Chapter 47: Lack of Spirit
Adrian reeled back in shock. Viper had his mind transferred over too?
"So, Gecko. Care to answer my questions?" Viper asked. He got out a bottle of wine and started pouring a glass for himself. "Why did you transfer to Central Academy? And what happened to Jaden Yuki?"
Adrian calmed down. "First of all, how will I know for sure that you won't just talk about my actions afterwards? It's not like your word is exactly trustworthy."
"Hmph. Fair enough. How about this? I'll tell you about Yubel's location as well. Something tells me that'll peek your interest."
Adrian widened his eyes. If he could get his hands on Yubel's arm, maybe he could increase his powers. "Fine. I take it you've been toold about what brought you to this timeline?"
Viper took a sip and nodded. "The Light of Destruction. He appeared in my dreams after I realized I was two years in the past. My consciousness and memories were transferred to another timeline. Basically possessing an empty husk."
Adrian never really thought about it that way. But in a sense, Viper was right. These weren't Viper and Adrian's true bodies. At least not anymore. These were the bodies of their past selves. For all intents and purposes, Adrian and Viper basically stole their past selves lives.
"So, what's The Light having you do?"
"So far? Nothing."
This took Adrian by surprise. "Wait, he hasn't given you any tasks?"
"At the moment, I'm simply to standby and wait. The Light has warned me that there may need to be a time where I need to eliminate a traitor however."
Adrian understood. Viper was basically a duelist The Light had on reserve to deal with traitors like Damian. The Light was probably suspicious about Adrian as well. "Anyway, as for why I transferred to Central Academy. You remember three of the students at the Duel Camp? Damian, Ghassan, and Scott? They initially thought it would be best if they got Jaden expelled from the academy for The Light's plans."
"So, that's why Jaden's no longer here?"
"No. I came to Central Academy because I knew Jaden could be used to awaken the Sacred Beasts, which we could use to empower The Light of Destruction."
Viper nodded. He remembered how much energy his biobands collected from Jaden's energy alone. "In that case, why isn't Jaden here?"
"Can't say for sure. Apparently he was abducted by a Duel Spirit. Now, my turn to ask questions."
Viper took another sip of wine. "If you want to know about the location of Yubel's arm, try searching the bottom of the Mediterranean."
"You threw it in the sea?!" Adrian yelled.
"Why would I keep it? Yubel had no intention of honoring our agreement as I found out the hard way."
"But why throw it away? She might find a way to make it back to the surface! If you just locked the arm up, we'd at least know her whereabouts!"
"And if you knew her whereabouts, you could take her power for yourself, right?"
Adrian said nothing.
"Either way, it was under The Light's orders." Viper continued. "Even if I wanted to keep Yubel's arm, The Light viewed her as too much of a risk. I tried destroying the arm, but failed. So I locked in a container and had a shipping vessel dump it in the sea. Even I don't know her exact location."
"And what if it gets uncovered?" Adrian asked.
"I placed explosives inside the container. They're set up to detonate if someone attempts to open it. Whoever salvages the chest will be killed, and hopefully, the blast will send Yubel's arm back into the ocean. If the arm gets salvaged a second time however, there's nothing more I can do."
"Fine. Next question. What do you have to gain by working for The Light?"
Viper gave his glass a melancholy stare. "...Nothing."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean nothing?"
"The Light claimed that he'd bring me to a timeline where my son, Pierce, is alive. Where I could finally be with him again."
Adrian's heard about this. A while ago, Viper found a baby during a war zone and adopted him as his own kid. Eventually, the boy was hit and killed by a bus when. Yubel promised to revive him if Viper gathered enough energy for her, only for Yubel to kill Viper. "How is that gaining nothing then?"
"Initially I believed The Light. That's why I got rid of Yubel's arm for it. But as time passed, it became clear to me how The Light had no reason to honor it's end of the deal. All I've been doing is reliving my life, waiting for The Light to call me if needed. I'm not important to his goals. I'm simply a reserve. And because of that, I highly doubt The Light will reunite me with my son." Viper set his glass down. "Without even being able to follow up on it, my second chance is already gone. So I suppose you could say the reason I'm working for it is to honor a debt I owe to it for reviving me. If it ever comes up. Nothing more."
