Xi stepped up onto the stage, muttering something about her full name in the process. Not loud enough for anyone else to hear, but she was certainly muttering it. Press Dalton. That was her opponent. He'd pulled a pretty interesting win against Kim just a couple duels ago; that 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem' was a beast to be reckoned with. But Xi wasn't faltering in her confidence that it was no match for her own fusion ace monster: 'Dark Paladin'. As she stepped up to her spot, looking directly at her opponent, Xi voiced her opinion pretty clearly.

"That was an impressive win just before. But don't think you'll get by that easily against me."

Press calmly made his way over to the stage, adjusting his Duel Disk so that it was comfortable. He stopped when he reached where he was supposed to go and looked at his opponent. She said some nonsense to him, which he didn't let faze him. He pushed up his glasses with two fingers, then simply said, "We'll see."

"The computer has decided! Xiuhcoatl Jones will go first! Contestants...[b]DUEL![/b]"

[u]Turn 1: [b]Xi : 8000[/b] / Press : 8000[/u]
"That's not my goddamn name," Xi seethed, drawing her five starting cards. Then she grinned. "Looks like we'll be off to a strong start this time! I'll get us started by activating the Spell Card: Dragon Shrine! This card lets me send one Dragon-Type monster straight from my deck to the Graveyard." Revealing the 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon' she pulled from the deck for the card's effect, Xi continued, "[i]And[/i], if I send a monster without an effect like 'Blue-Eyes' here, I can send one more dragon to my Graveyard. And I choose 'Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon'."

Sending the second dragon from her deck to the Graveyard, Xi next revealed two cards in her hand. 'Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders', and 'Exploder Dragon'. "Next, I'll activate the effect of Redox in my hand. By discarding him along with an EARTH monster like my 'Exploder Dragonwing', I can Special Summon any one monster from my Graveyard. And I choose 'Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon'!" The hologram of a metallic black dragon rose from below, until the towering metal dragon had appeared in its entirety. With a metallic screeching roar, the display of 2800/2400 appeared over the dragon's head. "And now I'll activate 'Red-Eyes's' effect; this lets me Special Summon any one Dragon-Type monster from my hand or Graveyard. And now, freshly tossed in there, I choose 'Blue-Eyes White Dragon'!" A second holographic dragon, this time from above, descended upon the field. 3000/2500. "Sadly, I can't attack on the first turn, so I'll have to leave it to you now."

[u]Turn 2: Xi : 8000 / [b]Press : 8000[/b][/u]
Press drew his next card and examined along with the rest of his hand. The Red-Eyes would prove to be a prominent threat if he didn't remove it. However, none of the monsters in his hand had enough Atk to destroy it. At least, not yet. Press took one card from his hand and announced, "I Summon 'Machina Gearframe' in Attack Position." The orange-and-silver automaton appeared on the field, assuming a fighting stance, its stats registering as 1800/0. "When this monster is Normal Summoned, I can add one 'Machina' monster from my Deck to my hand, and I choose 'Machina Fortress'." The card ejected itself from Press' deck, and Press added it to his hand. "Now, by discarding 'Chronomaly Mayan Machine' and 'Machina Fortress' from my hand, I am allowed to Special Summon 'Machina Fortress' from my graveyard." The large tank-like monster emerged from the ground, producing a menacing grinding sound resembling a growl. 2500/1600.

"'Machina Gearframe', being a Union monster, can equip itself to a Machine-type monster, and I equip it to my 'Machina Fortress'," Press explained, and 'Machina Gearframe' climbed onto 'Machina Fortress' and started acting as if it were aiming 'Machina Fortress'' cannon. "Now I activate the Spell Card: 'Solidarity'. If I have only one Type of monsters in my graveyard, all other monsters on my field with the same Type gain 800 Atk." At that moment, 'Machina Fortress'' Atk rose up to 3300. "Because a Machine-type is in my Graveyard, all other Machine-types gain that bonus." Press pushed up his glasses slightly and commanded, "Battle Phase. 'Machina Fortress', destroy 'Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon'." Its cannon was then aimed at the metallic black beast. Energy was collected within the barrel, then a bolt of energy was fired from the cannon, heading directly for 'Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon'.

The bolt struck the dragon, causing it to roar in pain and explode into shards. As 500 Life Points were shaved off from Xi, Press continued, "I Set two cards and end my turn."

[u]Turn 3: [b]Xi : 7500[/b] / Press : 8000[/u]
"Hmm..." That 3300-ATK Machina Fortress was a threat. But nothing her trusty Dark Paladin couldn't down in time. But it seemed that just as Xi drew her card, somebody came bursting into the room. Quite loudly, at that. Along with a few spectators, Xi turned and looked at who it was. Old man, damn bulky for his age, a hawk on the shoulder...this could only be one man.

"There's been an emergency on our campus," said Headmaster Aksel Kolman. "All of you with spirit partners, come with me immediately. The rest of you, return to your respective dorms. We'll pick up this tournament another day." He could see the Spirit Partners clear as day; anybody could. Those belonged to the students who would be coming along with him about this emergency But he wasn't about to just send off a bunch of students to deal with this. No, that would be unfair to them. He had to send off a staff member too. Fortunately, there was one in the room. "Mr. Franklin, you're coming along too. Everyone, follow me."