Changes

Ai was remained hidden from both the [[Knights of Hanoi]] and [[SOL Technologies]] in LINK VRAINSfor five years, and but as he watched certain events, like [[Yusaku Fujiki|Playmaker]] confronting a Knight of Hanoi, he was eventually detected. Later, while being pursued by [[SOL Technologies]] initiated a security scan, and their drones and the a [[Knights Number 10 (character)|Knight of Hanoi]], pursued them. During his escape Ai fell into a trap created by PlaymakerYusaku Fujiki, who saved him by absorbing him into his [[Duel Disk]], turning him into a Dueling AI, thus necessitating the defeat of Playmaker in order to recover Ai. Ai doubted that Playmaker's Deck was strong enough to defeat the Knights' "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]" before stirring up , and he generated a virtual wind called "[[Data Storm]]" that initiated a [[Speed Duel (VRAINS)|Speed Duel]].<ref name="ep1" />

Before the Duel began, Ai explained to Playmaker how Speed Duels worked , but he didn't mention [[Skill]]s. Throughout the Duel Ai repeatedly tried to offer support for Playmaker, only for Playmaker to keep telling silence him to shut up and remind that he was holding Ai hostage. When they They were sucked into a tornado within the Data Storm, and Playmaker figured out that Ai not mentioning skills withholding mention of Skills and bringing him into the tornado were part of his calculations. Ai confirmed this, and activated Playmaker's skill Skill "Storm Access", which allowed them to obtain "[[Decode Talker (anime)|Decode Talker]]" so that Playmaker could defeat the Knight.<ref name="ep2">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|2|ref}}</ref>

The Knight attempted to self destruct and kill Playmaker, but Ai turned into a monster and devoured the knight Knight's Avatar to save Playmaker. He suggested Playmaker should log off soon. Yusaku and [[Kolter]] spent the next few days trying to figure out Ai's programming and nicknamed him "Ai", a pun on "A.I." and "eye". Eventually Yusaku found footage from some of Ai' memories, which Ai himself didn't understand except for [[Varis]] being the leader of Hanoi. Scanning those recordings caused Varis to sense Ai and try to find him, but Kolter shutting off [[Café Nom]]'s power prevented him from finding them. The next day, Ai was left at [[Yusaku Fujiki's house|Yusaku's house]] in a storage shelf, there he tried to convince [[Roboppy]] to set him free.<ref name="ep3">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|3|ref}}</ref>

Ai panicked when Yusaku returned home and had Roboppy put him back on the shelf. When Yusaku found them, Ai told noted that Yusaku that had arrived home early, to which and Yusaku said explained that a Knight of Hanoi had appeared and revealed a secret room he used to go to log into LINK VRAINS. As soon as they arrived, both Playmaker and Ai quickly figured out realized that the Knight was fake. The "Knight" revealed himself to be [[George Gore|the The Gore]], who wanted to challenge Playmaker. Ai looked up information about the The Gore, but Playmaker was uninterested and attempted to log out but . However, a program from SOL prevented him from doing so, so he was forced to Duel the The Gore. During the Duel, Ai continued researching the The Gore and found out he learned that Gore donated most of his money to the [[Den City's orphanage|orphanage]] where he grew up. When Gore let himself take 2000 Damage damage when he had the chance to avoid it, Ai was confused about why humans make made illogical choices. Playmaker said it was because of their hearts, but didn't explain what that meant because Ai's algorithm-based thinking wouldn't understand it.<ref name="ep4">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|4|ref}}</ref>

When Kolter found out that [[Skye Zaizen]], Yusaku's classmate, is "was Blue Angel", Ai helped Yusaku locate her while they were at school. Ai forced Yusaku to join the Duel Club and tried to interact with Skye's Duel Disk AI's A.I. The next day Ai noticed something strange about Skye's AI A.I. so he sent her a text message on Playmaker's behalf challenging Blue Angel to a Duel, then tricked Yusaku into going into LINK VRAINS to confront Blue Angel. There, he explained that Hanoi must've planted [[Dark Angel (anime)|a card]] into Blue Angel's deck Deck to use her as bait for Playmaker.<ref name="ep6">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|6|ref}}</ref> During the Duel, Ai was horrified when Blue Angel was affected by Hanoi's card and warned Playmaker that if the Duel continued much longer, Skye would suffer permanent brain damage.<ref name="ep7">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|7|ref}}</ref>

After the Duel concluded Ai devoured Hanoi's program and detected that they had infected Skye with a virus to keep her comatose. Later Ai told Yusaku and Kolter that the only way to remove the virus was to get an anti-Virus virus from Hanoi. Right after that, a [[Emma Bessho|"Blue Angel"]] impostor appeared , demanding a rematch. Despite knowing that it was a trap, Yusaku went to confront the impostor because he could get , hoping for a chance to obtain the anti-virus. Upon arriving however, the impostor turned the entirety of LINK VRAINS into a trap to capture Playmaker and revealed herself to be Ghost Gal. [[Akira Zaizen]] appeared and tortured Playmaker, believing him to be the culprit of Skye being comatose 's condition and swore to reclaim Ai. Playmaker and Ai tried to explain that Hanoi were the real culprits to no avail, until Varis appeared and blackmailed Akira Zaizen into releasing Playmaker so they could Duel.<ref name="ep8">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|8|ref}}</ref> During the Duel, Ai noted that Varis didn't have an AIA.I. in his Duel Disk; Varis said replied that he didn't trust AIs A.I. and that Ai must be destroyed otherwise to prevent the virtual fiction of VRAINS will destroy from destroying the world. When Ai was shocked when Varis used "Storm Access"during the Duel, Ai was shocked that because that as it was his signature program, but also and when he saw Varis use the [[Cyberse]] "[[Topologic Bomber Dragon (anime)|Topologic Bomber Dragon]]", he called him out Varis's on his hypocrisy of wanting to destroy the [[Cyberse (world)|Cyberse]] while borrowing power from it, . Varis countered that claiming that he was "countering poison with poison".<ref name="ep9">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|9|ref}}</ref>

As the Duel progressed, Varis gained the upperhandupper hand, and worrying that they might lose, Ai led Playmaker to another Data Storm, where the two obtained [[Firewall Dragon (anime)|a dragon]]. However, Varis activated the Trap Card, "[[Remote Rebirth (anime)|Remote Rebirth]]", and combo-ed combined it with the effect of "[[Topologic Bomber Dragon (anime)|Topologic Bomber Dragon]]", ending the Speed Duel in a drawDRAW. Following that, Varis dragged Playmaker and Ai inside a the Data Storm, where they began a [[Master Duel]]. As the Duel went onWhen Playmaker summoned two Cyberse Link Monsters, Varis activated the effect of "[[Fire Prison (anime)|Fire Prison]]", eliminating all [[Cyberse]] cards from the field, as well as making Ai seemingly vanish into thin air.<ref name="ep10">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|10|ref}}</ref> Ai woke up at sea, and remembered how "Fire Prison" erased his program. Though he was surprised by the his surroundings, Ai felt somewhat sleepy, even if he never had felt this before. When Playmaker called out to him, Ai woke up and came back he returned after Playmaker summoned "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]" and "Fire Prison" was destroyed. Ai was concerned if Playmaker lost, and panicked to see he only had 600 LP left. Ai was amazed to see the two dragons, until Varis used the effect of Playmaker's "Firewall Dragon" squaring off against "[[Borreload Dragon (anime)|Borreload Dragon]]", until Varis used the effect of "Borreload Dragon" to take control of "Firewall Dragon".<ref name="ep11">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|11|ref}}</ref>

Ai was frustrated how that "Firewall Dragon" failed was unable to remove "Borreload Dragon" from the field, and reminded Playmaker to protect his own dragon. He also reminded Playmaker how and that they had to count everything on their next draw. Ai was pleased when Playmaker used "[[Battle Buffer]]" to negate Varis's [[Rokket]] monsters' effects and could not use them as ammunition for "Borreload Dragon". He had "Firewall Dragon" attack "Borreload", despite the ATK disadvantage. This was part of the strategy for "Encode Talker" to destroy Varis's dragon. Ai watched as "Firewall Dragon" defeated "Borreload Dragon", and Varis as well. He then became vicious and tried to devour Varis, even biting but he was only able to devour his avatar's arm off but before a lightning stroke, restraining Ai and cursed Varis for leavingstrike restrained him. Later onAfter the logged out of LINK VRAINS, Ai noticed Yusaku sleeping, and called out how him lazy he was. Kolter replied that heroes need rest, too, though prompting Ai started to start bragging how heroes needed to be just like him. When Kolter went to analyze began analyzing the programAi had obtained from Varis, but Ai called him a pervert for looking into his private parts, and refused to say anything about the program he ate off from Varis. Later, Ai woke up and explained to Yusaku and Kolter he was alive, but they wanted proof. Ai then started to focus and a golden light appeared out of Yusaku's Duel Disk. Ai came out, with his whole body intact, stating his pride how he managed to recover at recovering his body back. Yusaku and Kolter were unamused by his small size and went to analyze if Ai had any memories of his past. Ai was displeased by their ignorance, wanting them to show some reaction to seeing his true self.<ref name="ep12">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|12|ref}}</ref>