Two in one night! OMG! Miracle!

Another language warning. Yet again, it's only one word, but still.

*Chapter 25: To Save The One That Means Most*

"…and yet again, they leave without warning," Neo muttered. "Really considerate!"

Rue kept fingering his battle axe angrily; apparently, he still didn't like Sarius much. Will was examining the burned bodies, and Hope was trying to understand what had just happened. She looked over at Max, and was surprised at what she saw. His normally expressionless face now appeared slightly worried.

I can't believe it… how easily they won! I have rarely lost, but compared to them, I'm a novice! What if there are Generals of Hell compared to that? We wouldn't last ten seconds to anything more powerful then those two… Max thought in shock.

Hope was still looking at Max when it happened. A light black aura suddenly surrounded him. Olympion seemed to be concentrating deeply as the aura was being pulled toward him.

"What's going on?! Olympion, what are you doing?!"

Everyone else looked in Max's direction as the aura began to vanish. The last remains of the black aura vanished into Olympion. Max shook his head a few times, as if to clear it.

"Thanks Olympion…"

Hope looked at Max worriedly. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

He sighed in a tired way. "It's hard to explain, but I will try. Whenever my feelings get too out of bounds-such as anger, hatred, or depression-Olympion 'feeds' on my emotions. It keeps me from going insane. This is also why Olympion is often violent and angry."

"I see…" Will murmured.

Max shrugged. "I might as well explain everything. When I went to registration, and stuck my hand into the box to get my Soul Card-you know what I mean, right?-I felt one card that was freezing. It was chilling… but it brought me a feeling of safety. As if all of the pain I was feeling would vanish if I chose it… so I did. Olympion has helped me ever since then."

"Amazing…" Hope said. "Wait… you felt a card that chilled you? That's the opposite of what happened to me. The one I found was warm to the touch."

"I experienced what Hope did," Rue stated. "I thought I was imagining things."

"I believed I wasn't the only one, but I never talked about it," Will commented.

"As did I," Brandi agreed.

Rue looked behind Brandi. "Why is your Soul Monster hiding behind you?"

Brandi glanced at Mana. "Oh, she's just scared of Demons, including Olympion. They freak her out."

Mana nodded quickly before shifting her position as far away from Olympion as possible.

Will broke the silence. "Enough of this kind of talk. Let's get some rest. We will need to continue on tomorrow."

And next time, I'll duel Sarius. And I will win. Another side effect of Olympion was making Max more confident, or so it seemed.

After Max made a fire, they began to fall asleep, one by one. Will stayed up though. He decided that he might as well make sure they weren't attacked while asleep. Besides, he hadn't had time lately to read Loamhedge.

*****

The Critter came running in, and made a hasty report on what it saw. The General nodded to himself.

Alright, this will be simple enough. We can get ahead of them, and cut them off tomorrow morning. When Rue is defeated in a match, not only will he die, but so will his friends. This girl's heart will be broken, her spirit failing. A much more worthy sacrifice for Him. And the boys will be filled with hatred toward me… all for the better!

*****

A man wearing a black cloak was sneering at Claire's body on the floor. She tried to get up, and cried in pain as the man struck her down again. The knife he held dripped with blood.

Rue wanted to help. He wanted to stop the man. He had to. He ran toward him, yelling in anger. The man turned around, and struck him in the leg with a knife. He fell down, screaming as pain coursed through him, blinding him, as he still tried to get up, to stop the man, even if he died doing so…

"Someone put out that fire already!"

Rue regained consciousness at the shout. His leg was a mass of pain. He gasped in shock as cold water hit his burning-hot leg.

"Are you ok?" Hope was looking at him worriedly.

He moaned and tried to sit up, only to realize he was being held down. Ruecian was holding onto his shoulders, stopping him from moving.

"You can let go of me… I'm ok…" He attempted to stand, only to nearly fall from the pain in his leg. Ruecian grabbed him again, stopping him.

"What… happened?"

"You were tossing and turning in your sleep. You seemed angry at something. I was going to wake you up, but you rolled right into the fire!" Will explained.

Brandi reached into her pocket and brought out a Red Potion. "Use this to heal the skin. Unfortunately, I have nothing to cure the pain."

