Authors notes: Sorry for the unannounced Hiatus folks. This chapter presented itself to be a pain in the ass to write. Let's just be grateful it wasn't a full month again this time.

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The Emissary of Extinction

Chapter 24

The Horsemen Cometh

Two days had passed since the mass possession. Now the island was normal. Students walked, talked, duelled and did anything that amused them on their day off. The few students who had injuries had recovered well over the two nights, with only a few of them needing to say for another night.

For some however, there was no going back.

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Kenji sat down in his chair, laughing softly to himself. "So this is what power is?" He looked at the card Draygor had created for him, before looking down at his own deck, which he had left lying on his table. He picked it up, spreading it in his hand. "Heh."

He threw the deck over his head, not paying the slightest attention as it spread over the floor beneath him. "Pathetic!" He raised a palm, keeping it flat. "I am strong." His Gray aura filled his hand. "I must have a strong deck." A card formed.

Then another.

Then another...

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Sosuke chuckled as he held the card Draygor had given him. His other hand was pointed at the table, a stream of Gray was flowing from his hand.

Aiming right at a growing pile of cards.

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Yuuka was looking through her new deck.

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Jinn added the card Draygor had given him to his new deck.

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The waves crashed against the rocks in a gentle rhythm. The water would not be still for many hours, so for now it could not reflect the image of the person who sat, gazing at it.

Judai gazed down at the water beneath him as the waves continued crashing against the stone he had upon. At least he appeared to be. His eyes were not in the same place as his body, they were lost. Wherever Judai's mind was, it was beyond the reach of the sound of the waves around him.

Another wave crashed against the stone he was upon. Judai gave no reaction, even as a drop of water made it's way down his face. It gripped to his face briefly, before falling.

Still Judai remained motionless.

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"Haou's shell is emotionally weakened. Perfect. It's time to make a move. Now how to start..."

He gave an order only four could hear.

"Find me a fortress."

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"Edo Phoenix!"

"Manjoume Thunder!"

Manjoume looked for the nearest exit, but found himself quite surrounded. There was no way out. "What do I do?"

Edo smiled. "You got a lot of learn, Manjoume." He looked around. "Alright. Line up, and would someone please lend me a duel disk?"

"What are you doing?"

Edo shook his head, not looking at his fellow pro. "Manjoume. It's not all interviews and photo shoots you know. Sometimes you just have to duel, and not even in a stadium. Just enjoy it."

"Oh come on! We don't have to duel everyone who challenges us."

"Not always. But now we do." He finally looked his friend/rival in the eye. "You were one of these students not too long ago. You understand them."

Manjoume couldn't get out of that line of logic. "Fine." He faced his opponents to be. "But I need a duel disk."

Dozens of duel disks were suddenly pushed in front of him. "Think of it as practice."

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The four stood, looking upon a giant building in front of them. Kenji looked at the surroundings. "Abandoned by the looks of it. I remember this from my last year, it was the base of Professor Cobra, forbidden to all students now. It should suit us fine."

Sosuke nodded. "Let's go in."

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Yusuke and Fubuki watched as a few students duelled below them. Honest was also watching, and saw something he wasn't hoping to see. Some of the cards he could see were dyed black, even ones that were not in play, or even being held in the hand.

"Extinction Armor is absorbing energy, even if not played."

Yusuke frowned. "Bad news."

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Draygor was laughing. "Life..." There was an entire forest underneath him. A forest no one would defend. No one would notice. No one would miss. "I can feast on it." The Darkness spread itself out from it's four most loyal henchmen, descending down on the forest under him. In seconds he had covered the forest in a black haze, slowly eating life from it. "The trees draw life from the earth, and now I from it. I can take my time with this meal." Slowly, one by one, the leaves on the trees were starting to lose their color. Starting to die. "I will feast on life. All life." He looked forward to the day he could devour certain enemies.

The four watched as the darkness over the trees took form. The smoke formed a gigantic image of Draygor from the ribs up was looking at them. "Engage the shell." In seconds the haze had gone again, becoming one with the trees below.

In a moment, Draygor was hidden completely, beyond anyone's ability to sense.

