bopdog111: Roget has a powerful Deck against the Lancers.
Ulrich362: True, the first of likely many decks SOL Technologies (and any reader suggestions or creations from you readers) had hidden away.
bopdog111: But one important question we should go over is: How many Decks we will use before the Lancers finish off Roget?
Ulrich362: Well, we're trying to give the Lancers and their allies who didn't duel a chance to show their skills so it might be a few. On the other hand, three couples are getting the chance to bond so that's good.
bopdog111: But if we miss anyone by the time it ends, we will show them during the Ignis Warfare, and War on SOL Arcs.
Ulrich362: Exactly, so any decks you want to see or custom archetypes just let Bopdog know. That said, right now it's time for Sota to reveal some weaknesses of the Hell Deck so it can hopefully be stopped and a bit more into what happened to him following the Hanoi Project... and his car crash. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V, or VRAINS but we own the OCs!
Sota with Akira, and Emma had just arrived after Shay lost against one of Roget's Ancient Gear Soldiers, and the Lancers noticed about his slap mark, and he said it was his punishment for failure.
"How could his parents do something like that?" Rin asked Akira.
"Regrettably it's not the first time they been like that towards him." Akira admitted with a frown, "They were at first focusing on business while checking in time to time when me, Emma, and occasionally Misaki, and Kenneth watch over him, but when the Hanoi Project occurred it gotten slightly worse."
"If it was anything like what Yusaku went through, I'm not surprised." Celina frowned.
"It kinda was... but those two resorted to something we never thought they can do." Akira said to them.
"What are you talking about?" Sora asked nervously. "What did they do?"
"They... wiped his memory of it." Akira answered solemnly.
"That... how? Why?" Yuri questioned.
"Let me explain..." Akira started off.
Flashback (8 Years Ago)...
Akira: After the Incident, and his second wind 2 years after that Sota had slowly recovered from it... But then suddenly he appeared more chipper, and happy around us... we were really confused about it at first to why he had suddenly acted like the Hanoi Incident never happened. But soon, I founded out, and went, and confronted King about it.
A younger Akira was walking down a hall of SOL with several other employees attempting to stop him, "Mr. Zaizen, please King can't be disturbed! He's not seeing anyone!"
Akira kept moving before barging in a meeting room where the Inner Circle where King, a younger Bishop, and Queen were talking by themselves before they looked over from the intrusion.
"Zaizen, what's the meaning of this interruption?" Queen asked with a glare.
"What did you do?" Akira questioned staring at King.
"Do what? Your gonna have to be more clear about what your talking about Zaizen." King said not looking disturbed with his head held in his arm.
Clenching his fists briefly Akira frowned. "Sota's memories... you did something to them, people don't just change overnight the way he did."
"So you noticed. Make sense considering, you stayed with him like I ordered." King said closing his eyes. "If you want to know truly, then the answer is simple: There gone."
"What do you mean gone?" Akira questioned. "Memories don't just vanish, especially not that kind of memory."
"We made it vanish." King answered standing up turning around with his hands behind his back looking over the large screen of data, "After deciding it be too much trouble for him to recover naturally for his training to become the future CEO we instead blanked his memory of the Lost Incident, Zaizen. So now he's back to where it was before he was captured."
"And if the incident comes back to haunt him?" Akira asked.
"We will just blank it again." King told him simply. "No matter the cost, we cannot let that godforsaken incident interfere in his future duty as the CEO. He's destined for great things, and remembering the pain, and agony of it will interfere. I'm sure you understand Zaizen, it's for the good of the company."
"I... I understand." Akira nodded bowing before leaving the room only to frown as he walked off to try and find Sota, Emma, Misaki, or Kenneth.
Akira: I wanted to snap, and yell at him. I want to hit him to make sure he knows what he did was sickening. But then things gotten worse cause sometime after confronting him, Sota gotten into a car accident.
Akira was at the hospital when the accident took place a while after his second wind he was calling Sota's parents again, and finally Queen responded, "What the hell do you want Zaizen!? We're in a important meeting here!"
"Your son was in a horrible car accident, we're at the hospital now but... he could die." Akira told her.
"That's what your interrupting us for?" Queen asked her tone not changing, "Don't bother us with such small matters got it Zaizen?"
