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?

67. Chapter 67: The Forest For The Trees

Starting Notes:

Welcome back! This is what we in the business call a "transition chapter". :D We're getting to some really juicy stuff soon, so that's great! Let's get going! (This chapter is a lot lighter on the mind… well, mostly. :D)

---

Chapter 67: See The Forest For The Trees

How should someone even respond to a revelation like that?

… Yugo didn't know.

He was sure that he stumbled away, he was sure that he sat down at some point. Rin was there, looking at him concernedly.

Yugo looked at his hand.

In that file…

Roget had said that it was him. That it was likely that the one that had injured Kaname's eye was him.

And Yugo didn't remember that at all. But…

"Is it true?" He said—a whimper.

Rin looked somewhat uncomfortable, but she nodded, relenting after a moment. "Yeah, Yugo. It was you."

"When?"

"Right before she joined Arcadia," Rin said. "... everyone at the orphanage knew."

"Why didn't anyone… tell me?"

Rin cleared her throat. "... Kaname said that you'd had an episode, but it was over," she said. "And she was scared that everyone would treat you differently. She didn't want you to know and be guilty… so we all agreed that we wouldn't tell you. I'm sorry, Yugo."

But…

That meant that without even knowing it… he'd hurt her?

"Hey. Hey."

Rin clapped her hands in front of his face.

"So, are you just going to give up and cry?" Rin said. "That's not the Yugo that I know."

"But what if I just hurt her again if I go near her?"

"You'd never mean to hurt anyone. That's not you. I know that. Everyone knows that." Rin put her hands on her hips. "... she confessed it to you herself now. And can I just say, it's a relief to finally not have to hide it. I never agreed with her asking us to do it, but both Martha and Arisu agreed with her. In the end… it was a hard choice."

"You… didn't agree with them?"

"Of course not!" Rin exclaimed. "You're my… best friend, Yugo, but I never agreed that everyone just wanted to pretend that it never happened. You still have to take responsibility for it, even if you didn't know that it happened… that was my thought, anyway."

She lapsed into silence.

"I agree," Yugo said, finding his determination again. "Even if I don't remember, it was still me."

"Yeah. And by knowing, you won't do it again." Rin put her hands on his shoulders reassuringly. "I know that. She probably knows that too."

She hesitated.

"To be honest, I came in right after it happened. It's why I…" She shook her head. "... it was pretty horrific. I won't lie about that. That's why I agreed with her… otherwise, I probably would have kept on insisting."

Yugo nodded.

He would never do it again. No matter what…

But then, once he managed to get over his despair at what he had done…

It was immediately replaced with sharp anger.

"That guy, Sergey Volkov," Yugo said. "I thought that he was a monster already for what he did. But… he…"

Because he had seen. He had seen her face…

And the fact that Roget knew about this, but had let that monster work for him anyway…

"I used to hope that Roget at least cared for Kaname a little," Yugo said. He was somewhat bitter. "Because if she left, I hoped that at least someone, somewhere would care for her and take care of her, when she was so… vulnerable. Because… she's skilled, but emotionally…"

"She's a wreck," Rin said concisely.

"Yeah. But he doesn't care for her, does he? Not really. Kaname wants so badly for someone to love her properly, but he'll never be able to do that, no matter what. He's just… the worst." He clenched a fist. "If he actually cared for her, and he knew about this, he should have killed Sergey Volkov!"

"Calm down, Yugo." Rin smacked his shoulder—snapping Yugo out of his fury. "We're taking Roget down today. You can yell all of this at him later."

"You should."

For a moment, Yugo and Rin both looked around—searching for where the voice had come from. Rin spotted her first.

Chino Otobashi held out an envelope towards him. "Pass that to Reiji Akaba," she said. Once Yugo took it, she turned around. "... once you win, you really should yell at him."

She briskly walked back to her D-Wheel. No one had paid her any mind—people were more relaxed now. Roget had said that he would send Security after them, but he was probably still gathering his forces together.

Yugo opened the envelope, looking inside.

---

Reiji Akaba,

Shall we finish off this game? I tire of waiting.

I have placed the High Council's building under complete lockdown. Even by focusing all your men there, you will never make it into the building. I have retrieved the five pieces that remove the lockdown from the High Council, and I have split it among the people you expect. To keep this game fair, I have delegated them to different positions in the city. The sectors that I have delegated them to are displayed on the back of this invitation. They have been ordered to give up the part of the key that they hold, if they lose in a duel. That way, it's fair, no?

This is my final stand. I will take this city today, no matter the result.

Feel free to try to stop me. You cannot stop what is already in motion.

"Ominous," Reiji finally commented, after he was done with the note.

"Does he need to write like a moustache-twirling video game boss?" Mion said with a frown.

Reiji thought carefully. He flipped over the piece of paper.

After reading, he stood up.

"What are you going to do, big brother?" Reira asked, clinging to his shirt.

"... I think that it's time that I consult my Lancers, before we make our decision," Reiji said.

"'Our' decision?" Mion repeated. "... alright then." There was something admiring to her tone. Reiji did his best to not get flustered by it.

---

"… so Yuri went back?" Serena grimaced. "Damn it."

She had hoped… she had hoped so much.

… she was still horrified. By all of them. By how unlike themselves they had acted.

She—

A hand landed on the back of her head. Serena blinked, snapping back to reality.

"Are you…" Ruri Kurosaki said softly. "Are you okay?"

Yuzu glanced between them. "Uh," she said, sensing the strange atmosphere, "I'll go over there." She practically fled—

Leaving the two of them there.

Ruri clearly didn't know what to say either.

Serena bit her lip roughly—until it started bleeding. Ruri's eyes widened.

"H-hey! Are you—"

"I'm sorry," Serena gritted out.

Why was it so hard to say words that she had been so determined to say?

"I'm so… sorry." Serena clenched her fists. She couldn't look directly at Ruri. "I can't apologise enough. If not for me…"

If not for me, you might have reunited with your brother sooner.

To her surprise, arms wrapped tightly around her. Serena looked up instinctively.

Ruri's eyes were squeezed shut, but it looked like she might cry. "Have you been feeling guilty about that all this time? No, it's not your fault! It wasn't your fault at all!" She shook her head—tearful and yet sharply defiant. "I'm so sorry that you feel like you were responsible for me too… but it wasn't you. I have no right to blame you!"

"You should!"

"Don't tell me that!" Ruri said. "You can't tell me to blame you—it's my choice what I want to do, and I don't want to choose to hate anyone!..."

… why was she just so nice? It only made Serena feel more guilty.

If she had helped them. If she had done anything back then…

She had escaped alone and left those three behind.

They should blame her. They should!

She was just as bad as everyone at Academia, for ignoring their plight back then—for treating this girl in front of her aas an enemy.

"If you really feel so bad," Ruri said, "then, after this… let's duel, me and you."

Serena blinked.

"That's your language, right?" Ruri pressed her hands against Serena's, lifting them up. "Let's duel. Then, you'll see that I really don't blame you at all. And I'll be able to see just how different of a person you've become since then."

Serena stubbornly refused to cry.

Such easy forgiveness. She wasn't used to it yet.

"Fine," she said. "When this is all over, I'll duel you. I'll prove—"

That I'm not the same person I was back then.

---

"She's the kindest, isn't she?"

"Y-yeah." Yuzu held out her hand. The red-haired girl that could only be Chiaki Katsuya glanced at it, smirked slightly and high-fived her instead of shaking her hand. "I'm Yuzu Hiiragi."

"There's one from every world… so you're from Standard, right?"

"Yeah."

"Cool." Seeming unruffled, Chiaki glanced back at Ruri and Serena. "... she's really amazing. Ruri, I mean. Rin too, but in a different way. I don't know if I could forgive someone who wronged me so easily."

"Serena?" Yuzu blinked. Then, feeling slightly defensive of her friend, her voice became slightly louder, though she wasn't conscious of it. "She's different now—she's fighting to help others…"

"And even if Ruri forgives her," Chiaki said, "even if she becomes a better person, it doesn't change the fact that she still wronged us. Both things can still be true."

"... are you always so hostile?"

Chiaki rubbed her forehead, before she picked up a few strands of her hair. She was clearly annoyed with her hair, though Yuzu didn't know why. "... yeah." She shot Yuzu a confident smile. "I am. Are you always so optimistic?"

"... well, I am…"

"... hmm. That's fine then." Chiaki shrugged. "I'll be heading back to Yuji."

Yuzu watched her go, feeling something odd in her heart.

… she had a feeling that she wouldn't get along well with that girl.

---

She left.

She left me behind for that guy again. She didn't even say goodbye to me before she left!

I hate him. I don't care what anyone says, I hate Yuri Kaiba. I hate him—

"... I am not equipped for this," a voice muttered from behind him. Then, Nue settled down next to him, her black eyes studying him. "Alright. What's wrong?"

Sora rubbed at his eyes defiantly.

"And you can't say that nothing's wrong when you're sobbing your eyes out in a corner by yourself. Only reason that I'm the one that came over is because there's too many reunions going on."

Reunions…

"Damn it," Nue muttered when Sora turned away from her. "I'm out of practice when it comes to knowing the right thing to say." She sounded frustrated enough that Sora took notice—after all, that frustration was because she was trying to comfort him, right?

"... Shino took Yuri with her and left," he said.

"And you don't like that?"

"Of course not! She… she always prioritises him over me." Sora shook his head. "She always says that it's because he needs help more, but… it sucks! She always chooses him."

"... so you're jealous?"

"I—" Sora was about to shout out a denial, but as he whirled his head around, a hand gently patted the top of his head.

"Younger siblings are always like this," Nue said, rolling her eyes. "Except Yuto. He skipped the angsty clingy phase, and I'm forever thankful for that."

"I'm—I'm an only child—"

Nue shot him a deadpan look. Sora wisely shut up.

"Look, I get it." The dark-haired girl drew her hand back. "You think that she's abandoning you because she's paying less attention to you."

Sora gritted his teeth—

"So you're blaming him instead of her?"

—and his mouth fell open.

"Why not blame her?" Nue shot him a cold look. "It's not his fault that she cares for him. If she's ended up neglecting you because of him, that's her fault, not his. Is it the lily's fault that the gardener cares more for it than the dandelion? Is it the lily's fault that it wilts more easily than the weeds, so more time must be spent trimming it?"

"You aren't very comforting," Sora protested weakly.

"And you are ridiculous," Nue replied. There was no heat to it—just a simple statement of fact. "Don't get me wrong. I don't like either of them. Not the one who knows what she's doing is wrong and continues to do it anyway, or the one who followed the orders to kidnap my brother's girlfriend and likely traumatised her for life."

She stood up.

"When you hate, at least hate for the right reasons. Otherwise, you'll really become a miserable person."

Sora glanced at his hands as she left.

… the truth was, he had hated Yuri from the start. When he'd first met him, when he'd first seen how strong he was, when he'd first seen how taken Shino was with him.

He'd hated him, with a single thought.

You don't deserve to have what you have, asshole.

Hatred for the right reasons, hatred for the wrong reasons…

What exactly was the right path to follow?

---

"I haven't seen you do that in a while."

"What do you mean?" Nue shrugged. "I've been unkind plenty of times recently."

Shun and Yuto had both been hanging back to give Ruri a bit of space to talk to Serena. At the same time, both of them were still watching the two girls. Yuto, however, had noticed his sister walking to talk to Sora.

"I don't think you were unkind," Yuto said truthfully. "Actually, it was kind of like watching you with those children from Diamond Branch's middle school division again. You're… too harsh, Nue, but you don't lie."

"... of course not." Nue shook her head. "I'm just a firm believer that people need to look properly at the worst parts of themselves to grow in any way." She put her hands in her pockets. "... and that girl with the dragons. I really can't stand her."

Yuto blinked. "Why?"

"... can't put my finger on it." Nue glanced away. "It's not important, anyway." She looked at him—a softer look in her eyes. "You don't feel the same way as him, do you?"

"Jealous?" Yuto had at least overheard a bit of the conversation. "No. I know how you think, Nue."

That persistent attitude of viewing the world in two 'halves'. What was 'hers' and 'not hers'.

Yuto was very aware of it.

Nue would put in everything for those that were 'hers', and wouldn't care about those who weren't. A selfish protectiveness, to preserve her own world.

"But because of that, I was confused," he admitted. "I thought that you didn't care about…"

"The Lancers are a part of my world now too," Nue said. Her gaze fell on the people around them. "That's what I think. Anyone that wants to interfere with the Lancers is my problem now too." She shrugged. "... does that make you happy?"

"Yes," Yuto said.

As you are now, you seem more like the kind sister that I knew.

If your world gets larger and larger, maybe someday you can be truly kind to everyone.

"The Resistance is still more important to me though," Nue said. "Even so…" She smiled wryly. "I've gotten fond of this. I might even miss them when it's over."

---

When Miharu saw Reira, she pulled Yuno along, walking towards the other girl. Yuno seemed confused, but came along with her anyway.

"Miharu…"

"… sorry, Reira," Miharu said. "It was… my fault."

Reiji and Mion, who had been discussing something, both looked over. Miharu pretended not to notice.

"Miharu… didn't do anything wrong."

"… that's wrong," Miharu said quietly. "You don't know it. But I… provoked Roget. He said something to me that I could not agree with, and I talked back to him. And that's why he hurt you, Reira. It was my fault that you went through something so horrible."

Reira reached out for Miharu's arm. Miharu drew herself back sharply before Reira could touch her.

"… I don't blame you, Miharu," Reira said, her hand hanging in the air. Miharu knew that she meant it.

However… it brought back bad memories.

Every time I allow myself to act impulsively on my own judgement of what is right, I make the same mistakes. I hurt others, and I hurt myself.

This is why I can't trust my own heart.

Never again. Not like that.

I can't see that again. I can't go through that again.

"… I don't like…" Reira was still looking at her. "The look in your eyes right now, Miharu… I don't like it."

Miharu blinked. The receding colours slowly inched back into her vision, but she could barely make out any details at all.

"... Miharu?" Yuno said from next to her, gently squeezing her hand.

"... I just wanted to apologise," Miharu said. "It won't happen again. I'll make sure that it never happens again."

"I… really don't like it," Reira repeated. "Why are you looking at me like that, Miharu?"

And Miharu couldn't respond to that sentiment. Instead, she simply repeated her apology, and then she pulled Yuno away.

"... I'm really mad at Roget," Yuno muttered—and yes. He understood that she was upset, but not truly why.

It was fine though.

They had already been honest with each other, right? Not completely—but most of the truth was there.

But the last part—she could not say it.

She didn't know if she would ever be able to say it.

---

Reira blinked.

In Miharu, she had always seen her own eyes. It was more comfortable.

But…

Those eyes…

Even Reira's own fear and pain couldn't swallow up her concern about what she saw in those eyes.

"… we'll address that later," Reiji said. He and Mion exchanged a look. "… let's go talk to the rest."

---

"... and as such, that is Roget's plan." Reiji pushed up his glasses. "The plan is simple. We leave some people here to defend the injured, and we send a group after each of the officers that holds a part of the key. We retrieve them, use them to open the door into Security."

"Can we trust Roget to be telling the truth about that?" Shun said—for once being quite reasonable.

"He probably is," Aki spoke up. "I don't… intend to be a defender for Roget—because I despise him. Even so, I am aware of the lockdown system. It was aimed to protect the High Council in the event of a riot—they would hand off the keys to someone on the outside, stay inside, and have the wrath of the riot be directed at others, who would be fighting to protect them." She creased an eyebrow. "So it's probably true. And I can't see why he would trust those that were weaker."

"Alright." Reiji nodded. "To ensure that we take down each of them as swiftly as possible—and reduce the amount of suffering that the people here have to go through—we should send four or five people along. I doubt that they will agree to a duel quite that unfair—but at the very least, it will be better for your mental state if the pressure is not all on you."

Mental state? Pressure?

Miharu raised her head, blinking.

It seemed that Reiji Akaba had become slightly more considerate. That was a strange feeling.

Five people blocking off the way to Roget, huh?

That would be Arisu Kirijo, Kaname Mizuchi, Makoto Toyama, Chino Otobashi and Sergey Volkov, no?

… Sergey Volkov…!

"I would like to ask about your opinions, as you are the ones that have properly faced off against our enemies in this dimension," Reiji said. "I will stay here and defend this place myself—I do not trust Roget. If he is plotting to cause everyone here to leave so that he can cause harm to the injured and the rebellious… I will stop him myself. But for the others… I acknowledge that you may know more than I do."

… hmm.

"Well, if we get to say something, then I have a request." Serena stood up. She had woken up a while after Miharu and Yugo had gotten back, and she had not stopped throwing slightly confused and odd looks towards him and the others with the same face ever since. Miharu didn't understand why—she'd have to ask the other girl later.

"Yes?"

"I'm going after that guy with the dragons," she said. "Toyama. Or maybe the woman, Otobashi. That's who I want to be my target. I need to beat them, no matter what."

Miharu glanced at her.

… a decision entirely based on pride. It was clearly for Serena to prove something to herself.

Reiji seemed to realise it too. He didn't actually talk her down.

"If it's personal," Yuno said from next to her with a chuckle, "I have a request too."

He didn't look at Reiji though. He squeezed Miharu's hand with his own, and he turned towards Yugo.

"I have a loss that I need to return as well," he said. "Is that okay?"

A loss…

Miharu often thought about it. About the possibility of someone being able to defeat Yuno, back then. Of that woman with the crystals and the beasts. About Yuno himself failing to stand up to her.

Despite the fact that Yuno was still worn out, she understood very well.

She did not want to think about Yuno losing. And she wanted to see him win properly.

Fine. She would leave Sergey Volkov to someone else. There were too many people that had the right to take him down, anyway.

"Against… Arisu?" Yugo said.

"Bingo!" Yuno grinned. "Is that fine?"

"... well…" Yugo seemed conflicted, which made sense. He was clearly rather invested in the whole situation—he had far too many people that he wanted to confront.

In the end, the one who spoke up was not either of them.

"You have one opponent. Leave the rest to us."

Yugo turned his head. Jack Atlas had his arms folded.

"Carly said that you went to the Security building to confront Roget," the King of the City said. "Go to the High Council building and wait for it to be unlocked. You… and her." He turned to Rin, nodding in acknowledgement. "... I will leave Roget in your hands."

Yugo looked touched. Eventually, he nodded, determined.

"I promise, King," he said, raising his fist in challenge. "I'll defeat Roget, and this will all finally be over!"

---

In the end, they separated into six groups—one for each of the five officers, and the rest staying behind to carry on securing the location of the Friendship Cup stadium. Of course, the range that Roget had given seemed to be deliberately large—even within those groups, they'd likely have to split up to search for their targets.

In short—

The first group, heading towards the downtown that joined the Tops to the Commons, was Serena, Sora and Tsukikage. Serena had already been there before—all the way at the start, when she, Dennis and Shun had headed to search for strong duelists by themselves. So she led the way.

The second group was the trio of Nue, Mion and Kyorin, who were heading towards the western side of the Tops. Nue had chosen to go with the other two after entrusting Yuto to Ruri and Shun, and making them promise to be careful and stay calm. Meanwhile, Mion had decided to go, since Reiji would be staying behind to handle communications between all of them, as the leader. (Kyorin had just been worried about the two of them going by themselves, and therefore had decided to go along too.)

Naturally, that meant that the third group was Yuto, Ruri and Shun, who were all heading together to the western side of the Commons. That was a pretty naturally formed group, considering that both Yuto and Shun flatly refused to let Ruri out of their sight.

The fourth group was Yuno, Miharu and Hitoda, though for some reason, everyone seemed somewhat tense about that prospect. Yuno found it odd—wasn't that the obvious answer, since the three of them would at least know how to work with each other? Mion had asked if it was fine for the three of them to go by themselves.

"It's fine," Yuno had said cheerfully. "We're a bit worn out, but we're fine." However, in the end, Sawatari and Gongenzaka went along with them as well, which seemed to reassure everyone else. So the five of them had decided to go to the eastern side of the Commons.

Finally, the fifth group was Yuya, Yuzu and…

Yuno snorted.

Well.

He glanced over at Yuya, who was currently talking to Yuzu. And right behind them was Jack Atlas, checking on his D-Wheel.

He was not even going to question why the King of the City was going with Yuya.

Oh. Uh.

Was Jack making his way over towards them?

Yuno waved awkwardly. Miharu watched Jack, seeming curious as well, even though she didn't say anything.

"Hi," Yuno said. "Is there something you needed?..."

Jack didn't speak for a moment. However, eventually, when he did speak—

"I am sorry."

—it was not something that Yuno had expected.

"Uh. What for?"

"I chose to search for Academia by myself early, hoping that I could stop their invasion before it was too late," Jack said. For all that he still had the same imperial appearance as before, there was something… remorseful to his expression. "And in doing so, I chose the good of the city over the two of you."

… oh.

That duel, huh?

Yuno still had no memory of it. Just the tiredness, and then Miharu's desperate grip on his shirt, her head buried in his chest. He didn't want to think about it at all.

"I know now that Roget likely had some hand in what happened to you," Jack said. "He turned the two of you against each other, and…"

Miharu and Yuno exchanged a look.

"And I am sorry," Jack finished. "I saw your suffering but did not step in to help you. If you resent me, you are well within your rights to do so."

"... I don't." Miharu raised her head. "You are not our enemy."

"What she said!" Yuno said cheerfully. "I don't even really know what happened, but… it'd have been hard for you to stop us, the way that we were going at each other. It could have been worse."

"... I see." Jack looked between the two of them. "Thank you for your understanding."

"No problem!"

Jack seemed like he wanted to say something else. However, much to Yuno's relief, he eventually turned around and walked off.

Yuno finally exhaled slowly.

… it would be so much easier if it had truly just been Roget that had played a role in what had happened to them.

Unfortunately, Miharu had informed him that it was not the case. It had taken him a while to pry it out of her after they had reunited, but eventually, she had explained everything that had happened to him.

And he was forced to question—

Was it possible for such a malicious creature, one that held such hatred and cruelty towards Miharu, to exist within him? Even under stress or pressure, it didn't feel like he could ever do something like that.

So, what exactly was the 'creature' that had spoken to Miharu with his voice?

… and had that creature come out again, when he was dueling in that building?

Yuya, Yuto, Yugo and Yuji didn't seem to know anything about it. Serena had avoided talking about it, but she clearly knew a bit more than she was letting on. And…

Yuno glanced over at Hitoda.

"You're thinking of asking questions again, aren't you?" Hitoda said. She tilted her head. "Wait a bit longer, yeah? I'm winded, and I didn't see much anyway."

… yeah. That.

"But did you feel that strange… atmosphere when we said that we'd go together?" Hitoda said. She turned her head to glance at the rest of the Lancers. "I can't help but feel that something important happened… and that I missed out on hearing it, somehow."

Yuno nodded.

"... we can deal with that after we're done," Miharu said. Her eyes were focused on her laptop. She hadn't stopped working since she had gotten back to Yuno's side—typing with a single hand, her other hand clutching onto his hand tightly. Yuno had no clue what she was working on, but she'd tell him if it was important, anyway. "It's not like you'll have to do much."

"You really do have a lot of faith in Yuno, huh?"

"... Yuno's not in good shape," Miharu said. Her gaze trailed to Yuno's leg, and Yuno felt mildly called out. "It's fine. We haven't dueled together in a while."

Hitoda's eyes widened. So did Yuno's.

"... are you sure?" Hitoda asked. She looked rather serious now. "Dueling together with him now—" She stopped. Her gaze was cautious. "... aren't you worried about the two of you?"

Yuno felt the same way.

… was Miharu just trying to ignore everything that had happened? Acting like there would be no problems with dueling together as they were right now…

"I'm not worried," Miharu said. "I'm fine. I…"

It was a small reaction—a wince.

However, she seemed to brace herself—and she mustered up the strength to speak up again. "I am alright. I want to duel to protect people."

"I understand," Yuno said. "Then I'm alright too." He smiled at her.

He couldn't help but be worried about her. There was something about her that seemed… off. It had seemed off since she had come back here. It had been particularly obvious when she was talking to Reira.

But if she said that she was fine, then she would be fine, eventually.

And Yuno was fine too!

All he had to do was support her.

---

Hitoda watched them quietly.

How long do you intend to delude yourselves that you're alright?

It's insufferable.

She stretched. "Then, if you're both so confident in yourselves," she said, "you two can go with Sawatari and Gongenzaka. I'll stay here and rest."

"H-huh?"

"I believe in you," Hitoda said. She glanced to Miharu's wrist. "You should be fine."

Serena's bracelet had run out because of how much it had been suppressing everything, right? But Miharu's bracelet hadn't done much yet. And none of the others were going with him. So Yuno, at least, wouldn't run into any problems.

"It'll make people feel at ease, if for some reason, they really don't want us to go together. But really," she warned. "Don't push yourselves."

"... we have to win," Miharu said. "... I refuse to have been nothing but someone that Roget tormented."

… far too determined, too.

Hitoda's fingers pressed to her cheek as she watched the two of them.

Have you known this about your own sister this entire time, Ryoken Kogami?

In that case, why haven't you said anything to her about this uncanny determination? She will run herself into the ground.

I do hope that she and Yuno can support each other with their strengths. Otherwise, it's also very likely that they'll drag each other down with their flaws.

… it's a hope.

I'll have to tell him the truth soon. If not the truth about himself… the truth about the first time I saw him.

---

"So you will be staying behind here?" Reiji asked. Aki nodded.

"I need to," she said. She glanced away. "... Sherry isn't back yet, and she wasn't in the Underground. I don't know where she's gone, but if she's injured, and someone brings her back… I want to make sure that I'm on hand to heal her. If I go out just to search, I might miss the moment when she comes back."

"I see," Reiji said. "I understand. We'll be working together to protect this place then." Already, Security was showing up—men and women in helmets, their eyes obscured, dueling like robots to try and capture them. "As for the D-Wheels…"

After the Lancers had decided on who was going out, the next problem was… well, getting out. However, unexpectedly, the solution had come from one of the Tops, who had offered them his D-Wheel. And then more and more of them offered their D-Wheels to them…

And well. Transport wasn't a large problem anymore.

"Take them," Aki said. "These are from people who believe in your goodness, over Roget's lies." There was a gentleness to her smile that always surprised Reiji. "I believe in your Lancers' capability to achieve justice."

"Aki. We have some trouble."

Aki and Reiji both turned over. Kiryu Kyosuke walked over to them, a calm look on his face—contrasting with the words that he'd just spoken.

"What's wrong?" Aki said.

"Shinji and Naoya are missing." Kiryu rubbed his forehead. "... I have a feeling that both of them are about to do something very reckless."

Aki frowned.

"I will tell my Lancers to set off now then," Reiji replied. "If the two of them are now acting impulsive—we will back them up."

"A strange statement," Kiryu said, eyeing him.

Reiji pushed his glasses up. "This entire fight is a war of emotion," he said. "It is a city rising up against 'the city' that they have lived in for so long. If people act based on their own hearts—I think that in this specific instance, that is the most 'right' thing that they can do. We do this for justice, yes—but we don't forget the existence of hearts. Our logic and skill will not unsee the troubled storm that rages within all of you—we will temper you."

---

"... you're not a Lancer," Makoto said, leaning against the wall. They were in the Underground Dueling Arena—Makoto had just finished a cigarette when the D-Wheel had rocketed straight in, right on the track. He tossed it down, crushing it under his heel. "What's your problem?"

"You—Security." Shinji narrowed his eyes. "You've been working with Academia all along, haven't you?"

"... ah. I know that voice." Makoto moved out of the darker space, shaking his head under the bright lights. Next to him, a cat trailed his footsteps. It was an odd sight—the cat was slinking around his shoes, before it pawed its way to the seats, resting there. "You're the idealist. The revolutionary."

"... tell me," Shinji said. "Crow—how do I get Crow back?"

"... ah. Your friend got carded?"

Shinji flinched.

"Sorry, but Security isn't Academia's ally." Makoto put his hands in his pockets. "If there's a way to uncard people, I sure as hell don't know it. And even if you can, is it right to do that?"

"What?" Shinji snapped. "And let those people stay dead—"

"Exactly. Dead means gone." The words were sharp—and they were like daggers to Shinji's wounded heart. "If it turns out that there's a way to bring them back, well, what does that mean? Does it mean admitting that what they did to your friend is any less monstrous? Didn't your friend die believing in protecting people?"

Another step forward.

"Aren't you the one who calls for insurrection? The one who says that you must be prepared for sacrifice in order to overcome the Tops? Is sacrifice different when it's a person you know?"

"You bastard!" Shinji aimed a punch for Makoto's face, barely missing as Makoto took a step to the side.

"It's just a question," Makoto said. "Why are you getting so worked up?"

"You know very well why," Shinji said, seething. "You're the one making fun of my friend's death!"

"... hah." A shrug, so casual that it made Shinji want to punch the officer again. "I'm not making fun of him. It's distasteful to make fun of the innocent. But enough of that already." A small, cocky grin. "You didn't race ahead of the rest just to argue with me, did you? And I'm in far too good of a mood to keep on arguing with someone that won't change his mind. I know nothing about carding and how it works. If you want anything, ask the boss."

"… fine. Then, to get to him, I have to beat you, don't I?"

Something shark-like emerged in the officer's grin. "You got it. So? Aren't I one of the Security officers you guys have been prattling on and on about since you were kids? Chino's told me all about you, Shinji Weber. Show me just how much bite lies beneath that bark."

… this guy was baiting him on purpose.

Still though…

Shinji couldn't help it. He was furious.

Alright…

Crow. I'll get you back, no matter what!

[DUEL!]

Shinji Weber: 4000LP

Makoto Toyama: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Makoto] [H:5]

"... hmm." A soft scoff. "I'll set two cards facedown and end my turn."

Just like that? Nothing else? Leaving himself open with no monsters?

… what was he planning?

[Turn 2: Shinji] [H:6]

"Draw!" Shinji glanced at the card. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Graceful Charity! I'll draw three cards and discard two cards. Then, I'll Special Summon Battlewasp - Twinbow the Attacker from my hand, but I cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck this turn, except Insect monsters!" The pink and yellow wasp appeared in front of him, letting out a sharp buzzing noise.

[Battlewasp - Twinbow the Attacker (3*/1000/500/WIND/Insect/Effect)]

"Then, I'll Normal Summon Battlewasp - Sting the Poison!" The mechanical red and pink wasp appeared next to Twinbow.

[Battlewasp - Sting the Poison (2*/400/800/WIND/Insect/Tuner/Effect)]

"I'll activate Sting the Poison's effect! I'll add a "Battlewasp" monster other than itself from my deck to my hand! And then, I'll tune the Level 2 Battlewasp - Sting the Poison to the Level 3 Battlewasp - Twinbow the Attacker! Come now, ghostly archer who fires off arrows at high velocity! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Battlewasp - Azusa the Ghost Bow!" The humanoid insect appeared, wearing white fabric as a skirt, with red and gold armour over it.

[Battlewasp - Azusa the Ghost Bow (5*/2200/1600/WIND/Insect/Synchro/Tuner/Effect)]

"Then, since I Special Summoned an Insect monster, I can Special Summon Humongous Hive Hegemon - Zexstagger from my hand!" A tall orange robot appeared—it resembled both machine and insect at first glance, and in fact, it looked remarkably like a mecha. In its right hand, it held onto a thick sword.

[Humongous Hive Hegemon - Zexstagger (8*/1500/2600/WIND/Insect/Effect)]

"Zexstagger gains 300 attack points for each other Insect monster I control!"

[Humongous Hive Hegemon - Zexstagger: 1500 + 300 = 1800ATK]

"Battle Phase! Battlewasp - Azusa the Ghost Bow attacks you directly!"

"Oh, you actually have enough damage to take me out this turn?" Makoto flipped over one of his set cards. "Quickplay Spell—Dragunity Whirlwind! Since only my opponent controls a monster, I can Special Summon a "Dragunity" Tuner and a "Dragunity" Winged Beast monster from my deck with their effects negated. Come, Dragunity Miltium! Dragunity Guisarme!"

The two monsters appeared in front of him—a warrior in green and gold armour, along with a small, feral-looking green dragon.

[Dragunity Miltium (4*/1700/1200/WIND/Winged Beast/Effect)]

[Dragunity Guisarme (3*/600/1600/WIND/Dragon/Tuner/Effect)]

"Then, since my opponent controls a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can immediately perform a Synchro Summon using "Dragunity" monsters I control!"

What? So if he hadn't Synchro Summoned Azusa…

"Of course, even if you didn't, I would still get two meatshields," Makoto commented, as though reading his mind. "Emerald brilliance, shine forth in the striking wind! Noble dragon knight with the bluest blade! Synchro Summon—Level 7, Dragunity Knight - Gormfaobhar!" A large green dragon appeared, looking like a far older version of Guisarme. There was a green-winged warrior standing on its back. At the front of its face, a large, black horn glittered.

[Dragunity Knight - Gormfaobhar (7*/2600/2300/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"And when Gormfaobhar is Synchro Summoned, I can equip a "Dragunity" Tuner monster from my graveyard to it. I'll naturally equip Dragunity Guisarme to it." Makoto smirked. "So, it seems that your monsters' attack points fell short."

"... tsk! I'll set a card facedown and end my turn! And during the End Phase, Zexstagger lets both of us summon an Insect monster from our hand or graveyard! You have nothing to summon, but I will bring out Battlewasp - Sting the Poison in Defense Position!" The small bee reappeared on the field. "And with that, Zexstagger gets 300 more attack points!"

[Humongous Hive Hegemon Zexstagger: 1800 + 300 = 2100ATK]

"Ah, I see," Makoto said, tilting his head. "... not bad. Back to me."

[Turn 3: Makoto] [H:4]

"Draw," Makoto said. "I'll activate the effect of Dragunity Guisarme. Once per turn, when it's equipped to a monster I control, I can Special Summon it!" The tiny green dragon reappeared on the field.

So he was going to Synchro Summon that strongest monster of his—the dragon with scales like a sunrise?

"I know that look." His opponent sounded unbearably smug. "And what'd you know? You're right. I'll tune the Level 3 Dragunity Guisarme to the Level 7 Dragunity Knight - Gormfaobhar! Fire, form the explosive star that floats over the chasm of the world beyond us! Be seen by the ice and the wind and bury the world in your light! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Dragunity Knight - Ascalon!" The large orange dragon appeared in front of him, its golden wings unfurling and blazing brightly. It was hard to look at—far too bright.

[Dragunity Knight - Ascalon (10*/3300/3200/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"I will then discard Dragunity Remus from my hand to add the Field Spell, Dragon Ravine from my deck to my hand. And I'll activate it. By discarding a card, I will add a Level 4 or lower "Dragunity" monster from my deck to my hand. Then, since I control a "Dragunity" monster, I can Special Summon Remus from the graveyard, but it is banished when it leaves the field, and I can't Special Summon anything from the Extra Deck this turn, except Dragon monsters."

So their decks actually operated on similar restrictions?

A silver dragon with a dark blue underside to its wings appeared.

[Dragunity Remus (2*/800/800/WIND/Dragon/Tuner/Effect)]

"I'll then Normal Summon Dragunity Dux." A black and white-themed warrior appeared.

[Dragunity Dux (4*/1500/1000/WIND/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"With its effect, I'll equip a Level 3 or lower "Dragunity" Dragon monster from my graveyard to it." He lifted up Guisarme's card. "Not that it matters in this case. I will tune the Level 2 Dragunity Remus to the Level 4 Dragunity Dux!"

