"Good luck to the both of you."

Etou exited the arena, leaving Agon and I to stare down at each other.

"Agon... I don't know what you or Enmitsu Mario is planning, but I sure as hell won't let either of you get your way!"

"What I want is simple."

Agon made a plucking motion with his hands.

"I will sever your wings, Takamine-san."

I grit my teeth, clenching my fists.

"You bastard... first, you forced my Arcana out... next, you betrayed my trust... then, you knocked Yuuma-san's spot in the finals... and now you even want to take away what's precious to me under somebody else's orders?"

I lost it.

"Screw you, asshole! You can have them over my dead body! Go fuck yourself!"

Agon was completely unfazed by it.

It just pissed me off even more.

He couldn't even bring himself to care about how I felt or respond to any of my grievances with him.

In his mind, he had done nothing wrong.

So he continued to stare at me with those apathetic eyes.

"You don't have anything to say to me, huh? Figures."

I took out my Desire Gazer, ready to enter the digital world. Just before I put them on however—

"...everything you just listed are problems of your own volition. It was your choice to activate your Arcana. It was your decision to befriend me in the beginning. It was your expectations for Kurosaki-san to be in the finals. I haven't even severed your wings yet."

I froze.

"Your revenge is the culmination of blaming somebody else for the mistakes you made. If you want to seek vengeance, do better."

The stadium went silent as those words pierced through me.

"I..."

I grabbed my aching chest, struggling to find the right words to rebuke him with.

"We shall begin."

But before I could, Agon cut me off short, putting on his Desire Gazer.

"...I won't let you shatter my conviction that easily!"

Even if I can't find the right words now, I sure as hell won't back down against him.

It's fine if no one else understands.

As long as I can protect these wings...

My freedom.

...then that's enough.

Let's finish this once and for all, Sagitta!

A blue card each descended in front of us, with me grasping at mine and Agon grabbing his with two fingers. A burst of special effects ignited the cards, realising our decks.

A sangria crest of bird wings appeared over my deck, while a navy blue crest of a skull and crossbones overlaid tangled tentacles appeared over Agon's deck.

The system decided I would go first.

"Stand up, (the!) Vanguard!"

"Absolute Zero, Rix!"

"Dream Nibbling."

"Stand and draw! I discard to ride Absolute Zero, Claio! I get the Energy Generator! Arkha's skill, I energycharge! Claio's skill, I scry 7 and add Sagitta to hand! Turn end!"

Minoru:
Hand: 6
Damage: 0
Energy: 1
OXO
OOO

Agon:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. I ride Rancour Chain. Nibbling's skill, draw. Rancour's skill, draw 2 and discard 1. Rancour. (8000)"

It seems he was back to his regular build since he didn't call Philander or revive Roaming Prison... thank god. This does mean I'll have to start laying the aggression quickly to push him before he scales in the late game.

"No guard!"

"Drive check. (Shadowcloak)"

"Damage check! (Loving Pink, Francette)"

"Turn end."

Minoru:
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
Energy: 1
OXO
OOO

Agon:
Hand: 8
Damage: 0
Energy: 3
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! I discard to ride Absolute Zero, Kashua! Arkha's skill, I energycharge! I play Truehearted Ruby! I counterblast to draw 2 and discard 1! Kraali's skill, she goes to soul! I call Kashua, Francette, and Yuika! Kashua attacks! (10000)"

"No guard. (Sweets That Become an Evil Dream)"

"My vanguard Kashua attacks! (10000)"

"Alana. (23000)"

"Drive check! (Loving Pink, Francette) Boosted by Yuika, Francette attacks! Her skill, she gets +5k! (10000 > 15000 > 23000)"

"No guard. (Tear Knight, Rothion)"

"Yuika's skill, I soulblast to bounce Francette! Turn end!"

