Authors Notes: If you've made it to this chapter without passing out, I applaud you. This is the last round. May the best drinker figure out why I changed the story's rating to "M".

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The Emissary of Extinction

Chapter 13

Rematch! The Six Samurai VS The Extinction Deck

Ritan drew a card. "I activate Gateway to Extinction. I won't bother explaining what you already know." He parted his deck, raising a random card above his head. He laughed as the gateway once again rose behind him. He let the card go, letting it be absorbed by the gate. "You were brave to come back, boy. Brave, though foolish. You've neither the strength or skill to deal with me."

Xiaolang remaining silent for a second. Then smiled. "Finish your move."

Ritan picked up two cards in his hand. "I'll set two cards. Then I'll set a monster. Now, make a predictable move for me will you?"

Xiaolang nodded. "My turn."

"Xiaolang!"

The boy stopped, turning around to face..."Judai."

Judai was panting was he leaned against the wall of the cave. "Xiaolang! What the-where did you go? What are you doing here now? What is it...I can feel from you?" He stood up straight. "Let me take over. You said you cant win, and I can't let you kill yourself."

Xiaolang smiled. "Judai. I'm grateful for your worry." His smile faded, he turned back to face his father. "But I have become...strong. No. Maybe "Strong" is not the right word. I just have more strength than I had. But it's enough. Please Judai, let me do this. I know..." He looked at his deck, then back at Ritan. Meeting the almost frozen eyes with a strength that knew no end. "I know I'm where I need to be."

Judai's fist clenched against the stone. "Xiaolang! Let me take-!" He stopped as he felt a hand gently touch his shoulder. "Yubel." The spirit nodded, she turned to look at Xiaolang. "Xiaolang. If you continue, you might die. You do know this."

Xiaolang nodded. "I should have died then. But I live, and I'm not going to spend my second shot at life hiding from this. I won't lose. I cant!"

"If you do, this might really be your end. You won't be spared a second time"

Xiaolang placed a hand on his deck. "I'll fight it tooth and nail if it is." "Now I will see the power of the ones who sealed the Emissary. Please, give me your strength." "Draw." He smiled, moving his hand to another card. "Ritan! Now you will witness, frist hand, the power that sealed Draygor away! I summon!" He placed a card in his monster zone. "The Six Samurai – Zani!"

Judai blinked. "The Six Samurai?" He smiled as he understood. "So they're the ones."

The Symbol of the Six Samurai appeared in front of Xiaolang, a figure emerging from it. It waved it's Naginata, the blade of it becoming ignited with light, almost looking like flowing fire as the samurai showed off. He stopped, getting into a battle stance. (Attack mode. ATK/1800 DEF/1300) "So I'm up first. Good. I've been aching for this."

Ritan raised an eyebrow. "So these are the ones...I'm not impressed."

"Just wait until I get my blade to your throat." Xiaolang smiled. "I Think I'll enjoy working with you guys. I activate an equip spell card! Legendary Ebon Steed." Zanji watched as the steed appeared by his side. He nodded and jumped on it. (ATK/2000 DEF/1500) "When the equipped monster would be destroyed, Ebon Steed can take the fall instead."

Ritan laughed slightly. "Desperate are we?"

Xiaolang set two cards. "Just cautious, like you should have been! Zanji!" The Samurai kicked against the sides of his steed. "Attack!" The Steed ran forward, suddenly stopping as Zanji jumped off, twirling his weaping of choice before grasping it. Preparing to strike. "Dawn Strike!"

Zanij struck in a flash before jumping back to his steed. (gateway/1)

Ritan shifted the defeated monster to his graveyard. "Not as cautious as you should have been." He chuckled. "Martyr!"

The clocked figure appeared, striking at Zanji with it's knife.

Xiaolang grinned. "Guess again!" The knife found the steeds armor. Both exploded. Zanji jumped out from the smoke, back flipping back to Xiaolang's side of the field. He grinned. "We're not easy to defeat, Ritan. Why not ask Draygor about that?"

