AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. So, changing the last chapter's outcome had me snowball a bit of the planning for this series, but I think that result will be a lot better. The duels here would have been a lot less tense in the old version, but now, this is one of the deadlier duels I have written. I really like the bits of lore at the start, as well as the way the duel ends. Also, from the last chapter, the only thing that has happened is Bastion just sent an emergency text to all his friends about the Cinder knowledge, but not a call yet. 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 57 – The Red-Eyes Black Dragon
Mercury continued down the path with his hands in his pockets, then stopped as someone what in his path. It was the affluent Obelisk Blue with his arms crossed, "Hey, we meet at the party, what's up." He asked Chazz.
"Save it, you're already caught." Chazz said as he held his communication device, "Bastion just let us know that your pal Emerald knows Cinder." He said before putting the device away, "So, why don't you tell me what you know about her as well."
"I'm sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about," Mercury spoke.
"Maybe you'll be chattier in a duel?" Chazz said as he readied his duel disk.
"Maybe, but I think I want to wait a bit." Mercury responded, "My partner is almost here."
"Partner?" Chazz asked, "No, you duel The Chazz, right no-" he said as Mercury stomped his right leg, causing a blast of wind to erupt from his ankle. The wind mixed with dirt on the path to making a dust cloud. The dark shadow rider fled in the smoke as Chazz coughed, "Hey, get back here!"
Meanwhile.
Atticus walked through the woods with his right hand on his head, "Why has my head been killing me since yesterday?" he said before looking around, "I hope it doesn't stay when I run into my first duelist." The endearing Obelisk Blue then smiled through the pain, "But if I find myself against a cute girl, I'll make sure to put on a good face."
Suddenly, a voice spoke to him, "The weak always have to act strong." Atticus turned to the voice, gasping in horror at who it was, "But that will not change who they really are." Adam spoke with a grin, "You were always pathetic, Atticus."
"Adam how are you-" Atticus asked before getting cut off.
"Alive?" Adam said before chuckling, "Hehehehe, I guess you could say I'm visiting for a short while." He said before snaring through his white mask, "But this time, I plan to stay." He then took out a black and red duel disk.
"You indeed to duel me," Atticus said as he took out his duel disk and deck.
"You? Why would I waste my time?" Adam responded, "I have a long list of people I wish to get even with; Zane, Blake, that Slifer Red." He said with the last one having a bit of rage behind his voice, but he then smiled, "I would even duel your sister before you. In fact, she could be my new darling if I wanted her to be."
"You stay away from Alexis!" Atticus said with his eyes filling with hate, but he then held his head in pain, "Gah, what is going on?" He said before falling to his eyes, holding his skull with both hands.
"Poor Atticus, did you forget? Well, let me remind you." Adam said as he walked over, drawing one card from his deck, "When Cinder promised us power in form of two masks, there was a white and black one. I took the white and wanted Blake to wear the black one, but you had to insist on taking it from here." He said as Atticus saw the card, seeing the image of a mask like Adam's, but black with light blue eyes and a red gem in the forehead, "When you lost, that mask was sealed in this card." Adam said as he held his white mask, starting to remove it, "But when I lost, mine was temporarily destroyed, and it left its mark on my face." He said as his left eye was revealed to be branded shut, but he still smiled, "I know, it's hideous, but plan to make the one who gave it to me look much worse." The Branded Shadow Rider said before holding up the black mask card, "In the meantime, why don't you be useful." Adam said as the card radiated a deeper black aura, "And return to Darkness!"
"AAAAAAAAAAA!" Atticus screamed as his voice echoed throughout the woods.
A distance away, Alexis gasped as she knew the scream, "Atticus!?" she said before running off into the woods towards the noise. Eventually, she made it to a small clearing with a person in a dark rob on his knees. From the back, she saw his hair was a match for his brother. However, as he stood up and turned around, his face was covered by the black mask. Alexis gasped as the person who was once her brother smirked. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother!?" Alexis demanded before her mind flashed back. It was during the first night of their rolls as keyholders. While Ruby was dueling Cinder, Jaden was dueling Atticus possessed by darkness. At that moment, she recalled the name of this person, "You're Nightshroud, you should have been gone!"
