Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories Chapter 41: Hunter vs Hunter, a yu-gi-oh! vrains fanfic

Announcements

Hello everyone, this is scififan599 with an announcement. I already said this on Chapter 12 of Fifth Circuit, but I want to believe there are people who read this fic who don't read Fifth Circuit, so I'll say it here too. From now on, there will be a format change: I am moving Review Responses to the beginning, before the main chapter. I think this will help in the long run.

Oh, and before I forget, I went on my profile and changed the effects of Pied PIkeman so that its effect targets, and reworded Cyspirit Fusion's latter effect so it's a bit harder to activate.

Responses to Reviews

Thank you to savagemaster1999, HunterHQ, D3lph0xL0v3r, CardGameForKids, JaneValentine007, SakushiRyu, Ethan Kironus, NewComer1, ThePLOThand, Lindia Fullmoon, Phantom Flame-98, DivadX, and Sonic7 for reviewing Chapter 40.

savagemaster1999: I have said this before, and I suspect I shall have to say it again: all Cyspirit Ritual and Extra Deck Monsters' names are alliterative. This means two words that both begin with the same letter, like Neo Nova or Rapid Revolutionary. There are no exceptions to this rule. So I can't use Big Bang Nova. That rule aside, I don't want to give Morningstar a monster stronger than Superior Seraphim. At least not until season 3. And on the offered Xyz Monster, I've decided that like Savage Shogun and Cosmic Crusader, Morningstar's first Xyz Monster will also be humanoid, so I can't use Polaris Pegasus either.

That aside, I have another announcement: as of this posting, Hidden Memories has been viewed over 100,000 times! Now, let's get on with the chapter.

Chapter 41: Hunter vs. Hunter

Morningstar lay unconscious in a sea of darkness.

"You aren't the prey I wanted to catch. But this is fine. You and I would have faced each other eventually; why put this off any longer?"

Blood Shepherd looked down on the unconscious duelist. "Show it to me, Morningstar."

Purple orbs rose from the ground and surrounded the two humans. Images appeared in them.

Blood Shepherd turned around and started to walk among the orbs, looking at the pictures they showed. And then he realized something.

"Hmm. Clever." A sliver of respect found its way into his voice. "You're subconsciously resisting my program, preventing me from seeing the current real life you."

It was true; most of the orbs showed scenes from LINK VRAINS, either in Morningstar's old or new avatars. A few were showing a small child in a white room or at an orphanage. But none of them showed Morningstar's current real-life self.

This didn't surprise Blood Shepherd too much; his program wasn't perfect, and it did have flaws; someone as obviously disciplined as Morningstar would be able to exploit them, even subconsciously.

It was annoying however; Blood Shepherd had hoped to find a weakness to exploit. Perhaps a past trauma or something he was instinctively scared of. But it seemed like Morningstar had nothing like the latter. And aside from the Lost Incident, which Blood Shepherd assumed the images of a white room to be, he wasn't showing any past traumas. And unfortunately, the Lost Incident wasn't something Blood Shepherd could take advantage of, at least not here.

The bounty hunter raised his right arm and fired a few shots, destroying several orbs and clearing space. Then he noticed one in particular. One that showed something other than a child or Morningstar's two avatars.

Blood Shepherd reached out and called the orb to him. When he saw what it was showing clearly, he tensed. "This is…"

3 years ago…

When SOL Technologies created LINK VRAINS, they had envisioned it as a place solely for entertainment. People would go there and duel or watch the Charisma Duelists. They would sign up for events and pay for access to unique servers. This had been SOL's vision for their virtual reality system.

That aside, it hadn't really come as a surprise when their customers started to use LINK VRAINS for more unsavory business practices. Data transfers, identity theft, corporate and non-corporate espionage; the availability of LINK VRAINS to the public had made it a common site for such activities. SOL's security agents did what they could, but they were ultimately ineffective. This inefficiency led to the creation of SOL's Bounty Board.

Realizing that their analysts and agents weren't enough, SOL decided to outsource finding these criminals to cyber bounty hunters. Perhaps it was more expensive, but it was ultimately more successful. Bounty hunters, particularly the upper echelons, were more than capable of handling the hackers and cyberterrorists that used LINK VRAINS as a medium.

Everyone had different methods for catching these criminals, and the best bounty hunters were the ones who knew the widest variety of tricks that their targets used to evade them. Which was why Hunter was particularly pleased with himself for figuring this one out.

When he first started out, he had assumed his targets all congregated in LINK VRAINS. So when he accepted his current contract, he had looked throughout the server until he realized the hacker he wanted to find wasn't there. When he looked over the bounty hunter forums, he found out the reason why.

As it turned out, many hackers were able to create their own private websites using the VRAINS technology to hide out in. This meant they were nearly impossible to catch. Unless one connected said websites to LINK VRAINS's systems and accessed them through there. That was how Hunter how found his target, a particular belligerent hacker who had gotten his hand on blackmail material for a SOL executive.

Said hacker's website's physical representation turned out to be a forest; Hunter didn't know how he programmed it like that, but it made finding the man more difficult. That was how Hunter currently found himself walking down a forest path as quietly as he could, straining his ears for any possible sounds.

The young bounty hunter eyed the greenery, looking for any signs of the hacker. So far, he hadn't found anything, but once he did…

The boy perked up when he heard a twig snap. Turning quickly in the noise's direction, he noticed that several bushes were rustling. Picking up his pace, he walked as fast as he dared in the direction of the bushes. That walk turned into a full-blown sprint when a humanoid shot out of the bushes.

"Get back here!" Hunter shouted as he chased his prey. The pursued zigzagged through the bushes while Hunter gained on them. He didn't notice the level of noise they were making or how his target ran with a clear purpose in mind…

The boy and the one he was chasing ended up on a trail in the woods where the target changed course. Hunter did the same, lifting his left arm as he did so. If he just got a clear shot-.

SNAP

Hunter blinked and looked down. He had a brief second to note the odd pattern on the ground before he felt himself compressed on all sides and suddenly dizzy. After blinking and shaking his head, he realized his predicament; he had stepped into a trap and was suspended in a net hanging from a tree.

Hunter felt like growling. Damn it! How had he been so careless? His irritation with himself soon found itself a new target as laughter reached his ears. Carefully twisting the net, he was able to move and see that the hacker he had been chasing was standing about ten meters away from him.

"Not bad, huh?" the man said with a sneer. "Figured I'd catch the kid first though; you didn't realize that I detected you once you entered my domain, did you? Guess your mentor didn't tell you that."

Hunter frowned. "Mentor?" he repeated. Internally, he chastised himself for not considering that the hacker would realize he had been found.

"Don't play dumb with me, kid!" the hacker shouted, taking a step closer. "I picked up two intrusions, and I know one of them was you! They happened almost simultaneously, so I know your boss entered the same time you did! Now fess up! Where is your partner?"

"I'm not his partner."

Hunter's and the hacker's eyes both widened as a bolt of yellow energy pierced the air and slammed into the hacker's back. The hunter screamed as he was knocked down into the dirt. He tried to pick himself up, but a second shot was fired, this one taking the shape of a bola that wrapped itself around his feet, making him fall over again.

Hunter twisted his neck around, looking in the direction the shot came from. Another figure stepped out of the bushes. This man was wearing a purple cape over a black jacket, a mask and hat, and had a mechanical arm.

The man walked up to the prone hacker and raised his right arm as energy gathered in his palm. "I'm Blood Shepherd," he said. "And you're my prey." He fired another blast that made the hacker scream until he passed out. And yet he didn't log out. It must have had some kind of stasis effect.

Blood Shepherd picked the man up and hoisted him over one shoulder. He turned to walk away, ignoring the glaring teen behind him.

"Hey!" Hunter spoke up. "Aren't you going to let me out?"

The man didn't even stop walking. "No. You got yourself in that mess, you can get yourself out. And then find something more worthy of your skills; bounty hunting isn't a profession for kids."

"K-Kid?" Hunter sputtered, glaring at the retreating man's back until he was gone.

Present day…

"…So. You were that kid." Blood Shepherd turned and looked back at the prone form of Morningstar. "You changed your name and avatar; probably so others would take you more seriously."

Blood Shepherd remembered that hunt. It had been ridiculously easy, all things considered. He hadn't had any hard jobs lined up, so he decided to take a vacation and go after a minor offender. He honestly hadn't expected the boy he left behind to become a bounty hunter whose reputation rivaled his own.

As interesting as this was, it was irrelevant. Blood Shepherd blasted the sphere and continued looking through Morningstar's memories. Until he found another one with a figure he recognized.

"Ghost Girl?" he wondered as he looked at the sphere. This was interesting. He knew Morningstar and Ghost Girl knew each other, but this seemed to suggest the two were partners. Or had been, at least.

As he kept watching however, the image changed again to show a certain part of the old LINK VRAINS central area. One that made Blood Shepherd tense up.

1 year ago…

"You're sure about this?" Morningstar asked with a frown.

"Yeah," Ghost Girl nodded. "I recognize his signature anywhere; it's him."

Morningstar's frown deepened into a scowl. "I hate it when Bishop does this," he muttered. "It's bad enough when he does it with amateur hunters, but hiring multiple professionals secretly…"

The duo were standing on a rooftop overlooking LINK VRAINS. Morningstar had called Ghost Girl to see if she had information on his latest target. In exchange, he was offering twenty percent of the bounty. Ghost Girl had delivered, and among the info she had provided was a name Morningstar hadn't expected to encounter again.

"Blood Shepherd," Morningstar said, his eyes narrowed. "Of all the times to come back to Den City, why now…?"

He'd been rather upset with the older bounty hunter when they met two years ago; he had used the younger hunter as bait and left him to escape on his own – it had taken Cam at least an hour to make a program to break that net. His irritation at the event had been enough that Morningstar had researched the man who stole his target. The data he found was rather illuminating.

The man who had taken the name of Blood Shepherd was regarded as the best cyber bounty hunter in the country. Posts and discussion threads about him revealed him to be tenacious and relentless on the hunt, deeply intelligent at decrypting information, and a highly skilled duelist. Unlike most bounty hunters, he had done work for the military, where he gained a reputation for interrogating artificial intelligences. All in all, he was regarded as a man who would do nearly anything to achieve his goal, no matter how amoral it was.

It was the latter fact that put Blood Shepherd on Ghost Girl's radar. A couple years ago, she and a SOL employee named Akira Zaizen had worked with Blood Shepherd to catch a dangerous hacker, where the bounty hunter had used the former two as bait to defeat him. This incident had led to Ghost Girl investigating Blood Shepherd as well, and unlike Morningstar, she had become familiar with his behavior patterns and coding.

Morningstar sighed. "I knew I would meet him again someday, but I wasn't expecting it to be like this."

"Are you going to give up?" Ghost Girl asked. There was no judgment in her voice, just curiosity. "No one would blame you for it."

The bounty hunter shook his head. "I accepted the contract; that means I have to follow through. I'll just have to beat Blood Shepherd to the punch." He turned his head as a slightly sardonic smirk crossed his face. "And if I didn't do this, then how would I pay you your cut?"

Ghost Girl giggled at that. "Well, you make a fine point." She paused to consider something and then shrugged. "Tell you what, why don't I help you catch this one? I know Blood Shepherd's activities; I can help you catch your guy before him."

Morningstar raised an eyebrow. It was a tempting offer, he admitted. But first, "What's in it for you?"

Ghost Girl's smile widened beneath her mask. "Aside from getting one over on him? Fifty percent of the bounty," she said.

Morningstar frowned. "Thirty percent," he countered.

"Forty," Ghost Girl offered. "And you help me locate a new treasure I've been looking for."

Morningstar considered it and then nodded. "I get twenty-five percent of whatever your new treasure is worth, and deal." He offered his hand. Ghost Girl took it and shook.

"Now then," Ghost Girl said with a gleam in her eye. "Let's do this."

Morningstar and Ghost Girl worked quickly. While the former analyzed his target's patterns and came up with a way to track him, the latter worked on tracking Blood Shepherd. And once those were done, they, with some assistance from Cam, worked together to create the final piece of their plan.

The hacker ran quickly through VRAINS central area's back alleys. Just as he turned a corner, a blast of yellow energy struck the wall he'd almost ran into, making him wince.

"You cannot escape," the voice behind him called out. "Give up."

The hacker didn't bother responding. Damn it! Why did this have to be happening now? He'd just gotten his own private website set up, and then some lunatic bounty hunter with a robotic right arm showed up and trashed the place. If not for his own quick thinking, he would have been caught there. As it was, he had been forced to relocate to VRAINS central. And he couldn't even log out because that masked hunter had tagged him with a dart in the leg. He had removed the dart, but its program remained; he couldn't log out. Not for a couple of hours. His only option now was to evade the hunter through the central server's streets. Yes, he could duel, but he had no illusions about how that would end.

The man led Blood Shepherd on a chase through the alleys until they got to the warehouse district. Once there, he took another turn and… found himself face to face with a brick wall. Hearing the sound of spurs, he turned around slowly to see the bounty hunter standing in the entrance to the alley, his right arm raised and yellow energy gathering in his hand.

"Bounty acquired."

SNAP

Blood Shepherd looked up at the sound, but then down as a purple circle appeared beneath him. "What-?"

That was as far as he got before the circle snapped upwards and turned into a net. The bounty hunter grunted in surprise as he was yanked off the ground and suspended in the air in a net trap.

"What is this?!" he demanded. He turned his right palm to the net's surface and tried to fire, but nothing happened. That was when Blood Shepherd realized that the trap was blocking his programming.

The bounty hunter turned his head as a figure wearing a cloak stepped into view. The hacker, on seeing him, widened his eyes.

"W-Were you the one who-?"

"Yes," the cloaked figure said. "This is my trap. You're safe now." He held out a hand to shake.

The hacker breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God. I was so scared running from this guy. Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome," the figure said as the hacker shook his hand. "After all, I can't let him claim my bounty."

"Huh?" The hacker blinked and then convulsed as an electric shock coursed through his avatar. He then fell down, paralyzed but still holding the man's hand. The man tore his cloak off, revealing a teenager.

"Alright, let's get you turned in," Morningstar said, hefting the paralyzed hacker over his shoulder. He was kind of heavy, but it was doable.

As he turned to leave, the trapped bounty hunter spoke up. "Let me out of here, kid! That bounty is mine!"

Morningstar turned his head, so he was giving Blood Shepherd an aside glance and raised an eyebrow. "Why would I do that? You got yourself in there, get yourself out." He turned and walked away from the irate hunter. "Maybe take a career in something more suited to your skills. Minefield testing springs to mind."

The angered bounty hunter continued shouting at the retreating youth until he was out of sight. But what the hunter didn't see was the smirk that had formed on Morningstar's face.

Payback is so nice.

Present day…

Blood Shepherd stared at the sphere that showed his humiliation. "So… you had Ghost Girl's help with that program after all. I had thought it too advanced for a teenage hunter like yourself; it seems I was correct. But now… now I know the score."

He turned back to glance at the prone duelist. "The first time we met, I came out on top. To defeat me, you had to cheat and had help from Ghost Girl. Now, you don't even have the latter. It's time for you to learn your place, Morningstar." The bounty hunter raised his right hand.

SNAP

The orb on Morningstar's Duel Disk lit back up as Cypher regained consciousness. He remained in eye form and looked around.

"What the hell is this place?" he whispered. He looked up at several purple orbs. But before he could see more than some still images, the orbs all shattered. That said, Cypher did recognize the pictures. One had been him and Morningstar versus Sylphid. Another had been Morningstar's old self versus some guy in a trench coat. Which meant…

"Damn it," Cypher said louder. "Blood Shepherd's looking at my partner's memories!" The Ignis emerged from the Duel Disk, reached up, and started shaking Morningstar's head.

"Partner! Wake up! Wake up! Morningstar! Stand up!"

"Ugh." The duelist groaned as he opened his eyes. Then he blinked and sat up, looking around.

"Cypher, where are we?" Morningstar asked.

"It seems we're inside Blood Shepherd's trap," the Ignis answered.

Morningstar's eyes widened. "Right. The gate." He grit his teeth. "That was unexpected. How did he manage to create that?"

"He must have analyzed the original gate," Cypher said. "It was a very good imitation. Even I was fooled, and I'm a superior Ignis."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Any idea how we-?"

RUMBLE

The hunter and Ignis gasped as their surroundings changed. Instead of a purple landscape, Morningstar now stood on the side of a mountain covered in ankle-deep snow. The sky had changed to resemble the night sky, filled to the brim with stars.

"Come on up, Morningstar."

The duelist's eyes widened as he turned to the right. They were near the top of the mountain, which had been leveled off into a flat plain. The peak of the mountain next to it had also been leveled off. And on that other peak stood…

Morningstar grit his teeth. "Blood Shepherd…"

The former hunter walked up the path till he stood on the mountain's peak facing Blood Shepherd. "So, what kind of trap was this?" he asked.

"I caught a glimpse of it," Cypher said, staying emerged from the Duel Disk. "He was looking at your memories."

"My memories?" Morningstar repeated with a frown.

"Hmm. It was a rather interesting experience," Blood Shepherd said. "Though I hope you understand that this time, Ghost Girl won't be around to bail you out… Hunter."

Morningstar's eyes narrowed. "So… you saw that too?"

"The first time we met, and when you and Ghost Girl teamed up to stop me," the hunter confirmed. "This time, you're alone. But I do want you to know something." Morningstar raised an eyebrow. "This isn't personal. Despite our past, I don't hate you for your trickery. There's no point to it. What matters now isn't who outdid who; what matters is that I'll be taking your Ignis."

"Sorry, but I can't let you take Cypher."

After he said that, Morningstar heard a faint buzzing sound. Moving his head slightly to the side, he noticed a small glowing bug flying over his shoulder and upwards.

Ghost Girl, he thought. Really? When did you get the chance to plant that on me?

Unfortunately, he wouldn't get the chance to find out. Without even looking up, Blood Shepherd blasted the bug out of the air and disintegrated it.

If I know Ghost Girl, that won't be the only camera she had, Morningstar thought. Setting that aside, he raised his Duel Disk, as did Blood Shepherd.

"Duel!"

Morningstar: 4000 LP

Blood Shepherd: 4000 LP

The Duel Field appeared briefly and then disappeared. "I'll go first," Blood Shepherd said. "I summon Drone Pawn." A dark gray machine with downwards facing blasters appeared.