Ritan shrugged. "I'll kill you all myself if need be."

Xiaolang smiled. "Try it. Your turn."

Judai watched on with curious eyes. "He's different this time. He's so...confident. He feels for sure he can win. What changed in you, Xiaolang?"

Ritan picked up a card. "I will try. And today, you will die, boy." He placed a card in his monster zone. "Arise. Extinction Enforcer." The gold skinned, hulk of a monster appeared, growling as it held it's chains. Ritan discarded a card. "Hurt him."

Xiaolang blocked with his duel disk as the chain struck. (LP/3000)

Ritan's graveyard was aflame. "I discarded Extinction Phoenix. And by killing my Enforcer, I can summon it back. Begone, Enforcer!" The monster burned. "Arise!, Extinction Phoenix!" The undead bird burst from the flames, squawking as it looked down on it's pray. (Attack mode. ATK/2000 DEF/1000) "Burn it!" The bird shot a stream of fire, incinerating Zanji in a heartbeat.

Xiaolang flinched. (LP/2800) "Reverse card open! Soul Rope!" (LP/1800) "I can now special summon a level 4 monster from my deck!" He pulled a card out from his deck. "I summon The Six Samurai – Nisashi!" The symbol appeared, colored green this time, as the Samurai of wind took to the field, drawing both his swords. They glowed Neon Green, Xiaolang couldn't tell if they were glowing metal, or if the swords were made of light. (Defence mode. ATK/1400 DEF/700) "You won't be defeating the Six Samurai that easily."

Ritan shrugged. "Summon as many as you want, they're all just targets to me. I end my turn."

Xiaolang pulled a card from his deck. "Hm?" He looked down at the monster he'd drawn. "I don't remember you. Were you one of the figures in the shadows?" He heard a voice inside his head. "Yes. And I can help you. As long as you fight alongside us, I will fight alongside you." Xiaolang smiled. "Thank you." He placed the card in his monster zone. "Because I control a Six Samurai already, I can special summon this one. I summon Grandmaster of the Six Samurai!" An old, grey-haired man appeared on the field. His right eye was scarred, the scar coming from just below his hair down the right side of his face. A prosthetic eye attached to his face, the strap holding it in place wrapped around his face, sneaking into his hair. The Prosthetic eye glowed red.

Unlike the rest of the Samurai, he wore no armor. His arms and legs were armor. The man's arms and legs were artificial, but one look at them told Xiaolang that they could stand battle. A metal hand pulled out a sword, slowly. His ancient face stern as he looked upon his opponent. (Attack mode. ATK/2100 DEF/800) "So you are the one who has sided with Draygor. Know that he will betray you." He turned to face his comrade. "Nisashi. Are you ready?"

Nisashi nodded. "Yes, Master. Am I to understand you approve of this boy?

The old man nodded. "Shien chose him, and he had never guided us wrong before. We fight by his side now."

Xiaolang pointed at his target. "Grandmaster! Slay his Phoenix!"

The elder Samurai jumped forward, slashing down on the Phoenix's head. The creature exploded. (Gateway/3)

(Ritan LP/3900) "Useless. Your efforts are absolutely useless! Reverse card open! Limit Reverse! My Martyr shall be reborn!" The cloaked figure returned. (Attack mode. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Now I'll kill it to resurrect Phoenix!" (Gateway/4) The Martyr burst into flame, and again the bird was born from the fire. (Attack mode. ATK/2000 DEF/1000) "And because Martyr was killed, I can kill one of yours. That Grandmaster will be the one to die this time!"

The Martyr appeared once more and stabbed Grandmaster in the chest. Causing him to explode.

Xiaolang was grinning. "Never thought I'd say this, but thank you. Grandmaster!" His graveyard glowed, Zanji's card emerging from it. "When Grandmaster of the Six Samurai is destroyed by a card effect you control, I can select and add 1 "Six Samurai" monster from my graveyard to my hand." He added Zanji to his hand. He waved out a hand. "Reverse card open. Return of the Six Samurai. This trap revives any "Six Samurai" monster in my graveyard for the turn." The elder appeared again, his sword drawn. "Attack his Phoenix again!"

