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I'm floating...

This was the first thought that crossed the weary Armordragon's mind as consciousness returned to him. The second was how much his lungs burned as he also realized the severe lack of air at his disposal. His eyes snapped open and it took every last bit of his self control to not gasp on reflex. Nothing but water surrounded him, and he recognized the feeling of being turned upside down as well. He soon righted himself and immediately attempted to swim to the surface, fighting against the water's tar-like consistency every step of the way.

A muffled splash caught his attention, and he glanced up to see another figure sinking down near him. For a moment, Drum thought it was whatever had attacked him, but soon disregarded it. The figure was much too small, and had a flowing robe that was more suited to a wizard than a-

Drum almost lost his breath a second time when he realized that it was Axia sinking down, and, even worse, that he was unconscious. Drum's limbs worked into overtime, propelling himself towards the unconscious dragon. He managed to catch his body and grasped him around the waist, his legs kicking hard as he began to swim upward. He cursed Axia's robes, their bulky nature and billowing properties now only served to weigh the two down.

Strong though he was, most of his energy had been used trying to land a blow against the behemoth from before. More than that, swimming had never been his strong suit, and Drum soon found himself loosing the battle against the current. The light flittering from the surface never seemed any closer, no matter how much he swam, and the distant possibility that they might not make it seemed all too real.

"There aren't many monsters who'd stick their neck out for someone like me like you did when that girl almost burned my card."

Rage flowed through his body as he remembered Axia's words, and the feeling drove him on, filling him with determination and renewing his strength. He grasped Axia with both hands, holding him bridal style and using his legs to propel him through the water. For a moment, he was delighted when he felt how much easier it was. The change in position reduced the amount of drag Axia's robes had created. Still, the lights at the surface never got any closer. If anything they seemed duller now.

"I see some of me in him. He has that same admiration of one's personal strength and the same assumption on what we think someone's character is really about that I had with Rouga."

Shosetsu's words struck another chord in him, and he focused on that conversation to keep his mind off his aching lungs.

"During the Gaen Cup, though I lost, it became clear to me that Rouga wasn't the man I thought he was, and that had I gotten involved with him like I wanted to, it would've been extremely toxic to me. Possibly enough to destroy me. That is why I show my concern. I truthfully was worried Axia's trust might be misplaced."

Drum grit his teeth and pushed his body harder, every muscle aching from the lack of oxygen. Yet he wouldn't stop, couldn't stop. Not until they reached the surface. Not until they were all safe, like he had promised.

I'm no liar. I would never give up on anyone or leave them in the drink. And I'm sure as heck not Rouga! I can save him, just a little more!

A light, bubbling sound caught his attention, his efforts halted as he glanced towards Axia. Shock crept through his system as he saw the dragowizard's maw open, a large air bubble floating to the surface.

He briefly envied that bubble, effortlessly accomplishing what he was straining to do, but only for a moment. Axia's lack of oxygen took precedence. Still, he knew with them being so far from the surface, air would be a valuable commodity. Drum shut his eyes, thinking of the few possibilities that could be done. Only one option presented itself as being plausible. His mind set, he pressed his lips to Axia's own and blew in, sharing nearly all of his remaining air. Drum felt the exhaustion kicking in as his oxygen supply ran dry, but he also felt the dragowizard beneath him stir and pulled away to give him room.

Axia roused in a panic, struggling desperately and kicking his legs as he regained consciousness. His eyes widened when he realized what was happening, and grabbed Drum's arm, trying his hardest to swim as Drum had. It was too little too late, and Drum could feel himself losing consciousness. He tried to give the other dragon a reassuring smile, but, in trying to keep what meager oxygen he had, it was too forced and came as a grimace. He closed his eyes, the burn in his lungs too great. He could only hope Axia would make it to the surface.

Though it seemed he was to be denied that. He felt the Dragowizard grip him tight, and press his lips back to his own. Even with the water surrounding them, he could still feel a tear leak from his eye.

Such a bittersweet scene this is...

Both dragons felt a sense of weightlessness as the water became slightly less intrusive than before. As their lips parted, they both gasped hard, expecting to be flooded with water soon after. The two glanced around when they felt air enter their lungs instead.

You two are not from this world.

A female voice spoke, though it seemed to be coming from inside their heads. Both dragons looked around the odd space, unsure where it was coming from.

You've both come along way from home. I've seen your trials in the forest. Very few have managed to find this lake, and fewer still have intrigued me as much as you two have.

A light materialized in front of them, blinding both dragons. A shape materialized from it, and a being cloaked in etherial, flowing robes floated before them. Her features were blurred because of the water veils surrounding her, but she held a humanoid look to her.

My name is Nimoue. I am the Guardian of the Sacred Lake. Or The Lady of the Lake if you so prefer.

"Lady of the Lake...?" Drum muttered, only to gasp a moment later when he realized he just spoke and wasn't drowning.

"You... you saved us?" Axia wondered, having regained his composure while Drum stared. "But why?"

Nimoue nodded. Countless others have searched for this lake and the power it holds. They have created strife and harmed innocents just to get a glimpse of it. Yet you two searched to help a friend, and sought no personal gain aside from traveling experience. I've not seen souls that noble since Arthur himself appeared before me so long ago.

The spirit seemed to take a moment to reflect on that event, and it was just enough time for Drum to regain his composure at last.

"Look, Lady, it's great that you admire us and all, but..." his next thought was very troubling, and he found himself squeezing Axia's hand for reassurance. "I'm pretty sure we both ran out of air back there. Give it to me straight, are we...?"

"Drum?" asked Axia, his face marred with worry and uncertainty. Drum couldn't bring himself to ask what he wanted. Not if it meant dashing both their hopes.

You wish to know if you are still among the land of the living? whispered the spirit, as if reading his mind. Drum clenched his eyes shut, a growl in his throat as he felt Axia tighten his hold on him. While he didn't wish it to be said so bluntly, it was what he wanted to ask, and he nodded in affirmation, silently dreading the answer.

Were you of a wicked soul, this lake would have claimed your lives, and indeed, you would no longer be with us. As it stands, I have seen into your hearts. To take away such noble creatures from their Worlds would be a grave injustice.

Both dragons looked up at Nimoue in disbelief, then to each other. Relief and happiness spread through them quicker than wildfire, and Axia embraced Drum in his excitement while the bigger dragon was content to remain smiling at Nimoue, silently thanking her.

"How can we ever repay you?" asked Axia from Drum's side.

I would ask one favor of you. She turned and materialized a sphere of water inside their space, a video image immediately coming in. Your friend is fighting fiercely to defend this lake. But I'm afraid this new evil is overwhelming him.

"Shosetsu!" Both Drum and Axia cried. "Wait, is he fighting against Sofia?" Drum gawked as he saw the other combatant. "How in the heck did she make it here?"

