7. Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V A New Story of Pendulum (Synchro Arc)

Chapter 40 Flower Vs. Dragons

A warm wind carried the scent of lilies as Yuya and his friends reached the next destination. Before them stood a stone pillar covered in vines, its surface carved with the mark of a flower.

"Here it is..." Yuni said, stepping closer. The air around the monument shimmered faintly. "The second Earthbound Gate—the Flower Gate. What happens here... even we don't know."

Reiji studied the markings. "A new Earthbound God, you said? Are you certain?"

Reisho nodded. "Yeah. And more than that... I can feel it. This duel might be mine."

They waited for several moments. Only petals drifted down from the trees.

Crow looked around. "So there's no one here?"

Yuya shook his head. "I don't—"

The growl of an engine cut through his words. A pink-and-black D-Wheel came rushing toward them, scattering petals into the air before stopping with a sharp spin. Lilies flew around the group as the rider, cloaked in pink, raised her head.

"How's that?" she asked playfully. "My special entrance."

Ron frowned. "Maybe just take off the helmet and tell us who you are?"

The rider removed her helmet. Golden hair spilled free, and her black eyes gleamed with the faint, eerie light of a Dark Signer mark shaped like a flower.

Reisho, Sora, and Sona froze.

"No way..." Reisho breathed. "Hana? Is that you?"

Inside Yuya, a golden spark flashed behind his pupils—Zarc's voice echoing as his eyes briefly turned yellow. "Hana... you survived?"

The girl smiled faintly. "I see you're here too, Zarc." Her tone was cold, edged with memory. "I could've dueled you myself for what you did to Mark... but Mark wants that fight for himself."

The yellow glow faded, and Yuya's normal red returned.

Katrina turned to Yuni. "You know her?"

Yuni's body tensed; a similar golden light shimmered over her eyes as Zarine's voice emerged through her. "Yes... Hana was one of our closest friends in the Original Dimension."

Sora lowered his gaze. "She was in the Fusion Dimension all this time. Our senpai at Academia."

Hana smiled softly. "Ah, even Sora and Sona are here. It's been a long time." Her mark pulsed. "But I'm not here for a reunion."

Yuzu blinked. "Wait—how do you all know her?"

Sona hesitated. "She was a senior when Yuri, Serena, my brother, and I entered Academia. Then... she disappeared after the Professor arrived. No one ever found out why."

The smile on Hana's face vanished. "I was killed."

Everyone went silent as the petals stilled in the air.

"What...?" Sora managed to whisper.

Hana looked down, her eyes shadowed. "Before the Professor completed the Carding system—"

The wind shifted, carrying her unfinished words into the silence as the others stared, waiting for the truth to follow.

(Flashback)