D'Sceptre Inc. here again, creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! ASPECT and Desire of the Duelist (oh but you know that, you're reading it right now!) which has more twists and turns than a Bubble Tape taste-tester in a DMV line.

This chapter is brought to you both by moi and my good friend and part-time co-writer, DeviArt's AugustHenry. Give him a look-see when you can okay he's a marvel at cardmaking I swear.

D'ShamelessPlugger, over and out! Enjoy!

DYSTOPIA OF DESIRE/?/?

The Aspect leader was now stationed in an unlit seven-by-seventeen-meter surveillance room. In front of her were three large circular mirrors, their magicalized glass reflecting the scenes from different Duels in progress instead of her reflections. Although the mirrors' brightness was at their lowest, their light was still enough to illuminate her face as she studied them intensely, her back to the door.

"Ugh. This room is so drab," moaned a figure she recognized immediately. Behind her stood her familiar its eyes nothing but shapes of white. "The last room was bigger and so much nicer too-I'll take it over this anyday."

"This is better for me," the Aspect leader answered without turning to face her. "The last room was too big. I didn't like the way it felt."

"What does that even mean?"

"Drafty. Cold. Lonely."

The figure took a moment before answering. "You know, you can find out a lot about a person by how they describe their accommodations."

"Are you implying that I'm drafty, cold and lonely?"

"Well, not now that you've figured it out for yourself," answered the figure in a downplayed smart-aleck tone. The Aspect leader made a face at that but still didn't turn around. "I don't need all that space," she explained. "I don't want it. There are too many echoes in there."

"Put some carpet down."

"There's not enough carpet in the world for a room like that," the salt-and-pepper-haired girl said with growing irritation. "This is more comfortable. It's quieter and calmer. Cozier," she amended herself. "The brightness in that room hurt my eyes. There's less of it in here."

"Oh yes, plenty of shade," quipped the figure. The Aspect leader had had enough. "Why haven't you left yet?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Take it easy," said the figure in a tone implying it didn't have to be in the room if it didn't want to. "I'll go. We can travel to different times if we want to, so there's no need to have a set time to leave. I was actually going to tell you I was leaving sooner, but..." The entity squinted at the monitor. "Okay, switching subjects-are all three of these going on at the same time?"

"Yes."

"No way…" the figure moved forward to get a better look, revealing a woman's silhouette. The woman then noticed a number on each monitor. From right to left, she read, "Two, three, four…"

"What're you doing?"

"I'm reading the numbers on each of the monitors. Why're they there?"

"It helps me keep track of the different timelines. The one on the right is where I'm from, and from there the middle and left ones take place in the future from the perspective of the right one."

"Okay, so… where's number one?"

The Aspect leader froze. "What?"

"Number one; these are two through four. Since there's three monitors here it'd make more sense to number them from one to three, but since you're not the type to make mistakes I figured there had to be a one."

"There's no one."

"So then you do make mistakes."

"No, I don't," insisted the Aspect leader. The woman was slightly taken aback. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"No, not nothing. You're here by yourself in this drab room staring at these screens numbered from two to four telling me there isn't a one. I'd be fine with it if it were something else, but you're planning on exterminating these people. What's up with that?"

"I'm not exterminating them!" insisted the Aspect leader. The woman gave her a look that told her she wasn't leaving until her question was answered. "Fine. You win, Ehris. C'mere."

The spirit moved closer as commanded. "You see these people here?" the Aspect leader indicated three boys, one in each monitor – Jaden on the right, Yusei in the middle and Yuma on the left. "The one on the left is an idiot in possession of powerful cards that can possess people. See that glowing blue-white guy next to him?"

"Yeah…"

"Well he's from another world," the Aspect leader went on as she fingered her gauntlet to bring up another screen – one showing the war between Astral and Barian World. "One that's was once at war with another world, using Earth as a battlefield."

"Wow."

"I know, and what's worse is that that Astral – that's the name of the blue-white guy – doesn't even seem to care that much about the fact that this war his world's fought endangers the lives of everyone on Earth. And still might! And he's using an idiot who doesn't understand the potential danger of the cards he's wielding as a proxy!"

"Oh my God."

"Right?" The Aspect leader then pressed a key and brought up tabs on Shark, Kite and Mizar. "These three are all connected to that Yuma kid – the one with the Number cards – and they're even worse than he is. See the one with the purple shirt?"

"Yeah."

"He's Shark Kastle. Tidus claims he caused the disappearance of his friend Luna. After doing some digging, I came up empty on that lead, but I found out where Tidus got the idea; Shark's one of seven different emperors of Barian World, the world at war with Astral's world." The Aspect leader then brought up Kite and Mizar's. "These two are just as bad, according to Percy. They're rivals, but the one called Mizar is another one of the Barian Emperors, and Kite's apparently carded a load of Duelists in the Number hunts he still has yet to answer for."

"So what you're saying is, they're all a danger to Earth or in the running to be."

The Aspect leader nodded, then motioned to the screen featuring Yusei. "This one's not as bad as Yuma, but according to Evy and Save he's a whole new level of suck." She pressed a button on her gauntlet and the schematics for the Ener-D system filled the screen. "She told me that in the future he works on a system that will one day cause the end of the world as we know it." She paused for a moment. "Then there's what his friends did to Save and Evy, especially that red-haired Psychic girl…"

"Goodness gracious, they're with him?"

"Uh-huh. And I'm not even done," said the Aspect leader, pressing the button again to banish the screen before pointing to Jaden's face. "This guy's the worst of them all, Ehris. You know that war you told me about? The one that forced you to abandon your home for shelter? The reason you're cooped up in this Dystopia? He's the one who started it!"

Ehris's eyes narrowed at Jaden's image on the monitor before looking back at the Aspect leader. "That only explains two through four," she pointed out. "That doesn't answer my question about one."

"I told you already, there's no 'one,'" said the Aspect leader bitterly.

"Your tone says otherwise."

"There's no 'one!'" snapped the Aspect leader, startling Ehris. A second passed as the Aspect leader regained her composure.

"Sorry for snapping, it's just…they're bad people, Ehris. They present themselves to those who don't know as something otherwise – as heroes – who fight the good fight for others' sakes. But there's an underside to each and every one of them that contradicts who they claim to be. Not that they're liars, mind you. Well, 'cept for Jaden; he's a liar, but the other two simply don't realize the harm they'll cause."

"If that's the case, how do you know they're bad people?" asked Ehris.

The Aspect leader stared coldly into her eyes. "Evil seldom recognizes its face in the mirror," she said quietly. "That's why I need you to go to Jaden's timeline, Ehris. I need you and Ceren there to bring him down. Okay?"

"Okay," said Ehris. Then she paused. "So many fights on so many fronts, though. You could have made each realm easier to scope out if you did it one by one. Why this all-out assault?"

Had the Aspect boss not literally seen her Duel Spirit mouth the words in front of her, focused as she was on keeping on her feet from the various Duels she had paid visits to, she'd never believed that Ehris said them. "Because… well, that is a rather big oversight on my part," the salt-and-pepper-haired Duelist admitted. "Gold star! But really, it's to see how each of them fares in their own environment – overwhelming everyone won't be necessary when they take the mantles by proof of skill."

"Would make getting and keeping the mantles easier on them though." muttered the Duel Spirit.

"Wish-casting now, Ehris? Especially considering what happened to your world-"

One cursory look at her Duel Spirit's face and the boss knew she had gone too far. "-will never. EVER. Happen to another. And the second I get eyes on the Duel Monster that ruined it, I'll ruin them." Ehris's voice barely came across as a hiss, but her meaning was crystal clear.

"In time, friend," the Aspect boss finally focused in on the Duel occurring in Duel Academy's forest clearing. "Now, however, feel like ensuring the fall of the Supreme King?"

"That's him?"

"Still is, in all but armor."

"Fine by me." With that, she turned and left the room. As the door closed behind Ehris, the Aspect leader turned around and sighed. She got out of her chair, went to a nearby closet, took out a small box and pulled out a poster, sighing sadly at it. Heroes aren't real, thought the Aspect leader bitterly as Ehris made her way to the portal. They're all horrible people underneath – and the ones that are at least halfway decent are frauds.

As Ehris walked through the hallway, a nagging thought about the monitor numbers on her mind, the Aspect leader rolled up the poster and put it away next to a black leather tank top before taking out two things – a shoddy homemade pendant covered in gold paint, and a picture of herself with a young man next to her. The smile of the young Aspect leader in the photo was overjoyed, unable to believe who she was standing with, and her hands held up an identical pendant to the one beside her present-day self. You're a bad liar, Akaine, Ehris thought, before stepping into the portal. I could tell from your face. There is definitely a 'one.'

HERO TIMELINE/DUEL ACADEMY 9:01 PM

Jaden felt how fast his heart was beating as he faced down his opponent, Ceren. It occurred to him that in his haste he'd forgotten to ask about Chazz and Alexis. "Before we begin," he said, "I want to know where my friends are."

"They're fine," Ceren assured him. "Unlike you, I don't kill innocent people." Jaden felt a pang of guilt at that. "But they didn't do anything to you!" he retorted. "If this is about me and what I did, that I can understand. But Chazz and Alexis did nothing to you, so leave them be!"

