Update
I had to go back and change the effect of Cydemon Resilience in Chapter 70. Now, instead of increasing a monster's ATK by 1000 by banishing it, it increases a monster's original ATK by 600 by banishing it.
Responses to Reviews
Thank you to HunterHQ, pokemonking0924, Daemon of Wrath, thirdegree101, sanedimentio, ZarcEternal, Big duels, Anonymous, Unnamed, Jason, Noobmaster, yuman28, LazinessRules, D3lph0xL0v3r, Unknowedz, SavageWizar9000, jdkeller2000, DivadX, KarmaChaos5, Ambiguous, Ethan Kironus, savagemaster1999, Unknown, GuestKingOfGuest, Shrouded Absol, SakushiRyu, FlameFireZero X, Daniel, and Guests for reviewing Chapter 70 of Hidden Memories.
HunterHQ: I had the idea for their relationship a while back. And I'll tell you right now that Yasutake's and Zahhak's relationship won't be like Kioku's and Erika's.
Anonymous: Jester defeated Lilith but he didn't take her consciousness data; she was absorbed by Mirror LINK VRAINS and will thus be freed once Bohman loses. And Zahhak's little barrier also keeps anyone but Cam from seeing their duel; I forgot to mention that.
yuman28: In Zahhak's defense, he wasn't aware of Morningstar's identity when he defeated him before and only found out after the fact; he still would have defeated him, he just wouldn't have been as harsh had he known. But yeah, Zahhak isn't winning Brother of the Year any time soon.
LazinessRules: Funny you should mention them because there's something I forgot in my last Author's Notes; Zahhak's voice actor with the mask on is Joji Nakata, the voice of Kirei Kotomine, but with the mask off, his voice actor is Hideo Ishikawa, Itachi's voice actor. And Yasutake's is Noriaki Sugiyama, the voice of Sasuke and Shirou Emiya.
Unknowedz: Zahhak wasn't lying; he's not the type to try mind games like that. He'd just duel you and win with his skill alone. He really is Yasutake's older brother.
SavageWizar9000: No, the Church won't have a role to play in this story, outside of Yasutake's backstory.
A little announcement: Once I'm done with season 2, I'll be starting a new story that's an accompaniment to Hidden Memories, similarly to the profiles I wrote. Previously, I had been putting all my OC cards on my profile page, but it's starting to slow down, so I decided to put them in a new story called Hidden Memories Original Cards, which will list all the original and changed cards in this story. Each chapter of that story will list the cards used in 5 chapters of this story. For example, the first will contain all cards used in Chapters 1-5, and the second will have all cards used in Chapter 6-10, and so on. I'll still have the Deck lists on my profile page if anyone wants to see them, and I'm pretty sure I'll write something similar for Fifth Circuit eventually.
Now, this chapter is the end of the Morningstar vs. Zahhak duel. I'll warn you all right now: this chapter is probably the most important I've written in a long time, which I'm sure you'll understand as you read. Before that, I just want to say this: Read the chapter thoroughly. Go over it, read it through, and look over it so that you don't miss anything. Because I assure you, if you miss anything here… you're going to regret it.
Chapter 71: Hidden Memories
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.
"…What the actual fuck?"
Cam stared at the monitors. They showed two Duels. The first was Playmaker and Bohman, but it was the second one that had his current attention.
Morningstar: 1500 LP
Zahhak: 1950 LP
Morningstar's field had two monsters – Cyspirit Jubilant Jester and Cyspirit Savage Shogun, the former in the Extra Monster Zone and the latter at the former's bottom-right Link Marker in Attack Position – Cyspirit Mausoleum in the Field Zone, and the Continuous Spell Card Cyberse Infinite Coding and the Equip Spell Card Cyspirit War Helm in his Spell & Trap Zone.
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 2200 LINK-2 ↙↘
Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 4000 DEF 2700 LVL: 8
Cyberse Infinite Coding: 1 CC
Morningstar's opponent, in contrast, only had the monster Cydevil Indolent Belphegor in the Extra Monster Zone and Cydemon Pillars in the Field Zone.
Cydevil Indolent Belphegor ATK 3900 LINK-3 ←↘→
Said opponent had previously been wearing a helmet, but that helmet had fallen apart, revealing his face. And that face closely resembled one Cam was intimately familiar with: the face of his best friend, Yasutake Narahiko.
There were differences, but they were miniscule. The most obvious one was that this man was a few years older than Yasu. Somewhere between eighteen and early twenties, if Cam had to guess. And what he said…
"Brother," Cam muttered. "How…?"
Morningstar stared at the man across from him, at a face nearly identical to his own.
"Little brother?" Cypher repeated, his eyes just as wide as his origin's. "Partner, I didn't know you had a brother."
"…I don't," Morningstar mumbled. "I was an orphan before the priest took me in." He blinked and then grit his teeth with a glare. "I don't know what game you're playing, but this isn't funny Zahhak!"
The Enforcer smiled sadly and closed his eyes. "I don't blame you for not believing me. When I captured your consciousness data before, I saw your memories. I could in fact have changed my avatar's appearance to deceive you, to make you believe there is a connection between us when there is in fact none."
He opened his eyes with a frown. "But I have no need for such deception. And before the end, you deserve the truth. But rather than tell you a story you might not believe, I will simply provide proof."
"Proof?"
Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "Passphrase: Onomatophobia. One-One-Three-Eight."
Morningstar tensed. "Hey!" Cypher protested. "Don't try that-!"
"Remove memory blocks one through eighteen. Proceed."
CRACK
Morningstar gasped and grabbed his head with a wince. "Partner!" Cypher cried out. "What did he do?!"
"I… I…" Morningstar grit his teeth as images flooded into his head. "I… My memories… they're…"
"When you were released, your memories prior were sealed away." The former hunter looked up at the Enforcer. "The command I just gave you removed those seals. So. Do you remember now?"
"I…" Morningstar frowned and let go of his head. "I remember… a room. And… tubes. With boys and girls in them. And… a man." He blinked as a name came to him. He didn't know how he knew it, but he did. "Weissmann?"
"…Yes. That was the name of our creator." Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "That was the man who used us and then threw you away."
"Creator?" Cypher repeated. "What are you talking about?"
Zahhak closed his eyes. "The return of your memories may be confusing Morningstar, so allow me to explain. Allow me to tell our story."
He opened his eyes. "Ouroboros's mission has always been the advancement of humanity. But how the individual leaders of Ouroboros go about advancing humanity has always been up to them. These leaders, the Anguis, decide their own path at the behest of the Grandmaster, our ultimate leader. Over twenty-five years ago, one such leader, the Third Anguis, was Dr. Georg Weissmann.
"Dr. Weissmann was one of the smartest men in Europe at the time, with two doctoral degrees in genetics and psychology. He was undeniably brilliant, if not absolutely amoral. He took a hard look at humanity and believed that we had come as far as we could as a species unaided. So he sought to advance humanity in a new direction."
"I've heard that before," Morningstar remembered. "That's the reasoning Dr. Kogami used for creating the Ignis."
"Indeed. But while Dr. Kogami believed humanity's future was in artificial intelligence, Dr. Weissmann believed the key to our advancement was in manipulating humanity's genome. Our DNA. Dr. Weissmann shared Dr. Kogami's belief in artificial life. But where Dr. Kogami made AI, Dr. Weissmann went in a different direction." Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "Artificial human life."
"Artificial… humans?" Cypher blinked. "You mean cloning?"
"Cloning was the basis for Dr. Weissmann's experiments, but it was only the first step. As I said, Dr. Weissmann was an expert geneticist. With Ouroboros's resources, he took DNA from countless men and women across the world. Olympian athletes, top researchers; the smartest and strongest examples of humanity. He took DNA samples from them and combined them to create new life. To bring new humans to life."
"…And we're the result of that experiment," Morningstar concluded.
"That's right. You and I are artificial humans, created by Dr. Weissmann's experiment. I was brought to life just over nineteen years ago, while you were born seventeen years ago. Dr. Weissmann believed that humanity was flawed at the genetic level, and he created us in an attempt to correct those flaws. Whether he was right or not…" Zahhak shrugged. "I cannot say. But I can say that his process was flawed."
"Flawed? How?" Cypher asked.
"No one had attempted what Dr. Weissmann did before. While humanity has significant research in cloning, outright creation of biological life had never been attempted. So of course there were errors. One such error was in our life spans. The telomeres of our cells degraded faster than baseline humans. Dr. Weissmann was able to use that to predict our life spans. The earliest success he created died of natural causes eight years ago. He was seventeen at the time."
"Seventeen?" Morningstar repeated. "He died naturally at seventeen?"
"Wait, does that mean Morningstar will die soon?" Cypher asked in panic. "He's seventeen!"
"No. Dr. Weissmann was of course, able to improve the process over time. If I recall, Morningstar's life expectancy should be around eighty years or so. Mine is sixty or so." Or at least it would be normally.
"…I remember tests," Morningstar muttered. "Puzzles and weights. I didn't understand at the time, but he was testing my cognitive abilities and physical development, wasn't he?"
"Yes. Dr. Weissmann intended for us to be humanity's future. With the advantages of the best of humanity and none of their weaknesses, we would lead humanity to a new age, and eventually, replace them entirely." Zahhak closed his eyes. "That was Dr. Weissmann's end goal. But it was never to be."
"What do you mean? The experiment ended?"
"Twelve years ago, yes. While Ouroboros's goal is humanity's advancement, they do have laws and ethics they adhere to, and in the process of creating us and caring for us, Dr. Weissmann violated several of them. He operated in secret, but eventually the Grandmaster found out what he was doing and forced him to shut his project down."
"Conditions…" Morningstar remembered a blank room, not unlike his prison in the Lost Incident. Except he hadn't been alone there; he had been forced to share it with other boys, all nearly identical to him. Bathroom breaks and meals had been dictated, with no recreations outside of the tests Dr. Weissmann put them through. Most of their time was just spent… waiting. Sitting in that room with nothing to do. They hadn't even been given names; Morningstar remembered being addressed as Subject #262.
But they didn't complain or protest it; they didn't know anything else. They had no other experiences to compare their lives to. It wasn't cruel or hurtful to them, it just… was.
But there were interruptions to that routine. There were times were one of the other boys, an older one, would talk to the one who years later would become Yasutake Narahiko. One of the scientists had talked to him, and he shared that knowledge with Subject #262. He shared with him the knowledge that they were brothers. That they were alive. That… there was more to existence than what was done to them.
"That was you," Morningstar muttered. "The one who talked to me. The one who wasn't silent like everyone else. That was you."
Zahhak's lip twitched. "Yes, that was me. Subject #147. That was the only name Dr. Weissmann ever gave me." He closed his eyes again. "It's hypocritical in a way. Dr. Weissmann intended for us to be the next humanity, but he never considered us people. We were test subjects, experiments, tools for him. Not human. Not alive.
"That treatment of us was what made the Grandmaster shut Dr. Weissmann down, what forced him to hand us over to Ouroboros's care. But before that happened… Dr. Weissmann decided to run one last experiment." He opened his eyes. "And that experiment was to see what would happen if one of his children were let loose in the world on their own."
Morningstar stiffened. "Then… that's how I ended up on the streets?"
"That's right; Dr. Weissmann released you into Den City's streets and observed you. But not before putting blocks in your memory so that you wouldn't remember what you were. He wanted you to be as pure as possible, untainted by past experiences."
"…And the conditioning? The code words Jester used to control me and make me fight Cassiel?" Morningstar asked. "Dr. Weissmann put those in too?"
"He did. I said before that he also had a doctorate in psychology. Mental conditioning on that level was an important part of his work." Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "I had mine undone when I became an Enforcer. I didn't see it as wrong before, but that was because I didn't understand right or wrong back then. Once I was given a moral compass, I realized how horrible the conditioning was."
"And that's why you were so angry that Jester used it," Morningstar realized. "It reminded you too much of those days."
"One of Ouroboros's central tenets is that every member joins of their own free will. Dr. Weissmann's conditioning goes against that tenet."
"And yet you brainwashed the duelists you defeated and used them against us," Morningstar pointed out.
"That's different," Zahhak insisted. "The duelists we controlled had already been defeated, and their consciousness data was thus ours to make use of. You are an active opponent, someone whose fate is still his own. I would not allow you to be used as a weapon like that."
"…My fate is my own? Is it though?"
Zahhak raised an eyebrow as Morningstar grit his teeth. "You said it yourself. I wasn't born like the rest of humanity. I was bred, raised for a purpose. Treated as something other than human. And even when I thought I was free, I was still serving a purpose. Which means…"
Morningstar grimaced. "The Lost Incident; did Dr. Weissmann have something to do with it too?"
"…He did," Zahhak confirmed. "Earlier, Cassiel asked Merlin why Jester killed Dr. Hirai. Merlin refused to say, but the truth is that Dr. Hirai was a traitor to Ouroboros."
The former hunter blinked. "Hitomu Hirai worked for Ouroboros?!" Cypher exclaimed.
"Yes. He wasn't an Enforcer or Anguis; just a scientist in our employ. In fact, it was because of him that we became aware of Dr. Kogami. And when the Lost Incident began, Dr. Weissmann was curious to find out what an AI patterned after an artificial human would be like. So he had Dr. Hirai collect you for the experiment."
Morningstar's scowl deepened. He remembered the moment he was captured; that was when Sachi was taken too. So she had just been a convenient target, while his abduction had been planned. "So I was right. You say my fate is my own, but I've been Ouroboros's pawn my entire life, haven't I? Ever since I was created, every moment was planned, wasn't it?"
Did he really have free will? It was because of Ouroboros he existed, and because of Ouroboros he met the priest. It was Ouroboros's fault he had went through the Lost Incident, Jester's fault Cassiel was…
"All this time, I was a slave and I didn't realize it," Morningstar muttered.
"Morningstar…" Cypher said softly.
"You're wrong."
The former hunter looked up at his glaring opponent. "Dr. Weissmann was behind your existence, but he didn't control your life. What happened after you were released was your own doing, who you met you did so on your own. And after the Lost Incident, Dr. Weissmann left you alone; Ouroboros has had no hand in your life for the past eleven years. Your choices, your beliefs, who you associate with… they are all you."
Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "Just as my choices are my own. I didn't become an Enforcer because I was ordered to; I chose to become one. I am here not because I was programmed to follow orders. I wish to be here. And I will win this duel because that is my choice."
Morningstar flinched. "You still want to duel?!" Cypher asked incredulously. "Even knowing your opponent is your brother?"
"I've known who you were ever since I defeated you the first time," Zahhak said. "I may not have known when we first dueled but knowing who you are doesn't change the bigger picture. I still have a duty to follow, a promise to keep. Just as you do."
Morningstar grit his teeth as he thought about all the people who fought and lost. "You think you've been a pawn your whole life? Then break free of that and defeat me!" Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "Who we were before, the relationship between us, it doesn't matter here. What matters is who we are now and what we are fighting for. I am fighting for my duty, and you are fighting for the world. We don't need anything else. So come on, Morningstar! Can you keep up with me?!"
The former hunter glared. "…You're right," he decided. "What was between us is in the past. What matters right now is the present. And brother or not, I can't afford to lose here! Let's resume the duel! I Set one card. I end my turn."
Cam frowned. "So that's Yasu's story…" An artificial human… No father or mother, only an asshole doctor who saw him as a tool and a brother who was determined to defeat him. Cam sighed. Well, if that was the closest thing Yasu had to a blood family, then he'd make doubly certain he knew who his real family was.
"Cameron Junpei."
Cam blinked and looked back at the monitors. "Yes?" The Knights of Hanoi had contacted him and established an audio link between them and Café Nagi.
"We can't see Morningstar's duel with Zahhak; is everything alright?"
"…Yeah, it's fine. Morningstar has the lead right now but that's almost certainly going to change." And how could it not? Zahhak was easily the strongest duelist Yasu had ever faced.
"Morningstar is a strong duelist," Faust assured him. "He'll be fine. But we need to help Playmaker with Bohman."
"I agree. Did you find out anything?"
"The two LINK VRAINS overlap with each other," Dr. Genome said.
