Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V: The Six Dimensions

by BlaiseCandell

Before the invasion of the Xyz Dimension, scans done by the Fusion Dimension reveal two more dimensions. The Ritual Dimension, and the Link Dimension. Within those two dimensions, Chiaki, Yuji, Miharu and Yuno have their lives turned upside down, and are tossed into a vicious war. Also, why are there five people with the same faces as them?

18. Chapter 18: Dual Sides, Same Coin

Starting Notes:

Welcome back! I'm sure we all already know what I'm planning to do in this chapter. So without further ado—let's get to the fun stuff!

I decided, due to some recent comments, to clear up the duel format again. The duel format is universal across all dimensions—it is not different in the Link Dimension compared to other dimensions. It mostly follows Master Rule 5, except for the changes made to Pendulum Monsters. Fusion, Xyz and Synchro monsters do not have to be Fusion, Xyz or Synchro Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone, though they can be, if the user chooses to make use of that Monster Zone. The reason why the Extra Monster Zone is called the 'Link Monster Zone' in this story is to reflect the fact that Link Monsters are the only monsters that are locked to the Extra Monster Zone, and require the Link Arrows of other Link Monsters to be summoned to the Main Monster Zones. Pendulum Monsters can be Pendulum Summoned to the Main Monster Zones or the Extra Monster Zone from face-up in the Extra Deck, allowing Pendulum decks to swarm without a Link Monster. Pendulum Zones are separate from the Spell/Trap Zones, only being in the same column as the opposing Pendulum Zones.

Link Monsters and Ritual Monsters do exist in the Standard Dimension, even before Yuno and Miharu show up. Link Monsters are simply weaker before that, since they are more complicated to create.

Alright, that should be it. Enjoy the chapter!

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Chapter 18: Dual Sides of the Same Coin

Yuzu tensed up, waiting for Yuri to say something. Surprisingly though, Yuri simply stared at her clothes for a moment, not saying anything. There was something confused to his expression.

Right. She was wearing Serena's clothes.

This was Serena's version of Yuya, huh? In that case… knowing what Yuto felt for Ruri, knowing what Yuno and Miharu clearly felt for each other, and knowing that Yuya was her best friend…

Yuzu didn't know if she actually wanted to fight Yuri. Usually, she would just jump into the duel, but something about him made her hesitate.

"Hey," she said, trying to be diplomatic. "Serena is trying to learn more about the war right now. If she ends up with us… will you come with us too?"

Yuri chuckled, clearly seeing her words as manipulative. "Nice try. No, Serena and I are not friends anymore. If she sides with you, that's a greater incentive for me to stay where I am." His smile was still oddly innocent. "Oi, you Obelisk Force members. Go and find our allies and take orders from them. The girl is mine to deal with."

The three teenagers in helmets left, and Yuzu glanced around, seeing if there was anyone else nearby. Yuri chuckled. "Ok. I'm assuming you're going to challenge me to a duel?"

"U-um, ok!" Yuzu clenched her fists, determined. "I won't let you get away with whatever you want to do!"

Crickets chirped.

"Uh, right. I forgot that one person here doesn't know what's going on." Yuri raised a hand, as though asking a question in class. "Yuzu Hiiragi-san. You are my target. I am here to bring you back to Academia."

What.

"Well, it seems that no one told you that." Yuri looked even more amused now. "Well, that does make things more interesting though…"

[ACTION DUEL!]

Yuri: 4000LP

Yuzu Hiiragi: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Yuzu] [H:5]

"I'll activate the Spell Card, 1st Movement Solo! I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Melodious" monster from my hand or deck! Come—Serena the Melodious Diva!" A woman dressed in bright and sunny colours, warm orange and red fabrics, stepped onto Yuzu's field, her warm pink hair curling around her face. A single pink wing with feathers resembling piano keys lifted her into the air.

[Serena the Melodious Diva (4*/400/1900/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]

"Oh, LIGHT Fairy monsters," Yuri said with a chuckle, as though he knew something that she didn't.

"Serena counts as two tributes for the Normal Summon of a "Melodious" monster!" Yuzu declared. "And when she's Special Summoned, she grants me a second Normal Summon this turn! I'll tribute her and summon Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra!" Her strongest monster, a conductor with pale skin, appeared, the fairy wearing an elaborate red and gold dress, while holding onto a baton in her hands. Butterfly-like wings flapped behind her.

[Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra (8*/2600/2000/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]

"Prodigy Mozart allows me to Special Summon a LIGHT Fairy monster from my hand!" Yuzu called. "Come, Tamtam the Melodious Diva!" A purple-haired idol appeared with a bell-like staff and a shield, both the staff and shield being bright red and gold. She was dressed in a mainly green outfit.

[Tamtam the Melodious Diva (4*/1000/2000/LIGHT/Fairy/Effect)]

"Since Tamtam was Special Summoned, I can add the Spell Card, Polymerization, from my deck to my hand!"

"Oh?" Yuri clapped his hands together. "How fitting that you also know our noble summoning method."

Yuzu bit her lip. "I'll activate Polymerization, and fuse Tamtam on the field with Solo the Melodious Songstress in my hand!"

The summoning method is not wrong. Fusion can be used for good things, too…

"Noble resonance! Cheerful heartbeat! By the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now debut on stage! Sing the song of victory! Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint!" The beautiful pastel-themed fairy appeared, floating next to Prodigy Mozart, singing loudly as she was surrounded with bright, glowing light.

[Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint (6*/1000/2000/LIGHT/Fairy/Fusion/Effect)]

"I'll activate Tamtam's effect! I'll lower Bloom Diva's attack points by 500 and inflict 500 damage to you! Echoing Gong!" The transparent spirit of Tamtam appeared behind Bloom Diva, some of the light around Bloom Diva flying up and turning into a ball that Tamtam hit straight towards Yuri.

[Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint: 1000 - 500 = 500ATK]

Yuri: 4000 - 500 = 3500LP

"I'll end my turn!"

"Interesting," Yuri said. "A Fusion Summon and Tribute Summon in the first turn, huh? A very standard way of dueling."

He smirked.

"I don't think I like standard opponents too much. You're going to have to pay for that."

[Turn 2: Yuri] [H:6]

"Draw," Yuri said. "Let's see now… Spell Card, Predaplast. By revealing two "Predap" cards in my hand, I will place a Predator Counter on two monsters on the field." Two large seeds shot across the field, falling onto Prodigy Mozart and Bloom Diva.

[Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra: Predator Counter(s): 1]

[Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint: Predator Counter(s): 1]

"Now, I've learned from my mistakes. A weak monster on the field is most certainly a monster with a dangerous effect." He smirked. "I'll Normal Summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio. And with its effect, I'll send a monster from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my deck. So let's greet Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!"

A small scorpion made of bark appeared, while next to it, a snake made of a green vine with a purple flower as its tail appeared.

[Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio (3*/1200/800/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

[Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"Darlingtonia Cobra's effect. I can add a "Polymerization" or "Fusion" card from my deck to my hand." Yuri revealed the card in his hand. "Spell Card, Polymerization. I'll fuse Darlingtonia Cobra and Ophrys Scorpio. Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and form the ancient creature slumbering beneath nature's bounty! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 5! Ancient cetacean—Predaplant Ambulomelides!"

A green crocodile-like creature covered in spores and leaves appeared in front of Yuri with a loud roar.

[Predaplant Ambulomelides (5*/1000/2500/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]

"Ambulomelides's effect. When Fusion Summoned, I can add a "Predap" Spell or Trap, or a "Predaplant" monster from my deck to my hand." Yuri snatched up the card from his deck, still smirking widely. There was something not quite right to his expression. "And then, by tributing a monster I control, or a monster my opponent controls with a Predator Counter, I can Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my deck! I will tribute Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra!" The fairy dissolved into dark seeds, eaten from the inside. "Predator Farming!"

The seeds sprinkled onto the ground.

"So appear now—Predaplant Chlamydosundew!"

Slightly unnerved, Yuzu watched as a bright green lizard with a frilly neck appeared, orange spores floating all around it as it let out a hiss.

[Predaplant Chlamydosundew (2*/600/200/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"And Chlamydosundew can perform a Fusion Summon using itself and monsters in my hand, field, or that my opponent controls with a Predator Counter!" Yuri said. He grinned, his teeth showing. "So I'll fuse my Predaplant Chlamydosundew with Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint!"

He was stealing her monster?

… no…

"Wanting to use Fusion Monsters against me?" Yuri smirked. "Let me show you why that's a mistake. This monster can be Fusion Summoned using a DARK monster and a Fusion Monster. Beautiful dark flowers, form a new creature who could never bend to the will of another! Wipe out all those that would threaten my will! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Predaplant Dragostapelia!"

A large plant dragon appeared, flowers around it blooming as it let out a fearsome roar. Its claws dug straight into the ice, and its roar echoed across the icebergs.

[Predaplant Dragostapelia (8*/2700/1900/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]

"Ambulomelides is in Defense Position, so I'll hope that you don't waste this opportunity," Yuri said with a smirk. "Dragostapelia attacks you directly! Toxin Spray!" Poison shot out everywhere as Yuzu screamed. By sheer reflex, she seized an Action Card, pressing it to her duel disk and praying for good luck. It seemed that she got it.

"Action Card, Freeze Ray!" She shouted. "Your monster cannot declare an attack this turn!" A sheet of ice covered Dragostapelia, stopping it from moving forward.

"Oh?" Yuri grabbed an Action Card from the ground. "So these cards have a use? And here I thought they were just trash." He grinned, revealing two cards from his pocket. "Trash like these two, of course."

Yuzu froze. The two cards that he was holding onto had Halil and Olga's faces on them.

What on earth…

"They got in my way. Of course, I fought back tooth and nail." Yuri hummed. "Tooth and nail isn't quite accurate. I basically used the strength of a single tooth to defeat both of them. Standard duelists are truly so… boring." He tilted his head, biting his lip, before he grinned. "How about we add some more stakes to this duel? If you don't make this interesting—I'll tear these two cards to pieces."

Yuzu's face went pale.