"Epically failing to hold the line against people who would see worlds ruined for their greed and vanity is reason enough for me," answered Ceren. "Doing nothing to stop evil's advance is just as bad as advancing it. Really though, it's my fault for not taking action sooner."

"Knocking out two of my friends and using your monsters to terrorize Blair is something you wanted to do sooner?!" Jaden voice hit a tempo between a shriek and a roar as his brown eyes lit up halfway in their transition to gold and green.

"That's a nice way to spin it," countered Ceren, "But keeping members of the apocalypse-threatening Shadow Riders and the Society of Light off this island should be something every Duelist should be jumping to do – especially considering how ineffectual to this world they are otherwise. Dueling for fun and profit while scum use their craft to destroy lives within arm's reach? I'd laugh if that joke of a situation was just limited to this oversized dump."

"Wait…you're not just gonna stop with this Academy?" Jaden blinked in surprise.

"Wannabe templars like him never do," Yubel answered.

"Wannabe templars can still hear you," retorted Ceren as he saw Blair coming. 'Oh yeah,' he realized. 'As for her…'

With a sinister beep, a bandolier ringed itself around his waist. Before Jaden could respond, a small metallic sphere was at Blair's feet in a flash, enveloping her in a red mist. As Jaden looked back at her, Blair's body collapsed in a heap. "Knockout gas?"

Ceren nodded. "I'm not too inclined to have it spread over here, for it's as long-lasting as it is fast-working. I can multitask for you, though, since we're on a tight schedule." He drew for the first turn. "I Summon 'Paraidux Patrol – Napalm Nathan' in Attack Mode!"

An ornately-style gunslinger with bullets to spare appeared on his side of the field [FIRE/Warrior/Level 4/ATK 1800/DEF 500]. "Next I'll activate the Continuous Spell Card 'Paraidux Patrol Raid'!" As the card itself appeared on his field, he went on, "When this card's activated, I can banish Equip Spells with different names from my Deck up to the number of cards in my hand. Then, by paying five hundred Life Points, I can Normal Summon one additional Paraidux monster whose Level is equal to or less than the number of different names amongst the cards I banished. So since I have five cards in my hand, I'll banish Paraidux Arms RK-Five Infinity Launcher, Paraidux Arms RK-Three Gold Standard, Paraidux Arms RK-Three Blank Slate and Paraidux Arms RK-Two Silver Perforator!"

"You said a mouthful," quipped Jaden sardonically.

"Hardy-har. Now I'll pay five hundred Life Points to Normal Summon my 'Paraidux Patrol – Thiefspotter Lana' in Defense Mode!" As Ceren pressed some buttons on his Duel Disk, the black-coated gunslinger appeared on his field in a flash of fire. (LP 4000 - 3500.) "And next I'll activate Nathan's effect! Up to twice a turn on my first Main Phase, I can banish a Paraidux card from my hand to deal you six hundred damage!" He took two cards from his hand and put them in his pocket as his monster drew its large gun. "So I'll banish two Paraidux cards to deal you twelve hundred with his Nitro Burst!"

As he spoke, the gunslinger pulled the trigger once, then twice. Jaden cried out in pain as the two shots physically struck his midsection [Jaden's LP 4000 - 2800]. Grimacing, he placed a hand over his midsection. That hurt, he thought. Then it struck him. Wait. That HURT.

"Not as much as he hoped they would," came Yubel's voice in his head. "Remember, no one's killing you while I'm around. I've reduced the pain and the damage you would've felt by absorbing it into myself."

Wow, thanks, Jaden replied, But doesn't that hurt? I mean, it can't be pleasant.

To his surprise, Yubel shrugged it off. "This is nothing to me. Compared to the brunt of the Light of Destruction and how awful that was, the pain from getting shot is like being pinched by a crab." On a more serious note, she added, "But even if it did mean facing that level of pain again, I'd do it again in a heartbeat if that's what it would take to keep you alive."

Jaden said nothing, feeling awestruck as the full weight of what Yubel was implying hit him. Thank you, he said again. That's… much more than I ever would've asked of you.

"I know," said the spirit with a smile in her tone. "Now don't worry about me. Focus on taking this man out."

Will do old girl, Jaden promised, unaware that the spirit turned a shade of crimson at that form of address. Unfortunately for him though, his opponent wasn't done yet. "I Set one card face-down in my Field Zone and end my turn," he finished.

"Wait, Field Zone?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Not at all!" retorted Jaden, "My turn! Since you're gonna make 'em real, so am I!" His eyes went bi-chromatic as he drew for his turn. Why'd he Set a card in the Field Zone? he asked himself. It doesn't make any sense.

"It's not illegal though," Yubel pointed out. "But in any case, don't get bogged down on the why. Focus on taking advantage of his light defenses."

On it, Jaden agreed. Adding his sixth card to his hand, he shouted out, "Let's kick things off with a bang!"

Ceren folded his arms as he watched Jaden make his move. He has no idea of what's in store for him, he thought. Then again though, neither did the others.

The portal closed behind Ehris as she ported into Ceren and Jaden's presence, only for an unseen event to take the multi-winged entity for a bigger surprise than she expected. As the scene's timeframe 'restarted' with the two crimson-coated Duelist, it twisted in front of Ehris's eyes. Needless to say, the Duel Spirit was unamused by the sudden change. "What is this?"

"Not my fault." The echoes of the Aspect boss echoed through her head. "Apparently, there's another spirit in the vicinity."

"Long black hair, business wear, next to an overly large cat?"

"Well…I mean they've come in all shapes and sizes, why do you-you've got eyes on them, haven't you?"

"I would suppose so." This response didn't come from Ehris this time, but from the bespectacled phantom of former Duel Academy Professor and head of Slifer Red Lyman Banner. His pet, Pharaoh, circled around him. "And may I say I'm surprised you're able to see me."

"Seems your pet wishes to see more of you." Ehris dryly pointed out. Indeed, the cat was busy trying to swallow the golden orb that made the alchemist's soul once more."Wait, what?! NO Pharaoh! I'm in the middle of a conversation – and I know Jaden fed you before we left!"

Amusing as it was to the Duel Spirit to watch the man frantically bounce around Pharaoh's paws in a vain attempt to keep his pet from cutting their confrontation short, she was not a fan of interruptions. "Watch out then, whoever you are."

With a flick of her wrist, a glowing golden apple flipped out of one of her many wings to roll to a stop in front of Pharaoh. The cat quickly took to chewing down on the round fruit instead of the professor's similarly-shaped soul. "Why….thank you then. May I ask who you are?" the phantasmal professor asked.

"Apparently, the new call-fielder for the Aspect," snorted the spirit dismissively. "To you however, I am the goddess Ehris."

"You certainly don't look like any Duel Spirit I've seen before…." The professor tucked his chin into his hand. "But you've been courteous so far, it is only fair I do the same. Lyman Banner, former head of Duel Academy's Slifer Red Dorm!"

"Fittingly so if what I know of you is true," Ehris noted. She motioned to the still-framed Jaden. "And I take it this is your star pupil?"

She didn't have to wait long for the response. "Oh yes. And I think he may yet surprise your fellow traveler too…." Banner looked over at Ceren. "If he is your familiar, I mean…."

Ehris gave a light smile at that. "Hardly. He needs no help to beat anyone from your sect."

"'Sect' isn't the right word for the Red Dorm."

"You're right." And with a courteous sway, the apple disappeared from Pharaoh's mouth and reformed whole into Ehris's left hand again. Before Banner could muster a reply, two golden spheres appeared-one showing the Aspect member Ceren facing another two Duel Academy students, the other encapsulating Pharaoh. "'Self-obsessed dunces' would be more fitting to them, considering how your last progeny and his girlfriend fared against Ceren."

Banner almost saw his spectacles tumble from his nose from the surprise of the Duel Spirit's act. "Wait no, leave Pharaoh alone!"

"This is so you can see just what your timeline measures up to us…" Ehris pointed to the rift in front of her, as Pharaoh's containing sphere floated into the same hand that once held the golden apple. "And this…is to make sure we have no interruptions during our feature presentation."

Helpless, Banner straightened up, gave one last somber look at Jaden, and peered into the rift that showed how Ceren's struggle against both Chazz and Alexis came to be….

HERO TIMELINE (FLASHBACK)/DUEL ACADEMY/8:43 PM

"…'cause since you've decided to take us both on, this'll be a blast for me and a whimper for you!" Chazz declared. "First off, let's take advantage of your lame hand – with 'Armed Dragon Level Three'!" And with a yellow flash, the large-handed dragon baby appeared to play, the only monster on the field currently despite Ceren going first. [WIND/Dragon/Level 3/1200 ATK/900 DEF]

In fact, the first turn he seemed eager to take had apparently been flubbed by this character by only activating the Field Spell 'Pandemonias – Inner Sanctum'. "Take your shot then. My turn's over," being the only explanation given for his otherwise open field – a field the Chazz looked to exploit. "And now, get ready for my new Level tech! I equip this Armed Dragon with 'Level Guard'!" A spiked shield appeared in the petit predator's hand. "With this, your problems are about to get bigger, because this allows me to bring forth this card's older form by chaining it to this shield's power! So here comes 'Armed Dragon Level Five'!" And the red-and-black variant of Level Three came out to the field next to it, a band of lightning connecting it to the shield its smaller form held in hand. [WIND/Dragon/Level 5/2400 ATK/1700 DEF]

"Oh and thanks to that connection, my Level Three Armed Dragon gets the same Attack Points as his big brother since it's higher than his!" Immediately, Level Three's Attack Points doubled to twenty-four hundred to match its older counterpart. "Think they'll be alone? Guess again, because my 'Foolish Burial' will place 'Armed Dragon Level Seven' in my Graveyard…" With a flourish, the North Academy dragon's third form was in Duel Disk limbo, to the suspicious glance of his otherwise silent partner Alexis.

"…and at the cost of you drawing two cards, my 'Level Modulation' will put it straight on the field!" Now Chazz's field held three Armed Dragons, the biggest of them being a blade-clad raring behemoth. [WIND/Dragon/Level 7/2800 ATK/1000 DEF]

"And oh look, even though Level Seven can't attack or use its abilities this turn, Level Three's Attack Points go to match Level Seven's too since it's the strongest Level monster I've got!"

"Wait, are you sure giving this guy more cards is a good idea?" Alexis asked warily. Chazz only gave a chuckle at this.

"Look at that idiot's field and tell me if that hand size matters! Meanwhile, I've got three monsters with over two thousand Attack Points, and even though my Level Seven can't attack now, my other two will put him out quick! Show 'em both how, Armed Dragon Level Five! Attack him directly!"

As the spikes from the WIND Dragon barreled towards Ceren's face, Alexis tensed, hoping for a quick knockout on this mystery Duelist. But there was something wrong with…everything in this scenario. And her fears were confirmed when Ceren let a small smile slip before revealing another card in his hand.

"A pity. Allow me to put lie to your myth with my 'Paraidux Patrol - Sky Smog Scorcher'!" And with a buzzing when, the mechanical defender of the Patrol landed to take the spikes the Armed Dragon launched. [FIRE/Machine/Level 3/100 ATK/1100 DEF]

"One hundred Attack Points only means your end'll be as brutish as it is short!" Chazz pointed out as the Smog Scorcher blew apart in the face of the Armed Dragon's assault.

"Its first of two special abilities will dull your blades. Since I control no Set cards, all damage I take for the rest of the turn becomes the same as my monster's Attack Points – one hundred and no further." With that, a reflection of the mechanical beast's shield popped up in front of the crimson Duelist, before shattering into pieces when the attack dissipated.

"You've only bought yourself a second turn!" Chazz pointed out. "Armed Dragon Level Three, attack him directly!" After the twin attacks, however, Ceren's Life Points only stood at a barely touched thirty-eight hundred.

Alexis was all too aware of how perfectly Ceren parried Chazz's extensive play – and its implications for the future of the Duel. Considering how many cards the Armed Dragon barrage took, this combination had to be broken. But she'd have to wait until the magic four words came from Chazz's arrogant mouth: "Fine, then, I end my turn." Okay, more than four.

"Before your turn truly ends, allow me to show your how your friend's future fury'll fare!" Ceren tapped a button on his Duel Disk. "Because since my Sky Smog Scorcher was destroyed by battle, I can return it to my hand by revealing three Equip Spells in my hand, and I shall do so now so you know what will end you both by my turn!"

As Alexis took careful notice of the cards he revealed, something else started playing on her mind. Those Paraidux Arms need an effect to equip, she thought. How's he going to do it if he's mainly got those three cards and the Scorcher?

"Alright, Ceren, really?" asked Alexis. "That's a turn you'll regret having come if that's all you've got to stop me. I'll kick this Duel off the right way…"

"…with the Field Spell Parallel World!" Jaden announced. With that, a glowing, twisting grid of neon lights and crystal-like rivers pumped throughout the open space of the pier, a testament to Jaden's newfound power with Yubel. "With that in hand, I Summon Elemental HERO Wildheart!" The tribal hero pulled forth, titanic sword at the ready. [EARTH/Warrior/Level 4/1600 ATK/1500 DEF] "And thanks to Parallel World, none of my Elemental HEROes will ever fly solo, because his arrival lets me bring out an Elemental HERO Normal Monster with the same or lower Level – like the 'Elemental HERO Avian'!" [WIND/Warrior/Level 3/1000 ATK/1000 DEF]

"One more thing, Ceren: Since I activated Parallel World this turn, I can banish both monsters right now to Fusion Summon without using 'Polymerization'!" Jaden placed the two monsters in his Graveyard slot, then raised his free hand up high. "So I'll fuse Elemental Heroes Wildheart and Avian to Fusion Summon my 'Elemental Hero Wild Wingman'!" Jaden exclaimed loudly as the swirling vortex of blue and orange finally brought up the tattoo-coated winged Fusion Monster to bear against the Dueling arms master. [EARTH/Fusion/Warrior/Level 8/1900 ATK/2300 DEF] "Lastly, I'll Set two cards face-down," Jaden concluded, as two Set cards shimmered to life in front of him. "Now tell me how I'm the reason for you being here!"

"And also, who the rest of 'you' are!" Yubel added in a hiss, her wings flaring behind him.

Ceren just chuckled. "Goodness, Jaden, don't you remember?" he quipped. "What immediately did you just come off of and brave-face your way through? What event just happened on these very Academy grounds? And what were we just talking about before my first turn?"

Jaden fell silent. "That's right," continued Ceren. "And all of it caused by a rogue Duel Spirit shot off into space where she went mad from the isolation…" His smirk dropped. "…and the one who put her there."

"But that's…"

"…a mistake. Like the Light of Destruction being attracted to your place because of Aster Phoenix. Who'd he immediately start fights with again?" His mouth was turning into a gate of gritted teeth. "And let's not even get into how you and yours failed to keep the Sacred Keys out of the hands of your own scheming staff."

"Hold on," Jaden interrupted him. "First off, I was about to say that I sent Yubel into space because I thought the cosmic rays of justice from Neo Space could fix her!"

"You realize how bonkers that sounds, right?" Ceren scoffed as he drew for his next turn. "I only wish the professor you hooked to your soul as a reward for endangering your school was the worst thing you've done. If I despise anything more than the trouble you've caused, it's how you attach the root of those problems to you like an albatross whistle."

"That's not my fault! You can't hold me responsible for the choices those people made!" Jaden protested. "You can hold me responsible for what happened in the other dimensions all you want. That's fair because that was my fault. Everything that happened earlier this year was because of me. But you can't fault me for the Shadow Riders or the Society of Light! The Shadow Riders all made the choice to follow Kagemaru down and attack Duel Academy!"

"And the Light of Destruction?"

"Same thing. It may not be human, but it's… it's…" Jaden struggled to come up with the word. "Well, it can make decisions too, and it chose to come here for its mission!"

"But why did it have to be here specifically?" Ceren asked. "Why did it have to be Duel Academy?" Not waiting for Jaden's reply, he answered himself. "Because you – the only person who could contend against it – were here. It came here because of you. Whether you like it or not you're the reason bizarre forces came here and tried to take over the world. So while you may be full of light and smiles, the truth of the matter is that you're a danger to everyone around you, and you destroy everything you touch!"

Quickly, he drew a card for his turn. "I activate Thiefspotter Lana's effect! Once a turn on my Standby Phase, I can equip her with a Paraidux Equip Spell from my Banished Zone! And I'll equip her with 'Paraidux Arms RK-Two Silver Perforator'!" As the large blaster appeared in his monster's grasp, Ceren took another card from his hand and played it. "Next, I'll Summon 'Paraidux Patrol – General Robina' in Attack Mode!" As the armor-clad Warrior-Type monster appeared on his field [FIRE/Warrior/Level 4/ATK 1600/DEF 200], Ceren continued his cascade. "And now her effect activates! When she's Summoned, I can equip her with a Paraidux Equip Spell from my banished zone! And I'll equip her with 'Paraidux Arms RK-Five Infinity Launcher'!"

The massive gun appeared in General Robina's hands, causing her to grunt lightly as she adjusted herself to carry its weight. "This card takes being banished by the Raid to equip, but it's worth every pound, because it grants the equipped monster two thousand Attack and Defense Points," explained Ceren. "And it also protects it from card effects that target and from having its effects negated! So essentially there's little you can do to my General Robina with battle or without!" (General Robina's ATK 1600 - 3600; DEF 200 - 2200.)

"I'm not done yet," he went on. "Next I activate Paraidux Patrol Raid's next effect! I can shuffle it into my Deck to Tribute one Paraidux monster I control, and if so, Special Summon a Paraidux monster with a different Type from my hand or Graveyard! So I'll Tribute my Napalm Nathan to Special Summon 'Paraidux Patrol – Bombtrack Dragon' from my hand in Defense Mode!"

A gargantuan draconic machine appeared on his field, crossing its arms to stare down the Slifer Duelist. [FIRE/Machine/Level 5/ATK 1400/DEF 2800]. Not wanting to give Jaden any time to register its immense size, Ceren thrust his hand forward. "Now, General Robina, waste his Wild Wingman!"

"Forget it!" Jaden shot back. "I activate my Trap, Hero Barrier!" A swirling portal-like vortex of energy appeared between the two monsters, absorbing Robina's attack and leaving Jaden's Wingman unscathed.

