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

18. Chapter 18: Door to the Abyss

Update

I've decided that I'm going to be placing the information on the cards I've made on my profile page. If the information there contradicts the information in the chapter it debuts in, the profile page is right. It will take me a while to set up, so please be patient.

Also, I've decided to make some changes to Idealistic Idol's and Necrocoding's effects because of this chapter. The changes will be on the profile page, not in the chapter they debuted in. The reason for this? The chapter Idealistic Idol debuted in ran out of life in Doc Manager, and editing my profile is much easier.

---

Chapter 18: The Door to the Abyss

Terminus looked out over LINK VRAINS. Specifically, he looked at the AI duelists that were appearing everywhere. Kitamura must have dispatched them after the duel between Fatumare and Galahad. He was certain they were meant to reassert SOL's control over LINK VRAINS. As pointless as that was.

He turned and smirked behind him as a figure walked up. "It's time to show what you can do, HAI-B," he said. An AI duelist, similar in design to the ones below Terminus but colored white, silver, and gold, stood next to him.

Terminus looked down at a squad of eight AI duelists. "They are your target. Defeat them."

"Acknowledged," HAI-B responded. It leapt down from the building and challenged the AI Duelist Squad to a duel.

After 10 minutes, the entire squad was defeated. Terminus smirked and looked at another squad of AI duelists nearby. He was about to order HAI-B to duel them when suddenly they were all struck with gold lightning.

Terminus's eyes widened then narrowed. "What was that?" He leapt from building to building until he reached the source of the lightning. It was Thaumiel.

The masked duelist turned and looked at Terminus. "Hello, Terminus," he said, his voice low and raspy. "Pleasant day, isn't it?"

"Why are you here?" Terminus asked, scowling at Thaumiel. "I thought you agreed to wait until we called you."

Thaumiel shrugged. "I got bored. I thought I would challenge SOL's AI duelists. But these things are pathetic." He turned and looked at HAI-B as it walked up to Terminus. "That, on the other hand, looks like it might be a challenge. Would you mind if I took a swing at it?"

Terminus shook his head. "We need it to fight Morningstar and Playmaker. Revolver already destroyed it once; I can't have you destroying it too."

Thaumiel sighed in disappointment. "Pity. Well, you should send it away then. I don't think you'll want it to be caught in this." Thaumiel started pushing some buttons on his Duel Disk.

Warily, Terminus sent HAI-B back to Hanoi's stronghold. "What are you doing?"

"Testing a little something I built," Thaumiel said. His Duel Disk released what appeared to be fireflies. "Go, little ones. Find your targets."

The fireflies dispersed. Terminus watched as they spread across LINK VRAINS. He saw one approach an AI duelist. The second it touched it, the AI duelist started malfunctioning and eventually broke apart.

Terminus's eyes widened. "What is this?"

Thaumiel chuckled. "An anti-AI program. Just one of those things can tear an AI duelist apart at its base level."

Terminus turned to Thaumiel. "Can it work on Playmaker's AI?"

Thaumiel shook his head. "Revolver gave me a rundown on that thing. Its programming is far too adaptive and complicated for my program to work. AI duelists like those things are much easier to destroy." He laughed again. "Ah. I can imagine the look on Kitamura's face right now. Ruining the day of people like that… it's good I can still take pleasure in the simple things."

Terminus frowned. "The Tower will rise soon. Until then, stay out of sight. You are an unknown quantity to Playmaker's allies. We would keep it that way."

Thaumiel sighed. "Oh, you are such a killjoy. Fine. I'll wait. But when the Tower does its job, I want a front row seat."

---

Yasutake opened the door to Café Junpei. He noticed Cam behind the counter motioning to him and headed over.

"Hey," Cam said, smiling. "How was school?"

"Same as usual," Yasutake answered. Frowning, he said, "Masako Himura was absent today. She's been absent for quite some time now."

Cam raised an eyebrow. "Is there something wrong with her?"

"I don't know," Yasutake said. "She has sent emails handing in her homework and sent me a few messages, but nothing explaining why she's gone."

Cam frowned. "I hope she's okay. She seems like a good kid."

Yasutake just frowned. Masako hadn't missed a day of class since she transferred to Den Academy, but she'd missed almost an entire week of classes. Something had to be wrong, but Yasutake wasn't sure if he had the right to ask her.

"Putting Masako aside, was there something you wanted?" Yasutake asked Cam.

"Oh right! Come into the back. I have something to show you."

Once they were in the back, Cam fired up the monitors. He quickly opened a file and showed the contents to Yasutake, who raised an eyebrow.

"LVSS Support System?" Yasutake asked.

"Kusanagi designed it and sent me a copy," Cam explained. "It's designed to detect any abnormality in LINK VRAINS. Not only that, it also works as a tracker and lets me follow you in real time."

"Interesting," Yasutake said, impressed. While Cam was usually always in contact with him on missions, he had to release a drone in order for Cam to see and locate him. This LVSS system might come in handy.

"What about the anti-purge program? Is that complete?"

"Almost. Kusanagi finished his half. I just need to make a few more tweaks. And of course, we need to test it."

"Without a Knight of Hanoi, that's going to be-."

Yasutake stopped talking as he experienced a strange feeling. What… what was that? It almost felt like a heartbeat. This strange pressure…

"Yasu?" Cam said, concerned. "Is something wrong?"

Yasutake stood up from his chair. "I'm heading into LINK VRAINS," he said. "Something's about to happen."

"A-Alright. Be careful."

---

Terminus frowned at the screen in front of him. This… this couldn't be right. If it was, then it changed everything, didn't it?

"Terminus."

He turned around as Revolver materialized behind him. "It's almost time," he said. "What are you doing?"

"Going over something I found when I dueled Morningstar," Terminus answered. "Do you remember our conversation about summoning energy?"

"Yes. And you said that three of Morningstar's monsters gave off more energy than they should."

"I got the chance to take a closer look at one of those monsters when I dueled him," Terminus said. "Neo Nova. When it was summoned, I scanned its energy. And I found this." He showed Revolver the screen. "Do you recognize this code?"

Revolver looked at it and his eyes widened. "That's-."

"Yes," Terminus interrupted. "I don't know how or why Neo Nova has this code, but I imagine Idealistic Idol and Winning Wrestler do, too."

Revolver was silent, but then he turned from the screen to Terminus. "You are certain this code is real?"

"As certain as I can be." Terminus turned back to the screen. "But… it's incomplete. Missing several pieces. If I had to guess, someone divided this code into chunks and divided it among certain Cyspirit Link Monsters."

Revolver frowned. "How many?"

"Five, at the very minimum. Based on readings of the other monsters he's used, I don't think the code is spread out among all the Cyspirit Link Monsters. But if he were to use all the monsters that have this code in a duel…"

"…That would be bad," Revolver concluded. "Or… perhaps it would be good. It could help us in the long run."

"If we can get the cards away from Morningstar or defeat him in a duel. And that's unlikely to happen."

"Even so…" Revolver smirked. "I am aware you have unfinished business with Morningstar, Terminus. But a duelist like him… I want to face him myself."

Terminus smiled. He wasn't surprised. Revolver was someone who liked pushing himself to his limits and seeing how far he could push others. "If you do, be careful. By my calculations, his skills are equal to if not greater than Playmaker's."

---

Masako frowned at her father's laptop. If she was honest, she disliked it. While it was providing a great deal of answers, it was shattering the image she had built of her father. She didn't appreciate that any more than she appreciated being cooped up in her apartment.

Masako glanced up at Tagoma, who was drinking his coffee. "How much longer do I have to stay home?" she asked. "I'm missing school. More than that, I'm missing out on making friends."

"You're not leaving until I'm certain there are no side effects," Tagoma said, not bothering to look up. "Besides, you can't be bored. You have your father's computer to keep you busy, don't you?"

Masako scowled at him. "More like torment me." She returned her gaze to the laptop. "The Hanoi Project… were you a part of it?"

Tagoma frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well… eight children were kidnapped, and my father and his co-workers were scientists. They probably couldn't have done it on their own."

"Meaning they hired people to do it," Tagoma said, understanding her logic. "To answer your question, no. I met Hitomu about a year and a half before he died. That was after the Project ended." Tagoma's gaze turned introspective. "I've heard of the Lost Incident before. About eight children going missing. But I had no idea Hitomu and his boss were behind it."

Masako sighed. "I wish he hadn't been. Crimes of this nature and degree are enough for a life sentence. And the idea that my father tortured children…"

"Then don't focus on that part," Tagoma advised. "Focus on the other part. The files said something about his work after the Incident ended, didn't they?"

Masako frowned again. "Yeah they did." Evidently, her father and his co-workers had been briefly detained when the Project ended. Everyone except Dr. Kogami had been released, but when he was freed, her father stole something from SOL. The video didn't say what, but it was apparently very valuable.

"My father said he used what he stole from SOL to start his own research project, codenamed Project Trinity," she said. "And from there, he developed three sub-projects: Project Angel, Project Demon, and Project Spirit."

"And the nature of those projects?"

"Making cards," Masako said. That part had surprised her. Especially the cards being made.

She opened a video her father had left on Project Trinity and played it for Tagoma.

"Using what I have stolen from SOL, I have created three incredibly powerful archetypes," Hitomu said. "I intend for these archetypes to be the pinnacle of dueling. The duelists who use them will be champions of the dueling world.

"Unfortunately, I am running short on time. I have only managed to create most of the physical cards for one of the archetypes. This one is the largest, and while it lacks the raw power the other two possess, it has far more versatility. That is the main strength of the Cyspirit monsters."

Tagoma's eyes widened. "Cyspirit? But that's-."

"Morningstar's Deck," Masako finished. "I know. I was surprised too. I have no idea how he obtained them, but there's more."

"I have not yet given the other two archetypes physical form. As of this recording, they exist solely in digital form. To ensure security, I have placed the two archetypes on separate hard drives, which I have hidden in my house."

Masako frowned. "You said you only found one hard drive, right?"

"I did," Tagoma said, also frowning. "Whoever killed him must have taken the other." His frown turned into a scowl. "The Cyspirit monsters are Cyberse type, the rarest type in the world. It stands to reason the other two archetypes he created are also Cyberse type."

"Have you accessed that hard drive to check?"

"I've been trying, but it's difficult. The encryption on it is far stronger than that laptop's. But after hearing that recording, I'm not sure I should decrypt it."

"What do you mean?"

"Hanoi is trying to destroy the Cyberse," Tagoma said. "That's why only people like Morningstar and Playmaker have access to those cards. If there really are Cyberse cards on this drive, it could make us a target of Hanoi. We already have SOL to worry about because of your father. I'd rather not have another enemy."

Masako gave him a bad look. "After what Terminus did to me, isn't Hanoi already our enemy? And you said I need better weapons to fight against Hanoi. What better weapon than the Cyberse itself?"

Tagoma frowned then sighed. "This conversation is pointless if I can't access the hard drive at all. Does that thing say anything about the two archetypes he didn't make into physical cards?"

"He did mention their names in another video," Masako said. "He said they're called Cyangels and Cydemons. Those two, along with the Cyspirits, are meant to represent Earth, Heaven, and Hell."

"Huh," Tagoma said, frowning. "The Cyangels being Heaven, Cydemons being Hell, which would leave the Cyspirits representing Earth. It would explain why almost all of Morningstar's monsters are based off humans. But why would your father make monsters like these?"

"I think… I think he felt guilty."

Tagoma raised an eyebrow. "Guilty? About the Lost Incident?"

