Thetrueazure: Hey guys, well glad you guys liked the last chapter. Though now that I look at it, it does seem rushed.
Ritsu: Well we hope this chapter can make it up. We own nothing.
"Before I return you both to you your world, I want to give you this." The Wanderer handed Ritsu a glowing card. "My gift to you."
Ritsu looked at the card. "This is-"
"Your means to defeat Apollyon." The Wanderer said and crossed his arms. "Whether or not you use that card falls upon you, and now I return you both to your worlds, but know that I will be watching with great interest." Ritsu and Yuzuki both nodded and jumped through the gate.
Back in the real world everyone was in shock at what happened; the Elemental Gate was shut, trapping Ritsu and Yuzuki in the netherworld.
"This is getting worse by the minute." Terra said in despair. "Apollyon is always one step ahead of us."
As Terra said that, another gate appeared before them and opened up. "What's going on?" Akira asked and looked at KazeRyu. "Did you open up the Elemental Gate?"
All four dragons shook their heads "No, Apollyon is keeping us from doing that."Everyone then saw two figures walk out of the gate and were shocked to see who they were.
"Yo." Ritsu and Yuzuki stood there with a smile on their face. "So who wants to take the fight to Apollyon?"
Ch.66 War of the Dragons
"Oh?" Satellizer smiled as she stared into a dark orb that showed Ritsu and the others on their runners. "So the Light User managed to escape? Interesting."
"What do you propose we should do?" Hero asked while Shin stood beside him.
Satellizer looked at the two with a smile. "You two will stay here; I will go greet our guests."
"What?" Shin growled. "I've stayed put for long enough! I'm going out there too!"
Satellizer put up her hand and stopped Shin in his tracks and smiled. "Patience my little Denizen of Destruction, Apollyon's powers are still…unstable right now. So we need to stall them until he can regain control." Satellizer disappeared in black flames, leaving Hero and Shin in front of the giant black sphere which held Apollyon.
"Ritsu." Satoshi drove up to Ritsus duel runner as they headed towards Apollyon. "You never really told us how you and Yuzuki escaped from the netherworld."
Ritsu looked at Yuzuki who nodded. "Help from a friend."
"O-OK." Satoshi said in confusion, he then slammed on the brakes on his duel runner, as did everyone else as they skidded to a halt in front of a waiting Satellizer.
"Tsk tsk, you should really pay attention when you drive." Satellizer said with a smile
"You." Ritsu growled at her as she kept on smiling.
"Oh, you're back Light User! How was your stay in the netherworld?" Satellizer asked. "It must've been hell?"
"Enough of your comments! Let us through!" Ritsu yelled at her.
Satellizer then sighed. "I'm afraid I cannot do that, I have no idea how you were able to escape from the netherworld, but you're outmatched by the awesome power of Apollyon! If you want to make it to Apollyon, then you'll have to get through me first."
"Oh yeah?" Terra asked. "You and what army?!"
Satellizer simply snapped her fingers as a group of Apollyon clones surrounded the group in an instant.
Akira looked at Terra. "You had to ask that didn't you?"
"This is bad, if we so much as move a muscle we're gonna be fried." Kurogasa thought as he gripped his runner handle.
"Leave nothing left of these weaklings!" All of the clones fired a black fireball at the group as they closed their eyes fearing the worst, but a barrier surrounded them and deflected the fireballs back at the clones, destroying them in an instant. "What?"
"I knew this would come in handy." Ritsu held up his Mirror Force trap card. "What's the matter? Didn't see that coming? "
"Thanks for giving us a heart attack!" Nami yelled at Ritsu.
Satellizer tried to contain her growl as she was growing more impatient by the second. "You certainly know how to get on my nerves Light User. I'm sure you learned a thing or two from your shadow friend?"
"At least I'm doing something right." Ritsu said and detached his duel disk. "You said that I have to get through you in order to get to Apollyon right? Well bring it on!"
Satellizer grinned. "You sure that's wise?" Satellizer held up an Ally of Justice card. "You've seen the devastating power these cards do against light monsters."
"Like I care!" Ritsu summoned Inazuma. "Go! Lightning Spear!" Inazuma threw his lance at Satellizer who just stood there until someone appeared in front of her and deflected the lance into an empty building.
