AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. This one was a blast to write for a lot of the monster summons. Cinder finally gets to duel after about ten chapters of being on the side lines. You finally get to see a lot more of her deck, and she has some very appropriate cards. Don't want to spoil much, but the ending is very dramatic with what it sets up as the final showdowns. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.

Chapter 17 – The Fall Shadow Rider

At the center of the dormant volcano, Cinder stood with her eyes closed and arms crossed. She was surrounded by the blackness of suet, ash, and hardened molten rock. However, upon hearing someone approaching, she opened her eyes with an amber glow. The Fall Shadow Rider smiled at the sight of her recruit, one who held a key she desired, "Well done, Neo." Cinder said as she started to walk forward, "Roman would be proud of you."

Neo's eyes flared with rage, causing Cinder to stop. The Fall Shadow Rider snickered, "You don't seem happy to have gotten your revenge. Why?" Cinder asked with Neo hatefully pointing at the Fall Shadow Rider, "Me? Do you think I'm the one who killed? I would never do- Oh, what's the point in hiding it now." Cinder responded with a sinister sneer, "Unlike you, he outlived his usefulness to me." She said with Neo seethed with rage, "If you want to avenge him," Cinder said as she readied her glass duel disk, "You'll have to beat me." As her duel disk expanded and lit up, the hardened magma they stood on crack with the light and heat of lava seeping out.

Neo was not afraid. She put the key around her neck as she readied her duel disk. The shadow game started as Ruby and Jaden entered the volcano, "Oh no, we're too late." Ruby said in a panic as the duel started.

Neo: 4000 Life Points

Cinder: 4000 Life Points

Neo drew first, summoning her quiet blade master in his weakest form, Silent Swordsman LV3, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). She then ended her turn with one card facedown.

"That's it?" Cinder said as she drew, "And I thought you intended to get revenge?" She said while looking at her hand, not seeing Neo scowling. "Oh well, I activate Dark Core." The Fall Shadow Rider said as she played the spell card. "By discarding one card, I can banish your monster." As she sent one card to the graveyard, a black void appeared over Silent Swordsman LV3's head, expanding as it radiated blue electricity. However, the swordsman slashed to void, causing it to disappear, "Hm?" Cinder said Neo smirked, swapping her eye colors, "So, your monster is immune to spell targeting. No matter." Cinder said before playing a different spell, "I activate Allure of Darkness." The Fall Shadow said as the top of her deck glowed in a blackish-purple light, "Now, I draw two cards. However, I have to discard my hand if I do not banish a dark monster." She said before one card in her hand vanished into a black void.

"Cinder!" Jaden called out, "Stop this duel!"

"Oh, you." Cinder responded, "You are no longer my target." She said before focusing on Neo, "She is the one who has your key." Cinder continued her turn, playing a monster card from her hand.

"I summon Trance Archfiend in attack mode." Cinder said as a thin purple demon with red hypnotic eyes emerged, (1500 ATK / 500 DEF). "Now, I activate its effect. By discarding Marie, the Fallen One, it gains 500 attack points." The Fall Shadow Rider sent the card in her hand to the graveyard, causing Trance Archfiend to glow in a dark purple light. (1500 + 500 = 2000 ATK).

"Oh no," Ruby said as she remembered the card Cinder discard from her duel, "With that monster in her grave, Cinder will keep regaining life points."

"Attack!" She ordered as her demon charged toward Neo's monster.

However, Neo revealed her facedown card, showcasing her swordsman in fury of strikes, Silent Sword Slash. Neo's swordsman glowed in a light blue aura as he rushed into battle, (1000 + 1500 = 2500 ATK). After parrying the demon's claws, Silent Swordsman LV3 bisected the monster. Cinder shielded herself from the recoil as her life points fell.

Cinder: 4000 – 500 = 3500 Life Points

"Yes!" Jaden cheered, "She countered her monster attack point gain with her own monster gaining an even bigger boost."

"And Cinder only has two cards left in her hand," Ruby added on, "She can't ritual summon anything."