Masako nodded. "I've read in some psychology books that when people commit heinous acts, they sometimes turn to a higher power for comfort. I do remember my father started carrying a cross on him the last few months before he died. Maybe he saw making these archetypes as some form of atonement."

Tagoma frowned, thinking about Masako's words. "Maybe." Then he realized something. "Wait. That video you showed; it said he only created most of the physical Cyspirit cards. Doesn't that mean there a few he didn't make?"

Masako smiled. "As a matter of fact, yes. I found a file here with the data of two Cyspirit Link Monsters."

"Really?" Tagoma said, standing up. "Can I see them?"

Masako brought them up and showed the screen to Tagoma, who frowned at it. "Well, we can't use those. But… those two are powerful. Maybe if we can get in touch with Morningstar, we can sell these to him."

"Maybe," Masako said half-heartedly. Tagoma's idea made sense from a monetary perspective, but a part of her wanted to just give Morningstar these two cards. She owed him for saving her, after all. More than that, he probably needed the cards.

Hanoi is only getting stronger, Masako thought. And Morningstar is on the front lines. If he is going to win, then he'll need cards as powerful as these.

---

Morningstar landed on the ground in front of an underground entrance.

"The LINK VRAINS sewer?" Cam asked over the com. "Really? You do remember the last time you went down there, right?"

"I've been trying to forget it, actually," Morningstar responded. "But I'm tired of waiting for Revolver or Terminus to show themselves. The underground is the least explored section of LINK VRAINS. If Hanoi is planning something, they'll be down here." Plus, he thought. That strange feeling I had before. Something is telling me I'll find the answer underground.

Cam sighed. "Just be careful. I'd rather you not run into another data monster again."

Morningstar scowled at that memory. "I'd like that too." He leaped down the hole into the underground and landed next to a waterway.

"This sewer system runs throughout LINK VRAINS," he said. "If Hanoi is down here, there should be some evidence at the reprocessing plant at the center."

"Stay alert," Cam said. "The reprocessing plant's security aside, you might run into Terminus again. Are you sure you can beat him?"

"Yes," Morningstar answered. "I've added some cards to my Deck that will tear his Deck apart." After his duel with Terminus and his Subterror monsters, Morningstar had made a few changes to his Deck's structure and added some Cyspirit Link Monsters he hadn't used in a while.

"While you're walking, maybe you could answer a question I've had for a while."

"What's that?"

"You only have 24 Cyspirit Link Monsters, right? Not 26?"

Morningstar frowned. "Yeah," he said. "Considering the names, there should be 26 of them, but yes, I only have 24."

"Huh," Cam said. "Wonder where the last two are."

"That-." Morningstar gasped and stumbled. What was that? That was the same feeling he'd had in the real world. Only much stronger. What was this pressure?

"Yasu?"

"I'm definitely on the right track," Morningstar said, shaking his head. "There's something down here. And I'm going to find it." He started running to get there faster.

Cam frowned. He didn't understand how Yasutake could sense things in the network, but it was a useful skill to have. And if it led him to Hanoi, that would be so much better.

Morningstar ran down the sewer, occasionally sliding down steep ledges or using his Data Anchor to get across a gap. He knew he was heading towards the reprocessing plant, but he didn't know what was drawing him there or what he would find on the way.

Eventually, he came to a large underground cavern. Data spilled out of openings in the side into the bottom, while a single bridge led across the gap. All he had to do was cross it, and he would reach the reprocessing plant.

But… Morningstar's eyes narrowed as he picked up a sound. Someone was at the other end.

That person stepped out of the shadows and smirked when he saw Morningstar.

"Morningstar," Revolver said. "I can't say I was expecting to see you here. Why are you traipsing through the sewers? This doesn't seem to be your kind of place."

"I wasn't expecting to find you here, either, Revolver," Morningstar said, narrowing his eyes. "Though I'm not surprised; the sewers are an excellent place to hide if you don't want to be found."

"Oh? Hide? You think I'm hiding?"

"That, or there's something down here you don't others to know about." Morningstar took a few more steps forward. "What are you doing at the reprocessing plant?"

Revolver's smirk widened. "That's none of your business. But if you want to know, there's only one way to find out."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes further. "A duel?"

"Yes," Revolver answered. "I just got some new cards and was looking for someone to test them on. You'll do nicely."

Morningstar scowled. "I won't go down easily," he said, raising his Duel Disk.

"It wouldn't be fun if you did."

"Be careful, Yasu," Cam said. "This guy nearly beat Playmaker."

"I know, Cam," Morningstar whispered back. "I can't take this duel lightly."

"Duel!" they shouted.

Morningstar: 4000 LP

Revolver: 4000 LP

"I shall go first!" Revolver declared. Looking at his cards, he chose one. "I summon Gateway Dragon!" A six-sided golden gate appeared, out of which a three-armed golden dragon appeared.

Gateway Dragon ATK 1600 DEF 1400 LVL: 4

"Gateway Dragon's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Dragon monster from my hand. Come, Sniffer Dragon!" The gate opened again, and a red and black humanoid dragon emerged in Attack Position.

Sniffer Dragon ATK 800 DEF 400 LVL: 2

"Sniffer Dragon's monster effect! When it is Summoned, I can add a second Sniffer Dragon to my hand," Revolver said. After doing so, he said, "By discarding the Sniffer Dragon I just added, I can Special Summon Defrag Dragon in Attack Position!" A dark blue metal dragon with red and green holographic wings appeared on Revolver's field.

Defrag Dragon ATK 1000 DEF 600 LVL: 3

"Three monsters," Morningstar muttered, narrowing his eyes. "This…"

"Appear! The future circuit that lights up my path!" Revolver declared, his hand sparking with blue electricity. The Link portal appeared in the air above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least two Dragon monsters! I set Defrag Dragon, Gateway Dragon, and Sniffer Dragon in the Link Markers!" His monsters became whirlwinds of energy that entered the top-left, top, and top-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Flash Charge Dragon!" A large purple and white dragon appeared on Revolver's field, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone. It had two massive cannons attached to its sides, one on its head, and wheels on its feet.

Flash Charge Dragon ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↖↑↗

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "It only points to my field? Why would he summon a monster like that?"

Revolver took another card from his hand. "I Special Summon Linkbelt Wall Dragon from my hand in Defense Position!" Behind Revolver, a massive blue and yellow dragon with two silver arms appeared.

Linkbelt Wall Dragon ATK 0 DEF 2100 LVL: 6

"I can Special Summon this monster when a Dragon Link Monster is summoned to my field," Revolver explained. "When it is Special Summoned, it gets two Wall Counters." Two of its four red eyes lit up.

Linkbelt Wall Dragon: 0 WC→2 WC

"Neither of us can summon a Link Monster whose Link Rating is higher than the number of Wall Counters," Revolver continued. "And only Link Monsters can attack!"

"And they can only attack Linkbelt Wall Dragon," Morningstar said. "I remember this monster from your duel with Playmaker. Because he didn't know this monster's effects, you stalled him." He narrowed his eyes. "It won't stall me."

Revolver smirked. "We'll see, won't we? I end my turn."

"My turn! Draw!" After Morningstar said that, Revolver pointed to Linkbelt Wall Dragon.

"Linkbelt Wall Dragon's monster effect! During each of our Standby Phases, it gains a Wall Counter!" Another of Linkbelt Wall Dragon's eyes lit up.

Linkbelt Wall Dragon: 2 WC→3 WC

Morningstar looked from Linkbelt Wall Dragon to Flash Charge Dragon. Since it only pointed to his field, he was certain its effect activated if he summoned to its Link Markers. Well, better to spring the trap early.

"Since you control monsters and I do not, I Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman!" The skeleton warrior carrying two swords appeared, summoned to Flash Charge Dragon's top-left Link Marker in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Because Swordsman was Special Summoned by its effect, I can add one 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck to my hand," Morningstar continued. "I add Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke from my Deck to my hand."

Revolver smirked. "You fool. Flash Charge Dragon's effect activates! Once per turn, when a monster is Normal or Special Summoned to its Link Marker, that monster is destroyed, and you take 500 points of damage!" Morningstar's eyes widened. The gun barrel at the end of Flash Charge Dragon's tail rose up and fired a blast at Swordsman, destroying it. Morningstar winced from the damage.

Morningstar: 4000→3500 LP

"So that's what its effect is," Morningstar said, scowling. "But that effect only activates once per turn. And it will benefit me too."

Louder, he said, "Since I took effect damage, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Saver from my hand!" The dwarf skeleton in white armor carrying a small shield appeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Saver ATK 0 DEF 1300 LVL: 2

"The turn Saver is summoned by its effect, all effect damage for the rest of the turn is negated," Morningstar said, making Revolver smirk.

"Since you control a Link Monster and I do not, I can Special Summon this monster. Appear, Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke!" The dwarf skeleton carrying a crank drill appeared on Morningstar's field.

Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke ATK 200 DEF 500 LVL: 2

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" Morningstar's hand glowed blue as the Link portal appeared above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' monster! I set Cyspirit Saver in the Link Marker!" His monster entered the bottom arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller!" The skeleton in a business suit appeared, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500 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, but that monster cannot attack and is destroyed during the End Phase. I summon Cyspirit Teleporter in Attack Position!" The grey-armored skeleton appeared and waved its baton.

Cyspirit Teleporter ATK 500 DEF 1500 LVL: 3

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" Once again, the Link portal appeared above Morningstar. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Cacophonic Caller, Teleporter, and Tunnel Tyke in the Link Markers!" His three monsters became whirlwinds of energy, entering the bottom-left, top, and bottom arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary!" The skeleton in a blue trench coat appeared and raised both its pistols as it flapped its wings in the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary ATK 2200 LINK-3 ↙↑↓

Revolver smirked. That monster is strong enough to destroy Linkbelt Wall Dragon, he thought. But knowing Morningstar, he isn't done.

"When there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I can Special Summon this monster," Morningstar continued. "Come, Cyspirit Prisoner!" The skeleton in a blue prisoner's uniform appeared, summoned to Rapid Revolutionary's bottom Link Marker in Defense Position.

Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5

"I activate the effect of the Teleporter in my Graveyard!" Morningstar declared. "By banishing it, I can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard. I summon Cyspirit Swordsman in Defense Position!" His monster returned to the field, summoned to Rapid Revolutionary's bottom-left Link Marker.

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

Revolver grit his teeth. Flash Charge Dragon also pointed to Swordsman, but it could only use its effect once per turn.

"Battle!" Morningstar declared. "Rapid Revolutionary, attack Linkbelt Wall Dragon!" Rapid Revolutionary's pistols merged to form a rifle. "Rapid Revolutionary's monster effects! Because it points to at least one monster, it gains 500 attack points because it is battling a non-Link Monster!"

Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary ATK 2200→2700

"And because Rapid Revolutionary points to at least two monsters and is attacking a Defense Position monster, it inflicts piercing battle damage! Go! Final Revolution Shot!" Rapid Revolutionary's rifle glowed as it fired a blast of energy. Linkbelt Wall Dragon exploded from the blast, pushing Revolver back.

Revolver: 4000→3400 LP

"I Set one card," Morningstar said. "I end my turn."

Revolver smirked. "Not bad. In one turn, you did more than Playmaker did. But… I find myself wondering something."

"What's that?"

"Why do you fight?"

Morningstar started. "Why does that matter?"

"You're a bounty hunter," Revolver said. "More than that, you're a bounty hunter who was hired by SOL to retrieve Playmaker's AI. But instead of hunting him down, you team up with him to fight Hanoi. Instead of searching for him, you go looking for me. I've seen your Data Anchor in action. You could have challenged Playmaker any number of times, but you didn't. So why? Why do you fight? Why do you ignore the chance to complete your contract?"

