Barian Curse

by Primal WolfBlood

In the third instalment of Yu-Gi-Oh The Lost Episodes, Rio Kastle, a seemingly normal teenager with a torrid history, had her life uprooted by the decisions of her brother to join the cause of the Barian race, and reign as two of their emperors, leading to her untimely demise. But what would have happened if she had turned her back on her brother, and joined an offshoot faction in

3. Fading Glory

Barian Curse

Chapter 3: Fading Glory

When the storm cleared, Vector was lay face-down, trying desperately to get back to his feet (Vector LP:4000-0). Slowly but surely, he grabbed handfuls of dust, and after scraping himself off the dirty ground, threw them at Nash's face. 'I can still fight! You just got a lucky shot there and I don't take nicely to lucky shots! So why don't you shuffle up and we'll see who the real champion is here. Because spoiler alert: it's going to be ME!'

Before any reshuffling could take place however, Vector was stopped in his tracks by a piercing pink light, which started causing him immense pain. Slowly, but surely, the thin string of light brought him down to his knees, as he had gone from fighting for victory to fighting for every breath. 'What… is this? I… can't… breathe. Even… my sight… is going.' Nash went to rush over, but from the dust, Marin walked, the light coming from her hand.

'Well, I must say I didn't expect it to be that quick, you really meant that didn't you?' 'Whatever you're doing Rio, please, stop doing it.' 'I told you not to call me that!' 'Why are you so afraid of your past?' 'Because it makes it so much easier to do what I'm going to do in the future. Speaking of…' She then turned to Vector, and out of seemingly nowhere, she produced the High Manipulator of Chaos card, having apparently stolen it from Vector in all the confusion.

She looked down at him, gave him a little kick, and then, as he started fading, she lifted the card high into the air, and a dark red miasma surrounded Vector, causing him to scream in agony, while she declared 'Actions have consequences for EVERYONE, Vector.' The tendrils then appeared from Number 43, like they did in Vector and Marin's duel, and pierced Vector's chest, before slowly, and agonisingly, dragging his soul out of his body in an orb of purple light, which gently flew into Marin's body. Vector's lifeless body was then slowly consumed and incinerated by the piercing red light, as the Manipulator vanished.

Shocked and scared, everyone suddenly fell silent after this brutal show of force. Eventually, it was Tori who broke the silence. 'Rio…' Surprisingly, for Tori, she looked over, as if there was nothing of any concern going on. 'Rio, what blows? Like, Vector wasn't nice, but that was just cruel!' Her reply was cold and merciless. 'It's a thing called Karmic Justice. He got EXACTLY what he deserved. ' 'Don't you even feel anything?' 'For him, I feel only disgust. That is all he deserves from me. I hope that he's able to find peace in hell.'

Yuma then tried to get closer to her, but she held her hand out. 'No closer.' 'Rio, what's the end game here?' 'Use my name.' 'I did Rio' 'No, my REAL name.' 'Erm… Marin?' Having been called by her "name", Marin let the question be asked. Go on.' 'What's the end game? What are you achieving doing this?' 'You know the end game - defeat everyone, destroy Astral World, save the Barian race from extinction.' 'You're… just willing to give up everyone you ever knew?' She then stared him down. 'The stakes are higher than you could ever understand Yuma. If I have to tear you apart to achieve my goals, you don't stand a chance.'

Hearing her close friend talking like this, Tori couldn't help but start to cry. But Marin hadn't finished. 'But my plans aren't guaranteed. Because someone may arrive to outmatch me. They may already be here. What will be will be, THAT is the way of the world. Now if you don't mind, I have something that I need to do.' She then walked over to Nash, who was still injured from Don Thousand's trap, and laid down a small Barian emblem from her pocket in front of her brother, causing Yuma to question.

'Shark, what's she doing?' He then stared at her with a slightly concerned expression. 'She's challenging me to a duel. Laying the emblem in front of a fellow Barian is the sign of wanting a fair and honourable fight.' As he was talking, she released a bright blue light from the palm of her hand straight at him. 'What… are you doing?'

