Hey, guys. Here we are with Chapter 12 of the United World Arc. I hope that you are excited for this chapter.

Now let's jump right on in.

Chapter 12: The Missing AI

Plana

"Our Duel will transcend dimensions!" Diva summoned his Duel Disk.

"Our friendship transcends even dimensions!" Jonouchi activated his Duel Disk.

"Dimension Duel!" Jonouchi and Diva declared.

Jonouchi LP: 8000, Hand: 5
Diva LP: 8000, Hand: 5

"I'm going all out from the start! My turn!" Jonouchi grabbed a card from his hand. "From my hand, I activate the Ritual Magic: Black Dragon Descent!" An altar appeared in front of Jonouchi. "I then use the Level 4 Rocket Warrior as the release!" The small warrior disappeared on the altar.

"Warrior that is loyal to the red-eyed dragon, accept this offering and descend on this world! Ritual Summon! Descend! Level 4! Knight of Dark Dragons (ATK: 1900, LV: 4)!" Jonouchi summoned a warrior in black armor.

"Then, I activate Knight of Dark Dragon's effect! By releasing this card, I can Special Summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand or deck!" Knight of Dark Dragon disappeared as Jonouchi grabbed Red-Eyes from his deck.

"Appear! Red-Eyes Black Dragon (ATK 2400, LV: 7)!" Jonouchi summoned his ace monster.

"Red-Eyes…" Diva looked at the dragon.

"Then, I activate the Magic Card: Black Flame Blast! This card allows me to inflict Red-Eyes Black Dragon's Attack Points as damage to the opponent! Go! Red-Eyes Black Flame Blast!" Red-Eyes unleashed its attack and it struck Diva, making him grunt.

Diva LP: 8000→5600

"I set one card and end my turn!" Jonouchi finished his turn.

Jonouchi LP: 8000, Hand: 0
Diva LP: 5600, Hand: 5

"Looks like you were true to your word, but Jonouchi. That move had cost you your entire hand. If I destroy Red-Eyes, you'll be defenseless! My turn! Draw!" Diva drew his card.

"At this moment, I activate my Trap Card: Gamble! I can only activate this card when my opponent has six cards in their hand and I have 2 or less. I toss a coin and call it! If I'm right, I draw until I get five cards, but if I'm wrong, my next turn is skipped!" Jonouchi used his set card and a coin appeared in his hand. "Let's see if I'm lucky."

"Tch…stupid gamble cards…" Diva got a little irritated.

Jonouchi tossed the coin in the air before he got it and slammed it on the back of his palm. "I call…tails!" Jonouchi lifted his hand and the coin was indeed tails. "Alright! I draw five cards!" Jonouchi drew his five cards.

"So, you've replenished your hand, but that doesn't mean that you'll win." Diva grabbed a card from his hand. "I summon Vijam the Direction World Seed (ATK: 0, LV: 1)!" Diva summoned a seed with one eye.

"Next, by stacking this card, I can Dimension Special Summon this card! Appear! Geira Guile the Direction World King (ATK: 800, LV: 2)!" Diva summoned a larger dimensional monster.

"Geira Guile's original Attack Points are 0, but for every monster stacked underneath it, it gains 800 Attack Points! Furthermore, when it is summoned to the field, the opponent takes 800 points of damage!" Jonouchi shielded himself from the damage.

Jonouchi LP: 8000→7200

"Next, I activate the Continuous Magic: Direction World Karma! This allows me to stack two more Vijams under Geira Guile to increase his Attack Points further!" Geira Guile gained more power.

Geira Guile (ATK: 800→2400)

"Next, I activate the Field Magic: Direction World Dimension! This card makes so that Dimension Summoned monsters cannot be destroyed by monsters that were not Dimension Summoned!" Diva changed the field into a darker place.

"So even though Red-Eyes and Geira Guile have the same Attack Points, only Red-Eyes will be destroyed…" Jonouchi sweated.

"Battle! Geira Guile, attack Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" Geira Guile unleashed its attack and destroyed Red-Eyes.

"Red-Eyes…sorry…" Jonouchi apologized.

"Giera Guile's Monster Effect! After this card battles, I return this card to my deck and add one Vulcan Dragni the Direction World King to my hand while Special Summoning the Vijams that were stacked below it." Giera Guile disappeared and the three Vijams reappeared as Diva gained another card in his hand.

