(after the end of this chapter's notes, there's a little story talking about the Star Relic archetype which will explain how the Creeper archetype was 'born'.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh VRAINS, its characters, or any of its cards.

Turn 1

Into The VRAINS! The Stolen Skill!

"You... wake up..."

"Wait!" a teenage boy shouted as he jolted upwards from his chair. He blinked twice as he looked at his surroundings, and noted he was in his room.

"Again..." he whispered as he rubbed his face between his hands. "It was 'that' dream again."

The boy had fair skin, emerald green (left) and brown (right) eye, and shoulder length black hair tied up in a ponytail with several white strands running along his cheeks. He wore his school's uniform, which consists of a slate-colored jacket with light blue trim over a white dress shirt with a blue tie and a pair of black pants and black and white shoes.

He sighed as he looked at his black circular shape Duel Disk with a red wristband. He clicked the screen and it activated, showing the time. "I drifted to sleep while doing my homework, again. The third time this week, and it's only Wednesday."

Ketsueki Kioku sighed again as he looked out the window of his room, staring at the orange sky of the afternoon.

Kioku has no parents and also, has no relatives. He doesn't even remember his past, the only thing he knows is that he was involved in the accident ten years ago when he was six. Apart from that, he has these flashbacks in his dreams, and every time there is a young voice talking to him in them.

When he was found in a forest with bruises and unconscious, he was trusted to an orphanage in Den City. After he turned sixteen, Kioku got his own apartment near Den Academy where he attends to, but as a payback, he has to go and help the orphanage every now and then.

Kioku released a tired sigh. "Let's finish this homework so I can watch today's Duels in Link VRAINS," he groused looking back at the work on his desk.

[Everyone! Are you fired up!?] the announcer shouted over the cheers of the crowd. [Many Charisma Duelists are about to duel in Link VRAINS]

"I hope this will be interesting," Kioku muttered as he watched the event unfold on his computer.

[Dueling in Area 1, is Link VRAINS's first hooligan who uses the Gouki Deck: Go Onizuka!]

As the MC introduced, Go Onizuka was standing confidently with a smile on his face near the Eiffel Tower in Link VR.

[Dueling in Area 2, is Link VRAINS's poster girl who uses a Trickstar Deck: Blue Angel!]

True to his words, Blue Angel appeared on the screen next as she smiled and waved her hands to the viewers.

[To all who have access, come to Link VRAINS!] continued the MC. [And for all already here, pay attention to the screen!]

"Geez, SOL Technology is in for it now!" Kioku grimaced as he leaned back in his chair. "They're using this event as means to distract people while they do a scan to the entire Link VRAINS in order to capture that one A.I program. A good way to put people in danger if the so-called Knights of Hanoi attack."

Out of nowhere, a strong headache made Kioku grunt in pain. "What's... this... sensation?"

The screams of several VR avatars could be heard on the screen as they got deleted by the scorching fire of a black scaled dragon which appeared from nowhere and started attacking Link VRAINS. Kioku noticed a figure standing on top of this dragon's head: a white robe and cloaked person with a grey mask over their face.

"Well, what do you know!" Kioku snorted. "The Knights are attacking. If this keeps up, Link VRAINS will be destroyed... I guess I'll have to step in!"

Kioku stood up from his chair and placed his hand on the opposite wall. Like magic, the wall opened, revealing a secret room where a person can easily access Link VRAINS. The long-haired male walked inside as he stood in the middle of the secret room.

"Into the...VRAINS!" shouted Kioku as his body got surrounded by data and 'Into the VRAINS' flashed on his Duel Disk.

"You have successfully logged into Link VRAINS," the Duel Disk's A.I. told. "Welcome: Bloody Talker."

Kioku - or how he was greeted, Bloody Talker, now had a sapphire blue (left) and blood red (right) eye, and long silver hair tied up in a high ponytail with several red stripes across his hair, from which bangs fell over his dual colored eyes. His attire consisted of an armless black outfit, short-legged black pants, black boots, and fingerless black gloves on both hands. Red lines ran across his skin and clothes, starting from his feet to the top of his fingers.

"Vanish!" he heard a voice shout. Bloody Talker turned around to see the Knight of Hanoi on its dragon as it unleashed fire towards Blue Angel. To his surprise, a mysterious fellow saved the Charisma Duelist from the danger.

"Who are you!?" the Knight asked angered and annoyed by the interference.

"My name is Playmaker," he responded as he raised his arm, revealing his Duel Disk with an eye in it. "I have what you're looking for. Stop attacking Link VRAINS; If you don't I'll erase it right now!"

"Hey hey hey!" the eye suddenly interrupted as he glared at Playmaker. "Don't treat your savior as a hostage!"

"I converted this program into a duel program," Playmaker continued ignoring the A.I. "If you want it, you'll have to defeat me in a duel."

"Hoh? A Duel is it?" Bloody Talker asked as he smirked. "So this is the legendary Playmaker. Interesting."

"Fine!" the Knight smirked himself. "You'll learn what happens when you oppose the Hanoi!"

"I'm looking forward to it," Playmaker calmly said.

The two moved to a different location: Link VRAINS's City Area. The Knight and Playmaker glared at each other when the A.I. in the latter's Duel Disk glowed purple as it spoke up. "Cyberse! Release Data Material!"

Bloody Talker widens his eyes. "Cyberse!?"

Suddenly, a pillar of light shot out the Duel Disk as it opened a portal in the sky, from which a purple stream of emerged.

"What's... this?" Bloody Talker asked as he noticed his hair being blown back. "Impossible... is this... wind?" he asked shocked as he felt the strong breeze against his body.

Without warning, Playmaker jumped into the air as a D-Board zoomed past him. He managed to land on it and was now riding the winds as if he was surfing.

"No way!" exclaimed Bloody Talker. "Data Storm!?"

Much to his shock, Bloody Talker watched as Playmaker and the Knight of Hanoi start a duel - a Speed Duel to be precise. The rules are easy: in a Speed Duel, there are three Main Monster Zones, along with the two Extra Monster Zones. Also, instead of five, there are three Spell/Trap Zones just like with the Main Monster Zones. In addition, you start with four cards in your hand and there isn't a Main Phase 2. It's very similar to a Master Duel.

The Knight took the first turn, summoning two weak monsters - in order to use them as sacrifices for a high-level monster, something noted both by Bloody Talker and Playmaker. The summoned his ace monster: Cracking Dragon.

Playmaker started his turn with a dramatic draw, maybe because he had a bad hand Bloody Talker assumed. He first set two cards since there is no Main Phase 2, Playmaker then proceeded with summoning Cyberse Wizard, which as its name suggests, it's a Cyberse monster.

Bloody Talker was getting interested in this guy second by second. The Knight of Hanoi used his monster's effect to lower the ATK of Cyberse Wizard and deal damage to his opponent, but Playmaker responded by activating his own monster's effect to switch Cracking Dragon to Defense Position and deal piercing damage but didn't manage to destroy the dragon because of its additional effect.

The field was pretty even at the moment.

But the Knight used his Skill at the beginning of his turn. Skills are what a player can only activate once per Duel, and is capable of turning everything around when used at the right moment.

DDoS Attack was activated by the Knight, dealing huge damage to Playmaker and making him fall down his D-Board. But before he would've crashed against the ground, Blue Angel appeared and saved Playmaker, evening the score.

But the opponent didn't stop his assault. The Knight declared an attack against Cyberse Wizard with Cracking Dragon, but Playmaker used his Trap Card to protect his monster.

Unknown to him, Playmaker was playing in the Knight's palm. A typhoon of Data Storm swallowed Playmaker while it destroyed several buildings in Link VRAINS, growing in size and power.

When everybody thought Playmaker was lost, the typhoon got cut into two and Link VRAINS's hero emerged out of it.

"What!? How did he do that!?" Bloody Talker cried out astonished.

"Playmaker has used his Skill: Storm Access," his Duel Disk informed.

"Storm... Access?" he parroted as another headache appeared. "Again!? Does this... Skill has to do something with my headache?"

Bloody Talker watched as Playmaker gathered three monsters on his field which he used to Link Summon Decode Talker. Using this new monster's effect, Decode Talker's ATK went up to 3300 and thanks to Cyberse Wizard's effect, he was able to attack Cracking Dragon with zero DEF and deal 3300 Points of piercing damage, winning the duel.

"Storm Access. Playmaker. Knights of Hanoi. Link VRAINS sure is interesting!" Bloody Talker laughed as he pressed a button on his Duel Disk and disappeared.

"You have successfully logged out of Link VRAINS," the male voice told. "Welcome back home."

Kioku hummed happily as he left the secret room which automatically closed back. He settled down in his chair as he started tapping on his computer. "Let's see... Playmaker used Storm Access in order to escape that Data Storm but he didn't explain what the Skill itself does... maybe if I manage to copy it..."

After several minutes of tipping Kioku sighed in anger as he didn't manage to find a way to copy the program. "Tsk... I can't find any program with the name Storm Access in SOL Technology's Data Base... did Playmaker... create that program himself? If that's the case, then I can't copy the program... let me try something else."

"If the program isn't in an existing file... what I'll do is search for when it was used last time and copy it that way," Kioku explained aloud as he smirked.

"There are three reasons why I must copy that Skill. First: I want to know if there are connections between this program and my headaches," he stated as he found the location where Playmaker used the Skill during the duel.

"Second: If there is some kind of connection, I want to know if it involves the accident ten years ago," Kioku continued as he moved his gaze from the keyboard and the computer screen as he managed to find a fragment of the Skill in the Data Storm around the location.

"Third: I can hear it... voices calling to me through that Skill!" he exclaimed as he pressed the 'Enter' on his keyboard and the word 'Loading' appeared on the screen.

Seconds later, the sentence 'Storm Access Download Complete. Transfering Program To Duel Disk' materialized on the screen. Kioku looked to his Duel Disk and saw the words 'New Skill: Storm Access' flashing on the screen.

"I was lucky," he sighed as he wiped away some sweat from his forehead. "This Skill must have been newly made because making a backdoor into its plaintext took me seconds. Normally it takes a few days with the SOL Technology Skill programs. It seems this Storm Access needs some cleaning up."

Kioku stood up from his chair and turned off his computer and changed into his pajamas. "I can do that tomorrow," he yawned as he laid down on his bed. "I'm dead tired," he muttered before closing his eyes and falling asleep.

The next day...

"This goes here. No, wait, here. Wait! No, nooo. It goes here. Tsk, damn it!" Kioku cursed in his mind. "Where does this piece of data go!?" he thought frustrated as he tried to complete the Skill on his Tablet. "Oh wait, stupid me! It goes there! Aha!"

Kioku zoomed out the Tablet's screen as he looked at the now complete and beautiful Storm Access's plaintext. He pressed the 'Save' button as the newly made changes got saved.

"Ketsueki Kioku, could you please tell me what the Tower of Hanoi is?"

The voice of his teacher snapped the long-haired male back to the real world. "The Tower of Hanoi is a mathematical game or puzzle. It consists of three rods and a number of disks of different sizes, which can slide onto any rod."

The teacher nodded as the image of what got explained appeared on the whiteboard. "Very good Ketsueki. Just like your classmate just explained, The Tower of Hanoi is a mathematical game or puzzle which follows three simple rules. First: Only one disk can be moved at a time. Second: Each move consists of taking the upper disk from one of the stacks and placing it on top of another stack. Third: No disk may be placed on top of a smaller disk. The objective of the puzzle is to move the entire stack to another rod, obeying these rules."

Kioku sighed in relief as he made a mental note. "Look out for the teachers while you make updates to your Skill," he thought as he followed today's lesson. He was about to fall asleep - when a sudden shouting of 'It's the Knights of Hanoi!' peaked his attention.

Kioku ignored his classmate's comments and the teacher's words, he went to a live shooting of Playmaker confronting a Knight of Hanoi, who was none other than Go Onizuka undercover.

Playmaker wanted to log out of Link VRAINS, not interested in the Charisma Duelists intentions, but the SOL Technology activated a program which blocked him from doing so. Not being able to back down from the challenge, Playmaker accepted Go's challenge to a Speed Duel.

Go went first, and summoned two of his Gouki monsters, Suprex and Twistcobra to the field before passing his turn.

Playmaker takes his turn and summons a new monster, Linkslayer, and the good old Cyberse Wizard. He uses the latter's effect and targets Gouki Suprex with it, changing it to Defense Position and giving all Cyberse-type monsters piercing effect, at the cost of only being able to attack Gouki Suprex.

Playmaker uses Linkslayer to attack Suprex and cuts Go's LP in half with a single attack.

After several seconds of dramatic silence, Go activated his Skill, Fighting Spirit, reviving all destroyed Gouki monsters. He then proceeded with starting his turn and summoned a third Gouki monster, Riscorpio. He then used the three gathered monsters to Link Summon his ace monster: Gouki The Great Ogre.

The effects of Gouki monsters sent to the graveyard activate, letting go add three new Gouki cards from his deck to his hand. He uses them right away and powers up his Great Ogre's ATK up to 5700 and gathering two new monsters, Twistcobra and Headbatt.

Since the ATK of Playmaker's monsters dropped by a huge amount thanks to the effect of Great Ogre, it seemed as he was going to lose with one hit, but Playmaker activated his Trap Card, Cyberse Shutter which nullified the gained boost thanks to Headbatt.

It seemed like Playmaker made a misplay, but...

"Hoh? Using the opponent's strategies to your advantage, heh," Kioku chuckled in his mind. "Now that your LP are lower than 1000, you can use your Skill, don't you Playmaker?"

Before Playmaker could start his turn, an emergency exit appeared on the track, but the teen didn't go use this opportunity, much to everybody's surprise.

"There are three reasons why I'm continuing this Duel," he started explaining.

Kioku's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the screen. "Three reasons... there are three reasons...? How does... how does Playmaker..." he whispered to himself.

After making his explanation, Playmaker used Storm Access during his next turn and after consecutive Link Summons, he gathered the winning team for today's Duel. Using Link Bumper's effect, he made Decode Talker attack consecutive time while Honeybot protected his monsters. After destroyed Gouki The Great Ogre, thanks to the effect of Cyberse Annihilation, he inflicted 2600 damage to Go wiping away the latter's LP.

"Playmaker... you're involved in the accident ten years ago too, aren't you?" Kioku narrowed his eyes. "If that's the case, then I must Duel you. So I discover... my forgotten past."

Time skip: during the night...

"Alright; everything's in place," Kioku chuckled as he stared at his computer's screen. "I've managed to copy a D-Board from SOL Technology's Data Base and give it my own touch. I've also copied the program used to trap Playmaker in Link VRAINS in case he tries to flee and made it so nobody can create backdoors in order to escape."

"All that there's left is to make the invitation, but it's a piece of cake. All I have to do is find the source code used during Playmaker and Go Onizuka's Duel to create a backdoor and send the message to its maker."

"There," he sighed as he read the written message. Kioku clicked the 'Enter' button and the words 'Your message was successfully sent' appeared on the screen. "Now I have to wait for Playmaker to accept my challenge and we're ready to go."

Yusaku grunted as he opened his eyes to see it was still night. He grabbed his buzzing phone and became confused when he saw the name of Kusanagi Shoichi on the screen. He pressed 'Answer call' as he placed the phone to his ear.

"What's the problem?"

"Sorry to call you this late in the night," Shoichi apologized. "But you have to come and see this. I'm here outside your apartment."

"I'll change clothes and come right away."

Slowly, Ai opened his single eye as he saw Yusaku changing clothes in the middle of the night. "Heh? What are you doing?"

"Kusanagi-san wants to show me something, and you'll be coming with me," Yusaku explained as he put some casual clothes on and took his Duel Disk between his hands.

As Yusaku stepped outside the apartment, the first thing he saw was Shoichi's van parked in front of him and headed inside of it.

"Yusaku, you won't believe this!" Shoichi remarked without even looking at who stepped into the van. "Read this."

"Hello, Playmaker," Yusaku read aloud the message on the screen. "I can't help but notice something you said during your Duel with Go Onizuka today: 'I have three reasons'. Could you please tell me who told you these words - but we children involved in the accident ten years ago don't remember what happened at that time, don't we?"

"What accident is he talking about?" Ai asked confused.

"It's the main reason why Yusaku fights against the Knights of Hanoi," answered Shoichi. "In order to discover the truth about what happened in that accident."

"Oh, that explains why you're so angry at them!" Ai realized as he looked at Yusaku. "But why did the guy say 'we' in the message?"