"Well, I'm back." Nightshroud said before readying his duel disk, "And it's been such a long time since we last dueled, Sis." He said as Alexis readied her duel disk as well. Before they could start their match, Mercury emerged from the woods, "Who are you?"
"Mercury, your new partner." The dark shadow rider said with a smile, "Cinder told me I should find you so we could take down twice the foes at half the effort." He said as Chazz emerged from the woods as well, "After all, we do share a similar core monster."
"Heh, very well," Nightshroud said as Mercury smirked, readying his duel disk.
"Chazz, my brother is possessed again." Alexis informed him, "I need your help to bring him back to his senses. Please, can-"
"You don't even have to ask," Chazz said as he readied his duel disk, "I'll be your partner anytime."
"Thank you," Alexis said with a smile as she had a look of focus on her opponents.
"Duel!" All four said as the tag shadow duel had begun.
Alexis and Chazz: 4000 Life Points
Nightshroud and Mercury: 4000 Life Points
"I'll make the first move." Alexis said as she drew, "I summon Cyber Gymnast in defense mode and set one card." She said as a blond buff ballerina took a knelt on her side of the field, (800 ATK / 1800 DEF).
"My turn then," Nightshroud said as he drew, "I summon Black Dragon's Chick attack mode." He said as a red egg appeared with a small black dragon breaking out, (800 ATK / 500 DEF). "Now, I tribute him with its effect to summon out Red-Eyes Black Dragon from my hand." He said as the baby dragon faded, being replaced with the massive black dragon, roaring as its wings flapped with the ashes of a volcano, (2400 ATK / 2000 DEF). "And I'm still not done, I can tribute Red-Eyes Black Dragon for Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon!" Nightshroud said as he played a new card, causing the black dragon to be encompassed by shadows. Its body drew darker with red stones erupting on its legs and wings. The darkness dragon's roar pulsated with a black wave over the area, (2400 ATK / 2000 DEF). "And with its effect, it gains 300 attack points for each dragon in my graveyard." He said as the two other dragons added to the darkness, (2400 + (300 X 2) = 3000 ATK). "Now, attack with Black Inferno Fire Blast!" Nightshroud said as the darkness dragon unleashed a ball of dark flames into Cyber Gymnast, incinerating her. "I set one card to end my turn."
"The Chazz is up next," He said as he drew, "And I'm going to knock some sense into you, I play the spell Armed Dragon Flash. This lets me special summon Armed Dragon LV3 from my deck in defense mode." He said as the orange boxer dragon appeared on his field in a blocking stance, (1200 ATK / 900 DEF). "Now, I can tribute him for Armed Dragon Thunder LV5!" the affluent Obelisk Blue said as his monster faded before a larger redder dragon was seen, (2400 ATK / 1700 DEF).
"Heh, LV dragons, those are too slow." Mercury said before realizing something, "Wait, did you say Thunder?"
"I did, and these versions of the Armed Dragons have lightning speed." Chazz said as he sent a card from his hand to the graveyard, "You see, I can send Armed Dragon Thunder LV3 from my hand to the grave to level up Armed Dragon Thunder LV5 to LV7." Chazz said as his dragon grew with a sharper red tone, (2800 ATK / 1000 DEF). "And since LV3 went to the grave, I can draw a card. But I'm not stopping at LV7. I can send another monster from my hand to the grave for Armed Dragon Thunder LV7 to become LV10!" he said as his dragon grew even larger, expanding yellow wings that crackled with the thunder he radiated, (3000 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"You monster only matches Darkness's attack," Nightshroud pointed out, "One more dragon in my grave and all your setup won't matter."