Cam frowned. "What does that have to do with Bohman's Neuron Link?"
"The overlap is the key to operating the system," the Knight of Hanoi explained.
"If we can pull the two LINK VRAINS apart, perhaps we can stop the Neuron Link," Baira suggested.
"…Makes sense," Cam agreed. "I'll analyze it from my end."
"My turn! Draw!" Zahhak drew, not having bothered to replace his helmet.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cyspirit Coating!" Morningstar declared. "Until the end of the turn, one 'Cyspirit' monster is unaffected by your card effects! I target Savage Shogun!"
"Thanks to War Helm, Savage Shogun is the only monster you can target for attacks or effects," Cypher said. "And now Savage Shogun is unaffected by your effects!"
"It may be," Zahhak allowed. "But the rest of your cards aren't. I activate the effect of Cydemon Earl in the Graveyard! Once, I can add a 'Cydemon' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cydemon Temple to my hand. Next, I activate the effect of Cydemon Soulsnatch in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can send a 'Cydemon' monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, then gain Life Points equal to its attack points. I send Cydemon Queen to the Graveyard!"
Zahhak: 1950→4650 LP
"I activate Pillars' effect! Once per turn, I can send a Dark Cyberse monster from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Cydemon Rook to the Graveyard. And by banishing Cydemon Shrine from my Graveyard, I can activate the Continuous Spell Card: Cydemon Temple!" The card showed a massive black hall with columns and torches, with a statue of a shadowed figure with twelve wings at the other end. "While Cydemon Temple is on the field, my Dark Cyberse monsters cannot be targeted or destroyed by your card effects. Indolent Belphegor's monster effect! Once per turn, if there are at least three Dark Cyberse monsters in my Graveyard, I can target one of your cards and negate its effects, then one monster you control has its attack points become 0 until the end of the turn. I negate Mausoleum's effects and reduce Jubilant Jester's attack points! Shadow of Sloth!" The heavyset demon swung his axe, sending a wave of darkness across Morningstar's field and making the Field Spell gray out and the skeleton groan.
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 2200→400
"Coating protected Savage Shogun from Indolent Belphegor's effect," Cypher noted. "But since the second half of that Cydevil's effect doesn't target, War Helm couldn't protect Jubilant Jester."
"I activate the effect of Cydemon Temple!" Zahhak continued. "Once per turn, I can Tribute a Dark Cyberse Link Monster to Special Summon a Dark Cyberse Link Monster from my Extra Deck that has a different name but the same Link Rating. This Special Summon is a treated as a Link Summon. I Tribute Link-3 Indolent Belphegor to Special Summon Cydevil Rapacious Mammon!" The heavyset fiend disintegrated and was replaced by a tall thin gray-skinned fiend in black armor, a spear in his right hand, which he spun from the Extra Monster Zone.
Cydevil Rapacious Mammon ATK 2200→2500 LINK-3 ↙↑↘
"I created that card to make it easier to bring out Sinful Satanael," Cypher remembered.
Morningstar frowned. "Since Temple's effect treats this Special Summon as a Link Summon, Cyberse Infinite Coding gains one Cyberse Counter."
Cyberse Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC
"Rapacious Mammon's monster effect! As there are at least three 'Cydemon' monsters in my Graveyard and it points to no monsters, it gains 200 attack points for each monster in the Graveyard. There are eleven, so it gains 2200 attack points."
Cydevil Rapacious Mammon ATK 2500→4700
"That still isn't enough to defeat Savage Shogun," Morningstar pointed out. "Not with Savage Shogun's effect."
"Rapacious Mammon's effect activates! Once per turn, if it points to no monsters and I have at least three 'Cydemon' monsters in the Graveyard, I can add a 'Cydemon' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand or a 'Cydemon' monster from my Graveyard to my hand, and you cannot activate cards or effects in response to this effect. I will add a 'Cydemon' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand." Zahhak took his card, then gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Indolent Belphegor in my Graveyard! Once, I can Special Summon up to two 'Cydemon' monsters from my Graveyard in Defense Position with their effects negated. Resurrect, Cydemon Bishop!" A robed fiend appeared, spinning a short black scepter.
Cydemon Bishop ATK 1600→1900 DEF 600→900 LVL: 3
Cydevil Rapacious Mammon ATK 4700→4500
Morningstar grit his teeth. He recognized this setup…
"Appear, the circuit of infinite darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more Dark Cyberse monsters. I set Bishop and Link-3 Rapacious Mammon in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the left, right, bottom-left, and bottom-right arrows. "The embodiment of pride who demands obedience! Link Summon! Appear! Link-4! Cydevil Prideful Hele!" A gray demon with eight wings emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone. Its black armor gleamed while its hip cape fluttered, and in its right hand, a black scythe was spun.
Cydevil Prideful Helel ATK 3000→3300 LINK-4 ←↙↘→
Cyberse Infinite Coding: 2 CC→3 CC
"That's the monster that defeated us last time," Morningstar noted.
"But before, you were unprepared for it," Cypher said. "This time, we're ready."
"So long as Prideful Helel is on the field, the effects of your linked monsters are negated. Savage Shogun may be unaffected, but Jubilant Jester is not."
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 400→0
Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 4000→3600
"Prideful Helel's monster effect! Once per turn, if it points to no monsters and there at least four Dark Cyberse monsters in my Graveyard, I can target a monster you control, then banish all other cards you control until your next Standby Phase. I target Savage Shogun. Reckoning of Pride!" The fiend spread his wings and emitted a crimson light which made Jubilant Jester, Mausoleum, War Helm, and Infinite Coding vanish.
"Since War Helm left the field, Savage Shogun's attack points return to normal."
Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 3600→2800
"Battle! During the Battle Phase, as Prideful Helel points to no monsters and I have at least four Dark Cyberse monsters in my Graveyard, Prideful Helel's attack points become double its original attack points."
Cydevil Prideful Helel ATK 3300→6000
"Savage Shogun gains 1000 attack points when it battles a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck," Zahhak said. "But that will only raise its attack points to 3800. You'll take 2200 points of damage and lose. Prideful Helel attacks Savage Shogun!" The fiend leered and swung his scythe, sending the head off on a chain.
Morningstar smirked. "I knew that was what you would do!" Zahhak raised an eyebrow. "There's one advantage the Cyspirits have over the Cyangels and Cydemons: their variety. Because I have so many more options, I can find a way around most problems. But you and Cassiel… both of you are limited. So I knew you would summon Prideful Helel eventually." The former hunter's eyes narrowed. "Which is why I saved this! I activate the effect of Cyspirit Praetor in my hand! As my 'Cyspirit' monster is battling, I can send it to the Graveyard to make the attack points of my 'Cyspirit' monsters double their original attack points until the end of the turn!" Zahhak's eyes widened.
Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 2800→5600
"Praetor's effect does keep you from taking battle damage for the rest of the turn, but even so… With Savage Shogun's own effect, Prideful Helel will be the one destroyed!"
Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure about that? I activate the effect of Cydemon Resilience in my Graveyard! By banishing it, one Dark Cyberse monster I control has its original attack points increased by 600 until the end of my next turn!"
Morningstar blinked. "Original attack points?"
"That's right; Prideful Helel's effect works by doubling its original attack points. So by increasing the original amount, that increase is doubled!"
Cydevil Prideful Helel ATK 6000→7200
Morningstar grit his teeth. "Savage Shogun's monster effect! When it battles a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, it gains 1000 ATK during damage calculation!"
Cyspirit Savage Shogun ATK 5600→6600
"That isn't enough anymore! Ruin of Superbia!" The scythe's head wrapped around the samurai skeleton, ensnaring it in its chain. Prideful Helel sneered and yanked his scythe back, tearing through the Fusion Monster's body with an explosion that pushed Morningstar back.
Morningstar: 1500→900 LP
"Even if you lowered the damage, you will still lose this turn," Zahhak said.
"He's right, partner," Cypher confirmed grimly. "One of the monsters he sent to the Graveyard is Cydemon Queen; that monster can give a Dark Cyberse monster an additional attack."
Morningstar growled. "Then it seems I don't have a choice. I activate the effect of Cyspirit Fusion in my Graveyard! When my 'Cyspirit' Fusion Monster is destroyed by battle or card effect and sent to the Graveyard, I can banish Cyspirit Fusion to shuffle Savage Shogun into my Extra Deck, then Special Summon a Link-3 or lower 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Extra Deck and treat it as a Link Summon."
"I doubt any Link-3 monster would be able to stand up to Helel," Zahhak said dismissively.
"You're right. Which is why I'm not summoning a Link-3. Come forth, Link-1! Cyspirit Youthful Yakuza!" A skeleton with styled black hair appeared at the Extra Monster Zone, a black suit and gray shirt over its bones, and a handgun and machete in its hands.
Cyspirit Youthful Yakuza ATK 1000 LINK-1 ↓
"The turn Youthful Yakuza is Link Summoned, I take no damage for the rest of the turn."
"I see. Then you will have your chance for revenge against Prideful Helel. I end the Battle Phase, and thus Prideful Helel's effect ends."
Cydevil Prideful Helel ATK 7200→3900
"I Set two cards. I end my turn."
"Cameron Junpei."
Cam raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Faust?"
"We have an idea on how to shut down the Neuron Link," the Knight of Hanoi said. "Bohman's Skill."
"Master Storm Access? What about it?"
"Bohman uses a lot of power whenever he activates it. It's possible that in that moment, he can't keep the two LINK VRAINS perfectly overlapped."
Cam blinked. "You think there's a vulnerability when he uses his Skill? Even if there is, that's only a short moment. We wouldn't have the time to overload the Neuron Link."
"Not from out here, no. But if we have people in LINK VRAINS act at the same time…"
"In LINK VRAINS…" Cam's eyes widened. "You mean Zaizen and Ghost Girl?" He knew the two of them were trying to shut down the systems from beneath the central courtyard.
"We do," Baira confirmed. "But we're not certain they'll trust us if we contact them."
"So you want me to do it," Cam realized with a grimace. "Well, Ghost Girl should trust me, if nothing else. Though this will undoubtedly bring Bohman's attention to them."
"That's a risk we need to take."
Cam nodded in resignation and opened a channel.
Ghost Girl frowned as she typed away next to Akira. This wasn't looking good. If they didn't find a way to shut down the Neuron Link-
BEEP BEEP
She blinked and looked down at her Duel Disk.
"Ghost Girl? Zaizen? Can you hear me?"
The woman blinked as Akira looked over. She knew that voice. "Ca-?!" Her eyes widened. Oops; Akira didn't know about Cam. "You're Morningstar's friend, right?" she recovered swiftly.
"Morningstar's friend?" Akira repeated.
"Yeah, that's me. Listen, we don't have much time, but me and a few… allies have an idea to shut down the Neuron Link."
Cam explained Faust's plan to the duo, though he didn't mention that his allies were the Knights of Hanoi. "I see," Ghost Girl said, her eyes widening again. "You think we can pull apart the two LINK VRAINS by straining it from both the inside and outside."
"That's right. But it will only be possible when large amounts of data is created."
Akira narrowed his eyes. "You mean when Bohman activates his Skill; when the Neuron Link is most active."
"That's right. Me and our allies will get started on our end. Get ready to act, Zaizen." The call ended after that.
Akira looked up. "Emma, do you trust this man?"
The woman frowned. "I'll admit to having personal problems with him, but those were my own fault. He has the same goal as us, and he would never attempt to hurt Playmaker. Or Morningstar. We can trust him. Do you want to follow this plan, Akira?"
SOL's security chief frowned before nodding. "Let's do it. We don't know when the Neuron Link will target us, so we need to act fast."
"Good. I have just the right tool for the job." Ghost Girl pulled out a blue data orb.
"What's that?"
"Call it a virus bomb. It should be effective for this plan." Ghost Girl tapped in some commands and sent the orb into her screen.
"You're undoubtedly strong, Zahhak," Morningstar said. "But I won't lose! My turn! Draw!"
"During your Standby Phase, Prideful Helel's effect returns your cards to their previous Zones," Zahhak interrupted. His eyes narrowed. "Cyspirit Mausoleum and Cyberse Infinite Coding return to their previous places, but since your Extra Monster Zone is occupied and Savage Shogun is no longer on the field, Jubilant Jester and War Helm are sent to your Graveyard."
Morningstar frowned. That was the reason he had been reluctant to use Cyspirit Fusion's effect, even if it had been necessary to prevent his loss. More than that, since Infinite Coding had been banished and then returned, it had lost its Cyberse Counters. But those setbacks were expected, and he had ways around them.
"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Wanderer in my Graveyard! By shuffling it into my Deck, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Graveyard. Resurrect, Jubilant Jester!" The skeleton in black and gold reappeared at Youthful Yakuza's Link Marker, spinning a small staff.
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘
"I activate the Spell Card: Link Treasure! I draw a card for each Link Monster on the field. There are three, so I draw three cards!" Morningstar drew, glanced at his cards, then his eyes widened. "Cypher."
"Hmm?" The Silver Ignis glanced at the cards and his eyes widened as well. "Ah! Well, I guess now's as good a time as any."
"Right." Morningstar took one of his new cards. "When a Link Monster's Link Marker points towards the Spell & Trap Zone, I can activate a Link Spell Card!"
Zahhak's eyes widened. "What!?"
"Come forth, the arrows that strike down evil and protect the world!" A pillar of gold light formed at Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker. "The Link Spell Card: Salvation Arrows!" The light faded to reveal the blue and green Link Spell Card.
Salvation Arrows ↖↑↗
"That is…" Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "I see. So you did have contact with Diana and the Gold Ignis. Bohman and Lightning said they used this card in their duels."
"Then you should know what Salvation Arrows does. My Link Monsters that are linked to it are unaffected by your card effects, but if it leaves the field, monsters linked to it will return to my hand. Appear, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters. I set Youthful Yakuza and Link-2 Jubilant Jester in the Link Markers!" The two monsters entered the left, top, and right arrows. "The heaven's wrath that strikes down all opposition! Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cyspirit Angelic Avenger!"
A pillar of fire shot out of the portal at Salvation Arrows' top Link Marker, only to be broken apart by large silver wings, revealing a skeleton in red-and-gold armor, two curved swords at its hips and flaming blonde hair that went past its shoulders.
Cyspirit Angelic Avenger ATK 2700 LINK-3 ←↑→
Cyberse Infinite Coding: 0 CC→1 CC
"Since I sent a 'Cyspirit' monster to the Graveyard as Link Material, Mausoleum's effect lets me draw one card. And since Youthful Yakuza was sent to the Graveyard, I can add a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard to my hand, then send a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck to the Graveyard. I'll add Cyspirit Prisoner to my hand and send Cyspirit Teleporter to the Graveyard. When there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Prisoner!" The skeleton in a prisoner's uniform appeared in Attack Position at Angelic Avenger's left Link Marker.
Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600 DEF 2100 LVL: 5
"Angelic Avenger's monster effect! Once per turn, if it points to one monster, I can add a 'Cyspirit' Spell or Trap Card from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Cyspirit Coating to my hand." Morningstar raised his hand again. "Appear again, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Prisoner and Link-3 Angelic Avenger in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the left, top-left, top-right, and right arrows. "Let the galaxy's rage turn into hope and transcend my limitations! Link Summon! Appear! Link-4! Cyspirit Nebulous Nova!" A large white dragon emerged from the portal at Salvation Arrows' top Link Marker, covered in silver armor with four black spines at its back, and roared its existence to the world.
Cyspirit Nebulous Nova ATK 2500 LINK-4 ←↖↗→
Cyberse Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC
"As Prisoner was used to Link Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can add a 'Cyspirit' card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyspirit Resonator to my hand. I activate Infinite Coding's effect! I remove two Cyberse Counters to draw a card!"
Cyberse Infinite Coding: 2 CC→0 CC
"I activate Mausoleum's effect! Until my next Standby Phase, Nebulous Nova is treated as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating."
"Since Nebulous Nova is treated as pointing to at least three monsters," Cypher muttered, "we can negate the activation of one of Zahhak's cards. And while its linked to Salvation Arrows, it is unaffected by Zahhak's card effects."
