancing in the moonlit wilderness! Moonlight Panther Dancer!" A dark-furred dancer in a long and brightly coloured gown appeared. She had a similar colour theme to her clothing as Cat Dancer.
[Moonlight Panther Dancer (8*/2800/2500/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"That's…"
"Panther Dancer can attack all monsters you control twice per turn, and they're not destroyed by the first battle!" Panther Dancer leapt forward, striking at Hokuto's monster twice, before he could even react. Pleiades shattered on the second attack.
Hokuto: 4000 - 300 - 300 = 3400LP
"I'll set one card and end my turn," Serena said, emptying out the rest of her hand except for White Rabbit. "Over to you, Xyz remnant."
[Turn 3: Hokuto] [H:4]
"Draw!" Losing Pleiades was a large blow so early—he hadn't expected his opponent to be able to Fusion Summon twice more after he had returned the first monster with Pleiades's effect. However, he still had other Xyz Monsters to use! "I'll Normal Summon Constellar Algiedi!" A slim warrior holding onto a staff appeared, light surrounding them. "And with Algiedi's effect, I will Special Summon a Level 4 "Constellar" monster from my hand. I'll Special Summon Constellar Sombre!" A feminine warrior with white star-like skin appeared, with two golden horns, and a bright aquamarine belt of constellations surrounding her.
[Constellar Algiedi (4*/1600/1400/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]
[Constellar Sombre (4*/1550/1600/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]
"And I'll overlay the Level 4 Algiedi and Sombre! Stars, take the form of the beehive cluster and shimmer in the night sky! Take on the power of the collective and collapse order! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Constellar Praesepe!" A warrior in rather bright and heroic colours—gold, red and white—appeared, his cape swirling out behind him as he stood in front of Hokuto.
[Constellar Praesepe (R4/2400/800/LIGHT/Machine/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"Praesepe attacks Panther Dancer! And when a "Constellar" monster battles, Praesepe can detach an Overlay Unit to increase that monster's attack points by 1000!" Praesepe glows, and it lets loose a large blast of light, slamming it straight into Panther Dancer.
[Constellar Praesepe: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1; 2400 + 1000 = 3400ATK]
Panther Dancer was destroyed, much to Hokuto's relief.
Serena: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP
"I will activate my Trap Card, Moonlight Reincarnation Dance. Since a monster I control was destroyed, I can add two "Moonlight" monsters from my deck to my hand." Serena swiped up two more cards from her deck.
"I'll end my turn," Hokuto said. Praesepe's attack points went back to normal.
[Turn 4: Serena] [H:4]
"Draw," Serena said. "I will Normal Summon Moonlight White Rabbit again!" The pale masked dancer reappeared on her field. "And with her effect, I'll revive a "Moonlight" monster! Come back—Moonlight Panther Dancer!" The Fusion Monster reappeared on her field. "And I'll activate the Spell Card, Polymerization! I'll fuse Moonlight Panther Dancer and Moonlight White Rabbit on the field with Moonlight Blue Cat in my hand!"
Another Fusion Summon? And with three materials?
"Elegant beast dancing on the moonlit wilderness! Blue cat that prowls through the darkness! The lively white rabbit illuminated by the moonlight! Swarm in a vortex of the moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! The king of beasts dancing atop the summit of the moonlight wilderness! Moonlight Lio Dancer!" A woman with dark grey skin appeared, white hair puffing out regally like a lion's mane. They were wearing a long pink dress, and in their right hand was a gigantic sword. She swung the sword through the air regally, ready for battle.
[Moonlight Lio Dancer (10*/3500/3000/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"So that's your strongest monster…" Hokuto gritted his teeth. "It exceeds Praesepe's attack points, even with the boost…"
"Correct," Serena declared mercilessly. "Moonlight Lio Dancer attacks Constellar Praesepe!"
"I will activate Praesepe's effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit, it gains 1000 attack points until the End Phase!"
[Constellar Praesepe: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1; 2400 + 1000 = 3400ATK]
At least this way, he would reduce the damage—
Lio Dancer dashed in, cleaving through Praesepe with the long sword. Hokuto nearly screamed as his monster was destroyed—there was a strong force to it that was absent except in a Solid Vision duel. Did this girl have Solid Vision in her Duel Disk?
Hokuto: 3400 - 100 = 3300LP
"You have no defences left." Serena pointed forward. "Lio Dancer can perform a second attack each turn!"
Lio Dancer dashed forward, and with a second strike, knocked Hokuto back into a wall. Hokuto was too shocked to respond.
This overwhelming aggression…
Hokuto: 3300 - 3500 = 0LP
[Winner: Serena Akaba!]
"Well done, Serena-sama," the other hooded figure said. Serena stepped forward. Her face was still hidden from his gaze, but Hokuto was terrified. "Would you like me to finish the job?"
"Consider this my first service to Academia." The girl approached him, before someone cleared their throat. There were extremely quiet footsteps, and then Hokuto saw the familiar masked, blonde figure of Miharu Kogami step in front of him protectively.
"I'm sorry," Miharu said calmly. "But this is my schoolmate. Please refrain from killing him."
K—killing?
Miharu turned to look at Hokuto, as serious as ever. "Run," she said, and her voice gave him no room for argument. She sounded confident enough. Hokuto immediately spun around, running away.
Meanwhile, Miharu turned towards the two hooded figures.
"Another Xyz remnant, come to save your friend?"
"... I am not an Xyz remnant," Miharu said. "Are you always so short-sighted? There's a spectacles shop down the road." She was surprised at her own sarcasm—that might have been Ryoken's influence. She politely pressed a hand to her chest. "He was not my friend either."
"Do you think I'm that easily tricked?" Serena demanded.
Miharu shrugged. "It can't be helped if you're so paranoid that everyone is lying to you. It's… sad, that you immediately dismiss anything that doesn't fit your worldview."
Serena bit her lip. Unbeknownst to Miharu, Serena was remembering a certain sentence—a smug, bitter smile, a turned head, a cold voice. "If you never allow yourself to consider other possibilities, Serena, you'll only ever be tricked by others." And of course, a crying girl's voice. "I have almost nothing left."
"I won't allow anyone to dismiss a cruel act like killing," Miharu said. She raised her duel disk. Behind Serena, the other hooded figure raised their duel disk, but without knowing why, Serena waved a hand to get him to stand down, stepping forward.
"Win!" She said, making it sound like an order. "Win, and then I'll listen to what you have to say."
"... if that has to be the case," Miharu said, "then yes. I will make you listen."
They both raised their duel disks at the same time. One girl wearing a hood, the other wearing a mask, neither showing their faces to each other. No emotions shown to either of them, but hidden within their own hearts.
[DUEL!]
Serena Akaba: 4000LP
Miharu Kogami: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Miharu] [H:5]
"I'll start," Miharu said. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Unexpected Dai." She revealed the Spell in her hand. "Since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my deck. So come—Sunseed Genius Loci." The familiar seed appeared in front of her, floating on her field.
[Sunseed Genius Loci (1*/0/400/EARTH/Plant)]
"And since I control a Plant Normal Monster," Miharu continued, "I can Special Summon Sunseed Shadow from my hand." A darker version of Sunseed Genius Loci appeared, floating next to the original seed.
[Sunseed Shadow (1*/0/400/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"And appear, future circuit that lights up my path. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Level 4 or lower Plant monster. I will set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers. Appear now, young tree beginning to bear fruit. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 1—Sunavalon Dryas."
The Link 1 monster appeared, floating in her Link Monster Zone. Serena frowned.
"A monster with no attack points?"
[Sunavalon Dryas (L1/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]
Miharu didn't bother trying to explain herself. "Since Dryas was Link Summoned using "Sunseed Genius Loci" as Link Material, I can add a "Sunvine" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." She picked up a card from her deck. "Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters, including a "Sunavalon" Link Monster. I will set Sunseed Shadow and the Link 1 Sunavalon Dryas in the Link Markers. Grow ever taller, set your roots down. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 2. Sunavalon Dryades."
Dryas grew larger.
[Sunavalon Dryades (L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]
"I will set a card facedown," Miharu said calmly. This was the best way to test the waters—to see what kind of duelist Serena Akaba was. (And the fact that she was an Akaba was intriguing, but…) She also hadn't dueled a Fusion duelist before, not including Reiji Akaba, so she had to be careful.
"A 0 attack points Link Monster…" Serena narrowed her eyes. "I'll figure out what secret you're hiding with that!"
She was suspecting Miharu for hiding things?
[Turn 2: Serena] [H:6]
"Draw," Serena said. "I'll discard Moonlight Black Sheep from my hand to add Polymerization from my deck to my hand. And I'll Normal Summon Moonlight White Rabbit!" An androgynous female dancer in a white suit and with white rabbit ears appeared, twirling around on the field with a white hammer in her hands. "And with the effect of White Rabbit, I will revive Moonlight Black Sheep in Defense Position!" A green-skinned dancer in a black suit appeared, taking White Rabbit's hand.
[Moonlight Black Sheep (2*/100/600/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]
[Moonlight White Rabbit (2*/800/800/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]
"I will activate White Rabbit's effect. I can target Spells and Traps on the field up to the number of other "Moonlight" monsters I control, and return them to the hand!" Serena swept Miharu's set card back to her hand, planning to get rid of what she viewed as Miharu's only defence. And now, she only had one monster in Attack Position—meaning that she was within range for a simple One Turn Kill.
Miharu, however, had an unfazed look in her eyes. Was she truly overconfident, or…
Was she like Ruri Kurosaki, with a less direct way of dueling? Their monsters both had no attack points initially, after all.
"I'll activate Polymerization, and fuse Moonlight Black Sheep on my field with Moonlight Purple Butterfly in my hand!"
Miharu watched her. So this was a Fusion user's playstyle, huh?
"Butterfly that wields violet poison! The beast lurking in jet-black darkness! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come to me! Beautiful beast that dances in the moonlight! Moonlight Cat Dancer!" The tall, colourful masked dancer appeared in front of Serena. Miharu watched it with some trepidation.
[Moonlight Cat Dancer (7*/2400/2000/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"I will activate the effect of Moonlight Black Sheep. Since she was used for a Fusion Summon, I can add a "Moonlight" monster from my graveyard to my hand." Serena retrieved Black Sheep itself from the graveyard. "And then, I will use Cat Dancer's effect. By tributing White Rabbit, she can attack every monster you control twice this turn! Lunatic Frenzy!" The pale dancer dissolved into particles that surrounded Cat Dancer. "Attack Sunavalon Dryades! Full Moon Cresta!"
And yet, Moonlight Cat Dancer did not move.
"... huh?"
"While I control Sunavalon Dryades, it cannot be targeted for an attack," Miharu said, sounding just as calm as ever. "It does not prevent you from targeting me for an attack."
What?
In that case, Serena had tributed White Rabbit for absolutely nothing. After all, if she could only attack directly, Cat Dancer could only attack once. She would've done more damage without—
But she could still deal a lot of damage, against this suicidal play.
"Attack directly, Cat Dancer! Full Moon Cresta!" The sword slashed through the air as Cat Dancer flashed in front of Miharu, knocking her back onto the ground.
Miharu: 4000 - 2400 = 1600LP
Miharu, however, didn't activate Dryades's effect.
After all, Dryades's effect, if activated, would Special Summon another monster. Moonlight Cat Dancer would then be able to attack that monster twice. Therefore, Miharu would lose.
So she waited, and Serena eyed her suspiciously, though neither of them could see each other's faces.
"I set a card facedown and end."
[Turn 3: Miharu] [H:5]
"Draw." Miharu revealed the card in her hand. "I will Normal Summon Aromage Jasmine." A pale-haired girl appeared with a joyful smile, skipping to the Main Monster Zone behind Dryades—which Dryades did not point to.
[Aromage Jasmine (2*/100/1900/LIGHT/Plant/Effect)]
"I will then activate the Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing. I will Special Summon a "Sunseed" monster from my deck, and then take 1000 damage." Another copy of Sunseed Genius Loci appeared on the field, before a vine lashed against Miharu's skin.
Miharu: 1600 - 1000 = 600LP
"Why would you hurt yourself?" Serena asked, sounding baffled.
"When I take damage while I control Sunavalon Dryades, I can regain life points equal to the damage I took," Miharu revealed calmly. There was no need to hide the main strategy of her deck anymore. After all, Serena had unwittingly exposed her main strategy—that her monsters were far more aggressive depending on the opponent's field, that her monsters were meant to just keep attacking over and over.
And, well…
That was fine.
Miharu: 600 + 1000 = 1600LP
"Furthermore, I can then Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck." One of Dryades's fruits split open, the girl in the pink dress falling out of it gracefully. "Sunvine Healer."
[Sunvine Healer (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑)]
"Sunvine… Healer." Serena narrowed her eyes. "That must mean…"
"When Sunvine Healer is Special Summoned, I can gain life points, equal to the Link Rating of a "Sunavalon" monster on the field times 300." A pink glow surrounded Miharu, her life points shooting up.
Miharu: 1600 + 300 x 2 = 2200LP
"I thought so." Serena put her hands on her hips in annoyance. "Are you just going to keep on healing? That's just going to turn this into a boring slog of a duel!"
