3rd P.O.V
In the Evening at the School there we see Yuto along with Tori, Cathy, and Caswell watching a Duel between Yuma against Bronk.
It's been a day after Yuma lost against Reginald and by that time Yuma kept Dueling against Bronk since school ended, then they see Yuma lost again.
Caswell: "That was twenty loses in a row."
Cathy couldn't help but worry about Yuma being like this. Then Yuma gets up.
Yuma: "Nice move Bronk, let's go again."
He sighs and starts to walk away.
Bronk: "I had enough, I'm going home."
He got his bag and walk away, then Yuto and Tori went after Bronk while Yuma was challenging Caswell.
Mini Timeskip
Yuto and Tori catch up to Bronk.
Tori: "Bronk, what's wrong?"
He stopped and sigh.
Bronk: "It's just that I don't like the way Yuma is, he broke his promise not to use the Number cards."
Yuto: "I know that Bronk, but you didn't see Yuma hesitate at that moment."
Bronk looks at Yuto.
Yuto: "He never breaks a promise that I know him too well, but Reginald wanted him to summon the very card that beaten him so Bronk tells me this, is a promise more important than to help someone who said a request to get back to the game."
That made Bronk think about it long and hard every word he said.
Bronk: "But Yuto he breaks his promise."
Which made Yuto sigh.
Yuto: "Seems you don't know that Dueling is not to make promises it is an honored game and from the heart, if you don't understand that then you quit being a Duelist."
Which made Bronk widen his eyes with a surprised look and Tori gasped and covered her mouth with her hand after hearing that.
Yuto: "Do you think that promises can help you to the top of the Dueling world, it isn't, and trust me Bronk it will drag you down to the abyss and you'll never climb back again."
Yuto walked past Bronk while putting his hand in his pocket, then both Bronk and Tori looked in Yuto's direction and the words he said also Tori got more worried about Yuto acting like this.
Mini Timeskip
At night at the Tsukumo house, we see Yuto sitting on his bed in thought about Reginald, then he looks at the picture again with a sad expression, then he thought about the past.
Flashback
Two years ago. There we see Yuto run quickly to the hospital heading to a specific room as he entered the room and see Reginald on the bed the girl bandaged up.
He is shocked to see her condition and went to Reginald's side.
Yuto: "W-What happened?"
Reginald didn't say anything but looked down in sadness so he walk towards him.
Yuto: "Reginald tell me who did this?"
He sigh.
Reginald: "I don't know, I got a call an hour ago from the hospital about her getting hurt and going into a coma."
Which made Yuto widen his eyes.
???: "Yu...to."
Yuto grabbed her hand and squeeze a little.
Yuto: "I'm here, Rio."
Her hand squeezed Yuto's hand and she made a weak smile.
Rio: "I...knew...you...be...here."
Reginald quickly left the room to give them two a moment.
Rio: "Yu...to?"
He held her hand with both of his.
Yuto: "I'm here Rio and I'm listening."
Rio: "Please....promise...me...look...after...Reginald...be...there...for...him."
Tears form in his eyes and nods.
Yuto: "Don't worry I will look after him I promise, just get some rest you will be fine."
She smiles more.
Rio: "I...know...you...will."
Then the doctors came in with Reginald and check on her but she went back to sleep.
End of Flashback
He looks at the picture one last time and sighs.
Yuto: "I'm sorry, Rio. I failed my promise to you."
Unknown to him Astral is watching him from the attic entrance and heard what he said.
Astral: "What failed promise he made this Rio person which made him look so sad."
Then he went back to the Emperor Key to continue his investigation of the ship.
Timeskip
Morning on the sidewalk both Tsukumo brothers were walking together heading to the school, then Yuma noticed Bronk and ran towards him.
Yuma: "Hey, Bronk."
He stopped and look to see Yuma.
Yuma: "What do you say we have a Duel?"
He sighs still at what Yuto said to him.
Bronk: "Not this time, Yuma."
Then he skates away and Yuma is annoyed.
Yuma: "Fine then I'll find someone else to Duel."
Then Astral appeared out of the Emperor Key.
Astral: "No Yuma you can't win against anyone."
Yuma looks at him annoyed.
Yuma: "Why is that, Astral?"
Astral: "After you lost against Shark all your Dueling is getting sloppy and predictable always attacking which is why it is getting to you to lose focus and think of a plan."
Yuma: "What do you mean?"
