Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories

by scififan599

10 years ago, 8 children were kidnapped. One of them was Yasutake Narahiko, who today works as Morningstar, a bounty hunter in LINK VRAINS hunting criminals and hackers for companies like SOL Technologies. One day, he fights the Knights of Hanoi and encounters Playmaker, who was involved in the same incident. Follow him as he must decide whether to be Playmaker's ally, or his enemy

16. Chapter 16: The Fourth Commander

Chapter 16: The Fourth Commander

"Battle! Behemoth Fiendess, attack Lilith directly! Final Extinction!"

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess gathered blue flames in its mouth, which it fired at Lilith. Lilith watched the energy as it approached her and-.

She screamed as it struck. It felt like every nerve of her body was on fire. The blast was so powerful, her D-Board disintegrated underneath her as she fell.

Lilith: 1800→0 LP

"Lilith!" Morningstar shouted.

Morningstar quickly veered his D-Board to get close to the falling girl, but before he could reach her-.

Galahad leapt off his D-Board, catching Lilith. They rolled a bit when he hit the roof of a nearby skyscraper, but they came to a quick stop. Galahad propped Lilith up and saw she was unconscious.

"Hey, wake up, Lilith!" he said, shaking her. He didn't know her that well, or at all, but she was fighting against Hanoi; that made her an ally.

"She can't hear you."

Galahad turned around as Terminus landed lightly on the edge of the rooftop. "She's been turned into an Another," he explained.

"Damn you," Galahad muttered, turning to his Duel Disk. He quickly went to the Another website and applied the removal program to Lilith, but nothing happened.

"It won't work," Terminus said, drawing Galahad's attention back to him. "Since Baira released the removal program, I've made changes to the virus." He pulled a green digital card out of his pocket. "You'll need this if you want to cure her."

"Why you…" Galahad grumbled, setting Lilith down lightly. "I'm going to-!"

Before he could finish, a red cord lashed out and grabbed Terminus by his wrist. The two turned and saw Morningstar at the other end, a grim expression on his face.

"Morningstar?" Galahad said in surprise. Terminus, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all.

"You know what this is, Terminus," Morningstar said.

"Of course I do," the Knight responded. "This is your Data Anchor. It prevents either of us from logging out until we have a duel."

"That's right," the hunter said. "I win, and you give me the new removal program."

"Naturally," Terminus said. "And if I win, you become an Another."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Only one person has ever defeated me," he said. "And that won't change with you."

Terminus smirked. "We'll see, won't we?"

Galahad growled to himself. He couldn't help Morningstar with this. The most he could do was keep an eye on Lilith to make sure nothing happened to her.

"Galahad!" The Charisma Duelist looked up as Morningstar tossed him something. Looking at it, Galahad's eyes widened. "This is a spy drone. If you activate it, you'll be able to follow the duel."

Galahad nodded. He and Morningstar clearly understood each other. "Right. I'll keep Lilith safe. You deal with this scum."

Terminus smirked again at Galahad's remark. "Shall we begin?" he asked Morningstar, who nodded.

Since the Data Gale was still active, the two rode their D-Boards through the open air between the buildings, the wind rushing through their hair.

"Are you certain you can win, Yasu?" Cam asked Morningstar over the com. "Flip Decks have always given you trouble."

That was true; Decks that revolved around Flip Summoning weren't too common, but they tended to be among the most disruptive Decks out there. Morningstar remembered Akira Zaizen's Tindangle Deck in particular.

"I have to, for Lilith's sake," he responded. "It doesn't matter how powerful Terminus is; I will not lose!" He looked ahead of him as Terminus looked back.

"Speed Duel!" they shouted.

Morningstar: 4000 LP

Terminus: 4000 LP

"I'll take the first turn!" Terminus declared. "And I'll start by activating the Field Spell Card: The Hidden City!" Morningstar narrowed his eyes, remembering this card. "Since this card was activated, I can add one 'Subterror' monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Subterror Guru."

After doing so, Terminus said, "I Set one monster. And now, I'll activate The Hidden City's effect! Once per turn, I can change one face-down 'Subterror' monster to face-up Attack or Defense Position. I Flip Summon Subterror Guru in Defense Position!" A blue-skinned dwarf creature with purple wings carrying a large sword appeared on Terminus's field.

Subterror Guru ATK 1600 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Subterror Guru's Flip Effect!" Terminus declared. "When this card is flipped face-up, I can add one 'Subterror' card from my Deck to my hand. I add Subterror Fiendess!" After adding his card, he smirked. "I Set two cards. I end my turn."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. He only has one monster on the field, and it is face-up, he thought. That means he can't use The Hidden City's effect. Or is he waiting for me to activate a card effect to negate with Fiendess so he can flip Guru face-down?

"My turn! Draw!" Morningstar drew and looked at his cards. With these cards, he could easily summon a Link-3 monster.

"Trap activate!" Terminus suddenly declared, surprising Morningstar. "Discord Link!" The card showed Decode Talker being torn apart by light at its center. "With this card's effect, neither of us can Link Summon until the 2nd Standby Phase after its activation. Or in other words, until your next Standby Phase!"

Morningstar's eyes widened. "I can't Link Summon?" he said in surprise.

Terminus smirked at him. "Have you forgotten what I told you?" he asked. "I said I adapted my Deck to best counter yours. So show me whether you can defeat me without Link Summoning!"

Morningstar grit his teeth. He had to admit, that was a smart move; the fact that he had no Extra Deck monsters besides Link Monsters aside, Link Monsters were the only monsters that could not be flipped face-down, meaning they were immune to the effect of Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus, the monster that had led to Lilith's defeat. Still, there was something he could do without Link Summoning.

"I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Swordsman in my hand!" he declared. "Since you control a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon it! Come forth, Swordsman!" The skeleton carrying futuristic swords appeared on Morningstar's field.

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Cyspirit Swordsman's monster effect-!"

"Is ineffective," Terminus interrupted. "I activate the effect of the Subterror Fiendess in my hand! By discarding Fiendess and changing Guru to face-down Defense Position, your Swordsman's effect is negated!" Morningstar grit his teeth as Swordsman disappeared and Guru became a face-down card. Since Fiendess's effect didn't destroy it, Morningstar returned Swordsman to his hand.

With Guru face-down again, Morningstar thought, he can negate one attack I make. But that doesn't mean he can negate damage.

"I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Gift!" The card showed a present box opened in front of Cyspirit Kid. The box glowed from the inside as Kid's jaw opened wide. "By discarding a 'Cyspirit' card, I can now draw two cards." He sent Swordsman to the Graveyard and drew. On seeing what he drew, he smiled. This will work.

"I activate the Field Spell Card: Cyspirit Sanctuary!" Morningstar declared. "This card increases the attack and defense points of all 'Cyspirit' monsters I control by 300. But that is not why I played it. Since I control no monsters, Sanctuary can Special Summon one Level 4 or below 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard!" Terminus's eyes widened, remembering the card Morningstar discarded. "Return, Cyspirit Swordsman!" The skeleton with swords reappeared again in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"And like I said, Sanctuary increases Swordsman's attack and defense points by 300!"

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200→1500 DEF 900→1200

"Now I Tribute Swordsman to Tribute Summon Cyspirit Illusionist!" The skeleton in a tuxedo carrying a wand appeared on his field, powered up by Cyspirit Sanctuary.

Cyspirit Illusionist ATK 2400→2700 DEF 1000→1300 LVL: 6

There's no point in attacking him, Morningstar thought. He'll simply use The Hidden City's effect to negate it. But I don't have to attack.

"I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Blast!" Terminus's eyes widened in surprise. "By negating Illusionist's effects until the End Phase, you take damage equal to half its original attack points!" A blast of white energy hit Terminus, making him cry out as his D-Board wavered.

Terminus: 4000→2800 LP

"Yes!" Galahad cheered, watching the duel through the drone Morningstar gave him. "He damaged him!"

"I cannot conduct my Battle Phase the turn I activate Cyspirit Blast," Morningstar told Terminus as he stabilized himself. "I Set one card. I end my turn."

Terminus pulled alongside Morningstar. "Not bad," he commented. "Not only did my Trap Card not slow you down, you even bypassed my Fiendess's effect and damaged me without battling. Impressive."

"I've been doing this for three years," Morningstar told him. "The stakes might be higher this time, but you're just another opponent to defeat."

Terminus smirked. "I wonder about that," he said, confusing Morningstar. "My turn! Draw!" Looking at his cards, Terminus gestured to his field. "I Flip Summon Subterror Guru!" The demon with a sword reappeared.

Subterror Guru ATK 1600 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Guru's Flip Effect! When this card is flipped face-up, I can add one 'Subterror' card from my Deck to my hand. I add Subterror Nemesis Archer to my hand." After doing so, Terminus gestured to the field. "Subterror Guru's monster effect! Once per turn, I can change Guru and one other face-up monster on the field to face-down Defense Position!" Morningstar widened his eyes. "I change Guru and your Illusionist to face-down Defense Position!" Morningstar watched as Guru and Illusionist both disappeared, and face-down cards appeared in their places.

"And since a face-up monster I control was flipped face-down and I control no face-up monsters, I can Special Summon this monster!" Terminus said. "Ascend, Subterror Behemoth Phospheroglacier!"

Morningstar quickly looked down as the ground shook. Galahad wobbled as the skyscraper he was on shook.

"I can feel the shockwaves from here?" he said with incredulity. Unfortunately, after saying that, another tremor hit, and he fell over, right on top of Lilith. Galahad's face turned red on realizing he'd fallen on her chest. He quickly got back up.

Morningstar watched as a new monster emerged from the ground. This giant monster had the appearance of a blue and black dragon with a green light in its chest. It roared as it appeared in Defense Position.

Subterror Behemoth Phospheroglacier ATK 2600 DEF 2500 LVL: 8

"Phospheroglacier's monster effect!" Terminus continued. "Once per turn, I can change it to face-down Defense Position!" The giant monster disappeared, leaving a face-down card in its place. "I activate the effect of The Hidden City! I change Phospheroglacier from face-down Defense Position to face-up Attack Position!" The dragon-like monster reappeared, this time in Attack Position.

Subterror Behemoth Phospheroglacier ATK 2600 DEF 2500 LVL: 8

"Phospheroglacier's Flip Effect!" Terminus declared. "Since it was flipped face-up, I can send one card from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Subterror Nemesis Warrior to the Graveyard."

After sending his card to the Graveyard, Terminus said, "Next, I summon Subterror Nemesis Archer!" A light-skinned woman with blonde hair carrying a massive bow appeared alongside Phospheroglacier.

Subterror Nemesis Archer ATK 1600 DEF 1400 LVL: 3

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. He could see what Terminus's plan was; destroy Illusionist with Nemesis Archer and attack directly with Phospheroglacier. But it wouldn't work. He could use his Skill, Cyberse Revolution, if one of his Cyberse monsters was destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect. Meaning he was safe for the turn.

"Battle!" Terminus declared. "Nemesis Archer, attack the Set Illusionst! Terminal Break!" Nemesis Archer nocked an arrow and fired it at Illusionist. Morningstar expected to see his card shatter, but to his surprise, when the arrow hit, the card warped then disappeared.

"What?" he said, blinking. "What happened?"

Terminus smirked. "When Nemesis Archer attacks an opponent's face-down monster," he explained. "If I control another 'Subterror' monster, I can shuffle that monster back into your Deck." Morningstar's eyes widened. With Illusionist being sent to the Deck and not destroyed, he couldn't activate his Skill!

"The Battle Phase is far from over!" Terminus shouted. "Phospheroglacier, attack Morningstar directly! Terminal Light!" The large dragon gathered green light in its mouth and fired at Morningstar.

"Trap activate!" the hunter declared. "Cyspirit Half-Guard! By discarding one 'Cyspirit' monster from my hand, all battle damage I take is halved!" The green energy hit Morningstar, making him swerve, but it wasn't as powerful as it could have been.

Morningstar: 4000→2700 LP

Terminus smiled to himself. Not bad, he thought.

"At the end of the Battle Phase," Morningstar said after righting himself. "I draw one card for every monster you control that battled this turn. Nemesis Archer and Phospheroglacier both battled, so I draw two cards!" He drew, looked at them, then added them to his hand.

Terminus rode his D-Board so he was parallel with Morningstar. "Very impressive," he said. "You've earned your title, 'Devil of LINK VRAINS.'"

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "I don't much care for that name," he said.

"But it is very appropriate for you," Terminus said. "After all, the devil also turned against his creator. Just like you and Playmaker have."

Morningstar started. "What… what do you mean by that?"

Terminus looked Morningstar in the eye. "Ten years ago, eight children were kidnapped," he said, enunciating slowly to make sure Morningstar caught every word. "For six months, they were forced to duel. Every time they lost, they received an electric shock as punishment."

Morningstar's eyes widened with every word. He was starting to shake. Cam was also staring at the screens, shaking. "How… how do you know about that?" Morningstar voice was deathly low.

Terminus narrowed his exposed eye. "Because I was one of the researchers studying you," he said. "I was one of the people responsible for the Hanoi Project." After saying that, he maneuvered his D-Board away and said, "I end my turn."

Morningstar was in shock, a thousand thoughts running through his head. But one thought crowded out all the others: rage. This was one of the people responsible for hurting him… for hurting Sachi. Terminus…

"Terminus…" he muttered. "You… are unforgivable!" He raised his head and glared at Terminus. "I will defeat you! And you will answer to me!"

Terminus smiled. Good, he thought. Get angry. If it unbalances you, that will help me in the long run. And if it doesn't… then maybe I'll finally start to answer for my crime.

"Yasu, calm down!" Cam said over the com, trying to get his own anger under control. "He wants you to get angry and make mistakes."

"He hurt Sachi," Morningstar said, his voice throbbing with rage. "I don't care. My turn! Draw!" Looking quickly at his card, Morningstar gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Cyspirit Sanctuary! Since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or below 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard! Return, Cyspirit Swordsman!"

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200→1500 DEF 900→1200 LVL: 3

"Your Discord Link's effect ended on my Standby Phase," Morningstar said. "Which means I can now Link Summon!" He gestured ahead of him as his hand glowed. "Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared as he continued chanting. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' monster! I set Cyspirit Swordsman in the Link Marker!" Swordsman became a whirlwind of white energy that entered the bottom arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller!" The skeleton in a business suit appeared and flapped its small wings in the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500→800 LINK-1 ↓

"Cacophonic Caller's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck to its Link Marker in Attack Position, but it cannot attack and it is destroyed during the End Phase. I Special Summon Cyspirit Lancer!" The skeleton carrying a lance and shield appeared, summoned to Cacophonic Caller's Link Marker.

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 1800→2100 DEF 0→300 LVL: 4

"Lancer's monster effect! So long as it is in Attack Position, all 'Cyspirit' monsters gain 300 attack points! Digital Charge!"

Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 800→1100

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 2100→2400

"As there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I can Special Summon this card from my hand," Morningstar continued. "Come to me, Cyspirit Prisoner!" The skeleton in a blue and white stripped uniform appeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600→2200 DEF 2100→2400 LVL: 5

"I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Teleporter in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman in Attack Position!"

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200→1800 DEF 900→1200 LVL: 3

Terminus looked at the four monsters on Morningstar's field. Is he going to summon Datastorm Dragon? he wondered. Or Neo Nova?

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared once more. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Cacophonic Caller, Prisoner, and Swordsman in the Link Markers!" His three monsters all became streams of white energy that entered the top-left, top-right, and right arrows, turning them red. Terminus's eyes widened. He hadn't seen this Link pattern before…

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Cyspirit Bombastic Bombardier!" A skeleton in green military fatigues, armed with bandoliers and explosives, appeared on Morningstar's field, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Bombastic Bombardier ATK 2600→3200 LINK-3 ↖↗→

"3200 attack points," Terminus muttered. "He's going all out…"

"Since I used Cyspirit Prisoner to Link Summon Bombastic Bombardier, I can add one 'Cyspirit' card from my Deck to my hand," Morningstar continued. "I add Cyspirit Spearman to my hand!" The card popped out of his Deck as he added it to his hand.

"I activate the second effect of Cyspirit Sanctuary!" Morningstar declared. "Since I control a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, I can move one monster on the field to an unoccupied Main Monster Zone on its controller's field. I move Bombastic Bombardier to my middle Main Monster Zone!" Terminus narrowed his eyes. This meant Bombastic Bombardier's Link Markers all pointed to eligible zones, with Lancer on its right.

"I summon Cyspirit Spearman!" A new Cyspirit monster, wearing black armor with shoulder pads and a black helmet. The skeleton carried a two-meter-long spear with a black spearhead. It raised its head, showing a red right eye as it was summoned to Morningstar's left Main Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Spearman ATK 1900→2500 DEF 100→400 LVL: 4

Terminus narrowed his eyes. "He's never used this monster before. What is it capable of?"

"I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Gift in my Graveyard!" Morningstar continued. "By banishing it, I can change the Level of one 'Cyspirit' monster to between 1 and 8. I change Spearman to Level 2!"

Cyspirit Spearman LVL: 4→2

"Appear once more, the circuit between light and darkness!" As Morningstar's hand glowed, the Link portal appeared again above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Level 2 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster! I set Cyspirit Spearman in the Link Marker!" Spearman became a whirlwind of white energy that entered the bottom-left Link Marker, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cyspirit Egregious Electrician!" The skeleton in overalls carrying an electrical box appeared in the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Egregious Electrician ATK 600→1200 LINK-1 ↙

"This ends here," Morningstar said in a low voice. "Because I used Cyspirit Spearman to Link Summon, all Set monsters on the field are destroyed!" Terminus's eyes widened. He knew immediately what Morningstar was planning; if his face-down Subterror Guru was destroyed, Terminus couldn't negate an attack with The Hidden City's effect. Pity it wouldn't work, though.

"Trap activate!" Terminus declared. "Subterror Behemoth Burrowing! By banishing a 'Subterror' monster from my Graveyard, Set monsters I control cannot be destroyed by card effects and you cannot target them with card effects for the rest of the turn!"

Morningstar's eyes widened. "What?"

"I banish Subterror Fiendess from the Graveyard!" A spectral image of Spearman appeared and threw its spear at the face-down monster on Terminus's field, but a spectral Fiendess appeared and took the blow.

Morningstar grit his teeth. He might not be able to defeat Terminus this turn now, but he could damage him a great deal. "Bombastic Bombardier's monster effect!" he declared. "Once per turn, if it points to at least two monsters, it can inflict 400 points of damage for each 'Cyspirit' Link Monster I control." Terminus's eyes widened. "I control two: Bombastic Bombardier and Egregious Electrician. Meaning you take 800 points of damage!" Bombardier laughed as it threw a bomb at Terminus. It exploded near him, making his D-Board wobble.

Terminus: 2800→2000 LP

"Bombastic Bombardier cannot attack the turn this effect is activated," Morningstar said. "But that hardly matters." He gestured to his field. "Egregious Electrician's monster effect! Once per turn, I can target a 'Cyspirit' monster it points to, move it to a different Main Monster Zone, and Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster from my hand to Egregious Electrician's Link Marker. I move Bombastic Bombardier to the left Main Monster Zone and Special Summon Cyspirit Wanderer!" The skeleton in a poncho and trousers appeared on Morningstar's field, summoned to Egregious Electrician's Link Marker.

Cyspirit Wanderer ATK 1900→2500 DEF 200→500 LVL: 5

"Wanderer's monster effect! When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Cyspirit' card, one monster on your field loses 800 attack points! I choose Nemesis Archer! Digital Drain!"

Subterror Nemesis Archer ATK 1600→800

Terminus narrowed his eyes. Since Bombastic Bombardier couldn't attack, that left Egregious Electrician, Lancer, and Wanderer to attack. Morningstar could certainly destroy Guru and Nemesis Archer, but none of his monsters were strong enough to destroy Phospheroglacier. Or did Morningstar have another move to make?

"Appear!" Morningstar declared. "The circuit between light and darkness!" His hand glowed blue as the Link portal appeared above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' Effect monsters! I set the Link 3 Bombastic Bombardier and the Link 1 Egregious Electrician in the Link Markers!" Both monsters became whirlwinds of white energy that entered the top, bottom-left, bottom, and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Take flight! Link 4! Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon!" The metallic grey dragon with red and silver wings appeared and roared as it was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon ATK 2800→3400 LINK-4 ↙↑↓↘

As Datastorm Dragon roared, the windows of the nearby windows blew inward from the shockwaves. Terminus desperately held onto his D-Board, trying to keep himself from falling off.

"What is this?" he muttered. "I increased the intensity of the Data Gale to make it more challenging for Morningstar, but I didn't think Datastorm Dragon would release this much power."

Morningstar was about to enter his Battle Phase when he realized he made a mistake. Because Datastorm Dragon pointed to at least one monster – in truth, it pointed to the face-down Subterror Guru, Lancer, and Wanderer – only Link Monsters could declare an attack.

Damn it, he thought. I can only attack once, and with Guru face-down, he can block my attack with The Hidden City's effect. Cam had been right; Morningstar had let his anger over Terminus's revelation get the better of him. But there was still a way for him to hurt Terminus.

"Appear!" Morningstar declared. "The circuit between light and darkness!" For a fifth time, the Link portal appeared in the sky above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Cyspirit Lancer and Cyspirit Wanderer in the Link Markers!" The two monsters entered the top and bottom arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyspirit Mad Mongrel!" The giant skeleton dog with a missile launcher and a net launcher on its back appeared and howled as it appeared next to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker.

Cyspirit Mad Mongrel ATK 2000→2300 LINK-2 ↑↓

"Because Cyspirit Lancer is no longer on the field, Datastorm Dragon loses 300 attack points," Morningstar said, ignoring the displeasure in his gut.

Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon ATK 3400→3100

Terminus narrowed his eyes. He brought out Lancer to make his monsters stronger, but he ended up using it to summon Mad Mongrel. Looks like me revealing the truth did make him reckless.

"Battle!" Morningstar declared. "Mad Mongrel, attack the Set monster!" Terminus's eyes widened in realization as missiles were fired from the launcher on Mad Mongrel's back. So that was Morningstar's game: he knew Terminus needed a Set monster to negate an attack, and since he only had one, Terminus had no choice.

"I activate the effect of The Hidden City!" Terminus declared. "Since you declared an attack, I can change a face-down 'Subterror' monster to face-up Attack or Defense Position and negate your attack. I switch the face-down Subterror Guru to face-up Defense Position!" The demon with a sword appeared once more as the missiles in the air disintegrated.

Subterror Guru ATK 1600 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Subterror Guru's Flip Effect!" Terminus declared. "I add one 'Subterror' card from my Deck to my hand. I add Subterror Behemoth Umastryx!" Morningstar narrowed his eyes. That monster had given Lilith a great deal of trouble.

"You can only use The Hidden City's effect once!" Morningstar reminded Terminus. "Which means this next attack will hit! Go, Datastorm Dragon! Attack Nemesis Archer with Data Flare!" Datastorm Dragon gathered blue energy in its mouth, which it launched at Nemesis Archer.

"Because Datastorm Dragon points to at least two monsters, the battle damage will be halved," Morningstar said. Which was unfortunate, because if it wasn't, he would win with this. At the very least, it would hurt a lot.

Datastorm Dragon's attack hit Nemesis Archer, which cried out as it was destroyed. The backlash from the attack was so strong that Terminus was sent flying from his D-Board, screaming as he fell onto a nearby rooftop.

Terminus: 2000→850 LP

"Damn," Terminus muttered as he stood back up. He ran to the edge of the rooftop and jumped. He landed on his D-Board and flew back to Morningstar.

"Well played," Terminus said to the hunter. "My Skill only works if you destroy a Flip Monster by battle. Since Nemesis Archer isn't one, I can't use it." He narrowed his eyes. "But I was prepared for that."

"What?" Morningstar said, surprised.

"Nemesis Archer's monster effect!" Terminus declared. "If it is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon one 'Subterror' monster from my Deck in face-up or face-down Defense Position. I Special Summon Subterror Behemoth Speleogeist in face-down Defense Position!" A new Set card appeared on Terminus's field. Morningstar grit his teeth. He remembered Speleogeist from Lilith's duel; it could change a monster's attack points to 0, and that effect lasted longer than the end of the turn.

Thankfully, he could still increase his edge. "The Battle Phase has now ended," Morningstar said. "And with that, Datastorm Dragon's effect activates! Because it points to at least two monsters, it inflicts 500 points of damage for each monster it destroyed this turn. It destroyed one, so you take 500 points of damage! Digital Deletion!" Datastorm Dragon gathered red energy in its mouth that it fired at Terminus. He cried out from the pain but managed to stay on his D-Board.

Terminus: 850→350 LP

"I end my turn," Morningstar said. He steered his D-Board so he was parallel to Terminus.

"Tell me," he said. "The Hanoi Project; what was the purpose behind it?"

Terminus looked him in the eye. "Why do you want to know?" he asked. "The reason why you suffered doesn't change what you went through."

"…I have to know," Morningstar said in a low voice. "I have to know why you destroyed my friend's life. Why you destroyed the lives of the only people in this world I care about."

Terminus raised an eyebrow. "Your friend's life? You don't care that you were there too?"

"…I do care," Morningstar said. "The incident happened right after I first found hope. And then it tore that hope away from me." He often wondered what his life would have been like if not for the incident. The dreams of what could have been… "But my friend was hurt by it even more than me. Them and their family were almost destroyed. For their sake, not just my sake, I want to know the truth."

The two opponents spent a long time looking at each other. "To save the world," Terminus finally said, shocking Morningstar.

"To save the world?" Morningstar repeated. "How… how does torturing children save the world?"

Terminus narrowed his eyes. "I don't expect you to understand," he said. "Even if you did, you wouldn't believe our actions were justified. Because they weren't. But… I chose my path long ago. To fix my mistake, and pay back the people who hurt my family… I will see Revolver's plan through to the end."

He sped ahead and said, "My turn! Draw!"

While Terminus looked at his cards, Morningstar thought, What is this feeling? Whenever I look at him, I get the feeling I know him. Like I've seen him before. But where? In his head, Morningstar went over the people he'd met over the past few weeks. He'd never been good at remembering people unless they made an impression, but he was certain he'd met Terminus before.

Black hair… silver highlights… a ponytail…

Morningstar's eyes widened. Wait, hadn't he met a man with black hair in a ponytail yesterday? In the bookstore Masako had taken him to, the man he had talked to about Paradise Lost. Could it be-?

Terminus gestured to his field. "I Flip Summon Subterror Behemoth Speleogeist!" The face-down card disappeared and, in its place, rose a massive pillar of fire. The demonic blue and yellow monster he'd used against Lilith appeared and roared.

Subterror Behemoth Speleogeist ATK 3000 DEF 1400 LVL: 11

"Speleogeist's Flip Effect! When it is flipped face-up, one monster on the opponent's field has its attack points become 0. I'll target Datastorm Dragon for its effect! Terrifying Drain!" Spelegeoist fired blue flames at Datastorm Dragon, which cried out in pain.

Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon ATK 3100→0

Morningstar grit his teeth. This was going to be a bad turn. Especially since Terminus now had two high-Level Flip Monsters on the field.

Terminus gestured above him. "Appear, our future circuit!" His hand glowed blue as the Link portal appeared in the air. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two Flip monsters! I set Phospheroglacier and Speleogeist in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of blue and purple wind respectively and entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Subterror Behemoth Fiendess!" The purple dragon with black and pink wings appeared on Terminus's field, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone. It roared and shattered multiple nearby windows just like Datastorm Dragon did.

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 2000 LINK-2 ↙↘

"I assume you remember my Behemoth Fiendess's effect," Terminus said once the wind died down. "When it is Link Summoned, it gains attack points equal to the combined Levels of the 'Subterror' monsters used for its Link Summon times 100. Speleogeist was Level 11 and Phospheroglacier was Level 8, so Behemoth Fiendess gains 1900 attack points."

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 2000→3900

Terminus back at Morningstar. "I'm no fool," he said. "I know you have Cyspirit Half-Guard in your Graveyard. And for it to work, that card in your hand must be a 'Cyspirit' monster." Morningstar glanced at the card in his hand. "If not for that card, I could attack Datastorm Dragon with Behemoth Fiendess and win. But because of it, I'll have to go all out."

Terminus gestured to his field. "Behemoth Fiendess's monster effect! By sending a Flip monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a monster from my hand in face-down Defense Position to Behemoth Fiendess's Link Marker. I send Subterror Behemoth Voltelluric to the Graveyard to Special Summon Subterror Behemoth Umastryx in face-down Defense Position." A new Set card appeared on his field as Morningstar narrowed his eyes. He knew what was about to happen next.

"I activate the effect of The Hidden City! I change the face-down Umastryx to face-up Attack Position!" Morningstar swerved as the ground broke apart and rubble went flying upward. He watched as the giant black and blue reptile with a drill nose appeared on Terminus's field.

Subterror Behemoth Umastryx ATK 2000 DEF 2700 LVL: 7

"Umastryx's Flip Effect!" Terminus declared. "When this card is flipped face-up, I can banish one monster you control. I will banish Mad Mongrel!" Umastryx struck Mad Mongrel with its drill nose, causing Mad Mongrel to disappear.

"And since a monster it points to was flipped face-up, Behemoth Fiendess's effect activates," Terminus continued. "And I can add one Flip monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus." Morningstar narrowed his eyes. That was the monster that had led to Lilith's defeat. But it wouldn't do the same to him; Link Monsters couldn't be changed to face-down Defense Position.

"I have one more effect to activate," Terminus revealed. "Because a 'Subterror Behemoth' monster was flipped face-up, I can Special Summon this monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Subterror Nemesis Warrior!" A red-haired young man carrying a large sword appeared on Terminus's field.

Subterror Nemesis Warrior ATK 1800 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

When did he-? Morningstar started to think, then his eyes widened in realization. He sent that monster to his Graveyard last turn with Phospheroglacier's effect!

"And now I Tribute Subterror Guru and Subterror Nemesis Warrior!" Terminus declared. The two monsters he mentioned disappeared. "And I Tribute Summon Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus!"

Morningstar swerved once more to avoid the lava that erupted into the air as the ground broke apart. He recognized the large lava-rock monster that appeared on Terminus's field.

Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus ATK 3000 DEF 1800 LVL: 12

Morningstar narrowed his eyes at the large monster as Terminus said, "I Set one card."

Terminus turned and gestured to Morningstar's field. "Battle! Behemoth Fiendess, attack Datastorm Dragon! Final Extinction!" Behemoth Fiendess gathered blue flames in its mouth and fired them at Datastorm Dragon. Datastorm Dragon fired back with blue energy, but it was slowly being overpowered.

"I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Half-Guard in my Graveyard!" Morningstar declared. "By banishing it and discarding the Cyspirit Shieldmaiden in my hand, all battle damage I take this turn is halved!"

"But you will still take damage!" Terminus reminded him. Behemoth Fiendess's attack finally overpowered Datastorm Dragon's and the dragon was destroyed in a massive explosion.

Morningstar cried out as the backlash hit him, but he managed to stay on his D-Board. Just barely.

Morningstar: 2700→750 LP

"As I expected," Terminus said, looking back at Morningstar again. "But with Ultramafus and Umastryx here, it doesn't matter if you can halve the damage. One attack will end this." He gestured to his field again. "Ultramafus! Attack Morningstar directly! Magma Terror!" Ultramafus gathered fire in its mouth and spat it at Morningstar, but before it hit-.

"I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Shieldmaiden in my Graveyard!" Morningstar declared. A spectral monster appeared on his field. It was a skeleton wearing female armor, carrying a large circular shield with a spear attached to the back. Her head was covered by a helmet, with only a left blue eye showing. "By banishing this card from my Graveyard, all monsters you control lose attack points equal to her attack points until the End Phase! Which means all your monsters lose 1800 attack points!" Terminus's eyes widened as the shield in Shieldmaiden's hand glowed and all his monsters became weaker.

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 3900→2100

Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus ATK 3000→1200

Subterror Behemoth Umastryx ATK 2000→200

Terminus narrowed his eyes. "Even if my monsters are weaker and Half-Guard halves the damage," he said. "You will still take a great deal of damage!" The fire from Ultramafus's attack finally hit Morningstar, making him cry out in pain as he was flung from his D-Board.

Morningstar: 750→150 LP

"Morningstar!" Galahad cried out.

"Yasu!" Cam shouted into the com. He watched as Morningstar landed on a nearby skyscraper.

Morningstar grit his teeth as he slowly got to his knees. Why had that attack hurt worse than the last one? Or were the consecutive attacks taking their toll?

"My turn isn't over yet!" Morningstar turned and saw Terminus fly past. "Umastryx, attack Morningstar directly!" The large monster charged the building. Morningstar, his eyes widening, quickly got to his feet and ran for the ledge. He jumped off and landed on his D-Board, the building he was on collapsing behind him. Morningstar winced when some of the rubble from the building struck him.

Morningstar: 150→50 LP

"Yasu, are you okay?" Cam asked over the com.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Morningstar said, breathing heavily. What was this? He'd dueled in the Data Gale Dr. Genome had summoned but this was far more intense. Was it because he'd taken far more damage or had Terminus increased the power of the Data Gale somehow?

As Morningstar rode his D-Board back to the duel, Terminus narrowed his eyes. "So you survived that," he muttered. "Even if his Life Points are 50, I need to have as large a lead as possible to win." He raised his voice once Morningstar was close again. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Mystik Wok! Now, by Tributing a monster I control, I gain Life Points equal to either its attack or defense points." He gestured to a certain monster. "I Tribute Umastryx to gain Life Points equal to its 2700 defense points!" Umastryx disintegrated as Terminus glowed yellow.

Terminus: 350→3050 LP

"The difference in their Life Points is 3000 now," Galahad muttered, frowning as he watched the duel. "It isn't as great as it was during our duel, but still… Morningstar…"

"Morningstar…" Tagoma said, watching the duel from his laptop. Masako was laying down unconscious on a nearby couch. "Please… save her. Don't let eight years of work be for nothing."

"I activate the effect of the Subterror Behemoth Burrowing in the Graveyard!" Terminus declared. "By banishing it, I can change one 'Subterror' monster to face-down Defense Position. I change Ultramafus to face-down Defense Position!" The giant lava lizard disappeared and a face-down card took its place.

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Because the Battle Phase is over," he said. "Half-Guard's effect activates, and I draw cards equal to the number of monsters that attacked this turn." He drew three cards.

Terminus smirked. "I end my turn," he said. "And because of that, your Shieldmaiden's effect ends and Behemoth Fiendess's attack points return to normal."

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 2100→3900

"This isn't looking good," Galahad said. "With a Set monster, he can negate an attack with The Hidden City. And if Ultramafus is flipped face-up, any monster that isn't a Link Monster will get flipped face-down. Not to mention that Terminus's Link Monster has 3900 attack points and he has a face-down card.

"Yasu," Cam said. "You aren't going to win this if you act rashly. You know that, right?"

"…Yeah, I do," Morningstar said. He steered his D-Board so he was high in the air, above the skyscrapers, and closed his eyes.

Sachi, he thought. Because of the incident… because of Kenshin Hirai and Kiyoshi Kogami… your life and Cam's life were ruined. I have every reason to hate him… to be furious with him… but if I let my anger control me instead of the other way around, then I will only make mistakes. That is why… if I want to win… I must be in control… only then can I find out the truth of what happened to us. Not just for my sake, but also for yours. Sachi… I will win!

As Morningstar flew with his eyes closed, Terminus watched him. We created a devil, didn't we, Dr. Kogami? he thought. When we experimented on those children, we didn't know the effects it would have on them. We didn't know… His thoughts turned to the eight children. He remembered all their faces even after ten years. Some stood out more than others. Like the child with black hair and red bangs, crying for his father… wait…

"And what do you think the devil is?"

"A punisher. A judge who decides the fate of those who have wronged others. The devil may not be good, but without him, the guilty do not own up to their crimes."

That teenager who had stopped at Hirai Shoten the other day… that black and red hair… Terminus was certain now… That young man – Yasutake Narahiko, he believed his name was – had been one of the eight children. And his talk about the devil as a punisher, a bringer of justice… looks like he had found Morningstar.

Morningstar opened his eyes and shouted, "My turn! Draw!" Looking at his card, he smirked. This was perfect. Sachi, he thought. I'm going to win.

"I activate the Spell Card: Cyberse Call!" he declared. "This lets me add one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyspirit Dancer!" He did so, then said, "I activate the effect of Cyspirit Sanctuary! Since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard. Come to me, Cyspirit Spearman!" The black-armored skeleton carrying a spear appeared once more on Morningstar's field in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Spearman ATK 1900→2200 DEF 100→400 LVL: 4

"I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Wanderer in the Graveyard!" Morningstar continued. "By banishing it, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Graveyard, but it cannot declare an attack. Return, Egregious Electrician!"

Cyspirit Egregious Electrician ATK 600→900 LINK-1 ↙

"I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Relocation!" The card showed the field layout, with a transparent Cacophonic Caller in one Main Monster Zone and an Extra Monster Zone. "Since I control no monsters in the Extra Monster Zone, I can move one 'Cyspirit' Link Monster I control to an unoccupied Extra Monster Zone. I move Egregious Electrician to the other Extra Monster Zone!"

Terminus narrowed his eyes as Egregious Electrician moved. The only reason he would move it would be he either wanted to activate its effect, or he wanted to Link Summon to the center Main Monster Zone.

"The turn I use Cyspirit Relocation, I cannot draw cards outside of my Draw Phase," Morningstar continued. "And now I summon Cyspirit Dancer!" The skeleton in a pink leotard performed a pirouette as she appeared.

Cyspirit Dancer ATK 1000→1300 DEF 200→500 LVL: 2

"Cyspirit Dancer's monster effect!" Morningstar declared. "When she is Normal Summoned while I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my hand or Deck with its effects negated. From my Deck, I Special Summon Cyspirit Kid!" The small skeleton in a t-shirt appeared on his field.

Cyspirit Kid ATK 300→600 DEF 200→500 LVL: 1

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" Morningstar declared, gesturing to the sky. As his hand glowed blue, the Link portal appeared. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Kid and Spearman in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of white energy that entered the left and right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler!" The skeleton in a prospector's uniform with a massive drill for a right arm appeared on the field, summoned to Egregious Electrician's Link Marker.

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600→1900 LINK-2 ←→

Terminus grit his teeth. Morningstar had demonstrated the effect of Spearman earlier, and he remembered what Kid could do.

"Since I used Cyspirit Kid to Link Summon, its effect activates!" Morningstar declared. "I can target and destroy one face-up card on your field!" He pointed to a certain card. "I'll destroy your Behemoth Fiendess!"

"What?" Terminus said, his eyes widening. He flinched as Behemoth Fiendess shattered into pieces of light.

"And because I used Cyspirit Spearman to Link Summon, its effect also activates!" Morningstar continued. "And now, all Set monsters on the field are destroyed!" A spectral Spearman appeared and threw its spear at the face-down Ultramafus. The spear pierced the card and destroyed it.

"Yes!" Galahad cheered. "He took out all of Terminus's monsters! And with no Set monsters, he can't negate an attack!"

Terminus grit his teeth. "It won't be that easy! Trap activate!" he declared, shocking Morningstar. "Necro Link!" The card showed Decode Talker's hand emerging from a buried grave. "Since a Link Monster left my field, I can target that Link Monster and Special Summon it to my field, specifically the Extra Monster Zone!"

Morningstar widened his eyes as Behemoth Fiendess reappeared on the field and roared. Morningstar looked and saw that it did indeed resurrect in the Extra Monster Zone.

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 2000 LINK-2↙↘

"Necro Link has a few more effects!" Terminus continued. "The monster Special Summoned by its effect gains 1500 attack points!"

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 2000→3500

"Furthermore, the summoned monster cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects this turn," Terminus said, surprising Morningstar. "But if it leaves the field, we both take damage equal to its original attack points."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. My Life Points are 50 and his are 3050. That means if I don't want to lose, I'll have to destroy Behemoth Fiendess in one battle and wipe out all of Terminus's Life Points at the same time. Well, I was planning to do that anyway.

"Because I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Navigator!" The skeleton in a pirate's outfit appeared on the field, summoned to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker.

Cyspirit Navigator ATK 1300→1600 DEF 1100→1400 LVL: 3

It's finally time, Morningstar thought. I haven't used this monster since my duel with Playmaker… but it's time to unleash it.

"Appear!" Morningstar declared, gesturing to the sky above him. "The circuit between light and darkness!" His hand glowed blue as the Link portal appeared above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are three or more 'Cyspirit' monsters!" Terminus's eyes widened. Could it be-? "I set Dancer, Navigator, and the Link 2 Thrilled Tunneler in the Link Markers!" All three monsters became whirlwinds of white energy, with Thrilled Tunneler splitting into two. They entered the top-left, left, top-right, and right arrows, turning them red. Uh oh, Terminus thought.

"Circuit combine! The galaxy's rage that breaks all limitations! Link Summon! Take flight! Link 4! Cyspirit Neo Nova!" The black dragon with dark silver armor appeared on his field. It spread its midnight black wings and roared, releasing powerful gusts of wind as it was summoned to Egregious Electrician's Link Marker.

Cyspirit Neo Nova ATK 2500→2800 LINK-4 ↖←↗→

Terminus braced himself against the backlash caused by Neo Nova's summoning. "What is this?" he wondered aloud. "Its summoning produced even more power than Datastorm Dragon's?" He quickly opened his energy reader and looked at the summoning energy. Yes, Neo Nova was producing far more power than a Link-4 monster should. Wait… was there something in the code? Was this…?

Terminus's thoughts were interrupted by Morningstar. "Since I used Cyspirit Dancer to Link Summon, Neo Nova gains 600 attack points!"

Cyspirit Neo Nova ATK 2800→3400

Galahad grit his teeth. "It's still not strong enough."

"I activate the effect of the Cyberse Call in my Graveyard!" Morningstar continued. "By banishing it, I can Special Summon a Cyberse monster from the Graveyard. Resurrect, Cyspirit Lancer!" The skeleton carrying a lance and shield appeared in Attack Position at Neo Nova's right Link Marker.

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 1800→2100 DEF 0→300 LVL: 4

"Because Lancer is in Attack Position, all 'Cyspirit' monsters gain 300 attack points! Digital Charge!"

Cyspirit Egregious Electrician ATK 900→1200

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 2100→2400

Cyspirit Neo Nova ATK 3400→3700

Since I used Cyspirit Relocation, I can't draw cards with Neo Nova's effect, Morningstar thought. But Neo Nova has other effects I can use.

"Neo Nova's monster effect!" Morningstar declared. "Since it points to at least three monsters, it gains 800 attack points for every monster it points to until the End Phase. In exchange, Neo Nova is the only monster that can attack this turn. Celestial Charge!"

Cyspirit Neo Nova ATK 3700→6100

"I activate the Spell Card: Gift of the Martyr!" Morningstar said, surprising Terminus. "With this card, I can Tribute one monster I control and increase the attack points of another monster I control by the Tributed monster's attack points. I Tribute Egregious Electrician to grant its attack points to Neo Nova!" Egregious Electrician disintegrated as Neo Nova roared and glowed red from its increased power.

Cyspirit Neo Nova ATK 6100→7300

"Yes!" Galahad cheered. "Now Neo Nova is strong enough to end the duel in one attack!"

"Do it!" Tagoma shouted at his laptop. "Bring Masako back! Morningstar!"

"This is for Sachi and Lilith," Morningstar said. But he said it so low that Terminus didn't hear him. "Battle! Cyspirit Neo Nova, attack Subterror Behemoth Fiendess! Cosmic Cannon!" Neo Nova began to gather white energy that resembled starlight into its mouth.

"Strike back, Behemoth Fiendess!" Terminus shouted. "Final Extinction!" Behemoth Fiendess gathered blue flames in its mouth, which it launched at the same time as Neo Nova. The blue and white energy clashed in the middle of the field. The shockwaves from the combined energy started to ripple outward, causing the glass in nearby windows to shatter and several buildings to topple over.

"No way!" Galahad said, bracing himself against the wind. "I can feel the power of their attacks from over here!?"

Slowly, the white energy from Neo Nova started to overpower Behemoth Fiendess's attack.

"This ends here, Terminus!" Morningstar shouted.

Terminus smirked. "You're right, Morningstar," he said. "But it won't end the way you think." As Morningstar's eyes widened, Terminus gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Necro Link in the Graveyard! Since the monster Special Summoned by its effect is attacked, I can banish Necro Link! And then we both take the damage from this battle!"

"What!?" Morningstar said, his eyes wide. He watched as the blue and white energy suddenly exploded outwards. He shouted in pain as he was sent flying from his D-Board and landed on a skyscraper. Terminus likewise screamed in pain as he fell off his D-Board and landed on a rooftop some distance away.

Terminus: 3050→0 LP

Morningstar: 50→0 LP

"No… no way," Cam whispered, his eyes wide.

"A draw?" Galahad said in surprise. He quickly picked Lilith up and started leaping over the rooftops for where Morningstar and Terminus fell.

Morningstar winced as he pushed himself upward. What the hell? He'd never had a draw before. He looked over to where Terminus had fallen and ran as fast as he could to his position.

Terminus was just standing up when Morningstar reached him. Terminus sighed as Morningstar approached him. "I didn't intend our duel to end that way," he said. "But I suppose this is better than losing."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "So what now? Do we duel again?"

Terminus thought about it and shook his head. "No. That won't accomplish anything." He pulled a green digital card from his jacket pocket and threw it at Morningstar, who caught it. "Give Lilith the removal program. There's no benefit to her staying an Another."

He smirked. "Till we meet again, Morningstar." After saying that, he disappeared.

"Wait! Come back here!" Morningstar turned around and saw Galahad jump onto the roof, carrying Lilith. "Damn it! He got away!"

"Galahad," Morningstar said, drawing his attention. He held up the green card and threw it at Lilith. She glowed green before she disappeared.

"He gave you the removal program?" Galahad said, surprised. "Why?"

"I don't know," Morningstar said, frowning to himself. "But we haven't seen the last of Terminus."

Galahad scowled. "No, we haven't." The two of them logged out after saying that.

---

Tagoma shut his laptop and looked at Masako on the couch. She'd started breathing regularly again. He sighed in relief. She was back. But…

Tagoma scowled. That had been reckless and foolish of her to challenge Hanoi. But… in doing so, she had helped Morningstar know his enemy's tactics. And it had almost cost her everything.

I can't keep the truth from her any longer, he thought regretfully. If something like this happens again, she needs to know the truth. I'm sorry, old friend, but I have to tell her now.

---

Yasutake walked out of the sealed room, breathing hard and limping.

"Easy," Cam said as he put a hand on his shoulder. "Damn it… I'm glad Lilith's okay, but this means we'll have to worry about Terminus some more, doesn't it?"

Yasutake narrowed his eyes. "No, it doesn't," he said. "I know who he is."

"You do?" Cam said in surprise.

"Yeah," the teenager nodded. "He modeled his avatar after his real-life appearance. I'm almost certain he's a man named Kenshin Hirai. He owns a bookstore called Hirai Shoten."

"Hirai Shoten…" Cam muttered. He led Yasutake to a nearby chair then pressed some keys. "Is this him?" Yasutake looked at the picture of Kenshin Hirai and nodded. "Says here he lives above the store. And if he knows the truth about the Incident…"

"We're going," Yasutake said, standing up.

"Yasu, wait! If we meet him in the real world, he'll find out who you are!"

"Is that more important than finding peace for Sachi?"

Cam opened his mouth then closed it. "Damn it," he muttered. "I still have the bike Emma and I bought. It will be faster if we take it."

"Right."

---

Cam and Yasutake walked into Hirai Shoten. It was late in the day and it was nearing closing hours. The store was almost empty except for a teenager working the registers.

"Excuse me," Cam said, drawing the teen's attention. "Is Kenshin Hirai here?"

"The owner? He actually left a few minutes ago."

Yasutake scowled. "Missed him by this much…"

The teen looked at Yasutake. "Oh hey, I remember you. You were here yesterday with that pretty girl, weren't you?"

"If you mean Masako, then yes," Yasutake said. Cam looked at Yasutake, an eyebrow raised.

"Mr. Hirai actually said you might stop by again," the teen said to Cam's and Yasutake's shared surprise. "He wanted me to give you something. … Please wait a minute." The teen headed into the back.

"He was expecting me?" Yasutake muttered, dread growing in him. "But… that would mean…"

"Yasu," Cam whispered. "Were you on a date with Masako Himura?"

Yasutake stared at Cam. "Why the hell does that matter right now?"

"I'm just surprised. For you to go on a date without me pushing you… are you perhaps developing a social life?"

Yasutake scowled at him. "I know you're joking. And it's not funny."

"Sorry to interrupt." The two looked up as the worker returned, holding an envelope out to Yasutake. "Mr. Hirai wanted me to give you this letter."

"Thank you," Yasutake said, taking the letter. He and Cam walked outside, and once they were alone on the sidewalk, he opened the letter.

Morningstar. Yasutake's eyes widened then narrowed. So Terminus did know who he was. I suspect you'll have figured out my identity; given that I figured yours out because we met, I imagine you'll do the same. In any event, it isn't time for us to meet again yet. But we will see each other again. When the Tower rises, if you still want answers to your questions, then come find me.

Terminus.

"…He knows who you are," Cam whispered, mortified. "A Knight of Hanoi knows who you are."

Yasutake's hands shook as he crumpled the letter. "Terminus," he muttered. "I don't know what this 'Tower' is, but I will find you. And you will answer for what you did to me and Sachi."

---

Masako blinked and opened her eyes. Where was she? The last thing she remembered was falling off her D-Board. But she didn't see the sky; instead she saw the roof of hers and Tagoma's apartment. She turned her head and saw Tagoma was sitting in a nearby chair, his head low.

"Tagoma?" she asked. He raised his head and smiled at her.

"Welcome back, little girl," he said. "Do me a favor and never do that again."

Masako smirked. "No promises," she said, trying to sit up.

"Easy," Tagoma said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "After what you went through, it's best not to push yourself."

Masako turned to Tagoma. "So did Morningstar win? Or did you download the removal program from the website?"

Tagoma shook his head. "Terminus updated the virus so the removal program wouldn't work. As for Morningstar… their duel ended in a draw, but Terminus gave him the removal program anyway."

Masako frowned. "I see… that means Terminus will come back."

"That's not our problem," Tagoma said. "Or at least… It shouldn't be."

Masako closed her eyes and sighed. "Am I an idiot, Tagoma?" she asked.

"Yes," Tagoma answered bluntly. "But you're a teenager. If you weren't an idiot, I'd be worried about you."

Masako pouted. "Being a teenager does not automatically make me an idiot," she objected. Then she frowned. "…I wanted to help Morningstar. I admire him. 'The Devil of LINK VRAINS.' But in the end, I only got in the way."

Tagoma sighed at Masako's sad face. "Don't be upset, little girl," he said. "These people… Morningstar, Playmaker, Terminus… they're at a level you and I can't reach. Or at least… not yet."

Masako looked up, confused. "What do you mean?"

Tagoma frowned. This was going to be complicated. "I never told you what happened to your parents, Masako."

Now she frowned. He didn't call her Masako unless it was serious. "How would you know? You found me in an alley by coincidence, didn't you?"

"…No, I didn't," Tagoma said. "Before he died, your father contracted me to look after you. He knew he was being targeted, and he wanted to make sure you would be safe. He paid me a great deal of money and extracted a promise from me that I wouldn't tell you the truth until you turned eighteen."

Masako had so many questions. But the one she settled on was, "But I'm not eighteen. So why are telling me this now?"

"Because you became an Another," he said. "It made me realize something like this may happen again. And if it does, I want you to know the truth. About everything." He stood up and went upstairs for a few minutes. When he came down, he was carrying a laptop she'd never seen before. He placed it on her lap and sat back in his chair.

"…How did you know my father?" Masako asked, confused to all hell.

"He hired me to do several jobs for him," Tagoma said. "To be honest, he was my only employer for a long time. We became friends, bonded over drinks, that sort of thing. He even introduced me to his brother."

Tagoma's frown turned into a scowl. "But ten years ago, something changed. He was suddenly fired from the company he worked for and moved back to Tokyo, where you had been born."

"Moved back? Where did he live before then?"

"Right here, in Den City," Tagoma said. "And he worked as an assistant researcher for SOL Technologies."

Masako's eyes widened. "No," she said. "Father was a data analyst, not a researcher. And he hated large companies like SOL."

"That's because he was fired. And because of what SOL used his work for." Tagoma shrugged. "I don't know exactly what SOL did to him, but that's what he said. And a few weeks before he died, your father called me in and offered me the job of looking after you. He offered me most of his savings as payment. He told me he was being targeted for his work with SOL and he needed to ensure your safety. But he also wanted me to not tell you about this so you'd become less of a target."

Masako scowled. "…You said you know how my parents died, didn't you? I thought they were killed."

"They were," Tagoma said. "By SOL Technologies."

"What!?" Masako said, her eyes wide. "SOL wouldn't do that!"

"Even if they didn't, they were the people your father was most concerned about," Tagoma said. "Evidently, he stole something from them and they wanted it back. Very badly." He gestured to the laptop on Masako's lap. "I went to your house not long after your father was killed. Whoever was responsible searched the place and removed several things, but they missed both this and a hard drive. I tried to get in, but I could never figure out the password. Maybe you, his daughter, could get into it."

Masako frowned. This was a lot of information to deal with, but she understood there was something to do: access the laptop.

She opened it and turned the power on. After it loaded, she gasped. The screensaver was a picture of her, her father, and her mother. Her father had black hair just like her, with silver highlights at the edges. Her mother had brown hair with purple highlights in it tied back into a ponytail. He had brown eyes while she had violet eyes. All of them were smiling at the camera, her parents holding her between them.

Father… mother… This was the first time she'd seen their pictures in eight years; she hadn't been able to grab anything when she had ran out that night. She felt tears start to run down her cheeks.

She pressed the "Enter" key and the password prompt appeared. Something only she or her father would know… What could it be? Maybe…

She tried out her first name. It didn't work. Frowning, she tried "Himura," her mother's maiden name. It didn't work either. She then tried her father's last name, the name she'd abandoned at Tagoma's suggestion to make it easier to run. It worked.

"Huh," Tagoma said, looking over her shoulder. "That was… disappointingly easy. I almost feel ashamed."

There were several files on the laptop. And they all had strange names. Project Angel, Project Demon, Project Spirit… what were these? But there was one icon titled "Watch first." Raising an eyebrow, Masako clicked it.

A video popped open. It showed her father's old desk, with him sitting in it.

"Hello," he said. He adjusted the glasses he was wearing. If Masako remembered right, he had been about 32 before he died; he would be around 40 if he had lived. "If you are watching this, then it means I am dead. I can't say for sure who killed me, but that doesn't matter right now. What does matter is the truth."

Her father sighed before resuming. "My name is Hitomu Hirai," he said. "And two years ago, I was a part of an unauthorized SOL Technologies research project called the Hanoi Project…"

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Morningstar vs. Terminus

This Duel is conducted as a Speed Duel.

Turn 1: Terminus

Terminus activates the Field Spell Card The Hidden City. Since The Hidden City was activated, Terminus can add 1 "Subterror" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Subterror Guru from his Deck to his hand. Terminus Sets 1 monster. He activates the effect of The Hidden City, changing Subterror Guru to face-up Defense Position (1600/1800/4). Since Guru was Flip Summoned, Terminus can add 1 "Subterror" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Subterror Fiendess from his Deck to his hand. He Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn.

Turn 2: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. Terminus activates his face-down Trap Card Discord Link. Now neither player can Link Summon until Morningstar's next Standby Phase. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Swordsman in his hand, Special Summoning it since Terminus controls a monster and Morningstar does not (1200/900/3). Terminus activates the effect of the Subterror Fiendess in his hand, discarding it and targeting Subterror Guru. Guru is changed to face-down Defense Position and the effect of Swordsman is negated, returning Swordsman to Morningstar's hand. Morningstar activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Gift, discarding Swordsman to draw 2 cards. He activates the Field Spell Cyspirit Sanctuary, which increases the ATK/DEF of all "Cyspirit" monsters he controls by 300. Since he controls no monsters, he activates the effect of Sanctuary to Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman to his field in Attack Position (1200→1500/900→1200/3). Morningstar Tributes Swordsman to Tribute Summon Cyspirit Illusionist (2400→2700/1000→1300/6). He activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Blast, targeting Illusionist for its effect. Illusionist's effects are negated until the End Phase and Terminus takes damage equal to half of Illusionist's original ATK (Terminus: 4000→2800 LP). Morningstar cannot conduct his Battle Phase the turn he activates Cyspirit Blast. He Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 3: Terminus

Terminus draws. He Flip Summons Subterror Guru (1600/1800/4). Due to Guru's effect, he adds Subterror Nemesis Archer from his Deck to his hand. Terminus activates the effect of Subterror Guru, targeting Cyspirit Illusionist for its effect. Guru and Illusionist are both changed to face-down Defense Position. Since a face-up monster he controls was flipped face-down and he controls no face-up monsters, Terminus activates the effect of the Subterror Behemoth Phospheroglacier in his hand, Special Summoning it in face-up Defense Position (2600/2500/8). Terminus activates the effect of Phospheroglacier to change itself to face-down Defense Position. Terminus activates the effect of The Hidden City to change the face-down Phospheroglacier to face-up Attack Position (2600/2500/8). Since Phospheroglacier was Flip Summoned, Terminus can send 1 card from his Deck to the GY. He sends Subterror Nemesis Warrior from his Deck to the GY. Terminus Normal Summons Subterror Nemesis Archer (1600/1400/3).

Nemesis Archer attacks the face-down Illusionist. Terminus activates the effect of Nemesis Archer. Since it is attacking a face-down Defense Position monster and he controls another "Subterror" monster, Illusionist is shuffled into Morningstar's Deck. Phospheroglacier attacks Morningstar directly. Morningstar activates his face-down Trap Card Cyspirit Half-Guard, discarding Cyspirit Teleporter to halve all battle damage he receives this turn (Morningstar: 4000→2700 LP). At the end of the Battle Phase, the effect of Half-Guard lets Morningstar draw 1 card for each monster Terminus controls that battled this turn. He draws 2 cards. Terminus ends his turn.

Turn 4: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. He activates the effect of Cyspirit Sanctuary to Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman (1200→1500/900→1200/3) from his GY in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Swordsman to Link Summon Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller (500→800/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. Morningstar activates the effect of Cacophonic Caller to Special Summon Cyspirit Lancer (1800→2100/0→300/4) from his Deck to its Link Marker in Attack Position, but Lancer cannot attack and is destroyed during the End Phase. Since Lancer is in Attack Position, all "Cyspirit" monsters gain 300 ATK (Cacophonic Caller: 800→1100) (Lancer: 2100→2400). Because there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Prisoner (1600→2200/2100→2400/5) in Attack Position. Morningstar activates the effect of the Cyspirit Teleporter in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman from his GY (1200→1800/900→1200/3) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Cacophonic Caller, Prisoner, and Swordsman to Link Summon Cyspirit Bombastic Bombardier (2600→3200/3/↖↗→) to the Extra Monster Zone. Because Prisoner was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Spearman from his Deck to his hand. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Sanctuary to move Bombastic Bombardier from his Extra Monster Zone to his center Main Monster Zone.

Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Spearman (1900→2500/100→400/4). Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Gift in his GY, banishing it and targeting Spearman with its effect. He can declare a Level between 1 and 8 and change Spearman's Level to make it equal to that Level until the End Phase. He declares Level 2 (Spearman: 4→2). Morningstar uses Spearman to Link Summon Cyspirit Egregious Electrician (600→1200/1/↙) to the Extra Monster Zone. Since Spearman was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Morningstar activates its effect, destroying all Set monsters on the field. Terminus activates his face-down Trap Card Subterror Behemoth Burrowing and banishes Subterror Fiendess from his GY. For the rest of the turn, face-down monsters he controls cannot be destroyed by card effects and they cannot be targeted with card effects. Morningstar activates the effect of Bombastic Bombardier. Since it points to 2 monsters, he can inflict 400 damage to Terminus for each "Cyspirit" Link Monster he controls. He controls 2 (Terminus: 2800→2000 LP). However, Bombastic Bombardier cannot declare an attack the turn it activates its effect. Morningstar activates the effect of Egregious Electrician, moving Bombastic Bombardier to his left Main Monster Zone to Special Summon Cyspirit Wanderer (1900→2500/200→500/5) from his hand to its Link Marker. Since Wanderer was Special Summoned by the effect of a "Cyspirit" card, 1 monster on Terminus's field loses 800 ATK. Morningstar targets Nemesis Archer (Nemesis Archer: 1600→800). Morningstar uses the Link 3 Bombastic Bombardier and the Link 1 Egregious Electrician to Link Summon Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon (2800→3400/4/↙↑↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Morningstar uses Lancer and Wanderer to Link Summon Cyspirit Mad Mongrel (2000→2300/2/↑↓) to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker. Because Lancer left the field, Datastorm Dragon's ATK goes down (Datastorm Dragon: 3400→3100).

Mad Mongrel attacks the face-down Subterror Guru. Terminus activates the effect of The Hidden City to change Guru to face-up Defense Position (1600/1800/4) to negate the attack. Since Guru was Flip Summoned, its effect activates, letting Terminus add 1 "Subterror" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Subterror Behemoth Umastryx from his Deck to his hand. Datastorm Dragon attacks and destroys Nemesis Archer, but because it points to at least 2 monsters, the battle damage is halved (Terminus: 2000→850 LP). Because Nemesis Archer was destroyed and sent to the GY, its effect activates and Terminus can Special Summon 1 "Subterror" monster from his Deck in face-up or face-down Defense Position. He Special Summons Subterror Behemoth Speleogeist in face-down Defense Position. At the end of the Battle Phase, because it points to at least 2 monsters and destroyed a monster by battle, Datastorm Dragon inflicts 500 damage to Terminus (Terminus: 850→350 LP). Morningstar ends his turn.

Turn 5: Terminus

Terminus draws. He Flip Summons Subterror Behemoth Speleogeist (3000/1400/11). Because Speleogeist was Flip Summoned, Terminus activates its effect, targeting Datastorm Dragon and reducing its ATK to 0 (Datastorm Dragon: 3100→0). Terminus uses Phospheroglacier and Speleogeist to Link Summon Subterror Behemoth Fiendess (2000/2/↙↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Behemoth Fiendess gains ATK equal to the combined Levels of the "Subterror" monsters used for its Link Summon x 100 (Behemoth Fiendess: 2000→3900). Terminus activates the effect of Behemoth Fiendess, sending Subterror Behemoth Voltelluric from his Deck to the GY to Special Summon Subterror Behemoth Umastryx from Terminus's hand in face-down Defense Position to Behemoth Fiendess's bottom-left Link Marker. Terminus activates the effect of The Hidden City to change Umastryx to face-up Attack Position (2000/2700/7). Because Umastryx was Flip Summoned, its effect activates, letting Terminus banish 1 monster Morningstar controls. He banishes Mad Mongrel. Since a card Behemoth Fiendess pointed to was flipped face-up, Terminus can add 1 Flip Monster from his Deck or GY to his hand. He adds Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus from his Deck to his hand. Finally, since a "Subterror Behemoth" monster was flipped face-up, Terminus can Special Summon Subterror Nemesis Warrior from his GY (1800/1200/4) in Attack Position. Terminus Tributes Guru and Nemesis Warrior to Tribute Summon Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus (3000/1800/12). Terminus Sets 1 card.

