State of the Meta

by Yung Warrior

A self-insert in which a competitive player from 2016 finds himself warped into the world of GX. Between adjusting his deck to make up for the inverted power creep, making grades, and saving the world, there's much to do, but all good players know how to adapt to their circumstances. SI-OC, 1st Person POV

69. A Tune of Ice and Fire

Chapter 69: A Tune of Ice and Fire

"The first round of the Genex Tournament semi-finals will feature Alexis Rhodes of Central Academy versus Axel Brodie of West Academy! We love you, Alexis!" Crowler chirped into the microphone, as nonpartisan as ever. His declaration earned him raucous cheers from the islanders and a wave of boos from the would-be soldiers of the west.

As Alexis looked upon Axel, she felt overwhelmed by the waves of suffocating heat emanating from his bright red aura. His eyes, a similar shade of hazel to her own, smoldered like a low-burning bonfire that could erupt into an inferno at any moment. Latent beneath his energy was the wild, ornery Sacred Beast, thrashing about on its leash. "The beast does not want to serve him." She realized, and wondered what techniques Viper and the West Academy administration used to subdue Uria. Against her will, Alexis found herself admiring Axel's discipline – controlling Uria's power would be difficult enough even if the beast was cooperating. To compel its obedience was another matter entirely. Although Alexis would not normally approve of a duelist treating their spirit so harshly, Uria would gladly feast on the duel energy of everyone in the arena if it were freed. And in its feeding frenzy, the phantasm would leave behind hundreds of shriveled corpses. Alexis was trying not to judge others so quickly and harshly as she used to. Lately, it seemed like appearances rarely matched up with reality.

Likewise, Axel sized up the enemy. She was beautiful to be sure, but Axel would never allow pedestrian lust to cloud his thoughts under any circumstances, and certainly not in a battle. More pressing was the cold he felt from her presence – her duel energy howled like blizzard winds. "She's strong enough, but Gecko should have been able to prevail…" He thought with some suspicion. "Maybe he drew poorly."

"Fire and ice…the crowd will enjoy this duel, I'm sure." Alexis made weak small talk, finding his stern silence oppressive. Axel did not respond, slowly raising his gun-shaped duel disk so the barrel was pointed at her torso. Although Alexis knew he would not shoot her dead on the stage in front of hundreds of witnesses, she could not deny a feeling of trepidation as she stared down the barrel. After a long moment, Axel moved the implement higher and fastened it to his muscled forearm.

"I thought soldiers would be above such cheap intimidation tactics." She barked.

"Spoken by a civilian with no knowledge of war. A duelist with a weak heart is often defeated before the first card is drawn, and words are but another weapon in my arsenal." The strict Westerner replied, Alexis surprised at his turn of phrase.

"No knowledge of war? I fought against the Shadow Riders and the Society of Light, and I'm the second-ranked duelist in this academy! Don't underestimate me!" Alexis clenched a fist.

"You islanders prance like show ponies and expect to be treated like war horses. The other schools do not respect your ways. Giving girls the highest rank because of their gender, while placing the boys with academic prowess in the middling dormitories? And you have the temerity to flaunt that rank with pride? At West Academy, the girls slog it out in the mud and they earn their stripes the hard way, just as the boys do."

Angered, Alexis activated her duel disk. "I'll show you that I earned my place here!" Internally, she knew Axel had a point. Alexis used to doubt her abilities often, and could never be sure if she had really earned her status or if it had been a byproduct of being a big fish in a small pond. Obelisk Blue was a different place now. Jamie was just as relentless with her as he was with the others, and he had no intention of relinquishing his own position without a fight. He never held back on her during their practice games, and would crush her pitilessly as soon as the opportunity for victory presented itself. Although her ego chafed under his leadership at first, Alexis' insecurities vanished like vapor as she herself inflicted defeats upon Bastion, Jasmine, Atticus, Erin, and the other Blues, each duelist sharpening their steel through vicious, uncompromising battles. The Obelisk Blues truly could bear the mantle of "super-elite" when they could not before - that was why Axel's denigrations enraged her.

"I draw!" Axel won the coin toss and elected to take the first turn. "I summon Volcanic Slicer (1800/200)!" The pyro monster stood tall on its hind legs, its short appendages and sharp beak causing it to resemble a dinosaur. "I'll use Volcanic Slicer's effect to burn you for 500 damage at the cost of not being able to attack this turn." Since it was the first turn, the restriction didn't matter. Axel set two cards and passed, while Alexis hissed at the sparks' touch. (Alexis 3500/Axel 4000)

Alexis was unsurprised at Axel's direct damage tactics, grateful to have observed his duel with Jasmine before. "I draw!" Smiling, she revealed the drawn card – Polymerization. "I merge together Etoile Cyber with Blade Skater in my hand to summon Cyber Blader (2100/800)!" Skating onto the battlefield from above, the dancer performed a jumping twirl before smoothly landing at Alexis' side. "Then, I'll set a card face-down and attack your Volcanic Slicer!" Cyber Blader reared back a hose-covered leg and prepared to slice the slicer.

"Reveal face-down card, Backfire! Now, whenever a fire monster of mine is destroyed on the field and sent to the grave, you take 500 damage!" Axel and Alexis both raised their arms to shield themselves from the explosive burst of energy as the attack made contact. (Alexis 3000/Axel 3700)

"Alexis can't afford a prolonged engagement. Using Doble Passe to end the game quickly would have been a tremendous boon, but if she's at a life point deficit that may not be the best option." Bastion analyzed, moreso out of habit than anything else.

"Alexis has the data she needs from my duel to make good decisions. I'm pissed I couldn't face her myself, but now that I'm out I don't want that prick Axel to make it any farther." Jasmine crossed her arms.

"That Sacred Beast of his is bloody terrifying…if he gets that monster out, I don't like her chances." Said Jim.

Chazz said nothing for a change, looking long at the three of them and opening his mouth for a second before deciding to close it.

"Draw…I set another card face-down and end my turn." Axel spoke quickly, assured of his strategy's effectiveness.

"Your boy is rushing it, Viper. Are you in a hurry for some reason?" Kaiba prodded up in the tower.

"Axel knows the quickest path to victory, and plans to take it." Viper replied with a smirk before rising. "If you all don't mind, I am going to sit with my son in the stands. I believe the remaining tournament matches could prove a valuable coaching opportunity for him."