"I don't duel for your entertainment," Miharu said. She was still calm, but her voice was rather stern. "Since I gained life points, Jasmine allows me to draw a card. I'll activate the effect of Sunseed Shadow in my graveyard. By banishing it, I can target a linked Link 2 or lower "Sunavalon" or "Sunvine" Link Monster I control, and Special Summon another copy of it from my Extra Deck. However, its effects are negated. I will Special Summon another copy of Sunvine Healer." A doppelganger of the pink-themed girl appeared on her field. "Then, manifest, the circuit that sows the seeds for my future. Arrowhead confirmed. I will set Sunavalon Dryades and the Sunvine Healer with its effects negated in the Link Markers. Let the shadow beneath the tranquil tree begin to take its own form. Circuit Combine. Link 3. Sunavalon Dryanome!" Miharu's ace appeared in front of her, as imposing as ever.
[Sunavalon Dryanome (L3/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↓, ↘)]
"I will then manifest my circuit once again. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters! I will set Aromage Jasmine and Sunvine Healer in the Link Markers. Healer with the capacity for love, appear now as my blade!"
She gestured outwards with her hand. Jasmine reappeared, her hair in pale pigtails, with long fairy wings stretching out behind her. She was wearing a white robe, along with purple tights. She waved her staff through the air, cheerfully smiling.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Aromaseraphy Jasmine!"
[Aromaseraphy Jasmine (L2/1800/LIGHT/Plant/Link/Effect/↙,↘)]
"That monster actually has attack points…"
"What a surprise," Miharu said flatly. "I will set a card facedown and end my turn."
[Turn 4: Serena] [H:4]
"Draw," Serena said. "You summoned a monster with attack points, but you didn't even attack me! If you're that much of a coward—I'll take you out! I'll banish Moonlight Purple Butterfly from my graveyard to Special Summon a "Moonlight" monster from my hand! Come—Moonlight Blue Cat!" The familiar blue warrior appeared on her field, letting out a growl.
[Moonlight Blue Cat (4*/1600/1200/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]
"I will use Blue Cat's effect and double Cat Dancer's attack points!"
[Moonlight Cat Dancer: 2400 x 2 = 4800ATK]
"I'll use Cat Dancer's effect to tribute Blue Cat, and she'll be able to attack your monsters twice this turn! Cat Dancer attacks Aromaseraphy Jasmine! Full Moon Cresta!"
One attack would be enough—
"Trap Card. Draining Shield. I negate your attack and gain life points equal to your monster's attack points."
Huh? Serena watched as Cat Dancer collided against a shield. Miharu's life points shot up immediately.
Miharu: 2200 + 4800 = 7000LP
Serena glanced at the Moonlight White Rabbit in her hand. She could have summoned it and returned that set card to the hand, but from the lack of response that Miharu had the previous turn, she had assumed that the set card wasn't important. As a result, she had played it safe and kept White Rabbit in her hand, just in case the new monster had some kind of destructive effect that would hurt Cat Dancer.
Had she played it too safe? Was this just another defensive monster?
"Since I gained life points, Aromaseraphy Jasmine's effect triggers. I can add a Plant monster to my hand."
"Well, Cat Dancer has another attack! Take out that monster!"
"I'll activate the effect of Sunavalon Dryanome," Miharu replied. "I will place Aromaseraphy Jasmine in my leftmost Main Monster Zone and negate the attack." Cat Dancer's second attack was deflected as well.
With some frustration, Serena ended her turn. Her set card needed her monster to be destroyed, but this girl wasn't even strong enough to beat Cat Dancer! She could barely do anything other than raise her life points!
So why was there something uneasy about her?
And the fact that she used Plant monsters…
It was the opposite of Yuri's dueling style, completely defensive in nature. Even her personality was so different from Yuri's…
So why did she remind Serena so much of him?
[Turn 5: Miharu] [H:5]
"Draw." Miharu looked at the card. "... I'll Normal Summon Sunseed Genius Loci once again." The small seed appeared on her field. "I'll manifest my circuit of the future. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Plant Normal Monster. I will set Sunseed Genius Loci. Circuit Combine. Protector of the sacred sunbathed tree. Link Summon. Link 1. Sunvine Thrasher." The green knight appeared, holding onto a long sword.
[Sunvine Thrasher (L1/800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]
"Since Thrasher was Link Summoned, it gains 800 attack points times the Link Rating of a "Sunavalon" monster on the field. I will choose Sunavalon Dryanome." Thrasher glowed brightly.
[Sunvine Thrasher: 800 + 800 x 3 = 3200ATK]
Serena blinked in surprise.
Miharu glanced at another card in her hand. She could use it and deal enough damage to win, but…
If I win, she'll just teleport away, according to what Reiji Akaba told me about Academia duel disk. Even if she's strong enough to defend against it, I may not be able to convincingly pretend that I can't win. And if she suspects that I'm trying to stall, she might just run immediately.
She kept her face as stoic as ever, and Thrasher readied his blade.
"Thrasher attacks Cat Dancer!" Slamming the sword through the air, Thrasher cut Cat Dancer in half mercilessly.
Serena: 4000 - 800 = 3200LP
"I will activate my set card, Moonlight Reincarnation Dance!" Serena revealed her Trap. "Since Cat Dancer was destroyed, I can add two "Moonlight" monsters from my deck to my hand." She picked up two more cards from her deck.
"Alright," Miharu said. She could have taken control of Cat Dancer, but if she did so, it would be harder to pretend that there was nothing she could do against Serena. "Jasmine attacks you directly. Empathetic Fragrance." Wispy smoke surrounded Serena, inflicting more damage to Serena.
Serena: 3200 - 1800 = 1400LP
"I will end my turn."
[Turn 6: Serena] [H:6]
"Draw!" Serena revealed a card in her hand. "I'll Normal Summon Moonlight White Rabbit. And I'll revive Moonlight Cat Dancer!" The two monsters appeared on her field. So she could just bring back her Fusion Monsters at any time? "You made a mistake in bringing out more monsters! I'll activate the Spell Card, Fusion Substitute! I'll fuse using monsters on the field! I'll fuse Moonlight White Rabbit and Moonlight Cat Dancer! The beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! The lively white rabbit illuminated by the moonlight! Swarm in the vortex of moon's gravity and become a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! Elegant beast dancing in the moonlit wilderness! Moonlight Panther Dancer!" The dark dancer appeared, twirling around in the air.
[Moonlight Panther Dancer (8*/2800/2500/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
With that feeling of unease, Serena took out Fusion Substitute from her graveyard. "I'll banish this card from the graveyard and shuffle Cat Dancer into the Extra Deck to draw a card!" She revealed another card in her hand. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Moonlight Fusion! Since you control a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can also use a monster in my deck as material! I'll fuse Moonlight Panther Dancer on the field with Moonlight Yellow Marten in my hand and Moonlight Crimson Fox in my deck!"
The three monsters turned into streaks of moonlight.
