So, I finally got off my lazy butt and got back to work on this story. If you haven't been informed, I was stuck because of Ken Kaiba's deck, despite being a Dragon user, and having one blue-eyes in my deck, I hate the Blue-Eyes archetype.

That's also the reason this chapter was a bit on the short side, but I promise, I'll try not to keep you guys waiting in the future for the next chapter!

Chapter 10: Pride and Soul

Title Song: You're Not Me by Marty Bags (Seto Kaiba's Theme)

Marcus opened his eyes as the platform he stood on rose into the center of Memorial Circuit. Across from him was the young man who was supposedly a direct descendant to Seto Kaiba himself.

"I heard that you're a duellist who uses dragon monsters," Ken said. "If that is the case, then we are on even ground."

"I've always wanted to pit myself against a Kaiba, so I'll happily take this challenge," Marcus nodded.

"DUEL!" They both roared, both holding up a dragon themed duel disk.

K: 4000
M: 4000

"I'll go first, and I'll start by summoning the Maiden With Eyes of Blue!" Ken called out.

A woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes appeared before him. She was wearing a bright robe that looked like it was made of the softest cloth. (Lvl 1 0/0).

A monster with 0 attack points? Don't walk into this one without thinking… Marcus frowned, as his opponent slapped down a pair of face-downs.

"Your move," He said.

"And then I draw!" Marcus accepted his card, and quickly formulated a plan.

"Ok… first, I'll summon Soldier Dragon in attack mode!" He said, slapping down a card on his disk. A small red scaled dragon wearing steel armour and holding a lance in one scaly hand and a shield in the other appeared next to him (Lvl 2 700/800). "Soldier dragon attacks Maiden with Eyes of Blue!"

His dragon charged forward, "Maiden's effect activates when she's targeted for an attack, she is switched into defence mode and the attack is negated, on top of that, I also get to special summon a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my hand, deck or graveyard!" Ken smirked.

"When you activate a card or effect, Soldier Dragon can summon a level 2 or lower dragon monster from my deck! I summon a second soldier dragon in attack mode!"

"The Embodiment of my Pride and Soul! Rise! Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Ken's cry was heeded by the massive, silver scaled, blue-eyed dragon, which roared at Marcus. (Lvl 8 3000/2500).

"Man… seeing a Blue-Eyes controlled by a Kaiba… it's an honour," Marcus muttered.

"This is one of the three which have been passed down since my great grandfather's passing, you're staring at one of the originals!" Ken said.

"Fair enough, I'll attack Maiden with my second Soldier!" The second dragon cut down the woman in seconds.

"I'll set two face-downs and end my turn," Marcus said.

Ken drew his own card. "By revealing a Blue-Eyes White Dragon in my hand, I can summon Blue-Eyes Alternative Dragon to the field!" He said.

"Since you activated your effect, one of my Soldier Dragons summons the third one from my deck in attack mode!" Marcus said.

"It doesn't matter, rise, Alternative Dragon!" A dragon identical to the Blue-Eyes already out appeared, but there were black vein-like lines over it's wings and scales. (Lvl 8 3000/2500).

"Next, I summon Kaibaman!" A man that wore an outfit identical to Ken appeared, with a helmet over his hair and eyes, a duel card was in his hand. (Lvl 3 200/700). "And I'll activate his effect! Tributing him allows me to summon another Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

Marcus smirked, "You don't learn, do you? I summon Galaxy Serpent from my deck thanks to Soldier Dragon number 2," He said, a small white dragon appearing to his far right side of the field.

"And you clearly are just stalling here! Appear! Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" A third dragon appeared on Ken's field, taking the place of Kaibaman. "Alright, you have three powerful monsters staring you down, and I'm not done yet, I activate the effect of Alternative Dragon!"

"And I'll summon Totem Dragon from my deck in defence mode!" Marcus said, a long thin yellow scaled dragon with a green circle on it's body, where two yellow wings extended. (Lvl 2 400/200).

"Marcus has stacked his field with little monsters folks, what's he planning?" The MC asked.