Morningstar didn't respond immediately. He mulled Revolver's questions over in his head. If he was honest, they were questions he had been asking himself for quite some time.

"I really don't know why I haven't finished my contract," he said at last. "I imagine the higher-ups at SOL are becoming impatient with me. But… it doesn't feel like the right time to finish it. But you're wrong about something. I did hunt him down. We dueled. And I lost."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Playmaker and I will duel again. And I will win. But as for why I am challenging Hanoi? At first it was because SOL offered me a reward for it. But… then I learned about the Hanoi Project." Revolver narrowed his own eyes. "I did not know about the connection between Hanoi and the Lost Incident before. So perhaps I am challenging you because, like Playmaker, I want to learn the truth behind the Incident. Or maybe I'm challenging you because I want to protect people. Could it be as simple as that?"

"…It would be nice if things were as simple as that," Revolver said softly. "But it is not so. The world is complicated. And people do things for reasons even they don't fully understand."

Morningstar frowned. "You asked me why I fight. I suppose it's because I have something to protect. Someone to provide for. What about you? What do you fight for?"

Revolver thought about it seriously and said, "I fight to fulfill someone else's wishes."

"Who?"

"That doesn't matter to you. What does matter is that I will go to whatever lengths to complete my mission." Revolver put his hand on his Deck. "My turn! Draw!"

He looked at his new card and smirked. "I summon Triggering Wurm!" A red mechanical dragon shaped like a comma appeared on Revolver's field.

Triggering Wurm ATK 600 DEF 600 LVL: 2

"Manifest! The future circuit that lights up my path!" Revolver declared, his hand sparking with blue electricity. The Link portal appeared above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least two Effect Monsters. I set the Link 3 Flash Charge Dragon and Triggering Wurm in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of energy and, with Flash Charge Dragon separating into three whirlwinds, entered the bottom-left, top, bottom, and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 4! Topologic Bomber Dragon!" The massive metallic orange dragon with green lines running over its body appeared, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Topologic Bomber Dragon ATK 3000 LINK-4 ↙↑↓↘

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Revolver's ace monster…" he muttered. "Its effect is very bad for me."

Revolver smirked again. "Triggering Wurm's effect activates!" he said. "Since I used it to Link Summon a Dark Link Monster, I can Special Summon Triggering Wurm from my Graveyard next to its Link Marker." Morningstar's eyes widened as Triggering Wurm reappeared in Attack Position, summoned to Topologic Bomber Dragon's bottom-left Link Marker.

Triggering Wurm ATK 600 DEF 600 LVL: 2

"Topologic Bomber Dragon's effect activates!" Revolver declared as massive green holographic wings appeared on Topologic Bomber Dragon. "When a monster is Special Summoned next to a Link Monster's Link Marker, all monsters in our Main Monster Zones are destroyed! Full Overlap!"

Morningstar braced himself as green energy released from Topologic Bomber Dragon's wings blasted his and Revolver's fields. When the smoke cleared, Cyspirit Prisoner, Cyspirit Swordsman, and Triggering Wurm were gone.

"When a Link Monster's effect destroys Triggering Wurm, I draw one card from my Deck," Revolver said, drawing his card. On seeing what it was, he smirked. Yes, he thought. Morningstar will be a perfect test subject for this.

"Battle!" Revolver declared. "Topologic Bomber Dragon, attack Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary! Ultimate Malicious Code!" Topologic Bomber Dragon gathered red energy and blasted Rapid Revolutionary with it. Before it hit-.

"Trap activate!" Morningstar declared. "Cyspirit Battle Barrier! Since I have a 'Cyspirit' monster either on my field or in my Graveyard, the battle damage is reduced to 0!" Rapid Revolutionary was destroyed by the attack, but a barrier formed around Morningstar, preventing him from taking damage.

Revolver only smirked. "Topologic Bomber Dragon's effect activates!" he declared. "Since it attacked an opponent's monster, you take damage equal to your monster's original attack points! Aiming Blast!" Topologic Bomber Dragon gathered red lightning around its body which it then released.

The shockwaves hit Morningstar, making him cry out and pushing him backwards several feet. He went to his knees and panted from the attack.

Morningstar: 3500→1300 LP

"Yasu!" Cam cried out. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Morningstar said as he got back on his feet. Watching him, Revolver smirked.

"Not bad," he said. "Even if you lost all your monsters, you reduced the damage a little bit. I Set one card. I end my turn."

Go ahead and take your turn, Morningstar, Revolver thought. My face-down Trap Card is my newly acquired Mirror Force. I want to see a bounty hunter of your caliber fall into despair from facing it!

Morningstar grit his teeth. His Topologic Bomber Dragon's effect activates whenever a monster is Special Summoned to any monster's Link Marker, he thought. Which means that I need a monster that can protect my monsters from destruction effects.

He sighed. There was only one monster in his Deck that could truly defeat Topologic Bomber Dragon. Looking at his hand, he saw he had a card to summon it, but he needed it in the Graveyard first. And that meant…

"My turn! Draw!" Morningstar drew, and on seeing what card he drew, smiled. Perfect.

"I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Gift!" he shouted. "By discarding a 'Cyspirit' card, I can draw two cards!" He discarded his card then drew. Looking at his new cards, he smiled again. With these cards, he could push Revolver into a corner.

"I activate the Spell Card: Cyberse Call!" he said. "This lets me add one Level 4 or below Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Cyspirit Sorceress to my hand, and then I'll summon it!" The skeleton in a black dress carrying a metal staff appeared on his field.

Cyspirit Sorceress ATK 1400 DEF 400 LVL: 4

"Sorceress's monster effect! When she is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position. Return to me, Cyspirit Swordsman!"

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

It's time, Morningstar thought. Out loud, he said, "I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Necrocoding that I just sent to the Graveyard! By banishing it and two 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Link-3 or lower 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Extra Deck!" Revolver's eyes widened in surprise. "I banish Necrocoding, Cacophonic Caller, and Rapid Revolutionary!"

The three cards disappeared as Morningstar took a card from his Extra Deck. "With Necrocoding's effect, I summon Cyspirit Winning Wrestler!" A massive skeleton encased in light appeared on Morningstar's field. When the light faded, the skeleton threw back its black cape, revealing its black wrestling uniform and two championship belts. It spread its metal wings and roared as it was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Winning Wrestler ATK 2500 LINK-3 ↙↓↘

Revolver's eyes widened then narrowed. He quickly pulled up an energy reader and had it read Winning Wrestler.

Yes, he thought. The same code Terminus found in Neo Nova. So that means Winning Wrestler…

Revolver's thoughts were interrupted by Morningstar's next words. "Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal once again appeared above Morningstar. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Cyspirit Sorceress and Cyspirit Swordsman in the Link Markers!" His two monsters entered the left and top arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyspirit Idealistic Idol!" The skeleton in a sleeveless dress appeared, its black hair in a ponytail falling behind it as it spread its wings. It was summoned to Winning Wrestler's bottom Link Marker.

Cyspirit Idealistic Idol ATK 1500 LINK-2 ←↑

"Ha!" Revolver laughed. "Have you forgotten? Topologic Bomber Dragon's effect activates when any monster is Special Summoned to a Link Monster's Link Marker. Full Overlap!" Topologic Bomber Dragon's wings reappeared and released green energy, causing explosions on Morningstar's field. But when the smoke cleared, Idealistic Idol remained, with Winning Wrestler standing protectively in front of it.

"Necrocoding treats Winning Wrestler as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating," Morningstar revealed. "And even if it did not, it points to Idealistic Idol. And so long as Winning Wrestler points to at least one monster, 'Cyspirit' monsters I control cannot be destroyed by card effects!"

Revolver's eyes widened in shock. They could not be destroyed by card effects? But… that meant his face-down Mirror Force Trap Card was useless! Remembering what Terminus said, Revolver opened the energy reader again. Yes, Idealistic Idol was showing the same code as Neo Nova and Winning Wrestler. But if that was the case…

"I activate the effect of the Cyberse Call in my Graveyard!" Morningstar declared, interrupting Revolver's thoughts. "By banishing it, I can Special Summon a Cyberse monster from the Graveyard. Return, Cyspirit Prisoner!" Prisoner returned, summoned to Idealistic Idol's left Link Marker in Defense Position.

Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5

"I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cyspirit Twin Shield!" The card showed Cyspirit Gardna's shields, each glowing with white light. "If I don't control a 'Cyspirit' monster, this card is destroyed. And I'm equipping it onto Topologic Bomber Dragon!"

"What?" Revolver said, surprised. "You're equipping a Spell Card to my monster?"

"That's right," Morningstar said as Topologic Bomber Dragon gained a white aura. "Twin Shield's effect prevents the equipped monster from being destroyed by battle or card effects twice per turn."

Why would he do that? Revolver wondered. Then his eyes widened in realization. Wait, that Idol's effect!

"Idealistic Idol's monster effect!" Morningstar declared. "Since it points to two monsters, I can target one 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, except itself, and have that monster make up to three attacks against your monsters during the Battle Phase. However, other monsters I control cannot attack. I target Winning Wrestler for this effect!" Idealistic Idol spread its arms and showered Winning Wrestler with white light. Winning Wrestler roared and glowed in response.

"Battle!" Morningstar continued. "Winning Wrestler, attack Topologic Bomber Dragon!" He pointed at said monster, then said, "Winning Wrestler's second effect activates! Since it points to at least two monsters and is attacking a Special Summoned monster, that monster loses attack points equal to half the attack points of a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster Winning Wrestler points to! Topologic Bomber Dragon loses attack points equal to half of Idealistic Idol's attack points! Overpower Aura!" Winning Wrestler's wings glowed white as Topologic Bomber Dragon glowed red.

Topologic Bomber Dragon ATK 3000→2250

"Go, Winning Wrestler! Raw Power Rampage!" Winning Wrestler roared and charged Topologic Bomber Dragon, striking it in the chest with one of its fists. Revolver flinched from the backlash.

Revolver: 3400→3150 LP

"Because of Cyspirit Twin Shield, Topologic Bomber Dragon cannot be destroyed twice per turn," Morningstar reminded Revolver. "But thanks to Idealistic Idol's effect, Winning Wrestler can attack three times. And each time it attacks, it can activate its effect!" Revolver's eyes widened. This was really going to hurt.

"The second attack! Winning Wrestler, attack Topologic Bomber Dragon! And once again, Overpower Aura!"

Topologic Bomber Dragon ATK 2250→1500

"Winning Wrestler! Raw Power Rampage!" This time, Winning Wrestler struck Topologic Bomber Dragon on the head. Because of Twin Shield, it wasn't destroyed, but Revolver was pushed back from the force of the attack.

Revolver: 3150→2150 LP

"Twin Shield's effect only prevents Topologic Bomber Dragon's destruction twice," Morningstar said. "That means it won't be able to stop its destruction now." He gestured to his field. "The third attack! Go, Winning Wrestler! Overpower Aura!"

Topologic Bomber Dragon ATK 1500→750

"End his monster, Winning Wrestler! Raw Power Rampage!" Winning Wrestler roared as it glowed with white energy and charged Topologic Bomber Dragon, which blasted red energy at Winning Wrestler. Morningstar's monster powered through the blast and struck Topologic Bomber Dragon with both of its fists, destroying it in a massive explosion and knocking Revolver off his feet and back several feet.

