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

Chapter 57 Black Mist's Fall

The group had just returned to Heartland, weary but relieved—until they saw Wilson standing among the Synchro residents, his expression heavy with sorrow. Yuya felt the atmosphere shift instantly, the kind of silence that carried bad news. "What's wrong?" he asked, stepping forward.

Crow lowered his gaze. "Sherry was captured by Academia."

The words struck like a thunderbolt. Yuya froze, disbelief written across his face. Yuni's heart skipped a beat as the others exchanged stunned looks. "What?" she gasped. Yugo clenched his fists. "Wilson's devastated... she meant a lot to him. He owed her everything."

Yuya looked down, the memory of their battles with Sherry flashing through his mind. "How could this happen..." His voice trembled. "It's like we lost another powerhouse to their side," Yuni muttered, biting her lip.

Shun's tone hardened. "Then when are we going to the Fusion Dimension? The longer we wait, the more people Academia takes from us."

Yuya met his eyes, his hesitation melting into resolve. "You're right. It's time to make a plan—to stop Academia once and for all."

Before anyone could respond, the ground shook violently. A deafening rumble rolled through the air as bright streaks tore across the sky. "Meteors!?" Shark shouted, throwing his arm up to shield his face. Explosions burst across the horizon, shaking the rebuilt city.

Jean's voice cracked. "We just finished rebuilding Heartland!"

"And now it's falling apart again!?" Risu yelled, her voice trembling as she pointed toward the ocean. "Look—the sea! Drift ice!?"

Johan looked upward, his eyes wide. "And is that... an aurora?" Bands of shimmering blue and green light twisted above them, painting the night sky in haunting colors.

Yusho's breath caught as he pointed higher still. "Everyone... look up there!"

Above the aurora churned a massive black swirl, spinning like a storm of shadow. Its edges crackled with lightning, warping the air around it. Vivian's face went pale. "What is that...?"

A chilling laugh echoed from the sky, deep and distorted. Astral's eyes widened. "This power... it's the same as that time..."

"That time?" Katrina asked, but before anyone could demand an answer, a surge of light burst from the vortex.

"Yuya!" Yuzu screamed as he and Yuni were lifted into the air, their bodies glowing. "Yuni!" "Rio!" "Johan!" The others reached out, but the light only grew stronger.

"Hold on!" Yugo shouted, running forward—too late. The four figures vanished into the blinding radiance, swallowed by the black swirl above.

And just like that, they were gone—leaving behind only the sound of the wind and the cold, fractured silence of a world that had just lost its heroes again.

Yuya stirred first, his vision swimming as he tried to make sense of the strange glow surrounding them. The air was thick and heavy—almost humming with power. "Where... where are we?" he asked, forcing himself upright.

Yuni looked around, unease tightening her chest. The landscape stretched into a crimson void, crystalline spires jutting from the ground like broken fangs. The air shimmered with energy, warping the horizon. "This place... it feels like we're in Barian World..." she whispered.

A deep, echoing laugh answered her words. "Sakaki Yuni and Astral... I've wanted to see you."

A dark figure drifted down from above, wreathed in violet mist. The malicious gleam of its eyes made Yuni's breath catch. "Numbers 96...!" she muttered.