The Phantom Duelists

by I Am The Prophet

After painstaking efforts, the Phantom Thieves were on the verge of getting their leader out of prison. Before the day of his release, Ren's forgotten past catches up to him. The next thing they know is that they are dragged into an interdimensional war decided by card games.

1. The World Arcana

The Phantom Duelists (Persona 5/Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V)

Chapter 1: The World Arcana

[~][~]

It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace. – Aristotle

[~]

"AMAMIYA! YOU GET BACK HERE!"

A young boy with messy black hair runs down the hallways of Duel Academia. His laughter is so hysterical that he could collapse on the floor and clutch his stomach at any moment. But he persevered. If he fell now, then he would be caught. He could hear his pursuer behind him, screaming as he struggled to catch up and drag him to the detention room, where he would remain there for two hours sitting at a desk and doing nothing.

Well, he wouldn't say he would be doing nothing. That would be ironic when there is something he can do. Which is to think about what he did wrong and avoid repeating the same mistakes. Honestly, they should think of a proper punishment that wouldn't give them time to think of something else. Not that he'd voice that out loud on the fear they would consider it.

Right now, he has one very simple plan that is guaranteed to succeed: run. If there is one should account for when planning an escape, it's the environment. The hallways are packed with students going to their next class. He ducked and weaved between them. Some glanced his way but went about their business. Others just rolled their eyes as if this was a usual occurrence.

"Oh dear. Instructor Cronos is on the warpath. Again."

"When has he not? I wonder what Ren…I mean, I wonder what happened."

"You mean you haven't heard? The cafeteria is a warzone."

Ren ignored them as he continued to run. Eventually, the crowd thinned, granting him some breathing room. Instructor Cronos wasn't so lucky as the bustling crowd hindered his pursuit. His line of sight is broken. Good. That took him a few seconds to find a place to hide. Luckily, there are several places to hide in Duel Academia and he's close to one of them.

Stifling his laughter, he pushed open the doors of the gymnasium. Rushing inside, he made a beeline for a nearby crate. The label on the side said 'dodge balls' when it's empty. Lifting the lid, Ren lowers himself inside. His small size enabled him to fit inside this container. He had barely closed the lid when the doors to the gym opened. Ren held his breath and became as still as a statue to avoid being discovered.

The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the gym. Albeit at a calm and steady pace. This is strange because he thought for sure Instructor Cronos would be foaming at the mouth for his head. As if fate had given in temptation, the doors opened again, this time with a loud bang. Ren couldn't see, but he could still hear what was happening. The darkness of the crate heightened his hearing. He had three guesses as to who came in.

"Coach Amamiya!" Instructor Cronos de Medici screamed in a shrill voice. The messy-haired boy wasn't surprised that the other person was his father. He is the physical instructor of Academia. It would be natural to assume that he would frequent the gymnasium. Ren could hear the surprise in his voice.

"Instructor Cronos. What happened to you?"

"Your son happened Signor Amamiya!" Instructor Cronos snarled. "Cioccolata! This time there was a riot during lunchtime! Students throwing food everywhere in the cafeteria! I wasn't sure what possessed them to do such a thing. But when I looked at last week's newsletter, I realized that the events are completely different than what we had planned! You don't need a brain to know that an agent of chaos is behind all this. Look at what he typed onto the memo!"

Ren can tell by the words that Instructor Cronos shoved a paper in front of his face. He could hear his father taking the paper. His father is likely putting on glasses to read the paper at this moment. It took all his willpower to smother the laughter bubbling up.

"Let's see…Monday no school. No classes due to lack of interest," Tetsurō Amamiya read aloud. Ren could've sworn he heard him stifle a snort. "Tuesday, Banana Day. Show your school spirit by taking part in the banana slide contest. You must bring fresh banana peels and wear yellow to participate. Wednesday, Cheerleading tryouts today. Anyone wishing to join the cheerleading squad must do all the following. First, dress up in unwashed and ragged clothing. Second, apply white makeup to the face and black mascara around the eyes. Third, you must groan and move like the walking dead for the rest of the day. Thursday, Baseball practice rescheduled. All baseball players report to the teachers' lounge for early practice. Food fight at 12:15 in the cafeteria. Wait…isn't that today?"

"Si," Instructor Cronos hissed. "When I went to the teacher's lounge to look for the headmaster to report the food fight, I found the baseball team already destroying it. Today is without a doubt a complete and total disaster! Guess what the students are going to be wearing tomorrow!"

"Friday, yearbook photos taken today. Please wear costumes depicting your ace monster. Also, whoever makes a funny face wins a free pizza party for their class," Professor Amamiya said with a whistle. "You got to admire the thought they put into this newsletter. A pizza party doesn't sound all that bad. What makes you think it was Ren?"

"He was laughing as I chased him all over Academia, of course, he's guilty!" Instructor Cronos insisted. "Sorbetto e gelato! Ever since he attended Duel Academia, he's been responsible for one prank after another. First, it was changing the letters on the signs. Then there was the cat incident. And let's not forget that time when the entire Academia acted as if I were invisible. I'm not even sure why we even have an April Fool's Day! What's worse is that the rest of the Osiris Red Dorm is getting in on it! Why can't you get that son of yours under control?"

"So, what you're telling me is that you have no real evidence, that Ren caused this, AGAIN?" Coach Amamiya asked with a hint of steel in his voice. This question stopped Instructor Cronos' tirade cold. Ren can only assume that his instructor is slumping his shoulders. "Let me talk to my son. If he has something to do with this, I'll put him in detention. I would recommend spending the next five minutes getting a change of clothes. I don't think the pizza is any doing favors for your uniform."

"Ugh! Don't remind me. Scusi," Instructor Cronos groaned. Ren heard the doors opening as Cronos left. Then he heard footsteps approaching his hiding spot. Then the lid came off and light poured in. Shielding his eyes to help adjust, he looked up to meet the eyes of an adult man dressed in a red sweatsuit. His arms are crossed as he sternly glares at his son.

"H-Hi Dad," Ren nervously waved, never losing his smile. He could tell that his dad knew he was hiding in there the whole time. The latter wasn't amused one bit.

"Okay, starting a food fight was one thing, but getting the baseball team to practice in the teacher's lounge? You'd better hope they didn't break the coffeemaker."

"You mean the one that's gone missing since this morning?" Ren asked innocently. Tetsurō stared at him before cracking a smile. Chuckling, he held out a hand to Ren. He took it, letting his dad pull him out of the crate.

"I'm amazed that you pulled off something this elaborate," Tetsurō said. "I figured detention would've made you a better student. Now I'm convinced that all that effort helped you get better at pulling off these shenanigans."

"To be fair, the reason they have detention is to teach troublemakers a lesson," Ren pointed out. "What I learned is do not get caught pulling off pranks. It also gives them a good alibi. All they must do to pull it off is to be back before the instructor comes to check."

"Should you be telling me this?" Tetsurō asked. Ren never stopped smiling.

"Why shouldn't I? It's not like I needed the alibi. If I can put all that effort into thinking up elaborate practical jokes, then I can use it to make sure my grades stay up. That's what you told me, Dad."

"Yes, and there has been no evidence linking you to future pranks ever since your last detention," Tetsurō said with a knowing look. Then he became serious. "So, what happened this time? Did someone get stuffed into a locker again? Or is it another swirlie?"

"Oh, it wasn't anything like that," Ren answered. "Ryo and the others just wanted my help with the student protest."

"A student protest?" Tetsurō asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "That's the first time I'm hearing about a protest. What's this about?"

"Everybody thinks we're being given too many impromptu tests," Ren answered. "We'd like more warning—a chance to prepare. The protest committee tried to take the petition to the Chancellor, but Instructor Cronos told us it's not our place to question school policy."

"And you chose to prank the school for a full week as a form of protest?" Amamiya asked. Ren gave him a look for asking a question with an obvious answer. This caused his father to sigh. Then something occurred to him.

"Wait…don't tell me that the whole student body was in on this?" Tetsurō asked. Ren just gave him a shrug, but that told him everything. Everyone was eager to take part in the 'Freaky Week' as they were calling the protest. Even the Obelisk Blue dorm got in on it. Not that they will ever admit it. Turns out, even those elitist snobs can't stand those surprise tests. Okay, maybe not all of them are snobs but still.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Tetsurō asked. "I could've brought the petition up to the Chancellor."

Ren blinked several times as if that never occurred to him. Then he hung his head in shame. "We feared you might give us the same answer as Instructor Cronos."

"Except I'm not Cronos and you know that," Tetsurō pointed out. Ren's shoulders sank as his father let out a big sigh. "Look Ren, just because you think someone wouldn't help doesn't mean you shouldn't try to reach out. Look at yourself. You and your classmates put in a lot of effort to put the school into chaos. You even reached out to the Ra Yellow and Obelisk Blue dorms. That's got to be the first time in Duel Academia's history that the inter-dorm rivalry is put aside. If you can do that, why can't you do that to us teachers?"

Tetsurō raised a finger. "Take Instructor Cronos for example. He may seem strict, dress weirdly, and hate the Osiris Red Dorm. I mean, he's the head of the Obelisk Blue dorm for crying out loud. He may seem that way, but he genuinely wants what's best for the student body. He's one of the people who helped organize the Osiris Red Duel Team for the Genex Tournament."

"I think he did it just to have Obelisk Blue show us Osiris' up," Ren muttered under his breath. But his dad heard him regardless and cracked a smile.

