[center][b]*New Domino Streets*[/b][/center]

Valin sped down the streets of New Domino, headed for the Rat’s Nest. He wasn’t very far when blue lights and a siren sounded behind him. He pulled over, and when the Security came to speak with him, Valin said aloud, “Don’t you know who I am?”

“I’m fully aware of who you are, Mr. Rotor,” the slightly familiar female voice said. “I’m actually a huge fan, and this has nothing to do with the fact that you were speeding.”

Valin finally looked at who was speaking with, and was surprised to see that the Security who had pulled him over was Sergeant Madison. “Then what does this have to do with, Sergeant?”

“I have been informed that earlier today, you were given the responsibility of tracking down one of your old friends, correct?”

“Very,” Valin replied.

“Well, I happen to know that the potential culprits are a group known as Los Demonios Conquistadores. Director Takashi informed me himself, and told me he forgot to give you this same intel.”

“Muchas gracias,” Valin said, mocking the fact that they were hunting Mexican gangsters. “Any knowledge on their base of operations?”

“Sadly, no. But I’d imagine we can find that ourselves once we’re there.”

“Alright. Got a plan?”

“Nothing more than the fact that we should split up and contact each other should we find anything.”

“Fine by me,” Valin said. “Good luck, Sergeant.”

“Same to you, Valin,” Madison concluded.

[center][b]*Rat’s Nest Streets*[/b][/center]

Valin was rocketing along the roads in the Rat’s Nest, not having seen anyone yet. Everything seemed abandoned today. Then, out of a side alley, a lone man marched. Valin swerved and skidded to a halt to avoid hitting the man, who was not just an ordinary man. His tattoos and attire marked him as nothing more than a vile Duel Gang member.

“Are you out of your mind?” Valin shouted, dismounting his runner. “I could have hit you!”

“Yeah, well. It would’ve been on your head,” the man retorted.

“I don’t have time for this stupidity. Do you know where I can find the base of operations for Los Demonios Conquistadores? If not, then get out of my way.”

“I know, but first, why are you looking for them?”

“To save an old friend. Now spill it.”

“Oh, I will, but in order for me to give that information, you need to defeat me in a Duel.”

“What? And waste my time on you? Not a chance!”

“Then I guess I’ll spread the rumor that New Domino’s King has a darker side to him.”

Valin realized he had been outwitted. “Fine. Name your prize [i]if[/i] you were to win.”

The gangster smiled. “That card you got around your neck, and that nice runner of yours.”

“Too much.”

“Really? Then you don’t really want to save this friend of yours.”

“Alright.... Alright.... I’ll do it,” Valin agreed.

“Good. My name’s Lokney, by the way. Let’s Duel!” The man readied his Duel disk as Valin reached back, hit the “DISENGAGE” button on his runner and retrieved his own. “And I think I’ll start us off!” Lokney said, drawing first. “I’ll Set two cards and a monster,” Lokney said, an ugly sneer creeping across his face. “Let’s see how the King deals with surprises.”

“Not too well, Lokney,” Valin replied as he drew his card. “You’ll find that I’ll only play harder.” Valin examined his hand. [i]Some decent cards, but not the best I’ve ever gotten. Still, I think that if I stick to power for the moment, I’ll be alright.[/i] “I Summon ‘D.D. Dracofang’!” Valin shouted. The 1800 Attack Point dragon leapt into existence on Valin’s side of the field, staring hungrily at the face-down card on Lokney’s playing field. “I won’t make you wait. ‘Dracofang’, devour his monster!”

The dragon flapped its leathery wings quickly and dived at the face-down monster. As his attack collided, the monster flipped itself face-up, revealing itself to be ‘Cyber Jar’, and as it did so, Lokney revealed one of his two face-down cards. “Heh,” the gangster chuckled. “You’ve triggered the effects of both ‘Cyber Jar’ and ‘Mirage Tube’! Now your monster is destroyed along with mine, and you take 1000 points of damage!”

“Is that all?” Valin said as the effect of Lokney’s Spell Card collided with him. “I thought you’d be capable of much larger hits.”

“That’s only the beginning, Mr. King,” Lokney spat sarcastically. “Now, pick up the top 5 cards of your Deck! Any Level 4 or lower monsters are Summoned in Attack Mode, or Set, and all other cards are added to our hands. As for mine, I have two more face-down monsters to play before we’re all done here, while the other three go to my hand.”

A smile formed on Valin’s lips as he saw the cards. [i]‘Silver Dragon-Wing’, ‘Blue-Flame Phoenix’, ‘Molten Wing’, ‘Draco Burst Baloon’, and ‘Mirror Force’. Guess my luck’s not so bad today after all.[/i] “Well, I have a monster to Set as well, but I’ve also got Draco Burst Balloon and Blue-Flame Phoenix to Summon in Attack Position! And, it’s still the Battle Phase, so my monsters will attack yours!”

The small bobbing string-tailed dragon and the flaming blue bird launched themselves at Lokney’s field, revealing the two face-down monsters. “That just triggers their effects!” Lokney called as ‘Sangan’ and ‘Magician of Faith’ were both destroyed. “Now, I add ‘Glow-Up Bulb’ from my Deck and ‘Mirage Tube’ from my Graveyard to my hand!” 

