YUZU'S ROOM – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V

It was only a few hours have passed since the tragedy last night. For Yuzu, however, it felt days or even months have passed. Even though her mind knew, her heart still refused to accept the fact that her most beloved person has gone from this world. In the very depths of her heart, she still prayed that this was just a nightmare. A bad dream. She frequently closed her eyes and then opened it in hope that she would wake up from this 'nightmare' plaguing her. She prayed that she would wake up and see Yuya greeting her a good morning while smiling.

Her mind understood that fact, but her heart refused to accept that reality.

"This is not the way to cope for your loss, Yuzu."

Yuzu thought she heard her name being called. For a second, she thought her prayer was answered and it was Yuya who called for her name. However, the difference in their tone was what quickly snapped her. Yuya's voice was always kind and cheerful. This voice that was calling her was stoic and passive. She didn't know why, but even after knowing it wasn't Yuya, something urged her to turn her face to the owner of the voice.

"Johan...san...?" Yuzu uttered the name weakly. Her voice hoarse from the lack of drinking after crying out so much.

Johan didn't say anything when his name was called. When he heard about Yuzu, he knew that must take action. Yuzu's door was locked, but with the key he has, it wasn't a problem for him to get in. Without waiting for her permission, Johan took a seat on a chair in front of her bed, facing her with his fingers intertwined together under his chin.

"I met Reiji Akaba on my way here. He said Reira was still asleep in her room. She cried almost the whole night after she heard about Yuya. But I'm sure she'll get through this. You, on the other hand, is doing worse. You can't continue like this, Yuzu. This is exactly what Apophis wants. He knew that by killing Yuya, he'll break our spirit." Johan told her. Despite his neutral expression and his passive tone, his intention was well-meaning. Yuzu's heart was very fragile, so he must choose his words carefully. He mustn't be in too much hurry to help her recover.

He understood her pain, since he had also lost people precious to him long ago. Losing someone precious to you, Johan knew that feeling very well. Johan was able to overcome his sadness and didn't fall into despair because he knew that Celica and the others are there for him. Yuzu, on the other hand, has closed her heart before anyone could even reach her.

"Yuzu, while you're here, everyone is doing their best to fulfil Yuya's wish. We need every help that we can get. If you keep staying here, you may lose your other friends and family. Do you want that? Are you really okay with Apophis taking more from you?" Johan asked slowly.

Unexpectedly, Yuzu's mind processed that.

Apophis was the one who took Yuya away from everyone. From her.

Doesn't it make her sad?

Of course, it does.

Doesn't she hate him?

Yes, she is.

Doesn't she want to take revenge on him?

"It's his fault." Yuzu started, startling Johan.

"I can't forgive Apophis. Ever. If it weren't for him. If only he's gone..." Yuzu's dead tone was slowly filled with contempt. Hatred for the Dragon of Calamity. She grasped the bedcover tightly from the rush of anger that beginning to fill her entire body. It then played again her mind, how that abominable dragon strikes Yuya who pushed her away from the attack. How that dragon was laughing at the death he has caused.

Yuzu gasped when she felt a hand grasped her. Yuzu looked down to see Johan's hand on top of hers. His expression was still the same, but she could see his eyes was feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry. I didn't say it right." Johan apologized. That was close. He almost made a big mistake in his life. He almost failed her as her mentor.

"Revenge doesn't suit you, Yuzu. Yuya wouldn't have wanted that. Never." If Johan learned one thing from loss, trying get revenge would only break you further at the end, making you no different than the one who stole your loved one. He won't let Yuzu to be subjected to that sin.

"I brought something for you." Johan pulled out something from his pocket and dangling it right in front of Yuzu. Seeing the item brought a little life in Yuzu's eyes.

Yuya's pendulum necklace.

"Reiji found it near the place Yuya and Odd-Eyes have fallen. He said it's the best for you to keep it. I think so too." Johan placed the pendulum on Yuzu's palm.

"When humans live long enough, they'll lose a lot. But don't let that make you blind to everything. Those who left us, they never truly disappeared." Johan smiled sadly. He gently patted Yuzu's head before leaving the room without saying anything else.

Once again, Yuzu was alone in her room, staring at Yuya's pendulum on her palm.

Johan sighed, leaning his back to the closed door. He wanted to speak more, but he was worried that it'll rush things. He must be patient. Yuzu can't just take on everything at the same time.