"Why 'we' you ask?" the teen continued reading. "Because I'm also involved in the accident. I'd like to meet with you ASAP so we can have a little discussion about this."

"Why do I feel this is a trap?" Ai complained.

"Who sent you this invitation?"

"I don't know, it's anonymous but whoever did it must be one of the most talented hackers I know. The person searched for the source code I used to make the backdoor during your Duel with Onizuka and was able to send the message to its maker, namely me," Shoichi addressed Yusaku who stared at the mysterious invitation.

"I'm going," he eventually declared as he headed towards the Log room in the van. "I have three reasons why I want to talk with this person. First: maybe this person knows something about the accident which I'm not aware of. Second: I can feel the determination and power of this person through the message. Third: I want to know... if this person is the one which saved me back at that time."

"This is gonna be bad..." Ai groused as Yusaku entered the Log room.

The teen took his deck out of his pocket and swiped it into his Duel Disk. "Deck Set! Into the VRAINS!"

A blue portal opened on a rooftop in Link VRAINS as the now Playmaker jumped out of it. He scans his surroundings and finds somebody on the opposite side of the roof, watching him.

"Are you the one who sent me the invitation?" he inquired from the person.

"Yes, I'm Bloody Talker. Nice to make acquaintance, Playmaker," the other says with a bow. Bloody Talker reassumed his posture as he narrows his eyes at the teen. "And if it isn't the infamous A.I. program hunted by both SOL Technology and the Knights of Hanoi."

"Finally somebody who shows respect for the great me!" the A.I. laughed as his eye sparkled with happiness.

"Are you really involved in the accident?"

Bloody Talker nodded to the other Duelist. "Yeah. Just like you, I assume?"

"And how can I be sure you're telling the truth?" Playmaker demanded seriously, ignoring the question sent his way.

"That speech pattern you used during your Duel with Go Onizuka, 'three reasons to'. You aren't the one who came up with it. But instead, somebody told you that pattern during your captivity ten years ago."

"That still proves nothing," Playmaker scoffed as he narrowed his eyes.

Bloody Talker closed his eyes as he remained silent. He could feel the gentle wind of the Data Storm across his skin as he remembered...

Flashback

A six-year boy landed on his back as he grunted in pain. The boy had fair skin, shoulder length black hair tied up in a ponytail, and a VR mask on. He wore a black zipper with a white T-shirt under it, black-green pants, and brown boots.

"You lose." a robotic voice said.

"It's no use... I can't win..." the young Kioku whined as he stood up in a sitting position. "My monsters aren't strong enough... just like me..."

"Hey. Get up," a young voice told.

"Eh? Who said that?"

"Three. Think of three things," the same voice continued, ignoring Kioku. "Three things to live. Three things to go home. Three things to defeat the enemy. By thinking you can still live."

"Three. Think of three things," repeated Bloody Talker. "Three things to live. Three things to go home. Three things to defeat the enemy. By thinking you can still live. Does this jog your memory?"

Playmaker remained silent. "What is it that you're after?" he eventually asked.

"Funny for you to ask," Bloody Talker chuckled as he pointed towards the other's Duel Disk. "That AI program is what I'm after."

"What do you want with me?"

"Well, I can't tell you that," the long-haired teen smirked at Ai. "Revealing your intentions to the enemy isn't something I do."

"So you want do Duel?" Playmaker assumed.

"Bingo!" exclaimed the mysterious fellow. "The only way to capture that A.I. is to win against you in a Duel since it's a Duel program."

"And what if we decline!?" Ai inquired.

Bloody Talker smirked wider as he snapped his fingers and Playmaker got surrounded by a yellow glow. "This is also Duel program," he explained to the alarmed opponents. "Unless you Duel me, you won't be able to Log out from Link VRAINS and can't leave through backdoors."

"So it was a trap after all!" Ai grunted as he looked at his holder. "So what do we do, Playmaker-sama?"

"We only have one option to choose from: Duel him."

"Hoh! Why thank you, Playmaker-kun!" Bloody Talker winked happily.

"You trap us into this world and say 'thank you' when we accept your challenge?" wondered Ai. "This person is very much crazy."

Bloody Talker and Playmaker both jumped down the rooftop as they landed on their D-Boards as they flew on the Data Storm. Bloody Talker's D-Board was a similar model to Playmaker's, but it was a red color with black highlights.

"Speed Duel!" both shouted.

Bloody Talker - LP 4000

VS

Playmaker - LP 4000

(The Duel is conducted as a Speed Duel.)

"Since I was the one to challenge you, I'll let you guys go first," the long-haired male chuckled as he zigzagged on the Data Storm.

"He's letting us go first?" Ai parroted. "Could it be another trap?"

"It could be," Playmaker admitted. "Fine, I accept your offer. My turn! I normal summon Kleinant from my hand!"

A robot insect emerged from a portal beside Playmaker as it followed him. The ant had blue and black armor with a glass tube-like object attached to its back.

Kleinant (LV 3/ATK 1500/DEF 1500/Cyberse/LIGHT/Effect)

"While I control the Normal Summoned or Set Kleinant, all Cyberse monsters gain 500 ATK and DEF during my turn only," Playmaker explained. "I set a card face-down. I end my turn."

"Already?" Bloody Talker intoned bored, but he quickly smirked. "Then it's my turn to have some fun. I draw!"

"Yamamoto-senpai, I don't think will find any exclusive scoops during the night," a Pigeon avatar realized as it flapped its wings while carrying a giant fog between its talons.

"I told you not to call me by my real name!" the Frog avatar shouted. "And don't worry! We just have to continue searching until we find something awesome to film!"

"But it's not like Playmaker is going to zoom past us while Dueling or something," Pigeon muttered as they turned a corner between the giant buildings - and were met with two people flashing past them.

"EEEHHH!" the Pigeon cried out startled. "What was that just now!?"

"Playmaker!" Frog shouted with a giant smile. "Quick, follow them! We'll get a bunch of bonuses if we get this footage!"

"Aye aye, Sir!" Pigeon nodded as they followed the Duelists.

"Here I come, Playmaker-kun!" Bloody Talker chuckled as five cards materialized in front of him. He tapped one of them, making the rest vanish. "I activate the monster effect of Creeper Gliater in my hand! Through it, I discard Gliater from my hand to special summon Creeper Axout-C from my hand!"

The card of Creeper Gliater materialized in front of Playmaker, showing the artwork of a mechanical insect creature: it had a single red glowing eye, its body consisted of a flat-rectangle with a sphere of glass with a human heart dripping with venom within it. Several grasshopper legs were attached to its main body through chains, and two insect wings sprouted from the back.

The card vanished as a portal opened beside Bloody Talker as a new Creeper made its entrance. Axout-C's body resembled a T-rex's: two grasshopper legs attached to its mechanical body, two little-clawed robot hands, a single red eye glowing on its head. The only real anomaly was the sphere of glass in the middle of its body with a human heart, dripping with the same substance as Gliater's.

Creeper Gliater (LV 4/ATK 750/DEF 1450/Cyberse/DARK/Effect)

Creeper Axout-C (LV 3/ATK 550/DEF 1750/Cyberse/DARK/Effect)

"What the- but those are Cyberse monsters!" Ai cried out shocked, a sentiment shared by Playmaker.

"This was unexpected," he remarked. "I didn't think he would use Cyberse-type monsters."

"Moving on, I activate the Spell Card Cyberse Memory!" Bloody Talker continued. "With this card, since I control a Cyberse monster, I can draw a card from my deck. If it so happens to be another Cyberse monster, I can draw yet again!"

"I draw!" he declared, revealing the card to his opponent. "Looks like I drew Creeper Recepier-V. So I can draw again! Since I control a Creeper monster on my field, I can special summon Recepier-V from my hand! I also normal summon Creeper Spinete-X from my hand!"

Two new Creeper monsters materialized beside Bloody Talker: Creeper Recepier-V had a similar appearance to a butterfly, with three insect wings attached to either side of a sphere of glass with a human heart, dripping venom. Mechanical insect legs dangled under the sphere, while a single red eye glowed on its head.

Creeper Spinete-X's body was just the usual sphere of glass with a human heart, dripping venom. Two robot claws were attached to its front while two grasshopper legs gave balance from the back. Its single red eye burned on the sphere.