Drone Pawn ATK 600 DEF 0 LVL: 1

Blood Shepherd's Duel Disk lit up. "Drone Pawn's effects," his AI said. "When you control no other monsters, Drone Pawn cannot be destroyed by battle. And at the end of the Battle Phase, if it battled, you gain Life Points equal to the total battle damage you took from those battles."

"I Set two cards. I end my turn."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "I remember that monster from his duel with Playmaker," he said.

"Yeah, I remember the data too," Cypher said. "I also remember him saying that Blood Shepherd's AI was programmed to lie. But nothing it said there was a lie."

"It's likely programmed to mix the truth and lies together in an attempt to throw us off balance," Morningstar assumed. "It'll be better for us to just ignore what it says and read his cards ourselves. My turn! Draw!"

Morningstar looked at his card, then at Blood Shepherd's field. I know how you operate, Blood Shepherd, he thought. This duel will be tricky. But I will absolutely come through! "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cyspirit Operation!" The card showed a control room with multiple screens and multiple Cyspirit Coders all sitting at monitors and staring at the screens. "During my Main Phase, I add a Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck to my hand."

Morningstar took the card from his Deck, then played it. "When you have monsters and I don't, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Swordsman!" The armored dual-wielding skeleton appeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Swordsman ATK 1200 DEF 900 LVL: 3

"Swordsman's monster effect! When it is Special Summoned by its effect, I add a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Cyspirit Kid, which I'll now summon!" A small skeleton in a t-shirt appeared.

Cyspirit Kid ATK 300 DEF 200 LVL: 1

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Kid in the Link Marker!" Said monster entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller!" A skeleton in a business suit emerged from the portal and stood at the right Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓

"Kid's monster effect! When it is sent to the Graveyard as Link Material for a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can destroy one face-up card on your field. I'll destroy Drone Pawn!" The machine on Blood Shepherd's field disintegrated. In response, the bounty hunter gestured to his field.

"Continuous Trap activate!" he declared. "Drone Production Line!" The card showed a factory's assembly line, which was covered in Drone Pawns. "Since my Level 4 or lower 'Drone' monster was sent to the Graveyard, I can add a different 'Drone' monster from my Deck to my hand."

"What?" Morningstar gasped.

"I add Scud Drone from my Deck to my hand."

Morningstar's eyes narrowed. "You anticipated me destroying Drone Pawn, didn't you?"

"Of course," Blood Shepherd confirmed. "Relying on an AI like you do makes you predictable."

"What?" Cypher asked.

"AI are tools for humans to use," Blood Shepherd said. "If a human says something white is black, then it's black. Since you think of an AI as a partner, you'll never understand the pain of my right arm."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Even with a new monster, your field is empty," he reminded his opponent. "Cacophonic Caller's monster effect! 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 Coder!" A skeleton in a lab coat and armor appeared at the Link Monster's Link Marker in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Coder ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Coder's monster effect! When it is Summoned, I add a 'Cyspirit' card from my Deck to my hand. Then, I send a card from my hand, field, or Deck to the Graveyard. I add Cyspirit Blast from my Deck to my hand and send Cyspirit License to the Graveyard." He did so, then pointed upwards.

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Coder, Swordsman, and Cacophonic Caller in the Link Markers! Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cyspirit Pied Pikeman!" A skeleton in a guardsman's uniform wielding a long spear emerged from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Pied Pikeman ATK 2400 LINK-3 ↙↑→

"Please be careful," Blood Shepherd's AI said. "He is likely to attack you directly."

Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "That wasn't a lie," Cypher noted. "Did he change its programming?"

"As I said, it's likely programmed to mix truth and lies."

Blood Shepherd gestured to his field. "Continuous Trap activate! Drone Barricade!" A screen of interlocking green hexagons appeared in front of Blood Shepherd. "While this card is on the field, your monsters cannot attack me directly. And you cannot target my Spell or Trap Cards with effects except for Drone Barricade."

"That won't work against Pied Pikeman!" Cypher told him.

"When I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Linker!" The skeleton with red gauntlets appeared at Pied Pikeman's bottom-left Link Marker in Defense Position.

Cyspirit Linker ATK 1700 DEF 800 LVL: 4

"Pied Pikeman's monster effect! Once per turn, if it points to one monster, I can change that monster's battle position to destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field. I change Linker to Attack Position and destroy Drone Barricade!"

"Drone Barricade's additional effect activates!" Blood Shepherd countered. "If it is targeted by your card or effect, I can banish it and then Set another Drone Barricade from my Deck. And then I can activate that card this turn." The green barrier disappeared as the card disintegrated, but then reappeared as a new card appeared.

Morningstar grit his teeth as Cypher growled. "He prepared a counter for us trying to destroy his Trap Card," the Ignis said. "And since it prevents us from targeting his other Spell and Trap Cards, we can't destroy Production Line."

"I might not be able to attack, but I can still deal damage," Morningstar said. "I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Blast! By skipping my Battle Phase and negating the effects of my 'Cyspirit' monster, you take damage equal to half that monster's attack points. I target Pied Pikeman!" Blood Shepherd winced as a blast of energy struck him.

Blood Shepherd: 4000→2800 LP

"Tch. Even without being able to attack, you found a way to damage me," Blood Shepherd said. "Hmm. Not bad."

"I Set two cards. During my End Phase, I activate the effect of Cyspirit License in the Graveyard; by shuffling Cacophonic Caller back into my Extra Deck, I can Set License from the Graveyard. I end my turn."

"My turn! Draw!"

Morningstar gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cyspirit License! As I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I take no effect damage for the rest of the turn."

"Tch. It seems I'm not the only one who's analyzed their opponent."

"Of course not. I may have quit, but I was still the best bounty hunter out there. More than anyone, you know what obtaining such a reputation requires."

"…That I do. I suppose anything less than this would be insulting. Still, such efforts won't stop me from defeating you. Your count has begun, Morningstar. One."

SNAP

"I summon Drone XL!" A light blue, gray, and orange plane appeared.

Drone XL ATK 400 DEF 400 LVL: 2

"As I control a 'Drone' monster, I Special Summon Scud Drone!" Three missiles connected by a tripod appeared in Attack Position.

Scud Drone ATK 800 DEF 1100 LVL: 3

"Come out! The circuit that leads to victory! The summoning conditions are two non-Token 'Drone' monsters. I set Drone XL and Scud Drone in the Link Markers!" His machines entered the left and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Deploy! Link-2! Battledrone Warrant!" A gray military jet with a red and black nose emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Battledrone Warrant ATK 1200 LINK-2 ←↓

"Production Line's effect activates! As a Level 4 or lower 'Drone' monster was sent to the Graveyard, I add Drone Corporal from my Deck to my hand."

"So that card's effect can be used even when we aren't the ones that send the monster to the Graveyard," Cypher noticed.

"Yes. That card will let him get his resources out much faster than normal," Morningstar agreed.

"The Normal Summoned Drone XL's effect activates! When it is used as Link Material, I can Special Summon a Drone Token!" A purple and green propeller appeared in Attack Position.

Drone Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

"Come out once more! The circuit that leads to victory! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Drone' monsters. I set Drone Token and Link-2 Battledrone Warrant in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the left, right, and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Deploy! Link-3! Battledrone General!" A massive black military stealth jet emerged from the portal and took position at the Extra Monster Zone.

Battledrone General ATK 2400 LINK-3 ←↓→

"That's Blood Shepherd's ace monster," Morningstar noted.

"You may have kept him from inflicting effect damage this turn, but that thing still lets his monsters attack directly," Cypher reminded his partner.

"General's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a 'Drone' monster from my Graveyard to its Link Marker. Resurrect, Scud Drone!" The tripod with missiles reappeared at General's bottom Link Marker in Attack Position.

Scud Drone ATK 800 DEF 1100 LVL: 3

"Scud Drone's monster effect! When it is Special Summoned from the Graveyard by a 'Drone' monster's effect, I draw one card. Next, I activate General's additional effect! Once per turn, I can target a Level 4 or lower 'Drone' monster with 1000 or less attack points. During the Battle Phase, that monster can attack you directly. I target Scud Drone!"

"Oh, this is going to suck," Cypher winced.

"Battle! Scud Drone attacks you directly!" The monster launched its missiles at Morningstar. They impacted around him, creating small explosions and making him wince.

Morningstar: 4000→3200 LP

"Thanks to your Trap Card, I can't use General's effect to Tribute Scud Drone," Blood Shepherd said. "But General can still attack! General attacks Linker!" The black jet fired missiles at the gauntleted skeleton, destroying it and making Morningstar wince.

Morningstar: 3200→2500 LP

"I end my Battle Phase, but I still have moves to perform. I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Drone Unity! If you attack my Attack Position 'Drone' monster, that monster's attack points become equal to the combined attack points of all 'Drone' monsters I control."

"Eh? So if we attack either monster, their attack points will become 3200?"

"Drone Unity's additional effect activates!" Blood Shepherd declared, ignoring Cypher. "By Tributing Scud Drone, I draw one card. And since the Special Summoned Scud Drone left the field, it is banished."

Cypher blinked. "I don't understand; the only monster he has now is Battledrone General. So Drone Unity's effect won't work." Then his eyes widened. "Unless he has a way to Special Summon another monster!"

