A,N: Well here is the next chapter. Sorry for the wait you guys. Sprained my index finger, so had to learn how to write with another finger, while the other was tied up. But I managed. Ha-ha so proud. Hope you like the chapter though, and comment. Love your feedback so far. It is motivating. 😊

Barian's p.o.v.

Inside some kind of factory was the barians, Alito and Girag, present. They were currently using this place as their hideout. They were both having some kind of break. Girag was watching tv. The music of the singer Scarlet starling could be heard from it. However both Girag and Alito were staring out in the air. They were both down in the dumps right now. Girag sighed deeply.

"Mizar has been putting us down ever since he showed up here" he mused out and sighed deeply again "He says, that if we fail again we are through. What should we do Alito?". The brown haired boy snort firmly at that.

"The answer is simple. We have to succeed. So I am going to challenge Yuma Tsukumo, Zaira Wroom and Astral" Alito now uttered.

"Wha challenge them face to face?!" Girag uttered shocked and got up on his feet's "You know what will happen to you if you lose don't yer?!".

"Yeah I know" Alito replied and send him a firm look "But I don't care Girag. As a matter of fact I welcome the danger. I mean it! I am willing to put my own future on the line, to prove I can outduel either one of them".

"I won't let you do this" Girag replied in a cold tone, but Alito refused to listen and wandered off outside somewhere. Girag sneered angrily, and in rage, he smashed the tv with a giant kick. He couldn't believe Alito was ready to risk everything here.

"If he messes this up, he is gonna be sorry big time. That fool" He sneered.

Outside was Alito, standing on the top of the water tower. He was watching heartland city in the horizon. He was so ready for this.

"This would be the most dangerous duel I ever had. Weather it is Zaira or Yuma I am facing. I just can't wait!" Alito uttered in a happy smile and clenched his fists.

Zaira's p.o.v.

I was not fully sure where I was. All I knew was that I was in a place filled with crystals. There were crystals everywhere. All in these red and beautiful colors. It was rather fascinating. It was like I was drawn to this place for some reason. I felt like a ghost. Maybe I were considered I could go into Astral form, but I was not sure if this were reality or just another dream. Whatever reason I was floating/flying passed all those crystals and tundra's. From up here it actually looked like some city. I didn't mind it much and continued on my journey. The next thing I found was this giant red palace who I curiously entered. No one seems to be in there as I entered the hallways, and giant throne room, but at the same time I were pulled somewhere else. Soon I was standing at this bright magenta door, who lead to who knows where. This place called me for some reason. As the ghost I were, I went through it pretty easy, and a simple room met my gaze. Walls colored in the same bright magenta color as the door, along with these crystals. A bed with the same colored covers on. Well there were many weird things in here, and everything at first peeked my interest. Then my eyes wandered to a desk, who was decorated almost as an altar. With lights, a picture who was extremely blurry, and a wait a deck case? It was encased in a bright shiny crystal, and inside of it was cards, but like the picture it was too blurry for me to see. I couldn't help myself. I knew I was a ghost. The awareness in this dream was quite scary actually, but even so. I knew I had to touch it. The deck case. However as I did, a bright light were suddenly shining around me, and laughter could be heard.

"I see. You have finally returned" Laughter followed again, and I it gave me goosebumps.

"Who.. who are you?!" I questioned in a confused scared tone "What do you want?".

"I didn't expect your return so soon.. Princess. Not that it matters, considered your condition" The voice replied. The last tone was clearly mockery, and I clenched angrily my hands. This voice dare make fun of me!

"Hey! Stop laughing! Whoever you are. Show yourself!" I yelled instead. Laughter once again followed and before I knew it I was some place different. I was at a red sea coast.

"Princess... You really here?!" a new voice were roaming around me now. Unlike the other this voice sounded soft and caring. Disbelief were in it's tone of voice though. I looked confused around for any sign of this new person, but no one were in sight.

"Who's there?!" I shouted in an angry tone "Stop hiding, and stop calling me princess! I am no princess got that! My name is Zaira!". An extremely blurry silhouette appeared in front of me, and puzzled me even more. Who was that?

"But I.. Princess, don't you remember me.. I am...".

Whatever this character was about to say, it got killed by the sound of the blowing wind around us. However silver hair blew into my face, as the cruel laughter followed all around here...