"Except the next dragon in your grave will be your Darkness Dragon." Chazz said before pointing, "Let me break down Thunder LV10's effects he gains based on his attack value when summoned the way I just did. 1 or more means its name become Armed Dragon LV 10. 10 or more means control of this monster cannot be switched. 100 or more means he cannot be destroyed by battle." He said before pointing at Darkness Dragon, "And 1000 or more means I can discard a card to destroy one monster you control." He said before Darkness Dragon exploded, "And what's more, Thunder LV10 gains 1000 more attack points." He said as the ultimate armed dragon became charged with more power, (3000 + 1000 = 4000 ATK).
"GAAAAHHHH!" Nightshroud said as the darkness escaped from his body.
"Wow Chazz, you're amazing," Alexis said with a smile.
"T-thanks," Chazz said while blushing, then pointed, "Let's end this quickly, Armed Dragon Thunder LV10, attack directly with High Voltage Havoc Clash!" he said as his monster's right arm radiated greenish thunder before it reeled back for a one-hit knockout punch.
"Not so face, I have a face down." Nightshroud revealed, "I reveal Red-Eyes Spirit, allowing me to summon out Red-Eyes Black Dragon back to the field in defense mode." He said as the black dragon appeared again, (2400 ATK / 2000 DEF). However, it was then struck by the thunder punch before exploding. "And from my hand, I activate Red-Eyes Retro Dragon's effect. Special Summoning it and my Red-Eyes Black Dragon back to the field in defense mode." Suddenly, a machine with a clock on it appeared on the field. As the hatch opened, the Black Dragon emerged again, (2400 ATK / 2000 DEF). Next to it was a smaller redder dragon also in defense mode, (1700 ATK / 1600 DEF).
"Tsk," Chazz said as he took the last two cards in his hand, "I set these and end my turn."
"Then I guess I go now," Mercury said as he drew, grinning at the card, "Let me show you a real thunderstorm. I tribute Black Dragon to summon Red-Eyes Archfiend of Lightning." He said as a dark demon appeared with black wings and orangish electricity sparking from its body, (2500 ATK / 1200 DEF). "As well, I can use Retro Dragon's effect. By tributing it, I can summon my Archfiend of Lightning again."
"Summon again, so it's a Gemini monster," Chazz commented.
"Correct, but I will wait on the effect right now." Mercury said as he took a spell out of his hand, "Now I'll play Red-Eyes Insight, allowing me to send The Black Stone of Legend from my hand to the graveyard to add a Red-Eyes spell to my hand." He said before taking two cards out of the graveyard, "I'll now use The Black Stone of Legend's effect to add it to my hand and Red-Eyes Retro Dragon to my deck."
"Hey, that's my brother's card!" Alexis shouted.
"Doesn't matter, what's his is mind in this duel." Mercury said as he continued his turn, taking four cards out as he played a spell, "Now, I play Red-Eyes Transmigration. A ritual spell offering my level one Black Stone of Legend and level seven Red-Eyes Black Flare Dragon for Lord of Red!" he said before a pillar of flames emerged on the field, inside was a man a Red-Eyes Black Dragon Armor set, but his face was unable to be made out, (2400 ATK / 2100 DEF). The dark pro duelist then looked back to his first summoned monster, "I use Archfiend of Lightning effect. Allow me to destroy all your monster with less defense than its attack." He said as the orangish lightning erupted from the Archfiend's body, colliding with the greenish lighting of Armed Dragon Thunder LV10.
"I was prepared for that, so I play my trap card, Ojama Pajama!" Chazz spoke.
"The hell did you just say?" Mercury asked as he looked at the card art of the three Ojama brothers having a sleepover.
"When I discarded for Armed Dragon Thunder LV7, I discard Ojama Yellow." Chazz said as he showed the card, "And by banishing him, I can save my Armed Dragon."
"Yay, I'm helping!" Ojama Yellow as a duel spirit.
