The Duel Masters Tournament

Aaron and Dan were soon disembarking form their plane as they entered Domino International, the plane had been loaded with duelists who had been invited to the tournament and it seemed like it was going to be an even bigger turn out than Battle city. The crowd of duelists were soon addressed by a woman with bright blonde hair, and penetrating blue eyes.

"Welcome, my name is Louisa Matador, chief liaison to Mr. Maciejko, and the Final authority of the Duel Masters Tournament. All questions will be answered by me, and all forms of punishment will be deemed by me when necessary. You are to board the buses we have issued, and will transport you to your quarters during the tournament. Any questions?" She asked.

"Ma'am, when will the tournament begin?" Asked a boy, who looked like he came from a rich family, his designer clothes and Rolex were a dead give away.

"It will begin tomorrow, and all information retaining to the tournament will be given one hour before the tournament begins. Now if there aren't anymore questions, please follow me to the buses." She said, and marched the crowd out of the terminal and out to the street.

"I don't see anything evil so far, what about you?" Dan asked. But Aaron didn't answer, his mind seemed to be else where.

The teeming mass climbed aboard, and they were off. The kids onboard stared out to the city where so many famous Duelists lived, but Aaron tried to focus on remembering his lessons with his Master. Then he took out his deck, and began to skim through it to make sure he had everything in order, but his mind kept wondering. Dan, sitting across the aisle, watched Aaron with worry, he had never seen him so quiet.

Soon the buses stopped, and the Duelists were off loaded. And soon the crowd of duelists went into a deafening silence, as they were completely breath taken. What was in front of them, looked like a hotel for the Rich and Shameless. It towered over forty stories high, looked like a masterpiece of marble and glass, and surrounded by a large garden.

"We get to stay here?" Someone in the crowd asked.

"Yes, this is Maciejko's Palace of the Fortunate, this building is designed to be your haven during the Tournament until it is over. It is equipped with an Olympic sized swimming pool, a five star cafeteria, and other conveniences for your recreation. All of you have your own rooms, and will all be prepared for you. If you wish to go traveling, check out with the desk clerk, and be back for the Ten O'clock curfew. Until then, feel free to enjoy yourselves." Louisa said, as she climbed into her limo.

The duelists roared with cheers as they swarmed into the Hotel, except for Aaron, he had turned around and was staring to the city, and flashes of his memories came to him. Laughter, fun, excitement, that's what he saw, but then terror and fright, a shinning blade, and a splatter of blood. He trembled, he didn't want to be here. Just then, his crest started to flash!

"Huh? What's happening?" He wondered, just then, the Shield of the crest began spinning, and then stopped, pointing left. Aaron looked to see it was pointing downwards into town. "Well, it's something to get me focused." He said, as he walked down to town.

Dan had already checked in, and already unpacked for his stay, He looked out his window, and saw the vast city. "I'm going to like this." He said, patting his deck at his side. Just then, his crest began shining, the sword pointed to the right, towards the port. "Hmm, I wonder what's signaling my crest? I better check it out." He said, as he grabbed his hat and headed for the door.

Aaron followed the direction his crest was pointing, as he proceeded into the recesses of the city. He was entering the old factory district, he was a little uneasy, after all, this was the place gangs used for homes. But he followed the crest, and didn't turn back.

The crest guided him through the towering metal ruins, past old dumpsters, and around alleys, till it lead him to a large factory, one that looked like an old car manufacturer.

"What's so special about this place?" He wondered.

Dan was on the other side of town, walking towards the docks. He looked at his crest, the shining sword was pointing towards a large cargo hauler. The ship looked like it had been left to rot for a few decades, and the only thing holding it together was the coat of rust.

"The insurance policy on this heap probably expired." He said as he began to march forward.

Just then, EREEEEEK!!!

Dan turned as a blur shot out of the ship! It was moving at an incredible speed and was circling him, like a predator coming in for a kill.

"Come on, try and get me!" Dan shouted as he tried to follow the blur with his eyes. But then, the blur shot behind him and charged!

"DIE BIG BOY!" A blood curdling voice screeched.

