Yuki was taking a walk along the beach close to the Slifer dorm. He had that dream again, and he still couldn't make out who it was, or what monster this mystery opponent of he was supposed to be using. He had decided to take a walk to try and clear his head. This whole situation bothered him, as he heated not knowing who his opponent was supposed to be.

He sighed in resignation, making up his mind that he would tell his friends about this dream of his later that day. He wasn't going to keep something like this to himself, especially since it sounded like the shadow games were about to return, what with everything he had learned from Kaiba. He couldn't keep his friends in the dark.

Yuki had just passed the spot where he had dueled Dimitri several days ago. His irritation with the copycat duelist aside, that had been a very good duel. Though he was surprised that Mahad had asked to duel Dimitri in his place. However, Yuki had his doubts about Mahad's ability to take over the way the Pharaoh took over Yugi when he dueled. Though he supposed it was due to him not being his older brother who was Mahad's reincarnation the same way that Yugi was the reincarnation of Pharaoh Atem.

Deciding that he was going to head back, and attempt to get a little more sleep before telling his friends about this dream, he ended up nearly tripping over himself, having heard someone call out to him. "Yuki!"

The Obelisk in question had nearly tripped over himself. So wrapped up in his own thoughts, that he wasn't paying attention to anyone else that may have been nearby. Then again, it being this early in the morning, he hadn't suspected anyone would be awake. Well, he was clearly wrong to believe that, when he saw Char approaching him. "Char? What are you doing?"

"I could ask you the same question." The bright red haired Obelisk boy retorted in his baritone voice, as he approached. Though when he got closer, it was evident to Char that Yuki had been unable to sleep. "Were you pulling an all-nighter or something?"

"Uh, not exactly. Just having some trouble sleeping is all. Weird dreams." The dragon user explained with a tired sigh. "But what about you? What are you doing awake at a time like this?"

"Oh, I'm always awake at this time." Char waved a hand, as if this wasn't anything new for him. "I like to take a walk or a run around the island early in the mornings anyway. At least, on days that we don't have classes. I don't like being physically exhausted before classes start. Especially on Wednesdays."

"Gym class." Yuki responded with a nod, while the two boys walked back towards the Obelisk dorm. "Which reminds me, I need to tell Miss Fontaine I've got no interest in anymore tennis classes."

That little comment of Yuki's drew a soft laugh from Char. "I heard about that. Did Alexis really…?"

"Yup."

Char winced, and sucked in air through his teeth. "Ouch…"

The sun was just barely over the horizon and the two had just passed the girls dorm and the boys dorm was just in sight, when Char remembered something. "Yuki, I… was planning on telling later today, but since you're here now. I have a few cards that you might be interested in, since you like using dragons."

Yuki had stopped walking to give his full attention to the other boy. "You've got my attention, but I'm sensing there's a catch here."

Char had a smile on his face, and held up two fingers that were barely touching. "A small one. You'll have to duel me for them."

"I'm guessing that I also have to win the duel?" Despite this question, Yuki already had his duel disk strapped to his left arm.

Char nodded in confirmation, while reading his own duel disk. "You ready?"

"Duel!"

Yuki-LP 4000

Char-LP 4000

"Since it's my cards that are on the line, I'd like to draw first." Char said, adding a sixth card to his opening hand. "Alright, I'll start by sending Shadowknight Archfiend to ghe graveyard. And when I do that, I can add the field spell Pandemonium to my hand." Char declared, while discarding the monster card, and adding his new card into his hand. "Now, I'll follow up by changing the scenery. I play the field spell Pandemonium!" The second that Char inserted that card into his duel disk, the scenery changed dramatically. A field of bone, adorned with grotesque looking stone statues sprung up around them. Adding more to the rather creepy change in scenery was the pool of lava now separating the two. "Since I run Archfiends in my deck, I no longer have to pay their maintenance cost now due to my field spell. But since I can't have you destroying it, I summon this. Pandemonium Watchbear in defense mode."