"How is Yuzu, Johan-kun?"

Johan stood straight when Celica approached him. She has regained her consciousness earlier than expected. While her injuries weren't grave, she shouldn't stand up let alone walking around yet.

"Celica-san, you should be in bed!" Johan said in concern.

"I am fine. More importantly, I need to ask you a favor about Yuzu." Celica said, dismissing Johan's worry.

"A favor?" Johan repeated questioningly.

"I want you to coax Yuzu to come with me tomorrow." Celica answered.

THE RIFT – THE BROTHERHOOD SERVER – LINK VRAINS – CANTIDEL EMPIRE– ARC-V

Yuri and Serena stared at the person Ray, Benmaru, and Ginger brought with them. The rumored Crimson Duelist who has the key to close the Rift. However, instead of telling them how to close it, Ifrit instead told them that they're going into the portal to enter the Duel Monster realm to recruit more Duel Monsters as their allies to fight against Apophis. Of course, this suggestion was welcomed with rejection from the majority.

"For one thing, can we really trust him?" Serena asked, glaring at Ifrit suspiciously.

"I already gave half of the data of Salamangreat Miragestallio that you need to Ray, haven't I? That's not enough to earn your trust?" Ifrit asked with genuine confusion as to why they're still being so distrustful of him.

"What did Yuno-san say to this?" Yuri asked Ray. This should have reached Yuno's ear first before they came here with the Crimson Duelist. They need Yuno's permission.

"Yuno-san was uneasy, but then Haruna-san said that we can trust him and we should go as he said." Ray answered. When the Holy Elf reported to Yuno and the Council, Haruna unexpectedly voiced her agreement to Ifrit's suggestion.

"Also, Haruna-san said that she already investigated and confirmed his identity." Ginger whispered to Serena and Yuri quietly so that Ifrit couldn't hear them. Not that they needed to since Ifrit was busy trying to get into the portal with Benmaru holding him by his arms to stop keep him in place.

"If Haruna-san already figured out his identity offline and still told us to go with him, he's trustworthy... I guess..." Serena said uneasily while looking at the said Duelist.

"Also, Haruna-san has specifically asked you two to go there as well." Ray added, pointing at both Serena and Yuri.

"Us? Why?" Serena asked again, but Ray shrugged her shoulders, not knowing the reason why either. Serena didn't like this, but if Haruna asked them to, there must be an important reason behind it.

"Other than us, who else?" Yuri asked.

"There's something I must do here, so I can't go. Benmaru, Ginger, Yura and Kino-san will go with you." Ray answered. Right after she said so, Kino logged into LINK VRAINS with his avatar.

Kino's avatar took form of a young man who wore a full body armor colored dark purple. He wears a helmet the shape of a dragon's head that obscures most of his face and sharp spikes extend out of his armor on his shoulders, elbows and calves, to give it an even more draconian look. He has long blond hair, tied back in a ponytail.

"Hello." Kino greeted them.

"What do we call you online?" Yuri asked.

"Elias would do." Kino said, revealing his avatar name.

"Hey!"

They all turned, seeing Ifrit was thumping his foot impatiently.

"Let's go already!" Ifrit said, gesturing to the open portal behind him.

"Be careful, guys." Ray said concernedly.

"We'll be back soon. While we're gone, take care of Yukiya. Make sure he's back from his pathetic state he is in." Yuri told Ray who nodded in affirmation.

After one last look behind, Yuri and the others entered the portal.

BORDER – THE RIFT – THE BROTHERHOOD SERVER – LINK VRAINS – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V

The moment they entered the portal, Venom and the others were surprised to find themselves falling. Only until Ifrit summoned his D-Wheel that they did the same and fly following the Salamangreat user. The way to the border between human realm and Duel Monster realm was beautiful. It was like riding inside an aurora instead of dataspace that normally appeared in LINK VRAINS.

"Hey, you haven't explained to us about Apophis and the last Supreme King Dragon!" Venom called out to the Crimson Duelist.

"We'll talk later once we reached the realm. We must pass through the border first, and it ain't gonna be easy. There's a Duel Monster guarding the inbetween who will suck out your lifespan if you try to forcefully close the Rift. Be grateful to Shun Kurosaki for hiding this fact from you." Ifrit said without looking at Venom.

Venom turned to Yura accusingly, giving her a questioning look.

