Here we are with Chapter 18. I completely forgot to give you guys the title of the next chapter in the preview before. I'm sorry, I was just so tired when I submitted the chapter and I had to get ready for work the next day. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter so let's get to it.

Chapter 18: The Curse of Revenge

Satisfaction Town

Gongenzaka had his eyes closed as he had his monsters facing Kiryu's Infernity Death Dragon.

"I'm Dark Tuning my Level 1 Superheavy Samurai Soulpeacemaker with my Level 9 Dark Tuner, Superheavy Commander Oro-Chi!" Oro-Chi disappeared and became nine stars and entered Soulpeacemaker's body and one of the stars consumed Soulpeacemaker's one star and emerging was eight dark stars.

"Let's see how you do?" Kiryu though.

Gongenzaka felt power surging through him as he closed his eyes. He then opened them and prepared to finish the Dark Synchro, only to find himself on a battlefield and all around him where his fallen comrades. Their Duel Disks were broken, their cards were burned and their faces were frozen.

"Wh-What is this?" Gongenzaka couldn't believe what he saw. He looked at his friends before finding Yuya. Gongenzaka wanted to check if there was a pulse and reached his hand down.

Suddenly, Yuya grabbed Gongenzaka's hand tight and looked at him with no life in his eyes. "You…could've…saved us." Yuya gasped out his last breath before dying.

"Why help him?" Gongenzaka turned around and he saw himself but with darkness in his eyes. "You resent him, don't you?"

"Who are you?" Gongenzaka asked.

"Are you blind? It is I, the real man Gongenzaka." Dark Gongenzaka answered.

"No, you're not! I'm the man, Gongenzaka!" Gongenzaka countered.

"A real man is honest with his emotions and doesn't build a wall to hid his insecurities." Dark Gongenzaka said. "In your heart, you resent Yuya for being able to evolve his Dueling continuously, while you remain at a standstill."

"And it's not just Yuya. Sawatari has mastered Pendulum, Fusion and Synchro. Even your other friend Yuzu has mastered Pendulum, Fusion and Ritual. Out of all the Duelists from the Standard Dimension, you're the only one that hasn't mastered a single summon method."

"You're wrong! I've mastered Synchro Summon!" Gongenzaka argued. "It's because I've mastered it that I'm learning Dark Synchro!"

"Mastered? You?" Dark Gongenzaka laughed. "You're Synchro…IS A JOKE!" Dark Gongenzaka in an instant grabbed Gongenzaka by his neck and slammed him into the ground. "Admit it. You're weak! You're useless!"

"Stop…it…" Gongenzaka struggled to get free as Dark Gongenzaka was starting to choke the life out of him.

"You know it's true…because you are me!" Dark Gongenzaka grinned.

"Stop…" Gongenzaka's vision started to go blank.

Kiryu saw Gongenzaka losing color in his skin. "I activate my Trap Card: Infernity Overload! When I have zero cards in my hand and my opponent attempt to Special Summon a monster from the Extra Deck, by banishing a Infernity monster in my Graveyard, I can negate the summon!" The Trap Card fired a beam at the Dark Synchro stars and both of Gongenzaka's monsters returned to their original state and Gongenzaka got the color back from his skin.

Gongenzaka gasped for breath as he fell to his knees. Kiryu forced the Duel to be cancelled and approached Gongenzaka. "What did you see?"

"I saw…my friends dead…and…my dark side." Gongenzaka panted. "He…He tried to kill me."

"Dark Synchro awakens the darkness sleeping within a person's heart. It will try to take over you and prey on your weakness." Kiryu answered.

"How do I overcome it?" Gongenzaka asked.

"It's not about overcoming, it's about accepting." Kiryu shook his head. "That's enough for today. Come on, we missed part of the Duel, but your friends are in the lead. Though I don't know for how long."

"What do you mean?" Gongenzaka asked.

"I've had multiple Duelists come here to learn Dark Synchro, but most of them failed and died. The ones who have actually succeeded had a common goal in mind." Kiryu answered.

"Common goal?" Gongenzaka asked.