"Alternative Dragon can destroy one monster on the field, at the cost of it not attacking this turn! So I think I'll crush one of your soldier dragons!" A white light washed over one of his monsters, vaporizing it.

"Blue-Eyes number 1, attack Galaxy Serpent!" The dragon however didn't move. "Huh?"

"I just activated the trap, Threatening Roar! Now, you can't attack this turn!" Marcus explained.

"Let's see what that wall of junk will get you," Ken grunted.

"Indeed we shall! I draw!" Marcus smirked. "I tune my level 2 Galaxy Serpent with my level 2 Soldier Dragon and Level 2 Totem Dragon!" He said.

"Mighty Dragon, spread your crimson wings and soar to new heights! Synchro Summon! Soul of Scarlet, Red Wyvern!" A red, armoured dragon burst out of the light, bathed in flame, with a plume of fire constantly flaring from it's head. (Lvl 6 2400/2000).

"Red Wyvern's ability activates! Once a turn, I can destroy the monster with the highest attack points, as long as they're above Red Wyvern's 2400!" Marcus said. "Since you have three 3000 attack dragons, I'll blow up Alternative Dragon!" Red flames burst across the field, before Alternative Dragon roared and shattered.

"You haven't changed a thing," Ken noted. "I still have two Blue-Eyes White Dragons which are ready to tear you apart! In fact, I activate Call of the Haunted, so return, Blue-Eyes Alternative Dragon!"

"But since you played an effect, Soldier Dragon kicks into play again, and I'll summon Galaxy Serpent!" Marcus' favourite tuner monster returned.

"And I'll now tune him with level six Red Wyvern and level 2 soldier dragon!" Marcus called out.

"Flames of Purgatory, rise up and burn everything that stands in your way! Synchro Summon! Blaze the world, Trident Dragion!" A three headed, red and white scaled dragon appeared from the sky, and flew above Marcus. (Lvl 10 3000/2800).

"Impressive, but it matches my dragons in power," Ken observed.

In the lobby downstairs, Sarah, Greiger and Daiki all glanced to Emma, who was a little confused herself.

"You know your brother's duel style the most kid, what's he planning?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know, we both agreed we wouldn't share each other's deck, in the off-chance we might duel, so I don't know what he's planning," Emma shrugged. "This low level monster rush tactic is strange for him, since he likes to swamp the field with high level cards."

Yusei gave a small smirk, "I think I know," He said, but didn't elaborate, causing everyone to look at him with a puzzled face.

"I activate Trident Dragion's effect!" Marcus called. "When it's summoned, I can destroy up to two cards I control, and he gains an extra attack this turn for each card fried," He pointed to his own face down.

"Before I destroy this card, I'll play it! Castle of Dragon Souls!" In the clouds above the stadium, in the clouds, a fort stood tall. "It allows me to lock one of my destroyed dragon's souls inside, and a dragon monster I control gains 700 attack points! So I'll banish Red Wyvern to the castle, and Trident gains that much needed power boost!"

A spectral form of his wyvern shot towards the castle, and a light shone down on Trident Dragion (3700/2800). The castle then crumbled, and shattered as the three-headed dragon chomped down on the card. "When the Castle of Dragon Souls is destroyed, I can return one soul from that castle to the field! So welcome back Red Wyvern!"

Both dragons, with all four heads, roared at Ken's three dragons, who growled back.

"It's time to do battle! Trident Dragion, take out Ken's two Blue-Eyes White Dragons with Hellfire Roar!" White hot flames spouted from the left and right heads, slamming into the iconic dragons, and shattering them.

K: 2600

"First score is Marcus' after he unleashes a devastating combo!" The MC announced.

"You're going to regret that," Ken scowled, as Marcus ended his turn, Trident Dragion's attack returning to normal (3000/2800).

"I draw, and I activate the spell card called Dragon's Mirror!" A large mirror appeared in front of him.

Marcus slapped himself, of course he'd have that. "So, by removing monsters on my field and in my graveyard that make up a fusion monster from play, I can summon that fusion monster which lists the monsters I sent."

"Legendary Dragons of Light and Sapphires, merge your might and become the ultimate creature! Fusion Summon! My very heart and soul! Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" Marcus almost dropped to his knees to bow, as the massive, original three-headed dragon emerged, carrying the same colour scheme as the individual dragons. (Lvl 12 4500/3800).

"All rise to welcome this mighty beast back to the grounds of which it reigned once before," the MC said. He wasn't wrong either, as the Memorial Circuit's other name was the Kaiba Dome. Everyone was cheering as Ultimate Dragon spread it's wings and three heads, even Jack Atlas stood and applauded in a rare case of respect.

"Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Vaporize his Red Wyvern!" Ken called. Marcus was too focused on the majestic might before him, therefore, he was jolted awake as Red Wyvern was destroyed.

M: 1900

"Very impressive Kaiba, you really are worthy of the name," He smiled, silently cursing himself for getting enthralled by the mighty dragon and forgetting about Red Wyvern's effect.

"Your turn," He said calmly.

Marcus gripped the top card, and drew. When he looked at it, he couldn't believe it. It was if fate had stepped in.

"I play the spell, Dragon's Mirror!" He yelled.

"Impossible!" Ken snapped.

"Oh it's quite possible, and with this card, I am about to show you who is the new king of Dragons!" He said. "I fuse my two Galaxy Serpents and three Soldier Dragons, all of which are in the graveyard!

Earth, Water, Wind, Fire and Darkness, these five elements are what formed this ultimate beast! Fusion Summon! Reign in Dominance! FIVE-HEADED DRAGON!" A large dragon body of yellow scales and wings rose up, but where the neck usually started, a large steel collar was there, and five long necks, all of different kinds, rose up, to five furious heads, one with watery fins, one of pure fire, one of wind, one of shadow, and one of metallic scales. (Lvl 12 5000/5000).

"I don't believe it! We've got a true clash of titans here folks! If you're watching this at home, do not even think about looking away!" MC all but yelled down the microphone.

"Alright Ken, I think fate stepped in here! Let's end this with a bang! Five-Headed Dragon! Commence attack with Five-God Stream!" All five heads bunched up, energy building up in each of their mouths, before they let loose, the different elements swirling together to form a huge spiralling force of power.

"I think you're right Marcus, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, let's give them a show! Ultimate Neutron Burst!" The other dragon roared, three heads all charging up crackling lightning, and letting their power go free as well.

However, the game gave the rules, and Fire-Headed Dragon's attack overpowered Blue-Eyes', annihilating the smaller dragon.

K: 1900

"But that's not all, Trident Dragion, finish this now with Purgatory Hellfire!" Marcus commanded. His other dragon roared, before breathing red fire that washed over Ken, and ending the duel.

K: 0

As the holograms faded, the audience cheered and applauded with vigour, the noise was so loud that the MC had to call to make them settle down. "Settle down folks, I know you think that was such an amazing duel, and I don't blame you, but with this duel ending, Marcus will be moving on to round two, and Ken Kaiba will unfortunately be forced to watch on from the sidelines."

Marcus saw that Ken was walking towards him, and he did the same, so they met in the middle. "That was an incredible duel," He said.

"Indeed it was," Ken nodded. "But next time we meet, things will go differently," He held out his hand.

Marcus was surprised, but smirked, reaching out to accept the handshake, "This doesn't make us friends yet," Ken told him. "But I'll gladly accept you as my rival."

"Not many people make me go all out like I did today, and I always see them as worthy adversaries and rivals," Marcus nodded. "Until we meet again, Ken Kaiba."

"Until we meet again, Marcus Cersy," Ken agreed, before turning and departing from the arena via the elevator he came in on.

Emma: FINALLY!

Marcus: Well, glad to be back, and I promise I'm going to be more frequent in my uploading of chapters this time.

Sarah: If you didn't see already, Marcus also has a new Fairy Tail story, Kaiser of the Cold, and I'm liking it so far.

Kione: You're not even in it!

Sarah: Yet.

All: Next time: Cops and Robbers!