"You sure?" Mercury responded as his ritual monster jumped into the air, "Since an effect was activated, I can have Lord of Red destroy one monster you control." He said before his monster dive kicked Armed Dragon Thunder LV10 in the head, causing Chazz's monster to explode. "Now I can attack you directly for over 4000 points of damage between both monsters."
"Not so fast, I had two set cards." Chazz responded, revealing the other one, "I activate Call of the Haunted, allow me to bring back Armed Dragon-" he said before Lord of Red rushed in and kicked the trap card, causing it to explode, "What?"
"Remember, Lord of Red can use his effect after another effect has been activated." Mercury spoke, "One time he can destroy a monster, and another he can destroy as spell or trap." He said as Chazz was out of cards to play, "Your just in the wrong league." The dark pro duelist said as both his monster rushed in for the final move.
"Don't forget about my facedown card," Alexis spoke, "I activate Scapegoats, giving us four sheep tokens in defense mode." She said as four small blissful goats appeared, (0 ATK / 0 DEF). However, the attacks continued as two of the four tokens were destroyed.
"Well, I guess that's all I attack for now." Mercury said as he took the last card in his hand, "I set one and end my turn."
"Thanks Alexis," Chazz said as he tried to catch his breath.
"No problem, leave these monsters to me." Alexis said to be focused, "I draw," She said while looking at the card, then playing it, "I summon Cyber Egg Angel." She said as a magical egg with a ball of light at its core and green wings was seen, (200 ATK / 300 DEF). "And with its effect, I can add a Machine Angel spell to my hand."
"Since an effect was activated, Lord of Red can destroy a spell or trap," Mercury said as he pointed, "So get rid of that stupid Ojama Pajama." He said as his ritual monster rushed in and kicked the sleepover card.
"Fine, but I activate the card I just added, Machine Angel Ritual," Alexis said as she played the spell.
"I thought so, which is my I saved this effect for monster destruction now," Mercury said as he pointed, "I will destroy your egg, which means you can't use it for your ritual." He said as Lord of Red kicked the egg to pieces, "Now your spell will fail at the end of the chain."
"I don't think so," Chazz spoke, "You destroyed Ojama Pajama, which lets me summon back Ojama Yellow to the field in defense mode." He said as the yellow Ojama brother appeared, (0 ATK / 1000 DEF).
"I'm back baby!" Ojama Yellow said as he went into a blocking stance.
"Tsk," Mercury scoffed.
"How's that Alexis?" Chazz asked with a smile, "You can now use him to sum-"
"I offer my two sheep tokens and level six Cyber Prima," Alexis said as she continued her turn.
"Oh," Chazz commented, "I forgot you can use those for ritual summons."
"With eight levels, I can form Cyber Angel Izana!" Alexis said as alter formed with her monster leaping in. The flames erupted with a blue-skinned woman with four arms, wielding a spear and ax, (2500 ATK / 2600 DEF). "When she is summoned, you have to send on spell or trap to the graveyard." She said as Mercury send his set Soul Strike, "And now, I use the spell card, Majestic Machine Angel. By tributing a machine angel in my hand, I can give an attack boost to my Izana equal to that monster's level times 200. And I send Natasha to the graveyard." She said as the level five monster was sent, giving Izana a yellow aura, (2500 + (200 X 5) = 3500 ATK). "Attack with Asura Assault!" the lovely Obelisk Blue's lancer ritual monster rushed Archfiend of Lightning, stabbing it in the chest before it exploded, "And when Izana destroys a monster, she can attack a second time," Alexis said as Izana pulled out her lance before rushing Lord of Red. The Red-Eyes ritual tried to dive kick again, but his leg was caught by Izana's free hand. She then slashed the leg with her ax before the attack with her lance again to the chest. Lord of Red exploded as Mercury and Nightshroud took the damage.
