HALLWAY – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V

Yuto, Yuzo, Shark, and Johan were running at the already destroyed hallway of the east part of their HQ. Several men accompanied them, helping the wounded or bringing their brainwashed comrades who they have defeated along the way to the room where they'll be locked until the brainwash was undone.

"How are you faring?" Yuto asked his three comrades.

"I can do this all day." Shark stated with a confident smile.

"Rather than us, I'm more worried about our brainwashed comrades." Johan said, staring at the comrade he just defeated sadly.

"I hope Yukiya found the Parasite Queen soon." Yuzo said while handcuffing their brainwashed comrades they just defeated before instructing the other members to take them away to the room.

"How about Yuya and the others?" Johan asked.

"Yuya just contacted me that he's with Celica-san near the back gate. The others haven't responded yet." Yuto answered, looking at his Duel Disk. And just as he looked at it, a message came into his Duel Disk.

"It's from Lilac-san. She wants me to help her and the others at the northern garden." Yuto read the message. He turned to his friends. "I'll go there. You take care over here."

"I'm coming too!" Yuzo offered, but Yuto raised a hand towards him in objection.

"No. I'm alone would be enough. We need more men over here. I'll be back with Lilac-san and the others as soon as I can." Yuto instructed his ace monster and most trusted partner.

"Trust me. I'll be back." Yuto smiled at Dark Rebellion to assure him. He wasn't lying. He gave Yuzo his words.

"Okay, but if you think you don't have enough manpower, call us immediately. Promise?" Yuzo told Yuto, who nodded in respond.

Sharing fist bump, Yuto left for the northern garden with Yuzo, Shark, and Johan watching his back until Yuto was no longer in their view.

"Let's go we must take them to the medical room." Johan said as he carried one of their wounded comrades they found.

"Alright. Let's go." Yuzo said, carrying the others with him together with Shark the remaining members accompanying them.

MEDICAL CLINIC – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V

Yuzo, Shark, and Johan frowned upon reaching the medical room. There were so many wounded members, both who were not brainwashed and brainwashed. Not to mention the tent next to them. It reeks. They didn't need to ask what the horrible smell was after seeing the black bags next to them. It was horrible enough for them to be killed by enemies. But being killed by their own comrades was even more. It would be far more painful for the ones brainwashed into killing their comrades. They must live with the fact that their hands have been soiled by the blood of their comrades who they cherished.

Yuzo would never forgive Apophis and his offspring for this. Playing with their feelings like he was playing a board game.

Never.

"Yuzo-kun! Shark-kun! Johan-san! You're all here!"

Yuzo froze when he heard the familiar feminine voice. He wasn't supposed to hear that voice. Because she wasn't supposed to be here. Yuzo turned around, thinking he's just hearing things and expected no one was there, but there she was.

Lilac was standing there.

"Lilac?" Yuzo uttered her name in disbelief.

"Lilac? Why are you here? Aren't you at the northern garden?" Shark asked the question that Yuzo has been meaning to ask.

"Northern garden? No. All this time I've been here tending the wounded." Lilac answered, looking at them worriedly for injuries.

"But didn't you send Yuto a message that you're asking for his help in the norther garden?" Johan asked again. He has a bad feeling about this.

"No. I lost my Duel Disk on my way here." Lilac revealed.

Yuzo's face fell. He paled. The feeling he has been trying to convince himself was not there, surged into him in a flash. A certain someone's words, crossed his mind the moment he thought of his master.

"If I kill your master, can you still live in the shadow?"

"No... Could it be..."

NORHTERN GARDEN – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V

Yuto was bewildered when he arrived at the garden. There was almost no one there except for a few bodies of his fallen comrades. Yuto didn't see anyone else. There was no mistaking that this is the northern garden where Lilac asked him to come, but no one was here. How come? Was he too late? No. If he was, then there should be more bodies here.

Unless...

"Now, this is the person I wanted to meet."

Yuto jumped something fell from the sky. He skidded backwards before raising his Duel Disk again and activated it, ready for battle. Amidst the smoke, he saw her. The demon-like Duel Monster that Reiji and Yuzo has warned him about. Heidel's former ace monster who betrayed him by killing all of his family.

Yubel.

"You're Yubel!" Yuto addressed the Duel Monster.

"Yes, indeed. I've been wanting to see you, Master of Dark Rebellion." Yubel greeted Yuto with a polite bow before showing a Duel Disk in her hand. Lilac's Duel Disk.

