In a darkened room with gears patterned on the wall and cylindrical capsules, Yuo is analyzing the recent changes in Rush Duel's code.
"In just an instance, Setsuko manages to implement Equip Spell right when Yuga brings Rush Duel back to the city. Sheesh, she could have announced this earlier to everyone instead of waiting for the celebration of Yuga's return."
"We finally have free time to do our own things, and the first thing you want to do is working?" Yuka enters the room. She is sipping on an energy drink to replenish her strength. Sweats can be seen all around her face.
"Real talk from the one that still wants to play baseball despite having an exhausting duel not long ago. Too exhausting that Setsuko has to carry you to your room."
"Can't let my skills deteriorate. Anyway, what are you looking at?"
"Checking through logs. Nail is busy with Yuhi and Yuamu about things in the past, so he leaves most of his work to me."
"Makes sense. Thinking about it, that girl, Setsuko Saionji, is a wonderful new breeze to the company. Her additions to the Dueling world are bizarre, yet refreshing. It's akin to Yuga Ohdo's style. It may not be a lie if I say she is Yuga's long lost cousin or sibling."
"Yeah. Although, her Dueling isn't suited for entertainment purposes. It's too perfect, it scares me to the core."
"Well... You do have a point. I have faced many genius in the world of baseball. However, there's just something different when I face Setsuko. Perhaps, it's her confidence. An absolute resolve that has been honed for years in every area of subjects."
"Mhmm. I will be spending the night here. Goodnight, Yuka."
"Don't push yourself, Yuo. Goodnight."
"You too." Yuo wishes Yuka a blissful night. "The onslaught from Otes back then had dented the original Goha Duel Server to a great extent. In the process of fixing it for Goha Duel, we had worked on adding new mechanics for Goha Duel to honor Yuga's idea of innovating the world of Dueling. Setsuko was the lead developer of said project, and her efforts resulted in the existence of Transcend Summoning and Equip Spell. But... Ritual Summoning? Just what in the world, how could I not notice its development? Wait!"
Yuo contacts Yuran for support. "Are you awake?"
"About to go to sleep? Anything?"
"Help me take a thorough look of the new Rush Duel code. Last time, an unexpected mechanic (Maximum) was added to Rush Duel because Yuga left a gap in his code. When I Dueled Setsuko, she unveiled a new mechanic I have never heard before. I didn't even know when had she begun her development."
"So you want to see if there's any gap in the code, and if Setsuko's added mechanic is in the Rush Duel code after all."
"I don't see any record of that mechanic - Ritual Summon, in Goha Duel code, so that's my assumption. I'm starting to fall asleep, so I want to get this done quickly. Thanks."
"I will come here to help you soon. Try to stay awake!"
In the control room of the spaceship, Nail and Nanaho are ready to place their Decks in the Duel Disks.
"Let's go—"
Before that, however, Damamu notices some cards that fell out from Yuga's pocket earlier.
"Yuga drops something, Nail."
"Can I see it, Damamu?"
"How awfully convenient it is, right? Playing dead, Yuga?"
"Yggdrago!? But..."
The three cards Yuga had dropped are Yggdrago itself. However, only one card has its art visible - the center part of Yggdrago.
"The left and right parts of Yggdrago are blank out. Cases like this do happen sometimes with glitched cards. How do these become glitched though?"
"Umm? Isn't Yggdrago your ace, Nail? I thought Yuga already gave it to you."
"I have been working on a gateway towards a new providence during the last two years. Baneclipse Auf is a part of it, but the providence beyond it... To this day, I'm still chasing it, but to no avail so far. I guess I may have to rely on the old providence, after all." Nail slots the center piece of Yggdrago into his Deck.
Meanwhile, Nanaho begrudgingly yawns. "Done with the chit-chat?"
"I'm ready, Nanaho."
"Okay. I hope you have fun while you can, na."
RUSH DUEL - Nail vs Nanaho
"I take the first turn. Draw! I Summon Princess Ladybug White. By changing its battle position, I Special Summon 2 Ladybugs from my hand. Swarm the field, Cindy, Lotus!"
"Princess Ladybug Cindy... Karma Ladybug Lotus... These are Nanaho's new tools."
"Then, White inflicts 700 damage to you." (Nail: 4000 → 3300 LP). "Lotus' effect activates. I change its battle position. Cindy's effect activates. I reveal a ladybug in my hand. This turn, the revealed card becomes Malefi, also I excavate the top 7 cards of my Deck and add either Malefi or this to my hand!" Nanaho adds Sunny Forest. "Before I even knew it, the forest has chosen me as the princess of ladybugs. May the sun bless their happiness. Sunny Forest!"
"Woah! So beautiful!" Damamu is having a blast roaming free around the oversized mushrooms.
"I Tribute White, Cindy. Within the cold forest, I have been yearning for my slumbering dear to wake up. Why do you... Malicia Ladybug of the Cold Forest! I Set 1 card. I end my turn, na."
"With the ladybugs in Defense Position, Sunny Forest can protect them. Not bad. My turn, draw! I activate Stars of Eclipse. I reveal Baneclipse Auf to draw 1. Also, until the end of your next turn, I take no damage if I have Mani, Sol or Auf on my field. I Summon Femtron and Tribute it. Peacock Picotron! By sending it, I draw 2 and send the top 2 cards of my Deck to the GY. I Summon Attron and send it to the GY to draw 1. Then! A cycle of eternity permeates with no end in sight. As the moon and sun abandon the will of heaven, the eclipse brings cataclysm upon the world, only to be born anew. Maximum Summon! Baneclipse Auf!"
"A Maximum that can be made using non-Maximum monsters. To master such compatibility, I should give you proper praise."
"Auf's effect activates! I reveal Zeptron and inflict 300 damage. Then, I add back 2 Picotron from my GY and return Auf to my hand. Afterwards, I Special Summon Three Ecliptic Stars to my field. Sol reveals 2 Picotron to inflict 600 damage. Mani shuffles Attron, Yoctron to reduce Malicia by 900 ATK. Auf sends Zeptron and 2 Picotron from my hand to the GY to return Three Ecliptic Stars to my hand. Maximum Summon! Baneclipse Auf!"
"And you will repeat Auf's effects again, one-by-one. How tiring."
"This is my newfound providence. A cycle that lasts for eternity. An inevitability."
Asana is struggling to find her sleep.
"I keep thinking about it. My head hurts..."
"YUGA! WHERE ARE YOU? YUGA!..."
Asana brings herself close to the window curtain to see who's out here this late at night. Ah, it's Yuna. Maybe Yuga has something he needs to do in his lab? Maybe he wants a midnight ramen bowl or something? Maybe... The worst case?
"I should try to sleep soon." Asana buries her head under her pillow.
Damamu comments on the Duel, "Nail has three big monsters on his field, and two newly drawn cards in his hand via Heavenly Gift. Nanaho's Malicia is weakened to 0 ATK, and she only has 2500 LP left. Nice!"
"So this is the power of an inevitable cycle. But, remember that Malicia is in Defense Position, so its ATK is irrelevant."
"That's what you currently think. But providence can be cruel, it may defile reality at any moment. The Menacing Eyes of Sky Emperor!"
"By discarding a monster, Nail can change a weak Malicia to Attack Position. Hurray! Hurray!"
"Can you just shut up for once, Damamu? It's annoying."
"Fine~ There may be a surprise for you though, Nanaho."
"What do you mean?"
"I will discard... This!"
"It's not a Cyberse. Huh? Vanishing Heliacal Riser?"
On the ground, Yuga just twitches his hand. "Why is Yudias' monster here!?"
"A Galaxy-Type monster? I've never heard about that before."
"Truthfully, I've never heard about Galaxy monsters either. Though, the residing data within the control room sparks my interest, and I simply compile them into a card. Yuhi and Yuamu told me that Yudias, an alien from a planet called Velgear, once used this card to activate the spaceship. Indeed, a whole town resides within the spaceship."
"Considering Goha City is likely built from the foundation of the Mutsuba Town like you said, and we are in the cockpit of a spaceship... The history is a huge turmoil itself."
"Tell me, Nanaho. You come all the way here just to latch on my research, right?"
"Mhmm. I want to witness the greatest chaos out there, but I don't have a bright brain myself. I just do what ninjas and spies are great at - stealing information in a stealth manner."
"That's not good behaviour, Nanaho."
"Cut it. That naive thinking disgusts me to the core." Nanaho lashes out on Damamu.
"Aw~"
"I suspect that Goha may have a hidden database. A secret that no one in control of Goha currently knows, even the Goha Siblings. Said secret contains Galaxy monsters, Transcend Monsters, Equip Spells and god knows what else. Someone may have access to said database without being trailed. If Rush Duel did indeed exist in the past, and Duelists in that time already knew about Galaxy-Type and Equips... Due to my Spell, I draw 1. I send Auf to the GY to activate Heavenly Revelation. Revive, Helical Riser! It gains 300 ATK. By shuffling Auf back to my Deck, it gains an additional 200 ATK and I draw 1. I Set 1 card. Attack, Heliacal Riser!"
"You are talking too much, Nail. It really pisses me off! I activate Healing Rays! I return Lotus to my hand and gain 2900 LP!" (Nanaho: 2500 → 5400 LP)
"Even then, Nail's monsters have more than enough ATK to beat you."
"Or not (smirk). Malicia's Continuous Effect! During the turn my face-up ladybug leaves the field, your monsters lose 2100 ATK. How's that, Nail? Ahahahaha." (Mani: 2300 → 200 ATK) (Sol: 2500 → 400 ATK) (Heliacal Riser: 2900 → 800 ATK)
"Still, I attack with all my monsters!"
"Argh!" (Nanaho: 5400 → 4000 LP)
"I end my turn."
"My turn, draw! Guess I have to be serious against you. I Summon Shuri, Cindy, Lotus. Lotus' effect activates. Once during this turn, I can Normal Summon Malefi without Tributing. Shuri adds back a ladybug that was destroyed by battle last turn (Malicia). Cindy reveals Malicia to treat it as Malefi, also I add Malefi from my excavated cards. I Tribute Shuri, Cindy. I have always been waiting. Within the deep forest, I have slumbered... On and on. How dare you never come for me! Malefi Ladybug of the Sleeping Forest!"
"That's your ace, I assume."
"You can see it for yourself. The great nemesis of even Yuga himself! Cursed Sweet Needle!"
"Due to Stars of Eclipse, I take no damage. This means you can't Special Summon another Malefi." Sol is destroyed by Malefi, but Nail's LP is still safe.
"Then, Fusion! I fuse Malefi and Lotus! Appear, Karmalefi Ladybug of the Shadow Forest!" Nanaho makes a mischievous smile as she is one Fusion Summon away from triumph, however...
"Before you could make use of your Karmalefi, I activate my Trap! Compulsory Evacuation Device!"
"Damn you..." Nanaho is visibly angry when Karmalefi, her powerful Fusion Monster, is forced to leave the field. However, Lotus lets me Summon Malefi without Tributing. I switch Malefi from Attack Position to Defense Position. Goodbye, Mani. Also, take 700 damage!"
"Argh!" (Nail: 3300 → 2600 LP)
"You're defenseless, Nail Saionji. Curse the defiling creature in front of you with your unending malice, Malicia! Sting him until he squirms!"
"Krghhh..." Nail survives by the skin at his teeth (Nail: 2600 → 800 LP)
"During the End Phase of this turn, Malicia changes its battle position. One more sting. Just one more bite. And you will witness the birth of a new providence. In hell, that is! I still have full 4000 LP! Two powerful ladybugs with the blessings of the sunny forest! My win is inevitable!"