Char's familiar blood red chained up bear appeared curled up on the field.

Pandemonium Watchbear Def-1800

"I never got to use him properly in my duel with Miko, but his effect prevents you from destroying my Pandemonium field spell." Char explained, while selecting another card from his hand, and slotting it into his duel disk. It then appeared face down behind Pandemonium Watchbear. "And with that card face down, I'll call it a turn."

"Alright, I guess it's my draw then." Yuki drew his sixth card, and assessed his hand. 'Alright, I need to be careful. Those Archfiends are nothing to take lightly, and Char is going to do everything he can to keep Pandemonium on the field. So I need to destroy that bear of his before anything else.' "Alright, I'll start things off first, by sending the Thunder Dragon in my hand to the graveyard, since his effect allows me to add two more once I discard the first."

'A fusion on his first turn. And Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon no less…' Char thought, while Yuki set up his combo.

"But they won't be sticking around for long. Not after I play Polymarization, and fuse them both together! Now rise, Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!" With a loud rumble of thunder, a large bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of Yuki, and a large two headed, orange scaled dragon rose from the spot where the lightning had struck.

Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon Atk-2800

"Now it's time I get rid of that bear! Attack!" Yuki's dragon let out a roar, before firing identical blasts of lightning at Char's bear.

"I thought you'd try that!" Char smirked. "Reveal trap card; Scrap Iron Scarecrow!"

Yuki's attack was intercepted by a ragged scarecrow composed entirely out of scrap metal.

"Okay… what just happened?" Yuki blinked in confusion."

"It's my trap card. Scrap Iron Scarecrow negates one of your monsters attacks, and then immediately goes face down once your attack ends. Of course, I can only use it once. But in this instance, once was enough." Char explained, as his trap card flipped down again.

"Well, I'll set a card face down, and call it a turn there." A card then appeared behind Yuki's dragon, as his turn ended.

"Alright then, let's see what I… oh you're in trouble now." From the look on Char's face, that card he just drew wasn't going to do Yuki any favors in this duel. "I play Field Barrier! Now with this on the field, you have to destroy this card before you destroy my Pandemonium!"

'Great, now I have to get rid of that and his Watchbear before I deal with his field card. He's really not gonna let those cards go without a fight.' Yuki thought, while Char selected another card in his hand.

"Alright, now I summon Shadowknight Archfiend to the field. And thanks to Pandemonium, I don't have to pay the maintenance cost to keep any of them on the field." Char said, while placing his monster card onto his duel disk. A rather cruel looking beige and purple fiend rose onto his field. It's left arm was a wicked looking claw, while its right, from elbow to hand was a wicked looking blade.

Shadowknight Archfiend Atk-2000

"And to end my turn, I'll set my last card face down." The last card appeared behind Shadowknight, causing Yuki to eye it warily.

'Wow, Char is really good. Makes me wonder if he was holding back during Miko's duel. There's gotta be something I can do to get rid of his back row.' Yuki knew he had some cards in his deck that would do the trick, the problem was drawing them in time, and getting rid of Pandemonium Watchbear. "Alright I draw!" 'Tyrant Dragon! That'll work, but first I'll have to set the field.' "Alright, first I play Shard of Greed. Now whenever I draw a card, this continuous spell card get's a counter on it, and I can send it to the graveyard to draw cards equal to the number of counters on it."

"Impressive." Char had a smile on his face, despite never seeing Yuki play that particular card before. "That a new card?"

"Technically yes, I've had it in my deck since my promotion duel against Lance. I just never used it until now." Yuki explained while slotting the card into his duel disk. "And next I summon Alexandrite Dragon in attack mode!"

The bright scaled dragon let out a roar as it materialized onto Yuki's field, next to Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon.

"Alright, let's try this again. Alexandrite Dragon, attack Pandemonium Watchbear!" The bright scaled dragon reared his head back, and let loose a torrent of brightly colored fire from his mouth.

"You forget about my trap Yuki?" Char asked, while flipping Scrap Iron Scarecrow back up to intercept Alexandrite Dragon's attack.

"Actually I didn't." Yuki smirked, as his first attack was negated. "I was counting on you using your trap card, since you said you can only use it for one attack. And I have a second attack coming, so let's finish what Alexandrite Dragon started! Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon, attack Pandemonium Watchbear!"

Char smirked, and flipped up his second trap card. "Good try Yuki, but I was ready for you there. I have a second Scrap Iron Scarecrow, so that means my monsters are safe for now."

"Damn, I really thought I had you there." Yuki shook his head, before ending his turn.

"Not just yet." Char chuckled, drawing his next card. "Oh you're gonna love this, because now I sacrifice Shadowknight Archfiend, and summon Gravi-Crush Dragon!"

"Wait what!?" Yuki sounded visibly shocked. "I thought you only ran Archfiends!"

"Always have a backup Yuki." Char smirked, before summoning the black scaled dragon with massive claws.

Gravi-Crush Dragon Atk-2400

"Oh, and you're gonna love this effect. By tributing a continuous spell card, I can destroy one monster on your field." Char's smirk grew, as he discarded his Field Barrier. Gravi-Crush Dragon drew his fist back, and struck Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon with such force, that it shattered into pixels. "And that was just his effect, he still has his attack left. Now take down Alexandrite Dragon!"

"Oh no you don't!" Now it was Yuki's turn to reveal his face down card. "Mirror Force! So say good-bye to your dragon!"

Char had to shield himself with his duel disk, as his dragon exploded. "Guess I'll have to end my turn then."

Yuki took his next card, and smirked. "Alright, now I'll activate Monster Reborn, and bring a Thunder Dragon back to the field."

The serpentine dragon let out a hiss as it coiled around itself.

Thunder Dragon Atk-1600

"And now, I'll tribute both Thunder and Alexandrite Dragon and summon Tyrant Dragon to the field!"

Yumei was just beginning to wake up, when a loud roar made her roll off her bed rather comically. "Who's dueling so early…?" With an irritated huff, she untangled herself from her blankets, and made her way over to one of the large floor to ceiling windows of her dorm.

"Tyrant Dragon…" Yumei said with a yawn, recognising her twin brother's dragon.

In the Blue boys dorm, Kai was mumbling in his sleep, and from the sounds of it, he was in the middle of a duel. "...and summon my Blue Eyes Twin Burst Dragon…" It was right after that, when Tyrant Dragon's roar jolted Kai from his sleep. "Blue Eyes…?"

Looking around, he only saw his dimly lit dorm room. But he knew he heard something. And then he heard another roar, and dashed to his window. "Tyrant Dragon. Oh, Yuki's dueling!"

"What's going on…?" He heard, and felt someone press their head against his back moments later.

"Yuki's dueling someone Fujin." Kai explained, which earned a tired groan from the purple haired duelist.

"Too early…" She groaned, and made to go back to Kai's bed.

Tyrant dragon let out another roar after taking flight around the battlefield, before landing behind Yuki, and snarling at Char's monsters.

Tyrant Dragon Atk-2900

"Alright, time to clear house. Tyrant Dragon, take down Gravi-Crush Dragon!" With another loud roar, Tyrant Dragon unleashed a stream of flames from its mouth, aiming straight for the other large dragon on the field.

"Hey, you forget about my Scrap Iron Scarecrows?" Char asked, flipping one of them up.

"Of course I didn't." Yuki replied, which made Char blink in surprise. "It's why I played Tyrant Dragon. Trap cards that designate him as a target don't affect him!" The flames burned through Char's scarecrow, and incinerated Gravi-Crush Dragon.

Char-LP 3500

"Tyrant Dragon's additional effect now activates!" Since he destroyed a monster in battle, he's allowed to attack once more! Attack Pandemonium Watchbear!" Yuki ordered, and Tyrant Dragon incinerated the blood red bear.