I flew up from the bed. A scream were ready on my lips, but I didn't utter a word. I gasped for air as I tried to recall this weird dream. This world of crystals. Although everything else was a completely blur to me. Oh and that silhouette who had appeared just before I had woken up. Who was that? They had called me princess.

"Mistress? Mistress are you okay?" Cy appeared worriedly beside me.

"I am okay. Only a bad dream" I whispered and shook my head. My heart was beating fast though. This longing feeling were in my chest.

"Mistress" Cy said and tried rubbing my cheek and distress away "I wish I could help you. Give you some answers, or eat your distress away. It pains me to see My Zaira like this".

I looked stunned at him. Cy usually never used my name, but then I shrugged. I decided to get up. It wasn't that late until the alarm went off anyway. I stretched my body a little, and decided to take a shower. I had extra time. The warm water did miracles on my body, and soon I was dressed in my school uniform, and ready to attend school. I decided to wake up Yuma though before I went to get breakfast. He was slow getting out of bed anyway, and this was his first day of school since he returned home from the hospital.

"Yuma!" I shouted and stuck my head out of the hole in the ceiling.

I could see him sleep soundly in his hammock at the attic. He didn't react to my different calls, so I did the most quickest thing. Whipped the hammock around so Yuma fell out of it. A soon surprised Yuma got up from the floor and looked pissed at me. I just rolled my eyes at the glare he send me.

"Av Zai! Stop waking me up like that" He complained and rubbed his head a little "I just got out of the hospital you know". I snort and crossed my arms at my chest.

"Then you should wake up when I called" I defended "See you at breakfast, and don't you dare fall asleep again!". I walked downstairs, knowing full well that Yuma properly was gonna do that anyway.

And I was right. A half hour later, where I was eating my breakfast rather peacefully at the table, a shouting cry from Yuma could be heard through the house. He was late! Not my problem though. I already woke him up once, so instead I thanked Grandma and Lilybot for the food and went on my way to school. Just as Yuma entered the kitchen and began stuffing his face. Figures the food was most important.

"Mistress, what are our plans today?" Cy questioned as we wandered down the street towards school. He was sitting on my shoulder as a mini spirit.

"Hmm good question. I want to go to school and be with Reginald of course. And if any barian minions comes our way, you will bite off their monsters heads.." I mused out thoughtfully and Cy growled in approval to that. "But beside that. I have no plans. Might pay Kite a visit. Want to see if he has any new info on Mizar..".

Cy growled at that too. Kite had surely been gathering info on his galaxy rival, and any info on the barians could be of help against the war with them. That and since I meet Mizar, the yellow Barian had peeked my interests. There was just something about how he was, and how he used his dragon. It intrigued me.

"Hello Zaira chan! Good morning" a cheering voice greeted and I didn't need to turn around to know who that was. Ray Shadow was clearly behind me.

"Morning" I replied and grabbed his hand, as Ray tried to hug me "And don't you dare. I don't want any hugs today". Ray sighed annoyed.

"Av but Zaira chan.." He whimpered and got out of my grip "I just wanna see you smile..". I snort at that, and were about to give him a piece of my mind, when I felt something. I stopped up and began scouting the surroundings. Something was off.

"Zaira chan?" Ray questioned and looked puzzled at me "What's the matter?".

"Shh. I think I can sense something" I said in a low voice "I think it might be the barians. I feel danger..". Ray's eyes widened in surprise.

"You can feel those people Yuma faces? Since when?" He questioned.

"Since, since the factory okay!" I sneered angrily "Now be quiet.. I".

I never finished the sentence because suddenly we were surrounded. A herd of students were in blocking our path, and they were all under the barian's control. I knew since I could see a familiar symbol on all the students forehead. That and their duel disk were ready. I hissed angrily, and so did Cy on my shoulder. We should face all them at the same time?! No problem! I were about to pull my duel disk and gazer up from my pocket, when suddenly a hand grabbed around my wrist.

"Come Zaira chan. Let's shake them off. Trust in the Ray way!" Ray shouted and began running into the ally with me tagging along.

We ran and ran through the city. The brainwashed students followed of course. They were targeting us, but at the same time I was impressed by Ray's dodging skills. If it wasn't for me knowing Ray and his Ray way, I would be even more surprised that I was for sure. Ray's observant skills were off the charge here. We were once caged in, or so I believe, when Ray made something out of tune, like kicking some boxes which made us escape up at the fire escape stairs to a building. I was a big question mark here, but I decided to save my questions until we were out of this mess. I wasn't even sure we could since we needed to face them at some point. I mean it wasn't like they stopped being brainwashed, just because Ray and I were hiding. However Ray was trying to protect me regardless, and I did point out I didn't need saving here. Soon we were both taking a break at the docs down at the pier. We hadn't seen any students for a long time, and we both needed a time out to catch our break.

"Okay Ray, spill it!" I sneered angrily and took a deep breath. I was glaring angrily at him "There is no way you are Ray. Ray shouldn't be able to all that you did today".

Chuckling laughter could be heard from Ray now, and I lifted my hands. I were prepared to defend myself. A wide, maybe even evil grin, appeared on Ray's lip, along with a certain symbol on his forehead. My eyes widened in horror.

"You are one of them!" I uttered and sneered angrily. My duel disk got placed on my wrist. I was so ready to fight now. How dare they brainwash Ray too!

"The enemy of Barian world must be destroyed" Ray muttered out and chuckled "They wanted me to lure you here, so you can't meddle in their fight with Yuma".

"So that's it hu?!" I sneered angrily "Well if you think you, singlehanded can keep me away from helping Yuma. Then you are sadly mistaken..".

I had just said that, when I felt pain hit my skull pretty hard, and I fell surprised down toward the ground. Ray caught me however. I hissed angrily, as everything began getting blurry. I should have known, he wasn't alone.

"I am sorry" was the last thing I heard from Ray as I went unconscious.

Normal p.o.v.

"Alright Yuma, that's enough!" Kairi shouted and looked at her little brother, who was sitting at the table, and were stuffing his face with different breakfast bowls. "You really have to stop stuffing your face, and get out of the door. Zaira already left and you are late!". Yuma growled and were running on the spot trying to finish his last bowl as fast as he could.

"But I am still hungry" he uttered and tossed the bowl to Kairi when she was glaring at him "See you at dinner".

Then he ran out of the door as fast as he could. He could hear Kairi yell something about that he was eating like a dinosaur, but Yuma didn't care. The fresh air hit his face, as he ran through the city. He couldn't be late again. Mr. Kay And Kairi would kill him for sure.

"Wait up Yuma!" a voice suddenly shouted and Ray appeared behind him "I knew it was your first day back from the hospital, so I waited for you".

"Thanks, but now you will be late too" Yuma replied with a smile as they both ran towards the school. However, just like Zaira was, they were stopped by a herd of students. All of them wanted to duel Yuma at the same time.

"What do you guys want?" Yuma questioned annoyed. His key flashed and Astral appeared beside him. The ghost eyes narrowed worriedly.

"Clearly they stand with Barian world" He said. Yuma nodded at that. He had figured out that much too. His gaze turned over to Ray. He couldn't bring Ray into this.

"Quick, run!" Yuma told Ray and did just that.

"Well if you insist" Ray responded and followed after him.

A little away was Girag standing, and he was holding up barian's force. He was looking determined around on all the students he had brainwashed. Zaira Wroom might have escaped him, but he was not making the same mistake with Yuma and Astral.

"Sorry Alito, but I am gonna do this my way" the big barian then said. "We can't afford to fail. I am gonna stomp down Yuma Tsukumo and Astral, and take all their numbers".

At heartland school.

Tori had just arrived at school and were greeted by Shark and Rio in the hallway. They were all, more or less, psyched to have Yuma back at school. Although Tori knew Shark was waiting for a different reason, but she was thrilled Zaira and Shark finally were together. She hoped it would be the same for her and Yuma one day. She was about to say goodbye to them and go inside her own class, when Rio was staring at her with really distant eyes. It creeped Tori out a little.

"There is danger. A darkness approaches and threatens the light. It comes for Yuma.." Rio mused out slowly. Shark and Tori looked stunned at her.

"Are you sure?" Shark questioned "What about Zaira?".

"She, I cannot detect" Rio mumbled "She out of my foresight".

