Welcome everyone, to the two-year anniversary of Hidden Memories! This will be an eventful chapter, so I hope you like it! But before we get to it…
Responses to Reviews
Thank you to jdkeller2000, guardian of the aura Aurasoul, DivadX, Lightning, D3lph0xL0v3r, HunterHQ, sanedimentio, savagemaster1999, Guest, SakushiRyu, animegamefanatic, Zero Shadow-01, Ethan Kironus, and O for reviewing Chapter 42.
Before I get to responses, let me just say that my reaction to VRAINS's ending will be under a separate heading after Author's Notes.
HunterHQ: After this, I'll go back to posting in intervals.
Guest: Yes, but not only during season 3.
jdkeller2000: You can submit OC cards if you want, but I generally don't use them unless they fit the situation. I honestly prefer it if people offer card names and designs and let me come up with the effects, since the name and design are much harder.
Ethan Kironus: Most likely, my talking about it will spoil the ending, yes.
And now, please enjoy Hidden Memories Chapter 43!
Chapter 43: Can You Keep Up With Me?
"Well," Yasutake said with a frown. "This is… unexpected."
He, Cam, and Sachi were sitting in the backroom of Café Junpei, looking at a forum post that Kusanagi had just sent them. The poster claimed to be the Earth Ignis.
"I want to meet Playmaker," Cam read doubtfully. "From the Earth Ignis."
Kusanagi chuckled from the video feed. "It's obviously a hoax, right?" he asked.
"We don't know that for sure," Yusaku countered. "Only a few know about the Ignis' existence."
"Even so, would an Ignis post on a message board?" Cam asked. "It seems… too obvious."
"The Earth Ignis would," Ai said.
"Ai's right, he would," Cypher agreed. "The Earth Ignis was always blunt and to-the-point. If any of us would send a message like this, it would be him."
"And that Ignis wants to meet Playmaker?" Sachi asked with a frown. "Does he have something he wants to tell us?"
"Or he thinks there's something we can tell him," Cypher said. "He's blunt, but he's not always good on explaining himself."
"Yeah. He is socially awkward, after all," Ai said. "If he wants to talk, maybe he knows something about Bohman."
"Can you contact him?" Yusaku asked.
"Leave it to me!" Ai said. They all looked at the message board as Ai posted a new comment. A long one. "At first glance, it looks like garbled text. But I used an Ignis algorithm to ask where to meet."
"A mediocre one," Cypher said bluntly.
"Hey! Oh!" A response had popped up after Ai's comment. It was similarly garbled to Ai's message. "See? Just like I said."
"What does it say?" Kusanagi asked.
"They're coordinates in LINK VRAINS," Cypher translated.
"So the Earth Ignis wants me and Ai to go there," Yusaku inferred.
"It's probably a good idea for me, Sachi, and Cypher to back you up," Yasutake offered. "This could be another trap."
"Yasutake has a point," Kusanagi agreed. "Blood Shepherd knows how to decode an Ignis algorithm; this message could be one of his traps."
"C'mon, you two are so suspicious," Ai chided.
"Even if it's a risk, we need info," Yusaku said. "We don't have any other leads to retrieve Jin's consciousness data."
Kusanagi frowned. "Yusaku…"
"I'll go in," Yusaku said. "Will you guys back me up?"
Yasutake and Sachi nodded. "Takeru and Flame are still at school, but they'll be at Café Nagi soon," Cypher said. "Yasutake, Sachi, and I will go in with you, and Takeru can reinforce us once he arrives."
"Be careful, you three," Cam warned them. "And be quick; this is a public message board, so SOL Technologies may have seen the post."
Cassiel, Morningstar, and Playmaker rode their D-Boards to one of LINK VRAINS's islands and hopped off.
"These are the Earth Ignis's coordinates," Ai noted.
"But there doesn't seem to be anyone here," Cypher said as he looked around.
"Even so, we should be careful," Morningstar said, searching opposite his Ignis. "SOL Technologies may have people hiding around."
Playmaker frowned but hopped down some stairs onto another island, Morningstar and Cassiel following after him.
After a few minutes, Playmaker stopped. "There's a total of eight Ignis, right?" he asked as Morningstar and Cassiel joined him.
"Right," Ai nodded.
"Flame, Windy, Cypher, and Ai," Cassiel mused. "What are the other four like?"
"Well, the other four are the Light Ignis, the Water Ignis, the Earth Ignis, and the Gold Ignis," Cypher answered.
"First, the Light Ignis," Ai said. "Calm, cool, and collected. Like a leader. But too smart. So I can't understand what he's thinking at all."
"That's not so hard to do," Cypher snarked. Ai glared at him. "The Light Ignis is the third smartest Ignis, after me and Gold. He and Gold took on positions as co-leaders among us because I didn't care enough about that; I just wanted to create. He's also the fastest Ignis; that's the trait that lets him keep up with me and Gold."
"Next is the Water Ignis," Ai continued. "She has the skill to tell the difference between lies and truth. That's why Cyberse World never had betrayals or conspiracies; she kept us in check."
Ai chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. "It's embarrassing for me to say, but the Water Ignis super relied on me. She definitely liked me."
"I see," Playmaker said.
"Huh? That's it for a reaction?"
"That's a lie, isn't it?" Morningstar asked Cypher.
"Uh huh," the Silver Ignis confirmed. "Ai was always lazy and the Water Ignis kept trying to get him to work. He never listened."
"H-Hey! Don't go bringing up my sordid past!"
"Then don't obvious lies about it," Cypher countered.
"And the Gold Ignis?" Cassiel interrupted.
"Well, she was a little aloof," Ai answered. "She didn't spend too much time with me or the other Ignis outside of Cypher and the Light Ignis."
"So that didn't change in the three years between our departures," Cypher mused. "I told you before, the Gold Ignis is a very rational being. She tends to look at problems and think of the long-term consequences before she acts. This makes her a little slow, but when she acts, you'll know it."
"Yeah, that's true," Ai said. "But she was also a peacemaker between us alongside the Water Ignis; she held an authority that the rest of us didn't."
Playmaker frowned. "The others are Flame. And the Wind Ignis, Windy."
"So what's the Earth Ignis like?" Morningstar asked.
"The Earth Ignis? Well, he's no-nonsense and honest, and umm… Oh! He's like this guy, massive and orange!"
The others blinked and stared at the orange lifeform with brown lines covering its body Ai had grabbed hold of. "It's the Earth Ignis!" Ai said in surprise as he let him go. "Long time, no see! How have you been?"
"You're the Earth Ignis?" Playmaker asked.
"Yeah, this guy!"
"Earth Ignis!" Cypher said. "It's been years! Are you still socially awkward?"
The Earth Ignis didn't answer. Instead, he opened a portal behind him. "This way. Follow me." He beckoned to Playmaker and then entered the portal.
Cypher sighed. "He could at least say hello. Or express some measure of surprise at seeing me."
"Yeah!" Ai agreed. "We should celebrate our reunion more!"
"Let's go!" Playmaker said before jumping into the portal. Cassiel tried to follow him, but the portal closed before they could.
"Ah!" Cassiel said, leaning dangerously over the island's edge. Morningstar grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. "Thanks, Morningstar," she said as she looked back and smiled at him.
"The hell was that?" Cypher asked, his eyes narrowed in a scowl. "Did the Earth Ignis not want to see us?" His eyes widened. "Oh! I just got a message!"
"From Ai?" Morningstar asked as he and Cassiel backed away from the ledge.
"Yeah. Apparently, the Earth Ignis wanted to talk to him and Playmaker alone. He'll say hi to us when they're done." Cypher groaned. "So he is still socially awkward. It would have at least been polite to acknowledge my presence."
Cassiel smiled at the Ignis. "Calm down, Cypher." She looked up at Morningstar. "Well, since we're here, should we have a practice match?"
In the last few days, Yasutake, Yusaku, and Takeru had had several practice duels with Sachi to help her get used to the Cyangels. They went through the cards and helped her devise different strategies for the Deck. Cypher in particular had been a huge help as the Deck's creator, advising Sachi in which moves worked best and how to bring out the Cyangels' true power.
Morningstar nodded. "Good idea. We should have- GAH!"
The former bounty hunter gasped as he doubled over, clutching his chest.
"Morningstar?" Cypher said in surprise. "What- AH!" Cypher gasped and clutched his own chest.
"M-Morningstar?" Cassiel said in surprise, reaching out and grabbing his shoulder and arm. "What is it? What's wrong?"