"I then use two Vijams to Dimension Special Summon Vulcan Dragni the Direction World King (ATK: 1600, LV: 3)!" Diva summoned another Dimension World monster. "When this card is Special Summoned, you take 800 points of damage!" Jonouchi was hit with another blast.

Jonouchi LP: 7200→6400

"Direct Attack!" Diva ordered and Vulcan Dragni unleashed its attack on Jonouchi, knocking him off his feet.

Jonouchi LP: 6400→4800

"And like before, Vulcan Dragni returns to my deck and the two Vijams are Special Summoned, and I add this monster to my hand! I use three Vijams to Dimension Special Summon again!"

"Blinding light and consuming darkness! Open a new door to the future and return the world to its proper state! Come forth! Indiora Death Volt the Direction World Super Emperor (ATK: 2400, LV: 4)!" Diva summoned another monster. "Here's the Effect Damage!" Jonouchi was struck again.

Jonouchi LP: 4800→4000

"Direct Attack!" Indiora Death Volt fired its cannon at Jonouchi, making him crash to the ground.

Jonouchi LP: 4000→1600

"I end my turn." Diva finished his turn. "In just one turn, I've eliminated about 80% of your Life Points. You may have gained a new hand, but that doesn't mean that you can win."

"You idiot…" Jonouchi insulted. "It seems you don't know the one thing about this game. The reason why this game is so fun."

"Fun?" Diva questioned. "We're fighting with our lives on the line, yet you're thinking about how fun the game is?"

"That's the whole point of Duel Monsters… and it really pisses me off when people like you try to use it for your own ends. You keep talking about a new dimension and a new world order, but how you're doing it is no different than the evil tyrants and dictators that have tried to do the same in the past. You can't create a future by repeating the mistakes of the past. You can only create it by learning from the past and finding a new path!" Jonouchi shouted.

"Shut up! You're just a nobody! You don't have anything special about you at all! Out of all the Guardians, you are nothing!" Diva shouted.

"You're right…" Jonouchi smiled. "I don't have powers of darkness like Asuka, or the power of the Crimson Dragon like Rua. I'm no Barian like Rio and I don't have a partner like Aoi. And my nephew has long since surpassed me, I'm just an ordinary person. But there's nothing wrong with that."

Jonouchi LP: 1600, Hand: 5
Diva LP: 5600, Hand: 2

"I'll prove to you now that even a nobody like me can make a difference! My turn! Draw!" Jonouchi drew his card.

"My turn! Draw!" Jonouchi drew his card. "I Dimension Summon Flame Swordsman (ATK: 1800, LV: 5)!" Jonouchi summoned his fire wielding swordsman.

"Flame Swordsman?" Diva was confused.

"Next, I activate the Magic Card: Multi-Colored Flame! When I have Flame Swordsman on the field, by banishing all other Flame Swordsman monsters in my hand, deck or Graveyard, Flame Swordsman gains 500 Attack Points for each one until the End Phase of this turn!" Three cards popped out of Jonouchi's deck and they soared into the air.

"Blue Flame Swordsman! Purple Flame Swordsman! Green Flame Swordsman! Transfer your flames to Flame Swordsman!" The flames all went into Flame Swordsman's sword and it unleashed a rainbow flame as he gained power.

Flame Swordsman (ATK: 1800→3300)

"Next, I activate the Magic Card: Resurrection of the Dead! Revive! Red-Eyes Black Dragon (ATK: 2400, LV: 7)!" Jonouchi brought back Red-Eyes.

"Next, I activate the Magic Card: Warrior-Dragon Alliance! This card turns a Dragon-type monster on my field as an Equip Card for a Warrior-type monster and have it gain its Attack Points!" Jonouchi revealed. Flame Swordsman jumped on top of Red-Eyes head and the dragon roared at Indiora.

Flame Swordsman (ATK: 3300→5700)

"Battle! Flame Swordsman, Red-Eyes, attack Indiora Death Volt!" Red-Eyes unleashed its breath attack while Flame Swordsman unleashed the multi colored fire and the two attacks combined together and destroyed Indiora Death Volt and damaging Diva.

