The first duel has ended with Ichika and Senshi being the winners against Evil Ryu. That evil spirit is gone for now, but the real Ryu is hurt and weak, in need of a doctor. That's why they all went to Conner and pleaded him about taking him to a hospital.

"Conner, you need to stop this ship. Ryu is in need of a doctor." Houki said.

"You must be kidding if you think this ship will stop." Conner said. "It's Ryu's own fault for being here when he didn't feel well. He's the one who took the risk. Why should I be the one to pay for it?"

"Conner, are you kidding me?! Ryu is in bad shape and needs help!" Rin said.

"Guys, hold on a minute." Mila pleaded.

"Ryu doesn't have a minute! He needs a doctor now!" Charlotte said. "How could you put this tournament over his own well-being.

"Conner, please have a heart for once." Cecilia said. "Isn't someone's life more important than this little game." That was a bold thing to say to someone like Conner.

"We're not stopping until we reach our destination, but there's really nothing you need to worry about." Conner said as he walked over to an intercom. "Tate, send our doctors to Ryu's room to have a look at him." All of them were quite surprised that Conner went and did that.

"See, guys? We have our own doctors for emergencies. There was nothing to worry about." Mila assured.

"Exactly, now quite all your complaining and just focus on the tournament. The next duel will start soon." Conner claimed as he was about to step out. "One more thing, Blondie." He said as he turned to Cecilia. "Don't ever say something like that to a duelist again. To us duelists, dueling is our lives." That was all he said as he left with Cecilia getting a shiver down her spine.

"That was a bold thing you said back there, Cecilia. Don't let him get to you." Senshi said with Cecilia blushing.

"At least Ryu is finally getting some help." Laura said as they all stepped outside of Conner's room.

"Yeah, but Conner is such a creep sometimes." Houki said as she still didn't approve of his attitude. "He might do something nice, but he doesn't have to sound heartless or like a jerk when he does it."

"As long as Ryu gets help, that's all that matters." Senshi said. "Conner is just set in his own ways that he just doesn't listen. He might be a little focus on his own goals, but it seems like he does do the right thing when the time comes. There's not much we can do until he willingly changes his ways. For now, let's just get ready for whoever might duel next." He was on his way back to his room, but there is still much he is concerned about. When he returned to his room, he and Ichika could speak.

'It's great that we stopped that evil spirit, but I wish Ryu didn't have to get hurt in the process.' Ichika said.

"Relax, Ichika." Senshi said as he felt Ichika's distress. "We're not responsible. As I said before, Ryu was already hurt before this start. I'm sure he'll be fine. We have other matters to worry about."

'Yeah. Meldrick is here, and we believe he and that evil spirit were working together.' Ichika claimed. 'We've seen what Izanagi is capable of, but we don't know what Izanami can do. Who knows what other rotten tricks Meldrick might try.'

"All the more reason we must push ahead and stop him. We might have advanced to the top four, but the madness won't end." Senshi said. "We must be prepared for whatever comes." That's what Ichika is most worried about.

...

Meldrick

Meldrick was in his own room and was reformulating his plan since the evil spirit failed him. As he sat in the dark and thought it all over, he saw his door open and Oberin came walking in.

"Did anyone see you?" Meldrick questioned.

"No. I made sure of that." Oberin said.

"Good. The spirit inside the Mystic Pendent might have failed, but those fools still aren't aware of the truth." Meldrick said. "As long as I can keep my real identity a secret until the time is right to strike, those fools won't be able to stop me. I just need your help in that."

"Of course, Master." Oberin claimed. "I have humbly served you for many years, ever since your people took me in. I have been by your side since you were just a child, even in your darkest of days. I'll gladly give you my life if I must." Oberin is clearly devoted to Meldrick and will do all that he can for him. Meldrick might be evil, but he does appreciate Oberin for all that he's done.

"Thank you, Oberin." Meldrick said. "It is good to know that I have at least one person that will stand by my side. Just be sure you keep up the act."

"As you wish." Oberin said as he took a fake Mystic Gauntlet and placed it upon his hand to help sell the act. Oberin will do whatever he can, all for Meldrick.

...

Houki

Meanwhile, Houki was getting herself ready for the next duel because she could be the one to duel next. As she prepped her cards, she couldn't stop thinking about what kind of opponents she might face. Hector wouldn't be so bad. She wouldn't mind going against Meldrick because she believes he's Michael. The two she doesn't want to lose to is Conner and who she believes is Meldrick.

'Conner is such a creep. I don't care what anyone says about him.' Houki thought. 'He's such an arrogant jerk and puts what he wants above everything else. Even when Ichika tried being nice to him, tried being his friend, he turns him away because he thinks he can do everything on his own. No way am I going to lose to the likes of him. I'm also not going to lose to Meldrick either. I'll never forgive him for what he tried to make me do.' Her memory was still fuzzy, but she knows how Meldrick made her fight against Ichika and put himself in danger. If things had gone differently, both of them would have been finished. 'That guy is going to pay for what he did. There's no way he's even going to get near Ichika.'

"Attention, duelist!" Tate called over the speakers. "Please gather as the competitors for the next duel will be decided!"

"Here we go." Houki said as she readied herself for whatever might come.

...

