Chapter 21: Nature's Revenge

"Thaumiel lost."

"I have to admit I did not expect that. After seeing his Deck, I assumed Lilith would be no match for him."

"We underestimated her. But it appears she has gotten sidetracked. And Spectre managed to defeat Blue Angel. Now he is moving to intercept Morningstar and Playmaker."

"He can only handle one of them at a time. And we are needed here to defend the Tower."

"Do not worry. We still have one last card to play."

Lilith ran through the streets. She had to have been imagining things. After defeating Thaumiel she had noticed a tornado of rose petals. If she wasn't mistaken, it had appeared on the route Blue Angel had taken. While Lilith didn't care about what happened to Blue Angel, she suspected she would find a Knight of Hanoi there. If she could defeat them, it would be one less enemy to take care of.

As Lilith rounded the corner, she gasped. Blue Angel was lying on the ground, her wings ripped from her back and her hair fallen out of its twin tails.

"Blue Angel!" Lilith shouted, running towards the fallen idol. But when she got within a few feet, the ground beneath her suddenly broke apart.

"What the-?" Massive vines covered in thorns emerged from the ground and wrapped around Lilith, imprisoning her in a cone of vines. She was trapped.

"The hell?" Lilith said, reaching out for the vines.

"I wouldn't do that."

Lilith turned at the voice and gasped. She wasn't the only one imprisoned. A tall man with blue and teal hair in a fancy suit was also trapped in a cage. And behind him was an old man with a beard and green eyes wearing a lab coat.

"Just like Mr. Zaizen's cage, yours contains a strong computer virus," the old man said. "If you touch it, you'll become part of the Tower."

Lilith narrowed her eyes at the old man. "Who are you?" she asked. "I'm guessing you're a Knight of Hanoi, but you don't look like a duelist."

The old man closed his eyes. "I suppose it's no surprise you don't know me." He opened his eyes and said, "My name is Doctor Kiyoshi Kogami."

Lilith gasped. Kogami? Hadn't her father worked on the Hanoi Project under a Dr. Kogami?

"But this is impossible!" the man in the other cage, who Lilith recognized as Akira Zaizen, said. "SOL's files said you were dead!"

Dr. Kogami refocused his attention on Akira. "I did die," he said. "Due to SOL Technologies."

"SOL Technologies?" Akira repeated.

Dr. Kogami smirked. "But I resurrected." Lilith narrowed her eyes. SOL Technologies killed him? And he resurrected? What did that mean?

Evidently Akira was wondering the same thing. "SOL Technologies killed you? What do you mean?"

"Ten years ago, I worked for SOL Technologies," Dr. Kogami said.

"You're saying that the company ordered the Lost Incident?" Akira asked. Lilith narrowed her eyes further. Her father's files had told her about the Lost Incident, but they hadn't mentioned whether they had been sanctioned by the people up top.

"No. That company can't comprehend my ideas," Dr. Kogami said. "When the incident came to light, they imprisoned me and my closest assistant and covered everything up." Akira gasped in surprise. "In order to monopolize the Ignis I developed. They smelled money when it came to the Ignis. If the incident was publicized, they thought the police would seize the Ignis."

"No way…" Lilith looked at Akira with sympathy. She didn't know him that well, but she knew he was loyal to SOL. Hearing his bosses committing acts like this couldn't be easy.

Dr. Kogami continued his story. "They infected me with a computer virus to put me in a coma. I was able to go home three years after the incident. They thought I was dead. But my son didn't give up. He removed the virus, and he recreated my mind in the network."

"Your son?" Lilith said, surprised. "You mean Revolver?"

Dr. Kogami looked at her and nodded. "Yes. Revolver is my son."

"Did you and Revolver form the Knights of Hanoi to get revenge on SOL Technologies?" Akira asked Dr. Kogami.

"Revenge is incorrect," the doctor said. "Our only goal is to kill the Ignis."

But hurting SOL is surely a wonderful side benefit, Lilith thought.

"Why?" Akira asked.

"They were supposed to guide the world," Dr. Kogami explained. "But they're savages that'll destroy the world."

"Savages?"

"No one knows what it truly means for an AI to have free will. They're far beyond what I imagined." Dr. Kogami glanced over to the Tower. "They must be dealt with."

"Dr. Kogami." The two men looked over at Lilith. "You said they imprisoned you and your closest assistant. What happened to them?"

Dr. Kogami's gaze softened. "Dr. Hitomu Hirai," he said, delivering an unexpected shock to Lilith. "He was my primary aid in the Lost Incident. But he was released after only a few months. I understand he had connections with the company leaders."

His gaze then hardened. "That is another reason to destroy the Ignis," he said. "Hitomu and his family were killed shortly before I was released. I am almost certain SOL was responsible." He closed his eyes. "Because I created the Ignis, Kenshin's family was destroyed. Another reason to undo what I did."

Kenshin? Why did that name sound familiar…?

"Wait!" Akira said. "What'll happen to my sister?"

Wait. Sister? Lilith's eyes widened as she glanced back at Blue Angel. Wasn't Akira related to…

Dr. Kogami opened his eyes and glanced at Blue Angel. "Those imprisoned in the Tower can no longer escape. When the Tower of Hanoi is completed, data worldwide will be destroyed. Even us since we're part of the data."

Lilith gasped. "You mean… if the Tower is completed, you'll all die?"

"Yes. We will. But that is the price we are willing to pay."

"You've involved everything for the Ignis, including yourselves," Akira said.

"It's the only way left. The Tower of Hanoi will be completed soon. If you want to see the world end, stay there." The man warped away after saying that.

"Dr. Kogami!" Akira shouted. But the man was gone.

Akira grit his teeth and turned back to Blue Angel. "Aoi! Aoi!" He and Lilith both watched in horror as Blue Angel broke apart into blue data and disintegrated.

"Aoi…" Lilith whispered. "Aoi Zaizen… you were Blue Angel?" She remembered talking to the girl at Den Academy. She was distant and cautious of everyone. A good policy to have. But she was nice to Lilith. And she had been friendly to Yasutake. Lilith grit her teeth.

"Tagoma," Lilith whispered into her earpiece. "Anything you can do about this?"

"Not with the equipment I have," Tagoma said. She could barely hear his voice through the interference. "The code behind those cages is first-rate. I'm good, but you'd need a specialist for those."

"Great," Lilith said, scowling. Realizing there was nothing to do, she turned to her fellow prisoner. "I'm sorry about your sister," she said to Akira, who refocused on her.

"You're Lilith, right?" he asked. "A bounty hunter?"

"Yep, that's me. I'm surprised you know me."

Akira narrowed his eyes at her. "I've seen your files. Kitamura hired you to hunt Morningstar."

Lilith chuckled. "Yes. And when I lost, he refused to pay me."

"What are you doing here? Did one of my superiors offer a bounty on Hanoi?"

"Sadly, no." Lilith sighed. "I'm just here to pay back a debt. And look where it got me." She sighed again, then smiled sadly at Akira. "I know it's not much consolation, but if the Tower is destroyed, I'm sure your sister will be set free."

Akira frowned. "I hope you're right. But Revolver is a dangerous opponent. And the man who defeated Aoi…"

Lilith's smile grew. "Don't worry," she said. "We have the Devil on our side. We can't lose."

Morningstar ran down the streets. He'd gotten sidetracked a few times from things in the sky, but he was back on course now. And thanks to a few shortcuts, he'd gotten farther than he otherwise would have.

"We've got a problem, Yasu," Cam said. There was a little static, but not enough to keep Morningstar from hearing him. Or the solemnity in his voice.

"What is it?" Morningstar had a bad feeling in his gut.

"Blue Angel just dueled Spectre," Cam said. "That Frog and Pigeon duo broadcast it for everyone to see."

Morningstar stopped running as dread settled in him. "Oh no… don't tell me?"

"Yeah… she lost. Badly."

After a few seconds, Morningstar balled his fists and grit his teeth. "Damn it," he said. "I hope I run into Spectre soon. Because I could use an outlet."

"Well if you do, be careful. He was using some strange Plant Deck that focused on gaining Life Points."

"Not Aromage?"

"No. Something based around a tree." Morningstar nodded, filing that information away, then resumed running. If his sense of direction was right, then around the next corner should be…

Morningstar turned the corner and gasped. Playmaker was right in front of him.

"Playmaker!"

The duelist turned, as did the AI in his Duel Disk.

"Morningstar," Playmaker said. "I thought you would take a different route."

"Galahad planned on following Go," Morningstar said. "I figured I'd follow you for the time being." His face turned solemn. "And with Blue Angel defeated, going in groups seems safer."

Playmaker gasped. "Blue Angel lost? To who?"

"To Spectre," Morningstar said, scowling. "Hopefully, we'll run into him next."

He stepped up alongside Playmaker and looked out before him. There were two massive suspension bridges over the ocean, side by side.

"These bridges are our fastest route to the Tower," Ai said. "But they're starting to break apart. We need to go now!"

"Agreed." Morningstar nodded. "I'll take the left bridge and you take the right. Let's go!"

Playmaker nodded and headed for the right bridge. Morningstar resumed running.

As he ran, he glanced over at the Tower. One of its rings was now complete, and another was half done. That meant they only had about four-and-a-half hours left. Terminus, he thought. I will get answers from you. And you will pay for what you did to me and Sachi.

As Morningstar refocused, he noticed something in front of him and stopped. The space in front of him warped as someone stepped out. Morningstar narrowed his eyes.

"Spectre," he said. "I was hoping to see you again."

Spectre smirked. "It is good to see you again, Morningstar. I've been looking forward to a rematch with you."

"That's fine with me. I know about what you did to Blue Angel."

Spectre scoffed. "I suppose that ally in your ear told you. Yes, I defeated her. Without having to use my full strength, in fact." He smirked again. "Such a foolish idol. She kept going on and on about blue love or something. I have no idea what that vain girl was talking about."

The Knight of Hanoi glanced over at the other bridge. "I imagine Master Revolver would want me to focus on Playmaker, but this is personal between us. And there's another opponent for Playmaker to fight."

"Another opponent?" Morningstar repeated. He looked at the other bridge and gasped. "That's-!"

Playmaker ran down the bridge. Glancing to the left at the other bridge, he narrowed his eyes.

"That looks like Spectre!" Ai said, looking in the same direction as Playmaker. "Guess Morningstar got his wish. Think we should cheer him on?"

"We don't have time," Playmaker said. "Morningstar can handle himself. And while he's dueling Spectre, we can go-." The hacker looked ahead, gasped, and stopped. The air in front of him had warped. A humanoid figure stepped out of it.

"Found Playmaker," it said. "Engaging Duel Mode."

"Hey!" Ai said, surprised. "Isn't that-?"

"Yes," Playmaker said, narrowing his eyes. "An AI duelist."

The figure in front of him resembled the one he had dueled in the SOL databanks, except it was white, silver, and gold.

"It looks like one of Kitamura's AI duelists," Ai said. "Wait… didn't Morningstar say he fought an AI duelist in the sewers?"

"He did. This must be another of them." Playmaker grit his teeth. "Get lost!" he said to the AI duelist. "I don't have time for this!"

The AI ignored him and said, "I am designated AI Duelist Prototype HAI-C. I have been programmed by Masters Revolver and Terminus to engage and defeat the duelist known as Playmaker."

"Revolver and Terminus both programmed you?" Playmaker asked, but the AI duelist did not respond. Playmaker growled. "We don't have time for this, but it's not budging," he said. "We'll have to defeat it."

"It shouldn't be too difficult to do that," Ai said. "If Morningstar defeated one even after being weakened by Revolver, we can defeat one too!"

Playmaker readied his Duel Disk, as did the AI duelist.

"Duel!" they shouted.

Playmaker: 4000 LP

Prototype HAI-C: 4000 LP

"It looks like Playmaker will be rather busy for a while," Spectre said, turning back to Morningstar. "Terminus's designs are based off Kitamura's, but they are far superior. And that one over there is stronger than the one you defeated. But that doesn't matter to us."

Spectre then noticed something. "Oh, that on the other hand does."

Morningstar looked up and gasped. A cloud of blue data was traveling through the air. It was a much brighter blue than the other data particles around it. Spectre reached out and the data traveled to his hand, where it hung in the air. The particles briefly reflected an image before continuing to the Tower.

"Blue Angel!" Morningstar said, narrowing his eyes at Spectre.

Spectre scoffed. "She had no skill, so she wasn't ready to save me."

Morningstar growled. "You…"

"I'll send you to the same place as her," Spectre said, spreading his arms. "You and she are friends, aren't you? It would be fitting for you to join her. At least then she won't be alone again."

Morningstar growled again and activated his Duel Disk. "You'll answer to me for that!"

Spectre placed one hand in the other. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Duel!" they shouted.

Morningstar: 4000 LP

Spectre: 4000 LP

"I shall go first!" Spectre declared, waving his hand and revealing his cards. He smirked. "You may have defeated me before, Morningstar, but that was with a test Deck Master Revolver gave me. With my true Deck, you don't stand a chance!"

Spectre touched one of his cards. "I summon Sunseed Genius Loci!" A golden statue with a green base holding a brown seed appeared on Spectre's field.

Sunseed Genius Loci ATK 0 DEF 600 LVL: 1

"Appear! The future circuit that lights up our path!" Spectre raised his hand in the air as it glowed blue. A massive Link portal appeared on the ground behind Spectre. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Plant Normal Monster. I set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Marker!" Genius Loci became an orange whirlwind that entered the bottom Link Marker opposite Spectre.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Sunavalon Dryas!"

