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72-73
With the powerful Cyberse Deck in hand, Yusaku took up the alias of "Playmaker", and soon became a famous [[Duelist]] within LINK VRAINS, with no one knowing what his real identity because he and Kolter always deleted his activity logs.<ref name="ep1">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1|ref}}</ref>
===Pre-Tower of Hanoi===
At school, Yusaku met [[Naoki Shima]], who started bragging to him about his new [[Duel Disk]]. Yusaku attempted to leave, but Shima offered to teach him how to Duel. Yusaku rejected his offer saying Shima did not seem very strong, but probably not a bad person either. Yusaku's remarks annoyed Shima, but he didn't think much of it. Before leaving, he wondered about a rule set where there were only three Main Monster Zones.<ref name="ep1" />
The glowing shell covering his opponent shattered, revealing a long-haired man who appeared to have amnesia. After struggling with his situation, the man suddenly regained his composure and introduced himself as Bohman, then continued the Speed Duel. He brought out two "[[Coolant Hydradrive]]s", then used one to activate the effect of "Property Spray" and change the [[Attribute]]s of Playmaker's monsters to [[WATER]] to allow "Coolant Hydradrive" to attack directly, but the effect of "Cyberse Magician" saved Playmaker by halving the damage. On his next turn, Playmaker used "Storm Access", acquiring and [[Link Summon]]ing "[[Shootingcode Talker (anime)|Shootingcode Talker]]" and using it to defeat Bohman. Ai attempted to eat Jin's data out of him, but was struck down by an anti-Ignis program. Bohman's little brother [[Harlan]] then spirited him away on his Duel Board, calling out two Duelists called [[Bit]] and [[Boot]] to delay him, but [[Theodore Hamilton|another Duelist]] suddenly arrived, telling Playmaker that he'd handle Bit and Boot and to go after Bohman.<ref name="ep48" /> Playmaker pursued them, but he was unable to prevent Harlan and Bohman escaping into the restricted area of LINK VRAINS, as Harlan left him with a cryptic warning that something unimaginable would happen soon. The Duelist who had assisted Playmaker arrived, and suggested they log out due to the defense system being activated by Harlan's intrusion. Before he logged out, the Duelist introduced himself as Soulburner.<ref name="ep49">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|49|ref}}</ref>
Once they were back in the real world, Kolter rejoined them and Yusaku trapped Ai within his [[Duel Disk]] again for his safety. They noted that their new enemy was formidable given their ability to digitize and steal a person's consciousness, and Yusaku promised Kolter that he'd defeat this new enemy and rescue Jin. At school the next day, Yusaku noticed another student following him, and he followed him into an empty room after the student ducked inside. The student revealed that he was Soulburner, that his real name was Theodore Hamilton, and that we was also a victim of the [[Lost Incident]] and was partnered with an Ignis, who introduced himself as [[Flame (character)|Flame]]. They went to a Ferris wheel to talk, where Flame revealed that the Ignis had been discussing whether or not to trust humanity, and Yusaku noted the irony that [[Kiyoshi Kogami]] had been the cause of those discussions. Flame explained that before they could decide, the Cyberse had suddenly been attacked by an assailant wielding "Judgment Arrows" and that he was trying to find the other Ignis, who had been scattered through the network by the attack. Flame and Ai revealed that the six Ignis represented the six Attributes, and Yusaku curiously asked which Attribute was paired with Jin, but Ai explained that only that Ignis knew. Yusaku introduced Theodore to Kolter, and caught him up on the situation. Kolter stated that Bohman had vanished in LINK VRAINS' Restricted Area, and that he'd found a shred of an unknown program. Ai and Flame recognized it as an Ignis program associated with the WIND Attribute, and Playmaker asked if that meant the WIND Wind Ignis was down there. Ai wasn't sure, but either way they needed to go down there. [[Emma Bessho|Ghost Gal]] then sent them info about the Restricted Area and how to enter it, and though Ai protested that it was a trap, Yusaku realized that Ghost Gal must have got the info from [[Akira Zaizen|Zaizen]], so it was legitimate, and Kolter warned them that SOL Technology would likely have Bounty Hunters waiting for them.<ref name="ep50">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|50|ref}}</ref>