Morningstar grit his teeth. "I'm… I'm sensing a powerful presence."
"Me too," Cypher whispered. "There's a very strong person nearby. Someone with an overpowering aura."
"You are likely sensing me."
The trio's eyes widened as they turned and looked up. A tall man in a black cloak was looking down on them from a ledge high above them. The cloak flapped in the wind and red lights appeared beneath the hood.
"W-What the…?" Cassiel whispered.
Morningstar's eyes narrowed. "Be careful, Cassiel. He's the source of the pressure I'm feeling."
"I've never felt power like this before," Cypher whispered. "The closest I've sensed was when Bohman called the Data Storm."
"…How disappointing." Morningstar gasped at the man's words. "When I heard the Cyspirits had been found, I thought I would finally have a worthy rival. But then I saw your duel with Playmaker. And I realized just how weak you were."
Morningstar's eyes widened. The man stepped off the ledge and dropped down to Morningstar's and Cassiel's level. He landed lightly, his cloak pooling around him before he straightened himself.
He saw me duel Playmaker? Morningstar thought. But that's impossible. We were in my Camouflage Dome; no one should have been able to watch us aside from Cam and Kusanagi!
"I've been watching your duels over the past few weeks, hoping for a sign that you had become stronger; that you would become the opponent I had hoped you would be." The cloak turned red and started to disintegrate from the ground up. "But all you have shown me is that you have not grown; your actions remain predictable, your strength stagnant. Now, I find I have no other choice. It seems that if you are to grow, then you require the proper incentive. So I shall grind you beneath my heel, and show you just how beneath me you truly are." The cloak finished disintegrating, revealing the man underneath.
He wore armor from head to toe. His lower legs were covered by knee-high black boots, with red sections on the sides and red jewels set in the knees. The cuisses on his thighs were black, with red lines circling around midway up. A black belt with a red center and a black serpent in the shape of an infinity symbol engraved into said center circled his waist and held up a black cape with a red interior that fell to his ankles. His torso was covered by black armor with faint red lines outlining a six pack and pectoral muscles. Black gauntlets tipped with red claws covered his hands and lower arms while his upper arms were covered by black rerebraces with red lines circling them. Black pauldrons covered his shoulders. His head was covered by a black helm with a red mouthguard and angular eyeholes. A red light gleamed within his eyes.
Morningstar grit his teeth. "Cam," he whispered. "Are you seeing this?"
"And hearing," his friend responded. "I've patched Kusanagi in, too. And we're both getting weird readings from that guy."
"Who are you?" Cassiel asked, standing next to Morningstar. "What do you mean you've been watching Morningstar?"
The man turned his head to look at Cassiel. "I am Zahhak. I am the one who sent HK-70 to follow him through the gate."
Morningstar gasped. "You sent that AI duelist? Then… you're with Jester!"
"Indeed. He is my comrade. And you…" Zahhak looked Cassiel up and down. "You're the owner of the Cyangels. How disappointing."
"What?"
"Like with the Cyspirits, I was interested in facing the wielder of the Cyangels. But you are only a girl who doesn't understand their full strength. You are as much a disappointment as Morningstar is."
"Hey!" Cypher protested. "Leave my partner and my friend alone! Those are my Decks you're dissing!"
"Hmm. The Silver Ignis." Zahhak looked from him to Morningstar. "Duel me, Morningstar. Allow me to show you just how far behind me you are."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then her death will be on your hands."
Zahhak raised his right hand as a golden sphere appeared above it. Morningstar and Cassiel gasped.
"That's-!"
"Consciousness data," Morningstar finished Cypher's realization. "Whose is that?!"
"Her name is Hana Adachi, but in LINK VRAINS, she calls herself Nebula," Zahhak said, looking at the sphere. "I encountered her some time ago, when she challenged me. She couldn't even make me try, even when I gave her a second chance. But she failed." He looked back at Morningstar. "Refuse my challenge and I will delete her consciousness data. Defeat me and I will release her."
"Playing dirty like that!" Cypher growled. "For sounding so high and mighty, you're resorting to dirty tricks to get us to duel!"
"If you prefer, I could lock down all of LINK VRAINS so that no one could log out," Zahhak said simply. Cassiel and Morningstar paled as the scope of his threat hit them. "But there's no point in inconveniencing others. So. Do you accept?"
Morningstar grit his teeth. He didn't have much of a choice. "I accept."
"Excellent." The sphere disappeared as Zahhak gestured to the right. A black elongated D-Board with blood red sides and three twisted spires attached to the front and sides materialized, which he leapt onto.
"Morningstar." He turned to look at Cassiel, whose eyes were filled with worry. "Be careful."
He nodded. "I will." He turned, ran to the edge, and then leapt off. His D-Board caught him and then he sped after Zahhak. Cassiel summoned her own D-Board and followed them.
"Now, why don't we make things more exciting?" Zahhak suggested. He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. Morningstar blinked as he felt a slight ripple.
"What the-?"
"What is it, Cam?"
"Yasu… all the channels in LINK VRAINS just changed to show you and Zahhak!"
"What?"
Galahad blinked as he stared at the screen. He had been watching a duel between Fatumare and a challenger, but it suddenly changed. Now it was showing Morningstar and a man in black and red armor on D-Boards.
"What is this?" "What happened to the duel?" "Is that Morningstar?" "Who's his opponent?"
Galahad frowned as the crowded street broke out into frenzied conversations. What's going on?
"What's going on?"
"We aren't sure, sir!"
Akira frowned at the operator. "Is it a virus?"
"Unknown. But it seems that the armored person is the one responsible."
Akira's frown deepened as he looked at the monitor showing Morningstar and an unknown man.
"Who is he?" Hayami asked. "I don't recognize him."
"Me neither." Akira's eyes narrowed as he noticed something. "Zoom in on his belt."
"Yes, sir!"
"Chief?"
"Hayami," Akira said, "that symbol on his belt. Do you recognize it?"
"It's… a serpent shaped like an infinity symbol, isn't it?"
"Yes. And Jester had a similar symbol on his own belt."
"Eh?" Hayami's eyes widened. "You think this man and Jester are working together?"
"It's the most likely probability. He certainly isn't a bounty hunter."
"Takeru! Look!"
Takeru, who was walking through the public viewing plaza, looked up at Flame's words. He gasped on seeing what was on the central television.
"Morningstar?" he said in surprise.
"Indeed," Flame confirmed. "But I don't recognize their opponent. Whoever they are though, they have good taste."
Takeru grit his teeth. "We need to hurry!" He started running for Café Nagi.
Emma frowned to herself. "This is unexpected."
"Do you know who he is?"
Emma looked over her shoulder at Aoi. The two were in Emma's hideout, watching the news. Right now, they were watching a particular former bounty hunter square off against a man in red and black armor.
Emma shook her head. "His avatar ID is Zahhak, but I've never heard of him. Whoever he is, though…" She turned back to the computer with a frown. "…I have a very bad feeling about him."
Shizuka scowled as she glared at the television. "Zahhak," she muttered. "So he finally showed himself. Be careful, Morningstar."
Morningstar pulled up alongside Zahhak. "Why are you broadcasting our duel?" he asked.
"I want all of LINK VRAINS to witness this," his opponent explained. "And I want you to understand the difference in our strengths. Now, tell me Morningstar…" Zahhak flew closer to Morningstar and looked him in the eye. "Can you keep up with me?"
Morningstar's eyes widened as Zahhak sped away. He grit his teeth and increased his own speed to chase after the taller man. Can you keep up with me? What a stupid question. He would absolutely keep up with him!
"Speed Duel!" they shouted.
Morningstar: 4000 LP
Zahhak: 4000 LP
"I'll take the first turn," Zahhak declared.
"Relax, partner," Cypher said. "It doesn't matter what Deck he's using, there's no way-."
"By discarding Cydemon Knight, I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cydemon Shrine!"
Morningstar gasped. "What?!" Cypher shouted. "Cydemon?! Why do you have that Deck?!"
Zahhak ignored the Ignis. "I activate Shrine's effect! Once per turn, if I control no monsters, I can Special Summon a 'Cydemon' monster from my hand or Graveyard in Attack Position. From my hand, I Special Summon Cydemon Duke!" A dark red magic circle appeared on his field. A red and black demon wearing black armor and wielding a large axe emerged from the circle and roared.
Cydemon Duke ATK 2600 DEF 600 LVL: 7
Cassiel gasped. "Cydemon? That's the third Deck Cypher made!"
