Ch.22 Shadow Riders Part 2: Zombified Cyber Legacy

The small group of Key Bearers walked back to the Slifer Dorm, after witnessing Crowler's defeat. The three Dragon Guards kept a watching eye to ensure that Camula didn't try a sneak attack, which every now and then Zooruvhun caught glimpses of a bat like creature that always took off flying the second it noticed it was spotted. During the walk, Syrus placed his hands in his blazer pockets and his eyes widen as he forgotten about the key card. He slowed down his walk so that Jasmine, Mindy, and Alexis were close enough to him as they helped Draco walk to the Dorm.

"Hey, Draco?" Syrus asked, pulling the key card out, "This is yours."

Draco looked at the key card, confusedly, "That's not mine, Syrus." He said tiredly, "What is it? I mean, I know it's a key card, but to what?"

"It's for this." Chazz spoke up, getting the four of them to look at the new addition next to the Dorm, a brand-new building about the same height as the Dorm with only one door to it. Chazz then ran the key card through the reader lock, a "click" was heard and the light above the handle turned green and pulled the door open.

"Alright everyone, get in." Chazz said, waking into the new building, Bastion held the door so that the girls could help Draco in, with Mana following behind them. Syrus stopped and looked over to Bastion.

"Hey, Bastion?" he asked.

"Yes? What is it, Syrus?" Bastion replied, seeing the concern the Slifer had in his voice.

"Do you think that this building will keep Draco safe?"

"We'll see, won't we?"

Once inside, the room was amazing! It was large enough to be a small club hang out, a small kitchen, a large couch, which Chazz flipped the right arm cushion and pressed a button, the couch slowly pulled out with the back part laying out to level with the sitting cushion, turning into a queen size bed. There was a room upstairs, that Chazz explain only his key can open, which everyone put together as "his" room, and after all was said and done, Alexis helped her friends to lay on the couch that was now a bed, then everyone went to a spare sitting area with a table where they all silently sat there, which felt more silent with the three Dragon Guards, even Ojama Yellow was quiet which was rare, Chazz stared at the Crowler doll in his hand, while Draco fell back asleep on the couch.

"Alright, I'll say what we are all thinking." Bastion spoke up, breaking the silence as well as the four Spirits looking at him, with them not knowing, besides Chazz and the Guards, Yellow looked over as well, "Crowler fought well, but the Shadow Rider, Camula, bested him."

"It wasn't just that." Syrus muttered with all eyes on him now, "It was like she knew what was in his deck."

"What makes you say that?" Chazz asked, "Well," Syrus slightly started, "when Dr. Crowler summoned Ancient Gear Golem it was like she was expecting it."

"Hold on, Syrus." Chazz spoke up, "Are you saying, that Bitch somehow knew what was in Crowler's Deck?!"

"I think I know what Syrus trying to say." Jasmine added, "It may be an observation. Right?"

"Yeah, I mean when he summoned Ancient Gear Golem," Syrus continued, "she wasn't at all scared. Surprised, but not scared."

Zooruvhun raised a brow, thinking of that bat like creature he kept seeing, before letting out a grunt, getting the Slasher Brothers attention as well as the others. They watched him make hand signals and head motions, before the two brothers nod their heads and fazed through the wall. Alexis looked at the lone Guard, almost as if she knew what he told the other two.

"You ok, Alexis?" Mindy asked, getting Alexis to gasp lightly and look at her friend, "It looked like you were really deep in your own thought there."

"And the way you looked at that Spirit." Mana added, "What was that about?"

"Well, it might sound crazy," she replied, "but I swear I could almost get what he was saying to the other two."

"So, what was he telling those other guys?" Chazz asked, slightly interested.

"I think he told them to get their Healer." Alexis replied to which Zooruvhun grunted out and gave a "close" hand gesture, which made Alexis slightly smile.

"Wow, I'm guessing you were close to what he actually said." Bastion stated.

"I think I got that from that little gesture he made." Alexis replied, before the Slashers returned with Vahraniik, Suraasven, and Kulaas in tow.

"Ok, this is a nice hang out." Suraasven stated, "It's just as big as my own room." Kulaas stated, not as impressed.

"Oh, come on!" Chazz yelled out, "How many more Spirits are going to just pop in here, like they own the place?!"

"Let me remind you of one thing." Vahraniik told him, "It was your idea to move the Young Lord here."

"Our Healer will be coming here to check on him." Kulaas told him, before looking around, "Hey, where's Gahlot?"

All of the Guards, except Vahraniik, began looking around for the Assassin, however outside of the new Slifer building, Gahlot stayed hidden in the trees staring at the building, before being joined by another.

"I see old habits are the only things you can't kill."

"Go to hell, Spy."

Bac kin the building, "Well knowing her, she's nearby looking into the building." Vahraniik stated, "And she'd be more likely to stay outside watching this building."

"But, on a similar subject." Suraasven stated, "Rith! Zahkriirith! Go to the Guild and escort our Mage, Kroluhaal. As well as, our Scholar, Mindokah."

"And don't forget to make sure they have everything for the barrier to protect Draco." Kulaas added.

The two brothers crossed an arm across their chests and bowed their heads to the Princesses, before fading out of human world. During the time they waited for the Guards to return, most of the group began to theorize on what Syrus meant, when he said Camula knew what Crowler had in his deck. Alexis stayed by Draco's side as he laid on the couch bed, while Vahraniik looked him over.

"Hmm, he really used a lot of his recovered energy." The Healer stated, "And even began to run on fumes."

"Is that bad?" Alexis asked worried, "Well, it would be if this was during the first time he woke up." She replied.

"Are you saying he'll be alright?"

"Seeing how fast he has been recovering his energy, He might be up and about tomorrow."

Alexis gave a small smile, before four Dragons appeared in front of the couch, slightly scaring her and getting the Healer to roll her eyes and sigh out in annoyance.

"I believe the young Lord told us not to do that." She told them.

"This happens to be a new location." Kroluhaal stated, "I have no knowledge on the lay out of it, so I am just going to pop up in front of anyone randomly."

"And this is an emergency, isn't it?" Mindokah asked, "We tend to go on reflexes to just pop up when we are ordered to either search for someone or preparing a safe area."

Jasmine and Mindy looked at each, before looking at the two new Spirits in the room, "So, it's more like instincts then reflexes to just appear when needed?" Jasmine asked them. The Mage and Scholar looked at each other than at Jasmine, "Pretty much." They spoke in unison.

The two began to pull the materials needed to make the Barrier's sigil, "Hold on!" Chazz yelled out, "You two are not going to be drawing anything on the ground!"

"Two things." Kroluhaal told him, "One; How can erect the Barrier without a sigil? Two; It was your idea to have the Young Lord stationed here."

"There is a third fac." Mindokah stated, "The sigil will only be seen by us Spirits. If you don't believe me, just watch."

Kroluhaal took a meditating position and began an incantation, as Mindokah began to draw out the sigil seal. The group watched as the black line that she drew vanished after 3 seconds. While they continue the work on the Barrier, Kulaas looked over to Chazz and noticed Ojama Yellow.

"Excuse me, Ojama Yellow?' she asked, "Would you mind coming over here?"

"What do you need me for? He asked, which got the others to look at him.

"Did I just hear Ojama Yellow?" Syrus asked.

"You are not just hearing him," Bastion stated, "I can see him as well."

Ojama yellow floated over to the Water Princess, "How is it we can now all see and hear him?' Mana asked, before Zooruvhun cleared his throat, getting her attention, he then began to do a circular motion with his hand, addressing all of the Spirits in the room.

