{{Quoteredirect|Yusaku Fujiki<ref name="ep12"/>Playmaker|Thatthe ''Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL's right. I am the emissary of revenge. I'll crush the [[Knights of Hanoi]].card|""Playmaker"" (card)}}

| other_names = * Playmaker(プレイメーカー, ''Pureimēkā'')* Unknown (アンノウン, ''Announ'', Japanese version only)<ref name="ep64">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|64|ref}}</ref>

| school = [[Den AcademyCity High School]]| anime_deck = [[Cyberse]]

 '''Yusaku Fujiki''' ({{Ruby|藤|ふじ}}{{Ruby|木|き}} {{Ruby|遊|ゆう}}{{Ruby|作|さく}}, ''Fujiki Yūsaku'') , known as '''Playmaker''' (プレイメーカー, ''Pureimēkā'') in [[LINK VRAINS]], is the main protagonist of the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS]]'' anime.<ref name="jumpfesta">{{cite web | url = https://ygorganization.com/jump-festa-2017-latest-information-stage/ | title = The Organization {{!}} <nowiki>The Organization | [Jump Festa 2017] </nowiki> Latest Information Stage: 6th Yu-Gi-Oh! Anime</nowiki> | publisher = YGOrganization | date = December 17, 2016 | accessdate = December 17, 2016}}</ref> When Dueling A victim of the [[Hanoi Project]], he battles against the [[Knights of Hanoi]] in order to avenge his past with the aid of his friend [[Cal Kolter]] and the [[LINK VRAINSIgnis]]that he has captured, he [[Ai]]. He is known as '''Playmaker'the Origin of Ai. In the second season, Yusaku becomes entangled in the kidnapping of [[Jin Kolter]]'s soul and the hunt for the people who destroyed the [[Cyberse (world)|Cyberse]], teaming up with fellow Hanoi Project victim [[Theodore Hamilton]] and Theodore's own Ignis, [[Flame (character)|Flame]].

<div style="float: left; ">{{double image|left<!-- -->|Yusaku_Normal.png|150<!--177 -->|Yusaku_VR_duel.png|150<!--200 -->|Yusaku's normal in his school uniform, and VR clothinghis Avatar Playmaker.}}</div>Yusaku is a rangy teenage boy with fair skin, green eyes, and dark blue hair that spikes outward in the back and contains light blue bangs with pink accents. In the dub, his skinny arms are the source of much mockery, usually from [[Ai]]. His standard attire consists of a slate-colored jacket with light blue trim over a white dress shirt with a blue tie and a pair of black pants and black and white shoes. His casual clothes consist of simple dark clothing; he conceals his identity with a hoodie prior to teaming up with [[Cal Kolter]], and he later wears an apron when manning [[Café Nom]].

While Dueling in [[LINK VRAINS]]As Playmaker, Yusaku wears a black and green bodysuit with a golden stripe going across his body and a grey belt at the waistline. His hair color also changes to yellow and red with pink strips and accents. Occasionally, the golden stripes in his "Playmaker" bodysuit glowwhen he uses his Skill.They also glow different colors when he uses different Summoning methods; glowing light blue when he [[Ritual Summon]]s, purple when he [[Fusion Summon]]s, light green when he [[Synchro Summon]]s, and dark blue when he [[Xyz Summon]]s.<ref name="ep54">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|54|ref}}</ref><ref name="ep73">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|73|ref}}</ref><ref name="ep82">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|82|ref}}</ref>

[[File:YoungYusaku.png|thumb|100px|Young Yusaku.]]

{{Quote|That's right. I am the emissary of revenge. I'll crush the [[Knights of Hanoi]].|author=Yusaku Fujiki<ref name="ep12"/>}}Yusaku may be the first ''Yu-Gi-Oh !'' protagonist who is an anti-hero. He is not a bad person, but he can appear cold and apathetic. Yusaku is described as a boy who doesn't like standing out at school, not that he's timid or shy but because he is a hacker. Due to a certain incidentthe trauma of the Lost Incident, he generally tries to avoid contact with others and only seems to trust [[Shoichi KusanagiCal Kolter|Kolter]]. HoweverYusaku is calm and collected most of the time. Outside of Duels he is shown to be intelligent and clever, he gets drawn into encounters but also calculating, standoffish, reserved, and somewhat anti-social. He prefers to distance himself from others and doesn't usually interact with people , not even remembering his classmates' names after a month in school. When [[Naoki Shima]] tried to be friendly with him, Yusaku casually admitted to being a loner and inadvertently irritated Shima with his observations, then didn't react to Shima storming off. In public, Yusaku comes off as rather awkward and often doesn't know how to answer questions, leading others to assume things about him, such as when Shima assumed he wanted to join the Duel Club and Skye assumed he tries out Dueling for oncewanted new equipment from SOL. Despite his aloof and calm demeanor Yusaku can be quite sullen when it comes to dealing with Ai's antics. In the dub, Yusaku is substantially snarkier, particularly when it comes to dealing with Ai.<ref name="jumpfesta" />

Despite his introverted and cold nature, Yusaku is calm both noble and collected most of the timegolden-hearted deep down. Outside of Duels he He is shown to be intelligent and clever, but also calculating, standoffish, reservedon well terms with his best friend, Kolter and somewhat anti-social. He prefers to distance himself from shows sympathy or care for others and doesn't usually interact with people, not even remembering his classmates' names after a month in school. When situations like when he discovers that everything [[Naoki ShimaGeorge Gore|Gore]] tried to be friendly with him, Yusaku casually admitted to being a loner and inadvertently irritated Naoki with does is for his observationsorphanage, then didn't react but he refuses to Naoki storming off. In public, Yusaku comes off as rather awkward and often doesn't know how to answer questions, leading let others get close to assume things about him, such as when Naoki assumed he wanted to and join his fight against the Duel Club and Aoi assumed he wanted new equipment from SOL. Despite his aloof and calm demeanor Yusaku can be quite sullen when it comes to dealing with Ai's anticsHanoi out of concern that they may get hurt.

Despite As Playmaker he is shown to have a cold and serious demeanor, but at the same time he displays some noble traits to his introverted and cold naturepersonality, such as saving [[Skye Zaizen|Blue Angel]] when she was about to be attacked by "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]". Because of the [[Hanoi Project]] from ten years ago, Yusaku is both noble hates the [[Knights of Hanoi]] and golden-hearted deep downswears revenge against them. He is on well terms with his best friend, Shoichi Kusanagi didn't hesitate to capture [[Ai]] and shows sympathy or care threatened to delete him in order to others' situations like when challenge the Hanoi, though he discovers shows more restraint with [[Akira Zaizen]], stating that everything Go Onizuka does is he didn't hate him for the orphanage, but refuses to let others get close to torturing him and join his fight against Hanoi later refusing to attack [[Spectre]] during their Duel out of fear for Zaizen's safety. As pointed out by both Varis and Spectre he has a sense of concern that they may get justice and will help those hurtby the Hanoi. He is also very confident and has lot of faith in his abilities.

As Playmaker Unlike most of the previous protagonists, who enjoy Dueling and see it as fun, Yusaku sees Dueling as a tool to eliminate those who are getting in his way. He is also unique in that his motivations for his actions are for revenge, instead of uniting people via Dueling. According to Kolter, Yusaku doesn't really seem to enjoy Dueling either, as such he tends to reject challenges from other Duelists. That said, when he is shown either forced to have accept a cold and serious demeanorDuel or willingly does so, but at the same time he displays some noble traits to his personalitywill not abandon it, such as saving [[Aoi Zaizen|Blue Angel]] when she SOL prevented him from logging out when he was about forced to Duel The Gore and chose to be attacked by "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]"continue it even when Kolter made an escape route for him. Because of the [[Hanoi Project]] from ten years agoFurthermore, Yusaku hates is not above complimenting his opponents, as when he Dueled Gore, he claimed that his Duel style, which was meant to excite both the [[Knights of Hanoi]] crowd and swears revenge against themeven his opponent, was first-rate. He didn't hesitate According to capture [[Ai]] Zaizen, Yusaku sees Dueling as a way of life; winning Duels verifies his sense of self, and threatened to delete him in order lose is to challenge the Hanoi. As pointed out by Revolver lose himself, which he has a sense of justice and will help those hurt by believes to be the Hanoi. He is also very confident and has lot of faith in his abilities. He is a determined duelist who never gives upsecret to Yusaku's strength.

Unlike most of the previous protagonists, who enjoy Dueling and see it as fun, Yusaku sees Dueling as also has a tool to eliminate those who are getting in his way. He is also unique in that his motivations philosophy of listing three reasons for his actions are for revengeobservations, instead of uniting people via Dueling. According to Shoichi Kusanagi, Yusaku doesn't really seem to enjoy Dueling either, as such something he tends to reject challenges learned from other Duelists. That said, when he is either forced to accept a Duel or willingly does so, he will not abandon it, such as when SOL prevented him from logging out when [[Roken Kogami]] while he was forced to Duel Go Onizuka and chose to continue it even when Shoichi made an escape route for himin captivity during the Hanoi Project. Furthermore, Yusaku is not above complimenting his opponents, as when he Dueled Onizuka, he claimed that does this to order his Duel style, which was meant to excite both the crowd thoughts better and even clear his opponent, was first-ratemind when confused or feeling discouraged.

He is generally level[[File:Yusaku Treatment.png|thumb|250px|left|Yusaku receives counseling for his trauma.]][[File:Yusaku PTSD.png|thumb|250px|A horrified Yusaku wakes up from a nightmare due to his PTSD.]]Yusaku's cold anti-headed, serious, aloof and keeps social nature was a stoic expression most result of the timeintense torture he went through during the [[Hanoi Project]]. Despite having undergone years of therapy, though he can give Yusaku still suffers from [[wikipedia:Posttraumatic stress disorder|post-traumatic stress disorder]] from that incident. Yusaku believes his life is already cut short smiles occasionally. He also doesn't seem due to carry animosity towards others, the incident and as such he stated that he didndoesn't hate Akira for his foul torture, making it clear that he only hates the Knights of Hanoineed friends or a future.

Following the events of the first season, Yusaku slowly begins to change, and this is largely due to his interactions with Ai and Varis, who he discovered to be the Ignis based on him and the person who kept up his spirits respectively. He also has and Ai gradually build up a rocky, but trusting relationship, and after learning Varis's true identity, Yusaku casts aside his desire for revenge and attempts to save Varis from himself, expressing a desire to have a habit of listing out three reasons friend for his observationsthe first time. In the dub, this is taken even further, something as Yusaku openly declares that he learned from an unknown individual while is also fighting for his fallen allies and impresses upon Roken the damage that his actions would cause both to the world and to himself. As he was states in captivity when he was younger. his final Duel with Bohman, Yusaku does this comes to order believe that his thoughts better allies expanded his views and clear his mind when confused or feeling discouragedthat there are experiences one can only learn by accepting one's friends. Oddly enoughThough still quiet and anti-social, he becomes far more willing to work with other people; teaming up with [[Theodore Hamilton]] and [[RevolverFlame (character)|Flame]] shares , and later even extending an offer to Gore to work together again despite Gore's negative feelings towards him. When his closest friends fall in the war with the Ignis, Yusaku is heartbroken; he is further traumatized after being forced to defeat Kolter, though this habitis eased by Kolter anticipating the scenario and asking him to do so, and infuriated by Soulburner's defeat at Bohman's hands.

It is later shown that Initially, Yusaku has little knowledge nor care of the battle between humans and the Ignis. Once Yusaku's cold anti-social nature was a result does learn of the intense torture conflict, he went through during is fiercely disbelieving of the [[Knights of Hanoi Project]]'s stance on A.I., particularly after learning that these views are based on simulations. Despite having undergone years of therapyIn the dub, Yusaku still suffers from [[wikipedia:Posttraumatic stress disorder|post-traumatic stress disorder]] from goes as far as to state that incidentdestroying the Ignis because humans believe the Ignis would destroy them makes humanity no better than the Ignis supposedly are. When he becomes aware of Lightning's plans to destroy humanity, Yusaku believes emphasizes the need for peace, as he does not want to see another event like the Lost Incident and he states that he does not want to fight the Ignis, trying to talk down Varis from his life crusade. Despite this, he is already cut short due drawn into the conflict, though he continues to believe in an open future with the incident Ignis and later asks Ai and Flame to hide after the war is over, as such he doesn't need friends or a futurebelieves that other humans would attempt to exploit them. Following the events of the Ignis Warfare and the downfall of Bohman, Yusaku becomes emotionally conflicted by the thought of having to fight against Ai, his former partner and friend. Despite this he still chooses to fight, believing he could try to reason with Ai. In addition, Yusaku becomes more sympathetic towards Ai, understanding the grief Ai went through after losing his fellow Ignis.

Yusaku is said to be an intelligent hacker who possesses considerable ability and who solves mysteries in a cool manner. Cool-headed and extremely clever, Yusaku's real skill is in his hacking and cracking abilities. He was able to hack into SOL Technologies' systems to find Ai, which both SOL and the Knights of Hanoi had been hunting, within a few minutes and in the middle of a security scan, and managed to capture it into his Duel Disk while leaving the AI Ignis with no means to escape. He has been fighting the Knights of Hanoi for some time without leaving any trace of his actions as "Playmaker", and keeps a dummy deck to mislead others when in public. Yusaku combines his high intellect with his hacking abilities to quickly come up with plans and think on his feet. An observant individual, he is good at reading people. When Dueling, Yusaku keeps a close eye on his opponent's body language and expressions to know when they're planning something, and as such, he usually isn't surprised when something unexpected happens.

An observant individualWhen in a [[Speed Duel (VRAINS)|Speed Duel]], he Yusaku's [[Skill]] is good "[[Storm Access (anime)|Storm Access]]", which allows him to randomly access a never-before-seen [[Cyberse]] [[Link Monster]] from a Data Storm when his [[LP]] are 1000 or lower, at reading people. When Duelingthe cost of having to venture into the Data Storm (it would also appear that the more he uses this Skill, the easier it becomes for him to execute it, Yusaku keeps a close eye on as when he used it in his opponent's body language Duels against the Knight of Hanoi and Gore, he struggled greatly, and expressions had to know use his left hand to steady his right arm; however, when theyhe used it in his Duel against Blue Angel, he didn're planning somethingt struggle as much, nor did he steady his right arm). The cards obtained using this ability can then be converted into physical cards outside of LINK VRAINS using appropriate technology; also, and as suchstated by [[Emma Bessho|Ghost Gal]], "Storm Access" is a unique skill that not just any Duelist can use. He can also teleport back to his Duel Board should he usually isn't surprised when something unexpected happensfall off from it during a Duel, though he would first need to stop his fall to do so. During the second season, his Skill evolves, becoming "Neo Storm Access" and in addition to allowing him to add other types of Cyberse Extra Deck monsters to his Extra Deck, it can also be used a second time and allow him to draw a card if it fails and his LP is 100 or less.

When in a [[Speed Duel (VRAINS)|Speed Duel]], Yusaku's [[Skill]] is Storm Access which allows him to randomly access a never-before-seen card from a Data Storm when his [[LP]] are 1000 or lower, at the cost of having to venture into the Data Storm (it would also appear that the more he uses this Skill, the easier it becomes for him to execute it, as when he used it in his Duels against the Knight of Hanoi and Go Onizuka, he struggled greatly, and had to use his left hand to steady his right arm; however, when he used it in his Duel against Blue Angel, he didn't struggle as much, nor did he steady his right arm). The cards obtained using this ability can then be converted into physical cards outside of LINK VRAINS using appropriate technology; also, as stated by Ghost Girl, "Storm Access" is a unique skill that not just any Duelist can use. He can also teleport back to his D-Board should he fall off from it during a Duel, though he would first need to stop his fall to do so. Yusaku displays a strange ability to sense and see things in the network world when not logged in called [[Link Sense]]. Yusaku has had this ability since from a young age. Similar to Ai, he can also discern a Knight of Hanoi's presence through their cards, which allowed him to immediately determine that Go Gore was not a Knight of Hanoi and know when Blue Angel had drawn the card that was affected by Hanoi's influence. He can hear and feel the pulse of his [[Cyberse]] monsters. In the dub, this ability is even stronger, as he was able to briefly perceive the seed of the Tower of Hanoi rather than simply sense its presence when it reacted.

Like the protagonists of the previous five series ([[Yugi Muto]], [[Jaden Yuki]], [[Yusei Fudo]], [[Yuma Tsukumo]], and [[Yuya Sakaki]]), his name contains the character「遊」(Yu). In a break from tradition, however, his first name contains three syllables instead of the usual two.

His given name contains the characters "game" (''Yu'' 遊), and "work" (''Saku'' 作). His surname, '''Fujiki''', means "[[wikipedia:wisteria|wisteria]] tree", the blue-and-pink coloring of which matches that of his hair. The kanji of his given name can also be translated as "playing" and "making", which is most likely the pun of his VR name "The Playmaker".

