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

by BlaiseCandell

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

115. The Jester Stands Stage Left

Starting Notes:

Welcome back! This chapter took a while because I ended up having to split it, but I think it's pretty fun! :3 I won't take up any more time, but I will just give a general content warning for a character's hallucinations, though it's not as… overwhelming as how I usually write it. Enjoy!

---

Chapter 115: The Jester Stands Stage Left

One year ago:

The battlefield was a special kind of hell for Rui Shingetsu, and had been from the start. He had only ever told Nue and his brothers about the voices in his head—therefore, he didn't have a good reason for asking to just stay within the base.

So he had to go out.

Go out into the silence.

And the silence, as always, was an invitation for him to speak. Rui could hear heavy breaths, he could almost smell beer in the air.

"You stupid boy."

Rui kept walking, glancing around. If he finished this search quickly, he could go back. At least in the base, there was always noise. At least in the base, there was no—

"Well, boy? Lie down and die!"

—annoying voice to speak to him.

"Vector!"

Rui cast his gaze upwards, Mariko Ejiri shimmied down a pole, a bag slung over her shoulder. As usual, the Resistance's traceur was proving herself to be one of the most useful—the bag was letting out clanking sounds with the cans that were inside it. At the same time, she had…

"It's been a while since the invasion started," Rui snarked. "No new food's been coming into the city. How the fuck did you find tomatoes?"

"There was a house with a working fridge!" Mariko shrugged. "We should figure out a way to get it into the base… I don't think I'll be able to keep going for that long without some coldness."

"Those tomatoes must be rotting by now."

"Oh, they're filthy! But Tsubaki likes tomatoes." Mariko smiled fondly. "Maybe Hisako can use the seeds… I don't want to keep eating canned food forever."

Rui laughed—it was partly genuine, but mostly he was just forcing himself to do so in order to avoid showing his conflicted he was. With Mariko's voice to take its place, his voice had faded. "You really think this is gonna last that long? Either we kill them or they kill us, right?"

"... wars can go on for years and years," Mariko said, glancing away—her words had taken on a sombre tone, and Rui was abruptly reminded that Mariko Ejiri's hometown was an active warzone. "I… just want to be prepared."

"... hah. That makes one of us."

"... Vector?" The girl (his friend, his mind reminded him) looked at him. "Are you okay?"

"Perfectly fine," Rui lied, and he grinned. "Let's keep going."

---

The day before:

Rui sat on the roof of Diamond Branch, staring down at the destroyed city. He flipped two cards between his fingers.

… I made the choice that I shouldn't use these cards while working for Academia. But I've never stopped thinking about you.

He stared out at the sky—the grey of it dulling the colour of his vivid purple eyes.

"How many times have I seen this view?" He murmured to himself. "I suppose, more than I should have…" Both before and after the city was destroyed, he would stand on this rooftop.

Of course, as the bitingly cold wind blew by, the voice decided to add its own opinion.

"Hah. What a thankless job you've landed for yourself."

Rui didn't reply. He just stared down at the ground.

"No one will believe you. How could they?"

" She would have," Rui said, "if I'd believed in her enough to tell her." But… it wasn't a lack of trust at all, he reflected. He'd seen the way that Nue's fingers had shaken after she'd played the wrong card, the way that she had been forcing herself forward. It was a desire to stop her from hurting—to not become part of what was hurting her.

"Hah. So you take it on yourself."

"That's nothing like you, irresponsible boy."

"What would you know about what I'm like?"

For a brief moment, he heard the heavy breaths from behind him, as though he was bearing down on him. "Stupid boy," the voice said, far too close to him. "So weak. You're a known liar. No one will believe you."

"Oh, I know that." Rui smirked, leaning over the railing. The ghost of his father did not speak up before he continued. "See… I couldn't give two shits about living. That's always been the case." He dangled one foot over the ledge. "Back when I was a kid, I lived for mum, because she loved me. Then, I lived to kill you. Then, I lived for Yuma and Astral, and then… for Nue, too. And a few other people, but you know what? It doesn't matter."

He smacked one hand against the railing—for a moment, his brain tricked itself into thinking he was falling. But he was still there.

"I still don't have a reason to live for myself," he said. "But, the friends I managed to make? Kani's dead, and I never succeeded in protecting Nue, and everyone else's not the person they were when I was friends with them anymore. I don't have anything anymore. So, I don't care. I'm going to go through with this, to drag my heels in if it's the last thing I do. I don't give a shit about living, but I'm sure as hell not going to go out on anyone's terms but mine! You hear me?"

He spun around swiftly, staring at the empty rooftop.

… right. There's no one here.

"Rui-nii-san?" Sachi peeked her head out from the door, staring at him. "Were you talking to someone?"

"... not at all," Rui glanced back out at the city. "... just thinking to myself."

---

In the present:

Yuno leaned over Miharu's shoulder, watching her type on her keyboard. Anyone who saw them would think that they looked far too casual for a warzone—but that was because they were no longer in the middle of the battlefield. Instead, they were currently in the ruins of a building, staring at a set of machines that Yuno himself knew close to nothing about, but that Miharu had indicated as their goal—according to her, these machines were the remains of the Occupation Force's data.

The Resistance may have blown it to smithereens, but not even that could stop Miharu Kogami.

"Anything interesting?"

Miharu shook her head. "Not yet," she said. "Give it a while longer…"

"Well, it's not like people are charging at us now!" Yuno chuckled, sitting down on one of the half-cracked tables—Miharu thought about reminding him to be careful, but even if the table broke, Yuno would probably be completely fine. "Take your time."

Mm.

Some might say that they were being irresponsible by stopping in the middle of a battle like this. But Miharu thought this was important—to gather more information.

After all, they still had plenty of answers that they had not received yet.

As the lines of text began to form on the screen—reconstructed through her program… she realised with a start that this had nothing to do with Academia's present occupation of the city. Rather…

"In my observations, I find that the school with the most strength is Diamond Branch. Hearts Branch cannot be counted under this category due to not being an official school, even though I have observed much of their dueling capabilities. Clover Branch may have Kaito Tenjo, the strongest duelist that has ever been born in Heartland, but on average, I find that there is more talent to be found in either Spade Branch or Diamond Branch. However, Two of Spades, Ryoga Kamishiro is reportedly going on exchange the next semester. With him gone, while Three of Spades, Yuto Kamisoka is still rather strong, he and the ones ranked below him do not compare to the real prize of Diamond Branch—"

Miharu lifted her head, looking away from the screen. Yuno looked up too—they'd both heard the approaching footsteps.

"Just Obelisk Force," Yuno said, relaxing as he spotted the people approaching. "You can keep going, Miharu. I'll take care of them."

"... it's fine. The program can run while we're still dueling. Poppy will handle it." The little icon of the AI appeared on her laptop screen, winking.

"Yep! You can go ahead and duel with mama, papa!"

"Well, thanks then!" Yuno shot him a fond look. "We'll be counting on you then, Roboppi."

"Leave it to me!"

Yuno turned to look at Miharu, an easygoing smile on his face. "You sure you want to help? It's not a big deal for me, you know."

"I know. And I like watching you duel." It was… odd, to be able to be so open, so free with her words. "But we haven't dueled together in a while. I've missed it."

"Well then." They were looking at each other now, as though they were the only ones here—not even their opponents really registered in their minds at that moment. Yuno grinned, his golden eyes bright with warmth. "... if it's for that, I'm definitely on board! Let's go, Miharu!"

[DUEL!]

Miharu Kogami: 4000LP

Yuno Sugisaki: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Red 1: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Green 1: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Yellow 1: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Red 2: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Green 2: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Yellow 2: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Red 3: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Green 3: 4000LP

Obelisk Force Yellow 3: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Miharu] [H:5]

"These two are the priority targets!" The one at the front barked to the rest. "We need to take the girl back to Academia and card the boy—so don't fuck it up!"

… nine of them, and he was still worried about messing things up?

… well. Maybe he had a point.

"... Spell Card, Unexpected Dai," Miharu said. "I will Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from my deck. Come—Sunseed Genius Loci." The small chalice-shaped plant appeared on her field—a few of the opponents guffawed at its unassuming appearance.

[Sunseed Genius Loci (1*/0/600/EARTH/Plant)]

Miharu wasn't really bothered by their response. "Manifest, future circuit that sows the seeds for my path," she said, the circuit formed by flowers and roots appearing above her. "Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are one Level 4 or lower Plant monster. I'll set Sunseed Genius Loci in the Link Markers. Appear now, young tree beginning to bear fruit. Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 1—Sunavalon Dryas." The tree appeared behind her.

[Sunavalon Dryas (L1/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↓)]

"Just a Link Monster with 0 attack points?" One of them jeered.

"They all act the same," Yuno commented, folding his arms. "Don't they?"

"... they do." Miharu gestured to the tree behind her. "When Sunavalon Dryas is Link Summoned to the Extra Monster Zone using Sunseed Genius Loci as material, I can add a "Sunvine" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand. I choose the Spell Card, Sunvine Sowing."

She picked up the card, carefully placing it on her duel disk.

"And I will activate it. By taking 1000 damage, I will Special Summon a "Sunseed" card from my deck." She revealed the card. "... I'll choose Sunseed Twin." The blue and pink fairies appeared on the field—

[Sunseed Twin (2*/0/800/EARTH/Plant/Effect)]

Then, the electricity of the duel disk hit her for a moment. Still, it didn't bother her… too much. Not now that it was in controlled circumstances, unlike her duel against Yuno.

Miharu: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP

"Damaging yourself for no reason against us?"

… it was hardly for no reason. And Yuno was right. These were the words she'd already heard many times.

"Sunseed Twin's effect. I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Plant Normal Monster from my graveyard. Come back—Sunseed Genius Loci." The chalice appeared in front of Miharu. "... then, Sunavalon Dryas's effect. Once per turn, when I take damage, I can Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck to my field. Come—Sunvine Healer." The pink-themed flower woman appeared on the field, small particles of light floating around her.

[Sunvine Healer (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/)]

Miharu: 3000 + 1000 = 4000LP

"Sunvine Healer's effect. I'll gain 300 life points, multiplied by Dryas's Link Rating." A soft glow surrounded Miharu, raising her life points again.

Miharu: 4000 + 300 = 4300LP

Four monsters on the field now…

"I will activate the Continuous Spell, Aroma Gardening," Miharu said, the flowers sprouting up on the ground around them. "Then, I will open the circuit again. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Plant monsters! I will set Sunavalon Dryas and Sunvine Healer in the Link Markers. Healer with the capacity for love, appear now as my blade! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Aromaseraphy Jasmine!" Her favourite Link Monster appeared on the field.

[Aromaseraphy Jasmine (L2/1800/LIGHT/Plant/Link/Effect, ↙,↘)]

"Aromaseraphy Jasmine's effect. By tributing Sunseed Genius Loci—" The small chalice turned to dust, before a new flower spouted from the ground, as a portal appeared in front of it. "I can Special Summon another Plant monster from my deck. The monster I choose is Aromage Jasmine." Jasmine's younger form appeared, shooting an earnest look towards Miharu.

[Aromage Jasmine (2*/100/1900/LIGHT/Plant/Effect)]

"Aroma Gardening's effect activates. I will gain 1000 life points since an "Aroma" monster was summoned." Her life points shot up again.

Miharu: 4300 + 1000 = 5300LP

"Since I gained life points, both Jasmines have their effects activated. I can add a Plant monster from my deck to my hand and draw one card. Then—since I have higher life points than you, Aromage Jasmine allows me to Normal Summon another Plant monster this turn. Come—Lonefire Blossom." The fiery sapling appeared on the field, dripping embers everywhere.

[Lonefire Blossom (3*/500/1400/FIRE/Plant/Effect)]

"Lonefire Blossom's effect. By tributing a Plant monster I control, I can Special Summon a Plant monster from my deck. I will tribute Lonefire itself and Special Summon Angel Trumpeter!" The green bird appeared on the field—her Tuner monster, with a body made of leaves.

[Angel Trumpeter (4*/1900/1600/EARTH/Plant/Tuner)]

"I'll tune the Level 4 Angel Trumpeter to the Level 2 Sunseed Twin!" The bird flew up, transforming into four bright rings of light that Sunseed Twin flew through. "Beautiful mage surrounded by the heavenly sunlight. Let the petals flicker, unfurl, fade in your presence. Invisible, sweet scents that dance in the fleeting wind, be collected in the dark leaves, the gentle white flower. Synchro Summon. Level 6—Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram!" One of her two Synchro Monsters—the dark-haired woman with angelic wings and a serene smile—appeared on the field, holding up her lovingly crafted wooden staff.

[Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram (6*/2200/2000/LIGHT/Plant/Synchro/Effect)]

"Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram's effect. When she is Synchro Summoned, I can add one of three specific cards from my deck to my hand—I'll choose Blessed Winds." She placed the card facedown. "Then, since my life points are higher than at least one of the opponents on the field, I can Special Summon Aromage Laurel from my hand!" The blond mage appeared on the field, adjusting his green tunic with a rather shy expression.

[Aromage Laurel (1*/800/0/WIND/Plant/Effect)]

"Let the shadow beneath the tranquil tree begin to take its own form. Circuit Combine. Link 3. Sunavalon Dryanome!" The big tree reappeared on the field, glowing brightly.

