"Yza... it's time to wake up."

"I'm... not... Yza..."

"It's been nearly two years now, hasn't it? Since we've last talked... I'm sorry that I disappeared."

"I don't... even know... who you are...!"

"It's me, your best friend. Ayaza Ganki-Vulcan."

"I've never had a friend named Ayaza... the only Ayaza I know is the same person who tried to orchestrate the end of the world...!"

"It was necessary to resurrect Gyze to return your memories."

"I don't want to remember my past anymore!"

"It's time you've woken up from your amnesia, Yza. Right now, we're safe."

"Safe...? You kidnapped me... get away from me!"

"Even if I wanted to, we can't escape from this place."

"I don't care... open a portal back home, right now!"

"There's no need to rush. After all, this is the place where it all began."

Yozora's eyes widened.

"Welcome back... to V22."

(Opening here)

"V... 22...?"

"Once you enter V22. You cannot leave V22."

"Ayato...?"

"I am the Void."

"The... Void...?"

"...so I won? Did... did I... beat the Void?!"

"When... when did this...?"

"I don't know." Backlion collected his cards. "You tell me."

"B-Backlion...?"

"...YZA, DON'T!! DON'T GO INTO CRAY!! DON'T ENTER THE PORTAL!!"

"...Rukia too...?"

Yza leaned in and quickly kissed Rukia on the lips.

"Since... when did I...?"

"Welcome to Cray, Yza." The dragon that caught Yza spoke with a welcoming tone.

"That voice... it's familiar..."

"You accept me, a new future shall be shown for you."

"...SHOOTING STAR DRAGON!!"

"Pair up and surge, show me the true thunder!! LEGION!! And seek mate!!"

"Ayaza... how is he...?!"

"Blackened wings, abyssal blade and corrupted soul, show me the path of darkness and despair!! Generation STRIDE!!" Maxios called out. "Dark Dragon, Phantom Blaster "Diablo"."

"Maxios...?!"

"Ah... you have a tight grip." Maxios chuckled, pulling his hand away from Yozora. "Like my little brother."

"NO, NO, NO! I CAN'T BE YOUR LITTLE BROTHER IF I'M YOZORA!"

Ayaza clicked his tongue.

"And we were getting somewhere too. Yza, your older brother is Maxios. You remember that much, right?"

"SHUT UP! I'm... I won't... I won't fall for your cheap tricks, Ayaza! These aren't my memories! Don't force them upon me!"

"They are your memories. You can remember bits and parts of your past now, which is good."

"Just stop... please, just stop! I... I want answers too, but... but not in this cruel, painful way..."

"This was inevitable. You took a very important person away from everyone else, Yozora. I'm simply returning that person back to everyone."

"And killing me at the same time? I want to live too!"

"In the end, either you or Yza will be the last one standing. That's the reality of the situation."

"No... it won't boil down just to that... I... they... it's... agh! This is too much!" Yozora gripped his head, rocking back and forth. "I can't... make sense of this..."

"I'll make it simple for you then. This entire time I've been pushing you towards death." Ayaza towered over Yozora. "I was originally a successor for the Void to achieve his end goal of resurrecting Gyze to destroy the world. I was to form a group called Rebellion that consisted of me and the seven hooded figures, and our task was to fulfil the destruction the Void wanted."

"So... you're the mastermind... behind all of it... the race for the Zeroth Dragons... the end of the world... all my pain and suffering?!"

"I couldn't take all the credit. It was a team effort after all, between me and the hooded figures."

"But how did you even bring those dead people back to life?! Ryuzaki told me they died! They can't be alive!"

"It's simple. I am the great tyrant of the Dragon Empire, Dragonic Overlord "The Black". My flames are so pure, they can either kill a person... or resurrect a person. My pitch black flames brought them all back to life. The ones who died in the Void Incident... including my love, Aya. The price of resurrection was cheap... it was just sacrificing my life span. I've lived for millenniums. This means nothing to me."

"So that's how you messed with us and tried stealing the Zeroth Dragons..."

"Correct. However, I realised something that made me change my original plans. The Void never died. The Void wasn't killed by Crystal Edge. The Void was still alive, and the resurrection of Gyze was just a contingency plan from the start. In fact, he barely escaped death by the skin of his teeth. So that's why I teamed up with your little sister."

"Kristy... you got Kristy involved in this shit too, you motherfucker!?"

"Actually... she was the one who contacted me. Me and "Kristy" go eons back, as while I was still on Cray, we were close friends due to our shared power of... advanced Stride."

"Wha... she... she was against me from the start...?!"