Grandmaster stabbed the birds skull, forcing his blade to the hilt. The creature exploded again. (Ritan LP/3800 Gateway/5) Ritan was defenceless. "You'll pay for that!"

"Nisashi!" he dual armed Samurai ran forward, slashing Ritan in the chest his the sword in his right hand.

Ritan stepped back. "This wont stop me." (LP/2400) Nisashi raised his reverse gripped blade, turning his back on Ritan. "This might. I can attack twice in a turn."

He plunged his second sword into Ritan's stomach, sending the man to his knees. (LP/1000)

Judai's jaw fell open. "He's winning! And he's making it look easy."

Xiaolang chuckled. "I'm enjoying this too much. How does it feel, Ritan? How does it feel to be on the losing to end, to be a pathetic and powerless as you made everyone you ever defeated feel? Enjoy the feeling, because it only gets worse from here. I Summon The Six Samurai – Zanji." (Attack mode. ATK/1800 DEF/1300) Zanji frowned as he appeared. "I got killed to easily last time." Xiaolang didn't respond. "I set one card and end my turn. Get up. I'm not done breaking you yet." Grandmaster grunted. "My time is up, Xiaolang." He faded from the field. Xiaolang nodded. "Thank you, Grandmaster."

Ritan looked up, fury in his eyes. "You fucking brat! I'll have Draygor tear your body to shreds for that!" He pulled a card from his deck. He grinned wildly, slowly standing up. "I set a card!" And threw a card into his monster zone. "Arise! Extinction Chimera!"

The creature emerged from a orb of amorphous darkness. Two clawed feet slammed into the ground, some kind of dark fluid pooling beneath them. It's left leg was covered in silver scales, it's right in dark fur. Both feet were taloned, but were definitely bird feet, despite the legs they were attached to. It's lower and upper body were hunched over, several spikes shooting out of the creatures back. The weight of them was clearly too much for it to stand. It's body was a mixture of blacks, greys and violet. It's skin arranged into patches of color, like the design itself had been attached to it randomly. It bore four arms, one human like, one clawed, and the remaining two just had bone blades where the hands should have been. This creature bore no face, just a dark cloth covering where the creatures face would have been. (Attack mode. ATK/? DEF/?)

"Chimera's attack and defense points are equal to the number of counters on my gate. Times 500 points." (Chimeras ATK/2500 DEF/2500) "Now it will attack." The creature raised an arm. "Reverse card open, Extinction Armor!" The Chimara was silent as the ribcage of the Emissary burst from it's chest, the rest of the features growing upon it. In seconds the creature finally had a face to call it's own. "Now it will destroy Nisashi." The creature stabbed Nisashi with one of it's bladed arms, destroying him.

"Reverse card open! Defence draw." He drew a card. "I can negate the battle damage and draw 1 card."

Ritan frowned. "You're annoying me. I end my turn."

Xiaolang looked at his duel disk. "I hit him so hard. And he just gets back up. Do I...have the strength..." He drew a card.

"Yes."

Xiaolang looked at his card. "Shien!" "Fight." Xiaolang's hand moved to another card. "Hold nothing back. Have no fear." He pulled the card from the rest of his hand. "Shien's right." "I summon The Six Samurai – Irou!" The samurai emerged from a purple symbol, it's Katana already drawn.

Xiaolang looked at his drawn card. "Win." "I will. And I'll end this once and for all!" "I special summon Great Shogun Shien!" He placed the card into a monster zone.

The symbol of flame appeared on the ground, before blue fire burst from it, fading seconds later to reveal the mighty Shogun. His sword already drawn, the weapon burning with cerulean flame. (Attack mode. ATK/2500 DEF/2400)

Judai watched as the Shogun's sword burned. "Is this the Six Samurai's leader? It's as strong as Neos. Xiaolang, is this your new ace? What about-" It was then something hit Judai. Where did Xiaolang get Oblivion from? Judai put the thought to the edge of his mind. There were more pressing matters right now.

