Yu-Gi-Oh Vrains: Advent of New Beginnings

by donkeyboy100

Sequel to Circuit of Smiles. Months have passed since Yuji, Ena, along with their counterparts, Yuya and Zuzu put a stop to Roget's plans and saved LINK VRAINS. However, a new mysterious group has come along that plans to eliminate LINK VRAINS Top 10 to take control of SOL Technologies. Can Storm Rider and his friends stop this new enemy without the aid of their counterparts?

27. Triple Threat

Donkeyboy100 is back with Chapter 27. This wasn't easy, so I hope you'll be satisfied. Now, in response to your questions.

—To Leon Thomas III, Lily and Rei Saotome: Thank you for your kind words and support.

—To Guest: I don't plan to have Roboppi or AI appear in this story.

And now, on with the story!

In LINK VRAINS...

"Duel!" Storm Rider, Sanctum, Playmaker, Enoch, Marionette, and Galerius shouted in unison.

Storm Rider: 4000 LP VS Enoch: 4000 LP

Sanctum: 4000 LP VS Marionette: 4000 LP

Playmaker: 4000 LP VS Galerius: 4000 LP

"Seeing as we trapped you, how about I let you take the first turn in exchange?" Enoch suggested.

"Don't mind if I do." Storm Rider said. "My turn! I summon Cycode Illusionist!"

The robot in a tuxedo and top hat appeared in Attack Position.

Cycode Illusionist ATK 2400 DEF 1000 LVL: 6

"Illusionist can be Special Summoned when no monsters are on the field," Storm Rider explained to Enoch. "But in exchange, its attack points become 1800."

Cycode Illusionist ATK 2400→1800

"When Illusionist is Special Summoned by its effect, I can then add one "Cycode" card from my Deck to my hand," Storm Rider continued, taking another card from his Deck. "I now will create my circuit!"

Storm Rider raised his hand as it glowed blue and shot a lightning bolt, creating a Link Portal.

"Link Arrow authorized! The summoning condition is one "Cycode" monster! I set Cycode Illusionist in the Link Arrow!"

His monster became a whirlwind of energy and entered the bottom-left arrow, turning red.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Come forth! Link-1! Cycode Architect!"

A man in a digital light brown-gray robed outfit, wielding a staff and book, appeared, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cycode Architect ATK 700 LINK-1 ↙

"And since there's a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I can Special Summon Cycode Prisoner from my hand. Come!"

The cyborg in a blue and white uniform appeared, summoned in Attack Position.

Cycode Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "I activate Cycode Architect's effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a "Cycode" monster from my hand. Come, Cycode Dancer!"

A robot in a leotard appeared in Attack Position.

Cycode Dancer ATK 1000 DEF 200 LVL: 2

"Appear again, my circuit!" The Link Portal appeared above Storm Rider again. "The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse Effect Monsters. I set Cycode Architect, Dancer, and Prisoner in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the top, left, and right arrows, turning them red.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Link-3! Cycode Fortress Golem!"

A massive, muscled humanoid figure appeared from out of the portal. It wore a massive black-gray armor plate with blue designs resembling data streams. It also had a cannon for an arm as it landed in the Left Extra Monster Zone.

Cycode Fortress Golem ATK 2200 LINK-3 ←↑→

"Because I used Dancer to Link Summon Fortress Golem, it gains 600 attack points!"

Cycode Fortress Golem ATK 2200→2800

"Prisoner's effect activates! Since I used it to Link Summon a "Cycode" Link Monster, I can add one "Cycode" card from my Deck to my hand."

Storm Rider took the designated card from his Deck and placed it in his hand.

"Man, you sure pulling out all the stops, aren't you?" Enoch commentated. "However, no matter how many moves and combos you make, it won't be enough to take me down."

"We'll see, won't we?" Storm Rider asked. "I activate the Spell Card: Cycode Blast! By targeting Fortress Golem and negating its effects until the End Phase, you take damage equal to half of its attack points!"

Golem aimed its fist as it blasted Enoch with a bolt of light that made him wince.

Enoch: 4000→2600 LP

"Storm Rider takes the lead!" Soulburner commentated as he and the others cheered.

"I place a card face-down and end my turn."

At Sanctum's duel…

"The first move is mine!" Sanctum announced. "I activate the Spell Card: Summon Dice! By paying 1000 Life Points, I get to roll a die, and depending on the result, I get to activate one of three effects."

Sanctum: 4000→3000 LP

"Go, Dice Roll!"

A dice flew out of Summon Dice and landed on the ground. After it stopped rolling, it eventually stopped at six.

"Alright! Since it landed on a six, I can Special Summon a Level 5 or higher monster from my hand. I Special Summon Mekk-Knight Purple Nightfall!"

A mechanical warrior carrying a spear and wearing a purple cape appeared in Attack Position.

Mekk-Knight Purple Nightfall ATK 2500 DEF 2000 LVL: 8

"And since I now control a "Mekk-Knight" monster, I can Special Summon Mekk-Knight Magenta Elver from my hand!"

A light gray, magenta glowing armored mechanical warrior with a slim down male body appeared in Defense Position. It had bladed wings coated in magenta on its edges and smaller ones on its helmet.

Mekk-Knight Magenta Elver ATK 800 DEF 500 LVL: 2

"I activate Magenta Elver's effect!" Sanctum continued. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Level 6 or lower "Mekk-Knight" monster from my Deck. I Special Summon a Mekk-Knigt Avram!"

Mekk-Knight Avram ATK 2000 DEF 0 LVL: 4

"Next, I activate the Spell Card: Linear Accelerator Cannon! By Tributing one monster on my field, you take damage equal to half the Tributed monster's attack points. I Tribute Avram!"

Following Sanctum's words, a futuristic cannon appeared as Avram dissolved into particles and entered inside. The cannon's muzzle glowed bright red before shooting a laser beam, striking Marionette and making her grunt in pain.

Marionette: 4000→3000 LP

"Due to Accelerator Cannon's second effect, I'm locked out from using Spell Cards for the rest of the turn," Sanctum explained. "I place one card face-down and end my turn."

"Not bad," Lily commented. "Sanctum set up a strong formation from her opening turn. Looks like she's being completely serious from the get-go."

At Playmaker's duel…

"I'll take the first turn," Playmaker announced. "I summon Clock Wyvern!"

A purple and blue mechanical dragon appeared.

Clock Wyvern ATK 1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"Clock Wyvern's effect activates! When it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can halve its attack points and Special Summon a Clock Token!"

A cluster of purple crystals appeared in Attack Position.

Clock Wyvern ATK 1800→900

Clock Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future!" Playmaker declared as his hand glowed blue, and a Link Portal appeared above him. "Link Arrows authorized! The summoning condition is one Normal Monster. I set my Clock Token in the Link Arrow!"

The cluster of purple crystals entered the bottom arrow.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Link Spider!"

A dark blue mechanical spider with light blue lines running over its body emerged from the portal at the Right Extra Monster Zone.

Link Spider ATK 1000 LINK-1 ↓

"Link Spider's effect activates!" Playmaker continued. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my hand to its Link Arrow. Come, Bitron!"

A white mechanical monster with six fins, two blue eyes, and a ring under its body appeared in Defense Position at Link Spider's Link Arrow.

Bitron ATK 200 DEF 2000 LVL: 2

"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two monsters! I set Link Spider and Bitron in the Link Arrows!"

The said monsters entered the top and bottom arrows, turning them red.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Space Insulator!"

A humanoid machine monster appeared on the field. It had mostly blue and silver armor, with a white helmet on its head. It was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Space Insulator ATK 1200 LINK-2 ↑↓

"Appear for the third time, my circuit!" Playmaker exclaimed. "The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters! I set Link Spider and Space Insulator in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters became streams of wind that entered the bottom-left, top, and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Link the Circuit! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Decode Talker!"

The warrior in blue armor carrying a giant purple sword appeared, summoned to Playmaker's Extra Monster Zone.

Decode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

"I activate the effect of the Link Infra-Flier in my hand!" Playmaker declared. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon this card to Decode Talker's Link Arrow!"

A mechanical blue, red, and silver kite appeared, summoned to Decode Talker's bottom-left Link Arrow in Defense Position.

Link Infra-Flier ATK 0 DEF 1800 LVL: 2

"Decode Talker's effect!" Playmaker continued. "If Decode Talker points to a monster, it gains 500 attack points! Power Integration!"

Decode Talker ATK 2300→2800

"If I control a Cyberse monster whose current attack points differ from its original, I can activate this card. The Spell Card: Cyberse Cache! This card allows me to draw two cards!"

Playmaker drew and said, "I place one card face-down and end my turn."

"A strong opener," Blue Maiden commented. "Galerius sure is going to have his hands full against Playmaker."

Back at Storm Rider's duel…

"My turn! I draw!" Enoch looked at his card, then played it. "Since you control a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon Voidvelgr Doom Wyvern from my hand!"

A tall and spindly wyvern with dark purple scales, yellow claws, and solid blue eyes, wearing silver armor on its head, chest, and legs, appeared in Attack Position. It had galaxy-like membranes for wings.

Voidvelgr Doom Wyvern ATK 2000 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

Storm Rider narrowed his eyes. "He didn't use that monster in our last duel," he muttered. "Which means he must have made a few adjustments to his Deck."

"Next, I summon Voidvelgr Thaneskos!"

A humanoid machine made of silver metal under obsidian plates arranged in cloak-like shapes, with violet eyes and segmented yellow wings on its back and wielding a scythe in its hands, appeared.

Voidvelgr Thaneskos ATK 1700 DEF 800 LVL: 4

"Thaneskos's effect activates!" Enoch declared. "When it's successfully Normal Summoned and all the monsters I control are "Voidvelgr" monsters, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Dark Galaxy monster from my Deck. Appear, Voidvelgr Helsar!"

Appearing next to Thaneskos was a humanoid female machine made of silver metal under obsidian plates arranged in armor-like shapes, with crimson eyes and several yellow spikes jutting from its head in a crown formation, and holding an orb with a galaxy in them in each hand.

Voidvelgr Helsar ATK 1200 DEF 400 LVL: 3

"Helsar's effect activates!" Enoch continued. "If it's Special Summoned, I can Tribute it to Special Summon a Level 5 or higher Dark Galaxy monster from my hand or Graveyard. I Special Summon Voidvelgr Transi from my hand!"

Helsar vanished as a bipedal dragon with a mechanical design emerged from a portal that appeared on the ground. It wore thick, blocky dark armor adorned with pink orbs and blue accents. Its two wings were segmented into coffin-like shapes, and the monster held a long spear in its right hand.

Voidvelgr Transi ATK 2400 DEF 2000 LVL: 5

Enoch gestured to his field. "I activate Transi's effect! When it's Special Summoned, I can add a "Voidvelgr" monster or a "Voidvelgr" Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I add the Equip Spell Card: Voidvelgr Tartus, which I'll equip to Transi!"

A black device lined with blue trims and pink spikes attached itself to Transi's back, after which a myriad of tentacles with snake-like heads at their tips emerged and growled at Storm Rider.

"Thanks to Voidvelgr Tartus's effect, Transi's attack points increase by an amount equal to its Leve multiplied by 100," Enoch stated with a wide smile. "Its Level is 5, so it gains 500 attack points."

Voidvelgr Transi ATK 2400→2900

"Now his monster's stronger than Fortress Golem," Storm Rider grumbled as he narrowed his eyes at Enoch's field. "He's planning an OTK with all those monsters of his. Better keep my guard up."

"I know what you're thinking, Storm Rider," Enoch stated. "You think that Trap Card of yours would save you? But I am afraid it won't because I activate the Spell Card: Galaxy Cyclone. This card lets me target and destroy one Set Spell or Trap Card you control." Storm Rider's eyes widened upon hearing this. "Say goodbye to your face-down card, Storm Rider!"

A galaxy-like cyclone blasted out of the card, turning Storm Rider's face-down card into particles.

"With that out of the way, it's time to battle! Transi attacks Cycode Fortress Golem!"

The bipedal dragon brought his spear down and sliced Fortress Golem in two, which caused an explosion that pushed Storm Rider back.

Storm Rider: 4000→3900 LP

"The battle phase continues!" Enoch exclaimed. "Voidvelgr Doom Wyvern attacks you directly!"

Doom Wyvern opened its maw as it released a beam of dark energy at Storm Rider.

"I activate the effect of Cycode Battle Barrier in my Graveyard!" Storm Rider abruptly declared. "As I have a "Cycode" monster in my Graveyard, I take no damage from this battle!"

A barrier appeared around Storm Rider and blocked Doom Wyvern's attack.

"Battle Barrier also ends the Battle Phase," Storm Rider added. "And since I control no monsters, I draw cards equal to the number of monsters you control, Enoch." He drew four cards, looked at them, then added them to his hand.

"If you had lost to such a simple strategy, it would be incredibly disappointing," Enoch said. "However, this counter of yours has benefited me as well. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Supply Pilfering!" The card showed Goblin Marauding Squad attacking a caravan passing through a forest."Thanks to this card's effect, I can draw the same number of cards you drew plus one since you drew cards outside your Draw Phase. In other words, I draw five cards. Then, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mystik Wok! By Tributing a monster I control, I gain Life Points equal to either its attack or defense points." He gestured to a certain monster. "I Tribute Doom Wyvern to gain Life Points equal to its attack points!"

Doom Wyvern disintegrated as Enoch glowed yellow.

Enoch: 2600→4600 LP

"At this moment, Doom Wyvern's effect activates!" Enoch continued. "When it leaves the field, I can add a "Voidvelgr" card from my Deck to my hand." After adding his card, he smirked. "I place two cards face-down and end my turn."

Back at Sanctum's duel…

"My turn!" Marionette announced. "I draw! First, I activate the Spell Card: Orcust Repeat!" The card showed Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight, fixing a destroyed Orcust Harp Horror. "This card allows me to add an "Orcust" card from my Deck to my hand at the cost of banishing a card from my hand afterward. I add Orcust Sax Flamed to my hand and banish Cyber Ouroboros from my hand."

She took the card, then banished Cyber Ouroboros from her hand.

"And since it was banished, Cyber Ouroboros's effect activates!" Marionette continued. It allows me to send a card from my hand to the Graveyard, in this case, Blowback Dragon, to draw a card from my Deck. And since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon Orcust Sax Flamed from my hand!"

A gold and black machine that resembled a four-legged saxophone blowing a torrent of black flames through its hole appeared.

Orcust Sax Flamed ATK 2000 DEF 1300 LVL: 5

"Next, I summon Mechanicalhunter!"

A machine with a round red body, giant black metallic bat wings and a crimson visor appeared in Attack Position. It had four arms with four weapons: A scythe, a double-sided axe, a blaster and a spear.

Mechanicalhunter ATK 1850 DEF 800 LVL: 4

"Mechanicalhunter's effect activates!" Marionette continued. "When summoned, I can add a Dark Machine monster from my Deck to my hand." She took a card from her Deck and showed it. "I add Saber Slasher to my hand. Now, let's battle! Sax Flamed attacks Mekk-Knight Purple Nightfall!"

Sanctum narrowed her eyes. "Are you insane?" Sanctum asked. "My monster has more attack points."

"For now. I activate the effect of Saber Slasher from my hand!" Marionette declared as the card showed a robotic warrior with crimson plating and a horned helmet. It wielded two long black broadswords in its hands. "Whenever a Dark Machine monster I control battles, I discard this card to have that monster gain 2000 attack points until the end of the Damage Step!"

Orcust Sax Flamed ATK 2000→4000

Sanctum gritted her teeth as she gestured to her field. "I activate Purple Nightfall's effect! Once per turn, during either of our turns, I can banish a "Mekk-Knight" monster until my next Standby Phase and add a new "Mekk-Knight" monster from my Deck to my hand. I banish Magenta Elver to add Mekk-Knight Blue Sky to my hand."

Marionette smiled. "That won't save you. Destroy her monster, Sax Flamed!"

