This duel's just heating up! Drio is falling into the same trap that Ciroh did, but can Drio's superior dueling skills get him out of it? Or will Drio lose? The final two parts of this duel begin now!

REVIEW!!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey, Renin! Wait up!" called Senem.

"Why should I?" remarked the improved Renin Kruar.

"Why have you befriended almost everyone but me?"

"Hmm…this little voice in my head has been helping me since I got here and it told me to like everyone but you!"

"Really?"

"No, ya idiot." Just then Giran walked up next to Renin.

"Hey Renin, you want me to take care of this punk?"

"Giran! It's me, Senem, your best friend!"

"Yeah, whatever, you little liar." Giran rolled up his sleeves and walked towards Senem. Senem couldn't do anything but back away slowly. Then, Renin stopped Giran.

"Let me beat him up, buddy." Giran shrugged and walked away, not showing any remorse at all for what was about to happen. Giran ignored the screams from Senem as he endured his first beating.

Senem: 300

Drio: 2000

Ciroh had walked up to the top of the stands to stand with Professor Crowler after Surynia and Ria had ran out. "Hopefully Drio is able to pull himself out of this rut. The demon did the same thing to me, if you remember."

"I do remember, Ciroh. But luckily, Drio is the best this school has to offer. Hopefully the loss to Surynia weakened the demon enough so that a defeat at the hands of Drio will destroy it and we can get on with our lives."

"Are you going to draw or what?" asked Senem while chuckling.

"Fine. I draw, and I'll activate Card Destruction. I figure I need a fresh hand. Plus, I can't help you out with it, since your hand is empty." Drio discarded his 3 cards and drew three new ones. "Now then, I play The Warrior Returning Alive. I can bring back my Marauding Captain to my hand, and play it along with my Command Knight. Now they both gain 400 ATK due to my Knight's effect. I'll end."

"My move, so I draw! Hand replenishing time! I'll play Pot of Greed, so I can draw two cards. Oh lucky me, they're Graceful Charity and another Pot of Greed. I discard my Golem Sentry and my Shifting Shadows for Graceful Charity's effect. Now then, I'll throw a face down and Flip Summon my Sphinx! Your two monsters go back to your hand."

Crowler sighed. "I think it might very well be over for Drio. I have to admit, that demon is a good duelist, even if he's evil."

"Wait a second, Professor. That thing has only 1200 LP. Drio will have another turn."

"Look at the cards in Senem's hand. If you look closely, you can make out that they are Exxod and Shield and Sword."

Senem was smiling. "I now sacrifice my Sphinx to Special Summon my Exxod, Master of the Guard in attack mode!"

Drio chuckled. "Oh, no. I'm scared now, with Exxod's astounding 0 ATK and all."

Senem then showed Drio his other card. "I like to call this card Shield and Sword. Ever heard of it?"

"Yes, I have. I also know that it's a common combo of yours, Exxod and Shield and Sword, after seeing Senem use it in his Practical Exam."

"How did you know I was guiding him through it?"

"Oh, come on. Senem got only 2 questions right on his Written Exam. He can't as amazing of a duelist as he showed in that duel. Someone who can do that must be some kind of Chosen One. Although he can't be horrible, seeing as you didn't help him in the beginning of this duel. I know that because you didn't just take over at the beginning, like you usually do."

"I figured I'd let him believe I was gone, but that didn't work too well. Anyway, on with my turn! I activate Shield and Sword! Now, attack!"

"Wow, that was stupid. I activate Damage Absorption! It lets me negate your attack and gain 500 LP. The down side is that your monster's original ATK and DEF are switched for a turn."

"I see that as an upside. Now, my monster isn't vulnerable, so I end."

Senem: 300

Drio: 2500

"I draw. Excellent, I drew my Black Luster Ritual. I sacrifice my Marauding Captain and my Command Knight to summon my Black Luster Soldier!"

Ciroh smiled. "I think Drio is having fun dueling for the first time ever."

Crowler nodded.

"Now I activate my Lightning Blade, giving my Soldier 800 extra ATK. It won't attack now, but next turn you're screwed. I end."

"I draw! You said I was screwed? Maybe you will rephrase that to mean you after this next move."

To be continued…

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know that Damage Absorption was knida arbitrary, but oh well. Anyway, the duel ends next chapter!

REVIEW!!!