Morningstar watched in surprise as the ground behind Spectre broke apart and something rose out of it. His monster was a giant tree with a few bulbs hanging from the branches and what appeared to be a face in the center.

Sunavalon Dryas ATK 0 LINK-1 ↓

Morningstar frowned. "0 attack points?" But Cam said Spectre defeated Blue Angel with a tree monster, he thought. This must be it.

"I Set one card and end my turn," Spectre said.

"I shall take the first turn," HAI-C said. "I activate the Field Spell Card: Vendread Nights!"

"Vendread?" Playmaker repeated, surprised. Wasn't that archetype-?

"I activate the effect of Vendread Nights," HAI-C continued. "By discarding one card, I can add one 'Vendread' monster from my Deck to my hand. I discard a card to add Vendread Houndhorde from my Deck to my hand."

After doing so, HAI-C said, "Since Vendread Striges was sent to the Graveyard, its effect activates. I can then reveal one 'Vendread' card in my hand and then Special Summon Striges. I reveal Vendread Houndhorde and Special Summon Vendread Striges!" A demonic bird with several spikes popping out on every side appeared in Attack Position.

Vendread Striges ATK 500 DEF 2000 LVL: 2

"If Striges is Special Summoned by its effect, it will be banished when it leaves the field," HAI-C said. "I summon Vendread Houndhorde." Three demonic dogs, each with several spikes on their backs, appeared on its field.

Vendread Houndhorde ATK 0 DEF 2100 LVL: 3

"Both of those monsters have very low attack points," Ai said. "Is this thing planning to Link Summon?"

"No," Playmaker said, scowling. "It's doing something else."

"Eh? What?"

"I activate the Spell Card: Vendread Relocation," HAI-C said. Its card showed Houndhorde and Striges, with another larger monster cloaked in shadows in the background. "As I control two Level 4 or lower 'Vendread' monsters, this card lets me add one 'Revendread' Ritual Spell Card from my Deck to my hand. Then I add one 'Vendread' Ritual Monster from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand, except for Revendread Slayer."

"What!?" Ai said, shocked. "Ritual!?"

"I add Revendread Origin and Vendread Chimera from my Deck to my hand," HAI-C continued. "And now I activate the Ritual Spell Card: Revendread Origin!"

The card appeared on its field and glowed. "I Tribute monsters from my hand and field whose total Level equals or surpasses the 'Vendread' Ritual Monster that I'm Ritual Summoning from my hand. I Tribute the Level 2 Vendread Striges and the Level 3 Vendread Houndhorde!"

A dark blue circle with five blue flames appeared on HAI-C's field. Houndhorde and Striges disintegrated, and their energy went into the center of the circle. A pillar of blue light emerged from the circle.

"The contract has been made. The beast of the deepest night inherits these two souls! Ritual Summon! Rise! Level 5! Vendread Chimera!"

A nightmarish monster emerged from the pillar. It seemed to resemble several monsters all stitched together, with multiple heads all over it. They all roared as Chimera was summoned in Attack Position.

Vendread Chimera ATK 2300 DEF 0 LVL: 5

"A Ritual Monster!" Ai screeched. "I've never faced one of those before!"

"Neither have I," Playmaker said, narrowing his eyes. This wasn't going to be as easy as he had hoped.

"As the Special Summoned Striges left the field, it is now banished," HAI-C said. "I Set one card. I end my turn."

Even if it surprised me, I cannot let my guard down, Playmaker thought. He placed his hand on his Deck. "My turn! Draw!"

"Cam, how did Blue Angel lose?" Morningstar whispered. "Her Deck is designed to deal repeated effect damage. If I hadn't blocked that when I dueled her, I would have lost."

"From what I saw, that tree has some kind of healing effect," Cam said. "Be very careful, Yasu. His Deck is far more powerful than the one you dueled against before."

Morningstar scowled. "It doesn't matter how powerful he is. I'll still win. But…" The hunter refocused on Spectre.

"I have to admit, I'm curious about something," he said, surprising Spectre. "Why do you fight?"

Spectre scoffed. "What a basic question," he said. "I fight for Master Revolver, of course."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Such blind loyalty is foolhardy," he said. "Don't you know what Revolver and Terminus are trying to do?"

"I think I have a good idea," Spectre said, frowning at Morningstar.

"If the Tower of Hanoi is finished, the worldwide network will be destroyed," Morningstar said. "As a result, many people will die in the real world. And that doesn't even count the people absorbed by the Tower."

"I am aware of that," Spectre said, unfazed. "Even if the world is destroyed, I'll always be on Master Revolver's side!"

Morningstar growled. "Why? Why would you have such loyalty to a person like Revolver? Don't you know what he and the Knights of Hanoi did? About their involvement in the incident ten years ago?"

Spectre scoffed and closed his eyes.

"That incident ruined mine and Playmaker's lives," Morningstar said. "More than that, it ruined the lives of the people I care about the most." The hunter narrowed his eyes. "This fight is personal between me and Terminus, and Playmaker and Revolver. An outsider like you shouldn't be involved in this!"

"Oh?" Spectre said, smirking. "So you think I'm an outsider." His smirk widened. "But I'm fully involved in the incident."

Morningstar blinked in surprise. "You're involved? How?"

"The Lost Incident ten years ago," Spectre started, clearly enjoying this. "Eight children were kidnapped. They were imprisoned in separate rooms." Morningstar's eyes widened. It couldn't be… "So the eight didn't know each other's faces. Just like I didn't know you or Playmaker, you didn't know me."

"You… you mean…?"

"Yes," Spectre said. "I'm one of the eight children."

"W-What?" Morningstar said, his eyes wide.

"What!?" Cam said, his eyes wide as he stared at the screen. He couldn't see what was happening, but he could hear Morningstar and Spectre's conversation. Spectre was there with Yasutake, Yusaku, and Sachi? How was that possible? And why would one of the tortured children be involved with the Knights of Hanoi?

"You're one of the children?" Morningstar said, surprised. "If that's true, then why are you a Knight of Hanoi? If you endured the same hell as us-."

"Hell? What do you mean?" Spectre asked. He was genuinely confused. Seeing Morningstar's shocked expression, he wondered, "Am I different? Seems so from your point of view. Probably from Playmaker's perspective, too."

Spectre smirked. "I grew up in an orphanage. Because I never had relatives, I lacked the ability to mingle with others. Even among people, I was always alone and bored. That's when that incident occurred." His smile became genuine. "That incident entertained me."

"You… enjoyed the incident?"

Spectre laughed. "Yes. I enjoyed it. It was fun. Even if I could go home, loneliness and boredom awaited me. I lived like a specter, a ghost. No one talked to me. No one cared about me. But it was different there. Someone was testing me. Someone expected big things for me. When I realized that, I felt the will to live for the first time." He spread his arms wide. "It was like a dream." He then brought a hand to his temple. "Unfortunately, that fun time came to an end."

"…"

Morningstar stood there in silence, slowly processing Spectre's words.

"You probably can't understand. Because if the incident hurt you, you must've led a happy life before the incident."

"H-Happy?" Morningstar whispered, too low for Spectre to hear.

Spectre ignored the shaking hunter and continued his story. "After the incident, I was returned to the orphanage. I was forbidden to talk about my experience. Adults treated me cautiously, keeping me at arm's length. I was more alone than before."

Morningstar held his rising fury in, wanting to hear what else Spectre had to say.

"I escaped from the orphanage and went to the restricted area. It was locked after the incident. I kept waiting there." Spectre smiled again. "Thinking about that time… hoping those fun times would come back. And that came true."

Morningstar blinked, his surprise momentarily taking over his anger.

Spectre closed his eyes. "When I saw him, I knew instantly that he came for me."

"He must mean Revolver…" Cam said into Morningstar's ear, though Morningstar barely heard him. His surprise was vanishing, and his rage was returning. Happy…

"You don't hate the Knights of Hanoi?" Morningstar asked, trying and failing to maintain his calm as his voice broke. "Like Playmaker does?"

"Hate?" Spectre said, surprised. "Revolver gave me a place to belong. So why would I?" Morningstar didn't answer. He only narrowed his eyes further. "Am I weird? But I think you and Playmaker are weirder, him loudly proclaiming his sense of justice and you claiming to be a devil, when you don't have it in you to be cruel. Isn't cruelty an essential part of being a devil?"

Morningstar finally stopped holding his anger in. "How… how dare you…"

"Huh?" Spectre said, confused.

"How dare you… HOW DARE YOU SAY THE INCIDENT WAS FUN!" Morningstar shouted, surprising Spectre, who subconsciously took a step back.

"That incident… it stole hope from me," Morningstar said, his voice low and angry. "Right before the incident, for the first time in my life, I understood what it meant to feel hope and kindness." His mind flashed back to that night. Rain pouring down into the alley. The thunder covering the sound of the trashcan lid hitting the ground. The light from the church…

"More than what it did to me, the incident ruined the lives of the two people I care about more than anything!" Morningstar continued. "And you dare stand there and say that incident was fun for you!?" Morningstar growled. "I don't care if you were there with us. You're in my way. My turn! Draw!"

"Aw, look like Morningstar's the lucky one," Ai said, looking over at the other bridge. "His opponent summoned a tree!"

"Spectre defeated Blue Angel," Playmaker reminded Ai. "There's likely more to that tree." Playmaker took a card from his hand. "By sending a Level 2 or lower monster from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon this monster. Come, Bitrooper!" A white and yellow armored mechanical warrior appeared in Attack Position.

Bitrooper ATK 1500 DEF 2000 LVL: 4

"I summon ROM Cloudia!" A ram with black fur and pink horns appeared on his field.

ROM Cloudia ATK 1800 DEF 0 LVL: 4

"ROM Cloudia's effect activates!" Playmaker declared. "As it was Normal Summoned, I can add one Cyberse monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add the monster I just discarded to my hand."

After taking the card from the Graveyard, he said, "I activate the effect of the Latency I just added to my hand. When it is added from the Graveyard to my hand, I can Special Summon it!" An armored machine woman in a pink dress holding an hourglass appeared in Attack Position.

Latency ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future!" As Playmaker's hand glowed, the Link portal appeared above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters! I set Bitrooper, Latency, and ROM Cloudia in the Link Markers!" His monsters became whirlwinds of energy that entered the top, bottom, and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Encode Talker!" The white armored warrior carrying a shield appeared on Playmaker's field.

Encode Talker ATK 2300 LINK-3 ↑↓↘

"Since the Special Summoned Latency was used to Link Summon, I draw one card!" Playmaker drew, then said, "I summon Backup Secretary!" A purple-haired woman in armor appeared, summoned to Encode Talker's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position.

Backup Secretary ATK 1200 DEF 800 LVL: 3

"I can Special Summon Backup Secretary if I control a Cyberse monster," Playmaker explained to the AI, which didn't respond. "Battle! Backup Secretary, attack Vendread Chimera!" Backup Secretary charged Vendread Chimera.

"Chimera's attack points are 2300," HAI-C said. "And Backup Secretary's attack points are 1200. Logic suggests that Playmaker will use Encode Talker's effect."

Playmaker ignored the AI duelist and said, "Encode Talker's effect activates! When my monster it points to battled a monster with higher attack points, my monster cannot be destroyed by that battle, and I take no battle damage!" Backup Secretary punched Chimera, which blasted her away. "And then, either Encode Talker or a monster it points to gains attack points equal to Chimera's attack points until the End Phase. I will increase Encode Talker's attack points!"

Encode Talker ATK 2300→4600

"Vendread Chimera's effect activates!" HAI-C suddenly declared. "As it was Ritual Summoned using Vendread Striges, it gains this effect: After battling an opponent's monster, I can draw one card, then discard one card." HAI-C drew, then discarded.

"It gained an effect?" Ai repeated.

"It must be part of the Vendread strategy," Playmaker said. "But it won't happen again. Encode Talker, attack Vendread Chimera! Final Encode!" A sword emerged from Encode Talker's shield as it charged Chimera. It slashed and created a massive cloud of smoke.

"Yes!" Ai cheered. "With that, we should have inflicted 2300 points of damage!"

Playmaker waited then gasped. The smoke cleared, revealing Vendread Chimera and the unhurt HAI-C.

"Eh?" Ai said, surprised. "What gives? Why didn't it take damage?"

"When you attacked, I activated the Trap Card Waboku," HAI-C explained to the confused hacker and AI. "It reduces all battle damage I took to 0 and prevents my monsters from being destroyed by battle this turn." It then gestured to Chimera. "Vendread Chimera's effect activates! As it battled your monster, I draw then discard a card."

Playmaker grit his teeth. "This AI is more defensive than the one I fought in the databank," he said.

"Its strategies seem to revolve around Ritual Summoning and granting its Ritual Monsters effects," Ai noted. "This is going to be tricky."

"I activate the Spell Card: Cyberse Cache!" Playmaker said. "As I control a Cyberse monster whose attack points are different from its original attack points, I can draw two cards." After drawing, he said, "I Set two cards. I end my turn."

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cyberse Infinite Coding!" Morningstar declared. "This card gains a Cyberse Counter every time a Cyberse Link Monster is Link Summoned. And since you control monsters and I don't, I Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman!" The white skeleton in blue armor appeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Swordsman's effect activates! If it is Special Summoned by its own effect, I can add one 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke from my Deck to my hand."

He took the card from his Deck, then said, "As you control a Link Monster and I do not, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Armorer!" The skeleton in a blacksmith's outfit appeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Armorer ATK 1200 DEF 2000 LVL: 6

"And now I'll Special Summon Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke by the same method!" The dwarf skeleton carrying a crank drill appeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke ATK 200 DEF 500 LVL: 2

"I summon Cyspirit Teleporter!" The black skeleton in grey armor carrying a baton appeared.

Cyspirit Teleporter ATK 500 DEF 1500 LVL: 3

"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 Teleporter in the Link Marker!" His monster became a whirlwind of energy that entered the bottom arrow, turning it red.

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

Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓

"Infinite Coding's effect! As a Cyberse Link Monster was Link Summoned, it gains one Cyberse Counter!"

Cyberse Infinite Coding 0 CC→1 CC

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

Cyspirit Navigator ATK 1300 DEF 1100 LVL: 3

"Appear once more! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared once again above Morningstar. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Cacophonic Caller and Navigator in the Link Markers!" His two monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyspirit Jubilant Jester!"

A white metal skeleton appeared on the field and was then enveloped in light. When the light faded, it was wearing a black and gold medieval jester's outfit and carrying a small staff. It wore a black and gold jester hat atop its white skull as blue and red eyes shone and silver metal wings spread from its back. Jubilant Jester spun around and posed as it was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC

"A new 'Cyspirit' Link Monster," Spectre mused, frowning.

"As long as Jubilant Jester points to at least one monster," Morningstar said. "All 'Cyspirit' monsters I control gain 400 attack and defense points. Digital Jubilance!"

Cyspirit Armorer ATK 1200→1600 DEF 2000→2400

Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800→2200

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200→1600 DEF 900→1300

Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke ATK 200→600 DEF 500→900

"I activate the effect of Infinite Coding," Morningstar continued. "By removing two Cyberse Counters, I draw one card."

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 2 CC→0 CC

"As there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I can Special Summon this card. Come, Cyspirit Prisoner!" The skeleton in a prisoner's uniform appeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600→2000 DEF 2100→2500 LVL: 5

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared for a third time in the air above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions two Level 3 or lower 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Swordsman and Tunnel Tyke in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of energy that entered the top-left and left arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire!"

A large skeleton emerged from the portal and was enveloped in white light. When the light faded, the skeleton wore silver plate armor and a metal helmet covered its skull as wings spread outwards from its back. Blue and red eyes shone as it swung a sword and red shield. It was summoned to Jubilant Jester's bottom-right Link Marker.

Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire ATK 1700→2100 LINK-2 ↖←

"Another new Link Monster," Spectre noted, smirking. "And you're not done yet, are you?"

"Of course not." Morningstar gestured to one of his monsters. "Cyspirit Armorer's effect activates! Once per turn, I can target a Link Monster on the field and send Armorer to the Graveyard. I can then Special Summon Cyspirit Armor Tokens equal to that Link Monster's Link Rating. I target Jubilant Jester to summon two Cyspirit Armor Tokens!" Armorer vanished and two dwarf skeletons in blacksmith's clothes appeared in Attack Position.

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

"Appear for a fourth time! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared once more. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' Normal Monsters! I set both Armor Tokens in the Link Markers!" The two tokens became whirlwinds of energy and entered the top-right and right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyspirit Zany Zealot!"

A new skeleton emerged from the portal and was enveloped in light. When the light disappeared, the skeleton was wearing tattered priest robes with wings sprouting from the back and carried a hacksaw in its right hand and a pistol in its left. It wore a tattered silver crown on its head and its blue and red eyes shone as it was summoned to Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker.

Cyspirit Zany Zealot ATK 1300→1700 LINK-2 ↗→

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC

"Zany Zealot's effect activates!" Morningstar declared. "Once per turn, if it is co-linked with a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, I can Special Summon one 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. Return, Cyspirit Swordsman!"

Zany Zealot laughed as it cut a hole in the ground with its hacksaw. Swordsman emerged out of the hole and gave Zany Zealot a wide berth.

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200→1600 DEF 900→1300 LVL: 3

Spectre narrowed his eyes. "Now he has two non-Link Monsters," he whispered. "Interesting…"

"Appear for a fifth time! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared again above Morningstar. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters! I set Prisoner and Swordsman in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the left and right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler!" The skeleton in a prospector's uniform and a drill for a right hand appeared, summoned to Zany Zealot's left Link Marker and Legendary Legionnaire's right Link Marker.

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600 LINK-2 ←→

Spectre's eyes widened. "Oh?" This was interesting. Jubilant Jester was in the Extra Monster Zone, and it pointed to Legendary Legionnaire and Zany Zealot, both of whom pointed to the Thrilled Tunneler between them. "Four co-linked Link Monsters? Someone's showing off."

"I don't entirely know what that tree of yours can do," Morningstar said. "But I'll go all out and end this duel on this turn." He then gestured to his field again. "Cyspirit Prisoner's effect activates! When it is used to Link Summon a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, I can add one 'Cyspirit' card from my Deck to my hand."

He took the card from his Deck and then played it. "The card I'll add is the Continuous Spell Card: Cyspirit Supremacy Link, which I will now play!" The card showed Idealistic Idol and Winning Wrestler glowing with power, while Neo Nova glowed in the background. "So long as Supremacy Link is in play, only Link Monsters can declare an attack. But it will be destroyed during the End Phase of the turn it is activated."

Morningstar gestured to one of his monsters. "Battle! Jubilant Jester, attack Sunavalon Dryas!" Jester's staff emitted a ball of golden light, which it flung at the tree. Or at least, it should have.

"Too bad, but Dryas can't be attacked," Spectre said, smirking. "That attack changes to a direct attack on me."

Morningstar's eyes widened. "What?"

The energy hit Spectre, who winced.

Spectre: 4000→1800 LP

"But Sunavalon Dryas's effect activates!" Spectre declared. "Once during each of our turns, when I take damage, a 'Sunvine' Link Monster is Special Summoned next to Dryas's Link Marker! Come, Sunvine Gardna!"

One of the pods hanging from Dryas glowed and burst as purple fluid came out of it. The fluid solidified into a brown and white warrior-like monster summoned to Dryas's Link Marker.

Sunvine Gardna ATK 600 LINK-1 ↑

"And I regain Life Points equal to the damage I took!" Pink vines emerged from the tree and wrapped around Spectre. He sighed as his Life Points increased.

Spectre: 1800→4000 LP

"So that's how he defeated Blue Angel," Morningstar muttered, narrowing his eyes. A stall Deck… how irritating.

When the vines released Spectre, he said, "I was abandoned at the base of this tree. When I was a baby." Morningstar gasped softly. "I still remember the view I saw from this tree. This tree was in the mountain behind the orphanage. After I was abandoned, it took days until they found me. During that time, the tree protected me from the rain, wind and wild animals."

Spectre closed his eyes and smiled. "For several years, I was raised in the orphanage. But I only felt peace when I was by this tree. When times were tough, this tree healed me. And then the incident occurred. I had fun during the incident. My only concern was that I couldn't come to this tree." His eyes opened and he scowled. "But after the incident… When I returned to the orphanage, the tree was gone. Adults had their dumb reasons. That's when my attachment to society completely vanished. The only place for me is by Master Revolver's side. I give my soul to Master Revolver!"

"…Are you expecting sympathy from me?"

Spectre gasped. Morningstar's face was hard, his eyes set. "Is that why you're telling me this story? So that I'll understand you?" Morningstar closed his eyes. "Do you know what I hear? I hear a sad man who can't tell fact from fiction."

He opened his eyes and glared at Spectre. "You say that tree protected you when you were a baby? You say you still remember the stars? How? You were an infant. No human remembers that far back. Any idea of that tree protecting you was likely your own imagination."

Spectre growled. How dare Morningstar say that?

"Your backstory doesn't matter to me," Morningstar continued. "Not this part. Right now, all you are is an obstacle in my path. And one I will surpass." His eyes narrowed. "It doesn't matter how loyal you are to Revolver. Your fate will be the same."

"…"

Spectre started laughing. "Perhaps I was wrong about you. Perhaps you do have it in you to be cruel." He smirked at Morningstar. "Go on then. Remove me from your path!"

"With pleasure." Morningstar gestured to one of his Spell Cards. "The effect of Supremacy Link activates! When a co-linked 'Cyspirit' Link Monster battles, this card gains one Link Counter!" The card glowed as it gained a counter.

Cyspirit Supremacy Link 0 LC→1 LC

"I activate Legendary Legionnaire's effect! Once per turn, if it points to two monsters, one 'Cyspirit' Link Monster besides itself gains 1000 attack points! I'll increase Zany Zealot's attack points!" The two monsters roared as Zany Zealot's attack points increased.

Cyspirit Zany Zealot ATK 1700→2700

"Battle! Zany Zealot attacks Sunvine Gardna!" Zany Zealot charged Gardna, laughing gleefully as it swung its hacksaw. "Zany Zealot's effect activates! If it points to two monsters, it can attack twice during the Battle Phase. However, your monsters cannot be destroyed by battle this turn!"

"What?" Spectre said, surprised. He then gestured to his monster. "Sunvine Gardna's effect activates! Since it is linked to a 'Sunavalon' monster, battle damage is decreased by 800 for each of Dryas's Link Markers!" Zealot whacked Gardna on the head with its hacksaw as Spectre winced. "So the damage is 1300."

Spectre: 4000→2700 LP

"Jubilant Jester's effect activates!" Morningstar declared. "If it points to two monsters and a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster besides itself inflicts battle damage, I gain Life Points equal to half the damage!" Jubilant Jester raised its staff, which shone with gold light.

Morningstar: 4000→4650 LP

"And since a co-linked 'Cyspirit' Link Monster attacked, Supremacy Link gains one Link Counter!"

Cyspirit Supremacy Link 1 LC→2 LC

"Since I took battle damage, I activate the Continuous Trap Card: Sunavalon Glorious Growth!" Spectre declared, his Trap Card revealing itself. "I Special Summon a Sunvine Token!" A small dark brown plant with a golden center appeared in Attack Position.

Sunvine Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Then, Glorious Growth allows me to use my Token and other monsters I control to Link Summon!"

"What?" Morningstar said, surprised. "You're Link Summoning on my turn?"

"Appear! The future circuit that lights up our path!" The Link portal appeared beneath Sunavalon Dryas. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are at least two Plant monsters! I set Sunvine Token, Gardna, and Sunavalon Dryas in the Link Markers!" The two Sunvine monsters became whirlwinds of energy that entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows while Dryas sent vines into the bottom arrow. All three arrows turned red as a result.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Sunavalon Dryanome!" The tree grew and changed. Instead of a face, it now had a pink-skinned woman growing from the center, and there were bushes around the base with more branches surrounding it. Red pods swung from it as it was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Sunavalon Dryanome ATK 0 LINK-3 ↙↓↘

Morningstar grit his teeth as Spectre scoffed. "Like me, my cards surpass your expectations. My real Deck isn't like that Machine Deck I used. This Deck can defeat you handily." Spectre then gestured in front of him. "Glorious Growth's secondary effect activates! I regain Life Points equal to the damage I just took."

Spectre: 2700→4000 LP

"And you take the same amount as damage!" A red vine emerged from the leaves and whipped out towards Morningstar. But Jubilant Jester got in the way and blocked it with its staff.

"So long as Jubilant Jester points to two monsters, all effect damage I take is halved!" Morningstar explained as the backlash from the attack hit him, making him wince.

Morningstar: 4650→4000 LP

"Your Life Points are back to their start," Spectre said, smirking. "Just like mine are."

Morningstar growled. That tree probably has the same effect as the last one, he thought. But since it has three Link Markers, it can likely use its effect three times instead of once. In that case…

"Zany Zealot attacks you directly!" Morningstar declared. Zany Zealot charged and smacked Spectre on the head with the blunt side of its hacksaw.

Spectre: 4000→1300 LP

"Ow!" Spectre shouted, holding his head. He shot Morningstar an annoyed look. "Your monster is supposed to slash me, not hit me!"

"Tell it that," Morningstar said with a straight face. He then gestured to his field. "Due to Jubilant Jester's effect, I gain Life Points equal to half the damage, or 1350. And then Supremacy Link gains another Link Counter!"

Morningstar: 4000→5350 LP

Cyspirit Supremacy Link: 2 LC→3 LC

Spectre growled. "When I take battle or effect damage, Dryanome's effect activates! Up to three times during either turn, I can Special Summon a 'Sunvine' Link Monster next to Dryanome's Link Marker! Come, Sunvine Gardna!" Dryanome's eyes glowed red as one of its bulbs popped and another Gardna appeared, summoned to Dryanome's bottom Link Marker.

Sunvinve Gardna ATK 600 LINK-1 ↑

"And I regain Life Points equal to the damage," Spectre continued as he let go of his head.

Spectre: 1300→4000 LP

"Then due to Glorious Growth, you take damage equal to the amount of Life Points I regained!"

"But due to Jubilant Jester, the damage is halved!" Morningstar reminded Spectre. A vine whipped out and was blocked by Jubilant Jester. Morningstar winced from the backlash.

Morningstar: 5350→4000 LP

"No matter what you do, the result will be the same," Spectre gloated.

"Is that so?" Morningstar said, narrowing his eyes. "Battle! Legendary Legionnaire, attack Sunvine Gardna!"

"Ha!" Spectre said, smirking. "With Gardna's effect, that attack is pointless! And once it is destroyed-."

