Racing after Yuto we both ran until we reached into a hidden alley. My body was tired from the punishment from sprinting but there were more important things to worry about.

"Raizen so you managed to escape. I for sure thought that you had been captured by the fusion dimension" he said.

I was still very confused didn't really understand why yuto knew who I was. But at least it seemed like I was a friend and not an enemy.

"How did you end up here anyway?" he asked.

At that moment a vision came to me. A vision of me on a duel runner in a chase with someone else.

"I don't really know the moment I woke up I was in this dimension. I also seemed to have suffered some kind of injury to my head so my memories are all over the place. But you are yuto right?" I said.

"Memory loss that's bad though it seems you do remember me"-he took off his mask-"yes It's me yuto"

"I see. So what's the objective here?"

"We're searching for information regarding Akaba Leo. Shun has already begun on interrogating the students there"

"Well for the time being we should lay low the incident you caused at the beach will prevent me from ever getting back to my old job"

"I might have gone a bit far but it was necessary I thought you might have been in danger"

"I definitely could have handled that, though thanks nonetheless. Could I get a briefing on how the situation is"

The two of us spent the night at a hotel where I was explained about the resistances efforts so far. It was very similar to the situation experienced in the arc v series with some key differences.

First heartland wasn't destroyed, certain areas certainly were but as a whole it was fine. The resistance was still in combat with the fusion dimension which seemed similar to cannon.

And the most surprising thing of all Ruri hadn't been kidnapped.

It took me a while to assimilate all this information. Had I been the cause for all of this? Assuming I had been in the xyz dimension letting the fusion dimension invasion plan slip would have been something I had done.

What else am I forgetting?

As I tried to force myself to remember a numbing pain rose to my skull making me freeze up.

"Raizen, are you okay your face has gone pale" yuto said as he splashed some water on my face.

The water snapped me out of my strange stupor.

"Yeah I'm fine and I'm glad everyone else is too. Though you should have made Ruri stay back at heartland"

"Well we tried to, but she essentially forced us to let her tag along. She said that she wanted to help"

"I would've expected her to say something like that. So where are they?"

"She's with Shun. Both of us went our own independent directions to cover more ground and I'm glad we did. I'll get in contact with Shun so we can meet soon. You should get some rest"

After speaking his fill, Yuto left the room. Deciding to follow Yuto's advice I took possession of one of the two beds and quickly drifted off to sleep.

I dreamt that night of a time in Heartland where I was present as a student of the spade everything I was seeing was getting hazy like some unknown force was distorting my vision.

It felt almost as though I was being prevented from remembering.

When morning came I awoke covered in sweat. Yuto wasn't present though I did find a convenience store bento kept on the single table present in that room.

The sweat had been sticking to me so I wanted to take a shower but I had left all my clothes back at the resort I was staying at so I had nothing to change into.

I had enough funds so I decided to get some shopping done since I had no idea how long Yuto might be out so I also decided to get some pre cooked food for the day.

I just washed my face and hair and left the room along with my spare key. The hotel we were staying at wasn't all that fancy and the area surrounding it was known for criminal activity.

Though Yuto wouldn't find it hard to deal with it but me I wasn't really that intimidating looking.

The moment I stepped away from the hotel. I saw a number of strange people .Not the nice kind of people you'd see in your day to day life but hooligans, thugs and whatnot.

"Hey there kid, want to duel?"

…

First...

No, I wasn't coerced into a duel by a bunch of shady looking people. I came here on my own will.

"Man I'm hungry" one of the guys around me said.

"Oi kid you piss your pants?" The guy from before said.

"No…"

Ok maybe I was kind of scared.

"You said something about a duel,"I said, trying to change the topic.

"Yeh a duel, If you win we'll let you go if you lose well then.."|

I felt a chill shoot up my back though I shook it off as I extended my duel disk.

"Nice duel disk you got there"

"Well thanks, let's get this going then shall we" I said nervously.

I said as some aspect of courage started presenting itself in me as I activated my duel disk.

"Sure let's get this started!"

