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

Chapter 7 Fighting for Friendship

Night had settled quietly across both the Fusion and Xyz Dimensions. The air was still, broken only by the faint hum of the city's distant lights and the slow rhythm of countless dreams. Yet amid that peace, ten faint glows pierced the darkness. Ten pendants—each belonging to one of the chosen holders—began to shimmer softly, pulsing in sync like a heartbeat. Their light flickered faster... and the sleepers began to stir restlessly, their brows tightening as if caught in the grip of a nightmare.

Yuzu's eyes fluttered open to a strange emptiness. She stood inside a vast, endless space—white, silent, and cold. No walls, no floor, no horizon. Just void. The echo of her own breathing filled her ears.

"Where... am I?" she whispered, hugging her arms. Fear began to crawl up her spine.

Then—footsteps. Four indistinct figures emerged from the haze ahead. Their outlines were blurred, as if their very shapes were rejecting the light. Shadows draped over them like smoke, and yet... they were walking toward her.

"Who are you...?" Yuzu called out, her voice trembling.

The silence deepened until two other voices cut through the air behind her. "Yuzu!"

She turned and gasped—Yuya and Yuni were standing there, confused and tense.

"Yuya? Yuni? What's going on?" Yuzu cried. "Where are we?"

Before anyone could answer, one of the shadowed figures began to distort—its form splitting apart into three ghostly phantoms. They shrieked as they flew forward, pale wisps of energy leaving trails of dark light in the void.

"Stay back!" Yuya yelled, instinctively stepping in front of Yuzu. But one spirit slammed into his chest, and he doubled over, gripping his head. A surge of red light flickered in his eyes as he groaned in agony.

"Yuya!" Yuzu screamed.

The second spirit rushed at Yuni. "No!" she tried to dodge, but it pierced straight through her body. She let out a cry of pain, her form trembling as her eyes began to glow the same eerie light as Yuya's.

"Run... Yuzu..." Yuya managed between strained breaths, his voice echoing with something unnatural. "Get away from here..."

"Yuya—what's happening to you!?"

Yuzu turned to run, her heart pounding in panic—but before she could move, the last ghost spoke, its voice smooth and hollow, like an echo inside her mind.

"Embrace your darkness..."

It shot straight into her. An icy surge flooded her chest—pain, confusion, and despair twisting through every nerve. Yuzu screamed, clutching at her heart as if she could tear it out to escape the burning cold.

"Help!"

Her cry turned into a gasp as her eyes snapped open. She was back in her room. Darkness. The faint sound of the night breeze. Her chest heaved as she sat upright, clutching her bedsheet. Sweat rolled down her forehead, and her breath came in short, uneven bursts.

Sarah stirred first, rubbing her eyes. "Yuzu...? Honey, what's wrong?"

Beside her, Ryu blinked groggily and looked over. "You were screaming. Are you okay?"

Yuzu looked around quickly—Yuya and Yuni's beds were empty. For a second, panic surged again, but then she remembered. They were staying in another room tonight. She let out a shaky breath of relief.

"S-sorry... I just had a nightmare," she said softly. Her voice was trembling more than she wanted it to.

Ryu frowned, sitting up. "You're pale... you're still shaking."