"So, what about the Bio Bands? We could use them to restore The Light's power."
"I explained this to The Light when he asked. They're not ready yet. Besides, unless The Light happen to have a body part lying around, we don't have anywhere to redirect the energy to even if the Bio Bands were working."
So that's why The Light revived Viper. He thought Viper's technology could power him up. Since The Light was wrong about that, he didn't have any real need for Viper. Adrian stared at Viper. The longer Adrian spent with Viper, the more he realized how different Viper was now. Viper has abandoned his ambitions. He doesn't even seem to care too much anymore on whether the Light suceeds or fails.
Viper stood up. "Gecko, I assume that you still have something to gain by working with The Light?"
Adrian didn't answer.
"Well it doesn't matter to me, either way. But if it's important to you, hold on to it." Viper took a look at his hand. "Ambition is the only thing that truly makes us alive now." Viper walked out of the dorm room.
'Viper...he really doesn't care about anything anymore.'
(Chazz 4000/Jesse 3900)
Jesse had no monsters on his field. In his spell and trap card zone were two set cards, and the crystal forms of Sapphire Pegasus and Ruby Carbuncle. He had three cards in his hand. Chazz controlled Armed Dragon LV 7 (2800/1000), Armed Dragon, the Armored Dragon (1900/1400) and the continuous spell Armed Dragon Lightning. He had 5 cards in his hand.
"Hope you don't mind hiding those Crystal Beast monsters of yours. Because putting them facedown is the only way you'll be protected from my Armed Dragon's effect." Chazz said. "I set two card face down and end my turn."
"Thank for the tip, but that wouldn't make for an exciting duel, would it?" Jesse drew. "I activate Pot of Greed." Jesse drew two cards from his deck. "Alright! I summon Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth (1700/1600) in attack mode!" A large grey mammoth with four tusks appeared on the field. In the center of it's head was an Amber gemstone.
"You're the pompous boy Ruby mentioned. I'll enjoy crushing you!" Amber Mammoth yelled.
"Fat chance! You're weaker than either of my monsters." Chazz replied.
"That's not all Chazz. I activate Crystal Beacon! If I have two or more Crystal Beasts in my Spell and Trap card zone I can special summon a Crystal Beast from my deck. Come on out Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger (1600/1000) in attack mode!" A white tiger with a blade sticking out of it's head and each of it's legs ran onto the field. On the side of it's neck was a Topaz gem. "When Topaz Tiger attacks, it gains 400 attack points for the damage step.
"Just enough to destroyed his weaker monster." Scott said.
"Topaz Tiger, attack the Armored Dragon!" Jesse yelled. Topaz Tiger pounced onto the smaller dragon (Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger 1600-2000/1000) and bit into it's neck, destroying it. (Chazz 4000-3900)
"That's not all! I activate my facedown card, Crystal Raigeki! By sending a Crystal Beast in my spell and trap card zone to the graveyard, I can destroy a card you control!" The jagged ruby began to dissolve. "I destroy your continous spell!"
A bolt of lightning shot out of Jesse's trap card, destroying Armed Dragon Lightning.
"Wait, he destroyed the continuous spell? Not Armed Dragon LV 7?" Ghassan asked. "I mean, yeah, it stops Chazz from constantly looping LV 7's effect, but I don't think that should be the priority. Especially when he could have attacked directly if he destroyed LV 7."
"In fairness, Armed Dragon Lightning's effect would allow Chazz to send it to the graveyard to protect his Armed Dragon if it were to be destroyed by a card effect." Bastion replied. "Perhaps he figured Chazz would just send it to the graveyard anyway."
"That's not it." Czar said. "Jesse doesn't like to use card effects to destroy monsters. He views it as preventing the opponent from bringing out their full potential."
"Wait, seriously?" Scott asked. "Talk about handicapping yourself."