"The Xyz remnants and the rebellion back in the Outer Islands of my dimension seem to think that people can be uncarded," Yuri continued. "I'd assume that they can—the Professor is relentlessly paranoid about his tools being used against him, so he'd want some back-up. However, if a card is torn up, I don't think that person will ever return to this world again."

"That's murder," Yuzu breathed out. She didn't know what she was feeling right now. Fear? Sorrow?

… no.

What she was feeling the most right now, beyond any other emotion, was anger.

"How can you care so little about the lives of others?" Yuzu said loudly. She drew the top card of her deck, still furious. She could tell how strong this boy was, but even so…

How could she stand back and let him kill someone?

"I won't make things interesting for your sake! I'll just defeat you!"

"Then do what you can!" Yuri laughed mockingly. "I'll set a card and end my turn!"

[Turn 3: Yuzu] [H:2]

Mozarta and Bloom Diva were both in the graveyard—her two strongest monsters removed from the field on her opponent's first turn. Yuzu bit her lip. She glanced at the card that she drew. "Spell Card, Ostinato! Since I control no monsters, I can Fusion Summon a "Melodious" Fusion Monster using two monsters from my hand or deck!"

"Oh, that's an interesting move!" Yuri crowed.

"I'll fuse Laureate François the Melodious Maestra and Aria the Melodious Diva in my deck!" The two monsters turned into bright streaks of light. "The graceful requiem's melody drifts through the world! Now, play the dirge of the darkest days! Fusion Summon! Meisterin Brahms the Melodious Lament Saint!" She Fusion Summoned another one of her monsters—a woman dressed in black veils, with a grey and white maid dress. She was holding onto a flute in her hands, and she twirled around on Yuzu's field.

[Meisterin Brahms the Melodious Lament Saint (8*/2500/2300/LIGHT/Fairy/Fusion/Effect)]

"I will activate Brahms' effect! I can inflict 500 damage to you for each of its Fusion Materials! Lovely Lament!" Brahms sang loudly, a few slightly off-tune notes.

"I will activate Dragostapelia's effect. I'll target your—"

"Since you control a Special Summoned monster, Brahms cannot be targeted by card effects!" Brahms' effect continued, and blasted Yuri back.

Yuri: 3500 - 500 x 2 = 2500LP

"Brahms gains 300 attack points for each "Melodious" monster on the field!" Brahms glowed brightly.

[Meisterin Brahms the Melodious Lament Saint: 2500 + 300 = 2800ATK]

"Attack Dragostapelia!" Brahms dashed forward, flute in hand.

Yuri smirked. "Oh, no, what will I do?" He revealed a card in his hand. "If you'll bring external aid in, Yuzu Hiiragi, then I suppose I'll lower myself to your level. Action Card, High Dive! Dragostapelia gains 1000 attack points!" The dragon-like plant roared, its attack points shooting up.

[Predaplant Dragostapelia: 2700 + 1000 = 3700ATK]

Yuzu dashed across the ice, grabbing an Action Card. "Action Spell, Energy Biscuits!" She called. "I increase my life points by 500!"

Yuzu: 4000 + 500 = 4500LP

Dragostapelia struck back, crushing Meisterin Brahms immediately.

Yuzu: 4500 - 900 = 3600LP

"When Meisterin Brahms is sent to the graveyard, I can revive a "Melodious" monster, other than Meisterin Brahms herself!" Yuzu called, despite the flicker of fear in her heart. She searched around for another Action Card. "Revival Melody! Come back—Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint!" The beautiful, pastel singer reappeared on her field.

[Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint (6*/1000/2000/LIGHT/Fairy/Fusion/Effect)]

"Bloom Diva attacks Dragostapelia!" She could use Bloom Diva's effect—

"I will activate Dragostapelia's effect to place a Predator Counter on your monster! Emptied Husk!"

"I will activate the Action Spell, Invisibility!" Yuzu called desperately. She didn't know why Yuri was doing that, but if he wanted to do it, she just had to stop him. "Bloom Diva is unaffected by card effects this turn and cannot be targeted for card effects!"

Yuri chuckled. He didn't make a move to stop her.

"I will activate the effect of Bloom Diva! If she battles a Special Summoned monster, I can negate her destruction, destroy the monster she battled, and my opponent takes any battle damage that I would have taken. Reflect Shout!" A large soundwave emerged, ripping Dragostapelia to shreds and hitting Yuri with a large amount of damage—enough damage to defeat him—

But really, Yuri just looked at her, a bored look on his face. Then, his set card flipped over. "To think that I'd have to soil my cards with an opponent as pathetically weak as you, Yuzu Hiiragi," he said, his voice far too cruel. And it sounded so much like Yuya's—except that Yuya would never speak to Yuzu like that. "Ruri Kurosaki, Chiaki Katsuya, and even Serena, back then… they were full of such fire. They knew what they were about, and they didn't hesitate to duel in the way that they wanted—and so they were strong. But what about you? Your dueling is entirely borrowed from others! No part of it is your own—no part of this is unmistakably the dueling of Yuzu Hiiragi!"

Yuzu flinched.

"You're a disappointment," Yuri continued. "Weaker than anyone who shares your face! Quickplay Spell, Predaprime Fusion! I will fuse Dragostapelia and Ambulomelides on the field." The two monsters dissolved into dark streaks that flew up into the sky. "Bloom, parasitic dark flower! With the rolling of your carrion-like petals, let the force of your scent overpower the world! Fusion Summon! Level 7! Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"

A bright pink flower bloomed on his field, letting off a rotting scent. It was far too realistic.

[Predaplant Chimerafflesia (7*/2500/2000/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]

He had Fusion Summoned, so that he could reduce the amount of damage that he was taking…

"Bloom Diva!" Her monster dashed towards the new flower. Yuzu tried to hide how shaken she felt by Yuri's words. "Reflect Shout!"

Yuri's life points fell, and his monster was destroyed. He didn't seem to care.

Yuri: 2500 - 1500 = 1000LP

"I will end my turn," Yuzu said. She bit her lip.

[Turn 4: Yuri] [H:4]

Yuri drew a card. "During my Standby Phase, Chimerafflesia lets me add Polymerization from my deck to my hand," he drawled. "With Cordyceps's effect, I can Special Summon two Level 4 or lower "Predaplant" monsters from my graveyard. Return, Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio and Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!" The two monsters reappeared on his field. "I will use Darlingtonia Cobra's effect to add a "Fusion" or "Polymerization" card from my deck to my hand. And then, I will send a monster from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my deck. So come—Predaplant Moray Nepenthes!"

A green sapling with red-tipped leaves appeared, buds and leaves opening up like mouths. The roots of the plant floated all around it wildly, whipping against the ground.

[Predaplant Moray Nepenthes (4*/1600/1000/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"I will then activate the Spell Card, Polymerization," Yuri said. "I will fuse Ophrys Scorpio and Darlingtonia Cobra. Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and from the hell beneath your petals, give birth to a new terror! Fusion Summon! Appear! Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs. Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"

A large violet and green dragon appeared. Yuzu shrieked—it was a horrifying dragon, one that made her shiver. It carried the same feeling of malice as its owner.

[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (8*/2800/2000/DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]

"We're not done, Yuzu Hiiragi," Yuri said. "When Starving Venom is Fusion Summoned using only monsters on the field, it gains attack points equal to the total attack points of every Special Summoned monster my opponent controls. Hungry Fang!" Starving Venom howled, its attack points increasing.

[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon: 2800 + 1000 = 3800ATK]

"And then, Starving Venom can negate the effect of one of your Level 5 or higher monsters and steal it for itself," Yuri said with a smirk. "Predator's Mimicry!" Bloom Diva let out a pained screech as an orb of light shot out of her. Starving Venom leaned forward, eating the light. "So now you can't negate my attacks."

Yuzu frantically searched for an Action Card again.

"Moray Nepenthes will attack your monster."

Yuzu picked up an Action Card, freezing in shock.

Acceleration.

She couldn't use this.

Why?

Bloom Diva was destroyed by the sapling.

Yuzu: 3600 - 800 = 2800LP

Why was she so helpless?

"Moray Nepenthes equips Bloom Diva to itself," Yuri continued. "Starving Venom! Toxic Spore!"

The dragon attacked her, and Yuzu was flung back.

Yuzu: 2800 - 3800 = 0LP

Winner: Yuri!

Yuzu defiantly punched the ground, despite how scared she was. For a moment, she heard a voice, and it seemed to come from Starving Venom.

"It's no mistake… it seems you've dared to stand in front of us once again."

The voice faded in an instant.

Yuri stepped closer towards her.

Then—

Yuri looked up. "Are you not going to show up, even now?" He asked, and his cruel, mocking eyes seemed to have taken on a spark—a certain sense of enthusiasm that hadn't been present when he had been dueling Yuzu. "I've heard so much about you, but this level of calculative coldness is a little surprising."

"Who are you talking to?" Yuzu questioned, and Yuri laughed condescendingly.

"Oh? I guess your senses aren't tempered like ours, Yuzu Hiiragi—not for battle, at least." Yuri faced towards the top of the nearby iceberg. "You were very well hidden, but I figured out you were there the moment I started insulting her. Well?"

From behind the iceberg, Miharu Kogami showed herself, her blonde hair as impeccable as usual, despite still not being tied up properly. Her footsteps were quiet—she carried herself with a sense of grace, even as her eyes never left Yuri's figure, narrowed slightly in suspicion.

Yuri grinned, nodding his head. "Miharu Kogami, I suppose," he said. "I've seen the records. You should be the most fun opponent I've had in the last while. Plus, you have good taste in monsters." He tapped his cheek. "I rarely meet others who understand just how beautiful plants are. I would say it's a shame that we have to fight, but I also love fighting those who are right!"

"... records?" Miharu said, narrowing her eyes. Out of Yuri's entire monologue, that was the only part that she had acknowledged. Yuri grinned, acknowledging her question—after all, that was the only part of Yuri's words that had actually carried any deeper meaning. His teacher had been right, it seemed. From the records that the Link Dimension had of her, Miharu Kogami was perhaps one of the most perceptive—and dangerous—duelists of that dimension.

Nothing like the Standard duelists that could barely lift a finger for themselves.

