Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V: The Six Dimensions

by BlaiseCandell

Before the invasion of the Xyz Dimension, scans done by the Fusion Dimension reveal two more dimensions. The Ritual Dimension, and the Link Dimension. Within those two dimensions, Chiaki, Yuji, Miharu and Yuno have their lives turned upside down, and are tossed into a vicious war. Also, why are there five people with the same faces as them?

40. Chapter 40: Looking Back

Starting Notes:

Welcome back! This chapter is… just Shun vs Dennis. Why? Uh. Too long. I'm surprised at how long this duel is. Send help. Yuto vs Nue as an outline is already prewritten, but I need to recharge before I properly fill it in, and I do think that the ending of this chapter is a good enough transition. Disclaimer. Shun vs Dennis is… rough. And I mean that in terms of the fact that I have to put some quick trigger warnings here just in case.

… and no, this is not a late April Fools' chapter. I thought about it, but quite honestly, I was too lazy to put in unnecessary effort, and I was too hyped to write this. Plus, it'd be a dick move to make everyone think that Shun vs Dennis was done and then put a joke chapter in instead. So instead, you're getting this right on the 2nd! :D

So uh, trigger warnings for this chapter are: Dissociation of POV character, PTSD, trauma-induced panic attacks, Kurosaki's general mental state, Dennis's general mental state, allusions to suicidal intent. Take care!

---

Chapter 40: Looking Back

A year ago:

"Hey, Ruri."

"Yes, big brother?"

"I'm surprised that you never get angry." Shun leaned back against the wall, holding onto his schoolbag. He had been waiting for Yuto and Ruri, so that they could all head back home together. (And that way, he also had an excuse to talk to Yuto's sister without it being too awkward.) "When people look down on you for what they think is weakness. I mean, I know you're strong, but… I get mad when people look down on you. I don't know how you don't."

Ruri smiled sweetly. Her fingers flicked through her hair. "I think I might! But there's no use in being angry at people who won't change." She pressed her hands together. "But if I have the energy to be angry, I'd much rather use it to take care of the people I love, you know? As long as you all know that I'm strong, I don't care what others think of me!"

Shun smiled fondly. He reached out, patting his sister's head. "You truly are too nice, Ruri," he said. "Someday, you'll have to learn to be a little meaner—"

---

Several months ago:

The air tasted like ash and soot.

"... nii-san."

Shun turned to look at Ruri, who was holding a tray. She had been delivering water to some of the other people who had taken up residence in the Spade Branch. There was something quiet and focused to her eyes.

… she shouldn't have to look at the world with eyes like that.

"I think I am angry now," Ruri Kurosaki said, the lilting, almost musical tone that she usually had being replaced with something contemplative and… solemn. "I think I'm angry at them for hurting everyone. And I don't know how to not be angry. At the same time, I don't know if I can hurt them."

Shun watched her, and then he reached out with his arms, hugging her tightly.

Be angry, he thought. That's the only way to stay alive.

He knew she wouldn't be able to hurt anyone though. That went against the person that she was.

So he would do it. He would be angry on her behalf.

---

In the present, in the Synchro Dimension:

As Shun rode out of the garage, he couldn't help but think back to memories that he had always cherished.

… I'm not as good as you, Ruri. I cannot look at others and reach out a hand to them in the way that you did. You were so kind, so good—it's hard to even express how kind you are.

And so, it is that kindness—

That makes it impossible for me to be like you.

It is because you were so kind that I cannot let go of my anger at someone who betrayed you.

"—urosaki! Kurosaki!"

Shun blinked. In his distraction, Dennis had taken the first corner. And Shun had still not said anything.

Well.

He wasn't sure if he wanted to. His thoughts were still in a flurry that was slowly turning into fury.

[DUEL!]

Shun Kurosaki: 4000LP

Dennis Mackfield: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Dennis] [H:5]

"I will start!" Dennis said cheerfully. "Man, what is with you today, huh? I'll activate the Spell Card, Magical Pendulum Box! I will draw two cards, but if any of them are not Pendulum Monsters, I must send them to the graveyard!" He drew the two cards, before he grinned. "They're both Pendulum Monsters, so I get to keep them—and what a splendid pair they are! I'll set the Scale 2 Performage Water Dancer and the Scale 6 Performage Fire Dancer in the Pendulum Scales!"

The two thick pillars of light shot up around him, one of them having a woman with light blue skin, a dark blue hat and an aqua-coloured mask appeared, holding onto two blue and white staffs with rounded ends. A stream of water appeared, dancing around her. The other pillar of light had a woman dressed in bright red and pink, holding onto two thin golden rings and spinning them around in her hands. She was wearing a red hat similar to a jester's, looking like Water Dancer's blue hat. The two of them looked like they were exactly complementary to each other.

Dennis grinned. "With this Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon monsters from Level 3 to 5! Pendulum Summon! Come from my hand! Performage Trick Clown! Performage Damage Juggler!" A pale-skinned clown in an orange hat with stars all over its clothing appeared. A clown in a pink hat and green robes appeared as well.

[Performage Trick Clown (4*/1600/1200/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]

[Performage Damage Juggler (4*/1500/1000/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"And I will overlay the Level 4 Performage Trick Clown and Damage Juggler! Show must go on! Artisan of the air, swing across the stage with grace! Xyz Summon! Appear now! Rank 4! Performage Trapeze Magician!" The pastel-themed magician in a blue and pink cape appeared, floating around in the air on a trapeze.

[Performage Trapeze Magician (R4/2500/2000/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"I'll set a card and end my turn!"

Looking at that monster…

It was hard to imagine that it could belong to a cruel person.

Shun drew a card.

[Turn 2: Shun] [H:6]

"You're really quiet, Kurosaki."

"Can I trust you?" Kurosaki said coldly.

"H-huh?" Dennis blinked, leaning back. "Did I—have I done something to not make myself trusted by you? Weren't we all over this already?"

I was somewhat over this. And then I found out about you.

Kurosaki drew the top card of his deck with far more force than necessary. "I will Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Vanishing Lanius." The green bird appeared in front of him, mechanical parts clicking into place. Silver metallic feathers stuck out from green wings, bright and bold.

[Raid Raptors - Vanishing Lanius (4*/1300/1600/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"With Vanishing Lanius's effect, since it was Normal or Special Summoned this turn, I can Special Summon another "Raid Raptors" monster from my hand. Come—Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius!" A golden bird appeared, letting out a loud, furious chirp.

[Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius (4*/1100/1900/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"I will activate the Continuous Spell - Raid Raptors - Nest! Since I control at least two "Raid Raptors" monsters, I can add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand." He plucked up another card from his deck. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two DARK Winged Beast monsters. I will set Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius and Raid Raptors - Vanishing Lanius in the Link Markers! Wise bird of the cybernetic world, start up a new revolution with the sharpness of your wings! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Raid Raptors - Wise Strix!"

A bright silver bird with bright neon screens all around it appeared, flying through the air. Despite the sharpness of its blade-like feathers, it didn't look threatening in the slightest.

[Raid Raptors - Wise Strix (L2/1400/DARK/Winged Beast/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]

"You learned Link Summoning, Kurosaki?"

Shun returned a jerky nod. It was by far the simplest summoning method to introduce into his deck, without needing any other new cards. He'd wanted to stick to Xyz Summoning, but…

---

A few weeks ago:

"I can't believe that you learned Link Summoning that fast."

"No?" Nue arched an eyebrow. "I asked Hitoda Makishima for help with it. She was hanging around me anyway."

Yes. That girl. The one who was friends with Miharu Kogami, the girl that shared the same face as Ruri. The girl who brought so many questions and no answers at the same time.

"She answered you?"

"Yes, she did." Nue shrugged. "She's a surprisingly good teacher for someone so... strange. I don't think the two of you would get along though. Kogami taught Yuto—perhaps she might teach you too, if you ask her."

"I don't need anything but Xyz Summoning," Shun said after a moment. His comrades were his Xyz Monsters, the reliable ones that he could always fall back on. He had no need for new things to work with.

Nue leaned forward. "That's outdated thinking," she said, cutting straight to the root of his reasoning with her next words. "You worry that you're somehow devaluing the sacrifices that were made, and devaluing your bonds with us if you learn something new. But Academia won't stay the same forever, Shun. And neither should we. Our power is our unpredictability, compared to them, isn't it? We can't stay still."

"... it's just hard to learn it from her," Shun muttered.

"Ask Sugisaki then," Nue said with a shrug. "It's because Kogami-san looks like Ruri, right? So it might be easier if you ask Sugisaki instead."

Shun glanced at his hands. "I'll consider it," he muttered.

---

In the present:

So in the end, he had caved and learned from Yuno Sugisaki. And now, he was about to use Wise Strix to do everything that he could.

"I'll use Wise Strix's effect. I can Special Summon a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from my deck in Defense Position with its effects negated, but it cannot be used as Link Material! Come—Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius!" The purple bird appeared right behind Wise Strix. "And I will Special Summon Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius from my hand since I control a DARK monster, but I can only Special Summon DARK monsters this turn." A bone white bird with bright green light from beneath its wings appeared.

[Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius (4*/500/1500/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

[Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius (4*/1600/1100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius and the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius! Avian hunter of the afterlife, seek the truth with your dark eyes, and grasp glory with your sharp talons! Xyz Summon! Take flight! Rank 4! Raid Raptors - Force Strix!" The reliable metal owl reappeared, flapping its wings nervously.

[Raid Raptors - Force Strix (R4/100/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"I will activate the effect of Force Strix. I will detach an Overlay Unit from it to add a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand. Nest Calling! And since I activated the effect of a "Raid Raptors" Xyz Monster, I can use Wise Strix's effect! I can set a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell from my deck to the field, and if it's a Quickplay Spell, I can activate it this turn!" A set card materialised in front of him, while he also added a card from his deck to his hand.

[Raid Raptors - Force Strix: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"Since Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius was sent to the graveyard, I can add another copy of Fuzzy Lanius from my deck to my hand. I'll also use the effect of Mimicry Lanius in the graveyard. I can banish it from the graveyard and add a "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to my hand." He immediately flipped over the card that he had set with Wise Strix's effect. "I will activate my set Spell—the Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force! I'll Rank Up my Force Strix by one Rank. Ferocious falcon. Break through this fierce battle and spread your wings! Destroy our gathering foes! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear! Rank 5! Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon!" The large red and black falcon appeared, wings flaring out, large bursts of flames swirling around it.

[Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon (R5/1000/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Since Blaze Falcon has Overlay Units, it can attack directly!" The red and black falcon flew forward, flames flying straight towards Dennis.

"Whoa!" Dennis flipped over his set card. "The Continuous Trap, Mage's Fortress. You can't declare an attack while I control a Spellcaster monster. And I'll activate Trapeze Magician's effect. I'll detach an Overlay Unit, and grant your Blaze Falcon two attacks this turn! Encore Flare!"

[Performage Trapeze Magician: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"And if your monster does not make two attacks by the end of the Battle Phase, it is destroyed!"

… and he had stopped Shun from attacking. Shun reluctantly admitted on the inside that it was quite clever. "Main Phase 2," he said, and Blaze Falcon blew up. "I will activate the Quickplay Spell—Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force! Since Blaze Falcon was destroyed this turn, I can use it as material to Rank Up into a "Raid Raptors" Xyz Monster that is one Rank higher! Prideful falcon. Spread your wings, dyed in the blood of heroes, and charge through the path of revolution! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear! Rank 6! Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon!" The beautiful silver falcon appeared on his field, just as relentless as ever.

[Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon (R6/2000/3000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

"Revolution Falcon's effect! Since it was Xyz Summoned using a Rank 5 or lower "Raid Raptors" monster as material, I can destroy a monster you control and inflict damage to you, equal to half the destroyed monster's attack points! I will destroy Performage Trapeze Magician!"

Trapeze Magician shattered, but—

"If I would take effect damage, I can Special Summon Performage Flame Eater from my hand and make that effect damage 0!" A purple sphere with a red hat and a green ribbon around it appeared, spitting out some flames everywhere.

[Performage Flame Eater (4*/1200/1600/FIRE/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"And since Performage Trick Clown was sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon it to the field with its attack and defense points becoming 0!" The clown from before reappeared on the field.

[Performage Trick Clown: 1600 → 0ATK; 1200 → 0DEF]

"I'll set two cards facedown. Over to you," Shun said with a frown.

[Turn 3: Dennis] [H:1]

"Draw!" Dennis declared, a flourish of a hand in the air. He glanced at the card. "I will activate the Spell Card, Performage Chaos Fusion. I'll send a "Polymerization" from my deck to the graveyard and place Pendulum Monsters from my deck in the Extra Deck as material for a Fusion Summon! I will fuse another copy of Performage Fire Dancer in my deck with Performage Plushfire!"

The two monsters appeared for a brief moment, dissolving into rings of fire. Shun grimaced.

"Blazing flames, dance around the fire eater and form the most glorious images! Fusion Summon! Level 6! Performage Blazing Dancer!" The woman in a dark cloak appeared, holding onto her pipe and spitting out flames in the air, ribbon-like streams of embers floating around her body. Her long red and black hair floated outwards. Two rings of flame spun around her.

[Performage Blazing Dancer (6*/2000/1500/FIRE/Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect)]

"With Performage Blazing Dancer's effect, when she is Fusion Summoned, I can target and destroy a monster on the field, and then I take 500 damage! I will target Revolution Falcon to destroy it!" Flames shot out, hitting the falcon. It exploded into metal and feathers, and Shun narrowed his eyes.

Dennis: 4000 - 500 = 3500LP

"And now, Pendulum Summon!" Dennis called. "Come to the field! Fire Dancer! Plushfire!" The two monsters reappeared on his field.

[Performage Fire Dancer (4*/S6/1400/1200/FIRE/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

[Performage Plushfire (4*/S5/1000/1000/FIRE/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

"And I will banish Performage Chaos Fusion from my graveyard to add Polymerization from my deck to my hand!" He revealed the card. "I will activate the Spell Card, Polymerization!"

Shun tensed up. Up in their rooms, both Nue and Yuto flinched back for a moment—as though trying to distance themselves from the screen.

"Hey, Kurosaki." Dennis smiled nervously. "I already said—just 'cause I use Fusion doesn't mean that I'm your enemy, you know. I don't want to hurt you."

Liar. Shun barely stopped himself from scoffing. "Just go on with your turn," he said. "I'll judge you through the way that you duel right now."

"Huh?" Dennis tilted his head, his slightly lopsided smile being oddly friendly for an enemy. "Alright then. I'll fuse Performage Flame Eater and Performage Trick Clown! Acrobat that freely manipulates even the pain! Merge with the infinitely form-changing strings that connect people, and become a new witch that spurs the sky! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 7! Performage Trapeze Witch!" Dennis declared. The dark and colourful witch appeared, letting out a loud, cheerful laugh as she spun around, not looking like she belonged on a battlefield in the slightest.

[Performage Trapeze Witch (7*/2400/1800/DARK/Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect)]

"Trick Clown revives itself in Defense Position with its attack and defense points changing to 0 again!"

[Performage Trick Clown: 1600 → 0ATK; 1200 → 0DEF]

"I will then have Performage Trapeze Witch attack your—"

Shun frowned. While Trapeze Witch was face-up on the field, Dennis's monsters could not be targeted or destroyed by card effects. It was a very versatile monster—and Shun hated thinking about it in a positive light of all things.

"At the end of your Main Phase, I will activate the Trap Card, Xyz Reborn," he said calmly. "Come back. Raid Raptors - Force Strix." The small bird reappeared in Defense Position, the Trap Card turning into an Overlay Unit that spun around it.

[Raid Raptors - Force Strix: OU:0 + 1 = OU:1]

"What?" Dennis frowned. "Blazing Dancer will attack your Wise Strix!" The flaming monster leapt forward, tossing out a ring of flame that exploded around the bird. "Trapeze Witch's effect! I'll lower your monster's attack points by 600!" Dark energy joined the flames, as Trapeze Witch let out a cackle from above.

[Raid Raptors - Wise Strix: 1400 - 600 = 800ATK]

The attack hit, and Shun dodged the blast zone.

Shun: 4000 - 1200 = 2800LP

"And Trapeze Witch attacks your Force Strix!" Trapeze Witch leapt forward, destroying his monster. Since it was in Defense Position, Shun took no damage.

He flipped up his other set card.

"Quickplay Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force! Since a Xyz Monster I control was destroyed, I can Special Summon it and use it as material to Xyz Summon a "Raid Raptors" monster with twice the Rank of that monster!"

"Twice the Rank?" Dennis gasped.

Shun let his energy flow into his voice—he let his anger and resentment fuel his next words. "Don't be surprised. Your comrades back in Academia saw this one quite a lot." He didn't even give Dennis the chance to respond, launching into a summoning chant. "Dauntless falcon. Hoist up the flame of anger, become the flash of light that burns the land to ash! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Soar! Rank 8! Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon!" And in front of him, dark energy burst forth in a gale. A beautiful, large white falcon appeared, its body practically covered with guns. White and red metal formed guns everywhere. Green lights could be seen glowing all over its body. The underbelly of the metallic falcon was bright gold.

[Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon (R8/3000/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

And Dennis was silent.

Shun turned his head towards him. "You," he said coldly—his wrath was burning, concentrated like a knife stabbing straight into his opponent. "You were the spy that led them to Heartland." Satellite Cannon Falcon fired off a blast, which flew forward, destroying part of the track in front of them, much to the shock of the crowd and the people above. The D-Wheel's exhaust mingled with it—all of it the same smoke and burning ash that he had gotten used to in Heartland. The two of them continued riding forward, not in Heartland, but remembering it—

Remembering it.

Because if Dennis Mackfield was truly innocent, if he had never seen war in his entire life—

If that was the case, the scent of destruction and the sight of smoke would not make him have that look on his face. Wide eyes, a slight flinch, a quick intake of breath without letting it go, lips parting slightly in a silent attempt at a gasp.

And that was what made Shun finally certain of Sora Shiun'in's claims. No matter what, there was a part of him that kept on doubting them. A part of him that still wanted to believe in the good of someone that he had considered a comrade.

Academia hadn't yet killed that part of his capability to trust, though maybe they should have. Maybe in that case, he wouldn't have been fooled.

"... would you believe me if I told you that I have no clue what you're talking about?" Dennis said with a weak laugh.

"With those eyes?" Shun spat out. "Absolutely not. If you're going to lie to me, pick something more convincing!"

Another forced laugh. "Well, I'm not sure what you want from me, if you won't believe anything I say."

"Fine." Despite the fact that they were before an entire crowd, Shun sped up, driving recklessly until he caught up to Dennis. "Then look at me. Look me in the eyes and tell me that it's not true." His voice was gaining volume. His yellow eyes met Dennis's emerald gaze—spiteful, narrowed eyes against feigned nonchalance. "Tell me that you, Dennis Mackfield, were not the one that called in the invasion of Heartland! Tell me that you weren't the one that told Academia where my sister was so that they could go and kidnap her while she was alone! Tell me that none of that is true! Who are you, Dennis Mackfield?"

Above, Yuto gritted his teeth. Next to him, Sora watched the field with some concern.

Meanwhile, Nue, who had been kept out of the loop of this, stood up, her eyes narrowed. "... he did what?" She murmured dangerously.

"... so a spy got in after all," Reiji said clinically. "I did wonder."

"Dennis is…" Yuya blinked. "No—that can't be the case! He said that he admired dad, didn't he? He couldn't—he wouldn't—"

Serena leapt to her feet, her fists clenched. "That guy…" Despite her hostile tone, there was the sound of hurt there as well. "So he was just spying on me?"

Shun gritted his teeth as Dennis remained silent. "You—" How did I—

Serena slammed her fist on the table. "How did I—"

At the same time, they completed the same thought. As the only ones that had been with Dennis in the street, when he had shared what they had assumed was the truth of his intentions with them, only they had the capacity to feel betrayed.

How did I judge him so poorly? Was it all a lie?

"If you dared to lie about the trauma you suffered from what you saw," Shun said coldly, "you're nothing but a monster!"

"Fine!" Dennis shouted back. "It's not like I ever intended to be anything more than that!"

And there it was. An admission of guilt.

Shun felt no catharsis. Only rage.

"I got Ruri Kurosaki's trust," Dennis said. "I told her that I had friends in trouble, and so she went off alone to try and help them. As such, she bumped directly into Yuri, and he captured her." He raised a finger. "Just like Asuka Tenjoin did to Chiaki Katsuya." Another finger. "Just as a spy here in the Synchro Dimension found out about Rin."

Yugo's eyes widened. "Someone spied on Rin?" He punched the wall. "Damn it! What a creep!"

"You!" Shun punched the handlebar. "When Satellite Cannon Falcon is Xyz Summoned using a "Raid Raptors" monster, I destroy all Spells and Traps you control!" Dennis's Pendulum Scales and Continuous Trap were destroyed. "End your turn! You have no attacks!" Plushfire and Fire Dancer were still in Defense Position.

"Fine," Dennis said coldly. "Since Mage's Fortress was destroyed, I can draw a card. I'll set a card. You can take your pathetic turn."

Was this always what was lurking beneath Dennis Mackfield's smile?

Then Shun would punish him for lying to them!

[Turn 4: Shun] [H:5]

"Draw," Shun said. "I'll activate the Equip Spell, Raptor's Ultimate Mace. I'll give it to Satellite Cannon Falcon." The white mechanical falcon let out a ear-piercing screech. It was almost like it was telling all around it to bow down. "It gains 1000 attack points!"

[Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon: 3000 + 1000 = 4000ATK]

"Tsk." Dennis grimaced. "And that means that Trapeze Witch won't stop it…"

"Since I control a "Raid Raptors" monster, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from my hand!" The purple bird reappeared. "And I will Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius." The brilliant cobalt bird appeared to the left of Fuzzy Lanius.

[Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius (4*/1800/400/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"With Tribute Lanius's effect, I will send a "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to the graveyard," Shun continued. "And I will banish Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius from my graveyard to add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand!" He was still glaring at Dennis. "With Nest's effect, I can add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand as well. I will then Special Summon Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius from my hand!" A small golden bird appeared, letting out loud chirrups as it flew around him. "Singing Lanius can be Special Summoned when I control an Xyz Monster."

[Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius (4*/100/100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"And I will overlay the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius, Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius and Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius! Obscured falcon, raise your sharpened talons in front of adversity, spread your wings of rebellion! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon!" The emerald, purple and black bird—Shun's ace—appeared in front of him with another loud, whirring shriek of incoherent rage.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon (R4/100/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

Nue blinked. "... if you brought out Force Strix, you'd have had a search, a guaranteed summon of Rise Falcon next turn, and a monster in Defense Position just in case," she murmured. "... I know why, Shun, but seeing you this reckless…"

"He doesn't want to defend," Yuto said bluntly. "He wants to make Dennis pay."