Behemoth Fiendess attacks Datastorm Dragon. Morningstar activates the effect of the Cyspirit Half-Guard in his GY, banishing it and discarding Cyspirit Shieldmaiden to halve all battle damage he takes this turn. Datastorm Dragon is destroyed (Morningstar: 2700→750 LP). Ultramafus attacks Morningstar directly, but he activates the effect of the Cyspirit Shieldmaiden in his GY, banishing it to lower the ATK of all monsters Terminus controls by Shieldmaiden's ATK until the End Phase (Behemoth Fiendess: 3900→2100) (Ultramafus: 3000→1200) (Umastryx: 2000→200). The attack continues, and due to Cyspirit Half-Guard's effect, the damage is halved (Morningstar: 750→150 LP). Umastryx attacks Morningstar directly, and the damage is halved (Morningstar: 150→50 LP). Terminus activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Mystik Wok, Tributing Umastryx and choosing its DEF. He gains LP equal to Umastryx's DEF (Terminus: 350→3050 LP). Terminus activates the effect of the Subterror Behemoth Burrowing in his GY, banishing it to switch Ultramafus to face-down Defense Position. At the end of the Battle Phase, the effect of Cyspirit Half-Guard lets Morningstar draw 1 card for every monster Terminus controls that battled this turn. Morningstar draws 3 cards. Terminus ends his turn, and the effect of Cyspirit Shieldmaiden ends (Behemoth Fiendess: 2100→3900).

Turn 6: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. He activates the Spell Card Cyberse Call to add Cyspirit Dancer from his Deck to his hand. He then activates the effect of Cyspirit Sanctuary to Special Summon Cyspirit Spearman from his GY (1900→2200/100→400/4) in Attack Position. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Wanderer in the GY, banishing it to Special Summon Cyspirit Egregious Electrician (600→900/1/↙), but it cannot attack this turn. Morningstar activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Relocation, targeting Cyspirit Egregious Electrician and moving it to the Extra Monster Zone, but he cannot draw cards outside his Draw Phase this turn. Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Dancer (1000→1300/200→500/2). Since Dancer was Normal Summoned, Morningstar can Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his hand or Deck with its effects negated. He Special Summons Cyspirit Kid (300→600/200→500/1) from his Deck in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Cyspirit Kid and Cyspirit Spearman to Link Summon Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler (1600→1900/2/←→) to Egregious Electrician's Link Marker. Since Kid was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Morningstar can target 1 face-up card on Terminus's field and destroy it. He targets and destroys Behemoth Fiendess. Since Spearman was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, all Set monsters on the field are destroyed. The Set Ultramafus is destroyed.

Terminus activates his face-down Trap Card Necro Link and targets Behemoth Fiendess in the GY with it. Behemoth Fiendess is Special Summon to Terminus's Extra Monster Zone (2000/2/↙↘) with its ATK increased by 1500 (Behemoth Fiendess: 2000→3500). It cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects this turn, and if it leaves the field, both players will take damage equal to its original ATK. Since he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Navigator (1300→1600/1100→1400/3) to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker. Morningstar uses Dancer, Navigator, and the Link 2 Thrilled Tunneler to Link Summon Cyspirit Neo Nova (2500→2800/4/↖←↗→) to Egregious Electrician's Link Marker. Since Dancer was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, that monster gains 600 ATK (Neo Nova: 2800→3400). Morningstar activates the effect of Cyberse Call in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon Cyspirit Lancer to Neo Nova's right Link Marker (1800→2100/0→300/4). Since Lancer is in Attack Position, all "Cyspirit" monsters gain 300 ATK (Egregious Electrician: 900→1200) (Lancer: 2100→2400) (Neo Nova: 3400→3700). Morningstar activates Neo Nova's third effect, increasing its ATK by 800 for every monster it points to, but only Neo Nova can declare an attack this turn. Neo Nova points to 3 monsters (Neo Nova: 3700→6100). Morningstar activates the Spell Card Gift of the Martyr, sending Egregious Electrician to the GY to increase Neo Nova's ATK by Egregious Electrician's ATK (Neo Nova: 6100→7300).

Neo Nova attacks Behemoth Fiendess. Terminus activates the effect of Necro Link in his GY, banishing it since the monster Special Summoned by its effect is being attacked. Any battle damage he would take from this battle is dealt to Morningstar as well. Behemoth Fiendess is destroyed (Terminus: 3050→0 LP) (Morningstar: 50→0 LP). The duel ends in a draw.

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Cyspirit Spearman
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1900 DEF 100 Level: 4
This card cannot declare an attack if you control a "Cyspirit" monster besides "Cyspirit Spearman." If this card is used as material for the Link Summon of a "Cyspirit" Link Monster: Destroy all Set monsters on the field. You can only activate this effect of "Cyspirit Spearman" once per turn.

Cyspirit Shieldmaiden
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1800 DEF 2000 Level: 7
When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack: You can banish this card (from your GY); lower the ATK of all monsters your opponent controls by this card's ATK until the End Phase. You can only activate this effect of "Cyspirit Shieldmaiden" once per turn.

Discord Link Normal Trap Card
Neither player can Link Summon until the 2nd Standby Phase after this card's activation. While this card is in your GY, "Discord Link" cannot be activated.

Cyspirit Gift Normal Spell Card
Send 1 "Cyspirit" card from your hand to the GY; draw 2 cards. Once per Duel, you can banish this card from your GY and target 1 "Cyspirit" monster you control; change that monster's Level to between 1 and 8 until the End Phase. You can only activate 1 effect of "Cyspirit" Gift per turn, and only once per turn.

Cyspirit Relocation Normal Spell Card
If you control no monsters in the Extra Monster Zone: Target 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster you control; move it to an unoccupied Extra Monster Zone. The turn you activate this effect, you cannot draw cards from your Deck outside of your Draw Phase. You can only activate "Cyspirit" Relocation" once per turn.

Necro Link Normal Trap Card
If a Link Monster leaves your field: Target that Link Monster in your GY; Special Summon it to an unoccupied Extra Monster Zone and increase its ATK by 1500. The Special Summoned monster cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects the turn it is Summoned. If the Special Summoned monster leaves the field, both players take damage equal to its original ATK. If the Special Summoned monster is targeted for an attack: you can banish this card from your GY; any battle damage inflicted to you by this battle is also inflicted to your opponent. You can only activate each effect of "Necro Link" once per turn.

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Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 17 – Rising Tides

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Responses to Reviews & Author's Notes

Thank you to Ryujomaru15, HunterHQ, Ethan Kironus, D3lph0xL0v3r, Guest 1.0, Frost190, OPFan37, ClearwingYuta, Germancardfightfan, Lindia Fullmoon, and ThePLOThand for reviewing Chapter 15, and in ThePLOThand's case, also Chapter 14.

To ClearwingYuta, I imagine this chapter's, and especially the duel's ending, answers your question to a degree.

And to answer ThePLOThand's review of Chapter 15, the time I will spend following the VRAINS storyline will depend on what happens in season 2. I heard somewhere Playmaker will become a fugitive. I can't say if that's true or not, and right now I have no plans past the Tower of Hanoi arc, only vague ideas. If he does become a fugitive, then I might have Morningstar do his own thing, but we'll have to wait and see. As for the duels, yes, I write them beforehand. Most of the time this works well, but it does cause me to occasionally have problems. For example, in this chapter, I initially forgot that Datastorm Dragon prevents non-Link Monsters from attacking, so I had Lancer and Wanderer remain on the field. When I remembered that, I changed it so Morningstar summoned Mad Mongrel. In this case, that worked in my favor, as it let me show that Morningstar's anger had caused him to make a mistake. It's also why neither used their Skills; because I forgot about them, I adapted it to both duelists intentionally preventing the other from using them. As for Ritual monsters, at the minimum it will affect the Ritual chant I gave Galahad in Chapter 9. At the maximum… who knows.

Okay, this chapter was primarily about the duel between Morningstar and Terminus. It was a very tough duel to write, but I liked how it turned out, especially compared to last chapter's. And on the result of the duel, I did say back in Chapter 7 when I introduced Terminus that I planned on him staying longer. Since the duel ended the way it did, that means he'll be around for the Tower of Hanoi arc and fight Morningstar while Playmaker and Revolver fight. Also because of this, if anyone would like to suggest OC "Subterror" cards, go ahead. I imagine Terminus will need a Link-3 or higher "Subterror Behemoth" to surprise Morningstar, and including other people's cards is fun.

We also had Morningstar and Terminus learn each other's identities. I planned on this happening, but I didn't have a concrete idea until I released Chapter 14. So now Terminus is in the same position as Revolver, except Morningstar knows his identity too.

And finally, the part I was personally most concerned about, we find out the truth about Masako's past. Her father is Hitomu Hirai, Kenshin's older brother by 7 years who worked on the Hanoi Project with him and was killed by SOL 8 years ago. Or was someone else responsible? Who knows? And on Kenshin and Masako not recognizing each other in the bookstore, that's because Masako never met her uncle and Kenshin only ever saw her in pictures as a small child. Hitomu was killed because he stole something from SOL. What did he steal? You'll have to wait to find out. As for the "Projects" on his computer? I've spoken to some people about them, but I want them to be a surprise, so no mentions in the reviews, please.

Now, on the name of the next chapter… I was originally planning to start the Tower of Hanoi arc in Chapter 17, but because of the intensity of this chapter and how intense the next arc is, I decided to insert a breather chapter. There will still be a duel, but it won't have the same stakes. In addition, this chapter will give me a chance to try out OC submissions.

On a side note, information on VRAINS season 2 and new characters was released some time ago. Among the new characters, who makes the biggest impression? I like Soulburner, but I'm not sure if Takeru Homura is actually one of the children of the Lost Incident. It seems a little too convenient to assume that because he is partners with an Ignis he is one of the children, but who knows?

Thank you for reading Chapter 16 of Hidden Memories. Please tell me what your favorite moment of the chapter was. Was it the end of the duel? Terminus's letter to Morningstar? The revelation of Masako's father? When Galahad fell on top of Lilith?