After a long wait, another chapter is here. This is a chapter I was really looking forward to writing and its pretty important to the plot line too, so I hope you enjoy.

Big thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!

[DUEL!]

Yuju LP: 4000

VS

Reiji LP: 4000

"You take the first move," said Reiji calmly.

Yuju grinned. "With pleasure. I draw!"

Yuju glanced at his hand, figuring out his strategies. "I'll normal summon Elf— Entertainer of the Fey (ATK: 1100 / DEF: 300 / LV: 4), then place two cards face-down. Turn end."

"There is no time to be cautious!" complained Sasha. "We must crush him swiftly!"

"I need to be careful." Yuju grimaced. "He'll be good, no doubt about it."

Reiji began his turn, drawing a card. "I expected you to do more, Yuju Sarai. Your overconfidence will be your downfall!"

Reiji grabbed two cards from his hand, activating them. "I activate two copies of the continuous spell card Dark Contract with the Gate," he said. "Through its effect, I can add a D/D monster from my deck to my hand once per turn. However, I will take 1000 damage during each of my Standby Phases."

Reiji smiled. "However, that's a small price to pay for what I receive from this contract. I add D/D Night Howling (ATK: 300 / DEF: 600 / LV: 3) and D/D Berfomet (ATK: 1400 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 4) to my hand through the effects of my contracts."

"Following that, I activate the Dark Contract with the Swamp King, and use its effect to fuse together D/D Berfomet and D/D Lilith (ATK: 100 / DEF: 2100 / LV: 4) in my hand! In a whirlpool of light from the realm of the dead, become one and give birth to a new king! Fusion summon! Be born! D/D/D Flame King Genghis (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 1500 / LV: 6)!"

Flame King Genghis emerged from an inferno of light, swinging its blazing red sword. It held an oblong shield that was wreathed in flame, and a doubled-edged spear was strapped to its back.

"I'm not done," stated Reiji confidently. "From my hand, I normal summon D/D Night Howling, and use its effect to bring back D/D Lilith from my graveyard with zero attack."

Reiji normal summoned Night Howling, using its effect to revive Lilith.

"Level 3 Night Howling tunes level 4 Lilith! Howl that tears through the night! Gain the swiftness of a gale and become the cries of a newborn king! Synchro summon! Be born! D/D/D Gust King Alexander (ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 7)!"

A wind picked up as Reiji summoned his Synchro monster. It was clad in grey, crystallite armour and carried a sharp-edged broadsword. A green cape flew out behind it.

Yuju raised an eyebrow. "I told you he'd be good."

"He has done nothing so far to prove his skills," said Sasha stiffly. "We can Synchro and Fusion summon too. And Pendulum, now."

"He'll prove it," muttered Yuju grudgingly. "You don't become a pro at 15 without being good. I bet he's going to XYZ summon just to rub it in."

Sasha snickered. "You're jealous of him! Humans are so shallow."

"No… maybe. I could've been a pro at 15 too, if I hadn't died," replied Yuju defensively.

He was brought back to the duel by Reiji. "Head in the clouds?" his opponent said. "I'll bring you back to reality. Since I summon a D/D monster, Genghis's effect lets me revive D/D Berfomet from my graveyard. And that triggers Alexander's effect, let me summon D/D Lilith from the graveyard!"

Reiji revived his two fiendish monsters.

"Two level 4 monsters?" murmured Yuju. "Called it."

"I overlay my level 4 Lilith and Cerberus! In order to subjugate all that resides on this earth, descend onto the peak of the world! XYZ summon! Be born! D/D/D Wave King Caesar (ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1200 / RNK: 4 / ORU: 2)!"

Reiji summoned his third king, a purple armoured monster surrounded by a blue aura. Alexander and Genghis rose up behind it, completing the trifecta of emperors.

"Now, Yuju…" Reiji adjusted his glasses. "Let me show you the power of my different dimension demons! Battle! Genghis attacks Elf— Entertainer of the Fey!"

