This is my last update for the year! Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

Chapter CXXVII: Carnage

Atem wasn't there.

Yugi shivered and fought a snarl as the realization slammed through him. Atem wasn't there yet. And Dimitri stood feet away, staring straight at the other three deities with glittering eyes. His lips were pulled back into the widest smirk, expression hideous and burning, and Yugi shivered again. Timaeus was stiff beside him and he didn't have to look to know everyone else had gone rigid as well.

"Did Atem abandon the three of you to me?" he continued, purring and stepping forward. He was only as tall as Yugi and yet somehow he seemed to swallow the entire space. His shadow was pitch black and oily as it stretched forward. Yugi flexed his claws and struggled not to launch himself or turn tail.

"Atem isn't present," Jaden muttered, and rose to his paws. He padded forward a few feet, teeth bared. "But I am."

"And you think you can kill me? Try a new tune, Jaden." Dimitri snorted and looked around slowly, though he froze in place when his eyes fell on Timaeus. For a split second he didn't move, eyes stretched wide and smirk wavering, and then he snarled softly. "Oh, of course. I'd forgotten the little bastard was alive. It only makes sense he'd have come to save you."

Yugi didn't move, entire body swamped with ice.

"Shame he couldn't save…" Dimitri's eyes suddenly shot to him, at first with shock and then narrowing with absolute rage. "He shared his heart with the Knight Dragon. You… How are you alive?"

Yugi snarled softly, a bolt of anger crashing through him. "I think you overestimated your capabilities, Dimitri," he spat. He came forward a step, suppressing the urge then to launch himself at him. Jaden was perfectly still beside him, and Yugi couldn't understand why he'd lost his bristle and rigid stance. He'd been so prepared to fight him before and yet… "Maybe you should have considered that before you bared teeth against me."

"I ripped your throat out and bled you. Had you not been so damn stubborn I would have eaten your hearts. But you sure are scrappy, aren't you? Tell me. Did Atem manage somehow to share a heart with you? He produced my sibling with you. Did he do the impossible yet again?" He stalked forward a step and Jaden swatted him hard enough to daze him for a single second. The Fire Dragon didn't move away even when Dimitri spun on him with a snarl. They stared at each other, but the hybrid made no further move toward him. Instead he turned back, eyeing Yugi. "When I break you, do I break him as well?"

Yugi bristled and flexed his claws. "Why don't we test that theory?"

Dimitri smirked at him, every tooth in his mouth glittering beneath the moonlight. He opened his mouth, then faltered. Abruptly he blinked, narrowed his eyes, and then turned his head.

Yugi had never seen a dragon spring backwards so hard and fast as Dimitri. The reaction brought a snort of surprise even as he startled from the violent movement. The hybrid rapidly backpedaled even as he landed, sneering and spitting in surprise, and then snarled furiously.

Yugi almost laughed out loud, both amazed and relieved.

No wonder Jaden had stopped squaring off with him.

Atem had been standing behind Dimitri the entire time, small enough with the distance that not a scale was out of place to distinguish him. Yugi smirked and barely suppressed the urge to spring forward and bump beaks with him.

The God Dragon stared blankly back at Dimitri. The Divine lashed his tail, thumping it violently and scowling.

"I would have thought you more honorable than to sneak up on someone."

"I didn't strike you," Atem answered, voice so low and cold that Yugi almost thought it like the howling winds of a blizzard. The God Dragon didn't move, gazing at his sibling with glittering eyes. "I was almost afraid this little gathering wouldn't get your attention."

Dimitri scoffed. "And miss a feast?"

"Do you think you'll be able to do half as much damage as you're hoping?" Atem asked slowly. His head tilted slowly as they considered each other. Dimitri had long since straightened, standing inches smaller but somehow just as tall as Atem. The two of them eyed each other. "If you're nearly as powerful as you pretend, I'll be amazed. Your face is scarier than your ability, and cowardice runs in the other side of the family."

"What of your son? He quivers before me."

"And the gods tremble at the mention of Yugi," he scoffed. "Yami is a hatchling, no older than you. You fear as much as he does—perhaps more, considering my teeth haunt your dreams."

"A hideous beast brings nightmares," Dimitri spat. "Even if you had never growled in my direction, I would have been terrified."

Atem snorted. "I'm sure. Cowardice is so thick in your father's blood that I don't know it doesn't make it blue," he sneered, stepping forward. Dimitri initially stepped back, then seemed to remember himself. Abruptly he stepped forward, bristling, and raised his head with a furious look. "But I think I owe you something, don't I, Dimitri?"

"Oh?" he snarled. "You think you'll be the one to end my life, Atem?"

Atem was silent for a long moment. When he stepped forward again, he lowered his head and narrowed his eyes as they met the hatchling's. "Tell me something, Dimitri."

The juvenile tilted his head. "What?"

"Do you bleed?"

"Do I—?"

Atem sprang forward so quickly Dimitri had no chance to respond. The movement was almost imperceptible, until Dimitri went flying. The Divine spun rapidly in the air to right himself, but still landed on his side. Blood spilled from a hideous stomach wound where Yugi could see his entrails throbbing with his heartbeat. The hybrid stumbled to his paws, shaking himself out, and quickly changed shape to mirror Timaeus before flashing back to his original form.

Atem flicked his tail. "I believe that's a yes."

Dimitri snarled softly. The wound was nonexistent as he peered at Atem with burning eyes. The hatchling scowled as Atem stated back blankly. A heartbeat passed before Dimitri shot forward. Atem stood perfectly still for a moment, then reared up. The Sky Dragon swept his paw up, claws glistening with blood. Dimitri was sent to the ground on his side. The hatchling scrambled up again, shaking himself out.

Atem flicked his tail. "Tell me something, Dimitri," he murmured, narrowing his eyes. "Do you have to taste blood to take their shapes? Is that what limits your abilities? I've always wondered if that's why you're so weak."

Dimitri shot forward and Atem swatted him aside again. The hatchling rolled to his paws and sprang up again, shaking himself out.

"I thought before it was physical contact of any kind, but clearly that can't be it," the God Dragon sneered. "Or else you'd be able to take my shape."

"Your abilities are the only thing that makes you powerful," Dimitri scoffed. "You yourself are too weak to worry about."

Atem didn't answer. Dimitri shook himself out again.

"Let's be honest, Atem. If not for those abilities you have, you would have died a long time ago. So many dragons are stronger than a Slifer—even the Felgrand could potentially rip a Slifer to pieces. And what of the Knight Dragon? They outweigh you, they hit harder, they have better jaw pressure. By the gods, any dragon with a single jaw and enough bite force could have severed your jugular. How you've survived so long is a question, but I could only imagine it has to do with your status a God Dragon." He eyed Atem with a snarl, lips peeled back into a wide sneer. "That considered, Atem, the millions of suitors littering your territory in broken husks only passed because of your lovely abilities. When I eat your hearts, I'll have them as I do Noah's."

Atem nodded slowly. "Right. Because you're so powerful." He tilted his head and stepped forward. Dimitri snarled and reared up but wasn't within range to strike. Atem snarled softly. "You're so powerful that I quiver before you, because surely you make my paws quake. You gutless little bastard. You wished to face me. Where is all that bravado you puffed your chest with before?"

Dimitri was silent for a moment, then shot forward. He leaped with enough force he would have struck anyone else down. Atem, however, rose up and swatted him hard again. The hybrid stumbled to his paws and shook his head slightly. A splattering of blood covered his cheek. Dimitri scoffed after a moment, chuckling, "You want me to take this more seriously?"

Atem didn't care enough to answer. He sprang at him. Dimitri leaped away and his form rippled with brilliant dark blue lightning. Timaeus stood before him, head tilted and eye burning into his. Atem studied the scarring for a moment, then snorted. No wonder no one had understood what had taken his eye out. It was so jagged and somehow clean that it didn't make sense. Claws couldn't have been so neat and teeth would have taken more of the flesh around the socket. It was a single clean line, with jagged scarring along the sides where the skin had stretched and become discolored during the healing process.

Atem flicked his wings and flexed his claws. Dimitri rushed him. Atem rose to his back paws as Dimitri did. The Knight Dragon slammed into him. Atem fell backwards, kicking his hind legs. The movement sent Dimitri backwards. His claws dug into Atem's shoulders but couldn't get a grip. The kick to his jaw sent him backpedaling. Dimitri snarled with annoyance and tried to bite him. Atem twisted and kicked him harder. The movement sent him rolling backwards. The God Dragon straightened lazily. The Divine stood and shook himself.

"Are you really playing a game with me?"