Tori looked stunned at the scene in front of her. It looked like Rio had some kind of vision. She clenched her hand. That really didn't matter right now. What matters was them saving Yuma, and that couldn't go fast enough.

Yuma's p.o.v.

"Come on! I think we are losing them!" Yuma uttered as he ran down the docs.

He really hoped these duelists would stop their pursuit by now. Sadly he soon found out they hadn't. A crowd of duelist were in front of him, and to his left and right side was giant containers standing. They were blocking his way too. Yuma and Ray tried to turn around and retreat back that way, but another herd of duelists blocked that path too. They were boxed in as Ray commented. Yuma sneered angrily. These guys are gonna duel me all at once?! His eyes fixated on Astral beside him. He clenched his fists. They are differently playing for keeps, and if I lose, Astral will be done for, and who knows what happens to Zaira. What am I gonna do?!

"Heads up Yuma!" a voice suddenly shouted and Shark suddenly jumped down from the top of the containers.

"Shark?!" Yuma uttered rather surprised. The purple haired boy smirked evilly.

"I heard there might be a duel, and I didn't wanna miss out" he then said and chuckled. He looked around on the crowd "That, and do you know where Zaira is? She didn't show up at school". Yuma looked puzzled at him.

"What do you mean she didn't show?" Yuma then questioned "Zaira went ahead of me to school. She should be there by now, unless..".

"..Unless they got to her" Shark concluded and sneered "Not that I think these chumps could ever beat her, but might as well ask them. It gives me another reason for why I have to beat them". Yuma nodded. He welcomed Shark to this fight.

"He is not the only one" Tori's voice rang through the crowd as she and Rio blasted their way through the crowd. In their own style of way. Tori was armed with a frying pan, and Rio her duel disk.

"If you wanna take these clowns down..." Rio began and Tori continued "Then you need some girl power". Yuma smiled happily at that. He was happy to see them.

"Awesome! Welcome to the team you two" Yuma said and tossed off his school bag to the ground.

Ray tossed of his as well, and Yuma activated his duel disk and gazer. Shark activated his too, along with Rio. They were all ready to fight now.

Time skip.

Shark's big jaws, zeroed down one players life points minutes later. Rio had also zeroed out a duelist with her "Zerofyne", and Yuma shot himself to victory with "Gagaga cowboy". There were still many duelists left, but even so. Yuma was still sure they could win in the end. As long as they were working together, as they were doing right now. What Yuma hadn't counted on was Ray. He didn't believe Ray was under their influence, until he suddenly found himself in a tight grip of his.

"Sorry Yuma, but I have no choice" Ray replied as the barian symbol appeared on his forehead.

Yuma looked surprised at him, while trying to get out of his grip, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't get away from him. Yuma sneered angrily. That might be the reason, Zaira was not here right now. Ray much have gotten to her, like he did to Yuma right now.

"You are on their side?" Yuma sneered and he could see Ray smirk at him.

"The enemies of barian world must be destroyed" Ray said in a monotone voice.

Yuma hissed angrily. There must be a way to get out of this predicament. Laughter filled the air suddenly, and a being appeared in front of Yuma now. Yuma's eyes widened again, when this giant but familiar male was in front of him.

"I remember you. You are that guy who teamed up with me for the friendship games" he then said "So are you mixed up with these guys too?". The male chuckled evilly at that and were holding up a card.

"You might say that" he replied and grinned again. Barian's force were shown in his hand "In fact I am running this show. Get the picture tweep". Yuma looked even more horrified now. If he had Barian's force then he was a..

"He must have come from Barian world" Astral now said.

Yuma sneered. Astral had said what he had been thinking all along. This guy was a Barian!

"So you are the one who is controlling this mop?" Yuma asked in an angry tone.

"Yeah. I am Girag, a barian warrior and Emperor. All in one, but enough talk. Fall in troupes. Launch an all-out assault on Yuma and Astral!" Girag then said.

Yuma looked in horror as all the students obeyed Girag and now summoned a monster on their duel disks. The monsters might not be strong by themselves, but even Yuma couldn't take this many on, and still have life points left. This was a disaster!

"You better have the best defense ever Yuma. Because they are all coming after you" Girag proclaimed and smirked evilly. This mass attack of monsters attacked.

"I'll put a stop to this!".