Ah, maybe he would finally be able to recover from that letdown of a duel he just had.

"Ah, yes, I suppose you wouldn't know." Yuri grinned tauntingly. "You wouldn't know what has happened to the Link Dimension in your absence. Protector of VRAINS, Dazzling Spring." He tilted his head. "After all, when you left, it was only the start of everything. The brokering of an alliance between the Fusion Dimension and the Link Dimension."

"Nothing has happened to my homeland," Miharu said, sounding completely calm. There wasn't a trace of doubt in her posture or voice. "My family would never allow it."

"Are you sure?" Yuri's voice was rather nonchalant. "I've heard that there's a little backroom deal between Academia and the leaders of your home. Isn't that what drove you here in the first place? Unwanted, unhappy, unable to find a place to belong?"

"I know where I belong." Miharu didn't let him shake her. "I will not hesitate. I will go home. If you'll stand in my way, I'll simply push you aside."

"What a statement." Yuri shrugged. "So, Yuzu Hiiragi is your friend. And yet you treated her so callously—not stepping in, so that you could use her to get a peek at my deck first."

Miharu didn't even flinch. "And if I did?"

"Oh, then I'd call you cold." Yuri grinned. "If it didn't mean that we were going to have a fun duel."

Miharu raised her duel disk.

"Let's avoid using Standard's cheats," Yuri offered. "A smart girl like you probably shares my distaste for them, don't you?"

Yuzu frowned. Yuno had seemed to like Action Cards, though—

"Yes." Miharu closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm dueling you because I will not allow myself to stand still and be taken by Academia without a fight. Not to entertain you."

"... oh, you have Chiaki's defiance, even if you don't have her fire," Yuri said. "Let's do this then—I hope you're more fun than they were."

[ACTION DUEL!]

Yuri: 4000LP

Miharu Kogami: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Miharu] [H:5]

Both Yuri and Miharu swiped up the top five cards of their deck.

"I'll Normal Summon Lonefire Blossom," Miharu said after a moment, the fire-themed sapling releasing some embers as it appeared on the field in front of her. Yuri grinned in delight.

[Lonefire Blossom (3*/500/1400/FIRE/Plant/Effect)]

"I will use the effect of Lonefire Blossom. I will tribute it to Special Summon Evil Thorn from my deck." A dark sapling appeared, one side of it being a dark fruit coated in shiny, dripping poison, and the other side being a dainty pink flower.

[Evil Thorn (1*/100/300/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"I will tribute Evil Thorn and inflict three damage to you with its effect." The sapling turned into a bunch of dark seeds that pelted Yuri immediately.

Yuri: 4000 - 300 = 3700LP

"And then, I will Special Summon two more copies of Evil Thorn from the deck." The two black saplings appeared, sitting in front of Miharu. "And now, since my life points are higher than yours, I can Special Summon Aromage Laurel from my hand." A blond boy in a green set of mage's robes appeared, holding onto a candle in his hands.

[Aromage Laurel (1*/800/0/WIND/Plant/Effect)]

"And now, I will manifest the circuit that sows the seeds to the future. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters! I will set Aromage Laurel and one of the Evil Thorns in the Link Markers. Healer with the capacity for love, appear now as my blade! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Aromaseraphy Jasmine!"

The evolved form of Jasmine appeared, floating in front of her on fairy-like wings.

[Aromaseraphy Jasmine (L2/1800/LIGHT/Plant/Link/Effect/↙,↘)]

"Since Aromage Laurel was sent to the graveyard, I can gain 500 life points," Miharu explained. A small glow surrounded her.

Miharu: 4000 + 500 = 4500LP

"And since I gained life points, Aromaseraphy Jasmine allows me to add a Plant monster from my deck to my hand." Miharu gestured forward. "Jasmine's effect. I can tribute a Plant monster she points to, and Special Summon a Plant monster from my deck in Defense Position. I will tribute Evil Thorn—come, Aromage Jasmine!" The younger version of Jasmine appeared.

[Aromage Jasmine (2*/100/1900/LIGHT/Plant/Effect)]

"When my life points are higher than yours, Jasmine grants me an additional Normal Summon of a Plant monster," Miharu said. "Appear—Sunseed Genius Loci." She Normal Summoned the monster that she had just searched out with Jasmine's effect. The keystone of her deck appeared.

Amusingly, that was the only way that Miharu could have searched out Sunseed Genius Loci—all of that. She hadn't drawn most of the Spells that she used to bring Loci out. Technically she could have simply Normal Summoned Lonefire and tributed it to bring out Loci, before Link Summoning Dryas, but…

Clearly, from Yuri's confidence during the duel with Yuzu, he had a way of negating monster effects. In fact, so many of his cards didn't necessarily destroy hers—they negated or tributed monsters from the field. So leaving just Dryas on the field would open her up to his attacks, if he negated Dryas's effect. It would just cause her to lose.

So she had to play this far more carefully.

[Sunseed Genius Loci (1*/0/600/EARTH/Plant)]

"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."

Dryas appeared in the leftmost Main Monster Zone, pointed to by Jasmine.

[Sunavalon Dryas (L1/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

Since Dryas's effect only activated in the Extra Monster Zone, she couldn't search out a card, but that was fine. "Then, I will open my circuit again. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters, including a "Sunavalon" Link Monster. I will set Aromage Jasmine 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."

The tree became bigger, leaves flourishing and bright green.

[Sunavalon Dryades (L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]

"That's one of your healing trees," Yuri said amusedly. "The opposite of Serena's playstyle…"

"I'm not done," Miharu said. She might as well use as much of her strength as possible now—against an opponent like this, holding back would only lead to her own doom. "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 2 Aromaseraphy Jasmine and the Link 2 Sunavalon Dryades in the Link Markers! Bloom, springtime's loveliest tree, the loveliest memory with the traces of malice! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 4! Lovely flowers scattered in the wind—Sunavalon Dryatrentiay!"

The beautiful cherry blossom tree reappeared on her field—the same monster that she had unlocked in her duel against Serena. Yuri stared at her in shock.

[Sunavalon Dryatrentiay (L4/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↑, ↓. ↘)]

"I'll use Dryatrentiay's effect," Miharu continued. "I'll add a "Sunavalon" Spell or Trap to my hand. I'll set two cards facedown."

Yuri didn't move for a moment. "There are no records of you ever having a Link 4 monster," he said. "... interesting. This is exactly what I wanted to see, Miharu Kogami!"

He drew the top card of his deck.

"Surprise me!"

[Turn 2: Yuri] [H:6]

Yuri immediately placed down a card. "I'll Normal Summon Predaplant Flytrap." A small green flytrap appeared in front of him, vines spreading out everywhere.

[Predaplant Flytrap (2*/400/800/DARK/Plant/Effect)

Miharu flipped up one of her set cards, not giving Yuri the chance to use any other effects. "Quickplay Spell, Forbidden Dress. I'll lower Dryatrentiay's attack points by 600 until the End Phase, but it cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects."

Yuri chuckled. "Ah, so you do know your own weaknesses! And Dryatrentiay starts out with 0 attack points, so you pay no cost."

"The one who taught me what my weaknesses were…" Miharu made direct eye contact with Yuri. "He's so far above you that you wouldn't even be able to reach his feet."

"... I would get offended," Yuri said, baring his teeth for a split second before he returned to that cheerful smile of his. "But something tells me you truly believe it. I suppose the way that you view your brother, Ryoken Kogami, is similar to the way that I view my own teacher then." He smirked. "I will activate the Spell Card, Predapractice. I can Special Summon a "Predaplant" monster from my hand, and add a "Predap" card from my deck to my hand. So come—Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!" The vine-like snake appeared in front of him.

[Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"However, until the End Phase of the turn that I activated Predapractice, I cannot summon monsters from the Extra Deck, except Fusion Monsters." Yuri smirked. "Darlingtonia Cobra's effect. I will add Polymerization from my deck to my hand. Then, I'll activate it, fusing Flytrap and Darlingtonia Cobra! Bloom, parasitic dark flower! With the rolling of your carrion-like petals, let the force of your scent overpower the world! Fusion Summon! Level 7! Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"

Yuzu shivered from behind Miharu as the pink-red flower appeared.

[Predaplant Chimerafflesia (7*/2500/2000/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]

"Don't be afraid," Miharu said, although she wasn't looking at Yuzu. "I'm here. And while I'm here, I won't let you get hurt."

"Then why did you not step in before she lost?"

"I was confident that you knew where I was," Miharu said. "And you're a practical person. You would not have left, if you knew I was here too."

"... hah! As if I've ever been practical." Yuri shook his head. "Your monster carries the same protection effect, I assume? It can't be attacked?"

"And it does not prevent you from attacking me directly."

"Indeed." Yuri chuckled. "Well, attack her directly, Chimerafflesia."

Miharu didn't try to defend herself, taking the damage head-on.

Miharu: 4500 - 2500 = 2000LP

"Since I took battle damage," Miharu said, "I will activate the Continuous Trap, Sunavalon Glorious Growth. I will Special Summon a "Sunvine Token", and then Link Summon a "Sunavalon" Link Monster using the monsters I control." The small plant that appeared in front of her dissolved into light.

"Link Summoning on my turn?" Yuri said, before his grin grew. "Yes, yes, that's absolutely what I wanted to see!"

"Manifest, circuit that sows the seeds to the future," Miharu murmured. "Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Plant Normal Monster. I will set the Sunvine Token in the Link Markers. Sweet-smelling calm adored by death. Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1—lover of death, Sunavalon Minthe!"

Another feminine-looking monster appeared, slender, with arms that were a large leaf each, white veins running along the leaves. She was wearing a crown carved from bones, and there was something imperial to her golden eyes.

[Sunavalon Minthe (L1/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

"Minthe's effect. When she's Link Summoned, I gain 300 life points for every Plant monster on the field. Shrouded Lament!" A bright green glow surrounded Miharu.

Miharu: 2000 + 300 x 3 = 2900LP

"Then, Sunavalon Glorious Growth's effect finishes. I gain life points equal to the damage I took."

Miharu: 2900 + 2500 = 5400LP

"Then," Miharu said, narrowing her eyes, "Sunavalon Glorious Growth's other effect activates. When I gain life points—you take damage equal to the life points I gained."

Yuri's eyes widened.

"That effect triggered individually for Minthe and Glorious Growth's own effects," Miharu continued. "I will inflict 2500 and 900 damage to you individually—3400 damage in total!"

"Yes, Miharu!" Yuzu cheered.

Miharu, however, wasn't too optimistic yet. As it turned out, she was right to be cautious. Yuri revealed a card in his hand. "I will activate the effect of Predaplant Floribunda Caterpillar. I will Special Summon it from my hand since you activated an effect that would inflict effect damage to me." A large, curled up caterpillar appeared, its body looking like a coiled green vine, with two purple feelers that blossomed into bright purple flowers.

[Predaplant Floribunda Caterpillar (6*/2300/2000/DARK/Plant/Tuner/Effect)]

"And this turn, any damage that I would take instead heals my life points!" Yuri raised his hands with glee, a purple glow surrounding him. "So it looks like this duel between us will be going on quite a bit longer!"

Yuri: 3700 + 900 + 2500 = 7100LP

"... tch."

Yuri grinned. "Still though, that's very interesting! I'll activate the Spell Card, Predaprime Fusion! And I'll fuse Chimerafflesia and Floribunda Caterpillar. Beautiful dark flowers, form a new creature who could never bend to the will of another! Wipe out all those that would threaten my will! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Predaplant Dragostapelia!"

The threatening plant dragon appeared in front of Yuri.

[Predaplant Dragostapelia (8*/2700/1900/DARK/Plant/Fusion/Effect)]

"I'll use Floribunda Caterpillar's effect. Since it was used as Fusion Material, I can add a "Predap" card to my hand, but I can't activate it this turn. I'll set a card facedown. Over to you."

[Turn 3: Miharu] [H:3]

"Draw." Miharu glanced at her graveyard. Forbidden Dress was a one-time protection—she had just wanted to gauge Yuri's capabilities.

"I will activate Chimerafflesia's effect," Yuri said. "I'll add Polymerization from my deck to my hand, since it's the Standby Phase after it was sent to the graveyard."

So he would probably be able to Fusion Summon a stronger monster next turn, based on what Miharu had heard about Academia. Monsters that grew stronger and stronger through repeated Fusion Summons… Serena had followed that pattern too.

She had to defeat Dragostapelia first. She had no clue about its capabilities from Yuri's duel with Yuzu—only that its effect targeted a monster, and that for some reason, Yuri was hellbent about having it on the field while there were Predator Counters on the field.

"I will activate the Spell Card, Pot of Prosperity. All battle damage you take this turn is halved. I will banish six cards from my Extra Deck facedown randomly and draw two cards." And since there was no Extra Deck limit, there was a low chance that she would have banished anything that was actually useful to her. "Then, I'll use the effect of Sunavalon Dryatrentiay," Miharu said after a moment. "By tributing a Link Monster she points to, I can destroy cards on the field, up to the Link Rating of that monster. I will simply tribute Minthe and destroy Predaplant Dragostapelia. Dazzling Spring Blossoms!" The green monster dissolved into green leaves, before the leaves morphed into a storm of pink flower petals that flew straight towards Dragostapelia.

"I will activate the effect of Predaplant Dragostapelia! I will place a Predator Counter on your monster! Emptied Husk!" Poison shot out towards Dryatrentiay.

"Since you targeted a Plant Link Monster I control with a card effect," Miharu responded, "I can Special Summon Sunvine Maiden from my hand." The purple-haired girl with wide blue eyes appeared. "And that effect is negated."

[Sunvine Maiden (1*/0/0/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"And thus, Dryatrentiay's effect resolves." The petals scattered across the field, reducing Dragostapelia to dust immediately.

"Very, very smart," Yuri said with a chuckle. "You didn't use that last turn, because that effect is far more versatile than Forbidden Dress, and can protect more than just one monster."

"I will activate the Continuous Spell, Sunvine Shrine," Miharu continued. "I will send a monster from my hand to the graveyard for its activation. And then, once per turn, I can revive a Level 4 or lower Plant Normal Monster from my graveyard. Return—Sunseed Genius Loci!" The small chalice-like monster appeared next to Sunvine Maiden, both monsters right behind Dryatrentiay.

I will have to carefully set up my monsters.

"Manifest again, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Plant Normal Monster. I'll set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine. Protector of the sacred sunbathed tree. Link Summon. Link 1. Sunvine Thrasher." The green knight reappeared, slashing a sword through the air.

[Sunvine Thrasher (L1/800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

"Thrasher gains 800 attack points times the Link Rating of a "Sunavalon" Link Monster I control," Miharu said. "I will choose Dryatrentiay."

[Sunvine Thrasher: 800 + 800 x 4 = 4000ATK]

"Thrasher will attack you directly."

"Interesting!" Yuri chuckled. He flipped over his set card. "Trap Card, Predaplant Ashes! I can revive a "Predaplant" monster, but it cannot declare an attack this turn. Then, this turn, all monsters on the field are treated as their original attack points! Return to my field, Predaplant Dragostapelia!" The large plant dragon reappeared, while Thrasher was weakened severely by the Trap.

[Sunvine Thrasher: 4000 → 800ATK]

"... I will pause Thrasher's attack," Miharu said. "Main Phase 2. I will manifest the circuit that leads us to the future. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters, including a "Sunvine" Link Monster. I will set Sunvine Thrasher and Sunvine Maiden in the Link Markers. Beautiful purple flower that longs for the sun. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 2, Sunavalon Clytia!"

The purple flower woman reappeared.

[Sunavalon Clytia (L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑, →)]

"Clytia's effect. I will return Sunavalon Dryas to the Extra Deck from my graveyard, and I'll draw a card." She picked up the card. "Furthermore, I will activate the Spell Card, Pot of Avarice. By shuffling Aromage Jasmine, Aromage Laurel and the three Evil Thorns from my graveyard into the deck, I will draw another two cards."

She glanced at the cards.

I guess I'm just very lucky this time.

"I will set another two cards facedown. Over to you."

"Leaving yourself open once again?" Yuri chuckled. "Interesting strategy—let's see what they can do!"

[Turn 4: Yuri] [H:4]

"Draw," Yuri said, still grinning. "Well, this is already shaping up to be quite fun! But this deck of yours will still shatter beneath his fangs. I'll Normal Summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio!" The scorpion monster appeared, bark-like pincers clicking together a few times.

[Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio (3*/1200/800/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"And with Ophrys Scorpio's effect, I will send a monster from my hand to the graveyard, and Special Summon Predaplant Spinodionaea!" A larger flytrap appeared on his field.

[Predaplant Spinodionaea (4*/1800/0/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"I will use Predaplant Byblisp's effect to add a "Predaplant" monster from my deck to my hand, since it was sent to the graveyard. And I'll use Predaplant Spinodionaea's effect to place a Predator Counter on Sunavalon Dryatrentiay."

Miharu revealed another copy of Sunvine Maiden in her hand, protecting Dryatrentiay again as the purple-haired girl appeared at Dryatrentiay's bottom-left Link Marker, in Miharu's leftmost Main Monster Zone.

Yuri clicked his tongue for a moment in annoyance. "Fair enough," he said. "I will activate the Spell Card, Polymerization! And I will fuse Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio and Predaplant Spinodionaea!"

A terrible feeling washed over Miharu all of a sudden.

It was the same feeling as earlier, when Yuri had Fusion Summoned that card—

"Two beautiful flowers with an insect-alluring fragrance! Now become one, and from the hell beneath your petals, give birth to a new terror! Fusion Summon! Appear! Poisonous dragon with hungry fangs. Level 8! Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!"

The same dragon as before appeared. Miharu tensed up.

[Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (8*/2800/2000/DARK/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]

"There's no point in activating Hungry Fang, considering that none of your monsters have attack points—" Yuri stopped talking for a moment. "... is that why you used Thrasher as Link Material? Because you knew about Starving Venom's effect?"

Miharu didn't reply, but her silence was enough of an answer.

"I will activate the Spell Card, Predapining. I will grant a monster on the field a Level equal to a DARK monster I control, namely Starving Venom's. Naturally, I will choose Dryatrentiay."

[Sunavalon Dryatrentiay: 8*]

Granting her monster a Level...

That was for Starving Venom's other effect then.

"I'll now use Starving Venom's other effect. I can negate the effect of a Level 5 or higher monster on the field and copy it. I will negate the effects of Sunavalon Dryatrentiay and copy them—not because Starving Venom can use them, but because they're very troublesome! Predator's Mimicry!" Her monster was surrounded by vines that absorbed its strength.

Yuri winked, still as arrogant as ever.

"I will use Dragostapelia's effect. I will place a Predator Counter on Sunavalon Clytia. Emptied Husk!"

[Sunavalon Clytia: Predator Counter(s): 1]

"And thus, whatever effects that monster has are negated as well." Yuri clapped his hands together. "Alright. It's time for us to feast, Starving Venom. Attack her largest tree first! And since your monster has its effects negated, it can be targeted for attacks! Toxic Spore!"

The dragon lunged at Dryatrentiay, and then, the tree was torn to shreds. Miharu braced herself as she was hit with another wave of damage.

Miharu: 5400 - 2800 = 2600LP

"Miharu!" Yuzu cried out in dismay and worry.

"Since a "Sunavalon" monster I control was destroyed," Miharu said, waving out a hand to get Yuzu to back away, "Sunavalon Glorious Growth destroys itself." The Continuous Trap exploded into shards of light.

"Oh, score then. I don't have to deal with that healing and burning effect anymore." Yuri smirked. "Dragostapelia attacks Sunvine Maiden. After all, Sunavalon Clytia may have its activated effects negated by Dragostapelia, but Dragostapelia does not negate continuous effects. However, you summoned Sunvine Maiden in Attack Position for some reason. In other words, I believe this is checkmate, Kogami-san." He said the honorific in a rather mocking tone. The plant dashed forward—

"Trap Card, Sunbloom Doom," Miharu said. "I can only activate this card if I control a "Sunavalon" monster. Then, I gain life points equal to the total attack points of every monster on the field with the same Type as that monster."

