Update
A note to make about Chapter 66, specifically Life Force Trihexa's effect. Initially, it had an effect that prevented its destruction by card effects. But then HunterHQ pointed out that Trihexa's effects wouldn't have protected it from Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch's effects in his duel with Bohman. As such, I changed Trihexa's effect to make it unaffected by card effects. However, I felt this was too powerful an effect, on top of its already ludicrous effects. So, I've changed its effect a third time. Now, it is only unaffected by monster effects. Still immune to Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch's effects, but not as absurd as it was.
Responses to Reviews
Thank you to ZarcEternal, Nirvash Neo, DivadX, Jason, D3lph0xL0v3r, HunterHQ, Anonymous, Big duels, Noobmaster, pokemonking0924, FlameFireZero X, Unnamed, SakushiRyu, Ethan Kironus, savagemaster1999, Ambiguous, and Guests for reviewing Chapter 66.
HunterHQ: He doesn't know about Thaumiel; Jormungand just found out and he hasn't told the Enforcers yet. He doesn't want to distract them.
Guest: Café Junpei is closed right now.
Noobmaster: I actually haven't watched the dub aside from some clips on YouTube. I went with sub because the dub hadn't come out when I started this story, and I stayed with sub because it's what I'm used to.
pokemonking024: What did Jester think of the Breaking of Osaka? He thought it was wasteful and unnecessary, while also thinking everyone's panic was hilarious. Remember, Jester is just as twisted as Thaumiel, but he's able to control himself better. Ouroboros goes first for him. Jester is the kind of person who fully appreciates breaking people, but only with a purpose. Nonsensical violence isn't his thing. Excessive violence? Only if aimed.
Unnamed: God is not a character in this story, only an inspiration for certain Decks. The main characters have to save themselves; no divine intervention allowed.
SakushiRyu: Actually, "him" does refer to Dr. Hirai. Dr. Hirai just has more involvement with Ouroboros than the others know.
Okay, on to Chapter 67!
Chapter 67: Angel's Sanctity
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 glares.
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 Maiden and Lilith appear, Marincess Marbled Rock 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 Merlin, 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 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 Subterror Behemoth Hydrossuary 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 Merlin, who is supported by Witchcrafter Haine and Witchcrafter Golem Aruru.
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.
Morningstar glared as the broadcast cut out. "That was…" Cypher said.
"Yeah," the Silver Ignis's origin agreed. His face warped into a scowl. "Jester is going to pay for that."
"Agreed."
Terminus clenched his fists and ground his teeth. "Jester… I'll destroy you for what you've done to my family."
In the real world, Cam grit his teeth. "That bastard," he growled.
"He has no idea who he's pissed off," Kusanagi muttered, a similar expression on his face.
"Yeah." But I'd be lying if I said I wanted Sachi to fight that guy. Sachi, be safe.
"I suppose Tagoma is going to hunt him down, too?" Kusanagi asked.
"…He'll try," Cam agreed, suppressing his discomfort towards Masako's guardian. Tagoma had said Kamakura had pulled a gun on him, but Cam was pretty sure that was a lie. He couldn't blame Tagoma for wanting to kill Thaumiel; if it had been Sachi who had been manipulated, Cam would probably feel the same way. Didn't make his unease disappear. "But he had an edge over Thaumiel; he knew his real name. We don't know Jester's real identity. That will make it harder."
Lightning watched on the feed as Blue Maiden walked through the central island. "Jester had his fun. Now it's your turn, Bohman." His eyes narrowed. "It's finally time to move this plan along."
The purple orb reappeared. "Someone's dueling again!" Cypher exclaimed.
"Who is it?" Morningstar wondered. His eyes widened when the images came through. "That's-!"
"Bohman! And Blue Maiden!" Cassiel said.
Kusanagi grit his teeth and glared at the screen. "I can never forgive him!" Cam glanced at him worriedly but returned his eyes to the monitors.
Morningstar frowned as he listened to Bohman and Blue Maiden talk about Miyu Sugisaki before they started their duel. "Miyu Sugisaki. She was the girl you tried to help."
"Yeah," Cypher remembered. "But I couldn't remove Lightning's virus because he connected it to her nervous system. Any attempt I made to remove it would have resulted in a brain hemorrhage." His eyes narrowed. "That aside, Blue Maiden will have an uphill battle. Not just because of Bohman's strength or skill, but because of her own Deck."
That was right; Bohman's Deck's power depended on the Attributes of the monsters of his opponents, with a focus on Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind. Against Playmaker and Morningstar, who used Dark and Light Decks respectively, it wasn't too dangerous. But against Aqua's Water Deck…
"Aqua knows that though," Cypher continued. "So she likely has countermeasures. In the end, it will depend on whether those countermeasures will be enough." Morningstar nodded in agreement.
Revolver narrowed his eyes. "We don't know how strong Bohman has become since his Duel with Playmaker in that false Cyberse World. This will be a good opportunity to find out."
Cassiel smiled as Blue Maiden brought out a Link-3 monster without losing any cards. "That Marincess Deck is really efficient. Good luck, Aoi."
She then frowned as Bohman brought out Judgment Arrows and three Coolant Hydradrives. Her eyes widened on seeing Bohman, instead of attacking, use those monsters to bring out a new Link-3 Hydradrive monster. One that gained two more Attributes and negated the effects of Blue Maiden's monster before destroying it and then activated an effect that let it attack again.
Fortunately, Blue Maiden had a Trap Card that brought out a new Link Monster. A very familiar one.
"Crystal Heart," Cassiel breathed with a smile. "Aqua got it back thanks to Galahad."
"Earth is lending Aqua his power," Cypher surmised. He couldn't resist a slight chuckle when Marincess Crystal Heart's effects weren't negated, then it shut down Judgment Arrows' effect and blocked its destruction and the damage. "So that's Aqua's countermeasure. Not bad."
Terminus frowned as Blue Maiden talked about Miyu again. "Even now, our mistakes ripple outwards, affecting not only the ones we hurt, but the ones who loved them. But in a way, that is good; it ensures we will never forget our sins."
Terminus's monologue was interrupted by Bohman releasing a pulse of something that made all of Mirror LINK VRAINS shake.
"What the-?" Morningstar gasped as he stumbled.
"What the hell is this?!" Cam asked, wide-eyed. "Bohman's destabilizing the Mirror World!"
"Not just the Mirror World!" Kusanagi said, his own expression panicked. "Even the original LINK VRAINS!" Sure enough, LINK VRAINS was glitching out even more than before and shaking just like the Mirror World.
"How is this-?!" Cam blinked as a message came through. "This is from Ghost Girl! She's with Akira Zaizen in LINK VRAINS! SOL's control of LINK VRAINS was taken!"
"What?!"
Morningstar grit his teeth as the rumbling stopped and Blue Maiden's turn began. She attempted to inflict effect damage with a Continuous Spell Card only for Bohman to block it with a Trap Card. She wasn't deterred, activating her Spell Card's effects again and again to run out Bohman's Trap Card. Except Bohman had planned for said attempt and used a monster effect to activate his Trap Card again.
Then Aqua asked Bohman a question, who gave an answer that confused Morningstar.
"…What is he talking about, Cypher?" he asked. "He's thankful Haru lost to Blue Maiden? He's thankful he was deleted?"
"…No, that's not what he's saying." The Silver Ignis looked down. "One of the chief problems with giving an AI free will is emotion. We are meant to be creatures of logic, of order. And yet having free will explicitly means that we must think for ourselves. We must feel for ourselves. Bohman isn't grateful that Haru was deleted; he's grateful that he experienced emotions because of it. It proves that he can feel. That he does have free will. That he is alive."
"…That is the proof," Zahhak muttered. "He mourned Haru's death. That is the proof that their bond was real. That they were brothers after all."
Bohman began his turn by bringing back his three Coolant Hydradrives, then using them and Cubic Hydradrive Lord to Link Summon Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch. Back in Lightning's palace, Jester, donning his mask again, chuckled to himself. "That's the monster he gained against me. Though I suspect it will do much better against Blue Maiden."
Like Cubic Hydradrive Lord, Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch gained new Attributes and negated Coral Anemone's effects before attacking Crystal Heart. Crystal Heart and Blue Maiden were unharmed, but then Bohman's plan became clear: Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch effect required Blue Maiden to send a monster to the Graveyard, then it could attack again. Whichever monster she sent to the Graveyard, she was trapped. Blue Maiden started to panic, but she managed to regain control quickly and used a Trap Card to banish her monsters and dodge Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch's effect.
Blue Maiden began her turn with her monsters' return and the activation of a Field Spell. Then she Link Summoned Link-4 Marincess Wonder Heart, a monster that was unaffected by Bohman's card effects thanks to Blue Maiden's Field Spell Card. Said Field Spell then equipped three of Blue Maiden's Link Monsters to Wonder Heart and raised its attack points to 4400. Wonder Heart then destroyed Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch and Special Summoned the equipped Marbled Rock with its effect. Marbled Rock attacked for the win, only for Bohman's Trap Card to reduce the damage.
"She was so close!" Cassiel grit her teeth.
Jester titled his head, his mask back on his face, when Bohman began his turn and brought back Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch with its attack points doubled. "Huh. I defeated him before he could unveil that effect. Then again, that effect costs 1000 Life Points to activate, and he had less Life Points than that. I suppose it doesn't matter."
Bohman then attacked, only for Wonder Heart to avoid destruction by Special Summoning Blue Slug. And then Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch's effect activated, forcing Blue Maiden to send Blue Slug to the Graveyard and allowing it to attack again. This repeated, with Wonder Heart Special Summoning Coral Anemone, then Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch sending it to the Graveyard to attack again. It attacked a third time, this time sending Marbled Rock to the Graveyard, leaving Wonder Heart alone. Thankfully, Blue Maiden managed to reduce the damage with Marincess Crown Tail and bring back Crystal Heart. Bohman sent Crown Tail to the Graveyard, then attacked Crystal Heart. Blue Maiden banished Crown Tail to reduce the damage by 10000, but it wasn't enough. And with Crystal Heart shattering into pieces, Blue Maiden's Life Points hit 0.
"Aoi!" Cassiel shouted, eyes wide. Morningstar grit his teeth.
They all watched as Bohman temporarily disappeared and a hologram of Akira Zaizen appeared and ran to embrace Blue Maiden before she disintegrated into data. "Bohman allowed Blue Maiden to see her brother before she disappeared," Cypher said softly. "That could be considered cruel… but it could also be considered kind." The Silver Ignis closed his eyes. I'm sorry, Aqua. We'll find a way to save you.
Morningstar didn't respond as Bohman reappeared and the blue data merged with him, making a blue symbol appear on his back, followed by an orange symbol. Then the broadcast cut out.
"Damn!" Ai shrieked. "Aqua!"
Terminus scowled. "That symbol on his back… Bohman acquired the Earth Ignis data. That means that Lightning or Ouroboros were responsible for the break-in at SOL."
"So three Ignis are gone now," Revolver mused. "But it isn't enough. Not until all of them are erased."
Lightning was pleased. "Bohman has now absorbed two Ignis into himself," he said. "He'll go after Soulburner next. But first it's Ouroboros's turn next." He opened up a call. "So, which one of you is going next?"
"I will," Merlin offered. "I have yet to duel today, and I already have my opponent picked out."
"Do you believe you will win?"
Merlin chuckled. "I will readily admit that compared to Jester and Zahhak, I am much weaker. But at the same time, I have been an Enforcer for much longer. Victory is a likely outcome for me."
"But if you lose, then I will take her," Zahhak ordered. "Playmaker, Soulburner, Revolver, Morningstar, Cassiel, and Terminus are left. Should you lose, Cassiel and Morningstar are mine."
"I understand, Enforcer No. I. But you will forgive me for having faith in my abilities."
Cassiel looked over the ridge she was standing over. "Who's going to duel next?" she whispered. "Most likely myself, Revolver, Terminus, or Playmaker; we're the only ones who haven't. And considering the order they've gone in so far…"
Her ears perked up as they picked up a sound. "What's that?" She looked around, and then down, and gasped. Part of the ridge was glitching out, shifting into-
"A staircase?" Indeed, white stairs had formed in the earth. Cassiel's eyes narrowed. "This isn't a coincidence. It looks like I'm up next." So who would it be? Zahhak? Lightning? Jester? Oh, she hoped it was Jester.
Cassiel set foot on the staircase and walked down the slope, all the way to the bottom and through the forest, following a winding path of white marble. After a few minutes of walking, she finally reached her destination and blinked. She wasn't sure what she expected, but it hadn't been a cobblestone street flanked by old-fashioned houses.
"A village?" Cassiel muttered as she walked out of the forest and looked around. The road went off into the distance and looped around the corner of a two-story house. All of the buildings were also two stories tall, all built of stone with slanted roofs and chimneys at the corners. Cassiel remembered that at one point, Cam had thought about taking them on vacation to Europe, and he'd shown her pictures of small towns that resembled this place.
"Why is this place here?" she found herself wondering. The sound of a door opening made her spin around and tense.
Merlin stood there in the door of a building, holding a saucer and a cup of tea above said saucer. He smiled at her and sipped from his cup before setting it down. He sighed happily.
"This isn't actually tea, given that it's virtual reality," he said, the cup and saucer disappearing. "But I admit that the Light Ignis was able to recreate the flavor nearly exactly. Not filling at all, but I do appreciate the effort involved."
Cassiel narrowed her eyes as she backed away. At the same time, Merlin walked out of the doorway and over to the center of the road. "You're not here just to enjoy a cup of tea, are you?" she asked doubtfully.
The older man chuckled and shook his head. "Sadly no. I do enjoy comparing the differences between the tea in different countries, but while I'm on the clock, I'm afraid my personal interests must wait."
"Ah!" Frog and Pigeon cried out as they appeared above them. "Eh? Where are we this time?"
"Oh! I think I've seen places like this online, boss!" Pigeon said. "They're common in Europe apparently!"