"But none of that is enough to defeat Prideful Helel," Morningstar said. His eyes narrowed. "I still have more to do! I summon Cyspirit Resonator!" A dwarf skeleton without legs appeared, wearing tattered black robes and holding a tuning fork and mallet.
Cyspirit Resonator ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 2
"Resonator's monster effect! When it is Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position by negating its effects and changing its Level to between 1 and 4. Resurrect, Cyspirit Teleporter as Level 2!" A black skeleton in gray armor with a baton appeared.
Cyspirit Teleporter ATK 500 DEF 1500 LVL: 3→2
"Level 2 Resonator tunes Level 2 Teleporter!" Silver lightning struck the field, turning the Tuner and non-Tuner into data that reformed into rings that merged into four blue rings in a tower. Light surged through the rings. "Bird of prey that circles the sky! Become the light that guides the future! Synchro Summon! Appear, Level 4! Cyspirit Elegant Eagle!" A skeletal bird emerged from the light at Nebulous Nova's left Link Marker in Attack Position, covered in silver armor with black and silver feathers.
Cyspirit Elegant Eagle ATK 1800 DEF 900 LVL: 4
Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "A support Synchro Monster, in the same vein as Polaris Pegasus and Catastrophe Crocodile."
"Elegant Eagle's monster effect! When it is Synchro Summoned, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position and change its Level to between 1 and 4. Resurrect, Cspirit Resonator as Level 4!" The dwarf skeleton reappeared.
Cyspirit Resonator ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LVL: 2→4
"Level 4 Resonator tunes Level 4 Elegant Eagle!" Another bolt of silver lightning struck the field, turning Resonator and Elegant Eagle into data that formed rings before merging into eight blue rings in a tower. Light surged through the rings. "Power of the stars! Reside in the champion's blade and part the darkness! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Level 8! Cyspirit Cosmic Crusader!" A skeleton in heavy silver plate armor emblazoned with an eight-pointed star and a red cross emerged from the light at Nebulous Nova's left Link Marker in Attack Position. In its left hand, it wielded a hexagonal shield with a sword sheathed inside it.
Cyspirit Cosmic Crusader ATK 2800 DEF 2300 LVL: 8
"First you Link Summon a Link-4 monster. And now you summon a Synchro Monster." Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "You will need more than power to defeat me."
"I'm aware of that. But more power never hurt. Cosmic Crusader's monster effect! When it is Synchro Summoned, I can banish a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Graveyard to increase Cosmic Crusader's attack points by half that monster's attack points. I banish Angelic Avenger!"
Cyspirit Cosmic Crusader ATK 2800→4150
"Cosmic Crusader can negate an effect activated during the Battle Phase," Cypher whispered. "That will let us stop him from using Cydemon Rook's effect to escape the damage."
"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Samurai in the Graveyard!" Morningstar declared. "Once per Duel, I can Special Summon it to my 'Cyspirit' Link Monster's Link Marker, but it cannot attack this turn. Resurrect, Cyspirit Samurai!" A skeleton in red-and-black samurai armor appeared at Nebulous Nova's right Link Marker in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Samurai ATK 1800 DEF 1000 LVL: 4
"As I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Linker!" A skeleton in black armor with red gauntlets appeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Linker ATK 1700 DEF 800 LVL: 4
"Two Level 4 monsters," Zahhak muttered.
"I overlay Level 4 Cyspirit Linker and Cyspirit Samurai!" A bolt of silver lightning shot out of Morningstar's Duel Disk, transforming the field of flowers into a starry void. The Xyz cross appeared beneath the two monsters. "With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network!" They disintegrated into data, then entered the cross, which fired lasers that created a galaxy. The galaxy exploded while Morningstar's Duel Disk glowed. "The warrior who guards the sacred lands! Ascend to this battle and strike down our enemies! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 4! Cyspirit Martial Mameluke!" A skeleton in white-and-brown robes formed from the explosion at Nebulous Nova's right Link Marker in Attack Position, a circular shield in its left hand and a lance in its right, all the while two orange lights circled behind it.
Cyspirit Martial Mameluke ATK 2800 DEF 2300 RNK: 4 OU: 2
"A Link-4, Synchro, and Xyz Summoning all in one turn," Zahhak commented. "Not bad."
"It's about to get worse. Martial Mameluke's monster effect! When it is Xyz Summoned using only 'Cyspirit' monsters, I can return all cards in your Spell & Trap Zone to your Deck! Soul of Night!" The Xyz Monster swung its lance and sent a wave of darkness towards Zahhak's field.
The Enforcer's eyes narrowed. "You gained this monster in our last duel, and it allowed you to inflict damage to me. But just as you have prepared for my Deck, so too have I prepared for yours." His eyes widened. "Trap activate! Cydemon Superbia!" The card showed a castle balcony looking over a massive lava plain, populated by various Cydemons. Standing on the balcony, Prideful Helel looked over his fellow fiends with an arrogant smirk. "I target a Dark Cyberse Link Monster I control, then negate the effects of all face-up cards you control! I target Prideful Helel!"
"That won't work!" Morningstar declared. "Nebulous Nova's monster effect-"
"Cannot be activated!" Zahhak interrupted. "If I target a Link-4 or higher monster with Superbia's effect, you cannot activate cards or effects in response to Superbia's activation!" Morningstar's eyes widened. "Prideful Helel is indeed Link-4, so the effects of all your face-up cards are negated!"
The former bounty hunter grit his teeth. "Not all of them," he countered. "Since Nebulous Nova is linked to Salvation Arrows, it is unaffected by your card effects!"
"But Salvation Arrows itself is!" The wave of darkness sent out by Martial Mameluke reversed course and washed over Morningstar's field instead, graying out Mausoleum, Infinite Coding, and Salvation Arrows while making Cosmic Crusader and Martial Mameluke groan.
Cyspirit Cosmic Crusader ATK 4150→2800
"Damn it!" Cypher cursed. "With Cosmic Crusader's effects negated, he can use Rook's effect."
"Not just that; while Prideful Helel is on the field, your linked monsters have their effects negated." Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "You protected Nebulous Nova from Superbia's effect, but with Salvation Arrows' and Mausoleum's effects negated, it is now vulnerable to Prideful Helel's effect. So, what will you do now, Morningstar?"
Morningstar frowned. "If that's the case… then I'll just adapt. I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Burial from a Different Dimension! I return up to three banished monsters to the Graveyard. I return Cacophonic Caller, Egregious Electrician, and Angelic Avenger to my Graveyard. Next, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cyspirit Coating, targeting Nebulous Nova! Until the end of the turn, Nebulous Nova is unaffected by your card effects."
"Which means its effects are no longer negated due to Prideful Helel's effect," Cypher said.
"Nebulous Nova's monster effect! Once per turn, if it points to two or more monsters, I can banish a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Graveyard to increase Nebulous Nova's attack points by that monster's Link Rating times 1000. I banish Link-3 Angelic Avenger."
Cyspirit Nebulous Nova ATK 2500→5500
"The turn Nebulous Nova activates this effect, only it can attack," Cypher said. "That's why we didn't use it before."
"Even with 5500 attack points, Prideful Helel's effect will double its attack points during the Battle Phase," Zahhak pointed out. "And since that isn't an activated effect, Nebulous Nova cannot negate it."
"Yes, that is Prideful Helel's effect," Morningstar acknowledged before smirking. "But it has two conditions to take hold. And one of those is exploitable! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card: Cyspirit Forced Call! If I control a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, I can Special Summon a monster from your Graveyard to your field in Defense Position with its effects negated!"
Zahhak's eyes widened. "What?"
"I Special Summon Cydemon Rook!" A heavyset fiend in crimson armor appeared at Prideful Helel's bottom-left Link Marker, a mace in its right hand.
Cydemon Rook ATK 1800→2100 DEF 600→900 LVL: 4
"Prideful Helel's effect only takes hold if it isn't linked," Cypher said smugly. "But since it is linked now, its attack points won't change during the Battle Phase."
Zahhak grit his teeth. "If that's the case… I activate Cydemon Bishop's effect in the Graveyard! I target Prideful Helel to prevent its destruction by battle or card effects for the rest of the turn!"
"That won't work!" Morningstar denied. "Nebulous Nova's monster effect! As it is treated as pointing to at least three monsters, the activation of Bishop's effect is negated and Bishop itself is banished!" Zahhak grit his teeth. "Cosmic Crusader and Martial Mameluke might not be able to attack, but Nebulous Nova still can. Battle! Nebulous Nova attacks Prideful Helel!" The dragon's spines generated white holographic wings.
"I activate the effect of Elegant Eagle in my Graveyard! When my 'Cyspirit' monster battles, I can banish Elegant Eagle! And for the rest of the turn, all battle damage you take from battles involving my 'Cyspirit' monsters is doubled!" Zahhak's eyes widened while Nebulous Nova's wings turned red. "Go! Blazar Flare!" The dragon fired a stream of red energy at the fiend. Prideful Helel cried out as it exploded. Zahhak grunted as he was pushed back a meter.
Zahhak: 4650→1450 LP
"3200 points of damage in a single attack," Cypher said. "One more turn, and we should be able to win this."
"But just in case, I'll need to clear my field," Morningstar responded. "I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Recovery!" The card showed Cyspirit Jaeger in a trench, carrying Cyspirit Officer over its shoulder, accompanied by Cyspirit Nurse. "I target a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster I control, then return cards from my field to the Deck, up to that monster's Link Rating. I target the Link-4 Nebulous Nova, then return Cyspirit Mausoleum, Cyberse Infinite Coding, and Salvation Arrows to my Deck."
"When Salvation Arrows leaves the field, monsters linked to it return to the owner's hand," Cypher said. "However, since Salvation Arrows' effects were negated, our monsters remain on the field.
"Cyspirit Recovery then lets me draw cards equal to the number of returned cards. I returned three, so I draw three cards!" Morningstar drew. "I Set two cards. I end my turn."
Zahhak smirked. "Four years I've gone without damage, and even Persephone and Terminus could only manage to get a few hits in. And yet, you've managed to make several shots against me. But I suppose for you, that's to be expected. Only my little brother would be this strong against me."
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "You seem rather proud of that."
"Of course I am; any older sibling's greatest desire is for their younger sibling to surpass them." Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "But that only means something if it is earned. I won't be handing you this victory."
"…Why are you proud of that?" Zahhak raised an eyebrow at Morningstar's question. "We may be brothers, but we are also enemies, are we not? Should you really be praising your opponent this much?"
"…" Zahhak closed his eyes. "When you put it like that, I can understand your confusion. But there's something you're missing. And that… is that us being enemies is entirely because of choice."
"Choice?" Morningstar repeated, blinking.
"Let me ask you a question. What do you think it means to have free will?" Zahhak opened his eyes. "In the case of the Ignis, Dr. Kogami accepted the answer of independent thought; that they were able to create things that weren't just a replication of humanity. But to me, to have free will means to make your own choices. It means to act not because you were ordered to, but because you want to. You are here because you made your choice to oppose me. I am here because I chose to follow Ouroboros. Even if we must fight, I cannot help but be proud that you are no puppet but are fighting by your own choice."
"And that's enough for you?" Cypher asked incredulously. "You and Morningstar are family! You said so yourself! You're happy fighting against him like this?"
"Happy? I wouldn't say that is the right word." Zahhak tilted his head. "I think… content would be more accurate. When we were created, we were innocent. We had no concept of right or wrong... or of choice. We were just tools to Dr. Weissmann. One of the scientists spoke to me during those days, helped me develop a will… but it wasn't until the experiment was long over that I truly began to understand just how wonderful it was to have a choice. To be able to do something not because someone wanted you to, but because you wanted to."
Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "Am I happy fighting you, Morningstar? No, I am not happy to fight my little brother. But I will do so because I want to. Just as you will fight me because you want to. Do you not?" Morningstar narrowed his own eyes but didn't deny it. "When you were set out into the world, you developed your own free will, just as I did. Now you follow it wherever it takes you. And doing that… I cannot be prouder."
"…You say a scientist spoke to you," Morningstar recalled. "Was that scientist Dr. Hirai?"
"It was," Zahhak confirmed. "He wasn't always present because of his work at SOL Technologies, but he was there. He was loyal to Ouroboros and Dr. Weissmann at the time, but he still made an effort to help us. Perhaps it was out of guilt or curiosity, but he helped me develop a will. And right now… that will wants to defeat you." His eyes narrowed. "We have each chosen a side, a purpose, and we will follow through on those purposes, because to do anything less would be to betray ourselves. I will not ask for your forgiveness little brother; but I hope you understand what I am saying."
"…I do. And you're right. I won't back down. Not here. Not in this."
"Good! My turn! Draw!"
"I activate my Skill!" Bohman declared. The Neuron Link above him shot out bolts of green lightning.
"Here comes his next Skill!" Ai warned. The Data Storm took the shape of a twister and spiraled downwards.
Cam grit his teeth. "Bohman activated his Skill!" Baira reported.
"Here we go," he muttered, activating his program. From their end, the Knights of Hanoi activated their own program.
In LINK VRAINS, Ghost Girl narrowed her eyes as hers and Akira's program was stopped. "Not good. Security is preventing the virus bomb from activating. We have to blow it up manually."
"Leave it to me," Akira assured her. "I'm more familiar with SOL's security."
Cam smirked as his program finished loading. "I'm good on my end."
"Our attack is successful as well," Dr. Genome reported.
"Now we need LINK VRAINS's side to attack," Faust said.
Bohman's eyes widened. "So you're the reasons why I had a bad feeling," he said. "Zaizen and Ghost Girl! And the Knights of Hanoi!"
"Oh no!" Ai cried. "He found out!"
Akira finished typing. "Okay! It can now explode!"
In the corner of the room, a portal opened and a green bolt shot out towards Akira. He looked up and gasped only for Ghost Girl to push him out of the way and-
"I don't think so."
The bolt impacted against a golden sphere that formed around Akira and Ghost Girl and promptly fizzled out.
Bohman blinked. "What?"
Ghost Girl blinked as another bolt shot out, only to hit the same shield and break apart. "What is this?"
"My work."
Akira and Ghost Girl looked up and their eyes widened as a woman walked into the room. A woman in a black and white jumpsuit covered in green lines and silver circles. "That program will protect us from the Neuron Link," she explained as she entered the shield, ignoring the bolts that kept trying to break through. She looked at SOL's security chief through a black visor. "Akira Zaizen, shut the Neuron Link down."
Bohman grit his teeth. "Diana…!"
"Who are you?" Akira asked. "Why did you-?"
"There's no time!" she interrupted. "Your window of opportunity is closing! Shut the Neuron Link down now!"
Akira grit his teeth but nodded reluctantly. He turned back to his keyboard. "Deploying virus bomb now!" He pressed the last key.
Bohman gasped as the Neuron Link turned dark. "They just-!" He cried out and grabbed his head. "This is-!"
Mirror LINK VRAINS shook and went out of sync with LINK VRAINS. Playmaker and Ai gasped as they saw various avatars around them. Some ran away while others laid on the ground.
"What's this?" Playmaker wondered. "I can see LINK VRAINS?"
"What's going on?" Ai asked.
"Chief Zaizen!"
Akira blinked. "Hayami!"
The woman breathed a sigh of relief. "You're alright, Chief Zaizen! The Neuron Link has been shut down! We've logged out the people who were still conscious!"
"Good job, Hayami!" Akira praised.
"T-Thank you, sir!"
Akira and Ghost Girl turned back to the woman with them. "Now that the Neuron Link is down, who are you?" Akira asked. "I don't recognize you."
"My name is Diana."
Ghost Girl blinked. "Diana?" Her eyes widened. "The Gold Ignis's partner?"
"The Gold Ignis?" Akira repeated. He knew the Gold Ignis had disappeared, but for her to have an associate…!
"That's right," Diana confirmed. "Goldie and I attempted to defeat Bohman and Lightning a few days ago; we hoped to save all of you the trouble." She frowned. "Unfortunately, we failed, and Goldie was heavily injured. She's still recovering at the moment."
"If the Gold Ignis is injured, then how were you able to help us?" Akira asked.