[i]It’s like he’s trying to let me destroy his cards so he can manipulate the outcome. He’s a lot smarter than I was expecting, that’s for sure,[/i] Valin thought. “All right, Lokney. Add whatever you want, but you’re about to see what I can do. I now equip ‘Draco Burst Balloon’ with ‘Molten Wing’, increasing his Attack power by 600 so that he is now 1500! Now, my two monsters collide, combining their might in a fiery forge to create a formidable beast! Behold, as I Ignis Summon...‘Volspire Dragon’!” Valin watched as his great dragon materialized above him and let out a roar, opening its maws wide and taking aim toward Lokney.

Lokney flinched, but quickly regained his ground. The sign of fear was brief, but it was there. [i]That’s right. Be afraid. Letting your opponent know that you are only shows just how powerless you are to stop them,[/i] Valin thought. “I may not be able to attack, but you do take damage because of ‘Draco Burst Balloon’s’ ability. 900 damage to be exact.” A flaming spirit of the small dragon was released from Volspire’s throat and slammed violently into Lokney, bursting into a large blaze. “And with that done, ‘Burst Balloon’ is now banished from play. Your demise is coming, but for now, I’ll Special Summon ‘Volspire Centurion’ in Defense Position and Set two cards before my turn is over.” [i]Even though I’ve got an advantage for the moment, I can’t be too safe. Not when I know he’s playing quite a number of forbidden cards that he’s playing.[/i]

Lokney drew his card and stood firm, and Valin thought he saw a hint of satisfaction in his facial expression. “I now banish ‘Magician of Faith’ and ‘Sangan’ from my Graveyard,” Lokney declared, “to Special Summon ‘Chaos Sorcerer’! And with his Summoning, I will activate his ability and target ‘Volspire Dragon’!”

“And thanks to your ignorance,” Valin retorted, “you target my ‘Centurion’ instead! Did you really think that getting rid of my ‘Dragon’ would be that easy?”

“You’re still a pampered brat who will learn his place by the end of this Duel,” Lokney sneered. “There are a number of ways to slay a dragon. And even though my intentions failed, at least one of your monsters is banished. Now I Normal Summon my ‘Glow-Up Bulb’, and with that done, I will use my new monster to tune up my ‘Sorcerer’! My two minions combine together to create a new servant who will bring destruction. I Synchro Summon, ‘Dark Strike Fighter’!”

The great armored machine came forward from the radiant green Synchro Rings, a powerful, flying, mechanical fortress that would intimidate any normal opponent, but Valin was no normal opponent. “Now I place four cards face-down. Get ready, Valin. You will soon see my true power come into play,” Lokney concluded.

Valin pulled his next card from his Deck and glanced at it, but decided not to play it yet. “I’ll get straight to the point, Lokney. ‘Volspire Dragon’! Attack with Maelstrom Flare!”

“And you thought I didn’t prepare for this?” Lokney spat. “Activate ‘Ring of Destruction’! Now say farewell to your ‘Dragon’ as well as the last of your Life Points!”

“You mock me, Lokney. I’m called the King for a reason. I activate my ‘Dragon Immunity’ which prevents the destruction of my Dragon-Type monsters for this turn when I discard one card from my hand! This means that neither of us can take damage from the effect of ‘Ring of Destruction’, and my attack continues!”

“Not successfully if I activate two of my face-down cards! ‘Waboku’! ‘Mirage Tube’! Activate!”

“Not nearly as impressive, Lokney. You’re growing desperate.” Valin watched his Life Point counter drop to the halfway point of 2000. [i]He’s got something bigger coming. I’ve just got to keep my guard up, and keep him scared.[/i] “I Set one card. It’s your move, Lokney.”

Lokney drew his card and grabbed another, sending the second one directly to the Graveyard. “I use the ability of ‘Glow-Up Bulb’ from my Graveyard to Special Summon it. Then I Tribute it to make room for a more useful monster: ‘Cyber Dragon’!”

“You’re still down from me a notch.”

“Would you just shut up!? You’ll learn to respect a true duelist when this is over! ‘Dark Strike Fighter’, activate your effect and dish him out another 1000 damage!”

The floating tank produced a cannon, and “Cyber Dragon’ became its ammunition. The next thing Valin knew, a large blast was rocketing his way. He covered his eyes until he was certain the blinding light was gone, and he noticed his Life Point counter dropping into the red interval of 1000 Life Points remaining. [i]It’s not every day my Life Points drop this low, but it seems that at least my opponents can’t do that without cheating. That’s a relief.[/i]

“Now I banish my ‘Cyber Dragon’ and ‘Cyber Jar’ from my Graveyard to Special Summon a true King! Come forth, my beast! ‘Chaos Emperor Dragon – Envoy of the End’!”

The images of the two banish monsters formed and faded away, swirling into a huge purple portal to Lokney’s left. Slowly, bit by bit, the titanic dragon that rivaled “Volspire” emerged from its depths, letting a trembling roar to announce its arrival.