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Austin and Jim looked at the sight before them. Both with a sense of worry.

Johan was sitting up against a tree, his head bowed as the world around him went about it's business.

"It's like I told you, O'Brian. Johan's been like that since two days ago."

"And Judai?"

"Haven't seen him at all. Though I think we can guess why they were fighting."

Austin nodded. "Yubel. I'm not sure if I can blame Judai for hiding the truth him him."

"Neither can I. And this was not the best time for him to find out. Who knows when Draygor will show up again?"

"His fight with Haou must have shaken him, that and his further conflict Shien. Though I highly doubt that will keep him away for long."

Jim nodded. "Let's just hope we have time to fix Johan and Judai before he makes another move."

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Xiaolang could see it too. Sense it. He could see that every copy of Extinction Armor in the hands of an active duellist was absorbing more energy than before. "But what's Draygor planning?"

He gazed around as the students continued to duel, despite the events from days before they continued. He briefly wondered if Draygor would posses them once more, or if his methods would become more sinister. For once he truly wondered just how far the monster spirit would go for it's bones. How far would it go to reach his goals. With a frown he understood something else, he didn't exactly understand the creatures goals. The only thing he really knew is that the creature killed. "But why? What does killing give Draygor that nothing else does?" He turned around, walking away from the battles around him.

"Why did you align yourself with him, Ritan? Did you ever suspect he would kill you if need be?" That was another thing he'd never really known, his own father. Though the latter he did not regret not knowing. Though he did wonder about one thing.

"Did he bring it with him?"

He suddenly stopped walking. "What's that?" He could sense something. "Four of them." He closed his eyes, trying to pinpoint them..."The red dorm. But what could be there? Did Judai come back yet?" He shrugged. "Better check it out."

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"Judai Yuki" Judai turned, slowly. He looked up at the four looking down at him. Kenji's next words were spoken in his own mind. "Draygor was right. He's just a target now." The Judai before him was one he almost did not recognize. In face, body and clothing he was Judai Yuki. There was no question of that. It was the eyes he could not recognize. It was almost like there was nothing behind them, like it really was a shell that was looking back at him. The shell blinked. "Shame to beat one who likely wont fight back."

He raised up a duel disk he was holding, throwing it down at Judai's feet. Judai simply ignored it. Kenji activated his own Duel Disk. "We are the Four Horsemen. Our master has ordered you to be defeated." He activated his own duel disk, placing his deck inside of it.

The three with him did the same.

Judai blinked once, slowly. Whatever he was thinking would be known only to him. "Fine." He picked up the fallen disk, activating it and placing his own disk inside of it."

"Duel"

(Judai LP/4000)

(Horsemen LP/4000)

Keni nodded. "We four shall share life points. You Judai, may take every second turn." He picked up a card. "Draw." He glanced at the card, and then revealed it. "I activate the Spell Card, Step to Reincarnation. I can special summon a level 4 or below monster from my hand, as long as it's a 'Samsara' monster. It cannot attack this turn." He picked up the card he wanted to summon. "Now it is time, to see the power of this deck."

"I summon Samsara Warrior!" The warrior was dressed in the robes of a Buddhist monk, but there was clearly silver colored armor beneath those black robes. Aside from his robes and his armor, the warrior wore no clothing, his bare feet seemingly undisturbed by the bare ground beneath them. His hands were resting upon his weapon, a long Katana that was currently stabbed into the ground. The hilt was a dark blue, which could be mistaken for violet at a quick glance. The guard was in the shape of a circle, perhaps there were some markings upon them but they could not be seen with the angle the sword was at. The blade was white as snow, pure, unblemished. Perhaps this blade had seen no battle at all. (Attack position. ATK/1000 DEF/1000)

Kenji revealed another spell. "I activate Bug Load. Both you and I can special summon a monster from our hands that's level is equal to a level 4 or below monster I control. My Warrior is level three." He placed another card in a monster zone. "I summon Samsara Monk."