Genghis leapt forward, swinging its sword, but Yuju had a counter ready. "I activate the trap card Obelisk of the Fey! Genghis's attack is halved and I gain life points equal to the attack lost!"

A green beam of light emerged from Yuju's trap card, lowering Genghis's attack points to 1000

Yuju LP: 4000 = 5000

"And the battle continues!" said Yuju, as Genghis swung at Elf, who dodged, sending a blast of magic back.

"I detach an overlay unit to use Caesar's effect," said Reiji calmly as Genghis was destroyed. "Now, Alexander attacks Elf— Entertainer of the Fey!"

Alexander leapt forward, slashing at Yuju's monster. The elf was destroyed by the king's sword before it could react.

Yuju LP: 5000 = 3600

"Now Caesar attacks directly!" continued Reiji. "Show him who the true king is!"

Yuju, still recovering from the last attack, played his second face-down. "Order of the Fey! I negate you direct attack, and add Totem of the Fey (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 5 / PS: 0) from my deck to my hand."

Reiji narrowed his eyes when he saw the card. "Very well. I end my battle phase, and at this moment, Caesar's effect will revive Genghis from the graveyard," he said as Genghis reappeared, "but I lose 1000 life points." Electricity crackled around Reiji, but he didn't flinch.

Reiji LP: 4000 = 3000

"I end my turn with two set cards. Your move."

Yuju grinned. "You're good. As expected. I draw!" Yuju added a card to his hand. "You don't get to be a Pro Duelist at 15 without serious skill."

"I see you've done your research," Reiji replied.

Yuju smirked, remembering the full five minutes he'd spent reading Reiji's Pro Duelist page. "You could say that. Anyway, I'll begin my turn with this: I use the Scale 0 Totem of the Fey and the Scale 9 Monolith of the Fey (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 5 / SC: 9) to set my Pendulum Scale!"

Two blue pillars appeared beside Yuju, with his Pendulum monsters rising up in them. "I can now summon monsters between levels 1 and 8! Swing, mythical pendulum! Bring forth the monsters that are the stuff of legend! Pendulum summon!"

"Appear! Sylph— Scribe of the Fey (ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3), Spriggan— Sculptor of the Fey (ATK: 100 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 2) and Fenghuang— Escort of the Ether (ATK: 800 / DEF: 800 / LV: 1 / SC: 7)!"

A portal between Yuju's Pendulum scales opened, sending out three beams of light that solidified into monsters. First was Sylph, a petite, green skinned lady carrying a flute. Second was Spriggan, a grinning elf in plain workman's clothes, and third was Fenhuang, a bird with rainbow coloured feathers and a long, flowing tail.

"I see that you've mastered Pendulum summon," remarked Reiji. "Although I am confused as to how you acquired Pendulum cards. Leo Corporation certainly never manufactured those cards." He motioned towards the cards in Yuju's Pendulum scales.

"Just another perk that comes with my current… situation," replied Yuju ambiguously.

"No doubt you'll refuse to tell me, but no matter. I'll uncover your secrets in time."

Yuju grinned. "We'll see. Now, I use the effect of Sylph— Scribe of the Fey! When it's summoned, I can perform a Fusion summon without use of a Fusion card! The monsters that I fuse are Spriggan and Sylph! The Fey calls upon new allies to aid in their fight! From darkest depths comes a new mythical monster! Fusion summon! Level 8! Champion of the Lake— Capricorn (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 3000 / LV: 8)!"

Yuju's goat-like fusion monster emerged from the swirling blue vortex with a swish of its tail.

"And now, the Pendulum effect of Totem and Monolith activate! When I summon from the extra deck, Totem allows me to draw one card, and Monolith allows me to summon a monster from my graveyard!"

Yuju drew a card from his deck, then brought back Spriggan from the graveyard.

"And now, I tune level 1 Fenhuang to my level 2 Spriggan! Wisest of the fairy council, lend your knowledge to aid our fight! Synchro summon! Level 3! Druid— Elder of the Fey (ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 3)!"