A torrent of flames emerged from Sax's horn, engulfing Purple Nightfall, destroying it and making Sancum grunt in pain.

Sanctum: 3000→1500 LP

Orcust Sax Flamed ATK 4000→2000

"I activate the Trap Card: Card of Last Will!" Sanctum declared. "Since you destroyed one of my monsters by battle, this card allows me to draw five cards!"

"So she refilled her hand, huh…?" Marionette muttered. "Mechanicalhunter attacks you directly!"

Following Marionette's words, Mechanicalhunter charged forward, only for Sanctum to take a card from her hand.

"I activate the effect of Battle Fader in my hand!" she said, surprising Marionette. "If you attack me directly, I can Special Summon this card and end the Battle Phase!"

A monster shaped like a pendulum in a clock with fiendish features appeared on Sanctum's field. It rang the bell attached to it, creating sound waves that pushed Mechanicalhunter back.

Battle Fader ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

Marionette narrowed her eyes at Sanctum's monster. That's not a Mekk-Knight monster.

She narrowed her eyes at Sanctum. "Well, it looks like you escaped defeat, but only for now," Marionette remarked. "However, don't think you'll leave this duel completely unscathed. I place a card face-down and end my turn."

Back at Playmaker's duel…

"My turn! I draw!" Galerius announced as he drew his first card. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: The Monarchs Stormforth! With this, if I decide to Tribute Summon this turn, I can Tribute one of your monsters as if it were one of my own. And since this card does not target, you can't use Decode Talker's effect to negate it." Playmaker gritted his teeth. "Now I'll Tribute Decode Talker to Tribute Summon Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!"

A humanoid in white armor with a yellow hip cape appeared on the field.

Zaborg the Thunder Monarch ATK 2400 DEF 1000 LVL: 5

"Zaborg's effect activates! I target and destroy one monster on the field when it is Tribute Summoned. I target and destroy Link Infra-Flier!"

The Monarch shot two lightning bolts out of its hands, disintegrating the small kite.

"And now Zaborg attacks you directly!" The second Mega Monarch raised his hands and shot lightning bolts at Playmaker.

"I activate the effect of Lockout Gardna in my hand!" Playmaker declared. "When your monster attacks me directly, I can Special Summon it!"

A red humanoid machine with thin arms and legs appeared in Attack Position.

Lockout Gardna ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"Your attack is redirected to Lockout Gardna. And the turn it is Special Summoned by its effect, Lockout Gardna cannot be destroyed by battle!"

"But you still take damage!"

The lightning bolts struck the machine, and while it withstood the attack, Playmaker still winced from the blow.

Playmaker: 4000→2600 LP

"Next, I'll activate my face-down card! The Trap Card: Cyberse Beacon!" Playmaker shouted. "Since I took battle damage this turn, I can add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add ROM Cloudia to my hand."

"I place two cards face-down and end my turn," Galerius concluded.

At Storm Rider's duel…

"It's my turn! I draw!"

Enoch smirked as he gestured to his field. "I activate the Continuous Trap Card: Voidvelgr Nebula!" The card showed a colorful nebula, from which the shadows of several Voidvelgr monsters emerged and flew toward the viewer. "As long as this face-up card remains on the field, you can't target "Voidvelgr" monsters I control with card effects. Also, all Dark Galaxy monsters I control gain 400 attack and defense points!"

Voidvelgr Thaneskos ATK 1700→2100 DEF 800→1200

Voidvelgr Transi ATK 2900→3300 DEF 2000→2400

Soulburner gritted his teeth. "Just great. With that card out, Storm Rider will have a lot more trouble on his hands."

"You're not wrong," Blue Maiden agreed. "But if he manages to destroy it, then maybe he can turn this duel in his favor."

"Let's just hope he does," Roselyn said.

Storm Rider frowned before he looked at his card, and his eyes widened. Yes, it's here. I need to clear his field of monsters, and this duel will be mine.

He placed the card he drew in his hand and chose a different one. "I activate the Spell Card: Cynet Mining! By discarding one card, I add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand." He discarded a card, then took another one from his Deck. "I summon Cycode Sorceress!"

A mechanical female humanoid in a black dress carrying a metal staff appeared on Storm Rider's field.

Cycode Sorceress ATK 1400 DEF 400 LVL: 4

"Sorceress's effect activates! When she is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Cycode" monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position. Return to me, Cycode Kid!"

A small robotic boy in a t-shirt and cap appeared beside Sorceress on Storm Rider's field.

Cycode Kid ATK 300 DEF 200 LVL: 1

"I activate the Spell Card: Cycode Emblem! By sending a "Cycode" monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can then Special Summon a "Cycode" monster from my Deck in Attack Position, so long as it has the same Level as the sent monster. I send the Level 4 Cycode Archer to the Graveyard and Special Summon Cycode Strider!"

The medium-sized robot with semi-bulky armor wielding a futuristic rifle appeared on Storm Rider's field.

Cycode Strider ATK 1700 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"And when Strider's Special Summoned, its effect activates! I now check the top card of my Deck, and if it's a Monster, I get to summon it. So let's see if luck is on my side. I draw!"

He drew and looked at his card, causing him to smile.

"I drew the monster Cycode Assailant, which means I can summon it!"

A one-eyed tall slim black, metal skeletal robot with six arms, each holding a red blade energy dagger, appeared next to Strider.

Cycode Assailant ATK 1500 DEF 1400 LVL: 4

"Now, I'll build my circuit!"

The Link Portal appeared above Storm Rider.

"Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I set Cycode Sorceress and Kid in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters became whirlwinds of energy before entering the left and bottom arrows.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Link-2! Cycode Magician!"

A female with long light-blue hair, wearing a long, digital-like cloak with a witch's hat and wielding an energy rod, appeared in the Right Extra Monster Zone.

Cycode Magician ATK 2000 LINK-2 ←↓

"Cycode Kid's effect activates!" Storm Rider declared. "When this card is used to Link Summon a "Cycode" Link Monster, I can target and destroy one face-up card on my opponent's field!"

"What?" Enoch said.

"I destroy Voidvelgr Nebula!"

The Continuous Trap shattered as Enoch frowned. Storm Rider could now target his "Voidvelgr" monsters with card effects.

"Since Voidvelgr Nebula left the field, all my monsters now lose 400 attack and defense points," Enoch stated.

Voidvelgr Thaneskos ATK 2100→1700 DEF 1200→800

Voidvelgr Transi ATK 3300→2900 DEF 2400→2000

"However, I should thank you for destroying my Trap Card," Enoch said, confusing Storm Rider. "When Voidvelgr Nebula leaves the field due to an opponent's card, I get to add any card from my Deck to my hand."

Storm Rider narrowed his eyes as Enoch added the selected card to his hand. I bet the card he added was Voidvelgr Ritual or one of his Ritual Monsters. If so, I must end this duel to ensure he doesn't play it on his next turn.

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "Cycode Magician's effect activates! When it's successfully Link Summoned, I get to return a "Cycode" card from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll return Cycode Prisoner to my hand." After taking the card from the Graveyard, Storm Rider gestured to his field again. "I'll build my circuit for a second time! The summoning conditions are Cyberse monsters, including a "Cycode" monster. I set Cycode Strider and Cycode Assailant in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the bottom and right arrows, turning red.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Link-2! Cycode Leo!"

A large, white fur-like digital lion with a blue circuit pattern lining its body with blue fangs and claws appeared next to Cycode Magician's bottom Link Arrow.

Cycode Leo ATK 2100 LINK-2 ↑↓

"He summoned two Link Monsters in one turn like before," Enoch muttered.

"Cycode Magician's second effect activates! When a monster is Summoned to its Link Arrow, I can banish one card on your field!" Enoch gasped as Storm Rider pointed to his field. "Say goodbye to your Voidvelgr Transi!"

Magician swung its staff as a wave of blue energy appeared and struck Transi, causing it to disappear from the field.

"I'm far from done!" Storm Rider said. "I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cycode Multiplier and equip it to Cycode Magician!" Cycode Magician glowed green when the card was equipped. "Now, Cycode Magician can attack twice during the Battle Phase." He gestured to his field. "Battle! Cycode Magician attacks Voidvelgr Thaneskos!"

Cycode Magician flew up and aimed its rod at Helsar.

"At this moment, Cycode Leo's effect activates! Since Cycode Magician is next to Leo's Link Arrow, she gains 1000 more attack points, but since the two are co-linked, they both gain 1000 attack points!"

Cycode Magician ATK 2000→3000

Cycode Leo ATK 2100→3100

"Go! Digital Deletion!"

"I activate the Trap Card: Draining Shield!" Enoch exclaimed. "Through its effect, your attack is negated, and I gain Life points equal to your monster's attack points!"

Following Enoch's words, a semi-transparent barrier appeared before Helsar, shielding it from Magician's attack. Immediately afterward, the barrier shattered into a rain of golden particles that enveloped Enoch's body.

Enoch: 4600→7600 LP

"I'm far from finished." Storm Rider told Enoch. "Cycode Multiplier allows Cycode Magician to attack twice. Go, Cycode Magician! Attack Voidvelgr Thaneskos once more!"

Cycode Magician's rod glowed blue as it released a wave of energy at Thaneskos, destroying it and sending Enoch skidding back.

Enoch: 7600→6300 LP

"That's the way, Storm Rider!" Sanctum cheered.

"Next, Cycode Leo attacks you directly!"

Leo growled as it released a blue energy blast from its mouth at Enoch.

"You think I'll let you have the advantage over me? Think again! I activate the Trap Card: Empress's Staff from my hand!" Enoch interrupted.

"From your hand? You can't do that! It's against the rules!" Storm Rider protested.

"It isn't. If I control no monsters, I can activate this card from my hand." Enoch explained. "When this card is activated, I can negate the attack and end the Battle Phase!"

A staff appeared in front of Sanctum before releasing a bright light, blinding Cycode Leo.

"Oh, I forgot to mention that you take 500 points of damage as well."

Following Enoch's words, the staff fired a light beam, striking Storm Rider in the chest.

Storm Rider: 3900→3400 LP

"Okay, I did not expect that." Blue Maiden admitted.

"Because Enoch had no monsters on her field, he could utilize Empress's Staff to completely halt Storm Rider's last attack." Roselyn acknowledged.

"I hate to say it, but that was a smart play on Enoch's part." Soulburner acknowledged.

Storm Rider grimaced. "Guess that's enough for now," he said. "I place two cards face-down and end my turn."

At Sanctum's duel…

"It's my turn! I draw!" Sanctum looked at her card, then gestured to her field. "As it is my Standby Phase, the effect of Purple Nightfall activates, and I Special Summon Magenta Elver back to my field!"

Said monster reappeared on Sanctum's field in Attack Position.

Mekk-Knight Magenta Elver ATK 800 DEF 500 LVL: 2

"I activate Magenta Elver's effect!" Sanctum continued. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Level 6 or lower "Mekk-Knight" monster from my Deck. I Special Summon the Level 6 Mekk-Knight Marigold Shine!"

Soon, a silver, marigold-colored machine with a feminine body appeared in Attack Position. It had sharp shoulders and a long marigold energy-like ribbon on top of its head, resembling a ponytail. It wielded a rapier-like weapon with a flower-like guard.

Mekk-Knight Marigold Shine ATK 2300 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Marigold Shine's effect activates! When this card is summoned, I gain 500 Life Points for every other card in its column. Three cards are in its column, so I gain 1500 Life Points!"

Following her words, Sanctum was surrounded by a golden aura emitted from Marigold Shine's body.

Sanctum: 1500→3000 LP

Sanctum gestured to her field. "Following that, I Tribute Battle Fader, Magenta Elver and Marigold Shine to Tribute Summon Gilford the Lightning!"

Her three monsters disappeared as a lightning bolt struck the ground and deposited a tall, muscular man in silver armor and a red cape wielding a large sword.

Gilford the Lightning ATK 2800 DEF 1400 LVL: 8

Marionette narrowed her eyes at Sanctum's newly summoned monster. "That monster isn't a Mekk-Knight either," she stated. "Why are you using monsters that don't support your Main Deck?"

"Sometimes you must step outside your comfort zone and try new things," Sanctum answered. "But forget that. I activate Gilford's effect! Since I summoned him by Tributing three monsters, I can destroy all monsters on your field." Marionette's eyes widened on hearing that. "Do it, Gilford! Lightning Sword!"

Gilford raised its blade high, calling down two bolts of lightning that destroyed both Sax Flamed and Mechanicalhunter.

"Battle!" Sanctum exclaimed. "Gilford the Lightning, attack Marionette directly! Lightning Slash!"

Marionette maliciously smirked. "Foolish girl. I activate the Trap Card: Changing Destiny! And due to its effect, your attack is negated!"

Following Marionette's words, a semi-transparent appeared around her, blocking Gilford's attack. Suddenly, a red door appeared behind Sanctum, while a blue door appeared in front of Marionette as Gilford disappeared.

"What's this?" Sanctum exclaimed, seeing the glow around both doors. "And what happened to my monster?"

"Now you get a choice," Marionette continued. "Either you gain Life Points equal to half of the total attack points of your Gilford the Lightning, or I take damage equal to half of the attack points of your monster."

Sanctum grinned. "I think the choice is obvious. I choose to deal 1400 points of damage to you!"

The red door behind Sanctum opened, and Gilford the Lightning flew out triumphantly and slashed Marionette with his sword, making her wince in pain.

Marionette: 3000→1600 LP

"I place one card face-down and end my turn," Sanctum concluded.

At Playmaker's duel…

"My turn! I draw!" Playmaker declared. "I activate the Spell Card: Cynet Mining! By discarding one card, I add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand." He discarded a card, then took another one from his Deck. "I summon ROM Cloudia!"

A ram with brown fur and pink horns appeared and bleated.

ROM Cloudia ATK 1800 DEF 0 LVL: 4

"ROM Cloudia's effect activates! When Normal Summoned, I can add a Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I add the Latency I just discarded to my hand. And since Latency was added to my hand from the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it!"

A pink robotic girl with a blue hourglass appeared in Attack Position.

Latency ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!"

The Link Portal appeared again above Playmaker.

"The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set Lockout Gardna, ROM Cloudia and Latency in the Link Arrows!"

The monsters entered the top, bottom, and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Transcode Talker!"

A humanoid in orange armor emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Transcode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↑↓→

"Since the Special Summoned Latency was used to Link Summon, I draw one card," Playmaker said as he drew. "Next, I activate Transcode Talker's effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Link-3 or lower Cyberse Link Monster from my Graveyard to its Link Arrow. Return, Decode Talker!"

The purple armored warrior reappeared at Transcode Talker's bottom Link Arrow.

Decode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

"Transcode Talker's additional effect activates! When this monster is co-linked, itself and monsters co-linked with it gain 500 attack points and cannot be targeted by your card effects!"

Decode Talker ATK 2300→2800

Transcode Talker ATK 2300→2800

"Finally, Decode Talker gains 500 attack points for each monster it points to. Power Integration!"

Decode Talker ATK 2800→3300

"Yes!" Soulburner cheered. "Decode Talker and Transcode Talker are now much stronger than Zaborg!"

"If Storm Rider destroys Zaborg with Transcode Talker, Galerius will take 400 points of damage," Blue Maiden said excitedly.

"And if he attacks directly with Decode Talker, Galerius will have 300 Life Points left," Roselyn noted.

"No!" Playmaker said. "I'm ending this now! I activate the Field Spell Card: Cynet Storm! With Cynet Storm active, all Linked monsters on the field gain 500 attack and defense points, and the summoning of Link Monsters cannot be negated."

"Transcode and Decode Talker are linked," Galerius noted. "That means they both become stronger."

Transcode Talker ATK 2800→3300

Decode Talker ATK 3300→3800

"Battle!" Playmaker declared, gesturing to his field. "Transcode Talker, attack Zaborg the Thunder Monarch! Transcode Finish!"