The two monsters shot up again, turning into a green streak of light that shot through two bright rings.

"Dark dragon appearing from the bloody world of war! Pierce everything with your cruel spear and leave nothing behind to rot! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Dragunity Knight - Gae Dearg!" The black dragon appeared in front of him, its skeletal mask rather intimidating. There was something sinister to its gaze.

[Dragunity Knight - Gae Dearg (6*/2400/800/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"I'll activate Gae Dearg's effect. I will add a Level 4 or lower Dragon or Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand, and I'll then discard a Dragon or Winged Beast monster from my hand." He gestured to Ascalon. "Dragunity Knight - Ascalon's effect. By banishing a "Dragunity" monster from my graveyard, I can target a monster you control and banish it. I will banish Dragunity Dux from my graveyard and banish Battlewasp - Azusa the Ghost Bow from your field! Ascending Sunblaze!"

"I'll activate the effect of Battlewasp - Sting the Poison!" Shinji countered. "By tributing another Insect monster I control, like Battlewasp - Azusa the Ghost Bow, I can negate the effects of an Effect Monster on the field until the End Phase! I'll negate the effects of Dragunity Knight - Ascalon!" An arrow shot forward, and Ascalon's glow died down slightly.

Azusa was still going to leave the field, but at the very least, it would be in the graveyard, meaning that its effects could still be used later.

"Fair," Makoto said. "Well, Ascalon still exceeds your monster's attack points, especially now that you've lost one Insect monster. And I don't fancy letting you get an additional revival of an Insect monster every turn. Dragunity Knight - Ascalon attacks Zexstagger!"

[Humongous Hive Hegemon - Zexstagger: 2100 - 300 = 1800ATK]

"Trap Card, Draining Shield! I'll negate the attack and gain life points equal to your monster's attack points!" A barrier appeared in front of Zexstagger, protecting both it and Shinji himself.

Shinji: 4000 + 3300 = 7300LP

His opponent seemed rather unfazed. "Sure. Gae Dearg attacks Zexstagger!"

His monster was finally destroyed, and his life points fell back down by a small amount.

Shinji: 7300 - 600 = 6700LP

"You get to keep a monster though! Congratulations. You survived. Your move."

[Turn 4: Shinji] [H:4]

"Draw!" Shinji glanced at his field. "I'll Normal Summon Battlewasp - Arbalest the Rapidfire!" A purple and yellow bee appeared on the field.

[Battlewasp - Arbalest the Rapidfire (4*/1800/800/WIND/Insect/Effect)]

"With Arbalest the Rapidfire's effect, I can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower Insect monster from my graveyard in Defense Position! I will Special Summon Battlewasp - Twinbow the Attacker back to the field! I will tune the Level 2 Battlewasp - Sting the Poison to the Level 4 Battlewasp - Arbalest the Rapidfire! Use your wings to make a storm follow your ways, and with your poleaxe, open a way to the truth! Synchro Summon! Come! Level 6! Battlewasp - Halberd the Charge!" The blue and gold humanoid insect appeared, holding up a dark polearm in its hands.

[Battlewasp - Halberd the Charge (6*/2500/800/WIND/Insect/Synchro/Effect)]

"Battlewasp - Halberd the Charge will attack your Dragunity Knight - Ascalon! And when Halberd the Charge attacks a monster with equal or higher attack points, I can halve the attack points of that monster you control until the end of damage calculation!"

"Oh? An effect like that… why not."

Really? He was giving up on his monster too easily, wasn't he?

[Dragunity Knight - Ascalon: 3300 / 2 = 1650ATK]

Ascalon was crushed by the insect warrior with a single jab of its spear

Makoto: 4000 - 850 = 3150LP

"Since Halberd the Charge destroyed a monster you control by battle, Azusa the Ghost Bow Special Summons herself from the graveyard in Defense Position!" The previous Synchro Monster reappeared. "Halberd's effect! When it inflicts battle damage to you, I can also inflict 200 damage to you for each "Battlewasp" monster I control! I control Twinbow the Attacker, Halberd the Charge and Azusa the Ghost Bow! I will inflict 600 damage to you!" The three small gusts of wind blew through the air.

Makoto: 3150 - 200 x 3 = 2550LP

"Since a "Battlewasp" monster I control inflicted effect damage to you, I can activate Azusa the Ghost Bow's effect to inflict damage to you, equal to the original attack points of the monster that inflicted effect damage to you!"

Another arrow was loosed from its string—and Makoto's life points dropped unimaginably low.

Makoto: 2550 - 2500 = 50LP

"Ascalon's effect," Makoto said. "Since it was destroyed after being Synchro Summoned, I can Special Summon a "Dragunity" Synchro Monster with 3000 or less attack points from my Extra Deck, and treat it as a Synchro Summon! Emerald, shining scales! Glide onto the field now, and let these fallen souls be your fuel! Synchro Summon! Level 8! Dragunity Knight - Barcha!" His green and purple dragon appeared, tail swinging sharply through the air.

[Dragunity Knight - Barcha (8*/2000/1200/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"Barcha's effect. When Synchro Summoned, I can equip as many Dragon "Dragunity" monsters from my graveyard to it as possible. I only have four Spell and Trap Zones open. I'll equip Dragunity Guisarme, Dragunity Phalanx and Dragunity Couse from my graveyard to Barcha, and he gains 300 attack points for each "Dragunity" card equipped to him!"

[Dragunity Knight - Barcha: 2000 + 300 x 3 = 2900ATK]

… well, wasn't that such bullshit.

"I'll set a card and end my turn," Shinji said.

According to the files, this guy had never dueled before he had joined Security. In that case, this was ridiculous.

[Turn 5: Makoto] [H:4]

"Draw." Makoto rolled his eyes. "I know. Let's just say that I got used to dueling quite fast. Truth be told, this deck was just given to me when I started working for the High Council too—I didn't exactly choose it for myself. From the start, it was all power. My own dueling style bores me to tears. But that's why I don't care that you've gotten my life points so low. I'll just hit you harder than you can hit me."

… bold words for someone who would lose to any kind of effect damage that Shinji pelted at him right now.

"I'll use the effect of Dragon Ravine! By discarding a card, I'll add a Level 4 or lower "Dragunity" monster from my deck to my hand!" Makoto gestured forward. "I'll activate Gae Dearg's effect as well. I will add a Level 4 or higher Dragon or Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand, and discard a card."

This rapid fire cycling of cards… what exactly was he planning?

"You know, I've been waiting to see if you would destroy my set card," Makoto said. "It's really strange that you haven't. But that decision's going to fuck you over." The card flipped over. "Spell Card, Miracle Synchro Fusion!"

Fusion—

"I can't say I like the boss," Makoto said, "but I do love this monster specifically. Makes me feel nostalgic for some reason…" He held up two cards from his graveyard. "I will banish the Synchro Monster, Dragunity Knight - Gormfaobhar, and the Warrior monster, Princess of Tsurugi, from my graveyard to perform a Fusion Summon!"

Fusion Summoning using a Synchro Monster as material? And also…

Princess of Tsurugi. Now that was a strange card to be in this person's deck. A rather weak Flip Monster which dealt damage to the opponent for each of their Spells and Traps. He must have discarded it for Dragon Ravine at some point. But still, why was that card in a deck that was otherwise just about attacking?

"With the power of wind and stardust, blaze forth with the force of the whirlwind! Dragon that kills dragons, cannibalistic lance that consumes all enemies! Fusion Summon! Level 10! Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste!"

A tall warrior appeared—pale, with thin orange horns on the top of its head. Blue and gold armour surrounded its body. Its hands were bright red claws—a long red tail whipped through the air behind him. Two bright blue wings burst forth from its back. Winds stirred up around it as it swung a massive lance through the air—the lance was longer than the dragon itself was tall.

[Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste (10*/3200/2000/WIND/Dragon/Fusion/Effect)]

"Now, I'll activate Draco-Equiste's effect. I will banish the Dragon Synchro Monster, Dragunity Knight - Ascalon from the graveyard, and Draco-Equiste will copy its name and effects! Draconic Ascension!"

What? Copying the effect of a monster in the graveyard?

Draco-Equiste roared. It swung its spear through the air, and a glow surrounded it—the brilliant orange and gold of Ascalon's body.

"And now, since Draco-Equiste's name is "Dragunity Knight - Ascalon", I can equip the Dragunity Divine Lance to it!" The Equip Spell attached itself to Draco-Equiste. "Divine Lance's effect. Draco-Equiste gains 100 attack points times its Level."

[Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste: 3200 + 100 x 10 = 4200ATK]

"But when your monster's name goes back to normal, it loses the lance!"

"That's fine," Makoto said. "Divine Lance's effect! I will equip a "Dragunity" monster from my deck to Draco-Equiste! I will equip Dragunity Brandistock!"

Shinji's eyes widened.

So even if the lance was gone, Brandistock would still be equipped to that monster?

"Then, using Ascalon's effect, which was copied by Draco-Equiste, I will banish Dragunity Pilum from the graveyard to target and banish Battlewasp - Halberd the Charge from the field! Ascending Sunblaze!" The golden flames shot forward, burning away Halberd. This left only Azusa and Twinbow on Shinji's field in Defense Position. Meanwhile, Makoto had Draco-Equiste, Barcha and Gae Dearg on his field.

"Dragunity Knight - Gae Dearg will attack Battlewasp - Twinbow the Attacker," Makoto declared. His first monster was destroyed. "Dragunity Knight - Barcha attacks Battlewasp - Azusa the Ghost Bow!"

"Continuous Trap Card, Blade Shade!" Shinji returned. The card flipped over. It was one of Crow's cards—one that he'd added to his deck in the hazy daze after losing his friend. "I'll negate the attack and inflict 500 damage to you!"

"... ah, that's the issue for you." Makoto raised a finger. "When I would take effect damage while I control Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste in Attack Position—you take that damage instead!" A spinning metal disc shot past Shinji, damaging his life points instead of that of his opponent.

Shinji: 6700 - 500 = 6200LP

What?

So that meant that his original idea of searching out Pin the Bullseye wouldn't work…

"Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste attacks Azusa the Ghost Bow! Stardust Lance!" The monster was finally destroyed. Blade Shade exploded due to no longer having a target. Right afterwards, Makoto gestured forward again. "And the monster equipped with Dragunity Brandistock can attack twice per turn. The monster equipped with Divine Lance is also immune to Trap effects. So? Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste attacks you directly! Stardust Lance!"

… he could not lose. He could not lose…

He could not. Crow…

The attack hit, and his life points fell sharply.

Shinji: 6200 - 4200 = 2000LP

But…

Shinji wouldn't lose just because his opponent was using the same Fusion Summoning that had killed his friends.

"Since I took 2000 or more damage from a direct attack, I can Special Summon Blackwing - Hillen the Tengu-wind from the graveyard with its own effect, along with Blackwing - Etesian of Two Swords!" The two monsters appeared on his field—monsters that he had discarded from his hand with the effect of Graceful Charity at the start.

[Blackwing - Hillen the Tengu-wind (5*/0/2300/DARK/Winged Beast/Tuner/Effect)]

[Blackwing - Etesian of Two Swords (3*/400/1600/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"... Blackwing?" Makoto blinked. "So you did take something from your friend's deck after you lost him, huh?" He waved a hand through the air. "Sure, I'll let you get the shot. I'll move to my Main Phase 2 and activate the effect of Dragunity Phalanx, which is currently equipped to Dragunity Knight - Barcha. I'll Special Summon it in Defense Position." A bronze and blue dragon appeared next to Barcha.

[Dragunity Phalanx (2*/500/1100/WIND/Dragon/Tuner/Effect)]

[Dragunity Knight - Barcha: 2900 - 300 = 2600ATK]

"I'll then set one card facedown."