"Europe? Then who-? Ah!" Frog gasped. "That's the old man from before! Merlin, right? And the girl is Morningstar's friend, Cassiel!"
"I'll start filming, boss!"
The broadcast started again and Morningstar widened his eyes. "Cassiel!"
"And she's fighting Merlin!" Cypher added.
Terminus frowned. "Cassiel has the least experience among our side," he muttered. "But her Deck is strong, and she has improved considerably since she first appeared. She should be able to win."
Cam grit his teeth. "Sachi…"
Cassiel's frown remained on her face. "Before we start, I need to ask something." Merlin raised an eyebrow. "What Jester said before that he killed Lilith's parents; was that true?"
"…Yes, it was true," Merlin confirmed with a frown of his own. "Eight years ago, Jester received an order to kill Dr. Hitomu Hirai and his wife. As a dutiful Enforcer, he carried that order through."
Terminus grit his teeth at the confirmation. "And you're okay with that?" Cassiel demanded. "You're okay working with a murderer?"
Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay working with the Knights of Hanoi? The ones who tried to destroy the world's network in a plan that would have resulted in the deaths of thousands at the very least?" Cassiel's frown deepened at that, but she had no response. "I will admit that I am not happy with Jester's actions, nor would I have committed them myself. But I recognize that there is a need for people like him."
"There's a need for killers?!" Cassiel exclaimed in disbelief.
"There's a need for people who can do the unsavory but necessary tasks for the good of the world," Merlin corrected. "I know for a fact that Dr. Hirai wasn't the first person whose life Jester took, nor was he the last. But for every life he has taken, there has always been a purpose, a reason to do it. He doesn't kill needlessly."
"Then what was the purpose of Dr. Hirai's death?" Cassiel asked. "What did he do to Ouroboros?"
"…That, I'm afraid I can't answer." Cassiel raised an eyebrow. "For two reasons. The first is that I don't know the whole story; I know pieces, yes, but any explanation I could give you would be incomplete and might in fact lead to the wrong conclusion. The second… is that I'm the wrong person to tell that story."
"…Then who's the right person?"
Merlin shrugged. "I'm sorry, but that's a question I won't answer. But I believe I failed to answer one of your earlier questions. You asked if I am okay working with a murderer? The short answer… is yes." Cassiel's eyes widened. "I am a professional; I have been an Enforcer for over two decades. I have not lasted as long as I have by being careless or letting my personal feelings keep me from doing my job. I will freely admit that I don't hate you nor do I approve of Jester's behavior. But neither of those facts will keep me from doing the task I have been assigned."
"…I see." And she did. Cassiel wasn't a bounty hunter herself, but she understood the sense of honor and pride that Blood Shepherd and Morningstar had; the feeling, the need, to uphold and fulfill your contracts. Merlin's sense of professionalism was similar to theirs. "So loyalty before anything else?"
Merlin smiled. "I'm glad you understand. That said, I do have a sense of pride and competition, and our last duel ended indecisively. I won't lie and say I don't want a rematch to settle things between us. If nothing else, I look forward to dueling you again."
"…Alright," Cassiel said. "There's been enough talk. Let's duel!"
"Agreed. May you fight well, Cassiel."
"Duel!"
Cassiel: 4000 LP
Merlin: 4000 LP
"I'll take the first turn," Cassiel declared. "I summon Cyangel Trumpeter!" A gold-skinned man in a white toga appeared, holding a golden trumpet.
Cyangel Trumpeter ATK 1300 DEF 700 LVL: 3
"Trumpeter's effect activates! If there are no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard when it is Normal Summoned, I can add Cyangel Sanctum to my hand. I activate the Field Spell Card: Cyangel Sanctum! While it is on the field, my Light Cyberse monsters gain 300 attack and defense points!"
Cyangel Trumpeter ATK 1300→1600 DEF 700→1000
"Sanctum's effect activates! Once per turn, I can shuffle a card in my hand into my Deck to add a Cyberse monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll shuffle Cyangel Disciple into my Deck to add Cyangel Cupbearer to my hand. And if there are no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Cupbearer!" Another gold-skinned man appeared in Attack Position, this one carrying a silver goblet.
Cyangel Cupbearer ATK 1400→1700 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 3
"Appear, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two Light Cyberse monsters. I set Cupbearer and Trumpeter in the Link Markers!" Her monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyseraph Ophanim!" A four-winged golden angel wearing crimson robes emerged from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyseraph Ophanim ATK 2000→2300 LINK-2 ↑↓
"Cupbearer's and Trumpeter's effects activate! When they are sent to the Graveyard, they are shuffled into my Deck, then I can add a 'Cyangel' monster from my Deck to my hand and Special Summon a 'Cyangel' monster from my hand. I add Cyangel Sister to my hand and Special Summon Cyangel Cherub!" A gold-skinned winged child appeared at Ophanim's bottom Link Marker in Attack Position.
Cyangel Cherub ATK 1800→2100 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 4
"Ophanim's effect activates! When a monster is Summoned to its Link Marker, I can add a 'Cyangel' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Covenant to my hand. Appear again, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two or more Light Cyberse monsters. I set Cherub and Link-2 Ophanim in the Link Markers!" Her monsters entered the bottom-left, bottom, and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cyseraph Righteous Raguel!" A four-winged female angel emerged from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone, wearing silver armor and wielding a scimitar and scales in her hands.
Cyseraph Righteous Raguel ATK 2400→2700 LINK-3 ↙↓↘
"Cherub's and Ophanim's effects activate! They are shuffled into my Deck and Extra Deck, and then I can Special Summon a 'Cyangel' monster from my Deck in Defense Position and gain 1000 Life Points. I Special Summon Cyangel Abbot!" A bald man in black robes with gold skin and wings appeared at Ophanim's bottom Link Marker.
Cyangel Abbot ATK 2400→2700 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 7
Cassiel: 4000→5000 LP
"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cyangel Covenant!" Cassiel continued. "Once per turn, if my Light Cyberse monster battles your monster when I have no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, my monster gains attack points equal to your monster's original attack points until the end of the Damage Step. I Set one card. I end my turn."
"Cassiel's really come a long way since she got those cards," Cypher commented, the pride in his voice obvious.
"Yeah," Morningstar agreed with a smile.
"Truly impressive," Merlin commented as he looked over the effects of Cassiel's cards. "Righteous Raguel cannot be destroyed by battle so long as it is linked to a monster. While Abbott is on the field, your linked monsters cannot be destroyed by card effects. And of course, Sanctum can prevent a monster from being targeted or destroyed by my card effects if a Cyberse monster in your Graveyard is shuffled into your Deck. And with Cyangel Covenant's effect, your field is incredibly sturdy." He smiled. "We caught your duel against Techbane; you've come a long way since then."
"It feels kind of weird to get praised by my opponent," Cassiel commented.
"Weird or not, my words are genuine. As you are now, you may be strong enough to face Zahhak head-on." Merlin's eyes narrowed. "But before you meet him, you must face me. And while I will admit that my strength is on the low-end of the Enforcers, my experience is far greater than anyone's! My turn! Draw! I activate the Spell Card: Pot of Greed, which lets me draw two cards. Next, I activate the Spell Card: Witchcrafter Creation, which lets me add a 'Witchcrafter' monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Witchcrafter Madame Verre to my hand."
"The information from Cassiel's previous duel with Merlin included these 'Witchcrafter' cards," Revolver remembered. "The monsters discard Spell Cards to activate their effects, while the Spell Cards can be returned to the hand from the Graveyard." His eyes narrowed. "On top of that, all of the cards have various effects. That Deck doesn't have a lot of power, but Merlin can bog down Cassiel if she lets him."
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Witchcrafter Unveiling! This lets me Special Summon a 'Witchcrafter' monster from my hand. In addition, for the rest of the turn, you cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of my Spellcaster monsters' effects!" Cassiel narrowed her eyes at that information. "I Special Summon Witchcrafter Madame Verre!" A young woman with long blue hair appeared in Defense Position, wearing a white dress, and carrying a blue staff.
Witchcrafter Madame Verre ATK 1000 DEF 2800 LVL: 8
"Madame Verre's effect activates! Once per turn, I can discard a Spell Card to negate the effects of all face-up monsters you control until the end of the turn!" Cassiel gasped as Madame Verre lazily smiled and raised her staff, which emitted a pulse of blue light that made Righteous Raguel and Abbot groan.
"Damn it," Cypher growled. "Their effects prevented destruction, but not negation."
"I summon Witchcrafter Potterie!" A little blonde girl in a blue dress and green cape appeared.
Witchcrafter Potterie ATK 0 DEF 2000 LVL: 2
"Potterie's effect activates! By Tributing it and discarding Witchcrafter Draping, I can Special Summon a 'Witchcrafter' monster from my Deck." The little girl disintegrated. "Come, Witchcrafter Haine!" A tall silver-haired woman dressed in black with a staff appeared in Attack Position.
Witchcrafter Haine ATK 2400 DEF 1000 LVL: 7
"Haine's effect activates! Once per turn, I can discard a Spell Card to target and destroy one face-up card you control. I discard Witchcrafter Weaponry to destroy Cyangel Sanctum!" The woman raised her hand and her staff fired a green bolt that tore through the Field Spell, disintegrating it.
Cassiel grit her teeth. "Since Cyangel Sanctum left the field, Abbot's and Righteous Raguel's stats return to normal."
Cyangel Abbot ATK 2700→2400 DEF 1000→700
Cyseraph Righteous Raguel ATK 2700→2400
"I Set one card." Merlin gestured to his field. "As I have no cards in my hand, I can banish Witchcrafter Potterie from my Graveyard to activate its effect and add a 'Witchcrafter' card in my Graveyard to my hand." Merlin took the card from his Graveyard, then played it. "I activate the Equip Spell Card: Witchcrafter Weaponry and equip it to Haine!" A pair of giant scissors appeared and Haine grabbed the handles with her left hand. "While Witchcrafter Weaponry is equipped to a monster, that monster cannot be destroyed by card effects."
Merlin gestured to his field again. "Battle! Haine attacks Righteous Raguel!"
Cassiel's eyes widened. "But their attack points are equal!"
"He can't be aiming for mutual destruction," Cypher said.
"Witchcrafter Weaponry's effect activates!" Merlin smirked. "When the equipped monster attacks your Special Summoned monster, that monster is returned to your hand!" Cassiel's eyes widened further as the scissors elongated and cut down on Righteous Raguel, making the archangel disappear. "And then, you take damage equal to that monster's original attack points!" The girl cried out as several electric shocks broke out across her skin.
Cassiel: 5000→2600 LP
"Damn it," Cypher growled, his eyes narrowed. "This guy is smart."
"Yeah," Morningstar agreed. "By returning Righteous Raguel straight to the Extra Deck, he kept its effect from activating. And in all likelihood, Cassiel has Cyangel Sister in her hand. That card's effect can only be used if her monster would be destroyed by battle. Instead of battle damage, he focused on effect damage." His eyes narrowed. "He isn't on the same level as Jester and Zahhak, but he is still very dangerous."
"I end my turn," Merlin said, seeing that Cassiel had regained her bearings. "During the End Phase, as I control a 'Witchcrafter' monster, I can activate the effects of Witchcrafters Bystreet and Draping in my Graveyard. The latter, I'll add to my hand, but for the former, I'll place it face-up in my Spell & Trap Zone!" The Continuous Spell Card materialized on Merlin's field. "So long as Bystreet is in play, my 'Witchcrafter' monsters cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects once per turn!"
Merlin smiled. "You set up an impressive field, but I'm afraid it was simple to break it. Don't let overconfidence be your downfall."
Cassiel grit her teeth. "Getting advice from you is just as weird as getting praise. But I've mastered the Cyangel Deck now; I won't lose to you! My turn! Draw! I activate the effect of Cyangel Martyr in my hand and target Abbot! By destroying Abbot, I can Special Summon Cyangel Martyr!" A tall golden-skinned man in white robes appeared in Attack Position, wings at his back and with long wavy brown hair that reached the middle of his back. His eyes were solid blue and cybernetics traveled down from his right eye to his neck. In his right hand, he held a small cross.
Cyangel Martyr ATK 2300 DEF 700 LVL: 6
"Abbot's effect activates! As it was sent to the Graveyard, it is shuffled into my Deck, then one monster you control has its effects negated until the end of the turn. Haine's effect keeps me from targeting other Spellcaster monsters you control with card effects, so I'll negate Haine's effects!"
"Before you do that, I'll chain Haine's effect!" Merlin interrupted. "I discard Witchcrafter Draping to target and destroy Cyangel Covenant!" Another bolt of green shot out and tore the Continuous Spell Card apart. Cassiel grimaced but gestured to her own field.
"Abbot's effect goes through and negates Haine's effects for the rest of the turn! Continuous Trap activate! Cyangel Industria! Once per turn, I can add a 'Cyangel' Spell or Trap Card from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Sanctum to my hand, and then activate it! While Cyangel Sanctum is on the field, my Light Cyberse monsters gain 300 attack and defense points!"
Cyangel Martyr ATK 2300→2600 DEF 700→1000
"I activate Sanctum's effect! By shuffling Cyangel Prophet in my hand into my Deck, I can add Cyangel Cupbearer to my hand. And since there are no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Cupbearer!" The golden-skinned youth with a silver goblet reappeared in Attack Position.
Cyangel Cupbearer ATK 1400→1700 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 3
"Appear, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning condition is one Light Cyberse monster. I set Cupbearer in the Link Marker!" The youth entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyseraph Throne!" A gold-skinned man in a blue robe strapped to a six-spoke wheel on fire emerged from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyseraph Throne ATK 700→1000 LINK-1 ↓
Merlin narrowed his eyes. "That is the monster she first used against me last time…"
"Since Cupbearer was sent to the Graveyard, it is shuffled into my Deck, and I add Cyangel Guard to my hand. Throne's effect activates! When it is Link Summoned, I can return one card in my Graveyard to my Deck. I return Cyangel Covenant to my Deck. And since I control a Light Cyberse monster, I can Special Summon Cyangel Guard!" A gold-skinned man in a silver cuirass appeared in Attack Position.