"Yes, a goal far different from yours. Instead of wanting to use Dark Synchro to protect what matters to them, they mastered Dark Synchro for the purpose of…" Kiryu said. "…well, rather than me explaining it, let us go and watch the Duel." Kiryu walked away and Gongenzaka followed.

Duel Palace – Team Guardians vs Team Paris

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, the second match of the A-Block between Team Guardians and Team Paris is heating up. Serena has successfully defeated Team Paris's First Wheeler, Mizoguchi." The crowd cheered and chanted Serena's name.

"Even though its was Mizoguchi's turn when he was defeated, according to the rules of the Friendship Cup, the next Wheeler, Misty Lola, gets to make the next turn!" Melissa explained.

"Bring it on! I plan on winning no matter what!" Serena declared as she turned to Misty, who rode next to her.

"Honest and straightforward." Misty commented. "In that case, I'll have to go with Plan A."

"Plan A?" Serena questioned.

"Let's begin!" Misty sped up.

"Duel!" Serena and Misty declared.

"My turn! Draw!" Misty drew her card.

Misty LP: 4000, Hand: 6, SC: 2→3
Field: Continuous Trap: Master and Servant's Resolve. 2 set cards. (From Mizoguchi)

Serena LP: 1600, Hand: 1, SC: 2→3
Field: Moonlight Cat Dancer (ATK: 2400, LV: 7)

"Master and Servant's Resolve gives me the option to take 1000 points of damage or destroy this card. I choose to destroy it!" Misty destroyed Mizoguchi's Trap Card.

"I set this monster in Defense Position!" Misty set a monster to the field. "I set one card and end my turn!"

"A Level 1 monster with 0 Defense Points…that's not even decent defense." Serena looked back.

"My turn! Draw!" Serena drew her card.

Misty LP: 4000, Hand: 4, SC: 3→4
Serena LP: 1600, Hand: 2, SC: 3→4

"Yes!" Serena smiled at the card she drew. "I use a Speed Counter to activate the Magic Card: Miracle Moonlight Contact! This card allows me to perform a Contact Fusion by returning the Fusion Materials from my field, hand or Graveyard to my Deck!"

Serena SC: 4→3

"Contact Fusion?" Misty questioned.

"I return the Moonlight Blue Cat in my hand, the Moonlight Purple Butterfly in my Graveyard and my Moonlight Cat Dancer on the field back to my deck!"

"The beautiful beast dancing in the moonlight! Butterfly that wields violet poison! Blue cat that prowls through the darkness! Spiral into the moon's gravity and become a new power! Contact Fusion! Come forth! Come to me! Majestic creature blessed with the power of the moon! Level 8! Moonlight Dancer Dragon (ATK: 2800, LV: 8)!" Serena summoned her dragon.

"Alright, since I used at least one Fusion Monster as material, my opponent cannot destroy Moonlight Dancer Dragon by card effects!" Serena thought. "Battle! I attack the set monster with Moonlight Dancer Dragon! Crescent Beam Blast!" Moonlight Dancer Dragon fired a breath attack as the monster flipped face up to reveal a small tiny reptile monster.

Reptiless Naja (DEF: 0, LV: 1)

The attack connected but the monster remained on the field. "What? Why wasn't it destroyed?!" Serena asked.

"Reptiless Naja's effect! This card cannot be destroyed in battle. And at the end of the Battle Phase, the monster that battles this card has its Attack Points reduce to 0!" Misty revealed. Moonlight Dancer Dragon got really weak.

Moonlight Dancer Dragon (ATK: 2800→0)

"No way…" Serena was shocked that her monster was reduced to a weak state.

"I can't believe she weakened Serena's dragon so easily." Dennis said.

"If Misty summons a monster with 1600 Attack Points and destroys Moonlight Dancer Dragon, it's over." Aki said.

"There's nothing more I can do now." Serena lowered her head. "I end my turn."

"My turn! Draw!" Misty drew her card.