So the reason that he had Special Summoned that card to the field was to open up a Spell and Trap Zone for his own use…

"I'll end my turn. Divine Lance is sent to the graveyard, since Draco-Equiste is no longer capable of having it equipped." Makoto folded his arms. "Level 5, Level 3. It's pretty obvious what your goal is here, so why don't you show it to me?"

[Turn 6: Shinji] [H:3]

"Draw!" Shinji declared. He glanced at the cards in his hand. "I'll tune the Level 5 Blackwing - Hillen the Tengu-wind to the Level 3 Blackwing - Etesian of Two Swords! Darkened whirlwind, reveal hidden wishes on your wings! Revolutionary spirit, be born again under the crimson sun and fan the flames of revolution! Synchro Summon! Level 8! Soar, Black-Winged Revolution Dragon!"

And Crow's ace appeared in front of him, letting out a loud roar. Maybe it was just Shinji's imagination, but there was something mournful to its roar. Something… crestfallen.

[Black-Winged Revolution Dragon (8*/2800/1600/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"Doesn't fit that well in your deck, considering that you're locked to Insects."

"I know that," Shinji snapped.

But even so…

Even so, he'd had to do something.

How was it fair that Crow should die like that? How was any of that fair?

They had been so close to finally finding that revolution that they were looking for too… Crow had found his resolution, Shinji had calmed his temper—

And then what?

Some outside force barged in and just destroyed everything?

How could he accept something like that?

"I'll Normal Summon Dragonbite!" The black insect with long mandibles appeared, floating next to the dark dragon.

[Dragonbite (4*/1000/1000/DARK/Insect/Tuner/Effect)]

"I'll activate Dragonbite's effect! I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Insect monster from my hand! Come, Armored Bee!" A yellow and black bee appeared in front of him, buzzing around.

[Armored Bee (4*/1600/1200/WIND/Insect/Effect)]

"I'll activate Dragonbite's effect! By banishing the Level 4 Battlewasp - Arbalest the Rapidfire from my graveyard, I will increase Dragonbite's Level by the Level of that monster!"

[Dragonbite: 4* + 4* = 8*]

"And now, I'll tune the Level 8 Dragonbite to the Level 4 Armored Bee!"

"A Level 12 Synchro Summon?" Makoto blinked.

Good.

Shinji wanted to wipe the smugness off this person's face.

"Tear down the wall of the haughty villains with the power of our gathered bonds! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Level 12! Battlewasp - Ballista the Armageddon!" The strongest monster in his deck appeared, its wings flitting swiftly through the air, so fast that their movement was a blur to the eye. It settled down right next to Black-Winged Revolution Dragon.

[Battlewasp - Ballista the Armageddon (12*/3000/800/WIND/Insect/Synchro/Effect)]

"Ballista the Armageddon's effect! I will banish all Insect monsters from my graveyard—and your monsters all lose 500 attack and defense points for each! I banished five monsters from my graveyard, and Azusa, Halberd and Arbalest were also banished, so your monsters lose 4000 attack and defense points!" A sharp burst of wind hit the field, weakening all of Makoto's monsters in one go.

[Dragunity Knight - Barcha: 2600 - 500 x 8 = 0ATK; 1200 - 500 x 8 = 0DEF]

[Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste: 3200 - 500 x 8 = 0ATK; 2000 - 500 x 8 = 0DEF]

[Dragunity Knight - Gae Dearg: 2400 - 500 x 8 = 0ATK; 800 - 500 x 8 = 0DEF]

[Dragunity Phalanx: 500 - 500 x 8 = 0ATK; 1100 - 500 x 8 = 0DEF]

"... I see," Makoto said after a moment.

"Battlewasp - Ballista the Armageddon attacks Dragon Knight Draco-Equiste!" Recklessly, Shinji beckoned his monster forward—to crush the abominable monster that stood on the other side of the field.

"Really?" Makoto shrugged, turning to his Fusion Monster. "Alright then. You've done enough." He flipped over his set card. "Trap Card, Impenetrable Attack. I won't be taking battle damage this turn."

The two monsters collided. Draco-Equiste was destroyed, but Makoto didn't take any battle damage. Shinji gritted his teeth.

"Black-Winged Revolution Dragon attacks Dragunity Knight - Barcha!" Naturally, the other attack was aimed at the green Synchro Monster, which also went down rather easily. "I end my turn!"

Of course, Ballista's effect was permanent. So both Phalanx and Gae Dearg continued to have no stats whatsoever.

[Turn 7: Makoto] [H:3]

"Draw." Makoto glanced at his hand. "Gae Dearg's effect. And immediately after that, Dragon Ravine's effect." He cycled out a card in his hand twice.

He still seemed so nonplussed, despite all of this.

So different from the emotionally raging image that had been painted by those files…

"You said that you were in a good mood," Shinji said slowly. "How can you be in a good mood when… everything has happened?"

"It's annoying that Academia invaded," Makoto said. He smiled slightly. "But I can't help it. It's been hell for all of you, but for me, this is the first day that I've finally taken a step away from hell. Got to be a bit truthful to my own intentions, do what I wanted for once…"

"... it wasn't the Lancers," Shinji said. He'd already known that, of course, but… "It was you. Security. You all tried to frame the Lancers, didn't you?"

"Hey, framing them was the boss's decision." Makoto put a hand behind his neck. "I never intended to shy away from responsibility. I'll accept justice when this is all over—but it sure as well won't be from the same corrupt Tops that gave those five people power. I'll probably turn myself in once we've finally squeezed all of them out of power, or at the very least, my fate isn't in the hands of the people who pushed me so far in the first place."

"Then why aren't you telling the truth?" Shinji exclaimed. "If you had just said something—"

A soft snort. "Idealist."

Shinji scowled. "But that's what justice is! If you want to change this city too—"

"Same ends, but I'm not good or gentle enough of a person to bother negotiating any longer."

"You can't claim to be doing anything good if you stand by Roget when all he does is hurt people!"

"When did I claim to be doing something good?"

The words stunned Shinji in place.

"I'm not interested in pretending that I'm virtuous." Makoto narrowed his eyes. "Change. That's all I'm looking for. What do I care for how it comes about? The only reason I fought against Academia is because if this city is destroyed, it will never change. But what I've learned is that the only way for people as split as those in the city to unite is through a common enemy. Clearly, Academia isn't enough of one—if nothing had happened afterwards, the High Council would have spouted some rubbish about friendship, unity and change, and they'd have stepped down, but they would still have lived their rich life for however many years they had left. Nothing would have changed! And you all would have let them get away with it because you would be so satisfied with the appearance of change!"

He pressed a hand to his chest, seizing his own shirt tightly.

"I know what you're thinking about right now. She really gave her brother the key to those files, huh? Brave of her, and I understand why, but I definitely don't care about your pity or your judgement. You know, don't you? You're questioning how I can work for the boss and be cruel to others the same way that people were cruel to me. And so what? Yes, they burned me! They burned me like an animal, and then they told me that I should become the dog that would hunt for them! And what was I supposed to do? My sister will never be able to live without mobility aids and regular medical checkups for the rest of her life! The only way for her to survive was for me to bend the knee, and I damn well did so when I could.

"So I arrested people on his order. So I did worse for the High Council before I swapped over to being an Elite Officer. So what? I've seen worse things happen in this city than you could dream of, things that would make your skin crawl. But even if I lived as their dog, I refuse to die like a dog."

And so the dog bit back, and killed those that had put him on a leash.

Shinji wanted to deny it. Surely he wouldn't just have forgiven their oppressors, even if they stepped down, right?

… but wouldn't it have been easier to pretend that they could all exist as equals? So that they would never have to address the crimes that had been committed against them?

"Fine. I don't care." Makoto shook his head. "I don't want the boss to succeed. But I won't lose on purpose either. Because the weak will never be able to change this city for the better." He levied a cold glare at Shinji. "Your group curses Jack Atlas for being unable to change this city. But none of you were strong enough to change this city either. You could only spout empty words."

There was… something else there. Something else behind the words.

"Continuous Spell, Dragunity Draft. I'll add a Level 4 or lower "Dragunity" monster from my graveyard to my hand. I'll add and Normal Summon Dragunity Dux again. And with Dux's effect, I will equip Dragunity Couse from the graveyard to it. And Couse will Special Summon itself."

Now, he had Phalanx, Gae Dearg, Couse and Dux on the field. Shinji had no reason to be nervous—Black-Winged Revolution Dragon would protect his monsters, and Ballista would bring back more monsters if needed.

"I will tune the Level 2 Dragunity Phalanx to the Level 4 Dragunity Dux!" The two monsters shot up in the air. "Amethyst courage lying within the heart of the sturdy warrior! Riding atop the brave dragon of the mountaintops, let your glory shine across valleys! Synchro Summon! Level 6! Dragunity Knight - Luin!" The purple and blue dragon reappeared, letting out a sharp-sounding roar.

[Dragunity Knight - Luin (6*/1200/1900/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Tuner/Effect)]

"I will activate the effect of Luin. I will equip a "Dragunity" monster from my graveyard to him. I will equip Dragunity Aklys from the graveyard to him. And then, I will tune the Level 6 Dragunity Knight - Luin to the Level 4 Dragunity Dux!"

"What? The Tuner is Luin?"

"What, are you the only one allowed to have a Synchro Tuner?" Makoto snarked. "Spear that sings of unimaginable slaughter, bloodthirst that can never be sated. Reduce logic to ashes, and passion to dullness. Synchro Summon! Level 10! Dragunity Knight - Areadbhair!"

An enormous blue and white dragon appeared in front of him—if Ascalon was a sunrise, this was the moment that hung between sunset and the night—a dusky blue sky that did not shine with any light, but was not quite dark either. Its many wings hung around it like sails. Winds swirled around it, sweeping up their hair in swirls.

[Dragunity Knight - Areadbhair (10*/3300/3200/WIND/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

He had another monster that was just as powerful as Ascalon?

"Luin and Aklys's effects both trigger. Since Aklys was sent to the graveyard while equipped to a monster, I can destroy a card you control. I will destroy Black-Winged Revolution Dragon!"

Shinji's eyes widened.

"A monster that becomes more powerful when its comrades fall," Makoto said. "But it doesn't defend itself. Your friend's fate is what happens when a person starts to care too much about others, to care about things only in the context of a larger view, and not that of a person."

Black-Winged Revolution Dragon shattered.

"That is the cost of ideals," Makoto said softly. "Whether you choose to accept it or not. When you choose to simultaneously 'be gentle' and 'ask for change'... those ideals crack like uneven clay."

As Shinji stared at him in shock—

"Since Luin was sent to the graveyard, I can equip it to Areadbhair and increase its attack and defense points by 1000!"

[Dragunity Knight - Areadbhair: 3300 + 1000 = 4300ATK; 3200 + 1000 = 4200DEF]

"And I will treat Dragunity Couse as a Level 4 monster. I will tune the Level 4 Dragunity Couse to the Level 6 Dragunity Knight - Gae Dearg!"

Another Synchro Summon?

"Flames burst forth from the three heads of destruction. Set the world ablaze! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Trident Dragion!" A large, three-headed red dragon appeared, raining down flame and lightning across the field immediately.

[Trident Dragion (10*/3000/2800/FIRE/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"When Trident Dragion is Synchro Summoned, I can destroy up to two cards I control, and destroy cards you control, up to the number of my own cards that I destroyed. I will destroy Dragunity Phalanx to destroy Battlewasp - Ballista the Armageddon!" The flames swallowed up the large insect, destroying it.

"When Battlewasp - Ballista the Armageddon is destroyed, I can Special Summon up to three Level 11 or lower banished Insect monsters!" Shinji shouted.

"... I know that much." Makoto raised a hand. "Dragunity Knight - Areadbhair's effect. When my opponent activates a monster effect, I can banish a "Dragunity" monster from the graveyard and negate that effect's activation, before banishing that card! Skyward Dominion!" A bolt of lightning shot down, crushing any attempts that Shinji had at a comeback.