Druid was a small, wizened man in a green cloak. He held a gnarled wooden staff topped with a gem that glowed faintly.

"A Synchro Tuner monster…" breathed Reiji, surprised for the first time. "You are truly interesting…"

"The effects of Pendulum monsters activate again!" continued Yuju, drawing a card and bringing Sylph back from the graveyard. "Unfortunately, I can only activate Sylph's effect once per turn, so it won't activate. But I use the effect of Druid to set a Fey spell or trap directly from my deck. And then I activate it! The spell card, Fairytale Fusion!"

Sylph and Druid rose into the watery vortex that opened behind Yuju as he began his fusion summon. "At the crashing of the waterfall, he who guards the waters with terrible fury awakens! Fusion summon! Level 10! Conqueror of the Lake— Taniwha (ATK: 2900 / DEF: 3500 / LV: 10)!"

From the watery vortex that marked Yuju's fusion summon, a new monster emerged. A red forked tongue flickered in and out between its vicious teeth. Its body was long and snake-like, covered in brown and blue scales.

Reiji smiled at its summon. "Fascinating…"

"You already know the effects of my Pendulum monsters," said Yuju. "I draw again and then bring back Druid from the graveyard."

After Druid was revived in attack position, Yuju continued. "I use the effect of Taniwha! Once per turn, I can destroy monsters on your field equal to the number of monsters on mine. I have three, so I destroy Caesar, Genghis and Alexander!"

"I play D/D/D Human Resources!" countered Reiji. "By returning my monsters to the extra deck, I can add two different D/D monsters from my deck to my hand."

Reiji's three kings flickered and disappeared, causing Taniwha's strike to miss. In exchange, Reiji took two cards from his deck and placed them in his hand.

"And next I play Contract Laundering! I destroy my three Dark Contracts in order to draw a card and gain 1000 life points for each!"

Reiji revealed a trap depicting a king throwing a paper into a fire. They trap glowed, destroying the three contracts, before the glow transferred to Reiji. He smiled as life increased and he drew three cards.

Reiji LP: 3000 = 6000

"You may survive this turn, but I'll still deal you damage!" said Yuju. "Battle! Taniwha attacks directly!"

Taniwha opened it mouth and sent forth a burst of blue flame that washed over Reiji, depleting his life points.

Reiji LP: 6000 = 3100

After the attack, Reiji adjusted his glasses, which had been dislodged, and revealed a card in his hand. "I use the effect of D/D/D Manticore (ATK: 1800 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 7) in my hand! When I take battle damage, I can special summon in it in defence position, then draw one card for each card my opponent controls!"

Yuju frowned as Reiji drew his new cards. "He used my attack to replenish his hand… we should've been more careful, Sasha!"

Sasha seemed to be in thought. "Indeed. Reiji Akaba is far more impressive than I thought."

Yuju narrowed his eyes. "We'll need everything to take him down."

Yuju resumed the duel. "I end my turn."

Reiji laughed. "That's it? I expected more. If that is all you're going to do, then I'll crush you! I draw!"

"First, I'll activate the effect of D/D Swirl Slime (ATK: 200 / DEF: 200 / LV: 2) in my hand, to send it and D/D Proud Chevalier (ATK: 2000 / DEF: 700 / LV: 5 / SC: 6) from my hand to the graveyard in order to fusion summon! Chaotic king who watches over this world's fate! Drink the blood washed away by time and become a dragon slaying-hero! Fusion summon! Be born! Level 8! D/D/D Cruel Dragon King Beowulf (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 8)!"

Reiji summoned a towering humanoid figure clad in medieval armour. Its head was that of a wolf, and sharp claws protruded from its fingers and toes. A gold and grey cape flew behind it, picking up in the sudden wind generated by its summon.

Reiji smiled. "Your Pendulum monsters are quite troublesome, so allow me to destroy them! The effect of Beowulf activates to destroy all spell and traps on the field!"

Beowulf slashed its claws, sending out two swathes of grey energy that formed into a wispy dragon shape. They rushed over Yuju's Pendulum Scales, destroying them.

