Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories

by scififan599

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

51. Chapter 51: Correcting Mistakes

Responses to Reviews

Thank you to Good chapter, Jason, ZarcEternal, He Hai Liu, JaneValentine007, HunterHQ, Noobmaster, Anonymous, Unnamed, Unknown, savagemaster1999, D3lph0xL0v3r, Ozilla, Zeromk7, ThePLOThand, ThunderHawk101, Pikachu99, Nirvash Neo, FlameFireZero X, Ethan Kironus, Ambiguous, LazinessRules, Zero Shadow-01, Takeshp, Jai Lee, Cardgames on Pokemon, and Guests for reviewing Chapter 50.

Anonymous: Windy would get shredded. He may have the most control, but the Data Storm needs to reach a certain intensity before a Link-6 is even possible, and that intensity would shred even him. He would need numerous upgrades to pull it off successfully.

Thank you for the reviews, and I hope you enjoy Chapter 51!

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Chapter 51: Correcting Mistakes

In a black landscape, Morningstar and Zahhak stand back-to-back. The two walk away from each, Morningstar's eyes closed. His eyes then open and they both spin around, right arms raised. Their fists connect, generating a flash of light. When the light fades, Mirror LINK VRAINS is shown, with the title "Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories" overlaying it.

Yasutake, Sachi, and Masako are shown on one side of a picnic table, across from Yusaku, Takeru, and Aoi. Takeru talks animatedly and Masako laughs heartedly while the others lightly smile. At a nearby table, Cam and Emily are sitting and chatting with a standing Kusanagi, coffee and hotdogs in front of them. Back at the first table, Masako whispers in Sachi's ear while smirking, making the other girl blush as Yasutake and Aoi give her flat glates.

Kengo Dojun is standing in front of a grave that he places flowers on. Emma is off in the distance, holding her own flowers and watching with a frown. Yukaro is shown slumped over a hospital bed, his head in his hands and a wild look in his eyes. Akira is watching a monitor, his hands steepled and concern in his eyes. The monitor shows Go Onizuka strapped to a chair and performing an exercise. Hayami looks over Akira's shoulder nervously while Queen watches smugly in the background.

Takeshi and Katsumi appear standing outside an arcade, talking amicably with each other. Shizuka walks past them, listening to music on her headphones. She briefly stops and turns her head to look at them out of the corner of her eye, then turns and continues walking. At a nearby table, Kenshin, Ryoken, and Spectre are shown drinking coffee. Ryoken then smirks and raises his left hand. He snaps his fingers.

Morningstar and Playmaker appear, back-to-back, with Cyspirit Rapid Revolutionary and Decode Talker appearing behind them. They then spiral downward and are replaced by Cassiel and Soulburner, who have Cyseraph Blazing Uriel and Salamangreat Heatleo behind them. Heatleo fills the screen with orange flames, and when they dissipate, Blue Girl and Lilith appear, Trickstar Holly Angel and Magical Musket Mastermind Ottokar behind them. They are then replaced by Galahad and Persephone, Black Luster Soldier – Soldier of Chaos and Malacoda, Netherlord of the Burning Abyss behind them.

The screen cuts to the interior of a palace, where Bohman sits cross legged, his eyes closed. His eyes open and glow. Windy is then shown, wearing a cape and eyepatch, riding Stormridership Bahamut Bomber through Mirror LINK VRAINS. Far below him, in a field of flowers, Jin Kusanagi stands with Lightning as the Ignis raises his hand, a legion of Armatos Legio Centurions and Decurions forming behind him, with Armatos Legio Magnus Dux in the center. The screen pans to show Diana and Goldie across from the Light Ignis. The duo sweeps their right arms to the side as VirtuaBeast Cryptograph Chimera appears and roars.

Techbane and Sylphid are shown back-to-back in shadows, their heads lowered. Techbane raises his head to face a cloaked man, while Sylphid raises hers to face Thaumiel, anger in her expression. Galahad appears riding his D-Board and plays a card. Black Luster Soldier – Soldier of Chaos appears behind him. The screen changes to Go Onizuka, now much thinner with a blank look on his face with Dinowrestler King T Wrextle next to him. Soldier of Chaos's blade then meets King T Wrextle's fist, making sparks fly. Galahad's and Go's faces are shown over the monsters, with Galahad shouting while Go's face remains blank.

Spectre appears and smirks, Sunavalon Dryanome growing behind him and two Sunvine Thrashers on either side. Terminus takes his place, Subterror Behemoth Fiendess and a new Subterror Behemoth monster appearing behind him. The two monsters breathe blue flames and envelop the screen. When the flames dissipate, Revolver appears, Borreload Savage Dragon, Borreload Furious Dragon, and Borreload eXcharge Dragon behind him. The dragons roar and then glow with green, purple, and yellow energy.

A chain whips across the screen, before pulling back and reattaching the scythe top to its handle. Cydevil Prideful Helel swings its scythe down and connects with Cyspirit Savage Shogun's sword. Sparks fly as Morningstar and Zahhak are revealed on their D-Boards, facing each other with Morningstar's face set in a grimace. The screen changes to Cassiel, Cyseraph Guardian Michael with her, facing off against a cloaked man with a beard, who is supported by two women, the first in black robes and the second in purple and white robes and hat while also holding a staff.

Lilith and Terminus are then shown, back-to-back, their hands raised. They bring their hands down, and Magical Musket Sovereign Ottokar and Subterror Behemoth Fiendess appear and shoot blasts of energy and fire. The blasts impact, but when the smoke fades, Jester is shown unharmed. His mask then breaks, his face splitting into a sadistic grin as his Infinity Transformation takes hold. He raises his own arm as Life Force Trihexa forms behind him and roars.

Morningstar and Zahhak face off against each other in a field of flowers. The former raises his arm as Cyspirits Savage Shogun, Cosmic Crusader, and Martial Mameluke materialize behind him. The three Cyspirits then merge and form Cyspirit Superior Seraphim, who faces off against a massive twelve-winged figure wrapped in shadows.

Yasutake is then shown with Sachi, the two on a hill of grass and the former sleeping with his head in the latter's lap, a pine tree in the background. Sachi looks down on Yasutake's face, a loving smile on her face. Yasutake opens his eyes and both look upwards as the screen jumps to the sky and sun.

---

"W-What was that?" Cypher asked, looking down at Go Onizuka as he faced Earth. The man – who was a lot slimmer than he used to be – had performed something he called a Brain Hack and then Fusion Summoned.

"Go Onizuka, what did you do?" Playmaker asked.

"I can now see what you never will," Go responded as his eyes glowed orange. "Let me inform you. Playmaker, Morningstar, an AI has become part of my body!"

"What?" Morningstar blinked.

"C'mon!" Ai complained. "Don't tell me you implanted an AI in your brain?"

"Exactly," Go confirmed. "By implanting an AI in my brain, I have become one with an AI. I can now duel beyond mankind's capabilities."

"Become one with an AI?"

"Seriously?" Playmaker and Ai asked.

"I'm all for AI-human cooperation," Cypher said, his eyes narrowing in disgust. "But that's just sick!"

Morningstar's eyes narrowed. "Who came up with this idea? It doesn't seem like something Zaizen would do," he muttered.

"If I'm placed inside Go Onizuka's head, I'll become Ai Onizuka!" Ai speculated in horror.

"But can an AI and a human become one?" Playmaker asked skeptically.

"You don't believe me," Go said, continuing to speak in a monotone. "Then I'll show you in this duel."

"You're quite confident," Ai noted. "But Earth will win in the end!"

---

"Terminus…"

Thaumiel's voice echoed through the vast cavern, directed toward the man kneeling in the center. Behind him, Soulburner and Lilith stood hunched over, prepared to leap into action while Cassiel held an unconscious Sylphid in her arms.

"Terminus?" Soulburner whispered. "So that's-?"

"The last Knight of Hanoi," Flame whispered back. "And Lilith's uncle."

Terminus rose from his position and glared at Thaumiel. "It's been some time, hasn't it, Lilith?" he asked his niece, never taking his eyes off his enemy.

She started and then nodded slowly. "Yeah, it has. I tried to contact you when I first got back, but you didn't answer."

"Sorry. I've been busy for a while now." Terminus turned his head a little so he could look at the other teens. "Soulburner and Cassiel. And the Fire Ignis." He turned his head back. "Revolver intends to defeat you eventually. But I'm not here for you. I'm here for Thaumiel."

The other man looked up at the broken glass ceiling before looking back at Terminus. "I'm a little surprised you managed to break past that," he admitted softly. "But perhaps I shouldn't be; the Knights of Hanoi are good at what they do, if nothing else."

"Why are you here, Terminus?" Lilith asked. "I wasn't expecting you to be hunting Thaumiel too."

"We detected his signature in LINK VRAINS," Terminus explained. "I was familiar with it from our time working together during the Tower of Hanoi, and I knew you were searching for him yourself. Narrowing down his location from there was a simple affair."

His eyes narrowed. "As to why I'm here… I'm here to fix my mistake."

"Mistake?" Soulburner repeated.

Thaumiel broke out into a laugh. "Oh, this is rich!" he exclaimed. "You're the one who invited me to the Tower of Hanoi, so now you blame yourself for my actions?"

Cassiel's and Soulburner's eyes went wide as they stared at Terminus's back, while Lilith's eyes just narrowed.

"I invited you because I believed we needed more numbers to defend the Tower," Terminus responded. His mouth twisted into a grimace. "Had I known that Lilith was my niece and that she had a history with you… I never would have reached out to you."

"Oh, but you doing so worked out perfectly!" Thaumiel said in delight. "I finally got to indulge in my revenge, and I got to lead her on a merry chase across Japan. It got annoying toward the end, but I've had more fun the past three months than I've had the last two years!"

"Your fun ends now, Thaumiel," Terminus said. "Cassiel, Soulburner, Lilith, stand back. I will be his opponent."

Soulburner growled. "Hell no! After what he did to Sylphid, you think I'll just let you-!"

"I wasn't asking," Terminus interrupted. He pressed a button on his Duel Disk that formed a golden circle around him and Thaumiel.

"What?" Thaumiel looked around. "What is this? A Duel Lock?"

"Derived from the ones in Morningstar's Data Anchor and Lilith's pistols," Terminus confirmed, making his niece's eyes widen. "You and I aren't leaving this place. Nor will anyone else interfere with our duel."

Thaumiel laughed again. "Well, that's fine with me! Even if we worked together, I never liked your attitude. And punishing you will make Masako suffer even more, so it's a win-win for me!"

"We can't just leave this to him!" Cassiel protested, looking between Soulburner and Lilith.

"We don't have a choice," Flame said in disgust. "That Duel Lock is secure enough that I can't break it."

"Even so-."

"We don't have to worry," Lilith interrupted Soulburner. "Terminus is one of the strongest duelists I know; the only one he's ever lost to is Morningstar." Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not happy about it either, but I know he can defeat Thaumiel."

Terminus raised his arm, as did Thaumiel.

"Duel!"