Neo smirked at taking the lead and first blood in the duel. However, Cinder started to snicker, "Well, that was an interesting warm-up." The Fall Shadow Rider said with Neo having a look of confusion, "It's been a while since I got to duel." She said before her eyes started to glow brighter, "I forgot how fun it was! I active Trance Archerfield's effect. When destroyed, I can return a banished dark monster to my hand." She as a card returned from the black void and into her hand, causing her to grab a new spell card to play. "Next, I active Preparation of Rites! I can add a level seven or lower ritual monster from my deck to my hand." She said as a card with a dark aura ejected from her deck, "Then, I can add a ritual spell from my graveyard to my hand."

Neo had a look of confusion, not knowing how she could have activated the second effect. However, her eyes turned white at the memory of Cinder playing Dark Core. The card the Fall Shadow Rider discarded; it was all part of her plan. Neo watched as Cinder took the card out her graveyard. With three other cards in her hand, she played the ritual spell. Suddenly an alter shrouded in darkness appeared. At the center, an elliptical black mass with golden wings and horns was chained to in the air.

"For Ritual of Destruction, I offer a level three and level four monster as tributes." Cinder said before sending two cards from her hand to the graveyard. As she played the monster, her eyes glowed a brighter amber color, "Awaken, Garlandolf, The King of Destruction!" She said as the chains snapped, the black void cracking. Cradled in the darkness was a nightmarish humanoid creature. As it starched out its body, the shadow sweep through the area like a heatwave. Its body was an almost metallic purple. Its face was that of nightmares, with red eyes that saw only bloodlust, (2500 ATK / 1400 DEF). "When summoned to the field, Garlandolf destroys all other monsters with defense lower than this his attack." Cinder said as Neo gasped, know Silent Swordsman LV3 could not survive. Garlandolf raised his right hand as he glared at the swordsman. Upon the clenching of his fist, Silent Swordsman LV3 eyes widened with agony. As the King of Destruction fist tightened, Neo's monster dropped its sword. Suddenly, Garlandolf opened his palm, causing Silent Swordsman LV3 to explode, "Finally, he gains 100 attack points for each monster destroyed by the effect." Cinder said as her monster radiated a black aura, (2500 + 100 = 2600 ATK). "That ends my turn."

Neo gritted her teeth as she drew. Looking at her hand, she set one monster and ended her turn.

"Again, is that all?" Cinder said before drawing, "I was expecting more." Suddenly, her body was shrouded in a dark aura, "Thanks to Marie the Fallen One in my graveyard, I gain back 200 life points."

Cinder: 3500 + 200 = 3700 Life Points

"Now Garlandolf, attack!" Cinder commanded as her monster only raised its right hand, unleashing a black beam on negative energy. However, Neo smirked. As her monster was flipped, it revealed itself as a mass of gooey sugar sweets as an upside creature with a smile, Marshmallon, (300 ATK / 500 DEF). The monster absorbed the bark beam before lunging at Cinder, its sharp teeth flaring. The Fall Shadow Rider scowled as Marshmallon bit her right arm. Taking a chunk out her life points.

Cinder: 3700 – 1000 = 2700 Life Points

"Nice, she still got damage her opponent!" Ruby cheered as Cinder shook off Marshmallon, causing the creature to land back on Neo's side of the field, "And she still has her monster to defend herself."

"Is that your plan of revenge? Killing me with confections?" Cinder said before setting the card she drew facedown behind Garlandolf, who lowered his hand, "Don't make me laugh." She said before ending her turn.

Neo drew, swapping her eye colors as she looked at the result. She sent her Marshmallon to the graveyard to advance summon the stage above her previously destroyed warrior, Silent Swordsman LV5. (2300 ATK / 1000 DEF). From her hand, she played the spell that would allow her warrior to ascend even further beyond, Level Up.

"Nice, Silent Swordsman LV7 has more than enough attack point to-" Jaden was saying, but Cinder cut him off.

"I active Magic Drain," Cinder revealed, "With it, your spell card is negated. However, You can discard a spell card to take its place." The Fall Shadow Rider sneered as Neo's eyes went white, "Unless, you don't have a spell card in your hand anymore." She said with Neo unable to counter, causing level up to break, "Too bad," Cinder said before drawing, "This going to hurt." She said before gaining back her life points.

