-1When I first started playing Duel Monsters, I went through various deck types…

Warriors…

Spellcasters…

Machines…

I even went through various monster families, like Leo's Airknights, Van's Heroes, and even Ganryu's Samurai…

Although, I didn't use those types (and truth be told, I didn't even know that some of those monster families even existed), but when I got a hold of my Elf Deck…well, something just clicked…

A great duelist once said that sometimes the duelist chooses the cards, or the cards choose their duelist. Maybe my cards chose me, or it was the other way around…

Either way, I know that the person before me now, she seems like she was chosen by her cards. Why they chose her?

…well…I don't really know…

/--/-/--/-/-//--/--//

Chapter 37

A Lone Duelist Known

/--/-/-/--/-/-/-//

"…oh great, I get you two…" Kryancelo sighed loudly appearing almost out of no where, freaking out the two girls.

"Oh! Uh, hey there Professor Kinsman," Rena greeted with a slight bow.

"Prof. K, haven't seen you since the spring," Erika chuckled.

"…just to let you know…I hate you both," Kryancelo admitted with a dull look on his face as he turned towards Rena. "You…for getting that cold hearted samurai to embarrass me!"

"Wait…so you're the one who got in without an entrance duel?" Erika asked blinking in confusion towards Rena.

'And here I thought everyone forgot about that…' Rena thought to herself lowering her head even more so.

"And you!" Kryancelo growled narrowing his eyes towards Erika. "I still haven't forgiven you for putting hair dye in the water heater last year!"

"Oh, come on, it was a harmless little prank," Erika giggled winking towards Kryancelo.

"…you act like a tomboy most of the time," Kryancelo growled slapping his face with his palm. "And when you're in trouble you put on that girlish charm…that doesn't work on me!"

"…um…didn't we have a match to get on with?" Rena asked with a sweatdrop appearing on the side of her head.

"Right…now then," Kryancelo coughed with a slight blush to his face. "Why don't both of you just select your deck masters, and we can…"

"Not so fast Prof. K!" Erika announced raising her hand up. "This is the first round of the finals! We need to add some show, a little passion! Light the fire got this duel!"

"Um…excuse me?" Rena asked with a large question mark appearing over her head. Was it possible that this girl was more a of a showboater than Cleo?

Lifting her hand up into the air, Erika just smiled while many holographic firework explosions erupted behind her. Rena and Kryancelo just sweat dropped at the flashy holograms while Erika shot a thumbs up towards Rena. "Through out this academy and on the cold streets of Manhattan, my name has rings through the air…"

"…famous for the many pranks that everyday someone falls prey to…known as the great…the legendary Prankster! Erika Terrance!"

"Never one for being subtle, as always…" Kryancelo sighed rubbing his forehead. "Always had to go for the flashy…"

"She kinda reminds me of Cleo…" Rena laughed weakly with her eyes closed.

"Ahem! Anyway, can we please get on with the duel?" Kryancelo shouted making all of the holographic fireworks to fizzle out.

"Aw, you're no fun," Erika pouted crossing her arms. "Its no wonder why you're my favorite target."

"Well, I can see how he'd be a target," Rena giggled taking note that Kryancelo was starting to fume greatly. "But…"

"But nothing! Get the duel on already!" Kryancelo shouted slamming his foot into the ground, sending a loud echo through the caves.

"Oh you should've been here last year," Erika snickered wagging her finger, apparently she was ignoring Kryancelo even more as he began to pull the sides of his hair. "I managed to put blue hair dye into the Ra Yellow sprinkler system and managed to make all of the Ra Yellows become Ra Blues for at least two or three weeks!"

"And Prof. K…well, he was locked up in his room for three weeks trying to get all of the dye out of his clothes, hair and skin!"

With that little thought in her head, Rena couldn't help but giggle at the thought of a pure blue Kryancelo…

…Kryancelo was less thrilled with the flash back in his mind. "DAMN IT YOU TWO! GET THIS DAMN DUEL GOING ON OR I'M GOING TO DISQUALIFY BOTH OF YOU!"

"R-Right sir!" Rena and Erika shouted at the same time lifting their duel disks.

/-/-/--/-//--/-

Meanwhile…

"OH! I can't believe I'm facing against you!" Beck exclaimed with a large blush on his face as many hearts began to fly around Beck's body.

Riko was surprised at that voice…and he could only imagine what sick thing Beck was doing at the time.

…lucky for him…

"…So…Beck, I didn't think I'd be facing you so soon," Riko sighed pushing up his sunglasses with his middle finger. "I don't know whether to call it lucky or unlucky…"

"Luck has nothing to do with it, handsome!" Beck replied with hearts appearing where his eyes were. "I prefer to call it…divine intervention! We were fated to face each other here, Mr. Kamika!"

Standing at the side of the two in the cave, Weevil was completely stupefied by Beck's actions. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What are you talking about Mr. Underwood?" Beck asked the hearts still dancing about his body with a slightly confused look on his face. "I'm perfectly fine!"

'Maybe not so much in the head probably…' Riko thought as he lifted up his dueling deck. "Now then…before my lunch comes up…"

"Oh! But, at least let me continue my praise of you, Mr. Kamika!" Beck pleaded as many of the hearts around his body began to crack. "It's not everyday that you get the chance to beat one of the best duelists around…"

"Ahem…in case you've forgotten, I've faced off against," Weevil coughed with a confident smile on his face.

"Yes, yes, we know you dueled against Yugi Motou and Joey Wheeler," Beck snapped with his eyes narrowed down at Weevil and the hearts shattered like fragile glass. "And we know that you lost to both of them! So get your head out of the past and your ass and let me continue with my work!"

"…ouch…" Weevil moaned lowering his head.

"That seemed a little much," Riko admitted. Not even a previous cheating sneak deserved to be treated like that.

"Eh, you gotta be firm with those who don't listen," Beck chuckled rubbing his chin. "Especially those who just love making the same mistakes over and over again…"

"…I'll have to follow your advice," Riko stated activating his duel disk. "Cause you just keep making the same mistake over and over as well!"

"Huh?!?" Beck questioned blinking a few times as tears began to form up in the corners of his eyes. "W-What'd I do?"

"…you've made me mad…" Riko replied simply.

/--/-/-///--/----//

"Deck masters…now!" Kryancelo shouted making both of the girls stiffen up like boards of wood.

"Yeesh…have a little patience will ya, Prof. K.?" Erika asked rubbing the back of her head.

"Just do it…" Kryancelo snarled, fire appearing in his eyes. "I bet Satoshi never has to deal with crap like this…"

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that its impolite to cuss in front of ladies?" Erika questioned lifting up a single card from her deck. "Oh well…not that it matters…for my deck master, I choose Pitch Black Warworlf!"

A loud howl echoed throughout the caves, increasing in volume as the dark werewolf monster leapt behind Erika, snarling and drooling as she began to pet the beast's head. "I know this guy looks a little bit rough…but at times he can be as charming as a puppy dog."

'…I'd hate to see what kind of dog she thinks is feral…' Rena thought slipping a card into her deck master slot. "Um, I think I'll choose, Mana Dragon for my deck master!"

In a small burst of purple light, the small aqua-purple dragon popped onto the field, floating around Rena with a childish look on its face. "And don't let my little dragon fool you, he can be a potent…uh, what's the word I'm looking for?"

"…target?" Erika suggested pulling her five card hand from the top of her deck.

"No!" Rena replied. "Its called…well, I don't know what its called, but, he's a good deck master!"

"Sure, you keep thinking that," Erika chuckled lifting her sixth card up. "And I hope you don't mind…but, I think I'll start off…" (ELP: 8000)

"Sure…don't mind me, I'm just your opponent," Rena sighed lowering her head. (RLP: 8000)

"Thanks…and now, I'll activate my Deck Master's special ability!" Erika announced as the Pitch-Black Warwolf howled loudly into the air, echoing through out the entire caves. "His special ability is known as the Cry of the Tribe! And here's how it works, I pick up cards from the top of my deck until I get a monster card…"

Immediately, Erika began to pull card after card, until he had finally pulled the fifth card off the top of her deck. Spinning the next card in her fingers, Erika revealed the monster card to be a copy of her deck master, the Pitch-Black Warwolf. "…and wouldn't you know…I get the second Warwolf. Now, by removing it, along with all the cards I had picked up, all monsters with the same attribute and type, are unaffected by your trap cards!"

"What!?! Oh come on!" Rena protested crossing her arms. "That has to be the most broken deck master I've seen so far…"

"Well, you should see what Jinzo can do," Kryancelo stated crossing his arms over his chest. "At least your traps will still work…"

'I don't even want to know what Jinzo can do as a Deck Master…' Rena thought as Erika lifted up one of the cards in her hand.

"Now then…I'll summon Feral Wolverine!" Erika announced slapping the card onto her duel disk, allowing a rather large dark wolverine wearing silver armor over its claws to appear on the field, snarling at Rena (1200/800).

"And I'll end my turn with that."

"Well…it's the most subtle move I've seen so far," Rena admitted slowly pulling her next card into her hand. "So I'll summon Archer Elf in attack mode!"

A mysterious breeze swept through the caves, allowing a young, semi-muscular blonde elf to walk onto the field, wearing a simple brown vest with a forest green tunic underneath. A light brown quiver was wrapped around his back and a wooden bow was in a hand as he quickly drew one of the arrows from the quiver (1300/450).

"Hmm…kind of reminds me of Link," Erika muttered rubbing her chin at the Archer Elf's appearance. "…except I doubt this guy is from Hryule…"

"You're right on that," Rena replied rubbing the back of her head with a slight blush. "He may not be a chosen of the Tri Force, but he's got his own talents, like once per turn, I can lower the attack of one face up monster on the field by four hundred points…"

"…like your Feral Wolverine!"

The Feral Wolverine howled in pain as an arrow pierced his hind leg, causing the dark beastly warrior to kneel down in pain (1200/800 - 400/0). "And, my Archer can still use his regular attack!"

Drawing three more arrows from his quiver, the Elf Archer immediately took aim and fired all three arrows simultaneously into the pain filled beastly warrior's chest. The arrows immediately shattered the beast into many pixels that flew into Erika's body. "Urk!" (ELP: 7500)

"That was thought out," Kryancelo muttered looking as the Archer Elf lowered his bow. "…but, a move like that is exactly what Erika thrives on…"

"…heh…" Erika snickered rubbing her nose. "First round goes to you, Rena…"

"Uh, thanks?" Rena replied blinking a few times. It was actually the first time someone thanked her for taking a lead. "A-Anyway, I'll set one card face down and end my turn…"

"Cool, now I can pay you back for that last move," Erika chuckled slowly taking her next card. "…although, now that I think about it…weren't you that girl who messed up Prof. K.'s room earlier this year?"

"Huh?" Rena questioned, blinking a few times…until the memory reappeared in her head. "Oh! No! No, no, no! I didn't make the mess!"

"…the records say that you did," Kryancelo pointed out with a blood vessel appearing on his head. Apparently he remembered the incident…after all, it was his classroom.

"Aw come on Prof. K., there's no way this girl could've done it," Erika stated crossing her arms. "I mean…it was the work of an amateur or two I'll admit, but just looking at her, she really doesn't have the constitution to pull off a prank like that…"

'…her choice of words could've been better…' Rena thought with a large droplet of sweat rolling down her head.

"How would you even know that?" Kryancelo retorted. "You weren't even there at the time!"

"Wasn't I?" Erika asked with her hand up in the air.

-/-/--/-/-/Flashback//---/-//

"Yes! I'm not late!" Rena cheered to herself walking to her classroom.

However, when she reached the room all of her classmates were standing outside the room whispering to each other. "Huh?"

"Hey its her…" Cleo whispered getting all of the students to turn towards Rena.

The hallway was filled with whispers, Rena could tell that they were all talking about her. 'What the?'

Meanwhile, down the hall a little, Kryancelo was walking down the hall and that's when he noticed his students standing in the hallway. "Aw what the hell is this?" The professor pushed the students aside to look into the room.

At the sight, Kryancelo's jaw just dropped to the ground. "Oh…my…god…"

The room looked like it was the host to a paintball contest that had ten different teams going at it at the same time. Most of the chairs were scattered across the room. There were even multiple school supplies over the ground of the room. There was only one thing at the time that Kryancelo could do at this time…

…And that was to scream. "NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO….."

…Twenty minutes later…

"….NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

Apparently, Erika was looking at her watch and stared directly at the now heavily breathing professor. "Dude! That was a full twenty minutes of screaming! I'm impressed and scared at the same time!"

After catching his breath, Kryancelo glared daggers at Rena. "…I thought you cleaned it yesterday…"

"I-I did!" Rena defended herself.

//--/---/--/End of Flashback--//---/--/-/

"…that was you? I thought that was a male student…" Kryancelo muttered thinking back to that day. "…but then again…you're not exactly the ideal lady…"

"Aw, who asked you," Erika huffed with a slight blush on her face.

"Well, I kinda got the same vibe too," Rena admitted receiving a glare from Erika.

"What is with today? Insult Erika day?" Erika asked flipping one of the cards she had in her hand around. "I activate the spell card, Graceful Charity! No need to explain what this little card is capable of right?"

Indeed, lifting up three cards from her hand, Erika immediately slipped two more monster cards into her graveyard. "I'll discard my Feral Wolverine and Lone Fangs…and next, I'll play another spell card, Premature Burial!"

A bright red flash of light erupted from the ground before Erika, allowing the Feral Wolverine (1200/800) to claw its way out of the ground. "Sure it may cost me eight hundred points, but it allows me to equip it to one of my monsters to summon it back from my graveyard!" (ELP: 6700)

"…so, you've already drawn him…haven't you Erika?" Kryancelo snickered, flicking a little hair from his face.

"Heh, you've got that right Prof. K., but before I bring out a blast from the past," Erika chuckled lifting another card. "I'll activate another equip spell, this one known as Bloodline's Trait, and equip it to my Wolverine!"

The large Feral Wolverine howled even louder into the air, allowing a spell card to appear behind it showing the Swamp and Lava Battleguards locking arms while punching each other. "And now…I'll sacrifice my Wolverine…for the real star of my deck!"

The large wolverine faded into the darkness…allowing a shadowed form to slowly stand up where the beast was. With a long, red scarf with black claw marks on the design, covering the fiery, thin, young man's neck, his bushy, yet spiky black hair billowed as the beastly warrior moved, with a pair of wolf ears poking out from the top of his head. Around his wrists were many bracelets with a few cloth-like streams attached to them. His hands and feet had sharp claws and his baggy gray cargo pants were ripped to show his beastly feet (1000/0 600/0).

Then with a loud howl, the beastly youth crouched down as if he was a wolf, showing the long tail that streamed out from a hole in his pants. Needless to say, at the sight of the monster, Rena's eyes were widened by the monster. "Uh…well, that's…I don't know what to say…"

"Hmm, you remember the Lone Wolf right Prof. K.?" Erika asked fitting a card into her duel disk.

"….how could I forget?" Kryancelo sighed with a blood vessel appearing on his head.

"Um…is this something I should know?" Rena asked with a few question marks popping over her head.

"Go ahead Prof. K., I can wait," Erika chuckled looking over the remaining four cards in her hand.

"…some how, I doubt this will be good," Rena muttered turning towards Kryancelo who crossed his arms.

"Its hardly likely you know why I dislike you," Kryancelo stated rubbing his chin at Rena.

Rena rolled her eyes, remembering when she and Kryancelo first met…

/--/-//-Another Flashback-////---/-/-/

Come on! You've got to give me a chance!" Rena pleaded at the duel proctor's desk.

"…Miss, please have some dignity," the sarcastic Kryancelo sighed with his street accent, he definitely looked like a street person. His shaggy black hair went past his chin, but was apparent to have blond highlights in his hair. His yellow duel academy teacher's uniform was unzipped showing off the completely black shirt and pants…with the exception of the red belt. "You were late, and our academy doesn't really tolerate tardiness…unlike our sister school, the Pacific duel academy…"

"But…it wasn't my fault! Can't you make an exception?" Rena asked placing her hands on the desk. "Just give me a chance to duel!"

Kryancelo stood up at that question and sighed loudly. "Miss…In order to become a duelist, you need to be creative, intelligent and know how to be on time… and besides, if I gave you a break, I would have to give a break to everyone else who showed up late as well…"

A small tear appeared in Rena's eye, but she quickly brushed it away. "…Not fair…"

/-/-//-/-/--/End of Another Flashback//--/--/-/

"Ah, he gave you the same speech didn't he?" Erika laughed combing her hair with her fingers. "That really brings back the memories…"

"Huh?" Rena asked blinking a few times.

"And let me guess…Prof. Maria talked him out of that little rut he calls pride?" Erika continued with her right on guesses. "Maybe…she used her womanly persuasions?"

"That's so eerie…" Rena admitted with a surprised look on her face. "How did you know that?"

"Heh, the same exact thing happened to me last year!" Erika laughed with her hands at her sides. "But, from what I heard…there was a very different outcome…you had some guy named Ganryu Dashiben duel in your stead when you couldn't find your deck."

"Well, I guess Prof. K. had two more people he didn't like this year…"

"Wait, does that mean…?" Rena gasped as she pieced together the pieces of what Erika was getting at.

"Sadly, yes, Erika…" Kryancelo had a hard time trying to speak, it was like something inside of him was trying to continue. "…defeated me…although it wasn't my true deck…"

"Yeah, you used that fire burn deck," Erika pointed out with a smug smirk on her face.

'Wait…if that wasn't his true deck…' Rena thought with a question mark appearing over her head.

"Enough reminiscing! Lone Wolf!" Erika announced making the wolf like warrior's ears pick up. "Attack that Archer Elf! Final Fang Fist!"

With a loud howl, the Lone Wolf ran on all fours towards the surprised elf warrior. And with a great kick to the chin, the Archer Elf shattered in the air as the Lone Wolf snickered in a beastly manner. (RLP: 7200)

"Wait a minute," Rena gasped looking at her duel disk. "How'd I lose eight hundred points? It should've been only three hundred…"

"It would, only if my Lone Wolf didn't make you lose five hundred points whenever it destroys a monster," Erika explained as her graveyard began to glow slightly. "Oh, and I should probably point out a couple other important details. You see, thanks to my Bloodline's Trait equip spell, my Lone Wolf now gains half of the attack of the equipped monster and any effect that the monster had."

That's when the two shadows of the Feral Wolverines appeared behind the now feral Lone Wolf, making a powerful black aura appear around the beast warrior. "And here's how my Wolverines work, in addition to their initial attacks, they can attack once more for each Feral Wolverine in the graveyard…"

"And now my Lone Wolf gains that effect! Double direct attack!"

Just as the Lone Wolf pounced towards Rena, the elf duelist immediately threw her hand over her face down card. "You said attack…now you can't take it back! I activate A Hero Emerges!"

"Great…" Erika hissed as the Lone Wolf fell directly into the ground, immediately standing up with a bandage on his head. "Not bad, you're using a trap that affects you, but not my monster…"

"W-Well, it was a suggestion by one of my friends," Rena chuckled rubbing the back of her head at the thought of Van giving her the card. "A-Anyway, take your pick, and whatever monster you choose, I can special summon immediately."

"Fine…second to the right…" Erika immediately stated pointing towards the card in Rena's hand.

"…not much that I can do…but summon Mystical Elf in defense mode!" Rena announced as the elegant blue skinned elf appeared before her, praying on crouched knees (800/2000). "Try to get past her!"

"…just remember, you're the one who asked!" Erika laughed as the Lone Wolf leapt into the air towards the surprised Mystic Elf.

Spinning around, the Lone Wolf slammed its tail into the Mystical Elf's shoulder, sending her to the ground, screaming in pain. At the sight of the shattering elf, Rena's eyes widened. "Wh-what just happened?" (RLP: 6700) (ELP: 6300)

"Didn't I say that you asked for it?" Erika asked with an innocent smile on her face. "You see…my Lone Wolf has a second ability, he destroys any monster that battles…of course battle damage still applies…"

"Nasty little monster really," Kryancelo stated nodding a few times towards the chuckling Lone Wolf. "Not only does he make create damage, but he also damages the opposition as well…"

"Speaking of damaging the opposition…" Erika stated turning back to Rena as the Lone Wolf charged towards the Elf Duelist. "Direct Attack! Final Fang Fist!"

With a great spin, the wolf like warrior became a fiery blur that was about to slam into Rena, until the Mana Dragon flew in front of Rena, creating a powerful purple barrier that caused the Lone Wolf to slam into it, stopping the attack. This time, it was Erika's turn to be surprised. "…I take it was your Deck Master's doing…" (RLP: 6150)

"Yeah, Mana Barrier allows me to remove two monster cards from my graveyard when I take a direct attack," Rena sighed with ease as the Mana Dragon floated back behind her. "…and I can lower the damage by half of the removed monsters' attack points."

"Well, that's a nice defensive ability," Erika chuckled looking at the remaining three cards in her hand. "But, I think I'll just set two cards face down…and anyway, I highly doubt that that'll be able to help you in the long run, cause you'll run out of monsters eventually…"

'…unfortunately…she's right…' Rena thought slowly reaching for her next card.

/--/-/---/-/-/-/-/-/

Meanwhile, on the outside of the caves and on the surface, many storm clouds began to form over the island…of course, most of the students were too engrossed with the tournament duels to realize this…

However, one particular student stood outside one of the entrances to the caves…after being escorted by Professor Raptor because of his defeat, Ganryu just leaned up against one of the nearby trees looking up in the clouding skies.

The sky was a perfect match for how he was feeling at this moment, Ganryu had already failed once before against Dias when that flat-chested girl managed to exceed past the bloody demon hunter…

…and now, he lost to that ghost wielding, freak of nature that called himself a duelist…

And now…all Ganryu had left to comfort him was the small golden pendant that he held in his hand…which had a picture of a beautiful young chestnut haired woman with a small gray haired, smiling child sitting on her lap. "…I…I suppose, it wasn't meant to be…a dishonored hero…I-I-I couldn't keep my promise…"

"Well, well, well, would ya look who it is," a familiar, yet annoying voice stated making Ganryu's eyes narrow.

Looking up from the locket (while shutting the small piece of jewelry with his thumb),. Ganryu just sighed at the sight of Miles and the Dark Rose Brigade standing before him…the leader fingering a black rose in his fingers. "…I guess that this is the one you told me about?"

"Yeah! This bastard's the one who took you and us out of the tournament!" The fat blue, Eric, stated pointing towards Ganryu.

"I'm glad I have you four to tell me this," Miles chuckled throwing the black rose into the air. "Now…I can get my revenge on this scum of a student…"

"…I wasn't the one who defeated you," Ganryu sighed, knowing it was the De Masque guy who defeated this sorry excuse of a duelist. "It was that Masky guy."

"Save your excuses!" Stanford shot out waving his fist towards Ganryu. "Its revenge time!"

"…I'm not interested in your petty revenge…" Ganryu growled shaking his head at the five duelists. "So…why don't you all just buzz off?"

"That's it! I'm going to kick you in the nuts!" Eric shouted stumbling towards Ganryu.

SMASH!

"YYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU SSSSSSSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!" Eric shouted before falling to the ground with a large stream of blood spurting from his nose.

Ganryu simply held his fist up, slightly covered with blood that came from the now passed out Eric. "…this is why I hate people…"

Five minutes later…

"NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Not again!" Miles shouted being kicked to the chest and flung into a tree.

"…Yeesh, no matter how many times I kick idiots down…" Ganryu sighed leaning back up against the tree, his eyes closed. "They always seem to crawl back up to just get knocked back to the ground…not that I don't mind getting my anger out on a few idiots once in a while…"

"Remind me never to make you mad," a calm, bored voice stated. "…I guess I'll have to tell Big Boss about this…."

Ganryu's eyes widened at the sight of this new person, and the fact that 'his' name was mentioned clued Ganryu that he was real contact. "…I never imagined it be you…"

"Well, who else did you think it would be?"

"Still…I can't believe it was you all this time…" Ganryu replied.

"Yeah, yeah, I get the point…anyway, I find it just simply righteous to have someone on the same level to talk to now…"

"…yeah, sure, whatever," Ganryu sighed crossing his arms. "Let's just get this over with then…Luke…"

//-/--/-/-/-/-/-/

'I…I think this combo might work…' Rena thought looking at the newest card she had. "First, I'll summon my Berserker Elf!"

From the top of the cave, a rather brutish elf crashed onto the ground, this one a muscular dark skinned elf with long bushy blonde hair with a chiseled body covered with a ripped black overcoat and tight brown pants that billowed as the dark elf snarled at the Lone Wolf (2000/0).

"Whoa…and here I thought that most elves were calm," Erika stated as Rena lifted another card from her hand.

"Actually, there are two types of elves," Rena explained pulling another card. "Light elves, which happen to live in a more harmonized life and dark elves, who live much more rugged style. The Berserker Elf happens to be one of the Dark Elves, and being one of the more rough ones around…"

Slamming his fist into his palm, the Berserker Elf smiled a dark smile at the Lone Wolf, who just glared back. "…and I can already feel the tension in the air…"

"So? Your elf may be big and strong," Erika complimented with a smug smile. "But lets not forget that the moment you attack my Lone Wolf, that big strong man will be nothing more than a fleeting dream…"

"True…but, I activate the spell card, Double Summon!" Rena announced as a small orb of darkness appeared around the Berserker Elf. "And now…I'll summon Mallet Elf thanks to my spell's effect!"

Jumping on top of the Berserker Elf's broad shoulder, the large hammer wielding elf smirked wildly spinning the hammer in one hand (1200/900). However, the Berserker Elf narrowed his eyes at the less serious elf that was on his shoulder, making the Mallet Elf sweatdrop. "And incase you didn't notice…these two usually get on each other's nerves…"

"Ah to have the imagination of young duelists…" Kryancelo sighed loudly shaking his head. "To give your monsters personalities…although, the holograms are a nice touch."

"Oh, I see what you're going to do…" Erika stated wagging her finger at her face down cards. "And I'm already prepared for you! I activate my trap card, Fight in the Alley!"

The cave walls began to meld, forming into a dirty New York alleyway, resembling Bravo's field spell card…only a lot more narrow and riddled with more trash on the sides. The Lone Wolf just smirked as both of the elves were pushed back with the Mallet Elf standing in front of the Berserker Elf (who kinda looked pissed off). "And as long as this trap is out, both of us can only use one monster to attack each turn…puts a damper on your plan I take it?"

"Well, almost," Rena giggled lifting another card from her hand. "But, if there's one thing I've learned at this school, its that you've got to make the best of the situation."

"…you should've learned how to actually duel," Kryancelo shot out, making Rena lower her head.

"Ow…" Rena moaned shaking her head. "…I play Pot of Greed!"

The large green and blue giggling pot appeared in front of the two surprised elves, creating another two orbs to surround the two elves (1200/900 200/0). As soon as Rena held her next two cards up, she immediately threw them into her hand and pulled another one into her duel disk. "And now…I'll activate another spell card, this time, I activate the field spell, the Weeping Forest!"

A powerful rumbling shook the entire caves, creating many vines and plants to crawl all over the holographic alleyway, creating a more natural look. Kryancelo lowered his head and shook his hair from his face. "…now this is just insane…"

"My field spell, first gives both my elves another spell counter," Rena explained as two more orbs appeared around her elves, making the Mallet Elf's hammer glow (1400/900 200/0). "And, my Forest gives both of my elves an additional three hundred points!"

The Mallet Elf jumped into the air, grabbing one of the vines as his hammer grew even larger (1600/800 300/300), while the Berserker Elf roared loudly, shaking the very foundations of the transformed cave (2000/0 300/300). "And now…Berserker Elf! Attack the Lone Wolf!"

Grinning a satisfied smile, the Berserker Elf charged forward, revving his fist to throw a powerful punch at the beastly warrior. "Heh…Lone Wolf! Counter Claw!"

When the Berserker Elf fired his fist, the Lone Wolf raised his clawed hands up, catching the fist, creating a powerful shockwave that flew through the caves. Then all of a sudden, a powerful golden aura emanated from the Berserker Elf's skin, making the elf's already large muscles grow even larger (2300/300 1000/0). Erika and the Lone Wolf's eyes both widened at the Berserker Elf's newly found strength. "W-What?! Where did that come from!"

In a powerful explosion of pixels, both battling monsters destroyed each other as Rena smiled brightly. "Well, you see, when my Berserker Elf has two or more Spell Counters and he battles an opposing monster, he gains a thousand points. But, in return for that, he can't attack directly and any battle damage he inflicts is cut in half." (ELP: 5750) (RLP: 5650)

"Still, I'm lead," Erika stated snapping her fingers a few times. "Especially when I have my other trap card, Badge of Battle!"

Erika's trap card lifted up, this time showing a battle damaged soldier having a rusty badge being clipped to his uniform. Then pulling out the deck of cards from her deck, Erika fanned the cards in front of here. "Here's how my trap works. When a monster on my side of the field is destroyed, I can add it back to my hand. And all I need to do, is remove from play one monster from my deck with the same type. But here's a twist, for every four levels on the removed from play monster, I can lower the returned monster's level by one star!"

"Wow…that was kinda long," Kryancelo muttered as Erika slowly spun the card around to show, Enraged Battle Ox that was immediately placed into her pocket.

"And now…when my next turn comes around, I'll be able to summon my Lone Wolf back to the field without a tribute!" Erika announced snapping her fingers a few times.

"Oh…but I think its still my turn," Rena replied fitting another card into her duel disk, creating the card behind her smirking Mallet Elf. "And with this face down card, I'll call it a turn."

"Then allow me to bring back the star again!" Erika laughed pulling her next card into her hand, only to pull another card out and slap it onto her duel disk. "Come back out Lone Wolf!"

With a loud howl that echoed through the transformed caverns, the beastly Lone Wolf (1000/1000) reappeared on the cold floor, his hair standing on the end. "And why not outfit him with a much less stable body? I activate the equip spell, Mist Body!"

Immediately, the Lone Wolf's body slowly became almost transparent, making the beastly warrior smirk widely. "Now, he can't be destroyed as a result of battle! And now…Final Fang Fist!"

"Hold it! My Mallet Elf gains an additional spell counter cause of your equip card!" Rena announced as the Mallet Elf spun the hammer into the air (1900/1200 200/0), bringing it down on the charging Lone Wolf.

"So? I can still blast away your monster and a chunk of your life points!" Erika shouted while the Lone Wolf kicked the large hammer back, making it slam back into the Mallet Elf's body, creating a loud squishing noise. "Nice sound effects…" (ELP: 4750) (RLP: 5150)

"Although the strategy is new," Kryancelo sighed leaning up against the wall, now having a small magazine in his hands. "It sure does take a while…"

"W-Well, then allow me to speed things up!" Rena announced as her face down card bounced up into the air, this one showing a spell card depicting a battle scared forest with multiple dead elves on the ground. "Tears of the Sacred Forest activate!"

Then with a loud yelp the Mallet Elf (1200/800 300/300) landed on the ground feet first, raising his hand up to grab the large hammer that seemed to be weightless. "Now look who's back on the field!"

"How in the world did he get back here?" Erika asked with a question mark appearing over her and the Lone Wolf's heads.

"My spell can only be activated when I have my field spell out," Rena explained placing her hand on her chest. "When one or more of my Elves are destroyed by a card effect, I can special summon all of them back…however, they can't attack the turn they were summoned…"

"Heh, so since its my turn, then its just a free summon," Erika sighed looking at her hand. "…then I guess I'll just set this one card…and let you go ahead…"

"Alright…" Rena muttered slowly drawing her next card.

"You mind telling me why I'm even here Alan?" Kryancelo asked turning towards one of the cameras that was watching the match. "I mean, you've got cameras, so…"

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

While the duel was continuing, Kryancelo immediately pulled out his black cell phone. "Yeah?"

"Don't talk to the cameras!"

"Yeesh…"

Back to the duel!

"I activate the spell card, Giant Trunade!" Rena announced as a powerful windstorm swept the field, blowing away all of the spells and trap cards into the air. "Now, all spells and traps go back to our hands…"

"Before that, I activate my face down quick play spell card!" Erika shouted as the card spun upwards, this card depicting two large werewolf monsters snarling at the Lone Wolf. "A Loner's Opposition! So enjoy my gifts!"

As the wind died down and the cave returned to normal, two large werewolves (1000/1000 x2) materialized on Rena's field, standing on both sides of the slightly freaked out Mallet Elf (1200/800 400/0). "Well…I'm not sure if I want these two guys…"

"Oh, but the Beast Fang Tokens like you," Erika replied with an almost innocent look on her face. "Especially since they're willing to fight for you…"

Although a little confused with that comment, Rena just shrugged that off and took a familiar card from her hand. "Okay…anyway, right now, I'll activate my field spell once more!"

As soon as Rena slipped the card into her duel disk, the Weeping Forest reappeared all around the three in the large cavern, only this time, many trees stood tall and proud where the walls of the cave were. And once again, the Mallet Elf leapt onto one of the tree branches, the goofy smile back on his face (1600/900 500/300). "And next…I'll summon Edge Elf!"

Stepping out from behind one of the trees, was the cold, dark, Edge Elf (1700/1300 300/300), lifting the two blades up towards the Lone Wolf who seemed to welcome the challenge. "Now then, I'll have him select your Lone Wolf and move into my battle phase…"

Before Rena could continue, both of the Beast Fang Tokens leapt into the air towards the Lone Wolf, both of them howling loudly into the air. With a cold glare, the Lone Wolf jumped into the air as well, only to slam both of his feet into the two tokens, shattering them as if they were nothing. (RLP: 4150)

"Oh? Did I forget to mention that my two tokens have to attack first during your battle phase?" Erika asked, rubbing her chin slightly as Kryancelo sighed loudly. "Oh, and that they can't destroy attack position monsters in battle? I think I'd remember something like that…"

"…You don't have to mask that…" Rena sighed lowering her head for a quick second, before lifting her head up and throwing her hand towards the Edge Elf. "Uh, anyway, Edge Elf! Attack the Lone Wolf!"

Crossing both of his katanas, the Edge Elf dashed forward in a black blur that was already in front of the surprised Lone Wolf…but just as the elfin warrior was about to bring both of his swords down, the Lone Wolf slammed his fist into the elf's stomach…

…but that still didn't stop the two swords that were immediately brought down on the beastly warrior, shattering the two of them into pixels. (ELP: 3750) (RLP: 3650)

"Heh…not bad! Not bad at all!" Erika laughed as the Mallet Elf leapt from the branch he stood on, the large hammer spinning wildly in his hands. 'I guess I was wrong! This is awesome!'

"Mallet Elf! Attack Erika directly!" Rena announced, her arm still extended towards Erika.

While still in mid-air, the smirking elf slammed the large hammer directly on top of Erika's body, thankfully it was just a hologram, otherwise, Erika would've really been crushed instead of forced to the ground. (ELP: 1650)

Kryancelo however…well, he was still too engrossed in his magazine to really care what was going on with the duel. "…hmm…yellow's now the new black? I'll never understand these fashion trends…"

"And, that's my turn," Rena stated while Erika slowly stood up, dusting off her skirt. "Um…are you okay?"

"Heh, never better!" Erika laughed out loud, snapping her next card from the top of her duel disk. Unfortunately, with the Mist Body and Fight in the Alley in her hand, Erika really couldn't use this new card…so simply tossing the card into her hand, Erika crossed her arms. "…I pass this turn…"

"Are you sure?" Rena asked a little confused, even the Mallet Elf and the Mana Dragon blinked in confusion at Erika's actions.

"Yeah, I don't have any monsters, no way to get my Lone Wolf back," Erika pointed out gesturing towards her hand. "Besides…I'm just glad that I was able to get this far in the tournament…"

"Well, alright then," Rena stated drawing her next card, but then raised her hand up. "Mallet Elf, do your stuff!"

A little hesitant, the Mallet Elf just walked up to Erika raising the hammer up into the air. All the while, Erika just smiled while the Elf raised his hammer up into the air…and then just lightly tapped Erika on the head. "…that could've been a little more dramatic…" (ELP: 0)

"S-sorry," Rena stated with an embarrassed smile as all the holograms began to disappear. "I guess my Mallet Elf doesn't like to hurt people that much…"

"And the winner…" Kryancelo yawned, not bothering to put down his magazine. "…which one of you won again?"

"Um, I did," Rena answered with a small sweat droplet on her head.

"Oh…joy," Kryancelo moaned pocketing the magazine. "…well, good for you…I guess…"

"Heh," Erika laughed slowly walking up to Rena, a small fanged smile on her face. "Now that I've lost to you…ya better not lose in this tournament."

"Yeah, I'll try to remember that…" Rena replied before Erika walked past her, heading towards where she originally came from in the caverns.

"Now then…your next opponent has already been chosen," Kryancelo sighed gesturing towards the tunnel next to him. "Just head down this tunnel and you'll run across him or her in a matter of minutes…"

"Uh, weren't you supposed to accompany us so we don't get lost?" Rena asked rubbing the side of her cheek.

"Yeesh, what am I? Your father?" Kryancelo growled shaking his head. "Fine! I'll escort you…"

'I was just asking a simple question…' Rena thought folding her hands behind her back.

/-/-/--////--/-/-/

Meanwhile…

"Chaotix Tai Gars!" Riko announced as the very muscular Chaotix Tai Gars (3000/3000) delivered a powerful kick to the large bird that was made out of pure electricity. However, with how the duel was going, it was a miracle that Riko was able to get his killer monster out. 'T-These cards…I've never even heard of these…' (RLP: 1000)

"Hmm…just as the rumors had said," Beck sighed in joy, many hearts floating around his body. On his field were three cards, two spell cards and one trap card. "…you are an elegant and strong opponent Mr. Kamika…" (BLP: 3800)

That's when three powerful pillars of light appeared over the three cards on Beck's field as he lifted up his next card into the air. "…it's a shame that I have to end this…"

A few minutes later…

"…the winner…is Robert Becker…" Weevil announced as Riko slowly sat down at what had happened.

"Excellent!" Beck announced wagging his hips about, having even more hearts flying away from his body. "Too bad Kamika Honey!"

'…its times like this that I'm glad I'm blind,' Riko thought with a sweatdrop rolling down the side of his head at Beck's 'Kamika Honey' comment.

"Now then…I'm sorry that we didn't have a wager," Beck pouted before skipping past Riko, his duel disk turned off, still loaded with his deck. "But, I figure that you losing would be more than enough…later Kamika Honey!"

As soon as Beck had disappeared into the darkness of the tunnels, Weevil walked over to Riko and crossed his arms. "You need a hand getting out of here?"

"…nah…I've got it covered," Riko sighed slowly standing up. '…I guess…I guess I need a little more work…'

-/-/--/-/---/-/-/

Card Stats

Berserker Elf / Earth / LV. 4 / ATK: 2000 / DEF: 0 / Spellcaster/Effect: This card cannot attack your opponent's life points directly. Any battle damage caused by this card is cut in half. Every time a spell card is activated, place one Spell Counter on this card. When this card battles a monster, by removing two Spell Counters from this card, you can increase this monster's attack by 1000 until the end phase.

Description: A muscular dark skinned elf with long bushy blonde hair with a chiseled body covered with a ripped black overcoat and tight brown pants.

Weeping Forest / Field Spell / Effect: Increase the attack and defense of all monsters with 'Elf', 'Half-Elf', or 'Celtic' in their names by 300 points. All monsters with 'Elf', 'Half-Elf' and 'Celtic' cannot be destroyed by targeting spell card effects.

Image: A large forest with a young elf girl crying next to a tree.

Tears of the Sacred Forest / Quick Play Spell / Effect: This card can only be activated when you have 'Weeping Forest' on your side of the field and a monster (or more) with 'Elf' or 'Half-Elf' on your side of the field are destroyed by a card effect. Special summon all monsters that were destroyed with 'Elf' or 'Half-Elf' in their name this turn to your side of the field (monsters special summoned by this effect cannot attack the turn this card was activated and cannot activate their effects).

Image: A battle scared forest with multiple dead elves on the ground.

The Lone Wolf / Dark / LV. 5 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Beast-Warrior/Effect: This card cannot be special summoned. When this monster battles another monster, destroy the opposing monster. Each time this card destroys a monster, inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent. While this card is face up on the field, monsters cannot be normal, special summoned or set on your side of the field.

Description: A fiery, thin, young man with bushy, yet spiky black hair with a pair of wolf ears poking out from the top of his head. His mouth and neck is covered by a long red scarf with many black claw like marks on it. Around his wrists are bracelets with a few cloth-like streams appearing on it. His hands and feet have sharp claws and his baggy gray cargo pants are ripped.

Feral Wolverine / Dark / LV. 4 / ATK: 1200 / DEF: 800 / Beast-Warrior/Effect: In addition to a normal attack, this card can attack during the same Battle Phase as many times as the number of 'Feral Wolverine' (s) in your graveyard.
Description: A large dark wolverine wearing a silver armor over its claws.

A Loner's Opposition / Instant Spell / Effect: Activate one of the following effects:

- Special summon two 'Beast Fang Tokens (Dark/LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Beast-Warrior) on your side of the field. All 'Beast Fang Tokens' must attack each turn and cannot be used as a tribute.

Special summon two 'Beast Fang Tokens (Dark/LV. 3 / ATK: 1000 / DEF: 1000 / Beast-Warrior) on your opponent's side of the field. All 'Beast Fang Tokens' must attack first each turn and cannot destroy face up attack position monsters as a result of battle.

Image: Two large werewolf monsters snarling at the Lone Wolf.

Bloodline's Trait / Equip Spell / Effect: The equipped monster cannot attack or change battle position. When the equipped monster is tributed for a monster with the same attribute and type, the tribute summoned monster gains half of the equipped monster's attack and effect.

Image: The Swamp and Lava Battleguards locking arms

Fight in the Alley / Continuous Trap / Effect: As long as this card is on the field both players can only attack with one monster per turn.

Image: A large dirty alleyway with many gangsters surrounding the Lone Wolf