Ceren narrowed his eyes. "Is getting rid of you going to take all day?" he asked.

Jaden narrowed his own eyes back at him. "Getting rid of me," he replied, "Will take you your entire life."

"Not with Silver Perforator's effect it won't," Ceren retorted. "Since the monster it's equipped to didn't attack this turn, I can toss a coin: If its heads, I destroy one card on the field, and if it's tails, I get to deal you five hundred damage for each monster on the field with higher Attack Points than the equipped monster! And since Lana only has eight hundred Attack Points, that means there are three monsters on the field that are stronger than her, such as my General Robina and Bombtrack Dragon, as well as your Wild Wingman!"

Jaden grimaced. So essentially I'll be one step closer to losing no matter what the coin's result is. Seeing his grimace, Ceren grinned as he took a coin from his pocket and tossed it. The coin landed in the palm of his other hand, which he slapped on his throwing hand and removed it to see the result. "Tails," he said with apparent satisfaction in his voice. "Now say goodbye to fifteen hundred Life Points, courtesy of my Thiefspotter!"

Jaden braced himself as Thiefspotter Lana raised her gun and shot him with a blast of energy. Staggering back a bit from the impact, he held his midsection gingerly, grateful for Yubel absorbing most of the pain as his Life Points crept down to 1300. "Lucky for you, that ends my turn," finished Ceren at last.

"Good! Because it's my turn now!" Jaden announced as he drew for his turn, doing his best to ignore what remained of the pain in his midsection. To Ceren's chagrin, he saw a smile spread across Jaden's face. "I activate the 'Spellbook Inside the Pot'!" Jaden announced. "I can only activate this when I draw it for my Draw Phase, so how lucky am I?" Seeing Ceren's sour expression, he decided not to wait. "Anyway, because I'm so nice, both of us get to draw a card thanks to this card's effect!"

As both players drew, Jaden continued, "There's more! Until my second End Phase after this card's activation, we both get to draw two cards instead of one for our Draw Phases! The only drawback to this is that I don't get to add any cards from my Deck to my hand by card effects the turn I activate this card, but it's worth it if you ask me!"

"That makes one of us then," responded Ceren. "Because now I get to activate the effect of 'Paraidux Patrol – Aylia the Suppressor' from my hand! Since she was added to my hand by your Spell, I can banish an Equip Spell Card from my Deck, and if so, banish her from my hand! So I'll banish my 'Paraidux Arms RK-Four All-Out Artillery', then Aylia the Suppressor!"

"What was the point of that?"

"Simple: on my next Standby Phase if she's still banished after being banished by this effect, I can Special Summon her, equip her with a Paraidux Equip Spell from my banished zone, and switch the original Attack and Defense Points of a monster on the field!"

He'll probably go for Bombtrack Dragon's stats, then, Jaden thought. "Not like you'll get to!" he said out loud. "I activate the Spell Card 'Fake Hero'! This lets me Special Summon an Elemental Hero from my hand! And the Elemental Hero I'm calling out is one of my newer ones, the dazzling 'Elemental HERO Titantron'!"

The golden-yellow woman appeared on his field [WIND/Warrior/Level 4/ATK 1600/DEF 800]. "And guess what? When she's Special Summoned, Titantron lets me Special Summon a Level Three, Five or Seven "Hero" monster from my Deck. Normally I'd have to banish it on my End Phase, but since I still control Wild Wingman, this Hero's good to go!" Jaden took a card from his Deck and played it. "And the Hero I'm talking about is everyone's favorite golden gladiator, 'Elemental HERO Bladedge'!"

As the monster he described appeared on his field [EARTH/Warrior/Level 7/2600 ATK/1800 DEF], Jaden took another card from his hand. A small compartment on his Duel Disk opened up, enabling him to insert it. "And I've got more in store because I'm activating the Field Spell, 'Skyscraper'!"

As the compartment closed, holographic buildings sprouted around both players. "Skyscraper gives any attacking Elemental HERO one thousand Attack Points if its Attack Points are lower than those of the opponent's monster it's attacking," Jaden explained. "So with this boost in hand, Bladedge, attack General Robina!"

"What?! That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" said Ceren. "You'll only end up destroying them both!"

"I know," answered Jaden with a devilish look on his face as the two monsters exploded on contact. "Because now I can activate my other Trap, HERO's Second Signal! If a card I control is destroyed by battle or card effect, I can send a Hero Spell or Trap Card from my hand or Deck to the Graveyard to Special Summon a Level Four or lower HERO monster with a different Attack Power than those on my field and in my Graveyard! So I'll call out my 'Elemental HERO Blazeman'!" As the pyrokinetic warrior emerged on his field [FIRE/Warrior/Level 4/ATK 1200/DEF 1800], Jaden continued. "And after I Special Summon my monster, I get to Set a Polymerization from my Deck!"

Ceren watched Jaden execute his move, gritting his teeth. I didn't think he'd use a card like that proactively, he thought. Cards like that are meant to be used on the defense, but he's using it like a Quick-Play Spell. His brow furrowed further. I can't predict this guy. Doesn't matter though. "I activate the effect of Infinity Launcher! When it's sent to the Graveyard, I shuffle it into the Deck!"

"Fine with me!" Jaden answered back. "Wild Wingman, attack Thiefspotter Lana!"

Ceren checked his face-down card in the hopes there was something he could do to save his monster. There wasn't; as Wild Wingman struck her, Thiefspotter Lana exploded into a fireball. "I'm not done by the way," Jaden went on. "I activate Wild Wingman's effect. By discarding a card from my hand – such as my Elemental HERO Necroshade – I can destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field! So whatever your face-down card is, it's history!"

Ceren swore as his face-down 'Preliminary Pandemonias Patrol' fracturee into pieces. "Okay," said Jaden, knowing full well his tone would irritate his opponent, "Now, I'm done."

"About time," grunted Ceren as he drew for his turn. "First off on my Standby Phase, Aylia the Suppressor comes back from my Banished Zone!" As she appeared on his field, her Gatling gun swinging in as wide an arc as her smile, [Warrior-Type/FIRE/Level 6/ATK 900/DEF 2600], Ceren took a card from his pocket and showed it to Jaden. "And I'll equip her with Paraidux Arms RK-Three Gold Standard! Thanks to this card, Aylia can't be destroyed by battle, and any Battle Damage I would take from her battles is dealt to you instead!"

"Hmph. Copycat," muttered Yubel to herself and her charge.

"And don't forget," added Ceren, undeterred by the fiendish familiar's snide remark, "Aylia's effect switches the Attack and Defense Points of a monster on the field-in this case, I'll choose Aylia herself! Next, I'll Summon 'Paraidux Patrol – Dual Anarchy' in Attack Mode!"

Two young women – one blonde, the other dark-haired with pink streaks threading it – emerged onto his field, glowing with yellow light [FIRE/Warrior/Level 4/ATK 1600/DEF 1600]. "What you're seeing is their effect activating," Ceren explained. "And it's poetry in motion. When Dual Anarchy's Summoned, I can excavate the top two cards of my Deck, and equip them with any Paraidux Equip Spells excavated this way." He took the top two cards of his Deck into his hand. "And what luck, because I've excavated Paraidux Arms 'RK-One Bronze Hound' and 'RK-Two Salvation and Perdition'!"

As he spoke, the two Equip Spells manifested over Dual Anarchy and latched on to them, Salvation/Perdition hooking to the blonde and Bronze Hound. "Furthermore, Bronze Hound gives Dual Anarchy four hundred Attack and Defense Points, so now Dual Anarchy's Attack Points are at two thousand! And just so you know, it also makes them unaffected by Trap effects during the Battle Phase!" He pointed to Jaden's Fusion Monster. "Now Dual Anarchy, destroy Wild Wingman!"

The two women in front of him raised their weapons and struck down the winged warrior, shattering it to pieces [Jaden's LP 1300 - 1200]. "And I'm not done!" gloated Ceren, not wanting to give Jaden time to recover. "Aylia, shatter that Titantron!"

Jaden grimaced as the golden girl broke apart, Life Points now at a critical 200 from the charge. "Alright then, that ends my turn," finished Ceren.

Dammit, Jaden groaned, Not only am I already in the red, but Ceren hasn't even taken any damage yet. The only loss of points he's taken is from Patrol Raid early on. But then again, he added, It's not entirely hopeless. Now I know how his Deck operates. He's only Set one card this entire Duel, and when I got rid of it he didn't play any others. That means he's riding on his Equip Spells to carry him through the Duel, and from what I gather he can't just equip them regularly. Most of the time he's equipped them with his monsters' effects, so all I have to do is negate them and he won't be able to equip anything.

He looked at his Deck. But that's not what I need right now, though. Right now I just need a monster that can hold off his attacks. But the only ones coming to mind that are strong enough are Fusion Monsters. Then he thought of his friends. No matter what though, I have to draw. Chazz and Alexis depend on it! He inhaled, exhaled, then drew his two cards for that turn…

...and promptly scrunched up his face like a Picasso painting. Card Blocker and Mystical Space Typhoon?! These can't help me now! Then he saw the other card in his hand. Wait though, this card and Card Blocker… okay. These two should be fine for now. "First, I Summon Card Blocker in Defense Mode." As the tiny cartoonish warrior appeared on his field [EARTH/Warrior/Level 3/ATK 400/DEF 400], Jaden took two other cards from his hand. "Next I'll throw down a face-down and activate 'Mystical Space Typhoon' to destroy your 'Salvation and Perdition'. That should end my turn."