[Sunavalon Dryanome (L3/0/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect, ↙, ↓, ↘)]

"Aromage Laurel's effect. I'll gain 500 life points when he is sent to the graveyard."

Miharu: 5300 + 500 = 5800LP

"I'll set three cards and end my turn."

"Three cards…" Yuno chuckled. "... yeah, I get it! I'm in your hands then, Miharu!" After all, the randomisation had done them a bit of a disservice, putting Yuno as sixth in line and Miharu at first in line—meaning that Miharu was not allowed to simply take out a few of the opponents between them to make things easier on Yuno.

But…

Yuno didn't have any doubt on his face. Neither did she.

After all, depending on her to protect him until then… wasn't that risky at all, to the two of them.

And there were very few things safer than being under Miharu Kogami's protection.

[Turn 2: Obelisk Force Red] [H:5]

Their first opponent made his move. "I'll Normal Summon Antique Gear Hound Dog from my hand!" The rusty green dog appeared on the field, letting out a loud bark.

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

"I'll activate the effect of Antique Gear Hound Dog! I'll inflict 600 damage to you!" He gestured at Miharu. "Hound Flame!" The orange flames landed in front of her, but Miharu didn't flinch—instead, she just stood there.

Miharu: 5800 - 600 = 5200LP

She raised a hand as her life points fell. "... thrice per turn, when you deal me damage, I can activate Sunavalon Dryanome's effect," she said. "I will Special Summon a "Sunvine" monster from my Extra Deck, and gain life points equal to the damage I took. Come from the Extra Deck. Sunvine Gardna." The rock-like monster appeared on the field, taking up one of the three free zones that Dryanome was pointing to. (After all, Miharu had intentionally summoned Sweet Marjoram and Jasmine in the rightmost Monster Zones, to free up all of Dryanome's Link Markers.)

[Sunvine Gardna (L1/600/EARTH/Plant/Link/Effect/↑)]

Miharu: 5200 + 600 = 5800LP

"I gained life points, so both Aromage Jasmine and Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram's effects activate," Miharu continued. "I draw a card and destroy a card on the field." She raised her hand, pointing towards Antique Gear Hound Dog, which burst to dust.

"What? Then…"

There were three things that Miharu had learned about the Obelisk Force's dueling strategy by now, even though she didn't usually duel them that much. (After all, she still preferred behind the scenes work, and in Synchro, she hadn't been in much of a position to duel them during the invasion.) First, their deck construction was a mess. They included all kinds of situational monsters, and yet, they had far too many monsters that only worked when Normal Summoned—what was Antique Gear Soldier going to do, stuck in the hand? Second, they had a lot of genuinely good monsters—Antique Gear Devil and Antique Gear Megaton Golem came to mind. Yet for some reason, they seemed inclined to go for monsters that not only had stricter summoning conditions, but did not have nearly as much payoff. Miharu was still unclear why—if this was part of their education, or something else. Third…

Third, they didn't adapt well to interruptions in their strategy.

"I'll set a card and end my turn," the boy muttered.

"... during your End Phase, I will activate two of my set cards," Miharu said. "Continuous Traps—Blessed Winds and Humid Winds." The two cards shot up. "... I will activate the effects of both cards. By paying 1000 life points each, I will add a "Aroma" card from my deck to my hand and Special Summon an "Aroma" monster from my graveyard. Return—Aromaseraphy Jasmine." The white-haired girl appeared on the field again.

Miharu: 5800 - 1000 - 1000 = 3800LP

"Since I summoned an "Aroma" monster, I can use Aroma Gardening's effect and gain 1000 life points. And since my life points are now lower than yours, I can also gain 500 life points with Humid Winds's effect." Both effects resolved, and her life points shot back up.

Miharu: 3800 + 500 + 1000 = 5300LP

"Finally, since I gained life points, Aromaseraphy Jasmine lets me add a Plant monster from my deck to my hand." Miharu picked up the last card. "… that's all."

"Should I sprinkle a little confetti for you?" Yuno teased.

Miharu fanned out the four cards in her hand—she'd picked up three more just from this turn alone. "Use it for your own performance," she said, not smiling—but Yuno grinned anyway.

[Turn 3: Obelisk Force Green 1] [H:5]

"I…" The boy hesitated. "... I'll Normal Summon Antique Gear Hound Dog!" The dog appeared again, like clockwork. "I will—"

"Blessed Winds's effect," Miharu responded. Now that they knew the trick with Sweet Marjoram, she would rather cycle her cards out and gain life points as she went—and it would help to defend Yuno, too. "I will send Sunvine Gardna from my field to the graveyard and gain 500 life points."

Miharu: 5300 + 500 = 5800LP

"I'll activate the effect of all three of my "Aroma" monsters again." She gestured forward, and the dog blew up, before she added two cards from her deck to her hand.

"What…"

"They're Continuous Traps," Yuno said—which was nice of him to point out, considering that Miharu herself would not have done so. "Did you really think that a loop like that would only be capable of being used once?"

"You—Spell Card, Antique Gear Double Imitate! I'll bring back a Hound Dog from my graveyard, as well as one from my friend's graveyard!" The two dogs appeared on the field. "But their effects are negated! And then, I will—"

Miharu tilted her head. "Yuno."

"Mm. No problem at all." Yuno grinned, revealing a card from his hand. "Marincess Red Bream's effect! When my opponent Special Summons a monster while I control no monsters, I can Special Summon her from my hand, and I take no damage this turn!" A pretty girl with red hair in two pigtails appeared, bright blue and orange seashells tied together with seaweed and forming hair ties that held those ponytails in place. She was wearing a pale red dress—but the dress itself appeared to form a spectrum of colours with its wavy skirt, paling and paling the more it went down, until it was white along the bottom edge of the skirt. She was wearing sandals that were the colour of sand. She winked.

[Marincess Red Bream (4*/1900/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"... Hound Dog can't attack over that monster…" The boy muttered.

And neither can Double Bite Hound Dog or Triple Bite Hound Dog. A monster that seals off this particular cheap strategy of yours.

… an entirely new card I made for Yuno, for this war.

"... I'll activate the Spell Card, Antique Gear Fusion! I'll fuse both of my Hound Dogs together with the Antique Gear Soldier in my hand! Appear now, automaton of destructive agony! Fusion Summon! Antique Gear Megaton Golem!" The other Fusion Monster appeared on the field.

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

"If I can't deal damage to you, then… Antique Gear Megaton Golem attacks Sunavalon Dryanome!" However, the golem did not move, much to the student's confusion. "Huh? Attack it!"

"... Dryanome cannot be selected as an attack target," Miharu said after a moment.

"... attack Aromaseraphy Sweet Marjoram!"

… I wonder if they've realised that every choice leads them back to the same place yet…

Sweet Marjoram blew up—Miharu's life points fell.

Miharu: 5800 - 1100 = 4700LP

"I took damage while I control Dryanome again," Miharu said calmly. "... I will Special Summon Sunvine Healer from my Extra Deck and gain life points equal to the damage I took." The pink flower bloomed on the field again.

Miharu: 4700 + 1100 = 5800LP

"Healer's effect. I will gain 300 life points times Dryanome's Link Rating."

Miharu: 5800 + 300 x 3 = 6700LP

"Nice," Yuno said with a wink.

"Compliment me when I do something impressive."

"You're always impressive."

… he really had gotten more shameless once they started dating. "Well?" Miharu said, raising her head. "... is that all?"

… it seemed like it was.

[Turn 4: Obelisk Force Yellow 1] [H:5]

"I'll activate the Spell Card, Antique Gear Fusion! I'll fuse Antique Gear Soldier and Antique Gear Box in my hand! Mechanical soldiers inheriting ancient souls. Now, form an allegiance and join, and be reborn together as a new power! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 8! Mechanical demon god! Antique Gear Devil!" The objectively strongest member of the Antique Gear Fusions emerged on the field.

[Antique Gear Devil (8*/1000/1800/EARTH/Machine/Fusion/Effect)]

"Antique Gear Devil's effect. I'll inflict 1000 damage to you!" The flames shot forth at Yuno, who tolerated them.

Yuno: 4000 - 1000 = 3000LP

"I'll—"

"Blessed Winds's effect," Miharu said. "... return, Sweet Marjoram." The dark-haired young woman appeared on the field, flowers blooming around her.

Miharu: 6700 - 1000 = 5700LP

"Aroma Gardening's effect." Her life points shot up again—and she added two more cards to her hand. Megaton Golem blew up.

Miharu: 5700 + 1000 = 6700LP

"... you just made things worse for your boyfriend!" The previous opponent barked. "I'll use Megaton Golem's effect! When destroyed by a card effect, I can Special Summon Antique Gear Ultimate Golem from my Extra Deck! Come!" The larger golem appeared on the field with a loud roar.

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

Miharu didn't respond. She just turned away.

"... I'll end my turn," the opponent with the current turn said—after all, he couldn't get rid of Yuno's Red Bream right now.

[Turn 5: Obelisk Force Red 2] [H:5]

"I'll Normal Summon Antique Gear Hound Dog!" The next opponent shouted, and well, the result was clear. Miharu picked up Sunvine Healer from her graveyard, shuffled it into the Extra Deck and her life points rose again, allowing her to add another two cards to her hand and destroy the set card that the first player had—

Barely an inconvenience.

"I will activate Antique Gear Hound Dog's effect! I will inflict 600 damage to you!" He pointed to Yuno, who accepted the damage with an amused look on his face.

Yuno: 3000 - 600 = 2400LP

"I'll then use Hound Dog's effect! I'll fuse Antique Gear Hound Dog on the field with two Antique Gear Hound Dogs in my hand! I'll Fusion Summon Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog!" The three-headed dog appeared on the field, snapping its head around in anger.

[Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog (7*/1800/1000/EARTH/Machine/Effect)]

"Spell Card, 7 Completed! Triple Bite Hound Dog gains 700 attack points!" The monster glowed, its stats rising.

[Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog: 1800 + 700 = 2500ATK]

"Then, I'll activate the Spell Card, Limiter Removal! Triple Bite Hound Dog's attack points are doubled, but it is destroyed during the End Phase!"

… ah.

They were completely after Yuno, weren't they? This didn't do anything to her, but to Yuno…"

[Antique Gear Triple Bite Hound Dog: 2500 x 2 = 5000ATK]

She glanced at Yuno, a silent question in her eyes. In those few seconds before their opponent went to their Battle Phase, they had a short conversation.

Do you need me?

I can handle it!

"Triple Bite Hound Dog can attack three monsters a turn! First! Attack Marincess Red Bream! And when Triple Bite Hound Dog attacks, Spell and Trap cards can't be activated!"

"... good thing I don't have any intentions to use one of those!" Yuno dropped one card from his hand, before revealing a monster in his hand. "I'll activate the effect of Marincess Crown Tail! I'll discard one card from my hand and Special Summon her!" The dark-haired lady dressed in red and blue appeared on the field, waves forming around her. She sat down in Defense Position.

[Marincess Crown Tail (5*/600/2300/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Then, I halve the damage I would take from this battle." The attack hit and Red Bream blew up, but Yuno survived.

Yuno: 2400 - 3100 / 2 = 850LP

"Then, Red Bream's effect! When sent to the graveyard, I can Special Summon a "Marincess" monster from my deck, but its effects are negated and it cannot declare an attack this turn—not that the second part matters! Come—Marincess Sea Horse!" In Defense Position, the girl with darker blonde hair appeared on the field, curtsying.

[Marincess Sea Horse (3*/1400/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"... tsk. Then Triple Bite Hound Dog… attacks both of your monsters." Both Sea Horse and Crown Tail shattered under the swings—the boy didn't bother to attack Miharu at all. Maybe he thought it was already fruitless. "I'll end my turn." Triple Bite Hound Dog burst to dust.

And now…

[Turn 6: Yuno] [H:2]

"My turn," Yuno said, looking remarkably confident despite having two cards in hand. On all their opponents' fields, there were only two cards—Antique Gear Devil and Antique Gear Ultimate Golem.

… perfectly manageable for Yuno Sugisaki, wasn't it?

"I'll Normal Summon Marincess Pascalus!" The pink-haired girl appeared, smiling serenely, her arms folded over her stomach demurely as she was surrounded by bright seafoam.

[Marincess Pascalus (4*/1200/2000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Pascalus's effect. I can Special Summon a "Marincess" monster from my graveyard—I'll choose my Marincess Blue Tang!" The blue-haired girl appeared on the field, shooting him a cheerful nod and smile.

[Marincess Blue Tang (4*/1500/1200/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Blue Tang's effect! When Normal or Special Summoned, I can send a "Marincess" monster from my deck to the graveyard!" Yuno winked. "Alright. Let's get going. Open, the circuit of the limitless ocean! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are a Level 4 or lower "Marincess" monster! I will set Marincess Blue Tang in the Link Markers! Shine, beautiful water creature that dwells in the depths! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Marincess Blue Slug!" The familiar figure of Blue Slug appeared on the field.

[Marincess Blue Slug (L1/1500/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↓)]

"Blue Slug's effect. I'll add a "Marincess" monster from my graveyard to my hand!" He picked up the card. "Then, Marincess Blue Tang's effect. I will excavate the top three cards of my deck and add a "Marincess" card from among them to my hand!" Another card, and then he was gazing back towards the field. "But I can't summon monsters this turn, other than WATER monsters. Now, I will open the circuit again! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are one Level 4 or lower "Marincess" monster. I will set Marincess Pascalus in the Link Markers! Beautiful angel floating through the ocean, ascend now! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1! Marincess Sea Angel!" His other main Link 1 monster appeared, brushing her fingers through her white hair, looking just as cheerful.