"Small... this is about your son's life!" Akira cried in shock.
"And?" Queen asked him.
"Maria, give me the phone." a voice was heard in the background as the phone was shifted before King's voice was heard, "Sorry about her attitude, Zaizen, things have been stressful as of late. Now what is this 'small matter' as Queen had called it, that could be so important for calling us at this time?"
"Sir, there was a car accident... your son is in critical condition in the hospital right now and there's a very good chance he won't survive." Akira told him.
"Hmm..." King gave thought before saying, "What is his condition right now? Will he survive?"
Hearing that Akira looked over to Misaki who had tears in her eyes but nodded.
"He somehow managed to pull through, but if I may sir... I think for the time being you and Queen should be here for your son. He's a child and needs his family." Akira answered.
"You be right, for that... But hearing he can live is all that mattered to us Zaizen, we got too much on our plates as it is." King said to him, "Make sure he recovers fully, and don't call us again on something as trivial as this."
He then hanged up leaving a shocked Akira there. Akira just stood there completely frozen and in disbelief at what he'd just heard.
Akira: I knew King, and Queen were trouble from how they were with Sota, but that lets me know how little they care about him only seeing him as the 'future CEO of SOL Technologies'. It burned my resolve to make sure that one day they will see Sota will be a better person then they are. But after he was discharged from the hospital we were all in Kenneth's car, and he let us in on something.
After being discharged from the hospital about 2 weeks after the call the party of 5 we're in Kenneth's car driving around Den City after Queen allowed them some time off to have Sota recover. Emma does know Queen would be the type to place them back at work without any questions but probably guesses King convinced her to give them a break which is one thing she's glad about King despite his cold, and non-caring demeanor.
Sota was removed of almost all his bandages with Misaki slowly removing the last of them from around his head where his eye was while Akira, and Emma watched on worried for him. When they were removed they were greeted of a nasty scar over his eye that didn't damaged his eye.
Emma gasped seeing the scar. "Sota..."
"Nasty reminder right?" Sota softly asked.
"Does it hurt?" Misaki asked gently tracing the scar.
Sota shook his head no, "No... but what does hurt are them." That confused them before he said to them, "While I was when the hospital from the accident, they come back... The memories... the memories of the Lost Incident."
The four of them froze hearing that as Kenneth pulled over.
"Sota." Emma whispered before hugging him.
Sota slowly smiled, "Father... he made them vanished from me to prevent it from interfering in my destiny... There back but now... now I don't feel bothered from it now... cause I have you 4 with me."
"Of course you do." Akira nodded. "I can't even begin to imagine what you must have gone through but... if you need anything you know we'll be right there for you."
"Well two things in fact. Before I passed out from the accident, I seen something." Sota mentioned to them.
"Saw something, what did you see?" Misaki asked.
"It's weird how to described it... it looked to be a male humanoid looking digital... and with the most coldest red eyes I've ever seen." Sota admitted to them slightly shuddering.
"An AI." Kenneth growled. "Of course it was one of those things."
"It looked to be nothing we ever know... But I think that was what SOL was looking for. The Ignis." Sota said to them realizing what type of AI it was he saw.
"Those things should be terminated like every AI." Kenneth frowned.
Sota frowned but didn't comment about that before saying, "But the next thing is that I want all five of us to keep resurfacing my memories a secret. If Mother, or Father finds out, they'll attempt to wipe my memories again, and maybe this time I wouldn't be able to remember all of this."
"In other words, pretend you still don't remember." Misaki mentioned. "If you think that's a good idea."
"I don't like pretending part of your life never happened, but I understand why." Akira sighed. "We won't say a thing to King or Queen."
Akira: And so, we pretended we know nothing about it. Then once the Knights of Hanoi finally made their move on the Ignis, we followed through with it for Sota's solutions on the Ignis as opposed to his own father's ideas.
End Flashback...
Akira had his eyes closed before opening them, "And now once Roget's been stopped, we will continue on with what he's planning to do."
"What are you planning on doing?" Yuya asked Sota.
