Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc V: The Six Dimensions

by BlaiseCandell

Before the invasion of the Xyz Dimension, scans done by the Fusion Dimension reveal two more dimensions. The Ritual Dimension, and the Link Dimension. Within those two dimensions, Chiaki, Yuji, Miharu and Yuno have their lives turned upside down, and are tossed into a vicious war. Also, why are there five people with the same faces as them? (M for discussions of trauma.)

105. Four of a Kind

Starting Notes:

Welcome back! Sorry it took so long, I've been busy with irl stuff. Also apologise if there's any formatting issues, ffnet's formatting continues to be a scourge on my soul... well, let's get started!

---

Chapter 105: Four of a Kind

"Four of a kind, aces and suits.

One mad with fury, one mad with misery, one mad with grief and one mad with guilt…"

---

If asked, Nue Kamisoka would say that she was not a good person. That probably came across in a lot of her actions—and no more so than what she'd allowed to happen.

The first time that she'd brought up this plan, she'd treated it like an idle joke. If we want to destroy them, she'd said, maybe we should just go all the way. She'd gotten a lot of enthusiastic nods for that. Let's make them suffer just as much as we did.

She had been completely serious about those words, even if most people had taken it as the usual anger that they all held towards Academia. She'd even held back a little—keeping the last of her intentions a secret.

I want to crush them so much, she'd thought then, that they will never even think of touching my home again.

And so, the idea that she'd come up with had been as deadly as it was simple. She'd spared no effort with it—it had been the bloodiest, most visceral idea she'd ever come up with. She had never had any intentions to carry it out, but she understood now that it had been a way of venting—of having the dream that she could ever take revenge for everything.

She'd only spoken about it to two people. Kaito had never criticised her for it—even if her heart was serious, he knew that it was far too reckless of a plan for her to ever recommend it.

After all, a thing can be true and still be reckless folly.

Still… that other person…

Of course she would take a plan entirely intended for bloodshed and turn it into something more merciful instead. Still, there was something strange to it…

Nue exhaled slowly. The air was so smoky that she felt like she was going to start coughing at any moment.

She wasn't in the base right now. After her talk with Sora, she'd headed off to clear her mind—and then quickly realised that she couldn't do it, not inside the base. Not when she was persistently aware that there was always the chance that someone would walk in on her and she wouldn't be able to just let herself think. So she'd ended up finding her way to the exit—Miharu's little program was useful with pointing out the paths it could identify, at least, and her mind was good enough at remembering what paths she should be taking. (Thanks to Rui, who snuck down here so much, she knew way more about these ruins than she probably should.)

She knew that Yuto would probably be upset and worried sick later—but she just needed—

God. She just needed time, that was all.

… she wondered what the tower looked like now.

(If she couldn't bear sight to it, how could she take responsibility for what her thoughts had led to?)

She walked and walked—the AI would track the direction that she'd walked from, so she didn't have to worry about getting lost. It wasn't exactly the quietest of places, but she didn't want to go too far either.

They all knew what happened to people who went off on their own.

(A part of her still deeply regretted Tsukikage Fuuma's fate. But if Tatsuya had been there watching…)

(He'd have hurt anyone with her too. Especially a man.)

She sat there, eyes shut.

And then—

She heard footsteps, so deliberate and steady that the person had to be making themselves known to her on purpose. And to her ears, those footsteps were distinct enough.

"If you want to sit down, Rui," she said, leaning back, "be my guest."

"What if I'm here to card you?"

She rolled her eyes. "I know you're not."

"… man. So I'm not even a threat to you." There was some shuffling as Rui did indeed make himself at home next to her. "If you're so tired that your eyes are closed, maybe don't come out alone, lil miss prophet. You'll worry the rest."

… hmm.

"I suppose you all wouldn't know yet," Nue said. She opened her eyes, though of course, all that greeted her was the same darkness. "The spy didn't report back to you guys?"

There was a brief pause. Nue knew that Rui was analysing the situation—when he spoke again, it was with careful deliberation. "Your eyes are open," he said, "but even though you're looking at me, they're not focused on me. They're not focused on anything."

Another pause. When Nue felt a sharp burst of movement from next to her and heard the sound of a stone clattering against rubble, she figured that Rui had understood. He was one of the most clever people she knew, after all.

Rui exhaled heavily, clearly having grabbed the closest thing to him and thrown it.

"... he dies," he said, his tone still completely casual but the words sharp. "No matter who wins in the end, whether it's Academia or the Resistance."

"Rui—"

"That's what I want." She imagined him snarling—that rare expression of fury. "And what Rui Shingetsu wants, he always gets."

"... if only you'd say what you want," Nue returned. "But you're not good at that. You're not asking if I killed Ryoma?"

"That'd be a stupid question," Rui said.

Nue pursed her lips. Her hand found the bracelet he was wearing. As she'd suspected, it was locked on his wrist—she couldn't get it off. She heard Rui's breathing pause.

"This is it?" He asked.

"It is." Nue let go of his wrist. "... it looks like I can't help, though."

"... you're still trying to help me? I betrayed you, you know." She heard Rui kick his legs back up in the air as he sat down again. "No excuses, nothing."

"Not just me. The Resistance."

"You can't betray something that you had no loyalty towards." Rui laughed—that mean laugh of his, the one that sometimes made people cry. "They're yours. I get it. But in your terms, they're not mine. We just lived through the same thing. I don't give a shit about them, I just give a shit about you—that's why you're the only one I can say I betrayed!"

"... you know I don't agree with that," Nue said, "but you're free to think what you think."

"... you know what I mean when I say I betrayed you, don't you?"

Of course she did. Rui Shingetsu did not care about alliances or sides—he jumped between groups of friends and allies in the blink of an eye. To him, everything only existed in relation to him. He would act for people he liked, abstain otherwise, do things for fun—

To do anything else would be out of character.

So, 'betrayal' to him would never be used to refer to something big and important like that. It was the things that were deeply personal.

"Of course I know," Nue said.

You don't know what he did to me, but you can very well make a guess. It's obvious if anyone has the context for it, for the kind of person I am and the condition that makes me suffer.

In this world, only two people would have enough information to guess that on their own, without me telling them.

You've betrayed me because you're standing on Tatsuya's side, even being able to know what he's done to me. Because there's something more important to you… it must be family. It's always family. So you're stomaching being his ally.

Despite…

"I thought you would be angrier," Nue admitted. "About it."

She could picture the look on his face—a pause, the smile fading briefly, a wicked intensity. "I'm furious," he said. "I'd go back there and beat the shit out of him… if it wouldn't ruin everything."

Yeah. She knew. And she also knew that abuse was something that Rui Shingetsu took far more seriously than anyone else. She would hazard that outside of his family, and perhaps even comparably to them, she knew him best.

"I still think about my mother," Rui said darkly. "My poor mother. My asshole of a fucking sperm donor, who spent their entire marriage hitting her because he thought that she would never be able to escape. And she never was. She loved me so much that she stayed and stayed until he—" He cut himself off.

Nue reached out, carefully finding him, before pressing her hand carefully to his shoulder.

People thought that she and Rui Shingetsu had first met in Diamond Branch, but that wasn't true. They'd first met a year before, at a group therapy session. She'd only gone once at her parents' insistence, and it seemed that Rui's new foster family had done the same back then. She still remembered how dead inside he'd looked when he had spoken then. How he'd spat them out, as though getting them out faster would get people to stop paying attention to him.

"I have PTSD."

Nue hadn't thought much of it, but when she'd seen him at Diamond Branch on her first day at school, the two of them had stared at each other—fully aware that the other person knew something about them that they didn't want anyone to know. She'd approached him, offering an olive branch by greeting him and promising that she wouldn't talk about it. And… they'd gotten along like a house on fire. A few months later, she'd confessed her strange hallucinations to him (especially when they'd started getting worse because of Tatsuya) and after a few weeks, he'd reciprocated with his own.

"I see things too. And hear them. Everything happened… I was there because my dad killed my mum. Because she was trying to protect me. She did nothing wrong…! All she ever did was love me! All she did was stay for me, and she never got anything for it because I was too weak! When he came after me, leaving her upstairs… I shoved him down the stairs. But I still hear him. He doesn't go away."

"... it might take a while. But I think you're brave for surviving that."

"You don't think I'm a piece of shit for killing my own father? That's what I wanted to do, you know."

"... no. I don't think you're in the wrong at all."

"... pfft."

He'd smiled at her then—earnest.

"I guess not. You're not a soft person, Nue Kamisoka."

"... I won't forgive him either," Nue said, recalling her defiance at the top of that building. "I'll never forgive him."

I'm furious.

"You should fuck him over. And piss him off. And obviously, be with the person that makes you happy," Rui said. "I'm guessing that dimensional travel's been helpful for that?"

Nue definitely did not blush. "It has," she said. "... Rui. Since you're here, I'd like your help."

"Yeah?"

"I need to make my way to Clover Branch," she said. "But I can't do it like this." (It was getting easier to admit that, even if it still made her feel ashamed.)

"So you need a navigator, and you want a traitor to help you?" Rui said—before he laughed, a wild, amused, full-chested laugh. "You wouldn't treat the others like this, you know."

… of course not. She'd called Ryoma a traitor to his face. And… she'd probably be cold at best, towards the rest, even though they were still her people. But, when it came to Rui…

(She had too much of a soft spot for him.)

"Don't think you're that special to me," she said, though they both knew it was a lie. "You dirty traitor."

"... hah." Rui slowly moved, putting a hand on her shoulder and guiding her up. "Of course, trickster prince. Let's get going, shall we?"

Nue stopped dead in her tracks.

"Can't make jokes about your last name anymore, not with those eyes," Rui said—she could feel him shrug. "And you like that book, don't you? Come on."

Nue sighed—but she followed him anyway.

(Maybe it was a foolish kind of trust, but she believed in Rui Shingetsu. Maybe that was why he liked her so much too—having someone that believed in you could make all the difference.)

(She knew that much.)

---

Shun Kurosaki did not often find himself hesitating. Still, as he sat in the room that the Lancers had taken for their own, he was forced to properly think about certain things that he hadn't had to consider for a long time.

It spoke a lot about how self-absorbed he had been, he thought, that he just kept finding more and more things that he'd missed. Things that apparently mattered.

Maybe things would have worked out more easily if he hadn't been so absorbed in his own fucking misery. Maybe if he'd actually paid attention to anything that wasn't his own pride.

The bombs hadn't killed anyone. Sure.

But Shun would confess to himself that he didn't really care about Academia. Not about their people, not about their survival. Of course there were people like Sora and Serena, but there were also people who had continued fighting for Academia all this time and not seen a problem with it.

… to get them out of Heartland, Shun would quite frankly not have cared what means they had to employ. It was a part of himself that he could not deny. The part that longed to take revenge and see their enemies suffer.

… the part of him that still seethed, even now that he was a 'softer' person.

He walked through the corridors of the ruins, but despite his steady pace, thoughts were racing on the inside of his mind.

What are you waiting for? He chided himself. Do something instead of waiting for orders from Reiji Akaba or Tsubaki.

Weren't you once a leader in your own right?

… that was a lie. He knew that he had never been one. He'd been someone that all the kids looked up to—and he'd been happy to be that person, to have people want to be like him. But actually taking responsibility for anything? Shun had never really done that—he'd just gone along with his life, singlehandedly following his own goals. He wasn't Kaito or Nue or Tsubaki. He had never been a leader at all—and he'd been satisfied not being one.

In reality…

In reality, he had been fine with letting the responsibility fall on the shoulders of others, while he acted without caring about any other person's thoughts and feelings.

(No matter how harsh that was, it was also the truth. Kaito Tenjo had been right, as hard as that was to admit.)

He came to an abrupt stop, clenching his fist as he raised it to chest-level.

Back in the Synchro Dimension, he'd lost to Yuya Sakaki. It had been a strange match. Afterwards, when they'd casually dueled again before leaving the Synchro Dimension (it had been a small, on-the-table kind of match), he'd won again, just as easily as he'd lost before.

He was not weaker than Yuya Sakaki at all. As much as it sounded like an excuse, he'd simply lacked focus at the time.

And he'd still lacked focus when they came back here.

What kind of person do I want to be?

He pressed his fist against his chest tightly, before he kept walking.

… I just don't want to regret anything that I do in this war.

I need to start taking responsibility. I'm the only one that has never done that.

And the way to start is…

Shun walked into the room, and made direct eye contact with Kaede Higuchi. The dark-haired man was the only person in there—he was shuffling through some of the papers on the table when Shun came in. He immediately put the papers down, stepping away from the table.

"Where's Mariko?" Shun asked. This was 'Mariko's room', apparently—despite the fact that both Mariko and Kaede were technically experienced with technology (though Mariko to a far lower extent than Kaede, when it came to anything that wasn't weaponry.)

"Scouting out the ruins of the tower, so I've heard." Kaede seemed a little stiff as he spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"... I was looking for her." Shun turned to leave—

"Your sister asked me to help train her."

—he came to a stop.

Kaede was watching him—his tone was cautious as he continued talking. "Do you want to come along?"

… well.

He could take a single moment to watch Ruri before he continued with what he was planning on doing.

---

… Shun didn't recognise the look on Ruri's face. There was an uncharacteristic bitterness to it—and yet, determination. He approached her, putting a hand on her shoulder. When she turned to look at him, there was… guilt in her eyes?

"You could've asked me to train you," he said.

"... I know, big brother," Ruri said. "But the opponent I need to beat is nothing like you."

The opponent she needed to beat? That had to be…

"Izumi-san fights by stunning and wearing down her opponent. I… need to learn how to deal with that." Ruri turned to Kaede. "That's why I'm doing this. I need to get used to fighting someone like that on my own. Even in Synchro, the one who actually did the most, who actually landed the final blow was Yuto. I struggled against Otobashi-san."

She clenched her fists.

"... I want to do better. So I need to learn how to play against trickier opponents. Like Nue… but she's got her own battles to deal with, right? So I thought this was the best way."

"Well, I'm not going to stop you." Shun sat nearby, ready to watch.

… after this, he promised himself. After this, he would go to do what he needed to do.

But nothing was stopping him from just supporting his sister now.

(Very few things had ever stopped him from supporting Ruri Kurosaki.)

Kaede cleared his throat. "Alright then," he said. "... I get what it feels like to want to be stronger because you've failed. I don't mind helping you—I have a bit of time anyway." He raised his duel disk.

… weirdly enough, Kaede Higuchi was someone that Shun would generally trust to be around his sister. Firstly, Kaede was just a pretty chill person in terms of attitude, all things considered. Secondly, well… Kaede was hardly interested in people of the opposite gender, meaning that he was automatically easier to trust than any other boy their age. Thirdly, Kaede was also sappily in a relationship with someone else (though Shun had already picked up on the fact that Kaede's partner had been carded in the time they'd been away.)

Maybe that was why he didn't feel the need to intervene here.

Ruri could decide how she wanted to improve by herself.

[DUEL!]

Kaede Higuchi: 4000LP

Ruri Kurosaki: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Kaede] [H:5]

"Can you take the first turn, Higuchi-san?" Ruri asked. "I want to learn to deal with that."

"... sure. You know that people usually want the first turn against me, right?"

"... but I can't always count on getting what I want."

"Sure." Both of them picked up their starting hands. "Spell Card, Terraforming. I'll add Evo-Selection to my hand and activate it." The DNA-like spirals of his Field Spell emerged all around them. "Spell Card, One for One. I'll send a monster from my hand to the graveyard to Special Summon a Level 1 monster from my deck. Come! Evoltile Megachirella!"

A large, strange red lizard creature appeared on the field—there were patches on its body that were bright orange and pink as well, almost as though it was mutating in some way. Its mouth was wide open, with long curved teeth visible from within. Its ears were long and thin, extending outwards—they resembled bat wings. A long orange tail whipped through the air, green stripes across it.

[Evoltile Megachirella (1*/0/0/FIRE/Reptile/Effect)]

"My Field Spell's effect—I can activate it twice per turn. I'll add a Reptile or Dinosaur monster from my deck to my hand." Kaede picked up the card. "I'll Normal Summon Evoltile Najasho." A grey serpent-like monster emerged on the field, letting out a loud hiss.

[Evoltile Najasho (2*/100/2000/FIRE/Reptile/Effect)]

"Megachirella's effect. I'll discard a card and tribute Najasho to Special Summon a Level 6 or lower FIRE Dinosaur monster from my deck! Come—Evolsaur Vulcano!" A blue dinosaur with tiny wings emerged on the field, letting out a loud growl.

[Evolsaur Vulcano (4*/1200/1000/FIRE/Dinosaur/Effect)]

"I'll trigger three effects. First, Vulcano's effect. Since he was summoned with an "Evoltile" monster's effect, I'll Special Summon a "Evolsaur" monster from my graveyard, but that monster cannot attack this turn. Return! Evolsaur Lios!" A bright blue winged dragon appeared, bright red frills around its neck as it let out a shriek.

[Evolsaur Lios (4*/1600/400/FIRE/Dinosaur/Effect)]

"Then, Najasho's effect activates since it was tributed. I'll Special Summon another "Evolsaur" monster from my deck—come, Evolsaur Cerato!" A bright yellow dinosaur with rocky spikes on its back appeared on the field as well.

[Evolsaur Cerato (4*/1900/1400/FIRE/Dinosaur/Effect)]

"Three monsters in a single move…" Ruri muttered.

"My Field Spell's effect. I'll add another Reptile or Dinosaur monster from my deck to my hand."

He was out of uses for that though—Shun remembered that much.

"Lios's effect then triggers in a new chain," Kaede continued. "I'll set the Trap Card, Evo-Singularity from my deck." A single card appeared on the field in front of him as well. "... now, I'll activate Lios's other effect. I'll send the Level 6 Evolsaur Elias from my deck to the graveyard—and both Megachirella and Lios himself become Level 6 Dinosaurs."

[Evoltile Megachirella: 1* → 6*]

[Evolsaur Lios: 1* → 6*]

"I'll overlay the Level 6 Evoltile Megachirella and the Level 6 Evolsaur Lios!" The two monsters turned into red streaks, floating into the ground. "Dark creature arising from the depths of the ocean, let your unkillable wrath burn through even the most suffocating air! Xyz Summon! Rank 6! Evolzar Lars!"

… huh. So he wasn't holding back at the start, huh? Shun watched as Kaede's ace landed on the field. Its large, dark draconian body was lifted in the air by its majestic wings.

[Evolzar Lars (R6/2500/1500/FIRE/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"You said that you wanted to deal with this kind of strategy, didn't you?" Kaede said. "I figured I'd present you with a complicated scenario to navigate—that way, you'll be more used to thinking about these things. I'll overlay the Level 4 Evolsaur Cerato and the Level 4 Evolsaur Vulcano!" Another portal emerged at his feet. "Which one will be harder for you to deal with… got it. Flames that burn brightly, overflow and fly down like meteors! Xyz Summon! Rank 4, Evolzar Dolkka!" The bone white dragon appeared to the left of Lars, flames floating around it as it roared.

[Evolzar Dolkka (R4/2300/1700/FIRE/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"I'll set one more card facedown and end my turn. My Field Spell's effect triggers—I'll excavate the top two cards of my deck." He revealed them. "Since one of them is a monster, I'll send it to the graveyard, while the other is put on the bottom of the deck. Then, I'll attach a monster from the graveyard to one of my monsters as material—I'll give one more material to Lars."

[Evolzar Lars:OU:2 - 1 = OU:3]

This left Kaede with three cards in hand. "Your turn, Ruri. Break my field."

[Turn 2: Ruri] [H:6]

"Draw!" Ruri glanced through her hand. "Spell Card, Swallow's Cowrie! I'll tribute Lyrical Luscinia - Cobalt Sparrow in my hand to add another Level 1 Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand! Then, I'll activate the Spell Card, Lyrical Luscinia - Bird Call. I'll add another "Lyrical Luscinia" monster from my deck to my hand—and then, I'll Special Summon another "Lyrical Luscinia" monster from my hand! Come—Lyrical Luscinia - Turquoise Warbler!" The green bird appeared on the field.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Turquoise Warbler (1*/100/100/WIND/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Turquoise Warbler's effect. Come from my graveyard - Lyrical Luscinia - Cobalt Sparrow!" The brown bird landed on the field next to her monster.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Cobalt Sparrow (1*/0/100/WIND/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"I'll use Cobalt Sparrow's effect! I'll add a Level 1 Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand!" Ruri stared forward determinedly. "Do you respond?"

"... and waste Dolkka on your monster?" Kaede shrugged. "I'll adapt. Keep going."

"... Spell Card, Wing Requital! I'll pay 600 life points to draw two cards, since I control two Winged Beast monsters with the same Level!"

Ruri: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP

"Then, I'll overlay the Level 1 Lyrical Luscinia - Cobalt Sparrow and the Level 1 Lyrical Luscinia - Turquoise Warbler! Now, beautiful bird with the power of the whirlwind, use your magic gusts to destroy every trap laid on the battlefield! Xyz Summon! Rank 1! Lyrical Luscinia - Prom Thrush!" The bird woman with black, purple and brown wings appeared, sweeping her feathers through the air.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Prom Thrush (R1/0/0/WIND/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Prom Thrush's effect! I'll detach an Overlay Unit and shuffle your left set card into the deck!"

[Lyrical Luscinia - Prom Thrush: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"... that one, I won't give to you. Evolzar Dolkka's effect! I'll detach an Overlay Unit from him to negate your effect and destroy your monster!"

Ruri shielded herself as her monster shattered under the dragon's ferocious claws.

[Evolzar Dolkka: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"I'll activate the effect of Lyrical Luscinia - Beryl Canary!" She called out. "I'll Special Summon her from my hand and Special Summon Cobalt Sparrow from my graveyard!"

"… chaining the Trap Card, Evo-Singularity." Kaede flipped up the card that she had targeted with Prom Thrush's effect earlier. "I'll take a "Evolsaur" and "Evoltile" monster from my graveyard. That'll be Najasho and Cerato."

He must have detached Cerato for Dolkka's effect… in other words, he didn't have an Evolsaur in the graveyard for Evo-Singularity's effect before this.

He'd been willing to wait for that…?

"Half-bird king of the earth, let your unkillable spirit burn away all that opposes you! Rank 4–Evolzar Laggia!" The bright blue dragon landed on the field, flames floating around it as it roared.

[Evolzar Laggia (R4/2400/2000/FIRE/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"My Field Spell will let me add another Reptile or Dinosaur monster from my deck to my hand."

Shun narrowed his eyes. With Laggia on the field, Ruri now had even more to deal with—her Spells, Traps and summons were all being policed even more.

Still, Laggia only had one use. If she could taunt it out…

"… Beryl Canary's effect resolves!" The yellow bird appeared on the field, along with Cobalt Sparrow.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Beryl Canary (1*/0/200/WIND/Winged Beast/Effect)]

Ruri took a deep breath—and then, she gestured forward. "I'll overlay the Level 1 Lyrical Luscinia - Beryl Canary and the Level 1 Lyrical Luscinia - Cobalt Sparrow! Beautiful streamers fly through the streets. Fireworks fly in the beautiful night sky! Elusive dancing bird, let your feathers of shadow shroud this battlefield! Xyz Summon! Rank 1! Lyrical Luscinia - Parade Silktail!" The beautiful, hooded dark woman appeared, thin mist and colourful streamers floating around her.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Parade Silktail (R1/0/0/WIND/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

Oh. That was her plan?

Shun saw Kaede frown. Most members of the Resistance would have no clue about this card, since Ruri had gotten it from Academia. That included Kaede. And Shun knew what Ruri was planning. As long as Kaede didn't negate Parade Silktail's summon, Ruri stood a very good chance at winning.

And well—

This relied on the knowledge of her opponent.

And all of Heartland knew how invincible Assembly Nightingale was when it landed on the field. Not even Kaede's Evolzar Lars could touch it if Cobalt Sparrow was used for its summon.

"… go on," Kaede finally said—saving Laggia's effect for Assembly Nightingale, as expected. "What does this one do?"

Ruri visibly sighed in relief. "Parade Silktail's effect!" She declared. "By detaching two of her Overlay Units, I'll negate the effects of all Level 2, Rank 2 and Link 2 or higher Special Summoned monsters you control! Silksong Reverie!"

"... I'm not sure what you're expecting to happen here," Kaede replied. He reached forward—

"If Parade Silktail is the only monster I control," Ruri said with a smile, "you cannot respond to her effect!"

Kaede blinked. Parade Silktail flew up in the air—her feathers landed around the three dragons in a dark circle, pinning them all down.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Parade Silktail: OU:2 - 2 = OU:0]

Shun nodded. Now, she could move freely… Kaede's main way of negating her effects came from his monsters, after all.

If she could get out an Assembly Nightingale with five materials right now, she had a chance of taking Kaede out in a single turn. But she'd already used Turquoise Warbler and Beryl Canary's effects… she had five cards in her hand, but would she be able to follow through and swarm with five monsters in a single turn? Otherwise, Kaede would get his monsters' effects back and nothing would have changed about the situation.

… what was he thinking about? This was his sister. Ruri Kurosaki, one of the most straightforward duelists he'd ever met.

One turn of damage was all she needed.

"Since I control only Winged Beast monsters, I can Special Summon Lyrical Luscinia - Ruby Raven from my hand!" The girl with bright red wings appeared on the field, a stern expression on her face.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Ruby Raven (1*/0/0/WIND/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Ruby Raven's effect!" She revealed a card in her hand. "I'll send Lyrical Luscinia - Celeste Wagtail from my hand to the graveyard to draw a card!"

Celeste Wagtail in the graveyard? Then she only needed to use four monsters as material now…

"Spell Card, Lyrical Luscinia - Bird Switch!" Ruri declared. "I'll return Parade Silktail to the Extra Deck—and add Cobalt Sparrow from my graveyard to my hand!" She revealed another card in her hand—she must have searched it out earlier with Cobalt Sparrow. "Lyrical Luscinia - Sapphire Swallow's effect! I'll Special Summon her and another Level 1 Winged Beast monster from my hand!"

Sapphire Swallow appeared on the field—along with Cobalt Sparrow, for a third time.

"I'll overlay the Level 1 Lyrical Luscinia - Sapphire Swallow, Lyrical Luscinia - Ruby Raven and Lyrical Luscinia - Cobalt Sparrow!" The three monsters turned into streaks, flying into a portal for the third time this turn. "Birds with beautiful wings! Gather on the battlefield and take brilliant flight! Xyz Summon! Dance in the sky! Rank 1! Lyrical Luscinia - Assembly Nightingale!"