"I will detach an Overlay Unit from Rise Falcon, and it gains attack points equal to all your Special Summoned monsters' attack points," Shun declared relentlessly. Rise Falcon glowed, and it let out another shriek, readying its claws to attack. It flew slightly in front of Satellite Cannon Falcon, getting ready to fight.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: OU:3 - 1 = 2; 100 + 2400 + 2000 + 1400 + 1000 = 6900ATK]

"I will activate the Continuous Trap, Performage Cursed Mask!" Dennis called. A dark, pulsing purple half-mask appeared on the faces of all his monsters. "I take no damage from any battles involving a Spellcaster monster!"

"Rise Falcon can attack all Special Summoned monsters you control," Shun growled. "So each and every one of those false facades will fall apart, no matter how you try to hold up this barrier! I know that I can't attack Trapeze Witch while you control another "Performage" monster. So, brick by brick, I will tear this wall down! Since Fuzzy Lanius was sent to the graveyard, I can add another copy from my deck to my hand. Rise Falcon attacks Performage Blazing Dancer! Brave Claw Revolution!"

Blazing Dancer was torn apart from Rise Falcon's claws. Children in the audience had their eyes covered by their parents.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 6900 - 600 = 6300ATK]

"And again!" Shun shouted. "Attack Performage Plushfire! Brave Claw Revolution!" The claws struck forth, tearing apart the monster made of flames.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 6300 - 600 = 5700ATK]

"Since Performage Plushfire was destroyed, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Performage" monster from my deck!" Dennis called. "Come in Defense Position—Performage Ball Balancer!" A pink clown with a citrusy orange wig appeared, balancing on an enormous ball.

[Performage Ball Balancer (4*/S3/1000/1800/EARTH/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

"And once per turn, Performage Cursed Mask will add a "Performage" monster from my deck to my hand when a Spellcaster monster I control is destroyed by battle!"

"Do you think a single monster changes anything?" Shun slashed forward with a hand. "It is still a Special Summoned monster! Rise Falcon! Brave Claw Revolution!"

Another strike. The monster crumbled under Rise Falcon's claws, gone as quickly as it had appeared.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 5700 - 600 = 5100ATK]

"Next, Performage Fire Dancer! Go, Rise Falcon!" Shun's voice rose to an ever higher, feverish pitch. "Destroy it! Brave Claw Revolution!"

Another strike, a wild beast's claws crushing another monster.

(Except, was Rise Falcon the beast, or was it Shun himself?)

"Fire Dancer's effect lowers your monster's attack points by 500!" Dennis called, but Shun could barely hear him over the feeling of blood rushing to his head.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 5100 - 600 - 500 = 4000ATK]

I won't stop.

I won't stop!

"Attack Performage Trick Clown!" Shun roared. "Brave Claw Revolution!" Rise Falcon's shriek echoed in his ears as the monster was shredded under the bird's claws. The world felt like it was silent, other than his own voice and the sounds of his birds' shrieks.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 4000 - 600 = 3400ATK]

"Trick Clown Special Summons itself back to my field!" Dennis called. "Its attack and defense points are changed to 0!"

"Who cares?" Shun said coldly. "Crush it again beneath your claws—Brave Claw Revolution!"

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 3400 - 600 = 2800ATK]

And now, the only monster remaining was Trapeze Witch herself.

The monster that Dennis had showed to them with that disingenuous smile, when he had seemingly conveyed a sense of vulnerability to them.

"That's not vulnerability or a hope to become stronger," Shun said. "It's just deceit. And deceit always leaves you alone, no matter how many people you try to hide behind."

"Your monster doesn't have enough attack points to defeat Trapeze Witch," Dennis said. "You'll have to attack with Satellite Cannon Falcon—and that means that Rise Falcon can't attack directly! I'll survive!"

Shun clicked his tongue. "Satellite Cannon Falcon! Eternal Avenge!"

[Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon: 4000 - 600 = 3400ATK]

And just like that, Dennis's entire field was wiped out. He hadn't taken any damage.

It was a feat of destructive intent, but Shun wasn't satisfied. He wouldn't be satisfied until his opponent fell.

"Bring out a whole field," he said. "They'll only be my fuel—I'll still win."

[Turn 5: Dennis] [H:2]

"Draw," Dennis said. "I will activate another copy of Magical Pendulum Box!" He revealed the two cards that he drew. "They're both Pendulum Monsters! I will add both of them to my hand. I will then set the Scale 3 Performage Bonus Dealer and the Scale 5 Performage Candy Crafter in the Pendulum Scales!" The two pillars of light rose up around him. Bonus Dealer was a punk-like, pink-haired and short figure who was wearing a red mask, letting out sharp, unstable giggles. Candy Crafter, meanwhile, was a young boy in baggy-looking clothes, holding onto a colourful staff with a dolphin on the end.

"Using Pendulum when you know full well that your allegiance with us is a lie," Shun snarled. "What a disgrace!"

"Power is power, strength is strength," Dennis said curtly. "Do you think that you Lancers have the right to monopolise a single summoning method? It won't take long for others to gain the same power either. With this Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon Level 4 monsters! Pendulum Summon! Return to the field from the Extra Deck—Performage Plushfire! Performage Fire Dancer! Another copy of Fire Dancer! Performage Water Dancer! And Performage Ball Balancer!" All of Dennis's Main Monster Zones filled up with the monsters.

[Performage Plushfire (4*/S5/1000/1000/FIRE/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

[Performage Fire Dancer (x2) (4*/S6/1400/1200/FIRE/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

[Performage Water Dancer (4*/S2/1200/1400/WATER/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

[Performage Ball Balancer (4*/S3/1000/1800/EARTH/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

"I will overlay the Level 4 Water Dancer and the Level 4 Ball Balancer!"

Another Xyz Summon…

"Invisible box, open up to a world of new possibilities," Dennis chanted. "With a shift, a switch, a swirl, slash through all that try to push past the veil! Xyz Summon! Rank 4—Performage Saw Magician!"

A large box appeared, resembling a very colourful coffin in shape and form—and also resembling those boxes that magicians would run a saw through. The trick of seemingly cutting a person's body in two. Then, the box opened on both sides. Two halves of a magician's body emerged. The magician was dressed in sharp, dazzling pink, and he rose up, both halves of his body snapping together, before he spun a long saw around with his left hand. Beneath a pink mask, he grinned a sharp grin.

[Performage Saw Magician (R4/2500/1700/EARTH/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"When Saw Magician is Xyz Summoned, I can target a monster you control and banish it until the End Phase," Dennis declared. "I will shove your Satellite Cannon Falcon in the box!"

Shun raised a hand. Satellite Cannon Falcon shrieked. "I will activate Satellite Cannon Falcon's effect," he said sharply. "I will detach an Overlay Unit and decrease the attack points of a monster you control by 800 for each "Raid Raptors" monster in my graveyard. I will tell you this easily—your monster will have no more attack points after this!"

[Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon: OU:1 - 1 = OU:0]

Satellite Cannon Falcon fired down, and dark explosions consumed the entire field—all of it collateral damage for the sake of aiming at a single monster.

[Performage Saw Magician: 2500 → 0ATK]

However, Satellite Cannon Falcon was still wiped off the field, dragged into a large box and cut in half by the magician. The Equip Spell slipped into the graveyard, not fulfilling its intended purpose.

"It's futile," Dennis said. "I will activate Saw Magician's other effect. I will detach an Overlay Unit to change your monster's battle position, and add a Pendulum Monster from my graveyard to my hand."

[Performage Saw Magician: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

Rise Falcon was forced into Defense Position, and he added a card from his graveyard to his hand. "And now—" He revealed the other card that had been left in his hand. "Spell Card, Polymerization!"

Stop it.

Stop it.

Stop using that card. Stop using that in front of me.

Every time I see a Fusion Summon, I feel like someone is tying a noose around my neck.

"I will fuse my two Performage Fire Dancers!" He called. "Creator of the antique machines that remain backstage. Now, awaken the power nested in your eye and tear down any unnecessary actors on this stage! Fusion Summon! Level 8! Performage Automaton Engineer!" A magician who had most of its body made of shiny-looking purple-tinted grey metal parts appeared, with two differently-coloured eyes—one a normal human green eye, the other a glowing red-orange eye that reminded Shun of the eye at the top of Antique Gear Chaos Giant's head. She was wearing a long purple robe that flared out behind her in golden trim. She tipped a black top hat, and she spun around in front of him, a sly smirk on her face. The top half of her face, except the eyes, was covered with a purple mask.

[Performage Automaton Engineer (8*/2900/1600/DARK/Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect)]

"Automaton Engineer's effect," Dennis called. "I can tribute a "Performage" monster and Special Summon a "Performage" monster from my Extra Deck! Boost Remake!" The now useless Saw Magician dissolved into particles. "Come—Performage Shadow Maker!" A dark silhouette appeared in front of him, wearing a bright red bow tie and a bright green hat with yellow stars on it.

[Performage Shadow Maker (R5/2600/1000/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:0)]

"Using another Xyz Monster?"

"It's not like I could've posed as a person from your dimension without being decent at Xyz Summoning," Dennis muttered. "Or gotten into the Maiami Championship without suspicion if I used Fusion Summoning there… at this point, I have more Xyz Monsters than Fusion Monsters. When Saw Magician is sent to the graveyard, I gain 1000 life points."

Dennis: 3500 + 1000 = 4500LP

Then, he snapped his fingers. "Your Rise Falcon has 2000 defense points. And when a "Performage" monster I control declares an attack while I control Automaton Engineer, you cannot activate Spell or Trap effects until the end of the Damage Step!"

Shun gnashed his teeth. Nue narrowed her eyes. Up in his room, Yuto clenched a fist. At the same time, all three of them thought the same thing.

That's the effect of the Antique Gear monsters. No wonder he never used this one—it's a dead giveaway.

Take him out, Shun—

Avenge Ruri.

Avenge yourself.

"Performage Shadow Maker attacks Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon!"

Shun glanced at the cards in his hand and on his field, and he understood something intuitively.

I'm sorry, Rise Falcon. There is no way to save you.

But I will take him down.

"Do you think that we of the Resistance wouldn't already be used to our Spells and Traps being sealed off?" He said challengingly. "When a "Raid Raptors" monster I control battles, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Last Strix from my hand!" A yellow and red bird appeared, the ends of its wings being dark metallic green.

[Raid Raptors - Last Strix (1*/100/100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"And then, I gain 100 life points for each Spell or Trap I control or that is in my graveyard," Shun continued. "I control Raid Raptors - Nest. In my graveyard are Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force, Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force, Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force and Raptor's Ultimate Mace!"

Shun: 2800 + 100 x 5 = 3300LP

"So you have two shields from my attacks," Dennis said. "Well, that's fine." Shadow Maker sliced straight through Rise Falcon, a sharp silhouette seeming to slide through—and then, like a paper, 2D image, the bird slowly slid apart into two halves. "Automaton Engineer attacks your Last Strix! And when it declares an attack, Automaton Engineer gains 200 attack points!"

[Performage Automaton Engineer: 2900 + 200 = 3100ATK]

"It doesn't matter," Shun said coldly. He revealed another card in his hand.

If there's one monster that I cannot allow to remain on this field, it's that one. It's the one disguising as an entertainer when it's a killing machine under the mask.

"When you attack a "Raid Raptors" monster I control, I can banish Raid Raptors - Booster Strix from my hand to destroy the attacking monster," Shun called. The translucent spirit of a green bird appeared, glowing brightly and surrounding Automaton Engineer, before shredding it into metal parts and pieces of colourful fabric.

As it should be. He would never allow them any presence in front of him again.

"Plushfire will attack your monster!" Last Strix was destroyed by the small fire monster, but since it was in Defense Position, Shun didn't take any damage.

"... I'll end my turn," Dennis said.

Shun tilted his head forward. He raised a hand.