Cinder: 2700 + 200 = 2900 Life Points

"Garlandolf, let's try this again." Cinder ordered as her monster raised its right hand, "Destroy." She said with her eyes glowing amber, the black beam erupting from her monster palm. The beam impaled Silent Swordsman LV5 before sticking Neo in the left shoulder. The mute duelist stumbled as her left arm when slight limp.

Neo: 4000 – 300 = 3700 Life Points

"Neo!" Jaden called out in panic, but Neo remained focused on the duel. The mute dueled then looked at her hand, seeing a dark aura around it, "What?"

"Oh, I guess I should have told you before. The two monsters I used to ritual summon Garlandolf were Djinn Presider of Rituals and Djinn Prognosticator of Rituals." Cinder clarified, "Both give Garlandolf extra abilities. Now, thanks to Prognosticator, when he inflicts battle damage. You discard a card from your hand." The Fall Shadow Rider said as Neo gritted her teeth, sending a card to the graveyard, "And thanks to Presider, when Garlandolf destroys a monster. I draw a card." Cinder said upon doing so, smirking at the result, "I end with setting a monster face-down in defense mode." She then crossed her arms, one card still in her hand, "Your move."

Neo drew, her left arm slightly trembling at holding the cards. However, she smiled at getting the card she needed. In her graveyard, she removed Silent Sword Slash. In doing so, the mute duelist added Silent Swordsman LV7 to her hand.

"LV7?" Jaden said, wondering why Neo would add the monster she could not summon. However, he remembered his duel and what seven stars could bring out. Neo then played her ritual spell, causing an altar to the headdress to appear, Ritual of Grace. In offering her newly added swordsman as a tribute, she summoned the embodiment of dignity and elegance, Divine Grave – Northwemko, (2700 ATK / 1200 DEF). With a scowl on her face, Northwemko glared at Garlandolf, who responded with a similar scornfulness.

"So, you use ritual monsters as well." Cinder commented as Neo ordered her attack. Northwemko unleashed a ray of concentrated sunlight. While Garlandolf fired a beam of negative energy. The two attacks clashed in a struggle, "This time, yours slightly wins out." Cinder commented as the dark beam was overtaken, piercing the chest of the King of Destruction before he exploded in a massive smoke cloud.

Cinder: 2900 – 100 = 2800 Life Points

Neo smiled at overcoming Cinder's ritual monster. However, that smile faded as something shined through the smoke. In was a card in Cinder's hand, pulsating with a while light, "You have no idea who you are up against, do you?" The Fall Shadow Rider commented as her eyes flared with heated rage, "Since you inflicted battle damage to me, I get to summon this level ten monster from my hand."

"Level ten!?" Ruby responded in shock as Neo's eyes went whiter than before.

"Come forth," Cinder said before slamming the monster onto her duel disk, "Tragoedia!" Erupting out of the wall of the volcano behind Cinder was a massive summoned creature. Its black scorpion-like armor radiated a crimson aura. Its yellow eyes glared down on Neo's side of the field. Its jagged smile with ravenous fangs waiting to sink them into any target. It was the purest definition of a monster, (? ATK / ? DEF).

"W-what are its stats?" Jaden commended as Neo had ended her turn.

"Tragoedia gains 600 attack points for each card in my hand." Cinder said before drawing, bringing her hand size to one. (600 X 1 = 600 ATK / 600 X 1 = 600 DEF). She then glowed in a dark aura; regain more than the damage she took the last turn.

Cinder: 2800 + 200 = 3000 Life Points

"Now, it's time for a hand reset." Cinder said as she flipped her monster face-up, "I flip summon Morphing Jar." She said as an antic vase was seen. However, inside was a one-eyed monster with a toothy grin, (700 ATK / 600 DEF). "With his effect, we both discard our hands," Cinder said before smiling, "And draw five cards."

"Oh no," Ruby said she saw both sending their hands of cards to the graveyard, "With five cards in her hand, that gives Tragoedia-"

"3000 Attack points," Cinder said as she drew her five cards. Neo did so as well, but looked at the massive monster's aura expanding, the smile growing wider, (600 X 5 = 3000 ATK / 600 X 5 = 3000 DEF). "However, I am discarding this level seven monster to active Tragoedia's other effect," The Fall Shadow Rider commented as she sent the card to the graveyard, then pointing to Northwemko. "I can take control of your level seven monster." She said as her monster's crimson aura started to expand out. It then condensed into a vapor that enveloped the Divine Grace.