"Elegant beast dancing on the moonlit wilderness! Crimson cunning hiding in the shadows! Crescent-tailed moon creature that dances through the night! Swarm in a vortex of the moon's gravity and revive with a new power! Fusion Summon! Come forth! The king of beasts dancing atop the summit of the moonlight wilderness! Moonlight Lio Dancer!" Serena's strongest monster emerged on her field with a ferocious battlecry.
[Moonlight Lio Dancer (10*/3500/3000/DARK/Beast-Warrior/Fusion/Effect)]
"I will use Crimson Fox's effect and target your Thrasher. Then, I'll change its attack points to 0 until the End Phase!" Thrasher fell to one knee, clearly in pain.
[Sunvine Thrasher: 3200 - 0ATK]
"Then, Yellow Marten will add a "Moonlight" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand!" Serena pointed at Thrasher. "Lio Dancer! Attack that monster now, and tear it to shreds! Shredding Moonlight Blades!" Leo Dancer slashed forward with the sword.
"I will activate the effect of Sunavalon Dryanome," Miharu said calmly. "I'll negate the attack and move Thrasher to a different—"
"You can try," Serena snorted. "Moonlight Lio Dancer is unaffected by your card effects!" Lio Dancer slashed straight through Thrasher, knocking Miharu back with the force. Miharu managed to get back up immediately, but the strong winds had blasted her face—pulling the face mask off her face.
Both of the hooded figures gasped immediately.
Miharu: 7000 - 3500 = 3500LP
"I'll activate Moonlight Lio Dancer's effect," Serena declared. "After its first attack, it can destroy all monsters you control!"
'First attack', implying that there was a second attack…
"I will chain Sunavalon Dryanome's effect." Miharu activated her monster's effect. "Thrice per turn, when I take damage, I can recover life points equal to the damage I took, and Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck."
Her life points shot up again.
Miharu: 3500 + 3500 = 7000LP
"Come—Sunvine Gardna." She summoned the large golem made of wood, but it didn't matter, because her entire field was then wiped out by Lio Dancer's effect.
The girl, Serena, did not initially make another move. Miharu couldn't see her face, but the reaction had exposed something very important.
One, this girl was very important to Academia, to the point of having a guard with her, who had the stature of an adult. Two, she had somehow been informed that Academia wanted them, the girls with the same faces. Three, her style was unrestrained, wild and very true to herself, without any kind of militaristic coldness.
So, therefore…
"If you lifted that hood," Miharu said, "would I see my own face?"
"Serena-sama," the man next to Serena spoke up. "This is likely a coincidence—"
"What do you mean?" Serena interrupted abrasively. "You know that we have the same face? In that case, what do you know?"
Miharu remained silent.
"What do you know about us? What do you know about me?" Serena's questions grew louder and louder, and despite how abrasive the other girl was, Miharu could hear a plea in her voice. It sounded like the girl was genuinely confused. Was she not a higher-up in Academia then? "Tell me!"
Miharu didn't reply. (If she was a more compassionate person, or a more honest person, maybe she would have.)
"Fine!" Serena pulled her hood off, revealing a serious version of Miharu's own face. "If you won't talk, I'll make you! Lio Dancer!" The sword swung down, bashing Miharu into the wall again.
Miharu: 7000 - 3500 = 3500LP
"I'll end my turn."
Miharu finally spoke up. "Feel free," she said. "If you win, I'll tell you what I know. But if I tell you—will you be able to accept what you hear?"
Serena froze. And that was the final piece of evidence that Miharu needed.
This girl didn't know anything at all.
She might not be completely innocent, but…
I don't like people who are blinded.
[Turn 7: Miharu] [H:5]
So she had to start from an empty field, huh?
No matter. She was good at starting over.
"Do you actually want to know?" Miharu asked. "Because if you demand answers and reject the ones given to you—then you're just living in your own delusional dreams. And you're condescending to everyone else too—because you're treating the world like it's a puzzle you've already solved. As though there's nothing more you can learn."
She drew the top card of her deck.
You're nothing like Yuzu.
She looked at the card. She didn't currently have a card that could defeat Lio Dancer.
… or did she?
… starting over, huh?
A few months ago, in the Link Dimension:
"Miharu! Perfect timing!"
Miharu nodded, walking over towards the desk. "Yes, father?" Kiyoshi Kogami smiled at her from his desk, gesturing to his computer. Miharu looked over at the screen, and she read through the words on it. "... oh."
"I know that you said that you want to take things slow—though your brother and I both think that you'll reach his level soon, if you keep growing at this rate!" Her father gestures to the screen. "But what do you think?"
"I think that you were supposed to keep this a secret from me," Miharu said after a moment of silence. Her father blinked. "That's Gino-san's artwork, right? And there's code built in for AR purposes too, which was definitely Aso-san and Kyoko-san's idea." And the very effect… that's my brother's influence. It's practically a card he would use…
Her father blinked, seeming to think of something. He had always been rather absentminded whenever he got excited about a project.
"Was this a surprise birthday present?" Miharu folded her arms. At her father's sheepish nod, she couldn't help but smile—a small, unnoticeable smile. "Oh, dad…"
"Well, I didn't spoil—"
"Dad, stop." Ryoken's amused voice could be heard as he walked into the room as well. "You're giving it all away. Miharu, don't bait dad into giving you more information."
Both Kiyoshi and Miharu looked at each other, somewhat amused. Then, they turned back to Ryoken simultaneously.
"But you can put the cards' code in her duel disk early, dad," Ryoken added. "That way, the cards will start working when she says the password on her birthday."
"... cards?" Miharu raised an eyebrow. "As in, more than one?"
"You're as bad at keeping secrets as I am, son," Kiyoshi said. He gestured for Miharu to hand her duel disk over, and she did. "Now, please resist the urge to peek at the code, alright, my prodigy of a daughter?"
"I make no promises," Miharu said stoically. Both Ryoken and Kiyoshi laughed. "Still though, that card…" She looked back at the computer screen. "... I recognise those bright sparks. It's… home."
"Exactly." Ryoken gently patted her shoulder. "No matter where you are, Miharu… that card is to remind you that you can always come home."
Something warm buzzed in Miharu's heart. She tried her best not to let it show, and she stared at the image.
"You're a little too independent, little sister," Ryoken said. "And that's amazing, but… it's simply a reminder. No matter how far away you are, no matter what you plan to do in the future… you will always be able to come home. After all, the—"
In the present, the Standard Dimension:
Miharu continued looking at the card. It wasn't the same card from that memory, it was just one of her monsters. But when Miharu had been thinking about how she could win, she had thought of that memory.
Home, huh?
No matter how far away she was. No matter how impossible it all felt.
Yes.
She wanted to return home.
She glanced at her duel disk.
You won't mind if I open my birthday present early, right?