Playmaker and Soulburner logged into LINK VRAINS and headed through the Restricted Area using the stealth program that Ghost Gal had given them, but sure enough, they were ambushed by [[George Gore|Gore]] and [[Kenchi|two]] [[Yozaka|other]] bounty hunters.<ref name="ep51" /> SOL Technologies' traps quickly logged out Kenchi and Yozaka, and Gore challenged Playmaker to a Duel. Playmaker stated that he didn't have time for this, and Soulburner asked Playmaker to let him Duel Gore instead. Playmaker agreed, and he continued deeper into the Restricted Area.<ref name="ep51">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|51|ref}}</ref> As he and Ai descended, they were attacked by The Shepherd, the first Bounty Hunter they'd met.<ref name="ep52">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|52|ref}}</ref> Forced to stay away from the turbulent data in the outskirts of the Restricted Area, The Shepherd chased them into the central shafts, ordering them to surrender or Duel, and Playmaker accepted his challenge. The Shepherd started slowly, his A.I. warning him of "Shootingcode Talker", which could bypass the defensive effect of Shepherd's "[[Drone Pawn]]". Playmaker prepared to Summon "Shootingcode Talker", and Shepherd's A.I. claimed that he couldn't activate his Set card when he Link Summoned "Elphase", but when Playmaker Link Summoned "Shootingcode Talker", Shepherd activated his "[[Capture Drone]]" Trap Card, sealing "Shootingcode Talker". He revealed that he'd made his A.I. lie, and on his next turn, used "Capture Drone" to [[Special Summon]] "[[Drone Token]]s" to Link Summon "[[Battledrone General]]".<ref name="ep53">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|53|ref}}</ref> The Shepherd used the effect of "General" and [[Battledrone Sergeant]]" to launch multiple direct attacks, swiftly depleting Playmaker's LP, but Playmaker was able to save himself with "[[Cure Conversion]]", though at the cost of restoring his LP and preventing him from using "Storm Access". Instead, Playmaker brought out "Cyberse Magician" and attacked, but Shepherd reduced his damage with "[[Demolition Drone]]" by [[Tribute|Tributing]] "General". Shepherd [[Assemble Drone|revived]] "General" and re-established his forces on his next turn, attacking with his "Drone" combo again. Although the effect of "Cyberse Magician" halved the damage this time, Shepherd used his Skill "Drone Craft Force" to weaken it and increase the ATK of "General", then attacked "[[Cyberse Witch (anime)|Cyberse Witch]]" with his "[[Medicdrone Dock]]" for the end of his count. Playmaker was able to make their ATK equal, destroying them both, but triggering the effect of "Medicdrone Dock" to increase their LP, once again preventing Playmaker from using Storm Access. Despite this, Playmaker was able to use "[[Dimension Link]]" to halve his LP and free "Shootingcode Talker" from "Capture Drone", but Shepherd once again prevented his Link Monsters from attacking with his "[[Drone Cordon]]" Trap. Playmaker then used his Skill, "Storm Access", acquiring and Link Summoning "[[Clock Spartoi (anime)|Clock Spartoi]]" using the "[[Cynet Token]]s" that were generated by "[[Cynet Ritual (anime)|Cynet Ritual]]". Via its effects, he added "[[Cynet Fusion (anime)|Cynet Fusion]]" from his Deck to his hand, then revived his "[[Clock Wyvern (anime)|Clock Wyvern]]", and he fused all of his monsters with "Cynet Fusion" to [[Fusion Summon]] "[[Cyberse Clock Dragon (anime)|Cyberse Clock Dragon]]", whose effect increased its ATK high enough to obliterate "Battledrone General", defeating The Shepherd.<ref name="ep54">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|54|ref}}</ref>
Afterwars, Playmaker and Soulburner met up again, and they managed to enter the unknown world through its gate. Immediately after arriving, they were hit by strong winds, which forced Ai and Flame to protect them using Data Storms. At some point, the winds stopped, and they were able to reach a temple where they finally found the WIND Wind Ignis. After showing them the world he had built, the Ignis (who decided to call himself "Windy") explained how he did that in order to attract his fellow Ignis, and also to lure the responsible for destroying the Cyberse. Despite not knowing who was the responsible, Flame pointed out they were after Bohman, who not only had stolen Jin's consciousness, but also had the card used to destroy the Cyberse, and suggested he could've escaped to a world inside Windy's world. They then asked Windy to join them, and he promptly refused, claiming that those statements had no evidence. However, Windy offered to weaken the winds near the area where Bohman supposedly escaped to, under the condition that Playmaker and Soulburner defeat two invaders, Ghost Gal and an unknown partner.