Yuri blinked in surprise.

"I choose Sunavalon Clytia," Miharu said. "I may not control any monsters with attack points, but you do. I will gain life points equal to the total attack points of all Plant monsters on the field—namely, the attack points of Predaplant Dragostapelia!"

Her life points shot up just as Dragostapelia's attack landed, narrowly saving her from defeat, even as Sunvine Maiden was destroyed.

Miharu: 2600 + 2700 - 2700 = 2600LP

"You're so calm," Yuri said, shaking his head. "What if I had chosen to destroy your set card? Why did you even Special Summon that monster in Attack Position in the first place?"

"For my set card, if you could have destroyed it, you would have," Miharu replied. "And it was for this. Trap Card, Shock Draw." She revealed her other set card. "I will draw a card for every 1000 damage I took this turn. You inflicted 5500 damage to me. I will draw five cards." She swiped up the top five cards of her deck. "And since a Plant monster was destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon Aromage Marjoram from my hand!"

A dark-haired mage appeared, smiling gently, holding onto a staff of entwined dark branches, with pale flowers blooming all along the staff.

[Aromage Marjoram (5*/2000/1600/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"And then, I gain 500 life points." Miharu breathed out slowly as her life points increased by a small amount.

Miharu: 2600 + 500 = 3100LP

"Since I gained life points, Marjoram allows me to banish cards from your graveyard, up to the number of "Aroma" monsters I control. I will banish Predaplant Chimerafflesia from your graveyard." A dark vine reached into Yuri's graveyard, yanking the card out.

"Oh, interesting!" Yuri smirked. "So you let yourself take more damage—Sunvine Maiden was meant to be bait for my attack. I'll set another card and end my turn then. Can I ask you a question?"

"... go on," Miharu said, when there was a moment of silence between them.

"Why are you so attached to Boundless Sea?" Yuri asked, raising an eyebrow. "I can see it in your eyes—you are the same as me. You had nothing, and then you longed to follow in the shoes of the one that saved you from that nothingness. For me, it was the Professor. For you, it must be your father. You are strong on your own. You are driven. What can someone like him, who has only ever lived in the light, who is admired and loved by everyone without even trying, offer you?"

Someone who has only lived in the light…

"What you just said," Miharu murmured, "is exactly the reason why I can never allow Yuno to confess his feelings for me." She met Yuri's gaze. "Those who have only ever lived in the light don't deserve to be tied down to people like us. I can tell you feel that way too, even if you can't say it aloud."

She swiped up the top card of her deck.

[Turn 5: Miharu] [H:6]

The last turn had completely refilled her hand, thankfully.

"... I will activate the effect of Sunvine Shrine during your End Phase," Miharu said. "By sending it to the graveyard, I will set Sunavalon Glorious Growth from my graveyard to my field." A card appeared facedown on her field. "Draw."

As Miharu drew a card and spotted the orange and green border, she nodded.

It's time.

Clytia, Marjoram and a set Glorious Growth on her field.

This time…

"I will set the Scale 0 Sunvine Sprout and the Scale 4 Sunvine Pithos in the Pendulum Scales," Miharu declared. Yuri looked like a boy who had just been told that the next day was Christmas. The two pillars of light rose around Miharu, containing the sapling and golden jar respectively.

I can't use Clytia's effect, so I might as well…

"I will activate the Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing," Miharu said. "By taking 1000 damage, I can Special Summon a "Sunseed" monster from my deck. Come—Sunseed Twin." She Special Summoned the pink and blue fairies that were entwined around each other.

[Sunseed Twin (2*/0/800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

At the same time, a shock hit Miharu.

Miharu: 3100 - 1000 = 2100LP

"Since I took damage, I can activate the Continuous Trap, Sunavalon Glorious Growth," Miharu declared. Yuri groaned, sounding very annoyed. "I can Special Summon a Sunvine Token, and perform a Link Summon using monsters I control, as long as I'm Link Summoning a "Sunavalon" monster. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two or more Plant monsters. I will set the Sunvine Token, Aromage Marjoram and Sunseed Twin in the Link Markers. Let the shadow beneath the tranquil tree begin to take its own form. Circuit Combine. Link 3. Sunavalon Dryanome!" Her ace finally made her appearance, the large tree's fruits brightly drooping from its branches.

[Sunavalon Dryanome (L3/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↓, ↘)]

"And then, I gain life points equal to the damage I took," Miharu continued.

Miharu: 2100 + 1000 = 3100LP

"Since I Special Summoned Sunseed Twin while I controlled a "Sunavalon" Link Monster, I activated its effect as Chain Link 1, and Sunavalon Glorious Growth as Chain Link 2," Miharu explained. "So even though Sunseed Twin is no longer on the field, I will revive a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster. Return—Sunseed Genius Loci." The same small chalice reappeared on her field.

Now, she controlled Sunavalon Dryanome in the left Extra Monster Zone, with Sunseed Genius Loci and Sunavalon Clytia at its bottom-left and bottom Link Markers respectively.

"I have three more effects left to activate." Miharu raised a finger. "Since I Special Summoned a Plant monster, once per turn, Sunvine Sprout's Pendulum Effect allows me to gain 1000 life points!" Her life points shot up by another large amount.

Miharu: 3100 + 1000 = 4100LP

She raised another finger. "Two. I gained 1000 life points from the original activation of Sunavalon Glorious Growth, triggering its own effect." The Continuous Trap pelted Yuri with more leaves.

Yuri: 7100 - 1000 = 6100LP

"Next. I gained 1000 life points from Sunvine Sprout's Pendulum Effect. Thus, Sunavalon Glorious Growth inflicts another 1000 damage to you."

Yuri: 6100 - 1000 = 5100LP

"Is this supposed to be some kind of statement?" Yuri asked, raising an eyebrow. "Your healing is my poison?"

Miharu closed her eyes for a moment. "I'm not trying to change your mind," she said. But yes. It's clear that while Ryoken and father saved me, the man who you claim saved you… ruined you instead.

Three open Main Monster Zones.

"Pithos's Pendulum Scale increases by 1 for every Plant monster I control," she said.

[Sunvine Pithos: PS:4 + 3 = PS:7]

"Therefore, with this Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 1 to Level 6. Swing, pendulum! Manifest the shining road to the future!" She held out two cards from her hand. "Pendulum Summon. First, Aromage Jasmine. Second, Sunseed Shadow!" The two monsters appeared—one having already shown up earlier in the duel, the other the dark reflection of Sunseed Genius Loci.

[Aromage Jasmine (2*/100/1900/LIGHT/Plant/Effect)]

[Sunseed Shadow (1*/0/400/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"I will then activate the Pendulum Effect of Sunvine Pithos," Miharu continued. "I will destroy two Spells and Traps on the field. I will choose my own Sunvine Pithos in the Pendulum Scale, and your set card." The two cards exploded.

"So Pendulum Monsters are treated as Spells in the Pendulum Zones… but to think you can even Pendulum Summon…" Yuri laughed. "That summoning method does look rather fun!"

Miharu didn't acknowledge his words. "I must take 1000 damage afterwards."

Miharu: 4100 - 1000 = 3100LP

"With Sunavalon Dryanome's effect, thrice per turn, when I take damage, I can gain life points equal to the damage that I took. Restoration Fruit!"

Miharu: 3100 + 1000 = 4100LP

"And then, I Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my deck. Come, Sunvine Healer." The pink woman appeared, floating at Dryanome's bottom-right Link Marker.

[Sunvine Healer (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑)

Now, all five of Miharu's Main Monster Zones were filled.

"Jasmine lets me draw a card when I gain life points. And then, since I gained life points, you lose the same amount," Miharu said. Yuri rolled his eyes as he was lashed with vines.

Yuri: 5100 - 1000 = 4100LP

"And then, I will use the effect of Sunvine Healer. I will gain life points equal to 300 times Dryanome's Link Rating." Another bright glow surrounded her, while leaves flew towards Yuri at the same time.

Miharu: 4100 + 300 x 3 = 5000LP

Yuri: 4100 - 300 x 3 = 3200LP

"Congratulations—you still don't have a way to defeat me," Yuri said, folding his arms.

"You are wrong," Miharu replied. "I have everything I need to defeat you. One last time. Manifest, the circuit that sows the seeds to the future! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two or more Plant monsters. I will set Sunseed Shadow, Aromage Jasmine, Sunseed Genius Loci and Sunvine Healer in the Link Markers!" The four monsters shot up, turning into streams of flower petals. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! The one who protects the ancient forest, with the lifeblood of nature in its veins! Link 4—Benghalancer the Resurgent!"

The second of the three Link Monsters that her family had made for her birthday present appeared in front of her. It was a gigantic, humanoid wooden creature, with red blood-like veins running through it, consolidating in a shiny, circular red orb in the middle of its wooden body. Dark green, verdant foliage could be seen all over the golem—as though it was an ancient tree that had come to life. Its right arm was a large, pulsing lance, and its left arm had gnarly fingers of wooden bark—holding onto a large piece of wood.

[Benghalancer the Resurgent (L4/2500/LIGHT/Plant/Link/Effect/←, ↑, ↓, →)]

"A Link 4 monster…"

"Benghalancer's effect," Miharu said, cutting to the chase. "I can target an Effect Monster you control, and take damage equal to its attack points. Then, if I take the damage, I can return that monster to the hand."

Yuri's eyebrows rose up in shock. His hair antennae stood up straight in a way that was almost comical.

"I choose Starving Venom Fusion Dragon," Miharu said. "Wrath of Nature!" A strong storm of leaves hit her, before Starving Venom roared in sheer rage as it was driven off the field.

Miharu: 5000 - 2800 = 2200LP

Miharu involuntarily shivered at the roar of the dragon.

"I will activate Dryanome's effect," she said. "Restoration Fruit!"

Miharu: 2200 + 2800 = 5000LP

"And I will Special Summon Sunvine Thrasher." Another copy of Thrasher appeared on her field. "Since I gained life points, Sunavalon Glorious Growth will inflict damage to you equal to the life points I gained!"