She then started to peel back some layers. 'Don Thousand, do not interfere here. We may be on opposing sides, however I don't want to take advantage of an unprepared opponent. I want to beat you at full strength to prove that destiny favours my path over yours.' He nodded, and stepped back. 'I didn't think it would come to this, but I will not have you tear our world apart for victory. There is a better way, we can work together to save our planet. If you won't see that, I will have to smash sense into you.'

Hearing this, Marin walked away to create some distance. 'I don't need sense smashing into me. If I were you, I 'd be desperate to win. Let's face it, you've got all the sins to atone for.' Stoic, Nash denied everything. 'I have done nothing wrong.' 'Oh, like the time you left your sister alone in a hospital for a month so you could go commando and then compete in a duelling event? Or the time that you were invited to watch me perform in a play and then left three minutes in to ride your motorcycle around for two hours? Like those? I've got plenty more where they came from. I know what you regret brother, and that deep down, you know you need to pay the world back for what you've done. Consider this your sentence.'

Nash scoffed at the idea of his kid sister judging him though. 'Like you're Little Miss Innocent yourself, you humiliated me within two days of starting back at school.' 'What - by pointing out I was better at basketball than you?' Suddenly Rio started to cringe, clutching her head, and her right eye glowed red again. 'I get the message Don Thousand.' She then activated her D-Pad. 'You ready?' 'Always.' 'Let's duel!'

Marin LP:4000 vs. Nash LP:4000

(Marin hand: Blizzard Vision, Blizzard Falcon, Barian's Battle Buster, Rank-up Magic Barian's Force, Rank-up Magic Admiration of the Thousands, Guard Penguin)

Turn 1: Marin: 'I'll go first, I draw. I summon Blizzard Falcon (Atk:1500). And then I'll activate Blizzard Vision, to make a carbon copy of my Falcon (Atk:0).' Don Thousand's voice then reverberated in her head. 'Summon your Number.' She pushed back however. 'Not yet. All in good time.' She then looked up at Nash. 'I'll overlay my two Level 4 monsters to build the overlay network and Xyz summon Number 4: Stealth Kragen (Atk:1900).'

'You're using one of his Numbers?' 'Aren't you? The Number doesn't make a difference, you're still using his Numbers. In fact if you think about it, we're all really living in his world.' She then looked around at the ruined scene around them. 'He created all of this. Don't you want to be reunited, without the pressure of being emperor?'

This comment incensed Nash. 'How dare you! We have a responsibility, a responsibility that we accepted when we decided to become emperors.' 'You mean that YOU decided to become an emperor. Because isn't that how it's always worked? You get to be the big brother, big hero making all the decisions, and here I am in the background as your cheerleader.'

'We had a responsibility' 'And I had a life. A life I was actually quite enjoying thank you. But no, I had to follow you because you decided that it was my "destiny". And now you're getting offended because I'm deciding my own destiny.' Her brother's eyes opened wide as she said this, as he started to understand. But before he could say anything, she stopped him. 'I'll set one and pass my turn. You're up bro.'

(Nash hand: Buzzsaw Shark, Effect Veiler, Lantern Shark, Abyssal Kingshark, Xyz Veil, Shockwave)

Nash: 'I draw. I'll start with Lantern Shark (Atk:1500). And it lights the way for my deck, because when he's summoned, I get to summon Buzzsaw Shark (Def.:500). Then I'm going to use the effect of my Buzzsaw Shark, which summons another Fish of the same Level from my deck. I'll summon Abyssal Kingshark (Atk:1700).' 'Play the other tune brother, your audience will get restless with your predictability.' 'You're funny, you know that? Well I'm about to wipe that smile off the face of this planet!'

He then grinned as a red miasma appeared all around him. 'You're not the only one who can use Number cards! I'll overlay my three Level 4 monsters to build the overlay network! I Xyz summon the most dangerous fiend in the depths - Number 32, Shark Drake (Atk:2800).' 'By all means do. Because Stealth Kragen can use its effect to destroy your Shark Drake.' 'I'll use the Effect Veiler from my hand to protect Shark Drake, by negating your monster's effects.' The Veiler floated down as if on a cloud, and quickly the Kragan's tentacles retracted back into its body.

'Now Shark Drake, attack!' Rio smirked seeing the recklessness. 'Never change brother, stay your same reckless self, it will make this so much easier. I activate Barian's Battle Buster. All I have to do is banish this little card from my hand (holding up Barian's Force), and your attack is negated.' 'So you're still letting him control you?' 'I told you, I control my own destiny. That includes choosing whatever power I desire. Just because you can't beat me.' 'Says you and who's army?' 'Says me and says the truth.' 'Well prove it then, because you never did before. I'll set one and pass.'

(Marin hand: Rank-up Admiration of the Thousands, Guard Penguin, Blizzard Thunderbird)

Marin: 'I draw. I'll activate the effect of Stealth Kragen, destroying your Shark Drake.' 'I activate Xyz Veil. Now any Xyz monster with material can't be targeted by card effects. Meaning that your monster is useless.' 'That may be, but you can't break through still. I'll switch my monster to Defence mode (Def.:1500), and pass.'

(Nash hand: Shockwave, Abyss Shark)

Nash: 'I draw. I'm left with no choice - set one and pass.' 'How does it feel being powerless? Having no choices, being at the mercy of another's whim? Horrible isn't it? Well there's plenty more where that came from, I assure you.' 'Why though?' 'Why what?' 'Why Don Thousand?' 'Because I didn't have the power, I couldn't stand opposite him, so I embraced the power, I let him forever curse my soul in exchange for his unlimited power! It's the same pact you once made, except now I'm making the decisions.'

(Marin hand: Rank-up Magic Admiration of the Thousands, Guard Penguin, Blizzard Thunderbird, Jelly Hole)

Marin: 'I draw. I'll set a card face-down, then I'll end my turn.'

At the side of the duel, Yuma started wondering out loud. 'Why isn't Rio attacking? She's got everything she needs.' Astral then provided some insight. 'Perhaps she is playing cautiously, aware of her brother's power. Perhaps she is waiting for the coast to be clear to attack. I must say, she is very calculated. You could learn a lot from her Yuma.' 'Hey I can be tactical.' 'Summoning Utopia every time is not being tactical.'

(Nash hand: Abyss Shark, Left-Hand Shark)

Nash: 'I draw. I'll set a monster and then I'll pass back to you again.'

(Marin hand: Rank-up Magic Admiration of the Thousands, Blizzard Thunderbird, Giant Trunade)

Marin: 'My turn. I'll activate a Spell card - Giant Trunade. Now every Spell or Trap on the field returns to our hands.' As she declared this, Nash paused, considering activating something in response, until he realised that he was unable to because of Xyz Veil. With the storm clearing and the field cleared of backrow, Marin seized the opportunity.

'I summon Blizzard Thunderbird (Atk:1600). Then I'll use its effect, returning to the hand and bringing out Guard Penguin and Blizzard Falcon (Atk:0, 1500). Now I'll overlay my two Level 4 monsters to build the overlay network and Xyz summon Stealth Kragen Spawn (Atk:1900). The effect of my Spawn will make light work of your monster, and this time you can't stop me.' As the Spawn stung Shark Drake to oblivion, Marin readied. 'Now both my monsters, attack directly.' The twin jellyfish saw off Left-Hand Shark (Def.:1500), and another attack stung Nash within an inch of his life, leaving him squirming on the ground, as she watched on coldly (Nash LP:4000-2100).

Eventually he managed to drag himself back up, just barely. As he did, Tori shouted to Marin. 'Rio, this is ridiculous, this has to stop!' 'SILENCE!' the reply came sharply, without even looking. 'One more step and you're going to be spending eternity as a Barian slave. I'm sure Don Thousand would love your brain as a starter.'