Terminus: 4000 LP

Thaumiel: 4000 LP

"I'll take the first turn!" Terminus declared. "I activate the Field Spell Card: The Hidden City! When The Hidden City is activated, I can add a 'Subterror' monster from my Deck to my hand." He took the card, then played it. "I Set one monster. Then, I activate The Hidden City's effect! Once per turn, I can change a face-down Defense Position monster to face-up Attack or Defense Position. I change my Set Subterror Guru to Defense Position!" The card flipped over, revealing a blue-skinned fiend in gray and white robes wielding a large sword.

Subterror Guru ATK 1600 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Subterror Guru's Flip Effect activates! I now add a 'Subterror' card from my Deck to my hand. I Set two cards. I end my turn."

"A Flip Deck?" Flame mused.

"That's how the Subterror Deck works," Lilith said. "And it's a lot more powerful than you'd think."

"My turn! Draw!" Thaumiel declared. "Your Deck is troublesome Terminus, so I'll put an end to this quickly. I activate the Spell Card: Summoner's Art, which lets me add a Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Qliphort Monolith to my hand." Lilith's and Terminus's eyes narrowed. "It seems you realize what's happening next. With the Scale 1 Qliphort Monolith and the Scale 9 Qliphort Scout, I set the Pendulum Scale!" Two pillars of light appeared on either side of Thaumiel's field, one containing a large tablet with a crystal in the center and the other holding a green and yellow spaceship with a green crystal in the center.

Qliphort Monolith Scale 1

Qliphort Scout Scale 9

"Scout's Pendulum effect! Once per turn, I can pay 800 Life Points to add a 'Qli' card from my Deck to my hand."

Thaumiel: 4000→3200 LP

"With the set Pendulum Scale, I can Special Summon monsters between Levels 2 and 8 at the same time!" Thaumiel declared. "Pendulum Summon! Come forth, my servant! Qliphort Carrier!" A white airship with orange lines over its body appeared in Attack Position.

Qliphort Carrier ATK 2400 DEF 1000 LVL: 6 PS: 1

"Pendulum Summoning," Soulburner noted.

"A summoning method that allows one to Special Summon numerous monsters from the hand or Extra Deck at once," Flame said.

"But he only summoned one," Cassiel pointed out. "Why?"

"Since Carrier was Special Summoned, its Level becomes 4 and its original attack points becomes 1800."

Qliphort Carrier ATK 2400→1800 LVL: 6→4

"It's attack points and Level changed?" Cassiel said in surprise.

"That's how Thaumiel's monsters work," Lilith explained. "All of his Pendulum Monsters have an effect that changes their attack points and levels if they're Special Summoned." Her eyes narrowed. "They also all have effects that activate if they're Tributed or Tribute Summoned."

"Continuous Trap activate!" Terminus declared, surprising Thaumiel and their watchers. "Subterror Masonry!" The card showed multiple Subterror Fiendesses and Gurus standing in front of a large marble hall. "While Subterror Masonry is on the field, you cannot target my 'Subterror' monsters with card effects."

Thaumiel growled. "Carrier's effect lets it target and return a monster to the hand when it is Tributed," Lilith explained to Cassiel and Soulburner. "So Terminus just prevented him from using its effect."

"Clever," Soulburner said reluctantly.

"I activate the Equip Spell Card: Saqlifice!" Thaumiel declared. "And equip it to Carrier. While it's equipped, Carrier gains 300 attack points, cannot be destroyed by battle, and counts as two Tributes for a Tribute Summon."

Qliphort Carrier ATK 1800→2100

"I Tribute Carrier to Tribute Summon Qliphort Disk!" The airship was replaced by a circular ship with prongs on the bottom and a jewel atop its body.

Qliphort Disk ATK 2800 DEF 1000 LVL: 7

"When Carrier is Tributed, I can return a monster to the hand," Thaumiel continued. "But I don't think I will. Instead, I'll activate Saqlifice's effect! When it is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can add a 'Qli' monster from my hand to my hand." He gestured to his field. "Qliphort Disk's effect activates! When it is Tribute Summoned by using a 'Qli' monster, I can Special Summon two 'Qli' monsters from my Deck, but they'll be destroyed during the End Phase. Come, two copies of Qliphort Helix!" Two yellow and beige airships twisted into spirals appeared in Attack Position. "And as my Helixes were Special Summoned, their attack points become 1800 and their Levels become 4."

Qliphort Helix ATK 2400→1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 6→4 PS: 9 x 2

"I see," Terminus said. "So this is your plan. But it has a flaw."

"Oh? And what is that?"

"Your 'Qli' monsters are unaffected by the activated effects of monsters with lower original Levels," Terminus explained. "But not monsters with equal Levels. And it just so happens that Guru is Level 4." He gestured to his own field. "Guru's effect activates! I can change Guru and one other face-up monster on the field to face-down Defense Position. Normally, I can only activate this effect during my turn, but since I have another 'Subterror' card, in this case Subterror Masonry, I can use this effect during either turn. I'll change Guru and one of your Helixes to face-down Defense Position!" Thaumiel growled as one of his airships disappeared and was replaced by a Set card.

"Fine then…" Thaumiel seethed. "Battle! Helix attacks the Set Guru!"

"What?" Soulburner blinked. "But Helix's attack points are equal to Guru's defense points!"

Helix fired several lasers at the blue-skinned fiend as it was flipped face-up, but the fiend blocked them with its sword, rebounding the lasers into the walls. The watchers flinched as the walls shook, but the two duelists were unaffected.

Subterror Guru ATK 1600 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Why did he attack with Helix?" Cassiel wondered.

"Because of The Hidden City," Lilith explained. When the other two humans and Flame turned to her, she continued. "The Hidden City can negate an attack by flipping a face-down 'Subterror' monster face-up. If Thaumiel had used Disk, the attack would have been negated. This way, he can destroy it."

"Guru's Flip Effect activates!" Terminus declared. "I add Subterror Behemoth Umastryx from my Deck to my hand."

"That won't help you right now!" Thaumiel declared. "Qliphort Disk attacks Subterror Guru!" The circular ship fired more lasers at Guru, but Terminus only smirked as he pointed to his Set card.

"Trap activate!" he declared. "Subterror Final Battle!" Thaumiel flinched in shock. "This Trap Card lets me activate one of four effects, then it Sets itself back on my field. I choose the third effect; Guru's attack and defense points become equal to its combined attack and defense points until the end of the turn!"

Subterror Guru ATK 1600→3400 DEF 1800→3400

The lasers continued, but Guru swung his sword and deflected the lasers. More hit the walls, shaking the cavern, but a few struck back at Thaumiel, who growled in pain.

Thaumiel: 3200→2600 LP

Terminus's opponent growled. "Damn you… I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Monolith's Pendulum effect activates! I draw cards equal to the number of 'Qli' monsters I Tributed this turn." He drew a single card. "In addition, my face-up Helix is destroyed as it was Special Summoned by Disk's effect." The spiral airship disintegrated as Terminus frowned.

"Since it is the End Phase, Final Battle's effect comes to an end," he said.

Subterror Guru ATK 3400→1600 DEF 3400→1800

"Impressive," Flame said. "Terminus not only managed to block all of Thaumiel's attacks, but he even inflicted damage."

"The 'Subterror' Deck, if played right, has a very formidable defense," Lilith agreed. Her eyes narrowed. "But it has an even stronger offense."

"My turn! Draw!" Terminus declared. "I activate Subterror Masonry's effect! Once per turn, I can change a face-up 'Subterror' monster to face-down Defense Position. I reset Guru!" The blue fiend disappeared, and a Set card took its place. "And since a monster was flipped face-down while I control no other face-up monsters, I can Special Summon this card from my hand in face-up Defense Position. Come, Subterror Behemoth Umastryx!" Cassiel and Soulburner gasped as a massive four-legged lizard with black skin and blue lines on its body appeared and roared, making the cavern shake.

Subterror Behemoth Umastryx ATK 2000 DEF 2700 LVL: 7

"What the-?" Soulburner muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the gargantuan reptile. Lilith couldn't help but smirk; she'd had a similar reaction when she'd first seen Terminus's Subterror Behemoths.

"Umastryx's effect activates!" Terminus continued. "I change it to face-down Defense Position!" The large reptile disappeared, and a Set card appeared. "And since Umastryx was flipped face-down, I can now Special Summon Subterror Behemoth Stalagmo!" A new massive monster emerged in the cavern in Defense Position. This one was humanoid with wings and made of black rocks.

Subterror Behemoth Stalagmo ATK 2800 DEF 2100 LVL: 10

"Stalagmo's effect activates! I change it to face-down Defense Position!" The rock monster disappeared as a Set card joined the two previous ones. "I summon Subterror Nemesis Archer." A blonde woman in white carrying a massive bow and a quiver of arrows on the back of her hips appeared.

Subterror Nemesis Archer ATK 1600 DEF 1400 LVL: 4

"So this is your play?" Thaumiel asked derisively. "Three Set monsters and one with 1600 attack points? You'll need to do better than that."

"Then allow me to do so," Terminus replied. "I activate The Hidden City's effect! Once per turn, I can change a Set 'Subterror' monster to face-up Attack or Defense Position. I Flip Summon Umastryx!" The massive lizard from before reappeared and roared in Attack Position.

Subterror Behemoth Umastryx ATK 2000 DEF 2700 LVL: 7

"Umastryx's Flip Effect activates! I can now target and banish one of your monsters." Terminus smirked. "Disk's effect leaves it unaffected by the activated effects of monsters with a lower original Level or Rank. But Umastryx is the same Level: 7! I banish Disk from the field!" Umastryx's nose spun like a drill as it bore down on the circular spaceship, making it disintegrate and making Thamuiel growl. "That isn't the only Flip Effect I can use. I activate Subterror Masonry's effect! Once per turn, I can change a Set 'Subterror' monster to face-up Attack or Defense Position. I change the Set Stalagmo to face-up Attack Position!" The rock monster reappeared and roared, shaking the cavern.

Subterror Behemoth Stalagmo ATK 2800 DEF 2100 LVL: 10

"Stalagmo's Flip Effect activates! By discarding Subterror Nemesis Warrior from my hand, I now draw 2 cards."

Terminus drew as Thaumiel dipped his head in irritation. He only had the Set Helix, which had 1000 defense points. Compare that to Terminus's three face-up monsters, all in Attack Position and more than capable of destroying Helix.

"Battle!" Terminus declared. "Nemesis Archer attacks your Set monster!" His visible eye widened. "Nemesis Archer's effect activates! When it attacks your Set monster and I control another 'Subterror' monster, your monster is shuffled back into your Deck!" Nemesis Archer fired an arrow at the Set card, which warped into itself before it disappeared.

Thaumiel growled. "Trap activate! Subterror Final Battle! I activate the third effect and make Umastryx's attack and defense points equal to both combined!"

Subterror Behemoth Umastryx ATK 2000→4700 DEF 2700→4700

"4700 attack points?" Cassiel said in surprise.

"That's enough to end the duel in one attack," Flame noted.

Lilith frowned. "No. It won't be."

"Umastryx attacks you directly!" The reptile brought its head forward, its drilling nose aimed right at Thaumiel as the man gestured to his field.