"Powerful Duel Monsters like us, the Four Heavenly Dragons, are the ones capable of closing the Rift. But doing so would lower your lifespan because you'll need to close it right in front of the Rift. We don't want to close the Rift if it means shortening your lives. That's why we agreed to keep this a secret." Yura explained, turning away from her master's sharp eyes but her voice remained calm. Venom sighed in exasperation, but understood why she and the other dragons and Kurosaki did what they did. He's still young, he wouldn't want to die so fast when there are still many things ahead of him. And fortunately (?), they now have a way out without sacrificing anyone's lifespan.

"How exactly we're going in without dying?" Artemis asked this time.

"You won't die because your spirit, your consciousness is the one who is going. If you enter in flesh, then yeah, it's a bye bye for you." Ifrit answered.

"Wait, hold on a sec, are you saying that we could have just entered the Rift earlier through LINK VRAINS?" Ginger asked for confirmation.

"Yes, you could. The realm of Duel Monsters is like a realm of spirits. Spirit world is no place for living beings unless you become some sort of spirit yourself. That's how many dead humans are reborn as Duel Monsters in the realm." Ifrit explained in more detail.

"We're not gonna become a Duel Monster once we entered the realm, right?" Ginger asked sheepishly. This question sent a sudden sense of insecurity to Venom, Elias, Artemis, and Benmaru who don't know what to think at the idea of them becoming Duel Monsters. Yura was an exception since she's already a Duel Monster who was only temporarily took her human form.

"Don't worry, you won't. That'll only happens to certain dead humans. You're still alive and well." Ifrit assured them, which brought relief to the four.

Ifrit came to a halt, stopping the others too. Slowly, Ifrit descended and jumped from his D-Board. Instead of falling, his feet landed on an invisible floor below them. Venom and the others also slowly did the same, using one foot to make sure there really is a floor first before jumping off completely from their D-Board.

Ifrit then took out Salamangreat Miragestallio and summoned it. The Xyz Monster made a calling sound. Not long after, a spark of flame appeared out of thin air and soon burst up, forming into a fiery Duel Monster with recognizable characteristic found on all Salamangreat monsters.

"Salamangreat Violet Chimera. It is an honor to meet you." Ifrit bowed politely to the Salamangreat Fusion Monster.

"What business do you have to come all the way here with Miragestallio, human?" Violet Chimera inquired the Crimson Duelist.

"We seek entry to the Spirit Realm. We wish to find allies to fight against the Dragon of Calamity." Ifrit answered honestly, with Miragestallio confirming their reason to come.

"I am aware as much as you are that the Dragon of Calamity has completed his awakening. He has grown more powerful than he was 1,500 years ago. Even so, you believe that there are still monsters in our realm that can defeat him?" Violet Chimera replied, being less optimistic in facing against the Dragon of Calamity. While Violet Chimera knows that letting Apophis rules over them would mean eternal servitude, he refuses to fight a war that he's not sure he can win.

"Yes. Not only we wish to recruit more allies, we also seek to find the whereabout of the last Supreme King Dragon." Ifrit added. The mention of the last Supreme King Dragon surprised Violet Chimera.

"You believe that dragon truly exists?" Violet Chimera questioned skeptically. "The story of its existence has been passed down to us, but none has ever seen that dragon in every corner of both realms."

"We found a clue. I am certain that we will find this dragon." Ifrit stated confidently, staring straight and unflinching at Violet Chimera.

"In that case, prove to me that you have what it takes to make that legendary dragon your ally." Violet Chimera's form changed into a digital humanoid being with markings over his black body, which is tinted red, in red flame shaped markings and thicker lines. He has yellow eyes that are semi-oval, giving him a more mature appearance. His body is notably slender with more boot like feet and wisps on his head that resemble the flicks of a flame.

"If even Miragestallio acknowledged you that he gave you the Salamangreat Deck, that means you at least must have some skill. Show me what you got that made Miragestallio help you." Violet Chimera demanded, activating his Duel Disk to begin the Duel.

"Stay back, you guys. I got this." Ifrit stated confidently, activating his own Duel Disk and begin the Duel.

[[MASTER DUEL!]]