Kaiba's expression was staid, but his eyes burned with fierce intensity. "As you will." Viper quickly left the tower, visibly relieved. "Go on, you snake in the grass. Spring your pathetic trap so we can end this." The white dragon thought with venom of his own. Watching the tournament matches was rousing his blood, and there was only ever one solution for that.

Alexis was down on card advantage after spending so much on the fusion summon. Luckily, her next draw helped to mitigate that somewhat. "I play Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands (1400/1000)!" The many-limbed minor deity was gray-skinned and muscled, his face harsh and veined. "This monster lets me add a ritual monster or spell from my deck to my hand." Alexis grabbed Cyber Angel Dakini from her deck. "Now, I'll attack you directly!" Cyber Blader and Manju leapt forward, their combined strength nearly enough to end the game.

Axel considered how best to deal with the Cyber Blader. Its variable effects could present a problem – Axel could not get three monsters on his side of the field, or else Cyber Blader would negate all of his activated effects. On the other hand, his main ways of dealing with it left his life points undefended next turn. Ultimately, he didn't have much choice. "I reveal my other trap card, Blaze Accelerator Reload." The three-barreled cannon whirred to life next to Axel.

Alexis frowned. "This card is what really won him the last game, not Uria."

Axel chose to use the continuous trap's effect immediately. "I'll discard a Volcanic card in order to draw another one." His graveyard glowed deep red as soon as he pitched the card. "Which activates the effect of the card I sent to the grave, Volcanic Scattershot (500/0)! These shotgun shells strafe your field and take out every one of your monsters!" Vermillion energy surrounded Axel as he thrust a gloved hand forward.

A series of ear-piercing cracks rung through the stadium as each of the three cannons unloaded on Alexis' monsters, the gruesome display causing some discomfort in the audience. Afterwards, another round of shells holographically phased through Alexis as well, causing her to fall on one knee. (Alexis 1500/Axel 3700)

"Volcanic Scattershot not only blows up your field, but sends two additional copies of itself to the graveyard, each one dealing 500 points of damage." Axel coolly explained as acrid smoke lazily rose into the air beside him.

"Heh, Axel's ripping her up out there. He might not even need his Sacred Beast." Pierce leaned over to talk to his dad, who had taken a seat beside him in the stands a few minutes prior.

"Victory is not to be taken for granted. Axel should maintain discipline until the job is done." Viper answered somewhat sharply, although his attention was clearly divided between the match and his wristwatch, which was constantly beeping and sounding with new developments. On the field, Alexis grunted and had no choice but to pass.

The audience, particularly the people with money on the line, were shocked at how one-sided the duel appeared to be so far, although the betting odds had always favored Axel. Adam Sugihara himself had money on Axel winning, and he partially did so because of how Alexis disapproved of his various side hustles. "She's always sat on a high horse…if she fell off, that may not be such a bad thing. If Jamie finds out I bet against her, I may be in trouble. But what's life without risk?" Adam thought as he taped the duel for a later upload.

"Now to smoke you out! I'll send my Blaze Accelerator Reload to the graveyard in order to summon one of the strongest pyro-type monsters in the game. Bring the heat, Volcanic Doomfire (3000/1800)!" The air shimmered violently as plumes of magma erupted behind Axel, casting his form into silhouette as geysers of lava shot into the air. Emerging from an egg-like shell of crusted-over igneous rock, the monster was a golem forged from the depths of a volcano. Lava flowed like blood through its veins, its claws, talons and sharp teeth hewn from stalactites. Doomfire glowered down at Alexis, its breath boiling hot.

The blistering heat brought back bad memories – Alexis recalled dueling her own brother to the death inside of the island's volcano. Her blonde hair was matted to her forehead, and sweat stung her eyes as Axel's power washed over her. "This is bad!"

"Attack!" Axel's monster raised a heavy claw and bore down on Alexis, an attack that would finish the duel with a whimper. Perhaps once, Alexis would have lost so quickly, but those days were long gone. "I activate my trap card, Draining Shield! This will negate your attack and raise my life points by Doomfire's attack!" Moments before the claws made their mark, Volcanic Doomfire found itself repelled by a translucent barrier of neon green energy surrounding Alexis. The force from the strike passed through the shield, and particles of energy instead fell about Alexis in a soothing shower of mist. (Alexis 4000/Axel 3700)

Axel wasn't too surprised at this, knowing that Alexis used some cards that gained life points, but he was not happy about using so many resources to burn her only for his advantage to be nullified instantly. "I set a card and end my turn." Fired up somewhat before, his expression was firmly stolid once more.

Jasmine clapped. "That is just what Alexis needed!"

"Normally, I am not partial to cards that simply boost life points. Gaining life points at the expense of card advantage merely delays the inevitable in most instances. But against a burn deck, they're quite useful." Bastion reluctantly agreed. Chazz's dark grey eyes were taking in the duel attentively, his boasting seemingly stoppered for the time being.

"Now it's my move!" A bit of Alexis' confidence returned. "I cast the spell Pot of Prosperity, banishing six cards from my extra deck face-down in order to look at the top six cards of my main deck. Then, I can add one of those top six cards to my hand while sending the other five to the bottom of the deck. However, in exchange I am not allowed to draw any cards for the rest of the turn, and any damage you take is halved." The blonde carefully considered her choices, the duel disk bringing up a menu that allowed her to choose which card to take. With another sigh of relief, she saw what she needed. "Thank Ra." She thought gratefully as she picked up the card she needed.

"I play Machine Angel Absolute Ritual, returning Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater to the deck as tributes for a ritual summon – take center stage, Cyber Angel Dakini (2700/2400)!" The clanking of gears and the low light of a mechanical forge accompanied the arrival of Alexis' many-armed ritual monster, a blue-skinned weapon wielding halberd, staff and sword. "When she hits the field, you must choose one of your monsters and send it directly to the graveyard. And since that monster isn't technically being destroyed, the effect of Backfire doesn't trigger!"

With a tight expression, Axel was forced to send Doomfire to the grave, leaving his field exposed. With a twirl of the wrist, Alexis wordlessly commanded Dakini to strike. Axel gasped as he took damage despite the total being half of what it would normally be. "That's it for my turn! Now drop and give me twenty, soldier!" Alexis got a bit cocky as the part of the crowd that favored Central Academy cheered loudly. Up in the stands next to Adam, Atticus waved a big cardboard sign that read, "LUV U LEXI 3" in pink lettering. For his part, Adam looked slightly uncomfortable as the prospect of losing money reared its head. (Alexis 4000/Axel 2350)

Viper frowned deeply while Piece fidgeted. "Dad, Axel's not gonna lose, right?" The sandy-haired lad questioned tremulously.

