Changes

At school, Yusaku met [[Naoki Shima]], who started bragging to him about his new [[Duel Disk]]. When Yusaku attempted to leave, Naoki but Shima offered to teach him how to Duel. Yusaku rejected, his offer saying Naoki Shima did not seem very strong, but probably not a bad person either. Yusaku's remarks annoyed NaokiShima, but he didn't think much of it. Before leaving, he wondered about a rule set where there are were only three Main Monster Zones.<ref name="ep1" />

[[File:Yusaku and Kusanagi disccussing.png|thumb|left|Yusaku and Kolter talking about the AIA.I.]]

Yusaku later met up with [[Kolter]] and they discussed how both [[SOL Technologies]] and their enemies, the [[Knights of Hanoi]], were chasing after [[Ai|an AI A.I. program]] in [[LINK VRAINS]] with him. Upon learning that SOL Technology Technologies had scheduled a full scan of Link VRAINS that evening to try and find the AIA.I., they quickly started working on a trap to catch the AI A.I. themselves. Although Yusaku successfully captured a the reluctant Ai A.I. in his Duel Disk, one of [[Number 10 (character)|the Knights of Hanoi ]] threatened to destroy LINK VRAINS. Yusaku quickly entered 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 Ai the A.I. at stake. Ai The A.I. voiced his doubts that Yusaku's Deck could beat "Cracking Dragon", then stirred up a wind [[Data Storm]] in Link VRAINS, starting a [[Speed Duel (VRAINS)|Speed Duel]] between Yusaku and the Knight.<ref name="ep1" />

As Playmaker rode the [[Data Storm]] winds, Ai the A.I. explained how Speed Duels differ differed from [[Master Duel]]s. When Ai mentioned ; including that there are were only three Main Monster Zones, Yusaku wondered 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 his hostage. The Knight took the first turn and swiftly Summoned "[[Cracking Dragon (anime)|Cracking Dragon]]". Yusaku wondered how to counter "Cracking Dragon" and failed to notice a building until Ai told him to dodge it, reminding him that Speed Duels have obstacles besides just the Duel. Playmaker summoned counterattacked with "[[Cyberse Wizard (anime)|Cyberse Wizard]]", surprising everyone watching that he had [[Cyberse]] monsters. Playmaker used the using its effect of "Wizard" to change "Cracking Dragon" to [[Defense Position]] and inflict damage to the Knight, but . He failed to destroy "Cracking Dragon". Ai noticed , something Playmaker wasn't particularly surprised that "Cracking Dragon" couldn't be destroyed, had expected due to which Playmaker said that the Knight didn't react to "Cyberse Wizard" so he figured the Knight was planning something. A tornado formed within the Data Storms confidence.<ref name="ep2">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|2|ref}}</ref>

The Knight activated a [[Skill]], which angered Yusaku because Ai didnthe A.I. hadn't mention skillsmentioned, irritating Playmaker. The Knight used "[[DDoS Attack]]" to inflict 1600 Damage managed to knock Playmaker and knock him off his [[Duel Board]]. , but Blue Angel saved Playmaker by using her whip to throw the Duel Board back at him. Ai noted that a fall from that height could've killed them. The Knight reduced Playmaker's LP to 400 , and he was sucked into the Data Storm tornado sucked him. Inside the tornado, Yusaku figured out Playmaker realized that this was part of Aithe A.I's calculations. Ai revealed that powerful monsters reside resided within the Data Storm, and that Playmaker's skill "Storm Access" allowed him to obtain those Monsters monsters when his LP is 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. Ai 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 Aithe A.I's programming and gave , giving him the nickname "aiAi". Yusaku discovered some video logs that were actually Ai's memories. Ai said claimed that he didn't understand those memories because most they were damaged when he was reduced to an eye, but he did recognize The Knight's the Knights of Hanoi's [[Varis|leader]]. Later that night, messing with Ai caused the 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 found, though he caught a glimpse of the Knight's leaderand his [[Borreload Dragon (anime)|dragon]].<ref name="ep3">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|3|ref}}</ref>

The next day a Knight of Hanoi appeared at in LINK VRAINS while Ai was back at [[Yusaku Fujiki's house|Yusaku's house]], so Yusaku skipped school to go 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 at in LINK VRAINS, Yusaku Playmaker quickly figured out that the Knight was an impostor. The Knight revealed himself to be the 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 stops Playmaker 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, to which ; Playmaker said replied that humans' hearts make them do illogical things. Ai was confused by that statement, but Playmaker didn't explain what it he meant because , 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 was confused by why humans make illogical contradictory choices. Yusaku Playmaker stated that Gore's Duel was meant to entertain the audience and Yusaku himself 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 The Gore for their fight against Hanoi, but Yusaku rejected the idea, saying that he didn't want to drag Gore to face the danger of fighting against theminto their fight.<ref name="ep5">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|5|ref}}</ref>

When Kolter uncovered Skye Zaizen's identity as Blue Angel, and Yusaku realized that Skye was a student at [[Den City High School]] and his classmate. Kolter suggested meeting her in order to find out if her brother [[Akira Zaizen|Akira]], who was the Security Manager at SOL Technologies, knew anything about Yusaku's past or [[Jin Kusanagi|Kolter's brother]]. However, he then started teasing Yusaku that talking to Skye would be impossible for Yusaku 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 Naoki Shima caught up to him. He feigned ignorance when Naoki 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. When another member, [[Sato]], showed him his Duel Disk, he and Yusaku pretended to be interested, commenting on the fact that it was the latest model. Skye remarked that he knew a lot, but he said claimed that it was only because Naoki Shima had bragged about it earlier. Meanwhile, Ai tried to start a conversation with Skye's Duel Disk, which made Skye notice 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 on thisfor 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 come out and Duel her. Ai suggested that he should accept, but he refused, since he only approached Skye attempting to acquire a lead on his stolen memories, and he only Duels Dueled against the Knights of Hanoi, which she wasn't. Despite this, he was visibly embarrassed when the MC declared that Playmaker wasn't a man if he didn't accept. The next morning, Ai read various posts on social media making fun of Playmaker for not accepting. He soon bumped into Skye again, and they said good morning to greeted each other. While walking As they walked to class, Skye asked him why he wanted to join the Duel Club, not believing it was because he loved Dueling. When 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. Soon after, 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 suddenly told him to hold up, and Yusaku scolded him for being too loud. He was surprised, however, when Ai said claimed that a Knight of Hanoi had appeared. He 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 made his decision about accepted her challenge. He was initially oblivious, but angered when he realized that Ai had sent Skye a text message on Playmaker's behalf challenging her. He became angryTo his shock, thinking Ai had tricked him, until Ai told him explained that Blue Angel had [[Dark Angel (anime)|a Hanoi's card ]] in her Deck, which shocked him. He and he realized that this was what Ai was trying to tell him earlier, but . He wondered why Blue Angel would join Hanoi. ,and Ai suggested that Hanoi might be using her to lure Playmakerhim, and asked him what he would do, since he wanted to defeat all Hanoi. Soon after, a Data Storm appearedHe accepted Blue Angel's challenge, and beginning the Duel started.<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 this the offensive strategy was very efficient. He Summoned "Decode Talker" and attacked "Holly Angel" with it, 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. At that moment, as Blue Angel drew "[[Dark Angel (anime)|Dark Angelher next card]]", Hanoi's card. During Yusaku's next turn, he 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 on 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 Hanoi's their influence. She entered 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>

Playmaker then found Blue Angel unconscious while Ai devoured the Hanoi "Dark Angel" card. He was forced to logout log out when security bots were incoming approached them, and he found Skye in a comatose state on the roofof the school. He proceeded answer answered Skye's phone when Akira Zaizen called , and took Skye to the hospital. He then There, he met Akira Zaizen in person, who thanked him and questioned asked about his relationship with Skye, to which he responded ; Yusaku claimed that they were just classmates. Yusaku, Kolter, and Ai then later discussed Skye's condition and a possible cure. Ai said explained that when he devoured Hanoi's card he detected that Skye's brain must be infected by a viruswhen 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 on the [[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, on the other hand ; if it was a SOL agent he could explain them what happened to Skye. After logging in, he identified Blue Angel as a fake and , but he was trapped by her. She as she revealed herself to be "Ghost Gal". Zaizen then logging into LINK VRAINS, who accompanied by Akira who and proceeded to entrap and torture Playmaker , believing him to be responsible for Skye's condition, despite Playmaker and Ai's claims of innocence and that they were looking for an anti-virus, . [[Varis]] appeared and claimed that he would challenge Playmaker for Ai. After , threatening Akira that Skye will would never wake up unless Playmaker defeats defeated him in a Duel, Akira . Zaizen released Playmaker , and vanishedVaris departed. Before Playmaker took his leave, Akira Zaizen pleaded with him to save Skye, despite hating him for his brutal treatment towards him. Playmaker stated replied that he doesndidn't hate Akira, ; he only hates hated the Knights of Hanoi, much to Akira's surprise.<ref name="ep8">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|8|ref}}</ref>

As Playmaker and Varis rode off the Data Wind to commence the Speed DuelStorm, Playmaker expressed his desire to battle the Knights of Hanoi and uncover their true identities. Varis replied that he didn't care about his opinion Playmaker's identity and stated that his only goal was to retrieve Aithe [[Ignis]]; a term that surprised Playmaker. Both sides agreed on several the conditions for their Duel: if Playmaker won, Ai they would eat get the program from Varis to get Skye's body backanti-virus, while if Playmaker lostVaris won, he would give claim Ai to Varis. After that, Varis declared his hatred for AIs and his belief that Ai the Ignis would lead everyone to destruction. Varis also blamed Playmaker for assisting Ai and swore to eliminate him. Varis then waved his hand, causing the engulfed LINK VRAINS in flames to be crushed and replaced with lava rivers and fiery lakes, as the provide a fitting setting for their Duel finally began.<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". 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]].

As Following the Speed Duel progressedDRAW, Varis dragged Playmaker defeated and Ai inside the Data Storm, where they began a [[Master Duel]]. Varis's played defensively with "[[Fire Prison (anime)|Fire Prison]]" and "Cracking [[Linkbelt Wall Dragon (anime)|Linkbelt Wall Dragon]]" with , limiting Playmaker's moves. He brought out "Decode Encode Talker" once more, until but failed to destroy Varis revealed that he had the very same skill as Playmaker's monsters, and Ai's: instead set up to Link Summon "Storm AccessDecode Talker"the next turn. With itHowever, as soon as he Summoned "Decode Talker", Varis summoned used the effect of "Fire Prison" to eliminate all [[Topologic Bomber Dragon (anime)|Topologic Bomber DragonCyberse]]"cards from the field, and began as well as causing Ai to gain the upper handvanish.<ref name="ep9ep10" >{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|10|ref}}</ref> Fearing Varis explained the Ignis to Playmaker; they might lose, Ai led were A.I. with free will that he believed would attempt to conquer the world. Playmaker refused to another Data Stormbelieve him, where the two obtained so Varis Link Summoned "[[Firewall Borreload Dragon (anime)|a dragonBorreload Dragon]]", the monster Yusaku had seen when Varis had been looking for him, and attacked Playmaker directly. HoweverDespite his situation, Varis activated Playmaker remembered the Trap Cardwords 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]] "[[Remote Rebirth Firewall Dragon (anime)|Remote RebirthFirewall Dragon]]", and combo-ed it with ultimately destroyed "Fire Prison," returning Ai to consciousness. The two of them shared friendly banter, until Varis used the effect of "Topologic Bomber Borreload Dragon" to take control of "Firewall Dragon", ending the Speed Duel in a [[DRAW]]. Following that, Varis dragged Playmaker and Ai inside a Data Storm, where they began a [[Master Duel]]. As countered the Duel went on, Varis activated the effect of attack with "[[Fire Prison Cynet Refresh (anime)|Fire PrisonCynet Refresh]]", eliminating all [[Cyberse]] cards from the fielddestroying and then reviving "Firewall Dragon", before re-Summoning "Encode Talker" as well as making Ai seemingly vanish into thin air, declaring that their real battle was just beginning.<ref name="ep10ep11">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|1011|ref}}</ref>

