AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. This one was a cool duel to bust out some of the new cards from each archetype. It took a while to make this one, but I liked the results here. I do loosen a once-per-turn restriction of a certain effect here, but it is only to make the duel more hype. 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 55 – The Encroaching Darkness

"So, you want to throw down?" Jaden said as he readied his duel disk and deck.

"Sure, this tournament so far has been boring." Coco responded, "I already beat a tennis creep, a gambler creep, and a monkey that somehow had a duel disk." She said before adjusting her sunglasses, "Seriously, what is up with this island?"

"You get used to it," Jaden responded.

"Doubt it," Coco said before smirking, "But that Chazz guy said you could be an interesting battle if I found you in the tournament."

"I see," Jaden said as he had a similar grin, "Ready to get your game on?"

"Heh, good thing you're wearing red," Coco said as she changed her attaché case into a duel disk, "It'll hide the stains afterward."

"What type of flirting is this!?" Blair thought as she watched on.

"Duel!" both said as the match had begun.

Jaden: 4000 Life Points

Coco: 4000 Life Points

"I'm first," Coco said as she drew, "I set a monster and one card face down." She then crossed her arms, "You're up."

"Cool, I draw!" Jaden said at the start of his turn, then played the card he drew, "I summon Elemental Hero Wildheart in attack mode." He said as the tribal hero was seen with his massive blade, (1500 ATK / 1600 DEF). "Not sure what your facedown is, but Wildheart is not affected by traps. Go, attack her set monster!" he said as Wildheart slashed the card in half.

The monster is revealed to be a white robot rabbit with the phase Love It on its head, (800 ATK / 100 DEF). "That's Mecha Bunny, when it's flipped up, I can target a card and inflict 500 damage to the controller of that card. So, I'll pick your Wildheart." She said before the robot rabbit hopped the Jaden, tackling him in the stomach.

Jaden: 4000 – 500 = 3500 Life Points

"Also, I can set a new one from my deck to the field," Coco said as she set another monster.

"Nice, you're good." Jaden said as he took two cards out of his hand, "I'll throw down two face downs and call it a turn."

"Mine then," Coco said, "And I'll flip up my Mecha Bunny to hit you with another 500." She said as Jaden was tackled again.

Jaden: 3500 – 500 = 3000 Life Points

"Hey, I just realized. Didn't you hang out with that girl with bunny ears?" Jaden said, "Where is she?"

"Oh, she went to find that posh dude. I think she has a crush on him." Coco said before grinning, "Why? You got a crush on her?"

"What!?" Blair said in her head, but her face went red, "Are bunny girls the thing Jaden is into?"

"I'm just curious, I heard she took photos of your duels," Jaden asked.

"Oh, so you wanted your defeat to be immortalized?" Coco spoke before taking a card out of her hand, "Well, I can make it one you will never forget. I tribute my Mecha Bunny for Machine King." She said as the robot rabbit vanished, switching for a tall steel robot with devil-like horns. The shine of its red visor matched the glare of Coco's sunglasses, (2200 ATK / 2000 DEF). "He gains 100 attack points for each machine on the field, including himself." The fashionista pro duelist said as the Machine King's chest emblem glowed red, (2200 + 100 = 2300 ATK). "Go, Rule of Iron Fist!" she said before Machine King punched Wildheart with enough force to shatter the sword before exploding the tribal hero.

Jaden: 3000 – 800 = 2200 Life Points

"You may have destroyed my monster, but I can activate Hero Signal." Jaden said as the H-shaped spotlight was seen, "Now, I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in attack mode." He said as the blue-caped hero was seen, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF).

"What is he gonna do, blow bubbles to rust my Machine King?" Coco said as she crossed her arms, ending her turn.

"Not exactly, but close." Jaden said as he drew putting the card in his hand before getting a new one, "I play Bubble Shuffle, this will switch both our monsters to defense mode." He said as Bubbleman and Machine King knelt, "Now, Bubbleman is tributed so I can summon Elemental Hero Neos!" the spirited Slifer Red said as the contact hero was seen, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF).

"Heh, not bad," Coco commented.

"I'm not done yet; I summon my own machine, Card Trooper." He said as the red robot gunner was seen, (400 ATK / 400 DEF). "And I can mill three cards from the top of my deck to give him 500 attack points for each one." The spirited Slifer red said as his robot gained a yellow aura, (400 + 1500 = 1900 ATK). "Now, Neos attack Machine King. Wrath of Neos!" he said with the contact hero jumping into the air, chopping Machine King's head in half before it exploded, "And now Card Trooper attacks you directly!" he said before the red robot unleashed its cannon arms, blasting Coco for almost half her life points, "I end my turn." With that, Card Trooper lost its aura, (1900 – 1500 = 400 ATK).