"I thought so too when I first met him." Amira said. "But he's able to make it work for him."
"I set a card face down and end my turn." Jesse said. Topaz Tiger walked back to Jesse's side of the field. (Topaz Tiger 2000-1600/1000)
"That's it? How I about The Chazz shows you how it's done?" Chazz drew a card. "I activate Pot of Greed to draw two cards from my deck." Chazz did exactly that. "Now, I activate LV 7's effect! By discarding a monster like my Armed Dragon Lightning LV 5, I can destry all monsters you control that has fewer attack points than the discarded monster! Genocide Cutter!"
Armed Dragon LV 7 let out a roar before shooting out several sawblades made of pure energy at Jesse's monsters.
"I activate my continuous trap, Crystal Brilliance! All Crystal Beast monsters I control gain attack points equal to their defense points!" Jesse yelled. A prismatic aura glowed around the two monsters (Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger 1600-2600/1000) (Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth 1700-3100/1600) before the saw blades dissipated on contact with them. "And that means both of my monsters are stronger than LV 5, so they aren't destroyed."
"Feh. Fine, we'll do this the old fashioned way. LV 7, destroy Topaz Tiger!"
The dragon prepared to slash Topaz Tiger. Suddenly, Amber Mammoth's gem began to shine. Instead of it's claw heading towards Topaz Tiger, it was heading for Amber Mammoth. "What the-?!"
"Sorry! I activate Amber Mammoth's effect! When another Crystal Beast is targeted for an attack, I can make Amber Mammoth the target instead!"
Chazz gritted his teeth. "I activate my facedown, Armed Dragon Thunderbolt! I target an Armed Dragon I control, and have it gain 1000 points for each Armed Dragon with an equal or lower level than it. With LV 3 and LV 5 Thunder in the grave, that means it gains 2000 attack points."
Jesse gasped as electricity began to build around Chazz's monster. (Armed Dragon LV 7 2800-4800/1000) The dragon slashed through Amber Mammoth, destroying it. Soon, a jagged piece of amber appeared in Jesse's spell and trap card zone.
"Luckilly for you, you don't take any battle damage the turn I activate the effect. I set a card and end my turn."
"Before I take my turn, I activate my other continuous trap, Crystal Conclave! When a Crystall Beast I control is destroyed, I can special summon summon another one from my deck. Come on out Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise!" (600-2600/2000) Appearing on the field was a light blue tortoise, emeralds sticking out of it's dark blue shell.
"Heh heh. It's rare for you to put me on the offensive, Jesse." The tortoise said.
Jesse drew. "Let's just say I got a strategy in the works. I activate Crystal Conclave's effect! By sending it to the graveyard, I can target a Crystal Beast I control, and another card on the field, and send them both to the hand! I choose my Sapphire Pegasus, and your Armed Dragon LV 7!"
Chazz gasped as his Armed Dragon dissolved into a trail of light before returning to his hand. The jagged sapphire in Jesse's spell and trap card zone did the same.
"Chazz's field is wide open now." Alexis observed.
"Now, I summon Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus (1800-3000/1200) once again!"
The pegasus descended onto the field. "It's not quite so easy to get rid of us." The monster told Chazz.
"Recycling their resources while clearing the opponent's field for an OTK. Even without relying on card destruction, Jesse can use the Crystal Beasts pretty well." Scott said.
Ali came back, to the bleachers. He caught his breath for a bit before sitting down. "Yeah. And to think his deck isn't even complete yet."
"Huh?" Alexis reacted. Ghassan knew what Ali was talking about though.
"Emerald Tortoise attack Chazz directly!" The tortoise shot green sonic waves from it's mouth towards Chazz. (Chazz 4000-1400) "Topaz Tiger, you do the same!" The tiger lept towards Chazz.
"I activate my trap card, Draining Shield! I negate the attack, and gain life points equal to your monster's attack points!" Chazz yelled. A barrier appeared around Chazz, blocking Topaz Tiger's attack. (Chazz 1400-4000)
"Not bad, but I still got one more attack! Go, Pegasus!"