Duel Begin

"I'll take the first turn if you don't mind"

"Sure do what ya want"

"I draw"

Turn 1

Hand-5

"I summon Mermail Abysspike"

Mermail Abysspike

4 1600/800

"I activate its effect which allows me to add a level 3 water monster to my hand by discarding a water monster. I send the Mermail Abysspike in my hand to the graveyard and add Fishborg archer to my hand"

I said taking the card from my deck then shuffling.

"I set two cards and end my turn"

"My turn! Draw!"

Turn 2

Hand-6

"I begin by activating the field spell-Scrap Factory. It increases the attack and defense of all of my scrap monsters by 200 points."

A factory seemingly materialized around us. You could tell that it was fake though since it wasn't opaque.

"Then I summon scrap worm"

Scrap worm 1 500/100

"Though I'm not done since you control a monster I can special summon scrap breaker"

Scrap breaker 6 2100/700

"Its effect activates destroying scrap worm"

Scrap worm shatters into countless pieces.

"And now my field spell activates when a scrap monster is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard except during the damage step. I can special summon a scrap monster from my deck come on scrap goblin"

Scrap Goblin 3 0/500

"And now I tune my level 3 scrap goblin with my level 6 scrap breaker to synchro summon. Appear twin dragon born from the metal salvages, Scrap Twin dragon"

Scrap Twin Dragon 9 3000/2200

The dragon roared with a mighty shout as it appeared on the scene.

"I set two cards and now activate Scrap Twin dragon's effect and destroy one of my set cards to return two of yours to the hand. I choose your two Facedowns"

"Not so fast I activate my trap card abyss sphere this card allows me to special summon a Mermail monster onto my field but it is destroyed during my opponents end phase. I special summon Mermail Abysslinde in defense position"

"Due to you returning my abyss sphere Mermail abysslinde is destroyed. Which allows me to special summon any Mermail monster from my deck. I special summon Mermail abyssturge and I activate it's effect to discard 1 water monster to the graveyard to add one level 3 or lower water monster to my hand from my graveyard. I return Mermail abysspike to my hand and discard Mermail abyssgunde"

Mermail Abyssturge 4 1700/1100

"But that's not all Mermail abyssgunde's effect activates special summon Mermail abysslinde from the graveyard."

Mermail Abysslinde 3 1500/1200

"Well whatever I'll attack your Mermail Abysspike. Go twin dragon scrap twin assault"

"Ghhh"

Raizen Lp:4000-1400=2600

My Lp sank as my monster was destroyed.

"With that I end my turn"

"I'll begin my turn draw!"

Turn 3

Hand-4

"To begin with I summon fishborg archer"

Fishborg archer lv3 300/300

"Now I tune my lvl 3 fishborg archer with my level 4 abyssturge. Cold Icy Tundra, I call forth the unending blizzard, synchro summon Appear Lvl 7 Gungnir Dragon of the ice barrier"

The frigid cold dragon appeared with a bellowed roar as it stared at scrap twin dragon.

"Gungnir's effect activates I discard three cards to destroy all the cards you control"

"Grr" the hooligan said as his cards were destroyed.

"I activate scrap twin dragon's effect when it's destroyed i can special summon a scrap monster from my graveyard come forth scrap goblin in defense mode"

"Battle phase go Mermail abysgunde attack scrap goblin"

Mermail abyssgunde attacked scrap goblin but it seemed to have no effect.

"What the"

"Hahaha my scrap goblin has an effect that prevents it from getting destroyed so sorry you won't be causing me any damage this turn"

"I end my turn"

"Since scrap goblin was attacked this turn it destroys itself and when it's destroyed I get to add a card to my hand I add scrap then it's my turn Draw"

Turn 4

Hand-2

"I activate scrap lube to special summon scrap twin dragon from the graveyard though it's effects are negated on the field and I can't declare battle this turn"

"I set one spell or trap card"

"I end my turn"

"Ok then my turn. Draw!"

Turn 5

Hand-1

"I activate gungnir's effect to destroy your scrap twin dragon, Frosted Hell" I say as I discard a cand from my hand"

"Not so fast I activate my trap card fiendish chain which negates your monsters effect"

"I change my gungnir to defense position and end my turn"

Turn 6

Hand-2

"I summon the scrap worm in my hand."

Scrap Worm lvl2 500/100

"Now battle phase scrap worm directly attacks you thanks to it's effect"

Raizen Lp:2600-500=2100

"Thanks to it's effect it's destroyed and I get to add a scrap monster from my graveyard I choose scrap goblin"

"And now scrap twin dragon destroy's gungnir"

The huge steel behemoth crashed into gungnir eliminating it.

"I end my turn"

"I draw"

Turn-7

Things didn't seem to be looking in my favor right now. I had to stall until I managed to draw the right card.

Hand-1

'No this wouldn't work'

"I e-end my turn"

"Guess you're ready to accept your fate I draw"

Turn 8

"I summon scrap goblin and activate the quick play spell scrap storm on it. This allows me to send a scrap monster from my deck to the graveyard and draw a card after destroying a scrap monster I control. I send another scrap goblin and now destroy the scrap goblin in my hand and add scrap worm to my hand thanks to its effect. Now I draw"

He fiercely pulls out a card from his deck.

"Battle phase scrap twin dragon destroy mermail abyslinde"

The mermaid shattered under the might of the behemoth.

"When mermail abysslinde is destroyed I get to special summon another mermail monster I summon mermail abyssleed"

Mermail Abyssleed 7 2700/1000

"This turn will be your last since I have all the cards I need. I end my turn"

"I draw"

Turn 9

Hand-2

There was no way I was going to lose here. The card I drew was mermail abyssteus a lvl 7 monster that required a water monster to be discarded to activate it's effect. Luckily the other card in my hand was..

"I activate mermail abyssteus's effect by discarding a water monster I can special summon it"

Mermail Abyssteus 7 1700/2400

"The card I discarded was atlantean heavy infantry which when discarded allows me to destroy one monster that an opponent controls and I choose to destroy your scrap twin dragon"

"When scrap twin dragon is sent to the graveyard I can summon another non synchro scrap monster come forth scrap breaker in attack position"

"But wait by abyssteus's effect isn't over I also get to add a mermail card to my hand and the one i choose is mermail abyssdine which allows me to special summon her thanks to her effect. Since I special summoned her thanks to a mermail effect I can get special summon a lvl 3 mermail monster from my grave I summon mermail abysslinde"

"And now battle phase mermail abyssleed destroys scrap breaker"

The merman whips his tail at the machine and breaks it down.

? LP:4000-600=3400

"Attack abyssdine"

LP:3400-1000=2400

"Attack abysslinde"

LP:2400-1500=900

"And finish it mermail abyssteus direct attackk!" I said with elation while dealing the final blow.

LP:0

Raizen-Win

?-Loss

"Guhh let's get out of here"

The goons began to scatter leaving only their leader behind.

"You did a good job kid. I apologize for forcing the duel we had before, one of my men said that he saw a strong duelist planning to enter the Miami championship. And I had to test ya myself y'know"

"So can I leave now I kinda need to get somewhere"

"Oh before you leave take this as a apology"

He gave me a card scrap dragon.

"This card- I don't know if i can have it"

"Just take it I hardly even use it anymore and I have a copy if I need to use it"

"Oh thanks I'm going to be leaving now"

"Sure kid"

As I began to jog away I noticed the man staring at me. In my mind I knew that this guy wasn't a normal duelist. A normal duelist couldn't push me this far.

Maybe that was my ego speaking but I felt that this duelist was specifically looking for me not just any strong duelist. But it seemed like now wasn't the time to question it. I just pocketed the scrap dragon that he gave and began to walk away.

...

After that sudden duel I was able to get all the things that I necessarily needed and after a quick shower I waited for the moment the door would open.

An hour or so later during which I was messing around with my cards Yuto finally entered.

"Here he is" Yuto said walking in through the door.

I shuffled my cards and put them back in its holster.

"Are they nearby?" I asked as I got up from the bed.

"Raizen" A voice said as it tackled me.

AN: About the Japanese/English names I'll tend to stick with the Japanese names since I am more familiar with them. And I'll get to correcting the name thing sometime soon. So thanks for informing me.