"It would be her," said Axia with a grimace. "Only someone heartless enough to burn an innocent monster's card could make it past the enchantment!"

If the fight continues as is, he will most likely fall. I would ask you to save him. He has come across a great evil that seeks to use the lake's power to their own ends. Please, I ask that you help this young knight in his battle.

"You got it, Lady!" Drum said, pumping a fist. "No one messes with one of my friends and gets away with it!"

"Count me in too!" Axia joined in, an eager fire in his eyes. "I could never allow my friend to fall to such brutes!"

Your courage is admirable, and your wills are strong. I am elated to see you come so far in such a short time. Nimoue raised her hand up, tendrils of light pouring from it and enveloping both dragons' bodies. Your trials in the forest have served you well. You have earned the respect of Legend World and the right to inherit a new power.

They emerged changed beings, their newest garments still bathed in radiant light. Before it could dissipate, the spirit of the lake spoke up once more.

Time is short, and the enemy is unrelenting. Now go, Dragon Knights of Legend World. Aid your friend and save this world!

Even in their fading radiance, they nodded, their forms shimmering again before shooting into the air.

Be safe, young heroes. Use your bonds to create a new future. For both Legend World...and yourselves.

***

A tense silence had taken over the field after Mordred's declaration. Both fighters stared tensely at one another, almost daring one of them to make a move.

Shosetsu glared at the knights surrounding him, his hands ready to move his cards when the need arose. He was outnumbered and backed into a corner, but he would not show weakness now.

Sofia, meanwhile, had the same cold look on her face, but her eyes were sharply focused. It was obvious to anyone who looked that she was sizing the swordsman up, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Just as Sofia raised Klarente up in a battle ready stance, Shosetsu yelled out. "I move Gareth to the center!" the named knight answered his fighter's call.

Sofia was undeterred, and turned to the male knight by her side. "Mordred, with me. We shall Link attack Arthur."

"By your command," Mordred said, his tone dripping with morbid excitement. The two flew across the field,

Ever impulsive, Mordred clashed swords with the king, the two slashing and parrying one another with equal fervor. Despite his skillful swordplay, Arthur found himself forced back by Mordred's aggressive slashes. So focused was he on deflecting the younger knight's blows that he never saw Sofia fly behind him until she slashed Klarente across his back. Arthur cried out in pain but was soon silenced when Mordred swung down at his now exposed front, dispersing the king into light.

Sofia fell back to position, drawing a card from her deck through Mordred's acquired effect. "Link attack, Morganna and Klarente on Gareth!" She was off again, while the female spellcaster fired off her own wave of magic. That magic was faster than Sofia was and engulfed the remaining knight, draining him of his strength. To Shosetsu's surprise, the magic enveloped him too, or more specifically Durandal.

"What's going on!?" he yelled, eyes widening as his sword lost color, turning a sickly grey.

"My skill, brave sir knight," mocked Morganna. "When I declare a link attack while the fighter is equipped with a weapon, I negate the effects of all cards you control. And what's more, the weapon gets to Penetrate!"

Gareth stumbled as the assault ceased, only to be cut down by Sofia's blade. She swung her sword horizontally, the blade cleaving through Gareth's body with ease, and kept charging at Shosetsu. The knight raised his weapon on instinct, and grunted when Sofia stabbed at the flat of his sword. He saw his life trickle down to 3 out of his peripherals, and wore a curious look when Sofia didn't retreat.

For a brief moment, both fighters stared at one another, neither moving an inch. That was until a noise caught his ear. A familiar noise.

An ugly noise.

Shosetsu found himself short of breath as his eyes traveled down Durandal's blade. There, where Klarente had stabbed at it, was a crack. It was a small thing, no larger than an inch, but it brought back terrible memories to the swordsman. The images of the desolate wasteland he was stranded in flashed before him and he found his grip tighten around Durandal's pommel.

"No," he whispered frightfully, his body shaking as he relived his nightmare. "Not again..."

"Nothing has changed," Sofia's cold voice broke the silence fully. "You were weak before, and you are weak now."

"Be brave, Shosetsu," Durandal said, his voice painfully strained. "Remember that you are not alone in this fight. There is always someone by your side."

"Enough," Sofia swung upwards, dragging Klarente's tip across Durandal's blade, the cracks spreading along the surface. "You're allies have already fallen. I've seen to that personally."

Her words stunned the swordsman, but his attention was brought back by the sound Durandal cracking. Once more, all he could do was stare in stunned silence as the Immortal sword splintered.

Sofia found the sword's destruction too slow and whirled around, cutting the blade in half with a single swing. The top half flew past his head, several shards nicking his cheek as they flew by. Pain seared across his cheek, but a feeling of inertia demanded his attention. A glance down saw the lake's surface steadily approaching him, and as he flinched at the revelation that he was falling, he saw something out of the corner of his eye that made him gasp in terror.

The symbol of energy that had been his Buddyskill was cracked, part of it shattered where the shards of the sword had flown. More than that, he soon realized, bits and pieces started to fall off from the impact, leaving a gap in the ring itself.

"How...?"

"Disaster Force is stronger than you realize," Sofia said coldly. "There's a reason why you could not handle it."

"More to the point, Klarente has the power destroy a weapon when it inflicts damage unto you," Morganna took over. "It just needed 4 or more Hero cards in the drop zone to trigger. And with its abilities negated, your Immortal Sword is no stronger than a stick of wood." She chuckled as she added, "Much like your Buddyskill there."

Paruko watched in stunned silence, the sight of a Buddyskill being damaged sending a chill down her spine. She tightened her hold on Takosuke, unable to think about what she would do if her Buddy was damaged like that. More still, she felt a deep pang of sympathy for the swordsman as she watched him struggle to gain altitude.

"Seems like we took the fight out of him," Mordred said snidely. "This is the one that Excalibur chose? Pathetic."

"Shut up!" Shosetsu growled and reached for Durandal's sheath to start his turn. "You of all people have no right to call me pathetic! Draw!"

"You're actually going to continue?" Morganna laughed derisively at him. "You've got spunk, kid, I'll give you that. But even you must realize how fruitless an effort this all is. Not even Excalibur can save you now."

Shosetsu's eyes flickered to the Excalibur in his hand, and he winced at how right the witch's words were. Excalibur, though boasting tremendous might, required at least 10 Hero cards in the Drop Zone and for the player to discard the Holy Grail spell to equip it. The first condition was readily met; Legend World's gauge heavy costs had seen to that. But the other was woefully unmet, and the chances he'd draw into a Grail were slim at best.

Frustration and rage flooded the swordsman's mind, the loss of his Buddy and the reminder of his time in the forest overwhelmed him, and he glared at the trio viscously. "This isn't over! I'll make sure you pay for what you've done!"

"Will you now?" Morganna asked smugly. "And just how do you propose to do that?"