"I summon Cydemon Pawn!" A human-sized bald black-skinned demon with red eyes appeared. It wore a black cuirass and red greaves and vambraces and wielded a short sword made of black iron. A small set of black bat wings with red spines emerged from its back.
Cydemon Pawn ATK 600 DEF 600 LVL: 1
"I activate Pawn's effect! Once, when there is a 'Cydemon' monster in my Graveyard, I can draw cards equal to the number of Dark Cyberse monsters in my Main Monster Zones. There are two, so I draw two cards!"
Zahhak drew, then said, "I Set one card. I end my turn. So, try your best. Try to make me take you seriously."
Morningstar grit his teeth. "Well, he's full of himself," Cypher said, his eyes narrowed. "Though seeing as he's using the Cydemons, that attitude isn't unjustified."
"That's the last Deck you made, isn't it?"
"And the strongest. How he got his hands on it… I can only speculate. But that's pointless right now." Cypher looked his partner in the eyes. "Morningstar, the Cydemon Deck is the strongest Deck I know of. This will be a very challenging duel, perhaps the most challenging you've ever had."
Morningstar frowned and nodded. "I'll do my best. My turn! Draw!" He looked at his card, then back at Cypher. "Cypher, what can you tell me about the Cydemon Deck?"
"In terms of playstyle, they're the opposites of both the Cyangels and Cyspirits," Cypher explained. "The Main Deck monsters all have two effects: one that can be activated while they are in the Graveyard, and another that activates if there is a Cydemon monster in the Graveyard. The Link Monsters are all called Cydevils, and they all have at least three effects: one that impairs linked monsters, one that lets you Special Summon Cydemon monsters from the Graveyard, and one that requires around three or more Cydemon monsters in the Graveyard to use that also requires that they not be linked."
"I see," Morningstar mused. "So unlike the Cyangels, they get stronger with monsters in the Graveyard. And unlike the Cyspirits, they can't use their effects when linked."
"Right. On the plus side, this means you shouldn't have to worry about an Extra Link any time soon; a strategy like that will just backfire on Zahhak."
Morningstar frowned, then spoke into his earpiece. "Cam, you got anything on Zahhak?"
"Aside from him being an evil dragon god from Persia, no. There's no information available on this guy. I'm afraid I can't help."
"Great." Morningstar looked at his hand, then chose a card. "I summon Cyspirit Teleporter!" A black skeleton in gray armor holding a baton appeared.
Cyspirit Teleporter ATK 500 DEF 1500 LVL: 3
"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Teleporter in the Link Marker!" His monster entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller!" A skeleton in a business suit emerged from the Link portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓
"Cacophonic Caller's monster effect! I Special Summon Cyspirit Kid from my Deck to its Link Marker in Attack Position!" A dwarf skeleton in a t-shirt appeared at Cacophonic Caller's Link Marker.
Cyspirit Kid ATK 300 DEF 200 LVL: 1
"Appear again, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Kid and Cacophonic Caller in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyspirit Mad Mongrel!" A large armored skeleton dog with a net launcher and a missile launcher on its back emerged from the portal, howling from the left Extra Monster Zone.
Cyspirit Mad Mongrel ATK 2000 LINK-2 ↑↓
Cassiel smiled. "Mad Mongrel points to Cydemon Duke. If he summons a monster to its Link Marker, he can use Mad Mongrel's effect to use Duke to Link Summon."
"Interesting tactic," Zahhak allowed. "But fruitless. Continuous Trap activate! Cydemon Avaritia!" Morningstar gasped. The card showed a silhouetted four-winged armored demon looking over a vast pit filled to the brim with gold and jewels. "While Avaritia is active, you cannot target my Dark Cyberse monsters with card effects."
Morningstar grit his teeth. "As it was used to Link Summon Mad Mongrel, I activate Kid's effect to destroy one card you control! I'll destroy Avaritia!"
"That's pointless," Zahhak said. "Since there is a monster in the Extra Monster Zone, Avaritia's effect prevents you from destroying my 'Cydemon' Spell or Trap Cards."
Cypher growled. "I remember making that card. I thought it would be amusing to see the opponent's face when they went up against it. It's not as fun being on the receiving end."
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "The word 'avaritia' is Latin," he noted. "It means 'greed,' right?"
"Yeah. I made Trap Cards that were named for the seven deadly sins. A pity I couldn't put Escanor in one of them."
"Who?"
"Doesn't matter. Anyway, we can't use Mad Mongrel to get rid of Duke now. I suppose we'll have to try something else."
Morningstar nodded. "As there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I Special Summon Cyspirit Prisoner!" A skeleton in a prisoner's uniform appeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5
"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Prisoner and Link-2 Mad Mongrel in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the top, bottom, and bottom-left arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary!" A skeleton in a blue trench coat wielding two pistols emerged from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary ATK 2200 LINK-3 ↙↑↓
"Prisoner's effect activates! As I used it to Link Summon, I add Cyspirit Linker from my Deck to my hand. And as I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I Special Summon Cyspirit Linker!" A white skeleton in black armor with red gauntlets appeared in Attack Position at Rapid Revolutionary's bottom-left Link Marker.
Cyspirit Linker ATK 1700 DEF 800 LVL: 4
"I Set one card." Morningstar gestured to his field. "Battle! Rapid Revolutionary attacks Cydemon Duke!" Rapid Revolutionary lifted its pistols and fired two shots at the winged monster. "Rapid Revolutionary's monster effect! When it battles your non-Link Monster while pointing to one monster, it gains 500 attack points!"
Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary ATK 2200→2700
"Go, Rapid Revolutionary! Revolution Shot!" The shots hit Duke and destroyed it in an explosion, but when the smoke cleared, Zahhak was unhurt.
"What?" Cypher gasped. "What did you do?"
"I activated the effect of Cydemon Knight in my Graveyard by targeting my Duke," he explained. "Until the end of the turn, any damage less than or equal to Duke's original attack points becomes 0."
Morningstar grit his teeth. "Rapid Revolutionary's effect ends."
Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary ATK 2700→2200
"Damn it. I forgot about Knight's Graveyard effect," Cypher grumbled. "Still, you made the right choice in destroying Duke; after it attacks, it can inflict damage equal to our strongest monster's attack points."
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "I end my turn."
Cassiel narrowed her eyes. "I see," she mused. "He can't deal damage and Shrine's effect will only work while Zahhak has no monsters. So he left Pawn out on the field so Zahhak couldn't use it."
"Cassiel!"
She gasped and looked behind her to see a certain someone flying up to her. "Soulburner!"
The fire duelist looked from her to the duel. "What's going on? Who's Morningstar dueling?"
"He said his name is Zahhak," she answered before frowning. "And he's using the Cydemon Deck."
"Cydemon?" Flame repeated, emerging from his partner's Duel Disk. "Isn't that the third Deck that Cypher made?"
"It is." Cassiel turned back to the duel. "And it's turning out to be quite the troublesome one."
"My turn! Draw!" Zahhak looked at his card, then scoffed. "You think leaving my monster on the field would slow me down? All you've done is make my victory easier. I activate the Spell Card: Cydemon Sacrifice!" The card showed an altar with a pale woman in a white dress laying on top. Cydemon Bishop stood over her, a knife in its raised hands. "By Tributing Pawn, I can add a 'Cydemon' monster with a different Level from my Deck to my hand." Morningstar's eyes widened. "I add Cydemon Bishop from my Deck to my hand."
Zahhak gestured to his field. "I activate Shrine's effect! As I control no monsters, I Special Summon Cydemon Knight from my Graveyard!" A dark red circle appeared, and a new black-skinned demon emerged. This one wore red-and-black armor and rode a black horse wearing red plate armor. The horse neighed and the demon drew a long cavalry saber in Attack Position.
Cydemon Knight ATK 2200 DEF 600 LVL: 6
"That's the monster whose effect stopped our damage," Cypher noted.
"I summon Cydemon Bishop!" A thin black-skinned demon wearing black robes and a miter appeared.
Cydemon Bishop ATK 1600 DEF 600 LVL: 3
"Bishop's effect activates. Once per turn, when there is a 'Cydemon' monster in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon a 'Cydemon' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position. Resurrect, Cydemon Duke!" The large demon with a battle-axe reappeared and roared.
Cydemon Duke ATK 2600 DEF 600 LVL: 7
"Three monsters," Morningstar said, his eyes narrowed. "Is he going to…?"
"I Set one card," Zahhak said before gesturing to his field. "Battle!" Morningstar gasped in surprise. "Knight attacks Rapid Revolutionary!" The demon galloped towards the skeleton in a trench coat.