"Crystal Edge Dragon only had pure intentions. She truly did want to protect you and the world. Stop jumping to conclusions. In fact, we had been working side by side up until this point to restore your missing memories, and bring back Yza to destroy the Void once and for all. That is what we worked towards. There's a reason why she told you to come find me if you were curious. I'm the last piece of the puzzle to restore your shattered memories, Yza."

"N-no... it can't be... Kristy... she'd never betray me... we... we had the best birthday ever... and we..."

"Bye bye, Yza. I love you."

"KRISTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

"The first step to restoring your memory was putting you under the same mental pressure as Yza. That's why Crystal Edge quietly let Gyze resurrect. If you had to beat Gyze, it'd put the same mental strain as you when you had battled against the Void, right here, on V22. It clearly worked, as you manifested Shooting Star Dragon out of thin air— a card only Yza can access."

"I choose a card from my G Zone, and stride it face up! GENERATION ZONE, UNLEASH!! Miracle Star Demon Series, Myo-kurenai!!"

"However, I had inadvertently begun the remembering process through Kai, or better known as Kyle Black. Both of you used the two Black Hole Dragons that existed in two futures. However, you took the burden of the Link Joker Black Hole Dragon without realising it when Kyle died, and as such it became a hidden sealed power waiting to be released. Facing against him, vague memories must've triggered as the perfected form of Black Hole Dragon, that combined both future possibilities, emerged and nearly killed you."

"SEALED VORTEX, DEVOUR HIM! (50000/5★) BLACK HOLE DEVOURING!"

"When you arrived at England to find Ultima, that must've also awoken deep-seeded memories too. Ones that even Yza can't remember. I'm guessing you remembered the face of a woman, your mother, as you two left England to return to Japan."

The edges of his mind was submerged in black, and his hand was being tightly held by a young woman with short hair. However, he could tell her hair was some shade of red - rather, he was sure of it.

"There's also Ubume. You let her in with your Neo PSYQualia without even realising it, Yza."

"My... what?"

"Neo PSYQualia, the evolved form of PSYQualia. A dormant power, activated in your fight against the Void. After Shooting Star Dragon disappeared, his loyal disciple, the demon Starshooter Caller, became "Myo-kurenai" and began the Star Demon Series experiments to form a new army to find their missing leader."

"How does this relate to me?"

"Ubume was one of the units in Stardust Knight that volunteered to partake in the experiment. However, as she was part of the first wave, the methods used were unsafe and nearly killed them. She and her militia were subjected to terrible, inhumane experiments under the hand of Myo-kurenai, until he could perfect the method of transformation. They grew bitter and resentful of the experiment, and looked for a way to escape."

"No way... Myo-kurenai couldn't have... he... he's a good person... Ubume's the bad guy here..."

"That's where you are wrong. Remember why you and her became Vanguards in the first place."

"...it was... because we were both weak... scared... and anxious people... relying on each other... to get through the day..."

"Where do you think she got that personality from?"

"...the e-experiments... Myo-kurenai did on her..."

"Exactly. She found that escape in you, Yozora. Just like you found an escape in her. Your Neo PSYQualia power is to let a unit enter your mind and manifest themselves, similar to a buddy. During our first Cardfight, you activated it with Shooting Star Dragon."

"Me, your avatar. Shooting Star Dragon." The blue dragon with emerald green eyes appeared.

"Due to the similarity in your personalities, you let her in subconsciously without realising it. You even loved her at one point, didn't you?"

"It... it was because I was alone! I didn't remember anything... did you know how terrifying it was?! She was my only confide! The only person I could rely on... and truly trust! She gave me reason to protect Kristy and get a job!"

"Then what happened to make you hate her? You can remember that much, can't you, Yozora?"

"Ubume... betrayed me. She wanted to win... she wanted to be dominant... she wanted more power... and she didn't care if she had to use me to get it. There was one card that I... I didn't want to use. I told her multiple times I didn't want to use such a card... but she forced me. She forced me to use the most messed up Star Demon... Nova Light Star Demon Series, Sky-Templar Fusillade..."

Yozora rained punches on the ground.

"So I sealed her away... I swore to never use her deck again and switched to Myo-kurenai... but I've never been able to get Ubume out of my head..."

"That's because your bond with Ubume surpasses your one with Myo-kurenai. In the end, you still have feelings for Ubume. That's where your memories first began to break. Remembering her relieved some of the amnesia you had, as you were able to think about the past. From there on, people like Ryuzaki began to dig for answers."

A man with white hair grinned at me. My life in that moment was reduced to nothing. All I felt in this moment was nothing. I was as empty as his words.

