Author's Notes: As you've guessed by now, I am relocating the story to New York City. The new arc in this story is about to begin. First however, I must tie up some lose ends.

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The Emissary of Extinction

Chapter 32

Aftermath

Around them the students were finally coming to their senses. With their copies of Extinction Armor long since gone nothing held influence over them any more. They were free of that curse, forever. Now all of the had woken to find themselves in the middle of nowhere, with a smoking crater right next to them. Most of them woke in suffering, struck with either cuts, sickness or extreme hunger and thirst along with fatigue. What few students who were unburdened with problems could only look at the smoking crater. By now it's smoke was reaching the night sky. The crater was ground that now cried out for rain, to sooth the great pain it now found itself in. It had been scorched in the battle, heavily. Now nothing remained of the laboratory that once stood atop and beneath the ground.

Ryo walked towards the edge of the crater, though there was very much he could make through the smoke. Nothing was happening. Smoke was rising, and the smell of burning filled his nose, he could hear some crackling of fire but nothing else. Draygor had emerged from what was likely a miniature hell below, and had been the only one to emerge. The battle of this night had been a difficult one, one filled with great power and fury which finished in the crater below. Only the combatants of that last round could know the result. One had vanished from the island. The other was not coming out of the crater. He had fought a great battle, but in vain. Draygor still lived, the threat still existed. Once again the Emissary of Extinction had escaped.

"I'm sorry, Xiaolang."

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"Well that was a close one. I thought for a second there he'd actually pulled it off."

"I don't understand how you can have such contempt for your own son."

"I won't bother explaining it. In fact there's nothing I want to do here now. Draygor is gone, my business here is done."

"Not quite. We're not finished."

Ritan turned away completely, preparing to make his way into the forest. "Yes we are. Goodbye, and let's not try meeting again, Haou."

Haous' eyes flared. "Inferno Tyrant, destroy him. Burning Hate."

The tyrant suddenly grasped at the armor on its' chest, then pulling. There was so very little time for Ritan to process what he was seeing. The tyrant was opening up it's armor, and showing whatever was underneath to him. It was so bright, and it was emerging. This was a heart of an explosion just waiting to happen.

It happened, and the blue blast headed right for Ritan. "Shit!

There was little over a second between the time the attack was launched and its' impact. The explosion was fierce, and Haou did not even blink as light completely covered his eyes. Heat and blue light were all that seemed to exist for one moment of shining wrath. All moments must eventually come to an end, and as the fires slowly dimmed this one ended too. Even against such a harsh light Haous' eyesight had not been affected in the least, and he wasted no time in analysing the world around him.

Before him the area had been utterly decimated. What was once a mixture of grass and trees was now a barren wasteland, something of a miniature version of the crater that had been created only moments ago. Haou permitted his tyrant to fade, it's work had been done. Nothing could have survived that blast, except perhaps a certain freak of nature who refused to die, but seeing as the monster currently lacked it's bones-

"That it?" Had Haou not put the pieces together before hearing that voice he might have actually been shocked. Despite the impossibility of it, Ritan had defied the wrath of the king.

The smoke around Ritan departed to reveal that the bones of the Emissary had raised themselves up in front of him, the arms wrapped around it's front to block as much of the blaze as possible. How much of the fire it had actually managed to stop was a mystery, but Ritan was apparently unharmed. "You can't destroy these bones, not with that level of attack anyway. As I said before, goodbye. And let's not meet again."

Ritan turned once more, and walked past the devastation into the trees. Haou watched with genuine interest. Both of them had just fought a battle with fierce intensity, with himself claiming the final upper hand and seeing as Ritan had walked away, victory. The battle could have gone on however, but the second Draygor vanished over Ritan simply abandoned his efforts. Exactly why was something Haou was unsure of, but the direction he was heading was that of the crater. Yet again, Haou was not sure why, didn't he hate his own son? "Strange man."

Haou turned around, he had his own destination to reach, and task to enact.

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Hours later, Kaiser stood with Sho in a hallway, the latter sharing the details of the current situation. "...all the cuts were minor, even though they bled quite a bit. They'll all be fine. The ill students just have a bad bout of flu, Kaiba Corp has already shipped out flu shots. The ones affected by hunger and thirst have been moved to the Obelisk blue Cafeteria area to be fed and watered. The ships will be bringing in a lot more food and other supplies to keep us stocked. All things considered, things have been a lot worse for us."