Before she could threaten any more though, Nash got her attention. 'Nice try sis, but you're going to have to do much more than that.' 'I'm sure it can be arranged. I'll set two cards for now and pass.'

(Nash hand: Abyss Shark, Xyz Veil, Shockwave, Graceful Charity)

Nash: 'I draw. How about some Graceful Charity? I'll draw three and then discard two.' As he drew his cards, he saw the exact thing he was looking for. 'I activate the effect of Crystal Shark in my hand.' 'Very clever.' 'I can halve the Attack of your Stealth Kragen (Atk:1900-950), and summon it (Atk:1100). Then I'll summon Abyss Shark because I control a Water monster (Atk:1200). And Abyss Shark has an added benefit in adding Buzzsaw Shark to my hand.'

'Now I'll overlay my two Level 5 monsters to build the overlay network and summon my N A.s.H Knight (Atk:1700).' 'I'll immediately dispatch it with Stealth Kragen.' 'And I'll counter with my Knight's effect. It detaches two materials, and then gains two - one is Silent Honor ARK from my own Extra deck. I may not be able to summon it, but it's still useful. The other material is your Kragen Spawn.'

As the Kragen's tentacles approached, N A.s.H Knight had just enough time to absorb the Spawn, before being struck down (Nash LP:2100-1250). 'So that's it then - neither of us have anything left on the field.' 'Not true. I activate the effect of Gazer Shark from my graveyard.' 'That damn Graceful Charity!' 'By banishing it, I can revive Crystal Shark and Abyss Shark. Then I can immediately turn them into materials for an Xyz summon. I summon Number 73: Abyss Splash (Atk:2400).'

Aware of the danger that the Number caused, Marin didn't hesitate in making the situation awkward again. 'I activate my face-down Jelly Hole. Because you just summoned a Water Xyz monster, it can't attack or use its effects. Sucker.' 'I should have known your cards were reactive. Because that's always been you all over Rio - always the reactive one, never the first, always just waiting for everyone else to make the first move. You couldn't even beat Vector's pawn that time without reacting to a situation. Because when it comes down to it, you're just not good enough to lead. You always needed me to show you the way.'

'I don't need you to do anything! You've done plenty. Because it's always you!' Hearing this, Nash began to understand his sister's plight. 'I never forced you to do anything' 'That's the thing though, I had to follow your lead. Because you were never concerned about how things affected me, you never thought about what would benefit your sister. Because at the end of the day, I was the afterthought.'

'So you… you're doing this just to prove a point?' 'If only it was just about that brother. But the fates determined that we had to face each other here. So if you can kill me, you'll have to, because this isn't a fight between siblings, this is a fight to the death! The Fading Glory of the empire, one of us must represent it in the final battle against Astral World. It's our choice who does so.'

(Marin hand: Rank-up Magic Admiration of the Thousands, Aurora Wing)

Marin: 'I draw. I'll set a monster and pass.'

(Nash hand: Buzzsaw Shark, Dream Shark)

Nash: 'I draw. I'll summon Buzzsaw Shark (Atk:1600). Then I'll activate its effect, to summon Hammer Shark (Atk:1700). Now I'll overlay my two monsters to Xyz summon Number 37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark (Atk:2600). Now attack her monster.' The Spider Shark shot out a pair of black pincers, which grabbed Aurora Wing (Def.:1600), and destroyed it. 'When Aurora Wing is destroyed, I can summon it back (Atk:1200).' 'I end my turn.'

(Rio hand: Rank-up Magic Admiration of the Thousands, Dark World Dealings)

Rio: 'I draw. I activate Dark World Dealings, so we both have to draw a card, and then discard one.' As she discarded her card, Don Thousand was angered. ' That card was our key to ultimate victory!' A curt reply followed. 'I know what I'm doing. That's exactly what he would have expected us to use. I will still beat him, my lord.'