A negation effect…

"Areadbhair attacks directly! Daybreak Gale!"

The bright silver gale shot forward—

Destroying all of Shinji's final hopes.

Shinji: 2000 - 4300 = 0LP

Winner: Makoto Toyama!

Damn it.

Damn it!

If he wasn't even strong enough to protect himself and defeat his enemies…

"You were my hope, you know."

The statement, more than the whole duel, dealt a heavy blow to Shinji's spirit. An officer of Security was saying something like that to him?

"I wanted to see your rebellion succeed, because it would be like throwing it back in the High Council's faces—a bunch of people starting with nothing and dragging them down from their thrones. What kind of ugly face would they make if they were faced with that?" A cold stare. No smile remained on his face. "But what a shame. You were all just far too weak. It's a hope that you crushed with your own uselessness in the end. Where are your friends now? One by one, all cut down. If you don't have the strength to back up your words, they're just giving empty hope to others. They're a poison to all those that look up to you."

"I'm not trying to carry… everyone by myself. We all put our strength together—"

"The strength of a collective? Don't make me laugh. You are all nothing, and no matter how many nothings come together, you can never make something of value."

"You're the one that uses monsters which signify unity!"

"And if so?" Makoto shrugged. "I believe in allies, yes. I believe in my allies, who will always deliver, and who I will support to the best of my ability. I don't need a collective, I only need myself and the people who are like me."

"... that's not true."

That wasn't Shinji's voice.

Shinji turned his head.

"... oh, it's you, little miss moon," Makoto said, sounding amused.

Serena's glare was imperious. "You say that you all knew nothing about carding, but in that case, were you using a weapon so carelessly, with no proof that it could ever be reversed?" She demanded.

"... weren't they doing the exact same?" Makoto replied. "I'm guessing most kids at that school or whatever don't understand what they're really doing. Doesn't make it any less monstrous than us." He looked her over. "So, you're… the girl from back then, right? The one who got completely crushed by Chino and I, along with that other guy?"

Next to her, the blue-haired boy—that was Sora Shiun'in, from what Roget had said—glanced at her. "You lost to… this guy?"

"Yes. But I won't lose again." Serena pointed at him. "I'll take you down this time—and I will make you stop!"

"... hmm. At least you don't have pity in your eyes." Makoto curved a finger up. "Sure. As you say—let's see if you're any better than you were when we first met. Otherwise, you won't even last a turn against me."

---

Meanwhile, in the western half of the Commons, a door slammed open. Naoya took a step into the apartment.

Sitting behind the kitchen counter, glancing at him with a deadpan expression, Chino glanced back at him. She seemed to have been occupying herself with the dead plant at the kitchen counter—the wilted stems and leaves slipped between her fingers as she brushed them along the leaves. The entire apartment was covered in layers and layers of dust—it was so thick that his sister's footprints could be seen on the ground.

It made sense. There had only been three people who had lived here, once upon a time. Their father was dead, he'd been in prison, and Chino naturally wouldn't come back here after that.

Still, to see her here…

The truth was, there was a cold resentment between the two of them. One of them unable to control his emotions, the other unable to express her emotions—

Was there any other way that they would have ended up other than like this? Misunderstanding each other all their lives?

"You're not a Lancer," Chino said. "I wasn't expecting them for a while longer."

That quiet, dismissive attitude…

"I know I'm not a Lancer," Naoya said. "But I want to defeat you anyway. More than to anyone else, you owe me that much, don't you think?"

"... asshole." Chino stood up. With a swift smack of the hand, she sent the flower pot flying. Soil spilled over the ground, the wilted plant's stem breaking as it hit the ground. Pieces of clay broke off, scattering everywhere. She had spent so long caring for that plant when they were kids, and just as easily as that, she had destroyed it. The dust had settled, the plants had wilted, the food in the cupboards had likely rotted until it had become a biohazard. It had long stopped being a home—it was just a house that belonged to no one. "What do I owe you?"

"... your understanding," Naoya said.

"I understand," Chino said. "I understood you all along!... it was you who never understood me. You just kept on acting like I was in the wrong—lording your righteousness over me—"

This argument was not new to either of them. It had gone on over and over, and the last time that he had seen her, it had been the same thing. He was tired. He wondered if she was. "I'm not here to get into this again—"

"Then when exactly will we be done with it?" His sister returned.

"... this is larger than you or me," Naoya pointed out. "My friends died today, Chino. And then I find out that…"

And he was stuck.

To condemn her for continuing to work with Roget, or feel sorry that he had inadvertently driven her to this madness—

He regretted it. He pitied her.

… he still hated her.

"I'm not going to apologise," he said. "Truth be told, I hate you, Chino. You might be my sister, and so I don't like it when others shittalk you—but I hate you. I hope we never meet again after this."

"Good," Chino said. "I hate you too." She walked towards the door. "So let's end this already. One more duel, to properly sever things. And then I never want to see you again."

They stood outside their childhood home.

Their duel disks were raised—blades against each other.

What else was there to do but gnash their teeth in hatred?

[DUEL!]

Naoya Otobashi: 4000LP

Chino Otobashi: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Chino] [H:5]

"I'll start," Chino said brusquely. "I'll set one monster and one card facedown. Over to you."

… one set monster? Probably Naturia Cherries or Beans—she wouldn't exactly leave herself without any defences.

Unassuming moves only to turn them on her opponents—

For all that they argued, he couldn't argue that she wasn't skilled.

[Turn 2: Naoya] [H:6]

"Draw! I'll activate the Spell Card, Terraforming! I'll add the Field Spell, Scrap Factory to my hand and activate it! And I'll Normal Summon Scrap Raptor!" The rusty dinosaur appeared, its claws striking at the ground in front of it.

[Scrap Raptor (4*/1400/1000/EARTH/Dinosaur/Effect)]

"And then, I will activate the Spell Card, Scrapyard. I will add a "Scrap" Tuner monster from my deck to my hand. I'll then use the effect of Scrap Orthros! I can Special Summon it from my hand!" The two-headed dog with differently-coloured eyes appeared next to Raptor.

[Scrap Orthros (4*/1700/1100/EARTH/Beast/Tuner/Effect)]

"Then, I must destroy another "Scrap" monster I control. I'll destroy Scrap Raptor, obviously." The first monster was destroyed. "Scrap Raptor's effect. I'll add a non-Tuner "Scrap" monster from my deck to my hand. And with the effect of Scrap Factory, since a face-up "Scrap" monster I control was destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a "Scrap" monster from my deck. Come, Scrap Breaker!" A large, red-tinted robot appeared, floating next to Orthros.

[Scrap Breaker (6*/2100/700/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"I'll tune the Level 4 Scrap Orthros to the Level 6 Scrap Breaker! Earth, burst into the nature that covers the world! Guardian of the sacred tree, rise now and defend the world beyond that which you adore! Synchro Summon! Level 10! Leo, the Keeper of the Sacred Tree!" The large lion appeared in front of him.

[Leo, the Keeper of the Sacred Tree (10*/3100/1900/EARTH/Beast/Synchro/Effect)]

Chino did not flinch. Neither did he.

In a sense, this monster didn't just connect their two decks. It connected them to him. After all, monsters as powerful as the Naturia monsters could not have come from nowhere.

There was someone that they had watched play that deck, and someone whose dueling was echoed in every move that his sister made.

Leo couldn't be targeted by Chino with any effects.

So, in that case, it should be safe to attack.

He gestured forward. The monster was flipped over. It was Naturia Cliff—a tall, flat and cuboid rock that was topped with red foliage.

[Naturia Cliff (4*/1500/100/EARTH/Rock/Effect)]

The monster was destroyed, naturally.

"When Naturia Cliff is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Naturia" monster from my deck." Chino plucked out a card. "Come. Naturia Mole Cricket."

That monster reappeared on the field again—the tiny cricket, which facilitated all of her plays.

[Naturia Mole Cricket (1*/0/0/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

"... Main Phase."

"During your Main Phase 2, I will tribute Mole Cricket to activate its effect," Chino said. "Since you control the monster with the highest attack points on the field, I can Special Summon two "Naturia" monsters from my deck. Come—Naturia Camellia! Naturia Beans!" The two monsters appeared on her field—a bright red flower and a set off green beans.

[Naturia Camellia (4*/1400/700/EARTH/Plant/Tuner/Effect)]

[Naturia Beans (2*/100/1200/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"With Naturia Camellia's effect, I'll send a "Naturia" card from my deck to the graveyard." Chino revealed a card. "I'll send Naturia Sacred Tree to the graveyard, and with its effect, I'll add a "Naturia" card from my deck to my hand too."

"I'll set a card and end my turn."

[Turn 3: Chino] [H:5]

"Draw. I'll tune the Level 4 Naturia Camellia to the Level 2 Naturia Beans. Flowers bloom around the slumbering dragon in the woods. Appear now, noble dragon that safeguards the Naturia Forest. Guide my path. Synchro Summon. Level 6. Naturia Barkion." The grey-green dragon of bark and bamboo appeared, letting out a loud growl.

[Naturia Barkion (6*/2500/1800/EARTH/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"Since I Special Summoned a "Naturia" monster from the Extra Deck, I can Special Summon Naturia Mole Cricket back to the field." The small insect reappeared on the field, letting out a buzzing sound. "I'll then tribute it to Special Summon two "Naturia" monsters from my deck. Naturia Fruitfly."

She didn't say another name—because she didn't need to. Two copies of Fruitfly appeared on her field.

[Naturia Fruitfly (3*/800/1500/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

"Fruitfly lowers your monster's attack and defense points by 300 for each "Naturia" monster I control," Chino said. "Since I control three monsters and two copies of Fruitfly, your monster loses 1800 attack and defense points. Your Field Spell boosts "Scrap" monsters. That one doesn't count."

[Leo, the Keeper of the Sacred Tree: 3100 - 300 x 6 = 1300ATK; 1900 - 300 x 6 = 100DEF]

"Battle Phase."

"Not going to Normal Summon another monster?"

"Your monster can't be targeted. I can't take control of it anyway." She gestured forward. "Naturia Barkion attacks your monster."

The lion was crushed by the dragon.

Naoya: 4000 - 1200 = 2800LP

In a sense, Naoya had brought out Leo to head off Chino's most aggressive play—the usage of Fruitfly to steal her opponent's monsters. And Chino had brought out Fruitfly anyway—two copies of it—to tell him that his attempt was worthless.

"Fruitfly attacks directly—both of them."

The two monsters both flew forward, tackling him one by one.

Naoya: 2800 - 800 - 800 = 1200LP

"I'll end my turn."

… damn.

God damn it.

Fuck off.

[Turn 4: Naoya] [H:4]

"Draw," Naoya said. "I'll Normal Summon Scrap Chimera from my hand." The hybrid creature of metal appeared in front of him.

[Scrap Chimera (4*/1700/500/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"I'll use the effect of Scrap Chimera to revive Scrap Orthros! And I'll tune the Level 4 Scrap Orthros to the Level 4 Scrap Chimera! Mechanical monstrosity with the glowing eyes, let your metallic wings shear through those who suppress us! Synchro Summon! Level 8—Scrap Dragon!" The silent, purple-tinted metal dragon appeared.

[Scrap Dragon (8*/2800/2000/EARTH/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

Naturia Mole Cricket reappeared on her field, though neither of them acknowledged it.

"I will activate the Spell Card, Guts of Steel. I will target three "Scrap" monsters in the graveyard. I will target Scrap Chimera, Scrap Orthros and Scrap Raptor. You choose one, and I Special Summon it to the field, while I banish the other two."

"Take Chimera," Chino said curtly.

The only one without an effect when it was destroyed. She had to know that, of course.

Scrap Chimera reappeared on his field.

"I will activate the effect of Scrap Dragon. I will target Naturia Barkion and Scrap Chimera, and destroy both of them!" Both monsters exploded, leaving Chino with just her two copies of Fruitfly. "Then, since a "Scrap" monster I control was destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard, Scrap Factory lets me Special Summon a "Scrap" monster from my deck! Come! Scrap Golem!" A tall, rectangular metal golem appeared, light silver in colour.

