I know it's been awhile since I posted a new chapter. I've been wicked busy with my guitar stuff. But I thought I would let you all know that the theme song has changed. Since Darren got Thanatos, the new theme song is Stronger Than Death by Black Label Society.

Hunt me down, seek me out, bring your best

That's how I want it to be

Full of doubt, full of fear, all's unclear

It's over 'cos now I can see

Like a tank, seething strength, crushing all

Pullin' you under my treads

Lost some years, lost some days, that's okay

I piss on what's in my way

Two faced abusin', mindless confusion, resolution

I feel I'm breathing my first breath

Manipulation, dyin salvation, you'll never rest

You can't kill what's stronger than death

Looked inside, found myself, it was me

Waitin' there in the well

If you're green you ain't seen, life's a game

Sometimes it's just hard to tell

Gougin' eyes, breakin' bones, eatin' flesh

Puts a smile on my face

Crawling through glass, eatin' nails, losin' blood

It's all part of finding your place

Two faced abusin', mindless confusion, resolution

I feel I'm breathing my first breath

Manipulation, dyin salvation, you'll never rest

You can't kill what's stronger than death

And now to the story

Sat on his floor with his back against his bed. His new guitar sat in the corner of his room. He had already taken Nicole home. He was looking over the cards in his deck. "I can't just through a bunch of powerful cards together and call it a beat-down deck. I have to make a strategy and stick with it. My normal deck just won't do the job in the tournament". The clear image of Arcturas formed next to him.

"So what kind of strategy are you going to use?" he asked his alter ego. Darren looked up at him.

"Well, I was thinking of basing my deck around Thanatos", he said. "After all, he's the strongest card I've ever had in my deck". Arcturas shook his head. "You're not the boss of me. I'll use that card if I feel like it".

"Darren, Thanatos is a lot of power to handle. And it's too strong to use for a tournament. I only let you use it because I was worried that you wouldn't be able to defeat Sicily without it. Besides, it really isn't an actual card. I was just able to change it into one from the tablet it was carved on", Arcturas explained. "I really don't think you should use it".

"Fine", Darren said sourly. "But if I need help, you'll give it to me, right". Arcturas smiled and nodded. "So, what kind of deck do you think I should use?"

"Well, you already know how to use a powerhouse deck. But if you want to learn to work with more kinds of decks, then I suggest making a deck that specializes with a single monster or group of like monsters".

"I don't know. What happens if I build a strategy deck and can't figure out how to use it right?" Darren asked.

"Look, it's your deck. Only you can build it with the cards you're comfortable with. But I definitely think you should change it up a bit". Darren nodded. He started selecting his cards very carefully.

"I think two more cards ought to be perfect. Arcturas, would you like to choose them? After all, you might be using the cards in it, too", Darren offered. Arcturas walked around the cards, obviously searching for a specific one.

"Here these two", he said as he held out two card. "I wouldn't mind working with the Magician of Black Chaos. And you'll need its ritual". Darren nodded. "And if there comes a time again for it, I'll let you use Thanatos. But for now, I think you'll need to get some rest". Darren took off the Millenium Medallion and put it on his bedside table, cutting him off from Arcturas. He lay down and fell asleep.

He awoke the next morning to a knocking on his bedroom door. "Darren honey, it's time to get up if you want to be in the tournament today", his mom called. Darren got up and cleaned himself up. He went to his closet and looked for a shirt.

"Hm, this one looks good", he said as he pulled out Slayer: South of Heaven. He put on black jean shorts and a black sweatshirt instead of his red trademark vest. He walked into the apartment kitchen. His mom was working at the stove. "Mom, the tournament doesn't start for awhile. Why'd you wake me up so early?"

I thought you could use a good breakfast before you go on your worldwide tournament", she said. She looked at him with a smile on her face. "You almost look your father's twin when you dress like that". Darren set the table and his mom brought over a large stack of pancakes with eggs, bacon, and toast. The two of them sat down and ate the large meal. "Did you make the strongest deck that you could?"

"Yes, I made it as strong as I possibly could", Darren said with a mouth full of food,

"That's disgusting honey. Did you get a good night's sleep?" Darren nodded his head this time. He got up and helped take the dishes to the sink and then went into his room to get everything he would need. He grabbed a change of clothes, his deck and duel disk, a picture of him and his mom, a binder with extra cards, and lastly, his Millenium Medallion. He put everything but the medallion into a bookbag.

