There he stood: atop Heartland Tower overlooking the city at sunset. Zak watched him intently and Angel soon picked up on this. Angel and Zak still sat on the hospital bed on the hospital roof. Angel turned her head to look at the mysterious figure now, as Zak had done only a few minutes before.

'It's him…' Angel said quietly.

Zak was shocked; did Angel know the mysterious figure?

'Do you know him?' Zak asked quickly.

'No, but I duelled him,' Angel replied, turning to face Zak, 'He was unbelievably strong. He used a deck called 'Malefic' I think.'

'That's right; he does,' Zak confirmed, 'And Photon. He uses a combination of both.'

'Photon?' Angel's eyes widened, 'But that means… Is he in league with Kite?'

'I don't know. But I hope not. I duelled him before I faced Kite today. He defeated me without even trying.'

'He defeated you? I wonder who he is.'

'I'm more worried about what he's up to.'

Both Zak and Angel turned once again to face the mysterious figure. He was still standing at the top of Heartland Tower. He turned his head the slightest degree; just enough for Zak and Angel to see his glowing silver eye. The mysterious figure moved his head back to face Heartland. He was still wearing the same gear as when Zak had faced him. His entire left arm was covered in a combination of silver scale and plate armour. His duel disk possessed a lesser amount of said armour and was the same kind as Zak's. His hands wore gauntlets that were curved into sharp claws.

As for the rest of him; he wore a cloak which covered the lower half of his face and trailed over his shoulder. When the wind caught it, it looked like a cape. He also wore a deep hood which cast a perfect shadow over his face. A lightly armoured zipped up coat and pants also found themselves worn on his person. His boots also matched the rest of his outfit; black sneakers with a few scales. However, the most noticeable feature of the mysterious figure was his eyes. They were sharp and glowed silver from under his hood. No other features of his face could be made out. Along with this, no skin was visible at all. He seemed to be a living incarnation of fear; a grim reaper of duelling. And his deck perfectly complimented that.

There were only two last things about his person that Zak and Angel had failed to notice. The first was a pendant he wore, but it was concealed beneath his coat. It consisted of a small glowing red gem held in a silver frame. The second thing that was previously unknown to anyone who saw him was a special gadget he wore on his back. It was usually covered by the cloak, but now the mysterious figure needed to use it. Zak and Angel watched him, trying to discern what his motives and identity might be. But their attempt was in vain. The mysterious figure was as silent and deadly as Death himself. Then he took a step forward. And then another and another. He now stood on the edge of Heartland Tower. He was up to something, but only he knew what that was.

Then he jumped.

The mysterious figure simply dived off the tower. There had been no warning; just an instantaneous jump. Zak and Angel were shocked. Wither the mysterious figure was downright fearless or downright stubborn. Whatever the case was, the mysterious figure was now falling full speed toward the sidewalk of Heartland. The mysterious figure then proceeded to activate the special gadget on his back. The gadget itself looked like a small thick plate of black metal strapped to the mysterious figure's back. But upon activation, its sides glowed with a faint blue light.

Two short wings appeared on either side of the mysterious figure. The device created wings, seemingly made from the same substance as the Photon monsters he used. They weren't huge or highly detailed wings in any case. They resembled the malefic wings to a slight degree however. They were barely longer than the mysterious figure's arm span, but they slowed down his flight and allowed him to land safely on the sidewalk below. Zak and Angel could no longer see him now; he'd disappeared behind a building.

As soon as the mysterious figure touched the ground, the wings deactivated and he sped off in the direction of the sunset. His speed and stamina was unmatched as he rushed through the streets, jumping or dodging anything in his path in the blink of an eye. In less than a minute from when he landed, the mysterious figure had covered at least kilometre and he was still rushing along. To those who even managed to see him; he seemed almost superhuman. But he was quick, and to those who didn't see him; thought that he was only a gust of wind.

Back on the hospital roof, Zak and Angel had given up trying to spot the mysterious figure in the streets of Heartland. Zak laid back on the hospital bed and began to stare at the ever darkening sky, his body still badly aching from his duel with Kite only a few hours before. Angel soon joined him and they looked up in silence, at least until the ding of the elevator doors opening broke that silence. Someone was here now. The duo sat up to look at the newcomer striding toward them. Zak recognised who it was and soon, so did Angel. It was Gauche: a previous administrator, and now contestant, in the World Duel Carnival.

Zak faced him and Gauche returned the look. They had never met previously, but they seemed to recognize and respect each other the way only duelists could. Without a word, Gauche reached into his coat, retrieved a sealed envelope and handed it to Zak.

'You'll attend right?' He asked with a hint of a grin, 'She can come too.'

Zak knew Gauche was referring to Angel. He calmly opened the envelope and skim read the invitation within. He had been invited to a special party for the finalists of the World Duel Carnival. Zak had completely forgotten that he was a finalist. After a few moments of thought, Zak looked and Gauche and nodded. Gauche subsequently smiled and looked at Zak.

'Great!' He said in a full grin, 'I'll see you there!'

With that, Gauche turned around and headed toward the elevator. Zak waited for the elevator doors to close before turning to Angel.

'Feel like dressing up?' Zak asked calmly as he handed her the invitation.

Angel took the invitation and fully read it over. She began to smile wildly when she realised what it meant.

'You're a finalist?' Angel exclaimed.

Zak responded by pulled out his finished Heart Pieces. Angel took them from Zak and studied them carefully. She reached into her pocket to get her Heart Pieces. When she couldn't find them, she looked at Zak. Zak simply shrugged and Angel knew what he'd done.

'Should've guessed,' Angel said, trying to sound serious.

She couldn't keep a straight face though and she told Zak that she understood. She said she would've done the same thing in his place. Zak smiled and nodded at her. He had used Angel's Heart Pieces, but now that he was in the finals and had her support, it didn't matter. Zak took the invitation back from Angel and read it over carefully now. The party was tomorrow night. Zak was sure that Kite would be there, even despite his loss to Zak. Zak also knew that Shark and Gauche would be there too since they were also finalists. Other than those three, Zak wasn't sure about anyone else attending.

'We need to get something to wear!' Angel suddenly said.

Zak looked at her and agreed. He hadn't thought about getting the proper attire, but realised that it was definitely important.

'I know,' Angel continued, 'We'll head to my place tomorrow. I already have a dress that I can wear. What about you sweetie? Where's your formal suit?'

'Didn't plan on it,' Zak said shortly.

Angel rolled her eyes. She thought for a moment then clicked her fingers.

'Alright then, after we go to my place,' She explained, 'We'll go to that shop in the mall that sells suits and whatnot and I'll rent you a suit there.'

'You really want to spend all that money on me?' Zak inquired; he was surprised.

'Well, you did save my soul; so I do owe you one,' Angel replied, 'But there's one condition: I get to choose the suit.'

Zak nodded and smiled; he was just glad to see her safe after what had happened the night before. He looked back out at Heartland and wondered what the mysterious figure was up to. Zak felt Angel rest her head on his shoulder. In response, he put his arm around her and rested his head on hers. It was amazing how close two people could come in only a short time, he thought.

'But I suppose it depends on the circumstances,' Zak added mentally.