"Trap activate!" he declared. "Mechanist's Defense!" The card showed several gray humanoid robots linking arms together in a chain. "Your direct attack is negated and the Battle Phase is ended!" The lizard's nose stopped inches from an unflinching Thaumiel and stopped spinning. Terminus's visible eye narrowed. "In addition, I can now Special Summon an Earth Link Monster from my Extra Deck and treat it as a Link Summon. Come, Qliphort Genius!" An oval dark brown machine appeared on the field at the right Extra Monster Zone. It had a central crystal but said crystal had been smashed and was now oozing shadows.

Qliphort Genius ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘

Terminus frowned as Cassiel and Lilith both grit their teeth. "I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Umastryx's attack and defense points return to normal."

Subterror Umastryx ATK 4700→2000 DEF 4700→2700

"That was close," Soulburner said angrily. "He almost had him!"

"My turn! Draw!" Thaumiel looked at his card, then at Terminus. "Alright. Enough testing the waters. It's time we both go all out."

Terminus smirked confidently. "I couldn't agree more."

"Wait," Cassiel said nervously. "Does that mean… they were both holding back?"

"I think we're about to find about," Flame assumed, crossing his arms.

"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Qlipped Wings!" The card showed Qliphort Carrier falling through the sky, smoke rising from multiple hull breaches. "While this card is on the field, you cannot activate cards or effects in response to the effects of my 'Qli' monsters, nor can you target them with card effects." The others present all gritted their teeth. "I activate Scout's Pendulum effect! I pay 800 Life Points to add Qliphort Shell to my hand."

Thaumiel: 2600→1800 LP

"Genius's effect activates! By negating the effects of one card on my field, I can negate the effects of a card on your field. I negate Scout's effects to negate The Hidden City's effects!" Terminus narrowed his eyes as the two cards grayed out on the field. "Now return to me, my servants! Pendulum Summon! Come, Qliphort Carrier and Qliphort Helix!" The orange and white airship and spiral airship reappeared in Attack Position at Genius's bottom-left and bottom-Link Markers.

"Since they've been Special Summoned, their attack points and Levels are reduced," Cassiel remembered.

Qliphort Carrier ATK 2400→1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 6→4 PS: 1

Qliphort Helix ATK 2400→1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 6→4 PS: 9

"Genius's effect activates! When two monsters are Special Summoned to its Link Markers at the same time, I can add a Level 5 or higher Machine monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add another Qliphort Disk to my hand. And now I activate the Field Spell Card: Laser Qlip! While Laser Qlip is on my field, the Normal Summons of 'Qli' monsters cannot be negated, and I can Normal Summon a 'Qli' monster in addition to my regular Normal Summon during the Main Phase."

"So he gets to bring out two of them now?" Soulburner realized.

"And since he added Disk to his hand…" Lilith trailed off in understanding.

"I activate Subterror Masonry's effect!" Terminus suddenly declared. "I change the Set Guru to face-up Defense Position!" The robed blue fiend with a sword reappeared.

Subterror Guru ATK 1600 DEF 1800 LVL: 4

"Guru's Flip Effect activates! I add Subterror Behemoth Dragossuary to my hand." Terminus then gestured to his field. "Guru's additional effect activates! I change it and another face-up monster to face-down Defense Position!"

"Thanks to Qlipped Wings, you can't target my monsters," Thaumiel reminded him.

"But I can target my own," Terminus countered. "I change Stalagmo to face-down Defense Position." The large rock monster and blue fiend disappeared, their places taken by two cards.

Thaumiel grunted. "That won't change what happens next. I Tribute Carrier and Helix to Tribute Summon Qliphort Disk!" Another circular ship appeared on Thaumiel's field.

Qliphort Disk ATK 2800 DEF 1000 LVL: 7 PS: 1

"The Tributed Helix's effect activates! I can destroy a Spell or Trap Card on the field. I'll destroy Subterror Masonry." The Trap Card shattered at his words. "The Tribute Summoned Disk's effect activates! From my Deck, I Special Summon a second Carrier and a third Helix!" Another copy of the orange and white airship and another spiral airship appeared, both in Attack Position.

Qliphort Carrier ATK 2400→1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 6→4 PS: 1

Qliphort Helix ATK 2400→1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 6→4 PS: 9

"I activate the effect of Laser Qlip!" Thaumiel continued. "I Tribute Carrier and Helix to Tribute Summon Qliphort Shell!" The two monsters disappeared, and their place was taken by a large violet top with fins on the sides.

Qliphort Shell ATK 2800 DEF 1000 LVL: 8 PS: 9

"The effects of the Tributed Carrier and Helix activate!" Thaumiel declared. "I can return a monster to your hand and destroy a Spell or Trap Card on the field. I return the Set Stalagmo to your hand and destroy your Set Final Battle!" Terminus grit his teeth as the two cards disappeared. "Shell's monster effect! When it is Tribute Summoned using a 'Qli' monster, it can attack twice during the Battle Phase and inflict piercing battle damage!"

"This is bad," Lilith said warningly.

"Trap activate!" Terminus declared. "Subterror Succession! I activate one of two effects, then reset Subterror Succession. I activate the first effect. By sending a monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard, I can add a Flip monster from my Deck to my hand with the same Attribute. I send Dragossuary to the Graveyard to add Subterror Behemoth Gravigorgon from my Deck to my hand."

"That won't change how much this part will hurt," Thaumiel growled. "Qliphort Shell attacks your Set Guru! Merciful Concealment!" The monster fired numerous red lasers into Terminus's Set monster. Terminus grunted as he was pushed back a foot.

Terminus: 4000→3000 LP

"Now, Shell will attack Nemesis Archer! Merciful Concealment!" More lasers struck out and destroyed the female archer, making Terminus growl as he was pushed back further.

Terminus: 3000→1800 LP

"Looks like shutting down that barrier turned off Thaumiel's pain inducer at least," Flame said, noting that Terminus wasn't as in much pain as Sylphid had been in.

"Nemesis Archer's effect activates!" Terminus declared. "When it is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a 'Subterror' monster from my Deck in face-up or face-down Defense Position. I Set Subterror Behemoth Stalaktide."

Thaumiel grunted as a new Set card appeared on Terminus's field. "That matters not. Shell's attacks are done, but Disk can still attack. Disk attacks Umastryx!" This time, the circular ship fired lasers, and these ones struck down the large reptile and made Terminus wince.

Terminus: 1800→1000 LP

"I think that's enough punishment. I Set two cards," Thaumiel said. "I end my turn, and Genius's effect ends. Furthermore, during the End Phase, Monolith's effect activates, and I draw four cards."

Thaumiel drew, then chuckled. "I admit, your Deck is more troublesome than that bounty hunter's. Then again, you are a Knight of Hanoi; I shouldn't have expected anything less."

"Me being a Knight of Hanoi has nothing to do with why I'm here," Terminus said. "I'm here because you're a sick individual who needs to be put down." His eyes narrowed. "You've hurt a great many people, Thaumiel. The Knights of Hanoi have as well, but our actions were done with a goal in mind. You're just creating mindless chaos."

"Oh? So it's justice you're after?" Thaumiel chuckled again. "Given your circumstances, I would have thought you'd be here for vengeance. After all… don't you want revenge on your brother's killer?"

Terminus's eye widened as Lilith, Cassiel, Soulburner, and Flame gasped.

"His brother's killer?" Flame repeated.

"But for Thaumiel to know that-," Soulburner started

"There's no way," Cassiel muttered. Lilith's eyes narrowed as her teeth and fists clenched.

Thaumiel laughed maniacally. "I know who you are, remember Kenshin Hirai? And I know all about your brother." He leaned forward and pointed to his face. "That's right! I'm the one who killed Hitomu Hirai!"

---

"Nothing?"

Persephone shook her head mournfully. "She won't respond to my messages. And there's no sign of her in LINK VRAINS."

Galahad sighed. "I can understand missing a few meetings; family stuff coming up or something. But this is too much. Something's obviously happened to Nebula."

Persephone frowned and nodded. "Do you think she was attacked?"

"Maybe. But by who?" Galahad looked out over LINK VRAINS. He and Persephone had gone to the outer islands, looking for Persephone's protégé, but so far they'd found nothing.

Maybe I should ask Morningstar for help, Galahad mused. But I have no idea on how to reach him. Hmm. He seemed friendly with Blue Angel. Maybe I could ask her…

His thoughts were interrupted as he saw a Speed Duel go by in the distance, with two D-Boards following it. Speed Duels weren't uncommon out here. But the participants…

Galahad's eyes widened. "That's-!"

"What?" Persephone said, turning to look at her boyfriend, only to blink as he summoned his D-Board and sped off. "W-Wait, Galahad!"

---

"Anti-Skill?" Cypher said in surprise, his eyes blinking. He was staring at Go Onizuka, who had negated Earth's Skill Rock You with his own Skill, Anti-Skill.

"That Skill never existed before," Ai noted. "Seems he really has become one with an AI."

"That's why his appearance has changed," Playmaker said.

"A Skill like that is exceedingly dangerous," Morningstar said with a grimace.

"Playmaker! Morningstar!" The duo turned as someone came up to them from behind.

"Blue Girl!" Ai said, surprised. The girl in question looked ahead at the duel.

"It's the Earth Ignis and Go Onizuka," she noted. "I heard what's going on. I don't intend to fight either of you. My priority is to protect the Ignis."

Playmaker and Morningstar nodded. "But Earth wants to settle this in a duel," Ai told her.

"What's the duel status?"

"Earth has the advantage," Playmaker said. "But the outcome of this duel is still undetermined."

"Onizuka has a Skill that negated Earth's Skill," Morningstar said, making Blue Girl's eyes widen.

"That's-!"

"Morningstar!"

The three turned and gasped as two new people came up to them.

"You're…" Morningstar's eyes widened. "Galahad? Persephone?"

"The Charisma Duelists?" Cypher realized. "What are you two doing here?"

"We were looking for someone," Persephone answered. She turned to look at her partner, only to see him staring at the duelists. She turned as well and her eyes widened. "That's-!"

"Go?" Galahad said in shock. "Go Onizuka?!"

The man turned around. "Galahad. Persephone. It's been some time."

"Some time-? What the hell happened to you?!" Galahad shouted. "You look horrible! And what's with that blank look of yours?!"

"I have ascended to a new level," Go answered. "I have risen above humanity."

"Above humanity?" Galahad repeated. "The hell does that mean?"

"Go Onizuka has had an AI implanted into his brain," Playmaker said, making the two Charisma Duelists' and Blue Girl's eyes widen.

"What?" Galahad said. "An AI chip?" He turned back to his friend. "There's no way! Go wouldn't do something that stupid! Tell me Playmaker's lying, Go!"

"He is not," Go confirmed. "I needed to become stronger, and now I have risen to a level beyond all of you. Once I deal with the Earth Ignis, I will face Playmaker."

"You may have sealed my Skill," Earth interrupted. "But you lost your ace monster and have few Life Points left. I'll protect Crystal Heart and defeat you!"

Go turned back to his opponent. "Your style… It's like looking at my past self. Fine. I'll show you the difference in our powers!"

---

"Thaumiel killed Hitomu Hirai?" Cassiel repeated in shock.

"That bastard," Soulburner growled.

Thaumiel laughed. "Well, Terminus? What do you have to say? You've been waiting for this moment, haven't you? Don't you have something to say to your brother's killer?"

"…Do you honestly expect me to believe such a ridiculous lie?"

Thaumiel stopped laughing as those words exited Terminus's mouth. Cassiel, Lilith, and Soulburner turned to look at the man and saw he held an unamused smirk. "I don't know who killed my brother eight years ago, but I know it wasn't you. After all…" His smirk widened. "He died in Tokyo. And you were in Miyazaki at the time… Kaizo Takakura."

Thaumiel's body stiffened at Terminus's words. "Don't. Call. Me. That," he growled, his voice low.

"Kaizo Takakura?" Flame repeated.

Lilith's eyes narrowed. "Uncle, what is that name?"

"Issei Kamakura's birth name," Terminus answered. "Though he hasn't gone by it for some time. About six years, right Kaizo?"

"Don't call me that!" Thaumiel shouted. "That is not my name!"

"It's the name your mother gave you. Before she dumped you at that orphanage." Terminus smirked at the seething man. "I investigated your past. And I found out quite a bit. You were born Kaizo Takakura-."

"Stop saying that name!"

"-to Aiko Takakura," Terminus continued unabated. "A drug addict who tried selling you to the local Yakuza for drug money. When they refused, she was found two weeks later, dead of an opium overdose, her infant son crying away. You were taken to the Miyazaki orphanage, where you stayed until you were twelve, when you disappeared. That was six years ago, wasn't it Kaizo?"

"That isn't my name!" Thaumiel shouted. The mask hid his face, but everyone could tell he was practically frothing at the mouth. "My name is Issei Kamakura! It's the name I chose! I have no attachment to that bitch anymore!"

"Like it or not, your parents always have influence over you," Terminus said, his expression unchanging. "Either through their DNA, their behavior, or even their deaths." His eye narrowed. "I found out about your behavior when you were at that orphanage Thaumiel. And you know what I found? Disappointment."

Thaumiel growled as Terminus continued. "You were a piece of work. You would threaten the other kids, pick fights with them, hurt animals you came across, and you'd place the blame for these things on other kids."

The older man smirked. "You speak of chaos being the reality of the world, of how others are fake, but those are just words. Excuses you give to explain your behavior. The truth Thaumiel… is that you are a bully. You demean and decry others for no other reason than to appease your own ego. You don't have lofty ideals or a cause; you just enjoy causing pain for others, Kaizo."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Thaumiel roared. His voice immediately dropped back down. "For that Terminus, I am going to end you. Hurry up with your turn so I can PUT YOU IN THE GROUND!"

"Woah," Lilith muttered, staring at the disturbed Thaumiel with wide eyes. "I've never seen Issei that pissed."

Soulburner and Cassiel nodded in stunned agreement. "It seems all the Knights of Hanoi have a habit of pushing people's buttons," Flame mused, remembering what Ai had said of Revolver's actions during his duel with Windy.

"Have it your way. My turn! Draw!" Terminus pointed to his field. "I Flip Summon Subterror Behemoth Stalaktide!" A large dark blue beast covered in dark brown rocks appeared. It had a long forked tail and the head of a dragon and roared at Thaumiel.

Subterror Behemoth Stalaktide ATK 1900 DEF 2700 LVL: 10

"Stalaktide's Flip Effect activates! I target and destroy a Spell or Trap Card you control! I'll destroy your left Set card!" Thaumiel growled as said card disintegrated. Terminus raised an eyebrow on seeing what it was. "Re-qliate? That would have been problematic." The man gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Subterror Succession! I activate the second effect to send a Flip monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard and then add a monster with the same Attribute but a lower Level from my Deck to my hand. I discard Stalagmo to add Subterror Fiendess to my hand."

Terminus took the card then pointed to his monster. "Stalaktide's effect activates! I change it to face-down Defense Position! And since my monster was flipped face-down and I control no face-up monsters, I can Special Summon Subterror Behemoth Gravigorgon in Defense Position!" A large violet humanoid monster with a dragon's head and a tail but no legs appeared, the snakes around its head hissing in sync.

Subterror Behemoth Gravigorgon ATK 3200 DEF 1000 LVL: 12

"Gravigorgon's effect activates! I change it to face-down Defense Position! Then, I activate The Hidden City's effect, and change Gravigorgon to face-up Attack Position!"

Subterror Behemoth Gravigorgon ATK 3200 DEF 1000 LVL: 12

"Gravigorgon's Flip Effect activates! I can Special Summon a 'Subterror' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position, but it cannot change its battle position for the rest of the turn. Resurrect, Stalagmo!" The winged rock monster reappeared and roared.

Subterror Behemoth Stalagmo ATK 2800 DEF 2100 LVL: 10

Terminus raised his right hand. "Appear, our future circuit! The summoning conditions are two Flip monsters. I set Gravigorgon and Stalagmo in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the Link portal's bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Subterror Behemoth Fiendess!" A large violet and black dragon emerged from the portal. It wore black and white armor, its wings had black spines and pink membranes, and a mane of pink hair flowed back from its head. The dragon roared from the Extra Monster Zone.

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 2000 LINK-2 ↙↘

"Terminus's ace monster," Lilith muttered.

"Behemoth Fiendess's effect activates! Since it was Link Summoned, it gains attack points equal to the combined Levels of the 'Subterror' monsters used times 100. Gravigorgon was Level 12, and Stalagmo was Level 10, so it gains 2200 attack points!"

Subterror Behemoth Fiendess ATK 2000→4200

"A Link-2 monster that can reach 4200 attack points on its own?" Flame said in surprise.

"Terminus is just as strong as Morningstar said," Soulburner whispered, Cassiel nodding in agreement.

"Behemoth Fiendess's effect activates! By sending a Flip monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a monster from my hand in face-down Defense Position to its Link Marker. I send Subterror Behemoth Stygokraken to the Graveyard to Set Subterror Behemoth Phospheroglacier." A Set card appeared at Behemoth Fiendess's bottom-left Link Marker. "I activate the Spell Card: Book of Taiyou! This changes one Set monster to face-up Attack Position. I Flip Summon Phospheroglacier!" A massive draconian monster made of blue crystal with a green crystal in its chest appeared and roared.

Subterror Behemoth Phospheroglacier ATK 2600 DEF 2500 LVL: 8

"Phospheroglacier's Flip Effect activates! I send a card from my Deck to the Graveyard." Terminus took the card – Subterror Binding – and placed it in his Graveyard. "Behemoth Fiendess's additional effect activates! When a monster linked to it is flipped face-up, I can add a Flip Monster from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Subterror Guru to my hand."

Terminus pointed to his field. "Battle! Behemoth Fiendess attacks Qliphort Genius!" The dragon roared as blue flames started to gather in its mouth.

"The difference in attack points is 2400," Flame said. "Thaumiel's Life Points are 1800. If this attack hits, Terminus wins."

"Trap activate!" the still furious Thaumiel declared. "Impenetrable Attack! During the Battle Phase, I can either prevent a monster from being destroyed or take no battle damage. I choose to take no battle damage this turn!"

"Damn it!" Soulburner growled. "He'll survive the turn!"

Lilith smirked. "No," she said confidently. "He won't."

"I activate the effect of Subterror Fiendess in my hand!" Terminus declared. "When you activate a card or effect, I send Subterror Fiendess to the Graveyard and change Phospheroglacier to face-down Defense Position to negate the activation of your card!"

"What?!" Thaumiel practically screeched as his card shattered and Phospheroglacier disappeared.

"Yes!" Cassiel cheered with a smile. "Thaumiel can't block the damage!"

"Your madness ends here, Kaizo," Terminus said, making Thaumiel growl. "Go, Behemoth Fiendess! Final Extinction!" The dragon breathed blue fire at the blackened machine, enveloping it in flames before it exploded, covering the field in smoke.

"Did that do it?" Soulburner wondered aloud.

Evidently not, as when the smoke cleared, Thaumiel was still standing, unhurt, though still seething. "When my Machine Link Monster is attacked," he said slowly. "I can banish Mechanist's Defense from my Graveyard to reduce the battle damage to 0."

Terminus narrowed his eyes. "I see. No matter. I Set a monster. I activate the Spell Card: Vanished Remains." The card showed an empty grave filled with mist, with numerous people around it, staring at it in shock and horror. "During my next Standby Phase, I can add a Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. However, I must banish a card from my Graveyard right now." He took a card out of his Graveyard and it disappeared. "I end my turn."

---

"Stop! Don't do it!"

"This'll end it! Giga Savate Strike!" The dinosaur charged the crystalline heart, a leg extended. "This is how I duel when I'm one with an AI!" Go declared, a demented smile on his face. A smile that twisted Galahad's heart.

"Don't do it!"

The ones watching the duel – Playmaker, Morningstar, Blue Girl, Galahad, and Persephone – could only watch in horror and disgust as Crystal Heart shattered and Earth lost. The Ignis slumped forward in despair as his body broke apart into data that was absorbed by Go's Duel Disk.

"I captured the Earth Ignis," the man said smugly.

"No way…" Blue Girl whispered.

"What in the world?" Persephone muttered, her eyes wide.

Galahad grit his teeth. "Go…"

"Earth was captured," Ai said mournfully.

"Human!" Cypher shouted angrily, glaring at Go. "Let our friend go!"

"Free Earth, Go Onizuka!" Playmaker demanded. "That Ignis isn't the enemy!"

"I don't care whether he's an enemy or not," Go said indifferently. "I'm done warming up. You're next, Playmaker! I came here to defeat you."

"He fused with an AI to defeat Playmaker," Ai realized.

"But we fought together as allies!" Playmaker said.

"I don't care about that!"

"He really has changed," Ai said as Playmaker grit his teeth.

"Go, what's happened to you?" Persephone asked worriedly.

Galahad growled and then shouted, "TO HELL WITH THIS CRAP!"

The others turned to the furious youth. "Go, I don't know what this whole AI and Ignis thing is about," he said. "But you're my friend! You're the one who introduced me to LINK VRAINS! You're the one who taught me what dueling meant!" He clenched his fists and grit his teeth as he glared at the other man. "But now you've thrown that all away! And for what? For power? So you could beat Playmaker? To hell with that!" The man pointed at his friend. "You're not getting anyway near Playmaker! I'm going to kick your ass back into shape! I'm going to remind you of what you taught me! So prepare yourself, Go Onizuka! Because I'm going to be your opponent!"

Go narrowed his eyes as the others all stared at Galahad, but before he could respond, his body flickered, making them gasp.

Go looked at his hand. "It seems someone's butting in." He turned back to Playmaker. "I'll defeat you next time. Get ready." He then turned to Galahad. "Galahad. Don't interfere. This is your only warning." He was forcefully logged out after those words.

Blue Girl frowned. "He escaped."