"Open File Name: springtime-exe."
"Password required," her duel disk replied.
Ah.
They hadn't told her the password yet, technically, but Ryoken had given her a knowing look, and he had always been the type to sneak in clues. (Her brother was certainly an enabler.)
After all, the—
"The Stardust Road will guide you home," Miharu said. There were a few clicking sounds, and then, the card data was installed.
If Serena was going to bring out such a powerful monster…
Then Miharu simply had to answer it with her own power.
"I will Normal Summon Sunseed Twin," she said. The pink and blue fairies appeared, vines, tying them together. "And with Sunseed Twin's effect, I will revive Sunseed Genius Loci." The seed resurfaced as well.
[Sunseed Twin (2*/0/800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]
"I'll open the circuit. Manifest, the future circuit that lights up my path. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Plant Normal Monster. I will set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 1—Sunvine Healer!" Another copy of the pink flower woman appeared in Miharu's Extra Monster Zone—Miharu's third and final copy of that monster.
[Sunvine Healer (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑)]
"I cannot use Sunvine Healer's effect, since I don't control any "Sunavalon" monsters," Miharu continued. "However, it was necessary. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters, including a "Sunvine" Link Monster. I will set Sunvine Healer and Sunseed Twin in the Link Markers. Beautiful purple flower that longs for the sun. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 2, Sunavalon Clytia!"
The woman made of purple petals appeared, letting out a soft laugh.
[Sunavalon Clytia (L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑, →)]
"Clytia's effect. I will return Sunavalon Dryanome to the Extra Deck from my graveyard, and I'll draw a card." She drew a card from her deck, and she revealed another card in her hand. "Since my life points are higher than yours, I will Special Summon Aromage Laurel from my hand." A blond mage appeared, wearing black and green robes, a calm look on his face.
[Aromage Laurel (1*/800/0/WIND/Plant/Effect)]
"I will then manifest my circuit. Sow the seeds for my future. Arrowhead confirmed. I will set Sunavalon Clyria and Aromage Laurel in the Link Markers. Let the shadow beneath the tranquil tree begin to take its own form. Circuit Combine. Link 3. Sunavalon Dryanome!" Once again, Miharu Link Summoned Dryanome to her Link Monster Zone.
[Sunavalon Dryanome (L3/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↓, ↘)]
Serena raised an eyebrow. "It's been so long, and yet you still won't fight me?" She asked. "Are you that desperate to lose?"
Miharu shook her head. "I have always fought to win," she said. "Don't you?"
"Then why won't you stop defending yourself?"
"Because I fight to defend, and I defend to fight."
I have three new Link Monsters. One isn't viable against her current monster, the second isn't really viable either… I hate monsters that are unaffected by card effects. So I guess it's the third one.
… three cards, huh?
One that represents the ideal that I long to reach. The one that truly represents home.
One that represents my willingness to spare others, but hurt myself.
And this one.
… this one.
I wonder how much of the sadness I hide is something that you all already saw through.
Ryoken, father, Kyoko-san, Aso-san, Gino-san. I will use your gifts with care!
"I will activate the effect of Aromage Laurel," Miharu continued. "I will gain 500 more life points."
Miharu: 3500 + 500 = 4000LP
"I will then activate Pot of Avarice. By shuffling three copies of Sunseed Genius Loci, Aromage Laurel and Aromage Jasmine into my deck, I will draw two cards. And now, one final time," Miharu murmured. "Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing! I will Special Summon a "Sunseed" monster and take 1000 damage!" A copy of Sunseed Genius Loci appeared on her field, and her life points fell again.
Miharu: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP
"And since I took damage, I can Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck and regain my life points with Dryanome's effect. Restoration Fruit." The glow surrounded her.
Miharu: 3000 + 1000 = 4000LP
"Come, Sunvine Gardna." The wooden golem appeared on her field.
[Sunvine Gardna (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑)]
"And now." Miharu raised a closed hand, before opening it. "I will show you. Manifest, circuit—sow the seeds to the future I wish to reach! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two or more Link Monsters! I will set the Link 3 Sunavalon Dryanome and the Link 1 Sunvine Gardna in the Link Markers! Bloom, springtime's loveliest tree, the loveliest memory with the traces of malice!"
Around her, a shower of cherry blossom petals scattered through the air—a portal opened in the ground, the holographic earth beginning to rumble.
"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 4! Lovely flowers scattered in the wind—Sunavalon Dryatrentiay!"
A tree rose out of the ground. Its wood was less dark than the rest of the trees before—it seemed to take on a paler, less saturated shade. In fact, most of it was white-brown, with only a few parts that were normal brown at the edges. The tree's trunk seemed to resemble thick wires. At the top of it were snow white and pale pink petals, completely surrounding the tree—cherry blossom flowers. Even the leaves were pale pink, blending in completely with the pink fruits drooped from the tree, far smaller than Dryanome's fruits—clearly, they weren't meant to contain monsters in the same way as Dryanome's. Dark pink tendrils slid out from around it, curling through the air, somewhat sinister.
[Sunavalon Dryatrentiay (L4/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↑, ↓. ↘)]
"Still 0 attack points…" Serena folded her arms. She was still shaken from earlier, and she seemed to be eyeing Miharu with less condescension now. "What dangerous effect does this monster hold, then?"
… oh.
Serena was finally understanding how she dueled, huh?
It was a pity.
It was already too late for Serena to win, after all.
"I will activate the effect of Dryatrentiay. When it is Link Summoned, I can add a "Sunavalon" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." Petals scattered around Miharu as she added the card to her hand. "I'll then set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers, and spare you the summoning chant. Link Summon—Link 1, Sunvine Thrasher." Yet again, the green-armoured soldier appeared on her field. "And Thrasher gains 800 attack points times Dryatrentiay's Link Rating."
[Sunvine Thrasher: 800 + 800 x 4 = 4000ATK]
"You exceeded…" Serena looked like she was in disbelief. "You exceeded Lio Dancer's attack points? That's impossible! For… someone like you…"
"And what do you mean by that?" Miharu pressed a hand to her chest. "What kind of person am I, in your eyes, then?"
Serena fell silent.
"I don't think I'm weak," Miharu said, being completely honest—not bragging, not praising herself, simply stating the truth about herself. "Sunvine Thrasher attacks Moonlight Lio Dancer!"
And with a single slash, a storm of cherry blossom petals—
Serena's strongest monster disintegrated.
Serena: 1400 - 500 = 900LP
"When Sunvine Thrasher defeats a monster by battle, I can Special Summon it to my field, in a zone a Link Monster points to, with its effects negated. I will Special Summon Moonlight Lio Dancer to the Main Monster Zone behind Dryatrentiay!" The fierce warrior reappeared on her field, tangled up in pink vines.
