Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: Altered Destiny!

by B-baller125

During the fateful duel of Yuto and Yugo, Yuya decides to step in and this changes the conclusion of the duel and destiny itself. Find out what happens to these three boys as they travel throughout the four dimensions as Lancers to end the Dimensional War and to stop the evil Academia! (Currently in Synchro Arc!) (Bracelet Girls x Yu-boys)

56. Scale-56

Hey everyone, merry christmas! Sorry it's been a while since I last updated, life's been crazy lately so I had to take a break. Here's an extra long chapter to make up for it!

Today's questions:

(Please note that the questions are meant for to be about the characters in this story, not their cannon versions.)

Who is your overall favorite character that's appeared in this story so far?

What are you're top 3 favorite duels from the Standard Arc?

Thanks you for your future answers and thank you to everyone who is already participating in the QnA. Please keep asking your questions to the Lancers (as well as Yuri)!

---

With the light of the screen reflecting in his glassess, Reiji tirelessly ran his fingers through the keyboard of the building's main computer.

With the data that Reira had extracted from Roget's computer during the tournament, Reiji had been given plenty of time to create a virus that could disrupt Roget's systems. With that, all that was needed was for Jack and Reira to destroy the servers and the actual machine and this would all be-

"The machine isn't here."

Reiji's glasses slightly fell down as he heard the former king's words, who approached with Reira by his side.

"We managed to locate and destroy the servers, but the machine was no where to be found..." Reira said in a worried tone.

"That canniving man...he must've falsified the layout of the building to protect it in case anyone ever found out about his schemes." Reiji grunted.

"Can you shut down the machine from here?" Jack questioned.

"With Roget's systems shut down, his ability to remotely activate it has been removed. However, it's still possible that it could be activated manually. With access to the main computer, I can slow down the activation of the machine if Roget decides to use it, but I won't be able to stop it. You two must go there immediately and destroy it." Reiji instructed.

"Understood. If it isn't here, it must be in the labratory." Jack stated.

"I agree. Judging by the blueprint, the only other place that could house such a machine would be that part of the building." Reiji agreed.

"Right. We're not too far from so we should definitely be able to make it in time. Let's go, Reira Akaba." Jack said to the child.

"R-Right." Reira nodded before turning to the older the older Akaba sibling. "...You can count on us, Brother."

"Reira..." Reiji uttered for a moment before nodding at his sibling with a look of confidence.

---

What luck did Sora have today? First, he was grouped up with the brother of someone he carded and the girl he was supposed to kidnap. Now, he was in a group with the same girl and three people from the city that was invaded by the people he worked for, and two of the three were people he had tried to card in the past. And the other person was a girl who his "partner" personally kidnapped.

"Man, what a mess..." Sora lowly uttered with his eyes half closed.

"So your back to your senses? You've been out of it ever since we started moving again." Shun asked, causing the boy to look up in surprise as he realized the older teen was walking closely next to him.

"Y-You're kinda close, Kurosaki. Are you trying to keep an eye on me or something?" Sora asked with a semi-annoyed look.

"Well, with the way you were spacing out, I thought you might collapse from exhaustion, so I was trying to make sure you didn't fall over and slow us down." Shun explained without looking at the boy.

"Is that so..." Sora trailed off before slightly smirking. "You sure that you weren't just trying to make sure I didn't faint and hurt myself?"

"Not a chance in hell." Shun scoffed, earning a slight chuckle from the boy.

"Sure, sure. Out of all people, I'm shocked you're the one being so nice to me." Sora said while looking forward, his smirk slowly fading.

"Nice?" Shun said in confusion, surprised that Sora would use that word to describe his behavior.

"I'm not surprised that most of our comrades hate me, and I really don't blame them. Hell, I hated almost all of you a few days ago." Sora admitted.

"I'd assume so, given your prior allegiance." Shun grumbled.

"Most of the original cast of Lancers besides Yuya and Yuzu definitely weren't excited to see me back at the stadium, even Gongenzaka. And the one who seems to hate me more than anyone is the first person to show me mercy back in Standard." Sora noted as he looked at Yuto, who walked ahead of the group by himself.

"I remeber that...Yuto held back in the duel he had with you the night that Yugo appeared in Standard..." Shun remembered, looking at his friend.

"Yeah, he went on and on about not wanting to hurt me, and now look at him. I think he could kill me with one of those ice cold glares of his." Sora said with a nervous smile.

"...Yuto has definitely changed since he dueled Hell Kaiser, that's for sure. And his building frustration with being trapped in this dimension while Ruri was still imprisoned was also a factor in his mental state." Shun added.

"I guess it makes sense that he's like this. After all, surviving against the Hell Kaiser is a miracle in itself. That duel was most certaintly enough to awaken something in him." Sora mentioned before gaining a puzzle look on his face. "Now that I think about it, what was that thing he said earlier...about the death and destruction we're bound to experience...wasn't that a bit strange...?"

Shun paused for a moment. He hadn't seen Yuto that panicked since the day of the invasion. Could that outburst be related to the battle he had with so-called "Death God"?

"...Yeah, that was unlike him. Anyways, there's a question I need to ask you. Ever since Ruri came back, Yuto's been acting strange around the friends he made back in Standard. I know you were in the subway at the time, so do you have any clue on what happened with them?" Shun asked.

"To be honest, the younger Akaba and I were stuck dueling the Obelisk Force for the majority of the time. I do know that while Yuzu and Serena were saving Ruri and Rin, Yuto and the other boys that look like him dueled eachother." Sora explained.

"I get them dueling Yuri...but why the hell were they fighting eachother...?" Shun questioned.

"I'm not sure. When I got there to berid of the Obelisk Force that were surrounding them, the tension was so thick that you could cut it with the blade of your duel disk." Sora informed his rival before looking back at Serena. "If I had to guess, it has something to do with her."

"That's strange...back in Standard, they seemed to have become friends after they dueled..." Shun trailed off before looking at his Yuto. "...He's just going through something right now, but he'll snap out of it soon enough. He's not a cold person."

"Right...and now, I have a question...why don't you hate me...?" Sora asked, causing Shun's eyes to somewhat narrow.

"...What makes you think I don't?"

"You probably wouldn't be talking to me if you actually hated me."

"Tch..." Shun stoic expression cracked for a brief moment. He looked at the boy from the corner of his eyes as he spoke. "...I put my trust you when I left you with Yuzu...and you didn't let me down. You helping Yuzu get to that subway and fending off the Obelisk Force led to her saving Ruri."

"Oh...I guess that's true..." Sora scratched his head. "...but I'm not doing all of this to undo all the bad things I've done as a member of Academia, you know. I'm only in this to keep Yuya and Yuzu alive. The only thing I care about is going back to Standard with them once this is all over, no matter what I have to do or who I have to card."

"...You're trying to make yourself seem selfish, but that won't work." Shun stated.

"And why's that?" Sora questioned.

"I saw how you reacted to Tsukikage's death. Back in Standard, you carded his brother without a second thought. And now, despite barely knowing Tsukikage, you're clearly mourning his death, or else you wouldn't have beaten and carded that guy." Shun pointed out.

"How do you know that I-"

"Your bruised fists. Your bloody shoes."

Sora scoffed as he looked at his hands and feet before looking back up at Shun.

"See, that makes me even more of a monster!" Sora raised his voice.

"Who cares if you're a monster?" Shun glared at the boy out of the corner his eye, startling Sora. "You don't think I've done similar things in the past to your old comrades? I've even carded defensless members of LDS all because of my delusions."

"But that's..." Sora trailed off.

"We're in a war. It's impossible to keep your hands clean, no matter which side you're on. However, Yuzu has been insistently drilling into my mind that I'm not too far gone, despite all of the lives I've taken. In the end, we just have to continue moving forward."

"That does sound like my student." Sora said with a small smile.

"Stop thinking of yourself as some selfish monster, because you've clearly changed since back then, even if your methods haven't. As long as you continue to be useful to the Lancers, I'll continue to tolerate your prescense, even if I still don't like you." Shun spoke, his voice a little less stern than before.

"Even after everything that happened between us?" Sora questioned.

"...The past is the past. All we can do is continue to move forward. However, if you ever even think about crossing us, getting carded will feel like mercy compared to what I'll do to you." Shun warned.

"Like hell I'd lose to you." Sora challengingly smirked.

"You're just lucky Yuzu reminded me so much of my sister, or else I would've wiped you off the face of the earth during our last duel." Shun told the boy.

"If I remember correctly, I would've used the Action Card I picked up if seeing Yuzu didn't give me second thoughts!" Sora argued.

"All I hear is exuses." Shun crossed his arms and closed his eyes, angering Sora.

"Fine, during our next duel, I'll just have to crush you twice as bad as the last time I beat you." Sora madly grinned.

"You can try." Shun said, slightly turning his head towards the boy for the first time in the conversation.

From behind the two, Ruri and Serena were silently walking side by side.

As Serena walked, it was also as if she was in a trance. Everything that had went wrong on this mission was centered around her. Had she not left Tsukikage, he certainly wouldn't have been carded, that was for sure. And if her, Sora, and Tsukikage were together when Yuri appeared, then maybe that duel would've turned out different, or maybe it wouldn't have happened at all. But no, she lost and wasted precious time they didn't have. It was her fault. It was all her-

Serena's spiraling thoughts were interupted by the soft laughter of Ruri.

"...What's so funny?" Serena asked, finally breaking the long silence between the two girls.

"To be honest, it's been a while since I've seen Shun act unserious. That kid brings something out of him." Ruri said with a small smile.

"To be fair, they had quite the rivalry back in Standard. In fact, the first time I met your brother was when I had to drag him away from Sora after Kurosaki was defeated by him." Serena explained.

"Yuto told me about that...but it looks like he had nothing to worry about. After all, if Brother can find a way to trust him despite what happened between them, everyone else should do the same." Ruri said, surprising her counterpart.

"...You're really understanding, despite everything Academia has put you through." Serena said, causing Ruri to look down for a moment. The indigo-haired girl realized she must've triggered something within the girl, causing her to subconsciously slap herself across the face. "S-Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up what happened to you."

"It's fine..." Ruri looked up with a believable smile before turning her head towards Serena. "Back in Standard, you protected my brother from getting carded. Also, you're a large part of the reason I'm even standing here right now. Thank you, Serena."

"Please, you've thanked me twice already." Serena waved off Ruri's words before gaining a serious look. "Helping you and your brother allowed me to atone for the years I fought to be apart of Academia. I still have a lot more to do before I can truly feel like I've done enough."

"Atone? For what? From what Brother and Yuto told me, you were held in Academia as a prisoner and never even took part in the invasion. I assume you haven't carded anyone, right?" Ruri asked, earning a nod in response from Serena. "It seems you were more like a victim of Academia if anything, so there's no reason for you to atone for."

"I'm sorry, but that's wrong..." Serena uttered, looking down at the ground. "Before joining the Lancers, I traveled to the Standard Dimension to hunt Yuto and Kurosaki. If I had gotten my way, I would've defeated and carded both of them."

"...But that was before you knew the truth about Academia, right? Your mind was still polluted by their lies." Ruri pointed out.

"...It's not just that...there's parts of my life that I've kept from everyone...things that I should've said but didn't..."

"You're talking about your past with...Yuri..." Ruri somewhat shuttered as she spoke the boy's name. "Yuto told me that you kept to yourself the fact that you two had some sort of relationship. That's what you're talking about, right?"

"...Partially, yes." Serena nodded in response, grabbing her arms. "I never told anyone about the complicated relationship Yuri and I shared because of Yugo and Yuto's hatred towards him. After befriending Yuzu, I could only imagine how she felt about Yuri due to him hunting her in Standard, so I was too afraid to say anything."

"Oh...I understand. You assumed that by telling your new friends that your old best friend was the guy they all hated with a passion, they'd see you differently and potentially hate you too." Ruri noted.

"Well, that's part of it...but also..." Serena gained a guilty expression as she looked up at Ruri.

"Serena, it's ok. You can tell me." Ruri said, confortingly placing her arm on the girl's back.

"The main reason I didn't say anything about Yuri...is because I can't look Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, and Yuzu in the eyes and tell them that I hate him for everything that he's done, because that'd be a lie..."

Serena could feel the hand Ruri placed on her back twitch, but at this point, she had to keep going. She took another deep breath before continuing.

"...I know he's done terrible, unforgivable things...but when I look at him...I don't see the person he is now...I still see the kind boy he was back then...and I want to bring that boy back...I want to save Yuri from Academia's influence."

As Ruri returned her hand to her side, Serena felt cold shiver run through her body. She had gotten way too comfortable with this girl who she's barely interacted with beforehand and who so happens to be a victim of Yuri. It was like all the words she had wanted to say to Yuzu to ammend their relationship were just regergatated onto someone who probably hated Yuri more than her. Why did she have to be so terrible with the emotions of others? Why couldn't she be more like Yuya with this kind of stuff?!

"Thank you for telling me that, Serena."

Serena blinked a few times, completely caught off guard by the sight of Ruri...smiling at her? She had just confessed that she wanted to save the guy who kidnapped her. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't take the news like this, right?!

"Your side of the story makes a lot more sense to me now. I understand why Yuto is upset, but just because you were friends doesn't make you obligated to tell him, or anyone else, everything about your life." Ruri paused for a moment before making eye contact with her counterpart. "With that being said, I think you've underestimated your friends."

"Underestimated my friends?" Serena repeated in confusion.

"Let's see. Have you explained things to anyone else other than me?" Ruri asked.

"Yes...I talked things out with Yuya." Serena nodded.

"And how did that go?"

"Well...we went back and forth for a bit and he called Yuri a monster...but he encouraged me and said that he'd be by my side, no matter what." Serena said, her voice somewhat trembling as she began to unexpectedly feel emotional. She was beginning to understand Ruri's point.

"If Yuya managed to separate his hatred towards Yuri and chose to support you, doesn't that mean the others had the potential to do the same? Yuto has already told me how caring Yuzu is, and Rin often said that Yugo was a huge idiot with a big heart, so I'm sure they both would react similarly to Yuya if you actually explained everything."

Serena's mind was sent back to when she finally found Yuzu and Yugo after they were separated from teleporting to the Synchro Dimension. Their genuine smiles of relief when they saw her was a moment that was unexpectedly seared into her mind.

"As for Yuto...he's definetely going through something at the moment, but the reason he feels so betrayed is because he genuinely considered you a good friend before everything went down in the subway. To me, it seems that he's more mad that you didn't trust him enough to tell him the truth after he put all his trust into you. If he managed to forgive you for trying to card him, I'm sure he could've looked past your connection with Yuri if you explained yourself."

Serena's mind played another memory. Suddenly, she was back at the docks with Yuto, talking to him after their duel. The boy warmly smiled at her, inviting her to come back to You Show with everyone. Despite trying to card him and Yuzu in the past, he reassured her that she would be welcomed with open arms.

She finally understood.

Yuto, Yuzu, Yugo, and Yuya all trusted and cared about her. And yet, she didn't trust them enough to tell them what had obviously been eating away at her. If she had told them that day, back in Standard...

"...I'm an idiot..." Serena grumbled, a single tear forming in her left eye.

"So you get it..." Ruri said before smiling softly before comfortingly placing her hand in Serena's. "...Yuto truly valued you as a friend back then, and although he's angry right now, I'm sure those feelings haven't completely gone away."

"So when this is all over...I should just talk to him...Yuzu, Yugo, and Rin too..." Serena said with a hint of nervousness in her tone.

"If you'd like, I could be there with you when you explain things to them, and I'm sure Yuya would too." Ruri told her counterpart.

"...Thank you, Ruri." Serena wiped away the tear and smiled at her newest friend.

---

"Hey, don't touch my cards, you bastards!"

Rin and Yuzu had been in a cell for a few hours, though neither of them had spoken to eachother. Rin had been prepccupied with the two guards stationed outside the cell, who had been going through their decks with greedy expressions on their faces. On the other hand, Yuzu was laying quietly on one of the beds, staring at the ceiling.

God, she hated this feeling.

First, she felt like she contributed way less than Yugo and Shun in the Friendship Cup.

Then, she had Sora, Reira, Shun, Tsukikage, and Yuya fighting back against Barrett and the Obelisk Force so she wouldn't be kidnapped.

Not to mention in the duel against her controlled counterparts, Serena did the most of the work while she only managed to pull off the win thanks to her counterpart lending her power.

After all of that, she chose to give up her spot in the finals, allowing for Yugo and Yuya to have their climatic duel because she wasn't good enough to connect with the audience on the level that they could.

And in the present, she was a prisoner, which surely caused Yuya turmoil that he didn't need to be dealing with right now. Now, her comrades not only had to worry about stopping Roget, they also had to go out of her way to save her.

Not being strong enough to do things on her own...having people constantly fighting to protect her...she was nothing more than...

"...a damsal..." Yuzu softly uttered in a trance, causing Rin to turn towards her.

"Yuzu, you're awake? I assumed you were asleep with how quiet you were being."

Realizing that Yuzu probably didn't want to hear her constant shouting, Rin decided to step away from the bars of the cell and sat on the empty bed. In responce, Yuzu sat up in her bed and faced her counterpart. The two sat in silence for a moment before Rin cleared her throat.

"So...I've seen that you and Yugo have grown close to eachother. It makes sense after all, you two have been through a lot together..." Rin trailed off, looking down at the ground for a moment.

"Yeah...we've definitely come a long way from where we started. The first time we met, I wanted to kill him for endangering Yuya and Yuto. But as I got to know him, and as we fought together, he really grew on me." Yuzu explained with a small smile.

"Yeah...he can be loud, obnoxious, rude, and a bit of a crybaby at times...but he's a really dependable guy..."

Rin then did something surprising, bowing her head to Yuzu.

"Thank you for looking after my idiot while I was in Academia. I'm sure he was annoying to deal with, but I truly appreciate you for supporting him when I couldn't."

"Are you talking about the Friendship Cup?" Yuzu asked.

"Yeah, that's a part of it. We always dreamed of taking on the tournament together, and then we'd duel eachother to decide who'd have the right to face the king. But because of my absense, you helped Yugo reach the top of the tournament while Yuya filled in as his final test before facing the king." Rin said with a sigh.

