Jack who suffered a complete loss at the hands of the Embodiment of Hermaeus Mora: Seril managed to get his hand on the Black Book as per agreement, now the only thing the Blades need are the two runes that will open the doors to Miraak's temple.

The first of the two runes is guarded by Ren the so-called lawyer and advisor to criminals.

53. The Monarch of Crime.

Don and Drake arrived at the abandoned courthouse, the building was abandoned ever since magic returned to the world, the Blades had no details on why it was abandoned, the building was still standing as no Earthbound Gods were summoned in the area.

Drake carefully pushed the door open all the plants, were still there things like trophies and paintings were looted the moment this chaos started, a lot of dust had gathered in the time nobody set foot here.

Jack hadn't given them information about the man, there was simply nothing known about him except for what was publicly known.

It didn't take Drake and Don too long to figure out where Ren was because the screens that normally told visitors in which room which trial was being held now showed exactly where Ren was waiting.

Drake opened the door to the courtroom, it was decorated as just that a simple courtroom, of course now that a Duel would be held here all the benches were removed, only the judges chair and table remained.

Ren the middle-aged man stood in the middle of the courtroom looking at the ceiling, his gray hair was clearly visible in the light of the sun, he wore a gray suit.

'You feel it don't you?' The man spoke softly Drake and Don gave each other a quick look.

'You know why I decided to guard a rune key?'

Don scoffed: 'Like I care? Just hand it over.'

Ren slowly turned around, he adjusted his tie he then pushed his glasses a bit higher to cover the criminal mark over the bridge of his nose.

'Don careful something ain't right.' Drake whispered, he saw a gleam in the eyes of the so-called criminal lawyer.

'My place would be at the side of the mastermind behind all this you'd say.' Ren's calm demeanor gave Drake the chills.

'You seem like a smart man.' Ren said pointing at Drake, Don growled something but Drake stopped him.

'This is an origin point of magic ain't it?' Drake asked.

Ren smiled: 'Yes that is the reason this courthouse in abandoned people who cannot feel magic fall ill if they stay inside to long, rumors quickly came that this place was haunted, the government said it was due to a gas leak and so they closed this place down.'

Don walked forward before Drake could stop him.

'Spare me the history lessons, you're not as good as you say you are, the Criminal Mark tells that.'

Ren shrugged: 'That was to blame on one of my clients, he was sloppy, I had to kill him with the police on my tail I gave them something, I choose to gave them proof of something small, that gave me the least amount of jail time, the murder and my other business were never discovered and they never will be.' The lawyer removed his glasses and loosened his tie, you could see the madness in his eyes.

'Origin points are dangerous.' He then spoke: 'You were touched by magic through the Seal of Orichalcos, I hail from Japan were magic is different, to give an example you manifest magic with energy around you, in Japan we can call upon the energy needed from within the body, it is like you are fighting with weapons while I use my fists.' The lawyer spread his arms.

'And your point is?' Don scoffed.

'Fighting with weapons is a weakness, with your fist you fell every punch, not being depended on weapons gives me an advantage, once magic runs out around you you're powerless.'

A shockwave shook the old courthouse Don and Drake both felt it magic was being ripped away around them.

Ren started to laugh, his eyes turned yellow.

'You know what I want?' He asked, his voice sounded different more deep, Drake said nothing Don had that look of madness in his eyes normally Drake wouldn't allow it but this time it felt right.

'With my knowledge I will orchestrate the perfect crimes, all will be united under my rule, a world in which the police is powerless! And I will rule as it's monarch!'

Drake spat on the ground: 'You're insane.

Ren laughed then he fell silent, the birds and insects outside became quiet the wind fell silent, an uneasy feeling filled Drake's stomach.

'Don this is beyond us, we need to warn Jack! RUN!' He bellowed.

'Too late.' Ren whispered.

An explosion of magic shot through the courtroom, Drake and Don braced themselves suddenly they felt they were lifted from the ground, the loud laughter of Ren made their ears ring both Drake and Don were standing in a golden, round cage, Ren's laughter died out then a hole opened below the cages, Drake looked down into an endless void.

'Court is in session!' Ren laughed, again the ground started to shake, this time cracks appeared in the floor slowly a golden throne rose Ren sat down on it then the throne started to rise it was held up by golden statues of people dressed in police uniforms, a golden crown appeared on Ren's head, his gray suit got replaced by a black suit and a red, fur-lined mantle with golden decals, a golden scepter appeared next to the throne, as Ren grabbed it he pushed in the top of the scepter, a table made of gold appeared out of the throne, the lines of a Duel Field were visible.

'A throne befitting for the Monarch of Crime don't you think?'

The voice of Ren was calm yet threatening.

'Damn, it had to be a Distortion.' Drake cursed, Don gave him a confused look.

'Jack told me due to the magical origin spot here the desires of this man manifested, this courthouse no longer resides in our realm, it is in a distorted version of our realm, I'm afraid logic does not apply any longer except for a Duel, the thing that connects realms together, at least according to Jack, until now I never believed in it.'

Ren chuckled: 'Whether you believe it now or not matters not, in this realm I'm invincible, your cages are your safe haven once your Life Points hit zero you will be dropped down into the void below, now you have the first move.'

(Don: 8000) & (Drake: 8000) - (Ren: 8000)

'I don't think I get any of this.' Don hissed, his eyes lit up.

'I'm gonna punch my problems until they break!' He drew his opening hand.

'You know Don, normally I detest this style of your's.' Drake said with a chuckle: 'However this time I welcome it.'

Don gave Drake a not then he focused on his card.

'First I shall activate Double Summon.' The Spell card briefly appeared before Don.

'Now I Normal Summon two Gene-Warped Warwolf.' Outside of the cage appeared two of the mutated, four-armed Beast-Warriors. (2000 ATK)

Normally they would snarl and growl now they stood silent before the golden throne.

'I Set a card and end my turn.' The reversed card appeared behind one of the Warwolf.

'Should have known you'd do this Don, when one guy ain't enough to pound your problems into the ground, just summon a second one to help.' Drake said with a chuckle: 'Well you brought the brawn, I'll add the brain.'

Drake took a card from his hand: 'I activate Emergency Teleport, which allows me to Special Summon a Level three or lower Psychic Monster from my Deck, I choose Psychic Commander!'

Next to the Warwolf appeared the robot dressed in a green soldier uniform driving the futuristic tank. (1400 ATK)

'Now I Normal Summon Serene Psychic Witch.'

A woman appeared next to the tank she had long, pink hair and wore futuristic, pink armor, she held two energy-powered swords in her hands. (1400 ATK)

'I Tune Level three Psychic Commander to Level three Serene Psychic Witch.' A green light filled the courtroom.

'Black flames inside my soul, let my nightmare become a reality! Synchro Summon! Take shape, Psychic Nightmare!'

The air rippled and the purple-skinned devil with it's long, green hair appeared. (2400 ATK)

'So no jokes Drake? Boring.' Don sighted.

'You'd be more serious Don our lives are on the line here, now let's see what our friend uses, I use the Effect of Psychic Nightmare I pick one random card in your hand and call it's type, if I call it right Psychic Nightmare gains 1000 attack power until your End Phase.'

Drake pointed at the left most card: 'Spell.' He said.

With a chuckle Ren turned the card around, it appeared big above his head: Escalation of the Monarchs.

'Trap card.' Ren said.

'Monarchs? Should have guessed.' Drake growled.

'I shall Set this and end my turn.' A reversed card materialized behind Psychic Nightmare.

Ren drew his card.

'First I shall activate Foolish Burial to send Zaborg the Thunder Monarch to the Graveyard.'

The Lawyer took his Deck casually searched out a card then placed it on the discard pile.

'Now I Set three.' One by one he placed the cards on the table each card appeared vertically on the Field.

'I end my turn.'

'So first he sends a Monster to his Graveyard then he Summons nothing? Talk about having a bad hand.' Don drew his card.

'Just be careful.' Drake warned his friend.

'Don't worry Drake, I'm gonna crack his skull before he can do anything, I Summon Alexandrite Dragon!'

A loud roar filled the air the large dragon appeared before Don it's scales shimmering with the many jewels that covered it. (2000 ATK)

'Now I Set this.' Don continued, a reversed card materialized behind his Monsters.

Gene-Warped Warwolf direct attack!' Don shouted the Warwolf flexed it's four arms then leaped forward.

'I activate Dark Advance!' One of the three cards Ren had facedown opened up.

'This allows me to add a Monster with 2400 Attack Points and 1000 Defense Points to my hand from my Graveyard, then I can Tribute Summon a Monster with said Attack and Defense Points.'

Ren took Zaborg the Thunder Monarch from the discard pile.

Don chuckled: 'One thing, Zaborg is Level five and you have no Monsters on your Field.'

Ren gave a chuckle as a reply: 'But you do.' The lawyer stated.

'I activate The Monarchs Stormforth!'

This time a Spell card opened up.

'This card allows me to use one of your Monsters as a Tribute!'

Dark clouds packed inside the courthouse, lightning struck Psychic Nightmare.

'Herald of lightning strike my foes with divine thunder, Advance Summon Zaborg the Thunder Monarch!'

Drake shielded his eyes as more lightning struck around him, then two large hands grabbed his Monster easily crushing it, out of the clouds appeared the figure of a giant man he wore white, regal armor a yellow piece of cloth tied around his waist, a ring was attached to his back that channeled lightning, a green orb sat on top of his head, the orb was buzzing with electricity. (2400 ATK)

'When Zaborg is Tribute Summoned I destroy one Monster on the Field, I target the other Warwolf Death Thunder!' The green orb started to glow then lightning struck Don's Monster.

'Since a replay happened I cancel the attack.' Don stated his Warwolf scurried back to his side.

Don's eyes met Drake, the latter nodded.

'I activate Curse of Anubis!' Don shouted his Trap card opened up.

'All Effect Monster are changed to Defense Mode and they lose their Defense Points.'

Zaborg crouched down on one knee. (1000- 0 DEF)

'Thank you Don, I knew you had that set, now I activate my Call of the Haunted!' Drake roared the air shimmered and Psychic Nightmare returned to the Field. (2400 ATK)

'Futile, I activate my Trap card!' Ren shouted, his last set card opened up: 'Escalation of the Monarchs! This Trap allows me to Tribute Summon a Monster.'

An icy wind filled the arena Drake looked up as snow started to fall, suddenly pieces of ice broke through the floor.

'I Tribute my Tribute Summoned Zaborg in order to Advance summon Mobius the Mega Monarch!'

Between the ice appeared a man bigger than Zaborg, clad in heavy, silver armor and a light purple cape. (2800 ATK)

'When Mobius the Mega Monarch is Tribute Summon I Destroy up to three Spell or Trap cards.' Ren said with a smirk on his face: 'Death Impaler!' One icicle pierced through Don's facedown card which was Common Charity then another icicle destroyed Call of the Haunted with a loud screech Psychic Nightmare disappeared.

'Damn he's good, I need to end my turn.'

Drake drew his card then he looked over the Field.

'What's with this guy?' He growled.

'Ren? He's in a league above us, not only he started out with no Monsters, he could Summon during our turn turning Don's turn heavily in his favor.'

Drake took a card from his hand: 'I activate Teleport!'

The Continuous Spell card materialized on the Field.

'Once per turn when I control no Monsters and my opponent does I can pay 800 Life Points and Special Summon a Monster from my hand.

Purple smoke left Drake's body as he lost some Life Points.

(Don: 8000) & (Drake: 7200) - (Ren: 8000)

'I Special Summon Space-Time Police!' A man dressed in a black bodysuit appeared before Drake's cage he wore blue armor over the suit in his hand he held a baton powered by a futuristic energy source, his black cape flowed in the wind that came through the broken windows, a blue cap was the only distinct feature he had that showed he was a cop. (2300 ATK)

'When Space-Time Police is Special Summoned I can Banish one card then Set it once Space-Time Police leaves the Field.'

Drake nodded, the officer leaped forwards striking Mobius with his baton, a hole opened up behind the Mega Monarch sucking the creature in.

'Now I Normal Summon Psychic Snail.' Drake continued the hideous slug monster appeared on the Field. (1900 ATK)

'Then I pay 800 Life Points for the Effect of Psychic Snail so Space-Time Police can attack twice.'

(Don: 8000) & (Drake: 6400) - (Ren: 8000)

'Normally paying 800 Life Points to deal an extra 400 Damage to my opponent is not worth it, but with this guy I need to deal as much damage as possible.'

Drake took a deep breath to calm his nerves: 'Direct attack!' He shouted, the officer charged forwards striking Ren across his chest twice.

(Don: 8000) & (Drake: 6400) - (Ren: 3400)

'Nicely done Drake, we got him on the ropes.' Don said.

'Hardly.' Ren replied as he drew his card.

'I activate Graceful Charity.' Ren stated his Spell card appeared on the Field, he drew three cards then discarded a Mirror Force and Raiza the Storm Monarch.

'I activate a second The Monarchs Stormforth!' As the card appeared on the Field an eerie black fog filled the area.

'Herald of shadows, cast this realm in veil of darkness, Advance Summon Caius the Shadow Monarch!'

Two red eyes peered from out of the darkness, a giant claw grabbed Psychic Snail from the Field, a low growl shook the building, the form of a giant became visible clad in black and gray armor, two horns on his rather small head. (2400 ATK)

'I use the Effect of Caius to Banish Space-Time Police.' Ren stated, the Monarch clasped his hands together a portal opened up and the officer got sucked in.

'By Space-Time Police leaving the Field Mobius returns.' The advocate said, a reversed card appeared on the Field, he quickly turned it around and the Mega Monarch reappeared in a blizzard. (2800 ATK)

'Next I shall use Monster Reborn and Special Summon Raiza the Storm Monarch!'

Another giant appeared before Ren this one clad in heavy, plated armor all green, he wore a cape around his shoulders the same color as the armor. (2400 ATK)

'Caius! Raiza! Mobius!' Ren commanded, the Shadow Monarch created an orb of black energy which he launched at Drake, the Blade grabbed the bars of his cage Don wanted to send his Monster to protect his friend, Drake shook his head and rose one finger to tell Don he only needed to stop one attack.

When the attack of Caius hit the cage violently shook, then icicles created by Mobius shot through the cage barely missing Drake, finally Raiza whipped up a storm but this time Alexandrite Dragon leaped in front of it.

(Don: 7600) & (Drake: 1200) - (Ren: 3400)

When the cage stopped shaking Drake relaxed a bit.

'How chivalrous of you, sacrificing your own Monsters to protect your friend, in the end it matters not though.' Ren said as he waved to signal the end of his turn.

Don quickly drew his card.

'I activate Heat Wave!' He shouted as he quickly played the Spell card, a warm breeze suddenly filled the cold courthouse, cracks appeared in the floor and fire came through the cracks.

'With this Spell card nobody can Normal or Special Summon Effect Monsters until my next Draw Phase.' Don explained.

Don's gaze crossed Drake, the latter nodded.

Ren let out a laugh: 'Screwing over your own teammate? He has no Monsters out and now he is not allowed to bring one out.' The lawyer chuckled.

'Don't worry about it Don.' Drake whispered: 'you've halted his Summon options, that's what counts.'

Don choose another card from his hand and played it, the Spell card Shrink appeared suddenly Mobius shrunk to half his size. (2800- 1400 ATK)

'Warwolf attack Mobius!' Drake shouted, his beast charged in and went loose with it's four claws tearing the Monarch to pieces.

(Don: 7600) & (Drake: 1200) - (Ren: 2800)

'My turn.' Drake said as he drew his card.

'I Set this and end my turn.' A reversed card appeared in Drake's back row.

Ren smiled as he drew his card.

'You guys are getting desperate, I don't need a Summon to take you out.' He showed a Spell card: 'I activate Brain Control.' He stated a brain appeared in the middle of the room.

'I pay 800 Life Points to take control of Gene-Warped Warwolf.' Two arms came out of the brain they grabbed Don's Monster and brought it over to his side.

(Don: 7600) & (Drake: 1200) - (Ren: 2000)

'Caius, Raiza direct attack!' Ren shouted.

A storm whipped up around Don's cage violently shaking it, before Don could react the ball of negative energy send the cage flying, Don landed on his behind.

(Don: 2800) & (Drake: 1200) - (Ren: 2000)

Ren looked at Don then at Drake then at the Gene-Warped Warwolf.

The lawyer chuckled as he slowly pointed at Drake: 'Direct attack!' He shouted.

'I activate Psychic Trigger!' Drake shouted his Trap card opened up.

'When my Life Points are lower than my opponent's I can Banish two Psychic Monsters from the Graveyard.' Two cards slipped from the Graveyard Drake showed Psychic Commander and Psychic Snail.

'This allows me to draw two cards.' Drake placed the Monster cards in his pocket.

'What good will that do? You've lost.' Ren said with a growl.

'It's a tag-team for our side, I'm giving Don a fighting chance, the cards are his.'

The Gene-Warped Warwolf made contact with the cage, at the same time the sound of an engine broke the eerie silence.

(Don: 2800) & (Drake: 0) - (Ren: 2000)

At the moment the chain holding Drake's cage snapped in half a D-Wheel broke through the large window, Michelle was sitting on top, as the D-Wheel hit the floor Michelle leaped off pushing the cage out of the way of the void, the D-Wheel continued crashing against the golden throne, the force of impact made the throne topple, Ren leaped off of it before the throne collapsed onto the D-Wheel which erupted in flames.

Slowly Ren crawled back up, with anger in his eyes he turned to Michelle who was now trying to open the cage, when she did she helped Drake out.

'You've dishonored the rules of this Duel.' Ren said in a menacing tone.

'I shall make sure you're getting punished for this.'

Don who in the meantime had drawn his two cards.

'The Duel is now between us.' Don softly spoke, his demeanor had changed.

'What was that?' Ren hissed as he turned to Don.

'This is between us Ren, if you want to punish someone so badly then punish me, halve my Life Points.'

Ren shrugged. 'As you wish.' He replied, lightning struck Don's cage.

(Don: 1400) - (Ren: 2000)

'Drake, you gave me a fighting chance, don't worry I shall end this.' Don looked at his friend, Gene-Warped Warwolf walked back to his side, the fires created by Heat Wave died out as the Effect of the Spell card disappeared.

'Draw.' Don stated as he drew his card.

'I Release Gene-Warped Warwolf! Advance Summon Cyber-Tech Alligator!' A loud roar echoed through the room, the half mechanical, half organic reptilian stepped onto the Field it spread it's wings and took to the air. (2500 ATK)

'Cyber-Tech Alligator attacks Raiza!'

The reptile charged forward using it's speed to drill it's mechanical claw through the armor of Raiza, in a blast of wind the Monarch disappeared.

(Don: 1400) - (Ren: 1900)

'Now I Set one card.' Don stated it materialized behind Cyber-Tech Alligator.

'Turn end.'

Drake watched with a smile on his face.

'Don's scaring me.' Michelle whispered.

'No this is how he truly is, I've seen him like this before.' Drake replied.

'Don uses a seemingly simple Deck, most people use Effect Monsters, they mostly have low Attack Points, Don gives up on Effects giving him high attack power in return while using his support cards to punish the use of Effect Monsters.' Drake said with a grin on his face.

'Michelle most people don't realize a Deck like he uses is difficult to use, he acts like a madman, lulls his enemies in a false sense of security, they heavily underestimate Normal Monsters, their mistake. His act doesn't work on Ren so this is Don's mindset during the Duel without his act, cold and calculating, you should enjoy it won't see this that often.'

Michelle scratched her head: 'Still he should have taken out Caius.' She muttered to herself, Drake did hear her but he said nothing.

Ren looked at his broken throne he gritted his teeth in anger.

'Caius is a Tribute Summoned Monster that is why I can use it to Advance Summon Caius the Mega Monarch!'

Shadows wrapped around Caius, the Monarch quickly started to grow, his armor became more demonic, more sharp edges and horns covered his armor, the horns on his head also grew bigger. (2800 ATK)

'When Caius the Mega Monarch is Tribute Summoned I can Banish one card and deal 1000 damage, when it was Tributed using a Dark Monster I can target two cards instead.' Ren explained, he pointed first at Don's Set card then at Cyber-Tech Alligator.

'I activate Threatening Roar!' Don roared his facedown card opened up before it and the Cyber-Tech Alligator were sucked into a void.

'I might not be able to attack this turn, still you take damage.'

Don gasped as a blast of darkness shot through his body.

(Don: 400) - (Ren: 1900)

Don drew his card he didn't look at it.

'When I have exactly three Normal Monsters in my Graveyard I can Banish two so I can Special Summon Knight of the Red Lotus.' Don played the card he just got, before him appeared a tall man with short, red hair he was clad in completely black armor a tattered cape draped around his shoulders, over his shoulder he carried a large saw-like blade. (2100 ATK)

'An Effect Monster? When you didn't attack Caius you...' Ren stammered, for the first time he was nervous, afraid almost.

'The chance was big that you would destroy Cyber-Tech Alligator, that would have been the fourth Normal Monster in my Graveyard, by leaving Caius alive I knew you would Summon his Mega version of course I knew you would go for the kill, the Tribute I used to Normal Summon Cyber-Tech Alligator was the third Monster I needed in the Graveyard, like I predicted you Summoned the Mega version of Caius Banishing my Cyber-Tech Alligator so you could end the Duel, now my preparations are complete.'

Ren replied with a loud chuckle: 'Your Monster is a few Attack Points too short.'

This time Don chuckled: 'Knight of the Red Lotus once per turn I can Special Summon a Normal Monster from my Graveyard.'

The Knight stuck his sword in the ground, it broke open and Gene-Warped Warwolf leaped out. (2000 ATK)

'Next I Equip Gene-Warped Warwolf with Amulet of Ambition!' The Spell card appeared on the Field.

'Gene-Warped Warwolf attack Caius the Mega Monarch!' Don shouted.

The wolf charged in, Caius prepared his blast of darkness.

'Amulet of Ambition increases the Attack Points by 500 for each Level in difference between the Equipped Monster and the attack target!'

Four stars appeared above Gene-Warped and eight appeared above Caius, Warwolf used it's four arms as a shield to block the blast from Caius. (2000- 4000 ATK)

The beast leaped onto the Monarch and started to punch and claw at the Monarch.

(Don: 400) - (Ren: 700)

'Knight of the Red Lotus direct attack!' Don bellowed.

'Objection!' Ren shouted in response he was looking around him for a way out.

'Overruled.' Don said with a grin then the saw-blade sword struck Ren across his chest.

(Don: 400) - (Ren: 0)

Ren gasped as the last of Life Points disappeared, the void under Don closed and the golden cage disappeared as did the broken pieces of the throne, Ren took a step forwards the yellow eyes disappeared, he took another step then collapsed on the floor, a bit of foam around his mouth.

Drake walked up to the lawyer he checked his pulse, it was feint but there Drake opened the eyes of Ren they were turned up showing only the white of his eyes.

'He's alive but he seems to be in a coma.' Drake shrugged then he began to search the man's pockets finally he found a small, stone tabled with a rune etched on it's surface.

'Got it.' He said with a triumphant grin.

Minutes after the three Blades left two people approached the courthouse, both were female by the looks of it, their bodies and faces were covered in black robes, the smallest of the two quickly disappeared into the shadows into the building the second one took her time to get inside.

By the time the second woman reached the room where Ren was defeated the first one was there already.

The first one was the smallest of the two, her figure and face were covered by robes and a hood, two horns poked from under her hood.

'Akai?' The second, taller woman spoke her voice sounded calm, even clad in simple robes her figure and demeanor were almost regal.

'My lady, I've checked the building, this man is the only one here.' The one named Akai replied.

The taller woman knelt down next to Ren.

'He's Japanese, a Distortion, used the magic here to empower himself, when his distortion was beaten he landed in a brain dead state.'

The lady stood back up she grabbed something from under her robes, it was a cylinder covered with all kinds of runes and talismans.

As soon as the woman opened the cylinder a bright light illuminated her face, she had a fair skin, the most remarkable were her pupils which were cat-like pupils, she smiled showing her sharp teeth.

Slowly she turned the cylinder around a long, thin and hairy object fell out of it, Akai took a step back the thing wiggled it's way towards Ren and dissolved into a black mist the moment it reached him, seconds later the lawyer opened his eyes, they were yellow.

With a groan Ren stood up the regal woman smiled.

'That makes eight.' The woman said with a smile.

'Now Akai open a portal we go back to our base in Japan, this squabble with the Earthbound Gods does not interest me.'


Next time:

With Ren defeated one less escaped criminal roams the streets, with one key in the pocket it's up to Serana to get the other one, guarded by the stage actor Kenny.

While some of the Earthbound Gods still roam free there is not much time left to put a stop to Miraak and his plans. ''The Final Act'' coming next.