Chapter Twelve- Cage Match Win

Zane wanted to scream. Mad Dog seemed to have a trap card for every move he made. He had been about to summon Cyber Twin Dragon with Future Fusion, but it got negated by Jammer Slime and then he played his other trap Despised Reality. Zane could either summon a level four or below monster and let Mad Dog draw two cards or have Mad Dog take 1,000 points of damage at the end of the turn. Zane briefly considered his options before choosing the first one and summoned Proto Cyber Dragon. He then had it attack the Clone Slime Mad Dog had in defense mode but the dark vampire activated its effect. He sent it to the graveyard and resurrected Acid Slime. It was destroyed and its effect dealt Zane 800 points of damage, bringing him to 700 life points.

Mad Dog began turn five of the duel by playing Pot of Greed. He then activated Slime Base to summon Multiple Slime which destroyed Proto Cyber Dragon, bringing Zane to 300 life points, and then set two cards to end his turn.

Zane looked back at Mr. Shroud. "I've had enough. I want out of this cage and this duel."

"Uh-uh, Zane. Remember? No one leaves until it is all over. Besides, this is your rebirth. You need to let go of your past. Everyone you've ever known has abandoned you. I'm all you've got left."

Let go of my past? I'm in this arena because of my past. I'm a vampire, nothing can change that. And not everyone has abandoned me. Syrus is still with me as well as Crowler, but that may be it. Just Syrus and Crowler, though that may be all I need.

"Zane, don't listen to him!" a voice called out and his head whipped over to it. His eyes widened. "Mr. Shinestone?" he asked.

"I'm sorry I dropped you. I now know that I shouldn't have. Win this, Champ. I know you can."

Zane smiled grimly. "I'll do my best." He faced his opponent. "My turn. I draw. My Different Dimension Capsule opens and I add the card to my hand. Next I activate Power Bond and Cybernetic Fusion Support, paying half of my life points to use the latter. I remove the three Cyber Dragons in my graveyard to use Cybernetic Fusion Support as a substitute for fusion material monster. I fusion summon Cyber End Dragon and its attack is doubled by Power Bond."

"I play Slime Ball to destroy Cyber End Dragon and add its attack points to my life points." Zane's fusion monster was gone and Mad Dog's life points rose to 15,000.

"I activate Call of the Haunted to bring back Proto Cyber Dragon. Next, I play Overload Fusion. I remove Proto Cyber Dragon, Cyber Laser Dragon, Cyber Barrier Dragon, Cyber Kirin, Cyber Phoenix, and Cyber End Dragon to fusion summon Chirmeratech Overdragon.

"My monster's attack points are 800 times the number of monsters I used to summon it. I used six monsters, so its attack and defense are 4800. Go, my dragon. Destroy Multiple Slime." His monster blasted it and Mad Dog's life points went to 11,700.

"I activate my monster's effect to summon three slime tokens. Then, I play face-down Trap Trip. I take back Last Machine Acid Virus from graveyard." Mad Dog grinned, his long fangs exposed. "You in trouble now. Next turn, I'll set this card and activate on your turn to destroy Overdragon."

"There won't be a next turn. My monster has another effect. It can attack for every monster I used to summon it. That means I can attack five more times and your tokens are in attack mode."

"What!?"

"Attack Chirmeratech Overdragon and end this duel." Zane watched in satisfaction as Mad Dog's life points dropped from 11,700 to 7400 to 3100 to zero. Mad Dog went to one knee and Zane exhaled. It was over. He had won!

"You did it, Zane! I knew you could," Shinestone said as Zane left the cage. He patted a shoulder several times in joy.

Mr. Shroud also came forward. "Well, Zane. What do you say to another duel here tomorrow night?"

Zane glared at him. "No. I'm done here. That duel was rigged, I'm sure of it. You lured me here to turn me dark, didn't you?"

"That was a part of the plan, I'll admit it, but I do want you to win again and be a top duelist."

"And I will, but not with you. Mr. Shinestone, if you really want me back, I will come back."

"I really mean it. Now, let's leave and head home." Shinestone guided Zane out of the arena and back up to the surface.

"How did you find me?" Zane asked as they headed down the sidewalk, his wings gone.

"You were in the arena my dark friend frequents and he called me. I reconsidered my decision after telling Crowler what I did and he made me realize that by dropping you like that, you would be at risk of a dark one turning you dark, an idea that I didn't like."

"If I had lost the duel, I'd probably be kept there and repeatedly told lies I'd probably end up believing and become a dark vampire."

"Well that won't happen. I am going to stick with you and you will rise again."

"I believe you and I think that duel's given me some ideas concerning my deck. It is strong if I just have faith in it. Perhaps if I emulate my old school friend's approach to dueling, it might just work."

"What approach is that?"

"That dueling should be fun."

"He duels that way?"

"Yes and with me gone, he is now the school's top duelist."

Shinestone whistled. "Interesting. Maybe I could manage him too."

"You'll have to wait as he's in his second year right now."

"Is he a vampire as well?"

"No, but he knows I'm a vampire so I doubt he would turn you down if you offer to be his manager."

"I would love to offer if his dueling record is anything like yours."

"His skills are impressive but his grades leave much to be desired."

"Ah. Well, grades don't matter to me. It's skill that's important to me."

"Your manager would want to support me?" Jaden asked on the phone.

"He certainly sounded interested."

"How'd that happen?"

"Well, I spoke of approaching duels in the way you do: As something to have fun in."

"Really? You're gonna be more relaxed while dueling now?"

"That and having more faith in my deck. Pro dueling is not easy, Jaden."

"I figured that. So…any chance your manager will turn me if he manages my pro career?"

"Wait until you're about to graduate and then call and ask him."

"Good point." Zane heard another voice and then Jaden said, "Sy wants to talk to you." Another pause and then Syrus said, "Hey, Zane."

Zane smiled. "Hi, Sy. I miss you."

"Me too. So, you're doing okay now?"

"Just fine. I'll be dueling my way back up."

"I'll be cheering."

"I know you will." Zane hung up and settled into bed. He would duel his way back to the top and Shinestone would be there to support him as he promised. Our partnership will indeed be long; perhaps an eternity. I may decide to keep living for the same reason Crowler is: To see Duel Monsters evolve and change in the times to come. I have a feeling it will be awe-inspiring. Zane fell asleep and dreamed of a Duel Monsters future that has yet to be.

The End