[[File:Young Yusaku loses.png|thumb|left|Young 250px|Yusaku loses in an unknown location with losing a VR mask on.Duel during the Hanoi Project]][[File:Young Yusaku found in a forest.png|thumb|Young 250px|Yusaku is rescued from the Hanoi Project.]]Yusaku once ran into [[Roken Kogami]], knocking his Deck over. As he picked up the cards, Yusaku and Roken asked one another if they played ''Duel Monsters'', and Roken offered to show Yusaku his Deck at his house.<ref name="ep58">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|58|ref}}</ref> But once Yusaku arrived at the [[Kogami family's house]], he was one kidnapped as part of the [[Hanoi Project]] and he woke up in a white, empty room, with VR goggles. Yusaku was forced to [[Duel]] continuously for six kidnapped childrenmonths, and was penalized for losing with electrocution and starvation. During Yusaku's imprisonment, a voice told him not to give up, and advised him to think of three reasons to continue fighting. Yusaku asked who were used the voice was, but the voice told him he'd soon go home. After six months, the system was disbanded, and while Yusaku was rescued, the Incident was covered up and not mentioned in the media. Yusaku developed PTSD due to the torture he suffered during the Incident, and though he received treatment for it and was treated normally by society, he found himself unable to recover from the tragedies he'd suffered.<ref name="ep19">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|19|ref}}</ref>  Eventually, Yusaku decided to take action and face his own destiny by taking revenge on those who had wronged him, though he still kept the advice to think of three reasons to continue fighting to his heart.<ref name="ep11" /> He learned that the "Lost Incident" that he had been put through was called the "Hanoi Project", and he decided to hunt down the hacker group the [[Knights of Hanoi]], believing them to be responsible for the "Hanoi Project". He worked alone under the alias "Unknown" (in the dub, he simply did not use an alias at all), rescuing another Duelist from the Knights of Hanoi, [[Cal Kolter|Unnamed]]. Unnamed tried to ask if Unknown knew anything about the Lost Incident, but Unknown simply told him to log out. Unknown later rescued Unnamed again, asking why he kept logging in. Unnamed explained that he was fighting for his little brother's sake, and Unknown distracted the Knights of Hanoi to allow Unnamed to get beyond their field that prevented him from logging out. Unknown then challenged one of the Knights to a Duel, countering his "[[Limiter Removal (anime)|Limiter Removal]]" with "[[Forbidden Lance (anime)|Forbidden Lance]]" and his own "Limiter Removal" to power up "[[Gaia Saber, the Lightning Shadow (anime)|Gaia Saber, the Lightning Shadow]]" and defeat the Knight in a single attack. As he fled from the other Knights, a portal appeared above him and the voice of Unnamed told him to jump into it. The portal logged Unknown out, and Unnamed told him to come to [[Café Nom]].<ref name="ep64">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|64|ref}}</ref> Yusaku visited the hotdog stand and met with Cal Kolter, who was shocked to learn that he was so young and asked if he was a victim of the Lost Incident. He woke explained that his brother, [[Jin Kolter|Jin]], had also been a victim and had been significantly changed by the experience. Kolter offered to team up with Yusaku, describing him as the ultimate spear, while Kolter could act as the ultimate shield, and Yusaku agreed.<ref name="ep64" /> Yusaku and Kolter quickly became a strong team, defeating several Knights of Hanoi, but making little progress in their goals for revenge. Yusaku wondered if the Knights were hunting the [[Cyberse]] monsters because they were scared of them, and he decided to investigate an urban legend of a Cyberse Deck in a secret dungeon. As he and Unnamed explored the dungeon, Unknown had to save Unnamed from a booby trap, and he noted that if one lost their [[Duel Disk]] in LINK VRAINS, they couldn't log out. They managed to find the Deck, but the way was blocked by a Duel Puzzle that a Knight of Hanoi undertook. Unknown observed the Ancient Ghost's [[Extra Link]] and watched as the Knight of Hanoi attempted to win by attacking with the [[Megamorph (anime)|powered-up ]] "[[Update Jammer (anime)|Update Jammer]]", but was defeated by "[[Chaos Burst (anime)|Chaos Burst]]" and logged out by being devoured by a monster. Unknown then undertook the challenge himself, cautiously observing his cards in his [[Graveyard]] and [[Extra Deck]] as well as in his hand and on his field at Unnamed's suggestion. Another Knight of Hanoi arrived as Unknown realized the solution, and Unnamed chained the Knight up to buy Unknown time. They deduced that destroying five monsters with "[[Thunder Crash (anime)|Thunder Crash]]" and then reviving them with "[[Torrential Reborn (later anime)|Torrential Reborn]]" would inflict enough damage to win, but they controlled a white[[Token monster]], as the Knight pointed out, which would not be revived. Unknown was able to assemble the necessary field to trigger the combo, defeating the Ancient Ghost. They sprinted to the sarcophagus, but it was empty , and the Knight mocked them before logging out.<ref name="ep65">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|65|ref}}</ref> Yusaku realized that the layout of the field had been a map of Den City, which depicted the location of the Cyberse Deck in the real world. Sure enough, when he and Kolter went to the unfinished first bridge of the city, they found a roomwith arrows leading to it and the "[[Secure Gardna (anime)|Secure Gardna]]" card on the door, with VR gogglesthe Cyberse Deck inside the real sarcophagus. He placed Kolter declared that the power of the Deck would allow them to combat the Knights of Hanoi.<ref name="ep65" /> 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> ===Knights 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" /> [[File:Yusaku and Kusanagi disccussing.png|thumb|left|250px|Yusaku and Kolter talking about the A.I.]][[File:Playmaker Saves The Blue Angel.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker saves Blue Angel.]]Yusaku later met up with [[Cal Kolter|Kolter]] and they discussed how both [[SOL Technologies]] and the [[Knights of Hanoi]] were chasing after [[Ai|an A.I. program]] in [[LINK VRAINS]]. Upon learning that SOL Technologies had scheduled a full scan of Link VRAINS that evening to try and find the A.I., they quickly started working ona trap to catch the A.I. themselves. Although Yusaku successfully captured the reluctant A.I. in his Duel Disk, one of [[Number 10 (character)|the Knights of Hanoi]] threatened to destroy LINK VRAINS. Yusaku quickly logged into LINK VRAINS as Playmaker and saved [[Skye Zaizen|Blue Angel]] from the Knight's "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]". He then challenged the Knight to a Duel, putting the A.I. at stake. The A.I. voiced his doubts that Yusaku's Deck could beat "Cracking Dragon", and stirred up [[Data Storm]] in LINK VRAINS, starting a [[Speed Duel (VRAINS)|Speed Duel]] between Yusaku and the Knight.<ref name="ep1" /> [[File:Knight of Hanoi laughs at Playmaker.png|thumb|left|250px|Playmaker being overwhelmed by the Data Storm]]As Playmaker rode the Data Storm, the A.I. explained how Speed Duels differed from [[Master Duel]]s; including that there were only three Main Monster Zones, causing Playmaker to wonder if he already knew about Speed Duels. Ai offered to help Playmaker Duel the Knight, but Playmaker refused, reminding Ai that he was forced his hostage. The Knight took the first turn and swiftly Summoned "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]". Playmaker counterattacked with "[[Cyberse Wizard (anime)|Cyberse Wizard]]", using its effect to change "Cracking Dragon" to [[Defense Position]] and inflict damage to the Knight. He failed to destroy "Cracking Dragon", something Playmaker had expected due to the Knight's confidence.<ref name="ep2">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|2|ref}}</ref> [[File:Playmaker Storm Access.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker uses the "Storm Access" Skill.]]The Knight activated a [[Skill]], which the A.I. hadn't mentioned, irritating Playmaker. The Knight managed to knock Playmaker off his [[DuelBoard]], but Blue Angel saved Playmaker by using her whip to throw the Duel Board back at him. The Knight reduced Playmaker's LP to 400, and he was sucked into the Data Storm. Playmaker realized that this was part of the A.I's calculations. Ai revealed that powerful monsters resided within the Data Storm, and that Playmaker's skill "[[Storm Access (anime)|Storm Access]]" allowed him to obtain those monsters when his LP was below 1000. Playmaker obtained "[[Decode Talker (anime)|Decode Talker]]", which he used to win the Duel. As the Knight fell off his Duel Board, Yusaku declared that the Knight had no right to call himself a Duelist.<ref name="ep2" /> Playmaker attempted to interrogate the Knight, only for the Knight to attempt to kill him by self-destructing. The A.I. saved his life by devouring the Knight's avatar. [[George Gore|The Gore]] and Blue Angel appeared and challenged Playmaker, but he simply said he wasn't interested and logged out. Yusaku and Kolter spent the next few days trying to figure out the A.I's programming, giving him the nickname "Ai". Yusaku discovered some video logs that were actually Ai's memories. Ai claimed that he didn't understand those memories because they were damaged when he was reduced to an eye, but he did recognize the Knights of Hanoi's [[Roken Kogami|leader]]. Later that night, messing with Ai caused the penalties Knight's leader to sense their location and travel there; Yusaku asked Kolter to shut down [[Café Nom]]'s power to prevent them from being electrocuted found, though he caught a glimpse of the Knight's leader and his [[Borreload Dragon (anime)|dragon]].<ref name="ep3">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|3|ref}}</ref> [[File:VRAINS log in.png|thumb|left|250px|Yusaku logs into the network.]]The next day a Knight of Hanoi appeared in LINK VRAINS while Ai was at [[Yusaku Fujiki's house|Yusaku's house]], so Yusaku skipped school to get his Duel Disk and face the Knight. On his way there, Kolter gave him the "Decode Talker" card which he had materialized. Upon arriving in LINK VRAINS, Playmaker quickly figured out that the Knight was an impostor. The Knight revealed himself to be The Gore, who wanted to defeat Playmaker and recover his title as "VRAINS' hero". Playmaker rejected his challenged, but SOL Technologies triggered a program that stopped him from logging out until he defeated Gore. With no choice, Playmaker started the Duel. When Gore made an intentional misplay and took damage, Ai questioned why he would make such an illogical move; Playmaker replied that humans' hearts make them do illogical things. Ai was confused by that statement, but Playmaker didn't explain what he meant, claiming that Ai's algorithm-based thinking wouldn't comprehend it.<ref name="ep4">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|4|ref}}</ref> Gore [[Link Summon]]ed "[[Gouki The Great Ogre (anime)|Gouki The Great Ogre]]"<ref name="ep4" /> and reduced Playmaker's LP to 100. Playmaker could've reduced the damage he took but chose not to, and refused to use the escape route that Kolter had built, confusing Ai again. Playmaker stated that Gore's Duel was meant to entertain the audience and his opponent and that he wouldn't quit the Duel. Playmaker proceeded to win by Link Summoning four times in a row and attacking "Great Ogre" [[Link Bumper (anime)|three times]] with "Decode Talker". After the Duel, Kolter suggested they should recruit The Gore for their fight against Hanoi, but Yusaku rejected the idea, saying that he didn't to drag Gore into their fight.<ref name="ep5">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|5|ref}}</ref> Kolter uncovered Skye Zaizen's identity as Blue Angel, and Yusaku realized that Skye was his classmate. Kolter suggested meeting her in order to find out if her brother [[Akira Zaizen]], the Security Manager at SOL Technologies, knew anything about Yusaku's past or [[Jin Kolter|Kolter's brother]]. However, he then started teasing Yusaku that talking to Skye would be impossible because of his lack of social skills. Nevertheless, Yusaku managed to track her down with Ai's help, and he followed her to the [[Duel Club]], where Shima caught up to him. He feigned ignorance when Shima inferred that he wanted to join the club, and when [[Hosoda]] invited him in, he nervously tried to opt out until Ai said thanks on his behalf, which upset him. Yusaku introduced himself to the rest of the club, and the other members introduced themselves as well, including Skye. [[Sato]] showed him his Duel Disk, and having nothing Yusaku pretended to be interested, commenting on the fact that it was the latest model. Skye remarked that he knew a lot, but he claimed that it was only because Shima had bragged about it earlier. Skye noticed that Yusaku's Duel Disk was a card-loading model, the same as Playmaker's. When she asked to see his Deck, he obliged, but he handed her his dummy Deck instead. Ai later complimented him for doing so, but Yusaku told him to be quiet, as a meeting was in progress.<ref name="ep6">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|6|ref}}</ref> That evening, he watched Blue Angel issue a public challenge for Playmaker to Duel her. Ai suggested that he should accept, but he refused, since he only approached Skye attempting to eat acquire a lead on his stolen memories, and he only Dueled against the Knights of Hanoi. Despite this, he was visibly embarrassed when the MC declared that Playmaker wasn't a man if he lostdidn't accept. This repeated The next morning, Ai read various posts on social media making fun of Playmaker for monthsnot accepting. He soon bumped into Skye again, and they greeted each other. As they walked to class, Skye asked him why he wanted to join the Duel Club, not believing it was because he loved Dueling. Yusaku tried to ask about her brother, she replied that people only ever approached her to ask if her brother could give them a new Duel Disk or a job at SOL after graduation. She lamented that her brother didn't trust her, and ran off. Ai tried to warn Yusaku about a problem he'd noticed with Skye's Duel Disk, but Yusaku wouldn't hear of it.<ref name="ep6" /> In class, Ai claimed that a Knight of Hanoi had appeared. Yusaku went to the balcony behind the Duel Club to enter LINK VRAINS, but instead of a Knight of Hanoi, he found Blue Angel, who remarked that he had finally accepted her challenge. He was initially oblivious, but angered when he realized that Ai had sent Skye a text on Playmaker's behalf challenging her. To his shock, Ai explained that Blue Angel had [[Dark Angel (anime)|a Hanoi card]] in her Deck, and he realized that this was what Ai was trying to tell him earlier. He wondered why Blue Angel would join Hanoi ,and Ai suggested that Hanoi might be using her to lure him, and asked him what he would do, since he wanted to defeat Hanoi. He accepted Blue Angel's challenge, beginning the Duel.<ref name="ep6" /> Playmaker was quickly at the mercy of Blue Angel's [[Trickstar]] Deck, which repeatedly dealt him [[effect damage]] while powering up the [[ATK]] of her ace monster, "[[Trickstar Holly Angel (anime)|Trickstar Holly Angel]]", and he noted that the offensive strategy was very efficient. He Summoned "Decode Talker" and attacked "Holly Angel", but the attack failed and "Decode Talker" was destroyed instead. Ai commented that Blue Angel was putting pressure on them, but Playmaker noticed that Hanoi's presence was getting stronger as Blue Angel drew [[Dark Angel (anime)|her next card]]. Playmaker was reduced to less than 1000 LP, allowing him to use his Skill and gain access to "[[Encode Talker (anime)|Encode Talker]]", which he promptly Link Summoned. Blue Angel realized that Playmaker was taking advantage of the damage that she was inflicting to him, and tried to end the Duel by using her Skill, but failed because Playmaker was protected by "[[Defect Compiler (anime)|Defect Compiler]]". In response, she played Hanoi's card, "Dark Angel", and immediately fell under their influence. She flew into a berserk rage and started screaming, much to Playmaker's and Ai's concern. He ended the Duel as quickly as possible by destroying "Holly Angel" with "Encode Talker", defeating Blue Angel in one hit, but not before she succumbed to mental damage from "Dark Angel" and fell unconscious.<ref name="ep7">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|7|ref}}</ref> [[File:VRAINSChurch.png|thumb|250px|Yusaku is caught in "Blue Angel's" trap.]]Playmaker found Blue Angel unconscious while Ai devoured the "Dark Angel" card. He was forced to log out when security bots approached them, and he found Skye comatose on the roof of the school. He answered Skye's phone when Zaizen called, and took Skye to the hospital. There, he met Zaizen in person, who thanked him and asked about his relationship with Skye; Yusaku claimed that they were just classmates. Yusaku, Kolter, and Ai later discussed Skye's condition and a possible cure. Ai explained that he detected that Skye's brain must be infected by a virus when he devoured Hanoi's card, and that the only ones with the appropriate anti-virus would be Hanoi themselves. [[Emma Bessho|"Blue Angel"]] then appeared onthe [[Den City|city]]'s screens challenging Playmaker to a rematch. Despite knowing that it was an impostor and most likely a trap, Yusaku claimed that it was his responsibility to rescue Skye; if the impostor was a Knight of Hanoi he could get the anti-virus; if it was a SOL agent he could explain them what happened to Skye. After logging in, he identified Blue Angel as a fake, but he was trapped by her as she revealed herself to be "Ghost Gal". Zaizen then logging into LINK VRAINS, and proceeded to torture Playmaker, believing him to be responsible for Skye's condition, despite Playmaker and Ai's claims of innocence. [[Roken Kogami|Varis]] appeared and claimed that he would challenge Playmaker for Ai, threatening that Skye would never wake up unless Playmaker defeated him in a Duel. Zaizen released Playmaker, and Varis departed. Before Playmaker took his leave, Zaizen pleaded with him to save Skye, despite his brutal treatment towards him. Playmaker replied that he didn't hate Akira; he only hated the Knights of Hanoi.<ref name="ep8">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|8|ref}}</ref> As Playmaker and Varis rode the Data Storm, Playmaker expressed his desire to battle the Knights of Hanoi and uncover their true identities. Varis replied that he didn't care about Playmaker's identity and stated that his only goal was to retrieve the [[Ignis]]; a term that surprised Playmaker. Both sides agreed on the conditions for their Duel: if Playmaker won, they would get the anti-virus, while if Varis won, he would claim Ai. Varis declared his hatred for AIs and his belief that the Ignis would lead everyone to destruction. Varis blamed Playmaker for assisting Ai and swore to eliminate him. Varis then engulfed LINK VRAINS in flames to provide a fitting setting for their Duel.<ref name="ep9">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|9|ref}}</ref> As the Speed Duel progressed, Playmaker defeated Varis's "Cracking Dragon" with "Decode Talker" once more. Varis revealed that he had the same Skill as Playmaker's and Ai's: "[[Storm Access (anime)|Storm Access]]". With it, Varis summoned "[[Topologic Bomber Dragon (anime)|Topologic Bomber Dragon]]", and began to gain the upper hand.<ref name="ep9" /> Fearing 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 combined it with the effect of "Topologic Bomber Dragon" by reviving "Capacitor Stalker", ending the Speed Duel in a [[DRAW]].  Following the DRAW, Varis dragged Playmaker and Ai inside the Data Storm, where they began a [[Master Duel]]. Varis played defensively with "[[Fire Prison (anime)|Fire Prison]]" and "[[Linkbelt Wall Dragon (anime)|Linkbelt Wall Dragon]]", limiting Playmaker's moves. He brought out "Encode Talker", but failed to destroy Varis's monsters, and instead set up to Link Summon "Decode Talker" the next turn. However, as soon as he Summoned "Decode Talker", Varis used the effect of "Fire Prison" to eliminate all [[Cyberse]] cards from the field, as well as causing Ai to vanish.<ref name="ep10">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|10|ref}}</ref> Varis explained the Ignis to Playmaker; they were A.I. with free will that he believed would attempt to conquer the world. Playmaker refused to believe him, so Varis Link Summoned "[[Borreload Dragon (anime)|Borreload Dragon]]", the monster Yusaku had seen when Varis had been looking for him, and attacked Playmaker directly. Despite his situation, Playmaker remembered the words someone had told him long ago: three reasons to live and win Duels. Playmaker called out to Ai, asking him to lend him his power, as he proceeded to [[Link Summon]] "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]", and ultimately destroyed "Fire Prison," returning Ai to consciousness. The two of them shared friendly banter, until Varis used the effect of "Borreload Dragon" to take control of "Firewall Dragon". Playmaker countered the attack with "[[Cynet Refresh (anime)|Cynet Refresh]]", destroying and then reviving "Firewall Dragon", before re-Summoning "Encode Talker" as well, declaring that their real battle was just beginning.<ref name="ep11">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|11|ref}}</ref> Playmaker attempted to return "Borreload Dragon" to Varis's hand with the effect of "Firewall Dragon", but Varis informed him that it couldn't be targeted by effects. Playmaker targeted "Magnarokket Dragon" instead, but this triggered its effect to send "Firewall Dragon" to the Graveyard, though Playmaker's "Cynet Refresh" protected his dragon. Varis was amused, and ended his turn. Much to Varis's surprise, Playmaker had "Firewall Dragon", protected by "Encode Talker", attack "Borreload Dragon", who had more ATK. With "Battle Buffer", "Encode Talker's" ATK was raised, impressing Varis. To counter it, Varis reduced the ATK of "Encode Talker" with the effect of "Borrelad Dragon", destroying "Encode Talker". While "Firewall Dragon's" ATK was raised by "Battle Buffer", Varis's "Rokkets" had regained their effects. Varis claimed the match was over, as Playmaker could not attack anymore but, Playmaker [[Recoded Alive (anime)|revived]] "Decode Talker", whose ATK was boosted up to destroy "Borreload Dragon". However, Varis used "Borrel Refrigeration" to make "Magnarokket Dragon" destroy itself to destroy "Decode Talker". Varis smiled, seeing how close he was to his victory, with Playmaker having no cards nor attacks to execute. Playmaker refused to lose, and claimed he wanted to uncover the events that had happened ten years previous, to recover the time he had lost, and to save the person that saved him. Varis was surprised that to learn Playmaker was involved in such an incident, and Playmaker claimed to be the emissary of revenge. Varis claimed Playmaker was a fool to help SOL Technologies without knowing the truth. Playmaker refused to listen, and using "Parallel Port Armor", he had "Firewall Dragon" attack once more, destroying "Borreload Dragon" and defeating Varis.<ref name="ep12" /> Playmaker demanded that Varis reveal his true identity and those of the Knights of Hanoi. To his shock, Ai transformed into a monstrous form and devoured Varis's arm in order to get his data back. Varis fled, but he he gave the anti-virus for Blue Angel's coma to Playmaker. Playmaker accompanied Ghost Gal back to the church where Zaizen and Blue Angel were, using the antidote to cure Blue Angel and allow her to log out of LINK VRAINS. Zaizen thanked him for saving Blue Angel, but Playmaker logged out before he could finish. Exhausted from the Duels, Yusaku asked Kolter if Skye was alright before collapsing and falling asleep. Yusaku dreamed about Varis's words regarding Ignis with free will, which caused him to wake up. Kolter sensed he was thinking about what Varis told him. Ai defiantly claimed that he was indeed alive, and he used the program he obtained from Varis to regain his full body. However Ai's size didn't impress Yusaku and Kolter, who tried to determine if Ai regained some of his memories.<ref name="ep12">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|12|ref}}</ref> As Yusaku was eating hot dogs, he witnessed [[Emma Bessho]] visiting Café Nom, who mentioned that she was interested in Dueling Playmaker, intriguing Yusaku. After six months passed Emma left, Yusaku noted how stressed Kolter was and decided to help him delete the files regarding Playmaker. As they were deleting files, Kolter asked where Ai was; Yusaku explained that he left Ai at home because he was annoying. Yusaku mused on the idea of AI with free will, and knowing that Varis had unleashed the attack on the Cyberse and searched for Ai, Yusaku deduced that Varis had destroyed the Cyberse. He wondered if it was wise to seek Varis out for answers about his past and about Kolter's brother. He then inadvertently deleted a big scoop that would have revealed everything Playmaker and Kolter knew involving Ai and the Knights of Hanoi had [[Frog (character)|Frog]] and [[Pigeon]] been able to publish it.<ref name="ep13">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|13|ref}}</ref> At home Yusaku continued to dwell on Varis's words in his hidden room. Kolter called him to Cafe Nom, where he showed him an encrypted message sent to him from Ghost Gal. Kolter explained that he had created a program to help Ghost Gal enter the Data Storm during the Duel with Varis. Ghost Gal had requested a Duel with Playmaker, with Ai as the wager. Yusaku accepted, stating that she offered a backdoor to SOL Technologies' data bank. Ghost Gal soon entered LINK VRAINS, and as Yusaku prepared to log in, Kolter wondered if Yusaku would really Duel her, since she could've set another trap. Yusaku collapsedreplied he had to uncover the truth behind the Incident, and hoped in that the data bank contained information about Knights of Hanoi. He noted that he sensed some determination in Ghost Gal, despite her weaknesses.<ref name="ep14">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|14|ref}}</ref> Playmaker quickly met up with Ghost Gal, and she showed him the backdoor program she'd set as her stake for the Duel. Playmaker wondered why she wouldn't she access the data bank, and she explained that she wanted Ai so she could sell him to SOL Technologies. She admitted she grew more interested in Playmaker after his latest Duel, and wanted to battle him as a voice cyber treasure hunter. Despite Ai's warnings, Playmaker accepted her Duel. Ghost Gal blocked Playmaker's attacks with her "[[Altergeist]]" [[Trap Card]]s and "[[Altergeist Kunquery (anime)|Altergeist Kunquery]], and then Link Summoned "[[Altergeist Primebanshee (anime)|Altergeist Primebanshee]]", aiming to defeat Playmaker before he could use his Skill.<ref name="ep14" /> Playmaker was able to block the attack with "[[Lockout Gardna (anime)|Lockout Gardna]]", and Ai attempted to fool Ghost Gal into attacking so that they would be able to use Storm Access, but Ghost Gal refused to attack. Ai was in shock, and Playmaker told him his acting was horrible. On Playmaker's turn, Playmaker attempted to destroy "Primebanshee" with "[[Backlinker (anime)|Backlinker]]", but [[Altergeist Protocol (anime)|Ghost Gal blocked]] his move. Ghost Gal claimed she could anticipate their every move, and prevented Playmaker from [[Striping Partner (anime)|reviving]] "Backlinker". Playmaker Link Summoned "[[Underclock Taker (anime)|Underclock Taker]]" and tried to weaken "Primebanshee", but Ghost Gal countered with "[[Altergeist Camouflage (anime)|Altergeist Camouflage]]", protecting "Primebanshee" from attacks, claiming that Playmaker had reached his limits. Playmaker paid 1000 LP to activate the effect of "Balancer Lord", lowering his LP enough to use Storm Access, but Ghost Gal refused to let him activate the Skill and used her own Skill, Secret Cure to increase both players' LP. Despite this, was able to lower his LP enough with "[[Scan Doll]]", while also copying Ghost Gal's "Altergeist Protocol" to camouflage his "[[Altergeist Silquitous (anime)|Altergeist Silquitous]]". Playmaker used Storm Access, and Ghost Gal pursued him into the Data Storm, but she lost control of her Duel Board and fell off it. Playmaker saved her and reminded her their Duel was not over yet and let her go back on the Duel Board. Playmaker Link Summoned his newly-acquired "[[Excode Talker (anime)|Excode Talker]]", whose effect rendered two of Ghost Gal's Main Monster Zones unusable, and Tributed "Scan Doll" to allow "Excode Talker" attack twice. As all of Ghost Gal's monsters could not be attacked, "Excode Talker" could attack Ghost Gal directly, winning Playmaker the Duel. Ghost Gal gave Playmaker the program to enter SOL Technologies' data bank, and left. Yusaku logged out, and Kolter started to analyze the program as Yusaku fell asleep.<ref name="ep15">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|15|ref}}</ref> [[File:Playmaker in the mother computer.png|thumb|left|250px|Playmaker infiltrates the mother computer system.]]Kolter showed Yusaku the maze-like schematics to the data bank, and they wondered how skilled Ghost Gal was to have managed to hack into SOL Technologies' data bank, and Kolter promised he would finish by the time school was over. While at school, Yusaku wondered where Skye was, and he and Ai deduced that her brother forbade her from entering LINK VRAINS to protect her. Ai commented that Yusaku actually cared about her; Yusaku replied that one should not give upon Dueling this way. After school, Kolter showed Yusaku the path to the data bank, but warned him a lot of traps were set to stop anyone. Yusaku hesitantly noted that Ghost Gal also wanted something if she gave him the program, even if the information Yusaku could find there may not be that important. Regardless, he logged into LINK VRAINS to enter the mother computer system. To protect himself, Playmaker used a device to navigate himself, and a rope to disguise him from security programs. Once the security programs started to go after Playmaker, he launched three "[[Sphere Kuriboh (anime)|Sphere Kuriboh]]" to shatter them without alerting anyone. Passing the first corridor, Playmaker arrived in the second, where a Data Storm was located that drew Playmaker it, breaking his rope and triggering two prototype AI to hunt him down. Playmaker attempted to evade them, but [[Prototype Green-A|one of the AIs]] caught up with him, and initiated a Speed Duel. The AI brought out "[[Tentacluster Nautilus]]", and Tributed his "[[Tentacluster Drillworm]]" to discard Playmaker's hand. [[Prototype Red-B|The other AI prototype]] arrived and started attacking Playmaker, intent on grabbing his Duel Disk. Much to his surprise Blue Angel arrived, using her whip to prevent the AI from grabbing his Duel Disk, and she claimed that she would be the one to defeat Playmaker and started a Speed Duel with the other AI.<ref name="ep16">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|16|ref}}</ref> Blue Angel explained that she had come to repay him for curing her. Playmaker claimed he never indebted her; regardless, Blue Angel started her Duel with the other AI prototype. Playmaker was able to use the cards in his Graveyard to Special Summon several monsters and advised reduce his LP to 1000 LP, allowing him to think use Storm Access to acquire and Link Summon "[[Vector Scare Archfiend (anime)|Vector Scare Archfiend]]", while also summoning "Cyberse Wizard". Using the effect of three reasons "Vector Scare Archfiend", he attacked several times, defeating the AI. Playmaker entered the Data Bank, and was surprised to find Zaizen and Ghost Gal waiting for him.<ref name="ep17">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|17|ref}}</ref>  [[File:Playmaker at data bank.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker reaches the data bank.]]Playmaker asked Ghost Gal and Zaizen why they were in the data bank. Ghost Gal explained that they were after the data, and Playmaker realized that he was just used as a decoy for them to enter the data bank. He ordered Zaizen to move aside, but Zaizen refused and informed him that he had learned what happened to Playmaker ten years previously. Zaizen claimed he had the right to know about the Incident and Playmaker asked him to hand the data over. Zaizen instead asked Playmaker to hand over the Ignis and leave, wanting to shed some light over the Incident, but Playmaker claimed that he would be the one to reveal the truth since it didn't personally involve Zaizen. He challenged Zaizen to a Master Duel, betting Ai for the data, and Zaizen accepted, seeing this as the only way to continue defeat Playmaker.<ref name="ep18">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|18|ref}}</ref> [[File:Yusaku furious.png|thumb|left|250px|Yusaku becoming furious at Zaizen]]Playmaker quickly Link Summoned "Decode Talker", but as he prepared his offence, Zaizen brought out "[[Tindangle Hound (anime)|Tindangle Hound]]" to weaken his linked monsters and used "[[Lemoine Point]]" to prevent Playmaker from attacking face-down monsters. Playmaker countered by Link Summoning "[[Flame Administrator (anime)|Flame Administrator]]", whose effect increased the ATK of "Decode Talker" past that of "Tindangle Hound". Akira flipped "[[Tindangle Angel (anime)|Tindangle Angel]]", reviving "Tindangle Hound" face-down and ending Playmaker's Battle Phase. Zaizen spoke about his and Skye's past, claiming that he knew their pain and asking them to leave fightingthe Hanoi to him. Kolter and Playmaker became furious, claiming that Zaizen understood nothing about them. Zaizen [[Flip Summon]]ed "Tindangle Hound", and Set "Tindangle Angel", weakening Playmaker's monsters again and destroying "Flame Administrator". Playmaker used "[[Limit Code (anime)|Limit Code]]" to bring out "Encode Talker", and then he used it to Link Summon "Firewall Dragon".<ref name="ep18" /> Although the effect of "Tindangle Hound" reduced the ATK of "Firewall Dragon", Playmaker destroyed Zaizen's monsters with "[[Linkage Hole (anime)|Linkage Hole]]". Yusaku "Decode Talker" landed a direct attack, but Zaizen destroyed it with "[[Tindangle Delaunay (anime)|Tindangle Delaunay]]", and brought out his ace, "[[Tindangle Acute Cerberus (anime)|Tindangle Acute Cerberus]]". It attacked "Firewall Dragon", which Playmaker protected with "[[Doppler Phase Coating]]". Zaizen protected his own monster with "[[Gergonne's End (anime)|Gergonne's End]]", and Playmaker noted that Zaizen's Deck was quite difficult to figure out with such complex strategies. Playmaker tried to end the Duel by attacking Zaizen's "[[Tindangle Token]]", but Zaizen prevented the damage with "[[Morley's Shield]]", then used "[[Nagel's Protection (anime)|Nagel's Protection]]" to protect his Tokens. "Tindangle Acute Cerberus" attacked "Firewall Dragon" again, reducing Playmaker to 500 LP. Ai yelled at Playmaker to do something, and wondered if there was anything to be done to get them out of their situation. Playmaker told Ai to stop panicking, and the two traded barbs. Playmaker swore he would not lose, as he wished to uncover the truth. He claimed that his Deck contained his feelings over the past ten years. Playmaker drew a card and Set it. Zaizen asked Playmaker to stop this revenge and cherish his memories, rather than trying to uncover the truth, which Zaizen would reveal. He claimed Playmaker was too conceited in the past, and he would not feel happiness, just as Zaizen himself hadn't. Blue Angel, who had been watching the Duel for a while, revealed her presence and asked to hear about Playmaker's past. Against Playmaker's wishes, Zaizen spoke about the Lost Incident, mentioning that Playmaker had been rescued at its conclusion. Playmaker claimed that he was never rescued due to the trauma that he suffered, and swore that he would uncover the truth for the sake of the families hurt in the Incident, and that he would rescue the person whose voice had encouraged him to fight if he was still trapped. Playmaker noted that even though Zaizen believed revenge was pointless, he had still discovered that the Knights of Hanoi had been involved in the Lost Incident, also known as the [[Hanoi Project]]. Zaizen then revealed that SOL Technologies' data bank contained the name of the mastermind behind the Hanoi Project, much to Playmaker's shock.<ref name="ep19" /> Playmaker demanded the name of the mastermind, but Zaizen refused to reveal it, fearing this would only feed Playmaker's hatred and desire for revenge. Zaizen attempted to conclude the Duel by attacking "Firewall Dragon" with "Acute Cerberus", but Playmaker avoided the defeat by banishing his dragon with "[[Cynet Backdoor (anime)|Cynet Backdoor]]", triggering the effect of "Doppler Phase Coating" to end the Battle Phase. Zaizen turned the tables by preventing Playmaker from attacking "[[Euler's Circuit (anime)|Euler's Circuit]]", which would also allow him to Summon a "Tindangle" monster to Playmaker's field to complete his combo. Playmaker brought out "Link Spider", "[[Recovery Sorcerer (anime)|Recovery Sorcerer]]" and "[[Security Gardna (anime)|Security Gardna]]". Zaizen pointed out the pointlessness of summoning the monsters, as Playmaker was unable to attack. As Playmaker had Summoned "Security Gardna" to the Zone that "Tindangle Acute Cerberus" pointed to, Zaizen used "Gergonne's End" to destroy the monsters that "Acute Cerberus" pointed to, inflicting the ATK of "Acute Cerberus" to Playmaker, but Playmaker survived with the effect of "Security Gardna", which prevented all effect damage during that turn and destroyed "Euler's Circuit", allowing Playmaker to attack. Despite his advantage, Playmaker used "Recovery Sorcerer" to bring back "Security Gardna". Ai questioned this, as Playmaker could simply attack directly with "Firewall Dragon", and Playmaker claimed that a Duel was more than just winning or losing. He used the effect of "Firewall Dragon" to return Akira's "Tindangle Hound" and "Tindangle Angel" from the Graveyard to his hand, reducing the ATK of "Tindangle Acute Cerberus" to 0, before destroying it with "Firewall Dragon", defeating Zaizen. Playmaker walked past the Zaizen siblings and had Ai devour SOL Technologies' data. Before leaving, Playmaker asked Zaizen not to follow him, or else he'd walk the path of darkness. Zaizen asked why Playmaker didn't attack directly with "Firewall Dragon", and he explained "Tindangle Hound" and "Tindangle Angel" represented Akira and his sister, who he believed should turn around and walk to the light rather than remain in the Graveyard. He tansported to his Duel Board and logged out. Outside, Kolter praised Yusaku and Ai. The two hacked into Ai, and found out the Hanoi Project's leader was [[Kiyoshi Kogami|Dr. Kiyoshi Kogami]], an employee from SOL Technologies, who worked on the Project alone in secrecy. The two concluded that SOL Technologies covered up the Incident to prevent the company's reputation from being ruined. Ai doubted that Dr. Kogami could have done this on his own, and suggested that Zaizen was involved, but Kolter reminded him that Zaizen had been 16 back then and not employed at SOL Technologies at the time. Kolter and Yusaku failed to find the Project's goal in the data, but to their shock they discovered Dr. Kogami had died seven years ago.<ref name="ep20">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|20|ref}}</ref> With the food truck positioned at the coast, Yusaku was doing research. Kolter invited him for a break, and gazed upon the ocean. Yusaku pointed out Kolter won't get many customers at that place, but Kolter assured him the famous coast was named [[Stardust Road]], known for the luminous plankton that rarely gather at night, and thought the person living near the coast may have seen that. Kolter failed to gather new info from SOL Technologies' data, and Yusaku saw that data from ten years ago was actually deleted. Still, they knew the company was involved, even if Akira knew nothing about the incident before. Kolter felt a bit relieved that Dr. Kogami passed away, thinking their revenge was over. Yusaku reminded him they still didn't know about the goal of the incident, and Kolter still wanted to rescue his brother from darkness, even if they had no clue where to continue. Yusaku still remembered Varis knew some things. Kolter stated Varis was not seen recently, but Yusaku believed he was not the type that would simply disappear.<ref name="ep21">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|21|ref}}</ref> Playmaker and Ai watched an eclipse blocking the virtual sun in LINK VRAINS. Ai recalled that people in the ancient past were scared of such events, and was surprised that even today people were still afraid. Playmaker replied that people had remained the same, unlike technology that advances. He likened the eclipse to the Lost Incident, vowing that he would not let the incident be buried in darkness and to uncover the truth. Later, Yusaku wasat school, remembering the person who saved him. Shima talked to him about the [[Deleted]], and Ai noted the phenomenon's similarities to Blue Angel's coma, but Yusaku shushed him, since Shima could hear him. Shima doubted Yusaku would become a victim, as they were usually promising Duelists, and Yusaku advised Shima to stay away from his Duel Disk. At Café Nom, Kolter showed Ai and Yusaku the voice footage of a person being Deleted, which happened six minutes before midnight. Kolter told them the person had not recovered yet, and showed them pictures of more Deleted patients in hospitals. Ai and Yusaku knew this was the same condition that Blue Angel had been infected by.<ref name="ep22">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|22|ref}}</ref> Analyzing what the victims had in common, Yusaku and Kolter realized that the victims were all skilled Duelists and hackers with old models of Duel Disk; the perpetrators were looking for Playmaker and Ai. Deciding that they needed to stop more people from being Deleted, they looked at a list of possible targets and Yusaku visited the house of [[Mackendrick Kellenbocker]], but arrived too late to prevent [[Dr. Genome|a Knight of Hanoi]] from Deleting Mackendrick after the Knight realized that he did not have an Ignis. The Gore saved Mackendrick's body, and confronted the Knight, Dr. Genome, who confirmed that he was attempting to draw Playmaker out. Yusaku alerted the paramedics and went with Mackendrick to the hospital, where he heard Gore swear to defeat Dr. Genome. Gore met Yusaku in person for the first time, believing he was concerned for his schoolmate, and Yusaku introduced himself before leaving. That night, the Knights of Hanoi] attacked and Deleted more Duelists, and Yusaku decided to log in and stop them. To their surprise, someone disguised as Playmaker defeated the Knights of Hanoi and drew out Dr. Genome. The imposter revealed themselves as The Gore, claiming he knew Playmaker's identity and betting it on a Duel with Genome in exchange for the cure to Mackendrick's Deleted virus. Yusaku did not know if Gore really knew his identity, but was still frustrated. The group watched as Dr. Genome activated the Data Gale, conjuring black tornadoes for the Speed Duel.<ref name="ep22"/> As the Speed Duel continued, Gore donned a mask and declared himself as "Grim Gore", Ai thought it was tacky, but Yusaku and Kolter realized that Gore changed his battling style to that of a heel. Despite the advantages he gained, Grim Gore was nearly defeated by Genome, and after Ai suggested Yusaku log in and save Gore, Yusaku did so after Grim Gore barely kept himself in the Duel.<ref name="ep23">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|23|ref}}</ref> Playmaker logged in and he motivated Grim Gore in a sarcastic manner, and Grim Gore performed a face turn and defeated Genome. Gore realized that Playmaker hadn't come to mock him, but to motivate him. He suggested an alliance with Playmaker and the watching Blue Angel to defeat the Knights of Hanoi, and Playmaker accepted, though Blue Angel abstained. The next day Yusaku didn't go to school and teamed up with Gore, defeating various Knights of Hanoi. After defeating a Knight, Playmaker and Ai interrogated him about the Deleted removal program, but the Knight was erased before he could explain. Gore then asked Playmaker about Blue Angel's whereabouts, but Playmaker didn't know where she was, and they discussed [[Baira|the creator]] of the removal program. Sometime later Yusaku, Ai and Kolter watched [[Kitamura]]'s public announcement of an army of A.I. Duelists he had developed to confront the Knights of Hanoi.<ref name="ep24">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|24|ref}}</ref> As the Deleted crisis continued, Kolter determined that the Knights of Hanoi would soon find Playmaker if they took over LINK VRAINS, though Yusaku believed they could prevent that by looking into the origins of Deleted virus. Despite their attempts, their work proved fruitless, and it was Blue Angel who ended up finding the virus's creator, Baira. Resuming their search through footage of the Deleted, they spotted Baira present at one of the events,<ref name="ep25">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|25|ref}}</ref> and they managed to determine her real identity; Klarissa Turner, a doctor from Den City Hospital. Yusaku and Ai went to Klarissa's apartment, bypassing her security robot with Kolter's help, and they found her logged into LINK VRAINS as Blue Angel defeated her. Kolter arrived and they witnessed the Deleted being cured and logging out of LINK VRAINS due to Barira releasing the removal program. Baira appeared to log out, and Yusaku and Kolter prepared to interrogate her, but she remained comatose and they saw Varis reaching towards her on her viewscreen, apparently purging her.<ref name="ep26">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|26|ref}}</ref> Despite the Deleted being cured, Yusaku remained worried as he'd only fought the Knights of Hanoi inside LINK VRAINS and there was still one last Commander. At school the next day Yusaku spoke with Shima, who wished to battle the Knights of Hanoi alongside Playmaker and Blue Angel. Yusaku tried to dissuade Shima, who became furious and stormed out, and Ai stated that Yusaku went too far on him . To Yusaku's surprise when he headed to Café Nom that afternoon, Kolter revealed that someone called "The Brave Battler" had played his "Cyberse Wizard" card. Yusaku showed his "Cyberse Wizard", and Ai touched it and sensed that the data from the card was missing. Ai suggested that The Brave Battler was the mastermind they were looking for and that he'd a Knight of Hanoi to lure Playmaker out, but they soon go homerealized that The Brave Battler was Shima. Yusaku feared Shima would be in danger if the Knights of Hanoi learned that he used a Cyberse card. Sure enough, Yusaku and Kolter found The Brave Battler with the Commander in question, [[Faust]], who called out Playmaker to Duel him, while to Yusaku's surprise, The Brave Battler claimed to have received "Cyberse Wizard" from Playmaker. Yusaku went to get his Duel Disk, but found it gone; Ai had gone to search for Shima in the Duel Disk, which Roboppi had modified into a drone. Yusaku realized that Ai knew this would happen, and Ai acted offended that Yusaku was accusing him. Ai showed them the location where Shima was held captive, then returned to Café Nom as it was en route, and Yusaku and Ai logged in to LINK VRAINS.<ref name="ep27">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|27|ref}}</ref> Playmaker assured The Brave Battler that he'd face Faust. Before he did, The Brave Battler returned "Cyberse Wizard" to Playmaker. Playmaker noted that Faust was the final Deleted mastermind, and accused him of stealing the data of "Cyberse Wizard" and giving it to The Brave Battler to lure him out. But Faust claimed that he had not done so, and Ai assured Playmaker that it wasn't important, as they only had to defeat Faust. Faust declared that his mission was to retrieve Ignis, and he used the Data Storm to conjure a stage for their Speed Duel and prevent Playmaker from logging out. Faust went all-out from the start, Link Summoning "[[Motor Worm Spreader Queen]]" and powering it up with "[[Motor Worm Token]]s". Playmaker opposed it with "Decode Talker" and "Cyberse Wizard", but Faust was able to protect "Spreader Queen" from "Decode Talker" with "[[Wormhole Defense]]", though its ATK was lowered enough for "Cyberse Wizard" to defeat "Spreader Queen". Faust simply revived "Spreader Queen" with "[[Worm Revival]]", then used "[[Egg Clutch]]" to turn "Cyberse Wizard" into an [[Insect]] monster and boost the ATK of "Spreader Queen". The system presence of only Insect monsters on their field would allow Faust to attack them directly, but Ai pointed out they still had the Cyberse "Decode Talker". Faust destroyed "Decode Talker", then used his Skill "[[Double Bite]]" to allow "Spreader Queen" to attack once more and finish Playmaker off.<ref name="ep28">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|28|ref}}</ref> [[File:Playmaker takes out Powercode Talker.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker uses "Storm Access" in the Data Storm.]]Playmaker was disbandedblasted into a building, but barely survived by halving the damage with "[[Urgent Link]]". He attempted to Link Summon, but Faust's "Wormhole Defense" prevented the Insect Tokens from being used as Link Material. Faust declared he would obtain the Ignis on his next turn, but Playmaker turned things around with "[[Cybersal Cyclone (anime)|Cybersal Cyclone]]", allowing him to destroy "Wormhole Defense". Faust declared he still wouldn't lose, though Playmaker made him doubt his words when he went into the Data Storm to use "[[Storm Access (anime)|Storm Access]]", obtaining and Link Summoning "[[Powercode Talker (anime)|Powercode Talker]]". Playmaker negated the effects of "Spreader Queen" to reduce her ATK, then he prepared to attack. Faust tried to warn him of Ignis being a threat, but Ai told Playmaker to ignore Faust, and Playmaker doubled the ATK of "Powercode Talker", who destroyed "Motor Worm Spreader Queen" and while defeated Faust. Before vanishing, Faust tried to warn Playmaker that he may have just doomed the future of humanity. Playmaker repeated Faust's final words, which Ai didn't claim to know anything about. Before logging out, Playmaker told The Brave Battler he should seek his own path if he was brave enough. Yusaku found Shima in the real world, who had been released when Faust lost the Duel. Shima was glad to see that Yusaku came to rescue him, and told him about Playmaker's ordeals. While Shima was rescuedtalking, Yusaku concluded Faust didn't want Shima to be Deleted, and that Ai could have been the one that sent "Cyberse Wizard" to Shima.<ref name="ep28" /> Despite the defeat of the three Commanders and the conclusion of the Deleted incident , Yusaku still remained uneasy, as Varis remained unaccounted for.<ref name="ep28"/> Yusaku and Ai sensed something wrong in LINK VRAINS on their way to school one day via their Link Sense, and then again after Kolter served a customer at the Stardust Road as Yusaku wondered why Varis hadn't made any recent appearances. (In the dub, they saw visions of an energy sphere.) Yusaku asked Kolter to scan the network, and just as Yusaku and Ai sensed another pulse, Kolter discovered that the LINK VRAINS infrastructure was changing. Yusaku decided to log in, uneasy about Varis's absence and believing that something big was about to happen. As Playmaker searched through LINK VRAINS, Ai tried to convince him that they should return, but Playmaker refused to be dissuaded and they sensed another pulse. Spotting some data fireflies, Playmaker traced them to an alleyway.<ref name="ep30">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|30|ref}}</ref> [[File:Playmaker runs in sewers.png|thumb|250px|left|Playmaker runs from the data monster.]]Ghost Gal arrived, and she wasn't particularly pleased to see Ai and Playmaker present, confirming that the fireflies were hers. Playmaker warned her that the path ahead was dangerous and advised her to log out, but Ghost Gal refused, stating that the reward would thus be greater. The data fireflies opened a path into LINK VRAINS' data sewers, and they came to a fork in the path. Ai suggested they settle the decision of who went what way with a game, which amused Ghost Gal. Playmaker watched Ai and Ghost Gal's game to choose a "lovely" card from her Deck, well aware that the game was rigged so that Ai would chose a wrong card. Sure enough, Ghost Gal won the game and allowed Playmaker to go down the left path. Ai was depressed to learn he'd been cheated, but Playmaker reminded him of the importance of their mission, and they continued on. As they moved through the data sewers, they were attacked by a data monster that chased them through the sewers.<ref name="ep30"/> They eventually came to a dead end, but just as the data monster approached them, it was destroyed by a [[Mirror Force (later anime)|bright light]] that blasted through the floor. Realizing that they must be above the anomaly, Playmaker leaped through the crack and Ai noted it was the path that Ghost Gal had taken. They came to a data processing plant, finding Ghost Gal and Varis Speed Dueling around a sphere of energy, and they two watched as Ghost Gal was defeated by Varis's "[[Topologic Trisbaena (anime)|Topologic Trisbaena]]". Playmaker swore to save her, but Ghost Gal claimed she was too pathetic for a professional and gave Playmaker the data she had acquired on the sphere. Ghost Gal then started disintegrating, and she warned Playmaker Varis's terrifying new card before she disappeared, her data absorbed by the energy sphere. Varis confronted Playmaker, who demanded to know what had happened to Ghost Gal. Varis claimed she had become a foundation for the Tower of Hanoi, which he proceeded to begin. He revealed that the only way to stop it was by defeating him, and fled as the Tower began destroying the plant. Enraged, Playmaker attempted to tear down the bars between him and Varis, forcing Ai to use the emergency logout to save them.<ref name="ep31">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|31|ref}}</ref> Yusaku, Kolter, and Ai watched as the Tower of Hanoi appeared in LINK VRAINS, absorbing data of all kinds, buildings, roads, and even all the Avatar's in the vicinity. Kolter analyzed Ghost Gal's data, showing the Tower of Hanoi. Yusaku remembered Varis's words, and deduced if the Hanoi's game was over, the world would be destroyed. Kolter continued analyzing the data, and he explained that the Tower would craft a ring of data every hour, and when the Tower was completed, it would release a pulse of high-density data that would destroy every piece of technology connected to the network. Ai believed they'd be safe if they didn't enter the network, but Yusaku stated that Varis likely would have thought of this, and Kolter confirmed that the data pulse would also repurpose mainframes into EMP devices that would affect technology even if it wasn't connected to the network. They realized that Varis was going so far just to erase the Ignis. Later, they witnessed Kitamura Dueling a Knight of Hanoi, [[Spectre]], who defeated Kitamura, resulting in Kitamura's data being absorbed by the Tower of Hanoi. Spectre threatened anyone that dared enter LINK VRAINS with the same fate, and Yusaku swore to stop the Knights of Hanoi by shutting down the Tower. Kolter warned him there were no Data Storms in LINK VRAINS, except near the Tower of Hanoi.<ref name="ep32">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|32|ref}}</ref> This did not stop Yusaku, who wished to end his feud with Varis, and he logged in to LINK VRAINS. He quickly met up with The Gore and Blue Angel, who stated that they were fighting for everyone in LINK VRAINS. Playmaker explained that he had come to stop the Tower of Hanoi, rescue Ghost Gal and confront the Varis, and Blue Angel was shocked to hear that Ghost Gal had been defeated. Gore asked about the data Ghost Gal gave to Playmaker, and Playmaker explained that Varis intended to destroy LINK VRAINS using the Tower of Hanoi. Blue Angel realized if the network would be destroyed, then all the people absorbed would be destroyed too, and Ai added it would prevent him from being erased. Gore asked how to stop the tower, and Playmaker explained that they needed to defeat Varis. Ai warned them that they only had six hours before the Tower was covered completed. Gore and Blue Angel promised to go there, but Playmaker stated it was better if they stayed safe. This actually motivated Gore and Blue Angel even more, and Playmaker claimed not to care, but asked them to be careful. He warned them of Varis's powerful new card, and they promised to meet up against and approached the Tower from different directions.<ref name="ep32"/> [[File:The whirlwind.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker looks at the whirlwind from afar.]]On his way to the Tower of Hanoi, Playmaker rescued a boy dressed as him from a collapsing building, who had believed [[Frog (character)|Frog]] and [[Pigeon]] to be Knights of Hanoi. Playmaker asked the boy to log out while he protected LINK VRAINS, and the boy did so, stating that he believed in Playmaker.<ref name="ep33">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|33|ref}}</ref> Ai recorded the five hour mark before the Tower of Hanoi was completed, and Playmaker swore to end the crises by defeating Varis, prompting Ai to cheer for them. As they continued on, they saw a twister in the distance where Blue Angel had headed.<ref name="ep34">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|34|ref}}</ref> Playmaker and Ai arrived at a bridge that was beginning to be absorbed by the Tower, and Ai noted they had to cross it to get to the Tower. Ai suggested conjuring a Data Storm, but Playmaker warned him that the Tower would just absorb that data too and hasten the tower's completion.<ref name="ep35">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|35|ref}}</ref> Before they could cross the bridge, they were opposed by Spectre. Spectre proclaimed that he would crush them on Varis's orders as he had Blue Angel, shocking Playmaker and Ai, and Spectre boasted that he defeated her without even having to use his full strength. Spectre commented that Blue Angel had talked about "blue love", which Ai did not understand. Spectre showed them data fragments of Blue Angel, claiming that she had no power to save him, and he promised that the same fate would befall Playmaker. Spectre began their Duel by Summoning "[[Sunseed Genius Loci (anime)|Sunseed Genius Loci]]" and using it to Link Summon "[[Sunavalon Dryas (anime)|Sunavalon Dryas]]", and Setting a card. Playmaker recalled Blue Angel's burn tactics, and the speed with which Spectre had defeated her. Ai declared that he was very dangerous too and noted that Spectre's monster did not look very offensive. Playmaker asked Spectre why he fought, and Spectre claimed he fought for Varis. Playmaker tried to persuade Spectre to step down, believing that he did not know about Varis's plan, but Spectre confirmed he knew what Varis intended and that he would stand by his side regardless. Playmaker claimed that Spectre did not understand Varis, and that an outsider of the Lost Incident like Spectre had no reason to be involved. Spectre explained that he did understand the Lost Incident, revealing that he was one of the six children that were kidnapped as Playmaker had been.<ref name="ep35"/> Playmaker was shocked, and protested that the Knights had committed atrocities against Spectre, but Spectre claimed that the Incident entertained him, as it made him feel important, and Varis gave him a place where he could belong among the Knights of Hanoi. Spectre wondered if he was weird, but thought Playmaker's sense of justice made him even stranger. Ai reminded Playmaker that he was nothing like Spectre, and reminded him that the Tower would continue growing while they wasted time. Spectre dared Playmaker to defeat him, and Playmaker Link Summoned "[[Binary Sorceress (anime)|Binary Sorceress]]", "[[Multi Sledgehammer]]" and "[[Binary Blader (anime)|Binary Blader]]", and as he could not attack "Dryas", he attacked Spectre directly with "Binary Sorceress", only for Spectre to replenish his LP by Special Summoning "[[Sunvine Gardna (anime)|Sunvine Gardna]]". Spectre explained about the tree that had protected him when he was a baby, and declared that he began distrusting society when the tree was cut down, and that he now served Varis.<ref name="ep35"/> He proclaimed that as long as the tree was on the field, nobody could defeat him and that Ignis and LINK VRAINS would be erased. Playmaker reminded Spectre that he would be erased too, but Spectre merely wished to fulfill Varis's goal and he claimed that Playmaker would never understand their goals as long as he chased after revenge. Playmaker continued attacking, supporting his other attacks with the effects of "Binary Sorceress", restoring his own LP as well, but Spectre [[Sunavalon Glorious Growth|evolved]] "Dryas" into "[[Sunavalon Dryanome (anime)|Sunavalon Dryanome]]" in the middle of Playmaker's Battle Phase and restored his own LP. Playmaker realized that Spectre's Deck was defense-oriented, and attacked again with "Binary Blader", but once again Spectre's "Sunavalon Glorious Growth" and "Sunvine Gardna" restored his LP and lowered Playmaker's back to 4000. But Playmaker had planned for a single final strike, using the attacks of his monsters to increase the ATK of "Multi Sledgehammer" to 4000.<ref name="ep36">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|36|ref}}</ref> Ai praised Playmaker's brilliant strategy, but Spectre warned them that it wasn't perfect; "Sunavalon Glorious Growth" redirected the attack to "Sunvine Gardna", who reduced the damage and Spectre performed his combo once more. Spectre declared his belief that he had the Duel won as Playmaker fought for revenge while Spectre was helping Varis save the world. Spectre went on the offensive with "[[Sunvine Thrasher (anime)|Sunvine Thrasher]]" and took control of "Binary Blader" to destroy Playmaker's monsters. Ai warned Playmaker that he was losing, but Playmaker explained that Spectre could no longer use the effect of "Sunavalon Dryanome", for all of the zones it pointed to were occupied, but Spectre Link Summoned "[[Sunavalon Daphne (anime)|Sunavalon Daphne]]", expanding his available zones. The bridge began to be erased, but "Dryanome" stabilized it, allowing the Duel to continue. Spectre used "[[Sunavalon Force]]" to render "Dryanome" immune to effects, but Playmaker brought out "Excode Talker" and "Underclock Taker", locking down Spectre's two Main Monster Zones and reducing the ATK of "Sunvine Thrasher". As Ai gloated that they would win, Spectre revealed that Zaizen had been imprisoned in LINK VRAINS, threatening to use his prison to infect him with a virus. Playmaker and were angry that Spectre was cheating by dragging people that weren't even involved into their Duel, but Spectre accused Playmaker of involving man more people in the current crisis, including the Zaizens.<ref name="ep36"/> Although Zaizen and Ai both told Playmaker not to listen to Spectre, Playmaker ended his turn without attacking. Spectre mocked Playmaker over his desire for revenge and his simultaneous virtue, and he counterattacked with "Thrasher", destroying "Underclock Taker" and reducing Playmaker's LP to 900. Ai panicked as the bridge continued collapsing<ref name="ep36"/> and Spectre lamented that he could not defeat Playmaker as the bridge was collapsing. Playmaker manipulated Spectre into stabilizing the bridge again to continue the Duel, though Spectre believed Playmaker would be unable to win and dared him to attack and risk Zaizen's life. Zaizen told Playmaker to attack, else Skye's sacrifice would have been for nothing, but again Playmaker simply Set a card and played defensively, protecting "Excode Talker" with various card effects and refusing to use the offensive effect of his "[[Overload Anchor]]" card. Spectre Link Summoned "[[Sunavalon Dryatrentiay (anime)|Sunavalon Dryatrentiay]]" and used its effect destroy Playmaker's defensive Spell and Trap Cards, then brought out another "Sunvine Thrasher", whose ATK became 4000. Ai was worried by the high ATK, but relieved that Spectre's monsters in the Main Monster Zones could not attack the turn he used "Dryatrentiay's" effect. Playmaker reminded Ai that Spectre had Summoned the high ATK "Thrasher" for a reason, and Spectre commended Playmaker for his observation, as "Dryatrentiay" gained the ATK of the monsters it pointed to when it attacked. But Playmaker had been waiting for that move, and he activated "[[Link Surge Counter]]" to make the ATK of "Excode Talker" equal to that of "Sunavalon Dryatrentiay", and both monsters were destroyed, though the effect of "Sunavalon Force" reduced Playmaker to 50 LP. Ai praised Playmaker for avoiding defeat, and the destruction of "Sunavalon Dryatrentiay" broke Spectre's combo and sent him into a rage. Playmaker stated that it had been difficult to break Spectre's combo until his "Sunavalon" was the one that attacked. The enraged Spectre revived "Dryatrentiay" with "[[Sunavalon Cursed Rebirth]]", and while its effects were negated, its ATK became 4000. Spectre added that any damage he took would also be inflicted to Playmaker, assuring his defeat. Ai claimed this was why they should have ignored Zaizen, and Kolter suddenly attempted to destroy the trap that imprisoned Zaizen, but failed.<ref name="ep37">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|37|ref}}</ref> Zaizen reminded Playmaker that he had to win or Skye's sacrifice would be in vain, and he grasped his prison, infecting himself with the virus and being absorbed by the Tower of Hanoi. Spectre mocked Zaizen for entrusting the future to a man who could not win, but a vengeful Playmaker warned Spectre that his Dueling always won and that his doubts had disappeared now that Zaizen was gone. He Link Summoned "[[Talkback Lancer (anime)|Talkback Lancer]]" and resurrected "Excode Talker", then with "[[Link Atrocity]]", raised its ATK to 4000 to match "Dryatrentiay". Spectre believed that Playmaker was aiming for mutual destruction and that his goal to prevent Playmaker from reaching Varis was complete, Playmaker replied that Spectre's goal was gone, for "Link Atrocity" reduced the ATK of "Dryatrentiay" back to 0. "Excode Talker" destroyed "Dryatrentiay", defeating Spectre. As Specre lamented over allowing Playmaker to live, yet claimed he had no regrets, Playmaker claimed he had no doubts anymore. Spectre told him that doubt and regret were two different things, and Playmaker left him behind as the bridge continued collapsing, but he was unable to reach the other side before it collapsed, plunging into the abyss below.<ref name="ep37"/> To their surprise, a Data Storm suddenly ejected them from the abyss, but Ai hadn't caused it. Realizing that the Tower was already half complete, they resumed their sprint towards the Tower.<ref name="ep39">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|39|ref}}</ref> Frog and Pigeon informed them of a Duel near the Tower, and Playmaker realized that The Gore was Dueling Varis, as Blue Angel and Spectre had both been defeated. He advised Frog and Pigeon to log out before sprinting in the direction they'd indicated. They arrived to see that Gore was indeed Dueling Varis, and Gore told Playmaker that he was late and that he would defeat Varis for him. Playmaker watched the Duel quietly, while Ai enthusiastically cheered Gore on. Although Gore was able to destroy Varis's "Topologic Bomber Dragon" and assemble enough "Gouki" Link Monsters for a finishing attack, Varis countered them with the card that Ghost Gal had warned them about - "[[Mirror Force (later anime)|Mirror Force]]".<ref name="ep39"/> Gore was able to recover from having his monsters destroyed, but Varis continued to drive him into a corner until Gore Link Summoned "[[Gouki The Giant Ogre (anime)|Gouki The Giant Ogre]]" and counterattacked, bringing their LP almost equal. Ai thought Gore would be fine, but Playmaker reminded him that Varis still had four monsters. They thought Varis would Link Summon "Borreload Dragon", but he instead Link Summoned "[[Borrelsword Dragon (anime)|Borrelsword Dragon]]" and defeated Gore. As Gore was absorbed by the Tower of Hanoi, he apologized to Playmaker for being unable to do more, but Playmaker assured him that he knew about Varis's strategies now (specifying in the dub that he now knew about "Mirror Force".)<ref name="ep40">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|40|ref}}</ref> [[File:Playmaker not mentioned Ai friend.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker claims that he never considered Ai a friend after learning about his deception.]]With The Gore's defeat, Playmaker and Varis were left as the only two Duelists in LINK VRAINS. They Speed Dueled in the debris of the Tower's fifth ring, and before the Duel started, Playmaker asked if Varis really needed to destroy the network just to destroy the Ignis. Varis accused Playmaker of causing this when he didn't give them Ai, and Playmaker vowed to defeat Varis (specifying in the dub that he was also fighting for Gore and Blue Angel) and quickly Link Summoned "Decode Talker". Varis then asked Playmaker why Ai was running from the Knights, and Playmaker told him that Ai had claimed to have lost his memory. Varis then revealed that the Knights had never been able to obtain Ai's memories, so he still had them and had been lying to Playmaker, and he revealed that Ai had been created based on Playmaker during the Hanoi Project and that its purpose had been to create the Ignis, who had created their own world, the [[Cyberse (world)|Cyberse]]. Ai tried to explain himself, but Playmaker harshly told him that he never considered him a friend, and told Varis that he only cared about defeating him (in the dub, Playmaker was far less harsh on Ai, though still angry with him).<ref name="ep41">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|41|ref}}</ref> [[File:Playmaker loses hand.png|250px|thumb|left|Playmaker's attempt to use "Storm Access" severs his hand.]]They continued the Duel, but Varis only opposed "Decode Talker" with "[[Spin-Headed Behemoth]]" and a Set card, which Playmaker suspected to be "Mirror Force". He attempted to counter it with "[[Fault Tolerlancer]]", keeping it in Defense Position to protect his Attack Position monsters, but the effect of Varis's "Spin-Headed Behemoth" switched all of Playmaker's monsters to Attack Position and "Mirror Force" destroyed them all. Varis then brought out "[[Flash Charge Dragon (anime)|Flash Charge Dragon]]" and powered it up in combination with "[[Blast Powder Dragon]]", reducing Playmaker to 900 LP.<ref name="ep41"/> Playmaker was able to block the attack with "[[Spool Code (anime)|Spool Code]]", Summoning Tokens to Link Summon with on his next turn. He attempted to counter with "[[Security Dragon (anime)|Security Dragon]]", but the effect of Varis's "Flash Charge Dragon" protected it. Playmaker then attempted to use his Skill in the high-density Data Storm surrounding the Tower's core, despite Ai's protests, but he failed and his arm was severed. Ai grew to human size and saved him, then boosted Playmaker's Duel Board enough for him to safely enter the Data Storm and obtain "[[Transcode Talker (anime)|Transcode Talker]]", though the effort apparently destroyed Ai. Playmaker Link Summoned "Transcode Talker", reviving "Decode Talker" and boosting their ATK high enough to defeat Varis, but Varis was able to [[Chobham Armor Dragon (anime)|survive]] their attacks with 850 LP remaining. Ai revealed that he'd survived, but needed time to recover, and Varis then attempted to use "Storm Access" himself, but failed as Playmaker had. Dr. Kogami then appeared to them, freezing the Data Storm and talking with Varis, giving him the energy he needed to enter the Data Storm. Declaring that the [[Stardust Road]] had shown him the way, Varis Link Summoned his new monster, "[[Topologic Gumblar Dragon (anime)|Topologic Gumblar Dragon]]", but then he abruptly ended the Duel in a DRAW by combining its effect to destroy their hands with "[[Drop Draco]]", blasting them both out of LINK VRAINS.<ref name="ep42">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|42|ref}}</ref> [[File:Yusaku Ai and Kolter meet Roken.png|thumb|250px|Yusaku meets Roken Kogami - Varis - in real life.]]Yusaku realized that Varis was near the Stardust Road due to his comments about it, and he and Kolter drove to the house on the cliff. There they found Roken Kogami with his father's body, and Roken told them that Dr. Kogami had just passed away. Yusaku asked Roken to tell them the truth, and Roken explained why the Hanoi Project had been undertaken and revealed that he had been the one who alerted the authorities. However, he had regretted this decision due to what happened to his father; he was infected with a virus by SOL Technologies that left him comatose, but revived in the network. The Ignis had created the Cyberse and the Cyberse monsters, in addition to Data Material and Data Storms. Dr. Kogami had then determined through simulations that the Ignis would eventually turn on humanity, which was why the Knights of Hanoi were trying to destroy them. Yusaku attempted to persuade Roken to stop the Tower of Hanoi, protesting that Kogami's results were only simulations (in the dub, he claimed that they were no better than Roken said the Ignis were if they were willing to destroy them) and that they could take a different path, as Roken - who he realized had been the one who told him to think of three reasons to fight during his captivity - had taught him. Roken then revealed that he had known Yusaku's identity since their first Master Duel when Playmaker spoke of "three reasons", but denied that he was a good person and still refused to end the Tower. He challenged Yusaku to a final Duel, and Yusaku accepted his challenge.<ref name="ep43">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|43|ref}}</ref> They logged into LINK VRAINS, Master Dueling atop the Tower of Hanoi, whose sixth ring was almost complete. As Varis had in their previous Duel, he quickly Set "Mirror Force" to discourage Playmaker from attacking. Playmaker attempted to destroy "Mirror Force" with the effect of "[[Linkslayer (anime)|Linkslayer]]", but Varis had actually Set "[[Mirror Force Launcher (anime)|Mirror Force Launcher]]", which re-Set itself and then Set the real "Mirror Force". Despite the threat of "Mirror Force", Playmaker Link Summoned "Excode Talker" using "[[Restoration Point Guard (anime)|Restoration Point Guard]]" as Link Material, allowing him to revive "Restoration Point Guard" when "Mirror Force" destroyed "Excode Talker" and land a direct attack.<ref name="ep43"/> Varis recovered "Mirror Force" and counterattacked with "Topologic Bomber Dragon" on his next turn, but as he'd Link Summoned, "Restoration Point Guard" was indestructible for the turn and Playmaker was able to [[Rescue Interlacer (anime)|minimize]] the damage that he took. He brought out "Transcode Talker" and revived "Excode Talker", triggering the mediaeffect of "Topologic Bomber Dragon". Playmaker had been waiting for the effect to activate, and he negated the effects of "Topologic Bomber Dragon" with "[[Shield Handler (anime)|Shield Handler]]", which he then equipped to "Excode Talker" to prevent being destroyed by card effects. He Link Summoned "Powercode Talker" as well, and the effect of "Excode Talker" also prevented it and "Transcode" form being destroyed by card effects. "Transcode Talker" attacked "Topologic Bomber Dragon", but Varis protected it with "[[Link Turret (anime)|Link Turret]]", amassing five [[Rokket Counter]]s on it. Varis Link Summoned his ace, "Borreload Dragon" on his next turn, which single-handedly dismantled Playmaker's defenses as Varis claimed that they had no new path and that they were prisoners of destiny.<ref name="ep44">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|44|ref}}</ref> Varis then began swarming the field with the effect of "Link Turret" and his "[[Miniborrel Dragon (anime)|Miniborrel Dragon]]", Tributing Playmaker's stolen monsters to continually revive it. He brought out "[[Borrelguard Dragon (anime)|Borrelguard Dragon]]" and "Borrelsword Dragon" discarding his "Mirror Force" cards to revive Playmaker's "[[Code Talker (archetype)|Code Talker]]s", and Ai was confused that Varis had discarded his trump card. Playmaker noted that Varis had a trump card greater than "Mirror Force" and then realized that Varis intended to create an [[Extra Link]]. Sure enough, Varis Link Summoned "Topologic Gumblar Dragon", completing an Extra Link that unlocked the true power of "Topologic Gumblar Dragon". Varis destroyed their hand and inflicted 3000 damage to them with an effect that could not be negated. <ref name="ep45">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|45|ref}}</ref>