"I Set two cards. During my End Phase, as I control no monsters in my Main Monster Zone, I can Special Summon Battledrone Warrant from my Graveyard! The plan with a red and black nose reappeared.

Battledrone Warrant ATK 1200 LINK-2 ←↓

"I end my turn. Morningstar, this will be your last turn. Make it count."

"Tch. This isn't optimal," Cypher said. "With Drone Unity's effect, his monsters essentially have 3600 attack points. And because of Drone Barricade's effect, we can't target Drone Unity to destroy it."

"Are you giving up already?" Morningstar asked curiously.

"Hmm! Of course not! A difficult challenge like this just makes our victory more exciting!"

"I don't know about more exciting, but," Morningstar's eyes narrowed, "I do intend to turn this duel around this turn! My turn! Draw!"

"Two."

SNAP

"Blood Shepherd, you called me predictable. Well let me show you something. That you are just as predictable as me!"

"Hmm?"

"As I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I Special Summon Cyspirit Navigator!" A skeleton in a buccaneer's outfit appeared in Attack Position at Pied Pikeman's bottom-left Link Marker.

Cyspirit Navigator ATK 1300 DEF 1100 LVL: 3

"Pied Pikeman's monster effect! I change Navigator to Defense Position to destroy Drone Barricade!"

"Drone Barricade's effect activates! I banish it and Set a new Drone Barricade, which I now activate!"

Morningstar smirked. "That's what I was waiting for!"

"What?"

"Counter Trap activate! Royal Surrender! The activation of your Continuous Trap Card is negated, and it is destroyed!" Blood Shepherd gasped as his Drone Barricade was destroyed.

"Yes!" Cypher cheered. "Now we can attack directly and target his other cards!"

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' Effect Monsters. I set Navigator and Link-3 Pied Pikeman in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the top, bottom, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-4! Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon!" A gray dragon with red and silver wings emerged from the Link portal and roared from the Extra Monster Zone.

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

"Tch. You have something coming if you think it will be that easy," Blood Shepherd said as he gestured to his field. "Continuous Trap activate! Capture Drone! Your Datastorm Dragon cannot be Tributed or used as Link Material and its effects are negated!" Chains appeared and wrapped around the dragon, which roared in pain and protest. "Furthermore, your Link Monsters cannot attack."

"We anticipated that as well, didn't we, partner?"

"Trap activate! Cyspirit Backup!" Morningstar declared. "I return the Link-3 Pied Pikeman in my Graveyard to my Extra Deck and Special Summon the Link-1 Cyspirit Kooky Kommandant!" A skeleton in a silver officer's uniform appeared at Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker.

Cyspirit Kooky Kommandant ATK 1000 LINK-1 ↘

"Since the returned Pied Pikeman was Link-3, I draw two cards via Backup's effect. Kooky Kommandant's monster effect! When it is linked to a Cyberse Link Monster, I can Tribute it to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. Come, Cyspirit Kid!" The skeleton in a t-shirt reappeared in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Kid ATK 300 DEF 200 LVL: 1

"Then, I add a Level 8 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster and a 'Cyspirit' Spell Card from my Deck to my hand. I add Cyspirit Samurai and Cyspirit Fusion from my Deck to my hand."

Blood Shepherd lowered his head. "So Fusion is next for you…"

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one Level 2 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Kid in the Link Marker! Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Egregious Electrician!" A skeleton in a plaid shirt and overalls emerged from the portal at Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker.

Cyspirit Egregious Electrician ATK 600 LINK-1 ↙

"Kid's effect activates! I destroy Drone Unity!" Blood Shepherd winced as his Continuous Spell was destroyed. "I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Fusion! I fuse Cyspirit Samurai in my hand with Datastorm Dragon and Egregious Electrician!" A skeleton in samurai armor briefly appeared before turning into red particles. Datastorm Dragon and Egregious Electrician turned into blue and green particles. The particles swirled into a whirlpool before streaming upwards and merged into a purple whirlwind.

"The supreme blade that cleaves the wind! Resurrect the ancient legend!" Morningstar chanted as the silver marks on his suit glowed violet. "Fusion Summon! Come out! Cyspirit Savage Shogun!" A skeleton in black and silver ridged plate armor emerged from the tornado. It swung a silver katana before sheathing it as wings sprouted from its back. Morningstar's Fusion Monster took its place at the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 2800 DEF 2300 LVL: 8

"Tch," Blood Shepherd grunted. "Since Capture Drone's target left the field, it is destroyed."

Morningstar gestured to his field as Blood Shepherd's Continuous Trap disintegrated. "Savage Shogun's monster effect! It can attack a number of times equal to the Link Monsters used for its Fusion Summon. I used two, so Savage Shogun can attack twice! And when Savage Shogun battles a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, it gains 1000 attack points!"

"And with Drone Unity gone, your monsters' attack points won't change!" Cypher reminded him. "The total damage from Savage Shogun's attacks will be 3000!"

"Battle! Savage Shogun attacks Battledront Warrant!" The skeleton warrior grasped its katana as the sword and its sheath glowed silver. It pulled the sword out, sending a burst of silver light at the red-and-black nosed plane.

Blood Shepherd gestured to his field. "Trap activate!" he declared. "Demolition Drone! I Tribute Warrant to halve all battle damage I take this turn!" The plane disintegrated, leaving the silver burst to pass through the air.

Morningstar grit his teeth. "In that case, Savage Shogun attacks General! Savage Shogun's effect activates!"

Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 2800→3800

"Go! True Termination Slash!" Savage Shogun charged the black jet and slashed downwards. At first, nothing happened. But when Savage Shogun sheathed its blade, the jet exploded, and Blood Shepherd winced from the blow.

Blood Shepherd: 2800→2100 LP

Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 3800→2800

"Production Line's effect activates!" the bounty hunter declared. "When my 'Drone' Link Monster is sent to the Graveyard by your card, I Set a 'Drone' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck, but that card cannot be activated this turn. I set Drone Rewind!"

Morningstar narrowed his eyes at Blood Shepherd's new card but dismissed it for now; he couldn't activate it this turn anyway. "Savage Shogun can attack one more time! Go, Savage Shogun! Attack Blood Shepherd directly! Final Termination Slash!" The skeleton redrew its sword and charged Blood Shepherd, but the bounty hunter gestured to his field.

"I activate the effect of Drone Asteroid in my hand!" he declared. "Since you declared a direct attack, I discard Drone Asteroid to negate your attack!" Savage Shogun's blade stopped within an inch of Blood Shepherd's face before the monster leapt back. "Then, I Special Summon Drone Tokens equal to the number of monsters you control." A single Drone Token appeared in Defense Position.

Drone Token ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1

Morningstar grit his teeth. "Damn it! I wasn't expecting a hand trap," Cypher said with narrowed eyes. "This guy's just as tricky as you."

"I suppose I'll take that as a compliment," Morningstar deadpanned. "I Set two cards. During my End Phase, I shuffle Cyspirit Navigator back into my Deck and Set Cyspirit License. I end my turn."

"Hmm. As I thought. You tried to end my count early, but you failed." Morningstar narrowed his eyes at Blood Shepherd's words. "We've faced each other twice before. The first time, you were an embarrassment of a hunter. The second time, you were only able to outwit me because of Ghost Girl. But she isn't here to help you right now. That's why you, a weak hunter like you, one who abandons the hunt and sides with an AI," Blood Shepherd raised his left arm, "will now vanish from my sight. Three."

SNAP

"My turn! Draw!"

"Trap activate! Cyspirit License!"

"That won't work a second time," Blood Shepherd said. "Counter Trap activate! Drone Rewind!" The card showed Drone Pawn tumbling around inside a tornado. "The activation of your Trap Card is negated, and it is then banished!" Morningstar and Cypher gasped as Cyspirit License disintegrated. "Then, I can Special Summon a 'Drone' monster from my Graveyard! Resurrect, Battledrone General!" The large black jet reappeared at Blood Shepherd's center Main Monster Zone.

Battledrone General ATK 2400 LINK-3 ←↓→

"Tch." Morningstar grit his teeth.

"Appear! The circuit that leads to victory! The summoning condition is one 'Drone' monster. I set Drone Token in the Link Marker!" The token entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Battledrone Sergeant!" A white and blue plane emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.

Battledrone Sergeant ATK 800 LINK-1 ↓

"I summon Drone Corporal." A gray tank with an orange and white bottom appeared.

Drone Corporal ATK 1600 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

"General's monster effect! Resurrect, Drone Asteroid!" A black and purple machine with spikes fir wings in Attack Position at General's right Link Marker.

Drone Asteroid ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"General's additional effect! During the Battle Phase this turn, Drone Asteroid can attack you directly!"

Cypher looked out over Blood Shepherd's four monsters. "Hey um, partner? This turn is gonna suck, isn't it?"

Morningstar frowned. "Probably."

"Battle! Drone Corporal's monster effect! It can attack directly by halving the battle damage!" The tank fired a shot at Morningstar, who gestured to his field.

"Trap activate! Cyspirit Half-Guard! By discarding Cyspirit Firefighter, all battle damage I take is halved!" The shot hit Morningstar and made him wince.

Morningstar: 2500→2100 LP

"General's monster effect! As my 'Drone' monster inflicted battle damage from a direct attack, I Tribute Drone Corporal to inflict its attack points as damage to you!" Drone Corporal morphed into a green missile and then launched itself at Morningstar.

The former hunter gestured to his field. "Counter Trap activate! Link Restart! An effect that would inflict damage is negated!" The green missile dissipated before it hit Morningstar. "Then, I can Special Summon a Link Monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Datastorm Dragon!" The massive gray dragon reappeared with a roar.

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

"Hmm. As Drone Corporal was sent to the Graveyard, Production Line's effect activates! I add Duplicate Drone from my Deck to my hand. Drone Asteroid attacks you directly!" The small machine fired a laster at Morningstar.

"Due to Half-Guard's effect, the battle damage is halved!" Cypher reminded them. Morningstar winced from the bullets' impacts.

Morningstar: 2100→1600 LP

"General's effect activates! I Tribute Drone Asteroid!" Drone Asteroid turned into a green missile and launched itself at Morningstar. This time, he had no way to stop it from impacting. The former hunter winced from the missile's explosion.

Morningstar: 1600→600 LP

"Sergeant's effect activates! As my 'Drone' monster inflicted battle damage from a direct attack, Sergeant can attack directly as well." Blood Shepherd lowered his head. "Sergeant will inflict 400 damage from its attack, then General's effect will inflict 800. It's over." Sergeant fired two missiles at Morningstar, who gestured to his field.

"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Firefighter in my Graveyard!" he declared. "By banishing it from my Graveyard and halving my Life Points, your direct attack is negated!" A barrier formed around Morningstar, which blocked the missiles, but then he winced from the cost of Firefighter's effect.

Morningstar: 600→300 LP

"Whew, his assault's over," Cypher sighed with relief.

"No, it isn't," Blood Shepherd countered. "I would have been disappointed if that was all it took. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Drone Ascension!" The card showed Battledrones Sergeant and Warrant flying high in the Earth's upper atmosphere. "By Tributing Sergeant, General gains attack points equal to its attack points until the end of the turn!" The smaller plane disintegrated and the black jet glowed.

Battledrone General ATK 2400→3200

Morningstar grit his teeth. "Battle! General attacks Savage Shogun!" General fired missiles at the samurai. "Before, your monster would gain 1000 attack points. But since General was Special Summoned from the Graveyard, Savage Shogun's effect doesn't activate!" The missiles struck the Fusion Monster, destroying it and making Morningstar grunt from the pain.

Morningstar: 300→100 LP

"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Fusion in the Graveyard!" Morningstar declared. "When my 'Cyspirit' Fusion Monster is destroyed, I can banish Cyspirit Fusion and shuffle Savage Shogun back into my Extra Deck. Then, I can Special Summon a Link-3 or lower 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Extra Deck and treat it as having been Link Summoned. Come, Winning Wrestler!" The large skeleton in black pants and cape with two championship belts crossed over its chest appeared and roared from the right Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Winning Wrestler ATK 2500 LINK-3 ↙↓↘

"Hmm. So this is the strength of your Deck," Blood Shepherd noted. "When your monsters fall, another replaces it. A combination of utter defense and unstoppable offense. A pity it ultimately wasn't enough."

"Huh? What does he mean?" Cypher asked. "Isn't his Battle Phase over?"

"Drone Ascension's additional effect activates!" Blood Shepherd declared. "When General destroys your monster in the Extra Monster Zone, I can add a 'Drone' card from my Deck to my hand. I add Drone Launcher Unit from my Deck to my hand."

Morningstar's eyes widened. "I see you realize what my new card means. So I won't delay the end any further. I end my Battle Phase."

Morningstar frowned, but said, "Since your Battle Phase has ended, Half-Guard's effect lets me draw cards equal to the number of monsters you control that battled this turn."

"Four of your monsters battled, but only one remains on the field, so my partner only draws one card," Cypher said.

"I activate the Equip Spell Card: Drone Launcher Unit!" A pair of connected white and blue cannons appeared. "I equip it on Battledrone General!" The cannons attached to the topside of the black jet. "Drone Launcher Unit prevents you from targeting Battledrone General with your monsters' effects. And once per turn, I can inflict damage equal to the total Link Rating of all Link Monsters on the field times 100."

"Eh? But between Datastorm Dragon, Winning Wrestler, and Battledrone General, the combined Link Rating is-!"

"Ten!" Blood Shepherd declared, interrupting Cypher. "This is the end, false hunter!" The cannons charged with yellow energy and fired at Morningstar. The former bounty hunter grit his teeth as the blasts struck, creating an explosion and a smokescreen.

"Hmm. As I thought," Blood Shepherd said as the smoke spread. "Ultimately, without Ghost Girl or your support, you are nothing more than a failure."

"Are you sure about that?"

Blood Shepherd gasped as the smoke cleared, revealing a disheveled Morningstar that was still standing, his Life Points at 100. "What? How?"

"If I would take effect damage, I can banish Cyspirit Operation from my Graveyard instead," Morningstar answered. "I almost used it when you Tributed Drone Asteroid, but I thought you might have one final trick up your sleeve. And it looks like you did."

"Tch. You anticipated my moves?"

"It's not that hard; you're right about AIs being predictable, but so are humans. You just need to look hard enough to find the patterns. And yours are more obvious than you think."

Blood Shepherd growled and clenched his fist but then grunted and unclenched his fist. "You survived my count. Playmaker was the only one before you to do that. Well done. I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Drone Ascension's effect ends, and Battledrone General's attack points return to normal."

Battledrone General ATK 3200→2400

Cypher breathed a sigh of relief. "That was way too close. This guy's persistent."

"It's a side effect of being a bounty hunter; when your targets almost always run and have a lot of places to hide, you need to be extra determined to chase them."

"I suppose… huh?" Cypher looked up at his partner and blinked. "Morningstar… are you smiling?"

The former hunter looked down at the Ignis with a lop-sided grin. "Yeah. Why not?" He turned his gaze to Blood Shepherd. "Maybe it's the bounty hunter in me, or maybe it's the duelist, or maybe it's just that I'm human. But dueling like this, being pushed to the edge; it's exciting for me."

"…I'm not sure I understand," the Ignis admitted. "You're excited about losing?"

"About losing? No. I'm excited about being pushed. About surviving." Morningstar's smile became more even. "Don't worry about understanding it, Cypher. It's just a side effect of being human."

"Huh. Well, I'll take your word for it. That aside, I'd say we're in a good position. Even with fewer Life Points, Datastorm Dragon and Winning Wrestler should be all we need to win this."

The human's smile turned back into a smirk. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure; this is Blood Shepherd, after all; there's no way he would make it this easy."

"Eh? You think so?"

"Of course. I wouldn't. My turn! Draw!"

"Trap activate!" Blood Shepherd declared. "Drone Controller!" The card showed a black joystick in front of a computer screen that showed an aerial view of a desert. "When this card is activated, it is equipped to Battledrone General!" The black jet's red windows turned blue as it was enveloped in a blue aura. "Now, if the equipped monster battles your Link Monster, its attack points become double its attack points during damage calculation. And if it battles your non-Link Monster, it isn't destroyed by battle and I take no battle damage."

Morningstar's eyes narrowed. "That effect isn't an activated one," he noted.

"That means we can't use Cosmic Crusader's effect to negate it," Cypher finished. "Well, why don't we just destroy it?"

"That would be my first instinct. But…" Morningstar pulled up Blood Shepherd's Graveyard. "That Drone Rewind Counter Trap in his Graveyard; if I target his 'Drone' Spell or Trap Card, he can banish Drone Rewind to negate it. Then we can't target Drone Controller for the rest of the turn."

Morningstar closed his eyes and frowned deeply. "It seems I really have no choice," he muttered.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You'll see in a moment." Morningstar opened his eyes and took a card from his hand. "I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Gift! I discard Cyspirit Miner and draw two cards. I summon Cyspirit Sorceress!" A skeleton in a black dress wielding a black staff appeared.

Cyspirit Sorceress ATK 1400 DEF 400 LVL: 4

"Sorceress's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position. Resurrect, Cyspirit Miner!" A skeleton in a prospector's uniform carrying a shovel appeared.

Cyspirit Miner ATK 1700 DEF 100 LVL: 4

"That was the card he discarded for Gift's effect," Blood Shepherd muttered.

"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' Normal Monster. I set Miner in the Link Marker!" Miner entered the left arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Odd Outlaw!" A skeletal cowboy wielding two pistols appeared at Winning Wrestler's bottom Link Marker.

Cyspirit Odd Outlaw ATK 500 LINK-1 ←

"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Samurai in my Graveyard! I Special Summon it to Odd Outlaw's Link Marker!" A skeleton in black and red armor appeared at Odd Outlaw's Link Marker in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Samurai ATK 1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 4

"Appear again! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Samurai and Sorceress in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the left and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cysprit Thrilled Tunneler!" A skeleton in a prospector's uniform with a drill for a right arm appeared at Odd Outlaw's Link Marker.

Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600 LINK-2 ←→

"I Special Summon Cyspirit Valkyrie!" A female skeleton wearing white and silver armor appeared and swung her axe and sword while in Attack Position.

Cyspirit Valkyrie ATK 2100 DEF 400 LVL: 5

"Valkyrie can be Special Summoned if I control a 'Cyspirit' monster. Next, I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Bypass! Since I control at least two 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck. Come, Cyspirit Nova!" A small skeletal dragon wearing silver armor with no legs appeared and roared in Attack Position from Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker.

Cyspirit Nova ATK 1500 DEF 1000 LVL: 3

"Appear for a third time! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Nova and Valkyrie in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyspirit Mad Mongrel!" A large armored dog emerged from the portal. It howled from Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker.

Cyspirit Mad Mongrel ATK 2000 LINK-2 ↑↓

"What are you planning, partner?" Cypher asked. "I am, this is an impressive lineup, but if you're going for an Extra Link, you should have… Wait. Five 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters." Cypher's eyes widened. "You're going for-?"

"You have a better idea?"

"…No. It just seems wasteful to use it on him."

"There is no other bounty hunter more dangerous than Blood Shepherd," Morningstar said. "He is worthy of it."

"What are you two muttering about?" Blood Shepherd asked.

Morningstar closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and pointed upwards. "Appear for a final time! The circuit between light and darkness!" His hand glowed with blue light, as did the entire field. Blood Shepherd gasped as a massive Link portal appeared beneath the duelists.

"What?" he said. "What is this?"

"Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are three or more 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters. I set Datastorm Dragon, Mad Mongrel, Odd Outlaw, Thrilled Tunneler, and Winning Wrestler in the Link Markers!" All five monsters turned into whirlwinds of silver energy and traveled upwards before arcing downwards. The whirlwinds hit the top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-right, and bottom arrows, turning all of them red.

Blood Shepherd gasped again as a pillar of energy erupted from the center of the portal. "Five Link Markers? But that's-!"

The pillar of energy centered on the right Extra Monster Zone. Other orbs of light also floated through the air as Morningstar chanted.

"Circuit combine! The supreme authority that reigns over the closed world! Link Summon! Appear! Link-5! Cyspirit Superior Seraphim!" Four golden wings emerged from the pillar. They were followed by a large golden staff in the grasp of a golden skeletal hand. The pillar of light dissipated, revealing a massive monster in golden robes with silver lines running up and down. A headdress topped its skull and its blue eyes gleamed as it spread its wings from the Extra Monster Zone.

Cyspirit Superior Seraphim ATK 3300 LINK-5 ↖↙↓↘↗

Blood Shepherd gasped. "… A Link-5 monster? There was no data on this monster…"

Of course there isn't, Morningstar thought. No one caught it when Terminus and I dueled. And there were no other witnesses to my duel with Playmaker.

Playmaker, Soulburner, Galahad, and Persephone all gasped as the sphere shone with an internal light.

"This light… it feels like…" Playmaker's eyes widened in shock. "It couldn't be…!"

"Playmaker!" Ai said. "This feels like when we dueled Morningstar! Right at the end!"

"What is this power?" Flame said, his eyes wide. "I'm sensing a massive amount of energy. For it to be possible to sense it through the gate…"

"Guys! It's done!"

Playmaker and Soulburner gasped at Sachi's words over the comms. "Do it, Cam and Kusanagi!" Playmaker urged.

"Right! Here we go!" Cam and Kusanagi activated the program, prompting a message on their screens.

"Rescue program: ALL CLEAR. Access complete."

"Yes! It worked!"

"With Superior Seraphim here, the duel is over!" Morningstar declared. "Superior Seraphim's first eff-!"

He gasped as the mountains shook. Blood Shepherd fell to one knee as Battledrone General and Superior Seraphim disappeared in green light.

Morningstar looked around as the rocks and snow started to break down into green light. "The gate's falling apart!" Cypher realized.

"Cam and Kusanagi must have come through," Morningstar said softly.

"Damn it!" The former hunter turned back to Blood Shepherd. "We'll finish this later, Morningstar!"

"Wait, Blood Shepherd!" Morningstar cried out as the bounty hunter turned and ran. Then he looked down and saw the ground beneath him turn green. He cried out as it broke apart and he fell.

His cry ended when he landed on a hard surface. "Ow," he moaned. Opening his eyes, he looked around. He was back in LINK VRAINS, laying down on one of the islands.

"Morningstar!" The duelist looked up and saw that Playmaker and Soulburner were standing on a ledge above him. The duo jumped down as Morningstar picked himself up.

"Are you alright?" Soulburner asked worriedly.

Morningstar nodded. "Yeah. Bruised, but alright." He tapped his earpiece. "Cam, can you hear me?"

"Yep, I got you, Yasu," Cam reported.

"Next time you get trapped, make sure we can reach you, please."

Morningstar's eyes widened. "Sachi? You're there too?"

"I asked her to help with this. A good thing she did; she reminded Kusanagi and me that Blood Shepherd might have made changes to the gate program. That let us finish the rescue program."

"Hey, you okay, Morningstar?"

The teen blinked and looked up again, finally noticing another two figures.

"Huh? Who are you?" Cypher asked.

The young man face faulted. "Really?! Again?! Didn't Morningstar tell you about me, you stupid AI?"

"Hey, who are you calling stupid, you-!"

"You're Galahad, aren't you?" Morningstar interrupted. "I don't recognize your appearance, but I remember your voice."

Galahad's eye twitched, but he smiled. "Yeah, it's me. I figured I still owed you for the Tower of Hanoi crap, so Persephone and I helped your friends."

"SOL's bounty hunters attacked while you were trapped," Soulburner explained. "We wouldn't have won without them."

"You probably would have, but we made it happen faster," the girl said. She nodded at Morningstar. "A pleasure to finally meet you, former bounty hunter. I am Persephone."

Morningstar nodded back. "You too." He looked around again. "Where's Blood Shepherd?"

"Probably still around, which is why we should leave," Playmaker said. Then he smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, Morningstar. We should log out."

Morningstar and Soulburner both nodded, then all three logged out. The Charisma Duelists followed suit.

Yasutake blinked wearily as he returned to the real world. He opened the sealed room's door as he rubbed his eyes. "Cam, I- OOF!"

That last part was a result of a high-speed missile impacting his chest and knocking back against the wall of the sealed room. Blinking again, he realized said missile was Sachi, and she was hugging him while her face was pressed against his shoulder.

Yasutake sighed. "Sachi," he said tiredly. "I don't mind you hugging me, but could you please give me some warning? I almost fell over this time."

"…Sorry," she said softly. "I'm just… glad you're alright." She lifted her face. Yasutake had been worried she might be crying, but her eyes were dry. She smiled at him. "Welcome back, Yasu."

Yasutake smiled back. "Glad to be back."

"I'm sure you are." The two teens looked up, with Sachi turning around, to see Cam giving them a dry look. "I'm sure you have a lot of things you'd like to say or do, Sachi, but if you don't mind, could you say or do those things where your brother can't see you?"

"Huh?" Sachi blinked. Then the two teenagers realized how this looked: Yasutake pressed up against a wall, his arms wrapped lightly around Sachi's back, her arms wrapped tightly against his mid-section, her chest pressed just as tightly against his, and her head a few centimeters away from his. They promptly broke out blushing.

"S-Stop that!" Sachi said loudly as she disentangled herself from Yasutake. "S-Stop insinuating certain things!"

"Heh heh," Cypher laughed from Yasutake's Duel Disk. "You were right, Cam; it is funny to tease teenagers."

"C-Cypher!"

Yasutake glared at the Ignis, then his partner. "Is there something in particular you want to say, or did you just want to tease us?"

Cam chuckled as Sachi pouted. "As fun as teasing you two is becoming… yeah, there's something I want to say." His face turned serious as he looked his sister up and down. "Sachi."

Noticing his change of mood, Sachi's pout turned into a frown and her eyes narrowed. "Yes?"

"…I'm not happy about you risking yourself as Cassiel," Cam finally said. "Treating you like a child aside, you're still my sister and the only blood family I have. Worrying about you is just something I'm going to do."

He sighed. "But I know you; you're going to do this no matter how I feel. I guess stubbornness isn't a trait specific to Yasu." He looked from one teen to the other. "So, if you want to fight alongside Yasu, Yusaku, and Takeru, I won't stop you. You have my support."

Sachi's mouth opened slightly as she stared at her brother with wide eyes. "Cam…"

"IF," Cam raised a hand in front of her, "you accept training from Yasu and the others. If you're going to fight monsters like Blood Shepherd or Jester, you'll need every advantage you can get."

Sachi closed her mouth, screwed her face back into a serious look, and nodded. "Yes! I will!" Yasutake smiled behind her. He was going to look forward to training her.

"Well, it's nice that you can duel with us now," Cypher said. "I really need to know. Where did you get the Cyangels?"

"Oh, well I got them from…"

Ghost Girl leaned back in her chair. "Well, that was unexpected." She shook her head. "Morningstar has a Link-5 monster, the first I've ever seen or heard of one." She smiled to herself. "Maybe it's good that Cam's program worked when it did. Otherwise I might have had to rescue Blood Shepherd from that thing."

"…HK, you have confirmation?"

"Statement: Yes, master. Scans identified the powerful energy surge from the fake gate as near identical to the scans from your own Link-5 monster. It is the Cyspirit piece of the Trinity."

"…Thank you, HK. Report to base. Tell them the fragment has appeared."

"Confirmation: Yes, master." HK-71 disappeared as it teleported. Once it left, Zahhak sighed.

"Damn it, Morningstar," he muttered. "I can't ignore you anymore; I had hoped you would get stronger so you would make our duel more exciting for me, but it seems I don't have a choice anymore."

He raised his hood and looked over LINK VRAINS. "If I want you to become the worthy opponent you're destined to be, if I want you to give me what I am searching for, it seems I'll have to give you the proper incentive."

Morningstar vs. Blood Shepherd

This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.

Turn 1: Blood Shepherd

Blood Shepherd Normal Summons Drone Pawn (600/0/1). He Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn.

Turn 2: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. He activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Cyspirit Operation, which lets him add 1 Level 4 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Swordsman to his hand. As Blood Shepherd controls a monster and he doesn't, Morningstar Special Summons Swordsman (1200/900/3) in Attack Position. As Swordsman was Special Summoned by its effect, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Kid to his hand. Morningstar Normal Summons Kid (300/200/1). Morningstar uses Kid to Link Summon Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller (500/1/↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Kid was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can target and destroy 1 face-up card on Blood Shepherd's field. He destroys Drone Pawn. As his Level 4 or lower "Drone" monster was sent to the GY, Blood Shepherd activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Drone Production Line, which lets him add 1 "Drone" monster with a different name from his Deck to his hand. He adds Scud Drone from his Deck to his hand. Morningstar activates Cacophonic Caller's effect to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his Deck to its Link Marker in Attack Position, but it cannot attack and is destroyed during the End Phase. He Special Summons Cyspirit Coder (0/0/1) to Cacophonic Caller's Link Marker. As Coder was Summoned, its effect activates, letting Morningstar add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand, then send 1 card from his hand, field, or Deck to the GY. He adds Cyspirit Blast to his hand and sends Cyspirit License from his Deck to the GY. Morningstar uses Coder, Swordsman, and Cacophonic Caller to Link Summon Cyspirit Pied Pikeman (2400/3/↙↑→) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Blood Shepherd activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Drone Barricade, which prevents Morningstar's monsters from attacking directly and prevents Morningstar from targeting Blood Shepherd's Spell/Trap Cards on the field with effects except itself. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Linker (1700/800/4) to Pied Pikeman's bottom-left Link Marker in Defense Position. Morningstar activates Pied Pikeman's effect, switching Linker to Attack Position to target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field. Morningstar targets Drone Barricade. As Drone Barricade was targeted by Morningstar's card or effect, its effect activates, banishing it and Setting a 2nd Drone Barricade directly from his Deck. Blood Shepherd activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Drone Barricade. Morningstar activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Blast, targeting Pied Pikeman. Pied Pikeman's effects are negated until the End Phase and Blood Shepherd takes damage equal to half of Pied Pikeman's original ATK, but Morningstar cannot conduct his Battle Phase this turn (Blood Shepherd: 4000→2800 LP). Morningstar Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn. During his End Phase, as he controls a face-up "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit License in his GY, shuffling Cacophonic Caller back into his Extra Deck to Set Cyspirit License.

Turn 3: Blood Shepherd

Blood Shepherd draws. Morningstar activates his Set Trap Card Cyspirit License. As he controls a face-up "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar takes no effect damage for the rest of the turn. Blood Shepherd Normal Summons Drone XL (400/400/2). As he controls a "Drone" monster, Blood Shepherd Special Summons Scud Drone (800/1100/3) in Attack Position. Blood Shepherd uses Drone XL and Scud Drone to Link Summon Battledrone Warrant (1200/2/←↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. As his Level 4 or lower "Drone" monster was sent to the GY, Drone Production Line's effect activates, and Blood Shepherd adds Drone Corporal from his Deck to his hand. As the Normal Summoned Drone XL was sent to the GY as Link Material, Blood Shepherd Special Summons 1 Drone Token (0/0/1) in Attack Position. Blood Shepherd uses Drone Token and Link-2 Battledrone Warrant to Link Summon Battledrone General (2400/3/←↓→) to the Extra Monster Zone. Blood Shepherd activates Battledrone General's effect to Special Summon 1 "Drone" monster in his GY to its Link Marker. He Special Summons Scud Drone (800/1100/3) in Attack Position. As Scud Drone was Special Summoned from the GY by the effect of a "Drone" monster, Blood Shepherd draws 1 card, but Scud Drone will be banished when it leaves the field. Blood Shepherd activates Battledrone General's effect to target 1 Level 4 or lower "Drone" monster he controls with 1000 or less ATK and allow that monster to attack Morningstar directly this turn. He targets Scud Drone.

Scud Drone attacks Morningstar directly (Morningstar: 4000→3200 LP). Battledrone General attacks and destroys Linker (Morningstar: 3200→2500 LP). Blood Shepherd activates the Continuous Spell Card Drone Unity. When his Attack Position "Drone" monster is attacked, that monster's ATK is increased by the total ATK of all other "Drone" monsters he controls. Blood Shepherd activates Drone Unity's effect to Tribute Scud Drone to draw 1 card. As Scud Drone left the field, it is banished. Blood Shepherd Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn. During his End Phase, as he controls no monsters in the Main Monster Zone, he can Special Summon Battledrone Warrant (1200/2/←↓) from his GY.

Turn 4: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, he Special Summons Cyspirit Navigator (1300/1100/3) to Pied Pikeman's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position. Morningstar activates Pied Pikeman's effect, changing Navigator to Defense Position to destroy Drone Barricade. Blood Shepherd activates Drone Barricade's effect, banishing it and Setting a 3rd copy of Drone Barricade. Blood Shepherd activates the Continuous Trap Card Drone Barricade. As Blood Shepherd activated a Continuous Trap Card, Morningstar activates his Set Counter Trap Card Royal Surrender, negating the activation of Drone Barricade and destroying it. Morningstar uses Navigator and Link-3 Pied Pikeman to Link Summon Cyspirit Datastorm Dragon (2800/4/↙↑↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As he controls a "Drone" monster, Blood Shepherd activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Capture Drone, targeting Datastorm Dragon. Datastorm Dragon cannot be Tributed or used as Link Material, it cannot attack, and its effects are negated. In addition, Morningstar's Link Monsters cannot attack. Morningstar activates his Set Trap Card Cyspirit Backup, which lets him return 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster in his GY to his Extra Deck, then Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster with a lower Link Rating than that monster. Morningstar returns Pied Pikeman to his Extra Deck and Special Summons Cyspirit Kooky Kommandant (1000/1/↘) to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker. As the returned Pied Pikeman was Link-3, Morningstar draws 2 cards via Backup's effect. As it is linked to a Cyberse Link Monster, Morningstar activates Kooky Kommandant's effect, Tributing it to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his GY in Attack Position with its effects negated, then add 1 Level 8 or lower "Cyspirit" monster and 1 "Cyspirit" Spell Card from his Deck to his hand. Morningstar Special Summons Kid (300/200/1) and adds Cyspirit Samurai and Cyspirit Fusion from his Deck to his hand. Morningstar uses Kid to Link Summon Cyspirit Egregious Electrician (600/1/↙) to Datastorm Dragon's bottom Link Marker. As Kid was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can destroy 1 face-up card Blood Shepherd controls. He destroys Drone Unity. Morningstar activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Fusion, fusing Cyspirit Samurai in his hand with Datastorm Dragon and Egregious Electrician to Fusion Summon Cyspirit Savage Shogun (2800/2300/8) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Because the monster targeted by Capture Drone left the field, Capture Drone is destroyed.

Savage Shogun can attack a number of times equal to the number of Link Monsters used as Fusion Material. 2 Link Monsters were used, so Savage Shogun can attack twice. Savage Shogun attacks Battledrone Warrant. Blood Shepherd activates his Set Trap Card Demolition Drone, Tributing Battledrone Warrant to halve all battle damage he takes this turn. A replay occurs and Savage Shogun attacks Battledrone General. As Savage Shogun is battling a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, it gains 1000 ATK during damage calculation (Savage Shogun: 2800→3800). Battledrone General is destroyed (Blood Shepherd: 2800→2100 LP) (Savage Shogun: 3800→2800). As his "Drone" Link Monster was sent to the GY by Morningstar's card, Drone Production Line's effect lets Blood Shepherd Set 1 "Drone" Spell/Trap Card directly from his Deck, but it cannot be activated this turn. Blood Shepherd Sets Drone Rewind. Savage Shogun attacks Blood Shepherd directly. As Morningstar's monster declared a direct attack, Blood Shepherd activates the effect of Drone Asteroid in his hand, discarding it to negate the attack. Drone Asteroid's effect then lets Blood Shepherd Special Summon Drone Tokens up to the number of monsters Morningstar controls. Blood Shepherd Special Summons 1 Drone Token (0/0/1) in Defense Position. Morningstar Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn. During his End Phase, he activates the effect of Cyspirit License in his GY, shuffling Navigator back into his Deck to Set Cyspirit License.

Turn 5: Blood Shepherd

Blood Shepherd draws. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar activates the Trap Card Cyspirit License, which prevents him from taking effect damage this turn. As Morningstar activated a Spell/Trap Card, Blood Shepherd activates the Counter Trap Card Drone Rewind, which negates the activation of Cyspirit License and banishes it, then lets Blood Shepherd Special Summon 1 "Drone" monster from his GY. Blood Shepherd Special Summons Battledrone General (2400/3/←↓→). Blood Shepherd uses Drone Token to Link Summon Battledrone Sergeant (800/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. Blood Shepherd Normal Summons Drone Corporal (1600/1200/4). Blood Shepherd then activates Battledrone General's effect to Special Summon 1 "Drone" monster from his GY at its Link Marker. Blood Shepherd Special Summons Drone Asteroid (1000/1000/3) to Battledrone General's right Link Marker in Attack Position. Blood Shepherd activates the effect of Battledrone General, targeting Drone Asteroid. During the Battle Phase, Drone Asteroid can attack directly.

Drone Corporal can attack directly, but the battle damage it inflicts is halved. Morningstar activates his Set Trap Card Cyspirit Half-Guard, discarding Cyspirit Firefighter to halve all battle damage he takes for this turn. The attack continues (Morningstar: 2500→2100 LP). As his "Drone" monster inflicted battle damage by a direct attack, Blood Shepherd activates Battledrone General's effect to Tribute Drone Corporal and inflict damage to Morningstar equal to its ATK. As an effect was activated that would inflict damage to him, Morningstar activates his Set Counter Trap Card Link Restart, negating the activation of Battledrone General's effect and Special Summoning Datastorm Dragon (2800/4/↙↑↓↘) from his GY. As Drone Corporal was sent to the GY, Blood Shepherd activates the effect of Drone Production Line to add Duplicate Drone from his Deck to his hand. Drone Asteroid attacks Morningstar directly (Morningstar: 2100→1600 LP). Battledrone General's effect activates, and Blood Shepherd Tributes Drone Asteroid (Morningstar: 1600→600 LP). As a "Drone" monster inflicted battle damage by attacking directly, Blood Shepherd activates Battledrone Sergeant's effect, allowing it to attack directly. Battledrone Sergeant attacks Morningstar directly. As Blood Shepherd's monster declared a direct attack, Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Firefighter in his GY, banishing it and halving his LP to negate the attack (Morningstar: 600→300 LP). Blood Shepherd activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Drone Ascension, which lets him Tribute 1 "Drone" monster and then increase 1 "Drone" monster's ATK by that monster's ATK. Blood Shepherd Tributes Battledrone Sergeant to increase Battledrone General's ATK (General: 2400→3200). Battledrone General attacks and destroys Savage Shogun (Morningstar: 300→100 LP). As his "Cyspirit" Fusion Monster was sent to the GY, Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Fusion in his GY, banishing it to shuffle Savage Shogun back into his Extra Deck, then Special Summon 1 Link-3 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his Extra Deck and treat it as having been Link Summoned. Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Winning Wrestler 2500/3/↙↓↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As the monster targeted by Drone Ascension destroyed a monster in the Extra Monster Zone by battle, Blood Shepherd can add 1 "Drone" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Drone Launcher Unit to his hand. At the end of the Battle Phase, Morningstar draws 1 card for each monster Blood Shepherd controls that battled due to Half-Guard's effect. Morningstar draws 1 card. Blood Shepherd activates the Equip Spell Card Drone Launcher Unit, equipping it to Battledrone General. While Drone Launcher Unit is equipped, Morningstar's monsters cannot target Battledrone General with their effects. Blood Shepherd activates Drone Launcher Unit's effect to inflict damage to Morningstar equal to the combined Link Rating of all Link Monsters on the field times 100. As he would take effect damage, Morningstar activates Cyspirit Operation's effect in his GY, banishing it instead. Blood Shepherd Sets 1 card. He ends his turn and Drone Ascension's effect ends (Battledrone General: 3200→2400).

Turn 6: Morningstar

Morningstar draws. Blood Shepherd activates his Set Trap Card Drone Controller, which then equips itself to his "Drone" monster. He equips it to Battledrone General. If the equipped monster would battle a non-Link Monster, it isn't destroyed by that battle and Blood Shepherd takes no damage. And if it battles a Link Monster, its ATK becomes double its ATK during damage calculation. Morningstar activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Gift, which lets him discard 1 "Cyspirit" card to draw 2 cards. He discards Cyspirit Miner and draws. Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Sorceress (1400/400/4). As Sorceress was Normal Summoned, Morningstar can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his GY in Attack Position. He Special Summons Cyspirit Miner (1700/100/4). Morningstar uses Miner to Link Summon Cyspirit Odd Outlaw (500/1/←) to Winning Wrestler's bottom Link Marker. Morningstar then activates Samurai's effect in his GY, Special Summoning it to Odd Outlaw's Link Marker (1800/1000/4) in Attack Position, but it cannot attack. Morningstar uses Samurai and Sorceress to Link Summon Cyspirit Thrilled Tuneler (1600/2/←→) to Odd Outlaw's Link Marker. Since he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Valkyrie (2100/400/5) in Attack Position. As he controls at least 2 "Cyspirit" Link Monsters, Morningstar activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Bypass to Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his Deck. He Special Summons Cyspirit Nova (1500/1000/3) to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Nova and Valkyrie to Link Summon Cyspirit Mad Mongrel (2000/2/↑↓) to Thrilled Tunneler's left Link Marker. Morningstar uses Datastorm Dragon, Mad Mongrel, Odd Outlaw, Thrilled Tunneler, and Winning Wrestler to Link Summon Cyspirit Superior Seraphim (3300/5/↖↙↓↘↗) to the right Extra Monster Zone.

Kusanagi's and Cam's rescue program activates at this point, freeing Morningstar from Blood Shepherd's trap and canceling the Duel.

Cyspirit Operation Quick-Play Spell Card
During your Main Phase: Add 1 Level 4 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from your Deck to your hand. If you would take damage from an opponent's card effect, you can banish this card from your GY instead. You can only activate 1 effect of "Cyspirit Operation" per turn, and only once per turn.

Drone Production Line Continuous Trap Card
If your Level 4 or lower "Drone" monster is sent to the GY: You can add 1 "Drone" monster with a different name from your Deck to your hand. If your "Drone" Link Monster is sent to the GY by your opponent's card: You can Set 1 "Drone" Spell/Trap Card directly from your Deck. That card cannot be activated be activated the turn it is Set. You can only activate each effect of "Drone Production Line" once per turn.

Drone Rewind Counter Trap Card
When your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card: Negate the activation, and if you do, banish that card, and if you do that, you can target 1 "Drone" monster in your GY; Special Summon it. If your opponent targets your "Drone" Spell/Trap Card with their effect: You can banish this card from your GY; negate the activation of that effect, also for the rest of the turn, your opponent cannot target that card with their card effects.

Drone Ascension Quick-Play Spell Card
Tribute 1 "Drone" monster you control and target 1 Link-2 or higher "Drone" monster you control with a different name; increase the targeted monster's ATK by the Tributed monster's ATK until the end of the turn. If the targeted monster destroys an opponent's monster in the Extra Monster Zone by battle: You can add 1 "Drone" card from your Deck to your hand. You cannot activate this card if "Drone Ascension" is in your GY.

Drone Controller Normal Trap Card
Target 1 "Drone" monster you control; equip it with this card. If the equipped monster would battle your opponent's non-Link Monster with higher ATK than it, it isn't destroyed by that battle and you take no battle damage from that battle. If the equipped monster would battle your opponent's Link Monster with higher ATK than it, its ATK becomes double its current ATK during damage calculation only. At the start of your Standby Phase: Destroy this card.

Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 42 – Family and Pride. SOL Technologies has developed a new weapon in its attempt to capture the Ignis. Go Onizuka and Techbane, both of whom want power to defeat their enemies, face each other in a duel to decide which of them will wield this weapon…

Question of the Chapter

Who else, if anyone, should get their own Link-5 monsters? If they do, it won't happen until season 3, but still…

Author's Notes

Huh. Maybe it's because it was only one duel, but this chapter was much shorter than I thought it would be. Sorry it took so long; I've been watching Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood on Netflix, and it's a fun watch. Not sure where I stand on the allegations against him, but there's no denying Vic Mignogna did a great job as Edward Elric.

The start of this chapter was the reveal of Morningstar's past with Blood Shepherd. I know it may seem trivial, but both of them are very proud people; being embarrassed by each other like they were stuck with them. It also gave Ghost Girl a chance to get her own payback on Blood Shepherd for using her as bait.

The majority of the chapter was the duel, which I was rather proud of. I hope I did a good job of showing just how persistent Blood Shepherd's dueling is and how durable Morningstar's Deck is. It was also a lot of fun writing two characters who are very intelligent duelists, know they are intelligent duelists, and know just how intelligent their opponent is. This in turn leads to a lot of one-upmanship, which was a lot of fun to write. As for the ending, well, once Superior Seraphim was on the board, I saw no reason to end it differently from the canon Blood Shepherd vs. Soulburner. And on Superior Seraphim being summoned, I thought Blood Shepherd was an appropriate opponent for Morningstar to go all out against, don't you?

The last part of the chapter was divided into three. First, we got Cam giving Sachi his permission to duel; she doesn't really need it, but it's an important character step for both of them. Then we had Ghost Girl's reaction to the duel, which I provided considering how close she is to Blood Shepherd and Morningstar. And finally, we had Zahhak. Nothing to say on that. Only that things are going to get intense in the next few chapters.

Thank you for reading Chapter 41 of Hidden Memories. Do you think I did Blood Shepherd justice? I hope so. I look forward to seeing you guys again in Chapter 42.