"I-I'm sorry you're dreams got derailed..." Yuzu frowned.

"Oh, don't worry about me! I'll have all the time in the world to steal Yugo's crown in the future." Rin grinned, causing Yuzu to replace her sad expression with a chuckle. "However, during Yuya and Yugo's duel, I realized something. Until then, like Yugo, I had only been dueling with the intention of saving ourselves, like him. It's because of my influence that Yugo dueled that way, and if it wasn't for Yuya...Yugo may've never snapped out of that mindset."

"Rin..." Yuzu trailed off, looking at her saddened counterpart. "...I understand why you and Yugo were motivated to have a better life. I can't imagine only having one person you could rely on for all those years. I know that Yuya tried hard to snap Yugo out of that mindset. However, that wasn't because Yugo was wrong for wanting a better life, but because it was holding him back from enjoying the duel while also causing him to end up just like the king before him."

"I guess I didn't think about it like that...but even after watching Yugo's duels and listening to him speak...nothing's changed in my mind...I still think the same as I did before..." Rin admitted before clenching her fist. "Maybe its because of my freedom being taken away from me...or maybe its because Yugo gained deep connections with you all while I was in Academia...but I haven't changed."

"What do you mean?" Yuzu asked.

"I know that Yugo is a member of the Lancers...and although a part of me wants to join you all to get revenge on Academia for what they did to me, what I truly want is for Yugo and I to stay here after Roget is dealt with. We've been living in hell since we were born, and when things finally begin to change, we have to go off and fight in a war? I just became free of my kidnappers while Yugo put his heart and soul into becoming the Duel King, and now we're expected to fight even more? Do we not deserve to have a good life?!"

"...Of course you do. Everyone does. That's why we're fighting in this war...so no one else has to suffer at the hands of Academia." Yuzu solemly said, causing Rin to bite her lip.

"So that's what it is...no wonder you're a better influence on Yugo compared to me. You're as selfless as they get." Rin complimented, though Yuzu looked away from her.

"That's not true. I'm also selfish with the things that I want." Yuzu stated, surprising her counterpart. "When Yugo won the Friendship Cup for our team, I was really happy at first. But after some time, I gained this bitter feeling..."

"Bitter feeling?" Rin repeated.

"...I wanted to be the one facing Yuya out there on the track. Despite knowing how badly Yuya and Yugo wanted to achieve their goals...I wanted to be the one out there, spreading the dueling I believe in and changing the ways of this city. I wanted to win the final duel and make up for all my other shortcomings since we've come to this dimension..." Yuzu trailed off before looking her counterpart in the eyes. "...what I'm trying to say is that it's ok to desire more for yourself, that's your right. If you truly want to stay here, that doesn't make you a bad person."

"Yuzu...thank you for understanding..."

"But looking past that aspect of the situation...there is no getting around the fact that we're targets for Academia. Even if you don't come with us, they'll still come for you. That could potentially mean yet another invasion for this city. And if the Lancers are no longer here to help fend them off..."

"...Then everything Yugo's worked so hard for would be for nothing..." Rin trailed off, her hand curling into a shaky fist.

"I can't predict what will happen if you choose to come with us or not. All I can say is that no matter what, you won't be able to enjoy true freedom until Academia is defeated. I know it isn't fair...but that's reality."

"...I understand..." Rin nodded with a serious look in her eyes.

The green-haired girl began to whisper, causing Yuzu's ears to perk up. After exchanging some words, Yuzu nodded with an unsure look on her face while Rin's expression remained stone-cold.

"Rin...there's something else I need to confess." Yuzu spoke, sweat forming on her face.

"What's that?" Rin asked, noticing the officers' attention shifting to them out of intrigue.

"Yugo...he's become such a big part of my life. At first, I hated him for hurting Yuya and Yuto. Then, we became friends after fighting together and he even became my student. After that, we ended up coming to the Synchro Dimension together, where we fought alongide eachother against Security and in the Friendship Cup. We've been through so much together...and because of that...I..."

"You've fallen for him, haven't you...?" Rin glared daggers at the girl, veins popping out of her head.

"...That's right...I'm sorry..." Yuzu shamefully bowed her head, unable to look at her counterpart.

"...I'LL KILL YOU!" Rin shouted, jumping on top of the girl.

"Hey, knock if off!" One officer shouted, banging on the door.

"YOU BITCH! YOU STOLE HIM FROM ME!"

Rin placed her hands on Yuzu's throat, causing Yuzu to painfully cry out.

"She's actually trying to kill her?!"

"Damn it!"

After opening the door, the officers went into the room in an attempt to separate the two girls.

"You fell for it!" Rin grinned for swiftly jumping forward and kneeing the first officer in the gut.

"Why you little-"

The second officer's angry growl was cut off by a swift kick to his jewles, causing him to keel over.

"Nice, Rin!" Yuzu shouted after getting off the ground.

"Wow, you really made that look like I was actually choking you! And that confession was spot on!" Rin gave the girl a thumbs up.

"Being a Entertainment Duelist definitely helps with acting." Yuzu smiled in return.

"Good thing these guys were greedy enough to keep our decks for themselves instead of stashing them away with our duel disks." Rin explained as the two swiped their cards off of the men.

"It'd be nice if we could get our duel disks back. For now, we'll just borrow these ones." Yuzu explained, taking the man's duel disk off of his arm.

"How disgusting...but I guess it can't be helped..." Rin sighed before looking around at the empty hall. "I wonder why Roget didn't have anymore guards here..."

"That's because I'm more than enough."

Yuzu's heart skipped a beat as she heard that cold, emotionless voice.

From the end of the hall, a cloaked figure wearing a partially broken mask slowly walked towards them. Due to the crack Serena caused during the witch's last duel, her right eye was visible.

"That's...!" Rin's eyes widened.

"...the Black Rose Witch..." Yuzu uttered in shock.

"If you walk back into your cell, no harm will come to you." The witch stated.

"And why the hell would we do that? There's no way I'm letting my plan get ruined because of you!" Rin shouted, slamming her deck into the stolen duel disk before activating it.

"...Do you share her sentiment?" The witch turned her head to Yuzu, whose skin had gone pale.

"I..." Yuzu choked on her words, her heart racing as she remembered the pain she experienced during their first encounter.

"Yuzu, you're not alone. We'll get through this together!" Rin shouted, giving the girm a reassuring smile.

The pink-haired girl looked at her counterpart and nodded, wiping away the sweat on her face. She had spoken about how she wanted to be stronger, how she wished she had the chance to prove herself, and now she was getting exactly what she asked for. A chance to display her growth against an opponent that previously outclassed her.

"You may have overpowered Serena and I in the past...but she managed to beat you during the Frienship Cup on her own. I can't afford to be left behind, so I'll defeat you here and now!" Yuzu shouted, regaining some determination. She inserted her deck into the stolen duel disk and activated it.

"...So be it. This time, you won't escape my wrath."

"DUEL!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 4000 LP vs YUZU: 4000 LP / RIN: 4000 LP

'Since I'm not using my own duel disk, there isn't any Action Cards...' Yuzu thought before steeling herself. 'That's fine...afterall, Serena managed to beat her one on one. With Rin battling with me, we have the advantage.'

"We'll get past you, no matter what! My turn!" Rin eagerly declared with a serious look in her eyes. "I activate the Spell Card, Wind Draw! By discarding a Wind Witch, such as Wind Witch - Storm Bell, I can draw two cards! Then, I summon Wind Witch - Ice Bell!"

A blue-haired witch riding a crystal blue broom appeared.

Wind Witch - Ice Bell (1000/1000) LVL:3

"Ice Bell's effect! During the turn this monster is summoned, you take 500 damage!" Rin explained as her witch fired a stream of wind from its wand.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 4000-3500 LP

"While I control a Wind Witch monster, I can special summon the Tuner monster, Wind Witch - Gale Bell!" Rin shouted as a green-haired witch in white clothing appeared.

Wind Witch - Gale Bell (700/200) LVL:2

"Now, I tune the Level 2 Frost Bell to the Level 3 Ice Bell! Frigid breeze, weave the frost and icy shards into an unrelenting gale! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 5! Wind Witch - Frost Bell!"

A teal bell-like witch appeared on the battle field, with icicles hanging from its lower body.

Wind Witch - Frost Bell (1900/1200) LVL:5

"When Gale Bell is used as Synchro material for a WIND Synchro monster, I get to draw a card. Frost Bell's effect activates! Once per turn, I can target a Wind Witch in my graveyard and deal damage equal to its level times 100! I target the Level 3 Ice Bell!" Rin explained as her monster fired a barrage of small icicles at the cloaked woman.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3500-3200 LP

"Then, all Wind Witch monsters on my field gain the same amount of ATK!"

Frost Bell (1900/1200)-(2200/1200)

"I set a card facedown, turn end." Rin concluded.

"I'm next...my turn!"

Yuzu looked through her hand and grimaced. Her opponent's strategy is wiping the opponent's field, and she currently had nothing in her hand to protect herself.

"Don't worry, Yuzu. You can go all out. I got your back." Rin gave the girl a reassuring nod, causing Yuzu to snap back to reality.

'That's right...I'm not alone...' Yuzu gave her teammate a nod of agreement before turning back to her opponent. "Here I go! With the Scale 1 Refrain the Melodious Songstress, and the Scale 9 Couplet the Melodious Songstress, I set the Pendulum Scale!"

Two contrasting singers appeared in the columns in the sky. The lower scale one had a warm colored theme of a red outfit and orange and yellow hair. The higher scale one had green skin, pink and purple hair, and blue and purple clothing.

Refrain 1 - 9 Couplet

"With this, I can simultaneously summon monsters with levels 2 through 8! Swing pendulum of harmony! Draw an arc of beauty and peace across the heavens! Pendulum Summon! Come from the heavens, my monsters! From my hand, Tamtam the Melodious Diva! Bella the Melodious Diva! Rena the Melodious Songstress!"

Two Pendulum monsters appeared alongside Tamtam. One was a girl with blond-hair and a pink skirt holding a bell and mallet, as well as a girl with long purple hair and an even longer blue dress.

Tamtam the Melodious Diva (1000/2000) LVL:4

Bella the Melodious Diva (1000/800) LVL:4 PS:5

Rena the Melodious Songstress (1800/600) LVL:5 PS:3

"At this moment, Bella's effect activates! Since she was Pendulum Summoned, I can draw a card and if it is a Melodious monster, I can inflict damage to the opponent equal to its level times 100! Draw!" Yuzu shouted as she drew before revealing the card. "Alright, it's the Level 7 Shopina the Melodious Maestra!"

The girl hit her bell with a mallet, causing a ringing sound that made the witch cover her ears.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3200-2500 LP

"Couplet's Pendulum Effect! Since I only control Melodious monsters, I can add a Melodious Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand!" Yuzu explained as a card popped out of her deck. "I activate the Spell Card, Melodious Draw! Since I control three Melodious monsters, I draw three! Now, I activate the Spell Card, Fusion! I fuse Tamtam the Melodious Diva and Rena the Melodious Songstress!"

The girl with a drum and the girl in a long dress spiraled into the fusion vortex.

"Echoes of the soul! Spiritual tune! With the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now come here to the stage! Level 6! Sing the song of victory! Bloom Diva the Floral Melodious Saint!" Yuzu shouted as the blue and white girl in a pink flower appeared.

Bloom Diva the Melodious Floral Saint (1000/2000) LVL:6

"Tamtam's effect activates! Since it was used as Fusion material, Bloom Diva loses 500 ATK and you take 500 damage!"

Bloom Diva (1000/2000)-(500/2000)

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2500-2000 LP

"Refrain's Pendulum Effect! By sending a Melodious monster from my deck to the graveyard, I can increase a Melodious Fusion monster's ATK by the sent monster's level times 200 until the end of the turn. I send the Level 8 Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra."

Bloom Diva (500/2000)-(2100/2000)

"Turn end!" Yuzu concluded.

Bloom Diva (2100/2000)-(500/2000)

"Not bad at all." Rin smirked, impressed by the display of effect damage.

"Thanks." Yuzu nodded. 'Alright, we managed to take half of her life points away before she even took a turn. At this rate, we'll be able to win within the next few turns if we can successfully defend ourselves here.'

"My turn." The witch declared before drawing. "Quick Play Spell, Basal Rose Shoot! I can special summon a Rose Dragon from my deck or graveyard. Come, the Tuner monster, Red Rose Dragon!"

A small dragon with two rose buds on its back appeared.

Red Rose Dragon (1000/1800) LVL:3

"Next, I summon Blue Rose Dragon!"

A small dragon with blue rose petals on its body appeared.

Blue Rose Dragon (1600/1200) LVL:4

"Now, I tune the Level 3 Red Rose Dragon to the Level 4 Blue Rose Dragon!"

"It's coming already..." Yuzu's teeth clenched.

"Red petals darkened by hatred! Bloom into an unstoppable force and envelop the world with your chilling flames! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Black Rose Blooming Dragon!" The Black Rose Witch cried as her ace dragon with dark red petals on its body appeared with a powerful roar.

Black Rose Blooming Dragon (2400/1800) LVL:7

"Black Rose Blooming Dragon's effect activates! When Synchro Summoned-"

"Not happening! Trap Activate! Lost Wind! When a monster is special summoned, that monster's effects are negated and its ATK is halved!"

A storm of black wind consumed the dragon for a moment, draining it of its strength.

Black Rose (2400/1800)-(1200/1800)

"Alright! Your ace monster is sealed!" Rin pumped her fist through the air in excitement before turning to Yuzu.

"Nice counter, Rin!" Yuzu shouted. 'With her ace neutralized, we can-'

"Do you truly think you're safe?"

Yuzu thoughts were cut off by the sheer pressure that the witch was giving off, causing the girl to gulp.

"When Red Rose Dragon is used as Synchro Material, I can special a Rose Dragon from my deck. Come, White Rose Dragon!"

A small dragon with white petals on its body appeared.

White Rose Dragon (1200/1000) LVL:4

"Quick Play Spell Card, Frozen Rose, activate! By sending Black Rose Blooming Dragon to the graveyard, I can add a Plant-type from my deck to my hand." The witch explained before her ace dissolved into particles.

"You're getting rid of your ace?" Rin questioned.

"This doesn't make sense...she can't revive her dragon through its effect if it's sent to the graveyard during her own turn." Yuzu said in confusion.

"I add the Tuner monster, Copy Plant to my hand. And then I'll summon it!"

A monster made entirely of roots appeared.

Copy Plant (0/0) LVL:1

"Now, I tune the Level 1 Copy Plant to the Level 4 White Rose Dragon! Blooming in the moonlit garden, weave petals of sorrow and beauty! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 5! Garden Rose Maiden!" The witch chanted as a woman in a white dress appeared. She had blue rose in her blonde hair.

Garden Rose Witch (1600/2400) LVL:5

"White Rose Dragon's effect! I send a Plant-type from my deck to the graveyard since it was used as Synchro material. I send Rose Defender to the graveyard. Garden Rose Witch's effect activates! When this card is Synchro Summoned, I can add a certain Field Spell from my deck to my hand." The red-haired woman explained as a card popped out of her deck. "I activate the Spell Card, Double Summon! This lets me normal summon once again. I summon Tuner monster, Night Rose Knight!"

A knight in black and white armor appeared next to the women.

Night Rose Knight (1000/1000) LVL:3

"Night Rose Knight's effect. I can special summon a Level 4 or lower plant-type monster from my hand. Come forth, Rose Fairy!"

A pink and red flowery fairy appeared.

Rose Fairy (600/1200) LVL:3

"I tune my Level 3 Night Rose Knight to my Level 3 Rose Fairy! Hunter of splendid thorns hidden in the sacred forest, with your whip of punishment in hand, show yourself! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 6! Splendid Rose!" The Witch shouted as a blonde hair man wearing a half black and half green outfit. He had four thorny vines protruding from his back.

Splendid Rose (2200/2000) LVL:6

"I activate the Spell Card, Synchro Treasure! Since there are three Synchro monsters on the field, I draw three cards. Splendid Rose's effect activates! Once per turn, by banishing a Plant-type monster such Ivy Wall and a monster on your field has its ATK halved!" The witch shouted, pointing at Frost Bell. Vines shot out of her monster's back and wrapped around the Synchro monster.

Frost Bell (2200/1200)-(1100/1200)

"Battle. Splendid Rose, attack Frost Bell! Hunter's Whip!" The masked women called out as the man grabbed onto one of his vines and swung it through the teal bell. A powerful shockwave ensued, causing Rin to skid backwards.

RIN: 4000-2900 LP

"Tch...the damage really is amplified, huh..." Rin said with a surprised yet intrigued look on her face. "It'll take more than that to scare me. Frost Bell's effect allows me to special summon a Level 4 or lower Wind Witch from the graveyard after being destroyed! Come, the Tuner monster, Wind Witch - Storm Bell!" Rin shouted as a cyan-haired witch in green clothing appeared.

Wind Witch - Storm Bell (100/1000) LVL:2

"During my Main Phase 2...I activate the Field Spell, Black Garden!"

Suddenly, multiple dark vines shot out of the ground and encased the three duelists.

"You're both in my domain now. I set two cards facedown, turn end." The witch concluded.

"My turn! While I control no other monsters besides Wind Witch monsters, I can normal summon this card without releasing! Come, the Tuner monster, Wind Witch - Blizzard Bell!"

A white and blue bell with golden lining and small blue wings appeared.

Wind Witch - Blizzard Bell (1800/1800) LVL:5

"I'll show you the true horror of my prison! Black Garden halves any summoned monster's ATK!"

Vines immediately shot forward and wrapped around Blizzard Bell as she transferred her lights to Starlight.

Blizzard Bell (1800/1800)-(900/1800)

"What the hell is this?" Rin questioned.

"Due to Black Garden's effect, any summoned monster has its ATK halved. And then, a Rose Token is summoned to the opposite player's field in attack mode."

Rose Token (800/800) LVL:2

"Now, I tune the Level 5 Blizzard Bell to the Level 2 Storm Bell! Midwinter wind, harness the power of ice and snow and blow a storm! Synchro Summon! Come Forth! Level 7! Wind Witch - Winter Bell!" Rin shouted as her blue and green monster appeared with bladed wings for arms and a bell-like body.