He stood with his hands connected at his waist at the front of him, they were connected by his index fingers and thumbs, almost in the shape of a triangle. His other fingers were closed. The monk was dressed in white robes. Unlike it's ally this monster, it held no weapon, wore no armor, so it did not seem to seek battle, but would rather meditate. Why it would be foolish enough let itself be in a duel was an interesting question indeed. (Attack position. ATK/800 DEF/800) "Will you be summoning a monster, Judai?"

Judai placed a monster on his duel disk. "I summon Card Trooper." The mobile robot had it's cannons crossed as it appeared on the field. It's eyes flashing briefly. Clearly battle was not something it was looking to engage in. (Defence position. ATK/400 DEF/400)

Kenji continued. "Now, I will show him the true power I have claimed." He smiled. "Now. I tribute my two Samsara monsters." They faded, their energy becoming one with the card he had raised up. "It's time for my introduction. I summon my namesake." He placed the card in a monster card zone.

It came down from a dark hole in the sky. A creature unlike any Judai had seen before, and had not been so despondent he'd have been in awe. As it was however, the creature went without proper reverence.

It rode upon a horse, a horse with no mane, no hair at all. It's skin was sickening pale, so much in fact it could be questioned if the animal was even alive. The only noticeable trace of life upon it was it's glowing red eyes. The horse itself had nothing in the way of armor, or even reigns. The rider rode this horse without any equipped to make the ride smoother. The rider was dressed only in a Gray cloak, with a hood that covered it's face completely. Whatever features were on this creatures skin were completely hidden. Assuming the creature had any skin to begin with. Half of it's arms could be seen out of the cloaks sleeves, and most of it's legs too.

They were bone. Completely bare, completely human bone. In the creatures left hand was a sword, also made completely of bone, even the blade. Kenji spoke out the creatures name. "The Four Horsemen – Death!" The cloaks hood was knocked off the riders head by a breeze, revealing that under it was a skull. Death befitted the name of the rider. The rider was dead, yet somehow able to ride. (Attack position. ATK/3000 DEF/2000) "I end my turn."

"Draw." Judai glanced at his cards for only a few seconds before making a move. Judai placed his hand on his deck. "Card Trooper effect activate. By sending the top three cards from my deck to the graveyard, it gains 500 attack points for every card sent until the end of the turn." He picked up three, glancing at them before he let his graveyard devour them one by one. Card Trooper was glowing as it's power grew. (ATK1900) "I set one card. Turn end." (Card Trooper ATK/400)

Kenji raised an eyebrow. "That move was pointless. He increased his monsters attack points but made no use of them. Is he even taking us seriously?" He glanced at one of his team mates, silently ordering them to take the next move.

Yuuka would be taking this turn. "Draw." She revealed a card in her hand. "I activate Reasoning. You can declare a monster card level, then I must pick up cards until I find a monster card. If the monster is of a different level than the one you declared, I can special summon it. Otherwise it's sent to the graveyard. Every other card I pick up is sent to the graveyard anyway. What level will you call?"

"Four."

She nodded. She picked up a card, then smiled. "It's level six. I summon Plague Dragon."

A large, black scaled dragon appeared, not at large as a certain other black scaled dragon, but sizeable none of the less. The dragon was hunched over, too fatigued to fly or stand on it's feet. It's soft underbelly was thin, to the point that it's ribs were lightly pressing up against it from the inside. The dragon was breathing heavily. One of the dragons claws was lightly pressed up against it's chest, it was in minor pain. This was a monster much to sick to fight, but in this game, every monster would fight, until it's fall. (Attack position, ATK/2200 DEF/1500)

"I activate Double Summon. I can normal summon an additional time this turn. I summon Plague Rat."

This rat was much larger than the average rat, as was typical of most duel monster incarnations of animals. The rats thin fur was black, but was so thin that the skin beneath could be see. The rats skin was almost entirely covered by small red dots. The rats troubles were more than just with it's skin. The rodent was scratching at it's face, and was in distress about something known only to it. Whatever it was, was causing the rat some degree of pain, or maybe it was the itchy feeling it was apparently feeling all over, it's right leg was scraping up against any skin it could reach. (Attack position. ATK/800 DEF/400)

"Now it's my turn." She picked up another card. "I sacrifice my two monsters. To summon The Four Horsemen – Pestilence!"