Serena looked shocked.
"Serena-sama!" The man behind Serena moved to intercede, but then Serena held out a hand.
"I've lost, Barrett!" Serena raised her index finger, curving it towards herself. "And I will accept my loss with pride! Do not show mercy!"
Miharu inclined her head.
Moonlight Lio Dancer leapt forward, and with a single swing, she depleted the rest of Serena's life points. Defeated by her own monster, by her own strength.
(Miharu would admit to enjoying those small moments of irony.)
Serena: 900 - 3500 = 0LP
[Winner: Miharu Kogami!]
Their duel disks deactivated as the duel ended.
"... I lost," Serena said. She sounded downcast.
"... so you did," Miharu said. She was unsure on whether she should try to comfort this prideful girl at all—if Serena Akaba might instead feel insulted by that.
Serena continued staring at her. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Miharu was… unsure, too.
Then, of course Reiji Akaba showed up with a few others. Miharu leaned back on the wall as Reiji dueled the man who was accompanying Serena—Barrett, as she had called him. Then, Barrett lost, and teleported himself back to the Fusion Dimension.
And then, Reiji Akaba dismissed the rest of the people that were with him, facing towards Serena. Clearly, he didn't intend for Miharu to leave though, so Miharu stayed there.
"You still go by Serena Akaba," he said. "Do you remember me?"
Serena looked at him. Her eyes narrowed for a moment. "You're the boy that Yuri and I met in the garden three years ago," she said. "Right?"
Miharu tilted her head in confusion.
"Correct," Reiji Akaba said. "My name is Reiji Akaba. I am the son of the man who adopted you."
He was what?
"... you are the Professor's son, then." Serena folded her arms. "And you fight your own father? And you rebel against Academia's goals to create a utopia?"
"Most certainly." Reiji answered without hesitation. "Because I do not believe in my father's utopia. And, Serena—as your adoptive brother, in a sense, I will ask you to answer me honestly. After that duel, I saw doubt in your eyes. Can you truly continue your goal to hunt down the Xyz remnants, with that doubt nesting in your heart? Can you truly stand here and call my father's goals just, without hesitating?"
"I believe in the utopia Academia wants to create," Serena said automatically, but after a moment, she clenched her fists. "... but everyone keeps telling me that I'm just accepting what's told to me. And I want to prove them wrong. So I will look for the Xyz remnants. I will ask them about what happened. And then… I don't know what to think. I will make my decisions with the full information." She pointed at Reiji Akaba. "But I won't hear about it from you."
"Oh?"
"You have the same look in your eyes as some of our father's strongest lieutenants," Serena said. "Calculative. I don't trust you to tell me the truth. But I will go and talk to them—the Xyz remnants. If the tragedy that she talked about is true…"
A thought went through Serena's mind, one that neither Reiji or Miharu picked up on.
I may have been making a mistake, this entire time.
"I'll have to think about it," Serena finished. "But—the Obelisk Force will still be coming after me."
"You may live in an apartment sponsored by the Leo Corporation for the next few days," Reiji offered. "We'll provide some basic security while you're searching for the Xyz remnants."
"And you won't tell me who they are?" Serena glared at Reiji. "... fine." She turned to Miharu. "Well? And you? Are you going to explain anything?"
"... come and find me another day," Miharu offered. "But since you lost… I don't think your pride would allow me to tell you anything either, right?"
"... your eyes are so empty," Serena muttered. "Nothing like theirs… it's weird to see it on my own face." She fidgeted for a moment. "You're absolutely right. But stop doing your creepy analysis thing. I don't like people looking at me like that."
"... ok." Miharu shrugged.
She didn't think that they would ever be friends. Not in the same way that she and Yuzu were. Their personalities were far too different. A girl that was too close-minded, searching to widen her view of the world. And someone who had seen it all, and had never thought to avert her gaze.
But that was fine.
They didn't need to get along to share the same enemies.
And when she found out about everything…
If Miharu had read that girl right, she would rebel against everything.
That much, Miharu would count as a victory.
"What was that?" Yuno said, sounding baffled as he headed back to the stands. He had been matched up against Hokuto Shijima for his second match, but somehow, Hokuto had just… lost. Really badly, in fact! He had been shaking the entire time, and he had even arrived late—what was going on?
Had they all missed something, or…
"Oh, you're here," Yuno said, noticing Miharu walking over. "You said that you were going to sleep in today, right? Did you get a good rest?"
Miharu shot him a baleful look. "I didn't get much rest," she said after a moment.
"Well, relax now, yeah? You missed my match. Though to be fair, Hokuto looked very shaken up…"
Miharu let out a sound that might have been a snort.
"... you're definitely hiding something from me," Yuno said, raising an eyebrow.
"Definitely. I'll tell you when there are less listening ears around us."
"Deal." Yuno leaned over, squeezing her hand. "You must have had an eventful morning then…" He grinned. "But guess what? We're both in the final sixteen."
"That's nice," Miharu said blasely.
"Not excited?"
"Mm. Not really."
"You know, Yuno, Miharu," Yuya said, "you two are both really strong! I'd hate to have to face either of you alone. But since you're best friends, you must have dueled a lot, right? Who's stronger?"
Both Yuno and Miharu stared at him blankly.
"I mean, like… do you not duel each other?"
"No," Yuno said with a chuckle. "We know each other's decks inside and out, but… no, we usually duel for our jobs, so we don't duel each other. Miharu's probably stronger."
"Yuno's being humble," Miharu said. "He's stronger."
"I feel like you're both being humble," Yuzu said. She grinned. "Either that, or you both think too highly of each other, yeah?"
Miharu shrugged. "I still think it's Yuno," she said. "But he's free to be wrong."
He'd be glad, if he never had to come in conflict with Miharu.
… yeah. He'd be glad.
"It's almost your birthday, Miharu," he said with a chuckle. "Anything that you want?"
Miharu glanced at him. Then, she shrugged again. Yuno laughed. Still not quite open about herself, huh?
Just a few more days, and the battle royale portion of the Maiami Championship would start. After that would come Miharu's birthday, soon enough. He could give her his gift then.
… why did he still feel uneasy?
Duel 1 Summary: Serena Akaba vs Hokuto Shijima
Duel Format: Normal Duel
Turn 1: Hokuto Shijima
Hokuto Normal Summons Constellar Pollux. (4*/1700/600) With its effect, he Normal Summons Constellar Kaus. (4*/1800/700) With Kaus's effect, he increases Pollux and Kaus's Levels to 5, and then he uses them to Xyz Summon Constellar Pleiades. (R5/2500/1500/OU:2) He ends his turn.