"He'll need the Sacred Beast now…but he only has one continuous trap on the field. Axel may fail me after all." Viper's voice was low, sinuous.

"…Draw…" Axel was on the back foot, but much like Alexis his next card had potential to swing momentum back his way again. "I play Magic Planter. This spell lets me send a continuous trap to the graveyard in order to draw two more cards." Axel pitched Backfire to use the spell. His olive eyes widening at his next two draws, Axel quickly set a card and ended his turn silently.

"He reacted to that card…it must be Uria." Alexis knew somehow that she wouldn't be able to beat Axel without dealing with the Sacred Beast in some form. "That set card of his better be good, or it's over." She drew, her duel energy growing sharper and colder. "I'm ending this now! Dakini, attack directly!"

However, the cyber angel found itself unable to move, weighed down by an invisible force. "I activate another continuous trap, Gravity Bind. This will prevent level four or higher monsters from attacking." Axel quickly wiped the sweat from his brow, glad that Alexis didn't seem to have any backrow removal available.

"Damn, of course he'd have that!" Alexis frowned. She had Cosmic Cyclone as one of her choices from Pot of Prosperity, but it was at the bottom of the deck now, and she had no way of knowing where her other options for dealing with Gravity Bind were in the pile. Unfortunately, floodgates were a major weakness for her build. "Jamie would play an annoying card like that…" She smiled sadly as she remembered their games together. He would often delight in irritating her through the use of similar cards.

"I know it's annoying, but it's good to play against these type of cards." He said to her one day, holding up a copy of Skill Drain as they sat across each other at one of the study tables in the library, his brown hair hidden beneath a blue ball cap. "It forces you to think in a different way. You ask questions – how does my deck answer this card, or that card? If you ignore these sorts of cards, then you can't be surprised when you lose to them every time. People are constantly searching for your weaknesses, they sniff about like bloodhounds. So make it difficult for them – punish them harshly."

"Why does Industrial Illusions even print those cards? They're not sporting." Alexis complained. If she was in anyone else's company, she would have added, "A true duelist would not use such cards." But she knew better than to say something like that in Jamie's presence. He claimed not to care about the judgments of others, but that wasn't true…he was sensitive to their criticisms, to their never-ending challenges, and he was acutely aware that he owed his position to judicious use of force – the people did not love or respect him, not like they did Jaden or the Kaiser. Those two truly did not care what others thought of them, and they were beloved for it.

"It is the fact that Jamie craves respect that ensures he will not receive it." She had realized. Alexis could relate, wanting to be recognized for her skill rather than her looks, but never quite finding what she sought. Even after everything Jamie had done to prove himself, she still had difficulty thinking of him as a true duelist by the standards of the culture she knew. Alexis supposed that Jamie rejected the label anyways, but there was still a gulf between them in that way. Although she found him good-looking, and enjoyed spending time with him, Alexis didn't think she would ever be able to truly change his ways…

"I wonder if being out there has changed you…" She thought with melancholy before trying to refocus on the game. "I end my turn."

Axel's brow furrowed, noticing she had taken a long time to think during her main phase two. Shrugging, he started his next turn off. "I set a card and end my turn." The Westerner was content to sit on Gravity Bind for as long as he could.

Alexis moved cautiously, still having no way of outing Gravity Bind as of yet. "I set a monster and end my turn." The crowd yawned, disliking a slower, more methodical game, but the duelists on the stage were tense as drawn bowstrings, along with those viewers who appreciated the intricacies of the grind game.

"Draw…set…pass…" Axel weighed the simple move very carefully, and Alexis knew why he gave it such importance. Axel now had two set cards on the field along with Gravity Bind.

"I bet those other two cards are continuous traps! This is my last chance to get rid of them before he summons Uria!" The cards almost seemed to listen to her, for her next draw was just what she needed. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Gravity Bind!" The staple quick-play spell came in handy once again, a torrent of rain and wind racing across the field towards Axel.

"I reveal my set card, Imperial Custom. This will prevent my other continuous trap cards from being destroyed as long as it is face-up." Axel's lips quirked upward as he successfully baited Alexis into wasting a card. The high winds crashed against Axel's field, but the face-up cards buffeted him from the gales until they finally subsided. Alexis was not happy, and had no choice but to end her turn.

"Well, that was her last chance. Now she has to deal with the Sacred Beast." Jasmine frowned. Chazz had leaned forward, his posture taut and his expression alert. Bastion appeared more relaxed, but his narrowed eyes revealed that he was just as focused as Princeton. Even the crowd tightened in anticipation, as if they knew what Axel had in his hand.

"Now…destroy her now, Axel!" Viper willed, letting some of his long-standing resentment against Central Academy show on his face.

"I flip over my final set card – Hyper Blaze." Axel's aura had grown into a towering blaze that nearly blotted out the blue sky completely. "I'll now send Hyper Blaze, Gravity Bind, and Imperial Custom to the graveyard in order to call forth the phantom demon of flame! Uria, Lord of Searing Flames (0/0)!" Slithering from the cloud of smoke, the red serpent extended its skeletal wings, translucent webbing bubbling with heat as rows of teeth gleamed in the sunlight. Accompanying the beast were floes of lava along the field, the magma treading close to Alexis' feet. She hastily stepped back almost to the ring's edge, fearful and unsure if the lava was real or not. More than that, Uria's sheer presence threatened to flatten her where she stood. Since Axel had five continuous traps in the grave – Blaze Accelerator Reload, Backfire, Hyper Blaze, Imperial Custom, and Gravity Bind – Uria stood proudly at 5000 attack points.

"The officials wouldn't let me die…right?" Alexis thought as the terror overwhelmed her. When she looked up to the tower, however, she got herself back under control. "I've been in life or death battles before – if this is another one, then so be it!" Kaiba would have no sympathy for weakness in any case – Alexis often wondered how Jamie could serve such a man for so long without incurring his displeasure.