[Marincess Sea Angel (L1/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/←)]

"Marincess Sea Angel's effect! I'll add the Field Spell, Marincess Battle Ocean to my hand—and activate it!" The beautiful ocean's hologram emerged around them. He still had three cards in hand after all of that. "And now… I'll banish Marincess Sea Horse from the graveyard! I can Special Summon a "Marincess" monster from my hand to a zone that my Link Monster points to! Come! Marincess Blue Sunfish!" One of his most versatile Main Deck monsters appeared on the field, blowing out bubbles as she winked, her blue hair framing her face.

[Marincess Blue Sunfish (3*/1400/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Tuner/Effect)]

"Blue Sunfish's effect! I can Special Summon one more "Marincess" monster from my deck in Attack Position! Come! Marincess Angelfish!" One of his two Pendulum Monsters appeared on the field, her blonde hair falling neatly over her face, her white dress glistening under the light cast by the waves around them.

[Marincess Angelfish (4*/S0/1700/1300/WATER/Cyberse/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect)]

"Angelfish's effect! I'll Special Summon a Marincess Token to my field!" He winked as the new monster appeared on the field—Miharu wondered briefly if there was any way that Yuno would ever not appear dazzling to her, because his smile was still the best thing she had ever seen.

[Marincess Token (1*/0/0/WATER/Cyberse)]

"I'll open my circuit again! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two WATER monsters, including a Link Monster! I'll set my Marincess Token and Marincess Sea Angel in the Link Markers! Float through the water, away from the dangerous predators that seek our trail! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2! Marincess Sea Butterfly!" The beautiful woman appeared, pulling her purple veil over her face as she smiled elegantly.

[Marincess Sea Butterfly (L2/1800/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↑, →)]

"Sea Butterfly's effect! I can Special Summon a Link 1 "Marincess" monster from my Extra Deck—come! Marincess Clownfish Confit!" It was the usual combo that he used—the orange and white-haired girl appeared, waving a hand cheerfully.

[Marincess Clownfish Confit (L1/700/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/→)]

"That's a lot of Link Summons…" One of their opponents said doubtfully.

"You think?" Yuno grinned. "We're not even halfway there! I'll banish Sea Angel from my graveyard and Special Summon Marincess Springirl from my hand!" The girl with dark blue hair appeared on the field, her mermaid-like appearance rather stunning.

[Marincess Springirl (4*/1200/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Open again, circuit! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two or more WATER monsters! I'll set Marincess Sea Butterfly and Marincess Springirl in the Link Markers!" Clownfish Confit was currently in the middle Main Monster Zone, pointing right—Miharu nodded. This way, he could summon his next monster to the right Main Monster Zone (fourth, counting from the left) and make room for his future summons. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3! Lovely sea idol arriving for the finale of the performance! Marincess Marbled Rock!" The protective woman appeared, wearing her sea urchin scarf.

[Marincess Marbled Rock (L3/2500/WATER/Cyberse/Link/←, ↓, →)]

"Springirl's effect! When she's used as Link Material, I can send cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard, up to the number of "Marincess" monsters I control! I control Angelfish, Marbled Rock, Blue Slug, Blue Sunfish and Clownfish Confit—so that's five cards!" He cast all five of the cards in the graveyard. "Five for five! For each of the "Marincess" cards I send to the graveyard, I can inflict 200 damage to you!" Five bubbles popped and exploded across the field, hitting one of the opponents that had yet to take their turn.

Obelisk Force Yellow 2: 4000 - 200 x 5 = 3000LP

"Then, Marbled Rock's effect. I can add a "Marincess" card from my graveyard to my hand!" Yuno picked up one of the five cards he'd sent to the graveyard, revealing it. "I'll add Marincess Sleepy Maiden to my hand. And then, by targeting Battle Ocean, I can Special Summon her!" The woman with light blue hair landed on the field, rubbing her eyes.

[Marincess Sleepy Maiden (5*/500/2500/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Then, I'll open the circuit again!... it's getting a bit long now, so we'll just skip this summoning chant, okay? I'll set Marincess Sleepy Maiden and Marincess Blue Sunfish in the Link Markers! Link Summoning Marincess Coral Anemone!"

That was six Link Monsters now, wasn't it?

… he definitely wasn't done then.

[Marincess Coral Anemone (L2/2000/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/←, ↓)]

"Coral Anemone's effect. I'll target a WATER monster with 1500 or less attack points in my graveyard and Special Summon it! Come back—Marincess Basilalima!" The red-haired girl appeared on the field, dressed in colourful green and yellow clothing.

[Marincess Basilalima (4*/600/2100/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Basilalima's effect! By banishing Marincess Current from my graveyard, I can add a different "Marincess" Trap from my deck to my hand." Yuno picked up the new card. "Now… hmm! This one deserves a summoning chant! Open again, circuit! Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are three monsters with different names, including a Link Monster! I'll set Marincess Clownfish Confit, Marincess Angelfish and Marincess Basilalima in the Link Markers!" The water swirled all around him. "Cybernetic dragon that crosses into reality! Now, infuse yourself with the ocean waves that crash against the shore, and pull the world into your magnetic field! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3! Magnetic Current Link Dragon!" The blue and purple dragon appeared on the field, its circuit-like wings gliding through the air.

[Magnetic Current Link Dragon (L3/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, →)]

He summoned it to the zone between Coral Anemone and Marbled Rock—meaning that he couldn't currently use its effect, since both the zones it pointed to were in use. So… he'd just have to free them up.

"I'll activate the effect of Marincess Mandarin in my graveyard. I'll Special Summon her to Marbled Rock's Link Marker, but she is banished when she leaves the field!" The short red-haired girl appeared on the field.

[Marincess Mandarin (1*/100/100/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Then, I'll open the circuit! I'll set the Link 2 Marincess Coral Anemone, Marincess Mandarin and Marincess Blue Slug in the Link Markers!" The two monsters shot up, turning into bright blue streaks that flew into the circuit above him one more time. "Light splits forth through the invitation of the great reef. Unimaginable colours, split-second reflections, all which exist within a second of time! Now, lady of the shimmering waters! Shine forth! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 4! Marincess Great Bubble Reef!" The red-eyed woman with bright blue hair appeared, gracefully holding out a hand with a smile.

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef (L4/2600/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/←, ↙, ↓, →)]

"Coral Anemone's effect—I can add a "Marincess" card from my graveyard to my hand. Then, since a "Marincess" monster was Link Summoned to my Extra Monster Zone, I can activate the effect of Marincess Battle Ocean. I'll equip Coral Anemone, Blue Slug and Sea Butterfly to the summoned monster, and she gains 600 attack points for each one!" A blue glow surrounded Great Bubble Reef, even as she shot a slightly amused smile at Miharu.

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 2600 + 600 x 3 = 4400ATK]

"Now, Magnetic Current's effect," Yuno said. "I'll target your Ultimate Golem and take control of it until your next End Phase, but you gain life points equal to its attack points! Magnetic Drive!" The wires wrapped around Ultimate Golem, dragging it over to his side of the field—it was now sitting in the zone that Coral Anemone had previously occupied.

Obelisk Force Green 1: 4000 + 4400 = 8400LP

He now had four monsters on his field.

"I'll discard a card from my hand to activate Great Bubble Reef's effect. I can Special Summon a banished "Marincess" monster—come back! Sea Angel!" The Link Monster appeared on the field again. "... well. I guess it's time to see if what you did with Pandor worked, Miharu."

Miharu nodded.

… after all, those words had said enough about what monster he was summoning. It would be the monster that had been born as something else, but now had taken on a different meaning—

It was his trust in Miharu to not lead him astray.

"Arrowhead confirmed! The conditions are two or more WATER monsters! I will set Marincess Marbled Rock and Marincess Sea Angel in the Link Markers!" The three monsters shot up in the air. "Drifter, be caught in the ocean's waves that fall on the shore. Sweep away the uneasy souls with your elegant force! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 4! Marincess Leafking Seadragon!"

The odd, masculine Link Monster appeared on the field, raising one of his hands to adjust his large straw hat. Shackles and chains of coral hung around his wrists. He still looked rather smug and imperious.

[Marincess Leafking Seadragon (L4/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, ↘, →)]

Miharu looked at him. He looked back towards her.

Miharu narrowed her eyes.

Leafking Seadragon smirked. He lowered the arm that had been touching his hat, raising a finger to his shadowed lips—he could almost be considered coy in appearance.

"Leafking Seadragon's effect! When he is Link Summoned, if he is the monster with the highest Link Rating on the field, even if his Link Rating is tied with other monsters, he can destroy cards you control, up to the number of WATER Link Monsters I control. Obviously, Antique Gear Devil can't be destroyed, but I do need to destroy at least one card for this effect to be active, so, Miharu…"

"Healer," she said with a nod. The small Link Monster blew up.

"Mm! Then, I can inflict damage to one of my opponents, equal to the total Link Rating of all monsters I control times 400! And guess what? That's exactly eleven!" He gestured to the one opponent who was currently hiding behind Antique Gear Devil, and their life points plummeted.

Obelisk Force Yellow 1: 4000 - 400 x 11 = 0LP

"Battle Phase," Yuno said. "Ultimate Golem attacks you directly!" He eliminated one of the five remaining soldiers that hadn't yet taken a turn.

Obelisk Force Green 2: 4000 - 4400 = 0LP

"Marincess Battle Ocean gives all "Marincess" monsters 200 attack points," Yuno noted offhandedly. "That affects both Leafking Seadragon and Great Bubble Reef!"

[Marincess Leafking Seadragon: 2500 + 200 = 2700ATK]

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 4400 + 200 = 4600ATK]

"Marincess Great Bubble Reef attacks directly too! World-Crashing Ripples!" He gestured towards the next duelist—his monster took her down, easy as that.

Obelisk Force Red 3: 4000 - 4600 = 0LP

"Leafking Seadragon! Oceanic Strangle! Magnetic Current—Circuit Breaker!"

Obelisk Force Green 3: 4000 - 2700 - 2500 = 0LP

Each of the opponents that he'd defeated had teleported away in turn.

"I'll end my turn," Yuno said, quirking an eyebrow. "... Miharu?"

"Blessed Winds's effect," Miharu said quietly. "I will shuffle Lonefire Blossom into the deck and gain 500 life points."

Miharu: 6700 + 500 = 7200LP

"I draw a card, add a Plant monster to my hand and attempt to destroy a card on my opponent's field. I will choose Magnetic Current Link Dragon."

"But," Yuno said playfully, "while I control Marincess Sea Butterfly on my field, whether she's a monster or a backrow card, co-linked WATER monsters I control can't be destroyed by card effects!" The effect fizzled away—it had been an entirely intentional play. This way, Miharu's mandatory effects wouldn't harm him.

"So, that's all! Over to you!"

[Turn 7: Obelisk Force Yellow 2] [H:5]

Their opponent lifted a shaky hand to take their turn, but Yuno was a step ahead.

"During your Standby Phase, Great Barrier Reef will let me banish a WATER monster from my graveyard to draw a card—and she gains 600 attack points for the rest of this turn, since a monster was banished!"

[Marincess Great Bubble Reef: 4600 + 600 = 5200ATK]

"... I'll Normal Summon Antique Gear Hound Dog," their opponent said, the dog appearing on the field. "I will activate its effect—"

"Trap Card, Marincess Wave!" Yuno dropped the set card from his hand immediately. "While I control a Link 3 or higher "Marincess" monster, I can activate this card from my hand! I'll negate your monster's effects, and for the rest of this turn, all my monsters are unaffected by your effects."

"... oh." The girl shuffled her feet. "I… end my…"

"Damn it, can't you guys do anything?" One of the earlier soldiers shouted out. "They're gonna—"

"It's not like we can do anything, because you didn't defeat that guy immediately!" The girl countered. "Maybe if you guys had done better…"

"They're already splintering apart," Yuno said, frowning. "Seriously… Academia doesn't teach much about teamwork, huh…"

"Their idea of teamwork is that everyone must agree with the same ideology," Miharu said, thinking about Serena. "... I'm not sure they really know what it means."

The girl ended her turn, leaving it to the final member of the group to try and salvage things. Miharu still fished out two more cards before she allowed the turn to end—blowing up the dog in the process.

Miharu: 7200 + 500 = 7700LP

[Turn 8: Obelisk Force Yellow 3] [H:5]

During the Standby Phase, Yuno drew another card.

"I'll activate the Spell Card, Antique Gear Fusion! I'll fuse Antique Gear Soldier and Antique Gear Golem in my hand! Come! Antique Gear Devil!" The monster appeared on the field. "If we're going down, we're taking you with us!" The boy jabbed his finger at Yuno. "I'll—"

"Sorry, but you're a few turns late for that," Yuno said casually. "Right?"

… his life's in my hands.

"... when you summoned Antique Gear Devil, I activated this card." Miharu gestured to her final set card. "... Counter Trap, Solemn Strike. I will pay 1500 life points and negate the summon of your monster."

