Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V. See Chapter 11 for details.
After her duel with Isao, Yuya was exiting LDS, with her hair shadowing her face, when she was met by her friends.
"Big sis Yuya!" Tatsuya, Ayu and Futoshi called enthusiastically as they rushed toward her.
"You were amazing out there!" Ayu says.
"And the way you Xyz Summoned after Pendulum Summoning to turn things around was incredible!" Tatsuya exclaims.
"That dragon at the end was so amazing it gave me shivers!" Futoshi says as he wiggles around a bit.
"Couldn't agree more! You were incredible today Yuya, hot-blooded!" Shuzo says.
Despite all of the praise, Yuya was still silent not even having made a hand motion since she stopped walking.
"Is something the matter Yuya? Did that guy rough you up to much?" Gongenzaka asks, theorizing that Isao's hits caused her more pain then she is willing to admit.
"I won just now,... right?" Yuya asks, her voice weak and full of uncertainty, and her question confusing her friends.
"Of course you won, I mean that's rather obvious." Shuzo says confused.
"Then why do I feel like I just lost..." Yuya says with a weak voice, confusing them even more.
At that Yuzu got a glimpse of Yuya's shadowed eyes and saw an expression she was quite familiar with. It was the same expression she had back when she was confused about all the things concerning Yuto.
Without any second to spare Yuzu grabbed Yuya's hand and started leading her away.
"I'm going to take care of Yuya's injuries. You guys enjoy the rest of the matches today." Yuzu tells the others before picking up the pace, leaving them no room to question or argue with her.
Inside LDS control room.
"Yuya Sakaki has Yuto's card..." Shun muttered before turning to leave.
"Where are you going?" Reji asks him while still looking at the screen showing the match results of the championships current round.
"To meet her!" Shun simply replies.
"Not now." Reji says to which Shun turns toward him.
"No matter the reason, I'll have you refrain from actions that would impede on the progression of the tournament." Reji says as he stands up to face Shun who grits his teeth.
"Do not forget why I am holding this tournament and what I will be using it for." Reji reminds him.
At that Shun sighs before pushing Nakajima out of the way as he turns around and leaves the control room.
"Just in case, I will put Kurosaki under surveillance." Nakajima says.
"Good." Reji replies.
"Pardon the abruptness, but we have a change of schedule!" they hear Nico's announcement, making them turn their attention to the screen.
"Regarding the upcoming third match... Due to the absence of LDS's Hokuto Shijima, Cuisine Duel School's Michio Mokota wins by default!" Nico informs.
"Absence?" Reji questions.
"President!" the lead technician calls, getting his attention.
"About 3 hours ago, we detected a powerful summoning energy within Maiami City." the lead technician says.
"What method was it?" Reji questions.
"Fusion. We've found the cameras that detected the energy as well. Please look at this." the lead technician informs as the screen showing the summonings power switches to the security camera feed.
"The Xyz Courses Hokuto Shijima!" Nakajima says as they see him in an alley being literally backed into a corner.
At that a person wearing a cloak and an active duel disk with a sword shaped light blue blade approaches him, before raising their duel disk which emits a red light that blocks the view. When the light clears Hokuto is gone, and the cloaked person takes a card out of their duel disk and waves it around like a photo that got taken by a retro camera, before turning around and leaving.
"Rewind it." Reji orders.
"Yes sir." the lead technician replies.
"Stop." Reji says as they pause at the scene where the attacker is turning around to leave, before enlarging and enhancing the image to get a look at the attackers face.
"That's... You Show Duel School's..." Nakajima gasps as he sees the attackers face, which is the same as Yuzu's.
Reji just looks at the image with narrowed eyes, knowing that the person in that recording isn't Yuzu as he has met the girl he is looking at before.
A bit later in Yuzu's house.
Yuzu was returning to her room, where Yuya was currently waiting for her, with a first aid kit.
Aside from wanting to talk to Yuya and try to help her with whatever was going on in her head, she also wanted to treat the wounds Isao inflicted on her.
She had noticed that when making certain movements Yuya was wincing a bit, so after taking her to her room she had told her to take off her clothes. Her face turning red after the words left her mouth. Though Yuya simply complied without any sign of emotion, confirming for Yuzu that something is really bothering her since normally Yuya would be a flustered blushing mess in that situation. Though any thought of embarrassment and indecency immediately left her when she saw the bruises and marks on Yuya's body.
When Yuzu entered her room, Yuya was still in the exact position she left her. The sight of her girlfriend sitting on her bed wearing barely anything was pure temptation for Yuzu. But not wanting to take any sort of advantage of Yuya's current mental state she focused on treating her wounds.
"This might burn a little." Yuzu told Yuya as she was about to rub a small cotton ball she applied iodine on to Yuya's bruises. Yuya simply nodded.
As she took care of them one by one, Yuya hissed a bit from the burning sensation but still barely showed any reaction.
After finishing Yuzu was putting away the first aid kit while Yuya was getting dressed again albeit slowly since she was still in pain.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Yuzu asked, getting Yuya's attention.
"I know something is bothering you. And you know that whatever it is you can tell me about it." Yuzu said with a reassuring smile.
Seeing and hearing that, Yuya sighs with a small smile before settling next to Yuzu on her bed.
"I won earlier, but it still feels like I didn't win..." Yuya tries to explain.
"And do you know why you feel that way?" Yuzu asks.
"The way he looked at me..." Yuya tries to start.
"After our duel, Isao looked at me with pure fear." Yuya says.
"Back when we were ambushed by Gen and his goons, I send them away screaming and they were even scared of me after all that." Yuya says, remembering how Gen's goons were to frightened of her to keep her hostage like their boss ordered them to.
"I was honestly okay with them being scared of me and didn't feel guilty about it. They hurt you and even wanted to defile you, I could never forgive that." Yuya exclaims with growing worry. Hearing that Yuzu takes Yuya's hand and squeezes it calming Yuya down a bit.
"But today, even if I don't approve of the way he uses dueling, even if he hurt me like he did, I didn't want to scare him so much that he ended up looking at me with eyes full of fear." Yuya explains.
