Inside Tasuku's chamber, his alarm clock rang and woke him up, just like Jackknife who was resting on the sofa of the living room. Tasuku checked the hour and saw they had time to eat a big breakfast before they had to go at the stadium. The boy climbed off his bed and dressed himself in his usual clothes and walked toward the kitchen and prepared some eggs and toasts.

Jackknife flew by his side and asked, "Good-morning Tasuku. Did you sleep well?"

Tasuku smiled and replied, "Without any problem. You don't have to worry about me. I don't have nightmare for a long time now."

Jackknife nodded, but replied, "It still comes back from time to time and I don't want you to take everything on you Tasuku."

"I won't Jack," he replied to his buddy.

The green dragon smiled, "I know."

"We have to go at the stadium after breakfast and win our next match. Then we will be close to the final and have our battle against Gao and Drum," Tasuku said.

"If we and they continue winning," Jackknife warned him.

Tasuku chuckled, "We won't lose. We have no problem winning any of our matches. Our opponents were good, but not as good as us."

"Don't get overconfident. The next one we are going to fight defeated Gallows and Shido. You know Gallows is a strong opponent and a very resilient one. That girl knows when to use her cards at the right time. I remembered when I watched her matches," Jackknife scratched his jaw, "She was standing out compare to most of them and she has a buddy skill just like you Tasuku. She's the only one else who has one. Thinking of Yesterday, Hanako was also really good and its clear Halberd teaches how to use the spellcards well."

"I was really unsure if Gao and Drum would win or not," Tasuku said as the breakfast was ready and served it.

"Me too, so let's not assume we are going to win with ease, especially when it will become an air fight."

They ate their breakfast and flew for their next match.

Chapter 75: Dragon vs Phoenix

Paruko yelled, "Welcome every for the next day of Buddyfight! Our fighters climbed the stairs and reached the quarter final! The days here are getting shorter and shorter, but I'm sure everyone is glad that the matches are now taking less time before they concluded. Today, our first match is going to be between the favorite team and one popular team! For the first match, let me present you the favorite team: Tasuku and his buddy Jackknife!"

Tasuku and Jackknife entered in the arena and people were acclaiming him and his buddy. Jackknife didn't like it when he heard a few of them talking about how cute he was and they would like to pinch his big cheeks.

That's why I don't like being in my mini form. He said in his mind. He turned in his real form and flew in the ring.

"And his opponents are Kanaze and her buddy Bladewing Phoenix who gained popularity during their matches and her personality," Paruko commented.

Paruko and Phoenix walked in the arena. Phoenix turned in his real form and flew in the ring.

Kanaze smiled at Tasuku and said, "Hi Tasuku. I'm so glad I'm having a match against you. We are going to give everything we have to defeat you Tasuku and have fun among the way."

Tasuku smiled and replied, "We are also going to give everything we have Kanaze and will defeat you. We have a friend to fight in the finale you know."

"I also want to fight Gao and Drum, so I also have to win," Kanaze cheerfully replied.

Gao, his family and his friends were waiting for the match to begin. Gao stood up and yelled, "Come on Tasuku! You will win this match! We have to reach the final!"

"This match promise to be interesting," a voice said behind them.

Gao turned around and saw Troubadour sitting behind them.

"You again!" Drum grunted.

"Yes my friend," Troubadour replied nodding at him with a small smile.

"We are not friends," Drum replied. He was about to add something else when Tenbu pulled his snout.

Tenbu started to say, "Calm down Drum, the match is-"

Paruko interrupted him, "Buddyfight!"

Tasuku and Kazane activated their buddy skills and floated in the air while their deck case transformed into a star and a sphere.

Jackknife didn't lose a second. The helmet blade pointed forward ad flew toward Phoenix who flew higher. Phoenix closed his wings and threw metallic feathers at Jackknife. The green dragon closed his wings and let the gravity dragged him toward the ground. He opened his wings and passed over Kanade and flew until he was at Phoenix altitude before charging once again.

Phoenix dodged the assault of Jackknife and used his speed and agility to go behind Jackknife and pecked his back. Jackknife painfully grunted and whipped Phoenix face with his tail and took a safe distance. The two looked at each other's and tried finding a plan.

"This is a nice start in this battle between Jackknife and Phoenix. The time for the spellcards isn't coming in this aerial battle," Paruko commented.

It wasn't as exciting for the spectators than the battle between Halberd and Drum, but it was a high-speed fight. Jackknife charged once again, faster than before and closed the distance fast. Phoenix used his metallic feather and created a small spiky shield. Jackknife stopped and flew over it and tried slashing Phoenix with his claws, but missed. Phoenix countered with his feet and slashed Jackknife face.

The dragon flew away and had red marks around his eyes, missing it. Jackknife grunted and charged once again.

"Jack! You have to be over Phoenix!" Tasuku told his buddy.

Jackknife nodded and flew as high as he could just like Phoenix. Jackknife reached the ceiling first and descended toward Phoenix. His blade missed Phoenix, but tackled his chest and crashed on the ring. Phoenix wasn't out and countered with energy feather and hits Jackknife a few times before the dragon took a safe distance.

"Time to draw the spellcards," Tasuku and Kanade said as they drew their card from their deck case both wondering what was the strategy of the other.

