The wail of LDS security sirens cut through the heavy harbor fog. Red and blue lights fractured the darkness, reflecting off damp concrete as Yuzu knelt trembling by a bleeding, shallowly breathing Ryo. Yuya was startled but rushed to look at Ryo. Nearby, Masumi lay unconscious, and Sora stood stone-faced, tracking the empty space where the attackers—a duelist in a red scarf and a cloaked, masked figure—had vanished.
Sleek black LDS vehicles screeched to a halt. Reiji Akaba stepped into the harsh spotlights, taking note of the residual dimensional particles hanging in the humid air. "Secure Masumi Kotsu and Ryoho," Reiji commanded. "Transport them to the central LDS hospital's private wing immediately." As Ryo was wheeled away, fractured images from the clash burned into his brain: a roaring youth, a broken girl, and a paralyzed old man.
# LDS Central Hospital: High-Security Ward
Three hours later, the steady beep of a heart monitor filled the sterile room. Ryo bolted upright with a gasp, a sharp pain throbbing behind the white gauze wrapped tightly over his eyes.
"I wouldn't move too quickly, if I were you." A calm voice warned. Standing in front of the bed was Doctor Kail, and standing by the window, arms crossed, was Reiji Akaba.
"Where... am I?" Ryo's voice was hoarse. His duel disk was gone, replaced by an IV drip.
"A restricted medical sector of the Leo Corporation," Kail replied. "The unstable energy has been flushed out of you. I've never seen a human body experience a physical rejection to dimensional displacement before."
"Masumi is fine and on her way home," Reiji added, his glasses catching the monitor's light. "The moment your duel disks made physical contact, a massive spike of energy erupted. It backfired into a third way. What did you see, Ryo? The readings we pulled from your eyes didn't belong to this world."
Ryo looked away. He had seen a page from a album that shouldn't exist—a world torn apart. If he told Reiji, he'd become a corporate lab rat and his freedom would be stripped away; if he stayed silent, he'd be fighting this war in the dark.
Before he could answer, Yuya slipped past the guards, followed closely by Yuzu, and opened the door. "Ryo! You're okay," Yuya breathed, before demanding answers about what happened.
Reiji straightened his red glasses. "Our conversation is merely paused, Ryo. Rest well." With that, he strode out.
Both Kail and Reiji were outside now.
"With this," Kail muttered in low voice. "His life spam has more..." He added to his file, without speaking it.
"I don't think what happened to Ryo had anything to do with the clash of duel blades." Reiji said, looking at Kail. "When that blinding light erupted and obscured whole area, I saw a light coming from Hiragi Yuzu's bracelet. Perhaps it had something to do with Ryo's dimensionality and rejection."
"I don't know. A work of bracelet in the first place, sounds absurd to me." Kail's expression didn't change. "If it has than perhaps it was a reaction, a byproduct. But I don't think something like a bracelet, as common like it can be connected to anything as such this."
"Perhaps, I am overthinking and perhaps my eyes didn't see anything clearly because of that light. But taking her bracelet in check and run tests on it isn't a waste of time. But considering days are running out and we already have less and less time.... I will have run the tests when all circumstances and situation favours. It will be a problem if somehow this becomes a scandal for bad reputation for LDS."
Both left that area.
In the room, Yuya stepped closer, his pendulum swinging. "What really happened out there? You're hiding something." Ryo stared coldly at the window. He couldn't explain that dueling was a literal weapon of war without shattering Yuya's fragile, idealistic worldview—and Yuya needed to outgrow his naivety to survive what was coming, on his own.
"It's nothing you need to worry about," Ryo said flatly. "You should go. I can't rest if you keep asking questions."
Yuzu snapped in frustration. "We were just worried about you! We even helped you!"
"LDS team was already near there at that moment. I was gonna be saved and helped anyway." He turned his eyes to Yuzu's. "And besides, isn't the one who should be helped is you, Yuzu."
"Let's go, Yuya!" After a sad silence, they stormed out, leaving Ryo in silence.
Ryo stood up and walked toward the window. Looking outside at the beautiful night and the starry sky, his eyes locked onto the most noticeable thing: a big crystal ball emitting silver light. "I can't even remember when it started, yet every time it feels like the first time. I can't even get used to this or forget it as time passes." He looked more closely before closing the curtains fully. "Day or night, darkness or light, you always make me fright."
He went straight to bed and fell into a deep sleep.
In his dreams, a city of glass and steel was ripped apart by violent darkness. A roaring youth was attached to a giant dragon, and a girl dissolved into light. Ryo bolted upright, gasping, the residual frequency of a multi-dimensional war tuning directly into his mind.
Thanks to this, his sleep was completely stripped away from him.
The next morning, Reiji and Doctor Kail re-entered the room.
"Your vitals have stabilized," Reiji observed. "The clash confirms an Xyz-based energy matrix. Either way, A big event is coming—one we can't even imagine. So be ready."
Kail offered a specialized visor to protect Ryo's optic nerves, but Ryo swung his legs out of bed, refusing it. "Give me my deck and let me out of here. If this war is coming, I am not playing the part of a caged rat."
Reiji handed over the stack of cards from his pocket. "You will get your duel disk as soon as our tests are completed."
Ryo snatched his deck, his expression an unreadable mask. He knew "tests" meant Reiji was installing a tracking chip and a microphone to create a corporate leash. To have track and information of Ryo all the time. "Let him try," Ryo thought. "If he wants to watch where I go, I'll just make sure he discovers exactly what I want him to."
"I'll be waiting for the disk," Ryo said flatly, grabbing his clothes from the side and changing into them. "Don't keep me waiting."
"We will be watching," Reiji replied as he and Kail exited.
Stepping out into the crisp Maiami City sunlight, Ryo braced himself. He didn't need a visor; the fractured images of the ruined city were already burned into his retinas. The lines were drawn, his friends were pushed away, and his movements were monitored. It was time to play by his own rules with a more lawless style.
# High Skyscraper
"What do you mean, Yuto!" Shun roared in rage. "She was definitely Ruri! Didn't you look at her face?!"
"She wasn't Ruri, Shun." Yuto said in a calm tone. "She would never cooperate with the enemy, nor will she ever try to learn Fusion."
"But... she was definitely Ruri! Did you forget her face?!"
"I haven't!" Yuto countered aggressively. "But she isn't her. She just looks like her. It may be hard to believe as a coincidence, but it's the truth. She would never use or try to use Fusion, no matter what."
Shun looked at the sky. His eyes and the sky shared the same look: pure plain.
"If you say so, I will believe you," he said, turning around. "I know you aren't saying this without any basis. And you wouldn't fail to recognize Ruri."
Yuto said after a brief pause, "Thanks, Shun, for believing in me."
"I have always believed in you. That is why we are standing fine even in 'this' dimension."
"But all of this has to end as soon as possible. I am worried about what is happening in the Xyz Dimension as we speak. The longer we are here, the less help the Xyz Dimension will get when it is in constant need." Yuto said, clinching his metal-mask.
"That is why I am going to settle everything today." Shun placed his hands in his coat pockets. "Some kids from LDS are trying to corner me. I am going to corner them today and ask them everything. I will get my hands on Reiji Akaba and Ryoho Akaba. Then Academia and that Professor won't be able to harm us."
"But we don't even know what they look like. We were just informed that they are his sons and that they are in LDS. But we don't know anything more than this."
"But it is still a lingering hope," Shun clenched his fists. "Once we have them, we can learn everything about Academia and all the other duelists Academia have. And about these secret guardians, those Tranquils, and all the Darklords. Even if we somehow defeated all this students, there is still the threat of all those people behind the students. We are always at a disadvantage, but this might turn things around. Turn in polar opposite."
"Yeah... we might even be able to get a card manufacturing machine, along with card designing, coding and programming devices. With their help, we can build up our side's power." His tone became darker, reflecting his pain." And give cards to everyone. Those Academia people had destroyed all those devices and carded all people who could help us. But this might certainly be a turning of tables."
"There you have it. Since you agree with me, let me do my work. We will meet next time."
"Wait, Shun!" Yuto stopped Shun just as he was about to jump off the back side of the skyscraper into the dark alley. "You can't turn people into cards. They have nothing to do with us! They have done nothing wrong!"
"They have!" Shun corrected Yuto as he jumped, answering mid-air. "They use Fusion! That is their crime!"
As soon as he landed on the ground, he disappeared.
Yuto knew what Shun was doing was wrong. Inside, he had no intention of saving a Fusion user either, yet he tried to do what he had no actual desire to do. Because he knew what was truly wrong.
# Academia Garden
"Heh, the flowers have sprouted very early considering the season." A boy with purple side hair and darker purple middle hair, tied on front side that lookes like a spider web, was sprinkling water on the plants.
"You sure love to grow flowers, don't you?" A man dressed in all black cloths said. He was accompanied by a red-haired man wearing glasses.
"Of course, senpai." The boy had a cheerful expression. "Because the more strong and thick the roses are grown, the sharper their thorns will get. And the more fun there is to hold them barehanded."
"Heh, I can just never understand you, Yuri. Your intentions, even in your hobbies, are a mystery." The man with glasses said.
"Thanks for the compliment, Amon-senpai. But only a jeweler can differentiate jewelry from accessories. You just aren't good enough to explicate me."
"You sure get arrogant easily."
"How cruel of you, senpai. I am just saying the truth. It's you who is interpreting my words that way."
"Heh, are you two just going to sit here?" A man with burn-scarred skin approached. "At this rate, Academia is going to be slow to start the next stage."
"Don't say it that way. We are just here enjoying the garden and relaxing. You can't work well if you are overworked."
"Especially you, Yuri. The Professor has big plans for you, and here you are, sprinkling water over some plants."
"I am just here to spray the roses; the others are just getting in my way. But don't worry. The next plan is already on stage." His eyes took the form of a serpent, his smile stretching into one as well. "Within a short time, I am going to jump into the Xyz Dimension to get more fun. I heard there are a lot of strong duelists left. Wasn't it your idea to card the strong duelists first and then hunt down the little ants? The ones making mistakes and slacking off are you."
"It's not our fault that the information Dennis gave us was only half-true. And he is in the Standard Dimension right now. I just hope he doesn't make a mistake in gathering intelligence this time."
"Well, we can't do what we can't do. Even if I told you to walk on fire, you wouldn't do it, would you?"
"Of course not! Unless the Professor is the one to tell me!"
"You sure follow... no, we are all the same on that one thing."
"Yeah, the Professor wouldn't make a mistake or a bad decision. He is our hope and future to enter utopia!"
"By the way, senpai. I heard some news yesterday."
"What news?"
"That we are going to raid the Standard Dimension as well, in no time. Can I go there too?"
"Your placement is in Xyz and supervising the Fusion Dimension, Yuri. Don't take off from where you need to be."
"Please, I won't be a bad kid, I promise."
"...You will have to ask the Professor then."
Yuri cheered in happiness. The heavy rubber hose he was using to spray water fell from his hands. When it fell, it smashed all the fragile, soft plants into the ground. All his efforts to grow them went to waste, but he didn't mind at all. He had something far greater to look forward to.
"Oh yeah, I heard there were two fugitives from the Xyz Dimension who went to the Standard Dimension. What about them? Will they not alert that dimension about us?"
"I doubt it," Amon said. "It's been a while since we closed the gateway to the Standard Dimension from the Xyz Dimension. Those two should have taken the other Xyz Dimension people with them. Guess they were just desperate to run away. But thanks to them, no one can escape from that dimension anymore. And I doubt anyone is gonna believe them, or that they have gone to that dimension to alert them or ask help. If then they would had taken their companions with them. Plus, we have closed all gateways from the Xyz Dimension leading to any other dimension."
"A very wise choice the Professor would make."
"I can't believe it, but we are doing what we once hated. Isn't the Professor just making us do things with no guarantee?"
Everyone turned to the newly arrived person, who had just spoken, glaring with rage and murderous intent.
"DON'T EVER SPEAK OF THE PROFESSOR LIKE THAT!"
"WE ARE HERE THANKS TO HIM!"
"IF YOU SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HIM BEING WRONG, YOU WILL FACE A SITUATION WORSE THAN BEING CARDED!"
The person apologized quickly and ran away.
Everyone took a breath of relief.
"Whatever it takes. No matter how many screams we have to drag out of people's mouths. No matter how much we have to destroy. No matter how much we have to let people cry in despair and grief. No matter if they have to see their loved ones gone. No matter if we have to fight to the death. We will follow the Professor to the end."
"We will all do anything to create our utopia!"
Everyone voiced their agreement.
# Standard Dimension
"Just send your boss already!" Shun roared, looking down at the three teenagers on the ground.
Masumi, Hokuto, and Yaiba—all three had just been defeated by Shun.
"Tell your boss that I've had enough of ants. I want him!"
The sun took its leave, drowning into the horizon.
"Come to think of it, I never asked your name." A voice came from behind.
A boy came walking through the night into the dark alley. His silver hair shined slightly in the dim light, and his red eyes glowed in the darkness.
"You again...?" Shun was at a loss for words. "Why do you keep coming to me?! I have no business with you!"
"Really? And here I thought you wanted to meet the boss. Guess I misinterpreted things."
Shun's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing.
"I am Ryoho Akaba. Reiji Akaba's little brother."
A sudden shock struck Shun. He couldn't believe he had let his chance slip by every single time. He placed a hand over his face and started laughing as if it were all a giant joke.
"Hahaha! I can't believe it. You were right in front of me the whole time, and I never thought of it!"
Ryo only gave a slight nod.
"Well, whatever. Let's settle this! You said you wanted to finish that unfinished duel, right? Then let's settle it! Once I win, I'm taking you with me!"
He forced his duel disk to flare into light.
In response, Ryo said flatly, "Sorry. I have no intention of dueling you right now. I'm just here to talk."
Shun's eyes widened in shock, as if another failure had just struck him.