Yuri: 3200 - 2800 = 400LP

"So you essentially made me pay for my own monster's removal," Yuri said. He sounded visibly affected by his dragon's removal.

"Sunvine Thrasher will increase its own attack points by 800 times Dryanome's Link Rating."

[Sunvine Thrasher: 800 + 800 x 3 = 3200ATK]

Miharu pointed forward. "Destroy Dragostapelia and end this!"

"I knew you would." Yuri grinned. "You're naive! I will banish Predaplant Ashes from my graveyard, and destroy the attacking monster! Then, I gain life points equal to the attack points of the monster that was destroyed on the field!"

A large blast of flames burned Thrasher to ashes.

Yuri: 400 + 3200 = 3600LP

Miharu bit her lip.

It wasn't over—

A bright glow surrounded Yuri. There was a shocked look on his face, before he vanished. Miharu whirled towards Yuzu, whose bracelet was glowing—

Just like that day in the park.

Miharu's duel disk beeped, signalling that it had lost connection with her opponent. Miharu raised her arm, looking at her bracelet—curled around her wrist like a laurel wreath.

Was her bracelet special too? Then how come only Yuzu's bracelet seemed to do anything?

Even so…

She felt a little light-headed. She could barely breathe.

"Rin!"

Miharu practically leapt out of the way as a motorbike barrelled in. She was hardly the most physically strong or fast of the people that she knew—in fact, she was one of the weakest. Even so, she had enough survival instinct to run from a motorcycle. Yuzu, however, shrieked as she was tackled by a boy with blue and yellow hair, kneeing him straight in the stomach and tossing him back.

"Rin! It's you, Rin!"

"It's not," Miharu said quietly. The blue and yellow-haired boy—Yugo, according to what Yuno told her—turned to look at her with a wide grin, before his face creased in confusion.

"Rin?"

"... neither of us are Rin," Miharu said. "You already met Yuno, Yuya and Yuto, right?"

Yugo frowned. "Those guys that look like me? Wait, so you guys look like Rin?"

"Correct."

"... aww, that sucks! I thought I finally found Rin too."

"Yuzu's hair is pink," Miharu deadpanned. "Mine is blonde."

"And you guys have longer hair than Rin…" Yugo rubbed the back of his neck. "My bad! Do you guys know where I am? Clear Wing teleported me here all of a sudden, and I—"

Clear Wing?

So, like Yuno's Magnetic Current?

Miharu was about to speak up—

And then, all of a sudden, the three of them were surrounded by bright light, as Yuzu's bracelet glowed again, along with Yugo's duel disk.

(She probably should have expected that, huh?)

---

Watching from the cameras, Reiji Akaba saw the three duelists vanish from the Iceberg Area, even as Yuya Sakaki arrived there.

He pinched his nose.

That duelist was a duelist from the Synchro Dimension.

Thus, it was likely that they might have accidentally been sent to the Synchro Dimension.

In that case, it was perhaps even more important that they went there first.

Still though, Link 4 monsters…

That was an interesting consideration. And if Yuzu Hiiragi and Miharu Kogami were currently in another dimension, they were no longer in danger in this Battle Royale.

Now, he just had to wait until everything else was resolved.

---

Duel 1 Summary: Yuzu Hiiragi vs Yuri

Duel Format: Action Duel

Turn 1: Yuzu Hiiragi

Yuzu activates the Spell Card, 1st Movement Solo, Special Summoning Serena the Melodious Diva (4*/400/1900) from her Deck. She uses its effect to treat it as two Tributes, Normal Summoning Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra (8*/2600/2000) from her hand. She then uses Prodigy Mozart's effect to Special Summon Tamtam the Melodious Diva (4*/1000/2000) from her hand. With Tamtam's effect, she adds the Spell Card, Polymerization, from her Deck to her hand. She uses Polymerization, fusing Solo the Melodious Songstress in her hand with Tamtam the Melodious Diva on the field, to Fusion Summon Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint (6*/1000/2000) in Attack Position. With Tamtam's effect, she lowers Bloom Diva's ATK by 500 and inflicts 500 damage to Yuri. (BDTFMS: 1000 - 500 = 500ATK) [Y: 4000 - 500 = 3500LP] She ends her turn.

Turn 2: Yuri

Yuri draws. He activates the Spell Card, Predaplast. By revealing Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio (3*/1200/800) and Predaplant Cordyceps in his hand, he places a Predator Counter on Bloom Diva and Prodigy Mozart. (BDTMFS: PC1) (PMTMM: PC1) He Normal Summons Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio, sending Predaplant Cordyceps from his hand to the graveyard to Special Summon Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500) from his Deck in Defense Position. With Darlingtonia Cobra's effect, he adds the Spell Card, Polymerization, to his hand. Activating it, he fuses Ophrys Scorpio and Darlingtonia Cobra to Fusion Summon Predaplant Ambulomelides (5*/1000/2500) from his Extra Deck.

With Ambulomelides's effect, when Fusion Summoned, Yuri adds a "Predap" card from his Deck to his hand. He then uses Ambulomelides's effect, tributing Prodigy Mozart from Yuzu's field to Special Summon Predaplant Chlamydosundew (2*/600/200) from his Deck. He uses Chlamydosundew's effect to fuse it with Yuzu's Bloom Diva, Fusion Summoning Predaplant Dragostapelia (8*/2700/1900) from the Extra Deck in Attack Position. Dragostapelia attacks Yuzu directly. Yuzu activates Action Card - Freeze Ray, stopping Dragostapelia from attacking her. Yuri sets a card and ends his turn.

Turn 3: Yuzu Hiiragi

Yuzu draws. She activates Ostinato, fusing Laureate Francois the Melodious Maestra and Aria the Melodious Diva in her Deck to Fusion Summon Meisterin Brahms the Melodious Lament Saint. (8*/2500/2300) Meisterin Brahms inflicts 500 damage to Yuri for each of her materials. [Y: 3500 - 500 x 2 = 2500LP] Meisterin Brahms attacks Dragostapelia, gaining 300 attack points since Yuzu controls 1 "Melodious" monster. (MBTMLS: 2500 + 300 = 2800ATK) Yuri activates Action Card, High Dive. Dragostapelia gains 1000 ATK. (PD: 2700 + 1000 = 3700ATK) Yuzu activates the Action Card, Energy Biscuits, increasing her LP by 500. Dragostapelia destroys Meisterin Brahms. [YH: 4000 + 500 - 900 = 3600LP] With Meisterin Brahms's effect, Yuzu revives Bloom Diva. Bloom Diva attacks Dragostapelia. Yuzu activates the Action Card, Invisibility, making Bloom Diva immune to card effects this turn. Yuri activates his set card, Predaprime Fusion, fusing Dragostapelia and Ambulomelides to Fusion Summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia. (7*/2500/2000) Bloom Diva attacks Chimerafflesia and uses its effect to negate destruction and reverse damage, as well as destroy Chimerafflesia. [Y: 2500 - 1500 = 1000LP] Yuzu ends her turn.

Turn 4: Yuri

Yuri draws. He uses the effect of Chimerafflesia in the GY to add Polymerization from his Deck to his hand. Using Cordyceps's effect, he revives Ophrys Scorpio and Darlingtonia Cobra. With Darlingtonia Cobra's effect, he adds a "Fusion" or "Polymerization" card from his Deck to his hand. Then, by sending a monster from his hand to the GY, Ophrys Scorpio Special Summons Predaplant Moray Nepenthes (4*/1600/1000) from the Deck in Attack Position. Yuri activates Polymerization, fusing Ophrys Scorpio and Darlingtonia Cobra to Fusion Summon Starving Venom Fusion Dragon. (8*/2800/2000) With Starving Venom's effect, it gains ATK equal to the total ATK of Yuzu's Special Summoned monsters. (SVFD: 2800 + 1000 = 3800ATK) Starving Venom's other effect allows it to copy Bloom Diva's effect and negate it. Moray Nepenthes attacks and destroys Bloom Diva, and Starving Venom attacks directly. [YH: 3600 - 800 - 3800 = 0LP] Yuri wins!

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Duel 2 Summary: Miharu Kogami vs Yuri

Duel Format: Normal Duel

Turn 1: Miharu Kogami

Miharu Normal Summons Lonefire Blossom. (3*/500/1400) By tributing it with its own effect, she Special Summons Evil Thorn (1*/100/300) from her Deck. She tributes Evil Thorn to use its effect and inflict 300 damage to Yuri, as well as Special Summon two more Evil Thorns from the Deck. [Y: 4000 - 300 = 3700LP] She then Special Summons Aromage Laurel (1*/800/0) from her hand, since her LP is higher than Yuri's. She then uses Laurel and 1 Evil Thorn to Link Summon Aromaseraphy Jasmine (L2/1800/↙, ↘) to the left Extra Monster Zone. Since Aromage Laurel was sent to the GY, she gains 500 LP. [MK: 4000 + 500 = 4500LP] With Aromaseraphy Jasmine's effect, since she gained LP, she adds a Plant monster from her Deck to her hand. Then, with Aromaseraphy Jasmine's effect, she tributes Evil Thorn to Special Summon Aromage Jasmine (2*/100/1900) from her Deck in Defense Position. Since she has higher LP than Yuri, Aromage Jasmine allows her to Normal Summon another Plant monster. She Normal Summons Sunseed Genius Loci (1*/0/600) from her hand. Using Loci, she Link Summons Sunavalon Dryas. (L1/0/↓) She then uses Aromage Jasmine and Dryas to Link Summon Sunavalon Dryades (L2/0/↙, ↘) to the Main Monster Zone bottom-right of Jasmine. Then, using the Link 2 Dryades and the Link 2 Jasmine, she Link Summons Sunavalon Dryatrentiay (L4/0/↙, ↑, ↓, ↘) to the left Extra Monster Zone. With Dryatrentiay's effect, she adds Sunavalon Glorious Growth from her Deck to her hand. She sets 2 cards facedown and ends her turn.