Ceren's eyes widened at two-thirds of Dual Anarchy's arsenal shattering out of existence before his eyes-then grew a grin at the note of Jaden's turn ending.

"You activate a card that gives you a bonus draw and this is all you come up with? Your drawing skill's running dry." He drew for his turn and pointed at Jaden's newest Warrior. "Dual Anarchy, rid the field of his Card Blocker!"

"Oh no, you don't!" Jaden countered. "Card Blocker's special ability activates! When he's attacked, I can send the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard to give him five hundred Defense Points for each sent card!" He placed three cards on the top of his Deck into his Graveyard slot (Card Blocker's DEF 400 - 1900).

"That won't help you," said Ceren as Dual Anarchy cut through Card Blocker in spite of Jaden's effort, "Dual Anarchy's Attack Power's still higher, so that whole move of yours was pointless!" He pointed to Jaden's remaining monster. "Now, Aylia-smoke Blazeman!"

"Blazeman's goin' nowhere!" Jaden countered. "I activate the Trap, 'Hero Ring'!"

To Ceren's astonishment, a circle of light appeared around Blazeman's person, intercepting Aylia's attack and leaving its occupant unharmed. "You see," Jaden explained, "I can equip this card to a Warrior-Type monster I control with fifteen hundred or less Attack Points, and it keeps monsters with nineteen hundred or more Attack Points from attacking it." He saw Ceren's slightly annoyed expression. "I was hoping to combo this with Card Blocker, but as long as Blazeman's here to stay, I got no complaints."

"Well, regardless of your stunt," Ceren went on, "Nothing will change. For my second Main Phase, I'll sacrifice my Dual Anarchy and Bombtrack Dragon to Summon 'Paraidux Patrol – Thronekeeper' in Defense Mode!"

A tremendous shadow loomed over the field as a colossal metal guardian appeared on Ceren's field [FIRE/Machine/Level 7/ATK 2050/DEF 2550]. Ceren was all too happy to talk it up. "Here's something you might want to know: While I've got Thronekeeper on the field, all Machine-Type Paraidux Patrol monsters I control can attack while in Defense Mode, and use Thronekeeper's Defense Points for damage calculation!

Next, since it's my End Phase, Bombtrack Dragon's effect activates! Since it was sent from my Monster Zone to the Graveyard this turn, I can Special Summon one Paraidux Patrol monster from my Graveyard, so long as its a Warrior, and equip it with this card! Return to active duty, General Robina!"

The familiar blonde appeared on Ceren's field, saddling herself atop Bombtrack Dragon as it roared at Jaden. "And there's more! I activate General Robina's Quick Effect! By banishing one card that's equipped to her, I can shuffle one Spell or Trap Card on the field into the Deck! I'll get rid of that sorry little farce you call a defense." Jaden clenched his jaw as the protective Hero Ring around Blazeman disappeared. "With that, I end my turn," said Ceren at last.

Jaden looked at his Deck nervously. This is my last turn benefitting off of Spellbook. Please Deck, make it count! "My draw!" he announced bravely, taking the top two cards of his Deck into his hand… and frowned. "I'll throw down two face-downs," Jaden said as an obscured card appeared in both his monster and Spell/Trap Zone. "That's all for me."

"What a pity. Soon that'll really be all from you," said Ceren, a tad smug at his advantage as he drew. "I'll take the helm. General Robina, attack his face-down monster!"

Jaden's heart skipped a beat. Hope! "Reveal, Elemental HERO Clayman!"

"What?!" came the surprised response as the energy blast fired from Robina's blasters ricocheted off of Jaden's juggernaut and struck her in the midsection [Ceren's LP 3200 - 2800]. "Whatever," he said dismissively, brushing it aside. "Thronekeeper, finish the job!"

Jaden smiled gratefully as Clayman left the field. Thanks, Clayman. I thought this would be the end for me, but thankfully this guy's arrogance got the better of him. I'll be sure to make my next turn count.

"Alright," said Ceren, disappointed at not being able to end it. "I end my turn. Not like it matters though. You hardly have anything that can threaten me."

"Oh, don't say that," Jaden replied. "I've got one thing."

"Curious. And that is?"

"Hope."

A pause. Then Ceren snorted with laughter at something so cheesy. Then he saw Jaden's stony glare. "You can't be serious."

"I am."

Ceren looked at Jaden, incredulously amused. "Alright then, take your turn. Let's see how well your hope holds."

"With pleasure." Jaden drew for his turn. "Well, whaddaya know!" He showed Ceren the card he'd drawn. "Told you I had hope."

Ignoring Ceren's groan, Jaden slipped the card into the slot. "In fact, it's the Spell Card 'Fifth Hope'! This card shuffles five Elemental Heroes from my Graveyard into my Deck! So I'll shuffle the Clayman, Avian, Bladedge, Wildheart, and Titantron from my Graveyard, then draw 2 new cards!" He did just that. "Next I'll banish Fifth Hope from my Graveyard to Special Summon 'Spell Striker' in Attack Mode!"

Another cartoonish warrior appeared on his field, this one waving a wand furiously in front of its helmeted face. [EARTH/Warrior/Level 3/ATK 600/DEF 200]. "And next I'll Normal Summon my 'Armor Breaker' in Attack Mode!" Just like that, a third cartoonish warrior, wielding a giant hammer, sprang up next to Spell Striker [EARTH/Warrior/Level 3/ATK 800/DEF 800]. "Then I activate Armor Breaker's special ability to equip him to Spell Striker," Jaden went on. "And I'll have my Striker attack directly!"

Ceren didn't even blink as Spell Striker swiped at him [LP 2800 - 2200]. "That's not all!" Jaden continued, "Now Armor Breaker's effect activates! When the monster he's equipped to deals you Battle Damage, his effect destroys one card on the field! So say goodbye to Aylia the Suppressor!"

"What?!" Ceren's shock betrayed his stony face as his strongest monster shattered to pieces.

"That's all for now," concluded Jaden. "Your turn."

"Fine!" Ceren drew for his turn… then smiled. "Remember this card?" he asked. "I activate 'Paraidux Patrol Raid'!" Seeing Jaden's reaction, he went on, "...to banish five more Paraidux Equip Spells from my Deck-one for each card in my hand! Then I'll have General Robina attack your Spell Striker!"

To his surprise, Jaden didn't even grimace, not even when Robina's shot threw up a cloud of dust. That's weird, thought Ceren, My attack destroyed his monster and depleted his Life Points, so why wasn't he afraid? Then it hit him. Wait, don't tell me…

His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Jaden's Spell Striker still on the field and his Life Point gauge unchanged. "What's going on?" he demanded. "How're you still standing? Do your monsters have effects?"

"They do," Jaden answered. "First is my Armor Breaker. If the monster he's equipped to would be destroyed by battle, Armor Breaker takes the hit for it."

"That explains why your Striker's still on the field. But what about your Life Points?"

"That's courtesy of Spell Striker," Jaden continued. "His effect prevents me from taking any damage from his battles."

"Nngghhh," grunted Ceren. "That won't save you-or your Striker-for long! Thronekeeper, attack with your Crowning Glory Blast!"

He felt a small twinge of satisfaction as Thronekeeper's cannons shot at Jaden's lone monster and finally wiped it off the field. "Don't think I'm done yet!" Ceren went on. "Next I'll once again shuffle Paraidux Patrol Raid into my Deck to Tribute both General Robina and my Thronekeeper so that I can Special Summon 'Paraidux Patrol – Bayone the Perfect Shot', from my Extra Deck!"

Jaden looked on in confusion and surprise as a tall gun-wielding woman with blue armor and red hair emerged onto Ceren's field in a chorus of lights and sound [FIRE/Warrior/Level 8/ATK 3000/DEF 0]. "And this will end the Duel quick-for when Bayone's Special Summoned, I can Special Summon one Paraidux Patrol monster from my Deck, but in exchange, she can't attack this turn!" Ceren beamed as he took a card from his Deck and smiled at it. "And for you, Yuki, I've decided to take you down with the very same monster that won me my last Duel!" Slamming the card into his Monster Zone, he bellowed "BEHOLD, MY 'SIX PACK DRAGON'!"

Jaden had no words to describe the fifteen-foot draconic machine monster that dropped from the sky from a glint of light that both he and Yubel thought was a star-until the shine of its shoulder-mounted revolver cannons became visible. Even as the dust coming from its landing, the beast rose and roared at Jaden loud enough to cause even Yubel to cover her ears. Then, every one of its cannons aimed directly at Jaden, ready to destroy him without so much as a second thought upon its master's say-so. [FIRE/Machine/Level 6/ATK 2500/DEF 3000]

"So this is it," mused Jaden, swallowing his saliva as he looked the beast up and down. "This is the monster that beat Chazz and Alexis in one turn."