Diva LP: 5600→3200

"Since Indiora Death Volt was destroyed, I can Special Summon the Vijam Seeds that were stacked!" Diva shouted as his seeds returned.

"That won't happen, during the Battle Phase, Multi-Colored Flame prevents the opponent from Special Summoning monsters!" Jonouchi shouted.

"What?!" Diva gasped as his seeds disappeared.

"Furthermore, when the equipped monster destroys an opponent's monster in battle, the opponent's Life Points are halved!" Red-Eyes and Flame Swordsman struck Diva and he was sent flying back.

Diva LP: 3200→1600

"How do you like that! You're Plana power is no match for our bonds!" Jonouchi smirked.

Duel Links

"Aqua, for defying me, you and Blue Maiden will die!" Lightning had his human activate his Duel Disk.

"Let's go, Blue Maiden!" Aqua declared.

"Yeah!" Blue Maiden activated her Duel Disk.

"Duel!" Blue Maiden and Lightning declared.

Lightning LP: 4000, Hand: 5
Blue Maiden LP: 4000, Hand: 5

"I'm going first! I summon Armatos Legio Gladius (ATK: 0, LV: 2)!" Lightning summoned a stone statued warrior.

"On the turn it's summoned, I can add the Field Magic: Armatos Colosseum to my hand!" Lightning's human added a card to his hand. "Next, I activate it!" A colosseum appeared around the Duelists before it disappeared.

"When Armatos Colosseum is activated, I can add one Armatos Legio in my deck to my hand! I add Armatos Legio Speculata!" Lightning got another card in his hand. "Appear! The circuit that guides the light! The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower Armatos Legio!" Gladius went to the circuit arrow. "Appear! Link 1! Armatos Legio Decurion (ATK: 1000, LNK: 1)!" Lightning summoned his Link Monster.

"The Field Magic: Armatos Colosseum's effect activates! I send a Level 4 or lower Armatos Legio in my hand to the Graveyard and then Special Summon as many Armatos Legio monsters from my Graveyard as possible next to my Armato Legio Link Monster's Marker other than the monster I sent to the Graveyard in Defense Position!"

"I send Armatos Legio Sica to the Graveyard to Special Summon Gladius (DEF: 800, LV: 2) next to Decurion's Link!" Gladius reappeared on the field. "Then, from my hand, I activate Speculata's effect! I send a different Armatos Legio from my hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon Speculata (DEF: 1800, LV: 5)!" Lightning summoned another statue.

"Appear! The circuit that guides the light! The summoning conditions are two Armatos Legio!" Gladius and Speculata went into the Link Markers. "Link Summon! Appear! Link 2 Armatos Legio Centurion (ATK: 1700, LNK: 2)!" Lightning summoned another warrior.

"For a third time! The circuit that guides the light! The summoning conditions are at least two Armatos Legio Link Monsters!" Both Centurion and Decurion went into the Link Markers with Centurion going into two of them.

"Give new power to the knight of light! Now release your hidden power! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Armatos Legio Plumbum Trident (ATK: 1100, LNK: 3)!" Lightning summoned a larger warrior with a spear.

"Be careful, Blue Maiden, that monster is not normal." Aqua advised.

"Plumbum Trident's effect! When it's in the Extra Monster Zone, its Attack Points are doubled!" Plumbum Trident gained power.

Plumbum Trident (ATK: 1100→2200)

"I set one card and end my turn!" Lightning finished his turn.

Lightning LP: 4000, Hand: 1
Blue Maiden LP: 4000, Hand: 5

"Lightning…are you really going to eliminate humanity because you can't get along with them?" Blue Maiden questioned.

"Shut up, Aqua!" Lightning bellowed. "Someone like you can't look down on me!"

"You're not special, Lightning!" Blue Maiden yelled. "Acting all superior is nothing more than a ruse to cover up how you really feel!"

"Shut up!" Lightning yelled.

"You're acting more human than an AI!" Blue Maiden said it point blank.

"Shut up! I'm tired of hearing the same thing to you three!" Lightning growled.

"Three?" Blue Maiden blinked.

"So, it was you…" Aqua trembled. "We all thought it was the Knights of Hanoi, but you put the blame on them. I can't forgive you for killing one of our own!"

"That stupid Ignis got what was coming to him!" Lightning said.