Astral: "Shark is a good Duelist, but he took his time to analyze your Dueling skill and Deck, which comes with a question how much do you know his skill and his Deck?"
Which got his attention and thinking, then he looks at Yuto to ask something, but to his surprise, he just went ahead.
Yuma: "Hey, Yuto! Wait up!"
But he continued walking, but he heard their conversation.
Yuma walked by his side.
Yuma: "Hey Yuto can you t-."
But before he finished his sentence.
Yuto: "No. I won't tell you everything about Reginald so drop it."
He's surprised to hear about it.
Yuma: "But Yuto you know he's with those guys aren't you worried since you have known him since childhood?"
He sighs and looks at him.
Yuto: "Indeed I am, but there's nothing I can do to change his mind."
Then he continued walking heading to school and Astral noticed the sadness in Yuto's eyes but leave it be for now.
Mini Timeskip
Evening in school there we see Yuto walking in the hallway still in his thought about Reginald and when he reaches the library to catch up on a bit of study, he notices Yuma along with Tori looking at a computer.
Yuto: "Ok that guy is an imposter because no way Yuma be in the library ever."
Then he walked towards them and heard that they are reading about Reginald at the Nationals last year, so he quickly walks to them and then turns off the computer.
Yuma: "What gives, Yuto?"
He flinches when he sees Yuto glare at him.
Yuto: "I told you to drop it Yuma and leave it be."
Yuma: "But Yuto don't you want Shark away from those guys, they mean trouble aren't you worried he will be in trouble?"
He sigh.
Yuto: "I know Yuma, but he made his choice."
Then he walks away leaving them and Tori knew that he is hiding something and went after him.
Mini Timeskip
Yuto and Tori walk together out of the school heading home, then she looks at him.
Tori: "Yuto you know what happened at the Nationals, am I right?"
He looks at her.
Tori: "Look I know it is not my business to get involved with Shark but I'm worried about you, the way you are now is not good at all and you keep distant from us, especially with your brother, Yuma."
He sighs knowing she was right, but before he could say anything they heard yelling from out of nowhere and see a young man from the gang Shark hanging out with.
Yuto: "What do you want?"
He took a couple of breaths after running for so long and looks at them.
Weasel: "Shark is in trouble."
Which got their attention.
Yuto: "What kind of trouble?"
Weasel: "Scorch and Chills plan to steal a rare deck from the Museum tonight."
They widen their eyes, and they heard about the rare deck in the exhibit.
Weasel: "That's not all if they get caught Shark will be blamed."
They widen their eyes in complete shock hearing that.
Weasel: "Listen I know you don't like me, but I'm telling you this since you're Shark's friends and knowing that you won't let that happen, but chills and scorch were completely different when they got those cards."
Yuto got his full attention on the word cards so he walked toward him and grabbed his shirt collar to pull him close.
Yuto: "The cards you mentioned do they have Numbers on their name?"
He flinches and quickly nods.
Weasel: "Yeah ever since they got those cards both of them became different persons."
Yuto let him go and quickly ran to Reginald's destination.
Tori: "Wait, Yuto!"
Yuto: "Sorry Tori, but I have to go!!"
He continued running and thinking of Rio still in the hospital.
Yuto: "Rio I may have failed my promise to look after him, but I will do whatever it takes to get him back on the right path that I promise."
While he continued running not knowing a faint glow coming from his Deck Box from a certain two Number cards like it feels its host emotions.
Mini Timeskip
Late at night outside of the museum there we see three bikes come by and stop right off the outside walls of the museum there are Scorch, Chills, and Reginald got off of their motorcycles.
Scorch: "Here we go."
Chills chuckle darkly to see the place ready to steal the rare Deck while Reginald just maintains his calm expression for now.
Chills: "Alright let's go."
All three of them jumped over the wall made sure no one is around and went forward to the museum.
Yuto: "That's far enough."
All three of them stop and see the person in front of them and reveal to be Yuto with his casual clothes and arms crossed looking at them also Reginald is surprised to see him here.
Scorch: "Hey you're that kid that beat up one of our guys to save the girl."
Chills: "What business do you have with us now, Brat?"
Yuto: "Well stopping you guys stealing the Deck."
They process what he said and both Scorch and Chills laugh.
Chills: "You plan to stop us, don't be ridiculous."
Scorch: "There's no way you can?"
Their auras manifest and the Number symbols appear on them. On Scorch is Number: 61 and Chills is Number: 19.
