It was the third day of the tournament and the battle flew by much faster than before. Gao watched his friends and some of his old foes fighting with everything they got. Tasuku and Jackknife won once again to his and Drum's joy. As for Shido and Gallows, they climbed to the next match just like his little sister and Halberd without any trouble.

Gao noticed that his little sister gained some confidence when she used her spellcards and had faster reflex and grew more efficient. It was also apparent on Halberd face as a small smile of satisfaction appeared.

Gao stood up and started climbing down when his turn was coming, just like his buddy did. He didn't see Zanya, but knew his mind was ready for their duel, but he didn't know it was because being near a girl would break that mindset.

Drum turned toward Gao and said, "Gao. When the first minute is down, I need to take my Katana world form."

Gao smiled and gave a thumb up.

Hanako and Halberd returned by the sides of her family and one blue dragon noticed where he was sitting and where was Halberd sitting.

Ironchain and Halberd were next to each other's. The red dragon didn't notice it as he took the place of Drum without realising it.

Ironchain turned his head toward his right, realising it was Cat Sith by his side. They glared at each other's and the blue dragon turned toward his left again, silently looking at the dragon.

Ironchain slowly raised his claw, preparing mentally himself to say something, Come on. You train for so long and become stronger, but you also realise why he lied to me. Ironchain, talk to him! His own mind ordered him. Ironchain opened his mouth and was about to say something when Halberd turned his head towards him, noticing his stench.

The two dragons gave an awkward gaze; their friendship was broken just as Ironchain trust, even if he recuperated some of it. They stood that way as the will of the blue dragon to apology shattered as he remembered being a jerk to his friend last year. No! You have to tell him that you forgive him and that we can be friends once again.

Ironchain was about to finally say it, but sadly, an important match dragged their attention.

"This is Paruko and let me present the next participants of the Buddyfight tournament! We have Zanya and Tsukikage who will fight against Gao Mikado and Drum. Those two are colleges in the buddypolice force, but they are going to be foes in this match! Ready? Buddyfight!"

Halberd stopped looking at Ironchain, ending the akwardess of the situation. The blue dragon sighed and looked at the match, while Cat Sith wondered what was going on between them, even if he knew what happened to them, thanks to Kuguru explanation.

Chapter 72: Katana Duel

Tsukikage didn't lose a second and drew his katana. He dashed toward Drum and slashed at the chest, but the dragon blocked it with his drill before taking a few steps away.

The dragon remembered when he fought with Tsukikage side, He is fast and agile. I have to be careful because he's made of nanomachine. How can I beat him thought? He dodged a kunai and blocked another slash coming from the ninja.

Drum knew that his drill was too slow to fight against a fast and agile warrior like Tsukikage, so he needed to resist one minute. He maintained a safe distance from the ninja and dodged the kunais and shurikens. He blocked the katana of Tsukikage without any problem.

"Half a minute passed and none of them hit their adversary! Despite that, the fight is amazing!" Paruko commented.

"You're not giving your all now right?" Gao asked Tsukikage.

"It's obvious you are winning some time. We won't fast energy for now," Zanya replied. He adjusted his glasses, "A full assault won't work and Drum is ready for any surprise strike," So we have to wait for the moment you stop winning some time.

Gao knew which card he had to obtain and checked how long before he could draw the card, "Still 20 seconds left."

Drum opened his mouth and breathed fire toward Tsukikage, but the ninja rolled on the ground and countered with a kick on Drum snout.

"That was a nice kick!" Paruko commented.

Drum grumbled painfully and activated the thrusters of his drill, charging toward Tsukikage. The ninja jumped to the left, but Drum expected him to dodge and deactivated his thrusters. The red dragon spun around himself and whipped the ninja with his tail, throwing him away.

Tsukikage landed on the ground and jumped to the right, taking some distance from Drum. He spun his katana and was ready to strike back.

"It's time to draw the first card!" Paruko warned them.

Gao and Zanya drew their card.