Atem snorted. "Do you think I need to take you seriously?" he taunted. "I've killed millions and you've barely gotten your claws wet."

"Yugi's broken carcass probably wouldn't attest to that."

Atem's anger made his veins burn. The God Dragon barely suppressed a snarl. "You didn't get very far with that attack, though, did you?" he spat. "You couldn't even handle him when you managed to strike him down all four times. He still got up and fought you off, until you were too wounded to stay for fear of me coming upon you."

Dimitri snickered. "He was a lot nastier than I was expecting," he admitted, "and he broke a lot of bones when we fought. But I think all of them are mended now. And who really cares if I didn't eat his hearts? He has no power."

Atem glanced at the Gandora sideways for a single second. He couldn't sense Yugi then? Did he think that was Atem instead? Everyone else had said Yugi felt like a flame they'd drifted too close to, that he burned their flesh. Atem hadn't felt it, though he assumed it was because Yugi was likely unconsciously shielding him from it. He only felt the smallest echo of strength from the hybrid, as if the wind were stirring and he felt it readily against his flesh, but nothing of the residual power the other three had mentioned.

Even Yami had said something similar, and Atem wondered if Yugi was doing it consciously to keep Atem from feeling somehow uncomfortable.

He swatted him when Dimitri surged forward. The Knight Dragon twisted as he hit the ground. He pushed off his back paws and slammed into him. Atem fell backwards, claws digging into his shoulders. His back paws kicked recklessly at his throat. Blood sprayed the air and Dimitri snarled with annoyance. A few seconds passed. He bore down on him until a chunk of flesh flew through the air. Atem waited a single moment. Dimitri released him and sprang away.

His form rippled, from Timaeus to Seto and then back.

They eyed each other as Atem straightened.

Atem stepped forward, and Dimitri mimicked him. They circled each other lazily for a moment. Atem wondered if he'd noticed yet.

Dimitri shot toward him. Atem met him head on. The God Dragon raced forward. They slammed into each other. Atem twisted, shoving his back paws into the dirt. The maneuver placed him on top as they hit the ground. He braced every muscle in his body. Dimitri scrabbled but stopped after a moment. He was infuriated, staring at him with burning eyes as he changed shapes rapidly. Pinned there, the Divine could do nothing more than pant with mounting outrage.

Atem slammed a paw into his face. The blow made the bone creak. Another sent his head snapping to the side. Dimitri snarled shakily, furious. Atem struggled to keep from digging his teeth into his face. He didn't know what Dimitri was truly capable of. He didn't know what he was immune to. Although, considering the lack of control Jaden had over him and Leviathan's inability to lay a paw on him, he didn't think fear truly did much for him. It was mere instinct that told him to be wary, though he wanted nothing more than to rip his face off and beat him to death…

He deserved nothing less considering what he'd done to Yugi.

He slashed him, knocking teeth from his jaws. Dimitri sneered and spat blood. Then he laughed as he changed shape again. The shape was smaller and harder to keep grasp of. Atem startled when a bolt of electricity shot through his limbs. He jerked back and the Divine Dragon was on his paws again immediately. Atem blinked; a Serpent Night Dragon? But they looked odd and…

"You ate your other siblings," he acknowledged quietly, voice so low he barely heard himself. He stared, unable to stop himself snarling with annoyance. He could see the cruel lightning blue of their eyes, glittering and furious as they burned into his. "You just went around and ate all of your siblings? You disgusting little pile of dung."

Dimitri burst into laughter. "Of course I did. Keith bred some lovely little hybrids."

Atem curled his lips and stared for a single second. "It doesn't matter," he dismissed. "It won't save you."

"Oh, Atem, what lies has Yami been telling you?" he scoffed, laughing again. "You can't kill me."

He snorted. "If you'd like to pretend that, feel free. But when your body lays broken at my claws, we'll see how far that belief got you, won't we?"

He didn't have full control of each of the shapes he'd acquired, Atem knew. The Divine had been greedy and wanted as many shapes as possible, but he had not used them enough to utilize them perfectly. He was afraid to pick the wrong one in this fight. He could not fight him with any of them because he was unfamiliar with their strengths and weaknesses. The Serpent Night Dragon had likely shocked him during the attack, and that was the only reason he knew to do it.