"Has there been anything from the crater?"

Kaiser looked out the window, sunrise was starting, which against the smoke-laced sky was a most welcome sight. "It's still smoking. We can't even get in there yet."

"Do you think he..." Sho couldn't quite finish his question, but he didn't need to. Now that the troubles seemed to be over, if only for a moment the question that ranked just below "Where's Judai" was wondering if the young duellist had survived. A question that by now had an almost certain answer.

"Has there been any news from Judai?"

Sho shook his head. "Nothing. We're not even sure where he is right now."

Kaiser gazed intently out into the world, or so it would have seemed. "Judai. You've never failed us before, you've always come through in the end but this time we can't wait for you to pick yourself up now. Last time we got lucky, death was not the end for us but I don't think Draygor will let us get off so easily." He sighed, and as if to match his melancholy, the sky outside began to weep. Rain had finally come to try and wash away the marks of the night that had transpired.

Some marks however, would not be so easily washed away.

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In Judai's body, Haou picked up a remote, searching Judai's memories on how to operate it. He hit a button, and began flipping through. "You wouldn't just leave this world, Draygor. Breaking dimensional barriers is beyond your current power." Early morning cartoon, another, re-run of something Judai only knew the name of, another cartoon, very early news. "There."

It was just starting. First came the national news, which he watched with some interest. "People and their politics. They elect impotent people to decide their laws, control their rights, declare their collective morals. The people of this world don't know what a true ruler is." Then came international news. Haou watched, intently. He took in every detail, as best as the newscaster was capable of understanding and expressing them. Haou, unlike the rest of the world was capable of understanding it.

"So that's where you went."

"What do you intend to do-nya?"

Haou looked down at the cat, and the golden orb that had apparently followed him. "Pursue him and destroy him. I think you will want to follow Judai, even if it's only his body that stands before you."

"I will follow-nya." 'Meow'

"So be it. Follow if you must, it makes no difference to me." Haou walked past the cat and it's owner/favourite meal. He'd just grasped the doorknob when-

"What about the others? Judai's friends will want to know where his body is going to-nya."

"Their feelings are no concern of mine."

"I know. But Draygor has four servants now. Plus Xiaolang's father is still out there-nya. You're outnumbered Why not see if they will assist you?"

He almost laughed. "Assist me? They despise me. To them I am the one who enslaved a world and killed two of their closest friends."

"But they're alright now."

"Perhaps. But my points still stand."

"So dose mine. You are outnumbered. And you're not sure how to destroy Draygor's bones, are you?"

"I've destroyed more difficult targets."

"While fighting six to one-nya?"

He opened the door. "Fair point. Despite my power, this battle will likely be a long one. Free soldiers are not to be turned down. I will consider your suggestion." He exited, leaving the door open behind him.

"Please fight back soon, Judai. We can't leave Haou in charge of your body forever. Why isn't Yubel stopping him?"

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Thunder roared as the rain fell down. At the front of the Obelisk dorm Johan gazed up, his face without any notable emotion upon it. He heard steps approach but didn't acknowledge the presence until it spoke.

"What happened between you two, Johan?"

He blinked, slowly, as the sky roared once more. He took a moment before responding. "It's our business, O'Brian. Ours alone."

Austin looked closely at Johan, noting the changes in him. His posture was different, his face was different, and his voice was not the cheerful one it once was. Even with the changes, Austin pressed on. "With the current situation, I think we all have a right to know. Your business has already harmed us. Judai did not come to help us last night and look at what happened."

Johan blinked again, watching the rain fall before him even heavier now. Perhaps he felt something from that statement, perhaps he didn't. If so O'Brian couldn't tell.

"I showed. Judai chose not to. It's not my fault he didn't. With all the secrets he keeps from us, should we even trust him at all?"

"This is about Yubel, isn't it?"

He turned, looking O'Brian in the eye, his gaze spoke out his answer, but his mouth moved anyway. "That thing threw this island into war. It turned our students into mindless zombies bent only one making more like them. It almost got us all killed. Even then it didn't end. You all followed me into a world that thing had turned into a world of destruction, where the citizens fought battles of life and death. It manipulated Judai into letting Haou gain control of him. That monster used my body to kill Kaiser and Amon, then tried to do the same to Judai! Then that beast went on to try and destroy existence itself. Even after all that! All it had done! All it had tried to do! Judai still took that thing into his soul and has hid it from us all. Is he really someone we should trust?"

O'Brian turned around, walking back into the dorm. He had no answer to that question, but he had something else to say. "Question Judais' actions if you want. We all do sometimes. But don't question his motives. He's always tried to do what is best for everyone. He'll do the same now, when he finally finds his courage again. He's saved us all more times than I think some of us know, you can't deny that no matter his choices, he succeeds in his goals."

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Fubuki sat alone in the Obelisk blue dorm, rows of cards laid out on a table before him. He looked at the cards closely and carefully, making sure he'd done it right. After a few moments he nodded. "The Deck is ready." He picked up the cards, putting his completed deck into the box on his waist. "I need to be strong for the next battles. This deck is the best I can make for now." His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of footsteps, he turned to see one of his oldest friends. "Kaiser."

"Fubuki. Finished your new deck?"

Fubuki nodded, leaning back on the couch he had upon. "It wasn't easy. But it's done."

"As is mine. Let's just hope they're strong enough to fight in the coming days."

"Good idea. But first let's try and actually find Draygor shall we?"

"First we have to patch up the students here. Which we're nearly finished with. Damages from the night were minor, except..." He shook his head, he had to be practical. "Otherwise we're fine, though..."

"Judai?"

"Well him too. He's who knows where, but I don't doubt he'll show up soon. I just can't find Yusuke anywhere, have you seen him?"

Fubuki nodded, smiling to himself. "He's gone to find it."

Kaiser felt his face react to that statement, it was not something he'd been expecting. He knew better than most that his friend still held many doubts. The meaning of Fubuki's answer was obvious. There was only one it Yusuke would be looking for.

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Yusuke held back the urge to cough as dust filled his face. "Can't stop." He reached into the hole in the cave he had carved out so long ago. He shifted a stone, before clutching his hand around..."Got it!" He pulled, blowing off the dust-like debris from his prize. It was a plain, black metal box, with its' lid almost as large as the box itself. He opened it, seeing what he had left was still inside. He pulled it out.

"Master."

Yusuke parted a deck, his deck. "Time I stopped running from this, Honest. Time I stopped running...from you."

"Master?"

Yusuke placed another card into the deck, Honest himself. He stacked the cards once again, placing it back from whence it came. "I haven't used you in any deck I've built since..." He needn't say"...because my true deck is the only one I can use your power fully in. It's only with this deck, and you as my partner do I find my true strength. I've run from both for too long. I'm not running any more. Fubuki was right, I can't prove myself to everyone, but I'm going to do everything I can to help. I'm fighting."

"Then I will too, Master."

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Smoke filled his eyes and his sense of smell as he simply stood there. Ritan looked down into the hole as rain fell into it, apparently unable to cool the heat emitting from its' destination. What exactly lay at the bottom of the hole now could not been known. Not while the smoke still burned. "Sacrificing yourself in vain. Not even I intended that for you." He chuckled. "A true warrior. Interesting how so many seem to give their lives in vain. Now you are added to the list of nameless ones who gave their lives in vain. Goodbye, my son. You may have been only of some use to me, but I commend your bravery. May this ground burn for all time, as a testament to your sheer will. Go into the next world knowing at the very least Draygor will die. Spend all eternity punishing him yourself if you'd like." He turned away, a blaze igniting at his feet. "It is time for me to go. Rest in peace, Xiaolang." The fires rose up his body, quickly covering him and the bones that he carried with him. In a moment there was nothing by a pillar of fire standing there. The fire shot up to the sky, parting the clouds like paper.

The rain finally stopped.

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He'd watch him leave, just in time. Haou had watched with mild interest as Ritan had left, likely to where he himself intended to travel to himself. He wondered how long it would take Ritan to reach Draygor's new base of operations. "Likely after I get there." He walked on, reaching the still burning pit, he closed an eye, before opening it again.

"Look closely, coward. Look at what happens when you refuse to fight." He closed his eye again, he'd made his point. "This battle is mine from here on." He turned, slowly to face the academia as his body was suddenly laced in darkness. "I will collect what resources I can, though I feel I may have to fight for it." He opened his mouth as his aura covered him...