A quick look at the card he drew gave Shosetsu the perfect answer to that. Caliburn's Grief... Once again, the card that had been his bane returned to him, though now at a more opportune moment. His mind reeled at the thought of wiping the entity of Sofia's field, leaving her just as defenseless as he was now. He would have to Charge Excalibur and hope for a monster to defend himself with, but it would all be worth it to-

"That's a familiar look," Sofia remarked, breaking the swordsman's concentration and having him look at her quizzically. "That's the same look you had when you were consumed by Disaster Force," she elaborated, almost seeming disappointed. "You really aren't much different now than you were then, are you?"

"That's not-!" Shosetsu started, only to have his mind blank as he realized just what he was thinking. His entire plan was to destroy the field, leaving it barren and empty. Just like it was in my mind...

He shook his head violently, glaring down to reanalyze his cards. He thought to Charge his drawn Impact, but grimaced as it would almost certainly leave him with a brick hand of Excalibur. Charging Excalibur, though more cost effective, left a bad taste in his mouth; it'd feel too much like throwing away all he and his knights stood for. And even putting that aside, he knew he didn't have a monster strong enough to survive the onslaught of attacks that was to come on the next turn. He wracked his brain for a better option, thinking of every card that he could draw, until he was left with only one thought.

There was no cards left in his deck that could turn things around. He had lost.

His fists clenched as the severity of the situation hit him full on. He would lose here, above the mystic lake which had forged that sacred sword. He shut his eyes as he thought of his dragon companions, out in the forest with a monstrous beast on their heels. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep our promise..."

"Just hold up a minute there, pal!" A familiar, boisterous voice yelled out.

All combatants, monster and human, turned around to try to find the voice. Even Sofia's stoic demeanor faltered for a moment, before she narrowed her eyes. "You can't be serious..."

"I thought I told you we were in this together! What are you doing, getting yourself in hot water like this?"

It took less then a second for the swordsman to recognize that gruff voice. "Drum?"

"It's just like Sho-sho to play the hero. You can't stop him anymore than you can stop Drum's appetite!" Another voice came from across the aether. "But that's part of being Buddies, right? Bailing your friends out of tight spots and helping them reach victory!"

"Axia..."

"Yup It's us!" The dragowizard's cheerful voice replied.

"And now we're gonna show these punks just what it means when you mess with a dragon's friends!" Drum finished.

Two small spheres of light rocketed out from the lake depths, and flew towards Shosetsu. The knight jerked his hand back as the lights struck his deck, enveloping it in a bright glow. "What... what is this?" he asked breathlessly.

"You ask too many questions," Drum laughed. "We're here for you now, that's what matters."

"This fight is ours now too, and we'll see it through to the end. With you!" Axia finished.

He nodded and continued his turn, sparing no hesitation in throwing Caliburn's Grief into his Gauge. "Charge and Draw!" He held the card he drew up high, his voice loud and confidant. "Then I cast Symbel Gard to draw twice!" His eyes widened as he saw the images of two very familiar dragons in his hand, now with Legend World backing.

"So this is what you meant, Durandal... I pay one gauge and..." He took a deep breath, a confident smile growing on his face as he threw the card out onto the field. "I call Royal Champion Drum to the right!"

"Royal Champion, Drum!" The newly named dragon materialized out of powerful flash of light and slashed his newly acquired sword through the air, striking a dramatic pose. He was clad in armor reminiscent of the Thunder Knights' armor, except pure gold with silver trimmings. His pauldrons were shaped like dragon heads, and framed the drills on his shoulders. A golden flowing cape billowed in back of him, and the look was topped off with a helmet decorated with an ornate crown. "Yeah, let's party!"

"So that's the dragon that's been giving you so much trouble?" Morganna mused. "My, my, he certainly seems strong willed. It'll be fun to break him."

"Don't think you can get rid of me that easily! I've got some extra help on my side," He turned to the human and gave him a thumbs up. "Shosetsu! Let's make this a real party!"

The knight nodded, throwing out another card in his hand. "I pay one gauge and call to the left! Royal Sage, Qinus Axia!"

Like Drum before him, Axia appeared in a flash of light, the lithe dragon twirling his staff to dispel the energy surrounding him. He grinned with pride as he admired his new form. His robes were replaced with streamlined silver armor with gold trimmings that hugged his body. Like Drum, he also sported a new flowing cape in lieu of his usual scarf, the fabric pinned tightly to his shoulder pads, which retained their shape but matched the rest of his armor's color. From those pads, two tassels flowed over the front of him, each one a shade of white with a gold trim. His staff received an upgrade as well, now pure gold with a teal jewel encrusted at the tip.

"The Royal Sage, Qinus Axia is ready to fight!" He said, striking a pose similar to Drum's. He held his pose for a moment before his excitement got the better of him, and he twirled around to let his new cape flutter in the wind. "This is almost too much!" he gushed, hugging his new staff. "I would've never imagined that this was the reward the Lady spoke of!"

"Don't get too distracted," Drum said, though his smile made his feelings apparent. "We've still got one thing to take care of first."

"You're right, Drum-kins. This fight will be a good way to break in this armor!" He held up his staff, energy building up at the tip. "And what better way than to show off my new ability! When I'm called into play, Sho-sho here can return a Hero item or spell from the drop zone to his hand! Sage's training!"

The energy shot out to Shosetsu's Core gadget, and another card added itself to the ones in his hand. The Holy Grail Spell... He looked at Axia in awe, the now-former Dragowizard giving him a wink in return.

"Are you two just about done showboating?" Sofia's cold tone cut across any levity that the two dragons shared.

"Sofia, why am I not surprised?" Drum huffed, sarcasm thick in his voice, leveling his gaze with the Russian girl. "Shosetsu said only an unfeeling machine would be able to make it through that nightmare. You'd be the closest thing there is to one."

"I have long since conquered my inner demons, dragon," she said sternly. "I have nothing to fear from discordant day dreams."

"'Daydreams'!?" Drum snarled. "Do you have any idea what we went through!? Or are you just that heartless?"

"It'd be useless to tell someone who is about to vanish from this world," replied Sofia, eyes narrowing in agitation. "I had hoped the forest would have done you in, but now I see I'll have to end you myself."

"Why you-"

"Calm yourself, Drum," Shosetsu called from behind. "She's just goading you."

"He's right, Drum-kins." Axia affirmed. "We'll show them what our combined strength can really do!"

Drum nodded, a cocky grin on his snout again. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, kid, ready when you are!"

Shosetsu nodded and held up another card. "I discard the Holy Grail Spell and Equip!" One of the remaining cards in his hand vanished as he threw the other one into the air, the card creating a portal. "Sword of the King, Excalibur!"

