In the Fusion Dimension, the halls of Academia echoed with silence—save for the faint hum of machinery. Deep within its marble-clad fortress, the throne room remained veiled in cold artificial light. At the center of it all stood Akaba Leo, seated upon a towering throne etched with arcane sigils of Fusion magic. Before him stood a man of unsettling appearance—aged yet radiating intellectual menace, with long, wild white hair and a grin that hovered between brilliance and madness.
They called him "Doctor".
"Revival Zero is progressing smoothly," Doctor announced with twisted pride, his long fingers twitching at his sides. "The data retrieved from the captured duelists has yielded remarkable insights. The artificial core is stabilizing far sooner than predicted."
Leo remained impassive, only his fingers gently tapping the armrest of his throne. "Good," he said simply. "And what of the two girls?"
Doctor flinched. His expression faltered, the cocky glint in his eyes replaced with unease.
"Ruri Kurosaki and Kazehaya Rin..." he began cautiously, "The parasites we implanted in their brains... they've been eradicated."
A cold silence fell.
Leo slowly stood, casting a long shadow across the polished floor. "Eradicated?"
"Yes," Doctor answered, swallowing. "I ensured they were indestructible—physically and metaphysically. But somehow... they were destroyed. I've rerun my calculations dozens of times and still can't understand how it happened."
For a moment, Leo said nothing. His hand hovered over the control panel embedded in his throne, but then he retracted it.
"I see," he said, returning to his seat. His expression remained unreadable. "It is likely the duelist who aided in their escape... he may have discovered a method to sever the link without killing them."
Doctor hesitated. "Do... do you want them recaptured?"
Leo shook his head. "No. The time for subtlety is over. The Standard Dimension shall be our next target. Prepare the forces. And Doctor..."
"Yes?"
"Do not fail again."
Doctor bowed deeply and exited, barely masking his shaken nerves. As he walked through the medical wing, a subordinate rushed to meet him.
"Sir, good news. Yuri has stabilized. He'll be able to sortie within a few days."
For the first time in hours, Doctor allowed himself a relieved grin. "Excellent... finally, something is going right."
Midnight fell softly over Maiami City. A gentle breeze rustled the curtains of Ryuki's apartment, its quiet stillness a stark contrast to the day's thundering duel. Inside, all was silent.
Rin was fast asleep on the lower bed, her breath slow and steady, her body still recovering from the strain of invoking Ultima. Her silver-green hair lay scattered like a halo over her pillow, a testament to her earlier triumph.
Across the room, Ruri tossed and turned.
Her eyes snapped open, burdened by a restless anxiety that had haunted her since the match schedule was announced.
She sat up, running a hand through her midnight-violet hair, then slowly got out of bed. Her gaze drifted to her deck on the nightstand—an anchor for her thoughts, yet tonight it felt heavier than ever. With a quiet sigh, she took the deck and walked into the dimly lit living room, the soft glow of the city skyline filtering in through the windows.
She sank into the sofa and pulled a single card from her deck.
Zeroth Dragon of Distant Sea, Megiddo.
Its dark, serpentine figure glimmered faintly beneath the moonlight.
She stared at it in silence.
"I don't know..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Do I really need to use you...?"
Her fingers trembled slightly. Doubt gnawed at her. It wasn't fear of the consequences—not exactly. Rather, it was a deep, gnawing worry that using Megiddo would mean she hadn't grown strong enough on her own. Her opponent was Sora. A cruel reminder of Academia's grip on her past. Beating him with her own strength... that was what she wanted.
Just as she was about to return Megiddo to the deck box, the world froze.
Literally.
The wind halted. The ticking of the clock stopped. The soft city glow dimmed into a stilled twilight.
"...What?"
A voice echoed.
Deep, resonant, ancient.
She stood quickly and rushed to the balcony. And there, descending from the starlit sky in coiling majesty, was a colossal dragon.
A serpentine beast of white and ocean-blue scales, its body adorned with ancient glyphs and glowing lines that pulsed with navy light. Upon the crest of its head shimmered the sigil of the Zeroth Dragons.
"Megiddo..."
The dragon's voice resonated not in the air, but directly in her soul.
"I felt your doubt, Ruri Kurosaki."
Ruri clutched the railing. "You... heard me?"
"You hold the power to summon me, and yet hesitate. You question whether your victory would be yours... or mine."
She looked down, conflicted.
"I don't want to win by relying on something that doesn't belong to me," she admitted. "I want to prove I can do this... that I'm strong enough to face my past... and the future."
Megiddo regarded her for a moment in silence, then nodded.
"I chose you because I sensed something... a depth even Gyze failed to understand. Grief. Anguish. Sorrow. And hope."
Ruri blinked. Her thoughts drifted to that night—when she found Assembly Nightingale's mangled body after the purge. Her heart clenched at the memory, but now, she met Megiddo's gaze without flinching.
"You felt that?"
"I did. And yet, you stood again. I do not know what it is that sets you apart... but I wish to learn. And I believe you can show me."
A gentle wind blew through the stilled night. The stars above seemed to shimmer with clarity.
Ruri smiled. "Then... let's find out together."
"I will not demand your soul. That cycle ended when Gyze fell. The laws that once bound us no longer apply."
She chuckled. "But if I pretended they did... you'd still play along, wouldn't you?"
"Only if it amuses me."
The mighty dragon let out a sound that was not quite a laugh but carried an oddly warm resonance. Then, Megiddo's body radiated with a soft navy light. Slowly, he faded into the starlit veil, leaving behind a calm night and a heart at peace.
Time resumed.
The wind stirred once more, and far below, the city lights blinked back to life.
Ruri leaned on the railing, her hair billowing softly.
She held Megiddo's card close, then looked toward the stars.
"I know what I have to do now."
-----
The sun rose quietly over Maiami City, casting a warm golden hue through the windows of Ryuki's apartment. A new day had begun—the second day of the Maiami Championship. Though last night's duels had pushed the tournament to electrifying new heights, today promised to keep the energy alive, if not exceed it.
In the living room, Ruri stirred awake. She blinked slowly, then realized she hadn't slept in her bed. A blanket was draped around her shoulders, tucked in carefully. She glanced at it, puzzled at first, until she noticed Ryuki entering the room with two steaming mugs of coffee.
"Morning," he greeted with a small smile. "Sleep well, couch duelist?"
Ruri rubbed her eyes as she sat up straighter, smiling softly. "Not really. I guess I couldn't fall asleep, so I tried to get more familiar with my deck."
Ryuki raised an eyebrow. "You're lucky I woke up when I did. You would've gone into your duel with a cold if I hadn't covered you."
"Thanks," Ruri said, accepting the mug. "I owe you one."
As Ruri sipped the coffee, she asked, "Is Rin up?"
"Still out," Ryuki replied. "She was drained after that match with Ashley. Let her rest a little more."
"Fair," Ruri said as she stood, stretching her arms. "Mind if I wake her up? Might help to stretch her legs before the chaos starts."
"Go ahead. I'll start breakfast."
With that, Ruri headed down the hallway while Ryuki turned on the television in the kitchen. The tournament's highlight reel was already airing—editing teams had wasted no time. The replays of Ashley's triple summon strategy, Rin's stunning comeback, and the dramatic reveal of Zeroth Dragon of Zenith Peak lit up the screen. Ryuki watched quietly as he flipped the pancakes, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Still, he couldn't ignore the knot in his chest. These cheerful moments—smiles, laughter, and friendly rivalries—might soon be crushed. The invasion from Academia could turn everything upside down. Ryuki didn't say it aloud, but he could already feel it in the wind. Peace was on borrowed time.
Just then, Rin entered the kitchen, supported by Ruri. Her steps were unsteady, her body still sore from the physical toll of summoning Ultima, but her eyes shone with determination.
"Mornin'," she muttered, her voice a little raspy.
Ryuki turned with concern. "Still sore?"
"A little," she admitted, wincing as she sat down. "That duel took more out of me than I thought."
"I'm not going to the Command Center today," Ryuki said flatly as he plated the pancakes. "I've already informed Reiji. So today, you're sticking with me."
"Huh. You're oddly possessive today," Rin teased with a smirk.
"Just protective," he said, handing her a plate. "Now eat."
As they began eating, Ruri asked, "Where's Dran and Tigar?"
"They went back to Cray for now," Ryuki replied. "Apparently, something came up. They said they'd report back when needed."
With breakfast finished, the trio headed out toward the tournament arena. Along the way, they met up with Yuya, Yuzu, Shuzo, and the kids from You Show Duel School. Ryuki greeted them with a nod.
Yuya was full of energy. "Ready for today, Ryuki? I'm up against Sawatari soon!"
Ryuki chuckled. "Think you can handle his ego?"
"I'm gonna wipe the floor with it," Yuya grinned.
Nearby, Rin crouched down to talk to Tatsuya. "You good, champ?"
Tatsuya beamed. "Ready!"
Ruri glanced around and furrowed her brow. "Hey... where's Gongenzaka?"
Shuzo sighed. "He left early. Wanted some time alone to prepare. Today's opening match is his, after all."
The announcement soon echoed throughout the arena: "Welcome, everyone, to Day Two of the Maiami Championship!" Nico Smiley's voice rang with excitement as he introduced the opening match: Gongenzaka Noboru vs. Ankokuji Gen!
As the duelists took the stage, Ryuki's eyes narrowed.
Something's off.
He turned to Yuya and Yuzu. "Keep an eye on Ruri and Rin. Something doesn't sit right with me about this match."
Yuya frowned. "Why? What's wrong?"
Ryuki's eyes remained fixed on Gongenzaka. "Just a feeling. Stay with them."
Without another word, Ryuki slipped away from the group and headed through the arena corridors. He walked calmly, but his eyes were scanning, his senses sharp. Then, from behind a nearby wall, he heard faint voices—three boys in Duel School uniforms whispering among themselves.
"Did you hide the sash?"
"Yeah. That freak won't fight properly without it."
"This'll make Gen look better for sure."
Ryuki's expression hardened.
They stole his family sash. To sabotage his duel?
Without hesitation, Ryuki reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the earpiece Reiji had given him the day before. Placing it in his ear, he tuned into the private frequency.
"This is Ryuki," he said. "I've found three individuals attempting to sabotage Gongenzaka's match. Permission to engage?"
In the Command Center, Reiji's calm voice responded, "You have clearance. Proceed with necessary force."
Shun, watching nearby, narrowed his eyes. "Sabotage?"
"Indeed," Reiji replied. "Let's see how Ryuki handles this."
Yuto leaned in as Reiji brought up a screen displaying a security feed of Ryuki approaching the three students.
Back in the corridor, Ryuki activated his Duel Disk, the device sparking to life as the holographic interface lit up.
"You three," he said coldly. "Care to explain why you're interfering with an official duel?"
The boys flinched.
"You... who are you?!"
"Someone who doesn't tolerate cowards," Ryuki replied.
The lead boy sneered. "You think we're afraid of one guy?"
"You should be."
In a flash, Ryuki's Duel Disk locked onto the three delinquents. "Duel Mode on: Battle Royal."
In seconds, all three Duel Disks synced into a single match interface. The corridor transformed into a narrow Action Field, the walls glowing with faint digital lines.
"I'll give you one chance," Ryuki said as he drew his opening hand. "Surrender the sash and walk away."
"Tch. Forget it! We'll crush you first!"
In the Command Center, the staff watched with interest as Ryuki's duel was already underway. Reiji leaned back slightly, a faint smirk on his lips.
"This should be instructive."
Shun crossed his arms. "I wonder how fast he'll finish it."
Yuto just stared at the screen. "He's mad. That's not a good thing for them."
Back in the arena, the crowd was on the edge of their seats as Gongenzaka prepared to begin his match, unaware that behind the scenes, a silent protector was already moving to ensure the honor of the duel remained intact...
Thug 1: 4000 | Hand: 3
Thug 2: 4000 | Hand: 3
Thug 3: 4000 | Hand: 3
Ryuki: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 4 - Ryuki
The sound of Duel Disks hummed with a low charge as three of Ankokuji Gen's lackeys stood defiantly before Ryuki in the hallway beneath the arena. A few spectators wandered by, curious about the duel happening outside the tournament spotlight.
Each of the thugs had already established a defensive line. Three Battleguard Gladiators towered behind set cards—intended to punish any Synchro Summon or swarm strategy.
But Ryuki didn't even blink.
A smirk crept across his face as his Duel Disk flared to life. "Atashi no turn... Draw!" he declared, eyes flickering with crimson resolve.
He stared at the card, then glanced at the rest in his hand. "Let's clean this up quickly. First—I activate the Spell Card... Card Destruction!"
The thugs flinched.
"All players discard their hands and draw the same number of cards. I discard five—and draw five!"
A flurry of holographic cards scattered from Ryuki's Duel Disk before being replaced in an instant with a fresh hand of five new cards.
"And now..." Ryuki slowly raised a new Spell card. "You better remember this. I activate the Spell Card, Perdition Fusion!"
A burst of red energy exploded behind him. The thugs took a step back as a dark vortex swirled to life.
"If I control no monsters, I can pay half my Life Points to Fusion Summon by using monsters from anywhere—my hand, deck, graveyard, even Extra Deck."
Ryuki: 4000 → 2000
"I fuse Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame from my Deck and Dragonic Overlord from my Extra Deck!"
From the shadows, a fiery red centipede-like dragon coiled into the vortex, followed by a crimson knight with burning golden eyes—his form melting into raw flame.
"Darkness and flame twist into the shape of ruin! The overlord who rules perdition returns to scorch the battlefield! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 11! Perdition Emperor Dragon—Dragonic Overlord "The Great"!!"
A pillar of flame surged skyward as a massive dragon stepped out, brandishing two blazing swords. Black and red wings erupted outward as it let loose a deafening roar.
Perdition Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord "The Great"
Level 11 / FIRE / Dragon / Fusion / Effect / Blaze
ATK: 3800 / DEF: 3100
The air around the corridor thickened with pressure. The thugs instinctively stumbled back.
"He's a Fusion user too?!" one stammered. "I thought he used Synchro monsters!"
"You thought wrong," Ryuki said coldly. "Now, 'The Great'... seek the Mate"
A ray of light descended onto the field as Ryuki held out his hand.
"I return five cards from my Graveyard to my Deck... and Special Summon a certain partner!"
The Duel Disk glowed, and a card launched from the Deck. Ryuki revealed it with intensity.
"Your passionate heart bursts blindingly into flame—Come forth, Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame! Legion Summon!"
Neoflame emerged beside "The Great," the ground trembling beneath them.
Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame
Level 4 / FIRE / Dragon / Effect / Blaze
ATK: 2000 → 3000 / DEF: 1500
"Because Neoflame was Special Summoned by 'The Great's' skill, it gains 1000 ATK," Ryuki explained. "And now... his skill activates."
A fireball brewed inside Neoflame's throat before he launched it at the field, vaporizing one of the Battleguard Gladiators.
"And that's not all. Once per turn, Neoflame can destroy one card on the field for every two cards in my hand. I have four cards, so I destroy the other two Gladiators."
Both remaining monsters combusted in a chain of blazing explosions.
"With this, all FIRE monsters on my field gain 500 ATK."
Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame
ATK: 3000 → 3500
Perdition Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord "The Great"
ATK: 3800 → 4300
The thugs recoiled in fear. Their entire frontline was gone in one turn.
"You really thought you could pull something behind the scenes?" Ryuki asked icily. "Neoflame's Blaze—since 'The Great' is on the field, all of you send three cards from your Decks to the Graveyard."
Red glyphs ignited over each thug's Duel Disk. In unison, three cards from each of their Decks disintegrated into flame.
"And now..." Ryuki pointed forward, flames swirling around him. "Battle!"
"Dragonic Overlord 'The Great'! Direct attack!!"
"Calamitous flames and a burning soul! Render all walls meaningless that stand before two fiery dragons—Cardinal Crimson Inferno!!"
"The Great" launched forward in a burst of flame and steel, slicing down the first thug with explosive force.
Thug 1 : 4000 → 0
Before the others could react, Ryuki continued. "'The Great's' skill—when it attacks, I draw and reveal the top 2 cards of my Deck. Check the Twin Drive!"
He drew one. "First check—Monster Card! 'The Great' gains 500 ATK!"
Perdition Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord "The Great"
ATK: 4300 → 4800
"Second check—Quick-Play Spell! That means 'The Great' can attack again!"
The dragon took another step forward, lifting its swords high.
"Attack again!!"
With a feral roar, "The Great" slashed through the second thug's Life Points with a vertical spin of twin blades.
Thug 2: 4000 → 0
Only one remained.
"But I'm not done. 'The Great's' last skill—if it attacks while Neoflame is on the field, I can switch Neoflame to Defense Position, and 'The Great' can attack once more!"
Neoflame shifted into a coil as his comrade stood tall for the final strike.
Ryuki's eyes narrowed. "Finish this—Direct attack!"
"The Great" opened its jaws and unleashed a concentrated inferno that engulfed the final thug, shattering his Life Points instantly.
Thug 3 LP: 4000 → 0
Winner: Ryuki
-----
The three boys slumped to the ground, groaning as their Duel Disks powered down. Ryuki stepped forward, completely unfazed as he picked up Gongenzaka's family sash.
"Consider this a warning," he said sharply. "Sabotaging someone like Gongenzaka is beyond disgraceful. If I see any of you trying to pull a stunt like that again—LDS won't need to punish you. I will."
The defeated thugs couldn't even muster a response.
From the other end of the hallway, Hikage appeared with two security staff members.
"Clean these three up," Ryuki ordered calmly. "Send them straight to security detail. They'll talk once they cool off."
"Yes, sir," Hikage replied, gesturing for the guards to drag the culprits away.
As they left, Ryuki took a long breath and tapped the earpiece from Reiji.
"Ryuki to Command," he said, voice steady. "Three saboteurs dealt with. Gongenzaka's match can proceed without interference."
A brief pause, then Reiji's voice returned. "Acknowledged. Return to the arena. Gongenzaka might need that sash right now."
Ryuki gave a slight nod and looked down at his Duel Disk—still warm from the intensity of his single-turn victory.
"Very well," he murmured to himself. "I'll head there as soon as possible."
-----
The cameras zoomed in as the crowd roared beneath the blazing lights of the Maiami Championship. Though the energy on the battlefield raged on, at the Command Center, three sets of eyes stayed focused on the aftermath of a battle that had just ended in a blink.
Yuto's arms were crossed tightly as he leaned forward. "I can't believe Ryuki beat all three of them in a single turn."
Shun nodded in agreement, his expression unreadable. "He didn't even go full throttle. He just crushed them, methodical and precise."
Reiji glanced over the live feed one last time before closing the monitor. "He was holding back," he said, quiet but firm. "But only just enough to keep things from turning excessive."
"Still," Yuto muttered, "Gongenzaka's match isn't going well."
Back in the arena, the duel between Gongenzaka Noboru and Ankokuji Gen had taken a sharp downward spiral.
Gongenzaka stood firm, or at least tried to. His footing—usually his greatest pride—wavered slightly with each passing second. He was down to just 500 Life Points, and across the field stood Ankokuji Gen, towering in both size and confidence with 3000 Life Points remaining.
"Gongenzaka looks... off," Yuya muttered from the spectator stands. He clenched the rail in front of him, watching anxiously as his friend failed to find his rhythm.
"He hasn't played a single Synchro Monster the whole match," Yuzu noted, her brows furrowed in concern.
"It's because his family sash is missing," Rin stated, more observant than most. "That's more than cloth to him—it's his honor. Something must've happened"
"I agree," Ruri said beside her, arms crossed. "Without it, Gongenzaka isn't grounded. He's lost his balance—mentally and emotionally."
Suddenly, Ryuki reappeared, jogging up the stairs and straight to the rest of the group. In his hand? The crimson and gold sash belonging to the proud samurai duelist.
"Here," Ryuki said without breaking stride.
He reeled his arm back and launched the sash in a perfect arc over the railing—right toward the field.
"GONGENZAKA!" he bellowed.
The samurai duelist caught it with both hands, his eyes widening in disbelief. "This...!"
Ryuki gave a firm nod from the stands. "Your honor's been returned. Show them what a samurai can really do."
Gongenzaka clutched the sash to his chest. In that instant, his breathing steadied. His stance regained its weight. His eyes, once hazy with confusion, sharpened like the edge of a well-tempered blade.
He looked toward Ankokuji, a grin forming on his lips.
"This duel isn't over!"
The remainder of the match was swift and dramatic. In a single turn, Gongenzaka brought out Superheavy Samurai Warlord Susanowo, catching Ankokuji off guard with an all-out offensive in defense position. The attack crushed through the remaining defenses, and with a cry of "Warlord... STRIKE!" the scoreboard declared the victor.
Ankokuji Gen: 3000 → 0
Winner: Gongenzaka Noboru
The crowd erupted with cheers as Nico Smiley's voice echoed through the stadium. "A stunning reversal! Gongenzaka Noboru claims victory with the Spirit of a true samurai!"
After the match, the You Show group met Gongenzaka in the lobby area. Ryuki handed over the sash formally, explaining how he'd overheard Ankokuji's followers plotting the sabotage and reported the incident to Reiji.
"Once I heard what they'd done, I couldn't let it slide," Ryuki said plainly.
Gongenzaka took a knee and bowed low. "The Gongenzaka family owes you a debt of honor, Ryuki."
Yuya grinned and slapped his friend's back. "That's our samurai!"
Yuzu turned to Ryuki. "What's going to happen to Ankokuji and the others?"
"They've already been reported," Ryuki replied. "Reiji will deal with them. Attempted sabotage during a public tournament won't go unpunished."
The championship rolled on, match after match. Excitement never wavered as elite-level duelists dazzled the audience with innovative moves and brutal comebacks. One of those shining moments came from Tatsuya, the youngest member of You Show Duel School, as he faced a calculating duelist from a school specializing in number theory and algorithms.
Despite the odds, Tatsuya played with calm precision and intelligent use of his monster effects. With only 500 LP lost, he claimed a clean victory that left Ryuki mildly impressed.
"Hmm," Ryuki mused. "That kid's got a mind for this. Maybe I'll recommend a Great Nature deck for him..."
Rin smirked. "Trying to recruit a prodigy already?"
Ryuki just shrugged. "I believe in nurturing potential."
Then came a match the crowd had waited all day to see—Sakaki Yuya vs. Sawatari Shingo.
The Action Field lit up in brilliant colors as the duel began. From the get-go, Yuya and Sawatari chased Action Cards like madmen, each exploiting them to survive and counter. Sawatari, using his Yosenju deck, kept surprising Yuya with relentless attacks and chain effects. Yet, Yuya adapted in turn—eventually showcasing two new Fusion Monsters: Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Beast-Eyes Pendulum Dragon.
With a dual assault, Yuya pierced through Sawatari's defenses and landed the final blow—leaving himself at only 200 LP, but victorious.
The crowd went wild.
Yuya offered his hand, and Sawatari accepted it with a proud nod. "You got me. But next time, I'll win."
Rin and Ruri exchanged looks from the stands.
"He really has changed," Rin whispered.
Ruri smiled. "Yeah. Maybe it's time to let that grudge go."
But that smile quickly faded. The scoreboard displayed the next match-up, and her name was paired with the one person she hadn't spoken a word to since the tournament began.
Kurosaki Ruri vs. Shiun'in Sora
In the waiting room, Ruri took deep breaths as she reviewed her deck one final time. Her fingers grazed over the card that shimmered faintly in blue and black light—Megiddo.
Her brother's voice snapped her from her thoughts.
"You ready?"
She looked up to find Shun standing by the doorway, arms crossed.
"I am," she said, nodding. "Don't worry nii-san, I'll be fine."
Shun stepped closer. "Just... don't lose yourself in this. I don't want you to end up like me."
Ruri closed her eyes. "Three days ago, I asked Reiji to make this match happen."
"What?"
She opened her eyes, staring into her brother's. "I wanted to face Sora. For everything that Academia has done, I cannot forgive them. I want to do this nii-san. I want to show you how much stronger I've gotten. And don't worry, I won't let my anger get through me."
Shun didn't speak, but he nodded. That was enough.
Nico Smiley's voice boomed across the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight's final match will end Day Two with a bang!"
Spotlights swung toward the tunnels.
"In the left corner! A charming boy whose monsters are as adorable as they are deadly! From You Show Duel School—Shiun'in Sora!"
Sora stepped out, twirling his hand and waving with flair. "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu~!"
"In the right corner!" Nico's voice rose higher. "A new face with a storm in her stride! With her beauty matched only by her devastating duel skills—also from You Show Duel School! Please welcome... Kurosaki Ruri!"
Ruri walked forward calmly. But those who knew her saw something beneath the surface—a silence that could herald a tsunami.
Sora approached first. "Let's give them a good show, Ruri. No hard feelings, yeah?"
But she said nothing.
Sora blinked.
Then his eyes narrowed as he noticed the duel disk she was wearing—sleek, obsidian-black with purple edges. It was her original Xyz Dimension model.
"Oh?" he muttered, barely audible. "So we're playing like that..."
From the stands, Ayu tilted her head. "Why isn't Ruri talking to Sora?"
Ryuki and Rin remained silent. They knew why. And they knew that if this duel went the way Ruri intended... it would not end with just a winner and loser.
As both duelists activated their duel disks, Nico raised his hand.
"The Action Field is now being set—City of Future: Heartland!"
Gasps rippled through the stadium as the holograms reshaped the arena. Glittering towers and flying cars, scenic gardens and neon signs—this was the digital resurrection of Ruri's hometown, long destroyed by Academia.
Ryuki's eyes widened. "Ruri..."
From the Command Center, Shun's knuckles tightened as he stood beside Yuto. "That's Heartland," he said, nearly breathless.
"Reiji," Yuto growled. "Why would you—"
"She asked for it," Reiji answered coolly. "She wanted this. She wanted to fight him there."
Shun clenched his jaw... then relented. "So be it."
In the arena, Sora looked around as he walked into the heart of the city projection. "Heartland, huh? That's a bold choice, Ruri."
Ruri didn't answer. She stepped forward and pointed her duel disk toward him.
The air grew heavier. Even the crowd sensed the tension now.
Then they raised their voices together, in unison:
"Duelists locked in battle!" Ruri began.
"Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!" Sora responded, this time more serious.
"They storm through this field!"
"Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling!"
Nico threw his arm up. "Action—!"
"DUEL!!"
Sora: 4000 LP | Hand: 5
Ruri: 4000 LP | Hand: 5
The final match of the day had begun.
But for Ruri... it was more than just a duel.
It was vindication.
It was reckoning.
It was a storm long overdue.
Turn 1 - Sora
A spark of anticipation surged through the Heartland Arena as Sora stepped onto the dueling field, waving cheerfully at the crowd. His sunny demeanor and carefree energy earned a few giggles from the children in the stands, who were especially taken in by his usual showmanship.
"I'll start this duel! My turn!" Sora declared with a wink. "Let's go cute and cuddly— I summon Furnimal Bear!"
A beam of light broke across the field, revealing a pink, plush-looking bear with tiny wings sprouting from its back and a red scarf flapping around its neck.
Furnimal Bear
Level 3 / EARTH / Fairy / Effect
ATK: 1200 / DEF: 800
The children in the audience squealed with delight.
"Isn't he adorable?" Sora beamed. "But wait—there's more cuteness on the way! When I control a 'Furnimal,' I can Special Summon Furnimal Sheep from my hand!"
Another beam of light descended, this time revealing a round, fluffy yellow sheep with stubby limbs and tiny angel wings. It bounced into place beside Bear, eliciting another wave of delighted gasps from the stands.
Furnimal Sheep
Level 2 / EARTH / Fairy / Effect
ATK: 400 / DEF: 800
Even the production team played into the moment, projecting heart emojis on the arena's holographic display.
