We return to the Castle of the Dragons, where the adventure continues.
Jacob was strolling down the polished marble floors, heading for the 8th floor promenade, I wonder if they finished already?
He made the final turn around the bend and entered the 8th floor's promenade garden. It was covered in soft grass; walkways were stone blocks that made clear paths through the vast green. Bushes and a flower beds lined the garden, giving both border and color. In the center was a giant fountain; it was a marvelous sight of silver, whose water dispersed into small ponds around the garden.
Jacob saw the familiar form of Chuck resting against a tree, he stepped along side. "So how is it going for them?" He asked.
"About as much as we'd expect from those two, see for yourself." He said, pointing over to the far end of the garden.
That end of the garden was mostly a giant stone block that had been warn smooth, it was also the very edge of the promenade. On it at the moment was Gearfried and Dark Fire Soldier.
Gearfried's body was panting, he was exhausted from his training, while Dark Fire had barely broken a sweat.
"Don't tell me you're finished already." V said, apparently disappointed.
"Hey, you're built for heat. You try running around in a suit of black iron and see how you do." Aaron shot back.
"Excuses aren't going to win a battle. You better get used to fighting in that armor or you won't last long." V replied, holding his sabers at the ready.
Aaron stood up right and readied his weapons, V has been running circles around me, and hasn't even put up a struggle. I got to find a way to strike.
Back over by the tree, Chuck said to Jacob, "They've been going at it for the past two hours. Aaron's tenacity has been remarkable, but Vaurnut's been putting that to the breaking point."
"I can see that Vaurnut's training has been intensive. But I think Aaron can figure a way out." Jacob said.
He then saw a bruise on Chuck's face, "Hey where'd you get that?"
"He looked up here." A voice came from above.
"What the- OWW!" He looked up and as soon as he did, a foot smashed into his face.
Sarah was sitting in the tree; she was wearing a skirt, and was very aggravated.
"You alright Jacob?" Chuck asked.
"That hurt." He said, rubbing his face, which happened to have sneaker imprint.
Up in the tree, Sarah watched the two warriors on the stone, Aaron's seer abilities are strong, but he still can't focus. He needs to if he's going to be a match for Vaurnut's intense speed.
Gearfried lunged forward, and made a powerful thrust at Dark Fire. The Soldier made a last minute side step to the right and kicked the Iron Knight in the side.
"Aw!!!" Gearfried cried out as he fell to his knees. Damn, I can't lay a blow on him!
"That had to hurt." Chuck spoke up.
V looked down on him, He's still going, I'll give him one for that. But unless he shows some improvement, he'll be beaten alive in the tournament.
Aaron thought for a second, I'm moving too slow, and I'm probably giving off signals to how I'll move. I got to catch him off guard.
He planted the jagged edges of his weapons down and used them to flip over and landed back on his feet.
He turned around to face V, "You up for another pummeling?"
"Well see." Aaron said, back flipping, and then pulled his blade back, and held his shield forward.
V studied Aaron's stance, He must be planning another charge, he pulled back his blade for a jab but held out the shield to try and plow through.
Gearfried lunged in a mighty bound straight for Dark Fire soldier.
Focus! Got to see it, Gotta see what he'll do! Gearfried thought, staring right into the Dark Fire Soldier's eyes.
The eyes were focused on the oncoming warrior heading straight for him. They were determined and locked on the target.
They flashed!
The form of the Dark Fire soldier suddenly fazed out of sight!
Aaron closed his eyes, Alright! Senses, I know you're a cut above the rest, I know you can do this; Just tell me where he is!
Aaron's senses immediately became supercharged; he could smell the roses across the garden, the sound of the fountain's water, the vibrations of the ground beneath him, and the taste of the air itself. His senses zeroed in all around him, until they felt V's intense heat.
ABOVE!
Descending above him, V readied to slam his foot, much like Sarah, into Aaron's head.
Just then, Gearfried propelled himself even faster!
"What the?!" V's strike missed as Aaron put his feet down and pushed off backwards.
"TAKE THIS!" Gearfried smacked his blade under the Soldier's legs.
"Whoa!" V called out as he landed on his back, How'd he pulled that off?
Gearfried flipped back onto his feet, and threw his shield arm down to pin Dark Fire's neck.
But then, something appeared in V's hand, and he threw it at Gearfried. It was a glass vial filled with a green mixture.
The glass broke against Gearfried's Iron armor, but then the green mixture smeared all over his body.
What the? Aaron's body began to freeze up, he couldn't move.
V pulled himself back up, and looked over at Aaron. "That was a Paralyzing Potion, I'm afraid you're stuck there for a while."
How'd that happen? Gearfried's effect should negate the potion, since it's an equip. Aaron thought to himself.
"Aaron, monster abilities are learned, not given." Sarah called out.
Then it sunk in, he had to learn how to use his monster's effect.
Now that just sucks.
V had to smirk, looking at the frozen statue of his opponent, and started to move towards him.
Tink!
Aaron heard something, a distant sound that was picking up on his still hyperactive hearing. He moved his eye, and saw something bright blue flying towards them!
Gearfried tried to open his jaws, but the potion had managed to smear his face!
THIS IS NOT GOOD!
He looked back at the object, it was closing in, but the trajectory wasn't aiming for him. The pitch was too shallow; it would hit the stone floor.
Then it hit him, V!
V, completely unaware, was heading straight towards the projectile's path!
I got to think fast, or he'll be shot, He thought to himself. He looked at his right arm and to his brace, this better work.
He drew a card, Perfect! He slammed the card into brace.
All of a sudden, Gearfried was swept up in a tiny twister, "Mystical Space Typhoon!"
V watched in wonder as the potion began to blow off the armor, He learned how to use magic cards while still a monster.
Just then, Gearfried lunged forward, his shield close to his chest and his shoulder down, "Get back!" He shouted!
"What?!" Dark Fire asked, just as the blue projectile broke through the solid rock floor, coming straight at him!
Gearfried collided against the soldier, pushing him back, and braced the projectile with his shield.
But it was no use.
CRACK!!!
The blue bolt smashed right through the shield, and right through Aaron's armor!
"NNOOO!!" Sarah called out, as the blue bolt shot right through Gearfried's body!
The Iron Knight's body landed on the smooth stone with a deafening thud.
Jacob and Chuck didn't waste another second, they sprang up and ran towards Gearfried.
Vaurnut looked in shock, He...he...tried to save me.
He got back up and looked at the injury; a clean hole had bored its way right through his shield and right through his back. He knew Gearfried's body was pretty lifeless before, since he didn't have any organs, but the bolt had landed straight where a human heart would be.
Just then, he heard something, it sounded like rustling leaves during rain, but it was coming from over the edge of the promenade.
He looked up, and saw a hail of the blue lights coming straight for him!
"GET BACK!" He called out, grabbing Gearfried's motionless body, and jumped off the stone. No sooner than that, the blue hail blew the rock into dust!
Jacob's Death Volstargaf brace unfolded, "SPIRIT MERGE!" He called out and was surrounded in a streamer of light, and emerged as the Reflect Bounder. He flew over to the destroyed rock, and saw more lights coming.
"HALO BURST!!!!" He called out as a massive blast of energy came forth and blew the lights apart.
Dark Fire put down Gearfried, as Sarah and Chuck came over.
"It takes two braces to bring a human back from his monster form, Help out Jacob!" Chuck told Dark Fire.
He nodded, and back flipped into the air. He spun around and held his blades close.
The steel of the blades began to grow incredibly hot, turning bright white, and sizzled in the cool air.
Chuck and Sarah put their hands over Gearfried, Both of their Duel Braces where glowing brightly. Just then, the Iron Knight's body vanished in a flash of light, and in its place was Aaron; the injury was gone, but his body remained motionless.
Chuck checked his pulse, "He's still alive, but it's faint, we got to get him to the infirmary."
"OK, I'll pick up his legs." Sarah said, as the two picked him up and headed towards the exit.
Meanwhile Dark Fire Soldier landed along side Reflect Bounder.
"They won't stop!" Jacob spat as another round of lights emerged from the woods.
"I'll handle it, you better go check on him, I've got a bone to pick with them." V said, as he lunged off the edge of the promenade, His blades boiling with heat.
"HALO BURST!" Reflect Bounder fired another volley of energy blasts. Once again the lights were blown apart.
But this time, "FLAME SABER, INCINERATION!!!" V threw a massive blast of fire right after the explosion and it was heading straight towards the forest.
The trees blew apart, and flying from them were burning cards.
Vaurnut landed from his 8 story plunge, on his feet completely unfazed, and looked over to the forest.
Just then, a blue bolt shot towards him!
He swung his blade and batted it out of the way, and looked back to the point of origin. He saw someone running through the forest.
"There!" He said, taking off after him.
Jacob changed back and watched Dark Fire charge into the forest, "Good luck V, just be careful; who ever it is, he was aiming for you." He said, then turned around and made a run for the infirmary.
The sun soon set, and in the infirmary things weren't looking good.
The infirmary was basically the entire 15th floor, lined with hospital beds and lined with medical equipment. At the time, Aaron was floating in a vat of green liquid, his shirt was taken off, and an air mask was strapped to his face. Paul and Nick were looking at a readout of information, while Sarah and Jacob looked at Aaron's chest.
Some sort of growth was hanging right above where his heart, it looked like a fungus. "What is that?" Jacob asked.
"I don't really know, but it's not good whatever it is." Said the Doctor, who was a Magical Scientist.
Chuck came into the room, "So do we know what did this?"
"I couldn't see anything in the woods, but they were fast. The positions of the shooters kept on changing." Jacob said, remembering the attack.
"Well, I think we may have figured out what was attacking us." Paul said.
"You do?" Sarah asked.
"Yep, we've been reviewing the data on Aaron's Duel Brace. The recorder managed to download the weapon in action when it struck." Nick said, as he stepped aside to show the computer screen. Aaron's Tyrant Dragon Brace was hardwired straight into the monitor.
An image of Gearfried's shield appeared, it turned to the side, and all of a sudden, in an instant something smashed straight through.
"Now watch what happens when we bring it right to the point where it broke through." Paul said, as the image rewound back and stopped. It showed something poking right through the shield.
It was a sharp point that made a formed a thin line left and right.
"An arrow." Jacob said, "Whose is its owner?"
"The blue color is what gives it away. Only one archer monster fires blue arrows." Nick said, holding up a card. It was a young man with dirty blonde hair, dressed in brown clothes, he was sitting in a tree, readying to fire an arrow charged with blue energy, the bow was finely carved but was bigger than the archer.
"Arcane Archer of the Forest." Chuck said, "But with its stats, it shouldn't have broken through Gearfried's armor."
"And shouldn't be doing this." The doc said, adjusting the oxygen mixture.
"What's happening?" Nick asked.
"The growth is changing his body's chemistry, turning from an oxygen breathing life form to one who breathes carbon dioxide." He said.
"CO2? He's turning into a plant?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, and unless we find away to counter act the growth, he'll be as stiff as a redwood." The doctor said, looking at Aaron's fingers. They were starting to change from skin to bark.
"Come on V, time is running out." Jacob said, looking out a window to the moon lit sky.
Meanwhile, V was charging through the forest, keeping his eyes on the runaway archer.
That's it shorty, bring me to the boss, He thought to himself, as the kid started to slow down.
Just then, there was a rumble coming from the ground. Trees appeared out of thin air behind him.
"What the?" He said.
"Welcome, Jonathon. I hope you enjoyed the jog." A voice said. It was coming from a kid wearing a lumberjack outfit. Boots, Jeans, red flannel short shelve shirt. He had on his arm a Duel brace, already charged and running.
Dark Fire changed back into V, his Twin Headed Fire Dragon Brace transformed into its duel mode. "You know me, but I don't know you, what's your name and what do you want with me?" He asked.
"My name is Forester, and I'm here to duel you. If I manage to defeat you, one of the few who are expected to make it to the finals, My master will allow me to be a member of this tournament, as well as disqualify you."
"I hate to break it to you, but if you aren't worthy enough to make it into the tournament by your own skills, you aren't worth the time." V said coldly.
"Oh, I think you should, or your friend will be spending his days as a lawn ornament." Forester said, with a devious grin of a lawyer.
"What did you do? Tell me, or I will be very displeased." V said, his eyes were fixed on the pale complexion of Forester.
"You're friend has been infected with a poison that is turning him into a tree. The only vaccine comes from the King of the Forest himself, My Fairy King Truesdale." He said, holding up the card, "If you win the duel, you can have it. But I wouldn't be too hopeful; my deck has more power than any you've ever seen."
"Any strong deck has a weakness to counteract that strength, and I'll find yours. I accept your challenge." V said.