"Ha! That does sound like him, but at least you shut him up by beating that Obelisk Black and Blue," Tetsurō joked, making them both laugh. "Look, the point I'm trying to make is that you don't need to be afraid to reach out for help. We need each other to overcome adversity. If you see something wrong, don't be afraid to speak out to us. We teachers are here to help our students, but only you let us. Students and teachers are meant to work together. I think your mother would compare it to a symbiotic relationship. If we don't come together, then all we will be doing is destroying ourselves."

Tetsurō let that sentence hang in the air, giving Ren time to digest his words. Then he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a yellow slip of paper. He held it out to his son. A glance told him that it had been written beforehand. That told him that his dad put two and two together faster than Cronos did. He anticipated this meeting and wrote it up in advance.

"Just to make sure you understood what I'm getting at, I'm having you study and take an extra history lesson with your mother as punishment. She should be working in her science lab right about now. You know where to find it. Here's a hall pass."

"Yes, Dad," Ren said with a small nod as he took the paper slip. This is his father's way of letting him off easy.

"I'll also talk to the Chancellor about the impromptu tests," Tetsurō added. "You wouldn't happen to have that petition on hand, would you? I can give it to him at the faculty meeting."

"You'll have to ask Fubuki," Ren said. "He has the original. Professor Cronos tore up a copy when we tried to bring it to the Chancellor the first time."

"I'm glad that he thought ahead. I'll ask him about it during our next class," Tetsurō said. "One more thing before you go, where did you hide the coffeemaker that I couldn't find it?"

"It's in a place where no one will ever find it," Ren answered mysteriously. "I might be willing to tell you if—"

"How about you tell me, and I won't give you a year's worth of detention?" Tetsurō asked flatly.

"It's hidden among the Drawbread at the card shop," Ren quickly answered.

"That's what I thought. Now go find your mother and tell her your punishment. Don't think I will not know if you didn't talk to her."

"Yes Dad," Ren said with a smile as he left the gym. His body is jittering with excitement. Part of it was since he's getting away with his shenanigans again. Driving Cronos up the wall is a bonus. The student protest won! They don't need to resort to Operation Silent Night. The next freaky week if the first one didn't work as intended. He can't wait to tell Ryo and the others.

Despite his reputation as an agent of chaos, he had some rules that he always followed. For one thing, he only pranked people when they deserved it. Like some Obelisks Blues who need to be knocked off their high horse. That's part of the reason why his dad is letting him get away with murder. Not that he'd do it. Another rule is to ensure nobody gets hurt in his pranks.

Ren tucked those thoughts away to focus on his latest mission. Getting to his mom's science lab. Luckily, there is a nearby vent grate. Walking over to hit, he removes the screws which had always been loose. He always made sure that he'd have an escape route when running from Cronos or anyone else who earned his ire. Setting the grate to the side, he got down on his hands and knees and crawled into the vent.

The Academia's vent network is like an inner labyrinth. One can easily get lost if they didn't know where they were going. Which is why Ren and the others drew a map of the ventilation systems. It gets updated every time the Academia's being refitted or if a new hiding place has been discovered. He had the routes memorized. He gives the map to Ryo and the others so they can plan out Freaky Week and plan their escape routes if they get caught. Thankfully, none of them did.

The downside of crawling through the vents is the darkness. That's why he always carried a small flashlight with him. Clicking it on, the light illuminated his path. He mentally called the map to his mind and decided to take the shortest route to his mother's science lab. He had just arrived at an intersection when he came across a strange sight. Coming from his right is a pale velvet blue glow. The source revealed itself to be a blue butterfly fluttering through the air. Ren is captivated by the ethereal sight as the butterfly flies to the vent on his left.

Without wasting another second, he crawled after the butterfly. He didn't understand why, but he felt as if he had to follow it. Without realizing it, he ended up where he wanted to be.

"You are out of your mind!"

Ren flinched at the sound of his mother's voice echoing in the vents. She sounded angry. But why?

The messy-haired boy crawled up to a vent grate and carefully removed it. He emerged into one of the school's science labs. Already, he heard people talking. He peered over one of the lab tables. There is a woman dressed in a lab coat, his mother Harumi Amamiya, talking to a man dressed in a purple uniform he'd only seen Professor Cobra wear. Ren didn't speak to avoid interrupting their conversation. His parents instilled in him to never interrupt adults while they were talking.

Taking a closer look, Ren recognized the man she was talking to. He's the new teacher who is gaining popularity among the faculty. Some of the students are whispering rumors that he's a wizard or even that they've made first contact with alien life. His mother disproved those rumors in private. She explained that he was from a parallel dimension. Until he arrived, it was only scientific theory. He brought with him Solid Vision, interactive holographic projections that made Duel Monsters cards more alive. This made him popular among the students and teachers of Duel Academia.

His mother told him that she and a few other scientists are working on something called the ARC Area Project. She wouldn't provide the details, but she said that it was going to change everything. So, what was going on? Why was his mother so hostile towards him suddenly?

"Professor Amamiya, I understand you're angry…" the man said.

"Angry doesn't begin to describe what I'm feeling," Harumi snarled as she gestured to an open laptop. "You may have gotten everyone else fooled with your interdimensional status and contributions to the advancement of Solid Vision. But I'm not everyone else. I saw the schematics of that machine. Hell, I know what's powering that infernal contraption. That thing should never have been created. You told everyone that everyone sealed was going to be safely contained until the project had been completed. How could you stomach the thought of building something like that?"

"For the sake of the ARC Area Project's goal of creating Utopia," the man answered with an edge in his voice. "Fusing the four dimensions is a strenuous task. That's where the ARC-V reactor comes in. Unfortunately, there doesn't exist a source of energy powerful enough to power it."

"And your idea is to use millions of people as that new energy source?" Harumi asked coldly. The tension is so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Then the Professor answered without hesitation or remorse.

"If that's what it takes for everything to go back to the way it was, then yes."

"Like I said, you are out of your mind," Harumi spat with no small amount of venom as she ripped out a thumb drive from the laptop. She turned her back on the man and began to walk towards the door. The same direction that Ren is hiding.

"I'm shutting this project down. This utopia you have in mind is not worth this madness."

"You're not going anywhere."

"What's that supposed to—" Harumi asked. She didn't get a chance to complete that sentence as a flash of purple light enveloped the room. Ren reflexively ducked behind the table so that he wouldn't be blinded by the light. When the light subsided, he heard something heavy falling to the floor. Slowly, Ren turned his head to the right. His eyes became pinpricks at what he saw.

There on the floor, staring back at him with lifeless eyes, is his mother.

[~]

Ren's eyes shot open, his iris wide and unfocused. He lets out a scream as his torso shoots upward. His body was covered in a layer of sweat. After a few seconds, his pupils became contracted, and his breathing became calm.

"W-What was that dream?" Ren asked himself, still breathing heavily. He's no stranger to dreams. It's common for everyone to have a dream. Some say that they are used to regulate emotion. To consolidate memory. Replay things of the day to help remember them. Solving, or on the other hand forgetting, real-world problems. Several of his dreams involved a visit to a prison while dressed up in classic prison garb.

Ironically, he isn't wearing that instead of loungewear. It would've been appropriate given the small and compact cell he's sleeping in. He got up from his bed and began making it. It's almost 6:30 in the morning. Given his schedule, waking up at the allotted time helped him anticipate it. Which is a good thing because it's almost time for breakfast. He's been assigned to help with today's breakfast preparation at the Youth Detention Center.

Why was he in the Youth Detention Center in the first place? Because he's the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. A group that sought to reform society by stealing the hearts of corrupt adults.

One of them happened to be a politician that he unwittingly crossed, Masayoshi Shido. Of course, he didn't know the man at the time. On a spring night, he got into an altercation with a man when he was drunkenly assaulting a woman. Although he intervened, he turned it around by having the woman falsely testify that HE attacked HIM and not the other way around. What's worse is that the police were on his payroll. From then on, his life took a dark turn as he got charged for assault and his parents were more than happy to deport him to a separate city under probation.

But it wasn't all that bad. When he transferred to Shujin Academy, he met people who were also outcasts of society. Ryuji Sakamoto, a former track star who got his leg crippled. Morgana, a feline creature who lost his memory. And Ann Takamaki, a girl whose exotic looks made her the center of rumors. Her looks drew in the wrong people such as Suguru Kamoshida, a coach who had been abusing his volleyball players. The reason the teachers and parents didn't do anything was because he was an Olympic gold medalist. The abuse escalated to the point where Ann's best friend, Shiho Suzui, tried to kill herself. When confronted, he threatened to expel them from the school. With his popularity and status, he knew that they couldn't fight back.

But they found a way to fight back through the Metaverse, a reality given shape by the cognitive will of the masses. There are cases where desires manifested into Palaces with a ruler. By infiltrating these Palaces and stealing their Treasure, the core of their desires, they can trigger a change of heart. They wouldn't be able to bear the weight of their sins and they would confess to their crimes.

Of course, it wouldn't be easy to pull off. Every Palace drew in Shadows, monsters dominated by the rulers and attack intruders. It would've been suicide to attempt to steal the treasure. The Palace Ruler is also a shadow self of the person that is suppressed—a side of one's personality they don't want anyone to see. When backed into a corner, they can transform into monstrous forms to defend their treasure. Fortunately, they gained the power of Persona, the rebel souls that dwell within them. Armed with this power, they were able to fight against the Shadows.