"Huh? Antique Gear Devil is unaffected by card effects!"

… Miharu had lost count of how many times she'd been forced to explain this. "Not during the timing that it is summoned," she said. A lightning bolt crashed down, blowing up the monster before it could hurt Yuno.

Miharu: 7700 - 1500 = 6200LP

And that settled it quite well, didn't it? She still took the extra 500 life points before the turn ended, but… their opponents had nothing left to do.

Miharu: 6200 + 500 = 6700LP

She reached for the top card of her deck—

"May I expedite things, mother, father?"

[INTRUSION PENALTY: 2000LP]

Pandor: 4000 - 2000 = 2000LP

"Feel free," Miharu said, rather curious. It would be the first time she got to see Pandor duel in a situation that wasn't particularly controlled, after all, and considering that the AI was built on Yuno's data and hers…

Well. It would be interesting.

Pandor nodded. She was currently peeking out of Yuno's duel disk, wires from the duel disk extending out and carefully adjusting themselves to make new 'zones' on the edge of the duel disk. Miharu, as over-prepared as she was, had worried that there might be a time where Pandor might need to duel while Yuno did not—thus, she had experimented with many different lines of code, finally managing to circumvent some parts of the duel disk's programming—

Needless to say, having the duel disk make a mini duel disk extension for Pandor was a task so difficult that even Miharu Kogami had struggled not to make it explode.

Still, she was about to see the fruits of her labour now—

"No fair!" Poppy pouted from nearby, where he was still running the code. "Pandor gets to show off first? I wanna duel too, mama!"

"You can do so another time," Miharu said—simply stating a fact. Yuno turned and winked at Poppy.

"Yeah, no worries! And if your mama forgets, I'll remind her, mm?"

"Go on, Pandor." Miharu turned back to the AI—who bobbed her head. "... I know what you're capable of too."

[Turn 9: Pandor] [H:5]

Pandor drew her starting hand. She looked through it carefully, turning to Yuno and waiting for him to draw a card with Great Bubble Reef's effect, before she made her first move. "Spell Card, Topologina Taproot!" She played the card immediately—the image on it was a mirror of plant roots, formed by glowing wires in dark earth. "I can excavate five cards from the top of my deck, and send all "Topologina" monsters from among them to the graveyard."

Five cards floated up, held by wires. Pandor gestured, and then four of them floated into the graveyard, before the last one went to the bottom of the deck.

"Then, I will Special Summon a Cyberse monster from my graveyard. Come—Topologina Chroot!" A sleek-looking mechanical robot appeared, green and brown in colour. She had a small lighter green-white flower on the top-right of her 'face'. Her eyes glowed soft yellow.

[Topologina Chroot (3*/1000/100/DARK/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Cyberse?" Yuno exclaimed, sounding delighted.

"... yes," Miharu murmured, feeling her cheeks get slightly redder. "Cyberse."

"Topologina Chroot's effect," Pandor said calmly, even as she shot Miharu a slightly amused look. "... when Normal or Special Summoned, I can add a "Topologina" monster from my deck to my hand. I will add Topologina Bambee to my hand." She revealed Bambee. "... then, I will banish two "Topologina" monsters from my graveyard to Special Summon Topologina Bambee from my hand." A red and silver bee-like monster appeared, with glowing yellow screens that formed her wings.

[Topologina Bambee (3*/1000/100/DARK/Cyberse/Effect)]

"Open, circuit of flowing currents that manifests the future," Pandor declared. Miharu blinked slowly.

"... I did not tell you to use that," she said.

"You did not." Pandor turned to her. "... is it alright, mother?"

"... of course."

"... then… arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two Cyberse monsters. I will set Topologina Bambee and Topologina Chroot in the Link Markers. Circuit Combine! Link 2—Topologina Sassabee." A silver and green figure appeared on the field, with beautiful curving yellow wings.

[Topologina Sassabee (L2/1000/DARK/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↓, ↑)]

"Bee. Root." Yuno was grinning widely now. "Her whole deck is puns!"

"... my brother made the starting archetype," Miharu said. "I just modified it so that it fit… what I liked better."

Pandor tilted her head to look between them, before she continued. "Topologina Sassabee's effect. I will add all "Topologina" monsters used for her Link Summon back to my hand." She picked up Chroot and Bambee, revealing them again. "... then, I will Normal Summon Chroot." The small android appeared on the field again. "Open again, circuit. Arrowhead confirmed. The conditions are two or more Cyberse monsters. I will set Topologina Sassabee and Topologina Chroot in the Link Markers!" The three monsters shot up into her circuit—Miharu took a moment to glance up at it. It was a rather lovely one, one that Miharu had taken special care in designing—honey gold, made of different hexagons that fit together seamlessly. Green vines bordered the honeycombs, with pale pink flowers surrounding them.

"Circuit Combine. Link Summon. Link 3. The strongest of the Topologinas, the root of all things. Topologina Superroot Directia!"

The monster that rose next was… interesting. She (it was distinctly a 'she') had a body that was distinctly mechanical, and yet, patterns of leaves and flowers could be seen carved into her metal. She had two bright wings behind her, formed from the same yellow light as the more insectoid Topologina monsters—no, it was a little darker. Gold, instead of yellow. Her body was a mix of blue, green and white.

[Topologina Superroot Directia (L3/2300/DARK/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↙, →, ↘)]

"Superroot Directia's effect. When she is Link Summoned, all "Topologina" monsters used for her Link Summon are banished from the graveyard." Pandor removed both Chroot and Sassabee. "Then, I will activate the effect of Topologina Chroot. Since she was banished, I can banish another "Topologina" monster from my graveyard. I will banish Topologina Babee. And when a card is banished, once per turn, Superroot Directia allows me to draw a card."

Pandor made a clicking sound.

"... Topologina Taproot's continuous effect in the graveyard. All "Topologina" monsters I control gain 200 attack points for every Cyberse monster with a unique name that is banished. I have Topologina Chroot, Topologina Sassabee, Topologina Babee, Topologina Maybee and Topologina Gatsbee."

"That's only 1000 attack points on a single monster—what do you think you're going to get to do with that?"

Yuno makes a whistling sound. "... oh, I get it. Cyberse monsters, not Topologina monsters. Yeesh. Your brother really just makes all the anti-Cyberse cards in the world because they're common, huh?"

"It just makes more sense," Miharu said, folding her arms. There weren't that many anti-Cyberse cards they'd made though. There was Fire Prison, that one Field Spell that she had helped her brother design, which was intended to catch rogue AI and viruses within its net when it was used in VRAINS. But the prototype had been incomplete when they'd scrapped the project, due to the ethical quandary of 'rogue AI' as a term—her brother had kept it, deciding to keep working on it.

… that was entirely a private project though. No reason why Yuno should know about it—he probably just guessed that from Ryoken's practicality.

Their opponents were staring at them in confusion. Pandor was the one to explain what the three of them already knew. "... father has Marincess Mandarin, Marincess Blue Tang, Marincess Red Bream and Marincess Pascalus. Thus, there are nine banished Cyberse monsters on the field right now—for a total of 1800 attack points. Thus, Topologina Superroot Directia's attack points will increase—"

[Topologic Superroot Directia: 2300 + 200 x 9 = 4100ATK]

"—to 4100."

"So what? You can still only defeat one of us!"

"Spell Card, Allure of Darkness. I will draw two cards and banish a DARK monster from my hand." Her monster's attack points shot up slightly again.

[Topologic Superroot Directia: 4100 + 200 = 4300ATK]

"Battle Phase. When I have six or more banished Cyberse monsters with different names, Topologic Superroot Directia's effect activates." The woman rose up, streams of data wrapped around her arms, flowing outwards—

Connecting to most of the other monsters on the field.

"At the start of the Battle Phase, the number of attacks she can make becomes equal to the number of Link Monsters on the field—including herself."

The faces of all their opponents went pale.

"... mother has her Sunavalon Dryanome and Aromaseraphy Jasmine. Father has Magnetic Current, Great Bubble Reef and Leafking Seadragon. And I have Superroot Directia herself. That makes six—for six attacks. Curiosity Superconnect!" The wires glowed, and Pandor's new ace glowed more brightly—

"Attack! Circuit Annihilation!"

One by one, Superroot Directia laid waste to the field, crushing the rest of their opponents, all of whom looked terrified and confused—

Miharu just nodded.

(Test successful. She'd record the data later.)

Obelisk Force Yellow 2: 3000 - 4300 = 0LP

Obelisk Force Yellow 3: 4000 - 4400 = 0LP

Obelisk Force Green 1: 8400 - 4300 - 4300 = 0LP

Obelisk Force Red 1: 4000 - 4300 = 0LP

Obelisk Force Red 2: 4000 - 4300 = 0LP

Winner: Miharu Kogami, Yuno Sugisaki & Pandor!

"Well done," she said as the soldiers teleported away.

"Yeah, well done!" Yuno smiled at her exuberantly, as the wires twisted themselves back into the duel disk. "For your first real time dueling? Very good!"

"I appreciate the praise, father, but I would like to consider my first duel to be the one I had against Poppy at the start of our training," Pandor said briskly. "… this one wasn't nearly as challenging."

Speaking of Poppy…

Her companion AI let out a few beeping sounds, seemingly trying to catch their attention. Poppy then let out a huffing sound. "Oh, so Pandor gets to be all cool, but I'm here decoding data? No fair! That's her area of expertise anyway!"

Yuno laughed, sitting down next to her laptop, as though they hadn't just been through a whole battle (though Miharu hadn't ever needed to use one of the close-to-twenty cards she'd gathered from all of those loops.) "Don't say that! I'm sure Miharu's grateful for your help!"

"I am," Miharu said, and she could practically see the flower that was Poppy's avatar bloom a little more brightly in happiness. "So? Show us what you have." She continued reading from the previous line, taking in the information again.

"With him gone, while Three of Spades, Yuto Kamisoka is still rather strong, he and the ones ranked below him do not compare to the real prize of Diamond Branch, or rather, what I would consider to be the best prizes in all of Heartland. Eve-san, I know you've said that we cannot be certain yet, but even though there are a few other individuals that may fit your criteria, I still think that Nue Kamisoka is the one you are looking for. I will explain more if needed if you come to this dimension. Regardless, if there are candidates for what you wish, then, despite my personal reservations…

… Tatsuya Izumi is the one I choose."

Miharu watched the screen as the words flowed by. For a brief moment, her vision lost colour—she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, to calm herself from the frustration.

… unjust things always happen by cruel people's hands, in every world.

---

"So?" Reiji asked, when it became obvious that Vector was drawing the moment out. "What do you have to say?"

Vector chuckled. "Let's play a game," he said. "See, I've got all this mind-blowing information, but giving it out seems way too easy! It'd make me wanna blow my brain out, y'know?" The casual way he said the words made Reira flinch—Vector cast a look towards her, and then, interestingly enough, his high-strung demeanour seemed to soften just a little. "So whatever, like I said, it's a deal of sorts! You entertain me, I spill all my delicious secrets for you! You don't, I go find someone else to do that for me before I decide I'm done with this battlefield. Well?"

Reiji stared at him. Then, he folded his arms carefully. "... what kind of game do you suggest?"

"A duel, of course!" Vector took a step forward. "Is there any other way we deal with things here in Heartland? Isn't it the same where you come from—all kinds of knuckleheads ready to fight over absolutely nothing! So, why don't you duel me, and we have a bit of a faceoff! Each time you take damage, you give up one of your secrets—something that's genuinely a secret, that you genuinely never told anyone for whatever reason—to me. Each time I take damage, I give up a little hint, a little fact about what's going on, to you. What do you think?"

"... how can you prove that you're telling the truth?"

"How can you?" Vector returned. "Ball's in your court, glasses. Take my word and give yours, or back out. I have a feeling I know exactly what you're going to pick."

And he was probably right.

Reiji had heard accounts about this man's intelligence. The highest of compliments from one of his most competent Lancers. And, something that had almost been like a plea—though Nue Kamisoka would never have lowered herself to the extent where it would truly be so.

"They're not evil. None of them. If they ask you to listen, then please do so, Reiji Akaba. Even if you don't think it is important, remember what they say and tell me."

"No one deserves to disappear without being able to explain themselves."

"... agreed," Reiji said, raising his duel disk—

"Ah, ah." Vector wriggled a finger. "You're the main course. I want the appetiser first." He tilted the finger, pointing it towards—

"... absolutely not," Reiji said, narrowing his eyes. "My sister has no secrets for you." Next to him, Reira shuffled her feet.

"Au contraire, Reiji Akaba." The orange-haired boy smirked. "You? Your secrets don't bite at you. They don't ache. You hide things, yes, but most of them don't pierce your soul. That's not the currency I want."

"... you make a lot of assumptions, Rui Shingetsu."

"Do I?" Vector laughed. "Your sister… she's a little weighed down by everything. But I don't bite! I keep secrets even when I shouldn't. They're my favourite little currency, sometimes." He curved a finger towards Reira. "If your sister loses, then we can see what payment I want from you—if you continue."

… this entire time, Vector had spoken while looking at Reiji. And yet, the words… had the challenge really been directed towards Reira?

Reira looked up at Vector. She hugged her small bear to herself.

Vector looked at her. "You know," he said, "I'm a fair kinda guy. That's why I'm offering a deal like this, no? It's your choice whether you wanna take it or not, kid. Don't let your brother choose for you."