Coco: 4000 – 1900 = 2100 Life Points

The smoke started to clear as Coco smiled, "Well, now I'm a little motivated." She said ready to draw, "I guess I can try now." However, in the shadows of the forest, a pale white hand extended its open palm to the fashionista pro duelist. Suddenly, Coco's body pulsated, "Gah!" she said before radiating a dark aura, "AAAAAAAA!" she screamed before the hand faded away.

"Hey, what's wrong!?" Jaden said as Blair had a look of worry as well.

"Hehehehe, nothing," Coco laughed as she adjusted her sunglasses, "I just feel hyped all of the sudden." She said before drawing, playing the card, "I activate Machina Reformation. By discarding a card, I can add two Machina monsters to my hand." She said before doing so. However, Jaden gasped. He saw the two cards Coco added encompassed in a dark aura, changing them into something else, "One of the monsters I added was Machina Unclaspare. So, I can special summon him to field right away." She said as a robot sniper was seen, but its eyes were red and its body radiated a dark aura, (1800 ATK / 800 DEF). "And when he's summoned, I can send a Machina monster from my deck to the graveyard, too bad you may never see it as I plan to win this turn." She said before sending the card to the grave, causing a pulse wave of darkness to fill the area.

"What are you talking about?" Jaden asked, "What's going on!?"

"Unclaspare, attack Card Trooper!" Coco said as the dark machine sniper aimed, but she took a card out of her hand, "However, I can send Machina Resavenger from my hand to the grave to give my monster 1200 more attack points." She said as the dark aura grew before the shot was fired, (1800 + 1200 = 3000 ATK). However, it was blocked by a white-haired defender.

"Necro Gardna was in my graveyard, so I can banish him to block your attack," Jaden responded, recalling the cards he milled for Card Trooper.

"That will not save your monster." Coco said, "I reveal my trap card, Machina Overdrive. Now, I can destroy my Unclaspare to swap it out with Machina Possesstorage!" he said as the sniper was replaced with a soldier, the blade radiated the black aura as well, (1600 ATK / 1500 DEF). "Go, attack!" she said as the dark machine soldier slashed Card Trooper.

Jaden: 2200 – 1400 = 800 Life Points

"Gah!" Jaden's body recoiled from the hit, "That damage, it was real." He said before looking at Coco, "This just became a shadow game."

"Jaden?" Blair said in concern.

"Blair, I need to go and tell the others what's going on here. Tell them someone is warping the minds of our friends." Jaden responded, "Please, can you do that?"

"But, what about-" Blair asked, but saw a serious gaze in Jaden's eyes on the match, "…Okay, you can count on me!" Blair said before running off into the woods.

Jaden let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks to Card Trooper, since he was destroyed, I draw a card."

"You cannot save them," Coco responded with a grin, "Just like you can't save yourself. You see, when Possesstorage was summoned, I can special summon a Machina from my graveyard to my field in defense mode. And I'll pick Machina Resavenger." She said as the dark machine defender was seen, (1200 ATK / 1800 DEF). "I end my turn."

"I draw!" Jaden said as he examined his hand of three cards, playing two of them, "I play Mirage of Nightmares and the field spell, Neo Space." He said as the area changed a rainbow-colored dimension, "Neos, attack Possesstorage!" he said as the contact hero charged it.

"Here is a little fact for you," Coco responded, "Resavenger's effect can activate while in the hand or on the field." She said as the dark machine defender faded to the graveyard, but the aura made Possesstorage stronger, (1600 + 1200 = 2800 ATK). Neos's forearm collided with the dark machine soldier's blade. However, it was the contact hero that was winning out, "What?"

"Neo Space gives Neos and his fusions 500 more attack points." Jaden commented as Neos gained a rainbow aura, (2500 + 500 = 3000 ATK). The contact hero overpowered the dark machine soldier, creating an explosive wave that knocked off Coco's sunglasses.

Coco: 2100 – 200 = 1900 Life Points

"I knew it," Jaden said as he saw Coco's eyes, seeing the golden iris, "Why are you possessing her?"

"Oh, missing this power?" The Supreme King's aura spoke through Coco, "Granted, this changes from person to person. This girl values the rush she gets from a good match above all else, and I am giving her the power to have the hype she so desires."