"It won't be," Morningstar said, surprising Spectre. "Since Zany Zealot activated its effect, your monsters cannot be destroyed by battle this turn. And because Legendary Legionnaire activated its effect, it cannot inflict battle damage this turn."

"What?" Spectre said, surprised. Legendary Legionnaire struck Gardna with its sword, but neither monster budged. "If you cannot destroy it or inflict battle damage, then why did you-?" Spectre gasped. "Wait, that Spell Card of yours!"

"Exactly," Morningstar said. "Supremacy Link gains one more Link Counter."

Cyspirit Supremacy Link: 3 LC→4 LC

Morningstar gestured to his last Link Monster. "Thrilled Tunneler's effect activates! As it points to at least one monster, it can attack directly. However, its attack points are halved until the End Phase!" Thrilled Tunneler charged Spectre.

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 2000→1000

Morningstar then gestured to one of his Continuous Spell Cards. "I activate Supremacy Link's effect! When a co-linked 'Cyspirit' Link Monster attacks, I can send Supremacy Link to the Graveyard and then increase that monster's attack points by 800 for every Link Counter sent to the Graveyard."

Spectre gasped again. "Supremacy Link had four Link Counters," Morningstar reminded Spectre. "That means Thrilled Tunneler gains 3200 attack points!"

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1000→4200

"With this attack, you'll run out of Life Points before Dryanome's effect activates!" Morningstar said. Go, Thrilled Tunneler! Cyber Drill!" Thrilled Tunneler charged at Spectre.

Spectre growled. "So you dealt repeated ineffective attacks in order to finish me off in one blow? What an incredible strategy!" He held his head in one hand.

Morningstar narrowed his eyes as Spectre smirked. "A good strategy, but it had one flaw. Glorious Growth's effect. Once per turn, when your monster attacks me directly, that attack is negated!"

"What?" Morningstar said, surprised. Thrilled Tunneler stopped charging, its drill a few meters away from Spectre's face.

"That monster can then attack again," Spectre said. "But it must attack a 'Sunvine' monster!" Sunvine Gardna stepped in front of Spectre. Thrilled Tunneler's drill struck Gardna's arms.

"Gardna's effect activates! The damage I take decreases from 3600 to 1200!" Thanks to Zany Zealot's effect, Gardna withstood Thrilled Tunneler's attack, but Spectre briefly winced from the backlash of the attack.

Spectre: 4000→2800 LP

Spectre wiped his forehead. "Phew. I was in real danger there."

Morningstar grit his teeth and said, "Due to Jubilant Jester's effect, I regain Life Points."

Morningstar: 4000→4600 LP

Spectre smirked. "Due to Dryanome's effect, Sunvine Gardna is Special Summoned next to its Link Marker." A second Gardna appeared, summoned to Dryanome's bottom-left Link Marker.

Sunvine Gardna ATK 600 LINK-1 ↑

"And I regain Life Points."

Spectre: 2800→4000 LP

"Then due to Glorious Growth's effect, you take damage."

"But that damage is halved because of Jubilant Jester." Morningstar winced from the backlash of the vine striking Jubilant Jester's staff.

Morningstar: 4600→4000 LP

Morningstar growled as Spectre laughed. "Do you see it now, bounty hunter?" Spectre asked. "This duel is clearly heading towards your defeat. It doesn't matter how hard you hit me; I'll always recover."

"I end my turn," Morningstar said. "And because it is the End Phase, Legendary Legionnaire's effect activates and destroys Zany Zealot." The priest with a hacksaw disintegrated into light. "And then, Legendary Legionnaire activates an effect depending on the Link Rating of the destroyed monster. Because Zany Zealot was Link-2, I draw one card."

Morningstar drew, then said, "In addition, the effects of Thrilled Tunneler and Link Supremacy come to an end, so Thrilled Tunneler's attack points return to their prior value."

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 4200→1000→2000

Cam growled. Damn it. That combo had been completely ineffective. Cam had only seen Morningstar use it once before, and it had left the opponent so scared he had surrendered without fuss. But Spectre had brushed it aside with only a few Link Monsters and a Trap Card. His Deck really was powerful.

Spectre laughed again. "My giant mother tree has no weaknesses." He then gave Morningstar a look of contempt. "We both experienced the Lost Incident. But because you're afraid to be cruel while I'm trying to save the world by serving Master Revolver, this match was decided from the start."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Don't get cocky," he said. "No duel is decided until a duelist's Life Points hit 0."

Spectre smirked. "In that case, I'll begin the countdown to your defeat and destruction. My turn. Draw."

"My turn! Draw!" HAI-C drew its card, then said, "Vendread Chimera's effect activates. If it is Ritual Summoned using Vendread Houndhorde from the field, it can banish one Spell or Trap Card you control per turn."

"Eh?" Ai said, surprised. "It can banish one of our cards?"

"I will banish the card on my left." The face-down disappeared. Playmaker scowled as he removed Doppler Phase Coating from the game. "I activate the effect of the Vendread Core in my Graveyard. By banishing a Zombie monster besides itself from the Graveyard, I can Special Summon it. I banish Vendread Houndhorde to Special Summon Vendread Core in Attack Position." A blue orb surrounded by flesh and eyes appeared on HAI-C's field.

Vendread Core ATK 0 DEF 500 LVL: 1

"I activate the Spell Card: Preparation of Rites," HAI-C continued. "This card's effect lets me add one Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand and one Ritual Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand. I will add Revendread Slayer from my Deck to my hand and Revendread Origin from my Graveyard to my hand."

"That's not good," Ai said. "If it has a Ritual Monster and a Ritual Spell Card…"

"It's planning to summon a new monster," Playmaker finished.

"I activate the Ritual Spell Card: Revendread Origin!"

The card reappeared on its field and glowed. "I Tribute monsters from my hand and field whose total Level equals or surpasses the 'Vendread' Ritual Monster that I'm Ritual Summoning from my hand. I Tribute the Level 1 Vendread Core and the Level 5 Vendread Chimera!"

A dark blue circle with six blue flames appeared on HAI-C's field. Core and Chimera disintegrated, and their energy went into the center of the circle. A pillar of blue light emerged from the circle.

"The contract has been made. The unsung hero of the deepest night inherits these two souls! Ritual Summon! Rise! Level 6! Revendread Slayer!"

A humanoid figure emerged from the pillar. It wore primarily black and gold armor, had metallic legs on its back, and blades on its arms. Its fiery red eyes glowed as it roared in Attack Position.

Revendread Slayer ATK 2400 DEF 0 LVL: 6

"This one is even stronger than Chimera," Ai noted. "But if it attacks Encode Talker, we'll only take 100 points of damage. And due to Encode Talker's effect-."

"The effects of the Tributed Vendread Core and Vendread Chimera activate," HAI-C said, interrupting Ai.

"Don't interrupt me!"

"As Core left the field, it is now banished," HAI-C said, ignoring Ai. "And as Chimera was Tributed for a Ritual Summon, all monsters you control lose 500 attack and defense points."

Playmaker grit his teeth as his monsters glowed.

Backup Secretary ATK 1200→700 DEF 800→300

Encode Talker ATK 2300→1800

"I spoke too soon," Ai said, panicking. "We'll take more damage!"

"I activate the Spell Card: Ritualistic Gift," HAI-C continued. The card showed Cyber Angel Benten glowing with light. "If I control a Level 6 or higher Ritual Monster, I draw three cards. But for the rest of the turn, I cannot add cards from my Deck to my hand."

HAI-C drew, then said, "I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Vendread Nightmare. And then I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Burial from a Different Dimension. This card lets me return up to three banished monsters from to my Graveyard. I return Vendread Core, Vendread Houndhorde, and Vendread Striges to my Graveyard."

"What's the point of that?" Ai asked. "Why return banished cards? And what does that Spell Card do?"

"We're about to find out," Playmaker said, bracing himself.

"Battle!" HAI-C declared. "Revendread Slayer, attack Encode Talker!" Slayer charged Encode Talker as HAI-C gestured to his monster. "Revendread Slayer's effect activates! When it battles an opponent's monster, I can banish one Zombie monster from my Graveyard to increase Slayer's attack points by 300! I'll banish Vendread Striges!"

Revendread Slayer ATK 2400→2700

"So that's why it returned its monsters to the Graveyard!?" Ai shouted. "So it could banish them again?"

Slayer struck Encode Talker with the blades on its arms and caused an explosion. Playmaker braced himself again the shockwaves.

Playmaker: 4000→3100 LP

"I activate Vendread Nights' effect!" HAI-C declared. "When a 'Vendread' monster destroys an opponent's monster by battle, I can banish one 'Vendread' monster from my Graveyard to let it make a second attack against one of your monsters. I banish Vendread Houndhorde to do so."

"Eh?" Ai said. "A second attack?"

"And that's not all," Playmaker said, narrowing his eyes at HAI-C's other Spell Card.

"The effect of Vendread Nightmare activates!" HAI-C said. "When a 'Vendread' Ritual Monster destroys an opponent's monster by battle, Nightmare increases that monster's attack points by 1000! Revendread Slayer gains 1000 attack points!"

Revendread Slayer ATK 2700→3700

"3700 attack points!?" Ai screeched. "If that attacks us, we'll only have 100 Life Points left!"

"Correction," HAI-C said. "Revendread Slayer's effect can be activated once per battle. You will have 0 Life Points."

Playmaker just narrowed his eyes and then gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cyberse Shatter! Since you activated a card effect that changed the attack points of exactly one monster, that effect is negated, and then I draw one card!"

"Haha!" Ai gloated. "That means your Slayer loses 1000 attack points!"

Revendread Slayer ATK 3700→2700

"Confusion," HAI-C said. "You activated Cyberse Shatter now instead of when Slayer activated its own effect. Why?"

"I read your card," Playmaker said. "It was obvious what your plan was."

"Curious," HAI-C said. "No matter. Battle! Revendread Slayer, attack Backup Secretary! Once again, I activate Slayer's effect and banish Vendread Chimera!"

Revendread Slayer ATK 2700→3000

"Destroy Backup Secretary, Slayer!" Slayer struck Backup Secretary with both of its blades, destroying it. Playmaker cried out from the explosion as the shockwaves pushed him back.

Playmaker: 3100→800 LP

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

"That was too close," Ai said. "If we didn't have Cyberse Shatter, we would have lost. Though considering how its Field Spell and Continuous Spell Cards work, Doppler Phase Coating would have been better."

Playmaker narrowed his eyes in thought. "This AI duelist is far stronger than the one I fought in the databank," he said. "Not just in its Deck; its skill is in another class by comparison."

"It does seem more complex than the last one," Ai noted. "It said Revolver and Terminus programmed it. Their programming skills must be exceptional." He turned to face Playmaker. "But that's not going to stop us, is it?"

"Of course not," Playmaker said, placing his hand on his Deck. Before he could draw however, the ground suddenly shifted. "What the-?"

"Ah!" Ai screeched. "The bridge!" Playmaker looked up and noticed the cables holding the bridge up had started to break. The bridge was going to fall into the water.

"This is bad!" Ai said. Playmaker growled, but before he could say anything, a bright light was emitted from the other bridge.

"I activate the Spell Card: Sunvine Blossom!" Spectre's card showed a tree with pink flowers blossoming on it. "By Tributing one 'Sunvine' monster, I can draw two cards. I'll Tribute one of my Gardnas." The Gardna at Dryanome's bottom Link Marker disintegrated as Spectre drew.

Spectre smirked. "Perfect," he said. "I discard one card to activate the Continuous Spell Card: Sunvine Shrine! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Plant Normal Monster from the Graveyard." Morningstar grit his teeth. "Come, Sunseed Genius Loci!" His Plant monster returned in Attack Position.

Sunseed Genius Loci ATK 0 DEF 600 LVL: 1

"Appear! The future circuit that light up our path!" The Link portal appeared underneath Dryanome. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Plant Normal Monster. I set Genius Loci in the Link Marker!" His monster became a whirlwind of energy and entered the bottom arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Sunvine Thrasher!" A blue-skinned warrior wearing a green coat and cloak appeared. It swung a large sword as it was summoned to Dryanome's bottom-right Link Marker.

Sunvine Thrasher ATK 800 LINK-1 ↓

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. This was the monster that had beaten Kitamura.

"Thrasher's effect activates!" Spectre declared. "Since its linked to a 'Sunavalon' monster, it gains 800 attack points for each of Dryanome's Link Markers." Morningstar gasped as Thrasher's attack points increased.

Sunvine Thrasher ATK 800→3200

"And now I'll activate the Equip Spell Card: Sunvine Power!" The card showed Thrasher glowing with green energy. "And I'll equip it to Thrasher!"

Spectre smirked. "Battle! Thrasher attacks Jubilant Jester!" Thrasher charged Jubilant Jester, but Morningstar didn't flinch.

"Legendary Legionnaire's effect activates!" Morningstar declared. "I increase Jubilant Jester's attack points by 1000!"

Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 2200→3200

"Our monsters' attack points are equal now," Morningstar said. "Meaning both will be destroyed."

"Are you sure about that?" Spectre asked, smirking as Morningstar gasped. "Sunvine Power's effect activates! As the equipped Thrasher is battling a Link Monster, Thrasher gains 800 attack points until the end of the battle!"

Sunvine Thrasher ATK 3200→4000

Thrasher slashed Jubilant Jester, destroying it. Morningstar winced from the damage.

Morningstar: 4000→3200 LP

"Since Jubilant Jester left the field, both of my monsters lose 400 attack points," Morningstar said, gritting his teeth. "But since the battle ended, your Thrasher loses 800 attack points."

Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire ATK 2100→1700

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 2000→1600

Sunvine Thrasher ATK 4000→3200

"Thrasher's effect activates!" Spectre declared. "The monster that it destroyed by battle is Special Summoned to a 'Sunavalon' Link Monster's Link Marker."

"What?" Morningstar said, surprised. "You're taking Jubilant Jester?"

"Blue Angel also let me borrow many of her friends," Spectre said gleefully. Vines from Dryanome entered a portal that appeared on Morningstar's field and pulled Jubilant Jester out. It was taken over to Dryanome's bottom Link Marker.

Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘

Morningstar growled. "How dare you take one of my monsters…"

Spectre laughed. "Battle! Jubilant Jester attacks Legendary Legionnaire!" Jubilant Jester gathered energy in its staff and launched it at Legendary Legionnaire. Morningstar flinched from the destruction of his monster.

Morningstar: 3200→3100 LP

"This is bad," Cam said. "At this rate, you won't damage him."

"Yes I can," Morningstar whispered. "Look at his field, Cam. Dryanome points to three monsters, so he cannot Special Summon any monsters. If he can't do that, he can't replenish his Life Points. Meaning I can win."

"I'm not sure what you're mumbling about," Spectre said, interrupting Cam and Morningstar. "But if you think you're safe because Dryanome points to three monsters, you're wrong." Morningstar gasped. "Blue Angel noticed that earlier too. It didn't help her. From my hand, I summon Genius Loci!" Another seed appeared on his field.

Sunseed Genius Loci ATK 0 DEF 600 LVL: 1

"Appear! The future circuit that lights up our path!" The Link portal appeared beneath Dryanome again. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two Plant monsters. I set Sunvine Gardna and Genius Loci in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the left and right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Sunavalon Daphne!" Another tree monster with the face of a woman appeared on Spectre's field, summoned to Dryanome's bottom-left Link Marker.

Sunavalon Daphne ATK 0 LINK-2 ←→

"Another one?" Morningstar muttered.

Spectre chuckled. "Sunavalon isn't just a giant mother tree," he said. "Daphne expands the range of my Link Markers." Morningstar growled. "Sunavalon is a sacred tree that stretches its branches."

"So with that monster, he can activate Dryanome's effect again?" Cam said, surprised.

"I Tribute Jubilant Jester to activate Daphne's effect," Spectre said. The Cyspirit Link Monster disappeared as Daphne glowed. "I return two copies of Sunvine Gardna from my Graveyard to my Extra Deck." Spectre smirked. "Now I have two open links. I Set one card and end my turn."

Morningstar growled. This wasn't good. And it was about to get worse. A nearby cable holding the bridge up snapped.

"What the-?"

Spectre looked disappointed. "This bridge is about to be destroyed. A pity. I was hoping to defeat you myself, but maybe I should let the bridge do that for you."

One of the main cables then snapped, causing the bridge to twist. Morningstar only growled and pressed a button on his Duel Disk. Spectre gasped and covered his eyes as a bright shone from the Duel Disk. When he uncovered his eyes, he gasped. The bridge, along with its partner, had both stabilized. A large dark blue circle had appeared between them, supporting them.

"What is that?" Spectre asked Morningstar.

"A stabilization program," he answered. "This isn't the first time I've dueled in a wobbly environment." Morningstar glanced up at the Tower. But with the Tower there, I can't say for sure how long it will last, he thought. Normally it would last for an hour or so, but I likely won't have that much time. I'll have to end this quickly.

Morningstar placed his hand on his Deck. "My turn! Draw!"

Playmaker and Ai looked at the disc that had appeared out of nowhere.

"What is that?" Ai asked Playmaker.

"One of Morningstar's tools, I'm guessing," Playmaker said, narrowing his eyes. "It's keeping the bridge suspended."

"Eh? You're right! Thank you, Morningstar!"

Playmaker returned his attention to the AI duelist in front of him. "The duel continues," he said. "My turn! Draw!" Playmaker looked at the card, then played it. "I summon Widget Kid!" A kid in blue armor carrying a gun appeared on his field.

Widget Kid ATK 1500 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Widget Kid's effect activates! When it is Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a Cyberse monster from my hand in Defense Position!" Playmaker said. "Come, Dongle Acorn!" An acorn with eyes and a USB drive on the bottom appeared on his field.

Dongle Acorn ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Dongle Acorn's effect activates! If it is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon a Dongle Token!" A miniature version of Dongle Acorn appeared in Attack Position.

Dongle Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"I summon Cyberse Whitehat!" A cowboy monster in blue and black armor wearing a white coat and hat appeared on Playmaker's field in Attack Position.

Cyberse Whitehat ATK 1800 DEF 2400 LVL: 6

"I can only Special Summon Cyberse Whitehat if I control two or more monsters of the same Type," Playmaker explained to the AI duelist. "Appear! The circuit that leads to the future!" The Link portal appeared in the air above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster. I set Dongle Token in the Link Marker!" The token became a whirlwind of energy that entered the bottom arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Link Disciple!" A red and black machine monster appeared, summoned to Playmaker's Extra Monster Zone.

Link Disciple ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓

"Appear again, the circuit that leads to the future!" The Link portal again appeared above him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster. I set Widget Kid in the Link Marker!" Widget Kid became a whirlwind of blue energy and entered the top arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Link Devotee!" A dark blue monster with a circle around it appeared, summoned to Link Disciple's Link Marker.

Link Devotee ATK 500 LINK-1 ↑

"We can't Link Summon Link-3 or higher the turn Link Devotee is Special Summoned," Ai said. "But that doesn't matter, does it?"

"Link Disciple's effect activates!" Playmaker declared. "By Tributing Link Devotee, I draw one card!" Link Devotee disintegrated and Playmaker drew. "Then I must place one card in my hand on the bottom of my Deck." He put the card he just drew back into his Deck. "And now Link Devotee's effect activates! When it is Tributed, I Special Summon two Link Tokens on my field!" Two blue and white diamond-shaped monsters appeared on his field in Attack Position.

Link Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future!" The Link portal appeared again. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two non-Token monsters! I set Cyberse Whitehat and Dongle Acorn in the Link Markers!" His two monsters became whirlwinds of energy and entered the left and right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Binary Sorceress!" A white humanoid monster with blue and red arrows on its chest and upper legs appeared, summoned to Link Disciple's Link Marker.

Binary Sorceress ATK 1600 LINK-2 ←→

"Cyberse Whitehat's effect activates!" Playmaker declared. "When its used to Link Summon, all monsters my opponent controls lose 1000 attack points!"

Revendread Slayer ATK 3000→2000

"Appear! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Normal Monsters! I set the Link Tokens in the Link Markers!" The two Tokens entered the left and right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Binary Blader!" A purple humanoid monster with blades attached to its wrists appeared, summoned to Binary Sorceress's right Link Marker.

Binary Blader ATK 1800 LINK-2 ←→

"I activate the Spell Card: Link Treasure!" Playmaker declared. "This card lets me draw cards equal to the number of Link Monsters on the field. There are three Link Monsters, so I draw three cards!" Playmaker drew, then said, "I summon Link Infra-Flier! I can Special Summon this monster to a Link Monster's Link Marker!" A mechanical kite appeared, summoned to Binary Sorceress's left Link Marker in Attack Position.

Link Infra-Flier ATK 0 DEF 1800 LVL: 2

"This is my final Link Summon! Appear! The circuit that leads to the future! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse monsters! I set Link Disciple and Link Infra-Flier in the Link Markers!" The two monsters entered the bottom and right arrows, turning them red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 2! Multi Sledgehammer!" A green armored monster carrying a large black hammer appeared, summoned to Binary Sorceress's left Link Marker.

Multi Sledgehammer ATK 1000 LINK-2 ↓→

"Ha! Five Link Summons in one turn!" Ai gloated. "Morningstar isn't the only one who can pull that off!"

"Binary Sorceress's effect activates!" Playmaker declared. "By halving the attack points of one monster I control, another monster I control gains the same amount of attack points. I halve Binary Sorceress's attack points. Binary Blader gains that amount – 800 attack points!"

Binary Sorceress ATK 1600→800

Binary Blader ATK 1800→2600

"Battle! Binary Blader attacks Revendread Slayer!" Binary Blader charged Slayer. "Binary Blader's effect activates! It can attack twice during the Battle Phase, and when this effect activates, your monster won't be destroyed in battle!"

"Which means the damage will be doubled!" Ai cheered. Binary Blader struck Slayer, causing it to cry out, but it wasn't destroyed.

Prototype HAI-C: 4000→3400 LP

Lilith gasped and stared in shock. The vines around Akira's cage started to grow.

"What just happened?" she asked him. "Why did the vines grow?"

"I'm not sure," he said, frowning as he backed away from the cage's walls. "Another trap by Dr. Kogami?"

"Yes! We damaged it!" Ai cheered again. Playmaker narrowed his eyes, confused. "Eh? What is it, Playmaker?"

"Revendread Slayer can increase its attack points during either player's turn," Playmaker explained. "All it requires is banishing a monster from the Graveyard. And it still has Vendread Core in its Graveyard."

"Oh! That's right. Chimera, Houndhorde, and Striges were banished, but Core is still there," Ai said. "So why didn't it banish Core to reduce the damage it would take?"

"I'm not sure," Playmaker said. Putting that thought aside, he gestured to his field. "Binary Sorceress's effect activates! When a monster co-linked with it deals battle damage, I regain that amount of Life Points." Binary Sorceress turned around and extended its arms to Playmaker. Its hands glowed gold as Playmaker's Life Points increased.

Playmaker: 800→1400 LP

"Multi Sledgehammer's effect now activates! As a Cyberse Link Monster battled, it gains one Hammer Counter!" A light lit up on a blade attached to Multi Sledgehammer.

Multi Sledgehammer: 0 HC→1 HC

"The second battle!" Playmaker declared. "Binary Blader attacks Slayer again!" Binary Blader struck Slayer with its blades. "And because of Binary Blader's effect, Slayer isn't destroyed!"

"But you still take 600 points of damage!" Ai reminded the AI.

Prototype HAI-C: 3400→2800 LP

It didn't use Revendread Slayer's effect this time, either, Playmaker thought, narrowing his eyes. What was it planning? "Binary Sorceress's effect activates! I regain Life Points equal to the damage you took!"

Playmaker: 1400→2000 LP

"And Multi Sledgehammer now gains another Hammer Counter!"

Multi Sledgehammer: 1 HC→2 HC

"Multi Sledgehammer's additional effect!" Playmaker declared. "If you control a monster and Multi Sledgehammer is co-linked with a Cyberse Link Monster, it can attack you directly! And when it declares an attack, I can remove all Hammer Counters from it to activate another effect. It gains 1000 attack points for every removed Hammer Counter until the end of the turn!" The lights disappeared from Multi Sledgehammer as its hands wrapped around its hammer. It grew new hands and hefted its heavier weapon.

Multi Sledgehammer: 2 HC→0 HC

Multi Sledgehammer ATK 1000→3000 ATK

"It powered up!" Ai cheered. "And with 3000 attack points, it can end the duel now!"

"Attack it directly!" Playmaker declared. Multi Sledgehammer ran towards HAI-C, but it gestured to its field.

"Continuous Trap activate!" it declared. "Call of the Haunted! With this card, I Special Summon one monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position. Come, Vendread Core!" The orb surrounded by flesh and eyes reappeared on HAI-C's field.

Vendread Core ATK 0 DEF 500 LVL: 1

"Huh?" Ai said in confusion. "Why would it summon a monster with 0 attack points in Attack Position?"

"I don't know," Playmaker said, likewise confused. "Multi Sledgehammer can still attack directly."

"Because a monster was Special Summoned to the field, a replay occurs," HAI-C said. "If Multi Sledgehammer attacks directly, Life Points will hit 0. The conditions have been met. Emergency program has been activated."

"Emergency program?" Playmaker repeated. He then gasped as a hologram appeared next to him. It showed Akira Zaizen in a cage of vines. "Zaizen?"

"Playmaker!" Akira shouted, surprised as the hacker was.

"Akira Zaizen was captured by Hanoi's program after he entered LINK VRAINS," HAI-C said. "The thorns contain a computer virus that will make him part of the Tower of Hanoi. If my Life Points decrease, the thorns grow. They have already grown from your first two attacks. If my Life Points hit 0, the thorns will encase him entirely."

"That's cheating!" Ai shouted. "I hate you, stupid AI!"

"How dare you?" Playmaker said, scowling at the AI. "Holding someone hostage to force a win? That's a dirty play!"

"I have been ordered by Master Terminus to do what is necessary in order to protect the Tower of Hanoi," HAI-C said. "That includes threatening Akira Zaizen."

"Playmaker!" Akira shouted. "Don't worry about me!" Playmaker stared at Akira, his indecision clear.

"Hey!" Ai said. "Listen to Zaizen!"

Playmaker scowled and closed his eyes. "I Set one card. I end my turn."

"What!?" Ai shouted.

"Playmaker…" Akira muttered, shocked.

"Because it is the End Phase, the effects of Binary Sorceress, Cyberse Whitehat, and Multi Sledgehammer end," Playmaker said emotionlessly.

Binary Blader ATK 2600→1800

Binary Sorceress ATK 800→1600

Multi Sledgehammer ATK 3000→1000

Revendread Slayer ATK 2000→3000

"My turn. Draw." HAI-C drew, then said, "I activate the effect of Vendread Relocation in the Graveyard. I banish it to add one 'Revendread' Ritual Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand. Revendread Origin returns to my hand."