After their first successful heist, he and his friends formed the Phantom Thieves to fight back against a corrupt society. They looked for and awaited new targets that needed a change of heart. For each target they took down, they gained a new ally in the process. The scam artist, Ichiryuusai Madarame, and his talented victim (and eccentric), Yusuke Kitagawa. The mob boss, Junya Kaneshiro, and his latest victim and Shujin Academy student council president, Makoto Nijima. Futaba Sakura, a girl who had been so mentally devastated in her youth that a Palace heist was the only way she could be helped. And the corporate mogul, Kunikazu Okumura, and his Haru Okumura. It had all seemed to be going so well as they changed heart after heart, slowly but surely steering society for a better future.

But their fifth target, Kunikazu Okumura, died horrifically during a press conference from a mental shutdown. An extreme form of psychotic breakdown occurs when that person's shadow self is destroyed in the Metaverse. Their target ended up having a shutdown on live TV and it all snowballed from there. That incident turned the Phantom Thieves from heroes to villains.

It was then that they were approached by Goro Akechi, known as the Second Coming of the Detective Prince. He had been tracking the Phantom Thieves for some time, flip-flopping publicly on his opinion of them. Circumstances forced them to confront each other – and in the end, they made a deal.

He had one last target for the Phantom Thieves: Sae Nijima. A rising star prosecutor within the Special Investigation Unit of Japan. She's also Makoto's older sister. Once her heart was changed, the Thieves would disband. Akechi wouldn't turn them in, and no one would be the wiser.

At least that was the plan. Akechi not only had access to the Metaverse as well, but he was also the preparator in the mental shutdown incidents. He had been working with a treasonous group consisting of corrupt high-publicity figures that controlled Tokyo with the backing of the public. After they unknowingly stole the hearts of several of their financiers, the group decided to hunt them down and put them on death row on trumped-up charges.

First, they increased the Phantom Thieves' popularity to make them their scapegoats. Then they used their popularity to artificially kick off a heist request on Kunikazu Okumura to the top of the list. Although it was suspicious, the Thieves only agreed to save Haru from being sold to an abusive fiancé. They planned to kill two birds with one stone; after they stole his Treasure, Akechi killed Okumura's Shadow Self, which led to his death during his press conference. This combined with the other mental shutdown incidents effectively destroyed the Phantom Thieves' reputation.

That was when they launched their true attack against the group. Using Akechi as a mole, they had him lead them into Sae's Palace so they could all be arrested. Unfortunately for them, they knew right from the start that Akechi wasn't who he claimed to be and planned. Ren would be captured by the police, and they would use the Metaverse to fake his death. It was a gamble, but it worked out in the end. Thanks to a bug Futaba planted on Akechi's phone, they had the name of the mastermind and their next target: Masayoshi Shido. The man who he later learned is the same man who ruined his life. When the Thieves infiltrated his Palace, which took the form of a cruise liner, they knew what fate awaited Japan if they didn't stop him.

Shido is the leader of the United Future Party and campaigning to become the next Prime Minister. He used Akechi to trigger mental shutdowns and psychotic breakdowns in specific targets to discredit the current government administration and anyone who would pose an obstacle to him. Such as Kunikazu Okumura, who was getting into politics, and Principal Kobayakawa, who was going to sell out the group. This extended to his close associates, who saw it as a chance to turn the mental shutdowns into a business. In exchange for money and connections, Shido would have Akechi carry out assassinations as his hitman. Using his popularity, he called out the government's supposed incompetence and promised to create a greater Japan for all its citizens should he be elected. A promise that he would only keep for those who sport top-down obedience towards him while the rest are drowning in poverty.

During their infiltration, they ran into Akechi, who had been dispatched to personally end the Thieves once and for all. Not only is he revealed to be almost violently insane, but he also has no loyalty to Shido and his associates. Turned out he is the bastard son of Shido who abandoned him and his mother. He had simply been playing both sides from the beginning to kill his father when it was just right. However, after they defeat him, he is assaulted by his cognitive copy created by Shido. Akechi then sacrifices himself so that the Thieves can reach Shido.

After securing the route, they launched their counterattack. They hijacked the public broadcasting system to deliver a calling card. When they confronted Shido in his palace, he revealed that he knew about Akechi's plans because he resembled his mother too much and was prepared to dispose of him if things ever went wrong. They fought and defeated him before he could destroy the country. He experienced a change of heart and confessed everything he's done live on election day. That should've been their final heist.

But even after they stole his desires, that wasn't the end of it. There were still people who unnervingly had faith in Shido despite his confession. There were news reports scrambled about him going to the hospital. Sae also told them that they were being hunted down and that it would only be a matter of time before they were all arrested. The public just wouldn't accept the instability that not electing Shido would bring.

Fortunately, the public had a Palace of their own. Lurking in the depths of the Tokyo subway station is Mementos. Traveling to the depths of mementos, they discovered it to be the Prison of Regression. Countless people in jail cells, unthinking, proclaiming it to be paradise and freedom in an unsettling calm manner. Freedom from the pressures of society. Where everyone can just go with the flow. They call it safe and secure. The shadows of their former targets were also there with no wish to get out.

They kept descending the prison. It seemed to be bottomless as they continued onward. Until the jails narrowed down, funneling down into the bottom. They reached the bottom, which is a giant panopticon, lined with countless cells. In the middle stood a massive Holy Grail, the treasure and ruler of the Palace. It was indestructible as it fed on the people's apathy to endlessly regenerate itself. They suffered a massive defeat, and it dragged Mementos out and began merging it with the real world. But they would never give up. They fought their way up until they reached the panopticon once more to fight the Holy Grail. But that time, it changed into its true form. It became a towering construct of order, following the will of the masses and seeking to subjugate them under its rule. The God of Control: Yaldabaoth.

Then the Thieves countered with their power. They rallied the public to their will, gathering strength. With the cheers of the public, Ren finally unbound the chains around his persona and transformed into the angel that would bring low the false god, bringing freedom to humanity. Satanael. And with a single bullet, the God of Control was defeated. With Yaldabaoth gone, the Metaverse faded from the surface of the world. With the distortions gone, the opinion of Shido changed to a unanimously negative light.

Except it wasn't enough with Shido's change of heart to prove his guilt. There is little solid evidence and the Metaverse no longer existed. The only ones who can offer proof are the Phantom Thieves. No one will believe the incident's supernatural aspects such as the Metaverse or Yaldabaoth. For the case to stick, he had to turn himself in to provide the testimony to properly prosecute Shido. Doing this means that he would be sent to juvenile detention and would be closely observed.

Ren immediately knew that he had to do it. Not just to ensure Shido's prosecution, but to protect his friends. But right before he could, Akechi suddenly showed up and turned himself in. After that day, everything strange incidents began to happen. Morgana suddenly became human. Ryuji's leg healed and he's back on the track team. Ann's best friend Shiho is still in Shujin Academy. Yusuke is still living with Madarame. Makoto's father is still alive and living with her and Sae. The same can be said for Haru's father, who is supportive of his daughter's dream of opening a cafe. What's weird is that their memories are different from before. Something was wrong.

He wasn't the only one suspicious. Akechi, who had been released, sought him out and together they investigated. They are joined by his classmate, a gymnast named Kasumi Yoshizawa. A girl who became something more to him. They found another palace they overlooked. Its ruler is Shujin Academy's former school counselor, Takuto Maruki. With Yaldaboath gone, he rose to take his place. His Persona granted him the power of actualization which he used to create a false paradise. A place where everyone could have their dreams granted and could be eternally happy under his well-meaning auspices.

It was revealed that Kasumi is her younger sister Sumire. After her sister died protecting her in a traffic accident, Sumire was consumed with survivor's guilt. She wished that she died instead of her because she's second best and everyone prefers her. Maruki had hypnotized her into believing that she was Kasumi so she could live for her sister's dream. Their dream.

Despite wishing to live her life as Kasumi, Ren couldn't let her erase herself. He wanted to help her with her pain. Admittingly, he also wanted to get to know the real her. Her Persona, driven berserk by her refusal to accept the truth, proved to be difficult. Fortunately, the other Thieves, who had denied Maruki's reality came to their aid. He offered them a chance to live a happy and carefree life where they would know no suffering and pain. Only happiness. All they had to do was believe in him.

While he may have the best of intentions, they rejected his reality. They are joined by Sumire, who became inspired by their determination to face their pain instead of running away. When the time came, they fought against Maruki. It was a long and arduous battle, but in the end, they defeated him and took back reality.

With reality restored, everything with Maruki's influence vanished. When he woke up after the battle, he found himself in the Youth Detention Center. He listened to Sae and turned himself in. The charges are various crimes including illegal entry, destruction of property, and violating the Radio Law. Despite these circumstances, he had no regrets about his decision. And he had no doubts that the others weren't.

As he finished making his bed, his thoughts drifted towards his dream. From what he could tell, he was in a place called Duel Academia. No doubt it is some kind of school. From what he could remember, he had been making trouble. Not just causing it but reveling in it. From what he saw, he caused a food fight to happen and ended up getting chased by a man named Cronos.

Another thing is the man and woman. He called them father and mother. Yet they didn't look or act like his parents. What's strange is that even though it's a dream, his heart felt warm with emotion. It's weird given that his relationship with his parents became strained. Hell, the people in his dream are a far cry from them. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that they were familiar. That they should be familiar with him. But why?

No matter how much he asked, no answer came. He's broken out of his thoughts by the sound of a buzzer. His cell door opened to admit a man dressed in a guard uniform.

"Oh good, you're up inmate. Follow me and let's get started on breakfast."

[~]

The Youth Detention Center has a very simple schedule that he and the other inmates follow.

7:40 AM, they have breakfast and independent study.

8:50 AM, morning assembly which includes physical exercises.