Satellite Cannon Falcon reappeared on his field.

[Turn 6: Shun] [H:3]

Shun drew a card wordlessly. "I will Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture," he called after a moment. In front of him, a dark bird surrounded entirely by shadows appeared—purple and black, giving off an uneasy feeling.

[Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture (4*/1000/1600/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Vulture, not Lanius or Falcon or Strix…" Dennis muttered.

"It's a vulture, because it snatches victory from the clutches of the dead," Shun said sharply. "Since I control at least two "Raid Raptors" monsters, I can add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand with the effect of Raid Raptors - Nest. Since all monsters I control are Winged Beast monsters, and at last two of them have different original names, I can activate the Spell Card, Wing Requital! I'll pay 600 life points to draw two cards!"

Shun: 3300 - 600 = 2700LP

"I'll use Necro Vulture's effect. I can tribute a "Raid Raptors" monster I control to add a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell Card from my graveyard to my hand, but I cannot Xyz Summon "Raid Raptors" monsters this turn, except by the effect of a "Rank-Up-Magic" card. I will tribute Necro Vulture itself." Necro Vulture flew upwards with a loud shriek, before dissolving into dark swirls of wind. He retrieved the card from his graveyard swiftly. "I will activate Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force. I will Rank Up Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon by one Rank!"

"A Rank 9 monster." Dennis frowned. "How powerful do your monsters become?"

"My cards don't normally allow me to bring out this one," Shun said. He slammed his arm on the handlebar of his D-Wheel, his mind rushing through a thousand images at once. "But this is personal. And so—she should be allowed to exact her vengeance on you too!"

"... wait, do you mean…"

"Birds with wings darkened by revenge and rebellion!" Shun shouted. "Let your cries of rage take on the form of brutal beauty—grace that no cruel being has the right to lay eyes upon! Feathers of glory that shatter all shadow! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 9! Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon!"

A beautiful, large falcon appeared, two golden rings surrounding it like the spinning rings of a gyroscope. Its feathers were brilliant blue and beige and pink, all of them melding into each other like the fantastical patterns of a kaleidoscope. They were far longer feathers than most of Shun's other monsters—as long as a sword, but thinner at the same time, like a graceful fan. The monster looked far too graceful to be in battle. There was something distinctly feminine to the structure of its head—a headdress of azure flowers that formed a headdress over an avian head—no signs of anything human at all, just a golden bird's head surrounded by lighter feathers—with piercing dark pink eyes.

[Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon (R9/0/3000/LIGHT/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

"This one is…" Dennis sounded slightly hoarse—as though he was in shock.

"You should recognise it," Shun said coldly.

From above, Yuto sank back, his anger ebbing slightly at the sight of the monster. "Ruri," he murmured.

The dark pink eyes of the bird—nothing humanoid, but of a specific shade that made Dennis flinch away. The shade of her eyes.

"Once per turn, Assembly Galebarrier Falcon can attach a Winged Beast monster from the graveyard to itself as an Overlay Unit," Shun declared. He pulled out Rise Falcon's card from his graveyard. Purple and black feathers bloomed from within the bird's wings. Carry my wishes to protect her. "And Assembly Galebarrier Falcon gains the effects of all Xyz Monsters attached to it as Overlay Units!"

[Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon: OU:1 + 1 = OU:2]

"What?" Dennis exclaimed. "Then—but that monster has no attack points!"

"It does not matter," Shun said. "Because—"

I'll always be there to support you, Ruri. No matter what, I promise that I'll be there for you!

"She is not defenceless," he continued. "I will use Assembly Galebarrier Falcon's effect. Once per turn, I can target a Special Summoned monster on the field and return it to the hand, and Assembly Galebarrier Falcon gains attack points equal to that monster's original attack points! I will return Shadow Maker to the hand! Swirling Galeburst!" The Xyz Monster vanished from the field—good riddance.

[Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon: 0 + 2600 = 2600ATK]

Because of Performage Cursed Mask, he wouldn't be able to defeat Dennis this turn, since he couldn't deal the redhead damage. But at the very least—

He would force Dennis to face what he had done. Look at this, he wanted to say aloud. This is how radiant she was. And you dared to lay a hand on her? How dare you?

"Attack Performage Plushfire! Avian Obliterate!"

The bright-coloured feathers flew forward, shredding the fire spirit.

"When Plushfire is destroyed, I can Special Summon a "Performage" monster from my deck! Come—Performage Bubble Gardna!" A child-like figure holding onto a pink balloon crab on a string appeared, with bubbles around its waist and its hat being a large half-bubble.

[Performage Bubble Gardna (4*/S2/800/2000/WATER/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

"Since Assembly Galebarrier Falcon inherited the effect of Rise Falcon, it can attack all Special Summoned monsters you control! Avian Obliterate!" The second attack hit, but surprisingly, Bubble Gardna wasn't destroyed.

"Once per turn, if a "Performage" monster would be destroyed by battle or card effect, I can negate that destruction with Bubble Gardna's effect!"

"Tch!" Shun waved out a hand. "Over to you."

"... during the end of your Battle Phase, since your monster has higher attack points than the total attack points of all "Performage" monsters I control—so just Bubble Gardna—I can gain 1000 life points with the Pendulum Effect of Candy Craftsman."

Dennis: 4500 + 1000 = 5500LP

---

[Turn 7: Dennis] [H:2]

Dennis's hand was shaking slightly as he drew a card. He couldn't look at the monster on Shun Kurosaki's field.

Alright. Alright. Fine.

Deep breaths.

(In the back of his mind, forcibly suppressed by himself, was a quiet voice, rough like gravel.)

("... it is a life of suffering to carry on, wondering why you lived when they did not. But if you keep on holding it in, it will fester like a sore. It will fill you with doubts, and you will never be able to move forward. It will become a noose that you use to hang yourself.")

("That smile of yours is so artificial. I thought, initially, that it was hiding malice. But you don't have it in you to be the villain. You are far too sad for that.")

"I," he muttered to himself, "am the villain. I am the villain. I will judge myself…"

Why was he so afraid? It wasn't like he had no options right now, right?

It was those eyes. Her eyes.

"Dennis! Are you alright?"

"I'll help your friends!"

Her sweet, friendly, concerned voice, which had been tormenting him for the last few months. Not because he liked her or anything like that—absolutely not—but because of how genuine she had been. She had wanted to lend him a hand. She hadn't even considered for a moment that he was a liar, and it was because of her trust in him—the trust that Dennis had never received from anyone else—that she had been kidnapped in the first place.

And Dennis—

Despite the fact that it had all gone according to plan, despite the fact that he was just following orders, Dennis couldn't help but despise himself for it.

In front of this monster with her eyes…

A single spot appeared on his duel disk. Then, another. His eyes felt like they were burning. He touched the water that had dripped on his duel disk.

Were those… tears?

No, no, why would he be crying? He had succeeded! He had become one of the most trusted spies that Academia had, he had been dispatched on missions that were more important than most others got to even think about! Even now, he had completed his mission well—he had earned Reiji Akaba's trust, to the point where he had Pendulum Monsters, the Lancers' strongest weapons. There was no reason that he should find it hard to breathe, no reason that his eyes should feel like they were fighting some invisible force, no reason that those two drops of water on his duel disk should be there, like a gaze staring at him and accusing him.

"... what?" Shun said, sounding ticked off but confused at the same time. "What are you…"

Dennis batted at his own face, forcing himself to focus. He couldn't stop the tears, but he could at least force the strangled words out. "I will send Performage Cursed Mask from my field to the graveyard to add a "Performage" monster from my deck or graveyard to my hand. I will add one from my deck to my hand. With my current Pendulum Scale, I can Pendulum Summon Level 4 monsters! Pendulum Summon! From my hand, Performage Water Dancer! Performage Mirror Conductor! Performage Damage Juggler! And from my Extra Deck, Performage Fire Dancer and Performage Plushfire!" He filled up his Main Monster Zones, with Plushfire going in his Extra Monster Zone.

[Performage Water Dancer (4*/S2/1200/1400/WATER/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

[Performage Mirror Conductor (4*/S4/600/1400/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

[Performage Damage Juggler (4*/1500/1000/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]

[Performage Fire Dancer (4*/S6/1400/1200/FIRE/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

[Performage Plushfire (4*/S5/1000/1000/FIRE/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

Damn it. His stupid hands were still trembling.

"Since I Pendulum Summoned at least three "Performage" monsters from my hand, I can draw two cards with Bonus Dealer's Pendulum Effect!" He swiped up two more cards from his deck.

… why was it this card? Why these two cards, when he wanted to see them the least?

"Yes, I do think that you'll make a good Entertainment Duelist one day. If you let yourself be free of your worries, of course! You've already nailed the part where you entertain the audience. The next step is to be more honest with yourself, to entertain yourself as well."

But he couldn't just lose. If he lost here—

If he lost here, it was all over.

(Deep within him, a part of him shouted yes, please. I don't want to do this any longer.)

(He ignored it.)

"Spell Card, Smile World!" He shouted, and around them, the familiar childish drawings of different symbols with smiles on them appeared.

Yuya's head jerked forward for a moment. "Smile World?" He exclaimed, watching the familiar sight of one of his father's signature cards. "Why—why does he have that card?"

"All monsters on the field gain 100 attack points for each monster on the field until the end of this turn!" Dennis declared.

[Performage Water Dancer: 1200 + 100 x 7 = 1900ATK]

[Performage Fire Dancer: 1400 + 100 x 7 = 2100ATK]

[Performage Mirror Conductor: 600 + 100 x 7 = 1300ATK]

[Performage Damage Juggler: 1500 + 100 x 7 = 2200ATK]

[Performage Plushfire: 1000 + 100 x 7 = 1700ATK]

[Performage Bubble Gardna: 800 + 100 x 7 = 1500ATK]

[Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon: 2600 + 100 x 7 = 3300ATK]

"But you boosted my monster as well," Shun replied sharply. "What's your plan here?"

"Spell Card, Performance Sky Somersault!" Dennis placed down the other card in his hand. "I will target a monster on the field with its attack points currently different from its original attack points, and change its attack points to 0! And then, you gain life points equal to the change!" He gestured to Assembly Galebarrier Falcon, which was flung through the air by a sudden gust of wind, before it toppled to the ground, a blast of light striking it from the sky.

[Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon: 3300 → 0ATK]

Shun: 2700 + 3300 = 6000LP

"And you take halved damage from battles involving that monster!" But it would be gone with the first attack, so it didn't matter. "Attack that monster, Mirror Conductor!" With a sharp glint of light, Mirror Conductor struck at the monster.

And—

It wasn't destroyed.

Shun: 6000 - 1300 / 2 = 5350LP

"You should find this familiar," Shun said, with no trace of irony in the slightest. "Assembly Galebarrier Falcon cannot be destroyed by battle, or by card effects."

… and Dennis understood that perfectly.

"Water Dancer," he called. "Fire Dancer. Bubble Gardna." Each of the monsters batted against the helpless bird with their own attacks—and it felt awful. He was stoning something innocent and helpless for the sake of something else.

But that 'something else' didn't—couldn't justify this.

What was the difference between what he was doing to this bird and what he did to Ruri Kurosaki? What was the difference between the number of lives he had taken and this?

Helplessness. Innocence.

From above, as the attacks hit, Yuya looked away. "... he's using Smile World as nothing more than a weapon," he murmured. "But Smile World is our card, dad. Why did you give it to him, if he was going to use it like… this?"

Shun: 5350 - 1900 / 2 - 2100 / 2 - 1500 / 2 = 2600LP

The bird let out another cry, and it felt like it was piercing through his head.