Upon making contact with the girls, Blue Gal presented herself as actually being Blue Angel. Soulburner was happy to meet another savior of the old LINK VRAINS, but Blue Gal stated they were actually seeking to retrieve the Ignis. While both Playmaker and Ghost Gal were willing to solve the situation without Dueling, Soulburner accepted Blue Gal's challenge. Playmaker left the girls to Soulburner and flew off, heading for the edge of the Wind World. Ai asked him if this was all right, and Playmaker reassured him it was.<ref name="ep55">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|55|ref}}</ref>
The gate soon reappeared, this time in a disused island at the top of LINK VRAINS, and Playmaker and Soulburner quickly logged in and headed for it. But as they approached, it began sucking Playmaker in with winds, and Playmaker spotted The Shepherd in the gate. Soulburner pushed him out of the way, and the gate trapped him and Flame inside, leaving Playmaker unable to help them.<ref name="ep60" /> Playmaker circled the sphere that the gate had transformed into, explaining to Kolter that The Shepherd was responsible. He asked if Kolter could open the gate, and Kolter admitted that it wouldn't be easy. Playmaker told Kolter that he was the only one who could do it, and Ai spotted Kenchi and Yozaka approaching. Playmaker decided to hold them off and give Kolter time to work.<ref name="ep61">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|61|ref}}</ref> Ai asked if Playmaker was sure he wouldn't need to log out, and Playmaker told him that they couldn't abandon Soulburner. Ai unleashed a Data Storm that logged Yozaka out, and Playmaker Speed Dueled Kenchi alone. Kenchi used a "[[Gouki]]" Deck, bringing out "[[Gouki The Blade Ogre (anime)|Gouki The Blade Ogre]]" and powering it up to 3000 ATK with two "Gouki" monsters backing it up. Playmaker defeated Kenchi in one turn by combining "[[Pentestag (anime)|Pentestag]]" with "[[Cyberse Annihilation]]" as he had against Gore, logging him out. He asked Kolter for a status update, and Kolter told him that it was slow progress given the complexity of the Ignis program. Yozaka then logged in again, and Playmaker took him on as well.<ref name="ep62">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|62|ref}}</ref> Yozaka put up a better fight than Kenchi, Link Summoning "[[Gouki The Solid Ogre (anime)|Gouki The Solid Ogre]]" and bolstering it with "[[Gouki Unity]]" to make his monsters indestructible, but Playmaker got around this via the effects of "[[Security Dragon (anime)|Security Dragon]]" and "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]", returning Yozaka's monsters to his hand before defeating him with "[[Dual Assembwurm (anime)|Dual Assembwurm]]" and "Firewall Dragon". After he defeated Yozaka, Kolter launched the rescue program he'd been working on, but it failed. Eventually, the program worked, releasing Soulburner. Playmaker quickly approached Soulburner, admitting he was glad Soulburner was okay. Soulburner complained that they'd rescued him before he could win, but Playmaker suggested they log out.<ref name="ep63">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|63|ref}}</ref>
After school one day, Theodore met up with Yusaku, asking him if he was going to see Kolter. Shima then interrupted, asking to talk to Yusaku and claiming to know his secret.<ref name="ep64" /> Yusaku suspected that Shima had deduced his identity as Playmaker, so he followed Shima to the [[Duel Club]], but Shima was actually talking about Yusaku's part time job at Café Nom, as Den City High did not permit them. Shima promised to keep Yusaku's secret if he helped him sign cards for a Blue Angel handshake event, but Yusaku left as soon as he realized Shima wasn't talking about anything important, ignoring Shima's threats to snitch him to Playmaker.