Gao smiled and activated his card, knowing that Zanya will have all the chance to counter with his spellcard.

"I'm ready Gao!" Drum told his friend with a smile, "Let's show them my other form!"

Gao raised his card, "Drum, awake your inner power!" The card shined.

Drum armor exploded into fragments. The fragments started too fused once again in a new form. A bronze samurai armor formed around his body, covered his legs and his tail. His helmet morphed and took the form of a kabuto with the two silver horns changing into darken silver color. A long crimson cape appeared on his back and attached around his neck. He threw his drill in the air and turned into a long katana with thrusters on the handle.

"With the power of Katana world, I am now!" he spun his katana around his hand while a scabbard appeared in his other one and attached it on his flank, "The Great Dragon Samurai Drum!"

Everyone watched it without saying anything.

Zanya corrected his glasses, "I... I thought he'll turn into a ninja."

Which was pretty much what everyone were expecting.

Drum checked his body and smiled as he realised that his armor wasn't restricting his body and allowed for free movement, "This is perfect," he tried his katana and struck with speed and agility.

He prepared himself to charge at Tsukikage.

Kyoya lightly smiled, "This is interesting. He has another form that just his magician one."

Azi crossed his arms, "It's still and will remain unworthy of Gao's great power."

Hinako chuckled, not hearing what Azi responded, "This is another exciting fight," she took a quick gaze toward Tenchi, He's watching this match more intensely than before. He's going to be my main adversary soon and I have to be ready for him. What's interesting him in this match? She found no answer to the question, but knew to keep an eye on him. She still wondered if he tried to murder her in the cruise ship, but didn't spell anything out without any proof.

Elsewhere, Tenbu crossed his arms with a small smile.

"What are you thinking about?" Hanako asked the old dragon.

The green dragon chuckled and replied, "The power coming from his bloodline is extremely interesting. The Fang Slade Terrestrial is the only family capable of using magic to adapt themselves and their weapons to another world."

"A lot of creatures has something unique in their battle style. I didn't need to fully use mine, but when we'll fight Drum, I'll have to do it," Halberd replied.

Ironchain lightly smiled when he thought of his special ability coming from his tattoo, which was given by great training and his family.

In the ring, Drum and Tsukikage katana's collided violently as they tried to break each other's guard. Drum had more flexibility with his weapon that could cut the air and preventing a slowdown compare to his drill. He dodged the blade of the ninja with ease and had a small grin on his face. Tsukikage threw a shuriken toward Drum, but the red dragon blocked it, then realised a foot was coming right in his face and hit him hard. Drum almost lost his balance, but his tail took hold on the ground and the dragon stood up.

Drum activated the thrusters and charged at the ninja. Tsukikage tried to block the katana, but the dragon flew around him. Drum docked his foot on the ground and the thrusters deactivated until he faced the black ninja. He then reactivated it and charged. Tsukikage was halfway turned toward him and knew he couldn't block it in time. Drum aimed for the shoulder, intending to mostly throw the ninja outside without wounding him too much.

Zanya activated his spells just before the blade pierced the shoulder of Tsukikage, "The Art Of Body Replacement!"

Drum pierced the shoulder, but his target turned into an image. Drum stopped and searched around him for Tsukikage, "Where is he?"

He heard something and raised his head; he saw a kunai coming at him. He tried dodging it, but it pierced his shoulder and made him painfully grunt. He blocked Tsukikage katana with his own and the ninja jumped away. The two charged and their blade collided as they seemed to dance around each other's, trying to find a flaw in the other's technique.

"This is an epic fight! Who will win? Both of them can!" Pakuro commented.

Gao checked how long before the next card to be draw and saw that 10 seconds remained. Zanya did the same.

The two boys waited for the moment to draw the card when Drum slashed the chest of the ninja.

Tsukikage jumped away and checked his chest, he noticed his clothes were a little damaged, but didn't get a deep wound. He drew shuriken and threw them at Drum, but the dragon rolled on the ground.

"It's time to draw the second card!" Paruko warned the boys.

Gao and Zanya drew their card, preparing themselves to act.

Zanya looked at Gao and thought, I'm sure he's going to use a dragon shield. He often uses it to defend Drum. He will wait for me to strike... Unless he has something else, but the chances are low.

Drum took the kunai lodge in his shoulder and threw it at Tsukikage, but the ninja grabbed it and put it in his belt. The two fixed at each other's lightly panting as exhaustion awoke in them. Tsukikage threw more shurikens at Drum, but the dragon grabbed his cape and caught the shurikens in it. He opened his cape and let them fall on the ground.

Drum activated his thrusters and charged at Tsukikage. He deactivated it when he was close and slid on the ground, pointing his katana at him. The ninja jumped over the dragon and tried kicking Drum. The red dragon dodged it and continued fighting.

Zanya decided to use his spell. He raised his card and yelled, "Spinning Windmill Knives, Back-hand!"

"Zanya takes the offensive!" Paruko yelled in excitement.

He grabbed a large Windmill knife and threw it toward Drum, Gao's going to use his dragon shield now and eliminate a risk of counter.

"Look out Drum!" Gao yelled at his buddy. Drum saw the knife coming toward him. Drum ducked and let it pass over him.

Tsukikage grabbed his tail and spun him in the air before throwing away. Drum activated the thrusters and returned on the ring.

Zanya was now nervous, Gao didn't use a defensive spell card. Which one he picked?

Drum charged at Tsukikage. It was then that Gao raised his spellcard, "Wrath Of Dragon!"

"Now it's Gao's turn to counter with his own spell," Paruko commented.

The red dragon yelled as he suddenly accelerated. He slashed with his blade and Tsukikage blocked it, the problem was that the sudden increase of power threw the katana away. Drum spun around himself and kicked Tsukikage before he could do anyway. The ninja flew away and crashed against the wall... far outside of the ring before sliding until he landed.

Tsukikage eyes spun as he said, "Niiiin."

Everyone was silent as they watched the end of the fight.

"Takuchu!" Paruko's body told her.

"Hum... Oh!" the girl shook her head and acclaimed, "And the winners are Gao and Drum!"

That called everyone back to reality and applauded them.

Zanya used his healing spellcard while Tsukikage returned by his side. He corrected his glasses and said, "Looks like I didn't guess well what your spellcard was Gao," he lightly smiled, "But it was a great battle."

Tsukikage took out his scroll and was written, Congratulation.

Drum scratched the back of his head, as he turned back in his real form before turning in his SD form, "We dragons are the best not for nothing... But I thought I was going to lose there."

"Gao. You better not lose against your sister," Zanya told him.

Gao checked on the screen and saw it was the case. Tomorrow, he and his buddy will be against his sister and Halberd.

Drum checked it, "This isn't going to be an easy one. Your sister might be as good as you."

Gao nodded before a small smile appeared on his face, "I'll give my best."

Meanwhile Tenchi watched the result of the match with a small smile, which wasn't unnoticed by Hinako, Azi and Kyoya who didn't like it.

Tenchi took out his cellphone and whispered, "Is it complete?" his smile was lightly cracking up to a larger one as he looked at Tsukikage, "Good. I have found our subject to test it when the time comes."

The three didn't hear what he said, not even Azi as Paruko was covering the man voice as she announced the next match. One thing was sure for them, something seemed to go his way.

Hinako stood up and stretched her arms, "Guess I need to prepare for the first day of the campaign."

She walked away.

Kyoya and Azi said in their mind, Just like us. We will have our second one soon. They thought as they looked at Gao, sitting with his family.

AC: This is the end of chapter 72.

Next chapter: Darkness vs Dungeon. Time to add one more character to this story.

Once the tournament Arc is over, we are going to the meat of this story and were the main plot will take more place, with a few filler to develop some character like Halberd and Ironchain relationship.