They slammed into each other again. Atem took the blow without hesitation. They fell backwards, kicking his back legs. His teeth clamped on Dimitri's face as he took Timaeus's form again. Claws dug into his shoulders and tried to sink into raw muscle. Atem angled his head to hold him in place as they rolled. He landed on his stomach, Dimitri on his back. The Knight Dragon was seething. His tail lashed violently. His paws kicked at the air but couldn't reach. His wings tucked into his flanks to shield them. A paw moved and caught on Atem's face. The five claws attempted to burrow into his flesh, but merely caught on his tusk. Atem braced himself there, clamping down harder.

But his jaws were useless. He could not dig them in further. The jaw pressure was never evenly split. He was not capable of breaking bones or severing windpipes without multiple attempts.

Unless his abilities somehow furthered the blow, he could not count on this position but for slowing Dimitri.

The hatchling had stamina, but it was apparent he had not trained himself to take and deal damage in rapid succession. He was still learning, whereas Atem didn't need that time. He'd learned for years; experience was as constant for him as his own shadow.

Dimitri tugged his paw where it was braced against his tusk, but the bone was too sturdy. Atem barely acknowledged it but for mild discomfort. The other paw scrabbled uselessly at the air. Dimitri snarled and used his wings to shove off the ground. Atem struggled to keep his grip. But he could not hold his stance any longer. The Divine twisted hard and Atem released before it would have jerked his neck. He was on his paws immediately. The Knight Dragon rolled onto its stomach and rose.

Atem shot forward before he could catch his breath. The blow to his face sent Dimitri to the ground. The Divine snarled and changed shape rapidly. The God Dragon loomed over him, clamping his jaws on his paw when Dimitri slashed at him. The crunch made the hybrid yowl. The following swat made Atem stumble for a single second. Claws dug into his cheek and dragged downward. Atem released and jumped back, shaking himself out. His skin stung; he'd finally punctured his flesh.

Dimitri scrambled to his paws. He snarled with annoyance and shook himself out. He stumbled slightly, then changed form as before. Atem snorted. Was Jaden was supposed to scare him? Atem sprang for him. Dimitri rolled backwards. Atem twisted rapidly in the air to change direction at the last second. He landed beside him as claws aimed for where his throat would have been. He clamped his teeth into his elbow and tossed his head. The Divine spat and slashed at his shoulder with his claws, blood splattering across the ground. Atem huffed a breath and ignored the claws aimed for his face.

Atem sprang forward. He knocked him to the ground as he tried to rise. The blow made him sputter for air. He landed with his back arched high enough the Prime Material Dragon could not reach his stomach or flank. Dimitri was too stunned to do so, but Atem refused the chance. He slammed his back paws into his face, shoving off again and landing a few feet away. He watched him, studying. Dimitri was just winded enough he could take aim…

The clicking echoed through the air before he could reconsider.

His tail shot for his face. Dimitri rolled to his paws and the blades cut his face rather than his neck. Atem snarled with outrage as his teeth clamped into his tail. The Divine slashed at the arsenal of weapons, tearing at flesh as if to rip them out. Atem shot forward. Dimitri just barely drew back before he made contact. Atem jerked his tail away and peered at him.

"Did you think I didn't know about your tail?" Dimitri spat, straightening and glaring at him. "Seto fears it so much he has terrors. You drove it through Bakura's throat in front of your siblings. Why you didn't just sever his head entirely, I'll never understand, but you certainly are naïve. You fell for a hatchling trick. Did you truly think I was so winded?"

Atem snorted. "I don't need my tail to kill you."

"No? Then why even try?"

"Dimitri," he said slowly, and the blades clicked as they slid back into place. The Divine's head snapped toward them in surprise, eyes wide with alarm. "They're not broken. You didn't disable them. It takes a lot more to do that than what you just managed."

The realization slid across his face slowly. He bristled and snarled with annoyance. "You dare to play games with me?"

Atem snorted. "Do you think I'm afraid of you? I owe you a lot of pain and misery," he sneered. "Fear doesn't amount to much in that regard, you little bastard."

Dimitri snarled and rushed forward. Atem crouched lower to the ground and sprang high into the air. The Divine spun around just as Atem slashed at the wing nearest him. The membrane caught and tore. Dimitri swiped for his face and nearly sent him toppling. Atem snarled and rushed forward. His claws landed in front of his shoulder, digging so furiously into his flesh that he was amazed his paws did not sink into his flesh. Dimitri tried unsuccessfully to snap his jaws shut on his face. Atem kept back far enough he could not reach, bristling furiously as he jumped back again. The wing ripped to shreds and Dimitri snarled as he tried and failed to land a blow to his face once more.

Atem caught him with a blow that sent him to the ground. He backed up, huffing, and lashed his tail. Dimitri scrambled for his paws again. He bristled angrily, entire body burning as if with flames. The air was hot with fire, but there were no flames. He did not have Jaden's abilities. He could not heal and he could not make the air catch flame. He had not devoured a heart, and he had no capability to touch Jaden's abilities.

Atem braced himself. Dimitri glared at him, panting for air. Blood dripped from his mouth and his wing was in tatters. The other five tucked into his sides, but the sixth was in too much pain to do anything but twitch. Atem considered him, standing straight before him and narrowing his eyes. Dimitri lashed his tail and scowled, eyes burning into his. After a moment his body shimmered and his shape changed once more. Atem snorted.

Yusei? Really?

"You must truly be desperate to think I fear any of those three," he scoffed.

Dimitri smirked, blue eyes glittering with malice. He shook his head slowly and came forward. A paw shot for his shoulder. Atem dodged the blow and ducked beneath the second paw that wheeled for his face. Dimitri landed in front of him, staring blankly. Atem twisted when he lunged. They landed on their sides and Atem dug his back paws into his stomach, kicking. The blow would have eviscerated were he not a Sky Dragon. His sharp claws could not dig so far. The third kick could barely cut through the layer of scales lining the Stardust Dragon's underbelly.

Dimitri tried to bite his stomach but missed. Atem kicked and angled his hindquarters toward the ground as if to rise. He caught Dimitri by the shoulders, shoved off the ground with his wings, and sent the hatchling flying. He rolled several feet and hit the wall of stone nearby. Then he scrambled for his paws and stumbled, snarling. He bristled and scowled, and Atem smirked faintly.

There was no kill blow to inflict, however, and disappointment was quick to follow.

When Dimitri rushed him again, Atem braced himself. He stood perfectly still until the last second. Then he moved to spring beneath him. He surged up in front of him, snatching his throat. Claws dug into his shoulders in a panic, and Atem rose to his back paws. He tilted his head and Dimitri's head slammed into the ground. Dimitri hit the dirt with a sickening crack, and blood splattered across the ground. The hatchling wheeled his back legs and struggled to kick at Atem's face. But Leviathan's form stared back, and the blow was not deadly as it should have been.

Paws wheeled in the air. A tail lashed in the dirt, making it billow upwards. Claws made the air whistle as they cut through. Atem took a blow to his face but kept his grip. He wished he had stronger jaws. He would have severed his jugular immediately. Instead he reached both paws forward. His claws dug into his throat and he slashed downward heavily, rapidly. Flesh and blood flew through the air. And then a shock of electricity surged through him. Atem struggled to keep his grip but his muscles clamped along his jaws and for a split second he could see nothing but white bursts of color behind his eyes.

Enraged, Atem released and jerked back.

Dimitri was on his paws immediately. Atem panted, jaws quaking from the shock's residual bolts. He could feel it in his limbs, as if his blood were on fire. He snarled in annoyance, lashed his tail, and padded a few steps away. He never removed his eyes from the Divine, and a surge of hatred crashed through him. Immediately after a wave of anger and the sensation of something dark and cold came.

It took a moment for him to recognize it.

The anger was so cold it was as thick as ice. And, as he stared at Dimitri, the hatred became thick and smothering. Atem felt it in every nerve, until his claws seemed to tingle where the blood still lined them. His muscles quivered and trembled with the onslaught, and Atem felt the rising wave of power as if it were foreign. Thoughts slowed as they stared at each other.

"What…is that?"

Atem ignored him. It felt like adrenaline, but the usual crashing of his hearts was absent. There was nothing but the chill spreading through him. And the longer he watched him, the easier it became to imagine ripping him to shreds. He owed him as much, didn't he?

He'd hurt Yugi…

He'd killed Yugi…

"Is that…you?"

Atem ignored him, then stepped forward.

He didn't miss the collective sound of multiple dragons flinching. Atem wasn't sure immediately why he heard it, but he saw in his peripheral the way the other three God Dragons recoiled and Yugi visibly trembled, eyes wide and mouth half-opened. Timaeus was flattened to the ground, tail lashing uneasily in both deference and frustration.

