Time had passed from the Sengoku Academy battle, as quite a bit had occurred. Ryu was walking to castle, with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Ryu: O_O I still can't believe it.

Karma: Believe what?

Ryu: AHHH!!!

Ryu turned around seeing Karma there.

Ryu: Jeez, can a guy not get some peace to himself?

Karma: Sorry, just thought we could walk together. But really, can't believe what?

Ryu: Uhhh, don't worry about it! 'I CANNOT LET THAT INFORMATION SLIP!!!'

A few days prior, Ryu was walking through the halls of Aibo Academy. He saw Mr Neginoyama walking somewhere as well, and he hadn't remembered a simple saying that would have saved him much shock.

"Curiosity killed the Cat"

Once he found the teacher, he saw the motorcycle of the Hero from Hero World: Captain answer. What shocked him further was that he saw Neginoyama pull out a Core Gadget that was exactly like the one of the hero.

And like that, he was sworn to secrecy.

Ryu: 'Our teacher is a literal Hero World Monster, there's no chance I can tell anyone!!'

???: You go to some extremes for people you're fond of, don't you?

Ryu: '-_- Shut up. What even are you?'

???: I'd say, but you should probably focus on something else at the moment.

Ryu: 'What are on a-'

As they got closer, they saw Gao Kuguru Baku and Kiri.

Ryu: Hey guys, here for a Buddyfight?

They all turned seeing Ryu Karma and Blaze.

Gao: Hey Ryu! Yeah actually!

Kiri: I've built a new deck with the Card I opened in Mr Neginoyama's class today!

Karma: Oh right, you did pull a Demon Wold Fenrir today.

Ryu: So, you've gone for Ancient World huh? Not too bad of a choice.

He looked to the side, seeing a Buddyfight having been completed. They looked seeing that the winner was Kazane and Blade, as they came out of the battle area.

Kazane: Hey guys!

Ryu: Nice fight Kazane.

Gao: Yeah, that was awesome!

Kazane: Ah, it was nothing!

Karma: Hey, maybe we could go a round next! I've been meaning to try something out.

Kiri then got an idea.

Kiri: 'Wait, Karma is a really strong Buddyfighter. If I can beat her, then everyone will definitely...' Karma!

Karma: What's up?

Kiri: We could both test our decks out. I challenge you to a Buddyfight!

This shocked everyone.

Ryu: 'Kiri against Karma?'

Karma smirked hearing this.

Karma: Alright, you're on.

They got to the fighting stage, as Kiri was the first to Luminize his deck.

Baku: Hey, I just realized. We haven't seen Talon out with Karma like usual in a while.

Ryu: Come to think of it, you're right.

Karma: I'm gonna have to thank you Kiri. You'll be my first Buddyfight since Sengoku. I was waiting for a good chance to show off some new tricks.

She reached into her pocket, pulling out a Dark Core. This shocked everyone, especially Ryu.

Gao: Am I seeing things?!

Kuguru: That's a Dark Core?

Ryu: Karma, what the hell are you doing with that thing?!

Karma: Welcome to the Eternal Nightmare. Be reborn as the Ultimate Demons!! Dark Luminize: Shadows of the Queen!!

She Luminized her Deck, with the necklace of the girl looking slightly changed other than the Core.

Karma&Kiri: Raise the Flag!!

Kiri: Legend World!!

Karma: Danger World. First move is all yours.

Kiri: Fine! Charge and Draw!

Kiri: To the center, I call Corpse Swallower Hraesvelgr!

He summoned an icy looking monster, before discarding a card, and then drawing another.

Kiri: Now I cast Set Spell Gleipnir!

Karma: 'Obvious he's looking to shake me up his next turn.'

Kiri: Attack Karma!!

It flew in, hitting the girl.

Karma Life: 9

End of Move

Karma: Draw. Charge and Draw!

Karma
Life: 9
Gauge: 3
Hand: 7

Karma: First off, to the Center I call Armor Demon Eagle: Rage!

She summoned a red Armor Demon Eagle, who spread his wings revealing blades.

Armor Demon Eagle: Rage
Size: 0
Power: 6000
Defense: 1000

Critical: 1

Gao: What?!

Ryu: That definitely isn't the regular Demon Eagle!!

Karma: Special skill of Eagle Rage, whenever he's summoned to the field, I can make my opponent drop 1 card from their hand. I chose... That one.

Eagle: Rage Dagger!!

A danger went forward, hitting a card in Kiri's hand,

Kiri: No, that was Holy Grail!

Karma: Oooh, sucks it was a defensive card. Now you won't be able to withstand what happens next.

She held a card up, as it glowed.

Karma: I pay 2 Gauge and Sacrifice Eagle!!

Eagle glowed in a dark aura, before turning into a black orb.

Karma: Blade of Darkness.

The orb landed in Karma's hand, as she crushed it, revealing a sword.

Karma: Durandal.

Dark Blade of Betrayal: Durandal
Power: 10000
Critical: 3
Double Attack

Ryu: Hey, that sword is...

Gao: Yeah, it seems really similar to Caliburn and Arondight!

Ryu: ... No. It's different from mine and Azure's Items.

Kazane: How so?

Ryu: That thing is definitely isn't in it's beginning stages. It's seems like Karma can tap into way more power than we could at first.

Karma: This bad boy has some neat tricks. But I'll wait for a better opportunity to show those. For now, I call Armor Demon Ogre: Gluttony to the Right.

She called a large version of the demon Ogre to the right, with a giant hammer instead of a simple club.

Armor Demon Ogre: Gluttony
Size: 1
Power: 7000
Defense: 2000
Critical: 3

Karma: With Ogre Gluttony, I'm able to draw 1 Card and add 1 to my Gauge. Best part, I can chose which goes where.

She took two cards from her necklace, waving her finger, before choosing the card on the right.

Karma: Now, the Set Spell. Demonic Force.

Ryu: What could that do?

Gao: Nothing good, I could bet that.

Karma's eyes went slitted as she gained a smile, chilling Kiri to the bone.

Karma: Don't blink.

She went in, slashing Kiri, making him yell.

Kiri Life: 7

Karma: Time for a Double Attack!

She turned back, slashing through Kiri another time.

Kiri Life: 4

Karma: And now Ogre!

The monster jumped up, ready to crush Kiri.

Kiri: I Cast: Shield of Achilles!!

Kiri guarded with a shield, reducing the damage by 2.

Kiri Life: 3

End of Move

Karma: Come on, I know you've got more in you than that Kiri.

Kiri: 'Argh. She says it's her first match with this Deck, but Karma is completely wiping the floor with me! If I can't do some major damage to her this turn, no one will...!!' Draw!! Charge and Draw!!

Kiri
Life: 3
Hand: 2
Gauge: 4

Kiri: I Cast: Breathen Gard!!

Baku: He's using that card too early!

Ryu: Nah, Fenrir is probably in the Soul. Kiri's trying to think 2 steps ahead of the game on this. With that, he can summon his ace without the ridiculous call cost.

Just as Ryu said, Demon Wolf Fenrir was summoned from the Drop Zone.

Kiri Life: 4

Fenrir: Who is my first prey?!

Kiri: The fighter!

Karma: Now we're talking.

She held her hand up with a smirk.

Karma: Bring it.

Fenrir ran forward, slashing at Karma with his claws.

Karma Life: 3

End of Move

Karma seemed completely fine, wiping her nose.

Karma: Not bad Kiri, you've definitely gotten better.

Kiri's eyes widened hearing this.

Kiri: O-Oh!! Uh... Th-Thank you-

Karma: But, it's nowhere near enough buddy.

Karma smirked, slightly glowing in a dark aura.

Karma: It's time to show you just how much strong I'VE gotten. Draw!!

She grabbed a card from her necklace, shuffling it into her hand. When she went for another card, it glowed in a purple aura.

Karma: Charge and Draw!!

Karma
Life: 3
Hand: 5
Gauge: 4

Karma looked at the card she drew with a smile that most would assume was innocent, but to those two knew her, it made their skin crawl.

Karma: Now, come out and show the world your terrifying new form. I pay 3 Gauge, and sacrifice Ogre Gluttony to Buddy Call!!

Ryu: Here it comes!!

3 Gauge was used by Karma, going into the card she held. Ogre was surrounded by a purple lightning, before being destroyed.

Karma: Armor Demon Talon: THE FENRIR!!!

Talon emerged, as he also was in a brand new form.

Armor Demon Talon: The Fenrir
Size: 3
Power: 10000
Defense: 6000
Critical: 2

Drum: That's really Talon?!

Karma Life: 4

Blaze: He looks so different.

Talon: Finally. I've been waiting to have my first hunt in this new form!!

Baku: And he seems a little blood thirsty.

Karma: Get ready, cause when Talon enters the field, he gains attack defense and critical equal to the sacrificed monster until my next turn!

Kiri: What?!

Talon: You have more to worry about than that!

Karma: He's right. I also gain life back for the size of my monster. Not only that, when one of my monsters are destroyed, Demonic Force let's me regain 1 Life point as well.

Karma Life: 6

Gao: Man, 3 Life Points back?

