# Part I: The Utopia and the Hospital Room
It was night beneath a starry sky. The sky was dark, and there was no shine in the stars. The moon was hidden behind dark clouds. It was the night of a full moon, yet the moon was so cruel as to not give any light on such a dark night.
Below the sky lay a lively city. It was nothing short of a beautiful, futuristic city—a true utopia. The entire city was bathed in its own light. The lights of every house, the streetlights, and, except for a few, every building's lights were on.
The area around a certain building was quite lonely; there were no people or animals outside. Only the glowing lights gave it a sense of presence. On the front of the building, neon and glowing lights displayed a sign: "Domino Sun Hospital." That sign was solemn and bright enough to be glimpsed even from the outskirts of the city.
In one of the many rooms of this massive hospital was a corner unit. The lights inside were still on. For a hospital room, it was unusually luxurious: there were sofas, a long coffee table, a long shelf packed with books, a rich-looking carpet, and a large window to look outside. There was even a duel mat on the table for playing, while the wooden ceiling and wooden flooring provided an uplifting smell of wood that brought relaxation and refreshment. The furniture and decorations of this room were striking just to look at, let alone live in.
It was an irony that only people with severe health problems—and, more importantly, a lot of money—could afford this.
Close to the large window, which made the glance of the glamorous city look even more beautiful, stood a bed. It was a large, kingly looking mechanical hospital bed. On the table near the bed was a basket of fruits, and further away, on a platform made of marble, were instruments to make tea, coffee, and other drinks. In front of the bed, right where a patient would look while lying down, a big TV was mounted on the wall, with its remote resting on the table. There was even a small fridge to store snacks and food, and a clean, shining bathroom located at the end of the corner.
# Part II: The Patient and His Family
Lying on the bed was a boy who, without a doubt, looked like a patient, dressed in hospital clothes. His face and body were as pale as if he had left no soul and life in him. His hands were slim, with no presence of energy radiating from them. His chest rose and fell very slowly, showing symptoms of low strength. His legs were thin as well, though they were still strong enough to stand. His mouth was covered with an oxygen mask, and the tube beside the bed, connected to oxygen cylinders, showed that the oxygen meter was normal. Opposite the oxygen tube stood a cluster of machines with different colored numbering layers and rows on their screens, silently changing and transferring data every second. Blood transfusion tubes were attached to his arm, with blood flowing from the nearby hanging bags and bottles.
His eyes were closed; he was probably sleeping. His back was in striking pain, though the medicines and operations kept it close to painless. In his right hand, he clutched a crystallized locket that was very dear to him. He held that locket in his hand even while undergoing operations and checkups. It was like a second heart to him; he could not bear to be away from it.
The boy was not just a fan, but more like a follower of the heart of a game named "Duel Monsters." He had his deck placed right beside him on the bed. The back of his head was covered in bandages, requiring a lot of stitching and medical treatment. His dark silver hair, which was usually spiky and standing up, was now loosened, trailing off instead of standing straight.
He had been caught in a gruesome accident.
The boy had been resting there for a few weeks now, without many positive results in his recovery. Elite, professional, and top-class doctors with high status and immense experience in the medical world had been brought in to treat him. But no matter how much money you throw at a situation to hire the best doctors on the planet, if the person in question is impossible to save, it is impossible to get the results you long and wish for.
Suddenly, the faint sound of scratching came from the door.
The door to the room opened. It was a wooden door, specially crafted for the few rooms meant for relaxing, luxurious stays, boasting excellent craftsmanship. It made just a tiny twinkling sound as it opened. The room had been filled with nothing but silence, and because the sound was so quiet, it gently broke the boy's sleep.
He opened his eyes slowly. His eyes still held their color, providing a clue of life as his red irises showed themselves. Three people entered with a calm, silent expression: a angelic-looking girl, a boy, and their father. They knew that the boy on the bed understood what they were going to say better than they did.
The boy didn't move his face, only his eyes toward them.
"I won't die..." he said, finishing with a soft smile. His voice was low and paused a bit, but he said exactly what they wanted to hear.
No matter how much you face the facts or hide them for your own selfishness, you cannot flee from their immovable results—so you just lie while you can.
Hearing this, the three visitors were about to cry. Tears formed in their eyes, but they suppressed them, smiling and chuckling instead.
# Part III: The Siblings' Banter
"Woof!" A bark rang out as a dog came running toward the boy on the bed. It was about to jump on him with its heavy body, but a silver-haired boy with striking green highlights stopped it, grabbing the dog before it could land.
"Come on, Astro, that was dangerous." He scratched around the dog's head and looked toward the bed. "You will always be the same, Ryo."
The boy with silver hair, striking green highlights, and yellow eyes was wearing a white shirt with gray borderlines over a blue T-shirt, paired with brown pants. He was the tall. This energetic boy was older than the one in the bed; he was 21 years old, while Ryoho was 18. Despite the setting, the energetic boy was excited to see that Ryoho's attitude hadn't changed.
"You just never change, heheh. And Astro, that was dangerous. But I know how much you missed Ryo, so it is an exception." A girl said in an angelic voice. She looked around the room. She was the same age as the energetic boy—21 years old—and was the exact same height as him, making her taller than Ryo.
Both the energetic boy and the angelic-looking girl were 21. They weren't twins, nor did they look alike. Who knows why their age were the same, they had same birth year, month and date, and how they were in the same family, despite it being impossible. The girl had dark purple-red hair with light-red highlights on her strands, and her pink eyes matched her dark purple-red hair . She wore a twin-tail hairstyle—a bit childish for her age, but again, it was her choice. She wore a dark red skirt with pants underneath and a white T-shirt-like shirt with circular borderlines.
Lastly, there was the father. He was older but looked young for his age. At first glance, his hair looked shaved, but his silver hair were short and neatly cut, not shaved. He had dark bronze skin and a pair of light, silvery-gray irises that looked almost white-gray. His eyes held a calm expression, and he possessed the solemn presence of an outstanding man. Despite working nonstop and overwhelmingly, his eyes and health were normal. He could easily deducted as the healthiest of the four people in the room. He wore lab clothes with dark blue borders and stood two inch shorter than the girl and the energetic boy.
The boy on bed was one-third inch shorter than the energetic boy and angelic-looking girl.
"Seriously. *Sigh.* You always manage to be carefree. The job of tensing up and worrying is mine, okay? You three don't worry about anything; leave the hardships to me." The man said with a carefree smile but focused eyes.
"Yeah, yeah." Waving his hand, the energetic boy laughed it off instantly. "Are you okay, Ryo? You were alone this whole day. Sorry I wasn't here, though I wanted to be. But you said I should focus on my duels and contests after all, so are we even?"
The boy in bed nodded slowly. "Yeah. Being alone and feeling alone are two different things."
The father turned to the older boy. "Zarc, you are the least serious person here, but you are the older brother to both Ray and Ryo, so at least be mature enough to be called one." He sighed. "Maybe you should stop acting up and show your real self again."
"Come on! It's no time to be so sarcastic, Dad, even now!"
"Yeah, yeah," Ray joked, waving her hand.
"Not you too, Ray!"
"Sorry, but it's just impossible, you know. You always make such funny statements."
"What was so funny about it? Actually, it wasn't the slightest bit funny!"
"Heh, see? Even your tone has that funny feeling."
"What? A funny feeling? You all are just framing me to look foolish!"
The room suddenly became noisy, filled with laughter and happiness. Even the dog was barking as if it were laughing, jumping around with excitement.
# Part IV: A Serious Diagnosis
"Oh, right! It's about time for me to talk with the doctors. You two wait here and stay with Ryo," the man said.
"Wait, Dad. I should come too. I also want to talk with them about Ryo's health," Ray said, smiling as she spoke to Ryo. Both she and Zarc sat on the wide bed where Ryo was resting.
"No, you should stay here."
"But..."
The man smiled and slightly chuckled. "At least one intelligent and trustworthy person has to stay here with Ryo."
"Then shouldn't she should go with you?" Zarc asked.
"Yeah, yeah. Not even in your dreams." Ray countered, mimicking Zarc's expression.
"You did the exact same thing! Now who's the funny one, huh?!"
"Yes, I think so." Ryoho said from the bed with a deadpan expression, making his response sound genuine. He was one-third of an inch shorter than Zarc and Ray.
"Not you too, Ryo! Weren't we on the same team?! You should back me up instead of them."
"See? You have a funny way of saying things. Ryo and I are on the same team." Ray said with a joyful smile.
"Heh, you three never fail to make a scene. Not to mention a good one." Their father said.
"Seriously, I am going to run ahead to have a quick strall talk with the doctor." Zarc said.
"Hoh, you are going to run just to go for a walk?" the man asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Is it wrong to run to start a walk?" Zarc asked, a look of confusion crossing his face.
"Heheheh!" Ray burst into laughter. "I can't believe you still don't get it."
"Seriously, just stop talking like I'm some idiot."
Ryo and Ray chuckled while their father, Leo, left the room. He closed the door, laughing internally until he met the doctor.
"I am thirsty. I'm going outside for a drink." Ray said, preparing to leave the room.
"Oi, Ray, there is a water filter jug, a coffee and tea maker, and drinks in that fridge beside the coffee table, you know." Zarc pointed out.
"Seriously, just understand." She muttered. Without turning around or saying anything else, she left.
"Seriously... People complain to me about the most uncommon things." Zarc grumbled in an annoyed tone.
"I think she just wanted some fresh air." Ryo said in a low voice.
"But she could've just opened the window; plus, it's wide."
"Yeah... Maybe it was a emergency." Rather than correcting Zarc further, Ryo shifted the topic. "I was wondering when you will stop acting dumb."
"..." Zarc didn't respond.
Astro was breathing with his mouth open, making a slight sound, looking at both of them with an innocent expression.
"Don't worry. I know I will be healthy again. So don't tense up and worry yourself. And most of all, don't try to be funny; it's rather hilarious." Ryo said, giving a smile to his big brother.
"*Sigh.* I can never hide anything from you, not even my intentions. You always catch me in these guessing games, huh?" Zarc finally broke into a genuine smile, his concern vanishing for the moment.
"You are always so obvious when plotting and hiding. You should practice being oblivious."
"Yeah, I know that word."
Ryo's expression became serious, leaving no hint of anything pretentious. Seeing this, Zarc understood one thing: Ryo knew the truth for sure, and he wasn't scared of the results.
"You are so mature and understanding.Even though this must be incredibly frustrating for you, and I can't do anything to help, you act completely oblivious despite knowing everything. My little brother..." Zarc thought empathetically to himself.
"No matter what happens..." Ryo started speaking, weight grounding his voice. "My expiry date is far away."
Zarc's eyes widened, and both burst into laughter.
"Ahah! Seriously, Ryo. At this point, I feel you should be more obvious."
"Heh, sorry, but I am a foodie for something new and unknown. But you, despite being mature and possessing temperance, patience, and being a great big brother, you still act like a humorous guy to make everyone feel less uneasy and bring comfort," Ryo said, laughing. "It's so great that I can't find a flaw to point out."
"Yeah, no doubt about it. Then, you know?"
"Yeah."
Zarc raised his right hand, and Ryo slowly raised his right hand. Both joined their hands in a firm hand-hug, a symbol of bond between men.
"Once I am back to normal like before, we will duel again and see who becomes the champion."
"Yeah. Though it will be me in the end who becomes number one, I will happily take your challenge."
"Then once the upcoming tournament starts, I will see you there."
"No." Both held deep resolution and confidence in their eyes. "We will see each other there."
"Woof! Woof!" Astro jumped with excitement, as if he understood exactly what they were saying.
"Oh, Astro boy." Ryo placed his right hand on the dog's head. "As a Rottweiler, you are really just like a baby in a tank, little brother." It went without saying that the whole family viewed Astro as a true member of the family.
"He has been with us since Mom was still around, and yet he still acts like a little boy." Zarc said, rubbing Astro's back.
"Yeah. But that just makes me want to cuddle him more and talk with him more, you know? And that smile is just so innocent. Truly like a baby in a tank." Ryo said, rubbing his hand below Astro's chin.
"It's been years, and his black hair is still so shiny, and his bright brown toes are still so muscular and strong—as are his body and health. But it's still kind of confusing whether those big, bright brown dots are his eyebrows or just dots." Zarc noted.
"He has eyebrows, but the dots do look like a pair as well... I can't believe I never thought of it."
"Well, I just never asked anyone, and you weren't that big—just a little boy at the time—so it's natural you didn't think about it."
"Yeah. Maybe it is... I don't know. What do you say, Astro?" Ryo asked, looking down at the dog in question.
"Woof..." Astro barked softly, his tongue slightly hanging out of his mouth.
"Maybe he is confused as well. Heh." Ryo laughed, caressing Astro's neck. Astro's eyes were half-lidded, his mouth half-closed as he breathed happily. The rubbing of Ryo's hand felt like a massage, and Astro was thoroughly enjoying it.
# Part V: The Heart of the Cards
Ryo turned his head toward the side of his bed, using his right hand to pick up the deck resting near him. He placed his deck on his palm, drew the top card, and showed it to Zarc.
Zarc's eyes began to tear up, but he controlled himself and joked, "You seriously placed 'that' card in your self-proclaimed perfect deck?! HEH! I can't believe it. You know that card is worse than useless for your beloved Archetype deck. What was that Archetype again?" He spoke to provoke Ryo in a joking manner, but Ryo responded with a sincere voice and deep feeling.
"I know, but this is like a good-luck charm, you know? Actually, this card is like a bond. A thing beyond existence that gives me energy and strength, and reminds me of our rivalry." Hearing this Zarc offered a smile, his expression filled with a confident, nostalgic feeling. "Of course, it also holds our promise and the memory of that day—that goes without saying." Ryo continued to hold the card out, showing it to Zarc.
"Yeah! Once that day comes, I don't have to tell you, but we just have to make our move!"
Saying this, Zarc pulled a card out from his own deck as well, showing it to Ryo. "You remember this too, right?" he asked.
"Of course," Ryo said, his voice rising slightly in pitch. "I don't know why, but I don't feel surprised. 'Astrograph Sorcerer'—I could never forget it."
"Sorry, I wasn't doubting you. Plus, a coincidence that Astro have similar name to this card as well. Although I got Astrograph Sorcerer way later after out little brother was named Astro. But forgetting that, this card will walk us... or rather, me, to that one dream of victory. Or at least, that's what I saw in a dream. On the same day, I saw the exact same thing as the person from whom I received this card. I was standing in the sky with my four Ace partner dragons like souls—very parts of my own soul. They will never leave me, and I will never leave them. And that person told me this card would lead the world to peace and liberation, and that I would be the beacon for that—the pinnacle of salvation and a boon for life itself. I feel bad and guilty that I was surprised when I saw your card."
"Don't worry about that. I doubt there will be any peace or liberation, 'especially brought by you.' But I think it will grant you your dream. Unlike yours, I know my card isn't going to work perfectly for me in gameplay, but it still gives me something greater to fight for."
Both had smiles on their faces, the excitement running through them like a bullet train.
"Then it's a promise. Once you are recovered, we will go to the Duel Monsters Championship and face each other in the finals. We'll see who is better."
"Yeah! It will be the conclusion of our long-lasting rivalry and the moment I surpass you. Don't forget big sis Ray, too. Once I defeat you two—my older siblings and my ultimate goals—I will become the champion and the number one, strongest duelist in history."
"I think the number one was Yugi Muto from long ago." Zarc advised. "Maybe we should create a Real Solid Vision AI simulation of him to fight and see who is greater than the King of Games. Although many have already done it in past. Though just Solid Vision, not Read Solid Vision."
"Yeah. That sharp look, his mature and cool attitude like a true professional. It's the dream of every boy to become like him—possessing seriousness when needed, perfect timing in judgment, and punishment for good and bad deeds. That kind of cool attitude is exactly what every boy dreams of having: sharp, spiky standing hair, eyes with a intense look, determination, and an intimidating presence. He looked his enemies dead in the eye, and they were instantly intimidated. He had the perfect posture, height, and a strong heart. It's my dream to become like him! He was sharpened and formed by his failures in his responsibilities and his struggle to save people, but it made him the person who ultimately saved the world and changed history. Friendly and a best friend to his people, but a nightmare to his enemies. It's exactly how he's shown in history classes and saved images. My ideal personality!"
"You're saying too much. I thought 'I' was your ideal."
"You are my goal to reach and surpass, big brother Zarc. But to become like him... it is recorded that the King of Games was actually an ancient Pharaoh!"
"Yeah, yeah. And I am the devil waiting to awaken and destroy the world."
"And I think you are like him! In nature and attitude."
"..."
"I mean, you act like an idiot, a moron, or an airhead normally just to be left out of serious stuff occasionally, but you are just like him based on what I learned in history. Plus, with the help of Real Solid Vision, we can hear, talk, and see everything like it's real through AI and historical records. So I seriously think—no, I know—you are like Yugi Muto. I mean, that Pharaoh, Atem!"
"Yeah, yeah. I feel honored you think of me like that, but..." Zarc's eyes blurred, as if drifting into the past. "I am me. I am like no one but myself. Though you are free to try and become like me." Zarc smiled softly.
"Heh! I will be myself, and by being myself, I will defeat you and become the number one duelist."
"We'll see about that."
"And it was also explained that the Pharaoh resided inside a high school boy named Yugi Muto." Ryo continued. "He was the Pharaoh's reincarnation or incarnation or something, but he was the exact opposite of the Pharaoh. He was scared of normal stuff, shy, and lacked confidence. He wanted everything to be handled and concluded peacefully, but he just couldn't do it himself, so he chose the easy way. The Pharaoh, on the other hand—the exact opposite side—was strong-willed and the bravest of all. He fought without fear. He didn't fear losing, only losing his people, and he put himself on the line when inevitable danger and frightful enemies came. On the flip side, Yugi Muto never wanted to deal with the inevitable because he wanted to save his people, but he wanted to save the enemies as well. But the inevitable cannot be stopped; it can only be destroyed."
"I knew you liked history, and your memory to remember everything you learn and see is fantastic, but to think you have such an extensive grasp of past events with such accuracy is amazing."
"Of course. It was just unfair. Not only did the Pharaoh live inside Yugi Muto as a soul, but Yugi only let him come out whenever there was a disturbance or a problem, only to solve it. What about the other times?! Even the Pharaoh would have wanted to enjoy life, especially in an era where the world was entering a new age. And even Atem himself couldn't bring himself to say it, just letting Yugi Muto do everything. There is a limit to how naive someone can and should be. Yugi Muto lived as if he had accomplished everything himself and just brought out the Pharaoh to aid him. No, 'aid' isn't the right word—to do his work for him. He didn't just take his help; he put all the tension and responsibilities onto the Pharaoh's shoulders. He used everything the Pharaoh had, including his fame and accomplishments. And despite all that, in their final duel against each other, Yugi just said goodbye like it was meant to be—no thank you, no last words, just a forced smile, as if he deserved to be there and had the right to be there, not Atem."
"..."
"The Pharaoh was the real protagonist and hero. People admire Yugi Muto, but they don't admit he isn't the real one who did everything. But! There was the Dark Magician, the ancient and most loyal servant of Atem, who stood beside him always since the past, who was Atem's servant who pledged eternity loyalty to Atem. And there was Dark Magician Girl as well. No matter if Yugi Muto took those cards with him and used them later, they always remained Atem's ace cards, especially Dark Magician. One should surely have an ace monster and a partner in a duel, like Atem and Dark Magician. Even if those cards and their spirits went to Yugi Muto, they still belonged to Atem; Yugi Muto could never tame them as his own."
"He sure is going on long... His love for history and research is just out of this world. I can't be sure to call it magnificent or terrifying!" Zarc thought, sighing.
"And everything that the Pharaoh did, every battle that the Pharaoh won, was credited to Yugi's name, yet the history of the first Duel Monsters era is mostly named after Yugi. Isn't that unfair to Atem? I understand he probably never wanted fame, but still, it's a crime! It's a good thing that there are full records of history and knowledge to see and understand it for yourself, feeling like you're actually there thanks to Real Solid Simulation. But it doesn't end there. In the final battle, on the final turn, it is a proven historical fact that Atem had cards that could make him win, but he didn't use them because he thought Yugi Muto had surpassed him. Isn't that just a gifted victory? It is recorded that Atem wanted and needed to lose that duel, so Yugi Muto didn't win that duel entirely by himself; it was Atem's feeling; that there was no need to continue."
"..."
"Atem even had the rival, Seto Kaiba, who was the Pharaoh's rival, not Yugi Muto's. The president of KaibaCorp was a legendary duelist, strategist, and leader. He had his little brother, Mokuba Kaiba, and his faithful bodyguard, Isono, by his side. He wasn't just respected; he was the definition of how someone should go about achieving their goals. He wasn't a person to simply dream; to him, dreaming meant thinking about something you can't achieve. For him, everything was about completing a goal. It is even recorded that Yugi himself never defeated Kaiba; it was all the Pharaoh, everything. But because Kaiba was there to witness the final duel between Yugi Muto and the Pharaoh, and saw Yugi Muto defeating him, in that spark of a moment without realizing the Pharaoh was letting Yugi win by holding back his final cards, he let go of it all and acknowledged Yugi Muto as the King of Games. Even though the real one was the Pharaoh. Because of that, Kaiba put everything into Duel Monsters, and he is the reason why Real Solid Vision and the modern world of Duel Monsters exist today. Like it was inevitable... Like it had to be done that way so the world could become what it is today. Because the Pharaoh let Yugi Muto win, he found his own peace and life in the underworld. That was why the world moved toward this path, and here we are, watching this evolving world even now. Witnessing where it will go through eternity, becoming mere witnesses like all the previous people who stood beside heroes and all protagonists."
"One thing is wrong, Ryo. We are not going to be mere witnesses, but the people who carve their names into the upcoming history of the world. But certainly, thanks to the AI simulation and system created by Seto Kaiba, everyone can fight all the legendary duelists of every era, facing them at their strongest with every card, replicating the exact way they fought and talked. It really is a miracle that only a president with a presence like his could have accomplished. Besides, yeah, Mokuba Kaiba and their faithful bodyguard, Isono, also had a hand in helping him, which is why their names are engraved alongside Seto Kaiba's."
"Yes, exactly right. But back to our topic, what do you say about my point?"
"So in short, you are saying Atem—in other words, the Pharaoh—was the actual protagonist and the one the world should praise and glorify? While just a random kid who never deserved it and never had the Pharaoh's skills and talent did nothing, kept the Pharaoh sealed inside him, and just used his powers and cards? What's worse is that the Pharaoh didn't protest or resist, but helped him and gave away all the fame and glory that belonged to his own hard work? It is a sad thing that the Pharaoh didn't wish for any of that. Though, this talk about the Pharaoh living inside Yugi Muto as a soul still feels like a fantasy, despite all these proofs and records."
"That is understandable. It was all the Millennium Puzzle's power, but there aren't many records or knowledge left concerning the Millennium items. It's like they were erased on purpose, both physically and in recorded texts."
After talking more about history, they relaxed again, and Astro joined them.
# Part VI: A Father's Grief
The door opened with a tiny twinkling sound. The girl with twin-tails returned, a confused expression on her face.
"Why are you both smiling and laughing so loudly?"
"You won't understand, Ray!" Zarc declared. "It's a bond between me and Ryo, a feeling you're not going to understand!"
"Heh! Sorry, but my bond with Ryo is much stronger. You aren't even close."
"Heh, sorry, but I've matured now. I'm not going to validate your statement, and I won't fall for it."
"Hmm, acting like a mature person won't help you now. Rather, acting like one makes you look more childish."
"You—no, "cough.", sorry, but I am not going to fall for your provocations anymore."
"You will never stay steady for anything anyway. It just takes time."
"Yeah, yeah."
"There it is again, heh."
"Oh, shoot!"
"Heh."
All three of them burst into laughter and happiness.
Some time passed. Ryo was organizing his deck, checking his cards, and revising his strategy again and again. Zarc looked at Ryo with a smile on his face but a sad expression underneath, his own deck resting on his deck-holder belt. Suddenly, Zarc's expression changed; his smile faded, and his eyes became dead serious, though Ryo didn't notice.
"Don't worry, Ryo. No matter what happens, even if you are lost somewhere, somehow gone, or feeling scared, uneasy, or nervous, I will always be there for you. Whatever, however, and whenever. If you feel defeated or not right, I will be there to help you and find you. I promise, I swear." Zarc vowed to himself in the name of his little brother.
Ray was watching Ryo and Zarc as well, her sad expression turning serious. "I know you are aware of your health and what might be awaiting for you. But don't worry. I will never doubt you; I believe in you. Whenever things feel wrong or you feel pain in your heart, just tell me and I will help you. Actually, all of us—Father, me and Zarc—will help you. We will all be there for you." she promised herself for the sake of her family.
Meanwhile, in the doctor's office, a man in a white coat with thinning, short hair at the crown area of his head was talking to Ryo's father with a serious expression and tone.
"I am sorry, Mr. Leo Akaba, but we cannot save your son," he said, closing his eyes with a regretful expression. "It is impossible with our current technology. No matter how hard we try, it is impossible." After a silence of a few seconds, he spoke again, his expression hardening. "I shouldn't say this, but all of this is just making things more and more difficult for your son, Ryoho Akaba."
Until now, Leo had maintained a blank expression, but it suddenly collapsed into profound sadness.
"I am sorry, Doctor, for what I am about to say," Leo replied, pure sadness grounding his voice. "But I must ask you to please do everything, anything possible to save my son. I will do anything. Please do not worry about money; I will pay whatever, however it is at anytime.
The doctor's face softened into sorrow. "I must apologize. I know these past few weeks have been incredibly hard for you and your family—harder than I can even begin to imagine—but there really isn't anything we can do. I, and everyone involved, are trying everything, but there, fundamentally, isn't a solution."
Hearing this, Leo's expression grew even heavier. He desperately wanted to find a place where he could make Ryo and his children happy again—a place where no one and nothing could ever disturb their happiness.
# Part VII: One Last Duel and The Deck of Unison
Back in Ryoho's room, the three siblings had placed the duel mat on Ryo's bed and were playing Duel Monsters.
"Ah! You won again, Ray!" Zarc growled in frustration.
"It's our duel now, big brother," Ryo said, looking at Zarc as if he were looking at a mature kid.
"I know! But how do you always win, Ray?!"
"How many times does that make now? Hmm." She placed her index finger on her chin, pretending to think expressionlessly.
"How come you always transform into an innocent person without any trace of your previous attitude?!"
"I don't really get it. I don't know, I just try to be happy."
"Huh?"
"Well, whatever. Isn't it great that we are dueling even here?" Ray changed the subject.
"Yeah. Even if Duel Monsters started as just a kids' game, it was already popular before, but now that Dad has combined Real Solid Vision with Duel Monsters, it has become a global phenomenon." Zarc spoke with deep admiration for Leo.
"Yeah." Both agreed.
"Let's play on Real Solid Vision again together. We will have a Battle Royale." Ray proposed.
"That's a good idea." Zarc placed a card face-down on the mat. "It's been a long time since we dueled together, plus it's good to play with everyone."
"Yeah, even during the testing of Dad's Real Solid Vision, he never let me be a tester. It was always you two dueling until everything was refined perfectly." Ray groaned.
"He was just always worried about you, fearing that something serious or a technical glitch might occur during testing." Zarc smiled mischievously. "Plus, me and Ryo were much bigger Duel Monsters enthusiasts than you, so it was natural we would be the test duelists." Both boys nodded.
"You two never learn, but it won't change the fact that I am the strongest."
"Let's see about that! You are going to get defeated anyway, so it's just fun to play and pass the time." Zarc added.
"Geez, you just can't let things stay nice. It was going so well."
"My apologies." Zarc said, though there wasn't a shred of sincerity in his voice.
"Big sis Ray?" Ryo called out.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Will you use my deck next time? I want you to play with it."
A concerned expression formed on Ray's face. "...Why? Is something wrong?"
"I just want to try something new. I will buy new cards, card packs, and a structure deck for it."
Zarc also got a bad feeling about this, so he deliberately brought up his underlying fear in an indirect way.
"I can't believe you, Ryo," Zarc said, his tone shifting. "You spent all the money you had—your pocket money, your personal money, the money you had saved, and the money you had in your bank account. You used all of that just to get that new card Archetype released at the time. And now you are going to play with different cards? Honestly, do you even have any money left to buy more cards?"
"It was the 'Destruction' and 'Creation' Archetypes, first of all," Ryo explained. "It isn't just one, but two entirely different Archetypes: 'Destruction' and 'Creation,' which I have joined together... Maybe united is profound word here."
"Yeah, you said doing that was impossible for weeks." Ray recalled, remembering the advertisements for those specific Archetypes.
"Yeah," Ryo spoke. "They are meant to counter one another. Destruction to Creation, and Creation to Destruction. Their unison was supposed to be impossible to begin with, let alone getting them to sync. But I saw something new—something that "can" happen, something beyond the impossible. So, I decided to create a deck consisting of cards from both Archetypes to forge a perfect strategy. But still, because both were made to counter each other just like darkness and light, I had to add more of my special, favorite cards. My partner... another soul."
"You mean your ace card, right? Along with other cards to balance it out and give the deck a usable, stable structure?" Ray asked, her statement resonating with Ryo's explanation.
"Yeah. Other cards, and my old ones as well. My partner—my other soul—is non-negotiable. Just thinking about two things that can't be together suddenly working in harmony... it boils my blood to steam and excites me to no end. I even spent money I didn't had at that time. I bought every card available to make it happen: card packs, structure decks, starter decks, two-player starter sets, modern decks, and so on. I made an ugly mess of my brain and those cards and pushed past my creativity to build this current deck."
To emphasize his point, Ryo invoked a monster to attack.
"Then that begs the question of why you want a new in the first place." Zarc countered, destroying the attacking monster with a Counter Trap card.
"Because I want to go beyond where I am right now."
"Beyond..." Both Zarc and Ray were equally confused.
Ryo drew a card before answering them, but his face fell. "Ghh! It's not the card I wanted." His serious expression and the confidence in his voice suddenly faded into nothingness. "Ahh! If only I had drawn the card I wanted, I could've defeated you, big brother."
"Can't be helped." Zarc offered a solemn expression, scoffing off Ryo's grumbling. "Remember, Ryo, in a duel, you can't choose what card you draw. But if a card *wants* to be drawn, you can't help it either." Zarc offered the guidance from his own experience.
# Chapter VIII: Ambition and Family Bonds
"Yeah, yeah. You know Dad is a true phenomenon of this era, right?" Zarc asked.
"Yes," the other two replied in unison.
"But it was no different than just knowing a person, seeing them, and forgetting about them until you meet them again." Zarc stated, his tone tinged with loathing. "All those high-class people who thanked Dad and congratulated him on the success of Real Solid Vision didn't help you with your health and care. Didn't even asked if you are okay."
Ryo looked down. "It was my dream to be just like him. But I threw that dream away a long ago."
"Why?" both asked again in unison. Even Astro wore a curious gaze.
"Because I want to *surpass* him. When he invented Real Solid Vision for Duel Monsters, it was a concept confined to the boundaries of imagination, yet no one actually realized it except Father. He alone pulled it off."
Both siblings nodded in agreement.
"It was easy to think about, yet no one else actually executed it. Dad did it with just a single idea, and it allowed him to create a new era of Duel Monsters." Ryo paused, letting his siblings process his words. "At that time, I realized I don't want to be like him; I want to surpass him. It's kind of ironic—I wanted to be like him my whole life, and now I want to be far better than him. I wonder if I can?" he asked, his expression resolute yet searching for confidence.
"Of course you can! In fact, you will!" Ray clasped her hands together, speaking with pure excitement.
"You always were the smartest of the three of us, siblings." Zarc added with genuine admiration. "You're the only person who constantly watched Dad's work, following his research all the time. It's honestly more scary than admirable, considering his research and works are completely over anyone else's head. Furthermore, you understand everything he does in his workplace. Not to mention, you can see and comprehend what he types into the computer and read every word on his papers or screen from far away. That eyesight of yours is out of this world."
"Only when Dad tells me it's late, that it's a long project, and that I can't stand there forever." Ryo replied. "Only then do I watch him from afar. Otherwise, he lets me stay by his side and see what he does, how he does it, everything."
"Yeah," Ray spoke, a sad expression washing over her face. "After Mom passed away, Dad was so constant in taking care of us, right up until I proved that I could handle things and help out around the house so he could focus on his work."
"And even after you proved yourself, he still chose to stay home and look after us. Well, he was always working in the garage with his equipment and machines, anyway," Zarc said. He then looked closely at his sister. "Ray, you are starting to look more like Mom day by day. The color of your hair and eyes were the same as hers to begin with, but now you're truly starting to resemble her."
"Hmm? Maybe..." Ray hung her head low, folding her arms tightly around her legs. "When I saw Dad working so hard on everything all by himself, even after all of it, he would just smile and say, "Don't worry, I can handle it." But I could tell he couldn't do his work properly like that and would just end up harming himself badly, both physically and mentally. So, I wanted to help him. Eventually, one day, he finally gave in and started taking care of himself, balancing his research schedule. And trusted me to help at home and that I can manage both my life and family."
Astro didn't make a sound, remaining quietly laid out on the floor.
"Dad was in such deep sorrow and grief when Mom died. I can't believe he actually forced himself to take care of us all the time while he was in that state. That is true love." Zarc said, looking up at the ceiling lights with a growing smile. "He is the best dad. I couldn't care for anything more."
"We are together right now." Ray said, a bright smile breaking through as tears formed in her eyes. "We may lose someone, lose something, or part ways. Things can happen that we can't change or alter, but we are always together in our hearts. We are inseparable, even when we are far apart. No matter if the distance between us grows or if we can't see each other for a long time, we will bear it. Distance can't interfere with our bond. We will always be family."
"If you cry, it's going to make me tear up too." Zarc said, slightly wiping his eyes with his fingers.
"Geez, tear up? Are you saying you're actually not going to cry when I cry?"
"At least someone has to remain strong in heart and spirit."
"You say that, but you are the most honest, sentimental, and emotional family member out of all of us." Ryo said, smiling as his own tears formed, ready to fall like rain. He shifted his posture slightly upward, relying on the support of the soft, mechanical hospital bed.
"Woof!" Astro stood up, wagging his tail.
"Ryo, you really should have made more friends." Zarc noted, a sudden thought striking him. "Not many people have come to visit you. Even you would feel happier if more people visited, let alone friends."
"I don't need more friends than I already have." Ryo answered after a brief pause. "Making good friends is nearly impossible, and it's already a pain to maintain thar relationship with them. I have a few friends who are completely irreplaceable, and that matters far more than numbers. Even so, I have a family I love and who loves me, so the quantity of friends never matters to me."
Both looked at him with a expression hard to interpret that it was concern or sadness. Ryo felt the change in air and understood it's source. He showed them the crystallized locket he held ever time, everywhere.
"It goes without saying but you three haven't forgotten it, including Dad as well. It is always with me. I don't feel lonely." He said with genuine smile. His true feelings.
"Guess it can't be helped, heh." Zarc gave a light chuckle. "We are all fruits of the same tree and soil, after all."
"You always come up with the strangest examples." Ray spoke, wiping away her tears with happiness on her face.
"Yeah." Ryo agreed, looking at both of them. "Just like a peacock has the same feathers, yet they are all placed differently."
"Woof!" Astro joined in, cementing the family moment. All four burst into laughter, filling the once-silent hospital room with vibrant happiness.
# Chapter IX: A Father's Secret Resolve
Outside the room, Leo Akaba stood perfectly still, his back leaning heavily against the door. Tears fell from his eyes. His resolve and intention to go inside to his children wavered in his current emotional state.
"No matter what happens..." he whispered in a low voice, entirely unheard by anyone inside. "I will never let the happiness and joy of our family be ruined again." He clenched his teeth and balled his hands into tight fists. "I will always love you all. I will never let any danger or tragedy fall upon any of you."
Leo pulled a card from the pocket of his lab coat. He looked at it through eyes soaked in tears, yet he could see the card with crystal clarity, as if it held a profound history with him.
The card had dark pink color background —a Trap Card. It depicted a glowing purple and silver circular vortex expanding across the sky, with bronze energy swords emerging from a golden sea, golden water seeping from the blades back into the ocean. Written in the card's name row were the words: "Restraining Sword of Impact."
Staring at the card, Leo wept silently before gathering the strength to go inside. Wiping away his tears, he dashed into the room and hugged all of his children tightly. The four of them weren't startled; they simply hugged him back, enveloped in the deep warmth of their family.
# Chapter X: The Cruel Moon
Time passed, and it was now well past midnight. Ryo lay sleeping on his bed, entirely alone in the room. His family had been forced to leave due to important work the following day. It had already been a grueling schedule that they couldn't afford to take time off from, which was why they had visited Ryo so late. Tomorrow would be no different.
Ryo wasn't moving, but his eyes fluttered open—not entirely lifeless, yet devoid of any real vitality.
"I just..." he whispered, staring upward. "Everyone came to see me and take care of me... everyone loves me, and wants, wishes, and longs for me to become healthy again. To be just like I was."
He shifted his red eyes, his vision drifting toward the bright moon outside.
"But it's impossible. No matter how much longer I live, I won't be the same. There won't be that same strength in my legs; not even half the strength required to run. There will be no firmness in my hands to play or even hold cards. No force in my throat to speak like I used to—not like I have much strength left now anyway. No solidity in my posture or my back. No toughness in my physique or my body."
For a moment, he closed his eyes, only to reopen them and look at the moon again as tears slipped down his face.
"I will just be tormented for eternity until I die. I am at risk of dying now, only to be saved in exchange for a life full of hardship—one that won't get any easier as time passes. I just want to die peacefully and painlessly right now."
He clenched his powerless fists.
"I heard that once a human dies, they must be judged for their good and bad deeds, and then they are reincarnated. But that's just surface-level knowledge."
He stared intensely at the moon, and in that moment, he felt as if the moon were staring right back at him without blinking.
"After a person's incarnation, they are born as a parasite of the water. Then they die again and become a fish of a larger species. It goes on and on. Then they are born as reptiles—iguanodons, lizards. Then they become mammals, insects, rats, dogs. Once they complete the apex of that cycle, they become birds—a hummingbird, a flycatcher, a blue tit, a kingfisher, an eagle, a falcon. It continues until every species has been experienced. And at last, they take the form of a human once more."
The force in his voice was incredibly low.
"So much time and life... so many deaths until you finally become what you want to be. If all of this is true, if I have to face all of this, then..."
He formed a grim resolution, and for the first time in a long while, a spark of life returned to his eyes.
"I will die. I will be born and die instantly. If possible, I want to die even before I am born. I just want to die again and again until that eternal cycle is complete, so I can be human once more."
A soft smile appeared on his face. He looked at the moon one last time, realizing it looked almost like a brilliant crystal—a shiny, beautiful crystal that offered light and hope endlessly.
"Then I will be able to smile, laugh, and be happy again. I won't have to feel this pain anymore, and I will be able to duel again, more than anything else."
The night grew darker as thick clouds completely covered the moon. Darkness veiled the earth once more, showcasing the moon's ultimate cruelty.
"I just want to die as soon as possible. And then die again. And again," he muttered in a low voice. "I shouldn't have saved that girl."
He remembered that obscure, fateful day.
"I should have just acted like nothing happened. I should have pretended I saw nothing, walked on, and lived my life. Is this my punishment? Was she supposed to die that day? Without a doubt. But I saved her, so is this my punishment? Or is it a reward... the consequences for interfering with Fate? The Universe? God? Anyone's plan?"
His seemed lost light in his eyes flashed it's redness like never before and left it's presence.
Ryo slowly closed his eyes and sank into a deep, dark sleep.
Beside the bed, the medical machines that had been constantly tracking the colored numbering layers suddenly stopped on a single digit. A flat, high-pitched noise pierced the silence of the room. The every layer of monitor read: 0.
# Chapter XI: The Awakening of the Devil
Within the next few days, Astro also passed away due to hemangiosarcoma. Everyone had been so consumed by grief over Ryo that they had neglected everything else.
The family plunged into absolute sorrow, but Zarc channeled his grief into his promise. He won every contest, every duel, and every championship across the globe, dominant in every corner of the world.
Until one day, the promise was completed.
The sky turned pitch-black. The stars faded away into nothingness. The once-utopian city crumbled into despair. Smiles, laughter, happiness, and peace mutated into sinister grins, agonizing cries, misery, and utter chaos. There was nothing left but pure despair.
The liberation of humanity and the planet became nothing more than a beating heart caged by ribs—with only death awaiting once the cage fell apart. Salvation looked far more like total extermination.
A few weeks passed since such a start of days, and nothing remained as it was before. Nothing was where it belonged.
The only thing different, out of place, and horrifyingly new was a giant being hovering in the sky. It possessed massive, powerful wings that extended to the very edges of the horizon, far longer than its own body. Its horns resembled sharp swords, poised to attack and slice through anything. Glowing green lines illuminated its dark, metallic body, and crimson clouds swirled around its massive form.
A man roared at the people crawling on the ground below, soaring through the skies of this dystopian world. He wasn't merely fused to the chest of the beast; he *was* the being itself. His once-yellow eyes had turned a piercing golden hue. His hair and skin had synchronized with the monster, leaving only the sharp green highlights of his hair unchanged. He radiated the aura of a supreme, catastrophic existence.
All that could be heard across the earth were the desperate cries and begging of humanity, individuals looking to save only themselves.
This nightmare lasted for days, serving as an eternal torment and punishment for a humanity that had created a devil within themselves—encouraging darkness beneath a facade of smiles, faking happiness only to feed the evil growing inside. This nightmare wasn't going to end; it was merely the catalyst for a new creation.
# Chapter XII: The Four Lights
The young girl, Ray—her dark purple-red hair and light-red highlights framing her face—climbed the crumbling stairs of a shattered tower, stepping onto the exposed roof. There, she prepared to fight the being that had rewritten the world.
Using the last of her strength, she activated four distinct cards.
Instantly, the world of misery began to fracture and change.
Flowers sprouted and bloomed, giving new fragrance.
All sorts of birds flyed freely across the sky, humming and singing on sky with absolute freedom and no restraines. Altruisticly alluring smile, happiness and joy.
The winds calmed, turning gentle and soothing, bringing a tranquil freshness to the air
A beautiful crystal-like moon materialized in the sky, illuminating earth, emitting light and hope.
The catastrophic being fractured into four distinct lights and exploded. The four lights conjured outside of Ray, separating completely.
A man with dark bronze skin—Leo—had been chasing after his daughter, finally reaching the roof after a long, desperate run, only to be obscured as the world was bathed in the four lights.
The world vanished into its own self-created shadow.
# Chapter XIII: Beyond The Eternity and Nothingness
Everything became dark. Not a single blurry image existed—just a plain, pitch-black void.
Then, a sudden light erupted, shattering the darkness and radiating through the empty space. It tore a hole right through the void. The darkness shattered like the broken pieces of a mirror. Those broken pieces transformed into a limitless, infinity of dark orbs, chasing after the light.
Bathed in the reflection of the light, the dark orbs began to shine, revealing a different kind of light hidden within them. They chased the light but could never quite reach it. Instead, they converged, forming numerous lines, chasing it, until they unified into a single, massive beam.
This unified beam dashed forward, moving faster than the light itself. It collided with the light, causing an immediate, fusion, amalgamation. Together, they clashed and exploded.
This time, it wasn't a return to plain darkness. It was a new creation. The destruction had cheated something entirely new—something that had existed once before, but had long been extinct.