"Goldie might have been injured, but we still had an eye into Mirror LINK VRAINS. We've been watching the battles within. When Bohman started up the Neuron Link, Goldie worked out a program to defend against it, then sent me to shield you so you could stop the Neuron Link." Diana held up her Duel Disk. "A little haphazard compared to her usual work, but it did the job. However…"
"What?"
"The shutdown of the Neuron Link is only temporary," Diana explained, making Akira's and Ghost Girl's eyes widen again. "Bohman still controls Mirror LINK VRAINS. So long as that fact remains true, he can restore it. He can't take any more people, but he can substitute Mirror LINK VRAINS's data instead." She frowned. "This battle is far from over."
And not just that one, she thought. Morningstar's duel with Zahhak is still going on, even if we can't see it because of Zahhak's program. The stakes there may not seem as high now, but if Morningstar loses… then Jormungand will get that much closer to his victory.
"Yes!"
Morrningstar blinked. "Cam?"
"The Neuron Link was shut down!" the man reported with a cheer. "Now Playmaker can fight Bohman evenly!"
The former bounty hunter smirked. That was good to hear. But he still had his own battle in front of him.
"I activate the effect of Prideful Helel in my Graveyard!" Zahhak declared. "Once, I can Special Summon up to two 'Cydemon' monsters from my Graveyard in Defense Position with their effects negated!"
"That won't happen!" Morningstar denied. "Nebulous Nova's monster effect! I negate the activation of Prideful Helel's effect and banish it!"
Zahhak smirked. "Not bad. But you can only do that once per turn. I activate the effect of Rapacious Mammon in the Graveyard! Once, I can Special Summon up to two 'Cydemon' monsters from my Graveyard in Defense Position with their effects negated." Morningstar grit his teeth. "Resurrect, Cydemon Knight and Cydemon Earl!" Two demons, one red-skinned wearing a black cuirass and red robe, and the other a black-skinned fiend wearing red-and-black armor riding a black horse, appeared on Zahhak's field.
Cydemon Earl ATK 2000→2300 DEF 600→900 LVL: 5
Cydemon Knight ATK 2200→2500 DEF 600→900 LVL: 6
"He had two Cydevils in the Graveyard," Cypher grumbled. "We stopped the effect of one, but he had another just in case."
"I Tribute Earl and Knight to Tribute Summon Cydemon King!" The two monsters disintegrated into a single tall black-skinned demon wearing crimson robes and a black mantle, a dark gold crown embedded with rubies atop his lustrous black hair that was tied in a ponytail. Two longswords were sheathed at the fiend's hips and a set of wings was at his back.
Cydemon King ATK 3000→3300 DEF 600→900 LVL: 8
"Uh oh," Cypher muttered. "That's the strongest Main Deck Cydemon… and its effects are troublesome."
"Cydemon King's monster effect! Once per turn, if there is at least one 'Cydemon' monster in my Graveyard, I can Tribute one monster I control to Special Summon a Dark Cyberse Link Monster from my Extra Deck and treat it as having been Link Summoned!" Morningstar's eyes widened. "I Tribute Rook to Link Summon Cydevil Covetous Leviathan!" The heavyset demon disappeared and was replaced a gray-skinned woman. Black-and-red armor covered her body and four black wings with red spines shot out of her back. The woman giggled as chains wrapped around her shoulders from the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cydevil Covetous Leviathan ATK 2500→2800 LINK-3 ↙↓↘
Morningstar grit his teeth. "That monster…"
"Zahhak used that in our last duel too," Cypher recalled. "It can equip one of our monsters to itself, and we cannot activate cards or effects in response to it."
"But we can prevent it!" Morningstar declared. "Trap activate! Metaverse! I take a Field Spell Card from my Deck, and then either activate it or add it to my hand!" Zahhak's eyes widened this time. "I take Cyspirit Mausoleum from my Deck and activate it!"
"Mausoleum makes our linked 'Cyspirit' monsters unaffected by your monster effects," Cypher reminded Zahhak smugly. "Covetous Leviathan won't be able to steal Nebulous Nova."
The armored man smirked. "Clever. But do not forget; I have more than enough options to defeat you. I activate Temple's effect! By Tributing the Link-3 Covetous Leviathan, I can Special Summon the Link-3 Cydevil Edacious Beelzebub and treat it as a Link Summon!" The woman disintegrated, only for her data to reassemble into a gray-skinned male fiend wearing black armor that left his bulging gut exposed. Four wings shaped like a fly's shot out off its back, its black hair was disheveled and frayed, and a black war hammer formed in its right hand. It yawned from the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cydevil Edacious Beelzebub ATK 2300→2600 LINK-3 ←↓→
Cypher's eyes narrowed. "There's no real difference between Edacious Beelzebub and Covetous Leviathan in this situation," he noted. "That can only mean…"
"Zahhak used Temple's effect to send more of his monsters to the Graveyard," Morningstar agreed. He remembered what Cypher had said about Cydevil Sinful Satanael's effects. It seemed Zahhak was setting its summoning up.
"Appear, the circuit between light and darkness!" Morningstar blinked. "The summoning conditions are two or more Dark Cyberse monsters. I set King and Link-3 Edacious Beelzebub in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top, bottom, left, and right arrows.
"Oh crap!" Cypher swore. "That's bad!"
"The embodiment of rage! Let your power strike down the world! Link Summon! Appear! Link-4! Cydevil Wrathful Amon!" A male fiend with gray skin and eight feathery wings emerged from the portal. He wore black and red armor that left his upper arms and thighs exposed, and he carried a massive black greatsword with crimson prongs at the hilt. The demon adopted a stern expression as he flapped his wings from the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cydevil Wrathful Amon ATK 2800→3100 LINK-4 ←↑↓→
"That's the other Link-4 Cydevil," Morningstar muttered.
"I activate Cydemon Pillars' effect! Once per turn, I can target and move a Dark Cyberse Link Monster to a Main Monster Zone it points to. I move Wrathful Amon to its bottom Link Marker." The monster moved back one Zone.
"Wrathful Amon was linked to Cosmic Crusader while in the Extra Monster Zone," Cypher said. "But now it isn't linked at all, so it can use all of its effects."
Morningstar gazed at Wrathful Amon's effects. "But those effects won't work while my monsters are linked due to Mausoleum's effect," he countered. "And even if he destroys Nebulous Nova, Wrathful Amon's effects aren't Quick Effects."
"Well, it's still a Link-4 monster with 3100 attack points."
"I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cydemon Soulscythe and equip it to Wrathful Amon!" The fiend's sword disappeared and was replaced by a scythe that was just as long as the Link Monster was tall. The handle was black with crimson hand wraps and a pointed obsidian tip at the end opposite the blade. The scythe's head was black and jagged, with the edges a lighter shade. "If Wrathful Amon battles while equipped with Soulscythe, your cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step." Morningstar grit his teeth.
"Battle! At the start of the Battle Phase, I activate Soulscythe's effect! The equipped Wrathful Amon can attack all monsters you control once each!"
"He can attack every monster and keep us from activating cards or effects?!" Cypher exclaimed.
"Wrathful Amon attacks Nebulous Nova!" The fiend held the scythe to the side as the head ignited with black flames. Zahhak gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cydemon Ira!" Morningstar's eyes widened. That was the card Zahhak hadn't used last turn! "When my Dark Cyberse monster battles your monster, that monster's attack points are halved, and my monster gains the same amount of attack points until the end of the turn!"
Cyspirit Nebulous Nova ATK 5500→2750
Cydevil Wrathful Amon ATK 3100→5850
"The damage will be 3100!" Cypher said panickingly. "Partner!"
"I know!"
"Go! Scythe of Ira!" The fiend charged the dragon and swung his scythe, bisecting the dragon and making it explode.
Zahhak watched through narrowed eyes as smoke filled the area. "I was certain it would take more than this to defeat you. How disappointing. It would seem you couldn't keep up with me after all."
"You're wrong."
The armored man raised an eyebrow as the smoke cleared, revealing an unhurt Morningstar.
"Tada!" Cypher cheered. "If we would take battle damage from a battle involving a 'Cyspirit' monster, we can banish Cyspirit Recovery from our Graveyard instead!"
"…I see." Zahhak smirked. "Yes, an effect like that isn't an activated one, so Soulscythe's effect wouldn't have stopped it. But even if you stopped the damage, Wrathful Amon can still attack your Synchro and Xyz Monsters, and with 5850 attack points to their 2800, a single attack will still end this."
"Then I guess I'll do this," Morningstar responded. "Trap activate! Cyspirit Destiny!" The card showed the backs of Cyspirits Rapid Revolutionary, Digital Dragoon, and Kooky Kommandant, all of them looking up at the night sky and a full moon. "When my 'Cyspirit' monster is destroyed, I can Tribute one 'Cyspirit' monster to gain Life Points equal to its original attack points. I Tribute Cosmic Crusader!" The armored knight disintegrated.
Morningstar: 900→3700 LP
"Furthermore, the turn Cyspirit Destiny is activated, I take no battle damage from direct attacks!"
Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "If that's the case, then I'll just clear your field! Wrathful Amon attacks Martial Mameluke! Scythe of Ira!" The monster spun around again and cleaved the skeleton apart at the waist. Morningstar cried out as his monster exploded and he was pushed back.
Morningstar: 3700→650 LP
"I activate the effect of Cydemon Pillars to send Cydemon President from my Deck to the Graveyard. Then, I activate the effect of Cydemon Earl in the Graveyard to add a 'Cydemon' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cydemon Luxuria to my hand."
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "Cydemon Luxuria. That's his Counter Trap Card."
"Yeah," Cypher acknowledged. "And it also makes Zahhak's cards on the field and in his Graveyard unaffected by our card effects." His eyes narrowed as well. "Which means that if can activate it, he'll be able to use Knight's effect since it will be unaffected by Cyspirit Malfunction's effect."
"I Set two cards. I end my turn. During the End Phase, Ira's effect ends, so Wrathful Amon's attack points return to normal."
Cydevil Wrathful Amon ATK 5850→3100
RUMBLE
Morningstar gasped as the world shook. "What the-?"
"Goddamn it!"
"Cam?"
"Bohman restored the Neuron Link!" the man reported, making the former bounty hunter gasp. "Then Ai…"
"What?" Cypher's eyes widened. "What did Ai do?"
"…I'll tell you later," Cam said reluctantly. "Suffice to say that Ai managed to shut it down again, but Bohman just restored it again. We were able to log out the people trapped in LINK VRAINS, but Bohman is using LINK VRAINS's data instead!"
"What?" Morningstar looked around and gasped again. Sure enough, several islands were breaking apart and traveling towards what he assumed to be LINK VRAINS's central island.
"Do not worry." The duelist turned to his opponent. "This barrier around us not only keeps you from ejecting the Silver Ignis; it also keeps us safe from Bohman. We, and this island, will be fine until our duel ends."
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. "You know what's happening."
"I have my own allies on the outside keeping an eye on things."
Merlin and Techbane perhaps? Morningstar wondered. Or whoever sent them here… Either way, it didn't matter. He had a duel to win.
"My turn! Draw!" Morningstar looked at his cards and frowned.
"One of Zahhak's Set cards is undoubtedly Cydemon Luxuria, his Counter Trap Card," Cypher said. "Its only activation condition is it requires a 'Cydemon' monster in the Graveyard, and it can be activated in response to any card's or effect's activation." The Silver Ignis's eyes narrowed. "We need to get around it before he can activate it."
"Don't worry," Morningstar assured his partner. "I already see the path to victory."
Zahhak raised an eyebrow at that claim. "Is that so? Then show me how you keep up with me."
"I will! I activate the Spell Card: Cyspirit Recall! This lets me target and return up to three 'Cyspirit' monsters in my Graveyard into my Deck. And if I target a Link Monster with this effect, you cannot activate cards or effects in response to this card's activation! I return Cacophonic Caller Egregious Electrician, and Jubilant Jester to my Extra Deck!"
"All three are Link Monsters, so Luxuria can't be activated in response," Cypher said smugly.
"I summon Cyspirit Ruffian!" A skeleton wearing low-hanging tattered jeans and sneakers appeared, an equally tattered red T-shirt covering its torso and black hair atop its cracked skull, a single red eye gleaming. The skeleton placed its hands at its sides and put its thumbs into its pockets.
Cyspirit Ruffian ATK 1400 DEF 900 LVL: 3
"Appear, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Ruffian in the Link Marker!" Ruffian entered the bottom arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller!" The suit-wearing skeleton emerged from the portal at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓
"Cacophonic Caller's monster effect! Once per turn, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Deck to its Link Marker!"
Zahhak scoffed. "You said you would evade my Trap Card, but instead you walk right into it. Counter Trap activate! Cydemon-!"
"You cannot!" Morningstar declared with a smirk. "The turn Cyspirit Ruffian is used to Link Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster, you cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of the effects of my 'Cyspirit' monsters!" Zahhak's eyes widened.
"Luxuria cannot be activated in response to Cacophonic Caller's effect!" Cypher gloated.
"With Cacophonic Caller's effect, I Special Summon Cyspirit Engineer!" A skeleton in workman's clothes and a hardhat appeared at the Link Monster's Link Marker in Attack Position, power drill and calculator in its hands.
Cyspirit Engineer ATK 1600 DEF 400 LVL: 3
"Appear again, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Engineer in the Link Marker!" The monster entered the right arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Vivacious Vixxen!" A winged fox skeleton wearing red and silver armor emerged from the portal at Cacophonic Caller's Link Marker.
Cyspirit Vivacious Vixen ATK 1200 LINK-1 →
"Engineer's monster effect! When it is used to Link Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can target and destroy one Set card in your Spell & Trap Zone!"
"We only have one shot, but two options," Cypher warned.
Morningstar narrowed his eyes. If their plan was to work, then he needed to take out Cydemon Luxuria. The question was… which Set card did he need to destroy?
"…I destroy the card on your left!" The card raised up, revealing Cydemon Luxuria before it shattered.
"We got it!" Cypher cheered.
Zahhak smirked. "Very clever. But how are you going to defeat Wrathful Amon? You have two Link-1 monsters but no cards in your hand."
"No cards right now," Morningstar corrected. "It's time I changed that! Appear for a third time, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Cacophonic Caller and Vivacious Vixen in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the bottom-left and bottom-right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyspirit Jubilant Jester!" A skeleton in a black-and-gold jester's outfit appeared at the right Extra Monster Zone.
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800 LINK-2 ↙↘
"As a 'Cyspirit' monster was sent to the Graveyard as Link Material, Mausoleum's effect lets me draw one card! I activate the effect of Youthful Yakuza in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster from my Graveyard with its effects negated. Resurrect, Cacophonic Caller!" The suited skeleton reappeared.
Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500 LINK-1 ↓
"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Teleporter in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon a Level 3 or lower 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard. Come, Cyspirit Coder!" A skeleton in an armored lab coat appeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Coder ATK 0 DEF 0 LVL: 1
"Coder's monster effect! When it is Summoned, I can add a 'Cyspirit' card from my Deck to my hand, then send one card from my hand, field, or Deck to the Graveyard. I add Cyspirit Navigator to my hand and send Cyspirit Nova to the Graveyard. And as I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Navigator!" A skeleton in pirates' clothes appeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Navigator ATK 1300 DEF 1100 LVL: 3
"Appear again, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two Level 3 or lower 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Coder and Navigator in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the top-left and left Link Markers. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire!" A skeleton in silver plate armor and helmet emerged from the portal at Jubilant Jester's bottom-right Link Marker, sword and shield in hand.
Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire ATK 1700 LINK-2 ↖←
"Jubilant Jester's monster effect! When it points to a monster, my 'Cyspirit' monsters gain 400 attack and defense points!"
Cyspirit Cacophonic Caller ATK 500→900
Cyspirit Jubilant Jester ATK 1800→2200
Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire ATK 1700→2100
Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "Three 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters… whose Link Ratings equal five." He smiled. "You're bringing it out."
"Not yet." Zahhak raised an eyebrow. "I can still go further!" Morningstar declared. "I activate Engineer's effect in the Graveyard! By banishing it, I can Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position with its effects negated. I Special Summon Cyspirit Nova!" A skeletal dragon with silver armor and wings with no legs appeared and growled.