Assembly Nightingale took the field, stunningly graceful as always.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Assembly Nightingale (R1/0/0/WIND/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

"Sapphire Swallow's effect! I'll attach Prom Thrush from my graveyard to Assembly Nightingale—"

"That's your way of getting five Overlay Units?" Kaede interrupted. "... sorry, but you're coming up short this time. Trap Card, Big Burn!" The other card flipped over. "When my opponent targets a monster in the graveyard with an effect—I can banish all monsters from our graveyards!"

"What?" Ruri exclaimed. "Then, my Celeste Wagtail will also…"

"My monsters are safely kept as material," Kaede said. "This, however, will cut you off!"

Flames surged across the field. Ruri reluctantly watched her monsters fade away—it meant that she couldn't use either Celeste Wagtail's effect or Sapphire Swallow's effect. So Assembly Nightingale was stuck at three Overlay Units. It still gained 200 attack points per Overlay Unit… but it simply wasn't enough.

[Lyrical Luscinia - Assembly Nightingale: 0 + 200 x 3 = 600ATK]

Ruri looked at the field. She took a deep breath. "Four thousand divided by three… is one thousand three hundred."

"You've exhausted most of your Special Summoning options," Kaede said. "You'd need a Recite Starling… but can you get one out?"

Ruri bit her lip. "I'll set a card facedown," she said. "Assembly Nightingale attacks you directly! Avian Gale!"

"Let's save time," Kaede said briskly. "If that's all you have for me, I'll take all three."

Ruri nodded—three gusts of wind hit Kaede at the same time.

Kaede: 4000 - 600 x 3 = 2200LP

"I didn't know you ran that card," Shun commented.

"... people have too many ways to retrieve their monsters from the graveyard now," Kaede commented. "I've seen how effective Mariko's graveyard locks are—I figured I'd include one of my own."

"I'll end my turn," Ruri said—she looked nervous, but she was clearly still determined to push through with it.

Still…

It meant that Laggia, Dolkka and Lars were all back to normal.

[Turn 3: Kaede] [H:5]

"Draw!" Kaede revealed a card in his hand. "Spell Card, Evo-Diversity. I can add an "Evolsaur" or "Evoltile" monster from my deck to my hand. Then, I'll Normal Summon Evoltile Pholis!" The green and red lizard appeared on the field, letting out a hiss.

[Evoltile Pholis (2*/900/300/FIRE/Reptile/Effect)]

"Pholis's effect. I'll Special Summon Evoltile Elginero from my deck in facedown Defense Position." A single set card took on the fourth of his Main Monster Zones. "I'll then use Pholis's other effect to set the Spell Card, Evo-Force to my field—and activate it right away!" He raised his hand—palm up, fingers spread. "By tributing Elginero, I'll Special Summon an "Evolsaur" monster from my deck! Once more—for a repeat performance, Evolsaur Lios!"

Another copy of the blue dinosaur reappeared on his field.

"With Lios's effect, I'll set another Evo-Singularity from my deck." Kaede revealed the card, placing it facedown on the field. "Then, Elginero's effect and my Field Spell's effect resolve! My Field Spell will let me search out another card—and Elginero will let me draw a card, shuffle a Dinosaur monster from my hand into the deck and add another "Evoltile" monster from my deck to my hand!"

"Two monsters on the field again," Ruri muttered.

"I would make it three and bring out my Number, but you're a bad matchup for it," Kaede said. "... Assembly Nightingale will always be troublesome, but with all three of my monsters on the field, it's fully tied down. I'm finishing you off this turn. Do you disagree?"

"... I don't," Ruri said. "But I still want to play it out to the end."

"Sure." Kaede gestured forward. "Lios's effect. I'll send the Level 6 Xeno Meteorus from my deck to the graveyard. Lios and Pholis copy its Level and Type!"

[Evoltile Pholis: 2* → 6*]

[Evolsaur Lios: 4* → 6*]

"I'll overlay the Level 6 Evoltile Pholis and the Level 6 Evolsaur Lios! Skeletal devil dictator, descend on my field now. With your body that glows with imperial light, crush all opposition! Xyz Summon! Rank 6! Evolzar Solda!" The last of Kaede's archetypal monsters appeared on the field.

[Evolzar Solda (R6/2600/1000/FIRE/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Now you're completely trapped," Kaede said. "You can't Special Summon any monsters to shield yourself while Solda is on the field. You can't activate any Spells or Traps while Laggia is there to stop you. You can't use any hand traps or monster effects while Dolkka is there. And as always, there is Lars." He gestured forward. "Solda!"

Ruri did not activate Assembly Nightingale's effect—it was obvious that there was no point, with how unbearable Kaede's field had become. Solda swept in, and Lars moved in right after.

Ruri: 3400 - 2000 - 2500 = 0LP

Winner: Kaede Higuchi!

Shun was about to step in and say something encouraging—and then, he saw Ruri take a quick breath.

"Can we try again?" She asked. "I'll try something different this time…" He saw her clench onto Parade Silktail's card—she was probably thinking about how best to use it next time…

Kaede nodded and raised his duel disk again.

Shun stood up.

She doesn't need me anymore, he reflected. She's perfectly capable of growing on her own. She's learning, she's choosing to figure things out for herself…

He couldn't help but smile.

If his younger sister could do that, if she could reflect on herself and be patient and be unashamed about the mistakes she'd made, willing to learn from them and fix them to become stronger…

How could he do any less?

As they started the duel, he walked out of the room.

She'll be just fine.

I have something else I need to do.

---

… they could never really get anywhere without getting in fights, huh? She and Rui had been doing just fine, but as they'd crossed a more open area towards Clover Branch, a group of Academia students had approached them. (At least, Nue assumed so, considering that she heard them furiously shouting about members of the Resistance.)

"Is this going to be a problem for you?" She asked.

"Not if we don't lose," Rui said, sounding remarkably blase about the situation. "I trust you haven't gotten rusty, Nue?"

"... the fact that you even have to ask is insulting." Nue raised her duel disk. The wired earpiece was already connected to it—she slipped it in her ear, to use the program that Miharu had made. Then, she put her cane on the ground carefully, keeping its position in mind. "Let's go."

[DUEL!]

Rui Shingetsu: 4000LP

Nue Kamisoka: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Red: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Green: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Yellow: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Obelisk Force Red] [H:5]

The turn order was randomly assigned, and one of their opponents got the first turn—then it would be Nue, another one of them, Rui and the third, in that exact order.

"I'll start!" The Academia student shouted—they sounded like a girl. "I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Antique Gear Advance! With its effect, I'll add an "Antique Gear" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand! I'll add the Spell Card, Antique Gear Catapult to my hand!"

Hmm. That was not Normal Summoning Antique Gear Hound Dog—it looked like this duel was actually slightly different from the others.

"I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Antique Gear Fortress! And then, I'll activate the Spell Card, Antique Gear Catapult! I'll destroy Fortress to Special Summon an "Antique Gear" monster from my deck, ignoring summoning conditions! Come! Antique Gear Search Dog!"

"Search Dog?" Nue muttered.

"Same dog as their usual ones, just has a set of goggles at the front of its face," Rui said. He snorted. "That's a lot of effort to bring out one dog."

[Antique Gear Search Dog (3*/1000/500/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"Antique Gear Search Dog's effect! I'll Special Summon Antique Gear Hound Dog from my deck with its effects negated!"

Nue snorted. Yeah. That figured. She could picture that monster easily enough.

[Antique Gear Hound Dog (3*/1000/1000/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"Search Dog is treated as Hound Dog while it's face-up on the field! I'll activate the Spell Card, Polymerization! I'll fuse Antique Gear Hound Dog and Antique Gear Search Dog! Come! Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog!" Miharu's program read out the monster's stats to her, though to be honest, it was very unnecessary.

[Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog (5*/1400/1000/EARTH/Machine/Fusion/Effect)]

"Activating the effect of Antique Gear Advance! I'll tribute Double Bite Hound Dog to draw a card!" The girl declared. Huh. That was new. "I can Tribute Summon any monster that mentions Antique Gear Golem this turn without a tribute!"

"Antique Gear Golem?"

"Yeah, I know," Rui said, sounding like he was going to laugh. "You'd think these guys would play an easily summonable monster with 3000 attack points, which apparently has support, instead of dogs. But it's not like they have any braincells anyway."

"You—"

"Got a problem?" Rui shot back at the offended-sounding boy—another member of the Obelisk Force, by the sound of it. "Man, you all are so predictable you make me want to puke. Get me a bag, why don't cha?"

"You can't just—"

The girl interrupted her comrade, clearly just wanting to get the duel over with—that much, Nue could respect. "Come! Antique Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound!"

That one… probably just looked like Antique Gear Golem, that rusty, enormous green and grey golem. Fair enough.

[Antique Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound (8*/3000/3000/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"I'll activate the Spell Card, Antique Gear Double Imitate! I'll Special Summon Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog and Antique Gear Hound Dog from my graveyard with their effects negated!" The Obelisk Force member declared. "And I'll activate Antique Gear Fusion! I'll fuse Ultimate Pound on my field, treated as Antique Gear Golem, with Antique Gear Golem and Antique Gear Wyvern in my deck!"

Three monsters? Then, it had to be…

"Appear now, automaton of destructive agony! Fusion Summon! Antique Gear Megaton Golem!"

… right. That large silver abomination of a golem.

[Antique Gear Megaton Golem (9*/3300/3300/EARTH/Machine/Fusion/Effect)]

"I'll end my turn there!"

Two defensive walls and a Fusion Monster that could attack twice, and could float into another Fusion Monster…

… this might be the most competent that an Obelisk Force member had ever been. And they'd gone first too, meaning that Nue couldn't get rid of them in her usual ways…

Still, that wouldn't stop her.

[Turn 2: Nue] [H:5]

… Megaton Golem essentially had to be destroyed twice, since it floated into a stronger monster. Still…

"You think you can handle it once?" Nue asked, turning her head. (It was a habit.) "I'll take the second."

"Sure," Rui said easily. "I might even be able to do it twice, we'll see." Nue nodded—despite his flippant tone, his response was honest.

In that case, Nue's turn was a lot simpler—she just had to completely ignore the person that had just taken their turn. No set cards meant that it was highly unlikely that their opponent had any way of interfering with her turn, and they'd been playing against the Obelisk Force long enough to know that there was nothing in the graveyard that could help them.

If Rui could deal with that board, then that board didn't exist.

In other words—Nue just had to play as though she was playing the first turn.

Easy enough.

"I'll activate the Field Spell, Traptrip Garden!" She could feel the breeze in her hair as the hologram formed. "I'll Normal Summon Traptrix Myrmeleo!" She placed down the card of the girl with white-grey hair—she could hear the sound of fangs and horns slashing through the air.

[Traptrix Myrmeleo (4*/1600/1200/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

(Nue wasn't actively trying to imagine what the cards looked like—but she remembered all of them. It was easier to try and identify those traits anyway—to describe them in her head, so that she could locate herself in the world.)

"Myrmeleo's effect! I'll add a "Hole" Normal Trap from my deck to my hand!" She swiped up another card. "Open, circuit of the entrapping flowers!" The circuit of bright flowers and leaves emerged above her, caught in the wind. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are a "Traptrix" monster that isn't a Link Monster. I'll set Myrmeleo in the Link Markers! Now, cute girl in the beautiful meadow! Rise up with the sunshine over your hair and trap the world in your shadow! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Traptrix Sera!" Her first Link Monster emerged on the field—the girl with a cheerful smile and bright green hair.

[Traptrix Sera (L1/800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

"So you've got Link Summoning too," Rui commented from next to her. Nue turned towards him, raising an eyebrow.

"Is that a problem? My brother told me that you have it too."

"Each of us has one," Rui said. "Alright. Let's see what yours can do."

"... I'm not performing for your eyes. With Traptrip Garden's effect, I can Normal Summon another "Traptrix" monster from my hand. I'll Normal Summon Traptrix Nepenthes!" The girl with colourful yellow and orange hair emerged, white flowers in her hair as she adjusted her fluffy white dress.

[Traptrix Nepenthes (4*/800/2000/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"Since I control a "Traptrix" monster, I'll Special Summon Traptrix Arachnocampa from my hand!" The girl with dewey white-green hair appeared on the field.

[Traptrix Arachnocampa (4*/1300/1500/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

Nue raised her left hand, gesturing forward sharply.

"I just activated a "Traptrix" monster's effect—so I can activate the effect of Traptrix Sera. I'll set a "Hole" Normal Trap from my deck. Then, by discarding a card, I can activate this Trap Card on the turn it was set. Trap Card—Traptrix Holeutea. I can Special Summon her as a monster!" The brunette girl nesting underneath leaves emerged on the field too.

[Traptrix Holeutea (4*/400/2400/EARTH/Plant)]

"And Sera's other effect activates. Since I activated a Normal Trap Card, I can Special Summon another "Traptrix" monster from my deck. Nepenthes's effect activates too—the exact same effect."

"So you get two free monsters?" One of the Obelisk Force members exclaimed.

"I wouldn't call it free," Nue said. Still, he was probably right—that would bring her field to six monsters once these two effects resolved. "Nepenthes's effect. Come—Traptrix Sundew!" The yellow and green girl appears on the field too.

[Traptrix Sundew (4*/1000/1800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"And Sera's effect." She pulled out another card from her deck, smoothing her fingers over the sticker on it to check. "Traptrix Genlisea!" She imagined the girl with white hair in braids landing on the field, taking up the final Main Monster Zone.

[Traptrix Genlisea (4*/1200/1600/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"Traptrix Sundew's effect. I'll add another "Traptrix" monster from my deck to my hand."

Okay, she had plenty of monsters to work with now. So…

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Sundew and the Level 4 Traptrix Arachnocampa!" Nue gestured forward.

I'm Nue Kamisoka. These are the exact same opponents that I've been fighting for a year now. There is no reason for me to be intimidated, there is no reason for me to think that I can't do it—no matter what I feel, no matter what I am now incapable of doing… I can still think. That's all I need.

I'm fine.

"Beautiful worker that assists the alluring forest of the tricksters, arise now and revive the darkness that dwells in the forest! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Traptrix Allomerus!" Nue summoned the red-haired girl that was dressed in black, placing her in the zone all the way to the left side of the field.

[Traptrix Allomerus (R4/2200/600/EARTH/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Traptrix Allomerus's effect. By detaching both of her Overlay Units, I'll Special Summon a "Traptrix" monster from my graveyard. Come back, Traptrix Arachnocampa!"

[Traptrix Allomerus: OU:2 - 2 = OU:0]

She was back to six monsters on the field again. "I'll then overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Holeutea and the Level 4 Traptrix Arachnocampa!" She placed this one in the middle Main Monster Zone.

… she really would have to thank a lot of people later, even if it was embarrassing.

She had been hurt, but plenty of people had tried to help her. Hitoda was the reason that she could even duel at all, Miharu was the reason she could navigate properly, Shun had never left her side while she was picking herself back up and her brother was the one that had given her the courage to finally start to confess the things that had been hurting her all this time. And there were more people than that…

Alone, she could never have done this.

… it was horrible to be alone.

"Graceful flower, set into bloom. Leaves, unfurl and unravel this field. Never lose control of the world. Xyz Summon! Rank 4—Traptrix Pinguicula!" She placed this monster in her middle Main Monster Zone—and then, she felt a strange pressure on her ear, like a piece of fabric sliding across it.

… oh.

It was one of Pinguicula's butterflies, huh?

The pressure faded a moment later—the butterfly must have flown away.

[Traptrix Pinguicula (R4/2500/300/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Pinguicula's effect. I'll detach Arachnocampa to add a "Traptrix" monster from my deck to my hand." Nue picked up the card.

[Traptrix Pinguicula: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

Alright. Two more monsters. Atypus couldn't really do anything on the opponent's turn, so the answer was obvious.

"Battle Phase," she said.

"You're going to attack us before we even take our turn?" One of them exclaimed.

"... we've crossed that bridge a long time back," Nue said with a snort. "Or were you not intending to go straight for Rui the moment that you could?" Their silence was telling. "Allomerus, Genlisea and Sera attack you directly." The three monsters struck down the first opponent immediately.

Obelisk Force Green: 4000 - 2200 - 800 - 1200 = 0LP

"Pinguicula attacks you directly." From the lack of response… well, Nue guessed that they just had no way to stop her.

Obelisk Force Yellow: 4000 - 2500 = 1500LP

"Main Phase 2. I'll tribute Genlisea for her own effect," Nue declared. "I'll set Treacherous Trap Hole from my graveyard to my field and Bottomless Trap Hole from my deck." Two set cards emerged in her backrow. "I'll set one more card from my hand and end my turn."

Next to her, Rui chuckled—she could hear the smirk in his voice. "I'm in safe hands, huh?" He remarked. "As if boring pigs like them could get past three set cards from Nue Kamisoka."

Nue didn't even comment on it. They both knew he was right.

[Turn 3: Obelisk Force Yellow] [H:5]

"I—I'll Normal Summon Antique Gear Frame!"

… Nue didn't know what this one looked like. Nor did it seem appropriate to ask in the middle of a duel. (She'd find out later that she wasn't missing out on much—it was a skeletal frame made of grey metal, with some dull red parts that formed joints between those skeletal limbs. Literally the most generic design when a person thought of a rusty automaton.)

[Antique Gear Frame (4*/1600/500/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"I'll—"

"Whatever you wanted to do can wait," Nue said cuttingly. "Trap Card, Bottomless Trap Hole. I'll destroy and banish your monster!" Judging from the cry that her opponent let out, it was safe to say that she'd succeeded. "Sera and Nepenthes's effects activate again."

Meaning that she was about to go from four to six monsters again.

"Come—Traptrix Atrax! Traptrix Mantis!" She placed the two monsters on the field, only for Rui to let out a sharp 'tsk'.

"You got it wrong," he informed her.

"... ah." She must have misread one of the stickers on the card sleeves—it was honestly a miracle that she hadn't done so until now. "Tell me that I didn't bring out Vesiculo."

"Vesiculo and Atrax," Rui said.

Nue sighed. Well, it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened… the purple-haired spider girl appeared on the field, letting out a cackle. Meanwhile, next to her, the tranquil dark-haired girl surrounded by leaves emerged as well.

[Traptrix Vesiculo (4*/1400/1400/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

[Traptrix Atrax (4*/1800/1000/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

The Bottomless Trap Hole was then banished from the field with Genlisea's effect.

"... Antique Gear Frame's effect. I'll Special Summon two Antique Gear Golems from my hand, ignoring summoning conditions!"

… huh.

Two shockwaves hit the field. Nue guessed that it was probably from two large golems stomping on the field. Huh. Pretty good.

[Antique Gear Golem (8*/3000/3000/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"I'll activate the Spell Card, Antique Gear Fusion!"

… hmm.

"Trap Card, Treacherous Trap Hole!" Nue flipped up the other card. "I'll destroy both of your golems!" She heard two large explosions from nearby. "And if you don't control Antique Gear Golem, your Fusion Spell can't use monsters from your deck as material. If I counted your cards right, you've Normal Summoned Frame and Special Summoned two monsters from your hand—meaning that with this card's activation, you only have one card in your hand. You can't perform a Fusion Summon with one card—so your card resolves with no effect!"

She heard the telltale sound of a card shattering. Treacherous Trap Hole was of course banished, but it'd more than done its job.

"... I'll activate the Spell Card, Antique Gear Scrap Fusion! I'll banish "Antique Gear" monsters from any of our graveyards to Fusion Summon! I'll banish Antique Gear Golem and Antique Gear Frame from my graveyard, along with Antique Gear Hound Dog from my comrade's graveyard!"

… huh.

"Fusion Summon! Crush 'em! Antique Gear Ultimate Golem!" An even larger version of the golem appeared, black wires emerging from around it. Electric sparks danced around its rust-covered body.

[Antique Gear Ultimate Golem (10*/4400/3400/EARTH/Machine/Fusion/Effect)]

"... why?" Nue murmured.

"Huh?"

"Traptrix Atrax's effect. I can activate my "Hole" Traps from my hand." She placed down one of the cards in her hand. "Deep Dark Trap Hole. I'll banish your monster." A large black hole appeared beneath Ultimate Golem, sucking it in. "I'll then use Traptrix Pinguicula's effect. I'll attach your monster to her as material."

[Traptrix Pinguicula: OU:1 - 1 = OU:2]

"Sera's effect. I'll set Gravedigger's Trap Hole from my deck!"

She didn't say what she was thinking, but she could think of three better moves from her limited knowledge of her opponent's deck. Megaton Golem would have floated into Ultimate Golem by itself, forcing her to use up another card to remove it from the field. Antique Gear Devil was unaffected by card effects, and also floated into another monster—it was probably the best option against her, since her cards didn't negate the summon of the monster that they were destroying. And well… Antique Gear Chaos Giant was unaffected by Spell and Trap effects.

Ultimate Golem did float, but all Nue had to do was not destroy it.

… whatever. Maybe this person just didn't have Megaton Golem?

"I'll end my turn," their opponent said reluctantly, having used up every card in their hand and having nothing to show for it.

Rui laughed mockingly. "None of you can do anything. How does it feel, huh? That's our ace for you! But I said I'd help to cut you down, so—Vector's about to cut off your direction and magnitude!"

[Turn 4: Rui] [H:5]

"Which deck is it today?" Nue said, trying her best to forget that awful pun. However, the question was met with silence—when Rui replied, there was a certain tension to it.

"Didn't your brother tell you what I'm playing?" He said.

"You swap often, don't you?"

"... the Gagagas were Yuma's favourite," Rui said.

Yuma…?

… of course.

Of course it all came back to Rui's enthusiastic, supportive younger foster brother—who had disappeared after the invasion. It didn't take a genius to guess what had happened to that boy—Nue's heart had ached for him then, and she had seen the smile on Rui's face transform to something more vicious and serious.

"I'll dirty my fucking self, but I'll keep him out of it," Rui said viciously. "Not him—not my dead brother."

"... I get it," Nue said. "... but then…"

"... I have a few new tricks with my own cards," he said. "I'll show you then. Spell Card, Instant Fusion! I'll pay 1000 life points to Special Summon a Level 5 or lower Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, but it can't attack and it's destroyed during the End Phase!"

Fusion Monster…

"Oh, Rui," Nue murmured.

Rui: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP

"Spirit corrupted by the abandonment of man! Emerge! Umbral Horror Stein!" Nue couldn't see the card… which was something that she was glad for. She didn't want to know what Rui's Fusion Monster looked like.

[Umbral Horror Stein (4*/0/1800/DARK/Fiend/Fusion/Effect)]

"When Stein is summoned, I can discard a card to Special Summon two "Umbral Horror" monsters from my deck!" Rui sounded deadly serious. "Come! Umbral Horror Ghoul! Umbral Horror Unform!"

So he could just swarm out two monsters for almost no cost? Nue almost snorted at the thought—it was the same thing that their opponents had said about her earlier.

[Umbral Horror Ghoul (4*/1800/0/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]

[Umbral Horror Unform (4*/0/0/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]

"Then I have to take damage equal to their total attack points."

Rui: 3000 - 1800 = 1200LP

"I'll activate Ghoul's effect! I'll make its attack points 0 and Special Summon a "Umbral Horror" monster with 0 attack points from my hand! Come! Umbral Horror Will o' the Wisp!"

[Umbral Horror Ghoul: 1800 → 0ATK]

[Umbral Horror Will o' the Wisp (1*/0/0/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]

She actually wasn't as familiar with Rui's Umbral Horrors as she was with his other deck, to be honest—Rui always used the Gagagas in important situations, and otherwise, he borrowed other people's cards. He'd even borrowed her deck once.

"Umbral Horror Will o' the Wisp's effect! I'll copy the Level of the Umbral Horror Unform on the field—Level 4!"

[Umbral Horror Will o' the Wisp: 1* → 4]

"Since I control an "Umbral Horror" monster, I'll Special Summon Umbral Horror Preta from my hand!" He summoned the additional zombie creature.

[Umbral Horror Preta (4*/1200/0/DARK/Fiend/Effect)]

"Do you have a way of protecting your monsters from destruction?" Rui asked.

"Without crippling your monster? No." Nue knew very well what he was thinking. "... your Rank-Up-Magic's destruction effect is compulsory, right? Go ahead. If you can win this turn, it doesn't matter—"

"You're right. It doesn't matter." She felt Rui turn to her—he pressed his hand to her shoulder. "But why the fuck are you offering that to me?"

Nue frowned.

"You shouldn't say that," Rui said icily. "Don't offer to let other people break you for themselves. Otherwise, you're letting other people make you the victim while they stand there safely—"

"... it's not like you're killing me," Nue said. She shook his arm off. "It's not like I'm helpless if you destroy three of my monsters. You know me—I don't sacrifice myself." She thought back to what she'd said to Mion, all the way back in Standard. "I know you want to protect me. But those words are out of line, Rui."

Rui shook his head. "... you're right," he finally said. "But I just don't want to risk the chance that he broke you so much that you want to—"

"I won't," Nue said sharply. "I won't be like that. I'm still me."

"... yeah. Fine then. You promise you're not being self-sacrificing?"

"I promise. Go ahead."

"... I'll see if I need it." He gestured forward. "I'll overlay the Level 4 Umbral Horror Stein, the Level 4 Umbral Horror Will o' the Wisp and the Level 4 Umbral Horror Ghoul! Foolish insects, kneel before this dazzling light! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! The one, the only, Masquerade Magician - Shining!" He summoned his ace, the monster landing on the field as its wings spread out behind it.

[Masquerade Magician - Shining (R4/2700/1200/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

"I'll activate the Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Umbral Dystopia!"

Good, Nue thought. He shouldn't hold back at all.

"When the force of monstrous chaos will cover up the light, the great darkness will dance! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! The mask of laughter that shrouds the shine of hope! Rank 5! Masquerade Magician - Umbral!" He evolved his ace, bringing out the darker, jester-like version of it. Nue could hear the sound of spinning metal from the staff.

[Masquerade Magician - Umbral (R5/3000/1500/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:5)]

"Umbral's effect. I'll destroy all other monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck!"

He tore through Megaton Golem—as well as Sera, Pinguicula and Allomerus, removing all three of her monsters from the field.

"I'll activate the effect of Megaton Golem! I'll—"

"Activate?" Nue responded. "You won't get to do that. Trap Card, Gravedigger's Trap Hole!" She flipped up the card. "I'll negate that effect and inflict 2000 damage to you!"

Her opponent would never get to summon another monster. She heard a loud explosion hit the field.

Obelisk Force Red: 4000 - 2000 = 2000LP

And, just in case… "Traptrix Nepenthes's effect. I'll Special Summon Traptrix Dionaea from my deck." Another one of her monsters appeared on the field, the brief scent of flowers coming to her nose.

[Traptrix Dionaea (4*/1700/1100/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"I'll set Bottomless Trap Hole back to my field." Just in case.

"So all I need is 1500 damage for one of them and 2000 for the other?" Rui folded his arms. "Man. I forgot how easy fighting is with you around. And as long as I take out the first one, I literally don't have to do anything about the second."

… this was an apology, wasn't it? An attempt to massage her ego after the earlier bristling between them?

… hmm.

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Umbral Horror Unform and the Level 4 Umbral Horror Preta! Creature that locks away knowledge, emerge now and crush those who long for freedom! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Number 66! Master Key Beetle!"

Nue at least remembered what the Number looked like—after all, she remembered how happy Vector had been to own it. A stunning golden beetle with some red streaks on it, its wings beating rapidly and loudly as it took flight in the air, glowing brightly. Its limbs clicking loudly as it floated around the field.

[Number 66: Master Key Beetle (R4/2500/800/DARK/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"And that's all." Rui took a step forward. "Master Key Beetle attacks you directly—and my Masquerade Magician - Umbral attacks you directly!" The two monsters lunged forward—and Nue couldn't see what happened next, but there was the sound of laughing—

Obelisk Force Red: 2000 - 2500 = 0LP

Obelisk Force Yellow: 1500 - 3000 = 0LP

Winner: Nue Kamisoka & Rui Shingetsu!

—but, even as Rui carded their opponents, the duel disks did not automatically deactivate.

For a brief moment, Nue's brain blanked out.

"Nue, Nue, help me—"

She slammed her duel disk down, forcibly surrendering the duel and deactivating it. Her fingers were shaking.

… the Battle Royale hadn't automatically ended. That was a normal thing—it stopped when the duelists decided to stop, usually when only one side was standing, but—

For a moment, all that was left in the duel was her and Rui. For a moment, there was no other opponent.

For a moment, the thought crossed her mind that she might have to—

"... Nue."

Nue breathed out.

You're going to die, Rui. No matter what, by the end of this war, you'll either have outlived your use to Academia, or you'll have fallen by our hand because you're too stubborn to ever give up on anything.

There is no other outcome, is there?

God.

This is far too cruel. To put you in front of me, joking around, a little cruel, sometimes misstepping, so fucking human… and not let me have a single chance to save you.

Fuck. Nue would never say it aloud, but she loved him. Not in the same way that she loved Shun or Yuto or Kaito—not the kind of partner that she could lean on, not the brother she wanted to shelter and give the world to, not the best friend that trusted her so unconditionally. More of a kindred spirit, someone who also heard voices in his head sometimes, who was tormented and had been trying his best to be a good person before all of this anyway, to just live a normal, happy life. (His fucking father.) It was sappy, but that was what it was, and they'd never say it to each other. They'd threaten those who hurt the other, but they'd never say words like these.

She loved him. And the most she could do for him right now was to not hurt him any further.

If I lose him, if I lose Sachi and Michael and Thomas and all of them… I think I'll break. I don't know if anyone will ever be able to put me back together. But they made this decision—and I'm too late.

"Let's keep going," she said, unable to voice the rest of her thoughts. If she did, she thought that she might break even more.

---

No matter how much Shun looked around the base, he could not find the person that he was looking for. When he returned to the room that he'd started his search in, however…

"I heard you're looking for Mariko," Tsubaki said. She was seated at the table, looking through a set of papers—that was probably where she and Reiji Akaba had written down their arrangements and plans for their attack on Academia. "Is there something you need from her?"

"... I just have questions. But they can wait. If you're here, I have more to say to you."

"... go on."

Shun took a deep breath. "If I'm wrong, I apologise," he said sharply. "And I sincerely hope that I'm wrong. But, Tsubaki Nagare. I would like you to tell me why you're struggling to do anything for the Resistance."

Slowly, Tsubaki raised her head to look at him.

"You're a competent person," he said. "I know this. You're strong. If you and the rest charged down Academia, you'd have caused a lot of damage already. Don't tell me that you're trying to be cautious—this isn't what cautiousness looks like. You're insisting on staying still. That's not what the Tsubaki Nagare that I know would do."

"I've agreed to fight. I've planned to strike at Academia—and I'm currently working with your leader," Tsubaki said sharply. "... I didn't think that you were that resentful of me, Kurosaki."

"It's not resentment." Shun took a step forward. "It's because I know you. The fact that the Resistance did nothing until we came back… that's not like you at all. Now that I'm thinking about it, nothing I've seen since coming back makes any sense whatsoever. This bombing? Yes, you destroyed their transporter and their base, but they still have raw numbers. They can still return to Academia. Academia can still send people here if they want to overwhelm us—the people won't all be sent to the same place, but they'll all still be here. Nothing about your plan makes any sense—"

To his surprise, he saw Tsubaki briefly wince.

He carried on anyway—he had never been good at moderation. "It's fake progress for the sake of morale," he said. "You're better than this."

"Am I?" Tsubaki said. She met his gaze. "... am I supposed to be 'better than this' in your eyes?"

"... what's that supposed to mean?"

The red-haired woman stood up. "What do you think I mean?" She asked. "... I don't know what you want from me, Shun."

"I just think that something's fishy here," Shun finally said. "There's rot in the Resistance. Until we came here, you guys weren't going to do anything. You were just going to keep surviving without doing anything to Academia, weren't you? I'm trying to figure out why you guys are like this. You weren't like this before I left! We were actually trying to do something, weren't we? Why did that change?" Tsubaki turned her head away. "Answer me, Tsubaki! What have you been doing all this time?"

A hand grasped onto the back of his shirt as he took another step forward. Shun turned his head sharply—Mariko was standing there. "Don't talk to her like that," she said—her voice was icy, all of a sudden. Shun was the only one that could see her—he was tall enough to stop Tsubaki from seeing her. And her expression…

Her smile was, for a moment, nowhere to be seen—replaced with a cold, imperious glare.

Shun's eyes widened.

Mariko let go of him. She turned away—when she moved back over to Tsubaki's side, she was bright and smiling like always. She put a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "Should we get out of here, Tsuba?"

"... it's fine. Let him finish." Tsubaki turned to him. "... you can be as displeased as you like. I don't really care, as long as you're still willing to fight. We don't have to talk after this either—"

"I'm not trying to cut you off." Shun clenched his fists. "... you're my friend. I want to figure out why you're acting so strangely. I don't know what you're hiding. I want to help." It felt embarrassing to admit any of this—he was used to shouting, to arguing, to starting fights without any intention of resolving them in any way except violence. "And I don't want to let you hide something that's influencing how you're commanding the Resistance. I want to know why."

A quiet sigh. "... come back later, Mariko."

Mariko turned to look at her, eyes wide. "Tsuba—" She protested. "He's just going to keep yelling at you! It's Kurosaki!"

"Trust me," Tsubaki said. "... I'll talk to you later."

The pale-haired girl finally relented, leaving the room—but she shot Shun a look before she left. Shun turned back to Tsubaki—

Only to see the red-haired woman press her head into her hands for a brief moment.

"... are you okay?"

"... if you're so desperate for the truth," Tsubaki said—directly confirming that there really was something else going on, "why not prove to me that you deserve to hear it?"

She raised her duel disk towards him.

"... if that's what it takes to get you to see sense, I don't mind," Shun said, raising his own in response.

… he was done with avoiding problems like this.

---

"We're here," Rui commented.

Nue could tell—it was eerily quiet here. So they were at Clover Branch now…

"I'm not going any further with you," Rui said casually. "You know what'll happen if he sees me."

"I know," Nue said. "Thanks for your help." She took a step forward—

"I'll go towards Spade right now and look for someone. You can search the vicinity and see if you can direct anyone there?"

"Of course, Nue-dono."

"If nothing else, you're one of the most reliable people we have, Tsukikage. Thanks."

"It's my duty and privilege to serve, Nue-dono. And I hope that I can carry on helping everyone to defeat our enemy."

"... not to serve. To work with us. I'll see you soon, Tsukikage."

"See you soon, Nue-dono. Please… do not put yourself in danger."

"... I can only promise to do my best."

In the end, didn't you leave him behind? Didn't he come all that way with you only to be turned away by you at the school gate? Isn't this the same thing?

You cruel, disgusting little thing. Are you going to repeat your mistakes?

She didn't realise how still she'd gotten until Rui tapped her shoulder. She pulled away from him—when he spoke, he sounded surprised. "Nue?"

"Be careful," she said. "Don't—"

Don't make me bury you earlier than I have to.

"—get in trouble," she finished.

"Who do you think I am?" Rui was about to make a joke, but Nue spun around, putting a hand on his shoulder tightly.

"Be careful, Rui. You're walking a thin line." Protecting her, fighting against Academia and carding their members, and still being against the Resistance the entire time.

"... you don't have to tell me that, trickster prince." Rui brushed her hand off. "... I told you. Vector can betray a lot of people, but I can't betray you." In a softer voice, he said: "You're as much family as they are, after all. Take care too."

Nue stood there. She couldn't watch him go, but she could wait—listen to his footsteps until they were no longer there.

For family, huh…

What must it have been like for him? To leave behind that horrible father and family, to drift around until he was fostered by the Tsukumos and found people who genuinely cared for him. To lose his younger brother in the war, while his other foster brother was trapped overseas, just like Rio's brother, unable to come here or see them. To know that what he wanted was just out of reach…

Rui Shingetsu had done something horrible. Something that had hurt many of the other people that Nue cared about.

And yet, Nue was forced to acknowledge one simple fact.

Without hope, she might have done the same thing. If she had lost even more than she already had, maybe…

She shook her head. It wasn't the time to dive so deep into her own head. Put simply, she didn't want to think about it any longer.

She began to walk into Clover Branch.

It was… difficult. Obviously, she had never come here that often—as much as she liked Kaito, she'd preferred her own campus over anyone else's. In a certain way, it had been her own domain. Still, she had come here for a few exams—enough to know roughly where she should be walking. Miharu's program told her about the distance between her and the walls nearby, but—

Nue's foot hit a brick jutting out of the ground. She let out a pained hiss—she'd scraped something there for sure. Even with so many aids, her movement still wasn't perfect.

Still…

If I was Kaito Tenjo, I would be…

She made her way further through the destroyed school. A part of her was glad that she didn't have to see more evidence of her classmates' treachery. Even so…

Nue raised her head.

… I'm going to feel really silly if he's not here. But it's better than stumbling around here—let alone climbing up the stairs like this.

"Kaito?" She called out, aware of how vulnerable her position was. "Are you here?"

Then, she heard it—a single footstep. She turned her head, taking a step towards the person there.

"Kaito?" She asked—still aware that there was a good chance that this was someone else. A single footstep in rubble didn't prove anything yet. "Is that you?"

The response was sharp. "Why did you come out here all alone?"

Nue relaxed. "To find you," she said. "Why else?"

"... what's the cane for?"

"... I'd prefer not to explain it again," Nue said. She raised her head—Kaito was taller than her, after all. "I assume you can figure it out."

Silence. Then, footsteps moving away from her—Kaito was moving away from her.

Nue took a step forward. "You won't even talk to me?" She said. There was nothing soft to it—in fact, it sounded like a challenge.

The footsteps sped up.

"It was a long trip to get here, you know."

Judging from the volume of the footsteps, he was nearing the stairs—Nue briefly started following him, before she stopped.

"Do you resent me?" She asked.

His footsteps came to a sharp stop.

"Because if you do," Nue said, "I know I deserve it." She took another step forward. "There's a thousand things I could have done that might have made a difference in how things turned out. And for my own selfishness, I walked away from my responsibilities. I should've known that I was the wall holding them back from something like that. That without me—"

"Don't you dare," Kaito snapped, "take responsibility for their selfishness. It has nothing to do with you—or do you think that you can control how anyone else acts?"

"... are you saying I can't?" Nue said. "That I wasn't the one constantly checking in on them, trying to keep them all stable? I made them all lean on me as a pillar, and then I stepped away and they collapsed—how can I say that has nothing to do with me?"

"... for someone so smart, you can be such an idiot," Kaito muttered. "So what? Did you come here to make—" The last word came out in a biting tone, almost a snarl. "Amends? Is that what's going on here? After getting injured so badly that you went blind, you decided to come all the way out here to find me so that you could apologise?"

"... is there something else you want me to do?" Nue asked, but she was met with silence again. "... even if I can never fix things, I don't want to leave anything unsaid. If you have anything to shout at me, anything to be furious about—I want you to get the chance to say it, without anyone around to say that you're being too harsh. That's all."

---

It was hard, Kaito thought, to talk to a person who could not see your face. It was hard to look into those eyes—still defiant, but lacking something that had been there before.

And it was hard to talk to someone who only wanted the best for you.

Then again, I'm surrounded by foolish people like that.

Because… really? Had Nue really come all this way, unable to see anything, because she thought that Kaito needed someone to talk to? Someone to hear him out? That was… far too like her. Taking on responsibility for him too, even though he'd also been the one to leave others behind.

… how extraordinarily kind. Nue Kamisoka might think of herself as ruthless and cruel, but to the people she loved, she might as well be a guardian angel—an unconventional one, but one nonetheless. She was kind, if not gentle; she was protective, perhaps to the point of obsession.

In the past, Kaito might have told her off for her recklessness, before comforting her and telling her that she had no reason to be guilty at all.

But that was not the Kaito Tenjo that stood here now.

That version of him had died a painful death months ago.

"You want to make this up to me?" Kaito said, stone-faced. "Then, are you ready to repent?"

He came back down the stairs—two to three steps at a time, until all that separated them was the courtyard of the destroyed school.

"... how do you want me to repent?" Nue asked. Her expression was still calm.

"... duel me," Kaito demanded.

"... you want a duel?"

"So I can show you how weak you really are." Kaito gestured forward. "Show you that you're unworthy of any responsibility that you take on! I'll crush you right here, right now and show you how much difference it makes when you throw everything away for revenge!"

That is all I can do for you, Nue Kamisoka.

"If that's what you want, Kaito," Nue said, those empty eyes looking directly at him, "I'll show you what I've learned too. This time—I'll win."

(And so, across Heartland, two under the sky and two deep in the ground, Heartland's four strongest duelists faced against each other.)

[DUEL!]

Kaito Tenjo: 4000LP

Nue Kamisoka: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Nue] [H:5]

"Take the first turn," Kaito demanded—ignoring the randomisation function altogether. "I want you at your best."

"... sure." They both drew their starting hands. "... that's probably not happening."

"Huh?"

"Nothing." Nue looked through her hand one more time. "Spell Card, Traptantalizing Tune! I'll discard a Level 4 Insect or Plant monster or a Normal Trap from my hand—and then, I'll draw two cards." She picked up both cards. "Well, that's at least something… I'll activate Graceful Charity to draw three cards and discard two. Then, I will Normal Summon Traptrix Dionaea from my hand." The dark-haired girl with white flowers in her hair appeared on the field, looking rather bored as she laid on top of a large, gel-like bubble, treating it like a cushion.

[Traptrix Dionaea (4*/1700/1100/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"Traptrix Dionaea's effect! Since I Normal Summoned her, I can Special Summon a "Traptrix" monster from my graveyard in Defense Position. Come back—Traptrix Nepenthes!" Next to Dionaea, Nepenthes appeared, shyly pushing back her yellow-orange hair and smiling.

[Traptrix Nepenthes (4*/800/2000/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

Nue reached out for Dionaea's card, before pausing. "... I won't apologise," she said. "I won't hold back against you either. I'll open the circuit of the entrapping flowers!"

Circuit…

No.

"What the hell, Nue?" Kaito snarled out.

"The Link Dimension is its own world, with its own people. Not all of them agree with their leaders." Nue clenched a fist. "I… will not turn down more power. Not if I need it to crush those who abuse the exact same power! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are a "Traptrix" monster that isn't a Link Monster. I'll set Traptrix Dionaea in the Link Markers! Now, cute girl in the beautiful meadow! Rise up with the sunshine over your hair and trap the world in your shadow! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Traptrix Sera!" The green-haired Link Monster curtsied as she appeared on the field.

[Traptrix Sera (L1/800/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

Kaito glared at the monster. It fit into Nue's deck and its aesthetic perfectly—maybe that made it even worse, that Nue could just use a monster like that and act as though it was natural. Kaito would never—even if—he would not.

His head was burning with hatred at the thought.

"I'll set three cards and end my turn," Nue said. "Your turn."

"That's all?" Kaito spat out. "You could've brought out Rafflesia for the same effect—pathetic. If that's all you have after travelling for so long, I'll crush you like I do everyone else!"

[Turn 2: Kaito] [H:6]

He viciously swiped up the top card of his deck.

"Draw! I'll Normal Summon Photon Delta Wing!" A dark plane appeared on the field, flying around him, leaving streaks of stars in its wake.

[Photon Delta Wing (4*/1800/900/LIGHT/Machine/Effect)]

"Photon Delta Wing's effect. I'll Special Summon another copy of it from my deck!" The dark aircraft split in two, both of them flying around Kaito. "I'll overlay both copies of Photon Delta Wing! Mechanical emperor with the radiance of the stars! Descend now and become my servant! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Starliege Lord Galaxion!"

In front of him, a warrior dressed in bright silver armour appeared, holding up two bright green energy swords. He swung both of them through the air, his two Overlay Units floating around him and illuminating his body even more.

[Starliege Lord Galaxion (R4/2000/2100/LIGHT/Warrior/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

He paused, but Nue didn't respond. What was she waiting for?

… well, he'd draw it out now.

"I'll detach both of Galaxion's Overlay Units! Come from the deck! Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"

[Starliege Lord Galaxion: OU:2 - 2 = OU:0]

His signature monster appeared out of a portal of stars, its red and blue body glowing with bright blue light as it let out a loud roar, clawing at the ground.

[Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon (8*/3000/2500/LIGHT/Dragon/Effect)]

Only then did Nue move. "Trap Card, Treacherous Trap Hole!" She declared. "I'll destroy both of your monsters!"

"... how ridiculous," Kaito muttered as his two monsters vanished from the field. "Go ahead and use Nepenthes's effect."

"... Sera and Nepenthes have the same effect," Nue said, picking up two cards and revealing them. "From my deck—come! Traptrix Arachnocampa! Traptrix Vesiculo!" In front of her, two monsters appeared—one with black hair, the other with white hair, both of which had a certain green tint to their appearance and colour scheme.

[Traptrix Arachnocampa (4*/1300/1500/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

[Traptrix Vesiculo (4*/1400/1400/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

"Then, Sera's other effect. Since I activated Nepenthes's effect. I'll set another "Hole" Normal Trap to my field.

"... you're slipping, Nue."

"In what way?"

"You didn't even wait for me to Xyz Summon first," Kaito shot back. "I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Galaxy Hundred! When it's activated, I can send a "Galaxy" or "Photon" card from my deck to the graveyard! I'll send Photon Emperor to the graveyard—and with Photon Emperor's effect, it will Special Summon itself from my graveyard!" In front of him, the bright gold warrior appeared on the field, blue and purple accents on its armour. He swung around a spear, majestically looking forward as a purple cape swept through the air behind him.

[Photon Emperor (8*/2800/1000/LIGHT/Warrior/Effect)]

"Photon Emperor lets me Normal Summon another time this turn," Kaito continued icily. "Come. Galaxy Summoner!" A robot in a white robe appeared, a single green orb in the middle of a face of silver metal acting as its 'eyes' as it stared forward, holding up a golden staff that was topped with a similar green orb.

[Galaxy Summoner (4*/1600/1400/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"Galaxy Summoner's effect! Return from the graveyard! Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" The base form of his dragon reappeared on the field again. "And when Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon is summoned, once per turn, my Continuous Spell lets me banish a card from your Extra Deck or summon a "Number" monster from there to my field!"

Nue arched an eyebrow. "Which one do you want?" She asked.

Kaito stared at her.

… in truth, he was likely the only person that knew the truth of the matter. Nue had never used her Number in an official match—according to her, while it meant a lot to her because he'd given it to her, she wanted to be more efficient and to keep it as a surprise just in case—a completely different kind of playstyle to her usual cards. He didn't know if she had used it when she left Heartland, but…

I want you to use it.

It was a strange, sudden thought, but Kaito meant it. After all…

Nue Kamisoka had four Numbers in her possession. And she'd never used a single one, even though Kaito knew they were in her Extra Deck.

And besides, his monsters had already locked him into only Special Summoning LIGHT monsters this turn.

"I'll banish Traptrix Rafflesia from your Extra Deck," he decided.

Nue nodded, removing the monster.

"I'll then overlay the Level 8 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and the Level 8 Photon Emperor! Galaxy shining in the darkness, dwell in the demonic god of revenge and become my very servant! Xyz Summon! Descend, Rank 8! Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"

And his ace descended—iridescent wings flashing brightly and casting their light across the entire field. It roared."

[Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon (R8/3000/2500/LIGHT/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon," Nue repeated. Briefly, her lips twitched upwards. "... now, I missed that sound."

… why was she still happy with that?

"I'll detach an Overlay Unit from Cipher Dragon. I will take control of your Nepenthes and—"

"No," Nue said. "You won't." She flipped up one of her other set cards. "Trap Card, Titanocider! Your monster's attack points are reduced to 0 and its effects are negated—and this is permanent!" An arrow shot through the air towards Cipher Dragon—pinning it down.

[Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon: 3000 → 0ATK; OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "All the same tricks," he said.

"But you haven't been able to do anything about them either," Nue returned. "Doesn't this feel like how it used to, Kaito?"

"... huh?"

"My tricks against your power," Nue said. "That's how we grew up, isn't it? You got your Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from your dad at the same time that I got my Traptrix Rafflesia." They'd started dueling together—the Arclights had started a while before them, though. "... we've known each other for a long time."

"... don't try to distract me." Kaito reached for one of the three cards in his hand. "I'll activate the effect of Photon Orbital in my hand. I'll equip it to Galaxy Summoner—and then send Orbital to the graveyard to add another "Galaxy" or "Photon" card from my deck to my hand. I'll add Photon Vanisher to my hand. And while I control a "Photon" or "Galaxy" monster, I can Special Summon Photon Vanisher from my hand!" The silver robot with a large blaster appeared on the field, blue light emitting from the barrel of its gun.

[Photon Vanisher (4*/2000/0/LIGHT/Warrior/Effect)]

"With Vanisher's effect, I'll add Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my deck to my hand." He gestured forward again. "I'll overlay the Level 4 Galaxy Summoner and Photon Vanisher!"

"... you never run out of materials to use," Nue said. Kaito flinched—she'd said the same thing to him when they'd been practising back when he was still a first-year at Clover Branch.

"You never run out of monsters to use. It's always an uphill battle to get all your resources."

"Hah. And you never run out of tricks either."

Kaito didn't respond this time—unlike before. "Dance in the darkness of space and unleash your stark glow! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Galaxy Photon Dragon!" The smaller white dragon appeared—it did not roar, but its wings still spread out, trying to intimidate his opponent.

[Galaxy Photon Dragon (R4/2000/0/LIGHT/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Galaxy Photon Dragon's effect. I'll—"

"To add your Rank-Up-Magic to your hand so that you can save your monster?" Nue replied—and Kaito was once again reminded of how well she knew him. "You're not getting Neo Galaxy-Eyes on the field. When you summon your monster, I'll activate Bottomless Trap Hole and destroy it!" Her final set card (other than the one that had been set by Sera's effect this turn, which she couldn't use this turn anyway) revealed itself, striking down his monster in an instant.

"... but that's your last one, and you don't have Atrax," Kaito said.

"... you don't particularly have a lot of resources now though."

True. He only had two cards left in his hand after all of that—and on his field, he only had Galaxy Hundred and his paralysed ace. He could hold back—

But he had to make some progress right now. Otherwise, Nue would have four monsters to work with next turn.

"By activating the Spell Card, Trade-In, I'll send the Level 8 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my hand to the graveyard to draw two cards!" He picked up both cards.

… ah. This worked out. He hadn't drawn his Tachyon Chaos Hole, but… Nue's deck was specifically immune to those "Hole" Traps. It would be a dead card in hand.

But this?

… Kaito Tenjo had never been shy about his own growth. And while Shun was by far the 'ace' known best for Rank Up—in fact, he was probably the best Rank Up user in all of Heartland—Kaito had picked it up very quickly.

"Quickplay Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Photon Ascendance!"

"You got that card after all," Nue murmured.

"I'll Rank Up my Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon by one Rank!" He rescued his monster, who flew up in the air.

… his ace had evolved a long time ago. This much was no issue for him. "Galaxy shining in the darkness. Release the forever unchanging light and become the beacon that illuminates the future! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Descend, Rank 9! Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon!"

The evolution of his ace appeared—three-headed, with wings that were somehow more iridescent than before, lines running through them like circuitry. The red parts that had extended across the top of its wings had expanded in jagged spikes—supplemented by golden spikes that accompanied them.

Some might call it his strongest monster. They were… probably right.

[Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon (R9/4500/3000/LIGHT/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Photon Ascendance will attach itself to Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon as an Overlay Unit!"

[Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon: OU:2 - 1 = OU:3]

"Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon's effect!" Kaito declared. "By detaching all three of his Overlay Units, I will take control of all three of your monsters, except that disgusting Link Monster! Cipher Super Projection!"

[Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon: OU:3 - 3 = OU:0]

All three of Nue's other monsters—Nepenthes, Arachnocampa and Vesiculo—were dragged over to his side of the field.

"Their names become the same as Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, as do their attack points, but their effects are negated and they cannot attack directly—the only monster I have that can attack directly this turn is Neo Galaxy-Eyes," Kaito explained coldly.

[Traptrix Arachnocampa: 1300 → 4500ATK]

[Traptrix Vesiculo: 1400 → 4500ATK]

[Traptrix Nepenthes: 800 → 4500ATK]

"I'll change all three of your monsters to Attack Position!" Kaito gestured forward. "Cut that Link Monster down, Traptrix Nepenthes!"

The girl with yellow-orange hair transformed into Cipher Dragon, breathing out an enormous burst of light, destroying Sera—and devastating Nue's life points.

Nue: 4000 - 3700 = 300LP

"In the end, you've gotten so weak that you can't even hold out for a single turn against me! Finish her off, Neo Galaxy-Eyes! Strike her down!"

His evolved ace roared, and a large beam of light hit the field.

Kaito closed his eyes.

In the end, it's still true. No one is strong enough to survive fury like that. Everyone can be lost.

That's why I can't… hold onto anyone.

He opened them again—

Nue's life points remained untouched. In front of her, a dark-haired girl was on the ground, shooting her a nod and a smirk, before she dissipated into dust. Nue's hand was now empty.

"By discarding a Normal Trap, I can activate Traptrix Holeutea on the turn she's set," Nue said. "She summoned herself as a monster in Defense Position.

[Traptrix Holeutea (4*/400/2400/EARTH/Plant)]

"So Cipher Dragon took her down—but I protected the rest of my life points. And the other monsters you stole can't attack directly." Nue looked at him. "A single turn? I can manage that much."

"But your hand is completely empty."

"So?" Nue gestured forward. "You stole three monsters. Out of all your Rank 4 monsters, only Photon Dragon and Photon Blast Dragon use generic materials, and they both use only two monsters. No matter what, you'll give me back a monster—I'll work from there. So? Who's it going to be?"

"... don't be ridiculous. You're so far behind that you won't be able to catch up. I'll overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Nepenthes and the Level 4 Traptrix Arachnocampa! Stars collide and form a regal blaze! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Roar with pride—Starliege Photon Blast Dragon!" The same white dragon that he'd used against Mion Myojin appeared on the field with a roar, its darker scales illuminated by bright blue light.

[Starliege Photon Blast Dragon (R4/1800/2500/LIGHT/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

Nue raised a card from her graveyard. "Titanocider sets itself back to my field."

Had she purposely not set it back to the field before this, just so that he had a lower chance of being able to do anything to her? Had she known that he would end his turn with an Xyz Summon?

… as usual, her—

The next few descriptions that came to Kaito's mind were painfully insensitive. Foresight? Eye for detail? He didn't want to do that to her. He didn't want to say that or think that about her, not when…

Still. She had seen—figured out what he was going to do and acted accordingly.

"... I'll end my turn. Vesiculo returns to you."

"Then it's my turn," Nue said. She reached for the top card of her deck—and then paused. "... as usual, you're overwhelming, Kaito. I only barely got out of that. But—"

She raised her head—and even though she couldn't see him, her expression was fierce. There was something of that fierceness in her eyes too—a spirit that was still burning brightly, for all that she had been hurt. Kaito felt his breath stutter for a moment.

Her next words came out in a sharp rebuke. "I won't be seen as weak by you!" She took another step forward—Vesiculo floated to her side, clearly nervous for her. Still, Nue leaned forward on her cane briefly—and then she let go of it, dropping it on the ground and standing up on her own. There was a moment when she tensed up—some kind of ache, maybe an injury that hadn't fully healed yet?

Kaito found himself shifting forward—the old instinct to help her coming to life. But then her eyes fixed on him again and he was suddenly unable to move.

"I'm not weaker. I'm not incapable. And—you know that, don't you? You know that!" Her voice was so loud now that it was practically a shout. "There is no reason why I should have to prove anything to you, because you. Know. Me!" Each word was punctuated sharply. "And there is no reason for you to put me down like this—and you have no excuse either to treat me like this!"

Kaito stared at her.

There it was.

Nue had come here quietly, gently apologetic, and it had rubbed him the wrong way. But this fierceness? This sharp fury?

This was more suited to her. This was the fire she'd been missing when she'd stepped into Clover Branch—this was what had infuriated him.

"So, you want me to prove myself?" Nue clenched her fist. "I'll do it. Because no one in this world—or any world—is ever allowed to look down on me like that again! Watch, Kaito! I'll break my way through every monster you bring out, no matter how long it takes! Draw!"

[Turn 3: Nue] [H:1]

Nue glanced at the card—before picking up a card from her graveyard. "Trap Card, Traptantalizing Planning! I'll banish it from the graveyard—return from the graveyard! Traptrix Sera!" The green-haired Link Monster reappeared on the field. "Then, I'll banish my Traptrix Holeutea from the graveyard as well. Return to the field—Traptrix Dionaea!"

Two monsters immediately? The dark-haired girl reappeared on the field again with a laugh.

"Dionaea's effect. I'll set Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare back to my field!... I won't activate Sera's effect yet though. Then, I'll—"

"I'll activate the effect of Starliege Photon Blast Dragon!" Kaito abruptly declared. "I'll detach an Overlay Unit from him and Special Summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my graveyard!" The bright blue dragon reappeared on the field with a roar.

[Starliege Photon Blast Dragon: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"Galaxy Hundred's effect! I'll remove Allomerus from your Extra Deck!"

"... I knew you would," Nue said. She removed the monster. "I'll overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Dionaea and the Level 4 Traptrix Vesiculo! Beautiful plant overflowing with wool, share in the lifeforce of all nature around you. Grow bright, and in your grazing dream, bring forth a new world. Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub!"

… right. The monster that Yuto had gotten for her. In front of her, the large white sheep appeared, leaves growing from around its body. However, there was something strangely… distant to its expression.

[Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub (R4/1900/2000/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"I'll banish Traptantalizing Tune from my graveyard to shuffle Traptrix Holeutea from my banished cards into the deck. Then, Baromet's effect! I'll detach one Overlay Unit and shuffle my Treacherous Trap Hole back into the deck to draw a card! Draining Blessing!" She picked up the next card of her deck, immediately looking at it and reflexively nodding.

[Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"... I'll match you," Nue said. "Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Tantalizing Force!"

Kaito blinked. Huh? Had she… learned that? When?

"I'll target Baromet the Sacred Sheep Shrub and Rank Up my monster by 1 Rank!" The sheep vanished from the field. "With what I've learned from someone who longs to change and become better just as much as I do—I'll show you my resolve! Tricksters, let your mind bloom with the brightness of the deceiving flower, and evolve into the hungry devil that longs for chaos! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 5! Traptrix Cephalotus!"

In front of her, a new, unfamiliar Traptrix monster appeared, a green-haired girl wearing a crown of colourful flowers. In her hands were two fans that she held up as she looked at Kaito—she had a smirk on her face, something sly and almost playful.

[Traptrix Cephalotus (R5/2800/0/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

The Rank-Up-Magic turned into an orb, moving to orbit around her monster, just like Kaito's Spell from earlier.

[Traptrix Cephalotus: OU:2 1 = OU:3]

"Cephalotus's effect. When she's Xyz Summoned, for each of her Overlay Units, I'll send a card from the top of my deck to the graveyard!" She dropped three cards in the graveyard. "Then, I can Special Summon a "Traptrix" monster from my graveyard. Come to me, Traptrix Myrmeleo!"

The girl with ashen grey hair reappeared on the field, long spikes all around her.

[Traptrix Myrmeleo (4*/1600/1200/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

"Myrmeleo's effect and Sera's effects activate," Nue said. "I'll destroy your Galaxy Hundred!" Kaito's Continuous Spell shattered as Myrmeleo lunged at it, her horns piercing through it like a bull's. "Then, I'll set a "Hole" Normal Trap from my deck."

Another set card appeared on her field.

So much from nothing… should he really be surprised though?

"I'll activate Pot of Avarice. I'll shuffle Vesiculo, Arachnocampa, Genlisea, Baromet and Mantis into the deck to draw two cards. Then, I'll Normal Summon Traptrix Mantis!" Another monster emerged on the field, looking rather cheerful—her sunny pink and orange hair resembled that of Nepenthes.

[Traptrix Mantis (4*/1500/1300/EARTH/Insect/Effect)]

"Mantis's effect! I'll add a "Traptrix" monster from my deck to my hand!" She glanced at Kaito. "... I can't target or destroy monsters with 2000 or more attack points that you control while you have Photon Blast Dragon… so I'll remove it."

"Bring it," Kaito said tersely.

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Mantis and the Level 4 Traptrix Myrmeleo!" In front of Nue, another portal appeared in the ground. "... Yuto's monster, what Shun taught me, and now… this. I'll cut down your field with the very monster you gave me, Kaito!"

… was she—

Nue took out the card from her deck. She shut her eyes, holding it up. "... I'll have to come up with this on the spot. Oh well. I'm good at that much."

She revealed the card—it was exactly the card that Kaito thought it was. Not the card that Nue usually showed when people asked her if she had a Number—this was the most 'normal' of her Numbers, so to speak; its base form, which was both out of place in Nue's deck aesthetically and yet fitting in the basest sense. Then, she brought it close to her chest.

"Maddening dance of death," she declared. "Croon in the depths of sin, where darkness consumes the light!"

---

The story of this ruin goes as follows.

The adventurer of the myths finds their way to a new world, after the events of the previous one. There, they find no other living being that they can talk to, and they wander through the forest for a long time—wondering exactly what they are supposed to witness here. They have almost given up when they come across a cave.

They enter.

The cave is long and dark. The adventurer is deep inside by the time that they recognise the danger that they're facing—when briefly, the flames of their torch illuminate a thin string that runs through the air. They wave the torch around—and they see string after string, thread after thread, all of them running through the air around them, closing them in.

The man takes a step back.

And then—

---

"Teach men to become the monsters that defy the will of all that is holy! Xyz Summon! Rank 4!"

Out of the portal, a few skeletal legs emerged—they clung onto the edges of the ground, before yanking itself out, revealing its true form—

That being an enormous blue spider, with legs as long as its abdomen. Blue spikes could be seen across its body. Long, petal-like structures emerged from around its head, tinged green—they spread around like a flower, with bloody red orbs together in the middle of them, acting as eyes. Its segmented, odd-looking limbs shifted around strangely.

"Number 70," Nue said, holding out her hand and flicking her wrist through the air. "Progenitor Devil - Malevolent Sin."

[Number 70: Progenitor Devil - Malevolent Sin (R4/2400/1200/DARK/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

There it was.

"This was made for me," Nue said, frowning in recollection. "I wonder why, sometimes. I never got to ask your father or Byron-san about it—why they thought that a monster that looked like this, with this name, should belong to me…"

Yeah. Kaito had doubted it too, but Nue hadn't exactly seemed offended by the evil-looking card, and he hadn't wanted to step on his father's toes, not when he'd looked so enthusiastic to make it.

Of all the myth sequences that he could've used for Nue's Number (or Numbers, I guess) though…

Did it have to be this one?

"Battle Phase," Nue said. "I'll have Malevolent Sin attack your Starliege Photon Blast Dragon!"

The spider reached forward with its spindly legs—webs spun out around it, wrapping up the dragon, which let out a growl—before the webs tied together and formed a cocoon, dragging it down into the ground.

Kaito: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP

"After Malevolent Sin attacks, I can use its effect," Nue said. "I'll use it as material to Xyz Summon a Rank 10 or lower DARK Xyz Monster."

Kaito's eyes widened. While he knew about the existence of the card, he didn't know its effect. Ranking Up by… six Ranks?

"Crumble!" Nue declared—it was an order to the spider, which turned into dark dust. "I'll overlay the Rank 4 Malevolent Sin on herself. Gluttonous creature feeding on the hollowness of human hearts! Emerge now and bring the hidden beasts into the light! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 10! Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula!"

The new monster that emerged was almost… cartoonish, compared to the first monster. A spider as well, but with contrasting colours—its limbs were pale purple, contrasting to the bronze of its main body. It made clicking sounds as it landed on the ground—its single green eye stared at him from the top of its head. It rested in Defense Position.

[Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula (R10/0/0/DARK/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

She was using them so easily… even though she had no experience with using them before.

"To be honest, I'd have preferred summoning Allomerus or Rafflesia," Nue confessed. "I don't like these monsters—they don't suit me, and they're far less flexible. But you left me no options."

Yeah.

That was what Kaito had wanted. He wanted to force her out of her comfort zone.

"Ravenous Tarantula's effect," Nue said. "All monsters I control gain attack and defense points, equal to the difference in our life points!"

[Traptrix Cephalotus: 2800 + 3100 = 5900ATK; 0 + 3100 = 3100DEF]

[Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula: 0 + 3100 = 3100ATK/DEF]

[Traptrix Sera: 800 + 3100 = 3900ATK]

"... but once you attack, you lose those attack points," Kaito said sceptically. "You don't have enough to take out both of my monsters."

"I do," Nue said determinedly. "I have enough for both of them—and I have enough for you too! Sera attacks Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"

"... you won't get it," Kaito said. "I'll send Kuriphoton from my hand to the graveyard and pay 2000 life points—and I take no damage this turn!"

Kaito: 3400 - 2000 = 1400LP

"And with my life points lower," Kaito continued, "your monsters are defanged again!"

[Traptrix Cephalotus: 5900 - 2000 = 3900ATK; 3100 - 2000 = 1100DEF]

[Traptrix Sera: 3900 - 2000 = 1900ATK]

[Number 35: Ravenous Tarantula: 3100 - 2000 = 1100ATK/DEF]

"And you got greedy—when this attack lands, you'll lose!"

"If," Nue said. "... if this attack hits, Kaito. I'll activate the effect of Traptrix Cephalotus! I'll detach two of its Overlay Units and banish Nightmare Trap Hole from the graveyard to use its effect! I'll destroy both of your monsters!"

Kaito's eyes widened.

"And you don't have a way to protect them," Nue said. "You don't lose this turn, Kaito—but you won't have any monsters for your next turn!"

Both of the dragon writhed—and then, they were destroyed a moment later, as Cephalotus swung her fans through the air, an imperious look in her eyes.

[Traptrix Cephalotus: OU:3 - 2 = OU:1]

"... and while I control Ravenous Tarantula and it has Overlay Units," Nue said, "you take 600 damage every time you Special Summon a monster." She put another card down. "Spell Card, Fragrance Storm. I'll destroy Sera to draw a card—and since it's a Plant monster, I draw another card."

… that made sense. If she kept Sera on the field, just attacking it would give him the game.

"I'll set a card facedown. Over to you."

And now, their situations were completely flipped. Nue was still almost at zero…

But anything could happen.

"Then," Kaito said, reaching for the top card of my deck, "if you can pull off a reversal like that, so can I!"

He had to do it. He had to defeat her.

Otherwise…

"You're worried."

Kaito blinked, looking up.

"You're worried about me," Nue said. "... aren't you?"

---

Nue would like to think that she understood the people around her a little better now. She understood that they were prideful, she understood that they messed up because of good intentions. She understood that over time, those good intentions could become some of the most hurtful things in the world.

"So I can show you how weak you really are. Show you that you're unworthy of any responsibility that you take on!"

That was what Kaito had said. But…

Nue understood his intentions now.

What he had actually wanted was to defeat her. To show her that she was weak… so that the burden of fighting would be lifted off her shoulders, so that she would keep herself safe instead of rushing out into battle again.

… she wondered what kind of face she'd made when he'd said it. Whether he'd been able to keep worry out of his eyes when he'd spoken such cruel words to her.

"I don't know what you mean."

"I've grown so much since I left Heartland, Kaito," Nue said. "And I did it surrounded by people. Whereas you… you've stagnated. Alone, with no one to tell you anything or help you… how are you supposed to grow more like that?"

Nothing that he'd shown her today was anything different from what she'd been doing before.

"... don't you dare tell me that I'm not strong."

Nue frowned. "That's not what I'm—"

"Because I'm strong enough to take down Academia by myself." Kaito sounded furious. "And I don't need any of you!"

"Kaito—"

[Turn 4: Kaito] [H:1]

"Draw!" He cut her off. "... I'll activate the Spell Card, Cards of Adversity. Since you control a Special Summoned monster and I control no monsters, I'll draw two cards. Then, I'll activate Graceful Charity!"

… what were the odds of that? Come on.

"I'll draw three cards and discard two! Then, I'll Normal Summon Galaxy Cleric!"

… well, the odds of him getting that specific card were as good as Nue's odds of milling Nightmare Trap Hole earlier, so she probably shouldn't be complaining. She knew what Galaxy Cleric looked like—a mechanical woman in a white robe, demurely holding onto a plain-looking golden sceptre.

[Galaxy Cleric (4*/1500/600/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"By shuffling Neo Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, Starliege Photon Blast Dragon, Galaxy Photon Dragon and Photon Vanisher into the deck, I can draw two cards!"

… Nue's current set cards didn't work against a Normal Summoned monster like Galaxy Cleric. So she couldn't respond to it.

Kaito swiped up both cards.

… he let out a scoff.

"Kaito?"

"... I suppose there's no choice," he said. "I will activate the Continuous Spell, Galaxy Divisor. You cannot respond to the effects of my Xyz Monsters while I have a Rank 8 or higher "Galaxy-Eyes" monster in my graveyard. And, once per turn—I can negate the effects of an Xyz Monster on the field."

… huh? She didn't remember that card…

"I'll choose your Ravenous Tarantula!"

Her Number fully lost its power—reverting back to its original attack points. The rest of her monsters followed in the same way.

… geez. She really did prefer her own Xyz Monsters. Cephalotus would have protected Rafflesia if it was the monster on the field.

"I will Special Summon Photon Vanisher from my hand again—and retrieve Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my deck again." He took back the card that he'd just recycled. "... and then I'll overlay the Level 4 Galaxy Cleric and the Level 4 Photon Vanisher! Return to the field, Galaxy Photon Dragon!" His Xyz Monster must have reappeared—it let out that familiar roar. "And with the effect of my Continuous Spell, I'll Special Summon two "Galaxy" or "Photon" monsters from my graveyard with the same Level and their effects negated! Come back! Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon! Photon Emperor!"

Two monsters at once…?

As the two monsters appeared on the field, Kaito gestured forward.

"I'll overlay the Level 8—"

"Who says that you get to overlay them?" Nue flipped over one of her three set cards. "You may have sealed off my Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare—but I still have this one! Bottomless Trap Hole! I'll destroy and banish both of your monsters!"

She'd picked this one out specifically—a card that could deal with multiple monsters at once, just in case.

Both of the monsters shattered at the same time.

Kaito did not sound fazed when he spoke up again. "... Galaxy Photon Dragon's effect. I will detach an Overlay Unit to add another "Galaxy" or "Photon" card from my deck to my hand."

She couldn't respond to that now…

"Nue." His sudden mention of her name caught her attention. "When I win this—I want you to stay in the Resistance base. I don't ever want to see you again."

"I can't do that," Nue said immediately.

"I'll be the one to destroy Academia. You don't have to fight."

"... so what if I don't have to?"

"I'm not the same." His voice was cold. "I don't need you."

"That's just a lie." Nue took a step forward. "You're the same man you were when I left! You're just hidden behind layers of hurt so thick that you can't think—"

"And what's wrong with that?"

Nue's breath caught in her throat.

"I hate Academia," Kaito said, gritting his teeth. "I hate them. I'm so angry I could choke on it. And that's why I can fight. What's so wrong with that? I'm not some broken spirit or whatever weak thing you think I am, I'm angry, and anger doesn't stop me from thinking, it makes me stronger! I—"

Nue found herself shouting back. "That's not rage, it's grief!"

She heard him breathe in sharply.

"It's grief," she repeated. "And it hurts. And yes, it motivates you—it motivates me too, but let's not pretend that it's some kind of invincible force that's guiding you."

"... it can be both, can't it?"

"It can be," Nue said. "But is it? Because if you were really angry, wouldn't you do anything to take them down?"

"I am!"

"But the way you're acting makes it obvious." Nue tapped the side of her duel disk. "... you're not desperate to destroy Academia. You're desperate not to be hurt again. To not lose people. What you're doing, Kaito… isn't striking out. It's shielding your own heart."

I want to help you. Fury isn't your nature, it's mine.

"... oh, screw off with that." Kaito placed down a card with a glare. "Quickplay Spell, Galaxy Rebirth! I'll Special Summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon from my graveyard and equip it with this card. And this turn, if I would use Galaxy-Eyes as material, Galaxy Rebirth can be treated as a material with the same Level as well!"

Nue frowned.

"I know both of your set cards now," Kaito said. "Feel free to open up that Titanocider whenever you want—but Trap Hole Nightmare is useless while I control Galaxy Divisor. I'll cut you down! I'll overlay the Level 8 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon and the Level 8 Galaxy Rebirth! Golden scales of rebirth that radiate the light of the galaxy! Come forth now, flying through time! Xyz Summon! Rank 8! Ethereal Gold Dragon - Dragluxion!"

… this one…

Nue remembered this one. A large golden dragon with angelic wings, a fierce look on its face, pink and purple gems across its body. Rather majestic—and obviously, it resembled Dragluon, even though it had been made first.

[Ethereal Gold Dragon - Dragluxion (R8/2500/3000/LIGHT/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

This monster was technically connected to a group of cards called 'Tachyon'—that was the archetype that one of Kaito's older cousins used, if Nue remembered correctly, though that cousin had gone overseas to compete in tournaments. This card had been passed down to Kaito from him.

"I'll activate—"

… if she was going to negate Dragluxion, she needed to do it now, when it'd just been summoned.

… it'd decide the game. If one of Kaito's last cards was a card that could Rank Up his monster, then she had a chance of losing. But otherwise, he might be planning to add something that would spell disaster for her.

No choice.

"Trap Card, Titanocider!" Nue declared. "I'll negate Dragluxion's effects and change its attack points to 0!"

She heard the sound of whooshing ai as the arrow landed on the dragon, and—

Kaito let out a huff.

[Ethereal Gold Dragon - Dragluxion: 2500 → 0ATK]

"Foolish," he said. "You should've already known what I chose to search out with my Galaxy Photon Dragon."

"... it had to be that one, huh? But then, you had to predict that I—"

"—not a day goes by when I don't worry about you," Kaito interrupted.

… huh?

"You can grow all you want," Kaito gritted his teeth, "but you've never not been in my mind no matter how much I try to ignore you. You're the person I keep failing to protect. I can fail other people once—I did fail Haruto, and my father—" His voice choked up for a moment. "But you? How many times have I failed you since we were kids?"

"You never failed me—"

"I did nothing as you broke down to your own visions and nightmares," Kaito said. "Just hoping that the adults could do something. Then, I did nothing to come find you because I was so guilty about it—so you had to come find me." He spat out the words—self-hatred, Nue realised. It was all self-hatred, disgust that he'd held at himself for far too long. "And you accepted me back. And then I let you get hurt by that monster because I couldn't see through his lies—and then you've been hurt over and over again in this war. I keep watching you, but I can't stop any of it!"

"... that has nothing to do with you," Nue said softly. "It's just…"

She thought about herself, about the nature of her existence and the small things she'd gleaned about the world.

"It's just me," she said.

It's just the nature of who I am. This world has never been kind to me.

"I cannot accept that," Kaito said. "Nue! I won't lose to you!" He placed down the card. "Again! Rank-Up-Magic Photon Ascendance! I'll target Dragluxion! Power filling the galaxy! When the ruler has exhausted his body and spirit, his soul curses the world!"

… this one…

Oh.

This one.

"Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 9! Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon!"

… Nue was glad she couldn't see this one. It resembled one of the Numbers that he'd given her—a dark, distorted creature that resembled the void, purple and dark mist swirling around its draconic body as it let out a shriek.

… it was a representation of a celestial body, yes, but it had never really fit Kaito Tenjo.

[Number 95: Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon (R9/4000/0/DARK/Dragon/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

Nue swiftly set Titanocider back to her field.

"Dark Matter Dragon's effect! I'll send three Dragon monsters from my deck to the graveyard—and you banish three monsters from your deck!"

Nue removed the three cards with a frown.

"I will detach an Overlay Unit. Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon can attack your monsters twice this turn!"

[Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon: OU:3 - 1 = OU:2]

So just in case he couldn't defeat her this turn, he wanted to clear away her monsters for sure, huh?

"Dark Matter Dragon attacks Traptrix Cephalotus!"

The dragon closed in—

But once again, it was interrupted.

Nue slipped a card out of her graveyard. "Trap Card, Matrix Reverse! I'll banish it from the graveyard to change all my monsters to Defense Position, since I control an Insect monster!" Cephalotus shifted to Defense Position. "Then, for each monster affected by this effect—I Special Summon an Insect monster from my deck! Come! Traptrix Myrmeleo!" The grey-haired girl appeared on the field. "I'll destroy your backrow Continuous Spell again!"

"Matrix Reverse…"

"I got it before I left the ruins," Nue said. "You know who it came from, right?"

"... he would've been the greatest," Kaito said. "... Haruto, he…" He fell silent.

Nue was almost glad that she hadn't seen the look on Chris's face when she'd asked for any possible reminder that she could give to Kaito.

… tough love, huh?

"... you never give up," Kaito finally said. "Ridiculous. Dark Matter Dragon crushes both of your monsters, and then Galaxy Photon Dragon crushes your Xyz Monster!"

Her field was completely wiped again.

"I end my turn." He still had a single card left in his hand.

"... then it's mine," Nue said. "Kaito. I'll free you from those shackles!"

[Turn 5: Nue] [H:3]

"Draw," Nue said. Her fingers pressed onto the sticker on the bottom of the card.

… there you are.

"I'll activate the effect of Traptrix Vesiculo in my hand. By sending Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare from my field to the graveyard, I'll Special Summon her!" She summoned the dark-haired girl. "Then, I'll Normal Summon Traptrix Dionaea, and with her effect, I'll call back my Traptrix Nepenthes!"

Three monsters now…

"And then—" Nue revealed the card she'd drawn. "Spell Card, Pot of Acquisitiveness! I'll return Traptrix Rafflesia, Traptrix Allomerus and Traptrix Atrax—" The third card was one of the monsters that Nue had banished with Dark Matter Dragon's effect. "To the Deck! Then, I can draw one card!"

And that was the key point, wasn't it?

She had her monsters back!

Even if you think it's all lost, even if you think I have no options, even in a situation where it seems like all hope is gone, when there's no way to move forward…

I won't!

I won't ever think that way!

I won't ever lose hope. Hope that I can take back what's mine, and crush those who'll still try to hurt us.

Let me prove it, the path that I'll carve forward—and I'll do it with everything I've learned from the people around me!

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Traptrix Vesiculo and the Level 4 Traptrix Dionaea! Beautiful worker that assists the alluring forest of the tricksters, arise now and revive the darkness that dwells in the forest! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Traptrix Allomerus!" The only Insect Xyz Monster in the Traptrix archetype appeared on the field.

[Traptrix Allomerus (R4/2200/600/EARTH/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

Kaito didn't seem to be reacting… did he have no way to respond to her effects, then? "I'll activate my Rank-Up-Magic's effect in the graveyard—I'll banish it, Trap Hole Nightmare and Bottomless Trap Hole from the graveyard to draw two more cards!"

Now that your monsters are no longer summoned on 'this' turn, they're no longer in my domain. But I…

I won't let that hold me back!

"So what?" Kaito said sceptically. "Are you just going to use Allomerus's effect to swarm the field again?"

"I could," Nue said. There was an easy route to Atypus and Cularia, which would probably seal the match in her favour.

Even so…

"But that's not what I want to tell you," she said. "I'm here because I want to talk to you, Kaito Tenjo—and you are going to listen to me! I'll detach two Overlay Units from Allomerus—and Rank her up by a single Rank!"

"Huh? That's not Allomerus's effect!"

"You're right!" Nue held out the next card. "It's not hers. It belongs to someone else!" She stopped. For a brief moment, that same grief overcame her. "And… it's someone else who was hurt. Someone else who deserves to have revenge taken in his name. And… he never made a summoning chant for this card. He never had the chance to. So… I won't take that chance from him. This… stays between you and me."

She placed down the card—Allomerus flew straight into the ground as it rumbled.

[Traptrix Allomerus: OU:2 - 2 = OU:0]

"Shimmering wings of light," she murmured. "Dazzle us with beauty and hope. Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 5!"

She stared forward, because she could see the monster in her mind's eye. Then, she heard Kaito's breath hitch.

"Come forth!" She declared. "Digital Bug Corebage!"

She heard the fluttering of the wings as the silver butterfly emerged on the field—

One of Haruto Tenjo's monsters.

[Digital Bug Corebage (R5/2200/1800/LIGHT/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

"Corebage…" Kaito whispered.

Nue held out another card. "Spell Card, Bug Signal!" She called out. "I'll Rank Up Corebage by two more Ranks!" Corebage himself was a means to an end—but this one?

This monster was her way to shout what she meant again.

"Nue, don't," Kaito warned—his breath sounded heavy.

"... I'm not trying to attack you, or hurt you. I'm not trying to speak for him." Nue shook her head. "I… don't have the right to. But I loved him too." She held a hand to her heart. "I can't imagine it. How you felt when you lost him. I hope I never have to feel it. And I want to avenge him too. Because that's what this is about. It's vengeance. And I don't want you to forget that… because you're so wrapped up in striking out aimlessly."

She picked out the new card from her Extra Deck.

"Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Level 7! Digital Bug Rhinosebus!"

She had no intentions to use these cards for much longer, if at all. It was just for this. (She didn't want to have to shape her deck around something like that, not when they did something completely different from her deck and playstyle.) But she had to make him see this.

[Digital Bug Rhinosebus (R7/2600/2200/LIGHT/Insect/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Do you remember," Nue said softly, "what his monster did?"

And then—

She heard Kaito let out a quiet, choked sound.

… he didn't, huh?

"Digital Bug Rhinosebus's effect!" She gestured forward. "With a single Overlay Unit, it'll destroy the face-up monster you control with the highest defense points!"

"... highest. But…"

"That's right. Galaxy-Eyes Dark Matter Dragon and Galaxy Photon Dragon both share the same defense points." Nue clenched a fist. "That is—they have none at all. And when the defense points of your monsters are tied and they're both the highest—Rhinosebus destroys them both!"

She heard the sound of Dark Matter Dragon writhing—before the telltale sound of two monsters exploding came to her ears.

"This is the last hit, Kaito! Digital Bug Rhinosebus attacks you directly!"

She heard the sound of the rhinoceros beetle crawling forward, and then—

"You," she heard Kaito say dangerously, "are not my brother."

Huh?

"And this is my match to win! I'll discard Galactikuriboh from my hand! With its effect—I'll Special Summon my dragon from my deck!"

Right, he'd recycled his third Galaxy-Eyes, so he still had one more in deck.

… wait. Then…

Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon reappeared with a roar.

"And then, with Galactikuriboh's effect, your attack is forcibly redirected to my dragon!" Kaito shouted back. "In the end, it's still my victory! Like I said, I refuse to lose to you! Fire back, Galaxy-Eyes!"

… damn it!

She had no way to stop it. No way to fix it—

Galaxy-Eyes roared, and then, it fired off an enormous stream of light—one that tossed Nue back with the shockwave. She hit the ground with a pained sound as the monsters in front of her burst to dust.

Nue: 300 - 400 = 0LP

Winner: Kaito Tenjo!

"That's enough," Kaito breathed out. "That's enough…"

Then, Nue heard him sob.

"That's enough, Haruto… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Nue's heart shattered for a moment. She pulled herself forward—she could tell what direction he was in, though not how far he was. She heard the sound of something hitting the ground abruptly—then, a fist smacked into the ground.

"I know I should have saved you! I know I failed you!"

… oh. He wasn't talking to her. He was…

Nue moved forward with a new urgency—she was practically crawling in her hurry, unable to place herself and get back up.

"I'm sorry, I'm—"

When Nue was close enough, she reached out and barely managed to find his shoulder, pressing against it. He tried to jerk away, but Nue didn't let go.

"That voice's not real," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "It's me, Kaito. It's me."

I know what it feels like to hear that you should have died instead. But I'm not going to let you break over it.

She felt Kaito shaking.

"I'm sorry," she said. "But none of that was your fault. You know that right? He'd never say that to you, and neither would your father. It's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"It's not! None of this is your fault." She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "... not a single thing. Just this time, believe me."

She held onto him—as though she could banish away all those terrible thoughts and memories. As though she could fix what had been done to this poor man, who deserved none of this, who had been so kind—and still was, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

Give me strength, she thought. Then, with a growing, darker fury, she added, give me persistence. So that this fury of mine never goes out.

I've had enough of this kind of suffering.

If I have to hold onto my anger and never let go to make every member of Academia suffer as much as any of us have, I will!

Carefully, Kaito pushed her away. "I can't," he said. "I can't work with any of you."

"Then don't," Nue said.

"... is that not what you came here for?"

"I didn't come here for the Resistance." She stood up carefully. "... I came here for me. I came here for you."

"... when there's more important things to be done?"

"To me, what could be more important than my people?"

A snort—one that carried some trace of the Kaito that she knew. "If that was true," he said, "wouldn't you have left the Resistance behind for them?"

"That's different," Nue said. "Kaito… I won't ask you to come back. I know you won't. But… I want to ask you for one thing."

She knew she had his attention now. She retraced her steps carefully, finding the cane and picking it up.

"Your revenge," she said. "... I know he killed your brother. He killed your father. He got everyone killed. But…"

She breathed out. She finally said the words that she'd been thinking this entire time.

"Let me have him," she said. "I deserve that much."

"... that much, I can't do," Kaito said, and there was the edge of a snarl in his voice. "If I ever see him…"

Nue shook her head. "... I can't give that to you," she said.

So I guess it's a race to see who gets to be satisfied, and who doesn't.

"Nue, I—" Kaito sounded like he was about to explain something, but then he stopped. "... nothing."

… and that was the sign for her to go.

Still, she hoped some part of her words had gotten through to him.

---

They see it. Webs wrapping over the entrance, dripping down from above and attaching to the ones around them, as though they've always been there.

From above…

The adventurer looks up.

And from above them, a beast stares down. It shifts and moves—it must be a spider, they think, but there is something cold and sinister to it. The adventurer reaches for the blade at his side—

And the spider creature speaks. It knows the adventurer. It has seen the adventurer's journey, in visions.

It has been waiting.

It wants the adventurer, the immortal hero, to make a contract with it, to take more power and rebel against the destiny that has been chosen for them.

The adventurer refuses.

And the creature laughs. It shows the adventurer three images—all of them in the future. The adventurer sees themselves, standing in three different places, facing something that must be this creature, in different forms.

'I will see you three more times,' the spider creature says. It crawls back upwards. 'And the last time, you will be ready for me.'

---

Once Nue left, Kaito sat down on the stairs, lost in thought. He didn't know how much time had passed. When he heard footsteps, he turned his head.

His eyes widened.

"Let's talk," the girl there said, her voice placid.

… right. This.

… maybe he should have finished telling Nue about it.

"... what do you want?" He asked.

---

Three hours ago:

Shun and Tsubaki raised their duel disks towards each other.

Shun glared at her.

… he needed to solve this mystery. So what if she had a reputation of invincibility?

Shun wouldn't give up immediately.

If the only way forward is victory—

I'll dethrone you right here and now, Firebird King!

[DUEL!]

Shun Kurosaki: 4000LP

Tsubaki Nagare: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Tsubaki] [H:5]

"Take the first turn," Shun said brusquely.

"… well, I won't refuse." Tsubaki glanced through the five cards in her hand. "Spell Card, Trade-In. I'll send a Level 8 monster from my hand to the graveyard to draw two cards." She cast away a single card—Shun narrowed his eyes. That was probably her Garunix or Magmacho Dragon, wasn't it? A card that could revive itself, at any rate. "I'll activate the Field Spell, Fire King Island! I'll use its effect to destroy a monster in my hand and add another "Fire King" monster to my hand."

She dropped the card, before revealing another card in her hand.

"I will activate the effect of Legendary Fire King Ponix. When a FIRE monster is destroyed by battle or a card effect, I can Special Summon him from my hand!" The small red bird appeared on her field, blowing out a tiny ember from its beak.

[Legendary Fire King Ponix (1*/500/200/FIRE/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Ponix's effect lets me add a "Fire King" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." She picked up the card. "And with the effect of Fire King Avatar Kirin, since he was destroyed and sent to the graveyard, I can send another FIRE monster from my deck to the graveyard!"

She wasn't using the effect of the monster that she'd sent to the graveyard earlier?

"I'll then activate the effect of Fire King High Avatar Kirin in my hand. I'll destroy Ponix and Special Summon it from my hand!" The small bird dissolved into flames, before the bright white steed appeared on the field, majestic green flames flowing around it.

[Fire King High Avatar Kirin (8*/2400/200/FIRE/Beast/Effect)]

"Since a "Fire King" monster was destroyed, I can Special Summon Fire King Avatar Barong from my hand!" The dark-haired warrior with red skin landed on the field with a loud roar, blue flames flowing around him.

[Fire King Avatar Barong (4*/1800/200/FIRE/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]

"Finally, with the effect of Magmacho Dragon, I will revive it when a monster is destroyed!" There it was—the familiar blazing dragon appeared next to Kirin, letting out a loud roar.

[Magmacho Dragon (8*/1800/2200/FIRE/Pyro/Effect)]

"Then, I can draw one card." Tsubaki glanced at the new card, placing it down—and then, another. "I'll activate the Continuous Spells, Ebon Sun and Reincarnation of the Fire Kings. Then, I'll overlay the Level 8 Fire King High Avatar Kirin and the Level 8 Magmacho Dragon!" She did not make any dramatic motions—she simply held out her hand with an imperious look, and the two blazing monsters flew into the ground, igniting the portal and filling it with flames. "Flaming spirits born of the purest waters. Vaporise the very groundwater that gave you life, and as the ungrateful king, pridefully burn away every hope in the shadow of your wings! Xyz Summon! Rank 8!"

Flames shot in front of her in the shape of a crown, before erupting forth in a wave.

"Storm bird of flames and ocean—Fire King Avatar Manifestation Imdugud!"

A crown of dark blue flames rose up slowly, before a eagle swept its wings up through the air, black, purple and blue feathers illuminated by the flames. The eagle had the head of a beast—a lion, with a long, regal-looking blue mane. It let out a roar, smashing its claws on the ground. A medallion of thick gold hung around its neck.

[Fire King Avatar Manifestation Imdugud (R8/2700/2000/FIRE/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Imdugud's effect," Tsubaki said. "When Xyz Summoned, I can destroy a monster in my deck—and Imdugud gains 200 attack points times that monster's Level. I'll choose the Level 8 Sacred Fire King Garunix. Blazing Imbue!" The beast roared, golden flames forming around it for a brief moment before they were absorbed into Imdugud's darker flames. "So that's 1600 attack points."

[Fire King Avatar Manifestation Imdugud: 2700 + 200 x 8 = 4300ATK]

"Then, I'll Normal Summon Fire King Consort Ulkanix." The red-haired woman appeared on the field with a graceful curtsy—her colourful feathers swept through the air as she smiled softly.

[Fire King Consort Ulkanix (4*/800/2000/FIRE/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Ulkanix's effect. I will destroy Barong to add a FIRE Beast, Beast-Warrior or Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand." More flames burned across her side of the field—the temperature of the room wasn't actually rising though, so it was probably fine. "During my Main Phase or Battle Phase, Reincarnation of the Fire Kings lets me draw a card when a FIRE monster on the field is destroyed by my own card effect. And then, Fire King Avatar Rangbali's effect. I will Special Summon it from my hand as well."

The monkey spirit appeared, its body surrounded by pink flames as it readied its weapon.

[Fire King Avatar Rangbali (4*/1600/200/FIRE/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]

"While due to some technicalities, I can only use either Rangbali or Garunix's effect to Special Summon themselves here, my Continuous Spell allows me to revive another "Fire King" monster when a FIRE monster is destroyed by a card effect. So return—Sacred Fire King Garunix." The blazing bright bird king reappeared on the field, letting out a mighty cry as his colourful feathers glowed even more brightly. Ulkanix turned to him and bowed briefly.

[Sacred Fire King Garunix (8*/2700/1700/FIRE/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Then, Ebon Sun's effect. Since a face-up monster I control was destroyed, I can gain life points equal to its original attack points."

Tsubaki: 4000 + 1800 = 5800LP

"Garunix's effect. I'll destroy Fire King Avatar Ahemait in the deck, and Garunix gains half of that monster's original attack points for the rest of this turn—not that it matters, since I can't attack you this turn. Ebon Sun, however, will permanently give Garunix 1000 attack points while he's face-up on the field."

[Sacred Fire King Garunix: 2700 + 1700 / 2 + 1000 = 4550ATK]

"Ahemait's effect activates since she was destroyed. I'll draw one card, and then send a FIRE monster from my hand to the graveyard." She parted the cards in her hand. "... activating the Spell Card, Oil. I'll add two Level 4 or lower FIRE monsters with different names from my graveyard to my hand. Then, I'll set a card and end my turn." Garunix's attack points fell by the amount that it had gained with its own effect, though Ebon Sun's effect remained.

[Sacred Fire King Garunix: 4550 - 850 = 3700ATK]

Interesting… she wasn't overlaying Rangbali and Ulkanix? Then, she was likely planning to use Rangbali's effect to negate his Spells or Traps. Still, Shun wasn't going to be intimidated by a single negation effect—and he'd do his damn hardest to devastate her field before she devastated his.

[Turn 2: Shun] [H:6]

"Draw!" Shun declared. He'd encountered Imdugud once or twice. On the destruction of another FIRE monster, it could detach all its Overlay Units to destroy his cards—one for each FIRE monster she controlled. Considering that her deck was based on destroying her own monsters… yeah. It meant that it was a nuke that she could spring on his field at any point.

… still, he didn't see any way for her to destroy her own cards right now, other than Rangbali—who only triggered on the activation of a Spell or Trap. So as long as he destroyed Imdugud or negated its effects before destroying any other monster, or activating a Spell or Trap, he wouldn't have to deal with it.

… then again… was it necessary to fully avoid it?

"During your Standby Phase, I'll add Ponix from my graveyard to my hand," Tsubaki said. "And Barong's effect from last turn lets me add another "Fire King" card from my deck to my hand."

"... Tsubaki," Shun said. "I know you're planning on using Rangbali and Imdugud to raze my field. But I'll force you to use that effect right now! Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force!"

He'd charge straight into the trap, to force it to go off early—

That was how he'd deal with this problem. No hesitation.

"I'll target your Imdugud, take control of it and use it for an Xyz Summon," he said. "So? Are you going to give it to me, or give up your only negation effect for this turn?"

"... you talk in such a demanding way," Tsubaki remarked. Despite the fact that she sounded like her usual calm self, it was almost eerie—after all, Shun still remembered how this duel had started. She had requested it, after all, and yet there was no heat to her voice, no hope for battle. "... Rangbali's effect. I'll destroy Sacred Fire King Garunix on my field." The bird dissolved into flames, absorbed into the monkey warrior, before Rangbali drummed his fists on the ground. "I'll negate your card and destroy it."

She obviously did not activate Imdugud's effect—there was no point, and there was nothing to destroy. Still, his card crackled and faded.

"And Ponix's effect. I'll Special Summon him from my hand in Defense Position—and add another "Fire King" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." The small bird appeared next to Imdugud—it let out a cooing sound, hiding beneath the dark blue flames coming from the eagle's wings. The eagle let out a soft sound in response.

Still, she had no real way to destroy monsters now… well, except that set card. There was a chance that it would destroy one of her cards to do something. In which case, Shun's goal was still to get rid of it, and get rid of Imdugud as well.

But now that Rangbali's one negate was used up, he could move more freely.

"Spell Card, Graceful Charity! I'll draw three cards and discard two—then, I'll Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius!" The blue bird emerged on the field, letting out a cry as it took to the sky.

[Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius (4*/1800/400/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Tribute Lanius's effect. I'll send Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius from the deck to the graveyard—and with Mimicry Lanius's effect, I will banish it from the graveyard to add a "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to my hand!" He swiped up the new card. "I'll activate it—the Continuous Spell, Raid Raptors - Nest. Then, since I control a "Raid Raptors" monster, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius from my hand!" The dark purple bird appeared next to Tribute Lanius, flying around it and touching a wing to its side before landing in its own Main Monster Zone.

[Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius (4*/500/1500/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Nest's effect. I will add another "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand. I'll add Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle to my hand—and since all monsters I control are "Raid Raptors" monsters, I can Special Summon it!" A small, bright silver bird with pink-purple wings appeared on the field as well.

[Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle (3*/700/700/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"And now—I'll use everything in my arsenal to defeat you, Tsubaki, no matter how far I must go! Open, circuit of the valiant wings!"

"... so you have one too," Tsubaki remarked. She seemed unsurprised—and she didn't seem that angry, either. "Go ahead."

… Shun would think more about that reaction later. "Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two DARK Winged Beast monsters. I will set Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle and Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius in the Link Markers! Wise bird of the cybernetic world, start up a new revolution with the sharpness of your wings! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Raid Raptors - Wise Strix!" In front of him, the silver form of his Link Monster appeared in the Extra Monster Zone.

[Raid Raptors - Wise Strix (L2/1400/DARK/Winged Beast/Link/Effect, ↙, ↘)]

"Fuzzy Lanius's effect activates since it was sent to the graveyard—it'll add another Fuzzy Lanius from my deck to my hand. And with Wise Strix's effect, I will Special Summon a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from my deck, but its effects are negated! Come—Raid Raptors - Sharp Lanius!" The bright red and white bird appeared on the field, its claws and beak shaped like sharp blades, protruding through the space around it like scissors.

[Raid Raptors - Sharp Lanius (4*/1700/1000/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Sharp Lanius and the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius!" Shun did not hesitate at all—he simply moved from monster to monster, summon to summon.

After all, in the Resistance, who could swarm the field with more monsters than him?

"Avian hunter of the afterlife, seek the truth with your dark eyes, and grasp glory with your sharp talons! Xyz Summon! Take flight! Rank 4! Raid Raptors - Force Strix!" The small bird appeared on the field, quietly chirping as it took on a defensive stance.

[Raid Raptors - Force Strix (R4/100/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Force Strix's effect. I'll detach one Overlay Unit from it and add a Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster from my deck to my hand." One of the orbs flying around Force Strix flew down, fizzling out.

[Raid Raptors - Force Strix: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"So you've recovered all your card advantage from that summon in the first place… you're good at that, I suppose."

Shun held up the five cards in his hand. "I've always been," he said. "They refresh themselves and reinforce each other. One soldier falls and another takes their place! Wise Strix's effect!" The bird surrounded by bright screens let out another cry. "When I activate the effect of one of my Xyz Monsters, if that monster is a "Raid Raptors" monster, I can set a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell from my deck—and I can activate that card this turn, even if it's a Quickplay Spell!"

He revealed the card that he'd set.

"Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force! I'll Rank Up Force Strix by one Rank!" The small bird zoomed into a portal by itself, its Overlay Unit flying in as well. "Ferocious falcon. Break through this fierce battle and spread your wings! Destroy our gathering foes! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Appear! Rank 5! Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon!" The blazing red falcon appeared on the field—Shun thought that it was rather thematically appropriate, considering the opponent that he was currently facing.

Tsubaki wasn't the only one that could deal with flames. And Shun's spirit was far more ablaze than this composed woman could ever hope to be.

[Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon (R5/1000/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"I will—"

"I won't let you activate Blaze Falcon's effect," Tsubaki said. "I'll respond to your Xyz Summon right now. Quickplay Spell, Fire King Sky Burn!" She revealed the card. "I'll target the Fire King Avatar Rangbali, Legendary Fire King Ponix and Fire King Consort Ulkanix on my field—and I'll target the same number of cards you control to destroy them. I'll target Blaze Falcon, Wise Strix and Nest!"

Flames engulfed the entire field—they incinerated the six cards on both sides, leaving only Imdugud on the field.

"Then, Ulkanix's effect," Tsubaki continued. "I'll Special Summon a specific monster from my deck in Defense Position—come! Fire King High Avatar Garunix!"

Another form of Garunix appeared on the field—still colourful and bright, but lacking much of the golden armour and accessories that Tsubaki's preferred version of it had.

[Fire King High Avatar Garunix (8*/2700/1700/FIRE/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Ebon Sun's effect activates. I gain life points equal to their total attack points."

Tsubaki: 5800 + 800 + 500 + 1600 = 8700LP

Practically a field nuke…

But Shun had been expecting that.

"Don't go regretting it now," he said. "... I may not have Blaze Falcon. But destroying my monsters has never stopped me!" He revealed a card in his hand, before slamming it down on the duel disk. "I'll banish Raid Raptors - Return from my graveyard to add a "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to my hand, since you destroyed my monsters outside of battle!"

He picked up the card, sliding it in between the other cards and taking out another.

"Quickplay Spell! Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force! I'll Special Summon a destroyed Xyz Monster from the graveyard and Rank Up that monster by one Rank!" He saw Tsubaki narrow her eyes—she likely knew what he was planning on doing. "Return to me! Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon!"

The bright red bird reappeared on the field, glowing brightly with flames—it was a kind of rebirth, which was once again weirdly thematic against this opponent.

One more evolution immediately, to defeat her!

"Prideful falcon. Spread your wings, dyed in the blood of heroes, and charge through the path of revolution! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Appear! Rank 6! Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon!" A new form of his ace appeared, letting out an even louder cry as its silver wings swept through the air. The golden orbs across its wings weren't all that bright—they blended easily into the silvery wings. There were some red highlights near its head, brighter spots on its otherwise monochrome body.

[Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon (R6/2000/3000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

"Since Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon was Xyz Summoned using a Rank 5 or lower "Raid Raptors" Xyz Monster as material, I can target a Special Summoned monster you control, destroy it, and you take damage equal to half its attack points. I will destroy Fire King Avatar Manifestation Imdugud! Blitzing Bombardment!"

… all so that she wouldn't be able to use her monster's effect to bomb his field in return.

"... that's fine," Tsubaki said. Her Xyz Monster blew up on the spot, some of its darker feathers scattering around her as debris as her life points fell.

Tsubaki: 8700 - 4300 / 2 = 6550LP

"I'll activate Imdugud's effect," she continued. "I will Special Summon a Level 8 or lower FIRE monster from my graveyard in Defense Position, and you can't revive it this turn. I'll choose Fire King Avatar Ulkanix." The young woman appeared on the field, still with that serene look on her face.

Shun narrowed his eyes. Revolution Falcon could attack every monster she controlled—swarming the field right now would hardly help. In that case, her goal was…

"Ulkanix's effect." She revealed another card in her hand. "I'll destroy Ahemait and add another FIRE Winged Beast, Beast or Beast-Warrior from my deck to my hand. And with Ahemait's effect, I will draw another card and discard one again."

… Ahemait and Ulkanix formed such a toxic loop—what kind of idiot had designed Ahemait, anyway? With Ulkanix, Tsubaki would always have a FIRE monster to discard—in other words, she'd never have to face the 'detrimental effect' or 'risk' that Ahemait supposedly posed.

"... you're hoping to stop any damage by putting up only defensive monsters to stop me," Shun said. He smirked. "But something like that only works if Revolution Falcon is my only monster! Since I control a DARK monster, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius from my hand!" The bone white bird appeared on the field, directly to the right of Revolution Falcon. "But I can only Special Summon DARK monsters this turn."

[Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius (4*/1600/1100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"... hardly a problem for you," Tsubaki remarked. "Or any kind of real limitation."

"Well, you still point out your FIRE-only restrictions as though that means anything," Shun said, rolling his eyes. Did any archetype have meaningful restrictions anymore? "Strangle Lanius's effect! If I control a Xyz Monster with a DARK Xyz Monster as an Overlay Unit, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Raid Raptors" monster from my graveyard with its effects negated! Come back! Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius!" The blue bird appeared on the field, though its wings were curved around itself in a defensive posture.

Time for a bit of housekeeping first…

"I'll banish Raid Raptors - Heel Eagle from my graveyard—I'll add Raid Raptors - Nest back to my hand!" He glanced through the five cards left in his hand—one was Fuzzy Lanius and the other was Nest, but the last three…

He could work out something with this.

"Since I control an Xyz Monster, I can Special Summon Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius from my hand!" The small, chirping golden bird appeared next to Tribute Lanius with a very loud, high-pithced sound.

[Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius (4*/0/0/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Now, I have three Level 4 monsters! I'll overlay the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius, the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius and the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius!" The three birds turned into dark orbs that flew down into the ground. Obscured falcon, raise your sharpened talons in front of adversity, spread your wings of rebellion! Xyz Summon! Appear! Rank 4! Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon!" His ace, dark indigo and green, flew out from the portal, whipping up winds with its wide wings.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon (R4/100/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

"Rise Falcon's effect! I will detach one of its Overlay Units and it gains attack points equal to the combined attack points of all your Special Summoned monsters! Brave Claw Revolution!" The mechanical bird flew across the field, shooting past Ulkanix and Garunix, glowing as it powered up swiftly.

[Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon: 100 + 2700 + 800 = 3600ATK; OU:3 - 1 = OU:2]

"You already know Rise Falcon's effect. It can attack all Special Summoned monsters you control—but it can only attack Special Summoned monsters." Shun gestured forward. "Attack Garunix!"

The dark bird zoomed forward, raising its claws in the air. It sliced through the other bird neatly.

"Garunix's effect," Tsubaki said, crossing her arms. "I'll Special Summon Fire King Avatar Barong from my deck in Defense Position." The red-skinned warrior appeared on the field again.

"... Rise Falcon will crush that one and Ulkanix too!" With two swift strikes, Rise Falcon tore apart her field. "Revolution Falcon attacks directly!"

The silver falcon raised its claws in the air, letting out a loud cry.

"Revolutional Air Raid!" Shun declared, waving outwards sharply with his hand.