Rue drank it quickly, and grimaced at his pant leg. "I need some new cloths. I'm still wearing the shirt that got burned as well."

"Well, try to forget the pain for now Rue," Hope urged. "We need some rest."

Rue shook his head. "I'll be the sentry for the rest of the night-I can't fall asleep like this."

Ruecian sat beside him and nodded.

Will shrugged. "All right." Then he slammed Rue over the head with his book.

Rue yelped. "Hey! What was that for?"

"That's for making me lose my place when you rolled into the fire." He grabbed his bookmark and skimmed through the pages.

After a short amount of time, everyone but Rue and Ruecian were asleep. Rue looked up, through the foliage, into the stars.

That dream… I'm worried… Claire… are you really safe?

*****

In the morning, they were ready to continue on. Rue had some trouble walking, so Ruecian carried him, much to his disgust.

"I can walk you know!"

Will disagreed. "You only fell down about ten times trying to walk. If you could walk, believe me, I would have you walk. I'm the one who has to carry your oversized battle axe!"

Rue snickered. "I guess there's at least one advantage to this situation."

At around midday, Rue finally felt fit to walk. He used his battle axe as a crude walking stick, which slowed down their progress somewhat. Hope wasn't about to complain though-she liked the pace.

"At long last, I can actually keep up with you guys!" she joked.

"Indeed," Gaston said. "It saves my back from having to carry you. Rue, be sure to jump into the fire more often, ok?"

"Shut up," Rue grumbled.

It was in the afternoon when they reached another small clearing. A river ran through it. It was a pretty area with a few flowers scattered about.

"How neat!" Hope said. "Why don't we stop here for a few minutes?"

They did so, not knowing that their next opponent was setting up while they were resting.

They did not do much besides relax. Neo couldn't help but stare at Mana again, which got him yet another painful slap. After he got over the pain, they began to walk on, following the river. Rue was actually able to walk now, as long as Ruecian carried the battle axe.

"Does the Red Potion make pain go away quicker? Because that's what it seems to be doing for me," Rue commented.

"All the better for us," Max replied. "We haven't found anything yet, so we need to pick up the pace."

They walked on for a few short minutes, when Gaston suddenly reached for his sword.

"Someone's ahead."

Will immediately recognized the black cloak. "There's our opponent."

They ran over the distance quickly. The General turned toward them, surveying them.

"So, you are the ones that I must defeat? I don't see any problem here… you all look weak enough. Although I didn't know that there were five people. Oh well, all the better."

"Who are you?" Brandi asked.

"All in good time. Rue, you will be my first opponent."

Rue looked at him, confused. "What? Why do you want to duel me?"

"I don't care, but I know you will want to duel me first. Just look!"

They followed him into yet another small clearing. The General stepped into the clearing and up to a tree.

"Do you understand now?"

Rue was speechless.

Tied to the tree was Claire. She looked like she wanted to say something, but was gagged. Although she seemed alive enough, she was covered with many burn marks. If not bound, she probably would have collapsed.

Ruecian's hand flew to his sword instantly. Rue grabbed his battle axe with a roar of anger.

"SON OF A BITCH!"

"Please, calm yourself down," the General sneered. "You cannot do anything to help her if you decapitate me first. To save your sister's life, you will have to defeat me in a duel. And, of course, to save your own."

The Critter ran up to him, making a noise that could only be described as laughing.

Rue snarled. "I'll duel and win, but I hope you didn't set a death condition for this duel. I'll hack your body to bits myself!"

Ruecian felt his sword edge with his hand, which probably meant he agreed with Rue.

"Actually, there is no condition for death. I requested that the only extra rule in the duel would be that the loser died one way or another."

Rue's face was a terrible thing to behold at that moment. "I'll enjoy it."

Rue's so angry that he will probably make stupid moves… Hope thought. If only he could think clearly!

"What the heck is going on?" Max demanded. "Rue has a sister?"

"That's right," Hope said. "I remember that he told me about it…"

FLASHBACK

"Do you have any siblings?" Hope inquired.

Rue looked uncomfortable. "Yes. I have a sister named Claire, who is the same age as me."

END FLASHBACK

"He never told me any more though…" Hope concluded. "I didn't ask why."

"Ah, that's right. He mentioned it before, too," Will recalled.