"Your friend dropped her Duel Disk and I happened to find her. I thought it would be useful to call you here." Yubel said before tossing Lilac's Duel Disk to Yuto's feet.

"What do you want with me?" Yuto questioned coldly, keeping his distance from Yubel.

"Would you honor me with a Duel?" Yubel asked, raising her own Duel Disk and activated it.

"I don't think you're giving me a choice." Yuto activated his Duel Disk.

{{ERROR: ACTION FIELD PROGRAM NEGATED}}

"Sorry. Apophis has developed a counter program to prevent you from using Action Cards." Yubel revealed.

"Not a problem. I can Duel just fine even without it." Yuto replied confidently.

[MASTER DUEL!]

"I'm taking the first Turn. I summon Chaos Core (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 1) from my hand." Yubel summoned a black demonic winged monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I set a card, and end my Turn." Yubel concluded.

"Monster with 0 ATK in Attack Position. She's clearly goading me to attack. Her set card could be a Trap." Yuto thought carefully while staring at Yubel's Field. He then turned to the cards in his hand.

"I don't have a card that can protect me from Traps right now. But there's a possibility that the set card won't do anything to me and simply to protect Yubel's Chaos Core. I'll try taking the risk." Yuto has made his decision.

"My Turn! I summon Phantom Knights Dusty Robe (ATK: 800 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3) from my hand!" Yuto summoned Dusty Robe in Attack Position.

"Battle! I attack Chaos Core with Dusty Robe!" Yuto declared Battle Phase. Following its master's order, Dusty Robe flew towards Chaos Core with the blue flames surrounding it intensified.

"I activate Chaos Core's effect! I send three monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard and placed three Sacred Beast Counters on Chaos Core!" Yubel sent Uria - Lord of Divine Flames, Hamon – Lord of Striking Thunder, and Raviel - Lord of Phantasmal Demons to her Graveyard, placing three counters on Chaos Core.

"By removing one Sacred Beast Counter on Chaos Core, I can prevent its destruction and nullify the Battle Damage I would take!" Yubel removed one counter, creating a transparent barrier that blocked Dusty Robe's blue flames from Chaos Core.

"I set two cards and end my Turn." Yuto concluded.

"My Turn." Yubel stared at the card in her hand. She smiled before placing it.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Yubel concluded.

"Just setting a card? Is it because she's confident she can survive because she still has two counters left?" Yuto wondered. From what Yuzo told him, Yubel is a strong opponent. She's not a Duel Monster to be trifled with. Yubel hasn't shown all her power when Yuzo dueled her. Yuzo wasn't even sure he'd survive if the Duel continue that time. Yuto has learned from experiences that moves that seemed trivial and amateurish at first turned to be deadly in the next Turn.

"That's right. I mustn't underestimate her. I'll attack without holding back!" Yuto resolved.

"My Turn! I summon Phantom Knights Fragile Armor (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 4) from my hand!" Yuto summoned Fragile Armor in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"When I have two or more Phantom Knights Monsters on my Field, I can Special Summon Phantom Knights Crack Glove (ATK: 800 / DEF: 700 / LV: 2) from my hand!" Yuto summoned a monster with silver metallic glove armor with red scarfs around both wrists and tiny blue flames forming like a face in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"Come forth! The circuit of shadow that covers the world!" Yuto opened the Link Summoning circuit.

"Arrowhead confirmed! The summoning condition is two or more DARK Monsters! I set Dusty Robe, Fragile Armor, and Crack Glove on the Link Markers! Circuit combined!" Yuto set Fragile Armor on the Bottom-Left Arrow, Dusty Robe on the Bottom-Right Arrow, and Crack Glove on the Right Arrow.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Phantom Knights Rusty Bardiche (ATK: 2100 / LINK: 3 / LM: Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right, Right)!" Yuto summoned Rusty Bardiche in Attack Position in the Link Monster Zone.

"I activate Rusty Bardiche's effect! During Main Phase, I can send one Phantom Knights Monster from my Deck to the Graveyard and then set one Phantom Knights Magic or Trap Card directly from my Deck to my Spell & Trap Zone!" Yuto sent Phantom Knights Silent Boots into his Graveyard, setting a Phantom Knights card on his Spell and Trap Zone.

"I activate Crack Glove's second effect from my Graveyard! I can banish it to Special Summon a Phantom Knights Monster from my Graveyard!" Yuto revived Fragile Armor in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"Battle! I attack Chaos Core with Fragile Armor and Rusty Bardiche!" Yuto declared Battle Phase.