Minoru:
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
Energy: 5
OXX
XOO

Agon:
Hand: 7
Damage: 2
Energy: 3
OXO
OOO

"Stand, draw, charge. I ride Split the Preordained. I call two Shadowcloak and a Coutir. I dump Habitat, Fine Drink, and Unnatural Death. I play Unnatural Death from drop, binding it and returning two orders to hand. Shadowcloak. (10000)"

"No guard! (Absolute Zero, Kashua)"

"Preordained. (10000)"

"Godelieve guards! (25000)"

"Drive check. (Tear Knight, Rothion) Front. (10000 > 20000) (10000 > 20000) (10000 > 20000) Coutir boosts Shadowcloak. (20000 > 28000)"

"Misa and Orpha guard! (30000)"

"Turn end."

Minoru:
Hand: 2
Damage: 2
Energy: 5
OXX
XOO

Agon:
Hand: 6
Damage: 2
Energy: 6
XXX
XOO

"Stand, draw, and charge! Become enraptured under the sweet starlight and dance to your death as you listen to the feathered diva's rising melody! Return to origin... I ride my avatar, Absolute Zero, Sagitta! Kashua's skill, she and Claio gets called from soul! I play Radiance Caliburn to draw 2! Sagitta's skill, I energyblast 4 to get +10k and a drive! (13000 > 23000/2d > 3d) I call Yuika! Let's take flight! Kashua attacks! Her skill, +5k! (10000 > 15000)"

"I play Fine Drink. I draw and get +10k. (20000)"

"Kashua retires and I draw! Boosted by Claio, Sagitta attacks! (28000 > 31000/3d) Arkha's skill, she revives from drop! Repent Wing Frenzy!"

"Planar Prevent, nullify."

"Triple Drive!!! (Surreptitious Prayer Judge Maiden, Kraali, Soapy Splash, Riviena, Two of Us, Flow) Heal trigger! I recover a damage and give power to Kashua! (10000 > 25000) Boosted by Yuika, Arkha attacks! Her skill, +10k! (10000 > 20000 > 28000)"

"No guard. (Planar Prevent Dragon)"

"Yuika's skill, soulblast to bounce Arkha! Sagitta's skill, I discard to let Kashua attack boosted by Yuika! Her skill, +5k! (10000 > 15000 > 23000) Arkha's skill, energycharge! Sagitta's skill, counterblast to draw!"

"Shadowcloak intercepts. Rothion guards. (28000) To soul."

"Kashua retires and I draw! Turn end!"

Minoru:
Hand: 8
Damage: 1
Energy: 5
OXO
XXX

Agon:
Hand: 3
Damage: 3
Energy: 6
OXX
XOO

"Stand, draw, charge. I ride Zorga Nadir. Preordained's skill, return Habitat to hand. Zorga's skill, energyblast 2 and bind Miasma to revive Trudeliese and Planar Prevent with +10k. (8000 > 18000) (6000 > 16000) I alchemagic Habitat and Overcoming."

Huh? Why isn't he using Caliburn? That was his go to Alchemagic on turn 3. I thought he already drew it since he dumped Habitat off Shadowcloak earlier, but... this is getting weird.

"I call Panse, bind Habitat, and return Fine Drink and Black-magic to hand. Shadowcloak's skill, bounce Planar Prevent and get +5k. (10000 > 15000) Roaming Prison revives with +10k and a crit. (5000 > 15000/1 > 2) Panse gets +5k, (10000 > 15000) I mill Karma, and revive Pomegranate. Pomegranate gives my 5k rear-guards +5k. (15000 > 20000/2) Trudeliese boosts Zorga Nadir. Trudeliese gets +7k (18000 > 25000) and gives +10k to Roaming Prison. (20000 > 30000/2) (13000 > 38000) Deliverance Resurrector."

"Riviena, perfect guard!"

There was no reason to save these, so I might as well try to limit the amount of damage I'm on.

"Twin Drive. (Mythiarq Habitat, Elegy Pixy) Heal trigger. All to Panse. (15000 > 25000) Pomegranate boosts Panse. Panse gets +5k. (25000 > 30000 > 38000)"

"No guard! (Soapy Splash, Riviena)"

"Coutir boosts Roaming Prison. (30000 > 38000/2)"

"Counter guard! Two of Us, Flow! She gets +15k shield since your attacking unit gained a critical by card effect! (13000 > 23000 > 38000) I add Yuika! (43000)"

"Turn end. Roaming Prison and Trudeliese retires, Pomegranate goes to soul."