Yuto noticed that and come up with a plan while Reginald began to worry a little for him.
As Yuto keeps staring at them with a calm expression not caring what they said.
Yuto: "Aw is someone a scary cat to face against a kid?"
Both of them look at Yuto angry at him.
Scorch: "You'll pay for what you said to us Brat!"
Chills: "You sure you can take us on brat?"
Yuto just sigh.
Yuto: "The last person I Dueled years ago said the same word."
Both of them laugh.
Chills: "Well look at we have a confident one."
Scorch: "In case you need to notice kid it will be three on one Duel us including Shark against you."
Yuto just shrugged his shoulder.
Yuto: "Not the first time I face three opponents."
Reginald's spine shivers with a little nervous look
Reginald: "No kidding he defeated three guys who bullied Rio without a problem and I never wanted on his bad side since that day."
With that, Reginald stepped forward.
Reginald: "Yuto why are you doing this, I told you to leave me be?"
Yuto looks at him.
Yuto: "I know that but there's no way I will let you go down this path Reginald, I know I failed my promise to Rio to look after you and I feel guilty not being there for you but I'm through with it I will now allow to go on like this Reginald and I will not abandon you again."
Reginald widens his eyes hearing those words and sees he indeed felt guilty.
Scorch: "Enough of this shit."
Chills: "Time to take you out, are you ready, Shark?"
Reginald took a moment and then walked toward Yuto's side.
Reginald: "Actually it will be a Tag Duel."
Both Scorch and Chills are surprised.
Chills: "You dare betray us, Shark?"
Reginald: "Not that I care about your group and I got bored already."
Yuto looks at Reginald.
Yuto: "You know I can take them right?"
Reginald looks at him with a smirk.
Reginald: "And let you have all the fun? I don't think so."
Yuto smirk as well.
Chills: "So that's what's going to be then, well it doesn't matter."
Scorch: "We were planning to put you to blame for this Shark if we got caught."
Then Yuto got his D-Pad and D-Gazer on.
Yuto: "Enough talk and let's do this."
All of them got ready and then virtual reality activated.
AR - Vision Link established
Yuto, Shark, Scorch, and Chills: "DUEL!!!"
They drew their five cards.
Yuto Tsukumo LP: 4000
Reginald Kastle LP: 4000
Scorch LP: 4000
Chills LP: 4000
Scorch: "I'll start things off, Draw."
Then he drew his card.
Scorch: "I place a monster facedown in Defense Position."
A facedown monster materializes in front of him and then both Scorch and Chills look at each other with smirks on their faces which both Yuto and Reginald notice so next Scorch grabs two cards.
Scorch: "Next I place two cards facedown and end my turn."
Two facedown cards materialize in front of him and behind the facedown monster.
Yuto narrow his eyes with a serious look feeling something is not right but kept his guard up.
Yuto: "It's my turn, Draw!"
He drew a card and grabbed one of them.
Yuto: "First I use the Spell Card: Graceful Charity. I can draw 3 cards from my Deck and then discard 2 of them in my graveyard."
He draws three more cards from his Deck and discards two to the Graveyard.
Yuto: "Then next I use Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak from my graveyard!"
Scorch: "From the graveyard?!"
Yuto: "I banish Ancient Cloak from my graveyard, so I can search one Phantom Knights monster from my Deck to my hand."
He grab his Deck searched for the one card that he needed and place the Deck back in the Duel Disk.
Yuto: "When a Phantom Knights monster is banished. The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales can Special Summon itself from my graveyard in Defense Position!"
The Phantom knight of Torn Scales (Atk 600/Def 1600/Warrior/Dark/LV 3)
Yuto: "Then I summon The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves in Attack Position!"
The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves (Atk 1200/Def 600/Warrior/Dark/LV 3)
Yuto: "And finally If I control a Phantom Knights monster, I can Special Summon this monster in my hand, I Special Summon The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots in Attack Position.
The Phantom Knight of Silent Boots (Atk 200/Def 1200/Warrior/Dark/LV 3)
Chills: "Why summon three weak monsters on your field? It's weak."
Reginald remembers Yuto that he always Xyz Summons in his very first turn and smiles a little.
Yuto: "Just for this, I Overlay my Three Level 3 Phantom Knights Torn Scales, Stained Greaves, and Silent Boots!"
All of Yuto's monsters turn into energy orbs and fly through the air.