"I believe in the co-existence of humanity, and Ignis." Sota answered. "I don't know what made them act like that in Dr. Kogami's simulations but I'm determined to find out the cause, and make it right, so that we have a chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder peacefully. Even allow them to be in the human world in new forms as opposite from materializing from Duel Disks."
"Coexisting with the Ignis, well if Yuri and I can co-exist I guess anything's possible." Yugo chuckled before smiling. "If there's anything I can do to help out I will."
"The same goes for the rest of us." Yuya agreed.
Sota smiled at this before nodding, "Thanks guys. And after that duel with Varis, I need to get stronger if I am to match what we will be facing in the near future."
"Speaking if that, we still need to figure out what we're going to do against Roget and that Hell deck he has." Shay pointed out.
"Oh yeah the Hell Deck. SOLs as some sort of scam made a contest about making an archetype of cards. I'm sure Blue Angel already informed you all about the Pawn Drones?" Sota asked them.
"You mean the drones we dueled before we met you in the Data Banks?" Celina recalled.
"The very same that uses the Tentacluster Deck of cards. The Tentaclusters were the winning entry from it due to it's effective lockdown, and able to damage opponents without much effort. The other decks that haven't won but are taken note of are kept as reserved cause father plans to use SOLtiS Androids the bodies of the Pawn Drones in real life to enforce SOL's rule further both as security, and enforcers." Sota answered with a nod, "The Tentaclusters are the Deck for the most elite of the Pawn Drones, the other Decks depends on the rank of which Pawn Drone. The Hell Deck is ranked 3rd, and is powerful but from Tentacluster's unable to deal battle damage most of the time, and able to have effect damage plays faster without needing a specific card AKA a Field Spell, to beat it."
"So effect damage is how to beat the Hell deck?" Rin asked hearing that.
"Stopping effect damage is what beats it. The Hell Deck from our observations is able to use Battle Damage, and Effect Damage in perfect harmony while it's Field Spell, the Gates of Hell allows it to it's true potential with beatdown methods, and can damage the player itself for their powerful effects." Sota answered at that, "But if the Gates of Hell is not on the field, and if damage can't be dealt then only whoever's using the Hell Deck can be damaged by itself. And Gates of Hell has a protection effect to where a card can be discarded to protect it but if it's a Hell card, a Hell Token can be summoned in it's place which is indestructible to battle. To beat the Hell Deck you gotta either get rid of the Gates of Hell, or make all there attempts of damaging you nullified."
"Huh... how much damage can the deck deal at once?" inquired a red-haired young man.
"At best on the first turn 1500, their reliant on the Gates of Hell lowering their opponent's monsters points by 1000 to make beatdown plays easier." Sota answered.
Hearing that he nodded. "Do you mind if I go in tomorrow Shay? I'll be sure to avenge your loss but at the same time we should get some rest so we're more focused on the duels right?"
"You sure you can handle this Dennis?" Shay asked him hearing that.
"I'll be fine, Trapeze Magician will be more than enough to handle it." he grinned.
"Oh the Performages." Sota smiled hearing that, "The perfect counter to the Hell Deck."
"Bingo, so after we rest up we'll meet back here and I'll take care of the Hell Deck." Dennis smiled.
They all nodded agreeing at that before they moved to rest up.
Meanwhile with Lilly and Ryoken...
The two were staring out on the ocean with the moon shining above after Ryoken told her something magical will happen soon near his home.
"It's beautiful." Lilly whispered. "You're lucky to have such an amazing view every night."
"That's just the first part. The true part is coming." Ryoken said to her.
Smiling she nodded only to blush as she rested her head on his shoulder. Soon she notices something growing from the ocean as Ryoken told her, "Lilly meet the Stardust Road." A beautiful stream of light from the ocean was visible glowing under the moon. Her eyes widened in awe. "Wow, that's incredible."
"Me, and Sachiko view out here to remind ourselves why we fight." Ryoken said to her, "Father used it to make a path for me to obtain Topologic Gumblar Dragon during my Speed Duel with Playmaker."
"That... I'm sorry." she whispered.
He only pulled her close with an arm. She turned and gently embraced him. He slowly hugged her back as they settled in there embrace together.
"Where do you think it leads?" Lilly asked after a moment as she turned back to the Stardust Road.