However, Neo discarded a monster from her hand as well. Suddenly, a small mage shined through the red mist. Its hair was a teal green that was parted in two ways. It wore white gi top and black stockings. As the light shined, Tragoedia fell back from its assault. This was the result of Effect Veiler, the card to negate any monster's effect for the turn. Cinder gritted her teeth. Not only did this mean her tactic failed, but Tragoedia lost all its attack points, (3000 – 3000 = 0 ATK / 3000 – 3000 = 0 DEF).

Neo smirked, but had a look of confusion as Cinder started to laugh, "Hahaha! You think you saved your monster?" The Fall Shadow Rider said with a sneer, "You have only doomed her to a worse fate." She said before glancing at Ruby, "This is a monster you should remember from our duel."

"Oh no," Ruby said as her heart began to race in pain, "Neo, watch out!"

"I play the Black Illusion Ritual." Cinder activated as the wine glasses and bronze jar appeared in the offering circle, "I offer the level ten Tragoedia as a tribute." The Fall Shadow Rider said as her monster's essences went into the jar, "To ritual summon the level one Relinquished!" She said before the jar expanded and turned into the decaying flesh color. The abomination expanded to its true form, causing Ruby's skin to turn white with fear, (0 ATK / 0 DEF). As its golden eye glanced at the hooded Slifer Red, Ruby took a step back, "Relinquished effect activates, allowing it to absorb one monster you control." Cinder said as the abomination looked back to the duel. Its vacuum stomach expanded, creating a vortex. Neo could only watch in horror as Northwemko was pulled into the monster. After being absorbed, the Divine Grace's body was attached to Relinquished's left flesh wing. (0 + 2700 = 2700 ATK / 0 + 1200 = 1200 DEF).

Neo had a look of sorrow as Northwemko screamed in agony. However, she then saw noticed the fiery aura radiating from Cinder's body, especially her eyes, "First, Morphing Jar attacks you directly." The Fall Shadow Rider ordered as the created her in the jar expanded out. Its body was just a mass of gunk that ran through the ground, eventually making its way to the mute duelist. In opening its jar, the creature bit down of Neo's right thigh while still having that toothy smile. Neo screamed through her teeth before the creature let go, causing her to fall to one knee as it returned to the jar. Her life point now matching that of her opponents.

Neo: 3700 – 700 = 3000 Life Points

"This is what happens to those who disappoint me," Cinder said before pointing, "Relinquished attacks you directly!" Relinquished's eye focused on Neo before unleashing a purple laser. Neo's eyes went white as the beam collided with her chest, launching her back into one of the stone walls. She gasped in agony before fall face first on the ground, the bowler hat falling off her head.

Neo: 3000 – 2700 = 300 Life Points

"NEO!" Ruby and Jaden screamed as they ran over to help. However, Neo showed them an open right palm. They stopped as the mute duelist started to pick herself up but struggled after getting to one knee. She then picked up the bowler hat, placing it on her head, then fully stood.

"Hm, your persistence is admirable." Cinder commented as Neo returned to the duel, a cold gaze in her eyes, "But it will not be enough to win." The Fall Shadow Rider said before setting a card and ending her turn. She crossed her arms again with only one card left in her hand.

Neo drew seeing the card and gasping. She had a look of focus before adding it to her hand. The mute duelist summoned her quiet mage in its weakest form, Silent Magician LV4, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). However, this version of her monster did not stay for long. She sent it to the graveyard to summon the form without an LV, Silent Magician, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). With three cards in her hand, her monster gained 1500 attack points. (1000 + 1500 = 2500 ATK) Neo pointed at Morphing Jar, causing Silent Magician to unleash a mystical blue ball of energy. However, Neo played a spell form her hand. The image of her monster withing a forcefield of her power, Silent Burning. With more cards in her hand than her opponent, both players drew until they had six cards in their hands. In response, Silent Magician gained an even greater boost to her power, (1000 + 3000 = 4000 ATK). Neo had a look of satisfaction as her monster's attack nearly doubled in size, obliterating the monster in the jar in a second. With the power difference, it was enough to reduce Cinder's life points to zero.