Jackknife charged and tried tackling Phoenix, but missed and had to land on the ground before getting pecked on the base of his neck. Jackknife used the blade of his helmet and slashed as he turned around, but only cut a small portion of Phoenix tail.

"How dare you cut my tail?" Phoenix furiously yelled.

Jackknife didn't reply, but noticed there wasn't any blood. He just cut feathers and nothing else. He gasped when metallic feathers came to him and dodged them. Jackknife flew above Phoenix and charged with everything he had. His helmet blade hit the helmet of Phoenix and the sound of the blades colliding resonated. Jackknife flew away from Phoenix when he felt the wind shifting.

"Jack," Tasuku whispered as he tried to find a way to counter Phoenix, who had more abilities and speed than his buddy.

Jackknife looked at his opponent and thought; I need to fight another way. Being over him isn't working anymore. What can I do?

Jackknife dodged Phoenix when he charged at him and flew under his enemy and continued toward the spectators before he suddenly turned around and passed over Phoenix when he came back to him.

Tasuku checked his spellcards and wondered if he had to use it or not now or wait later.

Kazane watched with a smile the fight, but with her full attentions.

Jackknife was tackled at his chest and was pushed away. He grunted and grabbed the head of Phoenix and head-butt it, but his blade couldn't hit him with his head a little higher. He pushed Phoenix away and took a safe distance.

The two watched each other's quietly as they prepared to continue their fight.

Tasuku and Kazane drew another card and bot had two spellcards in their battle as they intensified.

Tasuku raised his card and yelled, "Day Of The Dragons!"

Jackknife opened his mouth and yelled as the power increased under his scales. He pointed his blade and charged. Kazane realised Phoenix couldn't dodge it in time and drew her spellcard, "Dungeon Explosion!"

An explosion hit Jackknife and the green dragon crashed on the ground and bounced on it, landing almost outside the ring. He stood up and was ready to continue fighting. Thanks to the spell card by Tasuku, the damage wasn't that intense.

Jackknife checked his wings before flying in the air again and charged at Phoenix. This time, Phoenix threw metallic feathers at him, but the green dragon dodged them and stroke, causing a large, but not fatal wound on Phoenix who lost altitude and landed on the ground.

"Phoenix!" Kanaze asked worried.

Phoenix stood up and took flight once again, "I'm alright. This isn't a large wound, but we are going to win this fight."

Kazane smiled and said, "Go and get him."

The two monsters flew higher and both were ready to fight. They gazed at each other's silently, trying to guess what the other's planned to do. Phoenix threw energy feathers at Jackknife, but the green dragon used the effect of the spell to charge and getting hit without the feathers piercing his scales. Jackknife knew the spell effect would wear off soon and close in the monster bird. He was close and managed to tackle his enemy, but Phoenix managed to keep his balance and bite the tail of Jackknife as hard as he could.

Jackknife turned around and opened his mouth, preparing a large fireball. When he threw him, Kazane used Divine Protection Of Shalsana and his attack was blocked.

Tasuku took his chance now that Kazane couldn't use a protective spell anymore and used his spellcard, "Dragon Breath!"

Phoenix was hit by a fireball and broke his focus. Jackknife took his chance to end the fight. He tackled Phoenix and crushed him on the ground, outside of the ring.

"The battle is over and the winners are Tasuku and Jackknife!" Paruko declared.

Jackknife returned to his mini form and flew by the side of Tasuku.

Kazane healed her buddy and said, "Don't worry. You were awesome."

"You were great too," he replied to her.

Kazane turned to Tasuku and said, "That was a fun match Tasuku. You and Jackknife are the best."

Tasuku smiled and gave a thumb up, "Thanks. You were great," he turned toward Gao and gave a nod to him.

The day ended faster than before and it was lunch time. Tasuku, Jackknife, Gao and Drum walked together on the road. Drum tried to ignore the fact that Troubadour was also with them.

"We reach the semi-final. If we keep it up, we'll join together in the final," Drum excitedly said. He raised his claw with a large smile.

"But you have to fight Noboru and his buddy tomorrow," Jackknife reminded Gao.

Drum nodded.

"If you are fighting your friend Gao, expect a possibility to lose," Troubadour commented as the only dragon in his real form, "You are surrounded by powerful friends after all."

"But I'm stronger!" Drum grunted at the dark dragon.

Troubadour chuckled, "But not the strongest, just as I am also not."

Drum fuminated, but took a deep breath to keep his calm. He remembered the story of the Purgatory Dragon and their sacrifice for the Dragon world.

"We are ready to right them," Gao told his buddy.

Jackknife nodded with a smile and added, "You have to give everything you have to win if you want us to fight in the finale."

"I'm getting excited at that thought," Tasuku added.

Troubadour stopped following them and said, "You can keep going. This is my spot," as he took out his instrument and prepared himself to play, "I wish all of you good luck and have fun."

"Bye," Gao and Tasuku said. Jackknife nodded while Drum did nothing.

Tasuku and Gao kept walking side by side silently with Jackknife and Drum close behind them. The silence ended when Drum stomach grumbled.

Drum chuckled, "I'm hungry."

"Me too," Jackknife admitted.

"Okay. What should we eat?" Tasuku asked.

"Pudding!" Drum replied.

"Let's get some," Gao said.

Drum joyfully jumped and they went to eat.

AC: This is the end of chapter 75.

Next chapter: Tiger Vs Sunfighter