Cyspirit Nova ATK 1500→1900 DEF 1000→1400 LVL: 3
"Nova is a Normal Monster, so it has no effects to negate. Appear, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one 'Cyspirit' Normal Monster. I set Nova in the Link Marker!" The dragon entered the left arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Odd Outlaw!" A skeleton dressed like a cowboy emerged from the portal at Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker, spinning twin pistols.
Cyspirit Odd Outlaw ATK 500→900 LINK-1 ←
"I activate the effect of Cyspirit Destiny in my Graveyard! By banishing it, I can target one card on my field, and for the rest of the turn, that card is unaffected by card effects, except its own. I target Cyspirit Mausoleum! I activate the effect of Cyspirit Recall in my Graveyard, banishing it to add a 'Cyspirit' card from my Deck to my hand. I add Cyspirit Heart to my hand. I activate the Equip Spell Card: Cyspirit Heart! I Special Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster with a Level from my Graveyard in Defense Position with its effects negated, then equip Heart to it. Resurrect, Cyspirit Prisoner!" The skeleton in a prisoner's jumpsuit reappeared.
Cyspirit Prisoner ATK 1600→2000 DEF 2100→2500 LVL: 5
"Appear, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning conditions are two 'Cyspirit' monsters. I set Prisoner and Odd Outlaw in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the left and right arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-2! Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler!" A skeleton in a prospector's uniform emerged from the portal, a drill for its right hand, at Legendary Legionnaire's left Link Marker.
Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600→2000 LINK-2 ←→
"Since the monster Special Summoned by Cyspirit Heart was sent to the Graveyard as Link Material, I draw a card. And since Prisoner was used to Link Summon a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can add a 'Cyspirit' card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cyspirit Jaeger to my hand. And when I control a 'Cyspirit' monster, I can Special Summon Cyspirit Jaeger!" A skeleton soldier wearing a green coat and wielding a musket appeared in Attack Position.
Cyspirit Jaeger ATK 1700→2100 DEF 900→1300 LVL: 4
"Appear, the circuit between light and darkness! The summoning condition is one Level 4 'Cyspirit' monster. I set Jaeger in the Link Marker!" The monster entered the top arrow. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-1! Cyspirit Hallowed Healer!" A skeleton in white robes adorned with a red cross emerged from the portal at Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker.
Cyspirit Hallowed Healer ATK 1000→1400 LINK-3 ↑
Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "Five 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters…" It's time…
Morningstar closed his eyes, breathed in, breathed out, then opened them and raised his right hand. "Appear for the last time, the circuit between light and darkness!" The Link portal reappeared, this time underneath them and covering the entire field. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are three or more 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters. I set Cacophonic Caller, Hallowed Healer, Jubilant Jester, Legendary Legionnaire, and Thrilled Tunneler in the Link Markers!" The monsters turned into silver whirlwinds and shot upwards before spiraling down into the top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom, and bottom-right arrows. A pillar of light shot out of the center of the circuit before restricting itself to the right Extra Monster Zone.
"Circuit combine! The supreme authority that reigns over the closed world! Link Summon! Appear! Link-5! Cyspirit Superior Seraphim!" Four golden wings shot out of the pillar, joined by a golden staff held by a golden skeletal hand. The light faded, revealing a massive skeleton in golden robes lined with silver. Two blue eyes gleamed from underneath an elaborate darker gold headdress.
Cyspirit Superior Seraphim ATK 3300 LINK-5 ↖↙↓↘↗
"…It's finally here," Zahhak whispered. A savage grin spread across his face. "Finally!"
"Superior Seraphim's effects depend on the number of monsters used in its Link Summon!" Morningstar continued. "Since it was Link Summoned using five monsters, I can Special Summon up to three 'Cyspirit' Link Monsters from my Graveyard to its Link Markers with their effects negated, but monsters linked to Superior Seraphim cannot attack. I Special Summon Nebulous Nova, Thrilled Tunneler, and Legendary Legionnaire! Cyberse Resurrection!" The dragon, prospector, and soldier all reappeared at Superior Seraphim's bottom-left, bottom, and bottom-right Link Markers respectively.
Cyspirit Nebulous Nova ATK 2500 LINK-4 ←↖↗→
Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler ATK 1600 LINK-2 ←→
Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire ATK 1700 LINK-2 ↖←
"Superior Seraphim's second effect! When it is Link Summoned using four or more monsters, the effects of all other face-up cards are negated, and the attack points of all other face-up monsters become their original attack points! Spiritual Supremacy!" The Link-5 tapped its staff on the ground, sending out a wave of energy that rippled across the field, making Cydemon Temple and Cydemon Pillars gray out.
Zahhak smirked. "Sorry, but because of Pillars' effect, Wrathful Amon was unaffected by Superior Seraphim's effect and retains its effects."
"But it does lose the attack point boost from Pillars."
Cydevil Wrathful Amon ATK 3100→2800
"In addition, Cyspirit Mausoleum's effects aren't negated due to Cyspirit Destiny's effect. Superior Seraphim's third effect! For each monster it points to, it gains 500 attack points! Sacred Integration!"
Cyspirit Superior Seraphim ATK 3300→4800
"I activate Mausoleum's effect! Until my next Standby Phase, Superior Seraphim is treated as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating!"
Cyspirit Superior Seraphim ATK 4800→5800
Zahhak narrowed his eyes. "A single attack will inflict 3000 points of damage and defeat me."
"And since Superior Seraphim was Link Summoned with at least three monsters, if it attacks while pointing to a 'Cyspirit' Link Monster, then your cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step," Morningstar said.
"In that case, I'll do this now. I activate the effect of Cydemon Ira in my Graveyard! By banishing it and targeting Wrathful Amon, my Link Monster's attack points become double its original attack points until the end of the turn!"
Cydevil Wrathful Amon ATK 2800→5600
"That won't be enough!" Morningstar declared. "In addition to gaining attack points, Superior Seraphim's number of attacks each turn is equal to the number of monsters it points to at the start of the Battle Phase!" Zahhak's eyes widened. "Right now, Superior Seraphim is treated as pointing to five monsters, so it can attack five times! Battle! Superior Seraphim attacks Wrathful Amon! Sacrament of the Closed World!"
Superior Seraphim's eyes blinked, changing to red as it tapped its staff against the ground, generating a ripple that drained the color from the world. Another tap, another ripple, and the color was restored. A sphere of golden energy formed at the top of the staff. Superior Seraphim brought its staff down and fired a beam of golden light at the demon. The fiend cried out as it exploded, and Zahhak cried out as he was pushed back.
Zahhak: 1450→1250 LP
"That was the first attack," Morningstar said. "I have four more to go. You can't activate any cards when Superior Seraphim attacks again."
"I know every card in the Cydemon Deck," Cypher said smugly. "Including the Trap Cards. You've already used Superbia, Ira, and Luxuria. Avaritia, Gula, and Invidia won't help you, while Acedia can't be activated due to Superior Seraphim's effect."
"You said before that what you wanted most was to lose," Morningstar said. "It's time I granted that wish."
"…Perhaps. Or perhaps not." Cypher's and Morningstar's eyes widened as Zahhak raised his eyes. "You should know by now, Silver Ignis; you don't know every card in the Cydemon Deck anymore." He gestured to his field. "Trap activate! Cydemon Tristitia!" The card flipped, revealing a cave with demons pressed up the walls. Each of them was covered in rags and bruises, and their hair was in tatters. They all shrank away into the shadows, eyes empty.
"What?!" Cypher exclaimed. "I didn't make that card!"
"Tristitia," Morningstar muttered. "I know that word; it means 'sorrow' in Latin."
"There are seven deadly sins currently, but that is the work of the Catholic Church," Zahhak said. "In earlier days, there were more. Sorrow is one such sin." His eyes narrowed. "Tristitia can be activated when my Dark Cyberse monster is destroyed! And when it is activated, all of my banished monsters are returned to my Graveyard! I return Bishop, Earl, and Prideful Helel to my Graveyard!"
Morningstar grit his teeth. "So what?!" Cypher demanded. "None of those will help you now! Morningstar, finish him!"
"Right! Superior Seraphim attacks you directly! Sacrament of the Closed World!"
Another tap against the ground, another wave, and the color was gone. A second tap, a second ripple, and the color returned. The sphere of golden energy returned to the tip of the staff before shooting out towards Zahhak in a continuous beam. Faced with imminent defeat, the man only smiled as the light consumed him.
BOOM
Morningstar narrowed his eyes as smoke filled the field. "It's over," Cypher breathed a sigh of relief. "That was difficult, but as always, Superior Seraphim pulled through!"
"…No, it's not over."
"Eh? What do you mean, partner?" Cypher turned to look and gasped as the smoke cleared, revealing an unhurt Zahhak. "Wha-!? How!? How are your Life Points intact?!"
The man smirked. "If I would take either battle or effect damage, I can banish Tristitia from my Graveyard instead. And since this isn't an activated effect, Superior Seraphim can't stop me from using it."
Morningstar grit his teeth, recalling his own words after using Cyspirit Recovery to evade defeat. "Even if you evaded the damage, Superior Seraphim can still make three more attacks!"
"No, it cannot," Zahhak denied. "Tristitia's effect activates! If it is banished during the Battle Phase, then the Battle Phase is brought to an end!"
Morningstar growled. "In that case… I Set one card. I end my turn."
"Damn it," Cypher growled. "Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised though; he's easily the strongest duelist we've ever fought. It would make sense he could dodge defeat at least once."
"Enforcers are among the strongest duelists on the planet," Zahhak said. "And I am the strongest Enforcer. If I could not do this much, then I wouldn't be deserving of that title."
Morningstar grit his teeth before frowning. "Can I ask you something, Zahhak?"
"Oh? What is it?"
"…You were the one who spoke to me during the Lost Incident, weren't you?"
…
"Eh?" Cypher looked at his partner. "Spoke to you? You mean the three reasons things? I thought Revolver was the one who spoke to you."
"So did I," Morningstar replied. "But I ran into him before we came here, and he said he only ever spoke to Playmaker. Not anyone else." He narrowed his eyes. "So am I right? Was that you back then, Zahhak?"
"…Does it really matter?" the armored man asked as he closed his eyes. "What happened then has no impact on what we do now. Even if I did speak to you, it will not change my mind. It will not make me go easier on you."
"…Yeah, I know. But…" Morningstar smiled sadly. "I guess I just wanted to say thanks for that."
"If you desire to give me thanks, then do your absolute best to survive. Strike back against me with everything you have." Zahhak's eyes opened and then narrowed. "Because now that Superior Seraphim is on the field… I have no qualms about matching it."
Morningstar tensed. "It's coming," Cypher whispered.
"Yes." Sinful Satanael. That was the name Cypher had given the Cydevil Link-5. And from what he had said about its effects… Morningstar had hoped to defeat Zahhak before he brought it out. But it seemed that wouldn't be an option anymore.
"This will be my last turn, little brother," Zahhak said. "If you survive it, then I know you will take the chance to find victory. If you do not…" He smiled sadly. "Well, you already know what will happen to the loser."
Right. This was a PK duel. Player Kill. Whoever lost would lose their avatar and be banned from LINK VRAINS forever.
"Then come at me!" Morningstar shouted. "I'll show you that I can keep up with you!"
"Please take this, Ai. That is the last of our power. Use it to defeat Bohman!"
Ai watched as the multicolored sphere entered his body. After sacrificing himself to destroy the Neuron Link, his backup within Roboppi had triggered and restored him. It had been incredibly risky, a risk he knew Cypher would never take, but he felt it was best to be cautious. He had taken advantage of his perceived demise to travel into Bohman to try to rescue the other Ignis, but they were tied too deeply into Bohman. And now Aqua and Flame had extracted energy from themselves and the others and given it to him.
"But if I can't save you, there's no point-!"
"Deal with it!" Flame interrupted.
"What do you mean, deal with it? Deal with it forever?"
"Ai, we have close to eternal life. That's why we've forgotten that those who have life will lose it someday. That moment just happens to be now."
"Even now you talk like a know-it-all!"
"Know-it-all… That must mean I made a sound argument."
"It will be alright, Ai," Aqua encouraged. "Cypher and Goldie are still free. They will find you."
Lightning chuckled and the others looked up. "Will they? They are balanced on the knife's edge, same as you, Ai. And you still don't know the truth. The truth that we will reach… and the true menace behind Ouroboros."
"Eh?" Ai blinked. "You know who's behind Zahhak and Jester? Who is it?"
"…I won't tell you," Lightning said, his eyes twisting into a sneer. "Bohman will defeat Zahhak or Morningstar after he defeats Playmaker, then absorb Cypher. That will give him the power to defeat Ouroboros. And should he lose… well, Ouroboros is your enemy before they are mine. I'd prefer their world to yours."
Ai narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Ai, ignore him!" Flame urged. "Focus on Bohman! You must defeat him!"
"You're our last hope, Ai," Aqua said. "We're counting on you."
"Now go!"
"…Damn!" Ai growled as he turned to leave, tears in his eyes.
The consumed Ignis were consumed by the pillar, but Lightning still got out a parting shot. "Ai, you'll have to determine what path to take. Whether that leads to peace or ruin… it will be all your doing."
"My turn! Draw!" Zahhak drew his card and glanced at it.
"Continuous Trap activate!" Morningstar declared. "Cyspirit Armory!" The card showed the interior of a barracks, with Cyspirit Soulswords lined up against one wall and Cyspirit Twin Shields lined up against the other, with shelves of Cyspirit War Helm above them. "Once per turn, I can banish a 'Cyspirit' card from my Graveyard to equip one 'Cyspirit' Equip Spell Card from my hand or Graveyard to one 'Cyspirit' monster I control. I banish Cyspirit Blast to equip Cyspirit War Helm to Superior Seraphim!"
"War Helm increases Superior Seraphim's attack points by 800," Cypher explained. "And son long as it's equipped, you cannot target our other 'Cyspirit' monsters for attacks or effects."
Cyspirit Superior Seraphim ATK 5800→6600
"Next, I activate the effect of Cyspirit Coating in my Graveyard! By banishing it and targeting Superior Seraphim, the latter is unaffected by your card effects for the rest of the turn!"
"Superior Seraphim cannot be destroyed or removed from the field by card effects, but it lacks Divine Gabriel's unaffection protection," Cypher said.
"I see. So I can only attack Superior Seraphim, and it is unaffected by my card effects. Interesting." Zahhak smirked. "But… I'm afraid those won't matter. This duel is over. I activate the effect of Cydemon Earl in my Graveyard! I add a 'Cydemon' Spell or Trap Card from my Deck to my hand. I'll add Cydemon Shuffle to my hand. I activate the Spell Card: Cydemon Shuffle! I target and return up to three 'Cydemon' cards in my Graveyard to my Deck, then send an equal number of 'Cydemon' monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard. I return Knight, Rook, and Bishop to my Deck, then send Cydemon Duke, Cydemon Marquis, and Cydemon Pawn to the Graveyard."
Zahhak gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Duke in the Graveyard to add one 'Cydemon' monster from my Graveyard to my hand. I'll add Rook to my hand. Next, I'll activate Edacious Beelzebub's effect to Special Summon up to two 'Cydemon' monsters from my Graveyard in Defense Position with their effects negated. Come forth, Cydemon Duke and Cydemon Marquis!" Two fiends – the first with black-and-red skin and armor with a battle axe, the second with black skin and military uniform with a fencing saber – appeared on Zahhak's field.
Cydemon Duke ATK 2600 DEF 600 LVL: 7
Cydemon Marquis ATK 2400 DEF 600 LVL: 6
"I summon Cydemon Rook." The heavyset fiend in red armor with a black mace reappeared.
Cydemon Rook ATK 1800 DEF 600 LVL: 4
"Appear, the circuit of infinite darkness! The summoning conditions are two or more Dark Cyberse monsters. I set Duke, Marquis, and Rook in the Link Markers!" The monsters entered the left, right, and bottom-left arrows. "Link Summon! Appear! Link-3! Cydevil Lascivious Asmodeus!" A tall, gray-skinned fiend with skintight black armor and exposed chest and stomach emerged from the portal at the Extra Monster Zone, a black-and-crimson bow in its left hand.