Fragile Armor made the first attack. Fragile Armor strikes Chaos Core with a punch that was blocked by the barrier from the counter. Rusty Bardiche then followed, raising its dark black colored axe and swung it down, which was also blocked by the barrier. While unable to destroy the barrier, the force was enough to make the barrier crack before it retreated back to its master's Field.

"I end my Turn." Yuto concluded. While he couldn't destroy Chaos Core or inflict any damage, at the very least now Chaos Core has lost all of its counters. As Yubel has used two of her remaining counters, there was nothing left that can protect Chaos Core in the next Turn.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Yubel once again repeated the same move, confusing Yuto more. Seeing his confusion, Yubel smirked.

"What's with that look? Are you concerned that I did nothing to fight back? Or have I unnerved you?" Yubel grinned, relishing at Yuto's glare at her in response to her taunt.

"I summon Phantom Knights Torn Sleeve (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 500 / LV: 4) from my hand!" Yuto summoned a monster in a form of torn out black-colored sleeve with bluish purple flames forming its body in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I activate Magic Card: Shadow Stealth! I can increase the Level of all DARK Monsters I control by one!" Yuto increased Torn Sleeve and Fragile Armor's Level from 4 to 5.

"I overlay Fragile Armor and Torn Sleeve! From the depth of Purgatory. Dedicate to the Restless Soul with the Song of Revolution. Echo for eternity, and appear! Rank-Up, Xyz Change! Come forth, Rank 5! Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 / RNK: 5 ORU: 2)!" Yuto summoned Dark Requiem in Attack Position in the Main Zone with Rusty Bardiche's Bottom-Left Arrow pointing at it.

"When an Xyz Monster is summoned using Torn Sleeve as material, it gains 1000 ATK!" Yuto increased Dark Requiem's ATK to 4000.

"I activate Rusty Bardiche's effect! When an Xyz Monster is summoned to the zone pointed by it, I can destroy a card on the Field!" Yuto pointed at Chaos Core. Rusty Bardiche crushed Chaos Core into two before burning it with its blue flame, not leaving a single trace of it left on the Field.

"Battle! I attack directly with Rusty Bardiche!" Yuto declared Battle Phase. Rusty Bardiche turned its attention to Yubel. The Link Monster swung its axe at the opposing Duel Monster who didn't seem faze by the move. Yubel pointed at her second face-down card and opened it.

"Trap Card: Dark Mirror! When my opponent declares an Attack, I can negate that attack, destroy the opposing monster and inflict damage to my opponent equal to the destroyed monster's ATK!" Yubel activated her Trap, summoning a sinister purple-colored mirror with black-colored glass. Rusty Bardiche's axe was swallowed into the mirror and eventually, Rusty Bardiche itself. An ectoplasm-shaped energy then came out from the mirror, striking Yuto.

YUTO LP: 4000 = 1900

Yuto flinched from the attack, almost losing his footing.

"You could've used that Trap earlier." Yuto pointed out.

"Oh, I have another plan. And you already expected it's a Trap, right? That's why you use Rusty Bardiche to attack first in case it's a Trap that will backfired on you if you use monster with stronger ATK." Yubel retorted. She had to admit that Yuto impressed her. He already thought of various anticipations against her. Defeating him would be worth her times compared to the fodders. And it'll strive Dark Rebellion too.

"I end my Turn." Yuto concluded.

"My Turn. I summon Phantom of Chaos (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 1)." Yubel summoned a monster in a shape of puddle of darkness in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I activate Phantom of Chaos' effect. I can target a monster from my Graveyard and give Phantom Chaos the ATK, DEF, and effects of that monster." Yubel chose Hamon, making Phantom Chaos' ATK and DEF 4000, and also gained its effect.

"Even the effects too?!" Yuto couldn't hide his surprise.

"I activate Dark Mirror's second effect from my Graveyard. By banishing it, I can increase the ATK of a DARK Monster I control by 2000." Yubel increased Phantom of Chaos' ATK to 6000, above Dark Requiem.

"Battle. I attack Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon with Phantom with Phantom of Chaos!" Yubel finally conducted her first Battle Phase. Phantom of Chaos easily swallowed Dark Requiem until there was nothing left of the dragon.

"Due to the second effect of Phantom of Chaos, you won't take any Battle Damage. However, due to the effect granted to Phantom of Chaos, I inflict 1000 damage to you!" Yubel added. Phantom of Chaos strikes Yuto, pushing him back and left a bruise on his right arm.