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Johan prepared to walk, content to simply to have his own thoughts for company. The rest of the world had other ideas. He had no idea where it was coming from, but he could hear it.

"Duel Academia."

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Yusuke was just leaving the cave, his burden held in his hand. Things were starting to look up, just a little bit.

"Hear me."

"May need it sooner than I thought." He pulled out the deck, placing it into the box on his waist. He was going to need it.

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Haou continued to speak, knowing his words were heard.

"Last night was just the start. Draygor has taken his war elsewhere, across the seas. He now resides in New York City, in the country you call America. I am going there to fight, but I extend an invitation. Any of you who are able, and wish to fight against Draygor and his pawns come to the smoking crater to join me in this conflict. I will wait one hour and no longer."

Haou let his energy fade. "Now I wait."

"They will come-nya." Haou didn't bother glancing down, he'd noticed the feline and his owner/favourite snack following him all the way to where he stood now. "Can you get us there faster and Ritan?" Haou nodded. "Why do you ask?"

"Ritan preys upon the weak. He can manipulate anyone with a weakness easily and I don't doubt there's now many in New York he can manipulate. We should try to reach them all before he does-nya."

"Those who side with him will fall at my feet along with him."

"But they're innocents! So are the ones who were manipulated here!"

"If they side with him then they are not innocent. Do not mistake me for the face you know. Judai's mercy will one day be his downfall. I have never, nor will I ever fall before such a weakness."

"Mercy is one of Judai's strengths, Haou. One you may never know."

"Answer me this; If Judai is so strong, why have I been forced to interfere?" He didn't expect an answer.

He didn't get one. Only silence spoke around them now.

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Kaiser and Fubuki were the first to speak on the matter, with Fubuki being the first to speak. "What should we do?"

"Prepare ourselves. We may have to fight, and it may not be Draygor."

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Edo looked to the smoke pillar from his yatch, lowering his glass of wine. "What a pain."

"We better go see the others." Edo turned to Manjoume as he walked down the stairway from his boat. He nodded, but he needed something first. "Let me get my duel disk." Manjoume already had his, and there was no way he'd be caught unarmed.

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Kenzan and Rei had been caught off guard by that. They knew things were bad, but not that bad. Before they would discuss the matter however, they needed their third member.

The door to their room opened, "You heard him too?"

"Yeah-don. If we're gonna decide, it has to be now, Sorano-sarus. Are we going with the others?"

Sorano nodded. "I'm in."

Rei nodded too. "Me too. We may not be graduates like the others, but we can't just sit here and do nothing. We're going too!" They all stood and left, three of some of the bravest students ever to be produced by the Academia marched off to the upcoming battle.

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Austin and Jim had met in the halls by chance. Chance that today seemed to want to mock them, the two who had faced Haou in combat before. Jim sighed. "This we did not need."

"Draygor or Haou? We have to fight one of them. But who first?"

"Everyone else heard him, we need to gather together and decide."

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Ten minutes had passed.

"Do you have a plan-nya?"

"No."

"Any idea what to expect when we get there?"

"No."

"Do you think anyone will want to come with us?"

"No."

"Do you want me to try and round some people up?"

"No."

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Another five minutes later they all met, standing on the edges of the forest that would lead them to the still smoking crater. Every capable duellist produced by that academia, and a few from other campuses. This was a battle they were all going to march into together. Manjoume was first to speak. "Do we attack Haou or join him?"

"We can't leave Aniki under Haou's control. We fight him!"

"But we've seen him fight-sarus. Can any of us take him on and win?"

"I've fought him to a draw, but Haou won't let the same moves be used against him twice. I'm not sure if I can get the same result again."

Seeing the route that the conversation was going down, and the general consensus, Edo spoke up. "But will defeating Haou force him back inside? When O'Brian fought him both him and Haou were killed so Judai had nothing to fight for control against. But if we can't purge Haou from Judai what can we do?"

Silence fell, that was the million dollar question today. Even if they could hope to defeat Haou would that even work? There had to be some way to fix this. There had to be a way to remove their leader from the clutches of evil.

The answer came from one who knew only all too well what it meant to be in evils' grasp. Yusuke spoke. "How about a deal? One of us duels Haou. If we win, he gives us Judai. If we lose, we go with him. I know it's not an ideal bet, but at least no matter what we will end up at least working against Draygor."

