"Hey, all you dueling fans out there!" M.C. announced. "This is M.C. coming to you from Lustrous City for the next exciting round of the Worldwide Supreme Tournament! This city certainly loves Team Mystic! They've managed to beat Team Fanrong and Team Rosebud! Now, after all this time, they're coming home! Not for a visit, but for their next match! It's up against Team Storm! Team Storm's leader is none other than Cray himself! A lot of people know of the rivalry between Yukina and Cray! That is why they are excited for this match, and it's all happening right here! Can you imagine this getting anything more exciting! Don't miss any of it!"
...
Team Mystic
Yukina and the others were glad to be home. After long trips, it is nice to be home. Still, they are here for their next upcoming match. That is why they made their way through the city and were soon greeted with a bunch of their old friends.
"Hey!" Sylvia called. "Welcome back, you guys!"
"Everyone!" Yukina called as she and the others were glad to see each other.
"Welcome home!" Everyone greeted as they were all glad to be home. Yukina greeted Sylvia, Cindy was greeted with Cathy, Tina, and Anne, and Felix was met with his close friend Tony.
...
Felix's Store
"It's great to have you all back." Tony said as the team and their friends met at Felix's store and was catching up with each other.
"You guys are so lucky you get to travel around the world and face so many strong opponents." Tina said.
"I wish we got to go with you." Cathy said.
"Everyone has been watching your matches and they've all loved that you're home without being defeated." Sylvia said.
"Yeah! Did you guys see my wins?!" Marcus said.
"Who are you again?" Toby questioned.
"And what wins? You've only been in one match against Muyang from China." Sylvia said with Marcus' ego being bruised. "Other than Yukina, each of you have only dueled once. I heard Kent dueled in your last match because this dummy got himself lost."
"It doesn't matter. You guys got Yukina to guide you to wins." Cathy said.
"And now we get to see a duel between Yukina and Cray. This one is going to be intense." Anne said.
"One that Cray is going to win!" Kent said.
"Kent! Cray is on the opposing team! If we can't win against Team Storm, it's over for us! Don't you get that?!" Cindy said.
"Uh... Well..." Kent wasn't sure what to think. He wants to be a team player, but Kent greatly admires Cray's strength and power. Seems his loyalty might be a bit tested on this one.
"It's okay, Kent. We all know how much you admire Cray. You don't have to take part in this duel if you're not in it, but I'm not going to lose to him." Yukina said as she can just imagine it. "Cray's going to be even stronger than the last time we fought each other. Well, if he wants a duel, he's going to get one." Everyone was excited to see this duel, but there was one who wasn't.
"No fair! Who said you even get Cray in the first place?!" Marcus argued.
"Marcus!" Everyone argued back.
"I want to duel Cray too, especially if he's as strong as you all say!" Marcus said. "He's the team leader, so it's only right that I get to face him. I'm the number one duelist in the world. I should be the one to face him."
"No! Cray is my opponent!" Yukina said.
"But why?!" Marcus said.
"Marcus, you don't seem to get it." Cindy said.
"Defeating Yukina is what drives Cray." Kent said. "These two have a strong rivalry that's so big that Cray wouldn't forgive Yukina if she backed down from him or was defeated by anyone except for him."
"It only makes sense that Yukina is the one that faces Cray. She's really the only one that can handle his rage." Felix said.
"Give your head a shake, pal. They might have let you on their team, but Yukina is the star duelist." Sylvia said. "She's your best chance of winning against Cray."
"Besides, Cray wants to duel Yukina. Who knows what that maniac went through to have that." Tony said.
"You also can't claim you're number one when Yukina is clearly the best duelist. Get over yourself." Cathy claimed.
"Hey, come on! Quit ganging up on me!" Marcus said as he was all alone on this one. "I have as much right to duel Cray as Yukina does. So, why can't I?"
"Marcus, I'm sorry. This is just something I won't give up." Yukina claimed. "Cray won't be satisfied with anyone except me. You're just going to have to deal with it." Marcus couldn't believe this is happening to him. He knows he's got the skill, but no one will give him the chance. They all think Yukina is the best and Marcus just can't take it.
...
A Press Conference
"Welcome, everyone! For a big match like this, we are holding a press conference for the two opposing teams!" M.C. announced as that was exactly what's going on. Everyone is so invested in this duel that they want a few words with them before it begins. Both teams were together with reporters. Just as it was about to get started, the two teams came out and Kent couldn't help himself.
"Cray! I missed you!" Kent called as he was ready to wrap him in a bearhug, but Cray pushed him away by the face.
"Don't be so embarrassing." Cray said.
"He's just happy to see you again, Cray. It is good to see you." Yukina said, but Cray just ignored him. "It's also nice to meet your new friends. It's Sima and Hungwe, right?"
"That's right. You must be the people Cray have told us about." Hungwe said.
"That must mean you're Yukina." Sima said as he was getting familiar with the opponent. "Cray's got it out for you."
"Quit talking. Just sit down." Cray said as he wasn't one for small talk. The two teams just took their positions and sat down.
"It's a little weird seeing Cray here." Cindy whispered to Felix. They looked at Cray and did think it was rather strange. A press conference doesn't seem like his cup of tea. "Why do you think that is?"
"I guess he wants others to witness him defeating Yukina. That's the best I can come up with." Felix said.
"Now, let's get this started. Who has the first question?" M.C. asked with a lot of reporters asking questions.