"I'm not done yet!" continued Reiji. "I now use the Scale 1 D/D Savant Copernicus and the Scale 10 D/D Savant Newton to set the Pendulum Scale!"

Reiji selected two cards from his hand, placing them on either side of his duel disk. The word 'Pendulum' lit up on his holographic blade, and his two monsters rose in the Pendulum zones behind him.

"Grand power that shakes my very soul, arise within me and become a new light that rends the darkness! Pendulum summon! Come before me, my monsters!"

Reiji raised a hand over his head as his monsters were summoned back to the field. "From my hand, D/D Pandora (ATK: 1700 / DEF: 2100)! And returning from the extra deck, D/D Proud Chevalier!"

"Now, I overlay my level 5 Chevalier and Pandora! Hero of legends! With your profound justice, pierce through all things! XYZ summon! Descend! Rank 5! D/D/D Marksman King Tell (ATK: 2300 / DEF: 2000 / RNK: 5 / ORU: 2)!"

With a flash of light, Reiji's new XYZ monster emerged. It was a humanoid, fiendish figure in a hunter's clothes. A golden crossbow shaped like a scorpion was attached to its arm, an arrow already loaded.

"It was a mistake to come here, Yuju Sarai. I'm going to make you realise just how foolish you are!" proclaimed Reiji. "Next, I normal summon D/D Lamia (ATK: 100 / DEF: 1900 / LV: 1), and use it to tune the level 7 D/D/D Manticore! Climb over the corpses of heroes, carrying your bloodstained blade! Synchro summon! Be born! Level 8! D/D/D Cursed King Siegfried (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2200 / LV: 8)!"

Reiji's third king was clad from head to foot in silver armour. It carried a massive broadsword that crackled with red electricity. A gem could be seen set into its forehead behind a flowing mane of white hair.

"He changed out his monsters for stronger ones effortlessly…" murmured Sasha.

"Humour me before I defeat you, Yuju," said Reiji. "Why are you doing this? Is it to avenge your death? Or is it… something else?"

Yuju frowned. "You don't know anything about me!"

Reiji smiled. "Oh, but I think I do. I knew a boy once, who climbed quickly through the ranks of the Junior Youth League. He was a prodigy, destined to become Champion of Maiami City. He was self-taught, but you would've thought he'd trained at the best duel school on the planet. His records showed he was kind and charming, but a deadly duelist nonetheless. What happened to that boy?"

Yuju narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"He was at the top of the competition!" Reiji nearly shouted. "He was about to enter the Youth League, but something happened. He was hit by a truck on a busy road, and he died. How did that boy, that dead boy become the criminal standing before me?"

"I'm no criminal," Yuju said, his composure breaking. "I just do what I'm told."

"You are a criminal. You didn't get the opportunity when you were alive, so now you'll do anything to get back to where you were!"

Yuju's hands shook with anger. He closed his eyes to calm himself, but when he opened them they were fully green. "Shut up."

"How are you here? How are you alive? What happened to you, Yuju Sarai?" Reiji barked off questions quickly, infuriating Yuju further.

"I said shut up!"

Reiji frowned. "Very well. You'll tell me once I'm done with you any. I battle! Beowulf attacks Taniwha!"

Beowulf leapt forward, dodging the flame from Taniwha's mouth and slashing it with its claws.

Yuju LP: 3600 = 3500

"Siegfried attacks Capricorn!"

Siegfried rushed forward, cutting a vicious arc through the air with its sword. The crackling electricity caught Capricorn, destroying it.

Yuju LP: 3500 = 2700

"Finally, Tell attacks Druid!"

Marksman King Tell pointed its crossbow at Druid, before releasing a small, golden arrow that trailed green light behind it. The arrow stuck to Druid's leg, then exploded, destroying the monster.

Yuju LP: 2700 = 2100

Reiji smiled. "I end my turn."

Yuju growled, infuriated. "My turn! Draw!"

