A,N: Well here is the next chapter. If you were wondering how this chapter was done so fast, it was because I already had made a lot of it in the past and just needed to rewrite it, since my English is getting better. Hopefully. Have fun reading. Please comment on what you think. Would love some feedback.

Zaira's p.o.v.

I were once again at the crumbled pathway, and were beside the familiar door, I was now so used seeing in my dreams. However for some reason it felt different than all the other times I had been here. I was not sure on what, but something was differently different here.

"Zaira, are you worthy? Are you ready to face your destiny?" The door asked and echo of voices followed saying are you worthy over and over. I just tsked a little.

"Cut with the useless babble and tell me something useful for a change" I sneered angrily "You go around in riddles, and give me no important information whatsoever!". Surprisingly the door actually began laughing. Never knew it could do that.

"As I would have expected from His chosen one" The door then said and smirked. I took some steps backwards. There were surely something different about the door today.

"What do you mean with chosen one? Who the hell are you talking about?" I then yelled back "Why are you acting more weird than usual?". The door chuckled again.

"The seal my child" It then replied and glared at me "Are you ready to face your destiny?".

My eyes widened at that. Now that I got a better look at it, one of the chains were hanging sloppy at the door, and.. wait was that a tiny rift in it? Like I had or were about to open? I was staring intensely at the door. If I just concentrated long enough, I might see what was inside. Sadly the door broke my concentration.

"Face your destiny around the Astral prince, and your path will be revealed" The door said and chuckled "If you do, a new path will open..". I looked stunned at it.

"New path will open? Astral? You gotta tell me more than that" I sneered.

I had just said that, when the door and everything began being blurry. I looked really horrified now.

"No wait! You can't leave now. I still have answers!" I shouted and tried to run after it. All that created was me falling of the crumbled pathway.

"Zaira, Zaira wake up!". I could feel myself get shaken and growled in annoyance.

"Just five more minutes Grandma" I replied and rolled around on my fluffy pillow. Or so did I think. It was warmer than usual and a warm breath hit my face now.

"Mistress it is time to wake up" I could hear Cy say, which confused me big time.

Why was Cy waking me up? Then it dawned to me, and I flew up. I found myself sitting at the floor inside the ship, who was inside the key. Cy was lying behind me, and I had as usual used him as my pillow. Not that he minded much. Problem was that I couldn't remember even falling asleep in here in the first place.

"Where.. what happened?" I then questioned and groaned slightly. I still felt tired.

"You fell asleep doing a healing in here" Astral said and I found him floating in front of me. Worry was present of his face. "Why didn't you tell me you needed a break? It would have been a lot better. Cy and I were very worried, when you collapsed so suddenly".

I bit my lip in regretful matter. So that was what happened eh? I guess I overused my body then. I had only focused on healing Astral as fast as possible.

"How are you Astral?" I instead asked. The astral prince send me a concerned look.

"Much better, thank you so much Zaira" he then replied "Almost no pain".

"Almost?" I uttered and send him a cold glare "Guess I still have more work to do".

"No, not as of yet" Astral replied firmly "First you need to recover Zaira. Let the numbers do a check up on you as well. Just for safety". I groaned in annoyance again.

"But I feel fine I..".

"Mistress, please don't lie to us. I can feel how tired you are" Cy interrupted and pulled me down with its tail when I tried to stand up. "Please let me just check for myself how well you are mistress".

I sighed deeply at that. Cy was right about me being tired, but that didn't mean I hadn't energy to heal Astral.

"Fine, but hurry it up. I don't have all day" I sneered out, as Cy entered my soul. He after all just wanted to be sure I was okay.

Yuma's p.o.v.

In the meantime. At the factory hideout.

"So Alito and Girag used this place as their hideout?" Yuma questioned and looked around.

They were in that place who had supposedly been the two barian's hideouts. It looked like an old room in a factory or something. Yuma could see old noodle cups and takeaway food was lying on the floor. He had thought this supposedly hideout for the two barians had been much more impressive, when Ray asked him to come along to investigate these barian criminals early in the morning.

"Yes that is right" Ray replied and looked around as well.

"Well it doesn't looks like anyone has been here lately" Yuma quickly concluded and looked at Ray "We won't find any clues here".

"Leave the investigating to me Junior deputy Yuma" Ray said in a little cold tone "You are a rookie, so keep your opinion to yourself".

"A rookie?!" Yuma uttered in disbelief. He felt a little offended here.

"But if you work hard and carry out all my orders, you can earn yourself one of these. An official barian police badge" Ray then told him and showed him a cover from a passport.

An intergalactic passport to be exact, and on the front was the barian police badge. Yuma were in awe. He had never seen something so awesome.

"That is the coolest thing I have ever seen" He told Ray. Ray just rolled his eyes.

"By the way, how is Astral and Zaira?" He instead asked. At that Yuma sighed deeply.

