That match with Gao and Genma had gotten underway, as after the first destruction of Genma's Buddy Duel Sieger, things had heated up.

Martial Art Dragon Emperor, Duel Sieger

Size: 3

Power: 7000

Defense: 7000

Critical: 2

Duel Sieger Spartand

Size: 3

Power: 8000

Defense: 8000

Critical: 3

Ryu: Man, I can't remember the last time anyone but me destroyed Duel Sieger.

Azure: So Sieger is like Adamantine. When destroyed he Evolves.

Gao's last attack was blocked, with Genma getting rid of one life to do so.

Genma Life: 4

Gao Life: 4

The Buddyfight went back and fourth as Gao did everything to defend and counter. Managing to avoid damage by moving Double Sword Dragon to the Center with Dragonic Formation, and negating the second attack with Blue Dragon Shield.

Karma: ARGHHH, I can't take this crazy back and fourth!! Ryu, do you have any idea who might have the edge here?!

Testuya, Asmodai, Talon, Azure, Karma, Hanako, and Suzumi looked to him for the answer.

Ryu: ... No.

They all nearly fell out of their seats at this.

Ryu: At the moment they're dead even. I can't tell until Genma's pulled out all the stops, and how Gao responds.

Gao: Charge and Draw!! I cast: Dragonic Grimoire!!

Gao dropped the cards in his hand, before getting three new ones. Ryu saw a certain look in his eye, before smirking.

Ryu: Well, if you wanna know the currant advantage, just keep your eyes open for this.

Gao: I call to the Left: Iron Chain Dragon!!

A blue dragon with chains appeared to the left.

Iron Chain: Somebody need a leash?

Iron Chain Dragon

Size: 1

Power: 3000

Defense: 3000

Critical: 1

Asmodai: Wicked!!

Karma: What a draw!!

Gao: Using two Gauge: I want you to restrain Duel Sieger with your Chain!

Iron Chain: That guy? It'll take a lot of chain.

Gao: You can get more.

Iron Chain Dragon jumped into the air, before binding Sieger with ludicrous amounts of chain.

Ryu: That's 6000 defense gone. 2000 now.

Iron Chain tried to attack next, but Genma had other plans.

Genma: Not happening!! I cast: Dragon Outlaw!!

With a boost of 3000 defense and the counter ability now added, Sieger withstood and destroyed Iron Chain.

Gao: AND RIGHT CROSS!!!

Showing he and Ryu truly were related, Gao leapt in to strike Sieger across the face, destroying him, but Sieger coming back.

Gao: Come on Drum, you're up!!

Drum: CRASHING THROUGH!!! DRILL RAM BUNKER!!!!

Drum ripped through Sieger with his drill, as the dragon was destroyed.

Karma: He did it!!

Testuya: Oh yeah!! With that monster gone Gao's got it in the bag yo!!

Ryu still looked at the battle.

Ryu: Not yet. Now you're gonna see how Genma nearly had me last year.

Genma's life points began to drop, but as soon as they hit zero, they glowed gold.

Genma: CALL!!! First your eyes on Duel Sieger's Ultimate Third Form!!!

Drum: Oh no he didn't!

A air pressure appeared around Genma as he screamed as the top of his lungs.

Genma: I CALL THE INCREDIBLE DRAGON LORD DUEL SIEGER: TEMPEST ENFORCER!!!!

Duel Sieger rose again, however this time his form included 6 arms, being bipedal, and having some parts of of him being armored with gold.

Duel Sieger: Tempest Enforcer

Size: 3

Power: 12000

Defense: 12000

Critical: 3

Azure was surprised to see this.

Azure: Sieger even has a third form?

Ryu: This is what gave me so much trouble. It's hard to find a monster that can match raw power like that without a gimmick.

Karma: C-Can Gao stand up to a monster like that? Not a card in his deck has the power to match it!

Ryu: ... One Card does.

Everyone saw Gao take off his jacket, with Ryu then smirking.

Ryu: And knowing him, he'll have the luck to draw it.

Gao: Eclipsing the Darkness with Flames.

He pulled a single sleeve on.

Gao: And Brightening the heart of the Mistreated.

He pulled the other on, as he seemed to be standing in front of a blazing inferno.

Gao: The Might Sun Fighter-

Gao/Genma: Is finally here!

Gao: Why are you saying it?!

Ryu looked at the battle again.

Ryu: 'So Genma, you finally meet the other person who calls themselves "Sun Fighter". Let's see if you learned from our battle.'

Karma: Hm?