"Indeed it is," Ceren confirmed proudly. "Your friends tried their best, but ultimately there was nothing they could do to stop this behemoth you see before you." He paused for a moment, a nostalgic look on his face. "Here's how it happened, in case you were wondering if you had a…"

"…way to beat you and your Scorcher!" Alexis proclaimed. "First, I'll use my Summoned 'Cyber Petit Angel', to add my 'Machine Angel Ritual' from my Deck to my hand!" Thankfully, the bionic ball monster was in Defense Mode, as its small size caused it to peek over errantly at the three LV monsters at the other end of the Dueling field. [LIGHT/Fairy/Level 2/300 ATK/200 DEF].

Ceren quirked an eyebrow at this. "Now I have to deal with Rituals?"

"Oh don't you worry, they're not your problem yet." Alexis then flashed out another Spell Card. "Now it's time for the magic of 'Pre-Preparation of Rites'! After all, being able to pull out a Ritual Monster and the Ritual Spell its name is printed on will do wonders for my 'Machine Angel Virtuose Ritual'and my 'Cyber Angel Dakini'!"

Two cards richer in the Duel, Alexis steeled herself. She knew her opponent would likely have something planned the second she mounted an attack, and so, she'd need insurance for what he'd likely throw back at him. Thankfully, her more reckless partner did leave one good thing for her to use. "Next, I activate 'Level Gauntlet!' to bolster my field."

A giant pauldron slammed its way onto the field behind the shocked Petit Angel, in direct contrast to Chazz's far more quietly conjured Level Spell that Armed Dragon Level Three was still posing with.

Turning back to Ceren, Alexis went on, "And finally, my activated 'Ascending Soul' Continuous Spell should give me enough fortification before I Ritual Summon my Cyber Angel Dakini with Machine Angel Ritual, using the Cyber Petit Angel on my field and the 'Cyber Angel Benten' in my hand as Tributes!"

With the two Cyber Fairies disappearing into the flames of the Machine Angel Altar, a six-armed cyborg burst from the pyre, triad of weapons at the ready [LIGHT/Fairy/Ritual/Level 8/2700 ATK/2400 DEF]. "Thanks to both Ascending Soul and Cyber Angel Benten, not only do I get to return Benten from my Graveyard to my hand, but I can also add another Fairy monster from my Deck to my hand since Benten was Tributed, like my Level Four 'Cyber Seamstress'!" Alexis's hand stood at four cards, to Ceren's continued curiosity.

"Now Cyber Angel Dakini, let's see if you've got better luck against Ceren's empty field!"

The twin blades of Dakini swung toward the derringer-wielding duelist, but Ceren was ready for it. "Crystal ball says no-and so does my Sky Smog Scorcher!" And back came the monster, ready and prepared to take the Ritual monster's hit… only for Dakini to stop dead still, shocking Ceren and keeping the indignant Chazz's ranting from breaking through the din.

Though in the latter's case, the phantasmal Ojama Trio popping up near him got him back in a swiping frenzy. For Ceren though, there was…

"'Machine Angel Virtuose Ritual', GO!" Another Spell flashed up before the halted Cyber Angel, but this time, a far more mechanical altar showed up behind Alexis. "What gives now?" Ceren asked.

"Your Scorcher, for starters!" Alexis triumphantly smiled. "This Ritual's main demand is that it be used during the Battle Phase, but ot allows me to Ritual Summon a Cyber Ritual Monster from my hand by Tributing a monster you control and one from my hand or field! So with your Sky Smog Scorcher and my Cyber Seamstress in the hand both going into ancient history…"

Both monsters turned into a column of light, which converged on Alexis's field, but did not drown out her final shout. "…here's the one who penned their fate, 'Cyber Scribe Level Six'!"

A warrior in white-red robes and holding a gigantic book burst from the luminous column [LIGHT/Fairy/Ritual/Level 6/2300 ATK/1300 DEF]. "And the pain's only getting worse, because not only will my Tributed Cyber Seamstress add another Machine Angel Ritual from my Deck and the Cyber Petit Angel in my Graveyard to my hand, but my Level Gauntlet activates its special ability! Since I've brought out Cyber Scribe Level Six, this card lets me play its previous form from my Deck to join the party with five hundred more Attack and Defense Points – 'Cyber Scribe Level Four'!"

This time, the book-wielding Ritual made way for its lesser processor, one whose book almost obscured her from the Aspect member's view. [LIGHT/Fairy/Ritual/Level 4/1800-2300 ATK/800-1300 DEF]. "Now, both of my Scribes'll take it to you directly – and thanks to the final ability of my Machine Angel Virtuoso Ritual, the damage from each of their direct attacks becomes one thousand – no more and definitely no less! Strike Ceren with your Lore Blaze and Lore Fireball!"

Both barrages left Ceren gasping for air, the field surrounded by blue and orange sparks [Ceren's LP 3800 - 1800]. Wearily struggling to his feet, the Aspect member looked at his situation-one made all the bleaker by the Obelisk Duelist's dictation – and visibly paled. "And thanks to your Scorcher hitting the Graveyard by something other than battle, I'm assuming you're not getting it back by its special ability, right?"

"…no," came the hiss from Ceren's lips.

"Then I think this turn is over. And thanks to Cyber Angel Dakini, during the End Phase, I can conserve even more by returning the Machine Angel Ritual in my Graveyard back to my hand!"

Ceren could hardly believe it. His Obelisk foe had three Ritual Monsters, four cards in the hand, two Spells/Traps on the field and a barely touched four thousand.

"Plus, thanks to my Level Gauntlet!, each of our LV monsters' effects can be activated as fast and often as a Trap Card, so I'll take on Cyber Scribe Level Four's effect to gain five hundred more Life Points."

Okay, her Life Points were at forty-five hundred now. Things needed to change for Ceren – and thankfully, Chazz's foolhardy destruction of the Sky Smog Scorcher had afforded him that way out quickly. One Ceren would need if he hoped to get past the barrage of LV monsters and Dakini now staring him down. And not a single one of the monsters' Attack Points was below twenty-three hundred. What Ceren drew in his turn, however, turned things around for him.

"I tip my hat to you Alexis, but I'm afraid I have bad news. My first retrieval of the Sky Smog Scorcher could have been done by revealing two Equip Spells, but by revealing three, I can add one Machine-Type Paraidux monster from my Deck to my hand!" Ceren took another card from his Deck and added it to his hefty hand. "Now I activate Paraidux Patrol Raid!"

And with a rush, Ceren pulled out six Equip Spells – Paraidux Arms RK-2 Silver Perforator, Partycrashers, and Last Dragonbreath, RK-3 Gold Standard and Salvation & Perdition, and RK-5 Infinity Launcher- and launched them into the air.

"Wait, what-?!" Chazz had finally trapped Ojama Green between his hands, Yellow and Black futilely trying to free the laughing Duel Spirit, before he noticed Ceren's dramatic gesture.

Ceren paid him no mind. "And since I now have five or more banished Paraidux Spells-congratulations for successfully pissing me off enough to make this next move a masterpiece! It's high time I gave you both my true double gun salute! Arise, SIX PACK DRAGON!"

An ear-splitting CRACK of lightning split in from of Ceren, and the six cards he had thrown into the air turned into balls of energy. Each of them found their home in half of the slots within two six-chamber revolver barrels that crashed into the ground, before arching to meet the light column. Their shrieks of metal caused both Chazz and Alexis to slam hands on their ears – and their six monsters between them to slam fists into the ground to keep from being blown off in the sharp winds.

In an abrupt snap, the light dissipated to reveal the chrome armor of a gigantic dragon, raising its head to meet both its opponents – and yet, Ceren's stare was steelier than the beast in front of him.

Alexis was the first to recover. Then she gave a small smile. "Don't worry; my Cyber Scribe Level Four will be all too happy to give me five hundred more Life Points to bear against that monster!" And now her Life Points stood at an even five thousand.

"I'm really unconcerned with how high your defenses are-I've got enough ammo to knock them down," Ceren said.

"Well, would you be concerned with the special ability of Cyber Scribe Level Six? Because when my Life Points change in either direction, it lets me put an end to another card on the field-like that over-sized bag of bolts you've so effortlessly Summoned!"

Cyber Scribe Level Six took aim at the sky with her large book opened to midway. "Six Pack, meet the Scribe Smiter!"

A bolt erupted from the open tome, curled in the air and rocketed toward the Gatling giant. But as it crashed upon its form, Ceren's smile actually seemed to get wider – before it was obscured by the dust cloud that the Scribe Smiter blast kicked up.

Chazz folded his arms. "HA! Easy come, easy go right? Now if you're done scooping the eggs off your face, how about you start begging for mercy from the rumble of Chazz…"

The words died on his lips, as did Alexis's planned rebuttal of Chazz's planned play on his own name… mainly due to the shock of seeing Six Pack Dragon. Not only was it utterly unharmed by the Ritual Monster's furious assault, but it was now adorned with two gigantic golden guns in place of its original holstered cannons – and it had one thousand more Attack Points to boot. "Mind telling me what happened?!" Alexis shouted.

"Think I went to all that effort for something this vulnerable to your shoddy tricks? That targeted strike of yours only allowed my Six Pack Dragon to load up with the Partycrashers I just removed from my Deck – which gives it a thousand more Attack Points!" [Six Pack Dragon/ 2500 - 3500 ATK/2000 – 2500 DEF].