"Plushfire," he croaked out, unable to stop the feeling of numbness in his head from overwhelming him. "Damage Juggler." His hands didn't feel like he was the one moving them—he felt like he wasn't there, like this was someone else—

But it was him, wasn't it?

Shun: 2600 - 1700 / 2 - 2200 / 2 = 650LP

And he couldn't help it. This feeling of watching—of being the one to put others in pain—

He hated it. He recognised that much.

Just a little more. It'll be over then.

"I'll end my turn," he said, and it was almost like a plea. His monsters' attack points returned to normal.

Shun looked at him—properly looked at him. The anger was there, and the hatred was also there. All of that focused on him, like a laser to pierce directly through him.

At the same time, there was something sharp—something trying to see through him, not just at him. Shun Kurosaki was trying to understand what was going on in his head, and the thought made Dennis want to laugh. Imagine that. Imagine someone trying to understand—

This tangled mess in his head.

"You're horrible," Shun said after a moment. "But, thinking back to then—if you had lied to me, I would have known. There was truth to your words back then. So, what did you see? Why do you have a look like that on your face right now, when you're losing to me?" The last few words came out in a sharp hiss. "What were you talking about, back then?"

Dennis shook his head. He couldn't say it. He could not—

"Fine then," Shun spat out. "Whatever happens next—it's on your head."

---

[Turn 8: Shun] [H:5]

"Draw," Shun declared. "You… crippled this monster that, to me, represents the sister that I love so much." Thinking about it nearly made him snarl. "So fine. I'll let Ruri get revenge on her own. This moment—this is my moment." He gestured to Assembly Galebarrier Falcon. "She will attach Force Strix from the graveyard to her as an Overlay Unit!"

[Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon: OU:2 + 1 = OU:3]

He revealed a card in his hand. "I will activate the Spell Card, Rank-Up Return! I will add a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell Card from my graveyard to my hand! Return to me—Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force!" He played the card immediately.

Dennis watched him, that same turmoil clear in his eyes.

It did not stop Shun's anger.

"I will Rank Up Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon by one Rank!" The bird limply flew up, before letting out a defiant cry and dissolving into a bright streak of light. "Supreme falcon. Carry on the wishes of your fallen friends, and fly off to the sky of victory! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 10! Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon!"

A large, splendid golden falcon appeared—its feathers bright and glaring, hard to look at due to how bright they were. They carried a metallic shine to them, which reflected the lights all around them on the track. The bird itself was as large as the track was wide—it cast a shadow on the track, over both of them, and over all six of Dennis's monsters. A golden ring of light burst into existence behind it. Black secondary feathers could be seen—blade-like, less prominent than the primaries but no less sharp.

Shun's ace, the one that had won him so many matches back in Heartland—

Ultimate Falcon let out a loud cry, and for a moment, Shun's heart settled. For a moment, he remembered an easier time, when bringing out this monster would make all the children cheer, would make Yuto nod confidently, would make Ruri smile brightly, would make Nue and Kaito and everyone else who had wanted to be strong rise up to the challenge.

The moment passed.

Shun's anger returned with a vengeance.

There was a very good reason that they no longer had those moments in their lives. And its representative was there, right next to him, ready for judgement.

[Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon (R10/3500/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:4)]

"Ultimate Falcon," Serena muttered. "So this is Kurosaki's strongest monster?"

"... well," Yuno said after a moment, "I'm glad that's not aimed at us."

Sora scowled. "He didn't use that against me," he complained, but he fell silent as he glanced to Yuto, who was staring at the screen. The tension that had been in the dark-haired boy's figure the entire time seemed to be slowly losing its grip on him, just from the presence of that monster.

"... I don't remember the last time I fought that monster," Nue muttered bitterly to herself. Those duels for leisure had been buried behind the messy waves of encounters that they had on the battlefield. But… "It's still just as… fitting for him as it's always been, isn't it?"

"I will use the effect of Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon," Shun declared. "I will detach an Overlay Unit from it, and negate the effects of as many face-up cards you control as possible, until the end of the turn. All your monsters also lose 1000 attack points! Thunderclap Resolution Airstrike!" Ultimate Falcon let out a victorious screech, and from around it, golden light bombarded Dennis's entire field, leaving nothing unscathed—either forced to cower or blocked out from the match entirely.

Setting the field back to zero, as it were.

[Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon: OU:4 - 1 = OU:3]

[Performage Water Dancer: 1200 - 1000 = 200ATK]

[Performage Fire Dancer: 1400 - 1000 = 400ATK]

[Performage Mirror Conductor: 600 - 1000 = 0ATK]

[Performage Damage Juggler: 1500 - 1000 = 500ATK]

[Performage Plushfire: 1000 - 1000 = 0ATK]

[Performage Bubble Gardna: 800 - 1000 = 0ATK]

"Of course," Shun continued, "I'm not going to settle for just lowering your monster's attack points. I am going to defeat you this turn—no matter what. So—here is my conviction. Since I control only "Raid Raptors" monsters, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle from my hand." A sleek silver and purple bird appeared in front of him, letting out a shrill sound.

[Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle (3*/700/700/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"With Raid Raptors - Nest's effect, I will add Raid Raptors - Skull Eagle to my hand and Normal Summon it." The mostly white bird appeared, black wings flaring out. Pink lines ran all over its body.

[Raid Raptors - Skull Eagle (3*/1000/500/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"And I will overlay the Level 3 Skull Eagle and Heel Eagle," Shun declared. The two smaller birds flew together. "Crimson wings stained with blood. Now, with the shrill hunter's cry that calls for rebellion, carve forth a path through your unlawful means! Xyz Summon! Rank 3—Raid Raptors - Devil Eagle!" A black bird with bright red wings appeared, much smaller than the rest of Shun's monsters, perching on one wing of Ultimate Falcon.

[Raid Raptors - Devil Eagle (R3/1000/0/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Skull Eagle gives the monster that used it as Xyz Material 300 more attack points."

[Raid Raptors - Devil Eagle: 1000 + 300 = 1300ATK]

"I will activate the effect of Devil Eagle. Once per turn, I can detach one of its Overlay Units to inflict damage to you, equal to the original attack points of one of your Special Summoned monsters. I will choose Damage Juggler! Talon Scraper!" The bird flew forward, pulling a long talon across the air, sending a slash of dark energy straight towards Dennis.

[Raid Raptors - Devil Eagle: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

Dennis: 5500 - 1500 = 4000LP

"I will banish the detached Skull Eagle from the graveyard and add a "Raid Raptors" card from my graveyard to my hand. I will add Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius from my graveyard to my hand and Special Summon it." The bone white bird with green streaks on it reappeared on his field.

[Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius (4*/1600/1100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"I will then use Strangle Lanius's effect. Since I control an Xyz Monster with a DARK Xyz Monster as material, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from my graveyard with its effects negated. Come back—Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius." The small golden bird appeared.

[Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius (4*/100/100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"I will then Special Summon Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from my hand," he continued. The purple bird reappeared.

[Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius (4*/500/1500/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

Shun pointed forward. "First. Fuzzy Lanius attacks Mirror Conductor."

Dennis: 4000 - 500 = 3500LP

"Singing Lanius attacks Plushfire."

If Shun had wanted to win immediately, he would have simply brought back his stronger Raid Raptors. But that was not what he wanted.

He wanted to make a point.

Dennis had attacked him one by one with all of his monsters, but in the end, because he had assumed that he would be able to finish Shun off, he had barely fallen short.

Shun had not made the same mistake.

Another strike. Dennis did not use Plushfire's effect. He seemed to know that there was no point.

Dennis: 3500 - 100 = 3400LP

Dennis had underestimated the monster that represented Ruri's will.

"Devil Eagle attacks Bubble Gardna." The monster couldn't activate its own effect, since it had been negated by Ultimate Falcon. The attack finished it off.

Dennis: 3400 - 1300 = 2100LP

Water Dancer and Fire Dancer both had detrimental effects when they were destroyed. However, Shun did not care about that.

After all—

He and Dennis were both very aware. If he attacked with Ultimate Falcon, he would win before the monsters were destroyed.

But—

"Strangle Lanius attacks Damage Juggler," he said, and it sounded like a demand—a demand that Dennis repay what he had taken from them. Every strike was more than a single attack. Because Shun was not the only one that had been wronged. So many attacks, one by one, each of them representative of more than just himself. All the people that had suffered.

Dennis: 2100 - 1100 = 1000LP

And so, he would allow each of them their piece before he took his own satisfaction.

Singing Lanius. The one that would always return to the sides of the people that she cared for, appearing weak but still fighting regardless. Ruri.

Strangle Lanius—strong and reinforcing from the sidelines. Yuto.

Fuzzy Lanius—resilient, always returning, appearing weak but perhaps being the one that would crawl out of a grave if someone put her in it. Nue.

Devil Eagle. Strong, using their opponent's strength against them, cleverer than most. Kaito.

This is how you use the strength of a collective.

Not as simple battering rams.

Each of them has their own strengths—their own hearts. And if you use their strength, you must answer to them. You must take responsibility for them.

But I don't think that Academia knows how to do that.

"This is it," Shun said, and for some reason, he was shaking. Not out of fear. Not out of exhilaration, or anything like that.

If he was shaking, it was because he finally knew why. It was because he had been waiting for this moment for so long.

It was because he couldn't contain the anger that sought to tear him apart from the inside out.

"Ultimate Falcon attacks Fire Dancer," he said. "Final Glorious Bright."

And with a shriek, the world shook with the force of the next blow. The Real Solid Vision demolished part of the track, though not to the point where it was impassable.

The golden light consumed everything.

Shun did not look at his opponent. He inhaled slowly, let himself bathe in the light, and he breathed out again.

Dennis: 1000 - 3100 = 0LP

Winner: Shun Kurosaki!

It could have been far more simple.

But if it was simple, he might not feel as satisfied.

The wheels rolled to a stop.

Shun got off his D-Wheel, raised his fist and punched Dennis directly in the face, before he grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, shaking him.

"Why Heartland?" He roared, the words coming to him in a choked gasp. "Why Ruri? Why us? Why were we the ones to suffer? Why did you all do any of this?"

And Dennis did not reply. Instead, he let out a sound that might have been a wretched sob. It might also have been a laugh.

"Answer me!" He roared. "Why did you do any of this? I'm owed an answer!"

"... what do I owe you?" Dennis finally said. "I owe her a lot, but what do I owe you?" He was shaking now as well—both of them were shaking, and neither of them knew why. "I knew, I knew, I knew—" He sounded like he was choking on his own breath with how quickly he was stammering those words. "I knew, but it was still hell to stand there anyway. They said that your sister was necessary for the utopia, but I don't know—why her? She didn't deserve—"

Shun looked at him. His perspective seemed to shake for a moment—his whole world flipping upside down.

… those tears. Are they not for himself?

Are they because he feels guilty for what he did to Ruri?

"... hey," Shun said. "Back then, when that officer attacked me. You weren't holding back against either of them. I could tell—you fought to the best of your ability. Why? If we were arrested—wasn't that better for you?"

"I don't know," Dennis said. "I don't know." And then, contrary to his words, he carried on anyway—like a vase that had been filled to the brim, with no way to go but to overflow with tears and guilt. "She was kind to me. So were you. And Serena. And—these last few weeks have been the happiest days of my life. I felt like I had friends again. I felt like I could think—smile—"

He laughed.

"So many times, I wanted to confess something. I don't know what I would have said, but I knew I wanted to tell the truth. But I didn't want these days to end."

Abruptly, Shun's anger was completely sapped from him. He let go of Dennis, falling back. "... you're a fucking idiot," he said, but there was no coldness to it. "You made the worst choices—and you have the gall to be guilty over them?" His voice was hoarse, but he still shouted anyway.