Ryu: Sacrificing the extra 2 she would've gotten back from normal Talon in exchange for brutal power. I think that trade is well worth it.

Talon howled, glowing in a bloody aura.

Ryu: Cause now Talon has 5 Critical, along with 17000 Attack. There are barely any monster he can't destroy with that.

Kiri: 'I... I can't defend against that.'

Kiri remembered when Sophia offered him the Dark Core.

Karma: Now Talon, show them exactly why you're called The Fenrir now.

Talon: I thought you'd never ask!

Talon leapt in, before attacking Demon Wold Fenrir with brutal savagery, tearing into the beast.

Kiri: 'Karma took the Dark Core, and is in complete control of herself, and now she's way stronger. I'm not even sure if Ryu or Gao can beat her now.'

Fenrir was destroyed, as Talon looked at Kiri.

Karma: I forgot to mention, Talon still has Penetrate.

Kiri: 'What a waste... So much for leaving a lasting impression.'

Talon slashed down, sending blades of shadows towards Kiri, with the boy being knocked back, as his life points dropped to 0.

Kiri: 'If only I fought better...'

Kiri's flag was destroyed.

GAME OVER

Winner: Karma Gemini!!

Karma: You didn't do too bad Kiri, but let's hope you can do better in the next fight.

Baku: Kiri did have a pretty good fight overall.

Kuguru: Yeah, especially when it's his first time using the Deck.

Ryu: You two are missing the point.

They looked over to Ryu and Gao.

Gao: The fact is Karma said Durandal had tricks she could use. And she didn't use a single one seemingly.

Ryu: That, and the fact that Talon must have some other ability that we don't know yet. Karma was basically using Kiri as a test run.

Karma: So, when you feel confident with your deck, I'd be happy to accept another one of your-

Kiri left, without saying a word. Karma was confused by this, then realizing how the other fighter may have felt.

Karma: Oh man, did I overdo it?

She exited the stage as well, with Talon by her side in mini form.

Talon: Kiri has indeed become stronger, but there was something missing. If he gets a Buddy, he'll be an even stronger opponent.

Karma: Maybe, but he still won't win. Right now, I think I just need to find a good opponent.

???: Karma!!

She turned around, finding Ryu running towards her.

Karma: So, I guess you're looking for an explanation.

Ryu: That's an understatement!! Why would you ever use one of those things?! You've seen firsthand what that can do to someone's mind!

Karma: Yeah, but unless you couldn't tell, I'm different than most people you've seen use it!

Karma clenched her fist.

Karma: Doai was just Genma's lackey, who didn't have an ounce of determination to surpass him. Shosetsu wanted the Dark Core because he was so interested in that power, and overwhelmed at the fact the power to make the cards real could be his. They didn't have the strength, the resolve, or darkness to control something like this. I on the other hand...

She looked into Ryu's eyes, not with a smile, but with a slightly saddened look, as her pupils went slitted.

Karma: I have all of it. I've was one of the strongest Buddyfighters in Aibo as soon as I transferred, and before I was at the top of my old school. If I can keep someone else from getting their hands on this thing, to stop whatever they might do with it, then I'd gladly keep this. And...

She was deep in thought after saying that.

Karma: ... You've already seen. There's just a part of me that enjoys crushing my opponents with no remorse. Against Kiri, Shido, and plenty of others. I've tried my hardest to hide it, and be better... But this is the real me.

Ryu wanted to say something, but seemed conflicted.

Ryu: 'I... She...'

Karma: I've become even stronger. This power doesn't control me. It's the other way around.

Ryu's eyes widened hearing this. At that moment, the smile of someone played in his mind.

Ryu: That... You wouldn't understand where I'm coming from on this Karma!!!

She saw him tense up, confused.

Ryu: This isn't the first time that I...

Karma: R-Ryu?

He gritted his teeth, before turning and running.

Karma: W-Wait-

???: Karma, don't.

She looked to the side, seeing Blaze.

Karma: Blaze?

Blaze: There's a reason why Ryu didn't want anyone knowing about the Future Force. Besides knowing the power of the Cards could be brought into your world.

Karma: Huh?

Talon: Come to think of it, while I was resting I think I may have heard Ryu say something about Shosetsu's corruption.

Blaze: This isn't something that I can say. You only know a fraction of Ryu's past.

Ryu still ran, as tears seemed to fly behind him.

Blaze: Just know, that his worry isn't baseless. For both you, and Azure to have this power, makes him feel like his whole world is caving in.

He turned around, spreading his wings.

Blaze: Stick true to your claim. Don't let that power control you.

Blaze flew off, leaving Karma worried.

Karma: 'Ryu... What happened in your past?'

CHAPTER END!!