"If you can't understand him," Suraasven told her, "Dragon Guards can hide our energy so only a few people can see or hear us. However, if there is a large number of Spirits in one area, we can't really hide the energies, since they seem to mingle."

"In other words?" Mana asked, "It means, pathetic humans like you can see weak Spirits like the Ojamas, if there is a lot of Spirits in one room!" Kroluhaal snarled, "Thank you for being so loud! Now I have to start the incantation from the start! As a Spellcaster yourself, you should know the dangers of a mis-casted spell!"

Mana looked over at the blue Dragon, seeing his yellow eyes glaring at her, "For someone who practices the Arts, you have no respect for the most basic of safety rules." He snarled.

Before Mana could respond, the Mage looked away and began his incantation once more, "So, why did you want me?" Yellow asked Kulaas, "Oh right, you see when the Barrier activates, I want to make sure if you get pushed out of the building from it." She replied.

"…. What?"

"It's instincts for us, our Barriers would push all Spirits except the Guards, so if it does, Mindokah will add to the Sigil, to allow you passage through the Barrier."

"You never had to make the barrier for others before?" Yellow asked, "That is correct." Kulaas respond to him.

Chazz on the other hand was siffling his laughter, which Suraasven noticed, "Something you find funny?" she asked him.

"You are using Ojama as test rat for your Barrier." He stifled, "it's just so damn—"

He was cut off as his mouth was covered, he looked down seeing a transparent fully armored hand, following the arm up until his eyes met two piercing red eyes through a full helmet. The Mage finished his chant before a pulse of energy shot from the Sigil, extended outward, hitting and pushing Ojama Yellow out of the building. Once that all was done, Zooruvhun removed his hand from Chazz's mouth.

"Mindokah." Kulaas said, "Please make adjustments."

"Sure thing." Mindokah replied and began to make a small change in the Sigil before a small energy burst throughout and out of the building, "Ok Ojama! You can faze in now!" Kulaas called out.

The little yellow creature floats back into the building rubbing the back of head, "Well, that really hurt."

"Again, sorry about."

"On that note." Kroluhaal stated, looking over to Chazz and Zooruvhun, "Thank you for covering that Prick's mouth, Zooruvhun."

"What did you call me?!" Chazz demanded, "I was nearly done with the incantation for the Barrier, and your laughter that you failed to hold back, nearly cost me to redo it for a third time!" the Mage hissed back, "If I had to, I would have put a jinx on that human!"

Everyone swallowed loudly, seeing the threat in his eyes, before Zooruvhun lets out a disapproving growl, "Don't give me that!" Kroluhaal growled back, "It's the only way to keep disrespectful children in line."

"If that is everything," Vahraniik slightly roared, "then return back to the Guild! I'll be there shortly."

"Ugh! Finally! At least now everyone else can think of a way to beat that woman."

"Hmm?" Kroluhaal looked over at the doll with a narrow stare, before slightly shaking his head and vanished with the others leaving only Vahraniik and Ojama Yellow. Vahraniik continuing to examine Draco, before telling them he was fine and wished the mall a good night's rest, before fazing through the wall, and sighing out once outside, before seeing Zooruvhun waiting outside.

"You know, you didn't have to wait for me." She told him, "I would have returned after checking on Young Lord."

"Mmm." He replied, "Zooruvhun, remove the helmet." She told him, "Unlike everyone else, I understand you better without it on."

Zooruvhun hesitated at first, before sighing softly. With a loud clank, his helmet detached, allowing him to open it and remove it, revealing a pale grey scale Dragon.

"Now that is better." Vahraniik said, getting him to raise a brow and look at her with a questionable look, "Oh don't give me that. You wear that thing all the time to look more intimidating. However, that doesn't work on four of us, being myself, the Captain, His Lordship and Her Highness."

Zooruvhun bobbed his head in agreement, Vahraniik then tilted his head up and looked at the scar on his neck, "If only I knew what I know now back then." She said, "I could have saved your voice."

Zooruvhun looked at Vahraniik with a stern stare, "Don't give me that look." She told him, "You are just saying what they all told me. I know I saved your life, but I could have done more if I had the skills, I do now and—"

Her slight rant was cut off, as Zooruvhun pressed into her lips, before breaking the sudden kiss and just smiled at her. The Healer sighed out, returning the smile, "You're right. I should just be thankful to the Gods that I was skilled enough to keep you alive."

Zooruvhun lets out a huff before putting his helmet back on, "You can also wipe the smirk off your face." Vahraniik told him, "I don't need to see your face to know you are amused by this."

The two of them vanished, unaware of the Assassin, that witnessed everything, with her mouth gapped open.

"What the hell? The Healer and the Hero? They're mates?!" Gahlot gasped out, before she heard the fluttering of wings nearby, causing her to get back into her stance to kill, narrowing her eyes as she glared into the forest, "That was no bird."

Back in the building, Bastion stretched out groaning softly, "Well, I think we should take that Healer's advice and get some sleep." He said.

The others agreed, as they all stood up and left the building, with Alexis being the last to leave, looking back to Draco resting and then to Chazz.

"Chazz."

"Yeah, Alexis?" he asked.

"Promise me something." She replied, "It is nice of you to turn this place to our hang out for the Shadow Riders. But when it's all over will this room become what you wanted?"

Chazz thought this over before he just chuckled, and looked at Alexis, "That's why I had that other room made. I have a feeling when this is over, this should be the best Slifer's room."

"And if you happen to stay in Slifer next year?" Alexis asked him, "It'll be a wait and see." He replied, "but until then, this is a safe room for us."

Alexis smiled at him before leaving the new dorm room, and headed to the Blue Girls Dorm, over in the Ra Boy Dorm, Bastion looked over all of his decks wondering if he should make a new one.

"What if Syrus is right?" he questioned himself, "A brand new deck would be best to defeat her. But what if that doesn't work?"

At the Blue Girl Dorm Alexis entered her dorm room, seeing Jasmine and Mindy waiting for her.

"Is something wrong?" she asked them.

"Well, just all of this that happened." Jasmine said, "That 'Shadow Game', these Spirits."

"But the biggest thing we are trying to work on," Mindy added, "is that Draco is a Prince. It's not every day you have royalty as a friend."

"You did learn from that in his duel with Night Shroud, right?" Alexis asked them.

"we did, but it was also from those Duel monsters of his." Jasmine replied.

"You mean, Suraasven and Kulaas?"

"Yeah, those two." Mindy replied, "It was weird, but they did make more tolerable."

"Yeah, they do have that personality." Alexis replied with a slight giggle, that her friends joined in on.

Over in the Blue Boy Dorm, Zane looked over his deck on his computer, "I have need to change anything in my deck." He proclaimed, "Dr. Crowler just made the mistake in not attacking her Vampire Lord is all."

Zane smug grin his computer, before it vanished and made sure he was the only one in his room, before pulling a key out and opening the top drawer and pulled out a small slip of paper. Looking at it with a slight care in his eyes, before his standard glare returned, placed the paper back in the drawer and slammed it shut.

"Fuck it!" he yelled, "I'm going to win this contest and prove I'm the best!"

Unbeknownst to Zane, a strange little creature hung upside-down looking at him and his deck its eyes glowing red. Ove in the Chancellor's Office, Shepard looked out his window worriedly, seeing one of the Spirit Locks, the Pillars, pulsing with light.

"That isn't a good sign." He muttered, "One of my Key Bearers was defeated, but who?"

The following day, as everyone went about as a normal school day, minus Draco, being wide awake and able to move more freely still had to stay in the new Slifer room, until the intercoms chimed off, asking once again for the Key Bearers, by name to head to the Chancellor's Office, Alexis looked a little worry before her PDA chimed off, showing a text from Draco.

"I heard the call, if you could give me a call and then hand your PDA to the Chancellor so he can see I'm alright."

The rest of them went to the Office, once the door closed, the Chancellor sighed and looked at them, "Thank you all for—" he greeted them but stopped short, "Wait, where is Crowler and Draco?"

Alexis pulled her PDA out and called Draco, before handing her PDA to the Chancellor, which he looked confused before Draco popped up on the screen.

"I'm fine, Chancellor." Draco said, "I just can't leave the room, by the Healer's orders."

"I heard that sarcasm, Young Lord!" Vahraniik yelled out.

"well, glad to see you are safe," Shepard said, "but what about Crowler?"

Draco was silent on the PDA as the other Key bearers hesitated to say it, "He lost to the Shadow Rider." Zane said.

How did he lose?" Shepard asked, "He made an error in his attack, by not getting rid of the stronger monster." Zane replied.

"Yeah, like you knew she had a card to make her monster attack directly." Draco mocked.

"However, the next duel will turn out differently, since I'm dueling her next." Zane proclaimed, ignoring Draco.

"When did we decided this?" Chazz spat out, "All of us should be talking it over and decide who duels next."

"We all know I'm the best duelist in the Academy. And the best should be the one –"

"I'm going to have to stop that bullshite right now, boy-o." A Scottish voice spoke up, everyone looked around, before a brown dragon appeared next to the Chancellor, wearing what seems to be a blacksmith apron.

"You call yourself the best?" he asked Zane, "But everyone knows that is nothing but a big load of shite."

"What did you say to me?!" Zane snarled.

"You call that a snarl? The dragon mocked, before baring his fangs and snarled out, "This is a snarl, you wee baby!"

"Aren't you the Blacksmith that serves Draco?" Alexis asked.

"Wait, Heimwahl is with you guys?" Draco asked over the PDA, "Aye, I am!" he replied, "The others were a bit busy to take on the meeting that the Spy heard was happening and I was the only one free."

"They couldn't try to send someone who isn't a drunk?" Mana asked, sarcastically.

"I only had one pint of ale, Lacey." Heimwahl replied, "And I don't get drunk, unlike you humans."

"Trust me, I have seen him chug down 30 pints in one night, getting neither drunk nor poisoning."

"Getting back on the subject." Shepard stated, rubbing his eyes, "I do partially agree with Zane."

"Partially?" Zane questioned, "Yes, partially." The Chancellor replied, "You and Alexis are the only students with only a single lose. So, I'll leave it up to you all to figure out who should duel next."

Zane just chuckled and began to leave the office, "Where the hell do you think you're going?" Chazz demanded.

"Back to my dorm." Zane replied.

"Did you not hear the Chancellor?" Bastion asked, "He told us that we all need to think it over!"

"What's to think over?" Zane mocked, "It's been decided that I'm dueling Camula."

Heimwahl began to mockingly clean out his ear with his claw, "I must have had soot in my ear, lad. Because I don't recall anyone saying you'll be next, other than yourself."

Zane ignored the Blacksmith and left the office as the others looked at him in disbelief.

"He left the room, didn't he?" Draco asked, "Yeah. Aye." Everyone spoke.

"Oi, I think I need at least four pints to get rid of his stupidity," Heimwahl said.

"Heimwahl, you said the others were busy." Draco said, "Busy with what?"

"That castle of the Vampire bitch just vanished when the sun came up." The Blacksmith replied, "They are trying to figure out where it went."

"Hold on." Mana spoke up, "You're saying it just vanished without a trace?"

"Did I not speak those words in your tongue?!" Heimwahl asked, "It went 'Poof!' gone, never to be seen again!"

Alexis looked down at her PDA on the Chancellor's desk, waiting for Draco to speak up, "If she is a Vampire, can she use magic?" Alexis suddenly asked.

"They can." Draco spoke, "But for her to hide her castle in an illusion or to teleport it, is very powerful."

"It must be her Shadow Charm." Heimwahl replied, "Since those are the children of the Millennium Items, it would give her immense power."

"Speaking of." Draco said, "Where is the half of the Shadow Pendant that I had?"

Heimwahl went silent, "Don't think I won't notice, that it wasn't around my neck when I was recovering."

"Aye, I figured as much." He replied, "Zooruvhun recovered the half that Night Shroud had and took yours while you were out. Both halves are with me for repairs."

"You are repairing it?" Alexis asked, "I'm trying to repair it, but by the Gods it doesn't want to bind with whatever material I have on hand!" Heimwahl yelled.

"If the Shadow Charms are like their parents," Draco stated, "Then if Zane wins, Camula's Charm will answer to him. If that happens—"

"If that happens, you'll duel him for the ownership of the Charm?" Alexis asked.

"Yeah." Draco replied, "Zane is the last person that should have that kind of power."

"Just in case." Shepard spoke up, "I want all of you preparing your decks."

"I'll do what I can." Mana replied.

"I have multiple decks but working on a new one." Bastion stated.

"It'll help to look them over." Alexis admitted.

"Yeah, that will be best." Chazz said.

"I think the room Chazz built, that I'm currently stuck in will work." Draco stated, "If Camula did in fact cheat in knowing what Crowler had, what better place, than a room with a Barrier around it?"

The Chancellor dismissed them, letting the students go back, Alexis picked her PDA up, seeing the screen that Draco hung up for now as Heimwahl returned to the Spirit World, Alexis stopped and turned back to the Chancellor.

"Excuse me, Chancellor?" she asked, "what are you going to say about Dr. Crowler not being here?"

"I'm giving it some thought." He replied, "You might hear it over the intercoms."

Over at the "Safe House" Draco looked out the window, "How is the Chancellor going to cover Crowler's disappearance?"

Hours later, Koraavnu walked around the empty Guild, just returning from his own investigation on Camula's castle, tapping his staff a few times to the ground, sending sonic waves, to find no one has returned yet.

"Hmm, I must be the first one to return." He muttered.

"AH DAMN THIS BLOODY THING TO ALL THE NINE HELLS!"

"Or maybe not."

Following the sound of frustrated groans and swearing, the Blind Sage ended up in the training yard hearing Heimwahl cursing out again, as well as throwing some of his forging hammers and tools around his workshop.

"I take it the repairs on some of our equipment isn't going as well as you hoped, Blacksmith?" Koraavnu asked.

"It's not my craft I'm trying to repair!" Heimwahl hissed, "It's this little bastard!"

Gesturing to his anvil, to which Koraavnu continued to "look" at Heimwahl, "I'm guessing you are gesturing to your anvil which I cannot see since I'm blind!"

"Ugh! It's the damned Shadow Charm the Young Lord owns!"

On the anvil, the two halves of the Pendant and many shards of metal, that Heimwahl had used to try to mend it together, "Any metal I try, it won't bind!" Heimwahl complained.

Koraavnu placed a hand on his chin, as his Mind Eye saw the powerful magical aura from the broken Pendant, "You have tried everything to repair this Artifact?" he asked.

"Yes!" Heimwahl replied, "I tried all of the metal and metal combinations, even that one metal that is supposed to be indestructible when it cools, and it STILL DIDN'T BIND!"

The Blind Sage looked at the mess, still trying to think of what is wrong before he slightly gasps, "Wait, isn't the Shadow Charms the Children of the Millennium Items?" he asked.