"You're Yza."

"I thought... Ryuzaki was a friend... I thought he was my best friend... but in the end, all he wanted... was to know my true identity... and he didn't care how I felt... he just told me, without any consideration... why doesn't anyone consider what I feel...?!"

"All of these escalated and was fully realised in the Gyze Incident, as you met your alter Yozora for the first time, Yza. That's the first crack in your memory. From there on out, Crystal Edge confirmed the worst-case scenario and disappeared, resetting the world so no one remembered her except a select few. You were continually being pushed to the brink, and had to find me to get your answers. That gets us to right now. I am the final stage. The final key to unlock all of your memories."

Ayaza held out his hand.

"Yza? Nice seeing you here."

Yozora quivered.

"...hey Ayaza. Do you know where the manager is?"

He covered his mouth.

"Wait... how did I...? How do I remember... that line?!"

"It was raining that day, and you came to Card Capital after a detention. You wanted to return a deck to the store."

"...Stardust Knight?"

Yozora began throwing up.

Red spider lilies forcibly bloomed around Yozora.

"That was the first line I said to you before you learnt how to play Vanguard. Before you were thrust with the responsibility to save the world again and again. From here on out... your memories should flow easily. If not..."

"...I'll be here for you, big brother. To help you remember everything."

"K-Kristy..."

Kristy stood next to Ayaza with a smile.

"It's time for you to return to us, Yza."

Yozora continued to throw up blood.

(Play song in the media)

The rain fell heavily once a black haired boy go to his locker in school.

"Damn rain," he mumbled, walking down the street.

"Shoot down my opponents with an endless star attack!! Ride my avatar! Shooting Star Dragon!!"

"Abyssal waves, upsurge the undead pirates to victory! Ride my avatar, Vampire Princess of Night Fog, Nightrose!!" Wyvon grinned.

"Twin drive! (Red Lightning) Crits for days! All effects to vanguard! (35000 > 40000/4★ > 5★) Second! (Minimum Raizer) Critical hype!! All effects to vanguard! (40000 > 45000/5★ > 6★) Cat Butler retires and vanguard stands!!" Ryu smirked.

"An electric shock and a single and a thousand fists, I ride my thunderous avatar!! Super Striker, Thousand Electron Fist Dragon!" Sanda exclaimed.

"LIBERATING THE GENERATION ZONE! The past doesn't matter, the present is nothing, the future is now, and you won't stop this! POURING ALL MY PRIDE AND DREAMS INTO THIS REVOLUTION!!! Generation... STRIDE!!!" Rino said, a flash of purple came to him. "Interdimensional Dragon, Chronoscommand Revolution!"

Yza entered the class and spoke to the teacher, when the ball slammed Yza dead centre in his stomach, making him fly out of the room and slam his head into the room opposite.

"Rukia... sounds familiar." Yza mumbled before Rukia walked over to them.

"Don't cry, okay Yza? I want you to take good care of my Dimensional Robos and continue playing Vanguard with Rukia and become the best player ever!" Maxios grinned at Yza.

"Yza, my parents are leaving this town." Rukia said in a sad tone.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes to the yes you so do have a crush on her!" Zeon shouted.

"Have a crush on who?" Ayaza asked.

"Yza has this wicked large crush on Rukia!" Zeon laughed.

"No way!" Yza retorted.

"GIVE IT BACK!!" Yza cried, trying to grab the card that was stolen.

"Yza, calm down!!" Rukia shouted, trying to restrain him.

"How about you eat shit and die?" Maxios laughed as he kicked his stomach.

"They settle it in a Cardfight." Rukia suggested.

"Stand and draw. O wondering soul, I bid you welcome... to your doom!! I ride the Master, Amon's Leader, Astaroth!!" Zeon smiled maliciously as his vanguard circle expanded a dark purple.

Zeon laughed as the wind blew heavier, Shooting Star Dragon flew off as Zeon snatched the card from the air.

"Hey Yza." Ayato said as he handed Yza his card as he appeared in front of him.

"I don't want your pity explanation, I want to never see your face again!! SO DON'T TRY TO ACT LIKE MY BROTHER EVER AGAIN!!" Yza cried out.

"Yza... I'm sorry for everything I've done." Maxios said softly as he ruffled Yza's hair.

"SURGE UP FROM THE DARK ABYSS ONCE MORE." Maxios boomed. "I ride my avatar!! Blaster Dark "Diablo!!"

"I want... I want to change!! Twin drive!! (Starknight of Perfect Dust, Bashful Starstriker)" Yza said.

"You're so easily persuaded and tricked!! I fooled you into getting rid of two of your friends!! Now look at you... alone because of those brash actions. You listened to me and that's the consequence. Fooled so easily. How many other times have you been tricked? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE PEOPLE TRICKED YOU LIKE THAT?! Toyed with your emotions, toyed with your life, when you didn't even realise it?!" Maxios said. "Tell me."

Yza groaned as he felt the warm water on his hand. He didn't think much at first, then felt a wetness down there.

"I don't wanna see you get hurt, idiot... it was seven against you, and it looked like you were gonna die! Plus, how are you gonna explain this to your mom anyways?!" Rukia exclaimed.

"Soon you guys will have a child to raise. I'll take a guess he'll have the blonde hair and blue eyes of Rukia, and body of Yza with a mix of their personalities." Izo said as he finished his bowl.

"Ah, the Void is an entity that wants to wreck chaos and havoc on Cray and Earth. The way their doing it this time is the actual Void itself breaking the barrier between Earth and Cray." Kaiko said.

"And that, my good sir, is enough evidence to say Ayaza is a traitor."

"Stand and draw... a black inferno that can't be put out, the ancient flame that has been REBORN! I ride my avatar, Dragonic Remnant! Purge them with your draconic flames!" Izo exclaimed.

"Stand and draw! Lead us to the future with the power of friendship! I ride my avatar, Pure Heart Jewel Knight, Ashlei!" Rukia exclaimed as her vanguard circle expanded blue.

"So with a boost from Raider, Dobe attacks! (35000 > 42000/2★)" Shika cackled.

"Izo was killed." Shooting Star Dragon said.

"You have to hide Stardust Knight in you." Shooting Star said as he finished the symbol.

As Rachel and Maxios were centimetres away from kissing, their heads turned round to everyone, and together they said, "It's just a prank!!"

Yza was in bed, and Maxios went in to check on him.

"Maxios, could you read me a story?" Yza asked.

On his birthday, Yza opened up Maxios' present, which was an art kit.

"So, how'd ya get that scar?" Rachel asked.

"From fighting. I used to fight a lot." Yza laughed.

"SEE RUKIA NAKED?!" Yza exclaimed.

"Yza Blade. Stardust Knight user." Kyle said, looking down at his necklace. "We've finally met."

Yza gripped his hand tighter and squeezed it further to contain the feelings, but snapped at "Stardust Knight user".

The grip he so desperately held shattered instantly as he dropped to his knees, cold sweat running down his body, hand glowing the Stardust Knight symbol and a card shot out.

A whirlwind was created around the card, it forming into a large black dragon, who was made up of mostly wind and the middle of his body was a large black hole, armour and purple rags covered his bony body.

The cards dropped as Yza shook and was extremely weak, him falling over forward, his hands saving him. He was panting heavily as the dragon was behind him.

Kyle's FiCa grew red and coming out of it was a black card. It span quickly and gathered wind around it, and emerging was a large dragon, he had a black triangular head with three horns coming off it, black rings were on his arms, legs and back. He wielded a halberd for a weapon.

"Death Star-vader, Black Hole Dragon." Kyle announced.

"Stand and draw! Come down from the stars above, and ride on to victory! I ride my avatar, Shooting Star Tamer!!" Yza cried, vanguard circle expanding light blue and emitting a bright light.

"BLACK CHAINS THAT HOLD THE DRAGON, BE BROKEN AND UNLEASH TRUE CHAOS!! SHOW NO MERCY, I RIDE MY AVATAR!!" Kyle exclaimed. "CHAOS BREAKER DRAGON, BREAK RIDE!!"

"I may not be someone special, or someone who's a hero, but sometimes you just gotta do what's right." Ayaza said. "If the world gives you lemons, you make lemonade."

"Liberating the Generation Zone!! Black wings of demise, show death upon those that stand in our way! Generation... Transcend!! Black Hole Dragon, Vortex Breath Dragon Stride!!" Yza screamed as Kyle was hit with a sharp pain.

"Actually, we play tag by our rules." Ayato smirked. "Souls, hand, calling, G Zone, everything is shared. And when one person reaches grade 3, we can all Stride, Legion, and stuff like that."

"GRAAAAAAAAH!!" Shika cried out as he felt the overwhelming pain, dropping to his knees once more and spat blood from his mouth. He painted. "Dammit..." He covered his mouth again as more blood spilled.

Just then, a click was made. Yza jumped up and looked around. "Trespassers?" He said to himself, as the white wooden door opened, to reveal Rukia covered in a white towel from just coming out of a shower.

"Wait, are you suggesting we sleep together?!" Yza exclaimed with a blushing face.

Rukia was hugging Yza in her sleep, snoring cutely. Pink snuck on Yza's face as he mumbled, "Holy shit.. she's... she's..." He couldn't get the words out. "H-holding me..."

"Good morning," Rukia sat up and yawned, stretching while doing so.

"Yup, Dimension Paladins, it's a good deck." Aya giggled.

"Hey Yza," she sang. "Yza~"

Yza blinked and looked at the Rukia who was on top of him, the blanket keeping the two from making physical contact.

"Morning." She smiled.

Yza then realised where was then said, "This feels so wrong, yet so right..."

"Let's make this a good ooooone..." Yza's nose started to bleed as his eyes struck on one point: Payic's chest.

"Are you okay?" Payic asked as she set her deck down.

"I'm fine, ahaha..." Yza laughed it off as he wiped his bloody nose. "SHE HAS BIGGER BOOBS THAN RUKIA!!" He exclaimed in his mind.

"Guard with Skoll. (8000 > 13000)" Payic said.

"Hey, a question." Yza said.

"Yes?" Payic asked.

"Are your boobs real?" Yza asked as the whole arena slowly dropped into silence.

"Well... um... you see... I..." Rukia started.

"Have noodles?!" Yza blurted out. Rukia shook her head no.

"I have feelings for you..." she finished, blushing dark pink.

"Eh?!" Yza exclaimed, cheeks becoming a tinge of light pink.

"I... um... to put it simply... do you want to go out with me?!" Rukia exclaimed, blushing even more pink.

"You... want to go out with me?" Yza asked. "Even after my obscene comment during that match?"

"I'm still gonna slap you for that... but yes." Rukia said.

"Well then..." Yza replied, "Yeah. I'll go out with you! I mean, who would miss a chance like this." He laughed nervously.

Rukia hugged him immediately, smiling.

"Damn machine..." Ryuzaki slammed the machine hardly as the can of drink he was trying to get was stuck halfway of coming out.

"Stand and draw. Lead this dead land into it's perfect future! Ride, my avatar! Chronojet Dragon G!" Ryuzaki smirked as the vanguard circle expanded red-purple.

"Alright, now it's gonna become real fun! Stand and draw! Power that was accumulated in secret, unleash the power of dragons inside of us! I ride, my avatar!!" Yza slammed a card on the vanguard circle, it expanding pitch black. "Dragheart, Luard!"

"I'm glad I came to the festival now." Yza smiled as he ate his Christmas pudding.

"Definitely." Rukia agreed as she drank her milk.

"We have to make Maxios forfeit his match." Shika said, slightly pale.

"W-who... killed him?!" Serena said in a shaky tone, as Shika and Yza ran past to find Maxios' room, they came across Serena looking right at Sanda's dead body.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!" Yza let out a loud cry.

"RYU!!" Yza punched Ryu in the face. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!"

Ryu kicked Yza to the ground. "I QUIT, I GAVE UP!! I WANT TO REWIND TIME NOW!! I WANT TO FIGHT AGAIN, BUT I... BUT I...!!" Ryu sobbed. "I SAID I QUIT! I CAN'T CHANGE THAT! I want to fight now... I regret my mistake..."

"I need to clear my mind and think in a different direction, ya know? So I'll be heading back." Ryu said. "My home town, in Kyoto."

"Stand and draw. Golden rays of the sun, cleanse the darkness in this world with your blade! I ride my avatar, Sunrise Ray Knight, Gurguit!" Mai exclaimed, vanguard circle expanding gold with streaks of blue.

"Legends of the one that freed Shadow Paladin! Use your violet wings and soar into the dark heavens! Generation Transcend!! Dark Dragon, Spectral Blaster "Diablo" Stride!!" The vanguard circle expanded pitch black as he smirked.

A crash happened.

The stadium fell into silence.

Steel beams had dropped on Maxios.

Under all those beams was Maxios, body crushed and hair visible.

"Tell me... tell me... tell me..." Yza stumbled across his words as he dropped to his knees from sitting on his bed. His eyes welled with tears of anger and sadness. "Tell me... he's..." he continued as Rukia hugged him tightly.

"Hey, it'll be okay... it'll be okay..." She whispered to him softly, trying to calm him down.

"He's not dead... he can't be dead... this is some sick prank of his... he's joking... he's alive... HE HAS TO BE ALIVE!" Yza screamed and threw his head to the ground, holding it tightly, shaking as tears rolled down his face. "He has to... he has to... HE HAS TO!!"

"No... no... don't leave me and mom again... bro..." He whispered, voice shaking. "What am I supposed to do now? I have nothing left..."

Rukia put her bag on the couch as she simply rested her head on Yza's shoulder, making him blush slightly.

Jumping down from the trees was a young man, light blue hair framing his face, dark smirk on.

"You... why are you here?!" Serena exclaimed.

Rukia walked to the man, putting her head on his shoulders.

"Backlion?!" Yza exclaimed.

Backlion grinned as he put an arm around Rukia, clutching her tightly.

"Yep, it's me, Backlion. Or should I say..." he grinned. "The Void."

"...Void?"

"And she's... my queen. The Queen of the Яeverse." Backlion smirked as Rukia had blood red stripes under her eyes.

"Come on, Stardust Knight user. What the hell are you gonna do?!" Backlion laughed insanely.

Tears filled his eyes as he hopelessly ran through it, trying to find Rukia.

"Don't do this to me... c'mon... don't... don't... DON'T!!! WHY MUST THIS PAIN MAKE ME SUFFER?!" He shouted in anger.

"She's sure as hell not your girlfriend, that was a fake facade I asked her to perform to kill you. I mean, I killed Kaiko, so that was fine!!"

"FUCK YOU!!" Yza shouted as he grabbed a branch next to him, jumping up at Backlion and slamming it down on his face.

"...no one hits my face... AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!!" Backlion shouted loudly, as Yza was blown back through the sky.

"YOu'rE aN eXCuSE fOR A HuMAN, NO, A PerSoN mORE LiKE IT!!" Backlion shouted as he stepped repeatedly on Yza's stomach.

"STOP!!" Yza cried out as Backlion then kicked his head, turning him face down.

"FUCK YOU!!" Backlion shouted as he kicked Yza's head, flinging him to the edge.

"...you're a monster..."

"And you're nothing to me...!" Backlion said as he stomped on his back.

"Release... MY AVATAR!!!" Cards left Yza's hands, as they circled around him, them glowing white.

"Dragon that descends from the black heavens, and the white hell, forcibly destroy everything that means nothing in this world... Annihilate the universe, my true avatar. Dark Wings of Revolution, Spectral Duke Annihilation."

"Now. Give meaning to him... the opposing Vanguard." Backlion said.

"...why... did he not Яeverse me...? Why didn't he kill me...? Why did he spout all that idealistic bs...? Wha... what... what the... what the hell..." Yza dropped to his knees as a voice tingled in his mind.

"I... protect... always..."

"Kinjuzo... not... now..." Yza said in a hoarse and rough voice.

"There's... need... shy."

"Not right now Ju... not right now..."

Everything shattered after Maxios left.

My whole life was destroyed, and I hid away...

Behind him... that man in the mirror... the one that isn't me.

Kinjuzo Takami...

That feeling to want to destroy the world itself that day... is the same day... I lost everything.

"Alright. I'll protect you."

You'll... what?

"Protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you anymore."

How can I trust a voice in my head?

"Yza... I care about your well being. Please. Trust me!"

At the time, my mind couldn't comprehend it. Kinjuzo was like someone who had burnt down my previous life and made it better.

Everything was perfect. It was the time of my life.

Until Backlion and Rukia came to destroy it.

"I can help... protect you again. I'll do it as many times as it takes. Please don't kill yourself from the inside Yza."

...thank you, Kinjuzo...

My name is Kinjuzo Takami, the split personality of Yza Blade.

I'm here to protect him.

"Found a door." Ryuzaki said nonchalantly, kicking it down. "Wassup, motherfuckers?" He grinned and started to ready his billets.

"He's got some hard skin..." Kinjuzo muttered, as he pulled up his rifle and shot at Max's head again. The bullet crumpled once more.

"Oh. You're embarrassed, aren't you?" Kinjuzo snickered. "I slammed you in a Cardfight, after all."

"Shut up..." Mai replied quietly, going downstairs and sitting down, her face showing anger.

"You want a match?" Kinjuzo showed off his deck.

"No thanks. Maybe later." Mai replied. "I want revenge. But not now. It's lunch... I'm hungry."

"Whatever you say, idiot." Mai went on her tip-toes and flicked his forehead.

"Yet at the same time." Mai lowered her deck and breathed in, and out, before looking straight into his eyes sharply.

"W-w-what?" Kinjuzo started to become flustered as he wasn't sure what to do next.

"You interested me, quite greatly." Mai leaned in, and snatched a quick kiss on his lips.

"Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath and Sloth. These are the morals of the Shadow Paladin! GENERATION ZONE, CHOUETSU! Dark Knight, Irgahn Vert!" Kinjuzo shouted.

"Glad you came out here now?" Mai asked.

"Hell yes." Kinjuzo grinned as cream was on his nose. Mai leaned in and wiped it off for him.

Rukia drank some of the water and splashed the rest on Kinjuzo's arm.

"You left me for dead, twice, and all you care about is your stupid relationship with Yza?! This is why I hate you! You make me feel sick to the core, and I'll never understand why Yza even is in love with a snake like you!" Kinjuzo blew up in Rukia's face. "Do me a favour and fuck off!"

"So be it." Rukia used her foot to kick Kinjuzo deep in the gut.

"BUT I MISS HER. I MISS RUKIA." Yza cried.

"...Rukia... I'm sorry!" Yza shouted as Kinjuzo was too weak to take control. "...I love you. Don't leave me... please..." he cried, tears streaming down his face.

"My love for you was..." Rukia started, before frowning. "My love, huh..."

"I'll let you talk to Rukia for five minutes. That's all."

"Whatever the hell Backlion did to you, I'll make him pay for it! I know the real you!" Yza declared. "And this isn't the real you!"

"...this is the real me, Yza."

"Y-you're not like this... not at all... I know the real Rukia...... and she isn't... she isn't like this!!"

"I wouldn't be lying if I said you'd charmed me... or rather, I'm still in love with you. Being honest, these feelings for you... are still there. After all this time."

"I'll do anything for you! I want to be by your side... even if I have to sacrifice myself!"

"So you'd join the Яeverse for me?"

"Yes I would... if that meant I could be with you!! You!re the only thing that matters to me, Rukia... you are my world."

"I guess I really did miss you, Yza..."

"You're the first person to make me feel like this Rukia... I love you..."

Rukia went over to her boyfriend and hugged him tightly, before helping him stand up.

"Well... not exactly..." Yza stepped forward and handed her a letter. "Merry Christmas, Rukia... sorry it's not much."

Rukia's body trembled slightly. "Even if I have to destroy you... I'll never forget you."

"I swear I won't ever forget you too, Rukia."

Rukia took out a small, wrapped box from her pocket and handed it to him. "Merry Christmas, Yza."

Rukia gently put a hand on his cheek to wipe the tears. She kept her hand on his cheek, running it over his scar.

"The deathly cosmos. The forbidden milky-way. The lifeless stars. Turn reality... into a story. And have the story, become a reality. Ride, the avatar. Shooting Star Dragon "Яeverse"."

"Facing the adversity of the end, the roar of electrifying destruction can be the only salvation! THIS IS THE DRAGON KING'S DNA!" Raising a card high in the air, Ayaza smashed it down onto the vanguard circle, causing it to crackle and pop electric blue whilst it expanded, spinning rapidly. "Conquering Supreme Dragon, Dragonic Vanquisher "VMAX", Stride!"

"Yza... you're finally back..." Ayaza looked at his friend.

With gritted teeth, Yza unwillingly entered the cell, before having the door slammed shut on him by Backlion. The steel sound of the lock could be heard, and Yza sat in the middle of the cold cell.

Ayato approached the stone, and chained Yza on it.

"And the eighth piece, Yza... Spectral, sacrifice him." Backlion chucked in Yza's FiCa last.

Spectral Duke drew his scythe, and spun it, before puncturing a cut in Yza's forearm. A painful scream came from Yza as blood ran down and trickled slowly into the pile.

"EVERYONE THAT HAS DIED FOR THIS, YOU HAVE DIED HEROES!"

"Stand and draw! War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. Ride my avatar! Supremacy Dragon, Claret Sword Dragon Revolt!" Backlion declared. The vanguard circle expanded a clear colour.

"Stand and draw! Chivalrous dragon that shines on this world! Step forth into the light where the darkness meets its end!" Putting a card on the vanguard circle, it expanded a bright rainbow colour. "Ride my avatar! Prism Balance Breaker, Shooting Star Dragon!"

"My ideal future... is to become someone who gives everyone in this world hope—! GENERATION ZONE, UNLEASH!" Throwing the card into the drop zone, Yza grinned with a smirk. "Starknight of the Final Battalion, Stride—! His Generation Break 8 skill!"

"...please tell everyone thanks." Yza then looked at Rukia. "Thanks for being my friends... allies... enemies..." He got out of his seat with a bittersweet expression, and walked towards Rukia, before stopping in front of her. "And I want to thank you the most." Yza leaned in and quickly kissed Rukia on the lips. "Youre the most favourite person I've met."

"...Yza... what... what are you saying?"

"The problem isn't on Earth." He turned to face the swirling portal. "It's on Cray."

"...YZA, DON'T!! DON'T GO INTO CRAY!! DON'T ENTER THE PORTAL!!!"

Yza started to fall through, with harsh winds blowing past his thin body.

"This card will respond to your feelings. You only get one chance at using it. This card... is my daughter. Kristy."

The area they were standing in was a bright green field, representing hope and light. The sun shone it's brightest here than anywhere else on Cray, and the skies were the most clear here too - you could see all the pretty shades of blue in the sky - The was also just the right breeze. Not too harsh, not too gentle.

"Yes. This is called V22."

"Why is it called V22...? That's such a strange name for such a pretty place..."

"Once you enter V22. You cannot leave V22."

"I am the Void."

"The weapon to change everything— including the universe. Shooting Stat's bastard baby— his so called "daughter"! The one who can create universes and destroy them! Which is why..." Ayato took out his deck box. "The final fight will be between you and me! All I want is that card... she's the last piece of the plan!"

"Yes. What the Void wants is Kristy. I want you to use her before they can."

"I want to free her with hope, rather than the Void releasing her with despair."

"I can't guard..." Yza staggered back a bit, looking at his one card hand against the attack that was approaching him.

Yza was in shock at what he revealed. Him and Ayato both stared at the green glowing card that was checked.

"...H-Heal trigger—!"

"If nothing exists, then everything can restart without mistakes. That is what I want— to remake the universe, and this time, nothing is imperfect."

"There are people that I've met, that I still owe my life to. There are people that I've met, that are my closest friends and family. There's also someone special I met. And I'm not letting her life, or anyone else important to me, be taken away just because someone or something wants to destroy or restart the world!"

"Thank you for giving me this courage..." Yza thought.

"This was given to me by the most important person I know! And I'm not gonna let this be destroyed alongside her! Besides. I wasn't chosen for this job— I was simply at the right place at the right time. Are you ready? This is the FINAL TURN!!"

Yza closed his eyes, and opened them again, a rainbow flicker inside of his pupils.

"This is to go beyond... and save Earth and Cray! UNLEASHING THE ALWAYS EVOLVING GENERATION ZONE!!"

"THAT CARD— I WAS SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE IT! IF YOU DON'T USE IT RIGHT, YOU'LL END UP DESTROYING EVERYTHING!!"

Yza slammed it down on the vanguard circle, making it expand a rainbow colour, before it started to spin and flash through every colour imaginable.

"MEGA STRIDE!! Angelic Star Demon Series, Crystal Edge Dragon!"

"We both take one damage!"

"I wanted to save the world. Not for everyone's sake, but for Rukia's. I wanted her to definitely have a future, even if it's without me."

The fire continued to spread and rise, crackle and roar, while spitting smoke into the hot air. In the middle of the carnage, was the shadow of a bipedal dragon.

The dragon was covered in ash red armour and natural black scales, with protruding, black, enamel spikes coming out of his body. His wings unfolded out, trailing with dark flames and fuming red smoke.

Yza sprinted towards Dragonic Overlord, brandishing his sword.

"...RUKIA!"

Yza jumped mid-sprint, stretching his arm and holding his hand out. As his fingertips grazed the portal, a massive claw grabbed his torso.

Then smashed him on the floor.

Black flames consumed Yza's body, while the ground beneath him split.

Lying on the floor, blood and debris covered his face. His long bangs fell over his eyes.

Through all the dirt and smoke, Yza could see the portal close.

It disappeared into black flames.

The hand around Yza let go of him.

Yza started at his crimson-dyed fingertips being licked by black flames.

Kinjuzo points to the third man that's been standing there this entire time.

He's just a faint figure. A man that hasn't been fully realised yet. I'd been suppressing him this entire time.

A manifestation of all my weakness. That's what he is.

I can see him, but he's like a phantom.

All of my memories were beginning to be reduced to nothing.

None of it matters anymore, now that I'm gone.

"So the rumours are true. This is what heaven feels like."

As my mind melted on that day...

...I saw the figure of a little girl.

But it doesn't matter now...

...because it's already too late.

"That's... me..."

Yozora's chest rose and fell.

"I... remember..."

Blood trickled down into the roots of the flowers, transforming them.

Daffodils surrounded Yozora as streaks of his hair turned white.

Tears dropped off their delicate petals.

"This time, you'll return for sure... Yza."

Ayaza held a deck in his hands.

"I'll end it the same way we started it... with Vanguard."

(Ending here)

Next time on Z World:

#66: V22