9:00 AM, rehabilitation activities that would help them with life when they leave the detention center. Life guidance to acquire knowledge and attitude required for independent living. Vocational guidance to enhance work and motivation and develop useful knowledge and skills for employment. Educational guidance is equivalent to compulsory education and high school preparation for those interested in pursuing higher education. Physical education guidance to foster a healthy mind and body. Special activities guidance to enrich emotional well-being and promote independence, self-discipline, and cooperation through community service and outdoor activities. And even more physical exercises.

Noon is lunch and free time.

1:00 PM is the continuation of life guidance, vocational guidance, educational guidance, physical education guidance, special activities guidance, and physical exercises guidance.

5:00 PM they have dinner and assigned activities such as dinner preparation and clean up.

6:00 PM is for group discussions, cultural lectures, individual consultation, independent study, journal writing, etc.

Right now, it is 8:00 PM. During this time, he and the other juveniles have free time for activities such as watching TV until 9:00 PM. He elected to divulge into a book from the center's library. There is a wide selection to choose from. Fiction and non-fiction. He noticed that there are more non-fiction books than fiction. The staff likely wanted the detainees to enhance their learning. After careful consideration, he elected to read a non-fiction book.

The book he's reading is the first of a tetralogy of books. Or rather a cycle as the author is calling it. It's about a boy who discovers a dragon's egg in a forest. The boy would raise the dragon in secret. Until a day came when he was forced to leave his village after the death of his uncle. Fate would lead him to become a hero of a rebellion fighting against an evil empire.

The plot brought a smile to his face. It reminded him of the Phantom Thieves and their adventures. From time to time, he thought about what they were up to. Were they still studying for their upcoming exams at Shujin? Or did they have other plans? Either way, he wished them the best in their endeavors while he was stuck in juvie.

Despite his incarceration, it wasn't all that bad. The food is good, and his guidance sessions teach him something new. Of course, if anyone gets out of line, the guards come in to deal with them by throwing them into solitary confinement. Strangely, whenever he ends up in an altercation, the guards seem to take his side. When he dared to ask one of them, he said that they owed a friend of his. He didn't understand what they meant. But he chalked it up to the Detention Center being reformed from Shido's manipulations. It's a good sign that society is changing for the better.

"Direct attack with 3000 points of damage!"

Ren looked up from his book and turned his head to the source of the shout. At a nearby table, he saw two young men his age sitting at a table on opposite ends. He recognized them as Kenji Yamamoto and Satoshi Suzuki. He knew them from his guidance sessions. Next to them is a deck of cards. People crowded around them to watch them play. Curious, Ren inserts a bookmark into his book and walks over to them.

"What's going on?" Ren asked. One of the men, a brown-haired young man named Hiroshi Tanaka, turned to look at him.

"Oh, just two guys playing Yu-Gi-Oh," Tanaka answered. "You've never heard of the game?"

"Yu-Gi-Oh?" Ren asked, rolling the name off his tongue. It seemed to be a strange name for a game. He looked at the table where cards were set in an organized manner. At the front row, there are cards with the image of creatures with a brown background. On the second row, there are cards with green and purple background. There is a stacked pile of face-up cards positioned near the deck. On the opposite side is another staked pile but with cards with a violet background.

"Do you mean Duel Monsters?" Ren found himself asking much to his surprise. Where had that question come from?

"I think you're confusing the game with the first anime series," Tanaka guessed without noticing his look of confusion. "But yeah, the game is like how they played in the anime. With only a few differences. For starters, you can only normally summon monsters in attack position. If you want them in defense mode, you must set them facedown sideways. Anyway, the goal is to reduce your opponent's life points to zero using monster, Spell, and trap cards. It's kind of like two wizards having a duel."

"I see," Ren said.

"Dammit Suzuki! I'll get you next time," Yamamoto cursed as he gathered up his cards. His opponent simply smirked at him.

"You said that the last time," Suzuki retorts. "If I'm being honest, I'm getting tired of kicking your but in Yu-Gi-Oh! We still have time for one more duel before we hit the hay, but it would be nice to duel someone else for a change. Anyone here wants to take Yamamoto's place?"

He looked around at the crowd gathered before him. The other boys talked amongst themselves in murmurs about who was going to go. From what he could hear, It seemed nobody wanted to step forward. Especially when he heard that Suzuki had never lost a duel in this detention center. They wanted somebody else to step forward and face him.

As he listened to them, Suzuki's face became filled with disappointment. It seemed he wanted a new opponent to play with. To give him a challenge. Ren could understand while winning is good, it eventually begins to take the fun out of the game. It becomes stagnating and would result in people keeping their distance. They would be isolated thanks to their skill.

Something he's more than familiar with a certain Shogi player. But under different circumstances.

"I'll duel."

Those two words came from the mouth of one Ren Amamiya. Ren is just as surprised as everyone who all turned to him. The murmurs started to escalate, now focused on him. Suzuki seemed to lighten up at his declaration.

"That's great! You know how to duel?"

"I…I'm not sure…" Ren answered. He accepted a duel without even thinking. Yet he is confident that he could play the game. Suzuki didn't seem to be bothered by his answer.

"That's alright, we can help you get through the rules while we play…I'm sorry, never asked for your name. We've been in this detention center for so long and I don't even know. I'm ashamed to ask who you are?"

"That's alright," Ren assured with a smile. "My name is Ren Amamiya. It's a pleasure to duel you, Suzuki."

"Likewise, Amamiya," Suzuki said. "Take your seat. It's time to duel. Kenji, can you give him your deck?"

"No problem," Yamamoto said as he got up from his seat. He walked over to Ren and held out his deck to Ren. "Sorry, but there's only two decks available in this joint. Suzuki has the other one, so you're stuck with this deck."

Ren said nothing as he accepted the deck. It sounded like he was feeling sorry for him due to losing to Suzuki with this deck. He didn't know why, but he was eager to prove Yamamoto wrong about that mindset. Flipping the deck, he shuffled through the cards, speed-reading the effects and numbers as he did so. Once he was done, he took his seat opposite Suzuki.

"Before we start, you should take the cards with the violet background," Suzuki said. "That's your Extra Deck. Keep it separate from the main one. Just put it over there. Tanaka, can you get a new paper to keep track of our life points?"

Tanaka nodded as he rushed off. He came back with two sheets of paper and a pen. Each duelist accepted a paper and wrote down their name and life points. Once they finished, shuffled each other's decks, and drew the first five cards of their deck, the duel began.

"DUEL!"

(Ren Amamiya: 4000) (Satoshi Suzuki: 4000)

"Umm, I get we're having a duel, but you don't have to shout it out loud," Suzuki said. "It's not like we're rehearsing for an anime or anything. Don't get me wrong, I do love the anime."

"I'm sorry, it just came out so suddenly," Ren apologized. His mouth moved faster than his mind. What is with him tonight?

"Since this is your first duel, I'll go first," Suzuki said. "Here's how it works. Each duelist's turn is divided into six phases. Draw Phase, Standby Phase, Main Phase One, Battle Phase, Main Phase Two, And End Phase."

"The Draw Phase is the beginning of a player's turn. During this phase, the active player draws one card from their deck. Drawing a card is crucial as it provides players with new resources and opportunities to further their strategies. The card drawn might introduce a crucial monster, spell, or trap card that can alter the course of the duel. Wise choices made during the draw phase can set the tone for the rest of the turn. The only exception is that the player who takes the initiative can't draw a card from the deck."

"Following the Draw Phase, the Standby Phase occurs. This phase acts as a buffer between the draw phase and the Main Phases, allowing players to resolve certain card effects that activate during this specific timing. Some cards may grant additional resources or inflict damage during the standby phase. Additionally, certain strategies rely on activating effects during this phase to gain an advantage. Effectively managing this phase can provide players with valuable opportunities to control the flow of the game."

"The Main Phase 1 is where the primary actions of a player's turn take place. During this phase, players can summon monsters, activate spell and trap cards, and perform various other actions. This phase is crucial for establishing a strong board presence, setting up defenses, or launching offensive strategies. Players must carefully plan their moves, considering the resources available, the state of the game, and the potential threats posed by their opponent's cards."

"The Battle Phase is an intense and pivotal part of a player's turn. It is during this phase that players engage in combat, unleashing their monsters to attack the opponent's monsters and inflict damage to their Life Points. The Battle Phase consists of several steps, including declaring attacks, activating relevant card effects, and resolving battles. Clever positioning, card effects, and understanding the intricacies of combat interactions are vital for success in this phase. The battle phase often determines the outcome of a duel, making it a critical phase where careful decision-making is paramount."

"After the battle phase concludes, the Main Phase 2 begins. This phase offers players a second opportunity to perform actions like those in Main Phase 1. Players can summon additional monsters, activate spell and trap cards, or make strategic adjustments to their board state. Main Phase 2 allows players to adapt their strategy based on the events of the battle phase, reinforcing their defenses or preparing for an upcoming turn. Effective utilization of this phase can provide players with a significant advantage over their opponent."

"The final phase of a player's turn is the End Phase. During this phase, players resolve any remaining effects that activate at the end of the turn or have a specific timing tied to this phase. Additionally, certain cards and effects may trigger during the end phase, affecting the state of the game or providing players with additional resources. Once all effects are resolved, the turn passes to the opponent, and the cycle begins anew. The end phase is a crucial part of strategic planning, ensuring that players leave their turn in a favorable position and adequately prepare for their opponent's next move."

Suzuki took a moment to catch his breath. Everyone stared at him with wide eyes. Even Ren is surprised that he was able to talk this long.

"You're really into this game, aren't you?" Ren commented.

"You bet. Yu-Gi-Oh is my life so I know the rules on the back of my hand. I'll explain the rest as we play so we can be done before bedtime. So, let's get this duel started!"

Turn 1

Satoshi Suzuki: 4000

Hand x 5

"First I summon Lord of Dragon -Dragon's Ruler- to the field," Suzuki declares as he places a card in front of him. The monster had the image of a man dressed in dragon-themed clothing with skeletal motifs. Ren made sure to take note of the card's information.

Lord of Dragon – Dragon's Ruler-

DARK

Spellcaster/Effect

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1200/1100

"Next I activate the Spell card, Flute of Summoning Dragon," Suzuki declared as he put the Spell card onto the row beneath his monster card. "This card allows me to special summon up to two dragon-type monsters from my hand. I only have one but it's a bad boy. I'm special summoning the one, the ONLY, Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

Nearly everyone was shocked by what he just said.

"He's bringing out Blue Eyes already?"

"Amamiya's in for it now."

Suzuki placed a card on the field. The image depicted a fierce white dragon with, true to its namesake, blue eyes. Reading the card, Ren could understand why the crowd was panicking.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon

LIGHT

Dragon/Normal

Level 8

ATK/DEF 3000/2500

Ren gulped. A powerful monster right off the bat. That's got to be an impressive move to pull on the first turn. Then Suzuki takes the 'Flute of Summoning Dragon' card and puts it next to his deck.

"Just for reference, any card that's been used or destroyed gets sent to the Graveyard. Next, I activate the Continuous Spell Card Shard of Greed and end my turn," Suzuki said as he placed a card with a green background below the monster zone row. He explained, "Continuous Spell Cards stay in the spell and trap row until they are destroyed. There's also Quick-Play Spell Cards that can be activated during either player's turn, but they cannot be activated the turn they are set."

"Another thing that the first-turn player can't do is attack his opponent. If they don't have any monsters on the Field, it's a Direct Attack. Because of this, it would be unfair if you received damage when you were defenseless on your first turn. But you can attack me during YOUR turn. I end my turn, now give it your best shot Amamiya!"

Turn 2

Ren Amamiya: 4000

Hand x 5

"You got it. My turn! Draw!" Ren declared as he drew a card from his deck. Although he sped through reading most of the cards of his deck, he got a grasp of what they can do thanks to hours of speed-reading books on the subway. He had a feeling he caught a grasp of what these cards could do.

"I summon Electromagnet Warrior γ in ATK position," Ren declared as he placed a monster card of a green magnet-themed robot on the field.

Electromagnet Warrior γ

EARTH

Rock/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 800/2000

"Electromagnet Warrior γ's effect. When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower 'Magnet Warrior' monster from my hand, except for a copy of this card. From my hand, I summon Electromagnet Warrior β in ATK position."

Ren took a card from his hand and placed it next to Electromagnet Warrior γ. This magnet-themed robot is like an oni with the magnet prongs serving as its horns and claws.

Electromagnet Warrior β

EARTH

Rock/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 1500/1500

"Electromagnet Warrior β's effect. When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: I can add one level 4 or lower 'Magnet Warrior' monster from the Deck to my hand," Ren said as he took his deck and searched through it. Once he found the monster he was looking for, he added it into his hand and shuffled his deck.

"You're not the only one with a powerful monster in their hand on the first turn," Ren warned as he made his play. "From my hand, I banish Electromagnet Warrior α, and from my field, I banish Electromagnet Warrior β and Electromagnet Warrior γ to summon Magnet Berserion the Electromagnetic Warrior."

Ren took the three Electromagnet Warriors from his side and placed them separate from the Graveyard and Deck. He assumed that 'Banished' isn't the same as being sent to the Graveyard. From his hand, he placed a monster card into a monster zone. The monster appeared to be the combination of all three Electromagnet warriors wielding a magnetic sword.

Magnet Beserion the Electromagnetic Warrior

EARTH

Rock/Effect

Level 8

ATK/DEF 3000/2800

The crowd's murmurs grew rapidly at Ren's play.

"He summoned Beserion already? On the first turn?"

"His ATK points are the same as Blue-Eyes."

"That won't matter with Beserion's effect."

"Which he can't use," Suzuki said. "Beserion's effect can only be activated if he can banish one Level 4 or lower monster from his Graveyard. Even if he could, thanks to the effect of Lord of Dragon – Dragon's Ruler-, Dragon-type monsters on the field cannot be targeted by card effects. You shouldn't have jumped the gun, Amamiya."

"Oh, I wouldn't say I jumped the gun," Ren warned with a vicious smile. "I know that when I summoned Beserion he wouldn't be able to use his effect. It's just that I believe that he's capable of so much more…like attacking Lord of Dragon – Dragon's Ruler-!"

Suzuki blinked. "Oh yeah."

"Yep. Battle! Magnet Beserion the Electromagnetic Warrior attacks Lord of Dragon –Dragon's Ruler —! Electromagnetic Blade!"

Ren tapped Beserion and pointed at Lord of Dragon. Suzuki graciously took his monster from the board and put it into the Graveyard. For him it was different. From his mind's eye, he could imagine Beserion rushing towards the Lord of Dragon, bisecting the monster with his sword. The Lord of Dragon cried out as it shattered into a million specks of light.

For some reason he couldn't place, he felt something grow within him. It was as if a fire had been lit up inside him. As he listened to the sound of the crowd buzzing with excitement, he realized what it was. It's the same feeling he gets whenever he and his friends are fighting to steal the heart of a rotten adult.

The thrill of battle.

"Alright…conducting damage calculation," Suzuki said as he took the pen and wrote down his Life Points total. "When a monster destroys a monster with less ATK, damage is conducted through the difference. So Beserion destroyed my Lord of Dragon. 3000 minus 1200 equals 1800. My Life Points is 4000 so minus 1800—"

"It's 2200 Life Points," Ren said, having performed the mental math in his head.

Satoshi Suzuki: 4000 - 2200

Hand x 2

"Damn, you figured it out that fast?" Suzuki praised. "And here I was bitchin' about getting a calculator. What else are you going to do?"

"What I'm going to do is end my turn. Your move."

Turn 3

Satoshi Suzuki: 2200

Hand x 2

"My Turn! Draw!" Suzuki declared. "Shard of Greed's effect. Each time I draw a card from my normal draw in my Draw Phase, I can place a Greed Counter on this card."

Suzuki rips the corner of the paper off and places it on top of his continuous spell.

"Next I summon, Peten the Dark Clown," Suzuki said as he placed a clown-like monster card onto the field.

Peten the Dark Clown

DARK

Spellcaster/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 500/1200

"Battle. I attack Magnet Beserion the Electromagnetic Warrior with Blue-Eyes White Dragon," Suzuki declared, much to Ren's surprise.

"What are you doing?" Ren asked. "They have the same ATK points. Won't they destroy each other?"

"They will, but with no risk, there is no reward!" Suzuki answered with a fierce smile. Ren stared at him, but his face told him that he was going through with this action. Even though it would mean he would be defenseless. So, Ren respected his choice. Although there would be no damage inflicted and their monsters would both be destroyed, this battle would result in a tremendous gain for him.

"I activate Beserion's effect," Ren declares as he moves Beserion to the Graveyard. "If he is destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect: I can target one each of the monsters banished to summon him. I'm Special Summoning Electromagnet Warrior α, Electromagnet Warrior β, and Electromagnet Warrior γ to the field in ATK position."

Ren placed his magnet monsters on the field, with their newest addition of a gunmetal grey magnet warrior wielding a double-bladed sword and shield.

Electromagnet Warrior α

EARTH

Rock/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 1700/1100

Electromagnet Warrior β

EARTH

Rock/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 1500/1500

Electromagnet Warrior γ

EARTH

Rock/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 800/2000

"But they won't be hanging around for long," Ren declares, much to the crowd's confusion. "I activate their shared effect. During your turn, I can tribute each of them and from my deck, I can Special Summon a Level 4 'Magnet Warrior' monster to take their place."

In one move, Ren swiftly gathers up his Electromagnet warriors and places them in the Graveyard. Then he took his deck and shuffled through his cards until he found the monsters he was looking for. Each of them is drawn in retro art and are less advanced versions of their Electromagnet counterparts. He summoned them to the Field in ATK position before shuffling his deck.

Magnet Warrior α

EARTH

Rock/Normal

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1400/1700

Magnet Warrior β

EARTH

Rock/Normal

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1700/1600

Magnet Warrior γ

EARTH

Rock/Normal

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1500/1800

"Well played, "Suzuki said as he took a card from his hand and placed it in the Spell and Trap zone. "I set one card facedown and end my turn."

Ren scanned the field. So far the only monster Suzuki had on the field is Peten the Dark Clown, and it's a weak monster with 500 ATK points. Any of his Magnet Warriors can slaughter the Clown with ease, leaving the rest to a direct attack. Doing the math, he calculated 4100 points worth of damage. Which is more than enough to win the Duel.

Yet his opponent played the game before. He would know that the loss of his most powerful monster would leave him wide open to such an attack. What was he up to? Could it have anything to do with that card he set? There's only one way to find out.

Turn 4

Ren Amamiya: 4000

Hand x 4

"My turn! Draw!" Ren declared as he drew a card. It was right then that his opponent sprung his trap.

"I activate the Trap Card, Deck Destruction Virus of Death," Suzuki declares as he flips over the card he set in the Spell and Trap Zone. "By tributing one DARK monster with 1000 or less ATK, like Peten the Dark Clown, not only do you take no damage until the end of the next turn, but I can also look at your hand and all monsters you control and destroy any monsters with 1500 or more ATK."