'I activate Monster Reborn, to revive Blizzard Falcon (Atk:1500). Then I'll overlay my two Level 4 monsters to Xyz summon Ice Beast Zerofyne (Atk:2000). And by using the effect of Zerofyne, your monster's effects are negated until my next Standby phase, and she gains 300 Attack points for every face-up card on the field.' A chilling breeze filled the air, which iced up Nash's Spider Shark (Zerofyne Atk:2000-2600). 'I end my turn.'

(Nash hand: Xyz Reincarnation, Cutter Shark)

Nash: 'I draw. I activate Xyz Reincarnation, which will revive Number 32: Shark Drake, at the cost of 500 Life points and tributing Spider Shark (Atk:2800, Nash LP:1250-750).' 'Very cute draw.' 'It's even better when I do this - Rank-up Xyz Evolution! Appear, the chaotic king of the seas, Chaos Number 32: Shark Drake Veiss! (Atk:2800). And it can detach its material and banish Spider Shark from the graveyard to reduce Zerofyne's Attack to 0. Deep-Sea Demolition.' Veiss unleashed a vicious assault on Zerofyne, which quickly sapped it of all strength (Atk:0).

'Now attack with Chaos Stream!' A merciless hunter, Veiss charged under the materialising waves, and shredded through Zerofyne, causing Marin to hit the ground hard (Marin LP:4000-1200). Concerned, Yuma and Tori went to check on their former friend, only for a pink light to hold them back. As they looked, Marin was getting back up, battered but still there. 'Leave us alone. If you take one step closer, I will destroy you!' Her brother then spoke to them. 'This is a Barian war that does not involve the denizens of Astral World.'

As they stepped back, there was another lull in the action. 'I still don't understand, why resort to this?' 'I don't understand why we got involved in everything in the first place. Oh wait, it's because you got to make the decision isn't it?' 'You wanted me to make the right decision.' 'This wasn't it. Have you considered that? Have you ever thought that this war didn't need to involve us? Or that we could have fought on a different side, rewritten our destiny? Or was this just your chance to be the hero?'

These words stuck with her brother, who stopped for a moment. And then he started to think back, to their time not just as Barians, but as humans as well. He was starting to piece together the truth about their situation, but she wouldn't let up on her aggression. 'This wasn't OUR destiny, this was YOUR decision. Our destiny was that we would make decisions together, the brother and sister, deciding their destiny side by side. I don't want to be a ruler, I wanted to be a normal human. Like we were. You took that opportunity away from me, and now the destiny that you chose will be your ultimate doom. So end your turn and I can take away the decision that means the most to you - who lives and who dies!'

With little choice, he relented. 'I end my turn. Just listen to me Rio, because that's who you apparently want to be. We don't have to fight divided, we can unite in this. Just tell me what it will take?' As Don Thousand started to tighten his control, she grimaced at the pain in her mind. 'It's too late for that. One of us has to fall on this battlefield, and if you won't make it be me, I'll make it be you!'

(Marin hand: Rank-up Magic The Seventh One)

Marin: 'Barian's Chaos Draw! I'll activate a card which was the manifestation of your power, brother - Rank-up Magic the Seventh One! It allows me to summon Number 103 - Ragnazero (Atk:2400). But now I can do much more than that, because I can also rank it up. Chaos Xyz Evolution! Barian's power, born of chaos, lay waste to this world of filth! I Xyz summon Chaos Number 103 - Ragnafinity (Atk:2800). Ragnafinity, attack Shark Drake Veiss!'

Don Thousand seemed alarmed at this move, but Nash knew exactly what she was planning. As the two monsters clashed, Veiss ripped the heart out of Ragnafinity, which stuck its scythe into Veiss' chest herself, leading to them falling to the ground, bound together, in a symbolic end. 'Because Ragnafinity was destroyed while she had Xyz material, I can revive Number 103 - Ragnazero (Atk:2400). Now finish him off - Moonblade Blitz!'