"Aye." Heimwahl replied, "And you know how they were made correct?" Koraavnu asked.

"Every Spirit knows that. An entire village in Egypt used as blood sacrifices on the Millennium Sarcophagus." Heimwahl replied, before his eyes showed a realization and grabbed his hammer, before walking off.

"Blacksmith?"

"Stay there! I need the Mage for this."

"We are the only two here."

"No, we are not, Lad."

Koraavnu tilt his head as Heimwahl hurries off, "Who else is here?" he asked himself. Inside the Guild behind a single closed door, Kroluhaal slowly tilted a testing tube with a strange liquid over anther in his other hand, looking at the liquid as it shifted, trying to get the right amount into the other tube, before his door suddenly burst open.

"Mage I need you, Lad!" Heimwahl yelled on top of his lungs, causing Kroluhaal to tilt the test tube too much, pouring all of the content into the other and caused a small explosion, covering him in soot.

"Hah, now I understand the pain of that teacher the Young Lord has." He sighs, before turning to look at the Blacksmith annoyed, "What the hell do you want, Heimwahl? Why didn't you knock?"

"First off, we all know that door is soundproof, when it's closed, thanks to your magic." He replied, "Secondly, I need two things from you."

"And this couldn't wait?"

"Hell no! Now use that magic of yours to call everyone back to the Guild and follow me!"

"In that order? Right Now?" Kroluhaal asked not moving from his sit, before Heimwahl grabbed him and began to drag him across the ground.

"Fine, I'll drag you by the robe and you STILL call everyone back!" Heimwahl growled in frustration.

"I don't understand why you are annoyed." Kroluhaal muttered, "You barged into my room and interrupted my work."

After about twenty minutes, all of the Dragon Guards assembled in front of Heimwahl's Workshop, most of them looking annoyed, "What is the reason, that you had to call of us back here, Heimwahl?!" a yellow dragoness demanded, wearing a dark green cloak that was white underneath, light green tunic and matching pants, small black shin guards with dull gold trims, leather wrist guards, chest guard and boots.

"Hold your bow, Archer and I'll explain it all!" Heimwahl yelled back.

"It better be good, Heimwahl." Kinbok slightly snarled, "We were all looking for that castle that vanished in the Human World."

"That damned thing will just reappear in the same location as last time!" Heimwahl assumed, "Anyways, thanks to Koraavnu, I believe I figured out how to fix the Shadow Charm Pendant."

"You still haven't fixed it yet?" Sahlos asked, getting Heimwahl to give her a deadpan glare.

"I'm sorry, have you figured out a way to keep your little Lassie from fazing into Human World without warning?" He asked.

"Heimwahl!" Kinbok growled, "That taking it a little too far."

"Just get to the point old man!" Gahlot snarled out, "Some of us have to return to the Human World to keep an eye on the Young Lord!"

Heimwahl rolled his eyes, grabbed one of his hammers and stood behind his anvil, "Ok now let's see if I'm correct in this." He muttered, before raising his left hand to his mouth and sank his fangs into his hand, getting the others to look on in shock as his hand began to bleed from his bite, only for Heimwahl to then dig in his claws into his bite mark, making his blood slowly stream into his hand and fall right on to the anvil and Pendant halves.

"Ok, I'm saying what we are think." Rovit spoke up, "Sahlos, or Uncle cover the little one's ears."

Kinbok quickly placed his hands over Sogaal's ears, as she then looks around curiously, "Heimwahl what the actual fuck, man?!" Rovit questioned.

Heimwahl then placed his hand on the anvil to hold it steady, before raising his hammer up and slamming it on the blood covered anvil and Pendant, sending a shockwave of magical energy burst off the Pendant. After the single hit, Heimwahl look at the other Guards.

"To answer the Scout's question." He stated, "The Shadow Charms are the children of items that were forged with blood sacrifices. So, to repair one such charm, I need blood."

"Was there a reason you couldn't just tell us?!" Drake asked.

"If I did, would you have believed it?" Heimwahl asked, before Vonzun approached the anvil, unsheathed one of his daggers and sliced his hand.

"Vonzun?" Kinbok asked, "If that vampire bitch gets stronger with each person she banishes with her Charm, the Young Lord is going to need all the help he can get, Captain."

Vonzun held his cut hand over the anvil, letting his blood fall on top of the Pendant. It wasn't long before each and every one of the Dragon Guards, cut their own hand and let their blood pool on the Pendant. Heimwahl looked at the bloody mess, before cracking his neck.

"I'm going to need to get Ol' Shield Crusher." He said, before pulling a large battle hammer form a pile of hammers. Having it over his shoulder before swinging it down on the anvil, the connection with the hammer and Pendant, caused a large magical explosion, making most of the Guards fall over, as Heimwahl raised his hammer again and slammed it back down.

Meanwhile, many of the Key Bearers went over their decks in Chazz's suite as they are calling it, Draco on the other hand was trying to figure out why Camula wasn't worried when Crowler summoned his strongest card. There was one annoyance, thanks to the Barrier, everyone can hear and see Ojama Yellow.

"Come on, Boss!" Yellow said, "If you put me in your deck, that Camula would never see it coming, when I defeat her!"

"I am not adding a weaking like you into my deck!" Chazz yelled at him, "And how would you reduce her Life Points to zero if you have no Attack points?!"

"Maybe you should add him to your deck." Mana mocked, "Since you are just as weak as he is."

Chazz growled out before slamming his hands into the table, "You know what, bitch?! I've had it with your constant bitching about one fucking duel!"

"I do have to agree with him, Mana." Draco stated, causing Mana to look at him in disbelief, "I do agree it was unfair of him to duel you, just to boost his ego around those girls, but in case you forgotten I dueled and beat him three times. Yes, he believed the first two was unfair, but he accepted the third defeat."

"He forced me in the duel he had with me!" Mana snapped, "And I did the same to him!" Draco snapped back, "Right after your duel ended."

"So, you're defending him for what he did to me?!" Mana asked, "To be fair," Draco stated, "Was your family pushing you to be the best in the Academy and then disown you if you failed?"

"Wait he's been disowned?" Mana asked.

"Yeah, he did." Draco slightly growled, "You and he may hate each other, but until these Shadow Riders are taken care off, you are just going to have to work with Chazz."

"We can go back to hating each other after they are delt with." Chazz added, "Until then, keep it to yourself. I've been trying to do that, but you keep bringing it up."

"It doesn't help that you are giving her a hard time, Chazz." Bastion stated, "Anytime she gives you a hard time you just have to throw it back at her, and the cycle continues."

"both of you need to know, that your arguments are not just getting on my nerves." Syrus added, "It's getting on everyone's nerves. Bastion, Draco, and Alexis. They are just better and hiding it."

"It's also the fact we have more important matters to deal with." Draco added, "Like beating that bit—"

Once more, a loud crash was heard by the five of them, recognizing the crash, and not wasting time the five of them began to leave the room, until Vahraniik and Dinok appeared in front of Draco.

"Oh, come on!" Draco complained, "I have to go with them!"

"You have this night to rest, before you are back to your full strength." Vahraniik explained, "I have told you, that you need three days."

"You heard her!" Dinok snarled, "Now sit your royal ass down!"

Draco glared at the Berserker, "You may have been able to intimidate me when I was younger, Dinok!" Draco snarled back, "But you can't force me into submission now!"

"However, there are two who still can, among the Dragon Guards."

Draco lets out a quiet whimper, as he slowly looked behind him, seeing Kendov and Koraavnu standing behind him.