A rifle popped out of Transcode Talker's shoulder, which it caught with its right hand. It charged a blast of energy and fired at Zaborg, destroying it in an explosion.

Galerius: 4000→3100 LP

"Upon Zaborg being destroyed, I activate the Trap Card: Soul Rope!" Galerius declared. "By paying 1000 Life Points, this card lets me Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my Deck. Appear, Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!"

An elf warrior clad in leather armor with a cape extending from its back and holding a single longsword appeared on Galerius's field in Defense Position.

Obnoxious Celtic Guardian ATK 1400 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

Galerius: 3100→2100 LP

"And due to Obnoxious Celtic Guardian's effect, it can't be destroyed in battle by monsters with at least 1900 attack points," Galerius explained.

"Which means Decode Talker can't destroy it," Playmaker grimaced. "I place one card face-down and end my turn."

At Storm Rider's duel…

"It's my turn!" Enoch announced. "I draw. Since you're going all out, let me respond similarly. First, I activate the Spell Card: Card of Sanctity, whose effect allows us to draw cards until we're each holding six. Then, since you're the only one with monsters on their field, I can Special Summon Voidvelgr Plutoteir from my hand!"

A humanoid machine made of silver metal under obsidian plates arranged in armor-like shapes, with white eyes and a segmented yellow tail emerging from the back of its waist and wielding a spear in its hands.

Voidvelgr Plutoteir ATK 2100 DEF 1100 LVL: 6

"Next, I activate the effect of Burstray Gunman from my hand!" Enoch continued. "Since I control a Dark Galaxy monster, I can Special Summon it!"

Following his words, a humanoid with red skin in purple armor wielding blaster-like gauntlets.

Burstray Gunman ATK 1200 DEF 200 LVL: 4

"And when its effect is successful, you take 600 points of damage for every Dark Galaxy monster on my field. I have two, so you take 1200 points of damage!"

Burstray blasted Storm Rider with purple energy, making him wince.

Storm Rider: 3400→2200 LP

"Finally, I can Special Summon a Dark Galaxy monster from my Deck whose attack points are equal or less to the damage you took. I Special Summon Voidvelgr Kataphraktos!"

A humanoid warrior and its stead clad in crimson armor that covered its purple skin underneath appeared in Attack Position next to Burstray. It carried a shield and a spear, and a fiery mane emerged from the back of its helmet.

Voidvelgr Katphraktos ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"When Kataphraktos is Special Summoned while I control a Dark Galaxy monster, I can add a "Voidvelgr" monster from my Graveyard to my hand," Enoch explained. "I add Voidvelgr Doom Wyvern to my hand."

He took the card from his Graveyard and raised his hand as blue lightning danced across his fingers.

"Appear! The circuit that expands the universe!" The Link Portal appeared above him. "Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two Dark Galaxy monsters. I set Burstray Gunman and Voidvelgr Katphraktos in the Link Arrows!"

The two monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Voidvelgr Dusk Rider!"

A humanoid warrior and its stead clad in golden armor emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone. The warrior carried a bow in its right hand with three cannons attached to its front, and a fiery mane emerged from the back of its helmet.

Voidvelgr Dusk Rider ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘

"He used that monster in our last duel," Storm Rider muttered.

"Time for me to push you into a corner," Enoch stated. "I activate the Equip Spell Cards: Voidvelgr Dusk and Voidvelgr Rings equip them to Dusk Rider!"

A disk-shaped black hole with orange, blue, and purple energy swirling on its trim appears above the Dusk Rider's head, and a pair of silver chakrams with yellow handles and glowing purple edges appeared in Dusk Rider's hands.

"Through Voidvelgr Dusk's effect, it increases Voidvelgr Dusk Rider's attack points by 500 multiplied by its Link Rating! Since Dusk Rider is Link 2, it gains 1000 attack points!"

Voidvelgr Dusk Rider ATK 1800→2800

"And through Voidvelgr Rings' effect, Voidvelgr gains 600 attack points!"

Voidvelgr Dusk Rider ATK 2800→3400

"Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Twin Twisters!" Enoch declared. "By discarding one card from my hand, I can target up to two Spell and Trap Cards on the field and destroy them. I target and destroy both your face-down cards!"

As Enoch discarded a card from his hand, two twisters emerged from Twin Twisters, destroying both of Storm Rider's Set cards.

"Since the card I discarded was Cards of Compensation, I now get to draw two extra cards. Now time to battle! Dusk Rider attacks Cycode Leo!"

The armored warrior aimed its cannon, generating energy before blasting it at Leo.

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "Cycode Leo's effect activates! Both it and Cycode Magician gain 1000 attack points!"

Cycode Magician ATK 2000→3000

Cycode Leo ATK 2100→3100

"Your monster may be stronger, but it'll still be destroyed!"

Following Enoch's statement, the blast of energy struck Cycode Leo, destroying it and pushing Storm Rider back.

Storm Rider: 2200→1900 LP

Cycode Magician ATK 3000→2000

"I have one attack left. Voidvelgr Plutoteir attacks Cycode Magician!"

The armored humanoid pierced Cycode Magician with its spear, destroying it and making Storm Rider wince.

Storm Rider: 1900→1800 LP

"I place a card face-down and end my turn," Enoch said. "Now then, I look forward to seeing how you respond."

At Sanctum's duel…

"It's my turn!" Marionette said. "I draw!" She drew and smiled. "I activate the Spell Card: Card of Sanctity! Now we both draw until we have six cards in our hands!"

They did so, and Marionette smiled at what she saw. Oh, this is going to be fun.

"I activate the Field Spell Card: Orcustrated Babel! While this card is active, I can activate the effects of 'Orcust' monsters in my Graveyard or the effects of "Orcust" Link Monsters as Quick Effects."

Sanctum narrowed her eyes. This is not going to be pretty.

"I activate the Spell Card: Foolish Burial! With this, I send a monster from my Deck to the Graveyard." Marionette placed a card from her Deck in her Graveyard before gesturing to his field. "I activate the effect of the Orcust Harp Horror in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon an "Orcust" monster from my Deck. Come, Orcust Brass Bombard!"

A black and yellow machine with several horns attached appeared in Attack Position.

Orcust Brass Bombard ATK 500 DEF 1900 LVL: 1

"I summon Armageddon Knight."

A man in dark brown armor wielding a sword appeared.

Armageddon Knight ATK 1400 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

"Armageddon Knight's effect activates! When it is Summoned, I can send a Dark monster from my Deck to the Graveyard." Marionette sent a copy of Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to the Graveyard. Then she pointed upwards. "Appear, the circuit of the vanished world!"

The Link Portal appeared above her.

"Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two Effect Monsters, one of which must be an "Orcust" monster. I set Armageddon Knight and Brass Bombard in the Link Arrows!"

Said monsters entered the top-right and bottom-left arrows.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Galatea, the Orcust Automaton!"

A young woman with long purple hair wearing a green and black jumpsuit and wielding a scythe emerged from the portal, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Galatea, the Orcust Automaton ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↗

"Galatea's effect activates! Once per turn, I can shuffle a banished Machine monster back into my Deck and Set an "Orcust" Spell or Trap Card directly from my Deck. I shuffle Harp Horror into my Deck and Set Orcustrated Presto." Marionette did so, then gestured to her field again. "I activate the effect of Cymbal Skeleton in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon an "Orcust" monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Brass Bombard!"

The monster reappeared in Attack Position.

Orcust Brass Bombard ATK 500 DEF 1900 LVL: 1

"Appear, the circuit of the vanished world! The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters, including an "Orcust" monster. I set Brass Bombard and Link-2 Galatea in the Link Arrows!"

Galatea and Brass Bombard entered the top, top-left, and bottom-right arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator!"

A purple-haired man in black, purple, and dark blue armor emerged from the portal. He swung a long blue spear and a hexagonal shield from the Extra Monster Zone.

Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator ATK 2500 LINK-3 ↖↑↘

Marionette took and played a card from her hand. "I activate the Spell Card: World Legacy Succession! This card Special Summons a monster from my Graveyard to a Link Monster's Link Arrow. I Special Summon Blowback Dragon to Orchestrator's Link Arrow!"

A dragon with blue and red chromed armor and no wings and claws appeared at Orchestrator's bottom-right Link Arrow in Attack Position. Its head consisted of a plasma gun.

Blowback Dragon ATK 2300 DEF 1200 LVL: 6

"I activate Blowback Dragon's effect! Once per turn, I can toss three coins, and if I get two heads, I get to destroy one of your cards." Three coins appeared at the center of the field before launching into the air. Once it reached the ground, two out of three landed on heads. "YES! Since I got two heads, I can target and destroy a card on your field. I target Gilford the Lightning!"

Blowback Dragon fired a burst of gunfire at Gilford, destroying it completely.

"I activate the Spell Card: Cross Linkage Hack!" Marionette continued. "It enables me to draw two cards if I control a non-Link-Monster linked to a Link Monster! Since Longirsu points to Blowback Dragon, I draw two cards." She gestured to her field. "Battle! Longirsu, attack Sanctum directly! Lance of Loss!"

"It won't be so easy!" Sanctum shouted. "I activate the Trap Card: Nutrient Z! Since I'm about to take at least 2000 points of damage, this card increases my Life Points by 4000 before applying damage calculation!"

Following her words, a violet-colored aura enveloped Sanctum's body. Immediately afterward, Longirsu struck Sanctim with its lancer, sending her tumbling back.

Sanctum: 3000→7000→4500 LP

"Finally, Blowback Dragon will attack you directly!" Marionette pointed at Sanctum. "Plasma Barrage!"

The plasma on Blowback's head began to gather energy before firing a beam of blue energy at Sanctum, sending her skidding back.

Sanctum: 4500→2200

"I place one card face-down and end my turn," Marionette concluded.

At Playmaker's duel…

"It's my turn!" Galerius announced. "I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Card of Sanctity, allowing us to draw cards until we have six. Then, I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Return of the Monarchs! It prevents me from Special Summoning monsters from the Extra Deck, but once per turn, if I Tribute Summon a monster, I can activate one of two effects." Galerius sneered. "Which you'll find out about right now! But first, I activate the Spell Card: Tenacity of the Monarchs. I reveal a monster in my hand with 2400 or 2800 attack points and 1000 defense points, then add a "Monarch" Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I reveal Mobius the Mega Monarch in my hand to add Domain of the True Monarchs to my hand."

Galerius smirked. "I activate the Field Spell Card: Domain of the True Monarchs!"

Following Galerius's words, an eerie black mist surrounded the area as statues depicting several Monarchs sitting on ornate thrones emerged from the ground and surrounded the two duelists.

"So long as there are no cards in my Extra Deck, and I am the only one who controls a Tribute Summoned monster, my opponent cannot Special Summon monsters from the Extra Deck."

"WHAT?!" Playmaker exclaimed with a gasp.

"No more summons from your Extra Deck, whether Link, Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz. Moving on, I activate Domain of the True Monarch's effect! Once per turn, I can reduce the Level of one monster with 2800 attack points and 1000 defense points in my hand by 2 until the End Phase. I reduce Level 8 Ether the Heavenly Monarch to Level 6." His smirk widened. "Finally, I Tribute Obnoxious Celtic Guardian to Tribute Summon Ether the Heavenly Monarch!"

The elf warrior shattered and was replaced by a monster clad in shining white and gold armor, sitting on a pristine white throne and holding a golden scepter in its left hand.

Ether the Heavenly Monarch ATK 2800 DEF 1000 LVL: 8

"Since I Tribute Summoned a monster, I can activate one of Return of the Monarchs' effects," Gaerius stated. "I'll activate its second effect to add a monster with 2800 attack points and 1000 defense points from my Deck to my hand. Then, since Ether was Tribute Summoned, its effect activates, allowing me to send two "Monarch" Spell or Trap Cards from my Deck to my Graveyard to Special Summon a monster with 2400 or more attack points and 1000 defense points from my Deck. I will send Pantheism of the Monarchs and The Prime Monarch from my Deck to the Graveyard to Special Summon Thestalos the Mega Monarch!"

A large humanoid in red armor with spikes along its arms and shoulders appeared. It had blue capes at its back and hip.

Thestalos the Mega Monarch ATK 2800 DEF 1000 LVL: 6

"I activate the Spell Card: Transmutation of the Monarchs!" Galerius continued. "Since I control two "Monarch" monsters with different attributes, I can Special Summon a "Monarch" Monster from my Deck. Come, Mobius the Mega Monarch!"

A monster clad in white armor with several icy spikes extending from it appeared next to Galerius's other two monsters. It had a ring on its back and a large spike in its helmet.

Mobius the Mega Monarch ATK 2800 DEF 1000 LVL: 8

"And thanks to Transmutation's second effect, the monster summoned through its effect is treated as being Tribute Summoned," Galerius explained as Playmaker's eyes widened. "Which means Mobius's effect activates! Since it was Tribute Summoned, I target and destroy up to three Spell or Trap Cards on the field. I target and destroy Cynet Storm and your face-down card!"

Mobius raised his right hand and launched a volley of ice crystals at Playmaker's field, piercing the face-down card and Field Spell, making them explode.

Playmaker frowned. "Since Cynet Storm left the field, both my monsters now lose 500 attack points."

Transcode Talker ATK 3300→2800

Decode Talker ATK 3800→3300

"Battle! Ether attacks Decode Talker!"

The Monarch raised its staff high, unleashing several beams of light at Playmaker's monster.

"Domain of the True Monarchs' effect! If my Tribute Summoned monster attacks your monster, it gains 800 attack points during damage calculation!"

Ether the Heavenly Monarch ATK 2800→3600

The beams of light consumed Decode Talker, who cried out before exploding and sending Playmaker skidding back from the shockwave.

Playmaker: 2600→2300 LP

Ether the Heavenly Monarch ATK 3600→2800

Playmaker gritted his teeth. "As Transcode Talker is no longer co-linked, it loses 500 attack points."

Transcode Talker ATK 2800→2300

"Next, Thestalos attacks Transcode Talker! Scorching Impact!"

The Monarch struck the ground, sending a wave of fire at Transcode.

"I activate the effect of the Rescue Interlacer in my hand!" Playmaker declared. "By discarding it, battle damage against my Attack Position Cyberse monster becomes 0!"

The blast destroyed the Link Monster, but a barrier appeared and prevented Playmaker from taking any damage.

"You waste my time with those foolish moves, Playmaker," Galerius commented. "Mobius attacks you directly! Imperial Charge!"

Several large ice spikes suddenly grew from Mobius' armor as it rushed forward.

"Playmaker!" Soulburner, Blue Maiden and Roselyn cried out.

Playmaker narrowed his eyes at the charging monster and took a card from his hand. "If I would damage from a direct attack, I can discard Cyberse Gardna to reduce that damage to 0!"

A black metal face with white arms and gauntlets appeared before him. Mobius impaled the monster, shattering it, but Playmaker was unaffected.

"You truly are the embodiment of tenacity, aren't you?" Galerius grinned. "Well, that suits me just fine since it means I can enjoy myself even more here. I place one card face-down and end my turn. Thestalos will return to my hand now due to Ehther's effect."

Following his words, Thestalos vanished from the field as it changed into a card and was placed in Galerius's hand.

"During the End Phase, Rescue Interlacer's effect activates!" Playmaker said. "And I can Special Summon it from the Graveyard."

A white and red humanoid robot appeared in Defense Position.

Rescue Interlacer ATK 1000 DEF 1200 LVL: 3

Roselyn narrowed her eyes. "Things aren't looking good for the three of them," she commentated.

"I know what you mean," Blue Maiden said. "Every time they bounce back, their opponents do the same thing to them."

"Even so, I know they'll be able to pull through and win!" Soulburner stated.

At Storm Rider's duel…

"It's my turn!" Storm Rider announced. "I draw!" " Storm Rider looked at his card, then played it. "I activate the Spell Card: Cycode Gift! By discarding a "Cycode" card, I draw two cards." He discarded Cyspirit Wanderer, drew, then said, "I summon Cycode Knight!"