Minoru:
Hand: 4
Damage: 2
Energy: 5
OXO
XXX

Agon:
Hand: 8
Damage: 2
Energy: 4
OXX
XOO

"Stand, draw, and charge! Become lost under the punishing moonlight and freeze to your death as you listen to the feathered diva's final judgment! Return to origin... Persona Ride my avatar, Absolute Zero, Sagitta! (13000 > 23000) I energyblast 4 to give Sagitta +10k and a drive! (23000 > 33000/2d > 3d) I play Truehearted Ruby! I counterblast to draw 2 and discard 1! Arkha's skill, energycharge 1! I call Francette and Octavia! (10000 > 20000) (10000 > 20000) Her Unique Skill activates! She gets +5k (20000 > 25000) and I energyblast 3 to draw 1 and bounce Yuika at end of turn! Both Yuika get +5k! (8000 > 13000) (8000 > 13000) Let's take flight! Octavia attacks! Her skill, she gets +10k! (25000 > 35000)"

"I play Fine Drink. I draw and get +15k. Pixy. (43000)"

"Boosted by Yuika, Francette attacks! Her skill, +5k! (20000 > 25000 > 38000)"

"No guard. (Romantic Bloom, Pentelanse)"

"Yuika's skill, I soulblast to bounce Francette! Francette's skill, I bounce Octavia! Boosted by Claio, Sagitta attacks! (33000 > 41000/3d) Arkha's skill, she revives from drop! (10000 > 20000) Repent Wing Frenzy!"

"Planar Prevent, perfect guard."

"Triple Drive!!! (Snowskip, Palvi) Front trigger! (20000 > 30000) (41000 > 51000) (Absolute Zero, Kashua, Astesice, Misa) Critical trigger! All to Arkha! (30000 > 40000/1 > 2) Sagitta's skill! I discard to let Arkha attack boosted by Yuika! Her skill, +10k! (40000 > 50000 > 63000/2) Kraali's skill, she goes to soul! Sagitta's skill, counterblast to draw!"

"No guard. (Elegy Pixy) Heal trigger. I recover a damage. (Roaming Prison Dragon)"

"Yuika's skill! I soulblast to bounce Arkha! Turn end! Octavia's skill, I bounce Yuika!"

Minoru:
Hand: 11
Damage: 2
Energy: 2
OXO
XXO

Agon:
Hand: 5
Damage: 4
Energy: 4
OXX
XOO

"Stand, draw, charge. Persona Ride Zorga Nadir. (13000 > 23000) (10000 > 20000) I call Shadowcloak and dump Nectar. Zorga's skill, energyblast 2 and bind Sweets to revive Trudeliese and Planar Prevent with +20k. (8000 > 28000) (6000 > 26000) I alchemagic Black-magic and Overcoming. I draw 2, bind Black-magic, and return Fine Drink and Nectar to hand. Shadowcloak's skill, bounce Planar Prevent and get +5k. (10000 > 15000) Both Roaming Prison revive +10k and a crit. (5000 > 15000 > 25000/1 > 2) (5000 > 15000 > 25000/1 > 2) Trudeliese boosts Zorga Nadir. Trudeliese gets +7k (28000 > 35000) and gives Roaming Prison +10k. (25000 > 35000/2) (23000 > 58000) Deliverance Resurrector."

"No guard!"

"Twin Drive. (Fairy of Flower-nectar, Coutir, Frenzied Heiress) Front trigger. (25000 > 35000/2) (58000 > 68000) (35000 > 45000/2)"

"That's the best one you could've gotten... damage check! (Truehearted Ruby)"

"Roaming Prison. (45000/2)"

"Palvi and Misa! (48000)"

"Coutir boosts Roaming Prison. (35000 > 48000/2)"

"Counter Guard, Flow! She gets +15k! Godelieve guards! (53000)"

And there goes my last Counter Heal... considering how handy they've been against Agon, I wish I put 4 of them in hindsight.