"What?" Ren couldn't help but yelp. Even the crowd is shocked at this unexpected development.

"Crap, Amamiya walked right into that one."

"I saw it coming when he pulled out Peten."

"Well, it is a virus card. What did you expect?"

"As I'm sure you can guess, this is a Trap Card. These cards can only be activated by setting them first. Now would you kindly show me your hand as well as destroy any monsters that are 1500 or more ATK?"

Ren gritted his teeth as he reluctantly revealed his hand to his opponent. To his frustration, he had two monsters in his hand that fit the criteria of the Trap Cards effect. He sent them into the Graveyard.

"Oh, you have a Fusion Spell card in your hand," Suzuki pointed out. "That's a handy card when you want to Fusion Summon a Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck. Provided you have the correct materials. You're also lucky that you don't have Magnet Valkyrion the Magnetic Warrior in your hand. I expected you to have it when you brought out the original Magnet Warriors. But that wouldn't matter since two of them have to go to the Graveyard."

"Of course," Ren nodded astutely as he took Magnet Warriors β and γ from the field and put them in the Graveyard.

"Deck Destruction Virus of Death's last effect. You are also forced to investigate your Deck and destroy three monsters with 1500 or more ATK."

Mentally letting out a small curse, Ren took his deck and proceeded to look through it. He found three monsters and placed them in the Graveyard.

"The Black Magician. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon's eternal rival," Suzuki noticed. "That's a powerful monster to have on the Field. Just to let you know, high-level monsters require monster tributes to summon them. From Levels 5 to 6, you only need one tribute. Level 7 and onward you need two tributes. It's a shame that you must send it to the Graveyard. Or is it?"

To some, it may sound condescending, but Ren could somehow recognize the challenge in his tone. He's enjoying this duel. And he's correct about a few things. He is planning on summoning Magnet Valkyrion the Magnet warrior. Thanks to that trap he played, he lost two of the required monsters.

But that doesn't mean his opponent has grasped the full length of the grand plan. Just because a monster is in the Graveyard doesn't mean they're out of the game.

"One more thing before you continue your turn," Suzuki said as he searched through his deck. "Since Peten is sent to the Graveyard, I can summon another one to take his place. So, I summon another Peten the Dark Clown in DEF position."

Peten the Dark Clown

DARK

Spellcaster/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 500/1200

"Just so you know, there can only be three of the same monster in the deck," Suzuki said. "This would make it my second Peten the Dark Clown. After he goes, I can bring out my third and final Peten. Carry on with your turn."

"Right," Ren said as he looked at his hand. Thanks to the Deck Devastation Virus of Death, his options became limited. Ren had the feeling he was going easy on him for being new to the game. From then on, he will be taking him seriously. He wouldn't put it past him to have another Deck Devastation Virus of Death in his deck. With Peten the Dark Clown's effect, he can effectively destroy his deck. He'll have to remove that risk.

"I play a Spell Card you are familiar with. Shard of Greed," Ren said as he placed the Spell Card on the Field. "I'm sure you're aware of its effects so I will spare everyone the explanation. I'm also going to play the Spell Card Protective Seal Swords of Light. For three turns, your monsters cannot declare an attack while this card is face up on the field."

"That's a good card to have," Suzuki said.

"Next I set one card face down," Ren said. "Battle. Magnet Warrior α attacks Peten the Dark Clown."

"Peten the Dark Clown's effect," Suzuki declares as he places his monster in the Graveyard. "When sent to the Graveyard, I can summon another to take his place."

Peten the Dark Clown

DARK

Spellcaster/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 500/1200

"I end my turn."

Turn 5

Satoshi Suzuki: 2200

Hand x 1

"My Turn! Draw!" Suzuki declared. "Shard of Greed's Effect. When I draw a card during my Draw Phase, I can place another Greed Counter on this card. But they won't be staying around for long because I'm sending Shard of Greed to the Graveyard. When there are two or more Greed Counters on it, I can draw two cards."

Suzuki drew two more cards from his deck.

"Next I summon A-Assault Core," Suzuki said as he placed a yellow machine Monster Card that reminded Ren of a scorpion in the Field.

A-Assault Core

LIGHT

Machine/Union/Effect

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1900/200

"Next I activate the Continuous Spell Card Frontline Base," Suzuki declared. "Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower Union monster from my hand. I'm Special Summoning to the field, B-Buster Drake."

He placed a Monster Card depicting a green draconic-looking machine with twin cannons.

B-Buster Drake

LIGHT

Machine/Union/Effect

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1500/1800

"Wait, Union?" Ren asked, noticing the term that these monsters share.

"Union monsters can equip themselves to other monsters," Suzuki explained. "For example, I equip B-Buster Drake to A-Assault Core. From my hand, I activate an Equip Spell Card, Giganticize. While my Life Points are lower than yours, which they are, my monster's ATK points get doubled. I equip it to A-Assault Core."

A-Assault Core ATK: 1900 - 3800

Ren winced at the ATK increase. Suzuki's A-Assault Core is now more powerful than Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"Battle! I attack Magnet Warrior α with A-Assault Core!" Suzuki said, much to Ren's surprise.

"Wait, what? You can't declare an attack so long as Protective Seal Swords of Light is on the field."

"B-Buster Drake's effect," Suzuki explains. "Spells cannot affect a monster equipped with B-Buster Drake. A-Assault Core is unaffected since Protective Seal Swords of Light is a Spell Card. Now as I said, A-Assault Core attacks Magnet Warrior α."

Ren Amamiya: 4000 - 1600

"With my Life Points greater than yours, A-Assault Core's ATK becomes half its original due to Giganticize's effect."

A-Assault Core ATK: 3800 - 950

"With that, I end my turn."

He refocused on the duel. With Magnet warrior α in the Graveyard, summoning Valkyrion will be a lot more difficult. Of course, there is also his facedown, a trap card that can remedy that. But now isn't the best time to activate it. The only card he has in his hand is Fusion and that isn't useful now.

That doesn't compare to the fact that A-Assault Core can attack him if it's equipped with B-Buster Drake. Its attack may be low for now, but Ren had a suspicion that his opponent could bypass that complication. If he doesn't do anything right now, he could lose this duel.

Turn 6

Ren Amamiya: 1600

Hand x 1

"My turn! Draw!" Ren declared as he drew another card. The card he drew wasn't a monster, but a spell. It isn't much, but it allows him to bank on his deck.

"Shard of Greed's effect. I place one Greed Counter on it," Ren declared as he ripped a piece of paper off. "Then I activate the Pot of Avarice Spell Card. I can target five monsters in my Graveyard and shuffle them into my Deck. Then I can draw two cards."

After he selected the monsters, he shuffled his deck. Then he drew two cards from his deck. Looking them over, he saw a way to cripple Suzuki's offense through the first card. A spell that would not only wipe out his opponent's Spell and Trap zone but inflict direct damage.

The second card he drew is a monster card. With ATK points more than enough to take down A-Assault Core thanks to Giganticize. But Suzuki still has Peten the Dark Clown on the Field. It's still fitting the qualifications to act as a tribute to activate another Deck Devastation Virus of Death. He still has plenty of strong monsters in his deck, one of them being Valkyrion.

It may be his fear speaking, but there's one way to be certain that the virus stays dead. And he still has Protective Seal Swords of Light. The next turn would be the second turn it stays on the Field, giving him time to build up a defensive front and take care of A-Assault Core later. So, he selected his targets.

"Next I activate the Spell Card, Magic-Effect Arrow. I can destroy as many face-up Spells you control and inflict 500 damage to you for each one. I'm guessing that B-Buster Drake becomes a Spell Card while equipped with A-Assault Core. Am I right?"

"You are correct," Suzuki said as he took B-Buster Drake and Giganticize off the field and put them in his Graveyard. Ren noticed that he didn't seem all that concerned. But he chalked it up to his opponent having had this combo dismantled before.

Satoshi Suzuki: 2200 - 1200

A-Assault Core's ATK: 950 - 1900

"I summon Phantom Beast King Gazelle to the field," Ren said as he placed a monster card depicting a beast leaping through a moonlit night on all fours.

Phantom Beast King Gazelle

EARTH

Beast/Normal

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1500/1200

"Battle! Phantom Beast King Gazelle attacks Peten the Dark Clown," Ren declared as he tapped his monster card and Suzuki placed the Dark Clown into his Graveyard. Ren did the calculations and concluded that it was 300 points of damage. To his confusion, Suzuki wasn't writing down the damage.

"If you attack a monster in defense position, there's no damage calculation," Suzuki explained. "Unless you have a monster that has an effect that inflicts piercing damage."

"I see," Ren nodded. But for some reason, he felt as if he already knew that. "I end my turn."

Turn 7

Satoshi Suzuki: 1200

Hand x 0

"My turn! Draw!" Suzuki declared as he drew a card from his deck. The smile on his face made Ren think uh-oh.

"Alright, this Duel is mine," Suzuki declared as he placed a monster card with a mechanical purple wyvern with missile launchers at its abdomen. "I summon C-Crush Wyvern."

C-Crush Wyvern

LIGHT

Machine/Union/Effect

Level 4

ATK/DEF 1200/2000

"I'm sure you noticed a pattern among my monsters," Suzuki says. "Notably the letters A, B, and C. I'll tell you why they matter. Because I'm going to use all three of them to Fusion Summon."

"But B-Buster Drake is in the Graveyard," Ren pointed out in disbelief. "Besides, didn't you say that you need a Fusion spell card to Fusion summon?"

"There are some Fusion monsters that let you summon them without using Fusion. As well as use monsters in the Graveyard as material," Suzuki explains. "As I said, I banish A-Assault Core and C-Crush Wyvern from my field and B-Buster Drake from my Graveyard to summon ABC-Dragon Buster!"

Suzuki takes the Fusion materials and places them in the banished zone. From his Extra Deck, he places a monster card depicting the ABC monster in a combined form. B-Buster Drake and C-Crush Wyvern are merged with A-Assault Core's tail.

ABC-Dragon Buster

LIGHT

Machine/Fusion/Effect

Level 8

ATK/DEF 3000/2800

"Such a monster exists?" Ren asked, still in disbelief at the Fusion monster. He didn't know why, but this defied any logic.

"The world of dueling is vast. Filled with infinite possibilities. Don't assume that you'll know every card. Dare to believe there's more."

Ren blinked his eyes. He couldn't place a name on the owner of the voice nor recall the face. Yet he felt as if they were familiar, and their words rang with truth. But he snapped out of his thoughts and focused on his opponent.

"You're probably thinking you're still safe so long as you have Protective Seal Swords of Light on the field," Suzuki asked. "Allow me to relieve you of that by explaining ABC-Dragon Buster's effect. Once per turn, I can discard one card to banish one card on the field. Right now, I don't have a card in my hand, but that will change on my next turn."

After Suzuki finished his explanation, Ren could feel the perspiration on his forehead. To think a monster that powerful would have such an effect. He's correct that he can strip him of his protection by banishing Protective Seal Swords of Light.

Even though Suzuki couldn't activate his monster's effect, he isn't safe from danger. If ABC-Dragon Buster destroys Gazelle, then his Life Points will be reduced to 100. On the other hand, if he decides to wait it out and banish Gazelle instead, his Life Points will be reduced to less than 0. Either way, he had to turn this around on his next turn, which is coming soon.

"I end my turn," Suzuki declared. "Make this turn count, Amamiya. It may very well be your last."

Turn 8

Ren Amamiya: 1600

Hand x 1

Ren's fingers moved to take the top card of his deck. He had only touched the back of the card when he stopped. Try as he might, he couldn't bring himself to complete the draw phase of his turn.

"Something wrong?" Suzuki asked. "You can always surrender."

Ren said nothing to his opponent as his mind raced. He had faced shadows, monsters, and even cognitive gods and he's afraid of drawing a card from a deck of cards? The whole thing sounded ridiculous. Yet somehow, he understood the gravity of the situation. This one draw can determine the outcome of the duel.

Losing in this game isn't a big deal, yet why is he acting like it was?

"It's not over till the last card is drawn," a voice said. "It may sound cliché, but just think. A single card can turn the whole duel around. A draw of faith if you will. If you don't take that draw, you'll never find out how it would end."

He can't recall where he heard that before or even why it came up. Frankly, he gave up trying to figure it out. Right now, he had a duel to win. So, he will take that draw of faith. Closing his eyes, he took a couple of deep breaths. When he opened them, his eyes were filled with such a deep resolution that he saw his opponent become unnerved.

"Not over yet! My turn! Draw!" Ren declared as he swiftly drew a card from his deck. He drew it so fast that his arm became outstretched. It was so fast that he nearly smacked the face of a nearby spectator.

"You want me to make this turn count Suzuki? Well, you're going to get your wish."

"Is that so?" Suzuki asked with a raised eyebrow. "Then by all means."

"First, since I drew a card from my deck, I get to place one Greed Counter onto Shard of Greed. I send it to the Graveyard to draw two more cards from my deck," Ren said as he placed Shard of Greed in the Graveyard and drew his two cards. "Next I activate the trap card Magnet Conversion. I can add to my hand up to three Level 4 or lower 'Magnet Warrior' monsters in my Graveyard. Since there is only one, I'm adding it to my hand. I summon Electromagnet Warrior α."

Electromagnet Warrior α

EARTH

Rock/Effect

Level 3

ATK/DEF 1700/1100

"Electromagnet Warrior α's effect! When normal or special summoned: I get to add one Level 8 'Magnetic Warrior' monster from my Deck to my hand."

"Let me ask you something," Ren warns with a smile. "But what makes you think I'm summoning Valkyrion?"

"Oh, I'm not summoning Beserion either. Although I do have him in my hand as well, I have something else in mind," Ren said. "Time for some old-school Fusion Summoning."

"From my hand, I activate Fusion! I fuse Magnet Valkyrion the Magnetic Warrior and Magnet Berserion the Electromagnetic Warrior," Ren said as he placed the Fusion materials in the Graveyard before clasping his hands together. "Warriors of magnetism. Become one to create the ultimate magnetic power. Fusion Summon! Come forth! Level 10! Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battle Machine!"

As soon as he finished, he slammed the Fusion monster onto the Field with such force it could've broken the table. Imperion Magnum is the combined form of the most powerful magnetic warriors. His form resembled a centaur with wings armed with a sword and a railgun over his left shoulder.

Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battle Machine

EARTH

Rock/Fusion/Effect

Level 10

ATK/DEF 4000/4000

The fervor of the crowd is getting excited.

"No way! He summoned that monster?"

"That's like difficult to pull off. Even Yamamoto couldn't pull it off."

"Did he have to be so dramatic about it?

Suzuki was stunned as well. Ren didn't pause as he made his next move, "From my hand, I activate Fusion Cancel. I can return one fusion monster to the Extra Deck. I'm selecting ABC-Dragon Buster! Say goodbye to your monster Suzuki!"

His opponent snapped out of his daze and spoke, "I-I activate ABC-Dragon Buster's effect. During your turn, I can tribute this card and target three banished LIGHT Machine-Type Union monsters with different names and Special Summon them."

"I activate Imperion Magnum's effect as well," Ren declared. "Once per turn, whenever you activate a Spell, Trap, or a monster effect, I can negate the activation and destroy that card. Accelerator Shock!"

Suzuki cursed as he sent ABC-Dragon Buster to the Graveyard.

"Battle! Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battle Machine attacks you directly! Surging Magnetic Slash!"

In his mind's eye, he can imagine his monster towering over his opponent. With lightning sparking across his body, Imperion Magnum charged toward Suzuki at blinding speeds as if propelled by a magnetic force. Raising his sword, Imperion Magnum swiftly slashed at Suzuki as well as the rest of his Life Points.

Satoshi Suzuki: 1200 0

Everyone was silent as they stared at him. Right before their eyes, the unbeatable Suzuki just got beaten. Then Ren's opponent reached out a hand towards him.

"Well played," Suzuki said. "You are a worthy opponent to lose to."

"And it's a pleasure to play against an experienced duelist such as yourself," Ren said as he took his hand and shook it. Even though the thrill of victory is still fresh, he would be a graceful winner.

"You flatter me," Suzuki said. "Are you sure you haven't played Yu-Gi-Oh before? You played like a pro. Not to mention you seem to be very passionate in the end."

"I'm not very sure," Ren admitted. He played different games before, but he had never been this passionate about Yu-Gi-Oh. Or rather Duel Monsters. He wasn't sure why he kept calling it that.

"Say, you up for another game next time?" Suzuki asked. "I'm curious if you can pull off a fusion summon of A-to-Z-Dragon Buster Cannon."

"I'm not sure what that monster is, but I'll take the challenge," Ren said with a confident smirk. And he meant it. He wasn't sure when he had fun with a game before. He didn't get a chance to check out what kind of monster his opponent was talking about as suddenly the klaxon blared. All eyes turned to a guard who walked in.

"Alright inmates, five minutes until bedtime! Back to your cells!"

[~]

Outside of the Detention Center, a lone figure approached the gate. The moonlight reflected off the yellow, green, and red crystals of a jagged blue and silver helmet. The blue militaristic uniform is predominantly blue and white with yellow accents. Behind the helmet's lenses, malevolent eyes glared at the Detention Center.

"He's right here huh," the man spoke ominously. He lifted his left arm which had a shield-like device on. A hemispherical display activated, and a sword-shaped energy blade materialized. The man drew a card from a deck.

"Once I'm done with him, I can finally go home."

[~]

A soft piano melody that reached his ears was the first indication. The hard bed underneath him was the second. Ren's eyes opened and was greeted with the sight of the cramped quarters of a cell, the walls lined with blue cloth. A lonely woman's wail came through, soothing Ren's soul.

The Velvet Room was rather unforgettable, after all. A place that exists between dreams and reality. Mind and matter.

He swung his legs over his bunk and blinked as he noticed his attire changed into a classic black and white striped prison uniform. Thankfully he isn't wearing the ball and chain around his ankle. It has always been a pain having that thing around.

His cell door was opened so he walked through. Everything was the same: A circular room with jail cells lining the walls. Loudspeakers hanging above the center of the ceiling. A simple desk in the middle. Sitting at that desk was a suited balding man with an incredibly long nose and a perpetual grin. Standing beside the desk is a silver-haired little girl in a blue dress holding a massive book. Their appearances were unnatural and otherworldly, but they are a friendly sight.

"Igor. Lavenza. Good to see you," Ren called out with a grin. "Want to hear something funny? Most people dream of waking up and finding themselves out of a cell. For me, I only wake up to find myself in another cell."

Igor's grin widened at his joke. "It's quite amusing too dear guest. Once more, welcome to the Velvet Room."

"You escaped the prison of the heart only to be imprisoned in reality," Lavenza said as she curtsied in greeting, her golden eyes sparkling with affection. "What a most ironic outcome, your wish for others' happiness prevailed over your own. However, I feel as though all is finally well in the end, you willingly chose the correct path. Most importantly, you never compromised your values for your well-being."

