Drum activated the jet engine of his drill and charged at Axia, who deviate Drum's weapon with his spear and hitting his snout with the handle, pushing Drum away. Drum looked at Axia, surprised by his sudden counter. I never saw Axia fighting that way before. How?

"Do not underestimate me Drum," Axia warned his friend, spinning his spear before pointing it at Drum, "Because you're going to lose even with your training."

Drum frowned, but his lips rose, "I won't Axia."

Chapter 69: Drum vs Axia, The Dragon Magical Duel

Drum blocked the spear and dodged it. He tried to counter, but failed to pierce the guard of the magician. Drum was slow and his types of attack were limited because of his drill while Axia had a larger range and could use it faster and more efficiently.

Drum jumped over Axia and yelled at Gao, "When you can, use the Spellcard!"

"Which one?" Gao asked.

Drum was hit at his chest and was electrocuted. He released smoke out of his mouth and replied, "The Magic one."

Gao knew he meant the new spellcards he obtained and found the right one. He looked at the timer and saw it was soon time before they are allowed to use one.

Drum was on the defensive and blocked the charge of Axia. As he blocked it, he lightly smiled, You sure change since we first met Axia.

Axia threw lightning ball towards Drum. The red dragon rolled on the ground and threw back the last one toward Axia. The magical blue dragon blocked it. He adjusted his hat and smiled.

Axia charged again and they fought in close range. Axia and Drum gaze crossed as their weapon collided and they pushed against each other's.

"For now, it seems the two dragons are an equal strength and none of them are backing down," Paruko analysed.

"You really grew stronger Axia," Drum commented.

"It's not because I've studied in Magic World that makes me weaker Drum. I always have strong affinity with magic and the spellcards," Axia replied.

"It's been long, but I remember how we first met," Drum grunted as he pushed the blue dragon away.

Axia lost his balance and felt on the ground. He rolled back and jumped on his feet, ready to continue the fight, "I never forgot. I'm going all out now Drum-kin!" he winked at Drum.

Gao saw it was time to use the spellcard, he took it and looked at it, "Drum looks weird in the spellcard. Anyway, I have to use it," he raised his card and the light shined.

Drum armor broke up as his body shined with light. His bronze breastplate reformed his gauntlet and his boots. He wore gray pants with a purple loincloth and a purple cape. On his bronze helmet, he also had a large purple magician.

He threw his still in the air and it transformed into a drill staff. Drum picked it and spun around himself and yelled, "With the power of Magic world, I am now!" he pointed his drilled staff toward Axia, "Dragowizard Magician Drum!"

Everyone was silent after they saw Drum's transformation.

Kyoya watched it surprised and asked, "How did he-"

Azi Dahara replied, "This is the Terrestrial family power. They can use the power given by other worlds under a few specific conditions. Which were obviously simplified by the spellcards."

"Then he's a powerful dragon," Kyoya commented.

Azi rolled his eyes and replied, "No. He just has a large variety of power, all of which are unworthy of Gao's power."

Drum looked around him and his fang shined as he raised his claw, "I am amazing right?"

Axia eyes shined, which made Drum gulped, "Amazing. You switched form like a magical girl."

"Don't reference me to those kinds of things!" Drum furiously yelled. "I had to answer an extreme complex question of knowledge to obtain it."

"What was it?" Gao asked behind him.

"We don't have time... And the answer was, it varies greatly on how many dragons two female yandere dragons can kill before stopped or killed depending of their methods of action," Drum answered.

"W-what?" Paruko said when she heard the answer.

That got Gao silent. The red dragon charged his staff with energy. Between the drills, a ball of energy was charging up.

Axia frowned before letting out a small smile, he pointed his spear and charged a ball of electricity.

"Energy Ball!" Drum yelled.

"Thunder Ball!" Axia yelled.

The two balls collided and exploded. Drum jumped in the air and spun around himself, aiming at Axia, but the blue dragon deviated the drill staff. The staff and spear connected to each other's, but none of them managed to break the other's guard. Eventually, Drum swung his staff and broke Axia's balance. Drum charged his staff with energy to fire at short range, but Baku used his spell card, "Magical Goodbye."

The ball disappeared and Axia was ready to continue the fight.

Gao and Baku looked at each other's while the dragon kept fighting, ignoring Paruko comment.

"You're good. You didn't tell me you were going to participate," Gao commented.

"I wasn't expecting it either, but Axia came. He asked me to team up with him for the tournament," he said nothing else to his friend about Axia's reason.

Gao nodded and saw they could pick another spellcard now. Baku and him drew one and waited to act.

Drum blocked Axia assault without any problem, but started to show some exhaustion, just like Axia as they were both giving everything they have.

Axia jumped away and started shooting lightning balls toward Drum. The red dragon blocked them with ease without electrocuting himself. Drum missed one and was electrocuted.

He felt on his knee and looked at Axia with a small smile, he stood up and pointed his staff at him, "Nice one Axia. You surely are stronger than when we were kids. Let me show you some tricks."

Drum spun his staff over him while he charged it with energy between the drills. Once it was ready, he spun around himself and launched a powerful wave of energy toward Axia.

"I don't think I can block that!" Axia yelled.

"Solomon's shield!" Baku said.

A shield appeared and blocked a part of the attack before breaking and pushing Axia away. The blue dragon rolled on the ground and almost felt out of the ring, but used his spear to remain in it. He then returned in the ring with a grin, "Okay Drum-kin. I'm going to show you my own tricks!"

"That was great from Axia to remain in the match. I was sure he would have been thrown out by now, but he's still ready to fight," Paruko commented.

Axia pointed his spear in the air. His spear shined and Drum Shivered.

He's going to strike hard, but I won't let him! Drum thought before charging toward Axia.

Axia grinned and said, "Got you," he pointed his spear and lightning came out, throwing Drum away.

The red dragon landed on his back and painfully grumbled, "Dammit."

Axia raised his spear again, "This is going to hurt you more than me Drum-kin."

The spear released its cumulated energy in the air and formed a cloud.

Paruko and her buddy took a safe distance from the clouds, feeling it was dangerous, "Looks like he ise going for the finishing strike!"

Axia looked at Drum and said, "I am one of the best magician dragons of Magic World Drum," the cloud started shining, "Magic is my source of power. I am not blessed with great muscles like you or almost every other dragons, but magic makes us even! Thunder Storm!"

The cloud released a large thunder beam coming at Drum.

"You aren't kidding!" Drum yelled, knowing that this would beat him if he didn't dodged. Drum stood up, but was a little too slow.

"Blue Dragon Shield!" Gao yelled.

The shield blocked the impact, but cracked under the pressure after one second. The next second, the shield broke.

A large explosion covered the arena with smoke. It wasn't long before it dispersed, when the ring was visible, the spectators were surprised by what they saw.

Azi was also surprised by it, but not as much as the other's.

Drum was standing behind Axia with his drills ready to fire with determination shining in his eyes while Axia had his mouth opened, surprised and off-guard as the drills poked his back.

"This is incredible!" Paruko yelled in her mic. "Drum somehow managed to dodge the attack and is about to win the match!"

"Axia. There isn't enough time for your buddy to wait before the next spellcard is draw," Drum said.

The counter was written 10 more seconds on it. Axia closed his eyes and lightly smiled, "I guess I can only surrender. Sorry Baku."

"No problem," Baku replied.

"And Axia surrendered to Drum. Drum and Gao are victorious!" Paruko yelled with a smile.

The crowd cheered for the victorious. Drum grinned and raised his claw, "Not bad for an awesome dragon," before he switched back in his original form.

Gao chuckled and gave him a thumb up.

"That was a nice match," Baku commented as he looked at Axia. The two nodded and walked out of the ring.

Drum and Gao turned around and walked at the direction of the door they came in.