"Morningstar!" Cypher shouted. "Don't let that monster's attack get through!"
The former bounty hunter gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cyspirit Battle-!"
"Pointless!" Zahhak interrupted. "Cydemon Shrine's effect! When a Dark Cyberse monster attacks, you cannot activate any Spell or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step!" Morningstar gasped. "Knight's monster effect! As it is attacking a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, that monster is banished and you take damage equal to that monster's original attack points!"
"What?"
"Go! Lance of Furcas!" Knight's saber morphed into a black lance with a serrated tip, which it then threw at Rapid Revolutionary. The lance passed through the skeleton, making it disintegrate. The lance tore past Morningstar, who cried out in pain from the shockwave of the weapon's passing.
Morningstar: 4000→1800 LP
"Morningstar!" Cassiel cried out in worry. The former bounty hunter stabilized his D-Board and grit his teeth in annoyance.
"I end my turn," Zahhak said. "You haven't impressed me at all, Morningstar. Keep trying to catch up to me."
Morningstar growled. "He could have Link Summoned, couldn't he?" he asked Cypher.
"Yes," the Ignis agreed with a glower. "And I remember what Link Monsters I made. There's at least one that would have inflicted even greater damage than Knight did. And if he had summoned Duke instead of Knight with Shrine's effect, he could have inflicted 3100 points of damage through attacking Linker and targeting Rapid Revolutionary with its effects. There's only one explanation as to why he didn't."
"He's toying with us," Morningstar muttered while scowling.
"Chief Zaizen."
Akira looked over at Hayami, who showed her the tablet in her hands. "We've taken a look at the cards this 'Zahhak' is using. They aren't in our database."
Akira frowned at the display. "These are Cyberse monsters. Does he have a connection to the Ignis…?"
"My turn! Draw! I activate the Spell Card: Cyberse Call! I add a Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Cyspirit Dancer to my hand, which I'll now summon!" A skeleton in a leotard appeared.
Cyspirit Dancer ATK 1000 DEF 200 LVL: 2
"Dancer's monster effect! As I Normal Summoned her while I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon a Level 2 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my hand or Deck in Attack Position with its effects negated. From my Deck, I Special Summon Cyspirit Coder!" A skeleton in a lab coat with armor plating appeared.
Cyspirit Coder ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1
"Appear! The circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Dancer and Linker in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyspirit Jubilant Jester!" A skeleton in a black and gold jester's outfit wielding a small staff emerged from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘
"Since I used Dancer to Link Summon Jubilant Jester, it gains 600 attack points!"
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800→2400
"I activate Cyberse Call's effect in the Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon a Cyberse monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Cyspirit Prisoner!" The skeleton in a prisoner's uniform reappeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5
"Appear again, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Coder and Prisoner in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the left and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler!" A skeleton in a prospector's uniform emerged from the portal at Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker.
Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600 LINK-2 ←→
"Prisoner's effect activates! I add Cyspirit Valkyrie from my Deck to my hand. Furthermore, Jubilant Jester's effect activates! When it points to a monster, all 'Cyspirit' monsters I control gain 400 attack and defense points!"
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 2400→2800
Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600→2000
"I activate Teleporter's effect in the Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Dancer!" The leotard-wearing skeleton reappeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Dancer ATK 1000→1400 DEF 200→600 LVL: 2
"As I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Valkyrie!" A feminine skeleton in white armor wielding a sword and axe made of light appeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Valkyrie ATK 2100→2500 DEF 400→800 LVL: 5
"Appear for a third time, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are three or more 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Dancer, Valkyrie, and Link-2 Thrilled Tunneler in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the top-left, top-right, left, and right arrows. "The galaxy's rage that breaks all limitations! Link Summon! Take flight! Link-4! Cyspirit Neo Nova!" A large black dragon emerged from the portal and roared from Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker.
Cyspirit Neo Nova ATK 2500→2900 LINK-4 ←↖↗→
"Dancer's effect activates!"
Cyspirit Neo Nova ATK 2900→3500
"I activate the effect of Coder in the Graveyard! By banishing it, Neo Nova is treated as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating!"
"Yes!" Soulburner cheered. "With Neo Nova's effect, he can draw four cards! And without that, he can deal 2500 points of damage just by attacking now!"
"Indeed," Flame agreed. "Morningstar does seem to hold the advantage."
Zahhak grunted. "Don't be so conceited," he said, making Morningstar's eyes widen. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cydemon Unity!"
"What?!" Cypher gasped. The card showed Cydemon Knight and Bishop kneeling before a darkened silhouette with eight bat wings. "But that's…"
"Cydemon Unity lets me Link Summon a Dark Cyberse Link Monster using 'Cydemon' monsters I control as material," Zahhak explained to Morningstar's surprise. "Appear, the circuit of infinite darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more Dark Cyberse monsters. I set Bishop, Duke, and Knight in the Link Markers!" His monsters turned into twisters of red energy and entered the bottom-left, bottom, and bottom-right arrows.
"Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cydevil Covetous Leviathan!" A gray-skinned demoness emerged from the portal. She wore black and red armor and had four black bat wings with red spines emerged from her back. Wavy black hair fell partway down her back and black chains wrapped themselves around her shoulders and arms. The demoness giggled as she was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.
Cydevil Covetous Leviathan ATK 2500 LINK-3 ↙↓↘
"Cydevil?" Cassiel repeated.
"So this is one of his Link Monsters?" Soulburner asked.
"Unity's effect isn't over," Zahhak revealed. "When it is activated, I can negate the effects of one of your cards until the end of the turn. I negate Neo Nova's effects!"
Morningstar gasped as a gray aura appeared around Neo Nova. "Even so, Neo Nova has-."
"Covetous Leviathan's monster effect," Zahhak interrupted. "While she is on the field, linked monsters cannot attack!" Morningstar gasped again as black chains materialized around Jubilant Jester and Neo Nova, restraining them and making them cry out in pain.
"…I didn't make that card."
Morningstar blinked and looked down at Cypher, who was staring wide-eyed at Zahhak. "Cypher?"
"That card. Cydemon Unity. I didn't make it." He turned to look at his partner. "I may have forgotten some of the cards' effects, but I remember their names. I'm one hundred percent certain that I didn't create that card!"
"So you're saying Zahhak made that card?"
"No, he… he couldn't have! Those cards' data is really complex! Only a human of Dr. Kogami's intellect or an Ignis should be able to do that, but…" Cypher turned back to Zahhak. "Who is this guy? Where did he get these cards?"
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "I Set one card. I end my turn."
Zahhak grunted. "Now do you understand why I call you weak? Against me, you have no chance. No moves I cannot counter. Before me, you are dust." Morningstar grit his teeth. "My turn! Draw! I summon Cydemon Rook!" A heavyset black-skinned demon wearing blood-red plate armor and greaves appeared. Its head was covered by a helm with a t-shaped visor, out of which red eyes shone. It swung a black mace in its right hand as black bat wings with red spines sprung from its back.
Cydemon Rook ATK 1800 DEF 600 LVL: 4
"Covetous Leviathan's monster effect! Once per turn, if it points to no monsters and I have three or more 'Cydemon' monsters in my Graveyard, I can equip one of your monsters to her."
Morningstar's eyes widened. "What?"
"I equip Neo Nova to Covetous Leviathan. Grasp of Envy!" Leviathan's chains enlarged as she sneered. The chains shot out at Morningstar's dragon and wrapped around it before pulling it over to Zahhak's field. Neo Nova roared in protest, but Leviathan only gave the dragon a contemptuous gaze before grabbing its neck and squeezing. The dragon's breath caught in its mouth, and when it started gurgling, it disintegrated. The points of light that were left behind traveled into Leviathan's body.
"When equipped with your monster, Covetous Leviathan gains attack points equal to your monster's original attack points. And since it doesn't point to any monsters, Jubilant Jester's effect ends."
Cydevil Covetous Leviathan ATK 2500→5000
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 2800→2400
Morningstar grit his teeth and gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cyspirit Emergence!" The card showed Cyspirit Bombastic Bombardier walking out of a bunker, arm-in-arm with Linkslayer. "By banishing a monster from your Graveyard, Jubilant Jester gains attack points equal to that monster's Level times 200!"
"Oh? From my Graveyard?"
"I banish Cydemon Knight! It's Level 6, so Jubilant Jester gains 1200 attack points!"