"I take the first Turn. I summon Salamangreat Wolvie (ATK: 1700 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 4)!" Ifrit summoned Wolvie in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I activate Magic Card: Fury of Fire, allowing me to Special Summon up to 2 Salamangreat monsters with different names from my hand and/or GY in Defense Position, but their effects are negated, also, for the rest of this turn after this card resolves, I can only Special Summon from the Extra Deck once!" Ifrit Special Summoned both Salamangreat Parro (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1000) and Salamangreat Falco (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1600) from his hand, both in Defense Position, both with their effects negated.

"I set Wolvie, Falco, and Parro on the Link Markers! Circuit Combined!" Ifrit set Wolvie on the Bottom-left marker, Falco on the top marker, and Parro on the Bottom-right marker.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Salamangreat Heatleo (ATK: 2300 / LINK: 3 / LM: ↙↑↘)!" Ifrit summoned his Link Monster in Attack Position in the Link Monster Zone.

"I set one card and end my Turn." Ifrit concluded.

"My Turn! I summon Salamangreat Falco (ATK: 1200 / DEF: 1600)!" Violet Chimera summoned Falco in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"He's also using Salamangreat Deck!" Benmaru commented with a surprise.

"It shouldn't be difficult to guess, considering Violet Chimera himself is a Salamangreat Monster." Venom commented passively.

"Is Ifrit strong? What kind of Duelist is he?" Artemis asked.

"Sara said that when she dueled him, he hadn't used his full power yet. He retreated before the Duel end because of urgent business offline, or so he told her." Ginger answered, recalling what Sara told them before departing to find the Crimson Duelist this morning.

"Two Duelists who uses the same archetype fighting against each other. This Duel will be interesting to watch." Yura said with glee.

"I set Falco on the Link Marker! Circuit combined!" Violet Chimera set Falco on the Bottom marker, combining the circuit.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Salamangreat Balelynx (ATK: 500 / LINK: 1 / LM: ↓)!" Violet Chimera summoned his Link Monster in Attack Position in the Link Monster Zone.

"As Balelynx was Link Summoned, I activate its effect! I add Salamangreat card from my Deck to my hand!" Violet Chimera added Salamangreat Sanctuary from his Deck to his hand.

"As I Link Summoned a Link Monster this turn, I activate the effect of Salamangreat Mole in my hand, Special Summoning it to a zone a Link Monster points to." Violet Chimera Special Summoned Salamangreat Mole (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 1) to the zone the bottom-center Link Arrow of Balelynx points to.

"I set Mole and Balelynx on the Link Markers! Circuit Combined!" Violet Chimera set Balelynx on the Top marker and Balelnyx on the Bottom marker.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf (ATK: 1800 / LINK: 2 / LM: ↑↓)!" Violet Chimera summoned his second Link Monster to the Link Monster Zone.

"As a different Salamangreat monster was Normal or Special Summoned to my field, I activate the effect of Salamangreat Fowl (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 200)!" Violet Chimera Special Summoned Fowl to the zone the bottom-center Link Arrow of Sunlight Wolf points to.

"As a monster was Normal or Special Summoned to a zone Sunlight Wolf points to, I activate its effect, adding a Salamangreat monster from my Graveyard to my hand." Violet Chimera added Falco back to his hand.

"I set Fowl and Sunlight Wolf on the Link Markers! Circuit combined!" Violet Chimera set Fowl to the bottom-left marker and Sunlight Wolf on the Top and bottom-right markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Salamangreat Heatleo (ATK: 2300 / LINK: 3/ LM: ↙↑↘)!" Violet Chimera summoned the same monster Ifrit has summoned.

"I activate Field Spell: Salamangreat Sanctuary! If a player Link Summons a Salamangreat Link Monster, player can use a Salamangreat Link Monster that player controls with its same name as the entire material!" Violet Chimera immediately used Heatleo that he just summoned to become Link Material.

"Be reborn! Reincarnation Link Summon! Salamangreat Heatleo!" Violet Chimera summoned another copy of Heatleo to the Link Monster Zone.

"He summoned another Heatleo using the one he just summoned? What for?" Artemis wondered.

"I activate Heatleo's effect! Oncer per Turn, if this card is summoned using Salamangreat Heatleo as material, I can target 1 face-up monster on the field and 1 monster in my GY; the ATK of the first target becomes equal to the other target's, until the end of this turn!" Violet Chimera targeted Ifrit's Heatleo and his own Balelynx, making Ifrit's Heatleo's ATK decreased to 500.

