AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you so much for all the kind words on the last chapter. It means a lot that people liked the way the duels are go. Of all the chapters and duels so far, this one was so much fun to do. A lot of people were excited about a certain person showing up, and I hope I deliver on the hype. We are heading into some of the final duels of this saga, so get ready. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.

Chapter 14 - The Bladed Shadow Rider Pt2

Blake led the group as they ran through one of the caves. Her stamina weighing as sweat dripped from her face. However, she gasped as someone became visible at the other end of the cave. There, Ruby struggled to walk as she carried her unconscious sister, "Oh no, YANG!" Blake screamed as she the blond Ra Yellow's missing right arm

"I-I tried to stop the bleeding," Ruby said as the former black shadow rider ran to help carry Yang. The hooded Slifer Red had ripper her cape for a makeshift bandage, "But…I couldn't carry the arm." Ruby said as tears ran down her face.

"Ruby…" Weiss said with remorse in her eyes. Suddenly, she heard someone punch the stone wall. In turning to the sound, she saw it was Bastion. His eyes flaring with rage as blood ran down his right knuckles.

"That Bastard!" Chazz as he clenched his fist, but then noticed Alexis searching the group. At that moment, he noticed it too, "Wait, where's Jaden?"

"He's…duel Adam," Ruby answered, but her voice hesitated.

"What!?" everyone shouted in response.

"Is he insane!" Alexis spoke up first.

"We have to stop them," Blake pleaded, but then noticed a look of fear in Ruby's eyes. However, it was not the same kind of fear she felt towards Adam. No, this was not simply fear. The hooded Slifer Red was terrified of someone else, "Ruby?"

"Everyone, I know this is gonna sound weird," Ruby responded before looking to the group directly, "But something changed in Jaden. He isn't himself."

"What does that mean?" Alexis asked.

"I mean," Ruby said as the image of dark aura around Jaden rung in her mind, "It's not Jaden that is dueling Adam." She said with the group going silent, still unsure what that meant.

Jaden?: 4000

Adam: 4000

The duel between Slifer Reds began with Jaden's draw, glancing at the card before playing it. "I summon Elemental Hero Avian in attack mode." He said as the green suited hero with angelic wings landed on his side of the field. However, he seemed to be shaded in a darker palate than normal, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). Jaden set two cards before ending his turn with no more words.

"That's it, ha!" Adam said before drawing, playing his result, "I summon Marauding Captain." He said as a blond dual-wielding sword captain appeared on his side of the field, (1200 ATK / 400 DEF). "And thanks to his effect, I can summon a level four or lower monster from my hand. Like my Twin-Sword Marauder." The Bladed Shadow Rider said as a mercenary with thrice blades attached to his arms was summoned onto the field, (1600 ATK / 1000 DEF). Adam then took a spell card out of his hand, "I'll play Block Attack, switching your monster from attack to defense." As Avian knelt, Adam smirked, "And now, Twin-Sword Marauder attacks!" He said as the mercenary dashed forward, making an x-shaped slash through Jaden's monster. As Avian exploded, the smoked moved over Jaden's body.

Jaden?: 4000 – 600 = 3400

"Oh, did I forget to mention that Twin-Sword Marauder can inflict piercing damage?" Adam commented before the smoke cleared. However, Jaden remained the same as he was before the explosion. In fact, another monster was on his side of the field. A fiery woman with her arms crossed, glaring at her opponent, (1200 ATK / 800 DEF). Adam gritted his teeth as he saw the trap card with an H-spotlight.

"Hero Signal." Jaden responded, "When you destroyed Avian, I could summon Burstinatrix from my deck."

"Too bad she will not be staying," Adam responded, "Twin-Sword Marauder has a second effect. If he attacked a defense position monster, he can make a second attack." The Bladed Shadow Rider said before the mercenary plunged into battle again.

"Hero Barrier," Jaden revealed his second face down, "I can block one attack so long as I have a Hero monster on my side of the field." As the mercenary went for the stab, a type of windmill shield blocked the blade and pushed the monster back, "Is that all you have to offer?"

"Offer!?" Adam responded.

"Your power," Jaden responded, his face still devoid of any emotion beyond slight anger, "Is that all?"

"Hardly!" Adam responded before pointing, "Marauding Captain, attack Burstinatrix!" He said as the blond captain rushed in, causing the blazing lady to unleash a burning blast form her hands right before the sword swing. An explosion covered the area as both monsters were destroyed. The smoke cleared with both Slifer Reds glaring at each. Adam took one card out of his hand and set it, "I'll end my turn with one card face down."