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 2400→3600
"…Ha ha," Zahhak chuckled. "You could have banished the Level 7 Duke, but instead you banished the Level 6 monster. I see you don't want me to use Knight's effect again on your turn. And you activated your Trap Card before my Battle Phase so Cydemon Shrine wouldn't prevent its use. Very well. I admit to your resourcefulness. Now try and survive the turn!"
He gestured to his field. "Battle! Covetous Leviathan attacks Jubilant Jester! Invidia's Soul!" Leviathan leered as her chains snaked around Morningstar's monster. A dark red circle appeared in front of Leviathan, which then shot out a blast of dark red energy. The energy hit Jubilant Jester, destroying it. Morningstar cried out from the explosion as his D-Board was knocked back several meters.
Morningstar: 1800→400 LP
"Morningstar!" Cassiel shouted.
"This is bad!" Flame declared.
"End this, Rook!" Zahhak declared. "Rook attacks you directly!" The demon charged Morningstar, his mace held high, when-.
"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Battler in my hand!" the former bounty hunter declared. "When you attack me directly, I can Special Summon it in Attack Position!" A skeleton in boxer's clothes appeared in front of Rook.
Cyspirit Battler ATK 1500 DEF 700 LVL: 4
"Hmm. Clever. Shrine prevents you from activating Spell or Trap Cards, but not monster effects. Continue your attack, Rook! Destroy Battler!" Rook swung its mace and struck Battler's left boxing glove. The two held their position for a moment, then disengaged before Rook struck Battler again, destroying it and making Morningstar wince.
Morningstar: 400→100 LP
"Yasu! Are you alright?"
Morningstar grit his teeth but gestured to his field. "Battler's effect activates! When it is destroyed by battle, I can add a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I add Prisoner to my hand."
"Hmm. I end my turn."
Cassiel breathed a sigh of relief. "That was too close."
"Morningstar's opponent is really strong," Soulburner noted.
"He only has 100 Life Points left, while Zahhak hasn't lost any," Flame said. "Though if Morningstar is going to make a comeback, he is in the best position to do so."
"My turn! Draw!" Morningstar looked at his card, then at the field, and frowned.
"Well Morningstar, do you want to do it?" Cypher asked. "We have 100 Life Points. We can use Hurricane Heavensgate to gain an advantage."
"I know. But…" Morningstar looked back at Zahhak. He's Jester's comrade, he thought. That means he could control the Data Storm like Jester could. If I try to use my Skill, will he stop me like Jester did? Will I be able to escape like I did last time, or will I get shredded?
His opponent sensed Morningstar's hesitation. "What are you waiting for?" he asked. "Are you afraid of what I could do?" Morningstar grit his teeth. "I see. So you are. But so what? If you let fear dictate your actions, you will never catch up to me!" Zahhak lowered his head and glared at Morningstar. "I have no fear of your Skill. Go ahead and use it. Show me that you possess the courage to challenge me!"
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Fine." He looked at his Duel Disk. "Cypher. Do it."
"Right! Come, Data Storm!" A whirlwind of Data Material formed around Morningstar, who guided his D-Board into the storm. He reached out and ran his hand through the purple bits. He closed his eyes and reached out.
There it was. The gate. And on the other side… A new humanoid stepped forward. One wearing robes with a circular shield strapped to its back and a lance held in its right hand.
"Now! Open the gate of evolution, Morningstar!"
Morningstar opened his eyes. "I activate my Skill!" he declared, the lines of his suit glowing yellow. "Hurricane Heavensgate!" The Data Material gathered into his hand, forming a yellow card. He pulled it free of the Data Storm and then shot out of it on his D-Board.
"Hmm," Zahhak grunted. "Now, show me the new power you possess!"
"Since there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I Special Summon Cyspirit Prisoner!" The skeleton in a prisoner's uniform reappeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5
"And I summon Cyspirit Archer!" A skeleton wearing a patchwork of animal skins appeared, its left eye glowing blue. It wielded a silver longbow in its left hand and had a quiver of arrows strapped to its back.
Cyspirit Archer ATK 1500 DEF 0 LVL: 4
"Archer's monster effect! Once per turn, I can change the Level of a 'Cyspirit' monster to between 1 and 6. I change Prisoner's Level to 4!"
Cyspirit Prisoner LVL: 5→4
"Two Level 4 monsters?" Cassiel noticed, her eyes wide.
"Is he going to-?" Soulburner started.
"I overlay Level 4 Cyspirit Archer and Cyspirit Prisoner!" Morningstar declared, the lines of his suit and the wings on his back glowing yellow. He brought his hands together in front of him as his Duel Disk glowed silver. He then swung his arm back, releasing a bolt of silver lightning. The bolt created a giant blue "X" with four red dots on the corners.
"With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" His monsters disintegrated into silver data and entered two of the dots. A red circle formed behind the cross. The ends of the cross then shot lasers and created a swirling galaxy in front of Morningstar. The galaxy exploded with energy as Morningstar chanted.
"The warrior who guards the sacred lands! Ascend to this battle and strike down our enemies! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 4! Cyspirit Martial Mameluke!"
A strand of blue DNA formed before breaking apart and forming a sphere. The sphere then reformed itself into a white skeleton that was then cloaked in white and brown robes. Metal gauntlets and boots covered its hands and feet, and a helmet with a spike topped its head. The skeleton reached behind its back and pulled out a circular shield in its left hand while wielding a long lance in its right. Silver wings sprouted from its back as its red and blue eyes glowed and two orange lights circled behind it. It posed with its lance and shield as it was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke ATK 2800 DEF 2300 RNK: 4 OU: 2
"Xyz Summon," Zahhak mused. "So you've completed your repertoire. But will this be enough to catch up?"
"Martial Mameluke's effect activates!" Morningstar declared. "When it is Link Summoned using only 'Cyspirit' monsters as material, all cards in your Spell & Trap Zone are returned to the owners' Decks!" Zahhak gasped. "Go! Soul of Night!"
Dark energy gathered around the skeleton's lance, which it spun around a few times before swinging it outwards. The energy flew off the spear and struck Shrine and Avaritia, making them disintegrate. Covetous Leviathan cried out in pain.
"Tch. Since the equipped monster left the field, Covetous Leviathan's attack points return to normal."
Cydevil Covetous Leviathan ATK 5000→2500
"Battle! Martial Mameluke attacks Covetous Leviathan!" The skeletal warrior charged the demoness as Morningstar gestured to his field. "Martial Mameluke's additional effect activates! When it attacks your Special Summoned monster, I can detach one Overlay Unit to increase its attack points by your monster's attack points!" One of the lights struck Martial Mameluke's spear.
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke OU: 2→1
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke ATK 2800→5300
Zahhak gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Cydemon Bishop in my Graveyard!" he declared. "I can target my Dark Cyberse monster, and until the end of the turn, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!"
"You cannot!" Morningstar countered. "Martial Mameluke's final effect! During the Battle Phase, you cannot target monsters on the field with card effects!" Zahhak gasped. "You cannot protect Covetous Leviathan! Go, Martial Mameluke! Moonlight Strike!" This time, light energy gathered on Martial Mameluke's spear, which it threw at Covetous Leviathan.
Zahhak pointed to one of his monsters. "If my monster would be destroyed, I can destroy Cydemon Rook instead! As this effect doesn't target, it can be activated!" The heavyset demon stepped in front of Covetous Leviathan and took the spear in its gut. It cried out in pain at being destroyed. Zahhak grunted as he was hit by the backlash.
Zahhak: 4000→1200 LP
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke ATK 5300→2800
"Yes!" Cassiel cheered. "He damaged him!"
"Even so, Covetous Leviathan remains on the field," Flame pointed out. "So long as it's there, Zahhak can equip Morningstar's monsters to it."
"Morningstar knows that," Soulburner said. "I'm sure he already has a solution."
Morningstar gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Cyspirit Archer in the Graveyard!" he declared. "By banishing it, one 'Cyspirit' monster I control can make a second attack during the Battle Phase! I target Martial Mameluke!"
"Martial Mameluke still has an Overlay Unit to use for its effect!" Cypher reminded Zahhak. "And you have no other cards on the field or in your hand! This is the end!"
"Go, Martial Mameluke! Attack Covetous Leviathan!" The skeletal warrior drew a scimitar from a sheath at its waist, which it began to charge. "Martial Mameluke's effect activates! I detach an Overlay Unit to give it Covetous Leviathan's attack points!"