[[File:Yusaku_TreatmentPlaymaker smiles.png|thumb|250px|left|Yusaku receives counseling for his traumaDespite the situation, Playmaker enjoys the Duel with Varis.]]Playmaker was able to survive, quartering the damage with "[[File:Yusaku_PTSDDrop Frame Wedge]]" and preventing Varis from attacking for two turns. Varis gave Playmaker three reasons to feel despair, and Playmaker found himself struggling to stand.png|thumb|A horrified Yusaku wakes up from a nightmare due Ai begged him to keep going for the sake of his PTSD.]]Yusaku developed PTSD after friends in the Cyberse (in the incident dub he also reminded him about Blue Angel and went under treatments to cure Gore), and Playmaker asked Ai what the Cyberse was like. Ai told him that it for yearswas a paradise, but failed and continuously faced that the tragedies Ignis had no interest in attacking humans when they had their own world. He managed to continue, but Varis continued to restrict every move they made. Despite their situation, Playmaker actually smiled, telling Ai that befell himit was the only thing they could do in this situation. InsteadAlthough they couldn't keep cards in their hand due to the effect of "Topologic Gumblar Dragon" , Playmaker managed to draw "[[Arrow Charge]]" and drew two cards that he took his could use. He set up a defense with "[[Main DeckSecure Gardna (anime)|DeckSecure Gardna]] ", and then the effect of "Drop Frame Wedge" ended, allowing Varis to attack them. Even though Varis had seven monsters on the field, Playmaker told him to confront bring it on.<ref name="ep45"/> Varis attacked on his traumanext turn, using the effects of "Borreload" and "Borrelsword" to prevent Playmaker from stopping their attacks, promising but Playmaker was able to use the effects of the cards in his Graveyard to swarm his field with "[[Congester Token (anime)|Congester Token]]s"face , allowing him to endure until he could activate card effects in response to Varis's attacks. He used his destiny". While Yusaku refused [[Transaction Rollback (anime)|Transaction Rollback]]" to copy "Mirror Force", attempting to believe he was rescued from this projectdestroy Varis's Extra Link, named but the effect of "Hanoi ProjectTopologic Gumblar Dragon"prevented Varis's Extra Linked monsters from being destroyed by card effects,and Varis destroyed all of Playmaker's Tokens.<ref name="ep19ep46">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1946|ref}}</ref> though he still took the advice to think of three reasons to continue fighting.<ref name="ep11" />