Nightshroud and Mercury: 4000 – 1000 -1100 = 1900 Life Points
"I end my turn," Alexis said as she had no cards in hand. As Izana returned to her side, the aura faded. (3500 – 1000 = 2500 ATK).
"I draw," Nightshroud said as the card radiated a dark aura, "First, I use The Black Stone of Legends effect to add to my hand by also returning Red-Eyes Black Flare Dragon to my Deck." He said before playing the card he added, "I summon The Black Stone of Legend." He said as the dark rock appeared with a red glow to it.
"But you can't use its other effect this turn," Alexis commented as the monster vanished, causing her to gasp.
"I know, but I can banish it summon out my ace monster!" Nightshroud said as a pillar of shadows erupted from the ground behind him, "Come forth, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon!" he said as the darkness dragon was seen, but its black scales were a metallic silver color, (2800 ATK / 2400 DEF). "And with this monster, I can special summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon from the graveyard." The dark shadow rider said as the black dragon returned, (2400 ATK / 2000 DEF). "Now, both of you attack with Inferno Fire Blast and Molten Flare Buster!" he said as both his dragons breathed fire. Izana was overwhelmed by the flames before exploding, then Ojama Yellow screamed before being melted into goop.
Alexis and Chazz: 4000 – 300 =3700 Life Points
"I end with one card face down," Nightshroud concluded.
"Not bad," Mercury commented, "But, you could have put your own red-eyes and put it back in your deck instead of my Flare Dragon." He said before scowling, "You aren't holding back, are you?"
"Hey, it's my turn," Chazz said as he drew, however, the card caused a line of sweat to run down his face, "This can't help us now, but we don't have any time." He thought before realizing something, "Wait, in Alexis had Machine Angel Ritual in the grave, she could have protected Izana since it was a light monster." Chazz then gasped, "Unless, she wanted it destroyed." he then looked to Alexis, who turned to him with a single nod, "I see, you really are one of the smartest people I know."
Suddenly, Ojama Yellow's duel spirit appeared next to Chazz, his body covered in burn marks, "Hey, how come she didn't use that card to save me?"
"Even I would not have wasted that card on the likes of you," Chazz said as Ojama Yellow sulked, fading back to heal.
"I use Natasha's effect from the graveyard." Chazz said as Alexis smiled, "With it, I can special summon her to the field by removing one ritual monster and targeting your Darkness Metal Dragon." He said as Alexis took Izana out of her graveyard, "Now, Natasha is special summoned in defense mode, and we take your Darkness Metal!" the affluent Obelisk Blue said as the Cyber Angel centaur appeared, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). As well, Darkness Metal Dragon vanished from Nightshroud's side and appeared on Chazz's side of the field.
"GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Nightshroud said as the darkness more leaked from his body, as he had a staggering stance, his voice changed, "Alex…is."
"Atticus!" Alexis called out, "It's me, I'm right here!"
"My…Mind…is…GAAAAAHHHHH!" Atticus screamed as Nightshroud started to take over again.
"We have to end this now," Chazz said, "I can now use Darkness Metal's effect to bring back my Armed Dragon Thunder LV10 from the graveyard." He said as the ultimate armed dragon appeared in a massive bolt of green lighting, (3000 ATK / 2000 DEF). "With these two attacks, your life points will be hitting zero," Chazz said as both dragons charged in.
"GAAAAAHHHH!" Nightshroud said before revealing his facedown card, "I active Negate Attack, stopping the battle phase." He said as all dragons were unable to continue their attacks.
"Tsk, I use Natasha's other effect to gain half the attack points of Thunder LV10's attack points as life points," Chazz said as Cyber Angel centaur created a healing aura over the area.
Alexis and Chazz: 3700 + 1500 = 5200 Life Points
I end with one card face down." Chazz said before looking to Mercury, who was just smiling with his arms crossed, "How are you so lax right now? You see your partner suffering and don't even care?"
"Why should I?" Mercury responded, "In the end, nothing outside of what I want matters to me." He said before he drew, "I don't really care if the world ends, so long as I get to just do whatever I want during the end. I play Pot of Greed, getting two more cards."
"You," Alexis scowled, "You don't have any motivation at all, do you?"
"Heh, that's what my father used to tell me." Mercury said before scowling, "And I hated him for thinking he could control my life." He said before holding one of the cards he drew with a sinister smile, "I'll do whatever I want, whenever I want, for the sole reason that I want to do it. And right now, I play Red-Eyes Fusion! By using a generic level six fiend from my deck and this worthless Red-Eyes Black Dragon on the field." He said as both monsters fused in a vortex behind him, "I fusion summon Archfiend Black Skull Dragon!" the dark pro duelist said as a red demonic dragon appeared with flames engulfing its shoulders, (3200 ATK / 2500 DEF). "Now, attack Thunder LV 10." He said as Chazz tried to respond, but was unable to, "Also, Archfiend Black Skull Dragon prevents you from activating card effects. Go, destroyed him with Cremation Crusher!" the dark pro duelist said as the demonic dragon rushed the ultimate armed dragon, crashing into it with a massive explosion. As the dust settled, only Archfiend Black Skull Dragon remained.
Alexis and Chazz: 5200 – 200 = 5000 Life Points
"Now for his other effect," Mercury said as a card ejected from his graveyard, "Since battle damage was calculated, I can return one Red-Eyes normal monster from my graveyard back to my deck, to burn you for its attack points as damage. And my Gemini monsters count as normal in the graveyard." He said while holding Red-Eyes Archerfield of Lighting.
Chazz and Alexis then gasped before the demonic dragon blasted the two with an inferno fire blast, "AAAAAAAHHHH!" They screamed as they were thrown back in the blast wave, their life points cut in half.
Alexis and Chazz: 5000 – 2500 = 2500 Life Points
"I'll set this and end." Mercury said while doing so, then looked over to Nightshroud, whose eyes focused on the fire, "What's wrong, don't go getting your conscious back now."
"Alex…is," Nightshroud said as Atticus tried to regain control.
"It's my…Turn!" Alexis said as she pushed herself up, but her vision blurry as she tried to focus, "I use Darkness Metal's effect to bring back Chazz's Thunder LV10." She said as the ultimate armed dragon appeared again. However, it began to sink to the ground, "What!?"
"Bottomless Trap Hole," Mercury said, "With it, your powerful Dragon is sent to the beyond." He said as Thunder LV10 was banished from the field.
"No," Alexis said as she looked at the card in her hand in dread, "I'm sorry Chazz, this might be the end." She said as she turned to the affluent Obelisk Blue, "I only have one idea left."
"Whatever it is, I trust you," Chazz said with a nod.
Alexis nodded back, "I use Natasha effect to gain life points equal to half of Darkness Metal's attack points." She said as the Cyber Angel centaur glowed in the yellow light, "Now, Red-Eyes Darkness Metal will crash into your monster to end my turn!"
"Eh?" Chazz said as the two dragons breathed fire, but the demonic ones were vastly stronger and meted the metal monster.
Alexis and Chazz: 2500 + 1400 – 400 = 3500 Life Points
"Ha, you've lost your mind." Mercury commented as he ejected the original Red-Eyes Black Dragon, "I can return this back to my deck to burn you for another chunk of damage." He said as Archfiend Black Skull Dragon's flame scorched Chazz and Alexis again.
Alexis and Chazz: 3500 – 2400 = 1100 Life Points
Chazz struggled to push himself up, but then noticed Alexis was unconscious, "Alexis!" he said as he went over to her, seeing her eyelids barely twitch, "Alexis!"
"It looks like your partner is not able to continue." Mercury commented, "Good thing she ended her turn, or else you would have lost due to being unable to continue." He said as Chazz glared at him, but both looked to Nightshroud, "So, why don't you end this already."