Turn 2: Serena Akaba
Serena activates the Spell Card, Moonlight Fusion, fusing Moonlight Blue Cat (4*/1600/1200) in her hand and Moonlight Yellow Marten (4*/800/2000) in her Deck to Fusion Summon Moonlight Cat Dancer (7*/2400/2000) in Attack Position. She activates Moonlight Yellow Marten's effect, adding a "Moonlight" Spell or Trap from her Deck to her hand. Serena activates Moon Light Perfume, reviving Blue Cat. With Blue Cat's effect, he doubles Cat Dancer's ATK. (MCD: 2400 x 2 = 4800ATK) Hokuto activates Pleiades's effect to return Cat Dancer to the Extra Deck. (CP: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1) Serena Normal Summons Moonlight White Rabbit (2*/800/800) from her hand. With its effect, she revives Moonlight Yellow Marten. Then, she activates the effect of Moonlight Black Sheep (2*/100/600) in her hand, discarding it to add Polymerization from her deck to her hand. She activates it, fusing White Rabbit and Yellow Marten to Fusion Summon Moonlight Cat Dancer again. Then, she activates Fusion Recovery, adding Polymerization and Moonlight White Rabbit back to her hand. Then, by activating Polymerization again, she fuses Cat Dancer and Moonlight Blue Cat in her hand to Fusion Summon Moonlight Panther Dancer (8*/2800/2500) in Attack Position. Panther Dancer battles Pleiades twice, and it is not destroyed by the first battle, but it is destroyed by the second. [HS: 4000 - 300 - 300 = 3400LP] Serena sets a card and ends her turn.
Turn 3: Hokuto Shijima
Hokuto Normal Summons Constellar Algiedi. (4*/1600/1400) Then, with its effect, he Special Summons Constellar Sombre. (4*/1550/1600) He overlays them to Xyz Summon Constellar Praesepe. (R4/2400/800/OU:2) He has Praesepe attack Panther Dancer, detaching an Overlay Unit to increase its ATK by 1000. (CP: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1; 2400 + 1000 = 3400ATK) Panther Dancer is destroyed by the battle. [SA: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP] Hokuto ends his turn.
Turn 4: Serena Akaba
Serena draws. She Normal Summons Moonlight White Rabbit, and with its effect, she revives Moonlight Panther Dancer. Then, she activates Polymerization, fusing White Rabbit and Panther Dancer on the field with Moonlight Blue Cat in her hand, Fusion Summoning Moonlight Lio Dancer. (10*/3500/3000) Lio Dancer attacks Praesepe. Hokuto uses Praesepe's effect. (CP: 2400 + 1000 = 3400ATK; OU:1 - 1 = OU:0) [HS: 3400 - 100 = 3300LP] Lio Dancer attacks directly. [HS: 3300 - 3500 = 0LP] Hokuto loses.
Duel 2 Summary: Miharu Kogami vs Serena Akaba
Duel Format: Normal Duel
Turn 1: Miharu Kogami
Miharu activates the Spell, Unexpected Dai. She Special Summons Sunseed Genius Loci (1*/0/400) from her Deck. She then Special Summons Sunseed Shadow (1*/0/400) from her hand. Using Sunseed Genius Loci, she Link Summons Sunavalon Dryas (L1/0/↓) to her Extra Monster Zone. Using Dryas's effect, she adds a "Sunvine" Spell/Trap from her Deck to her hand. She then uses Shadow and Dryas to Link Summon Sunavalon Dryades (L2/0/↙, ↘) to her Link Monster Zone. She sets 1 card and ends her turn.
Turn 2: Serena Akaba
Serena draws. She sends Moonlight Black Sheep (2*/100/600) from her hand to the graveyard to add Polymerization from her Deck to her hand. She then Normal Summons Moonlight White Rabbit (2*/800/800), reviving Moonlight Black Sheep. With White Rabbit's effect, Serena returns Miharu's set card to her hand. She activates Polymerization, fusing Black Sheep on the field with Moonlight Purple Butterfly (3*/1000/1000) in her hand to Fusion Summon Moonlight Cat Dancer (7*/2400/2000) in Attack Position. With Black Sheep's effect, she adds Black Sheep back to her hand. With Cat Dancer's effect, she tributes Moonlight White Rabbit to give Cat Dancer two attacks on every monster Miharu controls. Since she cannot target Dryades for attacks, Cat Dancer can only attack directly once. Cat Dancer attacks Miharu directly. [MK: 4000 - 2400 = 1600LP] Serena sets 1 card and ends her turn.
Turn 3: Miharu Kogami
Miharu draws. She Normal Summons Aromage Jasmine (2*/100/1900) from her hand. She activates Sunvine Sowing. She takes 1000 damage to Special Summon Sunseed Genius Loci. Dryades's effect lets her gain LP equal to the damage she took. [MK: 1600 - 1000 + 1000 = 1600LP] Then, she Special Summons Sunvine Healer (L1/600/↑) from her Extra Deck to Dryades's bottom-left Link Markers. With Healer's effect, she gains 300LP x the Link Rating of Dryades. [MK: 1600 + 300 x 2 = 2200LP] Since she gained LP, Jasmine lets her draw 1 card. She banishes Sunseed Shadow from her GY to Special Summon another copy of Sunvine Healer from her Extra Deck to Dryades's other Link Marker, with its effects negated. She uses the Sunvine Healer with its effects negated and Sunavalon Dryades to Link Summon Sunavalon Dryanome (L3/0/↙, ↓, ↘) to her Extra Monster Zone. Using Aromage Jasmine and Sunvine Healer, she Link Summons Aromaseraphy Jasmine (L2/1800/↙, ↘) to the Main Monster Zone behind Dryanome. Miharu then sets 1 card and ends her turn.
Turn 4: Serena Akaba
Serena draws. She banishes Purple Butterfly from her graveyard to Special Summon Moonlight Blue Cat (4*/1600/1200) from her hand. She doubles Cat Dancer's ATK. (LCD: 2400 x 2 = 4800ATK) Cat Dancer tributes Blue Cat, letting Cat Dancer attack Miharu's monsters twice each. It attacks Aromaseraphy Jasmine, and Miharu activates Draining Shield, negating the attack and gaining LP equal to the ATK. [MK: 2200 + 4800 = 7000LP] Since she gained LP, Aromaseraphy Jasmine lets her add a Plant monster from his Deck to his hand. Cat Dancer attacks Aromaseraphy Jasmine again. Miharu negates the attack with Dryanome's effect and moves Jasmine to the leftmost Main Monster Zone. Serena ends her turn.
Turn 5: Miharu Kogami
Miharu draws. She Normal Summons Sunseed Genius Loci. She uses Loci to Link Summon Sunvine Thrasher (L1/800/↓) to the bottom Link Marker of Dryanome. Thrasher gains 800ATK x Dryanome's Link Rating. (ST: 800 + 800 x 3 = 3200ATK) Thrasher attacks and destroys Cat Dancer. [SA: 4000 - 800 = 3200LP] Serena activates the Trap Card, Moonlight Reincarnation Dance, allowing her to add two "Moonlight" monsters from her Deck to her hand. Aromaseraphy Jasmine attacks directly. [SA: 3200 - 1800 = 1400LP] Miharu ends her turn.
