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

Sawatari was leading several men to escort their injured comrades and the ones who were not fighters into a few airships available. Having injured people and non-combatants gathered at one place won't do any good. Yuno also worried that the enemies may spread another swarm of Parasite Fusioners to brainwash more of them. To prevent that scenario, Yuno ordered for a large-scale evacuation of their people as many as possible. So far, the evacuation process went well. The first airship has safely left the main HQ. Still, they can't let their guard down. Enemies could be lurking in every curve.

"How many more airships here?" Sawatari asked one of the Duelists who were with him.

"There are only three more airships. I don't think it'll fit for all of them." The man replied.

"Then we'll evacuate the rest who can't ride the airship through the back door. It's not as fast as the airships since they'll be going by foot, but at least it's better than them staying here. Try to find other vehicles we can use if possible." Sawatari instructed the man who obeyed without question.

Sawatari let out a soft sigh. He might be looked fine like nothing is affecting him, but honestly, he's just trying to act cool so no one could see how restless he was inside. He wondered if he's closing to his limit. In one night, he lost many comrades. Some of the people he knew in this HQ and spoke just fine this morning were dead the next he saw them. Their dead bodies made him want to puke. This was far worse than the dimensional war last year. For once, he hoped he could return to his old stupid self just so that he wouldn't feel so much affected.

He hoped his friends are okay. To lose the friends who fought with him in the war last year would be far worse than losing the comrades he barely knew.

"They're all strong. They should be okay. Yeah! They'll be fine!" Sawatari tried to convince himself. For now, he must focus to save as many people as possible. He must lessen the death toll.

"Everybody! En guarde! An Apophis offspring is here!" A Brotherhood Duelist alerted them.

Sawatari was the first to rush ahead. He motioned the other men to protect the ones who couldn't ride the airships. He is confident he can take whoever is approaching. If not, at least he'll buy some times until they are all evacuated. The men didn't need to ask for more. Without looking back, they all escorted the others through the back door, leaving Sawatari alone at the hangar.

"Come here, Apophis' goon! This Neo-new-super-ultra-Shingo Sawatari will be your opponent!" Sawatari challenged as the shadow came closer into the hangar, face hidden by the dark night.

"Shingo?"

Sawatari's stance slackened when he heard the familiar voice. The figure entered the hangar, his form still hidden by the darkness. The moonlight that was covered by the black clouds shone through the gap of the hangar, illuminating the darkness, revealing the previously hidden figure. Sawatari furrowed his brows in disbelief as he saw the person standing in front of him. He only met that person just once, but that one meeting left a lasting impression on him. Because that meeting changed him significantly. That person helped him.

"Kamui...? No way...why are you here...?" Sawatari asked dumbfoundedly, not believing his eyes.

Kamui didn't answer and instead simply raised his Duel Disk.

"No... It can't be... You're... You're..." Sawatari took two steps back, his frown deepened at the realization that he didn't want to admit. But Kamui confirmed it.

"Yes. I am an Apophis offspring." Kamui admitted.

That hit Sawatari hard. Harder than anyone could imagine. Sawatari couldn't stop his body from trembling. Not with the mixed emotions he has at the moment.

"You... You tricked me...?" Sawatari questioned, gritting his teeth while glaring at Kamui.

"It wasn't my intention." Kamui responded calmly.

"What then?!" Sawatari shouted in anger.

"I have my orders right now. If you get in my way, I won't hold back." Kamui replied, activating his Duel Disk.

"Heh. I've defeated you before, don't cry if I kick your butt again!" Sawatari stated, activating his Duel Disk as well.

"You maybe already knew, but His Excellency has installed a program to deactivate your Action Field." Kamui said.

"I know that! Not a problem to me!" Sawatari spat back.

[MASTER DUEL!]

"I'm taking the first Turn. I activate Field Spell: Boot Sector Launch. I can Special Summon up to two Rokket monsters with different names from my hand in Defense Position." Kamui Special Summoned Anesthrokket Dragon (ATK: 0 / DEF: 2200) and Magnarokket Dragon (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1200) from his hand in Defense Position in the Main Zone.

"That's not the Deck you used against me before. So you're really holding back that time, huh?" Sawatari said bitterly with humorless smile while staring at Kamui's monsters.

"I'm using two archetypes for my Deck. The ones I used before against you by no means inferior. I simply have it easier using this archetype when I'm in the battlefield." Kamui answered.

"Are you?" Sawatari seemed unconvinced. Kamui decided not to say anymore on that matter.

"Due to the effect of Boot Sector Launch, it increases the ATK and DEF of all Rokket monsters on the field by 300." Kamui increased Anesthrokket's ATK and DEF to300 and 2500, and also Magnarokket's ATK and DEF to 2100 and 1500, respectively.

"Come forth! My Circuit!" Kamui opened the Link Summoning Circuit, setting Anesthrokket and Magnarokket to the Link Markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Dillingerous Dragon (ATK: 1600 / LINK: 2 / LM: Top, Bottom)!" Kamui summoned his Link Monster in the Link Monster Zone in Attack Position.