Like it's ally, it came down from a hole in the sky. The horse this rider sat upon, a snow white horse, but a glance at the animal revealed an unsettling fact, like the monsters it's master has summoned before it, this horse was very ill. Along the horses sides were a series of lumps, some small, others considerably larger. The monster was breathing heavily, much too heavy to be outside and on ones feet with. The horses skin was sagging in places, and there were many scabs running down the length of it's legs. The horses mane was almost completely non-existent, except for some small patches which were still fighting to stay upon the animal. Clearly once upon a time, this horse was a magnificent specimen, but sickness had overtaken it. If curing it would be impossible, then the merciful thing for this poor animal would have to be administered through the duel. The rider was in no better shape. Like Death, this one rode with their head covered, but the figure in the ragged cloak was undoubtedly a female. There were many black botches across the womans skin. Like her horse, this woman was not fit to fight. She held no weapon, in fact she didn't even hold the reigns of her horse. She was too ill to ride, so why she was even in a duel was something others would come to wonder in time. (Attack position. ATK/3000 DEF/2000) "Pestilence. Attack Card Trooper!"

The sickened horse ran down, reaching the Trooper. It sudden stopped, the rider holding out a blotched hand to her target. Card Trooper was suddenly covered in blotches itself, and they grew, dying the creature black. The creature lost it's form, suddenly seeming to collapse in on itself as something hollowed it out from the inside. In seconds it was a black mass, which faded. Clearly even a machine could be infected by the sickness the rider was burdened with.

Judai drew a card. "Card Trooper lets me draw a card when destroyed."

"Not important! Death. Direct attack!"

Death ran down, pulling back it's blade of bone, he would strike fiercely, harshly and without forgiveness.

If Judai had only let him. Death struck, but his blade clanged against the armor of a figure that appeared, blocking the blade like it was nothing. Death backed away.

Judai revealed the card that had stopped the attack in it's tracks. "Necro Gardna can negate an attack by removing itself from play when it's in my graveyard."

Yuuka gritted her teeth. "Nothing but a lucky move. Turn end."

Judai's mind was clearly elsewhere as he drew his card. He added it to his growing collection before picking two other cards and playing them. "I set one card. And summon Elemental Hero Clayman." (Defence position. ATK/800 DEF/2000) "Turn end."

Now it was Jinns turn to make a move. Jinn drew a card. "Draw." He nodded. He revealed two cards in his hand, both of the same identity. "I activate two copies of Fiend's Sanctuary. Each gives me a Metal Fiend Token." Two creatures that appeared to be made complete out of metal balls of various sizes appeared. What creature they were meant to represent was beyond it's summoners knowledge. (Attack position. ATK/0 DEF/0) "Next I tribute both of my Metal Fiend Tokens." The tokens were gone, like the sacrifices before them being absorbed into a card. "I summon my namesake. The Four Horsemen – Famine."

This horse was black as night itself. It was perhaps, in worse health than each of it's fellow horses, the horse was so thin that it's bones could clearly be seen, and it's dull black eyes made one wonder if hunger had taken it's awareness. The rider was in no better condition, his pale skin almost looking like the bones beneath would break through it. The rider wore a cloak not unlike Death, but this cloak was colored black and was without a hood. In the riders left hand, they held the reigns, in the other a pair of silver weighing scales. (Attack position. ATK/3000 DEF/2000) Jinn was far from done. "You wont be able to stop three attacks."

Five words was all it took for Judai to prove that statement wrong. "Reverse card open. Hero Ring." Suddenly a shield appeared upon Claymans arms, which the Hero moved into a more defensible angle. "The monster equipped with Hero Ring cannot be attack by monsters with 1900 or more attack points."

Kenji was most surprised by this move. "He's not taking this seriously. That much is obvious. But he stopped us just like that. Perhaps taking him four on one was not a good idea. Our decks, while united by our namesakes, are not very compatible. No matter, we still have the stronger field."

"Turn end."

Judai nodded. "Draw." He blinked at his drawn card, apparently dissatisfied with it. He selected another card from his hand and "I set one card, turn end." Just like that Judai was finished making the closest thing to a comeback he would muster.