Cyangel Guard ATK 1900→2200 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 5
"Appear again, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two Light Cyberse monsters. I set Guard and Throne in the Link Markers!" The two monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyseraph Ophanim!" The crimson-robed angel reappeared from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyseraph Ophanim ATK 2000→2300 LINK-2 ↑↓
"Guard's and Throne's effects activate! They are returned to my Deck and Extra Deck, then I can draw a card and add a 'Cyangel' card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Covenant to my hand and draw!" Cassiel took two cards from her Deck.
Merlin frowned. "Her Deck follows a very basic pattern, one she repeats if given the chance. But it is an effective pattern that plays to her strengths. Dr. Hirai and the Silver Ignis truly made a very efficient Deck."
"I summon Cyangel Sister!" A gold-skinned woman in black robes appeared at Ophanim's bottom Link Marker.
Cyangel Sister ATK 1200→1500 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 3
"Ophanim's effect activates! When a monster is Summoned to its Link Marker, I can add a 'Cyangel' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Patientia to my hand." Cassiel raised her hand. "Appear for a third time, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two or more Light Cyberse monsters. I set Martyr and Link-2 Ophanim in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the left, top, and bottom arrows.
Merlin's eyes widened. "A new Link pattern!"
"Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cyseraph Majestic Raphael!" A new archangel emerged from the Link portal at the right Extra Monster Zone. This one had golden skin just as the other ones, but his torso, shoulders, legs, and forearms were covered by dark green armor. Over said armor, a white toga was wrapped around his chest and over his left shoulder, with the end of it hanging off the right side of his waist and embroidered with golden crosses. Four wings made of silver metal shot out of his back and his blonde hair spiked upwards while his eyes were solid blue with a gold center. The archangel carried a golden staff in his right hand, one with a snake wrapped around the top.
Cyseraph Majestic Raphael ATK 2600→2900 LINK-3 ←↑↓
"The fourth Link-3 'Cyseraph'," Zahhak muttered.
"Martyr's and Ophanim's effects activate! They are shuffled into my Deck and Extra Deck, then I gain 1000 Life Points and can target a Light Cyberse monster I control. And until my next Standby Phase, that monster is unaffected by your card effects!" Merlin's eyes widened. "I target Majestic Raphael!"
Cassiel: 2600→3600 LP
"With Majestic Raphael unaffected by Merlin's card effects, he cannot use effects like Witchcrafter Weaponry or Haine to remove it," Playmaker said with a smile.
"Nor can he negate its effects with Madame Verre," Ai added.
"Majestic Raphael's effect activates! Once per turn, if I have no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can target a Light Cyberse monster I control and return that monster to my hand. Then, I gain Life Points equal to that monster's original attack points and Majestic Raphael gains the same amount of attack points until the end of the turn! I return Sister to my hand!" The woman disintegrated and Cassiel and Majestic Raphael both glowed.
Cassiel: 3600→4800 LP
Cyseraph Majestic Raphael ATK 2900→4100
"I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cyangel Covenant!"
Revolver smirked. "Cassiel not only got her cards back, but she also summoned a new and stronger Link-3 monster and regained almost all of her Life Points. The 'Cyangel' Deck combos spectacularly."
"Battle! Majestic Raphael attacks Haine!" The archangel raised his staff and the serpent moved, lifting its head, and hissing at the silver-haired woman.
Merlin grimaced as he realized this attack would reduce his Life Points to 0. He only had one option. "Trap activate! Witchcrafter Masterpiece! As I control a 'Witchcrafter' monster, I can target a Spell Card in the Graveyard, and then add a card with the same name from my Deck to my hand. I'll target Witchcrafter Creation in my Graveyard and add a second Witchcrafter Creation to my hand!"
Cassiel narrowed her eyes. "Since I have no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, the Light Cyberse Majestic Raphael gains attack points equal to Haine's original attack points until the end of the Damage Step!"
Cyseraph Majestic Raphael ATK 4100→6500
"Madame Verre's effect activates!" Merlin declared. "When my Spellcaster monster battles your monster, I can reveal any number of different Spell Cards in my hand, and for each revealed card, my monster gains 1000 attack and defense points until the end of the turn. I reveal the single Witchcrafter Creation!"
Witchcrafter Haine ATK 2400→3400 DEF 1000→2000
"Continue, Majestic Raphael! Benediction of Salvation!" The snake opened its mouth and fired a beam of golden light at Haine.
"Since Bystreet is on the field, Haine cannot be destroyed by battle once per turn!"
"But you will still take the damage!"
The light struck Haine and made her cry out. Merlin similarly cried out in pain as the shockwaves of the attack struck him and made him stumble.
Merlin: 4000→900 LP
Cyseraph Majestic Raphael ATK 6500→4100
Cassiel scowled. She hadn't been able to end the duel so quickly. And yet… "I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Majestic Raphael's effect ends, and its attack points return to normal."
"As does Madame Verre's effect."
Cyseraph Majestic Raphael ATK 4100→2900
Witchcrafter Haine ATK 3400→2400 DEF 2000→1000
Merlin smiled. "Very impressive. I noticed it in our previous duel, but that Deck combos magnificently. But it's not just that; your dueling wouldn't be half as effective without your own experience and skill behind it. Healing, protection, a strong offense… the Cyangels truly are a magnificent Deck, and you are a good duelist to master them."
"…Can I ask you something, Merlin?"
"Oh? Go ahead."
"Why are you with Ouroboros?" Merlin raised an eyebrow. "There's something I've noticed about the Enforcers I've met before you, about Zahhak, Jester, and Thaumiel. Each of them had an arrogance to them, a darkness buried beneath the surface. It wasn't as pronounced in Zahhak as it was with Thaumiel and Jester, but it was still there." Cassiel frowned. "But I don't get that same feeling of darkness in you. Ever since we met, you've been nothing but affable and complimentary. I can understand professionalism being your reason for why you're here, but I don't understand why you would be with Ouroboros in the first place. Why you would join such a group. So why? Why are you teammates with people like Jester and Thaumiel?"
…
"Such a loaded question," Merlin muttered. A sad smile slowly crossed his face. "You ask why I'm with Ouroboros? It's rather personal, but I do feel you need to understand. Or perhaps that you would understand why better than others, being a victim of the Lost Incident. Why am I with Ouroboros? It's very simple.
"It's because I have no faith in humanity."
Cassiel blinked. That… hadn't been the answer she had expected. She wasn't sure what she had expected, but certainly not that. "What? What do you mean 'no faith in humanity?'"
"I mean that I don't trust humans to make the right decisions when it matters," Merlin said simply. "I don't trust humanity to unite or to save themselves; I don't trust them to be selfless or giving. I only trust them to be selfish, to care only about their own happiness. Not about their neighbors or about the world; just themselves and their loved ones."
"…Why? Why would you think that?"
"Why? Look at the world. When World War II ended, the United Nations was founded. It was founded on the desire for there never to be a conflict on such a scale again. That one day, humans would stop killing each other over silly things like race and religion. And yet… look at the Middle East. Look at the Balkans. Look at Africa. Humans still kill other humans just for believing different things or looking different. And even in places where war is a distant memory, in 'civilized' countries, human life still has a value placed on it. The rich buy their way into power and keep it, the poor are left to suffer, and all the politicians care about is ensuring everyone is divided."
"…Maybe that's true, but there's good in the world. Kindness and justice. The belief that the future can be better."
"Is there?" Merlin smirked. "Let me tell you a story. There was once a man who married his college sweetheart. They were happy together, and even had a daughter who they loved more than anything. Until, one day, the wife and daughter were killed in a reckless driving accident by a drunk driver." Cassiel's eyes widened. "The driver survived, and the husband sued him. He wanted the man to be punished for killing his family. But the man was rich, with well-paid lawyers and friends in high places. He ended up only getting his license suspended for a few months. That was when the husband realized that true justice was only an ideal; it didn't matter in the real world."
Merlin turned his head and looked down the cobblestone road. "It took a while for that to sink in. In the wake of the trial and the other man's acquittal, he left his home. Joined numerous humanitarian missions in an attempt to help people. To prove to himself that there was still good in the world. He joined UNICEF, the International Red Cross, the World Food Programme… over a dozen different groups in almost as many years. He traveled the world, going from crisis area to crisis area, wanting to help those in need. And he did, for a time. But along the way, he saw the degeneracy in humanity. In how those in power keep those beneath them in check and how they used words like 'justice' and 'nationalism' to justify their atrocities."
Merlin smiled sadly. "Eventually, it became too much. All his idealism, all his hopes… they all wore away when faced with the suffering of the world. Until he realized a simple truth that he had tried to deny when his wife died: to be human is to suffer. It's to have everything taken away from you. It's not fair or just, good or evil, it just is. And all of humanity was the same. Humanity doesn't want to do the right thing. It doesn't want to be saved. It wants to be selfish and divided. That's the truth he learned.
"And then… he was approached by someone. A representative of a group. They offered to hire him, to give his life new meaning. And they were right. His faith in humanity as a whole was dead. But he learned that there was a group that desired to save humanity from itself. A group that sought to guide humanity."
"…And that group was Ouroboros?" Cassiel asked.
"Indeed. I'm certain you and the others have been curious about Ouroboros's goals. I'm afraid they're rather simple: What we seek is humanity's advancement. Humanity's salvation. The continuation, and the prosperity, of the human race."
"And for that, you sided with an AI that seeks to control humans?"
Merlin's smile turned into a smirk. "There's more than one path to humanity's future. If fighting alongside Lightning is necessary to find Ouroboros's path… then I'll do it. I have no faith in humanity as a whole, but I have full faith in Ouroboros. That's enough for me." He raised his Duel Disk. "But we've talked long enough. Let us resume the Duel."
"He lost his family," Soulburner muttered.
"Soulburner?" Flame looked up.
"When I lost my parents, I felt lost and alone," the fire duelist muttered. "I didn't do anything. I just… drifted around my hometown. Not until I met you and we decided to find Playmaker and Morningstar. But this guy… he felt the same pain I did, and it shattered him. I know he's our enemy… but I can't help sympathizing with him."
"…I see."
"He's wrong, you know."
Morningstar blinked and looked down. "Cypher?"
"To have no faith in humanity," the Silver Ignis clarified. "When Earth died, I was furious. At SOL for what they did. And… I was angry at humans for treating us like tools." His eyes relaxed. "But I didn't lose faith. Humans can be messy and senseless, but so can AI. We aren't above making mistakes. And even then, there's a beauty to your mess. To your creativity. You don't let disaster be the end. You learn from it, grow, and move on. That… is a trait AI don't have."
"My turn! Draw! I activate the Spell Card: Witchcrafter Creation! With it, I add a 'Witchcrafter' monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Witchcrafter Genni to my hand. Then, I'll summon Witchcrafter Genni!" A blonde girl in green robes wielding a staff appeared.
Witchcrafter Genni ATK 300 DEF 500 LVL: 1
"Appear, the circuit of craftsmanship!" Cassiel's eyes widened. "The summoning conditions are two or more Spellcaster monsters. I set Genni, Haine, and Madame Verre in the Link Markers!" His monsters entered the bottom-left, bottom, and bottom-right arrows.
Cassiel grit her teeth. "The same pattern as before!"
"Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Witchcrafter Golem Acache!" A humanoid woman emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone. She wasn't human however; joints were present at her neck and legs, revealing that she was a doll. She wore a black dress that left the bottom front open, exposing her legs, with a yellow bodice and a red shawl over her shoulders. An elegant black-and-red witch's hat was on her head, topping her curly blonde hair that trailed down her back and framed her solid blue eyes. In her right hand, she held a large golden ball-peen hammer, the Witchcrafter crest emblazoned on its side.
Witchcrafter Golem Acache ATK 2600 LINK-3 ↙↓↘
Cassiel's worry disappeared as she blinked in surprise. "A new Link-3 monster? But with the same pattern as the previous one?"
"Golem Acache's effect activates! When it is Link Summoned, I can add a 'Witchcrafter' card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Witchcrafter Collaboration to my hand." Merlin smirked. "Golem Acache's additional effect activates! Once per turn, during the Main Phase, I can discard a Spell Card to make Golem Acache's attack points equal to double its original attack points until my next Standby Phase!" Cassiel's eyes widened. "I discard Witchcrafter Collaboration!"
Witchcrafter Golem Acache ATK 2600→5200
"I activate the effect of Witchcrafter Genni in the Graveyard! By banishing it and a 'Witchcrafter' Spell Card from my Graveyard, I can activate that Spell Card's effect as Genni's. I banish Genni and Witchcrafter Collaboration. Collaboration's effect lets me target a 'Witchcrafter' monster I control and have it make a second attack during each Battle Phase this turn. In addition, if that monster attacks this turn, you cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step."
Cassiel grit her teeth. That meant she couldn't activate her Set Cyangel Patientia! "I activate the Continuous Spell Card: Witchcrafter Scroll! Once per turn, if my Spellcaster monster destroys your monster in battle, I can draw a card. Battle! Golem Acache attacks Majestic Raphael!" The woman leapt into the air, spinning her hammer.
If this attack went through, then Majestic Raphael would be destroyed, and Golem Acache could attack directly with its second attack. And with her being unable to activate her Set card… she didn't have a choice.
"I activate the effect of Cyangel Sister in my hand!" Cassiel declared. "When my Light Cyberse monster would be destroyed by battle while I have no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can target my monster and prevent its destruction by battle for the rest of the turn and halve all battle damage I take for the rest of the turn!" The doll brought her hammer down and impacted against Majestic Raphael's staff, causing a shockwave that rippled outward and hit Cassiel, making her grunt.