"I don't know, I haven't seen Astral since we dueled against Girag. His body must still be healing I guess, since Zaira hasn't shown up either" Yuma then told him.

"I see" Ray said slowly "Well when these two does show up again, remember don't tell them I am with the barian cosmic crime unit".

"That won't be easy" Yuma said slowly "I don't like keeping secrets from friends".

"That's an order" Ray said in that bossy tone "Astral and Zaira's safety depends on it". Yuma looked fearfully at him.

"Yes sir, It is understood" he then yelled and saluted. Zaira and Astral's safety was more important than any secret after all.

Astral's p.o.v.

Time skip.

"How are you Astral?" Zaira questioned as she entered the blue sphere Astral was caged in.

He was lying in the air in here and was looking up at the ship's ceiling, as the numbers were slowly healing him. Astral turned his head a little to look at her. He send her a reassuring smile. It seemed like Nb 24 had let Zaira heal him up, which he was grateful for. He was a lot better since the duel with Girag, all thanks to Zaira, but compared to usual, he still felt a little rigid.

"A lot better, thank you" he replied and floated/sat up. Zaira however did look worried at him. She floated over to him to check that herself. Just like 24 had did to her some time ago. Just to be fully sure.

"I will determined that" she replied and made him lie down again.

He did as she asked of him, and she began a checkup. She let her hands glow in that blue aura, who resembled her Astral powers. The power she was healing him with, and let her hands roam over his body without touching it.

"So how are you?" Astral asked slowly "You don't need to do all this Zaira. I am sure Yuma and the others are worried about you. School work is also important..".

"Not as important as you. I don't mind dropping out if that is the case. Last time I left you, you ended up like this in your duel with Girag. I am not taking any chances this time" She replied in a firm tone "Besides School is damn boring. The teachers doesn't know half as much as you Astral. I feel no challenge from them at all. Although Yuma might worry, but I think he knows the importance here".

"But still, I feel like there is something that worries you too" Astral replied slowly "You had that look on your face when you woke up".

Zaira's eyes narrow, and Astral could feel one of her wolfy glares from her, which only confirmed that something had been bothering her. He knew Zaira after all. They were best friends.

"Astral, keep your observations to yourself!" Zaira then sneered at first. Then her eyes flicked a little, and she sighed deeply. She looked worried at Astral now. "Fine! There is something that has been bothering me. I have been dreaming of the door..".

Then she told him everything she could remember about the dream. Astral listened carefully, but as she progressed, he couldn't keep himself from worrying.

"The door said you should face your destiny together with me?" Astral questioned in a puzzled tone "What does that mean? What destiny are they referring to?".

"I wish I knew that myself Astral" Zaira replied and sighed. She looked at him again. "So what have you been thinking at? I know something have been bothering you too".

Astral hummed inside. He forgot Zaira was also as good as observing things as he was. Of course she noticed him being worried as well.

"The battles with the barians had made me think" Astral then admitted "The numbers being used by the barians are far more powerful, than any monsters we have faced before. Especially when they evolve into Chaos monsters. I do not think we can continue to win Zaira, unless I find a way to become stronger".

"So that is what's been worrying you?" Zaira then questioned and placed a hand on his right shoulder. Astral could feel some stinging pain there, but Zaira used her powers to make the pain go away pretty fast. Astral also felt more energized.

"I think you are okay now" Zaira then replied and send him a big smile "And about what's been troubling you. Don't worry Astral. I am sure you will find the solution you seek. You just have to be patient".

"Yes I know. But I do really want to know how to become stronger" The astral prince then mused.

He wanted to be able to protect Zaira and Yuma better. He had just thought that, when the sphere around them suddenly disappeared. Weird noises could be heard from the ship as well. It was acting strange. Zaira however, floated slowly down to the ground again, because the sphere had disappeared. She were also looking confused around. Then the spot where all the numbers remained sealed away, began glowing. Every single one. Astral and Zaira both looked confused around. This whole event couldn't be anything good.

"What is happening Astral?" Zaira then asked "The numbers? Why are they acting this way?". Astral's eyes were fixated on all the glowing spots.

"It looks like they are trying to communicate with me" Astral then replied in a puzzled tone. Sadly he didn't quite understand their message. An evil laughter began filling the ship. It gave both Zaira and Astral goosebumps.

"Astral" a creepy voice then said.

It was a voice Astral could recognize anywhere. It therefore didn't surprise him when a projection of 96 appeared behind him. Zaira was not feeling so good at all, and had instantly hid behind Astral. Who could really blame him since last time 96 was here, Zaira had been captivated and felt agonizing mental pain, before Cy and Utopia had saved her.

"96! I thought we had seen the last to you!" Zaira yelled angrily at him.

"Well hello to you too, little Zaira. As you can see, you thought quite wrong" 96 said and chuckled darkly. His eyes then gazed at Astral. "You are not powerful enough to defeat the barians Astral. You need my aid, and you know it. Release me from the confines of this key, and in return I will leant you my help".