"You were jealous of him! You were jealous because he would be the one to create harmony with the humans and the Ignis! If you didn't kill him, none of this would have happened!" Aqua was boiling.

"Aqua…who's he?" Blue Maiden questioned.

"I'm sorry for keeping this a secret from you, Blue Maiden, but the truth is, there was one more Ignis among the five of us. He was the youngest of us, but he had the ability to connect with humans. If he was around, the Knights of Hanoi would have never have been created. A sixth Ignis…"

"A sixth Ignis… and Lightning killed him because he was jealous…" Blue Maiden glared at Lightning. "You bastard! My turn! Draw!" Blue Maiden drew her card.

"I activate the Magic Card: Trickstar Festival! This card Special Summons two Trickstar Tokens to my field!" Two tokens appeared on Blue Maiden's field.

"Shine! The circuit of courage and determination!" The circuit appeared Blue Maiden. "The summoning conditions are two Trickstar Monsters!" The two monsters went into the Link Markers.

"Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Trickstar Holly Angel (ATK: 2000, LNK: 2)!" Blue Maiden summoned a female fairy with a whip.

"Next, from my hand, I Normal Summon Trickstar Candina (ATK: 1800, LV: 4)!" Blue Maiden summoned a yellow fairy.

"At this moment, Holly Angel's effect activates! When a Trickstar monster is summoned this monster's Link Marker, the opponent takes 200 points of damage!" Lightning took damage.

Lightning LP: 4000→3800

"Furthermore, when my opponent takes damage from a Trickstar's effect, this card gains Attack Points equal to the same amount!" Holly Angel gained more power.

Holly Angel (ATK: 2000→2200)

Trickstar Candina's Monster Effect! When this card is Normal Summoned, I can add one Trickstar card from my deck to my hand! I add Trickstar Lilybell to my hand and activate her effect! When it's added to my hand except by drawing, I can Special Summon her! Appear! Trickstar Lilybell (ATK: 800, LV: 2)!" Blue Maiden summoned another Trickstar.

"Shine once more! The circuit of courage and determination!" Lilybell and Candina entered the Link Markers. "Link Summon! Appear! Link 2 Trickstar Sweet Devil (ATK: 2000, LNK: 2)!" Blue Maiden summoned another Trickstar Link Monster.

"Holly Angel's Monster Effect!" Lightning took more damage while Holly Angel got stronger.

Holly Angel (ATK: 2200→2400)

Lightning LP: 3800→3600

"Next, from my hand, I activate the Magic Card: Trickstar Fusion! I send Fusion material Monsters from my hand and field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon! Hear the song of the Trickstars! I fuse Sweet Devil and Lilybell!" The two monsters went into the spiraling vortex.

"Angel of sweetness become one with the angel of the bell and create a brand-new melody! Fusion Summon! Appear! Trickstar Band Guitar Sweet (ATK: 2200, LV: 7)!" Blue Maiden summoned a Fusion Monster.

"A Trickstar Fusion Monster…" Lightning observed.

"Holly Angel's Monster Effect activates!" Blue Maiden said.

"I know, I take 200 points of damage and it gains 200 Attack Points." Lightning was getting irritated.

"You're wrong, Lightning. Trickstar Band Guitar Sweet's Monster Effect! It doubles any effect damage that a Trickstar Link Monster inflicts when it is linked with this card! So, you take 400 points of damage this time!" Blue Maiden held up four fingers.

Lightning LP: 3600→3200

"And Holly Angel's Attack Points increase by 400!" Blue Maiden added. "Holly Blessing!"

Holly Angel (ATK: 2400→2800)

"And not just her! Guitar Sweet also gains Attack Points equal to the effect damage inflicted!" Blue Maiden pointed out.

Guitar Sweet (ATK: 2200→2600)

"Battle! Guitar Sweet, attack Plumbum Trident! Ambitious Chord!" Guitar Sweet played a powerful chord.

"Don't underestimate me! I activate my Trap Card: Magic Cylinder! This card negates your attack and you take damage equal to your monster's Attack Points!" Lightning played his set card.

"At this moment, I activate the effect of Marincess Octopus! When my opponent activates a Magic or Trap card when a Marincess or Trickstar monster attacks, by sending this card to the Graveyard, I can negate that card's activation and destroy it!" A princess with octopus tentacles destroyed Lightning's card allowing Guitar Sweet to destroy Plumbum Trident and damaging Lightning.

Lightning LP: 3200→2800

"Plumbum Trident's effect activates from the Graveyard! When it's destroyed in battle, I can add the Magic Card: Judgement Arrows from my deck to my hand!" Lightning added a Magic Card to his hand. "Furthermore, when Plumbum Trident is destroyed, I can place it in the Magic and Trap Zone as a Link Magic!"

Blue Maiden looked at the field. "I was curious as to why its Link Markers were pointing towards my field since most Link Monsters pointed elsewhere. So, this is the reason."

"And the fact that he added Judgement Arrows into his hand. He is looking to take care of you once and for all." Aqua pointed out.

"But that's only if he has a next turn, I still have Holly Angel on my field! Battle! Holly Angel! Direct Attack!" Holly Angel unleashed its attack, making Lightning scream.

Lightning LP: 2800→1

"What?" Blue Maiden's eyes widened.

"Heheheh…too bad Blue Maiden." Lightning laughed.

Lightning LP: 1→4000

"His Life Points recovered!" Blue Maiden was shocked.

"Lightning, what did you do?" Aqua questioned.

Duel Monsters Spirit World – Cyberse Cave

Yuya opened his eyes and he found himself in a dark cave. "Where am I?" Yuya moved felt his stomach being covered and he saw a bandage over it. "That's right…" Yuya remembered Rin stabbed him in order to get to Atem to save their baby.

"Try not to move too much, you'll open the wound."

Yuya look to the side and he saw a man treating Atem. The man was dressed in a flashy attire with earrings that looked like the Ignis. His attire was that of a light purple shirt with puffed sleeves and black cuffs fastened at the neck with a black ascot with red gem in a gold brooch, a black high-collared mantle with a gold lining and red interior, tasseled shoulder pads, gold cord binding the mantle with red buttons, and the same diamond symbol on the back, a knee-length sleeveless coat of the same color but with a lilac interior under that, black pants, and black shoes with grey toes.

"Looks like your friend isn't gonna recover any faster than you. You humans are really fragile beings." The man commented.

"Are you a Duel Monster?" Yuya questioned.

"Me? A Duel Monster. Come on, name one Duel Monster that's as good looking as me." The man made a charming smile.

"Well, there's Black Magician Girl, Gagaga Girl, Entermate Uni and Entermate Corn." Yuya counted his fingers.

"I said one…" The man sweat dropped. "And those are all women."

"Look, I'm flattered but I'm a married man." Yuya showed his wedding rings.

"I'm not trying to come on to you, either. I'm just trying to break the ice." The man sighed. "Look, I'll cut to the chase, my name is Ai. I'm the sixth Ignis of the Cyberse World."

"You're an Ignis…wait, I thought there were only five of you." Yuya recalled the conversation between Blue Maiden and Spectre.

"You can thank Lightning for that." Ai said. "The dude was jealous that I could interact with humans better than him, so he tried to kill me off. Me, the main star. Little did he know that deleted AIs aren't deleted forever. There's always traces of them in the network that will patch the original back into being in time."

"Lightning was jealous of you? What do you mean?" Yuya questioned.

"Lightning was the first Ignis ever created. As such, he believed himself to be superior to everyone." Ai answered. "But he was wrong, as the first Ignis, he would be a step to creating better Ignis. It continued with Windy, then to Earth, then to Flame, Aqua and finally yours truly. I'm the latest version of the Ignis, an Ignis that had the ability to live with humans in harmony. I was meant to led the Ignis to better the relations between AI and humans."

"Hm. That makes sense. A program always evolves into a better version." Yuya said.

"Since I have a close relation to humans, I'm able to sense whenever someone was in dread. It led me to you fighting with your wife. I couldn't watch two lovers destroy each other so when your Synchro Monsters clashed, I used the opportunity to take you and your friend away." Ai explained.

"So, you saved us. Thank you." Yuya thanked.

"Why were you two fighting to begin with?" Ai asked.

"It's Genesis. She has our son hostage. She would only give him back if Rin delivered Atem to her. But I can't abandon Atem. He has people waiting for him back home. But I probably put my child…all of my children in more danger." Yuya explained.

"Genesis, huh? Yeah, when I've heard of her existence, I've ran multiple simulations on how she would change the world. She's very manipulative. She'll use anyone for her own deeds, swaying them with false promises, giving them power that is too much for them to handle." Ai explained. "You probably felt it too."

"I have?" Yuya questioned.

"You've felt pain in your chest ever since you escaped that laboratory, right? Pain that was so intense, you didn't know what was going on, but soon it went away." Ai clarified.

"You know about that? Tell me, what did she do to me in that lab?" Yuya asked.

"She ripped away your negative emotions and gave away the dark side of your Odd-Eyes monsters to her henchmen." Ai revealed.

"The dark side of my Odd-Eyes…You mean like Raging Dragon." Yuya said.

"That's right. That Raging Dragon is now being used by Don Thousand against your friend Rio." Ai said.

"What?!" Yuya's eyes widened. "Rio and Don Thousand are fighting right now!"

"Not just them. Roget is fighting Rua. Saio is fighting Asuka. Diva is fighting Jonouchi and Lightning is fighting Blue Maiden." Ai added.

"Roget survived…I have to help them." Yuya said. "I have to get to that gate."

"You can try, but that will be a long way, and you're being hunted by your wives. By the time you reach that gate, the Guardians will be defeated." Ai said.

"The Guardians won't lose! Even if they have my power, I know they can defeat them!" Yuya declared.

"It's not that they can't defeat them, it's that they won't defeat them." Ai verified.

"What are you talking about?" Yuya questioned.

"If I was a villain on the verge of losing, I would share a big surprise with the hero. A surprise that would make them hesitate and refuse to end the battle for the sake of a dear friend." Ai said. "Those Odd-Eyes monsters were made from your power, your lifespan, if they are defeated, your life will be shortened. And if all five Odd-Eyes are defeated…you will die."

"I…will die…" Yuya was stumped.

"Fortunately, only three of the Odd-Eyes monsters were summoned, but it's only a matter of time before the last two appear on the field. If you want everyone to survive, then you have to defeat Genesis now." Ai said.

"But…I don't know where Genesis is…." Yuya said.

"Genesis is a Duel Monster, her spirit is able to enter the human world and interact with them, but her body remains here in this world. Defeat Genesis in the Duel Monsters Spirit World, and it will create a chain reaction that will eradicate any power that she bestowed upon the others." Ai explained.

"So, the Genesis that I kept seeing was just her spirit. She was in the Spirit World the whole time. Genesis always talked about a paradise…" Yuya's eyes widened and he went to his deck. "Of course…I know where she is." Yuya showed one of his cards to Ai.

"That makes sense, considering what she is in flesh and bone." Ai said. "Very well, let's get moving."

"Huh?" Yuya questioned.

"You can't fight your wives. I'll take care of them." Ai put on his Duel Disk. "Don't worry, I won't hurt them. You just focus on defeating Genesis."

"Ai…thank you." Yuya smiled.

Duel Monsters Spirit World – Dragon Ravine

A portal opened as Yuya and Ai, who was carrying Atem on his back walked through. "This is definitely a good place for dragons." Yuya looked at the ravine and he heard the roars of multiple dragons.

Ai placed Atem against a boulder. "Don't worry, I can take care of Atem. You handle Genesis."

"Ai…my wives are strong. Don't underestimate them, especially when they have something to fight for." Yuya warned.

"Noted." Ai smiled. "And it would be boring if I didn't get a good challenge."

Yuya walked up to Atem and patted his head. "Don't worry, buddy. We're gonna get through this. All of us."

Yuya looked at the ravine below and took a few steps back. He then dashed forward and jumped over the ravine and dived down.

Dragon Ravine – Deep Caves

Yuya opened his jacket, creating a parachute as he landed softly on the ground. "I can feel her…she's here."

Yuya walked into the caves. "Everything has led up to this…" Yuya thought. "The cause of all of my suffering…the one who took everything from me…once I defeat her, I can finally be in peace."

"Father…Mother…Master…" Yuya thought of Zarc, Ray and Samejima. "You gave up your lives for me so that I could have a future. And I do have a future, I have great friends and a loving family."

Yuya saw a light at the end of the tunnel. "That's why, in order to protect them, I have to kill Genesis. I have to kill G.O.D. Then I'll go back home to where they're waiting. That's a promise." Yuya entered the light.