Wind Witch - Winter Bell (2400/2000) LVL:7

As soon as Rin's ace hit the field, thorny vines shot out and wrapped around Winter Bell.

Winter Bell (2400/2000)-(1200/2000)

Then, another Rose Token appeared on the witch's side.

Rose Token (800/800) LVL:2

"Winter Bell's effect! Once per turn, by targeting a Level 4 or lower Wind Witch in the graveyard, this monster gains that card's effect! I target Ice Bell! Meaning, you take 500 damage since this card was summoned this turn!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2000-1500 LP

"Battle! Winter Bell, attack Rose Token! Zephyr Shoot!" Rin commanded as her ace fired a stream of green wind at the rose.

"Rose Tokens cannot be destroyed by battle or declare an attack."

"But you still take the damage!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 1500-1100 LP

"I set a card facedown, turn end." Rin concluded.

"Continuous Trap, Rose Scent! During each player's End Phase, I gain 500 life points for each Rose Token on the field." The masked woman explained.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 1100-2100 LP

"She recovered all of the damage I just dealt..." Rin grunted in annoyance.

"Don't worry, I'll use the chance you've created to win this duel! My turn!" Yuzu shouted as she drew. "With the set scale, Pendulum Summon! From my Extra Deck, Rena the Melodious Songstress! And from my hand, Shopina the Melodious Maestra!"

Rena returned to the field alongside a winged woman in a purple gown.

Rena the Melodious Songstress (1800/600) LVL:5 PS:3

Shopina the Melodious Maestra (2300/1700) LVL:7

Like when Rin summoned her monsters, vines restrained the two fairies while a Rose Token appeared on the witch's field.

Rena (1800/600)-(900/600)

Shopina (2300/1700)-(1150/1700)

Rose Token (800/800) LVL:2

"She's got five monsters now..." Rin realized.

"Rena's effect activates! When this card is Pendulum Summoned, I can add a Fusion Spell from my graveyard to my hand, but it's returned to the deck after it's used. Then, I activate Shopina's effect! Once per turn, I can add a LIGHT Fairy-type to my hand from the graveyard. I add Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra." Yuzu explained as she returned her ace to her hand.

"So that's why she sent it to the graveyard during her last turn...so she could add back now using Shopina's effect." Rin realized with a smile.

"I activate the Spell Card, Fusion! I fuse Solo the Melodious Songstress in my hand with Shopina, Rena, and Bella!" Yuzu yelled as solo appeared on the field alongside the three fairies before they swirled into the fusion vortex. "Noble resonance! Glorious piano! Spiritual tune! Wondrous Chime! By the guidance of the baton, assemble your power! Fusion Summon! Now, on stage! Level 7! The song of passion! Bloom Prima the Floral Melodious Saint!" Yuzu yelled as the blue haired girl in a yellow dressed appeared. The girl had blue flowers protruding from its shoulders.

Bloom Prima the Melodious Floral Saint (1900/2000) LVL: 7

"Since Fusion was used, it's now shuffled into the deck instead of being sent to the graveyard due to Rena's effect." Yuzu reminded.

"No more Rose Tokens can be summoned to my field, but your monster's ATK is still halved." The witch pointed out.

Bloom Prima (1900/2000)-(950/2000)

"Bloom Prima's effect activates! She gains 300 ATK for each of her Fusion materials!" Yuzu explained.

Bloom Prima (950/2000)-(2150/2000)

"Refrain's Pendulum Effect! By sending a Melodious monster from my deck to the graveyard, I can increase a Fusion monster's ATK by the sent monster's level times 200 until the end of the turn. I send the Level 5 Elegy the Melodious Diva to grant Bloom Prima 1000 ATK!"

Bloom Prima (2150/2000)-(3150/2000)

"Bloom Prima can also make two attacks per turn! Battle! Bloom Prima, attack her Rose Token and end this duel! Harmonizing Sound Wave!"

"Trap Activate! Razor Petals! An attack against a Plant-type monster I control is negated and that monster is destroyed!"

A sharp barrage of petals tore through the blue flower girl.

"Tch...Bloom Diva, attack Splendid Rose! At this moment, Bloom Diva's effect activates! When battling a special summoned monster, that monster is automatically destroyed and you take any damage I would have taken! Reflect Shout!"

The girl inside a beautiful pink flower began to sing, creating a green tornado with her voice that consumed the opposing monster.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2100-400 LP

"So close...During my Main Phase 2, I activate the Pendulum Effect of Couplet. I add Melodious Guardian from my deck to my hand. Then, I set a card facedown, turn end." Yuzu concluded.

"Rose Scent's effect now activates." The witch said as her three roses began to glow.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 400-1900 LP

"Tch..." Yuzu clicked her tongue in frustration.

"My turn! From my hand, I summon the Tuner monster, Witch of the Black Rose!"

A small girl with purple hair in a black outfit appeared.

Witch of the Black Rose (1700/1200) LVL:4

"My monster's ATK is now halved."

Witch (1700/1200)-(950/1200)

"Then, a Rose Token is summoned. However, since I have multiple opponents, I choose whose field it's summoned to." The woman explained before pointing at Yuzu's field.

Rose Token (800/800) LVL:2

"Witch of the Black Rose's effect! I draw a card." The masked lady drew and revealed the card. "The card was Devour Plant, a monster. Therefore, I get to add it to my hand. I'll then switch Garden Rose Maiden to attack mode."

Garden Rose (1600/2400)-(1600/2400)

"Battle! Witch of the Black Rose, attack Bloom Diva!"

The small witch flew forward and fired a small orb of magical energy from its rod.

YUZU: 4000-3550 LP

"Garden Rose Maiden, attack Winter Bell!"

As if she commanded the Field Spell herself, a dark vine shot forward and stabbed the bell-like monster through its core.

RIN: 2900-2500 LP

"Go, Rose Token! Direct attack!"

"I won't be taking anymore attacks!Continuous Trap Activate! Call of the Living Dead! Revive, Wind Witch - Winter Bell!"

Wind Witch - Winter Bell (2400/2000) LVL:7

Once again, Winter Bell was bound by a vine.

Winter Bell (2400/2000)-(1200/2000)

And since there were no Monster Zones available on the masked woman's field, no Rose Token could be summoned.

"...As expected. Moving on to Main Phase 2, I tune the Level 4 Witch of the Black Rose to the Level 2 Rose Token!" The witch turned into four green rings that flew around the token that previously attacked. "Thorns of despair, pierce through the earth and rise in a twisted blaze of agony! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 6! Hell Bramble!"

A woman covered in plants with flytraps for hands appeared on the field.

Hell Bramble (2200/1800) LVL:6

The newly summoned monster was restrained by the vines.

Hell Bramble (2200/1800)-(1100/1800)

Once again, a Rose Token appeared on Yuzu's field.

Rose Token (800/800) LVL:2

"Hell Bramble forces all players to pay 1000 life points in order to summon monsters from the hand, except for Plant-types."

"What?!" Rin angrily shouted.

"I'll then switch my two Rose Tokens into defense mode."

Rose Token x2 (800/800)-(800/800)

"I set a card facedown, turn end." The witch concluded. "At this moment, I gain 500 life points for every Rose Token on the field thanks to Rose Scent's effect."

The four Rose Tokens shined as the Black Rose Witch's life points kept going up.

Black ROSE WITCH: 1900-3900 LP

"We're practically back to square one..." Yuzu realized.

"But that won't stop us from winning this duel! My turn!" Rin shouted with a determined draw. "Losing my life points won't prevent me from making plays! From my hand, I summon the Tuner monster, Wind Witch - Flurry Bell!"

Wind Witch - Flurry Bell (1100/400) LVL:3

Hell Bramble smirked as a flytrap sprouted out of the ground and latched onto Rin's ankle, draining her life points.

RIN: 2500-1500 LP

"Black Garden's effect triggered once again, halving Flurry Bell's ATK and summoning a Rose Token to the witch's side.

Flurry Bell (1100/400)-(550/400)

Rose Token (800/800) LVL:2

"Tch...when this card is normal summoned, I can special summon a Level 4 or lower Wind Witch from my graveyard! Come, Wind Witch - Ice Bell!"

Wind Witch - Ice Bell (1000/1000) LVL:3

Another vine latched onto the girl.

Ice Bell (1000/1000)-(500/1000)

"No more tokens are summoned since you control five monsters. I activate the Equip Spell Card, Magic of the Wind Witch and I equip it to Winter Bell. Next, Ice Bell's effect! You take 500 damage!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3900-3400 LP

"Magic of the Wind Witch's effect activates! When a Wind Witch inflicts effect damage, the equipped monster gains ATK equal to the damage!"

Winter Bell (1200/2000)-(1700/2000)

"Then, I tune the Level 3 Flurry Bell to the Level 3 Ice Bell! Frigid winds, descend from the frozen peaks! Encase the world in icy stillness! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 6! Wind Witch - Glacier Bell!"

A white bell-like witch with intricate cyan crystals on its body appeared on the battlefield.

Wind Witch - Glacier Bell (2100/1500) LVL:6

Glacier Bell (2100/1500)-(1050/1500)

"Glacier Bell's effect activates! Once per turn, I can target a Level 7 or lower Wind Witch in the graveyard and add it to my hand. Then, the opponent takes damage equal to half of its ATK! I target the 1800 ATK Wind Witch - Blizzard Bell! Meaning, you take 900 damage!" Rin explained as the card popped out of her deck while the Synchro monster fired a blast of blue wind at the masked woman.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3400-2500 LP

Winter Bell (1700/2000)-(2600/2000)

"Then, by discarding a Wind Witch in my hand, such as Wind Witch - Blizzard Bell, I can activate the Spell Card, Empowering Winds! I send the top three cards of my deck to the graveyard, and for each WIND monster, a Wind Witch on my field gains 500 ATK until the end of the turn! C'mon, my deck..." Rin explained as she flipped over the top three cards of her deck. "Wind Witch - Snow Bell...Wind Witch - Glass Bell...and Wind Witch - Freeze Bell! Meaning, Winter Bell gains 1500 ATK!"

Winter Bell (2600/2000)-(4100/2000)

"Amazing, Rin!" Yuzu cheered.

"Now, we can win! That single Rose Token will be your downfall! Battle! Winter Bell, attack the Rose Token and blow her life points away! Zephyr Shoot!" Rin shouted as her monster fired a stream of wind at the rose.

"Trap Activate! Half Counter! My monster gains half of your monster's ATK for this battle!"

Rose Token (800/800)-(2850/800)

"Also, Rose Token can't be destroyed by battle!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2500-1250 LP

Rose Token (2850/800)-(800/800)

"Damn it! I set a card facedown, turn end!" Rin growled in frustration.

Winter Bell (4100/2000)-(2600/2000)

"Rose Scent's effect. There are three Rose Tokens on my field and two on your side, so I gain 2500 life points."

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 1250-3750 LP

"Sorry, Yuzu. I barely made a dent in what she had before..." Rin apologized.

"The pressure you're putting on her is keeping us in this duel. I'll keep our momentum going. My turn!" Yuzu shouted as she drew.

The girl looked at her field and frowned. With two Rose Tokens on her field, her Pendulum Summon was limited to three monsters. She could tribute the two Rose Tokens to Advance Summon, but then she'd lower her life points through Hell Bramble's effect.

So, her choices was to minimize the damage she'd take and limit her plays, or play how she normally did and take the damage.

"I...can't afford to be cautious here. I release the two Rose Tokens for an Advance Summon!" Yuzu explained as the two tokens dispersed.

"Since you're summoning a monster from the hand, you must pay 1000 life points due to Hell Bramble's effect."

Another flytrap appeared, latching onto Yuzu's ankle.

YUZU: 3550-2550 LP

"Tch...Enchanting melody echoing in the heavens! Awaken the sleeping virtuoso! Come forth, Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra! Yuzu shouted as the winged monster appeared that wore a red dress decorated with blue and red gems.

Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra (2600/2000) LVL:8 PS:4

Prodigy Mozart (2600/2000)-(1300/2000)

"Prodigy Mozart's effect activates! Once per turn, I can special summon a level 4 or lower Melodious monster from my hand or graveyard! Revive, Solo the Melodious Songstress!"

Solo the Melodious Songstress (1600/1000) LVL:4

Solo (1600/1000)-(800/1000)

"With the set scale, Pendulum Summon! From my Extra Deck, Bella the Melodious Diva! Rena the Melodious Songstress!

Bella the Melodious Diva (1000/800) LVL:4 PS:5

Rena the Melodious Songstress (1800/600) LVL:5 PS:3

Bella (1000/800)-(500/800)

Rena (1800/600)-(900/600)

"Bella's effect! Draw!" Yuzu shouted as she drew before smiling. "It's the Level 3 Sonata the Melodious Diva! Meaning, you take 300 damage!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3750-3450 LP

"Couplet's Pendulum Effect activates! I add Melodious Concerto to my hand and then I'll activate it! This card lets me use monsters from my hand, field, and Pendulum Zones to Fusion Summon a Fairy-type Fusion monster! I fuse Sonata in my hand with Rena on my field! Flowing melody! Spiritual tune! Guided by the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now, come to the stage! Level 6! Meisterin Schubert the Melodious Maestra!" Yuzu shouted as an orange haired woman wearing a black and red dress appeared with a baton in hand.

Meisterin Schubert the Melodious Maestra (2400/2000) LVL:6

Immediately after being summoned, the Fairy-type was weakened due to the Field Spell's effect .

Meisterin Schubert (2400/2000)-(1200/2000)

"Meisterin Schubert's effect! By banishing cards in the graveyard that were used for a single Fusion Summon, this card gains 200 ATK for each card! I banish Sonata and Melodious Concerto which was used for this card's Fusion Summon! Chorus Break!" Yuzu yelled as her monster gained a red aura.

Meisterin Schubert (1200/2000)-(1600/2000)

"Now, I overlay the Level 4 Solo and Bella!Beautiful and elegant floral diva, conduct the song of hope and prosperity and guide the concert with your baton! Xyz Summon! Now come to the stage! Rank 4! Bloom Lorin the Melodious Floral Conductor!" Yuzu shouted as her Xyz monster appeared. She had long blonde hair and had a purple and blue dress with pink flowers. She also carried a black baton.

Bloom Lorin the Melodious Floral Conductor (2300/2100) RNK:4 OVU:2

And once again, Yuzu's monster was weakened by the field.

Bloom Lorin (2300/2100)-(1150/2100)

"Bloom Lorin gains 300 ATK for every other Melodious monster on the field!" Yuzu explained.

Bloom Lorin (1150/2100)-(1750/2100)

"Bloom Lorin's effect activates! By using an overlay unit, I can target a monster on your field and it loses 500 ATK for every Melodious monster on my field and in my graveyard! I target your Rose Token! There will be three on my field and three in my graveyard once the overlay unit is used! That means your monster loses 3000 ATK!" Yuzu shouted. Her monster turned around and began conducting the Melodious monsters on the field along with the spirits of the fallen monsters, causing them to release a wave of music that greatly weakened the token.

OVU: 2-1

Rose Token (800/800)-(0/800)

"Since your monster can't be destroyed by battle, I can just keep attacking it! Your strategy will be your demise! BATTLE!" Yuzu declared with determination in her eyes.

"Go, Yuzu!" Rin cheered.

"Prodigy Mozart, attack the weakened Rose Token! Graceful Wave!" Yuzu shouted as her ace's baton cut through the air, creating a powerful force of air that flew through the token and landed a direct hit on the masked woman.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3450-2150 LP

"Go, Bloom Lorin! Virtuoso Stream!" Yuzu shouted as her monster fired a blue blast from the tip of its baton, shooting through the plant and hitting the witch directly in the face, causing her mask to crack even more.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2150-400 LP

"Meisterin Schubert, end this duel! WAVE OF THE GREAT!" Yuzu shouted as her monster waved her baton, creating a wave of red energy that consumed the token and the witch.

"...Devour Plant's effect activates in my hand! When I would take damage from a battle involving a Plant-type monster, I can discard this card to gain life points equal to the damage instead!" The witch explained as a venus flytrap appeared and absorbed the red energy into its mouth.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 400-2000 LP

"N-No way...!" Yuzu uttered in disbelief.

She looked into the crack of the mask, where a single one of the witch's eyes was visible.

That one glance caused a shiver to go down Yuzu's spine.

"...I...set a card facedown...turn end..."

Meisterin Schubert (1600/2000)-(1200/2000)

"Rose Scent's effect."

The three roses on her field shined before she gained life points once more.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2000-3500 LP

"We can't damage her at all..." Rin dejectedly muttered.

"It seems I've drawn things out enough. I'll end it right here. My turn." The masked woman declared before drawing. "I activate the Spell Card, Rose Draw! I draw a card for each Rose monster on the field! I draw four cards! Next, Black Garden's effect activates! This card and all Plant-types on the field are destroyed!"

In an instant, Garden Rose Maiden, Hell Bramble, and the three Rose Tokens all bursted into particles.

"...Huh?" Yuzu's eyes widened in confusion.

"Then, I can special a Dragon-type Synchro monster from my graveyard with an ATK that's equal or less than the combined ATK of the destroyed monsters. Return to my side, Black Rose Blooming Dragon!"

With a menacing roar that shook both girls to their cores, the ace of the witch returned to the field.

Black Rose Blooming Dragon (2400/1800) LVL:7

Yuzu stepped back in fear as she remembered the scratches and bruises she received from the dragon during their first encounter.

"Yuzu, it's ok!" Rin tried to tell the girl, but the dragon's roar drowned out her shouting.

"Black Rose Blooming Dragon's effect! By banishing a monster in my graveyard that's either a Plant-type or has Rose in its name, I can return one special summoned monster on my opponent's field to their hand! I banish Night Rose Knight to send Winter Bell back to your Extra Deck! Rose Degrading!" The Witch shouted as multiple vines shot out of her dragon's body towards Rin's ace.

"Tch...Trap Activate! Synchro Barrier! By releasing Winter Bell, I don't take any damage this turn." Rin desperately shouted as her monster dispersed into light.

"But that effect doesn't apply to both of you. I activate the Equip Spell, Thorns of Punishment! Black Rose gains 600 ATK!" The Witch shouted as large black and red vines with sharp thorns protruded from her dragon's body.