Making one young Duellist very happy. Soskue's deck threatened to spill out with the sheer force that he applied when he shouted out "Draw!" He grinned at his drawn card. "I activate Temporary Incarnation! I can special summon a monster with 'Titan' in it's name from my hand, but it will be destroyed at the end phase. I summon Titan – Cronus!"

Like a certain other Thunder-type monster, this monster refused to stand in front in front of it's master. Cronus towered over Sosuke. He was a giant, standing many times Sosukes height.

The monster was dressed in the armor of a Greek soldier, with strong black materiel, laced with gold trim covering it's chest. Below the warriors waist was merely cloth, covering the monsters legs down to just below it's knees. The gargantuan monster seemed to have no desire for a helmet, leaving his face exposed. The Titans face was old, with Gray hair and the prominent beard that adorned his chin. The beard wrapped around the monsters mouth completely, a moustache included. The hair on his head was long, extending down the back of his head to somewhere below his shoulders. The monsters choice of protection, aside from it's strong armor was a single sword, which he held in his left hand. It was a very long sword, that when hung loosely when his arm was at it's side extended well past his knees. The blade would have reached the ground were it not for the fact that the blade was curved near the end, the curve making the tip of the blade pointing back at the hilt of the sword. The blade was made of steel which could have been mistaken for silver. The sword had no guard, just a gold handle that was tightly gripped by it's owner. The monsters form emitted a gentle golden glow, almost divine by nature, but despite it's gentleness, this Titan was very formidable indeed. (Attack position. ATK/2800 DEF/2500)

Sosuke wasn't finished yet. "I activate Allied Summon. I must select one monster I control, I choose Cronus. Now I can special summon a monster from my hand that is the same type and level as the selected monster. So I can summon a level 8 Thunder-type monster. I choose Titan – Oceanus."

One thing was made certain once this monster appeared, the Titans were not regular sized monsters. This Titan too towered over Sosuke like a Tree over a sapling. This monster was clothed somewhat differently than it's ally however. It's clothing was aquatic blue, and seemed to ripple in the non-existent wind like water. It was shaped like armor, but what it actually was, was unknown, but it could be mistaken for water itself. Unlike it's ally, it's arms were covered as well, almost like water was wrapped around it's arms, reaching to it's hands, becoming like cloth, which the Titan held at the palms of it's hands. The cloth below it's armor, or perhaps it was a part of what this creature used as armor rippled like water as well. The Titans head was almost completely hidden by the Greek helmet it wore, a bright blue steel. A decoration had been affixed to the top of it, in the shape of a mighty wave. The Titan held no weapon, but was almost as an incarnation of the sea itself. Time would only tell. (Attack position. ATK/2600 DEF/2300)

"Allied Summon states at when the monster that was selected is destroyed, the monster summoned by it's effect will be destroyed automatically. But I wont be keeping my Titans around for that long!" He grinned as he raised a card above his head. "I tribute both my monsters, to summon the last of the four horsemen!" His Titans were gone, their energies being sacrificed for the summon of the last of the Four.

The last came as the three before him did. His horse was a fiery red, at least from what could be seen from under the gold armor it wore. Unlike the horses before it, this horse was dressed completely for battle, with gold armor and red trim covering it. The rider was dressed for battle as well, he wore matching gold armor with a flowing red cape. He had his sword drawn, it too made completely of gold. "The Four Horsemen – War!" (Attack position. ATK/3000 DEF/2000) Sosuke revealed the last card in his hand "Shield Crush! I can destroy a defense position monster of my choice. Clayman will defend you no more!"

Clayman's shield was blasted right through by the energy that hit it, along with the Hero himself. Just like that Judai's nearly impregnable defence was eradicated.

"You are defenceless, Judai Yuki. Against us four you have no defence! Now! Horsemen! Direct attack! Absolute Apocalypse!" The four horsemen raised their weapons of choice, before their horses began to stomp in the ground beneath them, in seconds the horses had finished, they ran forward, all four of them walking upon the air, heading down to Judai.

Judai closed his eyes. Despite the severity situation, he just wasn't interested.