Yuto: "With these three monsters, I can build the Overlay network."
Then a galaxy vortex appear and three energy orbs went into it making an explosion of energy.
Yuto: "Great mighty Warrior of dark, appear yourself to destroy your opponent with your rusty bardiche! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 3! The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche!"
Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche (Atk 2100/Def 900/Warrior/Dark/Rank 3/OLU 3)
Unknown to the four of them that Yuma along with Tori, Cathy, and Bronk jump over the fence to help Yuto and when they got there they are surprised to see both him and Shark Dueling together.
Yuma: "Ok, what did I miss?"
Astral appears and sees Yuto in a Tag Duel with Shark as his partner so he flies to his side which Yuto noticed him.
Yuto: "Astral?"
Astral: "Sorry to come so suddenly Yuto, but your brother Yuma heard your conversation with the person that spoke to you and everyone else was worried for you and came to help but what I see is you are ok."
Then Astral looks at the two opponents and sees the aura of a Number card.
Astral: "Also if you need any of my assistance against them I'm here for you as a support."
He nods with a small smile.
Yuto: "Now I activate Rusty Bardiche's effect! Once per turn, I can detach one Overlay unit to send one Phantom Knights monster in my Deck to set one Phantom Knights Spell or Trap card directly from my Deck to my field."
Then one Overlay unit goes toward Rusty Bardiche's chest and starts to glow.
Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche (Atk 2100/Def 900/Warrior/Dark/Rank 3/OLU 3 - 2)
Then Yuto chose one Phantom Knights monster put it in the graveyard and got one Phantom Knights Spell or Trap Card directly placed behind the Rusty Bardiche Monster Zone.
Then he grabbed two cards.
Yuto: "I place two cards facedown and end my turn."
Two facedown cards materialize in front of him.
Chills: "My turn, Draw."
Then he pick the card he needed.
Chills: "I summon Pompadour Blizzardon."
Pompadour Blizzardon (Atk 1400/Def 1400/Dinosaur/Water/LV 4)
Chills: "Next I place two cards facedown and end my turn."
Two facedown cards materialize in front of him.
Chills: "You two won't stand a chance against us!"
Scorch: "You will regret facing us."
Both Yuto and Reginald kept their calm expression ignoring what they said.
Reginald: "My turn, Draw."
He drew his card.
Reginald: "I summon Big Jaws."
Big Jaws (Atk 1800/Def 300/Fish/Water/LV 3)
Reginald: "Next I Special Summon Shark Stickers."
Shark Stickers (Atk 200/Def 1000/Fish/Water/LV 3)
Reginald: "Since I Special Summon a Fish-type monster, I can Special Summon him out from my hand, but not for long cause I Overlay them."
His two monsters turn into energy orbs and fly through the air.
Reginald: "With it, I build the Overlay network."
The galaxy vortex appear again and two energy orbs went into it making an explosion of energy.
Reginald: "I Xyz Summon Submersible Carrier Aero Shark."
Submersible Carrier Aero Shark (Atk 1900/Def 1000/Fish/Water/Rank 3/OLU 2)
Yuma along with Tori, Cathy, and Bronk are surprised that he summons his Xyz Monster on his first turn as well.
Yuma: "Both of them summon their Xyz Monsters on their first turn, that's amazing."
Reginald: "Now I activate Aero Shark's effect."
Then one Overlay unit goes to Aero Shark.
Submersible Carrier Aero Shark (Atk 1900/Def 1000/Fish/Water/Rank 3/OLU 2 - 1)
Reginald: "For every card, I have in my hand you take four hundred points of damage and I have four which means sixteen hundred points of damage coming for you Scorch."
It fires its multiple missiles at Scorch making an explosion and dealing damage to him.
Scorch LP: 4000 - 2400
Yuma: "Alright! Shark deal some damage."
Tori, Cathy, and Bronk nod in agreement. But Yuto just maintained his calm expression and then they heard his laughter and when the smoke cleared see him smirking.
Scorch: "I was hoping you would do that."
Chills smirk as well.
Chills: "I activate my Trap Card: Blizzard Egg Level Five."
Then his facedown card flipped and the glow released a blizzard storm.
Chills: "When a player takes damage from a card effect, that player can Special Summon a Level 5 monster from his hand if he doesn't have it 500 points of damage are dealt to him."
Which made Astral confused at the risky gamble. But Yuto narrows his eyes at that kind of gamble.