As Playmaker attempted to return "Borreload Dragon" to Varis's hand with the Master Duel progressedeffect of "Firewall Dragon", but Varis gained the upper hand once more informed him that it couldn't be targeted by summoning effects. Playmaker targeted "[[Borreload Magnarokket Dragon (anime)|Borreload " instead, but this triggered its effect to send "Firewall Dragon]]" and attacked to the Graveyard, though Playmaker directly's "Cynet Refresh" protected his dragon. Just as Playmaker Varis was on the verge of giving upamused, he remembered the words someone told him long ago: having three reasons to live and win Duelsended his turn. Playmaker then called out Much to AiVaris's surprise, asking him to lend him his power, as he proceeded to [[Link Summon]] [[Playmaker had "Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall ", protected by "Encode Talker", attack "Borreload Dragon]]", and ultimately destroyed who had more ATK. With "Battle Buffer"Fire Prison," as well as return Ai to consciousnessEncode Talker's" ATK was raised, impressing Varis. Ai was amazed to see the two dragonsTo counter it, until Varis used reduced the ATK of "Encode Talker" with the effect of "Borreload Borrelad Dragon" to take control of , 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 countered with "[[Cynet Refresh Recoded Alive (anime)|Cynet Refreshrevived]]" Decode Talker", whose ATK was boosted up to destroy and revive it back on his field"Borreload Dragon". He then activated However, Varis used "[[Recoded Alive (anime)|Recoded Alive]]Borrel Refrigeration" to make "Magnarokket Dragon" destroy itself to banish destroy "Decode Talker" from . Varis smiled, seeing how close he was to his [[Graveyard|GY]] 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 [[Special Summon]] listen, and using "Parallel Port Armor", he had "Firewall Dragon" attack once more, destroying "Encode TalkerBorreload Dragon" and declared the real battle was just beginningdefeating Varis.<ref name="ep11ep12">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|11|ref}}</ref>

When Playmaker's "Firewall Dragon" used its effect to return "Borreload Dragon" from the field, Varis informed him that it couldn't be targeted by effects. Playmaker targeted "Magnarokket Dragon", whose effect caused "Firewall Dragon" to be destroyed. Instead, Playmaker's "Cynet Refresh" protected his dragon from destruction. 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, and impressed Varis for such a strategy. To counter that, Varis targeted "Encode Talker" with his dragon to reduce the ATK, causing "Encode Talker" to be destroyed and Playmaker's strategy to backfire. While "Firewall Dragon's" ATK was raised by "Battle Buffer", Varis's "Rokket" dragons regained their effects. Varis claimed the match was over, as Playmaker could not attack anymore. The latter made him doubt that, since he could not use the effect of "Magnrokket Dragon". Using "Recoded Alive", Playmaker revived "Decode Talker", whose ATK was boosted up to destroy "Borreload Dragon". However, Varis used "Borrel Refrigeration" to make "Magnarokket Dragon" destroy itself to blast away "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 10 years ago, to recover the time he had lost and wanted to save the person that saved him. Varis was surprised that Playmaker was involved in an incident 10 years ago , He replied he was "that emissary of revenge". Varis claimed Playmaker was a fool to help SOL Technologies out without knowing the truth.Playmaker refused to listen, and using "Parallel Port Armor", he had "Firewall Dragon" attack once more to perform a [[One Turn Kill]]. The attack destroyed "Borreload Dragon", and defeated Varis.<ref name="ep12" /> After Playmaker defeated Varis, he demanded that Varis reveal his true identity and those of the Knights of Hanoi. He was To his shock when he witnessed , Ai eating transformed into a monstrous form and devoured Varis's arm in order to get his data back. Before Varis leftfled, but he he gave the antidote anti-virus for Blue Angel's coma to Playmaker. Playmaker accompanied Ghost Gal back to the church where Akira Zaizen and Blue Angel were, using the antidote to cure Blue Angel to and allow her to log out of Link LINK VRAINS. Akira Zaizen thanked him for saving Blue Angel, but Playmaker logged out before Akira he could finish. Exhausted from the Duels, Yusaku became tired and distressed as he logged out. He asked Kolter if Skye was Skye alright before collapsing. When Kolter showed him the footage on how Skye was doing, Yusaku fell and falling asleep. Ai commented how lazy Yusaku was. Kolter told Ai that heroes needed rest too. 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 about him. Ai. Since they could not prove defiantly claimed that Ai he was actually indeed alive, Ai made that assertion. Ai 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>