"S-Sergey Volkov as returned to the stadium!" Melissa reported as the audience stared at the victor out of fear, hate, or anger.

"MUAHAHAHAHAHA!" Sergey cackled menacingly. This feeling was so satisfying! It was a feeling he couldn't relish properly in so long! The feeling of being the best! The feeling of being superior! The feeling of joy after seeing your opponent's suffer! Sergey grinned opened his mouth, showing his clenched teeth to the world. "Beautiful!"

"Duelist Crusher...did he do this to all the other Duelists he defeated?" A person from the audience wondered. If this is what he did, then he was horrified that he would be let into this tournament. If he were to beat the King and take the title, who knew what could happen!

Sergey parked his d-wheel and leaned back into his seat, his eyes wide with insanity, chuckling like a maniac, satisfied of the condition he left Tokumatsu in. Then, members of Security came rushing out onto the grounds with gun-like objects. They pulled the trigger and out came multiple nets which were used to knock Sergey off his d-wheel. However, the man paid no attention and just kept on grinning.

"They've captured Sergey! And they're removing him from the stadium." Melissa spoke.

"To think his mind would break from that level of a Duel...it looks like he needs to be re-educated." Roget muttered as he witnessed what has happening through a screen in his office.

"I'm going to kill him…" Yugo chanted under his breath, before chanting the words even more, raising his voice each time. "I'm going to kill him...I'm going to kill him...I'm going to kill him...I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!"

"Tokumatsu-san! Is he going to live?!" Ruri questioned out loud as she ran towards the door, constantly banging on it, hoping that someone from the other side could hear her cries.

"Now then, let's get to our next match! Izayoi Aki vs Yuto!" Ruri gasped out of shock when she heard Melissa's announcement.

"Yuto versus that girl from the prison?!" Shun narrowed his eyes.

"Now it's Yuto against Aki-san?!" Ruri trembled in her place. Why did this have to happen to the people she cared about most?!

In his quarters, Yuto vividly remembered Aki from the prison escape operation.

"So it's her that I'm facing." Yuto prepared to harden his emotions as the door to his room opened, and in the doorway was Sam.

"I will escort you to the stadium." He bowed.

"Sam. Is that Tokumatsu guy alright?" Yuto questioned calmly, trying not to lose his cool.

"I do not know." Sam looked away from Yuto out of guilt.

"There's no point in asking him." A female voice spoke, prompting Yuto and Sam to look to their right, where they saw Aki and her escort walking towards them.

"Izayoi!"

"No one cares about the losers. That's how it's always been. No matter how much we hate it, that's how things are and those things can't be changed." Aki told Yuto, her face void of any other emotion except a cold demeanor, a much bigger contrast to her other serious, yet warm personality. "For the Tops, we're just a show-no, we're just pawns manipulated and used by the higher ups just for the sake of entertainment. Eventually, when a pawn breaks, they're thrown away and left in the dust."

"Wait, so what is going to happen to Tokumatsu?!" Yuto asked.

"He'll probably get treated, and then immediately he will get thrown into the underground facility to rot as soon as he can take care of himself." Aki stated her best guess. "In a way, you could say that Enjoy Chojiro was just another sacrifice, another pawn to be used. That's what I've learned. That once things in society change, they never return to normal. Those who were born to be manipulated will always be manipulated. Just like me."

"Just like you?" Yuto repeated out of interest and confusion.

"I care not about uniting the Tops and Commons anymore. It is clear that they just can't live in harmony. Yes, the only way there can be harmony in this city...is by eradicating one of the groups!" Aki widened her eyes, which were filled with an intent to change the society at any means.

"This isn't the time to be talking about that! Tokumatsu is suffering out there, and they're probably just going to throw them into the underground when he hasn't even had time to fully recuperate?! Hell, he was close to dying! And they just shrugged it off as if it was nothing!" Yuto argued with Aki's ideals.

"Let me ask you this, if it wasn't Tokumatsu on that ground suffering, if it was an Academia student, how would you react?"

Yuto's eyes widened at the mention of Academia.

After a long silence, Aki walked past them and towards the stadium.

Yuya appeared next to Yuto, looking back at Aki as she continued to walk. "What happened to her? And how the hell does she even know about Academia?"

"I don't know...I don't think Ruri would tell her about it...but who knows…" Yuto murmured, completely stumped about the question Aki asked him.


Outside-The Stadium

Standing in a helicopter viewing the entire stadium was Melissa Claire, who's voice rang throughout the ears of many people.

"It's the second match of the third day of the Friendship Cup! Our Duelists have made it to the starting grid!" Melissa exclaimed as the audience cheered. "Let's do this! Action Field, on! Crossover Accel!"

Duel Mode! On! Auto-Pilot! Standby!

3.

2.

"Riding Duel!"

1.

"Acceleration!"

Yuto and Aki's d-wheels sped off neck and neck, as they yelled out one word in unison.

"DUEL!"

Aki ran her d-wheel into Yuto's, causing the boy to flinch as he adjusted, however, this caused Aki to take the lead.

Sorry that it has to be this way, Yuto. But it's the way things have to be so I can save them. Aki thought to herself.

"I won't let you have the first turn!" Aki retorted as she slammed the accelerator, speeding up even more, leaving Yuto in the dust. Aki drove under the underpass of the Duel Palace and sped out first, with Yuto following slightly behind.

"The first one out of the Duel Palace is Izayoi Aki!" Melissa announced.

"I will show you why you're destined for failure! I will show you why that the only for this society to change, one group will have to destroy the other! My turn!" Aki drew a Card from her Hand that she placed onto her Duel Disk.

"She's changed." Ruri noted with a frown. This wasn't the kind person who had saved her. This was just someone cold to others. A person who gave up too easily.

"I Summon Night Rose Knight from my Hand!" Aki Summoned her Monster as it flew by her side.

Night Rose Knight: Level 3, 1000 Atk, 1000 Def

"When this Card is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a level 4 or lower Plant-Type Monster from my Hand! Come, Violet Witch!" Aki threw out another Monster to join her companion.

Violet Witch: Level 4, 1100 Atk, 1200 Def

"I tune the level 4 Violet Witch with the level 3 Tuner Monster Night Rose Knight! Black rose guided by a pitch-black flower, bloom before us and show us your mighty!" Night Rose Knight turned into 3 green rings while Violet Witch turned into 4 bright stars that flew inside of the rings. A wave of light passed right through the rings Aki Synchro Summoned. "Synchro Summon! Appear, level 7! Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon!"

Bloomlight Dragon: Level 7, 2400 Atk, 2000 Def

"Be careful, Yuto. That Monster is deadly." Yuya advised the Phantom Knights user.

"I already know. Which is why I'm not taking this lightly." Yuto responded as he focused on the match.

"I activate Violet Witch's effect! When this Card is sent from my Field to the Grave, I can add a Plant-Type Monster with 1500 or less Defense to my Hand! I add Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis to my Hand! Then, I set two Cards and end my turn." Aki concluded. "Now make your move. Although this match will still end in my victory."

"Not a bad first turn for Izayoi Aki! She has already brought out her signature Monster, Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon!" Melissa smiled.

"I don't know what happened to you since your match with Shinji, but I'll knock some sense back into you! My turn, draw! I activate the Magic Card Phantom Knights Armory! Using this Card, by sending two Phantom Knights Cards in my Hand to the Graveyard, I am allowed to add a Phantom Knights Magic or Trap Card from my Deck to my Hand!" Yuto explained as he took a Card that was ejected from his Deck.

He added Rank-Up-Magic Phantom Knights' Launch to his Hand, and sent the Trap Cards Phantom Knights Empty Greaves and Phantom Knights Tomb Shield to his Graveyard.

"Next, I, using the Scale 1 Phantom Knights Cavalier and the Scale 8 Phantom Knights Javelin, set the Pendulum Scale!" Yuto swiped the two Cards on both ends of his Duel Disk. His two Monsters appeared on each of his sides and flew up into the air, surrounded by a light blue column with a Pendulum swinging above.

"There it is, Pendulum! What combos will Yuto pull off for us today?!" Melissa wondered.

"With this I can simultaneously Summon Monsters whose levels are from 3 to 7! Furthermore, the Pendulum effect of Shattered Javelin allows me to Special Summon Phantom Knights Magic or Trap Monsters from my Hand or Grave! Swing! Pendulum of my soul! Carve an arc of hope across the arther! Pendulum Summon! Appear, my Monsters!"

Two beams flew out of the portal. The two Monsters revealed were: The Trap Monster Phantom Knights Empty Greaves and Phantom Knights Tomb Shield.

Empty Greaves: Level 3, 0 Atk, 0 Def

Tomb Shield: Level 3, 0 Atk, 0 Def

"Both are level 3 Monsters with 0 Attack! Perhaps an Xyz Summon?" Melissa predicted.

"I activate the Pendulum effect of Phantom Knights Cavalier! When I Pendulum a Summon 2 or more Monsters, I can Special Summon a Monster from my Deck whose level is less than or equal to the combined levels of all Pendulum Summoned Monsters!" Yuto revealed.

"What?" Gasped Aki out of surprise.

"Using this effect, I Special Summon from my Deck Phantom Knights Ragged Gloves!" Yuto exclaimed as he swiped the Monster onto his Duel Disk.

Ragged Gloves: Level 3, 1000 Atk, 500 Def

"I overlay my 3 level 3 Monsters!" Yuto declared as his Monsters flew into the Overlay Network. "Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 3! Phantom Knights Wicked Arrow!"

Wicked Arrow: Rank 3, 1800 Atk, 1200 Def

"When Ragged Gloves is used as Xyz Material, the Xyz Summoned Monster gains 1000 Attack until the end of the turn!" Yuto informed Aki as his Monster gained a purple aura.

Wicked Arrow: 1800-2800 Atk

"Battle! Go, Wicked Arrow! Attack Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon!" Yuto declared as the arrowhead Monster rushed at the dragon, stabbing its chest, subsequently destroying it.

Aki grit her teeth, leaning forward as shockwaves from her destroyed Monster lashed out at her body.

Aki: 4000-3600 LP

"Next, I activate the effect of Wicked Arrow! Once per turn, by detaching an overlay unit, I am allowed to add a Phantom Knights Card from my Deck to my Hand!" An overlay unit orbiting Wicked Arrow disappeared as Yuto added Phantom Sword to his Hand. "I set three Cards and end my turn. At this moment, Ragged Gloves' effect ends, and Wicked Arrow's Attack returns to normal"

Wicked Arrow: 2800-1800 Atk

"My turn, draw!" Aki drew the top Card of her Deck, she widened her eyes as she saw the Card.

I'm sorry, Yuto...Ruri. Aki thought to herself out of guilt as she remembered the conversation she had with Roget.


Flashback-Roget's Office

"I...accept." Aki submitted and closed her eyes.

"Excellent. Now, I am going to tell you something very important, if you so much as defect immediately after learning, we'll kill your parents." Aki noticeably flinched at that statement, something that made Roget smile. "Now, I assume that you have never heard of Academia before?"

Aki's ears perked up as she recalled something. It was when she, Ruri, and a few others were arrested. She remembered Ruri, and a girl who looked like her, Serena? Well, she remembered both of them mentioning Academia.

"I have. I don't know much…" Aki whispered, although Roget's ears could still hear the words coming out of her mouth.

"So you have heard of it, interesting. I assume members of the Lancers told you?" When all he received was Aki's silence, he took it as a yes. "Well…"

Roget went onto explain Academia's plan, the planned attack executed on the Xyz Dimension, which was technically still going on.

He also mentioned that members of the Academia used only Fusion, a Summoning method those of the Synchro Dimension wouldn't be familiar with.

After filling in Aki about Academia, he took out a box near him and gave it to Aki.

"Think of it as a gift for our cooperation." Roget had said.

Aki opened the box, and what she saw inside were Cards…


Now

I have to do it...or else my parents die. Aki drowned out her fears and held the Card with two of her fingers. But before activating it, she clicked a button on her Duel a Disk.

"Continuous Trap, Wicked Reborn! By paying 800 life points, I am allowed to revive a Synchro Monster resting in my Graveyard and then equipping it with this Card!" A dark purple flowed around Aki as she lost life points. As Bloomlight Dragon was the only Synchro Monster in Aki's Grave, it was obvious who was getting revived.

Aki: 3600-2800 LP

"Izayoi Aki revives her ace Monster!" Melissa exclaimed.

"I activate the Magic Card, Fusion!"

"What?!" Yuto gasped out of shock and anger.

"She's using Fusion!" Ruri put a hand over her mouth.

"That bitch." Ryoga muttered under his breath, which made a nearby Security Officer glare at him, because he thought that the insult was directed towards him.

"Another worm of Academia." Shun tightened his fist out of anger. How many spies were there going to be?! First Shiunin Sora, then Dennis, and now her!

"I fuse the newly revived Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon with the Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis in my Hand! Bloomed rose of fearsome might, merge with another bloomed flower and show us your fearsome strength! Fusion Summon! Appear, level 8, Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon!" A fearsome dragon resembling the regular Black Rose Dragon except with dark red features instead of pink shrouding its body.

Clustered Bloom Dragon: Level 8, 2900 Atk, 2000 Def

"Say, Izayoi Aki couldn't Fusion Summon before this!" Someone from the Commons section of the audience pointed out.

"Yeah! You're right!" The person next to him agreed.

"She must be in cahoots with the Tops! No wonder she got a Fusion Monster!" Someone from the Commons shouted.

Other members of the audience began to jeer in agreement as it made sense. Aki was taken away by men from the Tops after her Duel with Shinji.

"This Card is unaffected by your Card effects!" Aki informed Yuto, who clicked his tongue. Aki waved her hand to Wicked Arrow, commanding Clustered Bloom Dragon to attack.

Clustered Bloom Dragon opened its mouth, and out of it was a light purple spiraling beam that was barreling right for Wicked Arrow.

"Continuous Trap, activate! Phantom Sword! I equip this Card to Wicked Arrow! It gains 800 Attack! However, if it were to be destroyed by battle, I can destroy this Card instead!" Yuto explained as Wicked Arrow took the beam head on. When the beam dispersed, Wicked Arrow was still alive. Yuto covered himself to as he took damage.

Yuto: 4000-3700 LP

"If Clustered Bloom Dragon was Fusion Summoned using a level 5 higher Plant-Type Monster, it can attack 3 times per Battle Phase!" Aki revealed, causing Yuto to ready his defenses. "Continue the assault, Clustered Bloom Dragon!" Bloom Dragon let out another beam towards Yuto's Monster, this time destroying it. Yuto cried out of pain as he swerved from left to right on his d-wheel.

Yuto: 3700-2600 LP

"Izayoi Aki immediately takes the life point lead with immense damage! And Yuto is wide open for a direct attack that can end the game!" Melissa spectated from her helicopter, flying above the Duelists.

"End this, Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon! Black Rose Clustered Gale!" Aki bellowed as Clustered Bloom Dragon arched its head, releasing yet another purple spiraling beam of doom towards Yuto, who quickly clicked a button on his Duel Disk, revealing a Continuous Trap with Entermate Cheer Mole.

"Entermate Pinch Helper, activate! When you declare a direct attack, I negate the attack, and then I Special Summon an Entermate Monster from my Deck with 800 or less Attack with its effects negated! I Special Summon Entermate Turn Toad!" A green frog in a blue suit and top hat hopped onto the Field next to Yuto, immediately taking a defensive position.

Turn Toad: Level 2, 0 Atk, 800 Def

"You may survive through this turn, but your still not safe from damage! When Clustered Bloom Dragon attacks a Monster in Defense Position, piercing damage is inflicted upon you! Attack Turn Toad!" Aki declared, causing Yuto to tighten his as he thrusted his other hand forward.

"I activate the additional effect of Entermate Pinch Helper! When a Monster you control battles with my Monster, I can send this Card to the Grave and halve the battle damage either player would take! ARGH!" Yuto grunted out of pain as the particles of his now destroyed Monster rained down on him.

Yuto: 2600-1550 LP

"I end my turn." Aki concluded with a sigh. She wasn't able to finish him off. And even then, she couldn't fulfill the maximum of damage that she could have inflicted upon him.

"Izayoi Aki has drained Yuto of more than half of his life points in just one turn! Incredible!" Melissa gawked at the burgundy haired Duelist's skill.

"Do you see it now, Yuto?! No matter how hard you try to change things, they'll never change! With how things are now, the Tops and Commons will never live with one another! That will never happen! The Tops and Commons were meant to two different things at conflict and it will stay that way no matter what you do!"

"Something is wrong with that woman. She is completely different from the last time I saw her. First she uses Fusion and now she's talking about things like this?" This was just too much for Yuzu to comprehend. Last time Yuzu saw her in that truck, she was definitely nothing like this. Was she acting? Or did something happen?

"Excellent, Izayoi Aki. You are fulfilling your purpose wonderfully. A little more, and you'll be able to see your parents alive and well." Roget smirked maliciously as he moved a pawn in a diagonal path, taking out a pawn on the opposing side. "The more discouraged he gets, the less thorns I have up my ass. Now, just defeat him, and your parents will be yours to hold in your arms."

God damn it, I am not in a good position. But, I think I can turn this around, just maybe! Yuto narrowed his eyes as he thought of an idea.

Suddenly, he heard Yuya's voice yelling, "Sora!"

He didn't know why he was yelling the name. Shiunin Sora was a spy from Academia and he knew it. And why would he be thinking about him in this bad situation of all times. He looked to his right and finally saw why Yuya was yelling.

Shiunin Sora was standing on a building, looking at him with a small smirk on his face. Then, he saw Sora mouthing some words, and they were directed towards him.

He could barely decipher them, but he assumed that the words he mouthed were, "Meet up with me after the match."

"Shiunin Sora! If he's here, then that means Academia is going to make their move on the Synchro Dimension soon!" Yuto realized as he growled. "I will not let another dimension fall to those bastards! My turn!"

Sora watched as the two Duelists took a small turn, with them now riding away from him. The smirk on his face faltered and soon his lips formed a straight thin line.

"Good to know he's still doing well. Hopefully he knew what I said." Sora said as he turned his back from the track and jumped off the building he was on.

Yuto took a glance up into the sky, where he saw Melissa's helicopter hovering nearby.

Watch me, Ruri, Shun. I swear that I'm going to win this match. Then, I'll win the Friendship Cup. After, we'll return to the Xyz Dimension, beat Academia, head over to the Fusion Dimension and end the Dimensional War! Then, we can return home and try to find a way to reverse the Carding! Yuto thought with flames of determination burning brightly in his eyes. The burning fire to never give up.

"Using the already set Pendulum Scale, I Pendulum Summon! Come to me, my Monsters!" Yuto called out as he raised his fist into the sky, his Monsters responding to his call. "From the Extra Deck, Entermate Turn Toad in Defense Position! And then, from the Grave, Phantom Knights Tomb Shield and Phantom Knights Empty Greaves! And finally, from my Hand, Phantom Knights Lost Vambrace!"

Lost Vambrace: Level 2, 600 Atk, 0 Def

"Next, I activate the Trap Card Xyz Reborn! Using this Card, I can revive an Xyz Monster from my Grave and attach this Card as Xyz Material!" Yuto explained as from a portal rose Wicked Arrow. The Trap Yuto activated then turned into an overlay unit which began to orbit around Wicked Arrow.

"Yuto has a Rank-Up-Magic in his Hand, along with two level 3 Monsters and two level 2 Monsters." Shun noted, already having a feeling of what Yuto had in store.

"A full Field of weak Monsters. What do you expect to do with that?" Aki questioned Yuto.

"This Field isn't strong enough yet." Yuto corrected the girl as he activated a Card from his Hand. "Rank-Up-Magic Phantom Knights Launch! Using this Card and Wicked Arrow as Material, I get to Xyz Summon a Monster whose Rank is 1 higher than Wicked Arrow! Formed from pitch-black darkness, to fight those foolish enough to oppose it with its treacherous fangs! Now, descend! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon!"

Dark Rebellion: Rank 4, 2500 Atk, 2000 Def

Yuto's ace roared viciously as it glided in the air above Yuto.

"Next, using the level 3 Phantom Knights Tomb Shield and Phantom Knights Empty Greaves, I overlay!" Yuto declared once again as his Monsters flew into the portal. "Souls of knights who fell on the battlefield. Revive here and now, and become the light that breaks the darkness! Xyz Summon! Appear, Rank 3, Phantom Knights Break Sword!"

Break Sword: Rank 3, 2000 Atk, 1000 Def

The knight clad in armor riding on a horse galloped alongside its master.

"Next, I activate the effect of Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon! By detaching an overlay unit, I can halve the Attack of a level 5 or higher Monster until the end of the turn, and then, Dark Rebellion gains the lost amount! Treason Discharge!" Yuto shouted as Dark Rebellion opened its wings, purple electricity pouring out like wildfire at its target, Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon.

"Have you forgotten? Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon cannot be affected by your Card effects!" Aki reminded Yuto, who ignored her statement and kept going.

The electricity from Dark Rebellion attacked Clustered Rose, but the dragon didn't even flinch at the electric currents surging throughout her body.

"Once again! I activate Dark Rebellion's effect by detaching another overlay unit! Treason Discharge!" Dark Rebellion crushed its second overlay unit as even more electricity lashed out at Clustered Bloom Dragon.

"What is the point of doing this? All that Yuto is doing is wasting his Monster's overlay units." Melissa stated out of confusion.

The audience began to boo, as they had mistaken this action for Yuto holding back just like in his Duel with Duel Chaser 227.

"Just what are you planning?" Aki sharpened her gaze at the Xyz Duelist. This didn't make any sense. Why would he recklessly burn his overlay units despite knowing that it won't do anything. Unless…

"I'm just setting up for my next move! Since Phantom Knights Wicked Arrow has just been detached as an overlay unit to the Grave, I can activate its effect, I get to add a Phantom Knights Card from my Grave to my Hand! I choose Rank-Up-Magic Phantom Knights' Launch!" Yuto's desired Card slid out of the Graveyard slot as Yuto picked up and added it to his Hand.

"Wait! Rank-Up-Magic Phantom Knights' Launch was one of Dark Rebellion's overlay units! Unless...you purposely used Dark Rebellion's effect the first time to put that a Card into the Grave, and then used the effect again to detach Wicked Arrow!" Aki surmised as she widened her eyes.

"Exactly! And now that my Rank-Up-Magic Card is back, I will activate it once again! I use this Card and Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon as Materials!" Yuto stated as Dark a Rebellion was enveloped in a wave of darkness coming from the Magic Card, followed by Yuto reciting a chant. "From the depths of purgatory, dedicate to the unsinking souls your song of rebellion! Appear and echo forevermore! Rank-Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 5! Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon!"

Dark Requiem: Rank 5, 3000 Atk, 2500 Def

The dragon practically breathed down Yuto's neck as it flapped it's wings hard in the air, easily keeping up with the Heartland citizen. Dark Requiem let out one loud roar of fury and excitement at finally being unleashed after so long.

Aki took notice of the fact that Yuto had placed the new Monster in Defense Position.

"Huh? But that Monster has higher Attack stats than Clustered Bloom Dragon! Why would he put it in Defense?" Melissa wondered out loud, wondering if Yuto was alright.

"You might be wondering why Dark Requiem is in Defense Position! Well, that's where Entermate Turn Toad comes into play! Battle! Now, I activate Turn Toad's Monster effect targeting Dark Requiem! Dark Requiem is switched from Defense to Attack Position! Then, it gains Attack equal to half its current Defense until the end of the turn!" Yuto explained as Dark Requiem took an offensive stance. "Dark Requiem has a Defense of 2500, so it now gains 1250 Attack!"

Dark Requiem: 3000-4250 Atk

"4-4250 Attack!" Aki exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Dark Requiem Xyz Dragon! Attack her Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon! Requiem of Disaster Disobey!" Yuto yelled as loud as his lungs could muster as Dark Requiem shot upwards into the air, opening its wings even more, preparing an attack as church window like patterns appeared on the dragon's wings.

The dragon dove down and flew right towards Clustered Bloom Dragon, ready to skewer it and destroy it. Aki, however, had different plans for her Monster…

"From my Hand, I activate the Monster effect of Guard Hedge! When a Monster I control were to be destroyed in battle, I can send this Card to the Graveyard instead! Then, I can halve the Attack of that Monster for the turn!" Aki inserted her Card into the Graveyard as the Dark Requiem stabbed Clustered Bloom Dragon, causing the dragon to cry out from pain as Dark Requiem removed its fangs.

The shockwaves ensued by the collision of the attack lashed out at Aki as the girl screamed from the pain, losing control of the d-wheel and almost falling at one moment.

Aki: 2800-1450 LP

"Aki-san…" Ruri whispered, wondering why Aki would align herself with Academia. Or whoever that is supplying the Fusion Cards.

"Go on Yuto, show that Fusion Scum just what true power is all about." Shun muttered from his room.

Clustered Bloom Dragon: 2900-1450 Atk

"Your Monster falls now! Break Sword, attack and finish off this damn Fusion Monster!" Yuto commanded his Monster as the horseback knight galloping towards the dragon holding out its pointy sword as it did so.

"I activate the Continuous Trap Card Black Rose Spirit by targeting and equipping it to Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon! By banishing a Plant-Type Monster from my Graveyard, my Monster gains 800 Attack Points!" Aki opened her last set Card as another way to defend herself.

Clustered Bloom Rose: 1450-2250 Atk

Break Sword could unfortunately not stop its Attack, and it was met with an untimely doom via Black Rose giving him a hard smack with her skull, destroying him instantly.

Yuto grit his teeth as a large dust cloud filled his view which occurred as a result of his Monster's destruction.

Yuto: 1550-1300 LP

Damn it! Yuto inwardly cursed as he came to a realization, Since Break Sword's Materials were Trap Monsters, I can use its effects to Special a Summon the Materials!

"Using the level 2 Phantom Knights Lost Vambrace and Entermate Turn Toad, I overlay! Piercing through ten thousand warriors, the cursed spear of rebellion entombed in darkness, descend now! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 2! The Phantom Knights of Cursed Javelin!" Yuto chanted as he Xyz Summoned his Rank 2 Monster in Attack Position.

Cursed Javelin: Rank 2, 1600 Atk, 0 Def

"I end my turn." Yuto said.

"Now that the turn is over, my Monster regains it's halved Attack Points!" Aki reminded Yuto as Clustered Bloom Dragon gained a red aura.

Clustered Bloom Dragon: 2250-3700 Atk

"My turn!" Aki announced, placing a hand on the top of her Deck as she did so, "Draw! Clustered Bloom Dragon, attack Phantom Knights Cursed Javelin!" Aki's Monster threw it's tail at Yuto's Monster with clear intent to win.

"No way! From the Graveyard, I activate the Grave effect of Phantom Knights Empty Greaves! If you declare an attack and the difference between our Monsters is at least 1000, I destroy all Monsters I control, Special Summon this Card as a Trap Monster in Defense Position, and the Battle Phase immediately ends! In addition, I draw a Card from my Deck, if it is a Magic or Trap Card, I send it to the Graveyard! If it is a Monster, I Special Summon it, and as long as this Card and the Special Summoned Monster remains on the Field, I don't take any battle damage!"

"What?" Aki's eyes twitched out of frustration.

Yuto's Monster were destroyed immediately, and in their place rose Phantom Knights Empty Greaves.

Yuto then drew a Card from my Deck, he grimaced once he saw that it was Gap Power, a Magic Card, which he unfortunately had to send to the Grave.

"I end my turn." Aki closed her eyes, thinking that she had the win. "Just give up. Let me have the win so you will not have to suffer the humiliation of defeat."

It was funny, even if Yuto did surrender, he would still feel the humiliation of defeat. As if he surrendered, it still technically mean that he was defeated, because Aki is the one who would push him to make that choice.

"Hell no!" Yuto exclaimed. "As long as there is still one life point left, I will never quit! And I swear, I will find a way to unite the Tops and Commons! It will not go to the point where one group will have to decimate the other! I'll make sure of that! My turn!"

Yuto glanced at the Card he drew. He let out a small smile. Not bad.

"From my Hand, I activate the Magic Card Phantom Draw! By banishing 3 Phantom Knights Card from my Hand, Field, or Grave, I am allowed to draw 3 Cards!" Yuto revealed his Card's effect as he slid it into the Magic and Trap Card Zone.

Yuto banished from his Graveyard Phantom Knights Cursed Javelin, Break Sword, and Phantom Knights Lost Vambrace. He then picked up the top 3 Cards of his Deck and looked at them with hopeful eyes. His eyes fell when he saw them.

The Cards were: Phantom Knights Fragile Armor, another copy of Phantom Knights Lost Vambrace, which was completely useless to him, and finally the Card he received from Sam, Tuning Magician.

He had added the last Card because he wanted to prove that the Card was not worthless in at least 1 Duel before handing back to Jack Atlas. But here was not a good time to draw it.

Suddenly, Yuto felt a strange feeling in his body. He heard his heart make one loud beat as he found himself on his d-wheel driving endlessly in an infinite blue void.

He saw nothing for a while, but eventually, he started to see something. He saw the two Monsters in his Scales, who were looking straight at him. As he continued, he noticed a blue light, going forward as if it was guiding his path. The path branched off slightly and Yuto saw Fragile Armor and then Empty Greaves, soon followed by Tuning Magician, who was looking at him with determination flaming in her eyes.

"You…" Yuto was forced to cover his eyes as a bright white light flooded the blue void. Yuto squinted his eyes to try to see what was in the light, and he saw a silhouette holding two blades. And it was clad in white for the most part. The silhouette glanced back at him, and when Yuto closed and opened his eyes, he found himself back in the real world.

I see. So this is what you wanted…Yuto glanced down to his Extra Deck to see it glowing with a bright white aura. Like the outline of a Card…

"Alright! Using the already set Pendulum Scale, I Pendulum Summon! Appear, my Monster!" Out of the portal flew out 1 Monster. And it was Phantom Knights Fragile Armor.

Fragile Armor: Level 4, 1000 Atk, 2000 Def

"Next up, from my Hand, I Summon Tuning Magician!" Yuto swiped the Card onto his Duel Disk as the female magician did a little flip onto the Field with a smile, holding onto her wand tightly.

Tuning Magician: Level 1, 0 Atk, 0 Def

"That is…" Sam, who was watching the Duel, immediately recognized the Card as the one he gave to Yuto.

Jack Atlas, who was also watching the Duel, was actually surprised slightly.

"Why does Yuto have Tuning Magician? When Tuning Magician is Normal or Special Summoned, the Summoned takes 400 points of damage while the opponent gains the same amount." Jack mused the effect from under his breath.

Yuto: 1300-900 LP

Aki: 1450-1850 LP

"What?! Why would Yuto Summon a Monster that not only has 1 level and 0 Attack, but it damages him and gives his opponent more life?" Melissa questioned, as the Card, from her perspective, was very bad. And members of the audience shared that perspective.

"Is he playing with us?"

"Why would he use such a weak and useless Card?"

"Has he lost his mind?"

These were the many comments that were heard from the audience and many more. The Commons were booing at jeering at Yuto's performance as they wanted him to win against Aki who was in cahoots with the Tops to their knowledge.

"At least he is assuring Izayoi Aki's win." A member of the Tops said with a chuckle as he gulped down his drink.

"Why Summon a Card that only harms you rather than hurts you?" Aki asked Yuto.

"Quiet! No Card is useless! Every Card has a purpose! And I'll show you what the purpose of Tuning Magician is right now! I tune the level 4 Phantom Knights Fragile Armor and level 3 Phantom Knights Empty Greaves with the level 1 Tuning Magician!" Yuto declared.

"What?!" Aki gasped out of shock, not knowing that Yuto could use Synchro Summoning.

Even Roget couldn't hide his surprise as he moved forward in his seat with a look that spelled that he was caught off guard,

"Yuto can Synchro Summon?!" Both Ruri and Yuzu exclaimed at the same time.

"Yuto can use the 4 Summoning methods now!" O'Brien realized.

"He Synchro Summoned from a Pendulum Summon…" Shun murmured in awe.

"Pendulum Synchro." Reiji mumbled, satisfied that Yuto was able to master the Summoning methods like he could. The boy was catching up to him. He would have to evolve fast, or else Yuto might surpass him!

"Hero's blade that sets forth unyielding light! Here and now, along with a flash, awaken! Synchro Summon! Level 8! Enlightenment Paladin!" Yuto chanted as he Synchro Summoned his new Monster.

Enlightenment Paladin: Level 8, 2500 Atk, 2000 Def

"And Yuto has successfully pulled off a Synchro Summon!" Melissa cheered along with the audience, particularly the Commons section who wanted Aki to lose badly.

Roget was getting very excited at this development. Looks like he had another puppet that he could exploit to reach his goal.

"I'll admit I'm surprised that you Synchro Summoned! But your Monster is no match for my 3700 Attack Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon!" Aki taunted Yuto, who merely smiled in response.

"We'll see about that." Yuto's Monster clashed his swords together, twisting them counter-clockwise as if he was turning back time. "I activate Enlightenment Paladin's effect! When a Magician is used as a Material for its Synchro Summon, I can add a Magic Card from my Graveyard to my Hand! I add Gap Power to my Hand, which I will activate! I add half the difference between our life points to Enlightenment Paladin's Attack!

"The difference is between our life points is 950! So that means…" Aki did the math in her head, "Your Monster gains 475 Attack Points! But that is still not enough to defeat my Monster."

"Or so you'd think!" Yuto countered as he made his next move, "I activate the Grave effect of Phantom Knights Tomb Shield! By banishing it from the Graveyard, I can target a face-up Trap Card you control and negate its effects until the end of the turn! I choose your Black Rose Spirit!" Aki's Card was shrouded in the color gray, signifying that the effect was negated.

Since the Card was negated, Clustered Bloom Dragon lost the Attack boost.

Clustered Bloom Dragon: 3700-2900 Atk

"However, even if you do destroy my Monster! I still have it's effect! At the end of the turn of when this Monster is destroyed, I get to Special a Summon Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon from my Grave! And then, using its effect, next turn I will get rid of your Monster and win the Duel!" Aki proclaimed, once again confident that she had won the Duel.

"There won't be a next turn!" Yuto bellowed suddenly, prompting Aki to flinch. "When Enlightenment Paladin destroys a Monster in battle, it deals damage to you equal to the destroyed Monster's Attack of when it was on the Field!"

Aki yelped as she realized that she was finished, but then she came to a realization. "Wait, your Monster's Attack only surpassed mine takes to Tuning Magician's effect!"

"Correct! And if it wasn't for Tuning Magician, I couldn't have even Synchro Summoned! So as I said, every Card has a purpose! As long as you listen to the Cards, they will respond!"

"Nice job, Yuto!" Ruri smiled from her quarters, but the smile turned to a frown when she thought about Aki.

From his throne room, the usually stoic Jack Atlas, actually gained a smile on his face. He was happy that Yuto at least understood that Card's had a purpose.

"Tuning Magician...had a purpose like that?" Sam whispered to himself. He was wrong. The Card wasn't useless. And Jack wasn't making fun of him when he gave it to him.

He gave it to him because he was right. It did suit him.

Like him, the Card was weak, yet it helped open the door to much stronger possibilities. In hindsight, despite its weak attack and damaging effect, the Card wasn't useless. It meant something. Just like how every person in the society impacted the City. And if multiple people were to band together, amazing things could happen.

"Go, Enlightenment Paladin! Attack Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon and end this Duel!" Yuto declared with a thrust of his hand.