"Not bad, but I'm far from being out of this duel. I draw!" Char took his next card, and gave a single nod. "I play pot of greed, which allows me to draw two more cards." Char smirked. "I play Monster Reborn, and bring back my Archfiend from the graveyard. But he's not sticking around, because I'm tributing him to summon Puppet Master!"

A rather disturbing looking jester, holding broken marionette controls appeared on Char's field.

Puppet Master Def-0

Yuki blinked in shock. "Wait… a monster with zero attack and defense? I'm assuming it has an effect of some sort?"

"Oh yeah." Char smirked. "I can pay 2000 points and bring two monsters back from my graveyard. Of course, they'll be unable to attack this turn, but a small price to pay to bring two monsters back. So say hello again to Pandemonium Watchbear, and my Shadowknight Archfiend!"

Pandemonium Watchbear Def-1800

Shadowknight Archfiend Atk-2000

Char-LP 1500

"And then, I'll end my turn with a face down." As his turn ended, Char's face down card appeared right behind Pandemonium Watchbear.

Yuki nodded, selecting his next card, though before he got the chance to speak, Char spoke up. "Sorry Yuki, but I'm going to activate my trap card; Waboku! And when I play this, my monsters are safe, and I don't take any battle damage."

"Okay…" Yuki sighed, adding his new card into his hand. 'Char is a lot better than I gave him credit for. He's got ways to bring back his monsters, ways to protect them, as well as his field spell that negates him having to pay his Archfiend's maintenance costs. Now, how do I get around them?'

'Hatchling…'

'...without killing him…'

'I can play nice…'

Yuki shook his head. He wasn't going to put Char in the hospital or worse by using Mythic. But his new card could take care of his back row. He just needed to bide his time. "Alright, I'll set two cards face down, and call it a turn there." Yuki slotted the two cards into his duel disk, and they subsequently appeared behind Tyrant Dragon as his turn came to an end.

"Well, I guess that's the best you could do since thanks to Waboku, I negated any battle damage." Char shrugged, taking his next card. The smile that appeared on his face really unnerved Yuki, and there was a very good reason as to why. "I summon Infernalqueen Archfiend in attack mode!"

Yuki's stomach flipped upside down when Char summoned his new monster. With that effect of Infernalqueen, Yuki was in huge trouble.

Infernalqueen Archfiend Atk-900

"Judging by the look on your face, I guess you know what my new monster's effect is." Char smiled, as the two Archfiend monsters began to glow with a blood red aura.

Infernalqueen Archfiend Atk-1900

Shadowknight Archfiend Atk-3000

"I'm guessing you know what's coming next. I'm about to slay that dragon of yours!" Char declared, pointing at Tyrant Dragon as he spoke. "Shadowknight, attack Tyrant Dragon!"

Char's Archfiend let out an unearthly screech, as it charged down Yuki's dragon. Its blade was raised, as if to impale the large dragon. Right up until, it became wrapped in chains, and was pulled back to Char's field.

The red haired Obelisk blinked in surprise. He could have sworn that he was about to destroy Tyrant Dragon. "Uh… what just happened…?"

"My trap card happened." Yuki declared, flipping up the trap card. "Shadow Spell. With this, your monster can't attack, or change it's battle position until my trap card leaves the field."

"Oh no you don't!" Char slipped a card into his duel disk. "Mystical Space Typhoon will take care of that pesky trap card!" A large gust of wind whipped up, causing Yuki to shield his face with his duel disk, and shattering the chains of Yuki's trap card. "Now let's continue, Shadowknight, take down that dragon!"

"Oh crap..." Yuki had to shield his arms once again as his dragon shattered.

Yuki-LP 3900

"But wait! There's more!" Char held up a finger, and despite the duel and the dire situation he found himself in, Yuki nearly busted out laughing. "Little too much Billy Mayes?"

"Oh just a little…" Yuki held up his thumb and forefinger with a small space in between them.

"Well, that aside, my Infernalqueen still has her attack!" An orb of dark energy gathered in front of Char's Infernalqueen, and hit Yuki square in the stomach, knocking him off his feet.

Yuki-LP 2000

"Ow…." Yuki grunted, as he got back to his feet. "Well, any other nasty surprises I should worry about?"

Char shook his head. "That's all for this turn. Let's see how you answer back."

"Well, I'd get ready, because here comes my answer!" Yuki grabbed his next card off the top of his deck. "Oh here we go, I play the spell card; Card of Demise! With this, I'm allowed to draw five cards. But after five turns pass, I have to discard my entire hand. But I'm not done just yet. I'll also discard Shard of Greed, and add two more cards to my hand" Yuki then slotted a card into his duel disk. "I'll start with another spell card; Cost Down! All I need to do is discard one card, and I can lower the level of a monster in my hand."

After discarding the chosen monster into the graveyard, Yuki then selected his next card. "And Now it's time you met him. Come on out, Dark Flare Dragon!" From behind Yuki, a massive plume of lava erupted from one of the pools that composed Char's field spell, and the roar of a dragon followed after. A red and black scaled dragon stood behind Yuki. And it had a yellow and red magma core acting as a sort of chestplate.

Dark Flare Dragon Atk-2400

"But I'm not done there, because now the effect of my discarded dragon activates!" The silhouette of a red, black, and silver scaled dragon appeared in front of Yuki. "See my Eclipse Wyvern has the effect of when he's sent to the graveyard, I can banish a level seven or higher dragon from my hand or deck. As long as it's a light or a dark attribute, and if he's banished for any reason, I get to add that banished card to my hand."

Yuki then jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "And that's where my Dark Flare Dragon comes into play. By discarding a monster from my hand and deck to the grave, I can banish another monster…."

And that's when things clicked for Char. "Oh god…"

"And due to Eclipse Wyvern's effect, I get my banished monster back. And why don't you say hello to him Char. I banish Dark Flare Dragon, and in his place summon Red Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!" The dragon behind Yuki was engulfed in lava once more, and in its place a pair of metallic black and red wings emerged. And did so in such a way, it looked as if Yuki had sprouted them himself. A wicked looking dragon soon emerged from where Dark Flare Dragon once stood.

Red Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon Atk-2800

"Red Eyes' effect now activates! Once per turn, I'm allowed to summon a monster from my hand or graveyard, so long as it's a dragon monster. And I call Horus Level Six back to the field!" The ground beneath the two duelists broke apart, and Yuki's familiar metallic looking dragon flew about the two, before landing beside Red Eyes.

Horus Level Six Atk-2800

"And finally, the last card in my hand. I summon Luster Dragon to the field, in attack mode!" The moment the card was placed on Yuki's duel disk, the familiar blue scaled dragon rose onto the field in front of Yuki.

Luster Dragon Atk-1900

"Alright, Horus attack Infernalqueen!" Yuki ordered, and Horus shot a stream of black fire from his mouth. Only to be intercepted by Scrap Iron Scarecrow.

"Forget about my trap card Yuki?" Char asked, as the black flames of Horus' attack were deflected by the trap card in question.

"Actually, I didn't." Yuki countered with a smirk on his face. "I actually counted on it! Red Eyes, attack Infernalqueen! Infernal Hellfire!" Red Eyes let out a roar, as blood red flames erupted from his mouth. And once again, the attack was intercepted by Char's trap card.

"I don't see why you're continuing to attack me. I'll just block you with…" Char frowned. Had he done exactly what Yuki wanted him to do?

"Perfect! Now Luster Dragon, attack Infernalqueen!" The blue scaled dragon let out a roar of its own, and charged the fiend monster. Aiming to rush her with its large fists. "And I know their attacks match up, and they'll subsequently be destroyed by one another. I'm willing to sacrifice Luster Dragon, if it means your Infernalqueen gets destroyed. Because you don't have anymore Scrap Iron Scarecrows to intercept my attacks with!"

The moment Luster Dragon's fist made contact with Infernalqueen Archfiend, the two monsters were both destroyed. However, since they had the same attack strength, neither Char or Yuki took any damage.

"And with your Infernalqueen off the field, your monsters lose their power boost!" The red aura around Shadowknight dissipated, and the creature let out an almost disappointed sounding growl.

Shadowknight Archfiend Atk-2000

"You planned that whole thing didn't you?" Char sounded more impressed than anything, as he drew his next card. "Well, two can play at this game. I play my own Card of Demise, and like you said, I get to draw five cards, but I have to discard my entire hand after five turns pass." Char took his next five cards, and a smirk spread across his face before he selected one of the five cards in his hand. "Alright, since I don't like my odds against those dragons of yours, I'll play a card you're familiar with; Field Barrier. And now you'll have to get rid of this and my Watchbear before dealing with Pandemonium. Oh, but it doesn't end there. I play Golden Armor and Mist Body. With these two cards, you can't attack my other monsters, except the one that's equipped with this card. And with Mist Body, the equipped monster isn't destroyed by battle."

And that's when Yuki struck, revealing his trap card. "Too bad, you won't be able to utilize any of your back row now! Trap Card open! Straight Flush! I can only use this when my opponent's back row is full, and it destroys all spell and trap cards!"

Char's eyes went wide at the reveal of this trap card, and he had to shield his face with his duel disk as his entire back row was destroyed. Though thanks to the effect of Pandemonium Watchbear, his field spell still remained on the field. "Damn… I guess, that's it for my turn then."

"My turn then! Draw!" Yuki declared, while selecting his next card. "Alright, I summon Mirror Dragon in attack mode!" A small semi-transparent dragon with scales similar to the reflections of a mirror appeared on Yuki's field.

Mirror Dragon Atk-?

"Now Mirror Dragon's effect, allows him to become an exact copy of one monster on the field, but it doesn't copy the effects of said monster. But I won't be using his effect, since I'll use my Red Eyes' effect to resurrect Tyrant Dragon to the field! Now rise once again Tyrant Dragon!"

Tyrant Dragon's roar echoed around the field once more, as the large dragon took flight about the field, before he landed behind Yuki, and next to Horus.

Tyrant Dragon Atk-2900

"And due to Tyrant Dragon's effect, if he's resurrected from the graveyard, I have to tribute one dragon monster. Mirror Dragon, you're dismissed." The reflective scaled dragon bowed, before vanishing from Yuki's field. "Time to end this! Tyrant Dragon, take out Pandemonium Watchbear!"

The dragon in question roared, letting loose a stream of fire from its mouth. The blast incinerated the blood red furred bear, though since it was in defense mode, Char hadn't lost any life points. "Tyrant Dragon's effect now activates, since he destroyed a monster in battle, he can attack once again. So burn that Puppet Master's strings!"

Once again, Tyrant Dragon incinerated another of Char's monsters. Once again, since the monster was in defense mode, Char lost no life points. "Alright Red Eyes, attack Shadowknight! Infernal Hellfire!"

The metallic dragon roared, and blasted away Shadowknight Archfiend with a stream of blood red flames from its mouth, wiping out Char's last line of defense, and some of the red haired Obelisk's life points.

Char-LP 700

"You had me on the back foot for a little while there Char, but now it's over. Horus, the final attack of this duel is yours! Now burn it down!" Horus let out a large stream of black flames, engulfing Char, and blasting away his remaining life points.

Char-LP 0000

"So, early morning duel?" Kai's speaking up from behind Yuki, made him jump in surprise.

"Kai, for gods sake…!" Yuki sighed, before noticing that his and Char's duel had drawn a crowd. Mostly the male and female students of Obelisk, and many of which were still in their pajamas.

"Couldn't sleep?" Yumei asked, as she approached her twin.

Yuki sighed, and shook his head. "Actually, I have to tell you guys something…"