This might be the most important day in Sherry's life since losing her family—the moment her fate was about to change a second time.
For the first time in years, a thought floated into her mind: perhaps her parents could still be saved.
A time machine, rewriting the past—could such a thing really be possible?
If it really could be done...
At this moment, she truly realized that Goodwin was right. Revenge, finding the truth—none of those things mattered anymore. Were those truly what she wanted? Not at all.
It was only after losing everything that Sherry had lost all purpose to live and soldiered on, becoming little more than a walking shell driven by vengeance. Now, even a faint glimmer of hope was enough for her to cast aside the obsession with revenge.
That didn't mean she had lost her rationality. "You mean, we'll be using Iliaster's power?"
"Yes. Continue investigating Iliaster. As long as we can find another time machine, your wish can become reality."
Kira pointed at the card in Sherry's hand.
"As long as you have that card's power."
Sherry looked at the card—the card her father died to protect.
"You know what this card does?"
"Of course." Kira nodded. "This card is one of the keys used by Iliaster to activate the time machine. Find the machine, and you can use it with this."
"How can I be sure you're not deceiving me?"
"You have no other choice." Kira smiled. "What? Is there a second way in this world to fulfill your wish?"
Sherry's expression darkened, but she didn't argue.
"Alright, you want proof? I suppose I can give you some."
Kira extended his hand to her.
Sherry stayed wary. "What do you want?"
"That card," Kira said calmly. "You came to the Sector Security to analyze this card, didn't you? I'll help you with that."
Sherry didn't move at once, still harboring some distrust. But recalling her recent crushing defeat, she realized she would've been powerless if he intended to take it by force. The fact that he asked for it further proved his sincerity.
In the end, she fell silent and handed the card named [Z-ONE] to Kira.
"Then please, follow me."
Kira turned and led the way. The other three exchanged glances, then followed.
…
Deep within the Sector Security was a top-of-the-line supercomputer. In the original anime, Sherry had snuck in here as well, attempting to analyze her card using the computer's power.
Kira remembered very clearly what happened next—that was exactly his intention.
The [Z-ONE] card was placed on the computer's scanner. Everyone waited in silence for the results from this state-of-the-art machine.
And then—the computer displayed the result.
[NORMAL]
Normal. Ordinary. Nothing unusual. That was the answer given by the supercomputer.
Sherry's pupils contracted. "Nothing? The analysis... says it's just a normal card?"
"Don't worry." Kira smiled knowingly, having expected this all along. "The real secret is about to reveal itself."
Just as he finished speaking, crimson lightning spiraled above the Sector Security, battering against the sky like a storm that could shatter the building's reinforced glass. Bolts of thunder, laced with flickering data streams, converged above the complex, forming a dimensional vortex the size of a kilometer.
The magic card lying flat on the machine suddenly erupted with energy, instantly transforming into what looked like pure energy.
Everything they saw—the computer, the room, even the entire Sector Security—began bending and twisting in the curvature of space. Even the streets outside seemed to twist inward, as if ribbons drawn toward the center of the vortex.
But these were just visual distortions. In truth, it wasn't the building or the streets that were being drawn in; the real change was happening to the four at the epicenter.
A terrifying force pulled them into the rift. All scenery vanished before their eyes.
Kira closed his eyes, letting himself drift like a feather in the vortex.
When the storm finally calmed, he felt his feet on solid ground, and only then did he open his eyes.
An infinite expanse.
This was no exaggeration—it was literally limitless. Sacred white light bathed everything, stretching all the way to the farthest edges of existence. Beneath his feet was a white floor; overhead, a matching ceiling.
And in this infinite space, only one thing existed.
Layer upon layer of bronze-colored metal shells. Each curved segment was etched with intricate patterns, like a floating nautilus, unsupported, adrift in the pure white world.
Between the layers, sharp eyes gleamed.
Kira knew he'd finally found the real deal.
This was Z-ONE.
The last human left on the broken timeline of Earth. The failed savior burdened with all of humanity's tragedy.
Kira exhaled deeply.
Not bad. The plan worked.
In truth, he wasn't entirely sure this would succeed—but in the anime, Z-ONE's first appearance happened in exactly this way.
Sherry had infiltrated the Sector Security to use their supercomputer to analyze the "Z-ONE" card. The result showed nothing unusual. But immediately after, the card erupted with energy that sent Yusei, Sherry, and the others present to this alternate dimension.
It was here they first met Z-ONE in person.
"Z-ONE, huh? You weren't easy to find."
Kira was the first to speak.
"Especially your companions—the Three Pure Nobles of Iliaster, Aporia's three avatars. Those guys are so withdrawn. I almost ran into them before, but they'd rather erase clues from history than meet me face to face...
What's the big deal? I just wanted to talk. Do I really seem so scary?"
Kira shook his head helplessly.
There was silence from within the massive metal shell, but those sharp eyes remained fixed on Kira.
He even knows Aporia's name...
Even inside the Iliaster Organization, no one else knows that their Three Pure Nobles were actually split personalities of the same person—Aporia, one of Z-ONE's companions.
Yet this man right in front of him knew Aporia's name.
After a moment's silence, Z-ONE finally spoke.
"You came here using Paradox's Duel Runner—a visitor from another dimension, I see?"
Z-ONE's tone was flat.
"So...what did you do with Paradox?"
…
PS: Read at least 370 advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode