7. Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V: A New Story of Pendulum (Fusion Arc)

Chapter 29 Rise of the Parasites

Smoke drifted through the fractured fortress corridors, curling between the shattered walls where two squads finally converged. Flickering lights from distant Duel Fields painted the ground in shifting crimson and blue, and the low hum of damaged generators filled the silence.

Yuni, Katrina, Reisho, and Reira emerged from the dust-filled passageway, their boots echoing against the cracked marble. Ahead waited Yuya, Hana, Vivian, Yusho, Reiji, and Sarah—a small cluster of exhausted duelists surrounded by the fading glow of spent Action Cards. Every face carried the same fatigue carved by relentless battles across dimensions.

"I heard that Yuzu has been captured," Yuni demanded, her voice trembling between urgency and anger. "How did it happen?"

Yuya gritted his teeth, his fists tightening until faint sparks flared from his Duel Disk. "Those Sinister Four... they used the Riding Roids to trick us. We thought they were allies. Then the others got blocked by the T-Men before we could regroup."

The words hung in the air like smoke. Reisho gasped, his expression darkening. "Same with us. The T-Men appeared out of nowhere—it's a good thing Sona and Yugo's group are keeping them busy."

The ground shuddered as a distant explosion rolled through the base, scattering dust from the ceiling. Vivian turned sharply toward Yuni, her eyes wide with worry. "Wait—where is Sergey? Isn't he supposed to be with you?"

"Sergey is keeping an eye out for Frost." Yuni's tone shifted from tension to outright anger. "That reminds me—Frost is here too, and he's still delusional about the existence of the four dimensions."

The brief silence that followed was broken only by the crackle of burning circuits. Yuya's head snapped up, fury flashing in his eyes. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, so we have Sergey watching him—making sure he doesn't try anything," Reisho explained, motioning for the others to follow. "I know where the Professor's chamber is. This way."

The group hurried down the dim hallway, their footsteps echoing off the steel flooring. The fortress interior grew colder the deeper they went, lit only by the red emergency strips along the walls. The air buzzed faintly with static energy from malfunctioning Duel Portals.

But before they could reach the end of the corridor, a faint voice pierced the noise.

"Let go of me!"

Everyone froze. The voice was unmistakable—Yuzu's.

Without hesitation, Yuya bolted forward, and the others followed. They slammed through the reinforced door, shards of glass and metal scattering across the floor. Inside, a cylindrical chamber glowed with pale blue light.

Yuzu was suspended within a transparent containment tube, her hands pressed desperately against the inner wall as energy pulses coursed around her. Standing just in front of the console was a tall figure in a white coat—eyes hidden behind silver-rimmed glasses, smile unnervingly calm.

Hana's expression twisted into fury. "You!"

The man turned with a slow, deliberate movement, his grin widening. "Welcome, Lancers," the Doctor said, his tone dripping with mock courtesy.