The Synchro Monster jumped into the air and separated its blades. The Monster came rushing down, slicing Clustered Bloom Dragon in half, destroying it.

"And then, Enlightenment Paladin's effect! You take Clustered Bloom Dragon's Attack as damage! So take 2900 points of damage!" Yuto yelled as Enlightenment Paladin brought his swords together and released a light blue energy with bright red eyes which rushed towards Aki, who looked back at the substance with wide eyes.

The energy enveloped Aki completely. Aki screamed out of pain as she took the final points of damage that would finish her.

Aki: 1450-0 LP

I'm sorry that it had to be this way, Yuto. I'm sorry if you even bothered to watch this pitiful Duel, Ruri. I'm sorry I betrayed you. And Mother...Father, I'm sorry to you guys too…Aki thought to herself as she closed her eyes, her d-wheel letting out steam and slowing down, letting Yuto to shoot right past her.

"He escaped a hard Duel with a vicious counterattack and emerged victorious! Please give it up for the winner, Yuto!" Melissa exclaimed as the audience cheered for the boy's victory.

"Dang it, I was hoping for the Izayoi girl to win." A man said.

"But dear, remember that she was the daughter of the former senator! The one who wanted to help the Commons!" The woman standing next to the man scolded him. At the mention of that, the nearby Tops also began to speak of that, the very mention of it sparking the negative thoughts they had on Aki, which had been buried down ever since Aki was arrested 2 years ago.

"Oh, that is right...I completely forgot. Well then, splendid work, Yuto." The same man congratulated Yuto, already knowing the boy no where near in hearing range.

Ruri was glad that Yuto had won the Duel. But she was curious…

What was going on with Aki?


Card Catalog

Phantom Knights Armory, Magic: Send two Phantom Knights Cards in your Hand to the Graveyard. Then, add one Phantom Knights Magic or Trap Card from your Deck to your Hand. You can only activate one 'Phantom Knights Armory' per turn.

Phantom Knights Empty Greaves, Trap: Target a Monster your opponent controls, equip it with this Card, the equipped Monster loses 800 Attack. When the equipped Monster is destroyed, send this Card to the Graveyard. When your opponent's Monster attacks one of your Monsters and the difference in the Attack is at least 1000, destroy all Monsters you control, Special Summon this Card from the Grave in Defense Position (Dark, Warrior, Level 3, 0 Atk, 0 Def), end the Battle Phase. Then, draw a Card, if the Card is a Magic or Trap, send it to the Grave, if the drawn Card is a Monster, Special Summon it. As long as this Card and the Special Summoned Monster remains on the Field, you take no battle damage. When this Card as a Monster is sent to the Graveyard, banish it instead.

Phantom Knights Wicked Arrow, Dark, Warrior, 3 Level 3 Monsters: Once per turn, you can detach an overlay unit from this Card, add a Phantom Knights Card from your Deck to your Hand. When this Card is detached from an Xyz Monster as Material, add a Phantom Knights Cards from your Grave to your Hand.

Black Rose Clustered Bloom Dragon, Dark, Dragon, Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon + 1 Plant-Type Monster: This Card is unaffected by your opponent's Card effects. If the Plant-Type Monster used to Summon this Monster was level 5 or higher, this Card can attack 3 times per Battle Phase. During the End Phase of the turn this Card is destroyed, Special Summon Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon from your Grave.

Black Rose Spirit, Continuous, Trap: Activate this Card by equipping it to a Black Rose Monster you control, banish a Plant-Type Monster from your Graveyard, the equipped Monster gains 800 Attack.


Finally finished with this chapter! I actually got stumped multiple times writing the Duel, so I hope the result was good.

If I wanted to, I definitely could have made it so Aki could win this Duel. But, since she was facing Yuto, she had to lose.

So if you remember Chapter 72, then you will remember the proposition Roget set for Aki, and she accepted to save her parents. So before you flame me, a Aki was in complete control of her actions. She wasn't being controlled, just manipulated. Which is still bad, but better than being controlled.

So, the only 4 people left who need a match are…

Yugo.

Shun.

Ruri.

And Yuzu.

Who will be facing who next, find out next chapter!

Now, I have just one questions that I will need you guys to answer, and that is...

How do you guys think I have been using Action Cards in this story? Have I been making good use of them without spamming them? Am I using them too much? Heck, am I using them very little? I would like your guys' input on the matter.

ZarcEternal: Thank you for pointing the error out. I changed the effect of Linewalker so it could target any Special Summoned Monster, therefore fixing the error. Also, it was Sergey's turn when he used Kraken's effect.

Skadi: I kind of didn't like how Yugo was booted out of Synchro, which made him miss his Duel with Sergey. This time around, Yugo will get an opportunity to go toe to toe with Sergey. Whether it will be in the Friendship Cup or not is for you to wonder. I already know the answer because...I'm making the story, duh.

Bridgey: Hate to break it you, but Chojiro won't be Dueling again in this story. Also, the person who was spoke the last line was Yugo, I gave the line it's own separate line because it seems better as a way to end the chapter rather and connect with the previous line. Besides, that's how I normally end my chapters nowadays.

That's all for now guys, hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Take care, goodbye!