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

"My Turn! With Scale 0 Abyss Actor – Mellow Madonna and Scale 9 Abyss Actor – Twinkle Littlestar, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Sawatari set Mellow Madonna and Twinkle Littlestar, allowing him to summon Level 1 to 8 monsters simultaneously.

"Pendulum Summon! Appear, my monster!" Sawatari summoned Wild Hope (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 4 / PS: 2) in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"Appear! My Circuit!" Sawatari opened the Link Summoning Circuit, setting Wild Hope at the Bottom Link Marker.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Abyss Actor – Hyper Director (ATK: 800 / LINK: 1 / LM: Bottom)!" Sawatari summoned a Monster resembling an old man with grey haired and wearing a film director's clothes in the Link Monster Zone.

"I activate Hyper Director's effect! Once per Turn, I can Special Summon one Monster in my Pendulum Zone to the Field and then place an Abyss Actor Monster to that Pendulum Zone from my Deck or face-up from Extra Deck!" Sawatari summoned Mellow Madonna (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 7 / PS: 0) in Attack Position in the Main Zone, and then placed Big Star to the empty Pendulum Zone.

"I activate Twinkle Littlestar's Pendulum Effect! I can target one Abyss Actor Monster I control and that Monster can make up to 3 attacks for each Battle Phase, but other monsters cannot attack until the end of this Turn!" Sawatari chose Mellow Madonna, allowing it to attack three times in a row.

"Battle! I attack Dillingerous Dragon with Mellow Madonna!" Sawatari declared Battle Phase. Mellow Madonna began to sing. Musical notes formed out of thin air through her singing and the winds formed into a tornado covered in colorful musical notes that charging towards the Dragon-Type Monster.

"Trap Card: Magic Cylinder! As my opponent's Monster attacks, I can negate the attack and inflict damage to my opponent equal to the ATK of that monster!" Kamui opened his Reverse Card, summoning a cylinder that reflect the attack back to Mellow Madonna, which consequently also damaging Sawatari.

SAWATARI LP: 4000 = 2200

"But Mellow Madonna still has two more attacks!" Sawatari reminded. The Trap Card could only negate the first attack, so Sawatari could still attack two more times. Mellow Madonna destroyed Dillingerous Dragon in the second attack before attacking Kamui directly, the forces of the attack pushed Kamui a few steps back.

KAMUI LP: 4000 = 2000

"I end my Turn." Sawatari concluded.

"I activate Boot Sector Launch's effect to Special Summon Rokket monsters with different names from my Graveyard in Defense Position, up to the difference." Kamui revived Anesthrokket and Magnarokket to the Main Zone in Defense Position.

"As a Rokket monster was Special Summoned while Dillingerous Dragon is in my Graveyard, I activate its effect. I Special Summon it, but it is banished when it leaves the field." Kamui revived Dillingerous Dragon in Attack Position.

"Appear! My circuit!" Kamui set Anesthrokket, Magnarokket, and Dillingerous Dragon into the Link Markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Borreload Dragon (ATK: 3000 / LINK: 4)!" Kamui summoned his ace monster in Attack Position in the Link Monster Zone.

"I'm guessing this is your true ace monster?" Sawatari asked.

"Indeed." Kamui confirmed before proceeding. "I activate Borreload Dragon's effect! I can target one of my opponent's monsters and that Monster loses 500 ATK and DEF!"

Kamui targeted Sawatari's Mellow Madonna, lowering its ATK and DEF to 1300 and 2000, respectively.

"Battle! I attack Mellow Madonna with Borreload Dragon!" Kamui declared Battle Phase. Borreload opened its mouth, revealing a cannon inside. The dragon unleashed a powerful shot that incinerated Mellow Madonna with a scream.

"I activate Quick-Play Spell: Dive Cracking! When my Monster destroyed an opponent's Monster, I receive damage equal to half of the ATK to the destroyed Monster's ATK and add two Cyberse Monsters from my Deck to my hand!" Kamui activated a card from his hand, giving himself a damage that shocked Sawatari.

KAMUI LP: 2000 = 1400

SAWATARI LP: 2200 = 1000

"He's inflicting damage to himself? What's he planning?" Sawatari wondered in bewilderment. He didn't like the look of this.

"Since I took effect damage, I activate Speedburst Dragon's (ATK: 2400 / DEF: 600) effect from my hand to Special Summon it!" Kamui summoned Speedburst Dragon from his hand in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"As Speedburst Dragon was Special Summoned through its effect, I can activate its second effect to inflict damage to my opponent equal to the damage I took and I regain LP equal to half of the damage!" Kamui revealed. Speedburst Dragon made a shot, striking Sawatari while recovering Kamui's LP.

