In the Universe

"This robot looks pretty cool, huh? Those lines, those gears, that chain, awesome."

"Ohhh, Cyber Dragon? Nice design, nice design. Once I get resurrected, I want to make one too."

"Hey, human, you could've Fusion Summoned Labyrinth Tank just now, right? Why'd you summon some winged guy instead? Looks way too energetic."

Celina held her card in hand, blinking rapidly as she stared blankly at the green-haired spirit floating beside her teacher. She seemed completely lost on what to do.

"What's wrong, Celina? It's your turn," Bastion, acting as referee, asked curiously.

"U-Um, I Special Summon Cyber Dragon?" Snapping back to herself at Bastion's voice, Celina revealed the Cyber Dragon in her hand and placed it on the table, then sent the Machine monsters on Hikaru's and her own field to the Graveyard. From the shared Extra Deck zone, from Hikaru's card collection, she summoned Chimeratech Fortress Dragon to the field.

"Ooh! That design is sweet." The female spirit beside Hikaru nodded repeatedly. "Should've gone with something like that for the Shaddolls."

"Well done," Bastion continued explaining without skipping a beat. "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon not only clears the field, but it also gains 2000 ATK. While it still can't defeat Flame Wingman, at least it takes care of Ancient Gear Golem."

"Ahh, I see. So it was to avoid Fortress Dragon that he fused into Flame Wingman?" Tierra suddenly understood. "Oooh, got it now, got it, but that big robot still looks cooler."

The corner of Hikaru's mouth twitched as he ignored her and flipped over the Trap Card on his table.

"That's one lively spirit!" Jaden said, unusually sentimental. He'd seen Winged Kuriboh before, so he wasn't too surprised.

"There's... spirits like this out there?" Chazz was sweating slightly. His Armed Dragon and Light and Darkness Dragon were both the silent type, appearing only when necessary, not as talkative as this one.

After the routine duel ended, Hikaru went to get a glass of water, then spoke to Tierra nearby, "Can't you make it so only I can see you? Or at least leave Winda's body already?"

"Leave?" Tierra tilted her head. "What are you talking about? This is my body."

'?'

"Do you really think an ordinary spirit could enhance your power and let you see spirits?" Tierra began explaining. "From the moment you created Winda's card, when she tried to transfer her power into the human world through it, that was me behind the scenes!

How else could a regular spirit reach your world so quickly?"

"Besides, relax, the consciousness that was in this body was already sent back to the Spirit World. I didn't like that chaotic world anyway." As she spoke, her eyes lit up with a sudden thought.

Raising a finger, she added, "You should be thanking me, actually. Without me, you would've had to duel Winda's spirit, win, and earn her approval to use the card, right?"

Hikaru was momentarily speechless.

The gods really do whatever they want, even if they're not the card's creator, but just born from its existence, they can still exert full control.

He wasn't particularly annoyed by Tierra, just a bit embarrassed since Jaden, Celina, and Chazz had all been looking at him weirdly today.

Rather than irritated, he was actually kind of pleased, because Tierra apparently could forcibly enhance his spirit compatibility. Though he was currently at Five Stars, he could now see spirits, and according to Tierra, the higher his Star Rank, the greater her boost up to an Eleven-Star level enhancement, second only to the legendary Duel King.

Hikaru splashed his face with water and returned to the activity room, where he saw the newly arrived Zane.

As always, he was dressed in his blue uniform, the Seven Stars Key hanging from his neck, fluttering in the wind like an accessory.

"Kaiser, weren't you going to another dimension with Alexis today?" Hikaru asked.

"Oh, so this is the Cyber Dragon user, huh? Excellent taste!" Tierra called out.

Hikaru, already used to the voice of this mech-obsessed spirit, ignored it.

Zane, however, visibly paused upon hearing it before smiling, "That's right. I made plans with Alexis before the break, and I'm going to Neo Domino City during the vacation. It's relatively safe, just right for Alexis's recovery."

"Man, that sounds great. I wanna check out Neo Domino City too..." Jaden sighed, hands behind his head. "Why can we only use the Dimension Gate once during break? I'd love to visit either Neo Domino or the Village of Spellcasters."

"It's to prevent students from excessive transfers and potential accidents," Zane chuckled. "Jaden, did your application go through?"

"It did! Just today!" Jaden raised a fist with a grin. "I got Chazz to go with me."

"Don't make it sound like I'm just some extra," Chazz scoffed. "If I hadn't written it for you, you'd still be waiting."

During the break, each dorm was allowed one interdimensional transfer. Of course, only the academy's top students could apply or, like Zane, get automatic approval. That's why Jaden said he and Hikaru couldn't go to the same place.

After all, there was only one chance. Jaden didn't want to miss finding his friends, and he didn't want Hikaru to waste his opportunity.

"So, who are you going with, Master?" Celina's eyes lit up. "Could it be..."

"Celina, did you check your physical assessment report?" Hikaru cut in. "And you're not even a student in the academy's high school division. I'm going with Bastion. His application got approved too, and he didn't know where to go."

"Ugh, Bastion?" Celina frowned, visibly disappointed.

"You're being kinda rude, you know?" Bastion said, sweating with frustration. "I am second in the Ra Yellow Dorm, after all..."

"Hahaha, come on, you're still awesome, Bastion!" Hikaru clapped his back, laughing. "Doesn't matter if you can't hear spirits!"

"Yeah, go for it, Bastion!"

"Hmph, I'll pray for your safety, Bastion."

Jaden and Chazz's words struck a chord in Bastion.

'So what if my spirit compatibility is low? Who did I ever offend? I've been to another dimension too!'

Amid the banter, the day ended. Zane packed up his stuff, organized his Deck, and arrived at Obelisk Blue's teleportation zone.

Among the three dorms, Obelisk Blue had the most money and luxuries. Their teleportation gate was always the latest model, receiving annual support from KaibaCorp.

Even though Alexis had been missing for a year, and they still didn't know what she'd done during that time, she used to be a genius student on par with Zane. She was still very familiar with teleporters.

She smiled and waved to her fans, then followed Zane and pressed the gate.

At first, nothing happened. But just as the two were about to leave, a strange symbol emerged on the frame of the gate.

It was a green circle missing a segment on the outside, with a dot in the center, resembling an ouroboros that hadn't bitten its tail.

'What?'

The two instinctively stiffened.

The gate flashed a strange green light and transported both of them to another dimension.

"Where are we!?" Zane immediately moved beside Alexis, who instinctively stood back-to-back with him, alert to the surroundings.

This was a dimension they had never seen before. Judging by its appearance, it seemed like a massive factory filled with furnaces and strange equipment.

The building had no ceiling; from the open roof above, they could see massive planets floating in the sky, incredibly close.

The Sun, Venus, and a third one, with their knowledge, they could roughly tell.

They appeared to be in space…

"What is this place?"

"Zane, look out!"

Just as confusion set in, a figure emerged from the factory. Cloaked, bandaged, masked, with eyes glowing red.

He squinted, then slowly raised an emblematic object.

A book with a golden eyeball embedded in it.

"I am the seventh of the Shadow Riders, Amnael."

His voice was haunting and ethereal, making both Obelisk Blue elites frown.

"He's targeting you, Alexis!" Zane immediately grasped the situation.

They hadn't encountered a new Shadow Rider in nearly two months, so Zane had relaxed a little. But the masked man's arrival instantly put him on edge.

"Sorry, Alexis. Looks like I dragged you into this."

"Don't say it like that!" Alexis laughed, shrugged, and raised her Duel Disk. "Honestly, dueling regular enemies isn't much fun. Don't underestimate me!

Hey, Shadow Rider, I'll be your opponent!"

"Doesn't matter," the masked man replied, unmoved. "Either one of you. Or both, if you wish."

Alexis and Zane's faces both darkened.

"One-on-one or two-on-two, that's the code of Duelists!" Zane barked.

"A handicap duel? Don't insult us, you Shadow Duelist!" Alexis charged forward unhesitantly, slotting her Deck into the Duel Disk. "Let me duel you. Zane, just watch for now!"

"Got it!"