Voices rang through the air, as energies suddenly sparkled in front of Yuma. Without any explanation Zaira and Alito suddenly appeared in midair, both of them activating spell cards, who send monsters flying.

Zaira's p.o.v.

A little earlier.

"Zaira! Zaira! Wake up! Wake up!".

I could feel myself got shaken rather firmly, and I groaned slightly. Who were disturbing my sleep? Then my eyes flew surprised open. I remembered everything! How Ray had lured me here, and made someone else knock me out. I hissed angrily, and sent a hard knuckle flying through the air. Whoever was walking me open, couldn't be a friend of mine.

"Av what the hell!" I could hear someone shout, and my knuckle were tied in a fast grip.

My eyes blinked a little, and brown hair and skin met my gaze. It was a boy. He was holding my knuckle in a grip with his right hand, and were rubbing his cheek with the other. He sneered annoyed.

"Easy there with the fists Zaira. Why did I deserve that one for?" the male questioned rather annoyed "I just wanted to see if you were okay. You were out cold you know".

"Alito?" I questioned in a puzzled tone, and groaned slightly "Is that you?".

"The one and only" Alito replied with a smile and rose up to his full height. Then he looked worriedly at me "I was just passing by, when I noticed you sitting here, out cold and everything. What happened here?". I groaned again and got up on my feet's.

"I was.. I was knocked out" I then hissed and rubbed my head "Some stupid brainwashed student from Barian world suddenly attacked me out of the blue. They even control my friend! When I gets my hands on the one doing this, I will kill them!".

Alito eyes widened in surprise. I rolled my eyes a little. I forgot he didn't know a thing about Barian world, and were surely confused right now. I sighed deeply, and turned my back to him. I really didn't have the time to explain.

"Never mind. I don't have the time to explain" I sneered and clenched my fists "If they are not after me, then they are surely after Yuma. Those bastards! When I get my hands on them I will..".

"No!" Alito shouted suddenly and interrupted me completely. I turned surprised around, to see him have an angry fit with the wall here. "He just didn't! I told him I would be the one! Who does he think I am? I am not a little kid any longer! Dumon trusted me with this mission too, you know! Ahr!".

His fist hit the wall again, and I think a crack showed there. Dumon? Mission, what in the world is he talking about?Alito turned towards me with determined eyes. Then he grabbed my hand.

"Come on Zaira. Let's go!" he said firmly. I looked even more confused now.

"Go? Go where?" I asked. Alito snort annoyed and placed two fingers on his forehead with his right hand. I noticed a certain bracelet on his wrist now.

"To go saving Yuma and Astral of course. You wanted payback right?!" He replied and hummed "Give me a sec to tune in on the right frequency. If I know him, he will be close by". Frequency? I must admit I got more and more confused here.

"Aha got him. Now hold on tight Zaira. You are in for a bumpy ride!" Alito uttered and without any warning, he teleported away. Just like that!

The only explanation that was running through my head that actually made sense, was that he must be a barian as well. However since he was bend of rescuing Astral and Yuma right now, I would play along. For now at least.

To say that we hit the right spot was an understatement. Alito and I popped out of the blue, right in front of Yuma and Astral. I am not sure how everyone saw this, but I hadn't time to see their reactions. I quickly took an overview of the situation. It was pretty dire indeed. Yuma was surrounded by many duelist, who was doing a mass attack on him, while Ray was holding him in a tight grip. I hissed angrily. So the barian world thought they could mess with my friend Ray again. Well they were dreaming. I was gonna free him from the barians control once and for all.

"Zaira, I'll take this side. You will take the other" I could hear Alito say.

"Got it!" I replied and glared at all the duelists on my side. That was the side with Ray on, so I didn't complain one bit.

"Go lightning Clinch!" Alito shouted and activated that named spell card "I may lose 3000 life points, but all monsters on your side of the field can't attack".

A sphere appeared around Alito and all the monsters on his side, no longer could attack Yuma. I hummed a little at that. It was impressive, but not as impressive as me.

"I activate the card 'Wolf hurricane'" I shouted "I sacrifice all my life points besides one point, as well as my entire hand. By doing so, all your monsters are destroyed, and you all take damage, equal to your monster who is destroyed, plus the damage I took this round".

A shield of wind appeared around me, as the monsters attacked, and it send them flying, along with all the damage I took this round. The students along with Ray got send flying, and as soon as they hit the ground, the barian symbol left their forehead. I smirked. I was mighty pleased by myself.

"Ahr what?! You defeated them with one card?!" Alito uttered annoyed "Ahr she beat me again! Stupid Zaira! Oh well can't let my game up. I activate the spell 'Brain reboot'. When I have 1000 or less life points, this card sends all your monsters back to your hand, and delivers a knockout punch, that will send your pathetic partners flying to the floor for a ten count".

I hummed at that when Alito also send the rest of the duelists to the ground. Not bad, for a barian that is. The only one left was this giant brute who had been helping us with the friendship games. What was his name again? Girag? My eyes narrowed at that. Why was he not send flying, unless he was the one Alito was blabbing about before. Was Girag a barian too?

"Why? Why are you helping him?!" Girag uttered and confirmed everything. He was a barian alright. "You traitor! How dare you! Who's side are you on Alito? We were given a mission. We need that kids numbers to save our world. It is our job to take them anyway we can. And if that isn't enough you brought the Astral guardian here too. What do you have to say for yourself?!".

My eyes narrowed at that. So Alito really was a barian here? Interesting and confusing at the same time.

"I am aware of that. I know what I need to do!" Alito then shouted back in an angry tone "But that doesn't mean you can do whatever you feel like".

"Hu? Wait a minute? Alito you are from barian world?" Yuma uttered rather stunned.

"Why? Why are you standing in my way Alito?!" Girag yelled back at him.

"You know why. I already told you I was gonna beat Yuma, Astral and Zaira. All by myself!" Alito sneered back in a firm voice "But you went behind my back any way. I may be young, but I am no longer that little kid you need to protect. I am a proud barian emperor now, so let me fight my own battles. You got that Sensei!".

My eyes widened at that info. Alito was a barian emperor?! Just like Mizar?! And that was not all, Girag was his teacher. I was completely speechless here.

"There is too much at stake here. We can't afford to take any chances this time. Yuma and that guardian of theirs are a lot tougher than you think!" Girag shouted.

"They are both great duelists. I know. That's why I wanted to confront them all alone. I'll beat them and take all their numbers, while proving I am the best" Alito defended and send Girag a cold glare "My loyalty is to Barian world, but I am a duelist first. Something that you know I'm treasuring here a lot Sensei. That's why I decided to settle things my way, by dueling with honor! It is a disgrace to win a battle the way you just did. Now get out of here Sensei!".

Girag looked shocked at Alito. He sneered. I didn't know if it was in shame or annoyance though, but I think it was the first one. It must not feel that great to be schooled by his own pupil after all. Alito turned towards Yuma, Astral and I now. His eyes were filled with determination.

"You will duel me, won't you?" he then said.

"Hold up, if we accept, we are gonna put our numbers on the line right?" Yuma questioned. Alito nodded and told us, he was dueling with high stakes here too. For his own survival, which puzzled me a lot. What survival?!

"I am willing to risk everything, in a duel against either one of you" Alito now told us. "I'll beat both of you, and Astral!".

"He is determined to confront us" Astral mused slowly "Like it or not, sooner or later we will have to face him". Yuma and I both nodded at that.

"Then why wait? Let's do it" Yuma said in a determined voice as well.

"Hold your horse Yuma" I then said and made everyone turn towards me. I took some steps forward, and were soon staring face to face with Alito. I was actually so close, that I was staring directly into Alito's green eyes. "You do know I am Astral's guardian. It is my job to protect Astral from such a threat from barian world right?".

"True.. but you never seem to care about that position until now" Astral replied. He looked very puzzled at me now. Alito's eyes widened at that, and he took a step backwards. Properly because I was invading his personal space.

"So I have to battle you first Zaira. Well bring it on!" Alito replied determined.

We were staring at each other for a little while. Then I began chuckling, which properly confused everyone. I placed a hand on Alito's shoulder.

"Nope! I just needed to confirm something. You are honest, and you did help me back there, so guess I could let you duel Astral and Yuma right away" I replied and chuckled. I walked back to Astral and Yuma "He is all yours, Yuma".

"Ah sweet. Let's go Alito!" Yuma uttered happily. They walked out in the open and away from the containers. I could see the ocean in the horizon now. They needed more space to duel of course.