Revolver: 2150→400 LP

"The battle isn't done yet," Morningstar said to Revolver as he stood back up. "Since Winning Wrestler destroyed your monster by battle, Idealistic Idol's effect activates, and you take 300 points of damage!" Idealistic Idol rose in the air as her wings shone. "Ideal Light!" Revolver winced from the light and covered his eyes.

Revolver: 400→100 LP

"Yes!" Cam cheered. "Yes! You have Revolver down to 100 Life Points! One more turn, and this duel is over!"

"Idealistic Idol has one more effect," Morningstar told Revolver as he recovered. "So long as it points to at least one monster, you take 200 points of damage whenever either of us Link Summons. Since you only have 100 Life Points, if you Link Summon once, you'll lose."

Revolver was silent for a long time. Then his shoulders started shaking. Morningstar watched with surprise as Revolver's laughter rose in volume and echoed around the chamber.

"Uh… what's he so happy about?" Cam asked, perturbed.

Revolver finally stopped laughing and smirked at Morningstar. "Amazing!" he said. "You eliminated my lead in a single turn and pushed me down to 100 Life Points. Facing you… is making my blood boil." His smirk widened. "You're pushing me greatly. I look forward to pushing you back!"

Morningstar grit his teeth. That wasn't the reaction he had been expecting. Before either of them could say anything more, however, a screen appeared next to Revolver.

"Revolver!" The person on the other end was Terminus. "You need to leave that duel now!"

"What?" Revolver said, shocked. "I can't leave this duel unfinished!"

"This is more important," Terminus said. He changed the image on the screen. Revolver watched and scowled.

"Ghost Girl…" he muttered. "So someone found our secret." He glanced at Morningstar, then said, "Still, I can't leave Morningstar unattended here. Can't you deal with Ghost Girl?"

"You're much closer than me. And as for Morningstar…"

Revolver looked behind him as a new figure emerged from the shadows behind him. Morningstar's eyes narrowed.

"Who's there? Is that you, Terminus?"

The figure walked out, revealing a humanoid figure colored white, silver and gold.

Morningstar's eyes widened in surprise. "That… Isn't that one of Kitamura's AI duelists?"

Revolver scowled at it as it approached. "Terminus made it," he said. "But he did base it off Kitamura's designs."

"I am designated AI Duelist Prototype HAI-B," the AI duelist said. "I am commanded to take over for Master Revolver."

"What?" Morningstar said in surprise.

Before he or Revolver could respond, the AI beeped, and both of their Duel Disks displayed the message "Duel Hacked."

Morningstar: 1300 LP

Prototype HAI-B: 100 LP

"Terminus," Revolver muttered to his screen. "What is this?"

"HAI-B is taking over your duel," Terminus replied. "It can stall Morningstar while you deal with Ghost Girl."

Revolver scowled and turned to Morningstar. "We'll have to finish this another time," he said. "There's another insect I have to squash." He turned and walked back down the tunnel.

"Revolver!" Morningstar shouted. "Wait! Come back here!"

"Your opponent is me," HAI-B said. "In taking Master Revolver's place, I have his field, Graveyard, Life Points, and number of cards in my hand."

Morningstar grit his teeth. As much as he wanted to follow Revolver, he had to deal with this thing.

"A Hanoi AI duelist," he muttered. "I wasn't expecting something like this."

"Me neither," Cam said. "I can't get a full read on it, but its programming is likely far stronger than Kitamura's. Don't let your guard down."

"I won't," Morningstar replied. "I Set one card. I end my turn. And during the End Phase, the effect of Necrocoding returns Winning Wrestler to my Extra Deck." He watched as his large monster disappeared, leaving Idealistic Idol and Prisoner. He let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The emotions both cards had been emitting had been making him tense up. Thankfully, Winning Wrestler's absence cleared his head.

"My turn! Draw!" HAI-B drew a card, then chose the one that had already been in its hand. "I Set one monster."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. What was it planning?

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Book of Taiyou," HAI-B then said. "This card flips one face-down monster into face-up Attack Position. I flip my Set monster face-up." The Set monster flipped up, revealing a plant monster with a metal eye on one end and a tree on the other. "I flip Fiber Jar face-up."

Fiber Jar ATK 500 DEF 500 LVL: 2

Morningstar's eyes widened in surprise. "Fiber Jar?" he said. This was bad.

"Fiber Jar's Flip Effect activates," HAI-B said. "If Fiber Jar is flipped face-up, all cards in both players' hands, fields, and Graveyards are shuffled into their Decks. Then we each draw five cards." Fiber Jar began emitting red pulses from its eye.

Morningstar grit his teeth and gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cyspirit Restoration!" The card's image was of a skeleton in a nurse's outfit, placing a thermometer in Winning Wrestler's mouth. "By Tributing a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, I gain Life Points equal to its Link Rating times 800. I Tribute Idealistic Idol!" Idealistic Idol disintegrated as Morningstar's body glowed and healed his wounds.

Morningstar: 1300→2900 LP

Fiber Jar's effect continued and Prisoner, itself, and the face-down card on HAI-B's field disappeared. Morningstar took the cards from his Graveyard and returned them to his Deck and Extra Deck. He then drew, as did HAI-B.

"Because Master Revolver has left the duel, his cards are removed from the game," HAI-B said. "I activate the Spell Card: Foolish Burial. This card sends one monster from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Aromage Bergamot from my Deck to the Graveyard."

After it said that, Morningstar narrowed his eyes. Aromage? Oh brother…

"I activate the effect of the Aromaseraphy Angelica in my hand," HAI-B continued. "By discarding it, I can target an 'Aroma' monster in my Graveyard and gain Life Points equal to its attack points. I target Bergamot and gain Life Points equal to its 2400 attack points."

Prototype HAI-B: 100→2500 LP

"An Aroma Deck," Cam muttered over the com. "That kind of Deck focuses on regaining Life Points. This is going to be tricky."

"I activate the Spell Card: Garden's Gift," HAI-B said. The card showed Aromaseraphy Angelica standing in front of a gate made of vines. "As I have two or more 'Aroma' monsters in my Graveyard and control no monsters, I can draw one card. If that card is an 'Aroma' monster, I can Special Summon it in Attack Position. If it is not, then it is sent to the Graveyard." HAI-B drew, then said, "I drew Aromage Jasmine, which is Special Summoned in Attack Position." A little girl with long white hair appeared on its field.

Aromage Jasmine ATK 100 DEF 1900 LVL: 2

"I activate the Spell Card: Dian Keto the Cure Master," HAI-B said. "This card increases my Life Points by 1000."

Prototype HAI-B: 2500→3500 LP

"Aromage Jasmine's monster effect! Once per turn, if I gain Life Points, I can draw one card." It drew, then said, "I activate the effect of the Aromaseraphy Angelica in my Graveyard. As I control an 'Aroma' monster and my Life Points are higher than yours, I can Special Summon Angelica in Attack Position." Another little girl, this one with green fairy wings, appeared on its field.

Aromaseraphy Angelica ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

HAI-B raised its hands above it. "Circuit, open!" it declared as its hands glowed blue. The Link portal appeared above it. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two Plant monsters. I set Aromage Jasmine and Aromaseraphy Angelica in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of energy that entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Aromaseraphy Jasmine!" A blue-haired young woman wearing a blue jacket and blue pants emerged from the portal. She had green fairy wings on her back and carried a staff with a large blue ball on the end. She was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone and winked at Morningstar.

Aromaseraphy Jasmine ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘

Morningstar grit his teeth. "So this is its Link Monster…"

"As Angelica left the field, it is banished," HAI-B said. "I activate the Field Spell Card: Aroma Garden. I activate Aroma Garden's effect. Once per turn, if I control an 'Aroma' monster, I can gain 500 Life Points and all monsters I control gain 500 attack and defense points until the end of your next turn."

Prototype HAI-B: 3500→4000 LP

Aromaseraphy Jasmine ATK 1800→2300

"Jasmine's monster effect! Once per turn, if I gain Life Points, I can add one Plant monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Aromage Rosemary from my Deck to my hand."

HAI-B gestured to its field. "Battle! Jasmine, attack Morningstar directly!" Jasmine swung her staff and blasted Morningstar with a gust of wind. He cried out as he was pushed back several feet.

Morningstar: 2900→600 LP

"I Set one card," HAI-B said. "I end my turn."

Morningstar grit his teeth. "This thing's dueling is better than Kitamura's AI duelists, no question."

"Good thing you increased your Life Points," Cam said. "Otherwise you would have lost from that attack."

"I know," Morningstar said, placing his hand on his Deck. "My turn! Draw!" He looked at his card and frowned. Because they had been banished, Cacophonic Caller, Rapid Revolutionary, and Teleporter hadn't returned to his Deck or Extra Deck from Fiber Jar's effect. Still, he wouldn't need them to win this.

"I summon Cyspirit Lancer!" The skeleton carrying a lance and shield appeared on Morningstar's field.

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 1800 DEF 0 LVL: 4

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

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 1800→2100

"And because there is a 'Cyspirit' monster on my field, I can Special Summon this monster. Come, Cyspirit Strategist!" A metal skeleton appeared, wearing a metallic black and grey tuxedo. It carried a complicated sextant in its right hand and wore futuristic goggles around its neck. A single blue eye shone out of its head as it was summoned in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Strategist ATK 1600→1900 DEF 100 LVL: 4

"Finally, since you control a Link Monster and I don't, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Armorer from my hand!" A large skeleton wearing blacksmith's clothes covered with a metallic black apron appeared on his field in Attack Position. Its arms were made of metal, as was the hammer it wielded in its right hand. A single red eye shone in its skull, which also had a beard made of metal.

Cyspirit Armorer ATK 1200→1500 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"Cyspirit Armorer's monster effect!" Morningstar declared. "Once per turn, I can target a Link Monster on the field and send Armorer to the Graveyard. Then, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Armor Tokens to my field, equal to that monster's Link Rating. I target Jasmine, which means I summon two Cyspirit Armor Tokens!" Armorer disappeared, and in its place rose two dwarf skeletons with large heads in blacksmith's clothes, both in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Armor Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 2 x 2

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared above Morningstar. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Level 2 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster. I set one Cyspirit Armor Token in the Link Marker!" The token became a whirlwind of energy that entered the bottom-left arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cyspirit Egregious Electrician!" The skeleton in overalls carrying an electrical box appeared on his field.

Cyspirit Egregious Electrician ATK 600→900 LINK-1 ↙

"Egregious Electrician's monster effect! Once per turn, I can move a monster from a zone it points at to another Main Monster Zone. Then, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster from my hand to that zone. I move Cyspirit Lancer to Special Summon Cyspirit Wanderer!" The skeleton in a poncho appeared on Morningstar's field.

Cyspirit Wanderer ATK 1900→2200 DEF 200 LVL: 5

"Wanderer's monster effect! When it is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Cyspirit' card, one monster on your field loses 800 attack points! Digital Drain!" Wanderer and Jasmine both glowed.

Aromaseraphy Jasmine ATK 2300→1500

"Cyspirit Strategist's monster effect! Once per turn, I can target one monster I control and treat it as an Effect Monster! I target my remaining Armor Token!" Morningstar gestured to the sky above him.

"Appear once more! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared above Morningstar as he continued to chant. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' Effect Monsters! I set my second Armor Token, Egregious Electrician, Strategist, and Wanderer in the Link Markers!" All four monsters became whirlwinds of energy that entered the bottom-left, top, 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 emerged from the portal and roared from the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon ATK 2800→3100 LINK-4 ↙↑↓↘

"I activate the Spell Card: Link Treasure!" Morningstar continued. "This card lets me draw cards equal to the number of Link Monsters on the field. There are two, so I draw two cards!" After looking at his cards, he picked one of them. "As there is a 'Cyspirit' monster on the field, I can Special Summon this monster. Come, Cyspirit Linker!" The skeleton in black armor wearing gauntlets with red arrows appeared, summoned to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Linker ATK 1700→2000 DEF 800 LVL: 4

"Datastorm Dragon points to Cyspirit Lancer and Cyspirit Linker," HAI-B said. "Its effect prevents non-Link Monsters from declaring attacks. Morningstar's next move must be Link Summoning Mad Mongrel or Thrilled Tunneler."

Morningstar smirked. "Must it?" he asked. "Let's test that theory. Battle! Datastorm Dragon, attack Aromaseraphy Jasmine! Data Flare!" Datastorm Dragon blasted Jasmine with blue energy. The monster screamed but wasn't destroyed.

"As my Life Points are higher than yours, Jasmine's effect prevents it, and Plant monsters it points to, from being destroyed by battle," HAI-B said.

"But you still take damage!" Morningstar reminded the AI. Sure enough, the backlash from the attack struck HAI-B, pushing it backward and making both its arms fizzle.

Prototype HAI-B: 4000→2400 LP

"Error," HAI-B said. "Datastorm Dragon's effect halves all battle damage it inflicts when it points to at least two monsters."

"Normally, that's true," Morningstar said, smirking again. "But not this time. When I use Cyspirit Strategist to Link Summon a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, that monster's effects are negated until the End Phase!"

Normally, Strategist's effect is detrimental to me, Morningstar thought. That's why I took it out of my Deck before. But when used to summon Datastorm Dragon, it's far more helpful.

"Since Datastorm Dragon's first effect is negated, that means my other two monsters can attack!" Morningstar declared. "Go, Cyspirit Lancer! Digital Lance!" Lancer charged Jasmine and struck it with its lance.

"Jasmine might not be destroyed by this battle, but you will still take damage!"

Prototype HAI-B: 2400→1800 LP

"Your turn, Linker! Digital Strike!" Linker punched Jasmine with its glowing gauntlets, but Jasmine withstood the attack. HAI-B, on the other hand, was pushed backwards.

Prototype HAI-B: 1800→1300 LP

"I can't inflict any more damage," Morningstar said. "But I can still do more. Appear for a third time! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared once again above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Level 4 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Cyspirit Linker in the Link Marker!" Linker became a whirlwind of energy and entered the top arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cyspirit Hallowed Healer!"

A metal skeleton appeared and was enveloped in light. When the light dissipated, the skeleton was wearing white robes with a red cross on the front and back. Small metal wings grew from its back and a small glowing halo circled its head, out of which blue and red eyes glowed. Morningstar's new Link Monster was summoned to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker.

Cyspirit Hallowed Healer ATK 1000→1300 LINK-1 ↑

"Hallowed Healer's monster effect!" Morningstar declared. "Once per turn, if it is co-linked with a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, I can gain Life Points equal to half that monster's original attack points! Sacred Healing!" The red cross on Hallowed Healer's robes glowed, as did Morningstar.

Morningstar: 600→2000 LP

"Continuous Trap activate!" HAI-B declared. "Humid Winds! Once per turn, if I pay 1000 Life Points, I can add one 'Aroma' monster from my Deck to my hand. I add a second Aromaseraphy Angelica from my Deck to my hand."

Prototype HAI-B: 1300→300 LP

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. It waited until my Battle Phase ended to use that card, he thought. If he had used it earlier, my monsters would have been able to destroy Jasmine.

"I-." Morningstar gasped and stumbled. What the-? That same feeling from earlier. That pressure… it almost felt like a heartbeat. Only it was much louder and stronger than before. What was it?

Shaking his head, Morningstar said, "I Set one card. I end my turn. And with my End Phase, the effect of Aroma Garden ends and Jasmine loses 500 attack points."

Aromaseraphy Jasmine ATK 1500→1000

"My turn! Draw!" HAI-B drew, then said, "I activate the effect of Humid Winds. As my Life Points are lower than yours, I can gain 500 Life Points."

Prototype HAI-B: 300→800 LP

"Jasmine's monster effect! Once per turn, if I gain Life Points, I can add one Plant monster from my Deck to my hand. I add a second Aromage Bergamot from my Deck to my hand."

After adding said card to its hand, HAI-B said, "I Normal Summon Aromage Rosemary." A young woman with blue hair and blue robes carrying a staff appeared on HAI-B's field.

Aromage Rosemary ATK 1800 DEF 700 LVL: 4

"I activate the effect of the Aromaseraphy Angelica in my hand. By discarding it, I target the Aromage Bergamot in my Graveyard and gain Life Points equal to its attack points. I gain 2400 Life Points."

Prototype HAI-B: 800→3200 LP

Morningstar grit his teeth. In just a few moves, this AI had undone most of the damage he had inflicted.

"Rosemary's monster effect! Once per turn, if I gain Life Points, I can target one face-up monster on the field and change its battle position. I change Cyspirit Lancer to Defense Position."

Morningstar grit his teeth again. "As Lancer is in Defense Position," he said begrudgingly. "Its effect no longer boosts my monsters' attack points."

Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon ATK 3100→2800

Cyspirit Hallowed Healer ATK 1300→1000

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 2100→1800

"As my Life Points are higher than yours and I control an 'Aroma' monster, I can activate the effect of the Aromaseraphy Angelica in my Graveyard," HAI-B said. "And Special Summon it to my field in Attack Position."

Aromaseraphy Angelica ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Is that thing going to Link Summon again?" Cam asked Morningstar.

Morningstar looked at the card information on Angelica and his eyes widened. "No way-."

HAI-B raised its arms. "Rings, open!" Angelica leaped high in the air out of sight. In a flash of light, a single green ring descended. "Materials confirmed! The summoning conditions are one Tuner and one or more non-Tuner monsters! I tune the Level 1 Aromaseraphy Angelica to the Level 4 Aromage Rosemary!" The ring wrapped around Rosemary, which turned into an orange outline of itself with four stars inside. The outline faded, and a surge of light went through the ring.

"Synchro Summon! Come! Level 5! Aromaseraphy Rosemary!"

A grown woman, similar in appearance to Aromage Rosemary but with wings and a staff with more flowers on it, appeared on HAI-B's field in Attack Position, summoned to Jasmine's bottom-left Link Marker.

Aromaseraphy Rosemary ATK 2000 DEF 900 LVL: 5

"A Synchro Monster?" Monringstar said in surprise. His eyes then narrowed. "It looks like Fatumare was right. Galahad using the older summoning methods has caused a revival, even among the Knights of Hanoi."

"Rosemary's monster effect!" HAI-B said. "While my Life Points are higher than yours, all Plant monsters I control gain 500 attack and defense points."

Aromaseraphy Jasmine ATK 1000→1500

Aromaseraphy Rosemary ATK 2000→2500 DEF 900→1400

"I activate the effect of Humid Winds," HAI-B continued. "I pay 1000 Life Points to add a second Aromage Jasmine from my Deck to my hand."

Prototype HAI-B: 3200→2200 LP

"I activate the Spell Card: Double Summon. This card lets me perform a second Normal Summon this turn. I summon Aromage Jasmine."

Aromage Jasmine ATK 100→600 DEF 1900→2400 LVL: 2

"Jasmine's monster effect! As my Life Points are higher than yours, I can Normal Summon one Plant monster in addition to my Normal Summon. I Tribute Jasmine to Tribute Summon Aromage Bergamot!" Jasmine disappeared and a red-haired woman carrying a black staff took its place, summoned to Aromaseraphy Jasmine's bottom-right Link Marker.

Aromage Bergamot ATK 2400→2900 DEF 1800→2300 LVL: 6

"I activate the effect of Aroma Garden," HAI-B said. "I gain 500 Life Points and all monsters I control gain 500 attack and defense points."

Prototype HAI-B: 2200→2700 LP

Aromage Bergamot ATK 2900→3400 DEF 2300→2800

Aromaseraphy Jasmine ATK 1500→2000

Aromaseraphy Rosemary ATK 2500→3000 DEF 1400→1900

Morningstar grit his teeth. One monster with 3000 attack points and another with 3400 attack points. This was bad.

"Rosemary's monster effect!" HAI-B declared. "As I gained Life Points, I can target one card you control and negate its effects until the end of the turn. I negate Datastorm Dragon's effects."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. Since Strategist's effect had worn off, that meant that Datastorm Dragon's effect preventing non-Link Monsters from attacking had returned. But because of Rosemary, that meant Bergamot and Rosemary could attack as well.

"Bergamot's monster effect!" HAI-B then declared. "If I gain Life Points, Bergamot gains 1000 attack and defense points until the end of my opponent's next turn."

Aromage Bergamot ATK 4400 DEF 2800→3800

"4400 attack points!?" Cam said into the com. "Are you kidding me?"

"Battle!" HAI-B declared. "Bergamot will attack Cyspirit Lancer!"

"What?" Morningstar said, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Lancer is in Defense Position," Cam said. "Why is it attacking with Bergamot?"

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling he should stop this attack. "I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Gardna in my hand!" he declared. "If you attack a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon this monster and make you attack it!" A skeleton in black armor carrying two large shields appeared, summoned to Datastorm Dragon's bottom-left Link Marker in Defense Position.

Cyspirit Gardna ATK 1000 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

Bergamot redirected its attack at Gardna as HAI-B said, "Bergamot's monster effect! While my Life Points are higher than yours, Plant monsters I control inflict piercing battle damage when battling a Defense Position monster!" Morningstar's eyes widened as Bergamot's staff struck Gardna.

"Gardna's second effect!" Morningstar said over the backlash from the attack. "It isn't destroyed by this battle and all battle damage I take this turn is halved!" He slid backwards a few feet from the attack, but he remained standing.

Morningstar: 2000→800 LP

"A good thing you switched the attack to Gardna," Cam said. "If that had hit Lancer, you would have lost."

"Gardna can only redirect one attack," HAI-B noted. "And Bergamot's effect grants piercing battle damage to all my Plant monsters. One attack against Lancer will end this duel. Battle! Aromaseraphy Rosemary, attack Cyspirit Lancer!" Rosemary gathered energy with her staff and blasted Lancer with it. Before it hit-.

"Trap activate!" Morningstar declared. "Cyspirit Trapdoor!" The card showed Rapid Revolutionary falling down a hole in the ground. "I can only activate this card if I have no cards in my hand and control a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster in the Extra Monster Zone. All monsters in the Extra Monster Zones are sent to the Graveyard, and all monsters in the Main Monster Zones are changed to Defense Position!" Jasmine and Datastorm Dragon disintegrated while Bergamot and Rosemary kneeled. The attack from Rosemary dissipated as its owner had changed battle positions.

"I end my turn," HAI-B said.

Cam breathed a sigh of relief. "That was too close," he said. "If it had a second Link Monster…"

"Thankfully, it didn't," Morningstar said, placing his hand on his Deck. "My turn! Draw!" Looking at his card, he smirked.

Both of its monsters are in Defense Position, he thought. I imagine Terminus is watching this right now. I think I'll show him one of the monsters I added to my Deck to defeat him.

"I switch Cyspirit Lancer to Attack Position," he said. "And since it is now in Attack Position, all 'Cyspirit' monsters gain 300 attack points. Digital Charge!"

Cyspirit Gardna: 1000→1300

Cyspirit Hallowed Healer ATK 1000→1300

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 1800→2100

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

Cyspirit Egregious Electrician ATK 600→900 LINK-1 ↙

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" Morningstar's hand glowed blue as the Link portal appeared above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Egregious Electrician, Gardna, and Hallowed Healer in the Link Markers!" All three monsters became whirlwinds of energy that entered the bottom-left, top, and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Cyspirit Quixotic Queen!"

A skeleton made of white metal emerged form the portal. It was soon encased in light. When the light faded, it was wearing an elaborate black and gold dress, with frills everywhere. A golden circlet had appeared on its head, as had long blonde hair that went down to its waist. It carried a golden scepter in its right hand, which it waved in the air. Its blue and red eyes gleamed as it was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone, empowered by Cyspirit Lancer.

Cyspirit Quixotic Queen ATK 2300→2600 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

"Error," HAI-B said. "An unknown monster has appeared. Going through countermeasures."

"You won't find any," Morningstar said. "I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cyspirit Multiplier and equip it to Quixotic Queen! With this, my Queen can make two attacks against your monsters this turn."

"Pointless," HAI-B said. "Aromage Bergamot has 3800 defense points. Attacking Bergamot will result in Morningstar's loss. Furthermore, if an 'Aroma' monster is destroyed by battle or card effect, Aroma Garden increases my Life Points by 1000."

"Is that so? Then I'll have to fix that." Morningstar gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of the Cyspirit Trapdoor in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can destroy one Spell or Trap Card my opponent controls. I'll destroy Aroma Garden!" The Field Spell shattered, but its effect remained, boosting Bergamot and Rosemary's attack and defense points.

"Battle!" Morningstar declared. "Quixotic Queen, attack Aromage Bergamot!" Quixotic Queen lifted her scepter and blasted white energy at Bergamot.

"As stated before, Bergamot has 3800 defense points while Quixotic Queen has 2600 attack points," HAI-B said. "Morningstar will take 1200 points of damage. Victory is mine."

"No, it isn't," Morningstar said. "Quixotic Queen's monster effect! If it points to at least one monster and attacks a Defense Position monster, that monster is destroyed at the start of the Damage Step! Utopic Lightning!" The light from Quixotic Queen's scepter struck Bergamot, destroying it in an explosion.

"Cyspirit Multiplier allows Quixotic Queen to attack twice," Morningstar reminded HAI-B. "Quixotic Queen, attack Rosemary! And with its effect, Rosemary is destroyed Utopic Lightning!" Once again, HAI-B's monster was struck with white lightning, destroying it.

"My field is empty," HAI-B said. "But Quixotic Queen cannot attack again. And Cyspirit Lancer only possesses 2100 attack points. If it attacks directly, I will still have 600 Life Points."

"No, you won't," Morningstar said. "Battle! Cyspirit Lancer, attack HAI-B directly!" Lancer charged the AI duelist. "I activate the effect of the Hallowed Healer in my Graveyard! By banishing it, an attacking 'Cyspirit' monster I control gains 1000 attack points until the End Phase!"

Cyspirit Lancer ATK 2100→3100

"Go, Lancer!" Morningstar shouted. "End this duel! Digital Lance!" Lancer charged and struck HAI-B in its core with its lance, causing a massive explosion. Morningstar watched as HAI-B broke down from the damage and its parts disintegrated.

Prototype HAI-B: 2700→0 LP

"Well, that was annoying," Morningstar said, scowling at where the AI duelist had been.

"Hurry," Cam said. "Revolver went back down that path. He should be down there somewhere."

"Right."

Morningstar hurried across the bridge and found himself in a long hallway. Eventually, he reached the end, and what he found surprised him.

"Playmaker?" he said. The duelist in question, turned around at hearing his name.

"Morningstar?" he said in surprise. "What are you doing down here?"

"I was about to ask you that," the bounty hunter said. He then noticed the gate blocking their path. "What the-?"

He came up to the gate and looked in. His eyes widened in shock at what he saw.

He recognized this place as the reprocessing plant. At the center of the room was a massive red sphere with tendrils of energy coming out of it. And circling the sphere, in the middle of a Data Storm, were-.

"Ghost Girl?" Morningstar said. "And she's dueling Revolver?" He narrowed his eyes. "So she's the reason Revolver bailed."

"Bailed?" Ai asked Morningstar. "What do you mean?"

"I ran into Revolver when I was searching this place," the hunter answered. "We dueled for a bit, but then he ran off. An AI duelist took his place. Guess this must be the reason he bailed."

"Eh?" Ai said. "An AI duelist? I thought Hanoi hates AI."

"Revolver said it was Terminus's idea," Morningstar said. He would have said more, but their conversation was interrupted by Ghost Girl's duel with Revolver.

"I activate my Skill, Secret Cure!" The two turned and watched as Ghost Girl started to glow.

Looking at the duel layout, Morningstar's eyes widened. "Revolver has 400 Life Points left," he said. "That means he can use Storm Access."

"Ghost Girl is trying to prevent it," Playmaker said. "She'll need a monster with at least 700 attack points."

Unfortunately, Ghost Girl drew Altergeist Kunquery, which had 0 attack points. Which meant neither of them gained Life Points.

"Ha!" Revolver said, smirking. "You're third rate. Luck has forsaken you."

Morningstar scowled. The wind in the room was too great for him or Playmaker to call out to either duelist. But there was something more important right now. He activated the scanner in his Duel Disk and directed it at the red sphere.

"Cam," he whispered. "What is this thing?"

"No idea," Cam responded. "The scanner needs time to work. It would take less time if you could get closer, but that's not happening."

Morningstar left the scanner running as he returned his attention to Ghost Girl and Revolver. He watched as Ghost Girl activated Altergeist Protocol. Clever. With a face-up Altergeist card, she could summon Kunquery and negate an attack.

Unfortunately, her efforts were for naught as Revolver activated a Counter Trap Card from his hand by paying half his Life Points that reset Protocol and kept her from activating any Trap Cards for the remainder of the turn.

"You've known Ghost Girl for a while, right?" Playmaker asked Morningstar. "Do you think she can win?"

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "That depends on whether Revolver's luck with Storm Access is as good as yours is."

They watched as Revolver summoned Background Dragon, a medium-sized meta dragon with orange armor, red claws, and green crystals on its shoulders, and Sniffer Dragon, which added another Sniffer Dragon to Revolver's hand, which he summoned.

"I'll now show you my new power," Revolver said, smirking. Morningstar narrowed his eyes. Here it comes.

"I can hear the pulse of an unknown power hiding in the network," Revolver said. Strands of the Data Storm emerged from the red sphere. "It's waiting for me to take it." Revolver's hand glowed purple after he said that. The strands came together and formed a tsunami of data. "Come, Data Storm!" The tsunami submerged Revolver in it.

"This is bad," Ai said.

They watched as Revolver broke out of the Data Storm and held his hand out. "Manifest! The future circuit that lights up my path!" His hand glowed as the Link portal appeared in front of him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least two Effect Monsters! I set Background Dragon and the two Sniffer Dragons in the Link Markers!" All three monsters became bullets of energy that entered the bottom-left, top, and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Topologic Trisbaena!"

A massive mechanical dragon appeared on Revolver's field. It was mostly black and white with red patches on it, as well as several panels.

"A new Topologic!" Playmaker said, shocked at Trisbaena's appearance.

The hacker and hunter watched as Revolver Special Summoned Defrag Dragon from the Graveyard and revealed Trisbaena's effect.

"What?" Morningstar said in surprise. "It banishes every Spell and Trap Card on the field?"

"That's way overpowered!" Ai complained.

Morningstar watched with increasing panic as Ghost Girl's Life Points went down and Revolver ordered Trisbaena to attack. No…

"Final Vulnerable Code!"

The blast of pink energy hit Ghost Girl head on.

"Emma!" Cam and Morningstar shouted. The former was standing up, a shocked expression on his face.

As her Life Points hit 0, Ghost Girl was flung from her D-Board, hit the wall, and fell in front of Morningstar and Playmaker.

"Hang in there, Ghost Girl!" Playmaker said.

"Emma!" Morningstar said, his expression panicked.

"Eh?" Ai asked. "Who's Emma?"

Ghost Girl pushed herself up and gave a small laugh. "F-For a professional, you're pathetic, Morningstar. Don't you know it's rude to call people by their real names here?"

Morningstar scowled. "Never mind that. Playmaker and I will save you!" He and Playmaker both pulled on the bars, but they wouldn't budge.

"This is more important," Ghost Girl said, raising her left arm. "This treasure is incredible. The best I've ever acquired." A yellow light emerged from her Duel Disk and flew into Playmaker's Duel Disk.

"You must take that data out of here," Ghost Girl said. She turned to Morningstar. "I imagine you have your own copy, right? With that scanner of yours?" Morningstar looked at his Duel Disk and nodded. The scan was complete.

Ghost Girl turned back to Playmaker. "As you said Playmaker, something is happening in LINK VRAINS."

Playmaker hardened his expression. "Okay. I promise."

The two gasped on seeing Ghost Girl glow red. Her avatar started to break apart at her feet.

"What's happening?" Playmaker asked.

"Be careful of Revolver," Ghost Girl said. "He has a terrifying card-." That was as far as she got before she disintegrated completely.

"Ghost Girl!" Playmaker shouted, reaching out of the bars. Morningstar was too shocked to say anything.

"Emma…" Cam whispered, staring at the screen. "Emma…"

The two duelists watched as the data that had been Ghost Girl became part of the giant red sphere.

"The way she vanished was horrible!" Ai shouted, panicking himself.

Revolver suddenly appeared, jumping off his D-Board and landing in front of them.

"You're late, Playmaker," Revolver said, smirking. Then he turned to Morningstar. "So are you. Terminus's toy delayed you longer than I thought it would. I'll have to reevaluate my assessment of you."

Morningstar opened his mouth, but Playmaker beat him to it. "Revolver! What did you do with Ghost Girl?"

"She became the foundation to save the world," Revolver answered. "She won't come back."

"What are you doing?"

"The Tower of Hanoi has already activated," Revolver said. "If you want to stop this game, you must defeat me, Playmaker." He turned to Morningstar. "And you must defeat Terminus, bounty hunter. He's looking forward to seeing you again."

Tendrils emerged from the red sphere and traveled upwards out of the reprocessing center. Other tendrils emerged and broke through the walls. Revolver turned and jumped off the ledge.

"Revolver!" Playmaker called out, but Revolver had left on his D-Board.

"Wait, Revolver!" Playmaker called again, pulling on the bars.

"Hey, Playmaker!" Ai protested. "You promised Ghost girl that you'll bring back the data!"

Playmaker ignored Ai and said, "Come back, Revolver!"

"Playmaker, we're in real danger!" Ai said.

Turning to Playmaker, who still didn't move, Morningstar punched him in the face. Playmaker turned to him, surprised more than hurt.

"Morningstar?"

"Log out, you idiot!" Morningstar shouted at him. He then logged out himself.

---

"Cam!" Yasutake shouted as he walked out of the sealed room.

"Yasu!" Cam said, his relief evident. "Nice punch." Yasutake ignored that and looked at the monitors. He gasped.

"What… what is that?"

The two watched as, in LINK VRAINS, a massive beam of light emerged from the ground. Tendrils of purple energy wrapped themselves around the beam and formed some kind of support structure. Shockwaves radiated outwards of the tower as a golden ball of energy traveled upwards. Once it hit the top, it exploded outwards.

"What… what is this?"

---

Morningstar vs. Revolver/Prototype HAI-B

This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.

Turn 1: Revolver

Revolver Normal Summons Gateway Dragon (1600/1400/4). He activates the effect of Gateway Dragon to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Dragon monster from his hand. He Special Summons Sniffer Dragon (800/400/2) in Attack Position. As it was Special Summoned, Revolver activates the effect of Sniffer Dragon to add another Sniffer Dragon from his Deck to his hand. Revolver activates the effect of Defrag Dragon in his hand, sending another monster from his hand to the GY to Special Summon it. He sends Sniffer Dragon to the GY to Special Summon Defrag Dragon in Attack Position (1000/600/3). Revolver uses Defrag Dragon, Gateway Dragon, and Sniffer Dragon to Link Summon Flash Charge Dragon (2300/3/↖↑↗) to the Extra Monster Zone. As a Dragon Link Monster was Special Summoned, Revolver activates the effect of Linkbelt Wall Dragon in his hand, Special Summoning it in Defense Position (0/2100/6). As Wall Dragon was Special Summoned, its effect activates, placing 2 Wall Counters on it (Wall Dragon: 0 WC→2 WC). The other effect of Wall Dragon prevents both players from summoning Link Monsters whose Link Rating is higher than the number of Wall Counters Wall Dragon has. Revolver ends his turn.

Turn 2: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. During the Standby Phase, Wall Dragon gains a Wall Counter (Wall Dragon: 2 WC→3 WC). Since Revolver controls a monster and he does not, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Swordsman (1200/900/3) to Flash Charge Dragon's top-left Link Marker in Attack Position. Because Swordsman was Special Summoned by its own effect, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke to his hand. Since a monster was Normal or Special Summoned to a zone Flash Charge Dragon points to, its effect destroys that monster and inflicts 500 damage to Morningstar. Swordsman is destroyed (Morningstar: 4000→3500 LP). Since he took effect damage, Morningstar activates the effect of the Cyspirit Saver in his hand, Special Summoning it in Attack Position (0/1300/2). Morningstar takes no effect damage for the remainder of the turn. Because Revolver controls a Link Monster and he does not, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke from his hand (200/500/2). Morningstar uses Saver to Link Summon Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller (500/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. Morningstar activates Cacophonic Caller's effect to Special Summon Cyspirit Teleporter (500/1500/3) from his Deck to its Link Marker in Attack Position, but Teleporter cannot attack and it is destroyed during the End Phase. Morningstar uses Cacophonic Caller, Teleporter, and Tunnel Tyke to Link Summon Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary to the Extra Monster Zone (2200/3/↙↑↓). As there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Prisoner to Rapid Revolutionary's bottom Link Marker in Defense Position (1600/2100/5). Morningstar activates the effect of the Teleporter in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman (1200/900/3) from his GY to Rapid Revolutionary's bottom-left Link Marker in Defense Position.

Rapid Revolutionary attacks Linkbelt Wall Dragon. Because it points to at least 1 monster and is battling a non-Link Monster, Rapid Revolutionary gains 500 ATK (Rapid Revolutionary: 2200→2700). Linkbelt Wall Dragon is destroyed, and because Rapid Revolutionary points to at least 2 monsters, it inflicts piercing battle damage (Revolver: 4000→3400 LP). Morningstar Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 3: Revolver

Revolver draws. He Normal Summons Triggering Wurm (600/600/2). Revolver uses Triggering Wurm and the Link 3 Flash Charge Dragon to Link Summon Topologic Bomber Dragon (3000/4/↙↑↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Triggering Wurm was used as a Link Material for the Link Summon of a Dark Link Monster, Revolver activates its effect to Special Summon it to a zone that Link Monster points to. He Special Summons it to Topologic Bomber Dragon's bottom-left Link Marker (600/600/2) in Attack Position. As a monster was Special Summoned to a zone a Link Monster points to, the effect of Topologic Bomber Dragon activates, destroying all monsters in the Main Monster Zones. Prisoner, Swordsman, and Triggering Wurm are destroyed. As Triggering Wurm was destroyed by a Link Monster's effect, Revolver draws 1 card.

Topologic Bomber Dragon attacks Rapid Revolutionary. Rapid Revolutionary is destroyed, but Morningstar activates his face-down Trap Card Cyspirit Battle Barrier, reducing the battle damage to 0 and ending the Battle Phase. Because Topologic Bomber Dragon attacked an opponent's monster, Revolver activates its effect to inflict Rapid Revolutionary's original ATK to Morningstar as damage (Morningstar: 3500→1300 LP). Revolver Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 4: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. He activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Gift, discarding Cyspirit Necrocoding to draw 2 cards. He then activates the Spell Card Cyberse Call, adding Cyspirit Sorceress from his Deck to his hand. Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Sorceress (1400/400/4). Because Sorceress was Normal Summoned, Morningstar activates its effect to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his GY in Attack Position. He Special Summons Cyspirit Swordsman (1200/900/3). Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Necrocoding in his GY. Since he controls no monsters in the Extra Monster Zone, he banishes it, Cacophonic Caller, and Rapid Revolutionary from his GY. He can then Special Summon 1 Link-3 or below "Cyspirit" Link Monster from his Extra Deck, have it treated as a Link Summon, and treat that monster as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating. Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Winning Wrestler (2500/3/↙↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Morningstar uses Sorceress and Swordsman to Link Summon Cyspirit Idealistic Idol (1500/2/←↑) to Winning Wrestler's bottom Link Marker. Since a monster was Special Summoned to a Link Monster's Link Marker, the effect of Topologic Bomber Dragon activates, but because Winning Wrestler points to at least 1 monster, "Cyspirit" monsters Morningstar controls cannot be destroyed by Revolver's card effects. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyberse Call in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon Cyspirit Prisoner (1600/2100/5) to Idealistic Idol's left Link Marker in Defense Position. Morningstar activates the Equip Spell Card Cyspirit Twin Shield and equips it to Topologic Bomber Dragon. Now Topologic Bomber Dragon cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects twice per turn.

Morningstar activates the effect of Idealistic Idol, targeting Winning Wrestler. Since Idealistic Idol points to 2 monsters, Winning Wrestler can make up to 3 attacks on Revolver's monsters this Battle Phase. Winning Wrestler attacks Topologic Bomber Dragon. As it points to at least 2 monsters and is attacking a Special Summoned monster, Morningstar activates the effect of Winning Wrestler, targeting Idealistic Idol. Topologic Bomber Dragon loses ATK equal to half of Idealistic Idol's ATK (Topologic Bomber Dragon: 3000→2250). Because of Cyspirit Twin Shield, Topologic Bomber Dragon isn't destroyed (Revolver: 3400→3150 LP). Winning Wrestler attacks Topologic Bomber Dragon again and activates its effect, targeting Idealistic Idol (Topologic Bomber Dragon: 2250→1500). Because of Cyspirit Twin Shield, Topologic Bomber Dragon isn't destroyed (Revolver: 3150→2150 LP). Winning Wrestler attacks Topologic Bomber Dragon a third time, activating its effect and targeting Idealistic Idol (Topologic Bomber Dragon: 1500→750). Topologic Bomber Dragon is destroyed (Revolver: 2150→400 LP). Since Winning Wrestler destroyed a monster by battle, Idealistic Idol deals 300 damage to Revolver (Revolver: 400→100 LP).

At this point, Prototype HAI-B takes over for Revolver. It has the same field, LP, GY, and number of cards in its hand.

Morningstar Sets 1 card. He ends his turn. During the End Phase, the effect of Necrocoding returns Winning Wrestler to Morningstar's Extra Deck.

Turn 5: Prototype HAI-B

HAI-B draws. It Sets 1 monster. It then activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Book of Taiyou, flipping its face-down Fiber Jar into Attack Position (500/500/3). Because Fiber Jar was flipped face-up, its effect activates, and both players shuffle all cards in their hands, fields, and GYs into their Decks and draw 5 cards. Morningstar activates his face-down Trap Card Cyspirit Restoration, Tributing Idealistic Idol to gain LP equal to its Link Rating times 800 (Morningstar: 1300→2900 LP), but HAI-B takes no effect damage this turn. Fiber Jar, Prisoner, HAI-B's face-down card, and all the cards in HAI-B's and Morningstar's GYs are shuffled back into their Decks. Because Revolver is no longer part of the Duel, his cards are removed from the game.

HAI-B activates the Spell Card Foolish Burial, sending Aromage Bergamot from its Deck to the GY. It activates the effect of the Aromaseraphy Angelica in its hand, discarding it and targeting Bergamot in its GY. HAI-B gains LP equal to Bergamot's ATK (HAI-B: 100→2500 LP). HAI-B activates the Spell Card Garden's Gift. Since it has 2 "Aroma" monsters in its GY and controls no monsters, it can draw 1 card, and if it is an "Aroma" monster, HAI-B can Special Summon it in Attack Position. If it is not, then it is sent to the GY. HAI-B draws and Special Summons Aromage Jasmine (100/1900/2). It activates the Spell Card Dian Keto the Cure Master, increasing its LP by 1000 (HAI-B: 2500→3500 LP). Since HAI-B's LP are higher than Morningstar's and it gained LP, HAI-B activates Jasmine's effect to draw 1 card. Since its LP are higher than Morningstar's and HAI-B controls an "Aroma" monster, HAI-B activates the effect of Angelica in the GY, Special Summoning it (0/0/1) in Attack Position. HAIB uses Angelica and Jasmine to Link Summon Aromaseraphy Jasmine (1800/2/↙↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Because it left the field, Angelica's effect banishes itself. HAI-B activates the Field Spell Card Aroma Garden. Since it controls an "Aroma" monster, HAI-B activates the effect of Aroma Garden. It gains 500 LP and all monsters it controls gain 500 ATK/DEF until the end of Morningstar's next turn (HAI-B: 3500→4000 LP) (Jasmine: 1800→2300). Since HAI-B gained LP, the effect of Jasmine lets it add 1 Plant monster from its Deck to its hand. It adds Aromage Rosemary to its hand. Jasmine attacks Morningstar directly (Morningstar: 2900→600 LP). HAI-B Sets 1 card (Humid Winds). It ends its turn.

Turn 6: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. He Normal Summons Cyspirit Lancer (1800/0/4) in Attack Position. Because Lancer is in Attack Position, all "Cyspirit" monsters gain 300 ATK (Lancer: 1800→2100). Since there is a "Cyspirit" monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Strategist (1600→1900/100/4) in Attack Position. Since HAI-B controls a Link Monster and he does not, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Armorer from his hand (1200→1500/2000/6) in Attack Position. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Armorer, targeting Jasmine for its effect. Cyspirit Armorer is sent to the GY, and Morningstar can Special Summon Cyspirit Armor Tokens, equal to Jasmine's Link Rating. Morningstar Special Summons 2 Cyspirit Armor Tokens (0/0/2) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses 1 Cyspirit Armor Token to Link Summon Cyspirit Egregious Electrician (600→900/1/↙) to the Extra Monster Zone. He activates the effect of Egregious Electrician, moving the Lancer it points at to a different zone to Special Summon the Cyspirit Wanderer (1900→2200/200/5) in his hand to its Link Marker in Attack Position. Since Wanderer was Special Summoned by the effect of a "Cyspirit" card, Morningstar can lower the ATK of 1 of HAI-B's monsters by 800 (Jasmine: 2300→1500). Morningstar uses the Armor Token, Egregious Electrician, Strategist, and Wanderer to Link Summon Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon (2800→3100/4/↙↑↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Since Strategist was used to Link Summon Datastorm Dragon, its effects are negated until the End Phase. Morningstar activates the Spell Card Link Treasure, drawing cards equal to the number of Link Monsters on the field. Morningstar draws 2 cards. Since there is a "Cyspirit" monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Linker (1700→2000/800/4) to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker in Attack Position.