"Yeah like that is ever gonna happen" Zaira then yelled and snort "You tricked me into freeing you once, and I promise you that will not happen ever again".

"I wasn't talking to you my dear, so stay out of it. I was talking to Astral" 96 replied.

"Zaira is right. I will not accept your offer" Astral quickly said before Zaira could come up with any complains. That however, only made 96 smirk.

"Do not dismiss me so quickly" he then said "I know you are stumbling around hopelessly in the dark. You do not have the strength to continue on alone, and your little protector really doesn't count. You need me. Face the facts Astral. You may be light, but I am darkness. Light can only shine in the dark. Without me you will never be complete". Then he disappeared. Just like that. Zaira sighed deeply.

"I really don't like when he appears at all" she then said "96 gives me the creeps".

"Don't worry Zaira. He will not lay any hands on you again" Astral reassured her quickly "I promise. Even if he escapes once again. I will make sure of it".

"Just don't free him Astral. You don't need him to become stronger. Trust me" She then said in a firm tone. Astral nodded. However he couldn't shake this feeling that something was about to happen.

Zaira's p.o.v.

I didn't like this. I didn't like this at all. 96 appearing beside us in the key's ship, could not be something good. I just hoped he was not tempting Astral. He didn't need that creepy number or his powers. I was sure of that. However, what I wasn't sure of, was what to do as of yet. I wanted to help Astral. I really did, but how was the question. That still escaped my mind.

"Soon your destiny will be unfold". I looked confused around. I could hear this dark voice speak all of the suddenly.

"Zaira? Something wrong?" Astral then questioned. He looked worried at me.

"I heard this voice" I replied and took a look around once again. Nothing. "Didn't you hear it?". Astral's eyes narrowed at that. Apparently not.

"Soon the mystery of your mission will reveal itself Astral".

Once again the voice entered the ship, and this time Astral heard it too. He was looking puzzled around for some seconds, then he turned towards the number spots in here.

"It is coming from the numbers" He concluded and stretched out his hand.

The spots from the numbers were now glowing. It was so bright that I had to cover my eyes. When I opened them again, we were standing in front of the door. But not my door, but Yuma's door. I remember being here first time Yuma and I gained access to Zexal. True Yuma and Astral were the ones doing it, but I had been the one with the enchantment for it all to start. I saw myself as a really important member in that matter. However, this time Astral was here with me.

"Zaira, soon your door will open as well, but to do that, you will have to fulfil your destiny" I could hear the door say. I looked very puzzled here. So did Astral.

"What is this place? Is that the door you were talking about?" Astral then asked.

I shook my head. Now that I thought about it, Astral never had been here before. Only Yuma and I had. That was really unsettling.

"Astral are you worthy?" The door then asked him "Your time is now".

"For what? Tell me. Explain" Astral then questioned in a puzzled tone. I nodded in agreement to that too. I wanted to know as well.

"Pass this test and your path will be revealed. Fail and all will be lost".

"All will be lost?" Astral questioned worriedly "What must I do?".

Before we even could count to ten, the door disappeared and we were both suddenly back on the ship. However, we were outside at the top of the ship. Not inside. Thunder could be heard in the background, which creeped me out big time. In front of us now were a creepy shadow giant of some kind. He looked ancient. Like a Viking like warrior. My eyes widened surprisingly by that. This was not good at all.

"Who are you?" Astral then questioned. That I also wanted to know.

The giant's eyes glowed in a strange purple glow, and I felt really weird. I had this weird sensation running through my body. Some feeling of recognition actually.

"We are the ones who will challenge your limits" The Viking then said "You must duel us".

I looked confused around. Us? Who's us? There were only this guy here. That is unless he refers himself as we, I can't see anyone else here. I could see that Astral was as confused as I were. The I felt it again. This weird longing sensation.

"Zaira, it is time. Time to fulfil some part of your destiny" The giant then said. I nodded eagerly. I had no idea why, but it just felt right doing it. I began walking over to the Viking.

"Zaira where are you going?" Astral then asked "What's happening?!". I turned my head slightly and looked at him. But it was like I really didn't see him at all.

"To fulfil my destiny" I said in a monotone voice "Going over to Xxxxxx".

It was like I was in a trance, but I was still aware on what was happening around me. I just knew I had to go over to Xxxxxx. The name. I don't even know how to pronounce it, let alone spell it. It was a name from ancient time, who was, at least to me, impossible for human tongue to speak. One of the reasons Astral and I didn't have a clue what I was saying here.

"Zaira? I don't understand, what did you say?" Astral now questioned.

"You will be dueling her Astral. Are you ready?" The giant asked "You will be dueling us, are you ready?".

I had appeared on the Viking's side and smiled a smile who surely didn't reach my eyes. Then I tilted my head.

"Yes, are you ready to duel us?" I asked as well and activated my duel disk.

Yuma's p.o.v.

Around the same time.

"Astral, Zaira please!" Yuma said in a begging voice while tears were shown in the corner of his eyes. "Come out of the key. I am worried about Astral".

Right now they were all in the nurses office. Yuma, Ray and Tori. Yuma couldn't sit still in the classroom doing class, because he was so worried about Astral. So in the end he had pretended to be sick, so the nurse could, in his mind, check up on Astral. Luckily the nurse was out at the moment, and it was not far of to lunch break. Ray and Tori had found Yuma at the edge of the bed. He was staring worriedly at the key, who he had placed down in the bed, as a real patient.

"They are still not answering. I bet Astral is really sick. We have to do something" Yuma now shouted. Tori however just sighed deeply.

"Calm down please" She said and tried to make Yuma calm. That didn't go so well. Yuma was still in panic.

"You will be okay pal. Just relax. I will ask the nurse to take your temperature" he uttered in pure distress. Tori snort in annoyance now.

"Will you chill out!" she yelled at him.

"Ah, I am sure everything will be okay Yuma" Ray also tried reassuring.

Then suddenly out of the blue, Yuma's key began to glow, and before anyone knew it, let alone Yuma, He had disappeared into the key. Yuma hit the roof of the ship seconds later. He was rubbing his rear end, and looked confused around. Astral was the first thing he noticed. The Astral prince was after all right beside him.

"Wait a minute, where am I? Wait Astral? Does that mean we are inside the key?" He then questioned, and when Astral nodded he continued. "Did you bring me here?".

"No I did not. You were brought in here by him" Astral replied and pointed at the Viking Yuma first now had noticed. Yuma was really surprised now.

"Wow, who is that? Wait is that Zaira over there? What is going on here?" he asked.

"Well it appears I am to be tested. In other to further my mission, I must defeat this warrior in a duel" Astral now explained. "For some reason Zaira is dueling for him".

"Wait what? Zaira why are you on that guy's side?" Yuma now yelled. Zaira tilted her head a little and looked puzzled back at him.

"Why shouldn't I? This is my path of destiny" she replied in a monotone voice.

"Um Astral what is wrong with her?" Yuma questioned and looked over at Zaira once again "She looks like a Zombie or something". Astral hummed a little.

"I am not sure. This warrior didn't use any sort of tricks if I recall. He just asked, and Zaira walked over to him. I believe this is part of the test" the ghost then replied "However, I must win to gain a crucial memory". Yuma frowned at that. He knew how important that was for Astral.

"Be warned. Losing has dire consequences" The giant then said.

"Well then it is a good thing all I know is how to win" Yuma replied and tossed up his duel disk and gazer. "Duel disk go, duel gazer, let's roll". Zaira placed a deck in hers as well. Both of them were ready to duel now.

"Time to shred some fangs" she then said in a cold tone "Girls first".

Giant/Zaira: 4000Lp.

Yuma/Astral: 4000Lp.

"Let us see how you will handle the adversity" The giant then said "Will you overcome it, or will it destroy you?". Zaira nodded eagerly at that.

"Or will it destroy you?" she questioned as well and drew. "I summon 'Bubble breeder' to the field".

Both Astral and Yuma looked puzzled when a level 4 light attribute monster entered the field. That and it had 0 att points.

"That is not a monster Zaira has in her deck" Yuma then commented.

"Zaira must use this Giant's deck" Astral replied in a worried tone "That is gonna make this duel a lot harder".

Zaira then discarded a card from her hand, which allowed her to summon another Bubble breeder from his hand to the field. Then she used the spell "Monster reborn" to summon back the monster she just discarded. That had been another bubble breeder, so she had 3 on her field now.

"I overlay my three bubble breeders to build the overlay network, and Xyz summon 'Unformed Void'" Zaira then yelled and summoned a weird plant like, black monster with 0 att points. Just like the bubble breeders had, which confused Yuma.

"But it has no att points" Yuma then uttered.

"And that should worry us" Astral replied in a worried tone.

Zaira however was not done yet. She also activated this field spell called "Overlay world". Yuma and Astral could see how the whole place around them got filled with strange energies. Besides that everything seemed normal.

"At the end of each turn, any duelists without an Xyz monster takes 500 points of damage, and any destroyed Xyz monsters will be banished" The Viking then explained to them. He had a hand on Zaira's shoulder. As a way of saying good job. "We will now end our turn".

"We will now end our turn" Zaira repeated obediently. Yuma sneered angrily at that.

"Ahr like it wasn't difficult enough that we are fighting against Zaira" He then complained "Now we have to summon an Xyz monster. That is really gonna limit our options in this duel".

"This will be most challenging" Astral then agreed.

They had just said that when green light suddenly were shown in the sky now. Jolts then soon followed and hit both Astral and Yuma. Both of them let out a scream as they lost 500 life points.

"It is already hitting us with damage" Yuma then pointed out afterwards. They had taken 500 points of damage because of the field spell. "But no matter what, we are gonna win this thing!".

He shouted the last part out with a lot of vigor. Then Yuma drew and summoned "Dododo Warrior" (Lv 6) to the field in att mode. He could summon this monster by lowering its att points by 500. (2300-1800 att) Then they used the spell "Fourcing". By sending a card in their hand to the grave, Astral and Yuma could summon a lv 4 spellcaster from their hand. They discarded "Ganbara lancer" to special summon "Gagaga magician" to the field in att mode. Then they used the spell "Monster reborn" and go Ganbara lancer back from the grave, and onto the field. Ganbara lancer was a level 5 monster, and it effect made it count as two when they Xyz summoned. So Astral overlaid 'two' Ganbara lancers to Xyz summon "Nb 61 Volcasaurus" to the field in att mode.

"Yuma summon another number at once" Astral then ordered and Yuma did as he asked.

They used Gagaga magician's eff. it changed its level from 4 to 6. Then they overlaid Gagaga magician and Dododo warrior to Xyz summon "Nb 6 chronomaly Atlantis". Yuma couldn't be more pleased.

"Cool, with that we can get the upper hand" Yuma then proclaimed with a smirk.

"Indeed. The time to act is now" Astral instructed.

Yuma nodded. He started off by using Atlantis's eff. By using one Ou, it could wipe out half of their opponent's life points. Zaira let out a little scream as she got blown backwards into the Giant's chest as the wind pressure hit them, and cut their life points down to 2000. Luckily for Zaira and them, in some way, the Viking was so big and strong that he didn't get blown away too. Yuma looked pretty guilty here.

"Ah Atlantis don't overdo it. We still want Zaira back in one piece" he told the number and made it slow down on the wind pressure.

"But at least we weakened them" Astral replied "Let's strike now". Yuma nodded and were about to attack with his numbers, when Zaira interrupted them.

"We activate Unformed Void's effect" she now yelled and surprised them big time "By using one Ou, all your Xyz monsters att points are added to our Unformed void".

Light appeared their monster now. Yuma could feel vibrations all around in the air now. The void monster began sucking in energy from all the Xyz monsters, and millions of eyes opened in its plant like arms. Then they began taking shape as the Xyz monsters they stole energy from. A black copy of Volcasaurus and Atlantis was now looking at them from the other side of the field. It now had 5100 att points.

"Wow, now it is super powerful!" Yuma then exclaimed in a horrified tone.

"Yes it looks like they have turned the tables on us" Astral replied slowly.

"Yeah maybe so, but now we can turn the tables right back on them" Yuma replied with a smile.

He activated Vulcasaurus's eff. By using one Ou, Volcasaurus destroyed the opponents monster and dealt damage equal to the destroyed monsters att points. That was 5100 points of damage heading their way.

"This duel is all done" Yuma now proclaimed in a proud tone.

"No, Yuma look!" Astral uttered suddenly as the beam Vulcasaurus just have fired, disappeared. Unformed void was still there.

"Overlay world's eff makes it impossible" The Viking explained "While this field is activated, no spells, traps or monster effects can destroy Xyz monsters".

"Ahr, well that figures" Yuma sneered in annoyance "Guess I have to end my turn then".

Zaira's p.o.v.

I must admit I felt happy. Happier than I have ever felt in a long time, and I had no clue why. It was like I didn't have a care in the world. Like etc. I didn't care about Yuma or Astral right now. Sure I knew who they were. I knew Yuma was my adopted brother and Astral my best friend, but right now it really didn't matter to me. A part of me wondered if this giant had put a spell on me or something, but at the same time I knew that was not the case. It just felt like home. Like you belonged there, and I would do everything in my power to make sure that it stayed that way. If Yuma and Astral won, this home feeling would disappear. I just didn't want that. I always wished for a place to belong ever since that day at the orphanage. Sure I belonged in Yuma's family now, but compared to this, they really were nothing. You didn't need any convincing. You didn't need to build up any trust or anything like that, because it was already there. Waiting.. It was a little hard to explain actually.

"Mistress is this.. is this our home?" Cy questioned inside my soul "I feel weird..".

"Well not sure, but it feels that way" I replied back inside.

I knew If we won, we were truly brought home, wherever that is. Although that also meant Astral would lose the numbers. I think I would gain them instead, but what did that mean?

"You will be free Zaira" The Viking then suddenly said, as if he had read my mind.

"Free.." I murmured slowly. What did that even mean?

"You will be free from the seal" The Viking responded once again like it had read my mine.

My eyes flickered a little and I turned my attention to the Giant behind me. The seal? The door mentioned that too? What does that mean? However this time I didn't get any respond. It was our turn to draw, so I guess that is why. But I did wonder what actually would happen to Yuma and Astral if they lost. However I drew and attacked with Unformed void. It destroyed Atlantis. It could do that since Unformed void negated effects that prevented destruction doing battle, such as all the numbers actually. We were clearly having the advantage here. Yuma and Astral only had 1000 life points remaining. I ended Our turn. Yuma and Astral was up, however for once I didn't really want them to win.

Yuma's p.o.v.

Yuma groaned annoyed as he felt to the ground after Atlantis got destroyed. Unformed void had been hitting them hard. They didn't have many life points left.

"They are counting every single move we make" Yuma groaned and got up from the floor. This was not good at all.

"We are not strong enough to get her back" Astral commented and Yuma knew he was talking about Zaira.

Yuma sneered angrily. He wanted her back too. He had just thought that when a voice suddenly could be heard behind them. A chuckling evil laughter Yuma never could forget, even if he tried. Number 96 was right behind them, and he were smirking evilly at their predicament.

"You will not win until you accept the one thing you lack. You need my help" The number then declaimed. Yuma couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"What does this guy want? He is nothing but trouble" he then proclaimed when he realized that this 96 was only a hologram of some sort. 96 chuckled evilly.

"You have me all wrong. I am here to help" He said in a rather sweet tone that gave Yuma goosebumps "This opponent here is testing Astral to see if he is worthy of keeping Zaira and the numbers".

"Worthy?" Astral now questioned in a worried tone.

"That doesn't even make sense" Yuma then uttered and looked over at the Viking "Why would that guy care if Astral has the numbers? Or Zaira on our team?".

"Oh Astral. You know I am right" 96 then insisted and smirked "You also know that you need my power to defeat him". Yuma looked puzzled at the two of them now.

"What does he mean with that we need his powers Astral?" Yuma then asked in an angry tone. 96 chuckled again and looked at him. Yuma didn't feel so good.

"It is true. I have things Astral lacks" 96 then incited "Like Anger, envy, malice. You need them all to win". Yuma snort angrily at that.

"We don't need any of that stuff and we never will!" He then shouted back at the number. 96 just chuckled evilly again.

"Or so you think" the number replied and smirked. He looked at Astral now. "Take my advice, and think it over carefully before you turn me down Astral. Just remember this is not the human world. I wonder what would happen to your dear friend Yuma, and Zaira, if you lose".

Then 96 disappeared to who knows where. Yuma was actually glad he was gone. That number gave him the shivers.

"Astral, he is wrong" Yuma then proclaimed in a firm tone "We can win this without anyone's help".

And to prove that further, he drew and started of his move. He placed a monster face down in def mode. Then he switched Volcasaurus in def mode.

"I activate Unformed void's eff" Zaira now yelled "Now the att points of your Xyz monster is added to Unformed void's att points".

Yuma looked in horror as the xyz monster used another overlay unit to add Vulcasaurus's att to its attack points too. Now it had 7600, and a new copy of Volcasaurus was made.

"No not again!" Yuma uttered horrified. "It is getting stronger with every turn".

"Yuma place that card facedown" Astral now instructed. Yuma nodded and did was he was told. Then he ended his turn.

"Then it is our move" Zaira proclaimed and drew.

She of course ordered her monster to destroy Volcasaurus, and Yuma could only look as their only Xyz monster disappeared from the field. Luckily it was in def mode, or they would have been over. Zaira ended her turn without doing more, but they really didn't need to do much here. Since they had no Xyz monster, they were once again struck by overlay world's eff and lost 500 life points. They were really in a dire situation here.

Astral's p.o.v.

Astral couldn't believe how dire this situation was. They only had 500 life points remaining, and had to beat a foe who had 7600 att points. Furthermore they needed to summon an Xyz monster at the end of this turn, or Overlay world who hit them, and reduce their last remaining life points. However if they do summon another Xyz monster they had to make it count since Unformed void still had one Ou left. It could still drain their next Xyz monster and power up again. Astral was not feeling so good. He could still remember 96 words. This is not the human world. I wonder what would happen to your dear friend Yuma, and Zaira, if you lose. Those words were edged into his memories. That was actually what Astral was fearing most right now. To lose Yuma and Zaira. He didn't care about what happened to himself in this battle, but he couldn't let anything happen to them. His eyes flickered to Yuma, who was lying beat up on the ship's roof. He didn't look good, and he had difficulties getting up.

"Yuma.." Astral whispered and looked up in the sky. He really didn't have a choice here. He had to do it.

"Alright number 96, I will free you!" Astral then shouted loudly, and made Yuma turn surprised towards him. Horror was written on his face.

"No Astral! You can't! Please don't do this!" He then uttered sacredly and managed to get up on his knees. However, Astral didn't listen.

"Number 96. Make sure you fulfil your end of our bargain" Astral then said as light emitted from his hand, and he freed the number from the seal inside the ship.

"Why Astral? Why are you teaming up with him?" Yuma yelled as he crawled over to the ghost, with all the strength he could muster.

Astral looked worriedly at his friend. Yuma really was in a bad shape. One of the reasons he had freed 96. Astral just knew he had to in order to win. Evil laughter could be heard beside them now, as 96, the real deal, emerged beside them.

"I promise that I will help you win this duel, and I will. Zaira can after all not be mine, if she disappears from here" 96 replied with an evil gleam in his eyes. "Yuma You must summon Dark mist. Quickly".

"No! I won't!" Yuma shouted angrily back at the evil number who looked so much like Astral. He even managed to get up on his feet's now.

"You must" Astral insisted "It is the only way we can win".

Yuma growled annoyed but in the end he did as Astral asked of him. He drew and flipped up his face down monster called "Magical undertaker". (lv 2) Since he did that, it's flip effect activated and Yuma could summon a spell caster from his graveyard as long as it is lv 4 or below. Gagaga magician soon appeared on the field. Also since Yuma controls a dark attribute monster, he is also allowed to summon "Caligo Claw crow" from his hand to the field. It was also lv 2. Yuma then used Gagaga magician level changing ability and changed it from 4 to 2. They were having 3 level 2 monsters now.

"Now summon dark mist and I will seal our victory" 96 replied and chuckled darkly.

Astral could see Yuma glare angry at his dark lookalike. He was hesitating, but because of the pressure from both Astral and 96, Yuma ended up doing it. He overlaid his three monsters to build the overlay network and Xyz summon "Number 96 Dark mist". Astral and Yuma looked in displeasure as 96's dark avatar appeared onto the dueling field. The dark Astral laughed like a maniac now.

"Your troubles are over" He then proclaimed "Dark mist will eliminate all that stands in our way".

Yuma's p.o.v.

Yuma couldn't really believe it. He really couldn't believe it. Here he was. Side by side with both Dark mist and Astral. Like Astral hadn't been enough. He just couldn't believe Astral had teamed up with him. It didn't help with 96 giving him shivers.

"Your troubles are over" the evil number then proclaimed "Dark mist will eliminate all that stands in our way".

Then he made his evil avatar attack Unformed void. Dark mist's effect activated. He used one Ou to cut Unformed void's att points in half, and gain the difference. The effect called Shadow gain. Unformed voids att got cut down to 3800, while dark mist had 3900 att points.

"Now activate that trap card while you have the chance" Astral now told Yuma. Yuma nodded, and activated the trap card called "Battle restart".

"When a battle is already commencing, this trap restarts the battle" Astral informed them. 96 smirked evilly at that.

"Perfect, this allows Dark mist to use 'Shadow gain' again" Dark mist uttered happily and removed yet another Ou "Be merciless dark mist. Drain away half of Unformed void's attack points, so you can grow stronger".

Dark mist rose to 5800 att points, while unformed void only had 1900. Yuma wouldn't admit this, but with the help from 96 and dark mist, they actually had a chance of winning.

"Convinced yet Astral?" 96 then questioned "Surely you must see now that you do need my power. My power of darkness".

Yuma looked horrified at Astral. He really hoped Astral was not tempted to go with him or something like that. However 96 attacked with dark mist and they destroyed Unformed void, and reduced the Viking and Zaira's life points to zero. They had won the duel. As the Viking and Zaira was send flying, Astral had rushed over to her field and caught her, just before light emitted around them all.

Zaira's p.o.v.

I opened my eyes and found myself at my door once again. My body was in a heart aching pain for some reason, and I felt tremendous sadness as I was standing here again. My mind had a lot to comprehend right now. I remembered the duel and that longing feeling of home, who now were escaping me. I had been so close to return home, but now that Yuma and Astral had won, there was nothing of that anymore. I felt so lost.

"Zaira, you have finally walked on the path towards your destiny" I could then hear the door say, and I turned my gaze towards it.

I could feel the door's gaze fall on me, and was that sadness I could see in it's eyes? I bit my lip. What did that destiny actually mean? Did that mean I was on my way home? Or could it be the opposite right now and I were on a path away from home? A lone tear fell from my one eye. I didn't want that. I didn't want that!

"You fulfilled your part of destiny for now. You are allowed to go back to Astral and Yuma now" The door told me. I shook angrily my head and glared up at it.

"I don't wanna!" I yelled "I don't want to! Open up already! If you do, I will go home right? To my true home. Where I belong! Why are you doing this to me?".

"Little Zaira, you still have not found all the keys to open me" The door instructed in sadness and sighed "Even if you open this door, it will NOT bring you were you want to be. Only you yourself can bring you home. When your turmoiled heart is not aching. You have another destiny in wait my child. Be prepared". I looked puzzled at the door.

"Another destiny? What do you mean by that?" I sneered back "All you do is talk and confuse me even more. You are no help at all!". The door only chuckled at that.

"Find it Zaira, and your path will be revealed" The door said. I snort annoyed.

"Find what exactly? Give me some more clues will you!" I then yelled back. I had just said that when light emitted around me and..

.. I found myself in Astral's arms. I blinked a little bewildered. I had just been at my door a sec ago, so how did I end up here?! We were not even in the real world, or the key. We were some place else. It looked like some kind of gateway to somewhere. Maybe in between the Overlay network since Yuma also could float in here? Both Yuma and Astral had stopped up, and now looked worriedly at me.

"Oh the starry sky's sake that you are okay Zaira" Astral uttered relieved "I thought this warrior in the duel had done something terrible to you".

"Astral relax, give her some space" Yuma then uttered and stuck his face up close and personal to me "Are you feeling better Zaira? You don't look Zombified..".

I collided a fist into his face, as he was way to close here. Who was not giving me some space here eh? Then I jumped out of Astral's arms and glared angrily at Yuma.

"Who do you call Zombified, you idiot? I am perfectly fine, but if you want I can zombify you" I yelled at him. Yuma quickly shook his head in wild manor.

"No, no anything but that!" he uttered in a scared tone. I snort annoyed.

"Where in the world are we?" I then questioned and looked around.

"Yuma's door has put us to the path of enlightenment Zaira" Astral then replied and flew a little forward making me and Yuma follow. "I finally understand what the numbers have been telling me".

They all floated towards some strange light and ended up in some galaxy colored place. It was like you were floating in the middle of outer space actually. In the middle of the room, was something shining there, and my eyes widened surprised by that. It called to me for some reason.

"Of course. Yes! It all makes sense now!" Astral then uttered. He was staring at the shining object in the middle of the room too. "Yuma, Zaira, I remember now! There is a card that contains the meaning of the entire universe. Within it can be found any answers you can possible seek. Everything from the origins of time itself, to the ultimate destiny of all reality". Yuma and I was staring in awe at that.

"So wait, all that stuff is in a card?" Yuma questioned rather shocked.

"It is a very special card Yuma. The card is so powerful that it can determined the fate of every world" Astral now explained "This may be hard for you two to understand, and even harder for you to believe, but it is the card who created the whole universe. It is called the..".

"The numeron code" I then interrupted and made both Astral and Yuma look at me.

"Yes, that is correct, but how do you know this Zaira?" Astral questioned in a puzzled tone. I shrugged a little. I had no clue on that myself, but I just knew this was the code. The numeron code who could change everything and knows everything.

"I don't know" I then replied in honesty "It just came to me. But I know that if we gather the rest of the numbers, the location for the code itself will be revealed".

"Yes that is correct Zaira. However, the barians are also seeking this card, but I must obtain it first" Astral told us.

I nodded eagerly. If the barians got their hands on such a powerful card, who knows what would happen to this world. Nothing good surely. I bit my lip a little. This must be what the door wanted me to find. The numeron code. The card must surely know where I belong to, and who my family and brother was. Of course I could change the world too with this card in my hands, but that really didn't call to me. I just wanted to know who I was and were I came from. If I could get that answered, then I would gladly turn over the code to Astral afterwards. I decided inside that I would do everything I could to make sure the barians didn't get this card.

We were soon back in the real world, where I found both Ray and Tori waiting in the nurses office for some stupid reason. I also discovered that Astral had freed 96 from the seal inside the key. Apparently that was the deal they had made, so Astral could win this test duel inside the key. That didn't make me comfortable at all. Only good thing was that this evil number had flown off somewhere. I hoped the ones he was gonna annoy could handle it. I was not going after that number right now. That was for sure. Soon we were all, Ray, Yuma, Tori and I, along with floating Astral, present at the riverbed. We were sitting in the grass as the sun were about to go down.

"Are you serious? You guys actually had a duel inside the key?" Tori questioned in disbelief.

Yuma nodded in a serious tone. He had shared his experience with both Ray and Tori here. Although he left out the part with me dueling against them, which I was pretty grateful for. I still felt a little guilty over that.

"Yeah, that Astral lookalike helped us win" Yuma explained and sighed "And after that Zaira, I and Astral were transported to some passageway. It was there we saw a super mysterious card called the numeron code".

"Numeron code?" Tori questioned "That sounds important".

"Yeah I'll say" Ray added with a smile "How did it look like?".

"Does it matter Ray?" I sneered and pushed him away as he tried to hug me once again "I will help Yuma find it, and then I will get some answers".

"Oh yeah? What kind of answers?" Ray questioned puzzled. I just snort and got up.

"None of your business. I think I will go home now. I am tired" I then proclaimed and began walking towards our house.

Yuma soon followed and waved a goodbye to Ray and Tori before we both ran home. What we didn't know was Ray's dark shaded expression as he looked after both of us.

A,N: Well that was that chapter. Pretty enlightening right? At least a lot got revealed in this chapter. I actually can't believe I am there in episodes right now. 😊 However the next episode is the one with siblings dueling. One of the fun episodes since well Shark and Rio end up having a duel. Kinda a misunderstanding, but still hilarious. That and you will know one of Zaira's biggest and weirdest fears. So Stay tuned