The officers finally came over. Shun almost pursued them to carry on—but he restrained himself.

He didn't know what to do with himself anymore.

He found himself walking back to the garage.

Warm arms wrapped around him tightly. "Oh, Shun," Nue whispered, her voice sounding faint as his head continued to spin. "Shun. Shun, it'll be alright. Sit down. It'll be alright." She gently guided him into a sitting position. He babbled out something that might have been words. Something about Ruri, something about injustice, something about irresolution. "I know, Shun. It's going to be alright. We'll find her and make it through this."

"Shun." And there was Yuto's hand as well, gentle and reassuring on his. "Shun. It'll be alright. Breathe slowly. In. Out." Shun listened. "Good. In. Out." He repeated it over and over. In the background, someone said something about the next match needing to start. Nue brusquely replied to them, telling them to fuck off. A sharp laugh left Shun's hoarse throat.

He was so fucking tired of feeling this way. Feeling this violent rage—it was so painful to be angry.

"That's it, Shun. In. Out." Yuto continued helping to ground him. "You did well. You won, Shun. We're not in Heartland. We're here."

"Here," Shun repeated.

"Yes." Yuto carefully guided his hand up, closing it and opening it. "You won."

Exhaustion seeped through his bones. "... I don't know if I did the right thing today," he confessed. Because a better person might have reached out. They might have tried to do something—redeem their opponent, said something kind, helped them to be a better person—but Shun couldn't do that. He had been blinded by rage. He had wanted his opponent to die—and he had wanted to—

And he must have said all of that and more aloud, because Yuto breathed in sharply.

Nue continued hugging him. "Don't judge yourself by the standards of other people," she said. "We're just trying to live." Her voice was sharp, confident and yet still kind to him, in the way that she was only kind to the people that she cared for. "If you had tried to forgive him there, you really would have killed yourself in the process, Shun. We can only be so kind when… when we're like this."

"... yeah," Yuto said. "And I'd rather you were alive than they were, when it comes down to the grand scheme of things. Maybe someone would have been kinder. But they're not you. And we can say a lot but—if they're not in that position, they can't fully understand."

Shun pressed his clammy hands together. His attack had finally subsided. All of them in the Resistance were used to this—to grounding each other from these bouts of terror and trauma.

Then, he remembered.

"You two—" He was about to get to his feet, but he was too shaky to do so. "Your match is—"

And from the looks of it, they were both very aware of it.

"It's fine, Shun," Yuto said. "It's been the three of us all this time. We wouldn't ignore you for our own troubles." His smile was as reassuring as ever. "Whatever happens… happens. Right, onee-san?"

Nue nodded. She gently let go of Shun. "We'll need to go soon," she said. "But Shun—when you can walk, try to get back, alright? Whichever one of us…" She didn't finish that sentence. "Well, we'll be there."

Shun watched as the two of them headed to their D-Wheels.

My match was cruel. That might have been unintentional on the part of the organisers.

… but this one is intentionally awful.

---

"Find Dennis," Roget said sharply. "Now." The Academia spy had somehow given the officers the slip, which was ridiculous—he was just a boy! He grimaced. If Kaname wasn't supposed to be spying on the Lancers for him, he'd have sent her out. Chino and Makoto were both busy too, and who knew where Arisu had gone this time. It was hard to find good help these days.

He glanced at the screen that was replaying the duel. He had hoped that the Resistance member would help to eliminate Dennis for him, and everything had gone according to plan. (Except for the property damage that Shun Kurosaki had done, which he would be punished for when Roget had the chance.) At least, it had gone according to plan until Dennis escaped.

But he couldn't have gone far, right?

… fuck.

---

"... Kurosaki."

Shun looked forward. Mion Myojin held out a hand. "I have a pretty strong arm," she said. "And I saw that you might need help. Can I help you back to your room?"

Shun exhaled.

… Dennis betrayed us—

But I can't distrust all of them for that reason alone. And she's just asking to help me.

"That would be appreciated," he said, and when he smiled, it was almost genuine.

---

Duel 1 Summary: Shun Kurosaki vs Dennis Mackfield

Duel Format: Normal Duel

Turn 1: Dennis Mackfield

Dennis activates the Spell Card, Magical Pendulum Box. He draws 2 cards. Since they're Pendulum Monsters, he can keep them. He sets the Scale 2 Performage Water Dancer and the Scale 6 Performage Fire Dancer in the Pendulum Scales. He Pendulum Summon Performage Trick Clown (4*/1600/1200) and Performage Damage Juggler (4*/1500/1000) from his hand. He overlays them to Xyz Summon Performage Trapeze Magician (R4/2500/2000/OU:2) in Attack Position. He sets a card and ends his turn.

Turn 2: Shun Kurosaki

Shun draws. He Normal Summons Raid Raptors - Vanishing Lanius. (4*/1300/1600) He uses its effect to Special Summon Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius (4*/1100/1900) from his hand. He activates the Continuous Spell, Raid Raptors - Nest. With its effect, he adds a "Raid Raptors" monster from his Deck to his hand. He uses Mimicry Lanius and Vanishing Lanius to Link Summon Raid Raptors - Wise Strix. (L2/1400/↙, ↘) He uses Wise Strix's effect to Special Summon Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius (4*/500/1500) from his Deck with its effects negated. He Special Summons Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius (4*/1600/1100) from his hand since he controls a DARK monster. He overlays the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius and Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius to Xyz Summon Raid Raptors - Force Strix (R4/100/2000/OU:2) in Defense Position. He uses Force Strix's effect to detach an Overlay Unit and add a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from his Deck to his hand. He then uses Wise Strix's effect to set Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force from his Deck. He uses Fuzzy Lanius's effect to add another Fuzzy Lanius from his Deck to his hand. He uses Mimicry Lanius's effect in the GY to banish it and add a "Raid Raptors" card from his Deck to his hand. He activates his set Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force, Ranking Up Force Strix by 1 Rank, Xyz Summoning Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon. (R5/1000/2000/OU:2) Dennis activates the set Continuous Trap, Mage's Fortress, stopping Shun from declaring an attack while he controls a Spellcaster monster. He activates Trapeze Magician's effect, granting Blaze Falcon two attacks this turn, but destroying it if it does not make two attacks by the end of the Battle Phase. Shun moves to his Main Phase 2. Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon is destroyed by the effect of Trapeze Magician. Shun activates the Quickplay Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force, Ranking Up Blaze Falcon by 1 Rank. He Xyz Summons Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon (R6/2000/3000/OU:1) in Attack Position. He uses Revolution Falcon's effect to destroy Trapeze Magician and inflict damage to Dennis equal to half its attack points. Dennis Special Summons Performage Flame Eater (4*/1200/1600) from his hand and reduces the damage to 0. Since Trick Clown was sent to the GY, Dennis can Special Summon it with its effect and reduce its ATK and DEF to 0. Shun sets 2 cards and ends his turn.

Turn 3: Dennis Mackfield

Dennis draws. He activates the Spell Card, Performage Chaos Fusion, sending Polymerization from his Deck to the GY and placing Pendulum Monsters from his Deck in the Extra Deck face-up for a Fusion Summon. He fuses Performage Fire Dancer and Performage Plushfire to Fusion Summon Performage Blazing Dancer. (6*/2000/1500) He uses its effect to destroy Revolution Falcon and take 500 damage. [DM: 4000 - 500 = 3500LP] Dennis Pendulum Summons Performage Fire Dancer (4*/S6/1400/1200) and Performage Plushfire (4*/S5/1000/1000) from the Extra Deck. He banishes Chaos Fusion from his graveyard to add Polymerization from his Deck to his hand. He activates it, fusing Flame Eater and Trick Clown to Fusion Summon Performage Trapeze Witch. (7*/2400/1800) Trick Clown Special Summons itself in Defense Position with its stats changed to 0. Shun activates the Trap Card, Xyz Reborn, reviving Force Strix in Defense Position. Blazing Dancer attacks Wise Strix. Trapeze Witch's effect lowers Wise Strix's ATK by 600. (RRWS: 1400 - 600 = 800ATK) [SK: 4000 - 1200 = 2800LP] Trapeze Witch attacks Force Strix and destroys it. Shun activates the Quickplay Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force, Special Summoning Force Strix and using it as material to Xyz Summon a "Raid Raptors" Xyz Monster with double the Rank. He Xyz Summons Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon. (R8/3000/2000/OU:1) Satellite Cannon Falcon's effect destroys all Spells/Traps that Dennis controls. Since Mage's Fortress was destroyed, Dennis can draw a card. He sets 1 card facedown and ends his turn.

Turn 4: Shun Kurosaki

Shun draws. He activates the Equip Spell, Raptor's Ultimate Mace, giving it to Satellite Cannon Falcon and granting it 1000 ATK. (RRSCF: 3000 + 1000 = 4000ATK) He Special Summons Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from his hand. He then Normal Summons Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius (4*/1800/400) and uses its effect to send a "Raid Raptors" card from his Deck to the graveyard. He banishes Mimicry Lanius from his GY to add a "Raid Raptors" card from his Deck to his hand. He uses Raid Raptors - Nest's effect to add a "Raid Raptors" monster from his Deck to his hand. He then Special Summons Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius (4*/100/100) since he controls a Xyz Monster. He overlays the Level 4 Fuzzy Lanius, Singing Lanius and Tribute Lanius to Xyz Summon Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon. (R4/100/2000/OU:3) He detaches an Overlay Unit from Rise Falcon to have it gain ATK equal to the total ATK of all of Dennis's Special Summoned monsters. (RRRF: 100 → 6900ATK) Dennis activates the Continuous Trap, Performage Cursed Mask. He takes no damage from battles involving a Spellcaster monster. Rise Falcon can attack all Special Summoned monsters that Dennis controls. Rise Falcon attacks Blazing Dancer. Performage Trapeze Witch lowers its ATK by 600 when it battles. And if you think I'm writing that long series of ATK changes individually, lmao, no. Rise Falcon then attacks Plushfire. Plushfire Special Summons Performage Ball Balancer (4*/S3/1000/1800) from the Deck. Cursed Mask lets Dennis add a "Performage" monster from his Deck to his hand, since a Spellcaster monster he controlled was destroyed by battle. Rise Falcon attacks Ball Balancer and Fire Dancer. Fire Dancer lowers Rise Falcon's ATK by 500. Rise Falcon attacks Trick Clown. Trick Clown revives itself in Defense Position. Rise Falcon attacks Trick Clown again. Satellite Cannon Falcon attacks Performage Trapeze Witch. (RRRF: 6900 → 2800ATK) (RRSCF: 4000 - 600 = 3400ATK) Shun ends his turn. Since Rise Falcon's ATK changed permanently after the activation of its original effect, its ATK remains at 2800.