Back at the old car factory, Aaron was searching through the abandoned machinery as he continued to follow the crest. He soon found a stairwell that stood the test of time, or so it looked. "Looks to me like I have to get up in the world to get anywhere in life." He said, as he continued up the rotten steel and iron.

He kept his pace up the stairwell, when suddenly stopped. "I smell blood." He said to himself, as he looked around the stairs. He found a small drop of blood, it was still fresh, and a trail of them extended up the stairs. He reached down and touched it with his right hand, his crest began flashing with light, "It's no more than broken nose, but the angle, who ever was injured was being carried up." He said, as he noticed heavy imprints of shoes in the weakened metal, "Time to figure what's up." He said as he took off up the stairs.

CLANG!!!

The blur and Dan backed away, and the blur was now completely visible. It was inhuman, to say the least, it was humanoid, but it had more in common with a gargoyle. Gray skin, a thin whip like tail, dragonic hands, agile looking legs with sharp clawed feet, it's body was incredibly muscled, and it's head was sleek with bright red eyes, horns like that of the Buster Blader, and it's jaws were loaded with shark like teeth, including the many rows. It's arms were elongated with sharp blades that extended over its hands. And finally on it's back were a pair of wings designed like a bat's or a dragon's.

Dan was panting, he barely warded off the last attack. In his hands was a sword of stone, Dan had managed to use his Senva powers and drew from the minerals around him to form a sword with a tensile strength of titanium. The sword and the monsters blades were evenly matched and refracted each other, and it seemed the Demon was mad.

"What's the matter? Mad a guy like me blocked you?" He taunted.

The Demon growled then charged again, Dan swung his blade, his crest began shining with orange light! What? What's happening? He wondered, as his sword began changing, it became more reflective, like a mirror, and reflected light of the crest at the Demon.

The light began burning the demon, as though it were a flame on the stony skin. Just then, the Demon's figure began to change, turn more human.

"What the hell?" Dan asked.

Just then, a blast of electricity nailed the demon rendering it unconscious. Dan turned to see a guy with a robe holding a stun gun the length of a rifle.

"Who are you?" He demanded.

The figure lifted up his hood, and a face riddled with acne and beady eyes covered with glasses, his mop of hair was a disaster, and on his purple- cloaked right arm, was a Kaiba Duel Disk 2. "I am a Stalker, I hunt for my master, and it appears my prey has lead me to another prize, Daniel of Offense, I challenge you to a duel, the winner gets to keep their senva powers."

Aaron was running up the stairs, following the blood trail, until he found the roof. On top there was a poor guy who was wearing a duel disk, and his opponent was wearing a robe. Aaron immediately recognized the robes, they were the same kind that belonged to the group who tried to kidnap him, and who he sent flying.

The poor kid was exhausted, Aaron saw his life points were bare 400, his opponent had a Battle ox and a Vorse Raider, and the kid had nothing on the field, his life points were as good as gone!

"Attack my Man beast! Destroy this follow and win me his Tri horned Dragon!" The robed man commanded.

The Vorse Raider charged, with an attack power of 1900, the pain would be extreme. The boy was too exhausted to move. The Raider came at him with it's crescent blade raised to strike.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Aaron roared raising his hand and his crest glowing brightly. A transparent millennium shield appeared and blocked the Raider's strike.

The Robed figure turned and his face was full of anger, "Who are You?"

"A passerby, one who doesn't like when thugs like you strong arm kids into duels so you can take their cards." Aaron said, crossing his arms, his crest still shining.

"Ah, a Senva, perfect, I can win my master's favor if I defeat you." The Stalker said.

"Very well then," Aaron said, he bent down to the boy, took off his duel disk, and handed him back his deck, "It's time to duel."

The Stalker reached from behind and tossed Dan a duel disk. He too snapped it on, "Let the games begin." He said.

To be continued.

Next time: Aaron begins the Duel with the Stalker named Mike, Aaron's first duel will be a challenge against a Duelist with a passion for crushing his opponent. But when the Duel gets rough, will Aaron's deck stand the pressure or be crushed like the last one?

Next time at The Duel Masters Tournament,

The Blade Trio.