Dragon's Ravine – Above Ground

Ai was whistling away as he watched Atem. "You have a great friend, you know that." Ai said. "I hope I can be with a friend like that. Well, more like a partner who I can share my charming humor with."

He heard footsteps approaching and her turned to see Yuzu, Ruri, Rin and Serena approaching him, their eyes focused on Atem.

"Hello, ladies. I've figured you would've come by sooner or later to see little ol me." Ai said.

"We're not here for you, we're here for him." Serena pointed to Atem.

"Hey, you know pointing is rude." Ai pouted.

"Let's get this over with. I'll take him, you three get Atem." Serena activated her Duel Disk.

"Oh, I can't do that!" Ai created a barrier around him and the girls. "I know what Genesis wants with Atem, and that would mean the end of everything. You would be killing your children as well."

"Genesis swore protection." Ruri said.

"Genesis is nothing but empty promises. All she's doing is manipulating you to do what she wants." Ai pointed out. "Wait, why am I talking like this. Nothing I say will get through to you, you're too desperate."

"You would do the same if she threatened your family." Yuzu argued.

"Maybe…but I'm an AI, data and feelings constantly change. I don't even know what kind of person I'll be in the end. Maybe I'll be a fun-loving guy or maybe somebody worse than Genesis." Ai pondered.

"But my life is in danger so long as Genesis is alive, so for my own sake, I can't let her do what she wants." Ai activated his Duel Disk.

"You shouldn't have done that." Rin activated her Duel Disk, along with Yuzu and Ruri.

"A 4 vs 1, Duel. Sorry, Yuya but I might have to be a bit rough with them." Ai thought.

Dragon's Ravine – Genesis Cave

Yuya entered a large cave where Genesis was sitting on a rock throne. "My paradise is nearing its completion. Soon, Duel Monsters will overrun the humans and they will know how it feels to be used as tools for entertainment."

"You can quit the lies." Yuya said. "You don't care about the other monsters; you just only care about yourself."

"What makes you think, I'm lying?" Genesis questioned.

"There's an army of Duel Monsters that oppose you. If you really are doing this for them, then you're doing it the wrong way. Not all Duelists see them as tools. We see them for what they really are…"

"Let me guess…they're your friends." Genesis said. "It's always friendship this, or bonds that. Don't you ever get tired of that cliché?"

"Don't you ever get tired of lying?" Yuya countered.

"I've created this universe. All beings are supposed to follow my wishes. But you humans always stray away from the path that I've laid out for you. Over and over again, I destroy and rebuild but the results never change. I thought your parents would be the difference, but even they strayed away from their destined path."

"My parents lived their lives the way they wanted to. We all have the right to live how we want. Just because you created the universe doesn't mean you make the decisions for the future." Yuya glared.

"I helped you stop the Dimension War. You were able to get your brothers back because I helped you. You owe me this." Genesis got angry.

"I am grateful for that…but…I'm a Guardian. My duty is to protect the people." Yuya said.

"Those people you are protecting are the reason why conflicts are always rising. They're selfish and disgusting, they discriminate against others and refuse to accept change. They always fight and never compromise. It's a never-ending war with no end in sight!" Genesis started crying.

"Genesis…you're right, we're always fighting. We can never agree on anything and some of us are too stubborn to accept change. But even so, we only have one life, and it's our choice to decide how we live it. Not one has the right to decide how we live, not even you."

"In that case…I'll prove you wrong!" Genesis raised her left arm and it turned into a dragon scale Duel Disk. "Stand and fight! Dragon Soldier…Dimension Guardian…Yuya Ryuga!"

"Everything ends…now!" Yuya activated his Hero's Honor Duel Disk.

"Duel!" Yuya and Genesis declared.

And that is the end of Chapter 12. What did you guys think of this chapter? Are you excited for more to come? Let me know what you think in the reviews.

Thanks for reading and I will see you next time.

Preview: Yuya and Genesis begin their Duel as Ai does his best to protect Atem from Yuzu, Ruri, Rin and Serena. Meanwhile, the other Dimension Guardians are being pushed back by the evil Odd-Eyes cards.

Next Time: Odd-Eyes vs G.O.D.