"Yes! I knew you wouldn't let me down" Alito replied with a smile "I promise I will not disappoint. I activate a barian sphere field!".

I looked in awe as Alito tossed a tiny cube up in the air. It exploded and turned into a similar red sphere Mizar had used. I bit my lip a little. Had I made a mistake here, by letting Alito duel Yuma? Whatever the reason, I could not help them anyway, since I were outside the sphere along with Shark and the others. I just hoped Yuma and Astral could handle the sphere.

Yuma's p.o.v.

Yuma looked around as the sphere closed in on him. Astral were beside him, and they were both ready to duel. Alito appeared soon in here as well, and they were both glaring down each other for at least some seconds.

"Now Yuma. We will make this the most epic battle ever" Alito said and smiled an excited smile.

Yuma couldn't keep himself from smiling as well. This was gonna be epic alright, and he couldn't wait for it to start. He activated his duel disk and gazer. Alito activated his own gear, and the duel soon began.

Alito: 4000 Lp's.

Yuma: 4000 Lp's.

Yuma was waiting for Alito to make the first move. He was still a little shaken up that Alito was a barian. After all, all the barian world duel he had up to now, had been difficult and dangerous. The stakes had been high as well. However the duel with Alito at the school's roof, had been one of the most exciting duels he ever had.

"I can't believe Alito is a barian" he told Astral "If we wins he will take all our numbers".

Astral nodded concerned at that too. They were both having their attention on Alito as he did his first move. Alito summoned "Battlin boxer Headgear" to the field. He was a lv 4. Since Alito controlled a battlin boxer monster, he could special summon "Battlin boxer sparrer" from his hand. It was also level 4. Alito overlaid them both, so he could xyz summon "Battling boxer lead yoke". (rank 4, 2200 att)

"We faced the same monster last time we dueled him" Astral said in a concerned tone. Yuma nodded. He remembered. Every time Lead Yoke lost an Ou, he gets 800 points stronger. That and he couldn't be destroyed in battle.

"He kept clabbering me with this monster last time" Yuma mused worriedly "And he almost won". Alito send Yuma a confident smirk, placed three cards face down and ended his turn. Yuma hummed at that.

"What is he up to?" he questioned.

"It is possible, he is setting up the same counter strategy he tried before" Astral said. ¨

"Oh yeah. That was genius. Alito countered every move against him, and it made him even stronger. I barely managed to figure out a way around it" Yuma responded.

"Only this time, the stakes are greater. So we must expect the unexpected".

"Stop stalling, and make a move already" Alito uttered. Yuma and Astral both turned their attention to the duel again. Alito was right. They had to make a move now.

"Okay. Here goes. Whatever your strategy is, I am gonna win this my way" Yuma uttered and drew a card.

He started off his move, by summoning his "Gagaga magician". Since he controlled a Gagaga monster, Yuma could special summon "Gagaga child" from his hand. Yuma activated it's eff. It could change level to that monster who made it possible for its summoning. So Gagaga child became lv 4. Yuma of course overlaid his two monsters to xyz summon "Nb 39 Utopia". Yuma ended his turn with three face downs. Just like Alito. Or Yuma tried to end his turn, but Alito activated a facedown. The quick spell "Overlay flash". He used one of Lead Yoke's Ou's, in other to negate Utopia's special effect. However since Lead Yoke lost an Ou, it got 800 points stronger. (2200-3000 att) Yuma sneered annoyed at that. Since he just placed his face downs, he couldn't activate any of them yet. Something Astral also pointed out to him. They were in a dire situation.

"I guess I finally end my turn now" Yuma proclaimed and did just that. Alito was up and he drew. He made Lead Yoke attack Utopia.

"This resemble the attack on Goblin launcher in our last duel" Astral pointed out.

"You are right. I do what I did then and activate 'battle rush'" Yuma replied and activated the trap. Now his Utopia couldn't get destroyed in battle, and any damage Yuma would have taken, was send back to Alito.

"You have to do way better than that Yuma" Alito replied and smirked "I can easily counter this by using the trap 'fancy footwork'".