Xiaolang had started speaking again. "When I control 2 or more 'Six Samurai' monsters, I can special summon him from my hand." Shien grasped his sword tighter. "Ritan, you are a fool. Draygor cares nothing for anyone but himself." Xiaolang set a card. "Shien will attack your Chimera!"

Shien's sword was ablaze, surrounding him in fire,he raised the blade above his head.

"Burning Reach!" Shien slashed down his sword, creating a wave of fire which shot towards the Chimera. The wave of fire ignited it's target. The creature screamed, jumping across the field to seek it's revenge. Shien stabbed it in the face, cracking the skull. The beast screamed and shattered.

Irou nodded, resigning to his fate as he shattered. Xiaolang spoke. "Shein can negate his destruction by destroying a "Six Samurai" monster I control instead. Now Zanji will finish you off! Finish him! Dawn Strike!" Zanji jumped across the arena. Raising his weapon of choice.

Ritan waved out a hand. "Reverse card open! Gateway Defence! I can activate this during the turn a counter is placed on my gateway. Now by removing 1 counter, I can negate an attack. I can use this effect as long as I have counters to pay." (gateway/5) "And I'm negating your attack now."

Zanji was forced to block a shot of dark energy, jumping back when the onslaught was over.

Xiaolang took a deep breath. "Damn." "I end my turn. But before you start Ritan, know one thing. As long as Shien is here, you can only activate one Spell or Trap. And I don't mean one of each! You get only one, so pick wisely. Wait, don't! Mess up so I can beat you some more!"

Judai frowned. "He's retreating. But he's going to make it hard for Xiaolang to do hit him. Well Xiaolang does have Shien's effect to use. That's something."

Ritan drew a card. "I'm curious about something."

"What is it, Ritan?"

"Why are you trying...so hard to defeat me? I understand that you do, I'm just not sure why."

Xiaolang's mark flared for a second. "Are you fucking with me?"

Ritan shook his head. "No. I want to know. How far will you go? How hard will you try to stop me?"

Xiaolang smiled. The smile not reaching his steadily darkening eyes. "How far? As I need to. How hard? I'll stop at nothing. And now I have the strength to go as far as I need to defeat you. I don't care how long, I don't care how hard it is. I don't care how much I have to surrender. I'd trade in my life to stop you, but that wont work. So I'll just use all of my strength to finish you off now!"

For a moment, Ritan was completely silent, his eyes closed as he softly smiled. His eyes slowly opened. He looked Xiaolang directly in the boys eyes.

"You are truly my son, Xiaolang."

"Huh?" Xiaolang had been completely thrown off by that.

He placed a card in his spell trap zone. "I'll set this and be done."

Xiaolang drew a card. "What was all that about? Is he just trying to throw me off? But...he's never acknowledged me as his-" He shook his head. "There's more going on here than his failed parenting. I just have to fight. Win. End this. Then I can worry about the little details." "I'll set one card. Shien and Zanji will attack you together!"

Two more blasts of darkness stopped them attacking. (Gateway/3) Ritan smiled. "Reverse card open. Destructive Draw."

Xiaolang seemed unaffected by this. "I end my turn, Ritan."

Ritan drew a card, then suddenly he was aglow with power. He drew one more. Arise, Extinction Guardian. The wall that bore the skull of the Emissary appeared. (Defence mode. ATK/0 DEF/2000) "I end my turn, and by moving a dark attribute monster from my deck to my graveyard I can prevent my trap from harming me. Make your move."

Xiaolang drew a card. "I summon The Six Samurai – Yariza." The samurai of Earth stood silently, until the blade on his spear was suddenly glowing. Yariza was ready for battle. (Attack mode. ATK/1000 DEF/500) "And he can attack you directly! Attack him Yariza!"