Misty LP: 4000, Hand: 5, SC: 4→5
Serena LP: 1600, Hand: 0, SC: 3→4

"You did well on defeat Mizoguchi. But this is the end." Misty showed a card in her hand. "This card cannot be Normal Summoned or set. It can only be Special Summoned by releasing 2 monsters with 0 Attack Points anywhere on the field!"

"Wait, anywhere?!" Sawatari exclaimed.

"I release Reptiless Naja on my field and your Moonlight Dancer Dragon! Come forth! Reptiless Vasuki (ATK: 2600, LV: 8)!" Misty summoned a white skinned woman with four arms and the body of a reptile.

"2600 Attack Points! If she attacks me!" Serena gritted her teeth.

"I activate Dimension Highway's effect!" Misty shouted.

"What?" Serena was shocked.

"By removing 4 Speed Counters, for each Magic Card in my hand, I can inflict 800 points of damage to my opponent! I have two, therefore I can inflict 1600 points of damage!" Misty revealed her cards.

Misty SC: 5→1

"But that's…" Serena was surprised Misty would defeat her this way.

"I knew from the beginning that you would try to defeat me as soon as possible. And you would want to do that by defeating me in a head on battle. That's why I decided to set Reptiless Naja on the first turn." Misty revealed. "It was written all over your face."

"You saw all that…through my face." Serena was stumped.

Misty did a 180 turn and rode backwards. "This is the end." Misty's D-Wheel released a blast at Serena and she cried in pain.

Serena LP: 1600→0

"And Misty has defeated Team Guardian's First Wheeler! Not only was she able to use her opponent's monster to summon a powerful monster, but she was able to use Dimension Highway's effect to land the finishing blow!" Melissa shouted and the crowd cheered.

Serena stopped at the pit. "She totally saw right through me." She ripped the sticker off her arm. "That woman is not normal."

Rio took the sticker and placed it on her arm. "Don't worry, I'll put a stop to her." Rio revved up her D-Wheel and took off.

"And now it's Team Guardian's Second Wheeler, Rio Kamishiro!" Melissa announced.

"I've been looking forward to facing you." Misty looked back at Rio. "Now I can see how much potential you have."

"Be careful what you wish for. I'm gonna put you on ice." Rio narrowed her eyes.

"Duel!" Rio and Misty declared.

"My turn! Draw!" Rio drew her card.

Misty LP: 4000, Hand: 4, SC: 1→2
Rio LP: 4000, Hand: 6, SC: 4→5

"I summon Blizzard Falcon (ATK: 1500, LV: 4)!" Rio summoned her falcon that created a small blizzard.

"Next, I activate the Speed Spell: Speed Energy! When I have two or more Speed Counters, one monster on my field gains 200 Attack Points for each Speed Counter I have until the End Phase! I have 5 Speed Counters, therefore, Blizzard Falcon gains 200 Attack Points!"

Blizzard Falcon (ATK: 1500→2500)

"So close." Ruri moaned.

"If she had one more Speed Counter." Shun said.

"No, it's fine." Jonouchi said.

"Blizzard Falcon's effect! If this card's Attack Points are higher than its original, I can inflict the difference as damage!" Rio pointed at Misty and Blizzard Falcon unleashed a Blizzard that hit Misty.

Misty LP: 4000→3000

Rio grabbed another card in her hand. "When I successfully deal effect damage, I can Special Summon this monster! Blizzard Infernobird (ATK: 1400, LV: 4)!" Rio summoned a winged beast that had red armor and orange wings.

"This is my power! I Overlay my Level 4 Blizzard Falcon and Blizzard Infernobird!" Both monsters turned into blue lights and entered the spacelike portal in front of Rio.

"Beast with wings of ice! Appear before us and freeze the flames of war! Xyz Summon! Come forth! Rank 4! Sub-Zero Bird Beast Sylphine (ATK: 2000, RNK: 4, OVU: 2)!" Rio summoned an ice winged beast that flew beside her.

"Rio has performed an Xyz Summon, but it's weaker than Misty's Reptiless Vasuki. What are you planning, Rio?" Melissa wondered.