Axel labored under the pressure exerted by Uria, and wanted to end it fast as he did against Jasmine. "Attack!" With violent glee, the beast opened fire on Alexis' Cyber Angel, unleashing a beam of hellish heat that instantly incinerated Alexis' monster. The girl was engulfed in flames, her ear-piercing shriek echoing throughout the arena. She remembered the experience of burning beneath the Red-Eyes Black Dragon's assault, and it was only that knowledge and experience that let her hold on now. (Alexis 1700/Axel 2350)

"Excellent, an attack of this magnitude will go a long way towards charging the gate." Kaiba thought as he watched Alexis burn.

As a tornado of fire blazed around Alexis, an uncomfortable silence gripped the crowd. They were bloodthirsty and enjoyed the spectacle of violence to be sure, but seeing a young girl bathed in fire was a step too far for them. It was too real. Luckily, Alexis was still standing when the smoke cleared, albeit shakily. Minor burns and wounds marred her once-smooth skin, but her passive aura of duel energy had absorbed most of the blow, along with her monster's defense. She could still fight. The new version of the Obelisk blue uniform she wore for the tournament, more of a pantsuit despite the oppressive island heat, was frayed and blackened in parts. Axel's thick eyebrows raised, expecting her to buckle under the force of Uria's attack. "There's nothing in your deck that can handle Uria. His flames will annihilate any card you set before you get the chance to activate it, and none of your monsters are strong enough. Yield." His voice boomed authoritatively. Of course, he was laying it on a bit thick – many cards in the game could dispatch Uria quite handily, as the card had no immunity from targeting, destruction, or banishing. Nevertheless, Alexis' empty field lent some credence to his claim.

"Bloody hell, he needs to reign that monster in before someone gets seriously hurt. Why was he allowed to compete with a fooking Sacred Beast in his deck anyways?" Jim panicked, unfamiliar with the supernatural threats that the others had faced.

"The card itself isn't that strong from a gameplay perspective. Really, the card is nothing more than a shell that holds Uria's latent demonic power, power that could end entire nations if left unchecked. The beasts are hungry, and they don't care where the blood flows from, just that it flows. It takes a duelist of incredibly deep energy reserves and a strong will to even think of controlling them. If the duelist is too weak, then they're just meat for the grinder." Chazz intoned – he knew of the Sacred Beast's abilities, having faced Hamon many times during no-holds-barred training matches with Jesse. During many of their games, Chazz had felt the lash of Hamon's lightning. Although Jesse did not like to use the Sacred Beast on a friend, Chazz wanted to be prepared to face the dark spirits that lurked just beneath the surface of their world. Remembering those times, Chazz felt static on his fingertips. While part of him hoped that Alexis would win, as he held lingering affection for her, another part of him wished for her to fail, as he was capable of overcoming a Sacred Beast and did not want her to wear the same accomplishment. Yet even still, the part of him that wished her to prevail won out, as he wanted to prove himself superior over all of the islanders, the ones he had ran from.

Alexis faced down Axel, her vision somewhat hazy from the abundance of smoke in the air as well as her own fatigue. "It's…my…turn…" Her knees wobbled. The sight of the next card bolstered her somewhat. She took her time, trying to exhaust Axel as he worked to keep Uria under control. Although the results of Uria being freed would be disastrous, she found she did not care in the heat of battle and the pursuit of victory, as wrong as it was. "I'll set a monster and end my turn." Her breath hacked from the putrid stench in the air, but she had made it another turn. No matter what, Alexis resolved she would not surrender. Uria extended its wings and screeched triumphantly, its thirst for blood unending. The dueling field was a flood of deep orange and grey between the smoke and lava streams.

Axel did not relax, even as victory appeared at hand. "Draw!" With no other monsters to summon, Axel launched another attack with Uria. Alexis was smothered by the thick flames for a second time, digging deep to find energy reserves she didn't know she had, even as the attack was not dealing direct damage to her. "Skelengel (900/400) has a flip effect which lets me draw a card…" Alexis' fingers trembled further, but the next card gave her some hope.

"I set a card! Go!" Axel barked.

With the next draw, Alexis saw a way out, but it depended on what Axel's face-down was. This would be her last chance. "I activate Ready Fusion, paying 1000 life points to summon a level six or lower fusion monster that doesn't have an effect directly to the field! Come forth, Deepsea Shark (1900/1600)!" A bulky shark with violet skin swam through the air, a glassy jewel embedded between its eyes. Ready Fusion prevented the monster from attacking, but that was definitely not a problem in this case.

"Now, I'll normal summon the level two tuner Reese the Ice Mistress (800/800)!" The crowd recognized the auburn-haired girl from the previous game, and knew Alexis was preparing the channel the mysterious alabaster power that had shaken up the dueling world. Even as she placed the card on the duel disk, Alexis felt the clear white winds howl through her, accompanying by the whirring of some hidden technology that powered the synchronization method. Suddenly she felt clear, cold, focused once again. "I synchro summon!"

From beneath the earth, the sound of chains breaking echoed through the air with a snap. A challenging force, peals of wintery wind dispelling the smoke with a hiss, whipped through the grounds. Uria reared back in confusion as a shadow grew behind Alexis. "Level seven – Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier (2500/1700)!"

A sharp crack filled the air followed the tinkling, hissing sounds of ice breaking upon the magma floes generating from Uria's aura. The blood orange that filled the duelist's vision gave way to blinding, glassy sheets of vivid hyper-blue. The ice was alive, warping and changing shape rapidly until it finally settled on the form a dragon, one much larger and bulkier than Brionac. And where Brionac was apathetic like nature itself, Gungnir was ruled by a deep rage – a human rage.

Axel reared back, shocked at the sheer power Alexis had been able to call forth seemingly all of the sudden. Her blonde locks were floating, suspended in the air and surrounded by a white-blue aura, lending Alexis a certain unhinged quality as deafening duel energy howled around her. "The Sacred Beasts are strong, but they are not gods, not even close. Let me show you!" Alexis discarded her last card to the graveyard, her gloved fingers coiling into a fist. "By discarding one card, I can destroy Uria!"

With a high screech, Gungir unleashed waves of heavy frost upon its foe. Uria attempted to resist, firing burning beams at the approaching onslaught, but it was to no avail. Within moments, the god was ice-bound, staying frozen in place like a snowglobe figurine before shattering into pieces. Axel could only stare in shock as the vengeful dragon descended on him too, finishing the duel. (Alexis 1700/Axel 0)

Luckily, the freezing moisture was not truly real or dangerous, although the presence of the Sacred Beast and the heightened levels of duel energy lent everything a certain tangibility. More than anything, Axel was chilled by Alexis' heavy gaze, and he realized now that it was the look of a warrior. Slowly, he felt feeling return to his extremities in rounds of pins and needles as he stood.

