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Ai
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Before the Duel began, Ai noted that it was eerily quiet. He was disconcerted when Varis quickly Set "Mirror Force" again, but Playmaker reassured him that he had a plan and attempted to destroy Varis's Set card with "[[Linkslayer (anime)|Linkslayer]]". Unfortunately, the Set card had been "[[Mirror Force Launcher (anime)|Mirror Force Launcher]]", and as it had been destroyed it was re-Set and also Set "Mirror Force". Playmaker was able to gain some advantage, baiting "Mirror Force" with "Excode Talker" and allowing him to revive "[[Restoration Point Guard (anime)|Restoration Point Guard]]" to inflict damage to Varis.<ref name="ep43" /> Varis brought out "Topologic Bomber Dragon", but Playmaker was able to minimize the damage, though Varis retrieved "Mirror Force" with "Mirror Force Launcher". To Ai's shock, Playmaker Link Summoned on his next turn, despite the combined danger of "Mirror Force" and "Topologic Bomber", but Playmaker negated the effects of "Topologic Bomber" and Summoned three "[[Code Talker (archetype)|Code Talker]]s" and made them immune to destruction by card effects, impressing Ai. Varis blocked their attacks with "[[Link Turret (anime)|Link Turret]]" and brought out "Borreload Dragon" on his next turn. Ai was initially unworried, as they had the higher ATK, and Playmaker warned him that he'd forgotten the effects of "Borreload Dragon". "Borreload Dragon" proceeded to singlehandedly demolish their field and Playmaker was reduced to 800 LP.<ref name="ep44">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|44|ref}}</ref> Although Varis hadn't been able to defeat them with his attacks, he still intended to defeat them that turn, and he began reviving his monsters with "Link Turret", shocking Ai with the number of monsters he was able to revive. Varis created an [[Extra Link]], unlocking the true power of "Topologic Gumblar Dragon" to destroy Playmaker's hand and inflict 3000 damage; an effect that could not be negated. Ai was horrified that the effect could not be negated, and asked how they could stop it, taking cover in Playmaker's Duel Disk as the attack hit.<ref name="ep45">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|45|ref}}</ref>
Playmaker was able to save them and stall Varis's attacks by quartering the damage with "[[Drop Frame Wedge]]", but the damage had badly injured him. Ai begged Playmaker to get up, telling him that he had to save his friends. Playmaker asked what the Cyberse was like, and Ai fondly described it to Playmaker, telling him that the Ignis wouldn't harm humanity and only wanted to live on their own. He admitted to using Playmaker, but stated that it had only been due to wanting to return home to his friends. Although Playmaker found the strength to continue, their options were limited, as the effect of "Topologic Gumblar Dragon" would put them in danger of losing if they kept cards in their hand, and Varis swiftly destroyed any cards they played. But despite their situation, and to Ai's utter shock, Playmaker began laughing, and claimed that it was all one could do in such a situation. His next turn went better; Playmaker was able to draw "[[Arrow Charge]]" and draw two more cards. Ai prayed for a good draw, and Playmaker teased him that he thought A.I.s didn't pray. Ai stated that he would this time. Playmaker's cards allowed him to set up a stronger defense with "[[Secure Gardna (anime)|Secure Gardna]]" and "[[Transaction Rollback (anime)|Transaction Rollback]]" just in time before the effect of "Drop Frame Wedge" expired, allowing Varis to attack.<ref name="ep45" /> Varis didn't hold back, using the effects of "Borreload" and "Borrelsword" to prevent them from stopping their attacks, but Playmaker was able to hold Varis off long enough to copy "Mirror Force" with "Transaction Rollback". The effect of "Topologic Gumblar Dragon" prevented Varis's Extra Link from being destroyed, but Playmaker was able to survive the turn.<ref name="ep46">{{episode|Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS|46|ref}}</ref>
As Ai expressed relief at barely surviving the turn, Playmaker smiled, asking Ai if he was giving up. Ai stated that he wasn't, and asked Playmaker to stop smiling as it was freaking him out, and Playmaker replied that he'd try. Playmaker then began trying to convince Varis to stop the Tower, claiming that he didn't have any friends, much to Ai's indignation. Playmaker then expressed a desire to save Varis as Varis had once done for him, and Ai asked in shock if that would mean he'd have to become friends with Varis. Varis rebuffed them, believing that Playmaker was begging for mercy, but Playmaker replied that he wasn't, and Ai cheered that he'd been waiting for this. Playmaker re-established his field by activating the effects of "[[Recoded Alive (anime)|Recoded Alive]]" with "Transaction Rollback", successfully playing around the effect of "Topologic Gumblar Dragon" to Link Summon "[[Firewall Dragon (anime)|Firewall Dragon]]" and Extra Link his own monsters to Varis's, then boost the ATK of "[[Transcode Talker (anime)|Transcode Talker]]" with "[[Zero Extra Link (anime)|Zero Extra Link]]". To Ai's horror, Varis managed to stop their monsters from attacking with "[[Link Short]]", but Playmaker Link Summoned "Decode Talker", who inherited the ATK boost from "Zero Extra Link" and attacked and destroyed "Borreload Dragon", defeating Varis and stopping the Tower of Hanoi at last.<ref name="ep46" />