Black Rose (2400/2000)-(3000/2000)

"That card...!" Yuzu's eyes widened, remembering how the witch used the same card to brutalize herself and Serena during their first duel.

"I activate another Equip Spell, Shinning Petals." The witch explained as the dragon petals shifted to a brighter shade of red. "Thorn of Punishment's effect lets it attack monsters twice per turn while Black Rose is the only monster on my field. Also, your monsters are banished instead of being sent to the graveyard and you take damage equal to their levels times 200!"

"Oh no...Yuzu, snap out of it!" Rin shouted at the panicked girl.

Yuzu didn't see the battlefield in front of her. Instead, when she looked to her left, she saw an unconscious Serena on the ground. And when she looked at her surroundings, she was in a dark alley with no where to run.

"Battle. Black Rose, attack Meisterin Schubert! Demolition Rose Whip!"

The dragon raised its vines towards the sky before slamming them down on the Fusion.

"Q-Quick Play Spell, Melodious Guardian, activate! By banishing a Melodious monster in my graveyard, the damage is reduced by its level times 400! I banish the Level 7 Bloom Prima to reduce the damage by 2800!"

The spirit of Bloom Prima briefly appeared, protecting Yuzu from the shockwave.

"Your monster is now banished. And since it was a Level 6 monster, you take 1200 damage!"

A single vine smacked Yuzu in the gut, causing her to drop to her knees and gasp for air.

YUZU: 2550-1350 LP

"Yuzu!" Rin cried out. But when she tried to approach the girl, Yuzu held out her hand.

"I'm...fine..." Yuzu said in between breaths.

"Shinning Petal's effect. Whenever the equipped monster deals damage, I gain 500 life points."

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3500-4000 LP

"Second attack. Destroy Prodigy Mozart and finish her off! Demolition Rose Whip!"

"Continuous Trap, Melodious Defense, activate! I can target a special summoned Melodious monster and it can't be destroyed by battle! Also, any damage I would take is halved! I target Prodigy Mozart!" Yuzu shouted as a barrier formed around her ace.

YUZU: 1350-500 LP

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 4000-4500 LP

"Ghh..." Yuzu grunted in pain after being knocked back by a shockwave.

"Tch...Quick Play Spell, Thorn Whip! When a Rose Synchro monster fails to destroy a monster by battle, I can target a monster on the field and it's destroyed! I target Bloom Lorin!"

One of the dragons vines shot forward and stabbed the Xyz monster in the core, causing it to burst into particles.

"...I set a card facedown, turn end. Take your final turns before I end this." The witch coldly spoke.

"Her entire style during this duel has been to drain us of our life points and resources while driving us crazy...she's like a predator while we're the prey..." Rin nervously said.

"...She's just like Yuri...!" Yuzu realized as her heart raced.

"Tch...you can't get in my head! You might be the witch that terrorizes the Commons...but I'm the witch that commands the wind itself!" Rin pointed at herself with her thumb, her voice filled with confidence and determination.

'To think she could be like this even in this situation...her mental fortitude is something else...' Yuzu thought in amazement.

"I'll send you flying with all of my strength! MY TURN!" Rin put all of her resolve into her draw, creating breeze of wind as her arm whipped through the air. When the girl looked at the card, her eyes widened.

"This is...!" Rin gasped, sweat forming on her forehead.

"Rin...?" Yuzu uttered in a concerned tone.

The girl gulped before putting placing the card into her hand.

"Glacier Bell's effect activates! I target Winter Bell and add it to my Extra Deck! Then, you take damage equal to half of its ATK!"

Another gust of wind sent the witch skidding across the floor.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 4500-3300 LP

"Next, I summon the Tuner monster, Wind Witch - Snow Bell!"

A small blue bell with indigo gem stones and white wings appeared.

Wind Witch - Snow Bell (100/100) LVL:1

"Now, I tune the Level 1 Snow Bell to the Level 6 Glacier Bell! Midwinter wind, harness the power of ice and snow and blow a storm! Synchro Summon! Come Forth! Level 7! Wind Witch - Winter Bell!" Rin shouted as her blue and green monster appeared with wings for arms and a bell-like body.

Wind Witch - Winter Bell (2400/2000) LVL:7

"Winter Bell's effect! By copying Ice Bell's effect in the graveyard, you take 500 damage!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3300-2800 LP

"This is it...the perfect time for this card..." Rin looked down at the card in her hand that she had drawn.

Memories flooded her mind, giving the girl a headache.

She remembered being strapped to a table and screaming, but no one came to her aid.

She remembered being used as a test subject, defeating countless Academia students before finally losing to Yuri.

She remembered staring down Yuzu and Serena in that dark subway tunnel with a sinister grin on her face.

She remembered calling upon that grotesque parasite monster that haunted her to her core.

Part of her wanted to tear the card to shreds for what it reminded her of.

But that was the thing, the card didn't actually do anything to her. The card wasn't the one that brainwashed her. The card wasn't inherently evil. It was just a tool.

A tool that she could use to win.

"I activate the Spell Card..." Rin's voice shifted from hesitant to full of resolve as she glared at her opponent. "...Fusion!"

"Fusion?!" Yuzu shouted in shock.

"I fuse Wind Witch - Winter Bell on my field with Wind Witch - Hail Bell in my hand!"

The two witches rose into the fusion vortex before swirling together.

"Sound of the winter wind through the snow! Combine with the freezing ice and intensify the ringing bells! FUSION SUMMON! Come forth! Level 8! The crystal bell that sounds solemnly! Wind Witch - Crystal Bell!" Rin shouted, clasping her hands together. A large purple and blue witch appeared that had a bell-like body and blades for arms.

Wind Witch - Crystal Bell (2800/2400) LVL:8

"Rin...you really used it..." Yuzu blinked multiple times as she looked at the menacing Wind Witch that proved to be a serious threat during their duel.

The dark aura that surrounded the witch during their previous duel was no longer as visible as before due to the lack of Parasite Fusioner being present.

"As a Common...I'm used to fighting for scraps and taking whatever I can get. I'd be a fool if I didn't take advantage of the new weapons Academia gave me." Rin said, hiding the unease in her voice as she looked up at her Fusion. "I know your a card that Academia created for me, but I'm still going to put my faith in you. Let's fight together from now on."

To Rin's surprise, the witch nodded looked down at the girl before turning to their opponent.

"Alright, let's do this! Wind Witch - Crystal Bell's effect activates! Once per either player's turn, I can target a monster from any player's graveyard and this card gains the target's effects until the end of the turn. I target Wind Witch - Frost Bell!" Rin shouted as Crystal Bell gained a blue aura while the spirit of her Frost Bell briefly appeared in front of the Fusion. "Now, I activate Crystal Bell's new effect! By targeting a Wind Witch in the graveyard, the opponent takes damage equal to its level times 100! I target the Level 7 Winter Bell!"

The bell-like witch fired a barrage of icicles, mirroring Frost Bell's effect.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2800-2100 LP

"Then, all Wind Witch monsters I control gain the same amount of ATK!"

Crystal Bell (2800/2400)-(3500/2400)

"Battle! Crystal Bell, attack Black Rose Blooming Dragon! Darkness Gale!"

The witch fired three streams of purple wind at the dragon, causing it to cry out in pain upon impact.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2100-1600 LP

"I banish Rose Defender in the graveyard to use its effect! I can target a Rose monster on my field and it can't be destroyed by battle until my next Standby Phase!"

"Tch...I end my turn. And since Crystal Bell loses its new effect during the End Phase, its ATK returns to normal."

Crystal Bell (3500/2400)-(2800/2400)

"Yugo was right...you're really strong..." Yuzu uttered in admiration while looking at her counterpart, catching the green-haired girl by surprise.

Here she was still wrapped in her lingering fears of being powerless while Rin had overcome her much worse trauma.

"So are you, Yuzu. Just don't think about anything other than how you can beat that witch into the ground." Rin told the girl with a cheeky grin.

"Right! My..." Yuzu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then opened her eyes, gripping the top card of her deck with all of her might. "...TURN!"

As her arm swung through the air, her cracked bracelet softly twinkled, while Rin's gave off a dim glow.

When Yuzu glanced at the card, she couldn't help but smile. After all, she was used to these kind of things happening to her.

"From my hand...I summon the Tuner monster, Treble the Melodious Songstress!"

A small fairy wearing a white and green dress appeared on the field.

Treble the Melodious Songstress (1000/1300) LVL:3 PS:6

"Treble's effect activates! When this card is summoned, I can target a Melodious monster on my field and banish a Melodious monster in my graveyard. Then, the target's Level becomes the same as the banished monster's Level. I target Prodigy Mozart and banish the Level 4 Tamtam the Melodious Diva!"

Prodigy Mozart LVL:8-4

"Now, I tune the Level 3 Treble to the Level 4 Prodigy Mozart! Resonating harmonies, weave together the threads of brilliance and creation! Tune the world to a new symphony! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Innovator Haydin the Melodious Maestra!"

From the large flash of light, a striking figure, a graceful green-skinned entity draped in a luxurious white and gold dress appeared on the field. Her collar is adorned with a radiant red pendant, symbolizing her connection to the magic of sound and creation. The dress itself was intricately designed with shimmering golden musical notes scattered across the fabric.

Innovator Haydin the Melodious Maestra (2400/1800) LVL:7

"You can Synchro Summon along with Fusion and Xyz?! Awesome, Yuzu!" Rin cheerfully shouted.

"Treble's effect activates! Since this card was used as Synchro material, I can draw a card!" Yuzu drew once more before raising her hand to the sky. "With the set scale, Pendulum Summon! From my Extra Deck, Rena the Melodious Songstress! Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra!"

Rena the Melodious Songstress (1800/600) LVL:5 PS:3

Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra (2600/2000) LVL:8 PS:4

"It's time for the grand finale! Innovator Haydin's effect activates! When a Melodious monster is special summoned to my field, a card on the opponent's field is destroyed! Black Rose Blooming Dragon is destroyed! Catastrophe Chord!"

The green-skinned woman began to hum a tune, causing the golden musicial notes on her dress to materialize and shoot forward at the dragon.

"By sending Thorns of Punishment to the graveyard, Black Rose's destruction is negated!"

Black Rose (3000/2000)-(2400/2000)

"Your ace's ATK may be higher, but Rose Defender's effect prevents Black Rose from being destroyed during this turn." The witch stated.

"..." Yuzu looked down at the ground and smiled. This caused the witch's eye that was revealed by the crack in her mask to visibly twitch. "...Did I ever say that Instructor Haydin's effect could only be used once per turn?"

The witch's visible eye then widened as the girl confidently looked up.

"Prodigy Mozart's effect activates! I special summon Solo the Melodious Songstress from the graveyard!

Solo the Melodious Songstress (1600/1000) LVL:4

"Next, Instructor Haydin's effect! Twice per turn, when a Melodious monster is special summoned, a card on your field is destroyed! Say goodbye to your ace! Catastrophe Chord!" Yuzu shouted as the barrage of magical music notes destroyed the dragon.

"...You...!" The witch uttered under her breath, a cold fury brewing.

"That a girl, Yuzu! Now, go for the kill!"

"Right! Couplet's Pendulum Effect! I add Melodious Sound Off from my deck to my hand." Yuzu explained as a card popped out of her deck. "Instructor Haydin's other effect! For every card in my hand, my monsters gain 300 ATK! I currently have a three card hand, so my monsters gain 900 ATK!"

Solo (1600/1000)-(2500/1000)

Rena (1800/600)-(2700/600)

Innovator Haydin (2400/1800)-(3300/1800)

Prodigy Mozart (2600/2000)-(3500/2000)

Yuzu looked at her field of monsters and smiled. With this new power, she could win. But then her smile faded as she saw sparks flying around the woman's mask. The woman was being punished for losing the advantage.

How sickening.

"...You hunted Serena and I, you greatly injured Serena during your last duel, and you kidnapped me. But despite all of that...I know there's a person under the mask...a person that's in pain."

Once again, Yuzu could see a reaction in the woman by looking into her one revealed eye.

Not wanting to show emotion, the witch covered the crack in her mask with her hand.

"It's obvious that Roget is the one behind your actions...that's why...I don't hate you for everything that you've done. I know it's hard, but you can still turn away from this. We don't have to fight anymore...we can fight to stop Roget together! You can finally be free!"

"No...monsters don't deserve freedom...!"

---

Years ago, a young girl with red hair with sitting with her family at a dinner party. Due to the wealth and status of the Izayoi family, her family was often invited to social events with other high ranking Tops. The girl normally didn't pay too much attention to what the adults talked about. Instead, she looked through her plant-based deck under the table to keep her entertained.

"That man...I don't think he should be trusted with as much power as he's been given." Her father spoke.

"He's done good work for us so far." A man at the table argued.

"He's put plenty of money in our pockets and has further divided our society away from those filthy Commons." A woman sneered.

"But his qualifications and loyalties are questionable. He came out of nowhere with this fancy technology and no one even questioned it. And because of that, we gave him an extremely high position in our city?" Her mother added.

"And the cruelty he's enstilled in the officers is unethical. And because of that, crime in the Commons has skyrocketed due to their anger with the situation." Her father continued.

"You raise good points." Another woman agreed.

"We need to unite and go to the Council about this man before he does something-"

Suddenly, the door slammed open. A group of officers stomped into the room and surrounded the girl's parents.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?!" Her father shouted.

"Hideo Izayoi. Setsuko Izayoi. You're both under arrest for conspiring against the Council and the Security Bureau." The officer in charge spoke as two of his subordinates cuffed the parents of the girl.

"Mama! Papa! What's going on?!" The girl jumped out of her seat in fear with her deck in hand.

"This has to be a mistake! We did nothing wrong! Please believe us!" Her mother, Setsuko, pleaded with the officers.

"That bastard Roget is setting us up!" Her father, Hideo, growled.

"Please stop! Don't take them away!" The girl tried approaching the two officers, but a third one grabbed the girl by the arm.

"Let her go!" Setsuko screamed.

"Don't touch her!" Hideo roared.

"You're parents are going away for a long, long, time. If you don't want to end up like them, I suggest you stay in line!" The officer yelled before throwing the girl to the side.

"You bastard!" Hideo growled, headbutting the officer that held him. He tried to run to his daughter, but several other officers intercepted him. The man was brutally beaten in front of his daughter, his wife, and the many Tops at the dinner table.

Strangely enough, the only person pleading for the men to stop was Setsuko. Their so called "friends" simply looked on at the man's beating, some too afraid to speak out and others happy that loudmouth was finally getting what was coming to him.

In a daze, the girl looked up to see the bloodied and bruised body of her father, who was continuously getting punched and kicked. Her gazed then shifted to her mother, who cried out with tears in her eyes.

"...s-stop it..."

The girl lowly muttered, as she slowly got off the ground. The silver hair curler fell out of her hair, causing her bangs to fall in front of her face.

"...Stop it..."

As she got up, the girl had instinctively grabbed one of the cards that had fallen out of her hand when she hit the ground. Her hand clenched the card tightly as she began to feel energy surging through her body.

A petal-filled storm began to materialize from thin air, causing everyone to jump out of there seats.

"What the hell?!"

"Is that girl doing this?!"

Setsuko felt the grip on her arm loosen due to the confusion, so she used the moment to elbow the officer in the gut. She then ran towards her daughter in an effort to calm her down.

"Aki, it's ok!"

The girl didn't hear these words, nor did she see her mother running at her. All she saw was the image of her father, who laid in a pool of his own blood.

"...STOP IT!"

As the girl closed her eyes and screamed, the monster she was holding in her hand materialized behind her. The dragon covered in petals let out a deafening roar before firing several thorny vines from its body.

Due to her eyes being closed, she didn't see what had happened, only hearing the sound of flesh being punctured and bodies hitting the ground.

The entire world went silent for several seconds after that. When the girl finally opened her eyes, the sight in front of her was one that left her unable to move, or even breathe.

Almost everyone in the room was now on the ground...and not of them were breathing.

"W-What...hap...pened...?" The girl barely managed to utter as she looked around the room before catching sight of her mother.

Hideo, who had been spared from the vines due to laying on the ground, mustered all of his strength to crawl over to his wife. Setsuko was staring up at the ceiling with lifeless eyes.

"Pa...pa...what-"

"What did you do..." The man lowly asked before looking turning his head towards the girl, glaring at her with eyes full of hatred.

"...Papa...?" The girl stepped forward as tears streamed from her eyes.

"GET BACK, MONSTER!" Hideo screamed at the top of his lungs, causing his daughter to freeze in place.

"...monster...monster..." The girl uttered, lifelessly falling to her knees.

---

Tests.

Maximum confinement.

More tests.

No mother.

No father.

That was the life of the young girl for a long time...until the fateful day she was "rescued".

In the darkness of her cell, the red-haired girl was curled into a ball while facing away from the door. That's when she heard the voice of that man for the very first time.

"Greetings, young one. Have you enjoyed your stay thus far?"

The girl didn't respond. She didn't even move.

"Not in the mood to talk? That's fine, I don't mind doing the talking. I'm a big fan of you're work, you know. That power of yours put an end to some people who were planning on overthrowing me, so you have my gratitude for that. My best men have done numerous amounts of tests on you, but none of them have figured how you did what you did. You're certainly special."

"...I want...to see Papa and Mama..." The girl finally spoke, still facing away from the man.

"I hate to say it, but that's impossible. Your father was charged with treason and is behind bars, while your mother...well, you know better than anyone else about her fate."

The girl stiffened, causing the man to smirk.

"And even if they were still around, you'd never be able to leave this place. You were soley responsable for the deaths of multiple high ranking Tops and decorated officers of Security."

The man heard a whimper from the girl, causing his smirk to curl into a full on grin.

"...I...I just want to be free...I want to go home...please..."

"Monsters aren't allowed to have freedom. They must be controlled and kept away from those they could potentially hurt when they get angry."

"I-I'm not..."

"Not what, a monster? You're cerainly not a human." The man countered, and the girl couldn't say a thing in response. "After all, you wouldn't want to accidentally hurt someone else, would you?"

The girl slightly shook her head in response.

"Good. In that case, I have a proposition for you. I'm creating a program that allows criminals to have better lives in exchange for their cooperation in certain tasks."