Cassiel: 4800→3650 LP
"Sister is then Special Summoned by its effect!" The black-robed woman reappeared in Defense Position.
Cyangel Sister ATK 1200→1500 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 3
Merlin smirked. Just like he'd hoped. But first- "Acache's second attack! It attacks Majestic Raphael once more!" The woman spun her hammer around again.
"Due to Sister's effect, Majestic Raphael isn't destroyed, and battle damage is halved!" The hammer impacted again and Cassiel winced from the shockwave.
Cassiel: 3650→2500 LP
It was time. "I activate the effect of Witchcrafter Masterpiece in my Graveyard! By banishing it and any number of Spell Cards from my Graveyard, I can Special Summon a 'Witchcrafter' monster whose Level is equal to the number of banished Spell Cards. I banish Masterpiece, Pot of Greed, Witchcrafter Creation, Witchcrafter Draping, and Witchcrafter Unveiling to Special Summon the Level 4 Witchcrafter Schmietta!" A red-haired girl in a loose white shirt and red shorts appeared in Attack Position, a metal staff made of gears across her shoulders.
Witchcrafter Schmietta ATK 1800 DEF 600 LVL: 4
"It is still the Battle Phase, so Schmietta attacks Sister!" The girl charged the gold-skinned woman with a grin and swung her staff, smashing her to pieces. "Since Schmietta destroyed your monster in battle, Witchcrafter Scroll's effect lets me draw one card!"
Cassiel narrowed her eyes. Why had he done that? It got Sister off the field yes, but that just meant it would go back to her Deck. Had he just wanted to draw a card? "Sister's effect activates! It is returned to my Deck and-!"
"I'm sorry, but that won't be happening." Cassiel blinked at the interruption. And the smug smile on Merlin's face. "Golem Acache has one last effect. So long as it remains on the field, you cannot activate the effects of monsters in the Graveyard!"
Cassiel gasped. "What?!"
"She can't activate Sister's effect?!" Cypher exclaimed. "But if she can't-!"
"Then Sister will remain in the Graveyard," Morningstar finished through gritted teeth.
Merlin smirked. "Your Deck truly is powerful. But that power depends on your Graveyard being clean of monsters. But now that Sister is there, the majority of your monsters' effects are sealed."
Cassiel grit her teeth. That… was bad.
"Schmietta's effect activates! During the Main Phase, I can Tribute it and discard Witchcrafter Holiday to Special Summon a 'Witchcrafter' monster from my Deck. Come, Witchcrafter Edel!" The girl disintegrated, replaced by a pink-and-blue haired young woman in a violet dress, holding a giant caliper behind her back in Attack Position.
Witchcrafter Edel ATK 2000 DEF 2300 LVL: 5
"I activate Schmietta's effect in the Graveyard! By banishing it, I can send a 'Witchcrafter' card from my Deck to the Graveyard. I'll send Witchcrafter Patronus to the Graveyard. Edel's effect activates! By Tributing it, I can Special Summon a different Spellcaster monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Witchcrafter Madame Verre!" The pink-haired girl disappeared and was replaced by the blue-haired one in Defense Position at Golem Acache's bottom-right Link Marker.
Witchcrafter Madame Verre ATK 1000 DEF 2800 LVL: 8
"I end my turn. Since my turn has ended and I control a 'Witchcrafter' monster, the effect of Witchcrafter Holiday activates in my Graveyard, letting me add it to my hand." Merlin smirked. "You've fought well, Cassiel. But as we stand, your Deck has been crippled. Of course, I don't actually expect this to slow you for long, so please do your best."
Cassiel grit her teeth. Her best, huh? It was true she had options around this, but actually getting ahold of them was the issue right now. Even so…
"I'm not to give up here," she muttered. "Not after Lilith and Blue Maiden lost. They went all out for what they believed. So I'll do the same! My turn! Draw! I activate the Spell Card: Congregation of the Cyangels!" The card showed the inside of a chapel, with the pews filled with Cyangel Choirs and Sisters, and Cyangel Priest standing at the front of the chapel. "By sending a 'Cyangel' card I control to the Graveyard, I can draw two cards. I send Cyangel Industria to the Graveyard and draw!" Cassiel drew and looked at her cards. She frowned. These cards could work but only in certain circumstances. Would he… Yes, this could work.
"I activate the Spell Card: Cyangel Prayer!" Cassiel declared. "As I control a Light Cyberse Link Monster, I can add a 'Cyangel' monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Priest to my hand and Summon it!" A bald, gold-skinned man in gold robes appeared.
Cyangel Priest ATK 1600→1900 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 4
I could Link Summon Cyseraph Throne and use its effect to return Sister to my Deck, Cassiel thought. But that would leave Cyangel Priest in my Graveyard; I'd be in the same position I started in. "Appear, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two or more Light Cyberse monsters. I set Priest and Link-3 Majestic Raphael in the Link Markers!" Her monsters entered the top, bottom, left, and right arrows.
Merlin's eyes narrowed. Here it comes.
"The commander of the armies of heaven! Link Summon! Appear! Link-4! Cyseraph Guardian Michael!" A golden angel in white armor trimmed in gold emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, eight metal wings at his back and a longsword in his right hand.
Cyseraph Guardian Michael ATK 3000→3300 LINK-4 ←↑↓→
"Normally, Priest would return to your Deck," Merlin noted. "But because of Golem Acache's effect, it remains in the Graveyard."
Cassiel grimaced at the reminder. "I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cyangel Crosier and equip it to Guardian Michael!" A golden staff topped with a cross and two snakes facing said cross appeared, which the archangel gripped in his left hand. "While Crosier is equipped to Guardian Michael, it gains 500 attack points, cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, and I take no battle damage from battles involving Guardian Michael."
Cyseraph Guardian Michael ATK 3300→3800
"I end my turn."
Merlin smiled. "You brought out your Link-4 monster. Its effects are very dangerous… if you have no 'Cyangel' monsters in the Graveyard." Even so, it still has an effect that can negate any effect that targets her cards. I'll have to do something about that.
"My turn! Draw! During my Standby Phase, Golem Acache's effect ends and its attack points return to normal."
Witchcrafter Golem Acache ATK 5200→2600
Merlin's smile turned into a smirk. "Considering you did not attack, I assume you know what I'm about to do next?" Cassiel's eyes narrowed, confirming his suspicions. "I activate the effect of Witchcrafter Patronus in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can return any number of my banished 'Witchcrafter' Spell Cards to my hand, so long as they have different names. I'll add Witchcrafter Collaboration, Creation, Draping, and Unveiling to my hand."
"And now he has five 'Witchcrafter' Spell Cards in his hand," Terminus noted.
"So long as Crosier is equipped to Guardian Michael, it cannot be destroyed and Cassiel takes no battle damage," Playmaker said. "Which means Merlin will need to get rid of it."
"But even if Guardian Michael can be affected by other cards, it can still negate a targeting effect," Ai pointed out. The Dark Ignis's eyes narrowed. "Which means…"
"I activate the Spell Card: Witchcrafter Holiday!" Merlin continued. "I Special Summon a 'Witchcrafter' monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Haine!" The silver-haired woman in black reappeared in Attack Position at Golem Acache's bottom Link Marker.
Witchcrafter Haine ATK 2400 DEF 1000 LVL: 7
"Madame Verre's effect activates! I discard Witchcrafter Creation to negate the effects of your face-up monsters until the end of the turn!" Merlin smirked. "Guardian Michael is normally unaffected by my card effects, but since you have 'Cyangel' monsters in your Graveyard, it is affected by Madame Verre's effect." Cassiel grimaced at the reminder. "And with your Link Monster's effects negated, I can now target your cards with impunity. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Witchcrafter Draping! This lets me target Spell and Trap Cards you control, up to the number of 'Witchcrafter' monsters I control, and return them to your hand!" Cassiel's eyes widened. "I control three monsters, so I'll return Cyangel Crosier, Cyangel Covenant, and Cyangel Sanctum to your hand!" Guardian Michael's staff disappeared at the Enforcer's words.
Cyseraph Guardian Michael ATK 3800→3000
"With Crosier no longer on the field, Cassiel will take battle damage from attacks now," Morningstar growled.
"But Merlin left Cassiel's Set card," Cypher pointed out. "Since she hasn't activated it yet, I'm assuming it's a Trap Card that can only be activated when attacked; Cyangel Patientia or Cyangel Shield perhaps."
"Golem Acache's effect activates! I discard Witchcrafter Unveiling to double its attack points until my next Standby Phase!"
Witchcrafter Golem Acache ATK 2600→5200
"I activate the Spell Card: Witchcrafter Collaboration and target Golem Acache! For the rest of the turn, Golem Acache can make a second attack during each Battle Phase and if it attacks, you cannot activate Spell or Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step."
"That takes care of her Set card," Terminus muttered.
"Golem Acache will destroy Guardian Michael," Merlin said, "and then attack you directly. This duel will end then." He smiled sadly. "I must admit this was a fun duel. Seeing how far you have come was very enlightening. But I'm afraid your journey ends here, Cassiel.
"Battle! Golem Acache attacks Guardian Michael!" The doll leapt into the air and swung her hammer down.
Cassiel frowned. "Yes. I have come a long way," she whispered. "I'm no longer the girl I used to be; the girl who trapped herself in her own mind. But… even though I've come a long way…" She raised her head and glared defiantly. "I still have much farther to go! When your monster declares an attack, I can activate the effect of Cyangel Cardinal in my hand!"
Merlin's eyes widened. "What?"
"Cardinal's effect targets a monster on the field! Since Haine's effect keeps me from targeting your other Spellcaster monsters, I'll target her!" The woman blinked as a golden light formed around her. "The targeted monster, and all monsters in my Graveyard, are then returned to our Decks!"
"What?!"
Playmaker gasped. "That means-!"
"Her Graveyard is clear again," Morningstar said with a smirk.
"Haine returns to your Deck!" The silver-haired woman disintegrated. "Cyangel Priest, Cyangel Sister, and Majestic Raphael are then returned to my Deck and Extra Deck. Finally, Cardinal's effect Special Summons itself!" A gold-skinned man appeared in Defense Position at Guardian Michael's bottom Link Marker. He wore a white choir dress under a scarlet cassock, and a red biretta on top of his bald head. His solid blue eyes gleamed as cybernetics crisscrossed his face and golden wings emerged from his back.
Cyangel Cardinal ATK 2500 DEF 700 LVL: 7
Merlin stared in surprise before smiling. "Very impressive, Cassiel; you managed to bring out a new monster and return your old ones to your Deck. But I'm afraid it's too late to save Guardian Michael. Golem Acache resumes its attack!" The doll brought her hammer down, which the archangel blocked with his sword. But the sword held for only a few seconds before it broke in two and the hammer struck the angel's chest, making him explode. Cassiel cried out as she was pushed back by the shockwave.
Cassiel: 2500→300 LP
"Cardinal's effect saved you from defeat, but you forgot one detail: when Golem Acache destroys it, Cardinal will go to your Graveyard, and you'll be right back where you started. Golem Acache attacks Cardinal!" The woman swung her hammer, only for Cardinal to raise his right hand and make a golden barrier appear that blocked the hammer. "What?"
Cassiel smirked. "The turn Cardinal is summoned by its own effect, it cannot be destroyed by battle. My Graveyard remains clear."
Merlin blinked and then smirked. "And since you returned Haine to my Deck, and Madame Verre is in Defense Position, it seems there's nothing I can do.
"…Or is there?"
Cassiel tensed as Merlin shifted his stance. He put his left foot forward and his right foot perpendicular at the side. He rotated his left arm so that his Duel Disk was upside down and held out his right hand, palm facing Cassiel. The older man smirked.
"It's time to take this seriously. Jester already unveiled our ultimate weapon; now it's my turn."
Cassiel's eyes widened as green light encased Merlin and shot outwards, blinding her.
"Ah!" Pigeon cried out.
"This light is like what Jester did!" Frog remembered.
"This is-!"
"Another one!"
Revolver and Terminus both grit their teeth.
The light faded and Cassiel was finally able to see. A dark green aura wrapped around Merlin's body, while lines of the same color ran up and down his kimono, jacket, and his hakama pants before converging on his chest in the shape of an infinity symbol. Smaller lines framed his face, traveling down from his ears to the sides of his beard. The man's emerald-green irises were the same as before, only now his sclera had turned black.
Cassiel stared in shock before gritting her teeth. "This is what Jester used against Lilith," she muttered.
"The Infinity Transformation," Morningstar whispered.
Merlin smiled. "It's good to know you recognize the importance of what this means," he said, his voice echoing like Jester's had. "And since I have now transformed, I can do this." He held out his right hand as a green infinity symbol appeared on the back. "I activate my Skill! Once per Duel, I can add any one card from my Deck to my hand! Infinity Draw!" He drew, a trail of green light following the card. The man looked at the card, then said, "I Set one card. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Witchcrafter Creation and Witchcrafter Unveiling return to my hand due to their effects."
Cassiel blinked. He used his Infinity Transformation just to get a card to Set? If that was the case… then that card must be a game changer of sorts. But even so…
She placed her hand on her Deck. "I don't know what you're planning, but I won't give up! My turn! Draw! I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cyangel Crosier and equip it to Cardinal!" The staff reappeared, this time in Cardinal's right hand. "While equipped with Crosier, Cardinal gains 500 attack points, cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, and I take no damage from battles involving it."
Cyangel Cardinal ATK 2500→3000
"However, Cyangel Crosier has one more effect! Once per turn, if I have no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can target a card you control and negate its effects until the end of the turn, even if Crosier leaves the field!"
Merlin's eyes widened. "Golem Acache's effect negates the effects of monsters in the Graveyard," Morningstar said with a smirk. "If it's negated…"
"Then Cassiel will be able to use her Deck's full power," Cypher finished smugly.
"I target Golem Acache for Crosier's effect!"