"I activate the effect of Blizzard Infernobird that was used as Xyz Material! When this monster is used to Xyz Summon a Winged-Beast type monster, it destroys all Magic and Trap cards on the opponent's field and for each one destroyed, it decreases one monster's Attack Points on the opponent's field by 300!" Rio revealed.

"What?" Misty's eyes widened.

The Overlay Unit that was Blizzard Infernobird destroyed all of Misty's Magic and Trap Cards, including the ones left by Mizoguchi. "Three cards were destroyed! Therefore, Reptiless Vasuki loses 900 Attack Points.

Vasuki (ATK: 2600→1700)

"Battle! Sylphine, attack Reptiless Vasuki! Ice Ray!" Sylphine unleashed shards of ice that pierced Vasuki and destroyed it and damaging Misty.

Misty LP: 3000→2700

"And just like that, Rio has taken control of the Duel!" Melissa announced. "You see that boys? Girls are just as good Duelists than boys."

"I set one card and end my turn!" Rio finished her turn.

"I see. So, these are the skills you obtained on the battlefield." Misty said. "The skills that you were forced to obtain to survive."

"Let me guess, you saw it in my face." Rio narrowed her eyes.

"Specifically, your eyes." Misty answered. "Your eyes…they are the same as mine. You desire the same thing that I want. You want your brother back." This surprised Rio. "Your brother gave you strength, you were able to be a great Duelist thanks to him. I know that because my brother did the same to me."

"Your brother?" Rio asked.

"My little brother, Toby. He had special powers. The same powers as your teammates, Aki Izayoi and Yuya Sakaki." Misty revealed. "But unlike those who want to use their power to hurt others, he wanted to make a difference. He wanted to find a way to use his Psychic powers to change this competitive society."

"I wanted to tell him not to fight the system, but when I looked into his eyes, I could see his conviction. It made me want to believe that he can make a difference. I wanted to entrust the future to my little brother." Misty said. "But…"

"But…" Rio repeated.

"My turn! Draw!" Misty drew her card.

Misty LP: 2700, Hand: 5, SC: 2→3
Rio LP: 4000, Hand: 2, SC: 5→6

"I use a Speed Counter to activate the Magic Card: Curse of Revenge!" Misty played a Magic Card.

Misty SC: 3→2

Misty was engulfed in an orb of darkness and it spread out towards Rio and the other Guardians.

"What's going on?" Rio got scared before the darkness consumed her.

"Brace yourselves!" Crow warned the others as the darkness consumed the others.

High Council Building

The scene changed to the Council Building where a lot of people gathered around. It was a mixture of Tops and Commons.

"The Council Building." Rin saw the building.

"Oh no…" Aki said. "I remember this day."

"Aki." Yuya looked at her with concern.

A Security transport vehicle pulled up to the Council Building and officers opened the back and a younger Aki in prison chains walked out.

"Die, Witch!"

"We don't want your kind!"

"Shut up, Izayoi is a hero!"

"This is an abuse of power!"

The was divided upon supporting Aki or hating her. Most of the ones who were supporting her were the Commons, of course while the Tops despised her for what her father tried to do to them.

"I hope you rot away, like this tomato!" A Top threw a rotten tomato at Aki and it hit her in the face. Pretty soon, most of the Tops started throwing stuff at Aki.

"You jerks!"

"Hey, Security! Do something!"

The Commons protested but Security didn't do anything to protect Aki, they just allowed the Tops to continue tormenting her.

"Stop it!" A small boy with long brown hair stood in front of Aki. "She did nothing wrong; she was just trying to help!"

"Toby, get back here!" Misty tried to get through the crowd but they wouldn't let her pass.

"Stay out of this brat!" A Common shouted.

"That witch deserves to die!" A Top declared.

"Please, get out of the way." Aki said. "I don't want to involve you in my problems."

"But you're like me! I have powers like you!" Toby showed his Psychic powers and it healed Aki of her wounds, surprising her.

"That kid is like the witch!"

"We have to stop him!"

The Tops started to panic.

"Everyone, calm down!" An officer tried to diffuse the situation.