"Targeted assault, huh? Well, I think I've had enough of seeing that dragon. I'll rid it with one of my own!"

"Wait, Chazz, no! I don't think it's just the targeting is what caused-"

"The second a Duelist tells you what they are, believe 'em!" Chazz proclaimed. "And don't worry Alexis, I'm doing this to get past that mistake I clearly made earlier with Level Modulation!" Turning to Ceren, he continued. "I activate my strongest Armed Dragon's effect immediately, thanks to Alexis's Level Gauntlet! Now, by dropping a monster from my hand, I can destroy all monsters you've got with Attack Points equal to or less than its Attack Points! And since your monster's at thirty-five hundred points, here's a monster with equal Attack Points to put it down-the 'Ultimate Obedient Fiend'!"

The departure of the Level Ten Fiend signaled Chazz's barrage, and despite the shouts of a shocked Alexis, Armed Dragon Level Seven shot off a flurry of its blades at the mechanical beast, causing another explosion. When the smoke cleared this time, Alexis sank to her knees, while Chazz took a step back in disbelief. Before them stood, once again, the unmarked Fire Machine monster – and worse yet, it now held another weapon in its hands like it was the Jaws of Life.

"How perceptive of one of you." Ceren pulled one of his arms behind his back and smiled. "Because now the last piece of my plan is in place. That's the Infinity Launcher you now see on my monster, and with two thousand extra Attack and Defense Points to boot, I'm very sure I can put it to good use!"

Six Pack Dragon gave off another grating roar at Ceren's triumphant words, while Alexis and Chazz gaped in amazement as its Attack Points rose to a whopping fifty-five hundred.

"I…I…" Chazz tried to put up a brave front, but it was failing in the face of a well-stocked wyvern like the Six Pack Dragon – especially one that was that way now because of his futile strike. "…No monster's supposed to be like that! Who are you?!"

The Aspect member snorted. "Sorry, only make that kind of small talk with my equals. And Yuki's not here yet."

Before Chazz could snap back, the Six Pack Dragon stepped forward. "Six Pack, your first hit is on the Armed Dragon Level Three! Fire at will with your Supreme Electron Silencer! And thanks to your innate ability, that Armed Dragon will lose three hundred Attack and Defense Points for each face-up Spell I control!"

Three barrels focused on the still-posing Armed Dragon Level Three, still posing and still at twenty-eight hundred – but the shock of its Attack Points being forcibly being dropped to nineteen hundred, from the stray sparks coming off the Dragon, brought it back to attention. When it noticed the charging points of light from the Fire Machine monster, it tried to bring its shield to bear against the barrage. Unfortunately, the shield didn't even get down over its head before the blasters tore the little dragon to shreds, and put Chazz's Life Points in a similar fashion, chopping it down to four hundred.

Chazz tried to struggle to his feet, but the pain of the impact was doing its number on him. Unfortunately, a shining glint in the air looked to ruin his day further. "Oh, and yeah, I've heard of those Level Spells. And I'm aware of their drawbacks too. I believe that your Armed Dragon Level Five owes its existence to that little Guard of yours, correct?"

"W...what of it?" Chazz spluttered.

"Well, since its wielder is gone, so is the monster it Summoned, Level Five-and I believe it comes with a…"

"Five hundred Life Point penalty for each lost monster…" Alexis trailed off.

"Clever girl…"

That statement did not come from Ceren, but the finger gunshot off in Chazz's direction as the defunct Level Guard! crashed into him and shattered did.

Life Points fully depleted for Chazz, Ceren turned to his Obelisk-affiliated friend. Alexis had made her way back to her feet, but her eyes were wildly switching between each of her monsters.

Then something struck her.

"Wait a second! Did you say your FIRST hit was to Chazz's monster? Meaning that thing can attack more times?!"

"Oh yes, Alexis-this can make a second attack on a Special Summoned monster each Battle Phase, thanks to the Partycrashers."

Ceren's tone suddenly turned somber. "And really – I feel like I've been fighting one and a half Duelists. But goodness, what a one! I'm actually rather impressed with your perception of all ends of this duel, even if fruitless on Chazz's end."

"Um… thanks…" Alexis stuttered.

"…No, thank you. For giving me more stuff to talk of with Jaden later, for actually being a threat in this Duel…and for keeping the monster that destroyed my Sky Smog Scorcher on the field."

"Wait, what?!"

"Open fire, Six Pack."

And with a flurry of plasma, Alexis's Cyber Scribe Level Six was literally lost in the lights. But past the whine of the lasers the Ritual Monster was caught in, Alexis managed to get out some words of her own.

"Your dragon's not the only one that can take a hit – my Cyber Scribe Level Six can survive one battle it normally wouldn't each turn!"

"If only its power and your Life Points were as hardy, Alexis!" And once again, the lightning aura wrapping around the Cyber Scribe dropped its twenty-three hundred Attack Points to fourteen hundred. In addition, it also put Alexis's Life Points at nine hundred – and her into a backward tumble.

Thankfully, her field was intact. But Ceren was not finished with her. "I end my turn, and you as well. My profound apologies."

"I've still….got nine hundred…Life Points," hissed Alexis, pulling herself to her feet and holding her side.

"And Six Pack's final effect, Double Tap, will siphon them off. Since I equipped an Equip Spell to it with its effect this turn, it inflicts one thousand extra points of damage to you at the End Phase."

Alexis could only stare blankly as Six Pack Dragon issued a blast of fire – this time, from its gaping maw – directly at her.

The illumination from the explosion – and the direction Ceren's head took to avoid the cloud of dust from that explosion – brought another girl to his attention. She was hiding in a tree, with long purple hair. And Ceren, judging by her scramble after Alexis's Life Points hit zero, was likely about to blow his cover improperly. Thankfully, Six Pack Dragon was a bit more than the average monster, and so he pointed at the tree.

"Need a bit more power then, Ehris. Six Pack, knock our guest from the tree and only that. I don't feel up to scraping her off the floor – After this Duel, Ra knows I'm done…"

"...with my feature presentation."

Banner watched as the rift closed in front of him before turning around to face its emitter, Ehris. "It's not just you two, is it?" Banner asked, his calmness in spite of what he'd just witnessed taking Ehris by surprise.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, someone like you who can open up rifts in time and that boy down there with the Paraidux Patrol cards capable of materializing his monsters. Something just tells me there's more where you two came from."

"Very astute of you, Banner," said Ehris, idly looking at her clenching fist. "But I'm not telling you a thing."

"Well in my experience, if someone says something like that they usually are working with someone else. So if I had to guess, I'd say you're part of a larger organization dead-set on getting rid of Jaden. Then there's the fact that you're here with me right now; you can't be a mere foot soldier as your abilities and the fact you're refraining from engaging anyone in combat suggests you're one of the higher-ups."

Ehris's eyes widened at Banner's surmising. "That's very impressive," she admitted, "But I know things about you too, Professor Banner. Oh wait, sorry, how rude of me. Amnael." Banner froze. "That's right. My group and I know everything there is about the time you tried to unlock the Sacred Beasts. I have to say, I'm surprised; to think that someone as laid-back and under the radar as you would actually be part of something so nefarious."

Banner just floated there. "What do you want from me?"

"Oh, nothing from you. But I would like you to not interfere with Ceren's Duel. It'd be a shame if anything happened," she added, with a hint of a threat towards Pharaoh. But to her surprise, Banner just smiled. "No need to worry on that front," he said, "I don't intend on interfering."

"Oh? And why's that?"

"Because of who you're pitting yourselves against. Jaden Yuki is one of the finest students to ever come through this Academy. While it's true I played a part in the Sacred Beasts being unsealed, I also made sure someone would be able to stand against them. He is that someone. If you know of me, you must also know of Kagemaru. Jaden defeated not only him, but the vessel containing the Light of Destruction the following year. In fact, he's directly responsible for defeating most of the threats facing Duel Academy."

"That's odd," countered Ehris, "Because from what I heard, he was also responsible for what befell this Academy earlier this year."

Banner tensed up. "Did he ever tell you about it?" asked Ehris. "The look on your face makes me think the answer's at least a maybe."

Banner paused for a moment, looking out at the redcoat. "We all have our demons," he said knowingly.

"Are you seriously giving me that as an excuse?" asked Ehris with a laugh in her voice. "Because what Jaden did goes far beyond simply being troubled. And if he survives his Duel, he'll be taken to one such result of his reign of terror, personally."

"I understand full well that Jaden did something awful," said Banner. "He's become more secretive ever since he came back from the other dimension, and he's less talkative now than he ever was before. But I believe that my student is not only back in his right mind, but that his heart's also back in the right place. Whoever he was in the other dimension, he left it all back there and moved on. So rest assured, Miss Ehris, that I won't interfere with this Duel. Because Jaden doesn't need me to."

Ehris narrowed her eyes at Banner. That optimism of his is annoying, she thought. But no matter. His tune will change when Ceren prevails. So much of this world and the worlds beyond will. With nothing else to do, she and Banner resumed watching Ceren's latest Duel now finally freed of the time-halting spell Ehris had emitted.