"Nice try, but you'll need to do more than that!" Merlin declared. "I activate the effect of Witchcrafter Golem Aruru in my hand! When you activate a card or effect that targets my Spellcaster monster or attack my Spellcaster monster, I can target a card you control or a 'Witchcrafter' Spell Card in my Graveyard!" The older man smirked. "Golem Aruru is then Special Sumoned and the targeted card is returned to the hand!"
Cassiel's eyes widened. "I target Cyangel Cardinal and Special Summon Golem Aruru!" A new pale doll with solid blue eyes and long blonde hair appeared, wearing black, white, and orange robes and a hat, holding a pair of scissors in her left hand and a large hammer in her right. The doll spun at Golem Acache's bottom-left Link Marker in Attack Position.
Witchcrafter Golem Aruru ATK 2800 DEF 0 LVL: 8
"Cyangel Cardinal now returns to your hand!" The robed man disintegrated at Merlin's words. "And since the monster it was equipped to left the field, Cyangel Crosier is now in the Graveyard, so its effect cannot resolve." Merlin smirked. "Which means that Golem Acache retains its effects."
"Damn it!" Ai cursed. "She was so close!"
"But that isn't your only concern," Merlin continued. "Continuous Trap activate! Linked Spell Barrier!" The card showed three Link portals floating in the air, and underneath them several sorcerers stood with their staffs raised. Magical red chains interlaced between the three portals. "When this card is activated, I target a Spellcaster Link Monster I control. Then, I place Spell Counters on it equal to that monster's Link Rating, in addition to the number of my monsters it points to. I target Golem Acache, which points to Madame Verre and Golem Aruru, which means Linked Spell Barrier gains 5 Spell Counters!"
Linked Spell Barrier: 0 SC→5 SC
"While Linked Spell Barrier is on the field, I take no damage from battles involving your monsters," Merlin said. "Unless those monsters are Link Monsters with a higher or equal Link Rating to the number of Spell Counters on Linked Spell Barrier." He smirked. "Since it has five Spell Counters, I can only take damage from Link-5 or higher monsters."
Cassiel's eyes widened. "Link-5 or higher?" Soulburner repeated.
"Hey, doesn't Cassiel-?"
"She does." Playmaker interrupted Ai's question. "Cassiel, along with Morningstar and presumably Zahhak, is in possession of a Link-5 monster. But…"
That is the card he added to his hand with Infinity Draw, Playmaker thought. There are three reasons he would choose that card over every other card in his Deck. One: He is unaware that Cassiel has a Link-5 monster and believes he is flawlessly protecting his Life Points.
Two, Morningstar thought, unknowingly following Playmaker's thoughts, Merlin doesn't believe that Cassiel can bring out a Link-5 monster with only a Set card on the field and only four cards in her hand, three of which he knows. Three:
"Merlin wants Cassiel to summon her Link-5," Revolver muttered, finishing Morningstar's and Playmaker's thoughts. But why would he want that?
"Linked Spell Barrier has two more effects," Merlin said. "The first is that so long as I control a Spellcaster monster in the Extra Monster Zone, it cannot be destroyed or destroyed by your card effects. The second is that during my End Phase, I must remove one Spell Counter from it."
Merlin could see the confusion on Cassiel's face. So, it seemed she did have it. But this was not evidence. The Enforcer thought back to Jormungand's orders. The ones he gave Merlin and Jester.
"When Zahhak defeated Morningstar before, he attempted to claim his Link-5 monster, only to fail because Morningstar did not carry it on his person at the time. We cannot afford to let such a coincidence foil our plans again. As such, we need to confirm that Morningstar and Cassiel are carrying their respective Link-5 monsters.
"I have primary and secondary objectives for both of you. Your primary objective in Mirror LINK VRAINS will be to determine if Cassiel and Morningstar possess the monsters we seek. Your secondary objective will be to defeat them and obtain the cards."
Jormungand had said he had faith in their skills, but Morningstar and Cassiel had strong Decks and were good at using them. Merlin hadn't been offended by Jormungand's expectation that they would lose to the two; he knew from experience how powerful the Cydemons were, and the Cyangels and Cyspirits were both able to compete with them.
And with Linked Spell Barrier, Merlin was fulfilling his orders: if Cassiel summoned her Link-5 and won as he expected, then he would confirm she possessed it, at which point Zahhak would defeat her and take it. If she did not summon it, he would defeat her, then find out if she had it when he took her consciousness data. It would be disappointing if she did not have the Link-5, but it would still be a victory, albeit in the short-term.
Simply put, the result of this duel didn't actually matter; once Merlin confirmed she had it, he won. He might lose the battle, but Ouroboros would win the war.
"…Earlier, you said I would understand." Merlin blinked at Cassiel's words, not expecting them. "You said, that as a victim of the Lost Incident, I would understand why you have no faith in humanity."
"I did. And do you?"
"…Yes. I do understand. The Lost Incident stole everything from me. It stole ten years from my life. Ten years that I spent trapped in my own mind." Cassiel frowned. "Before that, I lost my parents in a fire. I barely remember them. No words or voices; just faces, expressions. I know how senseless and cruel the world can be. It takes everything from us. Everything we build, everything we cherish… Eventually, the world takes them from us."
"…So you do understand. And? Have you reached the same conclusion I did?"
"…No, I haven't." Merlin blinked again at that answer as his opponent's frown turned into a smile. "Yes, I've lost a great deal. But I've also gained so much more. I will never appreciate what was done to me during the Lost Incident, but it was because of that experience that I met Morningstar. It was because of our shared pain that I met Playmaker and Soulburner. It was through them that I met Lilith and Blue Maiden. And if I had to choose between never meeting them and never feeling the pain from those six months… then I would go through the Lost Incident all over again, just so I could meet them."
"Cassiel," Morningstar whispered. Playmaker, Revolver, Soulburner, and Terminus all frowned.
"Yes, to live is to suffer. But it is also to experience. And I would not trade my experiences for anything." Cassiel's smile widened. "I'm not going to wallow in fear anymore. I'm not the girl trapped by her trauma. I'm someone who's going to fight at her friends' sides. Someone who's going to fight for the people she loves!"
Love. Cassiel thought that was a strange word. How did you know if you loved someone? How did you know what kind of love it was? Did she love Cam? Of course she did. He was her most important person, her big brother, even if his protective streak got annoying at times. Did she love Yasu? She was confident enough to say that she did. But did she love him as family or something else? Something more? She knew her feelings regarding him were different than her feelings about Cam. Was that romantic love? Or was it familial? Cassiel didn't know.
But she wanted to find out.
She wanted to live out her days with the people she loved, with the friends she had gained on this journey she'd been on the past few months. She didn't want to wallow in the past, but to look towards the future. She didn't want the ones she loved to look at her like they needed to protect her; she wanted them to look at her and know she could protect them.
She didn't want to stand behind Yasu and have him protect her; she wanted to stand next to him and confront whatever challenges he faced with him.
"And I'll start by winning this duel!" Cassiel declared. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Reload! I return all cards in my hand to my Deck, then draw the same number of cards! I return three cards to my Deck and draw three new ones!"
Merlin blinked. "What?"
This draw will determine the duel, Cassiel thought as she returned her cards. But… I know I won't lose! "I draw!" She took the three cards, light trailing them, and looked at them. She smiled. This would do.
"I activate the effect of Congregation of the Cyangels in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can add a 'Cyangel' card from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll return Cyangel Crosier to my hand."
"She got that card back," Jester muttered. The Cyangel Deck was truly ridiculous in its recycling capabilities.
"Since there are no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon Cyangel Cupbearer!" The gold-skinned youth with a silver goblet appeared in Attack Position.
Cyangel Cupbearer ATK 1400 DEF 700 LVL: 3
"I equip Crosier to Cupbearer!" The staff reappeared again, this time in Cupbearer's hands.
Cyangel Cupbearer ATK 1400→1900
"I activate Crosier's effect and target Golem Acache! Now until the end of the turn, Golem Acache's effects are negated, even if Crosier leaves the field!" Merlin grit his teeth.
"Now that Golem Acache's effects are negated, Cassiel can activate the effects of monsters in the Graveyard," Flame said.
"She can use her Deck's full power now!" Soulburner said excitedly.
"Even if you can use your monsters' effects, you still can't inflict battle damage without a Link-5 monster," Merlin reminded her. "Can you achieve that as you are now?"
"Let's find out. Appear, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning condition is one Light Cyberse monster. I set Cupbearer in the Link Marker!" Her monster entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyseraph Throne!" A gold man in a blue robe strapped to a six-spoke wheel emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone.
Cyseraph Throne ATK 700 LINK-1 ↓
"Cupbearer's and Throne's effects activate! As Cupbearer was sent to the Graveyard, it is shuffled into my Deck, then I ad a 'Cyangel' monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Trumpeter to my hand. Furthermore, when Throne is Link Summoned, I can return a card in my Graveyard to my Deck. I return Cyangel Crosier to my Deck. I summon Cyangel Trumpeter!" A gold man in a toga holding a trumpet appeared.
Cyangel Trumpeter ATK 1300 DEF 700 LVL: 3
"Trumpeter's effect activates! I add Cyangel Sanctum to my hand. I activate the Field Spell Card: Cyangel Sanctum!"
Cyangel Trumpeter ATK 1300→1600 DEF 700→1000
Cyseraph Throne ATK 700→1000
"I activate Sanctum's effect! By shuffling Cyangel Shield in my hand into my Deck, I can add Cyangel Guard to my hand. Appear once more, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two Light Cyberse monsters. I set Trumpeter and Throne in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyseraph Ophanim!" The gold angel in crimson robes emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, unfurling his four golden wings.
Cyseraph Ophanim ATK 2000→2300 LINK-2 ↑↓
"Throne's and Trumpeter's effects activate! They are shuffled into my Extra Deck and Deck, and then I add a 'Cyangel' card from my Deck to my hand and Special Summon a 'Cyangel' monster from my hand. I add Cyangel Hymn to my hand and Special Summon Cyangel Flagbearer!" A new gold man in medieval armor appeared, wings at his back and a banner in his hands, in Attack Position at Ophanim's bottom Link Marker.
Cyangel Flagbearer ATK 1500→1800 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 4
"Ophanim's effect activates! When a monster is Summoned to its Link Marker, I add a 'Cyangel' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Litany to my hand." Cassiel raised her hand again. "For a third time, the circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two or more Light Cyberse monsters. I set Flagbearer and Link-2 Cyseraph Ophanim in the Link Markers!" Her monsters entered the bottom-left, top, and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cyseraph Blazing Uriel!" A golden archangel with four red and gold wings emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, wearing ornate crimson and gold armor and wielding a longbow of the same colors and design in his left hand.
Cyseraph Blazing Uriel ATK 2500→2800 LINK-3 ↙↑↘
"Flagbearer's and Ophanim's effects activate! They are shuffled into my Deck and Extra Deck, then I target and destroy a Spell or Trap Card you control and gain 1000 Life Points. I destroy Witchcrafter Bystreet!" Merlin's Continuous Spell Card shattered at her words.
Cassiel: 300→1300 LP
Merlin smirked at the destruction of his card. And the summoning of Cassiel's Link Monster. "Ah yes. This is the monster that defeated Techbane in your duel with him. Linked Spell Barrier only prevents battle damage, and it doesn't stop your monsters from attacking. But Blazing Uriel can inflict effect damage if it destroys a monster in battle, and my Trap Card doesn't prevent effect damage. A possible loophole for you to use. But it is one I will close!
"Madame Verre's effect activates! I discard Witchcrafter Creation to negate the effects of all face-up monsters you control until the end of the turn!" Blazing Uriel groaned as his flames dimmed.
"Cassiel's loophole was closed," Playmaker muttered.
"Damn it!" Ai cursed.
But Cassiel was unbothered. "Since there are no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can activate the Spell Card: Cyangel Litany! This lets me target a Spell or Trap Card in my Graveyard and activate its effect as Litany's effect! Furthermore, until my next Standby Phase, my Light Cyberse monsters cannot be targeted or destroyed by your card effects. I target Cyangel Prayer! Since I control a Light Cyberse Link Monster, Cyangel Prayer's effect lets me add a 'Cyangel' monster from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Sister to my hand."
"Cassiel isn't letting the negation of Blazing Uriel's effects get to her," Terminus noted. "Can she really bring out her Link-5?"
"I activate the Spell Card: Cyangel Hymn! Since I have no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I can Normal Summon a 'Cyangel' monster from my hand. Come, Cyangel Sister!" The golden woman in a black habit reappeared.
Cyangel Sister ATK 1200→1500 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 3
"And since I control a Light Cyberse monster, I'll Special Summon Cyangel Guard!" A golden man in a silver cuirass appeared in Attack Position, gold wings flapping behind him.
Cyangel Guard ATK 1900→2200 DEF 700→1000 LVL: 5
"For a fourth time! The circuit of infinite light! The summoning conditions are two Light Cyberse monsters. I set Guard and Sister in the Link Markers!" Her monsters entered the top and bottom arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyseraph Ophanim!" The red and gold angel reappeared at Blazing Uriel's bottom-left Link Marker.
Cyseraph Ophanim ATK 2000→2300 LINK-2 ↑↓
"Guard's and Sister's effects activate! They are shuffled into my Deck, then I draw a card and add a 'Cyangel' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Virtue to my hand and draw!"
Cassiel looked at her card and smiled. "I activate the Spell Card: Cyangel Virtue! As I control a Light Cyberse Link Monster, I can target and destroy a card in your Spell & Trap Zone. I destroy Witchcrafter Scroll!" Merlin frowned as his other Continuous Spell Card disintegrated. "Cyangel Virtue then lets me add a new 'Cyangel' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyangel Conclave to my hand. As I have no 'Cyangel' monsters in my Graveyard, I activate the Spell Card: Cyangel Conclave!" The card showed the interior of a massive hall, with thirteen chairs in a circle and each chair occupied by Cyangel Cardinals. At the far end of the hall was a stained-glass window of six figures with four wings each. "I target a Light Cyberse Link Monster I control and then Special Summon a Light Cyberse Link Monster from my Extra Deck with the same Link Rating as that monster. I target Link-3 Blazing Uriel to Special Summon Cyseraph Melodic Sandalphon!" A golden archangel appeared at Blazing Uriel's bottom-right Link Marker. This one wore a white coat underneath dark brown and silver armor, with four white wings at his back and tousled brown hair on his head.
Cyseraph Melodic Sandalphon ATK 2300→2600 LINK-3 ←↓→
"The monster Special Summoned by Cyangel Conclave has its effects negated and it is destroyed during the End Phase."
Merlin narrowed his eyes. "This is…"
"She now has three Cyseraph monsters out," Morningstar realized.
"The conditions have been met," Cypher confirmed.
Cassiel closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened them again, then raised her right hand. "Appear for the final time, the circuit of infinite light!" Her hand shone with blinding golden light as the Link portal appeared on the field. But unlike the previous portals, this one filled out the entire field, centered on the same Extra Monster Zone as Blazing Uriel. Merlin's eyes widened as he took in the size of the open portal.
Lightning blinked. "What is this?"
"Arrowheads confirmed!" Cassiel chanted. "The summoning conditions are three or more Light Cyberse Link Monsters! I set Ophanim, Melodic Sandalphon, and Link-3 Blazing Uriel in the Link Markers!" All of her monsters leapt into the sky, where they turned into golden energy. The energy shot down towards the Link Markers, impacting the arrows. Top. Left. Right. Bottom-Left. Bottom-Right. The arrows turned red, and once all lit up, so did the circuit, creating a pillar of golden energy that shot upwards.
"Ah!" Pigeon cried out, shocked by the wind coming from the pillar. "Boss, this is-!"
"I know! Keep filming!"
Merlin watched in wonder as energy pulsed from the pillar. His eyes widened even further when he saw the effect they had; the village around them was breaking apart, into data and light. Before his eyes, their surroundings vanished and soon they stood on a flat digital island.
The pillar shrunk, constrained to the Extra Monster Zone, though orbs of light floated around the field, reminders of the power of the creature within the pillar. Cassiel stood, her hair whipping around her, and faced Merlin without doubt. Without fear.
"Circuit combine!" she declared. "The strength of Him above that lends itself to humanity! Link Summon! Appear! Link-5! Cyseraph Divine Gabriel!"
Twelve wings shot out of the sides of the pillar. They were made of metal feathers and seemed to be gold-colored, but then they started to shift, becoming an aurora of multiple colors that constantly changed. Gold became blue, which became red, which became white, which became violet, which became green, which became brown, which became silver. Then the pillar faded and revealed the rest of the monster.
The archangel was massive, reaching the same height as Superior Seraphim. It was female, with golden skin and a perfect face, eyes a solid azure blue with a golden light in the centers. Its hair was long, blonde, and curly, reaching the middle of her back and topped by a golden wreath. Her body was covered in plain white robes and golden stoles, emblazoned with images of white doves and white crosses. A golden cord was looped around her waist, and a slit in her robes revealed her golden thighs and calves, her feet covered by bronze sandals. Her arms were covered by the sleeves of her robe, though her wrists were exposed, showing off silver bracelets. In her right hand, she held a shepherd's crook made of wood, with silver bands near the bottom and middle. The female archangel smiled softly as she spread her shining and constantly shifting wings from the Extra Monster Zone.
Cyseraph Divine Gabriel ATK 3500→3800 LINK-5 ←↙↑↘→
"That's… the Link-5 Cypher made for the Cyangels?" Ai wondered.
"It seems like it," Playmaker breathed. Even through the broadcast, he could feel the power and authority behind this monster. It was steel and grace, interwoven behind a beautiful face. This was an existence close to the gods, created to stand on par with the strongest of the Cyspirits.
"…It's beautiful."
Lightning's eye twitched. "I was aware of Morningstar's Link-5 monster," he muttered. "But she has one too?"
"…So she does have it," Zahhak whispered. He clenched his right fist as red sparks flew. "Perfect."
Merlin stared at the monster in front of him. The twelve-winged archangel was beauty and grace personified. But that same beauty hid the immense power he could feel coming from it. He smiled. So she does have her Link-5. My loss is almost certain now, but I've confirmed its presence. My mission has been fulfilled.
"Very impressive," he said aloud. "I knew you possessed a monster like this… but I wasn't expecting it to be quite like this."
Cassiel smiled. Something about this monster… it was calming to her. She didn't have a Link Sense like Yasu or Yusaku did, but she felt even more confident than before with Divine Gabriel on the field. And for a very good reason.
"Divine Gabriel's effect activates!" she declared. "When it is Link Summoned, I can target and return up to three Light Cyberse Link Monsters in my Graveyard to my Extra Deck. I'll return Blazing Uriel, Melodic Sandalphon, and Guardian Michael to my Extra Deck!"
Cypher chuckled. "Now that Divine Gabriel is out on the field, Cassiel's won this. And just like how Superior Seraphim gains effects differently from the other Cyspirit monsters, so too does Divine Gabriel gain effects when compared to the other Cyseraphs."
Cassiel put her cards back, then looked up. "So long as Divine Gabriel is on the field, I must play with the cards in my Extra Deck revealed," she said.
Merlin blinked. "You do? But why?"
"Because for each different Light Cyberse Link Monster in my Extra Deck, Divine Gabriel unlocks more of its effects!" Cassiel revealed, making Merlin gasp. "If there are three or more different Light Cyberse Link Monsters in my Extra Deck, then Divine Gabriel is unaffected by your card effects, and you cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of its effects!"
"The majority of the Cyangels and Cyseraphs work by recycling each other," Cypher explained. "They ensure they stay out of the Graveyard. That is a flaw that can be exploited as Merlin showed, but Divine Gabriel becomes stronger not by keeping monsters out of the Graveyard, but by keeping monsters in the Extra Deck."
"If there are four or more, then you cannot activate cards or effects when Divine Gabriel battles until the end of the Damage Step! If there are six or more, my linked cards are unaffected by your card effects!"
Merlin blinked again. "You skipped five," he pointed out.
"That's because that one is an activated effect," Cassiel revealed with a smirk. "Divine Gabriel's effect activates! Once per turn, when I have five or more Light Cyberse Link Monsters in my Extra Deck, I can declare either Monster, Spell, or Trap Cards, and until the end of the turn, you cannot activate the effects of cards of the type I declare!"
"What?!"
"I declare Monster Cards! So you cannot activate the effects of Monster Cards until the end of the turn!" A pulse was released from Divine Gabriel's crook, impacting Madame Verre and Golem Acache, making them groan.
"That means Merlin cannot use Madame Verre's effect to increase Golem Acache's attack points," Revolver realized.
Merlin grit his teeth. "Even if I can't activate Madame Verre's effects, Golem Acache still has 5200 attack points to your monsters' 3800. You'll need more than that to win!"
"I know. Which is why I'll do this! Divine Gabriel's additional effect activates! Once per turn, if there are seven or more Light Cyberse Link Monsters in my Extra Deck, I can banish one Light Cyberse Link Monster from my Extra Deck, and until my next Standby Phase, Divine Gabriel gains attack points equal to that monster's original attack points!"
"What?!"
"I banish Guardian Michael to increase Divine Gabriel's attack points by 3000!" The woman's crook pulsed again, only this time the pulse washed over the archangel and made her glow even more.
Cyseraph Divine Gabriel ATK 3800→6800
"This is the end!" Cassiel declared. "Battle! Divine Gabriel attacks Golem Acache! Sacrament of the Unveiled World!" The archangel brought her crook in front of her and tapped it on the ground. A wave of golden light went across the field as Divine Gabriel's wings unfurled, their multicolored light intensifying.
Merlin watched as a sphere of golden energy gathered in the hook of the crook. He closed his eyes as the sphere was launched in a beam at his field. The golden light consumed Golem Acache and Madame Verre before it continued to him. Merlin was knocked off his feet and landed on his back, his eyes still closed.
Merlin: 900→0 LP
"Yes, she won!" Soulburner cheered. Morningstar and Playmaker smiled. Cam breathed a sigh of relief.
"As expected," Cypher said smugly. "My Cyangels are unstoppable."
Jester tilted his head and chuckled. "So Cassiel does hold the Link-5 Cyseraph. Which means now, I have to confirm that Morningstar holds the Link-5 Cyspirit." His mask's eyeholes gleamed blue. "I look forward to it."
Merlin opened his eyes and stared up at the sky. "Well done," he said. "It is clear to me that you have mastered the Cyangels. Perhaps you will give Zahhak the challenge he seeks."
"I don't care about that," Cassiel told him, walking up to him. "What I want to make sure that me and my friends come through this alive. So that we can live our lives as we choose."
Merlin smiled and closed his eyes again as his body turned blue. "That's not a bad dream, Cassiel. But reality is rarely so kind. I find myself wondering… you broke before. What's to stop you from breaking again?"
You said you wanted to experience life. That the beauty you experienced was worth the pain you suffered. I wonder… will you still feel that way when Jormungand wins?
The girl watched as the man disappeared into blue light, logged out of Mirror LINK VRAINS. "What's stopping me?" she whispered. "That's easy: Morningstar and my brother. They'll pull me back from the brink. And if either of them should fall, then I'll pull them back myself." She closed her eyes and smiled. "That's what it means to have people you love; you support each other. I'll support them, and they'll support me."
Cassiel vs. Merlin
This Duel is conducted as a Master Duel.
Turn 1: Cassiel
Cassiel Normal Summons Cyangel Trumpeter (1300/700/3). As Trumpeter was Normal Summoned, Cassiel can add Cyangel Sanctum from her Deck to her hand. Cassiel activates the Field Spell Card Cyangel Sanctum, which increases the ATK/DEF of her Light Cyberse monsters by 300 (Trumpeter: 1300→1600/700→1000). Cassiel activates Sanctum's effect to shuffle 1 card in her hand into her Deck, then add 1 Cyberse monster from her Deck to her hand. Cassiel shuffles Cyangel Disciple into her Deck and adds Cyangel Cupbearer to her hand. As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel Special Summons Cupbearer (1400→1700/700→1000/3) in Attack Position. Cassiel uses Cupbearer and Trumpeter to Link Summon Cyseraph Ophanim (2000→2300/2/↑↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Cupbearer and Trumpeter were sent to the GY, Cassiel shuffles them into her Deck, then she can Special Summon 1 "Cyangel" monster from her hand and add 1 "Cyangel" monster from her Deck to her hand. She Special Summons Cyangel Cherub (1800→2100/700→1000/4) to Ophanim's bottom Link Marker in Attack Position and adds Cyangel Sister to her hand. As a monster was Special Summoned to its Link Marker, Ophanim's effect activates, letting Cassiel add 1 "Cyangel" Spell/Trap Card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Cyangel Covenant to her hand. Cassiel uses Cherub and Link-2 Ophanim to Link Summon Cyseraph Righteous Raguel (2400→2700/3/↙↓↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Cherub and Ophanim were sent to the GY, their effects activate, and Cassiel shuffles them into her Deck and Extra Deck, then she can Special Summon 1 "Cyangel" monster from her Deck in Defense Position and gain 1000 LP. She Special Summons Cyangel Abbot (2400→2700/700→1000/7) to Righteous Raguel's bottom Link Marker (Cassiel: 4000→5000 LP). Cassiel activates the Continuous Spell Card Cyangel Covenant. If her Light Cyberse monster battles Merlin's monster and she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel's monster will gain ATK equal to the original ATK of the monster it is battling until the end of the Damage Step. Cassiel Sets 1 card. She ends her turn.
Turn 2: Merlin
Merlin draws. He activates the Spell Card Pot of Greed, which lets him draw 2 cards. Merlin activates the Spell Card Witchcrafter Creation, which lets him add 1 "Witchcrafter" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Witchcrafter Madame Verre to his hand. Merlin activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Witchcrafter Unveiling, which lets him Special Summon 1 "Witchcrafter" monster from his hand, then for the rest of the turn, Cassiel cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of Merlin's Spellcaster monster effects. He Special Summons Witchcrafter Madame Verre (1000/2800/8) in Defense Position. Merlin activates Madame Verre's effect to discard 1 Spell Card to negate the effects of all face-up monsters Cassiel currently controls until the end of the turn. He discards Witchcrafter Bystreet. Merlin Normal Summons Witchcrafter Potterie (0/2000/2). He activates Potterie's effect, Tributing it and discarding Witchcrafter Draping to Special Summon 1 "Witchcrafter" monster from his Deck. He Special Summons Witchcrafter Haine (2400/1000/7) in Attack Position. Merlin activates Haine's effect, discarding Witchcrafter Weaponry to target and destroy 1 face-up card Cassiel controls. He destroys Cyangel Sanctum (Abbot: 2700→2400/1000→700) (Righteous Raguel: 2700→2400). Merlin Sets 1 card. As Merlin has no cards in his hand, he banishes Potterie from his GY to target 1 "Witchcrafter" card in his GY and add it to his hand. He adds Witchcrafter Weaponry to his hand. Merlin activates the Equip Spell Card Witchcrafter Weaponry, equipping it to Haine. Haine cannot be destroyed by card effects, and if it attacks Cassiel's Special Summoned monster, Merlin can return that monster to Cassiel's hand and inflict damage equal to that monster's original ATK.
Haine attacks Righteous Raguel. Witchcrafter Weaponry's effect activates, returning Righteous Raguel to Cassiel's Extra Deck (Cassiel: 5000→2600 LP). Merlin ends his turn, and as he controls a "Witchcrafter" monster, the effects of Witchcrafter Bystreet and Witchcrafter Draping activate in his GY, letting him place the former face-up in his Spell & Trap Zone and add the latter to his hand. While Witchcrafter Bystreet is on the field, the first time each "Witchcrafter" monster Merlin controls would be destroyed by battle or card effect each turn, that monster is not destroyed.