Explosions landed all around them on the field. For a moment, it felt like the very ruins were shaking—but that was just holographic dust and dirt falling from the ceiling. Revolution Falcon dove forward, flying right past Tsubaki—slicing her life points down by a third.

Tsubaki: 6550 - 2000 = 4550LP

"I'll set a card and end my turn," Shun declared. "Over to you." Other than her Continuous Spells and Field Spell, the field was empty, but…

This wasn't going to be the end of it. Neither of them were the type to be taken down in a single turn.

[Turn 3: Tsubaki] [H:3]

"Draw," Tsubaki said. "I'll activate the effect of the Barong I destroyed last turn, along with Ponix—Barong adds another card to my hand, and Ponix returns itself to my hand." With all of the destruction and card advantage she had, she was back to five cards in hand again. That was part of her deck's nature, after all—just like him, every card replaced itself. "I'll activate the effect of Fire King Island again! I'll destroy another copy of Fire King Avatar Kirin in my hand to add another "Fire King" monster from my deck to my hand."

She held up her hand, curving down her thumb and pinky, leaving three fingers pointing upwards.

"Three effects trigger. First, Legendary Fire King Ponix Special Summons himself from my hand. Second, Fire King Avatar Kirin drops another FIRE monster into my graveyard. Third, with my Reincarnation of the Fire Kings, Sacred Fire King Garunix returns to the field." Both birds appeared on the field, the younger one moving next to the older one with a cheerful chirp.

… and she wasn't done, huh.

"Ponix's effect. I'll add a "Fire King" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand. And then, Garunix's effect! I'll destroy Fire King Avatar Barong in my deck to give Garunix half its attack points."

Gaining attack points wasn't her goal at all, right? She just wanted the search next turn.

… which meant one thing, if Shun was going to look at the intentions of that move.

Tsubaki Nagare wasn't certain that she could finish him off this turn.

… that was almost flattering, and Shun would be rather happy with that—if not for the fact that they were still in a duel.

The last copy of Barong dissolved into flames, surrounding her monster—its attack points shot up.

[Sacred Fire King Garunix: 2700 + 1800 / 2 = 3600ATK]

"Spell Card, Circle of the Fire Kings." Tsubaki revealed the next card. Golden flames surrounded Ponix. "I can destroy a FIRE monster I control to Special Summon one from the graveyard. I will destroy Ponix—and Special Summon Fire King High Avatar Garunix from the graveyard!" The other form of Garunix appeared—the two birds were now the only monsters on her field.

Shun frowned. What exactly was she doing?

"Magmacho Dragon comes back. And I'll draw a card with its effect." The blazing dragon reappeared on the field—while it should have been banished with its own effect when it left the field, since it had been used as Xyz Material, it had never truly 'left' to begin with. "I'll overlay the Level 8 Sacred Fire King Garunix, Fire King High Avatar Garunix and Magmacho Dragon!"

Three Level 8 monsters… well, the monster that he suspected she was summoning only needed two, but could take any amount. So…

"Flames engulf the world. On this blazing altar of sacrifice, take the tribute of your servants, and cannibalise the crowned beasts of flame!"

Yup. It was that one. So she was planning on razing his entire field.

"Destroy your mortal shell, and ascend into a higher form! Xyz Summon! Rank 8! My eternal soul—Garunix Eternity, Sacred God of the Fire Kings!" The enormous, multicoloured phoenix king appeared on the field with a piercing cry—golden flames poured down all around it from its feathers, landing on the ground and leaving bright embers scattered across them.

[Garunix Eternity, Sacred God of the Fire Kings (R8/3000/2000/FIRE/Pyro/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

"Garunix Eternity's effect," Tsubaki declared. "When Xyz Summoned, he destroys every other monster on the field! I control nothing else—but your field isn't quite so lucky. Burn it all! Heaven-Defying Flames of Nirvana!" The golden flames surrounded her, forming wing-like structures, before they surged forward—

Before a dark aura surged forward, countering the flames.

Shun gestured to the card he'd just flipped up. "Trap Card," he said. "Raid Raptors - Glorious Bright! I'll target Garunix Eternity and negate its effects for the rest of this turn!"

He wouldn't be losing his monsters now—she'd have to fight them properly. The stronger form of Kirin was already in the graveyard, so she couldn't use its effect to destroy her ace herself—and she'd already used both Fire King Island and Circle of the Fire Kings. Her monster… should be stuck on the field.

Right?

"… I'll Normal Summon Fire King Avatar Arvata," Tsubaki said. The pink elephant monster appeared on the field, holding up two axes surrounded by bright purple flames. It slashed them through the air, illuminating its colourful, tribal clothing.

[Fire King Avatar Arvata (4*/1800/200/FIRE/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]

Arvata of all monsters…

"Battle Phase. Fire King Avatar Arvata attacks Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon!"

… you'll have to come back to me later.

"I'll banish Raid Raptors - Steadiness from my graveyard!" Shun declared. "I take no battle damage this turn!"

"… but your monster still falls," Tsubaki said. Arvata breathed down its bright flames, burning Rise Falcon to cinders. "Now—Garunix Eternity, Sacred God of the Fire Kings attacks Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon!"

… Arvata could negate a monster effect once per turn. Even so…

He pointed directly at Garunix. "Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon's effect! When it battles a Special Summoned monster, I can permanently change that monster's attack and defense points to 0!"

And Tsubaki…

Shifted? There was a certain sense of satisfaction to her response.

"If you wish," she said—not using Arvata's effect?

Revolution Falcon let out a loud cry, and Garunix Eternity's attack points plummeted.

[Garunix Eternity, Sacred God of the Fire Kings: 3000 → 0ATK; 2000 0DEF]

"Counterattack, Revolution Falcon!" Shun declared—deciding to commit fully to his response for now. "Revolutional Air Raid!"

Bombs exploded all over the field—Arvata dove out of the way, but Garunix Eternity writhed under the explosions, before dissolving into golden flames.

Tsubaki: 4550 - 2000 = 2550LP

Even so, after the explosions faded, the golden flames lingered on the field.

"Ebon Sun's effect! I'll gain life points equal to Garunix's attack points!" The dark glow surrounded her again, her life points shooting back up.

Tsubaki: 2550 + 3000 = 5550LP

"… do you remember what happens when you destroy Garunix Eternity, Kurosaki?" Tsubaki asked, raising an eyebrow.

… ah.

"You may not take damage this turn, but you're not making things easier for yourself either." Tsubaki reached out her hand—three pillars of flame rose up in front of her. "Return again from the depths of the flames! Garunix Eternity had three Overlay Units when you destroyed it—thus, I can revive three "Fire King" monsters from my graveyard! First—Fire King High Avatar Garunix!" The bright red, blue and green monster appeared, letting out a shriek. "Second—Fire King Avatar Rangbali!"

… fantastic. The monkey surrounded by pink flames appeared to the left of Garunix, waving his legs through the air as he perched on a nearby chair.

"And finally," Tsubaki finished, "Fire King Avatar Barong!"

… why Barong? Why not her Xyz Monster?

Shun didn't realise he'd spoken those thoughts aloud until Tsubaki shrugged. "Revolution Force," she said, referring to the Rank-Up-Magic in his graveyard. "If you find a way to take it back—which is likely, because it's you, I'm not giving you an easy way to bring out a Rank 9 monster."

… she was probably right, huh.

"I won't activate Ebon Sun's other effect—there's no reason to make their attack points higher, not when you're not taking damage this turn and my monsters's strength only benefits yours." She gestured forward. "Strike it down in your new form, Garunix."

Shun narrowed his eyes. I'll make you use it anyway. "Revolution Falcon changes your monster's attack and defense points to 0!" He declared.

"Fire King Avatar Arvata's effect," Tsubaki countered. "I'll negate the activation of your effect—and then destroy a FIRE monster in my hand!" She revealed the card. "Fire King Avatar Yaksha."

… well, Yaksha didn't really do anything else when destroyed—in fact, one could argue that its effect was detrimental, considering that Tsubaki had plenty of other ways to destroy her own cards. So she was just paying the cost, huh? The attack continued. Shun grimaced when his monster was destroyed—even if he knew that he could bring it back later, letting it be destroyed now was…

No. There was no reason to feel like this. Always battling with the hope to take their comrades back—wasn't that what they'd been doing, throughout this war?

"And you take no damage, so there's no point on that front." Tsubaki gestured forward. "... your turn, Shun."

[Turn 4: Shun] [H:4]

"Draw!" Shun picked up the card, glancing at the field.

… I just need to destroy her Spells. I know who's good at that.

"Ponix's effect. I'll add him back to my hand. And with Barong's effect, I will search out another "Fire King" card."

So she had fuel for both Barong and Rangbali's effects… two negates on the field. That was rather troublesome, but… he'd push his way through it all.

"I'll Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius!" The bright blue bird appeared on the field again. "I'll activate Tribute Lanius's effect to send a "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to my hand!" Tsubaki didn't respond, so Shun dropped the card into his graveyard. "I'll banish my next copy of Mimicry Lanius from the graveyard to add another "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to my hand!"

She still wasn't responding… maybe she thought that he had too many effects that could add cards to his hand anyway, so stopping one of them wasn't worth it?

"I'll activate the effect of Fuzzy Lanius in my hand and Special Summon it!" The black and purple bird emerged on the field, letting out a loud chirp. "And I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Raid Raptors - Nest! With its effect, I'll add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my deck to my hand!"

"... go ahead."

Shun picked up the card from his deck. "Spell Card, Wing Requital! I'll pay 600 life points to draw two cards!"

Shun: 4000 - 600 = 3400LP

No negate for that one too…

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius and the Level 4 Raid Raptors - Tribute Lanius! Now, hunter that plucks the enemies from on high, dash down and pave the path for destruction! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Raid Raptors - Spade Strix!" The small black bird with spade-shaped wings emerged, an antenna attached to its back.

[Raid Raptors - Spade Strix (R4/2000/2500/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Spade Strix's effect! When Xyz Summoned, I can set a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell Card from my deck!"

"... that one, I will stop." Tsubaki gestured forward. "Fire King Avatar Arvata's effect. I'll destroy another Arvata in my hand—and negate your monster's effect!" Spade Strix's effect fizzled out. "Arvata's effect. I will Special Summon Fire King Avatar Ahemait from my graveyard with its effects negated!"

In front of her, an enormous flaming beast appeared—a scaly, green crocodile head gazed up, slitted eyes staring directly at Shun. Orange flames drifted around her as she took a step forward—despite her head being reptilian, the front half of her body was covered in fur—her feet were the thick paws of a lion. The back half of her body, including the hindlegs, were those of a hippopotamus—a thick tail whipped through the air sharply, casting a line of orange flames through the air.

[Fire King Avatar Ahemait (3*/1700/200/FIRE/Beast/Effect)]

So she had a monster ready to be destroyed for Rangbali's negate too… still, he could adapt.

"Spade Strix's effect! I'll detach one of his Overlay Units—and Special Summon a DARK Xyz Monster from my graveyard in Defense Position! Return! Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon!" The mighty bird reappeared on the field, spreading its wings and immediately dwarfing Spade Strix.

[Raid Raptors - Spade Strix: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"Then, I'll use Fuzzy Lanius's effect!" Shun revealed the card. "Since it was just sent to the graveyard, I'll add my final Fuzzy Lanius to my hand! I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Raid Raptors - Roost. Then, I'll activate the Spell Card, Rank-Up Return! I'll add Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force back to my hand!"

"... that one, I will negate." Tsubaki gestured forward. "Rangbali's effect. I'll negate your effect and destroy Arvata." The elephant creature was consumed by the pink flames, and Shun's card sizzled out. "Ponix's effect activates in my hand." The small red bird appeared, landing on the ground with another chirp and folding its wings around itself defensively. "Ponix's effect. I'll add one more "Fire King" Spell or Trap to my hand. And Ebon Sun's effect—my life points increase by Arvata's."

Tsubaki: 5550 + 1800 = 7350LP

"... that's fine," Shun said. "I already have it." He revealed another card in his hand. "Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Soul Shave Force!"

"Soul Shave… Force." Tsubaki narrowed her eyes. "... that's the card that…"

"Soul Shave Force's effect. I halve my life points, Special Summon a "Raid Raptors" monster from my graveyard, and Rank Up that monster by two Ranks! Return to my field, Blaze Falcon!" The red bird reappeared on the field. Shocks ran over Shun's body as his life points fell sharply.

Shun: 3400 / 2 = 1700LP

"Lowering your life points in front of me?" Tsubaki arched an eyebrow.

"I know your playstyle," Shun said. "When you don't know the capabilities of your opponent, you like to take it slow. Your deck can keep destroying and replenishing itself—in a battle of attrition, it's hard to beat you." He smirked. "It'll take forever, if we duel that way. Let's accelerate this! I'll Rank Up Blaze Falcon by two Ranks! Unified falcon. With the power of the rage of the others around you, channel it into your form, and whip the winds into a frenzy! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 7! Raid Raptors - Arsenal Falcon!" His only Rank 7 monster appeared on the field—a large, dusty grey machine bird, grey-white swirls of wind flowing around it.

[Raid Raptors - Arsenal Falcon (R7/2500/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

The last time he'd brought out Arsenal Falcon was against Nue in the Friendship Cup. Nue had immediately tried to crush it underfoot and he'd been forced to change it out for another monster—but this was different.

"Raid Raptors - Roost's effect. I'll add a "Raid Raptors" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand. I'll also use its other effect and return Raid Raptors - Wise Strix and Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius to the bottom of the deck, along with the banished Mimicry Lanius, and then draw a card. Then, Arsenal Falcon's effect! I'll detach an Overlay Unit and Special Summon a Level 4 Winged Beast monster from my deck!" The one spinning orb vanished from the field, and Arsenal Falcon let out a piercing cry.

[Raid Raptors - Arsenal Falcon: OU:1 - 1 = OU:0]

"Come! Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture!" A glowing purple and black bird appeared, looking rather sinister.

[Raid Raptors - Necro Vulture (4*/1000/1600/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Necro Vulture's effect. I'll tribute it to add a "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell from my graveyard to my hand, but I can't Xyz Summon for the rest of this turn, except by Ranking Up!" He picked up the card. "Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force! I'll Rank Up Arsenal Falcon by one more Rank!"

"So you managed to get back there," Tsubaki said, folding her arms. "In that case, your goal is…"

"Dauntless falcon. Hoist up the flame of anger, become the flash of light that burns the land to ash! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Soar! Rank 8! Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon!" A bright, mechanical white falcon appeared on the field, its cannons clicking and glowing brightly.

[Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon (R8/3000/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

"And this is the card that'll break your field wide open." Shun clenched a fist. "When Raid Raptors - Satellite Cannon Falcon is Xyz Summoned using a "Raid Raptors" monster as material, I can destroy all Spells and Traps you control! And you cannot respond to this effect! That includes your Continuous Spell, your Fire King Island and Ebon Sun!"

The three cards burst to bits.

"And there's one thing about your cards that you never mention to anyone," Shun said. "Usually, it doesn't matter because you control your Fire King Sanctuary—but this time, you drew Island by itself. And the biggest weakness of this Field Spell, the one drawback to something so powerful, is that when it leaves the field, every single one of your monsters is destroyed!"

As he shouted the word, Ahemait, Barong, Ponix, Garunix and Rangbali all let out their own cries, burning and fading from the field.

"... so?" Tsubaki shrugged. "... if there's one thing they're good at, it's coming back. Ahemait's effect. I'll draw a card and discard a FIRE monster from my hand. Then, the effects of Magmacho Dragon and Sacred Fire King Garunix activate in my graveyard!" Both Level 8 monsters reappeared on the field in Defense Position, even as Tsubaki drew a card.

"... sure," Shun said. "I'll have Spade Strix attack your Sacred Fire King Garunix!" Despite its small stature, Spade Strix hopped over the field—and then headbutted Tsubaki's monster in the side, destroying it. "And Satellite Cannon Falcon will destroy Magmacho Dragon!"

This time, Magmacho Dragon was crushed by battle—meaning that it was properly banished, and couldn't be revived by its own effect any longer.

"I'll set a card and end my turn."

"... as expected, you know how to hit where it hurts, Shun," Tsubaki said. "... you've always been good at that."

"I'm not out to hurt you. This entire duel is happening at your suggestion."

"I know." Tsubaki glanced away. "... it's the only way I know how to solve problems, after all."

"... huh?"

"It's the only way that anyone in the Resistance knows," she continued. "And no one focuses on that more than me." She reached out her hand for the top of her deck. "... my turn."

[Turn 5: Tsubaki] [H:5]

"Draw," Tsubaki said, holding onto a ridiculous amount of cards in her hand for someone that'd been giving him a tough time the whole time. Thank goodness that he'd gotten rid of that Continuous Spell… still, she already had too many cards. "During the Standby Phase, I'll Special Summon Fire King High Avatar Garunix from the graveyard with his effect, since you destroyed him with a card effect last turn." On her empty field, the firebird reappeared.

With so many different forms of Garunix in her deck… it was no wonder that they called her the Firebird King. The masculine title was used as a way to match her with her monsters, but also, there was nothing more iconic about her than this sight—her monsters coming back from the dead over and over again.

"Then, all monsters you control are destroyed!"

"Trap Card, activate!" Shun countered. "Raid Raptors - Desperate! If you activate an effect that would destroy my cards, I can negate it and draw a card!" A barrier protected his three monsters as he swiftly picked up the next card from his deck.

"... I suppose you searched it out with this in mind." Tsubaki glanced at Shun's field, before she shook her head. "... no easy win for me then. That's fine. Ponix comes back to my hand, and the Barong destroyed by Fire King Island adds another card to my hand." She finally started her Main Phase. "... you'll be able to bring out Ultimate Falcon next turn, won't you? It seems like the natural progression of everything you've been doing so far."

"... are you going to stop me?"

"I have to," Tsubaki said. "... once you bring that monster out, this will be a far more difficult match to take on—you and I both know that gaining attack points aren't my monsters' forte." She closed her eyes for a moment. "You're right, Kurosaki. You've accelerated this match—so I'll have to do the same. I'll Normal Summon Legendary Fire King Ponix!"

… this little bird. This thing was absolutely his biggest problem.

"Ponix's effect," Tsubaki continued. "I'll add the Continuous Spell, Fire King Sanctuary to my hand and activate it. And with its effect, I'll place Fire King Island from my deck face-up in the Field Zone!"

… of course she had a second copy of it.

"Fire King Island's effect," Tsubaki continued. "I'll destroy Ponix to add another "Fire King" monster from my deck to my hand. And then, Sacred Fire King Garunix returns from the graveyard."

… Shun was really sick of that monster. Still, without Ebon Sun, Tsubaki could no longer use its destruction to gain life points.

"Sacred Fire King Garunix's effect. I'll destroy Bonfire Colossus in my deck and Garunix gains half its attack points."

[Sacred Fire King Garunix: 2700 + 2600 / 2 = 4000ATK]

Shun fought the urge to roll his eyes. Sure. Gaining attack points was not at all her forte. Whatever.

"I'll activate another copy of Circle of the Fire Kings," Tsubaki continued. "I'll destroy my Fire King High Avatar Garunix to bring back my Fire King Avatar Arvata!"

… oh.

"I'll detach one Overlay Unit from my Satellite Cannon Falcon!" Shun shot back—the moment that Arvata came back, he would negate Shun's monster effects, after all. "I'll reduce your Sacred Fire King Garunix's attack points by 800 for every "Raid Raptors" monster in my graveyard—I don't think I have to count. Your monster's attack points are about to become zero!" Satellite Cannon Falcon fired off an enormous explosion, hitting Garunix as it let out a cry.

[Sacred Fire King Garunix: 4000 → 0ATK]

"... I see." Arvata reappeared on the field. "Since a "Fire King" monster I control was destroyed, I can Special Summon Fire King Avatar Yaksha from my hand!" The tiger warrior in colourful samurai-like armour appeared, swinging a red baton through the air. Crimson flames floated around the baton, as the warrior prepared himself.

[Fire King Avatar Yaksha (4*/1800/200/FIRE/Beast-Warrior/Effect)]

Tsubaki glanced at the field, before she nodded to herself. "I'll overlay the Level 4 Fire King Avatar Yaksha and the Level 4 Fire King Avatar Arvata!"

She wasn't keeping Arvata on the field?

As far as Shun knew, Tsubaki had only ever used one Rank 4 monster—and she'd gifted that Number to Kaede, anyway. So, whatever she was bringing out… it was probably a new card?

… when she only used Imdugud and Garunix Eternity, Shun could be forgiven for forgetting that she even used Rank 4s at all.

"Lady of devotion, born in the serene melody." Tsubaki held out a hand. "Be consumed by the swirling flames, and in love and parity, lay down your life in sacrifice! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Fire King Avatar Channeler Kinnari!"

A young woman appeared on the field—her body was half-woman, half-bird. The top half of her body was stereotypically feminine—rich, dark skin and hair, golden jewellery forming a nice headdress and necklace for her. She also had several layers of bracelets all over her arms. In her arms, she held onto a beautiful wooden string instrument that she gently ran her fingers over. The bottom half of her body, however, belonged to a bird—golden feathers that surrounded her hips, before bird legs and claws emerged below. Those were the only bird-like features she had—she had no wings, simply just that tail-like plumage. She landed on another nearby rock, her claws gripping on tightly. Around her, dark gold flames floated—not the same shade of gold as Ulkanix or Garunix, carrying a richness to their colour instead of brightness.

[Fire King Avatar Channeler Kinnari (R4/2200/1000/FIRE/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Kinnari's effect," Tsubaki said. "When she's Xyz Summoned, I target a FIRE monster I control and a monster you control—and both of those monsters are attached to her as Overlay Units."

"Huh?" Shun narrowed his eyes. "Then…"

"I'll target Sacred Fire King Garunix and your Satellite Cannon Falcon," Tsubaki said. "Take it all, Kinnari!"

The beautiful woman nodded. She strummed her fingers across the instrument lightly. Satellite Cannon Falcon writhed—before it was incinerated from the inside by dark golden flames. Garunix lowered his head, being consumed by the same flames—and then they all flew towards Kinnari, who absorbed them.

[Fire King Avatar Channeler Kinnari: OU:2 + 2 = OU:4]

"Kinnari's effect," Tsubaki continued. "I'll detach two Overlay Units—Yaksha and Garunix." She specifically did not detach Satellite Cannon Falcon.

[Fire King Avatar Channeler Kinnari: OU:4 - 2 = OU:2]

"Then I shuffle two other FIRE monsters with different names from my graveyard into the deck, and gain 200 life points for each of their Levels. I'll return Fire King Avatar Barong and Fire King High Avatar Kirin to the deck." Flames surrounded her as well, healing her.

Tsubaki: 7350 + 200 x 12 = 9750LP

… almost ten thousand life points, huh. Nothing as high as Miharu Kogami's usual healing, but still remarkably impressive.

"Battle Phase. Kinnari attacks Spade Strix."

The woman dashed forward, slamming the instrument across the top of the dark bird's head and destroying it.

Shun: 1700 - 200 = 1500LP

"I'll set one card facedown and end my turn," Tsubaki said.

Shun narrowed his eyes.

That felt… too simple.

[Turn 6: Shun] [H:4]

"Draw," Shun said. He still had Revolution Falcon on the field, but… "Your Garunix's effect activates here, no?"

"Yes. All monsters on the field are destroyed."

So she was wiping the field… on his turn, huh? Even if she could Special Summon a monster, that was it—she could only summon one monster. What exactly was her plan?

… did Kinnari want to be destroyed?

Shun didn't know—so he let the effect resolve. Flames washed across the field, incinerating both of their Xyz Monsters.

"I'll use Ponix's effect to add it back to my hand. And I'll Special Summon another copy of Rangbali from my hand with its own effect." The monkey warrior appeared on the field, next to Kinnari. "Then, Kinnari's effect triggers," Tsubaki continued. "When she's sent to the graveyard while she has Overlay Units, I can immediately use her as material to Xyz Summon a "Fire King" Xyz Monster."

"... I thought you only had two." She'd already shown off three, obviously, but did she have a new boss monster?

"... you know," Tsubaki said, closing her eyes, "my Garunix Eternity's rebirth effect is extremely strong. However… it's nothing when I have to deal with your aces. You, Nue and Kaito. Every time I duel the three of you… he can never really do much. What's the use of a revival effect against Rise Falcon, who can crush them all? What's the use of Garunix against Cipher Dragon, who will take it and use it without destroying it? And there's no need to speak any further about Nue—if anyone knows how terrifying she is, it would be you and Yuto."

She opened them again.

"So I decided. I could not afford to have any holes in my strategy in the slightest. So, this is my resolve. Kinnari!" The bird woman reappeared, turning into golden flames—

That changed in colour, turning pitch black.

"Forgotten demon dwelling beneath the island of his destroyers," Tsubaki said. She held up the card—black flames crept around the ground around her. With some alarm, Shun saw a piece of paper actually catch fire for a moment, before the embers faded—they were still charred black at the edges. "Rise up again and be consumed by the darkened flames of hatred—and take on a new form, shaped in the form of the holy purity you spit on! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 8!"

Behind her, the flames shot up—they formed an enormous, bird-like shape briefly. Their entire body was formed from flames.

"Shapechanger shaped by spiteful mimicry," Tsubaki declared. "Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate!"

The flames burst apart—dark feathers parted, revealing the torso of a bird. As the wings spread out, the 'face' of the bird was revealed—it was something that could be considered a human face, but it had multiple faces on it—so many human faces, all folding over each other and shifting irregularly, each of them contorted in fury. The 'phoenix' landed, letting out a shriek.

[Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate (R8/2000/3000/FIRE/Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

A Rank 8 monster… with 2000 attack points? Well, Shun knew better than to judge based on stats, considering his own monsters…

"When Rakshasa Insatiate is Xyz Summoned while I only control FIRE monsters, I can activate his effect," Tsubaki said. "I banish all monsters from our graveyards!"

"All monsters from our graveyards?" Shun exclaimed. "But… your monsters are meant to revive, aren't they?"

"... in the story of the Fire Kings, Rakshasa is a devil sealed away for aeons by Garunix's flames," Tsubaki explained. "When the Fire Kings immolated themselves to deal with invaders, Garunix's seal weakened and Rakshasa was able to regain consciousness, though he's not free yet. Filled with hatred, he copied the shape of Garunix and began to try to break out forcibly from beneath the volcano."

… hmm.

"So he despises the very cycle of reincarnation that the Fire Kings stand for," Tsubaki said. She shook her head. "... do it, Rakshasa! Avaricious Screech of Severance!"

Their cards were all ripped from the graveyard—Shun narrowed his eyes. He had plans with that graveyard, but now…

"Then," Tsubaki continued, "since the only monsters banished from my graveyard were FIRE monsters, I can attach all "Garunix" monsters banished by this effect to Rakshasa as Overlay Unit! I'll attach Fire King Avatar Garunix, Fire King High Avatar Garunix, Sacred Fire King Garunix and Garunix Eternity, Sacred God of the Fire Kings to him as material!" Four bright orbs surrounded the dark fire bird.

[Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate: OU:1 + 4 = OU:5]

"And for every "Garunix" monster attached to him as an Overlay Unit, Rakshasa gains 500 attack points," Tsubaki concluded.

[Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate: 2000 + 500 x 4 = 4000ATK]

"... liar," Shun said. "You're very capable of matching me in power." He glanced through his hand.

How should he play, now that his monsters were all gone from the graveyard…? At least he still had his two backrow cards, but he had essentially lost most of his monsters that could bridge the gap from Rank 5 to Rank 8. What should he do…

… right. There was one other option.

"Alright, Tsubaki," Shun said simply. "You said to prove myself. If you've grown beyond what I know of you—"

And I already knew you at a time when you were unreachable.

"Then I just need to show off the exact ways in which I have grown too," Shun finished. "I'll rebuild right here, right now! Raid Raptors - Roost's effect! I'll return the banished Raid Raptors - Spade Strix, Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon and Raid Raptors - Blaze Falcon to the deck to draw another card!" He plucked up the card, glancing at it. "I'll Normal Summon Raid Raptors - Napalm Dragonius!" A bright silver bird appeared, breathing out a small fireball.

[Raid Raptors - Napalm Dragonius (4*/1000/1000/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

"Napalm Dragonius's effect. I'll inflict 600 damage to you, but I can't activate effects this turn, except those of "Raid Raptors" monsters!" The flame shot across the field, hitting Tsubaki directly.

Tsubaki: 9750 - 600 = 9150LP

"Then, I'll activate the Spell Card, Raid Raptors - Call. I'll Special Summon another copy of Napalm Dragonius from my deck!" The bird seemed to duplicate, another silver bird landing on the field next to the first. "I'll use this Napalm Dragonius's effect too!" Another fireball shot out.

Tsubaki: 9150 - 600 = 8550LP

"I'll overlay my two Level 4 monsters!" Both copies of Napalm Dragonius turned into dark streaks, flowing into the ground. "Come to me again, Raid Raptors - Force Strix!" The small bird reappeared on the field. "I'll use Raid Raptors - Roost's effect and add another "Raid Raptors" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." He picked it up, but he didn't use Force Strix's effect yet. "I'll activate the effect of Raid Raptors - Fuzzy Lanius! I'll Special Summon it from my hand!" Once again, the black and purple bird appeared on the field. "Nest's effect. I'll add another "Raid Raptors" monster to my hand. And now, I'll Special Summon Raid Raptors - Strangle Lanius from my hand!"

The white bird appeared—it was obviously the card that he'd just searched out with Nest's effect.

"I'll activate Raid Raptors - Sanctuary. Since I control three "Raid Raptors" monsters, I can draw two cards!" He swiped up both cards from the top of his deck.

There you are.

"I'll activate the Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force! I'll Rank Up Force Strix by one Rank!"

"Rangbali," Tsubaki said shortly. She held out one of the four cards in her hand. "I'll destroy Barong."

When did she—right, she must have added Barong to her hand with Fire King Island's effect last turn. The card shattered, as did Shun's card.

Still…

"That's your one Spell or Trap negate," Shun said. "So that's all there is to it! I'll use Strangle Lanius and Fuzzy Lanius as material again! Come back—Wise Strix!" The Link Monster appeared on the field with a loud screech. "Fuzzy Lanius will add another Fuzzy Lanius to my hand, and then I'll use Wise Strix's effect! I'll Special Summon Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius from my deck!"

He usually just milled Mimicry Lanius from the deck with Tribute Lanius's effect, but he still knew what his monster looked like. Bright gold, with blue lights in its brilliant wings—it landed right behind Wise Strix, letting out a quiet chirp that sounded eerily like Wise Strix's.

[Raid Raptors - Mimicry Lanius (4*/1100/1900/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

Still…

… she's too calm. If I go into Blaze Falcon and she destroys it immediately, I have no way out.

In that case, I…

"Force Strix's effect. I'll detach one Overlay Unit from it and add another Level 4 DARK Winged Beast monster to my hand. Then, Wise Strix will set my final copy of Raid Force from my deck!" He flipped it over. "I'll activate the Spell Card, Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force! I'll Rank Up Force Strix by one Rank!" This time, she didn't stop him. "The unseen bold falcon. Reveal your wings' unknown power here and now! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! Rank 5! Raid Raptors - Étranger Falcon!" The bright red and gold falcon emerged on the field.

[Raid Raptors - Étranger Falcon (R5/2000/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Étranger Falcon's effect. I'll detach one Overlay Unit, destroy Rakshasa and inflict damage to you equal to Rakshasa's original attack points!" Shun made a gun with his fingers, gesturing forward. "Destroy it!"

[Raid Raptors - Étranger Falcon: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

… this was where she would use any effect that she had, if she wanted…

"… Kurosaki?"

Shun raised his head.

"Fire King Sky Burn negates the destruction of my Fire King monsters when I banish it from the graveyard," Tsubaki said offhandedly. "You made it that far on the fourth turn because I didn't care about losing those monsters at all." She lifted the card, removing it—and Étranger Falcon's effect resolved without effect.

Alright.

In that case…

Let's take a risk.

When I'm this far behind…

He couldn't help but think back to the duel he'd had with Sora in Standard again, though he wasn't sure why.

"Or is it taking everything you have to defend yourself, so you can't take the offensive?"

"... that was true at the start. Against an overwhelming enemy, it took everything we had to protect ourselves. But without a resistance force, there was nothing we could do. We lost one teammate after another. We learned something in this hopeless battle. We must win in order to live. Only those who have the iron will to win can survive hell!"

The 'iron will to win', in other words, a will that could not be broken.

In that case…

When I'm this far behind, I cannot win without taking a risk.

"I'll banish Raid Raptors - Glorious Bright from my graveyard to add a "Raid Raptors" monster from my banished cards to my hand." He picked up the card. "I'll Special Summon Raid Raptors - Singing Lanius from my hand!" The golden bird reappeared. "I'll overlay the Level 4 Singing Lanius and the Level 4 Mimicry Lanius!" The two birds turned into dark streaks again. "Reappear, Spade Strix!" The dark bird reappeared on the field. "With Spade Strix's effect, I will set one more "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell from my deck!" Shun revealed the card. "Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force! I'll target Rakshasa—"

"I won't let you," Tsubaki said sharply. "I'll activate Rakshasa's effect!"

… she'd finally activated it. Good. Shun had been searching for it—wanting to know the effect of this monster that he knew nothing about.

"Once per turn, when you activate any card or effect, I will detach one of its Overlay Units and negate your card's activation," Tsubaki continued. Rakshasa shrieked. "Soul Relinquishing Flame!" One of the Overlay Units vanished as it flew forward—Shun's card sizzled out.

[Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate: OU:5 - 1 = OU:4]

"Then, since I detached a "Garunix" monster for this effect, I can destroy a monster in my hand or on the field," Tsubaki continued. "I will destroy Spade Strix." His other monster exploded.

[Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate: 4000 - 500 = 3500ATK]

"... I'll banish Mimicry Lanius from my graveyard to add one more "Raid Raptors" card from my deck to my hand." He picked up the card.

There were a few routes he could take right now. But…

Shun took a deep breath. "I suppose I lose here," he said, "if it's anything other than what I think it is." He clenched a fist. "Once per turn, huh? Then… Battle Phase! Raid Raptors - Étranger Falcon attacks your Rakshasa!"

"... what?" Tsubaki muttered.

His monster dove forward, slamming straight into the dark bird of fire—Rakshasa screamed, slamming its wings straight into Shun's monster and incinerating it.

"Raid Raptors - Last Strix's effect!" He revealed one of the six cards in his hand. "When my "Raid Raptors" monster battles, I can Special Summon him from my hand and gain 100 life points for every Spell or Trap in my graveyard and field!" The small drone-like gold bird with green wings landed on the field.

[Raid Raptors - Last Strix (1*/100/100/DARK/Winged Beast/Effect)]

Shun: 1500 + 100 x 15 = 3000LP

Then, the damage processed, and his life points shot back down again.

Shun: 3000 - 1500 = 1500LP

"... if I had a negate for Last Strix's effect, you'd have thrown yourself into the fire for no reason there," Tsubaki said.

"... I can't win without trying my hardest," Shun shot back. "And I very much intend to do that. You're not the only one who can benefit from a move like that!"

"But Étranger Falcon's effect only Special Summons "Raid Raptors" monsters in your graveyard, not those that have been banished," Tsubaki said. "... what's your plan?"

"... my plan has to do with Étranger Falcon's Rank," Shun said. He revealed a card in his hand. "This is the move that you've been trying to stop me from making this entire duel, Tsubaki. Quickplay Spell, Rank-Up-Magic Death Double Force! I will Special Summon Étranger Falcon from the graveyard since it was destroyed by battle—and I can Rank Up Étranger Falcon into a monster that is twice its Rank!"

"... so I guess it was unavoidable."

"You can't call it a victory if you don't beat me at my best," Shun declared. Étranger Falcon reappeared, before zooming into the ground again. "Supreme falcon. Carry on the wishes of your fallen friends, and fly off to the sky of victory! Rank Up Xyz Change! Appear, Rank 10! Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon!"

Shun's strongest monster landed on the field—its stunning golden body blinded both of them for a moment, and it let out its loud, piercing cry.

Shun had never been prouder of getting to this moment—after struggling for such a long time, he'd made it to Ultimate Falcon.

And yet the duel still wasn't really over, was it?

[Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon (R10/3500/2000/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect) (OU:1)]

"Ultimate Falcon…" Tsubaki murmured.

He was still in the Battle Phase, so he couldn't use Ultimate Falcon's effect right now. Technically, Rakshasa was at the exact point where he couldn't do anything about it.

But that was 'technically'.

He'd learned Tsubaki's effects now. Rakshasa's negation and power gain were powerful, but both had already revealed themselves. So…

"Ultimate Falcon attacks Rangbali!" His monster flew forward. "Final Glorious Bright!" The monkey warrior was destroyed immediately, crushed under his monster's wings.

Tsubaki: 8550 - 1900 = 6650LP

"I'll move to my Main Phase 2. I'll set two cards and end my turn." Shun raised his fingers, snapping them. "During my End Phase—Ultimate Falcon saps 1000 attack points from your monster!"

[Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate: 3500 - 1000 = 2500ATK]

[Turn 7: Tsubaki] [H:3]

"Draw," Tsubaki said, glancing at the field. "... as usual, you don't disappoint."

"... is that enough to get answers then?"

"... yes," Tsubaki said. "It's probably enough. For now though… I suppose I'll answer your best with my own."

"Are you going to Rank Up into another new Xyz Monster that no one's ever seen before?"

"That's your specialty, I believe." Tsubaki shrugged. "It's not my fault that Garunix Eternity is usually enough to defeat any opponent without anything else."

… if it wasn't true, it would sound very arrogant.

"Barong's effect. I'll add another "Fire King" card from my deck to my hand." She picked up the card. "Once again, I will Normal Summon Ponix."

… yeah. Shun didn't even knew how many times Ponix had used its effect by now.

"I'll add a "Fire King" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." Tsubaki picked up the card. "I'll activate the effect of Fire King Island. I'll destroy my third Rangbali in my hand and add Fire King High Avatar Kirin to my hand. Then, Sacred Fire King Garunix returns from the graveyard!" The bird reappeared on the field—she must have detached it last turn. Rakshasa snarled at it, but made no move. "I'll use Garunix's effect. I'll destroy Fire King High Avatar Garunix in my deck!"

… even if Garunix used its effect next Standby Phase, Ultimate Falcon wouldn't be destroyed.

As long as Shun didn't lose this turn, he'd take her down on his next turn. And he still had Last Strix as a defensive monster. (Though Wise Strix was an actual vulnerability…)

[Sacred Fire King Garunix: 2700 + 2700 / 2 = 4050ATK]

"I'll then activate the effect of Fire King High Avatar Kirin in my hand. I will destroy Ponix and Special Summon it." The bright white and green steed appeared on the field. "Battle Phase."

… that was it?

"Garunix attacks your Wise Strix!"

"I'll activate the effect of Raid Raptors - Booster Strix in my hand! I'll banish it to destroy your monster!" Neither Kirin nor Rakshasa had the attack points to win the duel that turn, so… as long as he stopped Garunix, it was fine.

"Rakshasa," Tsubaki countered. One of the Overlay Units vanished from the field.

[Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings - Rakshasa Insatiate: OU:4 - 1 = OU:3; 2500 - 500 = 2000ATK]

"Trap Card, Breakthrough Skill! I'll negate Rakshasa's effects!"

"... was that your plan?" Tsubaki said.

Shun narrowed his eyes.

"... then I'll win." Tsubaki revealed another card in her hand—chaining it to his Trap. "Quickplay Spell—Circle of the Fire Kings!"

… wait…

"I'll target Rakshasa on the field and Rangbali in my graveyard," Tsubaki said. "I'll destroy Rakshasa and Special Summon Rangbali!"

The black phoenix let out a betrayed screech, before vanishing from the field. Rangbali reappeared.

"You lose your target," Tsubaki said ruthlessly. "So Rakshasa's effect resolves. I destroy your Roost—just in case. And I'll negate your effect." She gestured forward. "So—"

Garunix rose up—victorious and ever-present.

"The attack goes through," Tsubaki finally said. "You made the right move to search for Ultimate Falcon. However—you also had no choice but to leave yourself open. Finish him off, Garunix!"

The firebird flew down—and burned Wise Strix completely, eliminating the rest of his life points.

Shun: 1500 - 2650 = 0LP

Winner: Tsubaki Nagare!

And their aces never met in battle.

God damn it!

He'd wanted to win that. He'd hungered to win that. He'd been searching for those answers over and over. And now, what should he—

"I promised you answers," Tsubaki said. She sat down. "... I suppose I should get started."

"... why even bother dueling me if you were going to tell me anyway?"

"To prove my point." Tsubaki dropped her duel disk on the table. "That this is the only thing I'm good at."

"... the only thing you're good at…"

"The truth is simple." The red-haired woman turned away from him, covering her face with one hand. "... I don't know what I'm doing, Shun Kurosaki."

… what?

"I'm not a born leader. I'm not someone with tactical sense. I'm not even all that intelligent—and people only think I'm well-spoken because I come with a nice enough accent that they think I'm phrasing things well."

And then, she shook her head—something sharp and despairing.

"I don't know anything about any of this. All that I'm good at is dueling. I never should have been the leader of the Resistance, nor did I want to be. I didn't want to be!" She breathed out after a moment. "Kaito said that we needed to defend both bases, and I saw the logic in that. And I needed space from him and his feelings and I needed to not be thinking about any of that when we were in war, so I said I'd take one side and he'd take the other! I just wanted to get away from him!"

… what a vicious declaration. Shun felt rooted to the spot.

"... he's my friend, but at that moment, he was too much for me to handle," Tsubaki said. "… too much of a mess between us to figure anything out." She still wasn't looking at him, but everything that she was saying was vicious and emotional in a way that couldn't be faked—Shun was reminded of Nue's cold fury, of watching his sister and Yuto fight an officer who had nothing but bitterness keeping her going. This was venting.

… abruptly, Shun wondered if any of Tsubaki's professions of responsibility and protectiveness had been real at all.

"All I know is dueling," Tsubaki repeated. "I was brought to Heartland because Byron-san watched me fight in an underground arena for months and he thought that this dirty teenager that couldn't even read properly would be an excellent starting point for his new program! What do I know of making plans? Of organising people? No, none of this has to do with me at all." She braced an arm against the table. "When we started out, Kaito's father was still here. And the people that kept this all together were Kaito and Nue. Chris, too, but he was too busy mourning our father to really do anything in those early days."

Shun felt realisation dawning on him.

"I guarded what I was told to guard, spoke to people to communicate messages, and I did my best but I was always following what others told me to do." Tsubaki's knuckles were going white with how tightly she was pressing them against the table. "I am surrounded by some of the most talented, intelligent people I've ever met—not that it's a high bar, because I literally spent my entire childhood in a fighting den—and they're all looking to me for advice because I'm good at dueling? When they all have so many more practical life skills than I'll ever have? Don't make me laugh! What have I ever done for anyone?"

"So, when we left…"

"The ones holding the Resistance together were Nue Kamisoka and Kaito Tenjo. I was just the face of it. Like I've always been the face of everything, even though all that I'm expected to do is fight." She pulled back her hair. "I'm always fighting. It's all I know how to do. But then Nue left, Dr. Tenjo was carded, and Kaito ran away. And it was all I could do to keep everything together—and even that can mostly be credited to the work of everyone else!"

Shun stood there.

Now, he finally understood. This was… helplessness. This was a woman who had never wanted leadership, who had only been brought into the spotlight because she was strong. That strength had saddled her with responsibilities that she could not handle, because she was barely handling living in Heartland at all.

As usual, Shun thought, we put too much on her. Heartland tends to do that. We idolise and follow and everyone expects us to know what we're doing before we're even adults yet. He thought about the grown adults hiding in rooms in the ruins, who had likely never thought to pick up a duel disk, who were just being protected by children and teenagers. About how thin Tsubaki and the rest of their schoolmates must have spread themselves to get this far.

We put too much on everyone.

We put too much on Nue, and it's a miracle that she's still going now. We put too much on Kaito, and he did crack.

We put too much on you, too. And no one ever realises it, because you look so calm. Because we just assume that you can do anything.

… it's almost sad. That we keep making the same mistake with every single person that we put in the position of our leader. We take everything they can give and then let them fall alone.

"So if you want a reason," Tsubaki said quietly, "that's all it is. We've acted slowly since then because I don't know, Shun. Mariko suggested the ADTR and the bombing a while back, and I thought it was an idea as good as any. Kaede suggested we gather information as actively as possible, so I arranged for us to interrogate anyone we found and properly store all that info for ourselves. But other than that, what do I actually know how to do?"

"… why didn't you ever tell anyone about this?"

"Why bother? I know how it ends. If I don't do it, someone else will have to. And no one wants to." She shook her head. "I'm an outsider. Byron-san told me that by becoming the best, I would earn a place here that no one could deny. I don't actually care about Heartland. Or everyone here. And I'm so tired of pretending that I do… I'm nothing like you. Or Kaito. Or Nue. So this entire time, I've tried to be the girl who knows what she's doing, the girl that no one can deny. I've been fighting for so long to be that perfect person, but I don't know what she looks like anymore. Without Nue, without Kaito, without Dr. Tenjo, I just fell apart. I don't know how to lead—I never thought I would have to."

"... people aren't as judgemental as you think." Shun clenched a fist. "If you'd just said something, I'm sure that they'd have sprung up to help you immediately. But carrying that weight helps no one! That's how we got here!"

Never attribute to malice what you can attribute to incompetence.

"And what does that have to do with us, anyway? If that's really the case, shouldn't us returning have made it easier for you? All you had to do was—"

"This entire time," Tsubaki cut him off, "I was waiting for Nue to come back and take over. But Nue's… hurt and I can't trust you, Shun."

Shun looked at her, and then he scoffed. "... so at least you've finally said the truth about what you think about me."

"I try and struggle with responsibility," the red-haired woman returned. "... I don't think you want it at all."

Before, Shun would have shouted at her. He'd have gotten upset and made a scene about it.

… Shun took a deep breath.

"I don't," he finally said. He'd lost all their trust with the same irresponsibility that had revealed that very face, after all. "But I want to do better. You yourself said that I'm different now from how I was before. That's why I came here."

Tsubaki studied him—there was a strange look in those brown eyes.

"I'm here to understand," Shun said. "And now, I do." He held out a hand. "… nobody should have to carry a burden like that all on their own. The Lancers want to help, Tsubaki—accepting them is a good step. So… keep on trusting us. And I hope someday… I can win back the trust of everyone else, too."

She looked at his hand. Carefully, she took it.

"… I'll keep trusting you all," she said. "It's not like there's much more I can do at this point."

---

When Shun left, Tsubaki leaned back in her chair, pressing a hand to her forehead.

… it'd felt so good to finally say those words. Her frustration, her inability to do anything—to admit it all to another person for once, instead of letting it stew on the inside.

She turned to the side.

"You were eavesdropping."

"I was." Mariko sat down next to her, having been hiding down the other corridor. "… I couldn't just leave you here with him. Sorry."

"... I told you I could handle myself."

"I know." Mariko leaned on her shoulder. "You can't blame me for being worried, Tsuba…"

"I know."

Tsubaki knew that the pale-haired girl was waiting for her to keep going.

… maybe it was something about having spoken already, but Tsubaki obliged her, in the end. "... I spent my entire childhood dueling for money," she explained.

Wasn't that the long and short of it?

---

Three years ago:

The arena was dark and crowded. The man made his way through the crowd, adjusting the mask that he was wearing. Everyone here was wearing something similar—hoods, masks, wigs, anything to disguise themselves in this less than legal place. Some were more extreme than others—the man thought that he'd already been rather conservative, considering that all he had on was a simple large silver mask that covered his entire face. He brushed his blond hair behind his ear, and found a seat in the stands. Every seat had an attached screen, and he took out his membership card, sliding it across the card reader.

The duel in the middle of the arena had just concluded. The winner had exited the stage on her own two feet, while the loser had been dragged out, half-unconscious, burns around his knees. It was a savage sight. Still, it was a problem that the man had no way to solve. And those two weren't the ones that he'd come here to see, anyway.

As the next competitors walked in, the screen let out a 'ping' noise, prompting him to place a bet on the match. To avoid drawing suspicion, the man placed a small bet on the duelist on the left. From up here, it was nearly impossible to make out the full facial features of the duelists below. (That was, come to think of it, likely intentional.)

Still, the boy that the man had come to see was right there. Almost completely dressed in rags, his red hair was tied up in a thick bun, though some of it also fell in curls around his face. It was almost unnaturally clumpy—though from what the man knew about this place, he could hazard a guess as to why.

The duel went on—one of the boys took damage, the shock collars activated, and so on. The man winced once at a particularly brutal hit—holographic flames that didn't burn, but still looked horrific.

Once the duel ended, he slipped into the corridors. On the way in, he heard whispers. Carefully, he eavesdropped on the voices.

"You're a hit. Well done—you're building up a good reputation down here."

"... I'm so glad." That was the voice of the boy from earlier—no inflection, nothing to indicate any kind of opinion whatsoever. "May I sleep, sir?"

"Yes, yes. Keep going, and we'll both become rich!"

Footsteps. The man hid behind the corner, and he saw the figure of a rather… colourfully-dressed man walked by. He waited for a moment, hoping that no one was going to walk along the corridor—

"No one else is here," the boy said. "You're not good at being stealthy… sir."

The man stepped out, feeling slightly awkward. The boy tugged at his hairbun, shaking his head—pulling out the thin brown strip and letting his red hair fall down to his shoulders in clumps. Dark brown eyes—almost black—stared directly at him. There was no surprise or unfamiliarity there.

"Hi," the man said. "I know you're probably confused—"

"I just think that you're…" The boy paused. "... I don't have a good word for this. A creep, maybe. You've been at every single one of my matches for the last three months. What do you want?"

He'd been… noticed? Interesting. "It's not for the reason you think," he said.

"... people don't ever have good intentions if they end up in this place," the boy said. He folded his arms. "... is it money that you want? You want me to throw a match? That's the usual thing."

"No." The man held out a business card. The boy took it, still… distant. "I'm a member of Heartland Duel School's School Board, head of the Hearts Branch Initiative—also known as the Dueling Expatriate Initiative. I've been scouting for the last few months… I'm sorry, I didn't manage to get a name for you. They call you Suzaku-kun, right?"

"... if they do, it doesn't matter to me," the boy said stiffly. "I guess this makes sense. So… what? Do you think I'm a strong duelist?"

"With those weak cards…" The man raised a hand. "With those weak cards, you've won against all your opponents. And…" He chuckled. "I have children too. My second son seems like he's roughly the same age as you are. Most people here are adults, but you… I'd like to get you out of here."

The boy looked at him. "... prove it," he said quietly. "If you're from Heartland Duel School… you can duel, right?"

"... of course," he said with a laugh. "Though I might not be that good compared to my children. Still, I can most certainly prove myself to you."

The boy nodded. The two of them headed out through the alleys, and the boy led him to a rooftop through a creaking door. Dust scattered everywhere as they stepped onto the roof. And then they dueled, and their holograms lit up the dusty metal panels.

Eventually, as the flames died, Byron couldn't help but smile.

"It's as I thought," he said. "Yes. you're talented enough. So. Want to come to Heartland? I assure you, it's more civilised than this place."

The boy looked at him, before glancing around the dark city. His fists were clenched.

"No such thing," he said. His voice was oddly hoarse. When he raised his head again though, there was something almost… hopeful to his gaze. "Might be better though."

"Fantastic! We can figure out some kind of learning arrangement then. But if not Suzaku, is there a name that you want me to call you?"

"... well, you can start by not using 'omae' when you're talking to me." The man blinked. The redhead rolled his (their?) eyes. "I know you're trying to be friendly, but I'm a girl, Mr. Arclight."

Byron Arclight briefly died from embarrassment. (Metaphorically.) "You—you're—" He took into account her status as a runaway, her independent nature and relative intelligence compared to those her age, her paranoia and how observant she was of her surroundings, her usage of the very outdated 'watakushi'—

He thought that he might understand.

"A girl, or just a person. I just don't like being referred to as a boy." The girl folded her arms around her chest. "That's not a problem to you, is it? That I'm not a boy?"

"... no, naturally. I would hope that as a society, we're far past bigotry like that." Byron raised his duel disk. "Shall we then, miss?"

"... Tsubaki," the girl finally said. "You can call me Tsubaki. It's the name I wanted—"

But not the name you've had the right to use for yourself, up until now…

"Tsubaki-san, then," he decided, shifting his tone. "May I be the first to say 'welcome to Heartland?'"

"... you can say it when I'm in Heartland," Tsubaki said. "The city of the future, huh?... a new future doesn't sound too bad."

Byron looked at her.

… it was probably better than whatever she had here, huh?

"So tell me, Mr. Arclight." Tsubaki lifted his business card, before dropping it in her pocket. Her eyes met his—anticipation clear in them. "When do I get to go?"

---

In the present:

"... he cared for me, I think," Tsubaki said, concluding the story. "But I couldn't help but always feel like I had to earn my place here. I had hope for the first time because I came to Heartland."

And it'd only taken a few years for that to be ruined.

"I see," Mariko said, reflecting on the words. "... you know, Tsuba. I think Kurosaki's right. I think we can lean on the Lancers, just a little."

"... what made you change your mind?"

"Well." Mariko smiled at her earnestly. "... I just have. I don't think they're particularly bad people. So… I am willing to work with them, you know."

"... good."

They stayed there for a while. Tsubaki felt herself slowly calming down.

"Tsubaki?" There was something tentative to Mariko's voice. Tsubaki turned to look at the pale-haired girl. "I always wondered. Do you actually like Kaito? I mean, that complicated situation that you were talking about just now… the reason that you wanted to stay away from him…"

Did she actually… what?

"… I should think that you of all people would know that's not true," Tsubaki said. She blew out a puff of smoke. "You know both of us well enough, don't you?" She knew that Kaito and Mariko had hung out quite a few times, after all.

"… you never know."

"I'll simplify it then." Tsubaki shrugged. "I don't."

"… I always thought… you two always hung out together alone, even after the war started. I thought I was missing something, that I had misread something…"

"He's still my friend, and precious to me—and it's easier for him to destress when no one else is around. I wanted to give him that." And it had helped her too—being in his presence, knowing how capable he was.

"Precious to you, huh…"

"He's not… my type," Tsubaki admitted. She leaned back on the wall. "He liked me though. And even though I didn't like him, for a while, I really tried to. I wanted to."

"... why did you want to?" Mariko asked, looking away from her and examining her nails. "If you like someone, you just like them—if you don't, you don't, no?"

… well, she'd already admitted her incapability. What was something like this in comparison to that? "Because I don't belong here," she said. "I'm a foreigner—and I agreed to come here to escape my situation from back there, but it never dawned on me that I was agreeing to spend my entire life here."

Because she wasn't temporarily studying here, not like Kaede or Hisako or even Mariko. She had been adopted by the Arclights. This was her place now—and she never had to go back to her past.

So why did that bother her so much?

"You know I'm not a real woman," she said. "I—"

"Don't say that," Mariko said. "Of all people, don't say that about yourself."

"… anyway, there are way too many things about me that stick out here. It's… stupid. But a part of me thought that if everyone expected us to get together, then I was doing something wrong by not liking him that way. I was… abnormal, you know?" She shook her head. "I kept agonising over it. It would be so easy if I could just like him that way. I already knew he liked me, after all—no ambiguity there. He's a gentle and smart person that'll go on to do good things—back then? There was nothing about him that was bad at all."

She'd felt compelled to like him—out of gratefulness towards Dr. Tenjo, perhaps? And because she genuinely cared about him as a friend.

But nothing about that had been 'love'.

"I feel bad for him," she admitted. "I've made it clear I don't feel that way, and he's accepted it with all the grace he has—" Unlike certain other people, she couldn't help but think. "But it must be difficult for him."

"... it's not a good feeling," Mariko agreed. "So… it's a 'type' issue then? What's your type then? You've never told me."

What was… her type, huh?

"Well," Tsubaki said after a brief pause, "... I like women, for one." That had been part of the dysphoria that she'd struggled with, after all.

"... huh."

… that wasn't… disgust. So…

Tsubaki glanced at her. "... do I really need to say any more?"

"No, not really." Mariko glanced upwards. "You… don't need to say a single thing, Tsuba. In fact, don't."

"Then—"

"I really hope I'm wrong," Mariko muttered, "about what I think I'm hearing." She turned her head away—Tsubaki could no longer see her face.

"... is it that bad of a thought?" Tsubaki asked. She reached out a hand, touching Mariko's shoulder. "To think that I would—"

"I think that no matter how you feel about the role, you're still the leader of the Resistance." Mariko pushed her hand off. "I think that if you're saying what I think you're trying to say, it's irresponsible."

… Tsubaki leaned back.

She'd thought so.

As much as she only ever saw Mariko Ejiri smile…

There was something else going on right now. There had to be a reason why Mariko was treating her so coldly, after all.

So Tsubaki pushed the issue. "Then after the war, can we talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about."

"... isn't there?"

"There isn't," Mariko said, her voice hard. "Because you're right. You don't belong here. And neither do I, apparently."

Tsubaki frowned. "What?"

"I always say it. I couldn't give a shit about Heartland. I'm here because of you. I'm still here because of you—" She stood up. "I could've found a way to go home a long time ago. I'm good enough at that kind of stuff. I want to go home—" Her voice caught on the words for a brief moment. "... to Sparta City."

… you hesitated, but that may be the most true thing I've heard you say in a while.

"I was never cut out for peace. When I came to Heartland, I was always fidgeting and waiting for something to happen."

Right, Tsubaki thought. She had been raised in a warzone, hadn't she?

"To be honest, Tsubaki?" Mariko turned to her—and now, she was still smiling. "I've never thrived more than now. When the war started, it was like going home again. I can't get enough."

"... that's not something that any normal person would say." Haven't we all had enough of this?

"I know. But that's what I'm trying to tell you." Mariko took a step back. "While I'm here, I'm your best friend. But there's a limit to how long I'm here for. If you don't belong here, then there's really nothing that'll keep me here. And even you can't convince me to stay in a place like this forever."

Tsubaki's lips quirked up—a rare sight for her.

… and there's the lie.

It had been a while since she'd thought about how she'd come to Heartland in the first place. It wasn't exactly a glamorous story. She suspected that despite her smile, Mariko had a similar background.

Who'd want to go back to a place like that?

I have my suspicions, but…

I don't think I've met the 'other half' of you yet. Not face-to-face, at least. The part of you who doesn't smile like that, the part of you that threatens anyone that would harm me, the part of you that would rather die than be vulnerable for me, not even for a moment—

The part of you that always keeps her face turned away from me.

… you'd better not die.

No matter how terrible the sin, no matter how awful the words you say to me, I can forgive anything else.

"… why are you looking at me like that?"

"… nothing. Just don't lose."

"… well, you know me." Mariko settled back against her shoulder. Despite her harsh words, she didn't seem willing to leave. "I never do, when it counts."

---

In the end, both Shun and Nue came back to the sleeping area at around the same time.

They both didn't speak for a moment, caught in each other's presence—waiting to see what the other person was going to say.

In the end, the one who spoke up first was Nue. "I'm sorry for running off," she said, but she did not apologise for her past thoughts of rage and vengeance, or her determination.

"... I'm sorry for stepping away," Shun said, but he did not apologise for needing to gather his thoughts and think about his future moves, now that sorrow was no longer clouding his actions.

Nue nodded. "... tell me what you've learned," she said. "... let's end this."

And so, the two of them, the two that had put themselves back together, sat down together and began to discuss their plans for the future of the Resistance. And if his hand slipped into hers at some point…

That was only right.

(… but there was one more boiling situation left unaddressed. One that the Lancers had no opportunity to learn about. And this lack of knowledge was about to come back to bite them.)

---

OC Cards:

Evo-Selection

(Spell/Field)

If you Special Summon a "Evol" monster with a card effect, or if you Xyz Summon an "Evolzar" Xyz Monster using only Reptile and/or Dinosaur monsters as Xyz Materials: You can take 1 Reptile or Dinosaur monster from your Deck, and either add it to your hand or send it to the GY. You can only activate this effect of "Evo-Selection" twice per turn. Once per turn, during your End Phase, if you control an "Evolzar" Xyz Monster: You can choose a number from 1 to 2, then excavate that many cards from the top of your Deck, send any excavated monsters to the GY, also, place the other cards on the bottom of your Deck in any order, and if you do, you can attach 1 Reptile and/or Dinosaur monster from your GY to a Xyz Monster you control as Xyz Material.

Lyrical Luscinia - Parade Silktail

(R1/0/0/WIND/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 1 monsters

Gains 300 ATK for each material attached to it. During the Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can detach 2 materials from this card; negate the effects of all Level/Rank/Link 2 or higher Special Summoned monsters your opponent controls until the End Phase. If this is the only monster you control, your opponent cannot activate effects in response to this effect. Once per turn, if your opponent's monster declares an attack: You can negate that attack, and if you do, this card cannot attack until your next End Phase after this effect was activated. You can only activate each effect of "Lyrical Luscinia - Parade Silktail" once per turn.

Lyrical Luscinia - Ruby Raven

(1*/0/100/WIND/Winged Beast/Effect)

If you control only Winged Beast monsters: You can Special Summon this card from your hand. Once per turn: You can send 1 Winged Beast monster from your hand to the GY; draw 1 card. If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can Special Summon 1 "Lyrical Luscinia" monster that is banished or in your GY in Defense Position. You can only activate each effect of "Lyrical Luscinia - Ruby Raven" once per turn.

Lyrical Luscinia - Bird Switch

(Spell)

You can target 1 Xyz Monster you control; return it to the Extra Deck, and if you do, you can add 1 Winged Beast monster from your GY to your hand. You can only activate 1 "Lyrical Luscinia - Bird Switch" per turn.

Antique Gear Search Dog

(3*/1000/500/EARTH/Machine/Effect)

This card's name is treated as "Antique Gear Hound Dog" on the field or in the GY. If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can take 1 Level 4 or lower "Antique Gear" monster from your Deck, except "Antique Gear Search Dog", and either add it to your hand or Special Summon it in Defense Position, but its effects are negated. You can only activate this effect of "Antique Gear Search Dog" once per turn.

Trivia: Has 500 DEF to be searched off Antique Gear Box. Exists because I wanted to use a different card name in an Obelisk Force duel.

Traptrix Sundew

(4*/1000/1800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)

You can discard this card from your hand; Special Summon 1 "Traptrix" monster from your hand. If this card is Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Traptrix" monster from your Deck or GY to your hand. You can only activate each effect of "Traptrix Sundew" once per turn.

Umbral Horror Stein

(4*/0/1800/DARK/Fiend/Fusion/Effect)

2 "Umbral Horror" monsters

If this card is Special Summoned: You can discard 1 card; Special Summon 2 "Umbral Horror" monsters with different names from your Deck, and if you do, take damage equal to the total ATK of the monsters Summoned by this effect. If this card is sent to the GY: You can add 1 Level 4 or lower Fiend monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate each effect of "Umbral Horror Stein" once per turn.

Umbral Horror Preta

(4*/1200/0/DARK/Fiend/Effect)

If you control a "Umbral Horror" monster: You can Special Summon this card from your hand. If your opponent activates an effect in the GY while this card is in the GY: You can banish this card from the GY; negate that effect, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Umbral Horror" monster from the GY, other than "Umbral Horror Preta".

Rank-Up-Magic Umbral Dystopia

(Spell/Quickplay)

Target 1 face-up Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 "Umbral Horror", "Hope" or "Number" monster that is 1 Rank higher than that target, by using that target as the Xyz Material, and if you do, attach this card to it as additional material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Materials attached to that target also become Xyz Materials on the Summoned monster.) The monster Summoned with this effect gains the following effect:

If it is Xyz Summoned: Destroy all other monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and if you do, this card gains 1000 ATK for each card you control that was sent to the GY by this effect.

You can only activate "Rank-Up-Magic Umbral Dystopia" once per turn.

Rank-Up-Magic Photon Ascendance

(Spell/Quickplay)

During either player's Main Phase: Target 1 LIGHT Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 "Photon", "Galaxy" or "Cipher" Xyz Monster that is 1 Rank higher than that target, by using that target as the Xyz Material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Materials attached to that target also become Xyz Materials on the Summoned monster.) The monster Xyz Summoned by this effect cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects on the turn it is Xyz Summoned.

Trivia: Yes, this is a blatant retrain of Cipher Ascension. I needed to give Kaito a Rank Up for his adjusted deck, after all. Neo Galaxy-Eyes keeps its IRL effect though.

Traptantalizing Planning

(Trap)

Tribute 1 Insect or Plant monster; Special Summon 1 "Traptrix" monster from the Deck, and if you do, you can add 1 "Hole" Normal Trap from your GY to your hand. You can banish this card from your GY; Special Summon 1 "Traptrix" monster from your GY, and if you do, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn. You can only activate each effect of "Traptantalizing Planning" once per turn.

Rank-Up-Magic Tantalizing Force

(Spell)

Target 1 Plant or Insect Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 Plant or Insect Xyz Monster that is 1 Rank higher than that monster you control, by using it as the Xyz Material, and if you do, attach this card to it as Xyz Material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Materials attached to it also become Xyz Materials on the Summoned monster.) If you control a "Traptrix" Xyz Monster: You can banish this card and 2 Normal Traps from your GY; draw 2 cards. You can only activate this effect of "Rank-Up-Magic Tantalizing Force" once per turn.

Traptrix Cephalotus

(R5/2800/0/EARTH/Plant/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 5 monsters

If this card is Xyz Summoned: You can send cards from the top of your Deck to the GY, up to the number of Xyz Materials this card has, and if you do, Special Summon 1 "Traptrix" monster from your GY. All "Traptrix" monsters you control cannot be targeted by card effects. (Quick Effect) You can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card; banish 1 "Hole" Normal Trap from your GY which meets its activation conditions, and if you do, this effect becomes that Trap Card's effect when that card is activated. You can only Xyz Summon "Traptrix Cephalotus" once per turn.

Number 70: Progenitor Devil - Malevolent Sin

(R4/2400/1200/DARK/Insect/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 4 monsters

When Normal or Special Summoned, your opponent's Spell/Trap Cards and effects cannot be activated. Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 monster your opponent controls; banish it until your opponent's next End Phase. At the end of the Damage Step, if this card attacked: You can Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 Rank 10 or lower DARK Xyz Monster by using this face-up card you control as material, but the Summoned monster cannot declare an attack this turn. (This is treated as an Xyz Summon. Transfer its materials to the Summoned monster.)

Trivia: Doubt I surprised anyone with this one. Rank 4 Insect or Plant Xyz Monster, and Blackship of Corn is already out of the picture? :3 Buffed this one a lil though, since it's a bit too slow to function in the modern day—I made its banishing effect last a bit longer, and shifted its second effect (meant to work with… a certain other card) to an instant effect. And its first effect is a reference to its new user :3 There's something else I modified that's meant to fit with Nue instead of the OG version… see if you can figure it out!

Nightmare Trap Hole

(Trap)

If you control only "Traptrix" monsters (min. 1) and have at least 1 "Hole" Normal Trap in your GY: Discard 1 card; destroy 2 monsters on the field. You can only activate 1 "Nightmare Trap Hole" per turn.

Galaxy Divisor

(Spell/Continuous)

While you have a Rank 8 or higher "Galaxy-Eyes" monster(s) in your GY, your opponent cannot activate effects in response to the activated effects of Xyz Monsters you control. Once per turn: You can target 1 Xyz Monster on the field; its effects are negated until your opponent's next Standby Phase. If a "Galaxy" and/or "Photon" monster is Special Summoned to your Extra Monster Zone: You can Special Summon up to 2 "Galaxy" and/or "Photon" monster(s) from your GY with the same Level, but their effects are negated, and they cannot declare an attack. You can only activate this effect of "Galaxy Divisor" once per turn.

Matrix Reverse

(Trap)

(Effects not fully revealed.) During your opponent's Battle Phase, if you control an Insect monster(s) and this card is in the GY: You can banish this card from the GY; change all monsters you control to Defense Position, then you can Special Summon Insect monsters from your Deck, up to the number of monsters that had their battle position changed by this effect, but their effects are negated, then you can increase or decrease the Levels of all monsters you control by 1.

Trivia: This is a Digital Bug card, to be clear :3

Fire King Avatar Manifestation Imdugud

(R8/2700/2000/FIRE/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 8 FIRE monsters

If this card is Xyz Summoned: You can destroy 1 monster in your Deck, and if you do, this monster gains ATK equal to the destroyed monster's Level x 200. If your monster that was originally FIRE is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card; destroy cards your opponent controls up to the number of FIRE monsters you control, and if you do, this card cannot attack directly this turn. If this card is destroyed by battle or card effect: You can target 1 Level 8 or lower FIRE monster in your GY; Special Summon it in Defense Position, and if you do, it cannot be destroyed by your opponents' cards or effects this turn. You can only activate each effect of "Fire King Avatar Manifestation Imdugud" once per turn.

Trivia: Like I said a while before, I did make a lot of OC Fire King cards before the Structure Deck came out. Imdugud, or the anzu, is a bird with a lion's head, which can breathe out both fire and water. :)

Fire King Avatar Ahemait

(3*/1700/200/FIRE/Beast/Effect)

If a face-up "Fire King" monster(s) you control is destroyed by card effect (except during the Damage Step): You can Special Summon this card from your hand. If this card is destroyed and sent to the GY: You can draw 1 card, and if you do, discard 1 FIRE monster from your hand, or, if you do not have any in your hand, send your entire hand to the GY. You can only activate each effect of "Fire King Avatar Ahemait" once per turn.

Trivia: Ahemait is another name for Ammit, the devourer of the dead. I made it Level 3 to match Kirin and Garunix, since it's a beast rather than a humanoid. Ammit is essentially the gateway to the dead in Egyptian mythology—if your heart is impure, it's eaten by her, otherwise you're allowed to proceed to the afterlife. :) Similarly, Ahemait here directly casts a monster into the graveyard, and you're punished for excess.

Reincarnation of the Fire Kings

(Spell/Continuous)

During your Main Phase or Battle Phase, if a FIRE monster(s) on the field is destroyed: You can draw 1 card. Once per turn, if your GY has no monsters, other than FIRE monsters, if a FIRE monster(s) is destroyed by a card effect: You can Special Summon 1 "Fire King" monster from your GY. You can only activate each effect of "Reincarnation of the Fire Kings" once per turn.

Trivia: I originally used Supply Squad, but the destruction being limited to monsters on the field really made me struggle for a bit, so I fixed it.

Raid Raptors - Steadiness

(Trap)

Target 1 "Raid Raptors" monster you control; it is unaffected by your opponent's card effects this turn, and you take no damage from battles involving it. If you have a "Raidraptor" monster in your Graveyard: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; you take no damage this turn.

Trivia: I forgot that I already used Readiness with its anime effect in the Standard Arc and wrote it in this duel as its irl effect, so uh. Look at my very original card, do not steal. (Pffft.)

Raid Raptors - Spade Strix

(R4/2000/2500/DARK/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 4 DARK monsters

If this card is Xyz Summoned: You can set 1 "Rank-Up-Magic" Spell from your Deck to your field, and if you do, it can be activated this turn. You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; target 1 DARK Xyz Monster in your GY, and if you do, Special Summon it in Defense Position. You can only activate each effect of "Raid Raptors - Spade Strix" once per turn.

Fire King Avatar Channeler Kinnari

(R4/1900/1000/FIRE/Winged Beast/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 4 FIRE monsters

If this card is Xyz Summoned: You can target 1 FIRE monster you control and 1 monster your opponent controls; attach them to this card as Xyz Material. You can detach 2 Xyz Materials from this card and target 2 FIRE monsters in your GY with different names from the Xyz Materials detached to activate this effect; shuffle the targeted monsters into the Deck, and if you do, gain LP equal to 200 x their total Levels. If this Xyz Summoned card with Xyz Material is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 "Fire King" Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck, then you can attach this card to it as material. (This is treated as an Xyz Summon.) You can only activate each effect of "Fire King Avatar Channeler Kinnari" once per turn.

Trivia: Named after the kinnara/kinnari, a creature associated with deep love and devotion. :) Nothing much else to say about that. The obsession with the number 'two' comes from the obsession with being 'just a pair' in the kinnari's devotion. I actually think that the kinnari is probably what Ulkanix is based on, but since it's not in the name, I can get away with it :3 In 6ARC Duel Spirit lore, she and Ulkanix are friends.

Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings, Rakshasa Insatiate

(R8/2000/3000/FIRE/Beast/Xyz/Effect)

2 Level 8 monsters

If this card is Xyz Summoned and you control only FIRE monster(s): Banish all monsters from the GY, and if all monster(s) banished from your GY by this effect were FIRE monster(s), you can attach all your banished "Garunix" monsters to this card as Xyz Material. This card gains 500 ATK for each "Garunix" monster attached to it as Xyz Material. If your opponent activates a card or effect: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; negate the activation, and if the Xyz Material detached for this card's cost is a "Garunix" monster, you can destroy 1 card on the field or in your Deck. If this card is destroyed and sent to the GY: You can Special Summon it in Defense Position, and if you do, attach 1 "Garunix" monster to it as Xyz Material. You can only activate each effect of "Defiling Devil of the Fire Kings, Rakshasa Insatiate" once per turn.

Trivia: A counterpart to Garunix in name and effects. :) Rakshasas are shapechangers. I originally made this as the ace for Tsubaki all the way back in 2021, before the new Fire King cards came out. All I'll say on that for now.

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Different Card Effects from TCG:

Antique Gear Hound Dog - Anime effect, doesn't require opponent to have a monster to use burn effect.

Antique Gear Double Bite Hound Dog - Anime-only card.

Antique Gear Double Imitate - Anime-only card.

Antique Gear Scrap Fusion - Anime-only card.

Galaxy-Eyes Cipher Dragon - Anime effect.

Cards of Adversity - Anime-only card from ZEXAL, used by Kaito.

Galaxy Rebirth - Anime-only card from ZEXAL, used by Kaito.

Rank-Up-Magic Revolution Force - Anime effect.

Rank-Up-Magic Raid Force - Anime effect

Rank-Up-Magic Raptor's Force - TCG effect, but works for any Xyz Monster rather than just Raidraptors.

Raid Raptors - Revolution Falcon - Anime effect

Raid Raptors - Rise Falcon - Anime effect.

Rank-Up Return - Anime-only card.

Raid Raptors - Desperate - Anime-only card.

Raid Raptors - Death Double Force - Anime effect.

Raid Raptors - Ultimate Falcon - Anime effect. I've been writing it as the anime effect this entire time, but I forgot to mark it as such in the ending sections before. Sorry about that!

Raid Raptors - Sanctuary - Anime-only card.

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End Notes:

This chapter was always intended to be 104 or 105, but I'm glad it's 105 :) Remember that lil quote from the start of the arc? Mm. The specific associations are pretty obviously pointed out in the chapter itself, so I won't go too much into it here.

Aww man! It's a nice feeling. I haven't gotten to put out a proper monster of a chapter like this for a while. All plot, all relevant, all interconnected the way that I like it. It's been a while since I got to write duels with two top-tiers of the story clashing too—and twice, in fact! Hope you enjoyed the duels as much as I did.

I wanted to keep the entire chapter from Nue/Shun/Tsubaki/Kaito's perspective

"A thing can be true and still be desperate folly" comes from Watership Down.

Vector's backstory in ZEXAL is fucked, and it's something that I couldn't really ignore in this story, even if he had a 'happier' life—it felt disingenuous. I've been told that even though I had the dramatics, the slight playfulness right, the Vector I write also has moments that feel more serious than his ZEXAL version, and that's very much because this is what I imagine he'd be like if he was not forced to forget those events—if he had to remember them and continue on anyway.

Please note, Blaise very much learned the new Antique Gear cards and the full combo with them. However, that was too competent for a group of people who are only just starting to Fusion Summon monsters not named Ultimate Hound Dog, so we'll have to wait a bit longer.

(Read: I wrote an entire set of three turns, decided that full combo into Chaos Giant Megaton Golem was out of character, and toned it down a bit.)

Nue's a mess right now, of course—and she's lowkey been a mess the entire story. But she's also a girl that Gets Things Done, so to speak. That being said, this chapter has made me very aware of how much shit I've done to her in this specific arc. Even if it was always planned to be like this for her… jeez. I've just realised I'm kind of cruel to my characters.

The best buff I gave to Ruri in this story—Parade Silktail is just Dark Ruler No More on legs. :3 I actually rewrote Ruri vs Kaede—initially, I debuted one of the OC cards that I made like. Two years ago, but it didn't quite feel right, so I postponed it. :3

Kaito in Arc-V, weirdly enough, is characterised more like the Arclights in Season 1 than his actual ZEXAL counterpart. That's definitely something that influenced how I write him.

Nue vs Kaito is so long overdue, and it's definitely my favourite duel in the whole chapter, personally, even though I have a soft spot for the others too. Hope you guys enjoyed it too—it's very much a clash of forces. Also, Nue having Ravenous Tarantula, a monster that inflicts 600 damage every time you Special Summon a monster… that specific number of 600 is interesting, isn't it? :3

Picture me reading through all of Kaito's ZEXAL-only cards and being surprised at how broken they are…

I think that in a lot of media, we rarely get just pure, platonic love between characters of different gender. It's a dynamic that I do enjoy writing, just because those dynamics appeal to me slightly more than romantic ones. I also think that focusing on those dynamics gives more… life to the world of the story you make, you know?

A certain someone is sliding back down the slippery slope though… because you can't have nice things in 6ARC :)

I don't want to go too in detail on everything in this chapter, because uh. I don't want to spoil anything. But I hope everyone enjoyed it, and that it was worth the wait :3

Review responses! Thank you to everyone that reviewed, I really appreciate it and I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter so much.

To TheRealD3lph0xL0v3r, thanks for the review! Glad you're anticipating more.

To Ben23ten, for the Numbers, most of the lore for them is stuff I've made up by myself. I do plan on releasing all the lil short stories in a bonus chapter eventually! :) And yeah, I have both Rin and Ruri unlocked :)

To TornadoXz825, haha, I wanted to do Gagaga Cowboy for game too, but in the end, I wanted to make it a bit more 'Vector' in style.

To Infernal Enby, glad you enjoyed! And yeah, Yuji and Miharu have a pretty nice dynamic to write.

To Bryzon, glad that Allen has become slightly more tolerable, haha. And yeah, I do plan to resolve all those plot points...

To T.V. 2000, I think it's always nice for fics to explore pre-invasion Heartland more, yeah! And yeah, the resolution to Sayaka's character never really felt right to me...

To maryyassa523, I tend to respond to as many reviews as I can. Don't worry about long reviews, I love those! :) And yeah, I liked tying in Yugo and Rin's decks to something a lil more lore-based too :)

To the Guest talking about Vanguard, I know a bit about it, yeah. Don't really have an answer to your question now, but I'll think about it.

To Egduardiazsluber, I didn't really want to talk more about the situation, but that comparison is just wrong. 4Kids was licensed to translate the original series, and both it and Konami made money from it through a cooperative agreement. This person plagiarised my work and won't stop with it, and I have every right to be upset at that because they had no permission for that. That's all there is to it.

See you next time! :3 Feel free to review, favourite or follow, as always.