Or so she thought. As the smoke cleared, Cinder was covered in a yellow barrier of aura. To her right side, the trap she set the last turn had activated, "Spirit Barrier," The Fall Shadow Rider explained, "While I have a monster on the field, I take no battle damage." She said before showing her full hand, "All you did was replenish my hand of cards. Now, is that all?" She asked with Neo gritting her teeth. After examining her hand, the mute duelist took all but one card out. In doing so, she set the other five in her back row before ending her turn.

"What is she doing?" Ruby commented as Silent Magician lost almost all its attack boost. (1000 + 500 = 1500 ATK).

Jaden watched as the mute duelist remained focused, "Come on, Neo."

"You think I am an amateur?" Cinder commented before drawing, looking at the card and smiling, "I know a trap when I see one." She said before Marie's effect activated.

Cinder: 3000 + 200 = 3200 Life Points

"I play Mind Control, allowing me to take your monster for this turn." Cinder activated her spell, shooting a type of yellow threads of light the bound Silent Magician. However, Neo turned to her monster with a nod, causing Silent Magician to expand a blue aura and nullify the spell, "You can negate that one, but I'll chain it with this effect." The Fall Shadow Rider said before playing a quickplay spell, "I activate Emergency Provisions, letting me send any many spells or traps on my field to the graveyard." She said before sneering, "This includes your monster equipped to Relinquished." She said before Mind Control, Spirit Barrier, and Northwemko all vanished into particles of light. Relinquished stats returned to normal, (2700 - 2700 = 0 ATK / 1200 - 1200 = 0 DEF).

Neo gritted her teeth as Cinder's life points nearly doubled.

Cinder: 3200 + 3000 = 6200 Life Points

"Now, time for one last Ritual Spell." Cinder said as Ruby and Jaden gasped, "I activate End of the World!" She played before the ground began to shake as if the volcano was about to erupt. However, rather than lava, pillars of blue flames emerged out of the ground, "For this monster, I need eight levels in total. However, I can banish Djinn Presider of Rituals and Djinn Prognosticator of Rituals for seven of those levels." She said before looking to her sole monster on the field, "Relinquished will be the final level." The Fall Shadow Rider said before a pillar of flames engulfed her abomination. However, Relinquished was unfazed by the fire as its body started to morph. Its shape changed to that of a massive demon, one whose shadowy silhouette through the fire itself, "Bring upon ruin to the land, Demise, King of Armageddon!" The Fall Shadow Rider declared before the pillar exploded in a heatwave. At the center stood the ultimate bringer of the apocalypse, towering over all before him. Dressed in black combat attire with blue lining, he wielded a massive war-ax. His skull was the palest white, but his eyes were as red as the blood, (2400 ATK / 2000 DEF). The blue flames still radiated from his body as he waited for Cinder's order, "With Demise, I can pay 2000 life points," Cinder with her eye glowing with an amber light, "To destroy every other card on the field."

Cinder: 6200 - 2000 = 4200 Life Points

Jaden, Ruby, and Neo all gasped as the monster's blue flames expanded. While Cinder had no other cards on her field, Neo had plenty. Silent Magician was incinerated by the flames. The mute duelist's entire back row was destroyed; Mirror Force, Magical Cylinder, Spellbinding Circle, Negate Attack, and Call of the Haunted. All gone. As the flames died down, Neo's ace monster was summoned onto the field. Her quiet mage in its strongest form, Silent Magician LV8, (3500 ATK / 1000 DEF). "You think that will save you!?" Cinder said with a sinister smile, "I active Demies' effect again. Go, burn this world to ashes!" She said as the King of Armageddon unleashed on the blast wave of blue flames.

Cinder: 4200 - 2000 = 2200 Life Points

Silent Magician LV8 was overtaken by the flames before shattering, leaving Neo without a card on the field. The mute duelist lowered her bowler hat to hide her eyes from her opponent, "Heh, won't even let me see your eyes turn white one last time." Cinder said before having a sinister smile, "No matter," The Fall Shadow Rider said before giving the command, "Demise, attack her directly." The King of Armageddon's eyes gleamed red before raising its war-ax.