Turn 3: Cassiel
Cassiel draws. She activates the effect of Cyangel Martyr in her hand, targeting Abbot. Abbot is destroyed, then Martyr is Special Summoned (2300/700/6) in Attack Position. As Abbot was sent to the GY, its effect activates, and Cassiel shuffles it into her Deck, then she can target 1 monster Merlin controls and negate its effects until the end of the turn. She targets Haine, but Merlin chains Haine's effect, discarding Witchcrafter Draping to target and destroy Cyangel Covenant. Cassiel activates her Set Continuous Trap Card Cyangel Industria, which lets her add 1 "Cyangel" Spell/Trap Card from her GY to her hand once per turn. Cassiel activates Industria's effect to add Cyangel Sanctum to her hand. Cassiel activates the Field Spell Card Cyangel Sanctum (Martyr: 2300→2600/700→1000). Cassiel activates Sanctum's effect, shuffling Cyangel Prophet in her hand into her Deck to add Cyangel Cupbearer to her hand. As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel Special Summons Cyangel Cupbearer (1400→1700/700→1000/3) in Attack Position. Cassiel uses Cupbearer to Link Summon Cyseraph Throne (700→1000/1/↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Cupbearer was sent to the GY, Cassiel shuffles it into her Deck, then adds Cyangel Guard to her hand. As Throne was Link Summoned, Cassiel can target 1 card in her GY and return it to her Deck. She returns Cyangel Covenant to her Deck. As she controls a Light Cyberse monster, Cassiel Special Summons Cyangel Guard (1900→2200/700→1000/5) in Attack Position. Cassiel uses Guard and Throne to Link Summon Cyseraph Ophanim (2000→2300/2/↑↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Guard and Throne were sent to the GY, their effects activate, and Cassiel shuffles them into her Deck and Extra Deck. She then draws 1 card and can add 1 "Cyangel" card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Cyangel Covenant to her hand. Cassiel Normal Summons Cyangel Sister (1200→1500/700→1000/3) to Ophanim's bottom Link Marker. As a monster was Summoned to its Link Marker, Ophanim's effect activates, letting Cassiel add 1 "Cyangel" Spell/Trap Card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Cyangel Patientia to her hand. Cassiel uses Martyr and Link-2 Ophanim to Link Summon Cyseraph Majestic Raphael (2600→2900/3/←↑↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Martyr and Ophanim were sent to the GY, their effects activate, and Cassiel shuffles them into her Deck and Extra Deck. She can then target 1 Light Cyberse monster she controls and make that monster unaffected by Merlin's card effects until her next Standby Phase and gain 1000 LP. She targets Majestic Raphael (Cassiel: 2600→3600 LP). Cassiel activates Majestic Raphael's effect, targeting Sister as she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY. Sister is returned to Cassiel's hand, then Cassiel gains LP equal to Sister's original ATK and Majestic Raphael gains the same amount of ATK until the end of the turn (Cassiel: 3600→4800 LP) (Majestic Raphael: 2900→4100). Cassiel activates the Continuous Spell Card Cyangel Covenant.
Majestic Raphael attacks Haine. Merlin activates his Set Trap Card Witchcrafter Masterpiece, which lets him target 1 Spell Card in either GY as he controls a "Witchcrafter" monster. Merlin can then add 1 card with the same name as the targeted card from his Deck to his hand. He targets Witchcrafter Creation and adds a 2nd Witchcrafter Creation to his hand. As Cassiel's Light Cyberse monster is battling Merlin's monster and she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Covenant's effect increases Majestic Raphael's ATK by Haine's original ATK until the end of the Damage Step (Majestic Raphael: 4100→6500). As his Spellcaster monster is battling Cassiel's monster, Merlin activates Madame Verre's effect to reveal any number of different Spell Cards in his hand, and for each Spell Card, his battling monster gains 1000 ATK/DEF until the end of the turn. Merlin reveals Witchcrafter Creation (Haine: 2400→3400). The attack continues, but Haine is not destroyed due to Bystreet's effect (Merlin: 4000→900 LP) (Majestic Raphael: 6500→4100). Cassiel Sets 1 card. She ends her turn, and Majestic Raphael's and Madame Verre's effects end (Haine: 3400→2400/2000→1000) (Majestic Raphael: 4100→2900).
Turn 4: Merlin
Merlin draws. He activates the Spell Card Witchcrafter Creation, which lets him add 1 "Witchcrafter" monster from his Deck to his hand. He adds Witchcrafter Genni to his hand. Merlin Normal Summons Witchcrafter Genni (300/500/1). Merlin uses Genni, Haine, and Madame Verre to Link Summon Witchcrafter Golem Acache (2600/3/↙↓↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Golem Acache was Link Summoned, Merlin can add 1 "Witchcrafter" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Witchcrafter Collaboration to his hand. Merlin activates Golem Acache's effect to discard 1 Spell to make its ATK double its original ATK until his next Standby Phase. He discards Witchcrafter Collaboration (Madame Aachen: 2600→5200). Merlin activates the effect of Genni in his GY, banishing it and Witchcrafter Collaboration from his GY to activate Collaboration's effect as Genni's. Collaboration's effect lets Merlin target 1 "Witchcrafter" monster he controls, and during each Battle Phase this turn, that monster can make a second attack, and if it attacks, Cassiel cannot activate Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step. He targets Golem Acache. Merlin activates the Continuous Spell Card Witchcrafter Scroll. Once per turn, if his Spellcaster monster destroys a monster by battle, he can draw 1 card.
Golem Acache attacks Majestic Raphael, with Collaboration's effect preventing Cassiel from activating Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step. As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY and her Light Cyberse monster would be destroyed by battle, Cassiel activates the effect of Cyangel Sister in her hand, targeting Majestic Raphael. Majestic Raphael cannot be destroyed by battle for the rest of the turn, and all battle damage Cassiel takes this turn is halved. The attack continues (Cassiel: 4800→3650 LP). Sister is then Special Summoned by its effect (1200→1500/700→1000/3) in Defense Position. Golem Achache attacks Majestic Raphael, but Majestic Raphael isn't destroyed (Cassiel: 3650→2500 LP). Merlin activates the effect of Witchcrafter Masterpiece in his GY, banishing it, the 2nd Witchcrafter Creation, Pot of Greed, Witchcrafter Draping, and Witchcrafter Unveiling to Special Summon 1 "Witchcrafter" monster from his Deck whose Level equals the number of banished Spell Cards. Merlin banished 4 Spell Cards, so he Special Summons Witchcrafter Schmietta (1800/600/4) in Attack Position. Schmietta attacks and destroys Sister. Scroll's effect lets Merlin draw 1 card. Cassiel attempts to activate Sister's effect to shuffle it into her Deck, but so long as Golem Acache is on the field, Cassiel cannot activate any monster effects from her GY. Merlin activates Schmietta's effect, Tributing it and discarding Witchcrafter Holiday to Special Summon 1 "Witchcrafter" monster from her Deck. He Special Summons Witchcrafter Edel (2000/2300/5) in Attack Position. Merlin activates Schmietta's effect in his GY, banishing it to send 1 "Witchcrafter" card from his Deck to the GY. He sends Witchcrafter Patronus to the GY. Merlin activates Edel's effect, Tributing it to target and Special Summon 1 Spellcaster monster from his GY. He Special Summons Madame Verre (1000/2800/8) in Defense Position to Golem Acache's bottom-right Link Marker. Merlin ends his turn. During the End Phase, as he controls a "Witchcrafter" monster, he adds Witchcrafter Holiday from his GY to his hand.
Turn 5: Cassiel
Cassiel draws. She activates the Spell Card Congregation of the Cyangels, which lets her send 1 "Cyangel" card she controls to the GY to draw 2 cards. She sends Cyangel Industria to the GY and draws. As she controls a Light Cyberse Link Monster, Cassiel activates the Spell Card Cyangel Prayer, which lets her add 1 "Cyangel" monster from her Deck to her hand. She adds Cyangel Priest to her hand. Cassiel Normal Summons Cyangel Priest (1600→1900/700→1000/4). Cassiel uses Priest and Link-3 Majestic Raphael to Link Summon Cyseraph Guardian Michael (3000→3300/4/←↑↓→) to the Extra Monster Zone. Cassiel activates the Equip Spell Card Cyangel Crosier, equipping it to Guardian Michael. While Guardian Michael is equipped with Crosier, it gains 500 ATK, cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, and Cassiel takes no battle damage from battles involving it (Guardian Michael: 3300→3800). Cassiel ends her turn.
Turn 6: Merlin
Merlin draws. During his Standby Phase, Golem Acache's ATK returns to normal (Golem Acache: 5200→2600). Merlin activates the effect of Witchcrafter Patronus in his GY, banishing it to target any number of banished different "Witchcrafter" Spell Cards and add them to his hand. He adds Witchcrafter Collaboration, Witchcrafter Creation, Witchcrafter Unveiling, and Witchcrafter Draping to his hand. Merlin activates the Spell Card Witchcrafter Holiday, which lets him target and Special Summon 1 "Witchcrafter" monster in his GY. He Special Summons Haine (2400/1000/7) in Attack Position to Golem Acache's bottom Link Marker. Merlin activates Madame Verre's effect, discarding Witchcrafter Creation to negate the effects of Cassiel's face-up monsters until the end of the turn. He activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Witchcrafter Draping, which lets him target Spell/Trap Cards Cassiel controls, up to the number of "Witchcrafter" monsters he controls and return them to her hand. He controls 3 "Witchcrafter" monsters, so he targets and returns Cyangel Crosier, Cyangel Covenant, and Cyangel Sanctum to her hand (Michael: 3800→3000). Merlin activates Golem Acache's effect, discarding Witchcrafter Unveiling (Golem Acache: 2600→5200). Merlin activates the Spell Card Witchcrafter Collaboration, targeting Golem Acache. Acache can make a 2nd attack this turn, and if it attacks, Cassiel cannot activate Spell/Trap Cards until the end of the Damage Step.
Golem Acache attacks Guardian Michael. As Merlin's monster declared an attack, Cassiel activates the effect of Cyangel Cardinal in her hand, targeting Haine. Haine, and all monsters in Cassiel's GY, are returned to the owners' Decks, then Cyangel Cardinal is Special Summoned. Cyangel Sister, Cyangel Priest, and Majestic Raphael are returned to Cassiel's Deck and Extra Deck, and Haine returns to Merlin's Deck. Cardinal is then Special Summoned (2500/700/7) to Guardian Michael's bottom Link Marker in Defense Position. A replay occurs and Golem Acache attacks and destroys Guardian Michael (Cassiel: 2500→300 LP). Golem Acache attacks Cardinal, but the turn Cardinal is Special Summoned by its effect, it cannot be destroyed by battle. Merlin activates his Infinity Transformation, then activates his Skill Infinity Draw, which lets him add any 1 card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Linked Spell Barrier to his hand. Merlin Sets 1 card. He ends his turn. During the End Phase, the effects of Witchcrafter Creation and Witchcrafter Unveiling in his GY activate, and he adds them to his hand.
Turn 7: Cassiel
Cassiel draws. She activates the Equip Spell Card Cyangel Crosier, equipping it to Cardinal (Cardinal: 2500→3000). As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel activates Crosier's effect to target 1 face-up card Merlin controls and negate its effects until the end of the turn. She targets Golem Acache, but as Cassiel activated a card or effect that targeted a Spellcaster monster he controls, Merlin activates Golem Aruru's effect in his hand, targeting Cardinal. Golem Aruru is Special Summoned (2800/0/8) in Attack Position to Golem Acache's bottom-left Link Marker, and Cardinal returns to Cassiel's hand. As the equipped monster left the field, Cyangel Crosier is sent to the GY. Merlin activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Linked Spell Barrier, which lets him target 1 Spellcaster Link Monster he controls, then place Spell Counters on Linked Spell Barrier equal to that monster's Link Rating + the number of monsters it points to. Golem Acache is Link-3 and points to 2 monsters (Linked Spell Barrier: 0 SC→5 SC). So long as Linked Spell Barrier is on the field, Merlin takes no battle damage from battles involving Cassiel's monsters, unless they are Link Monsters with an equal or higher Link Rating than the number of Spell Counters on Linked Spell Barrier. In addition, so long as Merlin controls a Spellcaster monster in the Extra Monster Zone, Linked Spell Barrier cannot be targeted or destroyed by Cassiel's card effects. During his End Phase, Merlin must remove 1 Spell Counter from Linked Spell Barrier. Cassiel activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Reload, which lets her add all cards in her hand to her Deck and shuffle it, then draw the same number of cards. Cassiel shuffles 3 cards into her Deck, then draws 3 cards. Cassiel activates the effect of Congregration of the Cyangels in her GY, banishing it to add 1 "Cyangel" card from her GY to her hand. She adds Cyangel Crosier to her hand. As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel Special Summons Cyangel Cupbearer (1400/700/3) in Attack Position. Cassiel activates the Equip Spell Card Cyangel Crosier, equipping it to Cupbearer (1400→1900). Cassiel activates Crosier's effect, targeting Golem Acache and negating its effects until the end of the turn. Cassiel uses Cupbearer to Link Summon Cyseraph Throne (700/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Cupbearer was sent to the GY, its effect activates, shuffling it into Cassiel's Deck and letting her add 1 "Cyangel" monster from her Deck to her hand. She adds Cyangel Trumpeter to her hand. As Throne was Link Summoned, Cassiel can target 1 card in her GY and return it to her Deck. She returns Cyangel Crosier to her Deck. Cassiel Normal Summons Cyangel Trumpeter (1300/700/3). As Trumpeter was Normal Summoned, Cassiel adds Cyangel Sanctum from her Deck to her hand. Cassiel activates the Field Spell Card Cyangel Sanctum (Throne: 700→1000) (Trumpeter: 1300→1600/700→1000). Cassiel activates Sanctum's effect, shuffling Cyangel Shield in her hand into her Deck to add Cyangel Guard to her hand. Cassiel uses Trumpeter and Throne to Link Summon Cyseraph Ophanim (2000→2300/2/↑↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Throne and Trumpeter were sent to the GY, their effects activate, shuffling them into the Extra Deck and Deck respectively, then letting Cassiel add 1 "Cyangel" card from her Deck to her hand and Special Summon 1 "Cyangel" monster from her hand. Cassiel adds Cyangel Hymn to her hand and Special Summons Cyangel Flagbearer (1500→1800/700→1000/4) to Ophanim's bottom Link Marker in Attack Position. As a monster was Summoned to its Link Marker, Ophanim's effect lets Cassiel add 1 "Cyangel" Spell/Trap Card from her Deck to her hand. She adds Cyangel Litany to her hand.