"I know that it can be difficult to make your opponent smile, and making Isao who was trained to never view dueling as fun was on its own already difficult to achieve. I admit failing to make him smile kind of stings, but scaring him the way I did... makes me feel like I betrayed everything we stand for." Yuya says as she sniffles a bit.
At that, Yuzu pulls Yuya into an embrace as she draws circles on her back to calm her down.
"It's okay. You didn't betray anything." Yuzu reassures her.
"But..." Yuya tries to say
"No Buts. I have known you all my life, and I know that while you can get fierce when you want to protect the people you care about, you are still a gentle person. You care a lot about people even if they don't deserve that care." Yuzu retorts silencing Yuya.
"Today everyone cheered for you while your opponent was left shaking in fear. Tell me, did you seriously hurt him?" Yuzu asks to which Yuya shakes her head.
"Did you want to hurt him at all, or scare him the way you did?" Yuzu asks and Yuya shakes her head again.
"Then everything is okay. Whatever scared him, its not your fault. Today you dazzled the entire crowd with your amazing performance, and refused to give up even after all you were put through. You are and always have been a true entertainer. As long as you hold on and don't lose yourself, everything will be fine." Yuzu says with a soothing voice as she backs away without breaking the hug, as she puts a hand on Yuya's cheek and wipes away a lose tear.
"Don't beat yourself up just because your opponent is a sore loser. And even if no one would cheer for you, I will always be there cheering you on no matter what. So please, don't be sad. You have no real reason to be after all." Yuzu says.
Hearing all that, Yuya's cheeks turn slightly red before putting a hand on Yuzu's cheek as she leans forward and kisses her.
Happy at the gesture, Yuzu closes her eyes as she leans into it and making it deeper.
After a moment they part because of their lack of air. Their eyes locked on eachother while shining with love.
"There is that smile I love so much that it melts my heart whenever I see it." Yuzu says when she sees that Yuya is truly smiling again.
"How do I even deserve you." Yuya asks, her voice filled with happiness.
"You are the only person in the entire world that makes me feel the way I do. So never ask that question again even if you don't mean it." Yuzu says, the last part in a playful manner before leaning in for another kiss, which Yuya happily returns.
The next day at Center Court.
"Now then, it's time for the seventh day of the Maiami Championship!" Nico exclaims.
"And up next in this Second Stadium, we have You Show Duel School's Yuzu Hiiragi versus Duel Girls Club's Mikiyo Naname!" Nico announcess while Yuzu enters the arena.
"Yuzu!" Tatsuya, Ayu and Futoshi cheer.
"Burning! Hot-blooded!" Shuzo exclaims.
At that Yuzu turns and waves toward them.
"Do your best!" Ayu exclaims.
"You better give them shivers!" Futoshi says.
"I know you can do it!" Tatsuya says.
"Show them what you got!" Yuya cheers, making Yuzu smile that she is back to normal.
Though she is snapped out of her thoughts when on the other side of the arena people start cheering for her opponent.
A second later the members of the opposing duel school skate into the arena, with the person who will be actually dueling entering last.
"Here I go!" Mikiyo says with a wink, making all her fans cheer louder.
"All of our fans, thank you for coming! Today I'll Special Summon all of your hearts too!" Mikiyo says, making her fans cheer even louder.
"As expected of the Idol Duelist... She makes getting her fans excited seem like childs play!" Yuzu mutters as she looks at the cheering crowd.
"But I'm the poster girl of You Show Duel School! I'll show you real Entertainment Dueling!" Yuzu declares.
Inside LDS control room.
"We have discovered the mysterious girl inside the First Stadium." a technician reports while two screens, one showing the stadium and one Yuzu's lookalike, are displayed.
"Yuzu Hiiragi is starting her match in the Second Stadium." another technician reports.
"There's no mistaking her. That is the girl from yesterday." Reji says.
"The schedueled match for the First Stadium has last years Junior Youth Championship winner, Yu Sakuragi, who then qualified for the Youth Class." Nakajima informs.
"So her next target is Yu Sakuragi then?" Reji muses before getting up and starting to leave.
"Where are you headed?" Nakajima asks.
"To Maiami Stadium. Make sure that Kurosaki doesn't go there." Reji says before leaving.
"Understood." Nakajima replies.
With Yuzu.
"I attack with Gellenduo!" Mikiyo says as her monster destroys Yuzu's Canon the Melodious Diva.
Yuzu: 4000 - 2900 LP
"I end my turn here!" Mikiyo says with a wink.
"This is a very close match! Both players are even in skill!" Nico comments.
"We maybe tied in dueling skills, but with everyones support, I've got the strength of a hundred! Everyone, make sure you enjoy every second of this duel!" Mikiyo says as she waves at her fans, who cheer for her.
"Strength of a hundred? Please. I'm going to definitely give everyone the best Duel they can enjoy!" Yuzu declares, slightly annoyed by her opponents antics.
"Stay calm and burn on, Yuzu! I'll transfer you the hot-blooded power of a hundred myself!" Shuzo cheers.
"And I, the man Gongenzaka, will cheer with the power of a hundred men!" Gongenzaka chimes in.
"With both of us, you've got the strength of two hundred!" Shuzo and Gongenzaka exclaim, while Yuya, Ayu, Tatsuya and Futoshi cheer on Yuzu as well.
Meanwhile at the Maiami Stadium.
"Sakuragi has Xyz Summoned his Heiron the Magical Hierophant! He used it to finish his match today!" an announcer exclaims.
A bit later, Yu Sakuragi enters the stadiums parking area.
But he stops as two cloaked people approach him.
"Are you the one who called me here?" Yu asks.
At that one of the cloaked people, more specific Yuzu's lookalike, tosses away her cloak revealing her red uniform and shield shaped pink duel disk. The act intimidating Yu.
"The one who called you was me." Reji says, catching Yu's attention, as he comes from behind a corner.
"President?!" Yu exclaims surprised to see him.
"I apologize, but you should leave now." Reji says as he positions himlelf between Yu and his attackers.