"You blew your one chance and now it's going to Ritual Summon again!" Ai shouted, berating Playmaker.

"Battle!" HAI-C said, surprising Ai. "Revendread Slayer attacks Binary Sorceress!" Slayer charged Binary Sorceress.

"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Security Block!" Playmaker declared. "And target Binary Sorceress with its effect. The turn this card is activated, the targeted monster cannot be destroyed by battle, and neither of us takes battle damage!" Slayer struck Binary Sorceress, but nothing happened.

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

"Why didn't it Ritual Summon?" Ai wondered.

"It must not have the right monster to summon," Playmaker assumed. He glanced at Core. HAI-C hadn't bothered to change its battle position. It likely assumed that Playmaker wouldn't attack it because of Akira. It was right.

"I activate the Continuous Trap Card: Sunavalon Force!" Spectre declared. "As long as I have this card, you cannot target 'Sunavalon' monsters with card effects."

Morningstar grit his teeth. He couldn't attack Spectre's monsters or target them with card effects now. But there were other strategies available to him. And since he'd decided to include that particular Link Monster…

"I activate the Field Spell Card: Cyspirit Monastery!" The card showed a massive building on a mountain, with skeletons in robes walking around it. "With this card in play, all 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters I control gain 500 attack points."

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600→2100

"And since I control a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, Monastery lets me Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster from my hand to a zone that Link Monster points to," Morningstar continued. "I summon Cyspirit Wanderer to Thrilled Tunneler's Link Marker!" The skeleton in a poncho appeared, summoned to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Wanderer ATK 1900 DEF 200 LVL: 5

"Wanderer's effect activates! When it is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Cyspirit' card, one monster you control loses 800 attack points. I'll reduce Thrasher's attack points. Digital Drain!"

Sunvine Thrasher ATK 3200→2400

"Pointless," Spectre said, smirking. "Thrasher is still stronger than your Tunneler."

Morningstar ignored Spectre and gestured to the sky. "Appear! The circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal appeared again. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Wanderer in the Link Marker!" Wanderer became a whirlwind of energy and entered the right arrow, turning it red.

"Circuit combine! Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Cyspirit Vivacious Vixen!"

A fox skeleton the size of a large dog appeared on Morningstar's field. Light surrounded it, and when it faded, the fox was wearing red and silver metal armor with wings attached to its back. Blue and red eyes shone as it barked next to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker.

Cyspirit Vivacious Vixen ATK 1200→1700 LINK-1 →

"Another new 'Cyspirit' Link Monster," Spectre noted.

"Because a Cyberse Link Monster was Link Summoned, Infinite Coding gains another counter."

Cyberse Infinite Coding: 3 CC→4 CC

"Vivacious Vixen's effect activates!" Morningstar declared. "Since it was Link Summoned using a Level 5 or higher 'Cyspirit' monster, I can target and destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field."

"Oh?" Spectre said, raising an eyebrow. "So which one will it be? Force or Glorious Growth?"

"Neither," Morningstar said, confusing Spectre. "I'm destroying my own Infinite Coding!" His Continuous Spell Card disintegrated after he said that.

"Oh? Why would you destroy your own card?"

"To activate its effect," Morningstar explained. "If Infinite Coding leaves the field when it has two or more Cyberse Counters, I can Special Summon a Cyberse Link Monster from my Extra Deck so long as its Link Rating is equal to or less than the total Cyberse Counters it had. Infinite Coding had four, but I don't need to summon a Link-4 monster. Instead, I'll summon the Link-3 Cyspirit Winning Wrestler!" The massive skeleton in a black wrestler's uniform appeared, summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Winning Wrestler ATK 2500→3000 LINK-3 ↙↓↘

Spectre frowned. This is the monster that defeated Galahad and almost defeated Revolver, he thought. It might even be more dangerous than Datastorm Dragon.

"Infinite Coding's effect treats this as a Link Summon," Morningstar told Spectre. "That means Winning Wrestler gains access to all of its effects."

Spectre scoffed. "Summoning that monster is pointless. My giant mother tree has no weaknesses."

"I activate Vivacious Vixen's effect!" Morningstar declared, gesturing to the fox. "Once while it is face-up on the field and co-linked with a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, I can target a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster I control. So long as that monster is on the field, you cannot use a number of Main Monster Zones equal to the co-linked monster's Link Rating!"

Spectre gasped. "What?"

"I target Winning Wrestler," Morningstar continued. "And since Vivacious Vixen is co-linked with Thrilled Tunneler, that means you cannot use two Main Monster Zones!" Vixen spun her tail, releasing gusts of wind that struck the zones that Daphne pointed to. As Winning Wrestler glowed, both zones gained a circle-backslash symbol.

"What's this?" Spectre asked.

"Vivacious Vixen keeps you from using those zones," Morningstar said. "And due to its effect, you can't use them so long as Winning Wrestler is in play. So even if you destroy Vivacious Vixen, your zones still won't work because Winning Wrestler is here."

Spectre gasped then snarled. Damn it. How could he not have accounted for this? More importantly…

Spectre looked at Winning Wrestler. Because it pointed to two monsters, if it attacked Thrasher, then it could lower Thrasher's attack points even further by half of Thrilled Tunneler's attack points. And since he couldn't summon monsters to those zones, that meant any damage Morningstar inflicted would remain.

"Thanks to Vivacious Vixen, you can't use your Dryanome's restoration combo," Morningstar said.

"Morningstar…" Spectre grumbled. He then closed his eyes. "Oh well. I'll have to use my trump card." He snapped his fingers, confusing Morningstar.

This confusion only increased when a hologram of a cage appeared next to him. Morningstar's eyes widened on seeing who was inside.

"Lilith!" he said.

"Morningstar!" she cried out, confused and surprised.

"What's Lilith doing in a cage?" Cam asked over the earpiece. "Wasn't she heading for the Tower?"

Spectre smirked. "She went to see the results of my duel with Blue Angel, and that's how she ended up. So I formed a plan. Those thorns contain a computer virus, so touching them will infect her."

"What?"

"If I get hurt…" Spectre bit into his hand and tore away some flesh, revealing data beneath. Morningstar gasped on seeing the thorns on the cage lengthen. Lilith stepped back and scowled at them.

"…the viral thorns will grow," Spectre finished. "Fun, right? So feel free to deal me damage."

"You coward!" Lilith shouted, glaring at Spectre. "You can't beat Morningstar on your own, so you use me as a hostage to force his hand?"

Morningstar growled. "You're involving someone who has nothing to do with this into the duel? You're playing dirty!"

"Involving someone?" Spectre repeated. He then laughed. "That's funny, coming from you."

"How is that funny?" Lilith asked, scowling at the Knight of Hanoi.

"Morningstar's the reason you're here in LINK VRAINS in the first place, isn't he?" Spectre asked her. "To pay him back for saving you from Terminus? And why do you think Galahad is here? Because Terminus used him to fight Morningstar." He turned his gaze to Morningstar. "Because of you, Lilith and Galahad both came here to play heroes. Now she's paying the cost of your actions."

He smirked. "Why do you think Blue Angel is a casualty? Because of you and Playmaker. Because Playmaker hid the Ignis, and because you interfered with us and joined forces with him."

Morningstar grit his teeth. "Don't listen to him, Morningstar!" Lilith shouted. "If you don't defeat him, the Tower will be finished, and the world will pay the price! Attack him!"

Morningstar shook, then took a card from his hand. "I Set one card. I end my turn."

Lilith gasped. "No…" she whispered. "No… Morningstar…"

Spectre laughed. "Yes. That's your virtue and your weakness. Ever since our duel, I've watched how you battle." His smirk widened. "You don't have it in you to be cruel. You're called a devil, but in fact you're soft-hearted. Weak. Somewhere in that soft heart of yours is a strong sense of justice. That's why you became a bounty hunter, isn't it? To deliver justice to criminals?"

Spectre scoffed. "And that's why you'll lose. Because you can't bring yourself to make the hard decisions. In order to save that girl, you gave up your one and only chance. Your spirit is weak. Your entire being is weak. Too weak!"

Morningstar growled but said nothing. There was nothing to say.

"Don't worry, Yasu," Cam said. "I'll do what I can to free Lilith. Just hold out until I do so."

"Right," Morningstar whispered. "Good luck, Cam."

"The legendary Devil of LINK VRAINS," Spectre said, smirking at the hunter. "Because you can't be cruel, this will be your last duel. And how pathetic it will be for you. My turn! Draw!" Spectre looked at his card, then at the field. "Battle! Thrasher attacks Vivacious Vixen!" Thrasher charged Vivacious Vixen.

"Sunvine Power's effect activates, and Thrasher gains 800 attack points until the end of the Damage Step!"

Sunvine Thrasher ATK 2400→3200

Thrasher hit the fox with its sword. The fox cried out as it split in half and disintegrated. Morningstar winced from the damage.

Morningstar: 3100→1600 LP

Sunvine Thrasher ATK 3200→2400

"When your monster is destroyed in battle, Sunavalon Force's effect activates!" Spectre declared. "Looking at the monster with the most Link Markers, you take 100 points of damage per Link Marker! The most has three Link Markers. Therefore, 300 points of damage." The card shot three red energy blades at Morningstar, making him wince and clutch his chest.

Morningstar: 1600→1300 LP

"And that's not all I can do," Spectre said. "By banishing the Sunvine Blossom in my Graveyard, Thrasher can make a second attack!" Morningstar's eyes widened. "Thrasher will destroy your Thrilled Tunneler!" Thrasher slashed the skeleton monster, destroying it and making Morningstar wince again.

Morningstar: 1300→1000 LP

"And once again, Sunavalon Force deals you 300 points of damage!" Three more energy blades hit Morningstar, making him cry out.

Morningstar: 1000→700 LP

"Morningstar!" Lilith shouted, looking at the hunter with worry.

Spectre laughed as Morningstar steadied his breathing. "This will be the end for you, Morningstar." He looked at the other bridge. "Your stabilization program might have saved you and Playmaker from the bridges disintegrating, but it looks like Playmaker is having his own problems."

Morningstar looked over at the other bridge and gasped. "Zaizen?" he said, surprised.

"He came here to rescue his sister," Spectre explained. "And was captured just like Lilith. Now Terminus's toy is using him to hold Playmaker at bay." Spectre smirked. "The undefeated Playmaker losing to a mere AI! There is no more appropriate humiliation for him than that!"

He laughed. "Playmaker dragged Zaizen into this just as you dragged Lilith into it. And now both of you will meet your pathetic ends here and now!"

Morningstar vs. Spectre

This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.

Turn 1: Spectre

Spectre Normal Summons Sunseed Genius Loci (0/600/1). He uses Genius Loci to Link Summon Sunavalon Dryas (0/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. Spectre Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 2: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. He activates the Continuous Spell Card Cyberse Infinite Coding. Now, whenever a Cyberse Link Monster is Link Summoned, a Cyberse Counter is placed on Infinite Coding. Since Spectre controls monsters and he doesn't, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Swordsman (1200/900/3) from his hand in Attack Position. Since Swordsman was Special Summoned via its own effect, Morningstar adds Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke from his Deck to his hand. As Spectre controls a Link Monster and he does not, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Armorer (1200/2000/6) and Cyspirit Tunnel Tyke (200/500/2) from his hand, both in Attack Position. Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Teleporter (500/1500/3). He uses Teleporter to Link Summon Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller (500/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. As a Cyberse Link Monster was Link Summoned, Cyberse Infinite Coding gains 1 Cyberse Counter (Infinite Coding: 0 CC→1 CC). Morningstar activates the effect of Cacophonic Caller, Special Summoning Cyspirit Navigator (1300/1100/3) from his Deck to its Link Marker in Attack Position, but it cannot attack and is destroyed during the End Phase. Morningstar uses Cacophonic Caller and Navigator to Link Summon Cyspirit Jubilant Jester (1800/2/↙↘) to the Extra Monster Zone (Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC). Since Jubilant Jester points to at least 1 monster (Swordsman), all "Cyspirit" monsters gain 400 ATK/DEF (Armorer: 1200→1600/2000→2400) (Jubilant Jester: 1800→2200) (Swordsman: 1200→1600/900→1300) (Tunnel Tyke: 200→600/500→900). Morningstar activates the effect of Infinite Coding, removing 2 Cyberse Counters (Infinite Coding: 2 CC→0 CC) to draw 1 card. Since there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Prisoner (1600→2000/2100→2500/5) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Swordsman and Tunnel Tyke to Link Summon Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire (1700→2100/2/↖←) to Jubilant Jester's bottom-right Link Marker (Infinite Coding: 0 CC→1 CC). Morningstar activates the effect of Armorer, targeting Jubilant Jester. Armorer is sent to the GY, and Morningstar can Special Summon Cyspirit Armor Tokens, equal to Jubilant Jester's Link Rating. Morningstar Special Summons 2 Cyspirit Armor Tokens (0→400/0→400/2) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses both Armor Tokens to Link Summon Cyspirit Zany Zealot (1300→1700/2/↗→) to Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker (Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC). Since it is co-linked with a "Cyspriit" Link Monster, Morningstar activates Zany Zealot's effect, letting him Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his GY with its effects negated. He Special Summons Swordsman (1200→1600/900→1300/3) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Prisoner and Swordsman to Link Summon Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler (1600→2000/2/←→) to Zany Zealot's right Link Marker (Infinite Coding: 2 CC→3 CC). Since Prisoner was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Supremacy Link to his hand. Morningstar activates the Continuous Spell Card Cyspirit Supremacy Link, which prevents all monsters from attacking, except Link Monsters.