Turn 6: Serena Akaba
Serena draws. Serena Normal Summons Moonlight White Rabbit. Moonlight White Rabbit revives Cat Dancer. She activates the Spell Card, Fusion Substitute, fusing White Rabbit and Cat Dancer to Fusion Summon Moonlight Panther Dancer (8*/2800/2500) in Attack Position. With Fusion Substitute's effect, she banishes it and shuffles Cat Dancer into the Extra Deck to draw a card. She activates Moonlight Fusion, fusing Panther Dancer on the field with Moonlight Yellow Marten (4*/800/2000) in her hand and Moonlight Crimson Fox (4*/1800/600) in her Deck, Fusion Summoning Moonlight Lio Dancer (10*/3500/3000) in Attack Position. Crimson Fox changes Thrasher's ATK to 0. (ST: 3200 - 0ATK) Yellow Marten lets her add a "Moonlight" Spell/Trap from her Deck to her hand. Lio Dancer attacks Thrasher, and she is unaffected by card effects, so Dryanome cannot negate the attack. [MK: 7000 - 3500 = 3500LP] Dryanome heals Miharu and lets her Special Summon Sunvine Gardna (L1/600/↑) from her Extra Deck. [MK: 3500 + 3500 = 7000LP] Lio Dancer's effect destroys all monsters that she controls. Lio Dancer attacks her directly. [MK: 7000 - 3500 = 3500LP]
Turn 7: Miharu Kogami
Miharu draws. She Normal Summons Sunseed Twin (2*/0/800) from her hand. Sunseed Twin revives Sunseed Genius Loci. Using Sunseed Genius Loci, she Link Summons Sunvine Healer. Then, using Sunvine Healer and Sunseed Twin, she Link Summons Sunavalon Clytia (L2/0/↑, →) to her Link Monster Zone. Using Clytia's effect, she returns Dryanome to the Extra Deck to draw 1 card. Since her LP is higher than Serena's, she Special Summons Aromage Laurel (1*/800/0) from her hand. Using Laurel and Clytia, she Link Summons Sunavalon Dryanome. Laurel increases her LP by 500. [MK: 3500 + 500 = 4000LP] Miharu activates Pot of Avarice, shuffling three copies of Sunseed Genius Loci, one Aromage Laurel and one Aromage Jasmine into the Deck to draw 2 cards. She activates Sunvine Sowing, taking 1000 damage and Special Summoning Sunseed Genius Loci from her deck. Dryanome heals her by the damage she took, and Special Summons Sunvine Gardna from her Extra Deck. [MK: 4000 - 1000 + 1000 = 4000LP] Using Dryanome and Gardna, she Link Summons Sunavalon Dryatrentiay (L4/0/↙, ↑, ↓. ↘) to her Link Monster Zone. With Dryatrentiay, she adds a "Sunavalon" Spell/Trap from her Deck to her hand. She then uses Genius Loci to Link Summon Sunvine Thrasher. With its effect, it gains 800ATK x Dryatrentiay's Link Rating. (ST: 800 + 800 x 4 = 4000ATK) Sunvine Thrasher attacks and destroys Moonlight Lio Dancer. [SA: 1400 - 500 = 900LP] With Thrasher's effect, Miharu revives and takes control of Thrasher. Lio Dancer attacks Serena directly. [SA: 900 - 3500 = 0LP] Miharu wins!
OC Cards:
Sunavalon Clytia
(L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑, →)
2 Plant monsters, including a "Sunvine" Link Monster
This card cannot be targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. If you take battle or effect damage: You can target 1 monster on the field; its controller gains LP equal to its ATK. You can return 1 Plant monster from your GY to the Deck or Extra Deck; draw 1 card. You can only activate this effect of "Sunavalon Clytia" once per turn.
Different Card Effects From TCG:
Moonlight Panther Dancer - Anime effect.
Moonlight Lio Dancer - Anime effect.
Moonlight Black Sheep, Moonlight White Rabbit, etc - Effects modified and fused with TCG effects, as mentioned last chapter.
End Notes:
Originally, the outline didn't actually call for Serena to duel Miharu in this chapter. However, as I was watching through the episodes of the Maiami Championship and cross-checking the timeline of it with my outline, I realised that… uh… *tries to avoid spoilers* I don't have an actual duel between Serena and Miharu, which I thought was a shame, since one is an extremely aggressive duelist while the other is a very defensive duelist. So here we get that duel. And then, I had to figure out a proper reason for them to fight. So Hokuto is spared from his canon fate!
And yes, Serena doesn't get Kaleido Chick yet, because letting her spam Lio Dancer Round One is an awful idea. Technically Moonlight Fusion lets her do that, but we'll pretend that she prefers to go through the usual Fusion climbing instead of skipping to Lio Dancer, and saves Lio Dancer for the strongest opponents.
I'm just going to say it—Yuno is not the strongest Dragon Boy, but Miharu is the strongest Bracelet Girl right now. No comment on the future.
In this fandom, Serena tends to be portrayed as loud and refusing to accept anything that most OCs say to her, until the OC beats them in a duel. It's usually played for comedy, but I think that there's something interesting that can be done with that. Academia is a school that indoctrinates, after all. So Sora, Serena, Dennis and especially Yuri are going to take much more than 'friendship' to make them view things in any way other than what Academia has dictated. You can see the start of that here for Serena—I want her to learn to view things on her own, rather than through a lens that someone else provides for her. In Arc-V proper, she doesn't really get to do that, so… yeah!
Yes, Miharu finally has access to two of the most obvious Link Monsters I can give her. Only one of them showed up here—I will say that out of the three monsters mentioned here, one is Dryatrentiay, one is Benghalancer—and the last is an OC card that was originally going to debut here, but got pushed back because I thought it made more sense for Dryatrentiay to show up. :) That OC card is the third OC card I ever made in this story, after Yuno and Yuji's dragons, so I think that's fun. And yes, that means Yuno is about to get his Link 4s soon, though he's getting his one by one, because um, reasons. For LHOCIN's review, I'll argue that in terms of canon, Arc-V screwed over every female character, and they could've all been really great. One thing that I really wanted to do was to give Serena more interactions with her counterparts too—a lot of fics pair Serena off with an OC and don't develop her platonic relationships at all, and while I don't necessarily mind those fics, this fic does want to build up friendships as much as possible—I want the Lancers to actually feel like a group of friends. My hope is to develop platonic friendships between characters too.
That's the end, I think. Hope you all enjoy the chapter!