The man threw something into the cell, which flew over the girl's shoulder and landed in front of her.

"A...mask...?" The girl uttered in confusion, holding the mask in front of her face.

"Although my men weren't able to figure out why you have this strange power, they were able to come up with a way to theorectically control it."

"...So with this mask...I'll no longer be a monster...?" The girl asked with a hint of hope.

"That's correct, but you still won't be a regular human either. You'll be a human with the capability to control that monstrous power...you'll become a witch. My witch."

"...Witch...?"

"If you wish to escape your current fate of being a caged monster, put on that mask and join me."

The girl didn't say anything for several moments, simply staring at the mask as trauma consumed her thoughts.

"I...don't want to be a monster anymore..."

The girl turned around with the mask covering her face.

With a devilish grin plastered on his face, Roget snapped his fingers, causing the barred-door to open. The man then extended his hand out to the girl.

"Hello, my little witch. My name is Roget."

---

Back in the present, the witch grabbed her head in pain after the terrible memories flooded her mind.

"With this mask, I'm a witch...a human with monstrous powers...but at least they can be controlled." The witch grumbled, looking down at the ground. "...Without this mask...I'm a violent and uncontrollable monster..."

"You're a monster with the mask on just as much as you are without it!" Rin snapped, a vein popping out of her forehead.

"Rin...!" Yuzu gulped.

"How many people have you injured and killed with that mask on?!" Rin questioned, clenching her fist.

"..." The masked woman didn't respond.

"And while you have that mask on, Roget's ordering you around and shocking you with electricity, right?! Why can't you see that he's using you?! The reason you're a monster is because of him!"

The cloaked woman stood there for a moment, staring at the green-haired girl before looking down at the ground. Yuzu saw this as an oppurtunity to speak up.

"It's clear that you feel guilty over the things you've done. Roget has twisted that guilt and made you believe that the only way for you to exist is by obeying him and wearing that mask...and that's completely wrong! You don't have to live like this anymore!"

The witch finally raised her head with a look of sorrow in her eyes.

"You're...wrong."

The distress in her voice faded in an instant, being replaced with her usual cold, menacing tone.

"Tch...in that case, I'm sorry. BATTLE! Innovator Haydin, end this. Direct attack! Shinning Rhapsody!"

The beautiful fairy opened her arms and sang a glorious tune, generating a golden wave of energy originating from her mouth.

"...Rose Scent's second effect activates! When I'm attacked directly while this card is on my field, I can send this card to the graveyard to special summon a Rose Token for every monster you control in defense mode. Combined, there are five monsters on your fields, so I special summon five Rose Tokens!"

Rose Token x5 (800/800) LVL:2

"...Huh?" Yuzu's confidence faded in a soul crushing instant.

This was her defining moment.

And yet, she fell short.

"Also, all monsters you control must battle my Rose Tokens."

One by one, the Fairy-types slayed the plants with ease.

"And due to Rose Scent's effect, each time a Rose Token that was summoned through this card's effect is destroyed, I gain 300 life points! Four were destroyed, so I gain 1200 life points!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 1600-2800 LP

Yuzu continued to look at her opponent with shaky eyes. But she managed to gather herself, taking a deep breath in the process.

"...There'll be another chance. I set a card facedown, turn end."

Solo (2500/1000)-(2200/1000)

Rena (2700/600)-(2400/600)

Innovator Haydin (3300/1800)-(3000/1800)

Prodigy Mozart (3500/2000)-(3200/2000)

"Due to Rose Scent's effect, the Rose Token summoned by its effect are destroyed during the End Phase. Also, Black Rose Blooming Dragon's effect! By banishing Hell Bramble, my dragon revives!"

In a beam of red light, the dragon returned to the field.

Black Rose Blooming Dragon (2400/1800) LVL:7

"You fought well this time. As a reward, I won't make you suffer any longer...I'll end this duel right now. My turn!" The witch coldly declared as she drew.

As she glanced at the card, she closed her eyes for a brief moment before opening them once more.

"Black Rose's effect! I banish Devour Plant to return Crystal Bell to the Extra Deck!"

Rin winced as the vines shot towards her Fusion.

"Trap Activate! Melodious Sound Off! While I control two or more Melodious monsters, I can release the monster with the lowest ATK to negate the effects of a special summoned monster! I release Solo the Melodious Songstress!" Yuzu shouted as her monster turned into particles that rained down on the dragon, causing it to lose its color.

"Yuzu!" Rin smiled.

"It's not over..." Yuzu nervously said.

"...From my hand, I summon the Tuner monster, Rose Caster!"

A black-haired girl in a red cloak appeared with dark energy swelling around her.

Rose Caster (0/1000) LVL:3

"Rose Caster's effect! I can add a Field Spell with Rose in its name from my deck to my hand. I activate the Field Spell, Rose Gates!"

Suddenly, golden gates covered in red roses materialized on the field behind the witch.

"This is...the end. Since I control a Field Spell, I can activate the Spell Card, Underworld Harmonic - Synchro Fusion!"

"That card...!" Yuzu uttered in horror.

"This lets me simultaneously use my two monsters as material for a Fusion Summon and a Synchro Summon." The witch explained as her monsters split into two clones of themselves.

"A Synchro Summon and a Fusion Summon at the same time?!" Rin gasped.

"I tune the Level 3 Rose Caster to the Level 7 Black Rose Blooming Dragon! Thorns of rage, erupt in a cascade of burning petals! Set the garden of battle ablaze! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Come forth! Level 10! Crimson Rose Blazing Dragon!"

In a burst of flames, her evolved ace appeared. The dragon had black skin and its body was made up of burning crimson roses. The dragon also had four fiery wings that extended outwards.

Crimson Rose Blazing Dragon (3200/2600) LVL:10

"It's getting hot in here..." Rin grumbled as she wiped the sweat off her face.

"Then, I fuse Black Rose Blooming Dragon and Rose Caster! Rose cursed with black magic! Merge with the petals darkened by hatred and become the most powerful force of death and destruction! FUSION SUMMON! Come forth! Level 11! Darkness Rose Death Dragon!"

Yuzu and Rin braces themselves as a storm of black petals stormed through the field.

A dragon that was somewhat larger than Black Rose emerged from the storm. Instead of the red color, the dragon's body was completely made up of pitch-black rose petals. The dragon had multiple vines with black thorns protruding from its body along and had two large black wings. It also had demonic red eyes that stared directly into the souls of its prey.

Darkness Rose Death Dragon (3400/2800) LVL:11

Yuzu felt her heart pounding out of her chest as the two dragons menacingly stared down her and Rin.

"N-No way...summoning a powerful Synchro and Fusion monster at once...!" Rin uttered in disbelief.

"Crimson Rose Blazing Dragon's effect! When this card is Synchro Summoned, all monster's the opponent controls have their effects negated. Then, all monsters on the field are destroyed! And then, Darkness Rose's effect! When this card is Fusion Summoned, monsters on the opponent's field and graveyard will be banished!"

"Either of those effects will wipe our field...!" Yuzu realized while her heart raced.

Rin looked between the two dragons before gritting her teeth and looking at her set card.

'Using my facedown...I could negate one of their effects...but which one should I-'

"Rin!" Yuzu cried, snapping the girl back to reality.

When the green-haired girl looked back up, her eyes widened as a storm of crimson flames and dark energy approached her field.

"Tch...Trap Activate! Forgotten Wind! After the opponent special summons a monster or monsters, one of those monsters has their effects negated and that monster can't attack during this turn! I choose...Darkness Rose Death Dragon!"

A purple gust of wind blew around the Fusion dragon, causing the dark energy surrounding the dragon to disperse.

"...So be it. BURNING ROSE FURY!" The witch yelled as her Synchro dragon roared before exploding into a burst of flames. The raging fire completely consumed the field.

The two girls barely managed to stay afoot as there monsters were incinerated.

"Tch...Crystal Bell's effect! After this card is destroyed, I can target Wind Witch - Winter Bell and a Level 4 or lower Wind Witch in my graveyard, such as Wind Witch - Gale Bell, and then special summon them!"

The two Wind Witch monsters revived, protectively hovering in front of Rin.

Wind Witch - Winter Bell (2400/2000) LVL:7

Wind Witch - Gale Bell (700/200) LVL:2

"And from my hand, Ravel the Melodious Maestra's effect activates! When a Melodious monster on my field is destroyed by a card effect, I can special summon this card!"

An angelic woman in a white dress with oversized golden wings appeared on the field.

Ravel the Melodious Maestra (500/2500) LVL:8

"Alright...we managed to bring out a field of monsters...!" Rin uttered with a relieved smile before the smoke cleared away from the witch's side, revealing her black dragon to still be there. "Eh?! Why wasn't your Fusion destroyed by Crimson Rose's effect?!"

"Rose Gate's effect prevents Rose Synchro Monsters from being destroyed by card effects." The witch explained.

"Tch..." Rin clicked her tongue while scanned the field.

"Crimson Rose's effect continues! When this card is destroyed a card effect, I can special summon it! Reignite, Crimson Rose Blaze Dragon!" The witch yelled as in a whirlwind of fire, her evolved ace returned.

Crimson Rose Blazing Dragon (3200/2600) LVL:10

"It...returned...?!" Yuzu uttered in disbelief.

"And after being revived, you take damage equal to half of the combined ATK's of the monsters that were destroyed through that card effect!" The witch yelled as the dragon's fiery wings began to glow. "The total amount of ATK of the destroyed monsters was 14600, so both of you will take 7300 damage and lose!"

"...H-Huh?" Rin let out, her eyes widening in horror.

"Do it, Crimson Rose...BURN THIS WORLD TO ASHES! ROSE INCINERATION!" The witch shouted at the top of her lungs. The dragon flapped its wings as fiery rose petals flew towards the Fusion user.

"I...made the wrong choice..." Rin uttered, lowering her head.

"No...you didn't!" Yuzu shouted, summoning all of her resolve. "Ravel's effect activates! If two or more Melodious monsters were destroyed by card effects during this turn...any effect damage any player would take is reduced to 0!"

The angelic fairy began to sing a tune, summoning a powerful force of wind that flew away the flames.

"Y-Yuzu! You saved us!" Rin thankfully shouted.

"Her attack isn't finished yet!" Yuzu shouted, causing the green-haired girl to look towards the witch.

"What the hell, witch?! You're getting outplayed this badly?! You must like punishment!"

Sparks flew around the mask once again, causing the woman to take a knee.

"H-Hey! Stop hurting her!" Yuzu called out.

"Ghh..." The witch groaned, making eye contact with her exposed eye. All Yuzu could see was a look of pain which quickly turned into hatred. "...Garden Rose Maiden's effect activates in my graveyard! By banishing her, I can special summon Black Rose Blooming Dragon from my graveyard!"

Black Rose Blooming Dragon (2400/1800) LVL:7

The three dragons of the Black Rose Witch roared in unison, causing the ground to rumble.

"Bringing back her ace at this timing...?!" Yuzu's teeth clenched.

"A-Amazing...!" Rin couldn't help but admit.

"Black Rose's effect! I can banish a Plant-type or a Rose monster to return a special summoned monster on the opponent's field to the hand! I banish Blue Rose Dragon to send Ravel the Melodious Maestra back to the hand! Rose Degrading!"

Yuzu watched as vines squeezed her monster until it dissolved into particles.

"You're the reason this duel is going to continue past this turn...so I'll make you pay by ending you now!" The witch shrieked with a hint of pain in her voice. "BATTLE! Crimson Rose, attack her directly! FURIOUS PETAL FLARE!"

The burning dragon fired a blast of monstrous flames at the defenseless girl.

Yuzu silently lowered her head as the flames made their way through her field.

She then turned to Rin with a tearful look in her eyes and a pained smile.

"Rin...please win-"

A magical barrier of green magic suddenly appeared in front of Yuzu, shielding the girl from the flames.

"This is...!" Yuzu's eyes widened.

"You...!" The witch hatefully growled.

"I activated Wind Witch - Gust Bell's effect in my hand. By discarding it, a direct attack is negated and then I can special summon a Level 4 or lower Wind Witch from my graveyard! Rise, Wind Witch - Hail Bell!"

A white-haired witch in cyan clothes appeared on the field.

Wind Witch - Hail Bell (0/1500) LVL:4

"...You only delayed the inevitable! Black Rose, direct attack-"

"Hail Bell's effect! While I control another Wind Witch, only this card can be targeted for attacks! Meaning, no direct attacks for you!" Rin cheekily shouted.

"...Attack Hail Bell."

The witch's ace released a blast that rid Hail Bell from the field.

"...I set a card facedown, turn end." The witch concluded, her three dragons roaring in unison in response of her cold fury.

"Heh...we survived...!" Rin let out a large exhale before smiling and looking at her counterpart. "Sorry, but I'm not letting you take the easy way out, Yuzu. We're winning this thing together, alright?"

"...I'm sorry for acting so pathetic...it's just that...I'm not strong on my own..."

Yuzu looked at the ground while folding her arms.

"I thought after I gained the power of Pendulum, I'd be able to catch up to Yuya...but I feel like I've barely grown at all compared to how strong he's become. And it's not just him...Yugo's also gone through a drastic evolution...Yuto and Kurosaki are as powerful as ever...and Masumi even caught up to me..."

Yuzu squeezed her sides as she looked up at the witch.

"When Serena and I dueled the witch after we first arrived in Synchro...she wiped the floor with us. However, Serena evolved so much that she managed to defeat the witch on her own. And look at me...I'm not even strong enough to beat her with help..."

SMACK!

Yuzu's eyes widened as a hand smacked against her back, causing her to stumble forward.

"R-Rin?"

Yuzu turned to look at the girl with a surprised expression, only to be met with a furious glare.

"Enough sulking, we got a duel to win!" Rin naggingly exclaimed, causing the other girl to take a small step backwards. "You keep saying stuff about being too weak by yourself, and not only is that bullshit, but it's almost like you missed the entire point of Yugo's last duel!"

"What...?"

"You told me earlier that you wanted to be the one up there dueling in the finals, but you never thought about what it was that separated you from Yugo and Yuya. They both increased their own strength by making use of what they gained from others, allowing them to outpace everyone else's growth." Rin told her counterpart, who looked on in confusion.

"I know all of that..." Yuzu nodded.

"You do? Then why are you basing all of your worth as a duelist on what you can do by yourself?!" Rin sternly shouted.

"Because if I was stronger on my own, we would've won by now!" Yuzu snapped, uncharacteristically yelling at her counterpart with a voice full of frustration. "Serena won on her own! Yuya, Yugo, and Yuto faced people just as strong and won on their own! Meanwhile, I can't do a thing by myself! Every accomplishment I have is because of someone else! Where does that leave me?!"

Hearing those words, Rin smirked before glaring at her teammate.

"It leaves you at the bottom, right next to me."

"Huh?"

"Right now, we're both lacking in strength. We're weak compared to them, and we both desperately feel the need to claw our way back to the top." Rin explained with a hungry look in her eyes.

"Rin...?" Yuzu uttered in a surprised tone.

"And because we're weak, we need to solely focus on doing every single thing we can to win. After all, if we don't survive, we'll never be given chances to grow stronger in the future." Rin explained, sweat dripping from her face.

The pink-haired girl looked her counterpart in the eyes for a moment. This feeling she was exerting was a less extreme version of their time back in the cell, where she said she wanted to keep the good life Yugo had created for them instead of fighting in a war. But seeing her now, it's much more clear that it wasn't necessarily selfishness, but a hunger.

A hunger for a better life after years of living in hell.

A hunger to become strong enough to accomplish her dreams.

A hunger to never lose her freedom again.

In a way, she was similar to Yugo, who had the extreme motivation become king above everything else.

'So this is what's created when living in a place like the Commons throughout your entire life.' Yuzu thought while sweat dropped from her face.

"C'mon, Yuzu. Let's get stronger."

Yuzu blinked. She finally understood what Rin was trying to instill in her.

She longed to step out of the supporting role she had been slotted in, right now, she wasn't strong enough on her own to do so. Worrying about her individual strength compared to everyone else wouldn't magically make her more powerful, so she had to discard those thoughts altogther. She had to focus solely on how she could make herself stronger, so that she could one day take the leading role she craved.

Rin held her hand out, the green gem on her bracelet softly glew.

"...Ok. Let's do this, Rin."

Yuzu took her hand, causing a chain reaction of pink and green energy that swirled around then into a golden aura.

The girl's gasped as their Extra Decks and Rin's Main Deck began to shine while they both recieved a vision of new monsters.

"This is...just like with Serena...!" Yuzu gasped.

"Alright! With this power, I'm going to show you who the real witch is! My turn!" Rin shouted, drawing the shinning card on the top of her deck. "I'll show you my very own Pendulum Monster! From my hand, I summon the Tuner Monster, Wind Witch - Jingle Bell!"

A golden bell with small blue wings appeared on the field, flying beside Ice Bell and Winter Bell.

Wind Witch - Jingle Bell (1500/800) LVL:4 PS:1

"Here we go! I tune the Level 4 Jingle Bell to the Level 3 Ice Bell! Midwinter wind, unleash the storm's fury and shatter the frozen skies! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Wind Witch - Winter Storm Bell!" Rin shouted as her ace's new form emerged in a whirlwind of ice and frost. The hybrid monster had the same bell-shaped aerodynamic body that Winter Bell had, but its bladed arms were larger and crystalline. The hybrid's color scheme was the same as Winter Bell's except its head and lower body was now white, where Winter Bell's was indigo. Teal energy coursed through its body as it floated beside Rin.

Wind Witch - Winter Storm Bell (2400/2000) LVL:7 PS:4

"This is like what happened with Serena..." Yuzu uttered as she pictured Cat Dancer and Wildcat Dancer in her mind while looking at Winter Bell and Winter Storm Bell.

"Winter Storm Bell's effect activates! The opponent takes 200 damage equal to the Level of the Pendulum monster that was used as Synchro Material! That's 800 damage! Freezing Rain!"