"Right here! Cray, is it true that you turned down an offer to be on Team Mystic just for the purpose of dueling against Yukina?"
"Who cares about something like that?" Cray questioned as he stood up. That got the reporters quiet. "The only thing that does matter is that Yukina and I will duel, and I will defeat her. That's all I'm going to say to that. Yukina, get ready! I'm aiming for you!"
"Fine with me." Yukina said as she stood up. "I'm looking forward to it, Cray."
"This is going to so awesome! I know I should be rooting for Yukina, but I want Cray to win! I'm so torn and excited" Kent cried as he was starting to get hysterical.
"It looks like Kent is going to be torn between this duel. Better wrap this up before his tears flood this place. Well, there you have it! They've said it all!" M.C. claimed. "Get ready for a duel between these two tomorrow! It's sure going to be one of the best in the whole tournament!"
"Who does this guy think he is saying something like that?" Marcus said as he was getting annoyed. "Hey, pal! You can't say this is going to be one of the best in the whole tournament! It doesn't have the most important duelist in it!"
"Who? It's got Yukina and Cray. Who else is needed?" M.C. questioned.
"Me! I'm Marcus Zimmer, the numer one duelist!" Marcus said. "I'm sick of everything thinking Yukina is the best when she's not! I am, and I'll prove it! It's obvious my team won't give me the chance to take on Cray, so I'll have to find another way. I'll be in a duel that will be even better than anything these two have to offer! My opponent will be you, Sima!" He called out, but Sima didn't even react. "You always go first for your team and always win, so I'll make sure to take you on and take you down."
"You certainly talk a lot." Sima said as he was a little annoyed with Marcus. "Can you even back any of that up?"
"What are you talking about? I can take you down just like any other opponent." Marcus said as he was getting all kinds of energized from frustration, but Sima held out his hand to him and kept him quiet.
"Doubt it. I think you're all bark and no bite." Sima said as he stood up. "You claim you're number one? You claimed you're the best? I hope you can maintain some dignity when you'll be defeated in a humiliating way." Marcus was getting even more fired up now.
"There you have it! It sounds like it's going to be Marcus vs. Sima as the opening with it being Yukina vs. Cray in the second!" M.C. announced.
"Are you guys okay with this? They basically picked the battle order without even talking about it." Cindy said.
"It's fine with me." Felix said. "Kent won't be much help going against Cray's team, and it might be better this way." Felix was a little uneasy. Going against such a powerful team, he's worried what might happen to him if he loses control again.
...
Marcus
Marcus spent the rest of the day training. He wants to make sure he wins and proves that he's the best duelist there is. He refuses to just be in Yukina's shadow and is going to show that he's a great duelist himself.
"I can do this." Marcus said as he was doing various exercises to get ready for his match. He can just picture his victory. Everyone keeps disrespecting him and think that Yukina is better, but he's taking that to help in his training. "I'll show them all. I'm not just another member of the team. I'll outdo Yukina." He's taking this as serious as he can with the others watching.
"Did he say outdo Yukina? Boy, he just never seems to stop." Cindy said.
"What's with Marcus? Why is he taking this so seriously?" Kent said. "Honestly, why does it matter to him so much?"
"Marcus is clearly a passionate duelist." Yukina claimed. "It's only common sense that he wants to be the best, but now he feels like he's not getting the respect he thinks he deserves."
"Well, I hate to say it, but it's not going to be as easy as he thinks. If Cray allowed these two guys to be on the same team as him, this Sima is going to be a real challenge to defeat." Kent said.
"Kent! Get with it, will you? You and Cray are on opposing teams now!" Cindy said. "He's the enemy now! We should focus on winning against them and you're not helping!"
"Well... I know... It's just... AAAWWWWW! This would have been so much easier if you guys just would have let me go with Cray!" Kent cried. With Kent acting like that, this is going to be a long match.
"By the way, where's Felix?" Yukina questioned.
...
Felix
"So, what's up, Felix?" Tony asked. Felix went back home and tried to think. Tony could tell that something was wrong with Felix. As his friend, he tried to help. "Felix, something is clearly bothering you. Talk to me." Felix wasn't sure he could, especially when he hasn't talked to his team and doesn't know what's going on with him himself. "I saw your duel against Jaw-Long. Is that what this is about? Are you upset your only match in the tournament ended with you losing? You're still in the tournament, so get over it."
"It's not that exactly, Tony." Felix said as he stared out the window. "Look, I can't really talk about it." Tony was starting to get worried now. 'Team Storm is clearly a powerful opponent. I'll be in the third match, but the first two could really go either way. If that happens, it could be up to me to make sure our team wins. When that happens...' He's concerned he'll lose control just like he did against Jaw-Long. He could already feel something was stirring inside him. He thought it was just anxiety, but it could be that darkness inside him. What will happen if that time comes?
...
Team Storm
"Cray, what's the deal with this Marcus?" Hungwe asked.
"I don't know him, and I don't care." Cray said. "Just leave it to Sima." Sima was getting himself ready for his upcoming duel. Only he was taking a more calm and collective manner with meditation. He's trying to keep his mind focused on the duel.
"Marcus Zimmer, I'm afraid defeat is all that awaits the likes of you." Sima claimed. The first two rounds of this match are sure to be intense and not ones to be missed. This duel against Team Storm could really go either way.
...