Yariza was about to attack, but was forced to duck as a blast shot itself at him. (gateway/2) Xiaolang smiled, he was ready for that one. He revealed the last card in his hand. "Cunning of the Six Samurai! By tributing a Six Samurai, I can special summon any Six Samurai from any graveyard. So I'll tribute Yariza," Yariza quickly vanished from the field. "to revive him!" The Samurai appeared again. "Attack him again!" Yariza ducked another attack. (Gateway/1) "Zanji!" Zanji jumped across the field, raising his weapon.

Ritan discarded a card from his hand. "Extinction Defender."

Zanji's blade struck the wall, but to no avail. But Xiaolang wasn't done. "Anything Zanji attacks will be destroyed after the battle." The blade of Zanji's Nagitama glowed even brighter.

Ritan pulled out the defender from his graveyard. "Defender can remove itself from the game to prevent an Extinction monster being destroyed by an effect." (Xiaolang LP/1600) Zanji pulled back his weapon, retreating back to Xiaolangs side of the field.

Xiaolang gritted his teeth. "I'll end my turn."

Ritan pulled out two cards. "I summon Armageddon Knight."(Attack mode. ATK/1400 DEF/1200) The swordsman appeared again. His sword raised in front of his face. His effect was activating. Ritan pulled out his deck. "I activate his effect, to send my Nightmare eater from my deck to my graveyard. Now I'll offer my Knight to use Nightmare Eaters power." Xiaolang watched as Nightmare Eater chewed it's meal, slightly disturbed again by the sight. Ritan picked up two more cards. (gateway/2) "I'll set one card. And activate Reasoning. Call a monster card level for me."

"Four."

He picked up the top card. "Level 3, Sangan." The three-eyed critter appeared with it's arms crossed. (Defense mode. ATK/1000 DEF/600) "I end my turn, now I'll use Guardian's effect to negate the damage. I send Nightmare Eater." He placed the card in his graveyard, a black blob appearing on his side of the field the second he did. "Now I use it's effect to kill off Sangan." Sangan screamed as it was devoured, but a sudden crunch brought that to a halt. (Gateway/3) "Your turn."

Xiaolang drew a card, drawing another with Destructive draw. "I summon The Six Samurai – Kamon!" The Samurai of fire appeared, grinning as he looked in the field on front of him. "Time for some shit to go boom I think. Eh, Xiaolang?" (ATK/1500 DEF/1000) Xiaolang nodded, smiling. "Once per turn, he can destroy a face up spell or trap card you control. Take a guess what's going! Kamon! Destroy that gate!" Kamon pulled out one of his sticks of Dynamite. Kamon threw the stick, the fuse igniting.

Ritan's face darkened, his teeth bared. "No. Fucking. WAY! I activate the second effect of my gateway!"

The head on the gateway opened, black mist coming out from it, it formed a barrier in front of the gate. Kamons dynamite bounced off the barrier, instead launching itself at...

"Destructive Draw?" The trap was destroyed by the explosion. Ritan pulled out his deck.

"When Destructive Draw is removed from the field, I normally take 3000 damage. But my Guardian will stop that. All I have to do is banish a monster from my deck to my graveyard. I send a Nightmare Eater, which means I can feed Guardian to it!" In seconds the Guardian was it's allys food. It swallowed. Ritan drew two cards. (gateway/3) "Now you're wondering how I did that, right? It's simple enough. When my gateway would be destroyed, I can destroy any other Spell or Trap I control instead. I'll sacrifice anything I need too for victory. My goals are worth any sacrifice. Now continue."

It took a lot of willpower to keep himself in place, but Judai managed to fold his arms to control himself. "Xiaolang knows the meaning of your words. You truly are evil."

Judai's guess was right. Xiaolang shot out his right fist. He teeth bared. "Yariza. End this!" As if in response, a dark energy shot itself at Yariza the second Xiaolang had finished speaking. (gateway/2) But Xiaolang had expected that. "Zanji!" The Samurai smiled, rushing forward to engage it's target.

Which would not be Ritan. "Reverse card open, Call of the Haunted. Arise again. Extinction Phoenix!" The immortal bird rose once more. It's violet eyes aglow.

"Zanji! Continue the attack!" The Samurai struck, producing a small explosion. (Xiaolang LP/1400) Both monsters were destroyed though the clash. (gateway/3) And Xiaolang had one move left. "Shien!" Shien struck, releasing a wave of fire that was negated by another dark blast. (Gateway/2) Xiaolang growled. "I end my turn."

Ritan smiled, drawing a card. "I activate a spell, Twisted Genocide. For every 'Extinction' monster I discard, I can kill one monster you control. I'll send three. Now say goodbye."

Xiaolang could only watch as his monsters were destroyed. "Shien!" "It's not over yet. Keep fighting." Xiaolang nodded. That he would.

Ritan grabbed another card from his hand. "This is fucking OVER you little brat! I'm done with you! Arise! Extinction Magician!" The monster appeared, it was a sorcerer dressed only in a black robe, head to toe. But the chest of it's cloak bore the image of the Emissary's ribcage. The hood was colored to represent the skull. It held a staff in it's left band, a black handle with a miniaturized version of the Emissary's skull at the top. (Attack mode. ATK/1600 DEF/1600) The monster raised it's staff, the skull on it glowing.

"Any monster it attacks that has greater attack power loses 100 attack points for every Extinction monster in my graveyard when it attacks. so I could have killed your Shogun with it. But I'd rather kill you off I think! Finish him!" The creature attacked.

Judai pulled himself from the wall. "Xiaolang!"

Xiaolang looked at the last card in his hand. "I still have this. I can still fight." "Reverse Card Open! A Hero Emerges!" He placed the last card in his hand in his monster zone.

For the second time, the cave was dyed in light as a would-be god rose up. It's divine glow illuminating Xiaolang, the light matched only by the fire in Xiaolang's eyes. He had summoned The Creator once more. (Defence mode. ATK/2300 DEF/3000) "I wont go down...not that easily! You hear me, Ritan? You can't beat me that easily!"

Ritan picked up two more cards. "Fine! But I will finish you off! I should have just pulled your fucking plug when I had the chance! But this way is more enjoyable I suppose. I remove two dark attribute monsters in my graveyard from play. To summon two Extinction Maras." Two, what looked like goblins appeared. Their bodies dyed silver, aside from their heads, which were small versions of the skull of the Emissary of Extinction. (Defence mode. ATK/0 DEF/0) "I set one card, and end my turn, during which my magician changes to defense mode." (DEF/1600) "Your turn."

Xiaolang placed his hand on the top of his deck. "I can do this." He drew a card. "Reckless Sanctity! We each draw until we hold six, all monster cards drawn are discarded."

Each drew until they held six. Xiaolang discarded two.

Ritan picked up six, grinning. "Reverse card open! Offerings to the Gate!" He suddenly discarded his entire hand. "I must discard my hand, and I cannot conduct my next draw phase. Now for every Monster I discarded, my Gateway gains an extinction counter." (gateway/7) "Now make your move."

Xiaolang was stunned. "If I go through with my plan...Shien." "I know what it is you plan. Do it. I am ready. We are ready." Xiaolang set a card. "I activate The Creator's effect. By discarding 1 card. I can special summon a monster from my graveyard. I summon Great Shogun Shien." (Attack mode. ATK/2500 DEF/2400) Xiaolang showed his last card once more. "I activate Assault Tactics. First I select a Six Samurai or Shien monster, now it's the only monster that can attack this turn. Now he can attack every monster you control. So attack, Shien! Burning Reach!"

In an instant Shien had incinerated every monster Ritan controlled. Ritan grunted as the fires drowned his side of the field, hiding him from view. (Gateway/10) The aged man had his head bowed when he was revealed.

Xiaolang took a breath. This was it.

"I end my turn. Go on, Ritan. If you're gonna kill me, then try it now!"

"What are you thinking Xiaolang? He can summon Draygor now!" "Judai! Believe in him."

Ritan started chuckled lightly. Before it grew into full blown laughter. He held out his arms as he shouted to the heavens.

"I open the Gateway to Extinction!"