"Dinok may not be able to make you stay." Kendov stated, "However your two former teachers can." Koraavnu finished. Kendov pointed to the couch with a stern glare, Draco sighed out and just plopped on to the couch. Dinok smelled the air slightly before growling out and looked back at the others standing at the doorway, glaring at Chazz.

"Wipe that shit-eating grin off your face before I claw it off!" he snarled out. Chazz gulped as his grin vanished and they all hurried out the door.

"Now Young Lord, the four of us are going to look into this castle more." Vahraniik said, "Don't you try to leave, Gahlot and Vonzun are watching you."

"Just work on your deck." Koraavnu suggested, "It's really all you can do until tomorrow."

As the rest of the group quickly head towards the lake once more, Bastion and Chazz began to talk over if they can stop Zane from dueling, however Mana and Syrus followed behind them.

"Syrus, you heard that too, right?" Mana asked, "How that one dragon said, 'former teachers'?"

"Yeah, I did." Syrus replied, "I remember Draco said he took Martial Arts, and he still practices it."

"Which reminds me," Mana stated, "I remember that purple dragon, his title is 'Fighter', right?"

"Yeah, and Draco said the card says he is a Martial Arts Master."

"Do you think that dragon is the one who taught him?"

Syrus thought it over as they ran to the lake, "He could be." Syrus said, "I mean, after seeing some of Draco's skills, I did try to look up his style, but there weren't any matches."

"That would make sense." Mana replied, "I mean, if that dragon did teach Draco, it would make sense that his style wouldn't be in human records."

"Hey you two!" Bastion called back, "We're nearing the lake now!"

"And it seems Alexis and Zane are already there." Chazz stated, "Alexis seems to be arguing with him."

As they approach the two Obelisk Blues, Zane stood in front of the castle, waiting for the drawbridge to fall, being all confident as Alexis groans in frustration.

"Zane, you are not listening!" Alexis groan out, "You need to think this over!"

"I don't need to think it over." Zane remarked, "I will win, and then I'll be a step ahead of that Slacker."

'Oh my god, Zane!" Alexis exclaimed, "This isn't a contest! Draco has told you, the Chancellor told you, hell, you even saw what happened to Dr. Crowler when he lost!"

"He lost because he made a mistake." Zane snapped, "Something I never do. Also, it's obvious."

"What is?"

"Being around that Slifer has made you weak."

Alexis was taken aback by that sudden statement before she glares at Zane, "You did not just say that." She said, "Being around Draco, has not made me weak!"

"Care to prove me wrong?" Zane asked glaring over to her, "Duel me right now to prove me wrong."

"We currently can't duel each other!" Alexis snapped, "The Chancellor told us we can't duel with the Spirit Keys!"

"They you have proven I am right." Zane remarked, "These stupid 'Keys' are nothing but a token for this contest."

The others joined up with them and seeing how pissed off Alexis was being, bastion and Mana tried to calm her down, Syrus overheard what Alexis told them about Draco making her a weak duelist, which made Syrus to slightly glare at Zane, who returned the glare.

"You have something to say, Syrus?" Zane asked.

Why the hell would you tell Alexis, that being around Draco made her weak!?" he demanded, "If that is true, hen explain why my dueling skills got better!"

"You haven't improved at all." Zane remarked, "And don't try to use that Tag Duel as proof. It was that Slifer that gave you the win."

"It was my monster that gave us the win!"

"That you used his card to summon." Zane stated, "Face it, without him you will never duel."

"You can just fuck off, Zane." Chazz spat out, "You are the only one that won't face the truth of losing to a Slifer."

"You stay out of this!" Zane snapped, "Not going to happen." Chazz remarked, "Telling you now, all of us are betting your are going to lose."

Zane's eyes glared at everyone before he growled in frustration and looked at the still raised drawbridge, "Shadow Rider!" he yelled, "You old hag! Open up so I can finish your ugly ass off!"

The rest of them looked up at the castle, seeing no reaction to Zane's insults, some of them staring in disbelief, before Bastion sighed out, "Yes Zane, clearly insulting her will clearly let us duel her now." He said, sarcastically.

"I don't know." Mana stated, "Seeing how she looked, you wouldn't believe her to be centuries old."

"And there is one thing we girls hate than stuck up, ladies' man boys, is telling us we are ugly." Alexis added.

"So, you think she's going to open—" Chazz began his question but was interrupted as the drawbridge suddenly dropped down, crashing into the dirt in front of Zane as he gave a smug smirk. The large doors slowly opened as a dark mist poured out as they opened up, Camula stood there with a purple aura surrounding her body, causing her hair to flow wickedly, baring her vampiric fangs, and her eyes glowing a sinister gold.

"Vat the fuck did you say, BOY?!" she demanded.

Zane just smirked, activating his Duel Disk, "I'm not repeating myself, to a loser." He replied, "Just know the best that Duel Academy has to offer is the one to take you down!"

"I vill enjoy taken your soul!" Camula hissed, activating her Duel Disk, as her aura and mist surrounds the two of them. The others looked around as the dark mist began to surround them.

"This is bad." Alexis said, "I don't know if it's because I don't like how she is acting, or something else."

"Telling you Alexis." Syrus told her, "I'm with you, this is bad."

"DUEL!"

Camula LP:4000

Zane LP:4000

"Since I'm the one that challenged you, I'm making the first move." Zane said, drawing his card, "I place this Monster face-down, as well as one card." Both cards appeared on his field as he continued to smirk at his opponent, "That's all."

Camula drew her card and look through her hand, "I vill summon Zombie Verevolf in Attack position!" she hissed, as her first monster appeared and howled out once it fully appeared.

Zombie Werewolf

DARK Attribute Level 4

Zombie/Effect

ATK/1200 : DEF/1200

"Next I activate Pyramid of Vonders! You already know vat zis spell does!" A familiar pyramid appeared above the battlefield, giving off an unsettling blue glow making the Werewolf snarl out.

Zombie Werewolf

ATK/1200-1400

"And now!" Camula announced as Zane smirked, "I'll end my turn." She calmly said, smiling herself.

"What?!" Zane demanded, "My turn ends." Camula repeated, "You honestly thought I vas going to attack?"

"Wait, is she outsmarting Zane?" Syrus asked, confused.

"Zere is only one monster you ever play face-down." Camula explained, "Seeing how ze defense is higher zan ze attack. It's obvious that monster is your Cyber Phoenix." Zane let out a subtle gasp, while looking shocked, "How did she?!"

"Hold on." Chazz spoke up in the group watching, "Did she just say what Zane's face down is without knowing for sure?!"

"I'm agreeing with you." Mama added, "Which means Syrus is right. She's cheating in some way."

"Vell?" Camula mocked, "It is your turn, so take it!"

Zane growled softly, drawing his card, "Seeing how you cheated—"

"It's called research, boy." Camula inturrpted him, "I just knew wha the card was on a complete guess, or lie."

The last statement made everyone gasp out, "What was that?!" Zane demanded, "You're saying you didn't know?!"

"Zat's right." She replied, "You vere ze one zat just said it vas."

"Did she just admit she lied on Zane's card?!" bastion asked, baffled.

"She did." Alexis repled, "And Zane fell for it."

"I flip my Cyber Phoenix to Attack Mode!" Zane yelled, flipping his card over as the face down monster card changed with sparkling light revealing a white metal bird like creature, having four wings, with red trims on each wing and orange blade-like feathers.