"Draw," Jaden said while doing so. However, Adam grinned.

"I activate Commander of Swords." Adam revealed his trap card, "Now, reveal the card you just drew. And if it's a spell or trap, it gets discarded." Jaden flipped the card over, revealing it as a spell, "I knew it, Miracle Fusion. You were planning on getting both those monsters in the graveyard on purpose to use that fusion card." He said as Jaden sent the spell to the graveyard, "I know about your monsters, the Elemental Hero Fusions you used to defeat Nightshroud." The Bladed Shadow Rider said before smiling, "They will not defeat me."

"…" Jaden did not respond right away. Instead, he closed his eyes, "At least he was more intimidating than you."

"…What did you just say to me?" Adam responded as his rage boiled, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!?"

"Adam Taurus, The Strongest Slifer Red at Duel Academy," Jaden said before opening his eyes, they cold golden stared running for mines as he radiated a deep purple aura, "But what is that to The Supreme King?" He said as Adam gasped, "I active the spell card, Dark Calling. This allows me to use the monsters in my graveyard for a Dark Fusion."

"Dark Fusion?" Adam said as the image of Avian and Burstinatrix appeared in a blue demon's palm. As the demon crushed the two monsters, a purple mist was forming.

"Now Appear, Evil Hero Inferno Wing!" The Supreme King ordered as the demon's palm opened, revealing a new monster in the purple mist. In a crimson red and deep green outfit, a woman with a sinister simile emerged. As her blackish wings flapped, a wave of heat ran through the area. The fiend landed on its master's side of the field, ready for the command, (2100 ATK / 1200 DEF). The Supreme King then thrusted his right arm forward, "Attack, Inferno Blast!" He ordered as Inferno Wing gathered a blue ball of flames in her hands, then launched the orb at the Twin-Sword Marauder. The mercenary's eyes trembled before he was engulfed in the inferno, "As well, when Inferno Wing destroyed a monster by battle, you take damage equal to the higher of that monster's attack or defense."

"What!?" Adam responded before his monster exploded. The blast wave and heat felt like a bomb going off. The Bladed Shadow Rider's body was flung a few meters before landing on his back. He convulsed on the ground as The Supreme King watched.

Adam: 4000 – 500 – 1600 = 1900

The Supreme King set one card as Adam pushed himself up. "I end my turn."

"Luck…that's all that was," Adam said between his heavy breathing. He then drew his card and placed it in his hand. In planning, he knew of a familiar strategy before his eyes. "I summon Celtic Guard of Noble Arms in attack mode." He said as a duel-wielding elf warrior emerged onto his side of the field, (2100 ATK / 700 DEF). "And with his effect, I can special summon Obnoxious Celtic Guard in defense mode." Next to the first elf warrior, a second one appeared with one sword in his hands, kneeling in a blocking stance, (1400 ATK / 1200 DEF). Adam took the last card out of his hand, "I end with one card face down."

The Supreme King drew, glancing at the monster before playing, "I summon Evil Hero Infernal Gainer." He commanded as a massive fiend general appeared on his side on the field, (1600 ATK / 0 DEF). "I active his effect to remove himself from play until my second standby phase." He said as the monster faded in yellow light, while the dark fusion radiated a black aura, "In turn, Inferno Wing gains the ability to attack twice this turn."

"It still just has the same attack as my Noble Arms does." Adam pointed out.

"Then why didn't you attack like before." The Supreme King responded, causing Adam to hesitate, "You could have destroyed my monster with your own as you did at the start. However, you choose not to attack me." The Supreme King said as he saw Adam grit his teeth, a line of sweat running down his forehead, "It is because you are afraid of me."

"SILENCE!" Adam shouted, then pointed at The Supreme King, "You are not doing this to me!" The Bladed Shadow Rider then pointed to himself, "I FEAR NOTHING!" Adam said before thinking to himself, "I am not sacred, he is not intimidating me." He said before looking to the face down on The Supreme King's side of the field, "Rushing in is what he wants me to do, I am not falling for that trap." He said before looking at his own face down, knowing it was Half Shut, "My plan will work, it always does. No matter how many times I do it, they always fall for this combo."

"I active Vicious Claw," The Supreme King said as black area radiated around Inferno Wing right arm, "This equip spell gives my monster an extra 300 attack points." (2100 + 300 = 2400 ATK).

"Ha, a pitiful increase," Adam responded, his right hand ready to reveal the face down.

"Battle," The Supreme King ordered his monster, "Attack the Obnoxious Celtic Guard!" Adam smirked as he moved his hand away from his face down. The dark fusion launched a ball of blue flames towards the defend Celtic guard, who blocked with his sword.

"Fool, that monster cannot be destroyed by another monster with more tha-" Adam was saying until the flames went past his monster, then collide with his own body, "AAAAAAAA!" The Bladed Shadow Rider screamed as the fired engulfed him. After a few seconds, the fire simmered as Adam feel to one knee. His breathing heavy as smoke radiated from his back.

Adam: 1900 – 1200 = 700

"Just like your Twin-Sword Marauder," The Supreme King spoke, "Inferno Wing can inflict piercing damage." He then pointed at Obnoxious Celtic Guard, "Again." The Supreme King ordered as the dark fusion sneered, unleashing another fireball.

Adam quickly revealed his face down, "I play Half Shut, cutting your monster attack points in half." He said as the fireball lost part of its side. (2400 – 1200 = 1200 ATK). The defending Celtic guard fulling blocked the flames with one swing, "With the same values, it's a stalemate with no damage to either side."

"I end my turn." The Supreme King spoke, his monster's attack points returning to normal, (1200 + 1200 = 2400 ATK). "Now, are you going to show me your power?"

Adam drew his card, gasping at the result. He then snickered before grinning, "You want my best, here it is!" Adam said as he sent both Celtic Guards to the graveyard, "I tribute my two monsters to summon Buster Blader!" The two elf warriors vanished as the dragon slayer, (2600 ATK / 2300 DEF). As the monster reposed its massive sword, The Supreme King expression did not change, "Attack, destroyed that Inferno Wing!" Adam declared as the dragon slayer leaped towards the dark fusion. With an overhead swing, the blade crashed into its target.

The Supreme King: 3400 – 200 = 3200

Adam sneered but then gasped. Inferno Wing caught the blade with her right hand, the black aura faded as she tossed the dragon slayer away. Suddenly, the black aura faded away, "When the monster would be destroyed by battle, Vicious Claw returns to my hand. Then, a monster is destroyed, except the one that battled the equipped monster."

"But the only monster left then is-" Adam tried to say before getting cut off.

"I destroyed Inferno Wing," Supreme King said before pointing at Adam, "And as a result, you take 600 points of damage." As the Bladed Shadow Rider gasped, the dark fusion exploded in a black flame. The blaze ran across the ground before contacting with Adam's feet. Before he could react, his body was fully engulfed.

"AAAAAAAAA!" Adam screamed as the fired burned his flesh through his clothes.

Adam: 700 – 600 = 100

After the fire settled, Adam fell to both knees. Smoke fumed from his mouth he could hear his skin crackle. The Supreme King watched before pointing to Adam's side of the field, "Vicious Claw now gives you an Evil Token in attack mode." He said as a monstrous blue demon emerged on The Bladed Shadow Rider's side of the field, (2500 ATK / 2500 DEF). "Next, I active my face down card, Evil Blast." The Supreme King said as the token glowed in an orange flame, "It increases the Evil Token's attack points by 500." He said as the token let out a threatening roar. (2500 + 500 = 3000 ATK).

"Huh?" Adam said as he started to get up, "You just gave me a monster with 3000 attack points while you have nothing on the field defend yourself."

"Yes," The Supreme King said before looking to Buster Blader, "You were so disappointing," He said before looking to the Evil Token, "That I had to give you a monster that would be a challenge for me."

"You!" Adam said as his rage reached his limit, "I attack you directly with the Evil Token!" The blue demon unleashed a beam of concentrated fire. The Supreme King made no attempt to counter as the attack collided with his body, creating a fire cyclone that burned through the night, "HAHAHA!" Adam laughed as he watched his firestorm, "How does that feel!?"

The Supreme King: 3200 – 3000 = 200

As the fire died down and the smoke cleared, Adam remained sneering. However, he gritted his teeth in panic as The Supreme King remained standing. His body was charred, but his form was still the same, and his yellow eyes still piercing with that focused gaze, "Draw." The Supreme King said as Adam took a step back. However, the card simply went to his hand, "I end my turn."

"That's it?" Adam said before smirking, "Hahaha! What, no more Evil Heroes? No more cards with over five different effects?" The Blade Shadow Rider then drew his card, "You say I was a disappointment, but from where I'm standing-"

"Evil Blast's effect now activates, during your standby phase," The Supreme King spoke, "You take 500 points of damage."

"…Eh?" Adam said before looking at the trap card, seeing it glow in an orange flame. Suddenly, the card unleashed a concentrated fire shot. The Bladed Shadow Rider was still in shock at what this meant, he wanted to dodge the hit, but his body would not move. The fire shot collided with the upper half of his face, breaking through the white mask, and pressing against this left eye, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Adam screamed as he fell on his back, his hands over his face. His two monsters vanished as The Supreme King walked over, looking down on his defeated opponent with the same gaze he maintained for the whole duel. As Adam lowered his hands, he revealed his left eye had been branded shut.

Adam: 100 – 500 = 0

With dread in his eye, Adam got up and ran out the exit Ruby and Jaden had entered through. The Supreme King did not give chase. Rather, he looked to the stone thrown at the center of the open area. He walked over and sat in silence. After a few seconds, The Supreme King closed his eyes.

In Jaden's mind, he stood alone in the darkness. The cold eyes remained open as if they had been unblinking for the duration of the duel. His body was still, his expression the same. Only sight anger as he fidgeted. Suddenly, a pair of arm hugged Jaden's body from behind. They appeared to be of a woman, but her skin was the palest white. As well, a voice spoke in Jaden's right ear.

You did well, my precious King.

The voice said with Jaden's body unmoving. He felt he knew the voice but could not remember. The woman hugged Jaden tighter but loosened her hold soon after.

Not now.

The voice said before letting go but still whispered in Jaden's ear.

When you fall back into Darkness, I will catch you.

Suddenly, Jaden's eyes shot open. They had returned to a normal color, but his breathing was sporadic, "What? Where am I?" He said before discovering himself on the stone thrown. Upon getting up, he saw the scorch marks on the ground. As well, he found the trail of blood. Jaden gritted his teeth before following the trail.

After running down the cave he once entered through, Jaden found the bladed shadow rider. Adam walked with his right hand on the wall, then turned around, "AAAAAAA!" He screamed, "Stay away from me!"

"Hey, what happened!?" Jaden asked in a panic, then noticing Adam's face, "What happened to your eye!?"

"You freak! What is this?" Adam said as he walked backward, "And you mocking me again!?"

"No, I just-" Jaden said before he noticed the chasm nearby, "Hey! Watch o-" Jaden warned as he reached out his right hand.

"Get away from me!" Adam interrupted as he continued to back up, "I will not be made a fool of. I am Adam Taurus! I am the Strongest Slifer Red! I am-" Suddenly, the bladed shadow rider's went over the edge. He did not get to complete his thought before falling. Jaden leaped to try to grab Adam, but he was just out of reach. Jaden could only watch as Adam's body fell in the darkness, the branded eye being the last thing he saw. Jaden knew that Adam's last scream would echo in his mind for the rest of his life, as well as the sudden crash that followed. He looked at his right hand uncontrollably shaking, his eyes trembling.

Jaden fell to his knees. He hugged himself with his left arm, while his right hand was grabbing his face. Tears ran from his eyes as he gritted his teeth. The spirit of Winged Kuriboh emerged, the eyes full of sorrow upon watching his master suffer.

A few minutes later; Weiss, Alexis, and Chazz witnessed where the duels had taken place. Blake and Bastion had helped Ruby carry Yang back. The three examined the area but were not prepared for the horror. As they discovered the severed arm of the blond Ra Yellow, Alexis held her hand over her mouth while her eyes widened. The stench of blood and burnt flesh was still prevalent. Chazz took off his long coat, using it to pick up and carry Yang's arm. His fist clenched, ashamed that this is all he can do now. Weiss went over to the broken duel disk, seeing the cards of her friend scattered on the ground. Many of them were stained with the owner's blood, others were cut from some sort of slash. This causing the heiress Obelisk Blue to tremble in a mixture of anger and remorse. However, she noticed a few cards were still undamaged, and one that was far away from the blood. She picked up and gathered the cards, trying not to let the tears damage what could be salvaged.

In the corner of her eye, Alexis noticed Jaden walking out of the cave entrance. She was about to call his name but noticed his walk. The once spunky Slifer Red, who would smile in any situation, was not now. His head hung low as his arms were to his side. He looked to Alexis, his eyes red from the stress of crying as much as he could, "…I won…" Jaden said without emotion. In fact, his face showed no emotion, expect depression. Tears started to form in Alexis' eyes as she hugged Jaden. He wanted to hug her back, but his arms could not move.

An hour later.

A massive helicopter was about to take off as a set of medics rolled Yang on a gurney aboard. A third medic carried a cooler as he followed. The other seven members watched, discussing the new information they had just heard, "The Chancellor said Yang needs to be moved back to Domino City for better medical treatment." Bastion said to the group, "However, due to the size restriction, only three of us can go with her." He said before as his right fist tightened, "I'm sorry, but I have to be one of them."

"Me too," Blake said to him, "Yang was there for me, I'll be there for her."

Weiss then turned to the hooded Slifer Red, seeing her trembling hands trembling as she held onto the key, "Ruby, which do you want to do?"

"I-" Ruby said before Jaden spoke up.

"You can go." He said with a faint smile, as it was all he could make, "I'll take care of the rest."

"If you give your key to me," Weiss offered, "I promise to defeat Cinder."

"I know you can," Ruby responded, looking at the ground, "But if you get hurt or wor-" She was saying until Weiss patted her on the back, "Huh?"

"If that's the case, then you better win," Weiss said with a smile, "I'll stay by Yang's side, so you can save the world." She then reached into her deck box, pulling out three cards, "And if you're going to do that. You'll need these." The heiress Obelisk Blue said before passing her friend the cards.

"T-this is Yang's Hiita I gave her! And Eria that I gave you!" Ruby said in shock, "And …Blizzard Princess?"

"You're going to need all your Familiar-Possessed monsters if you are going to beat Cinder." Weiss responded, "And Blizzard Princess works well with those monsters, take good care of it."

"Weiss…" Ruby said as she smiled, then nodded, "I will, thank you."

"Don't thank me, I expect both my cards back when we return." Weiss said with a grin before looking to Alexis, Chazz, and Jaden, "Make sure you all win." She asked with her voice slightly more serious. The three nodded as Weiss smiled again.

"Let's go," Bastion said with Weiss and Blake nodding. The three ran to the massive helicopter, boarding it before the loading hatch closed. The others watched it take off, waving as they made their temporary goodbye. After Ruby could no longer see the helicopter in the sky, she put her right hand down. The hooded Slifer Red looked at the three cards she was just given, then added them to her deck.

In the middle of the vast ocean, a small speed boat rode across the open waters. Steering the vessel was Cinder, who then looked up at the sound of the massive helicopter, "Oh, I wonder what that was about." She said before hearing someone sigh. The Fall Shadow Rider then looked to the front deck, seeing her passenger who was focused on Duel Academy in the distance, "Don't worry, we're almost there." Cinder spoke as a cloud had just moved out of the way of the moon, it's light revealing the passenger's pink and brown hair, "Soon, you can get your revenge on that Slifer Red for taking your One Thing away from you." The Fall Shadow Rider said as Neo glared at the island, her iris swapping colors.

AN: There you go, respect the King! I have written a lot of duels that were one sided, but none as humiliating as what The Supreme King did to Adam. I almost felt bad considering Adam was such a beast last chapter. However, The Supreme King is called that for a reason, (As well, you see a hint at a very special character. It is obvious who it is, but the how where and why are still a mystery). With this story, I show how Adam got his eye branded shut, which was something I was really happy about doing this way. As well, he gets a gruesome demise. With that, Cinder is all that is left. However, she brought a pint-sized girl who is out for revenge on someone is red. Neo returns in the next chapter, so stay tuned. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.

Now, time to answer some questions. Regarding the Arc-V cameo character being Yuri, I still will not spoil who it is. However, as it should be obvious, I do like the psychopathic characters in these series. Regarding manga only cards, I will consider them as need. The hardest part in writing these duels is keeping the hands full of a decent number of cards to make combos when needed. Soon cards help with that, but I don't like making a duel that can't be recreated without fake cards. Regarding Pegasus, I love that guy and want to put him in. It's just a matter of setting him up right. Now Yubel is an odd case. If I use that character, it will be more of a composite with another rwby character, (It should be obvious who it is after this chapter, but nothing is set in stone yet and I don't know if I will even write this story that far). As far as the rest of this saga, I would want it to end at chapter 19, with chapter 20 being a sort of bonus chapter about a sort of duel spirits festival. I'll then take a break from this series to focus on other stories but would like to come back for next saga, (Which would be a few one-shot chapters like the beginning of this series was before the tournament arc). That's all I can think of to answer. If you have more question, let me know.