Pegasus flew towards Chazz, and struck him with his horn. (Chazz 4000-1000)
"I activate Tortoise's effect. After a Crystal Beast attacks, I can switch it to defense mode. I choose Tortoise himself." Emerald Tortoise retreated into it's shell.
"Why'd he do that? Thanks to Brilliance, Tortoise has more attack points than defense points." Ghassan pointed out.
"True, but who's to say Chazz won't get rid of Crystal Briilliance on his turn. Then attacking Emerald Tortoise would do a ton of damage to Jesse's life points. Being cautious is the right move." Alexis said.
"I end my turn." Jesse said.
Chazz drew. "I activate a second Pot of Greed." Chazz drew two more cards from his deck. As he looked at them, he smirked. "I discard a Level 7 Dragon monster in order to special summon Pile Armed Dragon (2800/1000) in attack mode!" Rising up was a large red dragon, metal weaponry covering it's body. Rather than claws, it had various drill for fingers, several more drills on it's knees, the tip of it's tail, and even on it's head, serving as make-shift horns. "I also remove from play Armed Dragon Thunderbolt in my graveyard to add Armed Dragon Lightning from my graveyard to my hand. Naturally, I'm activating it." The continuous spell card returned to the field.
"Next, I activate my faceodown card, Call of the Haunted so I can special summon the discarded Armed Dragon Thunder LV 7! (2800/1000)" A monster nearly identical to Armed Dragon LV 7 emerged, but with electricity surrounding it's body. "Don't expect him to stay for long though. I activate Level Up! I send my Armed Dragon Thunder LV 7 to the graveyard to special summon Armed Dragon LV 10 (3000/2000) from my deck!"
LV 7 Thunder glowed with bright energy before it changed form, a larger dragon with it's silver armor covering almost all of it's body.
"I get it. The Thunder Armed Dragons aren't restricted with how they can be summoned like the regular Armed Dragons are." Ghassan picked up.
"Indeed. And because their names are still treated as the same as their original counterparts, it allows Chazz easier access to LV 7 and 10 than he would otherwise have." Bastion stated.
"Armed Dragon LV 10's effect activates. By discarding any card in my hand, I can destroy all monsters you control. Go LV 10!" Chazz discarded a card as his Armed Dragon let out a screech of energy. Jesse's three crystal beasts exploded, before all appearing in their crystal forms in Jesse's spell and trap card zone.
"Unless Jesse acts fast, Chazz has won this." Scott said.
"I activate the effect of Crystal Brilliance!" Jesse said. "By sending it to the graveyard when Crystal Beast are placed in my spell and trap card zone, I can special summon a new one from my hand or graveyard! Come on out Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle (300/300)!" Summoned in defense mode was the tiny rodent-like creature with a ruby at adjorned in it's tail.
"Relying on that squirt as a defense?"
"Ruby won't be defending alone. When he's special summoned onto the field, I can special summon all Crystal Beasts that are in my spell and trap card zone. Ruby Rampage!" Ruby released several beams of energy from it's tail. The beams hit the gem forms of the Crystal Beasts. Soon, Sapphire Pegasus, Topaz Tiger, Emerald Tortoise, and Amber Mammoth broke free of their crystal forms and returned to the field, all in defense position. "I use Sapphire Pegasus' effect to send Amethyst Cat from my deck to my spell and trap card zone." A jagged purple amethyst appeared behind the Crystal Beasts.
"He went from no monsters to a full field just like that?!" Alexis asked in shock.
"Not bad. But since you don't have Crystal Brilliance anymore, your Crystal Beasts don't gain the extra attack power, so all you can do is go on the defensive."
"Power ain't everything Chazz."
"Hmph. I activate Armed Dragon Lightning's other effect. I can target an Armed Dragon I control, and have it gain attack points equal to it's level multipled by 100. I choose Armed Dragon LV 10" Electricity built around the Armed Dragon. (Armed Dragon LV 10 3000-4000/2000)
"That's not all. I activated Pile Armed Dragon's effect. By sending an Armed Dragon from my deck to my grave, I can make a monster I control gain attack points equal to the monser's level times 300. But as a tradeoff, only the monster with the boosted attack points can attack this turn. I send Armed Dragon Thunder LV 10 to the graveyard to increase vanilla LV 10's attack power by 3000!"
The spiritual image of an identical Armed Dragon went inside Armed Dragon LV 10. The monster glowed a sinister crimson energy as it let out a roar. (Armed Dragon LV 10 4000-7000/2000)
"What was the point of that? Jesse's monsters are all in defense mode, all he did is lower the amount of monsters he'll be destroying." Ghassan said.
"You're wrong." Bastion said. "Chazz still has two more cards in his hand."
Chazz smirked. "Fun fact. LV 10's effect isn't limited to once per turn."
Many of the observers gasped. Jesse clenched his fist. Armed Dragon LV 10 shot out several buzz saws at the Crystal Beasts, destroying them. Jesse chose for Amber Mammoth, Ruby Carbuncle, Topaz Tiger and Sapphire Pegasus to appear in the spell and trap card zone next to Amethyst Cat, while Emerald Tortoise was sent to the graveyard.
"Hate to tell you this, but it doesn't matter how much you care about your monsters. What matters is how well you use them. And I'll admit, you pulled some pretty impressive tricks. But you just didn't have the power to beat me! Finish him off LV 7! Big Armed Banisher!" LV 10 generated a dark orb of electricity before hurling it at Jesse. A large explosion occured, obscuring the Duel Field.
"Looks like I was North Academy's best after all."
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Chazz!" Jesse yelled. The dust began to clear up. Jesse was still standing proudly by the various gems. (Jesse 3900-400)
Chazz was taken aback. "How did you-!?"
"That's the other effect of Crystal Brilliance. When I send it to the graveyard, all battle damage done to me this turn is cut in half!"
"Feh. Unfortunately for you, the power that my Armed Dragon gain lasts permanently. But I'm not gonna let those gems last for long. I activate Harpie's Feather Duster to destroy all cards in your spell and trap card zone!"
Jesse gasped as a large wing appeared in the air, blowing a gale of wind at Jesse's field. The gems in Jesse's spell and trap card zone all shattered into pieces.
"Go ahead! Talk all you want about bonds with your monsters! It's not gonna measure up to sheer power. I end my turn."
Jesse took a breath. "I gotta admit. You put up a heck of a duel. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit disappointed."
Chazz felt a prick of annoyance. He was sounding like Jaden back during the School Duel. "Yeah, yeah. You're upset that I don't have faith in my Duel Spirits or whatever."
Jesse nodded. "You really don't appreciate what you have, huh?"
Czar and the West Academy students were confused. "What's this talk about Duel Spirits?" James asked.
"I think I heard Jesse talk to his monsters from time to time." Czar said. "Does he think Chazz would do the same?"
"Just...don't worry about it." Alexis told them.
"Whatever. Just take your turn." Chazz said.
Jesse gave a smile. "Will do!" He put his hand over his deck, and closed his eyes. Then, he opened them. "I draw!" Jesse took a look at the card he drew. "Bingo! I activate my field spell Crystal Blessing! This card lets me add two Crystal Beast monsters from my graveyard to my spell and trap card zone. I choose Ruby Carbuncle (300/300) and Amethyst Cat!" (1200/600) The jagged ruby and amethyst rose up in front of Jesse. "Nesxt, I activate Crystal Promise! With it, I can special summon a Crystal Beast in my spell and trap card zone! I choose my Ruby Carbuncle!"
"And with it's effect, you can special summon the other one in your spell and trap card zone, right?" Chazz asked.
"You know it!" Bursting out of their crystal forms was the familiar rodent, and a pink cat with a golden brooch around her neck. In the center of the brooch was an amethyst.
"Thanks for finally getting me on the field, Jesse. I was getting antsy." The cat said.
"Heh heh. Still no good at staying still, eh Amethyst?"
"Hmph. Going for a tribute summon with those two?" Chazz guessed.
