Erin's POV

Seto and I came to a stop alongside the other finalists. Near us were five doors and Roland said one had to be chosen for the next duel. I decided on one closest to me, and while I made my way towards it, Joey was trying to decide which one to choose.

"Dude, just choose a door and knock it off with the potato song," Zane growled.

"Hey I like my potato song!" Joey protested and I sweat dropped as the doors to my dueling platform closed.

I stepped onto the said platform, and a second later, it came to life before moving upwards. Then, I was suspended in mid-air along with the other finalists. I was closest to Joey and Mark's dark half. Below Zane, Ishizu, Duke, Tristan, Tea, and Mokuba would be able to watch the duel unfold.

Roland then got our attention and explained how this duel would work. Whenever a duelist lost life points their dueling platform would rise. The first two duelists who lost all their life points would face each other for the first duel and depending on the position of the others, their duels would be determined that way.

I connected my duel disk to the control panel on my terminal before giving my deck a good look-through.

Only forty cards could be used this round and I decided to use Caraxes to determine which duelist would go first. The Blood Wyrm couldn't be used for the rest of the match.

"There will be other matches," said dragon told me.

I put my deck back together, and when Roland asked for us to reveal our monsters, it went as follows. Seto would go first since his Beast Des Gradius attack points were 3300. I would be second due to Caraxes having 2000 attack points. Yami chose Feral Imp, placing him in fourth, while Marik had Rekunga had him in third. Joey chose Swordsman of Landstar and he would go last.

The duel started and it was go time. Seto began the duel by summoning Vorse Raider and placing two cards face down. After making a draw I smirked.

"Mazis, Meleys"

The Red Queen came to life beside me, and like Caraxes, her attack and defense points matched. To end things off I lay two cards face down. Yami Marik chuckled and played Newdoria in defense position.

That card must have a unique special ability I thought as it was Yami's turn.

The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle summoned Big Shield Gardna in defense mode and set two cards face down. Joey looked annoyed, and after muttering a swear word, he only played a face down. My Zaldrizes smirked, and after tuning out his insult at Joey, my boyfriend commanded Vorse Raider to attack Joey directly.

But Yami was prepared and revealed Regulation of Tribe and chains shot out and grabbed Vorse Raider before it could attack Joey.

"We're a team, Joey, and I'll always protect you," Yami told the blonde.

"Thanks Yug"

"Wheeler you'd better wake up at some point, an amateur duelist like yourself can't afford to be daydreaming"

"I was strategizing you ass!"

"Seto only chuckled before resuming.

"To do that you have to understand how to play the game and the only reason you made it this far is that Yugi keeps bailing you out"

I sent Seto a glare to knock it off and seeing I was getting annoyed he did so. But Joey seemed to understand where Kaiba was coming from because he suddenly called my and Yami's name.

"Kaiba's got a point I do need to figure things out and I want to face that jackass over there"

The blonde pointed at Yami Marik with his thumb.

"So please guys if you want to attack someone let it be me"

Yami Marik made a comment and I shot him the bird.

Yami reluctantly agreed and I did as well before making my draw. Next to join Meleys was the Tessarion the Blue Queen in defense mode.

"Angos Meleys! Attack Joey's life points directly!"

Meleys obeyed and Joey braced himself for her attack. Using her tail she smacked the blonde and the goofball gave me a thankful smirk while he lost 2,000 of his life points. His platform rose up to the 2000 mark and now it was Yami Marik's.

The evil bastard played another card face down before summoning Lord Poison. He then commanded Newdoria to attack Vorse Raider.

"Look out for its special ability!" I warned Seto as my mate ordered Vorse Raider to counter-attack.

No sooner had I said that did Vorse Raider explode and Yami Marik revealed Spell of Pain. The asshole then looked to me.

"Say goodbye to 700 of your life points little fox"

"Up yours!" I roared as my life points went to 3300 and my platform rose.

"You'll pay for doing that Marik!" She's supposed to duel me next round not Wheeler!"

"Zip it, Rich Boy!"

I only shook my head as the guys bickered while Yami had a WTF look on his face. It was his turn next, and after sacrificing Big Shield Gardna, he summoned Beast of Gilfor. Beast of Gilfor then unleashed its fiery fury at Seto.

"Guess again!" my beloved shouted. "Your tactics are obvious!"

My Zaldrizes had one of his face downs turn around and it was Attack Guidance Armor. This allowed him to have any attack deflected and attack another monster. The fiery inferno meant for Seto now was heading towards Yami Marik's Lord of Poison. However he came prepared and Yami Marik revealed Mirror Force, and now the attack was meant for Yami.

But Yami only smirked, and had his face down, turn around. Thanks to Seven Tools of the Bandit, Yami's Marik's Mirror Force was null and void. And Lord of Poison got destroyed.

"Consider that payback for targeting my girlfriend Marik" Seto taunted.

Yami Marik's platform rose to the level as mine as did Yami. Seven Tools of the Bandit required 1,000 life points to use. It was Joey's turn, and after drawing, he wore a goofy grin on his face before summoning Gearfried the Iron Knight. He then had his monster attack Seto, and I winced as my beloved got hit directly, causing him to lose life points.