Yuju picked at card from his hand, slamming it onto his duel disk. "I activate the spell Gathering of the Fey! With it, I can— "

"Not happening!" countered Reiji. "I use the effect of Siegfried to negate your spell!"

Siegfried shot a red beam of light from the jewel in its head that hit Yuju's spell. The spell was covered in a stone grey sheen, before crumbling apart.

"Fine!" said Yuju. "I play Fey Reborn to summon Druid back from my graveyard. Then I normal summon Imp— Fool of the Fey (ATK: 300 / DEF: 200 / LV: 2)! Next I use the effect of Hobgoblin— Hatter of the Fey (ATK: 0 / DEF: 1900 / LV: 3) in my hand. I switch Imp into defence position in order to special summon it!"

With a chain of effect, Yuju quickly summoned three monsters. "Then I'll use the effect of Imp in order to return your Siegfried back to the extra deck!"

With a mischievous giggle, Imp waved its hands in an arcane pattern, causing Siegfried to flash, then disappear with a roar.

"And now! I use the effect of Druid to set a Fey spell or trap from my deck," said Yuju, placing a card face-down on his field, "then use the level 2 Imp to tune the level 3 Hobgoblin! Citizens of the fairy forest, come together to form a benevolent beast that will protect your home! Synchro summon! Level 5! Protector of the Fey— Satyr (ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1500 / LV: 5)!

"Since I don't know the effects of Marksman King tell, I use the effect of Satyr to negate its effects by paying 800 life points!"

Yuju LP: 2100 = 1300

A green glow surrounded Tell, causing it to stoop.

"And now, I use Druid to tune Satyr!" Yuju chanted, as his monsters rose up in the signature Synchro summoning pattern.

"A Synchro summon using two Synchro monsters…" whispered Reiji. "You have upped my expectations of you, Yuju Sarai!"

"Creature from the darkest corners of the forest! Reveal yourself once more after thousands of years asleep! Synchro summon! Level 8! Shapeshifter of the Fey— Pooka (ATK: 3000 / DEF: 0 / LV: 8)!"

As Yuju's chant finished, the air around them grew noticeably colder. The shadows converged at one point, forming into a small, monkey-like creature. Tall eyes grew from its head, and its face was covered in thick fur. Tiny red eyes gleamed in its face, and a long tail swept lazily behind it. The animal was small, but the shadow it cast was massive, a towering image of horror.

"He may be small, but he'll crush you nonetheless!" said Yuju. "I battle! Pooka attacks Marksman King Tell!"

Pooka's shadow flooded forward, washing over King Tell and surrounding it with darkness. The shadows contracted, before exploding out, destroying Tell and making Reiji stumble.

Reiji LP: 3100 = 2400

"I use the effect of Pooka!" said Yuju. "When it destroys a monster by battle, I can send another monster you control to the graveyard and inflict 500 damage!"

The shadows converged on Beowulf, destroying it too and damaging Reiji.

Reiji LP: 2400 = 1900

"You were right about Tell having an effect," said Reiji slyly. "But it is an effect that activates off the field, and therefore is not negated by Satyr! I use Tell's effect to send D/D Necro Slime (ATK: 300 / DEF: 300 / LV: 1)."

"What does that do for you?" said Yuju menacingly, letting some of Sasha's power seep into his body. "You have no cards in your hand, and nothing on your field…"

He paused, and his eyes glowed fully green. "Give up now, Reiji Akaba, before I destroy you!"

Sasha laughed cruelly in his head. "This fool has no chance now."

Yuju grinned, slowly slipping out of his Dark Signer persona. "We can't count him out yet. But I doubt he can do anything. He should've known better than to challenge me."

"I end my turn," finished Yuju.

"I draw!" exclaimed Reiji. "You seem quite confident in yourself, but let me assure you that I have a lot more than a chance at defeating you. First, I activate a third copy of Dark Contract with the Gate to add D/D/D Oblivion King Abyss Ragnarok (ATK: 2200 / DEF: 3000 / LV: 8). Then, I will Pendulum summon! Come forth from my hand, D/D/D Oblivion King Abyss Ragnarok!"

Reiji Pendulum summoned a new king. It was seated on a majestic stone throne that had giant horns protruded from the back. The king itself wore plain leather armour with a tattered grey cloak. Malevolent orange eyes glowed underneath its hood, and tendrils of darkness tipped with spikes curled around its body.

"The effect of Abyss Ragnarok lets me revive D/D Berfomet from my graveyard! Come back, Berfomet!"

A portal opened in the ground, and Ragnarok sent its tendrils of darkness down, pulling Berfomet back up.

"Next, I use the effect of Necro Slime in my graveyard. By banishing it, I can perform a Fusion summon using itself and Swirl Slime! Swirling dark energy, be absorbed into the alien monstrosity! Be reborn into a new king! Fusion summon! Come forth, ruler who carries the glory of God! D/D/D Oracle King d'Arc (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2000 / LV: 8)!"

D'Arc was a female humanoid with large, bat-like wings, carrying a thin, deadly blade.

Reiji continued without hesitation. "I use the effect of Berfomet to change its own level to 8!"

Reiji pushed his glasses up his nose, his eyes glinting. "I now overlay my level 8 Berfomet and Abyss Ragnarok! When two suns rise, the horizon of a new world shall open up! Appear and come forth! Rank 8! D/D/D Duo-Dawn King Kali Yuga (ATK: 3500 / DEF: 3000 / RNK: 8 / ORU: 2)!"

An ominous tone sounded as lightning cracked and Kali Yuga appeared. It was a demonic looking figure in medieval garb, seated on a throne similar to that of Abyss Ragnarok. Yellow eyes glinted from behind its mask, and golden horns curved up from its head. A dark purple aura surrounded it, giving off an eerie sensation.

"With the summon of Kali Yuga, the effects of all other cards of the field are negated, and cards cannot be activated," explained Reiji confidently.

"Pooka is unaffected by other monster's effects, so Kali Yuga is useless against it," replied Yuju savagely.

Reiji chuckled. "I beg to differ. Battle! Kali Yuga attacks Pooka!"

"I activate Pooka's other effect!" said Yuju. "I return it to the extra deck and summon its materials back to the field! Then, I get to destroy spell or traps on your field equal to the number of material it had!"

Pooka disappeared in a burst of shadow, and Druid and Satyr reappeared in defence position. Some remaining shadow rushed to Reiji's Pendulum monsters, destroying them.

"Clever…" murmured Reiji. "Then Kali Yuga attacks Satyr!"

Twin bolts of lightning flew from Kali Yuga's horns, striking Satyr and destroying it, but since it was in defence Yuju took no damage.

"D'Arc attacks Druid!" said Reiji, as his monster swiftly destroyed Yuju's druid. "With that, I'll end my turn."

"How dare he!" Sasha raged. "I'll crush him!"

"Don't go taking over again," reminded Yuju. "That wouldn't be good."

"Fine," replied Sasha. "Then we'll crush him."

"I draw!" said Yuju, but when he spoke Sasha's voice merged with his like an echo. "From my hand, I summon Faery— Folk of the Fey, and use its effect to gain 300 life points and summon another Faery!"

Yuju LP: 1300 = 1600

"The second Faery also gives me 300 life points and I summon another Faery, which will give me another 300 life points!"

Yuju LP: 1600 = 2200

Yuju's eyes were pure green and his markings were glowing now. Reiji was staring at him, looking slightly worried.

"What are you doing?" he said, more interested than afraid. "What is this?"

"I'll show you!" said Yuju and Sasha together. "I, using my three level 3 Faerys, overlay!"

Yuju's extra deck began shining brightly as his three monsters began changing into beams of light.

"Very interesting," muttered Reiji.

Suddenly, Yuju felt a wrenching in his mind.

"Sasha!" he yelled. "What's going on?"

"I'm too weak!" she replied desperately. "I can't help you!"

Yuju focused, drawing his Dark Signer power in and focusing on the summon. He could see the card being created, he could see it there, glowing with green energy. He felt himself slipping, but it was so close so he reached out—

With a crack, Yuju fell to the ground. His monsters turned back to their normal forms.

From across the room, he heard Reiji laugh. "It seems that you're not as good as you thought."

Groaning, Yuju got to his feet. He stood, his head swaying. He was weak, weak from the battle with Shei and weak from this fight. "I… I end my turn."

"Then it's my move!" said Reiji. "Due to Dark Contract with the Gate, I would normally take 1000 damage, but d'Arc turns that damage into life points!"

The contract shuddered, releasing a burst of energy, but d'Arc caught it in its palms, nullifying it before releasing to increase Reiji's life.

Reiji LP: 1900 = 2900

"I'm not done yet!" said Yuju desperately. "I play the trap Runes of the Fey to switch all monsters on the field into face-down defence position!"

Yuju's trap emitted a burst of green energy, that Yuju's fairies and Reiji's kings face-down.

"Those monsters can't be flipped face-up until next turn," said Yuju. "So you can't hurt me"

"I beg to differ," said Reiji. "Prepare to lose, Yuju! By tributing my two face-down monsters, I normal summon this! Gaze intently upon the world, my servant! Come forth, D/D/D Supersight King Zero Maxwell (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 7)!"

Reiji tributed summoned a new monster D/D/D monster. This one had a serpentine lower body with a long metal tail, human arms and a telescopic device for a head.

"I… Impossible!" stuttered Yuju.

"When Zero Maxwell attacks a defence position monster, that monster's defence becomes zero and it inflicts piercing damage! Go, Maxwell! Attack the face-down Faery— Folk of the Fey!"

Maxwell reared its head back, firing a blast from the telescopic lens. It hit one of Yuju's Faerys, destroying it, before the blast slammed into Yuju, knocking him back into a wall.

"Yuju!" screamed Sasha in his head.

Yuju LP: 2200 = 0

Reiji: WIN!

Yuju groaned and pushed himself up the wall, leaning on it to stand. His head was ringing from the attack.

"Sasha… I couldn't do it… we lost…"

He could feel Sasha stirring, but her presence was faint and he couldn't hear her.

"Since I won, then you'll have to follow our deal," said Reiji imposingly. "Since you're helping me, I want to know who you really are and how you're still alive."

"I… won't tell you anything," spluttered Yuju.

"We had an agreement, Yuju Sarai," said Reiji. "You must honour it. If you don't then your life might become quite unpleasant."

Reiji paused and was about to speak again when the elevator doors dinged and sprung open. Kachidoki jumped out and launched a flying kick into Reiji's back. The CEO of Leo Corporation went sprawling to the ground.

"Come on!" yelled Kachidoki, beckoning to Yuju.

Yuju nodded weakly, and began stumbling over to Kachidoki. The other boy went to help him as he limped towards the lift.

"Don't think this means we're friends," whispered Kachidoki menacingly. "But warriors always pay their debts."

Yuju grinned despite the situation. "Of course."

They got in the elevator, and Kachidoki pressed the button for ground floor. When they reached it, Yuju saw that it was still night outside, with the only light being that of the stars. They made for the exit, only to see it blocked by a giant of a man.

"You two aren't going anywhere," he said.

The lift doors opened once again and Reiji Akaba stepped out, his glasses slightly dislodged but otherwise impeccable. "Well done, Nakajima," he said, motioning to the man in the door.

Kachidoki gave a roar and ran at Nakajima, launching a kick into the man's side. Nakajima stumbled slightly, before Kachidoki let loose a punch that knocked him backwards.

Nakajima paused, observing his adversary. Kachidoki took a deep breath, before running forward. He chopped with his hand, but Nakajima dodged to the left and brought his hands down on Kachidoki's back.

Kachidoki gave a howl of pain and fell back, before gritting his teeth and advancing again. The geoglyph on his back began to glow, and his eyes took on a red tinge.