Yuma looked rather stunned by that. Since a trap was activated doing battle, fancy footwork negated and destroyed Yuma's trap card. However Yuma was not done yet. He also had a counter ready. The trap card called "Xyz strike". It was the same card that made him win their last duel. It destroyed Alito's trap. Yuma thereafter drew a card from his deck, and if it was a monster card, Lead Yoke and Utopia switched att points, but Lead Yoke's att would be reduced to 0 until the end of this battle. However if it was a spell or trap card, the damage Yuma took this round was doubled up.

"If you thought I would fall for that trap again, you underestimated me big time" Alito replied "I am gonna outmaneuver your counter move, by activating 'counter class'". Yuma looked even more shocked now.

"What does that do?" He questioned.

"He was planning this all along" Astral replied worriedly. "Since a counter trap was activated, Alito can now activate that trap called counter class, and destroy our trap".

"Yep, but that is not all" Alito replied with a smirk "The battle damage this turn is also doubled up. Lead Yoke have 500 more att points than Utopia. So you two takes 1000 points of damage".

That send Yuma and Astral flying around in the sphere field.

Astral's p.o.v.

Astral looked in horror as Utopia got destroyed, and Yuma got send into the sphere field. He could see the jolts radiating on his partners body. Astral himself had not physically got hit by the attack from Lead Yoke, since he was a spirit and all, but mentally it drained him. Just as Yuma got hit with those jolts. They lost 1000 life points, but Astral knew they were far from done. Yuma was just gonna feel the flow and bounce back. Just like he did.

"I'll turn this over to you now Yuma" Alito said and ended his turn.

"Wow, that move was outstanding" Yuma replied and send Alito a big smile. He was of course ready to duel more. "I can sense that you were totally feeling the flow on that last attack. Now I am feeling more charged up that ever about this duel".

"That's the spirit! Let's take this duel to the next level. We are going head to head leaving it all on the duel field. Until the best one is left standing" Alito replied in an excited tone.

He sounded just as excited as Yuma right now. Astral looked at the two boys. They were so alike here. Alito sounds just like Yuma.

"Alright then. You better watch out Alito, cause I am not pulling any punches" Yuma said and smiled.

He drew and started off his move by activating the spell "Xyz revenge". Since Lead Yoke has an Ou, Yuma could use that to summon "Utopia" back from the graveyard, and attach that Ou to Utopia.

"I am glad you took that Ou, because you just made Lead Yoke 800 points stronger" Alito replied with a smirk. Astral and Yuma however was not faced.

"Use your last trap" Astral said and Yuma did as he asked.

He activated the trap "Fiery fervor". He equipped it to Utopia. Since Alito's monster gained Att points, Yuma could activate this card to double Utopia's att points. (2500-5000 att)

"He just pulled off a perfect counter move" Alito uttered rather stunned "And I fell for it".

Yuma of course attacked with Utopia and destroyed Lead Yoke. Alito was send flying into the sphere field this time, and his life points dropped down to 2800.

"Wuhu!" Astral could hear Tori cheer in the background "That's it Yuma. Finish him off!". Astral didn't comment on that cheer. They couldn't comply on that.

"They can't!" Zaira replied firmly and looked up at the sphere "Not on this turn anyway. Trust me guys. It is far from over". Astral nodded. Zaira was observant as ever, but what did you expect when he taught her in Astral world.

"So Yuma could still lose" Tori muttered worriedly.

"Come on, we still have lots of battling to do" Yuma suddenly said and looked over at Alito. Alito chuckled happily at that.

"Yeah, you are right. Let's go!" the barian replied and send Yuma a big smile.

Astral looked at both of them once again. It seems Yuma and Alito are perfectly matched as opponents. I am curious on how this duel will evolve moving forward.. He had just thought that, when Astral felt pain through his whole body. It was unlike anything he could remember experiencing. This barian sphere field is starting to drain my powers. Just at the moment Yuma would most need my help.

A,N: Well decided to cut here, and yeah I know this is a cruel cliffhanger. Hope you liked the chapter so far though. Alito and Yuma is gonna go round two in the next chapter, and of course Alito goes full barian there. Don't ask me if that improves, but it is an intense battle. I am not sure when I will publish that chapter however, since I kinda decided to try and finish my Gx story. Or at least two chapters in a row there. However the quicker I finish Gx, the quicker I can start Arc V, so hope that it excites some readers at least lol. I am excited!! :D