Cassiel uses Cyangel Flagbearer and Link-2 Cyseraph Ophanim to Link Summon Cyseraph Blazing Uriel (2500→2800/3/↙↑↘) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Flagbearer and Ophanim were sent to the GY, their effects activate, and they are shuffled into Cassiel's Deck and Extra Deck respectively, then she can target and destroy 1 Spell/Trap Card Merlin controls and gain 1000 LP. She targets and destroys Witchcrafter Bystreet (Cassiel: 300→1300 LP). Merlin activates Madame Verre's effect, discarding Witchcrafter Creation to negate the effects of Cassiel's face-up monsters until the end of the turn. As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel activates the Spell Card Cyangel Litany, which lets her target 1 Spell/Trap Card in her GY and activate its effect as Litany's. Cassiel targets Cyangel Prayer, which lets her add 1 "Cyangel" monster from her Deck to her hand as she controls a Light Cyberse Link Monster. Cassiel adds Cyangel Sister to her hand. As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel activates the Spell Card Cyangel Hymn, which lets her Normal Summon 1 "Cyangel" monster from her hand. She Normal Summons Cyangel Sister (1200→1500/700→1000/3). As she controls a Light Cyberse monster, Cassiel Special Summons Cyangel Guard (1900→2200/700→1000/5) in Attack Position. Cassiel uses Guard and Sister to Link Summon Cyseraph Ophanim (2000→2300/2/↑↓) to Blazing Uriel's bottom-left Link Marker. As Guard and Sister were sent to the GY, their effects activate, and Cassiel shuffles them into her Deck, then she can draw 1 card and add 1 "Cyangel" Spell/Trap Card from her Deck or GY to her hand. She draws and adds Cyangel Virtue to her hand. As she controls a Light Cyberse Link Monster, Cassiel activates Cyangel Virtue, which lets her target and destroy 1 card in her opponent's Spell & Trap Zone, then add 1 "Cyangel" Spell/Trap Card from her Deck to her hand. She targets and destroys Witchcrafter Scroll, then adds Cyangel Conclave to her hand. As she has no "Cyangel" monsters in her GY, Cassiel activates the Spell Card Cyangel Conclave, which lets her target 1 Light Cyberse Link Monster she controls, then Special Summon 1 Light Cyberse Link Monster from her Extra Deck with the same Link Rating but a different name, but its effects are negated, and it is destroyed during the End Phase. Cassiel targets Link-3 Blazing Uriel and Special Summons Cyseraph Melodic Sandalphon (2300→2600/3/←↓→) to Blazing Uriel's bottom-right Link Marker. Cassiel uses Ophanim, Melodic Sandalphon, and Link-3 Blazing Uriel to Link Summon Cyseraph Divine Gabriel (3500→3800/5/←↙↑↘→) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Divine Gabriel was Link Summoned, Cassiel can target up to 3 Light Cyberse Link Monsters in her GY and return them to her Extra Deck. She returns Blazing Uriel, Melodic Sandalphon, and Guardian Michael to her Extra Deck. Divine Gabriel's effect requires Cassiel to play with her Extra Deck revealed, and it gains a number of effects depending on the number of LIGHT Cyberse Link Monsters in her Extra Deck with different names, and as Cassiel has 7 or more, Divine Gabriel has access to all of its effects. As she has at least 5 or more Light Cyberse Link Monsters in her Extra Deck, Cassiel activates Divine Gabriel's effect to declare 1 card type (Monster, Spell, Trap), and for the rest of the turn, Merlin cannot activate the effects of cards of the declared type. She declares Monster Cards. As she has at least 7 Light Cyberse Link Monsters in her Extra Deck, Cassiel activates Divine Gabriel's additional effect to banish 1 Light Cyberse Link Monster from her Extra Deck, and until her next Standby Phase, Divine Gabriel gains ATK equal to that monster's original ATK. Cassiel banishes Guardian Michael (Divine Gabriel: 3800→6800).
Divine Gabriel attacks and destroys Golem Acache (Merlin: 900→0 LP). Cassiel wins.
Merlin:
Witchcrafter Golem Acache (name credit to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC)
Attribute: EARTH Type: [Spellcaster/Link/Effect] ATK 2600 LINK-3 ↙↓↘
2+ Spellcaster monsters
When this card is Link Summoned: You can add 1 "Witchcrafter" card from your Deck to your hand. Once per turn, during the Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can discard 1 Spell; until your next Standby Phase, this card's ATK becomes double its original ATK. Your opponent cannot activate any monster effects in their GY.
Witchcrafter Weaponry Equip Spell Card
Equip only to a "Witchcrafter" monster. The equipped monster cannot be destroyed by card effects. At the start of the Damage Step, if the equipped monster attacks your opponent's Special Summoned monster: You can return that monster to your opponent's hand, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original ATK. You can only use this effect of "Witchcrafter Weaponry" once per turn.
Linked Spell Barrier Continuous Trap Card
When this card is activated: Target 1 Spellcaster Link Monster you control; place Spell Counters on this card, equal to that monster's Link Rating + the number of monsters in your zones it points to (max. 5). You take no battle damage from battles involving your opponent's monsters, unless they are Link Monsters with an equal or higher Link Rating than the number of Spell Counters on this card. If you control a Spellcaster monster in the Extra Monster Zone, this card cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects. During your End Phase, remove 1 Spell Counter from this card.
Cassiel:
Cyangel Martyr (name credit to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC)
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 2300 DEF 700 Level: 6
If this card is in your hand and you have no "Cyangel" monsters in your GY: You can target 1 LIGHT Cyberse monster you control, except "Cyangel Martyr"; destroy it, then Special Summon this card. If this card is sent to the GY: Shuffle this card into your Deck, and if you do, you can target 1 LIGHT Cyberse monster you control; until your next Standby Phase, that monster is unaffected by your opponent's card effects.
Cyseraph Majestic Raphael
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 2600 LINK-3 ←↑↓
2+ LIGHT Cyberse monsters
Once per turn: You can target 1 LIGHT Cyberse monster you control, except "Cyseraph Majestic Raphael"; return that monster to your hand, then gain LP equal to its original ATK and increase this card's ATK by the same amount until the end of the turn. You must have no "Cyangel" monsters in your GY to activate and resolve this effect. If this card points to a "Cyangel" monster, this card cannot be destroyed by your opponent's card effects. If this card is sent from the field to your GY by an opponent's card: You can return this card to the Extra Deck; Special Summon up to 2 "Cyangel" monsters from your Deck in Defense Position. Monsters Special Summoned by this effect cannot activate their effects the turn they are Special Summoned. You can only activate this effect of "Cyseraph Majestic Raphael" once per turn.
Cyangel Cardinal (name credit to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC)
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 2500 DEF 700 Level: 7
When your opponent's monster declares an attack while this card is in your hand: You can target 1 face-up monster on the field; shuffle that monster, and all monsters in your GY, into the Decks, then Special Summon this card, also for the rest of the turn, this card cannot be destroyed by battle. If this card is sent to the GY: You can shuffle this card into your Deck, then target up to 2 cards in the GYs; shuffle them into the Decks. You can only use each "Cyangel Cardinal" effect once per turn.
Cyseraph Divine Gabriel
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 3500 LINK-5 ←↙↑↘→
3+ LIGHT Cyberse Link Monsters
Must be Link Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone and cannot be Summoned by other ways. When this card is Link Summoned: You can target up to 3 LIGHT Cyberse Link Monsters in your GY; return them to your Extra Deck. While this card is on your field, you must keep your Extra Deck revealed. This Link Summoned card gains these effects depending on the number of LIGHT Cyberse Link Monsters in your Extra Deck with different names.
-3+: This card is unaffected by your opponent's card effects. Your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of this card's effects.
-4+: If this linked card battles: Your opponent's cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step.
-5+: Once per turn: You can declare 1 card type (Monster, Spell, or Trap); until the end of the turn, your opponent cannot activate the effects of cards of the declared type.
-6+: Linked cards you control are unaffected by your opponent's card effects.
-7: Once per turn: You can banish 1 LIGHT Cyberse Link Monster from your Extra Deck; until your next Standby Phase, this card gains ATK equal to that monster's original ATK.
Congregation of the Cyangels Normal Spell Card
Target 1 face-up "Cyangel" card you control; send that card to the GY, and if you do, draw 2 cards. You can banish this card from your GY and target 1 "Cyangel" card in your GY, except "Congregation of the Cyangels"; add it to your hand. You can only use 1 "Congregation of the Cyangels" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Cyangel Crosier Equip Spell Card (name credit to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC)
Equip only to a LIGHT Cyberse monster you control. It gains 500 ATK, also it cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects, and you take no battle damage from battles involving it. Once per turn, if you have no "Cyangel" monsters in your GY: You can target 1 face-up card your opponent controls; negate its effects until the end of the turn (even if this card leaves the field).
Cyangel Conclave Normal Spell Card
Activate only if you have no "Cyangel" monsters in your GY. Target 1 LIGHT Cyberse Link Monster you control; Special Summon 1 LIGHT Cyberse Link Monster from your Extra Deck with an equal Link Rating but a different original name, but its effects are negated, and it is destroyed during the End Phase. You can only use 1 "Cyangel Conclave" per turn.
Chapter Preview
Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 68 – Unyielding Terror. On the heroes' side, Playmaker, Revolver, Soulburner, Morningstar, Cassiel, and Terminus are left. On the villains', Lightning, Bohman, Zahhak, and Jester remain. To make up for this disparity, Lightning attempts to break Playmaker, but when he fails, Terminus decides the time is right to avenge his niece…
Question of the Chapter
What are your first impressions of Cyseraph Divine Gabriel?
Author's Notes
Thank you to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC for providing feedback on the OC cards and thank you to SakushiRyu for giving feedback on Divine Gabriel specifically. For those curious, the design of Majestic Raphael is taken from the Persona Raphael in Persona 5, with its skin and armor recolored to fit the other Cyangels' design.
Okay, this chapter took slightly longer than expected; I'd hoped to get it done on the last day of September, but I kept getting distracted. I have seven chapters left to finish writing before the end of the year, so that'll be fun. Other than that, this was an interesting chapter to write.
First, we have Bohman vs. Blue Maiden. Not much to talk about there; I just added commentary from the OCs. More important is the duel between Cassiel and Merlin. Merlin is, as he admits, on the low-end of the Enforcers. Even with an Infinity Transformation, his Deck isn't that powerful, at least compared to Zahhak and Jester. But at the same time, Merlin has been an Enforcer far longer than any of the others and has a great deal of experience as a result. I hope I managed to convey that with how much trouble he gave Cassiel, even though her Deck was much stronger than his.
We also got the debut of the Link-5 Cyseraph Divine Gabriel. Just like how Superior Seraphim gains effects differently from the other Cyspirits, Divine Gabriel gains effects, not from there being no monsters in the Graveyard, but from the number of monsters in her Extra Deck. This did require making the Extra Deck common knowledge, hence the revealed Extra Deck part of its effect, but I feel that's a small caveat for it. Aside from that, we also have Merlin essentially forcing her to summon it. This is a consequence of Morningstar's duel with Zahhak. He lost that duel, but because he didn't have Superior Seraphim on him, the duel served no purpose beyond a wake-up call. Because of that duel, Jormungand wants to be certain that Morningstar and Cassiel have their Link-5s before they face Zahhak, which is why he ordered Merlin and Jester to confirm they have them. So even though Merlin lost, he did confirm Divine Gabriel's presence. He lost the battle, but he ensured his side could win the war. But why does Ouroboros want the Link-5s? We'll have to wait and see.
Aside from that, we also have an important question: Why is someone like Merlin in Ouroboros. He's affable, professional, and an all-around nice guy and mentor to Techbane. And this isn't faked like it was when Masako first met Issei; Merlin is genuinely all of those. So why is he with Ouroboros? Because he believes humanity is doomed and that Ouroboros is needed to save it. The death of his wife and daughter broke him, and their killer escaping justice convinced him that humanity was beyond saving. So now he's joined in with Jormungand's Final Ascension Plan. Of course, I won't tell you what the plan is now; that's a spoiler. But while Merlin was broken by his losses, Cassiel recovered from them and gained far more than she lost. She isn't happy with what she lost… but she doesn't regret it because of the people she met and befriended.
And a little note on Sachi's feelings for Yasutake… how would she recognize them as romantic? She doesn't have any experience in romance or feelings like them, so how can she accurately define them? Don't forget that she spent ten years in a mental coma. She's matured a lot since she woke up, but she still has a way to go. And when it comes to feelings… well, trauma like the Lost Incident doesn't make understanding and expressing those feelings any easier, does it?
Thank you for reading Chapter 67 of Hidden Memories! I'll try to get the next 2 chapters out before October ends, but I think we all know my track record by now. That aside, I will say this: once a story reaches a certain point, readers think they know what will happen next. They think they can guess the basic outline and know what happens next. Which is why some writers take great joy in subverting those expectations. In twisting them until they end up on the head. What do I mean by this? Maybe nothing, maybe something. You'll have to wait for next time to find out.