He leaned in for a kick, flying at Nakajima's left side, and the bodyguard stooped down to block it. The kick turned out to be a feint, however, and Kachidoki twisted into a vicious strike at Nakajima's jaw.

Nakajima caught his foot with ease and slammed him to the ground.

"It would be prudent for you to give up," said Nakajima. "Mr. Akaba would not appreciate it if you were too wounded."

Kachidoki slowly got up, looking tired and defeated. "Never… I'll never give up!"

His geoglyph blazed to life and his eyes turned completely crimson. He sprinted at Nakajima, who stood there, confident and steady.

Kachidoki made contact and the air around him flashed red and Nakajima was sent flying backwards. He smashed into the receptionist's desk, knocked unconscious.

"Move it!" he said sharply to Yuju. Yuju could tell he was struggling to stay in control of his body. His eyes flashed red, then their normal blue, then red again.

Yuju hobbled out into the cold night, air, Kachidoki right behind him. Ignoring the pain and weakness in his legs, he broke into a run.

Looking back, he saw Reiji standing in the doorway of the Leo tower. "Well played, Yuju Sarai," his voice echoed through the night. "I'll be seeing you soon…"

Original Cards:

Totem of the Fey (EARTH / ROCK / PENDULUM / EFFECT / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 5 / SC: 0): Pendulum Effect: When you summon a monster from the extra deck, you can draw one card. The activation of this card cannot be negated. / Monster Effect: N/A

Monolith of the Fey (EARTH / ROCK / PENDULUM / EFFECT / ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 5 / SC: 9): Pendulum Effect: When you summon a monster from the extra deck, you can target one monster in your graveyard; special summon that target. The activation of this card cannot be negated. / Monster Effect: N/A

Sylph- Scribe of the Fey (EARTH / FAIRY / EFFECT / ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3): When this card is summoned, you can perform a fusion summon using cards you control as material. You can only use this effect once per turn.

Fenhuang- Escort of the Ether (WIND / WINGED-BEAST / PENDULUM / TUNER / EFFECT / ATK: 800 / DEF: 800 / LV: 1 / SC: 7): Pendulum Effect: You can return one monster you control to the hand; special summon this card from your Pendulum zone. Monster Effect: You can target one monster that is face-up in your extra deck; special summon that target, but it has its effects negated.

Elder of the Fey- Druid (EARTH / SPELLCASTER / SYNCHRO / TUNER / EFFECT / ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 3): Once per turn you can select one spell or trap in your deck; set that target.

Conqueror of the Lake- Taniwha (WATER / BEAST / FUSION / EFFECT / ATK: 2900 / DEF: 3500 / LV: 10): Once per turn, you can destroy monsters your opponent controls equal to the number of monsters you control. This card is unaffected by spell/trap effects.

D/D/D Manticore (DARK / FIEND / EFFECT / ATK: 1800 / DEF: 2500 / LV: 7): When you take damage from a direct attack, you can special summon this card in defense position, then draw cards equal to the number of monsters your opponent controls.

Shapeshifter of the Fey- Pooka (DARK / FIEND / SYNCHRO / EFFECT / ATK: 3000 / DEF: 0 / LV: 8) When this card destroys an opponents monster by battle, you can send one monster they control to the graveyard and inflict 500 points of damage. You can return this card to the extra deck; special summon its materials to the field, then you can destroy spell and traps cards on the field equal to the number of materials summoned. This card is unaffected by other monsters effects.

This was an enjoyable chapter to write, as Reiji is probably my favourite Arc-V character, closely followed by Sawatari (no joke). The duel was pretty hard to write as well, as I had to think of all the specific combos they would have to pull off.

Just a few other notes: Fairytale Fusion's effect has been changed to ignore attribute (because summoning Undine for every Fusion summon seems really impractical) and D/D/D Cruel Dragon King Beowulf has been changed so it needs 2 D/D monsters instead of a D/D/D and a D/D for convenience.

Reviews would be much appreciated, and if you have any questions or suggestion then feel free to PM me or leave a review (please note that suggestions will be used with my discretion).

Thanks for reading!