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke OU: 1→0
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke ATK 2800→5300
"End this! Moonlight Strike!" Martial Mameluke's sword erupted with energy as it charged Covetous Leviathan. It swung the sword straight at the demoness's neck, and then straight through it. A massive explosion erupted, obscuring their view of Zahhak.
"Normally, I'd cheer for a successful victory," Cypher said. Then his eyes narrowed. "But…"
Morningstar gasped as the smoke cleared. Covetous Leviathan was gone, but Zahhak was uninjured. "A pity," Zahhak said. "You did manage to briefly impress me with that tactic. But even that wasn't enough for you to catch up to me."
Morningstar grit his teeth. "What did you do?"
"I activated the effect of Cydemon Rook in the Graveyard," Zahhak revealed. "Once, I can reduce an instance of battle damage to 0. And since the Damage Step is over, your Xyz Monster's attack points return to normal."
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke ATK 5300→2800
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "I end my turn."
"And with the end of your turn comes the rest of Cydemon Rook's effect," Zahhak said. "When its effect is activated, it Special Summons itself at the end of the Battle Phase." The heavyset demon with a mace reappeared in Attack Position.
Cydemon Rook ATK 1800 DEF 600 LVL: 4
Zahhak slowed his D-Board down so that he became parallel with Morningstar. "Congratulations," he said. "It has been four years since I have taken any damage in a duel. Take pride in that achievement."
"Four years?" Cypher repeated. "That's impossible. No one can duel for four years and not take any damage."
"You, the creator of this Deck, must know the strength of the Cydemons, Silver Ignis," Zahhak said. "In this, I speak only the truth. And yet… your efforts aren't enough to satisfy me."
"Satisfy?" Morningstar repeated.
"As a small measure of respect, and to show you just how large the gap between us is, I will grant you a glimpse of true power," Zahhak said. "And know that I have a slightly better opinion of you than the faceless masses."
He sped away and placed his hand above his Duel Disk. "My turn! Draw!"
Even if he Link Summons again, I still have Cyspirit Battle Barrier Set, Morningstar thought. And without Cydemon Shrine, he can't prevent its activation. And even if he destroys it, I can still use Battle Barrier's effect in the Graveyard.
"I activate the effect of Cydemon Pawn in my Graveyard!" Zahhak declared. "Once, I can Special Summon a Dark Cyberse Link Monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. Resurrect, Covetous Leviathan!" The armored demoness reappeared.
Cydevil Covetous Leviathan ATK 2500 LINK-3 ↙↓↘
"With its effects negated, Covetous Leviathan can't equip Martial Mameluke to it," Cypher noted. Then his eyes widened. "Oh no. No, he can't be-!"
"Appear! The circuit of infinite darkness!" Morningstar looked from Cypher to Zahhak as the Link portal appeared. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more Dark Cyberse monsters. I set Rook and Link-3 Covetous Leviathan in the Link Markers!" His monsters turned into dark red whirlwinds and entered the left, right, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows. "Circuit combine! The embodiment of pride who demands obedience! Link Summon! Appear! Link-4! Cydevil Prideful Helel!"
A black cocoon emerged from the portal. But then the cocoon split open, revealing that it was in fact eight black feathery wings with red spines. The wings were attached to a masculine figure with gray skin. He wore black greaves with red gems set in the knees and black boots with red claws on the ends. A black hip cape with a red interior hung around his waist, held in place by a black belt. Black armor encircled his torso, with red sections on the sides. Black gauntlets with red claws, black vambraces, and black rerebraces covered his arms. But what drew Morningstar's attention the most was his face. Black hair that fell down to his shoulders framed his solid red almond-shaped eyes. While the skin was gray, it was flawless and without pores. His was a face that could only be described as inhumanely beautiful, far beyond anything a human could ever achieve. And those perfect eyes were filled with disdain, as the flawless lips curled into a sneer of arrogance directed at his wielder's opponent. The fallen angel extended his right hand. A black scythe with red serrated edges materialized in its hand. The monster leered at Morningstar and Martial Mameluke as it was summoned to the Extra Monster Zone.
Cydevil Prideful Helel ATK 3000 LINK-4 ←↙↘→
"W-What the…?" Morningstar said, his eyes wide.
"A Link-4 with 3000 attack points?" Soulburner said in surprise.
Cassiel stared at the monster and then clutched her chest. This monster… it radiated power. In a way that she hadn't felt before.
"Oh, this is bad, partner," Cypher said.
"Cypher, what is that?" Morningstar whispered. The pressure he had felt from when Zahhak first appeared had returned, only with double the force behind it.
"That, my friend, is the second most powerful monster in the Cydemon Deck, right after its Link-5. It's the embodiment of the greatest of the seven deadly sins. The sin of pride."
"Aww, c'mon!"
Ai looked around as he and Playmaker returned to LINK VRAINS. After dueling Earth and finding out he knew nothing about Bohman, his friend had kicked them out of his world!
"We only dueled to help Earth kill time! What a joke!" Ai glared at his partner. "C'mon, say something! Aren't you annoyed?"
Playmaker frowned. The Cyberse World will soon break apart, he thought, remembering Earth's repetition of the Water Ignis's, Aqua's, words. Why do I feel uneasy?
Ai sighed. "Well, it was still good to see Earth. Though he could have at least stayed to say hello to Cypher and-!"
BA-BUMP
Playmaker and Ai both gasped and clutched their chests. "What the-?" Ai said before looking off into the distance. "Playmaker! There's a really powerful presence over that way!"
Playmaker grit his teeth. "What is that?" he wondered.
"I see you are now starting to understand," Zahhak said. "The difference in power between you and me, and just how beneath me you are. Allow me to drive it home." He gestured to his field. "Prideful Helel's monster effect! Once per turn, when it points to no monsters and I have four or more Dark Cyberse monsters in my Graveyard, I can target one of your monsters. I target Martial Mameluke!"
The fallen angel disdainfully raised his left hand as a magic circle formed above it. A red aura appeared around Morningstar's Xyz Monster.
"What's he doing?" Soulburner wondered.
"Prideful Helel's effect then banishes every card you control, except the targeted monster, until your Standby Phase, and you cannot activate cards or effects in response to this effect!" Zahhak finished. Morningstar gasped.
"What?!" Cassiel shouted, her eyes wide.
"Go! Reckoning of Pride!" Prideful Helel spread his wings, which emitted a dark red light. Morningstar watched in horror as his Set Battle Barrier disintegrated.
"But… but without that Set card," Cassiel said, her eyes wide.
"And no cards in his hand," Soulburner muttered.
"Morningstar is powerless against that monster," Flame finished their thought.
"Morningstar!"
The former bounty hunter turned, and his eyes widened as he saw Playmaker approach them. "Playmaker!"
"Oi, what's going- AAAHHH!" Ai screeched when he saw Prideful Helel. "W-What is that monster?"
Playmaker stared wide-eyed at the Link Monster. "A demon?"
Zahhak ignored the hacker's interruption and moved his D-Board alongside Morningstar. "This duel is over, child," he said. "Remember what I asked? Can you keep up with me? Well now I have my answer." A red light shone in his mask. "You could not. Not even for a second. So realize your own weakness and fall into despair!"
Morningstar grit his teeth as Zahhak sped away. "Battle!" he declared. "Prideful Helel's additional effect! During the Battle Phase, if it is not linked and I have four or more Dark Cyberse monsters in my Graveyard, its attack points are doubled!"
Cydevil Prideful Helel ATK 3000→6000
"End this farce of a duelist!" Zahhak said. "Ruin of Superbia!" The fallen angel hefted and then swung his scythe. The top went flying off, connected to the handle by a long chain.
"Morningstar!" Cassiel screamed.
"This is bad, partner!" Cypher shouted. "We don't have any way to stop this attack!"
Morningstar grit his teeth. "I'm sorry, Cypher," he said. Then he pressed a button on his Duel Disk.
"Huh?" Cypher gasped as his form started to waver. "Wait, what are you-? AAAHHH!" Cypher screeched as his body shattered.
The scythe's head and chain wrapped themselves around Martial Mameluke. The tip impaled the skeleton in its chest and made it cry out in pain. Prideful Helel gave his opponent one last disdainful look before he yanked his scythe back. The head tore through Martial Mameluke's body, shredding it in a massive explosion.
The backlash of the explosion struck Morningstar, who cried out as he was knocked off his D-Board. Looking up, he saw Zahhak. Standing proud on his own D-Board. And though he could not see his face, he knew his enemy was glaring at him with disdain.
Why? he wondered. Is he just that strong? Or am I just that weak?