Turn 5: Dennis Mackfield

Dennis draws. He activates the Spell Card, Magical Pendulum Box, drawing two cards. He sets the Scale 3 Performage Bonus Dealer and the Scale 5 Performage Candy Crafter in the Pendulum Scales. He Pendulum Summons Fire Dancer, Water Dancer, Plushfire, Ball Balancer and another copy of Fire Dancer. He overlays the Level 4 Water Dancer and Ball Balancer to Xyz Summon Performage Saw Magician (R4/2500/1700/OU:2) He uses Saw Magician's effect to banish Satellite Cannon Falcon until the End Phase. Shun uses Satellite Cannon Falcon's effect to detach an Overlay Unit and decrease Saw Magician's ATK by 800 for each "Raid Raptors" monster in his GY. (RRSCF: OU:1 - 1 = OU:0) (PSM: 2500 → 0ATK) He uses Saw Magician's other effect, detaching 1 Overlay Unit to change Rise Falcon to Defense Position and add a Pendulum Monster (Water Dancer) from his GY to his hand. He activates Polymerization, fusing both Performage Fire Dancers to Fusion Summon Performage Automaton Engineer. (8*/2900/1600) With Automaton Engineer's effect, he tributes Saw Magician to Special Summon Performage Shadow Maker (R5/2600/1000) from his Extra Deck. Since Saw Magician was sent to the GY, he gains 1000LP. [DM: 3500 + 1000 = 4500LP] Shadow Maker attacks Rise Falcon. Shun Special Summons Raid Raptors - Last Strix from his hand, gaining 100LP for each Spell/Trap on his field and in his GY. [SK: 2800 + 100 x 5 = 3300LP] Shadow Maker destroys Rise Falcon. Automaton Engineer attacks Last Strix. Shun banishes Raid Raptors - Booster Strix from his hand to destroy Automaton Engineer. Plushfire attacks Last Strix. Dennis ends his turn. Satellite Cannon Falcon returns to Shun's field.

Turn 6: Shun Kurosaki

Shun draws. He Normal Summons Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture. (4*/1000/1600) He uses the effect of Raid Raptors - Nest to add a "Raid Raptors" card to his hand. He activates the Spell Card, Wing Requital, paying 600LP to draw 2 cards. [SK: 3300 - 600 = 2700LP] He uses Necro Vulture's effect to tribute Necro Vulture itself and add Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force from his GY to his hand. He Ranks Up Satellite Cannon Falcon by one Rank, Xyz Summoning Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon (R9/0/3000/OU:1) in Attack Position. Assembly Galebarrier Falcon attaches Rise Falcon from the GY to itself as Xyz Material. (RRAGF: OU:1 + 1 = OU:2) Shun uses Assembly Galebarrier Falcon to return Shadow Maker from the field to the hand and increase Assembly Galebarrier Falcon's ATK by that monster's. (RRAGF: 0 + 2600 = 2600ATK) Assembly Galebarrier Falcon attacks Plushfire. Dennis uses Plushfire's effect to Special Summon Performage Bubble Gardna (4*/S2/800/2000) from the deck. Assembly Galebarrier Falcon attacks Bubble Gardna. Dennis negates its destruction. Shun ends his turn. Dennis gains 1000LP with the Pendulum Effect of Performage Candy Craftsman. [DM: 4500 + 1000 = 5500LP]

Turn 7: Dennis Mackfield

Dennis draws. He sends Performage Cursed Mask from the field to the GY to add a "Performage" monster from his Deck to his hand. He Pendulum Summons Performage Water Dancer, Performage Mirror Conductor and Performage Damage Juggler from his hand, along with Fire Dancer and Plushfire from his Extra Deck. He uses Bonus Dealer's Pendulum Effect to draw 2 cards. He activates the Spell Card, Smile World. I am not going to write the boosts here. Help me I'm going to cry. He then activates the Spell Card, Performance Sky Somersault, changing Assembly Galebarrier Falcon's ATK to 0. (RRAGF: 3300 → 0ATK) He also gives Shun life points equal to the change. [SK: 2700 + 3300 = 6000LP] Assembly Galebarrier Falcon cannot be destroyed by battle. All damage to dealt to Shun involving this monster is halved. Mirror Conductor, Water Dancer, Fire Dancer, Bubble Gardna, Plushfire and Damage Juggler attack Assembly Galebarrier Falcon. [SK: 6000 → 650LP] He ends his turn.

Turn 8: Shun Kurosaki

Shun draws. He activates Assembly Galebarrier Falcon's effect to attach Force Strix to itself as an Overlay Unit. He activates the Spell Card, Rank-Up Return, adding Raid Force from his graveyard to his hand and activating it, Ranking Up Assembly Galebarrier Falcon by one Rank, Xyz Summoning Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon. (R10/3500/2000/OU:4) He activates Ultimate Falcon's effect, detaching one Overlay Unit to negate the effects of as many face-up cards Dennis controls as possible. All of Dennis's monsters lose 1000 attack points. Once again, I'm not writing all that out. Since he only controls "Raid Raptors" monsters, he Special Summons Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle (3*/700/700) from his hand. He also Normal Summons Raid Raptors - Skull Eagle. (3*/1000/500) He overlays the Level 3 Skull Eagle and Heel Eagle to Xyz Summon Raid Raptors - Devil Eagle. (R3/1000/0/OU:2) Skull Eagle gives Devil Eagle 300ATK. (RRDE: 1000 + 300 = 1300ATK) He detaches an Overlay Unit to inflict damage to Dennis, equal to Damage Juggler's original ATK. (RRDE: 1000 + 300 = 1300ATK) [DM: 5500 - 1500 = 4000LP] He banishes Skull Eagle from his GY to add a "Raid Raptors" card from his Deck to his hand. He Special Summons Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius (4*/1600/1100) from his hand. He Special Summons Singing Lanius and Fuzzy Lanius from his hand as well. Fuzzy Lanius attacks Mirror Conductor. [DM: 4000 - 500 = 3500LP] Singing Lanius attacks Plushfire. [DM: 3500 - 100 = 3400LP] Devil Eagle attacks Bubble Gardna. [DM: 3400 - 1300 = 2100LP] Strangle Lanius attacks Damage Juggler. [DM: 2100 - 1100 = 1000LP] Ultimate Falcon attacks Fire Dancer. [DM: 1000 - 3100 = 0LP] Shun wins!

---

OC Cards:

Performage Chaos Fusion

(Spell)

Send 1 "Polymerization" from your hand or Deck to the GY, then choose 1 "Performage" Fusion Monster in your Extra Deck; you can place Pendulum Monsters from your Deck face-up in the Extra Deck as Fusion Materials, and if you do, Special Summon the chosen Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck. (This is treated as a Fusion Summon.) You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 "Fusion" card or "Polymerization" card from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate each effect of "Performage Chaos Fusion" once per turn.

Trivia: A expy of Antique Gear Chaos Fusion.

Performage Blazing Dancer

(6*/2000/1500/FIRE/Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect)

"Performage Fire Dancer" + 1 Spellcaster monster

If this card is Fusion Summoned: You can target 1 monster on the field; destroy it, and if you do, inflict 500 damage to yourself. During the End Phase: You can discard 1 card; add 1 "Performage" monster from your GY or face-up in your Extra Deck to your hand, and if you do, inflict 500 damage to yourself. You can only control 1 "Performage Blazing Dancer".

Performage Cursed Mask

(Trap/Continuous)

You take no battle damage from battles involving Spellcaster monsters you control. Once per turn, if a Spellcaster monster you control is destroyed by battle: You can add 1 "Performage" monster from your Deck to your hand. You can send this card from the field to the GY; add 1 "Performage" Pendulum Monster from your Deck or GY to your hand.

Performage Saw Magician

(R4/2500/1700/EARTH/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 4 Spellcaster monsters

If this card is Xyz Summoned: You can target 1 monster on the field; banish it until the End Phase. You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; change the battle position of 1 monster on the field, and if you do, you can add 1 Pendulum Monster from your Extra Deck or GY to your hand. If this card is sent to the GY: Gain 1000LP. You can only activate each effect of "Performage Saw Magician" once per turn.

Trivia: Based off magicians that perform the trick of sawing boxes in half while people are in them. I'm sure that we all know the trick behind that. Since its effect is "A, and if you do,you can B", it can still add the monster detached to the player's hand.

Performage Automaton Engineer

(8*/2900/1600/DARK/Spellcaster/Fusion/Effect)

2 "Performage" monsters with the same name

You can Tribute 1 "Performage" monster you control; Special Summon 1 "Performage" monster from your Extra Deck in Attack Position. You can only activate this effect of "Performage Automaton Engineer" once per turn. While you control this card, when a "Performage" monster you control declares an attack, your opponent cannot activate Spell/Trap cards or effects until the end of the Damage Step. When this card declares an attack: It gains 200 ATK.

Trivia: This is obviously based on automation machines that are used to run the background events of circuses, etc. It also references the Antique Gear monsters. Needing the same material is because it references the Hound Dogs all needing to come from the same monster. I decided to make all of Dennis's Fusion Monsters female, and all of his Xyz Monsters male, just because I think that's a nice split.

Raid Raptors - Assembly Galebarrier Falcon

(R9/0/3000/LIGHT/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect)

3 Level 9 Winged Beast monsters

This card cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects. This card gains the effects of all Winged Beast Xyz Monsters attached to it as Xyz Material. Once per turn: You can target 1 Winged Beast monster in your GY; attach it to this card as Xyz Material. Once per turn: You can target 1 Special Summoned monster on the field; return it to the hand, and if you do, this card gains ATK equal to that monster's original ATK. You can only activate this effect while this card has Xyz Material attached to it.

Trivia: Obviously, its design is almost entirely based on Assembly Nightingale. Since Assembly Nightingale gains 200 ATK for each Overlay Unit, starting with 0 ATK, Assembly Galebarrier Falcon also starts at 0 ATK and gains ATK—so it gains ATK every time it hits a monster with its effect, showing the difference between Shun and Ruri—one is active and the other is passive. Its effect is also very self-centric compared to Assembly Nightingale's wide-scale protection. Finally, its effect is still more mellow than Shun's normal effects. It returns to hand instead of destroying—reflecting how Ruri herself isn't the type to take out her anger on others. Its name being Assembly Galebarrier refers to Assembly Nightingale and the name of its attack and effect in this story—Avian Gale and Feather Barrier. The reason why it's Rank 9 as opposed to Rank 1 is because it's literally one Rank behind Ultimate Falcon. If Ultimate Falcon resembles Shun himself, then Ruri is just one step behind him, always chasing after him. Its copying effect allows it to gain power from its Overlay Units, and its own effect lets it gain Assembly Nightingale's effect if Assembly Nightingale is ever attached to it. This card is intentionally somewhat overpowered, but considering that it specifically copies the effects of Winged Beasts, I do think that it's somewhat fair. IRL though, people would just absorb Ultimate Falcon with this card and call it a day.

Performance Sky Somersault

(Spell)

You can target 1 monster on the field that has ATK higher or lower than its original ATK; change its ATK to 0, and if you do, your opponent gains LP equal to the change in ATK caused by this effect. After this effect resolves, that monster becomes unaffected by other effects that would change its ATK, and it cannot activate effects that would change its ATK. During the turn that this card is activated, your opponent takes halved battle damage from attacks involving the monster targeted by this effect.

Trivia: Obviously based off Sky Magician. Honestly, this card was made for an earlier duel to combo with Trapeze Witch, but I realised it would work here too, and have more symbolism.

---

Different Card Effects from TCG:

Performage Fire Dancer - Anime-only card.

Performage Water Dancer - Anime-only card.

Performage Trick Clown - Anime effect, but with a hard OTP clause..

Performage Trapeze Magician - Anime effect.

Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force - Anime effect

Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon - Anime effect

Performage Flame Eater - Anime effect.

Performage Trapeze Witch - Anime-only card.

Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force - Anime effect.

Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon - Anime effect.

Performage Ball Balancer - Anime-only card.

Performage Candy Crafter - Anime-only card.

Performage Bonus Dealer - Anime-only card.

Performage Shadow Maker - Anime-only card.

Performage Bubble Gardna - Anime-only card.

Rank-Up Return - Anime-only card. In ZEXAL.