"Your duel today was splendid. I expect more from you in the future." Reji says.
"Th-thank you..." Yu replies before turning and leaving.
"Hold it!" the Yuzu lookalike exclaims as she rushes forward. Only for Reji to grab her by the left wrist, which holds a silver bracelet with a sphere shaped part with an amethyst gem, and stop her.
"Let go of me!" she snaps at Reji.
"Hurry up and go!" Reji orders Yu, who stopped after the girl rushed toward him. The more commanding and aggressive tone makes Yu rush out instantly.
"If you're going to get in my way, then I'll take you out first!" the girl says enraged after flinging her arm out of Reji's grip.
"No, leave that to me." the other cloaked person says.
He tosses away his cloak, revealing his short grey bluish hair, militaristic attire and scarred face with an eyepatch.
"Stay out of this, Barett!" the girl says.
"The duty given to me by the Professor is to protect you from any sparks that may fall upon you." Barett says, making the girl grunt in annoyance before distancing herself from Reji.
"This Professor you speak of is Leo Akaba, correct?" Reji questions, gaining both of their attention.
"If so, then you two are..." Reji muses silently after receiving silence as an answer as he fixes his glasses.
The girl looks at Reji with a somewhat observant look, while Barett puts on and activates a green shield shaped duel disk with an orange sword shaped blade.
"Seal off this area. Do not let anyone in here until I tell you otherwise." Reji orders Nakajima over his duel disk, before activating it.
Meanwhile the girl goes out of the way and leans against the wall.
"Duel!" "Duel!" Reji and Barett say as they start.
Turn: 1
Reji: 4000 LP
Hand: 5
Barett: 4000 LP
Hand: 5
"First strike takes the advantage! I'm going first!" Barret exclaims.
"I activate the Continuous Magic, Beastborg Fusioner! Once per turn, I can Fusion Summon a Beastborg monster!" Barret explains.
"As I expected..." Reji mutters with a hint of hatred as his eyes narrow.
"I fuse Jet-Black Penther Warrior and Dark Sentinel from my hand! Ferocious black panther and guardian of sacred darkness, merge as one and let forth your valiant roar! Fusion Summon! Come forth. Beastborg Panther Predator!" Barret chants as his cyborg fusion monster appears.
Beastborg Panther Predator (LV.6) (1600ATK/2000DEF)
At that moment, in LDS control room an alarm goes off.
"We're detecting a summoning energy almost equivalent to yesterdays!" a technician says as a screen showing Reji's duel activates.
Back with Reji.
"I activate Panther Predator's effect! Once per turn, I can deal damage to my opponent equal to half of Panther's Attack Points!" Barett explains as his monster fires a red beam at Reji from its mechanical heart, that Reji blocks with his duel disk.
Reji: 4000 - 3200 LP
"I set two cards and end my turn." Barett says as his facedowns materialize.
"He's already steadily wearing down the opponents life points from the first turn. A by the books strategy..." the girl says.
"President, there is no mistaking it. Your opponents are Duelists from the Fusion Dimension!" Nakajima tells Reji over his duel disk.
"I know." Reji says.
"My turn. Draw!" Reji says as he starts his turn.
Turn: 2
Reji: 3200 LP
Hand: 6
Barett: 4000 LP
Hand: 0
"I activate the Continuous Magic, Contract with the Devil King! This card inflicts 1000 points of damage to me during my own Standby Phase." Reji exclaims.
"Oh? Damaging yourself?" Barett observes curious.
"But in exchange for that, once per turn, I am able to Fusion Summon a Fiend-type monster. The monsters I choose to fuse are DD Lilith and DD Cerberus!" Reji explains as he holds out his cards, the Cerberus now being a Pendulum monster.
At the mention of the Cerberus name, the girl perks up in shock.
"Hellhound that bares its fangs, vamp of the dark night! In a whirlpool of light from the realm of the dead, become one and give birth to a new king. Fusion Summon! Be born! DDD Flame King Temujin!" Reji chants as his fusion appears.
DDD Flame King Temujin (LV.6) (2000ATK/1500DEF)
"Battle! I attack Panther Predator with Flame King Temujin! Fire Stroke!" Reji says as his monster slices through its foe.
Barett: 4000 - 3600 LP
"But I activated this Continuous Trap before the battle began! Beast-borg Medal of the Iron Shield! This card gains one Medal Counter for every 100 points of battle damage I take!" Barett explains as the trap turns into a metal shield with a lion head on top as four gold medals appear on it.
Beast-borg Medal of the Iron Shield (C.0 - 4)
"And when Panther Predator is destroyed, I can Special Summon its Fusion Materials from the Graveyard! I Special Summon Jet-Black Panther Warrior and Dark Sentinel!" Barett explains as his monsters revive.
Jet-Black Panther Warrior (LV.4) (2000ATK/1600DEF)
Dark Sentinel (LV.4) (1500ATK/1800DEF)
"So you had already planned for its destruction..." Reji mutters.
"I end my turn." Reji says.
"Unafraid of the risks needed to be taken for victory... It seems you already have an extensive amount of combat experience." Reji says as he fixes his glasses.
A long time ago in the Xyz Dimension.
Barett was leading three of his fellow soldiers through the desolate city.
But as resilient as the resistance is, they had set an explosive trap, killing Barett's comrades and destroying his left eye.
Two days prior to the present, in the Fusion Dimension.
"I'm going to Standard even if you try to stop me!" the Yuzu lookalike told Barett.
"I will not stop you. I will go with you as well." Barett said.
"You're the first guard who hasn't tried to stop me..." the girl muttered.
Back in the present.
"I was already aware of the risks. If I am to return to the battlefield, I must produce suitable results!" Barett thinks after going that trip down memory lane.
"My turn!" Barett says as he draws.
Turn: 3
Reji: 3200 LP
Hand: 3
Barett: 3600 LP
Hand: 1
"Once again, I activate the Continuous Magic, Beastborg Fusioner's effect! I will Fusion Summon using Jet-Black Panther Warrior and Dark Sentinel! Come forth once more! Beastborg Panther Predator!" Barett exclaims as he summons a second copy of his fusion.
Beastborg Panther Predator (LV.6) (1600ATK/2000DEF)
"Furthermore, I activate the Continuous Trap, Beast-borg Medal of the Iron Shield's effect! By sending this card to my Graveyard, I can increase the Attack Points of one Beastborg monster I control by 100 per Medal Counter!" Barett explains as his trap is send to the Graveyard while his fusion powers up.
Beastborg Panther Predator (LV.6) (1600 - 2000ATK/2000DEF)
"Its Attack Points are equal to Temujin's!" Nakajima observes shocked from the control room.
"I activate the Continuous Trap, Beast-borg Medal of the White Sword. This card gains one Medal Counter for every 100 points of damage I deal to my opponent!" Barett explains as his trap turns into a metal shield with two sword stuck on it.
"I see you have quite a liking for war medals." Reji muses amused.
"I am a warrior. The amount of medals I possess is proof of my honor!" Barett exclaims.
"Once again, I'll have you take half of Panther Predator's Attack Points as damage with its effect!" Barett exclaims as his monster fires an energy beam from its mechanicla heart, that Reji blocks with his duel disks blade again.
Reji: 3200 - 2200 LP
Beast-borg Medal of the White Sword (C.0 - 10)
"I activate the effect of the Continuous Trap, Beast-borg Medal of the White Sword! By sending this card to the Graveyard, I can increase the Attack Points of one Beastborg monster on my field by 100 per Medal Counter!" Barett explains as his trap goes to the Graveyard and his fusion powers up again.
Beastborg Panther Predator (LV.6) (2000 - 3000ATK/2000DEF)
"He already raised its Attack Points to 3000?!" Nakajima observes shocked.
"Battle! I attack Temujin with Panther Predator! Industrial Savage!" Barett declares as his monster charges at and rips apart Temujin with its bare teeth.
Reji: 2200 - 1200 LP
"As I expected, he has an abundance of combat experience..." Reji thinks.
"I set one card and end my turn." Barett says as his facedown materializes.
"During your next Standby Phase, you're going to take 1000 points of damage due to your Continuous Magic, Contract with the Devil King, correct?" Barett asks.
"That is correct." Reji replies, making Barett smirk slightly, and the girl watching the duel focus on him.
"My turn! Draw!" Reji says as he starts his turn.
Turn: 4
Reji: 1200 LP
Hand: 4
Barett: 3600 LP
Hand: 0
"Due to my Continuous Magic, Contract with the Devil King, I will take 1000 points of damage!" Reji explains before groaning in pain as a dark bluish purple miasma is emitted from his heart as he takes damage.
Reji: 1200 - 200 LP
"You have my respect. You deserve a medal of honor as well." Barett honestly says as he points at his heart.
"I do not need such things. But, Warrior of the Fusion Dimension, this damage has sealed your fate!" Reji declares.
"What?" Barett exclaims.
As Reji straightens himself he takes two cards in his hand and looks at them. The improved versions of his first two Pendulum cards.
"Using Scale 1 DD Magical Savant Galilei and Scale 10 DD Magical Savant Kepler, I set the Pendulum Scale! With this I am able to simultaneously Summon monsters from Levels Two to Nine!" Reji says as his monsters appear in the scales.
DD Magical Savant Galilei (P.S.1) - DD Magical Savant Kepler (P.S.10)
"Grand power which shakes my very soul! Arise within me and give birth to a new light that rends the darkness. Pendulum Summon! Come before me, my monsters! Prideful knight, DD Proud Chevalier! Vessel of disaster, DD Pandora!" Reji chants as his monsters appear.
DD Proud Chevalier (LV.5) (P.S.6) (2000ATK/700DEF)
DD Pandora (LV.5) (1700ATK/2100DEF)
"Pendulum Summon!?" Barett gasps shocked at the new summoning method.
"There is still more! I Overlay Level 5 DD Proud Chevalier and DD Pandora! Hero of legends, with your profound justice, pierce through all things! Xyz Summon! Descend! Rank 5! DDD Marksman King Tell!" Reji chants as his Xyz monster appears.
DDD Marksman King Tell (Rank.5) (O.U.2) (2300ATK/2000DEF)
"Pendulum into Xyz?!" Barett gasps shocked.
"Marksman King Tell's effect! If I have taken damage from a Contract card this turn, I can use one Overlay Unit to lower an opponents monsters Attack Points by 1000 and deal 1000 points of damage!" Reji explains as his monsters golden crossbow absorbs one Overlay Unit.
DDD Marksman King Tell (Rank.5) (O.U.2 - 1) (2300ATK/2000DEF)
"So this is why he took that damage?!" Barett realizes in frustration.
"Piercing Arrow!" Reji calls as his monster fires a shining arrow, that splits into two, one hitting Panther Predator's leg and weakening it, the other almost hitting Barett, who dodges at the last second, before the arrow explodes blasting him away.
Beastborg Panther Predator (LV.6) (3000 - 2000ATK/2000DEF)
Barett: 3600 - 2600 LP
"Of course, I will also be using the remaining Overlay Unit! Piercing Arrow!" Reji exclaims as his monsters weapon absorbs another Overlay Unit, before firing a shining arrow that splits, one hitting Panther Predator's heart as it weakens him, the other Barett's shoulder, who rips it out before crushing it with his hand.
DDD Marksman King Tell (Rank.5) (O.U.1 - 0) (2300ATK/2000DEF)
Beastborg Panther Predator (LV.6) (2000 - 1000ATK/2000DEF)
Barett: 2600 - 1600 LP
"I'm not finished yet! The Continuous Magic, Contract with the Devil King's effect! I can Fusion Summon a DD monster by banishing materials from my Graveyard!" Reji explains.
"What?!" Barett exclaims shocked.
"I banish DD Proud Chevalier and DD Pandora from my Graveyard and Fuse them! Proud Knight, be absorbed into the crucible disaster. Be reborn into a new king! Fusion Summon! Come forth, ruler who carries the glory of God! DDD Oracle King d'Arc!" Reji chants as his Fusion appears.
DDD Oracle King d'Arc (LV.7) (2800ATK/2000DEF)
"Battle! I attack Panther Predator with DDD Oracle King d'Arc!" Reji declares as his monster prepares to strike.
"I won't fall that easily! I activate the Trap, Beast-borg Medal of Honor! It destroys a Beastborg Fusion monster and Special Summons its Fusion Materials from the Graveyard! I destroy Panther Predator! Then, I Special Summon Jet-Black Panther Warrior and Dark Sentinel!" Barett exclaims as his fusion is destroyed and its materials are revived.
Jet-Black Panther Warrior (LV.4) (2000ATK/1600DEF)
Dark Sentinel (LV.4) (1500ATK/1800DEF)
"Next, the second effect of the Trap, Beast-borg Medal of Honor activates! Both players are dealt damage equal to the total Attack Points of the monsters Special Summoned by its effect! With these 3500 points of damage, I'll take you out with me!" Barett exclaims as an energy sphere created from his monsters power shoots into the air before exploding.
"I won't let you." Reji says as he fixes his glasses.
"I activate DDD Oracle King d'Arc's effect! I negate your effect damage and then gain life points equal to that amount! Life Elation!" Reji explains as his monster captures the blast and neutralizes it while powering up Reji.
"I gain 7000 life points." Reji says.
Reji: 200 - 7200 LP
"Impossible!" Barett says panicked that his last resort failed.
"Resume the battle! Go, d'Arc! Oracle Charge!" Reji calls as his monster impales Jet-Black Panther Warrior.
Barett: 1600 - 800 LP
"This will finish it! I attack Dark Sentinel with DDD Marksman King Tell! Forbidden Break Shot!" Reji calls as his monster fires a golden arrow that flies at a speed too fast for the eye to track.
"It disappeared!" Barett says before the sonic arrow blasts a hole through his last monster, destroying it and blasting him away.
Barett: 800 - LP
Winner: Reji
Seeing Barett out cold on the ground, the girl looks toward Reji in an impartial way as he returns the look.
With Yuzu.
"We've had a truly heated match up until now, but Naname has taken the lead!" Nico comments.
Yuzu: 100 LP
Hand: 0
Sorprano the Melodious Songstress (LV.4) (1400ATK/1400DEF)
Mikiyo: 1000 LP
Hand: 0
Wingweaver (LV.7) (2450ATK/2400DEF)
"My turn!" Yuzu says as she puts a hand on her deck.
"The match hasn't been decided yet! Being able to enjoy situations like this is Entertainment Dueling!" Yuzu thinks determined.
"Draw!" Yuzu says as she starts her turn.
"I summon Crystal Rose!" Yuzu says as her monster appears.
Crystal Rose (LV.2) (500ATK/500DEF)
"I treat Crystal Rose as Prodigy Mozart the Melodious Maestra!" Yuzu explains as a shining silhouette of her old ace appears around the crystal flower.
"Angel's song! Supreme genius! With the guidance of the baton, gather your power! Fusion Summon! Now come here to the stage! Sing the song of victory! Bloom Diva the Floral Melodious Saint!" Yuzu chants as she uses Sorprano's effect to Fusion Summon her fusion ace.
Bloom Diva the Floral Melodious Saint (LV.6) (1000ATK/2000DEF)
At the appearance of Bloom Diva the crowd goes wild.
"Battle! I attack Wingweaver with Bloom Diva! Reflect Shout!" Yuzu calls as her monster uses its attack effect to blow away her opponent.
Mikyio: 1000 - 0 LP
"And we finally have a winner! The winner is You Show School's Yuzu Hiiragi!" Nico announces as the action field deactivates.
"Big sis Yuzu!" Tatsuya, Ayu and Futoshi cheer.
"Burning! You're burning!" Shuzo says with tears in his eyes.
Back with Reji.
The Yuzu lookalike starts leaving the stadiums parking area seeing as Barett is out cold now.
"Wait, Serena." Reji says, to which she reacts and turns back toward him.
"Yes, you're Serena. You are not Yuzu Hiiragi." Reji says.
"Yuzu Hiiragi?" Serena repeats confused.
"A person of this world who looks much like you." Reji elaborates.
"But, let us leave explaining why you look alike for now. Before that..." Reji says.
"And you are?" Serena interrupts him.
"Reji Akaba. Leo Akaba's... son." Reji introduces himself, saying the last part very reluctantly.
"Do you not remember me? I've met you before. At the Fusion Dimension's Academia. You were the Duelist Leo Akaba had his eyes on the most there. And now, you have appeared in our world. For what purpose? Did you improve your skills under Leo Akaba's guidance and get sent here as the vanguard for an invasion?" Reji questions making Serena grit her teeth in annoyance.
"This has nothing to do with Leo Akaba! I came to this world of my own will! Not under anyones orders." Serena replies with a hint of annoyance.
"I remember you as well. Three years ago, you crossed dimensions and came to our world. As I saw many of my comrades getting their chance on the front lines, I was left to live a suffocating life trapped in that strict castle. Ever since you appeared three years ago!" Serena exclaims as she points accusingly at Reji.
Three years ago in the Fusion Dimension.
In a lab at Academia, a prototype teleporter lights up as a young Reji steps through.
Looking around he is shocked to see he is somewhere completely different from before.
After leaving the room he arrived in, he silently walks through the empty floors of Academia.
"There she is!" someone says.
Hearing that, Reji hides behind a corner and glances toward the direction the sound came from.
He sees a young girl, more specific a young Serena, being chased by three adults in militaristic attire.
"It is the Professor's orders. Please come back Serena." a fourth person who joined the pursuers says after they cornered her in an outdoor area.
"I want to test my own abilities!" young Serena retorts.
"There is no way the Professor would allow you to do that." the fourth person says.
"I don't need his permission!" young Serena protests, while Reji is on the wall above her listening and observing unnoticed.
At that, Serena activated her duel disk. Reji being shocked by the technology he thinks to have recognized in it.
"I'm getting out of here of my own will! I won't show any mercy to anyone who gets on my way!" young Serena declares.
"You leave me no choice. Capture her." the fourth person orders the other three. Before backing away as they activate their duel disks.
"I Summon Moonlight Blue Cat!" young Serena says as a blue humanoid feline appears.
Moonlight Blue Cat (LV.4) (1600ATK/1200DEF)
"I set one card end end my turn! Now, bring it on!" young Serena says as her facedown materializes.
"Do it." the fourth person in the back orders.
The three others duel disks display Battle Royal Mode.
"I summon Antique Gear Soldier!" they say in sync as the mechanical soldiers appear.
"Go!" the fourth orders.
As the monsters clash a shockwave is created that even Reji from his hiding spot feels.
"They have mass even though there isn't an Action Field!?" Reji thinks amazed but more shocked and concerned.
"It's ridiculous that you even call yourselves professors of Academia." young Serena exclaims after her monster effortlessly destroyed all theirs.
"Academia?!" Reji gasps confused and shocked.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. This isn't over!" the fourth says.
"I summon DD Cerberus!" Reji says after standing up on the wall after activating his duel disk. His appearance shocking everyone bellow.
DD Cerberus (LV.4) (1800ATK/600DEF)
"Battle!" Reji says as his monster tears through another Antique Gear Soldier.
"Up here!" Reji calls as he reaches his hand out to Serena.
Though reluctant at first, Serena jumps up and takes his hand after seeing her pursuers charging at her, though they are stopped by Reji's monster.
As they flee their monsters vanish due to the distance.
"Let me go!" young Serena says as she flings her hand out of Reji's grip after they arrive at the islands harbor.
"You're not from Academia, are you?! Where is your boat?!" Serena questions.
"Boat?" Reji questions confused.
"You must have ridden a boat here, right? I'm going to get out of here to grasp my futu-" Serena tries to say but
"Your future is here." a voice Reji knows hauntingly well says.
When they look behind them, they see Leo Akaba along with four people in blue and white more regal uniforms and silver masks.
"Father!" Reji gasps shocked to see him.
"Serena. I know your abilities more than anyone else." Leo says, completely ignoring his own son.
"Then why do you keep me locked on this island!? Why do you not use my abilities!?" young Serena retorts.
"It is not that time now." Leo says.
"Then when!? When you destroy Xyz?! Or Synchro?!" young Serena questions.
"Xyz? Synchro? Destroy..." Reji repeats confused.
"A rumor has been going around... that the advance into the Xyz Dimension is about to start. If you approve of my abilities, then... Now is the time to use them! Add me to the squad! To the vanguard squad!" young Serena demands.
"I cannot." Leo says.
"Why!?" young Serena questions irritated.
"You have what you need to do." Leo simply says.
"Wait a minute! Advance? Destroy? What are you talking about!? Where is this pace?! What the heck is Academia?! You didn't say anything to me or Mother... and even abandoned the company! What are you even doing!? Father!" Reji questions demandingly and irritated.
"So you crossed dimensions just to find that out?" Leo asks, finally acknowledging his sons presence.
"Dimensions?!" Reji repeats confused and shocked.
"What?" young Serena says surprised when she hears that.
At that moment, from behind Reji and Serena, more people dressed in the same type of uniform as those next to Leo approach.
"What are you doing?!" young Serena yells as two of them restrain her and drag her away.
"Stop it!" Reji shouts as one of them restrains him and uses his hand to cover his mouth, silencing Reji.
"Let go! Let me go!" young Serena demands as she fights against their grip.
"Serena." Leo says exhausted as they drag her before him.
"Don't touch me!" young Serena shouts enraged.
"I will find you no matter where you run. And definitely bring you back. Definitely!" Leo says.
"Take her away." Leo orders.
"Let go! Let go of me! Stop it! Set me free!" young Serena demands as she keeps trying to break out of her captors grip as they drag her away.
"I'll have you return as well." Leo tells his son who is being held down by two of Leo's soldiers.
"Before that, answer me! Explain! What the heck is this place!?" Reji furiously demands to know.
"This place is the Fusion Dimension. Academia is my front line base to accomplish my plans." Leo explains.
"What plan!?" Reji questions.
"You will find out eventually. Bring out, that,." Leo says.
"Yes sir." one of the soldiers replies before putting something on Reji's arm.
"Wh-what are you doing!?" Reji panickily questions.
"It has been set, sir." the soldier says after putting the red watch like devise on Reji's right wrist.
"What the heck is this?!" Reji asks.
"It is a miniature version if the device you used to cross dimensions. The gate you went through has been sealed. Once you return to your original dimension, that device will self destruct. You will never be able to come back here. Stay put in that world!" Leo says before turning to leave.
"I'm not done talking to you!" Reji furiously exclaims.
"What did you mean by advance and destroy!?" Reji questions enraged once again.
"It is to unite all the worlds." Leo says as he glances back at his son.
"Unite the worlds?" Reji repeats shocked and confused.
"What does that mean!? Father!" Reji questions with anger as the soldiers let go and back away from him.
"Father!!" Reji shouts as the device on his arm starts to glow and he vanishes in a light.
Back in the present.
"These last three years, I have been making preparations to crush Leo Akaba's ambitions. This is why I have become the President of Leo Corporation in his place." Reji says after he and Serena went down memory lane for a bit.
"I have worked toward finding and training Duelists with potential. All of it is to protect this city, this land we live in. Do you not wish to join me?" Reji asks.
"Join?" Serena asks.
"Yes. To protect this place together from Leo Akaba and Academia..." Reji says.
"Don't be ridiculous." Serena interrupts him with narrowed eyes.
"I only came here because I heard there were remnants of the Xyz forces here." Serena states as she remembers hearing Sora pleading to return to Standard for his revenge.
"They must be quite skilled if they could defeat an agent of Academia. If I can defeat him, I can make Leo Akaba acknowledge my abilities! But my first target was a complete disappointment. This one is probably not the one I'm looking for." Serena says as she pulls out and looks at a card which holds the horrified picture of Hokuto, before tossing it over to Reji.
"For the record, the man you were targeting earlier, Yu Sakuragi, was also not the one you want." Reji says as he pockets the carded Hokuto.
"Well then, where is he?! The Xyz duelist who defeated Academia's agent!" Serena demands to know.
At the same time, Kurosaki wins his second championship match.
"That does it! It's over! The winner is LDS's Kurosaki! His opponent, Charles from the Knight of Duels, a special guest school form overseas, was utterly defeated in a one sided game by Kurosaki!" Nico announces as Shun just stays silent as the victory means nothing to him, while Charles comrades look at him with scorn.
"Duelist from the Xyz Dimension? I don't know of one." Reji lies to her.
"Then I'll search on my own." Serena says before turning around to leave.
"If you cause a disturbance in this town... I will not be able to overlook it." Reji tells her, stopping her in her tracks.
"Even if you did not come here on Leo Akaba's orders. If you refuse to join me, then I'll consider you an enemy." Reji tells her.
"I won't let you!" Barett weakly says as he tries to move, and manages to push a button on his duel disk.
The act catching both of their attention in a negative way.
"With this, I have told Academia exactly where we are." Barett says as his duel disk blinks red, before he is engulfed and vanishes in a blue light.
"Forced return, huh?" Serena mutters with a slightly distressed look.
"Forced return?" Reji questions.
"Eventually, pursuers from Academia will come to bring me back. Just like you saw three years ago." Serena explains, reminding Reji of how she was dragged away three years ago and of what his father told her.
"When that happens, it will cause more than just a disturbance. But I won't let them catch me. Once I defeat those pursuers as well as the Xyz Duelists... Leo Akaba will have no choice but to acknowledge my abilities!" Serena says before turning and leaving.
"It's me. Gather the top brass as quickly as possible." Reji tells someone over his duel disk.
Later that day at You Show.
The entire crew was sitting in the reception room looking at the TV.
"Next up is duel news! After intense battles over the past few days in the Maiami Championship's Junior Youth Class, Round Two has finished and the top 16 have been determined." a reporter on the news announces.
"Now then, let's get right into introducing those players!" the reporter says, gaining everyones attention.
"Here it comes!" Shuzo says excited.
"Our first player is You Show Duel School's Yuzu Hiiragi!" the reporter says as a picture of Yuzu is displayed.
"Here it is! So cute! My daughter is the best! Burning! Hot-blooded!" Shuzo cheers overly enthusiastic making everyone in the room feel awkward, before Yuzu hits him with her fan and silencing him.
"And from You Show Duel School and Entertainment Duel style, Making a name with her Pendulum Summoning, Yuya Sakaki!" the reporter says, to which Yuya smiles with a faint blush.
"She defeated two fierce opponents, LDS's Shingo Sawatari in the first round and Ryozanpaku's Isao Kachidoki in the second round! She's qualified for round three in her first tournament!" the reporter exclaims.
At the mention of Isao, Yuya frowns a bit. Though it doesn't bother her, she still can't figure out what frightened her opponent so much at the end of that duel.
Though when Yuzu reaches out her hand to her she instantly perks up.
"We're rivals now that we've come this far. As representatives of You Show Duel School, let's aim for the top with our Entertainment Dueling!" Yuzu tells Yuya.
"Yeah!" Yuya replies as she takes Yuzu's hand and gets up.
"Let's do our best and show them the best Entertainment dueling there is!" Yuya exclaims brightly.
At that Yuzu smiles and nods happily.
"This is youth! Youth put into Duels! Aim for the top!" Shuzo exclaims energetically, ruining the moment.
"You're too loud principal!" Futoshi says as he holds his fingers into his ears.
"They're still not done introducing all the players..." Ayu says sweatdropping.
"And after the overseas team, Knight of Duels, is Cuisine Duel School's Michio Mokota!" the reporter announces.
"Mitchie! You're amazing!" Yoko gushes loudly like the fangirl she is.
"Y-Yoko..." Shuzo mutters sweatdropping after getting a heart attack from her outburst.
"Mom? Why are you here..." Yuya asks surprised to see her.
"Teppei Tairyobata, the fishing duelist! His word is big haul! Good luck getting a big catch!" the reporter exclaims.
"Next we have Gongenzaka Dojo's Noboru Gongenzaka! Refining his Steadfast Dueling style, he's one of this tournaments dark horses! And another of those dark horses is LDS's Shun Kurosaki!" the reporter continues.
"Kurosaki!" Yuya gasps.
"His shocking first round victory over You Show Duel School's Sora Shiunin is still very clear in our minds! Kurosaki also took his second match with a one sided victory. I wonder what kind of duel he'll show us in the third round?" the reporter exclaims.
"What kind?! No matter how you look at it, he went too far!" Tatsuya exclaims enraged.
"I bet it's his fault Sora is gone too!" Ayu exclaims.
"I'm so frustrated I've got shivers!" Futoshi says.
"Sora..." Yuya mutters, wondering what became of her friend.
At the same time in the Fusion Dimension.
"You said you wanted to go to Standard again, correct?" Leo Akaba asks as his sits on his throne.
"Yes sir!" Sora replies.
"There are Xyz remnants in Standard!" Sora exclaims, his lust for revenge audible in his voice.
"I will grant that wish." Leo says after considering it for a second.
"Thank you very much!" Sora says.
"However, you will not be going alone this time. I will have you go with them." Leo says to which the same type of soldiers that dragged away Serena years ago come forth from behind the pillars behind Sora.
"Obelisk Force!?" Sora exclaims surprised to see them.
"Finding the Xyz remnants is only a secondary objective. Your primary objective is her." Leo says before motioning to his side where a hologram of Serena appears.
"Yuzu!" Sora gaps in shock and slight horror, mistaking the two of them.
"No, she is Serena." Leo corrects him.
"Serena? But no matter how I look at her, she's Yuzu... Why?" Sora mutters confused and slightly worried.
"You have no need to know that. Your objective is to capture Serena and bring her back to this world. You are authorized to engage the local duelists in combat in order to accomplish this. You must bring Serena back." Leo commands in a more aggressive tone, silencing Sora though sowing seeds of distrust in him at the same time.
Back at You Show.
"It'll be fine, Sora will definitely come back. Definitely. I believe it!" Shuzo exclaims.
"Dad... Principal..." Yuzu and Yuya say as they get up.
"I'm sure Sora would be happy if you work hard for first place! It'll motivate him to try harder and come back!" Shuzo exclaims.
"That's right! He only entered the Junior Youth Tournament because "If Yuya's going to enter, then I want too!"" Futoshi repeats Sora's words.
"If you keep winning, he'll be so frustrated he'll have to show his face!" Tatsuya chimes in.
"You're still winning in the Junior Section too, Tatsuya!" Ayu exclaims.
"Now you've got it! Yuya, Yuzu, and Tatsuya, do your best and frustrate Sora! And work your hardest to win first place!" Shuzo tells his students.
"But... I personally would like Mitchie to aim for first as well..." Yoko innocently says.
"M-Mom..." Yuya says sweatdropping, shocked that she seems to be in second place when Michio is in the equation.
"Tomorrow, we'll finally have our match to determine the Top 8. I hope all of our competitors will fight with no regrets tomorrow!" the reporter finishes as the images of all 16 remaining contestants are displayed.
At the same time in Reji's office.
Himika snaps her fingers, shutting off the TV after the report on the tournament ends.
"It seems like it's finally happening..." Himika says.
"No. I won't let it. We will hold off the enemy's invasion in this town. Definitely." Reji says as he looks out the window.
The next day at Center Court.
Fifteen of the sixteen contestants are lined up inside the arena.
"Kurosaki didn't come, did he?" Yuzu says.
"Where did he go?" Yuya wonders.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting! Right now, a Battle Royale between these 16 Junior Youth competitors will take place!" Nico announces, shocking everyone.
"Ba-Battle Royale!?" Yoko, Shuzo, Tatsuya, Ayu and Futoshi exclaim shocked.
In Reji's office.
"A city wide Battle Royale... You've really thought this out, Reji." Himika says.
"If we broadcast that invaders from another dimension are going to arrive at any moment, the city could dissolve into panic. So instead, we will release the top 16 of the Junior Youth class into the city... and have them take out the enemy in the Battle Royale." Reji explains.
"The ones who will actually intercept the invaders will be these 8. These are the Top 8 of the Youth class. The plan is made even smoother by the fact that all of them are LDS." Reji says as he motions toward the eight duelists behind him.
"For the honor of LDS and to protect our world, we're counting on you." Himika tells them.
"Yes ma'am!" all eight reply.
"I'm sure you already know, but Kurosaki... Your orders are to find fighters with potential among the 15 in the stadium... who are suitable to join the Lancers to provide for any emergencies." Reji tells Shun, who is leaning against the wall behind the Youth class.
"So you don't want me to fight the enemy then? I can't promise that. If those eight get wiped out, I'll have no choice but to take part." Shun simply states.
"You're just Junior Youth and you're running your mouth...!" Yu exclaims both arrogantly and pissed.
"Do your best to stay alive." Shun says as he leaves the room.
Back in the arena.
"Now then, let's explain the rules! The match will begin promptly at noon! At that time, the action cards will be spread out!" Nico explains.
"And here is the important part! There are Pendulum Cards from Leo Corporation hidden in the city!" Nico exclaims.
"What?!" Yuya gasps shocked.
"The competitors must find at least two of them and then Duel!" Nico explains.
"Everyone has to get Pendulum Cards?" Yuzu exclaims shocked.
"So that means everyone can Pendulum Summon?" Shuzo realizes.
"The matches will be held under the Ante Rule with the Pendulum Cards on the line! The winner then takes the amount of Pendulum Cards bet by the loser and acquires them as their own! The time limit is twenty four hours! Also, the city will be split into four areas based on the fields in the Field Magic, Wonder Quartet! Competitors are free to battle in any of these four areas!" Nico explains while briefly showing the Field Magic Card.
"The whole city will be an Action Field!" Tatsuya exclaims excited.
"Four of them!" Ayu says excited.
"Shivers!" Futoshi says as he wiggles around.
"The starting time is almost upon us! All entrants please prepare your duel disks!" Nico exclaims to which all contestants put on and activate their duel disks.
Battle Royal Mode!
"Gate open!" Nico says as one section of the arenas stands is elevated to create a gate for the contestants to exit.
Out on the street.
"The Xyz remnants are in there..." Serena thinks as she looks at the gate from around a corner outside.
"Now then, let's get started! Duelists locked in battle! Kicking against the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters! They storm through this field! Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling! Action!" Nico exclaims.
"Duel!" all contestants finish, to which Nico snaps his fingers and dispersing the action cards, while the duelists rush into the fray.
"Now, Duelists must find two Pendulum Cards before they gain the right to Duel. They will then wager these cards in Duels, and final rankings will be based on how many cards are in their possession!" Nico exclaims as the duelist divide across the city in search of the cards.
In the city center.
"Kurosaki never showed up, did he?" Yuzu asks Yuya while searching for cards inside a bush.
"No..." Yuya says as she stops looking for cards on the side opposite to Yuzu.
"He's one of the 16 competitors. He will definitely come." Yuya exclaims.
"Then let's split up and search!" Yuzu says as she gets up.
"Yuzu!" Yuya says as she grabs her arm and stopping her.
"What?" Yuzu asks surprised.
"Be careful." Yuya tells her.
Yuzu just smiles and gives Yuya a peck on the lips.
"Yeah, you to, Yuya." Yuzu says as she runs of while holding a hand to the necklace Yuya gave her, while Yuya holds on to the bracelet Yuzu gave her.
"Now then, let's prepare the stage for our competitors! Action Field On! Field Magic, Wonder Quartet!" Nico announces as multiple solid vision generators are activated across the entire city.
"Volcanoes! Icebergs! Jungle! Ancient Ruins! With all four areas set up, the preparations are complete! Just who will come out on top? Who will hold victory in their hands?" Nico exclaims as the city is divided into four fields.