YUTO LP: 1900 = 900

"I activate Rank-Up Magic: Phantom Knights Advance! When an Xyz Monster I control is destroyed, I can use it and this card as Xyz Materials to Special Summon an Xyz Monster from my Extra Deck whose Rank is one higher than the Xyz Monster used as Material!" Yuto opened his face-down card, using Dark Requiem and the Rank-Up Card as his materials, opening the Overlay Network.

"Fang of Rebellion, gain new power and slash the pall of darkness! Xyz Summon! Dark Anthelion Dragon (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 / RNK: 7 / PS: 10)!" Yuto summoned his Xyz-Pendulum Monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone, replacing Dark Requiem's place. Now, his Field at least wasn't left empty.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Yubel concluded. The effect of Phantom of Chaos ended, reverting the monster's ATK, DEF, and Effect to normal.

"My Turn! Battle! I attack Phantom of Chaos with Dark Anthelion Dragon!" Yuto declared another Battle Phase. Dark Anthelion flew straight at Phantom of Chaos with its sharp shining fangs, wings spread wide as electricity empowered it.

"Continuous Trap: Chaos Form! I can select one face-up monster I control and equip this card to it. Each time the equipped monster is attacked, I can select one monster in my Graveyard. That monster's ATK and DEF become equal to the ATK and DEF of the monster in my Graveyard!" Yubel selected Hamon, giving Phantom of Chaos ATK and DEF of 4000. However, Yuto already anticipated that.

"Counter Trap: Phantom Reflect! When a card effect is activated that targets a Monster on the Field while I control an Xyz Monster, I negate that card's activation and destroy it!" Yuto activated his own Trap, reverting Phantom of Chaos' ATK and DEF to 0 and destroyed the Continuous Trap. Dark Anthelion strikes Phantom of Chaos.

"Trap Card: Chaos Armor! When a DARK Monster I control is about to be destroyed, I can negate its destruction!" Yubel opened her last remaining face-down card, protecting Phantom of Chaos from being destroyed, but still received damage.

YUBEL LP: 4000 = 1000

"Additionally, due to Phantom Reflect's effect, I inflict 800 damage to my opponent!" Yuto added as a lightning strike from the Trap, striking Yubel that it pushed her back.

YUBEL LP: 1000 = 200

"I end my Turn." Yuto concluded, eyeing Yubel. "I've pushed her LP to the edge. Just one more attack and I'll be able to defeat her. Just a little bit more. Until then, I mustn't let my guard down. It's possible she still has something else under her sleeve."

"You're not naïve and sharp. You're a bit like Heidel." Yubel suddenly commented. She smiled at him.

"Usually, when your opponent's LP at red, you'll feel more relax and at ease, confident that you'll win. And when your opponent able to pull out a move that abruptly turn the tide, you lose your composure, easily getting panicked. But you and Heidel are not like that. You're not giving any opening even until the end. You're a remarkable Duelist." Yubel genuinely praised the Phantom Knights user, for a moment seeing the splitting image of her former master from the boy.

"I've learned from my experience, especially against an opponent like you." Yuto replied calmly.

"A wise decision. Unfortunately, it's useless against me." Yubel retorted, making Yuto frowned.

"My Turn. I release Phantom of Chaos to Advance Summon Dark Summoning Beast (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0)." Yubel released Phantom of Chaos and Advance summoned Dark Summoning Beast in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I activate Dark Summoning Beast's effect to release it and Special Summon Uria, Lord of Searing Flames (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0), Raviel Lord of Phantasms (ATK: 4000 / DEF: 4000) and Hamon Lord of Striking Thunder (ATK: 4000 / DEF: 4000) ignoring the Summoning Conditions." Yubel released Dark Summoning Beast and Special Summoned Uria, Raviel, and Hamon at the same time to her Main Zone.

"Three monsters at once?!" Yuto was taken aback, but quickly calm himself. While Yubel has three monsters one her Field now, his Dark Anthelion still has higher ATK.

"In return for summoning them at once, I can't conduct my Battle Phase this turn. However, it doesn't mean I'll end this without a Battle. In fact, this will be the last Turn of this Duel." Yubel's smile turned more sinister.

Yuto felt cold air pressuring all over his skin. Before he knew it, he was trembling. He tried to pull himself together, but the trembling was still there. The pressure was coming from Yubel. And when Yuto looked at her directly into her eyes, something stabbed his entire being. She was being serious. It wasn't a bluff. She truly intends to put an end to the Duel right at this Turn.

"I activate Magic Card: Dimension Fusion Murder. I banish Uria, Raviel, and Hamon to perform Fusion Summon!" Yubel formed the Fusion vortex. However, unlike the usual one, the vortex was deep crimson colored mixed with pitch black darkness. Uria, Raviel, and Hamon entered the vortex.

"Almighty demon slumbering within the dark realm. Awake from your sleep, and plunge the world into destruction! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 12! Chaos Phantom Demon Armityle (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 12)!" Yubel summoned her Fusion Monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

The Fusion Monster roared. Its voice was loud that Yuto felt his eardrum was going to explode. The earth shook from the force of its presence. The last time Yuto felt this sensation was when dueling against the Supreme King Dragon Zarc last year. Does this mean she's equal to Supreme King Dragon Zarc?

"I activate Chaos Phantom Demon Armityle's effect. During my Turn, it gains 10,000 ATK." Yubel declared, making Armityle's ATK 10,000, intensifying the roar.

"What?!" Yuto was dumbstruck. He couldn't do anything. There was no path that he could see to get out from this situation. It was over for him.

"Battle. I attack Dark Anthelion Dragon with Chaos Phantom Demon Armityle!"

Yubel declared Battle Phase. Chaos Phantom Demon Armityle caught Dark Anthelion with its tail, crushing it. The Xyz Monster let out a painful cry. Then, with its hand, Armityle ripped both of Dark Anthelion's wings apart, causing the dragon to let out even more cries of pain. Armityle then let the dragon go, throwing it towards Yuto before unleashing a stream of dark flame, destroying the dragon and blew Yuto away.

YUTO LP: 900 = 0

Yuto fell on his back. He felt some of his bones were broken. He couldn't move. When he tried, his body was attacked by aching pain. He was barely conscious himself, his vision was quite blurry. But Yubel's presence was still strong. He could sense her approaching him, and then saw her blurry figure standing over him. He wanted to get away, but he couldn't move at all.

"I have nothing against you. But I wish to meet Heidel again. I also wish to see Dark Rebellion's resolve. And I just know how to get both what I want at the same time...with your help." Yubel slowly caressed Yuto's face, digging her nails on the side of his face. She then carried the boy in her left arm. Spreading her wings, she flew up.

"Yuto!"

Yubel smiled as she saw the person she wanted to see. He came at the perfect time. It was the right decision to have Armityle being slow on Dark Anthelion to make it cry. Its cry must have been heard throughout the whole city, and he must have come here in a hurry after hearing the dragon's cry.

Yuzo – Dark Rebellion arrived with Shark and Johan behind him.

"Yubel!" Yuzo glared at Yubel who was holding his master in her arm.

"I wanted to see you, Dark Rebellion. Remember what I said before when we last met?" Yubel said, emphasizing her means by looking at Yuto in her arm.

"Let him go!" Yuzo demanded.

"I'll give you two days. Bring Heidel to me, and I'll release your master. But, if you care to try to take back your master by force, then you know where to find me. I can't guarantee your master will be in one piece, however." Yubel told Dark Rebellion, the unspoken threat was clear between them.

"I'd rather taking him back now!" Yuzo activated his Duel Disk, so did Shark and Johan.

However, a dozen of their brainwashed comrades quickly came into their view, preventing them from getting close to Yubel who flew farther and farther from them.

"I'm not in a hurry to kill your master, Dark Rebellion. All you need to do is bring me Heidel, and then we can settle this peacefully. We will both have what we want. Until then, farewell."

With that, Yubel took her leave, flying away from the headquarter with Yuto until no one could see her form.

Yuzo desperately tried to just ignore their brainwashed comrades and ran through them to reach his master. But it was futile. They didn't give him even a chance to close the distance. Yuzo could do nothing but watch his master being taken away. Even though just a few days ago he promised to protect him. No, since the moment he dueled Yubel, he promised to protect his master. He promised he won't her getting near his master.

He failed.

Yuto has been taken away.


NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

The Offspring's Lament – Sawatari encounters Kamui and is shocked to learn that he's an Apophis offspring. At the same time, Allen also encounters Zira.


Hello! I finally able to finish this chapter! But I wrote it in quite a hurry, so there might be some errors. Very sorry. I still don't have the money to buy the laptop due to financial problem. And my brother is busy so he uses his laptop all the time and difficult for me to borrow it from him. He's out of town today, so I was able to write this chapter from this early in the morning before I leave. Can't promise fast update. Hope you enjoy this chapter for the time being.

Please don't forget to review this chapter!