Cyber Phoenix

FIRE Attribute Level 4

Machine/Effect

ATK/1200 : DEF/1600

"Now I use Polymerization!" Zane continued his turn, having the fusing vortex to appear above his monster, before Cyber Dragon appeared next to the Phoenix, "I fuse my Cyber Dragon and Cyber Phoenix together!"

Both Monster turned to beams of light before shooting into the vortex and meld together, "I never seen Zane fuse Cyber Dragon other than with another Cyber Dragon." Syrus muttered, "What is Zane summoning?"

"Come forth, Cyber Winged Dragon!" Zane ordered as a large, winged machine descended from the sky and plant its feet on the ground before letting out a mix of a bird screech and dragon roar, stretching all four wings out.

Cyber Winged Dragon

FIRE Attribute Level 7

Machine/Effect

ATK/2600 : DEF/1900

"I already know your monster's ability but I'm not one to hesitate." Zane stated, "Cyber Winged Dragon, Attack! Blazing Strident Blast!"

The eyes of the machine flashed, before roaring/screeching out as energy gathered in its mouth, before blasting a beam of plasma energy, incineration the Werewolf, causing Camula to groan out from the fire.

Camula LP:4000-2800

As the fire died down and the smoke cleared, a second Zombie Werewolf took the field, snarling out, "It seems you forgot about my Verevolf Special Ability." Camula stated.

Zombie Werewolf

ATK/1700-1900

"I didn't forget." Zane replied, "For now, my Cyber Winged Dragon's Ability activates. When you activate your Monster's Ability, my Dragon will burn 200 Life Points from you based on the Monster's Level! Burning Shot x4!"

Cyber Winged Dragon straighten itself before four chest panels opened up and launched a small ball of fire from each, blasting them at Camula, causing her to groan out as each blast explode in front of her.

Camula LP:2800-2000

"Now why don't you go ahead and take your final turn?" Zane mocked, as Camula drew her card.

"Vell, it seems I vill vin." She said, "I activate Pot of Greed!" Drawing her two cards, Zane's smirk didn't change as he just waited, "I activate the Continuous Spell; Vampire's Sanctuary!"

The spell's image showed some vampiric creatures around a park fountain; however, the fountain is spewing blood instead of water.

"Why should I care about that useless card?" Zane mocked, "It's not going to help you at all."

"Zat is vhere you are vrong." Camula replied, "This Spell gives my Zombie Monsters 300 more Attack for each on my field and in my Grave."

"Still a useless card." Zane remarked, 'Your weak card just gets 300 attack points."

"Did you forget about ze one in my grave?" Camula asked, "My monster gains 600 attack."

The Werewolf on the field began to snarl and grow lout, as its muscles began to increase in size as he fell on his hands and roared out, looking more feral.

Zombie Werewolf

ATK/1900-2500

"Now I sacrifice my Verevolf to summon my Vampire Lord!" Camula continued her turn, her current monster is shrouded in mist, afterwards a cape flipped the mist away and her monster stood there, smirking at Zane.

Vampire Lord

DARK Attribute Level 5

Zombie/Effect

ATK/3100 : DEF/1500 (Pyramid of Wonders & Vampire's Sanctuary Boost)

"What?!" Zane slightly gasped, "That monster can't be stronger than my card!"

"For claiming to be ze best, you are not zat great at dueling." Camula taunts, "Vampire Lord destroy zat pest!"

The Vampire Lord raised his arm taking the cape with it as he began his attack, Zane on the other hand began to chuckle, "You really are predicable." He mocked, "Did you really think I would let you attack?"

"Zen vat do you think I'm doing?!" Camula snapped back.

"I activate my Continuous Trap! Cyber Battle Arena!" Zane's facedown reveal itself showing a fighting arena with a Cyber Phoenix battling a Cyber Twin Dragon and a crowd cheering on the fight. Suddenly, the very same battle arena began to rise from the ground surrounding both Zane and Camula, once the arena was fully exposed, Vampire Lord stopped preparing his attack and let out a vampiric hiss.

"Vat is the meaning of zis?!" Camula demanded, Vhy did my Lord stop attacking?!"

"Because this is the 'Cyber' Arena." Zane replied smiling like he just won, "As long as I have a Cyber Dragon while this Battle Arena is up, only Machine Monsters can attack."

"Zat doesn't explain anything!" Camula snarled, "You don't have a Cyber Dragon out! My Vampire—"

"You dumb bitch, of course I have a Cyber Dragon!" Zane insulted her, "I have my 'CYBER' Winged 'DRAGON' out! 'Cyber Dragon' is in its name, so it counts as a 'Cyber Dragon' which means my Cyber Twin Dragon and Cyber End Dragon also puts this trap's ability to use."

Camula just played one card down, ending her turn. Zane drew his card and chuckled, "This is the end for you." He stated, "I activate the Equip Spell; Cyber Core Mk II!" the Cyber Winged Dragon's chest opened up again, only the blast shot sockets also moved to open up revealing the core of the machine, it was removed, causing the machine to power down before a slightly larger core, brimming with more power output, inserted into the machine, and the chest piece closed, quickly powering the machine up as it screech/roar once more.

Cyber Winged Dragon

ATK/2600-3200

"When this card is used on a Machine Monster, its Attack Points raise by 100 times its level, making it more powerful than your pathetic card." Zane explained in a taunting tone, "Cyber Winged Dragon! Rid the field of that eyesore! Blazing Strident Blast!"

Zane's monster reared its head as the attack charged up, Zane began to chuckle, until he heard Camula chuckling, "Just as I knew you vould." She muttered.

"What the hell did you just say, bitch?!" Zane demand, "I vas right about you!" she cackled out, "You never think about vat your opponent has out ven all you think is vinning!"

"What the hell is she talking about?" Chazz asked, "Alexis? Do you have any idea?"

"As far as I know; when Zane is about to win, he just attacks, because his opponent doesn't think clearly."

"I now activate my Trap, Zombie Outbreak!" Camula announced, her trap reveling an image of a group of scientists running in a panic as security officers fired off weapons against zombies wearing either security or the scientist lab coat chasing the scientist.

"What the hell does that card do?!" Zane demanded, slightly annoyed, "All you are doing is trying to delay your defeat!"

"Vat zis Trap does, I can immediately activate a spell card zat vorks vith Zombies, from my hand." Camula explained, in a monking tone, "And I happen to have such a card. I activate Zombie Vorld!"

Her Duel Disk extended it's field slot as she placed it into the slot, retreated back into the Duel Disk. Outside of the Arena the Key Bearers witness large menacing deformed trees sprouting around the Arena and grow taller than the building, however; the taller the trees got, they began to change looking more like rotting flesh, and began to emit a strange aura as it poured into the Arena.

"Ok, that's it!" Chazz proclaimed and began to run to the building fazing through the hologram before the others followed suit. When they all entered the Dueling Field, they saw Zane's monster stop charging its attack.

"What the?!" Zane questioned, "I order you to attack! Now do it!"

"Afraid it can't." Camula taunted, getting his attention, "What did you say?!" he demanded.

"Just take a look." She replied, "Your monster is no longer a machine."

"Bullshit!" Zane spat, "It is a Machine!" he looked at his monster again, only to look shock as his once shiny, state-of-the-art machine was now decaying flesh and bones.

Cyber Winged Dragon

Zombie/Effect

"What the fuck did you do to my Cyber Dragon!?"

"I did nothing." Camula replied, "What happened to it is all your fault."

"Like hell it is!" Zane remarked, "I bet this is your Spell's doing!"

"It vas your attack zat did this." She replied, "Yes, my Spell turns all monsters into Zombies, but if you didn't attack, zen zis vouldn't have happened."