Morningstar: 100→0 LP
Morningstar vs. Zahhak
This Duel is conducted as a Speed Duel.
Turn 1: Zahhak
By discarding Cydemon Knight, Zahhak activates the Continuous Spell Card Cydemon Shrine. Since he controls no monsters, Zahhak activates Cydemon Shrine's effect to Special Summon 1 "Cydemon" monster from his hand or GY in Attack Position. He Special Summons Cydemon Duke (2600/600/7) in Attack Position from his hand. Zahhak Normal Summons Cydemon Pawn (600/600/1). As there is at least 1 "Cydemon" monster in his GY, Zahhak activates Cydemon Pawn's effect to draw cards equal to the number of DARK Cyberse monsters in his Main Monster Zone, but he cannot add cards from his Deck to his hand for the rest of the turn. He draws 2 cards. Zahhak Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.
Turn 2: Morningstar
Morningstar draws. He Normal Summons Cyspirit Teleporter (500/1500/3). He uses Teleporter to Link Summon Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller (500/1/↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Morningstar activates Cacophonic Caller's effect to Special Summon Cyspirit Kid (300/200/1) from his Deck to its Link Marker in Attack Position, but it cannot attack and is destroyed during the End Phase. Morningstar uses Kid and Cacophonic Caller to Link Summon Cyspirit Mad Mongrel (2000/2/↑↓) to the left Extra Monster Zone. Zahhak activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Cydemon Avaritia, which prevents Morningstar from targeting his Dark Cyberse monsters with card effects. As it was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar activates Kid's effect, targeting Cydemon Avaritia, but as there is a monster in the Extra Monster Zone, Cydemon Avaritia's effect prevents Zahhak's "Cydemon" Spell/Trap Cards from being destroyed by Morningstar's card effects. As there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Prisoner (1600/2100/5) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Prisoner and Link-2 Mad Mongrel to Link Summon Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary (2200/3/↙↑↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Prisoner was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Linker to his hand. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Linker (1700/800/4) to Rapid Revolutionary's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position. Morningstar Sets 1 card.
Rapid Revolutionary attacks Cydemon Duke. Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Knight in his GY, targeting Cydemon Duke. Until the end of the turn, any damage lower than or equal to Duke's original ATK becomes 0. As Rapid Revolutionary points to at least 1 monster and is battling a non-Link Monster, it gains 500 ATK during the Damage Step (Rapid Revolutionary: 2200→2700). Cydemon Duke is destroyed, but Zahhak takes no damage (Rapid Revolutionary: 2700→2200). Morningstar ends his turn.
Turn 3: Zahhak
Zahhak draws. He activates the Spell Card Cydemon Sacrifice, Tributing Cydemon Pawn to do so. He can then add 1 "Cydemon" monster with a different Level than the Tributed monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cydemon Bishop to his hand. As he controls no monsters, Zahhak activates Shrine's effect to Special Summon Cydemon Knight (2200/600/6) from his GY in Attack Position. Zahhak Normal Summons Cydemon Bishop (1600/600/3). As there is at least 1 "Cydemon" monster in the GY, Zahhak activates Bishop's effect to Special Summon Cydemon Duke (2600/600/7) from the GY in Defense Position. Zahhak Sets 1 card.
Knight attacks Rapid Revolutionary. Morningstar attempts to activate his Set Cyspirit Battle Barrier, but Shrine's effect prevents him from activating any Spell/Trap Cards when a DARK Cyberse monster attacks. At the start of the Damage Step, as Zahhak has at least 1 "Cydemon" monster in his GY and it is attacking a monster that was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, Knight's effect activates, banishing Rapid Revolutionary and inflicting damage to Morningstar equal to Rapid Revolutionary's original ATK (Morningstar: 4000→1800 LP). Zahhak ends his turn.
Turn 4: Morningstar
Morningstar draws. He activates the Spell Card Cyberse Call, which lets him add 1 Level 4 or lower Cyberse monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Dancer from his Deck to his hand. Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Dancer (1000/200/2). As Dancer was Normal Summoned while he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can Special Summon 1 Level 2 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his hand or Deck in Attack Position with its effects negated. He Special Summons Cyspirit Coder (0/0/1) from his Deck. He uses Dancer and Linker to Link Summon Cyspirit Jubilant Jester (1800/2/↙↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Dancer was used to Link Summon Jubilant Jester, it gains 600 ATK (Jubilant Jester: 1800→2400). He then activates the effect of Cyberse Call in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon 1 Cyberse monster from his GY. He Special Summons Prisoner (1600/2100/5) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Coder and Prisoner to Link Summon Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler (1600/2/←→). As Prisoner was used to Link Summon Thrilled Tunneler, Morningstar adds Cyspirit Valkyrie from his Deck to his hand. While Jubilant Jester points to at least 1 monster, all "Cyspirit" monsters Morningstar controls gain 400 ATK/DEF (Jubilant Jester: 2400→2800) (Thrilled Tunneler: 1600→2000). Morningstar activates the effect of Teleporter in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon Dancer (1000→1400/200→600/2) from his GY in Attack Position. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Valkyrie (2100→2500/400→800/5) from his hand in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Dancer, Valkyrie, and Link-2 Thrilled Tunneler to Link Summon Cyspirit Neo Nova (2500→2900/4/←↖↗→) to Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker. As Dancer was used to Link Summon Neo Nova, it gains 600 ATK (Neo Nova: 2900→3500). Morningstar activates Coder's effect in the GY, banishing it and targeting Neo Nova. Until the end of the turn, Neo Nova is treated as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating. Zahhak activates his Set Quick-Play Spell Card Cydemon Unity, which lets him Link Summon 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster using "Cydemon" monsters he controls as material. Zahhak uses Bishop, Duke, and Knight to Link Summon Cydevil Covetous Leviathan (2500/3/↙↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. Unity's second effect activates, letting Zahhak target and negate the effects of 1 card Morningstar controls until the end of the turn. He targets Neo Nova. While Covetous Leviathan is on the field, linked monsters cannot declare an attack. Morningstar Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.
Turn 5: Zahhak
Zahhak draws. He Normal Summons Cydemon Rook (1800/600/4). As he has at least 3 "Cydemon" monsters in his GY and it points to no monsters, Zahhak activates Covetous Leviathan's effect, targeting Neo Nova. Neo Nova is equipped to Covetous Leviathan, and Covetous Leviathan gains ATK equal to Neo Nova's original ATK (Covetous Leviathan: 2500→5000) (Jubilant Jester: 2800→2400). Morningstar activates his Set Trap Card Cyspirit Emergence, which lets him banish 1 monster from Zahhak's GY and increase the ATK of 1 "Cyspirit" monster he controls by that monster's Level times 200. He banishes Knight from Zahhak's GY and targets Jubilant Jester (Jubilant Jester: 2400→3600).
Covetous Leviathan attacks and destroys Jubilant Jester (Morningstar: 1800→400 LP). Rook attacks Morningstar directly, but Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Battler in his hand, Special Summoning it (1500/700/4) in Attack Position. A replay occurs and Rook attacks and destroys Battler (Morningstar: 400→100 LP). As Battler was destroyed by battle, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his GY to his hand. He adds Prisoner from his GY to his hand. Zahhak ends his turn.
Turn 6: Morningstar
Morningstar draws. As he has 1000 or less LP, he activates his Skill, Hurricane Heavensgate, and adds Cyspirit Martial Mameluke from the Data Storm to his Extra Deck. As there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Prisoner (1600/2100/5) in Attack Position. He then Normal Summons Cyspirit Archer (1500/0/4). He activates Archer's effect, targeting Prisoner and letting him change Prisoner's Level to between 1 and 6. He changes Prisoner's Level to 4 (Prisoner: 5→4). Morningstar overlays Archer and Prisoner to Xyz Summon Cyspirit Martial Mameluke (2800/2300/4) to the Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. As Martial Mameluke was Xyz Symmoned using only "Cyspirit" monsters as material, all cards in Zahhak's Spell & Trap Zones are returned to their owners' Decks. Neo Nova is returned to Morningstar's Extra Deck, and Avaritia and Shrine are returned to Zahhak's Deck (Covetous Leviathan: 5000→2500).
