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?

51. Chapter 51: Dark Storms Gathering Above

Starting Notes:

Welcome back!... I am apologising in advance for this chapter. You'll understand why. Only one duel too.

I think this is the last chapter that might require this for a while, but there are some quick trigger warnings needed for this chapter as well. There are two characters whose perspectives are written in altered states of mind, which may be uncomfortable to read. References to past trauma and physiological responses associated with trauma are very abundant. There are a few slightly visceral descriptions of a person's fight-or-flight response constantly being triggered by a repeated trauma trigger. A character goes through something that may remind readers of dissociative amnesia. The main viewpoint character spends much of the duel going through depersonalisation.

Well, that makes it obvious who's dueling, right? I'd still prefer spoiling it now than letting people dive in without realising that this is going to get serious very quickly. Let's get started. This is the last chapter that is truly going to be this upsetting in a while—but we still have to get through it.

Also, I'm not writing a Duel Summary for this chapter, because uh… well, reasons. (Tired hands, duel is between two people who are constantly manipulating the stats of their monsters and so it's more difficult, and it'll take a much longer time for the chapter to come out if I do it, since I wrote this one on the fly.) I have been told that it helps with recaps if people want to remember duels though, so I might add it in once I'm done with the arc, if I come back—it's under the list of things I'm editing a bit once I'm done.

---

Chapter 51: Dark Storms Gathering Above

One year ago:

"Hey, you have access to all of SOL's data, right?"

Miharu looked over. Her hands were still tapping on the keyboard even though she wasn't looking at it—she was perfectly capable of knowing where all the keys were, and of multitasking between typing and talking to him at the same time. "SOL's data?" She repeated. "I suppose. My clearance is only a rank lower than my brother's. Legally, I have access to about 82 percent of it."

Yuno nodded. He was leaning on her shoulder, the back of his head resting on her shoulder as he laid down on the long seat in the cafe. He was glancing at his phone, watching a fan-filmed video of one of his duels. "SOL keeps data and records on Charisma Duelists, right?"

Miharu glanced at him, and then she sighed. "... yes, I have access to your data."

Yuno chuckled. "You already knew what I was going to ask, huh?" He sighed. "It's a little odd to think that people keep records of the stuff I do." On his phone screen, Magnetic Current was unleashing a rather ferocious storm of wires.

"That's what you get for being a public figure." Miharu hummed. "... it's nothing much—it's the average things that they keep track of when it comes to Charisma Duelist. How long you've been one, the number of duels you've participated in, notable cards, notable combos, win rate, and so on. The kind of stuff that they can put in articles and in promotional posters for their events."

"And what's my win rate?"

"89 percent," Miharu said.

Yuno turned over, smiling at her. "So you've already peeked at my data before?"

Miharu did not get flustered or embarrassed. She just shrugged—knocking Yuno off her shoulder in the process. Yuno was still smiling as he looked at her. "SOL has high-quality VODs of your duels," she said. "So I watch them there if I can't make it in person."

"Aww, you catch up on them." Yuno smiled. "If only I could see you duel more often."

Right. Charisma Duelists were meant to be seen, and so their VODs were widely available. While Miharu's duel disk data was also recorded in SOL, it was under much higher clearance than Yuno's. For obvious reasons, they didn't want cyber criminals to have access to the data of their enforcers. As such, Miharu had watched pretty much any match that Yuno had, while Yuno had pretty much never seen her duel. That was the difference between them.

"Why'd you ask?"

"Well, Soothsayer told me a rumour that she heard," Yuno said, humming. "Something about a data simulator that SOL has, which can predict your odds of winning a duel?"

"... it's just numbers," Miharu said, unimpressed. "I've seen it, though I don't know how your friend knows of its existence."

"Well…" Yuno smiled. "Even if they're just numbers, I'm curious! Run a simulation for you and me?"

"You assume that I have access to it." Yuno looked at her. Miharu glanced back at her laptop screen after a moment, wordlessly changing the screen and typing in a few commands, bringing up a screen. Yuno watched as a number popped up on the screen along with a bunch of scrambled letters and numbers below—it was likely encrypted.

"63 percent in my favour," she said after a moment.

"... huh? Is it broken? What's your win rate, Miharu?"

"99 percent," Miharu said, not even pulling up any screens—it was clear that just as she knew his data by heart, she knew her own as well. (And maybe she didn't want to run the risk of him seeing any of her mission reports. Yuno was innocent, after all.)

"What?" Yuno blinked. "That's crazy!"

Mm. It was probably because she dueled so much too—

"—why isn't it 100 percent? Who managed to defeat you?"

… or maybe Yuno was shocked for the complete opposite reason.

"Classified," Miharu said, deriving some amusement from Yuno's pout.

In truth, only one person had ever beaten her. She had lost twelve times to that person.

It was Ryoken, of course.

"Still though, I'd think it'd be more in your favour."

"If we were looking at raw numbers, maybe," Miharu agreed absentmindedly.

"Hmm?"

"... you hold back a lot as a Charisma Duelist," Miharu pointed out. "SOL's system is bound to believe that you're weaker than you are. It's probably actually around 52 percent in your favour."

"... well, that's cool."

Yuno turned back to his phone, and the two of them settled into that comfortable position again. Two people doing their own separate things, neither of them disturbing the other. Comfortable in each other's presence.

Miharu turned back to her laptop and deleted the logs.

The truth was, she had run two random people through the analysis program, instead of the two of them. It was on purpose. She did not want Yuno to know the actual number, because the actual number would have been wrong, no matter what it was.

Because those numbers took into account their win records and their strategies, but numbers never took emotions into account.

And if there was any kind of emotional weight to a duel…

Well, this was one of the few situations where Miharu had more confidence in herself than in the data.

The answer was zero. There was only ever going to be one of them who would win in a situation like that.

Miharu glanced away from her screen. She heard Yuno's quiet breaths. His hand had already slumped against the seat—his eyes were closed, and he was asleep.

He looked tired. Right. He had helped Blue Angel with her charity livestream yesterday, right? He had to be exhausted…

She felt an indescribable warmness to her heart.

… she should probably get home soon. But if he was already asleep, maybe they could stay here a little longer.

I'll never duel you seriously, she promised him internally. Because… I don't want you to realise that reality too. It's enough that I know who will win, if we ever clash…

I don't want you to have to know too.

Let's just keep going like this—

As equals who would never lay a hand on each other.

---

Eight months ago:

"Aren't you tired?"

"Never tired," Yuno said with a grin. Miyu sighed. She gestured to the three cans of instant coffee on his desk, staring at him in silent judgement. "Sorry, sorry. I promise I'll go to sleep soon."

"Being a Charisma Duelist must be hard," his sister said with a sympathetic nod.

"It is. But it's fun."

"I know." Miyu patted his head. "You never do things that you don't find fun. Just don't overdo it, alright? I'm sure that pretty girlfriend of yours wouldn't like it too."

Yuno didn't even bother denying it or arguing with her. He just smiled slightly.

"Hmm? You look happy today."

"I'm always happy." Yuno glanced at her. "Miharu made me sushi for lunch today."

"... oh," Miyu said. She smacked her brother on the back. "Just confess already, alright?"

"I'm still waiting," Yuno said after a moment.

"If you wait, you might run out of time, you know."

"... that sounds far more menacing than you think, nee-san."

Miyu couldn't help but smile. "You know what I mean. She's a very pretty girl, you know. You might lose your chance. Just make sure she always knows what you mean, alright?"

---

In the present:

Yuno wasn't sure if he had recovered from that duel yet. The sight of Reira flying through the air like that…

How could anyone be in the mood to duel after seeing that? Especially if dueling a comrade right now meant exposing them to danger? Because there was danger, right? The person who had introduced that monster to the Friendship Cup was the leader of Security. Thus—everyone in this City thought that this was right? That this was entertaining?

It was infuriating…

Even so, when he asked the officer escorting him down to the garage about it, the officer only replied cagily that Reira Akaba's situation was being investigated, which told Yuno nothing at all.

He was on edge…

"Why isn't my opponent in the garage?" Yuno asked.

"Your opponent had a meeting with the Director today. They will be escorted directly from Security."

Yuno frowned. He drove out, even so—

And when he saw the faces displayed on the screen above, showing the competitors, his heart ran cold.

No.

No, absolutely not. He was not going to—

"Yuno. Calm down."

Yuno looked forward.

"I need you to listen to me," Miharu said softly. "It's important."

Even as the announcer above continued to spew out meaningless words, Yuno could only hear Miharu.

"Roget is the enemy," Miharu explained concisely. "He arranged for Reira's defeat like that to break our spirit." Yuno blinked—he noticed that Miharu's fingers were tightly gripping the handle of her D-Wheel. There was something tense to her—she was not unaffected by this at all, but she was clearly trying to pretend to be, in order to get that important information to him. "Yuno—I promise I'll tell you everything later. But—"

"I'm not going to win against you," Yuno said. He wasn't saying that his abilities weren't good enough—he was simply stating that no matter what happened, he would never, ever be able to turn his fangs against Miharu Kogami, and that was it, really.

Miharu's fingers stilled. "Academia's coming," she explained. "They're invading very soon. Yuno, I…" She couldn't meet his gaze. "I promise I'll explain, but I need to win this duel."

"... then that suits me just fine," Yuno said, understanding what she did not say. She was one of Academia's priority targets, after all, for some reason. If she was saying that she needed to win, it meant that Academia would come right after her if she was sent to the Underground.

Yuno couldn't ever allow that to happen.

"I promise that I will escape and search for you," Yuno said. He glanced outwards. "They won't just let me surrender, I think. I'll take the second turn and set up a field that you can tear apart immediately, alright?"

Miharu nodded. They weren't so impractical that they would argue over how to cause a convincing faked loss. It was a show of trust that neither of them were asking the other why they were making the decisions that they were. "I'll come find you too," she promised—an echo of those fateful promises they had made to each other the day that they were first reunited in this city.

The crowd was getting impatient, but Yuno didn't want to start the duel. Not just because he was still distraught over Reira. Not just because it was Miharu, who he would never want to face in a situation like this.

It was because at the end of this duel was separation.

No matter what, he would be separated from her.

Even so…

"It'll be alright, Yuno," Miharu said. He looked at her. "I promise. We'll both be alright."

… well, if Miharu said it, it would always be true.

However, he could see it in her eyes. She was hiding it really well, but…

She was clearly upset. No one else might be able to tell, but… he wanted to reach out to her, to let her let it out, but they were in a very tense situation. In front of a crowd like this, no matter how much Reira's fate had devastated Miharu (and it had hurt him a lot too, to see it), she would never want to show it. He knew that very well.

She was hurting right in front of him, and there was nothing he could do about it right now.

They started driving. Neither of them tried to be fast. There was a sense of longing there—Yuno could feel Miharu's reluctance too. Neither of them wanted this.

Neither of them wanted to ever hurt the other.

So they wouldn't. It was as simple as that. No matter what Roget, who was apparently the enemy, was planning, he couldn't make them lift a hand against each other.

Miharu crossed the first corner, as they had agreed.

A sharp pain erupted in her head.

---

"They're both wearing the provided helmets?" Roget was asking just moments before. "Good. Activate the chips the moment they cross the corner and the duel starts."

He had the blueprint of said metal chips in front of him—it had taken him a while to develop them correctly, and he had used Academia's resources to make his first prototype. Even so, he had never shared it with them—he had waited until he had come here to make the first few, and they had all been successful.

Chips that would stop people from thinking, and force them to follow his orders. Originally, his design had called for them to be installed directly in the officers' heads, but doing each operation separately had turned out to take too much time. Placing them in the helmets made it much easier, and all members of Security were ordered to wear their helmets while on duty, so that he could activate the chips at any time.

So…

"You want me to kill you, Miharu Kogami?" He challenged, smirking. "That'd be too easy for you. It doesn't punish you enough. He's your most important person, isn't he?" He drummed his fingers on the table. "And all of the Lancers know that as well. So, for that next push, to make them truly despair… how about the two of you become my puppets, and tear each other apart?"

The chips turned on, much to Roget's glee. Both Miharu Kogami and Yuno Sugisaki raised a hand to their foreheads at the same time. Then, Roget heard the technician speak up, sounding alarmed.

"Sir! The chips are…"

"What?" Roget snapped.

"They're malfunctioning! Something is tearing them apart! Both of them are being electrocuted because the chips are breaking down!"

"Huh? Both of them?" The chips couldn't both be defective—something else had to be going on here, right?

---

It was bright. Far too bright. White, sterile lights in the ceiling.

And it hurt.

It hurt, and it would never stop hurting. The electricity crackled across her body like whips coated in shards of glass.

The girl desperately tried to look away and forget. The girl tried to forget.

Stop it.

Stop it!

It hurt. It hurt. Everything was hurting again. Just like back then, when they had covered her in those electrodes and shocked her over and over again until she just forced herself to black out so that it would end faster. And then it didn't work, because they wanted more and more from her and she was just a child so why did they keep on wanting her to do more—

Win win win be the strongest so that no one can ever hurt you again, it hurts, it hurts—

Win and they'll stop, the scientists said, and be stronger, you can be so much more.

If you're not the strongest, then it's your fault you're getting hurt. It's you, it's you, it's you, you're the problem, the one causing this, they wouldn't hurt anyone else except you so it has to be you—

Calm down, Miharu! A voice shouted in her head, but it just sounded like yet another noise in the buzzing that was filling her brain. Her hands were shivering. I've almost broken it, you'll be fine—

Another shock hit her, and Miharu slammed her hand against the duel disk. Is this what you mean by breaking it? Then I don't want it! Stop, stop, stop it! You're hurting me again again again—

I'm trying to help you!

It felt like a glaring light, this presence in her head. Light was hurt and pain and white, sterile lights in the ceiling—

Get out.

The strange other presence tried to reach out, but Miharu forced her out of her head. Her bracelet, which had been glowing slightly, lost its shine immediately.

I know what I have to do. I just have to win. No matter what, I just have to win.

Otherwise, they'll hurt me again. Otherwise, I'll be back there again—

I can't go back there!

A vicious coldness filled every part of her, and she seized the chance to numb herself—to wipe out every bit of emotion, to shut it all down, to stop herself from feeling anything—

Feeling anything was pain and fear and she couldn't allow herself to feel it—

She just had to win. She just had to stop feeling. Feel nothing but logic. Separate all of that away, all of that belonged to another person—

All she was right now was a logical machine.

That was the best way to do this, wasn't it? The only way to get rid of the pain was to wipe it all away until she stopped feeling like she was drowning in it. Pain was emotion. Emotion was pain.

The world was going grey again.

Just don't feel.

It's too bright, it's too bright, I'm going to burn alive—

I'll destroy anyone who tries to take me back there!

---

I can help you.

The pain was so bad that Yuno was practically doubling over on his D-Wheel. His head felt like it was exploding from the inside out—like a thousand red-hot needles were being stuck into his brain one by one, burning him from the inside out.

He's trying to use you—use us, little fragment.

Don't you find it insulting?

"Use…" Then, Yuno let out a scream as another shock hit him, his arm hitting the D-Wheel limply. He reached a hand towards his head, but he couldn't get the helmet off—he could see Miharu struggling too, in the corner of his eye.

What was this?

Yes.

It hurts, doesn't it?

If you lose to this, he'll take her away from you.

Her?

Yuno could barely even think at this point—his vision was blurry. What had he even been doing before this? There was something very important—and yet in the direction of that 'something important' was just pain. Meanwhile, there was a fog rolling over his mind—something that was lulling him into nothingness.

You're going to crash.

Well, leave it to me. Losing on purpose. What rubbish.

It's no fun that way. I don't know how you can call yourself me when you put up such a pathetic reason as an excuse.

Let's show them what the true power of this deck of yours is like.

The fog overwhelmed him, and then there was no 'him' anymore.

I'll destroy anyone who dares to stand in front of me!

---

Serena's head whipped over as she heard a loud scream from outside her door. Immediately, she moved to the door, shoving it open.

Outside, both Yuya and Yugo had their teeth bared at each other, and their eyes were swirling vortexes of red and green respectively.

What the fuck.

Yuya raised his duel disk, and Serena charged forward, a bad feeling filling her heart, grabbing both boys' arms to stop them from raising their duel disks towards each other—

And her bracelet glowed.

Both boys collapsed to the ground, clearly passed out.

Serena stared at them, just confused. In the end, she dragged them towards the kitchen. At the same time…

She glanced at the television in the kitchen area.

Yuno's eyes…

Under that helmet, were they the same as these two? In that case, what about Yuto? What about Yuri and Yuji?

What exactly just happened?

Shun burst through the door at that exact moment. Serena immediately began to explain what had happened.

This right after Reira—

Why?

(She did not notice that her bracelet's light was flickering, like a light bulb about to burn out.)

---

"Yuto?" Kyorin shook him with clear worry in her eyes. The purple and black-haired boy's eyes were glowing an ominous blue, and there was an oddly familiar dread in her heart. Right now, to avoid being spotted, the Lancers that had escaped the Underground were travelling in groups of three, and checking on each other with their phones, which now worked outside the radius of the Friendship Cup.

"You," Yuto said, and Kyorin felt like he was staring right through her. "You're not real."

"H-huh?"

Hitoda, who had been watching them, sighed. Swiftly, she stepped forward, before chopping Yuto across the neck sharply. Yuto collapsed immediately, passing out. Kyorin stared at her incredulously.

"Look, just trust me on this…" Hitoda sighed. "Well, things would be much easier if you knew too, but whatever."

"What?"

"That was bad news." Hitoda hummed. "Very bad news. Let's just hope that we don't run into any of them out here…"

"What do you mean, Makishima-san?"

Hitoda sighed. "Don't worry about it," she said. "Come on." She lifted up Yuto. "Help me get him on my back—we should find shelter." She glanced at the television screen above, showing both Yuno and Miharu on it. "... this is far too cruel."

Usually, she wasn't that bothered by cruel things—because after all, there was a part of her that was always inherently curious about how people reacted to different things. That unfeeling heart of hers that could only react with curiosity or amusement at anything. She wanted to see how people would react to stress, to threats, to danger—all of those things made her so intrigued.

But looking at Yuno and Miharu like this…

She didn't like this. She didn't like how they were reacting to this. She didn't like to imagine how people would react to this, because this shouldn't happen.

It was an opinion stronger than any others she'd ever had.

This was… far too distasteful.

---

It was probably a very good thing that Yuri and Yuji had separated to go to different parts of the city, because it meant that when both of them collapsed, there was no one else around.

Yuri held onto his chest, his eyes turning that same swirling purple as his mind went blank. At the same time, Yuji's eyes were white-silver as he clung onto a wall. Both of their lips were parted in a snarl.

And at the same time, a maniacal voice was laughing in their heads.

Yes.

This was how it should be.

---

[DUEL!]

Miharu Kogami: 4000LP

Yuno Sugisaki: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Miharu] [H:5]

"... I'll Normal Summon Sunseed Genius Loci." Miharu said, her voice completely emotionless. Even her eyes looked dead—like there was nothing in them at all. The strange seed in a golden chalice appeared in front of her.

[Sunseed Genius Loci (1*/0/600/EARTH/Plant)]

"Open, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Level 4 or lower Plant monster. I'll use Sunseed Genius Loci as material." Her voice was rather clipped—she wasn't even bothering with summoning chants, just to get it over with as fast as possible. The chip in her helmet released a few sparks, but any emotions that raised were instinctively smothered behind that numb, cold logic. "Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 1. Sunavalon Dryas." The tree immediately appeared in front of her.

[Sunavalon Dryas (L1/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

"Sunavalon Dryas's effect. I will add a "Sunvine" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." Immediately, she placed the card down. "Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing. I'll Special Summon Sunseed Twin from my deck and take 1000 damage." Another electric shock hit her, and she stiffened up for a moment, but she continued with her move as the pink and blue fairy appeared on the field.

Her monsters had such bright colours, but Miharu couldn't see any of them. They were all blurring around the edges. She couldn't tell where one started and the other began.

[Sunseed Twin (2*/0/800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

Miharu: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP

"Sunseed Twin's effect. I Special Summon Sunseed Genius Loci back to the field. Sunavalon Dryas's effect. Since I took damage, I can Special Summon Sunvine Healer from the Extra Deck and gain life points equal to the damage I took." The two monsters bloomed on her field simultaneously.

[Sunvine Healer (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑)]

Miharu: 3000 + 1000 = 4000LP

"I'll gain life points equal to the Link Rating of Dryas times 300, with Healer's effect."

Short, quiet, to the point. Someone who didn't know her that well might assume that she was acting perfectly normally.

Miharu: 4000 + 300 = 4300LP

"Open again, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two or more Plant monsters, including a Link Monster. I will set Sunseed Genius Loci, Sunvine Healer and Sunseed Twin in the Link Markers." The three monsters all shot up in streaks of light. "Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 3. Sunavalon Melias." The tree woman entirely made of bark appeared right behind Dryas. Currently, from Miharu's point of view, Dryas was in the left Extra Monster Zone, while Melias was in the second Main Monster Zone from the left.

[Sunavalon Melias (L3/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/←, ↑, →)]

"When Sunavalon Melias is Link Summoned, I can Special Summon Sunseed Genius Loci from the graveyard." The same strange seed as before appeared in the middle Main Monster Zone. "I will Special Summon Sunseed Shadow from my hand since I control a Plant Normal Monster." The darker version of Sunseed Genius Loci appeared in her rightmost Main Monster Zone.

[Sunseed Shadow (1*/0/400/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"Open, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Plant Normal Monster. I will set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers. Link Summon. Link 1. Sunvine Healer." Another copy of Sunvine Healer appeared in the leftmost Main Monster Zone. "I will gain 300 life points times Melias's Link Rating."

Miharu: 4300 + 300 x 3 = 5200LP

"Are you just terrified of me?" Yuno asked, raising an eyebrow, his eyes glowing gold—though perhaps only Miharu would be able to see that. Miharu, who wasn't in her right mind, and thus could not even begin to process that. At the same time, both Serena and Shun whirled their heads towards the television when they heard him say it—the same thought in their minds.

That's not Yuno Sugisaki.

Miharu, however, ignored him. "Open, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters, including a "Sunvine" Link Monster. I will set Sunvine Healer and Sunseed Shadow in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 2. Sunavalon Clytia." The woman made entirely out of purple flowers appeared in the leftmost Main Monster Zone.

[Sunavalon Clytia (L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑, →)]

Seeing Yuno be cruel to Miharu was out of character enough—and seeing Miharu ignore him made the bad feeling in the pit of Serena's stomach even worse.

"... shit," Shun said from next to her, coming to the same conclusion. "Whoever did that to Reira—probably that Roget guy—did something to both of them too."

Below, Miharu simply continued with her turn.

"Sunseed Shadow's effect. I will banish it from the graveyard and Special Summon a copy of a linked Link 2 or lower "Sunavalon" or "Sunvine" Link Monster from my Extra Deck with its effects negated, but I cannot Special Summon monsters this turn, other than Plant monsters." Another copy of Clytia appeared in the middle Main Monster Zone.

"Sunavalon Clytia's effect. I'll return a Plant monster from my graveyard to the deck to draw a card. I will return Sunvine Healer to the Extra Deck to draw a card. And open again, circuit."

"Still not done," Yuzu murmured worriedly from across the city. "Miharu…" Even though she didn't have the full context of what was going on, even she could tell that something was different about the two that were dueling each other right now. And her bracelet was glowing slightly as well, though she didn't know why.

"Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are at least two Plant monsters. I will set both copies of Sunavalon Clytia in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 4."

As Miharu lifted the card, for a brief moment, she remembered a voice. Something that for a moment, felt like it could soothe her spirit.

"The Stardust Road will guide you home."

For a moment, her hand stilled.

Then, the chip released another shock, and she snapped back into survival mode.

"Benghalancer the Resurgent," she said coldly. The large tree golem appeared in front of her in the middle Main Monster Zone, red streaks running through the body and stemming from a large red gem in its 'chest'.

[Benghalancer the Resurgent (L4/2500/LIGHT/Plant/Link/Effect/←, ↑, ↓, →)]

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

[Turn 2: Yuno] [H:6]

"That's it?" Yuno asked, drawing a card. He was smiling, but in the deepest part of Miharu's mind, the part that she was trying to ignore, she could feel something achingly wrong with him. "In that case, you won't even be a challenge. I'll Normal Summon Marincess Blue Tang." His usual starting playmaker appeared on the field, a blue-haired girl who looked back at him, seeming worried.

[Marincess Blue Tang (4*/1500/1200/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"I'll activate the effect of Blue Tang. I'll send a "Marincess" monster other than herself from my deck to the graveyard." He held out a hand with a flourish. "Well, if it's you, it's not quite as serious as last time." He grinned. "And you're not even in the state of mind for that pretty little bracelet of yours to stop this! I'll finally get to have fun. You owe me for ripping me out last time, Spring. Open, my circuit of supremacy! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are a Level 4 or lower "Marincess" monster! Shine, beautiful water creature that dwells in the depths! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Marincess Blue Slug!" The blue-haired Link Monster appeared, her orange antennae wobbling nervously. She floated around the left Extra Monster Zone.

[Marincess Blue Slug (L1/1500/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↓)]

"And you know how it goes. Blue Tang's effect. I'll excavate the top three cards of my deck and add a "Marincess" card from among them to my hand." Yuno picked up the card with a flourish. "And with Blue Slug's effect, since she was Link Summoned, I can add a "Marincess" monster from my graveyard to my hand." He revealed the card. "I will Special Summon Marincess Sea Horse from my hand to Blue Slug's Link Marker with her own effect." The blonde girl appeared right behind Blue Slug.

[Marincess Sea Horse (3*/1400/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"And open again, circuit!" Yuno was still smiling—a pleasant, charming smile on the surface, but with those eyes, Miharu couldn't quite stay focused. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two WATER monsters! I will set Marincess Blue Slug and Marincess Sea Horse in the Link Markers! Appear now, colourful idol of the reef! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Marincess Coral Anemone!" The orange-haired woman appeared, bravely striking out with a hand.

[Marincess Coral Anemone (L2/2000/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/←, ↓)]

"Benghalancer the Resurgent's effect activates," Miharu countered. "I will target Coral Anemone, take damage equal to its attack points and return it to the hand." More shocks shot out from her duel disk, and she nearly buried her head in her hands.

Miharu: 5200 - 2000 = 3200LP

Yuno's monster vanished from his field.

"Dryas's effect. I will gain life points equal to the damage I took and Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck." A glow surrounded her again.

Miharu: 3200 + 2000 = 5200LP

"Come—Sunvine Thrasher." The green warrior appeared on the field.

[Sunvine Thrasher (L1/800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

Thrasher was currently to the right of Benghalancer.

"And Thrasher gains 800 attack points times the Link Rating of a "Sunavalon" monster I control." Obviously, she chose Melias, and Thrasher powered up by an unbelievable amount.

[Sunvine Thrasher: 800 + 800 x 3 = 3200ATK]

Yuno smirked. "Choosing to use it on Coral Anemone, since I can't use its effects immediately when it's summoned… as efficient as ever." He didn't seem too bothered. "I'll banish Marincess Blue Tang from the graveyard to Special Summon Marincess Springirl from my hand." The girl with dark blue hair in a ponytail appeared, her silks swirling around her.

[Marincess Springirl (4*/1200/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"I'll open the circuit of supremacy again. Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are one Level 4 or lower "Marincess" monster. I will set Marincess Springirl in the Link Markers! Beautiful angel floating through the ocean, ascend now! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Marincess Sea Angel!" The pale, white-haired girl appeared.

[Marincess Sea Angel (L1/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/←)]

"Sea Angel's effect," Yuno continued with a singsong voice. "I can add a "Marincess" Spell from my deck to my hand. I will add and activate the Field Spell, Marincess Battle Ocean!" Around them, the Solid Vision formed waves that were washing around the track. "I will activate the Spell Card, Marincess Dive! I'll Special Summon a "Marincess" monster from my deck. Come—Marincess Blue Sunfish." Another one of the blue idols appeared.

[Marincess Blue Sunfish (3*/1400/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Tuner/Effect)]

"Blue Sunfish's effect lets me Special Summon a "Marincess" monster from my deck in Attack Position," Yuno continued. "So come from the deck, my monster servant. Marincess Crown Tail." The black and red girl appeared in front of him. All of Yuno's monsters looked somewhat concerned and distressed for him.

[Marincess Crown Tail (5*/600/2300/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"You know what I'm about to do, don't you?" Yuno drawled. "Are you afraid?" Crown Tail and Sea Angel shot up, turning into blue streaks, before Coral Anemone reappeared on the field. "That's the only explanation for that piss poor move from someone like you."

That coarse language…

That's not him. That's not him. That's not him.

It's someone else.

If it's not Yuno, then it's okay if I don't hold anything back, right?

"Coral Anemone's effect," Yuno continued. "I'll Special Summon a WATER monster with 1500 or less attack points from my graveyard to the Main Monster Zone she points to. Return—Marincess Springirl. Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are at least two WATER monsters! I will set Marincess Coral Anemone and Marincess Springirl in the Link Markers! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3! Lovely sea idol arriving for the finale of the performance! Marincess Marbled Rock!" The protective woman appeared, wearing her sea urchin scarf.

[Marincess Marbled Rock (L3/2500/WATER/Cyberse/Link/←, ↓, →)]

"I will use Battle Ocean's effect! I will equip Sea Angel, Blue Slug and Coral Anemone to her from the graveyard, and give her 600 attack points for each, plus an additional 200 since she's a "Marincess" monster!"

[Marincess Marbled Rock: 2500 + 600 x 3 + 200 = 4500ATK]

"Furthermore, Springirl's effect triggers," Yuno said. "Since she was sent from the field to the graveyard for the Link Summon of a WATER monster, I can send cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard, equal to the number of "Marincess" monsters I control. Marbled Rock and Blue Sunfish." He revealed the two cards. "And there we go. You take 200 damage for each "Marincess" card sent to the graveyard. And Dryas only heals you once per turn. You're out of luck!"

Miharu: 5200 - 200 x 2 = 4800LP

"And that's nothing compared to what you can heal, right?" Yuno reached out a hand. "Coral Anemone's effect. I will add a "Marincess" card from my graveyard to my hand. Marbled Rock's effect lets me do the same." He replenished his hand almost completely. "Marincess Marbled Rock attacks Benghalancer." He grinned. "After all, it and Thrasher are the only possible targets, no? Your "Sunavalon" monsters can't be attacked. I'd say it's cute and all—I'm sure I've always believed that. But it's also so weak and self-destructive of you, you know?"

The attack hit. Miharu didn't bother to defend herself, and her monster was destroyed.

Miharu: 4800 - 2000 = 2800LP

Then, Miharu waved out a hand. Her set card flipped up. "Continuous Trap, Sunavalon Glorious Growth," she said. Her entire body felt numb—like she was frozen in place. She couldn't move. "Since I took battle or effect damage, I can Special Summon a Sunvine Token." A small purple set of stems and roots with some green leaves peeking out from it appeared.

[Sunvine Token (1*/0/0/EARTH/Plant)]

"Then, I immediately Link Summon a "Sunavalon" Link Monster using monsters I control. Open, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two or more Plant monsters. I will set Sunavalon Dryas, Sunvine Thrasher and the Sunvine Token in the Link Markers." The three monsters shot up. "... Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 3. Sunavalon Dryanome." The tree reemerged, larger than ever. Large fruit could be seen drooping from its branches.

[Sunavalon Dryanome (L3/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↓, ↘)]

"Then, I gain life points equal to the damage that I took."

Miharu: 2800 + 2000 = 4800LP

"And when I gain life points while I control Sunavalon Glorious Growth, I can inflict the same amount as damage to you!" A large blast of light shot out at Yuno, decimating half of his life points.

Yuno: 4000 - 2000 = 2000LP

"Knew it," Yuno said, laughing—he was barely fazed at all. "And Dryanome will just heal you up again, won't she? But you've forgotten who knows you best!" He revealed a card with a purple border in his hand. "Trap Card, Marincess Bubble Elevator. I can activate this card from my hand since I control a Link 3 or higher "Marincess" monster. Since you control a Link Monster with an equal or higher Link Rating to the monster I control with the highest Link Rating, I can target and destroy a monster you control." He gestured to Sunavalon Dryanome, who was shredded from the inside by water. Miharu winced. "And then, I gain 400 life points times the total Link Rating of WATER Link Monsters on my field or in my graveyard! And the monsters equipped to Marbled Rock count too. So that's Sea Angel, Blue Slug, Coral Anemone and Marbled Rock. You're smart, so I doubt either of us need someone else to do the math!"

Yuno: 2000 + 400 x 7 = 4800LP

"And furthermore, since a "Sunavalon" monster you control was destroyed, Glorious Growth destroys itself." Yuno snapped his fingers, and one of Miharu's biggest threats was shut down. "See? I know you best. That's why unlike everyone else that we know, all those useless comrades and weak enemies—you aren't even worthy of being an opponent for me!"

I don't need worthy opponents! I don't even want to fight like this, not for myself—

Another shock. Coldness flooded through her brain.

—win. Win. Win.

"And Blue Sunfish attacks you directly," Yuno said, clapping his hands together. "And you don't have Dryas, Dryades or Dryanome to help you heal this time!" The blue-haired girl dashed forward, lashing Miharu across the side. "And don't forget, it gains 200 attack points from Battle Ocean too!"

[Marincess Blue Sunfish: 1400 + 200 = 1600LP

Miharu: 4800 - 1600 = 3200LP

"I end my turn, of course." Yuno spread out his arms. "All yours, Miharu. Do try to make this entertaining, alright? I know it's not your forte, but I'd hate for you to be so boring that I destroy you without even blinking!"

Miharu looked at him.

"... you're not Yuno," she murmured, and the ice cold tone had returned to her words. If you're in pain, don't feel it. If you're in pain, ignore it until you can forget it. You are not allowed to be in pain like this. "So—that means I don't need to hold back now, right?"

---

"Hold back?" Serena exclaimed. That girl—she had been holding back? Was that even possible? And that ruthlessly efficient way that Yuno Sugisaki was playing… was that some kind of hidden strength too?

Whoever had done this to them… had they forced these two to use some kind of strength that they were hiding away?

"Forcing them to use their full strength on each other…" Shun shook his head. "This is going to hurt both of them when they're clear-headed again. If someone had done this to Yuto and Nue, or me and Nue…" He shook his head. "... I cannot imagine how much pain they're in, for them to turn on each other like this…"

Serena thought about Yuno Sugisaki's cheerful smile, the soft affection in the way that he and Miharu entwined their fingers, how they gravitated to each other every time they were in the same room, their genuine worry and care for each other and all the people around them…

Red-hot fury burst forth in her veins.

They don't deserve this.

"They didn't turn on each other," she said without thinking. She pressed a cold towel to Yuya's head as Shun turned to her. "... this is someone else. They haven't done anything that they should have to feel guilty for, the fault lies with whatever bastard made them do this…"

"... you're exactly right," Shun said. Serena could see the same anger in his eyes. "It could have happened to any of us. The person who did this could have done the same thing to any of us. Enough already. This tournament is over." He glanced at Yugo and Yuya. "Once these two wake up, we're getting out and finding Reira and the rest."

"... for once, you're agreeable," Serena said.

---

Jack tilted his head.

Contrary to what most people might think, he was not a puppet. He could easily tell that something was going on. It was obvious from the eyes of the two dueling below.

One should not look so lifeless. The other should not look so malicious.

He made a decision after a moment—

Before Carly charged in. She whispered something to him.

Jack's eyes widened.

He glanced back at the track.

… internally, he apologised to the two teenagers. He apologised to Aki and Sherry, who clearly favoured the two. He apologised to them, because they were completely innocent in this.

However…

His priorities as a King meant that he had to address something else first.

And if he interrupted this, it might be too late.

And so, the King stood up and walked away from his throne, heading for his D-Wheel.

"Sir, you're not allowed to leave the stadium," one of the officers said—

But Jack and Carly were long gone.

---

Roget growled. So that was how strong the two of them were? But even so…

The irrational madness that the two below had spiralled into… it wasn't a madness that was obedient to him. It was something else, and that meant that after this match, he would not be able to use these two like he had planned. They were uncontrollably strong factors in this city, and he hated that.

"Can you restore the chips?" He shouted.

"Sir!... it seems that something ripped them apart from the inside. There's no way to restore them! They're still being influenced by the chips though—both of them are showing highly increased signs of aggression, and numbing of their other emotions!"

Roget was about to snap at him, but then he realised something.

This was fine.

It was exactly the painful distraction he had hoped for. Even if it wasn't exactly what he wanted, it still had the same result for now, after all.

Even so, if what the engineer was saying was true, how was it possible that Yuno Sugisaki was laughing, teasing and smiling at his opponent like he wasn't currently being electrocuted constantly?

(If Roget could see what Yuno's eyes currently looked like, he might actually be terrified.)

"What about Reiji Akaba?" He asked, changing channels to the officers who had been sent to the High Council's building. "Has he been suppressed properly?" After all, someone as much of a goody-two-shoes as Reiji Akaba would surely stay and protect the High Council if they were threatened, which would delay him from leaving—

"He's escaped!"

… how incompetent were his men? "What do you mean he's escaped?"

"He didn't listen to any of the threats delivered towards the High Council," the officer said, panting—he had clearly been chasing after someone on foot. "He just defeated everyone that blocked his way and ignored any calls from the High Council. He's heading towards the Commons' area now."

"... guilty over allowing your brother to get hurt, Reiji Akaba?" Roget snarled. "Make your pick, do you abide by the Council's orders or are you actually capable of any kind of scheming?" In his own inner picture of Reiji Akaba, the silver-haired young man was a callous person capable of sacrificing anything and everything to get what he wanted, even his family. In other words, he had assumed that Reiji Akaba was just like him. Thus, he had assumed that to get in the High Council's good books, Reiji Akaba would abandon even his brother.

So, what the hell was this?...

"Keep chasing him! Make sure the guards there find either the corpse or the child before Reiji Akaba arrives!" After all, he had sent officers there to find Reira Akaba specifically for leverage. The cameras hadn't been able to find Reira, meaning that the child had fallen into the Commons area. He immediately changed channels again—he had far too much to do, and as much as the two below were tearing each other apart, the distraction wouldn't last forever. "Toyama!"

Makoto Toyama sounded far too relaxed when he responded. "Yes, boss?"

"Head to the Commons by the secret Security passage now! You already have the necessary identification images—stop Reiji Akaba from reaching there!"

"Yes sir," Makoto said dryly. "Where is this Reiji Akaba now? Will I even make it there before him?"

Roget was forced to calm down and think for a moment—and realise that his plan was flawed. Even if Makoto headed out of the Underground, he would not reach faster than Reiji Akaba, and thus would not be able to stall the leader of the Lancers at an appropriate location. "Go to the High Council building," he said, changing his plans swiftly. "I'll be recalling a large variety of the officers. Defeat and dispose of the High Council and anyone that tries to protect them—they're just a useless load now."

There was actual glee in Makoto's voice when he responded—after all, what Commons wouldn't be happy to get the chance to remove the Tops that had decreed their awful lives? "Get rid of those disgusting old Tops? Now I'm happy to do that, boss."

"Good. Get Otobashi to wipe out the Lancers underground as well."

"Now see, there's a problem with that."

"What is it now?" Roget practically screeched.

"Well," Makoto said, unruffled, "it seems that the majority of the Lancers have vanished from the Underground. We suspect that they've found a way to escape."

"It's just one thing after the other." Roget felt like pulling his hair out. "... fine. If the Lancers are gone, there's no point hunting the rest. Get her to go to the Commons then—even if Reiji Akaba is there, she should be able to hunt down some of the Lancers and get rid of them. With that deck of hers, she should be able to manage a few of them at once. You can go and help her once you're done with the High Council. What about Kirijo?"

"Her radio is off, and she's not picking up calls," Makoto replied. Roget let out a long string of curses and slurs that would have caused any television show to be restricted to adults only. Many of them were directed at Arisu's gender, Reiji Akaba's parentage, and the Professor's age, and were better left to the imagination.

"What is so difficult about that woman trying to stay on duty? Get in contact with her! I need her on active duty yesterday!"

Turning towards the screen where the duel was continuing, Roget let out an aggravated sigh, actually pulling at his hair.

"You two are the least of my problems now!"

---

Currently, Miharu had Sunavalon Melias on her field. Meanwhile, Yuno had Battle Ocean on his field, along with Marincess Marbled Rock and Marincess Blue Sunfish in Attack Position.

[Turn 3: Miharu] [H:4]

Yuno still had five cards in hand. Considering how potent all of his Traps were, and the fact that all of them could currently be activated from hand…

"Continuous Spell, Aroma Gardening," Miharu declared. "And I will Normal Summon Aromage Jasmine." The white-haired girl appeared on the field in front of her.

[Aromage Jasmine (2*/100/1900/LIGHT/Plant/Effect)]

"Since an "Aroma" monster was Normal or Special Summoned, I can gain 1000 life points with the effect of Aroma Gardening." Miharu's life points shot up again.

Miharu: 3200 + 1000 = 4200LP

"Since I gained life points, Aromage Jasmine lets me draw a card." Ever since that second wave of coldness had flooded her brain, she had stopped feeling so much, stopped hesitating. She just had to win and wipe her opponent out, and then everything would be alright. "Spell Card, One for One. By sending a monster from my hand to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a Level 1 monster from my deck." Aromage Laurel appeared on her field, the blond mage in a green robe looking nervous.

[Aromage Laurel (1*/800/0/WIND/Plant/Effect)]

"Open, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters. I will set Aromage Laurel and Aromage Jasmine in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 2. Aromaseraphy Jasmine." The evolved form of Jasmine with a pair of bright fairy wings appeared, twirling around in the air.

[Aromaseraphy Jasmine (L2/1800/LIGHT/Plant/Link/Effect/↙, ↘)]

"Aromage Laurel's effect," Miharu continued. "Since Laurel was sent to the graveyard—I gain 500 life points."

Miharu: 4200 + 500 = 4700LP

She had closed the gap between their life points. And more importantly…

"Aromaseraphy Jasmine's effect. Since I gained life points, I can add a Plant monster from my deck to my hand." She picked up three cards from her graveyard. "By banishing Dryas, Clytia and Thrasher, I will revive Benghalancer the Resurgent to my field, but it is banished when it next leaves the field." Benghalancer reappeared on the field, in the middle Main Monster Zone once again. "... set one card, end turn." That left her with only one card in hand.

[Turn 4: Yuno] [H:6]

"I hope you don't think that I'm going to hold back and let you build up your defences," Yuno replied.

Miharu looked at him. "Just take your turn," she murmured. Even with every emotion in her brain numbed except anger, she couldn't express any with her words—still every bit as quiet as before. Even saying anything was already out of character for her.

"Sure, sure. I'll start with this then. Trap Card, Marincess Wave." He placed down the card. "I can play this card directly from my hand since I control a Link 3 or higher "Marincess" monster! And then, I'll negate the effects of Aromaseraphy Jasmine. For the rest of this turn, my cards are unaffected by your card effects!"

Waves burst across the field. Part of the track that they were on cracked from the force.

Yuno smiled. For a moment, the expression on his face was the same as the one that he always had when teasing her about something. "And that means that even if you gain life points, which I know you will, you can't search out a card or protect your monsters from battle. Plus, aren't your interrupting card effects part of the lifeblood of your deck?" He asked, though in a way, it was mocking—it was something they both already knew, so pointing it out was just cruel.

It was very true though. This also meant that he had neutralised any threat that Benghalancer posed to him. Someone less skilled might have negated Benghalancer's effect instead, without realising that the Trap's second effect pretty much stopped it from doing anything anyway.

At the same time…

"Don't get cocky, Yuno," Miharu said.

"I wouldn't dare." Yuno hummed. "Marbled Rock's effect. I will add Marincess Wave back to my hand. Then, I will Normal Summon Marincess Pascalus." The pink-haired girl appeared on the field, levitating in front of him.

[Marincess Pascalus (4*/1200/2000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"And with Pascalus's effect, I can Special Summon a "Marincess" monster from my hand. Come—Marincess Sea Star!" A girl with short spiked green hair appeared, with a long white scarf that flowed through the air behind her.

[Marincess Sea Star (2*/800/400/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"I'll open my circuit again," Yuno declared. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two WATER monsters! I will set Marincess Blue Sunfish and Marincess Sea Star in the Link Markers! Float through the water, away from the dangerous predators that seek our trail! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Marincess Sea Butterfly!" The woman dressed in dark purple silks appeared, adjusting her veil as she floated right behind Marbled Rock. Her translucent clothing drifted around her like seaweed in the water. As she raised her hands, she adjusted her black silk gloves, as though ready to battle. Despite her ghostly appearance, she was not any less beautiful for it.

[Marincess Sea Butterfly (L2/1800/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↑, →)]

"Since Marincess Sea Butterfly was Link Summoned and I only control WATER monsters, I can also Special Summon a Link 1 "Marincess" Link Monster from my Extra Deck and treat it as a Link Summon," Yuno said. "Come—Marincess Clownfish Confit." The girl with orange and white hair appeared, a boa of coral and anemone wrapped around her neck.

[Marincess Clownfish Confit (L1/700/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/→)

"And I'll use Clownfish Confit's effect. I will tribute it and Special Summon a non-Link Monster from my graveyard. Return—Marincess Blue Sunfish." Yuno winked. "And you know what happens when Blue Sunfish is Special Summoned—I get another "Marincess" monster from my deck. Come—Marincess Mandarin." The orange-haired girl appeared, blue patterns across her bright clothes.