"KURI!"

They snapped open. "Kuriboh...no. I cant let myself lose a duel." He had two cards left to play.

It was all he needed. "Reverse card open. Call of the Haunted I can select a monster in my graveyard and revive it. I revive Winged Kuriboh." For once, Winged Kuriboh was not sitting upon the image of it's card, but instead hovered in front of Judai. (Attack position. ATK/300 DEF/200) There was more to come. He suddenly discarded two cards. "Reverse card open. Transcendent Wings."

The tiny monster was suddenly glowing, the light too bright for anyone to see the creature within. Suddenly a pair of wings shot out from the light, each with a claw at the top of them. The light finally faded, but the tiny creature that was Winged Kuriboh had been changed into a still tiny creature dressed in a miniaturized model of a dragon, made completely out of gold. Winged Kuriboh had grown into it's strongest and most dangerous form. Winged Kuriboh Level 10. (Attack position. ATK/300 DEF/200)

Judai spoke the last words he would need to in this duel. "Winged Kuriboh level 10 can tribute itself to destroy every attack position monster you control. After that, you take damage equal to the total attack points of your destroyed monsters."

Too late did Sosuke realize just what he'd let happen. "Dammit!"

Kenji closed his eyes as the Kuriboh before him was starting to emit light. Light that was slowly spreading across the field. "Such strength. Even weakened.." He smiled. "No matter."

Their namesakes could only scream against the power of the weakest monster in play. One by one they shattered, their strength working against their owners as the light that destroyed them enveloped the ones that had summoned them.

Kenji opened his eyes, not the slightest bit blinded by the power that was covering him. "This is just the beginning."

(Horsemen LP/0)

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End of Chapter

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Today's Strongest Card

Card Trooper

Monster

Earth

3

Machine/Effect

ATK/400 DEF/400

Once per turn, you can send up to 3 cards from the top of your Deck to the Graveyard. This card gains 500 ATK for each card sent to the Graveyard, until the End Phase. When this card you control is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, draw 1 card.

Commentary: Sho

"Perhaps I should consider playing this."

Authors notes: Lots of em

Finally some more original archetypes. Almost ashamed of myself for only showing one original archetype before this chapter. Jinn/Famine's archetype will be shown in a later chapter.

Poll: Looking through Judai's deck for move ideas, I found a problem I had been putting off addressing for a while but now is a good a time as any to address it.

Elemental Hero Prisma: The anime portrayed it as a level 5 monster, while the OCG/TCG has it at level 4. Given that the anime did have a habit of retconing a few of it's cards I don't think it'd be too much of a big deal for me to do so with Prisma, but I know I have some readers that are very loyal to the original series so it's up to popular vote.

Should I go with the OCG/TCG level for Primsa, or stick with the anime level? I ask because I plan on using it in at least one of Judai's upcoming duels.

Voting is open until the months end.

An Uncertain future: I'm going to be on a Hiatus of soughts in coming weeks. Yes, I know it's redundant to say it now, considering it took almost a month for me to get this chapter done, but I've thought about where I want this book to go, and where perhaps it ought to go. I've not thought out the plot nearly as much as I should have, and have set myself up some considerable problems I need to deal with.

I wont promise anything in the way of update consistently for a while, not until I've got the plot more finalized. Blame my perfectionism, I want to create a book that can at least match the series it's derived from, so I need to plan out much more carefully than I have thus far.

How the anime writers did it is beyond me. Maybe being official writers gives one mystical powers...

Though if you want something else to pass the time: check out my profile for a link to a project by a friend of mine. She's attempting to abridge Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal. Episode 1 should be coming soon (sooner than the next chapter more than likely).

Last thing: My GX manga continuation idea is something I'm starting to take seriously, but there's one minor thing, and this is something I want the fanbase to decide (never having read the manga as much as I have watched the anime, I feel the fans should decide.)

Should I stick with the manga effects/levels/ect for cards, or should I go with TCG/OCG versions?

I could also go with a mixture of both (whichever version is better/stronger/more interesting).

This is not a poll or anything, just opinion gathering.

I leave it to you, my fanbase.