Martial Mameluke attacks Covetous Leviathan. As it is attacking a Special Summoned monster, Martial Mameluke's effect activates, and Morningstar detaches 1 Overlay Unit (Martial Mameluke: 2 OU→1 OU) to increase Martial Mameluke's ATK by Covetous Leviathan's ATK during damage calculation (Martial Mameluke: 2800→5300). Zahhak attempts to activate the effect of Cydemon Bishop in his GY, but Martial Mameluke's effect prevents him from targeting monsters on the field with card effects during the Battle Phase. The attack continues, and Zahhak activates Cydemon Rook's effect. As his monster would be destroyed by battle, he can destroy Rook instead (Zahhak: 4000→1200 LP) (Martial Mameluke: 5300→2800). Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Archer in his GY, targeting Martial Mameluke. By banishing Archer, Martial Mameluke can make a second attack during each Battle Phase this turn. Martial Mameluke attacks Covetous Leviathan. Morningstar activates Martial Mameluke's effect, detaching 1 Overlay Unit (Martial Mameluke: 1 OU→0 OU) (Martial Mameluke: 2800→5300). Martial Mameluke destroys Covetous Leviathan, but Zahhak activates the effect of Rook in his GY, reducing the battle damage to 0 (Martial Mameluke: 5300→2800). At the end of the Battle Phase, Rook's effect Special Summons itself (1800/600/4) in Attack Position, but it will be banished when it leaves the field. Morningstar ends his turn.
Turn 7: Zahhak
Zahhak draws. He activates the effect of Cydemon Pawn in his GY to Special Summon 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster from his GY with its effects negated. He Special Summons Covetous Leviathan (2500/3/↙↓↘). Zahhak uses Rook and Link-3 Covetous Leviathan to Link Summon Cydevil Prideful Helel (3000/4/←↙↘→) to the Extra Monster Zone. As it left the field, Rook is banished. As it points to no monsters and Zahhak has at least 4 DARK Cyberse monsters in his GY, he activates Prideful Helel's effect, targeting Martial Mameluke. All other cards Morningstar controls are banished until his next Standby Phase, and Morningstar cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of this effect. Morningstar's Set Cyspirit Battle Barrier is banished.
During the Battle Phase, Prideful Helel's ATK becomes double its original ATK (Prideful Helel: 3000→6000). Prideful Helel attacks and destroys Martial Mameluke (Morningstar: 100→0 LP). Zahhak wins.
Cydemon Pawn
Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 600 DEF 600 Level: 1
Once, while this card is in your GY: You can target 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster in your GY; Special Summon it with its effects negated. If there is at least 1 "Cydemon" monster in your GY, this card gains the following effect:
-Once while this Normal Summoned card is face-up on the field: You can draw cards equal to the number of DARK Cyberse monsters in your Main Monster Zone. You cannot add cards from the Deck to your hand for the rest of this turn after this card resolves.
Cydemon Rook
Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1800 DEF 600 Level: 4
Once, while this card is in your GY: You can reduce 1 instance of battle damage to 0, and if you do, Special Summon this card to your field at the end of the Battle Phase, but banish it when it leaves the field. If there is at least 1 "Cydemon" monster in your GY, this card gains the following effect:
-If your monster, except "Cydemon Rook", would be destroyed by battle, you can destroy this card instead. You can only activate this effect of "Cydemon Rook" once per turn.
Cyspirit Archer
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1500 DEF 0 Level: 4
Once per turn: You can target 1 "Cyspirit" monster you control; change that monster's Level to between 1 and 6 until the end of the turn. You can banish this card from your GY and target 1 "Cyspirit" monster you control (Quick Effect); it can make a second attack during each Battle Phase this turn. You can only activate this effect of "Cyspirit Archer" once per turn.
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Xyz/Effect] ATK 2800 DEF 2300 Rank: 4
2 Level 4 Cyberse monsters
If this card is Xyz Summoned using only "Cyspirit" monsters as material: You can return all cards in your opponent's Spell & Trap Zone to their owners' Decks. You can only activate this effect of "Cyspirit Martial Mameluke" once per turn. When this card attacks an opponent's Special Summoned monster: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; this card gains ATK equal to the current ATK of the opponent's monster it is battling during damage calculation only. During the Battle Phase, your opponent cannot target monsters on the field with card effects.
Cydevil Prideful Helel
Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 3000 LINK-4 ←↙↘→
2+ DARK Cyberse monsters
The effects of all linked monsters your opponent controls are negated. Once, while this card is in your GY: You can target up to 2 "Cydemon" monsters in your GY; Special Summon them in Defense Position. If you have 4 or more DARK Cyberse monsters in your GY and this card points to no monsters, this card gains the following effects:
-During the Battle Phase, this card's ATK becomes double its original ATK. Once per turn: You can target 1 monster your opponent controls; banish all cards your opponent controls, except the targeted monster, also other monsters you control cannot attack. Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to this effect's activation. During your opponent's next Standby Phase, place any card(s) banished by this card's effect in the same Zone it was in when it was banished.
Cydemon Avaritia Continuous Trap Card
Your opponent cannot target DARK Cyberse monsters you control with card effects. If there is a monster in the Extra Monster Zone: "Cydemon" Spell/Trap Cards you control cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects. If there are no "Cydemon" monsters in your GY, destroy this card.
Cydemon Sacrifice Normal Spell Card
Tribute 1 "Cydemon" monster you control; add 1 "Cydemon" monster with a different Level from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate "Cydemon Sacrifice" once per turn.
Cydemon Unity Quick-Play Spell Card
Immediately after this effect resolves, Link Summon 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster using "Cydemon" monster(s) you control as material, and if you do, you can target 1 card your opponent controls; negate that card's effects until the end of the turn. You can only activate "Cydemon Unity" once per turn.
Cyspirit Emergence Normal Trap Card
Target 1 "Cyspirit" monster you control and 1 monster in your opponent's GY; banish the second target and increase the first target's ATK by that monster's Level x 200 until the end of the turn. You can only activate "Cyspirit Emergence" once per turn.
Chapter Preview
Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 44 – The Girl with the Cyangels. Morningstar has lost. Enraged at their friend's defeat, Playmaker, Soulburner, and Cassiel confront Zahhak, challenging him to duel them. The unintimidated Enforcer accepts their challenges, when…
Question of the Chapter
Which Hidden Memories original archetype do you wish would be made into a real world Deck the most?
Author's Notes
I wonder how many of you saw that ending coming. How many thought it would be a no result or a draw. But no; Morningstar has lost to Zahhak. I feel confident enough to say that Zahhak is, without a doubt, the strongest duelist in Hidden Memories season 2. Overcoming him will be a major challenge for our protagonists.
Thank you to SakushiRyu and sanedimentio for helping me with Morningstar's first Xyz Monster. Further thanks to the former for offering feedback on Cydemon Pawn's and Rook's appearances. But I didn't tell anyone about Prideful Helel's existence. No, that I wanted to be a surprise. And for anyone who's curious about Helel, or the history of the mamelukes, you can always Google them; I'm not your theology or history teacher.
Now, I hate to say this, but there's a chance that the next updates might be late. Not because of video games this time; I was installing a new PSU into my desktop and my SSD started acting up. I'm not sure if I'll be able to fix it or if I'll have to buy a new one. Until then, I'll be making do with my laptop. Thankfully, this won't impact my work too much; hooray for OneDrive and Dropbox! Hopefully, I'll be able to fix this soon, but my luck isn't always good.
That depressing speech aside, let me talk about Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS.
The ending of VRAINS
I'll split this into two parts: My opinion on VRAINS' last few episodes and my opinion on VRAINS as a whole.
I loved Ai's and Playmaker's duel. The action and moves were top-notch, the fight between Firewall Dragon Darkfluid and The Arrival Cyberse was amazing, and the ending between Dark Templar and Decode Talker was perfect. The emotions and reveals of the episodes were also heartbreaking, particularly what Ai revealed after he lost. He didn't turn against humanity because his existence would lead to their extinction; he did it because it would lead to Yusaku's death. On the one hand, it's touching that no matter how many turn against Ai, Yusaku would always stand by his side. On the other hand, watching Ai break down over his partner's and best friend's possible death is horrifying.
As for VRAINS as a whole, I loved this series. I do wish there had been less recap episodes and that season 3 had lasted longer, if for no other reason than to give more time and character development for characters like Aoi and Pandor. But then again, that's what fanfiction is for, right?
As for how VRAINS's ending will impact Hidden Memories, I'll just say this: that while season 3 might start out similarly to canon, it will eventually diverge and end way differently. This is partly because of the inclusions of Cypher and the Gold Ignis, but also because of Zahhak, Jester, and the one they serve. So I hope you guys look forward to what I have planned.
Thank you for reading Chapter 43 of Hidden Memories. I hope you enjoyed it.