Yusaku decided to hunt down the [[Knights of HanoiFile:Playmaker declares three reasons - including that his revenge is over.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker ends his quest for revenge, desiring to save Varis.]]Varis told Playmaker that the outcome of the Duel was decided, and Playmaker in turn told Varis about his current state of being, whom that he couldn't escape from his current path of loneliness even if he wanted to, but that Varis had crossed that abyss to help him. He vowed to save Varis as Varis had Playmaker. Varis believed Playmaker was begging for his life, but Playmaker insisted that he wasn't, nor was he trying to show mercy, but show Varis that there was another path. He listed three reasons; his revenge was over, he'd overcome the abyss of destiny in this Duel, and they'd seize a new future together (in the dub, if Varis really agreed with his father's plans, he wouldn't have tried to be responsible save Playmaker ten years ago, knowing that, Playmaker could no longer justify his desire for revenge, so if he could change, so could Varis, and if they were both no longer tied down by their past, the future was wide open for them to create). He began his counterattack with the second effect of "Transaction Rollback", copying the effect of "[[Recoded Alive (anime)|Recoded Alive]]"Hanoi Projectin his Graveyard to bring out "Encode Talker", under triggering the alias effect of " Topologic Gumblar Dragon"Playmakerto destroy their hands and activating his own " with [[Shoichi KusanagiSpam Mail]]'s help. "Playmakercard to draw and Summon " soon became a famous [[DuelistSwap Cleric (anime)|Swap Cleric]] within LINK VRAINS". The second effect of "Recoded Alive" then allowed him to revive "Transcode Talker", who revived "Powercode Talker", and then Playmaker Link Summoned his own ace monster, "Firewall Dragon", completing an Extra Link of his own with no Varis's monsters, and allowing him to use the effect of "Swap Cleric" to draw one knowing what his real identity is because he always deleted his activity logsfinal card.<ref name="ep1ep46">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1|ref}}</ref>

===Hanoi===[[File:Yusaku sets Ai free at last.png|thumb|250px|left|Yusaku sets Ai free.]]At school, Yusaku met With "[[Naoki ShimaZero Extra Link (anime)|Zero Extra Link]]", who started bragging Playmaker boosted the ATK of "Transcode Talker" to him about his new 9200. Varis prevented Playmaker's co-linked monsters form attacking with "[[Duel DiskLink Short]]. When Yusaku attempted ", but Playmaker set his three monsters to leaveLink Summon "Decode Talker", Naoki offered to teach him how to Duelwho inherited the boost from "Zero Extra Link", and attacked and destroyed "Borreload Dragon", defeating Varis at last. Yusaku rejectedAlthough he was defeated, saying Naoki did not seem very strongVaris vowed that he would return as long as the Ignis were a threat, but probably not a bad person either. Yusaku's remarks annoyed Naokiand he logged out, but ending the Tower of Hanoi as he didn't think much of itd promised. Before leavingThe absorbed Duelists were released, he wondered about and Yusaku logged out to see Roken fleeing in a rule set where there are only three Main Monster Zonesspeedboat.<ref name="ep1ep46" />

[[File:Yusaku Later that night, he and Kusanagi disccussing.png|thumb|left|Yusaku and Kusanagi talking about Ai watched the AI.]][[File:Playmaker Saves The Blue Angel.png|thumb|Playmaker saves Blue AngelStardust Road.]]Yusaku later met up with [[Shoichi Kusanagi]] and discussed how both [[SOL Technologies]] and their enemies, With the [[Knights of Hanoi]]finally defeated, were chasing after [[Yusaku freed Ai|an AI program]] in [[LINK VRAINS]] with himfrom his Duel Disk. Upon learning Ai suggested that SOL Technology had scheduled a full scan of Link VRAINS he say something profound, deciding on "One man's fault is another's lesson", and Yusaku smiled, commenting that evening to try and find they were nice words (in the AIdub, they quickly started working on a trap Ai asked Yusaku not to catch contact him in the AI themselvesfuture if he needed him). Although Yusaku successfully captured a reluctant Ai in his almost left with the Duel Diskin drone mode until Yusaku gently reminded him to leave it behind, one of and Ai bid him goodbye, vanishing into the Knights of Hanoi threatened to destroy LINK VRAINSnetwork. Yusaku quickly entered LINK VRAINS as Playmaker and saved [[Aoi Zaizen|Blue Angel]] from the Knight's "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]". He then challenged the Knight returned to Café Nom to a Duelget his bag, putting telling Kolter that he'd let Ai at stake. Ai voiced his doubts go and that Yusakuhe didn's Deck could beat "Cracking Dragon", then stirred up t need a wind in Link VRAINSride back, starting a [[Speed Duel (VRAINS)|Speed Duel]] between Yusaku and he walked home alone by the KnightStardust Road.<ref name="ep1ep46" />

=== Ignis ===[[File:Knight of Hanoi laughs at Much to Playmaker's shock Ai has returned to him.png|thumb|left250px|Ai returns to Playmaker being overwhelmed by the Data Stormas he pursues Jin's kidnapper.]]As Playmaker rode became hailed as a hero for stopping the [[Data StormKnights of Hanoi]], but Yusaku didn't log into [[LINK VRAINS]] windsfor three months, Ai explained how Speed Duels differ from and [[Master DuelSOL Technologies]]splaced a bounty on his head. When Ai mentioned there are only three Main Monster ZonesWhile [[Cal Kolter|Kolter]] visited [[Jin Kolter|Jin]], Yusaku wondered if manned [[Café Nom]], and he already knew about Speed Duelswas visited by [[Skye Zaizen|Skye]], who teased him that his expression would scare the customers away and thanked him for saving her when she was [[Deleted]]. Yusaku suddenly received a call from Kolter, telling him that [[Bohman|someone]] had stolen Jin's consciousness data and escaped into the new LINK VRAINS. Ai offered to help Playmaker Yusaku quickly logged in, boarding his new [[Duel the KnightBoard]], but was accosted by [[The Shepherd|a bounty hunter]]. Playmaker refusedtold him that he didn't have an [[Ignis]] anymore and had no reason to be hunted, but to his shock, reminding [[Ai ]] had chosen that he was his hostage. The Knight took the first turn and swiftly Summoned moment to return, along with "[[Cracking Dragon Linkuriboh (animecharacter)|Cracking DragonLinkuriboh]]". Yusaku wondered how Ai summoned a [[Data Storm]] to force the bounty hunter to counter "Cracking Dragon" log out, and failed then Playmaker challenged the unknown figure who had stolen Jin's consciousness to notice a building until Ai told him [[Speed Duel]]. The figure only Set a single card on his first turn, allowing Playmaker to dodge itdeplete over half his LP. On his next turn, the figure revealed that he had [[Cyberse]] monsters, reminding him and Ai suggested that Speed Duels he might have obstacles besides just something to do with the destruction of the Duel. Playmaker summoned "[[Cyberse Wizard (animeworld)|Cyberse Wizard]]", surprising everyone watching . Playmaker was shocked to learn that he the Cyberse had been destroyed, but then the figure used his [[CyberseSkill]] monsters. Playmaker used the effect of , "Wizard[[Marker's Portal]]" to change activate a [[Link Spell Card]] "Cracking Dragon[[Judgment Arrows]]", which doubled the [[ATK]] of the figure's " to [[Defense PositionFlow Hydradrive]] s" to 2000, and inflict damage their effects allowed them to attack Playmaker directly due to the Knight, but failed to destroy [[WIND]] "Cracking Dragon[[Elphase (anime)|Elphase]]"he controlled. Ai noticed Playmaker wasn't particularly surprised that <ref name="Cracking Dragonep47" couldn't be destroyed, >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|47|ref}}</ref> Playmaker was able to which Playmaker said that survive with the Knight didn't react to effect of "[[Linkuriboh (anime)|Linkuriboh]]" and he counterattacked on his next turn by [[Ritual Summon]]ing "[[Cyberse WizardMagician (anime)|Cyberse Magician]]", but his opponent used his " so he figured the Knight was planning something. A tornado formed within [[Property Spray]]" [[Trap Card|Trap]] to increase his [[LP]] and survive the Data Stormattack.<ref name="ep2ep48">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|248|ref}}</ref>

[[File:Playmaker Storm AccessThe glowing shell covering his opponent shattered, revealing a long-haired man who appeared to have amnesia.png|thumb|Playmaker uses After struggling with his situation, the man suddenly regained his composure and introduced himself as Bohman, then continued the Storm Access SkillSpeed Duel.]]The Knight activated a He brought out two "[[SkillCoolant Hydradrive]]s", which angered Yusaku because Ai didn't mention skills. The Knight then used one to activate the effect of "Property Spray" and change the [[DDoS AttackAttribute]]" to inflict 1600 Damage s of Playmaker's monsters to Playmaker and knock him off his [[D-BoardWATER]]. Blue Angel to allow "Coolant Hydradrive" to attack directly, but the effect of "Cyberse Magician" saved Playmaker by using her whip to throw halving the D-Board back at himdamage. Ai noted that a fall from that height could've killed them. The Knight reduced Playmaker's LP to 400 and the Data Storm tornado sucked him. Inside the tornado, Yusaku figured out that this was part of Ai's calculations. Ai revealed that powerful monsters reside within the Data StormOn his next turn, and that Playmaker's skill used "Storm Access" allowed him to obtain those Monsters when his LP is below 1000. Playmaker obtained , acquiring and [[Link Summon]]ing "[[Decode Shootingcode Talker (anime)|Decode 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 [[Harlin]] 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, which telling Playmaker that he used 'd handle Bit and Boot and to win the Duelgo after Bohman. As <ref name="ep48" /> Playmaker pursued them, but he was unable to prevent Harlin and Bohman escaping into the Knight fell off his D-Boardrestricted area of LINK VRAINS, Yusaku declared as Harlin left him with a cryptic warning that the Knight something unimaginable would happen soon. The Duelist who had no right assisted Playmaker arrived, and suggested they log out due to call the defense system being activated by Harlin's intrusion. Before he logged out, the Duelist introduced himself a Duelistas Soulburner.<ref name="ep2ep49" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|49|ref}}</ref>

Playmaker attempted to interrogate Once they were back in the Knightreal world, only for the Knight to attempt to kill him by self-destructing. Kolter rejoined them and Yusaku trapped Ai saved within his life by devouring the Knight. [[Go OnizukaDuel Disk]] again for his safety. They noted that their new enemy was formidable given their ability to digitize and Blue Angel appeared steal a person's consciousness, and challenged Playmaker, but he simply said Yusaku promised Kolter that he wasn't interested d defeat this new enemy and logged outrescue Jin. Yusaku and Shoichi spent At school the next few days trying to figure out Ai's programming day, Yusaku noticed another student following him, and gave he followed him into an empty room after the nickname "ai"student ducked inside. Yusaku discovered some video logs The student revealed that were actually Ai's memories. Ai said he didn't understand those memories because most were damaged when he was reduced to Soulburner, that his real name was Theodore Hamilton, and that we was also a victim of the [[Lost Incident]] and was partnered with an eyeIgnis, but he did recognize The Knight's of Hanoi's who introduced himself as [[RevolverFlame (character)|leaderFlame]]. 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. Later Flame explained that nightbefore they could decide, messing 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 caused explained that only that Ignis knew. Yusaku introduced Theodore to Kolter, and caught him up on the Knightsituation. Kolter stated that Bohman had vanished in LINK VRAINS's leader to sense their location 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 travel Playmaker asked if that meant the Wind Ignis was down there. Ai wasn't sure, Yusaku asked Shoichi but either way they needed to shut go down there. [[Café NagiEmma Bessho|Ghost Gal]]'s power then sent them info about the Restricted Area and how to prevent them from being foundenter it, and though he caught Ai protested that it was a glimpse of trap, Yusaku realized that Ghost Gal must have got the Knight's leaderinfo 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="ep3ep50">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|350|ref}}</ref>

[[File:VRAINS log inPlaymaker reveals a fusion Spell - Cynet Fusion.png|thumb|250px|left|Yusaku logs in to the network.Playmaker using a Fusion Spell during his Duel with The Shepherd]]The next day a Knight of Hanoi appeared at Playmaker and Soulburner logged into LINK VRAINS while Ai was back at 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]] [[Yusaku Fujiki's houseYozaka|Yusaku's houseother]]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, so Yusaku skipped school and Soulburner asked Playmaker to go get his let him Duel Disk 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 face Ai descended, they were attacked by The Shepherd, the Knightfirst Bounty Hunter they'd met. On <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 way therechallenge. The Shepherd started slowly, Shoichi gave his A.I. warning him the of "Decode Shootingcode Talker" card , which had materialized. Upon arriving at LINK VRAINS, Yusaku quickly figured out that could bypass the Knight was an impostordefensive effect of Shepherd's "[[Drone Pawn]]". The Knight revealed himself Playmaker prepared to be Go OnizukaSummon "Shootingcode Talker", who wanted to defeat Playmaker and recover Shepherd's A.I. claimed that he couldn't activate his title as Set card when he Link Summoned "VRAINS' heroElphase", but when Playmaker rejected Link Summoned "Shootingcode Talker", Shepherd activated his challenged but SOL triggered a program "[[Capture Drone]]" Trap Card, sealing "Shootingcode Talker". He revealed that stops Playmaker from logging out until he defeated Go'd made his A. With no choiceI. lie, Playmaker started the Duel. When Go made an intentional misplay and took damage, Ai questioned why he would make such an illogical moveon his next turn, used "Capture Drone" to which Playmaker said that humans' hearts make them do illogical things. Ai was confused by that but Playmaker didn't explain what it meant because Ai'[[Special Summon]] "[[Drone Token]]s algorithm-based thinking wouldn't comprehend it" to Link Summon "[[Battledrone General]]".<ref name="ep4ep53">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|453|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 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"/>

Go [[Link Summon]]ed "[[Gouki The Great Ogre (anime)|Gouki The Great Ogre]]‎‎"<ref name="ep4" /> Afterwards, 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 reduced Playmaker's LP they were able to 100reach a temple where they finally found the Wind Ignis. Playmaker could've reduced After showing them the world he had built, the damage Ignis (who decided to call himself "Windy") explained how he took but chose not did that in order toattract his fellow Ignis, and refused also to use lure the responsible for destroying the escape route that Shoichi had builtCyberse. Ai again Despite not knowing who was confused by why humans make illogical contradictory choices. Yusaku stated that Gothe responsible, Flame pointed out they were after Bohman, who not only had stolen Jin's Duel was meant consciousness, but also had the card used to entertain destroy the audience Cyberse, and Yusaku himself and that suggested he wouldncould've escaped to a world inside Windy't quit the Duels world. Playmaker proceeded They then asked Windy to win by Link Summoning four times in a row join them, and attacking "Great Ogre" three times with "Decode Talker"he promptly refused, claiming that those statements had no evidence. After However, Windy offered to weaken the winds near the Duel, Shoichi suggested they should recruit Go for their fight against Hanoiarea where Bohman supposedly escaped to, but Yusaku rejected under the ideacondition that Playmaker and Soulburner defeat two invaders, saying that he didn't want Go to face the danger of fighting against themGhost Gal and an unknown partner.<ref name="ep5">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|5|ref}}</ref>

When Shoichi uncovered Aoi Zaizen's identity Upon making contact with the girls, Blue Gal presented herself as actually being Blue Angel, Yusaku realized that Aoi . Soulburner was a student at [[Den Academy]] and his classmate. Shoichi suggested meeting her in order happy to find out if her brother [[Akira Zaizen|Akira]], who was meet another savior of the Security Manager at SOL Technologiesold LINK VRAINS, knew anything about Yusaku's past or [[Shoichi's brother]]. However, he then started teasing that talking but Blue Gal stated they were actually seeking to Aoi would be impossible for Yusaku because of his lack of social skillsretrieve the Ignis. Nevertheless, Yusaku managed to track her down with Ai's help, While both Playmaker and followed her Ghost Gal were willing to solve the [[Duel Club]]situation without Dueling, where Naoki caught up to himSoulburner accepted Blue Gal's challenge. He feigned ignorance when Naoki inferred that he wanted Playmaker left the girls to join the club, Soulburner and when [[Hosoda]] invited him inflew off, he nervously tried to opt out until Ai said thanks on his behalf, which upset him. Yusaku introduced himself to heading for the rest edge of the club, and the other members introduced themselves as well, including AoiWind World. When another member, [[Sato]], showed him his Duel Disk, he pretended to be interested, commenting on the fact that it was the latest model. Aoi remarked that he knew a lot, but he said it was only because Naoki had bragged about it earlier. Meanwhile, Ai tried to start a conversation with Aoi's Duel Disk, which made Aoi notice that Yusaku's Duel Disk was a card-loading model, the same as Playmaker's. When she asked to see his Deck, he obliged, but handed her his dummy Deck instead. Ai later complimented him on if thiswas all right, but Yusaku told and Playmaker reassured him to be quiet, as a meeting it was in progress.<ref name="ep6ep55">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|655|ref}}</ref>