Galahad clenched his fist. "Go…"

Ai fell to his knees. "Earth, just wait. I promise to save you!"

"We all will," Cypher agreed, his gaze set. Morningstar nodded with him.

"…What's going on?"

Morningstar, Playmaker, and Blue Girl all turned to Persephone, who was staring at them. "What is happening to Go?" she asked in concern. "I know he joined SOL Technologies to defeat Playmaker, but he… became that."

"…Yeah," Galahad added, having calmed down. "Why was he dueling that… Ignis? Is that what it was?" He turned to look Morningstar in the eye. "Morningstar, what's going on? What's happened to my friend?"

Playmaker and Morningstar shared a glance. They debated silently for a while and then nodded before turning back to the duo. "I'll explain," Morningstar promised. "At the very least, you deserve to know this much."

The five humans leapt off their D-Boards and landed on an island, with Morningstar turning to face Galahad and Persephone. "It all started ten years ago…"

---

"Terminus…" Thaumiel growled. "You've given me enough trouble; it's time I put an end to you! My turn! Draw!" He looked at his card and chuckled. "Perfect! This is the perfect monster to put an end to you!" He raised the card high. "This monster cannot be Normal Summoned or Set and can only be Special Summoned by shuffling ten other cards with different names from my hand and field into my Deck and Extra Deck!"

Terminus's eyes widened as Lilith, Cassiel, and Soulburner gasped. "Did he just say-?"

"There's only one monster with a summoning condition like that," Lilith said, interrupting Soulburner's question. "Oh no."

"From my field, I shuffle Qliphort Monolith, Qliphort Scout, Qliphort Shell, Qliphort Disk, Qlipped Wings, and Laser Qlip back into my Deck! From my hand, I shuffle Trap for Trap, Qlife's End, Qliphort Cephalopod, and Qlimate Change into my Deck!" Ten pillars of light materialized around Thaumiel's field, as did a white magic circle that encompassed all of them.

"The demon that resides in the network, let your power resound throughout the world and bring everyone to their knees!" Thaumiel chanted, his arms spread. "Come to me and become my servant! Tierra, Source of Destruction!"

Light erupted from the circle and made everyone close their eyes. A rumbling noise and great gusts of winds broke out, and when the light dimmed enough, they opened their eyes and gasped in shock.

The monster that had emerged was massive. It made even Terminus's Subterror Behemoths look small. It had four legs, similarly to Apoqliphort Towers except colored gold, and a long mechanical tail that wrapped all the way around the room. Its main body rose above its legs, and while it had no arms, it ten diamond-shaped wings, and a head with horns that curled upwards. Flames shot out of its back, chest, and head and took the shape of wings. A roar echoed through the arena as the monster stomped the ground in Attack Position.

Tierra, Source of Destruction ATK 3400 DEF 3600 LVL: 11

"T-Tierra?" Soulburner said.

"I've heard of this monster," Flame muttered, his eyes as wide as his partner's. "It's one of three monsters known as Star Gods. Very difficult to summon, but with effects that are incredibly powerful." Terminus grit his teeth.

"Tierra's effect activates!" Thaumiel declared. "When it is Special Summoned, all cards from our hands, fields, Graveyards, and Pendulum Monsters in our Extra Decks, are shuffled back into our Decks, except for Tierra! Violent Repulsion!" A shockwave spread outwards from the monster, disintegrating everything on the field. Cassiel, Lilith, and Soulburner watched in horror as Behemoth Fiendess and Terminus's Set cards all disappeared. When the wave stopped, Tierra was all that remained.

Thaumiel laughed. "This is the end for you, Kenshin Hirai!" he shouted. "Join your brother in oblivion! Tierra attacks you directly! Oblivion Ruin!" The orange markings on the monster's lower body lit up, as did its chest. Electricity arced across the fiend's body as its flaming wings blazed even hotter. An orb of fire gathered above the monster's chest and grew in size until it was the size of its entire upper body. It then quickly condensed to the size of a baseball before exploding outwards, straight toward Terminus.

The man himself closed his eye. "Thaumiel… you possessing this monster was a surprise. But… you are naïve!" His visible eye shot open as he gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of the banished Trap Card: Subterror Binding!"

"What?!"

The card showed Subterror Behemoth Ultramafus struggling and roaring against dozens of heavy steel chains that were holding it down in a massive pit. "By shuffling the banished Subterror Binding back into my Deck, I can Special Summon a Link-3 or lower 'Subterror' Link Monster from my Extra Deck with its effects negated. Come to me, Subterror Behemoth Stalagmatrix!" A large draconian monster wearing black rock armor over its body and wings appeared and roared from the right Extra Monster Zone.

Subterror Behemoth Stalagmatrix ATK 2700 LINK-3 ↙↑↘

Thaumiel growled. "Then that one will pay the price!" The beam of fire struck Stalagmatrix, and though the monster resisted, it was eventually destroyed, releasing a massive cloud of smoke that filled the entire cavern, leaving Cassiel, Soulburner, and Lilith coughing. The smoke soon cleared out however, revealing Terminus forced to one knee, though still in the game.

Terminus: 1000→300 LP

Thaumiel growled. "I suppose your punishment will have to wait for next turn. I end my turn."

Terminus grimaced as he pushed himself to his feet. He swayed for a bit before steadying himself and frowning at Thaumiel.

"You and I are not so different," he said to his opponent. "We have both done terrible things in the past. We have both had family taken away from us."

"That bitch wasn't my family," Thaumiel said venomously. "She never was."

Terminus smirked. "And there is the start of our differences. As I said, we've both done terrible things. But I did those things because I believed they were in service to a greater good, that they were necessary for the future. You… you're just a sadistic bully throwing a temper tantrum."

Thaumiel growled. "You really think you can insult me like that? You have no cards on your field or in your hand, and Tierra has 3400 attack points. What good can one card do?"

"Let's find out. My turn! Draw!" Terminus drew and smirked on seeing his card. "You are correct, Thaumiel. One card isn't enough to win." His smirk widened. "But three is."

"What? Three?"

"Since I activated Vanished Remains last turn, I can now add a Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand," Terminus reminded him as he took the card from his Deck. "But before I activate it, I'll activate the Field Spell Card: The Hidden Colony. When this card is activated, I can add a 'Subterror' monster from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Subterror Behemoth Dragossuary to my hand."

Terminus's smirk widened again. "And now I activate the Spell Card: Subterror Fusion!"

"What?!"

"Fusion?" Cassiel and Soulburner gasped.

The card had a swirling green background, with Subterror Guru and Subterror Nemesis Warrior, colored blue and yellow respectively, circling around a vortex. "This allows me to use monsters from my hand or field to Fusion Summon a 'Subterror' Fusion Monster."

"You can't do that!" Thaumiel shouted. "You only have one monster in your hand!"

"I do," Terminus conceded. "But if there are no monsters in the Extra Monster Zones, I can also banish a 'Subterror' monster from my Graveyard as material as well." Thaumiel gasped. "I fuse Dragossuary in my hand with Stalagmatrix in my Graveyard!"

The two monsters briefly appeared on the field before breaking apart into red and blue data. The particles swirled into a vortex before surging upwards as tornados that merged into a single violet tornado. "The ancient terrors that reside in the dark," Terminus chanted, "rise to the surface as a new power! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 8! Subterror Behemoth Hydrossuary!"

The dragon that emerged from the whirlwind had light blue skin covered in armor made of white stone. It stood on its rather large hind legs while its forearms were much smaller. A long tail trailed behind it and the wings that spread to either side of its body were dark blue in color with bone-white spines. Dark blue fins with light blue membranes were attached to the dragon's head, and its eyes glowed blue as it roared from the right Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position.

Subterror Behemoth Hydrossuary ATK 3000 DEF 2200 LVL: 8

"Terminus Fusion Summoned!" Flame said in surprise.

"He's gotten even stronger than he was before," Lilith muttered.

Thaumiel clenched his fists. "Terminus…" he hissed.

"Hydrossuary is far more than a Fusion Monster," the Knight of Hanoi said. "It's also a Flip Monster."

The watchers blinked. "A Fusion Flip Monster?" Soulburner said in surprise.

"Hydrossuary's effect activates! I change it to face-down Defense Position!" The dragon disappeared as a Set card appeared. "I activate the effect of The Hidden Colony! Once per turn, I can change a Set 'Subterror' monster to face-up Attack or Defense Position. I change Hydrossuary to Attack Position!" The white and blue dragon reappeared and roared.

Subterror Behemoth Hydrossuary ATK 3000 DEF 2200 LVL: 8

"Hydrossuary's Flip Effect activates! When it is Flip Summoned, its attack points become equal to double its original attack points until my next Standby Phase!" Thaumiel gasped.

Subterror Behemoth Hydrossuary ATK 3000→6000

"6-6000 attack points?!"

"Goodbye, Thaumiel," Terminus said, his eye narrowing. "Your madness ends here. Battle! Hydrossuary attacks Tierra! Terminal Destruction!" White flames gathered in the dragon's maw as it reared its head back. It brought its head back down, releasing the blaze right at Tierra. The blast struck it in the chest, but the flames soon spread to the rest of the machine, causing small explosions to break out over the monster's body before it disintegrated in a single massive explosion that shook the entire cavern. Thaumiel cried out as the shockwave of the attack knocked him off his feet and sent him crashing into the far wall, creating a dust cloud. When the dust settled, Thaumiel was laying on his stomach, defeated.

Thaumiel: 1800→0 LP

"Amazing…" Cassiel whispered.

"So this is Terminus's full power," Soulburner muttered.

Lilith only narrowed her eyes. Until she heard a gasp.

She spun around to look at Cassiel, who watched in shock as Sylphid's comatose avatar finally disappeared.

"The logout prevention program's been terminated," Flame confirmed. "Sylphid's logged out and returned to the real world."

Cassiel breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."

Terminus walked up to his prone opponent. Grunting in effort, Thaumiel raised his head, his mask falling to the ground, cracked in two. The younger man's brown eyes glared up at the older man hatefully, who stared indifferently back.

"You'll pay for this, Terminus," he growled.

"I doubt that very much, Kamakura," his opponent said as he raised his Duel Disk. "I could take your consciousness data, but that will undoubtedly be a temporary measure." His visible eye narrowed. "So instead I'll erase your account and ban your access to LINK VRAINS entirely. This is the end of Thaumiel."

The man glared at him, but then looked upwards and chuckled. "Oh, I doubt that very much." His face split into a gleeful smile. "This is just the beginning."

CRACK

Terminus and the others all gasped and stepped back as a bolt of red lightning came down from the sky and struck Thaumiel. The man laughed crazily as his body disintegrated until there was nothing left, at which point the lightning finally faded.

Everyone stared at where the man had been. "What was-?"

Cassiel's question was interrupted by a shaking. Terminus's eyes widened. "This hideout is about to be deleted!" he warned them. "We need to get out!" The others, eyes as wide as his, all nodded in agreement and ran for the exit.