The witch braced herself before being hit by a barrage of frozen rain pellets.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2800-2000 LP

"Winter Storm Bell's other effect! Once per turn, I can target a Level 6 or lower Wind Witch monster and this card copies its effects until the end of the turn! I target Frost Bell!" Rin shouted as Crystal Bell gained a blue aura while the spirit of her Frost Bell briefly appeared in front of the Fusion. "Now, I activate my monster's new effect! By targeting a Wind Witch in the graveyard, the opponent takes damage equal to its level times 100! I target the Level 8 Crystal Bell!"

The bell-like witch fired a barrage of icicles, mirroring Frost Bell's effect.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2000-1200 LP

"Then, all Wind Witch monsters I control gain the same amount of ATK!"

Winter Bell (2400/2000)-(3200/2000)

Winter Storm Bell (2400/2000)-(3200/2000)

"Battle! Winter Storm Bell, attack Black Rose Blooming Dragon! ZEPHYR BLIZZARD!"

The hybrid monster fired a spiraling blast of ice and wind that obliterated the witch's ace.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 1200-400 LP

"Go, Winter Bell! Attack Crimson Rose Blazing Dragon! ZEPHYR SHOOT!"

"Match it, Crimson Rose! FURIOUS ROSE FLARE!"

When the blast of wind collided with the blast of flames, a powerful explosion ensued, consuming both monsters.

"Ghh...Trap Activate! Healing Growth! When a Rose monster is destroyed by battle, I gain life points equal to its ATK! Crimson Rose had 3200 ATK!"

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 400-3600 LP

"So she was prepared...but she has no other set cards and only Darkness Rose left..." Rin turned to Yuzu and smiled. "...I'm leaving the rest to you. Turn end."

Winter Storm Bell (3200/2000)-(2400/2000)

"I won't let you down Rin. And you...I'm going to finish the job Serena started...by freeing you once and for all!"

"Freeing me...?"

"My turn! Swing, pendulum of harmony! Draw an arc of beauty and peace across the heavens! Pendulum Summon! Enchanting melody echoing at in the heavens! Awaken the sleeping virtuoso! Come forth, from the Extra Deck, Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra! Yuzu shouted as her ace returned from a beam of light.

Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra (2600/2000) LVL:8 PS:4

"I activate the Spell Card, Pendulum Traversal! By shuffling all cards in my Pendulum Zone into my deck, I can set a different card from face up in my Extra Deck into the Pendulum Zone! I set Treble the Melodious Songstress in the Pendulum Scale!"

Treble 6 -

"I activate the Spell Card, Trade-In! I discard the Level 8 Ravel the Melodious Maestra in order to draw two cards!"

After discarding the high level monster, Yuzu placed her hands on her deck, gripping the top two cards. As she closed her eyes, a memory played in her mind.

She remembered the day herself, Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, and Serena left Standard. She replayed the moment in her mind, when they waved to her father, Yuya's mom, Futoshi, Ayu, and Tatsuya before the five duelists headed to LDS. Ever since then, her friends had developed as duelists and people, making them almost unrecognizable compared to how they were on that day.

"Everyone...they've all grown so much while I feel like I haven't...but I refuse to feel bad for myself anymore. I know that they won't wait for me to catch up, so I'll do everything I can to surpass them and become the strongest version of myself! DRAW!!!" Yuzu roared, her determined voice echoing throughout the halls of the building. Her eyes widened at the sight of the two cards in her hand.

"Let's go, Yuzu! Together, we'll surpass Yugo and the others and kick Academia's asses!" Rin shouted while extending her fist out to Yuzu.

"Yeah. Let's get a head start by combining our power one more time." Yuzu grinned at her counterpart before she turned to the witch with a resolute expression. "I don't know your name, or what you look like under that mask, but I do know that you don't deserve this fate."

"Y-You're wrong...I'm a monster..." The witch lowly uttered, surprising Yuzu.

"You're not a monster, a witch, or a weapon! You're a human, therefore you have the right to live your own life! I'll free you from that mask right now! I activate the Spell Card, Monster Reborn! Revive, Wind Witch - Winter Bell!"

Wind Witch - Winter Bell (2400/2000) LVL:7

"Treble's Pendulum Effect activates! Once per turn, I target a monster on my field and then banish a Melodious monster in my graveyard with a lower level! Then, the target's Level is then decreased by the banished monster's Level and its treated as a Tuner! I target the Level 8 Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra and then I banish the Level 7 Shopina the Melodious Maestra!"

Prodigy Mozart LVL:8-1

"...You have another Synchro Monster...?!" The witch's visible eyes widened in disbelief.

"Hell yeah she does!" Rin grinned, pumping her fist through the air.

"Let's go, Rin! I tune my Level 1 Prodigy Mozart to Rin's Level 7 Winter Bell!" Yuzu shouted while raising her hand to the sky.

The fairy turned a single green ring that flew around the witch, which turned into seven stars.

"A single flower grows amidst the twilight snowfield!" Yuzu began.

"At the chiming of the witch's bell, bloom against the winter winds and echo across this frozen land!" Rin continued.

"Synchro Summon! Please descend, songstress calling the petal-filled winter wind! Level 8! Wind Flower Creation Songstress - Primrose Bell the Melodious Wind Witch!" Yuzu and Rin shouted in unision as a blinding pink and green light enveloped the field.

"What...is this light...?" The witch growled, covering her eyes with her arm.

The brilliant light was replaced with petal-filled snowy winds that cirlced around the new hybrid monster. She was a beautiful young woman with auburn hair tied into two french braids was on the field. Her eyes are orange, the right one covered by a lock of minty green. She wore a pastel pink-white strapless top with aqua green trim and detached sleeves. On her chest is a pink ribbon with an aqua green rose over her heart, a gem of the same color in the center. Her accessories are a crystal crown atop her head, dangling snowdrop flower earrings, and Yuzu and Rin's bracelets on her wrists. Similar to Rin's Extra Deck Monsters, her lower half is a white and aqua green bell with golden trim and a green ice crystal ringer. She wields a long crystal staff; on one end a golden bell with ice patterns carved onto it and a ringer that resembled the stamen of a flower; and an icy blade on the other. The snowy winds surrounded her converted into a pair of sparkly, translucent snowflake shaped wings on her back.

Wind Flower Creation Songstress – Primrose Bell the Melodious Wind Witch (2800/2400) LVL:8 PS:10

"Alright, this is our combined power!" Rin shouted with a grin.

"Primrose Bell's effect activates! When this card is Synchro Summoned using a Wind Witch Synchro Monster, it inflicts damage to the opponent equal to that monster's Level times 200! Harmonious Storm!"

As the winter goddess began to sing, a whirwind of ice and snow formed around the witch.

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 3600-2200 LP

"...Ghh..." The witch grunted, struggling to get up. "...I cannot...lose...I WILL NOT LOSE!"

In response to its master's declaration, Darkness Rose let out a demonic roar that shook the battlefield.

Yuzu looked at the desperate woman, the feeling of fear she once held for her was now being replaced with a sense of pity. That's when a realization came to her.

"We understand what you're going through. Rin, Ruri, Serena, and I are all at risk of losing our freedom because of Academia. I'm the only one fortunate enough to not have been held prisoner." Yuzu explained in a solemn tone, noticing her opponent's visible eye slightly twitching. "We all have a strange power inside of us too that we can't control. I think that power is why Academia wants us, so that they can use us as tools to further their goals. And right now, that's exactly what Roget is doing to you. He's taken away your freedom because of your power and is using to do his dirty work! No one deserves to be treated like this!"

"...I know..." The witch admitted, surprising her opponents. "...but I need this mask...I need to be controlled...or else-"

"That's wrong! Every person deserves to live their life free from the constraints of others! Every person is born with the right to want more from their life! Even though we're different then other people, that doesn't make us less human! That's why...I refuse to be some kind of tool for Academia or anyone else!" Yuzu determindely shouted, her voice echoing throughout the hall.

The witch's eyes widened as she heard Yuzu's words.

"Right here, right now, we'll shatter that mask and set you free! Primrose Bell's other effect activates!" Yuzu confidently shouted, clenching her fist.

"During either player's turn, Primrose Bell can equip one monster from the opponent's graveyard to itself, but it can only have one monster equipped at a time! Also, she gains the effects of that monster!" Rin excitedly yelled.

"A monster from my graveyard? They're no monsters there that can help you in this situation!" The witch argued.

"That's where you're wrong...since the monster I'm choosing...is none other than the one you overpowered me with during our first duel...your ace monster, Black Rose Blooming Dragon!"

"Black Rose...?" The witch uttered in confusion.

The winter goddess began to hum a tune, causing a giant wall of ice to rise from the ground. When the witch looked at the giant sheet of ice, she came face to face with the image of her ace monster in the reflection of the ice wall.

"You won't be able to meet the activation requirement for it's effect!"

"You think so?"

"What?!"

With a look of fiery determination before holding the final card in her hand high in the air.

"I activate the Spell Card...Foolish Burial!"

Yuzu inserted the card into her duel disk, causing her opponent's visible eye to narrow.

"That card sends a monster from the player's deck to the graveyard. However, you shouldn't have any Plant-type monsters in your deck!"

"You're right, I don't. But...I do have this." Yuzu explained as the card she selected popped out of her duel disk. She took the card and showed it to her opponent.

"...Crystal...Rose...?!" The witch's throat closed up as she spoke.

"As you know, Black Rose Blooming Dragon's effect can be triggered by banishing a Plant-type or a monster with Rose in it's name." Yuzu explained, a small smirk forming on her face.

"To think...you had a Rose monster...!" The witch uttered in shock.

'Thanks, Masumi...' Yuzu smiled as she briefly thought about her rival.

Yuzu then thrusted her fist through the air with a smile. Not the smile she put on when entertaining a crowd, but a smile of genuine confidence, something she had been lacking as of late.

"I activate Primrose Bell's inherited effect! I banish Crystal Rose from my graveyard to return Darkness Rose Death Dragon to the Extra Deck! Go, Crystal Reflection - Rose Degrading!"

The reflection of the witch's ace dragon launched vines at its evolution, which shot out of the wall of ice. With Darkness Rose's effects negated due to Rin's Forgotten Wind, the masked woman was forced to watch as the vines wrapped around her strongest monster. With one last cry of anger, the demonic creature was squeezed into particles.

"No...no...no..." The woman uttered in disbelief, falling to her knees.

"It's over, Black Rose Witch." Yuzu stated, making eye contact with the frantic woman.

"Screw the duel, just capture them!" Roget shouted at the woman.

The witch's visible eye closed as she heard the order.

"DO IT NOW, WITCH!"

She began to move her hands towards her deck, causing Rin to gasp in realization.

"She's gonna grab a monster from her deck and use her powers!" Rin shouted before turning to Yuzu. "Finish her now, Yuzu!"

Yuzu looked on in disappointment for a brief moment before steeling herself.

"...Battle! Primrose Bell-"

The pink haired girl stopped her declaration as she saw the witch lower her hand from her deck.

"...No...I'm not your weapon..."

"NOW'S NOT THE TIME TO GAIN A HEART, MONSTER! DO AS I SAY!"

"GAAAAHHH!!!"

Electricity ignited through the witch's body, causing her to cry out in agony.

"No!" Yuzu shouted in horror.

"Stop it, Roget!" Rin demanded.

Depsite the torture she was being put through, the witch made no attempt to use her power on her opponents.

"...Do it...finish me off!" The witch cried through the pain.

"Primrose Bell...shatter that mask and set her free! SNOW PETAL CONCERTO!"

The arctic angel began to sing a soft mezzo-soprano tune, which grew louder and louder as her staff began to radiate light. She fired a blast of spiraling, petal-filled wintry winds from the bell on her staff, the various sounds of bells echoing in the background.

As the flowery storm of cold wind consumed the witch's field, the cloak blew away while her mask shattered.

"...Thank you..."

BLACK ROSE WITCH: 2200-0 LP

WINNER: RIN / YUZU!

"...heh...heh...heh..." Yuzu breathed heavily, the adrenaline slowly leaving her body.

"Yuzu, we won! We beat the Black Rose Witch!" Rin shouted, hugging her counterpart and keeping her upright.

"We make a pretty good team, Rin..." Yuzu said in relief.

"Hell yeah we do!" Rin grinned.

Yuzu smiled back at the green-haired girl before turning to look at the now maskless woman that laid before them.

The two teens looked at eachother before nodding in silent agreement and carefully approach their defeated opponent. No longer be hidden by her cloak and mask, the wit h revealed to be a young woman in a red and white outfit.

"She's beautiful...I didn't expect that..." Rin admitted.

The witch began to open her eyes, causing the two girls to cautiously step back in response.

As the witch stared upwards, she raised her hand towards the ceiling and looked at it.

"Everything's been dark for so long..." The woman softly mumbled, her voice less raspy then when she wore the mask. "I-It's been so long...since things have looked so...bright..."

"H-Hello..." Yuzu murmured, gaining the woman's attention.

"You were my opponent...?" The woman questioned, beginning to sit up.

"That's right...you're finally free from Roget's control." Yuzu resolutely said, extending her hand out to the once masked woman.

"...Thank you..."

The woman took Yuzu's hand, getting off the ground and standing in front of the girl.

"It's nice to finally meet you, um..." Yuzu trailed off.

"...I'm...Aki Izayoi...it's nice to meet you." The formerly masked woman said with a hesitant smile.

"...It's nice to meet you, Aki." Yuzu gave welcoming smile in return.

"I'm...so sorry for everything...I stripped of your freedom and hurt you...just like Roget did to me...I truly am a-"

"Enough of that." Rin interjected, shaking her head. "You're a victim of that monster. You can make up for the things you did by helping us take him down."

"...Thank you both so much." Aki wiped away the tears in her eyes. "I'll do anything I can to help put an end to that man's reign."

"That's good to hear." Yuzu nodded.

"Despite our freedom being on the line, that was a really fun duel. Thanks for helping Yuzu and I grow even stronger." Rin bowed her head, suprising the redhead.

"Heheh..." Aki couldn't help but laugh at Rin's optimism. "As thanks for saving me, I'd like you both to have this."

After look through her deck, the woman pulled out two copies of a card, giving one to each girl.

"This is...!" Yuzu gasped.

"That card should prove to be useful." Aki smiled.

"Awesome! This will definitely improve my deck!" Rin grinned like a child opening a christmas present.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps caused the three girls to jump. A group of officers rushed towards them with their duel disks activated.

"Looks like we have more work to do." Rin sighed.

"If the three of us work together, we can beat any amount of opponents." Yuzu smirked.

"That won't be necessary."

Yuzu and Rin both gulped as Aki's ace monster appeared. The dragon launched vines from its body, knocking the officers into the nearby wall.

"That...works too." Rin nervously grinned.

"Yuzu! Rin!"

Hearing a voice from the opposite direction, Yuzu and Rin turned their heads to see Yuto, Shun, Sora, Serena, and Ruri, who were running towards them.

"Everyone!" Yuzu smiled in relief.

Sora jumped forward and hugged Yuzu, to her suprise.

"I'm glad you're ok..." Sora uttered, squeezing the girl.

"Sora..." Yuzu trailed off, sensing sadness from the boy's tone. "I'm alright. Thanks for coming to save me."

"O-Of course. What kind of teacher would I be if I didn't look after my student?" Sora smirked after the two separated.

"You defeated the Black Rose Witch, eh?" Shun said to his Friendship Cup teammate with a hint of pride. "Looks like you've gotten even stronger than before. Good work, Yuzu."

"Thanks, Kuro-I mean, Shun." Yuzu nodded.

"Rin, are you ok?!" Ruri worriedly asked her counterpart.

"I'm fine, Ruri. The bed in the cell was way more comfortable than the one in Academia." Rin joked.

"I'm happy you're alright, Rin. It didn't feel right knowing I was free while you were captured again." Ruri told her counterpart.

"I..." Rin didn't know what to say to that. There's no way she'd be able to honestly say the same thing if Ruri was the one captured instead of her. "...thanks, Ruri. Where's Yugo?"

"He's with Yuya and Crow right now. They went off to deal with Roget. After you and Yuzu were captured, he managed to rally both the Tops and Commons to take on Roget. It's because of him that we were able to get to you."

"That guy..." Rin's teeth clenched.

To think he went from just being a lowly Commons while she was around, to becoming an amazing duelist and leader who while she was away. Had she truly been a bad influence on him? Was her selfishness the thing that held him back?

Was Yugo better off without her?

Meanwhile, Serena had made her over to Aki, who was awkwardly standing away from the group.

"Do you remember me?" Serena asked the girl, earning a nod in return.

"Yes...the electricity didn't affect my memory all that much, believe it or not." Aki said with a nervous smile. "I'm truly sorry for how badly I hurt you during both of our duels. I'll do my best to make up for it as an ally."

"Apology accepted. I'm happy to see that you're free and I'm sorry that I wasn't able to help you more during our duel." Serena apologized, causing Aki to frantically wave her hands.

"Please, don't be! You breaking off a piece of my mask was the start of me regaining my freedom. I'm thankful to you just as much as I am to Yuzu and Rin." Aki bowed her head to Serena.

"I'm glad we can start over. Hopefully soon, we can have another duel." Serena said with a slight smile.

"I'd like that." Aki nodded with a smile of her own.

"So, you can take us to Roget?" Yuto asked, walking towards Aki with a serious glare.

"Y-Yuto..." Serena uttered as Yuto walked past her without saying a word.

"Yes, I can. We must hurry." Aki nodded.

"Good. Let's go get that bastard."

---

Roget smashed his hands against the desk in front of him, his teeth clenching to the point where they almost cracked.

With his bargaining chips with Academia now gone, he had to prematurely begin his plans before they escaped. It was the only way to secure the future he was trying to create for himself.

"I'll show you my glorious project! The Zero Reverse is about to begin!" Roget grinned as he looked up at his masterpiece, the machine that would warp reality itself.

"That won't work, asshole." A stern voice spoke from behind Roget.

"Well...well...well..." Roget sneered, twisting his body around to face the familiar voice. "If it isn't the disgrace of this city, Jack Atlas. And it looks like the younger Akaba brother has also decided to grace me with his presence."

"My brother's currently using the main computer of your systems to slow down the activation of your machine. You won't be able to use it any time soon." Reira explained.

"Is that so...?" Roget's eyes twitched as he looked at the estimated activation time of his machine.