Nash looked resigned at this, and watched his sister's Chaos Number surge in. That was, until he remembered he had an answer. 'Because I would be about to take damage, I can summon Dream Shark from my graveyard to block your attack (Def.:2600).' Scuppered in her quest, Marin groaned. 'Just die already! I end my turn.' Thankful to survive, Nash breathed again. 'That one was too close.' 'Next time it will be more than close! I end my turn.'

(Nash hand: Buzzsaw Shark, Damage Diet)

Nash: 'I draw. I summon Buzzsaw Shark (Atk:1600). And when it's summoned, I can summon Cyber Shark (Atk:2100). Now I'll overlay Dream Shark and Buzzsaw Shark to build the overlay network. I beat you with this card once and I'm gonna do it again sister, because THAT's what destiny has decided. You have to see the truth, so illuminate her with the ice cold reality Number 94: Crystalzero (Atk:2200).'

With the Mythyrian Number on the field, it started to shine, while Marin looked dead straight at it. And indeed she saw the truth - she saw her face, pained with abuse, she saw her eye pulsating red with the presence inside her, she saw Don Thousand's spectre, pulling her strings as if she was his puppet. And she saw Yuma and Tori behind her, begging them to stop fighting. As she looked deep into her soul, Nash announced his move.

'I activate the ability of Crystalzero. By detaching a material, it can halve your monster's Attack points.' As he said this, Ragnazero got caught by a vicious blast of ice, dropping its points (Atk:2400-1200). 'Buzzsaw Shark, attack!' Nash was clearly baiting his sister's Trap for more damage, but she was thinking clearly enough to know not to fall for it (Marin LP:1200-800). Nash then delayed slightly, before realising that he had to force her to use the Trap. 'Crystalzero, attack her directly.'

'I activate Barian's Battle Buster. This negates your attack, all I have to do is banish The Seventh One.' The Xyz monster came in, only to be deterred by a field of red electricity before it could launch a decisive attack. 'I end my turn. I hope you can now see what I can see - the monster that you're becoming.' Knowing he was right, she turned away. 'It's too late. I sold my soul to the devil for this, I can't be saved. If you think you can end the war better, by all means finish me off.'

Nash grunted, knowing that he couldn't finish her off that turn. 'I end my turn. If you can finish me off, do it. Otherwise, you're done next turn.' There was then a surprising reply. 'I don't believe you.' 'Pardon?' 'I don't believe you. Every time we duelled before, you always try and psych me out. Well it isn't working anymore, because this time, I have you. It doesn't work like it did when we were kids.' Nash just smiled hearing this. 'You want to know why I used to do that?' 'I'm listening.'

'It's because I always believed you were better than me. It wasn't until we got older that I realised the truth.' 'Which is?' 'You're distinctly mediocre. You've never beaten me because you never could. You're simply not good enough, and you've never shown me anything to suggest you are. So how about, if you're really good enough, you prove it!'

(Marin hand: Fire Ice Egg)

Marin: 'I draw. I'll set a card and end my turn.'

(Nash hand: Gazer Shark)

Nash: 'I draw.' He was about to tee up for another offensive, when he remembered about Battle Buster. 'I end my turn.'

(Marin hand: Wave Motion-Cannon)

Marin: 'I draw. I'll activate the Wave-Motion Cannon. Now when my next Standby phase comes around, you're going to get blasted for 1000 points of damage, and that means you lose. If you're going to do something, you've got to do it now. I end my turn.'

(Nash hand: Gazer Shark, Heavy Storm)

Nash: 'I draw. I activate Heavy Storm, which will tear apart every Spell and Trap on the field.' An enormous storm slowly approached the field, as Tori and Yuma looked for non-existent shelter. As it raged, Marin stood straight, just watching the storm. 'So it comes down to this moment does it? May the rightful victor find their way.' With no Spells nor Traps left, Nash readied for one last attack. That was, until he saw a monster on his sister's field, her Barian Number no less, but it looked weak and powerless.

