New chapter. Sorry it's not that long. I'm still trying to ease back in to writing. A new spinoff has also just been published. So, check out Leviathan Reawakening if you get a shot.

Aaron and Shark had their cards in their hands. "I'll go first and just put you out of your misery." Aaron's eye glowed purple for a few seconds examining his hand. "Come forth, Slate Warrior!"

Aaron ended his turn while Shark drew his card. "I play A Legendary Ocean!" The field immediately shifted as water flooded the arena and what looked like an old temple surfaced. "I play one monster facedown along with one card facedown. Bring it!"

"Consider it brought." Ninety-Six forced Aaron to draw his card. "I tribute Slate Warrior and summon Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World. I'll also play two cards facedown. Now, Goldd, destroy his facedown!" The dark creature rushed the field reducing the facedown card, Shark Cruiser, to dust. "Oh, were you hoping for me to destroy that card with an effect? Too bad." Ninety-Six chuckled ending his turn.

Shark drew his card. "I was stalling. Now, I play Panther Shark."

Ninety-Six interrupted. "Where's your tribute?"

"With A Legendary Ocean all water monsters in our hands and on the field lose one level. Now with that in mind, I activate Panther Shark's ability and special summon Eagle Shark from my hand."

Ninety-Six interrupted again. "Now before you go trying to XYZ summon, I play Mystical Space Typhoon and destroy my facedown." The card flipped over to reveal Artifact Scythe. "Now this card has a rather unpleasant ability. "When it's destroyed during my opponent's turn, I can special summon it to my side of the field, and you can't special summon from your extra deck for the rest of the turn." The card took form in attack mode.

"I end my turn." Shark growled.

Ninety-Six drew his card. "I overlay Goldd, and my Scythe to build the overlay network. I XYZ summon Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon."

Yuma watched with Kite on the sidelines. "Why did he do all that just for that card?"

Kite looked at Aaron then back at Yuma. "He's trying to keep as much strain off of Aaron's body as possible. He knows that he's slowly killing him, and any burst of dark energy could be really bad for him."

Ninety-Six continued with the duel. "Adreus, destroy his Eagle Shark!"

Shark countered. "I activate my facedown, Tornado Wall. As long as I have Umi, I'm not taking any damage from your monsters."

"Well, I can always remedy that situation. I activate Ardeus' ability and give up one overlay unit to destroy A Legendary Ocean. Now, Ardreus, continue your attack." Shark cringed as his Tornado Wall was destroyed and life points fell from 4000 to 2400. "Your move."

Shark drew his card. The last turn had been a setback for him. Aaron said something about a card. I need you to help me win this, Aaron. I know that you're still in there.

Aaron struck Ninety-Six with his sword. "Get out of here. This is my mind, my body, and my life!"

"Suppress your rage, and this will be over faster." Dark vines wrapped around Aaron once more. This time they began to form a cocoon with layers being added by the second. "Soon you will be nothing more than a memory."

Please, Shark, win this.

Shark continued with his turn. "I play Pot of Greed and draw two cards." The second card he drew gave off a faint glow. He examined it and saw that he needed it to win. "Next, I special summon Cyber Shark in attack mode. I overlay Cyber Shark and Panther Shark to build the overlay network and XYZ summon Number 73: Abyss Splash! And, I'll have him annihilate your Ardreus by giving up one overlay unit and doubling Abyss' attack." Aaron was knocked to the floor as his life points fell from 4000 to 2900. "I play one monster in facedown defense position and one card facedown. I end my turn."

Ninety-Six drew his card as he forced Aaron back up. "I play pot of greed and draw two cards. Next, I summon Giant Germ and order him to attack your Abyss." Aaron's body shook as it was blasted with 1800 points of damage sending his life points down to 1100. Shark's life points were reduced to 1900 by Giant Germ's effect as two more of the monsters arrived to the field. "I special summon Caligo Claw Crow from my hand. I Overlay my Giant Germs and my crow to XYZ summon Number 96: Dark Mist!" Aaron's body shook harder as cuts began to form oozing the black sludge that made up the monster.

"Stop it! You're killing him!" Yuma shouted.

"And you're next!" Ninety-Six shrieked as he returned his attention to the duel. "I play Rank-Up-Magic Quick Chaos! I overlay Number 96 to rebuild the overlay network. I chaos XYZ summon Number C96: Dark Storm!" Aaron was clutching his chest in pain as he fell to the floor. "Get up!" Ninety-Six commanded forcing him off of the ground. "Dark Storm, attack!" Ninety-Six commanded making an overlay unit vanish as Abyss' attack fell to zero and his grew to 3400.

Shark was about to activate his trap card, but something else happened. The bracelet in his pocket was glowing violently as his deck did the same thing.

"Quit it with the light show!" Ninety-Six shouted.

A card flew from Shark's deck and materialized on the field. It was a warrior who appeared to have shark gills on his neck, fins on his arms, and one on his back. In his hand was a sword that had a blade that protruded from what looked like the mouth of a shark. It had 3000 attack and defense

"What's that?" Yuma asked in awe.

Shark could hear the card speak to him. "Say hello to Shark Spirit Guardian! On the turn that I'm about to lose the duel, I can special summon this guy from my deck. He has more abilities though. You can only target him for an attack, and he's unaffected by spells, traps, card effects, and he can't be destroyed by battle."

"That's some card." Kite said looking at the field.

"No matter, I can still win this. Dark Storm, attack!" Ninety-Six commanded as the creature rushed the warrior.

Shark countered. "I play Orichalcum mirror. Thanks for that Aaron." Ninety-Six growled. "With this card, you can only declare an attack if you can see yourself for what you really are." A rather ornate mirror hovered over to Aaron's side of the field with no reflection visible. "Looks like you can't see yourself clearly. I guess you can't attack."

Ninety-Six growled ending his turn.

Shark drew his next card and looked at his hand. "I can see myself perfectly past and present. I guess that means I can attack you this turn." The mirror hovered by clearly showing his reflection. "I play Dark Hole and eliminate every monster on the field, except of course for Shark Spirit Guardian." Ninety-Six winced as his field was cleared. "Let's finish this! Shark sword slash!" The sword cut through Aaron's body sending him flying back while Ninety-Six was forced out of his body to take the attack. The mirror shattered as the card vanished and the duel ended.

"Nice one." Yuma said running over to him.

"Yeah, I couldn't have done it without Aaron." Shark looked over to the bruised, bloody body on the floor.

"Yeah, well this place is coming down and so is he, so let's get out of here and him to a hospital." Kite told the group as Orbital blasted a hole in to one of the walls. Orbital grabbed Aaron's body as they sped out of the arena. Emergency crews were already on the scene when they got out.

Days later…

Aaron woke up in a hospital bed surrounded by machines and cords attached to his body. He was breathing through a mask. Yuma and his friends were sitting nearby. They all ran over to him when they saw him wake up. "You took quite a spill." Kite said looking down at him.

One of the doctors walked in to the room hearing the commotion. "He isn't ready to talk yet. He still needs to heal, and that mask needs to stay on. You should probably go anyway. All of this attention might excite his wounds."

The others all walked out, but one of Aaron's weak hands grabbed Shark's coat. He pulled back the mask a little bit. "Thanks."

"No problem. Now get some rest." Shark sighed walking out of the room. He had been in this situation before, and he wasn't happy to have to repeat it. He walked down the hall to the cafeteria. He needed a cup of coffee.

If you get a shot, check out Leviathan Reawakening. It's a new story that is kind of a crossover between A New Student a New Power and this story.