Jesse shook his head. "Like I said. Strength isn't all that matters."
The cat took a look at Chazz, and immediately prepared to pounce. "Just tell me when."
"With Amethyst's effect, she can attack directly, but the battle damage done to you is cut in half."
"Fat lot of good that does for you then! I'll still have life points remaining. And then it'll be my turn."
"Sorry Chazz, but your turn ain't coming. I activate my equip spell Crystal Release!" A rainbow aura surrounded Amethyst Cat. "This spell card increases any Crystal Beast monsters attack by 800." (Crystal Beast Amethyst Cat 1200-2000/600)
Chazz widened his eyes. "2000?! But even if the damage is halved..."
Jesse smirked. "I might not be able to destroy your monsters, but that's not gonna matter. Amethyst Cat, attack directly!"
The cat pounced in the air, leaping over Chazz's Armed Dragons. She unsheathed her claws, each one glowing rainbow colors, as she headed down towards Chazz. "Do you feel this boy? This is our faith in Jesse!"
Amethyst Cat slashed through Chazz's body, causing him to fall to the ground. (Chazz 1000-0)
"Huh. Looks like Jesse worked around having the weaker deck after all." Scott said.
Crowler finished writing on his clipboard. "Alright Princeton. That's four laps for you."
Chazz punched the ground. How? How could he have lost? It was one thing to lose to Jaden, but Jesse didn't even have monsters that had more than 2000 attack points.
Jesse walked up to Chazz. "It was a good duel. But-"
"Save it! You only won because you got lucky."
"Maybe. But at the same time, I had a handicap."
"Huh?"
Jesse looked up. "There's a monster out there, Rainbow Dragon. The ace monster of the Crystal Beasts. But it hasn't been made yet."
Scott took a look at Ghassan, who nodded. It wasn't until Season 3 that the tablet for Rainbow Dragon was discovered, and thus, made into a card by Pegasus. Looks like that remained true in this timeline as well.
Jesse looked back to Chazz. "Basically, my deck isn't exactly complete."
"So that's what Ali was referring to." Bastion realized.
"And when Rainbow Dragon is made, Jesse's potential will burn even brighter." Axel said.
Chazz was stunned. "I lost...to an incomplete deck?"
Jesse rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Listen, you're a strong duelist. But if you don't learn to trust your monsters, you'll always be holding yourself back."
Crowler put his clip board down. "As we all saw, there's multiple ways to win a duel. Not just overpowering the strongest monster an opponent has. I hope everyone remembers that."
Fontaine walked forward. "After the laps are finished, that'll be the end of the camp today. For our guests, Crowler and I will lead you to available guest rooms in the Obelisk Blue dorms. Now, starting tomorrow..."
Chazz stood up and started running his laps. He couldn't believe it. It was one thing to lose, but against a guy who was dueling with not one, but two handicaps? It's been months since he's ever felt so humiliated.
Damian finished his final lap, panting in exhaustion. He missed it. A duel between two of his favorite characters in the series, and because of some inconsequential fodder character, he hardly got to see any of it.
'Damnit...' They both thought.
D.D Survivor walked through a white cavern. 'He should be here.'
"What are you doing here?" A voice asked.
D.D Survivor turned around. Appearing from behind a giant stalagnate was a humanoid man with long brown hair, wearing a helmet in the shape of a dragon. "I've been looking for you, Kaibaman."
"I figured. But that doesn't tell me why. Is the Invader of Darkness aiming to conquer this Spirit Realm as well?"
"So you know me?"
"Who hasn't heard of Chain Thrasher? The coward who turned to his enemy's side in exchange for his own freedom."
"You say that as if I didn't try to fight. It failed, so I worked with what I could get."
"So your Plan B means throwing away your honor?" Kaibaman asked.
"What good does honor do for you if you're stranded in a wasteland? Either way, we're getting off topic."
"If you want to recruit me, forget it." Kaibaman held out a card. "Tell your master that if you want to intimidate me, he'll need a lot more than just you." Popping up fron behind the stalagnate were several weaker monsters, hiding in fear.