"Hey, kid. You need to leave." Another officer warned Toby.

"Hey, why aren't you arresting that kid?!" A Tops got angry.

"He didn't break any law, plus, he's a Top." The first officer answered.

"It doesn't matter! They're a Psychic Duelists! If you won't get rid of him, I will!" The Tops took the officer's taser gun.

"Hey, stop!" The officer called out.

"Toby!" Misty cried.

"First the Witch!" The Tops aimed the taser at Aki and pulled the trigger.

"No!" Toby jumped in front of Aki and took the full taser and he cried in pain as the taser shocked his body and he hit the ground. This made all the Guardians gasp.

"Damn it!" The Tops cursed.

"That's enough!" Roget appeared.

"Hey, are you okay?" Aki went to Toby and put her ear to his chest. Her eyes widened as she didn't hear a heartbeat. "There's no heartbeat! Somebody call an ambulance!" Aki cried out.

"Toby!" Misty finally got through and knelt down to her brother. "Toby! Toby!"

"We need an ambulance at the Council Building now!" An officer called emergency services.

"Get the Witch inside." Roget ordered the other officer.

"Y-Yes sir." The officer nodded and picked Aki up. "Come on, you'll be safe inside."

"But what about the boy?" Aki asked.

"It's out of our hands." The officer sadly stated.

Neo Domino Hospital

The scene then changed to a hospital where Misty sat outside the operation room, waiting to see if her brother would be okay. The operating room light turned off and a doctor and two nurses came out.

"Toby! Is Toby okay?!" Misty asked the doctor.

The two nurses lowered their heads. "The shock from the taser was too much for his body to handle. You should say your goodbye to him." The doctor sadly admitted.

Misty covered her mouth as tears fell down her cheeks. She walked into the operating room where Toby was already covered in a white sheet. She removed the sheet to see her brother one more time before crying by his bedside.

"My little brother was everything to me." Misty said. "My very reason for living was now gone."

"I'm so sorry." Aki apologized. "Because of me…"

"No, Aki Izayoi, you are not to be blamed. The one that should be blamed is…" Misty's eyes became cold when the scene changed once more.

Sector Security Headquarters

"Why?!" Misty slammed her hands on Roget's desk. "Why is that man still walking free?! He's a murderer!"

"That man is an important member to our society. It is thanks to him that we are able to create the new state of the art D-Wheels." Roget answered.

"I don't care about D-Wheels! I don't care about Duel Monsters! That man killed my brother! You saw it! It's your duty as Director to stop anyone who threatens the law of Neo Domino City!" Misty shouted.

"It is true that he broke the law by taking a life. But, by taking that boy's life, he has saved the society of Neo Domino." Roget said.

"What did you say?" Misty got angrier.

"Neo Domino has been able to become a successful city thanks to our class system of Tops and Commons. Your little brother's actions in defending the Black Rose Witch would've disrupted that system. It's a shame that you've lost your brother, but I must think of the greater good of the others." Roget said.

"You…you bastard!" Misty reached out to grab Roget only for her to be pulled back by Ushio and Mikage.

"That's enough. The Director has spoken." Ushio said.

"Escort Miss Lola out will you." Roget ordered.

"Yes sir." Mikage nodded and both her and Ushio dragged Misty away.

"Roget! I won't forgive you! I won't stop until Toby is avenged! I will kill you!" Misty threatened as she was taken away.

Duel Palace – Team Guardians vs Team Paris

The Guardians and Misty returned to where they originally where with everyone, except Misty were shocked by what they just saw. "She's also after revenge." Shun said.

"But can you blame her." Crow was angry at Roget before but now he was furious.

"The reason I entered the Friendship Cup with Team Paris is so we can get our revenge on the man who allowed tragedies to happen to us!" Misty said. "What about you? Did you join the Guardians to get revenge as well?"

"I…" Rio uttered.

"Curse of Revenge's effect! By banishing two monsters from my hand, I can Special Summon a Dark Tuner from my deck!" Misty revealed.

"Dark Tuner?!" Crow gasped.

"Come forth! Dark Tuner, Reptiless Cobra (ATK: 2000, LV: 10)!" A female reptile with the body of a basilisk appeared.

"Next, I summon Reptiless Nyaminy (ATK: 200, LV: 2)!" Misty summoned another reptile monster that also had the characteristics of a cat.

"I'm Dark Tuning my Level 2 Nyaminy with my Level 10 Reptiless Cobra!" Reptiless Cobra became ten stars and entered the body of Nyaminy, making her scream in pain as her two stars appeared and disappeared along with two of Cobra's stars and eight dark stars appeared in a circle.

"Being that can kill with just a stare. Appear before us and quell my thirst for vengeance! Dark Synchro! Come forth! Dark Synchro Monster! Reptiless Basilisk (ATK: 3500, LV: -8)!" Misty brought out a female basilisk.

"Wh-What is this?! Dark Synchro?! I've never heard of this!" Melissa was shocked.

"It has a negative level." Bruno researched that monster.

"Rio." Jonouchi looked at Rio with concern.

"Battle! Reptiless Basilisk, attack Sylphine! Death Stare!" Reptiless Basilisk leaned towards Sylphine and just looked at Sylphine and Sylphine just dropped to the ground and was destroyed and Rio took damage.

Rio LP 4000→2500

"Next, I activate Reptiless Basilisk's effect! When this card destroys a monster in battle, it destroys all Magic and Trap cards on the opponent's field and for each one destroyed, it deals 800 points of damage!" Misty revealed.

"What?!" Rio gasped.

Basilisk swung its big tail and it destroyed Rio's set card and hit the side of Rio's D-Wheel, causing her to spin out of control. Rio tried her best to steady the D-Wheel but it hit a crack on the track, making Rio lose her grip and to fall of the D-Wheel and crash to the ground.

Rio LP: 2500→1700

"Oh no! Rio Kamishiro has crashed!" Melissa shouted.

"Damn it!" Jonouchi punched the table in anger.

"Rio…" Asuka got concerned for Rio.

Yuya got out of his chair and ran towards the track. "Yuya." Rua saw him leave.

"Rio!" Yuya was about to enter the track

"Don't come closer!" Rio shouted, making Yuya stop. "The rules say if you help a D-Wheeler during the race, we'll be disqualified!" Rio's visor had a crack and she was bleeding from her head. "I'm…I'm not done yet! I'm not losing here!" Rio got back to her feet and went to her D-Wheel and started it up again.

"Oh my! Rio is back on her feet despite crashing and is gonna continue the Duel!" Melissa commentated and the audience cheered.

"You can do it, Rio!"

"Don't give up!"

Rio started speeding down the track before wincing and held her right shoulder. "I need to at least…win this Duel…not just for myself, for everyone here, for everyone who was defeated by Academia and…for Ryoga…" She recalled her brother's last words before he was never seen again.

"Rio…you must live…not for revenge…but to…" Ryoga's words echoed in her head.

"Live to protect everyone's future!" Rio shouted as she sped up.

"So, you're still gonna Duel." Misty looked back. "I set one card and end my turn!"

"Misty! I also wanted revenge against Academia! They took everything away from me and I wanted them to suffer! But even after I defeated some soldiers, I didn't feel better. I just felt worse. Even if you succeed in your revenge, you won't be satisfied! You'll just be trapped in a never-ending cycle!" Rio said.

"Shut up! You can say that because you have the chance to save your brother! Mine is gone forever!" Misty unleashed a wave of darkness that shattered the glass walls along the track, scaring some of the audience.

"It's no good. My words can't reach her." Rio thought. "That monster…I have to defeat it." Rio put her fingers on her deck. "My turn! Draw!" Rio drew her card.

Misty LP: 2700, Hand: 0, SC: 3→4
Rio LP: 1700, Hand: 3, SC: 6→7

"Basilisk's effect activates! During my opponent's Draw Phase, they must reveal the card that they drew! Now show me!" Misty ordered. Rio showed her card and it was a Monster Card.

"Since you drew a monster card, you take 300 points of damage times the monster's Level! Double Fin Shark is Level 4, so you take 1200 points of damage!" Basilisk spat venom at Rio, further damaging her.

Rio LP: 1700→500

"I activate Dimension Highway's effect! By removing 7 Speed Counters, I draw one card!" Rio drew another card.

Rio SC: 7→0

Rio saw the card and her eyes widened. "Ryoga…give me power."

"I summon Double Fin Shark (ATK: 1000, LV: 4)!" Rio summoned a shark with double fins. "When I control a Water-type monster, I Special Summon Silent Angler (ATK: 800, LV: 4) from my hand!" Rio summoned an angler to the field.

"Double Fin Shark can count as two materials when used for an Xyz Summon! I Overlay my Level 4 Silent Angler and Double Fin Shark!" Double Fin Shark turned into two blue orbs while Silent Angler became one blue orb and they flew into the spacelike portal.

"The most powerful ruler of the deep sea! Your sharp fangs shall exterminate everything! Xyz Summon! Come forth! My brother's ace! Marine Biting Dragon - Shark Drake (ATK: 2800, RNK: 4, OVU: 2)!" Rio summoned a large dragon like sea serpent.

"Pathetic, my Basilisk is stronger than your Shark Drake! It's weak, just like your brother!" Misty insulted.

"That Dark Synchro Monster is messing with your head, Misty! Do you think Toby would want you to be like this?" Rio asked. "I'll be straight with you! Toby would hate what you have become!"

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Misty's darkness got thicker.

"I'm breaking you from that curse of revenge!" Rio looked at Shark Drake. "Shark Drake, please…give me power!" Shark Drake roared and Rio became encased in purple aura. The Xyz portal appeared once more and Shark Drake entered it.

"With the power of Chaos within our hearts, evolve into a power to wash away the tides of darkness! Chaos Xyz Change! Come forth! Marine Biting Dragon - Shark Drake Veiss (ATK: 2800, RNK: 4, OVU: 3)!" Shark Drake appeared once more but was now much more powerful.

"She can also Chaos Xyz Change!" Ruri was surprised.

"So, what? It's still weaker than Basilisk!" Misty shouted.

"When I have 1000 Life Points or less, I can use Shark Drake Veiss's effect! By using one Overlay Unit, I can banish one monster in my Graveyard and one monster on the opponent's field has its Attack Points reduced to 0 until the End Phase!" Rio revealed.

"What?!" Misty gasped.

"I banish Sub-Zero Bird Beast Sylphine!" Sylphine appeared from the Graveyard and it charged towards Basilisk and froze it in place.

Basilisk (ATK: 3500→0)

"Impossible! My Dark Synchro Monster is supposed to be the ultimate tool for revenge! For it to be reduced to this!" Misty shouted.

"I don't want to hurt you, Misty! But if it means stopping you from continuing on the path of revenge, then for Toby's memory of his kind sister, I'll defeat you! Battle! Shark Drake Veiss, attack Reptiless Basilisk! Depth Chaos Bite!" Shark Drake Veiss unleashed multiple rays of purple light that pierced through Basilisk's frozen body and shattered it and making Misty scream in pain.

Misty LP: 2700→0

"It's over! Rio Kamishiro has pulled a come from behind victory despite her condition! According to the rules, the turn enters the End Phase!" Melissa shouted and the audience cheered.

"Alright!" Rua cheered.

"Rio won!" Jonouchi smiled.

"Even though I'm out, my revenge won't stop! I activate the Continuous Trap: Parseltongue! When a Reptile monster is destroyed in battle, I can Special Summon it during the End Phase! Revive! Reptiless Basilisk!" Misty's Dark Synchro Monster came back.

"And then, my opponent takes damage equal to the revived monster's Attack Points!" Misty revealed. "You won't stop my revenge!"

"Maybe I can't…but we can!" Rio declared. "From my Graveyard, I activate the Trap Card: Chaos-Rank-Up Exchange! By releasing one Chaos Xyz Monster on my field, I can negate the summoning of a monster and destroy it!"

"What?!" Misty gasped.

"As long as that monster is on the field, you'll be consumed by revenge. I have to stop you, even if it means sacrificing my brother's monster!" Shark Drake Veiss disappeared and Basilisk returned to the Graveyard. With Basilisk gone, Misty's darkness disappeared.

"Alright!" Ruri smiled. "She defeated Basilisk!"

"As expected from a member of the Resistance." Shun nodded.

Rio slowed down and rode along with Misty. "Why? Why won't you let me get my revenge?"

"Misty…I'm sorry for what happened. I really am. But can you honestly say that this is what Toby would want?" Rio asked. "Just think back one more time. Think of Toby's last words."

"Toby's last words…" Misty muttered and she closed her eyes.

Neo Domino Hospital

Misty cried next to her brother's bedside. "S-Sister…" Toby gasped out.

"Toby!" Misty looked at her brother.

"It seems…this is the end for me." Toby said weakly.

"Don't worry, Toby. I won't let them get away with this. I'll get revenge on all of them!" Misty promised.

"Thank you, Sister. But it's okay." Toby smiled.

"What are you talking about? Because of them, you're…" Misty was confused.

"I was able to help one person. I was able to use my powers to help someone. That's all I ever wanted to do." Toby smiled. "It might not mean much but maybe someday; my act will make a difference." The light in Toby's eyes disappeared and he passed away.

Duel Palace – Team Guardians vs Team Paris

"Toby…your act…" Misty looked at the Guardians pit where Aki was.

Rio winced as she held her shoulder. "I'm at my limit. Chaos-Rank Up Exchange also allows me to set one Rank-Up Magic card from my deck to the field." Rio grabbed a Rank-Up card from her deck and set it on the field as she turned into her team's pit.

"Rio makes a pit stop with 500 Life Points left! Is she okay?" Melissa wondered.

Rio stopped her D-Wheel as the others approached her. She removed her helmet as there was still blood coming down her face. "Sorry I couldn't stay until the end." Rio apologized. "But you probably expected it from the weakest school in Heartland."

"I would never think that from a comrade." Shun said. "I'm honored to fight alongside you."

Rio smiled and removed the team sticker and her card. "Hope this helps you out."

"It will." Shun took the sticker and put it on his arm and Rio's card. He went to his D-Wheel and put on his helmet. "I'm going!" Shun sped down the track.

"Team Guardians switches to their Last Wheeler, Shun Kurosaki! According to the rules, if you pass the baton when you still have Life Points left, you forfeit those Life Points! Therefore, Shun starts with 4000 Life Points!" Melissa explained.

Misty arrived back at her team's pit and removed her helmet. "Are you okay? Miss Lola?" Mizoguchi asked.

"Sherry…" Misty looked at Sherry, who was on her D-Wheel. "I still can't forgive Roget or the Tops for what happened. But…is this what our families would want from us?"

Sherry ripped the tag off Misty's arm and put it on her arm. "We're in too deep to back out. I won't be in peace until I have Roget's head." Sherry took off.

"And now we're down to the last match between Team Guardians and Team Paris! It's Shun Kurosaki vs Sherry Leblanc!" Melissa commented.

"I'm winning this Duel, no matter what methods I have to use!" Sherry declared as she looked at her hand.

"I can't let you stay on this path!" Shun answered back.

"Duel!" Shun and Sherry declared.

And that's the end of Chapter 18. What did you all think of the Duel? I decided to give Rio some of Shark's cards since she didn't really have a lot of cards shown in Zexal, but I will include some original cards for her as well.

Let me know what you think of the chapter in the reviews and if you have questions, feel free to drop a private message and I'll answer as soon as I can.

Preview: Shun and Sherry begin their Duel and Sherry preys on Shun's vulnerabilities, hoping that his anger will cause him to lose focus. Will Shun be able to save Sherry from the path of revenge or will he be sucked back in and lose himself to his demons? The Preliminaries will finally reach a conclusion and with it, the curtain will rise on revolution.

Next Time: The Falcon vs The Chevalier