FLASHBACK

"You will never understand my motives! You have never had a sister killed! I can assure you though, you never will either! I won't be able to get to her before killing you…"

"NEVER!" Rue yelled. "YOU WILL NEVER GET TO HER! I WON'T LET YOU!"

END FLASHBACK

"It's obvious Rue cares for her a lot…" Hope stated.

"Don't make understatements," Will chastised. "Rue doesn't like killing much, remember? And now he wants to rip this guy limb to limb… he would too. It's like the Bloodwrath has possessed him or something."

"What is Bloodwrath?" Neo asked. "Some other imaginary thing you read up?"

"It's a term in Redwall. Ok, you want it put simply? He's overtaken with fury. He will keep fighting, or dueling in this case, until he dies, or worse."

Hope shuddered. "He'll never win like this!"

"Are you finished talking?" the General asked. "I would like to get to dueling now. By the way, my name is Segreto. My Soul Monster, Critter, can also be called Traiga."

"Just shut up and get ready to duel," Rue spat.

Rue: 8000

Segreto: 8000

"You can go first, so I can attack first!" Rue yelled.

Rue doesn't know what he is facing… Claire thought. He won't know until it is too late… if only I could warn him!

"It will be my pleasure. I lay one monster in defense mode, and a card down. Your turn."

"I summon Gemini Elf! (1900/900) Attack his defense monster!"

"You have attacked my Aztec Statue. (300/2000) Any battle damage that is done to you when this monster is attacked is doubled."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 8000

"I lay one card down. Make your move." Although Hope was sure she was imagining it because of what Will said, she could almost see Rue's eyes turning red.

"Alright then. I will set another monster, and another card."

Rue slammed his next monster onto the Duel Disk. "Skilled Black Magician! (1900/1700) Attack his defense monster!"

"You attacked my Penguin Soldier. (750/500) His reverse effect allows me to return up to two monsters on the field to their owner's hand, so I return both of yours."

"I lay a card down, and end!"

"Rue! Please stop acting so violently!" Hope begged. "You will lose the duel if you don't think out your moves! You're attacking without thought, and that won't result in a win! Just think calmly, and carefully!"

"You expect me to be calm after the person that is most important to me has her life on the line?!" Rue yelled.

"If you lose, then she will lose her life! And you can only win by calming yourself!" Hope insisted.

Rue gritted his teeth, and looked at Claire for a few minutes. "Fine. Don't expect me to be merciful to this bastard though."

"If you are merciful to me, you will lose. I summon Critter. (1000/600) Attack your Life Points!"

"I activate Torture Wheel!"

"It seems you at least can do something useful. One card down, and it's your turn."

"I draw, and you lose Life Points because of Torture Wheel."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 7500

"I summon Skilled Black Magician. I also play Sealing Swords of Light. Your turn."

"I activate Black Hole."

"Ruecian can now use his effect! By discarding my Black Magician to the Cemetery, I negate Black Hole!"

"Very well. I activate Angel's Gift, and discard Reserves and Air Guard Gear Golem. Your turn."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 7000

"I use Raise Dead on Black Magician! (2500/2100) Attack the Aztec Statue! Then Skilled Black Magician attacks Critter."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 6100

"I search my deck and place a card into my hand. Now, I activate Traiga's effect. By paying 1000 Life Points, I get a monster with 1500 attack or less from the Cemetery and put it into my hand. So I get back Critter. I lay one monster in defense mode, and end my turn."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 5100

"I summon Gemini Elf again! Now, Skilled Black Magician attacks!"

"You attacked my Quick Squirrel. (1000/100) I get two more special summoned to my field."

"Gemini Elf and Black Magician destroy them!"

"I also get 1000 Life Points for each one."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 8100

"I lay two cards down. Your turn."

"Well, I lay one monster in defense mode, and one card down. Your turn."

"I activate Cyclone!"

"I chain with Emissary of Harmony."

"Then I'm done."

"I set another monster, and lay another face down card. Your turn."

"I play Thunderbolt! All of your monsters are destroyed!"

"You destroyed Critter and Black Forest Witch. Thank you very much."

Rue shook his head. "I just realized what you are trying to do. You run an Exodia deck, don't you?"

"You figured that out far too late! With three pieces in my hand, you will not find winning easy!"