Genma's turn had come, as he proved why he was the runner up of the ABC cup last year. He destroyed Gao's Dragoknuckle, and prepared for an attack. As he did, the shirt on his back was blown off, revealing an amount of muscle no 8th Grader should reasonably have.

Genma: ARES CRUSHER!!!! MULTIPLY!!!!

3 Sieger's appeared around Gao ready to attack. However he blocked once with a Green Dragon Shield, increasing his life to 5, White Dragon Shield, minimizing the damage to 1, but ultimately took the 3rd attack head on. The roof was destroyed by the sheer power and gale force brought by it, with Gao remaining at a single life point, and Drum by his side.

Gao: Man... This is intense. And to think that Ryu's even stronger than you at full steam.

Gao smirked at Genma.

Genma: So you're the one Ryu told me about a year ago!!

Gao was shocked by this.

Gao: Ryu mentioned me?

Genma: Last year when we faced off in the tournament, I told him that I was the True Might Sun Fighter!! However, he told me something that day! The last time I saw your brother Yota, I didn't completely understand! Trying to block out the memory, I thought that only the greatest of leaders could be the Sun Fight, but no!

Gao smiled when hearing this!

Gao: A leader is someone who tries to become better for the good of others! That's what the Sun Fighter's all about!!

Genma: Someone who can-

Gao: Shed the light on the world!!

Gao&Genma: Just like the Sun!!

Genma: Everyone has that potential!! The fire of the sun inside of them!! The Sun Fighter is something anyone can become!!

Gao: Yeah!!

Genma: Now Gao, let's see!! Which one of our flames burn brighter!!!

Gao: The best way for me to show you, is by winning this match!! DRAW!!!

He pulled a card from his deck.

Gao: CHARGE, AND DRAW!!!!

He pulled another, flipping it over to see a certain card.

Gao: I pay one Gauge, and Equip!!!

A burning light appeared around Gao's hand, before revealing a large gauntlet with a sun in the middle.

Ryu: Sun Fist Sunshine Impact.

Sun Fist Sunshine Impact

Power: 5000

Critical: 2

Suzumi: Yota's card!!

Paruko: THAT'S A SUPER RARE CARD THAT HASN'T BEEN SEEN FOR AGES!!! GYAAAAAH!!!!

Ryu: And there you have it.

Azure: Wait, I'm still kinda new to that card.

Karma: Same here, what's so special that Gao can win because of it?

Ryu: That card is literally the power of friendship. When link attacking with a Buddy Monster, the power is Infinity.

Karma: THAT'S POSSIBLE?!!!

Azure: And you're going against that?!!

Gao and Drum both leaped in, easily combating Sieger's attacks. Genma looked up, tilting his hat down with a smile.

Drum: DRILL RAM BUNKER!!!

Gao: TASTE THE DEFEAT!!! SUN FIST SUNSHINE IMPACT!!!!

Sieger's arms were blown off as he was destroyed, as once that happened, Genma's flag disappeared.

Winner: Gao Mikado!!

Everyone cheered loudly, with Ryu clapping for a few moments, before turning around.

Ryu: Come on, we gotta get ready.

Karma: Already?!

Blaze: Yup. No time to waste against them.

Azure: Wait up then.

Team Rage exited the arena, with Genma and Gao shaking hands.

Genma: Congratulations Gao. It's impressive to defeat me. Only a single person has ever done so when I had Tempest Enforcer out.

Gao: Let me guess, that one person is Ryu.

Genma: He's only gotten better since last time. Give that everything you got.

Gao: Right!!

Drum: 'Man, we barely scraped by against this guy. Ryu and Blaze are supposed to be even stronger? If it wasn't for that Item, then Gao may have lost because I was...'

TIME SKIP!!

Ryu was walking to the arena with Blaze, as he was ready for the final battle.

Ryu: 'Even though we live together, this will be my first Buddy Fight against Gao.'

He thought back to his first win against Tasuku, as Dragobrave blew back the boy wonder.

Ryu: 'Ever since that first Buddyfight, I could tell that he was like me. Outside of Tasuku, I never lost a Buddyfight. He hasn't yet.'

His match against Rouga where he won in a single turn, finishing things with the Gargantua Punisher came to mind as well.

Ryu: 'Gao has the same unnatural talent for Buddyfight that I do. Here I thought I was special.'

Blaze: Ryu, this may very well be our toughest fight yet.

Ryu: I know, but this time we're not just on our own.

???: That's right.

Ryu saw Azure and Karma waiting at the door for him.

Azure: Took your time getting here.

Ryu: Ha, sorry, just got a little something from my aunt.

They looked at his neck, seeing a necklace the a crescent moon around his neck.

Karma: Nice necklace!

Azure thought of something, before immediately shaking the thought off.

Azure: 'There's no way. His cousin couldn't have been that cliche, yet unbelievably smart.'

They walked into the arena, as Azure and Karma entered the cockpit. Ryu and Gao looked at each other on the stage, with Ryu having the high ground. Once they locked eyes, the noise for the two had been completely blocked out. Gao looked at his opponent with keen eyes.

Gao: 'Ryu and Blaze have been so dominant in every Buddyfight I've seen them in. Both in power, and skill.'

His past victories played in Gao's mind, as while they did, Ryu seemed to grow to the size of a giant, shocking Gao.

Gao: 'So this is what it's like to be in front of him in a Buddyfight. Facing the best of the best at Aibo.'

Soon enough they were both snapped back to reality by the echoing voice of Paruko.

Paruko: HELLO~?!! NO COMMENTS FROM YOU TWO AT ALL?!!!

Ryu covered his left ear slightly pained, while Gao did the same with his right.

Ryu: DO YOU MIND?!! FOCUSING IS HARD WITH A MICROPHONE BURSTING YOUR EARDRUM!!!

Gao: YEAH, GIVE US A WARNING OR SOMETHING!!!

Paruko backed up slightly embarrassed, laughing nervously.

Paruko: A-Anyway, first up is Team Balle Du Soleil! They've made it all the way from the elementary school preliminaries! The fighter is Gao Mikado!! Their opponent needs no introduction as the reigning Champion from last year! Team Rage's fighter Ryu Mikado!!

Everyone cheered as the cousins smirked.

Gao: Showering the Sky with scorching sun rockets!! Luminize: Soleil Dragon Deck!!

Ryu: I'll burn you down until you're a crisp!! Hellfire Dragons Plus: Luminize!!

Paruko: Say it one more time for me folks!! BUDDY~!!!

All: FIGHT!!!!

Ryu&Gao: TIME TO RAISE THE FLAG!!!

Gao: Dragon World!!!

Drum waved the flag left and right.

Ryu: Dragon World!!!

Ryu dug his flag into the ground.

Paruko: Ryu goes first!

Ryu: Charge and Draw! I'm not waisting time here! Cast!!

He a card burned in his hand, as out came the set spell Gao feared.

Ryu: Dragon Emperor's Kingdom!!

Kuguru: On his first turn!

Baku: Alright Gao, we've prepped your deck to deal with what's gonna come on Ryu's next turn. Your hand cards are a good start.

Gao: Yeah. Even though it'll be tough, we're in this.

Ryu: Let's bring out old reliable. Volcanic Hell Dragon to the Center!!

Ryu summoned Volcanic to the Center.

Volcanic: Ahhh, so the opponent today is Gao. I wish you kept me more updated Ryu.

Ryu: I'll note it. Now go ahead and attack Gao.

He flew in, before opening his mouth as a stream of lava hit Gao.

Gao Life: 7

End of Move

Gao: I draw!! Charge and Draw!! I pay one Gauge, and call Thunder Knight Halberd Dragon to the Right, and then Double Sword Dragon to the Left!!

He summoned two armored dragons.

Halberd Dragon

Size 2

Power: 6000

Defense: 6000

Critical: 2

Gao: Now I pay one life, and equip Steel Fist Dragoknuckle!!

He paid the life point to equip the fist.

Gao Life: 6

Hanako: Oh yeah!! There's the Gao formation!!

Jin: But the question is will that be enough against Ryu?

Gao: Halberd, attack Volcanic Hell Dragon!!

The Thunder Knight Dragon attacked, cutting through Volcanic, destroying him.

Gao: Double Sword, attack Ryu!!

Ryu took the attack, not phased in the slightest.

Ryu Life: 9

Gao: Dragon Knuckle!!

Ryu: I cast: Blue Dragon Shield!

He blocked the attack, with the blue shield, getting one Gauge in the process.

End of Move.

Gao: Halberd, move to the Center!!

The monster was teleported in front of Gao with his shield out.

Halberd: I am here to defend!

Ryu: So, you think that's enough?

Gao looked at Ryu shocked.

Ryu: You think moving Halberd for defense will be enough?

Ryu smirked, as he started to glow in a burning red aura.

Ryu: Alright then, let's test it out!!

CHAPTER END!!