"Battle! I attack Ifrit's Heatleo with Reincarnated Heatleo! Heat Soul!" Violet Chimera declared Battle Phase. Heatleo coated itself with its burning flame, twirling its own body to form a tornado towards the opposing Heatleo.

"Trap Card: Energy of Fire! When an opponent's monster declares an attack, I can target 1 Salamangreat monster in my GY, then monsters cannot be destroyed by that battle." Ifrit declared, choosing Parro in his Graveyard. As the result, the Reincarnated Heatleo's attack was blocked by a shield of flame protecting Ifrit's Heatleo, though Ifrit still received damage.

IFRIT LP: 4000 = 2200

"Also, the Salamangreat Monster that was targeted will return to the Deck, and I will gain LP equal to its ATK!" Ifrit returned Parro to his Deck, recovering his LP by 2000.

IFRIT LP: 2200 = 4200

"You can do that much. It seems I'm starting to understand why Miragestallio chose you." Violet Chimera stared at Ifrit with a sense close to approval. Not yet though. Only a bit.

"I set a card and end my Turn." Violet Chimera concluded.

"Heh. Since we're using the same Deck, of course I have anticipated reincarnated Heatleo." Ifrit said with excitement, but still not letting his guard down. Because they're using the same archetype, Vioelt Chimera must have also prepared to anticipate his moves. He must be careful and use a new strategy rarely used by Salamangreat archetype.

"My Turn! I activate Magic Card: Draw of Flame! When there's 3 or more FIRE Monster in my Graveyard, I can draw up to 3 cards from my Deck to my hand!" Ifrit drew three cards from his Deck, giving him a total of three cards in his hand.

"I activate Salamangreat Komodo's effect from my hand! By sending this card to the Graveyard, I can add 3 Salamangreat cards from my Deck to my hand!" Ifrit discarded Komodo-like Salamangreat Monster from his hand, adding two more cards, giving him five cards in his hand in total.

"I activate Salamangreat Meer's (ATK: 800 / DEF: 600 / LV: 2) effect! I discard a Salamangreat Monster to Special Summon it from my hand!" Ifrit summoned Meer in Attack Position to the Main Zone.

"When a Salamangreat Monster is sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Salamangreat Gazelle (ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3) from my hand!" Ifrit summoned Gazelle in Attack Position in the Main Zone next to Meer.

"When Gazelle is Normal or Special Summoned, I can send one Salamangreat card from my Deck to my Graveyard!" Ifrit picked Salamangreat Zebroid from his Deck and then sent it to the Graveyard.

"When I have 3 or more Salamangreat Monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Salamangreat Beat Bison (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 8) from my hand!" Ifrit Special Summoned Beat Bison in Defense Position next to Gazelle.

"And then I summon Salamangreat Foxy!" Ifrit Normal summoned Foxy in Attack Position in the Main Zone next to Beat Bison.

"I set Meer, Gazelle, Beat Bison, and Foxy on the Link Markers! Circuit combined!" Ifrit set Meer at the bottom marker, Gazelle at the left marker, Beat Bison at the top marker, and Foxy at the right marker.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix (ATK: 2800 / LINK: 4 / LM: Top, Left, Bottom, Right)!" Ifrit summoned Pyro Phoenix in Attack Position in the Main Zone pointed by Heatleo's bottom-left marker.

"Since I have Link Summoned, due to Salamangreat Sanctuary's effect, I can use a Salamangreat Link Monster that I have with its same name as the entire material!" Ifrit used Pyro Phoenix as Link Material.

"Reincarnation Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix!" Ifrit summoned another copy of Pyro Phoenix.

"He did a Reincarnation Link Summon like Violet Chimera!" Ginger exclaimed in shock.

"And I'm sure that it has a strong effect if it used the same monster as material." Venom said. And true to his words, Ifrit's next command confirmed it.

"I activate Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix's effect! When this card is Link Summoned using Pyro Phoenix as material, I can destroy all cards my opponent controls!" Ifrit declared. Pyro Phoenix burned down all of Violet Chimera's cards on the Field, leaving his Field empty.

"Battle! I attack directly with Salamangreat Heatleo! Heat Soul!" Ifrit declared Battle Phase.

VIOLET CHIMERA LP: 4000 = 1700

"Next, I attack with Pyro Phoenix!" Ifrit declared his second attack.

"If this attack hits, it'll be Ifrit's victory." Artemis stated.

"But I doubt that it'll be that easy." Yura commented.

