3rd POV

After ordering his guards to take Bakura away, Kaiba turned to Zackary.

Kaiba: Sorry about your parents.

Zackary frowns at this.

Zackary: Cut it out! What do you want?! Do you want a duel or something?!

At first Kaiba was surprised at his attitude. But soon after just smirks.

Kaiba: How selfish could you be? I'm not here for you, you just happen to be near before I arrested Bakura.

Zackary: But you always want a duel!

Kaiba: As I said, you not my priority at the moment. I'm only here to see someone. His name's Reiji, or you might know him by his middle name, Declan.

Zackary: What?

That's when someone who looked to be one of Declan's henchmen walk to field.

Henchman: Seto Kaiba. Declan has requested that you wait for him in his office.

Kaiba: Fine, but I don't like waiting.

With that, Kaiba left with the henchmen. Zackary just walks to where his friends are.

*Timeskip at the You Show Duel School*

Everyone was there, well except Zackary and Zander, who just went home.

Female Reporter: And now in duel news. After days of intense competition, the Junior Arc League Championship has concluded its second round. There are now 18 duelist that remain. And you better believe we'll be seeing their best as they battle it out for the top prize. Now, let's meet them, shall we?

Shuzo: Yeah! Here we go!

Female Reporter: First up is Yuzu Hīragi from the You Show Duel School.

The tv switches to a picture of Yuzu

Shuzo: Yeah! Yuzu, my pride and joy! Let's hear it for Yuzu! Let's get loud!

Yuzuv stands up and hits Shuzo with her fan.

Yuzu: I'm hitting the mute button.

Female Reporter: Next up, also from the You Show Duel School, an up-and-coming dueltainer, who came up with a new duel strategy-- Pendulum Summoning-- Yuya Sakaki.

There is now a picture of Yuya on the tv.

Female Reporter: So far in this tournament, we've seen Yuya defeat Sylvio Sawatari of the Leo Institute and Iggy Arlo of the Banded Warrior Academy in a hard fought battle that seemed to turn a bit ugly at the end! Next, another student of You Show, Zander Mutou.

A picture of Zander appears on the screen.

Female Reporter: Easily blowing through the competition with his collection of powerful Spellcasters. And the final student from You Show, Zackary Mutou!

A picture of Zackary next to Dark Pendulum Magician now appears on the tv.

Female Reporter: This strong duelist was able to beat the likes of Chase Katsuya of the Leo Institute and Ryo Bakura of the Domino Duel School. His duel with the latter taking a dark turn at the end.

A Clip of Zackary defeating Bakura begins.

*Start of Clip*

Zackary: Draw. Swing once again Pendulum. Bring forth the monsters that will allow me to carry on hope. Pendulum Summon. Come forth, Gagaga Magician.

Gagaga Magician: ATK/1500 DEF/1000 Lvl:4

Zackary: Come join him in battle, Gagaga Girl.

Gagaga Girl: ATK/1000 DEF/800 Lvl:3

Zackary: I activate Gagaga Magician's ability. I can set his Level to a number from 1 through 8. I choose Level 6.

Gagaga Magician: Lvl:4 --> Lvl:6

Zackary: Next I activate Gagaga Girl's effect. By targeting one Gagaga Magician on the field, her Level becomes his.

Gagaga Girl: Lvl:3 --> Lvl:6

Zackary: Now I Overlay Level 6 Gagaga Magician and Gagaga Girl to build the Overlay Network! Smash through the limits, Utopia Xyz! Reveal yourself, Numbers 39! When a person embraces a dream that exists beyond hope, a new future appears far off in the distance! Go beyond the limits and seize that future in your own hands! Xyz Summon! Utopia Xyz Beyond!

Number 39: Utopia Xyz Beyond: ATK/3000 DEF/2000 Rank:6

Zackary: When this card is Xyz Summoned, all of your monsters ATK go to 0.

Dark Paladin: ATK/2900 --> 0

Dark Lucius LV8 : ATK/2800 --> 0

Zackary: Battle! Go, Beyond the Hope! I swear by heaven and earth that I will keep on fighting to make sure that tomorrow comes. Shine forth, o ray of hope. Rising Sun Beyond Slash!

Utopia Xyz Beyond slashes through Dark Lucius LV8. The power from it throws Bakura back to the rails of the blimp.

Bakura LP: 4000 --> 1000

The gust of wind with Action Cards arrives again, and Zackary grabs one.

Zackary: You're finished Ryou... I activate the Action Spell Double Attack. Utopia Xyz Beyond! Attack once again with, Rising Sun Beyond Slash!

Utopia Xyz Beyond slices through Dark Paladin. The power of this one knocks Bakura off the blimp.

Bakura LP: 1000 --> 0

The action field dematerializes. As it does, Zackary's eyes go back to normal. Also a helicopter comes flying down.

*End of Clip*

After watching the clip, the room goes silent.

*At Zackary's and Zander's house*

Zackary was in the kitchen, making sandwiches for him and Zander. Zander was laying down on the couch, trying to process what happened today. Zackary finished and walked to the livingroom with the sandwiches.

Zander: Zackary? Why did this have to happen?

Zackary puts the sandwiches down on the table.

Zackary: I don't know.

Zander starts sobbing.

Zander: I don't know what we did! Did we make someone mad?!

Zackary: Sit up...

Zander does what said quickly.

Zackary: Come here...

That's when Zander rushed at Zackary, hugging him as he continues to cry. Zackary hugs back.

Zackary: I know this is hard. But just know I'm here for you. We are gonna get through this together. If you ever feel like crying, I'm here. If you ever need to talk about something, I'll be here. Okay?

Zander's sobs slowly went to a few tears here and there. Even after what Zackary said, the hug lasted. It had only been a few minutes, but to the two, it felt like hours. Soon enough, Zackary heard soft snores. He looked down to see that Zander was now asleep. Zackary smiles at this. He picks up Zander and takes him to his room.

Putting Zander in his bed, he only had few more words.

Zackary: I love you Zander.

And he kisses his younger brother's forehead. Then walks out of his room, to go to his own room.

*Timeskip to the Next Day*

It was now the next day. Everyone who passed the second round was here.

Nico: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the third round of the Arc-V Championship! Here are your 18 remaining duelist.

Yuzu: I think that he means 17.

Yuya: Yeah, Shun's nowhere to be found.

Nico: Now, let's get started! But not how you all might think because these competitors be dueling here at the stadium, they'll be dueling throughout the whole city.

Yuya/Yuzu: What?!

Random Duelist: Huh?

Nico: I hope you're ready, ladies and gentlemen. Because the moment the clock strikes 12, the action will begin and our duelist will all need to begin searching. Searching for what, you ask? Pendulum Cards hidden all throughout the city, brand-new ones created the Leo Corporation for this tournament.

Yuya: Say what?!

Nico: In order to begin a duel, our 18 competitors will each need to find at least two of these cards.

Yuzu: So we'll all have Pendulum Cards?

Nico: Furthermore, over the next 24 hours, all of the matches will be upping the ante with Pendulum Cards as the ante. After deciding how many Pendulum Cards to wager, you and your opponent will duel. Whoever wins gets the Pendulum Cards that were put on the line. But you won't be having to wait in line to duel because the action field Quartet of Quandary will be in effect. Separating the city into four, count them, four different zones for your dueling pleasure. All right, less than five minutes till we begin. Duelists, start your Duel Disks.

Everyone does as told, and activates their Duel Disks. The Duel Disks being set to Battle Royal Mode. And the crowd starts to cheer.

Nico: Now, get set...

The part of their surrounding that they are infront of begins to rise.

Nico: The time for talking is over. Now is the time for traps, spells, monsters  and much, much more! So get ready for anything because in a throw down like this, anything can happen. Now on your mark, get set, go!

All: Let's duel!

The clock hits 12, the action cards have been dispersed, and everyone starts to run out of the exit. The students from their respective schools run with their teammates.

Yuzu: These Pendulum Cards could be just about anywhere.

Yuya: I know. Finding them might be harder than actually dueling for them.

Zander: Not to mention that you have to find two to duel.

Zackary: It'd probably be best if we split up.

Yuzu: Right!

Yuzu suddenly runs away from the group. Then goes Zander, but in a different direction.

Yuya: Hey wait!

Zackary: Zander!

The two runners seem to not have heard them. The two who stuck together just sighed and turned to each other.

Yuya/Zackary: Are you gonna run off randomly too? No. Then lets stick together.

Zackary: Considering we both already have Pendulum Cards, us travelling with each other isn't the worst thing.

Yuya: Yeah.

Just then the world around them turned into a volcano field.

*Timeskip, now they found two Pendulum Cards each*

Yuya: Finally.

Taka: Looks like Yuya and Zackary found their two Pendulum Cards.

Yuya and Zackary turn around to find two other duelists.

Taka: That means two cards for me and two for you.

Nagi: Easy pickings for the Banded Warrior Academia.

Yuya: Banded Warrior. That means they duel just like Iggy.

Zackary: Hm... Then how about we do this then Yuya?

Yuya: Right.

Taka: Alright, you know the rules. We each ante up Pendulum Cards.

Nagi: One card each.

Yuya: Fine.

Zackary: 'Kay.

All: Duel!

*Timeskip past the duel, I'm to lazy bro*

Now the pair were entering the Ancient Ruins Zone. Upon entering, they run into Shun.

Yuya: Shun! I'm glad we ran into you, 'cause I got a lot of questions.

Zackary: Let's start with Sora and Duel Academy.

Shun: I have a question for the both of you as well. About Yuto and Matthew.

Shun looked at the pair with threatening glare.

Shun: Where have you taken them? I know about the duel between Yuto and that fusion freak Sora. The moment you two stuck your noses in their duel was the last anyone's seen of Yuto or Matthew! What did you do with my best friends? Where are they?

Zackary: We're not sure...

Shun: Don't play dumb! I know the both of you were involved in their disappearances! That much is clear! Otherwise, try to explain how Yuya ended up with Yuto's Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon! And how you ended up with not only Utopia Xyz Beyond, but Gagaga Magician, Gagaga Girl and I'm guessing Utopia Xyz!

Yuya: You have it all wrong! We didn't steal from them. They gave it to us!

Zackary: To be clear they handed us their ace monsters but I'm not sure how I got Utopia Beyond, the Gagaga cards, or this other one called Rank Up Magic Astral Forc-.

Yuya elbows Zackary.

Yuya: You are not helping.

Blue: Ha ha! You left your flank exposed. You will pay dearly for letting your guard down.

Yuya, Shun and Zackary look over to see someone in... a knight costume? With a monster by their side.

Man: Slash the Assault Knight, make ready to strike down your double! Commence your assault!

Slash... well... slashes the air, creating a wave of energy which makes Yuya, Zackary and Shun duck. The wave was directed to another at another knight monster and its owner.

Green: Your knight showed perfect form. But my knight can parry the blow easily!

The green guy's monster creates a barrier to defend against the attack. This is when the three non-knights noticed another knight, this time in orange.

Yuya: We're right in their line of fire!

Shun: These creeps are harder to get rid of than rats.

Blue: Careful! Insults could very well lead to your undoing.

Green: Yes, it will be a shame if one of these blast accidentally strikes you. Now then, Assault Knight, ready your lance and commence with your attack!

The green guy's Assault Knight does the same attack the blue guy's did. But this time, Yuya, Zackary and Shun get out of the way.

Orange: A worthy attack, good sir. Though, my monster will shield me!

The orange guy's Assault Knight creates the same barrier the green ones once did.

Shun: Their battling each other so that they can use their attacks to try and take us out.

Zackary: Toxic.

Yuya: Those snakes!

Green: Your accusation is absurd. We were engaged in a three-way combat when you three intruded.

Orange: If it is your desire to stop us, then duel is again, but unlike last time, your ending will be a tragic one. Slash! Strike with furious fury and show no mercy!

The orange guy's Assault Knight does the same thing the blue guy's did, but this time it was heading straight for Yuya, Shun and Zackary. The attack landed blowing them away. The three knights continue to taunt but Zackary notices something odd. While he doesn't know it yet, those are Obelisk Force. 6 of them(because 3 for Yuya 3 for Zackary)

Zackary: Hey. Yuya. Have you seen those guys before?

Yuya: No. But I do know they're not supposed to be in the tournament.

The guys kept running until they were infront of where Shun and the three knights were. But Zackary and Yuya see someone come walking in after the Obelisk Force. It was Sora.

Shun: You again.

Sora: The two of us have unfinished business, Shun, but now I can finally settle the score once and for all!

Yuya: Sora! You're all right! Where've you been?

Sora quickly orders the soldiers to keep the three knights occupied. Sora and Shun walk off to go begin their rematch.

While Zackary and Yuya were making their way to clear ground, they witness as the Obelisk soldiers card the knights. All though they barely knew the knights, seeing this sparked something within them. Something they've felt before. But, especially in Zackary, something that had grew stronger than before.

Rage.
_____
Now, originally there was a duel in this. But I decided to rush the events two days ago from when this is being published. The duel wasn't really important anyway, and now we are getting into some juicy bits. But I also want to acknowledge that this book is at 975 reads. Super close to that 1k mark and I'm pretty excited.

Also, YoMamaDooDoo, I've done my part of the deal you gotta do yours now boy. Anywho, cya pals later, probably on a different book.

I'm so fucking tired bro.