"... when Nue-san talks about you…" Reira hid her head behind the bear. "... I think what she feels about you is what I feel about Miharu. She trusts you… but doesn't understand you fully. She wants to protect you… but you want to protect her and hide things from her?" She spoke every word hesitantly. "Why do you do that?"

"... huh." Vector watched her, his smile briefly falling. "Kid. You've got eyes. Reira Akaba, right?"

"Mm."

"Well then, you want that answer. I can trade that too. We'll call it a one-for-one, yeah?" Vector shrugged. "Are we gonna do this or not?"

Reira raised her duel disk. Reiji watched her. It was still somewhat a strange feeling, to have such pride in another person. A part of him hoped to get used to it.

"Alright then…" Vector paused, tilting his head. "Pixie pop? No, that doesn't quite fit you. Ah, I'll come up with something. Give me your best shot, Reira Akaba."

[DUEL!]

Reira Akaba: 4000LP

Rui Shingetsu: 4000LP

[Turn 1: Vector] [H:5]

"... alright. Let's see if I still remember how to play this deck after all this time." Vector stretched out his arms. "... mm! He'd be happy to duel a kid like you… guess I should try to maintain the same energy, even if I play to win. I'll activate the Spell Card, Onomatopaira!"

… that wasn't one of the Umbral Horror cards that Yuto had mentioned. Interesting.

"I'll send a card from my hand to the graveyard and add two cards to my hand, but they must belong to two of the four archetypes listed on the card." There was something almost mischievous to the way that Vector grinned. "... what are those archetypes, you ask? Well, they're pretty easy to remember! Zubaba, Gagaga, Gogogo and Dododo—not bad, right?"

For once, both Akaba siblings were united in their reaction—they both stared at Vector, as though nothing was wrong and they were just waiting for him to take his move.

"... geez. Tough crowd." Vector revealed two cards. "Well, let's give this a go then! I'll add Gagaga Ganbara Knight and Zubababancho Gagagacoat to my hand!" He stopped, staring at them as though expecting them to have some kind of reaction, but shrugged a moment later. "Eh. Now, I'll activate the effect of Gagaga Ganbara Knight! By revealing a "Gagaga" monster in my Extra Deck, like Gagaga Cowboy, I can Special Summon him from my hand!" A short but rather muscular knight appeared, his entire body covered by thick armour. He held up two shields, both of which were coloured in alternating streaks of orange and green.

[Gagaga Ganbara Knight (4*/0/1800/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]

"Then, I can Special Summon another "Gagaga" monster from my hand. Come! Gagaga Magician!" A white-haired magician dressed in brown and black appeared, chains wrapped around him and floating in the air.

[Gagaga Magician (4*/1500/1000/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Gagaga Ganbara Knight and the Level 4 Gagaga Magician!" The two monsters turned into dark streaks, flowing into the ground.

A Turn 1 Xyz Summon, hmm? Some might have been impressed by just that, but Reiji had seen far too many people Xyz Summon a single monster and expect their opponent to never be able to defeat it. He'd have to see the monster itself.

"Warrior that leads the charge, round 'em up for our attack! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Gagaga Cowboy!" The monster that appeared was a rather stereotypical cowboy, spinning two green revolvers as he prepared for battle—even though he was currently sitting in Defense Position.

[Gagaga Cowboy (R4/1500/2400/EARTH/Warrior/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"I'll detach one Overlay Unit from Gagaga Cowboy," Vector said playfully. "Eight hundred damage to you, little lady."

[Gagaga Cowboy: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

The gunman raised one of the revolvers, and then clicked the trigger. The bullet shot past them, embedding itself into the ground and exploding—and, to Reiji's slight surprise, the dust that scattered in the air…

Seemed to linger.

Reira: 4000 - 800 = 3200LP

"Well? Don't cheat me out of my payment now."

… it had been all set up, Reiji realised, to force them to be the ones to pay up first. To force them to show their willingness to adhere to the deal.

But, Reira…

"I can see ghosts, you see." Vector's gaze was almost gentle. "I poke fun at Nue for how well she can see the actions of others. The 'future', see? But me? I look at someone and see how much their past chokes them. So? What's your secret, kid?"

"... you don't have to say things if you don't want to," Reiji reminded her, but he didn't stop her.

If she really found it in herself to say things, that wasn't a horrible thing.

Reira slowly lifted her head, and then—

"I can… see things too." She said quietly. "Negative feelings in people… and duel monsters. Power."

Vector's eyes widened. "... hmm. Cool little talent."

Reira shivered slightly. "... you have it."

Vector tilted his head. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

Reiji got what she meant a moment before she spoke up again.

"Your monsters… they're real, aren't they?"

---

Reira felt it. The monster's bullet, going by—far too real. The dust suspended by some kind of force. The humming feeling (wavelength, she imagined her brother saying) of Rui Shingetsu threaded through his monster and the area around them. All of it.

Psychic Duelist, right…?

Vector tilted his head. "Hey. It's not my time to give things up yet, you know!" He smirked. "... not bad. I'll take that. Anyway, Gagaga Ganbara Knight's effect! Since it was detached as cost, I can add a "Gogogo" monster from my deck to my hand. Just to be clear, 'Go-go-go', not 'Ga-ga-ga'. Got it? Go-go-go."

… Reira had no clue why he was staring so intently at her. Was she supposed to react?

"I'll add Gogogo Goblindbergh to my hand and Normal Summon it!" A red plane with a goblin sitting at the front of it appeared, wearing goggles on his face. Winds blew around him.

[Gogogo Goblindbergh (4*/1400/0/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]

"Gogogo Goblindbergh's effect! Since it was Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a non-Warrior "Gogogo" monster from my deck, and then Goblindbergh changes to Defense Position! Come! Dodododwarf Gogogoglove!" A viking-like monster with a green cape appeared on the field, raising his fists and revealing bright silver gauntlets and glimmered.

[Dodododwarf Gogogoglove (4*/0/1800/EARTH/Rock/Effect)]

"Dodododwarf Gogogoglove's effect. I can Special Summon a "Gagaga" or "Zubaba" monster from my hand! Come on out! Gagaga Mancer!" An old, white-haired spellcaster in a black suit appeared, a black and red cape sweeping out behind him.

[Gagaga Mancer (4*/100/100/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Gogogo Goblindbergh, the Level 4 Gagaga Mancer and the Level 4 Dodododwarf Gogogoglove!" He seemed to relish in every syllable—some people might have gotten annoyed, but it made Reira… a little sad?

… how long had it been since he'd just enjoyed himself like this?

"Foolish insects, kneel before this dazzling light! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! The one, the only, Masquerade Magician - Shining!" A monster that could only be his ace appeared on the field, dressed in white and gold—humanoid, yet with limp, demonic-looking purple wings of rock that made it seem almost like a fallen angel.

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

"I'll set a card and end my turn," he concluded. "Your move, kid. Show me what you got, and exactly how much you can rip out from me!"

[Turn 2: Reira] [H:6]

Reira drew.

… I'm a little lost, I think, on how I should deal with this.

… I don't know how to play this game of his. But it's just dueling.

No Rilliona in hand. Then, her first move would be…

"I'll Normal Summon Endymion, the Magistus of Mastery." The dark-haired mage surrounded by purple runes appeared in front of her, a stern look on his face.

[Endymion, the Magistus of Mastery (4*/1300/1700/WATER/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"Endymion's effect. I will equip a "Magistus" monster from my Extra Deck to him. Artemis, the Magistus Moon Maiden!" The beautiful moon goddess appeared on the field in translucent form, floating behind Endymion. "Artemis's effect. While she's equipped to any "Magistus" monster, I can add any "Magistus" monster from my deck to my hand. I will add Zoroa, the Magistus of Flame from my deck to my hand."

She added the new card to her hand.

"Spell Card, Magistus Invocation. I will fuse Endymion and Artemis."

"Fusion Summoning…" Vector muttered. Reira tensed up before he continued speaking, his tone shifting. "Using a monster in the Spell or Trap Zone? Interesting…"

"You're not upset?" Reira murmured.

"Oh, I am. But why the fuck would I be mad at you?" Vector waved a hand. "If it was Yuto, or Ruri, or Kurosaki… maybe them, if they can somehow forget enough to use it. But you're a kid, you come from another world. It's… fine."

… it didn't fully sound fine. But Reira didn't… want to address it right now. Did that make her mean? She didn't want to be, but… she was scared.

Miharu, she reminded herself. Miharu would be strong. Miharu had told her not to be afraid of winning. 'A win is a win, no matter the circumstances'. So…

She didn't have to be afraid of all this, right?

"Saintly spirit with the knowledge of this world, the laws that govern it and those beyond! Be invoked in our presence in this instant! Fusion Summon! Aiwass, the Magistus Spell Spirit!" The beautiful blue and silver, liquid-like spirit appeared in front of her.

[Aiwass, the Magistus Spell Spirit (8*/2000/2800/WIND/Fiend/Fusion/Effect)]

She didn't know anything about this guy's monsters, but…

"Aiwass's effect!" She declared. "I'll… target Masquerade Magician - Shining! I can equip Aiwass to it, and then it gains 1000 attack and defense points, and I take control of it."

"... huh. Stealing a monster? Pretty bold of you." Vector smirked. "Shame that I have the counter to it then. Trap Card, Gagagarush! I'll negate the effect of your monster, destroy it and inflict damage to you equal to its attack or defense points in the graveyard, whichever is higher!"

The negating happened first, but…

"I'll activate the effect of Kalia, the Magistus of Beasts in my hand!" Reira declared. "By discarding her, my Magistus Monster Cards can't be destroyed this turn!" Aiwass shimmered, before escaping the blast of light that was about to consume it. "So I don't take damage, right?"

"... guess not! But your little spirit still can't take my monster away."

… okay. So there was the easy method gone… Reira looked back down at the four cards in her hand. "Spell Card, Graceful Charity! I draw three cards and discard two…"

If she just drew Vritra or Trismagistus… there! She discarded the two cards, before holding up the new card.

"Spell Card, Magistus Vritra! I will Special Summon a Level 4 or lower "Magistus" monster from my graveyard. Come back—Zoroa, the Magistus of Flame." The red-haired mage surrounded by bright flames landed on the field, a stern look on his face.

[Zoroa, the Magistus of Flame (4*/1500/1500/FIRE/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect)]

"Zoroa's effect! I can equip a "Magistus" Monster Card from my Extra Deck to him. I will equip Ninaruru, the Magistus Glass Goddess to him." Behind Zoroa, a beautiful translucent blue figure appeared, her entire body bright crystalline glass. "When Zoroa is equipped with a "Magistus" Monster Card, I can Special Summon another Level 4 Spellcaster monster from my hand or graveyard. Return from the graveyard—Kalia, the Magistus of Beasts!"

A young girl appeared on the field, beaming—her hair was wispy, stormy blue-grey, and her eyes were bright golden, shaped in a strange way that didn't seem fully human. She was holding onto a magic staff, though there was some uncertainty to the way that she was trying to handle it—as though she wasn't used to holding onto the staff, or maybe she wasn't used to holding onto things in general. Glowing blue runes could be seen all over her skin, under the earthy tones of the robes that she was wearing. She was wearing a dark choker—no, collar around her neck.

[Kalia, the Magistus of Beasts (4*/S3/1400/0/EARTH/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)]

This monster… it made Reira a little sad. Each of the Magistus Main Deck monsters was a powerful wizard who would eventually go on to do great things, but Kalia? She was the exception. If Endymion was a direct connection to Mion's Endymion the Master Magician, then Kalia was a reference to the Mythical Beasts. Specifically…

Reira stared at the misty hair for a moment, before she turned away.

She had to defeat both Shining and Gagaga Cowboy this turn… and Aiwass already failed this turn, so…

Reira only had one monster who could do that.

"I'll tune the Level 4 Zoroa to the Level 4 Kalia." The two monsters rose up, turning into blazing streaks. "Blazing soul lying at the heart of calamity. Awaken now and open the gate that incinerates realms. Synchro Summon! Level 8. Zoroa the Magistus Conflagrant Calamity!" The red-haired figure of Zoroa reappeared on the field, but the flames had gone out of control—the bright red flames had evolved, now flickering between divine gold and bright red. From Zoroa's shoulders, two bright feathered wings emerged, alternating between gold and blue feathers that practically blinded Reira under the light.

[Zoroa the Magistus Conflagrant Calamity (8*/2900/1500/FIRE/Spellcaster/Synchro/Effect)]

"Those wings…" Vector grimaced. "Geez, we like phoenixes and firebirds too much in this city. Even our invader's a Phoenix. Can't I catch a break…"

"Kalia's effect. When she leaves the field, I can set her in the Pendulum Zone." The blue pillar of light appeared to Reira's right, the young girl rising up within it. "Zoroa's effect. When Synchro Summoned, I can equip a "Magistus" monster from my Extra Deck to him. I'll choose Rilliona, the Wondrous Magistus Witch Wardrobe." When the witch surrounded by ribbons appeared, she shot an annoyed look at Zoroa, who just ignored her. "While I control Zoroa, you can't activate effects of monsters with the same monster type as equipped "Magistus" monsters I have. So… you can't use the effects of Xyz Monsters."

Vector whistled. "... seriously? Damn. That's rough."

