Part 96: Survivor

"SURVIVE!"

"ZODIAC KNIGHT DRACO: SURVIVOR MODE!"

"ZODIAC KNIGHT PLUTO: SURVIVOR MODE!"

"ZODIAC KNIGHT SHADOWCOBRA: SURVIVOR MODE!"

Shadowcobra's Survivor Mode armor was obsidian black with golden trimmings. A golden cobra symbol rested on his chestplate. His helmet held spikes along the edges of the cobra hood and a golden horn on top. A black cloak with crimson lining on the inside hung from his shoulders to his ankles. His staff now held a pair of sharp scythe blades that protruded from both sides of the cobra head.

"Shadow…Shadow had a Survivor Card the whole time?" Raven questioned. He had said there were only three of those cards in existence. That meant that Shadowcobra was the third holder.

"That's right, bird-girl!" answered Toros.

"This is gonna be great! And when they finish each other off, we can take those cards off their hands!" Vermin said excitedly.

"You did all this, just so you could steal their Survivor Cards?" Robin asked with his voice venomous with loathing and disgust.

"Well duh! Kinda obvious, isn't it? Imagine the power they hold," Dagger answered mockingly.

Astra watched on thoughtfully. The battle was going to become far more exciting now. Oh yes!

Shadowcobra focused his power and engulfed the head of his staff with shadow energy. "SHADOW CRESCENT!" he swung his weapon in a horizontal arch, sending out a large blade of shadow energy at Draco and Pluto.

"SCATTER!" Pluto ordered, taking to the skies while Draco rolled away to avoid the deadly strike.

"Where is he?" Draco exclaimed, looking around. Shadowcobra had disappeared.

"He must've turned invisible!" Pluto said as he landed, standing back to back with Draco.

"Obviously," Shadowcobra hissed, reappearing in close vicinity. "SHADOW EXPLOSION!" Pluto and Draco were sent crashing into the wall by the force of the explosion of Shadowcobra's powers.

Draco shook his head, "Man…Shadow's not holding back."

Pluto tried to clear the cobwebs out of his heads. He responded, "He wants to save the Titans, especially Star and Rae. He won't hold back on us and will destroy anything that gets in his way, including us!"

"Can we have good new-DUCK!" Draco and Pluto ducked down from another 'Shadow Crescent' attack from Shadowcobra.

"We can't hold back!" Pluto drew out his sword. "It's him or us!" Pluto charged at Shadowcobra and the two locked weapons.

Draco stared at his holster and took out his gun. I don't want this. Yeah, I want to save Jinxy-chan, but not like this. He closed his eyes, trying to stop his tears from coming out. I didn't become a Knight to kill anyone. I became one to protect people. But, if I have to kill to protect…Draco was in a dilemma and he did not know what to do. He then decided to leave this to someone else. ((Yaminekoryu…I want you to take over.))

((You sure about that, kid? You know I won't hold back.)) Yaminekoryu answered back.

((I will hold myself responsible for any of your actions. We have to save the Titans…even if we have to…if we have to…)) Draco clenched his teeth and shivered.

((I understand. Let me take over, Aibou)) Yaminekoryu offered.

((Thank you…))

"Is this all you've got?" Shadowcobra hissed, kicking Pluto in the gut. "This is pathetic!" he punched Pluto across the face with a force that could shatter a person's skull. Luckily, Pluto was wearing his helmet and the only damaged sustained was a crack in his faceplate.

"Do you think THIS is pathetic?" Pluto stabbed his weapon right into Shadowcobra's stomach. Shadowcobra staggered back holding the wound in his stomach.

"I didn't want to do that," Pluto sheathed his sword and drew a card from his belt. "But you leave me no other choice. Shoot Vent!" His scabbard and sword changed into a crossbow.

"Then the gloves are off…" Shadowcobra hissed. His wound regenerated and healed itself, releasing smoke from it. His armor then repaired itself.

Pluto shot at Shadowcobra with energy arrows while he slowly advanced towards him.

"Don't think that will work," Shadowcobra hissed, getting closer.

"THEN WHAT ABOUT THIS?" a large red beam of fiery plasma slammed right into Shadowcobra, sending him crashing into the far wall.

"Draco?" Pluto questioned, turning to look at his usual peaceful friend.