Dimitri visibly waved for a split second, then snarled.

"It's strange," Dimitri commented in a low, scratching voice. "I can't sense anything from you—thoughts, impulses… Yet I can feel you. It's like a lightning storm just began—"

Atem rushed forward. Dimitri barely had time to rise on his back paws before Atem made contact. The God Dragon's claws sank inches deep into his shoulders. Blood flew when Atem dragged his claws downward. Dimitri was almost unbalanced, and Atem dug his teeth into his throat near his jugular. He clamped down as hard as he could, blood flooding into his mouth. He pressed downward as sharply as he could. Dimitri barely kept his footing as he was driven to the ground. His form rippled and shimmered again. Atem released him instantly, stepping back.

Atem sprang again the moment his form wavered. Timaeus's paw swung upward to dig into his shoulders. Claws raked from one side to the next. Atem ignored the pain, clamping on his throat again. Dimitri squirmed, trying to roll and drag him to the ground. Atem ignored it, shifting his weight slightly. He slammed his wings into his flank, winding the hatchling. The blow would have torn his throat out if Dimitri hadn't been struggling.

Atem slammed a paw into his face, cutting from his jaw upward. The hybrid stumbled and tried again to dislodge him. Atem shifted his weight and released. He couldn't rip his throat out this way. Dimitri kept squirming too hard for him to keep his grip. Dimitri snarled in annoyance, springing for him. His claws swiped at dead air as Atem stepped back. The second paw whistled past his beak. Atem tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.

Dimitri bristled and scowled, drool dripping from his teeth. Atem snorted, flicking his tail. He swung a paw at Dimitri's face. The blow caught on his jaw and sent him rolling. The shattering noise made a few of the others nearby flinch. Atem looked at the blood soaking both of his forelimbs. It was dark and glistening in the moonlight, black as tar. He flicked his tongue over his teeth. The blood was rancid along his taste buds.

Dimitri got to his paws. His jaw was fractured, hanging out of alignment. Atem stared at the sideways mess of teeth and blood. His tongue looked as if it were swollen against the white cage of fangs surrounding it. He paced a step, studying him intently. Dimitri snarled, shaking himself out, and rushed forward. Atem narrowed his eyes, tensing his shoulders.

The hatchling slammed into him headlong. Atem rolled with the force, kicking with his back legs. The blow sent Dimitri backwards. Atem rolled to his paws and shuffled back a few steps. Dimitri shot for him again, slamming into his side. Atem stiffened his muscles, hardening them, and the blow only pushed him back a few inches. He slammed a wing into Dimitri's flank. Dimitri yelped, rolling from the blow and stumbling for his paws almost immediately.

Atem shot forward. His teeth dug into his throat just as the form changed. His claws raked along his shoulders. Muscle and sinew flew. Dimitri slashed at his face, slamming his paw repeatedly into his forehead. Atem snarled, releasing him again. He lunged when Dimitri rose to his paws. The hatchling was thrown to the ground, body twisted halfway from the force. Dust blinded Atem for a split second. Claws swung for his eye. Atem jerked away, hissing, and dodged the blow narrowly.

Dimitri stumbled to his paws, snarling. Blood dribbled from a cut above his brow. He blinked against it, sneering, and shook himself out slowly. Atem flicked his tail, flexing his claws. The intensity in his muscles had grown tenfold. Every nerve was on fire. The blood felt like caked mud. He bore his teeth, snarling softly in turn, and twitched his wings. Blood dripped from one of them, but the lack of pain made him almost laugh. He had not realized he'd struck him so hard. No wonder he'd slowed down so much.

Atem dodged a blow to his face. Then he sprang forward. His teeth caught Dimitri's muzzle. He clamped down, slamming his paw repeatedly into the muscles behind his jaw. The bone further jarred to the side, creaking from the blows. Atem listened for the shattering, but it did not come. The hatchling's form rippled. He heard it then, a low and terrible buzzing which rose rapidly. He released him just as the strike of lightning would have surged through him.

Dimitri writhed for a moment, then scrambled to his paws. He panted. His jaw hung sideways, though he raised a paw and slammed it into the bone in the opposite direction. The crunching was pronounced and hideous. Atem watched him flex his jaw and struggle for a moment. His tongue flicked, bloodied and swollen still. A few teeth were missing, Atem noted in surprise, and the bone did not hang properly despite the effort. But it was enough that Dimitri could open and close it without difficulty.

Atem flexed his claws. Dimitri sprang forward.

He'd chosen Timaeus's form again. The God Dragon dug his back claws into the dirt. He rose onto his hind legs. The blow sent Atem backwards. He hit the ground on his back. His back paws tunneled at his stomach. Dimitri snarled and a brilliant burst of pain surged through them both again. Atem kicked him harder, twisting and shoving with his wings. Dimitri rolled from the blow, dust billowing upwards. Atem stood immediately, shaking himself out.

When had Dimitri managed to change so quickly? They'd barely made contact before he'd changed to the Serpent Night Dragon. The burst of electricity left his skin tingling for a single moment. He flicked his tail and narrowed his eyes, flexing his claws.

"Are you still so afraid of me, Dimitri?"

"You bleed like everyone else. I can rip you to pieces like I did Yugi or Timaeus or any of the others."

Atem nodded slowly, suppressing a snarl. A shadow passed across the moon. The dirt turned so dark he thought of a river of blood scattered before him. He raised his head just as Dimitri did. Clouds had begun to form overhead, as if summoned from nothing. Lightning crackled and burst about overhead. A blinding surge of electricity slammed into the ground, so thick Atem was amazed it missed either of them. Atem studied it just as Dimitri flattened himself to the dirt with a startled expression. The God Dragon listened to the wind as it picked up, the sudden surge sending a hideous screaming howl about the sand. Dust billowed and danced about and Atem considered the darkness in surprise.

Another burst of lightning shot between them again. Dimitri snarled in alarm and Atem saw him shifting forward and away, as if he were trying to escape it. Atem's body felt wired, trembling with tension. His claws dug into the dirt until they ached. The wind roared loudly enough he could barely think straight. Lightning surged forth again, then crashed and struck the ground as it had before. Atem tried to find the moon but the sky was so dark it was like staring into a puddle of blood.

He turned his head as Dimitri lunged. He jumped. The hatchling slammed into him at full force. Atem rolled, twisting, and kicked him hard enough he would have gutted him had he not changed shape. Dimitri snarled with annoyance and hit the ground. Lightning struck the spot he landed a split second after he sprang away.

Atem blinked and raised his head again. Realization surged through him and he almost laughed.

This…was him.

He'd summoned this lightning storm.

He'd done it without a war cry.

Because he was so enraged, his power was so close to the surface.

Atem blinked and sprang for him. Dimitri surged upward from a lower crouch. They hit each other head on. His claws tore at flesh just as Dimitri struggled to shake him off. Atem pivoted sharply, almost forming a ball, and kicked outward again. The hybrid hit the ground, rolled, and struggled to his paws. He panted, blood dripping from a wound Atem hadn't realized he'd inflicted. His side was gouged open, ripped almost to the ribs. Dimitri panted, staring at Atem with huge eyes, and the God Dragon surged forward.

He slammed into him as Dimitri tried to swipe at his face. His claws dug into teal scales. Blood swelled as he and his sibling hit the ground. He twisted and kicked. Flesh tore, blood spraying, and Atem released his flank as he pivoted to land upright. Lightning surged nearby, slamming into the dirt. Dimitri struggled to twist in time to land. Atem dug his claws into his shoulders and dragged them toward himself. The Divine spun in the air. He kicked rapidly, slamming a paw into Atem's side. It did not throw him back more than an inch, but Dimitri scrambled for his paws immediately.

Atem took a moment to lick at a stinging pain along his tail. The bristling scales had split in half, quills of such sharp edges as to mirror his claws. Atem looked at them for a split second, then considered Dimitri. The hybrid surged forward. Atem licked the wound again, then lashed his tail. Dimitri rolled from the blow, screeching with outrage and pain. Atem backed up, flicking his tail.

The scales had dug into his jaw, and his throat. It had missed his jugular by a mere inch.

Atem sprang forward, tail clicking open, as a burst of lightning surged forth between them. The dragon had gotten smaller, with scales of brilliant black like shadows. A series of blood-red jewels lined their body. Huge, gaping jaws opened in a scream of pure agony. Atem swept toward them, claws braced for the newest torrent of blood he'd spill.