Skah's eyes bulged out upon hearing my question. "What? Didn't you hear what I said? Without a core, you won't be able to return from there alive!"

I wagged my finger. "I didn't say that I would dive into it myself. I have Caelio. With it, I can detect Dan's life force, which makes the job of recuperating him a tad easier."

"Sorry, but I can't accept that request! What you plan to do is too dangerous! You would be devoured by the darkness as soon as you step foot in there! Plus, my dad and the others would never allow me to take you there. And for your information, I am not allowed to step foot there unless if my father is there!"

I sighed. Like I thought, there were layers to it. Why couldn't things ever be easy?

I smiled. "Then, how about you consider joining us if I win? Only seems fair, considering you are attempting to recruit Serra."

He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "I can't, my big brother already left a hole by turning his claws against us."

I blinked. "Was that a play on him being a cat?"

He snickered. "Sorry, bad attempt at adding some comedy. Honestly, I'm not sure what I can give you."

I snorted. "You really are something!"

"Wait, don't laugh at me! Ugh, I should listen to Daiyu and stop making lame jokes..."

I pressed my fist against my lips as I tried to regain my composure.

"How about this?" I said. "If I win, you won't need to join us. Instead, you'll stay at the sidelines, aiding neither Abyssia nor Zionia."

"You wish for me to remain neutral? If I could, I would be. Even if I managed to remain neutral, the war would pull me in. Unfortunately, those of us chosen by destiny must pick a side in this war. If we try to resist, it finds a way of pulling us in. Sometimes, that can come in the form of tragedy." He lowered his head. "I can imagine a few possibilities. For example, Roa is currently a war prisoner of yours, right?"

I nodded as it started to click what he was implying.

He took a deep breath. "If I decide to stand by and do nothing, he could die at the hands of your side. If that were to happen, I would most likely explode inside. I wouldn't be able to resist the rage of having lost a child in that way."

"I understand. You love your family a lot, don't you?"

He smiled and let out a chuckle. "Yeah, even that rebellious pegasus of mine."

"But is it true that nothing can be done to stop us from killing each other?"

Skah's smile subsided. "My father naively thought that he could get you to submit upon seeing our power. Even now, I still believe he does. We do not wish to kill you, but if we don't obtain the light we need, we will all perish. That might even include Tetsu and Serra."

My eyes widened. "W-what?"

He gave me a pained smile. "There's a chance that they won't die, considering they're three-fourths Zionian. However, the chances are higher for those like my siblings and I. Tekeshi, he knew that, yet he decided to protect our mother's realm." He snickered. "My brother, he's truly a better person than I am. Even if it means sacrificing himself, he's willing to give himself up for those he loves."

I shook my head. "You're the same way. You hate war, don't you? Yet, you're participating in it to save your family and your current home."

He nodded. "Yes, but Zionia was my home too. The place I was born and raised in. Yet, I turned my back on it. I'm as much a traitor as my big brother. While not to our father's house, I am one to our mother's."

I curled my hands into fists. "Why is that we're fated to clash?"

He gave me a sympathetic look. "I ask myself that question almost every day now. Destiny is something that even the gods themselves are said to be unable to flee from. We all have a purpose in this world."

I lowered my head again. "Yeah, but I didn't think it was like this." I raised my head once more. "Our purpose has to be greater than this! I refuse to accept that destiny! I will crush it with my own two hands!"

Skah's eyes widened.

Normally, I would turn away after such an outburst, but I wasn't embarrassed by it. To cianio with that destiny! I will reshape it, even if it means being crushed by it!

My opponent snickered. "Roa was right when he said you were a weird girl."

I huffed. "Yeah, so what?! I am weird, I accept that!"

Skah grinned. "Maybe it takes a strange girl like you to bend that which is written from time immemorial. Perhaps, you can save us from that outcome."

I smiled. "You bet I will!"

He covered his mouth and turned away.

I puffed my cheeks. "What now?"

"Sorry, it's just, you reminded me a bit of Tetsu."

This time it was my turn to grin. "I had spent a long time with him. Guess in that time, some aspects of him rubbed off on me."

Skah held out his hand and summoned his deck out of thin air. "Well, we've talked enough, let's start this!"

But we haven't settled on what I would get for winning. Oh well, I'll just have Skah owe me something. First, I must win!

I pulled my deck out of my hyper-ring and sat it down on my duel device.

"Spirits come forth! Spirit Duel!" Skah and I shouted in unison!

Suddenly our two devices unleashed twin rays of light which upon meeting spread out to form a five by four field. Each player had ten spots to place their cards.

"I'll start!" I said as I drew a card. I looked down at my hand of six. They weren't exactly the strongest, but they were exactly what I needed. I sighed as if disappointed by an unlucky draw and placed one card face down. "I set a Secret Card down and end my turn!"

"Interesting, beginning," Skah said as he gave me a knowing grin. "Now, it's my turn!" He threw a card down on his disk. "Let your grace and beauty reign throughout the world! Swan of the Night, come forth!"

A gorgeous black swan with closed wings appeared on his side of the field. After a few seconds, it opened up its wings, unleashing a twister of feathers all around it.

"I set a Secret Card down and end my turn!" Skah said with a confident grin.

Darn, he didn't attack me... He has to be familiar with this strategy. No matter, he missed his chance to strike me when he could.

I smiled as I drew another card. Come on, please be what I need.

My eyes widened as I flipped the card. It wasn't what I was hoping for, but it was the third-best thing.

"I summon Asora: Keeper of the Aura!" I yelled.

A petite woman with long cyan-hair and a silver dress appeared on my side of the field.

"Next, I summon forth Solar Star Knight and Solar Key!"

Skah gasped. "I know where this is going..."

"Did Dan use these same cards?" I asked.

He nodded.

I stared at the knight in golden armor. "Then may the knight of the sun pave my way to victory. Solar Star Knight, reach for the power to achieve your dreams! Reach for the drive! Solar Key spread your burning prana over the Solar Star Knight! May your energy strengthen the mighty knight of the sun! "

The red armored knight reached for the solar key floating over it. The key exploded upon touch into red dust which speckled the knight. Red rings appeared around the knight and continued to move up and down. The knight grew taller and more muscular as his helmet was replaced by a golden crown with embedded rubies. A red fur cape draped his shoulders while a golden sphere with a cross appeared in his left hand while his right continued to hold the sword he had wielded as a young knight.

Skah laughed.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Had I fallen into a trap?

"Nothing. It's a fitting card for the daughter of the 'Lion King'."

I smiled. "I think so too. Now, my valiant king of the sun, strike down Skah's bird!"

Skah chuckled. "Secret Card, activate! Dawn of Feathers!"

I gasped and lowered my head as I braced for impact. How could I have been so stupid! That card was his biggest damage dealer. It could only be used when there was one spirit on his side of the field and there were two or more on the opponent side.

"Dawn of feathers repels your attack and sends it to you directly!" Skah said with a jump in his step.

"Aghhh!" I screamed as my points dropped down to one-thousand.

"Did you think I wasn't aware of the new rules?" Skah said, chuckling.

I gritted my teeth. "I place one Hidden Card down and end my turn!" I said, throwing a digital card onto my disk.

Skah gave me a smug grin. "Sorry, princess. But it all ends here! I summon Rooster of Dawn and Crow of Dust! Next, I play Celestial Card: Spirit Merger!" he yelled, flipping the card in his hand over. "Combine avian of the day with the avian of the night and show us your power! Come on forth, Eclipse Phoenix! Attack Solar King Leo! Send him into the everlasting abyss!"

It seems he knows of Leo's ability. Thankfully, I still have this...

"Wrong! I activate my Secret Card! Karma's Revenge! Return to my opponent the damage they have inflicted upon me!" I yelled.

Skah grimaced as his life points dropped to one-thousand and his Eclipse Phoenix's attack was canceled.

"Incredible," Skah said, smiling. "You didn't only shield yourself but also managed to make the playing field even. I'm starting to see how you became the new Spirit King.

I laughed. "Hold on, I'm not done yet! Activate, Hidden Card!"

Skah's golden eyes widen as soon as he saw what my card was.

"Celestial Card: Spirit Defusion! Separate his bonded spirits!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

His bird reverted back into two.

Skah took a step back. "Your fighting style is relentless."

I smiled. "That's how your generation fought, I only decided to build upon it."

He sighed. "You're a frightening opponent. I place one Hidden Card and end my turn."

I closed my eyes. Victory was close at hand, but that face down card of his could easily turn the tides. I needed to reveal and destroy it, and my deck had just the cards I needed.

I drew another card and opened my eyes, hoping I had gotten my trump card. 

I sighed upon seeing it was just Solar Maid: Ama. She wasn't what I needed, but that was fine. I would just make do with what I had.

I snickered. Playing it safe had never been my style anyway.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^_^! Thoughts? Predictions?**