This chapter is mainly an inside joke, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!

*Chapter 8: The Elites, The n00bs, And The Audience*

"I've been going to Teknisk Wereld for about three years now," Max said. "I took many survival courses when I was still in school, so I am good at staying here for a long time."

It was night time, and the group had decided to stay in the cave they found in the mountain-face. Rue had gotten a fire going, and after some persuading, Max decided to tell a little bit about himself.

"Still in school?" Hope asked. "But if you are sixteen, shouldn't you still be going?"

Max nodded. "I should be, but I dropped out. I decided to devote all of my time to Teknisk Wereld."

Hope decided it would not be a good idea to ask further. "We heard that you never leave Teknisk Wereld."

"It's almost true. I stay in here for very long periods, only leaving when I have to."

Gaston looked at Olympion. "Great, now we've got two mutes in the group. Am I the only Soul Monster who can talk here?"

"Actually, Olympion talks to me telepathically. He's saying you should only speak when spoken to, or your mouth will get you in trouble," Max translated.

Gaston muttered a bit, and then fell silent.

"So why are you here?" Rue asked.

"I was looking for anyone worthy to duel," Max replied. "For the longest time, nobody has been able to beat me in a duel. I look for someone who can."

Rue nodded. "I see."

"I suppose I will hang around for a while," Max said. "We seem to have the same goals."

Hope didn't know why, but she was happy Max had said that. She had grown fond of him, despite how cold he acted.

*****

When it was morning, everyone walked back to town.

"Why are we going here again?" Hope asked.

"To hear if there are any more good duelists in the area," Rue said. "I look forward to it…"

Suddenly, a boy was running toward them. "You are looking for a challenging opponent?"

"Yes, who are you?" asked Rue.

"I'm Matt," said the boy. "Don't fight them; one uses the Blue Eyes White Dragon! He can't be beaten!"

Rue covered his eyes. "Oh gosh… it looks like there are some n00bs in town."

"What are n00bs?" Hope asked.

"Newbies are people who need help learning how to play. They listen to advice and eventually become good players. All of us were newbies at some point," Rue explained. "N00bs are just annoying bastards that don't listen to any advice, and think the Blue Eyes White Dragon is unbeatable, among other things."

Hope shook her head. "Sounds bad. Should we find these guys?"

"Don't!" Matt protested. "Not even my Gaia the Fierce Knight could beat him!"

They left him quickly, leaving him grumbling about how his Hyozanryu had failed.

They found the idiots pretty quickly. In the middle of the square were two kids. One wore a pink shirt and purple pants with flowers on them. The other teen had an orange shirt, and red pants.

Rue cracked up at the sight of their Soul Monsters. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA… cough cough… must… breathe… AHAHAHA! You're the two 'elite duelists' we heard about?"

Max gave the two teens a disbelieving stare. "A Skull Servant and a Dissolverock? Oh my gosh…"

"You shut up ! We can supa pwn any of you two !"

Rue laughed harder. "What kind of accent is that? And 'supa pwn'? Are you gay or something?"

"I'm not gay !" the boy yelled, then sheepishly said, "Just flamboyant …"

Rue fell to the ground in tears of merriment, while Hope couldn't help but snicker. Max even let a smirk slide. Rue finally got up, gasping for breath.

"Ok, we'll defeat you in a duel. Me and Max versus both of you. Who are you two clowns anyway?"

"I'm Caleb, and he's Ifrit !"

Hope stared. "What kind of a name is Ifrit?"

"I named myself after a flaming hot beast that can destroy anything, except a Blue Eyes White Dragon of course!"

"I can't wait to shut this little geek up…" Max muttered, activating his Duel Disk.

"I can beat anyone! The show has given me mad skillz!" Ifrit said arrogantly.

Rue almost dropped the deck he was shuffling.

Rue: 8000

Max: 8000

Caleb: 8000

Ifrit: 8000

"I'll go, then Caleb, then Max, then Ifrit," Rue said. "I summon Skilled Black Magician in attack, and lay one card down. That ends my turn."

Caleb drew. "I activate my Deck Master's ability ! I pay 3000 Life Points to fuse with my partner's Deck Master ! Now, we have the unbeatable Flame Ghost !"

Hope and Gaston tried not to snicker, while Rue just laughed outright.

Max drew his card, and smirked. "I drew Great Demon Gaazetto. Attack the gay one Olympion!" He drew again. "Hm, Dark Necrophia. Olympion, keep attacking the same guy. I draw again… Giant Orc. Again… X-E-N-O. Gil Gars. X-E-N-O.  Dark Jelloid. Cursed Gyura. Demon Soldier. Newt. Giant Orc. Ha-Des. Twilight Zone Trainer. Gil Gars. Newt. Gil Gars. Aw, now I drew Demon Axe. How much damage is that?"

Olympion stood over the unconscious form of Caleb.

Rue: 8000

Max: 8000

Caleb: 0

Ifrit: 8000

Hope and Gaston stared, amazed.

"Hey, I wanted to kill him!" Rue protested.

"First come first serve. I summon Newt, and equip him with Demon Axe. Three cards face down. Your move." He proceeded to discard nine cards to the Cemetery.

"I summon Lord Of Dragons, and use Flute Of Summoning Dragon! Summon two Blue Eyes White Dragons!" He drew eight more cards. "I play two more Flutes, for a total of six Blue Eyes! Now I use Raigeki on your Axe Of Despair! I lay five cards facedown. Then I activate Destiny Board, and play FINAL Message I. I win."

Everyone snickered.

"Dude, you need the board and all the messages…" Rue said.

"No you don't, you only need two!" Ifrit concurred.

Hope couldn't help but laugh this time too. "Too… funny… can't… breathe…"

After some debating from Max (Rue was too busy suffocating), Ifrit finally gave up trying to win the argument and ended his turn.

Rue got up, still giggling. "I use Torture Wheel on your sixth Blue Eyes!"

"I use Mystical Space Typhoon on your ferris wheel!"

After getting over another laughing spree, Rue lay two cards down.

"I will summon Giant Orc. End turn."

"I attack with all my Blue Eyes and win!" Ifrit yelled.

"Holy Barrier-Mirror Force," Rue stated.

"I use Fake Trap on it!" Ifrit retorted.

Rue fell down laughing, and couldn't get up. Ruecian helped him up.

"I use Raise Dead on your Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Rue said.

"Oh no! I'll have to believe in the Heart of the Cards!" Ifrit yelled, horrified. Then an older boy ran up.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Please excuse him; he doesn't know how to play. Come on you stupid sibling!"

"That's not fair!" Ifrit protested. "I was about to win!"

"You mean lose, idiot. Now come ON!" the older boy growled.

Ifrit grabbed Caleb's unconscious form, and they beat a hasty retreat.

Ryu: 8000

Max: 8000

Caleb: 0

Ifrit: Forfeited

With the duel out of the way, Rue, Hope, and Gaston collapsed in hysterical laughter. Max even let out a smile of amusement.

To be coninuted…