D.D Survivor groaned in annoyance. "If you would let me finish talking, you'd know that this isn't to help the Invader."
This took Kaibaman by surprise. "Explain."
"5 days from now, it'll be Duel Monsters Spirit Day in the human realm. The Invader of Darkness has decided to set his sights there."
"And why would this concern me?"
"Word is that you got acquainted with some humans yourself not too long ago."
"Hmph. That's an Info Broker for you. Yes, I met a handful of humans last month. Even dueled one of them."
"Well, if the Invader of Darkness subjugates the human realm, what do you think will happen to those friends of yours?"
"I get it. You want me to help fight the Invader of Darkness' forces."
D.D Survivor nodded. "If you win, I get my full freedom. If you lose, Invader of Darkness will still grant me extra time."
"And if I happened to tell the Invader of Darkness about your treachery when I face him?"
"Then you'll lose a tactical advantage in taking him down. I know his strategies and his numbers. Info that would help you in a war."
Kaibaman closed his eyes. "Unfortunately, I'll have to pass. I have no ill-will towards the human world, but their matters don't concern me."
"That's not the real reason, is it." D.D Survivor pointed at the stalagnate the other duel spirits were hidiing behind. "If something happens to you, this realm will lose it's only protector."
Kaibaman glanced at the other duel spirits. "Hmph. Feel free to think that."
D.D Survivor shrugged. "Fair enough." He turned around and started walking away. "But that means this realm will be next the Invader of Darkness' next target."
Kaibaman immediately grabbed D.D Survivor's shoulder. "Explain."
D.D Survivor turned around with a smirk. "You really think I wouldn't snag some extra incentive? The Invader of Darkness knows about this realm. And how to access it from the human world."
Kaibaman clenched his fist. "You craven."
"Please. Getting rid of Invader of Darkness benefits all sides. Me, the human world, and the Spirit Realm. You know I'm correct."
The two duel spirits stared at each other in silence before Kaibaman let go of Survivor's shoulder. "Fine. I have nothing to lose by destroying your master."
"Glad you see it my way." D.D Survivor continued to walk off. One Duel Spirit down. Couple dozen more to go.
Damian punched the wall of his dorm room. "Fodder?! I missed a never before seen duel because I lost to a no-name fodder character?!"
A School Security member opened the door. "Enough ruckus! Otherwise we'll-!"
Damian shot a wave of energy, slamming the door in the guard's face. "So easily too...how?!"
Damian panted before sitting on the floor, surrounded by the books and paper he thrown in his tantrum. "I thought I was stronger..."
Bright red energy began to build up around him. "I THOUGHT I WAS STRONGER!"
The energy surrounding Damian began to spread around the room. "GYAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Damian stopped screeching, as he hung his head down. "How...how can I do anything when I'm still so weak...?"
Hours passed as Damians at in silence. The energy around Damian began to shrink as he calmed down. After all he gave up? Exposing the truth to the others? Turning against Scott and Ghassan? Making himself an enemy out of the people he befriended? How could he take control of the Sacred Beasts if some rando who never appeared on the show could beat him so easily?
Suddenly, the energy darkned, from bright red to crimson. "No. This isn't worth crying about. This happened in the real word all the time." Damian stood up and walked towards the window. He wasn't the main character of this world. He was simply someone residing in it. And just like in his world, complete strangers were capable of beating him. If he wanted to take down The Light, and get back to his home dimension, he'd need to get stronger.
Damian took a breath as he opened up the windows. "I'm gonna get expelled for this." Damian hopped out of his window and ran off. If he had enough energy within him, he could break the seal. It was time to snag the Sacred Beast cards.
Obligatory apology about the wait. Grad School sure is Grad School. However, I'm happy to say that we're approaching the end game. Two more arcs, and Freshman Year will be over. What about Sophomore and Senior years? We'll have to wait and see.
Also, while I'm sure most of you now, Kazuki Takahashi, the creator of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga, passed away a month ago. His creation was a massive part of countless childhoods, and it's still hard to believe he's gone. May he rest in piece.