Creeper Recepier-V (LV 2/ATK 950/DEF 1150/Cyberse/DARK/Effect)

Creeper Spinete-X (LV 3/ATK 350/DEF 2050/Cyberse/DARK/Effect)

"In a second he gathered three monsters!" Ai pointed out shocked.

"Is it coming?" wondered Playmaker. "His Link Monster?"

"Appear! The Circuit that will kill my opponent!" Bloody Talker smirked evilly as a Circuit Portal opened beneath him. "The summoning conditions are two Creeper monsters. I set Creeper Axout-C and Creeper Recepier-V in the Link Markers!"

Both said monsters turned into orange tornadoes of wind as they entered the Bottom Marker and the Right Marker causing them to glow red. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Manifest yourself: Link 2 - Jack Creeper of the Crimson Sky!"

The monster which emerged from the portal had the appearance of a royal knight, silver, and golden armor glistened on its body as the moon illuminated it. However, one could look at it and see a monster: a human heart, half rotten and half mechanical, pulsed in the middle of the knight's chest, with purple circuits glowing as the substance traveled across its body. The Link Monster's arms were attached to an ax with red highlights and a sword with blue highlights. A single purple eye glowed on the knight's helmet as it gave an inhuman howl.

Jack Creeper of the Crimson Sky (Link 2/Bottom, Right/ATK 2150/Cyberse/DARK/Link/Effect)

"I activate the effect of Crimson Sky!" Bloody Talker stated. "This sweetheart shall paint the sky red with the blood of his comrades and foes; I destroy Creeper Spinete-X which I kept on my field and is now linked to Crimson Sky, allowing me to draw one card!"

"So he wants to replenish his hand?" Ai asked.

"No," Playmaker responded narrowing his eyes. "There must be something else..."

"The effect of Spinete-X activates!" Bloody Talker announced on cue. "When destroyed by the effect of a Link Monster, it can destroy another monster on the field! Let's say goodbye to your Kleinant!"

"So that was his goal," muttered Playmaker. "I activate the effect of Kleinant! By destroying another Cyberse monster on my field or hand, I can save this monster! I choose to destroy ROM Cloudia in my hand."

"Tch..." Bloody Talker clicked his tongue.

The corrupted knight raised its sword, swinging it at the other Creeper monster, destroying it. It then raised its ax, with the intent of destroying the opponent's monster, but a black furred sheep with pink highlights materialized in front of Kleinant as it took the hit instead.

"I now activate the effect of ROM Cloudia!" Playmaker went on. "When destroyed by battle or a card effect, I can special summon a different Cyberse monster from my deck. I choose Dot Scaper!"

A new little monster composed of cubes appeared on Playmaker's field as its eyes flashed green.

Dot Scaper (LV 1/ATK 0/DEF 2100/Cyberse/EARTH/Effect)

"So you outsmarted me," summarized Bloody Talker. "Due to Crimson Sky, I can now draw. I'll set a card face-down and enter my Battle Phase! Go, Jack Creeper of the Crimson Sky, attack his Kleinant! Scarlet Ax and Blue Sword Slash!"

The knight swung both its weapons at the ant, destroying it with ease.

Playmaker - LP 4000 = 3350

"I end my turn with this," Bloody Talker concluded. "However, I don't really like Crimson Sky by himself on my field, so let's call some friends to the party to keep him company! During the End Phase of a turn in which a Creeper monster was destroyed by a card effect, I can special summon Spinete-X and Axout-C from my graveyard and add Gliater back to my hand through their effects!"

A card materialized between Bloody Talker's fingers and the said monsters reappeared on his field in Defense Position as they screeched.

"How annoying! He got the majority of his monsters back!" Ai complained. "But our field is set! Show him what you got Playmaker-sama!"

"My turn! Draw!" Playmaker drew ignoring the A.I. "I activate the Spell Card Cyberse Memory. Since I control my Dot Scaper, I can do the same thing you did the last turn, draw a card and reveal it. Then, if it is a Cyberse Monster, I can draw another card."

Playmaker drew his card and showed it to his opponent. "I drew Backup Secretary. So I draw an additional card. Next I normal summon Draconnet from my hand and with its effect, I special summon Bitron from my deck!"

A dragon-like monster appeared on Playmaker's field as it screeched. Then, a little oval robot flew down onto his field as it followed Playmaker on the Data Storm.

Dragonnet (LV 3/ATK 1400/DEF 1200/Cyberse/DARK/Effect)

Bitron (LV 2/ATK 200/DEF 2000/Cyberse/EARTH)

"Wow! Playmaker now has three monsters on his field!" Pigeon told astonished as it flapped its wings following the two Duelists.

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Playmaker called out as a Link Portal opened beneath him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning condition is one Normal Monster. I set Bitron in the Link Marker!"

Bitron turned into a blue tornado of wind as it entered the Bottom Marker causing it to glow red. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 1 - Link Spider!"

The monster that emerged from the portal was, in fact, a robot spider with dark-blue armor and light-blue highlights.

Link Spider (Link 1/Bottom/ATK 1000/Cyberse/EARTH/Link/Effect)

"Appear, the circuit that leads to the future!" Playmaker called out as another Portal formed beneath him. "Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are one or more Cyberse monsters. I set Draconnet and Dot Scaper in the Link Markers!"

Draconnet and Dot Scaper turned into two blue tornadoes of wind as they entered the Left and Right Marker causing them to glow red. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2 - Data Handler Wizard!"

A robed human emerged from the portal as it followed Playmaker: his attire consisted of a white robe with light-blue highlights and a black suit under it. His head was covered by a hoody, while some long green hair fell on the right side of his face, covering his emerald eye. Two shoulder pads were attached to its shoulders which glowed with flowing data. The wizard raised his long staff as he gave a battle cry.

Data Handler Wizard (Link 2/Left, Top/ATK 1800/Cyberse/LIGHT/Link/Effect)

"Data Handler Wizard..." Bloody Talker muttered as he gazed at the monster. "A new Cyberse Link Monster..."

"I activate the effect of Dot Scaper! When sent to the graveyard, I can special summon this card back to my field! Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two or more Effect Monsters. I set Data Handler Wizard and Link Spider in the Link Markers!"

"Another one!?" Bloody Talker intoned annoyed. "That's just stupid!"

Data Handler Wizard divided into two as he and Link Spider turned into a green, red, and blue tornado of wind as they entered the Bottom Left, Bottom Right and Top Marker causing them to glow red. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 3 - Decode Talker!"

Playmaker's ace monster jumped out the Link Portal with a swing of its mighty data-sword.

Decode Talker (Link 3/Top, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right/ATK 2300/Cyberse/DARK/Link/Effect)

"Decode Talker made its entrance!" Ai laughed. "Let's defeat this guy!"

"Since I control a Cyberse Monster, I can special summon Backup Secretary from my hand!" Playmaker explained as he held up a card from his hand. He swiped it on his blade as the monster materialized by his side.

Backup Secretary (LV 3/ATK 1200/DEF 800/Cyberse/LIGHT/Effect)

"Let me guess," Bloody Talker scoffed. "Another Link Summon?"

"Yes. Appear, the circuit that leads to the future! Arrowheads confirmed! The summoning conditions are two Cyberse Monsters. I set Dot Scaper and Backup Secretary in the Link Markers! Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Link 2 - Honeybot!"

The humanoid bee monster flew out the Link Portal as it winked to Bloody Talker.

Honeybot (Link 2/Left, Right/ATK 1900/Cyberse/LIGHT/Link/Effect)

"Decode Talker gains 500 ATK for each monster in a zone it points to," reminded Ai with pride in his voice.

Decode Talker - ATK 2300 = 2800 - Linked to Honeybot

"Are you done already!?" Bloody Talker whined. "I'm getting really bored here!"

"Not quite," Playmaker answered to his opponent as he pointed forward. "I activate my Trap Card, Link Revive! With its effect, I special summon Data Handler Wizard from my graveyard!"

A Graveyard Portal opened behind the Cyberse-user as the said monster jumped out the portal.

"Next I activate the Continous Spell Battle Buffer!" Playmaker told as the card materialized on his field. "For each co-linked Monster I have, I can target and negate the effects of that many monsters you control. Currently, I have Data Handler Wizard and Honeybot co-linked with each other, so I negate the effect of your Crimson Sky and Axout-C!"