That eveningAs Ai celebrated the prospect of revenge on those who had fed him a virus, Playmaker reminded him that they might not be there, he watched Blue Angel issue as Windy had only said there was a public challenge for Playmaker chance they were present. However, they did indeed find Bohman, now armored and ready to come out and Duel her. Ai suggested that he should accept, but he refused, since he only approached Aoi attempting He challenged Playmaker to acquire a lead on Master Duel atop stone statues, and Playmaker accepted his challenge. To his stolen memoriessurprise, Bohman chose to go first and he only Duels against Knights of Hanoiused the same "[[Hydradrive]]" Deck, Link Summoning "[[Twin Hydradrive Knight]]", which she wasn't. Despite thisactivating "Judgment Arrows", and Setting two cards that he was visibly embarrassed when claimed would decide the MC declared that Duel. Playmaker wasnand Ai discussed Bohman't a man if he didn't accept. The next mornings strategy and that one of his Set cards was likely his "[[Property Spray]]" Trap, Ai read various posts on social media making fun of but Playmaker for not acceptingsensed something different about Bohman and decided to uncover it during the Duel. He soon bumped into Aoi againcombated the effect of "Judgment Arrows" with "[[Update Jammer (anime)|Update Jammer]]", destroying "Twin Hydradrive Knight", and they said good morning prepared "[[Arrow Break]]" to each othernegate "Property Spray". While walking to classHowever, when he did, Aoi asked him why Bohman claimed he wanted 'd anticipated their counter and replenished his resources with "[[Hydradrive Cycle]]", re-Summoning "Twin Hydradrive Knight" with different Attributes and allowing its effect to join negated the Duel Club, not believing it matching-Attribute "Update Jammer". Playmaker was because he loved Dueling. When Yusaku tried to ask about her brotherpushed into a corner, she replied that people only ever approached her and Bohman called him a fake and told him to ask if her brother could give them a new fight the Duel Disk or a job at SOL after graduationuntil the end. She lamented He claimed that her brother didn't trust herhe was the true Playmaker, and ran off. Soon after, Ai tried to warn Yusaku about that Playmaker was really a problem he'd noticed digital backup that had accidentally been switched with Aoi's Duel Diskthe real one during the Lost Incident, but Yusaku wouldn't hear of itand vowed to reclaim his body.<ref name="ep6ep57" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|57|ref}}</ref>

In class, Ai suddenly told him to hold up, and Yusaku scolded him for being too loud[[File:Playmaker smiles after hearing Bohman claim that he was kidnapped by Dr Kogami. He png|250px|thumb|Playmaker smiles after hearing Bohman's claim that he was surprisedkidnapped by Dr. Kogami, however, when Ai said that knowing this proves he is a Knight of Hanoi had appearedfake. He went to ]]Playmaker stated that the true Playmaker would be the balcony behind victor, and continued the Duel Club , Link Summoning "[[Detonate Deleter (anime)|Detonate Deleter]]" to enter LINK VRAINSbypass "Judgment Arrows" and prepare for a final strike, but instead of a Knight of Hanoi, Bohman was able to remain in the Duel with "[[Half Shut (anime)|Half Shut]]". Bohman then talked about being left behind after the Lost Incident and claimed that he found Blue Angel, who remarked would never forgive Playmaker and that he had finally made his decision about her challengewas the emissary of revenge. He darkened the sky and was initially obliviousstruck by lightning, but then he created a Data Storm after lowering his LP to 650. Playmaker realized that Ai had sent Aoi a text message on Bohman somehow intended to use "Storm Access", and Bohman was able to use the Skill during the Master Duel, Link Summoning "[[Trident Hydradrive Lord]]". He made it FIRE, WATER, and WIND, and these Attributes allowed it to be completely protected from Playmaker's behalf challenging hereffects via "[[Hydradrive Accelerator]]", allowing it to attack and destroy "Detonate Deleter". He became angryPlaymaker was able to hang on with "[[Link Ration]]", thinking Ai had tricked himand Bohman praised his fighting spirit, until Ai told him stating that Blue Angel had Hanoihe was definitely Bohman's card in her Deckcopy. Playmaker asked Bohman who kidnapped him, and when Bohman claimed it was Dr. Kogami, Playmaker smiled, which shocked realizing that Bohman had been given fake memories as it had really been [[Roken Kogami|Varis]] who kidnapped him. He realized Although he admitted that this there was what Ai no way to truly know which was trying the real one, he recalled Roken's advice to tell him earlierremember three reasons, but wondered why Blue Angel and declared that he would join Hanoiwin the Duel, retrieve Jin's data, and uncover Bohman's identity and [[Lightning|the one]] controlling him. Ai suggested Declaring that he'd win that turn, Playmaker revealed that he'd sent "Clock Wyvern" to the Graveyard on his second turn, claiming that Hanoi might be using her a fake couldn't anticipate his plans, and he Fusion Summoned "Cyberse Clock Dragon". Bohman attempted to negate its effects by Summoning a FIRE "Hydradrive Token" to lure Playmaker's field and targeting it with "Hydradrive Lord" to make "Clock Dragon" the same Attribute, but the presence of the revived "Linkuriboh" prevented Bohman from targeting monsters other than "Clock Dragon", which destroyed "Trident Hydradrive Lord" and asked what he would dodefeated Bohman. Before Playmaker could reclaim Jin's data, since he wanted the Wind World began to defeat all Hanoidestabilize, and Bohman and Harlin vanished beneath the clouds, Harlin claiming that Bohman would return. Soon afterSoulburner and Flame arrived and suggested they log out, a Data Storm appearedand as Ai urged Playmaker to do so, Playmaker wondered just who Bohman was and the Duel startedwho controlled him.<ref name="ep6ep58" />

Playmaker was quickly at Yusaku and Ai wondered why the mercy of Blue Angel's [[Trickstar]] Deckgate had vanished and if something had happened to Windy. Kolter then sent them a message, which repeatedly dealt him and they rushed to Café Nom to learn that [[effect damage]] while powering up the [[ATK]] of her ace monster, "[[Trickstar Holly Angel (anime)Baira|Trickstar Holly AngelKlarissa Turner]]"had escaped from prison. Yusaku realized immediately that Varis was responsible, and he noted reflected that this offensive strategy was very efficientwould be a difficult battle now that they were fighting Bohman, The Gore, The Shepherd and the Knights of Hanoi. He Summoned <ref name="Decode Talkerep59" and attacked "Holly Angel" with it>{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|59|ref}}</ref> Later, he explained to Kolter, Theodore, but the attack failed and "Decode Talker" was destroyed instead. Ai commented Flame that Blue Angel was putting pressure on themBohman had the same memories as him, but Playmaker noticed and dismissed their concerns as he stated that Hanoithey needed to find Bohman to get Jin's presence data back. He apologized to Kolter for his failure, but Kolter reassured him it was fine and he was getting strongerjust happy Yusaku and Theodore had returned safely. At Kolter revealed that moment, Blue Angel drew "[[Dark Angel (anime)|Dark Angel]]", Hanoihe's card. During Yusaku's next turnd added a room for Theodore to log in from, he and noted that since the gate was reduced to less than 1000 LPclosed, allowing him they'd have to use his Skill and gain access wait for it to "[[Encode Talker (anime)|Encode Talker]]", which he promptly Link Summonedopen again. Blue Angel realized that Playmaker was taking advantage of At school the damage that she was inflicting on himnext day, they met with Skye and politely greeted one another, Theodore introducing himself and tried to end the later gushing about his Duel by using with her Skill. Yusaku reminded him that he couldn't talk about it, but failed because Playmaker was protected by "and Theodore reassured him that he knew. [[Defect Compiler (anime)Naoki Shima|Defect CompilerShima]]". In responsethen approached them, she played "Dark Angel", and immediately fell under Hanoi's influence. She entered into a berserk rage telling Skye off for not being at Duel club and started screaming, much to boasting about being Playmaker's and Ai's concern. He ended the Duel as quickly as possible by destroying "Holly Angel" with "Encode Talker"best friend, defeating Blue Angel in one hitreminding Yusaku of when they battled, but not before she succumbed though Yusaku tied to mental damage from "Dark Angel" and fell unconsciousbrush it off.<ref name="ep7ep60">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|760|ref}}</ref>

[[File:VRAINSChurch.png|thumb|Yusaku caught The gate soon reappeared, this time in a disused island at the top of LINK VRAINS, and Playmaker and Soulburner quickly logged in "Blue Angel's" trapand headed for it.]]But as they approached, it began sucking Playmaker then found Blue Angel unconscious while Ai devoured the Hanoi card. He was forced to logout when security bots were incoming in with winds, and found Aoi Playmaker spotted The Shepherd in a comatose state on the roofgate. He proceeded answer Aoi's phone when Akira called Soulburner pushed him out of the way, and took Aoi to the hospital. He then met Akira who thanked gate trapped him and questioned his relationship with AoiFlame inside, leaving Playmaker unable to help them.<ref name="ep60" /> Playmaker circled the sphere that the gate had transformed into, explaining to which he responded Kolter that they were just classmatesThe Shepherd was responsible. YusakuHe asked if Kolter could open the gate, Shoichiand Kolter admitted that it wouldn't be easy. Playmaker told Kolter that he was the only one who could do it, and Ai then discussed Aoi's condition spotted Kenchi and Yozaka approaching. Playmaker decided to hold them off and a possible curegive Kolter time to work. <ref name="ep61">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|61|ref}}</ref> Ai said that when asked if Playmaker was sure he devoured Hanoiwouldn's card he detected t need to log out, and Playmaker told him that Aoithey couldn's brain must be infected by t abandon Soulburner. Ai unleashed a virusData Storm that logged Yozaka out, and that the only ones with the appropriate anti-virus would be Hanoi themselvesPlaymaker Speed Dueled Kenchi alone. Kenchi used a "[[Gouki]]" Deck, bringing out "[[Emma BesshoGouki The Blade Ogre (anime)|Gouki The Blade Ogre]]" and powering it up to 3000 ATK with two "Gouki"Blue Angelmonsters backing it up. Playmaker defeated Kenchi in one turn by combining "[[Pentestag (anime)|Pentestag]] then appeared on the " with "[[Den City|city'sCyberse Annihilation]] screens challenging Playmaker to a rematch" as he had against Gore, logging him out. Despite knowing that it was an impostor and most likely He asked Kolter for a trapstatus update, Yusaku claimed and Kolter told him that it was his responsibility to rescue Aoi; if slow progress given the impostor was a Knight complexity of Hanoi he could get the anti-virus, on the other hand if it was a SOL agent he could explain them what happened to AoiIgnis program. After logging Yozaka then logged inagain, he identified Blue Angel and Playmaker took him on as a fake and was trapped by herwell. She revealed herself to be <ref name="Ghost Girlep62">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|62|ref}}</ref> Yozaka put up a better fight than Kenchi, who accompanied by Akira who proceeded to entrap Link Summoning "[[Gouki The Solid Ogre (anime)|Gouki The Solid Ogre]]" and torture Playmaker believing him bolstering it with "[[Gouki Unity]]" to be responsible for Aoi's conditionmake his monsters indestructible, despite but Playmaker got around this via the effects of "[[Security Dragon (anime)|Security Dragon]]" and Ai"[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]", returning Yozaka's claims of innocence and that they were looking for an anti-virus, monsters to his hand before defeating him with "[[RevolverDual Assembwurm (anime)|Dual Assembwurm]] appeared " and claimed that he would challenge Playmaker for Ai"Firewall Dragon". After threatening Akira that Aoi will never wake up unless Playmaker defeats him in a Duelhe defeated Yozaka, Kolter launched the rescue program he'd been working on, Akira released Playmaker and vanishedbut it failed. Before Playmaker took his leaveEventually, Akira pleaded with him to save Aoithe program worked, despite hating him for his brutal treatment towards himreleasing Soulburner. Playmaker stated quickly approached Soulburner, admitting he was glad Soulburner was okay. Soulburner complained that he doesnthey't hate Akira, d rescued him before he only hates the Knights of Hanoicould win, much to Akira's surprisebut Playmaker suggested they log out.<ref name="ep8ep63">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|863|ref}}</ref>

As 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 and Revolver rode off the Data Wind , so he followed Shima to commence the Speed [[DuelClub]], Playmaker expressed his desire 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 battle the Knights of Hanoi and uncover their true identities. Revolver replied that keep Yusaku's secret if he helped him sign cards for a Blue Angel handshake event, but Yusaku left as soon as he didnrealized Shima wasn't care talking about anything important, ignoring Shima's threats to snitch him to Playmaker.<ref name="ep65" /> Another day, he came out of his opinion room to see Ai and Roboppi talking, and stated as Roboppi tried to tell him, Ai claimed that they were checking on his only goal was popularity, finding a post from someone claiming to retrieve Aibe the [[EARTH|Earth]] Ignis. Both sides agreed on several conditions for their Duel: if Playmaker wonThey showed the post to Kolter, who expressed doubt that it was genuine, though Yusaku pointed out that few knew about the Ignis. Ai would eat sent the program from Revolver Earth Ignis a message asking where to get Aoi's body backmeet using an Ignis algorithm, while if Playmaker lostand received a similar one in return, he would give which Ai claimed were coordinates. Kolter suspected it could be a trap laid by The Shepherd, but Yusaku stated they had to Revolverinvestigate any chance at finding Jin's consciousness data. After that, Revolver declared his hatred for AIs He and his belief that Ai would lead everyone logged in and went to destructionthe coordinates, staying on the lookout. Revolver also blamed Playmaker for assisting asked Ai about the other three Ignis they hadn't met, and Ai described the [[Lightning|Light Ignis]] as calm and swore to eliminate him. Revolver then waved his handcollected, causing the LINK VRAINS to be crushed [[Aqua (character)|Water Ignis]] as someone who liked him and replaced with lava rivers who could tell truth from lies, and fiery lakesthe Earth Ignis as no-nonsense an honest, as pulling the Earth Ignis randomly out of the Duel finally beganair to describe him.<ref name="ep9ep66">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|966|ref}}</ref>

As The 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 Speed 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 progressedhim if they wanted their answer. Earth created an avatar out of a log to Duel with, and Playmaker defeated Revolverrealized that Earth's "Cracking Dragon" with "Decode Talker" once morepartner was [[Spectre]]. Earth took a while to announce that he was going second, until Revolver revealed and stated that he humans had likely destroyed the very same skill as Cyberse and asked why Ai still sided with them. Playmakernoted that Earth's partner was likely Spectre, and Aiwondered if this was why Earth hated humans. Playmaker asked Ai how Earth Dueled, and Ai admitted he didn's: "Storm Access"t remember as Earth hadn't really stood out. With it, Revolver summoned Earth Link Summoned "[[Topologic Bomber Dragon G Golem Invalid Dolmen (anime)|Topologic Bomber DragonG Golem Invalid Dolmen]]", and began to gain the upper hand.<ref name=destroyed Playmaker's defending "ep9[[Poisoning Blocker]]" /> Fearing they might lose, inflicting piercing damage, and Ai led chose that point to remember that Earth was a great Duelist. Playmaker attempted to another Data Storm, where the two obtained counter with "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|a dragonZombie Prosaber]]" to take control of "Invalid Dolmen", but the effect of "Invalid Dolmen" negated the effect of "Zombie Prosaber" once it was destroyed. HoweverPlaymaker ended his turn there, Revolver activated the Trap Carddespite 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 "[[Remote Rebirth G Golem Crystal Heart (anime)|Remote RebirthG 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 combo-ed 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 "Topologic Bomber DragonInvalid Dolmen"redirected the attack to it, ending then negated the Speed Duel in a [[DRAW]]effect of "Clock Dragon" once it was destroyed. Following Ai then told Playmaker thatEarth hadn't liked how close he was to Aqua, Revolver dragged and had claimed he would protect them himself. Playmaker asked why he needed to hear this, and Ai inside a Data Stormexplained 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, where they began a but Playmaker [[Master DuelSpool Code (anime)|blocked his second attack]]. As the Duel went onEarth 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, Revolver activated the effect 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 "[[Fire Prison Clock Lizard (anime)|Fire PrisonClock Lizard]]"and "Security Dragon" and attempted to return "Invalid Dolmen" to Earth's hand, eliminating all [[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]] cards from 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 fieldeffect of "Clock Lizard", allowing "Clock Dragon" to destroy it and defeat Earth in the same manner as well he'd defeated Spectre. As promised Earth revealed what he knew about Bohman, which turned out to be nothing. He returned them to LINK VRAINS, and as making Ai seemingly vanish into thin aircomplained over Dueling Earth for nothing, Playmaker wondered what Aqua had meant by the Cyberse breaking apart, as it troubled him.<ref name="ep10ep67">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1067|ref}}</ref>

As the Master Duel progressed, Revolver gained the upper hand once more by summoning "[[Borreload Dragon (anime)File:Playmaker perceives the Cyberse using his Link Sense.png|Borreload Dragon250px|thumb|left|Playmaker searches for Ai.]]" 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 attacked Playmaker directlyTheodore. Just Kolter found that Ai and Roboppi had been browsing a website with a crossword offering an Ai pin as Playmaker was on a reward, which hid an Ignis algorithm that led to a gate. Yusaku asked Kolter to connect the verge of giving upgate to LINK VRAINS to allow him to enter, but he remembered the words someone told him long ago: having three reasons asked Theodore to live remain behind as he didn't trust Windy and win Duelswas worried it could be a trap. Playmaker then called out to Ailogged in and found himself in a replica of the Cyberse, asking him to lend him and he used his power, as he proceeded [[Link Sense]] to find Ai inside Windy's palace. Playmaker found Ai talking with Windy and [[Link SummonLightning]] , the [[Firewall Dragon (anime)LIGHT|Firewall DragonLight]]Ignis, who stated that they wanted Ai's help in rebuilding the Cyberse and ultimately destroyed "Fire Prison," as well as return that Ai shouldn't be with humans. Lightning asked if Playmaker believed them to consciousnessbe humanity's successors, and Playmaker stated that whether they were or not, sudden change would only hurt many people. Ai was amazed then attempted to see the two dragonsleave with Playmaker, until Revolver used the effect of "Borreload Dragon" asking Lightning and Windy to give them time to find a way to take control of "Firewall Dragon"coexist with humans, but Lightning and Windy promptly imprisoned them. Playmaker countered with "[[Cynet Refresh (anime)|Cynet Refresh]]" protested that they didn't intend to destroy fight the Ignis, but Lightning and revive it back on his fieldWindy didn't want to take the chance. He then activated "[[Recoded Alive (anime)|Recoded Alive]]" to banish "Decode Talker" from realized that Windy had been the one who removed Ai's lock on his [[Graveyard|GY]] to [[Special Summon]] "Encode Talker" Duel Disk, and declared that the real battle was just beginningIgnis had anticipated all of their moves.<ref name="ep11ep68">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1168|ref}}</ref>

When PlaymakerBefore Lightning and Windy could rewrite Ai's personality, Varis arrived and dispelled Windy's Data Storm, vowing to kill the Ignis.<ref name="Firewall Dragonep68" used its effect /> Playmaker tried to return "Borreload Dragon" dissuade Varis from attacking the fieldIgnis, Revolver informed 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 couldnprevented them from moving forward. Varis claimed that his father't be targeted by effectss ideals were what moved him forward, and Windy challenged him to a Duel. Playmaker targeted "Magnarokket Dragon", whose effect caused "Firewall Dragon" begged Varis not to be destroyed. Insteadtied down by his father's ideals, but Varis spurned his statements given Playmaker's "Cynet Refresh" protected his dragon from destructionown history of revenge and threatened to bury Playmaker if he opposed him. Revolver was amusedHelpless to stop them, Playmaker watched Varis and ended his turn. Much to RevolverWindy's surpriseMaster Duel, Playmaker had and noted Varis's use of "Firewall Dragon[[Magic Cylinder (later anime)|Magic Cylinder]]", protected by "Encode Talker", attack "Borreload Dragon", who had more ATKcommenting that Varis always surpassed their expectations. With "Battle Buffer", "Encode Talker's" ATK He noted to Ai that neither outcome of the Duel was raiseddesirable, as both Windy and impressed Revolver for such a strategy. To counter that, Revolver targeted "Encode Talker" with his dragon Varis wanted to reduce harm Ai and the ATK, causing "Encode Talker" to be destroyed conflict between humans and Playmaker's strategy to backfireIgnis would simply escalate. While Varis Link Summoned "Firewall [[Borreload Dragon's" ATK was raised by "Battle Buffer(anime)|Borreload Dragon]]", Revolver's allowing Windy to steal "RokketMagic Cylinder" dragons regained their effects. Revolver claimed the match was over, as though Playmaker could not attack anymore. The latter made him doubt noted that, since he Varis could not use block it with the effect of "Magnrokket Borreload Dragon". Using "Recoded Alive", Playmaker revived "Decode Talker", whose ATK Windy was boosted up able to destroy [[Stormrider Turbulence|negate the effect]] of "Borreload Dragon". Howeverand force it to attack, Revolver used bringing Varis down to 300 LP with "Borrel RefrigerationMagic Cylinder" to make .<ref name="Magnarokket Dragonep69" destroy itself >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|69|ref}}</ref> Windy offered to blast away "Decode Talker". Revolver smiledspare Varis if he surrendered, seeing how close he was but Varis rejected Windy's offer and revealed that Windy had caused a car crash to kill his victory, partner rather than steal his consciousness data as had been done with Jin. Varis asked Playmaker having no cards nor attacks if he understood the true nature of the Ignis, before making a comeback against Windy and reducing him to execute900 LP. Playmaker refused This allowed Windy to loseuse "Storm Access" during the Master Duel, and claimed he wanted to uncover the events Playmaker realized that Windy had happened 10 years ago, given Bohman the power to recover use it himself and that the time Ignis were responsible for kidnapping Jin. Windy told them he had lost 'd reveal where Jin was after defeating Varis, and wanted reduced him to save 100 LP with the person new monster he'd acquired "[[Stormridership Bahamut Bomber]]", though Playmaker noted that saved himVaris would fight to the end. The [[Faust|Commanders]] [[Dr. Genome|of the]] Knights of Hanoi arrived, and then Spectre and Soulburner entered Windy's palace. Revolver was surprised Soulburner and Flame were shocked to see that Playmaker was involved in an incident 10 years ago and Ai had been imprisoned, He replied he was "and Ai told them that emissary of revenge". Revolver claimed Playmaker was a fool to help SOL Technologies out without knowing it had been Windy and Lightning who had imprisoned them, not the truthKnights.Playmaker refused Lightning then attempted to listenimprison Soulburner, Flame, and using "Parallel Port Armor"Spectre as well, he but Flame blocked him with data that Kolter had created, and proceeded to free Playmaker and Ai. Varis then Summoned "Firewall Dragon[[Rokket Synchron (anime)|Rokket Synchron]]" attack once more to perform , and Playmaker realized that it was a [[One Turn KillTuner monster]]. The attack destroyed Varis then [[Synchro Summon]]ed "[[Borreload Savage Dragon(anime)|Borreload Savage Dragon]]", equipping "Borreload Dragon" to it and defeated Revolverdefeating 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 Harlin 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="ep12ep70" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|70|ref}}</ref>

After Playmaker defeated Revolvertold Jin that he'd save him, he demanded but Lightning explained that Revolver reveal Jin was trapped deep within his true identity own consciousness and couldn't respond. He revealed that he had kidnapped Jin to prevent him from affecting him as Ai and those Playmaker did for one another with their Link Sense, and that he had been responsible for the destruction of the Cyberse. Lightning claimed that he had done so to clarify where the Ignis stood after the Knights of Hanoiattacked them, despite the existence of "error codes" that still wanted to coexist with humanity. He Varis accused Lightning of not trying to solve matters peacefully, and Lightning claimed that he had, though Playmaker snapped that there was shock when nothing peaceful about kidnapping Jin. Lightning then declared war on humanity, and he witnessed Ai eating Revolver's arm in order fled with Bohman, Harlin, and Windy to get save his data back. Before Revolver left, he gave fellow Ignis from the antidote for Blue AngelHanoi's coma to Playmakervirus. Playmaker accompanied Ghost Girl to where Akira , Ai, Soulburner and Blue Angel wereFlame pursued them, using the antidote to cure Blue Angel and Soulburner tossed them a program that Kolter had made to allow her him to log out of Link VRAINScheck on them. Akira thanked him for saving Blue AngelAs they chased Lightning, but Playmaker logged out before Akira could finish. Yusaku became tired and distressed as he logged out. He asked Shoichi if was Aoi alright before collapsing. When Shoichi showed him revealed that he had been the one controlling the footage on how Aoi was doingData Storm that saved them after their Duel with [[Spectre]], Yusaku fell asleep. Ai commented how lazy Yusaku was. Shoichi told Ai that heroes as Lightning had needed rest toothem to defeat Varis while Lightning destroyed the Cyberse. Yusaku dreamed about RevolverThe Shepherd and Gore's words regarding Ignis fellow Hunters arrived, and Lightning summoned a swarm of Bits and Boots to deal with free will, which caused him them before unleashing a Data Storm at them from Windy. Bohman suddenly approached them and challenged Playmaker to wake upa Speed Duel. Shoichi sensed Ai asked if Bohman remembered who he was thinking about what Revolver told about Aitoday, and Bohman declared that he did. Since they could not prove that Ai was actually alivepleased for Bohman, Ai made but then Bohman revealed that assertionhe was an A.I. created by Lightning to unite the Ignis and serve as their successor. Although he accepted Playmaker and Ai used the program , he obtained from Revolver refused to regain his full body. Howevercoexist with humanity, Ai's size didn't impress Yusaku likening it to the relationship between humans and Shoichianimals. Playmaker found himself unable to answer, who tried so Bohman challenged him to determine if a Duel with himself and Ai regained some of his memorieson the line. <ref name="ep12ep71">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1271|ref}}</ref>