[Scrap Golem (5*/2300/1400/EARTH/Rock/Effect)]

"Scrap Golem's effect! I'll Special Summon Scrap Chimera from the graveyard!"

"... with Fruitfly and Mole Cricket, you can't hope to touch my field."

His Field Spell still gave his monsters 200 attack and defense points, but her monsters…

[Scrap Golem: 2300 - 30 + 200 = 700ATK; 1400 - 30 + 200 = 0DEF]

[Scrap Dragon: 2800 - 30 + 200 = 1200ATK; 2000 - 30 + 200 = 400DEF]

[Scrap Chimera: 1700 - 30 + 200 = 100ATK; 500 - 30 + 200 = 0DEF]

"Battle Phase!"

"At the end of your Main Phase, I will tribute Mole Cricket," Chino said. "Your monster still has higher attack points than Fruitfly. So I can—"

"Continuous Trap," Naoya declared. His set card flipped up. "I'm about to counter you completely, Chino. There Can Only Be One! Each player can only control one monster of each Type!"

Chino's hand stilled over her deck.

"I had to wait until I cut down Barkion," Naoya said. "But it's obvious. You were going to bring out Butterfly. But first—one of your Naturia Fruitflies has to go." One of the flies vanished. "So—you can bring out two monsters. But almost all of your defensive-based monsters are Insects, right? And without Barkion, you can't counter my card!"

"... I will Special Summon Naturia Beans and Naturia Rock from my deck!" A pair of tiny green beans and a moss-covered white rock appeared.

[Naturia Beans (2*/100/1200/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

[Naturia Rock (3*/1200/1200/EARTH/Rock/Effect)]

Both monsters were in Defense Position. However, with only one Fruitfly on the field, the stats had changed completely.

[Scrap Golem: 700 → 1600ATK; 0 → 700DEF]

[Scrap Dragon: 1200 → 2100ATK; 400 → 1300DEF]

[Scrap Chimera: 100 → 1000ATK; 0 → 0DEF]

"Beans can't be destroyed by battle, so there's no point attacking it," Naoya said. "Scrap Dragon attacks Naturia Fruitfly!"

The monster was destroyed, and Chino's life points fell—but Naoya's monsters all went back to their original stats, at the same time.

Chino: 4000 - 1300 = 2700LP

[Scrap Golem: 1600 → 2500ATK; 700 → 1600DEF]

[Scrap Dragon: 2100 → 3000ATK; 1300 → 2200DEF]

[Scrap Chimera: 1000 → 1900ATK; 0 → 700DEF]

"Scrap Golem attacks Naturia Rock!" Another one of Chino's monsters was destroyed. "I'll end my turn."

Chino blinked.

"Even if I attack Beans, it survives the first attack," Naoya said. "I know your deck better than anyone—"

"No, you do not!"

The cold, ruthless denial cut him off.

"I have comrades, as you have comrades," Chino said. Her gaze could have frozen a lake over with its coldness. "They know me better than you do. They know me better than you ever have."

[Turn 5: Chino] [H:6]

"Draw!" Chino glanced at the watch around her wrist. "... I'll have to get rid of you quickly. If the Lancers show up, I need to take them on quickly."

"In such a hurry to lose?"

"Yes," Chino said, stunning him in place. "But I won't ever lose to you. So there's no point in dueling you. The fact that you're so satisfied with just this… your card cripples some of my strategies, yes. But my deck is a mirror of yours. If you can cope with not using monsters of the same type, so can I. I will Normal Summon Naturia Butterfly." A pink butterfly appeared, floating next to Naturia Beans.

[Naturia Butterfly (3*/500/1200/EARTH/Insect/Tuner/Effect)]

"I'll tune the Level 3 Naturia Butterfly to the Level 2 Naturia Beans. Leaves fall. The forest's silent protector walks through the trees. Appear now, sacred guardian of the Naturia Forest! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Naturia Beast!" The red-eyed green tiger appeared, letting out a low-pitched purr.

[Naturia Beast (5*/2200/1700/EARTH/Beast/Synchro/Effect)]

"Since I Special Summoned a "Naturia" monster from the Extra Deck, I can Special Summon Naturia Mole Cricket from my graveyard," Chino said. The tiny cricket appeared. "I'll tribute it to Special Summon Naturia Camellia from my deck." The cricket dissolved, turning back into the red flower from earlier in the duel. "I will activate the Spell Card, Leodrake's Mane. I will negate Naturia Mole Cricket's effects until the End Phase—and its attack points become 3000."

[Naturia Mole Cricket: 0 → 3000ATK]

"Naturia Mole Cricket attacks Scrap Dragon."

"Trading your monster for mine…"

"That's my choice," Chino said. "What's yours?"

"Mine? Mine is to say that I'll survive anyway." Both monsters collided, organic and machine, destroying each other. "Scrap Dragon's effect lets me Special Summon a "Scrap" monster from my graveyard. Return, Scrap Breaker." The large robot from earlier reappeared on the field.

"… Naturia Beast attacks Scrap Chimera."

The tiger slashed through Naoya's monster with its claws, destroying it.

Naoya: 1200 - 300 = 900LP

"I'll set a card and end my turn."

This left Naoya with Scrap Breaker and Scrap Golem on the field, while Chino still had her ever deadly Naturia Beast there.

[Turn 6: Naoya] [H:3]

"Draw." Naoya glanced through his hand. "I don't understand this. If I just attack, you're done for…"

"Want to test that?" Chino said calmly.

Was her confidence coming from that set card? Then he'd just have to get rid of it!

"I'll Normal Summon Scrap Goblin!" The tiny robot appeared on the field, its body letting out clanking sounds.

[Scrap Goblin (3*/0/500/EARTH/Beast-Warrior/Tuner/Effect)]

He continued to be unaffected by There Can Only Be One.

… he'd really have to thank Sherry for giving him that card.

"I'll tune the Level 3 Scrap Goblin to the Level 6 Scrap Breaker!" The two monsters shot up. "Twin-headed monstrosity, let your warped wires light up with flickering electricity and blow away all in my path! Synchro Summon! Level 9, cybernetic madness—Scrap Twin Dragon!" The large dragon appeared, its metal body tinted with green.

[Scrap Twin Dragon (9*/3000/2200/EARTH/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)]

"I'll then activate the effect of Scrap Golem. I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Scrap" monster from the graveyard. Return, Scrap Goblin!"

"Fodder," Chino said contemptuously. Mole Cricket had already settled itself on her field.

"Well, I won't deny that. I'll activate the effect of Scrap Twin Dragon! I will target Scrap Goblin, along with your set card and Naturia Beast. I will destroy Goblin, and return your two cards to the hand!"

Mole Cricket could just tribute itself to get away. That was why he'd chosen Naturia Beast instead.

The three cards exploded off the field.

"Since Scrap Goblin was destroyed by the effect of a "Scrap" card and sent to the graveyard, I can add another "Scrap" monster from my graveyard to my hand. I will add Scrap Chimera back to my hand. Then, Scrap Factory lets me Special Summon Scrap Soldier from my deck!" A tall soldier-like creature appeared, made of sparking silver wires, with a single glowing red eye staring forward.

[Scrap Soldier (5*/2100/700/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"And I'll activate the Equip Spell, Fairy Meteor Crush. Now when Scrap Twin Dragon attacks a monster in Defense Position, you take piercing damage. Battle Phase!"

"At the end of the Main Phase, I will tribute Mole Cricket," Chino said—as per normal. While Naoya could have figured out a way to return Mole Cricket to the deck, it was pointless. Chino ran three copies of that damn bug—so all one could do was deal with the sheer bullshit that she rained down with a single tiny bug.

Still though—there was something that Naoya knew very well about her deck. With There Can Only Be One, she couldn't Special Summon Insects—

"Come. Naturia Stinkbug." A green bug appeared in front of her, and Naoya blinked in confusion.

[Naturia Stinkbug (3*/200/500/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

"How…"

"When I activate Mole Cricket's effect, I must do so by having a valid target in my deck to summon that isn't an Insect monster," Chino explained calmly. "However, once Mole Cricket tributes itself, I no longer control Insect monsters. Thus, the monster that I choose to summon can be an Insect monster."

Naoya gritted his teeth.

"You spent your time wasting away in jail. I've only gotten better, and you've never beaten me in dueling, Naoya, not even when we were kids, not even before I started using this deck." Chino raised her head. "... you never think clearly."

"I'd rather never think clearly than think as coldly as you." He gestured forward. Scrap Twin Dragon dashed at Stinkbug.

"When a "Naturia" monster is targeted for an attack, I can send Stinkbug to the graveyard and end the Battle Phase." A puff of green smoke consumed the field, forcing his monster to halt.

"I end my turn."

[Turn 7: Chino] [H:5]

"Draw," Chino said. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Twin Twisters. I will discard a card to destroy two Spells or Traps on the field." With that, she destroyed his Continuous Trap and Field Spell. "I'll Normal Summon Naturia Pumpkin."

A green pumpkin appeared on the field—looking rather sleepy.

[Naturia Pumpkin (4*/1400/800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"I'll then use its effect. Since it was Normal Summoned while my opponent controls a monster, I can Special Summon a "Naturia" monster from my hand. I will Special Summon Naturia Lotus."

Huh? What card was that?

A slender white lotus with eyes on the front of it appeared, drifting next to the pumpkin.

[Naturia Lotus (1*/0/0/EARTH/Plant/Tuner/Effect)]

"When Naturia Lotus is Normal or Special Summoned while my opponent controls a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, I can send a "Naturia" card from my deck or Extra Deck to the graveyard," Chino said. She lifted a card from her Extra Deck, flipping it over.

"Naturia Beast? Why—"

"Then, I can choose one of its two effects to activate. I will choose the first effect. By banishing Naturia Beast and Naturia Barkion from my graveyard, I will perform a Fusion Summon!"

"... no," Naoya said. "You wouldn't. You wouldn't use that summoning method with our father's deck. Famed beast with the power of iron, join with the dragon that lets out the loud roar, and create the ultimate protector. Fusion Summon! Level 10! Naturia Exterio!"

And as the green tiger appeared, covered in bark, Naoya gritted his teeth in fury.

[Naturia Exterio (10*/2800/2400/EARTH/Beast/Fusion/Effect)]

"How can you do this?" He demanded.

"Easily. It's not like I'm on the side of the invaders, am I? What's wrong with learning something new?"

"What would dad think if he saw you now?"

It was the wrong thing to say, and Naoya knew it immediately. Nothing was more hurtful to either of them than the reminder of their father's death—it was the first event that had first fractured their bond at the seams, long before they had tried to sever it from both ends.

For a moment, he saw Chino's eyes widen in hurt. When she spoke, there was a sharp sense of heartbreak—very different from her usual apathy—that made Naoya regret his own words.

"How can you use him of all people against me?" She said. "That's… that's the lowest thing you could do. I did exactly what he always wanted us to do—I looked out for you!" Her voice was louder now—her sorrow mixing with anger and boiling over. "I didn't do anything wrong! I just kept trying to protect you, and you never took a moment to look at me and understand that I was suffering! If I'm a monster, if I'm someone that dad can't recognise, it's not just my fault!"

Naoya grimaced.

"It's not just me," Chino repeated. "It's not just me! If our dad would be disgusted by me, he'd be infuriated by you!"

… words from a mindless servant to a mindless rebel.

Maybe they were the same, deep down.

Maybe they both just didn't think enough about their actions.

He hurt her so badly because he always assumed that he knew better than her. He hurt her so badly because he never thought of how she would be affected by the things that he did.

"Since I Special Summoned a "Naturia" monster from the Extra Deck, I can revive Naturia Mole Cricket. And I will tribute it to Special Summon Naturia Eggplant and Naturia Tulip from my deck." As though to prove a point, she Special Summoned two more Plant monsters to the field—a dark purple eggplant and a bright red flower.