"NEO!" Ruby and Jaden called out with a look of panic, but Neo did not move. Cinder watched as the war-ax from over her opponent, creating a plume of smoke on impact. She listened to the other end of the volcano, but her opponent did not make a sound.

However, a green light broke through the smoke cloud. "What!?" Cinder called out as more rays of light broke through. As the smoke cleared, Neo remained unharmed, the war-ax a few feet from her head. Demise was shrouded in a green aura, unable to move a muscle, "But, how can this be!?" Cinder questioned before Neo raised her hand, showing the last card she had. In doing so, the mute duelist raised her head, smirking while her eye colors swapped. In comparison, The Fall Shadow Rider's eyes widened in horror at the reading the card, "Goddess of Sweet Revenge!?"

"Wait she has that card!?" Ruby called out in shock, "Only people who had top spots in national tournaments got that card."

"What does it do?" Jaden asked Ruby.

"If it is all you have left during a direct attack, you can discard it." Ruby said as Neo did so, "Then, you can destroy as many cards as you want from your opponent's side of the field." She said as the mute duelist point to Demise, causing the King of Armageddon to explode, "Finally, you can special summon any monster from your deck."

"Any monster!?" Jaden commented with Ruby nodding, "But what else can she summon?" He asked as Neo searched her deck. As she took out a card, a warm smile was on her face. "Huh?" Jaden said before remembering his first duel with Ruby. The moment she someone Guardian Eatos, the look on her face. It was the same look Neo had.

The mute duelist put her deck back in her duel disk with her monster in hand. As she summoned it, a sphere of light form. As the light dimmed, the monster inside revealed itself. But it was not a monster, rather an angle. With red wings, is gust carried a sparkling aura. Its body was clad in white armor, a horn adorned on his forehead and right shoulder. While its mouth was cover, like the mute duelist, no words needed to be said. This was Archlord Kristya, (2800 ATK / 2300 DEF).

"That card," Cinder said with a scowl, "It's effect prevents special summoning from either player." The Fall Shadow Rider looked at her hand, a line of sweat falling down her forehead, "It's still my turn," Cinder said before taking a card out of her hand, "During my second main phase, I set one monster and end my turn." The Fall Shadow Rider did so with two cards left in her hand.

Neo drew, slightly shocked at the result. She let out a slight giggle before showing her opponent. It was a spell, one showing the last defense breaking apart, Shield Crush. As she played it, a green beam of energy obliterated the set card. Cinder shield herself as her last card of protection was gone. With nothing standing in way, Neo smirked as she pointed at the Fall Shadow Rider. Archlord Krysta gathered a ball of light in its palms. Upon the light-condensing, the angle launched it towards the targeted. Suddenly, a vertical contact beam was fired towards the Fall Shadow Rider, the brilliance more than that of her amber eyes. An explosive wave covered her side of the field, one even large than what Neo had endured.

"Did…did she do it?" Ruby asked.

"Her monster had enough attack points." Jaden said as Neo smirked, "I think Neo wo-"

Suddenly, the Slifer Red heard a single hum. With that familiar sound, his heart sunk. As the smoke started to clear Neo had a look of confusion, then her eyes went white. "My, that was close." Cinder said as she remained unharmed, "Good thing I have this in my hand." The Fall Shadow Rider said as she showed the brown furball with green claws, "Kuriboh. By discarding it, I take no damage from your direct attack."

"You!" Jaden called out in horror, "Why do you have that card!?"

"Even I'll admit, it a rather pathetic monster." Cinder said as she sent the card to the graveyard, causing Jaden to seethe with anger, "However, it does fall under the best advice for dueling I have even gotten." She said before drawing, "It's not about overpowering your opponent," Cinder said before her eye started to glow with a fiery aura, her life points regaining,

Cinder: 2200 + 200 = 2400 Life Points

"It's about taking away what power they have." The Fall Shadow Rider said before taking the other card out of her hand, playing it, "I active the spell card, Soul Exchange." Cinder said with Neo gasping, "With the sacrifice of my battle phase this turn, I can use one of your monsters as a tribute." She said before taking the last card out of her hand.

Neo had a look of panic, her breathing rapid. She looked to her Archlord Krysta, who turned back to her. However, at that moment, the angle vanished as it was sacrificed. With it, the image of her One Thing vanished as well. Tears ran down the mute duelist's face as she fell to her knees.