---

"Wait." Galahad stared flatly at Morningstar. "Just… let me get this straight. Ten years ago, you, Playmaker, and six other children were kidnapped and experimented on. Those experiments created the Ignis, eight artificial intelligences with free will that the Knights of Hanoi want to destroy. And now, two of those Ignis have declared war on humanity, while three are on your side, two are neutral, and the last one was just captured by Go."

Morningstar nodded. "Pretty much."

"And on top of that," the man continued, his voice not changing its tone, "there's another organization out there that wants the Ignis called Ouroboros, but you know absolutely nothing about them other than the fact that they're really strong."

Cypher nodded. "Yep. That about summarizes it."

"…"

Galahad sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Don't take this the wrong way," he said slowly, "but that sounds like the plot of some contrived sci-fi slash action anime."

"That's one way to put it," Persephone deadpanned, her own disbelief apparent. "I was thinking it sounded more like some absurd fanfiction."

Galahad winced. "Please don't mention fanfiction. I have enough trouble staying away from that stuff." He lowered his hand and looked from Morningstar to Playmaker and then back again. "Well, if that's how things stand, then I'm going to help you."

Playmaker frowned. "That's not a good idea," he warned. "Our enemies are extremely dangerous."

"Not to mention that helping us will put you at odds with SOL Technologies," Cypher pointed out. "Is that something you're prepared for?"

Galahad smirked. "That's the reason I want to help you." On seeing their confusion, he scowled. "I'll be blunt; I don't care about fighting AI, and I don't have much reason to go against some evil organization I've never heard of. But my friend is destroying himself. I can't let him do that to himself." He closed his eyes and sighed. "When Go left the Charisma Duelists, I thought of chasing after him, but I decided not to. I convinced myself he would be alright, that I didn't have to worry." He opened his eyes and stared out across LINK VRAINS. "But now SOL has turned him into that. His state of mind, what he's become; it's my fault."

"Galahad," Blue Girl muttered, frowning to herself.

"You couldn't have known this would happen," Persephone gently reminded her boyfriend.

"Maybe not, but I abandoned my friend when he needed me most. What right do I even have to call myself his friend after that?" He turned back to Playmaker and Morningstar. "Like I said, I don't care about the Ignis. But I do care about Go. Will you help me save him?"

They glanced at each other and then nodded. "Go Onizuka was an ally against the Hanoi," Playmaker said. "We'll help you save him from himself."

"…I'll help too," Persephone decided. "Where Galahad goes, I go. Also, I need a favor from you."

Morningstar raised an eyebrow. "From us?"

She nodded. "Galahad and I have been looking for a friend of mine. She hasn't responded to my messages and she hasn't been seen in LINK VRAINS for days. I'm afraid she's gone missing."

"What's your friend's name?" Blue Girl asked concernedly.

"Nebula."

Morningstar stiffened at the name, which didn't go unnoticed by the others. "You know something?" Persephone asked tensely.

The former bounty hunter frowned. "I do. Back when I dueled Zahhak, he held someone's consciousness data hostage in order to force me to duel. He identified it as belonging to Hana Adachi, or Nebula."

Persephone stilled. "Zahhak, the one who defeated you," she said softly, "has Nebula's consciousness data?"

"He said she challenged him. And lost."

Persephone closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. "Very well." She opened her eyes. "I am absolutely helping you fight this war. To free Nebula. And to punish Zahhak for what he did."

Ai shivered. "She's… scary."

---

Cassiel, Lilith, Soulburner, and Terminus watched as Thaumiel's hideout collapsed and then disintegrated, making it so it seemed that it had never even existed.

Terminus frowned. "That's disappointing," he said. The others turned to him. "I had hoped to see whatever research Thaumiel had going on. But it seems he took precautions."

"Do you know what he was working on?" Lilith asked, only for her uncle to shake his head.

"No. And that worries me." Terminus turned to leave.

"Wait, Terminus!" He turned his head to glance at Cassiel. "Thank you for helping us with Thaumiel. But there's something else we need your help with." Her eyes narrowed. "Have you heard of a group called Ouroboros?"

"…"

Terminus fully turned, staring at Cassiel. "Where did you hear that name?" he asked solemnly.

"Goldie – the Gold Ignis – told me and Morningstar about them. She said Zahhak and Jester belonged to the group."

"So you've heard of them, uncle?" Lilith asked.

He was silent for a while before nodding. "I have come across that name before, but this isn't the place to discuss such things." He raised a hand to interrupt their protests. "I'll send a message later. We can speak more then."

Cassiel and Lilith opened their mouths to object, but he logged out before they could say anything.

"Well that was helpful," Lilith grumbled.

"As a Knight of Hanoi, he is supposed to be our enemy," Flame reminded them. "Just because he fought with us once doesn't make him an ally."

Cassiel sighed. "True." She turned towards the sole male human among them and frowned. "Soulburner? Is something wrong? You've been quiet."

"What?" the duelist blinked before looking back to where Thaumiel's hideout had been. "Sorry, it's just…" His frown deepened. "The lightning strike that made Thaumiel disappear. It was red, wasn't it?"

"Yes? What does-?" Cassiel's eyes widened in realization. "Red… lightning? Y-You don't think…?"

"…I hope not," Soulburner whispered.

---

"Ugh…"

Thaumiel groaned as he pushed himself to his knees.

"You need better control over your temper."

He turned his head to look at the black-and-red armored man that stood over him. And chuckled.

"I wasn't expecting Terminus to know about my past," he said defensively. "How would you have reacted, Zahhak?"

"I would not have lost control; I am not ashamed of my past," the man countered before offering a hand. Thaumiel took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"Well that was interesting to watch." They turned as Jester walked up to them. The three men stood inside a large hall with white floors, the high ceiling held up by black and white pillars. The walls were covered in paintings, except for the walls above two doors on opposite ends of the hall. Above those doors, a serpent in the shape of an infinite symbol sat. "Where either of you expecting one of SOL's bounty hunters to find the lab?"

"No," Thaumiel grumbled, Zahhak shaking his head as well. "I don't know how she managed that. She probably just got lucky."

"It was not luck."

The three men turned as another man entered from the near door. He wore white and purple robes and had swept back dark blue hair and red eyes behind a pair of spectacles.

"Luck is a word used by others to downplay their achievements. Or to divert attention away from their true methods."

"Jormungand," Thaumiel said. "It's been a while."

The man smiled. "That it has, Enforcer No. X."

"You think Sylphid had help?" Zahhak asked. The Ignis-turned-human nodded.

"It is the most logical conclusion. I doubt it was from Playmaker's group; they would have arrived before if that was so. The same is true of the Knights of Hanoi. No…" Jormungand frowned. "No, I sense the Gold Ignis's hand in this."

Zahhak lowered his head. "Then we'll keep an eye on Sylphid. See if she leads us to her."

Jormungand turned to Thaumiel. "That aside, has the project been completed?"

"Almost," Thaumiel said, crossing his arms. "I've managed to reduce the VR Inducer's size to the point you can hold it in one hand, and I've increased the range to about 100 meters. But that still isn't enough."

"It's enough that you can complete the work here instead of that specialized laboratory; it is a good thing the Knights of Hanoi did not interrupt the data transfer. How much longer do you need?"

"Another few days should be enough."

"Excellent. Once you are done, you are to join Jester and Zahhak on their mission of aiding the Light Ignis."

"May I ask a question?" Jester interrupted.

"You may," Jormungand nodded.

"Why are we working with the Light and Wind Ignis? We could easily capture them now."

"I do not doubt that, but that would be an incomplete victory." Jormungand smiled as he placed a hand on Jester's shoulder. "Be patient, my friend. The first stage of the Final Ascension Plan is moving ahead on schedule. All you need to do now is wait; the pieces will fall into place on their own."

"Merlin is arriving soon, isn't he?" Zahhak asked.

The Divine Ignis nodded. "Tomorrow, in fact. He had a proposal that I've authorized, but that will require only his own strength. For now, Thaumiel needs to finish his work on the VR Inducer. Jester, Zahhak, the two of you need to return to Lightning and assure him of our cooperation. Make sure to inform him of our reinforcements; he's already jittery and I don't want to risk anything."

The two men nodded. "Understood, Third Anguis."

---

Yasutake, Sachi, and Masako walked down the street. "You're sure it's this one?" The former asked, looking at the café on the corner.

Masako nodded. "It's the one my uncle mentioned in his message."

"It's hard to believe we're meeting a Knight of Hanoi in reality," Cypher whispered from Yasutake's Duel Disk. "I know you have history with him, but even so…"

"He might have information we need," Yasutake said. "And I don't think he'll try anything in the real world; so far Revolver has kept our conflict to the network. I don't see that changing any time soon."

After rendezvousing in LINK VRAINS, they had shared information. On Go's capture of Earth, of Galahad and Persephone joining them, of Terminus's defeat of Thaumiel. And of him knowing about Ouroboros.

Shortly after they logged out, Masako got a message from Kenshin giving her the address of a café, as well as a request she bring Yasutake and Sachi with her. The duo had in turn decided to bring Cypher with them, despite the possible dangers.

"This does look like a nice place," Masako said, looking over the café and its outdoor seating. Then she gave Sachi a sly look. "Maybe you two should have a date here someday. At least here you won't have Cam looking over your shoulder."

"M-Masako," Sachi objected, her cheeks red. For his part, Yasutake looked at Masako out of the corner of his eye, an eyebrow raised.

What is she up to? he wondered. Even after getting to know her, he found he still didn't understand her thought processes that well.

Then his eyes turned forward and narrowed. "There he is." The two girls with him turned and saw what he saw: a middle-aged man wearing a light gray suit sitting at an outdoor table, nursing a cup of coffee.

Masako frowned. "Right. Let's get this over with."

The trio approached the table and Kenshin turned to look at them. He smiled on seeing them.

"It's good to see you again, Masako," he said. "I know things have been… awkward, but I'm glad you're in good health."

She smiled back, hiding her own awkwardness. "You too. You look a lot better than when I left."

"I've had three months of introspection and spending time with my son; I found those to be very good mood lifters." He looked at the other two. "It's been a while, Narahiko, but I'm genuinely glad you're here. And you must be Sachi Junpei." He frowned. "For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry for what Dr. Kogami, myself, and my friends did to you. I know it probably means little, but we do regret what we did."

"…Thank you," Sachi said softly. "For whatever it's worth, I believe you."

He smiled gratefully and gestured to the other seats. "Come, sit down. Order what you want; it's on me. Though I wouldn't recommend the ham and eggs; they taste of despair apparently."

"Really?" Cypher piped up, remaining an eye in the Duel Disk. "How does that work? How does food taste like despair? And why you would eat it if it did?"

"Evidently it's popular with artists and writers in this part of Den City." Kenshin narrowed his eyes at the Duel Disk. "The Silver Ignis. I had wondered whether you would be part of this."

"You have a problem with that?"

"No. Right now, my comrades and I are focusing on the more dangerous enemy."

"Lightning."

Kenshin nodded at Yasutake. "Indeed. While the Knights of Hanoi will eventually come after you for the Dark, Fire, and Silver Ignis, we know you have no immediate plans to act against humanity. The Light and Wind Ignis, on the other hand, do. Until they're eliminated, we have a truce."

"It's not just those two Ignis though, is it?" Masako asked with a frown. "There's also Ouroboros."

"Ah, yes. Them."

Yasutake frowned at Kenshin's pensive expression. "What do you know about them?"

"Not much, I'm afraid. I've come across that name before a few times, mostly when I was investigating Thaumiel." Kenshin frowned. "From what I understand, they're a group of scientists and researchers that have existed for several decades. I don't know when they started; earliest estimates suggest some time after the second World War, while later guesses place their foundation during the early twenty-first century."

"Whoever they are, they have powerful backers," Cypher piped up. "And they must have some connection to the Lost Incident, given their interest in me and my friends."

"I agree." Kenshin nodded. "I haven't found anything concrete about them; only rumors. But I saw what Jester did in your duel with him, as well as your duel with Zahhak and Miss Junpei's duel with that AI duelist." Sachi frowned. "I can't tell you anything about their goals and plans, only that they have an interest in the Ignis and your Decks. They seem to be the wild card in this conflict."

"Do you think we can stop them?" Masako asked.

"Without knowing what their end goal is? I do not know." Kenshin sighed. "For now, I would suggest focusing on the Light Ignis; he is at least, a known entity."

"…I can see the logic in that," Cypher admitted. "Before that, we need to-."

GASP

The four humans turned to look at the Ignis, who had suddenly gone wide-eyed. "Cypher?" Yasutake asked. "What is it?"

"I-I don't know," the Silver Ignis said hesitantly. "I… I just felt something. Something I've never felt before."

"Never felt before?" Sachi repeated in concern.

"Yes. It felt like… like something had been severed. Cut to pieces."

"Cut up?" Kenshin repeated. He jumped a bit when his phone buzzed. He reached into his pocket, unlocked his phone and read the message he'd just received. "Oh. Oh no."

"What?" Masako asked. "What is it?"

Kenshin looked up at them gravely. "That was Revolver," he muttered. "SOL Technologies has… done something terrible."

---

Terminus vs. Thaumiel

This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.

Turn 1: Terminus

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

Turn 2: Thaumiel

Thaumiel draws. He activates the Spell Card Summoner's Art, which lets him add 1 Level 5 or higher Normal Monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Qliphort Monolith to his hand. Thaumiel activates the Scale 1 Qliphort Monolith and the Scale 9 Qliphort Scout in his Pendulum Zones. Thaumiel activates Scout's effect, paying 800 LP to add 1 "Qli" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Saqlifice to his hand (Thaumiel: 4000→3200 LP). Thaumiel Pendulum Summons Qliphort Carrier (2400/1000/6/1) from his hand in Attack Position. As Carrier was Pendulum Summoned, its Level becomes 4 and its original ATK becomes 1800 (Carrier: 2400→1800/6→4). Terminus activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Subterror Masonry. While Subterror Masonry is on the field, Thaumiel cannot target Terminus's "Subterror" monsters with card effects. Thaumiel activates the Equip Spell Card Saqlifice and equips it to Carrier. Carrier gains 300 ATK, cannot be destroyed by battle, and can be treated as 2 Tributes for the Tribute Summon of a "Qli" monster (Carrier: 1800→2100). Thaumiel Tributes Carrier to Tribute Summon Qliphort Disk (2800/1000/7/1). As Saqlifice was sent from the field to the GY, Thaumiel can add 1 "Qli" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Qliphort Shell to his hand. As Disk was Tribute Summoned by using a "Qli" monster as Tribute, Thaumiel can Special Summon 2 "Qli" monsters from his Deck, but they are destroyed during the End Phase. He Special Summons 2 copies of Qliphort Helix (2400/1000/6/9 each), both in Attack Position. As they were Special Summoned, both Helix's Levels become 4 and their original ATK becomes 1800 (Helix: 2400→1800/6→4 each). Terminus activates Guru's effect, targeting the 1st Helix, and changing Helix and Guru to Set Defense Position.

Helix attacks Guru, but its ATK is equal to Guru's DEF, so Guru isn't destroyed. As Guru was Flip Summoned, its effect activates, and Terminus adds Subterror Behemoth Umastryx from his Deck to his hand. Disk attacks Guru, but Terminus activates his Set Trap Card Subterror Final Battle, choosing to activate its 3rd effect, targeting Guru. Until the end of the turn, Guru's ATK/DEF becomes equal to its combined original ATK and DEF (Guru: 1600→3400/1800→3400). Final Battle is then Set instead of being sent to the GY via its effect. The attack continues, and Guru isn't destroyed (Thaumiel: 3200→2600 LP). Thaumiel Sets 1 card. He ends his turn. During the End Phase, Monolith's Pendulum effect activates, letting Thaumiel draw cards equal to the number of "Qli" monsters he Tributed for Tribute Summons this turn. Thaumiel draws 1 card. The face-up Helix is destroyed via Disk's effect. Final Battle's effect ends (Guru: 3400→1600/3400→1800).

Turn 3: Terminus

Terminus draws. He activates Subterror Masonry's effect, targeting Guru and changing it to face-down Defense Position. As Terminus's face-up monster was flipped face-down and he controls no face-up monsters, he activates the effect of Subterror Behemoth Umastryx in his hand, Special Summoning it in Defense Position (2000/2700/7). He then activates Umastryx's effect, changing itself to face-down Defense Position. As Terminus's face-up monster was flipped face-down and he controls no face-up monsters, he activates the effect of Subterror Behemoth Stalagmo in his hand, Special Summoning it in Defense Position (2800/2100/10). Terminus activates Stalagmo's effect, changing itself to face-down Defense Position. Terminus Normal Summons Subterror Nemesis Archer (1600/1400/3). Terminus activates the effect of The Hidden City, targeting the Set Umastryx and changing it to face-up Attack Position (2000/2700/7). As Umastryx was Flip Summoned, its effect activates, letting Terminus target and banish 1 monster Thaumiel controls. Terminus banishes Disk. Terminus then activates the effect of Subterror Masonry, letting him change 1 Set "Subterror" monster to face-up Attack or Defense Position. He changes the Set Stalagmo to face-up Attack Position (2800/2100/10). As Stalagmo was Flip Summoned, its effect activates, letting Terminus discard 1 "Subterror" monster to draw 2 cards. He discards Subterror Nemesis Warrior and draws.

Nemesis Archer attacks the Set Helix. As Nemesis Archer attacked a Set monster and Terminus controls another "Subterror" monster, Helix is shuffled back into Thaumiel's Deck. Terminus activates his Set Trap Card Final Battle, targeting Umastryx and choosing the 3rd effect (Umastryx: 2000→4700/2700→4700). Umastryx attacks Thaumiel directly, but Thaumiel activates his Set Trap Card Mechanist's Defense, which negates Umastryx's direct attack and ends the Battle Phase. Thaumiel can then Special Summon 1 Earth Machine Link Monster from his Extra Deck and treat it as having been Link Summoned. He Special Summons Qliphort Genius (1800/2/↙↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Terminus Sets 1 card. He ends his turn, and Final Battle's effect ends (Umastryx: 4700→2000/4700→2700).

Turn 4: Thaumiel

Thaumiel draws. He activates the Continuous Spell Card Qlipped Wings, which prevents Terminus from activating cards or effects in response to the activation of the effects of Thaumiel's "Qli" monsters, as well as preventing Terminus from targeting them with card effects, but if Thaumiel .does not control at least 1 "Qli" card in his Pendulum Zone, Qlipped Wings is destroyed. Thaumiel activates Scout's effect, paying 800 LP to add Qliphort Shell to his hand (Thaumiel: 2600→1800 LP). He activates Genius's effect, targeting Scout and The Hidden City and negating their effects until the end of the turn. Thaumiel Pendulum Summons Carrier (2400→1800/1000/6→4/1) and Helix (2400→1800/1000/6→4/9) from his Extra Deck to Genius's bottom-left and bottom-right Link Markers respectively, both in Attack Position. As 2 monsters were Special Summoned to Genius's Link Markers at the same time, Thaumiel can add 1 Level 5 or higher Machine monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds a 2nd Disk from his Deck to his hand. Thaumiel activates the Field Spell Card Laser Qlip, which prevents the Normal Summoning of "Qli" monsters from being negated. Terminus activates the effect of Subterror Masonry, targeting Guru and changing it to face-up Defense Position (1600/1800/4). Guru's Flip Effect activates, and Terminus adds Subterror Behemoth Dragossuary from his Deck to his hand. Terminus activates Guru's effect, targeting Stalagmo. Guru changes itself and Stalagmo to face-down Defense Position. Thaumiel Tributes Carrier and Helix to Tribute Summon Qliphort Disk (2800/1000/7/1). As Helix was Tributed, Thaumiel can target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field. He targets and destroys Subterror Masonry. The Tribute Summoned Disk's effect activates, and Thaumiel Special Summons a 2nd Carrier (2400→1800/1000/6→4/1) and a 3rd Helix (2400→1800/1000/6→4/9) from his Deck in Attack Position, but they will be destroyed during the End Phase. Thaumiel activates the effect of Laser Qlip, allowing him to Normal Summon 1 "Qli" monster in addition to his Normal Summon/Set. He Tributes Carrier and Helix to Tribute Summon Qliphort Shell (2800/1000/8/9). The Tributed Carrier's and Helix's effects activate, letting Thaumiel target and return 1 monster on the field to the hand and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field. Thaumiel returns Stalagmo to Terminus's hand and destroys the Set Final Battle. As Shell was Tribute Summoned by Tributing a "Qli" monster, it can make a second attack during each Battle Phase and inflict piercing battle damage. Terminus activates his Set Trap Card Subterror Succession, and activates its 1st effect to send 1 monster from his hand or face-up field to the GY and then add 1 Flip monster from his Deck to his hand with the same Attribute, but a different name, as the sent monster. Terminus discards Dragossuary and adds Subterror Behemoth Gravigorgon from his Deck to his hand. Subterror Succession is then Set instead of being sent to the GY via its effect.

Shell attacks and destroys Guru (Terminus: 4000→3000 LP). Shell attacks and destroys Nemesis Archer (Terminus: 3000→1800 LP). As Nemesis Archer was destroyed and sent to the GY, its effect activates, letting Terminus Special Summon 1 "Subterror" monster from his Deck in face-up or face-down Defense Position. He Special Summons Subterror Behemoth Stalaktide in face-down Defense Position. Disk attacks and destroys Umastryx (Terminus: 1800→1000 LP). Thaumiel Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn, and Genius's effect ends. During the End Phase, Monolith's effect activates, and Thaumiel draws 4 cards.

