The digital edges of the duel field slowly dissolved into shimmering light, fading into the arena floor beneath the roaring applause of the crowd. The duel was over, yet its echoes still lingered in every breathless cheer, every stunned silence that followed Ultima's divine blade. Amid the dissipating haze, Rin and Ashley stood facing each other, both marked by the intensity of battle-Rin's arms trembling, Ashley's chest rising and falling in heavy rhythm.
Ashley stepped forward and offered his hand, a smile of pure respect on his face. "That was one of the best duels I've ever had," he said. "And you... You were truly magnificent."
Rin's lips curved into a tired yet radiant smile as she took his hand. "Same to you. I haven't had a duel that pushed me this hard in a long time. Thank you for not holding back."
Their handshake was met with a wave of applause, louder than before-no longer for a victor or a loser, but for two duelists who had upheld the spirit of their craft.
Ashley turned slightly and placed a fist over his chest in a formal gesture. "On behalf of the Knight of Duelists and our traditions, I hereby name you an Honorary Knight. May your sword forever shine with righteousness, Rin."
Rin blinked in surprise before bowing deeply. "I'm honored... truly."
From the stands, emotions ran high.
Shuzo openly wept, blubbering into a handkerchief. "She did it! Rin really did it!"
Tatsuya and Futoshi, their eyes sparkling like stars, shouted in awe. "Did you see that final move?! That dragon-Ultima-was amazing!"
Yuzu let out a relieved sigh, placing a hand over her chest. "Thank goodness... She's okay..."
Gongenzaka stood silently, but his eyes scanned the arena. "Wait... where's Ruri?"
His question went unanswered as Ruri had already slipped away unnoticed.
Meanwhile, in the Command Center...
Yuto crossed his arms with a smirk. "No doubt about it. She's more than ready for the Lancers."
Shun nodded. "She kept her head cool, even under overwhelming pressure. That final turn... perfect execution."
From behind the monitors, Reiji Akaba offered a rare smile. "I admit... I would like to see how Ultima fares against my deck in a proper match."
But when he turned to his side, expecting to exchange thoughts with his vice-commander, he noticed an empty chair.
"Ryuki...?"
His sharp gaze found a note left behind on the console. Reiji picked it up and read:
"She's going to need someone to catch her. I'm going to her." -Ryuki
A small smirk tugged at the edge of Reiji's mouth.
"Hmph. Figures..."
Back in the arena tunnel, footsteps echoed softly against the metallic floor as Rin slowly made her way through the passage, her body aching with every step. Her knees wobbled, her balance unsteady. The strain from summoning Ultima and enduring Ashley's final turn was taking its toll.
Just as she staggered, her body beginning to tilt-
"Got you."
Two sets of arms reached her just in time.
"Geez, Rin! You scared us!" Ruri exclaimed, tightening her grip around Rin's shoulders.
Rin looked up weakly and smiled. "I... won."
Ryuki, who had caught her from the other side, gave a small, proud chuckle. "Yeah, you did. You really did."
Ruri, though relieved, gave her a firm look. "Using Ultima like that? You almost gave everyone a heart attack."
Rin rolled her eyes, amused. "You're one to talk. I know you're planning to use Megiddo when you face Sora."
Ruri froze, her retort dying in her throat.
"...Touché," she muttered.
Ryuki, meanwhile, glanced at Ruri with a subtle tilt of concern. "So you're really facing Sora tomorrow?"
Ruri nodded, her expression growing serious. "I am. And I won't hold back."
There was something else behind her eyes. Determination-yes-but also fury, long buried. Ryuki could feel it; this wasn't just a duel for her.
"I take it you'll be settling a score with Academia through him?" he asked.
"...Something like that."
Ryuki sighed quietly. "Poor guy."
"Better him than someone who doesn't deserve it," Ruri said coldly.
He nodded. "You'll be okay?"
"I want my brother to see how far I've come," she replied. "And I want them to see who I've become."
Rin and Ryuki exchanged glances. No words needed to be spoken. They both understood. They both trusted her.
"Well then," Rin said, suppressing a wince, "can we go home now? My legs are about to give out."
"Say no more," Ryuki replied, crouching slightly. "Come on."
Before Rin could object, he swept her up onto his back, her arms resting around his shoulders. "You've earned this," he said simply.
Ruri walked beside them, casting one last look over her shoulder toward the arena.
The sun had dipped just enough to stain the sky in golds and violets, a subtle calm after the storm.
Meanwhile... On Planet Cray
Far beyond the clouds and the reach of Earth's dimension, in the vast, alien skies of the Star Gate region, two figures stood upon the rim of a great canyon. Jagged rock formations loomed around them like the ribs of ancient titans, while the wind howled through the silence.
One was clad in a futuristic, cybernetic exosuit-the proud warrior Mr. Invincible, one of Nova Grappler's fiercest champions.
Beside him stood another figure, his body sleek and humanoid, his armor a black, white and crimson pattern resembling fractured starlight. The crimson crest on his head and a black ring shimmered ominously. He was Companion Star Star-vader, Photon, sentinel of the Link Joker clan.
Before them, scattered in the dust, lay scraps of twisted metal-unlike anything they had seen before. Burned fragments of an unknown technology, humming faintly with traces of void energy.
Mr. Invincible knelt beside the wreckage, frowning. "I don't recognize the make... Not from any Cray clan."
Photon's voice was low and calculated. "This... is an invader. An enemy not of this world. Something has crossed the threshold between dimensions."
The Nova Grappler warrior clenched his fists. "Do you think it's another Void incursion?"
Photon's eyes glowed faintly. "No. This is something different. And that makes it even more dangerous."
The two warriors exchanged a glance-no fear, only purpose.
"We report this to Harmonics and the rest," Mr. Invincible said.
Photon nodded. "War is stirring. Cray must be ready."
Elsewhere... In the Divine Temple of United Sanctuary
Bathed in a soft celestial glow, the temple stood tall in solemn grandeur. White spires towered over the floating isles, and the sacred halls echoed with the sound of soft chimes and flowing light.
At the heart of the temple, seated upon a shimmering dais surrounded by endless scrolls of fate, was CEO Amaterasu-the radiant oracle and leader of the Oracle Think Tank.
Her eyes were closed, her body still. But her mind-
-was reeling.
Visions flickered behind her eyes like sparks in a storm.
Fields of flame. Mountains crumbling. Great dragons clashing. Warriors crying out for salvation.
Cray was at war again.
Her golden eyes snapped open.
She turned toward the twin foxes at her side-Oracle Guardian Red Eye and Blue Eye-guardians of prophecy and divine will.
"Go," she said softly, yet firmly. "Find King Alfred. Tell him what I've seen. Tell him that a new enemy is approaching."
The foxes bowed, tails flicking in unison, and disappeared in twin bursts of azure flame.
Alone again, Amaterasu rose and walked toward the great window overlooking the sanctuary's horizon.
"I had hoped this era would remain untouched..." she whispered to herself. "But it seems... destiny calls us once more."
She placed a hand on the glass.
"...And this time, we must answer it with everything we have."
To be Continued.....
Cards used in the duel:
Rally of the Brave (Normal Trap)
This card can be activated when your opponent declares a direct attack. Negate that attack and Special Summon the number of monsters equal or lower to the level of the monster that attacked.
Brave Ascension (Normal Spell)
Send 1 Tuner Monster from your deck to the graveyard and return 1 Tuner Monster from your graveyard to your hand.
A Warrior's Tactical Retreat (Normal Spell)
Return all Warrior Monsters from your field to your deck and draw 1 card for each card returned.
Brave Stand of Unity (Normal Spell)
If you control a "Brave" monster: Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower "Brave" monster from your GY.
If you control 2+ Synchro Monsters: All monsters you currently control gain 400 ATK and DEF until the end of the next turn.
You can only activate 1 "Brave Stand of Unity" per turn.
Pact of Light and Shadow (Normal Spell)
If you control a LIGHT Monster on your field and your opponent has a DARK Monster in the graveyard, send 2 monsters from your field to the graveyard and you can add 1 card of your choice from your deck to your hand.
A Warrior's Provocation
If you have 2 or more Warrior Monsters in your field, all of your opponent's monsters are forced into Attack Position until the End Phase.
Knight of Battle Preparation, Porrex
Level 4 / LIGHT / Warrior / Effect / Brave
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1000
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can add 1 Level 4 or lower "Brave" Monster from your Deck to your hand.
Brave: If "Altmile" is on your field, this card gains 500 ATK.
Knight of Discipline, Alectos
Level 2 / LIGHT / Warrior / Tuner / Effect / Brave
ATK: 700 / 1000
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can target 1 monster you control; increase or decrease its Level by 1 or 2 until the end of the turn.
Brave: If this card is used for a Synchro Summon, the summoned monster gains 300 ATK and DEF.
Hope Keeper
Level 2 / LIGHT / Fairy / Effect / Brave
ATK: 100 / DEF: 100
If a 'Brave' Monster is targeted for an attack, Special Summon this card from your hand in defense position.
If summoned this way, this card cannot be destroyed in battle, and this card is sent to the graveyard at the end of the Battle Phase.
If you have 2 or more 'Brave' Monsters in the field, your opponent can only target this card.
Brave: If this card is Special Summoned, draw 1 card for each 'Brave' Monster aside this card.
Knight of Flight, Danius
Level 6 / LIGHT / Warrior / Effect / Brave
ATK: 2100 / DEF: 1800
If your opponent controls more monsters than you: You can return 1 monster you control to the hand; Special Summon this card.
If 'Altmile' or 'Fides' is in the field, this card gains 400 ATK.
Brave: Return 1 monster you control to the hand; Special Summon this card, and it gains 300 ATK. The returned monster returns to the field at the end of the Battle Phase, and this card returns to the hand.
Septgal
Level 6 / LIGHT / Beast / Effect / Brave
ATK: 2300 / DEF: 2000
If this card is in your GY and you control a Synchro Monster: Special Summon this card. You can only use this effect once per turn.
Brave: When this card attacks and you control another "Brave" monster: Gains 100 ATK equal to the combined level of other 'Brave' Monsters aside from this card.
Knight of Heavenly Decree, Altmile
Level 8 / LIGHT / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / Brave
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2300
1 LIGHT Tuner + 1+ non-tuner monsters
If this card is Synchro Summoned, Special Summon 2 monsters with "Brave" from your GY; they gain 500 ATK.
If "Blue Sky Knight, Altmile" is in the GY, this card gets 500 ATK.
When this card battled a monster with the same ATK or equal or lower than its level, this card cannot be destroyed in battle, and all battle damage to you is negated.
Once per turn: "Brave" Monsters you control cannot be destroyed by battle until the End Phase.
Brave: All "Brave" Monsters inflict double damage until the End Phase.
Transcending the Heavens, Altmile
Level 12 / LIGHT / Warrior / Synchro / Effect / Brave
ATK: 3500 / DEF: 3000
2 LIGHT Tuners + 1+ non-tuner monsters
If this card is Synchro Summoned: This card gets 500 ATK for every "Brave" Tuner in your GY.
Once per turn: Reveal the top 7 cards of your Deck; Special Summon all monsters among them, then return the remaining cards to the Deck and shuffle. Summoned monsters gain 800 ATK, and all monsters aside from this card are changed to defense position at the End Phase.
When this card attacks, draw 3 cards. And if one of the cards is a 'Brave' Monster, this card cannot be destroyed in battle until the end of the turn.
Brave: This card can attack again for every "Altmile" in your graveyard.
Zeroth Dragon of Zenith Peak, Ultima
Level 12 / LIGHT / Zeroth Dragon / Synchro / Effect
ATK: 5500 / DEF: 4500
1 "Zeroth Synchro" + 3 LIGHT Synchro Monsters
Must be Synchro Summoned using the Spell Card "Zeroth Synchro." If summoned this way, this card cannot be destroyed by battle or affected by card effects.
When this card is summoned, Special Summon 1 Synchro Monster from your graveyard or Extra Deck and that monster is considered Synchro Summoned if summoned that way.
Once per turn: Search your Deck for 6 cards, then shuffle. If 2 of them are monsters, Special Summon them, and return the others to the top of the Deck in any order.
Until the end of the turn: If any monster gains ATK, DEF or any added effects, all monsters you control gain the same effects as well.
When this card attacks, and if you have 2 or more monsters, reveal the top 5 cards in your deck. And for every monster with "Brave", "Ritual", "Oracle", "Rescue", "Unite" or "Revelation", this card can attack again.I
f you fail to end the duel when this card is summoned, You lose the duel.
If you use "Zeroth Synchro", you lose 2 turns after you summon this card instead of after the turn you summon it.