He walked into the living room where his mom was standing by the door. "Well, I guess this is where I have to hug and kiss you goodbye", she said with tears in her eyes. Darren smiled.

"Oh mom, do you have to?" he asked. His mom gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "Ew gross, mom cooties", he joked.

"Promise me that you'll be careful when you're kicking butt around the world", she said.

"Okay mom. I'll give everyone an extra kick and tell them my mom said I had to". The two of them laughed and he walked outside and down to the building where the tournament was being held. There were five big rooms with numbers over them. He walked over to the one labeled five.

"Hello, and welcome to the Kingda Ka world tournament. Please tell me your name and show me your bet card to gain entrance to this hall", the bald man said.

Darren held up the Magician of Black Chaos and said, "The name's Darren Fantasy. Remember that name so you can know who'll be winning this". He walked into the room and saw that it was filled with duelists. He looked around for two certain duelists, but couldn't see anyone he recognized. "I guess Luke and Blaine aren't here", he said. There was the sound of a blowhorn from the front of the room. A huge monitor sat on top of a stage. A man was in the center. Next to him was the Mayor.

"Attention duelists", he said into a microphone. "Now that everyone is here, we would just like to make a few announcements. First, since this is the fifth level of the tournament, don't expect any easy duels. Anyone caught cheating will be disqualified without question. Next, you will have two duels in every round of the tournament. And every round of the tournament will be held in a different city, but not to worry. Duelists are given all expense paid plane ticket to every city. Lastly, your bet cards. If you lose, your opponent takes your card. However, you can choose to not take your opponent's card. Now then, take a look at the monitor behind me to find out who you are dueling. Let the tournament begin".

Darren looked at the monitor for awhile before he found his name and picture. "Okay, my match is against Walter Disno. That blue hair shouldn't be too hair to find", he said. He looked around for his opponent. He was standing in the back corner.

"It's about time you found me. I've been standing back here for nearly ten minutes waiting for you", the kid said. He was wearing brightly colored clothes and his blue hair stood straight up. "Well, let's get this underway", he said.

Darren nodded. He was a little freaked out by his opponent's appearance. "I'm gonna go first, all right Walter".

"Be guest Darren. Just be ready to hand over your card when this is over", Walter said.

Darren pulled out his duel disk and drew six cards from his deck. "I'll start by summoning my Exiled Force (A1000, D1000) in attack mode. I end my turn". A small legion of men formed in front of Darren.

"A weak start. But I bet I can summon a weaker monster", Walter challenged as he drew six cards from his own deck. "I start with Toon Aligator (A800, D1500) in attack mode. Then I set one card face down. I end my turn".

Darren drew his next card, looking unsure about his opponent. He had just bet that he could summon a weaker monster. "Okay, I play my Snatch Steal magic card. This will let me take control of your monster with the only side affect of you gaining 1000 life points every turn. Next, I'll sacrifice it to summon my Saber Beetle (A2400, D600). Next I'll attack your life points directly with both of my monsters". The tiny army threw spears at Walter as the beetle with an enormous glowing blade on its face flew at him. The spears hit him, but a pink spear struck the beetle.

"My Magic Javelin will give me life points equal to your monsters attack, even if I end up losing them anyway", Walter explained. Darren motioned to Walter that he ended his turn.

Darren 8000LP

Walter 7000LP

Walter slipped a card from his duel disk. "First I activate my bet card, the field card Toon World. But I have to pay 1000 life points to use it. Next I summon my Dream Clown (A1200, D1500) in attack mode. And I'll finish by setting a card face down". A storybook popped up and opened to a page with a popup cemetery. And a clown that looked like it was sleep walking appeared in front of a brown card.

Darren 8000LP

Walter 6000LP

"You're just taken hits of a thousand all over the place", Darren said as he drew his next card. "First I play my Swords of Revealing Light. This prevents you from attacking for three turns. Next, I sacrifice my Exiled Force for Vampire Lord (A2000, D1500). Attack his clown with Blood Draining Bite". The blue monster dressed in cool black clothes bit into the clown. Then the Vampire Lord turned gray and shattered along with the clown. Tiny pink particles floated through the air. "What's going on. Why is my monster destroyed?"

"Because my face down card was the Crush Card Virus. It infects one of my monsters with a deadly disease. And once the host monster is destroyed, the virus spreads to your deck, destroying every monster with 1500 attack or higher for the next three turns", Walter explained.