A cybernetic knight in blue and white armor appeared in Attack Position.

Cycode Knight ATK 1800 DEF 0 LVL: 4

"Next, I activate the Spell Card: Monster Slots! With this card, by targeting the Level 4 Cycode Knight and banishing the Level 4 Cycode Assailant from my Graveyard, I can draw a card, and if it's also a Level 4 monster, I can Special Summon it."

A goblin-like slot machine appeared, projecting three images, two of which are both Cycode Knight and Cycode Assailant. The other one rapidly changes to all sorts of cards in Storm Rider's Deck.

"C'mon, I need a Level 4!" Storm Rider begged as he placed his hand on his Deck. "I draw!"

Storm Rider drew as the slot machine stopped on…

Cycode Miner.

"Yeah!" Storm Rider cheered. "I Special Summon Cycode Miner!"

A robotic humanoid in a prospector's uniform carrying a shovel appeared.

Cycode Miner ATK 1700 DEF 100 LVL: 4

"And since I control at least two "Cycode" monsters, I Special Summon Cycode General from my hand!"

A large male humanoid cladded in blue and white-colored knight-like armor appeared. It wore a cape and wielded a massive energy blade.

Cycode General ATK 2600 DEF 2300 LVL: 7

"I now create my circuit!"

The Link Portal appeared above Storm Rider once again.

"Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters, including one "Cycode" monster. I set Cycode Knight, Miner and General in the Link Arrows!"

Storm Rider's monsters became whirlwinds of energy as they entered the left, bottom, and right arrows.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cycode Gaia Charger!"

A monster that resembles Gaia the Fierce Knight, but his body is merged with a robotic horse with digital wings, appeared in the Extra Monster Zone. He wielded digital energy light brown lances.

Cycode Gaia Charger ATK 2600 LINK-3 ←↓→

Storm Rider gestured to his monster. "Gaia Charger's effect activates! When it's successfully Link Summoned, all your monsters have their attack points halved. Go, Jamming Javelin!"

Gaia Charger aimed its spear at the two Voidvelgr monsters and released a wave of electricity, draining their power.

Voidvelgr Dusk Rider ATK 3400→1700

Voidvelgr Plutoteir ATK 2100→1050

"Next, I activate the effect of the Cycode Multiplier in my Graveyard!" Storm Rider continued. "By banishing a "Cycode" monster, I can equip it to a "Cycode" monster I control. I banish Cycode Kid and equip Multiplier to Gaia Charger." He narrowed his eyes. "The monster equipped with Multiplier can make two attacks against your monsters during each Battle Phase. Battle! Gaia Charger attacks Voidvelgr Dusk Rider! Linkage Spiral!"

"I activate Voidvelgr Rings's effect!" Enoch declared. "If the equipped is the target of an attack or effect, I destroy this card to negate it!"

A barrier formed around Dusk Rider, blocking Gaia's lances from reaching it.

"Since Rings' is no longer equipped to Dusk Rider, it loses 600 attack points."

Voidvelgr Dusk Rider ATK 1700→1100

Storm Rider narrowed. "That matters not. Cycode Multiplier allows Gaia Charger to attack twice! Go, Linkage Spiral!"

Gaia charged again towards Dusk Rider, piercing its chest with its lance, destroying it in an explosion and making Enoch flicker.

Enoch: 6300→4800 LP

"And if you recall from our last duel, Gaia Charger's effect allows it to attack twice!" Storm Rider stated. "Gaia Charger attacks Plutoteir!"

The previous scene was repeated, with Gaia Charger thrusting its lance through Plutoteir's body and destroying it.

Enoch: 4800→3250 LP

"Perfect!" Soulburner cheered. "Storm Rider has taken the lead!"

"With that, I end my turn," Storm Rider concluded.

At Sanctum's duel…

"My turn!" Sanctum announced. "I draw! First, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: World Legacy's Memory! This card lets me Special Summon a "Mekk-Knight" monster from my hand or Deck in Defense Position. From my Deck, I Special Summon Mekk-Knight Orange Sunset!"

A silver, black, and orange warrior with two shields appeared on Sanctum's field.

Mekk-Knight Orange Sunset ATK 800 DEF 3000 LVL: 6

"There's more..." Sacntum said as she took another card from her hand. "I activate the Spell Card: Metamorphosis! All I have to do is Tribute one of my monsters, and I get to Special Summon a Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck with the same Level. So say goodbye to Orange Sunset and say hello to... Garura, Wings of Resonant Life!"

Orange Sunset vanished as a large two-headed anthropomorphic blue and purple-colored bird appeared in Attack Position. It had red ribbons wrapped around the shoulders of its wings, tied around to its chest by a large golden ring.

Garura, Wings of Resonant Life ATK 1500 DEF 2400 LVL: 6

"So you even have monsters in your Extra Deck that aren't Mekk-Knights as well?" Marionette said. "You sure like variety."

"Sometimes variety can be a good thing," Sanctum rebutted. "But you would know nothing about that."

"Whatever. Are you done with your turn, or do you still have a few moves to make?"

"The latter. I place a card face-down and activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Double Cyclone! By destroying a Spell or Trap Card on my field, I can destroy one on yours. I destroy my face-down card and your Field Spell!"

Marionette grimaced as her Field Spell shattered along with Sanctum's face-down.

"Since the effect of a Spell Card destroyed my face-down card Dummy Marker, I get to draw two cards," Sanctum stated as she drew. "Next, I activate the Spell Card: Swing of Memories, whose effect allows me to Special Summon a Normal Monster from my Graveyard in exchange for destroying the summoned monster during the End Phase. Be revived, Mekk-Knight Avram!"

The young armored warrior reappeared.

Mekk-Knight Avram ATK 2000 DEF 0 LVL: 4

I activate the Equip Spell Card: Link Unit and equip it to Mekk-Knight Avram!" Sanctum continued. "Thanks to its effect, Avram counts as two monsters when used as Link Material!"

Marionette narrowed her eyes. "So she's planning on Link Summoning next," she muttered.

"Appear, the circuit of illumination!"

Sanctum's hand shot a lightning bolt into the air, creating a Link Portal.

"Link Arrows authorized!" Sanctum chanted. "The summoning conditions are two monsters, including at least one "Mekk-Knight" monster. I set Mekk-Knight Avram, now treated as two monsters in the Link Arrows!"

Avram split into two before turning into a whirlwind of energy as it entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Mekk-Knight of the Crescent Night!"

A dark bipedal machine resembling Mekk-Knight of the Morning Star appeared on Sanctum's field. It had an arm cannon, two cybernetic robotic wings, a golden horn on its head and an orange wreath on its chest. Crescent Night roared from the Left Extra Monster Zone.

Mekk-Knight of the Crescent Night ATK 2000 LINK-2 ↖↗

"Crescent Night's effect activates! When it is Link Summoned, by discarding a card, I get to add a "Mekk-Knight" card from my Deck to my hand." She discarded a card, then took another one from her Deck. "And since Crescent Night wasn't co-linked when this effect resolved, I can draw an additional card. And while a control a "Mekk-Knight" monster other than Crescent Night, all your monsters lose 1000 attack points and must attack!"

Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator ATK 2500→1500

Blowback Dragon ATK 2300→1300

"Lastly, I activate the Equip Spell Card: Power of the Guardians and equip it to Garura!" Sanctum declared as her monster became enveloped in a multi-colored aura. "This card gains a Spell Counter when an attack is declared involving the monster equipped with it!" She gestured to her field. "Now, let's battle! Garura attacks Blowback Dragon! And at this moment, Power of the Guardian's effect activates!"

Garura rose in the air at the speed of a jet fighter. It flies up before looping back to dive at the mechanical dragon.

Power of the Guardians: 0 SC→1 SC

"Power of the Guardian's second effect activates! The monster equipped to it gains 500 attack points whenever it gains a Spell Counter!"

Garura, Wings of Resonant Life ATK 1500→2000

"There's one more thing you need to know," Sanctum said. "You see, any battle damage you take involving Garura is doubled."

Marionette blinked her eyes before gesturing to her field. "I activate the Trap Card: Enchanted Javelin!" she exclaimed. "Since your monster declared an attack, I gain Life Points equal to its attack points!"

Marionette: 1600→3600 LP

Garura flapped its wings, unleashing a powerful gale that struck Blowback and sent him skidding back due to the ensuing shockwave.

Marionette: 3600→2200 LP

"Next, Purple Nightfall attacks Longirsu!"

Nightfall twirled its spear before impaling the Orcust Link Monster, causing it to explode and Marionette to wince again.

Marionette: 2200→1700 LP

"You've put up a good fight," Sanctum said. "But I think it's time to end things and save my friend. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Serial Claw! Since my monster destroyed yours in battle, it gains 500 attack points and can also attack a second time!"

Mekk-Knight Crescent Night ATK 2000→2500

"Crescent Night attacks you directly!"

The monster fired a bolt of burning plasma from its cannon at Marionette, but she wasn't worried.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Orcust Presto!" she declared as the card showed Orcustrion releasing a large soundwave that tore through several dimensions. "This card lets me Special Summon an "Orcust" monster that is banished or in my Graveyard. Appear, Cymbal Skeleton."

A gold and black machine on treads with several cymbals attached to its arms and shoulders appeared in Defense Position.

Orcust Cymbal Skeleton ATK 1200→200 DEF 1500 LVL: 3

"Furthermore, the monster summoned through Presto's effect can't be destroyed by battle."

"As I thought, there was no way Marionette would be done so easily," Soulburner commented. "She must have realized Sanctum would try to end things in a single turn, hence why she placed that card face-down."

"I thought I could settle it, but you definitely won't make it easy for me, will you?" Sanctum commented with a cramped smile. "I end my turn by placing two cards face-down."

At Playmaker's duel…

"It's my turn!" Playmaker announced. "I draw! He looked at his card, then played it. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mystical Space Typhoon!"

"What?" Galerius gasped.

"This card destroys a Spell or Trap Card on the field. I'll destroy Domain of the True Monarchs!"

A gust of wind destroyed Galerius's Field Spell.

"Next, by discarding the Level 1 Dotscaper, I can Special Summon Bitrooper!"

A mechanical humanoid wielding a lance and energy shield appeared in Attack Position.

Bitrooper ATK 1500 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"Since I sent Dotscaper to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it!"

The green and white monster made of blocks materialized in Defense Position.

Dotscaper ATK 0 DEF 2100 LVL: 1

"I summon Flame Bufferlo!"

A black mechanical bison with horns and a tail made of blue flames appeared.

Flame Bufferlo ATK 1400 DEF 200 LVL: 3

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" A Link Portal appeared above Playmaker! "The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I set Flame Bufferlo, Dotscaper and Bitroopet in the Link Arrows!"

The monsters entered the top, bottom, and left arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Shootingcode Talker!"

A warrior in blue armor with wings emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ←↑↓

"Since Flame Bufferlo left the field, I can discard Dual Assembwurm to draw two cards! And then, by banishing Bitrooper and Flame Bufferlo from my Graveyard and halving its attack points, I can Special Summon Dual Assembwurm!"

A large mechanical dragon, one colored red and the other blue appeared and roared in Attack Position.

Dual Assembwurm ATK 2800→1400 DEF 1000 LVL: 8

"I activate the Spell Card: Link Treasure Ticket!" Playmaker said. "I target one Link Monster I control and draw cards equal to its Link Rating. Then I send an equal number of cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard. I target Shootingcode, draw three cards, and send the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard."

Playmaker drew, then sent three cards from his Deck to the Graveyard. He then gestured to his field. "Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I set Dual Assembwurm and Rescue Interlacer in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters entered the left and bottom-right arrows.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Flame Administrator!"

A large red and orange mechanical humanoid emerged from the portal at Shootingcode Talker's bottom Link Arrow.

Flame Administrator ATK 1200 LINK-2 ←↘

"While Flame Administrator is on my field, my Link Monsters gain 800 attack points!"

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2300→3100

Flame Administrator ATK 1200→2000

"I activate the Field Spell Card: Cynet Universe!" Playmaker continued. "This card increases the attack points of my Link Monsters by 300!"

Shootingcode Talker ATK 3100→3400

Flame Administrator ATK 2000→2300

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cynet Optimization!" Playmaker said before gesturing to his field. "Battle! At this point, Shootingcode Talker's effect activates! During this Battle Phase, Shootingcode Talker gains additional attacks against your monsters for each monster it points to!" he explained. "Shootingcode Talker is linked to Flame Administrator, meaning it can attack twice!"

The bars on Shootingcode Talker's left arm extended, creating a golden bow.

"Shootingcode Talker attacks Ether the Heavenly Monarch! And while Cynet Optimization is on my field, when my "Code Talker" monster battles, you cannot activate cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step!"

Galerius's eyes widened as Shootingcode released its string, sending its bolt through Ether, destroying it in an explosion.

Galerius: 2400→1800 LP

"Shootingcode Talker can attack once more! Shootingcode Talker attacks Mobius the Mega Monarch! And since you only control one monster, Shootingcode Talker loses 400 attack points."

Shootingcode Talker ATK 3400→3000

"Shimmering Straight Shot!"

Shootingcode shot a second blue bolt from its bow. It tore through Mobius's chest, making it howl as it exploded. Galerius yelled as he was knocked back.

Galerius: 1800→1600 LP

Shootingcode Talker ATK 3000→3400

"The next attack will end this."

"Are you sure about that?"

Playmaker gasped. "At this moment, I activate the Trap Card: Setuppercut! Since you destroyed my monster in battle, I can Special Summon a monster with attack points less than the destroyed monster's in face-down Defense Position!"

A face-down card appeared on Galerius's field.

Playmaker gritted his teeth. That monster must have an effect similar to Obnoxious Celtic Guardian. Only one way to find out.

"Battle! Flame Administrator attacks your face-down monster!"

Flame Administrator's attack struck Galerius's face-down monster, which was revealed to be a purple-colored blob, and destroyed it.

"At this moment, the effect of the destroyed Marshmacaron activates!" Galerius declared. "When this card is destroyed, I can Special Summon up to two copies from my hand, Deck or Graveyard. I Special Summon the remaining two copies from my Deck in Defense Position!"

The remains of Marshmacaron suddenly started moving, reconstituting themselves into two copies of it.

Marshmacaron ATK 200 DEF 200 LVL: 1 x 2

"Is this guy planning to Tribute Summon with them…?" Playmaker wondered. "At the end of the Battle Phase, Shootingcode Talker's effect activates! I draw cards equal to the number of monsters it destroyed by battle. It destroyed two, so I get to draw two cards."

Playmaker drew, then held out one of them. "I place a card face-down and end my turn."

"Looks like they all managed to make a comeback," Roselyn commentated.

"Even so, something tells me things are going to get a lot harder for them," Blue Maiden stated.

"Let's hope they're prepared for what's about to come their way," Soulburner said.

At Storm Rider's duel…

"It's my turn!" Enoch announced. "I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Graceful Charity, whose effect allows me to draw three cards and discard two from my hand. Then, I activate the Spell Card: Pre-Preparation of Rites, which allows me to add one Ritual Card and the corresponding Ritual Monster written on its text from my Deck to my hand! I add Voidvelgr Ritual and Voidvelgr Requiem from my Deck to my hand!"

Storm Rider's eyes opened wide. "Here it comes…."

"I activate the Ritual Spell Card: Voidvelgr Ritual! With this card, I can Tribute monsters from my hand or field whose combined Levels equal or exceed that of a "Voidvelgr" Ritual Monster in my hand!" Enoch's smirk widened. "However, if you control a monster in the Extra Monster Zone while I have no monsters on my field, I can also banish "Voidvelgr" monsters in my Graveyard! I banish the Level 4 Thaneskos and the Level 4 Doom Wyverrn from my Graveyard!"

A swirling galaxy appeared on Enoch's field. Thaneskos and Doom Wyvern reappeared before bursting into purple and crimson light as they entered a magical circle in the galaxy's center. The circle lit up and created a pillar of blue light.

"From the empty sky, I invoke the promised paradise of oblivion. I Ritual Summon! Come forth! Voidvelgr Requiem!"

A bipedal dragon covered in dark and yellow armor adorned with pink orbs and accents all over its body. Two arc-shaped wings were attached to its back, which emitted electricity.

Voidvelgr Requiem ATK 3000 DEF 2600 LVL: 8

Storm Rider narrowed his eyes at Requiem as he found his legs frozen.

What...is this? Storm Rider wondered as he stared at his trembling hand. I…am afraid? I'm...recalling that feeling of powerlessness from back then…? Dang it, why am I faltering at this stage!? Even though I must defeat him…why can't I move!?

Despite his internal cries, Storm Rider's body refused to obey his commands and stopped trembling, prompting Enoch to speak.

"What's the matter, Storm Rider? Has the sight of my monster got you quivering in your Duel Disk? Or has the fear of defeat consumed you?"

"I…" Storm Rider gritted his teeth. His expression filled with frustration.

Enoch shook his head. "How disappointing. Your skills are praiseworthy, but the current attitude you're showing me is extremely pathetic. I should end this match if that's all you're worth. Requiem's effect activates! When this card is summoned successfully, I can destroy all monsters on my opponent's field! Orbit Eraser!"

Requiem's wings spread as they generated electricity and unleashed a violet-colored blast that destroyed Storm Rider's Link Monster.

"Battle!" Enoch exclaimed. "Requiem, attack him directly! Universal Judgement!"

Requiem shot upwards as torrents of electricity surrounded its body, and its wings expanded once again before opening its maw, unleashing a golden-colored blast that headed straight for Storm Rider.

Storm Rider gritted his teeth before taking a card from his hand. "I activate the effect of Cycode Defender in my hand!" he declared. "Since you attacked me directly, I can Special Summon Defender and make it the target of your attack!"

A digital warrior wearing a black and gray armor suit with pink circuit lines with armor with two large shields appeared in Defense Position.

Cycode Defender ATK 0 DEF 1500 LVL: 4

"Not only that but Defender also can't be destroyed in battle once per turn!"

Hecatoncheir crossed its four arms, generating an orb of energy that shot forward and struck Defender's shields, but they held firm.

"Should've known you had something up your sleeve," Enoch remarked. "I place a card face-down and end my turn."

"How brutal…" Soulburner commented as he watched Storm Rider struggle. "Enoch was scary enough before, but with his ace monster on the field, he's even more formidable. "Despite having fewer Life Points than Storm Rider, Enoch was able to put Storm Rider in a worse spot than before."

"However, I don't think Storm Rider is the type who gives up that easily." Blue Maiden said. "Even if he has to face the monster who defeated him in their previous duel, I'm certain he'll find a way to turn this situation around."

"Good grief, now that his troublesome monster came out, things are even more difficult than before…." Storm Rider sighed. "Still, complaining won't get me anywhere. I suppose I should also exert myself to the fullest here."

"By all means, please do so." Enoch smiled. "It would make my victory seem hollow."

"The duel is far from over, so don't declare your victory yet." Storm Rider retorted. "My turn! I draw! First, I activate the Spell Card Pot of Greed to draw two cards from my Deck. Then, I activate the Spell Card: Cycode Core! This card lets me target and Special Summon a "Cycode" monster with a Level from my Graveyard in Defense Position in exchange for negating its effects. Return, Miner!"

The robotic prospector reappeared.

Cycode Miner ATK 1700 DEF 100 LVL: 4

"And since I control a "Cycode" monster, I can summon Cycode Brawler from my hand without Tributing a monster by halving its attack points!"

A large bulky blue robot with giant gauntlet fists appeared in Attack Position.

Cycode Brawler ATK 2800→1400 DEF 2000 LVL: 7

"I'll now create my circuit!"

The Link Portal appeared above Storm Rider once again.

"Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters, including one "Cycode" monster. I set Cycode Defender, Miner and Brawler in the Link Arrows!"

Storm Rider's monsters became whirlwinds of energy as they entered the left, bottom, and right arrows.

"Beyond Reality, beyond technology; appear and begin your path to change the course of evolution! I Link Summon! Appear, Link 3! Cyber Tech Armored Dragon!"

The dragon that emerged from the portal was half the size of Storm Rider's Link-4 monster. It had four limbs and a bulky armored body with four cybernetic orbs. It roared, its yellow eyes gleaming from the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyber Tech Armored Dragon ATK 2000 LINK-3 ←↓→

"Since the monster Special Summoned by Cycode Core was used as Link Material, I get to draw a card."

Storm Rider drew his card, then gestured to his field. "Battle! Armored Dragon attacks Voidvelgr Requiem!"

The small dragon roared as it soared into the air.

"Cyber Tech Armored Dragon's effect activates! Since I summoned it using three monsters during the Battle Phase, the attack points of all monsters you control become 0!"

Enoch gasped. "What?"

Voidvelgr Requiem ATK 3000→0

"Go, Cyber Armored Burst!"

Armored Dragon unleashed a blue energy blast from its mouth and orbs at Requiem.

"That's not good enough!" Enoch bellowed. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Forbidden Scripture! Through its effect, this card negates all other effects on the field and returns all attack values to their normal values and damage calculation applied with those values. Therefore, Requiem's attack points return to normal!"

Voidvelgr Reqieum ATK 0→3000

"Go, Reqieum! Universal Judgment!"

Following Enoch's words, Requiem counterattacked, unleashing an energy wave from its maw that overpowered Armored Dragon's beam and enveloped it, causing a large explosion that sent Storm Rider tumbling back from the shockwave.

Storm Rider: 1800→800 LP

"You may have destroyed my monster, but your victory is short-lived," Storm Rider stated, confusing Enoch. "I activate the effect of Cyber Tech Armored Dragon in the Graveyard! When it is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can banish it and two "Cycode" Link Monsters to Special Summon Cyber Tech Link Dragon from my Extra Deck!"

Enoch's eyes widened. "What?"

"I banish Cycode Architect and Cycode Gaia Charger! Go, Cyber Rebirth!"

The destroyed pieces of Armored Dragon appeared on Storm Rider's field along with spectral figures of Architect and Gaia Charger before smashing together.

"The new wind that flows throughout this world gives the mighty creature that connects the past and future! Appear, Link-4! Cyber Tech Link Dragon!"

The blue dragon covered in white and yellow armor emerged from the portal, the orbs in its wings and chest gleaming, and spread its wings and roared from the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 2500 LINK-4 ←↑↓→

"I'm not finished yet." Storm Rider continued. "I activate the Spell Card: One-Time Passcode! This card lets me Special Summon a Security Token in Defense Position!"

A small black and gray machine with a single blue orb in its center appeared, summoned to Cyber Tech's bottom Link Arrow.

Security Token ATK 2000 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"I activate Cyber Tech's effect! Once per turn, by Tributing a monster it points to, I can target one Special Summoned monster on your field that's in Attack Position, and until the end of this turn, I can take control of it! I Tribute my Security Token to take control of Voidvelgr Requiem. Go, Cryptic Corruption!"

Following Storm Rider's words, the Security Token disintegrated into energy and traveled to the electronic circuits on Cyber Tech's wings, lit up with swirling blue energy. The orbs released tendrils of said energy, which fired at the Voidvelgr Ritual Monster, snaring it up and placing it underneath Cyber Tech's bottom Link Arrow.

"Then, Cyber Tech Link Dragon gains attack points equal to the monster I just took control of."

Cyber Tech's eyes glowed blue while the same colored aura formed around its body, increasing its strength.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 2500→5500

"From there, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mystik Wok!" Storm Rider declared. "This card lets me Tribute a monster and gain Life Points equal to its attack or defense points. I Tribute Voidvelgr Requiem and gain Life Points equal to its attack points."

Requiem burst into particles as they showered Storm Rider.

Storm Rider: 800→3800 LP

"But since Requiem's no longer on your field, your dragon loses its attack boost," Enoch stated.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 5500→2500

"I place two cards face-down and end my turn," Storm Rider concluded.

"Amazing!" Roselyn cheered. "Storm Rider managed to get rid of his opponent's best monster and restored most of his Life Points. Let's hope the others can keep up the momentum."

At Sanctum's duel…

"It's my turn!" Marionette announced. "I draw! I activate the Spell Card: Spellbook Inside the Pot, allowing us to draw three cards. Then, I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Dimensional Fissure! As long as it remains on the field, all monsters sent to the Graveyard are banished instead. Lastly, I summon Ally of Justice Cyclone Creator!"

A red mechanical bird with propellers in its wings appeared in a gust of wind.

Ally of Justice Cyclone Creator ATK 1400→400 DEF 1200 LVL: 3

Sanctum's eyes widened as she narrowed them at the summoned monster. "That monster's a Tuner!" she cried out in shock. "Don't tell me you—!"

"It's as you think." Marionette grinned. "I tune the Level 3 Cyclone Creator with the Level 3 Cymbal Skeleton!"

A bolt of green lightning struck Marionette as the world greyed out, and his two monsters turned into particles. Two rings, one yellow and one red, appeared before turning blue and merging. Six blue rings stacked in a tower appeared as a screen displayed "3 + 3" in front of them. The screen changed to "6" as light surged through the rings.

"Machines that once cause destruction reformate into protectors of the world; give birth the siren of the soulless protectors. Let your haunting voice tear the sky apart! I Synchro Summon! Level 6! Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp!"

A beautiful, long-haired female humanoid machine with glowing blue eyes and her body resembling a white-black-golden dressed-like body with a blue crystal core on her chest appeared. She wielded a trombone-like weapon in her left hand and a blue, glowing crystal blade in her right hand.

Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp ATK 2400→1400 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Synchro Summon…?" Sanctum's expression wavered but then hardened again. "You weren't satisfied with kidnapping my friend, huh? So you decided to add insult to injury by using her favorite summoning method as your own? Unforgivable… I will never forgive you, Marionette!"

"Spare me the meaningless drivel." Marionette sneered. "It's still my turn, so if you don't mind, I would like to continue it. Orcust Vamp's effect! As long as it's on the field, all monsters you control lose 100 attack points for every banished monster. There are four, so your monsters lose 400 attack points!"

Garura, Wings of Resonant Life ATK 2000→1600

Mekk-Knight of the Crescent Night ATK 2000→1600

"From there, I activate the Equip Spell Card: Mage Power and equip it onto Orcust Vamp! With it, Vamp gains 500 attack and defense points for every Spell and Trap Card I control. Since I control two, my monster gains 1000 attack and defense points!"

The Synchro Monster gained a fiery aura around it as it grew stronger.

Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp ATK 1400→2400 DEF 2000→3000

"Battle! Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp, attack Mekk-Knight of the Crescent Night!"

"Before that, I activate the Trap Card: Damage Diet!" Sanctum exclaimed. "Thanks to its effect, all damage I take this turn is halved!"

Vamp's crystal blade was enveloped by energy as it struck Crescent Night's body, causing it to explode and making Sanctum stumble.

Sanctum: 2200→1800 LP

"Since Crescent Night left the field, my monster gains 1000 attack points," Marionette stated. "Furthermore, since another monster was banished, Garura loses an additional 100 attack points."

Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp ATK 2400→3400

Garura, Wings of Resonant Life ATK 1600→1500

"Additionally, Orcust Vamp can attack all monsters you control once each, which means your Garura is next! Take her monster down, Orcust Vamp!"

"But due to the effect Power of the Guardians, it gains a Spell Counter, and Garura gains 500 attack points!"

Power of the Guardians: 1 SC→2 SC

Garura, Wings of Resonant Life ATK 1500→2000

The Orcust Synchro Monster aimed its trombone and blasted Garura with a powerful soundwave, destroying it and generating another shockwave that sent Sanctum flying.

Sanctum: 1800→1100 LP

"The effect of the destroyed Garura activates!" Sanctum said. "It lets me draw a card from my Deck."

"At this stage, such moves only delay the inevitable," Marionette smirked. "Now that your field has been cleared, it's only a matter of time before you're served with the plate of defeat. I place two cards face-down and end my turn, meaning Orcust Vamp gains 1000 more attack and defense points."

Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp ATK 3400→4400 DEF 3000→4000

"Someone is a bit too confident," Sanctum remarked. "Let's fix that, shall we? My turn! I draw! First, I place a card face-down. Then, since my Set card and Dimensional Fissure are in the same column, I can Special Mekk-Knight Yellow Star from my hand via its effect!"

A machine with silver and yellow mechanical wings appeared in Attack Position.

Mekk-Knight Yellow Star ATK 2200→1600 DEF 2800 LVL: 6

"I activate Yellow Star's effect! By banishing a "Mekk-Knight" monster from my Graveyard, I can destroy a Spell or Trap Card in Yellow Star's column! I banish Avram from my Graveyard to destroy Dimensional Fissure!"

The Continuous Spell shattered, much to Marionette's confusion. "I don't know what you're planning, but since another card was banished, your monster loses 100 more attack points."

Mekk-Knight Yellow Star ATK 1600→1500

"That matters not. I activate the effect of Mekk-Knight Emerald Jay from my hand!" Sanctum continued. "Since I control a "Mekk-Knight" monster, I can Special Summon this card!"

A thin armored mechanical humanoid with bright emerald glowing lines and gem-like parts across its armor figure appeared in Attack Position. It had two winged heads, wielded thin dagger-like blades, and wore a split-half emerald-colored cape.

Mekk-Knight Emerald Jay ATK 800 DEF 600 LVL: 2

Marionette narrowed her eyes. "A Tuner…."

"Since you decided to use my friend's strength to your advantage, allow me to do the same," Sanctum said before gesturing to her field. "Level 2 Mekk-Knight Emerald Jay tunes Level 6 Mekk-Knight Yellow Star!"

A bolt of green lightning struck Sanctum. Two rings appeared before turning blue and merging. Eight blue rings stacked in a tower appeared as a screen displayed "6 + 2" in front of them. The screen changed to "8" as light surged through the rings.

"Shine, knight of the bright star of life!" Sanctum chanted. "Let your righteous steel body destroy those who will disturb the peace across the cosmos with your blade of reflecting light! I Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 8! Mekk-Knight Prism Sun!"

The light and the rings faded to reveal a golden and silver armored mechanical humanoid with bright prism rainbow-colored glowing lines across its armor figure. It had a prismatic-shaped head with halo-like wings and wielded a rainbow-colored, golden battle ax with a gem in its center. It wore a white cape with a rainbow-colored aura as it appeared in Attack Position.

Mekk-Knight Prism Sun ATK 3000 DEF 3000 LVL: 8

"So you brought out your Synchro Monster?" Marionette remarked. "However, due to Orcust Vamp's effect, your monster will lose 600 attack points."

"Think again." Sanctum rebutted. "The Synchro Summoned Prism Sun's effect! Since it was Synchro Summoned to a Monster Zone with two more cards in its column, it's unaffected by your card effects!"

"That means Orcust Vamp's effect won't weaken it," Blue Maiden noted.

"I activate Prism Sun's second effect!" Sanctum continued. "Once per turn, I can target a card on the field and negate its effects. But if the card I chose is in the same column as Prism Sun, I get to negate two cards." Marionette's eyes widened. "I choose Orcust Vamp! And since Vamp is in the same column as Prism Sun, I get to also negate Mage Power's effects! Prism Flash!"

Prism Sun held its ax as it released a prism light that struck Marionette's cards, causing them to lose color.

Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp ATK 3400→2400

"Now, let's battle! Mekk-Knight Prism Sun, attack Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp! Sun Blade Crash!"

Prism Sun swung its ax, creating a massive wave of flames that engulfed Orcust Vamp and destroyed her, with Marionette being sent skidding back.