<ref name="ep65" /> Another day, he came out of his room to see Ai and Roboppi talking, and as Roboppi tried to tell him, Ai claimed that they were checking on his popularity, finding a post from someone claiming to be the [[EARTH|Earth]] Ignis. They showed the post to Kolter, who expressed doubt that it was genuine, though Yusaku pointed out that few knew about the Ignis. Ai sent the EARTH Earth Ignis a message asking where to meet using an Ignis algorithm, and received a similar one in return, which Ai claimed were coordinates. Kolter suspected it could be a trap laid by The Shepherd, but Yusaku stated they had to investigate any chance at finding Jin's consciousness data. He and Ai logged in and went to the coordinates, staying on the lookout. Playmaker asked Ai about the other three Ignis they hadn't met, and Ai described the [[Lightning|LIGHT Light Ignis]] as calm and collected, the [[Aqua (character)|WATER Water Ignis]] as someone who liked him and who could tell truth from lies, and the EARTH Earth Ignis as no-nonsense an honest, pulling the EARTH Earth Ignis randomly out of the air to describe him.<ref name="ep66">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|66|ref}}</ref>
The EARTH Earth Ignis, who Ai nicknamed "Earth", took them to another world to talk. He challenged Playmaker to a Duel, claiming that he wanted to verify the true nature of humanity. After they decided to name the WATER Water Ignis "Aqua", Earth asked Ai why he was with Playmaker, and though Ai claimed it was because they were friends, Playmaker did not acknowledge his claim and asked if Earth knew anything about Bohman. Earth told them to Duel him if they wanted their answer. Earth created an avatar out of a log to Duel with, and Playmaker realized that Earth's partner was [[Specter]]. Earth took a while to announce that he was going second, and stated that humans had likely destroyed the Cyberse and asked why Ai still sided with them. Playmaker noted that Earth's partner was likely Specter, and Ai wondered if this was why Earth hated humans. Playmaker asked Ai how Earth Dueled, and Ai admitted he didn't remember as Earth hadn't really stood out. Earth Link Summoned "[[G Golem Invalid Dolmen]]" and destroyed Playmaker's defending "[[Poisoning Blocker]]", inflicting piercing damage, and Ai chose that point to remember that Earth was a great Duelist. Playmaker attempted to counter with "[[Zombie Prosaber]]" to take control of "Invalid Dolmen", but the effect of "Invalid Dolmen" negated the effect of "Zombie Prosaber" once it was destroyed. Playmaker ended his turn there, despite Ai protesting he knew lots about Earth. Playmaker reminded him that he'd struggled to remember anything about him, prompting Ai to borrow Earth's catchphrase and claim he was socially awkward himself. Earth then Link Summoned "[[G Golem Crystal Heart]]", which filled the area with vibrant life, something Playmaker observed to be more than a monster effect. Ai told him it was one of Aqua's monsters, and wondered why Earth had it.<ref name="ep66" /> Earth revived "Invalid Dolem" with "Crystal Heart" and boosted its ATK, destroying "Zombie Prosaber". Playmaker counterattacked with "Cyberse Clock Dragon", attempting to end the Duel in one attack by attacking "Crystal Heart", but the effect of "Invalid Dolmen" redirected the attack to it, then negated the effect of "Clock Dragon" once it was destroyed. Ai then told Playmaker that Earth hadn't liked how close he was to Aqua, and had claimed he would protect them himself. Playmaker asked why he needed to hear this, and Ai explained that this meant that Earth's Deck was full of his feelings for Aqua. Earth revived "Invalid Dolmen" again and destroyed "Clock Dragon", reducing Playmaker to 100 LP, but Playmaker [[Spool Code (anime)|blocked his second attack]]. Earth then revealed that he was aware that Ai was overacting, much to Ai's embarrassment. Earth then asked Playmaker why he was with Ai, as Ai seemed to hold him back, and Ai claimed that they were partners. Playmaker claimed he'd never thought of Ai as such, but stated three reasons why; that they shared goals, enemies, and were willfully with one another, so he didn't mind being labeled as partners, much