Jubilant Jester attacks Sunavalon Dryas. Its effect prevents it from being attacked, but does not prevent direct attacks, so Jubilant Jester attacks Spectre directly (Spectre: 4000→1800 LP). As he took damage, Spectre activates the effect of Sunavalon Dryas, letting him Special Summon a "Sunvine" Link Monster from his Extra Deck to Dryas's Link Marker and gain LP equal to the damage he took. Spectre Special Summons Sunvine Gardna (600/1/↑) to Dryas's Link Marker (Spectre: 1800→4000 LP). As a co-linked "Cyspirit" Link Monster battled, Morningstar activates the effect of Supremacy Link, giving it a Link Counter (Supremacy Link: 0 LC→1 LC). As it points to two monsters, Morningstar activates the effect of Legendary Legionnaire to increase the ATK of 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster he controls by 1000. He targets Zany Zealot (Zany Zealot: 1700→2700). Zany Zealot attacks Gardna. As Zany Zealot battled, Morningstar activates its effect, making the opponent's monsters unable to be destroyed by battle this turn, also it can make a second attack. Spectre activates the effect of Gardna to reduce the battle damage he would take by 800 for every Link Marker a "Sunavalon" Link Monster that points to it has, in this case, one. The attack continues, but Gardna is not destroyed (Spectre: 4000→2700 LP). As a "Cyspirit" Link Monster besides Jubilant Jester inflicted battle damage, Morningstar activates its effect, gaining LP equal to half the damage dealt (Morningstar: 4000→4650 LP) and as a co-linked "Cyspirit" Link Monster battled, Morningstar activates the effect of Supremacy Link (Supremacy Link: 1 LC→2 LC). As Spectre took battle damage, he activates his face-down Continuous Trap Card Sunavalon Glorious Growth, Special Summoning a Sunvine Token (0/0/1) in Attack Position, then letting him Link Summon using it and monsters he controls as Link Material. Spectre uses Sunvine Token, Gardna, and Dryas to Link Summon Sunavalon Dryanome (0/3/↙↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Spectre then activates the effect of Glorious Growth, gaining LP equal to the damage taken, then inflicting that amount as damage to Morningstar, but since Jubilant Jester points to two monsters, all effect damage Morningstar takes is halved (Spectre: 2700→4000 LP) (Morningstar: 4650→4000 LP).

Zany Zealot attacks directly, with the effects of Jubilant Jester and Supremacy Link following after (Spectre: 4000→1300 LP) (Morningstar: 4000→5350 LP) (Supremacy Link: 2 LC→3 LC). As Spectre took battle damage, he activates the effect of Dryanome, which allows him to Special Summon a "Sunvine" Link Monster from his Extra Deck to a zone it points to, then he gains LP equal to the damage he took. Spectre Special Summon Sunvine Gardna (600/1/↑) to Dryanome's bottom Link Marker, and gains LP (Spectre: 1300→4000 LP). As Spectre gained LP, he activates the effect of Glorious Growth, inflicting that amount as damage to Playmaker, with the effect of Jubilant Jester halving the damage (Morningstar: 5350→4000 LP). Legendary Legionnaire attacks Sunvine Gardna, but Zany Zealot prevents Gardna's destruction by battle this turn, and since Legendary Legionnaire activated its effect this turn, Spectre takes no battle damage from battles involving it this turn. The effect of Supremacy follows after (Supremacy Link: 3 LC→4 LC).

As Thrilled Tunneler points to at least one monster, it can attack directly by halving its ATK until the End Phase. Thrilled Tunneler attacks directly (Thrilled Tunneler: 2000→1000). As a co-linked "Cyspirit" Link Monster battled, Morningstar activates the effect of Supremacy Link, sending it to the GY and increasing Thrilled Tunneler's ATK by 800 for each Link Counter Supremacy Link had on it (Thrilled Tunneler: 1000→4200) until the End Phase. As Morningstar's monster attacked directly, Spectre activates the effect of Glorious Growth to negate the attack then redirect that attack to a "Sunvine" monster he controls. He redirects the attack to Gardna, with the effect of Gardna reducing the battle damage he would take by 800 for every Link Marker a "Sunavalon" Link Monster that points to it has, in this case, three. Gardna is not destroyed due to Zany Zealot's effect, with the effect of Jubilant Jester following after (Spectre: 4000→2800 LP) (Morningstar: 4000→4600 LP). Spectre activates the effect of Dryanome and Glorious Growth in sequence, Special Summoning Gardna (600/1/↑) to the bottom-left Link Marker of Dryanome (Spectre: 2800→4000) (Morningstar: 4600→4000 LP). Morningstar ends his turn, and during the End Phase, the effect of Legendary Legionnaire destroys Zany Zealot, then applies an effect depending on Zany Zealot's Link Rating. Zany Zealot's Link Rating was 2, so Morningstar draws 1 card. The effects of Thrilled Tunneler and Supremacy Link end (Thrilled Tunneler: 4200→1000→2000).

Turn 3: Spectre

Spectre draws. He activates the Spell Card Sunvine Blossom, targeting one Sunvine Gardna. Gardna is Tributed, and Spectre draws two cards. Spectre sends a card from his hand to the GY to activate the Continuous Spell Card Sunvine Shrine. Once per turn, Spectre can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Plant Normal Monster from his GY. He Special Summons Sunseed Genius Loci (0/600/1) from the GY in Attack Position. Spectre uses Genius Loci to Link Summon Sunvine Thrasher (800/1/↓) to Dryanome's bottom-right Link Marker. Spectre activates the effect of Thrasher, which lets him increase its ATK by 800 for every Link Marker a "Sunavalon" Link Monster that points to it has, in this case, three (Thrasher: 800→3200). Spectre activates the Equip Spell Card Sunvine Power and equips it to Thrasher.

Thrasher attacks Jubilant Jester. Morningstar activates the effect of Legendary Legionnaire to increase the ATK of Jubilant Jester by 1000 (Jubilant Jester: 2200→3200). Since the equipped monster is battling a Link Monster, Sunvine Power increases Thrasher's ATK by 800 until the end of the Damage Step (Thrasher: 3200→4000). Thrasher destroys Jubilant Jester (Morningstar: 4000→3200 LP) (Thrasher: 4000→3200). Since Jubilant Jester left the field, the ATK of Legendary Legionnaire and Thrilled Tunneler return to normal (Legendary Legionnaire: 2100→1700) (Thrilled Tunneler: 2000→1600). As Thrasher destroyed a monster by battle, Spectre activates its effect, Special Summoning that monster to a zone a "Sunavalon" Link Monster points to. He Special Summons Jubilant Jester (1800/2/↙↘) to Dryanome's bottom Link Marker. Jubilant Jester attacks and destroys Legendary Legionnaire (Morningstar: 3200→3100 LP).

Spectre Normal Summons Genius Loci (0/600/1). Spectre uses Genius Loci and Gardna to Link Summon Sunavalon Daphne (0/2/←→) to Dryanome's bottom-left Link Marker. Spectre Tributes Jubilant Jester to activate the effect of Daphne, returning two copies of Gardna from his GY to his Extra Deck. Spectre Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 4: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. Spectre activates the Continuous Trap Card Sunavalon Force. While Force is on the field, "Sunavalon" Link Monsters cannot be targeted by Morningstar's card effects. Morningstar activates the Field Spell Card Cyspirit Monastery, increasing the ATK of all "Cyspirit" Link Monsters he controls by 500 (Thrilled Tunneler: 1600→2100). Since he controls a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Morningstar activates the effect of Monastery to Special Summon one "Cyspirit" monster from his hand to a zone that Link Monster points to. He Special Summons Cyspirit Wanderer (1900/200/5) to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker in Attack Position. Since Wanderer was Special Summoned by the effect of a "Cyspirit" card, one monster Spectre controls loses 800 ATK. Morningstar targets Thrasher (Thrasher: 3200→2400). Morningstar uses Wanderer to Link Summon Cyspirit Vivacious Vixen (1200→1700/1/→) to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker (Infinite Coding: 3 CC→4 CC). Since Vivacious Vixen was Link Summoned using a Level 5 or higher "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field. He destroys Infinite Coding. Since infinite Coding left the field while it had two or more Cyberse Counters, Morningstar can Special Summon 1 Cyberse Link Monster from his Extra Deck whose Link Rating is equal to or less than the number of Cyberse Counters it had, and have it treated as a Link Summon. Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Winning Wrestler (2500→3000/3/↙↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As it is co-linked with a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Morningstar activates the effect of Vivacious Vixen, which lets him target one "Cyspirit" Link Monster he controls and prevent the use of a number of Main Monster Zones up to the co-linked Link Monster's Link Rating while the targeted monster is on the field. Morningstar targets Winning Wrestler. Vivacious Vixen is co-linked with Thrilled Tunneler, so Morningstar can target two Main Monster Zones. Morningstar prevents the use of both zones the left and right Link Markers of Daphne point to.

At this point, Spectre reveals that Lilith has been captured and will be infected with a computer virus if Spectre's LP reduce, so Morningstar does not attack. Morningstar Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.

Turn 5: Spectre

Spectre draws. Thrasher attacks Vivacious Vixen, with the effect of Sunvine Power activating (Thrasher: 2400→3200). Vivacious Vixen is destroyed (Morningstar: 3100→1600 LP) (Thrasher: 3200→2400). As Morningstar's monster was destroyed by battle, Spectre activates the effect of Force, inflicting 100 damage to Morningstar for every Link Marker the Link Monster with the highest Link Rating on the field has, in this case, three (Morningstar: 1600→1300 LP). Since Thrasher destroyed a monster by battle, Spectre activates the effect of the Sunvine Blossom in his GY, banishing it and targeting Sunvine Thrasher. Thrasher can make a second attack during the Battle Phase. Thrasher attacks and destroys Thrilled Tunneler (Morningstar: 1300→1000 LP). The effect of Force activates (Morningstar: 1000→700 LP).

Playmaker vs. Prototype HAI-C (Vendread)

This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.

Turn 1: Prototype HAI-C

HAI-C activates the Field Spell Card Vendread Nights. It activates Vendread Nights' effect, discarding Vendread Striges to add Vendread Houndhorde from its Deck to its hand. Since Striges was sent to the GY, HAI-C reveals Vendread Houndhorde in its hand to Special Summon Striges from the GY (500/2000/2) in Attack Position, but it will be banished when it leaves the field. HAI-C Normal Summons Vendread Houndhorde (0/2100/3). It activates the Spell Card Vendread Relocation, letting it add 1 "Revendread" Ritual Spell Card from its Deck to its hand, and then add "Vendread" Ritual Monster from its Deck or GY to its hand, so long as it isn't Revendread Slayer. HAI-C adds Revendread Origin and Vendread Chimera from its Deck to its hand. It activates the Ritual Spell Card Revendread Origin, Tributing the Level 2 Striges and Level 3 Houndhorde from her field to Ritual Summon the Level 5 Vendread Chimera (2300/0/5) in Attack Position. As it left the field, Striges is banished. HAI-C Sets 1 card. It ends its turn.

Turn 2: Playmaker

Playmaker draws. He sends the Level 1 Latency from his hand to the GY to Special Summon Bitrooper (1500/2000/4) from his hand. He Normal Summons ROM Cloudia (1800/04). Since ROM Cloudia was Normal Summoned, Playmaker can target 1 Cyberse monster in his GY and add it to his hand. He targets and adds Latency to his hand. Since Latency was added to Playmaker's hand from the GY, he can Special Summon it (0/0/1) in Attack Position. Playmaker uses Bitrooper, Latency, and ROM Cloudia to Link Summon Encode Talker (2300/3/↑↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Since the Special Summoned Latency was used to Link Summon, Playmaker draws 1 card. Since he controls a Cyberse monster, Playmaker Special Summons Backup Secretary (1200/800/3) in Attack Position to Encode Talker's bottom-right Link Marker.

Backup Secretary attacks Vendread Chimera. As a monster it points to is battling a monster with higher ATK, Playmaker activates the effect of Encode Talker. Backup Secretary is not destroyed by the battle, and Playmaker takes no battle damage. After damage calculation, Encode Talker gains ATK equal to Vendread Chimera's ATK until the End Phase (Encode Talker: 2300→4600). HAI-C activates the effect of Vendread Chimera. As it was Ritual Summoned using Vendread Striges on the field, and it battled an opponent's monster, HAI-C can draw 1 card, then discard 1 card. It draws then discards Vendread Core. Encode Talker attacks Vendread Chimera, but HAI-C activates its face-down Trap Card Waboku. HAI-C takes no battle damage this turn, and its monsters cannot be destroyed by battle. HAI-C activates Vendread Chimera's effect. It draws then discards Vendread Revolution. As he controls a Cyberse monster whose ATK is different from its original ATK, Playmaker activates the Spell Card Cyberse Cache. He draws 2 cards. Playmaker Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn.