The forbidden gate opened. Revealing darkness within. The cave was again filled with wind as the signs that the Emissary of Extinction made themselves known. Ritan continued laughing as the card set itself on his monster card zone.

The creature walked out from it's prison, it's eyes already glowing. It stopped on the edge of the altar. Looking down at it's long hated enemy.

"Shien."

"Draygor."

The beast laughed. "You lose." The creature howled as it once more unleashed it's most deadly ability.

Xiaolang held up his arms before his face. He was no fan of this effect. He watched as his only two monsters were destroyed. His chest glowing. "Almost there. I must stand strong! If I don't win this now, I die!"

"Time to die." And the darkness shot out once more. Heading right for Xiaolang.

"This is it! This is all or nothing!" "Reverse card open! Destined Clash!"

In a flash of fire Shien appeared again. Holding it's Mighty weapon. (Attack mode. ATK/2500 DEF/2400)

Xiaolang explained. "When you attack, I can revive a "Six Samurai" or "Shien" monster from my graveyard, or summon one from my hand, and force you to fight it!"

Draygor laughed. "Perfect." The creature roared.

Shien stood his ground, holding his sword in both hands. "Once more you will feel the power of the Six!"

Xiaolang nodded. "Reverse card open, Unity of the Six!"

The symbol of the Six Samurai suddenly surrounded Shien as he stood between Xiaolang and Ritan. His sword raised as the image of the Six who stood in the circles took their places. Grandmaster of the Six Samurai also appeared outside the circle, standing behind Yariza.

Xiaolang smiled. "Until this turns end, for every Six Samurai monster on my field and in my grave, Shien gains 500 attack points!"

Shien's blade glowed with all the powers his allies had handed him. The fire glowing brighter and brighter. (ATK/6500)

Judai was stunned. "He's done it...He's done it!"

Shien slashed. Sending a rainbow colored fire at his long time enemy. Draygor could only stand still as the attack bore down on him.

He screamed. The sacred flames lashing at every inch of his body. Seeking to reduce the creature to ash. But not even the fire would destroy his existence.

However.

Ritan staggered back, bumping against the altar. (LP/0) "Damn you!"

The mark on Xiaolang's chest glowed as he looked upon his father. "I win. And you have failed, Ritan. You have lost to the Six Samurai again, Draygor!"

Draygor growled, his body still smoking slightly. "No...I won't fail. I WILL BE FREE!"

"Not while I draw breath! Now it's time to separate you from Ritan!"

Draygor suddenly chuckled. "Let me help you with that." Draygor looked down at Ritan. "You have been most useful, but you have outlived your usefulness."

"What do you mean?"

Draygor's skull slowly opened. "It's been so long...since I've dinned on humans."

"Wait-!"

Before Ritan could respond, Draygor had reached down, grabbed Ritan and picked him up. "Give your essence up to me."

His jaw clamped over Ritan's head, his teeth digging into Ritan's neck.

Xiaolang was too stunned to move.

Ritan screamed from within his new prison. Blood flowing where Draygor's teeth had impaled him. Draygor tightened his grasp, a chuckle coming from him. Ritan's body started to convulse. Even more blood spilling from the wounds, painting his clothes a crimson red. Dark energy began to surround Ritan, all of it flowing into his captor. Who only continue to tighten it's grasp. Ritans thrashing slowed down.

He stopped.

Xiaolang's mouth slowly opened. "He's...dead."

Judai was too stunned to even think.

There was a snap. Before the last of his energy left Ritan's body, turning his body to dust. Draygor was suddenly dyed in dark energy as he dropped Ritan's clothing, blood spilling from his mouth as he threw his head back.

"THIS IS IT!"

The gateway's darkness changed into an image of another world. One where the real Gateway stood. The beast roared again. It through out it's arms. It's entire body exploding into dark energy with shot through the gate. Wrapping around it in an instant.

Roaring could be heard from inside.

Draygor was trying to break out from the inside as well.

Shien appeared. "It won't work. The seal cant fail!" The symbol on Xiaolang's chest was glowing as well. "But he's gonna try." He ran towards the altar. "Let's go, Judai!"