"Battle Phase. Zoroa will attack Masquerade Magician - Shining!" Before Vector's ace could do anything, Zoroa took care of it, wiping it from the field, taking it out in a burst of flames.

Vector: 4000 - 200 = 3800LP

"By your own game," Reiji said, folding his arms. "What do you have to say?"

"... the kid asked earlier why I do things to protect Nue while hiding things from her." Vector shrugged. "You still want an answer to that, kid?"

Reira nodded carefully, not saying anything.

"That's my little secret then." Vector grinned—it was not malevolent, but rather… a little mad . "Because if she knows all my motives, she might end up forgiving me. And I don't want that."

"... don't want… to be forgiven…?"

"That's right." Vector waved a hand. "... right now? Nue Kamisoka's the only person I really have to protect in this world anymore. She tends to give people chances they don't deserve, and I… don't want that right now." He laughed. "So I can't let her know the real reasons I do things, or she might want to forgive me already. That enough for your two hundred points of damage, little lady?"

Little lady…?

Reira nodded. "Aiwass attacks Gagaga Cowboy!" The Defense Position monster was destroyed. Okay… "Main Phase 2. Kalia's Pendulum Effect. I'll Special Summon a "Magistus" monster from my graveyard with a different Attribute from the monsters I control, but it must be in Attack Position, its effects are negated and it cannot attack. Return—Endymion." The dark-haired spellcaster reappeared on the field. "I'll set a card and end my turn."

[Turn 3: Vector] [H:2]

"Draw!" Vector didn't look too bothered at the small size of his hand. "… you know, using this deck feels like a betrayal, even when I already told myself that in this specific case, there's nothing else I'd rather use… Okay, got two questions for you, kid. One—is Aiwass's effect a Quick Effect?"

"Yes," Reira murmured.

"Got it. Two—Zoroa stops me from activating effects, but he doesn't negate effects, right?"

"… yes?"

"All I needed to know." Vector revealed a card in his hand. "Spell Card, Pot of Avarice. I'll shuffle Gagaga Magician, Dodododwarf Gogogoglove, Gagaga Ganbara Knight, Gagaga Cowboy and Masquerade Magician - Shining into the deck to draw two cards." He refilled his hand. "… sorry about this, kiddo. It's a good lock, but not enough to contain me. Our tricks are a little too crude for that."

He revealed a card in his hand.

"Spell Card, Destiny Overlay. I'll target monsters on either of our fields and use them as materials for an Xyz Summon!"

Either field?

"I'll target both Aiwass and Zoroa!"

"Aiwass's effect," Reira said—if she equipped Aiwass to Zoroa, then they couldn't be used as material and she'd be fine—

"Sorry," Vector quipped. "The targeted monsters can't chain their effects to this." He waved a hand, and the two monsters turned into a green and red streak that flew into the ground. Rilliona shattered, now that she didn't have a monster that she was equipped to. "I'll overlay the Level 8 Aiwass and Zoroa! Fiendish pillar that floats on the edge of the horizon! Writhing souls trapped within your walls beg for redemption that they do not deserve! Hear my cry and manifest now to take more into your grasp! Xyz Summon! Rank 8! Number 68: Sandalphon the Fiendish Sky Prison!"

Behind him, an enormous, rocky structure appeared—a dark building, levitating in the air, made of several concentric rings that were all surrounding a single hollow pillar formed from boxes that seemed to messily fuse into each other. Thin cannons, tinted red, could be seen emerging from the sides of the prison. In front of it, engraved on one of the layers, was the number '68' in bright red.

[Number 68: Sandalphon the Fiendish Sky Prison (R8/2100/2700/DARK/Rock/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Now that your lock is gone, I'll activate the effect of Dodododo Warrior in my hand! I'll send another "Dododo" monster from my deck to the graveyard and Special Summon him from my hand! I'll send Dodododwarf Gogogoglove back to the graveyard!"

On the field, a short warrior in burnished red armour appeared, his helmet and chinguard protecting his head and obscuring most of his face. He was wearing enormous bronze boots. In one hand, he held an enormous axe as long as he was tall, and in the other, a large and red and black shield with an orange orb in the middle.

[Dodododo Warrior (6*/2300/900/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]

"If I summon him this way, Dodododo Warrior becomes Level 4 and his attack points become 1800."

[Dodododo Warrior: 6* → 4*; 2300 → 1800ATK]

"Then, Dodododwarf Gogogoglove's effect! Since I control a "Dododo" or "Gogogo" monster, I can Special Summon it from the graveyard, but it is banished when it leaves the field!"

… Reira had a feeling that this monster was never leaving the field.

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Dodododo Warrior and the Level 4 Dodododwarf Gogogoglove! Magician's apprentice, graduate now and lead with style! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Gagagaga Girl!" A blonde-haired girl with bright red eyes appeared on the field. She was wearing a dress with shades of black and brick red, with a big coral pink bow tied to the back of her waist, forming a cape-like structure that went down below her knees. Pink ribbons floated around her.

[Gagagaga Girl (R4/1500/1800/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Gagagaga Girl's effect! Since she has one of the Onomatopoeia Gang as her materials—in case you forgot, that's the Gagaga, Gogogo, Dododo and Zubaba group—I can detach one of her Overlay Units to add a "Gagaga", "Onomato" or "Xyz" card from my deck to my hand!" Vector picked up the new card, even as Gagagaga Girl shot him a nod.

[Gagagaga Girl: OU:2 - 1 = OU:1]

"Then, since Dodododo Warrior was detached as material, I can add a "Zubaba" monster from my deck to my hand too!" He picked up the new card. "I will Normal Summon Zubababa Knight!" A bronze, green and gold knight appeared on the field, holding up two short black blades.

[Zubababa Knight (3*/1600/900/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]

"I'll add a "Zubaba" monster to my hand, and then Zubababa Knight copies its Level! I'll add the Level 4 Zubababancho Gagagacoat to my hand!"

[Zubababa Knight: 3* → 4*]

"Then, since I control a "Gagaga" monster, I'll Special Summon him!" The man in a dark suit of armour appeared on the field, a red scarf wrapped around his neck.

[Zubababancho Gagagacoat (4*/1800/100/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]

"By restricting myself to only Xyz Monsters this turn, I can Special Summon a "Dododo" or "Gogogo" monster from my graveyard! Come again, Gogogo Goblindbergh!" His monster reappeared on the field, adjusting his gauntlets. "I'll overlay the Level 4 Gogogo Goblindbergh, the Level 4 Zubababa Knight and the Level 4 Zubababancho Gagagacoat! Return! Masquerade Magician - Shining!" His ace appeared on the field again.

… there was something a little sad to it. It was miserable , or at least, it felt like that…

"You know what? Shining's effect. I'll mill the top card of your deck." Vector smirked. "It might be helpful for you, might be helpful for me, we'll see." The card dropped into the graveyard. "Battle Phase! Masquerade Magician - Shining attacks Endymion, the Magistus of Mastery!"

Reira shielded herself as her monster shattered.

Reira: 3200 - 1400 = 1800LP

"So, let's talk again, kiddo." Vector folded his arms. "For my next question? The secret I want is your name."

Reira frowned.

Her name? Her name was…

"Don't look so confused, kid." Vector smirked. "... obviously I know that you go by Reira Akaba. But like I said, I like to dig deep, and I'm good at it too. This isn't the first time that I've asked someone this question, and she was a lot more defensive about it than you—so maybe you just haven't thought about it as much as her. So, I'm asking—what's your past? What were you before you were Reira Akaba?"

Reira flinched. Because she remembered the loud noises, she remembered everything—

But…

"... Reira," Reiji said. He looked at her, and… there was a certain concern in his eyes.

Because Reiji didn't know she remembered, right? Back when Reira had come to Maiami City, she'd been so scared that she'd forgotten everything. And then mother (Himika-san?) had been so forceful about the fact that Reira ought to be a blank slate that she hadn't said anything.

'What were you before you were Reira Akaba?'

She had an answer to that… it was just whether she was brave enough to share it.

A hand in her hair. A girl walking to the playground ladder, climbing up and sitting on its roof. Turning away with a giggle to look at the sandbox as the girl watched from above, as the sun's rays shone on them.

"Be careful with the sand down there. It's getting windy—it might get in your eyes."

She giggled again, looking up and nodding, teasing the other girl. "You can't tell me to be careful when you're all the way up there, S—!"

"I'm fifteen, you're nine. I'm legally obligated to tell you these things, R—."

That was so typical of her! "I'm gonna miss you, S—. You really have to go?"

"It's just two weeks." The girl came back down, pulling her into a hug. She squeezed the girl. She didn't wanna let go! "It's an exchange program kind of thing, and I promise I'll call you everyday, okay? I'll be back before you know it, and we can go over dueling a bit more, alright?"

"Mmm, okay! My big sis is going to become the best doctor in the world, isn't she?"

A sigh. "I'm not even in med school yet, R—. But with you supporting me like this, how can I let you down, huh? I promise I won't be gone for long. Love you, R—."

"Love you too, S—!"

'Love you too.'

… the truth was, Reira had started remembering these small things a while ago, right after her duel with Sergey. But she had always hidden them—because if she spoke them aloud, it would feel like something that her mother could take away from her again.

The 'past' that Vector ( Rui-san , she considered calling him) was talking about could only be one real thing, even if it was a mess of several other tangled things that Reira was only just beginning to understand.

The idea that Reira Akaba had a past… that would have been unforgivable to Himika Akaba.

But, if he was asking…

"Why?" Reira asked quietly. Why did he want to know?

What was the point of this 'betting' in the first place?

"Why?" Vector said. "Because that's your 'ghost', Reira Akaba." He spoke each syllable carefully. "Rei-ra. A captured ghost. What a weird name to give a child, if you want to care for them. I want to know your 'ghost'. I want to know if you're exactly the kind of person I've judged you as—no more and no less. So come on, kiddo. Whoever you're afraid of, whoever taught you to be quiet and keep it all to yourself, they're worlds away, I'm guessing. Only me and your brother here. If it's a secret you don't wanna keep, say it. Who are you? What's your name?"

… strangely, that was a comforting thought. Reira mustered up her courage—the same way that she'd learned to, all this time.

"My name was Risu," she said carefully.

And the world did not end. Himika did not suddenly appear, yelling at her for daring to speak that name. She wasn't suddenly shipped back home, back to that horrible warzone. She simply said it, and it was fine.

"Risu. Pearl." Vector laughed. "Cute." He shrugged. "How long's it been since you were called by that name? Who was the last one to use it?"

"... my sister," Reira said quietly. "She's gone now though."

She had to be. Because…

If she was alive, she would already have come for me !

I wouldn't have been alone for so long. She would never have left me alone. But I was. I've been alone for so long…

"... huh." Vector put his hands in his pockets. "... guess we're more similar than I thought. Maybe that's why I felt like dueling you." He shot her a smile. "... hope someday you can say that to more people than me then. Once you've gotten away from the person who made you think you don't have the right to miss her."

Before Reira could respond to that, he turned back to his other monsters—Gagagaga Girl and Sandalphon.

"Sandalphon gains 100 attack and defense points for each of the monsters in our graveyards," he explained. "You have six. I have four. So that's a neat one thousand, all for him."

[Number 68: Sandalphon the Fiendish Sky Prison: 2100 + 100 x 10 = 3100ATK; 2700 + 100 x 10 = 3700DEF]

"Gagagaga Girl attacks directly!"

… Sandalphon alone would win him the duel if the attack went through—so this was just for one more chance to deal damage. Reira flipped up her set card. "Trap Card, Magistus Hautemagie! I'll Special Summon a "Magistus" monster from my deck, and this turn, it can't be destroyed!" She revealed the new monster. "Rilliona, the Magistus of Verre!" In front of her, the pale woman appeared, tipping her hat as she cast a distant look at Vector's field.

[Rilliona, the Magistus of Verre (4*/800/1800/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"I'll activate Rilliona's effect. I can add a "Magistus" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand."

"Sorry, gonna take this chance for myself." Vector gestured forward. "Masquerade Magician - Shining's effect! I'll detach one Overlay Unit, negate that attack and inflict 800 damage to you!" Another bolt of lightning struck at Reira, who flinched.

[Masquerade Magician - Shining: OU:3 - 1 = OU:2]

Reira: 1800 - 800 = 1000LP

She had to be more careful…

"I'll use the effect of Zubababa Knight," Vector continued. "Since he was detached as material, I can add a "Gagaga" monster from my deck to my hand." He smirked. "... Main Phase 2. I'll detach an Overlay Unit from Sandalphon too. Until the end of your next turn, Sandalphon can't be destroyed by card effects, and neither of us can Special Summon monsters from the graveyard!"

What? Then…

"Obviously, since there are two new monsters in my graveyard, Sandalphon's attack points go up a little more."

[Number 68: Sandalphon the Fiendish Sky Prison: OU:2 - 1 = 1; 3100 + 100 x 2 = 3300ATK; 3700 + 100 x 2 = 3900DEF]

"I'll set a card. Your move, kiddo—make it count!"

… well. She had to. But first…

"You dealt me damage again," Reira said quietly. "What… did you want to hear?"

Vector blinked—and then, he laughed. "You really are a strange kid," he said. "Reminding me to dig more? Well, simple question." He folded his arms. "Your father's Leo Akaba—or at least, he's the one who officially has that title, anyway. Your mother… I suspect she's the problem, right?"

The boy's eyes bored into Reira.

"No easy questions left, I'm afraid. If you could choose between ending this war and being free, which would you choose?"

Being… free?

Reira tilted her head, frowning. "... I can't be free," she said, "if the war doesn't end."

"And if the war ends," Vector countered, "are you free?"

… Reira didn't know.

"... just food for thought," Vector said, smirking and shrugging. "I already know the answer, you don't have to say it aloud anymore. Your turn."

[Turn 4: Reira] [H:3]

"Draw." Reira looked at the cards in her hand with a frown. Not being able to Special Summon monsters from the graveyard was a bad thing, considering what her strategy had been… and while some might only see the surface level of the problem, Reira had immediately realised the gravity of the situation—namely, that Sandalphon still had another Overlay Unit attached to it. So she would be locked off for two turns if she didn't get rid of it…

Well.

There were other ways to get her monsters back.

She wondered if this was fate.

"Spell Card, Pot of Avarice." She played the exact same Spell that Vector had played. "I'll shuffle the Main Deck version of Zoroa, Aiwass, Artemis, Endymion and Rilliona into the deck to draw two cards!" She picked up both cards at once, glancing at them. "I'll Normal Summon Zoroa again!" The red-haired wizard of flame appeared on the field again, holding up his fists with a smirk. "I'll use Zoroa's effect and equip Artemis to him from the Extra Deck again. And then, I can add a "Magistus" monster from my deck to my hand!"

She picked up the new card, before picking up one of the cards from her graveyard.

"I'll banish Hautemagie from the graveyard to add a "Magistus" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand. I will add the Spell Card, Magia Magic - Thor Hammer, which is always treated as a "Magistus" card—and activate it. I'll send the equipped Artemis to the graveyard to banish a card on the field. I'll choose Sandalphon the Fiendish Sky Prison!" The dark floating pillar was destroyed by a bolt of lightning that shot down from the sky.

"Huh. You dodged the protection I had on it…"

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Rilliona and Zoroa!" The two monsters turned into streaks, fading into the ground. "Beautiful witch that wields magic with creativity, dance in the shimmering light! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! Rilliona, the Wondrous Magistus Witch Wardrobe!" Rilliona reappeared, wearing a way more puffy dress, ribbons flowing around her body.

[Rilliona, the Wondrous Magistus Witch Wardrobe (R4/1000/2800/LIGHT/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]

"Rilliona's effect! I'll detach an Overlay Unit and Special Summon a "Magistus" monster from my deck, but I can only Special Summon "Magistus" monsters from the Extra Deck for the rest of this turn!" She revealed the card—a second copy of Rilliona, which she placed on the field. "I'll Special Summon Rilliona, the Magistus of Verre. And with her effect, I'll add another "Magistus" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand." She had five cards in her hand now. "I'll add and activate Magistus Invocation again! I'll fuse Rilliona on the field with Endymion in my hand! Fusion Summon—Aiwass the Magistus Spell Spirit!"

Aiwass descended on the field again.

"... Aiwass's effect. I will equip it to your Masquerade Magician and take control of him!"

"Nope," Vector said—and he grinned. "I don't feel like it. See, if you get him, then this entire situation's about to get way too complicated…" He flipped up his set card. "So let's flip the table instead! Quickplay Spell! Rank-Up-Magic—"

Reira's eyes widened. She heard Reiji let out a quiet sigh next to her.

"—Umbral Dystopia! I'll target my own Masquerade Magician - Shining—and Rank Up my monster by one Rank! When the force of monstrous chaos will cover up the light, the great darkness will dance! Rank-Up-Xyz-Change! The mask of laughter that shrouds the shine of hope! Rank 5! Masquerade Magician - Umbral!" The magician reappeared, its body far more fractured in appearance, holding up a dark staff in the air. There was a menacing, jester-like appearance to him.

[Masquerade Magician - Umbral (R5/3000/1500/DARK/Spellcaster/Xyz/Effect) (OU:3)]

"Then, since he was Xyz Summoned using my specific Rank-Up-Magic, I can destroy all other monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and Umbral gains 1000 attack points for each destroyed monster!" Umbral raised his hand, shadows swirling around it, ready to consume the field—

"Quickplay Spell—Verre Magic - Lacrima of Light!" Reira declared—somewhat desperate to keep some kind of control. "Since you activated a card effect, I can Special Summon a "Magistus" monster from my deck!" There was another archetype listed on the card, but according to Reiji, the card had just had a mind of its own and added that in when it was being made. "Come! Sixth of the Magistus sages!"

There were six different Main Deck monsters for the Magistus group—well, there were a few more, but those weren't the 'sages'. Zoroa, Endymion, Rilliona, Crowley, Kalia and…

"Marcha, the Magistus of Fairies!"

On the field, a woman with bright blonde hair appeared, mystical azure particles floating through her fringe and nestling on her face. She had a rather peaceful look on her face. She had a bright blue cloak floating behind her, as well as delicate fairy wings. She curtsied, her green dress sweeping around her feet, runes inscribed into the ground beneath her. Around her were small wisps that slowly formed small 'cracks' in the space around her—almost as though space itself was breaking around her.

[Marcha, the Magistus of Fairies (4*/1850/1150/WIND/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect)]

This card… it was kind of reminiscent of Hitoda's Fairy Tail monsters. Reira wondered if there was any proper connection between them in the lore… probably.

On the field, the other three monsters that weren't Umbral or Marcha blew up—Gagagaga Girl, Aiwass and Rilliona, even as Vector's monster grew way too strong.

[Masquerade Magician - Umbral: 3000 + 1000 x 3 = 6000ATK]

"So? I assume that if you did this, you still have a way out." Vector gestured to her monster. "... what's that girl's effect?"

She did.

It laid in Marcha.

"I'll activate the effect of Rilliona in my graveyard," Reira said timidly. "I will banish her from the graveyard and equip Aiwass to Marcha." The blue spirit appeared, curling around the fairy tale sorceress with an almost… protective look. "When Marcha is equipped with a "Magistus" monster, I can add a "Magistus" card from my deck to my hand with a different name from the cards in my graveyard. I will add Crowley, the Magistus of Grimoires to my hand. And then…"

She nodded to Marcha.

… she just had to do everything that she could now.

Whether that was using Link, Pendulum, Fusion, Synchro or Xyz Monsters… or…

"Marcha's effect…" Reira swallowed. "I'll tribute her on the field, along with Crowley in my hand… and perform a Ritual Summon of a monster from my hand, deck or graveyard!"

"... that's not gonna happen," Vector said with a smirk. "Once per turn, I can detach an Overlay Unit from Masquerade Magician - Umbral, and I can negate your monster effect, force you to discard one card and halve your life points!" He held up his hand like a gun and fired—Umbral flung one of his Overlay Units towards Reira, in the shape of a ring.

[Masquerade Magician - Umbral: OU:3 - 1 = OU:2]

Reira: 1000 / 2 = 500LP

"Gogogo Goblinbergh will let me add another "Dododo" monster to my hand, since it was detached as material. Well, it's up to you whether you count that as damage—"

"What do you want to know?" Reira said quietly.

"... hmm." Vector smiled mirthlessly. "If your sister came back now and asked you to go with her, to live wherever you want… would you go with her?"

… ah.

Reira could feel Reiji shift—clearly somewhat curious about the answer.

Reira thought…

And in her heart, her mind, she thought of that girl—she clutched onto the bear in her arms, that the girl had given her. The same white as that girl's hair, the same purple as that girl's eyes.

Come home, Risu. She imagined the girl saying. Come home to me.

Reira closed her eyes.

… maybe if you had come earlier. Maybe if you had come when I was so, so scared… it's not your fault, but I've been scared for so long, and I've only just started to be able to live as myself…

I'm sorry.

"... I like my big brother," Reira said quietly. "... I like my… friends." She lowered her head, blushing. "... I wouldn't, now."

"... heh." Vector chuckled. "... I see."

Reira gestured forward—to Marcha. "... Marcha's effect," she said again. "I can perform a Ritual Summon!"

"What? It's not once per turn?"

"... no, only her search effect is once per turn." After all, there was always the slim possibility that she might recycle Marcha and try to Ritual Summon twice in one turn. The fact that Umbral didn't actually destroy Marcha when negating her effect meant that Reira could just use it again.

"Man." Vector frowned. "Can't even call that being outsmarted, to be honest."

"I'll tribute Crowley and Marcha." The two monsters vanished from the field, and Reira picked up a card from her deck. "Eldritch angel from between the realms. Emerge, consume your summoner, and cast the world into your eternal, unreal glow! Obscure memory and efface humanity! Goddess of the great skyline, that dances in shadow!"

Where Marcha had been standing, the blue cracks had been left behind—they all broke open now, allowing mist to slither through—it slowly consolidated, forming a single woman, though her image was blurry. Her skin was blue and translucent, similar to Ninaruru but a bit 'brighter'. Her hair was long and dark indigo, with golden trailing butterflies resting in it. Dark tattered fabric formed her dress, spreading out—more and more cracks forming in the air around her.

"Ritual Summon! Level 8! Grimmauche, the Magistus Fractured Fabulist!"

The woman smiled then—a haunting, malevolent smile. Around her, the tendrils seemed to grow—reaching out across the field. Her eyes were closed in an almost serene manner.

[Grimmauche, the Magistus Fractured Fabulist (8*/2500/2000/DARK/Fairy/Ritual/Effect)]

"Creepy," Vector said appreciatively. "So this is the Ritual Monster you have, huh… and you can use six summoning methods? Not bad."

Reira hadn't exactly Pendulum Summoned yet, but she guessed that she understood what he meant. After all...

Knowing all the summoning methods was important to her, to Reiji and to LDS.

... she'd tried really hard.

"So, what does she do?"

"When Grimmauche is Ritual Summoned, I can equip as many "Magistus" monsters with different monster Types from my graveyard to her. Specifically… summoning method types." She revealed four cards from her graveyard. "Artemis, Rilliona, Zoroa and Aiwass!" The four monsters all appeared in spirit form behind Grimmauche, bound by her tendrils. "Aiwass's effect. Grimmauche gains 1000 attack and defense points!"

[Grimmauche, the Magistus Fractured Fabulist: 2500 + 1000 = 3500ATK; 2000 + 1000 = 3000DEF]

"You're still a couple thousand short," Vector quipped. "... or half a metre. So?"

… was that a joke about her height? Reira briefly felt annoyed, before she continued on with her turn.

"Grimmauche's effect. Once per turn, I can target cards on the field, up to the number of monsters equipped to Grimmauche—then, I can banish all of them! Fractured Calamity!" Umbral was surrounded by the blue tendrils.

Vector's eyes widened. "... I'll be damned."

Reira narrowed her eyes, still determined. "... I'll banish Masquerade Magician - Umbral!"

A blue crack appeared behind Umbral, and the magician was sucked into it.

"... if I win, you'll tell us everything?"

"I won't have a choice," Vector said with a smirk. "If that's what you're asking."

Reira nodded. "Grimmauche attacks directly! Grand Mesmerising Eye!" Grimmauche opened her eyes, revealing that they were glowing bright blue—the light cast over the field in an instant—

"... but," Vector continued, "you don't get it this turn." He revealed a card in his hand. "When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack, I can Special Summon Gagaga Gardna from my hand!" A man in a dark trenchcoat appeared, holding up a red and black shield.

[Gagaga Gardna (4*/1500/2000/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]

He didn't say that the attack was negated… "Grimmauche attacks Gagaga Gardna!"

"That's fine," Vector said. The monster exploded. "My turn?"

Reira nodded.

She just had to take one more turn of this… and then—

[Turn 5: Vector] [H:4]

"You know," Vector said, "I was going to make a whole symbolic thing and make this turn super long for the sake of it. But uh. It's kind of obvious now, isn't it?"

… silence. Reira blinked twice.

"... eh. Let's make this a bit more simple." Vector revealed a card in his hand. "Normal Summoning Gagaga Sister!" A little girl dressed in a white and pink dress and hat appeared.

[Gagaga Sister (2*/200/800/DARK/Spellcaster/Effect)]

"I'll add a "Gagaga" Spell or Trap from my deck to my hand. Then, I'll Special Summon Gagaga Clerk from my hand, since I control a "Gagaga" monster!" The older girl appeared on the field, her orange twin tails spinning through the air.

[Gagaga Clerk (2*/400/800/EARTH/Warrior/Effect)]

"Gagaga Sister's effect. I'll target her and Clerk and make their Levels equal to the total of their current Levels!"

[Gagaga Clerk: 2* + 2* = 4*]

[Gagaga Sister: 2* + 2* = 4*]

"I'll overlay the Level 4 Gagaga Clerk and Gagaga Sister! Return to the field, Gagaga Cowboy!" The man reappeared on the field, holding up a gun. "You get what's going on, don't you?"

… oh.

"Not often I get to do this," Vector said with a smirk. The man raised his gun, one of his Overlay Units flowing into the barrel. He aimed past Grimmauche, directly pointing at Reira. "But Cowboy for game."

The gun fired.

Reira: 500 - 800 = 0LP

Winner: Rui Shingetsu!

… in the end, Reira hadn't been able to deal any damage to him at all, save for the first time. No answers, nothing like that…

She felt like a disappointment.