[Marincess Mandarin (1*/100/100/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Opening the circuit of my supremacy again," Yuno said, grinning. Miharu saw some electricity run through the odd chip in his helmet, but Yuno didn't even blink at it—those swirling, pure gold, glowing eyes were still staring at her. "The conditions are at least two WATER monsters. I'll set the Link 2 Marincess Sea Butterfly, Marincess Mandarin and Marincess Pascalus in the Link Markers." Marincess Blue Sunfish remained on the field, while the other three monsters shot up. "Light splits forth through the invitation of the great reef," Yuno chanted. "Unimaginable colours, split-second reflections, all which exist within a second of time! Now, lady of the shimmering waters! Shine forth! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 4! Marincess Great Bubble Reef!"

The red-eyed woman in a graceful kimono appeared, her flowing aqua-coloured hair striking as waves rose around her. She was in the Main Monster Zone directly behind Marbled Rock.

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef (L4/2600/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/←, ↙, ↓, →)]

"And that's all she wrote," Yuno said. "Great Bubble Reef and Blue Sunfish gain 200 attack points from Battle Ocean."

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 2600 + 200 = 2800ATK]

[Marincess Blue Sunfish: 1400 + 200 = 1600ATK]

Miharu narrowed her eyes. Those two monsters, along with Marbled Rock, who had 4500 attack points, and none of those monsters being affected by her card effects in the slightest—

An offensive force that was hard to deal with.

"And even if you somehow raise your life points again, it'll just mean that your Jasmine will be an even easier target," Yuno said. "I'm not worried at all. Marincess Marbled Rock attacks Aromaseraphy Jasmine. So? Using your Aroma Gardening's effect?"

"Since my life points were lower than yours when you declared an attack, I could trigger Aroma Gardening's effect," Miharu replied. Her vision was slightly blurry. Don't think about any of that. The only thing that matters is what's in front of you. She kept on forcing herself to repeat those words—the thoughts might have seemed painful and intrusive to anyone else, as though they were cutting into the ability to comprehend and understand the duel, but to her, they were the only way for her mind to survive itself.

(This painful trauma that she ignored everyday, that she forced down because it wasn't convenient to deal with it, a false excuse for her to avoid the misery that she associated with the thought, forcing herself to keep going without properly processing a single thing, without allowing herself to accept what she truly felt about it—)

(The only reason that Miharu Kogami had survived such a self-destructive way of managing her trauma was the fact that she had at least been able to ignore it this entire time. But what now, when every jolt was a reminder of that fruitless struggle? What now, when every time she breathed, she was forced to suppress it yet again, because she kept on remembering and remembering over and over?)

(To someone else, it might seem repetitive. It might seem that saying those words once was enough. But if that was the case, then the last ten years of ordering herself not to break would already have carved themselves into her brain. It wasn't enough—and it couldn't be enough.)

(Trauma that was hidden away was a wound without a suture, kept in stasis. Without being seen, it could never heel. It would just keep hurting, deep down.)

"Come, Aromage Marjoram!" The dark-haired woman appeared on the field in front of her.

[Aromage Marjoram (5*/2000/1600/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"Since I summoned a "Aroma" monster, Aroma Gardening grants me 1000 life points." Miharu continued.

Miharu: 4700 + 1000 = 5700LP

"Since I gained life points, Aromage Marjoram's effect triggers as well." Miharu pointed forward. "I control two "Aroma" monsters. I can banish two cards from your graveyard. Marincess Wave protects your field, but not your graveyard. I will banish Marincess Bubble Elevator and Marincess Crown Tail from your graveyard!" The two cards slipped out from Yuno's graveyard. Miharu hadn't forgotten about Yuno's strongest defensive monster at all, unlike most of Yuno's opponents. It was usually hard for most people to get rid of Crown Tail, especially if they didn't know that they should prioritise it.

But for people who knew each other as well as the two of them did…

When their highly specific knowledge about each other came into play, they would only become more blades that they could aim at each other.

"When a monster is banished, Great Bubble Reef gains 600 attack points until the End Phase," Yuno said.

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 2800 + 600 = 3400ATK]

"You're insane, Miharu. Marjoram can only protect you from damage while it's still face-up on the field—and Jasmine can't protect it from battle destruction. The answer is obvious. With the replay, Marbled Rock attacks Aromage Marjoram! Elegant Wave!"

Of course Miharu knew her own weaknesses.

"Trap Card, Sunbloom Doom," she said. "I'll target Aromaseraphy Jasmine and gain life points equal to the total attack points of all monsters on the field with the same Type as her. Jasmine herself, Marjoram and Benghalancer." Melias was there too, but she had no attack points, so that didn't matter too much. Purple petals ominously floated around her.

Miharu: 5700 + 1800 + 2000 + 2500 = 12000LP

Above, Serena's eyes widened. "She… doubled her life points in a single move?" Several others who were watching the duel from all over the city responded with the same incredulity—even Roget himself.

The only two people who weren't surprised where the ones who were dueling.

"I knew you wouldn't fall that easily," Yuno said. He smiled, and there was something dangerous but sweetly affectionate to it. "Makes it more fun." Marjoram was destroyed by the attack, but since her life points were higher than Yuno's, she took no damage at all. "Crush Aromaseraphy Jasmine, Great Bubble Reef. World-Crashing Ripples!"

The water splashed across the field. Her life points fell from the attack. With her effects negated, even Jasmine could do nothing but fall.

Miharu: 12000 - 1600 = 10400LP

"I'll activate the effect of Marincess Great Bubble Reef. I'll send a WATER monster from my hand to the graveyard and Special Summon a banished "Marincess" monster. Come—Marincess Crown Tail." Crown Tail reappeared in Defense Position. "I'll end my turn."

The reason why Yuno had destroyed Jasmine and Marjoram, but not Benghalancer, was because Marincess Wave would shut it off regardless of whether it was the monster targeted by the Trap. So as long as Yuno had Marincess Wave, Benghalancer was no threat to him.

That was fine though.

Miharu's style was simple. Set up, observe and counterattack.

And no one would beat her in her specialty.

[Turn 5: Miharu] [H:2]

"Draw," she said.

"During the Standby Phase, Great Bubble Reef lets me banish a WATER monster from my graveyard to draw a card," Yuno said. "And Great Bubble Reef gains 600 attack points when a monster is banished."

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 2800 + 600 = 3400ATK]

"Spell Card, Pot of Avarice. I will return Sunseed Twin, Aromage Jasmine, Aromage Laurel, Aromage Marjoram and Aromaseraphy Jasmine to the deck to draw two cards." She revealed another card in her hand. "I will discard a Plant monster from my hand to Special Summon World Carrotweight Champion from the graveyard." The monster made entirely of carrots appeared on the field.

[World Carrotweight Champion (4*/1900/0/DARK/Plant/Effect)]

"Then, I will Normal Summon Sunseed Genius Loci." Another copy of the sapling appeared on her field. "Open, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are a Level 4 or lower Plant monster. I will set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 1. Sunavalon Dryas." She brought out her second copy of Dryas. "I will use the effect of Dryas."

"Well, I know that's your combo starter. You're going to bring out Dryatrentiay, right?" Yuno revealed the card in his hand. "Well, Dryas to Sowing is a three monster combo, isn't it? No thank you. Marincess Wave!" He locked away Dryas's effect, while also making all his monsters immune to her card effects until the End Phase.

"... no. That was not my plan." At this point, Miharu was unable to focus on anything but the duel. (The shocks felt like an afterthought, a burning rash.) "Because I only have two free Main Monster Zones. So that combo wouldn't work that way."

Yuno narrowed his eyes. No, not Yuno. "In that case…"

Miharu raised a hand. World Carrotweight Champion and Sunavalon Dryas shot up, before Aromaseraphy Jasmine reappeared in her Extra Monster Zone.

"Aroma Gardening's effect," she said. "I'll gain 1000 life points."

Miharu: 10400 + 1000 = 11400LP

"Aromaseraphy Jasmine's effect. I will add a Plant monster to my hand." She revealed the card. "Since my life points are higher than yours, I can Special Summon Aromage Laurel from my hand." The blond mage reappeared, and this time, he looked at her, seeming… concerned?

I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong with me.

"Then, since my life points are higher than yours and I control an "Aroma" monster, Aromaseraphy Angelica Special Summons herself from the graveyard to the field." A pale, glowing fairy surrounded by flowers appeared, leaves falling through the air around her. "However, she is banished when she leaves the field."

[Aromaseraphy Angelica (1*/0/0/LIGHT/Plant/Tuner/Effect)]

"I'll overlay the Level 1 Aromage Laurel and the Level 1 Aromaseraphy Angelica." As a result, the fairy didn't leave the field, and thus, wasn't banished. This time, however, she actually spoke her summoning chant. (Perhaps in an attempt to prove to herself that there was nothing wrong with her.) "Strength struck still. A silvery white bud blooms. Petals unfurl. Sleeping maiden struck dead by the ugliness of conflict, rise again and sing a song of unfair death. Xyz Summon—Rank 1. Sunavalon Myrsine." The beautiful woman in a dress made of leaves appeared, her glittering headdress on a head of snow white hair.

[Sunavalon Myrsine (R1/0/0/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Myrsine's effect. Since it was Xyz Summoned, I can add a "Sunvine" or "Sunseed" card that is banished or in the graveyard to my hand." She picked up a card, before she gestured to Myrsine. "By detaching an Overlay Unit, Myrsine lets me send a Plant monster from my deck to the graveyard. I'll gain 200 life points times that monster's Level." She revealed the card. "... Sunseed Carving. It's a Level 1 monster."

[Sunavalon Myrsine: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

Miharu: 11400 + 200 = 11600LP

"Since Sunseed Carving was sent to the graveyard, once per turn, I can add a "Sunseed" or "Sunavalon" card from my deck to my hand." She picked up a card, her fingers trembling slightly. "Since Aromage Laurel was sent to the graveyard, I can gain another 500 life points."

Miharu: 11600 + 500 = 12100LP

"I'll set a card facedown."

"And you're ending your turn?" Yuno, or the thing with different eyes from Yuno, chuckled. Miharu wordlessly did so. "Seriously, how patient can a person be… sure then, if you're so confident that you can survive my attacks, we'll see how it goes for you too, ojou-sama."

Miharu tensed up. "Don't call me that," she murmured—her first direct response of dissent throughout the entire duel.

"Huh?"

Everyone else is fine. It's endearing when it comes from anyone else—it's their way of teasing me, and I know and understand that…

But not from him.

Because even if it's a nickname to show that they adore me, it's still something that puts a distance between us—puts me on a different level.

I don't want to be on a different level from him, even just as a joke, or a teasing remark.

[Turn 6: Yuno] [H:4]

"Draw," Yuno said. "I'll banish another WATER monster from my graveyard with Great Bubble Reef's effect to draw a card—"

"Continuous Trap, Sunavalon Bloom," Miharu said. Her set card flipped over. "Since I control a Link 4 or higher Plant monster when this card is activated—all face-up monsters you currently control have their effects permanently negated."

"Permanently…"

"Marincess Wave is your most powerful Trap," Miharu said. "You are most vulnerable when it's still in the graveyard." Beautiful white and pink petals flew all around her in a blizzard, before blowing across the field, scattering gracefully, joining the purple petals from Sunbloom Doom. "It'll do you no good. Your Extra Deck recursion in that deck is practically non-existent, other than Great Bubble Reef herself and Circulation, and Circulation only works if you have another "Marincess" monster of the same Link Rating in your Extra Deck. You have no other Link 4 "Marincess" monsters. So your Great Bubble Reef no longer works."

Yuno looked at her, and then he smirked. "... truly the only one who can read me like this," he murmured. "Well—you'd be correct—if I was him, and not me."

… huh?

"And because I'm me," Yuno said, putting the emphasis on that single word, "I, like Pendulum, have certain privileges. Namely, that sometimes, the rules bend before us." He raised a hand—

And right before Miharu's eyes, his fingers seemed to flash—surrounded by shadows for a brief moment.

"You love your logic, and the fixed factors of a duel," Yuno murmured. "This is exactly what you hate, no?" He placed down a card. "Let's test your theory—that I have nothing. Trap Card, Marincess Circulation. I can activate this card from my hand, since I control a Link 3 or higher "Marincess" Link Monster. I will shuffle the Link 4 Marincess Great Bubble Reef into the Extra Deck and Special Summon a "Marincess" monster with a different name but of the same Link Rating from the Extra Deck. This is treated as a Link Summon." Great Bubble Reef dissolved into, well, bubbles.

Yuno raised a card in the air. Water rushed around him—for a moment, he looked like a maddened god of the ocean, the waves crashing around him like a storm.

(In their various unconscious positions around the city, Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, Yuji and Yuri all shifted in discomfort.)

"Let's cut the chant," he said with a laugh. "Does raw power need an entrance? I'd rather get to the point, since it's you." Shadows surged out off a portal of water that appeared in front of him. "Come. Link 4."

The shadows rose out of the portal, overlaying each other like trails of seaweed. A figure was within them—a male figure, unlike most of Yuno's other monsters. Green and black adorned the figure's body, in an imperial style of dress. A large kasa was atop the male figure's head, shrouding its face in shadows. Large wings made of tattered seaweed-like membranes stretched outwards. Dark bracelets of decaying coral could be seen wrapped around the figure's wrists.

And—there was something achingly familiar—

The figure raised his hands. From the grey-black coral, long grey chains dangled downwards—like broken shackles. They were shackles, not bracelets.

"Say welcome to Marincess Leafking Seadragon," Yuno said with a carefree smirk. "Does that prove your hypothesis wrong?"

[Marincess Leafking Seadragon (L4/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, ↘, →)]

… Yuno had never had this monster before now…

"Who are you?" Miharu asked directly.

"I'm me," Yuno said, shrugging. "Who else am I?" He pointed forward. "Marincess Leafking Seadragon's effect. When he is Link Summoned, if he is the Link Monster with the highest Link Rating on the field—even if he is tied—I can destroy cards on the field, up to the number of WATER Link Monsters I control! I will destroy both Aroma Gardening and Aromaseraphy Jasmine!"

… if he wasn't targeting them, Miharu couldn't currently stop it. Both cards shattered and exploded.

"Then, you take damage equal to the total Link Rating of all WATER Link Monsters I control, times 400," Yuno continued. "That's seven. Supremacy Ocean Crusher!" A wave rose up behind him—and then, it crashed down towards Miharu.

The chip sparked.

Miharu doubled over in pain—the water made it worse.

(At this point, if Miharu had been watching this happen to someone else, she would have been confused.)

(No one should have been able to take those shocks for so long and still remain awake and capable of dueling.)

(Of course, the same confusion would have been applied to Yuno as well, who seemed to completely not feel anything.)

And then—another wave. And another, and another—

Seven waves all crashing down on her.

Miharu's hands nearly slipped off the D-Wheel. They felt exhausted.

Miharu: 12100 - 400 x 7 = 9300LP

"... hey, don't pass out on me." Yuno raised an eyebrow. "It's not fun if you do. We're not even at the main event yet—I will use Marincess Crown Tail and Marincess Marbled Rock to Link Summon Marincess Great Bubble Reef again!" The previously neglected Crown Tail turned to water. The two monsters shot up, and Great Bubble Reef appeared in the Extra Monster Zone. "And of course, don't forget Battle Ocean. I'll equip Marbled Rock, Sea Butterfly and Coral Anemone to Great Bubble Reef."

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 2600 + 200 + 600 x 3 = 4600ATK]

"Marincess Great Bubble Reef will attack Benghalancer! World-Crashing Ripples!"

The bubbles shot forward, tearing apart her monster—and banishing it this time.

Miharu: 9300 - 2100 = 7200LP

"And neither Melias nor Myrsine restores your life points," Yuno said. "Marincess Leafking Seadragon attacks directly! Oceanic Strangle!"

And—

A tangled piece of seaweed found its way around her throat—

"I can't breathe."

"Don't bother us with that nonsense. Is that what you pressed the emergency button for?"

"She's a disobedient subject. Her vital signs all seem to be fine."

"... n-no, I can't breathe."

"Don't lie. You still have three more tests to go through today."

(Miharu would learn later on in her life that what she had felt those days when she couldn't breathe was known as a panic attack. Of course, back then, no one had ever been kind enough to give her room to breathe, or tell her that they believed her.)

Miharu: 7200 - 2500 = 5700LP

"I end my turn," Yuno said, and his voice sounded like it was coming from so far away that Miharu could barely hear him anymore—all she could hear was the sound of something deep in her brain, which was begging to scream.

(Of course, she never did.)

Please, hear me out.

I only want to help you.

That presence was back again, but Miharu was so exhausted that she couldn't force it out—she had no choice but to listen to it, even though her instincts made her want to flee from it. "I don't need… help. I can win against him by myself. No… I have to win by myself."

… if you say so. But I can't watch you go on like this.

I promise that it will only take a moment.

The shocks continued, and then they stopped. The chip in the helmet fell apart completely, and it stopped hurting her or influencing her.

There.

I'm not trying to hurt you. See?

Please let me help you. Right now, he is not the Yuno Sugisaki that you know. You know this, too. No matter how clouded your mind has been, you cannot fail to see that someone else is pulling the strings.

It'll hurt you to face him on your own—

"No."

Miharu reached out, drawing a card.

Please! I'm not trying to hurt you.

"I know," Miharu said. It was illogical at this point to assume that this presence had been trying to hurt her. But beyond all of that tiredness and fear and everything that had come from her trauma being triggered over and over again…

There was a quiet, steely anger.

"It's not that I think you're trying to hurt me," Miharu murmured. "But it's because there's someone using Yuno right now that I have to be the one to defeat him. I won't accept anyone else, any substitutes…"

She raised her head, entirely herself for the first time in this duel. Still shaken, but her resolve is no less firm than before.

"No one gets to manipulate Yuno like this in front of me. If I accept your help, it's the same as saying that I can't do it. And I'll never say that."

Yuno was looking back at her now—for the first time, that strange being behind Yuno's eyes seemed perturbed.

"No matter how much it hurts, it's because he's Yuno Sugisaki, and I'm Miharu Kogami, that I cannot hand this over to you. No one has the right to interfere with us like this."

[Turn 7: Miharu] [H:3]

Currently, Yuno had Leafking Seadragon, Great Bubble Reef and Battle Ocean on his field, along with the three Link Monsters that were equipped to Great Bubble Reef. Meanwhile, Miharu still had Myrsine and Melias, along with Sunavalon Bloom.

During her Standby Phase, Yuno banished yet another monster from my graveyard to draw a card with Great Bubble Reef's effect, turning his monster's attack points into something unbeatable by most cards in her deck.

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 4600 + 600 = 5200ATK]

It took Miharu barely any time to make a decision at all. She no longer had Aroma Gardening, which was a blow, but there were other ways of doing things.

She knew what her end goal of this match would be—what the final move would be. For now, she just had to carry on what she was doing. Scope, understand and build up her field.

Sunavalon Bloom had some offensive potential—it allowed her Plant Link Monsters to gain attack points equal to the attack points of the monsters they pointed to. She had intended to use it to protect Jasmine—but in the end, her efforts had been fruitless, and she had lost both Jasmine and Benghalancer yet again.

The truth was, this might not be Yuno, but they certainly carried the same knowledge of Miharu—they could pin down her weaknesses as well as the real Yuno, and perhaps even better—Yuno had never thought of her as an opponent, after all, so it was questionable if he would have been able to come up with the same strategy as this strange doppelganger. Meanwhile, by pulling that random card out of nowhere, he had thrown a wrench into Miharu's understanding of him.

So, that made things very simple.

I'm very sorry, Yuno. You might not remember this—

But in order to win, I need to become someone that you can't understand. I need to shatter this innate image of me that you've created.

"Spell Card, Graceful Charity, I will draw three cards and discard two cards."

Good. She found what she was looking for.

"Normal Summoning Lonefire Blossom." The fiery sapling appeared on her field. "Lonefire Blossom's effect. By tributing it, I can Special Summon a Plant monster from my deck. Come—Aromage Jasmine."

The white-haired girl appeared on the field in front of her.

"I will then activate the effect of Sunavalon Myrsine," Miharu declared. "By detaching her other Overlay Unit, I can send the Level 6 Aromage Bergamot from my deck to the graveyard, and gain 200 life points times its Level."

[Sunavalon Myrsine: OU:1 - 1 = OU:0]

Miharu: 5700 + 200 x 6 = 6900LP

"Since I gained life points, Aromage Jasmine's effect activates," Miharu continued. "I draw a card." She plucked up a card from her deck. "Then, I will use Aromage Jasmine's effect. Since my life points are higher than yours, I can Normal Summon another Plant monster each turn. Come—Angel Trumpeter!" The green fairy-like monster appeared, the white and orange flowers forming its 'hands'.

[Angel Trumpeter (4*/1900/1600/EARTH/Plant/Tuner)]

"I will tune the Level 4 Angel Trumpeter to the Level 2 Aromage Jasmine. Beautiful mage surrounded by the heavenly sunlight. Let the petals flicker, unfurl, fade in your presence. Invisible, sweet scents that dance in the fleeting wind, be collected in the dark leaves, the gentle white flower. Synchro Summon. Level 6—Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram!" The dark-haired woman appeared, her pinkish-red cape sweeping forth behind her in the air.

[Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram (6*/2200/2000/LIGHT/Plant/Synchro/Effect)]

"When Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram is Synchro Summoned, I can add Humid Winds, Dried Winds or Blessed Winds from my deck to my hand."

Yuno's Marincess Wave was still in the graveyard. This was a rare opportunity where she had little to no interference from Yuno—while Yuno had other Traps that would still do something, they didn't harm her as much as Wave did.

She added the card to her hand, setting it immediately. There. She would regain some consistency with that.

Next step…

"I will send Sunavalon Myrsine from my field to the graveyard to revive World Carrotweight Champion with its effect," she continued. The orange monster made of carrots reappeared on the field. "And with the effect of Aromaseraphy Angelica, since my life points are higher than yours and I control an "Aroma" monster, I will also Special Summon her from the graveyard." The small fairy reappeared. "I will tune the Level 1 Angelica to the Level 4 World Carrotweight Champion!"

"You have another Synchro Monster?" Yuno said, eyes widening.

"Waves, calming scent! Crash against the immovable force of my will and with your eternal might, bloom into a peaceful, angelic beauty! Synchro Summon! Level 5! Aromaseraphy Rosemary!" A blue-haired woman appeared, mosaic-like fairy wings bursting out behind her. She was dressed in a blue and white dress, with long white gloves covering her arms. She held onto a staff that was blooming with bright flowers, twirling around, her mood seeming far better than Miharu's.

[Aromaseraphy Rosemary (5*/2000/900/LIGHT/Plant/Synchro/Effect)]

Since Angelica was banished with her own effect, Great Bubble Reef powered up more.

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 5200 + 600 = 5800ATK]

"Well, and what absurd life gain effect does this one have?" Yuno asked, seeming to recover. Miharu had summoned Rosemary to the leftmost Main Monster Zone and Sweet Marjoram to the middle Main Monster Zone—in other words, they had taken up both zones that Melias pointed to, meaning that other than her Extra Monster Zone, Miharu had locked off any other space for Link Monsters. Someone else might have seen it as a random mistake, but Yuno knew her better than that. "Are you planning on using Bloom's effect to combine those two monsters' attack points into Melias and crush Leafking Seadragon?"

"Who's going for that?" Miharu answered, and Yuno furrowed his brow. "While I control Aromaseraphy Rosemary and my life points are higher than my opponent's—all Plant monsters I control gain 500 attack and defense points."

[Aromaseraphy Rosemary: 2000 + 500 = 2500ATK; 900 + 500 = 1400DEF]

[Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram: 2200 + 500 = 2700ATK; 2000 + 500 = 2500ATK]

[Sunavalon Melias: 0 + 500 = 500ATK]

"... you're 100 attack points short, if you want to come for Great Bubble Reef."

"I'm not that blind." Miharu revealed another card in her hand. "Bloom. Aroma Garden!"

Flowers bloomed across the track. For all that the track was clearly being devastated by the force of the waves and Yuno's attacks, Miharu's cards also seemed to make it worse—flowers forcing open cracks in the ground.

"You don't have a Field Spell…" Yuno's eyes widened. After all, he had never seen her use a Field Spell. That was very true.

"Once per turn, if I control an "Aroma" monster, I can gain 500 life points with the effect of Aroma Garden," Miharu continued. "And all monsters I control gain 500 attack and defense points until the opponent's next End Phase."

Miharu: 6900 + 500 = 7400LP

[Aromaseraphy Rosemary: 2500 + 500 = 3000ATK; 1400 + 500 = 1900DEF]

[Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram: 2700 + 500 = 3200ATK; 2500 + 500 = 3000DEF]

[Sunavalon Melias: 500 + 500 = 1000ATK]

"When I gain life points, Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram allows me to target and destroy a card on the field," Miharu said. "I will choose Marincess Battle Ocean!"

Right after setting up her own Field Spell, she shattered Yuno's.

Marincess Great Bubble Reef was still equipped with the three monsters, but it was no use—with Battle Ocean destroyed, her attack points fell greatly.

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 5800 - 600 x 3 - 200 = 3800ATK]

"Then, since I gained life points, Aromaseraphy Rosemary lets me target a card on the field and negate its effects until the End Phase."

Great Bubble Reef was a known quantity to her at this point—there was nothing it could do to halt her at this point. So Miharu pointed to Leafking Seadragon, who didn't seem to be immune to targeting effects, at the very least—shuddering slightly, the dark monster retreated by a step.

Good.

That was one unknown temporarily removed from the equation.

"This field…" Yuno's eyes widened. "You… this isn't like you at all…"

Yes, it was not.

Miharu's style was very simple. She sat, she waited, she observed and she slowly ate away at her opponents' resources, before cutting them down in one fell swoop. 'Trees can wait a hundred years to grow, but Miharu can wait longer,' Aso had joked once, when they were staking out a place on a mission. Her brother had put it best, though.

An assassin's style.

But now, she had a field that couldn't be considered weak in any form—and not just a perfectly defensive formation like she always had, but a formation that was determined to attack, destroy and interfere immediately. A formation that intended to strike directly at the opponent.

If not for the fact that this duel was so important to her, and Yuno already knew her normal style better than most others, Miharu might have just regrouped, shuffled Dryanome back into the Extra Deck and continued trying to weather the storm, until she really did find the perfect opportunity.

But now, despite not having a perfect plan to win immediately—

She had still resolutely taken a step forward.

"Sunavalon Melias attacks Marincess Great Bubble Reef," Miharu said. "And with Sunavalon Bloom's effect, once per turn, when my Plant Link Monster battles, it gains the attack points of all monsters that it points to." Melias glowed, both Rosemary and Sweet Marjoram holding out their staffs and lending their strength to the tree woman.

[Sunavalon Melias: 1000 + 3000 + 3200 = 7200ATK]

An enormous tree root shot out from the ground, spearing Great Bubble Reef through the chest and destroying her.

Yuno: 4800 - 3400 = 1400LP

"Since the equipped Coral Anemone was sent to the graveyard, I can add Marincess Battle Ocean back to my hand!" Yuno called, picking up the card.

Miharu nodded. "Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram attacks Marincess Leafking Seadragon!" Miharu didn't let up—white flowers and dark leaves bombarded that odd monster, destroying it.

Yuno: 1400 - 700 = 700LP

However, that was exactly when Yuno made his next move. "When Marincess Leafking Seadragon is sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a Link 3 or lower WATER Link Monster from my Extra Deck, and treat it as a Link Summon!" He declared. "And since it's an effect that activates in the graveyard, it goes through!" He took out a card from his Extra Deck.

… well, Miharu already knew who was coming out.

"Hey, faithful partner," Yuno greeted, lifting the card. "It's been a while. Rampage with me. Cybernetic dragon that crosses into reality! Now, infuse yourself with the ocean waves that crash against the shore, and pull the world into your magnetic field! Come—Magnetic Current Link Dragon!" The beautiful blue and purple dragon appeared, long black wires flying around it and sparking at random, the sounds of the electrified wires sizzling causing Miharu to snap her head back for a moment.

She hated those sounds.

She did not hate this dragon—perhaps even loved it, because of how much she associated it with Yuno. Oceans, waves, water, the rain—washing away the sorrows of those around it.

She could never forget how much Yuno had helped her to bloom too.

Even so, to see this dragon as her enemy…

Her heart felt like it was jolting oddly.

[Magnetic Current Link Dragon (L3/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, →)]

"The summoned monster cannot activate its effect on the turn it is summoned, and it cannot be destroyed by battle," Yuno explained. "Then—I gain life points equal to the Link Rating of the summoned monster, times 1000."

Yuno: 700 + 1000 x 3 = 3700LP

That was why he hadn't banished Crown Tail from his graveyard to negate damage, then. Miharu had been suspicious about that. It was because this strange Link 4 monster could apparently both float into another monster and heal him at the same time.

Even so…

"Aromaseraphy Rosemary attacks Magnetic Current!"

Even if she couldn't destroy the dragon, she could at least deal damage. And Yuno's healing capabilities weren't as high as hers—no one's deck could match up to a deck like hers in healing, because all of her cards were built around managing her life points and using them to manage the field. But Yuno should only know that Magnetic Current increasing her life points would only make things harder for him, right?

Yuno: 3700 - 500 = 3200LP

"I'll end my turn," she said. "Over to you."

[Turn 8: Yuno] [H:7]

"Draw," Yuno said. "I know what you're thinking, Miharu. You're confused about why I brought out Magnetic Current, right?"

"... to evolve it," Miharu replied after a brief moment. "Because it's a card in your deck whose full effect I don't know yet."

"... well, take the surprise out of the duel, why don't you." Yuno revealed a card in his hand. "Field Spell, Marincess Battle Ocean. Then, the Spell Card, Marincess Dive! Come from the deck, Marincess Pascalus!" Another copy of the pink-haired girl appeared on the field. "Pascalus's effect. I will Special Summon Marincess Springirl from my hand! Then, I'll Special Summon Marincess Sleepy Maiden from my hand by targeting Marincess Battle Ocean!" The only new monster of the three was the girl with light blue hair.

[Marincess Sleepy Maiden (5*/500/2500/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"And while Sleepy Maiden is on the field, the card I targeted for her effect cannot be destroyed by my opponent's card effects!"

Miharu nodded. She understood. No matter what, this was Yuno telling her that it wouldn't be that easy to get rid of his Field Spell again.

"I'll set the Scale 6 Marincess Knifejaw in the Pendulum Scale."

That—

That was problematic.

Miharu immediately flipped over her set card. "Continuous Trap, Blessed Winds! I will shuffle a Plant monster from my graveyard into the deck to gain 500 life points." The effect once again cast a glow around her.

Miharu: 7400 + 500 = 7900LP

"Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram and Aromaseraphy Rosemary's effects activate!" Miharu declared. "Rosemary's effect. I will negate the effects of Marincess Battle Ocean." After all, Sleepy Maiden only protected from destruction, and not from targeting or negating effects. "Sweet Marjoram's effect. I can target and destroy a card on the field. I will choose Marincess Knifejaw!"

She struck down Yuno's Pendulum Monster immediately. There was a very good reason for this. While most people might have gone for Magnetic Current instead, to remove the monster that was obviously going to be used as material—Marincess Knifejaw was a terror if it was left on the field when Magnetic Current or its evolution was summoned.

Namely, once per turn, Knifejaw could turn any WATER Link Monster that was Link Summoned to the field into a "Marincess" monster permanently.

And that meant that Yuno would have far less weaknesses, because that meant that even if he controlled no other monsters, he would still be able to activate most of his "Marincess" Traps from his hand. His Traps would be able to protect his dragons. His dragons would gain the stat boosts from his other cards…

So on and so forth.

Even if she destroyed Magnetic Current, it didn't matter. Yuno already had three monsters on the field. Once Miharu used her effect to destroy Magnetic Current, Yuno wouldn't need to protect Battle Ocean anymore, so he could just use Sleepy Maiden as material. Simple cause and effect. Coral Triangle could be Link Summoned, Mandarin or Sea Horse's effect could be activated, and Miharu would be back where she started.

Here, their playstyles could be seen very clearly. Both Miharu and Yuno's decks could easily swarm monsters on the field—it was evident just by the kind of fields that they could set up in a single turn. Unless their monster effects were somehow all blocked off, the two of them had no real need for Pendulum Summoning. Thus, they used their Pendulum Monsters as Continuous Spells instead—ways to aid their usual strategies, instead of for Pendulum Summoning itself.

They weren't blinded enough by the novelty of the Pendulum Summon to be inefficient.

It was subtle nuance that was perhaps lost on everyone else in that moment. Yuno seemed to understand though. "Good choice," he said, still sounding somewhat relaxed. "Open, circuit! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are at least two monsters with different names, including a Link 3 or higher Link Monster. I will set the Link 3 Magnetic Current Link Dragon and Marincess Springirl in the Link Markers. Water, the lifeblood of the world. Pour forth violently from the skies and waterfalls, and finally come to rest within the beautiful oceans. Now, dragon born from the sapphire waters, raise those claws that tear through storm and deluge, and open up an era of peace! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 4! Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon!" Magnetic Current Link Dragon's evolved form appeared, blue claws slashing through the air. Water swirled around it.

[Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon (L4/3000/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↙, ↘, →)]

"Springirl's effect. I control Pascalus and Sleepy Maiden, so I can send the top two cards of my deck to the graveyard. And for each "Marincess" card, I can inflict 200 damage to you!" The two pinpricks of damage shot forward, knocking down Miharu's life points by a small amount.

Miharu: 7900 - 200 x 2 = 7500LP

"Magnetic Current sets a Trap from my graveyard to my field. And you know how Hydrostatic Current's first effect works, no?" After all, Yuno had purposely summoned Sleepy Maiden and Pascalus to the rightmost Main Monster Zones, so that Hydrostatic Current, who was in the left Extra Monster Zone, wouldn't point to them. "Your usual style wouldn't even be affected by this—but you've really left yourself open this time, Miharu. Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon's effect! Once per turn, since it points to no monsters, I can negate the effects of all Level 5 or higher monsters on the field until the End Phase, and Hydrostatic Current gains 500 attack points for each! Peaceful Wavebreak!" The surging waters hit her monsters, and both Sweet Marjoram and Rosemary were left helpless. Without Rosemary's boost, her monsters were also weakened slightly. Even though Melias was unaffected by the effect, it didn't mean that Yuno hadn't dealt a severe blow to her field. The effect even affected Yuno's own Marincess Sleepy Maiden.

[Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon: 3000 + 500 x 3 = 4500ATK]

[Aromaseraphy Rosemary: 3000 - 500 = 2500ATK; 1900 - 500 = 1400DEF]

[Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram: 3200 - 500 = 2700ATK; 3000 - 500 = 2500DEF]

"The fact that you activated all your cards before Hydrostatic Current came out… it's very like you," Yuno said. "But you'll still take the damage. Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon attacks Aromaseraphy Rosemary. Shifting Tidal Seizure!"

The tides rose, the waves overlapped each other, and Miharu's monster was crushed beneath them.

Miharu: 7500 - 2000 = 5500LP

"When an "Aroma" monster I control is destroyed, I gain 1000 life points with the effect of Aroma Garden!" Miharu declared. It was part of why she had been confident enough to not lay down any more defences. It was a direct response to an attack.

This was Miharu throwing away all subtle defences and plans.

Damage me all you want. I can heal faster than you can deal damage to me.

Miharu: 5500 + 1000 = 6500LP

"Fair enough," Yuno said. He decisively moved to his Main Phase 2—he had already ripped a key component of her field away, after all. "I will open the circuit. I'll use Pascalus to Link Summon another copy of Marincess Blue Slug. Blue Slug's effect—I'll add another "Marincess" monster from my graveyard to my hand. I will set a card and end my turn."

… what was he planning?

The thing was, Miharu hadn't gotten to see any of Hydrostatic Current's other effects. Yuno simply hadn't faced any opponents that were strong enough so far to require him to use them.

So…

She'd have to figure it out. But it was fine. She would make it.

[Turn 9: Miharu] [H:3]

"Draw." Miharu said. "Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing." There was no noticeable response from Yuno, which was… interesting. "I will take 1000 damage and Special Summon a "Sunseed" monster from my deck. Come—Sunseed Twin." The pink and blue fairies appeared in front of her once again.

Miharu: 6500 - 1000 = 5500LP

Taking a step forward like this without Dryas, Dryades or Dryanome to heal herself wasn't her style either. But right now…

She was still setting things up.

"I will activate the effect of Sunseed Twin. I will revive Sunseed Genius Loci."

Still no response. There was a part of Miharu that felt that Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon had to have a disruptive effect. Even so, being overly cautious…

That was fine.

Miharu breathed out slowly.

She could still see the sparks inside Yuno's helmet. Whatever that strange presence was, it had helped her, but Yuno was still in pain.

How could she let him go on like this?

"Open, circuit that sows the seeds to my future," Miharu said. "Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are a Level 4 or lower Plant monster. Come—Dryas!" It was the third copy of Dryas—unless Miharu returned the copies from the graveyard to the Extra Deck, this was her last search. "I will use the effect of Sunavalon Dryas. I will add a "Sunvine" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand."

Currently, she had Dryas in the left Extra Monster Zone, co-linked with Melias behind her.

"I will activate the effect of Aroma Garden," Miharu continued. "I will gain 500 life points, and all my monsters will gain 500 attack and defense points until the end of my opponent's next turn."

Miharu: 5500 + 500 = 6000LP

[Sunavalon Dryas: 0 + 500 = 500ATK]

[Sunavalon Melias: 0 + 500 = 500ATK]

[Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram: 2200 + 500 = 2700ATK; 2000 + 500 = 2500DEF]

"Are you planning to break through with Sunavalon Bloom again?" Yuno asked.

"Isn't that what you're waiting for?" Miharu replied. "I gained life points! Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram's effect triggers. I will destroy Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon!"

Yuno gestured forward. "Trap Card, Marincess Ripples!" One of the two set cards flipped over. "I can pay 300 life points times the Link Rating of the "Marincess" monster with the highest Link Rating on the field, and negate the effects of all monsters you control that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, until the End Phase."

Yuno: 3200 - 300 = 2900LP

A sharp wave hit all of her monsters at once—an instant knockout. He had probably been saving it until she Link Summoned Dryatrentiay, but her aggressive play had forced him to use it early.

In other words, this was recoverable.

Sweet Marjoram was suppressed, but that was fine. She was testing to see what would work and what wouldn't in Hydrostatic Current's presence.

No matter what world they were in, no one knew Yuno Sugisaki's deck better than her.

"I will activate the effect of Blessed Winds," she said. "I will pay 1000 life points to revive an "Aroma" monster." Aromaseraphy Jasmine reappeared on her field.

Miharu: 6000 - 1000 = 5000LP

"Manifest, the future circuit that lights up my path. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters. I will set Sunseed Twin and Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram in the Link Markers." Yuno arched an eyebrow at that. Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Lush green leaves of the laurel tree—Sunavalon Daphne!" The woman with pale skin appeared, surrounded by lush green vines that wrapped around her like a blanket. She rested in the left Main Monster Zone.

[Sunavalon Daphne (L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/←, →)]

"Using Sweet Marjoram as Link Material…"

"Still more to come," Miharu continued. "You should know what's coming next. Appear, the future circuit that lights up my path. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are at least two Effect Monsters. I will set Aromaseraphy Jasmine and Sunavalon Daphne in the Link Markers."

"... it's that one…"

"Sleeping flower drifting through the emptiness of the closed world. You who do not know what it means to live, die and be reborn over and over again. For all of eternity, refuse to ever despair and perish. Reject the starlight that illuminates the darkness." She exhaled slowly. "Steal that light from the world that has abandoned you... and bloom into judgement, arbiter, luck and justice, in a single, noble, self-sacrificial form. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 4. Topologic Penrose Aitvaras." The dark draconic creature appeared, dark wings spreading out around it, a mix of black and white feathers and gleaming dark metal. The tri-coloured triangles of code floated around it. Its body seemed to be surrounded by a black aura that was sparkling with stars within it. The white flowers bloomed around it as well.

[Topologic Penrose Aitvaras (L4/3000/DARK/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↖, ←, →, ↗)]

Hydrostatic Current roared—seeming curious. Her monster did not roar—it was as quiet as she was, but the green code-like lines that formed its eyes seemed to glimmer.

"So that's Penrose Aitvaras?" Yuno was watching it, seeming surprised. "... hmm. Pretty. It's something very… 'you', and not her…"

Who was he talking about?

… no need to think about it for now.

"My life points are still higher than yours. I'll Special Summon Aromage Laurel." The blond mage reappeared yet again. "Since a monster was Special Summoned to a Link Monster's Link Marker—I will negate the effects of all monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck until my End Phase, and Penrose Aitvaras gains 300 attack points for each Link Monster on our fields and in the graveyard." She looked into those glowing golden eyes. "That includes yours, like I said. I have a feeling that I know—but why don't you tell me?"

"Two copies of Blue Slug, Sea Angel, Clownfish Confit, Sea Butterfly, Coral Anemone, Marbled Rock, Magnetic Current, Great Bubble Reef, Leafking Seadragon, Hydrostatic Current," Yuno said, surprisingly willing to oblige her. "Eleven."

"I'll save you from hearing my list," Miharu said with a sigh. "I've been moving my cards around constantly… I have three on the field, six in the graveyard. Nine. Twenty in total. Stardust Extermination Sacrifice!"

So that was an answer between the two of them, wasn't it?

"When my opponent activates a monster effect, Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon will target that monster, negate that effect, and then, I can take control of that monster and place it in a Main Monster Zone that Hydrostatic Current points to, before gaining life points equal to its attack points!"

… what an imposing effect. He couldn't have used it while Marjoram's effect was stopping him from targeting her Plant monsters… that was why he'd used Ripples first.

"Shackling Oceanic Stasis!"

But…

Miharu slipped out a card from her graveyard. "When my opponent targets a card I control with a card effect, I can banish Sunseed Carving from my graveyard, negate that effect and destroy that card," she declared.

Yuno's eyes widened.

Miharu wasn't fazed at all.

Fortune did not favour the bold. It favoured the prepared.

A translucent spirit of a wooden statue carved into the shape of a woman appeared, batting aside the blast of water. It was deflected back at the dragon, but—

Alright. That made things simpler.

Stars gathered under Penrose Aitvaras's feathers, swallowed by the void. It also gained 500 attack points from Aroma Garden.

[Topologic Penrose Aitvaras: 3000 + 300 x 20 + 500 = 9500ATK]

A monster that profited off Link Monsters specifically might not seem like much, but if she ever went back to the Link Dimension, how terrifying would it be?

This was a clear display of that question and idea.

Nine thousand five hundred attack points.

… it's not enough, though.

"Melias attacks your Sleepy Maiden," Miharu said. "Sunavalon Bloom gives her attack points equal to the total attack points of all monsters she points to."

[Sunavalon Melias: 500 + 9500 + 500 = 10500ATK]

Sleepy Maiden was in Defense Position though.

"Topologic Penrose Aitvaras attacks Blue Slug," she declared, already knowing the result. "Antimatter Spring Annihilation!"

"I'll banish Crown Tail from the graveyard to reduce any damage that is less than the total Link Rating of "Marincess" Link Monsters in my graveyard times 1000." He glanced at his graveyard. "We both know you fell short." The powerful attack that had defeated Aki was swept away by a simple card in the graveyard. Blue Slug was still destroyed though.

Yes.

Still—

That had been Miharu's intention anyway.

Crown Tail was probably Yuno's strongest damage negate. Now that it was gone and he no longer controlled Great Bubble Reef, next turn…

"Main Phase 2." Miharu said. "I'll set a card and end my turn." Penrose Aitvaras's attack points fell back to 3500, since it still had Aroma Garden's boost.

"Ending your turn just like that?" Yuno snorted. "Fair enough, I guess… I'll still put a stop to you though."

[Turn 10: Yuno] [H:3]

"Draw," Yuno said. "Continuous Trap, Call of the Haunted."

… ah. Marincess Ripples must have been sent to the graveyard by Springirl, and recycled by Magnetic Current.

"Return to my field, Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon." The dragon reappeared right in front of him, in his middle Main Monster Zone. Still though… it couldn't beat Penrose Aitvaras right now… "Spell Card, Salvage. I will add two WATER monsters with 1500 attack points from my graveyard to my hand. I'll then banish a WATER monster from my graveyard to Special Summon Marincess Springirl from my hand."

The girl with dark blue hair appeared.

"And I'll Normal Summon Marincess Blue Sunfish." He made sure to summon them in the leftmost and rightmost monster zone, to avoid setting off the bomb that was Topologic Penrose Aitvaras's effect. "And I'll tune the Level 3 Marincess Blue Sunfish to the Level 4 Marincess Springirl. Unfurl, petals and drift across the still water! Let sunlight stream through the river and give you a new strength! Synchro Summon! Level 7! Marincess Crystal Hyacinth!" The young woman dressed in a green dress which resembled leaves in the patterns on it appeared, with long blue hair and a sharp and well-detailed purple tiara that resembled a water hyacinth.

[Marincess Crystal Hyacinth (7*/2500/2000/WATER/Cyberse/Synchro/Effect)]

"Since Crystal Hyacinth was Synchro Summoned, I can add a "Marincess" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand. And then, Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon attacks Topologic Penrose Aitvaras. Shifting Tidal Seizure! And with the effect of Marincess Crystal Hyacinth, I will discard Marincess Sleepy Maiden from my hand to give Hydrostatic Current attack points equal to Sleepy Maiden's defense points, and I'll gain life points equal to the same amount! Healing Petal Dance!"

[Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon: 3000 + 2500 = 5500ATK]

Yuno: 2900 + 2500 = 5400LP

"Continuous Trap, Astral Barrier. When you attack a monster, I can turn it into a direct attack instead."

"You… do not have enough life points for that," Yuno said, arching an eyebrow.

"I will activate the effect of another copy of Aromaseraphy Angelica in my hand," she said. "I will discard her and gain life points equal to the attack points of a "Aroma" monster in the graveyard. "I'll choose Aromage Bergamot."

Miharu: 5000 + 2400 = 7400LP

The attack hit, but Penrose Aitvaras was protected from it, at the very least.

Miharu: 7400 - 5500 = 1900LP

"Since I took damage, Dryas will give me back the life points and Special Summon Sunvine Healer from the Extra Deck. Healer will heal me by 300 times Melias's Link Rating."

Miharu: 1900 + 5500 + 300 x 3 = 8300LP

"... you went to a lot of trouble just to keep your monster alive," Yuno said. He tilted his head. "Well, I'm still confident enough. Crystal Hyacinth's effect. I will revive a monster from the graveyard with equal or less attack points than the life points I gained, but that monster cannot attack. Return to the field—Marincess Marbled Rock."

Reinforcing his defences, huh?

"Crystal Hyacinth attacks Healer."

"I'll change it to a direct attack," Miharu said, actively taking the damage.

Miharu: 8300 - 2500 = 5800LP

"Marbled Rock's effect. I'll add a "Marincess" card from my graveyard to my hand." It was clearly Marincess Wave again. "That's it, Miharu. Don't let me shut you down too quickly."

"That's… no problem," Miharu said. She breathed out. "... I win."

"Huh?"

[Turn 11: Miharu] [H:2]

"Draw," Miharu said.

"I will activate the Trap Card, Marincess Wave, from my hand," Yuno said. "I will target Topologic Penrose Aitvaras and negate its effects."

"I will activate the Quickplay Spell, Forbidden Lance," Miharu called. "I'll decrease Penrose Aitvaras's attack points by 800, but it is unaffected by other Spells and Traps."

[Topologic Penrose Aitvaras: 3000 - 800 = 2200ATK]

"I'll also banish Breakthrough Skill from my graveyard." One of the cards that she had discarded for Graceful Charity now rose to her aid. "I will negate your Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon's effect until the End Phase!"

"... I'll activate Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon's effect," Yuno said. "I'll negate a Spell or Trap card or effect that would target or destroy a card I control. Then, I can gain 500 life points for each card it points to. Shackling Oceanic Stasis."

However, he had been forced to use it early. Hydrostatic Current's negation was powerful, but it could only negate either a monster's effect, or a Spell or Trap's effect each turn, not both.

Yuno: 5400 + 500 x 2 = 6400LP

So Marincess Wave was wasted—though Yuno's monsters were now unaffected by her card effects.

How many cards does Yuno control? Marbled Rock, Water Hyacinth, Hydrostatic Current, Battle Ocean, Call of the Haunted…

It's enough. Good. I wouldn't want to embarrass myself by having declared my victory early.

And I… need to defeat him.

Just a little more.

"I will activate the effect of Blessed Winds," Miharu said. "I will pay 1000 life points and revive Aromage Jasmine."

Miharu: 5800 - 1000 = 4800LP

Jasmine reappeared on her field.

"Then, I will activate Aroma Garden's effect. I will gain 500 life points."

Miharu: 4800 + 500 = 5300LP

"Since I gained life points, with Jasmine's effect, I will draw a card." Miharu lifted the card. 'Then, Angelica will Special Summon herself back from the graveyard. And I will send a card from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon World Carrotweight Champion back to the field."

Yuno frowned. "Clytia, Daphne, Leuce?" He murmured. "But none of those help you in this situation… none of them will help you break past my field, when they're unaffected by card effects. Meliae is useless because Thrasher can't reach high enough…"

"None of them," Miharu replied. "Dryanome." She had another copy, after all.

"Dryanome? But her arrows… none of them will help you, and she's the least useful one. Why…" Yuno frowned. "Are you retreating again? Are you trying to defend yourself?"

"... there was a feat that my brother pulled off a few years back," Miharu said. She recalled the first time that she had seen it in person. "It's something that made him even more difficult for Link specialists like us to face."

It's something that I never wanted to replicate…

---

Two years ago:

"Come to think of it, it's very possible for you to pull it off as well, with the Link Arrows of your monsters," Ryoken commented as his monsters faded away. "Would you like to give it a try, Miharu?"

Miharu shook her head.

"Hmm? Not your style?"

"... it's your style," Miharu said after a moment. Tyrannically taking up any room that their opponent had to breathe, forcing them to fight on the backfoot… "It's very strong."

"Then you can learn how it works too," Ryoken said. "You don't have to use it immediately. Just be aware of the potential that your deck has at all times. And if possible, you can use it to surprise your opponent. You'll probably be as strong as me if you master it."

Miharu looked at him. "But I don't want to be as strong as you," she said simply. She didn't miss the concerned looks on his face and their father's face.

I just want you to always be stronger than me. Always be able to defeat me.

If I'm stronger than you…

I'll be alone.

I won't be able to ask you to protect me anymore.

Ryoken patted the top of her head. "I understand," he said. "But sometimes, we all need to take a brave step forward."

---

Before the Maiami Championship:

Miharu looked at the three Link 4 monsters that her brother and father had made for her. Specifically, at the one which her brother had so clearly intended to represent her.

An effect that built in that mechanic…

Was he trying to force her to learn it to make use of this new card? Was it a hint for her to let go of her fears and take a step forward to grow?

Miharu held the card close to her chest.

… I'm still too afraid to do that.

---

In the present:

Miharu glanced at her monsters.

… but if I don't replicate it, I'll lose him. I'll really be alone then…

I am afraid of many things. But what I'm the most afraid of is that I'll lose him. And whatever this thing is, I have a feeling that if I don't defeat him here, I'll lose him forever.

… sometimes, we all need to take a brave step forward.

This was something that she had been preparing to do—keeping Melias in the right spot, making sure that Penrose Aitvaras was in the middle, it was all for this. She'd hoped that it wasn't necessary, but…

"Usually, a player can only control a single Extra Monster Zone," Miharu explained. "But if the two Extra Monster Zones are connected such that they are co-linked with each other, then the player can perform an Extra Link by Link Summoning to the other Extra Monster Zone!"

"... there's a Link Summon like that?"

"I'll teach you," Miharu promised. "I'll teach you anything that you want, if…" She couldn't speak the next few words. She wasn't that bold. I'll teach you anything that you want, if you come back to me. "Open, circuit! The conditions are two or more Plant monsters! I will set Aromaseraphy Angelica, Aromage Jasmine and World Carrotweight Champion in the Link Markers!" The three monsters shot up, but Miharu eschewed the summoning chant. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3! Sunavalon Dryanome!"

And there, in the Extra Monster Zone that Yuno Sugisaki had left vacant—

The beautiful tree bloomed.

It was exactly what Miharu had been waiting for. She had been waiting for a chance to defeat the monster in the Extra Monster Zone, so that she could empty it out and use it herself.

And she had finally completed it.

The Link Arrows of all her monsters glowed brightly. Dryas, Melias, Penrose Aitvaras and Dryanome. An Extra Link with four monsters.

(Some might think that it was less impressive than her brother's feat of doing it with five monsters. Some might think that she should have filled up all her Main Monster Zones to make it look cooler.)

(In Miharu's opinion, unless necessary, using more monsters was just inefficient. An Extra Link with four monsters unlocked the same advantages as one with three or five.)

And in this case, the advantage…

"Topologic Penrose Aitvaras's effect," she said. "You no longer have a way of negating it. Stardust Extermination Sacrifice!"

[Topologic Penrose Aitvaras: 2200 + 300 x 21 + 500 = 9000ATK]

"And then, her other effect."

Miharu turned to her monster, nodding.

… her vision seemed to turn black for a brief moment. Her fingers shook.

… she was so tired.

Just one more. Just one more was enough.

"If Topologic Penrose Aitvaras is Extra Linked and you control at least three face-up cards, I can use its second effect," Miharu said. "For each co-linked monster on the field—you must send a card you control to the graveyard. And this effect affects the opposing player, not the monsters—so Marincess Wave won't work here." She gestured forward. "Dryas, Penrose Aitvaras, Dryanome, Melias, and your own Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon and Marbled Rock. You control five cards. There are six co-linked monsters on the field. Your whole field is wiped out—Artificial Light-Devouring Blizzard!" The strange multi-coloured triangles formed around Penrose Aitvaras, before mixing with black petals that shot forward, erasing every card on Yuno's field.

Yuno frowned, looking back at her. "Your bracelet isn't glowing," he murmured. "So this is… entirely your will, and nothing else?"

"Since you have no cards on your field after this effect—Penrose Aitvaras also deals 3000 damage to you!" The three triangles shot towards Yuno, carving out a large amount of his life points.

Yuno: 6400 - 3000 = 3400LP

Miharu raised her hand.

… finally. This is it.

"Topologic Penrose Aitvaras attacks you directly! Antimatter Spring Annihilation!"

… I never asked to be strong. My entire life, I've gone along the paths that I'm the most comfortable with. If I am 'strong', it is because of circumstances. They took me and they…

They 'tortured' me. I don't want to admit it, because I feel ashamed, even though I shouldn't be. But I grew to be strong because of that, because of my family, who taught me and helped me to figure out how to protect myself. And later, after I was already strong, I chose to use that strength to protect others, as a member of the Knights of Hanoi.

I still find it hard to care about myself. My own safety, my own mind, my own heart… I don't care if I'm hurt. But the people around me? Like Reira? Like you? Seeing any of you hurt is worse than anything else that could happen to me. Seeing anyone hurt is more agonising than anything that could be done to me.

That's why I said it, right?

That's what I truly meant, when I said that to that despicable man. I didn't want to expose my weakness, so I didn't say it all, but…

"Instead of hurting all these people, just kill me instead, if you can."

So please.

I don't care if someday, you become stronger than me. That doesn't matter to me in the slightest. I'd welcome it. I'd welcome the day that you can have the resolve to defeat me on your own, and your win rate against me wouldn't be zero. (Because you're too kind to turn on me, but if I was afraid, I would probably still turn on you.)

But I need you to be alright. No matter what, I just want you to be alright.

Yuno: 3400 - 9000 = 0LP

Winner: Miharu Kogami!

And with all of that effort, all of those plans, every meticulous detail about how she'd gotten rid of Yuno's resources along the way…

Exhaustion ate through Miharu Kogami's skin and bones.

Even so, as the D-Wheels stopped, she staggered off. She tossed the helmet on her head, which had disengaged its lock now that the duel was over. Her vision was blurry, her legs felt like they were stone—

But even so, she tackled Yuno Sugisaki to the ground, his helmet falling off his head as well.

His eyes—

For a moment, his eyes rolled back in his head.

Then, he was Yuno again, the same Yuno that she knew so well. His eyes were confused for a brief moment, and then he seemed to see her.

Ah.

She had won, then.

The tension and adrenaline that had been keeping her afloat immediately left her. She collapsed on his chest, still clutching onto him, unwilling to let go of him. "You're safe," she thought she might have said, but all that she felt was numb numb numb. Her entire body felt like it had given up on her. The colours that had faded from her vision began to edge their way back in. It didn't matter though, because her eyes closed soon after.

"—iharu! Hey, can you hear me, Miharu?"

Mm. There it was.

Warmth.

… she couldn't breathe anymore. She felt like she was falling.

"Miharu!" That voice was getting further and further away now. Something told her that she had to stand up and go to it.

But she was so tired. Her head hurt.

Would it be alright to just sleep for a while?

(Burned alive as she was, her entire body having been scorched by the same trigger and going through the same shuddering fear over and over—)

(It was a mercy to fall asleep.)

---

OC Cards:

Sunavalon Clytia

(L2/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑, →)

2 Plant monsters, including a "Sunvine" Link Monster

This card cannot be targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. If you take battle or effect damage: You can target 1 monster on the field; its controller gains LP equal to its ATK. You can return 1 Plant monster from your GY to the Deck or Extra Deck; draw 1 card. You can only activate this effect of "Sunavalon Clytia" once per turn.

Marincess Blue Sunfish

(3*/1400/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Tuner/Effect)

If this card is Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 "Marincess" monster from your Deck in Attack Position. If this card is sent to the GY: "Marincess" monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle this turn. You can only activate each effect of "Marincess Blue Sunfish" once per turn.

Marincess Bubble Elevator

(Trap)

If your opponent controls a Link Monster with a Link Rating equal to or higher than the Link Monster with the highest Link Rating you control, or if your opponent controls a Fusion, Xyz, Synchro or Ritual Monster: You can target 1 monster they control; destroy it, and if you do, gain LP equal to the total Link Rating of WATER Link Monsters in your GY, in your Monster Zones and treated as Equip Spells on your field x 400. If you control a Link-3 or higher "Marincess" monster, you can activate this card from your hand.

Marincess Sea Butterfly

(L2/1800/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↑, →)

2 WATER monsters

If this card is Link Summoned and you control only WATER monsters: You can Special Summon 1 Link-1 "Marincess" Link Monster from your Extra Deck. (This is treated as a Link Summon.) You can only use this effect of "Marincess Sea Butterfly" once per turn. While you control this face-up card in the Monster Zone or Spell/Trap Zone, co-linked WATER monsters you control cannot be destroyed by card effects.

Marincess Clownfish Confit

(L1/700/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/→)

1 non-Link WATER monster

This card cannot be destroyed by battle. You can Tribute this card; target 1 non-Link monster in your GY, Special Summon it. You can only activate this effect of "Marincess Clownfish Confit" once per turn.

Sunavalon Myrsine

(R1/0/0/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 1 Plant monsters

This card cannot be targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly. If this card is Xyz Summoned: You can add 1 "Sunvine" or "Sunseed" card from your GY or banished cards to your hand. While this card is face-up on the field, it can be treated as a "Sunavalon" Link Monster for the activation requirements of cards and/or effects, and it is treated as having a Link Rating equal to its Rank. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; send 1 Plant monster from your Deck to the GY, and if you do, gain LP equal to its Level x 200.

Sunseed Carving

(1*/0/0/EARTH/Plant/Tuner/Effect)

This card is treated as a Normal Monster on the field and in the GY. If this card is sent to the GY: You can add 1 "Sunseed" or "Sunavalon" card from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate this effect of "Sunseed Carving" once per turn. If a card you control is targeted by your opponent's card or effect, while this card is in your GY: You can banish this card from the GY; negate that effect, and if you do, destroy that card.

Marincess Leafking Seadragon

(L4/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, ↘, →)

2+ WATER monsters

(This card is always treated as a Cyberse monster.) If this card is Link Summoned, and it has a higher Link Rating than all other Link Monsters on the field (even if it is tied), or it is the only Link Monster on the field: You can destroy cards your opponent controls, up to the number of WATER Link Monsters you control, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the total Link Rating of all Link Monsters you control x 400. While your opponent controls a Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Ritual or Pendulum Monster, this card cannot be destroyed by card effects. If this card is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 Link 3 or lower WATER Link Monster from your Extra Deck, and if you do, gain LP equal to that monster's Link Rating x 1000. (This is treated as a Link Summon.) The monster Summoned by this effect cannot activate its effects this turn, and it cannot be destroyed by battle during the turn that it was Summoned. You can only activate each effect of "Marincess Leafking Seadragon" once per turn. You can only control 1 "Marincess Leafking Seadragon".

Trivia: To be honest, I was wavering back and forth on whether to show my hand with this card, but I decided on it in the end. Based on the leafy seadragon. The reference in terms of its main colours being black and green are very apparent, and the usage of 'king' in its name also makes it very clear what is being referenced. Destroying cards and inflicting damage? Protecting itself based on the monster Types on the field? That's very apparent too. The floating, I will say, is a reference to the other Supreme King Servant Dragons, instead of Zarc himself. A leafy seadragon is an animal that pretends to be a plant, to avoid predators and to hunt prey. I'll leave you to draw your conclusions on what that's supposed to mean. Also, always being treated as a Cyberse monster is, of course, showing how in this duel, it's pitted against Penrose Aitvaras. It's also symbolic of Yuno's own nature as himself (Cyberse) and a fragment of Zarc (Dragon), and how Zarc is currently winning over his spirit when he summons it.

Magnetic Current Link Dragon

(L3/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, →)

3 monsters with different names, including a Link Monster

Once per turn: You can target 1 Level 5 or higher monster your opponent controls; negate its effects, then, place that opponent's monster in a Main Monster Zone this card points to and take control of it until your opponent's next End Phase, and if you do, your opponent gains LP equal to the original ATK of the targeted monster. If this card is sent to the GY: You can Set 1 Trap from your GY to your field. It can be activated this turn.

Marincess Knifejaw

(3*/S6/1400/800/WATER/Cyberse/Pendulum/Effect)

Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, if you Link Summon a WATER Link Monster: You can inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's Link Rating x 400, and if you do, while it is face-up on the field, treat it as a "Marincess" monster. (This effect continues even if this card leaves the field.)

Once per turn: You can target 1 WATER monster you control; it gains 400 ATK for each WATER monster you control. You can only activate this effect of "Marincess Knifejaw" once per turn.

Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon

(L4/3000/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↙, ↘, →)

2+ monsters with different names, including a Link 3 or higher Link Monster

Once per turn, if this card does not point to any monsters: You can negate the effects of all Level 5 or higher monsters on the field, and if you do, this monster gains 500 ATK for each monster affected by this effect until the End Phase. If you control no Set cards, this card is unaffected by your opponent's monster effects. You can only activate 1 of the following effects of "Hydrostatic Current Link Dragon" each turn, and only once per turn.

- If your opponent activates the effect of a monster on the field: You can target that monster; negate that effect, and if you do, take control of that monster and place it in a Main Monster Zone that this card points to, and then, gain LP equal to its ATK.

- If your opponent activates a Spell/Trap card or effect that would target or destroy a monster you control: You can negate that effect, and if you do, gain 500 LP for each monster that this card points to.

Note: Got errataed because the effect was phrased badly—it originally said "activates a monster effect", but the effect itself doesn't work on monsters not on the field.

Marincess Ripples

(Trap)

If you control a "Marincess" Link Monster: Pay LP equal to 300 x the Link Rating of the "Marincess" Link Monster with the highest Link Rating on your field (you choose if tied); negate the effects of all face-up monsters your opponent currently controls that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck until the end of this turn, then, if you control a Link-2 or higher "Marincess" monster, all face-up monsters you currently control are unaffected by your opponent's card effects until the end of this turn. If you control a Link-3 or higher "Marincess" monster, you can activate this card from your hand.

Topologic Penrose Aitvaras

(L4/3000/DARK/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↖, ←, →, ↗)

2+ Effect Monsters

(This card is always treated as a Plant monster.)

If another monster is Special Summoned to a zone a Link Monster points to, while this monster is on the field: You can negate the effects of all other monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck until your next End Phase, and if you do, this card gains 300 ATK for every Link Monster on the field and in the GY. During the Main Phase, if this card is Extra Linked and your opponent controls at least 3 face-up cards on the field: You can make your opponent send as many cards as possible from their field to the GY, up to the number of co-linked monsters on the field during the activation of this effect, then, if they have no more cards on their field, inflict 3000 damage to them. You can only use each effect of "Topologic Penrose Aitvaras" once per turn.

Trivia: Full effect revealed! Yes, Penrose Aitvaras's Link Markers are the exact opposite of Topologic Bomber Dragon, if you didn't catch that. But its effects are naturally counterparts to Topologic Gumblar Dragon. But yeah, while the second effect might seem nuts, it takes a lot to set up. Also, getting a lot of co-liinked monsters is hard. Even so—it's a very similar effect to Topologic Gumblar Dragon.

Marincess Crystal Hyacinth

(7*/2500/2000/WATER/Cyberse/Synchro/Effect)

1 Tuner + 1+ non-Tuner Cyberse monsters

WATER monsters and/or Link Monsters you control cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects. If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can add 1 "Marincess" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand. If a WATER monster you control battles an opponent's monster, during the start of the Battle Step: You can discard 1 WATER monster from your hand; gain LP equal to the DEF of the discarded monster, and if you do, your battling monster gains ATK equal to the discarded monster's DEF until the End Phase. At the end of the Damage Step, if you activated the previous effect of "Marincess Water Hyacinth" this turn: Special Summon 1 monster from your GY with equal or less ATK to the LP that you gained, but this monster cannot declare an attack on the turn it is Summoned. You can only activate each effect of "Marincess Crystal Hyacinth" once per turn.

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Different Card Effects from TCG:

Sunavalon Glorious Growth - Anime-only card.

Sunbloom Doom - Anime-only card.

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End Notes:

*clears throat* the author would like to offer the award for 'Best At Compartmentalising Trauma And Ignoring It Like A Dumbass' to both Yuno and Miharu, thank you. I am so sorry to break your heart with this chapter right after last chapter.

I cannot express just how many times I nearly chickened out of writing this duel across the last six months. Even as I was writing last chapter, I was still reconsidering it. I kept wondering if it was too much so soon after last chapter. I plotted out an entire alternative series of events if I ended up not writing this duel. In the end though, this is perhaps the most important duel for both Miharu and Yuno's arcs, and if it didn't happen, I would need to completely rewrite both of their character arcs. It needed to happen, but boy, this duel actually hurt me emotionally to write. I promise that this story isn't going to descend into a grimdark edgefest—but some things simply have to happen, and this duel was critically necessary for what's to come. I know that a lot of you were probably hoping for an immediate reversal, but that's not how things work in this fic. The characters will regroup, they will find a way to fix this and make things work—but they will still struggle first. It's the only way to make that victory have a meaning.

… and if you're raging for Roget or Sergey to get destroyed and you're upset that it's not happening immediately, believe me, I feel the same way too. Writing both last chapter and this chapter has me internally seething, and I wrote the chapter—can't imagine what you guys are feeling right now. I promise it'll be fine eventually! *glances at the next few chapters* … eventually! Have faith in me.

I think that when I said that Berserk shenanigans were going to happen, but not to Crow, this was probably what most of you expected. The thing is, I've hyped up both Yuno and Miharu's abilities a lot throughout the story. I think this may be a duel where the result genuinely could have gone either way. And Miharu is absolutely right—no matter what, Yuno simply cannot bring himself to go all out against her. And unless it was literally essential, Miharu would never do it either. So it wouldn't be a 'fair' fight, so to speak. So, what would be a situation where Yuno and Miharu would actually put in their full effort against each other, without holding back?

If neither of them were in their right mind.

This is only the second time that the boys have been obviously involved in supernatural shenanigans, I think. I think you can tell very clearly that my version of Berserk Mode is different from canon just from how Berserk!Yuno acts here. Just close enough to regular Yuno, but also cruel in every way that Yuno isn't. More on that when we actually get to explaining what Berserk Mode (in this continuity) is in the future, but I always preferred 'uncanny' over 'violent' when it comes to 'dark sides', so to speak. I made sure to keep Yuno's speech patterns relatively consistent with his normal self for that reason as well.

Disclaimer, only the Yu boys can get possessed by Zarc in that way. What Miharu goes through in this chapter isn't any kind of superpowered mode. It's her being triggered by the electric shocks to her brain. If what she remembers in the duel doesn't make it clear—that was what the experimenters used to do to her constantly. What happens in this duel is entirely a trauma response. Remember, Miharu doesn't get angry. She gets quieter and colder. That's her shutting herself off from the world completely—she's dissociating, disconnecting herself completely from what she's doing and feeling and just trying to escape her situation as fast as possible. In this case, it's a fight-or-flight response, but the fastest way that her brain, while she's suppressing her own emotions, can see to escape is to finish the duel, because that was what she was taught as a kid. She was told that if she won, it would stop. That's also why she's the one that stops using her summoning chants initially—summoning chants are a show of enthusiasm and determination—you're announcing the arrival of your monster. But she feels none of that, while Berserk!Yuno certainly still feels it. Also, do note that Roget's chips are having an effect on them—they are both more aggressive than they would normally be, and both act more ruthlessly—even if they are not under his control thanks to Zarc and Ray, there is still some impact there. So Miharu didn't exactly unlock any new capabilities—she was just traumatised.

Also, yes, Roget was trying to take control of both of them at once to make them destroy each other in front of the Lancers. Of course, he did not predict Zarc or Ray, but he got his way anyway, in a very different way from what he expected. Poor Ray was trying her best, but unfortunately, because trying to destroy the chip was electrocuting Miharu, she only made it worse. Bless her sweet heart.

I would really refer to this duel as a show of both of their true capabilities though. I also wanted to emphasise the difference between Reira and Miharu when it comes to their trauma response. Miharu dissociates and fights her way through, while Reira wants very badly to run away from it. And despite still suffering, once Miharu is capable of thinking rationally, her first thought is not about her own pain—but about the fact that Yuno is in pain, and that she needs to help him.

Thus, that's the final point—it's been very apparent throughout the entire story, but both Yuno and Miharu are undeniably the other's greatest weakness. They're both strong individually, and their coordination is top-notch—probably no other pair in this story, bar one, could coordinate better than them. At the same time, despite their confidence in themselves and each other, hurting one of them also hurts the other. From that perspective, they are far more vulnerable when the other is around.

And they are by far the ones with the greatest advantage when they face each other. I tried my best to show that with the duel and every move they made. Miharu banishing Crown Tail from the graveyard unlike most of Yuno's opponents, forcing him to put in effort to get it back, Yuno being decisive enough to immediately bomb Dryanome and get rid of Glorious Growth before Miharu could take her turn and start dealing him massive amounts of effect damage, Miharu not bothering to attack because Wave and Marbled Rock together make an invincible defence, Miharu using Bloom on Marbled Rock and Great Bubble Reef because Yuno can't recycle Great Bubble Reef, and so on. They know each other better than anyone else.

The Extra Link was also something that was always going to happen in this chapter. Because who else could make Miharu overcome the wish to be protected by someone else and strike out by herself other than Yuno? It's a thing with a lot of victims of childhood trauma that they search for stability in their lives. Miharu has done the same. But here, instead of running away from her problems, she directly trusts in her knowledge and relationship with Yuno, and chooses to overcome her fear of becoming stronger than the person who she wants to protect her (Ryoken).

… this is probably the most traumatising chapter I've written, tied with the previous chapter.

Review responses! Thanks for all your recommendations! I'll check them out in my own time.

To phantomdragons, yeah, it was hard for me to write too! Something that I feel that a lot of writers in this fandom fail to address is that the characters are in a really vulnerable moment of their lives—when you're a teenager, you're not mature enough to be able to see and manage your emotions well, especially in a traumatising situation like war. I always age the characters up because I feel uncomfortable writing children in war, but I literally can't do that with Reira because the whole point of Reira is that she's a traumatised child. Still though, I do really want to give her a happy ending. I'm glad that the chapter seems to have the intended effect. 'Just kill me instead, if you can' has been sitting in my outline and waiting for Chapter 50 for a very long time—Miharu and Roget's confrontation was written before I even posted Chapter 1, lmao. I have some key scenes already written throughout the story, and that was one of them.

To PhilJS89, funnily enough, I know nothing about Game of Thrones, haha. I'll take your word for it. I guess that does fit my mood when I was writing the chapter though! I haven't actually found an Arc-V fic with duels that actually addresses trauma at all, and it's something that I personally wanted to explore as well—events that will actually be treated with the severity that they would have in real life. For example, when Sergey knocked Yuzu out of the track, I always felt like Arc V never addressed the ramifications that would have on a fourteen-year-old girl, and on a bunch of kids who saw their friend 'die'. There was a review which said that this story was a darker view on Arc-V without breaking away from Arc-V's messages, and I think that represents what I'm trying to do pretty well! Reira will be able to recover over time, but… it'll take her a while.

To LHOCIN, yeah, Roget would probably have been able to manipulate others, but he chose the one person who was already suspicious of him. Roget and Sergey will get what's coming to them. I am very, very happy thinking about it.

To cardfan135, you reviewed when I was in the middle of writing Miharu's mental breakdown and I literally stopped, turned to your review and internally apologised.

To NightWingBOI, I've known that this was going to happen to Reira from the start, so I've been very apologetic internally, haha. Sergey, to me, is probably the most disturbing that characters in this story are going to get, which honestly, I'm glad for? Glad that you… enjoyed? Good luck with your fic :)

To the Guest who said that both Sergey and Roget need to fall off a bridge, you singlehandedly inspired the QOTC.

To Mr. Owl, I'm glad to hear that it's inspired you to write your own fic! That's probably one of the best compliments I can ever receive as a writer. Your speculations are very interesting—you got Yuno vs Miharu right, in the end. Ruri and Rin are going to get to play a larger role later on. :)

To T.V. 2000, you're very right on the Yu boys thing. It's why I assumed that this round would be so easy to guess, to be honest! We'll see what happens next chapter though. :)

To Unlucky-Fausto, no, I think that's a really good point! Please don't apologise. I'm mostly coming from the point of view of a person who experienced most of the 5Ds archetypes through the TCG first before I watched the anime, and thus, I don't necessarily assign the same importance to the Earthbound Gods as most people do. Like you said, my first experience with them was 'dies to MST'. As such, while I thought that it would be pretty cool to put them in just as small cameos without their original significance, I didn't realise that people who do find them symbolically important would feel a bit weird about it. I'll remember that when I'm thinking about cameos and stuff in the future, since I can't really change how I'm using them now. Don't feel afraid to share your opinion—you genuinely helped me realise something that I didn't think about before. :) I'm taking it in good faith. We'll see Reiji next chapter too.

QOTC: On a scale of 1-10, how much do you want to punch Roget right now? As inspired by a comment which made me laugh, please give me your most imaginative ways to punish Roget/Sergey for everything that he has done so far and is about to do. I think we all need a bit of a breather after that!

Once again, I promise that things will get better. I mean, remember the ending of the Standard Arc? It took Yuno a while to bounce back then too. I can only write happy endings, so that much I can promise you. We'll be seeing the aftermath of both last chapter and this chapter in Chapter 52—I'm pretty excited for it. :D

Thank you for reading! Feel free to favourite or follow if you'd like. :)