Sekhmet: Oh look, more emotional trauma.
Susano-o: Yep good old emotional scarring.
Sekhmet: On with the show I guess…
Duel 19: I'm Gonna Put a Spell on You, Part 1
"Son of a bitch," Rose growled as she watched Alexis and Atticus sleep in the infirmary. "I'm gonna shove the next Shadow Rider inside a garbage disposal I swear to Ra."
"I don't think they'd fit." Yuko said.
"I'll make them!" Rose snapped before being shushed by Fontaine. "I'll make them," She growled much softer.
"Well I don't doubt you." Yuko said, a pencil in her mouth. She'd have to dig out her 'gum' later.
"And then I'll take the one after that one and use them to beat the one after that," She growled as dark plans started forming in her head. "And then after I'm done beating that one I'll shove him up the ass of the one after that, and then if the one I beat him with is still breathing I'll shove them up his ass and make my own human centipede."
Yuko was absolutely disgusted with that image. "That sounds horrifying and I want no part in it."
"Then I'll take the last two and smash them and a pile of rocks to bits and make them into a terrible looking statue!"
"You lost me on that one." Yuko said.
"Go read the manga," Rose said dismissively. "Jojo part 4."
"Of all the people in rocks to choose from you chose the one guy who was around for a max of three chapters?" Yuko said incredulously.
"The pillar men can change back and why would I turn them into something that has to come back?" Rose asked shaking her head. "You need to read the manga."
"Oh really? Explain to me how King Crimson works." Yuko practically dared her.
"It's not skipping time, It's just crunching everyone's perception of it besides Diavolo and removing the causes that would have happened. Here's an example, Diavolo throws a ball at a guy, he actives KC now the ball will continue to travel on its predetermined path and nothing will stop it, not even the guy he threw it at the ball will just go right through him, when time resumes all the guy sees is the ball is now behind him, even though he clearly saw Diavolo throw it a moment ago. Also everyone in the world will continue to move as they were before, except Diavolo however is free to move around as he pleases during this time period, so he decides to move from in front of the guy to beside him, now when time resumes the guy sees that Diavolo has seemingly teleported beside him even though he was standing in front of him. That's how it works, he removes people's perception of time so to them it seems like it's been erased, when in reality it did happen, they just couldn't see or interact with it. Time flowed normally, they just couldn't tell," Rose explained without missing a beat.
"You lost me after the example." Yuko said, tongue in cheek.
"Now explain D4C," Rose countered with a smirk. "And Love Train," she said taking a drink from her nearby water.
"The combo of D4C and Love Train is two fold. Love Train utilizes D4C's interdimensional traveling capabilities to redirect all harm not only away from Funny himself but out of the entire country. It's essentially a portable hole inside a bag of holding as a manageable stand power." Yuko explained.
"NERDS!" Chazz yelled from the doorway.
"Chazz people are sleeping," Bastion said pushing his way past him. "No matter how nerdy they are, please wait until we're outside to talk about it."
"Yuko!" Syrus yelled shoving inside and running over to her, only to trip and face plant straight into her crotch.
"I don't think this is the time." Yuko joked. Rose spat out her drink at that.
"And I thought you were a prude," Rose coughed as her nose burned with caffeine. "Damn that was a good one," She laughed.
"A good what?" Yuko asked.
"...That was a joke right?" Rose asked.
Syrus didn't hear any of this, the only thing running through his mind was the words "Red panties" as his face was buried into the material of Yuko's leggings.
"Did you die in there?" Yuko asked.
"I think he died and went to heaven," Rose laughed as Syrus went red. "Syrus you're so forward, at least buy the poor girl dinner first," She joked as he started shaking. "And I'm not sure if she wants to do that in front of everyone, I mean total power move if you two are into that, but still at least ask first!"
"I-I think I killed him." Yuko said, starting to get worried.
"Then either pull him out or take your pants off," Rose laughed harder.
"How do you kill someone with your thighs?!" Yuko asked out loud before peeling Syrus' head off her lap.
"Oh trust me those thighs could kill weaker men," Rose said with a smirk as her eyebrows started jumping.
"Glad to see you're not wasting any time finding a new girlfriend," Alexis deadpanned with a smirk from behind them.
"Alexis!" Rose yelled scrambling over to her. "Are you ok, do you need a drink, another blanket, something to eat, want me to fluff your pillow?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Alexis said with a small smile as she patted Rose's cheek. "Calm down love."