"We will see about that! I sacrifice my Skilled Black Magician to special summon a Black Magician from my deck! Now all of my monsters attack you directly!"

"I activate Gravity Bind! Now all of your monsters cannot attack!"

No! All of my high attackers are level four or over… "I end…"

"Each time I use Traiga's effect, I must pay 1000 more Life Points than before. So I pay 2000 Life Points to get Critter again."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 6100

"I summon Critter, and attack your Gemini Elf. I end my turn."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 5200

No! Next turn, he will just pull the same trick off again! I have to draw a card that will stop his Critter… and I have to draw it NOW!

Rue looked at the card he had drawn, and sighed with relief. "I lay one card down, and end my turn."

"I pay 3000 Life Points to get Critter again."

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 2200

"Now I summon it. Attack Gemini Elf!"

"I activate Magic Cylinder! Your attack is negated!"

Rue: 7800

Segreto: 1200

"It doesn't matter boy. I lay one card down, and end my turn." With my Imperial Decree and Bottomless Pit Trap, there is absolutely no way this boy can win!

Rue stared at his deck. It's all up to what I draw now. I don't know what can help now… He looked at Claire. But I have to draw it NOW!

He drew slowly, and brought it up to his face. He stared at it.

What IS this card? I never put this in my deck! How…? Wait!

FLASHBACK

"Wait!" Claire shouted. Rue stopped and looked at her as she ran up. "Take this card. It will help you," Claire assured him. "When you see it, think of me."

Rue smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry. I won't forget. Thanks for the card." Without looking at it, he stuck it into his Duel Disk. "I'll be sure to examine it later. Oh, and one other thing. I don't care about what really happened; in my heart, you are, and will always be my sister." With that, he and Ruecian left.

END FLASHBACK

"Claire… thank you," he said, smiling.

Claire looked up with hopeful eyes.

"I summon Injection Angel Lily! (400/1500)"

Segreto looked at it, and began to laugh. "HAHAHA! That's the best you have? You have certainly lost."

"I guess you didn't know about Lily's special ability. By paying 2000 Life Points, I can raise her attack by 3000 points! (3400/1500) And since she is only level three, she can attack even with your Gravity Bind!"

"What?! No! It can't be!" Segreto screamed.

"Claire said this card would help me… and she was right. Lily! Attack and destroy that vermin! And I activate her ability to win me the game! Seeing as damage comes before your Critter's effect, I've won."

Rue: 5800

Segreto: 0

Rue picked up his battle axe with a smirk. "I'm going to… enjoy this."

Segreto fled, Traiga hard on his heels. Rue ran after them. Hope was amazed at the sight; although he was still wounded in the leg and was carrying the huge axe, he was just as fast as the General.

Ruecian was more concerned for Claire. He severed the ropes with a quick swing of his sword. Hope ran forward and caught her, undoing the gag.

"Are you alright?"

Claire coughed a few times before talking hoarsely. "Rue… he…"

"It'll be ok," Hope assured, although she was not confident in that statement.

*****

Segreto kept running, hearing his pursuer get closer with each step. He looked behind him to see how close Rue was, still gasping for breath.

It was the last mistake he would ever make. Not looking where he was going, he tripped over a producing tree root. Falling on Traiga, both were trapped.

He turned around, screaming. "No, please, forgive me! Mercy! I won't ever duel anyone again! I'll never harm or kill! I swear! Please, don't kill me!"

Rue stepped up to him, pulling up the battle axe. His eyes had been closed, and now he opened them. Segreto moaned at the sight of them; they were completely red.

"Mercy? Forgiving? Many have probably asked you that before, but you ignored them, didn't you? You won't escape now. And do not think your death will be quick. Long and slowly, I will take pleasure with each cut I inflict on you…"

His voice… what's wrong with his voice?! "No… don't… AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

His hand was flung across the clearing, severed from his arm. He didn't know what was worse as the axe swung down again; the pain or the laughing teen who swung it…

*****

"He won't really kill them, will he?" Gaston asked, worried.

"I don't know Gaston… he was so mad… and wanted to kill…"

"AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

Hope shuddered. "That sounds like the General…"

Will shook his head grimly. "Let's get out of here. Rue can find us later, and we need to help Claire. I don't want to stay here and listen to this mans last screams."

To be continued…