[[File:Vrains 073.png|thumb|250px|Playmaker uses "Neo Storm Access"]]As Yusaku 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 eating hot dogsforced to dodge the debris of one of the outerlying towers on the way, barely losing his race with Bohman, he witnessed who chose to go second. Warned by Ai of Bohman's "Judgment Arrows", Playmaker set up a defense with "Cyberse Magician" and "[[Emma BesshoGrid Rod (anime)|Grid Rod]] visiting Café Nagi " and he was able to order chili dogs and a coffeesurvive the attack of "Trident Hydradrive Lord" through minimum damage. She inquired Shoichi about a On his next turn, Playmaker drew "[[Charisma DuelistSuspend Wand]] " and mentioned she 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 interested in Dueling telling him that they needed to defeat Bohman now. Following Ai's advice, Playmakerequipped "Cyberse Magician" with "Suspend Wand" as well, combining their effects to vastly increase the ATK of "Cyberse Magician" and destroy "Trident Hydradrive Lord", intriguing Yusakureducing Bohman to 700 LP. After Emma leftHe attempted to finish Bohman off with "[[Cyberse Witch (anime)|Cyberse Witch]]", Yusaku noted how stress Shoichi but Bohman was and decided able to help him delete block the files regarding attack and he angrily asked Playmakerwhy he had attacked so uncharacteristically. As they were deleting filesBohman then realized that Playmaker had attacked on Ai's suggestion, Shoichi asked where and he explained that Ai was. Yusaku told him had been driven by instinct that he left Ai at home because he was annoyingthe other Ignis lacked. Despite this<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]]", Yusaku wondered about Revolverthen used its "Judgment Dice" effect to clear Playmaker's words about AI with free willfield. Knowing Revolver unleashed Playmaker was able to combine the attack on Cyberse effects of his cards in his Graveyard to revive "Linkuriboh" and searched for Aireduce the ATK of "Hydradrive Monarch", Yusaku claimed Revolver destroyed surviving the Cyberse worldturn. StillAi apologized for his instinct putting them in this situation, he wondered if but Playmaker claimed that it wasn't Ai's fault, as Playmaker was wise the one making the decisions. Ai offered him a secret weapon; an upgrade to seek Revolver out for answers about Yusakuhis Skill that he's pastd just finished. Playmaker noted the convenience of the timing, and about ShoichiAi admitted that it had always been available, much to Playmaker's brotheramusement. He then inadvertently deleted a big scoop With this new Skill, "[[Neo Storm Access]]", Playmaker was able to enter the high-density Data Storm that would have revealed everything Playmaker and Shoichi knew involving Ai 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 Knights "Judgment Dice" effect of Hanoi"Hydradrive Monarch" again, which successfully rolling the outcome he needed, though this time Playmaker was about able to be published by protect his monsters with the effect of "[[Frog Cyberse Wicckid (characteranime)|FrogCyberse Wicckid]] ". He Synchro Summoned "Cyberse Quantum Dragon" and [[Pigeon]]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="ep13ep73">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|13|ref}}</ref>

At homeSoon afterwards, Roken visited Café Nom and he gave Yusaku thought about Revolver's words about AI with free will in a program to protect him from having his hidden roomsoul stolen by the Ignis, which Yusaku installed without hesitation once he knew what it was. Shoichi called him Roken departed, commenting that the enemy of his enemy was his friend and bid Yusaku to come survive the coming battle so that they could settle matters between them.<ref name="ep73" /> Yusaku decided to Cafe Nagiinform [[Akira Zaizen|Zaizen]] of Lightning and Bohman, where Shoichi showed and he sent a message to Zaizen to meet him an encrypted message on an Internet forumat the harbor, remaining out of sight and using hoodie and a voice modulator to conceal his identity, sent and Ai to him from Ghost Girlconfirm that he was Playmaker. Shoichi explained He told Zaizen about the other Ignis and that he had created a program they wanted to conquer humanity, and asked him to help Ghost Girl enter the Data Storm during protect LINK VRAINS if the Duel with Revolverneed arose. The two read how she requested a Duel Afterwards, they decided to search for Earth and Aqua, believing that they would likely be in danger from Lightning. Following Yusaku and Kolter's map of Earth's movements, Playmakerand Soulburner logged into LINK VRAINS and split up to search for Earth. Kolter soon contacted them and told them Earth was in danger, sending them Earth's coordinates, with though Playmaker and Ai as were the wageronly ones close enough. Yusaku accepted, stating that she offered a backdoor They found Earth about to Duel one of SOL Technologies' data bankBounty Hunters, who revealed himself to be The Gore, but now thinner and Shoichi confirmed that factstrangely dissonant. Playmaker and Ai watched the Speed Duel uneasily, having sensed something strange about Gore, showing she did send and they were shocked when Gore activated a bit of new power, [[A.I. Dueling Chip|Brain Hack]] and Fusion Summoned "[[Dinowrestler Chimera T Wrextle (anime)|Dinowrestler Chimera T Wrextle]]".<ref name="ep74">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|74|ref}}</ref> Gore revealed that he had implanted an A.I. chip in his brain to gain the data as proof. Yusaku asked Shoichi skills to reply that defeat Playmaker would accept her challenge. Ghost Girl soon entered LINK VRAINS, but Earth was able to counterattack, destroy "Chimera T Wrextle", and Yusaku went then activate his "[[Stalactite Spear]]" Skill to inflict enough damage to do the samedefeat Gore. Shoichi wondered if Yusaku would really go However, Gore intensified his Brain Hack and Duel hernegated Earth's Skill with his newly-created "[[Anti Skill]]". Blue Gal also arrived, since reassuring Playmaker that she couldwasn've set another trap. Yusaku claimed he had t here to Duel him and that she only wanted to uncover protect the Ignis, and she asked about the truth behind status of the incidentDuel. Playmaker noted that Earth held the advantage, hoped in but Gore Synchro Summoned "[[Dinowrestler Giga Spinosavate (anime)|Dinowrestler Giga Spinosavate]]" and began to press Earth back. Earth was able to protect "[[G Golem Crystal Heart (anime)|G Golem Crystal Heart]]" from Gore's effects, but Gore was able to attack it with "Giga Spinosavate" and destroy [[Gravity Protection|the data bank there was some information about Knights of Hanoicard that protected]] "Crystal Heart", defeating Earth and sensed some determination in Ghost Girlcapturing him. Playmaker ordered Gore to free Earth as he wasn't their enemy, but Gore didn't care and challenged Playmaker next despite her weaknessestheir previous alliance. Before another Duel could start, Gore was logged out by SOL Technologies, though he vowed to defeat Playmaker the next time they met.<ref name="ep14ep75">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1475|ref}}</ref>

Playmaker quickly met up with Ghost Girl Roken visited Yusaku and she showed him her program she set as a stake for Ai at the Duel. Playmaker wondered why wouldn't she access [[Stardust Road]] the data bank, next day and was told Ghost Girl wanted his Ai, so she could sell it to informed them that SOL Technologieshad decompiled Earth into an imperfect source code that they could understand. She admitted she grew more interested Yusaku asked if the Knights of Hanoi had a spy in Playmaker after his latest DuelSOL Technologies, but Roken simply smiled and wanted told them to battle him be careful as a cyber treasure hunterhe left. Despite Aiwas horrified by Earth's warningsdeath, Playmaker accepted her Dueland he admitted that he was starting to hate humans himself, as the two rode off on the Data Windmuch to Yusaku's shock. In her first turn, Ghost Girl Summoned <ref name="ep76"[[Altergeist Marionetter (anime)>{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|76|Altergeist Marionetter]]" ref}}</ref> The next day, Kolter found security footage depicting Blue Gal and Set two cards. Playmaker had his "[[Cyberse Wizard]]" attackAqua fleeing from The Shepherd, but and though they weren't sure why Aqua was stopped by with Blue Gal, Yusaku and Theodore quickly logged in to rescue Aqua from The Shepherd. They found Ghost Girl's "[[Altergeist Kunquery (anime)|Altergeist Kunquery]]". Despite his attackGal alone, Ghost Girl and Playmaker asked where The Shepherd was intrigued how he dared to attack, despite her Set cards. Ghost Girl Summoned another "Marionetter"Gal explained that he'd logged out, Set another cardand as Soulburner and Flame asked where Blue Gal and Aqua were, then Link Summoned "[[Altergeist Primebanshee (anime)|Altergeist Primebanshee]]"Blue Gal revealed herself with Aqua in her Duel Disk. She swapped one of changed her "Marionetters" Avatar to Blue Maiden, and noted that it was time for "Meluseek"them to fight together again. Ghost Girl ended her preparationsPlaymaker agreed, and aimed to defeat Playmaker before he could use his Skill. As Ghost Girl initiated the Battle Phase they affirmed their goals and claimed she would win in declared that turn, Ai laughed, as she they would make 2400 LP damagefight. Both Playmaker and <ref name="ep77">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|77|ref}}</ref> They headed to the location where Aqua had been imprisoned with Ghost Girl scolded Ai Gal to search for such thinking; Playmaker claimed any traces of Lightning's log, but Lightning had covered his tracks well and left no Duelist would make that simple math error, making Ghost Girl wonder why everyone was after traces.<ref name="this dumb AIep78" which causes Ai >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|78|ref}}</ref> Further searches proved fruitless until Kolter detected a portal in LINK VRAINS and sent the coordinates to get angry, Playmaker then told him and his team. The portal led to not Lightning's palace, where he was Dueling The Shepherd through Jin. Lightning revealed that he intended to get angry when she is telling defeat the truth about him. Regardlessweakest of them first, "Meluseek" attacked directly and sent Playmaker watched the Duel, recognizing "Cyberse Wizard[[Armatos Colosseum]]" to as the GY, allowing location where he had Master Dueled Bohman.<ref name="Marionetterep79" to attack directly>{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|79|ref}}</ref> Ai wondered who they should support, and allowing Playmaker suggested that Shepherd would likely free Jin if he won. He watched the Duel grimly, surprised when Lightning discarded his negated "PrimebansheeJudgment Arrows" to do so as wellactivate [[Armatos Legio Magica Alcum|an effect that cleared Shepherd's field]]. Ghost Girl smiled, feeling her dreams grow largerLightning defeated Shepherd, and ordered Playmaker to brace himself for his defeatlearned that Ghost Gal and The Shepherd were siblings before Shepherd's data was erased and Lightning escaped.<ref name="ep14ep80" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|80|ref}}</ref>

Ghost Girl had "Primebanshee" attack Playmaker directly while he [[Special Summon]]ed "[[Lockout Gardna (anime)File:Playmaker enters the Data Storm again to use his Skill a second time.png|thumb|left|250px|Lockout GardnaPlaymaker uses his Skill a second time against The Gore.]]"Afterwards, Yusaku, Theodore, Ai and Flame discussed the Duel and Lightning's skills. They were interrupted by Kolter picking up Earth's signal in LINK VRAINS, and Yusaku and Theodore logged in to protect Earth before SOL Technologies could find him. Ai knew When they reached Earth's location, they would have enough LP to continue and were attacked by The Gore, now even use Storm Accessmore malnourished than before, and exclaimed how "bad" this would bewho challenged Playmaker to a Duel. HoweverPlaymaker attempted to convince Gore to instead fight Lightning alongside them, Ghost Girl knew Ai was just pretendingbut Gore refused, insisting that he had to defeat Playmaker to regain his pride. Playmaker accepted Gore's challenge, and decided not he tried to attackend the Duel quickly, but Gore easily blocked his attacks and accused him of being scared of Gore and his "Anti Skill". Ai was in To Playmaker's shock, Gore Link Summoned "G Golem Crystal Heart" and Playmaker told him revealed that Earth's decompiled data had been added to his acting was horribleA.I. chip. On Playmakerrealized that Earth's turnsignal had come from Gore and that the Duel had been a trap, Ghost Girl swapped and he agreed with Ai's vow to defeat Gore as Gore brought out "MeluseekDinowrestler King T Wrextle" with .<ref name="ep81"[[Altergeist Silquitous (anime)>{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|81|Altergeist Silquitous]]ref}}</ref> Playmaker attempted to combat the "Crystal Heart"-boosted "King T Wrextle", by using the effect of returning it to Gore's hand with first "PrimebansheeSecurity Dragon", and also added an then "Altergeist KunqueryFirewall Dragon" to her hand. , but Gore countered both of his efforts and forced Playmaker attempted to destroy her ace by Tributing "[[Backlinker (anime)|Backlinker]]Firewall Dragon", but . Playmaker was prevented by Ghost Girlable to fend off Gore's attacks, and he planned to force Gore to use "Anti Skill" to defeat him with "[[Altergeist Protocol Draw Discharge (anime)|Altergeist ProtocolDraw Discharge]]". Ghost Girl claimed she could anticipate their every Gore was able to counter that move: as well, reducing Playmaker to 100 LP and blasting him off his Duel Board. As Playmaker attempted and Gore faced off, a Data Storm began to revive blow again, and Ai revealed that "BacklinkerNeo Storm Access" with had another effect that could be used when Playmaker had 100 or less LP and had failed to gain a monster the first time he'd used the Skill. This time Playmaker was successful, and he obtained and [[Xyz Summon]]ed "[[Striping Partner Firewall eXceed Dragon (anime)|Striping PartnerFirewall eXceed Dragon]]", but was stopped by reviving "Firewall Dragon" to return "Altergeist SilquitosKing T Wrextle"to Gore's hand. Using Gore was able to block the move and force "Lockout GardnaFirewall Dragon"to attack, both effects were negated, though Ghost Girl had one final trap prepared. She noted how but Playmaker was an interesting person, as she suspected. Playmaker Link Summoned able to destroy "[[Underclock Taker World Dino Wrestling (later anime)|Underclock TakerWorld Dino Wrestling]]" to attack more than one time a turn again and tried reduce the ATK of "King T Wrextle" to weaken zero, allowing "PrimebansheeFirewall eXceed Dragon"to destroy it and defeat Gore. Ghost Girl countered that with "[[Altergeist Camouflage (anime)|Altergeist Camouflage]]"As Ai devoured Earth's data from Gore, a capture unit briefly trapped them, but was dispelled when Gore was logged out. Ai had Playmaker give Blue Maiden and protected Aqua "PrimebansheeCrystal Heart" from attacks, stating and Soulburner noted that Gore was another victim of their fight. Playmaker agreed that they had reached his limitsto end it quickly.<ref name="ep15ep82">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|15|ref}}</ref>

Playmaker paid 1000 LP to activate the effect Ghost Gal later sent them footage of "Balancer Lord"Earth's final moments, making him eligible to use Storm Access. Ghost Girl refused to let him activate the Skill and used her Skillafter watching it, Secret Cure to increase Yusaku bitterly remarked that SOL Technologies saw both players' LPIgnis and Duelists as tools and walked out of Café Nom. Playmaker Special Summoned "[[Scan Doll]]", Theodore followed Yusaku out and paid 1000 LP to use "Protocol" on "Silquitos". However, Ghost Girl believed asked if he simply forgot about "Kunquery" she still had in her hand. Playmaker used Storm Accesswas okay, but Ghost Girl went with handing him into the Data Stormhis Duel Disk. However, she lost control of her D-Board He reassured Yusaku that what had happened to The Gore and fell off of itEarth wasn't his fault, Playmaker saved her as they had been Duelists with their own ideals. Ai noted that war between humans and reminded her their Duel was not over yet Ignis would likely escalate according to Varis and let her go back on the D-Board. Playmaker Link Summoned "[[Excode Talker (anime)|Excode Talker]]", whose effect made two of Ghost GirlLightning's Main Monster Zones unusablepositions, and Tributed "Scan Doll" Yusaku asked Ai what he and Lightning had discussed prior to make his "code Talker" attack twicearrival at Windy's palace. Since all of Ghost GirlAi explained Lightning's monsters could not be targeted for an attack target, "Excode Talker" attacked Ghost Girl twicebelief that humanity would eliminate them, and Playmaker won the DuelVaris's discovery that Windy had attempted to eliminate his own partner. Later, Ghost Girl watched the moon, even if Ai reminded her Yusaku noted that was just datahumanity had underestimated what it meant to give an A.I. Ghost Girlfree will, as promised, gave Playmaker given the program to enter the SOL TechnologiesIgnis' data bankadvantages, and leftthat it made humans fear them. Yusaku logged out of the networkadmitted that he wasn't sure if there was a way for them to coexist, but Ai and Shoichi started Flame urged him not to analyze itlose faith in that idea. HoweverYusaku agreed and smiled, Yusaku but stated that after their final battle was too tired over, the Ignis had to hide to prevent themselves from being used and fell asleeplive their lives, somewhere isolated from the net.<ref name="ep15ep83" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|83|ref}}</ref>

Varis left a message for Yusaku at Café Nom disguised in the form of "[[File:Playmaker in the mother computer.png|thumb|leftBorreload Dragon (anime)|Playmaker infiltrates the mother computer system.Borreload Dragon]]Shoichi analyzed Ghost Girl's program", showing Yusaku the schematics, looking like a mazeasking to meet in LINK VRAINS. They both wondered how skilled Ghost Girl was to have managed to hack into SOL Technologies' data bankAi, and Shoichi promised he would finish by the time school was over for Yusaku to enter the mother computer system. While at schoolFlame, Yusaku wondered where Aoi wasPlaymaker, as he and Ai thought her brother forbade her from entering Soulburner logged into LINK VRAINSand met with Aqua, Blue Maiden, and Ghost Gal in the upper levels. He explained that Varis wanted to protect her from any danger. Ai noticed Yusaku actually cared about her; Yusaku simply stated one should not give up on Dueling this way. As school was overmeet with them, Yusaku went much to Shoichi's vanthe collective shock of his allies, save Ai. Shoichi showed the path to the data bankVaris eventually arrived, but warned erecting a lot of traps were set barrier to stop anyone. Yusaku started hesitatingensure a secure conversation, and analyzed that Ghost Girl also wanted something if she gave him the programrequested an alliance against Lightning, even if the information Yusaku could find there may not be explaining that important. Still, he accessed the LINK VRAINS had initially attempted to enter the mother computer system - an eerie, dark placerecruit The Shepherd. To protect himself, Playmaker used a device to navigate himself's shock, Soulburner refused and challenged Varis to a rope Duel to disguise him from security programsavenge his parents' deaths. Once the security programs started to go after Playmaker, he launched three <ref name="[[Sphere Kuriboh (anime)|Sphere Kuriboh]]ep83" /> Ai wondered if it was all right; Playmaker explained that they needed to Duel to be able to shatter them without alerting anyonework together. Passing the first corridorVaris passed his turn, Playmaker arrived and Soulburner was unable to finish him off, ending the second one, in which a Data Storm was locatedDuel inconclusively. Playmaker was pulled towards itVaris revealed his identity to Soulburner, and his rope broke, alerting Playmaker added that Varis had actually saved them from the security chief, KitamuraLost Incident. The latter sent two AI prototypes to hunt Varis assured them that they would fight over the remaining Ignis after Playmakerdefeating Lightning, who managed and asked them to elude follow him. He took them. Howeverto the old LINK VRAINS, one where the Tower of the AI-s caught up with himHanoi still stood, and initiated explained that he intended to modify it into a Duel with Playmaker. The AI prototype brought out "[[Tentacluster Nautilus]]"scan program to find Lightning, and tributed his "[[Tentacluster Drillworm]]", making Playmaker discard all of his cardsasking them to help create the program to do so. Playmaker drew a cardagreed, but had told Varis that a new future might come to sent itlight as they battled, something that Varis claimed he would keep in mind. Yusaku and Kolter worked on the program that night, due to while Theodore and Flame stepped out for some air.<ref name="Drillwormep84">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|84|ref}}</ref> Kolter told Yusaku that Lightning would likely use Jin against him, ending up with no cards to play. The other AI prototype arrived and started attacking Playmaker, intending on grabbing his Duel Disk. Much admitted that he wouldn't be able to everyonerefuse helping Lightning for Jin's surprise, Blue Angel arrived, using her whip sake. He asked Yusaku to grab the AI prototype. Playmaker muttered her name, as she declared she would be the one promise to defeat him if this happened as Playmakerwas the hope of many within LINK VRAINS, and started a Duel with the other AI prototypeYusaku agreed that he would.<ref name="ep16ep93">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1693|ref}}</ref> They finished the program the next morning, and Kolter asked if Yusaku wanted him to accompany them, but Yusaku asked him to remain behind. Kolter gave them a program that would continually broadcast their status, and Yusaku vowed to bring back Jin. They joined Blue Maiden, Aqua, Varis and Spectre at the Tower of Hanoi; Blue Maiden explained that Ghost Gal was keeping an eye on LINK VRAINS, while Spectre stated that the other Knights were backing them up from the real world. They activated the Tower's scan program, revealing that Lightning was hiding in a mirror world; "[[Mirror LINK VRAINS]]", and headed into a portal to the mirror world.<ref name="ep84" />

[[File:Playmaker at data bankand Ai begin to fall due to the lack of Data Material.png|thumb|right|250px|Playmaker reaches and Ai fall from their Duel Board after Lightning cuts off the data bankData Material.]]As they travelled through the path, Playmaker muttered saved Blue Angel's nameMaiden from turbulence, and he checked on the status of LINK VRAINS when they arrived, who came asking Kolter to repay keep him for curing herupdated. Playmaker claimed he never indebted her; regardless, Blue Angel started BitBoots then accosted the Duel with the other AI prototypegroup and engaged them in Speed Duels. Continuing the Duel, <ref name="ep85">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|85|ref}}</ref> Playmaker banished defeated one with "[[Dotscaper Decode Talker (anime)|DotscraperDecode Talker]]" , but then Mirror LINK VRAINS realigned with LINK VRAINS and "Linkslayer" cut off the Data Material flow, causing the team to Special Summon "[[Dual Assembwurm (anime)|Dual Assembwurm]]" fall from their Duel Boards. Playmaker and Ai found themselves trapped in a water-covered area and watched as footage of Lightning and Spectre appeared above them; Lightning claiming that he would defeat them one-by-one. Playmaker watched as Spectre claimed to have felt the death of Earth and noted that Spectre had felt the GYloss of a part of himself, with its ATK halved, and brought "Dotscraper" with its effectthough he denied feeling the same way about Ai. Using "They watched as Lightning used an [[Cynet DefragExtra Link]]to lock down Spectre's Deck, but Spectre was able to steal " to summon Judgment Arrows" and counterattack. After Spectre Link Summoned his signature mother tree monster, "[[Flick Clown Sunavalon Dryas (anime)|Flick ClownSunavalon Dryas]]" and use , Playmaker noted that the outcome of the latterDuel was up for grabs.<ref name="ep86">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|86|ref}}</ref> Despite Spectre's effectcontinued advantage, Playmaker had 1000 LP left remained wary of Lightning's unrevealed tactics. Spectre was able to use create his Skill own Extra Link and even an Ultimate Extra Link, but managed to grab anger Lightning, a Link Monster from the Data Stormstate Ai claimed to have never seen Lightning in. Using his three Cyberse monsters, Playmaker summoned Lightning brought out "[[Vector Square Archfiend (anime)|Vector Square ArchfiendArmatos Legio Magnus Dux]]", and summoned reclaimed "Cyberse WizardJudgment Arrows" from his hand; the two monsters attacked the prototype, destroying Spectre's Extra Link and then defeating him, taking his data.<ref name="Tentaclusterep87" monsters>{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|87|ref}}</ref> The broadcast shut off, but soon started again, damaging it to 1100 LPshowing Soulburner and Flame opposing Windy. He Tributed "Cyberse Wizard" to use After silencing Ai when he claimed the other Ignis thought he was the effect strongest of "Vector Square Archfiend" to revive "Tentacluster Nautilus" them, Playmaker watched Soulburner and gained another attackWindy's Duel silently. He then destroyed <ref name="Tentcluster Nautilusep88" and defeated the AI prototype, who vanished into thin air. Playmaker entered the Data Bank, and >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|88|ref}}</ref> Soulburner was surprised able to see Akiradefeat Windy, who expected him to be thereand Flame absorbed Windy's data.<ref name="ep17ep89">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1789|ref}}</ref> Playmaker questioned Ghost Girl noted that Lightning wasn't giving any second chances, and Akira, he watched as to why they were in the data bankbroadcast started again, showing Blue Maiden Dueling Bohman. When Ghost Girl explained that they were after Playmaker noted the dataeffectiveness of Blue Maiden's "[[Marincess]]" Deck in bringing out a Link-3 monster without reducing her hand size, but was apprehensive when Bohman forsook 5000 points of direct damage from his three "[[Coolant Hydradrive]]s" in favor of a new "Hydradrive", "[[Cubed Hydradrive Lord]]". Playmaker figured out learned that he Blue Maiden was just used as a decoy for them trying to enter save of of the data bank. He ordered Akira to moveother victims of the Lost Incident, who refused[[Miyu Sugisaki]], and admitted he realized that he obtained and Soulburner weren't the data, thus knowing what happened only ones fighting to save someone. He was surprised to Playmaker ten years agosee Blue Maiden summon "[[Marincess Crystal Heart (anime)|Marincess Crystal Heart]]"; Ai explained that it would carry on Earth's memories. Akira claimed he had the right Bohman then demonstrated his power, causing Mirror LINK VRAINS to know about the incident quake and Playmaker asked of him claiming to hand the data overhave become one with LINK VRAINS. Instead, Akira asked Blue Maiden decided to combat Bohman with effect damage; Playmaker noting that she had given up attacking for the turn in order to hand over Ignis and dispersedo so, wanting but Bohman was able to shed some light over the incidentnullify it.<ref name="ep90">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|90|ref}}</ref> Bohman brought out a new ace monster, "[[Tesseract Hydradrive Monarch]]", and Ghost Girl added Akira though Blue Maiden was demoted, due able to the incident with Revolver. Yusaku claimed he would be the one to reveal the truth since dodge its deadly effects and destroy it didn't personally involve Akira , Bohman revived "Tesseract" and challenged him to forced Blue Maiden into a Duel. He bet Ai for the dataloop, and Akira accepted, seeing this was the only way to defeat Playmakerdefeating her.<ref name="ep18ep91">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1891|ref}}</ref>

Bohman absorbed Blue Maiden, Aqua and Earth's data, then transported to Playmaker and Ai's location. He warned Playmaker that his next Duel would test him emotionally, and Playmaker asked Bohman why he was telling him this. Bohman admitted he wasn't sure, but vowed to defeat Playmaker the next time they met and departed. Their surroundings were changed into a replica of the Den City plaza, with Kolter present, and Playmaker realized that the moment Kolter had warned him about had come; Kolter confirmed that he intended to Duel Playmaker to save Jin. Kolter began passionately, Summoning "[[File:Yusaku furious.png|thumbCodebreaker Zero Day (anime)|left|Yusaku furious at AkiraCodebreaker Zero Day]]" and Setting a card, and Playmaker Link Summoned "Decode Talker" away from "Zero Day", reflecting that he and used its Link Materials - Kolter had acquired it together and that it symbolized their will to fight. He ended his turn without attacking, but to his shock Kolter Summoned "[[Stack Reviver Codebreaker Virus Swordsman (anime)|Stack ReviverCodebreaker Virus Swordsman]]" - to revive the zone "[[Cyberse Gadget (anime)|Cyberse Gadget]]Decode Talker" and summon pointed to, increasing its ATK, though Kolter then Summoned a "[[Gadget Token (anime)|Gadget Token]]Zero Day"to Playmaker's field and used its effect to reverse the ATK gain. Kolter allowed "Decode Talker" to survive so he could continue inflicting damage to Playmaker, though Playmaker prepared his offencewas able to bring himself some reprieve with the second effect of "Decode Talker", getting rid of all of Kolter's monsters, but Akira tributed Kolter revived them at the end of the turn and Playmaker admitted that he couldn't fight Kolter.<ref name="ep92">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|92|ref}}</ref> He attempted to stall with "[[Tindangle Base Gardna (anime)|Tindangle Base GardnaLink Satellite]]" for , but Kolter brought out "[[Tindangle Hound Codebreaker Virus Berserker (anime)|Tindangle HoundCodebreaker Virus Berserker]]" and destroyed it, reducing Playmaker to 600 LP. Ai begged Playmaker to weaken his monsters stop hesitating as Lightning and activated Bohman arrived. Kolter attacked, but Playmaker used "[[Lemoine PointLink Cancel]]" to prevent Playmaker from attacking face-down monsters. Playmaker used return "Cyberse GadgetDecode Talker" to the Extra Deck and "Gadget Token" Summon the monsters he'd used to Link Summon it, then endured the attack with the effect of "[[Flame Administrator Protocol Gardna (anime)|Flame AdministratorProtocol Gardna]]". The latter's effect increased Kolter told him to remember his promise, and with a wild cry, Playmaker made his decision and Link Summoned "[[Decode Talker Extended (anime)|Decode Talker'sExtended]]" ATK, enough to destroy "Tindangle Hound". Akira flipped then combined it with "[[Tindangle Angel Decode Destruction (anime)|Tindangle AngelDecode Destruction]]", reviving "Tindangle Hound" in face-down positionto defeat Kolter. Kolter congratulated him as he was erased, and forced Playmaker ran to end the Battle Phase. Akirahis friend, however, spoke about trying to catch his data and Aoi's past, and didn't wish that Aoi was captured by strangers like Playmaker was. Akira told he would set things straight, and asked for trustsobbing his name. Shoichi and Lightning taunted Playmaker became furious, seeing Akira understood nothing about them. until Playmaker trusted revealed that Akira was a good personKolter had anticipated Lightning's plan, but doubted he knew anything about the pain he bore. Akira [[Flip Summon]]ed "Tindangle Hound"defiantly stating that Kolter had been proud of him, and set "Tindangle Angel" into face-down position and gained its attackbefore collapsing, plus weakening Playmaker's monsters. Akira attacked Playmaker's "Flame Administrator" and halved his LP. Playmaker used "[[Limit Code]]" to bring out "Encode Talker", at overwhelmed by the cost of reducing its and "Decode Talker's" ATK. Playmaker saw Akira knew nothing of trauma despite his goal, as he Link Summoned "Firewall Dragon"victory.<ref name="ep18ep93" />

"Tindangle Hound's" effect caused "Firewall Dragon's" ATK to be reduced. Using "[[Linkage Hole (anime)File:Urged by Kolter Playmaker finally wakes up.png|thumb|left|250px|Linkage HolePlaymaker wakes up after falling unconscious.]]Lightning demanded Playmaker get up and Duel him, having Jin throw around his unconscious Avatar, but Playmaker remained unconscious.<ref name="ep94">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|94|ref}}</ref> Ai attempted to wake him up, Akirabut it was Kolter's monsters were destroyedspirit who finally coaxed Yusaku from his restless dreams, leaving despite Yusaku wanting to sleep longer and claiming that he didn't care, but Kolter reminded him open for direct attackshe still had to fulfill his final request. After Akira got directly hit by "Decode Talker"Playmaker woke to find Soulburner Dueling Bohman, he destroyed but the latter with "[[Tindangle Delaunay (anime)|Tindangle Delaunay]]"Flame was attacked from within by Windy, who attempted to consume and immediately brought out his aceSoulburner, "[[Tindangle Acute Cerberus (anime)|Tindangle Acute Cerberus]]". The latter attacked "Firewall Dragon", whom and to Playmaker protected with "[[Doppler Phase Coating]]". Akira protected his own monster with "[[Gergonne's End]]"; Playmaker noted Akira's Deck shock and anger, Flame was quite difficult forced to figure out with such complex strategiessacrifice himself to stop Windy. Playmaker tried to have "Firewall Dragon"Enraged by Flame's death, enhanced with "Soulburner Super [[Alert LancerReincarnation Link Summon]]", attack "Tindangle Token" to finish the Duel. However, Akira prevented damage with ed "[[Morley's ShieldSalamangreat Pyro Phoenix (anime)|Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix]]", and he managed to roll the right Attribute to counter Playmakeravoid the negative effect of Bohman's strategy, used "[[Nagel's Protection (anime)|Nagel's ProtectionJudgment Roll]]" to protect his TokensTrap and launch a final attack. However, Bohman changed the Attribute of "Tindangle Acute CerberusPyro Phoenix" attacked, causing Playmaker's LP allowing the negative effect of "Judgment Roll" to be lowered down to 500defeat Soulburner. Ai yelled to Playmaker to do somethingwatched in shock as Soulburner, Flame and even wondered if there Windy's data was anything absorbed by Bohman, who declared that can be done to get them out of the situation. Playmaker asked of Ai to stop panicking, asking if it even was an AI, making the latter furious why he was so calm. Playmaker claimed if Ai was so worried about losing, it should consider about finding a new home. Ai replied he didn't think of that, since he had Playmaker as a friend ready to help him out. battle Playmaker claimed they were not friends, stating Ai should behave like other AI-s. This crushed Ai, seeing Playmaker was colder than AI-snow.<ref name="ep19ep95" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|95|ref}}</ref>

As Playmaker swore bitterly remarked that Soulburner had known the potential sacrifice he would not lose'd been making, since he wished felt himself shaking with rage. The broadcast started again, showing Lightning Dueling Varis, and Playmaker and Ai quickly took advantage of the destroyed barrier to fly to uncover Varis's island. Bohman arrived at the truthsame time they did, and Varis revealed Lightning's crimes to them. He looked at explained that his deck, commenting it contained his feelings over father's simulations had been incomplete; they truly showed that Lightning himself had no future with humanity and that he would corrupt that of the past ten yearsother Ignis. Playmaker drew a card and set itwas shocked by the revelation, while Akira commented but concluded that this was likely the complex that Spectre had mentioned during his destinyDuel with Lightning. Akira asked As Varis made his moves, Playmaker noted how the effect of Lightning's "[[Armatos Gloria]]" restricted several of Playmaker Varis's best counters, though Varis simply Link Summoned "Borreload Dragon".<ref name="ep96">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|96|ref}}</ref> Although "Borreload Dragon" destroyed "[[Armatos Legio Plumbum Trident]]", this allowed Lightning to stop this revenge place it in his Spell & Trap Zone as a ''new'' Link Spell and search out "Judgment Arrows", and go despite Varis's efforts to school destroy it with "[[Mind Crush (anime)|Mind Crush]]", Lightning was able to cherish these memoriesactivate the Spell and claimed that a monkey like Varis couldn't destroy it. Ai realized that Lightning was talking just like Windy, rather than trying and to uncover the truthPlaymaker's shock, which Akira would revealVaris revealed that Lightning had rewritten Windy's personality. He claimed As Varis began Summoning monsters, Playmaker was too conceited in the pastrealized that he had two Level 4 monsters, and as he had anticipated, Varis Xyz Summoned, bringing out "[[Borreload eXcharge Dragon (anime)|Borreload eXcharge Dragon]]" and reviving his destroyed "Borreload Dragon", assembling an attack that would not feel happinessallow him to defeat Lightning. But before Varis could make his final attack, Lightning released Jin from his control and revealed that he had linked their consciousness data; if Varis attacked, just like Akira didnhe would destroy them both.<ref name="ep97">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|97|ref}}</ref> After Lightning revealed that he had linked Spectre't. Blue Angel came s data to hear the storyhis own as well, though Playmaker wished that Akira did begged Varis not to attack, not tell the storyonly for Jin's sake but also for his own, fearing Varis would revert to how he had previously been. Akira spoke about the incident, mentioning Varis pointed out that Playmaker was rescued. had defeated Kolter, but Playmaker refused stated that Kolter had been willing to believe he sacrifice himself, while Jin wasn't. Lightning was rescuedamused at the notion of Playmaker saving him, and swore he'd uncover revealed that he had tormented Jin during the incidentLost Incident, for causing the sake of the families hurt in the incidentmore intense trauma he suffered from. Varis ended his turn without making his final attack, and wished Bohman then took Jin and Spectre's data from Lightning to rescue the person whose voice that encouraged force him to fight may still be trappedDuel fairly. Playmaker claimed even if Akira believed revenge was pointless, Lightning also revealed that he still discovered had created the computer virus that the Knights of Hanoi had involvement in the projectinfected Dr. Akira also stated the Kogami, rather than SOL Technologies. Varis was able to survive Lightning' data bank contained s turn, and Playmaker noted that Varis would win the following turn using the name of same strategy he had previously. But to Playmaker's shock, Lightning ended the mastermind behind Duel in a DRAW with the effect of his "[[Hanoi ProjectArmatos Legio Eques Flamma]]". Playmaker ran to Varis's side as he was shockederased, leaving the rest to Playmaker and yelled out for Ai. Lightning then revealed he had survived by converting some of Jin's consciousness data into LP, but he gave himself to Bohman, granting Bohman the name powers of five of the mastermind, but Akira remained silentIgnis.<ref name="ep19ep98" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|98|ref}}</ref>

[[File:Playmaker demanded vows to believe in an open future.png|thumb|right|250px|Playmaker vows to believe in an open future with the name Ignis.]]Declaring that it was time for their final battle, Bohman brought Playmaker and Ai to Mirror LINK VRAINS Central Station courtyard and claimed that the door to a new world would open after their Duel, creating an Ignis algorithm and building a new Deck using the powers of the mastermindother Ignis. When the Duel began, the algorithm activated and Playmaker and Ai both heard screams, but Akira refused which Bohman explained they were hearing due to give out the nametheir Link Sense, fearing this would only feed and he commented that Playmakercould have been the bridge between humans and A.I. Bohman's desire for revenge and hatred. Akira decided strategy initially seemed to conclude remain the Duel by having same, as he brought out four different "Tindangle Acute CerberusHydradrive" attack Link Monsters, but instead of Summoning a [[Link 4 Monster Cards|Link-4 monster]] he continued to Summon monsters until he hand five "Firewall DragonHydradrive"Link-1 Monsters with different Attributes. Playmaker avoided the defeat by banishing his dragon wondered if Bohman intended to Summon a monster with "five Attributes, though Ai was skeptical as there were no [[Cynet Backdoor (anime)Link 5 Monster Cards|Cynet BackdoorLink-5 monsters]]" and with in LINK VRAINS. Bohman then activated a Skill, "[[Doppler Phase CoatingMaster Storm Access]]" gone, Akira's creating a Data Storm from the algorithm and creating the Link-5 "[[Battle PhaseChimera Hydradrive Dragrid]] ended". Akira turned Bohman revealed that the tables by using "algorithm was called a [[Euler's Circuit (anime)|Euler's CircuitNeuron Link]]", preventing Playmaker from attackingthat it was using the brains of thousands of trapped humans in LINK VRAINS to create the Data Storm, and allowing one that he intended to absorb the consciousness of all humans to become the sole entity in existence. Unfazed by the Link-5 monster, Yusaku Synchro Summoned "TindangleCyberse Quantum Dragon" monster , intending to be switched return "Dragrid" to PlaymakerBohman's fieldExtra Deck, but he activated his Skill again. <ref name="ep99">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|99|ref}}</ref> Playmaker was frustrated, heard the screams of the Neuron Link's victims as Bohman obtained and noted this was a Duel swapped out "Dragrid" for justice"[[Chimera Hydradrive Draghead - Aqua]]", negating the effects of "Quantum Dragon". Akira swore Bohman claimed he had known Playmaker would Summon "Quantum Dragon" due to take the data voices of the people trapped in the Neuron Link who idolized Playmaker, and track down the ones responsiblethat Playmaker was effectively fighting all of LINK VRAINS. Ai claimed that Bohman only had a limited number of people to use, but to Playmaker doubted he knew anything's horror, Bohman revealed that more people were logging into LINK VRAINS. He thanked Playmaker for serving as he trusted the basis for his own justice that would make heart, and offered to give him happiness within him prevail and winif he surrendered. Drawing Playmaker refused to accept a cardworld built on the sacrifices of others, disappointing Bohman, Playmaker who used "Draconnet", "Bitron" and his Skill to bring out "[[Digitron (anime)|DigitronChimera Hydradrive Draghead - Flame]]" to bring out destroy "Link SpiderQuantum Dragon", . Playmaker was able to save "[[Recovery Sorcerer (anime)|Recovery Sorcerer]]Quantum Dragon" and from the effect of "[[Security Gardna (anime)|Security Gardna]]Draghead - Flame". Akira pointed out by using the pointlessness effect of summoning the monsters"Cyberse Synchron", as Playmaker but he was unable to save it from "Draghead - Flame's" attack. Since "Security Gardna" As Bohman talked about the voices he heard within him and claimed that he would make an ideal world, Playmaker considered that Bohman had described himself as an evolution of Playmaker and he realized that Bohman was placed lonely as Playmaker had been, impressing on him the top link value of listening to one's friends. Refusing to let Bohman sacrifice everything, Playmaker Fusion Summoned "Tindangle Acute CerberusCyberse Clock Dragon", Akira used and increased its ATK high enough to beat "Gergonne's EndDragrid" to nuke all monsters linked to inflict massive damage on Playmaker, believing the latter has lost hope in winning.<ref name="ep20ep100">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|20100|ref}}</ref>

The effect activatedFaust then contacted Playmaker, dealing 4500 LP damage warning him not to Playmaker. Akira turned around, but was surprised reply to see Playmaker survived as "Security Gardna" prevented all effect damage during avoid alerting Bohman and explaining that turn. This trap destroyed "Euler's Circuit", the Commanders were working alongside Zaizen and allowed Playmaker Ghost Gal to attack. Despite the advantage, Playmaker Neuron Link when Bohman used "Recovery Sorcerer" to bring back "Security Gardna"his Skill. Ai questioned thisBohman then activated his Skill, and as Playmaker could simply make a direct attack with "Firewall Dragon"and Ai watched, but he realized who was told behind the attacks and subsequently claimed that Zaizen and Ghost Gal had been assimilated by the Neuron Link, asking if Playmaker had been depending on a Duel is more than just winning or losingmiracle. Playmaker made "Firewall Dragon" return Akira's "Tindangle Hound" replied that he had believed in his allies, and "Tindangle Angel" from the GY Neuron Link suddenly stopped. Bohman regardless attempted to his hand, thus forcing activate the effect of "Tindangle Acute Cerberus'Dragrid" ATK , but failed to drop to 0. Declaring Summon a "Tempest Attack[[Chimera Hydradrive Draghead|Draghead]]", and Playmaker quickly destroyed "Firewall DragonDragrid" attacked with "Tindangle Acute CerberusClock Dragon" and defeated Akira, bringing Bohman's LP equal to his. Playmaker Bohman then walked pass by Akira and Blue Angelattempted to rebuild the Neuron Link, having but Ai eat away SOL Technologiesleft Playmaker' data. Before leavings Duel Disk, Playmaker asked of Akira not urging him to follow him, or else remember the bonds he'd walk formed with his friends and not to be afraid to make new ones as he sacrificed himself to stop the path of darknessNeuron Link. Akira wanted Bohman called Ai's sacrifice useless, infuriating Playmaker, but Bohman was able to know why briefly reactivate the Neuron Link anyway, using Mirror LINK VRAINS itself as data just for the chance to defeat Playmaker didn't attack directly with "Firewall Dragon". He explained revived "Tindangle HoundDragrid" and activated "Tindangle AngelJudgment Arrows" represent Akira and his sister, who should rather turn around and walk then used "Dragrid" to the light. He went on the DLink Summon another Link-Board and logged out of the mother computer system. Outside5 monster, Shoichi praised Yusaku and Ai, the former giving out the data he acquired. The two hacked into Ai, and found out the Hanoi Project's leader was Dr. "[[Kiyoshi KogamiPerfectron Hydradrive Dragon]], an employee from SOL Technologies, who alone worked on ". Playmaker was able to reduce the project in secrecy. The two concluded SOL Technologies covered up ATK of "Dragrid" to zero with the incidenteffect of "Linkuriboh", or else but the company's reputation would've been ruinedeffect of "Perfectron" destroyed "Clock Dragon" and reduced Playmaker to 100 LP. Ai doubted Bohman declared the man could have done this on his own, and thought Akira Duel was involvedover, but Shoichi reminded him Akira, back then, was 16 and was Playmaker vowed not employed at SOL Technologies at the time. Shoichi and Yusaku failed to find the projectlose for Ai's goal, but most shockingly, they discovered Dr. Kogami died seven years agosake.<ref name="ep20ep101">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|101|ref}}</ref>

With [[File:Playmaker takes hold of the power of the Ignis.png|thumb|left|250px|Playmaker is granted the food truck positioned at power of the coast, Yusaku was doing researchIgnis. Shoichi invited him for a break]]Ai then returned, and gazed upon the oceanPlaymaker commented that he'd come back faster than he usually did. Yusaku pointed out Shoichi wonAi explained that he't get many customers at that place, but Shoichi assured him the famous coast was named d left a backup in [[Stardust RoadRoboppi]], known for the luminous plankton and that rarely gather at night, and thought he intended to use the person living near weakness in the coast may have seen that. Shoichi failed Neuron Link to gather new info rescue the other Ignis from SOL Technologies' datawithin Bohman, and Yusaku saw believing that data from ten years ago was actually deletedthey needed their power to defeat Bohman. StillPlaymaker warned Ai to be careful, they knew but Ai was unable to save the company was involvedother Ignis, even if Akira knew nothing about returning with the incident beforelast of their power. Shoichi felt a bit relieved Playmaker vowed not to let that Dr. Kogami passed awaypower go to waste, thinking their revenge was over. Yusaku reminded him they still didn't know about the goal and he began a chain of the incidentSummons bolstered by "[[Cynet Codec (anime)|Cynet Codec]]", Ritual Summoning "Cyberse Magician" and Shoichi still wanted to rescue his brother from darknessXyz Summoning "Firewall eXceed Dragon", even if they had no clue where but immediately used "eXceed Dragon" to continueLink Summon "[[Transcode Talker (later anime)|Transcode Talker]]". Yusaku still remembered Revolver knew some things. Shoichi stated Revolver Bohman was not seen recentlyconfused by Playmaker's goals, and Playmaker claimed that he could hear the voices of everyone in LINK VRAINS, but Yusaku believed that Bohman could not because he was had not desire to connect with others. He used the power of the type Ignis to create his own Link-5 monster, "[[Firewall Dragon Darkfluid (anime)|Firewall Dragon Darkfluid]]" and powered it up to its maximum counters and ATK, using its effect to draw "Perfectron" into a loop that would simply disappeardepleted its Hydradrive Counters and prevented it from destroying "Darkfluid", defeating Bohman at last.<ref name="ep21ep102">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|21102|ref}}</ref>

===Another===Defeated, Bohman congratulated Playmaker and [[bid him farewell, though he warned Ai]] watched an eclipse blocking that he had closed the virtual sun in [[LINK VRAINS]]. Ai remembered people in the ancient past were scared future of such events, and was surprised people, even today, were still afraid. Playmaker replied people remain the same, unlike technology that advances. The latter proclaimed the light was blocked by darkness, Ignis and confirmed to Ai hoped he meant about the Lost Incidentwouldn't regret it. He would not let the incident be buried in darkness, and would uncover the truth. Later, Yusaku Mirror LINK VRAINS was at schooldestroyed along with Bohman, and remembered how someone spoke to him during the Lost Incident project. [[Naoki Shima|Naoki]] called out to Yusaku, reminding him the class was over, Playmaker and thought he was one of the "Athnoers". Yusaku walked away, and Naoki told him "Athnoers" Ai were people trapped in returned to LINK VRAINS, noting a lot where they observed the bodies of students haven't attended the school. He believed it was due to cursed [[Duel Disk]]s, which, at midnight, emit white hands that drag people into LINK VRAINS, leaving the peopleNeuron Link's bodies "hollow". He thought no person would return back to their old-selves, even if they were taken to the hospital. Ai thought this had relations to [[Aoi Zaizen|Blue Angel]], but Yusaku shushed himvictims, since Naoki could hear him. Naoki doubted Yusaku would become a victim, since they were usually people with promising Dueling future. Yusaku advised him to stay away from the Duel Disk and walked away from Naoki, who wished Playmaker would set things straight. Before leaving, Yusaku corrected him the term was "[[Another]]s", not "Athnoers", which made Naoki furious, since Yusaku knew everything already. Inside stated that the van, [[Shoichi Kusanagi|Shoichi]] showed to Ai and Yusaku the footage cost of a camera, when a person turned into an Another, which happened six minutes before midnight. Ai noted there were no white hands taking the person into LINK VRAINS. Shoichi told them the person their victory had not recovered yet, and showed pictures of more Another patients in the hospitals. Ai and Yusaku knew this was the same accident with Blue Angel, who was infected by a virusbeen too high.<ref name="ep22ep102">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|22|ref}}</ref>

Shoichi believed someone wanted people to be turned into mindless peopleAs Ai lamented the loss of their friends, but has not find out what happened Bohman's victims began to their LINK VRAINS' avatarsreawaken and Ai realized that he had freed everyone. Shoichi showed more dataSoulburner, Blue Maiden and Yusaku analyzed all of the Anothers were great Duelists with old-type Duel DisksThe Shepherd reappeared as well, and all [[Akira Zaizen|Zaizen]] and [[Emma Bessho|Ghost Gal]] met them as they saw the final remains of them were hackers, tooMirror LINK VRAINS crumble. The trio realized As Playmakercommented that it was finally all over, or Soulburner asked what had happened to [[Flame (character)|Flame]], and Aiapologized and fled in shame.<ref name="ep103">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|103|ref}}</ref> Yusaku found that Roboppi had also deactivated, were and a significant amount of time passed with no word from either. With [[LINK VRAINS]] shut down due to the targetsevents that had happened there, Yusaku continued filling in at Café Nom for Kolter when he went to visit Jin. Yusaku reminded the importance Kolter explained that Jin's memories of uncovering the truth behind Lost Incidenthad vanished and Yusaku speculated Lightning's use of his data as LP had been responsible. Skye greeted him one day, expressing surprise that Yusaku was still working there and Yusaku explained his situation. Skye told him she had visited due to his proximity to the hospital as noted by she had been visiting someone as well. They talked about the [[SOLtiS]]', Skye suggesting that Yusaku might not have to work at the food truck anymore before bidding him goodbye. Theodore arrived as Skye left, commenting that she would be surprised to learn their identities, though Yusaku believed Skye didn't need to. They talked about Jin, Aiand Flame, they Theodore suggesting Ai's backup had to stop people from becoming Anothersaffected Roboppi. Ai noted Yusaku was a cool hero of justiceapologized for Flame's death, even if the latter claimed though Theodore reassured him it wasn't his fault and noted that was unnecessaryAi likely felt responsible too. Shoichi showed a list of possible targets, from which As Theodore admitted he'd never expected to work with the first was [[Makoto KimishimaKnights of Hanoi]]and he and Yusaku discussed the differences between humans and A.I., Theodore suggested that it might be impossible for humans and A.I. to coexist. Yusaku himself believed there was still hope given the bonds they'd formed with Ai and Flame, but then Roken and Spectre arrived, warning them that they would continue to monitor the network for any problems, including Ai. Yusaku traced protested that the person danger had been due to his houseLightning's schemes and that he wanted Ai to live happily, though Roken still didn't trust Ai and saw lights he warned the Hanoi would show no mercy if they got in his way.<ref name="ep103" />  ===Ai===Yusaku visited [[Cal Kolter|Kolter]] at [[Café Nom]] and told him of his windowtheory regarding [[Jin Kolter|Jin]]'s memory loss, something Kolter called a blessing in disguise. Yusaku broke through into his roomadmitted that he didn't think [[Ai]] would return, and saw he became a victimKolter suggested his life could begin again as another advertisement for the [[SOLtiS]] came on. In additionThat night, he Yusaku returned home and Ai watched Makotolooked at [[Roboppi]]'s avatar inside LINK empty body.<ref name="ep104">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS being confronted by |104|ref}}</ref> The next day after school, [[Theodore Hamilton|Theodore]] tried to tell Yusaku something, but then dismissed it as nothing. Kolter then called them to Café Nom, explaining that [[DrAkira Zaizen|Zaizen]] had asked to meet with him. GenomePlaymaker, Soulburner and Unnamed logged into the defunct Central Station and met with Zaizen and [[Skye Zaizen|Blue Maiden]], though Zaizen waited until [[Emma Bessho|a personGhost Gal]], who wished to know [[The Shepherd]] and [[George Gore|The Gore]] arrived before explaining why he had called them. Playmaker asked Gore if he was Playmaker had recovered, and Gore confirmed that he had , thanking Playmaker, but refusing to elaborate. Zaizen explained that [[IgnisQueen]], the CEO of [[SOL Technologies]], had been attacked and her code key stolen; if the culprits obtained Zaizen's, they would be given control of the company. Zaizen showed them the message the culprits had left identifying themselves; two SOLtiS who identified themselves as Ai and Roboppi, stating that they would be coming for Zaizen in three days. Playmaker was utterly floored by the revelation that Ai was now opposing humanity and The Shepherd accused him of knowing Ai's location, though Soulburner, Zaizen and Gore defended Playmaker, noting he would have gone after Ai himself had he known his intentions. Empathetic to Playmaker's position, Zaizen agreed to give him time to make his decision. That night, Yusaku and Theodore discussed whether or not they would fight, and Theodore revealed he intended to return home after stopping Ai saw . Yusaku visited the person casted some glitter[[Stardust Road]], causing Makoto to fall asleep and fall off remembering setting Ai free after stopping the cliff[[Tower of Hanoi]], but was saved still hadn't made a decision by Go Onizukathe next day. After school, [[Naoki Shima|Shima]] approached him looking for Playmaker watched , as GO confronted Skye had asked him to, though he ran off to check the person, Drforums before Yusaku could compromise himself. GenomeAs he headed to Café Nom, who placed he saw Zaizen and Skye in the virus into Makotoplaza, only and they reconvened with him to draw a playground; Zaizen had finally realized that Yusaku was Playmaker out. Zaizen thanked Yusaku came to for saving Skye from the [[Deleted]] virus and them both from the hospitalTower of Hanoi and Bohman, though Yusaku claimed that their thanks were not needed, as he would have done so regardless. Zaizen was called away by work, where but stated he heard was glad to have met Yusaku. Afterwards, Yusaku sat with Skye, who asked him not to fight against Ai, as she didn't want him to have to fight his own partner and she asked what [[Go OnizukaAqua (character)|Aqua]] swore 's final moments were like. Yusaku admitted he hadn't been present, but according to Ai, Aqua had given him the last of her power and urged him to defeat Drstop Bohman, which Skye agreed was something Aqua would do. Genome. Go saw She asked to shake Yusaku 's hand, telling him she was grateful for everything he had done for her and realized her brother, before departing.<ref name="ep105">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|105|ref}}</ref> Although he was also concerned about Makotodid not initially link up with Soulburner and their other allies, who attended Yusaku came to the same school. Yusaku gave out conclusion that it was his name responsibility to Goprevent his partner from committing further crimes. Playmaker logged into the defunct Central Station, approaching it as Zaizen's defenders moved into position, and lefthe noted that it would be a difficult battle. At the van, Shoichi <ref name="ep105" /> Playmaker met up with Soulburner and Yusaku watched the [[Knights of HanoiRoken Kogami|Varis]] were Dueling peopleoutside Central Station, and turning them into Anothersthey soon detected three enemies, wondering if Ai and Roboppi had a third ally. Yusaku decided to go into LINK VRAINSPlaymaker quickly engaged Ai, even if Shoichi believed who stated that his desire for coexisted had caused the deaths of the other Ignis and that he was following Lightning's wishes as a result. As he claimed he would 'd made his decision and his mind couldn't be at a disadvantagechanged, Soulburner and Varis also encountered Ai wished , and they decided to feel secureDuel the three Ai to determine which was the original. Ai swiftly [[Link Summon]]ed "[[Fire Phoenix @Ignister (anime)|Fire Phoenix @Ignister]]" and used "[[A.I. A. SurprisinglyI. Wall]]" to prevent them from attacking, they saw and his copies did the same in the other Duels. Ai confirmed that he and the other two were simply copies and that the real Ai was advancing towards Zaizen.<ref name="Playmakerep106" battling >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|106|ref}}</ref> As they Dueled the Knights of Hanoicopies, by stopping their programs Kolter contacted them and tossing asked them away from their to hurry, as [[D-BoardBaira|the]]s. [[Dr. Genome confronted "|other]] Duelists were in bad shape, though Playmaker"was still hesitant to fight the copy of Ai, who revealed himself warned Playmaker that he wouldn't be able to be Go Onizukahelp his friends unless he broke his lock. The latter stated he came <ref name="ep107">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|107|ref}}</ref> Kolter contacted Playmaker to save Makotowarn him of Gore's defeat as Playmaker defeated the Ai copy with "[[Cyberse Clock Dragon (anime)|Cyberse Clock Dragon]]", and knew the copy admitted he couldn't have defeated Playmaker, though they had been successful in stalling him.<ref name="ep108">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|108|ref}}</ref> Playmaker, Soulburner and Varis entered Central Station, but found it empty; Varis explained that the Zaizens had been broadcasting from another location that Ai wouldn't be able to reach.<ref name="ep108" /> Varis informed them that Pandor was Dueling Ai on the Zaizen's identity, which displeased Yusaku plane and Shoichi. Yusaku did not know if GO really knew his identityhad the advantage, but noting that she was still frustrated. The group watched almost as capable as Drthe Ignis themselves. Genome activated the [[Data Gale]]Playmaker asked Varis what would happen to Ai if he lost, conjuring black tornadoes for the [[Speed Duel]]and Varis replied that he would not show any mercy to Ai.<ref name="ep22ep109">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|109|ref}}</ref>