"Wait," Paruko said as she flew closer to them.

Drum and Gao turned around. Gao asked, "What is it?"

"I think everyone is wondering how Drum was behind Axia. The smoke was only there for a few seconds," Paruko asked.

Drum smirked as he turned back to his mini form, "That's because I only because I rushed behind Axia when he dropped his guard. He was sure to win so he wasn't expecting me there. Nothing complicated."

"Oh," Paruko commented. She smiled and flew in the air to continue presenting the remaining matches for the day.

Drum and Gao joined their friends and family. Everyone expressed their joy of seeing Drum's back and their victory.

Tenbu flew closer to the dragon and scratched the head of the red dragon, "Congratulation Drum. You came back not at the last second and you defeated Axia as a mage dragon. You're training sure paid off."

"Of course," Drum replied, chuckling and scratching the back of his head, "Father was strick... When I was with him and before he kicked me to another world, but that's all."

"Now you have to continue with my training Drum. You are stronger, but your mind still needs to become stronger," Tenbu told him.

Drum nodded while grumbling a few random things.

"So this is your buddy Gao," Troubadour spoke up.

Drum turned toward him and frowned when he recognised the gray dragon as a dragon of Darkness Dragon world, "Who are you?"

"I am Purgatory Knights Troubadour Dragon, but just call me Troubadour. I'm also a friend of Gao," the dark dragon replied with a smile, "You were really impressive in this battle Drum," he showed his hand, silently asking to shake it.

Drum pushed the hand away and replied, "I don't shake hands with a darkness dragon."

Troubadour wasn't really surprised as he replied, "As I guessed. We don't have a good reputation. Alas, I was hoping you'll be more polite as you are the son of Fang Slade Terrestrial The XIII."

"I do not trust your kind," Drum grumbled, which didn't hurt Troubadour.

Tenbu flew near Drum and pinched his snout, "That wasn't polite Drum. Especially when he was simply trying to be kind with you."

"Ouch," Drum grumbled.

"I don't mind Tenbu," Troubadour replied. He stood up and walked away, "Anyway, I must good for now. It was nice to see you Drum."

Drum took a glimpse at Gao and noticed that he disapproved of his reaction to Troubadour, When did he meet him? Sigh... I have to say it right? "Wait!"

Troubadour stopped.

"I'm... sorry," Drum managed to say. For Gao, it felt like it missed some honesty in it.

"Accepted," Troubadour replied with a smile, "Oh. As for Despair... He is under watch right now, so he won't show up for a while. Drum, if he shows up, just run."

He then disappeared.

Drum heard it and had two opposed thought, Good. He won't try to hurt anyone, but I won't be able to obtain revenge.

Tenbu pat the dragon's head, "Good job."

Drum lightly smiled, But I don't trust Troubadour one bit.

They sat and didn't talk about Troubadour anymore, as they watched the rest of the matches today.

Gao turned toward his buddy, he was really glad Drum was back, but at the same time, I should have expected he wouldn't like Troubadour, but that was harsh. Troubadour is also my friend.

Drum also glanced toward Gao, Troubadour is also your friend Gao. What happened while I was gone? Did he try to steal my buddy? No. Even if he tried, Gao would never accept. I am sure of that. He waited for me and believed I would be back, so I cannot doubt Gao.

The last match ended. Zanya and Tsukikage were victorious of their match.

Suzumi stood up and said, "We should celebrate your return Drum. I'm sure you missed our meals."

Drum eyes shined and everything he thought was gone, "Yes!"

Tenchi watched Tsukikage and his ninja skills. He lightly smiled as he thought; I should keep an eye on him.

One of Azi's head was watching Tenchi and saw the small smile, What is he thinking? They wondered. They didn't the smile and wondered if there was a plan into action.

AC: This is the end of chapter 69.

Next chapter: Celebration.

It will give some background between Drum and Axia that was implied in this chapter, plus some explanation about the Purgatory Knights.