"Ok," Rose said softly. "Ok," She said before tears started running down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I'm so so so so sorry," She hiccuped burying her face in the bedsheets.
"What's wrong?" Alexis asked cupping her cheek and taking her sunglasses off. Everyone sort of leaned forward, trying to get a look at her eyes without looking too suspicious about it. They were blue, a bright ocean blue that currently reflected more pain than her face could ever show, it was like looking directly through Rose and into her soul itself, an open book that would hide nothing, betraying any thoughts she was thinking without a moment's hesitation. Yuko felt like she had violated some sort of unsaid promise, and quickly looked away in a weird sort of shame. "Talk to me," Alexis pleaded.
"I fucked up," Rose said after a few seconds. "I wasn't there," She said looking down in shame. "I ran away like a fucking coward!" She snapped in shame.
"You didn't mess up," Alexis said picking her head up again. "Nightshroud took me away before even Midori could wake up to help," She said in a lecturing tone to help it sink in. "You being outside was the only reason me and Atticus where brought back so quickly, imagine if that smoke was toxic and it was just Yuko and Midori trying to take the two of us back?" She asked making Rose pale a little. "So stop worrying about what you did, and worry about what's to come, remember what you told Zane, nobody's perfect, not even you." She said calmly. "We don't know when the next one is coming and Atticus is still asleep too, so you need to be strong for everyone," She said smiling while giving her a small kiss.
"O-Ok," Rose stuttered sniffling slightly. "Ok," She said much more firmly, her eyes turning from one's filled with pain to one's filled with determination.
"There's my girl," Alexis said putting her sunglasses back on and patting her cheek. "Now I need some rest, so come back later on today, ok?"
"Ok," Rose said tucking Alexis back in. "Sleep tight baby," She whispered with a small kiss on her forehead.
…
"No, I'm not talking about this behind her back." Yuko said. "Talk shit, get hit."
"She's not here right now, is she?" Chazz said crossing his arms.
"Doesn't matter." Yuko maintained.
"Come one how could you not no that!" Chazz asked. "You've lived with her for months and didn't know her eyes could do that!"
"It's not my business how she handles her emotions. As long as she's not hurting herself or others in the process it's not my place to judge." Yuko said adamantly.
"Chazz let it go," Bastion said. "That's not why we're here, the next Shadow Rider has shown up," He explained.
"Crap, really?" Yuko asked.
"Yes, she showed up in the fog last night apparently," Midori explained. "I saw someone watching the red dorms but they disappeared before I could get to them."
"Well then there's no time to waste. Where was she last seen?" Yuko asked.
"That's the problem, no one has seen them since last night," Bastion explained. "Searching high and low we've found nothing, but we know they must be around as the fog has yet to dissipate."
"Maybe the fog is masking their presence. I don't know why they'd do that though other than to seem mysterious. Are there any rumors going around yet?" Yuko asked.
"Some people are whining about a vampire," Chazz said with a dismissive snort. "Please, like they're really a vampire."
"What kind? Like a European vampire, an Asian one, or something else?" Yuko asked. Each had different weaknesses, it was important to differentiate.
Everyone looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I have to agree with Chazz here, I highly doubt they're a real vampire," Bastion said. "They're just a myth."
"I've seen actual Duel Monsters in the streets of Domino. Vampires aren't a huge stretch to believe in." Yuko said.
"Yes but there's actual factual history with Duel Monsters," Bastion countered. "Vampires have always been placed firmly in the category of fiction."
"Usually I would agree with you, but I just don't think that's a chance we can take. It's war, anything can happen." Yuko said.
"Well I think you two should shut up about it," Chazz growled. "It doesn't matter if they're real or not, we need to be ready for them to attack!"
"Right. Everyone needs to be on their guard. I don't know about you, but I'd rather die in a duel than by blood loss." Yuko said.
A tick mark appeared on Chazz's head but he said nothing.
"We should all get some sleep and wait till tonight," Midori suggested. "Real or not this is the second time they've come out a night, whether that's a pattern or not we don't want to be dueling half asleep, so we may need to modify our sleep schedules."
"Great idea." Yuko added.
"Logical," Bastion said nodding.
"Fine," Chazz snarked. "-But I get this one, they hurt Alexis, and I can't let them get away with that."
"Alright, see you all tonight then." Yuko said, and the group dispersed.