"Not exactly," Draco said, with red eyepieces instead of green ones. He drew a card and inserted is into the back of his gun. "Sword Vent!" a golden blade extended from the gun barrel. "He's mine!" Draco ran towards Shadowcobra, who had just recovered from the blast.

Draco swung his sword down, only for his blade to be met with a double bladed battle staff.

Shadowcobra stared Draco down. "So…you've decided to fight me with all your might. Very well then." He spun his arms around and brought the weapons down to the ground so that their eyes were looking directly at each other. "Let's use Over Soul then. Makes it more…interesting."

"Music to my ears…" Draco answered. Both of them leapt away from each other and drew their cards, intending to summon their monsters.

"Add Vent-Summoning Venosnaker!" Shadowcobra shouted, sliding in the card.

"Add Vent-Summoning Dragonrizer!" Draco shouted, sliding in the card.

Genosnaker slithered into view and was immediately covered in obsidian black armor like his master. Its hood sprouted out sharp golden spikes along the edges. It hissed venomously, awaiting further commands. It was now Venosnaker.

Dragonrizer roared as it flew into the battle. Its eyes shone with the fires of battle as smoke rose from its flared up nostrils. It let out another roar. It wanted nothing more than to go into battle.

"VENOSNAKER! SPIRIT BALL FORM!" Shadowcobra shouted, throwing up his arm over his head. Venosnaker transmuted into a ball of black energy and was collected into its master's open palm.

"DRAGONRIZER! SPIRIT BALL FORM!" Dragonrizer heard its master shouted and transmuted itself into a fiery red and golden orb of spirit power. The ball levitated in Draco's open palm.

"VENOSNAKER IN STAFF! OVERSOUL!" Shadowcobra hissed loudly, pushing the spirit energy ball into his battle staff.

"DRAGONRIZER IN GUN! OVERSOUL!" Draco roared, forcing Dragonrizer into his laser blaster.

Their weapons remained unchanged, except having a powerful aura surrounding them. Draco and Shadowcobra then leapt into the air and slashed at each other. Sparks flew as the weapons made impact. They were even running up the wall and then on the wall, crashing into each other with their weapons. Their weapons were locked in a stalemate.

"No holding back!" Shadowcobra hissed. "Not for any reason!"

"My sentiments exactly," Draco growled, pushing with all his might.

Both warriors shouted and their bodies exploded with power. The floor cracked from the force. Large stony fragments actually rose up into the air. The air itself crackled with spiritual and psychic power that surged, literally, from the two combatants.

Pluto was actually pushed back from the force released by the snake and dragon knights. His feet dragged against the floor as the force pushed him into the wall. "Ugh!" he grunted. He knew he wasn't going to get crushed. But man! These two were sending out energy waves that made the atomic bomb look like a small firecracker.

"HIYAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Shadowcobra shouted, hissing as he did.

"GRAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Draco roared, power whipping around him.

The area exploded with power, literally blinding all that were watching. Pluto was thrown through the air and so were Shadowcobra and Draco.

"What happened?" Toros demanded. All the screens showed nothing but static. "Get the picture back up! I want to see what happen!"

Mad Mod shot back, "Patience, lad! We'll be getting it back!" he typed at the keyboard furiously.

All the Titans watched stunned at the power the Knights had shown off, especially Zodiac Knight Draco and Zodiac Knight Shadowcobra. Did they survive?

Starfire's eyes were shut tight, Raven's mouth was agape and tears fell from Jinx's eyes. Did the Knights survive?

Robin could not understand why the Knights had to fight. Beast Boy and Cyborg were forced to silence as their eyes bugged out of their skulls, Terra shut her eyes, not wanting to watch anymore. Friends fighting each other as enemies, it reminded her too much of what she had done not too long ago.

Blackfire just shuddered and cried. Pluto…what happened to Pluto?

When the smoke cleared, it revealed Shadowcobra barely standing with the help of his staff. Draco and Pluto were on the ground, affected by the powerful force of the explosion. Their Survivor Mode armors shattered away and Shadowcobra drew out a card.

It was his Final Vent card.

"In the end there can be only one," Shadowcobra said solemnly. None of them noticed a pair of glowing red eyes watching them from above.

To Be Continued…