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Chapter 40 Fun Fact:

Ok, this is a bit of a bombshell, so prepare yourself. Six Dimensions was originally written in first person. And if you think that sounds stupid, like a terrible idea, and oh my god Blaise why would you do that when the whole point is that there are multiple characters, all with different perspectives? Yes. I agreed too. That's why it's in third person now. Originally though, it was first person from Yuji's perspective. And then I decided, well, that was a terrible idea. Plus, writing things only from Yuji's perspective was so... difficult, because this boy is the most unobservant person alive. Anyway, there it is.

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End Notes:

The process of writing this chapter was… pretty funny. For context, Nue vs Yuto has been written since Chapter 7 of this fic. That's how old it is. So I was like "haha I can just make the two duels one chapter!" And then I tried to write Shun vs Dennis, and it felt like I was being flayed alive to write it. Not the dialogue! That part was fine. The duel itself.

Ruri's line about taking care of the people that she loves is somewhat adapted from Tsubaki of Jujutsu Kaisen. In general, I do think that Tsubaki and Megumi in JJK parallel Ruri and Shun very nicely. Also disclaimer that I've only watched JJK on Netflix, and I know nothing about the manga. No spoilers please!

So, one clear thing. The mask being destroyed in canon to reveal Dennis's real intentions is a cool scene, but it also makes no sense for Dennis to have Antique Gear monsters in his deck in the first place, if he wants to keep it incognito. So, what I made this duel is a tightrope. Shun and Dennis are both aware of the enmity that Shun holds towards him—and that colours the entire duel. And yet, I feel like Arc V didn't properly portray Dennis's self-hatred in the earlier arcs. So we get a callback to what Bommer said about him in Chapter 30 (wow it's been ten chapters? Help) about how he's too sad to be a proper villain. Here, we get to see his internal conflict—because he was trained to be a spy, no one in Academia actually ever trusted him. Ruri was the first person to trust him unconditionally—and so he can't help but feel guilty about betraying her. At the same time, he is still undeniably loyal to Academia. There is no malice in him at all, as Bommer notes—just fiendish loyalty and a desperate need for his life to have meaning. That's the way that I interpreted his intentions in this story, anyway. And hey, we get Dennis throwing his own mask away to try to win—but in doing so, he exposes himself to Shun's attacks, and he loses to the barrage at the end. At least this way, we get to see a greater struggle between the two of them.

… and yes, Dennis got Smile World. Why? I think it's explained pretty well in the chapter itself—but its symbolism in the duel is the twisted idea that Dennis has of his own dueling. He's using a card that symbolises his idealistic wish to entertain for the sake of violence. And it was a missed opportunity to not give him a copy in canon, considering that Yusho was apparently handing them out to anyone that he met, such as Edo, to change their minds. The fact that his copy, unlike Edo's, is not destroyed shows his reluctance to let go of Yusho's ideals. At the same time, as Yuya himself says—he's betraying his own wishes to entertain. So he can't really commit to either side—unable to entertain properly, unable to rid himself of the desire to entertain.

Everyone complains about how Ultimate Falcon never wins Shun a duel. So there you go. Took us a while but we got there. Assembly Galebarrier Falcon was born because I wanted to build up to Ultimate Falcon's summoning as a way for Shun to protect something that symbolises Ruri—to show that Shun doesn't think Ruri is weak, but that he will always step forward to defend her if she's in trouble.

And the conclusion is what I wanted to write the most! Shun is finally on his arc to heal from his trauma, to trust properly and accept help when needed. Dennis is… uh, not coping well at all, but it's fine, we'll see more of him later. I also try to give focus to Shun and Yuto's friendship a lot, because it's my favourite relationship in the whole show. Yes please, best friends who unconditionally trust and defend each other while still having their own beliefs.

Review responses! Once again, to Guests, thank you for your review, but please pick an alias so that it's easier to answer you.

To phantomdragons, to be honest, when I read the first line of your review, I thought you meant asexual and got confused, lmao. I get what you mean though. Valid guess from you, but yes, it's not in character for Nue to throw a match at this point, since the Lancers still don't know anything about the Underground. Also, I laughed at your description of Yuri and Shino, lmao. Yes, I do believe that the simplest sibling relationship in this story is probably Yuto and Nue. :)

To The Rec Guy, Compendium's great! Probably one of the best VRAINS fics I've read, with bonus points for actually being a fic where characters duel, since a lot of VRAINS fics are sadly just shipping fics, which, while cute, aren't my cup of tea. I don't actually mind bad grammar as much, because I understand that English isn't the first language of a lot of writers. As long as it gets their meaning across, it's fine. My bigger pet peeve is formatting. Bad grammar won't make me reject a fic immediately, but bad formatting will make me click out. (E.g. no paragraphs, mostly italicised/bold, etc)

To cardfan135, you've got three correct, but I'm not clarifying which ones. It's far too embarrassing to admit what my favourite anime are—I'm not exactly very cultured in terms of anime. Thanks for taking the time for the guesses though!

To kikuruhime, you nailed the title analysis! The moment that I remembered that the word 'stream' could apply to both water and wind, I named that chapter after it.

To DSpaceZ, glad that you enjoyed the chapter and the duels! :D

To Gong Strong, that's a question with quite a few answers. There's an answer for why I specifically chose to write Six Dimensions as a story, and for why I chose to write a fic in general. I'll probably talk about the first one when there's not so many spoilers involved in it, but for the second one, it's because I couldn't write for any of my older fics. In a sense, I'll admit that my older fics were written for the sake of pandering, and I didn't really enjoy them. I think I was rereading a fic that I really hated, and I commented to my brother that I didn't like how few good and long stories there were. He laughed and told me that if I wanted one, I should make it myself. And it was a joke between us, but for fun, I did plan out an outline, and I thought about characters a bit—but that's all it was, just coming up with concepts without planning to write anything. However, later on, when I went back to reading that fic again, I thought "I can write a way better fic than this". In a sense, the idea of Six Dimensions as a story was born from my own head and a very long time of not intending to write it, but the thing that pushed me to actually start to write it was *facepalm* spite and anger at one or two very specific fics. Nowadays, I actually do enjoy writing Six Dimensions quite a lot though—I enjoy the path that it's taken and what it might become.

To the Guest trying to apologise, it's fine, I'm not mad. (Do pick an alias! I do recognise your reviews from their writing style, but it'd be nice to have a name to use here.) Honestly, it's charming how enthusiastic you are about suggesting future things. The comparison thing wasn't me being mad, it was me hoping not to get your hopes up for certain plot points that I know won't happen. I always worry about not meeting expectations. Don't worry about it, alright?

To LHOCIN, I'm glad that you enjoyed. Hope Dennis vs Shun and Yuto vs Nue lived up to your expectations!

To Unlucky-Fausto, I had to Google who Rata was, but haha, no. I just have the curse of writing duels with characters and then having them get support immediately after I'm done. Anyway, it's nothing objective that makes me dislike Superheavy Samurai! It's very much just me being turned off from learning about new archetypes when they're so large and I don't know anything about them. I definitely prefer writing for smaller archetypes that I'm more familiar with, which is why Abyss Actor and Superheavy Samurai are such a struggle for me—I knew nothing about them going into this. Yes, I knew Kaleido Chick's effect and actively had Serena not use it because at the time, she was so focused on specifically Lio Dancer. I guess I should have put a note in the story itself about it, but because the duel itself was mostly from Serena's perspective, it would have felt jarring. A lot of Serena's misplays are intentional. Essentially, it goes back to indoctrination again—it's hard for her to conceive a way of fighting other than just summoning Cat Dancer/Panther Dancer/Lio Dancer and attacking, or think about the idea that Lio Dancer would need any more protection. She's slowly learning to be more creative and have more fun with it, and eventually, there'll be a bit more spontaneity there and usage of effects. The main thing that I tried to convey is that for her dueling style, all routes lead to Lio Dancer, essentially. If I make any Lunalight OC cards, they're just going to be cards that support that hyper-aggressive playstyle, or cards that might be necessary to stop Serena from losing Turn 1 against certain decks.

Also, I won't deny that I am rushing through Round 1, and the answer is simply that I don't want to waste too much time here. I'd rather publish longer chapters faster and get through Round 1 faster so that I don't lose everyone's attention—I mean, if I published one longer but uninteresting duel every chapter, no one would stick around for the whole arc—it would feel too bloated. I'd rather make sure that I rush through less important matchups here so that people don't get bored, and get to more interesting matchups. That's my logic, at least—it's something that I felt when I was reading the Friendship Cup in certain other fics, when it felt like the story genuinely wasn't going anywhere because the person was spending too much time on just a single round.

To T.V. 2000, I definitely agree that Dennis should have no Antique Gear monsters in his deck if he's undercover. I think I explained my changes to Shun vs Dennis above sufficiently. Glad you enjoyed the duel between Yugo and Sawatari!

To the Guest asking about why there are less characters that have learned Ritual compared to Link, the answer is actually pretty simple. In this story, so far, the only characters that have used Ritual on-screen are Kyorin, Yuji and Chiaki, I believe. In this story, people usually learn new summoning methods from other people. Kyorin isn't quite as assertive, and she doesn't duel as much in front of the others, so she hasn't exactly offered to teach anyone. Give it time. At this point, there's just simply little opportunity for the characters to learn it.

To abyssactor, yeah, giving Sawatari Link Summon was always the intention.

To Combo Enthusiast, I do like Solfachord! Unfortunately, like I said before, it's really difficult to include it in a way that would make sense in the main plot. Just because it exists doesn't mean that I can use it. I might, I might not, but probably not. I do have another story that I'm planning on using the deck in after this though, so it'll show up there if it doesn't show up here.

To the Guest asking about whether or not Yuno or Yuto will get a card that allows them to change Link/Xyz Monsters to Level 5 monsters—I'm curious as to why you're asking about Yuno and Yuto specifically. After all, Link and Xyz Monsters are a problem for all the dragons, are they not? I'm not confirming anything, because that would be a painfully situational and inefficient set of cards, but I'd argue that Yuto is much less likely to fight Xyz Monsters, compared to the other Yu boys. If you're saying that Dark Rebellion and Magnetic Current's Level 5 or higher effects are useless against Xyz and Link Monsters—so is Starving Venom, and so is Odd-Eyes. All of the dragons are affected by it, not just those two. Anyway, it's an interesting idea, but don't expect too much.

(To the Guest that asked about a sequel, Mist here! You happened to post your review right when I was about to post this for Blaise, so I guess I'll take it on myself to respond, as their kinda sorta confidant in, well, life. It's definitely way too early to ask Blaise about a sequel, considering how early Six Dimensions is in its story currently. Hahahaha and we're on Chapter 40 and I'm calling this early. What did they get themselves into… anyway, I doubt that Blaise will ever write a sequel to this story. I know that they do have some quick drafts that they did once when they were bored, but they have mentioned to me that considering how personal of a story Six Dimension is for them to write, once they're done, they don't really want to disturb the intended ending of it. So the answer is probably not. Thanks for your review! I'll pass it over to past Blaise now.)

And that should be it. Nue vs Yuto will come out in tomorrow, in a few days or in a week—depending on how much energy I have left after some IRL stuff. Really depends. :D I have been reminded by Mist, who is essentially my harshest critic, that I forgot to put in a QOTC or fun fact last chapter. Thus, as I flailed around weakly on two hours of sleep, she decided that she would steal the question of the chapter for herself. I put all responsibility on her. Ok, Mist, you can fill in your question below and post it for me, I'm going to sleep. Oh, and once again, feel free to drop a favourite or follow! My update schedule is... sporadic, so it might help you with tracking when the story updates. And as always, thank you for all the reviews.

Question of the Chapter: What's your favourite friendship in the story? Specifically friendship, and not relationship! This question comes because I really like how Blaise writes platonic relationships in this story :D Alright, bye! ~ Mist