"Damn it all", Darren said as he discarded the monsters on his field and discarded the ones in his hand. "At least my swords will stop you from attacking until the virus is gone. And since my vampire did damage to your life points, you have to discard a card from your hand or deck. And I choose traps. I'm done".

Darren 8000LP

Walter 5200LP

Walter discarded a trap card from his hand. "Now that it is my turn, I play Premature Burial on my Dream Clown. All I have to do is pay 800 life points to bring it back. Next I play Polymerization to merge it with my Crass Clown to summon my Bikuri Box (A2300, D2000). Then I'll set one cad face down. I end my turn.

Darren 8000LP

Walter 4600LP

Darren drew his card with a dull look on his face. "I set one card face down and that'll do it for my turn"

Walter drew another card. "I summon my Toon Goblin Attack Force (A2300, D0). Then I'll play my Toon Index card. This will let me search my deck for a card with toon in its name and bring it to my hand. Then I end my turn".

Darren looked at the childish looking goblins in battle armor. "Oh come on, that's my strongest card", Darren shouted as he discarded a card for having too many attack points. "I end my turn", he said angrily.

Walter drew another card. "I sacrifice my Bikuri Box for the Toon Summoned Skull (A2500, D1200). Next I play the magic card Shine Castle. This boosts my toons up by 500 points". A light blue demon made of bones jumped out of the popup book, which now shown a large white castle. Darren was grinding his teeth. "On my next turn I'll be able to attack".

Darren picked up his next card. "I play one card face down. Then I play Hammer Shot. This destroys the strongest monster on the field, which just happens to be your Toon Summoned Skull. I end my turn". A large wooden mallet smashed down onto the toon.

Walter drew a card. "No matter, your swords are gone along with my virus. But it's not like you can stop my toon. Attack his life points directly with Goblin Mace". The goblins jumped with joy and threw their weapons at Darren. "I'll end here".

Darren 5700LP

Walter 4600LP

Darren drew his card quickly. "Oh man this sucks. I summon my Goblin Attack Force in attack mode", he said. A serious form of Walter's monster appeared on the field. "I end my turn".

Walter drew his card. "I play Different Dimension Capsule. This removes a card from my deck from play. Then in two turns, it comes to my hand. Then I use my monster's special ability. For the cost of 500 life points, it can attack your life points directly. So go my goblins and hit him again". The toons threw their weapons again. "I end my turn".

Darren 3400LP

Walter 4100LP

Darren ripped his card out of his deck slot. "I reveal my face down card, Raigeki Break. I send my Magician of Faith to the graveyard to destroy your Toon Goblin Attack Force. Now I can attack your life points directly". Darren's goblins charged at Walter and beat him with their maces. "I finish my turn here".

Darren 3400LP

Walter 1800LP

Darren's goblins went into a kneeling stance. "So, your monsters go into defense mode after they attack. Well, I summon my Red Archery Girl (A1400, D1200) who doesn't change battle position when she attacks. So she can destroy your goblins and stay in attack mode". A mermaid sitting in a clamshell with a bow and arrow appeared on the field. She fired a red arrow into Darren's monsters. "I end my turn".

Darren drew another card. "I summon my Seven Colored Fish (A1800, D800). Then I attack your mermaid". The fish opened its mouth and a blast of water flew at Walter.

"I reveal my face down trap card, Pain and Injury. Whenever you attack one of my monsters, my monster is unharmed but I still lose the life points. And not only that, your monster loses attack pints equal to the damage it dealt".

"Okay, so it's as weak as your monsters. I end my turn", Darren finished.

Darren 3400LP

Walter 1400LP

Walter drew his card. "Now I get my card from Different Dimension Capsule. Next, I play my Toon Mermaid". A toon version of his original mermaid leapt from the book. "And let's not forget her bonus from Shine Castle. But since toons can't attack on there first turn, you're safe for now. Go",

Darren drew his card. "I play my Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Shine Castle, weakening your toons. I end my turn". The castle was blown to pieces and replaced with the cemetery.

Walter drew his card. "I play my magic card, Morale Booster. This will power us both up by 500 life points. Then I sacrifice both of my mermaids to summon my king monster, the Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon (A3000, D2500). But since he can't attack this turn, I'll end it".

Darren 3900LP

Walter 1900LP

Uh oh, Darren is facing down a cartoon version of one of the strongest cards in duel monsters. How can he possibly defeat Walter and his toons.