Chapter 7: Players Advanced

Scene 1: Departure and Arrival

The fluorescent lights of the hospital bay cast a sterile glow on Su Wan's pale face. She was propped up in a wheelchair, a light blanket over her lap. Li Cu knelt before her, his expression a mixture of relief and lingering concern.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Li Cu asked, his voice tight.

Su Wan managed a weak smile. "I'll be fine, Li Cu. Just… tired."

As they helped Su Wan into the waiting vehicle, a sleek, black van with tinted windows, she turned back to Li Cu, her brow furrowed. "Li Cu… there's something I need to tell you. Something I've been seeing since I woke up."

Li Cu leaned closer, his hand resting on the edge of the wheelchair. "What is it?"

Su Wan's voice was barely a whisper. "When I sleep… I see things. Visions. A battle… a massive battleship, cutting through dark waters… and a dragon. A purple dragon, wreathed in shadow, fighting against it." Her eyes widened with a hint of fear. "It felt so real… so important."

Li Cu's breath hitched. A battleship and a purple dragon? The imagery was both bizarre and disturbingly familiar, echoing the ancient forces his father had warned him about.

"We'll figure it out, Su Wan," Li Cu said, his voice reassuring, though he felt a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. "Just focus on getting better. I promise we won't ignore this."

The van doors slid shut, and Su Wan was gone. Li Cu watched it pull away, his mind racing.

Meanwhile, the bullet train hissed to a halt at the Hangzhou East Station, its doors sliding open to release a wave of passengers. Among them were the Lancers.

Declan Akaba stepped onto the platform, his gaze sweeping across the bustling station. Beside him, Yuya Sakaki fidgeted with his pendant, his expression a mix of awe and anxiety. Serena adjusted her coat, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd, while Shay Obsidian remained stoic, his arms crossed.

"So, this is Hangzhou," Yuya murmured, taking in the sights and sounds of the vibrant city. "It's… different from Miami."

"Focus, Yuya," Declan said, his voice sharp but not unkind. "We're here on a mission. A very important one."

A fleet of sleek black cars awaited them outside the station. As they drove through the city, the Lancers observed the blend of ancient tradition and modern technology.

Finally, the cars turned onto a wide avenue, leading towards a cluster of towering skyscrapers. The tallest, bearing the Paradius Corporation logo, dominated the skyline. As they approached, they could see Li Cu waiting for them, along with Quin Yang and other members of the Wu family.

Scene 2: The Gathering and the Shadow Players

The Lancers arrived at the Paradius headquarters, greeted by Li Cu, the owner, chairman, and CEO of Paradius Corporation. Quin Yang was also present, acting as a key advisor and ally to Li Cu.

"Welcome to Paradius," Li Cu said, his voice smooth and welcoming. "I believe we have much to discuss."

Introductions were made between the Lancers, Li Cu, Quin Yang, and the Wu family. The atmosphere was thick with a mixture of curiosity, suspicion, and a shared sense of urgency.

Declan Akaba stepped forward, his posture formal. "Thank you for inviting us, Mr. Cu. We appreciate your hospitality."

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Akaba," Li Cu replied, his voice smooth and melodious. "I believe we have much to discuss. About our worlds… about the looming darkness… and about the power that binds us all."

As the various factions settled into an uneasy alliance, the air crackled with unspoken questions and hidden agendas.

Meanwhile, in the Fusion Dimension, within the imposing fortress of Academia, Leo Akaba stood before a portal, his expression grim. Beside him stood Lady Missy, a legacy Obelisk Blue student from Duel Academy, her eyes burning with fanatic zeal. Two Obelisk Force soldiers stood at attention behind them, their faces masked and emotionless.

"The Lancers are gathered in Hangzhou," Leo Akaba said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Just as I predicted. Missy, you and the Obelisk Force will depart immediately. Your mission is to engage them. Draw them out."

Missy bowed, a cruel smile twisting her lips. "As you command, Professor."

Doktor, his eyes gleaming with twisted scientific curiosity, approached Missy, holding out a card. "Take this, Lady Missy. A new weapon. A Fusion Parasite card, and a new fusion monster born from my research: Insect Princess Parasite. It will give you the edge you need."

Missy accepted the card, her fingers tracing the grotesque image on its surface. "They will not know what hit them," she hissed.

