# Chapter 23 Yusho Sakaki
Aster Phoenix collapsed under the sword's gleam, unconscious, a card torn in half falling from his body.
At this moment, Yūga Hōzumi was in no better state. After the Duel ended and he exited the ZEXAL State, the excruciating pain throughout his body made him stumble, nearly falling to the ground.
Fortunately, an arm steadied him.
Yūga Hōzumi struggled to lift his head, looking at the owner of the arm.
"Are you alright?" It turned out to be Kaito, who had finally arrived to provide Support.
"Still alive. Are you here alone?" Yūga Hōzumi forced a difficult smile.
"Allen and the others should be here soon. It takes some time for them to gather the Troops."
"Help me over there. Once we Turn this guy into Cards, we should retreat. If his main force arrives looking for him, we'll be finished," Yūga Hōzumi said weakly.
Kaito helped Yūga Hōzumi over to the unconscious Aster Phoenix. But just as Yūga Hōzumi aimed his Duel Disk at Aster Phoenix, the half-torn card beside Aster Phoenix suddenly flashed.
A middle-aged man in red attire appeared before them.
Faced with the sudden appearance of the man, Yūga Hōzumi and Kaito instinctively prepared for battle, until Kaito recognized the newcomer's face.
"Yusho Sakaki..." Kaito gritted his teeth as he spoke the man's name.
The suddenly appearing Yusho Sakaki seemed not to have fully grasped the situation. After looking around, he turned to Kaito and Yūga Hōzumi. "Kaito? And you are... Chief Yuan Youhao of Heart Academy? Then, this must be the XYZ Dimension, right? Has the War escalated to this extent?"
"Move," Kaito said coldly, showing no politeness towards the man who was once his Teacher.
"Aster Phoenix?" Yusho Sakaki noticed the unconscious Aster Phoenix behind him, and the half-torn Smile World beside him.
"It seems this Card has brought me here again..." Yusho Sakaki said, bending down to pick up the half of the Smile World.
"I said move. Didn't you hear me?" Kaito said coldly.
"You intend to Turn him into Cards?" Yusho Sakaki frowned, glancing back at the unconscious Aster Phoenix.
"That's right, just like what he did to our comrades," Yūga Hōzumi replied. Faced with Tomato's father, the root of all evil, Yūga Hōzumi naturally wouldn't show a pleasant face. Moreover, it seemed he was trying to stop them.
"Stop, young man. Your actions will only perpetuate hatred; they won't solve the problem," Yusho Sakaki advised.
"If you can't solve the problem, then solve the one who caused it. He seems to be one of those who caused it," Yūga Hōzumi's answer was blunt and direct.
Yusho Sakaki's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing Yūga Hōzumi's words, but he showed no intention of moving away from Aster Phoenix.
Seeing this, Yūga Hōzumi quietly asked Kaito, "Can we finish this quickly?"
Kaito thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm not familiar enough with what you gave me. I probably can't deal with him quickly. It would be bad if it dragged on until the Obelisk Force arrives."
After speaking, Kaito looked at Yusho Sakaki. "So, this time, are you on their side, Yusho... Teacher?" Kaito almost shattered his teeth as he uttered "Teacher."
"No, Kaito, I just want this War to stop. What you're doing will only perpetuate the hatred," Yusho Sakaki replied.
"Let's go, Kaito." Seeing that nothing more could be done, and with his body already on the verge of collapse, Yūga Hōzumi had no interest in continuing to engage in Verbal Persuasion with this old man. He spoke to Kaito, who was supporting him.
"Are we just letting this guy go?" Kaito glanced at Aster Phoenix behind Yusho Sakaki, asking unwillingly.
"No choice. He won't be so lucky next time," Yūga Hōzumi said, equally unwillingly. He had finally defeated the opponent's General, only for an unexpected wrench to be thrown in. Thinking of this, Yūga Hōzumi gave Yusho Sakaki a deep look:
"Listen well. You saved him this time. So, from today onwards, any revenge for our companions who die because of this guy will also include you. Your Native World is the Standard Dimension, right...?"
With that said, Yūga Hōzumi turned and left, supported by Kaito.
Meanwhile, after hearing Yūga Hōzumi's words, Yusho Sakaki watched their retreating figures, letting out a long sigh, and looking at the half of the Smile World in his hand.
After a long while, once Yūga Hōzumi and Kaito had gone far away, the sounds of the Obelisk Force's main force, who had tracked Aster Phoenix via his vehicle's location, began to drift from afar. The half of the Smile World in his hand shone once more, and Yusho Sakaki also vanished from this Dimension.
On the other side, Yūga Hōzumi, still supported by Kaito, sighed in relief upon seeing the main force brought by Shinjō Katsu and a few others. The tension he had been holding onto finally released, and he promptly fainted.
...
Fusion Dimension, Yusho Duel School.
Yusho Sakaki returned to the illegal Organization in the Fusion Dimension. Just as he found a place to sit, a girl walked in.
"Teacher, where did you go? Everyone was looking everywhere for you, thinking something happened," the girl said anxiously.
"It's Asuka. Nothing's wrong, I just went out for a walk," Yusho Sakaki replied, snapping back to reality and speaking absentmindedly.
"Teacher, do you seem troubled? Did something happen just now?" Asuka noticed Yusho Sakaki's preoccupied demeanor acutely and couldn't help but ask.
"I'm fine. Could you help me prepare for tomorrow's lessons?" Yusho Sakaki said.
"Teacher..." Asuka hesitated, wanting to speak, but after a moment's thought, she remained silent and turned to leave.
After Asuka left, Yusho Sakaki looked at the half of the Smile World in his hand. In his mind, Yūga Hōzumi's gaze before leaving lingered.
After a long while, he let out a long sigh, remarking, "Akaba Leo, you've unleashed a monster."
...
Three days later
Yūga Hōzumi opened his eyes, laboriously sat up, and surveyed his surroundings.
"Is this... a Hospital?"
"You're awake." A cool voice sounded from beside him. Yūga Hōzumi looked in the direction of the voice; the owner of the voice was wrapped from head to toe in bandages like a mummy. Fortunately, the guy's face was still exposed.
"Yao? Where is this?" Yūga Hōzumi asked.
"The Hospital in Orion District. During the three days you were unconscious, everyone outside was moved in," Sugihara Yo replied.
Yūga Hōzumi felt a bit relieved at this, then turned and asked, "Was the relocation smooth? Those Fusion Dogs didn't make any other moves, did they?"
"Their Commander is still in the ICU right now, what moves could they make?" Sugihara Yo said. "Since you're awake, go find Garros and the others. After all, as the Leader, you still have things to do."
"They've already relocated? Then..." Yūga Hōzumi summoned his System panel.
[Congratulations, Host, for defeating the Legendary Duelist, Aster Phoenix! Reward: One UR Dream Ticket, one random Number Monster Prize Draw opportunity, one Dimension Travel opportunity.]
Yūga Hōzumi ignored these Rewards and directly opened his Main Quest panel.
...
(end of chapter)