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

Chapter 46 A Mother and Daughter Duel

The winds over the desolate canyon stirred with the faint hum of duel energy. The final Gate—the Hummingbird Gate—stood before the Lancers, its wings of light spread wide like a living monument. Brilliant emerald streams circled its frame, and the shadow of a figure waited patiently in its center.

Kurosaki Aera—her eyes firm, her stance steady—was the last Dark Signer they had to face.

"This is it," Yuni said, her pendant glowing faintly as if sensing the tension in the air. "If we defeat this gate... we'll finally be able to save Ruri, Ruri, and Kurosaki's mother."

"Yeah..." Katrina breathed, clasping her hands together. "After this one, it'll be Mr. Kurosaki. Their family will finally be reunited."

The thought lingered in the air—hope mixed with dread.

Mark glanced toward Yuya, his tone soft but curious. "Speaking of parents... Aunt Yoko and Uncle Yusho are still alive, right?"

Yuya nodded. "They are. We don't know where Dad is right now, but Mom... she's living in the Standard Dimension. Dad was trying to stop Professor Akaba's invasion, but after he entered the Xyz Dimension, we lost all trace of him."

Katrina turned, her brows knitting together. "So you knew our mom and dad... before the world split apart?"

"Of course," Mark said, his voice low but warm with nostalgia. "I mentioned before—after my abusive father was sent to prison, I lived with your family for a while. Things were peaceful... until Zarc lost control and became the Supreme King."

His eyes darkened, remembering the chaos that followed. "When the world fractured into four dimensions, I was pulled into the void between them. I drifted there for years—no time, no place—until I met Condor... and the Earthbound God. They were the ones who gave me purpose again."

Silence fell, the gravity of his words sinking in.

Hana finally broke it. "Not for me," she said quietly. "When the world split, I ended up in the Fusion Dimension. About six years ago, I joined Academia. Back then... it was actually a normal school. We learned dueling for fun, not war. I even thought about becoming a teacher."

Her lips curved in a faint, bittersweet smile. "It was peaceful—at least until Professor Akaba and Reisho arrived. After that, everything changed."

Vivian looked over at her, nodding grimly. "We know. Sona told me the Duel School turned into a training ground for soldiers after Leo Akaba took over. It stopped being a place to learn, and became a place to fight."

Hana took a quiet breath, her expression grave. "Since Reisho isn't with his father... I guess there's no reason to keep it secret anymore."

Reisho frowned, puzzled. "What truth?"

Hana's eyes met his. "Your birth mother—she was one of the teachers in Academia."

"What?" Both Reisho and Ray exclaimed at once, disbelief flooding their voices.

Reisho's voice shook as he stepped closer. "Are you saying... all this time... she's alive?"

Hana nodded slowly. "Yes. She became a teacher about a year before I enrolled in Academia. She remembered everything—her past, her life before the world split. She told me she had been living in the Standard Dimension for years. But when I asked about her family... her answer was strange."