Two rays of light shot out the Spell Card, hitting the said monsters which lost the glow in their eyes.

"Battle!" Playmaker declared as he zigzagged on the Data Storm. "Decode Talker, attack Jack Creeper of the Crimson Sky! Decode End!"

Decode Talker's eye flashed purple as it slashed the enemy monster into two.

Bloody Talker - LP 4000 = 3350

"When a Cyberse Link Monster battled, I can place one Battle Buffer Counter on my Battle Buffer," Playmaker explained as above his Duel Disk the words 'Battle Buffer Counter x 1' appeared. "And for each Counter, my monsters gain 700 ATK!"

Decode Talker - ATK 2800 = 3500 - Linked to Honeybot

Honeybot - ATK 1900 = 2600 - co-linked to Data Handler Wizard

Data Handler Wizard - ATK 1800 = 2500 - co-linked to Honeybot and linked to Decode Talker

"I also activate an effect!" Bloody Talker abruptly stated. "When my Crimson Sky is destroyed by battle, I can add back a Creeper monster from my graveyard; I choose to return Creeper Recepier-V!"

"He even got Recepier-V back to his hand," Playmaker said. "He must be planning something for next turn. Battle! Honeybot will attack Creeper Spinete-X! Thanks to the effect of Data Handler Wizard, when a Cyberse monster attacks a Defense Position monster, it can inflict piercing damage to the opponent!"

Honeybot winked as it kicked the said monster in its eye, making it explode.

Bloody Talker - LP 3350 = 2700

"Battle Buffer's effect activates, placing another Counter on this card along with raising the power of my monsters."

Decode Talker - ATK 3500 = 4200

Honeybot - ATK 2600 = 3300

Data Handler Wizard - ATK 2500 = 3200

"And finally, Data Handler Wizard will attack your Axout-C!" Playmaker declared as the monster pointed his staff at the Creeper monster, unleashing a stream of data which hit Axout-X and made it explode.

Bloody Talker - LP 2700 = 1350

"I activate my Trap Card, Link Revive!" Bloody Talker announced. "Just like you copied me this turn, I'll copy you as well; with this card's effect I revive Crimson Sky from my graveyard!"

A portal opened in front of the long-haired male as his Link Monster emerged from it.

"I end my turn. At this moment, Battle Buffer is destroyed through its effect, returning the ATK of all my monsters to normal," Playmaker finished as he narrowed his eyes.

Decode Talker - ATK 3700 = 2800

Honeybot - ATK 3300 = 1900

Data Handler Wizard - ATK 3000 = 1600

"Then it's finally my turn!" Bloody Talker announced. "Draw! To start us off, I activate the effect of Creeper Gliater from my hand; by discarding it, I can special summon Creeper Spienete-X from my graveyard. I choose to summon it right under my Jack Creeper!"

The monster-destroying Creeper revived for the third time as it screeched.

"Then I activate Crimson Sky's effect!" Bloody Talker told with glee. "By destroying my Spinete-X linked to it, I can draw a card, but that's not all; I also get to target and destroy a monster you control, Playmaker! I choose your precious Ace Monster!"

"I counter with the effect of Decode Talker!" Playmaker replied with his stoic face. "When cards I control are targeted by a card effect, I can simply tribute a monster linked to Decode Talker in order to negate that effect. As such, I tribute Honeybot to negate Spinete-X's effect!"

Decode Talker - ATK 2800 = 2300

"His plan just backfired!" Ai cheered. "This is too easy!"

"Yeah. This is too easy," Playmaker agreed, confusing the A.I. "First: he was the one to challenge me, thus, I don't think he came here unprepared. Second: if that's the case, and I believe it is, his plan is yet to start. Third: during the previous turns he added back both Gliater and Recepier-V, which he didn't use yet, so he can go for more plays."

"What a nice assumption, Playmaker!" Bloody Talker clapped his hands in praise. "Why don't you see if you were right? You might of have negated Spinete-X's effect, but Crimson Sky's effect wasn't, so I can draw a card since I destroyed a Creeper monster with its effect. Next, I'll special summon Creeper Recepier-V from my hand through its effect. I also activate a Continous Spell Card known as Creeper's Arrival on the Star Relics! When activated, I can special summon a Creeper monster from my deck; I choose to summon Creeper Dendrache!"

The new monster which appeared had a longer body respect the other Creepers: several mechanical legs were attached at the end of its body, while two giant grasshopper legs were attached to its front. A single red eye glowed on its head, and right under that, a sphere of glass with a human heart dripped with venom.

Creeper Dendrache (LV 1/ATK 1350/DEF 550/Cyberse/DARK/Effect)

"Appear! The Circuit that will kill my opponent!" Bloody Talker called out as a Circuit Portal opened beneath him. "The summoning conditions are two Creeper monsters. I set Creeper Dendrache and Creeper Recepier-V in the Link Markers!"

Both said monsters turned into orange tornadoes of wind as they entered the Bottom Marker and the Right Marker causing them to glow red. "Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Manifest yourself: Link 2 - Jack Creeper of the Blooming Flame!"

The new Link Monster that emerged from the portal had an angelical appearance: a set of yellow blades with two larger orange ones at either side extended from its shoulders instead of arms. The angel's body was covered in metal and obsidian armor. However, this angel could be also considered a demon: a human heart, half rotten and half mechanical, pulsed in the middle of the angel's chest, with purple circuits glowing as the substance, traveled across its body. A single purple orb glowed behind the visor of the angel as it gave a high pitched cry.

Jack Creeper of the Blooming Flame (Link 2/Bottom, Top/ATK 1850/Cyberse/DARK/Link/Effect)

"I activate the effect of Blooming Flame!" Bloody Talker stated. "This sweetheart shall bath this battlefield in flames; I destroy Crimson Sky which is linked to my Blooming Flame and inflict 800 damage to you, Playmaker!"

Crimson Sky exploded in data particles as Blooming Flame released rays of energy from its wing-blades, hitting Playmaker and almost making him lose balance.

Playmaker - LP 3350 = 2550

"Big deal!" Ai scoffed. "Like that would make a difference!"

"Oh, it actually will!" Bloody Talker assured pointing forward. "When Crimson Sky is destroyed by a Link Monster's effect, I can target a monster on the field and make its ATK become zero until the End Phase! I choose your Decode Talker! And since the latter isn't linked to any monsters, you can't negate this effect!"

Decode Talker - ATK 2300 = 0

"W-W-Well that changes nothing!" the A.I. stuttered. "Even if you attack, we have plenty of LP to spare and live through this turn!"

"I wonder about that! I set a card and let's Battle! Jack Creeper of the Blooming Flame, attack the weakened Decode Talker! I also activate the other effect of Creeper's Arrival on the Star Relics: I can double one instance of battle damage involving a Creeper monster! Go: Scattering Flames Shower!"

"If this attack hits we'll take 3700 points of damage! Do something!"

"Silence, I have everything under control," Playmaker answered Ai. "I activate the effect of Data Handler Wizard! Once per turn, I can negate one instance of battle damage and draw a card! Also, I activate my Wizard's other effect: once per turn, I can negate the destruction of a monster in a zone it points to, namely my Decode Talker!"

The wizard raised its staff in the air as its tip glowed. Seconds later a transparent barrier formed around Decode Talker and Playmaker as it shielded them from the fire unleashed by Blooming Flame's wing-blades.

"So you've saved yourself and your monster while drawing a card? How interesting," Bloody Talker commented. "I end my turn, and at the same time, the effects of my monsters in the graveyard activate: I special summon Spinete-X and Axout-C in Defense Position and add Gliater back to my hand."

Decode Talker - ATK 0 = 2300

"My turn!" Playmaker declared. "Draw! I activate the Equip Spell Cyberse Annihilation and equip it to Decode Talker. Next, I set a card face-down and enter my Battle Phase. Go, Decode Talker, attack Jack Creeper of the Blooming Flame!"

"I won't let that happen; I activate Creeper's Arrival on the Star Relics' final effect!" Bloody Talker shouted. "By sending this card to the graveyard, I end the Battle Phase!"

"What!?"

Much to Playmaker's shock, a transparent wall of energy formed between the field as it blocked Decode Talker's path.

"However, after this effect resolves, I have to destroy the attacked Creeper monster and draw a card," Bloody Talker explained as his Link Monster vanished from the field and he drew. "Your plan consisted of three steps, didn't it? First: attack my Blooming Flame with Decode while it's equipped with Cyberse Annihilation and activate its effect, making Decode's ATK the same as my monster's. Second: you would then use Data Handler Wizard's effect to negate Decode's destruction, thus, only my monster would die. Third: you would use your equip card's last effect to deal me damage equal to Blooming Flame's ATK and attack directly with Wizard for game. A clever play but not good enough."

"He saw right your moves!" Ai cried shocked. "This guy is really something else."

"Yeah... I set a card face-down and end my turn."

"Then It's my turn!" Bloody Talker declared. "Draw! I activate the other effect of Link Revive in my graveyard: by banishing this card, I can revive my Jack Creeper of the Crimson Sky from the graveyard!"

A portal opened beside the long-haired male as the Link Monster emerged from it.

"I activate my set card!" Playmaker stated. "Emergency Save! When my opponent summons a monster which has more ATK than a Cyberse Link Monster I control, those two are destroyed and I target another Cyberse monster I control, namely my Decode Talker, and you are inflicted with damage equal to half its ATK!"

Crimson Sky and Data Handler Wizard exploded in data particles. Decode Talker raised its sword as it slashed Bloody Talker across the chest, making him wince.

Bloody Talker - LP 1350 = 200

"In an instant, Playmaker has cornered him at 200 LP!" Pigeon shouted astonished.

"Yeah. This Duel will totally get us a bunch of bonuses!" Frog cheered as it threw his hands in the air.

Much to Playmaker and Ai's surprise, Bloody Talker started chuckling - which soon became a loud laugh as if he heard a good joke. "Very good! You cut my LP all the way down to 200, as expected from the legendary Playmaker-kun! But you played right into my trap!"

"W-W-W-What do you m-mean?" Ai asked frightened by their opponent's words.

"Since my LP are 1000 or lower, I'm allowed to activate my Skill!" Bloody Talker told as he pointed forward- towards a tornado of Data Storm. "Behold! The true power of Cyberse!" he shouted as he dashed forward, entering the Data Storm.

"What is he doing!?"

"LP 1000 or lower... Data Storm... Cyberse..." Playmaker muttered as he placed the puzzle together. "Impossible!"

Bloody Talker chuckled as he steadied his D-Board in the middle of the tornado. "Watch and learn, Playmaker-kun! This is... the true... STORM ACCESS!" he declared as the red lines of his avatar's body started glowing. The outline of a card formed in front of his extended right arm, which he grabbed between his fingers.

Bloody Talker gritted his teeth as he held the card in his hand. "So... this is... the power... of Data Storm..." he breathed out. He smirked "Come to me... the sleeping dragon... among the Data Storm... let me hear... your roar!"

A dark silhouette of a dragon rose from the bottom of the tornado as it roared. It braced its arms as beat its wings, creating a strong gust which deflected the Data Storm, making it vanish.

Seconds later, Bloody Talker landed back on the stream of wind as he zigzagged on the Data Storm. "I'll add this sweetheart to my Extra Deck," he chuckled as he held up a card.

"NO WAY! He used Storm Access!" Ai cried out. "How is that possible!"

Shoichi watched wide-eyed as Bloody Talker used his Skill.

"Yusaku... be careful..." he muttered to himself. "This is no ordinary opponent..."

"Now let's prepare my field," Bloody Talker chuckled. "I activate my set card, the Continous Trap Reborn Creepers Under the Star Relics! When activated, I can special summon one Creeper monster from my graveyard; I choose to revive Crimson Sky once again!"

"Once again! Appear! The Circuit that will kill my opponent!" Bloody Talker grinned. "The summoning conditions are three or more Effect Monsters. I set Spinete-X, Axout-C, and Crimson Sky which is treated as two in the Link Markers!"

"Circuit Combine! Link Summon! Manifest yourself: Link 4 - Hex Welchia Dragon!"

A light-brown wing materialized out of data as it stretched out. A clawed hand lowered as its claws glowed a bright red. Two triangular yellow eyes lit up. The summoned dragon roared as it extended its talons and beat its wings. Its body had a vanilla-brown color, a dark-blue chest plate, hands, and feet. Red lines glowed all over Hex Welchia Dragon's body and wings as the dragon flew out the Link Portal as hovered above its new owner.

Hex Welchia Dragon (Link 4/Top-Left, Top-Right, Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right/ATK 3000/Cyberse/DARK/Link/Effect)

"Hey! You used our Skill to get that monster! That's cheating!"

"Quite on the contrary, my dear A.I-chan!" Bloody Talker chuckled as he winked to Ai. "I used my own Skill to get this new lovely monster. It's as legal as it could be. I activated the effect of Gliater in my hand, reviving Spinete-X from my graveyard. Now let's see my dragon's power in action: I activate Hex Welchia Dragon's effect! Twice per turn, I can target and destroy one monster in a zone this card points to, and activate one of two effects; I choose to have him 1000 ATK plus being able to inflict piercing damage until the end of your next turn! Code Devouring!"

Creeper Spinete-X burst into particles of data as the dragon ate its remainings.

Hex Welchia Dragon - ATK 3000 = 4000

"I activate Spinete-X's effect!" Bloody Talker stated. "When destroyed by a Link Monster's effect, I can destroy another monster on the field; I choose Decode Talker!"

"Due to Emergency Save's other effect, Decode Talker can't be destroyed by card effects this turn!" Playmaker revealed as his Ace didn't leave the field.

"I see. In that case, let's try out something else," Bloody Talker told. "I activate the effect of Creeper Dendrache in my graveyard: by banishing this card, I revive Axout-C from my graveyard. Next, I activate Hex Welchia's effect once more! I sacrifice Axout-C linked to it in order to have my dragon gain immunity against card effect until the end of next turn! Code Devouring!"

The Cyberse dragon ate the remaining Creeper monster as its eyes glowed red.

"The effect of Axout-C activates! When destroyed by a Link Monster's effect, it can destroy a Spell or Trap Card on the field! I choose to get rid of Cyberse Annihilation!"

"Oh, my computer Gods! This is bad!" Ai cried out. "Now that Decode isn't equipped with Cyberse Annihilation, we won't be able to avoid taking battle damage this turn! Please, show us mercy!"

"Playtime is over, Playmaker-kun!" Bloody Talker yelled as he smirked wider, ignoring Ai's words who started crying. "Hex Welchia Dragon, attack his Ace if you may! Data Annihilation!"

Playmaker gasped as Hex Welchia Dragon flew over his side as it grabbed Decode Talker's shoulders. The dragon roared before charging a blast from its mouth at the captured Link Monster under its grip, destroying it with ease.

Playmaker - LP 2550 = 850

"WHOAAAA! Playmaker is in great trouble!"

"Don't shout, they might hear you!" Frog hissed at Pigeon. "Image what happens if Playmaker loses! We would be the very first to record his loss and become famous! Not to mention all the bonuses we would gain!"

"So we have to cheer for him to lose? I thought you were a fan of Playmaker, Yamamoto-senpai."

"Don't use my real name!"

"Is that a bird caring a frog?" Bloody talker wondered as he tapped his chin with a finger. "I must be seeing things- by the way, did you see what I did there? Playtime is over, Playmaker? I never made such a good joke in my entire life!"

"Playmaker-sama! Are you alright!" Ai asked with concern.

Playmaker slowly nodded. "Yeah... I didn't expect such a fierce counterattack."

"Our field is bare! What do we do!?"

"Calm down," the teen told his Duel Disk. "There is one way to get us out of this mess. But I need to draw a specific card. Which means my next draw... will be my Destiny Draw."

"How interesting!" the long-haired male clapped his hands. "Destiny Draw? I wanna see that happen. Go right ahead! I end my turn. Once again, Spinete-X and Axout-C revive in Defense Position and I add Gliater to my hand."

Playmaker placed his fingers on the top card of his deck. "There are three reasons why I must draw 'that' card. First: I want to win this Duel and know how this person is able to use Storm Access like us. Second: this person is battling with everything he got, so I have to give it my all as well. Third: I won't let anything end now. I'll continue to improve my skills as a Duelist and discover my past!"

He closed his eyes. "Please... respond to my feelings... Cyberse! DRAW!" Playmaker shouted as he drew his card. He opened his eyes and looked at the card. "I got it. I activate the effect of my own Link Revive in the graveyard! By banishing this card, I can special summon one Link Monster from the graveyard. Revive, Decode Talker!"