"It feels good to have a bit of cold air." Alexis' hair fell in disarray as the not-quite hologram of Gungnir faded behind her. The section of the audience in favor of Central Academy erupted into wild applause as their heroine prevailed in battle once again. While Alexis had always had a fierce reputation, she was quickly becoming a celebrity after a string of public victories and association with other rising stars at the school. Over the din of the crowd, Alexis spoke to Axel as discreetly as she could. "Duels have a way of changing minds. Is your opinion of us any different now?"

Axel was clearly upset, but maintained discipline as best he could. "I was wrong. You guys run things differently over here…but I shouldn't be so quick to judge. There might be something to learn from your structure. I'd like to meet your…commanding officer, Jamie Lancaster sometime. Clearly operations in Obelisk Blue have changed in the past two years." He was exhausted, panting and sweating from the effort, but remained dignified and assertive in ways only a soldier did.

"I'm sure he'd like to meet you sometime as well. You fought with honor – I thank you for it." Alexis left it at that – Axel was clearly not interested in being pals with her and the rest of the group. She certainly couldn't picture him playing volleyball or slamming beers with the island crew. They were very different people – but in battle, they found a language in which they could understand each other, and that was enough.

"The same to you, soldier." Axel slowly rose, shook her hand, and descended the dais. He was met with an understanding look from Pierce and a cold stare from Professor Viper, his own commanding officer. Axel did not want to face him, but knew that he must….

Alexis' calves seized as she tried to move down the steps, and she had to clutch the guardrail with white knuckles. Taking short, sharp breaths, she rode out the cramp in a haze of pain as she quickly hobbled to the bench. Jasmine thrust a water bottle in her hands and Alexis drank it quickly, not realizing how thirsty and tired she was. "Damn, that Sacred Beast is no joke…" The blonde muttered.

"Alexis, you just took down a god and all you have to say is that it was no joke…you are incredible! Sometimes, I wish you were the one leading the Obelisk Force…" Jasmine effused.

After taking another long drink, Alexis remarked, "Only sometimes?" She was well aware of Jasmine's dislike of the current leadership, and of one individual in particular. The jibe was effective, and Jasmine did not press the matter, instead congratulating her friend further.

"I'm exhausted...whichever one of you wins next might have an easy time against me like this." Alexis wasn't going to get much rest, as Bastion and Chazz were already preparing for their match.

"Making excuses already?" The black-haired rogue smirked. "You'd better come at me with your best, if not then just surrender and save us the time."

"One thing at a time, Princeton." Bastion leveled a steely look at his opponent.

"Indeed. One by one…I'll tear every one of you down and prove why I should have been the one leading Obelisk Blue!" Without another word, Chazz turned to leave them with coattails billowing.

"This Princeton bloke is kind of like a human version of an oil slick." Jim caused the others to laugh and deftly diffused the awkward silence left in Chazz's wake. "Go get him, Bastion."

"Good luck, babe." Jasmine gave Bastion a quick peck. "I can't wait to see you take that punk down a notch."

"You've got this man, we're all in your corner!" Alexis smiled weakly.

"Thank you all. It's time for all of my hard work to truly pay off!" Bastion buttoned up his Obelisk Blue coat and took the stage.

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Adrian looked upon Echo, his lover and confidante, with an inscrutable expression as she walked towards the crypt. Mackenzie and David had stepped further back, and almost appeared ready to flee the scene if things went wrong, which very well could happen – they were in uncharted territory. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say the knowledge they sought was so arcane that it had been discovered and re-discovered throughout human history. Each who had grasped the power of the dark god had paid dearly for it in the end, but it was the nature of human beings to repeat the same mistakes, endlessly.

"You know what I have to do, Echo. I'm sorry." Adrian said, although his tone carried little in the way of true regret, or pity. He spoke the words, but the lack of feeling in them made the sentiment obligatory, contractual even.

Luckily for him, Echo was similarly emotionless. "I know. And I'm glad. Glad that I can face the end with clarity of purpose, of thought. I wish it no other way. My life has always been in service to you, and this is no different. If this sacrifice gives you even small sway over the world, then it is well." Behind Echo, the black sarcophagus opened, its lid giving way to a bottomless black expanse within.

"Then fall." Adrian shoved her into the coffin without delay. Although she tried to retain as much of her dignity in death as she could, Echo could not help but let out a scream as she plummeted deep with the pit. The cry rang through the hall, only to be silenced by the lid closing of its accord. Echo was no more.

"Gee, I'm really tearing up over here." David leaned over to Mackenzie and snarked. "It must be true love."

"If this is what love is, I am glad to have never felt it." Mackenzie replied. She had heard many songs and read many stories about lovers who would die together, or one would die for the other's sake. Love did not seem particularly synonymous with survival, or intelligence in her opinion. "Were they insane to begin with or did love make them that way?"

"Chicken or the egg, sis. Still, I'm glad someone is crazy enough to try and handle Exodia." David's remark was predictably flippant and did not truly address Mackenzie's words. It was times like these she missed sparring with Lancaster…he had just enough intelligence to make good sport, if nothing else. Although she had no way to know, she suspected he was the one who pit Chazz against her during the battle against the Light, using the chaos and Chazz's preexisting enmity towards her to ensure a scenario that would benefit him no matter the result.

"I don't know where you are or what you're doing, but I look forward to seeing your face when you hand-deliver us Jaden and his Winged Kuriboh." The Kuriboh was all they needed now. Unfortunately, Mackenzie had found few opportunities to be alone with Jaden during her time as a transfer student. Her usual methods of seduction would have no effect on that one, it would seem…

She was jolted from her rambling thoughts by a sudden quake of power from within the sarcophagus. "Ye who has sacrificed their love, accept in return the ultimate power of the bound god…the power to obliterate everything in the universe!" The demonic voice sounded as tendrils of violet energy flowed into Adrian's body. It was like liquid being transferred intravenously to a hospital patient, pulsing and steady. Adrian accepted the strength handily, wearing the mantle as if it were his birthright. When the transfer was complete, he opened his eyes and appeared as placid, calm and ready as ever. He had not shed one tear for Echo – none would ever know the truth of what happened to her. And yet because of her sacrifice, there was something different beneath the surface, the power of Exodia constantly yearning to destroy anything and everything, and relish in carnage for its own sake.

In an instant, Adrian had crossed the distance between them, appearing next to the two blondes in a shimmer of speed. David and Mackenzie were startled, Adrian's movement momentarily beyond their perception. "Let's go. There's no use looking back." He said. As they left, the siblings pondered their life choices, wondering if they were making the right choices in allies.

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(Jamie Lancaster POV)

By the time Sonata got the five of us to our destination, we had trekked halfway through the dark city and were totally exhausted. "For Ra's sake Sonata, where the hell are you taking us?" I wheezed as we turned another corner. We seemed to be entering a less busy part of town, somewhere in one of the outer boroughs. Sometime soon, I would have to take a look at a map of they were available. It was hectic near the castle and the city walls, but like any town there were ebbs and flows in the population. Only rather than the people in suits and ties in a big city on Earth, there was a motley assembly of various monster types everywhere we looked.

"Shit, I'm cramping up!" Jesse hissed, quickly stabilizing himself against a nearby storefront as he clutched his calf. The rest of us stopped as well, breathing heavily and doubling over, even Erin. The street was relatively clean and well-lit, with warm orange lights beaming down from neatly arranged lampposts. The monsters around here were mostly humanoid, allowing us to blend in easier. Jesse hissed, sharply taking in air between clenched teeth.

"Oh yeah, I forgot that running wasn't as easy for you guys as flying is for me. Sorry, but you seemed like you were in a hurry!" Sonata half-apologized, half-snarked.

"So your duel spirit's a smart-aleck as well? Makes sense." Aster said in-between huffs. Sonata ignored the comment and flew over to Jesse, humming a minor restorative spell that eased the rapid contraction in his muscles. "I'm no Injection Fairy Lily, but I know a little bit. Battle is a big part of life for duel spirits, so knowing how to patch things up is a useful skill."

"Fairies seem to have a natural talent for it." Zane added. Sonata moved between the five of us and used the same spell. She wouldn't be able to deal with any truly serious or life-threatening injuries, but I did feel markedly better for her efforts. More than the physical rejuvenation, there was something calming about the magic. I didn't even realize I had a headache until the pressure eased – there was a vein in my temple that always throbbed with stress.

"Thanks, Sonata. Your skills have been developing during your time here. I hope there's been positive news on other fronts." If she got captured again, I was going to be pissed.

"I learned it from the people I'm staying with now. We're not that far now, but it seems like the pursuit has died off, so we can probably walk and keep a lower profile now. And for your information, I did learn a lot of useful stuff here! But you'll only get to hear if you're on your best behavior, so there!" She stuck her tongue out at me and blew a raspberry. Despite the mounting stress of our current situation, a peal of laughter escaped from me unbidden.

"It is good to see you again. I mean that." At the moment, I didn't even care that the others could see and hear me express the sentiment. Her gaze softened, and it seemed she wanted to say something before Erin interjected, "Who are these people you're talking about?"

"You like dragon-types, right Jamie?"

I shrugged. "They're okay, certainly don't have a problem with them. Although I have to admit I've started to like Blue-Eyes a lot less since I started working for Kaiba. Why do you ask?" I asked, only for Sonata to look at me with a wide grin and suppressed giggling.

"Wait a second, I think I know what she's talking about. Ah, what's the archetype called? I forget. Syrus really likes them…what's that term anime fans use for attractive female characters again?" Zane scratched his chin, squinting as he struggled to recollect.

"Waifus…" I deflated as I realized who our new hosts will be. Hostesses, I should say.

"Ah, here we are now!" Sonata gestured to a three-story wooden structure, its windows aglow with warm, orange lanterns. There were large double-swinging doors adorned with a scaly mosaic, and above the entrance, a painted sign – "THE DRAGONMAID INN".

"Dragonmaids, that's what they were called! Syrus commissioned some NSFW fanart of them once with our mom's credit card. She grounded him for two weeks after that." Zane chuckled as he recalled their mother's horrified reaction to the artwork.

"Hopefully this goes better than my last hotel stay." Aster frowned, while Jesse and Erin decided to open the doors.

Inside was a full lineup of young women, each having wildly colored hair, maid outfits, and well-practiced pleasant expressions. "~OHAYO GOZAIMASU~" The Dragonmaids each chanted in perfect sync before they started clapping their hands.

With a bemused expression, I turned to the rest of the group. "Let me guess, I'm paying for the rooms."

"Yes you are, and make sure to get king-sized beds!" Erin laughed at my hapless expression as we entered the lobby. The hall was immaculately clean and organized, replete with oaken tables, chairs and desks on which pitchers of water, juice and coffee sat. Soft red ornamental carpet felt amazingly soft after so long trekking over worn-down gravel. The place smelled of cinnamon, pumpkin and pecans, an autumn medley of sorts although seasons were indistinguishable here. Above our hands, a black chandelier softly tinkled from the draft the open doors brought in. With an overdramatic sigh, I approached the oldest-looking woman in the group. She had black hair tied into a bonnet which framed her round face. Apart from thin spectacles and a billowing dress, her most distinguishing feature was her spiked dragon's tail idly moving to and fro on the floor.

"Uh, I'd like to reserve…three rooms. But I don't have any of your money, all of my currency is from the human world." I wanted to put Zane and Aster in one room, Jesse and Erin in another, and have the third for myself. If I was paying, then I'd spend a little extra on myself, especially after seeming months on the road.

"Ah, you must be Jamie-sama. Sonata has told us a great deal about you. I am the owner of this hotel, but you probably know me from my card's name, House Dragonmaid." She said, her tone vaguely pleasant but betraying nothing else. "Your hair color is quite exotic, we don't normally see it around here."

"You don't see brown hair very often?" I was a bit incredulous. Not only was my hair a very commonplace color, it wasn't even at a particularly noteworthy length or style, at least by the human world's standards.

"Usually we see more pastel colors, like the bright teal your friend has. We have heard of another human with brown hair, the one that's always going on about the Blue-Eyes White Dragon."

"I know him well." I grimaced. "Anyways, the honorific thing is not necessary. Just call me Jamie, or Jim if you'd like." I turned back to my four companions. "That reminds me, did anyone ever figure out if we're Japanese or not?"