Scorch looks at his hand and saw the card he needed which he smirks.
Scorch: "I Special Summon, Baggy Pants Lavasaurus."
Baggy Pants Lavasaurus (Atk 2100/Def 1300/Dinosaur/Fire/LV 5)
Scorch: "I'm not done yet cause I play my Trap card: Flame Egg Level Five as well."
His face down flips and glows to release fire.
Scorch: "When I take damage from an effect, this card grants my partner to Special summon one level five monster from his hand but if he doesn't 500 points of damage are dealt to him."
Chills had the card he needed.
Chills: "I Special Summon Level 5 Icebergon in Defense Position."
Icebergdon (Atk 1300/Def 2100/Dinosaur/Water/LV 5)
Astral: "They have the cards needed, something is not right at all?"
Yuto along with Reginald narrow their eyes knowing something is wrong as well.
Chills: "We are a true team."
Scorch: "Forgot to mention that no one has ever defeated us in a Tag Duel."
Yuma along with the rest are getting worried since they summon two powerful monsters.
Astral: "Something is not right, they are too confident?"
Scorch: "Now our big combo finale. I play the Trap Card: Glare Level Five."
His Trap Card flips and glows.
Scorch: "Thanks to this card for every Level 5 monster we control you Shark take 500 points of damage and we have two so 1000 points coming at you."
The two dinosaur eyes glow and shoot their attack at Reginald hitting him and damaging his life points.
Reginald Kastle LP: 4000 - 3000
That made Yuma and the rest worried for him.
Scorch: "Take that, you traitor."
Then Reginald grabbed two cards from his hand.
Reginald: "I place two cards facedown and end my turn."
Yuto glances at Reginald with a little worry but he knew will be fine.
Scorch: "Now then it is my turn, Draw."
He drew his card.
Scorch: "Now I Flip Summon my facedown monster, appeared Flamesaurus."
His facedown monster flips and his fire dinosaur appears and roars.
Flamesaurus (Atk 1800/Def 1200/Dinosaur/Fire/LV 4)
Scorch: "I activate his effect to make him Level 5."
Flamesaurus (Atk 1800/Def 1200/Dinosaur/Fire/LV 4 - 5)
Both Yuto and Reginald began to prepare themselves.
Scorch: "Now I Overlay my Two Level f5 monsters."
Both his monster turns into energy orbs and fly through the sky.
Scorch: "With these two monsters, I can build the Overlay network."
The galaxy vortex appears and the two energy orbs go in making an explosion of energy.
Scorch: "I Xyz Summon, Number 61: Volcasaurus."
Number 61: Volcasaurus (Atk 2500/Def 1000/Dinosaur/Fire/Rank 5/OLU 2)
Yuma along with everyone else is now extremely worried just their opponent summons a Number card.
Chills: "Nice job Scorch now let them have it."
Scorch: "That's the idea, I activate Volcasaurus's effect."
Then one Overlay unit goes into the monster's mouth.
Number 61: Volcasaurus (Atk 2500/Def 1000/Dinosaur/Fire/Rank 5/OLU 2 - 1)
Scorch: "By using one Overlay unit I can pick one monster on your field and destroy it and the player that controls the monster life points equal to their original Atk."
Then he points at Reginald.
Scorch: "That's coming to you first you traitor."
His monster fires its attack at Aero Shark destroying it and Reginald was sent flying by that attack.
Reginald Kastle LP: 3000 - 1100
Yuto looks at Reginald with a worried look.
Scorch: "Don't think you save as well, Brat."
Gaining Yuto's attention.
Scorch: "I use the Vocalsaurus effect again and destroy your warrior."
Then the last Overlay unit goes to its mouth once more.
Number 61: Volcasaurus (Atk 2500/Def 1000/Dinosaur/Fire/Rank 5/OLU 1 - 0)
Then fires its attack and goes for The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche, then an explosion happened and smoke covers him along with his monster.
Reginald along with Yuma, Cathy, and Bronk got worried about that attack. But Tori got extremely worried to see Yuto get hit.
Tori: "Yuto!!"
End Chapter
Custom card:
The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche (Atk 2100/Def 900/Warrior/Dark/Rank 3/OLU 3)
Monster Effect: "Once per turn by detaching one Overlay unit. You can one "Phantom Knights" monster from your Deck to the graveyard, then set one "Phantom Knights" Spell/Trap directly from your Deck to your Spell/Trap Zone."