Decode Talker - ATK 2300

"I equip Decode Talker with the Equip Spell Code-Sword!" he announced as the sword Decode Talker held elongated as it glowed brighter. "This card can be only equipped to a Cyberse Link Monster, and when equipped, I can change the position where a Link Marker Points to on the equipped monster. I choose to move Decode Talker's Bottom-Right Marker to the Left Position!"

Decode Talker - Bottom-Right = Left

"Now that Decode Talker is Linked with a monster, it gains 500 ATK, plus extra 500 thanks to Code-Sword's additional effect!" Playmaker explained.

Decode Talker - ATK 2300 = 3300

"Even then," Bloody Talker chuckled. "Your monster still doesn't have enough ATK."

"Are you sure?" Playmaker asked smirking.

"Eh?"

"Battle! Decode Talker attack Hex Welchia Dragon!" the teen called out. "At this moment, the additional effect of Code-Sword activates! When the equipped monster battles with an opponent's monster, for each monster linked with itself, Decode Talker gains 1000 ATK!"

"What did you say!?"

"Currently, Decode Talker is linked with Hex Welchia Dragon, so it gains 1000 ATK! Go, Decode End!"

"I activate Reborn Creepers Under the Star Relics!" Bloody Talker quickly shouted. "I negate one instance of effect or battle damage!"

Decode Talker - ATK 3300 = 4300

Decode Talker braced its sword as it raised it. Hex Welchia Dragon roared as it extended its arms forward exactly when Decode Talker swung its sword towards it. The two made contact - but the dragon's hand cracked. The crack further spread down its body, until Hex Welchia Dragon exploded.

"I still have... LP remaining!" Bloody Talker yelled. "Next turn, I'll make you pay for destroying my dragon!"

"There won't be any next turn!"

"What!"

"When the equipped monster destroys an opponent's Link Monster," Ai explained with a cocky voice. "It inflicts damage to the opponent equal to the number of Link Markers that monster had times 300!"

Decode Talker raised its sword once again. The sword enlarged as the Cyberse monster swung it down towards Bloody Talker. He gasped as the reflection of the incoming sword got closer by the seconds could be seen in his eye.

The teen cried out in pain as he was blown off his D-Board by the contact with the sword.

Bloody Talker - LP 200 = 0

Winner: Playmaker!

Shoichi sighed as he leaned back in his seat. "He won... thank goodness..."

"Bloody Talker... what a formidable opponent..." he muttered astonished.

Bloody Talker and Playmaker stood on one of the rooftops. Playmaker had his arms crossed over his chest, while Bloody Talker was sat beside him as he was dangling his feet over the edge.

"So," started the long-haired male. "What are you going from now on?"

"It should be obvious," Playmaker sighed as he looked at the Virtual City. "I'm going to continue fighting until I discover my past."

"But... after that?"

Playmaker looked down at the other teen in shock. "I... haven't... thought about, really. I don't... know."

"I always think about it," Bloody Talker muttered as he stared at the moon. "The future... past..."

"You can't always be thinking about the future of past. You also have to be living in the present."

Bloody Talker widens his eyes. He smirked as he nodded. "Yeah... you're right," he sighed. "Playmaker... do you now... who saved us back then?"

"I don't know myself," Playmaker told as he turned around to stare at the moon. "If it wasn't for that person who told me to think of three reasons to live, I wouldn't be here. But that's why I'll keep fighting the Knights of Hanoi. So I can remember and go save that person if they are still in captivity."

"I understand," Bloody Talker chuckled. "I'd like to help with that goal. I also want to discover my past."

"No," Playmaker quickly said. "The fight against the Knights of Hanoi is a matter of life and death. I don't want to have unnecessary casualties."

"I hope you know that won't keep me at bay."

"Bloody Talker, I'm serious. Don't get involved."

"I'll try my best not to!" he sighed.

The two stayed silent after that. Eventually, Playmaker unfolded his arms as he stood straight. "I have to go. I hope we can have another Duel sometime, Bloody Talker," he told before logging out.

Yusaku sighed as he walked out the Log room - before almost losing balance. Luckily, Shochi was on his foot and grabbed the exhausted teen before he could land face-first against the ground.

"Go easy there," Shoichi warned. "That was a really tiresome Duel. I'll help you up to your room. We'll talk tomorrow."

Yusaku nodded.

"Did you get the scoop?"

"Every second of the Duel, Yamamoto-senpai."

"I told you a thousand of times not to call me by my real name!"

"Don't worry, we're the only ones here!"

The Frog avatar sighed as he rubbed his forehead. "Whatever. Let's see the replay."

The Pigeon avatar nodded as it clicked the camera on top of its head using its wing. "Eh? It's not working."

"Are you searching for this?" a voice called out from behind.

The two turned around seeing Bloody Talker standing there. "If you're searching for the footage, it's here," he explained as a sphere of light danced on his fingers.

"We've been caught!" Pigeon shouted.

"Q-Quick! Log out!" Frog told.

"That's impossible!" Bloody Talker chuckled, much to the other's confusion. "I've already activated the program which I used against Playmaker. Now you can't log out, meaning you can stay and hear what I wanna tell you."

"W-What d-d-do you w-want with us?" they asked in unison as they took some steps back.

"I'll allow you to keep the footage," Bloody Talker explained. "But in exchange, every time there is something ongoing with Playmaker, I'd like to have an immediate message to know. Seems easy enough, don't you agree?"

Both nodded as they gulped.

"And maybe who knows!" laughed Bloody Talker. "If you do good enough of a job, I can award you with some exclusive data which will get you a bunch of money!"

He nudged the sphere from his hand towards the two. It shattered in light as it hit Frog in the forehead.

"There's the footage. There's also a fake number on which you can message me when something comes up. I hope I can trust you guys, right?" he asked as his voice darken. "Because if not: something really, really, really... really bad will happen to you."

"Aye aye, sir!" the two shouted as they bowed.

"Oh, thank you guys!" the childish voice of Bloody Talker laughed. "Bye bye!" he said before logging out.

"Yamamoto-senpai?"

"Yes?"

"What did we get ourselves into?"

"Don't even mention it..."

What do you guys think?

Today's OC: Ketsueki Kioku is a very talented hacker, he can copy other people's Skills, and senses the voices of the Never-Seen-Monsters in the Data Storm. Ketsueki means 'blood' in Japanese. I choose to give him this surname because of the name he uses in Link VRAINS, Bloody Talker, which also has 'blood' in the name. Kioku means 'memory' in Japanese. I choose to give him this name because it would make a cool connection how his name is 'memory' but he doesn't remember his past.

(I changed it to Bloody Talker doesn't say Cemetary anymore, so I don't have to look out for it every time.)

I made Yusaku use ROM Cloudia and Kleinant once again. In the canon, Yusaku also uses some cards which are in the Structure Decks, I decided to make him use these two so he can set up his field for next turn.

So Bloody Talker lost.

I didn't want him to win in the first place because that would mean: Yusaku losing Ai; Yusaku's winning record being destroyed; making Kioku look like a God or something. I wanted for him to lose because all strong characters lose at least once (even Yami Yugi lost against Rafael in the Anime! Or Ryo/Zane against Johan/Jesse while the latter was possessed by Yubel).

- Fanmade Cards:

Used by Yusaku (Playmaker):

- Link Revive

Normal Trap

Target 1 Link Monster in your GY: Special Summon that target. Except the turn this card is sent to the GY: Banish this card to target 1 Link Monster in your GY; Special Summon that target.

- Cyberse Memory

Normal Spell

Activate if you control at least 1 Cyberse monster: Draw 1 card from your hand and reveal it to your opponent. If it is a Cyberse monster, draw 1 more card.

- Data Handler Wizard

1 or more Cyberse monsters

(Quick Effect): Once per turn, you can negate one instance of battle damage. Then, you can draw one card. (Quick Effect): Once per turn, you can negate the destruction of a monster in a zone this card points to. Once per turn, you can target 1 monster your opponent controls: Change its Battle Position. When a Cyberse monster you control attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing damage to the opponent. You can only control one "Data Handler Wizard" at a time.

- Trivia: this card is an evolved form of "Cyberse Wizard" used by Playmaker in his first Duels.