…
"If I hit 'em high, hit 'em high, hit 'em high and you hit 'em low, hit 'em low, hit 'em low! If I hit 'em high, hit 'em high, hit 'em high and you hit 'em low, hit 'em low, hit 'em low!" Rose rapped along as she shadow boxed the wall. Yuko has long given up on sleep at this point and was looking over her alternative deck, a Gladiator Beasts deck.
"Guys it's time," Midori said from her bed. "They're here, Crowler just messaged everyone."
Yuko packed up her Gladiators and put her Dreadroot deck in her duel disk. "Let's do this." She said with a deep breath.
"Yeah," Rose said cracking her knuckles. "Where are they?"
In answer Midori walked outside and point off into the distance. "Well I think that may answer your question." Out on the lake was a huge Victorian castle masked partially in fog.
"Yeah that answers it pretty well." Yuko admitted.
"Yeah," Rose said walking down the stairs. "Lets go you two!"
"Alright, I'm coming." Yuko said, following her. The group made their way down to the lake, the fog thickening further as they went in.
"Geez, it's like Silent Hill down here." Yuko noted.
"Oh great lets play some Pachinko then," Rose joked.
"We don't speak of that one." Yuko said in a foreboding tone.
"Guys stop it," Midori said. "This is serious."
"Right, sorry." Yuko said, smoothing out her skirt. The group was soon joined by Crowler and Zane.
"Bastion and Chazz are on their way," Zane explained.
"Yes," Crowler said with a glare at the castle. "Now stand back please, I will duel this one."
"No I'm fighting this one," Rose growled. "Lets just hope for their sake that castle has indoor plumbing, it's gonna be quite a pain in the ass to shove them inside a chamberpot," She chuckled. "Hey asshole!" Rose yelled at the castle. "Get out here and fight me!"
The castle didn't respond, but out of nowhere rolled a long red carpet. Soon after, a small rowboat appeared at its end. Standing up in it was a beautiful green haired lady in a seductive red dress, cut at odd angles for viewing pleasure. Around her neck was a choker bearing the Roman symbol for 'Supremacy of God'.
"And I'm out," Rose said walking to the back of the pack. "Crowler you can take this one."
Yuko facepalmed. "I forgot, useless lesbian." She thought.
"Umm yes well then," Crowler said taking a step forward. "I'll assume you the next Shadow Rider?" He asked activating his duel vest.
A look of utter disdain crossed her face. "I don't think so. I crave another…" she thought, eyeing Zane.
"You are not worthy." She stated bluntly in a thick Romanian accent. "He however is." She pointed at Zane.
"Excuse you!" Crowler snapped. "First of all! I have a PHD in dueling, that takes nine years to get," He snapped before getting in front of Zane. "And secondly you will have to get through me before you even think about touching my students!" He yelled bluntly.
"Fine. If you're that anxious to lose your key, you may duel me. Camula, vampire mistress of the Shadow Riders." She declared. From behind her, a squadron of bats appeared from the fog.
"Nice effects you costumed freak," Crowler chuckled. "Your tricks don't scare me."
"Well then maybe this will. If you lose, I get your soul. Well, this little doll will anyway." She said, holding up a little knit doll.
"She wants to take his key and his soul!" Bastion exclaimed.
"Thank you captain obvious," Rose snarked back as she repeatedly smacked herself in the face. "She's not that attractive, she's not that attractive," She chanted.
"Oh is that all?" Crowler asked condescendingly. "Don't want anything for your mummy? Or your pet werewolf to chew on? Maybe I can recommend you a new skin care routine, really breathe some life back into those pores," He quipped.
Camula's mouth stretched into an inhuman and malicious grin. "Be careful what you wish for, it may just come true. Now then key-keeper, let's duel."
"Yes come and get the first real lesson you've had in 200 years," Crowler smirked. "And this one will be on me."
"Duel!" The both yelled.
"My move," Camula said with a smile. "So you don't believe in werewolves?" She asked playing her card. "Well perhaps this will convince you, rise 'Zombie Werewolf' (1200/1200)!" She ordered as her monster rose from the ground with a howl. "And I'll end my turn with a face down."
"Obviously a trap," Crowler said drawing his card. "And your fleabag is the bait, but fine I'll bite," He said playing his card. "-But first I'll play the 'Ancient Gear Castle'," He said as a massive fortress/castle rose behind him. "And I'll summon the 'Ancient Gear Soldier' in attack mode (1300/1300), and because of my castle he gains 300 attack points (1300-1600/1300)," He explained as his massive gun armed robot appeared behind him. "Now Ms. Vampire Mistress I think it's time that mutt of yours went the way of Old Yeller, go Soldier attack with rapid fire flurry!" He ordered as his soldier level its arm cannon and let loose in a machine gun spray that tore Camula's werewolf to pieces (Camula LP: 8000-7600). "And I'll end by playing two face downs, see if you can top that," He said with a laugh. "Oh this is quite fun, I really should get out of the classroom more often."
