Upon seeing her comrades being escorted away, Serena rose to fight, only for an arm to stop her.
"What are you doing?" She demanded in a low voice in order to keep their presence hidden.
"Are you insane?!" Kaito questioned with a sharp gaze, looking back at the troops escorting the others. "There is no way in Hell you'll be able to take on all of those guys!"
"What business is it of yours?" Serena shot back with equal grit. "I'm not the one who abandoned my friends even though they were trying to help me! And let's not forget the trying to Card them part!"
Kaito opened his mouth to speak, but in the end no words left his lips. He knew he had no right to speak. As he thought more on it, what he was going to do that day was an unforgivable sin.
What was going through Ryoga's head as Kaito held his Duel Disk in front of him, ready to Card him without a second thought.
And all for what? Kaito asked himself.
Ground himself, he continued, "You are not going to be able to fight them on your own. You need backup."
Serena remained silent, pondering the boy's words. She glanced back at the retreating troup of Academia. The more time that they wasted, the more likely that her comrades would get Carded. She was surprised that they were not Carded already, but she could assume that they were being taken away for interrogation.
The Resistance has been a major thorn in Academia's side after all. Serena recalled. It made sense why they would do something like this. Not only have they captured some of the Lancers, they can find out the whereabouts of the remaining members of the Resistance through them.
She sighed, "As much as I hate to admit it, you are right." Once again, she looked back at her captured comrades. They were nearly out of sight now.
I'll definitely save you guys…Serena turned back to Kaito, looking him in the eyes, his tired, wild eyes.
"So, what now?"
Later - At the Resistance Base - Duel Monestary
"I hope everything is alright…" Ruri said aloud. She looked around, seeing Yugo, Ryo, Rio, Ryoga, and O'Brien all scattered around the room.
After minutes of unsuccessful searching, Ruri and the other groups eventually received a message from Serena to regroup at the Resistance base. Apparently, something bad had happened, and that she would fill them in when everyone was there.
Sayaka…She hoped nothing bad happened to her. She couldn't help but feel guilty. Sayaka had obviously been feeling guilty about what happened to her.
What a terrible friend she was to her. She didn't even try to go and comfort her friend when it was clear what she was going through.
She had to make it up to her…
"Don't worry, Ruri. Sayaka isn't weak." Rio comforted, placing a hand on Ruri's shoulder, giving her a smile. "She'll be okay!"
"Yea." Ryoga stated, joining in the conversation, taking a sip of his soup. "Plus, one of us has got to have found her. I doubt she's all alone out there."
"I know, but…" Ruri's whisper was cut off by Serena striding into the room.
"Serena!" Yugo exclaimed, taken aback by the frustrated look on her face. "What happened?!"
The girl let out an exasperated sigh, leaning against the wall, dropping to the floor. She looked around the room, wanting to make sure that everyone was back as she had demanded. She had privately messaged each of them so Academia wouldn't be able to figure out anything from their captured comrades' Duel Disks.
"Everyone who is not in this room: Yuya, Yuto, Kurosaki, Sawatari, Gongenzaka, Allen, and Sayaka, have all been captured by Academia."
The faces of everyone in the room except Ryo, who remained passive, contorted into expressions of shock and worry. For Duelists of Yuto, Yuya, and Shun's caliber to be captured was something they thought to be impossible. And it wasn't like the other four were slouches either. They could more than hold their own, even the timid Sayaka.
Upon this dire news, Yugo's lips quivered into a stiff, forced smile. "H-Hey, don't joke like that, Serena! Something like that could never happen."
"I'm not messing around." Serena said with a straight face. "It's true. All seven of them were…"
As Serena trailed off, a silence filled the room. No one has anything to say. They were stuck there processing the information.
There's no way…Yuto and brother…Allen and Sayaka…Ruri thought to herself as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Damn it!" Ryoga shouted, smashing his hand across the wall. "Those pieces of shit! I'll make them pay…"
"There is one good thing though," Serena spoke up, gaining everyone's attention once again. "I don't believe that they will be Carded…at least not yet anyway."
"In theory, it makes sense." Ryo spoke suddenly, and now all eyes were on him. "The Resistance has been harassing Academia for a long time now. To get rid of them along with some of the Lancers is a golden opportunity for them."
Serena nodded in agreement. As expected of one of the strongest Duelists back at Academia. He was very sharp.
"I don't know how much time we have, but I'm assuming that they captured everyone to try and figure out the location of this base."
"Well, what are we waiting for!" Yugo shouted, anxiously throwing his hand to the side. "Let's go and rescue them before it's too late!"
"Idiot. It's not that easy." Serena remarked.
"She's right, Yugo." O'Brien chimed in. Yugo's expression grew more annoyed as he saw everyone going against the notion of rescuing their friends. "We don't know where they would have been taken."
With a grim tone, Rio supplied, "We still don't know where Academia's base of operations is. Plus, there is the off chance that they weren't even taken there in the first place. In other words, we don't know where they are."
"Not exactly." Serena said. Feeling everyone's gaze on her, she took a deep breath. Now, this was going to be the hard part of the conversation. "I have a plan in action to find where they are being held."
"And what would that be?" Ruri asked her counterpart with interest.
"Me." A voice suddenly rang throughout the room, familiar to everyone, especially the Xyz residents.
Everyone turned to the entrance to the room, seeing Tenjo Kaito standing in the doorway, arms crossed. A relatively neutral expression was on his face, as if to hide any sort of emotion.
"Kaito…" Ryoga murmured with a sharp gaze. He still hadn't forgotten what Kaito would have done had Ryo not saved him.
"You're back." Serena said to the Cipher user, who nodded his head in response.
"Yes, and I've found out where they are being held." Kaito replied, taking in the faces of the others in the room. As he expected, he was met with silent animosity.
Ryo was staring directly at him with a sharp gaze, while O'Brien and Ryoga remained passive. On the other hand, Yugo looked like he was going to combust. The boy's teeth were grinding back and forth as he held back the urge to deck Kaito right on the spot. He looked to Rio, who looked into his soul with an ice-cold state. And then, a sight he didn't expect, Ruri, who was looking at him with a mix of emotions. Joy, worry…and sadness.
"Why are you here, Kaito?" Rio demanded, moving forward with her hands on her hips. "The last time you were here you insisted that we were just burdens to you."
"I don't know." Kaito told the full truth. He didn't know what he was doing. Helping the people he had sworn to get rid of had they gotten in his way again. The same people who were once his precious friends, yet were now people he had cast aside out of grief. "I suppose…I'm just acting on a whim right now."
While distrustful of Kaito, O'Brien silently reasoned with himself that Kaito meant no harm. After all, why would he willingly come to the Resistance base after insisting on being alone.
"Do not be mistaken. There is no other reason I am doing this." Kaito started with nearly no emotion present in his voice. "I still wish to eradicate Academia without a trace for what they did to my family. I simply see an opportunity that benefits us both. You rescue your comrades, and I get to crack another hole in the wall of Fusion."
Kaito…It was still strange how much different the boy was the last time Ruri saw him. However, if there was one thing this Kaito shared with the old one, it was a very bad and common tendency to suppress his feelings of passion for others. Maybe Kaito truly is…
"As I was saying, I have found where Yuto and the others have been taken."
Meanwhile - Academia's Prison
"Damn it! To think that I'd be captured by Academia…" Shun growled, pulling his arms in an attempt to escape, only for the shackles binding his body to the wall preventing him from doing so.
"That's like the sixth time you've said that, Shun." Allen said, being in the same predicament as Shun and the others. "There's nothing we can do about it right now…"
He took a look around the prison cell, which also held Yuto, Yuya, Sawatari, Gongenzaka, and Sayaka.
"Allen's right, Shun." Yuto said, looking down at the ground. He was trying to be calm on the outside, but one look at his eyes and one could see that he was very frustrated. "We just have to hope Ruri and the others are fine."
"This is all my fault…again…" Sayaka whispered dejectedly, tears appearing in her eyes which she could not rub away. Everytime she tried to do something good, she just ended up making things worse…
"Don't talk like that, Sayaka!" Allen yelled angrily. "I am sick and tired of you belittling yourself!"
"But I left to go find Kaito. If I didn't do that, I-"
"So what?" Yuto spoke up. He had known about Sayaka's insecurities and yet he had not acted upon them both before and after leaving for Standard. "We don't blame you. Don't beat yourself up over what's done, Sayaka. Instead, vow to be stronger for the next time something happens."
Sayaka widened her eyes as she looked at Yuto. "I…"
"We can't change what's past." Yuya said, inserting himself into the conversation, his eyes gleaming with reminiscence. "We can only move forward. That's what you have to do, Sayaka. You can't do anything if you're worried and afraid! You have to move forward…with courage!"
Sayaka looked at Yuya, completely stunned. She blinked, believing that for a second, Sakaki Yusho was sitting there in Yuya's place.
"Huh? What kind of bullshit is that?!" An Academia soldier chuckled, walking into the room with two other soldiers.
Yuya and the others all glared at the new arrivals.
One soldier walked to the cage, whistling and flinging a shamble of keys around his finger as he did so. One minute later, after multiple attempts, he inserted the correct key into the cell and opened the door.
"Sakaki Yuya," He started, a vile grin appearing on his face that brought chills down Sayaka's spine. "We have some questions we'd like to ask you."
"Like Hell I'll answer you!"
The man's grin grew even wider as he walked in, his hand rustling inside of his pocket.
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter." The soldier released Yuya from his shackles, pushing him into the arms of the soldiers. The four walked out of the cell, with one soldier staying behind to lock the cell.
"Yuya!" Yuto and Gongenzaka called out with worry.
"Don't worry, I'll be okay!" Yuya called out in an attempt to ease his comrades' fear.
This attempt would prove futile as Yuto and the others were still very much full of concern for their comrade as he was led out of the room.
Later
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Yuya screamed at the top of his lungs, his body spasming as electricity coursed through it lime wildfire.
"...ok, lemme ask this then," The distorted voice of an Academia student started. " How much of the Resistance is left?"
"Enough…to take you guys down!" Yuya replied defiantly.
The Academia student let out a sigh of frustration. With the shake of his head, be said, "Again."
Once more Yuya couldn't help but yell out in pain as he found electricity crackling through what it felt like to be every nerve in his body.
"If you just tell us what we need to know, this can all be over." A female Academia student said with a smirk on her face.
"Let's try this again." Another student chimed in, his face serious. "Where is the Resistance's hideout? It will make things much easier and less painful for you if you cooperate."
"I'm not going to tell you anything!" Yuya refused once again. It didn't matter what these guys did to him, he was not about to betray his friends like that.
Yuya found himself screaming once again as more electrical charges were dispersed throughout his body. This time, for a significantly longer period of time than before. While earlier it felt like he was being electrocuted for about a second, now it was like 10 times that long.
After staying silent and refusing to answer once again, Yuya released his loudest cry of pain yet as the electrical charges increased.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" A voice entering the room suddenly yelled with a hint of disgust and anger laced within their voice.
The electricity stopped, and, grimacing through the pain, Yuya glanced to the entrance to see Edo Phoenix fuming.
His hands tightened into fists, his teeth clenching, and a glare so threatening that it even sent shivers down his own spine. As if he could really feel it right now with all of the pain in his body.
"Commander-in-Chief!" The students quickly dropped whatever they were doing. They brought their right arms in front of their heads, saluting him.
He paid their salutes no heed.
"Leave us."
The soldiers obeyed, moving with haste out of the room so as to avoid the wrath of their superior.
After seeing to it that it was only him and Yuya, Edo pulled out a chair from a corner of the room, placing it in front of Yuya.
"My apologies for the harsh treatment." He muttered as he took his seat, resting his left foot on his right knee. He stared at Yuya with a calculating gaze, as if he was waiting for something.
"What's the big idea?!" Yuya questioned with a glare, his strength suddenly returning to him through a burst of anger. "You despise me, and my father even more. So, why would you intervene like that?"
"On the contrary, Sakaki Yuya," Edo spoke formally, as if any past loss of composure had never existed. "I do not hate you, nor even your father. What I do hate, is the senseless garbage that you two try to preach. And do not mistake my intervention as some kind-hearted act. Simply put, I'm only here to reaffirm myself, to see for myself once again that Academia's teachings are correct. And it seems they are." He couldn't help but smile with satisfaction at the sight of Yuya. "Look at where Sakaki Yusho's teachings have gotten you."
Yuya felt a fire boiling in his gut. He wanted nothing more than to correct Edo. To say that he was not following his father's teachings anymore. That they were not what got him into this position. But if he had, then he would never get the answers that he desired.
Grounding himself, he spoke, "You never gave me an answer back when we Dueled? What did my father do to you? What happened between you two?!"
"How about you tell me where the remnants of the Resistance are hiding out in exchange?" Edo returned.
"You and I both know that I'm not telling you!" Yuya snapped with a glare. "I would never turn back on my friends like that!"
"I guess I should have expected something like that." Edo said with a sigh, leaning against the wall. "Though, I suppose I can understand your sentiment. While you and I are on different sides, we share some similarities. We are both loyal to our comrades in Academia and the Lancers respectively."
"You and I are nothing alike!" Yuya growled with rage at the mere prospect of it. "What kind of person thinks it's okay to usurp the livelihood of thousands of innocent people?! No sane person would engage in something so wrong!"
"Even for a perfect utopia, some sacrifices must be made." Edo stated as if he was programmed to say it.
"A world born out of blood?! You think that is perfect?!"
"The Carded people will return to the new world." Edo refuted. "I was told that by the Profess-"
"How do you know he's not lying to you?!" Yuya bursted out of anger. "Do you think he even knows what he is doing?!"
"Of course he does!" Edo exclaimed. "Why would he go to such lengths if he didn't know what he was doing?!"
"Uniting the four dimensions into one?" Yuya questioned the very notion of it. "Do you not realize how impossible that sounds?! Something about it all just seems wrong! How do you know the Carded people will come back?! How do you know if his plan will even work?!"
"Shut up!" Edo roared, visibly offended at the questioning of the ideals he had given his life to. "An outsider to Academia would know nothing! Non-believers of the utopia would never understand!"
"Even if your plan works and everyone does come back, what about all of the pain and suffering you caused the citizens of this city? That pain will always be a part of them!"
"When they see what a beautiful world we have created, then they will find that the pain they went through would have been worth it." Edo stated coldly. While a part of him felt bad for the people of the Xyz Dimension, it did give him comfort that they would be revived in the new world. He clenched his fist. "You and Sakaki Yusho, spreading your garbage without trying to understand Academia's ways…you can't make everyone smile! Just laugh off all your problems? Give me a break!"
Almost instinctively, Edo removed a torn Card from his Hand, looking down on it with a sharp glare.
With the way he held it, Yuya could just barely make out the picture of the torn Card. It was one he was all too familiar with.
"That Card…"
The smiles on it gave it away immediately.
"Smile World. That's…Dad's Card! Why do you have it?" Yuya asked frantically with wide eyes, a sudden poor feeling appearing in his stomach. "What happened between you two?! What did you do to my Dad?!"
"Tch!" Edo grimaced. He didn't have time for this. He turned around and walked out of the room.
"Don't walk away!" Yuya yelled with anger at the retreating figure of Edo Phoenix. "Get back here! Answer me!"
Edo didn't listen, and he simply continued walking, his cape flowing behind him. He seethed, pressing his thumb on the green surface of the torn copy of Smile World.
I beat him in the Duel. The words ran through his head. A false sense of security, one that would not ease the doubts in his mind. I proved that Academia's ideals are superior! So why…
He beat Sakaki Yusho's son. The Professor's ideals were superior to that of Sakaki Yusho. The Duel between their students was ample proof of that. So why…
Why am I feeling this way?!
Meanwhile
"Damn! Yuya's been gone for a while now. As his friend, I, the man, Gongenzaka, cannot help but feel worried." The big man said grimly. While they didn't have a track of time due to the lack of a clock, it felt like Yuya had been gone for about an hour.
No one responded to his concerns. Not because they didn't want to, but because they couldn't. It was not right to give them a false sense of hope when Yuya was taken right in front of them all, likely to be tortured…or worse.
A long period of silence fell between the six Duelists. They all pondered their situation, with Yuto, Shun, and Gongenzaka actively looking around for any chances for escape. Unfortunately, Academia was not foolish. They had left the whole cell barren apart from the chains on the walls restraining them. No beds, no toilet, no utilities, nothing that would be of any use to them…
"So, these are the legendary Duelists proving to be a thorn in Academia's side."
Yuto and the others jumped with alarm, looking at the entrance of the room to see a large man in a black-colored Academia uniform. His face was covered by an iron mask and the black hat he wore only added to the mystery of his character.
"Humph." The man smirked. "Doesn't look like much."
"Who the hell is that?" Sawatari muttered with wonder, a sentiment shared by the other five. Even the members of the Resistance had no idea who this new arrival was.
"You may refer to me as Titan." The man now known as Titan said. "I am the one overseeing you all. Do not even try to escape. You'll find it to be quite fruitless."
"Titan?" Allen repeated the name to himself, attempting to search his memory for any previous knowledge of the man. "I've never heard anything about a Duelist named Titan."
"I don't find that surprising at all. Seeing as your time is limited, I suppose there is no harm in telling you this," Titan started. "I am a member of a small secret group of Duelists in Academia named the Agents of Darkness."
"Darkness…" Yuto visibly flinched at the mention of the man, immediately remembering his Duel with him in the Synchro Dimension. How he had easily dismantled him to a level to that of Akaba Reiji was still on his mind. Sweat rolled down his face as he felt the hairs on his skin beginning to stand up. "That man…"
"Ah, yes. I nearly forgot you are acquainted with my master." The big man said. "Thanks to him, I have the position I have now. The honor of holding Academia's enemies captive, especially when it comes to Duelists such as yourself."
He scanned each person in the room, focusing on two in particular.
"Kurosaki Shun. Apart from Tenjo Kaito and Akaba Reiji, you are regarded as one of the greatest threats to Academia. And apart from the former, you are perhaps responsible for most of Academia's casualties."
Shun grimaced. He didn't like the idea that Academia knew so much about him. All of the data they must have had on him from his numerous Duels for survival…
"Ohnaka Yuto. A more obscure Duelist than Kurosaki Shun and Tenjo Kaito, but nonetheless just as much of a threat. His calm exterior allows for a shield for the demon that lays within."
Demon…Yuto looked down at the ground, unable to refute those claims. He indeed lost control in his Duels many times in the past, and the results were not pretty.
"My master has taken quite an interest in you…if that's what a seething hatred could be called…" The man mused gruffly before putting his attention on the next two. "Two members of the Lancers and two more members of the Resistance. And then, there is Sakaki Yuya. Quite the horde of prisoners we've managed to attain."
"Why is that man obsessed with me?!" Yuto demanded suddenly. "What makes me so special!?"
"If you ever see him again, you'll just have to ask him yourself." Titan said, frowning. "If it were me, I would have just Carded the seven of you and be done with it. It's like we'll get anything worthwhile out of torturing some pissants. Unfortunately, the Commander-in-Chief has his own plans."
"What does the Commander-in-Chief want with us?" Gongenzaka asked aloud.
Titan sighed out of annoyance. "The answer to that should be obvious. It's the reason we've kept all of the other Resistance members."
"What?!" Shun bursted out with shock and anger. He seethed, his hawk-like eyes filled with killing intent. "You mean to tell me you've brought our comrades here? And you tortured them?!"
"Naturally." Titan replied, his tone void of emotion.
"You bastard!" Allen growled.
"Don't blame me for doing my job." The man responded. "We would not have to resort to such tactics if we could just figure out where the remaining members of the Resistance are. Tell me and I will consider sparing some of you."
They all knew it was a lie. There was no doubt about it. As long as there was a person who was opposing Academia's plan, they were a massive threat. The presence of Sakaki Yusho was more than proof of that.
Yuto noticeably twitched in his chains. His whole body trembling, as if he was desperately trying to hold something back.
"Of course, do not cooperate…" Titan trailed off, removing a Card from his trench coat. The Card depicted a terrified Duelist of the Resistance, no older than Yuto or Sawatari. He was screaming and crying when he was Carded.
The very sight of the Card made Yuto thrust his body forward as an instant reflex. An almost animalistic growl left his lips as he was held back from the chains binding him to the wall.
"You…" He whispered with a stark bloodlust. "You're going to pay for this. Be certain of that!"
"You invade our home…destroy our livelihood…take the lives of countless people…and you still want something from us!?" Kurosaki questioned with a yell. "Like hell we're giving you the location of the Resistance!"
"Oh, I'm afraid it doesn't matter whether or not you comply. I was simply offering a formality." Titan said with the slightest hint of a smirk appearing on his face as he turned around to leave.
"Hey! What the hell do you mean by that?!" Sawatari asked aloud at the retreating Titan. "Answer, you bastard!"
As he walked, Titan turned his head slightly, just enough so he could see his prisoners in the corner of his eye.
"You will just have to wait and find out."
Meanwhile - At the Duel Monastery
"How much longer is this going to take, Kaito?!" Ryoga demanded anxiously, pacing around the room as everyone sat in silence. The only sound was Kaito's writing utensil hitting the surface he was drawing on.
"As long as it needs to."
The uncaptured group of Lancers and Resistance members were currently sitting around in a single room. They were all waiting…patiently (everyone except Yugo and Ryoga) for Kaito to finish his drawing of the outside of Academia's base.
When he and Serena saw their comrades being taken away, they secretly followed them back to their base before returning to the Monastery. They both had made sure to memorize the outside layout of the base from afar. Whether it was Academia's true base of operations or simply just a prison for captured Duelists remained to be seen.
Regardless, they still had to save their comrades. They were part of the Resistance's final hope. Their forces were on fumes now. They could not tolerate any more losses.
The only advantage they had in Academia was the element of surprise now. Fortunately, they didn't know where their base was, but the reverse was now not true. They had located some sort of structure important to Academia.
After all, with the amount of forces patrolling the perimeter of the building…there was no way that they were not protecting something important.
At least, that's what Kaito and Serena had assumed, and after telling the others this, they seemed to agree as well.
"Come on, man! We've got to hurry so we can save Yuto and the others!"
But not all of them were as patient as they were in agreement.
"Shut up, Yugo!" Serena yelled, smashing her fist across the banana-haired boy's skull. "Another word and you won't like the next place my fist goes!"
"Y-Yes maam…" Yugo mumbled with a groan, clutching his head with a hiss as he felt his eyes stinging with water.
She sighed out of frustration. Sometimes she felt like she was the only mature person around. She directed her attention to Kaito, who was still drawing his diagram of the building.
After a few moments of waiting and silence, she opened her lips to speak.
"If you are going to say something about me not being done, you won't be having a mouth to speak with soon enough." Kaito retorted before a word could even leave Serena's lips.
Rio sighed at the interaction between the four, particularly that of Kaito and Ryoga.
As impatient as always…She thought to herself with a small smile. It reminded her a little bit of the old times.
It was very reassuring to see that, despite everything that happened, Ryoga, at his core, was still the same person from before the invasion. Sure, that person was now buried beneath a body of physical and mental anguish and emotional apathy, but he was still in there.
That was more than what she could say for Kaito and Shun. However, Shun seems a little bit better compared to the last time she saw him before he left for Standard. And Kaito…at least he was here now when it mattered most.
Rio broke out of her thoughts as she heard the sound of Kaito's writing cease. She looked to the wall and saw a fully constructed diagram of the building.
It wasn't drawn to perfect detail, but everyone in the room could see that the building had seen better days. Most likely because of the war in Heartland.
"Done." The boy stated dryly.
Rio, Ryoga, and Ruri both gasped at the sight of the drawing, instantly recognizing it from it's unique triangular-shaped windows along with an odd dome-like shape connecting into a long rectangular prism standing upright.
This is…Rio and Ruri thought to themselves while Ryoga could not help but find himself smirking.
"So, this is what we're dealing with, huh?" O'Brien muttered to himself with a humorless smile. "Just walking in there seems like a bad idea…" Now, the notion of saving their comrades was very unlikely.
"It doesn't matter!" Yugo retorted, punching the wall, not out of anger but determination. "We have to save our comrades. I'm not gonna let them down!"
After all, he already let Rin down multiple times…
"Obviously, we cannot just go in headfirst without a plan." Ryo stated as he analyzed the drawing of the building. He wished he could have gotten a physical view of the building. A look of the real thing would be a lot more helpful than a simple drawing based on memory. "That would be suicide. So, what is our plan of attack?"
"I recognize that building." Rio spoke. Kaito made no outward reaction, but he had expected the other residents of the Xyz Dimension to identify the building.
"I thought you would." Kaito said, turning his cold gaze onto Rio and Ryoga.
"Really? What is it, then?" Serena asked. While they were scouting, Kaito had given no outward reaction to knowing the building at all.
"That building…" Ruri's hands began to tremble. She wasn't personally affected by the building, nor was she actually involved in what happened in it, but she knew two people who were.
She turned her head to Rio and Ryoga, trying to get a read on how they were feeling. Ryoga was noticeably silent, but he had a disturbing smirk on his face. On the other hand, Rio had remained composed, but the distress was still easily detectable on her face.
With a grim expression, Rio began to explain, "On the outside, it just seems like an ordinary building. It was a vacant building used for nothing. However…"
"Underneath the building was a hidden organization specifically made for Dark Duels." Ryoga said bitterly, the smirk still on his face from the irony of it all.
"Dark Duels…" Ryo muttered under his breath with an expression of remembrance. "Unfortunately, I am quite familiar with those."
"As am I." O'Brien said, with Serena also silently nodding in recognition, and Yugo's hand curling into a fist out of anger, his nails digging to his palm through his gloves.
Though Professor Cobra ruled with an iron fist, there was still those who opposed his rule and took part in Dark Duels.
Furthermore, in the Fusion Dimension, these Underground Dark Duel organizations were very much common on the mainland, for those who either weren't qualified for Academia or are simply too old. When it came to finding other strong opponents, the Underground Dark Dueling Arena is where one would go.
Though O'Brien himself never engaged in them, he was quite extensive in the knowledge of it.
Meanwhile, in the Synchro Dimension, things were not much better. Most of the Dark Dueling organizations could be found in the Commons area. Considering the crap conditions and unfairly low income, it made sense that stuff like that would exist, whether it provided an escape from reality, a somewhat decent pay, or even some sort of sick enrichment from inflicting pain upon others.
Yugo never took part in any Dark Duels. Rin would have never let him see the end of it if he did, but organizations and gangs like that are the primary reason for his suffering in the Commons when between orphanages.
"Ryoga and I used to take part in Dark Duels."
"Rio!"
"It's alright, Ryoga. We shouldn't have to hide anything from our comrades, they have a right to know." Rio hushed her brother with a stern look.
Knowing how persistent and stubborn his sister could be first hand, Ryoga reluctantly waved his hand, giving her the go-ahead.
After quickly giving Ryoga an empathetic glance, she directed her gaze to the ground, ashamed of looking her comrades in the eyes.
"We used to take part in Dark Duels. And that was the building we used to go to. And there's practically a whole other building underground. Not many in Heartland knew about it. To think that Academia found it…" She trailed off for a moment, seemingly in deep thought. She perked up as she saw and felt everyone's eyes on her. "Sorry about that…"
Seeing her silence afterwards, Ryoga continued with a sigh, "What Rio is trying to say is that we know our way through that building."
"Hmm…." Ryo hummed with crossed arms, a wide frown on his face. "If I may ask, what drew you two into Dark Duels?"
"Ryo-san!" Ruri exclaimed with a slightly angry expression on her face. "Please don't let Rio and Ryoga relive something like that! I wasn't around for when it happened…but I know that they certainly despise looking back on those times!"
"It's okay, Ruri." Ryoga assured the girl, with Rio giving her a comforting smile in return. Part of them knew she would come to their defense, but to see her actually do it was much more comforting. Ryoga frowned, "We were not in a good place exactly. We had lost someone dear to us, and as a result I turned to Dark Duels. I tried it to alleviate the pain…needless to say, it just made it worse. The only reason Rio joined was to look after me…"
"I see." Ryo nodded. "Do not worry, I will not judge you. Besides, even if I wanted to, I don't exactly have the right."
"You took part in Dark Duels?" Rio deduced with a questioning expression.
A look of shame briefly crossed Ryo's face. "I did. It was for a very petty reason. At one point in my tenure at Academia, I had undergone a massive losing streak. Seeing the massive decline in my skill, the Professor allowed me to leave Academia for a couple of months. I entered a Dark Dueling organization, hungry and in search of victory. I…changed."
Everyone else in the room remained in complete silence out of respect for the former Academia Duelist.
He took a deep breath. "I stopped respecting my opponents and Cards. I only thought of winning and completely annihilating my enemy."
O'Brien closed his eyes. Even at his own Academia, word had managed to reach him about the terror of the one called Hell Kaiser, how the man would go on a merciless rampage and leaving his enemies in a physical or mental wreck after a Duel.
"The only reason I stopped was because of my brother. He had seen how much I changed when I returned to Academia, so he sought out to try and save me." Ryo closed his tightly, his nails breaking into skin. "I nearly killed him that day…and it occurred to me that in my thirst for victory, I had nearly destroyed one of the only things more important to me than winning…" Reaching into his pocket, he removed a stack of Cards from his trench coat. "Ever since, I renounced these Cards. However, after facing Kaito, I realized that in order to compete with the higher ups at Academia, I will need to rely on the powers of the devil. I will once again have to become Hell Kaiser…"
Yes, to stop Akaba Leo's plans and to save his brother from his prison, he would sell his soul.
"I will use the Cyberdark Deck once again…to win this war…I need to be stronger." Ryo whispered to himself. He looked up with a stern expression. "You all should be ready too. If what they say is true and that underground is a place for Dark Dueling, then expect Academia to make use of the things down there as well. With this, Dueling against them is more dangerous than ever."
Everyone in the room either nodded or made sounds of agreement. After a while, O'Brien cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention once again.
"Now, shall we get back to how we're actually going to rescue our comrades from this prison." O'Brien said with a weary expression.
"Right, sorry about that." Rio apologized sincerely before returning to the topic at hand. "Where I was going with that is assuming that the structure hasn't been changed drastically, Ryoga and I know some of the secret ways into the underground area of the building."
Ryoga nodded out of confirmation. "There are a lot of entrances to the underground, and not all of them are in that building. In short, assuming that Academia has not found most of them, we have multiple possible points of entry."
And with that, the group of remaining Duelists began brainstorming a plan to invade the building and rescue their captured comrades.
Meanwhile - Underground Dueling Hideout
"He's late!" The voice of Noro, the second in command to Edo Phoenix, hollered as he paced frantically like a maniac.
Sometimes it felt like he was the only person at Academia that cared about staying on schedule. To be late would to be risk all of their efforts…
And to be late now of all times when they such an enormous opportunity.
Members of the Lancers and the Resistance were now in their hands. Not only would they be able to extract the location of the Resistance base, but they'd be able to draw out the other Lancers as well. After all, there is no way they would leave their comrades to die.
Noro caught a glint of light flash through his eyes as soon as he turned around. He looked back to see a male figure coming out of the light.
Finally…it took you long enough.
Noro frowned, the figure becoming more clear as the light was extinguished, revealing Dennis Mackfield, who wore an ever-present casual smile.
Tch! Such a casual attitude…Noro thought to himself, a vein appearing on his forehead.
"Honestly, Mackfield, I do not know how the Professor holds you in such high regard." The brown-haired man said with a sigh.
Clearly, I am much more worthy of such trust.
"You were supposed to be here an hour ago."
The smile on Dennis' face disappeared. From the few times he had been around Dennis, Noro always felt a jovial vibe around the boy. It was akin to aloofness, but not at the same time. For a Duel Soldier, Dennis was oddly quite cheerful.
That cheerful vibe was nowhere to be seen. Noro looked at Dennis and saw something pass by in his eyes. Was it sadness? Frustration?
Something happened.
"Not that I'm not happy to see how incessant smile on your face," Noro started with a frown, "But what is with this sudden change in attitude? And, where are all of the reinforcements we were expecting?! Why is it just you?"
"Things have been a little hectic back in the Fusion Dimension…" Dennis replied, before falling silent.
"Hmm?" Noro raised his eyebrows in interest. What could have happened to leave Dennis this speechless? Another trait Dennis was not being able to shut up, so the abundance of silence coming from the boy was starting to make Noro concerned.
"...Yuri has been captured."
"What?!" Noro's eyes practically bulged out of their sockets, his jaw falling out of disbelief. "B-But how-?!"
"Someone working with my old teacher, Sakaki Yusho." Dennis answered, dragging a foot across the ground. "They Dueled Yuri and they managed to capture him. Clearly, they either won or fought him to a draw because Yuri never returned."
The older man gave Dennis a long gaze. He was trying to sense any sort of deception in either his facial features or his body movements. That was part of Academia's training after all, picking up small things like that to catch a liar.
So, either Dennis was hiding it really well, or what he was saying wasn't all just some stupid prank. Even if it was real, Noro doubted that he could even still believe.
Yuri…one of the strongest Duelists in Academia, his only superiors in strength being The Professor and his second-in command, Darkness. Just who was this ally of Sakaki Yusho?
Even surviving against Yuri is a feat in it of itself. Escaping the Duel without losing? That's a whole other remarkable feat of itself. Whoever had Dueled Yuri and captured him had extraordinary skill.
Certainly someone to be wary of should I return to the Fusion Dimension after my promotion…Noro thought to himself callously.
"Darkness hasn't fully recovered from his battles in the Synchro Dimension. The Professor is currently making a plan on how to proceed," Dennis continued, a small smile returning to his face, "For now, he sent me here to help you guys out!"
"I-I see…" Noro mumbled. To think that all of this was happening over in the Fusion Dimension…was this Sakaki Yusho really this much of a threat? He knew that the man had bested Edo Phoenix in a Duel, but to have an ally that can best Yuri?
All the more reason to stop this needless stalling with the prisoners and Card them already! Noro thought to himself angrily, a hot feeling boiling in his gut. It's clear that they are not going to give up the location of the Resistance. At this point we are wasting precious time and resources!
Once again another blunder and shit situation placed into his own hands by Edo Phoenix. If Noro himself was Commander-in-Chief, he would have never let things get to this point. Unfortunately, he couldn't just get rid of the prisoners, especially now that Dennis was here. By getting rid of the prisoners, Noro would just be royally screwing himself, and who knows how he would be punished. Getting demoted, tortured, left to die as one of the Doctor's experiments, any one of them being so bad that doing what he pleased was not worth it.
"That is something for later." Dennis dismissed with a wave, a smile briefly touching his lips before his face contorted into an expression that meant business. "For now, we must prepare for a potential attack from the Resistance, right?"
Yes…right now there were more pressing matters at hand rather than what Noro thought should be done. The Resistance and remaining Lancers would most certainly be plotting some sort of attack to get their comrades back. They were simply foolish like that.
"Correct. Let us make preparations for what is to come…"
Another chapter is done and in the books. Yay, progress!
So, as I said in the last chapter, there may or may not be a Duel this chapter, and I was more leaning towards there not being a Duel. This chapter was a setup for this extremely short mini-arc, which is not filler mind you lol. I don't know how long this mini-arc will be, it depends on if I decide to do two Duels a chapter. After all, the uncaptured members of the Lesistance (see what I did there?) will now be able to have a chance to shine.
And this is something that I desperately wanted to do considering the gaps in action the characters involved have been in. In particular, Rio has not Dueled a single time since chapter 58 and Serena hasn't Dueled since chapter 90, which ended up being a No Result, so the last time she had a full Duel was actually in chapter 72, where she loses to Yuzu.
So here, I decided to have Noro's character be slightly expanded upon. He isn't a major character in Arc-V, but I thought as Deputy he deserved a bit more than what he got in the anime. And rest assured he will end up Dueling, though as to what Deck he will use I am still figuring out.
Now to speak about the elephant in the room, Titan from Gx is here, who is a disciple of Darkness in this fanfic. I wanted Darkness to have his own little group of underlings unknown to most people in Academia. Now, I hate to disappoint, but there are actually three more Gx characters that will appear.
Now I know what I said, I wasn't going to add more legacy characters because there would be too many character. Well, one of these three characters have actually been mentioned like once or twice in the fanfic but they have not appeared yet. But they will later down the line. As for the other two, they won't play that much of a role, but it's not like I'm having them be a one-off character like I have done before.
Fanime1: I responded to your review last time, but I accidentally deleted it lol. It's good to see you again, hope you've enjoyed the fic so far. And no, hopefully this fic will not go on for another 5 years lmao.
Guest: Thank you
Walter Nicholas: Thank you
Kazuki Takahashi: Thank you, friend.
Yugi Sugimoto: Glad you enjoyed whichever Duel you're talking about lol.
Guest(#2): Thank you
Naminexriku2468: I mean, I guess there is a chance I will, but it is highly unlikely. I kind of want to stick to only Raging and Rebellion for the Xyz Odd-Eyes. I doubt even Overlord will make an appearance in this fic. Sorry to disappoint…
Hell Kaiser Younes: Unlike the other Yu-boys, Yuri is more accepting of Zarc's power, so it makes sense that he would be somewhat familiar with some of Zarc's strength. Hope you've enjoyed the fic thus far.
Onto the chapter preview…
The remaining members of the Resistance and the Lancers execute their rescue mission to save their captured comrades. Making good use of Rio and Ryoga's knowledge of the Underground Dueling Arena's secret passageways, they manage to avoid most of Academia's Security while Yugo, Kaito, and Ryo singlehandedly distract them. They split up to more efficiently find their comrades, but in each of their paths…
Anyways, that's all for now guys. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one.
Take care, goodbye!