- Emergency Save

Normal Trap

Activate when your opponent summons a monster with more ATK than a Cyberse Link Monster you control. Destroy both those monsters. Then, target a Cyberse monster you control: Inflict damage to your opponent equal to half its ATK. This turn, that monster can't be destroyed by card effects. You can only activate one "Emergency Save" per turn.

- Code-Sword

Equip Spell

Equip only to a Cyberse Link Monster. When equipped, you can change the zone where a Link Marker of the equipped monster points to. The equipped monster gains 500 ATK for each monster in a zone where it points to. When the equipped monster battles, you can have it gain 1000 ATK for each monster linked with it. When the equipped monster destroys an opponent's Link Monster by battle: Inflict damage to your opponent equal to the number of Link Markers that monster had x 300.

- Trivia: This card could be considered an upgrade to Decode Talker's sword because it has the same effect of the 'code Talker' family (the ATK boost effect) and it even inflict effect damage to the opponent which Decode doesn't do.

Used by Kioku (Bloody Talker):

- Link Revive

- Cyberse Memory

- Creeper Spinete-X

Effect Monster

When this card is destroyed by a Link Monster's effect, you can target 1 monster your opponent controls: Destroy that target. You can only use this effect once per turn. During the End Phase of a turn in which a "Creeper" monster you originally controlled was destroyed by a card effect, you can special summon this card from your GY.

- Trivia: this card is the corrupted version of "Crawler Spine". It has the same ATK/DEF stats minus 50 of DEF which is added to the ATK, same monster-removing effect, and almost the same name; this card has 'Spine-' + "te-X", the latter standing for 'delete' and 'ctrl-X'.

- Creeper Recepier-V

Effect Monster

When this card is destroyed by a Link Monster's effect, you can add 1 "Creeper" monster from your deck to your hand, except "Creeper Recepier-V". You can only use this effect once per turn. If you control a "Creeper" monster, you can special summon this card (from the hand).

- Trivia: this card is the corrupted version of "Crawler Receptor". It has the same ATK/DEF stats minus 50 of DEF which is added to the ATK, same monster-adding effect, and almost the same name; this card has 'Rece-' + "pier-V", the latter standing for 'copier' and 'ctrl-V'.

- Creeper Axout-C

Effect Monster

When this card is destroyed by a Link Monster's effect, you can target 1 Spell/Trap your opponent controls: Send that target to the GY. You can only use this effect once per turn. During the End Phase of a turn in which a "Creeper" monster you originally controlled was destroyed by a card effect, you can special summon this card from your GY.

- Trivia: this card is the corrupted version of "Crawler Axon". It has the same ATK/DEF stats minus 50 of DEF which is added to the ATK, same Spell/Trap-destroying effect, and almost the same name; this card has 'Axo-' + "ut-C", the latter standing for 'cut' and 'ctrl-C'.

- Creeper Gliater

Effect Monster

You can discard this card from your hand to special summon 1 "Creeper" monster from your hand or GY. You can only use this effect of "Creeper Gliater" once per turn. During the End Phase of a turn in which a "Creeper" monster you originally controlled was destroyed by a card effect, you can add this card to your hand from your GY.

- Trivia: this card is the corrupted version of "Crawler Glia". It has the same ATK/DEF stats minus 50 of DEF which is added to the ATK, same monster-summoning effect, and almost the same name; this card has 'Glia-' + "ter", the latter standing for the 'Enter' button.

- Creeper Dendrache

Effect Monster

When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can send 1 "Creeper" monster from your deck to the GY. Banish this card from your GY: Target 1 "Creeper" monster in your GY which isn't a Link Monster; Special Summon that target. You can only use this effect once per turn.

- Trivia: this card is the corrupted version of "Crawler Dendrite". It has the same ATK/DEF stats minus 50 of DEF which is added to the ATK, same monster-dumping effect, and almost the same name; this card has 'Dendr-' + "-ache", the latter standing for 'cache'.

- Creeper's Arrival on the Star Relics

Continous Spell

When activated, Special Summon 1 "Creeper" monster from your deck. You can only activate one "Creeper's Arrival on the Star Relics" per turn. Once per turn, you can double one instance of battle damage involving a "Creeper" monster. When a "Creeper" monster you control is targeted for an attack, you can send this card to the GY; End the Battle Phase. Then, destroy the attacked monster and draw one card.

- Reborn Creepers Under the Star Relics

Continous Trap

When activated, Special Summon 1 "Creeper" monster from your GY. You can only activate one "Reborn Creepers Under the Star Relics" per turn. Once per turn, you can negate the destruction of a "Creeper" monster you control. Once per turn, you can negate one instance of battle or effect damage you're about to take.

- Jack Creeper of the Crimson Sky

Link Monster

2 Creeper monsters

Once per turn, you can target 1 monster in a zone this card points to: Destroy that target. Then, if you destroyed a "Creeper" monster this way, draw 1 card. When this card is destroyed by battle, target 1 "Creeper" monster in your GY: Add that target to your hand. When this card is destroyed by the effect of a Link Monster, you can target 1 monster on the field: Its ATK becomes 0 until the End Phase. You can only use these two effects once per turn.

- Trivia: this card is the corrupted and merged form of "Jack Knights of the Crimson Lotus" and "Azure Sky". This card's ATK is equal to the sum of the other two's ATK cut in half.

- Jack Creeper of the Blooming Flame

Link Monster

2 Creeper monsters

Once per turn, you can target 1 monster in a zone this card points to: Destroy that target. Then, if you destroyed a "Creeper" monster this way, inflict 800 damage to your opponent. When this card is destroyed by battle, target 1 "Creeper" monster in your GY: Add that target to your hand. When this card is destroyed by the effect of a Link Monster, inflict 1000 damage to your opponent. You can only use these two effects once per turn.

- Trivia: this card is the corrupted and merged form of "Jack Knights of the Yellow Bloom" and "Flickering Flame". This card's ATK is equal to the sum between the former's DEF and the latter's ATK both cut in half, +50.

- Hex Welchia Dragon

Link Monster

3 or more Effect monsters

Once per turn, you can Move this card to an unoccupied Monster or Extra Monster Zone. Twice per turn, you can target 1 monster on a zone this card points to: Destroy that monster and apply one of the following effects: • This card is unaffected by card effects until the End Phase of the next turn. • This card gains 1000 ATK and If this card attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent. These changes last until the End Phase of the next turn.

Volume 1: The sacred Star Relics created by Gods...

There was once a time when the Gods made direct contact with us, humans.

They used the so-called "Star Relics" made by the Gods themselves: humans used these divine objects to let their pleads and needs to be heard by the Gods across the gates of both Heaven and Hell, and even distant galaxies and parallel worlds.

However, humans soon started only asking more and more from the Gods, their greediness corrupting their hearts. Thus, the Gods took action: they sealed the power of the relics, making them become lifeless objects.

We humans moved on: we didn't see hope in the Gods anymore, but ourselves. Some of us became the rules of others, some of us became the beacons for others, and some of us battled against each other tinting the lands with the blood of their once called friends.

The World Relics were long forgotten...

Or we thought they were.

A group of young heroes started a journey to recover the divine relics and aks the Gods to make humans see the right in their actions and the light in their dark days. This group called themselves the "Star Chalice", the ones who'll reunite humans and Gods once again.

They were formed by three young people and their beloved companion. Ib the priestess, Imbuk the newly born hatchling, Ningirsu the noble warrior, and his apprentice Auram.

(A/N: these four are the monsters consisting of the Star Chalice archetype.)

They embarked on a long adventure, and after many months of non-stop traveling across lands, they found the very first Star Relic: the World Chalice, the eraser of despair and darkness, the relic which gives hope and light to us humans.

(A/N: this event is shown in the image of Star Relic Chance Meeting and the Star Relic they find is Star Relic - "Star Chalice".)

Here, our heroes meet with a mysterious being: Lees the fairy, whisperer of Gods. She helps our group on their journey, revealing them the secret of the of the Star Chalice, namely the gift of lighting up the path towards other Star Relics.

(A/N: the fairy they meet with is Lees the Star Chalice Fairy and she helping our heroes is shown in the images of Star Relic's Divine Protection and Star Relic Beacon.)

Everything seemed to be going well for our group.

However, when they arrive at the next Star Relic... they have to think twice about the previous statement.