Ignoring Nanaho's taunts, Nail reminds himself that he still has a turn to change the tides. With a smile on his face, he picks up his five newly drawn cards. "So this is what it means to believe in the potential of cards."
"Before you know it, your Rush Duel will soon come to an end."
"Let's see the conclusion of this Duel together, shall we?"
Nail raises three cards up high. Damamu expresses his excitement, gazing in awe over a new miracle (providence) that Nail is creating.
"Past, present and future. This is the foundation of the universe. O three destined stars of time, reign supremacy over the flow of fate and obey the orders of heaven! Condone the demise of the old will and condemn the doubts of a new providence descends! Maximum! Yggdrago the Sky Emperor!"
Three radiant beams of light blind the faint rays of the forest's sun, causing the ladybugs to cower by instinct. The enormous three-headed plant-like dragon manifest into the realm of all creation, echoing a thundering roar to signal its impending judgment to those that defy providence.
Unfazed by Yggdrago, Nanaho scoffs at Nail's play. "Pffft. I already know about Yggdrago. Sure, it can change by Malefi to Attack Position, but I would still have LP remaning after Yggdrago's attack. Even if you have Tribute to the Doomed in your hand, Sunny Forest will protect one of my Insect from being destroyed."
"The moment you make surface-level assumptions, that's when you defy the law of providence. Yggdrago will be your judge! By sending 1 card from my hand to the GY, I send the top 3 cards of my Deck to the GY and add back 1 Cyberse Maximum Monster. If Yggdrago is in Maximum Mode, it can destroy any face-up card on your field!"
"It can destroy Sunny Forest!?"
"This is the power of Yggdrago the Beginning Dragon! A newfound creation!"
The blue gem of Yggdrago's right head shines, breathing a blizzard rain from its maw spread around the forest.
"So now what? You can't use that effect again to destroy my ladybugs!"
"Or Nail actually can?" Damamu doubts Nanaho's claim.
"Using the power of Yggdrago the End Dragon, I send 1 card from my hand to the GY to return Yggdrago to my hand."
"Oh no, oh no, this is going terribly. You really are a cunning pest, Nail Saionji. Although, I don't think you have enough cards in your hand to summon Yggdrago a lot this turn."
"At the moment, you are right. However, your verdict might change in the future. Yggdrago the End Dragon lets me draw a card and send 1 card from my hand to the GY. Draw!"
Nail looks at his drawn card - Femtron. He vividly expresses his genuine happiness as the providence of his Deck has answered his prayers.
"Thank you. I send Femtron to the GY and summon Attron. By sending it to the GY, I draw 1. I return Five Providential Particles from the GY to my Deck to activate Strange Attractor. I draw 2!"
"Crap! This is..."
"Descend into the realm of creation for a second time! Yggdrago the Sky Emperor!"
Yuo and Yuran have just finished analyzing the new Rush Duel code that Yuga has re-introduced. Yuo's assumption turns out to be correct.
"Yeah. No gap in the code, and Ritual Summon is indeed in the program."
"In that brief period between Yuga's re-introduction of Rush Duel and my Duel against her which just happened earlier today, she had managed to add a new mechanic. Just no way!" Yuo is utterly dumbfounded.
"This... Unbelievable. Either we are seeing a big coincidence, or most likely, Setsuko anticipates the return of Rush Duel in time to quickly fill the gap Yuga has made in the code."
"But it is not a guarantee that Yuga would return two years after that battle. It could take him ten years or longer than that for him to return to the city. There's no definite way to tell when would Yuga return."
"Making the groundwork of a new mechanic isn't something that cannot be done in a day or two. Considering she has to finish implementing Equip Spell in time with Yuga's return. Well, we didn't give her a due date, but she said that she would introduce a new mechanic on the most grandiose day possible."
"Let's just say she has divine precognition. I'm too washed out to make theories for now."
"We will talk about this with our siblings tomorrow. Time to rest, Yuo."
"Yggdrago. Attack directly! Ragnarok Tri-Burst Streak!"
"Nananananananahhh!" (Nanaho: 4000 → 0 LP)
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!"
"What a loudly fellow you have, Nail. Your strength surprises me."
"I will make it clear, Nanaho. You can be our friends. The stairway to heaven always presents itself to those that deserve a ticket to paradise. However, if you dare to taint the providence of our friendship, it's just a matter of time until providence delivers its rightful judgment."
"What if my evilness can shrug off whatever punishment thrown at me? Hehehe..."
Unbeknownst to everyone, the room starts to shine a glimmering blue light. Not long after, shockwaves can be easily felt. There can be only one reason why...
"Huh? The spaceship is acting on its own, na?"
"Did we activate the engine by accident? Is it possible that the Duel... This card itself!?" Nail looks at Vanishing Hellical Riser. It is true that Yudias had used it to activate the spaceship, but Nail doesn't have special alien qualities... So, just why?
"I might be able to control the spaceship! Let's see—"
Damamu tries to take control of the situation, but someone else has rushed to the control station without anyone noticing.
"I don't think anyone here can activate the spaceship, but really?"
"You!" Nanaho gets scornful at Yuga's trickery - he must have not eaten the whole herbs.
"Do you not believe me at the slightest, Yuga?"
"If you can, follow my Road."
Nail hesitates for a moment. Can he understand what Yuga is doing to stop the spaceship instantly when he has just barely started trying to understand how the spaceship works? Well, for him...
"I once got intrigued by your Road before. Your curiosity led me to another providence outside of my knowledge back then. Let's have a try."
"Thanks!"
"Oh my, oh my. Guess bringing him isn't the worst idea." Nanaho smugs.
After a while, Yuga and Nail manage to stop the spaceship from fully activated. The blue energy dissipates before anything worse can happen.
"Phew. We manage to do..." Yuga collapses at the monitor.
"Yuga!"
"I will get him out of here. My job is done, and so is his."
"I can't completely put my faith on you."
"Like I care. We will meet again, na."
Nanaho throws a smoke bomb to cover her tracks. When the dust clears, Yuga and her is already gone.
"She gets away. I have to chase her!"
"Hold your horses, Damamu. Nanaho doesn't follow a specific pattern on her way."
"Don't worry. I can move around faster than her. See it for yourself!"
Damamu encloses Nail and himself in a purple energy sphere, ready to travel faster than the speed of light.
"Mmm..." Yuga starts to wake up.
"Wake up already?"
"Where are we?"
"A park. Sheesh, sheesh, sheesh."
"Yuna?"
They look at the tired princess, who is lying down on a bench murmuring the name of her lover.
"Yuga... Yuga... Yu..."
"She must have been looking for you the whole night, even if she is also tired from travelling with you."
"I see. Well, thanks for bringing me here."
"Not like I want to really hold you captive for long. The people in the past that you brought along, that Damamu, and the spaceship... I don't want to cause myself troubles before that can be completed."
"Are you plotting something evil again?"
"More than Monster Reborn, that's for sure." Nanaho places Yuga down and gently touches his shoulder. Yuga gets slightly flustered, but Nanaho turns away before he can see her face.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just hate it if you get sick before witnessing the terror and chaos I will bring upon this world. You have to be there to experience it yourself. Take care."
Without elaborating further, Nanaho ascends to the darkness beyond, concealing herself in ominous shadow.
"Bye, Nanaho."
"Yuga!" Nail pops out of Damamu's bubble.
"For you to catch up this fast... (smile) Come on, Damamu."
"Tee-hee!"
"Mmm... Who's there?" Yuna gets up after having a considerable nap. She doesn't know how long she has slept, how long was Yuga away from her reach.
"Yuna! I'm here!"
"Heh. Huh? Hah! YUGA!" Yuna pushes Yuga to the ground and locks him below her body. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry that I can't find you sooner!"
"It's alright. Whoever kidnapped me was scared by Damamu, so they ditched away to avoid being captured. I should have closed the window, on hindsight."
"I'm glad... I'm so glad..."
"Let's go home. I'm feeling really tired."
"Yeah. Let me carry you."
"But you—"
"I still have some strength left. Don't worry."
"You are reliable, Yuna."
"No problem, dear~"
"Ahahaha..." Yuga finds Yuna's enthusiasm amusing, but he can't help it but ponder in deep thoughts about Nanaho, "Did Nanaho hold no grudge against me even if I cheated her faith on me. No, that just can't be. If I trusted her, I would have fallen asleep and couldn't be awake in time to stop the spaceship. But Nanaho could just wake me up by force, she wouldn't bring me if she really planned to put me into a long sleep. If she wanted to torture me, she could have brought me to her whereabout, but then she has to face an angry Damamu... Why was she acting gentle to me earlier? Am I growing soft on her, the source of my ladybug trauma?"
When Yuna returns home, Yuga has already fallen asleep on her back.
"It's a miracle that I find Yuga this easily. But why would the kidnapper leave Yuga near me as if they are already aware of my tracks. Sure, they would have to fight Damamu, but if they are that scared, why bother kidnapping my beloved dear? Argh! It doesn't matter. I fell asleep before I could see his face, so nothing matters for me regardless."
Yuna feels powerless towards Yuga. She has seen firsthand how Yuga has suffered against the overwhelming might of Setsuko. She really, really hates the guts of Saionji's adopted daughter, how dares her trashtalk Yuga like that? But, when she finally meets her face-to-face, even she is scared of the power of her Dueling and her words. Setsuko is right to an extent, Yuga's Rush Dueling has not fully realized his dream of making everyone smiles just yet. But, she could have stood up for Yuga, to tell Setsuko that she has to believe in Yuga and present her words in such a way that wouldn't dissuade Yuga like that.
"Yet, I had never done anything meaningful for him ever since I came here. Am I just a burden all along? Am I better off staying in the past instead? Damn it! I have to get stronger! Much stronger, to shrug off that arrogant, bastard adoptive daughter. Who cares if even the Dueling prodigy Nail Saionji himself praises her talent? Who gives a damn if Setsuko Saionji is genius among geniuses? Anyone that treats Yuga this badly won't escape my wrath!"
P.S. Nail does defeat Nanaho, but it's a narrow and close victory. If not for Compulsory Evacuation Device, Nanaho's Karmalefi would certainly bring Nail to his defeat. In the meantime, Yuo has started to make educated guesses on Setsuko's schemes, and his judgment is spot-on regarding Ritual Summon - Setsuko simply uses the gap that Yuga leaves in the code like how Nail used it to implement Maximum Summon (Yuga himself says that he usually leaves a gap for future implementation of a new mechanic, so it wouldn't be plausible to say he also leaves a gap in the re-introduction of Rush Duel). Though, how can Setsuko pull off the perfect timing to fill in the gap in such a short period between Yuga's return and the celebration of the revival of Rush Duel? Regarding Nanaho's kidnapping of Yuga, turns out it wasn't for nothing because Yuga manages to stop the spaceship from heading off and causing troubles to Goha City. But... Nail doesn't have anything special like Yudias, so why does the spaceship start to activate after his Duel has finished? Is it because of the use of Vanishing Hellical Riser - a curiosity from Nail, or because Nail does indeed have something special in him? And why is Nanaho being gentle with Yuga? Is it a ruse to lower his guard, or...?
Next time: Goha Siblings meet up with Setsuko to discuss about her plans, while Yuhi, Yuamu and Yuna visit Goha 8th Elementary and decide to participate in friendship matches against Yuga's companions - Luke, Romin and Gakuto!