"At this moment, I activate Trap Card: Flame Rescue! When there's a FLAME Monster in my Graveyard while my Field is empty, during Battle Phase, I can negate my opponent's attack!" Violet Chimera declared, protecting himself with a wall of flame that blocked Pyro Phoenix' attack.

"If he has that card, why didn't he use it earlier before Heatleo's attack hit him?" Ifrit wondered, sensing Violet Chimera having a hidden scheme. There's nothing he can do now though.

"I end my Turn." Ifrit concluded.

"My Turn! As my LP are lower than my opponent's, I activate Salamangreat Performance. This card lets me target a Level 4 or lower Salamangreat monster in my GY and add a card with the same name from my Deck to my hand." Violet Chimera added a copy of Salamangreat Fowl.

"As I control no monsters, I activate the effect of the Salamangreat Mole in my GY! By banishing it I can return 5 Salamangreat cards from my GY to my Deck, then draw two cards!" Violet Chimera returned Fowl, Performance, Salamangreat Wolvie and Salamangreat Parro to his Deck and Salamangreat Heatleo to his Extra Deck and drew 2 cards.

"As I control no monsters, I activate Magic Card: Rising Fire! I can Special Summon a FIRE monster from my GY and equip it with Rising Fire, increasing its ATK by 500!" Violet Chimera special summoned Heatleo with its ATK increased to 2800 ATK.

"I activate Pyro Phoenix's effect! Once per Turn, when a Link Monster is Special Summoned to my opponent's Field, I can target that monster and inflict damage equal to that monster's original ATK!" Ifrit declared.

"I activate Flame Rescue's second effect! By banishing it from the Graveyard, I can increase the ATK of a Monster I control by 300 and any damage I receive will be negated until the end of this Turn!" Violet Chimera increased Heatleo's ATK to 3100 and created a barrier that deflected Pyro Phoenix's flame.

"I set Salamangreat Heatleo on the Link Marker! Circuit Combined!" Violet Chimera set Heatleo to left marker, bottom marker, and right marker of Link Summoning Circuit.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Fire Phoenix Ignister (ATK: 2300 / LINK: 3 / LM: Left, Bottom, Right)!" Violet Chimera summoned a phoenix-like Ignister Link Monster, surprising Ifrit and the others.

"That's not a Salamangreat Monster!" Ifrit exclaimed while pointing at the said Link Monster.

"I never said anything that I use solely Salamangreat Monsters in my Deck." Violet Chimera stated. No one could refute that.

"Due to Flame Rescue's effect, if the monster whose ATK is increased by its effect is used as a Link Material, that Link Monster will also gain 300 ATK!" Violet Chimera increased Fire Phoenix's ATK to 2600.

"I activate Rising Fire's effect! I can target 1 face-up monster my opponent controls; banish it and as many monsters as possible from my opponent's field and GY with the same name as that monster, then inflict damage to my opponent equal to the original ATK of 1 of those banished monsters!" Violet Chimera chose Pyro Phoenix, destroying the one on Ifrit's Field and his Graveyard, leaving Ifrit with only Heatleo.

"Battle! I attack Salamangreat Heatleo with Fire Phoenix!" Violet Chimera declared Battle Phase. Fire Phoenix coated its whole body with its flame, turning itself into a burning giant crimson bird. Fire Phoenix strikes down at Heatleo who blocked its attack with its arms crossed.

"I activate Fire Phoenix's effect! When this card attacks, any Battle Damage my opponent receive will become 0 and then, I can inflict damage equal to Fire Phoenix's ATK!" Violet Chimera revealed as Fire Phoenix penetrated Heatleo's arms, crushing it down.

IFRIT LP: 4200 = 1600

"I activate Salamangreat Fennec's effect! When a Cyberse Monster I control that was summoned from Extra Deck is destroyed by Battle or opponent's effect, I can Special Summon this card from Graveyard or hand!" Ifrit summoned Fennec (ATK: 1600 / DEF: 200 / LV: 3) from his hand in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I end my Turn." Violet Chimera concluded.

"You really got me with that Monster. Then again, I was too naïve not to think of the possibility that you're using another archetype." Ifrit commented. He was not in a good position at the moment, but he that still didn't stop him from being impressed by Violet Chimera's move. Honestly, dueling him like this was fun.

"You have no intention to give up even after all this?" Violet Chimera questioned the Crimson Duelist.