KAMUI LP: 1400 = 2100

SAWATARI LP: 1000 = 300

"You only have 300 LP and Hyper Director with 800 ATK on your Field. I still have Speedburst Dragon with 2400 on my side." Kamui stated, looking at Sawatari's Hyper Director and his own Speedburst Dragon next to him.

"You know the outcome of this Duel, don't you?" Kamui warned Sawatari who flinched at his calm tone. Kamui pointed at Hyper Director. "I attack Abyss Actor – Hyper Director with Speedburst Dragon!"

"I won't let that happen!" Sawatari revealed a card and activated it.

"I activate Quick-Play Spell: Abyss Script – Act-Change! When an Abyss Actor Monster I control is targeted for an attack, I can Special Summon an Abyss Actor Monster in my Pendulum Zone in Defense Position, and the attacking Monster must attack the Special Summoned Monster!" Sawatari summoned Twinkle Littlestar, summoning it in Defense Position. Speedburst Dragon's attack moved to Twinkle Littlestar, destroying it without inflicting any damage to Sawatari.

"I end my Turn." Kamui concluded.

"Damn. He said that he wasn't holding back when we dueled before, but now that he's using his real Deck and even reduced my LP to this, I can tell that he's a high level." Sawatari thought with frustration. They barely begin the Duel, and his LP was already at red. Borreload Dragon has a troublesome effect and high ATK. The strongest Monster he can summon at the moment is only Big Star through Hyper Director's effect. It won't be enough to face against Borreload Dragon.

"If only I can switch their ATKs... Wait... Switch?" Sawatari got a light bulb lightened up in his mind. That's it. He can win if he's using that strategy. It's pretty much sink or swim situation now.

"I activate Abyss Actor – Hyper Director's effect! I can Special Summon the monster in my Pendulum Zone!" Sawatari Special Summoned Big Star to his Field and then replaced the empty Pendulum Zone with Abyss Actor – Comic Relief from his Deck.

"You can't Pendulum Summon with that Pendulum Scale. What are you planning? I highly doubt that you've given up." Kamui questioned, staring at Sawatari's Pendulum Zone that now only has one Pendulum Monster left.

"Yeah. There's no way I'm giving up. Rather, I'm even more pumped up!" Sawatari said with a confident grin.

"I activate Abyss Actor Comic Relief's Pendulum Effect! Once per Turn, I can target one Abyss Actor Pendulum Monster I control and one Monster my opponent controls, and then switch control of both Monsters!" Sawatari declared. Comic Relief warped Big Star to Kamui's Field and then Borreload Dragon to Sawatari's Field, switching their position.

"What?!" Kamui was taken aback, not expecting this move.

"In exchange, Comic Relief is destroyed, but now your Borreload Dragon is in my control." Sawatari revealed as Comic Relief was removed from the Pendulum Zone and back to the Extra Deck, leaving Sawatari's Pendulum Zone empty.

"I activate Borreload Dragon's effect! I target your Speedburst Dragon and lower its ATK and DEF by 500!" Sawatari lowered Speedburst Dragon's ATK and DEF to 1900 and 100, respectively.

"Now, Battle! I attack Speedburst Dragon with Borreload Dragon!" Sawatari declared Battle Phase. Borreload Dragon shot its bullet cannon at Speedburst Dragon, destroying the smaller dragon.

KAMUI LP: 2100 = 1000

"Additionally, I activate Abyss Script – Act-Change's effect from my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can add one Abyss Script card from my Deck and destroy one Abyss Actor Monster from the Field and inflict damage to my opponent equal to half of its DEF!" Sawatari added Abyss Script – Choreo Block to his hand before destroying Big Star on Kamui's Field, inflicting 900 damage to Kamui.

KAMUI LP: 1000 = 100

"I activate Continuous Magic: Abyss Script – Choreo Block. As long as I control an Abyss Actor Link Monster on my Field, my opponent's Link Monster cannot attack." Sawatari ended his Battle Phase and then activated Choreo Block that he just got, preventing Kamui from attacking as long as he has Hyper Director.

"I end my Turn." Sawatari concluded. Comic Relief's effect ended, returning Borreload Dragon to Kamui's control.

"As I thought. You're really are a strong Duelist, Shingo. You exceeded my expectation by using my own ace monster like that and now you even sealed my Link Monsters' attack." Kamui praised Sawatari.

"Of course! Don't think I'm the same as the last time we met!" Sawatari retorted with a bit of smug grin forming on his face that he tried to hide.

"But it only works on my Link Monsters." Kamui emphasized the Link Monster part.

"Huh?" Sawatari blinked in confusion.

"I activate Boot Sector Launch's effect to summon Rokket Monster from my Graveyard." Kamui revived Anesthrokket Dragon to his Main Zone.

"I summon Rokket Synchron (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 1)." Kamui summoned Rokket Synchron next to Anesthrokket in the Main Zone in Attack Position.

"As Rokket Synchron was Normal Summoned its effect activates, I can Special Summon 1 Level 5 or higher DARK Dragon Monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position, but its effects are negated and it's destroyed during the End Phase." Kamui revived Speedburst Dragon in Defense Position in the Main Zone next to Rokket Synchron.

"I Tune Level 1 Tuner Rokket Synchron with Level 1 Anesthrokket Dragon and Level 6 Speedburst Dragon!" Kamui declared as Rokket Synchron became a green light orb that tuned the two dragons.

"What?!" Sawatari exclaimed in shock.

"Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 8! Borreload Savage Dragon (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 8)!" Kamui summoned his Synchro Monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I activate Borreload Savage Dragon's ATK! As it was Synchro Summoned, I can target 1 Link Monster in my Graveyard and equip it to Savage Dragon, and have it gain Borrel Counters equal to the Link Markers of the equipped monster!" Kamui equipped Speedburst Dragon to Savage Dragon. The Synchro Dragon roared as it gained more power.

"Savage Dragon gains ATK equal to half of the ATK of the equipped Monster!" Kamui increased Savage Dragon's ATK to 4500.

"No way...!" Sawatari gritted his teeth as he faced the white dragon.

"Battle! I attack Abyss Actor – Hyper Director with Borreload Savage Dragon!"

Borreload Dragon opened its mouth cannon, shooting a stream of destructive energy that blew away Hyper Director along with Sawatari who was standing behind him. Hyper Director was incinerated without any trace left behind as Sawatari's LP was reduced to nothing. The attack shook the entire hangar, causing some parts of the ceiling and walls to crash down.

SAWATARI LP: 300 = 0

Sawatari crashed the wall behind him with a yell of pain. His entire body hurts from the attack, but luckily there's no broken bones at the very least. Sawatari leaned to the wall for support, but still having difficulty to stand up. His entire body almost as hurt as hell. This is Kamui's real power.

"It's over, Shingo." Kamui said, looking down at the Abyss Actor user with neutral gaze.

Sawatari sighed in defeat. He smiled sadly while looking down, avoiding Kamui's gaze. And then, all of a sudden, the time he spent with Kamui that day when they first met flooded into him. When they talked about their problems. When they dueled. When Sawatari gave him his necklace and accepted him as a friend. It made his chest hurt remembering it.

"Hey...was it all just an act?" Sawatari asked, slowly meeting Kamui's eyes. "Our meeting, our talk, were you just setting me up? Now that I think about it...understanding humans is the best way for you guys to find our weakness and use it against us...hahaha..."

"No."

Kamui said almost immediately that it surprised not only Sawatari but even Kamui himself. He couldn't understand why, but he didn't like it when Sawatari said it like that. He didn't like the look on Sawatari. It was like something squeezing hard inside his chest. Instinctively, he reached for his pocket where he kept the necklace Sawatari gave to him. A glimpse of the emerald color didn't escape Sawatari's eyes.

"That time was... I was..." Kamui started speaking, but he didn't know how to say it. His grip on Sawatari's necklace tightened. He didn't know why, but he couldn't stop thinking about the time they spent at the village. He couldn't understand this emotion he has. What was it?

Kamui was so immersed in his confusion that he didn't notice the ceiling above him fell down. Only when the shadow was getting closer that Kamui noticed but by then it was too late for him to move.

"Watch out!"

Sawatari shouted. When Kamui opened his eyes, he was lying on the floor. Sawatari's right arm was above him. He looked behind him. They barely evaded the falling ceiling that now has crushed the floor. Kamui turned to Sawatari who was groaning in pain next to him. Sawatari has pushed him out of the way right before the ceiling crush him. Sawatari saved him.

"Why... Why did you...?" Kamui asked, unable to comprehend Sawatari's action.

Sawatari removed himself from Kamui, trying his best to sit up straight and stare back at Kamui. But before he could answer Kamui's question–

"Sawatari!"

Gongenzaka entered the now destroyed hangar together with Yuno, Kino, and Lechter. The moment Gongenzaka's eyes fell on Kamui, he quickly stood protectively in front of Sawatari while Kino checked on Sawatari's condition.

"Sawatari, are you okay?!" Kino asked, scanning his wounds.

Kamui tried to leave, but then his vision went upside down and he once again fell on the floor with his face pressing on the cold hard floor and his arms restrained on his back. Lechter was restraining him. For an old man who close to his 80s, he was still strong and healthy to do martial arte moves. And he's certainly not a naïve old man to just let him go.

"Not so fast." Lechter told Kamui, keeping his whole body pressing on the floor to prevent escape.

"Wait! Don't hurt him too much!" Sawatari pleaded, but was cut off by a wince as his body slackened that Gongenzaka needed to hold him. Seeing Sawatari, Kamui stopped struggling. Yuno take this as his cue to question the Apophis offspring.

"You're going to tell us who has the Parasite Queen."

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

After taking Ruri to a safe place (and make sure she won't make a ruckus), Allen, Sayaka, and Shun decided to split up when they heard that Yuto was lured into a trap. They went separately to find him and agreed to contact each other whoever find him first before engaging in a Duel should Yuto is fighting an enemy.

Allen stopped in his track to catch some breath. He didn't realize it until now of how tired he was. He has been running and fighting non-stop. His adrenaline must have reached the limit and now all the exhaustion started to catch up to him. But he couldn't rest now. Not when Yuto could possibly be in danger.

"Argh! Damn you, Yuto! Where are you?!" Allen shouted in frustration. All the suppressed stress from seeing so many comrades fought each other and died were close to burst out. He thought nothing worse could happen after the war last year. He was so wrong. This was on a whole different level of worse. Being carded is one thing since they can all be brought back, but they're all dead. Bringing back the dead is an impossible feat. How could they...

"You won't find Yuto here."

Allen gasped when he heard the voice. He looked around, raising his Duel Disk. Steadily prepared for battle. His eyes were quick to pick up a figure hidden by shadows walking towards him. But from the voice, he knew it was a girl.

"What do you mean Yuto is not here?! Where is Yuto?!" Allen questioned the figure.

"He was defeated by Yubel and taken by her. You won't find him anywhere in this HQ. But don't worry, Yubel has no intention to kill him. You'll see him again."

Allen narrowed his eyes as the figure slowly coming into the light. As he expected, she's a woman, wearing the typical uniform of Apophis' offspring. What Allen didn't expect, however, was seeing the face of a girl that Allen knew. They only met once, but he could remember her clearly like it just happened yesterday. Her words encouraged him, giving him hope to become better.

"Zira...?" Allen uttered the name with disbelief, lowering his Duel Disk the moment she fully revealed herself.

"Good evening, Allen." Zira greeted him neutrally.

"Y-you're... You're an Apophis offspring?" Allen questioned, hoping that he was wrong, a hope that was immediately crushed by her answer.

"Yes. I am." Zira confirmed.

"W-why...?" Allen didn't want to believe this. The odd girl he met who gave him hope, who reignite his spirit, was actually an Apophis offspring. He didn't want to believe this fact.

"In any case, you won't find Yuto here. We already have him in our custody. Yubel's custody to be precise. I suggest you return to your friends for now. This should be over soon." Zira said so casually and then turned her back on Allen.

This snapped Allen from his shock and soon rage filled the boy's body.

"Wait! Where did you take Yuto! And what are you guys are planning to do here?!" Allen questioned with barely contained anger.

"I am not obliged to answer to that question." Zira replied, turning back to Allen, not being the slightest bit bothered by his reaction.

"Then I'll make you spit it out!" Allen activated his Duel Disk. He could ask about their first meeting later, now he must find out where Yuto has been taken and what is the enemy's goal.

"His Excellency has ordered me to take down anyone getting in the way. You are no exception, Allen." Zira activated her Duel Disk as well, beginning the Duel.

[MASTER DUEL!]

"I'm taking the first Turn! I summon Midnight-Express Knight - Night Express Knight (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 3000 / LV: 10)!" Allen summoned his Monster, but due to its effect, its ATK was reduced to 0 in return.

"From my hand, I summon Limited Divine Express (ATK: 1300 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4)!" Allen summoned a white-colored train-like Monster in Attack Position from his hand in the Main Zone.

"I activate Magic Card: Southern Cross! I can change a Level of a Monster I control to the same Level of another Monster I control!" Allen activated his Magic Card, changing Divine Express' Level from 4 to 10, the same as Night Express Knight.

"I Overlay Level 10 Night Express Knight and Divine Express! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 10! Superdreadnought Cannon Train – Gustav Max (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 3000 / RNK: 10 / ORU: 2)!" Allen summoned Gustav Max in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I activate Gustav Max's effect! Once per Turn, by detaching an Overlay Unit, I can inflict 2000 damage to my opponent!" Allen detached the first Overlay Unit. Gustav Max made a shot at Zira who slightly evaded the shot by doing a somersault, only grazing her.

ZIRA LP: 4000 = 2000

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

"My Turn! As I control no cards, I activate Trap Card: Infinite Impermanence from my hand. I negate the effect of a Monster my opponent controls until the end of this Turn." Zira pointed at Allen's Gustav Max, but Allen then retaliated with a card of his own.

"Trap Card: Railway Error! When my Monster is targeted by a Magic or Trap effect, I can negate that effect and destroy it!" Allen opened his Trap Card in respond and destroyed Zira's own Trap Card.

"Since a Trap Card was activated, I can Special Summon Altergeist Multifaker (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 800) from my hand." Zira summoned Multifaker via its own effect in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"Since Multifaker was Special Summoned, I activate its other effect, allowing me to Special Summon one Altergeist monster from my Deck in Defense Position." She Special Summoned Altergeist Meluseek (ATK: 500 / DEF: 300) in Defense Position.

"I summon Altergeist Marionetter (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1700)." Zira summoned Marionetter in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"As Marionetter was Normal Summoned, I activate its effect, which let me Set an Altergeist Trap Card from my Deck." She Set Altergeist Haunted Rock. Since Altergeist Haunted Rock was set by the effect of an Altergeist card, Zira immediately activated it this turn.

"As Altergeist Haunted Rock was activated, I send Altergeist Fifinellag from my hand to the Graveyard." Zira sent Fifinellag to the Graveyard.

"Appear! The Circuit that opens the parallel worlds!" Zira summoned the Link Summoning Circuit, setting Multifaker and Meluseek into the Link Markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Altergeist Hexstia (ATK: 1500 / LINK: 2/ LM: Bottom, Right)!" Zira summoned Hexstia to the Link Monster Zone in Attack Position.

"As Meluseek was sent to the Graveyard, I activate its effect, letting me add an Altergeist monster from my Deck to my hand." She added another copy of Multifaker.

"I activate Hexstia's effect. It gains ATK equal to the original ATK of each Altergeist monsters it points to! Hexstia points to Marionetter only, gaining 1600 ATK, making its current ATK at 3100.

"I activate the second effect of Marionetter, allowing me to send a face-up Altergeist card I control to the Graveyard to Special Summon an Altergeist monster from my Graveyard." Zira sent Altergeist Haunted Rock to the Graveyard and Special Summon Fifinellag (ATK: 0 / DEF: 1000).

"I tune the Level 2 Tuner Monster Fifinellag with Level 4 Marionetter! Synchro Summon! Appear! Level 6! Altergeist Dragvirion (ATK: 2200 / DEF: 1200)!" Zira summoned her Synchro Monster in Attack Position to the zone Hexstia points to, increasing Hexstia's ATK to 3700.

"A Trap that can be activated from hand, Monsters responding to Traps and summon others, and Link and Synchro Monsters... She's tough alright. As expected from Apophis' offspring. But I won't lose!" Allen thought with increased determination.

"Battle! I attack Superdreadnought Cannon Train Gustav Max with Altergeist Hexstia!" Zira declared Battle Phase. Hexstia strikes at the Railway Xyz Monster.

"Trap Card: Station Cross! When my Railway Monster is targeted for an attack, I can negate that attack!" Allen opened his second Trap a few metres before Hexstia's attack could connect to his monster. However, Zira has anticipated that.

"I activate Hexstia's effect! By releasing an Altergeist Monster it points to, I can negate that card effect and destroy it!" Zira tributes Dragvirion, lowering Hexstia's ATK to 1500, but successfully destroyed Allen's Trap Card.

"But by sacrificing Dragvirion, your Hexstia's effect is now lower than Gustav Max! Your Monster will be destroyed!" Allen pointed out as Hexstia continued its attack despite being weaker.

"Not a problem." Zira replied calmly as she pointed at her Synchro Monster.

"I activate Dragvirion's effect. Since it was released, I can Special Summon it from the Graveyard to the Zone Hexstia points to." Zira revealed, reviving Dragvirion and restored Hexstia's ATK to 3700 again via its effect. With the Battle Phase continued, Hexstia destroyed Allen's Gustav Max, pushing the boy back.

ALLEN LP: 4000 = 3300

"Next, I attack directly with Dragvirion!" Zira proceeded with her second attack, not giving Allen a chance to prepare for the Direct Attack. He was thrown back behind, the Railway user yelled in pain by the strike.

ALLEN LP: 3300 = 1100

Allen forced himself to immediately get up, pressing the screen of his Duel Disk.

"I activate Station Cross' second effect! By banishing it from Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Railway Monster from my Deck in Defense Position!" Allen banished his Trap, summoning Ruffian Limited Express Cattrain (ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4) in Defense Position in the Main Zone.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Zira concluded. She stared at Allen whose spirit only get stronger despite the damage he took. She then remembered when they first met.

"You want to become Sayaka's prince so much that you trained very hard and became this strong?" Zira asked, genuinely curious, which surprised Allen.

"W-what?! Why all of a sudden?!" Allen was taken aback, almost losing his footing by the question.

"I'm just curious. That's all. You humans always piqued my interest with your incomprehensible thinking. The books I read didn't really much of a help." Zira explained.

"Y-you're not lying when you told me about those books you read?" Allen sweat dropped. Not really knowing how else to react.

"No. Why would I?" Zira tilted her head, not really understanding Allen's point.

"Whatever! Let's continue the Duel! My Turn! I summon Ruffian Limited Express Battrain (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4)!" Allen decided to just brush off the not important topic in the middle of the Duel. He summoned Battrain from his hand in Attack Position.

"Appear! The Circuit of the trains!" Allen set Battrain and Cattrain in the Link Markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Engine Double Heading - Anger Knuckle (ATK: 1500 / LINK: 2 / LM: Bottom, Right)!" Allen summoned his Link Monster in the Link Monster Zone in Attack Position.

"When Cattrain is sent to the Graveyard as a material to Special Summon, I can Special Summon it back to the Field!" Allen revived Cattrain immediately after it just left the Field.

"I activate Anger Knuckle's effect! During Main Phase, I can send one Monster from my hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon one Level 10 Machine Monster in my Graveyard in Defense Position with its effect negated!" Allen sent a Railway Monster from his hand to revive Night Express Knight from the Graveyard.

"I activate Cattrain's final effect! When this card is Special Summoned, I can add a Magic or Trap Card from my Graveyard to my hand." Allen returned Southern from his Graveyard to his hand.

"I activate Magic Card: Southern Cross to change Cattrain's effect equal to Night Express Knight." Allen repeated the same process he did in the first Turn. He changed Cattrain's Level to 10, the same as Night Express Knight.

"Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 10! Superdreadnought Cannon Train – Gustav Max!" Allen summoned the second copy of Gustav Max from his Deck in Attack Position.

"I don't think I need to remind you this, but Gustav Max's effect won't work on me like before." Zira told the Railway user. However, Allen responded to her reminder with a challenging smile.

"Rank-Up Xyz Change!" Allen exclaimed.

"What?!"

"Once per Turn, this Monster can be Xyz Summoned using a Rank 10 Machine Xyz Monster I control as material! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 11! Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Juggernaut Liebe (ATK: 4000 / DEF: 4000 / RNK: 11 / ORU: 1)!" Allen summoned a higher Rank Xyz Monster to his Field. After many trainings and researching, he attained this monster. It's a lot of hard work, and he'll make sure those hard work won't be in vain.

"Battle! I attack Altergeist Dragvirion with Juggernaut Liebe!" Allen declared Battle Phase. Juggernaut Liebe pointed its cannon at the Altergeist Synchro Monster. It shot a stream of destructive energy beam straight towards Dragvirion.

Even so, Zira still kept her calm.

"I activate Dragvirion's effect. When my opponent's monster attacks, I can return one Altergeist Monster I control to the hand and negate that attack." Zira returned Hexstia to her Extra Deck, blocking Juggernaut Liebe's attack with a barrier formed protecting Dragvirion.

"Then now I attack your Dragvirion with Anger Knuckle!" Allen continued his second attack with his Link Monster. Now that Dragvirion is the only Monster left on the Field, nothing will protect it from his attack. Anger Knuckle may get destroyed too, but at least it'll get rid of Dragvirion as well. Anger Knuckle and Dragvirion clashed, creating a big explosion that engulfed both monsters, destroying them both.

"Trap Card: Altergeist Materialization. I target one Altergeist Monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it in Attack Position." Zira opened her second Reverse Card, reviving Hexstia.

"As I activate a Trap, I can Special Summon Multifaker from my hand." Zira summoned another Multifaker from her hand.

"And since Multifaker is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Altergeist Monster from my Deck in Defense Position." Zira summoned Altergeist Pookuery from her hand to the Main Zone.

"I end my Turn." Allen concluded since his Battle Phase has finished.

"My Turn. Appear! The circuit that opens the parallel worlds!" Zira summoned her Link Summoning Circuit, setting Pookuery and Multifaker to the Link Markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Altergeist Kidurga (ATK: 1000 / LINK: 2 / LM: Left, Bottom)!" Zira summoned Kidurga in Attack Position beneath Hexstia's bottom-arrow Link Marker.

"When a Link Monster is Link Summoned, I can Special Summon Altergeist Fijialert (ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 4) from my hand to the zone the other Link Monster points to." Zira summoned Fijialert in Attack Position in the Main Zone pointed by Kidurga's left-arrow Link Marker.

"Appear once more, the circuit that opens the parallel worlds!" Zira set Kidurga and Hexstia to the four Link Markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Altergeist Memorygant (ATK: 2800 / LINK: 4 / LM: Left, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right, Right)!" Zira summoned her strongest Monster in Attack Position in the Link Monster Zone. Allen expected her to do more, so he was surprised when she instead did nothing afterwards.

"I end my Turn." Zira concluded. Ignoring Allen's suspicious stare, she instead looked at him and then at Juggernaut Liebe back and forth.

"You've certainly got stronger, Allen. Congratulations in taking a step closer to become Sayaka's prince." Zira clapped her hands softly.

"Enough with the prince thing, and don't mock me." Allen retorted, starting to get irritated.

"I'm not mocking you. I truly praising you. And that's why I'll go all out to defeat you." Zira replied calmly with evident confidence in her tone. Allen quickly became cautious. He knew well by now that Zira was not the type to bluff.

"I activate Juggernaut Liebe's effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit, it gains 2000 ATK and DEF!" Allen detached Juggernaut Liebe's Overlay Unit, increasing its ATK and DEF to 6000.

"Battle! I attack Altergeist Fijialert with Juggernaut Liebe!" Allen didn't waste any more time and declared Battle Phase. The Railway Xys Monster charged its cannon, ready to make another shot at Zira's monster. And that's exactly what Zira was waiting for.

"When my opponent's Monster declares an attack while I control an Altergeist Card, I can Special Summon Altergeist Kuntiery (ATK: 0 / DEF: 2400 / LV: 5) from my hand and negate that attack!" Zira summoned Kuntiery who blocked the cannon, preventing it from shooting its beam.

"What?!" Allen exclaimed almost dumbfoundedly.

"Also, when Altergeist Kuntiery is Special Summoned, I can negate the effect of a face-up Monster my opponent controls while that Monster and Kuntiery are on the Field." Zira added, reverting Juggernaut Liebe's ATK and DEF back to 4000.

"I end my Turn." Allen reluctantly ended his Turn.

"As I said earlier, I'm going to defeat you now, Allen. My Turn. I summon Altergeist Pookuery (ATK: 300 / DEF: 100 / LV: 1)." Zira summoned another copy of Pookuery in Attack Position from her hand.

"Appear! The circuit that opens the parallel worlds! Link Summon! Link 3! Altergeist Primebanshee (ATK: 2100 / LINK: 3 / LM: Bottom, Bottom-Right, Right)!" Zira summoned her ace monster in Attack Position in the Bottom-Right arrow of Memorygant's Link Marker.

"I activate Memorygant's effect. I can tribute a Monster I control to increase its ATK equal to the tributed Monster." Zira tributed Primebanshee, increasing Memorygant's ATK to 6900.

"6900 ATK?!" Allen shouted out in disbelief. His LP was at 1100 and his monster only has 4000 ATK. If the attack connects...

"Battle! I attack Juggernaut Liebe with Memorygant!" Zira declared Battle Phase. Memorygant swung its scythe, slicing the Railway Xyz Monster's body in half. Juggernaut Liebe's body exploded, blowing away Allen together with his completely depleted LP.

ALLEN LP: 1100 = 0

Allen lay down, barely able to move. He wondered if he was saved by luck, able to survive such an attack. But he also wondered if his luck will run out soon since now Zira was closing in towards him, looking down at his broken form.

"You're...really just tricking us back then?" Allen asked.

"Tricking you? Why would you think that?" Zira tilted her head in question.

"We're your enemies but yet you talked to us like nothing happened when we first met. Was that a trick so you can make our guard down?" Allen reminded her of their first meeting. Allen thought that she was an odd but a kind girl with little knowledge about the world or human society in general. But now that he knows she's an Apophis offspring, he wondered if it was all just an act on her part.

"Back then I receive no order to eliminate you. We were there because we wanted to know more about you, humans. Nothing more, nothing less." Zira answered.

"Because you receive no order? But I'm still your enemy. Do you really need to have Apophis ordering you around to live?" Allen asked again, remembering what she said when he told her he thinks she's a nice person.

This seemed to have an effect on her, as Allen could see confusion and doubt in her earlier passive expression. It was like she was questioning herself.

"I...don't know..." Zira finally said, holding her chest tightly without her realizing.

"Allen!"

Allen and Zira flinched when they heard two voices coming. Zira and Allen saw two people approaching: Yuya and Celica. They're coming at them at full speed the moment they saw Zira. No one could blame them considering their position at that moment. Zira readied herself by raising her Duel Disk again. Before she could activate it, Geist held her arm and pulled her behind him. Allen almost squeak at Geist's sudden appearance. He didn't sense him at all. Since when Geist was there?

"Return, Zira. I'll handle them." Geist told the Altergeist user. When Zira seemed unsure, Geist turned her completely to him so they'll lock eyes. "This is His Excellency's direct order. Please return."

Zira looked away. Her eyes briefly met Allen's. She stared deep into his eyes before she turned her back on him.

"Zira! Wait!" Allen called out, trying to reach her but unable to due to his wounded condition.

"Until we meet again...Allen." Zira said before she disappeared from Allen's sight, leaving him alone with Geist, Yuya, and Celica.

Yuya and Celica quickly stood in front of Allen, blocking him from Geist's view. Not that Geist care about Allen anyway. He was looking for the two people in front of him and their timing was so perfect. Just exactly the people he was looking for. Luck was on his side tonight. To get the two of them at the same time. He didn't need to look for them one by one.

Geist smiled like he usually did to others.

"Yuya Sakaki. Celica Luis. I'm sorry for the sudden arrival, but I'll have to ask the both of you to enlighten me with a Duel."


NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

The Clash Between Councils - Through Kamui's intel, Yuno learns who is possessed by the Parasite Queen and sends Neah to deal with their possessed comrade. Hearing the news, Sara decides to join the fray.


I AM STILL ALIVE! I'm sorry this chapter took so long! I got a new job, so I'm busy. Gotta work hard to save a lot of money and buy a new laptop. I expect that there won't be much reviewers left for this story due to my constant absence, but that won't stop me from continue writing. I appreciate those who are still reviewing and reading this story of mine.

The next chapter will take a while again, but I give you my word that I'll finish this story to the end.

Please don't forget to review this chapter!