"It's over, Roget. Step out of the way before my ace incinerates you along with your machine." Jack spoke, activating his duel disk.

"It looks like it's over. What a shame..." Roget sighed, walking away from the machine.

"Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight! Scorching Crimson Hell Burning!" Jack shouted as his ace appeared and fired a powerful spiraling blast of flames at the machine.

However, a green energy barrier formed at the last moment, shielding the machine from the flames.

"Just like outside the building..." Reira remembered.

"Did you truly think I'd let things end like this? Are you truly that idiotic?" Roget grinned.

"If we can't destroy that shield, it's over..." Jack grunted in desperation.

"It's his duel disk." Reira stated, suprising both adults. "I saw him activate it by touching his duel disk screen. The generators are already shut down and his systems have been hijacked thanks to Brother, so it must be being projected by his duel disk."

"Tch..." Roget clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Good work, Reira Akaba." Jack told the boy in a proud tone. "Hand it over, unless you wish to be throttled. Although defeating your hologram was fun, defeating the real thing will feel even better."

"I guess you could say it'd leave you with some satisfaction, right?" Roget venomously spoke, causing Jack to grimace.

"...Remember that you asked for this." Jack grunted before turning to Reira. "Stay back, I must do this alone. This is my atonement."

"...I understand. Please, win." Reira nodded.

The former king gave his comrade a nod before turning towards his opponent.

"For all your schemes...for endangering the people of my city...and for what you turned Kiryu into...I will defeat you."

"DUEL!"

JACK: 4000 LP vs ROGET: 4000 LP

"You just sealed your fate." Roget grinned as something shot out of his duel disk.

Jack didn't have a chance to react. He felt a light, painless prick as the machine attached itself to the left side of his chest, where was his heart was.

"What the hell is this?!" Jack shouted in anger as he tried to rip the device off.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. After all, that device is now connected to your heart. If you rip it out, who knows what will happen." The director sneered.

"Y-You bastard...!" Jack snarled, doing his best to regain his composure. "Your spineless tricks won't change the outcome of this duel!"

"You're right about one thing...the outcome of this match has already been decided! My turn! From my hand, I summon Hydro Core!" Roget shouted as a small cyan machine appeared.

Hydro Core (0/0) LVL:1

"I set a card facedown, turn end." Roget smirked.

"So you're trying out a different deck this time? No matter what you use, the gap in skill between us won't shrink. My turn! From my hand, I summon the Tuner Monster, Red Resonator!" Jack shouted as the small red fiend appeared.

Red Resonator (600/200) LVL: 2

"While I control a Red Monster, I can special summon this monster with its ATK halved! Come, Red Wolf!" Jack shouted as the fiery red wolf appeared.

Red Wolf (1400/2200)-(700/2200) LVL:6

"Now, I tune the Level 2 Red Resonator to the Level 6 Red Wolf! The heaven and earth shall tremble before the king's might! Let the power of the one and only supreme ruler be carved into your soul! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 8! The savage soul! Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight!" Jack roared. In a burst of crimson fire, the dragon with dark red armor and a glowing scar in it's right hand appeared.

Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight (3000/2500) LVL:8

"Scarlight's effect-"

The doors slammed open, causing Reira, Roget, and Jack to look towards the door.

"Roget!" Yugo angrily hissed, bursting into the room with Yuya, Crow, and Ushio.

"I knew it!" Ushio shouted, happy at the fact that he was right about Roget's location.

"Good work." Crow told the older man with a smirk.

"Y-Yuya, you made it." Reira said with a small smile as the group ran over to him.

"Reira, is that the machine?" Yuya asked, earning a nod in response.

"Yes, Roget's protecting it with a solid vision shield that's being generated by his duel disk." Reira answered.

"Jack, you're dueling him?! You were supposed to leave him for us!" Crow shouted in annoyance.

"It's not my fault you failed to catch him in time." Jack turned away from Crow as he spoke, earning an angry look in response.

"In that case, let's make this a battle of kings!" Yugo shouted, activating his duel disk.

INTRUSION PEN-

Roget clicked his duel disk and another energy wall formed behind Jack, blocking out the others.

NO DUEL DETECTED

"What the hell?!" Yugo growled.

"The barrier is blocking out the signals between duel disks on the outside. Don't stick your noes where it doesn't belong, Common trash."

"You-"

"That's fine. This is something I need to face on my own." Jack spoke, cutting off Yugo's outburst. "I was the king of this city when this man's corruption was in full effect, so all of this is my fault. Therefore, the burden of ending this is mine."

"Jack..." Crow uttered.

"..." Yugo remained silent for a few moments before looking up with a grin. "In that case, we'll support you from here. Kick his ass, King!"

"You're still calling me King..." Jack said quietly, his lips ever so slightly curling upwards. "Let's continue. Scarlight's effect activates! Once per turn, all other monsters on the field with ATKs that are equal or lower than this card are destroyed and you take 500 damage for each one! ABSOLUTE POWER FLAME!" Jack shouted as his dragon thrusted it's fist forward, launching a powerful blast of flames that incinerated the blue machine.

ROGET: 4000-3500 LP

"Upon being destroyed by a card effect, Hydro Core's effect activates! From my hand, deck, or graveyard, I can special summon these five monsters!" Roget shouted as he slammed five cards onto his sword-like duel disk blade.

"Five monsters at once?!" Yuya gasped.

Five mechanical lights shot out of Roget's deck and hit the field, one at a time.

"Come, Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity!"

The first teal core with an infinity emblem. It had a mechanical fin attached to it's back.

Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity (0/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Hydrel Top!"

The second was a teal and black robotic head with red lights on its face. It had a smaller mechanical fin on top.

Hydrel Top (600/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Hydrel Attack!"

Next was a teal metallic arm with a black cannon instead of a hand.

Hydrel Attack (1000/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Hydrel Guard!"

Another teal arm appeared, with the difference being it was a bit bulkier and had a gauntlet instead of a blaster.

Hydrel Guard (200/300) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Hydrel Carrier!"

Last was a large teal mechanical tail.

Hydrel Carrier (400/0) LVL:1

"He summoned a bunch of...individual parts?" Ushio said in confusion.

"Now, combine and reveal your true form, Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity!"

The five parts floated towards eachother, combining in a bright blue flash of light. What now floated in front of Roget was a giant, aquatic-themed mech with glowing red eyes and sharp teal armor. It was equipped with a cannon on one hand and a gauntlet on the other, with its lower body being a large mechanical shark tale. In the middle of it's body was a infinity crest, glowing with turquiose energy.

"I-It formed a giant monster..." Crow gulped.

"Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity's effect prevents other monsters on my field from attacking or being attack. Also, it's ATK becomes the combined total ATK of the other Hydrel cards on the field!"

Hydrel Infinity (0/0)-(2200/0)

"It still only has 2200 ATK! Battle! Scarlight Red Daemon's Dragon, attack Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity! Scorching Crimson Hell Burning!" Jack shouted as his ace fired a powerful spiraling blast of flames at the machine.

"Hydrel Guard's effect activates! Once per turn, an opponent's attack is negated!" Roget shouted as the gauntlet projected a blue energy barrier that knocked away the flames.

"So that was your aim..." Jack grunted before grabbing a card from his hand. "I set a card facedown, turn end."

"It's time for the demonstration of my brilliant creation! My turn! Hydrel Infinity's effect activates!" Roget shouted with a grin.

Suddenly, turquoise tendrils shot out of the machine's core and latched around the dragon.

"What the hell is this?!" Jack shouted as his dragon was pulled towards the machine.

"Once per turn, I can select a Synchro, Fusion, or Xyz monster on the opponent's field and it becomes equipped to this card! Also, Hydrel Infinity gains the equipped monster's ATK! Say goodbye to your Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight!"

"What?!" Jack yelled as his dragon was absorbed into the infinity-shaped core.

Hydrel Infinity (2200/0)-(5200/0)

"With that much ATK...and with Jack's field wide open...!" Rin trailed off in a horrified tone.

"Battle! Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity, direct attack! Disaster Stream!" Roget grinned as his monster fired a blast of glowing water-like energy at the former king.

"Trap Activate! Break Tune! The attack is negated!" Jack shouted as a barrier protected him from the blast. "Then, I can special summon a Tuner Monster from my hand! Come, Creation Resonator!"

The blue fiend appeared on Jack's field as the barrier dispersed.

Creation Resonator (800/600) LVL:3

"You're only delaying the inevitable, former king. I end my turn." Roget concluded with a satisfied look.

"You haven't defeated me just yet, Roget! I'll make you grovel before me for taking away my soul! My turn!" Jack shouted as he angrily drew his card. "I activate the Spell Card, Red Reborn! This allows me to special summon Red Wolf from my graveyard!"

The fiery wolf appeared beside the small blue fiend.

Red Wolf (1400/2200) LVL:6

"From my hand, I summon the Tuner Monster, Mirror Resonator!" Jack shouted as the fiend with a large mirror on its back appeared.

Mirror Resonator (0/0) LVL:1

"My soul is burning with rage. Can you feel it, Roget?" Jack asked with a smirk.

"Tch..." Roget clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"My soul's outcry will be released right now! I double tune the Level 1 Mirror Resonator and Level 3 Creation Resonator to the Level 6 Red Wolf! Ruler and Devil, they cross now and here! Touch the soul of the Crimson Dragon, and raise the cry of creation! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Come forth! Level 10! Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant!" Jack shouted as the evolved form of his ace monster appeared on the field.

Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant (3500/3000) LVL:10

"Even though I took away your ace monster...you still found a way to bring out its evolved form..." Roget trailed off in a somewhat impressed tone.

"I'm ending this, Roget! Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant's effect activates! Once per turn, all cards on the field besides this card are destroyed! Do it! ABSOLUTE POWER INFERNO!"

At the king's command, the dragon drove its burning fist into the ground, creating a devastating wave of flames that began to consume Roget's field.

"Roget has exactly 3500 Life Points! Jack can win if he attacks directly!" Crow realized.

"A perfectly calculated attack! It's over!" Yugo cheered.

"I wouldn't be so sure..." Yuya nervously pointed out as everyone noticed Roget's grin.

"As hot headed and predictable as always, eh? Trap Activate! Hydro C3! By sending Hydrel Carrier to the graveyard, I can special summon Hydrel Carrier 3!"

In place of the mechanical tail, a teal boat-like machine appeared.

Hydrel Carrier 3 (600/200) LVL:3

The boat-like machine attached itself to the bottom of the aquatic mech, powering it up further.

Hydrel Infinity (5200/0)-(5400/0)

"That won't solve anything! Your monsters will all be destroyed, no matter how much you increase their ATK!" Jack pointed out.

"I wouldn't speak so soon. Hydrel Carrier 3's effect activates! Once per turn, all monsters I control can't be destroyed by card effects!" Roget countered with a smirk as the Machine Emperor was surrounded by a sphere of blue energy that protected it from the flames.

"N-No way...I had to use every move I could think of to survive Jack's relentless assaults...and this guy is countering his moves like it's nothing..." Yugo uttered in horror.

"Damn it..." Jack grunted in anger.

"Don't feel too bad. I've had years to study your tactics. I know all the ins and outs of your dueling. I know every move your going to make before you make it. I've even tested this deck out myself several times against the mechanical clone I made of you. It's only natural that you lose to me here and now." Roget said with a smirk.

"Mechanical clone...?" Jack uttered in confusion.

"He created an android that looked just like you. He planned to replace you with it." Yugo explained in a pissed off tone.

"Bastard...even if you studied my dueling, it won't stop me from taking you down for everything you've done!" Jack determinedly shouted.

"Spare me your meaningless declarations and end your turn." Roget said in a bored tone.

"I...set a card facedown, turn end." Jack concluded.

"My turn. This is the end! Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity's effect activates! Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant will now be equipped to this card!" Roget shouted as turquoise energy shot out of the infinity symbol on the machine's core.

"That won't happen! Trap Activate! Red Flare! All Red Monsters cannot be targeted by card effects during this turn! Also, all Red Monsters I control are switched to Defense Mode!" Jack shouted as a bright crimson light enveloped the dragon, knocking away the machine's assault.

Tyrant (3500/3000)-(3500/3000)

"So you still have some fight left in you...in that case...by sending Hydrel Attack to the graveyard, I can special summon Hydrel Attack 3!"

The arm cannon was replaced with a more advanced one. It had a long barrell and also had a scope attached, like a sniper.

Hydrel Attack 3 (1200/0) LVL:3

Hydrel Infinity (5400/0)-(5600/0)

"Hydrel Attack 3's effect activates! By halving Hydrel Infinity's ATK, it can attack you directly!"

Hydrel Infinity (5600/0)-(2800/0)

"No way!" Crow gasped.

"Battle! Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity, direct attack! Disaster Stream Snipe!"

The teal mech aimed in with its scope before firing a more compressed blast of glowing water-like energy, which flew past the large red dragon and sent Jack into the wall of energy.

JACK: 4000-1200 LP

"GACK!" Jack gasped as the device on his heart, which was previously glowing blue, began to blink red.

"What the hell is that thing doing to him?!" Yugo demanded to know.

"Oh, did I forget to tell you? My little creation adds some more stakes to the duel by linking a duelists life points with...well...their life!"

Roget's smirk turned into a full on madman grin, causing a shiver to run down the onlookers' spines. He then turned to Jack, who was struggling to get up.

"The lower your life points get, the slower you're heart will beat. When your life points hit zero, well, even you are smart enough to figure that one out."

"...Damn you..." Jack cursed as he rose to his feet.

"Jack...could die...?" Crow uttered in disbelief.

"He won't! There's no way he'll lose!" Yugo argued.

"That's right..." Reira hopefully smiled.

"It wasn't bad enough for Academia to card people... now this...?" Yuya lowly grumbled, his fist tightening.

"I set a card facedown and end my turn." Roget concluded with a devilish smile.

Hydrel Infinity (2800/0)-(5600/0)

"If Jack can't get rid of that monster on the next turn, all Roget needs to do is attack directly again on the next turn..." Ushio realized in a worried tone.

"He'll think of something...I'm sure of it..." Yugo reassured his teammate.

"You can try to drown out my soul's flame all you want...there's no way my fire will go out! My turn!" Jack determinedly shouted as he drew his card. "This is it! Since I control a Level 5 or higher DARK Monster, I can special summon Vision Resonator!"

Vision Resonator (400/400) LVL:2

"From my hand, I summon Red Sprinter!" Jack shouted as a beast-like fiend covered in flames appeared.

Red Sprinter (1700/1200) LVL:4

"Now, I tune the Level 2 Vision Resonator to the Level 4 Red Sprinter! The crimson souls shall become one! All shall tremble before the king's might! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 6! Red Wyvern!" Jack shouted as a dark red dragon with burning wings appeared.

Red Wyvern (2400/2000) LVL: 6

"What is that pathetic Synchro Monster going to help you accomplish?" Roget questioned.

"For someone who claimed to study all of my tactics, you should know exactly what I'm going for. Vision Resonator's effect allows me to add a specific Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand that lists Red Daemon's Dragon in its text. Next, I activate the Spell Card, Resonator Launch! By banishing three Resonator Monsters in my graveyard, I can special summon a Resonator from my deck! However, the summoned monster can't activate its effects! I banish Vision Resonator, Mirror Resonator, and Creation Resonator! Come forth, the Tuner Monster, Chain Resonator!" Jack shouted as the spirits of the three fiends dissolved before the chained fiend appeared.

Chain Resonator (100/100) LVL:1

"Now, I tune the Level 1 Chain Resonator to the Level 6 Red Wyvern! The star of death that shines at the zenith of the heavens! Descend to the earth and make judgment upon the living! Synchro Summon! Come forth! Level 7! Heavenly King Black Highlander!" Jack roared. In a flash of dark light, a giant fiend carrying a large scythe appeared. The fiend wore white and black armor that had golden lining.

Heavenly King Black Highlander (2800/2300) LVL:7

"Woah! I've never seen him use that monster before!" Yugo shouted in a surprised tone.

"Another weak Synchro Monster? I thought I made it clear that I created this deck to counter any monster you brought out from the Extra Deck." Roget said with a sinister smile.

"You really are an idiot, Roget. Black Highlander's effect activates! Once per turn, I can target a monster on the opponent's field and all cards equipped to that monster are destroyed! Then, the opponent takes 400 damage for each destroyed card! Death Tropics!" Jack shouted as the reaper sliced through the air with its scythe, creating a black energy slash that hit the machine.

As the Machine Emperor was damaged, the soul of Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight flew out of its core before dissolving into particles.

"You're free, Scarlight..." Jack said with a smile.

The reaper sent another black energy slash flying at Roget, sending him crashing to the ground.

ROGET: 3500-3100 LP

"And now that Scarlight is no longer equipped to your monster, it loses 3000 ATK!" Jack shouted as the machine's strength weakened.

Hydrel Infinity (5600/0)-(2600/0)

"Alright! What a move!" Rin cheered.

"Tch..." Roget clicked his tongue in annoyance as he looked at his weakened monster.

"Now, I switch Tyrant to attack mode!"

Tyrant (3500/3000)-(3500/3000)

"Battle! Heavenly King Black Highlander, attack Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity! Death Polo-Slay!" Jack shouted as his majestic reaper charged forward with its scythe.

"Hydrel Guard's effect activates! The attack is negated!" Roget shouted as a blue energy shield blocked the attack.

"You can't block this! Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant, attack Machine Emperor Hydrel Infinity! INFERNO CRIMSON HELL TIDE!" Jack roared as his dragon fired a massive blast of flames.

The aquatic mech struggled at first, but was eventually completely overtaken by the wave of fire.

ROGET: 3100-2200 LP

"How did that one attack destroy all of the Hydrel monsters?" Yugo questioned.

"Due to Hydrel Infinity's effect, since it was destroyed, all of the other monsters on my field are destroyed..." Roget begrudgingly explained.

"Alright! Nice one, Jack!" Crow cheered.

"Even with the cards you designed to counter Extra Deck Monsters, you couldn't defeat me! You really were a fool to think you could actually challenge me, the one who reigned over this dimension while you hid in the shadows!" Jack shouted as his dragon let out a powerful roar. "I set a card facedown, turn end."

"...You really are an idiot if you think that's all I have." Roget sneered, causing Jack's eyes to twitch. "My turn! From my hand, I summon Blaze Core!"

A circular red machine appeared on the flore.

Blaze Core (0/0) LVL:1

"Trap Activate! Bomb Blast! I can destroy up to three Machine-types on my field who haven't attacked this turn and the opponent takes 400 damage for each destroyed card! I destroy Blaze Core!" Roget shouted as his machine flew in front of Jack before exploding.

JACK: 1200-800 LP

As his life points entered the red, Jack could feel an immense pain originate in his chest, which extended to every inch of his body. As his heart slowed, he could feep his breathing get heavier and heavier while his vision began to blur.

"Hang on, King!" Yugo cried out.

"Upon being destroyed by a card effect, Blaze Core's effect activates! From my hand, deck, or graveyard, I can special summon these five monsters!"

"Another one?!" Yuya shouted in shock.

"Come, Machine Emperor Blazel Infinity!"

A red mechanical core with a infinity emblem appeared first.

Machine Emperor Blazel Infinity (0/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Blazel Top!"

Next was a red and black mechanical head, with blue glowing lights. It looked somewhat spiky, almost like a flame.

Blazel Top (500/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Blazel Attack!"

A red mechanical arm appeared next, with a blade instead of a hand.

Blazel Attack (1200/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Blazel Guard!"

Then, an identical red arm appeared, but it had a red gauntlet instead of a blade.

Blazel Guard (0/1200) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Blazel Carrier!"

Lastly was a pair of red robotic legs.

Blazel Carrier (800/600) LVL:1

"Now, combine and reveal your true form, Machine Emperor Blazel Infinity!"

Like before, the five pieces combined in a burst of red light, creating a giant red mech with turquiose infinity crest on its chest and glowing blue lights on its face. The mech had a fiery sword on one arm and a bulky gauntlet on the other. It's head was spiky like a flame while it's mechanical legs had fire bursting out of its heels, leaving a trail of flames behind.

"Machine Emperor Blazel Infinity's has the same effects as Hydrel Infinity, meaning its other parts cannot attack or be attacked. Also, its ATK is equal to the total ATKs of all of its parts!"

Blazel Infinity (0/0)-(2500/0)

"Blazel Infinity's effect activates! Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant is equipped to this card and it gains Tyrant's ATK!" Roget shouted as turquoise tendrils shot out of the machine's infinity-shaped core and wrapped around the red dragon.

"Tyrant!" Jack cried as his dragon was absorbed into the machine.

Blazel Infinity (2500/0)-(6000/0)

"6000 ATK..." Yuya uttered in terror.

"Why stop there? By sending Blazel Top to the graveyard, I can summon Blazel Top 3!"

Its spiky metal head was replaced with a smooth one. However, it had flames bursting out from behind it, almost like fiery hair.

Blazel Top 3 (700/0) LVL:3

Blazel Infinity (6000/0)-(6200/0)

"Battle! This is the end, Jack Atlas! Machine Emperor Blazel Infinity, attack Heavenly King Black Highlander! Crimson Purge!"

The red mech bursted forward, leaving a trail of fire behind it.

"Trap Activate! Red Order! When I would take battle damage, I can target a Red Daemon's Dragon in my graveyard and the damage is reduced by the target's ATK! I target Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight! Meaning, the 3400 damage I would take is reduced by 3000!" Jack shouted as a barrier of flames protected him. The fiery machine then drove its red-hot blade into the Synchro Monster.

JACK: 800-400 LP

Jack's skin slowly began to get paler as he felt to his knees.

"Then...I can special summon the target...! Rise...my very soul...Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight!" Jack shouted through the pain as his ace returned.

Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight (3000/2500) LVL:8

"So you held on...I set a card facedown, turn end." Roget concluded.

"Jack!" Crow shouted in concern as Jack struggled to breath, his body gaining an unshakable sense of coldness.

"You're like a candle in the wind." Roget sneered.

"Your monster may harness the power of fire...but that flame is nothing compared to my burning soul! MY TURN!" Jack shouted as he ruthlessly drew. "I activate the Spell Card...Pot of the Crimson Devil Dragon! Since I control a Red Daemon's Dragon, I draw two cards! Next, Scarlight's effect activates...all of your monsters with ATKs equal or less than Scarlight's ATK are destroyed and you take 500 damage for each destroyed monster!"

"Trying to destroy the parts of Blazel Infinity, eh? That won't work! Blazel Top 3's effect activates! Once per turn, the effect of a Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz monster is negated!" Roget countered.

"We're just getting started...from my hand, I summon the Tuner Monster, Crimson Resonator!"

The fiend that resembled Jack's ace appeared beside him.

Crimson Resonator (800/300) LVL:2

"Crimson Resonator's effect activates! I can special summon two Resonators from my deck...come, the Tuner Monsters...Synchron Resonator and Double Resonator!" Jack painfully yelled as a indigo fiend and a two headed fiend appeared.

Synchron Resonator (100/300) LVL:1

Double Resonator (0/0) LVL:1

"He's going to...!" Yugo realized before grinning.

"Heh...heh...heh...this is not where I fall..." Jack spoke while trying to breathe in as much oxygen could.

His fist clenched as he thought about himself, Crow, and Kiryu as kids. He then looked back at Yugo, Yuya, and Reira, the next generation. He couldn't afford to fail. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he clenched his teeth.

"...You'll regret picking a fight with the former Duel King! Through years of rigorous fighting, I became one with my ace monster and our souls united as one! I'll use that power to incinerate you into ash for everything you've done! I triple tune the Level 2 Crimson Resonator, the Level 1 Synchron Resonator, and the Level 1 Double Resonator, to the Level 8 Red Daemon's Dragon Scarlight!" Jack shouted as the three fiends turned into four fiery rings that flew around his ace.

"GOOO!" Yugo and Crow screamed.

"The three sages are incinerated by the surging flames and are reforged as the king's power! With the might of the Crimson Dragon, reign supreme with your flames of judgement! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Come forth! Level 12! RED DAEMON'S DRAGON MONARCH!"

Red Daemon's Dragon Monarch (4000/3000) LVL:12

"Alright! Jack brought out his strongest monster!" Yuya cheered.

"Monarch gains 1000 ATK for each Red Synchro Monster in my graveyard!" Jack shouted as the spirits of Red Wyvern and Scarlight briefly appeared behind the giant dragon before it erupted in fiery energy.

Monarch (4000/3000)-(6000/3000)

"It's still not stronger than Blazel Infinity." Roget pointed out.

"It doesn't have to be stronger! Red Daemon's Dragon Monarch's effect activates! All other cards on the field and in the opponent's hand are banished! ABSOLUTE POWER ERUPTION!" Jack cried as his dragon drove it's blazing fists into the ground, causing a storm of fire to shoot out of the ground.

"Not so fast! Trap Activate! Infinity Protocol! By sending Machine Emperor Blazel Infinity to the graveyard along with all of its parts, I won't take any battle damage during this turn!" Roget smirked as his mech dissolved into particles before they were scorched by the flames.

"He perfectly countered Jack's assault again..." Yugo uttered in disbelief.

"Grr...the cards in your hand are still banished!" Jack angrily shouted as a burst of fire hit Roget, incinerating the cards in his hand. "And since Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant was sent to the graveyard when you got rid of your Machine Emperor, Monarch gains another 1000 ATK since another Red Synchro Monster now resides in my graveyard."

Monarch (6000/3000)-(7000/3000)

"Since you can't inflict any damage to me, that ATK boost doesn't matter, failed king." Roget deviously grinned.

"Failed king...you're right...I failed as a king...I couldn't change anything...however, I can set everything right by defeating you, the man who truly pushed for the divide in this city! BATTLE! Red Daemon's Dragon Monarch, attack him directly! EXPLOSIVE CRIMSON HELL ULTIMA!"

The red dragon's body ignited in crimson flames, shinning like the sun and blinding everyone who was watching the duel. With a ferocious cry, the flames shot forward towards Roget.

"What are you getting at?" The blond man said in confusion as a barrier of energy formed around him, protecting him from the attack.

"Quick Play Spell...Red Burning, activate! While the only monster I control is a Red Daemon's Dragon, and that monster fails to inflict battle damage...the opponent takes damage equal to half of its original ATK! Do it, Red Daemon's Dragon Monarch!"

"What?!"

At the former king's command, the giant red dragon fired a devastating blast of fire from it's mouth that slammed into Roget, sending him flying through the air.

"GRAAAAAH!"

ROGET: 2200-200 LP

"That was for all of the lives irreversibly affected by your actions, scum! Turn end!" Jack shouted as his gigantic dragon let out a ferocious cry.

Crow looked on at his old teammate, no, his brother. It had been a lot time since he had seen Jack fight for the sake of others. It was almost as if they were back to the older days of Team Satisfaction.

It brought a tear to his eye.

"Jack has a monster with 7000 ATK that can banish any card that targets it...while Roget has no cards on his field or in his hand..." Yuya noticed.

"Alright! King's got this!" Yugo cheered.

"Just a little more and he'll win..." Reira smiled.

"...You naive children." Roget coldly spoke as he got off the ground and brushed off his clothes. "Infinity Protocol's other effect activates during the End Phase of the turn it was activated. Since I control no monsters, I can special summon a Core Monster from my deck! Come, Shine Core!"

A golden circular machine appeared on the field.

Shine Core (0/0) LVL:1

"A third one?!" Crow gasped.

"My turn, draw." Roget said in a mixture of calmness and coldness as he drew, as if everything was going to plan. "Perfect. I activate the Spell Card, Chaos Shock! I can destroy a monster on the field with 1000 or lower ATK such as Astro Core."

A blast of lightning shot out of the card and destroyed the machine.

"Then, the opponent takes damage equal to its Level times 200." Roget smirked as another blast of lightning hit the former king.

JACK: 400-200 LP

"GACK!" Jack growled in pain, depsite the damage being minor. When he opened his eyes, they were much more bloodshot than before.

"Please hold out, King!" Yugo screamed.

"Don't you dare give up, Jack!" Crow roared.

"At this moment, Shine Core's effect activates! Now, I can special summon these five monsters from my deck! Come, Machine Emperor Shinel Infinity!"

A golden core with a turquiose glowing infinity crest appeared.

Machine Emperor Shinel Infinity (0/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Shinel Top!"

A golden mechanical head with glowing silver eyes appeared. The shape of its armor was similar to that of a knight.

Shinel Top (500/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Shinel Attack!"

A golden mechanical arm appeared, with a large spear in hand.

Shinel Attack (1300/0) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Shinel Guard!"

The other golden mechanical arm carried a giant shield.

Shinel Guard (500/1000) LVL:1

"Machine Emperor Shinel Carrier!"

A pair of golden, heavily armored legs appeared.

Shinel Carrier (700/700) LVL:1

And just like the other two, the five pieces combined in a flash of golden light. The giant golden mech had the appearance of a futuristic knight, armed with a helmet, spear, and shield. The turquiose infinity crest on its chest plate shined as bright as its silver eyes.

"The third Machine Emperor..." Jack grunted.

"Machine Emperor Shinel Infinity's effect differs from that of the other Machine Emperors. Shinel Infinity gains ATK equal to the difference between the opponent's original and current Life Points." Roget explained with a devious smile.

"Jack has 200 Life Points right now, and he originally had 4000 Life Points..." Yuzu began.

"...so Roget's Monster's ATK becomes 3800!" Yuya realized.

Shinel Infinity (0/0)-(3800/0)

"That's barely over half of my dragon's ATK...and if your monster also has the ability to absorb Extra Deck Monsters on my field...it will be banished as soon as it targets my monster!" Jack managed to exclaim while clutching his chest.

"You're correct in that statement...which is why I'll be targeting a different monster! Shinel Top's effect activates! Once per turn, I can target a Monster that originated from the Extra Deck in the opponent's graveyard and it becomes equipped to Shinel Infinity! I target Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant!"

"W-What?!" Jack shouted in disbelief as a portal opened up on his field.

Suddenly, silver tendrils shot out of the Machine Emperor's head and flew into the portal, dragging out the large red dragon. The evolved ace of the king let out a cry before it was absorbed into the infinity-shaped core of the Machine Emperor.

"And now, Machine Emperor Astrel Infinity gains Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant's 3500 ATK!"

Shinel Infinity (3800/0)-(7300/0)

"7300 ATK..." Yuya quietly spoke.

"Jack's monster has 7000 ATK...and with only 200 Life Points...!" Yugo said as his eyes widened in fear.

"...It's...over..." Crow uttered, his throat closing as he spoke.

"Some king you were..." Roget sneered before his lips curled into a devilish smirk as he extended his hand outwards to command his monster. "Battle! Machine Emperor Shinel Infinity, attack Red Daemon's Dragon Tyrant! PLASMA EXECUTION!"

The knight-like mech spun its spear in its hand, which became coated with golden energy. Jumping forward, the mech thrusted its majestic weapon through the center of the dragon, causing a powerful explosion to consume the field.

Jack turned around and looked at everyone one last time, his eyes finally settling on Crow.

"...I'm sorry..."

"Checkmate." Roget grinned as the king was caught in the explosion.

JACK: 200-0 LP

WINNER: ROGET!

The wall of energy behind Jack faded as the duel ended, causing his limp body to land just in front of the group. The device on his chest detached and flew back to the Roget, who had a sinister smile plastered on his face.

Being the first to react, Ushio quickly knelt down to check on the man's condition.

Crow fell to his knees.

Tears began to fill Reira's eyes.

Yuya's fist clenched so hard that he drew blood.

Yugo didn't react, his mind still struggling to process what had just happened.

There was no way he could be-

"...He's gone."

---

Hey everyone, hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry again for the delay, the first semester of college has been an adjustment to say the least. However, I'm looking to post more frequently. I'm really motivated to work on the next arc, I already have a lot of duels for the first miniarc of Xyz written!

Character interactions were really interesting this chapter. Sora and Shun's rivalry is still there, but since both have changed compared to their cannon coutnerparts, so has their dynamic. We also had some bracelet girl interactions too, which felt extremely satisfying to write since these characters barely interacted with eachother in cannon.

For the duels, I had a lot of fun creating my own interpretation of the Wind Witch archetype as well as showing off a different approach to Aki's playstyle which differs from her previous duels, where she majorly relied on her dragons. Also, I decided on giving her Sergey's Synchro Fusion card because it felt like it'd be a nice surprise. Credits to BladeWriter3 for Primrose Bell and Innovator Haydin. As for the second, I decided to give Roget a more advanced version of the Machine Emperors from 5Ds. I hope this duel was a surprise since I technically had Jack and Roget duel earlier. I'm looking forward to all of your reactions to the next duel, as it's one of my favorite ones I've written so far.

Lastly, you're all aware of the darker themes present in this story, but this chapter was pretty dark. As we get closer towards the actual war, the story will continue to embrace these dark themes such as death, especially when it comes to backstories. The world of Arc-V is a colorful one, but war is still war, and that's what I will continue to convey as that makes the story more interesting.

Reviews:

3bodyjaa: Thank you!

Belzemon1449: I definitely agree that Reira demanded more screen time in cannon with all that was going on with her. She'll definitely get some more time to shine in the next arc, as I really like the creativeness of her deck and wish it was printed. As for Reiji, he definitely needed more duels in cannon to show off so that he felt like a rival to Yuya.

kaiserYounes: Interestingly enough, I do plan in giving some characterization to Timegazer and Stargazer. As for Zarc's memories of the previous series...that'll be adressed in the future.

bladeWriter3: It's always fun to read your reviews! For 51, it's actually so crazy to me how Ruri came off as a weak duelist in the anime (losing to Sayaka lmao) when her deck is crazy good. For 52, I always felt like they coulda just thrown in Ushio instead of 227 in the anime to make him a bit more rememberable. I'm glad we can all agree that semi humanoid Dark Rebellion with a scythe is objectively badass. For 53, damn now I kinda wish I gave Tsukikage and Gongenzaka some interactions. For 54, the misuse of Serena and the lack of relationship between Yuri and Serena really made me harshly cannon, among other things. It felt refreshing to give my own take of how their dynamic could've played out.

T.V. 2000: I felt like it was almost necessary for Reiji to give Sawatari and Masumi some deserved acknowledgement for all the work they've put in to keep up with the non-Standard duelists. As both are rivals to the standard counterparts, they'll continue to get development as the story continues. As for what you said about Roget's tricks...you're definetly on to something ;).

YunoYudu97: Thank you!

charly12: Thank you!

darktheking73: What the dragon's know and what they don't will be expanded upon as the Yu-boys interact with their dragons. Currently, Yuri can freely interact with Starve Venom and Yugo can kinda interact with Clear Wing. Yuya and Yuto still only can hear glimpses of their voices.

darktheking73: I personally subscribe to the idea that Zarc's powers are similar to Judai's from GX, where just his power alone can bring the dragons to life. That's why I've shown this happening multiple times through Yuya, most recently when he summoned Odd Eyes Wing to fly to Roget's building without activating his duel disk. Therefore, it wouldn't matter if the system was deactivated or not. I never really thought about Roku appearing, and if he did that'd definetly be stranged since he used fusion in Zexal. Barrett will get some screentime later on, so we'll have to wait and see what he does with it.

TZ: As for my current plans for Ray's deck, you could say they are sub archetypes.

Farhan Nugraha: Yuzu won't be sticking with just one Xyz Monster throughout the whole story, I can assure you that. And with her friendship with Shun, who loves Rank Ups, it's possible she may get her own at some point.

Reader2: Glad you like the Serena and Yuya dynamic, it was probably my favorite interaction to write during this arc with Yugo and Yuzu being a close second.

Danger: Yuya vs Crow round 2 will probably happen at some point in the future. Action Traps kinda got phase out once Crossover was introduced. I think its safe to assume Reiji took them out since only the Lancers use Action Cards most of the time, so it wouldn't make sense to add cards that could put them at a disadvantage. Vision and some Elemental heroes may make an appearance, but Edo will only be using Destiny Heros (probably).

I couldn't be more thankful for all the support! Please keep reviewing!

Preview: Time is running out for the Lancers as Roget's plans are on the verge of completion! Will they be able to end Roget's reign over Neo Domino City? Find out next time one Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: Altered Destiny! The fun has just begun!