Datastorm Dragon attacks Jasmine. Since HAI-B's LP are higher than Morningstar's, Jasmine and Plant monsters it points to cannot be destroyed by battle (HAI-B: 4000→2400 LP). Lancer attacks Jasmine (HAI-B: 2400→1800 LP). Linker attacks Jasmine (HAI-B: 1800→1300 LP). Morningstar uses Linker to Link Summon Cyspirit Hallowed Healer (1000→1300/1/↑) to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker. Since Hallowed Healer is co-linked with a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, he activates its effect, letting him gain LP equal to half of Datastorm Dragon's original ATK (Morningstar: 600→2000 LP). HAI-B activates its face-down Continuous Trap Card Humid Winds, paying 1000 LP (HAI-B: 1300→300 LP) to add 1 "Aroma" monster from its Deck to its hand. It adds a 2nd Aromaseraphy Angelica to its hand. Morningstar Sets 1 card. He ends his turn, and the effect of Aroma Garden ends (Jasmine: 1500→1000).

Turn 7: Prototype HAI-B

HAI-B draws. Since its LP are lower than Morningstar's, it activates the effect of Humid Winds to gain 500 LP (HAI-B: 300→800 LP). Since HAI-B gained LP, the effect of Jasmine lets it add 1 Plant monster from its Deck to its hand. It adds a 2nd Aromage Bergamot to its hand. HAI-B Normal Summons Aromage Rosemary (1800/700/4). HAI-B activates the effect of the Angelica in its hand, discarding it and targeting the Bergamot in its GY. HAI-B gains LP equal to Bergamot's ATK (HAI-B: 800→3200 LP). Since HAI-B gained LP, the effect of Rosemary lets it target 1 monster on the field and change its battle position. HAI-B changes Cyspirit Lancer to Defense Position. Because Lancer is no longer in Attack Position, the ATK of Datastorm Dragon, Hallowed Healer, and Lancer return to normal (Datastorm Dragon: 3100→2800) (Hallowed Healer: 1300→1000) (Lancer: 2100→1800). Since its LP are higher than Morningstar's and it controls an "Aroma" monster, HAI-B activates the effect of the Angelica in its GY, Special Summoning it in Attack Position (0/0/1), but it will be banished if it leaves the field. HAI-B tunes the Level 1 Angelica to the Level 4 Rosemary to Synchro Summon Aromaseraphy Rosemary (2000/900/5) to Jasmine's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position. Since HAI-B's LP are higher than Morningstar's Rosemary's effect increases the ATK/DEF of Plant monsters it controls by 500 (Jasmine: 1000→1500) (Rosemary: 2000→2500/900→1400).

HAI-B activates the effect of Humid Winds, paying 1000 LP (HAI-B: 3200→2200 LP) to add a 2nd Aromage Jasmine from its Deck to its hand. HAI-B activates the Spell Card Double Summon, letting it perform a 2nd Normal Summon this turn. It Normal Summons Aromage Jasmine (100→600/1900→2400/2). Since HAI-B's LP are higher than Morningstar's, Aromage Jasmine lets HAI-B Normal Summon 1 Plant monster in addition to its Normal Summon/Set. It Tributes Aromage Jasmine to Tribute Summon Aromage Bergamot (2400→2900/1800→2300/6) to Jasmine's bottom-right Link Marker. HAI-B activates the effect of Aroma Garden, increasing its LP by 500 and increasing the ATK/DEF of all monsters it controls by 500 (HAI-B: 2200→2700 LP) (Bergamot: 2900→3400/2300→2800) (Jasmine: 1500→2000) (Rosemary: 2500→3000/1400→1900). Since HAI-B gained LP, the effect of Rosemary activates, letting it negate the effects of 1 face-up card on Morningstar's field. HAI-B targets and negates the effects of Datastorm Dragon. Since HAI-B gained LP, the effect of Bergamot activates, increasing its ATK/DEF by 1000 until the end of Morningstar's turn (Bergamot: 3400→4400/2800→3800).

Bergamot attacks Lancer, but Morningstar activates the effect of the Cyspirit Gardna in his hand, Special Summoning it in Defense Position (1000/2000/4) to Datastorm Dragon's bottom-left Link Marker and making it the target of Bergamot's attack. Since HAI-B's LP are higher than Morningstar's, Bergamot's effect inflicts piercing battle damage whenever a Plant monster HAI-B controls battles. Since it was Special Summoned by its effect, Gardna halves all battle damage Morningstar takes this turn and it cannot be destroyed by this battle (Morningstar: 2000→800 LP). Rosemary attacks Lancer, but Morningstar activates his face-down Trap Card Cyspirit Trapdoor. Since he has no cards in his hand and controls a "Cyspirit" Link Monster in the Extra Monster Zone, Datastorm Dragon and Jasmine are sent to the GY and all monsters in the Main Monster Zone are changed to Defense Position. Bergamot and Rosemary are both changed to Defense Position. HAI-B ends its turn.

Turn 8: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. He switches Cyspirit Lancer to Attack Position. Because Lancer is in Attack Position, all "Cyspirit" monsters gain 300 ATK (Gardna: 1000→1300) (Hallowed Healer: 1000→1300) (Lancer: 1800→2100). He activates the effect of the Cyspirit Wanderer in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon Cyspirit Egregious Electrician (600→900/1/↙) from his GY. Morningstar uses Egregious Electrician, Gardna, and Hallowed Healer to Link Summon Cyspirit Quixotic Queen (2300→2600/3/↙↑↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Morningstar activates the Equip Spell Card Cyspirit Multiplier, equipping it to Quixotic Queen and letting it make 2 attacks against HAI-B's monsters. He then activates the effect of the Cyspirit Trapdoor in his GY, banishing it to destroy Aroma Garden.

Quixotic Queen attacks Bergamot. Since Quixotic Queen points to at least 1 monster and it is attacking a Defense Position monster, Morningstar can destroy that monster. Bergamot is destroyed. Quixotic Queen attacks Rosemary. Quixotic Queen's effect activates, destroying Rosemary. Lancer attacks HAI-B directly. Since a "Cyspirit" monster is attacking, Morningstar activates the effect of the Hallowed Healer in his GY, banishing it to increase the attacking "Cyspirit" monster's ATK by 1000 until the End Phase (Lancer: 2100→3100). The attack continues (HAI-B: 2700→0 LP). Morningstar wins.

---

Cyspirit Strategist
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1600 DEF 100 Level: 4
If you control a "Cyspirit" monster, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). You can only Special Summon "Cyspirit Strategist" once per turn this way. Once per turn: You can target 1 "Cyspirit" Normal Monster you control; until the end of this turn, that monster is treated as an Effect Monster. If this card is used as material for the Link Summon of a "Cyspirit" Link Monster: That Link Summoned monster's effects are negated until the End Phase.

Cyspirit Armorer
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1200 DEF 2000 Level: 6
If your opponent controls a Link Monster and you do not, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). Once per turn: You can target 1 Link Monster on the field and send this card to the GY; Special Summon a number of "Cyspirit Armor Tokens" (Cyberse/LIGHT/Level 2/ ATK 0/DEF 0) equal to the targeted Link Monster's Link Rating. You cannot Special Summon other monsters the turn you activate this effect, except for "Cyspirit" monsters. You can only control 1 "Cyspirit Armorer".

Cyspirit Hallowed Healer
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 1000 LINK-1 ↑
1 Level 4 "Cyspirit" monster
Once per turn, if this card is co-linked with a "Cyspirit" Link Monster: you can gain LP equal to half the original ATK of the monster co-linked with this card. The turn you activate this effect, your opponent takes no effect damage. This card cannot declare an attack the turn you activate this effect. If a "Cyspirit" monster you control declares an attack, you can banish this card from your GY; the attacking "Cyspirit" monster gains 1000 ATK until the End Phase.

Cyspirit Quixotic Queen
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↙↑↘
2+ "Cyspirit" monsters
This Link Summoned card gains these effects depending on the number of monsters it points to.
-1 or more: If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, at the start of the Damage Step: You can destroy that monster.
-2 or more: If this card attacks, your opponent cannot activate any Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step.
-3: Once per turn, at the end of the Damage Step, if this card destroyed an opponent's monster by battle: you can target 1 card your opponent controls; destroy that card.

Cyspirit Twin Shield Equip Spell Card
Destroy this card unless you control a "Cyspirit" monster. The equipped monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects twice per turn. If this card leaves the field, destroy the equipped monster.

Cyspirit Restoration Normal Trap Card
Tribute 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster on your side of the field; gain LP equal to its Link Rating x 800. The turn you activate this effect, your opponent takes no effect damage. You can only activate "Cyspirit Restoration" once per turn.

Garden's Gift Normal Spell Card
If you have 2 or more "Aroma" monsters in your GY and control no monsters: draw 1 card; if the card is an "Aroma" monster, you can Special Summon it in Attack Position. If not, send it to the GY.

Cyspirit Trapdoor Normal Trap Card
If your opponent's monster declares an attack while you have no cards in your hand and control a "Cyspirit" Link Monster in the Extra Monster Zone: send both monsters in the Extra Monster Zone to the GY and switch all monsters in the Main Monster Zones to Defense Position. You can banish this card from your GY; target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card your opponent controls.

---

Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 19 – The Tower of Hanoi

---

Responses to Reviews & Author's Notes

Thank you to HunterHQ, ZarcEternal, SoulMatter, ClearwingYuta, D3lph0xL0v3r, Ethan Kironus, sanedimentio, Guest, ThePLOThand, and Lindia Fullmoon for reviewing Chapter 17.

I already told Ethan this, but just in case there is any confusion, Thaumiel is male.

Before I answer Lindia Fullmoon, I want to say this: please limit yourself to one review per chapter. I like that it brings my count up, but it is a little irritating. But to answer your question about Morningstar having an Ignis… I won't. I'm still nailing down details at this stage. Spoilers.

Okay, this chapter takes place between Episodes 30 and 31. After Chapter 14, I wanted to write a Morningstar vs. Revolver duel, but considering the Tower of Hanoi arc and how it ended, I wasn't sure of where to put it. So I decided to have it here, and there technically was no winner because Prototype HAI-B took over so Revolver could duel Ghost Girl. Also, this gave me the chance to showcase my new favorite Morningstar combo: Winning Wrestler, Idealistic Idol, and Cyspirit Twin Shield. This combo was the reason I changed Winning Wrestler's effects, because if it had just 100 more attack points, Revolver would have lost. The fact that the combo inflicts so much damage is the reason why I had HAI-B use an Aroma Deck, as it is one of the best Decks at regaining Life Points.

There were two other major parts I want to talk about. The first is Masako and her father's files. Yes, Hitomu Hirai is the creator of the Cyspirit monsters, and there are two more on his computer. Those two will be revealed before the Tower of Hanoi arc ends, and I hope everyone will like them. It also mentions two new archetypes for Hidden Memories: Cyangels and Cydemons. Because of the pacing, neither archetype will make a physical appearance until season 2, which I am sorry about. What I will say is that like the Cyspirits, both archetypes will focus on Link Summoning, but not to the same degree as the Cyspirits.

The last thing I want to talk about: the code that Terminus and Revolver found in Morningstar's monsters. What is it about? You'll have to wait and find out.

Thank you for reading Chapter 18 of Hidden Memories. Please tell me what your favorite moment of the chapter was. Mine was the aforementioned Winning Wrestler-Idealistic Idol-Twin Shield combo.