Sora smiled innocently. "I'll set one card and call it a turn. I wouldn't want to scare the crowd too early."
As his turn ended, Sora's eyes darted momentarily toward Ruri. She hadn't so much as flinched since the duel started. Her silence didn't go unnoticed.
Sora: 4000 | Hand: 2
Ruri: 4000 | Hand: 5
Turn 2 – Ruri
Ruri's eyes were steady, cold, and unreadable. She reached for her deck, her fingers barely trembling. "It's my turn. Draw."
She silently assessed her hand. Good. She had everything she needed.
"Since I control no monsters, I Special Summon Battle Siren, Pantea from my hand."
From the glimmering waters of the Heartland river, a figure burst forth. A mermaid with shimmering rainbow tail fins, dressed in a navy-blue military uniform and wielding a curved green axe, landed in a spray of water beside her Duel Disk. Her long salmon-pink hair flowed behind her like ribbons.
Battle Siren, Pantea
Level 4 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1000
Young girls in the crowd leaned forward, fascinated by the poised and radiant mermaid warrior.
"When summoned by her own effect, Pantea's level can increase by 1 or 2. I choose to raise her level by 2."
Battle Siren, Pantea
Level 4 → 6
Ruri continued, unfazed. "Next, since I control a 'Battle Siren,' I Special Summon Battle Siren, Cressida from my hand. However, her ATK and DEF drop to zero."
From beneath the holographic water, a second mermaid leapt onto the field—this one with short dark-violet hair and fierce magenta eyes. She wielded twin sickles linked by a chain, and wore the same militant uniform.
Battle Siren, Cressida
Level 3 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 2
ATK: 1700 → 0 / DEF: 1100 → 0
"I activate Cressida's effect," Ruri declared. "Once per turn, I can return one card in my hand to my deck, then draw. If the card I draw is a monster, I can Special Summon it."
She slid a card back into her deck, and with a sharp, fluid draw, she revealed the top card—it gleamed with the blue frame of a monster.
"I drew Blue Storm Battle Princess, Lynpia. I Special Summon her."
From the depths emerged a commanding presence. A woman in officer's garb with long, silver hair hovered above the water. Fourteen glowing green projectiles—each resembling a high-speed missile—hovered in formation behind her.
Blue Storm Battle Princess, Lynpia
Level 6 / WATER / Warrior / Effect / Wave 1
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1900
"Since Cressida summoned Lynpia, Cressida's level matches Lynpia's."
Battle Siren, Cressida
Level 3 → 6
The tension rose in the stands. Shun narrowed his eyes. "She's going for it already."
Yuto nodded. "An early Xyz play... classic Ruri."
"I overlay my Level 6 Pantea, Cressida, and Lynpia!"
The trio of mermaids swirled upward, turning into three streaks of blue light as they circled a growing vortex of darkness above the river.
"Currents of fate—gather and surge into a cyclone of steel! Crash your foes into a watery grave! Xyz Summon! Arise, Rank 6! Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom!"
A mighty dragon made of liquid steel erupted from the vortex. Its body was a coiling force of metallic scales, jets, and turbines, constantly rippling with surging blue energy. With a roar, it took its place above the cityscape.
Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom
Rank 6 / WATER / Dragon / Xyz / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 | OU: 3
The audience gasped. Even Nico Smiley was caught mid-commentary. "Incredible! Ruri's made an expert triple-material Xyz Summon in just her second move! And that dragon is not here to play!"
"In addition," Ruri announced, "when Maelstrom is Xyz Summoned using a monster whose level was changed—like Pantea's—Maelstrom gains 1000 ATK."
Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom
ATK: 3000 → 4000
Ruri was not finished. "Lynpia's effect activates. If she's used to summon a 'Blue Storm' or 'Blue Wave' Xyz Monster, I draw 1 card for every 2 ranks that monster has. Maelstrom is Rank 6. I draw 3."
With grace, Ruri drew her cards, restoring her hand. Sora's carefree smirk was beginning to twitch.
"Now I enter the Battle Phase." Her voice was suddenly cold. "Maelstrom, attack Furnimal Sheep! Tidal Barrage!"
The missiles surrounding Maelstrom locked on and launched, each bursting through the sky in arcs of blue fire. But Sora was quick—he vaulted up a stair rail, flipping in midair as he swiped an Action Card.
"Action Magic—Evasion! I dodge that!"
A shimmer enveloped the yellow sheep as it sprang away just before the missiles exploded harmlessly in the water. The crowd cheered at the narrow escape, but Ruri's expression didn't even flicker.
"You'll have to try harder than that if you want to win, Ruri~," Sora teased with a grin. "Xyz monsters like yours can't handle the fury of my Fusion playstyle!"
Ruri's reply came like ice. "Against scum like you, I don't need to. My deck works just fine against dogs who bark loud but run when challenged."
Sora's grin faltered for a moment. The tension on the field climbed—he hadn't expected her to be so sharp, so cold. Not her.
"I set two cards," Ruri said, placing the final cards from her hand face-down. "I end my turn. Maelstrom's ATK returns to normal."
Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom
ATK: 4000 → 3000
Sora: 4000 | Hand: 2
Ruri: 4000 | Hand: 4
From the stands, tension began to mount.
"Why is Ruri so cold to Sora?" Yuzu asked, her voice filled with worry.
"It's like she has a grudge on him or something," Gongenzaka added, arms crossed in unease.
But neither Ryuki nor Rin answered. They simply watched.
Turn 3 – Sora
"Ho~?" Sora smirked as he drew his card. "Then I'll show you that this dog has a vicious bite! My turn!"
He slapped a card onto his Duel Disk. "I summon—Furnimal Owl!"
From a gentle swirl of sparkles, a brown and yellow stuffed owl with tiny glasses appeared, hooting cheerfully beside Sora.
Furnimal Owl
Level 2 / EARTH / Fairy / Effect
ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000
The audience let out another squeal, the children smiling again.
"I activate Furnimal Owl's effect! When summoned, I can add Polymerization from my Deck to my hand!" A card ejected from his deck, and he immediately held it aloft. "And now I play it!"
A familiar swirl of violet light consumed the field.
"I fuse my Furnimal Owl on the field with Edge Imp Scissors from my hand!"
The soft, gentle owl and a hellish pair of demonic scissors were both sucked into the vortex.
"Demonic claws and razor-sharp talons—twist together and show your monstrous form! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 6! The mystical jungle beast that tears its prey to ribbons—Death-Toy Scissors Tiger!"
The fusion vortex erupted into an eerie laugh. Emerging from the swirl came a teal-colored stuffed tiger, its torso housing a grotesquely oversized pair of scissors. The creature snarled and let out a bone-chilling, maniacal cackle.
Death-Toy Scissors Tiger
Level 6 / DARK / Fiend / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 1900 / DEF: 1200
The children gasped in horror—some even began to cry. Their cute owl had transformed into something twisted.
"Oh, put a sock in it!" Sora snapped irritably toward the audience, rolling his eyes.
Gasps filled the crowd—not just from the kids, but from adults and duelists alike.
"I activate Scissors Tiger's effect!" Sora declared. "When this card is Fusion Summoned, I destroy cards on your field equal to the number of materials I used—two! Say goodbye to Maelstrom and your rightmost set card!"
The tiger leapt forward, scissors glowing menacingly. But Ruri raised her hand.
"Trap open!" she called coldly. "Dead in the Water!"
A towering anchor exploded from beneath Maelstrom, dragging down chains that wrapped around the tiger's legs, halting its advance.
"When a WATER monster is targeted for an attack or card effect, I can negate that effect—and that card can't attack this turn."
Sora clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tch... Trying to slow me down, huh? That's fine. I'll just speed up!"
He slammed another card into his Duel Disk. "Trap card activate! Death-Toy Carnival!"
"Since I Fusion Summoned a 'Death-Toy' Fusion Monster this turn, I banish Polymerization from my Graveyard to Fusion Summon again! I fuse Furnimal Bear on my field with Edge Imp Scissors in my Graveyard!"
The bear and demonic scissors spun together into another vortex.
"Claws of the Demon, fangs of the beast—fuse together and manifest your horror! Fusion Summon! Arise! Level 6! The grotesque juggernaut that tears everything—Death-Toy Scissors Bear!"
This time, a demonic stuffed bear burst forth—larger, more deranged, and holding an even more terrifying version of the scissors. It too laughed, mimicking its tiger counterpart.
Death-Toy Scissors Bear
Level 6 / DARK / Fiend / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 2200 / DEF: 1800
Cheers erupted for Sora's consecutive Fusion Summons—except from the youngest in the crowd, who were now bawling in distress. The once-cute duelist had turned their furry friends into nightmares.
"And now," Sora said, "Scissors Tiger's effect continues! For every 'Furnimal' or 'Death-Toy' on my field, all my monsters gain 300 ATK!"
Both of Sora's monsters surged with dark energy.
Death-Toy Scissors Tiger
ATK: 1900 → 2500
Death-Toy Scissors Bear
ATK: 2200 → 2800
"And lucky me..." Sora grinned as he picked up an Action Card. "I activate Action Magic – Oversword! This gives Scissors Bear 1000 more ATK!"
Death-Toy Scissors Bear
ATK: 2800 → 3800
"Now it's time to show you what Fusion's made of! Battle! Scissors Bear, destroy Maelstrom!"
The monstrous bear lunged, scissors spinning in a vicious cyclone. But Ruri was ready.
"Trap open!" she called firmly. "Shield of the Seventh Layer!"
A brilliant light-blue shield, adorned with coral and shells, materialized before Maelstrom. The scissors rebounded off harmlessly.
"This trap negates the attack and switches your monster to Defense Position. After that, I draw 2 cards."
Death-Toy Scissors Bear
Position: Attack → Defense
Ruri calmly added two more cards to her hand.
"Damn it all!" Sora shouted. "I end my turn!"
Death-Toy Scissors Bear
ATK: 3800 → 2800
The crowd murmured at the outburst. From the stands, Ayu tugged on Yuzu's sleeve.
"Ruri-chan's really serious... why's she not talking to Sora?"
Yuzu didn't answer, and neither did Ryuki or Rin. But their silence said more than words ever could.
Sora: 4000 | Hand: 1
Ruri: 4000 | Hand: 6
Turn 4 – Ruri
"My turn—Draw!"
The crisp sound of Ruri's card draw echoed across the burning memory of Heartland. Her gaze flicked down, then rose to meet Sora's. But there was no warmth in her expression—only a glacial calm that masked a storm.
From her Duel Disk, an azure spark pulsed.
"I guess the warm-up is over," she said aloud.
The tone was soft, but the whole arena heard it. The words dropped like a stone in still water, sending ripples of confusion and unease through the crowd.
"Huh?" Sora blinked in disbelief. "What did you just say?"
"You mean Ruri-nee-chan wasn't serious before?" Ayu gasped.
"She was holding back?" Tatsuya added, eyes wide.
Yuya's voice came in a near whisper. "She's toying with him."
"I said..." Ruri repeated, her tone colder than before, "...the warm-up's over. This turn... let's see if you can survive."
In that moment, the atmosphere shifted. A sinister energy wrapped around Ruri like a cloak, and her PSYqualia flared—a deep, storm-blue glow flickering across her eyes.
Then came the chant.
"I activate the Spell: Rank-Up-Magic – Maelstrom Force!"
Gasps filled the stadium. Even the most seasoned duelists in the crowd leaned forward in disbelief.
"Rank-Up-Magic?! But that's... isn't that for Xyz monsters?" someone exclaimed.
"Never heard of one called Maelstrom Force," another whispered.
But Ruri was deaf to the noise. Her focus was absolute.
"I target my Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom... and rebuild the Overlay Network!"
The dragon raised its head to the sky and let out a thunderous roar as its body was reduced to a glowing line of energy, twisting upward into a black vortex above.
"O raging tides, crash forth with sovereign fury! The eye of the storm has judged the battlefield—no mercy, no escape! I call upon the torrent that tears through all resistance! Let the ocean rise as your doom is sealed by its might!"
She raised her hand high.
"Rank-Up Xyz Change! Appear now—Rank 8! Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom!!"
A colossal pillar of water erupted from the vortex. Within it, a silhouette churned in the deep. The shadow's eyes gleamed—a predator in the tide.
The water collapsed in on itself, revealing a beast far more dreadful than its predecessor. Clad in dark blue scales and dark magenta armor, its claws shimmered like crystalized coral. Ten massive arc-panels unfurled behind it like regal wings, glistening with aquatic energy.
Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom
Rank 8 / WATER / Dragon / Xyz / Effect / Wave 1-3
ATK: 3500 / DEF: 2800 | OU: 4
The temperature dropped. Even the simulated water around the Heartland field grew choppier, as if the arena itself feared the creature that now loomed above it.
"W-what is that?!" Yuzu stammered. Unbeknownst to her, her bracelet began to glow faintly.
Rin's fists clenched. Her own PSYqualia pulsed. "Such darkness..."
Ryuki's voice was nearly a whisper. "That's Ruri's hatred for Academia... given form."
"What's the big deal?!" Sora barked, masking unease with bravado. "So you Ranked-Up—it doesn't look that strong!"
Ruri's cold eyes narrowed slightly. "We'll see how long you can keep talking."
"When Glory Maelstrom is Xyz Summoned using Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom as material, I Special Summon two monsters from my hand or Graveyard. They each gain 1000 ATK."
Two flashes of light sparkled at her sides.
"I Special Summon Battle Siren, Nicoletta and Battle Siren, Cipla—from my hand!"
From the river emerged Nicoletta, a mermaid with long flowing red hair wearing a navy uniform. Cipla followed, a mermaid with red hair like Nicoletta but is tied in a ponytail and she's holding a pair of pistols.
Battle Siren, Nicoletta
Level 6 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1
ATK: 2000 → 3000
Battle Siren, Cipla
Level 5 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 2100 → 3100
On the observation deck, Yuto clenched the railing.
"This isn't the Ruri we knew..."
Shun nodded grimly. "It's her rage. Her fury toward Academia..."
He said nothing of the guilt that gnawed at him—the knowledge that Reiji had barred him from entering the tournament not for lack of strength, but because of his prior rampage through Fusion Duelists. Reiji had chosen to protect the event's integrity. And Shun had accepted that... reluctantly.
But now, as Ruri unleashed that same fury in his place, he felt the bitter sting of it all over again.
"Three monsters with over 3000 ATK..." Gongenzaka murmured. "Sora will need a miracle to survive."
Ruri raised her hand.
"Battle. Glory Maelstrom, attack Death-Toy Scissors Tiger!"
The storm dragon's wings unfurled. "At this moment, I activate Glory Maelstrom's effect! By detaching one Overlay Unit, when this card attacks, you can't activate any Spells or Traps for the rest of the Battle Phase."
Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom
Overlay Units: 4 → 3
A shimmering pulse of sea-light surged across the field, cutting off any further response from Sora's side.
Sora's eyes widened in horror. "Wait, you're sealing my cards—?!"
Ruri didn't answer. She simply lowered her hand.
"Sink."
The arc-panels behind Glory Maelstrom split apart and fired a relentless barrage of laser-like torrents. They slashed through the field like a monsoon, obliterating Scissors Tiger with a wailing scream of pain. The aftermath lit up the buildings of Heartland in artificial flame, turning the picturesque city into a sea of fire and smoke.
Sora: 4000 → 3000
"Now that Tiger's gone, Scissors Bear's ATK returns to normal."
Death-Toy Scissors Bear
ATK: 2800 → 2200
Ruri continued with the ruthless calm of a storm.
"Nicoletta, attack Scissors Bear."
Sora's eyes darted up. He spotted something—an Action Card hanging from a hovering banner above the plaza.
"Tch—!"
In a feat of agility, Sora somersaulted onto a flagpole, kicked off a nearby lamppost, and grabbed the card mid-air. He landed in a crouch and slapped the card down.
"Action Magic – Big Escape! I end your Battle Phase!"
The crowd burst into chatter, half cheering, half stunned.
"You're very lucky, Sora," Ruri said flatly. "If you hadn't grabbed that card, this duel would've ended. After Glory Maelstrom attacks, I could've activated its Wave ability—revealing the top three cards of my deck. If any are Monster Cards, Glory Maelstrom attacks again, and gains 1000 ATK."
Silence. The audience did the math.
A second attack at 4500? With Nicoletta and Cipla still ready to strike? It would've been over.
"Talk about saved by the skin of his teeth..." Shuzo muttered, clutching his chest.
"But the city..." Ayu whispered. The Heartland replica that once shimmered with neon light and warmth was now drowned in crimson flames and smoke.
"I set one card face-down," Ruri concluded. "End turn."
With the end of the Battle Phase, the temporary power boost dissipated.
Battle Siren, Nicoletta
ATK: 3000 → 2000
Battle Siren, Cipla
ATK: 3100 → 2100
The flames flickered in the reflection of Ruri's eyes. Her expression remained unchanged.
Sora: 3000 | Hand: 1
Ruri: 4000 | Hand: 3
Turn 5 - Sora
"I'm not liking this at all..." Yuya muttered as his hands clenched the edge of his seat.
"Huh?" Yuzu turned to him, sensing the unease in his voice. "What's wrong, Yuya?"
He didn't look at her, his eyes fixated on the duel.
"I can't explain it... but something's coming. Something bad."
Gongenzaka overheard the exchange and turned to Ryuki. "Ryuki. Do you know what this is really about? Between Ruri and Sora?"
Ryuki's arms were crossed, expression unreadable.
"I do. But it's not my place to tell," he said calmly, his gaze never leaving the battlefield. "Let the duel speak for itself."
The camera panned back to the Action Field. Sora stood opposite Ruri, his teeth clenched and sweat glistening on his brow.
"My turn! Draw!"
The moment his fingers touched the card, a wide, wicked grin spread across his face. He looked at his hand—and something inside him twisted. Something cruel. Something delighted.
"Perfect."
He raised a card high, voice booming with delight.
"I activate the Spell: Card of Demise! I draw until I have five cards in my hand. But five turns from now, I discard my entire hand!"
As the cards slid into his hand one after another, the grin only widened.
"Now this... THIS is going to be fun."
A dark chuckle escaped him. Some in the audience flinched. The air had changed. It was heavy, choking. Even the holographic flames around Heartland seemed to flicker and tremble in anticipation.
"First off," Sora declared, "I activate my second Polymerization! I fuse Furnimal Leo and Edge Imp Saw—both from my hand!"
A pair of light streaks—one soft and stuffed, the other cruel and mechanical—were sucked into a swirling violet vortex.
"Demonic claw! Sharp fangs! Become one and show us the true meaning of power! Fusion Summon!! Appear, Level 7! The king of beasts that saws everything in sight—Death-Toy Wheel Saw Lion!"
The vortex exploded in a flash of violet lightning as the once-adorable Furnimal Leo emerged grotesquely altered. Circular saw blades burst from its limbs and face, its button eyes replaced by rotating steel teeth. It cackled maniacally, drowning out even the sound of the holographic flames behind it.
Death-Toy Wheel Saw Lion
Level 7 / DARK / Fiend / Fusion / Effect
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2000
The children in the crowd screamed in terror. Many hid behind their parents or covered their eyes. What had started as a cutesy duel had now turned into a waking nightmare.
And Sora was enjoying it.
He leaned forward, his smirk sinister. "I activate Wheel Saw Lion's effect! I destroy one monster you control and inflict damage equal to its ATK! Say goodbye to your Glory Maelstrom!"
The lion reared up and launched its saws—each one spinning with deadly force—toward Ruri's magnificent dragon.
But Ruri, unflinching, activated her trap.
"Trap card open—Wave Trade. When a WATER Xyz Monster with at least 2 Overlay Units is targeted for destruction by a card effect, I can detach 1 Overlay Unit and halve its ATK. Then, when it's destroyed, I draw 1 card for each remaining Overlay Unit."
The sea shimmered. Glory Maelstrom's ATK plummeted as a blue aura enveloped it.
Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom
ATK: 3500 → 1750
OU: 3 → 2
The saws struck. The mighty sea dragon roared—then exploded into a burst of water and light, vanishing into the depths.
Smoke and mist filled the arena.
When it cleared, Ruri was still standing—her Life Points halved but far from finished.
Ruri: 4000 → 2250
The crowd gasped.
Sora's face contorted with disbelief. "What?! No way—NO WAY! How are you still at 2250?!"
Ruri looked at him with the same neutral calm.
"As I said. Wave Trade. I detached one Overlay Unit to halve Glory Maelstrom's ATK. It still got destroyed, but since it had 2 Overlay Units left, I draw 2 cards."
She drew without hesitation. Her voice remained calm—utterly detached.
"I see..." Yuya murmured from the stands. "She planned for that."
"She anticipated it," Ryuki confirmed. "That wasn't survival. That was calculation."
Sora gritted his teeth. "Tch! Doesn't matter! I'll finish you off the old-fashioned way! First, I switch my Scissors Bear back to attack position! Wheel Saw Lion—attack Battle Siren, Nicoletta!"
He pointed dramatically, but Ruri raised another card in response.
"Quick-Play Spell—Song of the Siren. When you declare an attack and I control a 'Battle Siren,' I end the Battle Phase."
The two Battle Sirens, Nicoletta and Cipla, began to sing. Their song wasn't enchanting—it was haunting. A dissonant lullaby that echoed through the flaming ruins of Heartland.
Wheel Saw Lion hesitated. Then Scissors Bear too.
Their blades dulled. Their cackling ceased. They stopped in place, entranced and immobilized.
"The moment Song of the Siren resolves," Ruri continued, "Nicoletta and Cipla are sent to the Graveyard. Then I gain 200 Life Points multiplied by their combined Level. Nicoletta is Level 6. Cipla is Level 5. That's 2200 Life Points."
A surge of mist flowed toward Ruri as her Duel Disk pulsed gently.
Ruri: 2250 → 4450
"What?! NO!" Sora snapped. "Damn it! DAMN IT ALL!"
He was stomping on the ground as he growled through clenched teeth.
The children, who had just begun to stop crying, flinched again at his outburst.
"I END MY TURN!!"
Sora turned away from the field, visibly fuming. For the first time, his demeanor wasn't cocky or charming. It was ugly. Petty. The mask he wore—cracked just a little more.
Yuya shook his head. "He's breaking down."
"Ruri's not just beating him," Rin added, her PSYqualia still faintly glowing. "She's dismantling him."
Sora: 3000 | Hand: 2
Ruri: 4450 | Hand: 4
Turn 6 - Ruri
The fire was everywhere now. The once-glimmering city of Heartland, recreated by the Action Field, was no longer the vibrant metropolis of dreams and childhood wonder. No, it had become a battlefield drenched in flames, smoke curling around collapsed towers and shattered streets. And at the eye of the storm, two duelists stood—one laughing, one seething.
"Scissors Bear! Attack that building!" Sora shouted with sadistic glee.
Death-Toy Scissors Bear leapt forward and, with a twisted shriek, tore through the side of a nearby skyscraper. Glass and steel crashed downward like rain. The force of the destruction caused a chain reaction as the tower toppled into another. The crowd flinched at the sound.
"Um... isn't destroying the field... for no reason... a little much?" Nico Smiley's voice quivered with unease, failing to mask the tremble in his throat.
Ruri's voice sliced through the tension like a blade. "Unnecessary? Sadistic? Or just plain destruction?"
Her tone was cold—so cold it could have frozen the very flames burning around her. She took one step forward.
"This is what you do, right? Invading another land... destroying everything in sight... for fun, right?"
The silence that followed her question was heavy. Yuya's eyes widened as something in Ruri's voice clicked. A realization struck.
"Wait... don't tell me—!" Yuya was about to speak further when Ryuki, without even turning to him, spoke calmly:
"Looks like you've finally figured it out, Yuya."
"What are you talking about?" Gongenzaka demanded. "What did Yuya realize?"
Ryuki didn't even blink as he answered. "When I first spoke with Yuya, Shuzo-san, and Yoko-san... I told them what happened to Ruri's hometown. Heartland wasn't destroyed by a natural disaster. It was invaded. Burned to the ground by people. People like... him." He gestured toward Sora.
The gasp that followed was collective.
"No way..." Futoshi whispered. "Sora's our friend..."
"Look at what's happening," Ryuki said softly. "Keep watching."
And they did. The duel paused as both duelists stared each other down in the flickering inferno.
Sora smirked. "Finally," he murmured. "Finally, I've found someone fun to hunt."
That was it. That was the matchstick to the powder keg.
Ruri's fingers clenched tightly into fists. Her expression didn't waver, but her fury was palpable now—boiling just beneath the surface. Every breath was restrained fury, every heartbeat a drumbeat of vengeance.
"You... destroyed my home..." Her voice cracked—but not from weakness. From rage.
"Heartland," she continued, louder. "The city I grew up in. The streets I used to walk. The schools. The families. You burned them all. You carded innocent people. And for what? A game?! A hunt?!"
Sora was laughing again. "HAHAHA! Oh, you remember it? Good! Then maybe you'll remember this!"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out two cards.
And Ruri's breath caught in her throat.
"No..." she whispered, stepping forward.
The crowd fell silent.
"No... NO!"
Sora's eyes gleamed as he revealed the cards to her. "You were there that night, weren't you? Those two were screaming. Crying. Running like rats with nowhere to go. Ohhh, the sound they made when I trapped them. The look in their eyes... It was divine!"
"Eh?! What's happening?!" Ayu exclaimed as the video feed was cut off.
Reiji who was at the Command Center made the right call to cut the video off, but they can still hear what Ruri and Sora were saying.
Sora's laughter grew manic. "YES! THAT'S IT! THAT'S THE FACE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!"
In the Command Center, Shun's fist slammed into the console. "I'M GOING OUT THERE!"
"STAND DOWN!" the guards blocked his path.
"REIJI! LET ME OUT!" Yuto demanded, eyes flaring.
But Reiji's calm voice cut through them. "Look at her."
The two boys paused—and saw Ruri. Her head was bowed. Her body trembled. But not from fear. From something deeper.
From something absolute.
"She's not breaking," Reiji said quietly. "Something's happening.."
Ryuki and Rin were both silent. Rin's PSYqualia glowed faintly, resonating.
"She's near the brink," Ryuki said to her. "Let's hope she doesn't cross it."
Ruri's hand slowly rose to her chest, gripping it tight. Her PSYqualia flared around her like a deep ocean storm. Her voice now shook with divine fury.
"I... will never forgive you..."
Sora grinned, licking his lips. "Come on, then. Show me the wrath of a grieving child!"
"I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, SHIU'NIN SORA!!!" she roared, her voice shaking the entire arena. The ocean on the Action Field rippled violently as if answering her.
"My turn... DRAW!!!"
The card ripped from her deck like a blade unsheathed. Her eyes glowed blue—PSYqualia erupting.
"This ends NOW!" she cried. "I discard my entire hand... and activate the Spell Card... Zeroth Xyz!!"
A massive sigil of deep blue light erupted beneath her. The Aqua Force emblem appeared on her right hand, glowing fiercely.
Yuya, Shuzo, and Yuzu watched in awe and horror.
"That emblem..." Yuya whispered.
"She's summoning it..." Ryuki confirmed. "Zeroth Dragon."
"With this card," Ruri declared, "I Special Summon three Xyz Monsters from my Graveyard or Extra Deck—ignoring all summoning conditions! Their ATK and DEF becomes zero, their effects are negated, and their Ranks become Levels. And their levels will become 12!"
Three towering columns of water erupted. From them emerged the dormant, greyed-out forms of her fallen champions.
Supreme Ruler of the Storm, Thavas
Rank → Level 4 → 12 / WATER/Warrior/Xyz/Effect/Wave 1-4
ATK: 2500 → 0 / DEF: 2000 → 0
Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom
Rank → Level 6 → 12 / WATER/Dragon/Xyz/Effect/Wave 1-2
ATK: 3000 → 0 / DEF: 2500 → 0
Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom
Rank → Level 8 → 12 / WATER / Dragon / Xyz / Effect / Wave 1-3
ATK: 3500 → 0 / DEF: 2800 → 0
They floated around her like spirits—silent, ready to sacrifice themselves one last time.
Ruri winced and gripped her chest. The Aqua Force emblem on her hand burned. "If I lose this duel after summoning Megiddo... I lose my Extra Deck... and my life."
"RURI!!!" Yuzu cried from the stands, her bracelet glowing faintly.
"I overlay my Level 12 Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom, Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom, and Supreme Ruler of the Storm, Thavas. And I build the overlay network!!!"
The dragons and warrior transformed into three dark blue streaks of light, plunging into a swirling, abyssal vortex.
"From the deepest voids of the ocean... where even light cannot reach... The tide of despair surges forth, dragging all into silence!"
Tsunamis surged on the Action Field. But not just there—across the world, sensors blared.
In the Command Center, Reiji's terminal exploded in red warnings.
"Sir! Multiple oceanic disturbances! Tsunamis—real tsunamis—are forming!"
Ryuki closed his eyes. "Megiddo... doesn't stay in the card."
"I call upon the abyss that swallows fate itself—Let the roaring sea become your eternal tomb! Devour my future and manifest yourself! Magallanica's Zeroth Dragon!
XYZ SUMMON!!!"
The vortex exploded in a tidal column that pierced the heavens. From its depths rose a massive serpentine dragon clad in seafoam armor and glowing white-blue scales.
"Arise, Rank 12!—Zeroth Dragon of Distant Sea—Megiddo!!!"
Zeroth Dragon of Distant Sea, Megiddo
Rank 12 / WATER / Zeroth Dragon / Xyz / Effect
ATK: 5500 / DEF: 4500
Ruri stood atop its head, her hair whipping wildly in the storm. Her face was serene—but her eyes burned with holy wrath. The city that was covered in fire is now extinguished as the only thing that can be seen now is the city in ruins and the city itself is submerged in water.
The crowd were just dead silent as they saw the field in ruins. Some of the children were in tears as they watch the duel turned nightmare.
"I activate Megiddo's effect!" she shouted. "By using one overlay unit, I Special Summon as many monsters from my Graveyard as possible—and they gain 2000 ATK!"
Zeroth Dragon of Distant Sea, Megiddo
OU: 3 → 2
The four Battle Sirens returned to her side.
Cressida, Pantea, Nicoletta, Cipla. Their eyes gleamed. They sang a requiem of vengeance.
Battle Siren, Pantea
Level 4 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 1600 → 3600 / DEF: 1000
Battle Siren, Cressida
Level 3 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 2
ATK: 1700 → 3700 / DEF: 1100
Battle Siren, Nicoletta
Level 6 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1
ATK: 2000 → 4000 / DEF: 1700
Battle Siren,Cipla
Level 5 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 2100 → 4100 / DEF: 1400
Sora was panting now, his body soaked and bruised. He stood on the last remaining rooftop above the water. He had no Action Cards. No defense. Just fear.
"Battle..." Ruri whispered.
"Cipla, destroy Wheel Saw Lion!"
Cipla raised her twin pistols and fired. The shots hit with the force of cannonballs. Sora's Fusion monster exploded.
Sora: 3000 → 1300
He was flung back, smashing into a crumbling tower.
Blood trickled from his lip.
Everyone knew what's going to happen next. Everybody did the math. Whatever Sora will do is just delaying the inevitable.
"Megiddo..." Ruri raised her hand. "I don't need your forgiveness. I don't even need justice."
Her voice cracked—just slightly.
"I just need... to make sure this never happens again."
She looked down on Sora one last time as the boy in front of her cannot do anything.
"Megiddo... finish it. Wrath of Poseidon."
The sky darkened. From above, a colossal trident formed from oceanic light.
Sora stared, wide-eyed, unable to move.
"THIS... IS FOR HEARTLAND!!!"
The trident crashed down, obliterating Death-Toy Scissors Bear and the entire structure beneath Sora. The impact created a shockwave that silenced the arena.
When the water calmed, Sora's body floated in the flood—unconscious.
Sora: 1300 → 0
WINNER: KUROSAKI RURI
The crowd was speechless.
No cheers.
Just awe.
Just pain.
Atop Megiddo, Ruri stood—head bowed, arms limp.
The storm was over.
But the damage... remained.
-----
The floodwaters were gone. The fiery ruins of the battlefield had been swept away as the Action Field dissipated. But even as the virtual terrain returned to its original state, no one in the audience moved.
No one clapped.
No one cheered.
No one spoke.
Only silence.
The echoes of Zeroth Dragon of Distant Sea, Megiddo's wrath still lingered in the air like an oppressive mist. The destruction it had caused, the cries it had evoked, and the sheer weight of Ruri's rage—none of it could be forgotten. Not by those who had witnessed it. Not by those who understood its source.
Even Nico Smiley, ever the professional, remained frozen at his podium. The microphone in his hand was silent. He didn't even announce the result of the duel.
Because it wasn't a duel anymore.
It was a reckoning.
Ruri slowly stepped forward through the now-cleared platform, the spotlight no longer following her.
She knelt beside the unconscious Sora, his body broken, drenched from the floodwaters and strewn with debris. She didn't speak. Didn't curse him. Didn't touch him.
She simply reached down and took what belonged to her. In her hand, she held the only thing that mattered—two cards that had changed her life. The images of a man and woman, their souls cruelly imprisoned within rectangular prisons of sorrow and memory.
Her parents.
And without looking back... she left.
No one dared to stop her.
Far above the arena, in the control room that oversaw the tournament, chaos had turned to grim silence. Only the soft hum of failing warning alarms and flickering monitors remained. Shun and Yuto stood behind Reiji Akaba, both of them visibly pale.
Megiddo's impact had been more than they had imagined.
"It's just like Ryuki said," Yuto muttered. "Its power... it transcends dimensions. The effects weren't limited to just the Action Field..."
"It was real," Shun said, his voice heavy. "The tsunami. The sky blackening. The roar of that thing... it wasn't a simulation."
Reiji exhaled slowly, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "Now you understand why I agreed with Ryuki's condition. That the Zeroth Dragons are only to be used when absolutely necessary."
A new alert lit up on his monitor. A message from the mayor of Maiami.
"All oceanic disturbances have ceased. Please explain what happened. Was this terrorism?!"
Reiji didn't respond immediately. He simply closed the alert and leaned back in his chair.
"It seems... tomorrow will be a long day."
He tapped a button on the console and called for emergency medical personnel. The paramedics were dispatched immediately to retrieve Sora, whose injuries had become far more severe than expected.
Back in the room, Shun noticed Yuto turning toward the exit.
"You're going to her, aren't you?" he asked.
Yuto nodded. "She shouldn't be alone."
Shun extended an arm and stopped him. "There are already two people who will be there for her. Trust them. They're the only ones who understand what she needs right now."
Yuto hesitated—then nodded, stepping back. "Then let's hope they reach her in time."
Arena Tunnel – Moments Later
Ruri's footsteps echoed in the empty tunnel.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of her pain, her fury, and her guilt had finally begun to settle in. The crowd was far behind her now. The applause that never came would never be heard.
She didn't want it anyway.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she clutched the cards to her chest. Her vision blurred—not from pain, but from the emotions threatening to spill.
Then, up ahead... she saw them.
Ryuki.
Rin.
Two figures standing beneath the dim tunnel lights, waiting for her.
Rin didn't say a word. She just ran to her friend and embraced her tightly. Ruri didn't move at first, but when Rin's arms wrapped around her, she finally let go.
Her shoulders collapsed. Her body quivered. And she wept.
Not softly.
Not silently.
She cried with the force of someone who had lost everything and only now allowed herself to grieve.
Ryuki stepped forward and gently placed a hand on her head. It wasn't a gesture of congratulations. It wasn't praise.
It was comfort.
"It's okay," Ryuki said softly. "Me and Rin are here for you. Your brother as well."
Ruri slowly pulled back from Rin and opened her hand, revealing the cards. "They're here... I got them back..."
Ryuki looked at the two cards silently. For a moment, the fire in his eyes returned. But it quickly dimmed as he gave her a solemn nod. "We'll get them out, Ruri. I swear. One day, your parents will be free."
And Ruri broke once more—this time not out of grief, but out of fragile hope. Her sobs echoed down the tunnel, raw and unfiltered. Rin held her tighter, whispering to her softly as Ryuki looked down the hallway.
Unseen to them, around the corner, three shadows watched in silence.
Yuya, Yuzu, and Gongenzaka stood pressed against the wall, their expressions solemn.
"Let's go," Yuzu whispered, her eyes damp. "Let's leave them be."
Yuya didn't speak, but nodded, and together the three of them left the tunnel in silence.
Elsewhere – Earth, Ryuki's World
Across dimensions, the night had fallen.
In Japan, at the FIVA (Federation of International Vanguard Association) Headquarters, a sleek modern tower stood tall over the city skyline. Its corridors were quiet, bathed in soft white light.
Inside the office of the chairman, a man in his mid-20s stood before a large window, his gaze fixed on the full moon. His long, silver-white hair cascaded behind him, and his sharp crimson eyes held a look of deep contemplation.
Ibuki Kouji—the Messiah's Vanguard and FIVA's enigmatic leader.
His desk was covered in open files, finished reports, and a single photograph. In it, three young men stood together: Ibuki, Kai Toshiki, and a much younger Ryuki—smiling like the little brother of the trio.
Ibuki sighed and was about to pack up for the night when his deck, resting beside his computer, began to glow faintly.
A deep light.
A resonance.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Tch..."
Placing his hand over the glowing cards, his soul was instantly drawn away.
Planet Cray – Astral Realm
The sky here shimmered like glass. Stars hovered in place, unmoving, as if time itself dared not tread on this sacred plane.
Ibuki's spiritual form appeared on a radiant platform suspended in the void.
Waiting for him was Harmonics Messiah—the divine entity of creation and balance.
She hovered with her wings curled around her body, her form both angelic and unfathomable.
"You summoned me," Ibuki said. "Something has changed."
Harmonics opened her eyes. "Yes. Cray is on the brink of war once more. And this time... the threat does not come from Earth."
Ibuki frowned. "Then where?"
"A parallel dimension. A dimension where Himejima Ryuki is at now. A darkness is brewing—not only in his dimension, but one that could spill into ours if left unchecked."
Ibuki narrowed his eyes. "Ryuki's involved again..."
"He has awakened a great power," Harmonics said. "And he is not alone. Others, like him, now wield the strength of the Zeroth Dragons. But these powers... they are not without cost."
Ibuki looked at her with grim understanding. "What do you need from me?"
"Gather those who are willing," Harmonics answered. "Those who will fight—not just for Cray, but for all worlds. Once they have assembled, I will speak to them. I will guide them."
She extended her hand, bathing Ibuki in light.
"I will entrust you with this mission."
Ibuki nodded. "Understood."
And with that, his spirit returned to Earth.
Back at FIVA Headquarters
Ibuki's eyes opened as he returned to his office.
The night was deeper now. The city lights outside twinkled like distant stars. He exhaled and turned back toward his desk.
His gaze fell once more upon the photograph—his younger self, Kai, and Ryuki together at a regional championship years ago. Ryuki had been so full of fire back then. So full of belief in justice.
And now, he carried a burden greater than any of them could have imagined.
Ibuki stood, picked up his phone, and began dialing.
He'd need help from those he trusted.
From those who still believed in protecting Cray... and the worlds beyond it.
He turned toward the window one last time and gazed at the full moon—its light distant, but unbroken.
"A storm is coming," he murmured. "And this time... we'll face it together."
To be Continued...
Cards used in the duel:
Perdition Fusion (Normal Spell)
If you have no monsters in the field, pay half of your life points to Fusion Summon 1 FIRE Monster, using materials from the deck, hand, graveyard and Extra Deck. The monster summoned using this card cannot be destroyed in battle or card effects. You can only use 1 "Perdition Fusion" once per turn.
Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame
Level 4 / FIRE / Dragon / Effect / Blaze
ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1500
When this card is summoned by "Perdition Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord 'The Great', destroy one card in your opponent's field and all FIRE Monsters gain 500 ATK.
Once per turn: Destroy 1 card your opponent controls for every 2 cards in your hand (max 2).
Blaze: If "Dragonic Overlord 'The Great'" is on the field, send 3 cards from your opponent's hand to the graveyard.
Perdition Emperor Dragon, Dragonic Overlord "The Great"
Level 10 / FIRE / Dragon / Fusion / Effect / Blaze
ATK 3800 / DEF 3100
Dragonic Overlord + Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame
When this card is Fusion Summoned, return 5 cards from your graveyard back to your deck and shuffle. Then Special Summon "Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame" from your deck to your field. And that card gets 1000 ATK.
When this card attacks, draw 2 cards from your deck and if one of them is a FIRE monster, this card gets 500 ATK. If it's a Quick-Play Spell, this card can attack again. This can be used twice per turn.
Once per turn: When "Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame is in the field, this card attacks all monsters and the attack cannot be negated.
After this card attacked and "Perdition Dragon, Dragonic Neoflame" is in the field, switch that monster to Defense Position and this card can attack again.
Blaze: When this card attacks, for every monster card in your hand, negate 1 card in your opponent's field.
Dead in the Water (Normal Trap)
When a WATER Monster is targeted by a monster effect or an attack, negate that effect or attack and the targeted monster cannot attack for the rest of the turn.
Shield of the Seventh Layer (Normal Trap)
When a monster you control is attacked: Change the battle position of that monster and negate that attack. Then draw 2 cards.
Rank-Up-Magic: Maelstrom Force (Normal Spell)
Target 1 face-up 'Maelstrom' Xyz Monster you control. Special Summon from your Extra Deck 1 WATER Xyz Monster with the same Type and either 1 or 2 Ranks higher than that target, by using it as material (this is treated as an Xyz Summon; transfer its materials to the summoned monster). You can only activate 1 'Rank-Up-Magic: Maelstrom Force' once per turn.
If the Xyz Monster summoned by this card is destroyed, banish this card from the graveyard and that card cannot be destroyed.
Wave Trade (Normal Trap)
When a WATER Xyz Monster is destroyed and it has 2 or more overlay units, detach one overlay unit and reduce that Xyz Monsters ATK in half, and draw one card for every overlay unit left.
Song of the Siren (Quick-Play Spell)
This card can only be activated if you have a 'Battle Siren' in your field. If your opponent declares an attack, activate this card and end the battle phase. After the battle phase, send all 'Battle Siren' Monsters in your field to the graveyard, and gain 200 LP equal to the combined level of the 'Battle SIren' Monsters sent to the graveyard.
Zeroth Xyz (Normal Spell)
Discard all cards in your hand to activate this card. This card cannot be negated. Special Summon 3 WATER Xyz Monster from your graveyard or Extra Deck, ignoring all summoning conditions. Their ATK and DEF will turn to 0, their effects are negated, and their Ranks will become Levels and their Levels will become 12. You can only use 1 "Zeroth Xyz" once per duel.
Battle Siren, Pantea
Level 4 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 1600 / DEF: 1000
If you control no monsters in the field: You can Special Summon this card from your hand. If you do, increase this card's Level by 1 or 2.
Wave 1-2: When this card attacks, it gains 500 ATK depending on the order of the attack.
Battle Siren, Nicoletta
Level 6 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1700
If this card is in your hand or GY and a WATER monster is destroyed: You can Special Summon this card.
Wave 1: Once per turn, if this card destroys a monster, draw 1 card.
Battle Siren, Cipla
Level 5 / WATER / Aqua / Effect / Wave 1-2
ATK: 2100 / DEF: 1400
You can Special Summon this card from your hand if you control a "Thavas" Xyz Monster. This card cannot attack the turn it is summoned this way.
Once per turn: Reveal one card from the top of your deck and if it's a Monster card, this cards level will be that of the monster you revealed.
Wave 1-2: Discard 1 card; return 1 card your opponent controls to the Deck.
Blue Storm Battle Princess, Lynpia
Level 6 / WATER / Warrior / Effect / Wave 1
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1900
If you control 2 or more WATER monsters: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, but its ATK is halved.
If this card is used to Xyz Summon a 'Blue Storm' or 'Blue Wave' Xyz Monster, draw 1 card for every 2 levels of the Xyz Monster summoned
Wave 1: If a WATER Xyz Monster attacked, inflict 400 damage to your opponent.
Blue Storm Supreme Dragon, Glory Maelstrom
Rank 8 / WATER / Dragon / Xyz / Effect / Wave 1-3
ATK: 3500 / DEF: 2800
3 Level 8 WATER Monsters
You can also Xyz Summon this card by using Blue Storm Dragon, Maelstrom you control as material. (Transfer its overlay units to this card.)
If Blue Storm Dragon Maelstrom is used to Xyz summon this card, Special Summon 2 WATER Monsters from your hand or graveyard and they get 1000 ATK.
Once per turn: Detach one overlay unit and your opponent can't activate spells/traps during the battle phase.
When this card attacks third, this card gains 300 ATK for every attack made this turn.
Wave 1-3: After this card attacks, check the top card of your deck and reveal it to your opponent. If the card is a monster card, this card can attack again and gets 1500 ATK.
Zeroth Dragon of Distant Sea, Megiddo
Rank 12/WATER/Zeroth Dragon/Effect
ATK: 5500 / DEF: 4500
3 Level 12 WATER Xyz Monsters
This card can only be Xyz Summoned by using the "Zeroth Xyz" Spell Card. If this card is summoned that way, this card is unaffected by card effects.
Once per turn, Detach one overlay unit, choose as many cards from your hand and GY and summon them in the field, and until the end of the turn, they get 2000 ATK. If the monster summoned is an Xyz Monster, they get 1 Overlay Unit.
At the end of the battle that this card attacked, if you have a monster in your hand: detach one overlay unit, and you can swap one monster in your field and replace it from your hand , and the replaced monster gets 2000 ATK as well.
At the start of the end phase, all special summoned monsters goes to the GY.
When this card attacks, draw 5 cards in your deck. For every monster that you draw that has 'Wave', 'Hollow' or 'Harmony', all monsters in your field aside from this card gains 500 ATK.
If you fail to end the duel when this card is summoned, You lose the duel.
If you used "Zeroth Xyz", you lose 2 turns after you summon this card instead of after the turn you summon it.