"Obviously, no. The fate of the world is at stake here. I'll keep challenging you until I win if I have to." Ifrit said. His fighting spirit intensified even more.

"Such a strong will! He truly is a remarkable Duelist deserving respect!" Benmaru felt his heart moved by the fiery determination emitting from Ifrit.

"Now, this is an unexpected turn of events. What will Ifrit going to do?" Venom hummed in amusement at the progress of the Duel. He knew that Ifrit must win if they want to proceed to the Duel Monster realm, but Venom couldn't help but be intrigued by this Duel.

"My Turn! I summon Salamangreat Coyote (ATK: 1000 / DEF: 200 / LV: 3)!" Ifrit summoned Coyote in Attack Position in the Main Zone next to Fennec.

"I overlay Fennec and Coyote! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 3! Salamangreat Miragestallio (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 900 / RNK: 3 / ORU: 2)!" Ifrit summoned his Xyz Monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"Miragestallio himself is finally summoned!" Benmaru exclaimed, having been waiting for the Xyz Monster to make his appearance.

"I activate Miragestallio's effect! By detaching an Overlay Unit, I can Special Summon a Salamangreat Monster from my Deck in Defense Position, and I cannot activate monster effect except FIRE Monster until the end of this Turn!" Ifrit summoned Salamangreat Coyote in Defense Position.

"I set Miragestallio and Coyote in Link Markers! Circuit Combined!" Ifrit set Miragestallio on top marker and Coyote on bottom marker of the Link Circuit.

"Link Summon! Appear, Link 2! Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf (ATK: 1800 / LINK: 2 / LM: Top, Bottom)!"

"Just that?! He only used it to summon Coyote to summon a weaker Link Monster?!" Ginger was surprised, expecting more from Miragestallio.

"He must be planning something more." Artemis surmised, knowing Ifrit won't make careless move at a dire situation like this.

"When Coyote is sent to the Graveyard as Material for Link Summon, I can Special Summon a Salamangreat Monster from my Graveyard!" Ifrit revived Salamangreat Falco in Defense Position.

"When Miragestallio is sent to the Graveyard as a Material for Link Summon, I can return a Monster that my opponent controls to the hand!" Ifrit obviously chose Fire Phoenix. Since it's a Link Monster, it'll be returned to Extra Deck instead.

"I see! With this, Violet Chimera will lose his only protection!" Benmaru exclaimed with hope. However, this soon went down once Violet Chimera commanded,

"I activate Salamangreat Komodo's effect in my Graveyard! I banish it to negate the effect and destroy a Monster you control!"

In a flash, Sunlight Wolf was destroyed, leaving Ifrit's Field empty. However, to everyone's surprise, Ifrit's smile never left his face. In fact, it got wider.

"Yeah. I expected that. I activate Salamangreat Zebroid X's effect in my Graveyard! If a Salamangreat Link Monster I control leaves the Field because of my opponent's card effect, I can Special Summon 2 Level 4 Salamangreat Monsters from my Graveyard and use them as materials for Xyz Summon!" Ifrit summoned Wolvie and Falco in Attack Position in the Main Zone right after Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf was destroyed.

"Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Salamangreat Blaze Dragon (ATK: 2300 / DEF: 1400 / RNK: 4 / ORU: 2)!" Ifrit summoned another Xyz Monster that was one rank higher than Miragestallio.

"I activate Magic Card: Cross Xyz! I can perform Xyz Summon using an Xyz Monster whose Rank equal to the Level of a Monster I control!" Ifrit used Blaze Dragon and Falco to open the Overlay Network.

"What?!" Violet Chimera exclaimed in shock. For the first time, his expression finally changed.

"Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Salamangreat Blaze Dragon!" Ifrit summoned another copy of Blaze Dragon in Attack Position in the Main Zone.

"I activate Blaze Dragon's effect! When it was summoned using Blaze Dragon as material, I can destroy one monster my opponent controls!" Ifrit declared. Blaze Dragon strikes down Fire Phoenix, exploding it to bits until it left nothing.

"Battle! I attack directly with Blaze Dragon!" Ifrit declared Battle Phase. Blaze Dragon unleashed a stream of fiery blast towards Violet Chimera, incinerating the remains of his LP.

VIOLET CHIMERA LP: 1700 = 0

Violet Chimera reverted to its true form. He stared at the exhausted Ifrit and then to the Lancers. Miragestallio materialized himself, nodding at Violet Chimera. The two Salamangreat monsters turned into an orb of flames that intertwining each other before fading away, creating a pathway.

"Alright, guys. This is it. We're now going to enter the realm of Duel Monsters. Be prepared to meet various Duel Monsters that you never see before." Ifrit said, ushering them into the portal, but stopped when Venom grasped his arm.

"You still haven't explained what we want to know." Venom said.

"Right. You said you want to talk about Apophis and the last Supreme King Dragon in the mural. What does enter the realm of Duel Monsters has anything to do with them?" Artemis asked for who knows how many times already.

Ifrit sighed. He was already tired from the duel, so he really wanted to get this over with already.

"Because the secret to how to permanently defeat Apophis lies inside this realm."

ISOLATION CELL – CANTIDEL PRISON – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V

Heidel wondered how long has it been since he was imprisoned.

The large iron bars locked behind him as he decorated his new home for the next 30 years. If he's able to live that long that is. The concrete walls had been etched with tally marks from the despicable felons before him. Its grey walls do not hit him or steal his rations. The ceiling drips but it doesn't whisper in his ears of the beating it plans to give him in the cold showers.

His plan had been ruined completely, and he had resigned himself to spend the rest of his life in this cell. Even if he managed to escape somehow, he knew that it's impossible for his dream to come true now. And by the time he was freed from this cell, he would be too old to do anything.

The prison warden came. How unusual. Usually they would only come to give him his meals and nothing more.

"You have a visitor." The prison warden told him.

The prison warden stepped to the side so that the so-called visitor could face the former Supreme Commander. Heidel raised a brow when he recognized the visitor as Dark Rebellion, a Duel Monster who somehow managed to take a human form, and also one of the people who ruined his plan. Don't be mistaken. He didn't hold any grudge against them. In fact, they earned his respect and admiration for able to foil his plan while staying true to their convictions.

After everything he had done, he was sure that they would never want to see his face again. If one of them came here, there must be something important going on.

Yuzo gestured the prison warden to leave the two of them alone. Being a family to the Oracle sure convenient as the prison warden didn't say anything else and left them just as Yuzo has requested. Now, it's only Yuzo and Heidel.

"Well, aren't I just so humbled to have one of the Oracle's children come to visit me." Heidel said. For normal people, it might sound like a sarcasm, but Heidel was actually being genuine.

"I need your help to take down Yubel." Yuzo spoke straight to the point. He carefully observed Heidel's reaction from hearing the name of the Duel Monster who murdered his family. Who caused him to go through to the path of trying to enslave the Duel Monsters. Yuzo has to admit that Heidel wasn't chosen as Supreme Commander for nothing. This man was able to hide his emotions really well. If he wasn't extremely sharp, he won't notice the shock that entered Heidel's eyes for a brief moment.

"She came back?" Heidel asked, not quite believing what he has heard.

"She kidnapped my master. I know damn well her connection to you. She's using Yuto as a leverage to get you. Even after years, she's still attached to you, former Supreme Commander." Yuzo explained.

"I can pretty much guess what she wants from me." Heidel leaned on the wall behind him, smirking in amusement at the turn of events. "In other words, you want to exchange me for your master, isn't it?"

"That's right. But I am not so naïve that I'll just leave Yubel alone. When there's an opening, I'll put an end to her for good." Yuzo stated. He didn't know what Yubel would do to Heidel, but it's still dangerous to let her roam free. She's a Duel Monster who won't hesitate to align herself with Apophis. Even if she fulfils her end of her bargain, she may bring harm to others in a different way.

Yuzo held up a key in his hand. The key of Heidel's cell. Yuzo stared straight into Heidel's eyes without flinching.

"You will come with me to save Yuto whether you like it or not."


NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

What is Left Behind – Sara brings Yukiya, who is still grieving for Yuya, to Maiami City and takes him to meet Yuya's family and friends and visit the places where Yuya frequently visited. At Cantidel, Celica and Johan bring Yuzu to Celica's hometown.


I'm so tired. Very tired. But I feel a sense of accomplishment from this writing chapter, so it eased my heart. My head is kinda dizzy with many things, so please understand if you find any error in the Duel. Next chapter most likely won't have any Duel. But it's still possible there'll be. Depending on my brainstorming and the length of the chapter.

Please don't forget to review this chapter!