Turn 3: Prototype HAI-C

HAI-C draws. It activates the effect of Vendread Chimera. As it was Ritual Summoned using Vendread Houndhorde, it can banish 1 Spell/Trap Card Playmaker controls. HAI-C banishes Playmaker's face-down Doppler Phase Coating. HAI-C activates the effect of the Vendread Core in its GY, banishing Vendread Houndhorde from its GY to Special Summon Vendread Core (0/500/1) in Attack Position. It activates the Spell Card Preparation of Rites, letting it add 1 Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from its Deck to its hand and 1 Ritual Spell Card from its GY to its hand. It adds Revendread Slayer from its Deck to its hand and Revendread Origin from its GY to its hand. HAI-C activates the Ritual Spell Card Revendread Origin, Tributing the Level 1 Vendread Core and the Level 5 Vendread Chimera to Ritual Summon the Level 6 Revendread Slayer (2400/0/6) in Attack Position. Since Core left the field, it is banished. Since Chimera was Tributed for a Ritual Summon, all monsters Playmaker controls lose 500 ATK/DEF (Backup Secretary: 1200→700/800→300) (Encode Talker: 2300→1800). HAI-C activates the Spell Card Ritualistic Gift. Since it controls a Level 6 Ritual Monster, HAI-C can draw 3 cards. It activates the Continuous Spell Card Vendread Nightmare. HAI-C activates the Spell Card Burial from a Different Dimension, targeting its banished Core, Houndhorde, and Striges and returning them to its GY.

Slayer attacks Encode Talker. As it is battling an opponent's monster, HAI-C activates Slayer's effect, banishing Striges from its GY to increase Slayer's ATK by 300 (Slayer: 2400→2700). Encode Talker is destroyed (Playmaker: 4000→3100 LP). Since a "Vendread" monster destroyed Playmaker's monster by battle, HAI-C activates the effect of Vendread Nights, banishing Houndhorde from its GY to let Slayer attack Playmaker's monster again in a row. And as a "Vendread" Ritual monster destroyed Playmaker's monster by battle, Vendread Nightmare increases Slayer's ATK by 1000 (Slayer: 2700→3700). As HAI-C activated an effect that would change the ATK of exactly 1 monster on the field, Playmaker activates his face-down Trap Card Cyberse Shatter, negating the activation of the effect and allowing Playmaker to draw 1 card (Slayer: 3700→2700). Slayer attacks Backup Secretary. HAI-C activates Slayer's effect, banishing Chimera from the GY (Slayer: 2700→3000). Slayer destroys Backup Secretary (Playmaker: 3100→800 LP). HAI-C Sets 1 card. It ends its turn.

Turn 4: Playmaker

Playmaker draws. He Normal Summons Widget Kid (1500/900/3). Since Widget Kid was Normal Summoned, Playmaker can Special Summon 1 Cyberse monster from his hand in Defense Position. He Special Summons Dongle Acorn (0/0/1). Since Dongle Acorn was Special Summoned, Playmaker can Special Summon 1 Dongle Token (0/0/1) in Attack Position. Since Playmaker controls 2 or more monsters with the same Type, he can Special Summon Cyberse Whitehat (1800/2400/6) in Attack Position. Playmaker uses Dongle Token to Link Summon Link Disciple (500/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. Playmaker uses Widget Kid to Link Summon Link Devotee (500/1/↑) to Link Disciple's Link Marker. Since Link Devotee was Special Summoned, Playmaker cannot Link Summon Link-3 or higher Link Monsters for the rest of the turn. Playmaker activates the effect of Link Disciple, Tributing Link Devotee to draw 1 card, then place 1 card on the bottom of his Deck. Since the co-linked Link Devotee was Tributed, Playmaker Special Summons 2 Link Tokens (0/0/1) in Attack Position. Playmaker uses Cyberse Whitehat and Dongle Acorn to Link Summon Binary Sorceress (1600/2/←→) to Link Disciple's Link Marker. Since Cyberse Whitehat was used to Link Summon, all monsters HAI-C controls lose 1000 ATK until the end of the turn (Slayer: 3000→2000). Playmaker uses two Link Tokens to Link Summon Binary Blader (1800/2/←→) to Binary Sorceress's right Link Marker. He activates the Spell Card Link Treasure, letting him draw 1 card for each face-up Link Monster on the field. Playmaker draws 3 cards. He then Special Summons Link Infra-Flier (0/1800/2) to Binary Sorceress's left Link Marker in Attack Position. Playmaker uses Link Disciple and Link Infra-Flier to Link Summon Multi Sledgehammer (1000/2/↓→) to Binary Sorceress's left Link Marker.

As it is co-linked to two monsters, Playmaker activates the effect of Binary Sorceress to halve the ATK of a monster he controls, then increase the ATK of another monster he controls by the same value until the End Phase. He halves the ATK of Binary Sorceress and increases the ATK of Binary Blader (Binary Blader: 1600→800) (Binary Sorceress: 1800→2600). Binary Blader attacks Slayer. As Binary Blader battled, Playmaker activates its effect, making the opponent's monster unable to be destroyed by that battle, also it can make a second attack. The attack continues, but Slayer is not destroyed (HAI-C: 4000→3400 LP). As a monster co-linked to Binary Sorceress inflicted battle damage, Playmaker activates its effect, gaining LP equal to the damage dealt (Playmaker: 800→1400 LP). As a Cyberse Link Monster battled, Playmaker activates the effect of Multi Sledgehammer, giving it a Hammer Counter (Multi Sledgehammer: 0 HC→1 HC). Binary Blader attacks Slayer again, but Slayer is not destroyed (HAI-C: 3400→2800 LP). The effects of Binary Sorceress and Multi Sledgehammer follow after (Playmaker: 1400→2000 LP) (Multi Sledgehammer: 1 HC→2 HC).

As Multi Sledgehammer is co-linked to a Cyberse monster, it can attack directly. Multi Sledgehammer attacks directly. As Multi Sledgehammer attacked, Playmaker activates its effect, removing all Hammer Counters from Multi Sledgehammer to increase its ATK by 1000 for each Hammer Counter removed (Multi Sledgehammer: 2 HC→0 HC) (Multi Sledgehammer: 1000→3000) until the End Phase. HAI-C activates its face-down Continuous Trap Card Call of the Haunted, targeting the Vendread Core in its GY and Special Summoning it (0/500/1) in Attack Position. A replay occurs.

At this point, HAI-C reveals that Akira Zaizen has been captured and will be infected with a computer virus if HAI-C's LP reduce further, so Playmaker does not attack. Playmaker Sets 1 card. He ends his turn. During the End Phase, the effects of Binary Sorceress, Cyberse Whitehat, and Multi Sledgehammer end (Binary Blader: 2600→1800) (Binary Sorceress: 800→1600) (Multi Sledgehammer: 3000→1000) (Slayer: 2000→3000).

Turn 5: HAI-C

HAI-C draws. It activates the effect of Vendread Relocation in its GY, banishing it to add 1 "Revendread" Ritual Spell Card from its GY to its hand. It adds Revendread Origin to its hand. Revendread Slayer attacks Binary Sorceress, but Playmaker activates his face-down Quick-Play Spell Card Security Block, targeting Binary Sorceress. Binary Sorceress cannot be destroyed by battle this turn, and neither player takes battle damage this turn. HAI-C Sets 1 card. It ends its turn.

Cyspirit Jubilant Jester
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘
2 "Cyspirit" monsters
This Link Summoned card gains these effects depending on the number of monsters it points to.
-1 or more: All "Cyspirit" monsters you control gain 400 ATK/DEF.
-2: When a "Cyspirit" Link Monster you control inflicts battle damage to your opponent, except this card: You can gain LP equal to half the damage. Halve all effect damage you take.

Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 1700 LINK-2 ↖←
2 Level 3 or lower "Cyspirit" monsters
This Link Summoned card gains these effects depending on the number of monsters it points to.
-1 or more: Once per turn, if this card points to a "Cyspirit" Link Monster: You can treat that monster as being co-linked with this card until the end of the turn.
-2: Once per turn (Quick Effect): You can target 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster you control, except this card; that monster gains 1000 ATK. The turn you activate this effect: Your opponent takes no battle damage from battles involving this card. During the End Phase: Destroy that monster, and if you do, apply one of the following effects, depending on the destroyed monster's Link Rating:
 -1 or 2: Draw 1 card.
 -3 or 4: Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from your GY with its effects negated.
 -5: Destroy all cards on your opponent's field.

Cyspirit Zany Zealot
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 1300 LINK-2 ↗→
2 "Cyspirit" Normal Monsters
This Link Summoned card gains these effects depending on the number of monsters it points to.
-1 or more: Once per turn, if this card is co-linked with a "Cyspirit" Link Monster: You can target 1 "Cyspirit" monster in your GY; Special Summon it to your field in Attack Position with its effects negated.
-2: Once per turn: you can activate this effect (Quick Effect); This card can make two attacks during each Battle Phase this turn, but monsters your opponent controls cannot be destroyed by battle this turn.

Cyspirit Vivacious Vixen
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 1200 LINK-1 →
1 "Cyspirit" monster
If this card is Link Summoned using 1 Level 5 or higher "Cyspirit" monster: You can destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field. Once while face-up on the field: You can choose unused Main Monster Zones, equal to the Link Rating of a "Cyspirit" Link Monster co-linked to this card, and target 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster you control; while the targeted card is face-up on the field, those zone(s) cannot be used.

Cyspirit Supremacy Link Continuous Spell Card
No monsters can declare attacks, except Link Monsters. If a co-linked "Cyspirit" Link Monster you control declares an attack: Place 1 Link Counter on this card. If a co-linked "Cyspirit" Link Monster you control declares an attack: You can send this card to the GY; that monster gains 800 ATK for each Link Counter this card had on it when it was removed from the field until the end of the turn. During the End Phase of the turn you activated this card: Destroy this card.

Sunvine Blossom Normal Spell Card
Tribute 1 "Sunvine" Link Monster you control; Draw 2 cards, also for the rest of this turn after this card resolves, you cannot add cards from your Deck to your hand. You can banish this card from your GY and target 1 "Sunvine" Link Monster you control that destroyed an opponent's monster by battle this turn; that monster can make a second attack. This effect cannot be activated the turn this card is sent to the GY.

Sunvine Power Equip Spell Card
Equip only to a "Sunvine" Link Monster. When the equipped monster attacks a Link Monster: increase the equipped monster's ATK by 800 until the end of the Damage Step. You can only activate this effect of "Sunvine Power" once per turn.

Cyspirit Monastery Field Spell Card
All "Cyspirit" Link Monsters you control gain 500 ATK. If you control no monsters: You can Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster from your GY with its effects negated. If you control a "Cyspirit" Link Monster: you can Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from your hand to a zone that Link Monster points to. You can only activate 1 effect of "Cyspirit Monastery" per turn, and only once per turn.

Vendread Relocation Normal Spell Card
If you control 2 Level 4 or lower "Vendread" monsters: add 1 "Revendread" Ritual Spell Card from your Deck to your hand, and add 1 "Vendread" Ritual Monster from your Deck or GY to your hand, except "Revendread Slayer". You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 "Revendread" Ritual Spell Card from your GY to your hand. You can only activate 1 "Vendread Relocation" per turn.

Ritualistic Gift Normal Spell Card
If you control a Level 6 or higher Ritual Monster: Draw 3 cards, also for the rest of this turn after this card resolves, you cannot add cards from your Deck to your hand. During the End Phase of the turn you activate this card: banish your entire hand.

Chapter Preview

Next Time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 22 – Angel's Wrath. Spectre pushes Morningstar into a corner while Lilith is held hostage. Pushed to the mental and physical extreme, the hunter reaches his breaking point and calls on a beautiful and terrifying monster…

Responses to Reviews & Author's Notes

Thank you to sanedimentio, thirdegree101, Ethan Kironus, ClearwingYuta, Guest, HunterHQ, Ryujomaru15, Frost190, D3lph0xL0v3r, Linda Fullmoom, ThePLOThand, InfiniteStarz, mekyaku, GreenD109, Yasutake Fan, Tiny Pink Kitten, EH-01, Guest, and Vrains Fan for reviewing Chapter 20.

To answer sanedimentio, all Cyspirit Extra Deck monsters are Link Monsters. There are no Cyspirit Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Monsters.

Thank you to thirdegree101 for suggesting names for a Cyspirit related to Revolver. I hadn't planned on it at first, but you've given me an idea for season 2. Thanks.

To answer InfiniteStarz, I do have an idea of what Yasutake's and Sachi's Ignis represent, but I'll wait till they make an appearance to explain.

To answer Yasutake Fan, my schedule was supposed to be every 2 weeks or so, but I fell behind this time. I will explain why below. As for an effect that only works when Extra Linked… that's an idea. I don't have any plans for one, but maybe in the future.

Sorry this was uploaded so late. I would like to say its because I'm busy with finals and graduation, but that would be a lie. In truth, I've been caught up in the Trails of Cold Steel video games. They are really addicting! Thankfully, I managed to get away from them long enough to finish this chapter. I'm hoping I'll be able to deliver Chapter 22 in less time.

The focus of this chapter was primarily the duels between Spectre and Morningstar, and Playmaker and Prototype HAI-C. After writing a duel between Morningstar and Spectre in Chapter 4, I wanted to write another one, and this was the best place to put it. The duel might be a little too similar to Playmaker's duel with Spectre, but duels are honestly easier to write with a baseline. I did consider making the duel a 2v1, but I felt that would give Morningstar and Playmaker too much of an advantage, so I went with 1v1. And since I've introduced Hanoi AI duelists, I figured I would give Playmaker a go at one. I originally planned on him facing Knightmare monsters, but decided to go with Vendread since Tagoma didn't duel.

Thank you for reading Chapter 21 of Hidden Memories. Please post a review of your favorite moment in the chapter. What did you think of Morningstar's reactions to Spectre's tale? As always, feedback is essential for improvements.