Turn 2: Yuri

Yuri draws. He Normal Summons Predaplant Flytrap (2*/400/800) from his hand. Miharu activates Forbidden Dress, making Dryatrentiay untargetable and indestructible by card effects until the End Phase. Yuri activates the Spell Card, Predapractice, Special Summoning Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra (3*/1000/1500) from his hand, and adding a "Predap" card to his hand. With Darlingtonia Cobra's effect, Yuri adds Polymerization from his deck to his hand. He activates it and fuses Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra with Predaplant Flytrap, to Fusion Summon Predaplant Chimeraffesia. (7*/2500/2000) Chimerafflesia attacks Miharu directly. [MK: 4500 - 2500 = 2000LP] Miharu activates Sunavalon Glorious Growth, Special Summoning a Sunvine Token (1*/0/0) and using it to Link Summon Sunavalon Minthe (L1/0/↓). With Minthe's effect, she gains 300 LP for every Plant monster on the field, and with Glorious Growth's own effect, she gains LP equal to the damage she took when she activated it. [MK: 2000 + 300 x 3 + 2500 = 5900LP]

With Glorious Growth's effect, she inflicts damage to Yuri equal to the life points she gained. Yuri Special Summons Predaplant Floribunda Caterpillar (6*/2300/2000) from his hand, changing the effect damage to LP. [Y: 3700 + 900 + 2500 = 7100LP] Yuri activates the Quickplay Spell, Predaprime Fusion, fusing Chimerafflesia and Floribunda Caterpillar to Fusion Summon Predaplant Dragostapelia (8*/2700/1900) in Attack Position. With Floribunda Caterpillar's effect, he adds a "Predap" card to his hand, but he cannot activate it this turn. Yuri sets 1 card facedown and ends his turn.

Turn 3: Miharu Kogami

Miharu draws. During the Standby Phase, Yuri adds Polymerization from his Deck to his hand with Chimerafflesia's effect. She activates Pot of Prosperity, banishing 6 cards from her Extra Deck facedown randomly to draw two cards. By tributing Minthe for Dryatrentiay's effect, she destroys Dragostapelia. Yuri tries to target Dryatrentiay with Dragostapelia's effect, but Miharu Special Summons Sunvine Maiden (1*/0/0) from her hand and negates the attack. By sending a card from her hand to the GY, she activates Sunvine Shrine. She revives Sunseed Genius Loci from the graveyard with Sunvine Shrine's effect. She uses Loci to Link Summon Sunvine Thrasher. (L1/800/↓) Thrasher gains 800 ATK x Dryatrentiay's Link Rating. (ST: 800 + 800 x 4 = 4000ATK) Thrasher attacks directly. Yuri activates the Trap Card, Predaplant Ashes, and revives Dragostapelia, while reverting Thrasher to 800ATK. Since there is a replay, Miharu stops the attack and moves to her Main Phase 2, using Thrasher and Maiden to Link Summon Sunavalon Clytia. (L2/0/↑, →) Using Clytia's effect, she returns Dryas from the GY to the Deck to draw 1 card. She activates Pot of Avarice, returning three Evil Thorns, Aromage Jasmine and Aromage Laurel to the Deck to draw 2 cards. She sets 2 cards facedown and ends her turn.

Turn 4: Yuri

Yuri draws. He Normal Summons Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio. (3*/1200/800) By sending Predaplant Byblisp from his hand to the GY, Ophrys Scorpio Special Summons Predaplant Spinodionaea (4*/1800/0) from his Deck. With Byblisp's effect, he adds a "Predaplant" monster from his Deck to his hand. He then targets Dryatrentiay with Spinodionaea's effect. Miharu negates it by Special Summoning another copy of Sunvine Maiden from her hand to the leftmost Main Monster Zone in Attack Position. Yuri activates Polymerization, fusing Ophrys Scorpio and Spinodionaea to Fusion Summon Starving Venom Fusion Dragon (8*/2800/2000) in Attack Position. Then, he activates Predapining, granting Dryatrentiay a Level equal to the DARK monster with the highest Level on the field. (SA: 8*)

Starving Venom negates and copies Dryatrentiay's effects. A Predator Counter is placed on Sunavalon Clytia with Dragostapelia's effect. (SC: PC1) Clytia's activated effects are negated while Dragostapelia is face-up on the field and Clytia has a Predator Counter. Starving Venom attacks and destroys Dryatrentiay. [MK: 5400 - 2800 = 2600LP] Glorious Growth destroys itself since a "Sunavalon" monster was destroyed. Dragostapelia attacks Sunvine Maiden. Miharu activates the Trap Card, Sunbloom Doom. She gains LP equal to all Plant monsters' ATK on the field. [MK: 2600 + 2700 - 2700 = 2600LP] Sunvine Maiden is destroyed. Miharu activates Shock Draw, drawing 5 cards since she took 5500 damage this turn. Then, since a Plant monster was destroyed by battle, she Special Summons Aromage Marjoram (5*/2000/1600) from her hand. She then gains 500LP. [MK: 2600 + 500 = 3100LP] Since she gained LP, Marjoram lets her banish Predaplant Chimerafflesia from Yuri's GY. Yuri sets 1 card and ends his turn. During his End Phase, Miharu sends Sunvine Shrine to the GY to set Sunavalon Glorious Growth to her field.

Turn 5: Miharu Kogami

Miharu draws. Miharu sets the Scale 0 Sunvine Sprout and the Scale 4 Sunvine Pithos in her Pendulum Scales. She activates the Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing. She takes 1000 damage and Special Summons Sunseed Twin (2*/0/800) from her Deck. [MK: 3100 - 1000 = 2100LP] Since she took damage, she can activate Sunavalon Glorious Growth. She Special Summons a Sunvine Token, and uses Sunvine Token, Aromage Marjoram and Sunseed Twin to Link Summon Sunavalon Dryanome. (L3/0/↙, ↓, ↘) Then, Glorious Growth increases her LP by the damage she took. [MK: 2100 + 1000 = 3100LP] With Sunseed Twin's effect, she revives Sunseed Genius Loci. Then, with Sunvine Sprout's Pendulum Effect, she gains 1000 LP. [MK: 3100 + 1000 = 4100LP] Yuri takes damage equal to the LP Miharu gained. [Y: 7100 - 1000 - 1000 = 5100LP] Miharu Pendulum Summons Aromage Jasmine and Sunseed Shadow (1*/0/400) With Sunvine Pithos's Pendulum Effect, she destroys Sunvine Pithos in the Pendulum Scale, and Yuri's set card. She then takes 1000 damage, and with Dryanome's effect, she gains 1000 LP and Special Summons Sunvine Healer from her Extra Deck. [MK: 4100 - 1000 + 1000 = 4100LP] With Healer's effect, she gains 900 more LP. Yuri takes damage equal to the LP she gained. [MK: 4100 + 300 x 3 = 5000LP] [Y: 5100 - 1000 - 900 = 3200LP]

Miharu uses Aromage Jasmine, Sunseed Shadow, Sunseed Genius Loci and Sunvine Healer to Link Summon Benghalancer the Resurgent (L4/2500/←, ↑, ↓, →) to the middle Main Monster Zone, which Clytia points to. Using Benghalancer's effect, she takes damage equal to Starving Venom's attack points and returns it to hand. Dryanome heals her by the damage she took. [MK: 5000 - 2800 + 2800 = 5000LP] Sunavalon Glorious Growth inflicts 2800 damage to Yuri. [Y: 3200 - 2800 = 400LP] Dryanome Special Summons Sunvine Thrasher to the field. It gains 2400 ATK. (ST: 800 + 2400 = 3200ATK) It attacks Dragostapelia. Yuri activates the effect of Predaplant Ashes in the GY, banishing it and destroying Thrasher to gain LP equal to Thrasher's ATK on the field. [Y: 400 + 3200 = 3600LP] The duel is interrupted.

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OC Cards:

Action Card - Freeze Ray

(Spell/Action)

Target 1 monster on the field; it cannot declare an attack this turn.

Meisterin Brahms the Melodious Lament Saint

(8*/2500/2300/LIGHT/Fairy/Fusion/Effect)

1 "Melodious Maestra" monster + 1+ "Melodious" monsters

If this card is Fusion Summoned: Inflict 500 damage to your opponent for each monster used as Fusion Material for this card's Fusion Summon. This card cannot be targeted by card effects while your opponent controls a Special Summoned monster(s). This card gains 300 ATK for each "Melodious" monster on the field. If this card is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon a "Melodious" monster from your GY, other than "Meisterin Brahms the Melodious Lament Saint".

Sunavalon Minthe

(L1/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)

1 Plant Normal Monster

This card cannot be targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. If this card is Link Summoned: Gain 300 LP for every Plant monster on the field. You can only Link Summon "Sunavalon Minthe" once per turn. All "Sunavalon" monsters you control cannot be targeted or banished by card effects, except "Sunavalon Minthe".

Predaplant Floribunda Caterpillar

(6*/2300/2000/DARK/Plant/Tuner/Effect)

If your opponent activates an effect that would inflict damage to you, or if a monster with a Predator Counter activates its effect: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, until the end of this turn, each time you would take damage, gain that amount of LP instead. If this card is sent to the GY for a Fusion Summon: You can add 1 "Predap" card from your Deck to your hand, but you cannot activate cards or effects of cards with that name this turn.

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.

Sunvine Sprout

(1*/S0/0/200/EARTH/Plant/Pendulum/Effect)

Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, if a Plant monster(s) is Special Summoned: Gain 1000LP.

If this card is Special Summoned while your LP is higher than your opponent's LP: You can Tribute this card; excavate the top 3 cards of your Deck, and if you do, add 1 Spell/Trap card from among them to your hand. If this card is destroyed while in the Pendulum Scale: You can Special Summon 1 Level 6 or lower Plant monster from your Deck.

Note: Sprout's card effects are the same, but there was an error in the card format that has been rectified.

Sunvine Pithos

(1*/S4/0/0/EARTH/Plant/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect)

Pendulum Effect: This card's Pendulum Scale increases by 1 for every Plant monster you control. On the turn that you activate this card, if your LP is higher than your opponent's: You can destroy 2 Spell/Trap cards on the field, and if you do, take 1000 damage.

This card cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card battles a monster with 1000 or higher DEF while you have higher LP than your opponent: At the end of the Damage Step, destroy that monster.

Predaplant Ashes

(Trap)

Special Summon 1 "Predaplant" monster from your GY, but it cannot declare an attack this turn, then, if you do, all monsters on the field have their ATK become their original ATK until the End Phase. If an opponent's monster declares an attack while you control a DARK Fusion Monster: You can banish this card from the GY and target that attacking monster; destroy it, and if you do, gain ATK equal to that monster's ATK when it was destroyed on the field.

Predapining

(Spell)

Once per turn: You can activate 1 of the following effects. You can only activate 1 "Predapining" per turn.

- Target 1 monster on the field, it gains a Level equal to the DARK monster you control with the highest Level until the End Phase (even if it does not originally have a Level.)

- Target 1 monster on the field; all monsters on the field with a lower Level have their effects negated until the End Phase. Once per turn, except during the turn this card was sent to the GY: You can banish this card from the GY; add up to 2 "Predap" monsters that were used as Fusion Material for the Fusion Summon of a DARK monster from your GY to your hand, but you cannot Normal Summon/Set those monsters this turn.

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Different Card Effects From TCG:

1st Movement Solo - Can Special Summon from the hand or deck like its TCG version, but does not have the Special Summoning restriction, since it doesn't have it in the anime.

Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint - Anime effect. There's an issue where Bloom Diva is treated as inflicting effect damage at some times, and battle damage at some times with its effect. This fic treats it as effect damage, since the TCG version inflicts effect damage.

Predaplants - Most of them are anime effects. For certain special cases like Darlingtonia Cobra, they take their anime effect condition, but with their TCG effect. Thus, Darlingtonia Cobra's effect can be used more than once per Duel and can be activated when Special Summoned, regardless of how it was Special Summoned, Cordyceps doesn't ban some Special Summons, etc.

Action Cards - Anime only.

Sunavalon Glorious Growth - Anime-only card.

Sunbloom Doom - Anime-only card.

Shock Draw - Manga-only card.

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End Notes:

Yuri goes 3 for 3 against Bracelet Girls, with only a single DNF against Miharu! *dum dum dum* (Technically 4 for 4, considering that in this story, he's canonically beaten Serena in a duel in their backstory, but… eh. If I hadn't changed Rin's kidnapping to Yuji instead, Yuri would have dueled every Bracelet Girl at this point. It's just a funny coincidence, but I had to share it.) The only Bracelet Girl that's inconclusive is Miharu. Even though she fought on even ground with Yuri here, to be fair, she is the single Bracelet Girl who is almost completely unaffected by Yuri's canon card effects, except Starving Venom's effects.

The title refers to both Yuzu and Miharu being very different, as well as the differences between Yuya and Yuri. Originally, Yuya got a duel against another invader of Standard in the outline, but I cut it since it didn't do anything. That decision was made at Chapter 14, but I kept the title as a homage to that.

I think writing the first duel made me realise how underpowered Yuzu is in Arc-V proper. I'm glad that so many fics on this site give her stronger cards. I'm probably going to do that too—hence the OC card that she got here. This was because she got absolutely owned by Yuri in the first three drafts, before I decided to let her fight back a little. Disclaimer—I love Yuzu's character. Yuri's opinions in this chapter are not my own. And Yuzu is going to get much, much stronger. This chapter is my answer to Arc-V, because I hated that scene where Yuzu was asking for Yuya to save her and running from Yuri. Yuzu isn't the kind of girl to be traumatised by a strong monster. I strongly believe that her character would face this fear head-on and become stronger.

If you're wondering how there was time for Miharu to duel Yuri before Yugo showed up, in this version, Yuzu wasn't running from Yuri the entire time. Therefore, there was plenty of time.

If there's one thing I regret about the timeline of the show, it's that this chapter cannot take place concurrently with the last duel of the Maiami Championship, because that would have been, um, the best reading experience. Still though, Benghalancer debuts! That's the second of Miharu's three Link 4s, though she won't be getting to use the third until the Synchro arc. Once again, the third is an OC card.

A friend of mine mentioned that she thought I had a bias for Plant monsters, and she is absolutely correct. I struggled so hard between every Xyz Plant archetype, and originally, I wasn't even going to use Nue as the OC for this story, in favour of an 'ice queen' character who used Rikka monsters. If I thought I could get away with it narratively, I would stuff every Plant archetype in this story. Therefore, Yuri vs Miharu is one of the few duels so far that made me so happy to write, even if plot meant that I couldn't finish it. (The others being Chiaki vs Asuka, and Chapter 19 and 21. :)) However, it was actually hell to write. I messed up Dragostapelia's effect, and I'm just praying I didn't mess it up in every duel that Yuri had so far. If I did, just treat it like how the anime treated certain cards, with the effect changing in later episodes. Predaplant Ashes was created to avoid rewriting the entire duel when I first spotted the issues with Dragostapelia.

It always confused me why Yuzu's bracelet teleported them to Synchro. I'm assuming it's a mix of the bracelet and Clear Wing's abilities. Also, yes, Miharu has been teleported to Synchro along with Yuzu. There's something I want to do that I can only do if Miharu reaches Synchro a little earlier. If you consider what characters are in Synchro, you may be able to figure it out.

Yuri's conversation with Miharu is meant to show how their relationships with their respective Bracelet Girl/Dragon Boy mirror each other. They both willingly put distance between themselves and Serena/Yuno for their own goals—at the same time, they both also feel that they drag Serena/Yuno down, though Yuri is firmly in denial that he feels that way.

Yuri says that they are similar—and Miharu acknowledges that he is correct. Miharu is Yuri's foil in a very different way from how Yuji is—more on that next chapter. And Miharu doesn't reject him for it either. That whole healing and damaging theme was lampshaded by Yuri, but yes, it was meant to symbolise how everything that Yuri thought would satisfy him is actually destroying him, while all of those same things saved Miharu from her own emptiness.

(Funnily enough, while Yuji was made to contrast Yuri intentionally, it was only after I started writing the story that I realised that Miharu also contrasted him. In my opinion, Yuji, Yuri and Miharu are the three that would usually start off as villains in any story.)

Review responses!

For HunterHQ, thank you for all your reviews! I don't think you've caught up to this chapter yet, though, so I'll just answer your questions here. I don't plan on including Dark Synchro currently—I'm already juggling a lot of summoning methods. All the Yu Boys and Bracelet Girls are adopted—even Yuya, though Yuya is a special case since his parents have false memories of having given birth to him. Sora did get picked for the Standard Dimension mission—the first 8-9 chapters of this story are pre-canon Arc-V. Since he successfully completed a small scale mission of scouting, Academia trusted him for a bigger mission—namely, spying on Standard long-term. For legacy characters, see Chapter 6's End Notes for current plans. Most of pre-canon is the same as the show—the only difference is Yuji kidnapping Rin instead of Yuri, as far as I recall. It's the canon timeline that is slowly starting to diverge. *gestures to Yuto, who is very much alive*

To LHOCIN, you actually described one of the first drafts of the Standard Arc. But yeah, you got it right—it was Miharu vs Yuri. :) Glad you enjoyed seeing Hitoda. Also shoutout for pointing out a mistake with Starving Venom's effect in this duel, where I accidentally gave it its TCG effect.

For DSpaceZ, I actually haven't ever played Persona 5. I did Google the name of the character you mentioned, and well, she's pretty interesting. However, while some parts are similar, Hitoda isn't quite the same as Ichinose. I'm glad you like Albaz Dragons too! I reserve the right not to comment on whether Yuji will get Pendulums—in terms of new summoning methods, it's really a balance between whether it makes sense for decks to actually have those cards, and whether it narratively makes sense. Also, while I like Fifth Factor, I did think that it would have been nice to have more than one of the counterparts be on Academia's side. (Parasites don't count.) I'd put the 'caring' scale as Yuya Yuto Yuno Yugo Yuri Yuji, actually—for this story's rendition of Yuri, since he does have a few people who he genuinely cares about, such as the Professor and *cough cough cough* Ryo *cough* and so, he technically ranks higher on the scale than Yuji. Also, he actually cares about people, even if he's just amused by them. H. Canon Yuri, though, definitely ranks below Yuji.

For naminexriku2468, I'm undecided on that card, especially because Yuya and Yuto aren't currently fused. I'm leaning towards 'yes' though. Also, for Yuji to betray Yuri, they would have to be on the same side first—and everyone is very aware that Yuji is not loyal to Academia in the slightest. :D

For phantomdragons, I appreciate your enthusiasm for Albaz Dragons. Fun fact—I wasn't going to give Miharu the Sunavalon anime-exclusive cards here, because I thought they were too overpowered. Then, I took a good look at the last chapter, coughed out blood and decided that I was high when I gave Shino access to every single one of the Albaz Dragons from the start, instead of restricting her like I did with every other character.

Finally, that one Guest that asked me if I ever thought of making a VRAINS fic with the characters here (I assume you mean Yuno and Miharu)... *inhales slowly* yes. Back when I was updating once a day (yes, new readers, I used to be far faster with chapters), I was suffering from a bit of burnout from the story. I recovered from burnout by spacing out updates properly (ok not really) and by planning out a new story before coming back. So yes, somewhere in my folders is a general outline for a VRAINS fic where Charisma Duelist Boundless Sea, or Yuno Sugisaki, searches for the truth of what happened to his adoptive sister, Miyu Sugisaki, while the Knight of Hanoi, Dazzling Spring, mysteriously seems to help in some ways, but is still antagonistic towards him. In that outline, obviously, Yuno and Miharu don't use Marincess and Sunavalon—they use OC decks with different mechanics. I doubt I will write that fic for now though. Six Dimensions is time-consuming enough.

4 more chapters in the Standard arc after this!

I think that's it. Thank you all for your reviews—they put a smile on my face. Next chapter, we see a certain character who has only dueled once in this entire story take centre stage. :) (It's not the character you're thinking of.) Hopefully, that duel doesn't have anything big that I need to correct and rewrite again. See you!