"Not yet, but if I find something out I'll let you know!" Jesse, who had the most confusing ethnicity of us all, replied facetiously.

"Ok, thanks, I'll keep waiting." Turning back to House Dragonmaid, I said, "You said that was your card's name – do you have a different name that you normally go by? Saying House Dragonmaid all of the time is going to irritate me."

"Just call me House." She bowed her head slightly. I'm guessing the concept of work-life balance at this establishment is rather unknown.

"That works. Before we talk about room rates, I'd like to ask you a question. Have you seen two other human males around here?" I then described Jaden and Sartorius' appearance for the umpteenth time, expecting them to ruefully say that no, they haven't heard of those two.

"Y-yes, I have…" A girl who looked slightly older than us spoke up hesitantly. She had deep crimson hair, pale skin, rolled-up sleeves and an apron that denoted her as the Kitchen Dragonmaid. The girls were all beautiful, but when I looked upon them, I was reminded of how much I missed Alexis.

"You have! Excellent, tell us now!" Aster leapt forward aggressively, causing the girl to yelp in fright.

"Uh…well, I uh, saw both of them arriving with the rest of the war demons as I leaving work…there was a huge parade of them, and two humans were riding alongside the fiends, they stood out like a sore thumb. I saw them in the market square…I don't know what happened to the blue-haired one, but Jaden Yuki…he has been named our new king by Yubel. We all saw him again during the coronation ceremony. Even from far away I could feel an immense power, dark and alluring…yet he seemed so innocent and kind." She seemed afraid. "Sonata told us you all would probably fight Yubel. Please don't involve us, we are not warriors and your cause is not ours."

"Relax, we don't want bloodshed-"

"I do." Zane interjected.

"But it's very important to us that we find Jaden and Sartorius. How are things now compared to when Yubel was ruling the city?" I diverted the topic, as the room grew tense, even the lights above seeming to dim slightly.

House glanced around nervously. "Let's get you checked in, then we can talk in private, Jamie-sama."

"I said to drop the honorific!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Most of the girls had to go back to work – the hotel was always fairly busy, and far bigger on the inside than it appeared. In a way, the constantly shifting pass of spirits helped hide us, but at the same time I couldn't help but worry that someone loyal to Yubel would spot us, and pass along a tip.

The five of us sat in House Dragonmaid's office, a tiny room stacked with papers and office supplies. She poured us all drinks – ice water with lemon for Erin, chocolate milk for Aster and Jesse, and vodka tonics for Zane and myself. With eyes narrowed in suspicion, I had House sip from the five glasses before any of us. The more money we (and by we I mean I) spent here, the more House opened up to us.

"Yubel has been bad for business. Of course, things were never exactly perfect until Brron, but he was the lesser of two evils."

"Business seems to be just fine here. I know hotels tend to run on thin margins, but how bad can it be if travelers are still coming to the city?" Aster questioned.

"Yubel has kept the gates closed more often since Jaden was crowned. When we were catering a royal feast, one of my employees overheard how she wants to 'keep her sweet little boy safe from all of the bad people out there'. No visitors, no money. Actually, the fact that you blasted a hole in the outer gates is the best news I've heard all week." House chuckled grimly, taking a sip of her own beer.

"So, Yubel is the one still running things." Erin concluded and received a nod from House.

"That's right. My people on the inside tell me that Yubel will obey any order Jaden gives her. But the trouble is that Jaden never gives any orders. He doesn't seem to understand how much power he actually has. You guys know him, what is he like?" said House.

"Jaden's the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He's strong, brave, and always happy. Even in the most dangerous situations, he makes you feel like everything is going to be ok." Jesse said wistfully. I felt very bad for Jesse whenever I remembered the true reason he was on this mission. He had finally found someone who could truly understand him in a way no one else could. He was fighting for love, like a knight in shining armor. It made me wonder why I was here.

"I want to save Jaden too." I thought, and that was true. But I didn't really have a choice. Kaiba ordered me here, to bring back Sartorius so my boss could exact his wish for bloody vengeance against Sartorius, the one who had humiliated him. "If I succeed in my mission here, Sartorius will be tortured to death. Is that really something I'm ok with?" The thought had swirled in my hand constantly ever since I departed from the human world. "Are you really doing the right thing?" I asked myself every night.

"Who cares, the prick was going to blow up the earth! Besides, you don't have the power to challenge Kaiba! You need his support to survive, you weakling! If you defy him, it'll be your head on the chopping block next!" One part of me said.

Another part of me countered, "You swore a vow to Sarina that you would save him. Delivering him from the arms of one predator to another is not saving him, you slimy little greaseball. Will you break your oath because you were too cowardly to stand up that bully Kaiba? What is the point of you being here? Just to survive at all costs, like a cockroach?"

House's words roused me from my thoughts. "Someone like that would be a great king. It sounds like Jaden was a dear friend of yours. But why can't you simply request an audience with him at the castle gates?"

"Jaden's a friend of ours, Yubel is not. She's tried to kill me twice." The rage crept into my voice.

"Really? Did you do anything to provoke her?" House asked.

"My existence is oppressing her. She seems to think I'm some sort of rival for Jaden." I vaguely remembered her ravings from the battle against Kagemaru.

"Where did she get that idea?" House semi-interrogated me. Aster glanced back and forth between us attentively.

"I don't know, we haven't sat down to discuss the issue." I nearly snarled. I didn't particularly want peace with Yubel either. She tried to take me out twice, it seems fair I should get my shot in return.

"No one ever talks anymore. Everyone is so quick to play the damn card game. It's rather tiring, and I'm a duel spirit saying that for Ra's sake!" House bemoaned and took a long draught of beer. "Cheers to you five for going so far for a friend's sake. I haven't met many humans – duel spirits often don't trust them. But you guys don't seem so bad. Next round of drinks is on me."

"Cheers to that." I smiled. The five of us tapped the table with our glasses before emptying them.

"Listen, I'm willing to show you a secret passage into the castle. I learned it from a guest, he would use it to sneak out and meet his girlfriend here for afternoon trysts. Get some rest tonight, stay here tomorrow and I'll show you the path at nightfall. If Jaden decides he still wants to be king, tell him to open the borders so we can get customers. And if this Sartorius fellow is so good at fortune-telling, I want him to come to the casino with me one night before you guys leave. And for the love of Obelisk, don't mention us to anyone, except if you're recommending they stay here of course." House laid out the terms.