Cydevil Lascivious Asmodeus ATK 2400 LINK-3 ←↙→
"I activate the Spell Card: Cydemon Supremacy!" The card showed a great battlefield, with countless bodies across it. But standing in the center of the bodies was Cydevil Wrathful Amon, his sword glowing with black energy. "I Tribute a Dark Cyberse Link Monster, then Special Summon a number of Dark Cyberse Link Monsters from my Graveyard, up to that monster's Link Rating. However, the monsters Special Summoned by this effect have their effects negated and their attack points become 0. I Tribute Link-3 Lascivious Asmodeus to Special Summon Covetous Leviathan, Prideful Helel, and Wrathful Amon!" The bow-wielding fiend shattered, and was replaced by three new fiends; one four-winged female with chains wrapped around her shoulders, one eight-winged male with a gleaming scythe in his right hand, and one eight-winged male with a two-handed sword.
Cydevil Covetous Leviathan ATK 2500→0 LINK-3 ↙↓↘
Cydevil Prideful Helel ATK 3000→0 LINK-4 ←↙↘→
Cydevil Wrathful Amon ATK 2800→0 LINK-4 ←↑↓→
Morningstar tensed and grit his teeth. "Cypher…"
"Yes." The Ignis narrowed his eyes. "It's coming…"
Zahhak smirked. "Perhaps you should feel honored; I have not summoned this monster in a very long time. Not since I first acquired this Deck. There was never a need to use it, no opponents strong enough to warrant it. But for you… I'll defeat you with my very strongest." The Enforcer raised his right hand. "Appear for the final time, the circuit of infinite darkness!" His hand shown with crimson light as the Link portal appeared beneath them and spread across the entire field.
"Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are three or more Dark Cyberse Link Monsters! I set Prideful Helel, Wrathful Amon, and Link-3 Covetous Leviathan in the Link Markers!" The three fiends spread their wings and flew into the air, where they turned into crimson energy and shot down as twisters. The tornados entered the left, bottom-left, bottom, bottom-right, and right arrows. The arrows turned red, and a pillar of crimson energy shot out of the circuit.
Morningstar grit his teeth as he covered his eyes. Waves of red rippled outward across the field of flowers, scattering them and leaving the ground around them bare. The pillar shrunk to the Extra Monster Zone, with red bolts darting across the field, inducing a feeling of dread within Morningstar. Zahhak stared across at him, his face devoid of any emotions. Save one. Confidence. Assurance that victory was not a chance for him. It was a certainty.
"Circuit combine! The power from below that strikes out against the closed world! Link Summon! Appear! Link-5! Cydevil Sinful Satanael!"
Twelve wings shot out of the pillar, six on each side. They were composed of black metal feathers, with the spines of each wing being a lighter shade of black, but then the black of the wings shifted, became darker, to the point that it was like looking into a void. The crimson light faded, revealing the demon within.
It was a massive monster, the same size as, if not taller than, Superior Seraphim. Its skin was a deep gray, with obsidian lines running down its cheeks underneath its solid red eyes. Its hair was short and black, reaching only its shoulders, while a black circlet with jagged edges rested atop it. It wore robes in different shades of black, underneath black armor that covered its chest, shoulders, forearms, and calves. It wore black sandals on its feet, and the robes flared out around its legs. Its hands were tipped with black claws, and red streaked on the sides of its arm guards. The massive fiend sneered as he spread his voided wings from the Extra Monster Zone.
Cydevil Sinful Satanael ATK 4000 LINK-5 ←↙↓↘→
Morningstar grit his teeth. "Cypher…"
"Yeah. That's it; the last of the Cyberse Trinity." Cypher narrowed his eyes. "Brace yourself, partner, this is going to hurt. But if we survive the turn, we'll have a chance to defeat it!"
"A chance?" Zahhak repeated. "Silver Ignis, as the one who created this card, you should know better than anyone; this is no chance of victory against Sinful Satanael. Allow me to demonstrate!" The Enforcer raised his right hand. "Superior Seraphim gains strength from the monsters that were used as its material. Divine Gabriel gains strength from the monsters in the Extra Deck. But Sinful Satanael is different! It gains its strength from the number of monsters in my Graveyard! Sinful Satanael's monster effect! Once per turn, if there are at least seven Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in my Graveyard, I can negate the effects of all other face-up cards on the field, then destroy them!" Morningstar tensed. "And so long as there are at least three Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in my Graveyard, Sinful Satanael is unaffected by your card effects, and you cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of its effects! Go! Fall of Megiddo!"
The enormous fiend raised his right hand, which glowed with crimson light. A magic circle formed underneath Sinful Satanael before expanding to encompass the entire field. Seven points around the circle lit up as a seven-pointed star formed. The star glowed, making every card on the field except Sinful Satanael and Superior Seraphim gray out before breaking apart. Morningstar watched with frustration as Cydemon Pillars, Cydemon Temple, Cyspirit Mausoleum, Cyspirit War Helm, Cyspirit Armory, Legendary Legionnaire, Nebulous Nova, and Thrilled Tunneler all turned to ash.
Cyspirit Superior Seraphim ATK 6600→5800
"Since Superior Seraphim was targeted by Cyspirit Coating's effect, it is unaffected by your card effects for the rest of the turn," Morningstar said. He gestured to his field. "I activate the effect of Cyspirit Armory! When it is sent from the field to the Graveyard by your card, I can target a 'Cyspirit' monster I control, and for the rest of the turn, I take no battle damage from battles involving that monster. I target Superior Seraphim!"
"So that's your plan," Zahhak stated. "You'll survive Superior Seraphim's destruction." His eyes narrowed. "Very well. Bear witness to this monster's power. Battle! Sinful Satanael attacks Superior Seraphim!" Crimson tendrils snaked out of the fiend's voided wings, taking the shapes of various weapons. Chains, a war hammer, an axe, a bow, a spear, a sword, and a scythe. The weapons then turned back into energy and gathered in the fiend's raised right hand, forming a massive sword of crimson energy. The demon sneered as the sword easily reached twice Sinful Satanael's own height.
"Sinful Satanael's monster effect! When it battles while I have four or more Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in my Graveyard, your cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step, and when it battles your Special Summoned monster while I have five or more Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in my Graveyard, it gains 1000 attack points for each Dark Cyberse Link Monster in my Graveyard during damage calculation! There are seven Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in my Graveyard!"
Cydevil Sinful Satanael ATK 4000→11000
"Go! Seven Sins of the Shattered World!" The fiend brought the sword down, cleaving Superior Seraphim down the middle and making the angel explode. Morningstar braced himself against the shockwave, but the smoke and wind curved around him.
Cydevil Sinful Satanael ATK 11000→4000
"We lost Superior Seraphim partner," Cypher grunted. "But we survived! Once we make it to the next turn-!"
"There will be no next turn." Morningstar blinked. "I am somewhat disappointed. The last two turns, you worked so hard to avoid it, only to forget at this moment which monster lies in my Graveyard."
"In your Graveyard?" Morningstar repeated. Then he remembered, and his blood turned to ice. "Oh no."
"Oh yes. I activate the effect of Cydemon Queen in the Graveyard! I target a Dark Cyberse monster that has attacked this turn and allow that monster to make an additional attack! I target Sinful Satanael!" The crimson sword reformed into a massive sphere in the fiend's hand.
"…Cypher?"
"…Yeah?"
"…I have no way to stop that attack."
"…I see. And… I can't see any way to avoid it either."
Zahhak's eyes narrowed. "This is the end for you, Morningstar!" he declared. "Even now, you couldn't keep up with me! Sinful Satanael attacks you directly! Seven Sins of the Shattered World!" The sphere launched itself at Morningstar.
"…I'm sorry, Cypher."
"For what?"
"For being an unworthy partner. I couldn't win the one fight that ultimately mattered."
"…You have it backwards, Morningstar. You aren't an unworthy partner; I am an unworthy Ignis. If I had just been stronger, or had evolved a little further, perhaps I could have fond a way out of this."
"…An unworthy partner and an unworthy Ignis. Perhaps we really are perfect for each other."
"…Perhaps so. But I do have one question, Morningstar."
"What's that?"
The sphere got even closer, bathing them in crimson light. Cypher turned and looked at his partner, eyes crinkling into a smile.
"It was a fun ride, wasn't it?"
Morningstar stared at him and then smiled as the sphere struck.
"The best."
BOOM
Origin and Ignis were sent flying backwards with a scream, collapsing into a bed of flowers.
Morningstar: 650→0 LP
"YASU!" Cam screamed, his eyes wide. He… he couldn't believe it. Yasu… lost? Again?
Morningstar breathed heavily and opened his eyes, looking up at the sky from the flowers. "Cam?"
"I'm here! I'm here, Yasu!"
"…I'm sorry, Cam. I failed. I couldn't…"
"No, don't be sorry. Don't be sorry, Yasu!" Cam grit his teeth. "You did your best! You did your absolute best! No one can say otherwise!"
"…Thank you, Cam. For encouraging me. For… everything."
The sound of heavy boots made Morningstar look up. Zahhak passively stared down at him.
"You pushed me farther than anyone had in a long time," the man said. "Even if it wasn't what I wanted… I still had a little fun."
"…Are you happy with your choices?" Morningstar asked. "You said that what mattered was we make our own choices. But are you content with yours?"
"…Yes, I am. I do regret that we had to be enemies, but that regret won't stop me from doing what I must." His eyes narrowed. "That said… Passphrase: Onomatophobia. One-One-Three-Eight."
Morningstar tensed. "No, please don't-!"
"Reject command interface. Accept no further orders."
Morningstar's eyes glazed over. "Command interface closed."
"Revert to Phase Zero."
Morningstar blinked, his eyes regaining focus. "What… what did you do?"
"I shut down Weissmann's conditioning," Zahhak explained. "Jester will never be able to control you like that again. No one will control you like that again."
Morningstar blinked again, starring up at the man who held his hand out. The former bounty hunter's body turned silver and began to break apart. The whole time, his gaze never left Zahhak's eyes.
"Hey, someone taught me a word."
"They did?"
"Yes. Would you like to hear it?"
"…Okay."
"Brothers."
"What's that?"
"It teams two males who are related to each other by either blood or a strong bond."
"I see… Then, does that mean we are brothers?"
"…Yes, we are. I'm older, so I'm the big brother, and you're the little brother."
"What does that mean?"
"It means… that I'll look after you. And one day, you'll be stronger than I ever was."
The bounty hunter finished disintegrating, leaving nothing behind but a silver sphere in Zahhak's hand.
The Enforcer closed his eyes, breathed in and out, then opened them again. He held the sphere up and pulled it with his other hand, extracting a green sphere from within: Cassiel's consciousness data.
"This isn't how I wanted to do this," he muttered. "But I'll make do."
Red sparks danced over the two spheres before two cards formed above the spheres. Cyseraph Divine Gabriel and Cyspirit Superior Seraphim. Zahhak took the two cards and inserted them into his Duel Disk, then returned his gaze to the silver sphere.
"…"
He closed his eyes. "If you overcome this… you'll be stronger than you ever were before. And if you fail… then there will be no reason for Ouroboros to go after you anymore." He opened his eyes. "Either way… we'll meet again in Jormungand's world."
He tapped the top of the sphere, making the silver fall away like snowflakes, leaving only a golden sphere.
It was done. Morningstar was no more.
RUMBLE
Zahhak looked up as the world de-synced and shook. "It seems Bohman lost." He narrowed his eyes. "Time to fulfill the other half of my mission."
One minute earlier…
"Well done." Bohman pushed himself to his feet across from Playmaker and Ai. "You may have a future that I don't."
"Bohman…"
"Since I lost the duel, I'll vanish soon. Ai, by siding with the humans, you closed the Ignis's future with your own hands."
"Eh?"
"I hope you don't regret it."
"Bohman…"
"Farewell, my ultimate rival Playmaker!" Bohman shouted as the world began to shake.
Ai blinked. "Wait, Bohman! Lightning said something earlier! Who is-?" He and Playmaker were teleported away before he could finish the question.
Bohman smiled sadly to himself and closed his eyes. He opened his mouth-
SHINK
And screamed as pain shot through his chest. Gasping, Bohman looked down.
At the red-clawed hand emerging through his fist, gripping a multicolored orb.
The hand pulled back, and Bohman collapsed to the ground. Mustering all of his remaining strength, he turned his head to look at the armored and masked human behind him who held his multicolored core in his hand.
Zahhak noticed the look and answered the unspoken question, his helmet's red eyes glowing. "Yes. This was always the plan from the start: For you to gather the Ignis in one location, in one vessel, and then for me to take them from you." He hefted the orb. "More damaged than Jormungand would have preferred, but their data is still intact. Soon, Jormungand will ascend, and this world will know the name of its new god."
He looked down at the gasping Bohman again. "…I will admit I didn't want it to be like this. I had hoped to duel you and win this prize that way. But reality is not that kind. If nothing else, take solace that I will do what you could never do."
With a flash of red lightning, the Enforcer disappeared, leaving Bohman alone on the ground, Mirror LINK VRAINS coming apart all around him.
Bohman stared at where the man had been and watched as all of his and Lightning's efforts came crashing down around him. But that wasn't the thought that came to his mind. That wasn't what made tears come to his eyes.
"H-Haru…"
Morningstar vs. Zahhak
Morningstar has 1500 LP, 2 cards in his hand, Cyspirit Jubilant Jester (2200/2/↙↘) in the Extra Monster Zone, Cyspirit Savage Shogun (4000/2700/8) at Jubilant Jester's bottom-right in Attack Position, Cyspirit Mausoleum in the Field Zone, and the Continuous Spell Card Cyberse Infinite Coding (1 CC) and the Equip Spell Card Cyspirit War Helm in his Spell & Trap Zone. Zahhak has 1950 LP, 2 cards in his hand, Cydevil Indolent Belphegor (3900/←↘→) in the Extra Monster Zone, and Cydemon Pillars in the Field Zone.
Turn 3: Morningstar
Morningstar Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.
Turn 4: Zahhak
Zahhak draws. Morningstar activates his Set Quick-Play Spell Card Cyspirit Coating, targeting Savage Shogun. Until the end of the turn, Savage Shogun is unaffected by Zahhak's card effects. Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Earl in his GY to add 1 "Cydemon" Spell/Trap Card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cydemon Temple to his hand. Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Soulsnatch in his GY, banishing it to send 1 "Cydemon" monster from his Deck to the GY, then gain LP equal to its ATK. He sends Cydemon Queen to the GY (Zahhak: 1950→4650 LP). Zahhak activates Cydemon Pillars' effect to send 1 Dark Cyberse monster from his Deck to the GY. He sends Cydemon Rook to the GY. By banishing Cydemon Shrine from his GY, Zahhak activates the Continuous Spell Card Cydemon Temple. While Cydemon Temple is on the field, Zahhak's Dark Cyberse monsters cannot be targeted or destroyed by Morningstar's card effects. Zahhak activates Indolent Belphegor's effect, targeting and negating Cyspirit Mausoleum's effects until the end of the turn, then reducing Jubilant Jester's ATK to 0 (Jubilant Jester: 2200→400). Zahhak activates Cydemon Temple's effect to Tribute 1 Dark Cyberse Link Monster he controls and Special Summon 1 Dark Cyberse Link Monster from his Extra Deck with an equal Link Rating but a different name and treat it as a Link Summon. He Tributes Indolent Belphegor and Special Summons Cydevil Rapacious Mammon (2200→2500/3/↙↑↘) to the Extra Monster Zone (Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC). As Zahhak has at least 3 "Cydemon" monsters in his GY and it points to no monsters, Rapacious Mammon gains 200 ATK for each monster in the GY (Rapacious Mammon: 2500→4700). Zahhak activates Rapacious Mammon's effect to add 1 "Cydemon" Spell/Trap Card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cydemon Ira to his hand. Zahhak activates the effect of Indolent Belphegor in his GY to Special Summon up to 2 "Cydemon" monsters from his GY in Defense Position with their effects negated. He Special Summons Cydemon Bishop (1600→1900/600→900/3) (Rapacious Mammon: 4700→4500). Zahhak uses Bishop and Link-3 Rapacious Mammon to Link Summon Cydevil Prideful Helel (3000→3300/4/←↙↘→) to the Extra Monster Zone (Infinite Coding: 2 CC→3 CC). While Prideful Helel is on the field, the effects of Morningstar's linked monsters are negated (Jubilant Jester: 400→0) (Savage Shogun: 4000→3600). As he has at least 4 Dark Cyberse monsters in his GY and it points to no monsters, Zahhak activates Prideful Helel's effect, targeting Savage Shogun and banishing all other cards Morningstar controls until his next Standby Phase. Cyspirit Jubilant Jester, Cyspirit Mausoleum, Cyspirit War Helm, and Infinite Coding are banished (Savage Shogun: 3600→2800).
During the Battle Phase, Prideful Helel's ATK becomes double its original ATK (Prideful Helel: 3300→6000). Prideful Helel attacks Savage Shogun. As his "Cyspirit" monster is battling, Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Praetor in his hand, discarding it to make the ATK of all "Cyspirit" monsters he controls double their original ATK until the end of the turn, but Zahhak takes no battle damage for the rest of the turn (Savage Shogun: 2800→5600). Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Resilience in his GY, banishing it and targeting Prideful Helel. Until the end of his next turn, Prideful Helel's original ATK is increased by 600 (Prideful Helel: 6000→7200). As Savage Shogun is battling a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, it gains 1000 ATK during damage calculation (Savage Shogun: 5600→6600). The attack continues and Savage Shogun is destroyed (Morningstar: 1500→900 LP). As his "Cyspirit" Fusion Monster was destroyed and sent to the GY, Morningstar activates Cyspirit Fusion's effect in his GY, banishing it to shuffle Savage Shogun back into his Extra Deck, then Special Summon 1 Link-3 or lower "Cyspirit" Link Monster from his Extra Deck and treat it as a Link Summon. He Special Summons Cyspirit Youthful Yakuza (1000/1/↓) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Youthful Yakuza was Link Summoned, Morningstar takes no damage for the rest of the turn. The Battle Phase ends (Prideful Helel: 7200→3900). Zahhak Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn.
Turn 5: Morningstar
Morningstar draws. During his Standby Phase, Cyspirit Mausoleum and Cyberse Infinite Coding return to his field, but as Jubilant Jester cannot return to the Extra Monster Zone, it is sent to the GY, and as the equipped monster left the field, Cyspirit War Helm is also sent to the GY. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Wanderer in his GY, shuffling it into his Deck to Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster from his GY, but that monster cannot attack this turn. He Special Summons Jubilant Jester (1800/2/↙↘) to Youthful Yakuza's Link Marker. Morningstar activates the Spell Card Link Treasure, which lets him draw cards equal to the number of Link Monsters on the field. He draws 3 cards. Morningstar activates the Link Spell Card Salvation Arrows (↖↑↗) at the Spell & Trap Zone Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker points to. Link Monsters linked to Salvation Arrows are unaffected by Zahhak's card effects, and if Salvation Arrows leaves the field, monsters linked to it are returned to Morningstar's hand. Morningstar uses Youthful Yakuza and Link-2 Jubilant Jester to Link Summon Cyspirit Angelic Avenger (2700/3/←↑→) to Salvation Arrows' top Link Marker (Infinite Coding: 0 CC→1 CC). As a "Cyspirit" monster was sent to the GY as Link Material, Mausoleum's effect lets Morningstar draw 1 card. As Youthful Yakuza was sent to the GY, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his GY to his hand, then send 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his Deck to the GY. He adds Cyspirit Prisoner to his hand and sends Cyspirit Teleporter to the GY. As there is a Cyberse Link Monster on the field, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Prisoner (1600/2100/5) to Angelic Avenger's left Link Marker in Attack Position. As it points to 1 monster, Morningstar activates Angelic Avenger's effect to add 1 "Cyspirit" Spell/Trap Card in his GY to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Coating to his hand. Morningstar uses Prisoner and Link-3 Angelic Avenger to Link Summon Cyspirit Nebulous Nova (2500/4←↖↗→) to Salvation Arrows' top Link Marker (Infinite Coding: 1 CC→2 CC). As Prisoner was sent to the GY to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Resonator to his hand. Morningstar activates the effect of Infinite Coding, removing 2 Cyberse Counters to draw 1 card (Infinite Coding: 2 CC→0 CC). Morningstar activates the effect of Mausoleum, targeting Nebulous Nova and treating it as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating until his next Standby Phase.
Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Resonator (1000/1000/2). As Resonator was Normal Summoned, Morningstar can Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his GY in Defense Position with its effects negated, then declare a Level between 1 and 4 and make that monster that Level until the end of the turn. He Special Summons Cyspirit Teleporter and declares Level 2 (500/1500/3→2). Morningstar tunes Level 2 Resonator to Level 2 Teleporter to Synchro Summon Cyspirit Elegant Eagle (1800/900/4) to Nebulous Nova's left Link Marker in Attack Position. As Elegant Eagle was Synchro Summoned, Morningstar can Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his GY in Defense Position, then declare a Level between 1 and 4 and make that monster that Level until the end of the turn. He Special Summons Resonator and declares Level 4 (1000/1000/2→4). Morningstar tunes Level 4 Resonator to Level 4 Elegant Eagle to Synchro Summon Cyspirit Cosmic Crusader (2800/2300/8) to Nebulous Nova's left Link Marker in Attack Position. As Cosmic Crusader was Synchro Summoned, Morningstar can banish 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster from his GY, then increase Cosmic Crusader's ATK by half the banished monster's ATK. He banishes Angelic Avenger (Cosmic Crusader: 2800→4150). Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Samurai in his GY, Special Summoning it (1800/1000/4) to Nebulous Nova's right Link Marker in Attack Position, but it cannot attack this turn. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Cyspirit Linker (1700/800/4) in Attack Position. Morningstar overlays his Level 4 Linker and Samurai to Xyz Summon Cyspirit Martial Mameluke (2800/2300/4) to Nebulous Nova's right Link Marker in Attack Position. As Martial Mameluke was Xyz Summoned using only "Cyspirit" monsters as material, all cards in Zahhak's Spell & Trap Zone are returned to his Deck. Zahhak chains his Set Trap Card Cydemon Superbia, which has him target a Dark Cyberse Link Monster he controls, then negate the effects of all face-up cards Morningstar controls, and if he targets a Link-4 or higher monster with this effect, Morningstar cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of Superbia's effect. Zahhak targets the Link-4 Prideful Helel. Cosmic Crusader's, Martial Mameluke's, Salvation Arrows', Infinite Coding's, and Mausoleum's effects are negated, but as Nebulous Nova was linked to Salvation Arrows, it is unaffected by Superbia's effect (Cosmic Crusader: 4150→2800). While Prideful Helel is on the field, the effects of Morningstar's linked monsters are negated. Morningstar activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Burial from a Different Dimension to return up to 3 banished monsters to the GY. He returns Cacophonic Caller, Egregious Electrician, and Angelic Avenger to his GY. Morningstar activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Cyspirit Coating, targeting Nebulous Nova and making it unaffected by Zahhak's card effects until the end of the turn. As it is treated as pointing to 2 or more monsters, Morningstar activates Nebulous Nova's effect to banish 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster from his GY and increase Nebulous Nova's ATK by that monster's Link Rating x 1000 until his next Standby Phase, but his other monsters cannot attack. He banishes Angelic Avenger (Nebulous Nova: 2500→5500). As he controls a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Morningstar activates the Quick-Play Spell Card Cyspirit Forced Call, which lets him Special Summon 1 monster from Zahhak's GY to his field in Defense Position with its effects negated. He Special Summons Cydemon Rook (1800→2100/600→900/4) to Prideful Helel's bottom-left Link Marker. Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Bishop in his GY, targeting Prideful Helel, but as it is treated as pointing to at least 3 monsters, Morningstar activates Nebulous Nova's effect, negating the activation of Bishop's effect and banishing it.
Nebulous Nova attacks Prideful Helel. As his "Cyspirit" monster is battling, Morningstar activates the effect of Elegant Eagle in his GY, banishing it to double all battle damage Zahhak takes from battles involving "Cyspirit" monsters for the rest of the turn. Prideful Helel is destroyed (Zahhak: 4650→1450 LP). Morningstar activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Recovery, which targets his "Cyspirit" Link Monster, then lets him return cards on his field to his Deck, up to that monster's Link Rating, then draw the same number of cards. He targets Link-4 Nebulous Nova, then returns Infinite Coding, Cyspirit Mausoleum, and Salvation Arrows to his Deck and draws 3 cards. Morningstar Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn.
Turn 6: Zahhak
Zahhak draws. He attempts to activate the effect of Prideful Helel in his GY to Special Summon up to 2 "Cydemon" monsters from his GY in Defense Position with its effects negated, but Morningstar chains the effect of Nebulous Nova, negating the activation and banishing Prideful Helel. Zahhak activates the effect of Rapacious Mammon in his GY to Special Summon up to 2 "Cydemon" monsters from his GY in Defense Position with their effects negated. He Special Summons Cydemon Knight (2200→2500/600→900/6) and Cydemon Earl (2000→2300/600→900/5). Zahhak Tributes Earl and Knight to Tribute Summon Cydemon King (3000→3300/600→900/8). As there is at least 1 "Cydemon" monster in his GY, Zahhak activates King's effect to Tribute 1 monster he controls to Special Summon 1 Dark Cyberse Link Monster from his Extra Deck and treat it as a Link Summon. He Tributes Rook to Link Summon Cydevil Covetous Leviathan (2500→2800/3/↙↓↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Morningstar activates his Set Trap Card Metaverse, which lets him take 1 Field Spell from his Deck, then either activate it or add it to his hand. He takes Cyspirit Mausoleum from his Deck and activates it. While Mausoleum is on the field, Morningstar's linked "Cyspirit" monsters are unaffected by Zahhak's monster effects, and possession of his "Cyspirit" monsters cannot switch. Zahhak activates Temple's effect, Tributing Covetous Leviathan to Link Summon Cydevil Edacious Beelzebub (2300→2600/3/←↓→) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Zahhak uses King and Link-3 Edacious Beelzebub to Link Summon Cydevil Wrathful Amon (2800→3100/4/←↑↓→) to the right Extra Monster Zone. Zahhak activates Cydemon Pillars' effect, targeting Wrathful Amon and moving it to a Main Monster Zone it points to. He moves Wrathful Amon to his center-right Main Monster Zone. Zahhak activates the Equip Spell Card Cydemon Soulscythe, equipping it to Wrathful Amon. If the monster equipped with Soulscythe battles, Morningstar's cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step.
At the start of the Battle Phase, Zahhak activates Soulscythe's effect, allowing Wrathful Amon to attack all monsters Morningstar controls once each. Wrathful Amon attacks Nebulous Nova. As his Dark Cyberse monster is battling, Zahhak activates his Set Trap Card Cydemon Ira, which halves Nebulous Nova's ATK and increases Wrathful Amon's ATK by the same amount until the end of the turn (Nebulous Nova: 5500→2750) (Wrathful Amon: 3100→5850). The attack continues and Nebulous Nova is destroyed, but as Morningstar would take battle damage from a battle involving his "Cyspirit" monster, he banishes Cyspirit Recovery from his GY instead. As his "Cyspirit" monster was destroyed, Morningstar activates his Set Trap Card Cyspirit Destiny, which lets him Tribute 1 "Cyspirit" monster he controls to gain LP equal to its original ATK, also Morningstar takes no damage from direct attacks for the rest of the turn. He Tributes Cosmic Crusader (Morningstar: 900→3700 LP). Wrathful Amon attacks and destroys Martial Mameluke (Morningstar: 3700→650 LP). Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Pillars, sending Cydemon President from his Deck to the GY. He activates the effect of Cydemon Earl in his GY to add 1 "Cydemon" Spell/Trap Card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cydemon Luxuria to his hand. Zahhak Sets 2 cards. He ends his turn, and Cydemon Ira's effect ends (Wrathful Amon: 5850→3100).
Turn 7: Morningstar
Morningstar draws. He activates the Spell Card Cyspirit Recall, which lets him target up to 3 "Cyspirit" monsters in his GY and shuffle them into his Deck, and if he targets a Link Monster, Zahhak cannot activate cards or effects in response to Recall's activation. He targets and returns Cacophonic Caller, Egregious Electrician, and Jubilant Jester to his Extra Deck. Morningstar Normal Summons Cyspirit Ruffian (1400/900/3). He uses Ruffian to Link Summon Cacophonic Caller (500/1/↓) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As Ruffian was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, for the rest of the turn, Zahhak cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of Morningstar's "Cyspirit" monster effects. Morningstar activates Cacophonic Caller's effect to Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his Deck to its Link Marker, but it cannot attack and is destroyed during the End Phase. He Special Summons Cyspirit Engineer (1600/400/3) to Cacophonic Caller's Link Marker in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Engineer to Link Summon Cyspirit Vivacious Vixen (1200/1/→) to Cacophonic Caller's Link Marker. As Engineer was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can target and destroy 1 Set card in Zahhak's Spell & Trap Zone. He targets and destroys the Set Cydemon Luxuria. Morningstar uses Cacophonic Caller and Vivacious Vixen to Link Summon Cyspirit Jubilant Jester (1800/2/↙↘) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As his "Cyspirit" monster was sent to the GY as Link Material, Morningstar activates Mausoleum's effect to draw 1 card. Morningstar activates Youthful Yakuza's effect in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster from his GY with its effects negated. He Special Summons Cacophonic Caller (500/1/↓). Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Teleporter in his GY, banishing it to Special Summon 1 Level 3 or lower "Cyspirit" monster from his GY. He Special Summons Cyspirit Coder (0/0/1) in Attack Position. As Coder was Normal or Special Summoned, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand, then send 1 card from his hand, field, or Deck to the GY. He adds Cyspirit Navigator to his hand and sends Cyspirit Nova to the GY. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Navigator (1300/1100/3) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Coder and Navigator to Link Summon Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire (1700/2/↖←) to Jubilant Jester's bottom-right Link Marker. As Jubilant Jester points to a monster, Morningstar's "Cyspirit" monsters gain 400 ATK/DEF (Cacophonic Caller: 500→900) (Jubilant Jester: 1800→2200) (Legendary Legionnaire: 1700→2100).
Morningstar activates the effect of Engineer in the GY, banishing it to Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his GY in Defense Position with its effects negated. He Special Summons Nova (1500→1900/1000→1400/3). Morningstar uses Nova to Link Summon Cyspirit Odd Outlaw (500→900/1/←) to Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Destiny in his GY, banishing it to target 1 card on his field and make it unaffected by card effects for the rest of the turn. He targets Mausoleum. Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Recall in his GY, banishing it to add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Heart to his hand. Morningstar activates the Equip Spell Card Cyspirit Heart, which lets him Special Summon 1 "Cyspirit" monster from his GY in Defense Position with its effects negated. He Special Summons Prisoner (1600→2000/2100→2500/5). Morningstar uses Prisoner and Odd Outlaw to Link Summon Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler (1600→2000/2/←→) to Legendary Legionnaire's left Link Marker. As the monster Special Summoned by Cyspirit Heart was sent to the GY as Link Material, Morningstar draws 1 card. As Prisoner was used to Link Summon a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar can add 1 "Cyspirit" card from his Deck to his hand. He adds Cyspirit Jaeger to his hand. As he controls a "Cyspirit" monster, Morningstar Special Summons Jaeger (1700→2100/900→1300/4) in Attack Position. Morningstar uses Jaeger to Link Summon Cyspirit Hallowed Healer (1000→1400/1/↑) to Jubilant Jester's bottom-left Link Marker. Morningstar uses Cacophonic Caller, Hallowed Healer, Jubilant Jester, Legendary Legionnaire, and Thrilled Tunneler to Link Summon Cyspirit Superior Seraphim (3300/5/↖↙↓↘↗) to the right Extra Monster Zone. As it was Link Summoned using 5 monsters, Superior Seraphim's effect activates, letting Morningstar Special Summon up to 3 "Cyspirit" Link Monsters from his GY to zones it points to with their effects negated, but monsters Superior Seraphim points to cannot attack. Morningstar Special Summons Nebulous Nova (2500/4/←↖↗→) to Superior Seraphim's bottom-left Link Marker, Thrilled Tunneler (1600/2/←→) to its bottom Link Marker, and Legendary Legionnaire (1700/2/↖←) to its bottom-right Link Marker. As Superior Seraphim was Link Summoned using more than 4 monsters, its effect negates the effects of all other face-up cards and makes the ATK of all other face-up monsters equal to their original ATK. Temple's and Pillars' effects are negated, but Wrathful Amon's are not because of Pillars' effect (Wrathful Amon: 3100→2800), and Mausoleum's are not because of Destiny's effect. Superior Seraphim gains 500 ATK for each monster it points to (Superior Seraphim: 3300→4800). Morningstar activates Mausoleum's effect, targeting Superior Seraphim and treating it as pointing to a number of monsters equal to its Link Rating until his next Standby Phase (Superior Seraphim: 4800→5800). Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Ira in his GY, targeting Wrathful Amon. Until the end of the turn, Wrathful Amon's ATK becomes equal to double its original ATK (Wrathful Amon: 2800→5600).
Superior Seraphim's number of attacks each turn is equal to the number of monsters it points to at the start of the Battle Phase. It is treated as pointing to 5 monsters, so it can make 5 attacks. Superior Seraphim attacks Wrathful Amon. As Superior Seraphim was Link Summoned using more than 3 monsters, and it attacked while it points to a "Cyspirit" Link Monster, Zahhak's cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step. Wrathful Amon is destroyed (Zahhak: 1450→1250 LP). As his Dark Cyberse monster was destroyed, Zahhak activates his Set Trap Card Cydemon Tristitia, which lets him return all of his banished monsters to his GY. He returns Bishop, Prideful Helel, and Earl to his GY. Superior Seraphim attacks Zahhak directly, but as he would take battle damage, Zahhak banishes Cydemon Tristitia from his GY instead. As Tristitia was banished during the Battle Phase, the Battle Phase ends. Morningstar Sets 1 card. He ends his turn.
Turn 8: Zahhak
Zahhak draws. Morningstar activates his Set Continuous Trap Card Cyspirit Armory. Once per turn, Morningstar can banish 1 "Cyspirit" card from his GY to equip 1 "Cyspirit" Equip Spell Card from his hand or GY to 1 "Cyspirit" monster he controls. He banishes Cyspirit Blast to equip Cyspirit War Helm in his GY to Superior Seraphim. While War Helm is equipped to Superior Seraphim, it gains 800 ATK and Zahhak cannot target Morningstar's "Cyspirit" monsters for attacks or effects, except Superior Seraphim (Superior Seraphim: 5800→6600). Morningstar activates the effect of Cyspirit Coating in his GY, banishing it and targeting Superior Seraphim. Until the end of the turn, Superior Seraphim is unaffected by Zahhak's card effects. Zahhak activates the effect of Earl in his GY to add Cydemon Shuffle from his Deck to his hand. Zahhak activates the Spell Card Cydemon Shuffle, which lets him return up to 3 "Cydemon" cards in his GY to his Deck, then send an equal number of "Cydemon" monsters from his Deck to the GY. He returns Cydemon Knight, Cydemon Rook, and, and Cydemon Bishop to his Deck, then sends Cydemon Duke, Cydemon Marquis, and Cydemon Pawn to the GY. Zahhak activates Duke's effect to add 1 "Cydemon" monster from his GY to his hand. He adds Rook to his hand. Zahhak activates the effect of Edacious Beelzebub in his GY to Special Summon up to 2 "Cydemon" monsters from his GY in Defense Position with their effects negated. He Special Summons Duke (2600/600/7) and Marquis (2400/600/6). Zahhak Normal Summons Rook (1800/600/4). Zahhak uses Duke, Marquis, and Rook to Link Summon Cydevil Lascivious Asmodeus (2400/3/←↙→) to the Extra Monster Zone. Zahhak activates the Spell Card Cydemon Supremacy, which lets him Tribute 1 Dark Cyberse Link Monster he controls, then Special Summon different Dark Cyberse Link Monsters from his GY up to that monster's Link Rating, but their effects are negated and their ATK becomes 0. Zahhak Tributes Link-3 Lascivious Asmodeus and Special Summons Covetous Leviathan (2500→0/3/↙↓↘), Prideful Helel (3000→0/4/←↙↘→), and Wrathful Amon (2800→0/4/←↑↓→). Zahhak uses Prideful Helel, Wrathful Amon, and Link-3 Covetous Leviathan to Link Summon Cydevil Sinful Satanael (4000/5/←↙↓↘→) to the Extra Monster Zone. As Zahhak has at least 7 Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in his GY, once per turn, he can negate the effects of all other cards on the field, then destroy them, and as he has 3 or more Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in his GY, Morningstar cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of Sinful Satanael's effects. Cydemon Pillars, Cydemon Temple, Cyspirit Mausoleum, Cyspirit War Helm, Cyspirit Armory, Cyspirit Legendary Legionnaire, Cyspirit Nebulous Nova, and Cyspirit Thrilled Tunneler are all destroyed, but Superior Seraphim is not due to Coating's effect (Superior Seraphim: 6600→5800). As Cyspirit Armory was sent to the GY by Zahhak's card, Morningstar can target 1 "Cyspirit" monster he controls, and for the rest of the turn, he takes no battle damage from battles involving that monster. He targets Superior Seraphim.
Sinful Satanael attacks Superior Seraphim. As Sinful Satanael is battling while Zahhak has 4 or more Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in his GY, Morningstar's cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step, and as Sinful Satanael is battling Morningstar's Special Summoned monster while Zahhak has 5 or more Dark Cyberse Link Monsters in his GY, it gains 1000 ATK for each Dark Cyberse Link Monster in his GY during damage calculation only (Sinful Satanael: 4000→11000). The attack continues and Superior Seraphim is destroyed (Sinful Satanael: 11000→4000). Zahhak activates the effect of Cydemon Queen in his GY, targeting Sinful Satanael and allowing it to make an additional attack during each Battle Phase this turn. Sinful Satanael attacks Morningstar directly (Morningstar: 650→0 LP). Zahhak wins.
Zahhak:
Cydemon King
Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 3000 DEF 600 Level: 8
Once, while this card is in your GY (Quick Effect): You can target 1 DARK Cyberse monster you control; until the end of the turn, that monster is unaffected by your opponent's card effects. If there is at least 1 "Cydemon" monster in your GY, this card gains the following effect.
-Once per turn: You can Tribute 1 monster you control; Special Summon 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster from your Extra Deck. (This is treated as a Link Summon.)
Cydevil Sinful Satanael
Attribute: DARK Type: [Cyberse/Link/Effect] ATK 4000 LINK-5 ←↙↓↘→
3+ DARK Cyberse Link Monsters
Must be Link Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone and cannot be Summoned by other ways. This Link Summoned card gains these effects depending on the number of DARK Cyberse Link Monsters with different names in your GY.
-3 or more: 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 or more: If this card that points to no monsters battles: Your opponent's cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step.
-5 or more: If this card battles your opponent's Special Summoned monster, during damage calculation: This card gains 1000 ATK for each DARK Cyberse Link Monster with different names in your GY during that damage calculation only.
-6 or more: Negate the effects of your opponent's linked monsters, also linked monsters your opponent controls cannot attack.
-7: Once per turn, if this card points to no monsters: You can negate the effects of all other face-up cards on the field, then destroy all other cards on the field. The turn you activate this effect, only this card can declare an attack.
Cydemon Temple Continuous Spell Card
Activate this card by banishing "Cydemon Shrine" from your field or GY. DARK Cyberse monsters you control cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's card effects. Once per turn: You can Tribute 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster you control; Special Summon 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster from your Extra Deck with an equal Link Rating but a different original name. (This is treated as a Link Summon.) During your End Phase, if you have no "Cydemon" monsters in your GY: Destroy this card.
Cydemon Superbia Normal Trap Card
Target 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster you control; negate the effects of all face-up cards your opponent controls. If you target a Link-4 or higher monster, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of this effect. You can banish this card from your GY and target 1 DARK Cyberse monster you control; until the end of the turn, that monster is unaffected by your opponent's card effects. You can only use 1 "Cydemon Superbia" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Cydemon Soulscythe Equip Spell Card
Equip only to a DARK Cyberse monster. If the equipped monster battles, your opponent's cards and effects cannot be activated until the end of the Damage Step. At the start of your Battle Phase: You can activate this effect; the equipped monster can attack all monsters your opponent controls once each.
Cydemon Tristitia Normal Trap Card
If your DARK Cyberse monster is destroyed and sent to the GY: You can return all of your banished monsters to the GY. If you would take damage from your opponent's card, you can banish this card from your GY instead. If this card is banished during the Battle Phase: You can end the Battle Phase. You can only use each effect of "Cydemon Tristitia" once per turn.
Cydemon Supremacy Normal Spell Card
Tribute 1 DARK Cyberse Link Monster you control; Special Summon DARK Cyberse Link Monsters from your GY with different original names, up to the Tributed monster's Link Rating. The monsters Special Summoned by this effect have their effects negated, also their ATK becomes 0. You can only use 1 "Cydemon Supremacy" per turn.
Morningstar:
Cyspirit Ruffian
Attribute: LIGHT Type: [Cyberse/Effect] ATK 1400 DEF 900 Level: 3
After this card is used as material for the Link Summon of a "Cyspirit" monster, for the rest of this turn, your opponent cannot activate cards or effects in response to the activation of your "Cyspirit" monster effects.
Cyspirit Recovery Normal Spell Card
Target 1 "Cyspirit" Link Monster you control; shuffle cards you control into the Deck, up to the targeted monster's Link Rating, then draw an equal number of cards. If you would take battle damage from a battle involving your "Cyspirit" monster, you can banish this card from your GY instead. You can only use 1 "Cyspirit Recovery" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Cyspirit Destiny Normal Trap Card
When your "Cyspirit" monster is destroyed by battle: Tribute 1 "Cyspirit" monster you control; gain LP equal to its original ATK, also you take no battle damage from direct attacks for the rest of the turn. You can banish this card from your GY and target 1 face-up card you control; until the end of the turn, that card is unaffected by other card effects, except its own. You can only use 1 "Cyspirit Destiny" effect per turn, and only once that turn.
Cyspirit Armory Continuous Trap Card
You can banish 1 "Cyspirit" card from your GY; equip 1 "Cyspirit" Equip Spell Card from your hand or GY to 1 face-up "Cyspirit" monster you control. If this card is sent from the field to the GY by your opponent's card: You can target 1 "Cyspirit" monster you control; for the rest of the turn, you take no battle damage from battles involving that monster. You can only use this effect of "Cyspirit Armory" once per turn.
Chapter Preview
Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS: Hidden Memories. Chapter 72 – Last Chance. Bohman has been defeated, and Mirror LINK VRAINS has collapsed. Those who had been defeated have returned. But the war is not over. One opponent yet remains. Zahhak, after defeating Morningstar, confronts Playmaker and challenges him for Ai. But Playmaker doesn't stand alone. Wanting to avenge his lieutenant, Revolver joins their duel. Rivals combine their strength to take on the strongest duelist in LINK VRAINS in the final battle of the Ignis War…
Question of the Chapter
Of the original archetypes introduced in season 2 of Hidden Memories – Life, Cyangel, Mechassassin, Cydemon, VirtuaBeast – which would you like to see made into real cards the most? I won't count Archaism because it only got one duel, but what do you think of the others?
Author's Notes
Thank you to Haoh Ryu Z-ARC for providing feedback on the OC cards and the first part of the duel.
Well… I'm evil, aren't I? So many of you expected Morningstar to win, and I don't blame you. But no, that isn't what happened here. I'll go over that, but later. I have other things to go over first.
I'll start with the canon events, i.e., events from the anime. We have Cam helping the Hanoi, Akira, and Ghost Girl shut down the Neuron Link, and then we have Diana save Akira and Emma from the Neuron Link. I'll admit that I initially didn't plan on involving Goldie's side in this chapter, but after a few reviews, I decided to include Diana in this and have her interact with Akira and Emma, which will have implications come season 3. Goldie herself didn't appear as she's still injured from Jester's attack, but those injuries won't last much longer. That aside, we also had Ai ask Lightning about Ouroboros, only for the latter to refuse to tell Ai about Jormungand. Some people suggested Lightning tell Ai about the Divine Ignis, but I remembered an important fact: Lightning is petty. He doesn't know what Jormungand has planned, but he suspects it will be bad for humanity, so he'd prefer Jormungand to win over Playmaker. So he refused to tell Ai about Jormungand out of spite. And Ai and Playmaker were teleported away before Ai could ask Bohman about Ouroboros.
But that was ultimately a small part of the chapter: The first important part was the reveal of Yasutake's origins. Twenty-five years ago, the Third Anguis of Ouroboros, Dr. Georg Weissmann, ran an experiment that created artificial human life. I did consider calling them homunculus, but I felt that wasn't entirely accurate, so I went with artificial humans. Besides, it contrasts nicely with artificial intelligence. And Yasutake and Zahhak were two of those artificial humans. Eventually however, the experiment was shut down, and as one last experiment, Yasutake was sent out onto the streets to see how he would grow when let out of his environment. But when Dr. Weissmann learned of Dr. Kogami, he had Dr. Hirai kidnap Yasutake to use him in the Hanoi Project. And when that ended, Yasutake was left alone. The other major reveal is about Dr. Hirai: he was in fact a member of Ouroboros. Not an Enforcer or Anguis, just a scientist. He helped Weissmann in his artificial human project, then served as his eyes and ears in the Hanoi Project. Eventually however, Dr. Hirai betrayed Ouroboros, and Jester killed him for it. How did he betray Ouroboros? You'll have to wait for a later chapter to find out.
But the biggest part of this chapter was the duel itself, and its climax. Looking over the reviews, no one suspected Morningstar would lose, and why would you? He already lost once, didn't he? Surely this time, he would win. He would get a new power at the last minute like Playmaker and come out on top, right? Sorry no, he lost again and this time, he lost in the biggest way he possibly could. Morningstar's avatar is no more; all that is left is Yasutake. Cypher is now in Ouroboros's possession, along with Cyseraph Divine Gabriel and Cyspirit Superior Seraphim. Why did I go this route and have Morningstar lose? There are three reasons. The first is the plot. After all, Ouroboros has been searching for the Cyberse Trinity for so long; I couldn't have so much buildup without them obtaining them, right? Morningstar's loss helps set up Jormungand as the main antagonist of season 3, and truly shows just how dangerous Ouroboros is as a group compared to Lightning, Bohman, and the Knights of Hanoi. The second is to contrast it with season 1, where Morningstar's journey paralleled Playmaker and had an obvious end. I wanted to subvert that with season 2. The third reason is because of Yasutake's development. What I wanted to do was take Yasutake to his absolute lowest, bring him to his absolute worst point. And then, build himself back up again. I'll admit to being a little annoyed that he only used Salvation Arrows for a little bit, but honestly, the Cyspirit Deck isn't the best fit for it, and I think it speaks well for Zahhak that he defeated it so easily. Even so, Salvation Arrows did protect Nebulous Nova for an important part, so that was nice.
And then we have the last scene, where Zahhak steals Bohman's core, along with the data of the Ignis he absorbed. What is going to do with it? You'll find out, won't you? This chapter is where things start to diverge from VRAINS canon, and Hidden Memories becomes its own story, a divergence that will continue into season 3. But more importantly… some of you assumed this would be the last duel of season 2, but it isn't. The last duel is next chapter, and it is… Zahhak! Versus! Playmaker! And! Revolver! A 2-on-1 duel with Playmaker teaming up with his most personal rival against Ouroboros's strongest Enforcer. I hope you all will look forward to it, just as I look forward to your reviews of this chapter!