===Shoichi KusanagiCal Kolter===Shoichi Kolter is one of the very few people Yusaku actively interacts with. The two are close friends and work together to fight The the Knights of Hanoi. Yusaku shows trust in ShoichiKolter's hacking abilities and even gave a brief smile when talking to him. Likewise, Shoichi Kolter hopes Yusaku can one day enjoy Dueling again. Shoichi Kolter also teases Yusaku about his poor social skills.

===Naoki Shima(The Brave Battler)===When they met, Naoki Shima tried to befriend Yusaku and Duel him, but Yusaku showed little interest and irritated Naoki Shima by criticizing his Dueling and analyzing him, despite Yusaku saying Naoki Shima isn't a bad person. Despite their initial encounter, Naoki Shima continues his attempts to befriend Yusaku and he often sits with Yusaku during class, much to the latter's annoyance. Naoki Shima is a big fan of "Playmaker", unaware that he's Yusaku. Yusaku has a tendency to forget NaokiShima's name repeatedly and keeps ignoring Naoki Shima due to his belief that he doesn't need friends. However, when Shima was kidnapped by [[Faust]], Yusaku showed genuine concern for him.

Yusaku holds a deep grudge against the Knights of Hanoi and believes they're the culprits of the Hanoi Project. He swears revenge against the Hanoi and fights them whenever they make an attack. The Hanoi consider "Playmaker" to be a threat and plan to defeat him in order to retrieve Ai which "Playmaker" had captured.

[[Ai]] sees Yusaku as a partner, but Yusaku considers initially considered Ai to be nothing more than an object he needs to gain the upper hand against the Knights of Hanoi. He threatened to delete Ai in order to challenge a Knight, and ignored his pleas not to go back to VRAINS. Yusaku has little patience for Ai's antics and often doesn't let him talk. Nevertheless, Ai supports Yusaku in his Duels, though he claims to do so out of a desire for survival. Ai also seems to enjoy teasing Yusaku, but knows when things get serious. Likewise, Yusaku follows Ai's advice when needed. Despite being rude to Ai most of the time Yusaku slowly grows to care about him to some extent; this was seen when Ai was affected by [[RevolverRoken Kogami|Varis]]'s "[[Fire Prison (anime)|Fire Prison]]". Ai seems to have gradually warmed up to Yusaku and is keen on treating him like a friend, though the feeling is not mutual. In the dub, Yusaku is less harsh to Ai, denying his claims less coldly and often snarking gently at him rather than outright insulting him. When Yusaku learns that Ai was based on him and that he had been lying to him, he coldly claims that Ai isn't his friend and that he never cared about him. (In the dub, Yusaku implies that he claims this for Varis's benefit, though he is still angry with Ai.) Despite this, Ai still saves Yusaku during their Speed Duel with Varis, and Yusaku continues to oppose the destruction of the Ignis. During his Master Duel with Varis, he and Ai have a heart-to-heart talk, and Yusaku directly asks Ai what the Cyberse is like. Despite this, he claims that he doesn't have a friend to Varis (despite Ai's clear irritation at such a claim) and Yusaku and Ai do not agree on the topic of Roken. Once he defeated Varis and the Knights of Hanoi, Yusaku released Ai, lightly joking with him before he left and seeming regretful that Ai had. Once they reunite in the second season, Yusaku and Ai's relationship is far more positive and they work together better. Yusaku no longer insults or demeans Ai as he previously did, though he still rebukes him when needed. The two of them continue to grow closer in the ensuring Ignis War. Following their victory over Bohman, Ai parted ways with Yusaku again, grief-stricken over losing his fellow Ignis By the third season, their relationship has become strained due to Ai's defection and agenda against SOL Tech. Yusaku is emotionally hurt by Ai's apparent betrayal, and is conflicted about whether or not to trust Ai or fight him. He ultmately decides to oppose Ai in the hopes of stopping him and saving him. Yusaku also displays sympathy for Ai as he could understand how hurt Ai felt over the loss of his Ignis friends.

===Aoi Zaizen (Blue Angel)===Aoi Yusaku and Ai serve as foils to each other as while both started out as happy individuals, both were subjected to an immense emotional trauma that hurt them severely, while Yusaku are classmatesstarted out as cold and anti-social, though Aoi is not aware of his alter-ego but she seems be suspicious of his identity as Playmaker after noticing Ai was a happy and friendly individual with friends he has cared deeply for. As the same duel disk as him series progresses, Yusaku begins opening up and asked is able to see make friends with others, while Ai loses his deck Ignis friends in order to confirm the Ignis War and turned against humanity. During his identity. As "Blue Angel"duel against the Zaizens, Aoi is shown to develop an interest in Ai echoed Yusaku's alter-egostatement from Season 1 during his duel against Akira, "Playmaker", after he saved her from a "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]". She is shown to be grateful claiming that time has stopped moving for "Playmaker" for saving her him and she even saved him that he can't move forward unless he defeats all who stand in return after he fell from his D-Boardway.

After Shoichi figured out that Aoi ===Skye Zaizen (Blue Angel)===Skye and Yusaku are classmates, though Skye is not aware of his alter-ego but she seems be suspicious of his identity as Playmaker after noticing he has the same Duel Disk as him and asked to see his Deck in order to confirm his identity. As "Blue Angel", Skye is shown to develop an interest in Yusaku tried to get close to 's alter-ego, "Playmaker", after he saved her in order to get from a lead on "[[Akira ZaizenCracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]] and SOL Technologies regarding his past memories". Aoi on the other hand believed Yusaku wanted her She is shown to be grateful for "Playmaker" for saving her connections to SOL Technologies as many others had tried (which is technically correct, though not for the reasons she assumed), so and she quickly dismissed even saved himin return after he fell from his Duel Board.

After Kolter figured out that Skye is "Blue Angel", Yusaku was shocked when he discovered that Aoi may have ties tried to get close to her in order to get a lead on [[Akira Zaizen]] and SOL Technologies regarding his past memories. Skye on the Knights of Hanoi showing that he never thought of other hand believed Yusaku wanted her as an enemy, but he was still willing to duel for her. He was visibly disturbed when Hanoi's card began damaging Aoi so he rushed connections to end the Duel as quickly SOL Technologies as possiblemany others had tried (which is technically correct, out of concern though not for her well being. After the Duelreasons she assumed), Yusaku felt it was his responsibility to help Aoi recover from her coma and willingly walked into a trap set by [[Emma Bessho|Ghost Girl]]so she quickly dismissed him.

Yusaku is shown was shocked when he discovered that Skye may have ties to deeply care for Aoi after the Knights of Hanoi showing that he logged out following his duel with Revolver never thought of her as an enemy, but he asked was still willing to Shoichi if Aoi is alright and after she recovered from duel her coma Yusaku is shown . He was visibly disturbed when Hanoi's card began damaging Skye so he rushed to be worried about end the Duel as quickly as possible, out of concern for her safety and well being that she doesn't attend school regularly and since her duel with him she stopped coming . After the Duel, Yusaku felt it was his responsibility to LINK VRAINS. Ai also teases him for being worried about help Skye recover from her or being linked with her which causes him to dodge the subjectcoma and willingly walked into a trap set by [[Emma Bessho|Ghost Gal]].

After hearing Yusaku is shown to deeply care for Skye after he logged out following his duel with Varis he asked to Kolter if Skye is alright and after she recovered from her coma Yusaku is shown to be worried about Yusakuher safety and well being that she doesn's traumatic past, Aoi felt a great feeling of sympathy t attend school regularly and since her duel with him she stopped coming to LINK VRAINS. Ai also teases him for being worried about her or being linked with her which causes himto dodge the subject.

In the dub, Yusaku shows somewhat more of a connection with Skye; openly declaring that he is fighting for Blue Angel during his second Speed Duel with Varis and stammering awkwardly when he tries to downplay calling the hospital for her and accidentally implies that she may not be special. ===Go Onizuka George Gore (GO OnizukaThe Gore)===At first, Yusaku was indifferent to Go Gore who considers his alter-ego, "Playmaker", to be his rival. Go Gore was mad at Playmaker for stealing his spotlight and this grew worse when the children at the city orphanage, which he volunteered and donated to, started seeing Playmaker as a hero instead of him. After defeating him, Yusaku acknowledged Go Gore as a worthy opponent and started to respect his Dueling style, and even admitting to have enjoyed Dueling him. When Shoichi Kolter suggested recruiting Go Gore for their fight against Hanoi, Yusaku objected by saying that he did not want Go Gore to face this kind of danger.After Gore defeated [[Dr. Genome]], Yusaku became more willing to let Gore fight against Hanoi in the wake of the [[Deleted]] crisis and they formed an alliance. After his defeat at Varis's hands in the dub, Yusaku goes as far as to claim that he is also fighting for Gore's sake when he confronts Varis during their Speed Duel. By Season 2, Gore developed a grudge against Playmaker for being the one to defeat Varis and save LINK VRAINS, and became a SOL Tech bounty hunter in order to duel and defeat Yusaku. Yusaku had no interest in fighting Gore, instead believing they could still be allies. After Gore implanted the AI chip into his brain and defeated and captured Earth, Gore once again reaffirimed that he only cared about defeating Playmaker, forcing Yusaku to accept that Gore was no longer his ally, and was now a dangerous enemy. By the time of their second duel, Yusaku intially attemped to reason with Gore again but to no avail. After learning Gore had implanted Earth into his chip, Yusaku showed no heasitation in dueling Gore or any concern when Ai attemped to reterive Earth's data from him after deafeating Gore. By Season 3, the two of them are once again on friendly terms after Gore had the AI chip removed

Despite having a brief interaction with Yusaku at the hospital he Zaizen was grateful to him for locating his sister and informing him about her comatose status. He questioned Yusaku about his relationship to Aoi Skye and the latter responded they are only classmates.

On the other hand, Akira Zaizen dislikes Yusaku's alter ego "Playmaker" for having stolen Ai. Akira Zaizen grew to utterly hate Playmaker after his Duel against Blue Angel which resulted in Aoi Skye falling comatose. Akira Zaizen immediately assumed that Playmaker was the culprit for AoiSkye's predicament and worked with Ghost Girl to with Ghost Gal to turn all of LINK VRAINS into a trap to capture Playmaker. Akira Zaizen then mercilessly tortured Playmaker and refused to believe Playmaker's explanation that it was Hanoi's fault for Aoi Skye being comatose. However, upon being informed of his mistake by Revolverby Varis, Akira Zaizen reluctantly freed Playmaker and was surprised that Playmaker didn't hate him for what he did. He was grateful to grateful for Playmaker for saving Aoi Skye from the virus.

In their next encounter inside SOL Technology's database, Akira displayed pity for Playmaker after discovering the data he was after, even insisting that Playmaker trust him and to reveal the truth in his stead. Compared to their previous encounter, Akira Zaizen even demonstrates sadness for Playmaker, especially when he figured out realized that Playmaker is around Aoiwas Skye's age. Akira Zaizen felt that Playmaker shouldn't waste his youth chasing after the Hanoi Project and wanted to handle the situation himself, only for Playmaker to immediately refute Akira's claims and mantained maintain that he deserved to learn the truth himself.

===Revolver===When first informed about a hacker named "Zaizen is captured and threatened by Spectre during his Duel with Playmaker" who was defeating Hanoi members, Revolver initially suspected Playmaker was an agent from SOL Technologies but rejected the idea because SOL would act more publicly refuses to attack Spectre out of fear for Zaizen's safety and dismissed Playmakerinstead plays defensively, despite Zaizen continually urging him to attack without worrying about him. It wasnZaizen eventually takes it upon himself to sacrifice himself so that Skye's prior loss to Spectre wouldn't until Playmaker captured Ai that Revolver became interested be in him. Revolver then switched all vain, and his efforts into defeating absorption by the Tower of Hanoi enraged Playmaker before SOL did, as doing so was the only way to capture Aiand he subsequently vengefully defeated Spectre.

===Roken Kogami (Varis)===When first informed about a hacker named "Playmaker" who was defeating Hanoi members, on [[Roken Kogami|Varis]] initially suspected Playmaker was an agent from SOL Technologies but rejected the other hand, hates Revolver for being Hanoi's leader idea because SOL would act more publicly and vowed to defeat him and discover his true identitydismissed Playmaker. During their first Duel, Revolver claimed that he It wasn't until Playmaker captured Ai that Varis became interested in him. Varis then switched all his efforts into defeating Playmaker's identity and considered him before SOL did, as doing so was the only way to be just another of the many people who hates Hanoicapture Ai.

Playmaker, on the other hand, hates Varis for being Hanoi's leader and vowed to defeat him and discover his true identity. During their first Duel, Varis claimed that he wasn't interested in Playmaker's identity and considered him to be just another of the many people who hates the Hanoi. However, during their second Duel, Varis recognized Playmaker's speech pattern of listing out three reasons and was disturbed when Playmaker mentioned about a certain incident that happened ten years ago. He chides Playmaker for siding with SOL Technologies without knowing the truth and, after the Duel, is eager to uncover Playmaker's true identity, to the extent of requesting more time from his father before the completion of Hanoi's program, in which the latter agrees under the condition it did not take too long. After they learn one another's identities, Yusaku and Roken's relationship changes substantially. After realizing that Roken not only saved him, but also talked to him while he was captured and taught him his three reasons philosophy, Yusaku became determined to save Varis from himself, wishing to become his friend. He threw aside his desire for revenge and stated that he wished to create a new future with Roken. Despite Yusaku's efforts, Roken rejected his offer and continued to oppose the Ignis. Nevertheless, Yusaku still trusts Roken deeply and continues to hope that they can become friends. He believes fiercely in his capacity to change, begging him not to destroy Jin's data in order to defeat Lightning as this would revert Varis back to his old ways. ===Emma Bessho(Ghost Gal)===Emma showed an interest in Playmaker. After witnessing his duel Duel against Blue Angel, Ghost Girl Gal caught him in a trap under AkiraZaizen's orders to interrogate him about AoiSkye's condition. Her interest in him continued to grow after watching him defeat Revolver Varis and dueling Dueling him herself , even admitting that he exceeded her expectations. The two explored LINK VRAINS underground, though Ghost Gal continued to deceive Playmaker by letting him go in the wrong direction which led to him and Ai being chased by a data monster. Before being absorbed by the Tower of Hanoi, Ghost Gal entrusted Playmaker with the data for the Tower and attempted to warn him about Varis's dangerous card. Playmaker in turn was angry for not being able to save her and vowed to do so, passing on her advice to Blue Angel and The Gore.

====Knights of Hanoi====[[File:Yusaku and his monsters.png|thumb|250px|Yusaku (as Playmaker) with "[[Encode Decode Talker (anime)|Encode Decode Talker]]" and "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]".]]Yusaku uses a '''[[Cyberse]] Beatdown Deck''', which he initially found after solving an urban legend. <ref name="ep64" /><ref name="VRAINSED3">''Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS'' Ending 3: [[BOY]]</ref> His main strategy involves using methodically calculated moves to overwhelm the opponent with [[Link Monster]]s. His early turns are usually slow, with him setting up his bigger combos for later while analyzing the opponent's strategies. Once his field is set up, he [[Link Summon]]s multiple weak Link Monsters at once to then use them as Materials for his stronger ones such as the "[[Code Talker (archetype)|code Code Talkers]]", and "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]". His other Link Monsters can also act as support for his primary ones. Yusaku also makes regular use of cards which banish themselves or other cards from the [[Graveyard]] or hand to activate effects, granting him access to a steady stream of resources even with an empty field or hand.

[[File:Decode Talker materializing.png|thumb|left|250px|"Decode Talker" materializing into a real card.]]After capturing [[Ai]] and unlocking the "[[Storm Access (anime)|Storm Access]]" [[Skill]], he can obtain new Cyberse [[Link Monster]]s when his [[LP]] are 1000 or below during a Speed Duel when a [[Data Storm]] is near. To this end, he usually allows himself to drop below 1000 LP. The Link Monsters gained this way expand his arsenal of monsters for the current Duel and future Duels alike and typically help turn a disadvantageous situation in his favor. And as As shown with "Decode Talker", the data of the Link Monsters added by his Skill will start materializing can materialize into a real cardcards with the proper equipment. In case the opponent tries to prevent "Storm Access" from activating by not dealing Damagedamage, Yusaku also uses cards with effects that cost require him to pay LP to get around it. During his Duel with The Gore, spectators likened this strategy to Gore's habit of letting his opponent take the lead, then making a comeback from a pinch.

During Yusaku also used three copies of "[[Sphere Kuriboh (anime)|Sphere Kuriboh]]" as shields during his Duel with Go Onizuka, spectators likened this strategy to Goinfiltration of [[SOL Technologies]]'s habit of letting data bank. Whether or not they are in his opponent take the lead, then making a comeback from a pinchDeck is unknown.<ref name="ep16"/>

Yusaku also used three copies {{Decklist|Knights of "Hanoi| skill = [[Sphere Kuriboh Storm Access (anime)|Sphere Kuriboh]]" as shields during his inflitration of [[SOL TechnologiesStorm Access]]' data bank. Whether or not they are in his Deck or not is unknown.<ref name="ep16">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|16|ref}}</ref> {{Decklist||normal monsters =

|effect monsters =

* [[Bitlooper Bitrooper (anime)|BitlooperBitrooper]]* [[Boot Staggered (anime)|Boot Staggered]]

* [[Swap Cleric (anime)|Swap Cleric]]|link monsters =* [[Binary Blader (anime)|Binary Blader]]* [[Binary Sorceress (anime)|Binary Sorceress]]* [[Decode Talker (anime)|Decode Talker]]<ref group=Notes name="decode">This card is obtained via [[SkillStorm Access (anime)|Storm Access]] in [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 002|episode 2]].</ref>* [[Encode Talker (anime)|Encode Talker]]<ref group=Notes name="encode">This card is obtained via [[SkillStorm Access (anime)|Storm Access]] in [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 007|episode 7]].</ref>* [[Excode Talker (anime)|Excode Talker]]<ref group=Notes name="excode">This card is obtained via [[SkillStorm Access (anime)|Storm Access]] in [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 015|episode 15]].</ref>* [[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]<ref group=Notes name="firewall">This card is obtained via [[SkillStorm Access (anime)|Storm Access]] in [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 010|episode 10]].</ref>

* [[Link Bumper (anime)|Link Bumper]]<ref group=Notes name="link">This card is obtained via [[Storm Access (anime)|Storm Access]] in [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 005|episode 5]].</ref>* [[Link Devotee (anime)|Link Devotee]]* [[Link Disciple (anime)|Link Disciple]]

* [[Restoration Point Guard (anime)|Restoration Point Guard]]* [[Secure Gardna (anime)|Secure Gardna]]* [[Security Gardna Dragon (anime)|Security GardnaDragon]]* [[Space Insulator (anime)|Space Insulator]]* [[Talkback Lancer (anime)|Talkback Lancer]]* [[Transcode Talker (anime)|Transcode Talker]]<ref group=Notes name="transcode">This card is obtained via [[Storm Access (anime)|Storm Access]] in [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 042|episode 42]].</ref>

* [[Vector Square Scare Archfiend (anime)|Vector Square Scare Archfiend]]<ref group=Notes name="vector">This card is obtained via [[SkillStorm Access (anime)|Storm Access]] in [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 017|episode 17]].</ref>|spells =

* [[Spam Mail]]* [[Spool Code (anime)|Spool Code]]* [[Zero Extra Link (anime)|Zero Extra Link]]|traps =

* [[Drop Frame Wedge]]* [[Limit Code (anime)|Limit Code]]

Additionally, Yusaku has a '''[[LIGHT]]''' dummy [[Main Deck|Deck]] for situations in real life where he has to show his Deck to other [[Duelist]]s. The Deck is poorly built extremely basic in addition to using very old cards, to make it seem seems like Yusaku is an a regular untalented Duelist.<ref name="ep6" />

{{Decklist||normal monsters =

|effect monsters =

|spells =

|traps =

! scope="col" | Opponent

| [[Number 10 (character)|Number 10]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 002|2]] || Win|-| [[George Gore|George Gore/The Gore]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 004|4]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 005|5]] || Win|-| [[Skye Zaizen|Skye Zaizen/Blue Angel]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 007|7]] || Win|-| [[Roken Kogami|Varis]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 009|9]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 010|10]] || [[DRAW]]|-| [[Roken Kogami|Varis]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 010|10]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 012|12]] || Win|-| [[Emma Bessho|Emma Bessho/Ghost Gal]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 014|14]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 015|15]] || Win|-| [[Prototype Green-A]] ||[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 016|16]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 017|17]] || Win|-| [[Akira Zaizen]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 018|18]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 020|20]] || Win|-| [[Knights of Hanoi|Knight of Hanoi]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 002024|24]] || Win|-| [[Faust]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 028|28]] || Win|-| [[Spectre]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 035|35]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 037|237]] || Win|-| [[Roken Kogami|Roken Kogami/Varis]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 041|41]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 042|42]] || DRAW

| [[Go OnizukaRoken Kogami|Roken Kogami/Varis]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 004043|443]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 005046|546]] || Win

| [[Aoi Zaizen|Aoi Zaizen/Blue AngelBohman]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 007047|47]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 048|748]] || Win

| [[RevolverThe Shepherd]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 009053|953]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 010054|1054]] || [[DRAW]]Win

| [[RevolverBohman]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 010057|1057]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 012058|1258]] || Win

| [[Emma Bessho|Emma Bessho/Ghost GirlKenchi]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 014|14]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 015062|1562]] || Win

| [[Prototype Ai-AYozaka]] ||[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 016|16]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 017063|1763]] || Win

| [[Akira ZaizenEarth (character)|Earth]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 066|66]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 067|67]] || Win|-| [[Bohman]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 072|72]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 073|73]] || DRAW|-| [[George Gore|George Gore/The Gore]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 081|81]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 082|82]] || Win|-| [[Bit]][[Boot]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 086|86]] || Win|-| [[Cal Kolter]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 092|92]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 093|93]] || Win|-| [[Bohman]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 099|99]]-[[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 102|102]] || Win|-| [[Ai]] copy || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 106|106]], [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 108|108]] || Win|-| [[Ai]] || [[Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS - Episode 018117|18117]]-[[:Yu-Gi-Oh!_VRAINS_VRAINS -_Episode_020Episode 120|20120]] || Win