Marionette: 1700→1100 LP

"This is the end!" Sanctum shouted as she gestured to her field. "I activate the Trap Card: Relentless Attacks! Through its effect, since Prism Sun destroyed your monster in battle, it can attack again! Prism Sun, attack Marionette directly!"

The monster with the large ax charged Marionette, but she wasn't worried.

"I activate the Trap Card: Counter Gate!" A large square-like gate appeared before her and blocked Prism Sun's attack. "Your direct attack is negated, and I get to draw one card. If it's a monster, I can Special Summon it! I draw!"

Marionette drew her card and smirked as she revealed it.

"The drawn card is Orcust Clavier Psycho, which means I can Special Summon it!"

A portal appeared in front of Marionette, out of which appeared a gold and black machine that resembled a piano with a pair of demonic fangs.

Orcust Clavier Psycho ATK 200 DEF 1600 LVL: 2

"Man, she was so close…." Soulburner clicked his tongue in irritation. "At least she got rid of that disgusting Synchro Monster."

"I place a card face-down and end my turn," Sanctum said. "It's your move."

However, Marionette didn't respond. She just stared down at the ground.

"Hello… last chance, are you going to move, or are you going to forfeit?" Still, Marionette didn't respond. "I'll take your silence as a forfeit." Still no response. "But something's been bothering me. Not only did you use Esper's favorite summoning method, but your last few plays are almost identical to hers. What's the deal, Marionette?"

Finally, Marionette lifted her head. "I guess you could say I haven't been myself lately. In fact…" She narrowed her eyes at Sanctum and maliciously smirked. "I mean that quite literally!"

'Marionette' snapped her fingers as she glowed yellow and started to change forms. After a second, she revealed her new form to everyone.

"Esper…?"

Like the rest of her comrades, Sanctum could hardly believe her eyes at the surprising appearance of their captured comrade out of nowhere. Last time she had seen her, her consciousness data was taken by Marionette while he could only watch and curse her impotence.

"Esper...? No way...why are you here...? What's going on?" Sanctum asked dumbfoundedly, not believing her eyes.

She didn't answer and instead just stared at Sanctum.

"No... It can't be... You're... You're..." Sanctum took two steps back, and her frown deepened at realizing she didn't want to admit it. But her opponent confirmed it.

"Yes. I am both Esper and Marionette," she admitted. "In other words, I was both your friend and enemy."

That hit Sanctum hard. Harder than anyone could imagine. Sanctum couldn't stop her body from trembling, not with her mixed emotions.

"You... You tricked me...?" Sanctum questioned, gritting her teeth while glaring at her former friend.

"It wasn't my intention," Marionette responded calmly.

"What then?!" Sanctum shouted in anger with tears in her eyes.

"I have my orders right now. And since you're in my way, I'm forced to eliminate you."

"I don't think so!" Sanctum exclaimed. "You tricked me and toyed with my emotions. And for that, I won't forgive you. I will defeat you no matter what!"

"Sanctum, listen to me!" Storm Rider pleaded. "She wants you to get angry and make mistakes."

"Yeah!" Playmaker agreed with him, trying to reason with Sanctum. "If you let your emotions control you, then you won't be able to focus on the duel!"

"I guess you're right…" Sanctum admitted with a sigh. "But I can't help but feel frustrated after being betrayed and duped."

Marionette chuckled before changing her avatar back to its original form. "Don't worry. You won't feel that way once your consciousness data is ours."

Playmaker glared at Marionette. "You won't get away with this. Sanctum will defeat you!"

"Don't be a fool. Do you think your little friend can defeat Marionette?" Galerius inquired, causing Playmaker to turn to him. "Worrying about yourself and remaining focused is more important in a duel. Otherwise, you lose in the end. Unless you show me the strength that helped you defeat Bohman, you will not be able to defeat me, and the Syndicate will be rid of quite a troublesome enemy."

"We'll see about that," Playmaker rebutted.

"Yes, we will," Galerius said. "It's my turn! I draw! I'll discard Thestalos the Mega Monarch to Special Summon The Tricky from my hand!"

A jester-like monster with a ? mark on his face and chest appeared.

The Tricky ATK 2000 DEF 1200 LVL: 5

"The time has come for one of my aces to take the field," Galerius stated. "I Tribute The Tricky and the two copies of Marshmacaron to Tribute Summon! Descend now, the first of the Wicked Gods that govern darkness, The Wicked Dreadroot!"

A dark cloud formed above Galerius. First, a pair of skeletal wings sprung out, then gigantic arms and the main body of bone and green muscle. Finally, the head that popped up was a green face adorned with a helmet of a horned skull.

The Wicked Dreadroot ATK 4000 DEF 4000 LVL: 10

"Wicked God…?" Playmaker wondered. "What sort of monster is that? And that terrifying sensation?"

"The Wicked God cards are one of the Syndicate's forbidden weapons due to the monsters' ability to drain the user's life force. However, I managed to master these cards' power, so they don't affect me."

"Are you insane?" Playmaker had an incredulous expression on his face. "You would use dangerous cards just to build a utopia?"

"A lowlife like you has no business questioning my loyalty and resolve," Galerius stated. "Now, let's continue. Thanks to The Wicked Dreadroot's effect, as long as it remains face-up on the field, the attack and defense points of all monsters apart from it are halved."

Shootingcode Talker ATK 3400→1700

Flame Administrator ATK 2300→1150

Playmaker gasped. "Now it's stronger than my monsters!"

"It looks like you've guessed what's going to happen next." Galerius let out a malicious smirk. "I activate the Spell Card: Emergency Recharge, which lets me draw four cards since my hand is empty. Then, I activate the Spell Card: Forbidden Substance, which allows Dreadroot to attack twice this turn. Now let's battle! Wicked Dreadroot, attack Flame Administrator! Fierce Knockdown!"

"Not so fast!" Playmaker exclaimed. "I activate the Trap Card: Two-Fold Barrier! Thanks to its effect, I can pay half my Life Points to reduce all damage I receive during this turn to 0!"

With two tightly clinched fists, Dreadrott smashed them into Administrator, destroying it in a massive explosion.

Playmaker: 2300→1150 LP

"Since Flame Administrator left the field, Shootingcode's attack points return to normal."

Shootingcode Talker ATK 3400→2600

"Here comes the second attack!" Galerius declared. "Attack Shootingcode Talker! Accursed Blast!"

Dreadroot launched a purple sphere of energy from its hands, enveloping Dicaerii with it, destroying it in an explosion.

"It looks like I hold the advantage once more," Galerius remarked. "I place one card face-down and end my turn."

"My turn!" Playmaker declared. "I draw! First, I banish Dotscaper and Rescue Interlacer in my Graveyard to Special Summon Dual Assembwurm from the Graveyard with its attack points halved!"

The red and blue dragon reappeared and roared.

Dual Assembwurm ATK 2800→1400→700 DEF 1000 LVL: 8

"Dotscaper's effect activates! Since it was banished, I can Special Summon it!" The small green and white monster reappeared in Defense Position.

Dotscaper ATK 0 DEF 2100 LVL: 1

"Next, I activate the effect of Recoded Alive in my Graveyard! When I don't control a monster in the Extra Monster Zone, I can banish Recoded Alive to Special Summon a banished "Code Talker" monster. Return, Shootingcode Talker!"

The warrior in blue armor with a golden bow reappeared.

Shootingcode Talker ATK 2300→2600→1300 LINK-3 ←↑↓

"That must've been one of the cards he sent to the Graveyard through Link Treasure Ticket," Galerius deduced.

"I summon Protron!"

A small white and dark blue ball appeared on Playmaker's field.

Protron ATK 100→50 DEF 100 LVL: 1

Playmaker gestured to the sky. "Appear! The circuit that leads to the future! Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I set Dotscaper and Dual Assembwurm in the Link Arrows!"

His monsters entered the bottom and bottom-right arrows.

"Link the Circuit! I Link Summon! Appear! Clock Spartoi!"

A silver and red warrior emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Clock Spartoi ATK 800→1100→550 LINK-2 ↓↘

Storm Rider blinked and then smiled.

"Clock Spartoi's effect activates! When it is Link Summoned, I can add Cynet Fusion from my Deck to my hand!"

"What?!" Marionette gasped.

"Fusion?!" Enoch repeated.

"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning condition is one Level 1 monster. I set Protron in the Link Arrow!"

Protron entered the bottom arrow.

"I Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Linkuriboh!"

The small blue monster appeared at Clock Spartoi's bottom Link Marker.

"Kuri kuri ku!"

Linkuriboh ATK 300→600→300 LINK-1 ↓

"Clock Spartoi's additional effect activates! When a monster is Special Summoned to its Link Arrow, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated to Clock Spartoi's Link Arrow. Appear, Clock Wyvern!"

The dragon reappeared and roared in Attack Position.

Clock Wyvern ATK 1800→900 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"I activate the Spell Card: Cynet Fusion!" Playmaker declared. "I fuse Clock Wyvern, Shootingcode Talker, and Clock Spartoi!"

Clock Wyvern, Shootingcode Talker, and Clock Spartoi broke apart into red, blue, and green particles. The particles swirled together into a vortex before spiraling upwards as tornados of energy. The streams converged, creating a purple tornado.

"By fusing my monsters, I merge them into a new, more powerful creation! I Fusion Summon! Cyberse Clock Dragon!"

The whirlwind broke apart, revealing a purple dragon with pink lines on its skin and black armor on its sides, legs, and the back of its neck and tail. The dragon roared in Attack Position, generating gale-force winds.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 2500→1250 DEF 2000 LVL: 7

"Playmaker's Fusion Monster is here," Soulburner noted.

"Clock Dragon's effect activates!" Playmaker declared. "When it is Fusion Summoned, I can send cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard equal to the Link Ratings of its materials. Clock Spartoi was Link-2, and Shootingcode Talker was Link-3, meaning five cards are sent to the Graveyard. And for each card sent, Clock Dragon gains 1000 attack points!"

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 1250→6250

"6250 attack points?!" Marionette gasped in surprise. This was her first time seeing Playmaker's Fusion Monster.

"One hit, and this duel is over for Galerius," Enoch noted.

"Battle! Cyberse Clock Dragon attacks The Wicked Dreadroot! Pulse Pressure!"

Pink lightning crawled across Clock Dragon's skin before gathering in its maw. The dragon reared its head back and forward, releasing a beam of energy.

"I activate the effect of Wicked Adept from in my hand!" Galerius bellowed as the card showed a pale-skinned man clad from head to toe in a redwood cloak with a skeleton-shaped appendage attached to his back, holding a staff with a black orb on its tip. "Since I'm about to receive damage, I can send this card to the Graveyard to halve the damage!"

Following his words, the pink lightning beam hit Dreadroot, destroying it in an explosion and pushing Galerius back.

Galerius: 1600→475 LP

"Since Dreadroot left the field, Clock Dragon's attack points return to normal."

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 6250→7500

"Due to the second effect of Wicked Adept, I can add a "Wicked God" monster from my Deck to my hand," Galerius stated. "I will add The Wicked Eraser to my hand. And since a "Wicked God" monster on my field was destroyed, I can activate the Trap Card: Wicked Facsimile!" The card showed several cultists sculpting a statue of The Wicked Dreadroot with their magic. "Through its effect, I can Special Summon three Facsimile Tokens on each side of the field in Defense Position. Come, Facsimile Tokens!"

Three demonic-looking statues appeared on Galerius's field, while three more appeared on Playmaker's.

Facsimile Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1 x 6

"So he's already completed the preparations to summon his second Wicked God, eh…?" Playmaker murmured. "In that case, I end my turn. Now, let's see what your next member of those Wicked Gods can do."

At Storm Rider's duel...

"It's my turn!" Enoch announced. "I draw!"

Storm Rider gestured to his field. "I activate the Trap Cad: Dimensional Barrier! I declare a summoning method, and for the rest of the turn, the effects of those monsters are negated, and neither of us can Special Summon monsters of that summoning method! I declare Ritual Monsters!"

Enoch's eyes widened. "I can't Ritual Summon?" he said in surprise.

Storm Rider smirked at him. "That's correct, Enoch," he stated. "I've adapted my Deck to best counter yours. So show me whether you can defeat me without your Deck's best weapon!"

"Hoh, so he sealed all Ritual Summons using that Trap?" Marionette noted. "Not a bad move. However, I don't believe Enoch will be deterred merely because he can't Ritual Summon."

Enoch chuckled. "Nicely done, Storm Rider. I'll admit I didn't see that coming. However, it'll take more than that to slow me down. I activate the Spell Card: Card of Demise, whose effect allows me to draw cards until I hold five!"

Upon checking his drawn cards, Enoch let out a small smile.

"Just what I needed," Enoch remarked. "Ready or not, here I come, Storm Rider! First, I activate the effect of Voidvelgr Rings from my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can add a "Voidvelgr" monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Voidvelgr Pale Rider. I activate the Spell Card: Polymerization!"

"What?" Storm Rider gasped.

"Fusion?" Sanctum, Playmaker, Soulburner, Blue Maiden and Roselyn said.

"With this card, I fuse Voidvelgr Pale Rider and Shadow Sentinel in my hand!"

Silhouettes of a humanoid warrior cladded in dark armor carrying a scythe in its left hand, riding an armored stead and a purple-armored humanoid riding a large hovercraft of the same color with a sharp blade appeared before disintegrating into red and blue particles that swirled into a vortex before shooting upwards as tornados. The two tornados merged into a single violet twister.

"My brethren of the empty skies! Let us weave together a tapestry of the dark apocalypse! I Fusion Summon! Voidvelgr Apocalypse!"

The monster that emerged from the whirlwind in Attack Position was a humanoid monster with a demonic design, clad in dark armor that covered its galaxy-themed skin underneath. Pink orbs glowed on its chest and palms, and two wings burning with pink energy sprouted from its back.

Voidvelgr Apocalypse ATK 2500 DEF 2000 LVL: 9

"Fusion Summoning?" Storm Rider said in surprise. "Since when did you learn that?"

"You're not the only one who's been honing their skills," Enoch replied. "But enough small talk. On with the duel. I activate Voidvelgr Apocalypse's effect! By discarding a card, it gains 1000 attack points until the End Phase of the next turn!"

Following Enoch's words, a violet-colored aura appeared around Apocalypse, increasing its strength.

Voidvelgr Apocalypse ATK 2500→3500

"Due to the effect of the discarded Cards of Compensation, I can draw two cards from my Deck," Enoch stated. ''From there, I activate the Spell Card: Dark Hole! Now all monsters on the field are destroyed!''

Storm Rider's eyes widened. "Why would you do that? You will destroy your monster in the process!"

"Afraid not," Enoch rebutted. "You see, Voidvelgr Apocalypse can't be destroyed by card effects. In other words, your monster will be the only one taking the fall!"

A dark hole suddenly appeared over the field, sucking Cyber Tech into the vortex and leaving Storm Rider defenseless.

Enoch maliciously smirked. "Just a heads up, this might hurt a little." He gestured to his field. "Battle! Voidvelgr Apocalypse, attack Storm Rider directly!"

Apocalypse shot a powerful blast from the pink orbs on its chest and palms, striking Storm Rider and causing him to let out a cry of pain as he was sent flying, crashing into a nearby wall hard and falling to the ground.

Storm Rider: 3800→300 LP

"While I wished to end things this turn, be grateful you have one more chance to turn things around," Enoch said. "Although I highly doubt you will. I place three cards face-down and end my turn."

"Storm Rider!" Sanctum cried out with evident concern at the unmoving form of her comrade. "Are you still alive there!? Answer me!"

"Just…barely…" Storm Rider gasped out as he unsteadily stood up. "I must say, that monster sure packs quite the punch…."

"If I were you, I'd be more worried about myself," Marionette said, getting Sanctum's attention. "In case you have forgotten, we're in the middle of a duel. So if you don't mind, let's get back to business. My turn! I draw! First, I activate the Trap Card: Orcust Detune!" The card showed Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight, finishing the work of his new second-in-command, Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp. "Through this card's effect, I get to Special Summon an "Orcust" monster from my Graveyard or Banished Zone by negating its effects. Return, Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp!"

The Synchro Monster reappeared on Marionette's field.

Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp ATK 2400 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"And it doesn't stop there," Marionette stated. "Detune's second effect allows me to perform a Synchro Summon immediately after the selected monster was summoned. I will tune the Level 2 Clavier Psycho with the Level 6 Orcust Vamp!"

A bolt of green lightning struck Marionette as the world greyed out, and her two monsters disappeared into particles. Two rings, one blue and one yellow, appeared before turning blue and merging. Eight blue rings stacked in a tower appeared as a screen displayed "2 + 6" in front of them. The screen changed to "8" as light surged through the rings.

"Remorse, regret and redemption; evolve fallen star in the sky. Let your new power transcend into unknown skies and become the true protector of the planet! Synchro Summon! Level 8! The Orcustrated Savior! Regirsu, the Orcust Messiah!"

A large robotic humanoid that looked like an amalgamation of Girsu, Ningirsu and Longirsu appeared on Marionette's field. It wore Ningirsu's headpiece and scarf. It wielded an upgraded version of Girsu's spear and Longirsu's shield with a glowing blue lining across it and a blue gem in the center.

Regirsu, the Orcust Messiah ATK 3000 DEF 2600 LVL: 8

"She has another Synchro Monster," Sanctum muttered. "Just great. And if one wasn't enough already."

"Regirsu's effect activaes!" Marionette declared. "When this card is successfully Synchro Summoned, all Special Summoned monsters on the field are banished!"

"What?!" Sanctum gasped.

"Go, Dark Star Encloser!"

Following Marionette's command, it opened up its chest, showing a cannon as it fired a dark vortex, enveloping Prism Sun as it completely vanished from the field.

"Orcust Messiah has another effect," Marionette continued. "For every banished card, it gains 100 attack points. Eight cards are banished, so it gains 800 attack points!"

Regirsu, the Orcust Messiah ATK 3000→3800

"Let's end this, Sanctum!" Marionette exclaimed. "Battle! Orcust Messiah, attack her directly! Trident of Torment!"

"I activate the Trap Card: A Hero Emerges!" Sanctum shouted. "Through its effect, when an opponent's monster declares an attack, my opponent must choose a random card in my hand! If the chosen card is a monster, I can Special Summon it! If not, I must send it to the Graveyard! Now, choose, Marionette!"

"Hmm, let's see…" Marionette contemplated briefly before pointing at one of the two cards in Sanctum's hand. "I choose that one."

"That was a poor choice…for you," Sanctum smirked. "The chosen card is a monster, which means I can summon it! Appear, a second copy of Mekk-Knight Marigold Shine!"

Mekk-Knight Marigold Shine ATK 2300 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Marigold Shine's effect activates!" Sanctum continued. "When this card is summoned, I gain 500 Life Points for every card in its column along with it. There are two cards, so I gain 1000 Life Points!"

Sanctum: 1100→2100 LP

"It appears I won't be able to defeat you this turn as I hoped" Marionette frowned. "However, I will rid you of your only monster. Go, Sacred World Spiral!"

Messiah twirled its spear before unleashing a blast of silver energy from its tip that easily pierced through Marigold Shine's body and struck Yukio, sending her flying before she crashed back onto the ground.

Sanctum: 2100→600 LP

"That should suffice," Marionette said. "I end my turn."

"Sanctum!" Playmaker bellowed. "Are you alright!? Answer me!"

"Foolish scoundrel." Galerius sneered. "You should have known that challenging us of all people was the height of folly. Now you will perish, and your hope will vanish. It's my turn! I draw! I Tribute the three Facsimile Tokens to Tribute Summon! Descend now, the Wicked Gods that govern darkness, The Wicked Eraser!"

A winged, armored dragon with a serpentine body and two black wings extending from its back appeared on Galerius's field, letting out a loud howl.

The Wicked Eraser ATK ? DEF ? LVL: 10

Playmaker blinked. "Unknown attack and defense points?"

"The Wicked Eraser's attack and defense points are equal to the number of cards on my opponent's field multiplied by 1000," Galerius explained. "You have six cards on your field. Therefore…"

The Wicked Eraser ATK ? →6000 DEF ? →6000

"Moving on, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Forbidden Chalice!" Galerius continued. "I can target one face-up monster on the field and increase its attack points by 400 until the end of this turn. In exchange, until the End Phase, its effects are negated. I target Cyberse Clock Dragon!"

Clock Dragon became surrounded by a white veil for a few moments, increasing its strength before changing its color to red and draining its effects.

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 7500→7900→2900

"Now, it's time for judgment!" Gaerius exclaimed. "Battle! Wicked Eraser, attack Cyberse Clock Dragon and put an end to Playmaker! Digestive Blaze!"

"I won't let you!" Playmaker exclaimed. "I activate the Trap Card: Rising Energy! Through its effect, by discarding a card from my hand, one monster of my choice gains 1500 attack points until the end of the turn. I choose Cyberse Clock Dragon! And with one less card on my field, Wicked Eraser loses 1000 attack and defense points!"

Cyberse Clock Dragon ATK 2900→4400

The Wicked Eraser ATK 6000 →5000 DEF 6000 →5000

Eraser unleashed a wave of violet flames from its mouth, enveloping Cyberse Clock Dragon and destroying it, with Playmaker being flung backward due to the ensuing explosion.

Playmaker: 1150→550 LP

"Enoch, Marionette and Galerius have overwhelmed the three of them." Blue Maiden commented. "Let's hope they will be able to strike back as they did in their previous turns, or they're going to be in serious trouble."

"It would be best if they could somehow defeat their opponents before their next turn comes," Roselyn remarked.

"Hang in there, Storm Rider, Sanctum and Playmaker!" Soulburner shouted. "You can do it!"

"The only thing they can do is gracefully accept their demise," Enoch stated. "I place two cards face-down and then activate the Continuous Spell Card: Battle Gravity! With this card, if the turn player controls a monster that didn't battle, they take 1000 points of damage during the End Phase."

"Smart move, Enoch," Marionette praised her teammate. "I think I shall do the same. I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Battle Gravity!"

"And so will I!" Galerius stated as he activated a copy of Battle Gravity.

Soulburner grimaced. "This isn't good at all. They parried their attacks well, but I fear there won't be a next turn for them unless they find a way to take their opponents down right now."

"How pitiful." Enoch sneered. "The three of you put up a good fight, but as expected, it never amounted to anything." He narrowed his eyes at Storm Rider. "Once I'm done with you, I'll go after your little girlfriend should Marionette lose against her."

"Shut your mouth, Enoch!" Storm Rider spoke with evident outrage. "If you dare to touch even a hair of Sanctum's head—"

"You'll do what? Bore me to death with another one of your speeches about restraint and prudence?" Enoch scoffed at Storm Rider's words. "Don't make me laugh. You're just as pathetic as you were during our last duel. Without drawing strength from your hatred and your desire to obliterate the opponent by any means necessary, you'll never be able to reach my current level of strength!"

"If you want to see rage, I'll show you true fury!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "My turn! I draw!"

Looking at the card he drew, Storm Rider gave a small grin.

"I activate the Spell Card: Card of Adversity! Since I control no monsters on my field and you control a Special Summoned monster on yours, I can draw two cards!"

Storm Rider drew and smiled at his cards. "I activate the Spell Card: Cyberse Call! This card adds one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand," Storm Rider continued as a card slid out from his Deck, which he then showed to his opponent. "I Special Summon Cycode Serpent!"

A white robotic snake appeared in Attack Position.

Cycode Serpent ATK 400 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"I can Special Summon Serpent if it's added to my hand outside my Draw Phase," Storm Rider explained. "Moving on, I summon Cycode Nova!"

A small robotic dragon with metallic armor with silver wings appeared.

Cycode Nova ATK 1500 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"Lastly, I activate the Trap Card: Reconnecting Lost Circuit!" Storm Rider continued as the card showed Traffic Ghost emerging from a futuristic portal with streams of white data swirling around its body. "Through its effect, I can Special Summon a Link Monster from my Graveyard, but in exchange, it can't attack, its effects are negated, and its attack points become 0! Appear once more, Cyber Tech Link Dragon!"

Storm Rider's ace monster emerged from a cybernetic portal, letting out a furious howl.

Cyber Tech Link Dragon ATK 2500→0 ←↑↓→

"Storm Rider brought back his ace when it's practically useless to him?" Sanctum frowned, but then her eyes opened wide. "Don't tell me…!"

Enoch narrowed his eyes at Storm Rider. "I know what you're planning, Storm Rider, and I'm afraid to tell you that I won't let it happen," he said, confusing his opponent. "I activate the Trap Card: Lightforce Claymore!" The card showed a large claymore great sword stabbing through a stack of cards that showed monsters like Destiny HERO - Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, Baronne de Fleur, Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder, Endymion, the Mighty Master of Magic and Accesscode Talker. "Through its effect, I banish a random card from your Extra Deck. And since I control a Fusion Monster, you can't activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation!"

"What?" Storm Rider tensed.

Several cards appeared in front of Storm Rider. Soon, a large claymore sword descended from the sky and pierced one of the cards. While it was random, Storm Rider could still check his Extra Deck to see which monsters he had left. And…

His eyes widened. "Oh no."

Enoch smirked. "Judging from that reaction, it seems I was successful."

Storm Rider glared at his opponent. The monster that had been banished was…Cyber Catastech Link Dragon. His Link-5 was gone.

Enoch smirked. "It looks like your last hope has been extinguished. Astro warned me about that monster and how it destroyed him during his duel against you. Perhaps I'll hand your remains to Astro when I'm done with you. Just so he can get some payback for you humiliating him back then." He then narrowed his eyes. "But moving that aside, you're barely hanging on with a few Life Points, and as I told you before, the prey can never overcome the predator. So accept your loss with grace already."

I hate to admit it, but Enoch is right… Storm Rider thought as he surveyed the situation. I don't have anything that can turn this situation around. Am I… going to be defeated again…?

Just as Storm Rider was panicking, a voice was suddenly heard.

"What the heck are you doing, Storm Rider!? Get a grip already!"

"Sanctum…"

"You…you must keep moving forward regardless of what lies in your path as you've always done so far!" Sanctum shouted while smiling. "If you do that, I'm sure you can win! Isn't that right, Storm Rider!?"

Storm Rider was silent for several seconds but abruptly slapped his cheeks and grinned. At the same time, Enoch frowned as he sensed something.

"The wind is changing…?" Enoch wondered as he felt the wind pick up. "What's this feeling…?"

"Geez, you're such a nag, Sanctum. However…thank you for that wake-up call."

Upon regaining his confidence, Storm Rider turned his gaze to Cyber Tech. He instead saw the obscured figure of a new dragon standing in his place and gazing at him with sharp eyes. At the same time, a faint glow came from his Extra Deck. The apparition howled and quickly disappeared, leaving the field as before.

You are telling me to go even further, huh… Storm Rider laughed inwardly. I will accept this power and use it to defeat the one who dared to look down on us, partner!

"What's the matter?" Enoch asked. "You spaced out for a bit there following your little motivation speech. Don't tell me you still plan on continuing this duel?"

"Of course, I plan on continuing this duel! I even plan on winning this turn!" Storm Rider stated as he narrowed his eyes at Enoch. "You said before that there's no way the prey can overcome the predator, correct?"

"Indeed I did," Enoch confirmed. "What about it? Do you disagree with that notion at this point?"

"No, I think you are correct." Storm Rider let out a confident smile. "However, no rule states that the predator cannot become the prey and vice versa!"

"What are you saying?" Enoch seemed confused. "Has the fear of your imminent defeat finally gone to your head?"

"You tell me once I have won this duel!" Storm Rider exclaimed. "The counterattack starts here! Appear for the final time, the circuit of infinite potential!"

Storm Rider's hand shone with blue light, materializing the Link Portal beneath the field.

"Link Arrows authorized! The summoning conditions are three or more Cyberse and/or Dragon monsters, including one Cyberse or Dragon Link Monster! And thanks to Reconnecting Lost Circuit, since I'm using Cyber Tech as Link Material, it's treated as a Link-3 instead of Link-4! I set Cycode Serpent, Cycode Nova and the now Link-3 Cyber Tech Link Dragon in the Link Arrows!"

Nova and Serpent became whirlwinds and entered the left and right arrows. Cyber Tech split into three whirlwinds instead of four and entered the bottom-left,bottom-right, and bottom arrows. All five arrows lit up red as a pillar of blue light shot out of the circuit. The observers' eyes all widened while Storm Rider smirked and Enoch tensed.

"Dragon's wisdom that unchains the forbidden hope!" Storm Rider chanted. "From the unknown world, along with the roaring thunder, set forth! I Link Summon! Appear! Link-5! Cyber Voltaic Link Dragon!"

The pillar of blue light faded, revealing a massive dragon. It had a light blue body with white and crimson lining and dark blue claws. Its long and thin tail ended with a circle, electricity sparkling in its center, and four jet-like energy wings segmented into numerous, rounded blades adorned its back, glowing with cyan light and releasing crimson particles. Three horns emerged from the top of its head, all facing backward and glowing with white highlights, and dark blue orbs ran from the back of its head to the tip of its tail, electricity glowing inside them. Its yellow eyes were now crimson as they gleamed with rage as the dragon roared from the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyber Voltaic Link Dragon ATK 3500 LINK-5 ←↙↓↘→

"Cyber Voltaic…Link Dragon?" Galerius narrowed his eyes at the sight of the dragon.

"This… How is it possible that he has another Link-5 in his possession!?" Marionette questioned.

"I knew it." Sanctum let out a small smile. "See, you can do it when you try, Storm Rider."

"That guy…he managed to evolve again!" Playmaker let out a wide smile. "Go, Storm Rider! Blow him away in one shot!"

"So this is your trump card, huh…?" Enoch narrowed his eyes at the sight of Storm Rider's new monster. "However, as imposing as it is, it still cannot stand up to Apocalypse since their attack points are equal."

"That may be the case, but I'm far from finished," Storm Rider smirked. "Cyber Voltaic's effect activates!" he declared. "When it is Link Summoned, I can negate the effects of all face-up cards you control, and since I used Cyber Tech Link Dragon as Link Material, this card gains attack points equal to the attack points of the highest monster you control until the End Phase of my next turn!"

"What?!" Enoch gasped.

"Go, Wild Discharge!"

Voltaic sinks its claws into the ground and raises its tail high. The electricity inside the circle at its tip doubled in intensity as it released a wave of energy that washed over Enoch's field, causing all his cards to gray out. Enoch watched with frustration as Voidvelgr Apocalypse groaned and slumped over. At the same time, a dark blue aura formed around Voltaic.

Voidvelgr Apocalypse ATK 3500→2500

Cyber Voltaic Link Dragon ATK 3500→6000

Soulburner grinned. "Awesome! With those attack points-!"

"Storm Rider can end this!" Blue Maiden and Roselyn finished.

"Battle!" Storm Rider declared. "Cyber Voltaic Link Dragon, attack Voidvelgr Apocalypse! Zeus Punisher!"

Electricity bursts forth from Voltaic's circle at the tip of its tail, the orbs on its back, and its horns coalescing along its spread wings to form a large arc. The dragon fired a large beam of pure light from the arc at the Voidvelgr Fusion Monster.

Enoch gritted his teeth. "If this duel's going to end, I'll end it on my terms. I activate the Trap Card: Destruction Chaos!" The card showed Elemental HERO Neos charging at Yubel - The Ultimate Nightmare, as the black swirling sky above them flashed lightning. "I can only activate this card when two monsters are battling. And thanks to its effect, both players take damage equal to the combined attack points of the two battling monsters! Also, neither of us can activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation!"

"What?!" Storm Rider exclaimed.

"He was so close!" Sanctum cursed.

"Though I acknowledge your strength, Storm Rider, I will not let you walk away from this duel as the winner!" Enoch exclaimed.

Apocalypse fired a stream of purple energy from its hands to meet the attack from Cyber Voltaic, which caused an explosion upon impact. As a result, Storm Rider and Enoch were sent flying off the ground before they landed on their backs, the duel having been concluded and causing the room around them to disappear.

Enoch: 3250→0 LP

Storm Rider: 300→0 LP

"Playmaker!" Soulburner shouted. The rooms surrounding him and Sanctum disappeared, allowing him and the others to approach the two. "Playmaker, are you alright?"

"Sanctum!" Blue Maiden and Roselyn exclaimed as they kneeled to their friend.

"We're fine," Sanctum said, pushing herself up. Playmaker mirrored her action. "How about you, Storm Rider?"

"I'm good, but completely worn out…" he replied. "What about Enoch and the others?"

Everyone turned to look at Enoch, raising himself to one knee while Marionette and Galerius stood beside him.

Enoch looked up at them, his eyes glowing. "I didn't expect this outcome, Storm Rider. But given your increase in strength, I suppose it makes sense." He took out a small canister with a button at the top and three blue, glowing lines on the inside. Upon seeing it, both Storm Rider and Playmaker gasped. "See you next time." After pressing the button, Enoch quickly pressed a button on his Duel Disk, which created a portal large enough to travel through. He, Marionette and Galerius quickly went into the portal before it closed.

"We need to get out of here now!" Storm Rider decided, with everyone doing the same as they tried to log out but were unsuccessful.

"We can't get out!" Souburner stated.

"They must've set up some jamming device to prevent us from logging out," Blue Maiden deduced.

"That means we're stuck here," Roselyn said.

Sanctum turned to Storm Rider. "How are we going to get out of this?"

Storm Rider frowned. "I don't think we can. I'm afraid to say it's the end of the line for us," he muttered.

"Not on my watch!" Playmaker exclaimed as he pressed a button on his Duel Disk, causing him and everyone's bodies to start flickering as they were forcibly logged out in the nick of time. Soon after they were gone, an electromagnetic pulse spread throughout the island, deleting everything in its path.

In LINK VRAINS...

The sextet emerged from a portal as they appeared in a different area in LINK VRAINS. Or more specifically, the location where the Hanoi Stronghold.

"The Hanoi's base of operations?" Soulburner said, confused. "Why and how did we end up here?"

"That would be because of me."

Everyone turned and saw Varis and Specter standing behind them as he had a stern look on his face.

"Playmaker informed me of the situation regarding your ally being captured, and after he found coordinates left by the enemy, he immediately contacted me."

"I see," Blue Maiden said. "Playmaker did feel like it was a trap, and he was right."

"He also considered that the Syndicate would have some kind of fail-safe in case they lost," Roselyn added.

"So when we couldn't log out, Playmaker used a program to transport us to a location where the EMP didn't affect it," Soulburner deduced before turning to Varis. "I assumed you watched the duel and saw everything that went down."

"Of course we did," Specter confirmed. "My favorite part is when Marionette revealed that she also Esper. It sure brought a smile to my face.

Sanctum clenched her fist. "I still can't believe everything she told us was all a lie."

Storm Rider placed his hand on Sanctum, who then turned to him. "I know you're angry and confused right now, Sanctum. But you can't let your emotions get the best of you." He narrowed his eyes at Varis. "That's why you wanted us to get rid of her before, right? You felt from the start she wasn't who she said she was."

"Correct," Varis confirmed. "However, you refused to listen and look where it got you."

"We're aware of that, Varis," Playmaker said. "Even though we were duped in the end, we still managed to escape thanks to Storm Rider's new Link Monster."

"That's right," he said, narrowing his eyes at Storm Rider. "I'm curious how you created a new Link Monster out of nowhere. The only possible way is by using the Skill: Storm Access."

That's what I'd like to know as well…

"To be honest with you, I don't have the faintest idea." Storm Rider sighed. "It appeared in my Deck out of thin air when I was dueling Enoch."

Specter narrowed his eyes. "You seriously expect us to believe something like that?"

"…Specter," Storm Rider said with a half-lidded stare. "If I was going to lie, don't you think I'd tell a more believable lie?"

"Regardless if it's true or not, I would like to see this new monster of yours with my own two eyes," Varis said. "And what better to do that than with a duel."

Storm Rider's eyes widened. "A duel?"

"Why not? It would provide us with beneficial data, which we can use to gain an advantage over the Syndicate," Varis stated. "Plus, after you failed to retrieve the resource needed to create Link Spells, we decided to manufactural create Link Spells."

Playmaker's eyes widened. "You're own Link Spells?" he repeated.

"That's correct," Specter confirmed. "We've also been working on a few other things but will keep them hidden for now."

"So, if I'm correct to assume, you'll only provide them to us should Storm Rider defeats you in a duel?" Soulburner asked.

Varis nodded. "We sure will."

Sanctum narrowed her eyes. "While we could use all the help and support, I'm afraid we'll have to decline," she said. "Storm Rider just had an intense duel, and he still hasn't fully recovered."

"Are you saying that you will duel in his place?"

"No, she won't, Storm Rider said as he stepped forward. "If it's a duel with me you want, then it's a duel from me you'll get!"

"Have you lost it, Storm Rider!?" Sanctum exclaimed with evident worry. "Will you seriously fight against Varis even though you're injured to such a degree!? That's way too reckless!"

"You should have realized by now that 'reckless' is my middle name." Storm Rider smiled, but then his expression turned serious. "This is a fight I can't turn away from, even if it means risking my well-being. Plus, what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger!"

"…I'm not sure I like how you've worded this, but whatever." Sanctum sighed. "Just be careful there. You and I both know Varis is a strong duelist with an attitude that single-mindedly pursues victory."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"If you two are done, I would like to begin," Varis said as he stepped forward opposite Storm Rider.

"With pleasure," Storm Rider said with a grin. "I've been eagerly hoping to duel you one day, Varis. You'd better come at me with everything you've got."

"Of course," Varis said with a small smile. "I expect you to also pull out all stops here, Storm Rider." He pointed upward. "Now, time to select the battleground for this match! Action Field On!"

Following Varis's words, a giant card appeared above the field and began spinning, stopping after a few seconds.

"The Action Field for this Duel is—Different Dimension Battlefield!"

A blinding light enveloped the area, causing everyone to shield their eyes. Once the light disappeared, everyone present was surprised to find themselves in a bizarre setting. Around them were many hovering platforms containing ruins of a futuristic city suspended into a kaleidoscope-like void.

"An Action Field?" Storm Rider said, surprised.

"I took the liberty of installing a Real Solid Vision generator when rebuilding our fortress," Varis explained. "We mostly used it for training purposes. But I thought it would be a fun idea to use it in a real duel. So Storm Rider, are you in or out?"

"Oh, I'm all in!" he replied. "In any case, let's get started!"

"Duel!" Varis and Storm Rider shouted as they activated their Duel Disks.

Varis: 4000 LP

Storm Rider: 4000 LP

OC Card Memo:

Enoch:

Voidvelgr Doom Wyvern- Level 4, ATK: 2000, DEF: 1000, ATT: DARK, Type: Galaxy/Effect

If your opponent controls a monster and you control no monsters, you can Special Summon this card from your hand to your field. If this card leaves the field, add 1 'Voidvelgr' card from your deck to your hand. You can only use each Voidvelgr Doom Wyvern effect once per turn.

Voidvelgr Helsar- Level 2, ATK: 600, DEF: 1400, ATT: DARK, Type: Galaxy/Effect

Effect: If this card is Special Summoned: Tribute this card and if you do; Special Summon 1 Level 5 or higher DARK Galaxy monster from your hand or GY. If an opponent's card destroys another "Voidvelgr" monster while this card is in your GY: You can Special Summon this card, with its effects negated, and 2 "Voidvelgr Tokens" (Galaxy/DARK/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0) to your field but you cannot summon other monsters until the end of the next End Phase, except DARK Galaxy monster. You can only use each "Voidvelgr Helsar" effect once per turn.

Voidvelgr Khronos- Level 3, ATK: 1200, DEF: 400, ATT: DARK, Type: Galaxy/Effect

Effect: During the turn this card was Normal Summoned, you can Normal Summon 1 DARK Galaxy monster in addition to your Normal Summon/Set. (You can only gain this effect once per turn.) If this card is tributed or used as material for the summoning of a "Voidvelgr" monster: You can add this card from your GY to your hand and add 1 "Polymerization" or 1 "Voidvelgr" Spell Card from your Deck to your hand but you cannot summon other monsters until the end of the next End Phase, except DARK Galaxy monster. You can only use each "Voidvelgr Khronos" effect once per turn.

Voidvelgr Thaneskos- Level 4, ATK: 1700, DEF: 800, ATT: DARK, Type: Galaxy/Effect

Effect: When this card is Normal Summoned while you control no other monsters but "Voidvelgr" monsters: Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower DARK Galaxy monster from your Deck to your field. If the monster summoned was a Normal Monster: You can draw 1 card. You can Tribute 1 "Voidvelgr" monster (Quick Effect): You can add 1 "Voidvelgr Ritual" or 1 "Voidvelgr" Ritual Monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only use each "Voidvelgr Thaneskos" effect once per turn.

Voidvelgr Plutoteir- Level 6, ATK: 2100, DEF: 1100, ATT: DARK, Type: Galaxy/Effect

Effect: If only your opponent controls a monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). If you Tribute this card for the Tribute Summon of a DARK Galaxy monster: this card can be treated as 2 Tributes. If this card is used for the Tribute of a "Voidvelgr" monster or card effect; discard 1 card from your hand and if you do, draw 2 cards. You can only use this "Voidvelgr Plutoteir" effect once per turn.

Voidvelgr Pale Rider- Level 4, ATK: 1600, DEF: 0, ATT: DARK, Type: Galaxy/Effect

You can discard this card to Set 1 1 'Voidvelgr' Spell or Trap card from your Deck. If a 'Voidvelgr' monster is Special Summoned to your field while this card is in the GY, Special Summon it, but banish it when it leaves the field. You can only use each Voidvelgr Pale Rider effect once per turn.

Voidvelgr Apocalypse- Level 9, ATK: 2500, DEF: 2000, ATT: DARK, Type: Galaxy/Fusion/Effect

2 Dark Galaxy or "Voidvelgr" Monsters

Monster Effect: Can't be destroyed by card effects. Once per turn, you can send one card from your hand to the Graveyard to activate this effect; this card gains 1000 attack points and if it destroys an opponent's monster in battle, inflict damage to them equal to the destroyed monster's ATK. When this card is destroyed, you can banish it to activate this effect; negate the effects of a monster on your opponent's field, and then Special Summon a Ritual Monster from your hand, Deck or Graveyard, ignoring its summoning conditions.

Voidvelgr Tartus- Type: Equip Spell Card

Effect: Equip only to a DARK Galaxy monster. The equipped monster gains ATK by its Level x100. When the equipped monster destroys a monster by battle: It can make a second attack. During your opponent's turn; you can banish this card from your GY (Quick Effect): Set 1 "Void" card from your Deck to your field. The set card can be activated this turn. You can only activate this "Voidvelgr Tartus" effect once per turn. You can only control 1 "Voidvelgr Tartus".

Voidvelgr Rings- Type: Equip Spell Card

Effect: Equip only to a DARK Galaxy monster. The equipped monster gains 600 ATK and DEF. When it is targeted for an attack or card effect: Negate it and if you do; destroy this card. Then destroy the card that targeted your equipped monster. You can banish this card from your GY: Add 1 "Voidvelgr" monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate this effect of "Voidvelgr Rings" once per turn. You can only control 1 "Voidvelgr Rings".

While this card is on your field, "Voidvelgr" monsters are unaffected by your opponent's card effects. All DARK Galaxy monsters you control gain 400 ATK and DEF. If a "Voldvelgr" monster leave the field by battle or card effect: You can Special Summon 1 "Voidvelgr" or 1 Level 3 or lower DARK Galaxy monster from your Deck. If this card leaves the field by an opponent's card: You can add 1 card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use each "Voidvelgr Nebula" effect once per turn. You can add 1 card from your Deck to your hand. You can only use each "Voidvelgr Nebula" effect once per turn. If you control a "Voidvelgr" monster, you can activate this card from your hand.

Marionette:

Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp- Level 6, ATK: 2400, DEF: 2000, ATT: DARK, Type: Machine/Tuner/Synchro/Effect

Effect: 1 DARK Machine Tuner monster + 1 or more non-Tuner DARK monsters

Cannot be destroyed by card effects. Monsters your opponent controls lose 100 ATK for each banished monster(s). This card can attack all monsters your opponent controls, once each. When a monster is banished while this card is face-up on the field: Inflict damage to your opponent equal to half of that monster's ATK or DEF (whichever is higher). Once per Chain, during your opponent's Main Phase, you can (Quick Effect): Immediately after this effect resolves, Synchro Summon 1 DARK monster using this card you control. You can only use each effect of "Cyhyraeth, the Orcust Vamp" once per turn.

Orcust Repeat- Type: Normal Spell Card

Effect: "Banish 1 card from your hand; add 1 "Orcust" card from your Deck to your hand. If this card is banished: You can draw 1 card. You can only use each effect of "Orcust Repeat" once per turn.

Orcust Presto- Type: Quick-Play Spell Card

Effect: Special Summon 1 "Orcust" monster in your GY or that was banished until the end of this turn; it is unaffected by your opponent's card effects and cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card is banished by the effect of an "Orcust" card: You can add 1 "Orcust" card, except "Orcust Presto", from your GY or banished to your hand. You can only activate 1 effect of "Orcust Presto" once per turn.

Orcust Detune- Type: Normal Trap Card

Effect: Target a DARK Machine monster in your GY or banished zone; Special Summon it, but it has its effects negated (if any), and if you do, immediately after this effect resolves, Synchro Summon 1 DARK Machine Synchro Monster using only monsters you control as Materials, including the Summoned monster. Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation. You can only activate 1 "Orcust Detune" per turn. If you control only "Orcust" or "World Legacy" cards, you can activate this card from your hand.

Galerius:

Wicked Adept

ATK: 500, DEF: 1300, LV: 2

Dark/Fiend/Effect

Monster Effect: If you would receive damage, you can send this card to the Graveyard to halve that damage. Then, you can add a "Wicked" Monster from your Deck to your hand.

Wicked Facsimile

Normal Trap Card

If a "Wicked God" Monster on your field is destroyed, you can Special Summon three Facsimile Tokens to your field in Defense Position. Those tokens cannot be destroyed by battle on the turn they were summoned.

Storm Rider:

Cyber Voltaic Link Dragon- Link-5, ATK: 3500, ATT: LIGHT, Type: Dragon/Link/Effect, Arrows: Left, Bottom, Right, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right

Effect: 3 or more Cyberse or Dragon monsters, including 1 Cyberse or Dragon Link monster. This Link Summoned card cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. If this card is Link Summoned: You can negate the effects of all face-up cards your opponent controls, then, if this card was Summoned using Cyber Tech Link Dragon as Link Material, it gains ATK equal to the ATK of the highest monster your opponent controls until the end of your next turn. After this effect resolves, you cannot declare attacks with other monsters for the rest of this turn. If this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the GY: You can Special Summon that monster in a zone this card points to, and if you do, negate its effects, also, halve its ATK. You can only use each "Cyber Voltaic Link Dragon" effect once per turn.

And that concludes Chapter 27. The main focus here, of course, was the long-awaited rematch between Storm Rider vs Enoch. It also features the debut of Cyber Tech's alternate evolved form, Cyber Voltaic Link Dragon. This chapter also revealed Marionette being Esper, a.k.a. Rhea this all time, which will drastically affect Sanctum's mentality and emotions.

Well, that's all for now. As always, please read, review, favorite and follow.

See you all next time!