The Main Hall

Everyone was gathering to see who would be competing in the next duel. The only one who didn't show was the mysterious eighth duelist.

"Strange... That last duelist isn't here yet. I can't help but wonder who it is." Senshi said. If she was going to duel next, she should be here for that.

"We will now begin the selection process for the next match!" Mila said as she started the machine with only six balls remaining. Any of the six remaining duelists could be the ones to duel. Soon, two of them came out and the two were decided. "The first duelist is...number two: Houki Shinonono!"

"You're up, Houki!" Rin said as all of her friends were being supportive.

"We know you're going to do great." Charlotte said.

"Thanks." Houki said as she was keeping her focus on the duel.

"Her opponent is...number seven: Meldrick!" Mila said. Everyone was shocked to hear it was Meldrick she was dueling even if it was Oberin. Houki turned to him and glared right at him. She's heard how dangerous Meldrick is, but she is going to do everything she can to bring him down for Ichika.

...

The Duel Field

Everyone moved to the outside of the ship as Houki and Oberin were getting themselves ready for this duel. Houki wasn't taking her eyes off the prize, not backing down, or giving in no matter what might come her way. However, some of the others were a little concerned about what Houki is getting into.

"So... That's the guy who has been causing you guys a lot of trouble." Hector said.

"That's right. Now we'll see what he's truly capable of." Senshi said.

"Guys, I'm worried. Do you really think Houki can defeat the likes of this man?" Charlotte questioned.

"It's out of our hands no matter how much we abject it. All we can do is hope for the best." Laura claimed and she was right. That's really all they could do. The only one that was excited about this duel was Conner and that's because he believes that's Meldrick dueling.

'Now I'll get to see what Izanami is capable of.' Conner thought. As for the real Meldrick, he watched closely with expectations that Oberin will win.

'Now, Oberin... Eliminate this fools so we can advance with our plans.' Meldrick thought. Houki readied herself for whatever he might try. She saw him hold out his gauntlet and was on the defense about it.

"That thing... That's what you used to take control of my mind, isn't it?!" Houki said. "You better not try anything with that."

"You don't have to worry about that, Miss Shinonono. I won't even need to use the powers of my artifact against the likes of you." Oberin said.

"Is that so? You think you can beat me that easily? You better think again." Houki said. "I think it's time you stopped hiding behind your tricks and face me with some form honor, whatever decency you have left. That's assuming you even had any. Either way, I'm not going to lose to the likes of you."

"Is that so? Very well... Let's put your little claim to the test!" Oberin dared as they both fired up and ready to go.

"When both of you are ready, you may begin!" Tate announced. Once he said that, they both activated their duel disks and were ready to go now.

"Let's duel!" They both said as their duel was starting and they both had 4000LP.

"If you would be so kind, Miss Shinonono, allow me to make the first move!" Oberin formally asked as he reached for his first card. 'Master Meldrick, I vowed that I would protect you, stand by your side, and thwart anyone who dare stands against you. The likes of this young lady thinks she can challenge you, but I will not allow such things to happen. You are my king, and to protect my king, I have a series of traps placed to protect you.' He thought as he is going to make sure no one stands in the way of Meldrick.

"You said you wanted to go first. Are you going to go or not?!" Houki called.

"I will, and make a quick move. All I'll do is place three cards facedown and end my turn!" Oberin said as he placed those very cards on the field.

"He didn't summon a single monster?" Cecilia questioned.

"Even so, Houki must be cautious about those face-downs." Senshi said. "Who knows what kinds of traps he has waiting for her."

"It's my turn! I draw!" Houki said as she drew a card.

"Yes, and now that it is, I can now activate one of my face-downs!" Oberin said as he interrupted Houki's turn so quickly. "I activate Level Blaster!" He declared as his first trap activated. "Now, every time you normal summon a monster, you will lose 100LP for every level of the monster you summon!"

"So, every time Houki summons a monster, she's going to take damage?!" Rin said as they didn't like the sound of that.

"Only when she normal summons a monster, but she can still special summon." Hector clarified.

"Even if you do summon a monster, you'll still take damage every time you lose a card!" Oberin claimed. "I activate my second trap: Coffin Seller! As long as this trap remains on the field, you will lose 300LP every time a monster is sent to your graveyard!"

"No way!" Houki said as she couldn't believe it. "Every time I normal summon a monster, I take damage. Every time I lose a monster, I still take damage."

"That is all correct, Miss Shinonono." Oberin claimed. "Unless you have a way to bypass all of that, you will constantly take damage. This is only the beginning as well." 'I will not allow you or anyone to go near Master Meldrick. I have sworn to protect him and that is what I shall do. My deck has a series of traps to it that shall protect him, regardless of whatever happens to me.' Oberin has devoted his life to do this. He'll use any means at his disposal to protect his master. It had him think of one incident when Meldrick was at his most evil and someone suffered from it. It also had him think of what things were like before Meldrick set out on this quest of his. No matter what he saw, he will protect his master at all costs.

"Is that right? This is only the beginning?" Houki said. "Well, it might have only started, but I'm going to be the one that ends it!" She claimed. The second duel is underway, but Houki isn't even aware that she's dueling a fake. Can she figure out a way around Oberin's traps or will she fall victim to them?

To Be Continued...