Aw man, thought Jaden, I haven't gotten any solid good draws in the last three turns. And this guy's just been hammering away at whatever I Summon. Plus he's now got the two toughest monsters of his Deck – at least I hope they are – out on the field. He looked at his Deck and gulped. Here goes…something!

"Wait," came Yubel's voice. "You don't know anything about his monsters. Ask so he doesn't have anything to surprise you with."

Good idea, Jaden agreed. "Before I start my turn," he said out loud, "I'd like to know what your monsters' effects are."

"Sure thing," said Ceren. "You've probably found out everything you need to know about my Six Pack Dragon from Blair's scout report, but Bayonne allows me to equip Paraidux Equip Spells from my hand to monsters I control regardless of their equipping conditions, and is also unaffected by the effects of monsters with twenty-five hundred or less Attack Points."

So his Equip Spells couldn't be equipped regularly before. I was right! thought Jaden. But knowing that won't help me now. I need to Summon something that's powerful enough to take on both Bayonne the Perfect Shot and his Six Pack Dragon without being vulnerable to their effects. He glanced at Six Pack Dragon. But if I were to fuse, his Six Pack Dragon would just take me out right there and then as soon as it attacked. That, and it would only get more powerful as Ceren would only equip more cards or it to use against me. He looked at his Deck. All this thinking isn't helping. If I don't draw something, I'll never get anywhere.

"Here goes...something!" he announced boldly as he drew for his turn… and frowned for the third time in a row. Dammit! This card can't help me either. Even if I Summoned something with it, Ceren would just finish me off with… wait, hold on; maybe there is something I can do here!

"I activate 'The Flute of Summoning Kuriboh'! This card lets me add a furry friend of mine from my Deck to my hand, so I'll go right ahead and add my 'Winged Kuriboh'!" He added it and shuffled. "Next I'll Set a monster and end my turn."

"That was… anticlimactic," said Ceren, drawing for his own turn. "Guess ensuring the thrill in this Duel's up to me. I'll equip Bayonne the Perfect Shot with 'Paraidux Arms RK-Four Ember Missile Pack' from my hand! And it's aimed at anything you conjure up from here on out-because when a Spell Card would be activated or a monster with higher Attack Points than the equipped monster would be Special Summoned, I can banish this card to neutralize them. Just in case you were thinking about activating that 'Polymerization' on your next turn," he added with a smirk before pointing to Jaden's Set monster. "Now Six Pack Dragon, attack his Set monster!"

Upon his order, the giant mechanical beast opened fire, incinerating Jaden's only line of defense. "Before you do anything else," Jaden interrupted, "Winged Kuriboh's effect activates! Since it was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, all Battle Damage I take this turn goes to zero!"

"Son of a…" muttered Ceren, before cutting himself off and gesturing to Jaden. "I end my turn. You're up."

"Sure thing," said Jaden. He took a breath and drew. "Finally!" he exclaimed at the top of his lungs. With a look at Ceren, he played what he hand. "I activate the Spell Card called 'A Forbidden Tactic'! It only works when I have 2 or less cards on the field, and allows me to reveal a Level 7 or lower monster in my hand with 2000 or more ATK, like my Elemental HERO Neos, to draw 1 card for every thousand Defense Points it has! Unless of course, your Ember Missile Pack has any objections?"

"Not right now," said Ceren, "You're at the end of your rope, so there's not much you can do."

"How courteous. I draw two, thanks to Neos' two thousand Defense Points…" Jaden checked the two cards he'd just added. He looked at them, then to Ceren, then grinned. "…and now I'll activate the Spell Card 'Monster Reborn', to bring back the Thronekeeper from your Graveyard!"

Ceren weighed his options: His Six Pack Dragon could protect itself from destruction twice per turn and would deal Jaden damage if he so much as attacked with a Special Summoned monster. But then again, Jaden had other cards in his hand, and if even one worked with the Thronekeeper was Summoning…

"Forget it!" the derringer-wielding Duelist interrupted. "I activate Ember Missile Pack's effect to banish it to negate and destroy Monster Reborn!"

"That's fine with me!" retorted Jaden, "Because now it's time for what I was planning for all along!"

"Wait, what?!"

"That's right! I figured you'd negate Monster Reborn! I mean, who wouldn't? So now I'll activate my face-down card…!" He pointed dramatically at it as it flipped up. 'Polymerization'!"

Ceren jaw dropped. He outplayed me?!

Jaden would not be deterred by his opponent's shock. "This'll let me fuse my Elemental Heroes Neos and Sparkman to create my newest Hero! I Fusion Summon the 'Elemental HERO Nebulos'!"

As he said all this, Neos and Sparkman appeared, twisting and coalescing into a shining star which projected out an armored version of Neos. This entity, clad in silver armor and with jagged jade blades ejecting from his arms, touched down upon Jaden's field. [Warrior/Fusion/LIGHT/Level 9/ATK 3000/DEF 2500]. "And next," Jaden continued, "I activate Nebulos's sweet special ability! I can Tribute this bad boy to Special Summon one Neos Fusion Monster from my Fusion Deck! So I'll Tribute Nebulos to call out my 'Elemental HERO Air Neos'!"

Ceren clenched his jaw as one of Jaden's Neos Fusion Monsters flashed away and begat another, this one wearing sharpened crimson armor and sprouting wide-spanning wings. [Warrior/Fusion/WIND/Level 7/ATK 2500/DEF 2000]. "And here's a nifty trick courtesy of Air Neos! Since my Life Points are lower than yours, he gains Attack Points equal to the difference!"

"Oh no, that's two thousand points!" muttered Ceren as Jaden's winged warrior glowed with green light [ATK 2500 - 4500].

"You're right, it is! And I aim to use all of 'em right now!" Jaden took his last card from his hand and played it. "But before I do, I want to make sure nothing can get in the way of stopping your Dragon and saving my friends, so I equip 'Rainbow Veil' to my Air Neos! When the monster this card's equipped to battles an opponent's monster, while that monster's on the field its effects are negated on the Battle Phase!" Jaden pointed to Ceren's powerhouse. "Now Air Neos, take down Six Pack Dragon!"

Ceren could do nothing but stand there in silent fury as Jaden's monster bore down on his. All of my Dragon's mighty powers, negated! And all by that stupid Rainbow Veil card! With a single punch, Air Neos burst through the mighty Machine monster's shattered Ceren's best monster to pieces (Ceren's LP 2200 - 200; Air Neos's ATK 4500 - 2500). "My turn's not over yet," Jaden went on. "Next I'll banish my Hero's Second Signal from my Graveyard and gain Life Points equal to Air Neos's Attack Points." Placing the card in his pocket, he spread his arms wide and basked in the sparkles that showered down upon him (LP 200 - 2700). "Alright then," said Jaden at last, "That ends my turn. Thankfully Nebulos has another effect that protects my Air Neos from returning to the Fusion Deck by card effects."

Ceren shook unceasingly, utterly beside himself with rage. Unbelievable! No one's ever defeated Six Pack Dragon! That card's my pride and joy, and he beat it in a matter of seconds like it was nothing!

Then the thought occurred to him. I need to Summon Bertha. Curse the waiting, she'll put this guy in his place! He checked his hand. I have everything I need to bring her out, too!

"Jaden Yuki!" he called out to Jaden. "It's time for you to experience a power like none you've ever seen before!"

Jaden tensed. What kind of power is he talking about now?

Ceren drew his card for that turn. "First I'll Summon Paraidux Patrol – Inspector Lili in Attack Mode!" As he finished speaking, a long-haired woman in a reddish-brown trenchcoat appeared on his field [FIRE/Warrior/ Level 4/ATK 1900/DEF 1000]. "And then I'll Set four cards face-down!" he announced as the backs of four cards appeared between him and his monsters.

"And now I'll combine my Level Four Inspector Lili with my four face-down cards!"

What?! Jaden's didn't say, as his eyes widened. "What's going on?! What are you doing?!" he did say.

"Summoning a kind of monster that you're among the lucky few to witness!" Ceren bellowed, raising his free hand to the sky as Inspector Lili's body ignited and shot up into the air in a brilliant tongue of orange light. As Jaden watched in a mix of confusion and suspense, the tongue split into two parallel lines. Jaden wondered what these were until he saw Ceren's four face-down cards glow bright green and shoot up into the air in similarly brilliant green tongues, which stretched themselves between the two parallels, revealing the two of them to be helices. The four Spell Cards formed four rung-like lines between the two helices, which then twisted around the connecting rungs, forming what looked like a strand of genes guiding the gazes of everyone present up into the sky where a bright white tunnel opened up. The strands of light entered the tunnel and straightened out.

"It's all over for you now, Yuki!" boomed Ceren, projecting his voice above the clamor. "This is the birth of a brand-new breed of monster! Bear witness to my new dame of destruction! I ADVENT SUMMON 'PARAIDUX PATROL - BERTHA THE BALLISTIC'!"

Advent Summon?! Jaden could barely hear his mind ring in his mind as the wind grew to a deafening howl, and the light intensified to nearly blind him. Shielding his eyes with his arm, Jaden glimpsed into the tunnel as a humanoid-shaped mass of chrome appeared in its light and began to pull itself from the gateway...

TO BE CONTINUED...