"I lost track." Syrus said, "What's going on?"

"From what I gathered," Bastion replied, "Camula's spell card turned all Monsters into Zombie cards, and Zane can't attack due to his Trap card."

"Now, zat boy would be a true challenge." Camula said, looking at Bastion, "About to read the situation of ze duel. Unlike you."

"Take your damn turn already!" Zane growled. Camula just smiled and drew her next card, "Perfect." She said, "I activate the Continuous Spell, Field Barrier!"

Activating her Spell, revealing a green barrier around a single card, "I don't need to explain vat zis Spell does." She stated, "My turn is over."

Zane drew his card, and saw it was Power Bond. Looking through his hand, he only hand one Cyber Dragon, "I use my Pot of Greed!" he said, drawing two more cards, being Mystical Space Typhoon and his third Cyber Dragon.

"Damn it! I have to use my Spell on my Trap! That damn Continuous Spell of hers prevents me from destroying her field, and that other Spell of hers powers up her monsters!"

"Vell?" Camula taunted, "Hurry up! Unless you can't do anything?"

"I set one card facedown!" Zane growled out, "About time." Camula mocked, drawing her card, "Vell, its Remove Trap!"

"What?!" Zane gasped out as the hologram of his trap card suddenly shattered, afterwards the Arena around them began to crumble away, leaving only the decaying forest.

"Now I expect you to think I'm going to attack, but I'm going to do zis instead!" She took one card from her hand and revealed it, "I activate Vampiric Awakening!"

"The others looked shocked looking at the card, the card having the image being a few Vampires around a coffin having a crest as each Vampire had one arm extended and blood falling from the wrists into the coffin, "That sounds like a Ritual Card." Alexis stated.

The coffin appeared on the field as the Vampire Lord looks down at it, before Vampire Lady appeared next to him, "I sacrifice my Lord and Lady!" Camula announced. Both Vampires bit into their wrists, letting the blood pour on the coffin, in turn both monsters began to decay, turning to ash and being blown by the wind.

"Awaken, Dracula the Vampire King!" Camula yelled out, as a hand emerged from the coffin and slowly pushed the top aside before it lands on the ground, with one-fourth of the coffin top embedded into the ground, showing the weight of it. A Vampire levitated out of the coffin, wearing a long black cape, red underneath matching leather arm bands being black with red trims, shoulder length black hair and a nicely trimmed beard and mustache, glaring at Zane. (Yes, yes! I can hear you all, "Very similar to Castlevania's Dracula!" That's the only known visual of him that I know of, leave me alone!)

Dracula, the Vampire King

DARK Attribute Level 9

Zombie/Ritual/Effect

ATK/4700 : DEF/2800 (Pyramid of Wonders & Vampire's Sanctuary boost)

"Holy!" Mana exclaimed, "Shit!" Syrus and Chazz finished, "My thoughts exactly." Bastion stated.

Zane looked at the new monster as he grinds his teeth, "Those damn Spells of hers!" he thought, Even without those boosts, it shows it has at least 3000 Attack Points."

"Now my Vampire King, destroy his monster!" Camula demanded, "Dark Inferno!" (Again, I know!)

The Vampire swung his arm open, swinging his cape, or cloak open before a large magma ball appeared in from of him and launched it towards Cyber Winged Dragon.

"I'll just weaken the damage!" Zane shouted, "I Activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Sanctuary!" His Spell quickly blast a typhoon at her Continuous Spell, destroying it and weakening her monster.

Dracula, the Vampire King

ATK/4700-3200

The magma ball slammed into the zombified monster before exploding, getting everyone, except Camula to groan out from the heat it gave up.

Zane LP:4000-3400

Dracula, the King of Vampire

ATK/3200-3000

"And now my King's Special Ability!' Camula announced, "I get a Vampire Zrall Token ven my Dracula destroys a monster and inflects damage to you."

"There has to be a catch to it." Zane growled out, "Vell, you vere smart to destroy my Sanctuary." She replied, "Since ze Token will have attack and defense equal to ze damage you took."

Appearing on her field, seemed to be a human with pale grey skin, solid orange eyes, wearing what seemed to be peasant clothing, but most noticeable, vampiric fangs and two holes on his neck.

Vampire Thrall Token

DARK Attribute Level 4

Zombie/Token

ATK/600 : DEF/600

"Of course, vith it being so veak I vill have it in defense mode." Camula announced.

"Well, you are not the only one with a Special Ability." Zane mocked, "When Cyber Winged Dragon is destroyed, I can Special summon one of its Fusion Material from the Grave."

"Vat vill be ze point?" Camula asked, in a mocking tone, "None of zem vill be stronger zan my Dracula."

"Not yet anyways." Zane mocked back, "Return, Cyber Dragon!" instead of materializing as usual, the ground in front of Zane began to crack and raise, as if something was raising from the ground. A disease rotting green flesh creature emerged, some of its skull, ribs, and spine was seen as there was no flesh completely covering it as it lets out a haunting roar.

Cyber Dragon

LIGHT Attribute Level 5

Zombie/Effect

Dracula, the Vampire King

ATK/3000-3200

Vampire Thrall Token

ATK/600-800

"Damn this Field of hers!" Zane hissed, "Very vell, my turn ends." Camula said. Zane just smiled, drawing his card, and didn't bother to look at it as he reached for another card in his hand.

"I activate, Power Bond!" he announced, "I told you I'll win, Camula. I use this spell to fuse the Cyber Dragon on the field with the two in my hand!" The two Cyber Dragons in hand, emerged on the field before all three shot into the sky, before beams of light shot down.

"This is the end for you." Zane told Camula, giving a cocky grin, "Come, Cyber End Dragon!" A large metal creature began to descend onto the field, but once Zane's strongest card, passed the top of the rotting trees, the metal transformed into rotting flesh, the wings torn and each of the three heads, rotten or damage in different ways.

Cyber End Dragon

LIGHT Attribute Level 10

Zombie/Fusion/Effect

ATK/4000 : DEF/2800

"What the hell?!" Zane exclaimed, "Why didn't my monster's fucken attack double?!"

"If I'm correct," Camula replied, taunting, "Doesn't Power Bond double Machine Fusion Monsters?"

"That is why I used that card to summon my best card!"

Syrus was the first to realized what went wrong, "Hold on! Her field!" he gasped, "It turned Cyber End Dragon into a Zombie."

"So, since it's no longer a Machine it doesn't get the boost from Power bond." Bastion added.

"If that's the case, then it also means I don't get the downside of Power Bond. 'Zane stated, "Cyber End Dragon! Attack that wannabe king! Super Strident Blaze!"

All three rotten heads reared back, ready to launch their attacks, until Camula began to chuckle, "Oh, I don't zink so, boy."

"What did you say?" Zane demanded, "I Activate Dracula's Special Ability." She replied, "By tributing one Zombie on my Field, Dracula can decide which Zombie monster attacks and ven."

"What?!"

Camula sighed out, clearly annoyed, "Clearly you don't understand. I mean; I tribute my Vampire Zrall in order to stop your Cyber Zombie from attacking!" Her nearly feral looking Vampire turned to dust as her Dracula outstretched an arm held his hand up, which in turn caused Cyber End Dragon to cease its charging.

"You damn cheating bitch!" Zane snarled in frustration.

"Is zat so?" Camula mocked, "Is zis how you act? Ven someone actual outsmarts you, you claim zey cheated. How childish can one get?"

"All you're doing is delaying your defeat!" Zane growler, "Now, take your turn already!"

Camula huffed at his impatience, drawing her card, she looked at it, before her eyes widen, and she began to chuckle softly, before burst into a wicked cackle.

"Ziz is it! I've von!" she proclaimed, "You zought you vould vin?! But this card changes everyzing!"

"Will you hurry up?!" Zane hissed.

Camula slapped her card into the backrow as she smiled wickedly, "I active; Soul Sacrificial Gate!" (I know the anime called it "Illusion Gate", but let's be honest a spell to steal someone's soul called an illusion, not very intimidating if you ask me.)

The card showed a sinister large gate that suddenly appeared behind her, "How will simple Spell win you the Duel?" Zane asked, not fazed.

Camula just continued to smile as the gate slowly opened up, letting loose a loud haunting howl, causing the Key Bearers watching the duel to cover their ears and shield their eyes as the howl kicked up a lot of dirt and dust.

"Now!" Camula began, "Take the soul of my choosing as a sacrifice to the Sacred Beasts!"

The gate fully opened as a large phantom claw emerged from the gate, lundged out pass Zane and the wind died down as it pulled back. Everyone looked around, wondering what happened.

"What the hell was that?" Chazz coughed out, "I have no idea." Replied, "Is everyone alright?"

"I'm alright." Bastion replied slightly groaning.

"Same here." Mana answered, before looking around, "Wait, where is Syrus?"

They looked up and around, noticing he wasn't with them, "Do you mean him?" Camula spoke up, as the large phantom clawed hand, held Syrus next to her.

"Just what the fuck do you think you are doing?!" Zane demanded.

"As I told you, I have von." She replied, "My Spell lets me pick anyone- besides my opponent to be sacrifice to the Three Sacred Beasts, if I happen to lose."

"So, you're using Syrus as a hostage to win?!" Mana slight demanded.

"Zane wouldn't give a shit." Chazz spoke up, "All he cares about is winning."

"Then, why does he look like he just lost?" Bastion pointed out as Zane's arm went from a dueling stand to his sides, as the cards in his hands fell to the ground.

"Did you honestly zink, I vouldn't find your one weakness?" Camula taunted, "You act all cold and heartless towards everyone, but ze truth is, you didn't want your little brother here until he was ready."

"Wait, that means when Zane told Syrus to leave after the Chancellor and teachers said he and Draco would Tag Duel together," Alexis pondered, "It was just an act? He was really trying to get Syrus another year?"

"Unfortunately, my spell's activation means my turn comes to end." Camula chuckled, "Your turn boy. Or vould your rather skip your vole turn? Seeing how you dropped your hand, is a sign you lost."

"H-how?" Zane muttered, "how the hell did you—"

"I saw zat picture you keep hidden." Camula replied wickedly, "Now do you have a turn or not?"

Zane just stood there looking defeated, "Zane! I don't need to remind you," bastion shouted, "if you don't draw your card in three minutes, it'll automatically be Camula's turn!"

Zane didn't respond, as he just stood there, until Camula's Duel Disk registered her to draw a card, "I vas right, to call you unimpressive." She mocked, "I activate ze Equip Spell, Blood Chalice."

Appearing in her monster's hand was a decorative cup filled with blood, as he just lets out a disappointing huff at Zane.

Dracula, the Vampire King

ATK/3200-3700

"Next, ze Spell Vampire Eyes!" Camula continued, "I don't need to explain zis card, since you know vat it does. Dracula, attack him directly!"

Her must swung his cloak open and let loose a swarm of bats that by-passed Cyber End Dragon, and attacked Zane, who didn't react to the many fanged creatures biting him.

Zane's LP:3400-0

When his Life Points hit zero, the Spirit Key around his neck vanished, as the bats continue to swarm around him, turning into fog, the Soul Sacrificial gate began to close, as the phantom hand let Syrus go, who quickly scampered to his feet and ran to the swirling fog, until it dissipated, revealing another voodoo doll, this time looking like Zane. The Monster Dracula then, levitated it off the ground, handing it to Camula as she dug her nails into it.

"I'm going to teach zis boy a lesson he vill never forget!" she hissed as she turned around, returning to her castle as her monster turned into a swarm of bats and scattered around the castle, as the gates close and drawbridge raised, shutting the other Key Bearers out. The others rushed towards Syrus as he fell to his knees and tears started to fall from his eyes.

"Th-this hold time." he sobbed, "This whole time, I thought he was just being cruel, but he-he was looking after me!"

Mana kneeled next to her fellow Slifer as he sobbed out and held him in a hug that he just cried into. However, at the edge of the clearing entering the forest, Vonzun and Rovit witness the duel and were shocked at the outcome.

"That bloodsucking parasite!" Rovit hissed, "She used the kid to get what she wanted!"

"Rovit." Vonzun said, "Report to the Young Lord." He then stood up and began to leap from one tree branch to another.

"What?" he asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to find out what that Shadow Rider meant by a picture Zane keeps." Vonzun replied, "Do this' and I'll inform the Captain you followed the orders of your superior."

The two Guards went their separate ways, one to fill in Draco and the other to find the truth behind Camula's cheat. Meanwhile, in the Spirt Word, or more précised their Underworld, Silziigaaf stood in front of a large gate, growling and snarling threateningly, that the souls around him were terrified to approach him, questioning among themselves why he was pissed, until the soul of the Dragon Guard Commander carefully moved through the crowd to his still "living" soldier.

"Silziigaaf? What is it Gatekeeper?" he asked. Silziigaaf turned to face him as the glowing anger in his eyes made the other souls back up in terror, as his sword began to glow that eerie blue.

"Aanwo, ko faal Mun Lein, lost bex faal Skuld wah faal Pruzah do Sil!" He roared.

The sun began to rise on the next day of Duel Academy, everyone trying to comfort Syrus as he laid in Mana's lap, finally convincing him to stand up and take him back to the Slifer Dorm, while they all softly discussed on who will duel, if any of them should, duel Camula next. Once they made it to the Dorm Alexis looked ahead and softly gasped seeing multiple Dragon Guards franticly looking all over the building.

"I'm not the only one seeing this am I?" Chazz questioned.

"Multiple of Draco's Monsters floating/running around looking for something?" Bastion asked.

"Good, that means I'm not the only one." Alexis stated, "Hey guys! What's going on?" she asked them, getting Sophitia tp look over to them.

"Alexis! Is the Young Lord—" she stopped and looked at the heads of the group, "Oh damn he's not with you!"

"Draco should be in the room." Alexis replied, "he's still recovering."

'That's the problem!" Vahraniik yelled out, "Rovit came by and reported what happened last night. And when we all looked on in disbelief, Draco just vanished!"

Alexis' eyes widen in fear, thinking that Camula got to him, while he snuck out, before they could continue, all of them- both human and spirits- heard a loud explosion as ocean water rose higher than normal. Recognizing the distance, everyone, dragging Chazz along to the hidden training area that was used for the Tag Duel training. Quickly and carefully they all made their way to the cavern to see Draco standing there, staring out to sea, both of his fists consumed by his swirling flames.

"Draco?" Alexis asked him.

"There is nothing to worry about, Alexis." He replied, turning around and looked at his friend group, "My Spirit Energy, my Flames, are back and are at 100%!"

(Author's Note: Alright another chapter finished, hope everyone likes this one as they have with the rest of the story. Now I may have asked this before, but didn't get any replies on it, if anyone would like to know what some of the Guards are saying in their tongue, I'll be happy to put the translations next to their sayings or here in the end notes. Let me know what you guys would like.)