Turn 5: Terminus

Terminus draws. He Flip Summons Stalaktide (1900/2700/10). As Stalaktide was Flip summoned, its effect activates, letting Terminus target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card Thaumiel controls. He targets and destroys Thaumiel's Set Re-qliate. Terminus activates his Set Trap Card Subterror Succession and activates its 2nd effect to send 1 Flip Monster from his hand to add 1 monster from his Deck with the same Attribute but a lower original Level to his hand. He discards Stalagmo and adds Subterror Fiendess to his hand. Subterror Succession is then Set instead of being sent to the GY via its effect. Terminus activates Stalaktide's effect, changing it to face-down Defense Position. As Terminus's monster was flipped face-down and he controls no face-up monsters, he activates the effect of Gravigorgon in his hand, Special Summoning it (3200/1000/12) in face-up Defense Position. Terminus activates Gravigorgon's effect, changing it to face-down Defense Position. Terminus activates the effect of The Hidden City, targeting and changing Gravigorgon to face-up Attack Position (3200/1000/12). As Gravigorgon was Flip Summoned, its effect activates, letting Terminus Special Summon 1 "Subterror" monster from his GY in face-up Defense Position, but it cannot change its battle position this turn. He Special Summons Stalagmo (2800/2100/10). Terminus uses Gravigorgon and Stalagmo to Link Summon Subterror Behemoth Fiendess (2000/2/↙↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Behemoth Fiendess was Link Summoned, it gains ATK equal to the combined original Levels of the "Subterror" monsters used for its Link Summon x 100 (Behemoth Fiendess: 2000→4200). Terminus activates Behemoth Fiendess' effect to send 1 Flip monster from his Deck to the GY and then Special Summon 1 monster from his hand in face-down Defense Position to Behemoth Fiendess' Link Marker. He sends Subterror Behemoth Stygokraken to the GY and Sets Subterror Behemoth Phospheroglacier at Behemoth Fiendess' bottom-left Link Marker. Terminus activates the Spell Card Book of Taiyou, which lets him change 1 Set monster to face-up Attack Position. He changes Phospheroglacier to face-up Attack Position (2600/2500/8). As Phospheroglacier was Flip Summoned, Terminus can send 1 card from his Deck to the GY. He sends Subterror Binding to the GY. As a monster linked to Behemoth Fiendess was flipped face-up, Terminus can add 1 Flip monster from his Deck or GY to his hand. He adds Subterror Guru to his hand.

Behemoth Fiendess attacks Qliphort Genius. Thaumiel activates his Set Trap Card Impenetrable Attack and chooses to take no battle damage this turn. As Thaumiel activated a card or an effect, Terminus activates the effect of Subterror Fiendess in his hand, discarding it and targeting Phospheroglacier. The activation of Impenetrable Attack is negated, and Phospheroglacier is changed to face-down Defense Position. As his Earth Machine Link Monster is being attacked, Thaumiel activates the effect of Mechanist's Defense in his GY, banishing it to reduce the battle damage to 0. The attack continues and Qliphort Genius is destroyed. Terminus Sets 1 monster. He activates the Spell Card Vanished Remains, which lets him banish 1 card from his GY, and during the Standby Phase of his next turn, Terminus can add 1 Spell/Trap Card from his Deck to his hand. Terminus banishes Subterror Binding from his GY. Terminus ends his turn.

Turn 6: Thaumiel

Thaumiel draws. By shuffling Qliphort Monolith, Qliphort Scout, Qliphort Shell, Qliphort Disk, Qlipped Wings, and Laser Qlip on his field back into his Deck, along with Trap for Trap, Qlife's End, Qliphort Cephalopod, and Qlimate Change in his hand back into his Deck, he Special Summons Tierra, Source of Destruction (3400/3600/11) in Attack Position. As Tierra was Special Summoned, all cards from each player's hand, field, Graveyard, and face-up in the Extra Deck, except Tierra, are shuffled back into the owners' Decks, and neither player can activate cards or effects in response.

Tierra attacks Terminus directly, but he activates the effect of the banished Subterror Binding, shuffling it back into his Deck to Special Summon 1 Link-3 or lower "Subterror" Link Monster from his Extra Deck with its effects negated. He Special Summons Subterror Behemoth Stalagmatrix (2700/3/↙↑↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. A replay occurs, and Tierra attacks and destroys Stalagmatrix (Terminus: 1000→300 LP). Thaumiel ends his turn.

Turn 7: Terminus

Terminus draws. During his Standby Phase, the effect of Vanished Remains activates, and Terminus adds Subterror Fusion from his Deck to his hand. Terminus activates the Field Spell Card The Hidden Colony. As The Hidden Colony was activated, Terminus can add 1 "Subterror" monster from his Deck or GY to his hand. He adds Subterror Behemoth Dragossuary from his Deck to his hand. Terminus activates the Spell Card Subterror Fusion, which lets him Fusion Summon 1 "Subterror" Fusion Monster using monsters from his hand or field as Fusion Material. As there are no monsters in the Extra Monster Zone, Terminus can also banish 1 "Subterror" monster from his GY as Fusion Material. Terminus fuses Dragossuary in his hand and banishes Stalagmatrix from his GY to Fusion Summon Subterror Behemoth Hydrossuary (3000/2200/8) to the right Extra Monster Zone in Attack Position. Terminus activates the effect of Hydrossuary, changing itself to face-down Defense Position. He then activates the effect of The Hidden Colony to change the Set Hydrossuary to face-up Attack Position (3000/2200/8). As Hydrossuary was Flip Summoned, its effect activates, doubling its ATK until Terminus's next Standby Phase (Hydrossuary: 3000→6000).

Hydrossuary attacks and destroys Tierra (Thaumiel: 1800→0 LP). Terminus wins.

---

Terminus:

Subterror Behemoth Hydrossuary (name credit to ThePLOThand)
Attribute: EARTH Type: [Zombie/Fusion/Flip/Effect] ATK 3000 DEF 2200 Level: 8
2 "Subterror" monsters
FLIP: This card's ATK becomes equal to double this card's original ATK until your next Standby Phase.
If this card is Fusion Summoned using "Subterror Behemoth Dragossuary" as Fusion Material: You can activate this effect; until the end of the turn, "Subterror" cards you control cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects. When a face-up monster you control is flipped face-down, if you control no face-up monsters: You can Special Summon this card from your GY in face-up Defense Position. Once per turn: You can change this card to face-down Defense Position.

Subterror Masonry Continuous Trap Card
Your opponent cannot target "Subterror" monsters you control with card effects. You can activate each of the following effects of "Subterror Masonry" once per turn:
- You can target 1 face-down "Subterror" monster you control; change it to face-up Attack or Defense Position.
-You can target 1 face-up "Subterror" monster you control; change it to face-down Defense Position.

Subterror Binding Normal Trap Card
When this card is activated: Banish it and target 1 "Subterror" Link Monster you control; return that monster to your Extra Deck, and until the end of the turn, monsters your opponent controls with ATK equal to or lesser than that monster's original ATK cannot declare an attack or activate their effects. You can shuffle this banished card back into your Deck; Special Summon 1 Link-3 or lower "Subterror" Link Monster from your Extra Deck with its effects negated. You can only activate 1 effect of "Subterror Binding" per turn, and only once per turn.

Vanished Remains Normal Spell Card
Banish 1 card from your GY; during your next Standby Phase, add 1 Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate 1 "Vanished Remains" per turn.

Subterror Fusion Normal Spell Card
Fusion Summon 1 "Subterror" Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Material. If there are no monsters in the Extra Monster Zone, you can also banish up to 1 "Subterror" monster from your GY as Fusion Material. You can banish this card from your GY; activate 1 of the following effects.
-Change 1 face-up "Subterror" monster on the field to face-down Defense Position.
-Change 1 Set "Subterror" monster on the field to face-up attack or Defense Position.
You cannot activate this effect of "Subterror Fusion" the turn this card is sent to the GY.

Thaumiel:

Mechanist's Defense Normal Trap Card
If an opponent's monster declares a direct attack: Negate that attack and end the Battle Phase, then Special Summon 1 EARTH Machine Link Monster from your Extra Deck, and treat it as having been Link Summoned. The monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects. If your EARTH Machine Link Monster is attacked by your opponent's monster: You can banish this card from your GY; reduce the battle damage you take from this battle to 0. You cannot activate this effect the turn this card is sent from your field to the GY.

Qlipped Wings Continuous Spell Card
Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of the effects of your "Qli" monsters, also your opponent cannot target "Qli" monsters you control with card effects. If you do not control at least 1 "Qli" card in your Pendulum Zone: Destroy this card. You can only control 1 "Qlipped Wings".

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Chapter Preview

Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 52 – Recruitment. In the wake of Earth's defeat, Morningstar and his team search for Aqua, only for Blue Girl to find her. While Ghost Girl fends off an enraged Blood Shepherd, Blue Girl finds herself in her own battle. But this isn't the only conflict; Enforcer No. V, Merlin, has arrived in Den City. And he has set his sight on a certain young man…

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Question of the Chapter

In the Kiseki video games, the Enforcers of Ouroboros have a title for themselves. For example, McBurn, the Almighty Conflagration or Shirley the Sanguine Ogre. What do you think would be good titles for Zahhak, Jester, and Thaumiel?

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Author's Notes

This chapter had a lot of stuff in it. I'll start with Galahad and Persephone. Those two are the unexpected guests that found Go's duel with Earth, and they had a pretty intense reaction to the new Go. Or at least Galahad did. And now they know about the Ignis War and Zahhak taking Nebula's consciousness data, so they've joined up with Playmaker's team. Will this go until Go's defeat or will they join for Mirror LINK VRAINS? Wait and watch.

But the meat of this chapter is Terminus vs. Thaumiel. They both use control Decks, so it was an interesting duel to write for sure. Thank you to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC and SakushiRyu for giving me feedback on the duel. We had Thaumiel use Tierra, Source of Destruction, which is both a reference to its appearance being composed of the Qli monsters, and as a callback to Chapter 24, where Terminus defeated Sophia, Goddess of Rebirth. We also got to see Terminus's Fusion Monster, which is the very first Fusion Flip Monster somehow. Why does he get Fusion? Because it's the summoning method that fits the Subterror Deck best after Link Summoning.

And now we have the reveal of Issei Kamakura's- sorry, Kaizo Takakura's past. At first he said he killed Hitomu Hirai, which is a lie, of course. That was eight years ago, and Issei is eighteen. But then Terminus revealed the truth: that Issei is the son of a dead drug addict who was raised in an orphanage until he was twelve, when Kaizo disappeared and Issei emerged. While he was at the orphanage, he was a bully and thug. I know I said I wanted Thaumiel to be hated, and I hope I succeeded. Just as I hope all of you felt as cathartic as I did watching Terminus rip him apart with words and then through dueling.

Two things left. First, the reveal: Thaumiel is Enforcer No. X of Ouroboros. They are the ones who sprung him from prison and the ones backing him. A few of you guessed he was part of the group, but I still hope this was a surprise. Sadly, this means Thaumiel is still around. But don't worry; he won't be causing any more trouble until we get to Mirror LINK VRAINS.

And lastly, we have Yasutake, Sachi, Masako, and Cypher meeting Kenshin in real life. This is just for some exposition on Ouroboros, who Kenshin knows as an old group of scientists and researchers. And then there's Cypher's part at the end. I don't think I need to say anything about that.

Thank you for reading Chapter 51. I hope I managed to surprise, awe, and entertain the lot of you. I'll be back with Chapter 52 in the future. Until then, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy!