"These guys... they're..." Johnny looked around with what almost looked like instinctual fear in his eyes.

"What are you babbling about?" Alice looked at Johnny, estranged and confused. She herself didn't understand the situation too much. Alvarez looks almost... scared. What could it be that's on his mind right now?

"These guys... Corvx... and Regis..." Johnny muttered, suddenly remembering the faces of Jack and Crow as they entered the Void. His memories then flashed an image of the looks of despair on Crow and Jack's faces in the Void. I see... this is my chance to get them back with this Duel... Johnny closed his eyes, clenching his fists tightly.

"What are you talking about? Tell me now, Alvarez" Alice said, taking a step towards him, but she stopped as the boy's eyes were opening.

"Alice, please leave... I gotta handle this myself..." Johnny said, his green eyes revealing a burning aura within them as he took a step towards the shadowy figures ahead. "You remember that duel Rose went through, right?" he asked before looking at the girl.

"Y-yes..." Alice answered, taken aback at the new look in Johnny's eyes. This isn't like the boy I was dealing with back there... Did something just suddenly change him?

"You can't handle these guys... I'll do this myself. If Yusei or the others come looking for me, just don't mention a word of where I went" Johnny said, placing a hand over his chest. "I'll take on Corvx and Regis on my own... the both of them!"

"You're a fool, Alvarez" Alice responded before taking a step at the boy and tapping his chest with her index finger, "Don't try acting so tough. It's not going to get you anywhere. You know as much as I do that you couldn't handle me. Wouldn't it be smarter to bring a more skilled member to help you?" the girl asked.

"Alice, I don't doubt how strong you are..." the boy took the girl's hand and moved it away. "But no matter how strong ya are... you can't handle anything like these guys" Johnny shook his head.

Alice immediately withdrew her hand from his, "I'm just saying that you lost 4000-0 to me, and yet you think I'm going to be in the way!"

"Alice, I'm puttin' my foot down on this. You need to get outta here... things get heavy around Duels like this..." Johnny crossed his arms, looking directly at the girl's violet eyes, staring deep into the dark pools.

"...Stop that tough act!" Alice responded, not taking his decision too well. "You're not any stronger than me if you lost to me 4000-0!" she tried to bring up Johnny's loss once again.

"Alice, I beg of you..." Johnny said lightly, smiling as he patted the girl's head. "I don't want someone to get hurt, this is something I have to deal with."

"Shut up! You think that act is going to not result in hurting someone! Telling another 'where I go, you can't follow' also hurts those around you!" Alice spoke back before taking a step forward towards the shadowy figures as well. "I don't care what you say, I refuse to let you all alone on this! Not if there's a good Duel waiting ahead!"

"Alice!" Johnny walked over to the girl, attempting to stop her with a hand on her shoulder before the girl looked at him with her violet eyes.

"I don't care, Johnny... I don't care if you think I'll be hurt in the process of this Duel... Just pretend you don't know me! Tagging with me should be an honor for someone of lesser skill like yourself!" Alice said almost arrogantly, looking away from the boy again.

"...I don't like it, Alice... but..." Johnny stepped forward towards the shadows. "Come with me, if you seriously do want to..." the boy muttered as he continued to step towards the shadowy figures, their shapes slowly becoming more visible as he walked towards them.

"Hmph, you better be glad I'm coming with you, despite what you did right there!" the girl followed directly behind him, watching the shadows up ahead become clearer images, two men of apparently different styles. These guys don't look so tough...

"So, Johnny Alvarez... have you decided to bring your friend Alice Mizore along for the battle? Are you quite sure you'd like to see your lovely lady there... suffer?" Corvx allowed that one word to slip out of his mouth like a threatening hiss as a black aura appeared around his body. "There's no turning back now, Johnny Alvarez."

"Oh come on, Alvarez, now you know it isn't going to be fun crushing you if your girlfriend's also in the way... Ah, well... it's not like we can't just get rid of her and make you suffer worse pains in your heart" Regis said with a grin across his face as he raised his Duel Disk.

"Shut up about suffering, you freaks, Alvarez here is nothing more than someone who I defeated quickly! Even without him, I'd still kick out both your Life Points to 0!" Alice said with bold confidence.

I suddenly wanna know why I brought this girl along... The hell was I smoking? The boy face-palmed himself. "I don't have to worry about her, Corvx! I'll make sure to defeat you two before you can bring her harm!" Johnny pointed at himself. "This battle is still between you bastards and I! I won't allow you to harm any other innocent lives... and I'll do it by defeating the two of you in a Tag Duel!" he said with powerful resolve in his words, raising his Duel Disk as his Wings of the Dragon birthmark suddenly shone a bright light.

"Then, you foolish boy, are going to drag in that innocent life there" Corvx pointed at Alice.

"Yes, I intend on it... She's powerful on her own. With the two of us, you're going down!" Johnny said with a grin on his face.

"Hmph, Fire and Water? That can only create Steam, Johnny Alvarez..." Corvx shook his head before raising his Duel Disk.

"Let's get this thing started!" Alice said with an excited grin as she raised her Duel Disk as well. Alvarez... I'm going to show you... I'm going to show you my strength! I'm not as useless as you think I am... even without a Signer Birthmark, or a Signer Dragon... I'm still stronger than you!

"Duel!" the four participants shouted.

Johnny: 4000

Alice: 4000

Corvx: 4000

Regis: 4000

Turn 1

"I'll take the first move, if you don't have any arguments, Regis" Corvx took the sixth card of the top of his deck and added it into his hand. "First, I'll begin with Falling Curse. "Now, I select either Player, and they will take 1000 damage while the controller of this card will take a minor 500 points of damage..." Corvx grinned, looking between Alice and then Johnny. "Now, who shall suffer the first attack on their Life?" the man asked with a sadistic tone.

"Tch, I'll take it! I've taken worse than 1000 before!" Alice pointed at herself.

"No! You're after me, Corvx, I'll take the damage! You know you want to end me quickly so you can retreive the missing Blackfeather Dragon and Red Daemon's Dragon!" Johnny placed his hand on his chest. "So why go after someone irrelevant when you can go for your target?" he asked as he took a step forward.

"I see your point, Alvarez... or are you doing this so you can stave off an attack on that girl's life points?" Corvx asked with a hint of teasing sadism.

"Alvarez, why would you want to take the damage! Are you crazy?" Alice looked at him with a bewildered look on her face.

"I've got a plan!" Johnny answered back. Alice... no... I intend on protecting you... With these hands, and this body of mine... I'll protect you, even if my body has to be destroyed!

"Fine then, Alvarez, you will accept the first damage! Take 1000!" the man commanded as the sounds of an eerie chanting could be heard, and a purple aura suddenly surrounded Johnny's body.

"A-AH!" Johnny shouted as his heart began to race, and his Life Points slowly dropped from 4000, decreasing by 10's. "G-gah!" he fell onto his knees as his Life Point parameters shot down to 3000, and he placed a hand over his heart, eyes wide in surprise.

Johnny: 3000

"W-why would you take that for me?" Alice shouted at Johnny.

"It's because... I've got a plan..." Johnny panted, standing up before stumbling. The boy shook his head as he struggled to stand up straight.

"And now, I'll be accepting 500 points of damage..." Corvx said as his Life Points dropped without a single twitch from him.

Corvx: 3500

"Don't you feel the pain either, you?" Alice pointed at Corvx. "If we're the only ones who receive Real Damage, it's an unbalanced game!"

"Oh, we receive the damage as well... however..." Corvx began to chuckle a little bit. "Our bodies are fine-tuned to all forms of torment, pain, and even going so far as to stand near-death" the man pointed at himself. "Essentially, the minor damage you deal to us isn't as harmful as it is to your weaker bodies, Alice Mizore" the man said with that grin across his face.

"Tch..." Alice then looked at Johnny who was just standing there, breathing heavily as he stared at both Regis and Corvx, the targets in his eyes.

"And now, I activate the ability of my Darklord Zetias! When I am inflicted effect damage by a card effect, I can Special Summon this Monster onto the field!" Corvx revealed the level 5 Monster he held in his hand. "So with that, I'll Special Summon it onto the field in attack mode!" a sudden burst of darkness occurred on the field as a shadowy figure erupted from the ground, and its large black wings suddenly unfolded. The shadows slowly faded, revealing a gray-skinned man with large muscles and a heavily sickenining-looking face.

Darklord Zetias: 2300 Attack / 2000 Defense | Level 5

"A strong Monster already, eh?" Johnny asked lightly before grinning. "Expect that thing to be gone once it's Alice's turn."

"I'll end my turn, Johnny Alvarez. Let's see if fate smiled upon you tonight..."

Turn 2

"My move, draw!" Johnny drew his new card. "First, I'll summon my Jurrac Velo!" flames sprouted onto the field as a large dinosaur appeared on the field, revealing it's colorful scales and it roared pridefully.

Jurrac Velo: 1700 Attack / 1200 Defense | Level 4

"Then, I'll set two cards down! Since it's my first turn also, I can't attack..." Johnny looked at Alice and nodded his head at her with a grin.

"What the hell are you looking at, Alvarez?" Alice looked around.

"Nothing..." Johnny shook his head. "Turn End."

Turn 3

"Alright then, Johnny, time to show you a thing or two! Draw!" Regis drew his next card before revealing the Monster in his hand. "First, I'll Normal Summon my Vairon Soldier!" he commanded as a mechanical-looking fairy descended onto the field, beeping as a mystical light wrapped all around it.

Vairon Soldier: 1700 Attack / 1000 Defense | Level 4

"And next, I'll activate two Equip Spells called Vairon Material and Vairon Component! Through these two cards effects, my Vairon not only gains 600 Attack Points, but he also gets the ability to perform pierce damage!"

Vairon Soldier: 2300 Attack / 1000 Defense

"600 Boost and a Pierce, just for those face-up spells? Wait 'til I blow them up and make you cry!" Alice said with bold confidence.

"Now I activate the Continuous Spell known as Vairon Element! The effect of that card is irrelevant until I play this: Weapon of Demise! By selecting two Equip Spell cards on the Field, I can inflict damage to my opponent equal to the power boost they provide..." Regis smirked, pointing at Alice. "Shall I inflict it to that little lady over there?"

"Ye-"
"No, Regis! Remember, your target's standing right here!" Johnny pointed at himself before revealing the Red Daemon's Dragon in his Extra Deck. "You want this back? You're gonna have to beat me! And to beat me... all your damage has to be thrown at me!" Johnny said, pointing at himself.

"Hm, good point, kid... Fine! Take my damage, Johnny Alvarez! Now, you fool, let's see you perish with these thoughts of protecting that girl!" Regis pointed at the boy as the two weapons on Vylon Prism all leaped at Johnny, one of them slipping past him harmlessly, but the other stabbed into his shoulder.

"G-Gah!" Johnny staggered as the weapon dug deep into his Duel Disk arm's shoulder.

"A-Alvarez!" Alice said in surprise, witnessing the weapon bury itself deep into his shoulder.

Johnny: 2400

"And now, my Equip Spells are destroyed" Regis calmly said as the two Equip Spells immediately exploded harmlessly.

"The effects of my Vairon Component, Vairon Material, and Vairon Element all activate! Now, Element's effect will Special Summon "Vairon" Tuner Monsters from my deck whenever a "Vairon" Equip-Spell is destroyed! Reveal yourselves, Vairon Stella and Vairon Cube!" a portal immediately ripped open as two beings of light slowly began to emerge from the portal. Two mechanical angels emerged, one appearing almost like a triangular pyramid with a ring on each tip of its body. The machine beeped and resonated along side with the already present single angel that also beeped. The other appeared very much like a cube with hands, glowing a bright light as it beeped with it's fellow siblings.

Vairon Stella: 1400 Attack / 200 Defense | Level 3 | Tuner

Vairon Cube: 800 Attack / 800 Defense | Level 3 | Tuner

"Summoning more than one Tuner?" Alice questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"These conditions…" Johnny suddenly remembered Jack's Duel against Regis. "No…! These conditions are going to result in…!"

"Yes, Johnny Alvarez!" Regis said with a wide smirk on his face as his deck glowed once again. "However, the effects of my Vairon Component and Vairon Material have yet to be finished. When these equip spell cards are annihilated… I can search my deck for another "Vairon" Spell card of my choice. I'll pick… Vairon Matter and Vairon Filament!" the deck ejected the two cards, placing them into the man's hands.

"You seem like you know something about this, Alvarez" Alice looked at the boy, wondering what was going through his mind. Not only did he just tempt two Fallen Angels into damaging him only, but he seemed to be taunting them into his direction rather than mine. Is this fool… trying to protect me?

"Yeah… what he's trying… is Double Tuning…" Johnny explained, panting as he still felt his wound bleed warmly. Tch, they're going all out…

"Double Tuning?" Alice questioned.

"Double Tuning is a method of using Two Tuner Monsters in order to Synchro Summon a Monster of stronger power. Take it like Yusei's Accel Synchro Summons, except these kind of monsters are usually powerful" Johnny explained twitching.

"And Shooting Star Dragon isn't powerful, that's a strong implication you made there, Alvarez" Alice sweat dropped.

"And now, it's time… I'll Double Tune the Vairon Soldier to my Vairon Cube and Vairon Stella!" Regis commanded as he clenched his fist and the two machines burst into six rings of golden light. "I'll call upon their Shining Soul!" Regis commanded as a golden light shone from his hand. He pointed his palm at the six rings of golden light "Soul of light, guide these fools into your warm embrace! Lead them from the dark into eternal light! Appear now, mightiest envoy of the light!" Regis commanded as the six golden rings spun around Vairon Soldier at increasingly high speeds. "Synchro Summon!" the light exploded with a gold radiance as the field around them began to shift into a holy shrine almost out of nowhere. Large pillars erected from the ground like trees, and then a shrine with a golden statue erupted from the ground. The golden statue had an appearance of a winged machine that was mighty large for its size. The golden light that exploded then surrounded the statue like an aura. "Descend and unleash your judgment, Vairon Omega!"