[Naturia Eggplant (2*/1000/700/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

[Naturia Tulip (2*/600/1500/EARTH/Plant/Tuner/Effect)]

"I will tune the Level 1 Naturia Lotus to the Level 4 Naturia Pumpkin and the Level 2 Naturia Eggplant." The three monsters shot up in the air. "Slow and steady wins the race. Appear now, creature that reigns over the earthly realm. Synchro Summon! Level 7! Naturia Landoise!" A sleepy-looking tortoise covered in plants appeared.

[Naturia Landoise (7*/2350/1600/EARTH/Rock/Synchro/Effect)]

Landoise… for monster effects then?

"I'll then tune the Level 2 Naturia Tulip to the Level 7 Naturia Landoise! Ferocious lion that stalks the world beneath the sacred tree! Come forth now! Synchro Summon! Level 9! Naturia Leodrake!" The large orange dragon appeared. Naoya frowned in confusion.

[Naturia Leodrake (9*/3000/1800/EARTH/Beast/Synchro/Effect)]

Why was she…

"Remind me, Naoya," Chino said. There was something calculated to her gaze—the brief emotional hurt packed up neatly in a box, hidden away again. "How many attack points do your two weaker monsters have without the Field Spell?"

Soldier had 2100, and Golem had 2300…

Wait.

"Checkmate, Naoya. You're still not my match—and I've outgrown you. Naturia Leodrake attacks Scrap Soldier. And I assure you—if you somehow have a Spell or Trap in your hand that you can use, it's worthless against me."

A claw struck through the air—

Taking out his monster, and the rest of his life points.

Naoya: 900 - 900 = 0LP

Winner: Chino Otobashi!

Silence.

"Then if you really want to be free of me," Naoya said, "kill me. What are you waiting for?"

Chino turned away, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

"What are you waiting for? I'd rather die than watch you like this!"

"I don't think you would." Chino shook her head. "If you still think that I have it in me to kill you, you really never understood me at all, Naoya."

Naoya's mouth fell open.

"I did it because I wanted to protect you, at the start," Chino said. "I never hated you at the start. I saw that you were feeling so much, and I could not understand how you could show it, but I still tried to protect you anyway. Why can't you understand… that I only started hating you when you misunderstood me so much? You're still such a child!"

… aren't we both?

"I won. So never appear in front of me again. That's what you want, right?"

Naoya took a step forward—not sure what to say—

---

"Hold on!"

Both Chino and Naoya turned their heads.

Yuto was watching them. Behind him, Ruri and Shun were also catching up.

"... it's you," Chino said. Her voice had gone back to something dull again. "About time you got here. I'm done here—who is it that wants to face me?"

Yuto seemed to be slightly out of breath. But he raised his head with a determined look.

That much was challenge—

Both personal, and for the sake of something greater.

---

OC Cards:

Black-Winged Revolution Dragon

(8*/2800/1600/DARK/Dragon/Synchro/Effect)

1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner monsters

(This card's name is always treated as "Black-Winged Dragon".)

You do not take effect damage while you control this Synchro Summoned monster on the field. If a monster you control is destroyed or banished by a card effect: You can place 1 Black Feather Counter on this card. Once per turn: You can remove all Black Feather Counters from this card, then target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; that target loses 700 ATK for each Black Feather Counter removed, and if it does, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the ATK lost by this effect. Once per turn, if a monster you control battles an opponent's monster with higher ATK, at the start of the Damage Step: That monster you control gains ATK equal to this card's original ATK.

Naturia Lotus

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

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned while your opponent controls a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck: You can send 1 "Naturia" card from your Deck or Extra Deck to the GY, then you can apply 1 of the following effects. On the turn that you activate this effect, you cannot Special Summon monsters, except "Naturia" monsters.

● Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, by banishing Fusion Materials mentioned on it from your field or GY, including a "Naturia" monster, but it cannot attack directly this turn.

● Synchro Summon 1 Synchro Monster from your Extra Deck, by using monsters in your hand or on your field as material, but it cannot attack directly this turn.

You can only activate this effect of "Naturia Lotus" once per turn.

---

Different Card Effects from TCG:

Blade Shade - Anime-only card, used by Crow.

---

End Notes:

So, just a bit less emotional investment! The entire fic's calming down a bit now that Academia has finally stepped out of the picture for this arc.

I was trying to figure out a less clumsy way of delivering the exposition of who was going where, and then I realised that I was most likely going to confuse people if I dragged on. So I basically focused only on Serena, Yugo and Yuno's motivations, and left the rest to just a summary. And yes, it is on purpose that I only directly gave you the groups but not the opponents for most of them, though you can guess most of them by now.

And if you're all wondering why certain characters (Yuji, Chiaki, etc) are not appearing to play a big role for this part of the arc… :D They're not the main focus of this arc. Yuji and Chiaki, specifically, start playing a much larger role next arc. But for this arc, I figured that the Lancers who actually have a good motivation to fight should take over. Yuji and Chiaki, who haven't been around for most of the Synchro Arc, don't really have a good reason to be fighting Security. But yeah, those two are going to get way more focus next arc.

Me when Zexstagger was released: "Please translate it before I get to the end of the Synchro Arc, please."

And hell yeah, Draco-Equiste! I feel like when I said that they all had Miracle Synchro Fusion, this was one of the most obvious picks. While Arisu and Kaname have OC Fusions because there's nothing with MSF that they could summon, Chino gets Exterio (and…) while Makoto gets Draco-Equiste. And can I just say, Draco-Equiste, design-wise and namewise (literally named Dragon Knight Dragon-Knights) fits in Dragunity really well.

… also, I just really wanted to use that card, but I couldn't justify either Kiryu or Sherry having it, since it was a Fusion Monster that also required a Dragon Synchro Monster, without the plot going in a really weird direction.

Also, remember that the one who knocked Shinji out of the Friendship Cup was Serena. That was, in part, set-up for this.

Me a few months ago: "Naoya is just there to boost Crow/Shinji/Kiryu, and be Chino's brother." Me when I started writing the arc: "Fuck I'm going to have to write a duel between him and Chino. Fuck." Genuinely, he was created to fill in a space that I needed, and then he ended up edging his way into the plot accidentally. Because apparently, I can never leave flat characters… well, flat.

But yes, we're finally returning back to canon characters next chapter, thankfully. The dice have all been set up—so now it's time to see the result.

I will die on the hill that Naturia and Scrap are mirror archetypes.

Claude McKay's poem, If We Must Die is another piece of inspiration for the whole arc in general, and I really wish I could have referenced it in the last chapter, but it's genuinely a really good poem in the context of classism and revolution, and the importance of fighting instead of just accepting the situation. While the entire poem is lovely, the starting lines "If we must die, let it not be like hogs / Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, / While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, / Making their mock at our accursèd lot." In a sense, Makoto's words are a reply to it—that even the 'mad and hungry dogs' are just part of the suppressed.

I will also confirm this much—most of the duels in this part of the arc are going to be 2v1s. More for therapy purposes than balancing them, because their opponents are pretty much completely fresh, while the main characters have been through a lot of bullshit so far this arc.

Also, the "White" monsters got support!... which is not translated, so I probably won't use it now! :D Have I mentioned how beautiful the world is recently? The sky is blue, the grass is green, White has support, Majespecter has support, and the world is beautiful! (In case I haven't stressed this enough, Majespecter is literally one of my top 3 favourite archetypes of all time. Maybe even #1. I have like OC cards for them from 2019 that fill up an entire document in my fanfic folder.) I am taking so many Ws recently.

Review responses! (We passed 800 reviews on ffnet! I realise that I forgot to celebrate literally any milestones before this, funnily enough. Thanks to everyone for your support!)

To phantomdragons, you'll all get to see what actually happened between Shino and Yuri… eventually. :D And yeah, the set-up for that plot twist has been ready for a long time, lmao. Arisu is definitely the kindest of the group, all things considered, but even she has a reason to be upset. I'm glad that you like her—she is the kind of character that makes you question how she's still so willing to help people when she was screwed over as badly as she was. And don't worry about long reviews! I always enjoy those.

To AccurateGap1, aww, thank you very much! Honestly, I do appreciate the darker chapters that I write… because in a sense, there are some themes in this story that are intrinsically linked to things about the real world that I do want to reflect in the story. It's more that while I do think that they turn out good—that, if I can be bold, I'm good at writing them—it makes me feel bad to do that to the characters. I'm very sentimental :D As for the part about writing, I think a lot of it comes down to experience! This isn't my first fanfic—far from it, to be honest. Over time, writing gets more intuitive. Every successful plot twist/plot point that I pull off has several failures behind it that taught me how not to write them. At the same time, there are times when I also choose to play it safe because I can tell that something might not work out. For example, in a very early outline for this fic, you'd all already know a lot more about what the deal is with Hitoda/Shino/Nue/Kyorin/Mion/Kaname at this point, but I ultimately decided that setting all that stuff up too early would take away from them as characters, and would actively harm people's investment in them as characters. Things like that. But I'm sure that you'll do fine—and so far, I have pretty much nothing but good things to say about your fic.

To Ben23ten, yeah, when I first got that review from you talking about that, I literally turned to Chapter 66's first draft and was like "oh they're going to enjoy that". And you're right that the QOTC is technically repeated, except for the fanfic part, haha. I was curious if anyone had any other interesting duels from fanfics to recommend, but didn't just want to ask about that. Also, that fic sounds interesting! I'll look it up.

To Bryz0n, mm, it was definitely a gamble to put this chapter so long after the chapter where the High Council are actually carded (53), but in the end, I'm glad that the payoff seems to have been worth it. :D The High Council is definitely demonised a lot more in this fic than they are in most fics, mostly because my policy in this fic is that the ones who continue to set up and profit from the system that we see in the show are truly irredeemable. The idea of letting them have their canon fate, where they're Karma Houdinis—they literally resign, but keep all of their wealth, and make others clean up their problems for them… it just doesn't sit right with me, which led to my hostile treatment of them here.

To cardfan135, haha, yes, I love recontextualisation. If you want something else to be mildly horrified by, Chapter 39, where Misty talks to Kaname, also has some slight hints on that front. And yes, the tragedy is indeed that Kaname, while looking for someone to be a parental figure to her, ends up finding Roget, who on the surface looks like the opposite of Sergey, but is just as monstrous in a different way.

To LHOCIN, welcome back! Always nice to see a review from you. :) I hope that your break was good for you, and that you're doing well. And as I always say, Roget is going to get a fitting ending!... eventually. It has taken a while, and it will take a while longer. :D

To Kuroto, funnily enough, the only actually planned pairing from the start out of that group was Shino/Ryo… and as for Hitoda, if you want hints on that front, Chapter 20 does talk about that a bit. :D It's pretty ancient too, and a bit of a passing remark.

To T.V. 2000, yeah, I did always feel like they left things between Sora and Shun unsettled. And yeah, I definitely based the council and their fate on a lot of real life governments that had similar policies. :)

To kikuruhime, I do actually think that you were the one who got it half-right, when it comes to the backstory. You did send in a review mentioning how you thought that Sergey killed his own child and that Roget knew about that, and was linked to it somehow. So… pretty close to the truth! I honestly thought that you might get it. Thanks for the review.

I actually have two QOTCs for this chapter, because I have two things that I need to ask for future… content!

QOTC: Out of curiosity, what pairings in this story do you enjoy more than others?

QOTC2: Are there any kinds of additional supplementary material (e.g. character profiles, etc) that you guys would like? I already have quite a lot on Tumblr, but if you want more of it, you can suggest it… and I'll consider it! :D

I promise that there's a good reason that I'm asking this, haha. :D It's part of my plans for more 'supplementary' material for after this arc is over, though I can't elaborate on it until we're closer to that point.

And also, while we're technically past a million words as ffnet counts it, I don't actually count it the same way, because of all the Duel Summaries and A/Ns. It'll take a while longer. We are pretty close though.

Alright, see you next time! :D