The gateway ground around the gate shook with the power that was beating against it. The roaring from within becoming louder and louder.

The ground shook as something banged against the gate from within. And again. One of the doors began to crack.

Xiaolang ran right through the portal, the light in his chest flaring for a second. "Shien!" The Shogun appeared. "This ends now."

"Neos!" Xiaolang and Shien looked behind them to see Judai had summoned his ace. They nodded. Shien and Neos moved towards the gates, their duellists with them.

"Let's finish this, Shien!"

"Let's go, Neos!"

Both warrior's prepared to attack. Xiaolang threw out his hand. "Atta-" The glow on his chest faded for a second. "What?"

All four, monster's and duellists, look upon the gateway.

The seal upon it had cracked down the middle. The banging from the inside was becoming more violent, with a strike coming every second.

The creature roared once more.

The seal cracked once more, now in fourths. And in seconds the gateway's doors began to crack even more. Dark energy spilling out of it.

Shein and Neos retreated back to their duellists,who had both once again released their own powers as their monsters stood in front of them. Shein raised his sword, disbelief in his eyes. "This cant be possible!" Xiaolang clenched his fist, his teeth bared. "Somehow it is, Shien. And we fight to kill him this time!"

There was one last bang.

Judai steadied himself. "Here it comes!"

The doors of the Gate shattered, being completely destroyed by the wave of dark energy that clashed out of it. Shien and Neos summoned all of their power to protect themselves, and their duellists from the power that attempted to drown them. In seconds the wave had dissipated, leaving the four figures standing, slightly confused, but ready for combat.

Against the Emissary that was standing at the gateway.

"Draygor!" Shein rushed forward.

But Xiaolang noticed something. "WAIT!" Shien stopped, he'd noticed it too.

Draygor was standing there alright.

But the darkness on his body was almost completely gone. He was now just a skeleton, with a few patches of darkness holding the body together. "What?"

The last of the darkness dissipated. Letting the skeleton fall to the ground in a heap.

Shien couldn't make sense of it. "What?" Xiaolang started walking forward. "I think he's gone." He sped up. "Shein." The Shogun walked forward as well. Judai and Neos right behind them.

They converged on the corpse, which was now nothing more than bones. It's feet, arms, spine and head no longer connected.

Shien poked the skull with his blade. His blade poked through an eye hole, flipping the skull over. There was nothing on the inside. Everyone looked around the corpse carefully. Coming to one conclusion.

Draygor was no longer in his own body. Xiaolang frowned. "So where the hell is-!" It just hit him. "That darkness..." Everyone was stunned by the revelation. The wave was not an attack. It was a distraction.

Draygor had gotten away.

Everyone turned to see the still open portal. Where the darkness had flown to.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A mass of dark energy rested atop of Duel Academia, growing smaller as parts of itself flew off in random directions.

"Weakened though I am...I will pass my spirit among those that use my power. They will give me new strength, new will. I will be strong again, stronger than ever." The evil spirit chuckled.

The last of his mass began to fade away, his essence flowing to the cards that bore his image.

"I am...free."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End of Chapter

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Today's strongest card

Great Shogun Shien

Monster

7

Fire

Warrior/Effect

ATK/2500 DEF/2400

If you control 2 or more "Six Samurai" monsters, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. Your opponent can activate only 1 Spell/Trap Card each turn. If this card would be destroyed, you can destroy a "Six Samurai" monster you control instead.

Commentary: Xiaolang

"As strong as Neos, and with cool effects! The ace monster of the Six Samurai!"

Authors notes: Contest over, you can call for the liver transplants now.

Now you see why I changed the story rating to "M". Bloody scenes wont be a common thing, but this wont be the last either. You've been warned.

I'm going to be taking some time off. How long I can't be sure, but it will be at least till the end of the month. I want to take some time to pave the path of my story a bit better. I have where I want it to go, it's just getting there. And as much as I'd love to continue writing this book (it could be a dream job), life demands my attention.