to Ai's joy. Playmaker brought out "[[Clock Lizard (anime)|Clock Lizard]]" and "Security Dragon" and attempted to return "Invalid Dolmen" to Earth's hand, but Earth revealed that "Invalid Dolmen" was unaffected by monster effects while it was co-linked. Playmaker and Ai claimed they were just getting warmed up, and re-Fusion Summoned "Cyberse Clock Dragon" using the effect of "Clock Lizard". Earth countered by destroying "Invalid Dolmen" himself to negate the effect of "Clock Dragon" and then revived it to protect "Crystal Heart", but Playmaker had predicted his move, and he was able to reduce its ATK to zero with the effect of "Clock Lizard", allowing "Clock Dragon" to destroy it and defeat Earth in the same manner as he'd defeated Specter. As promised Earth revealed what he knew about Bohman, which turned out to be nothing. He returned them to LINK VRAINS, and as Ai complained over Dueling Earth for nothing, Playmaker wondered what Aqua had meant by the Cyberse breaking apart, as it troubled him.<ref name="ep67">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|67|ref}}</ref>
Roboppi later informed Yusaku that Ai had gone missing, and Yusaku took it and his Duel Disk to Café Nom for analysis, introducing Roboppi to Kolter and Theodore. Kolter found that Ai and Roboppi had been browsing a website with a crossword offering an Ai pin as a reward, which hid an Ignis algorithm that led to a gate. Yusaku asked Kolter to connect the gate to LINK VRAINS to allow him to enter, but he asked Theodore to remain behind as he didn't trust Windy and was worried it could be a trap. Playmaker logged in and found himself in a replica of the Cyberse, and he used his [[Link Sense]] to find Ai inside Windy's palace. Playmaker found Ai talking with Windy and [[Lightning]], the [[LIGHT|Light]] Ignis, who stated that they wanted Ai's help in rebuilding the Cyberse and that Ai shouldn't be with humans. Lightning asked if Playmaker believed them to be humanity's successors, and Playmaker stated that whether they were or not, sudden change would only hurt many people. Ai then attempted to leave with Playmaker, asking Lightning and Windy to give them time to find a way to coexist with humans, but Lightning and Windy promptly imprisoned them. Playmaker protested that they didn't intend to fight the Ignis, but Lightning and Windy didn't want to take the chance. He realized that Windy had been the one who removed Ai's lock on his Duel Disk, and that the Ignis had anticipated all of their moves.<ref name="ep68">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|68|ref}}</ref>
Before Lightning and Windy could rewrite Ai's personality, Varis arrived and dispelled Windy's Data Storm, vowing to kill the Ignis.<ref name="ep68" /> Playmaker tried to dissuade Varis from attacking the Ignis, as there would be no turning back from a war with them otherwise and he urged him not to live by hatred and revenge, as Playmaker knew better than anyone that it prevented them from moving forward. Varis claimed that his father's ideals were what moved him forward, and Windy challenged him to a Duel. Playmaker begged Varis not to be tied down by his father's ideals, but Varis spurned his statements given Playmaker's own history of revenge and threatened to bury Playmaker if he opposed him. Helpless to stop them, Playmaker watched Varis and Windy's Master Duel, and noted Varis's use of "[[Magic Cylinder (later anime)|Magic Cylinder]]", commenting that Varis always surpassed their expectations. He noted to Ai that neither outcome of the Duel was desirable, as both Windy and Varis wanted to harm Ai and the conflict between humans and Ignis would simply escalate. Varis Link Summoned "[[Borreload Dragon (anime)|Borreload Dragon]]", allowing Windy to steal "Magic Cylinder", though Playmaker noted that Varis could block it with the effect of "Borreload Dragon". Windy was able to [[Stormrider Turbulence|negate the effect]] of "Borreload" and force it to attack, bringing Varis down to 300 LP with "Magic Cylinder".