On Cinder's side of the field, a massive dark armored ruler appeared. He was cloaked in a deep purple cape, his piercing red eyes looking down at Neo, "Arise, Caius, The Shadow Monarch!" The Fall Shadow Rider said as her monster started to gather a ball of purple energy, (2400 ATK / 1000 DEF).

"When tribute summoned, I can banish one card on the field."

"But the only card is your monster!" Ruby pointed out.

"Because if the card I banish is a Dark attribute monster," Cinder said before turning back to Neo, "My opponent takes 1000 points of damage." She said with Ruby and Jaden gasping.

"Oh no!" Ruby called out. "Neo, get out of the way!" However, Neo was unresponsive. The light left her eyes as she only cried. In the mute duelist mind, she lost the moment she had nothing left. The hooded Slifer Red ran over to carry Neo out of the way, but the mute duelist would not move.

Cinder crossed her as Caius' shadow ball grew larger. The Shadow Monarch's body starting to fade away, "If you cared for Roman this much," The Fall Shadow Rider said before turning around, "Then join him in the afterlife." She walked away as Caius fired his attack, then banished itself. Ruby's eyes widened in horror as the shadow ball rocketed towards her and Neo. Neither could get out of the way as the attack was about to collide. With a massive explosion, Cinder had a slight smile as her victory was assured, "Nobody will stand in the way of me getting the power I deserve." She said as she heard the key fading away.

Neo: 300 – 1000 = 0 Life Points

However, Cinder stopped herself to turn around. As the smoke cleared, Neo and Ruby were seen without a scratch, "How?" She said with a scowl until seeing the one who stood in the way of the attack. Jaden, his arms in a blocking stance, took the shadow ball head-on. Neo looked up at the Slifer Red, her eyes widening at the damage he took. His body already weakened from the last shadow game; his breathing heavy as he struggled to stand.

"J-Jaden!?" Ruby cried in panic, "Why would you-"

"He did the same thing." Jaden prematurely answered, causing Ruby to have a look of confusion, "Winged… Kuriboh." The Slifer Red said as the light started to fade from his eyes, "…Buddy." Jaden said before his body started to fall forward, his eyes closing.

"JADEN!" Ruby screamed as she and Neo reached out for him.

At that moment, a black aura exploded from Jaden's body. It forced Ruby and Neo away, while Cinder held her ground. The Fall Shadow Rider's eyes widened as Jaden regained his stance, his eyes a cold golden glare. However, it was not the Slifer Red that Cinder was focused on, but the shadow silhouette behind him. Ruby and Neo looked to see the same silhouette, the shadow condensing into a woman with white skin, black eyes with red irises, and a look of hatred towards the Fall Shadow Rider.

My King shall not die here.

The embodiment of darkness spoke before shadows ran through the ground. They covered the entire inside of the volcano, leaving nobody the ability to escape.

Meanwhile.

A mass of students gathered outside the academy. Pushing their way through the crowd, Chazz and Alexis finally saw what the two were looking at. They both gasped in horror as a massive orb of blackness encompassed the head of the volcano. Purple lightning sparked from the outside of the sphere; waves of chaotic energy pulsated through the island. Chazz and Alexis had a look of dread in their eyes, knowing who was at the center of the enclosure of evil. With her fist clenched, Alexis ran towards the volcano. Chazz had a look of panic, then ran after her. The other students remained transfixed on the sight, not knowing what was going to happen next.

AN: There you go, Cinder verse Neo in all its destruction. I really liked showing more of Cinder's cards her. So many names of spells and traps fit her character and actions form the original series that it was funny while writing. As well, I got to show off some of my favorite ritual monsters one after the other; Garlandolf, Demise, and the return of Relinquished. Even got to sneak in some of my favorite meta cards like Tragoedia, Effect Veiler, and Archlord Krista. And Finally, I got to give Neo the Goddess of Sweet Revenge, which is basically her own theme in card form. Really liked all the cards for this duel and had a lot of fun making it, which is why this chapter got made so quickly. Next chapter, not going to spoil who duels who, but it will be intense. However, we are close to the end. Don't have many questions to answer that wouldn't be spoiler, so I will end the author note here. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.