"Yeah fuck her Crowler!" Rose whooped making everyone look at her in confusion.
"Don't you mean fuck her up?" Chazz asked raising an eyebrow.
"I know what I said." Rose said.
"More of a cat person, I take it." Yuko mumbled.
Camula smiled. "Maybe you should study more, because if you did you'd know my werewolf is coming back!" She yelled as another 'Zombie Werewolf' (1200/1200) appeared on the field (1200-1700/1200)."
"You honestly expect me to remember every single card effect in the game?" Crowler asked raising an eyebrow. "You're even stupider than you look, now how about you be a good little student and tell the class what it does."
Camula glared but didn't comment. "When 'Zombie Werewolf' is destroyed I get to summon another from my deck with 500 extra attack points."
"See now was that so hard?" Crowler asked with a smile.
"You won't be smiling for long!" Camula yelled playing a card. "Not after my 'Vampire Bat' takes a bite out of you (800/1200)!" She yelled as a massive bat appeared in a red fog. "And when he's on the field all zombie type monsters on my field gain 200 attack (Vampire 800-1000/1200) (Werewolf (1700-1900/1200). "'Zombie Werewolf' tear down that scrapyard with midnight pounce!"
'Zombie Werewolf' howled as he charged 'Ancient Gear Soldier' and jumped onto of it, tearing it apart with its fangs (Crowler LP: 8000-7700).
"Oops someone needs to go back to the basics," Crowler joked. "Because you just activated my trap card 'Unfinished Time Box'!" He declared as his card flipped up. "When you destroy my monster I not only get to draw a card, I get to banish the monster that destroyed it for as long as this card is on the field," He explained drawing his new card as 'Zombie Werewolf' disappeared inside a large mechanical time capsule. "Poor showing, if this was a classroom you'd be getting a very low grade."
"Not only will that get rid of a powerful monster for a while, but that bat is awfully weak all by its lonesome." Yuko said.
"Yeah, and she won't be so smug anymore." Midori said with a smile, glad to see the man she admired was back.
"'Vampire Bat' attack him directly!" Camula yelled as her one bat became hundreds that swarmed around Crowler, biting and scratching while making a high pitched sound (Crowler LP: 7700-6000).
Crowler screamed as the bats kept swarming but eventually the left and returned to Camula. "Ms. Warren," He said breathing heavily. "For once, I will agree with your sentiments," He said standing up. "That hurt like hell," He said as he swayed slightly.
"Thank you!" Rose yelled in return. "Another person in the club!"
Camula laughed. "Had enough?" She asked before giving Crowler a smug look of fake sympathy. "Listen dear, you don't have to endure this, step down and I'll duel that one in white," She said looking over at Zane.
"Yeah because if the bad guy suggests it, it MUST be a good idea." Yuko said sarcastically.
"I think you're her type," Chazz said tapping Zane with his elbow.
"Her blood type maybe," Bastion said in a daze upon realizing she really was a vampire.
"I'll tell you where you can shove your offer," Crowler snapped. "I am the leading professor at the most famous duel academy in the world!" He yelled standing up fully. "And as long as I have cards in my hand you will not harm my students!" He yelled. "Now go 'Damage Condenser'!" He ordered activating his other trap. "Now I can discard a card to summon a monster with attack points less than the damage I just took."
"What could you possibly summon with less than 1000 attack points?" Camula asked shaking her head.
"Oh nothing much, just this little guy, the 'Ancient Gear' (100/800)!" He yelled as a tiny monster that looked more like the beginnings of a monster appeared on the field. (Ancient Gear 100-400/800).
"What can he do with that little thing?" Chazz asked.
"You know a lot of little things can be great eh boss!" Ojama Yellow said appearing beside him.
"Shut up!" Chazz yelled back.
"Oh he may look tiny," Crowler said with a big smile. "-But he's all I need to win this, especially after I play 'Machine Duplication' to summon two more of him!" He explained as two more 'Ancient Gears' appeared on the field. "And now I play the spell card 'Spell Gear' when this card is played I can tribute three monsters with 'Ancient Gear' in their name to summon from my hand the 'Ancient Gear Golem' (3000-3300/3000)!" He yelled as his three monsters condensed together into a single massive gestalt.
"Why would he play that?" Basiton asked. "His golem only needed two tributes, why use all three?"
"I'm glad you asked," Crowler answered smiling. "Because now thanks to my 'Spell Gear' I get to special summon another 'Ancient Gear Golem' from my deck!" He yelled as another one appeared behind him (3000-3300/300). "Next I'll play 'Premature Burial'!" (Crowler LP: 7700-6900).
"Oh bringing back that little soldier?" Camula asked trying to maintain her calm.
"No," Crowler said smirking widely. "I'm bringing back a beast I put in just for you people," He explained. "Come on out 'Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon'!" He yelled as a massive dragon made of metal appeared above his 'Golems' (3000-3300/2000). "You hurt my student so I'm going to hurt you twice as hard!" He yelled angrily.
"YEET!" Yuko screamed.
"Amazing," Midori said looking up at Crowler's three titans.
"Yeah go Dr. Crowler!" Rose yelled loudly.
Camula looked up at his three beasts with fear in her eyes. "It doesn't matter," She said angrily before her face contorted into something otherworldly, her cheeks sucked in, forming deep scale looking creases. Her teeth and tongue extended as they unhinges like a snake, and her eyes narrowed. "You will not win!" She yelled, her voice gaining a gravily hissing tone.
"Oh so you think making a face will stop me!" Crowler yelled. "I've sent kids to detention for less! Golem pulverize that bat ULTIMATE POUND!" One of the golem's complied as it's gears started spinning wildly before in reared back and smashed the tiny bat into the earth (Camula LP: 7600-5300).
"Ha you fool, I use my bat's special ability by sending another copy from my deck to the graveyard he is not destroyed," Camula laughed as golem's fist pulled back to show her bat still standing.
"If it wants another spanking then my golem will give it one!" Crowler yelled as the second golem smashed the bat down again (Camula LP: 5300-3000). Camula discarded another from her deck.
"That bitches deck empty!" Yuko yelled before quickly covering her mouth, good noodles don't swear.
"And now my dragon will finish it with Gear Shrapnel Barrage!" Crowler yelled as his dragon shot out a blast of red hot metal at Camula's bat, this time melting it into a pile of molten goop (Camula LP: 3000-700). "I'll place this card face down and end my turn," Crowler finished. "Now make your last move so I can end this and expel you from this campus for good!"
Camula hissed as she drew a card. "You think you have won! I've been alive for centuries and I will not be beaten by a mere mortal-!"
"Oh shut up! You're already being beaten!" Crowler yelled interrupting her. "You're just a sad bully who talks a big game but now that you're losing everyone can see you for what you are! As much as she pissed me off at least Ms. Warren could back up her talk with actual skills, you think your big production and Shadow Games are all you need," He finished with a big smirk. "Normally as an educator I would help you, but right now I just want you out of my sight so shut up and take your turn!"
Camula was furious, she wanted to reach over and tear Crowler's throat out, not even drink his blood just kill him. -But she refrained, knowing it would mean she would lose the key and the others would definitely return the favor, she may have been a vampire, but she knew she was outnumbered enough that they could restrain her long enough till daylight. "Alright then," She said releasing her monster face. "I'll admit you're better than me," She said before giving him another inhuman smirk. "-But I'm a sore loser! Go 'Illusion Gate'!" She yelled as a giant demonic looking cabinet appeared behind her. "This is a special card, it destroys all monsters on your side of the field," She explained as all 3 of Crowler's monsters shattered to bits. "Then I get to summon one monster from your graveyard, and I chose your 'Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon'!"
"What a minute!" Crowler yelled. "You can have a card that strong without some sort of cost!"
"You're correct," Camula said chuckling. "I normally would have to offer my soul to the Sacred Beasts," She explained as the doors of her card opened, enveloping her in a bright light. "-But because of my choker," She said touching her choker causing the symbol to glow. "I can do this!" Much to everyone's shock a second Camula appeared beside her before shooting out into the crowd, Instantly 'Winged Kuriboh', 'Ojama Yellow' and Yuko's aura sprang up to defend their duelist and force the copy away, leaving it to sink its teeth into Bastion's neck. "I can use the soul of another!" She yelled as her copy dragged Bastion's soul out of his body and onto the field, where it linked up to the now returned dragon. "Now you're in quite the mess," She laughed. "Because if I lose then your poor student's soul is forfeited to the beasts as payment."
"What the fuck?! I call extreme bullshit, even for a Shadow Game!" Yuko declared.
"Hey fuck you that can't be legal!" Rose yelled, this underhanded tactic finally snapping her out of her useless lesbianism.
"Yeah!" Chazz yelled taking a menacing step forward with Rose. Zane said nothing, but the small narrowing of his eyes and the white knuckle grip he had on his arms showed his real fury.
Midori was the worst, she could see exactly where this was going to go and it horrified her. "Dr. Crowler, please don't," She begged in a hushed whisper, even if she knew what he was about to do.
"You vile woman!" Crowler yelled. "You miserable, spiteful, vitriolic, rancorous, venomous, malignant bitch!" He screamed. "You would dare use one of my students like that?"
"I would!" Camula laughed. "You think this is a game? This is war!"
"Dr. Crowler," Bastion said weakly. "Just end it, don't worry about me, she can't take my key this way, stop her before she gets yours."
Crowler grit his teeth, tears sprang to his eyes. "My students," He said firmly. "This may be my last lecture so listen well," He ordered. "No matter what happens to me, always remember this," He said looking right at them. "It's true I may have been hard on you at times, but it's simply because I believe in you," He said choking back a sob. "So no matter what happens to me, know that there is always hope, because I know you will rise!"
Yuko didn't say anything, but her tears and body language said it loud and clear for her. She was sad, but mostly she was angry that it came to this.
"Don't talk like that!" Zane yelled no longer trying to hold back his emotions, his arm wrapped around Midori who looked like she was barely there.
"This isn't good," Chazz said biting his lip hard enough that it drew blood.
"Stop talking that way!" Rose yelled with an angry sob. "This isn't over till the last card is played!"
Crowler smiled at that. "Unfortunately Ms. Warren...Rose...that was the final card," He said before turning to Camula and placing his hand over his deck. "I surrender!"
Camula give a giant smiled at that. "Then your key and your soul are mine," She said as her choker glowed brightly before lashing out at Crowler, who showed no fear as he was engulfed in the malignant magic, transporting his key far away to unlock one of the spirit gates, and turning him into a small doll in Camula's hand. "Goodbye Crowler," She said with a smirk, a smirk that evaporated as Midori's fist smashed into her cheek hard enough to whip her head sideway and send her flying onto her back.
"IT'S DR. CROWLER!" Midori yelled at the top of her lungs as her fists start started raining down a storm of blows to Camula's face. "DR. CROWLER!"
Rose recovered and was about to charge in as well before Midori was sent flying back into them by Camula's shove. "I'll write that on his tombstone then," Camula snarked stumbling to her feet as blood gushed from her broken nose and bleeding tongue. "For now though I must attend to this mess, I'll be back children," She said with a garbled laugh as she disappeared into the mist.
Midori clutched Crowler doll to her chest as she sobbed brokenly.
"Fuck!" Rose yelled throwing her hands around. "Fucking fuck fuck fuck!" She raged.
"Rose shut up!" Zane yelled. "You're not helping!"
"Fuck off!" Rose yelled back getting in his face.
Bastion did say anything as he sat on the ground, his face hauntingly blank, Chazz tried to help him to his feet but he refused to move.
Out of seemingly nowhere, a feeling of pure terror permeated the area. Yuko's aura had kicked up at an alarming setting. "Shut up, all of you! Panicking about this and getting into fistfights is not productive. What we need to do is regroup and figure out what to do next. We have seen her deck, now we must build around it." She boomed.
Everyone looked up at Yuko, most having fallen to their knees once the pure terror took over. "Your right," Bastion said as he stood up, the mask of calm he was wearing just barely holding back his emotions. "We must make the next logical move and prepare for a counter attack," He said nodding. "She's injured, so we have a bit of time to regroup and rearrange before she's back to 100%."
"And I know the perfect plan," Zane said as he held a hand out to Rose, who begrudgingly took it. "-But for now we need to get back to the others," He said walking over and picking up Midori bridal style, who barely acknowledged the movement. "Come on."
Rose nodded as she helped Chazz up. "You ok?" She asked genuinely.
"No," He responded without an ounce of sarcasm back.
"Me neither," She responded sympathetically. "Come on let's get going before we get left behind," Chazz nodded and followed.
The six were broken, beaten and in the case of two thoroughly disillusioned by what had happened that night, but they continued on; and as the sun broke over duel academy island they felt no warmth, to terrified at the thought of what would happen that night.
←To be continued