<ref name="ep69">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|69|ref}}</ref> Windy offered to spare Varis if he surrendered, but Varis rejected Windy's offer and revealed that Windy had caused a car accident to kill his partner rather than steal his consciousness data as had been done with Jin. Varis asked Playmaker if he understood the true nature of the Ignis, before making a comeback against Windy and reducing him to 900 LP. This allowed Windy to use "Storm Access" during the Master Duel, and Playmaker realized that Windy had given Bohman the power to use it himself and that the Ignis were responsible for kidnapping Jin. Windy told them he'd reveal where Jin was after defeating Varis, and reduced him to 100 LP with the new monster he'd acquired "[[Stormridership Bahamut Bomber]]", though Playmaker noted that Varis would fight to the end. The [[Faust|Commanders]] [[Dr. Genome|of the]] Knights of Hanoi arrived, and then Specter and Soulburner entered Windy's palace. Soulburner and Flame were shocked to see that Playmaker and Ai had been imprisoned, and Ai told them that it had been Windy and Lightning who had imprisoned them, not the Knights. Lightning then attempted to imprison Soulburner, Flame, and Specter as well, but Flame blocked him with data that Kolter had created, and proceeded to free Playmaker and Ai. Varis then Summoned "[[Rokket Synchron (anime)|Rokket Synchron]]", and Playmaker realized that it was a [[Tuner monster]]. Varis then [[Synchro Summon]]ed "[[Borreload Savage Dragon (anime)|Borreload Savage Dragon]]", equipping "Borreload Dragon" to it and defeating Windy. Varis immediately ordered the Knights of Hanoi to erase Windy despite Playmaker's protests, though Lightning rescued Windy from their virus. To Playmaker's shock, Bohman and Harlan arrived, and Playmaker immediately asked what they had done with Jin. Lightning then revealed that Jin was his partner and had been present the entire time in an illusion.<ref name="ep70">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|70|ref}}</ref>
===Ignis War===
Playmaker told [[Jin Kolter|Jin]] that he'd save him, but [[Lightning]] explained that Jin was trapped deep within his own consciousness and couldn't respond. He revealed that he had kidnapped Jin to prevent him from affecting him as Ai and Playmaker did for one another with their [[Link Sense]], and that he had been responsible for the destruction of the [[Cyberse (world)|Cyberse]]. Lightning claimed that he had done so to clarify where the [[Ignis]] stood after the [[Knights of Hanoi]] attacked them, despite the existence of "error codes" that still wanted to coexist with humanity. [[Varis]] accused Lightning of not trying to solve matters peacefully, and Lightning claimed that he had, though Playmaker snapped that there was nothing peaceful about kidnapping Jin. Lightning then declared war on humanity, and he fled with [[Bohman]], [[Harlan]], and Windy to save his fellow Ignis from the Hanoi's virus. Playmaker, Ai, [[Theodore Hamilton|Soulburner]] and [[Flame (character)|Flame]] pursued them, and Soulburner tossed them a program that [[Kal Kolter|Kolter]] had made to allow him to check on them. As they chased Lightning, he revealed that he had been the one controlling the [[Data Storm]] that saved them after their Duel with [[Specter]], as Lightning had needed them to defeat [[Varis]] while Lightning destroyed the Cyberse. [[The Shepherd]] and [[George Gore|Gore]]'s [[Kenchi|fellow]] [[Yozaka|Hunters]] arrived, and Lightning summoned a swarm of [[Bit]]s and [[Boot]]s to deal with them before unleashing a [[Data Storm]] at them from Windy. Bohman suddenly approached them and challenged Playmaker to a [[Speed Duel]]. Ai asked if Bohman remembered who he was today, and Bohman declared that he did. Ai was pleased for Bohman, but then Bohman revealed that he was an A.I. created by Lightning to unite the Ignis and serve as their successor. Although he accepted Playmaker and Ai, he refused to coexist with humanity, likening it to the relationship between humans and animals. Playmaker found himself unable to answer, so Bohman challenged him to a Duel with himself and Ai on the line.<ref name="ep71">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|71|ref}}</ref>
As they broke back into [[Windy's Cyberse]], Ai lamented seeing the copy of his homeworld burning, not helped by Bohman confirming that he had destroyed the original Cyberse. Bohman suggested that they race around the Ignis Tower to determine who chose who went first, and Playmaker was forced to dodge the debris of one of the outerlying towers on the way, barely losing his race with Bohman, who chose to go second. Warned by Ai of Bohman's "[[Judgment Arrows]]", Playmaker set up a defense with "[[Cyberse Magician (anime)|Cyberse Magician]]" and "[[Grid Rod (anime)|Grid Rod]]" and he was able to survive the attack of "[[Trident Hydradrive Lord]]" through minimum damage. On his next turn, Playmaker drew "[[Suspend Wand]]" and equipped "Cyberse Magician" with "[[Resume Mace]]", intending to use it to power up "Cyberse Magician" enough to destroy "Trident Hydradrive Lord", but Ai urged him to also use "Suspend Wand", claiming that something inside him was telling him that they needed to defeat Bohman now. Following Ai's advice, Playmaker equipped "Cyberse Magician" with "Suspend Wand" as well, combining their effects to vastly increase the [[ATK]] of "Cyberse Magician" and destroy "Trident Hydradrive Lord", reducing Bohman to 700 [[LP]]. He attempted to finish Bohman off with "[[Cyberse Witch (anime)|Cyberse Witch]]", but Bohman was able to block the attack and he angrily asked Playmaker why he had attacked so uncharacteristically. Bohman then realized that Playmaker had attacked on Ai's suggestion, and he explained that Ai had been driven by instinct that the other Ignis lacked.<ref name="ep72">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|72|ref}}</ref> On his next turn, Bohman used "Storm Access" to obtain and [[Special Summon]] "[[Rousing Hydradrive Monarch]]", then used its "Judgment Dice" effect to clear Playmaker's field. Playmaker was able to combine the effects of his cards in his Graveyard to revive "[[Linkuriboh (anime)|Linkuriboh]]" and reduce the ATK of "Hydradrive Monarch", surviving the turn. Ai apologized for his instinct putting them in this situation, but Playmaker claimed that it wasn't Ai's fault, as Playmaker was the one making the decisions. Ai offered him a secret weapon; an upgrade to his Skill that he'd just finished. Playmaker noted the convenience of the timing, and Ai admitted that it had always been available, much to Playmaker's amusement. With this new Skill, "Neo Storm Access", Playmaker was able to enter the high-density Data Storm that surrounded the Ignis Tower and obtained the [[Synchro Monster]] "[[Cyberse Quantum Dragon (anime)|Cyberse Quantum Dragon]]". As he prepared to Summon it, Bohman attempted to disrupt him with the "Judgment Dice" effect of "Hydradrive Monarch" again, successfully rolling the outcome he needed, though this time Playmaker was able to protect his monsters with the effect of "[[Cyberse Wicckid (anime)|Cyberse Wicckid]]". He [[Synchro Summon]]ed "Cyberse Quantum Dragon" and used its effect to return "Rousing Hydradrive Monarch" to Bohman's [[Extra Deck]] and then attack again, but Bohman was able to end the Duel in a DRAW and escaped, vowing that he would defeat them in a new stage. Although Ai scoffed at Bohman saying such when he was the one fleeing, Playmaker admitted that Bohman's growth had exceeded his expectations.<ref name="ep73">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|73|ref}}</ref>
Soon afterwards, Ryoken visited [[Café Nom]] and he gave Yusaku a program to protect him from having his soul stolen by the Ignis, which Yusaku installed without hesitation once he knew what it was. Ryoken departed, commenting that the enemy of his enemy was his friend and bid Yusaku to survive the coming battle so that they could settle matters between them.<ref name="ep73" />
==Relationships==