The legendary sword appeared through the portal, embedded once again in a purple rock. "Who dares pronounce themselves worthy of my blade?" Its voice echoed through the field. Sofia's monsters sneered at its presence, but the blade only paid heed to one individual. "Shosetsu Kirisame. I acknowledge thee as my wielder." The human grasped Excalibur, unsheathing it from its earthen scabbard and pointed it at Sophia's monsters.

"This is an incredible sight here, folks!" Paruko said. "Shosetsu has equipped the legendary blade, Excalibur and-!" She gasped and rocked backwards in shock, "I don't believe it! Can it be? Why yes, it's the Gao formation! Shosetsu has set up an all out attack and will be fighting alongside his monsters!"

Shosetsu grinned at that. "I'll never get over how Gao coined this fighting formation. He would've made a good knight, being so eager to fight alongside his monsters." He looked over at Axia and Drum and let out a quick laugh. "Though I suppose since I'm using his very own Buddy, I really am using the true 'Gao Formation' now. I almost wonder if he'd be jealous if he saw us like this."

"He won't mind. I'm just here to help a friend, after all," Drum called, giving Axia a wink before brandishing his sword. "Now let's make the kid proud!"

"I can't afford to look bad if we're fighting for Gao-wow too!" Axia joined in, twirling his staff with a flourish. "Let's give it all we've got!"

Shosetsu looked back to the two monsters on his field and threw his arm out. "Then let's start out with a bang! Drum and Axia! Link attack the fighter!" Both dragons took off in a burst of speed, dashing across the field towards their target.

"Shosetsu sends both dragons to fight together!" Paruko commentated. "With Drum and Axia's combined critical of 3 and with Excalibur's Double Attack, she'd have to negate two attacks at minimum if she wants to stay in this!"

"Been waiting a long time for this!" Drum yelled out. "We've got some business to settle with you!"

"I'm not holding anything back!" Axia joined in, his staff building energy at the tip.

Sofia's eyes narrowed harshly at the two dragons. "Such narrow-minded thinking. Cast! Ainsel's Damage Rebound!" Three of her gauge flew down to the spell, the gathered energy expanding to form a barrier around the female fighter.

Both dragons grunted as their combined blows were absorbed, the energy of which gathered around and shot out at Shosetsu, his Life tricking down to 2 points. The two looked aghast at what their attack had become, and shot glowers at the Russian fighter.

"Sofia used Ainsel's Damage Rebound to reduce the damage dealt to her to 0 and deal one back to the other fighter," Paruko exposited.

"You've been given powers beyond comprehension and yet you were still stopped so easily," Morganna said smugly. "Is that all the lake has to offer?"

"Not even close. I've still got a trick of my own up my sleeve," Drum swung his sword up, a ball of light shimmering from the blade and heading to Shosetsu's deck. "This is a little something I like to call Champion's Legacy. See, when I perform link attack, Shosetsu can draw a card. It even works if the attack didn't hit!"

The knight drew his new card with a flourish before raising his sword, "Now it's my turn. This time you face Excalibur's might!" He dashed forward, the sacred sword grasped tightly in his grip. "And as you are well aware, Excalibur cannot be negated by shield cards!" He ran Excalibur through Sofia's body, her life counter falling 3 points, and was already preparing his next assault just as he finished his swing. "And has double attack!"

Before the second slash could land, Sofia raised her hand, casting a counter spell. "I Cast, Curse of Demonic Blade!" A tremendous gale kicked up, buffeting everyone and forcing Shosetsu back. "To cast this card I must destroy the monsters on my field."

The others looked on in disbelief at that statement, not believing that the spell would destroy her own field as a cost. Even Sofia's monsters looked shocked at her declaration, but sure enough, a typhoon of energy whipped up between them, slowly engulfing them in its energy..

"Sofia, what are you doing?" Morganna asked angrily. She winced when she heard Mordred scream as he was wrenched asunder by the raging energy. He reformed a moment later thanks to his Soulguard, but to his distress, the spell encircled him once again, intent on his destruction. "This wasn't part of our agreement!"

"I am doing what needs to be done," Sofia said calmly. "Sorceress who tempts noble warriors with impurity and knight who has thrown away your loyalties, you two shall now become the fuel for a greater power." She looked on with no remorse as the energies from her spell enveloped both monsters, destroying them in an instant.

Paruko was the first to recover her composure, as her profession demanded. "There's no end to Sofia's cruelty! She just destroyed all her monsters, to what end I don't know!"

"You underestimate me if you think this destruction was of wanton cruelty," she said, looking critically at the reporter. "Did you not hear what I said? Their destruction will pave the way to a new future. The spell I had cast will now recover Life equal to their combined Critical, as well as increase my Gauge by the amount of monsters destroyed." Three lights flitted up from Sophia's deck into her gauge as her body radiated a green aura.

"Sofia sacrificed her monsters to preserve her own life!" Paruko corrected herself. "It's like she used some sort of fountain of youth to gain immortality!"

"I'd heard the fountain of youth could hurt you more than help, but I never knew it required such a high price." Axia said nervously.

"It shouldn't," Shosetsu said. "And that's not the Fountain of Youth. In fact, I've never seen that card before..."

Any and all further speculation was put on hold when they saw Sofia's Life jump to 11.

"Wait, why did she get such a big boost?!" yelled Drum. "She only destroyed two monsters! What gives!?"

"Because Mordred had to be destroyed twice, his stats count twice over," Paruko surmised. "But because the center hasn't changed, the attack still continues!"

Shosetsu kicked off from the air, bringing his weapon down again and cutting through the Russian fighter, draining her Life by 3. Sofia held up her arm in defense and grunted, more in annoyance than anything, as she was forced back.

"She's as sneaky as ever, I'll give her that," Drum snorted as Shosetsu returned to his position. "But she's got no leg to stand on anymore. She cleared her field, and only has 5 Life left."

"Excuse me, but leave the commentating to the professionals!" Paruko irately yelled. "Still, you do have a point. Despite recovering a ton of life, Sofia is low on cards."

"You're still just as small of an annoyance as you were before," Sofia glared icily at the trio. "You've all become an irritating thorn in my side."

"Yeah? Well, the feelings mutual!" Drum huffed. "You've always been plotting something ever since we met! This time, it's over!"

"We won't let you get away with whatever scheme you have!" Axia shouted out.

"This is your last stand. It ends here!" declared Shosetsu.

"You can think that, if you so wish." A small grin came to her face as she began her turn, and it made both dragons and humans uneasy. "I have only just begun to fight. I pay three gauge and one Life to Equip!" The remainder of her gauge floated to her outstretched hand, her life meter ticking down to 4 as she brandished a new sword in her free hand; a curved blade that was as long as any broadsword and had a serrated length that gave the impression that it had teeth. "Cursed Dragon Spirit, Arondight."