Ryoken looked back before he admits, "To be honest... the road of possibilities where everything can be possible."
"I think you're right." she smiled.
They looked back at the Stardust Road viewing it in it's entirety. Soon though, the Stardust Road slowly faded away. Seeing that Ryoken turned to Lilly, "There are occasions which the Stardust Road gathers. To see it if your not from here in Den City is rare."
"I'm lucky I got to see it then, and even luckier to see it with you." Lilly smiled.
Ryoken smiled back to her at that. Blushing slightly she gently kissed him. He kissed her back with closed eyes.
"Can I... stay with you tonight?" Lilly asked softly.
"Are you sure?" he asked her.
"I am." she nodded.
Ryoken stared before nodding offering his arm. Smiling she gently took it. They walked entering the house.
Meanwhile with Sachiko, and Steve...
It had been a fun day at the beach for both Sachiko, and Steve together. Soon it was time for them to go while Steve notices Sachiko was gathering sea shells.
"Sachi?" he inquired. "What are you doing?"
"Collecting sea shells." Sachiko answered with a smile, "Otherside from flowers, I also adored seashells."
"They are rather pretty." Steve mentioned. "Perhaps we could decorate a vase with some sea shells for your flowers?"
She chuckled a bit at that. Smiling he gently kissed her. She kissed him back.
"Shall we head to the hotel for the night, tomorrow will be another bright day for us." he mentioned. "Perhaps we could try snorkeling?"
"I'd like that." Sachiko smiled offering an arm.
He smiled taking it as they walked back only for him to pause and gently kiss her again. She kissed him back with a smile at that.
At SOL Technologies...
The Inner Circle we're into another meeting to talk about the current events happening now.
"What now?" Bishop questioned. "If he has access to those cards on top of the ones publicly released... and our useless employees still haven't broken through whatever lock he put on Link Vrains."
"The Hell Deck... The same Decks from that scamming contest we're using for our Pawn Drones once there ready." Rook remembered cupping his chin.
"Actually, this might be a good thing." Lancelot mentioned. "We can use it as a field test to see how the decks we have perform against more qualified opponents."
"Yes indeed." Alexander agreed with a nod, "It be beneficial for us to see what they can do against the Lancers."
"Well, I suppose everything can be beneficial in some way." Bishop admitted before frowning. "What about Prince, he should be here. Maybe he could learn something and try and work his way back to his old position."
"He's probably staying back until the Lancers finished." Queen growled.
"Probably a smart move since at this point nothing can be done." King said to them, "But we don't have time to worry about him right now."
"Then, what should our next move be? Nyx and Playmaker still have the two Ignis and we haven't located any of the others." Rook mentioned.
"Since Roget has complete control over our technologies we can't find them." King said to them, "For now we will have to wait more."
Suddenly someone knocked at the door.
"What is it?" King asked the knocker.
The door opened as Hayami walked in before bowing. "Please excuse me King sir, but... I took the liberty of looking into something, I don't know if it would be of any help but... I researched Jean-Michel Roget's file from the Dimensional War and... apparently he was able to augment a duelist with cybernetics... I can send the information to your computer if it could be of any use."
"Augment Cybernetics?" King asked a bit interested before thinking about it, "It could give Sota what he had been missing..."
"I understand, I'll send the information to you immediately, though... in Roget's case it wasn't perfect as the duelist... someone named Sergey, he was ultimately defeated." Hayami admitted before walking out. 'Ok, send the files to King... and send a second copy to him.'
"Hold on Hayami." was King's voice.
"Sir?" she asked turning back to him.
"After thinking carefully... Don't send the cybernetics to me." King ordered her. "Although I feel it can give Sota a boost, I think it be best for him to be stronger in himself."
Hayami's eyes widened before she nodded. "Understood."
She walked off before Lancelot asked him, "Sir? Is that really a wise decision?" He values power above all else as oppose to his brother being more careful.
"Of course. Sota is remarkable even if he doesn't remember of his memories." King answered, "Trying to alter him will either hinder, or aid him, and I'm not one to take a leap of chance."
The others all nodded at that.
"That being said we should create a new Deck for him." King said to them, "As a way to combine all of our power for him to use."
Queen frowned. "Then I'll leave the rest of you to that, I have something I need to look into."
"Very well." King nodded as she walked out. With her gone King looked at the others, "Place your World Legacies on the table in front of you my fellow comrades."
Nodding they all placed their cards on the table. They each have several different relic cards. Bishop's has the shape of a Chalice: World Legacy - World Chalice.
Both Knight Brothers each one shaped as a shield like base, and a ark like treasure: World Legacy - World Shield, and World Legacy - World Ark.
Rook has what looks like a large spear. World Legacy - World Lance.
Finally King's has a black wand like device. World Legacy - World Wand.
"Until now all our power of the World Legacy has been limited..." King trailed off seeing them, "But now in Sota they must reunite, and put achieve the grievances that had splintered them for so long." He then closed his eyes, "So now both Crusadia, and Krawler must return, and we will give Sota the strongest Deck we could ever create."
Turning to Bishop he told him, "Once Queen returns have her hand over World Armor for her own part." Turning to Rook he directed, "And Rook, call your brother, and inform him now that his World Crown is needed for ahead."
The two of them nodded at that.
Meanwhile...
Yusaku, and Skye had just finished, and Skye test out Fusion in a duel summoning a new monster; Trickstar Band Sweet Guitar. He smiled at that. "I had a feeling Declan would be able to help, and your Fusion Spell's other effect is a good back-up."
Skye smiled back. "Fusion Summoning is more simpiler then I thought."
"Maybe, but in the right hands it can be incredibly strong and..." Yusaku started only to pause. "How long have we been working on this?"
Skye blinked before looking at her clock which read 9:32.
"Should I walk you home?" Yusaku offered.
Then went out somewhere nearby for them to Fusion Summon. Skye smiled to him, "I'd like that."
"Do you mind if I ask you something?" he mentioned. "What made you decide to go with Blue Angel? I know my avatar looks different from my real appearance but that was to keep the Hanoi from learning who I was, but why did you choose such a different appearance?"
Skye hearing that smiled bigger, "It's because... of this book Akira read to me every night when I was a little girl."
"A book?" Yusaku asked turning to her.
Skye nodded explaining, "It's about this angel who was really lonely due to her cold personality unable to gain friends. She cried blue tears due to them from loneliness. However when she was attacked by demons, her angel comrades saved her life, and it was there she learned about friendship, and kindness, allowing them to fill the void in her heart. But she still sheds the blue tears throughout the battle."
She closed her eyes with a smile explaining, "The book was made to resonate strongly with people who are lonely wanting to inspire them to have love, and attention. Akira was usually away a lot at SOL so the book allows me to try doing it by becoming a Charisma Duelist to try to get him back for me resulting in me becoming Blue Angel in Link VRAINS."
"Not anymore." she answered with a smile turning to him, "But I still want to be Blue Angel cause, I don't know what to do now, and Blue Angel has brought me to you."
Yusaku nodded before closing his eyes. "Well, it's not my place but I would think you've grown beyond being Blue Angel. You have friends and several people who care about you, so it's time for the next chapter... wouldn't you agree?"
Skye turned to him, "You mean like... evolve into something else?"
"Something like that." he told her.
Skye looked before smiling, "You know that sounds like a good idea. Gore evolved his Duel Style after he dueled you, so it's probably time for me to change too."
"Well, however you do evolve Lilly and the rest of us will be there to support you." Yusaku smiled softly.
"Thanks Yusaku." Skye smiled to him hearing that.
The two of them soon reached the Zaizen's house.
"Let me know if you need anymore help with Fusion." he told her.
"I will do that." Skye kissed him at that smiling before walking back in, "Bye Yusaku. I love you."
He froze hearing that before looking down with a slight blush as he walked off.
Ulrich362: No duel this time, but three couples are getting closer and well... we're seeing just how cold King and Queen really are to their son... at least he didn't resort to turning Prince into a puppet like Sergey though.
bopdog111: But it looks as though Prince will still have his original Deck in Legacy of Fusion.
Ulrich362: True, so with that said... next up Dennis will try his luck against the Hell Deck?
bopdog111: He's pretty sure he can.
Ulrich362: We'll have to wait and see, see you in the next chapter.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!