"Agreed. But something tells me when we leave, it's going to be a hasty exit. If you see any explosions from the castle, it's probably us." I shook her hand, went to my room, and promptly passed out on one of the two king-sized mattresses.

The space next to me in the bed was empty. Sonata silently sat on the other bed. Once, she made a small movement towards my bed, but ultimately did not cross the distance, and stayed away so I was not forced to refuse her.

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(Jaden Yuki POV)

Emerging from the vaults, Jaden could feel immense power surging from the cards he had added to his deck. It felt so right, as if an incomplete part of him had finally been fulfilled. He wore the dark power comfortably now, like a second skin.

Walking the castle halls, Jaden passed by a variety of spirits, all of whom paused whatever they were doing to pay him respect. "This sort of thing would be a dream come true for Chazz." Jaden thought, but for him the adulation felt unearned, hollow. It was solely on the basis of something that was out of his control that they praised him, not because of anything he said or did. In a way, Jaden felt he could understand what Alexis felt, always being judged on her looks. Although he never got what the big deal was about her looks anyways. For some reason, Alexis was rather upset with him when he said this to her once.

Jaden felt like going out into the city. He had felt them, vague presences that reminded him of his friends. Zane's barely restrained bloodlust, Aster's conviction, Erin's free-spiritedness, Jesse's warmth. And most of all, Jamie's bizarre, turbulent energy. He wanted to leave the castle, stretch his legs and make an adventure out of it. But something told him he shouldn't leave Yubel to her own devices…he couldn't pin down why, but something about her made him feel weird…

He found her in the blacksmith's forge. Yubel stood next to another duel spirit, Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu. The man presented her an ornate, fierce set of armor. Pitch black plate was accented with gold marking and . The mantle was heavy and somewhat impractical, surrounded by a ring of curved spikes that were clearly meant for intimidation only. It reminded Jaden of something a villain from a fantasy novel might wear.

"Ah, there he is. I trust you found some interesting cards, Jaden?" Yubel's expression lit up when she saw him.

"Yeah, they're super cool! Thanks, Yubel!" Jaden smiled.

"Of course, anything for you. Tell me, what do you think of this suit of armor. It took many days to make. I thought it would suit you well, to strike fear in the enemy as you ride into battle." Yubel held a black helm in her hands with a faceplate that slid up and down.

"Uh, I don't know…I mean it's nice and all, and I really appreciate your hard work. But it seems kinda…you know, evil?"

"Evil?" Yubel questioned.

"Well, it's…I mean, I'm ok without any armor. Usually our auras protect us from damage during duels anyway. And if the opponent is strong enough to break through the aura's defenses, then wearing armor isn't gonna help." Jaden pointed out.

Yubel seemed to understand. "The king has no need for armor, he is too powerful. Yes, you are right, Jaden."

"I apologize, your majesty. I should have asked you before I built it, but it was Yubel's request." His voice cracked at the word request.

"It looks cool, Kotetsu, you did great work! Say Yubel, I was hoping to talk to you about something. Let's take a walk."

"T-thank you, sire." The smith gulped as Yubel leered him and Jaden smiled obliviously. Jaden moved into the hallway, Yubel following a step behind. Wordlessly, they walked up two flights of stairs and stopped by a guest bedroom.

"What is your bidding?" Yubel finally asked, impatient and unable to bear the silence.

"Yubel, you said you'd do anything I ask, remember?" Jaden turned to her, his mien uncharacteristically serious.

She grew excited. "Anything!"

"Ok…in that case, I order you to clean this guest bedroom." Jaden opened the door, and the room was a little dusty. It wouldn't take long to tidy up.

"Very well, sire…may I ask why I am being entrusted with such a menial task?" Yubel arched an eyebrow, trying to catch on to whatever hidden game she thought Jaden was playing.

"No, you may not ask why." Jaden said firmly. Diving further into darkness had coarsened his perspective, and there was no hint of boyish pluck in his expression. "Also, you are not allowed to leave this room until I explicitly command you to."

"My lord, have I displeased you?" Yubel gasped. "What have I done to deserve punishment? Please tell me, I am ignorant of your will."

"Yubel, just take it easy. You're kinda overdramatic, it's a lot to deal with sometimes. Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Jaden reminded her. "You said you would give me anything I asked. You suffered for a decade for a chance to serve me, so serve."

"As your grace commands. Always as you command." Yubel bowed submissively, and Jaden could sense no deception, only blind devotion and lust. The expression stirred something in him, and this time he leaned in to kiss her. Surprised, she practically jumped in happiness, but it was only a quick peck, and Jaden was already walking away. He closed the door behind him and did not look back.

Jaden hustled down to the main entry hall. Many duel spirits were eating and congregating at the long tables, and beside the doors were Blade Knight and Hank Ishtar. Jaden knew that the rogue tomb keeper wanted to be called "The Vagabond", but it just wasn't catchy in his opinion.

"Sire." Blade Knight bowed stiffly. His helmet was off, but his expression was as unreadable as ever. "Where are you off to?"

"Don't worry about it. You guys stay here - I better not see you following me. I need to do this on my own."

"Is everything alright, Jaden?" Hank asked, raising his head so Jaden could see his amethyst eyes beneath the red ball cap.

"The streets aren't safe at night, my lord -" Blade Knight started, but something in Jaden's expression gave him pause, even though the "real Jamie" knew that his power eclipsed the hero duelist's.

"I'll be fine. I just want to get the city better, that's all. Catch you guys later." Jaden had put on a dark cloak over a red tunic, khaki pants and tough brown riding boots. "And thanks for what you've done for me. It's kinda weird, but I think of you guys as…friends."

Hank and Blade Knight were stunned at Jaden's shift in demeanor, not knowing what to make of it. Without another word, Jaden took a horse from the stables and rode off into town, towards the Dragonmaid's Inn….

A/N

Hope you enjoyed it and as always, thank you for your patience. We had a slow period at work so I was able to get a lot of this done today lol. There are still some reviews I need to respond to from the last chapter, I'll get to everyone in the next one or two days. Other than that, random shout-out to LK-Sun, random shout out to The Singing Sword for being a cool guy, and shout-out to everyone who continues to update the TV Tropes page, I really appreciate that! Take care and I'll see you next time!