Leo Akaba watched them depart, his mind already calculating the next move. "This will serve as bait," he murmured to himself. "A means to lure them out… so I can meet with our common ally. The time for games is over. The true battle for dimensions is about to begin."

The portal shimmered, and Missy and her Obelisk Force escort vanished, leaving Leo Akaba alone in his dark fortress, plotting his next move in the shadows. The stage was set. The players had advanced.

Scene 3: Echoes of the Past, Decisions of the Future

In a realm beyond the constraints of time and space, two figures materialized, their forms shimmering with an ethereal glow. One was a regal man with a stern yet kind face, his presence radiating an aura of ancient wisdom – Quin Yang's father. The other was a woman with fierce determination in her eyes, her expression a mix of sorrow and unwavering resolve – Li May, Li Cu's mother.

They had been observing the events unfolding in Hangzhou, their spirits bound to the fate of their descendants and the looming darkness that threatened to engulf all worlds.

"They are gathered," Quin Yang's father said, his voice echoing with a power that transcended dimensions. "The Lancers, the Wu family, and our son… they stand at the precipice."

Li May nodded, her gaze fixed on the image of her son, Li Cu. "He is strong, but he is not yet ready. The burden he carries is immense, and the path ahead is fraught with peril."

"The visions… Su Wan's visions… they are a sign," Quin Yang's father added. "The battle she foresees is not merely a metaphor. It is a glimpse of the true war that is to come."

A heavy silence hung between them, broken only by the whispers of the ancient forces that surrounded them. They knew that the choices made in Hangzhou would have far-reaching consequences, shaping the destiny of not only their own world but countless others.

Finally, Li May spoke, her voice filled with a newfound resolve. "We cannot remain passive any longer. The time has come to intervene, to guide them, to give them the strength they need. We must send a message to Yimming."

Quin Yang's father nodded in agreement. Focusing their combined power, they wove a letter of pure energy, carrying their words across dimensions to Li Ximing. The message was simple, yet profound: The truth must be revealed. The children must know their heritage, their purpose. The moment is now.

And with that, the two figures turned their gaze towards the mortal realm, their forms dissolving into motes of light as they prepared to set in motion a plan that had been centuries in the making. The destinies of Li Cu, Quin Yang, and all those caught in the crossfire were about to be irrevocably altered.

Scene 4: The Emperor's Orders

Meanwhile, in the depths of space, aboard his command station on Byss, Emperor Palpatine surveyed the galaxy with cold, calculating eyes. The shadow of his power stretched across countless worlds, and his plans were as vast and intricate as the cosmos itself. Though outwardly, he projected an image of ruthless ambition, a flicker of something akin to care, twisted as it was, resided within him for his fallen apprentice's reincarnation.

"The boy is on Earth," Palpatine rasped, his voice a chilling echo that resonated with dark energy. "The reincarnation of my fallen apprentice, Vader. He must be guided, shaped to serve our will... and protected from those who would seek to destroy him."

Beside him stood the Grand Inquisitor, his form recently restored, his eyes burning with renewed purpose. Aboard the massive Imperial Star Destroyer I, the Devastator, Darth Vader's old flagship, was preparing to make the jump to Earth's solar system. The Devastator, a relic of a bygone era, now served as a symbol of Palpatine's enduring power and his reach across the stars. It would stand guard, a silent sentinel, near Earth's moon, a silent promise of the Emperor's protection.

"I understand, my Master," the Grand Inquisitor said, bowing his head. "I shall go to him and ensure he embraces his destiny... and survives the trials to come."

Palpatine's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Go, my servant. And remind him of the power of the dark side. The power we shall use to crush the Lancers and bring all dimensions to their knees. But also, guide him, train him. He is the key to our victory, and he must be nurtured, in my own way. Remember, the reports from Bakura speak of a powerful new threat, and though Vader struck me down at Endor, I saw a possible future. A future where Coruscant lies in ashes, and his lineage is wiped out by this very threat. I will not allow that future to come to pass."

The Grand Inquisitor stepped through a shimmering portal, disappearing in a swirl of dark energy, ready to carry out his master's bidding. The Devastator engaged its hyperdrive, leaving Byss behind as it hurtled towards Earth.

Author's Note: The Obelisk Force duel will be a 2 vs 2 team battle. Missy will be participating in a Turbo Duel, since she is a spy and needs to synchronize with Roget.