His platform rose until it was below Joey. Now it was my mate's turn, and before summoning a monster, he placed four cards face down and he summoned Blade Knight. But instead of attacking, he passed, and it was my turn.

"Alright, it's time I brought out a familiar friend," I said before sacrificing Meleys and Tessarion. "Come forth Vermithor!"

Vermithor's familiar roar filled the room, and the Bronze Fury appeared. Mokuba whooped from below while Vermithor eyed the room. He gave Seto a fanged smirk before sending Yami Marik a glare.

"Drcarys Vermithor! Attack that jerk directly!"

Vermithor complied and unleashed his fiery hell on Yami Marik.

"Nice work Erin!" Joey praised as the evil bastard's life points went to 600 and his platform rose even higher.

After ending my turn Yami Marik played Dark Jeroid. And what was worse he used its special ability on Vermithor!

Vermithor roared in anger as his attack points went to 1900.

"Lykiri Vermithor!" I told the Bronze Fury.

Vermithor hissed but heeded my command. Yami Marik chuckled before ending his turn. Yami made his draw before deciding what his next move should be.

"Yo Yug!" Joey shouted. "Do us a favor and attack Erin! Rich Boy wants to duel her!"

Beast of Gilfer was now stronger than Vermithor, and by destroying him, my life points would go down by 300, but that would only have me at Yami's level. The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle looked unsure about Joey's suggestion so I butted in.

"He's right, I am meant to duel Kaiba first"

"Alright, then, Beast of Gilfor, attack Vermithor!"

Beast of Gilfor unleashed its stream of fire, and Vermithor was destroyed. As predicted, I lost 300 life points, and my platform rose, and now I was at Yami's level. Seto didn't look happy due to me and Yami being tied and now it was Joey's turn again.

"Alright, Gearfried, attack Erin!"

I braced myself as Gearfried made its way towards me when suddenly it shrank. Its attack points were now at 500.

"What the hell?! My Gearfried is smaller!"

"Kaiba you did that!"

My boyfriend chuckled.

"Yes and thanks to Shrink, Erin will only endure 500 points of damage"

Gearfried successfully attacked me and my life points went down to 2500. Again, my platform rose, and I was now closer to my Zaldrizes.

"Whatever Kaiba" Joey sneered.

Seto chose to pass, and once I made my draw, I summoned Seasmoke. His attack points were 1600, and he was strong enough to destroy the still-small Gearfried. The grey-white dragon destroyed Gearfried, and Joey thanked me as his platform rose, and at 900 life points, he was underneath Marik.

"Sorry, Little Fox, but your Seasmoke is done for!" Yami Marik exclaimed.

"Oh I don't think so Spikey"

"You tell him, sis!" Zane shouted from below.

"I activate Seasmoke's special ability once per duel he can cancel out any monster's special ability of my choosing and Dark Jeroid is my target since you used it on Vermithor you ass!"

"Damn it" Yami Marik hissed before deciding to attack Joey with his monster.

"Not so fast!"

I revealed Negate Attack and Dark Jeroid's assault on the blonde was cancelled out.

"Thanks, Erin! Appreciate that!"

I gave Joey a thumbs up and Yami Marik swore before ending his turn. Yami chose to pass and Joey drew.

"Alright, Kaiba, it's time to say goodbye to your puny knight!" Joey yelled as he summoned Axe Raider.

Axe Raider heard its master's command and made its way towards my Zaldrizes.

"What a bad move, Wheeler," Seto said, and he revealed Ring of Destruction.

"I knew he had something up his sleeve" Silverwing muttered. Ring of Destruction latched itself around Axe Raider's neck.

"True, but Seto no doubt has Ring of Defense to protect himself from battle damage," I explained to her.

And I was proven right when Ring of Defense was revealed. Dark Ring of Destruction lit up and the entire room filled with smoke. When it cleared, everyone was looking at Joey, but it was Yami Marik who suddenly protested. Hell, even Seto looked confused.

"Why have my life points dropped to zero?!"

"Payback's a bitch!" I yelled at Spikey.

"What did you do Joey?" Yami demanded.

"Played this"

The blonde held Grave Robber.

"During the commotion, this little guy snuck into Marik's graveyard and stole a card for me"

Spikey got pissed and looked at his deck.

"That's right, he grabbed a card that you used on Erin a little while ago. Does Spell of Pain ring a bell?"

"Meaning he transferred his battle damage to you Spikey!"

The guys below whooped while Joey continued.

"It looks like you're on the express elevator to Loserville! Buh bye now!"

As Marik's life platform rose Joey stuck his tongue out. I chuckled and made my draw.

"Alright, Joey! You ready?!"

"Been born ready do it, Erin!"

"Seasmoke attack Joey directly!"

Seasmoke roared and flew at a fast rate of speed towards Joey. The blonde's life points went to 0, and Joey shot me a thumbs-up before his platform rose. The five-way duel was now over, and as our monsters disappeared, Roland called out.

"The first semi-duel will be Marik Ishtar against Joey Wheeler, followed by Mr. Kaiba against Erin Randall, the winner of the second duel will face Yugi Moto"

I shared a look with Seto, and in turn, he smirked. I returned the favor and our duel would be a Dance of Dragons.