A hand pressed to her shoulder. Reiji looked at her. "... did it make you feel better?" He asked. "Ignoring the result?"

Did that duel make her feel better…?

Reira nodded. Weirdly enough, Rui Shingetsu and his invasive questions had helped—they had made her think more about the past—and it had felt okay , to just remember her past and think about what it would be like to go back.

Reiji nodded as well. "Then," he said, "that is all you needed to get from that duel." He turned back to Vector, stepping forward. "... I will handle the rest."

And Reira knew he would.

After all, it was her reliable big brother.

---

OC Cards:

Marincess Red Bream

(4*/1900/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Effect)

If your opponent Special Summons a monster(s) while you control no monsters (Quick Effect): You can Special Summon this card from your hand, and if you do, you take no damage this turn. If this card is sent from the field to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 "Marincess" monster from your Deck, except "Marincess Red Bream", but its effects are negated, also it cannot declare an attack for the rest of this turn. You can only activate each effect of "Marincess Red Bream" once per turn.

Marincess Blue Sunfish

(3*/1400/1000/WATER/Cyberse/Tuner/Effect)

If this card is Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 "Marincess" monster from your Deck in Attack Position. If this card is sent to the GY: "Marincess" monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle this turn. You can only activate each effect of "Marincess Blue Sunfish" once per turn.

Marincess Angelfish

(4*/S0/1700/1300/WATER/Cyberse/Pendulum/Tuner/Effect)

Pendulum Effect: Once per turn, if a WATER monster you control is sent to the GY, except by battle: You can send 1 WATER monster from your hand to the GY; draw 1 card.

If this card is Special Summoned: You can Special Summon 1 "Marincess Token" (Cyberse/WATER/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0) to your field in Defense Position, and if you do, this turn, the first time you Link Summon a "Marincess" Link Monster, you can gain LP equal to its ATK. You can only activate this effect of "Marincess Angelfish" once per turn.

Marincess Sea Butterfly

(L2/1800/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↑, →)

2 WATER monsters

If this card is Link Summoned and you control only WATER monsters: You can Special Summon 1 Link-1 "Marincess" Link Monster from your Extra Deck. (This is treated as a Link Summon.) You can only use this effect of "Marincess Sea Butterfly" once per turn. While you control this face-up card in the Monster Zone or Spell/Trap Zone, co-linked WATER monsters you control cannot be destroyed by card effects.

Marincess Clownfish Confit

(L1/700/WATER/Cyberse/Link/Effect/→)

1 non-Link WATER monster

This card cannot be destroyed by battle. You can Tribute this card; target 1 non-Link monster in your GY, Special Summon it. You can only activate this effect of "Marincess Clownfish Confit" once per turn.

Magnetic Current Link Dragon

(L3/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, →)

3 monsters with different names, including a Link Monster

Once per turn: You can target 1 Level 5 or higher monster your opponent controls; negate its effects, then, place that opponent's monster in a Main Monster Zone this card points to and take control of it until your opponent's next End Phase, and if you do, your opponent gains LP equal to the original ATK of the targeted monster. If this card is sent to the GY: You can Set 1 Trap from your GY to your field. It can be activated this turn.

Marincess Leafking Seadragon

(L4/2500/WATER/Dragon/Link/Effect/←, ↓, ↘, →)

2+ WATER monsters

(This card is always treated as a Cyberse monster.) If this card is Link Summoned, and it has a higher Link Rating than all other Link Monsters on the field (even if it is tied), or it is the only Link Monster on the field: You can destroy cards your opponent controls, up to the number of WATER Link Monsters you control, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the total Link Rating of all Link Monsters you control x 400. While your opponent controls a Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Ritual or Pendulum Monster, this card cannot be destroyed by card effects. If this card is sent to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 Link 3 or lower WATER Link Monster from your Extra Deck, and if you do, gain LP equal to that monster's Link Rating x 1000. (This is treated as a Link Summon.) The monster Summoned by this effect cannot activate its effects this turn, and it cannot be destroyed by battle during the turn that it was Summoned. You can only activate each effect of "Marincess Leafking Seadragon" once per turn. You can only control 1 "Marincess Leafking Seadragon".

Topologina Taproot

(Spell)

Excavate 5 cards from the top of your Deck, send any excavated "Topologina" monsters to the GY, and if you do, Special Summon 1 Cyberse monster from your GY in Defense Position, also place the other cards on the bottom of your Deck in any order. You can only activate this effect of "Topologina Taproot" once per turn. While this card is in the GY, all Link Monsters you control gain ATK equal to the number of banished Cyberse monsters with different names x 200.

Trivia: Most of what's needed was explained in the chapter—in-universe, Miharu insisted on giving a bit of her own theme to one of her 'kids', anyway. More on that in the end notes.

Topologina Chroot

(3/1000/100/DARK/Cyberse/Effect)

If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 "Topologina" monster from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate this effect of "Topologina Chroot" once per turn. If this card is banished: You can banish 1 "Topologina" monster from your GY.

Trivia: Named after the command 'chroot', aka 'change root directory'.

Topologina Superroot Directia

(L3/2300/DARK/Cyberse/Link/Effect/↙, →, ↘)

2+ Cyberse monsters

This card on the field cannot be banished by card effects. If this card is Link Summoned: Banish all "Topologina" monsters used as Link Material for its Link Summon from the GY. If a card is banished: You can draw 1 card. You can only activate this effect of "Topologina Superroot Directia" once per turn. If you have 6 or more banished Cyberse monsters with different names, at the start of your Battle Phase: This turn, this card can make attacks up to the number of Link Monsters on the field. You can only control 1 "Topologina Superroot Directia".

Trivia: I did think it would be nice to give Topologinas their own dedicated boss monster. I always wondered why specifically the Topologinas had seemingly no synergy or proper… 'endgame piece', if you know what I mean? Out of all the things in the anime. So I made her one, with some small references to Yuno's Great Bubble Reef and Miharu's Penrose Airvaras. Her name is a reference to a super-root directory. Six or more is not just a reference to 6ARC, but also VRAINS's persistent love for the number 6. I made this card a while back with the specific idea that it would only be strong if Pandor was facing another Link user or had someone else with more swarming potential around. And Cyberse clearly isn't known for swarming a lot of Links /j

Kalia, the Magistus of Beasts

(4*/S3/1400/0/EARTH/Spellcaster/Pendulum/Effect)

Pendulum Effect: Once per turn: You can target 1 "Magistus" monster in your GY with a different Attribute from "Magistus" monsters you control; Special Summon it in Attack Position, but its effects are negated, also it cannot declare an attack.

(Quick Effect) You can discard this card; "Magistus" Monster Cards you control cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn. If this card in the Main Monster Zone leaves the field (except during the Damage Step): You can place this card in your Pendulum Zone. You can only activate this effect of "Kalia, the Magistus of Beasts" once per turn.

Trivia: This girl is based on Mythical Beast Jackal! :3 Her being a Pendulum Monster is a reference to that too, but also archetypes like Nouvelles often have like one Pendulum Monster who work as support for them, so this is something similar to that. So she's the person who… uh, shall we say, Endymion turned into Jackal.

Magistus Hautemagie

(Trap)

Special Summon 1 "Magistus" monster from your Deck, and if you do, the Summoned monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn. You can banish this card from your GY; add 1 "Magistus" Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand. You can only activate each effect of "Magistus Hautemagic" once per turn.

Trivia: Named after the Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie.

Rank-Up-Magic Umbral Dystopia

(Spell/Quickplay)

Target 1 face-up Xyz Monster you control; Special Summon from your Extra Deck, 1 "Umbral Horror", "Hope" or "Number" monster that is 1 Rank higher than that target, by using that target as the Xyz Material, and if you do, attach this card to it as additional material. (This Special Summon is treated as an Xyz Summon. Xyz Materials attached to that target also become Xyz Materials on the Summoned monster.) The monster Summoned with this effect gains the following effect:

If it is Xyz Summoned: Destroy all other monsters on the field that were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, and if you do, this card gains 1000 ATK for each card you control that was sent to the GY by this effect.

You can only activate "Rank-Up-Magic Umbral Dystopia" once per turn.

Marcha, the Magistus of Fairies

(4*/1850/1150/WIND/Spellcaster/Tuner/Effect)

During the Main Phase (Quick Effect): You can Ritual Summon 1 "Magistus" Ritual Monster from your hand, Deck or GY, by Tributing monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal or exceed its Level, including this card. If this card becomes equipped with a "Magistus" Monster Card: You can add 1 "Magistus" card from your Deck to your hand with a different name from cards in your GY. You can only activate this effect of "Marcha, the Magistus of Fairies" once per turn.

Trivia: 'Marcha' comes from 'marchen', in other words, fairy tales, derived in the same way as Melffy/Merfae. As may be apparent, she's related to Hitoda's Fairy Tail monsters in some capacity, thus linking the archetype with Mion's cards in this universe :3

Grimmauche, the Magistus Fractured Fabulist

(8*/2500/2000/DARK/Fairy/Ritual/Effect)

If this card is Ritual Summoned: You can target as many "Magistus" monsters in your GY with different Types as possible (Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum or Link), and if you do, equip them to this card. Once per turn: You can target cards on the field, up to the number of "Magistus" monsters equipped to this card; banish those cards. If this card would be destroyed, you can send 1 "Magistus" Monster Card from your field to the GY instead.

Trivia: 'Grimmauche' is of course based on the Brothers Grimm, and 'mauche' is a slightly differently spelled 'marche', aka fairies, similar to Marcha. She is related to the Fairy Tail monsters as well—her colour scheme is very similar to Fairy Tail Tales, and takes its cues from there. Fabulist is a person that tells fables, aka a different form of folk tales. Fractured Fabulist follows the alliterative names of the Magistus cards, and obviously harkens to fractured fairy tales as well. I won't elaborate on the effects for now, but Magistus did need a bit more removal.

---

Different Card Effects From TCG:

Topologina cards - Anime-only cards

Destiny Overlay - Anime-only card, used by Kaito Tenjo, modified to have the restriction on responses by targeted monsters.

Over-Hundred Numbers - No longer considered Numbers in this classification system. Umbral has a clause in parenthesis that treats it as a "Umbral Horror" monster.

---

End Notes:

God, I wish I'd got this out just a bit faster. Then Konami wouldn't have gotten to assassinate me again.

… but hey, Yuno-Miharu team-up? *confetti* That's fun, right? :p The fodder duel originally had only six opponents, but… it was kind of a sweep. It's nice to give them a fair shake after all this time—can't wait until the point where I get to write them way more. At the same time, while they very clearly can handle things by themselves, the pacing of the duel would be worse if they needed to keep looping for a third cycle of turns, so surprise Pandor dueling cameo! :)

Originally, I did consider making Pandor just use Topologina, but it needed a few too many OC cards just to work. I went back and forth on what to do, even considering using a different deck entirely, but then the other options just didn't feel right. The main problem, I think, is that a part of me worries Konami will immediately release the Topologinas with their own modified effects and then I'm in trouble… so I decided to just use the Topologinas' most basic summoning effects and for anything extra, I would just use a small set of OC cards to supplement for now. Hopefully I have nothing to worry about the next time she duels… Topologinas were expanded on such that the 'bee' based monsters are swarming, while the new 'root' based monsters (Miharu's her creator in this universe, after all) are more focused on banishing for advantage. 'Root', of course, is a pun on both plants and computing.

Konami dropping the new Utopia support as I finished this whole chapter and the duels involved (and was lying sick in bed) is uh. A cruel and sick joke. I'm sure certain people will remember the reaction I had to the drop—this was why. So I rewrote everything. Yes, Rui did use Onomatopoeia in this chapter before this, for the reasons mentioned in the chapter. Sigh. In-universe, since the last time we saw this archetype was before the war, it's just evolved since then.

So, fun fact. Reira's older sister, huh? Not all of you will know what I'm talking about here, but this duel here? This scene here? Precedes the brainstorming of the character herself and a certain another fic by almost a year. I wrote the first draft of this scene before 6ARC was even published.

The Magistus lore has its own little things in this universe that were tweaked and swapped out. I'll post a Duel Spirit lore sidefic at some point! I made my own Magistus additional lore before Spoon, etc were revealed, so I didn't really account for them. Shrug.

I had this all planned out and yet a part of my heart really wanted to give Reira the win anyway.

Review responses!

To maryyassa523, I have my own headcanons about the idea, but mostly I'm just following canon in Dyson Sphere's case! Glad you enjoyed the card cameo.

To TheRealD3lph0xL0v3r, gotta wait to see that one!

To T.V. 2000, I do really like Machinas quite a lot more after writing that chapter too :)

To Bryz0n, I thought about writing in Sandayu, and even retrained it, but it was going to need a whole other turn of exchange, and in the end I decided the pacing was slightly better this way.

To Infernal Enby, yes, I'm glad you noticed! He's intentionally written to be very petty. :D

To Candy Mix-Up, we will probably see Kaname again soon! :) But we have a lot more stuff going on that we need to settle first, such as this chapter.

To Egduardiazsluber, welcome back! For your question, I think that Reiji's scarf is a lot funnier because it's never really explained.

To YuBoySalad, glad you're enjoying the fic! Hopefully you'll see this when you're caught up.

Okay, that's it. See you guys soon :)