"You're controlling her," Jaden responded, his iris changing to gold for a second, "Just like you controlled me." He said before closing his eyes, causing them to return to normal, "I'm not going to let you do the same to another person. I set one card and end my turn."

"We shall see, won't me?" The Supreme King's aura spoke before Coco's turn started with a draw.

"And now, Mirage lets me draw four cards." Jaden said before refilling his empty hand, but saw Coco laughing, "What's so funny?"

"Oh, remember that card my monster sent to the grave from my deck? That I said you wouldn't see? Well, I banish three level four machine monsters in my graveyard." She said an erupting of dark flames emerged, "To special summon it," the fashionista pro duelist said as played the card that her monster sent to the grave earlier, "Come forth, Machina Ruinforce!" she said the massive dark machine fortress was seen, (4600 ATK / 4100 DEF). "Go, destroy Neos with Atlas Arsenal Annihilation!" She said as Ruinforce unleashed a barrage of dark artillery of all kinds.

"I reveal Emergency Provisions to ditch mirage and Neo Space." He said as his continuous spell and field spell faded, causing Neos to lose his aura, (3000 – 500 = 2500 ATK). "Now, I gain 1000 life points back for each."

Jaden: 800 + 2000 = 2800 Life Points

"That's not enough," Coco responded, "I'll play Limiter Removal, doubling my machines attack!" Coco said as the dark aura grew to unprecedented levels, (4600 X 2 = 9200 ATK)

"Not so fast," Jaden said as he looked at one of the cards in his hand. As he recalled the time he sat on the beach with Neo, the mute pro duelist handed her a card and a little message, For good luck. Jaden then played the card with a smile, "I play Honest, sending it to the grave to give Neos a boost of your monster current attack." He said as Neos gained the wings of an angel, his light charging into the darkness, "Go, Honest Neos!" he said before the wings started to fade, "What?"

"Hahahaha!" Coco laughed, "Once per turn, if activated during the battle phase, Ruinforce can negate any effect. Then, we both lose half our life points." The wings of light then faded away from the contact hero.

Jaden: 2800 / 2 = 1400 Life Points

Coco: 1900 / 2 = 950 Life Points

Neos was bombarded with the misses and gunfire, then exploding, "AAAAAAAAAAA!" Jaden screamed in the recoil of the explosion.

From the forest, Blair heard the scream, "Jaden!?" she said in worry before a line of sweat ran down her face, "I…I need to make sure he's safe." She said before gritting her teeth, "But he told me to." She then clenched her fist before running further into the woods, her eyes closed, "He won't lose, not Jaden. I... I must help the others… I need to help-" she said before bumping into someone, "Ouch." She said before opening her eyes but gasped at the sight. The embodiment of darkness stood with a slight smile on her face.

Do you wish to help?

At the duel, Coco smirked at its conclusion. However, the smoke cleared to reveal Jaden was still standing, "How? You didn't take any damage!?" she asked.

"Remember that set card I had. Well, it was Defense Draw." Jaden said with a smile, "I can make the damage I take from one attack become zero." He said as the trap went to grave, recalling him trading with Ruby to get the card. "Then, I draw a card."

"Tsk." Coco scoffed.

"And since you used Limiter Removal, your machine is destroyed at the end phase," Jaden said as Ruinforce exploded. However, the smoke cleared to reveal the three other Machina monsters. From left to right: Machina Resavenger, (1200 ATK / 1800 DEF), Machina Possesstorage, (1600 ATK / 1500 DEF), and Machina Unclaspare, (1800 ATK / 800 DEF). All were in defense mode.

"Ruinforce also lets me get back Machina monsters that were banished equal to or lower than twelve levels." Coco responded, a card ejecting from her deck, "And since Unclaspare was summoned, I can send Machina Peacekeeper to the grave. That does give me twelve again, so I can make Ruinforce on my next turn." She said as her turn conclude.

"Not if I can help it." Jaden said as he took a card from his hand, "I play Convert Contact. Since I have no monsters, I can send two Neo-Spacian to the grave." He said as Dark Panther from his hand and Grand Mole from his deck went to the graveyard, "Now, I draw two cards and activate Miracle Contact. I can now return to my deck, Neos, Grand Mole, and Dark Panther." He said as all three monsters dove into Neo Space, merging into one, "To tripe contact fuse for Elemental Hero Nebula Neos!" Neos emerged with dark green and black armor. His right arm was equipped with a double drill and in his right was a small dark hole, (3000 ATK / 2500 DEF). "Nebula has a sweet effect; it lets me draw a card for each one you control." The spirited Slifer Red said as he drew three, "Go, attack Resavenger with Cosmos Crash!" Jaden said as Nebula Neo held out his dark hole, then attacked it with his drill. The result created a hollow blast wave that tore apart the field as it ripped apart the dark machine defender.

"Hehe, your monster is impressive, but it will not beat Machina Ruinforce." Coco said as the dust settled.

"I don't need it to," Jaden said as he took a card out of his hand, "When I can do this. I summon Card Ejector in defense mode." He said as a small female mage in a pinkish robe and oversize purple hat appeared, (400 ATK / 400 DEF). "And once per turn, I can banish one of your cards in the graveyard. So, say goodbye to Ruinforce."

"What!?" Coco said as the little mage waved her wand, causing the card to fade from the graveyard, "Tsk, is that all?"

"I equip Nebula with Instant Neo Space so he can stick around." Jaden responded with a focused gaze, "Then I set two cards to end my turn."

"Good, because it's my move." Coco said, then played the card she drew, "First, I'll play Pot of Greed to draw two cards" she looked at her hand and grinned, "You removed the wrong card. Because I can banish Machina Overdrive to return three machines to my deck. And I can pick from the grave and my banished zone." She said while holding up two Mecha Bunnies and Ruinforce, then put them into her deck, "Now, I get to draw one card. And next, I used Machina Possesstorage's effect to bounce a spell or trap you have with a monster on my field." The fashionista pro duelist said as Unclaspare and Instant Neo Space faded. "And now, Unclaspare comes back to the field. With it, I can send a monster to the grave again, and you know which one." She said before sending the card, then took three other monsters from the graveyard, "I banish a level six, four, and two monsters to summon Machina Ruinforce." Coco said as the dark machine fortress emerged again.

"Too bad you picked the wrong card yourself. I reveal my counter trap card, Solemn Judgement!" Jaden spoke, "For half my life points your summoning is negated." He said as the dark machine fortress was destroyed. However, the smoke cleared to reveal Machina Resavenger reappeared, (1200 ATK / 1800 DEF). "Still, its effect to bring back the Machina monsters was activated."

Jaden: 1400 / 2 = 700 Life Points

"Why didn't you bring back the level two monster?" Jaden asked.

"I don't need it," Coco said as she held a card in her hand, "I have all I need already to get Ruinforce back. I play the spell Acid Rain." She said as there was a sudden downpour, causing her dark machines to rust and then melt, "I can destroy all machines on the field. With these three monsters in the grave, Ruinforce rises again!" She said as Machina monster on the field exploded, reemerging was the dark machine fortress once again, (4600 ATK / 4100 DEF).

"Tsk, before your battle phase, I reveal my other facedown card." Jaden said as the last trap showed itself, "Elemental Recharge, this gives me 1000 life points for each elemental hero on the field." He said as he gained a yellow aura.

Jaden: 700 + 1000 = 1700 Life Points

"You're only delaying it then," Coco spoke, "Ruinforce, attack!" she said as the dark machine force assaulted Nebula with an endless assault. The expanding blast hit Jaden as well, sending him skidding on his back.

Jaden: 1700 – 1600 = 100 Life Points

"I'll set three cards to end." Coco spoke, "Enjoy your last turn."

Jaden struggled to get up, drawing his card, "It's my move!" he said before drawing, but then fell to one knee again, his breathing heavy.

"Hehe, look at you. Pathetic." The Supreme King's aura spoke through Coco, "You have no power, it was all just me." It said as Jaden got back up, but was looking down to hit his eyes, "Give in, let me control your will again, and we shall rule all."

Jaden looked back, but his eyes remained clear, "Not a chance!" he spoke putting his hand on his deck, "I know where my line is, and I will never cross it again. It's my move!" the spirited Slifer Red drew, "I summon Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird in attack mode." He said as the red hummingbird hero was seen, (800 ATK / 600 DEF). "And now, I can gain 500 life points for each card in your hand." He said as Coco's hand of two cards formed two pink flowers. Air Hummingbird flew over and sucked the nectar from the flowers, causing Jaden to gain a light red aura.

Jaden: 100 + 1000 = 1100 Life Points

"And now, I can pay that 1000 life points to activate Instant Contact." Jaden said as another spell was activated, "Now, I can bring out any level seven or lower Elemental fusion from my extra deck. And I pick my favorite one, Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!" he said as the dragon armed hero was seen, (2100 ATK / 1200 DEF). "However, bringing him out this way without Neos in the grave means he cannot do anything this turn."

Jaden: 1100 – 1000 = 100 Life Points

"So, what's the point?" Coco asked.

"I play the spell Fusion Tag. Now, I can target Air Hummingbird and have his name change to a fusion material from my extra deck. And I pick Elemental Hero Neos." Jaden said as the spirit of Neos was behind the Neo-Spacian. He then took the last card next to Instant Neo Space, "I play Polymerization, fusing my two heroes together." He said as Neos merged with the Flame Wingman, "Time for you to meet Elemental Hero Shinning Neos Wingman!" the spirited Slifer Red said as the fusion of his favorite and new hero was made. Its body glowed in radiant armor and wings of silver and gold, (3100 ATK / 2500 DEF). "And with his effect, I can destroy cards you control equal to the number of attributes on the field." He said as there was an earth, light, and dark monster. With that, all three facedown cards shattered.

"You did all of that but left my boss monster alone." Coco asked, "It's far stronger than yours."

"Are you sure, because Shinning Neos Wingman has more effects!" Jaden said as Coco had a look of confusion, "He gains 300 attack points for each monster in my grave. And if you have been keeping track, that's six monsters." He said as spirits of Wildheart, Bubbleman, Card Trooper, Honest, Air Hummingbird, and Flame Wingman were seen. The flowed into the shining contact fusion as it glowed brighter, (3100 + (300 X 6) = 4900 ATK). "Go, destroy Ruinforce with Solar System Scorcher!" he said as Shinning Neos Wingman divebombed towards Ruinforce. The dark machine fortress tried to counter with artillery fire, but none was effective as the shining contact hero cut through the darkness. Coco shielded herself from the blast wave, then gasped as Shinning Neos Wingman stood before her.

Coco: 950 – 300 = 650 Life Points

"And now, his final effect." Jaden said, "Like Flame Wingman, you take damage equal to the destroyed monster's original attack points." He said before Shinning Neos Wingman unleashed an all-encompassing light.

"NNNNNNOOOOOOO!" The Supreme King's aura screamed as it was expelled from Coco's body. She fell on her back as the life points hit zero.

Coco: 650 – 4600 = 0 Life Points

Jaden ran over to Coco but saw the cards she used near her body in the sand. The dark energy faded from them, returning to their original form. A sigh of relief came to the spirited Slifer Red as Coco woke up, "Uh … my head," She said while sitting up, "What happened?"

Jaden realized the same thing happened to him after he was controlled, but he smiled as he picked up the cards, "You and I had an intense duel." He said before handing her the cards.

"Oh right," Coco said before taking the cards and looking at her duel disk, "Looks like I lost."

"Yep, that's game," Jaden responded.

"Huh, wish I could remember it." Coco said before smiling, "You know, I do this dueling thing because it helps promote my fashion lines." She said before looking at the cards in her hand, "But I do like playing the game, it's a lot of fun."

"Yeah, it is." Jaden responded, "It's important not to lose that feeling."

"Right, guess I should go find Velvet and bug her about her crush." Coco said as she picked up her sunglasses from the sand, cleaning them before putting them back on, "Later." She waved before taking her to leave down the beach.

Jaden waved back before looking at his duel disk. In seeing Card Ejector, his mind recalled who he sent out to give the others the message, "Blair…"

In the woods, Blair walked without fear in her movements. Her deck radiated a dark aura, and her eyes glowed golden.

AN: There you go, Jaden pulls out a win against Coco and overcomes some of his demons with the Supreme King as well. He does get out a lot of the newer support for his Neos cards, as well as the recent cover card of the new packs in the TCG. I guess this is also a reveal of one of Salem's powers to give something the boost of the Supreme King, which changes some of their cards to evil versions. Convenient for me that Machina does have dark counterparts…for some reason. But Blair also is influenced by this power, so how will her deck change? That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.

Now, time to answer some questions. Did not have any this time, but I can talk about the shenanigans in this duel. So, the effects of Ruinforce are once per turn. However, I made the revival not so I could do the Acid Rain play and make the duel cooler. I don't do this often, but I like to think if this showed up in the anime, this could happen this way. Also, I know Defense Draw is more a Yusei card, but I had Hero Spirt first before learning I misread the timing of the damage. Still, I think Ruby played it before, so I said she traded it to him, (She will still have a copy if I need to write it because it is generic). Also, I wanted to use Honest Neos here, but it was not working well, so I just used Honest and had Neo give it to him for good luck. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter.