I'm only going to be able to post one chapter a day from now on. I know, it sucks.

"For his limit break, I draw a card for each rear guard on the field." Kaito said, drawing eight cards, putting his hand up to 12. Okay, not so bad yet. Akira thought in his head as he looked at his hand. A 10000 shield, Greylorn, Scream of Night, One Eyed Executioner, and Jurand, a nullify. He sighed in relief as Kaito started the next part of the limit break. "Now, for every card drawn or discarded this turn outside of my draw phase and twin drive, Thundershock gets +1000 power!" His dragon (18000) roared, and the lightning surrounding its claws seemed to intensify. "I call Voltage Elder Mage (10000)!" An old shaman donning golden garbs and a white staff came to the field. "Now, for his skill. I discard a card, and you have to retire a rear guard. When you run out of those, they come from your hand!" Kaito laughed as he dropped eight cards.

Akira looked on in shock as his units were struck by lightning one by one, and more behind him, as if hitting reinforcements. Only Greylorn and Lakata, his 10000 shield, remained. "Oh, and you remember Calamity Thundershock, don't you? He gains 1000 for every card discarded!" Akira growled as Kaito's vanguard became even more deadly. "Now, I attack with Thundershock (34000)!" The claws of the dragon went straight for the puny thing that was Grave Keeper Dragon, compared to its sheer size. "I don't guard..." "Checking twin drive. Got it, a draw trigger. Power to Plasma Stinger and draw one." "Second check." Kaito smirked. "Critical trigger. Power to Stinger and my vanguard goes critical!" His claws went straight through the skin of Grave Keeper. "Damage check." No trigger on the first check. "S-second check."

A green glow greeted him. "Yes! Heal trigger. Power to my vanguard and recover one." Kaito kept the pressure. "Boosted by Stinger, Elder Mage attacks!" The mage (18000) raised his staff. "Not a chance. Guard with Lakata!" Kaito smirked. "Game over. Stinger attacks." The wyvern (17000) flew in, its tail ready to strike. Akira sighed. "No guard." It connected. "Damage check." He said, his hand shaking. No, I can still win this thing! I have to, to make him see... He reached out again, more confident.

Kaito growled. Another heal trigger? Akira sighed in relief once more. "I end."

Damage Kaito 4/6 Akira 5/6

CiH Kaito 5 Akira 1

"I stand and draw." He raised his card up. "The one who shares his name with death, the harvester of souls, I break ride! My avatar, Elite Reaper Greylorn!" The silver haired reaper stood in the vanguard circle once more. "With the break ride, 10000 power is added to Greylorn and two units return to the field with a 5000 power boost. Come on, Scream of Night (15000) and One Eyed Executioner (14000)! I use Greylorn's counterblast and call three rear guards." Skull Hound went behind Scream, Apprentice Reaper Calek went behind Greylorn, and Alluring Succubus took her place behind Executioner. "With Succubus, I soul charge then I soul blast!" Akira yelled, moving all of the cards to the drop. Thank God that only works during his turn... Akira thought, and continued his build up. "With six cards in the soul moved to the drop zone, my rear units gain 6000 power each, and Greylorn goes critical! Scream of Night's skill. For the entirety of the battle phase, you cannot intercept." The man bat hybrid let out a piercing screech, and the units covered their ears.

"I attack with Executioner (20000) boosted by Succubus (13000)!" The giant of a man (33000) rushed in. "No need to guard." It slashed right at the chest of Thundershock. "Draw trigger activated. Power to Thundershock and draw one." Akira growled. "Next up, Greylorn! When Calek boosts him, he gains an extra 4000 power!" The vanguard (39000) jumped, and made his way up to the dragon's head. "Nullified with Magnetic Dragoon." "Twin drive. First check." Nothing. "Second check." The card glowed a yellow hue. "Critical trigger! All effects to Scream and he attacks!" Scream of Night (32000) flew up. "Guard with Zephyr Kid, (10000) and Seiobo (10000)." It clawed its way through, but was too weak to damage the vanguard (35000). Akira closed his eyes. "End."

Damage Kaito 5/6 Akira 5/6

CiH Kaito 2 Akira 2

Kaito smirked. "Final turn." Akira took a step back. "Ruler of those above the clouds, release your true power. Unlock the full wrath of the storm, and annihilate my enemies! Cross ride! Calamity Thunder Overlord (11000)!" His opponent looked in awe as a dragon bigger than any other he's seen before descended from the dark clouds. It's navy blue scales were covered in black armor. The cyan wings seemed torn, and black horns protruded from its head. Two giant swords made of lightning were in its hands. "If Calamity Thundershock is in the soul, he gains 2000 permanently. And now, for his ultimate break!" The ground seemed to shake as the dragon roared. "I retire my two front row rear guards, and my Vanguard gets 10000 and plus one critical. Now, Overlord attacks Executioner!" Akira took a step back, surprised he didn't go for his vanguard. "N-no guard." Kaito smirked. "Drive check." No trigger, but he only pulled one.

Akira's eyes widened as he realized what that meant. "Yes, this has the same effect as Dragonic Overlord, only this time, he gets a power boost. This is the Merciless Storm! Now for Scream!" The Overlord (23000) went for the hybrid unit. "I don't guard." "Checking the drive." Kaito smirked. "Critical trigger. All effects to Overlord, and he attacks your vanguard!" Akira looked at his hand. I can't...can't block it. "I don't guard." "Trigger check." He smirked again. "Another critical trigger. Again, all effects to Overlord." The blade of Kaito's vanguard (33000) seemed to crush Greylorn instantly. "Damage check." Akira started his check.

No trigger. He fell to the ground, and looked up at Kaito. "Like I said, you're weak." He said, and started to walk away. "Something happened you wish you could have stopped, I know that much." Kaito stopped walking, and turned to find Akira standing next to him. "If you could just tell us. No burden never has to be carried alone." Kaito looked away. "Nice try. Nothing happened. This is the real me." He lied, hoping it would work. "So you've been putting up a charade our entire life? I don't believe that Kaito, and I know you don't either." Akira said, walking in front of him. His friend growled, and pushed him aside. "You clearly don't know anything then." Kaito walked away, leaving Akira feeling different emotions, and one stood out.

Fear, he feared that his friend was gone for good.