"You…Bastard!" Nightshroud said as the dark aura faded from his body, "I'll never…forgive you!"
"He's fighting back more?" Chazz commented before realizing what Alexis's plan was, "The more Darkness is destroyed or leaves his possessed, the more Atticus gains back his mind."
"GAAAAAAAHHHH!" Atticus screamed before drawing as Nightshroud, "I attack Natasha with Archfiend Black Skull Dragon incinerating the Cyber Angel centaur, "GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Nightshroud screamed as Atticus regained control for a moment, "Chazz, you need to…destroy… the dragon…I set one card…and end!" Atticus said before setting the card he drew, then fell to one knee.
"That's all your advice?" Mercury commented, "This guy has nothing that can beat my Archfiend Black Skull Dragon." He said before Chazz drew, seeing him smirk, "What, get another one of those ugly Ojama cards?"
"No, but it is something I can use to Chazz things up a bit." The affluent Obelisk Blue said as he took two cards out of his graveyard, "I remove my Armed Dragon Thunder LV3 and LV7." He said before playing the card he drew, "To summon Armed Dragon LV10 White!" he said as the ultimate armed dragon reformed, but its body was a pure white color with a glimmering veil of mist around it, (3000 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"Too bad your math is off," Mercury commented, "How will that dragon beat mine?" He said before seeing the set card Chazz had his last turn, "Oh crap."
"That's right, I reveal Armed Dragon Thunderbolt! White now gains 1000 attack points for each Armed Dragon in my graveyard, and I still have Armed Dragon LV3 and Thunder LV5" Chazz responded, causing the white armed dragon to gain two bolts of electricity in each arm, (3000 + 2000 = 5000 ATK). "You won't take any battle damage from this attack, but your Archfiend Black Skull Dragon is done for. Go, attack with Pale Powerhouse Shockwave!" He said as the white armed dragon unleashed a beam of white electricity from its mouth. The demonic dragon responded in kind with a black flame, causing a struggle in the middle of the area. However, the beam of electricity won out and collided with Archfiend Black Skull Dragon's chest, making it crack the exoskeleton.
"Wow, you beat my dragon," Mercury responded, "Too bad you still lose. All I need to do is pass and your partner will not be able to do anything. You're fin-" he said before seeing Archfiend Black Skull Dragon's body cracking more with a red light breaking out, "What's going on?" the dark pro duelist said before looking over the place, then saw the trap card active on his field, "You! What did you do!?"
"Hehe, Red-Eyes Burn." Atticus spoke as he had on hand on the black mask over his face, "If a Red-Eyes monster is destroyed, I can make the all duelist take burn damage equal to its attack." He said before tossing and ripping the mask off with an eruption of dark energy, "GAAAHHHHH!" Atticus screamed as the darkness left his body, the mask returning to a card he tossed away, "It's a good thing your Red-Eyes Fusion changed the name of the monster into Red-Eyes Black Dragon. I couldn't have done it without you, partner."
"You Bastard, I'll-" Mercury said as he walked up to punch Atticus, but was stopped by a white veil, "What?"
"Armed Dragon LV10 White does one more thing for us this duel." Chazz called out as he and Alexis were shielded in the veil as well, "We take no effect damage."
Mercury gasped as he looked back to his Archfiend Black Skull Dragon's body cracking more and more. The dark pro duelist started to run away before his monster detonated, resulting in an explosion that covered the whole area, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Mercury screamed as he was overwhelmed by the flames.
Nightshroud and Mercury: 1900 – 3200 = 0 Life Points
Engulfed in the inferno as well as the card of the black mask, burning it to cinders along with the darkness.
A short while later.
"Uh…" Alexis's eyes twitched open as she saw her brother smiling down at her, "Atticus." Alexis spoke with tears in her eyes.
"It's okay, we're still together," Atticus said before hugging his sister. Alexis cried as she hugged her brother back. at the same time, she saw Chazz looking on with a smile. She nodded to him, nodding the words thank you.
Chazz nodded back before turning to the three Ojama duel spirits flying towards him, "Did you find Mercury?" he asked with all three solemnly shaking their head. Chazz sighed as he looked over the scorched area, wondering what happened to their opponent.
A short distance away, Mercury crawled through the woods. His body burnt and his clothes charred. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him, "My, you took quite a beating." Yuri spoke with his hands behind his back, then looked to Mercury's legs, "And with those injuries, you will not be walking for a long time."
"I know, so help me already!" Mercury shouted.
"Okay," Yuri said as he took out his duel disk, "I'll make the pain go away." He said as a blinding purple flash filled the area.
Mercury slowly opened his eyes from the flash, then looked down realizing he felt lighter, "Aaaaaa…" Mercury gasped, his eyes widened in horror as his legs were gone at the knees, leaving only an energy trail with no blood loss, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he screamed as Yuri looked at the card in his hand.
"I was curious if it could separate a soul into multiple cards like the pieces of Exodia." Yuri commented with a smile, "Thank you for your help."
"Damn psychopath, give me my legs back!" Mercury shouted louder and he gritted his thighs, "AAAAAAAA!"
"Do you know why I did this," Yuri asked as he knelt to look Mercury in his trembling eyes with a smile, "I ran into that white masked fellow, and he told me this duel was going on. So, I thought I would watch, but then I overheard your little comment. Tell me, who cares about what you want?" The sadistic Obelisk Blue then had a wide smile on his face. "When what I want matters so much more." He said as a second violet flash filled the area.
AN: There you go, I know I said no more tag duels, but I think this one gave a powerful reason to include a few more. Chazz and Alexis managed to take down the duo of Red-Eyes Black Dragon users of Mercury and Nightshroud. Before that, Adam shows his branded like her was in the show, but without the stupid letters. I also give an origin to why he wears the white mask here to parallel the darkness mask Atticus had. Like I also said a long time ago, the Nightshroud verse Jaden duel did happen in this continuity in the shadow riders arc, but off-screen with the only change being that Alexis watched it instead. Now, he shows up and plays his Darkness Dragons, including Darkness Metal Dragon as one of my favorite dragons because of how it played when I used him at locals, (Of all cards I was glad they changed from the anime, this monster would have sucked if they kept its original effect). Chazz busted out his Armed Dragon Thunders and White, while Alexis got to bring out Izana as well. And Mercury got to play more of his Red-Eyes monsters, even busting out an over 3K beater with burn damage. I really wanted him to play Meteor Black Comet Dragon, since that is a dragon that's dive-kicking, but it is far less intimidating to the duel state than Black Skull was. Now, we are ten duelists down, because Atticus is still out despite the persona of him losing. To clarify one thing, he can still duel but cannot win the tournament, only knock other players if he wins a duel. This is more to understand some things that happen later in this series for calcification. Finally, I am not sure which is more horrifying now, the way Yang lost her arm here or having Mercury lose his legs this way. Then again, Yuri does know how to make any action feel sadistic. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
Now, time to answer some questions. Mikanko seems like a cool new archetype, and I played Okami, so I do have an idea of all the future card names for that deck. And Purery is too early to tell for me, but that one monster looks like Fou from Fate Grand Order. Also, I do want to talk about something that may come up, which is why Yang didn't play Red-Eyes cards. They are a good fit for her theme of high burn damage and aggressive combos. As well as her red-eyes trait being a thing she does here. There is even a lot of fan art of her using Alterative as an ace. However, when I started, I didn't want to give anyone in the main cast such an iconic ace like that. I wanted Yang to have more of an identity as her own duelist here, not a female Joey knockoff, (I do have a way to give her Red-Eyes cards in a different series I am writing, but not in this one). Still, maybe I should have had a duel with Atticus and Yang during the lighter times of this series, but what's done is done. Need to move forward and get ready for the next duel. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter.
