"Go, Eagrith. Take him out." Hector said with no enthusiasm. His monster attacked and he beat another duelist. However, he didn't seem happy about it. Hector has won one duel after another, but he didn't seem happy about it. As he watch the sun began to set, he was thinking about what he was doing. "Man, beating lame duelists are usually fun. Not as much now." That's because there was one duelist he didn't beat and couldn't get out of his head. "Aw! It's all because of Houki! I can't believe I lost to her!"

"There you are!" Hector looked behind him and was met with Flint.

"You again." Hector complained.

"I've been looking for you! It's payback time for you humiliating me back on the boat!" Flint said as he held out his glove. "Check it! I already managed to get five stars! I'm halfway to entering the castle." Hector wasn't impressed as he showed the number of stars he had. "What?! You already have seven stars?!"

"Yeah. So beat it." Hector said.

"No way! I'm not going anywhere until we duel!" Flint said.

"Pathetic." Hector said under his breath. It was then that he got an idea to get a little payback. "I'll duel you, but you have to do something for me first."

...

Ichika

"Mila! Mila! Where are you?!" Ichika called out. Ichika and the others looked around for Mila, but they couldn't find her anywhere.

"Any luck?" Cecilia asked as they regrouped.

"No. That big walking bag of meat really took her back to Peggrin." Rin said. "We should have known that jerk wasn't going to keep his word. We should have kept an eye on them."

"Now what do we do?" Cecilia asked.

"We continue with the rescue mission, of course." Laura said.

"It's the same as it was before." Houki said. "They had to have taken Mila in that castle. The only way we can save her is the same way we save Chifuyu. We've got to get in that castle."

"Houki and Laura are right. It's the same plan. We just have one more we need to rescue." Charlotte said.

"Agreed." Ichika said. "Thanks to that last duel, I have a total of seven stars. I only need three more to get inside. What about you Houki?"

"I'm not doing that well. Hector is the only person I dueled." Houki said as she look at her glove. "I only have two stars. I need to find someone to duel if I'm going to get in the castle myself. I need to start dueling." Houki was all set to duel, but she looked at the ground and noticed some cards on the ground. "Look. Someone must have dropped their cards."

"Oops. Those are actually mine." Rin said as she was getting her cards.

"Wow, Rin. I didn't know you started dueling." Ichika said.

"Well, I don't have enough cards for a full deck." Rin said. "I figured if you and Houki could do it, I could too."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Houki said as she bent down to Rin's level. She took a little offense to what Rin just said. "Don't think I don't see what the real reason is." Houki moved her eyes back and forth to her and Ichika with Rin getting a little red.

"Shut up! It's none of your business as to why I want to take up dueling in the first." Rin said. "Besides, once I get a whole deck, I bet I could beat you."

"Yeah right. You're way out of your league." Houki said. The two of them glared at each other as sparks of rivalry shot between them.

"What's with them?" Ichika asked.

"I think this is just something we should stay out of." Charlotte said as the other girls could see where this was going. Ichika may not get it, but he did see one card Rin had that stood out.

"Hang on." Ichika said as he bent down and grabbed it. "Sun Swordsman Vinto? Houki, don't you have this card?"

"Let me see." Houki said as she took the card. "Actually, I've been looking for this card. It goes with another one I have." Houki pulled out her deck and showed another swordsman she had. "Mine is called Moon Swordsman Ventin. These two go together. They're stronger when they're together."

"Is now really the best time to be talking about this? Houki, you must find another duelist." Laura said. That had Houki snap back to the current situation.

"You're right. I need to find a duel." Houki said. Houki went on ahead as the others. She found a few people and was trying to figure out who she should duel next. "Let's see. Who should my next opponent be?"

"Does it really matter? Just pick some guy you can beat." Rin said.

"No. I don't just want to be given the stars. I want to earn them through a challenge." Houki said.

"I think I can help with that." All of them were surprised as they saw Hector stepped out into the open.

"Hector?" Charlotte said.

"You're still around? Let me guess. You want a rematch." Houki said.

"Not quite. I have a more fitting opponent for you." Hector said. He motioned for someone to come over and they all spotted Flint.

"That's the girl?" Flint asked.

"Yeah. That's her." Hector said.

"Flint?" Houki said. "What's going on? What's someone like him doing with you?"

"I made a deal with Flint here." Hector said. "You want a duel? You got one. I promised Flint here that if he duels you, and wins, that I would duel him."

"Huh? I don't get it. Why do you want Flint to duel Houki?" Ichika asked.

"Think of a it as a mixture of payback and a test." Hector said. "A test to see if Houki really has what it takes to play in the big leagues, and if she loses, I'll feel a little more satisfied. There's just one condition. During this duel, Ichika is not allowed to coach or give any sort of advice."

"What?!" Houki said as all of them were a little surprised by this.

"The only reason you beat me was because of Ichika." Hector said. "I know Ichika gave you that card you used to beat me. You were also losing hope until Ichika called out to you. He does and that means you forfeit and admit that you are unable to win on your own. If it weren't for that, you would have lost and you know it. You need to learn to step on your own two feet. If you think you're such a great duelist, it really shouldn't be a problem."

"Houki, I don't think this is a good idea." Cecilia said.

"Yeah. Hector's just doing this because he's petty." Rin said. "Just ignore him."

"I accept those terms." Houki said with all of them shocked at what they heard.

"Houki, what are you doing?!" Charlotte said.

"Are you certain this is a wise decision? This Flint is a great duelist himself." Laura said.

"Guys, it will be fine." Houki said. "I've got to duel powerful opponents at some point in this tournament. Might as well be right now."

"Don't be crazy." Rin said. "You don't stand a chance against this guy."

"What?" Houki said as she glared at him.

"Look, I really don't know what this is about and I don't care." Flint said. "I came here to duel. Are you in or not?"

"No way." Rin said. "Houki's not going to risk her only two stars. She's also not going to agree to not having Ichika help her out." Houki was getting so annoyed with Rin that she actually slapped her so hard that Rin was knocked off her feet. Everyone was shocked to see that. "What was that for?!"

"Why are you even answering for me? You're making it sound like I don't have a chance." Houki said. "This isn't your decision, Rin. It's mine."

"Hey, I'm just helping you out by staying in the tournament." Rin said.

"You're not helping! You think I can't win!" Houki said. "I don't need the help of some little runt with temper issues! If you don't think I can win, get lost!" Rin and Houki are getting on each others nerves. Rin just took Houki's advice as she got up.

"Fine! Don't blame me when you lose your only two stars!" Rin said as she ran off.

"Rin, wait!" Charlotte called, but Rin just kept running. "Ichika, say something. You've known both of them for years."

"Houki's brought up some good points. This is her decision." Ichika said. "Besides, I believe Houki is a great duelist. You guys don't sound like you're giving her much credit." Houki felt flattered that Ichika is on her side.

"Well? Are we going to duel or not?" Flint said.

"You're on, hotshot." Houki said. Both of them found a wide enough space for their duel as they activated their duel disks.

"Let's duel!" Both of them said as they started the duel with 4000LP.

"How about we wager all or nothing?" Houki said. "If you're so confident that you'll win, that shouldn't be a problem right."

"Fine with me. I actually like it." Flint said. "Whoever wins will have six stars. Let's get started. I'll make the first move." He took a look at his red hot cards. He was looking forward to this. Houki took a look at her cards as well with her spotting Fortune Swordsman.

'I already have Fortune Swordsman.' Houki thought. 'I better be careful. Hector probably told him all about this. It's also too much to rely on chance. I better weaken him first.'

"I think I'll start by activating Scorch Burns!" Flint said. "At the cost of 800LP, I can take one card from your hand. It will be sent to the graveyard, but don't worry. When your third turn comes to an end, it will come back." His life points dropped to 3200, but it was a price worth paying. "Let's see what's in your hand." Houki groaned, but there was nothing she could really do. Houki showed her hand and saw what he had. "Fortune Swordsman..."

'No! Not that one!' Houki thought.

"That's the card you used to beat Hector, isn't it?" Flint asked. "I think that will be good enough." Houki hated him for choosing that card, but she had to go along with it.

"Flint, you're going to pay for that." Houki said as she discarded her card.

"Relax, you'll get it back once you had three whole turns." Hector said. "As for my monster, I think I'll summon Flamvell Firedog!" He summoned a dog made out of molten rocks with him having 1900atk points. "I place one card facedown and that ends my turn."

""Flamvell"?" Laura questioned. "I'm not too familiar with that word."

"Ichika, what do you know about this?" Cecilia asked.

"I'm afraid I can't say." Ichika said. "Remember, I can't give any advice to Houki or she forfeits. She has to figure this out on her own."

"My turn!" Houki said as she drew her card. 'Okay, his monster has 1900atk points. That might be powerful, but it's nothing I can't beat.' She thought. "I'll start by summoning Hito of the Blazing Fire to the field." She summoned out a samurai with a red kimono with a fire-pattern on it with 1700atk points. "Next, I activate Fusion Sword Murasame Blade! This will increase his attack points by 800atk points." His sword changed to a different one as it fused to him and his attack points increased to 2500.

"Do you honestly think that will save you?" Flint said.

"What do you mean?" Houki said as she was keeping her guard up.

"You're about to see." Flint said. "I activate my Hypnotic Fire! This trap increases the attack points of one fire monster by 500 while dropping one of your monsters by the same amount." His dog's attack points increase to 2400 and Houki's monster lost power as it dropped to 2000. "There's more. Your force to attack with that monster."

"She has to attack?" Cecilia said.

"Not good. Houki's in real trouble." Charlotte said.

"I guess I have no choice. Hito, attack!" Houki said as his swordsman went on the offense, but Flint's Firedog unleashed some fire and blasted Houki's swordsman as her life points drop to 3600.

"I'm afraid there's more." Flint said. "When Firedog deals damage, I can summon another Flamvell monster with 200 or less defense points. I think I'll summon Neo Flamvell Sabre!" He summoned out his monster with it holding flaming swords and had 1500atk points. "Now, his special ability activates! Since you have four or less cards in your graveyard, he gains 600atk points." His monster's attack points rose to 2100.

"Two monsters with over two-thousand attack points?!" Charlotte said.

"An attack from both of them and Houki's finished." Laura said.

"Ha. I knew she didn't had what it takes." Hector said.

"Don't think you won yet." Houki said as she placed a face-down.

"I think I already have, loser!" Flint said as he drew his next card. "Sick her, my Firedog!" His dog pounced as it breathed fire at Houki and her life points dropped to a mere 1200. "This duel is over! Neo Flamvell Sabre, your turn!"

"I don't think so!" Houki said. "I activate Shield of Passion!" A barrier came around Houki and blocked the attack.

"Hey! What happened?!" Flint said.

"My trap can only work when I have less than 2000LP. It prevents any monster with over 2000atk points to attack me directly." Houki said. "Goes to show you that stronger isn't always better."

"Good. She's hold on." Laura said.

"But for how much longer?" Cecilia questioned. Ichika can't do anything to help, but maybe someone else can. She just needs to be here.

"You two keep an eye on her. I'm going to go get something." Ichika said as he ran off.

"Ichika, where are you going?!" Charlotte said, but Ichika kept going. Hector saw him run off and smirked.

'Ha. Even her own friends have given up on her.' Hector thought. 'I knew she couldn't be a threat without Ichika to hold her hand. This duel will be over before he gets back.' Houki's holding her own, but she might not be able to for much longer.

'This girl will be done for soon enough.' Flint thought. 'If she only knew what I had planned for her.' Something in Flint's deck is waiting to be let out and it will set this duel ablaze.

To Be Continued...