His (human) best friend was the first to Yusukes' defence. "He raises a point. But there's a big problem even with that."

They all nodded, the obvious needn't be spoken, but if it wouldn't be then they would be simply content to stand there wasting time contemplating the impossible question. In an interesting stroke of fate it was the one among them who was least likely to think before rushing in that raised this most meaningful question.

"Who'll take him on-sarus?"

No sooner than when those words were spoke, a single hand found itself moving down to the back of it's body, as if in instinct reaching down for something. It found its' destination, and opened the seal to what it was looking for. Kaiser Ryo picked up his deck, placing it in his disk. "I'll do it."

"But brother-"

"No arguing. Neither Haou nor Judai have seen or faced this deck, he wont be able to guess my moves ahead of time." He turned. "Now come on."

It took them only a few moments to work their way through the woods. They were silent, but not even the loudest choruses could have heightened the already incredibly tense atmosphere. They all knew Haou, what he was capable of, what he was. None among them were so foolish to underestimate the King. At they very least he was strong as Judai, and a select few wondered if he was perhaps even stronger still. They were able to face someone who had never been defeated, only ever fought to a draw with extreme luck. They knew the King would not permit them any luck this time. Haous' will was indomitable. Perhaps even fate itself would one day collapse against it. If today was to be that day then hope would be a luxury out of their reach.

That being said, hope had been steadily fleeing from them anyway. Today would just be the day hope would leave completely.

"Haou!"

Yet again the king remained unaffected by what would surprise most. He turned to face the oncoming crowd. "I did not expect you all to volunteer yourselves."

"We're not. We want Judai back, now."

Haou blinked once, before performing the closest thing he had to losing his temper. Darkness flowed from him, covering the feet and lower legs of those present like a river, the rest flowing down into the smoking crater. Haou looked upon them with now glowing eyes. "How do you intend to do that?" He turned to Jim. "I've beaten you." Now to O'Brian. "I know how you fight, you will be felled quickly." He turned to the rest. "Judai's memories are mine to see. He has beaten the rest of you at some point or another."

Kaiser grinned, and for one second the emperor of hell could be seen once more. "Judai's never beaten me Haou. I've beaten him."

"Very true. And you want to try and defeat me now? You're either brave or foolish. But defeating me now will not seal me away."

"I don't care if it's bravery, foolish, heroic or evil. I want to find a worthy opponent to grant me a true return as a duellist. My new deck is ready for battle and you're among the very few I want to fight."

"A new deck? Judai's memories show you were already very powerful on your old decks."

"Try me now, and you will show just how much stronger I've become."

"You're even stronger now? Then I will strike you down, and prove my superiority to Judai. I assume you want to wager something on this battle."

"I win, you give us Judai back. You win, we follow you into battle."

"Acceptable." He placed his deck into his disk. "Then come at me, Kaiser Ryo." It activated.

"I will!" He to activated his disk. It was time.

"Duel!"

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There was nothing here. Just emptiness, and thoughtlessness. Time held very little meaning here. A minute, an hour, a day. Distinguishing one from another was impossible here, or perhaps it was just impossible for the only resident. The nothingness and it were one. This was a mind that had become a blank, not quite brain dead, but not concious either. A living, yet dead mind, if such a thing could even exist.

Then came the hate. A river of darkness which swept over the emptiness that was this mind. The darkness was filled will raw hatred, anger, malice. So much negativity spiked into this empty universe at once that it almost completely consumed it. The only things that prevented this takeover was what this darkness was able to awaken. First was a face. One this mind had once looked up to, but now questioned greatly. "Judai..." The red on Judai's coat, red...his mind moved to another memory, to another feeling. A feeling of something warm, and wet against him..."Koyo...why..." Another face, a face that lay at the root of all the questions, the source of his malice and hatred, one not so different from the invading evil. This hatred was driving, consuming and absolute and in that single instant everything fell back into place.

"RITAN!"

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Haou drew a card. "I will strike you down." He glanced through his hand. "I summon Evil Hero-.." They all heard it, a sudden bang from deep down in the crater, the sound of flames burning was suddenly getting louder. He turned ever so slightly to face the pit. "So he survived after all." The sound was quickly eclipsed by the manifestation of the sound.

A sense of wonder affixed itself to most present as cerulean fire burst from the pit. The apathetic king watched as the fire rose like a pillar above them. "So he survived." The blaze crashed down, landing behind the king before fading.

Xiaolang had fallen to his knees, panting as he breathed in fresh air for the first time in hours, breathed in his first dose of reality in hours. "No...we cannot...fight each other." He forced himself to his feet. "We have...worse things to fight than...each other." He turned to the king. "I...failed?" A nod was his only answer. "Shit...well if you plan...to move against him...I will too." He took a deep breath. "We can say what we want about Haou and the things he has done. But the fact is we want the same thing, peace. And the direction to that end is the same. Draygor must die, and Judai is useless to us right now. Let's just take what..." He fell to a knee again. "What we can get. It's him or Draygor, pick a side...because that's what it comes down to. I've chosen mine."

"You choose Haou? But what about Aniki? Joining Haou means turning against him!"

"I'm turning against no-one! I just want Draygor and Ritan dead! Haou's the best option I got to that end!" He shook his head, trying to shake the fatigue. "Haou is strong. Judai wont fight. This isn't difficult to figure out. The enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that." He turned to the king. "I'll come with if you will let me."

"I had extended that offer to the entire island. I believed you dead, but you can take it as well." He turned to the rest of the crowd. "Ritan has left already. Before the sun sets here both Ritan and Draygor will be in New York with what ever's left of it will be subject to their whims. I'm going there to finish this battle. You don't have to follow my instructions. If our goals align then we can at least function against them. Decide now." He deactivated his disk, perhaps technically surrendering, but any who knew him would recognize this action as one of dismissal. "Take a moment to converse among yourselves, I'll wait." The river and aura vanished.

"Well they wont be fighting each other anyway." "Xiaolang." Shien appeared, visible only to those who could see spirits. "Shien. Wont overboard with your power there, my bad." Shien shook his head. "It's alright. I thought we had lost you for a while. Your mind was beyond our reach. I'd have pulled you out of that pit myself but as you said, you overdid it. Are you alright?" I've been hell of a lot worse. I just need to rest...for a decade at least uhh." Once again he was forced to force himself to stay awake. "I can't believe I didn't kill him." "You injured him, greatly. That is a great accomplishment. We chose you well." By now Xiaolang was fading in and out of sleep, every time he closed his eyes it seemed dream was there to try and take him away, but the raise of his eyelids would liberate him from it. "Will they just decide already?" Shien vanished, leaving his ally to his slumber, they could talk almost any time.

The second Kaiser returned he was met by Edos' words. "He raises a point you know. Judai is not in fighting spirit. Do we want to put him in front of Draygor?"

Karin, sensing her friends' discomfort, groaned just before Jim spoke. "Are you saying you'd rather stand behind Haou?"

"I'd rather Judai live. If that means letting Haou keep control we really should consider it. Sometimes we have to do things we'd rather not for the greater good."

"But what about Aniki?"

"If he's sealed away we at least have the possibility of unsealing him. But if he dies..."

Yusuke broke the silence. "I was pulled from the clutches of Darkness, I'm sure we can pull Judai from Haou somehow. Until then we do need to deal with Draygor. The longer we leave him the longer he has to become stronger and harm more people."

Kaiser nodded. "I don't like it, but I can't say I disagree with your point."

Johan opened his mouth slightly, about to speak, but...circumstances preventing him from doing so. Instead it was Asuka who spoke up. "But if we don't do something then we condemn Judai to Haous' control! Don't we care about him at all?" Further speech by Asuka was stopped by her older brother placing a hand on her shoulder.

"We all do, Asuka. But Judai is strong. He'll be all right, even if he's not in control. We want him to be safe, and Haou is strong enough to keep himself from getting harmed." He looked to the others. "I don't like it either, but if we think Haou is better off in control for now, then I wont try and stop it. Jim, O'Brian, you've faced him before. What do you think?"

Jim held his chin in his hand, thinking. "Haou tends not to fight people who don't get in the way of his goals. I guess as long as we don't turn against him we'll be safe. But if someone else gets in his way he wont show mercy."

O'Brian took an opportunity to speak. "He's right, but if Haou attacks someone who really doesn't deserve it we cant sit back and do nothing."

Kaiser looked down at his deck. "We step in. We'll force him back inside one way or another. Alright, everyone. We need a decision now. We either ally with Haou or fight him."

While the group reflected on the situation, Haou made his way over to Xiaolang. "Can you fight?"

"Just need some sleep. I can fight after that. I take it you were in control last night. Where did you go?"

"To confront you father."

"You kill him?"

"No. He left after Draygor did."

"Not sure...how to feel about that." He yawned. "I'll decide later."

Later was to come sooner than Xiaolang would have expected.

"Remember, we're not betraying Judai. As soon as this is over, or Haou tries to cross a line we're sealing him back up, somehow." Kaiser turned around. "Haou. We'll come with, but don't mistake us for the soldiers you used to have. We are not your servants."

Haou nodded. "Fine. Then approach me, we're leaving now. I know some of you have transport but we don't have any time to waste." He was already next to Xiaolang, and Pharaoh had already taken a place beside him, his owner already consumed. Once more Haou allowed the darkness to flow from him, quickly covering the ground, but somehow everyone was able to stand on the violet energy instead of it flowing like a river past them. The edges of the river shot upwards, wrapping the miniature army in a sphere.

Haou's eyes were now completely that strange demonic gold color, not even the whites of his eyes had been left alone, and each eye burned bright. "From here on there is no turning back."

Inside the sphere the occupants could no longer see, and felt like they were suddenly rising, or falling. No one was sure. One thing, and only one thing was for sure.

They were going to war.

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End of Chapter

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Today's Strongest Card

Clock Tower Prison

Spell (Field)

During each of your opponent's Standby Phases: Place 1 Clock Counter on this card. While there are 4 or more Clock Counters on this card, you do not take any Battle Damage. When this card with 4 or more Clock Counters is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard: Special Summon 1 "Destiny Hero Dreadguy" from your hand or Deck.

Commentary: Edo

"The ticking clock moves towards a destiny where you can't be hurt. If this destiny is destroyed then a new destiny comes forth."

Author's notes: (shit load of 'em again)
Not finishing duels is becoming a habit with me. It should end soon, promise.

The new arc has officially come. At long last. I want to thank everyone who's stayed loyal to this book thus far. I talk specifically to the long standing fans I have in my readership (you know who you are). You are the people that have kept me posting in the times I have had doubts in my own ability to craft a decent story. I know I've had an inconsistent update rate, often with month-long delays, then there are the hiatuses I've taken unannounced, one even lasting several months. With all these factors around I know it's been questionable if I would even finish this book.

Now it's time to put all doubts aside. I've gotten to the main chunk of the story, where the build up of the last 32 chapters and the prologue boil over into what you have been waiting for. Action! More duels, more conflicts, plot twists and whatever crap I can pull out of my brain or backside (anyone wanna guess which one the Haou/Draygor conflict came from?) are coming now. This book is getting done. I don't care if I have to sink another year into it. It. Gets. Finished. So sit back and enjoy the show.

Upcoming events for you all to look forward to:

Kaiser's new deck: Don't worry, he may not have faced Haou, but his planned 'grand return' opponent will help create a match for the ages, promise.

Yusuke's true deck: He was said to have potential that surpassed even Kaiser, do I really have to elaborate?

(IMPORTANT NOTE: I will be going with the TCG/OCG effect for Honest. Simply because it's basically the same thing but with infinitely more flexibility. It's easier to pull off more epic match endings that way.)

Better duels: As you might be able to tell from my efforts, I like character development. So I'm making every main cast character a better duellist. Time has past, so it stands to reason that they've gotten to be better duellists, right? So I'm gonna make my duels even better. Well, I better start with actually making them 'good' first eh?

More emotional conflict: I have a knack for it, so why not keep having fights between the cast? The Johan/Judai shit-pile alone now has the potential for an entire book to fix on its' own. Then there's the ideal father/son relationship between Xiaolang and Ritan. I ain't giving up on my talent in this department.

Last note: Audience Suggestions

Principal MacKenzie was never given a first name in the manga (that I know of, correct me if I'm wrong). So I want a first name for him in case the context of the story ever needs it. Suggest what you think may be a good name for him. Remember, he's American so keep your name suggestions in line with that fact. I'll be open to suggestions until next chapter at the very least (so at the very least a week or so most likely).