"What the-!" All of the dragons looked to see a cloaked figure with a massive shield that vanished. All they were able to see was the figures skull mask.
"Oh, I do believe I forgot to mention him." Satellizer pointed at the figure. "This is Aeron, Apollyon's strongest warrior."
"He deflected Inazuma's lightning spear like it was nothing." Akira said in shock.
Satellizer grinned. "Yes, he is the perfect combatant against all of you." Satellizer looked at Aeron. "My dear Aeron, show them what I mean please."
"Acknowledged." Aeron summoned a double edged, dark metal blade and appeared in front of Ritsu.
"Watch out!" Nami yelled as Ritsu barely avoided the blade which made a huge crater where he was a second ago.
"If I was a second late, The Wanderer would've had a new roommate." Ritsu thought as he kept dodging the sword strikes. "This guy's fast! I'm barely keeping up with his attacks!"
"Can't we do something?" Yuzuki asked and looked at everyone.
The elemental dragons appeared. "Even if we tried to intervene, Satellizer would summon more clones." KazeRyu said.
"Don't worry, if worst comes to worst, we'll jump in to save Ritsu." Leviathan reassured her.
"Use me Ritsu!" A voice called from his deck as he rolled away from the blade that was trying to kill him. He then drew a card to reveal Dragonic Knight. "My sword and shield will protect you!"
Ritsu dodged the incoming sword which cut a few strands of his hair. "Here goes something!" Ritsu placed Dragonic Knight on his duel disk as a sword and shield appeared in both hands. On instinct, Ritsu brought up the shield and blocked the sword strike which made him step back a few steps.
"Oh?" Satellizer smiled. "Looks like you can do more than just dodge."
Ritsu growled as he struggled against Aeron, it's like he's fighting a demon. "Stay calm, look for an opening." Ritsu pushed the blade off of the shield and avoided the other sword strike. "Right there!" Ritsu swung his sword, but only caught Aeron's mask, causing it to shatter.
"W-What the-?!" Ritsu, as well as everyone else looked in shock as Aeron's mask fell to the ground and shattered, revealing his face. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"Oh no, it's very real." Satellizer grin widened as Aeron removed his hood to reveal that it was Krad Ritsu was fighting; only he had a multitude of red cracks all over his face. "You're actually fighting your fallen comrade."
Belial appeared behind Ritsu and stared at his master who glared at Ritsu. "Krad, is that really you?"
"…Scum…" Krad hissed and jumped back to where Satellizer was standing and removed his cloak to reveal a shocking scene. Krad's entire left arm was covered by a cruel armor etched into his flesh, forming a duel disk in the shape of a scimitar-like sword, adding more demonic features and unknown runes were glowing a around its deck holder. His hand seemed to be three bladed claws, which were on the end of the duel disk. In the middle of the duel disk, a eye with a thin iris opened and glared towards Ritsu and his friends with great hostility.
"No!" Raikou yelled. "You didn't!?"
"He would go this far…" Apollo looked at Krad.
"What? What is that thing!?" Satoshi yelled as Satellizer chuckled.
"That my friend is the Abyssal Gauntlet." Satellizer explained. "An incredibly powerful artifact handcrafted by Master Apollyon himself, if given to a human, then their powers become greater then that of a demon, but if it finds the right host, then even the Signers power is no match against him." Satellizer held out her hand as Krad knelt down to kiss it.
"Krad! She's the enemy!" Terra yelled. "Come back!"
"It's useless." Satellizer said. "As long as he has the Gauntlet, he is under my full control. Not only that but right now, you will battle against him so that he can become accustomed to his powers."
"Screw that!" Ritsu yelled. "I'm not going to be your guinea pig!"
"Is that so? Then perhaps I should give you a reason. Krad, my knight, if you would…" Satellizer walks behind Krad and caresses his face with her ice-cold hand. Krad drew a card from his deck as it glowed in an ominous green flame, the flames then enveloped around Krads arm. When the fire was gone, Krad was holding a crossbow which was infused with his arm and had the attributes of a skeleton, as it reached up to Krad's face, giving him a visor covering his right eye. He raised the weapon towards the group and fired a burning arrow towards Ritsu. Ritsu brought up the shield he had, but the target wasn't him, the arrow flew past him and impaled itself into Yuzuki's shoulder, knocking her to the ground.
"Yuzuki!" Ritsu yelled as Yuzuki looked at the arrow lodged into her left shoulder. She saw in horror as something inside of the arrow entered her wound, causing immense pain to the point where she screamed in agony as green lines began to cover her body.
"What's going on?!" Kuraki asked in fear as the lines began to glow.
Krad then gave a sadistic grin. "Dark Runic Crossbow… A weapon forged to paralyze even the mightiest creatures, its poison is lethal to humans…She wont last for another three days…" Krad chuckled evilly and the weapon in his hand started to evaporate into the card again.
"Krad…" Ritsu looked at Krad with eyes that would make a Blue Eyes tremble in fear.
"You now have a reason to battle now…if you manage to destroy the artifact, then the poison will vanish." Satellizer said. "However, destroy the artifact, and you destroy Krad."
Krad pointed his finger towards Ritsu. "I shall wait for you at the place where we first met… See you around" Krad lifted Satellizer in bridal style and a dark gate formed behind the two.
"Oh my, aren't you charming my dear knight." Satellizer kissed Krad on the cheek. "I wonder who you will choose; Your former friend, or your girlfriend. The clock is ticking." The two then disappeared, leaving a shocked Ritsu behind.
Back at the Order, Crow barged into the room with a worried look on his face.
"Where is she!?" Crow asked frantically.
Yusei placed his hand on Crow's shoulder. "She's in there, but Luna and Nami are seeing if they can get the poison out."
Keira also walked in with puffy red eyes, indicating that she's been crying when they found out about Krad. "Are you alright Keira?" Leo asked as she nodded.
"I'm fine, just shocked." Keira said. "I just can't believe they would use him like this."
Nami and Luna walked out in silence and looked at the group.
"How is she?" Crow asked.
Luna couldn't make eye contact. "I'm sorry, we tried to get the poison out, but like Satellizer said, the only way we can save her is if we beat Krad."
"But who'll fight him?" Akiza asked as the room fell silent.
"I'll do it." Everyone looked at Ritsu.
"Are you sure Ritsu?" Kurogasa asked. "This is Krad we're talking about."
"I know that." Ritsu said and stood up. "He's targeting me, why not give him what he wants?"
"But don't you realize that this is exactly what Apollyon wants, I say we-" Kurogasa was cut off when a fist connected to his face and knocked him to the ground, he looked up to see Ritsu with his right hand clenched into a fist.
"Don't you get it!? We're out of options!" Ritsu yelled in anger. "If I don't do something, then Yuzuki will die!"
"But Ritsu, even if you face him, there's a chance he'll over power you." Yuki said when Belial appeared.
"There is one way." Belial said, causing everyone to look at him. "I can lend you my powers so that you can be on equal footing against Krad and Apollyon."
"Really?" Ritsu asked as Belial nodded.
"But, if you decide to take in the power of shadows, there is a possibility it will kill you." Belial explained.
"I don't care, if it's to save Yuzuki and Krad, I'll do anything!" Ritsu yelled.
Belial nodded. "Then I need to ask everyone to stand back please." Everyone did as they were told and took a few steps back. Belial began to chant something as a circle appeared around Ritsu.
Ritsu felt as if he was set on fire, he fell to his knees, trying his best not to scream in pain. Belial began to turn into an orb of shadows and enter Ritsu's body. "I feel like I'm walking through fire!"
"You must endure it." Belial said as Ritsu opened his eyes, his right eye began to turn crimson red rather than azure blue. "We are finished." The circle disappeared as Ritsu was breathing heavily.
"I-Is it done?"
"Yes, as of right now, Ritsu is now the wielder of light and shadows." Belial declared as Ritsu looked at them with his red and blue eyes.
Ch.65 End
Kazuma: So looks like Ritsu wields the power of Light and Shadows
Ritsu: If you're wondering where Azure is….welllll.
Thetrueazure: *Playing Hitman Absolution* Please don't spot me, please don't spot me, please don't spot me. *Disguise Blown* Dammit! Stay tuned.
Ritsu: Krad, I don't know what happened, but you're on the wrong side. I will save you, even if it costs me my life!
Next Time: Yugioh 5D's Power of the Six Elements; The Sacred Shadow Dragon
"Prepare yourself!"