"Tch… here it comes…!" Johnny braced himself as the statue began to crack little by little.

"What the…?" Alice watched as the statue completely shattered, unleashing a large golden machine with mighty black wings the unfolded to reveal their long, slender forms! The golden machine beeped as a golden aura began to surround Jurrac Velo instantly.

Vairon Omega: 3200 Attack / 1900 Defense | Level 10

"Vairon Omega's Monster Effect! When he's been Synchro Summoned successfully, he immediately annihilates all Monsters that were Normal Summoned!" Regis began to laugh as Jurrac Velo roared in pain. "Purity of Light!" he commanded the ability as the flaming dinosaur shattered to pieces.

"Jurrac Velo!" Johnny watched his precious Monster become nothing but small pieces of digital scraps.

"Next, the powers of Vairon Stella and Vairon Cube activate! By paying 500 Life Points, my Vairon Stella will be equipped to my Vairon Omega. And then, Vairon Cube's effect fetches me an Equip Spell from the deck to my hand! And the one of my choice is… Armed Changer!" Regis added the card from his deck to his hand whilst his graveyard shone with a pleasant light, and the spirit of Vairon Stella appeared. Vairon Omega beeped as the spirit turned into a physical body and morphed into a shield-like apparel that was then equipped to Vairon Omega.

Regis: 3500

"Now that my Vairon Stella is equipped to Vairon Omega, my Omega will annihilate any Monster you dare put in his way! "Next, the ability of my Vairon Omega activates! Once per turn, I take a fallen Vairon Monster and equip it to him from the graveyard! I'll select my Vairon Cube!" the cube-like machine appeared from the graveyard, suddenly transforming into a cannon-like weapon as it then equipped itself onto the Omega's shoulder.

"T-that's… what the…!" Alice watched the large machine as it was slowly advancing and evolving with so many weapons attached to it.

"These aren't angels of salvation, my dear…" Regis said with a soft voice as he brushed some of his hair away from his face, grinning. "These are angels of death" the man said with emphasis.

"Angels of… death…?" Alice questioned, standing her ground. "Your Monster may have some impressive effects, but that's not enough to scare me!" she said boldly.

"A-Alice…" Johnny looked at the girl.

"Shut up, Alvarez. I know you're trying to protect me, and let me let you know… I DON'T NEED TO BE PROTECTED!" the girl placed a hand over her chest and then pointed at him accusingly. "I won't let you risk your Life just because of me. So be glad I'll be letting you risk my neck in this duel, Alvarez!"

"But Alice… if you take any of these hits you might…"

"I won't nothing, Alvarez" Alice nodded her head with a smile.

"I end my turn, kids. Let's see if you can fight back with the current conditions on this field" Regis said with a wide grin on his face.

Turn 4

In order to beat these guys, I'll have to clear off that Vairon Omega first. And in order to do that I'll need to summon something strong... "Alright then, it's my go! Draw!" Alice swiped the top card of her deck and identified it. "Yes! First, I'll start off the with Water Hazard continuous Spell! Now, in these current conditions, I can Special Summon a level 4 or Lower WATER-Attribute Monster if I control no Monsters while the enemy does!" she revealed a card in her hand. "And now I'll Special Summon Strategist of the Ice Barrier!" she commanded as a blue-robed man surfaced from the ground, and opened his scroll, reading it carefully with a grunt and a rub of his white beard.

Strategist of the Ice Barrier: 1600 Attack / 1600 Defense | Level 4

"I now activate his Monster effect! Once per turn, I take an 'Ice Barrier' Monster in my hand and ditch it into the graveyard...!"

"W-wait! Alice, don't do it!" Johnny warned, but it was too late, for the girl took a card in her hand and placed it into her discard pile.

"Too bad, it looks like you're the first to fall for it! Vairon Omega's Monster Effect now activates! When you activate a Monster Effect, I can take a single card that's equipped to him and send it to the graveyard. Next, your Monster's effect is negated and the monster in question is immediately blown away from the field!" Regis commanded as the large machine began to glow with a bright light. A single weapon from it, Vairon Cube, immediately detached itself from the hulking machine as it charged right at the old man.

"Wait... what?" Alice's eyes shot open as the weapon pierced through the old man, and a red static appeared around his body as he shouted with pain.

"Say goodbye to that Monster, Alice Mizore!" the old man immediately shattered into millions of digital pixels along with the Vairon Cube.

"T-tch..." Alice looked at her emptied field. "Dammit... I'll set a Monster, two face-downs, and end my turn" she said, looking at the two fallen angels standing before her. Darn, that wasn't... expected... Vairon Omega... what a powerful Synchro Monster that thing is...

Turn 5

"You fools will never be able to defeat us the way you are..." Corvx said, shaking his head with a sign. "Draw" the man said nonchalantly as he confirmed what the card was. "Now, I'll play my Soul Exchange Spell Card. During this turn, I can conduct a Tribute Summon by using an opponent's Monster as a cost of a Tribute Summon" Corvx explained before pointing at the face-down Monster on Alice's field. "I'll use your Monster as a necessary sacrifice, along with the Darklord Zetias in order to Advance Summon...!"

"Tch, my Blizzed, Defender of the Ice Barrier..." Alice muttered under her breath as the card was converted into a sphere of darkness along with the Darklord Serati on Corvx's side of the field.

"Fallen Lord, aid me in my triumphant goal! I'll Advance Summon my Darklord Asmodeus!" Corvx commanded as a large, muscular angel with dark skin appeared on the field, unfolding its large, black wings as it grunted with might.

Darklord Asmodeus: 3000 Attack / 2800 Defense | Level 8

"This one again..." Johnny muttered, rubbing his temples as he tried to remember the effect of Darklord Asmodeus.

"I activate his Monster Effect! Once per turn, I take a Fairy-Type Monster in my deck and send it to the graveyard... I'll select Darklord Superbia and send it to the graveyard!" Corvx said with a large smirk on his face. "I would strike one of you down, but... the effect of my Soul Exchange prevents me from initiating battle during this turn. You're in luck, Alvarez, and Mizore. Turn End."

Turn 6

"Alright then, Fallen Angels, looks like I'm gonna have to come at ya with a comeback move!" Johnny exclaimed in order to lighten up the mood as he placed his hand at the top of his deck. I only need one of you guys in order to help me out... come on... deck, answer my calls! He quickly opened his eyes and swiped the top card of his deck without looking at it for a moment. His eyes peeked at it, seeing it was green in border. Tch... He then saw what the card actually was. "YES! I knew it wasn't something bad!"

"What the hell are you cheering about, Alvarez? It better be something good!" Alice shouted at the boy.

"Oh it's something that'll definitely help us out! I'll activate the Spell Card called Fossil Dig! Now, I can take a Level 6 or Lower Dinosaur-type Monster from my deck and add it straight to my hand! I'll select... Jurrac Guaiba!" he took the card out from his deck, and grinned at it. "Now I'll activate the face-down card called Tyanno Call! During this turn, I can send all face-up Spell Cards on my opponent's side of the field in order to Special Summon 1 Dinosaur-type Monster, from my hand, with a Level Equal to or less than the Spells that were sent back. And ya know what? I see one Regis' side of the field! Looks like they'll be going back to you!"

"Wait... what?" Regis looked at his Vairon Element. Tch...

"And now, come on out Jurrac Aeolo!" flames appeared on the field, taking on the form of a miniature, hatchling dinosaur with pitiful roar.

Jurrac Aeolo: 200 Attack / 200 Defense | Level 1 | Tuner

"Next, I'll Normal Summon my Jurrac Guaiba!" flames danced on the field once more, spiraling as they took on the form of a savage-looking dinosaur with flames covering its teeth and its yellow body tightening with aggressiveness.

Jurrac Guaiba: 1700 Attack / 400 Defense | Level 4

"What can you do with a pathetically small Monster like that, Alvarez?" Corvx questioned with an eyebrow raised.

"Oh, I'm gonna do plenty! Battle!"

"W-wait! Alvarez, are you stupid?" Alice looked at the boy incredulously.

"No, I'm just me! Jurrac Guaiba! Go, attack Darklord Asmodeus!" Johnny commanded as the vicious dinosaur heeded its master's command, running towards the obviously larger Fallen Angel with a loud roar as the fallen angel began to raise it's fist.

"Alvarez, you fool, it appears the wounds have gotten to your thinking capacity. Now perish!" Corvx said loudly as he pointed at his Fallen Angel.

"Sorry, but it looks like your Asmodeus over there's the one doing all the perishing!" Johnny said with a wide grin as Darklord Asmodeus suddenly grunted with pain, and the dinosaur leaped above the angel's head. "GO FOR IT, JURRAC GUAIBA!" Johnny cheered as the dinosaur tore through the fallen angel with a single bite, and its flames completely surrounded the angel's body!

"T-tch... what the...?" Corvx watched as his Monster was being defeated by battle almost out of nowhere!

Darklord Asmodeus: 1500 Attack / 2800 Defense

"How the hell did he go down to 1500 Attack?" Corvx's eyes shot open in surprise.

"Yeah, while you were all so busy thinking that my Jurrac Guaiba was gonna lose that battle..." Johnny revealed a card in his hand. "I activated Shrink, just during the Damage Step!"

"D-Damage Step!" Corvx's eyes widened.

"Damage Step... brilliant, Alvarez! That's the point where only Attack/Defense-altering cards can be activated!" Alice said with what almost sounded like excitement in her voice.

"He activated it during the Damage Step! Tch... what a smart kid..." Regis said with mutter before grinning. "Ah well, he knows that if he tries to use Guaiba's effect, he'll let himself get screwed over..."

"And now, for Shrink's Effect. When activated, I select a Monster on the field and halve it's attack score! Jurrac Guaiba? Weaker than that guy? HA!" Johnny grinned. Jurrac Guaiba roared as it's enemy shattered to pieces, leaving small embers to tickle at Corvx's body.

Corvx: 3800

"Now then, Corvx, when my Jurrac Guaiba destroys a Monster by battle… I can activate his effect in order to Special Summon another friend of his from my deck!" Johnny commanded, expecting Regis' response.

"My Vairon Omega's Monster Effect now activates! When a Monster Effect activates, I can ditch an Equip card attached to him in order to negate and destroy your precious Monster!" Regis instructed as the large machine sprouted the spear-shaped Vairon Stella. "Your monster will now perish, Johnny Alvarez!" Regis laughed as the spear shot out towards Jurrac Guaiba, piercing the dinosaur as it roared in pain.

"Sorry, Guaiba…" Johnny muttered under his breath as a red static appeared around the dinosaur's body, and it shattered into digital shards.

"Next, my Darklord Asmodeus' Monster Effect activates! When he's been destroyed, I can Special Summon two special little tokens!" Corvx instructed as two arms rose from the ground, appearing to look like Asmodeus' arms before it vanished from Guaiba's attack.

"I know about this…" Johnny muttered, watching carefully before looking at Alice. No matter what she says… I have to keep her safe…!

"First, I Special Summon an Asmo Token!" the arm morphed into a miniature version of the dark angel that originally stood before Johnny, crossing it's arms.

Asmo Token: 1800 Attack / 1300 Defense | Level 5

"And now… Deus Token, arise!" another miniature version of Darklord Asmodeus appeared on the field, this time in Defense Position rather than Attack Position.

Deus Token: 1200 Defense / 1200 Defense | Level 3

"Thanks to that, you ain't got an equip on your Monster!" Johnny said with a wide grin, pointing at the machine that was now rendered without a single weapon attached to it.

"Doesn't matter, kid, I can equip as much as I want to Vairon Omega each turn!" Regis said with a smirk across his face.

"I'll activate Jurrac Aeolo's Monster Effect! By releasing this little guy, I can evolve him into a better Species of my choice! Be revived, Jurrac Velo!" Johnny commanded as the miniature dinosaur's body exerted tiny flames, and it began to transform into a taller dinosaur, now taking on the form of a green-bodied raptor with a blue head and a long tail.

Jurrac Velo: 1700 Attack / 1200 Defense | Level 4

"I'll set one card face-down, and I'll end my turn there! Come on, let's see what'cha got!" Johnny pointed at Regis.

Turn 7

"Keep tempting fate, kid, it's gonna make me a little less merciless on you. I'll activate Vairon Omega's effect!" Regis pointed at the large machine as it echoed with loud, reverberating beeps. "Once per turn, I can fish up a single 'Vairon' Monster in the graveyard and equip it to him!" Regis commanded as Vairon Cube arose from the graveyard with a beep, re-attaching itself to Vairon Omega's body in the form of a gatling gun! "However, that won't be staying there for too long, because I Normal Summon my Vairon Hapto!" another machine appeared on the field with loud beeps as it began to shine brightly with a heavenly radiance.

Vairon Hapto: 1800 Attack / 800 Defense | Level 4

"Next, I activate the effect of my Vairon Hapto! Once per turn, I take a Vairon Monster that's equipped to another Monster, and Special Summon it right onto the Field!" the gatling gun shifted away from Vairon Omega, returning to it's original form as a shining mechanical cube.

Vairon Cube: 800 Attack / 800 Defense | Level 3 | Tuner

"Now then… it's over! I'll tune the Level 4 Vairon Hapto to the Level 3 Vairon Cube" Regis commanded as three rings of white surrounded four orbs of light. "Reigning from the heavens above, answer your master's call now! Eliminate the enemies of the light, eliminate those who dare oppose the god above!" he chanted as the light began to explode all around them, and the shrine surrounding them echoed with the voices of a thousand angels.

"What the?" Johnny looked around, trying to find the source of the noise.

"I'm not liking the looks of this too much…" Alice commented, looking around. I'm wide open in my current conditions… My face-down card can easily stop one of them, but I'll still be taking damage this turn… I have enough to live this turn through though…

"Synchro Summon!" the light burst, revealing a large machine that beeped mightily, reaching an arm out towards the enemy with a grunt. "Descend, Vairon Delta!" the man commanded as the machine began to glow with a radiant light as well.

Vairon Delta: 2800 Defense/ 1700 Attack | Level 7

"Sorry, but I got a trap for ya!" Johnny clicked the button to reveal his face-down card. "I'll activate Hunting Instinct! When you Special Summon a Monster, I can Special Summon a Dinosaur from my hand!" Johnny revealed his Jurrac Stauriko. "I'll Special Summon this little guy onto the field! Come on out, Jurrac Stauriko!" Johnny commanded as he slammed the card onto his Duel Disk, and the holograms projected a miniature dinosaur in defense mode.

Jurrac Stauriko: 500 Attack / 400 Defense | Level 2

"Next, I'll equip Vairon Filament to my Vairon Omega! Now, with him equipped by this card, whenever he attacks, you cannot activate Spells/Traps in response to the battle!" Regis said with a wide grin across his face.

"W-what!" Johnny's eyes widened in fear of what he said.

"Finally, I'll use my Heaven's Path spell card. While I control only 2 Fairy-type Monsters, all players are permitted to draw 2 cards" Regis said carefully as both he and Corvx swiped the top two cards of their decks and added it to their hands.

Both Johnny and Alice did the same, and Johnny stared at the newly added card in his hand.

"Is it something good?" Alice whispered to Johnny.

"Kinda... but I wish I drew it on my turn rather than the opponent's turn, just to be honest..." Johnny sighed, scratching the back of his head.

"Battle! Vairon Omega attacks that pathetic Jurrac Velo!" the large, black-winged machine began to ascend into the sky as it pointed a single hand at the flaming dinosaur without a single regret. The machine beeped and a light began to shine in it's hand, and a large laser of light shot forth at the dinosaur.

"Gotta stand my ground…!"

"Why're you attacking only Johnny! I'm still here!" Alice shouted at the enemy, as if trying to divert the attack.

"Alice, don't…" Johnny shook his head at her.

"But… if you take this damage, you'll also feel the pain! Wouldn't it be easier if I took the damage too!" Alice argued.

"It'd be easier, yes, but… I don't want you to be hurt, that's just it" Johnny responded with a smile before the laser shot through Velo, causing the dinosaur to scream loudly.

"Y-you idiot!" Alice shouted, turning a little red.

"Wah!" Johnny leaped out of the way to avoid the laser, however it slipped past his arm lightly, and he grunted with pain. "Tch… that stuff burns!" he exclaimed, looking at his arm as he noticed a slight burn on it. Phew, 'least it didn't get chopped off… Johnny then looked at Regis, who was just grinning like a wild animal.

"I'll assume that hurt, right, Johnny boy?" Regis asked with the grin still on his face, his eyes showing how much he was enjoying the pain Johnny was being put through. "Don't worry, little Alice Mizore… you'll feel the same pain when we're done punishing your little boyfriend here…"

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Alice shouted in retort.

Johnny: 900

"I'll activate Jurrac Velo's Monster Effect! When he's been successfully destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon a Jurrac with 1700 or Less attack from my deck! I'll bring out my… Jurrac Gallim!" Johnny commanded as a tiny dinosaur appeared on the field, in defense position, alongside the Jurrac Stauriko.

Jurrac Gallim: 1200 Attack / 0 Defense | Level 2 | Tuner

"And now, I'll end the Ba-" Regis said before Johnny clicked a button on his Duel Disk.

"Trap Card open, Fossil Excavation! With this card's effect, I ditch a single card in my hand in order to Special Summon a Dinosaur from the graveyard! However, the effects of the Dinosaur are negated… be revived… Jurrac Herra!" flames encircled the field as a large dinosaur appeared on the field with large cannons on it's shoulder.

Jurrac Herra: 2300 Attack / 1500 Defense | Level 6

"How did that thing ever reach the graveyard?" Regis questioned with a surprised expression on his face.

"Remember, I had to ditch a card… so he became a valid target the minute I ditched him!" Johnny said with a wide grin as he clicked the last button on his Duel Disk. "And now, Trap Card… open!" Johnny shouted as yet another Trap Card flipped open on his side of the Field.

"What could you be trying to do?" Corvx questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Urgent Tuning! With this card's power… I'll Tune during the Battle Phase in order to replace my Monsters with something wayyy better!" Johnny clenched his fist as his Signer Mark began to glow with a fierce light. "This is… the only way I'll be able to fend you guys off!" Johnny shouted as he pointed his palm at the three dinosaurs on his field. "I'll Tune the Level 2 Jurrac Stauriko, Level 6 Jurrac Herra and Level 2 Jurrac Gallim!" two rings suddenly surrounded eight orbs of light.

"W-what? A level 10 Synchro Monster?" Corvx responded.

"What stupidity are you trying to pull here?" Regis questioned with an eyebrow raised.

"Johnny, what're you doing…!" Alice raised an eyebrow, unsure of what Johnny was going to perform in this turn.

"Falling from the heavens like a shooting star! Flames of victory strike the earth and purify the land of your fallen brethren!" Johnny chanted as the light reverted into ten orbs of flame, shooting upwards and into the sky!

"How pretentious, the Synchro Summon you're trying to perform isn't even willing to show it's form to us. Are you quite finished, Johnny Alvarez?" Regis asked as he began to place a hand on a single card in his hand.

"Not just yet! Synchro Summon!" Johnny commanded as his Wings of the Crimson Dragon mark shone brightly and the sky turned into a sudden crimson.

"What the?" Regis looked up as something in the distance could be seen in the sky.

"Rain, Jurrac Meteor! When Jurrac Meteor is Synchro Summoned… he annihilates the entire field!" Johnny instructed as he made a mad dash towards Alice, throwing his arms around her as if to protect her from something.

"A-Alvarez! Release me at once!" the girl protested, turning several shades of red out of pure embarrassment.

"What are you…" a large, crystallized rock could clearly be seen descending upon the field, falling rapidly as flames surrounded it's entire body!

Jurrac Meteor: 2800 Attack / 2000 Defense | Level 10

"Oh damn!" Regis took cover.

"Tch, so this is what Johnny Alvarez had to resort to!" Corvx's eyes shot open before taking cover as well. The crystallized rock landed onto the ground, shattering as multiple flames shot about, and Vairon Omega and Vairon Delta screeched in pain along with the Deus Token on Corvx's field. All the facedowns on both players' fields slowly lifted and then shattered to pieces, along with Alice's face-up Water Hazard.

"Ahhhh!" Johnny shouted as the flames lashed at his back, and several of the shattered rocks smacked into his spine. T-tch… this is what real damage from a meteor feels like…! he began to pant heavily as the pain shocked his entire body. Slowly, the flames began to die down, leaving behind nothing in its wake.

"Tch…" Regis said getting back up unscathed from the explosion.

"He wiped our fields clean…" Corvx muttered as a note, observing the currently empty field, but he noticed that a single ember burned.

"A-Alvarez…" Alice whispered.

"I'm… fine…" Johnny said with a strained grin on his face as he moved away from the girl, turning around and pointing at the ember on the field. "The last part of Jurrac Meteor's effect… when he successfully destroys the field… I can revive a Tuner Monster in the graveyard… come back… Jurrac Gallim!" the boy said with a pained grunt as the flame transformed into a single Dinosaur in defense position.

Jurrac Gallim: 0 Defense | 1200 Attack | Level 2 | Tuner

"U-ugh… I'm… tired…" Johnny said taking a step towards where he originally stood before looking at Alice. "You can handle this… right…?" Johnny said before falling forward.

"Alvarez!" Alice shook the boy, trying to wake him up. "A-Alvarez! Wake up! Wake up!"

"Too bad… it seems as if he couldn't take any more pain from just protecting your weak self…" Regis said with a large grin across his face.

"Now that he's unconscious, he is rendered without a turn, and will lose 200 Life Points per each turn of his that he cannot perform" Corvx explained.

"What! That was never agreed upon!" Alice shouted.

"Too bad, little girl, you're facing us" Regis said with that grin on his face.

This is bad… if I can't get Alvarez to wake up… he might end up actually… Alice looked at Regis and Corvx. The girl was now rendered alone against two beings that were beyond mere human comprehension. Can I really fight back...? the girl began to doubt herself a little bit before looking at the top card of her deck, beginning to pull it. If I quit, would Alvarez be spared? If I were to surrender... would we survive? My brains are telling me to do it, but my heart's telling me to keep this Duel going for Johnny's sake...

"It's your move little girl, make it" Regis said with a chuckle.


Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, etc.

Author's Note: I'm not feeling inspired lately, so you'll notice some brief delays between each chapter, again. I apologize.