If the sword's appearance hadn't been enough to set the group on edge, the shadow that slowly formed from it took the cake. The beast that had so relentlessly pursued them from the start of their journey loomed behind Sofia, eyes flaring red. Its body was just as ethereal as it was before, and it gave almighty roar before it was absorbed into the blade.

Shosetsu found himself shuddering in spite of himself. "It's giving off the same aura as Klarente and that spell she used earlier."

"It's worse than that," Drum said, grimacing. "That thing reeks of Darkness Dragon World. It's like she put the worst bits of that world into a forge and dunked the sword right into it!" He turned to his allies, and found a very nervous looking Axia. "What's wrong?"

Axia gulped and pointed towards the sword. "There... in the blade... do you see?"

His voice was shaking and Drum had to force himself to not be worried about the Dragowizard as he scrutinized the blade. At first, he didn't see anything worth the attention and was just about to turn back when his eyes caught a small glint of light.

To dragons who lost their fangs in the heat of battle, there was nothing more familiar than the sight of a fallen tooth. There were some dragons who used them as good luck charms, or as decorations from a battle fought and won. Yet other times they were used as heirlooms to be passed to the next generation, as a reminder of the dragon it came from. Often times, if cared for just right, they would maintain their luster, and glint with a ferocity as if they were still in the dragon's mouth.

It was this glint that caught Drum's attention, and he balked at what he knew was the reason. "You... you used dragons' teeth to forge that weapon..."

"Very observant," Sofia said, non-plussed at the accusation. "You are correct. The fangs of the Purgatory Knights were used to forge this tainted weapon anew. The cursed blade championed by Lancelot himself." She held her new weapon up high, its translucent surface gleaming in the sunlight. "That is Arondight."

"You modified a sword with the fangs of the Purgatory Knights?" asked Axia anxiously.

"There's no way they'd ever let you have their fangs!" Drum roared furiously. "I don't care what world they're from, a dragon has its pride! And you're nowhere near worthy enough to be given one!"

"Regardless of how she acquired them, the fact remains that she has managed to infuse a Legend World card with Darkness' powers," Shosetsu joined in.

While the trio contemplated on the newest development, Paruko flew down, shooting an angry glare at Sofia when she noticed she still held Klarente in her other hand. "Hold the phone! You still can't use two items at once! I don't care what special power you have, rules are rules!" she yelled.

"I'm not using two at once," Sofia shot back. "This weapon puts the equipped item into its soul, and gains power and defense equal to the card in its soul." She raised both swords up next to each other, the blades glowing as she crossed them. "Now Klarente! Become the fodder for the curse spanning throughout the ages!"

A wave of crackling every radiated from their merging, a shockwave coming soon after as Klarente sunk into the purple tinted blade that was Arondight. A bright flash of light signaled the end of the process, and the group shielded their eyes until it calmed down. All eyes widened at the weapon Sofia now possessed.

The blade was jagged, the middle section curving outward slightly before returning to its usual base. It was black as Lancelot's had been, but held a blood red tint that ran across the edges. The dark aura that surrounded it almost obscured any marking, but upon closer inspection, anyone could see Klarente incased in the blade, now embedded inside the cursed armament.

"This is the result of a blade bestowed with the powers of Darkness Dragon World," Sofia announced, her entire body glowing with Disaster Force's aura. "It shall mark your end."

***

It was an all-too disgruntled sorceress that looked at the feed that came through the viewing orb. Though the sting of the girl's betrayal was still fresh in her mind, Morganna couldn't help but respect her skills with spellcraft. Her cellmate did not share in that appreciation.

"What has she done to Arondight!?" Lancelot bellowed.

Morganna ignored the irate knight, far too busy thinking about the girl's modifications to Lancelot's sword. "I never would've thought she could pull it off..." she mused to herself. "When I told her about the state of the sword, I had figured she just wanted a little memento. To think she could actually put that blade to use like that."

"You knew?!" Lancelot roared, crossing in front of the Morganna's vision, and forcing her to look at him. "Tell me what she did to my sword!"

"I believe you should first remember what you did to it," the witch said crossly, annoyed that she was missing said sword in action. "You used it to strike down your comrades back during your first little coup. After that, the saber became tarnished, useless. I did my best to remove that rot, but all I was left with was a hallow blade, hardly fit for combat."

Lancelot cowed before Morganna's gaze, and he stomped away, leaving the witch to her thoughts. "Or so I thought..." she said to herself. In spite of her sour mood, she smiled begrudgingly as she watched the power Sofia wielded so casually. So that's the true strength of Disaster Force, is it? How very interesting...

***

"Who could've seen this coming!?" Paruko yelled out, her voice steady in spite of the overwhelming aura of the blade. "Sofia has sealed one weapon inside the other and has given her new weapon an astonishing amount of power! And she's not even finished yet!"

"I pay one gauge and call Valkyrie, Brilliant Brynhildr to the left, as well as Leopard Skin Warrior Tariel to the right," Sofia called out, tossing her cards to the battlefield. The two mentioned monsters flew down to their called areas; a woman clad in golden armor, mounted on top of a pegasus, and a slim but built man dressed only in an animal pelt joined Sofia.

"These monsters I'm more familiar with," said Paruko, now back in her comfort zone. "Brynhildr has both the Soulguard and Move abilities, giving her a sturdy defense. Tariel, on the other hand, deals an extra point of damage when he participates in a Link Attack!"

"You aren't the only one with a Move ability," said Shosetsu once he heard Paruko's explanation. "Drum!"

"On it!" He teleported to the center, drawing his sword and leveling it at Sofia. "I'm not letting you lay one finger on him, ya hear me?"

"That is just fine with me," Sofia said, charging at the newly knighted dragon. "I'll deal with you first, once and for all!"

She swung Arondight hard, clashing with Drum's sword. At first, the red dragon managed to hold her back, though with more than a little effort on his part. The stalemate was short lived and she slashed down hard, cleaving the dragon in two. This too was short lived as Drum reformed himself a moment later, roaring in defiance.

"You'll have to do better than that!"

"Oh, believe me I intend to." Instead of backing off, she leapt up over Drum's head, sword held up high. "This blade has double attack!" Drum swung hard, intent on preempting the next assault, but gasped when his blade met empty air. Sofia had halted her descent just as Drum made his swing, causing the red dragon to overshoot and stumble in the air. The next thing he knew, he found his whole body forced down as Sofia landed on his back, the Russian girl using him as a spring and propelling herself off him, heading towards Axia.

"Axia!!" Drum cried, desperately reaching out to grab Sofia. But the girl was too quick, and was already looming over her target with her tainted sword poised to strike.

"Prepare yourself, Dragowizard!" Sofia lashed her blade out, and Axia met her charge with a steady block. A loud clang rang out as their weapons clashed, both combatants locked in place.

"Fine by me!" Axia growled, his arms shaking as he kept Sofia back. "I haven't forgotten what you tried to do to me. This has been a long time coming!"

Despite his confidence, Axia soon found himself loosing ground. He glared at the young girl as he put every ounce of strength into keeping her at bay, but the difference in their power was too great. Sofia was toying with him at this point, and they both knew it.

"Why resist?" She asked, her arm barely straining as she continued to add pressure. "You know you can't defeat me."

"Maybe not," Axia grunted. "But I can help my friend do all he can to win! After this you won't have any attacks with that sword left. Drum's more than a match for those two posers!"

"Who said anything about this being an attack?" The female ignored Axia's widened eyes and hooked the jagged part of her blade on Axia's staff, forcing the weapon down and exposing his stomach. With terrifying accuracy, she stabbed hard and plunged the blade to the hilt in the dragon's stomach.

There was a deathly silence as what had happened registered in everyone's minds. Even Paruko was caught unawares, and her lack of input made the silence drag on.

"Arondight can destroy a card after it successfully destroys a monster or inflicts damage." Sofia said coldly, breaking the stillness that had befallen the filed with a hard slash. Axia managed a grimace before his body disappeared, cleaved in two by the cursed sword. "The knight will fail, just as you have."

The pixels that had once been Axia had barely vanished before Sofia was off again. "The second attack!" she called, her voice rising as she twisted midair and launched herself at her next target. Drum responded in kind, and swung his blade down clanging against her's in a flurry of sparks, their blades ringing out as they clashed. Sofia didn't let it drag on this time. Her attack was swift and she cut through Drum's defenses like they were paper.

Drum groaned and clutched his stomach, breath hitching from his wound before looking valiantly at Shosetsu. "Sorry kid, this is the end for me... But don't think you're alone in this just 'cause we're not on the field. You just gotta trust yourself." Shosetsu watched in stunned silence as Drum disappeared, but Sofia didn't give him any time to grieve.

"Arondight's skill!" Sofia raised the blade up, conjuring another whirlwind of dark energy. This time, the shadow of the monolithic beast materialized out of the storm, roaring in dominance. She swung Arondight down and the beast shot out a beam of dark energy from its mouth at the swordsman.

Shosetsu braced himself as best he could, but still screamed as his body was enveloped in the beast's blast. Excalibur burst into light particles, but it wasn't the loss of his weapon that had Shosetsu's attention. His Buddyskill, still cracked and damaged from the previous assault, shattered as well, and the knight found himself falling once more. Only this time, there was no one to stop it.

Sofia was undeterred by the swordsman's loss of flight and continued once the energy from her attacks had dissipated. "Brynhildr, Tariel! Link attack the fighter!" The two monsters swooped down, intent on finishing the job. "With Tariel's skill, you'll take one damage!"

Shosetsu winced as his body was assaulted by energy once again, his life dropping to 1, and had to focus to keep his eyes open. Sensing the monsters upon him, he reached back to the last card in his hand; the card that Drum had given him with his skill.

"Cast! Holy Grail!" The two halted their charge, stopped in mid strike by the bright Grail, but Shosetsu couldn't keep consciousness. Energy spent, he plummeted into the water, creating a large splash as his body hit the surface.

Paruko stared at the water's edge, shocked into silence at what had transpired. She looked anxiously at the rippling water, half waiting for the swordsman to surface but began to shiver with fear when the air bubbles slowed and the water stilled. "Is he...?"

"Hard to say. There are not many who could withstand an assault from this blade," Sofia said before turning her gaze towards the reporter. "I believe there is time limit to this, isn't there?"

"I mean..." Paruko whimpered and wilted under the Russian girl's glare. "If he doesn't make it back in 5 minutes, he'll be disqualified...that is...if he survives..."

"I lose more fighters that way," Sofia remarked morbidly.

***

Shosetsu nearly lost consciousness when he hit the water, his senses dulling the deeper the sank. In a way, it was more preferable; he couldn't feel any of the aches or pains that he'd accumulated. He only felt the cold water that surrounded him. Distantly, he was aware that he had no trouble breathing, but that thought, too, was soon dulled. He closed his eyes and surrendered to the current, content to let his body drift down to the watery depths.

Young knight, an ethereal, feminine voice echoed out, disrupting the haze that had surrounded Shosetsu's mind. Are you content to let things end as they are?

"What more can I do?" Shosetsu didn't bother to wonder how he could talk underwater, nor where the unfamiliar voice came from, "Excalibur has been bested and my Buddy has been destroyed. My friends' strength was not enough..." He grit his teeth as he spat out, "My strength was not enough."

Perhaps, the voice conceded. _However, they gave the last of their strength to keep you safe. They both believe in you, as do I. The sun's might still shines with you, and will help you pave the road to new possibilities. _

"The Sun?" Shosetsu opened his eyes and looked at the sunlight flittering through the water's surface. "Gao... He wouldn't give up like this, and I'd be doing his Buddy a disservice if I gave up right after being saved."

You who are worthy to wield Excalibur, The voice said again, an ethereal scabbard materialized in front of him. Take hold of the sacred sword and grasp onto the destiny you've earned.

Shosetsu stared at the scabbard, swallowing the lump he felt in his throat. Trusting the voice, he grabbed ahold of the pommel, unsheathing the sacred sword. A gasp escaped him as saw Excalibur's form, now bathed in light. He could feel something had changed about the sacred sword. A name came to his mind and he whispered it out before it faded.

"Excalibur Zenith..."

This sword is the epitome of Excalibur's might. The female voice continued. It's an indestructible blade, with relentless attacking potential, and it shall give you the strength to overcome even the mightiest of obstacles. The luminescent blade burst into rays of light that converged on the swordsman's Core Deck Case, the sheath glowing with newfound power. Now go, chosen knight! Fulfill your destiny!

The knight nodded and soon felt himself rising to the surface,

***

"The 5 minutes are almost up..." Paruko shivered while Sofia looked on impassively, watching the still lake for any hint of the human. "I don't know if he'll-"

Both girls' eyes widened as the lake's surface exploded, Shosetsu flying up from its depths. Though he still lack his Buddyskill, he had no trouble staying in the air. His entire body seemed to radiate with a warm glow, most of it coming from his new scabbard.

"I draw," he began, once he was back in the air. "Charge and draw. Then I equip!" He stretched his arm out, and the last card in his hand disappeared and reformed as a gauntlet on his hand.

"Shosetsu Kirisame," Excalibur itself spoke up, the scabbard at his side glowing brilliantly. "Once again, I have acknowledged thee as my wielder. Hold no hesitation in your heart, for my blade will strike true, regardless of any counter measures the opponent chooses to take."

The swordsman gripped the hilt, pulling his new sword out of the shimmering sheath. It looked much like the original Excalibur, but its blade was clear as crystal, with a rainbow aura radiating along the surface. That aura spread through his body, rejuvenating his senses as well as restoring the circle of energy that represented his Buddyskill behind him, bathing it in a golden glow.

"Holy Blade, Excalibur Zenith!"

"Shosetsu's back in the game!" Paruko cheered. "And with a new sword to boot!"

Sofia watched on in mute fascination before declaring. "Brynhildr moves." The Valkyrie nodded and teleported to the center area. "Don't think I forgot of Excalibur's multiple attack. Whatever form it would take, that is one thing it seems to retain."

Shosetsu didn't acknowledge her taunt, and instead flew directly at Sofia's monster. "The first attack. Zenith's skill!" A flash of light flew up and absorbed itself into the blade. A red gem formed above Excalibur's pommel, and it shone with a radiant energy. When it dimmed, it revealed the transparent image of a familiar red dragon charging alongside him.

"Am I seeing thing or is that Drum flying with Shosetsu!?" asked Paruko in astonishment.

"You bet it is!" the Armordragon said, his voice echoing in the wind. "When Zenith attacks, it puts a Hero in the drop zone into its soul and gains its Critical!"

Shosetsu couldn't help but enjoy the grimace on Sofia's face as they took out Brynhildr. By the time the valkyrie reformed, he was already on his second wind. "Now here's a follow up!" Again Shosetsu charged at the Russian fighter's center, another gem forming above Drum's red one. It shone with a vibrant light, and this time, Axia's image joined him.

"Shosetsu is returning all his fallen warriors to Zenith's soul!" Paruko yelled. "All three of them are working in tandem!"

"That's right!" Axia yelled out. "And when the three of us work together, there's nothing we can't do!"

All three roared out as they crushed Brynhildr, the valkyrie screaming in dismay as she was cut down. Sofia flew higher still, out of reach from Shosetsu's blade, and hovered by the shadowy beast her sword had conjured. Her body became enwrapped in the monster's miasmic aura, mingling with her Disaster Force energy and acting as an extra shield.

"Even with all its power, your weapon still doesn't Penetrate!" she boasted. "Despite your best efforts, you still cannot reach me."

"Don't be so sure about that!" Shosetsu yelled, once more raising his sword. "One more time!"

"Are you telling me that sword has Triple Attack!?" Paruko yelled in bewilderment as the knight charged towards Sofia once more.

"No matter how many attacks or how high a Critical that sword has, it's only good if it can hit its target! I Cast! Scorn of Gremlin!" The card shone in Sofia's hand before releasing a small, green imp which pointed at the trio. In a surprising turn, the shadowy image created by Arondight seemed to obey the imp, and let loose a torrent of smog that engulfed the knight.

Shosetsu found himself being bogged down by the energy it emitted, slowing his charge. That ominous feeling he had with both Klarente and Arondight returned and now felt like it was suffocating him. He could hear the green imp jeer and laugh, enjoying his suffering. But he grit his teeth and pushed onwards, struggling through the energy that forced him back. Through his haze, he felt Drum and Axia's presence behind him, pushing him forward past the mist, much to the imp's and Sofia's astonishment.

"When are you gonna learn!?" Drum yelled as he pushed Shosetsu forward. "This isn't just the power of the sword! This power comes from all of us, as Buddies!"

"Though we come from different worlds!" Axia joined in.

"And even if we started as strangers!" Shosetsu yelled.

"We can come together and unleash our full powers!" Drum finished.

"Zenith's skill will put Durandal into the soul!" The symbol behind Shosetsu returned with a flash, shimmering bright gold as the energy radiated off the blade. "Zenith's final skill. When three or more cards are in its soul, its attack cannot be negated!"

Sofia gasped as the Gremlin before her burst into light and the dark energy from her spell and beast were slowly repelled.

"TAKE THIS!" The trio yelled together, Excalibur radiating with a powerful rainbow aura. "TRIPLE BUDDY SLASH!!"

All three descended on the demonic beast; Drum's image came down first, and slashed through one of the dragon's limbs. "For Axia!!" He yelled, his attack forcing the monster back and leaving a crimson imprint from the impact.

Axia followed suite, and brought his staff down on the monster's other limb. "For Drum!!" he yelled, leaving a teal imprint on the beast.

"For Legend World!!" An enormous energy beam shot out from Excalibur, and when Shosetsu brought it down, it slashed through the miasmic dragon that had been Arondight's aura. The illusionary beast roared in defiance as it was cleaved in two, its body exploding upon itself.

Sofia braced herself, a grimace on her face as she was consumed by the power output. She saw Shosetsu charge through the air, his sword still brimming with power and held up Arondight in defense. Their swords struck loudly as Excalibur Zenith met with Arondight, though the tainted sword held for only a moment before cracks splintered across its length, the sword bursting into shards before vanishing into bits of light. There was nothing to stop the onslaught, and she held back a scream as her life dropped to 0.

"Game Over. Winner: Shosetsu Kirisame!"

The light dispersed and Sofia plummeted to the ground, forced back from the impact. The girl caught herself from her decent and rolled onto the ground to disperse her momentum. Her landing was rough and several cards were flung from her Core Deck Case, three in particular which turned into Lancelot, Mordred and Morganna.

"There you have it folks! The intense struggle is now over!" Paruko yelled from her perch once the explosions had dies down. "After a long and excruciating battle, the Buddyfighter from the Round Table has overcome the odds and defeated Sofia in a match none of us will soon forget!"

As Paruko continued on, Shosetsu descended to the Lake's edge, Excalibur dissipating in his grasp, replaced by Durandal. Drum and Axia materialized from his deck, clad in their Legend World attire, and the three strode up to their fallen foes.

Lancelot was the first to pick himself up, and he looked to where the other two lay, still unconscious. He remained on his knees as the trio approached him, his fist tightened in frustration. "I can't believe it. After surviving that hell, I still lost. Was everything I did meaningless?"

His tone gave the three pause. Hearing Lancelot have such a forlorn outlook came as a surprise, and neither one of them seemed to have any idea on what to say to the sorrowful knight. Before they could come up with anything, a bright light shone from Shosetsu's Core Deck Case, blinding the group. When it calmed down, every member of the Round Table was present and surrounding Lancelot. Arthur himself took center stage and looked down at his former comrade.

"I heard everything..." Lancelot said before Arthur could speak. "What Morganna said. How she was the one that tipped you off. I should've known it would be her..."

Arthur stared at the the knight for several long moments, letting the silence build between them. "Why did you do it?" he asked at last, just barely over a whisper.

Lancelot took a shuddering breath before beginning his explanation. "She showed me a vision of the future...I saw Mordred end your life, and the Knights of the Round Table in ruin. I didn't want those events to come to pass, so I decided to preempt them. Originally, I had planned to use Excalibur's power to change the future. I had asked Guenivere to retrieve it for me, but she had refused. She said she could not betray your trust. I respected those wishes, but..." He glanced to the unconscious sorceress. "Morganna wasn't happy with my affection for her, or that I still yet pined for her. That must've been when she told you we were going behind your back."

"So it was all a misunderstanding. A lie conceived by a jealous witch," Axia surmised. Arthur looked less convinced and stood in front of Lancelot.

"Is this true? Was this all just a coincidence?" He asked, fixing a steely glare at the knight. "Or was my wife just some puppet in all this as well?"

"No!" Lancelot winced. "I loved her, and indeed, had tried to win her heart, but she rejected me soundly. I suppose, in my heart, I had hoped that the lake's power would win her over. Alas, it was not true. But I had decided to proceed with my course of action, if it meant saving her."

The assembled knights and dragons looked at Arthur, the king's expression unreadable. Unbidden, Lancelot continued his tale.

"Though we weren't guilty of that crime, I had every intention of stealing away Excalibur. It was only fitting for me to be punished in the way I was. I truly did lose my mind in that forest, only to be rescued by Morganna. She cast a spell that returned my consciousness to me... or part of it. I was still under the spell's influence, and I lead the uprising at you with no remorse. It was only after I was stopped that I had truly discovered what had happened."

"And was it her that dispelled the curse fully?" Shosetsu asked, glaring at Sofia. All eyes turned to the female fighter, who simply watched on with disinterest.

"Not entirely. She gave Morganna the strength to fully dispel the curse. She promised us power, and told me that she knew a man who could save Legend World from its future. With her help, we convinced Mordred to join our cause, halting his invasion in the process. I thought it was a sign, and that, with the lake's power, we would change the future foretold by fates..."

"So, wait, then who sent declaration of war?" Drum asked. "That's the whole reason we were sent here!"

Lancelot looked perplexed and shook his head. "I have no memory of sending off anything like that after joining Sofia. I was under the belief that this was a covert operation. I suppose that was just another way I was manipulated. I was merely bait for the trap." He clutched the ground, grasping the grass in his fingers. "In my attempt to save my world, I instead became it's ruiner..."

Arthur looked sternly at the genuflecting knight. "You acted as you did to avoid a worse future for us. I can see you are still every bit the cunning knight that you were during your tenure with us."

He said no more, but held out a hand in offering.

"S-sire...?" The disgraced knight asked shakily.

"It seems I was too harsh sending you into that accursed forest. I had reacted too impulsively after hearing from her. Had I not overreacted, perhaps that girl would have avoided you altogether."

"Thank you sire... I am not worthy." Lancelot closed his eyes, but took the king's offered hand.

"Rise my Knight, for indeed you are." Arthur smiled and pulled the once fallen knight to his feet. "We've both much to learn yet, and I would be grateful if you'd rejoin us." The gathered knights said their praises and congratulations as well.

The humans and dragons smiled to each other as they saw Lancelot's return, but now that the tension had been resolved, they turned their focus onto the rouge buddyfighter.

"Now, as for you Sofia," Shosetsu drew his sword and pointed it towards the girl. "You're coming with us."

"I don't recall you enlisting as part of the Buddy Police." Sofia remarked.

"Whether I am or not is of no concern. You have much to answer for." Drum and Axia both glared heatedly at her, readying their weapons as Shosetsu continued, "We will escort you to the Buddy Police office where you will await judgement for your crimes."

Sofia's glare turned ice cold. "You're in no position to threaten me." The Russian girl threw her left hand up, unleashing a Spell. "Cast! Berserk Gard!"

"Not this again!" Drum groaned as an ethereal hand shot out from Sofia's own.

"Leave it to me, I've got this!" Axia yelled, sprinting in front of the group and jabbing his spear at the wave of dark energy. "Thunder Break!" Raw magic shot out from the tip of his staff, his new power shining just as strong as Sofia's were. He smiled in satisfaction as he brought the energy to a standstill. "This will be the last time you underestimate my abilities!"

"Great job, Axia!" yelled Drum as he began his charge. "You've got nowhere to run now, Sofia!"

Sofia smirked and threw out her right hand, a spell brightly lit and ready to be cast. "Gleipnir!" Chains shot out towards the red dragon, intent on ensnaring him. Drum grunted and dodged the brunt of them, charging at the Russian girl soon after.

"Hah, you missed me!"

"Did I?" Sofia's smirk never left her face and she pulled the hand that held the still corporeal chains back towards her. A masculine yell followed her action, and the group turned to see Lancelot chained up and being pulled towards them. Drum swung his sword, determined to strike the fighter before her defense was strengthened. Sofia was just a bit faster, with a flick of her wrist she brought Lancelot in front of her, forcing the corrupted knight towards Drum.

"Dance for me, you traitorous knight"

She moved her arm to and fro, constantly putting her captive knight in front of Drum's charge and stopping him short. Her left hand kept her other spell going, the dragowizard doing his best to halt the flow of the energy.

"All too easy." She said with a small smirk.

"Sofia!" The named girl turned towards the last remaining fighter, shifting her attention to the last knight coming towards her. Shosetsu was already in mid sprint, his sword drawn as he leapt up to bring it down on the fighter. "You should never let your guard down against a skilled opponent!"

His intended strike met with solid ice. "Equip! Ice Shield Deity Svalinn!" Sofia threw the hand that had Gleipnir cast aside, throwing the ensnared knight unceremoniously to the ground. In its place, it now held a solid, diamond shaped shield, which now clashed with Shosetsu's blade.

"Bad move, girl!" Her gaze turned to Drum, who was rapidly sprinting towards her, now that his obstruction was removed. "We've got you now!"

"I told you. You'll never catch me." She stepped back, ceasing her casting altogether, and throwing Shosetsu off balance. She dashed backwards just as Drum made his attack, avoiding it entirely and jumped backwards, a large black and orange portal opening up behind her. She glared icily at the trio before turning and walking into the portal, the energy gone as quick as it came.

"I don't believe it! She got away!" Drum fumed, clutching his sword in anger. "Even when the three of us worked together..."

"Calm down, Drum," Shosetsu sighed, sheathing Durandal. "She is a formidable opponent. There will be other opportunities further down the line to settle the score. For now, let's focus on what we accomplished."

"He's right Drum-kins." Axia chirped. "You can't let it get to you like that. We'll get her next time."

"I know," Drum sighed and relaxed his grip. "It's just we had a great combination going. We got these new powers, we worked in perfect sync. And yet..."

"It is still possible to lose even if you give it your all." Shosetsu said quietly. "But we have forced her to retreat. Her plan is foiled, and the day is ours."

Drum sighed but nodded, smiling at the young human. "Then, if that's all taken care of," he huffed turning to the other knights. "What say we have that banquet, huh?"

Axia and Shosetsu shared a laugh, though the assembled knights looked less than amused. Drum's smile lost some of its humor as he saw the sheepish looking faces of the human monsters.

"Was it something I said?"