"Turn end. Roaming Prison and Trudeliese retire."

Minoru:
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
Energy: 2
OXO
XXO

Agon:
Hand: 11
Damage: 4
Energy: 5
XXO
XOX

"Stand, draw, and charge! Become lost under the punishing moonlight and freeze to your death as you listen to the feathered diva's final judgment! Return to origin... Persona Ride my avatar, Absolute Zero, Sagitta! (13000 > 23000) I energyblast 4 to give Sagitta +10k and a drive! (23000 > 33000/2d > 3d) I play Truehearted Ruby! I counterblast to draw 2 and discard 1! Arkha's skill, energycharge 1! I call Yuika, Kashua, and Francette! (10000 > 20000) (10000 > 20000) Both Yuika get +5k! (8000 > 13000) (8000 > 13000) Let's take flight! Kashua attacks! Her skill, +5k! (20000 > 25000)"

"Alana. (28000)"

"Kashua retires and I draw! Boosted by Claio, Sagitta attacks! (33000 > 41000/3d) Arkha's skill, she revives from drop! (10000 > 20000) Repent Wing Frenzy!"

"Planar Prevent, nullify."

"Triple Drive!!! (Elementaria Sanctitude, Fluffy Lady, Godelieve) Critical trigger! All to Arkha! (20000 > 30000/1 > 2) (Surreptitious Prayer Judge Maiden, Kraali) Boosted by Yuika, Arkha attacks! Her skill, +10k! (30000 > 40000 > 53000/2)"

"I play Fine Drink. I draw and get +30k. Temptation. (58000)"

"Yuika's skill, I soulblast to bounce Arkha! Sagitta's skill, I discard to let Francette attack boosted by Yuika! She gets +5k! (20000 > 25000 > 38000) Arkha's skill, energycharge!"

"Heiress, Trooper, Coutir. (43000)"

"Yuika's skill, I soulblast to bounce Francette! Francette's skill, I bounce Yuika! Turn end!"

Minoru:
Hand: 10
Damage: 3
Energy: 3
OXO
XXO

Agon:
Hand: 4
Damage: 4
Energy: 5
XXO
XOX

"Stand, draw, charge. Persona Ride Zorga Nadir. (5000 > 15000) (13000 > 23000) Zorga's skill, energyblast 2 and bind Nectar to revive Trooper and Trudeliese with +30k. (10000 > 20000 > 50000) (8000 > 38000) I alchemagic Corpses and Nectar. All my revived units get +5k (50000 > 55000) (38000 > 43000) and Trooper gets +15k and a critical. (55000 > 70000/1 > 2) Impending Karma's skill, I revive him with critical +1 and bind Nectar to get +35k. (10000 > 15000 > 25000 > 60000/1 > 2) Trooper gets +35k. (70000 > 105000/2) Let us end this transmission, Takamine Minoru-san."

The circuits in Agon's body lit up, causing the navy blue veins in his body to coalesce into a glowing Roman numeral etched upon the pupil of his cosmic coloured right eye.

IV.

"Emperor ability, activate."

"Bounding Cthulhu. Until end of turn, all of your "cannot be hit" effects are nullified."

I squeezed my fists, a bead of sweat running down my face.

"Bring it on, you bastard!"

"Coutir boosts Trooper. (105000 > 113000/2)"

"No guard! (Cooling Heart, Yuika, Want to Behold That Profile, Orpha)"

The crowd broke into strange whispers as I chose to take Agon's attack head on, rather than activate my Arcana like they were expecting. Agon seemed unfazed by this however, as his facial expression didn't even move a millimetre seeing that.

"Trudeliese boosts Zorga Nadir. Trudeliese gets +7k (38000 > 45000) and gives +10k to Karma. (60000 > 70000/2) (23000 > 68000) Liberating the Divine Skill. I restand Trooper and Coutir. (13000 > 58000) Deliverance Resurrector."

"And that's exactly what I was waiting for! I'm unfreezing the King's authority!"

The crystal blue circuits in my heart began lighting up, before swirling together and surging to the rest of my body. Channeling its overflowing power into my right arm, I raised it to reveal the Roman numeral engraved on the back of my right hand.

0.

"Fool ability, activate."

"Nightingale Fader! Until the end of my turn, all of your unit's power, critical, drive, shield, and grades are set to 0!"

Agon closed his eyes.

"The only thing you'll be delivering this game is my victory! Thanks for playing right into my trap!"

"This is about what I expected from a one-trick like you. (105000 > 0) (23000 > 0) (70000 > 0) (8000 > 0) (45000 > 0) (10000 > 0) Turn end. Trooper, Karma, Trudeliese, and Coutir retire."

Minoru:
Hand: 10
Damage: 5
Energy: 3
OXO
XXO

Agon:
Hand: 4
Damage: 4
Energy: 2
OXO
OOX

This was it.

I had to win now or else I'll die next turn to his obscene attacks.

That's why I chose to force out his Divine Skill, in case he miraculously survived this turn.

It would give me better odds to tank through it as well.

But in any case, the next Persona Ride would quite literally be my last.

Time for an all out attack!

Let's give him everything we've got, Sagitta!

"Stand, draw, and charge! Become lost under the punishing moonlight and freeze to your death as you listen to the feathered diva's final judgment! Return to origin... Persona Ride my avatar, Absolute Zero, Sagitta! (13000 > 23000) I energyblast 4 to give Sagitta +10k and a drive! (23000 > 33000/2d > 3d) Claio's skill, I discard to give my front row rear-guards +5k! Sagitta's skill, counterblast to draw! I call Yuika, Arkha, and Octavia! (10000 > 25000) (10000 > 25000) Both Yuika get +5k! (8000 > 13000) (8000 > 13000) For one last time in this tournament... let's take flight!"

From my back, two crystal blue wings emerged, spreading out proudly.

"Boosted by Yuika, Arkha attacks! Her skill, +10k! (25000 > 35000 > 48000)"

"No guard. (Tear Knight, Rothion) Front trigger... it seems I cannot increase my power either."

"That's right. Under Nightingale Fader, you can't increase or decrease your numerical values except by guarding. In other words, I've frozen all your stats at 0!"

"This truly is... a freezing revenge."

As snow piled on us, I smirked.

"I'm only just getting started! Yuika's skill, I soulblast to bounce Arkha! Boosted by Claio, Sagitta attacks! (33000 > 41000/3d) Arkha's skill, she revives from drop! (10000 > 25000) Go, Sagitta! Repent Wing Frenzy!"

Agon raised his head, a cold breath escaping his lips.

"I liberate Sound of Wave."

"Huh? A grade 2 Blitz Order? You're grade 0, you can't play that."

Furthermore, it had the Regalis Piece symbol on it. This is what Agon chose to play over Caliburn...? What on Earth was going on?

"Under normal circumstances, yes... but Sound of Wave allows me to play it if my grade is lower than yours."

My eyes widened.

"Wait... that means..."

"Correct. It directly counters your Arcana, Takamine-san. I get +15k (13000 > 28000) and Sagitta loses -5k. However, since you Persona Ride, it becomes -10k instead."

"H-huh?! (41000 > 31000)"

"You are not the only one who can reduce power. Like I said... I am going to sever your wings."

In that moment, Agon swung his arm down.

As he did, my wings shattered, and four murky tentacles emerged from the cracks.

I looked over my shoulders, my eyes widening and my jaw dropping as I saw what hung over my head.

I tried to scream, but nothing would come out.

My voice was frozen in fear.

"Ghhhh!"

I covered my mouth, my cheeks puffed out, and my body folded forwards as a dense nausea hit me.

Choking on my own vomit, I tried to keep it down as the tentacles danced over me.

I clutched my chest, feeling like my head was about to explode from the pressure.

Is this... is this what Yuuma and Agon experience in the digital world...?!

My eyes rolled backwards as the dizziness turned into hallucination.

As it did, I met eye to eye with...

It.

A life form I cannot even begin to describe.

A murky existence sat in the sludge of ephemeral darkness.

Something that truly blurred the symbiotic boundary line of life and death.

A massive bubbling blob that smelled of death.

It's tentacles dropped down, coiling around me and caressing my cheek.

"Now you have a good reason to hate me, Takamine Minoru-san."

A pink butterfly fluttered past me.

Then, a head-splitting sound rattled my brain.

I screamed, clawing at its temporal flesh.

It echoed in my nerves, sending vibrations throughout my entire body.

A direct attack on my nervous system.

I've never felt such excruciating pain before...!

Drool ran down my chin as I lost all motor functions.

"What are... no, that's not... right..."

My head shook, falling backwards to peer right into the eyes of the beast.

"Who... the hell... are..."

But before I could finish my sentence, the tentacles slipped away, and I was thrust back into reality.

"Khh!"

I spluttered, coughing while hitting my chest as I held onto the fight table to support me.

"What the hell..."

Even though my body was still intact, the feeling of losing control of everything lingered.

"I feel like I want to die...!"

I muttered to myself, tugging at my hair while struggling to even breathe.

"Trooper. (33000) One to pass, Takamine-san."

"Oi, Agon... what was... that..."

"What do you mean?"

"You... when you used it... you saw it... didn't you...?"

"I did not see anything."

There was no deceit in Agon's clear eyes.

Then, earlier, what was...?

That I just...

My head felt light.

I clutched onto the fight table harder.

Sagitta...

My eyes widened.

The warmth I usually felt when speaking to her...

...it had disappeared.

My hands began shaking.

I looked up at Agon, who stared apathetically at me.

I looked down at the Sagitta on my vanguard circle.

She had lost her shine.

"N-no... this can't be happening..."

"I did not expect you to be so surprised by this Blitz Order, Takamine-san. Did you not know it existed?"

"Shut up! That's not what I'm on about...! You... you... what the hell did you do...?!"

"I delivered on my promise. I severed your wings."

My heart dropped.

"What..."

I held my hand out towards Sagitta and froze.

Then, I squeezed my open hand into a tight fist.

I narrowed my eyes at Agon.

"Agon... you bastard... I won't forgive you... I won't forgive you, you fucking bastard!"

I slammed my fist on the table, wiping the tears running down my cheeks.

"Triple Drive!!! (Surreptitious Prayer Judge Maiden, Kraali, Sky-coloured Tranquility Judge Maiden, Arkha, Astecise, Misa) Critical trigger! All on Sagitta...! (31000 > 41000/1 > 2/3d)"

But even as I said those impassioned words, I felt no response—

Only a chill down my spine.

My heart shattered into a million pieces.

I couldn't care less about the tournament anymore.

I couldn't care less about what everyone thought about my Arcana anymore.

I couldn't care less about getting my revenge anymore.

Just give it back.

Just give it back to me.

Just give back my connection to Sagitta, god damn it...!

"Damage check. (Fated One of Taboo, Zorga Nadir)"

The digital world around us crumbled.

I fell to my knees, tears streaming down my face.

Not because I won.

Sagitta...

You really did...

Fly away...

But because I lost something important to me on this day.

"You really are the Fool."

Agon turned around and parted ways.

Getting on my feet, I grabbed my four copies of Sagitta and held them closely, trying to feel if there was even the slightest form of connection left between us.

But no matter how hard I clutched her... there was nothing.

I felt nothing.

It was like she was giving me the cold shoulder.

Like we had become total strangers.

I looked up at the ceiling, staring at the blinding fluorescent lights as the audience cheered and booed at me.

"This can't be real..."

I— Takamine Minoru— won the Tri-deity Circuit.

But in the process, I lost something even more precious to me.

Still... I couldn't have made it here without you, Sagitta.

I raised my deck into the air, letting her get all the spotlight.

And thus, my Category rose from King... to Ace.