'You just destroyed Fire Ice Egg. When that happens, I can revive an Xyz monster from my graveyard, but its Attack and Defence become 0, and its Rank of 4 becomes a Level of 5.' 'I don't care! Buzzsaw Shark, attack her monster!' 'By banishing Battle Buster from my graveyard along with an Over-Hundred Number or Chaos Number, I can end the Battle phase immediately. Also, I draw a card.' 'I end my turn.'

As they continued to stare at each other, Nash tried once more to get through to her. 'Why are you doing this?' 'Because I have to. Because when it comes down to it, only one of us is capable of doing that which needs to be done. You failed brother, you failed to lead us to victory, and you failed to protect your own sister. So now I'm doing what has to be done.' This was the moment that he realised the truth. 'I see…'

(Marin hand: Monster Reborn, Sirenorca)

Marin: 'I draw. I'll activate my Monster Reborn, to bring back your Cyber Shark (Atk:2100). Then I'll tribute it to summon Sirenorca (Atk:2200). Now I'll overlay them both to build the overlay network, and Xyz summon Ice Princess Zereort (Atk:2500).' Nash nodded seeing this, understanding that the time had finally come. 'Zereort can detach a material to change the Attack of Crystalzero to 0. Subzero Subtraction.' The chilling ice expelled by Zereort was too much even for the ice maiden herself to handle, leaving the Number chilled to the bone (Atk:2200-0).'

'I hope you now see Reginald, this is bigger than you, and this is bigger than me. And maybe, sometime soon, we can be reunited. Except we'll never truly be apart, because we never have been. Ice Princess Zereort, make it noble.' As Zereort unleashed a devastating blast of frozen water in the form of a lance, Crystalzero shattered into thousands of pieces, and Nash just stood there, taking the attack, letting it drill straight into him as he de-morphed (Nash LP:750-0).

As the duel finished, Marin de-morphed, and walked straight over to her brother, who was kneeling on the ground. 'I miss the days that we never got - just you and me, spending time together, didn't need to be doing anything, just us two. But it was never meant to be.' 'Maybe… maybe one day. We'll be back together.' He then looked over at an emotional Yuma. 'Hey Yuma.' 'What is it?' 'You both know there's only one good way to end this war. When the time comes, do what you have to.' 'But Shark…' 'I'm sure my sister will tell you the way.' As he started to fade, he reached out to his sister, and held her hand, while she watched on quietly, and whispered to her 'I understand'. He then faded into nothingness, a single purple orb containing all his power and consciousness.

The orb then slowly floated towards his sister, who closed her eyes and spread her arms out. She didn't speak, she just bowed her head, and held the orb close to her heart. Meanwhile Tori and Yuma watched on, the latter completely devastated at the loss of his rival, the former completely disgusted at the lives which had been lost, not just on that battlefield, but in the entire war.

Eventually she slowly turned around, and faced Yuma. 'It doesn't have to be this way Rio.' 'It does. But before it is, there is something which we need to do. We need to eliminate any… distractions. So the playing field can be completely even.' Tori looked to shelter behind Yuma as she said this, only for Marin to glow a harsh light blue. As she did, Don Thousand screamed in pain. 'What… are you doing!?'

Marin then smiled. 'I'm offloading the deadwood. You've been holding me back, so I need to dispose of you. And thanks to my brother, I now have all the power I need.' As she continued to glow, the Barian god began to fade in and out of reality. 'Why are you doing this to me! I gave you everything you could ever ask for!' 'You gave me the power that I needed, but I'm going to end this war my way. You're now surplus to requirements. In fact, you're just taking up space.' With one more mighty burst of energy, the god vanished, having apparently been absorbed by Marin. She then turned around to Yuma, and her eye glowed red again. 'Now I believe we had some unfinished business.'

END OF CHAPTER 3