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

Chapter 9 Fighting Between The Rubble

The afternoon sun hung low over the open-air field of You Show Duel School, its golden light glimmering off the glass panels of the training arena. Laughter and applause filled the air as Yuya and Yuni stood center stage, their duel reaching its spectacular finale.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Yuya called out, his voice bright with energy. "This is the magic of smiles— the true heart of Entertainment Dueling!"

Yuni twirled beside him as the holographic fireworks burst overhead. "And this is what the Entermates stand for — duels that bring joy to everyone watching!"

The children erupted in cheers as Entermate Odd-Eyes bowed theatrically, confetti scattering across the stage.

From the edge of the crowd, Yuushou laughed softly. "Heh. They've surpassed me already."

Sarah smiled, watching the two with gentle admiration. "They've carried your dream forward, Yuushou. Even after everything the world's been through, they still make people smile."

Not far away, Yuri stood with Sona, the two watching quietly as the performance ended. Yuri's tone was casual, though his eyes betrayed nostalgia. "Never thought I'd see you perform for fun, Yuya."

Yuya glanced back, smiling faintly. "We've all fought enough battles. Sometimes, showing people joy is the greatest victory."

Sona crossed her arms, her expression half-smirk, half-concern. "Enjoy this peace while it lasts. Tomorrow always comes faster than you think."

As the crowd dispersed and the orange light dimmed to twilight, the lingering laughter of the students echoed faintly through the halls — a brief, fragile peace before the storm.

That night, the ship anchored offshore was silent except for the low hum of its engines. Inside the control room, monitors flickered with data streams while Yuni sat at the central console, typing rapidly. The holographic map hovering before her showed eight red signals, each pulsing in rhythm like a heartbeat.

"Reisho," she said, adjusting her glasses, "so these are the base locations?"

Reisho leaned over the display, his expression sharp and calculating. "Yes. Eight in total. As Yuri and Sona confirmed, some commanders have been infected by the Parasite Fusioners — their minds no longer their own. The rest remain completely loyal to the Professor."

Yuya frowned, folding his arms. "Then we'll have to face both kinds... but if there's even one commander we can save, we will." His eyes hardened with conviction. "We'll prove through dueling that Academia's teachings were wrong."

"I agree," Vivian said, tapping a finger against the console. "But first, we'll need to identify who's leading each division. We can't afford surprises."

"Intelligence before assault," Katrina added quietly. "We learned that the hard way."

Reisho nodded. "I'll analyze their movement data. We should be ready to deploy by morning."

Yuni closed the holographic screen, her voice calm but firm. "No. Everyone rests tonight. If we charge in exhausted, the Professor won't need to defeat us — our own fatigue will."

Yuya gave a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're right. Even heroes need sleep."

Yuzu smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Tomorrow, we save them — not as soldiers, but as duelists."

The others exchanged silent nods before leaving the control room one by one. The hum of the engines blended with the sound of distant waves as the ship drifted through the moonlit sea — eight red lights still glowing faintly on the map, like the eyes of a coming war.