There was the sound of something that could be described as twinkling. Looking up, he saw a small ball of ethereal light descending in front of him. He reached out a hand to it and it stopped a few inches from his open palm. With a flash, the ball of light became a Velvet Blue tarot card. The image on the card depicted a young woman surrounded by figures of an angel, a bull, an eagle, and a lion.

"The final arcana you have acquired is The World," Lavenza explained with a smile. "It is the power for an individual to stand on their own two feet, swayed by none. That power shall fuel the hope shared amongst your friends and yourself, to strive towards a better future. With The World, you are no longer without a place to belong and will never trudge a path alone again."

The warmth in her words could not express the meaning of this gift. It meant that his life would no longer be under the control of others.

Yet he couldn't help but notice the heavy atmosphere in the air. Igor's grin is there but his bloodshot eyes are hard and serious. Lavenza seemed depressed. He didn't understand why. Ren felt his eyes drift to the World Arcana in his hand. Was it just him, or does it seem to be upside down?

"You've noticed that the World Arcana is in reverse," Igor said. "Like this, it means a lack of completion. Your journey isn't at an end…as well as our duties. Humanity is still on the path of ruin."

Ren didn't like the sound of that. Before he could ask any questions, the alarm began blaring. That usually meant that it was time for him to return to the real world. But Lavenza is looking at him with what could be described as distress.

"Trickster, be warned. A malevolent force is approaching. It seeks to end your life."

Hearing that brought a cold sweat. The last time he heard that was from Caroline and Justine when Akechi came to kill him in that interrogation room. It was back before he knew that they were Lavenza who was split by Yaldabaoth when he took over the Velvet Room and imprisoned the real Igor.

"You have nothing to fear," Igor assured. "We must assist our guests. To assist but not interfere. The path you walk must be taken by you. I will offer this tidbit. The key to your salvation lies in the memories you've long since buried.

"For the sake of not just this world but for all worlds," Lavenza pleaded. "You must remember. Please think about that until we meet again."

[~]

In his cell at the Youth Detention Center, Ren's eyes fluttered open. Groaning, he sat up on his bed rubbing his forehead. It was still night outside. Hopefully, it would be long before the guard making his rounds comes to his cell sees him not asleep, and tells him to go back to bed.

What was discussed in the Velvet Room is mind-reeling, to say the least. Humanity is still on the path to ruin. But why? He and his friends defeated Yaldabaoth and Maruki. What could be there to threaten humanity now? And what did Igor and Lavenza mean his salvation lies in his memories? The last time that happened, it was back in the interrogation room where he was drugged, beaten, and forced to sign a phony confession. He was able to shrug off the effect through sheer will in time to remember the plan. As far as he's concerned, his memory is just fine.

So why did he feel like he was forgetting something important?

He couldn't contemplate further as suddenly, there was a loud explosion. Any lingering drowsiness wore off as his body became stiff. The messy-haired teen's eyes are wide as saucers and alert as he hears the rest of the inmates wake up. This had to be a mental institution if they were able to sleep through an explosion.

"What the hell was that?"

"All inmates stay in your cells and stay quiet!" A guard called out. Ren heard the guards' footsteps rush past his cell. Slowly, Ren got up and approached the door. It's made of sturdy reinforced steel and can only be opened through a numbered key code on the other side of the door. There is also an observation window for the guards to monitor the inmates without opening the door.

It was through the window that Ren saw flashes of purple light. Each flash of purple is accompanied by a scream. It is more than likely that they belonged to the guards as there is no one else outside the cells. Suddenly, his breath hitched at the purple light. His eyes became pinpricks as he began to take short rapid breaths. He placed both hands on his cell door to steady himself. It was then that he realized that he was hyperventilating. He was hyperventilating and he didn't understand why.

His mind suddenly went back to that dream. Where there was a flash of purple light and that woman fell to the floor dead. Could that have something to do with it?

Eventually, the lights stopped and there was silence. It is so thick that one could cut it with a knife. Ren couldn't even hear the other inmates. It was like prey trying to keep still to hide from a predator.

Then, he heard crunching metal. A few seconds later, a scream he recognized as belonging to Yamamoto followed. After that, it became quiet only to hear crunching metal. Next came the scream. The pattern repeated and again. He couldn't understand what was going on out there. The last one sounded next to his cell.

Instinctively, he backed away from the door. He was able to get a few feet away before two metallic fangs pierced the door. The door is yanked away, ripped off its hinges, and tossed away. It was too dark to make anything, but Ren could make out two red eyes that didn't belong to a human as his cell door got tossed away. Then the eyes disappeared as a figure walked into his cell.

It was clear that he was not one of the guards coming to check on him. That much is true. He wore a different uniform for one thing. Especially with that strange helmet he's wearing. Ren noticed the symbol on the left breast of the man. A blue shield with orange accents with red stylized letters 'D' and 'A' over yellow 'O'. For some reason, he felt like he had seen that symbol before.

"Finally! The right one," the man exclaimed with a victorious smile. "I was afraid I'd have to go through every cell of this dump until I've found you. But here you are. Did you think you could hide forever?"

Ren didn't say anything. Even though he's defenseless, he keeps his composure. He always kept his cool whenever there was a fight against Shadows and Palace Rulers. It helped him analyze the flow of battle as well as this situation. It was clear that this guy knew him. But he never met this guy before.

"I'm not sure I've made your acquaintance. Who are you?" Ren demanded.

"Who am I?" the man asked. "I'm surprised you could have forgotten me so easily when I and my fellow duel soldiers of Obelisk Force crushed you and the rest of your fellow rebels under our heel."

"What?" Ren asked in confusion at what he was saying. The man calling himself to be a duel soldier of Obelisk Force became angry.

"For three years I've waited this day," the man snarled. "You have no idea the lengths I had to go through to survive this piece of shit dimension you dragged me into. I can't believe Standard doesn't have any dual disks. I didn't realize until I saw you that I've carded the wrong guy!"

The man reached into a pocket and took out a card. He flicked it into the air. The card landed right in front of him face up. To Ren's astonishment and mounting horror, the image on the card had HIS face on it. A face contorted in terror, hands shielding up to protect himself.

"Some of the other inmates of this prison got lucky and became sealed. They'll be a good gift to the Professor. Can't say the same for the others," the duel soldier sneered, making Ren's blood run cold at the implication. Then the duel soldier demanded, "Now where's the briefcase? I know you have it."

"Briefcase? What briefcase?" Ren asked.

"Don't play dumb with me!" the duel soldier snarled. "You don't have a duel disk on you, and I can card you easily. I saw you carrying the briefcase when we left the Fusion dimension. I know what it does, and I know you have it. Tell me where it is."

"I don't know what you are talking about," Ren refuted. "Rebel? Obelisk Force? Dimensions? A briefcase? You're not making any sense!"

The duel soldier just stared at him. Then he started laughing hysterically.

"So, you're still going to put up with the act," the Duel Soldier said. "I should've expected it from a rebel like you. Very well. I'll play along. Perhaps this might jog your memory. Antique Gear Hound Dog…sic him!"

The Duel Soldier stepped aside to leave the entrance to the cell unobstructed. The care of the sound of movement as a creature entered. It looked like a rustic clockwork canine with an underbite. The instant he made eye contact, he knew that this creature was the owner of the red eyes from before. And it obeyed the Duel Soldiers every command.

For the life of him, he can't understand what the creature, the Antique Gear Hound Dog, was. He knew for certain that it wasn't a shadow. Not only because it didn't have the characteristics of one but the fact that this is reality, not the Metaverse. There shouldn't be any shadows in reality!

There was no time to think as the Hound let out an unholy growl as it lunged towards him. Instinctively, Ren threw himself to the side to avoid the attack. Those physical exercises have paid off. The Hound soared past him and crashed into the wall opposite the Duel Soldier. The attack had reduced the wall to rubble, kicking up a dust cloud. When it settled, there was a hole big enough for a car to drive through.

"Wow you dodged that," the Duel Soldier exclaimed. "Good. That makes this more fun for me."

Ren jerked his head back at the Duel Soldier. This man is serious and insane. Any hope reasoning with this man became dashed. He's going to keep beating him for information he doesn't even know or understand.

Then someone flashed before his mind. He couldn't see their face but heard them talking to him.

"What are you waiting for? If you stay still on a battlefield, you're dead. Get running!"

Dark gray eyes narrowed. There wasn't much he could do. The only reason this duel soldier isn't 'carding' him as he put it is because he wanted something called the briefcase. He wasn't sure what that was, but he knew that this man wouldn't take 'I don't know' as an answer. With that Antique Gear Hound Dog out for blood, he'll be mauled to death and that bastard will get a kick out of it.

So, he did the only thing he could do. What the voice wanted him to do. Run. Turning on his heel, he rushed out of the cell through the new opening. Outside, the Antique Gear Hound Dog had doubled back and came running at him with its jaws open. Ren reacted without thinking by power sliding beneath the leaping mechanical hound. Without wasting momentum, he pushed himself back onto his feet and continued to run. He heard the duel soldier from behind but ignored him as he continued to run towards the broken gate. As the wind kissed his face, he realized something.

For the first time in fifty-two days, he was free.

[~][~]

Greetings and Bienvenu readers.

As you can see, The Phantom Duelists is a Persona 5/Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V crossover. Specifically, a reboot of 'Welcome to the Rebellion', a project that had been scrapped. I decided to go with a slightly different approach by starting this story the day before Sae came to visit Ren in the Youth Detention Center and tell him he was being released.

Let me know what you guys think, and I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to showing you all what I have in mind for this fanfic.