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Chapter Text

Welcome to the re-do of "Shards of Orichalcum"! I know its been years, but I've finally gotten around to fixing both this story and "No Ordinary Life" (Title subject to change). Please note that this story does follow the anime-but there might be some changes

I've been thinking of this a lot so I hope everything works out and to the interests of my readers. 

Dont Forget to Review!

I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of its characters. I only own my OC (her profile will be linked in my bio..soon)

Now I present to you; "Shattered Orichalcum"

Chapter Text

  A Meeting in the Dark

Skyler's breath came in shallow, uneven draws.

She had won. Again.

Another fight, another faceless opponent left crumpled on the ground, another battle she had no real reason to fight. The rush of adrenaline had already faded, leaving nothing behind but the hollow, gnawing ache in her chest.

She barely registered where she was anymore. Some abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city, the kind of place where people like her could disappear without anyone noticing. The air was thick with the scent of rust and concrete, and the only light came from a flickering streetlamp outside, its glow spilling through the shattered windows.

Her duel disk was still active, cards clenched tightly in her fingers.

She hadn't let her guard down in years.

Which was why she felt it.

The shift.

Not a sound, not a movement—just the undeniable feeling that she wasn't alone anymore.

Skyler whipped around, duel disk raised, ready to fight.

And then she saw him.

A man, standing at the edge of the warehouse, bathed in the fractured glow of the streetlamp.

He wasn't like the usual thugs who came sniffing around looking for a fight. He wasn't like the bounty hunters she had spent months outrunning.

He didn't belong here.

His periwinkle suit was immaculate, untouched by the filth of the city, his long turquoise hair falling past his shoulders in soft waves. He should have looked ridiculous standing in this ruin of a place, but something about him was… wrong.

Wrong in a way Skyler couldn't explain.

Her grip on her duel disk tightened. "You've got three seconds to tell me what you want," she warned.

The man didn't react. Didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled.

It wasn't a smirk or a grin. It was slow, knowing—like he had been expecting her to say that.

"Skyler Whitlock."

The way he said her name sent an ice-cold prickle down her spine.

How did he know her name?

She didn't lower her duel disk.

"You've lost a lot," he continued, his voice calm, smooth—like he was speaking to an old friend rather than a stranger ready to attack him. "More than anyone should. More than most could survive."

Skyler's stomach twisted. She hated that he was right.

"Who the hell are you?" she snapped.

The man stepped forward, unbothered by the threat in her stance.

"Dartz."

The name sent a spark of recognition through her. Paradius. A corporate ghost story, a multinational giant that moved the world in ways no one could trace.

She had never cared about business. But she knew power when she saw it.

And she didn't trust it.

Her senses sharpened, every instinct screaming at her to stay on high alert.

Dartz took another slow step forward. Not close enough to be a threat—but close enough to make her uneasy.

"You're not easy to find, Skyler," he said.

Her jaw tightened.

"And yet, you always leave a trail."

Skyler scoffed. "What, you been stalking me?"

Dartz's smile didn't fade.

"No. Just observing."

She hated that he said it like it was better.

His golden eyes never wavered, studying her with that same unshakable patience.

"Tell me something." His voice was smooth, controlled. "Why do you still fight?"

Skyler frowned. The hell kind of question was that?

"Why wouldn't I?" she shot back.

Dartz tilted his head slightly, amused. "For what, though?" His voice was impossibly soft, patient—like he already knew the answer, but wanted her to say it. "Revenge? Justice? Or simply because you don't know what else to do?"

Her fingers twitched at her side. She hated that the question lingered.

Why did she still fight?

Dartz stepped forward, closing the gap between them inch by inch.

Skyler didn't move.

But she was hyper-aware of everything.

The flickering streetlamp behind him. The hum of the city just beyond the walls. The heat of his presence, despite the coldness of his stare.

He lifted a hand, too slow to be a threat—but Skyler still tensed.

His fingers brushed lightly against her cheek, his touch featherlight as he moved a loose strand of hair out of her face.

A strangely delicate gesture.

A strangely terrifying one.

Skyler should have slapped his hand away. Should have stepped back. Should have done something.

But she couldn't.

For the first time, she felt completely and utterly still.

And Dartz watched her with something unreadable in his eyes.

"You're exhausted."

His voice was barely a whisper.

Skyler's chest felt too tight, her throat closing around words she didn't have.

Because, for the first time in years, someone wasn't calling her reckless .

Or angry .

Or destructive .

He was calling her tired.

And it was the only thing that had ever felt true.

Dartz took a step back, giving her space, and the moment he did—the tension in the air snapped.

Like the entire world had been holding its breath.

The flickering streetlamp seemed brighter, the hum of the city louder than before.

Skyler let out a slow breath.

Dartz smiled, softer this time.

"You don't have to keep running, Skyler. You don't have to fight alone."

She exhaled sharply, folding her arms. "I'm not interested in whatever cult you're selling."

Dartz didn't seem bothered. "You don't have to be."

Skyler narrowed her eyes. "Then stop wasting my time."

Dartz tilted his head slightly, still smiling. "If that's what you truly want."

He stepped back, his voice as calm as ever. "But the world will break you, Skyler. And when it does—" He paused. "You'll remember this conversation."

She didn't respond.

She just watched as he walked away, disappearing into the night.

But long after he was gone…

His words didn't leave her.

For the first time, Skyler wasn't sure if she had just won a battle—or lost one she never even knew she was fighting.

Chapter Text

The Endless Battle

Skyler kept fighting.

Because fighting was all she knew.

The duels continued, the victories stacked up, but none of it mattered. The rush was gone. The hunger, the purpose, the drive—gone.

But she kept going anyway—because what else was there?

She told herself she was fine.
Told herself she didn't need anything.
Told herself she didn't need him.

And yet, Dartz's words never left her.

Why do you still fight, Skyler?  For what?

She hated him for asking. Hated that she had no answer.

And then, everything went wrong.

The fight had been like any other.

Until it wasn't.

A cheap shot. A hit she didn't see coming.

Not in a duel. A real fight.

A fist to her ribs, a knee to her back, her body hitting the ground harder than she thought possible.

She had fought so many battles, but for the first time in a long time—

She lost.

Skyler coughed, pain splitting through her lungs, but she didn't get up right away....

Because she couldn't.

The echo of laughter lingered in the air, the dull thud of footsteps walking away.

She barely noticed.

Because for the first time in years, she felt completely and utterly… done.

She didn't know how long she stayed there.

Long enough for the city to forget her.

When she finally forced herself onto her knees, her hands pressed against the ground, fingers digging into the cold, rough pavement. Her breath was ragged, her arms trembled. She inhaled sharply, shaking as she fought against the sting behind her eyes.

She refused to cry. Refused.

And then, her gaze flickered to the shattered glass beside her.

A window, a puddle, something broken—a distorted reflection staring back at her.

She didn't recognize herself.

And for the first time, she admitted the truth.

She had nothing.

Dartz was right.

She hated that realization.
Hated that he hadn't needed to chase her down.
Hated that she had spent so long fighting only to end up exactly where he said she'd be.

And so, for the first time since they met—

She searched for him.

Through the shadows of the city, through the places where ghosts like her were supposed to belong.

But he wasn't there.

Paradius was untouchable. Dartz himself? Untraceable.

She couldn't find him.

And it was killing her.

Because for the first time in years, she wanted something.

And she couldn't have it.

Skyler came to a sudden stop, her body tense, breath unsteady. Her fingers curled into fists, her teeth clenched so hard her jaw ached.

And finally, finally, she let it out.

"Damn it…"

The words slipped past her lips, raw, broken, a whisper and a curse all at once.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her breathing uneven, her whole body shaking as she fought against the tears she didn't want to fall.

The night was too quiet.

The city moved as it always did—the distant hum of engines, muffled voices, the buzz of neon signs flickering overhead.

But it all felt wrong.

Like something was missing.

Skyler finally stopped. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she sank to her knees, hands pressing into the pavement, fingers curling against the cold, unforgiving ground.

She didn't fight it anymore.

Didn't fight the exhaustion, the pain, the truth.

Her breath hitched, her shoulders shaking. Tears burned at her eyes, but she didn't try to stop them.

For the first time, she let them fall.

And then—

She felt him.

Not saw. Felt.

The air shifted, thick with something unnatural, heavy, suffocating.

Her body knew before her mind did. A presence. An inevitability.

He was there.

Standing just a few feet away. Watching. Waiting.

Skyler didn't lift her head.

Didn't need to.

She already knew who it was.

Her fingers curled against the ground, tears slipping silently down her face, and with a voice so hoarse, so broken, she whispered—

"You were right."

For a moment, nothing.

And then—movement.

A shift of air, the faintest echo of footsteps, deliberate and unhurried.

And then—a touch.

Not harsh. Not forceful.

Gentle.

Dartz lowered himself onto one knee in front of her.

Slowly, his fingers brushed against her chin, tilting her face up.

Skyler let him.

Her tear-streaked eyes met his golden ones, and she didn't pull away.

For the first time, she didn't fight it.

Dartz studied her—not with pity, not with amusement, but with something deeper.

Something far more dangerous.

Understanding.

His thumb brushed against her cheek, wiping away a tear.

"You've fought long enough," he murmured.

Skyler's breath trembled.

He straightened, offering his hand.

She stared at it for only a second.

And then, without hesitation—

She took it.

Chapter Text

Stepping into the Unknown

Skyler had made her choice.

And yet, as she followed Dartz, stepping further into the unknown, she felt something she hadn't felt in years.

Uncertainty.

The weight of her decision settled in her bones, but she didn't regret yet.
Maybe not ever.

Dartz led her through the dim corridors of Paradius, his steps slow, unhurried—as if time itself belonged to him.

Skyler didn't speak. She wasn't the type to break silence first, especially not now.

She had just given up everything.

Or maybe, she had never had anything to give up at all.

Finally, he stopped.

A massive chamber stretched before them—ancient stone columns, glowing glyphs etched into the walls, a place far too old for a corporate empire to contain.

Skyler's breath hitched for just a second. Not in fear. In recognition.

There was something here; something she felt more than she understood.

Dartz turned toward her, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever. "Tell me, Skyler." His voice was smooth, deliberate. "What do you see?"

Skyler took a slow step forward, her gaze flickering over the walls, the eerie glow pulsing like a heartbeat. At first, she almost scoffed. Some kind of trick?

But then…She felt it.

A strange, unnatural pull, thrumming in the air, wrapping around her like something alive.

She let out a slow breath, eyes narrowing. "…Something that shouldn't exist."

Dartz tilted his head, a faint smile curving his lips. "And yet, it does."

Her fists clenched slightly at her sides. There was no denying it.

This place was real. This power—real.

Whatever Dartz was trying to show her, it wasn't some illusion. And for the first time, she wasn't sure if that terrified her…or if she liked it.

Dartz watched her carefully before continuing. "Do you know what this world truly is?" he asked. "What it has become?"

Skyler didn't answer.

At least...not yet.

Dartz continued. "It is broken, Skyler. Corrupted. Humanity itself has become a disease—greedy, selfish, destructive. They take, consume, devour everything in their path, and when they have stripped the world bare, they will move on—searching for something else to ruin."

Skyler's fists tightened further, because it made sense.

Because he wasn't wrong.
She had seen it.
Lived it.

Watched as the world took everything from her.

Dartz turned to her, golden eyes gleaming in the dim light. "But I have the power to change it."

His words hung in the air, sinking into her skin, into her mind.

Skyler's breath came slower now, her gaze locked onto him, searching. "How?"

Dartz's smile was soft, but there was something terrifying in it. "By wiping the slate clean."

Skyler said nothing. She should have taken a step back.

But she didn't.

Because for the first time, she understood.

And worse—she didn't disagree.

Silence stretched between them, heavy and electric.

Skyler wasn't sure what she was waiting for.

A warning? A hesitation? Some small part of her that would pull her back?

She clenched her fists. Her body was waiting for a fight.

For a reason to resist. For something—anything—to make her turn away.

But nothing came.

Because Dartz wasn't forcing her. He wasn't even asking her to agree.

He was just stating a fact; a cold, unavoidable truth.

And that was worse than any manipulation.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. The walls around her pulsed. Something in her mind screamed to leave, and yet, her feet didn't move.

She inhaled sharply, her fingers twitching.

Her throat burned.

This should have been the moment she turned away. This should have been when she reminded herself of everything she had fought for. Everything she had lost.

And yet…

That was exactly why she couldn't walk away.

Dartz's voice broke the silence. "You've been fighting a losing battle for so long, Skyler."

Her breathing shook.

Damn him.

Damn him for being right.

Damn the world for proving him right.

Dartz took a slow step toward her. Not demanding. Not intimidating. Just… waiting.

Then, with deliberate ease, he reached out.

For a second, she tensed.

But he didn't touch her face this time. Didn't brush the hair from her cheek. Instead, his fingers barely grazed the side of her arm.

A whisper of contact. A test.

And Skyler…

Let him.

His touch was light, almost absent—but it grounded her.

Not in comfort.
Not in kindness.

In reality.

Her heart pounded harder, because this was it.

This was the choice.

Dartz studied her carefully. Waiting.

And Skyler knew—if she wanted to walk away, now was the time.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

She could leave.

She should leave.

And yet…

The thought of walking back into the empty, meaningless life she had before this? The thought of returning to fighting for nothing?

She couldn't do it.

Dartz saw it the second she realized it. His eyes flickered—not with triumph, but with certainty. He had never doubted this outcome.

Slowly, he extended his hand once more.

Not like before.
Not to offer her comfort.
Not to pull her from the ground.

This was different.

A choice.

A test.

Skyler's breath was uneven.

She stared at his hand, a war raging in her head.

And then—

She took it.

The instant her fingers brushed his palm, the energy in the room shifted. The world didn't change.

But she did.

Because this was the moment she truly belonged to him.

Dartz's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.

And finally, he spoke the last piece.

"Welcome home."

Chapter Text

The Threshold

Skyler hadn’t spoken since she took Dartz’s hand.

She didn’t need to.

Something had shifted. Not physically. Not visibly. But deep within her, a change had taken root.

She had made her decision.

And now, everything else would fall into place.

He didn’t explain what came next. Didn’t tell her where they were going. He simply turned and walked.

And without hesitation, she followed.

The hallways of Paradius stretched before them, clean and sterile, but the further they went, the quieter it became.

The artificial glow of polished corporate walls faded into something darker, something heavier.

Skyler didn’t ask where he was leading her. She already knew.

Wherever they were headed, it was beyond anywhere she had ever been before.

Eventually, Dartz stopped.

A door slid open, revealing a private room—simple, quiet, untouched.

It wasn’t an office.

Wasn’t a bedroom.

Just… a space.

Her gaze flickered toward an adjoining bathroom. A sink. A mirror. A chance to breathe.

Dartz spoke at last, his tone calm but absolute.

“Get cleaned up.”

Not a request. Not a suggestion. Just an expectation.

Skyler didn’t argue.

She stepped inside. The door closed behind her.

And for the first time in what felt like hours, she was alone.

Skyler gripped the edge of the sink, her fingers pressing into the cold porcelain.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the mirror.

The woman staring back at her…didn’t feel like a stranger. But she didn’t look the same, either. Her skin was still bruised from her last fight. Her eyes were still sharp, still hard. Still waiting.

But something was different.

She couldn’t place it.

And maybe she didn’t want to.

Turning the faucet, she let the cool water spill over her hands before splashing it across her face. The sensation grounded her.

When she straightened again, her reflection hadn’t changed.

But she had.

The door behind her slid open. Dartz stood in the doorway, unreadable as ever. But this time, there was something final in his posture.

Something closing in.

His golden eyes met hers, steady and unwavering.

“Come.”

Skyler dried her hands and rolled her shoulders before stepping toward him.

He turned without another word, walking ahead.

And this time, she didn’t hesitate.

They moved in silence.

Each step felt heavier, more deliberate, until they reached a set of massive steel doors.

Dartz pressed a hand against the panel. The doors hissed as they slid open.

Inside—

A conference room.

Dimly lit. A long table. The faint glow of monitors lining the walls.

And people waiting for her.

Dartz stepped forward first. Then, without looking back—

He gestured for her to follow.

Chapter Text

Paradius Headquarters – Conference Room

“Oy! 'as Master Dartz arrived yet?”

Valon strolled into the conference room fashionably late, as usual. He had spotted the others on their motorcycles earlier, even waved at them before veering off. Clearly, he had no intention of rushing to a corporate meeting when he could be anywhere else.

Gurimo scowled at him, but Alister didn’t look up, focused on shifting through his deck. Raphael, on the other hand, barely spared Valon a glance before shaking his head, unimpressed.

“You got lucky again,” Raphael said. “He should be here any time now—though you really should stop showing up late.” His tone was even, but there was an unmistakable warning beneath it. “One of these days, Dartz is going to punish you for it.”

“Yeah, yeah, but tha' day aint this one,” Valon replied, grinning cheekily at the older man.

Before Raphael could respond, the doors to the conference room swung open.

Master Dartz entered, his presence alone commanding immediate silence. The air in the room seemed heavier, the weight of his power settling over them like a storm on the horizon.

And then—she stepped in.

A figure walked in behind him, her presence just as impossible to ignore.

She moved with purpose, confidence, her arms crossed as her amber gaze swept over the room. The place reeked of metal, oil, and something faintly burning—raw, unpolished, and dangerous. It was everything she expected from Doma’s elite warriors.

Her gaze flickered over them—the infamous Doom Bikers. Valon, the loudmouth; Alister, the strategist; and Raphael, the silent powerhouse. They were watching her. Sizing her up.

She didn’t flinch.

The dim lighting cast sharp shadows across her stance, but she held her ground. Unshaken. Unapologetic.

She wasn’t dressed in Orichalcos robes or anything remotely subtle. No—her presence demanded attention. A dark blue and black cropped top hugged her frame, its corset-like design laced up the front, reinforced with leather straps and accented with gold filigree. The puffy sleeves at her arms contrasted against the sleek fit of her attire, secured at her forearms. A thick belt cinched her waist, chains jingling softly with each shift in movement. The gleam of metal from her bracers and duel disk holster hinted at the warrior beneath the elegance.

And at the center of it all—the small but unmistakable Orichalcos stone embedded in her layered choker, pulsing faintly against her skin.

Not just an accessory. A symbol. A declaration.

Dartz allowed the silence to linger for a moment before speaking.

“Skyler Whitlock,” he said, his voice calm yet absolute. “She’ll be fighting alongside you now.”

Valon’s smirk widened as he stepped forward, clearly eager to size her up himself. Before he could say anything, Dartz continued.

“These are the warriors you’ll be working with.”

He gestured first to Valon.

“Valon—impulsive, reckless… but his instincts in combat are unmatched.”

Valon grinned at the description, clearly taking it as a compliment. “Damn 'ight.”

Dartz barely acknowledged the interruption, already shifting his focus to the next. “Alister.” His voice remained measured, but there was a weight behind the name. “Strategic, methodical. He sees the battlefield before the fight even begins.”

Alister gave a slight nod, but his expression remained as unreadable as ever.

Dartz turned last to Raphael. “And Raphael.” There was something different in his tone now—subtle, but noticeable. “The strongest of them all.”

Raphael didn’t react to the praise. He didn’t need to....

His presence alone was enough.

Dartz then returned his focus to Skyler.

“You are one of them now.”

The finality in his words sent a chill through the air.

And for the first time, Skyler realized—this wasn’t just an introduction.

It was a declaration.

She had stepped into their world-

And there was no turning back.

Valon finally broke the silence.

“Damn,” he let out a low whistle, tilting his head with a smirk. “Ya always dress to kill, or is today special?”

Skyler barely blinked. “Depends. Are you volunteering?”

Valon was not expecting that. He blinked before throwing his head back with a sharp laugh, shaking his head. “Oh, I like ya.”

Alister, ever the observer, studied her in silence. His eyes flickered from the Orichalcos stone at her throat to the way she carried herself. He wasn’t sure what to make of her yet, but he recognized what it took to stand here.

And Raphael…

Raphael just watched.

He wasn’t looking at her outfit, the glow of her choker, or even her duel disk. He was reading her. Assessing every detail—the way she held herself, the weight behind her stance, the quiet certainty in her eyes. She wasn’t just here to prove something.

She already knew where she stood.

His arms crossed over his chest, expression unreadable, but he knew one thing for certain.

Skyler Whitlock was no ordinary duelist.

Valon’s smirk widened as he stepped forward. “Another recruit, huh?” He eyed her up and down, amusement clear in his voice. “Wonder how long you’ll last.”

Skyler raised an eyebrow. Unmoved. “Longer than you, probably.”

Alister’s gaze flickered with mild curiosity, but he remained unreadable. Raphael stayed silent.

Valon chuckled, shaking his head. “Feisty. I like it.” He turned toward Raphael, still grinning. “Big guy, ya gonna show 'er around?”

Raphael gave a single nod. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Skyler exhaled sharply, shifting her weight. “I can find it myself.”

Without another word, she turned and strode down the corridor, her confidence echoing in every step.

Too confident.

Skyler hated to admit it, but this place was a damn maze. Hallway after hallway, identical doors, turns that led to nowhere—she was not lost. Absolutely not.

She passed the same junction for the third time.

Her teeth clenched.

Then, she spotted movement ahead.

Her stomach sank.

Raphael was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with that same unreadable expression. She froze for half a second but recovered quickly, walking right past him as if that had been her plan all along.

"Are you sure you don’t need help?" His deep, calm voice carried no amusement, no mockery. Just patience.

Skyler didn’t stop walking. "…Just shut up and show me the damn room."

She heard the faintest shift of movement behind her as Raphael pushed off the wall, stepping ahead of her with slow, measured steps.

She followed, grudgingly.

Then, of course, as if summoned by her suffering, Valon appeared from the next hallway. He took one look at the situation and burst into laughter.

"Oi, don’t tell me—did the shiela get lost already?"

Skyler tensed. "I wasn’t lost."

Valon leaned against the doorframe, grinning. "Right, sure. So ya were just takin' the scenic route through the same 'allway three times?"

Her eyes snapped to Raphael. He said nothing. He didn’t need to.

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" she grumbled.

Raphael exhaled slowly. "I don’t know what you mean."

Valon howled with laughter. "Mate, you’ve been 'ere five minutes and already got yourself an escort? Tha’s gotta be a record."

Skyler punched him in the arm. Hard.

"Shut. Up."

Raphael stopped at a door and opened it, stepping aside.

Skyler walked in, looking around at the incredibly basic room. A bed. A desk. Walls. That was it.

She turned back, arms crossed. "Wow. A bed, a desk, and four walls. Real luxurious. You guys really roll out the red carpet for new recruits, huh?"

"It’s a place to sleep," Raphael replied evenly.

Valon leaned against the door, smirking. "What, you were expectin’ rose petals on the bed, princess?"

Skyler grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.

"I was expecting you to shut up and leave."

Valon caught the pillow, still grinning. "As you wish, Your Highness."

He winked at Raphael before slipping out.

Skyler exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Please tell me he’s not always like that."

For the first time, she swore she saw the faintest smirk on Raphael’s lips.

"He’s worse."

Skyler groaned and flopped onto the bed.

As Raphael turned to leave, another voice sounded from the hallway.

"You’ll get used to it."

Skyler sat up. Alister leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but slightly amused.

"Great. Can’t wait."

Alister scanned the room briefly before commenting, "At least you didn’t have to share with Valon. You’d wake up with your hair dyed blue."

Skyler narrowed her eyes. "…He actually does that?"

Alister shrugged. "You’ll find out."

Skyler groaned again, dramatically flopping back onto the bed. "I should’ve walked the other way."

Alister pushed off the doorframe with a smirk. "Yeah. But then you’d still be lost."

Skyler immediately sat back up.

"Okay, you know what—"

Alister raised a hand as he walked away.

"Good talk."

Skyler glared at the ceiling.

"I hate it here."

Chapter Text

Skyler had barely been in the base for a few hours before Dartz decided to test her.

It wasn’t surprising.

It was expected.

She stood on one side of a sleek, reinforced dueling platform, Valon on the other, grinning like he had already won.

Raphael and Alister stood off to the side, observing. Dartz remained at the back, silent as always, watching with interest.

Skyler wasn’t nervous.

She had fought to be here. She wasn’t about to back down now.

The duel started, and immediately—Valon hit fast and hard.

That was fine. Skyler hit back just as fast.

For every powerful move he made, she countered. For every advantage he thought he had, she found a way to even the playing field.

At first, Valon was thrilled.

Then he got bored.

Which, as Skyler quickly realized, was a problem.

Skyler had just set her next move when Valon suddenly stepped forward, away from his side of the field.

Her duel disk registered an error—the system thought the match had ended.

That was when she saw his grin. That wild, reckless, Valon-is-about-to-do-something-stupid grin.

Her stomach dropped. Before she could react—he lunged.

Skyler barely had time to twist out of the way before Valon’s first punch swung past her shoulder.

Her duel disk clattered to the floor. She spun back, narrowing her eyes. “Are you kidding me?”

Valon just grinned, bouncing lightly on his feet. “Wha'? Duel’s over. I wanna see what else ya got.”

Skyler exhaled through her nose. Oh, you have got to be kidding me.

He threw another punch.

Skyler dodged.

Again.

He struck high—she twisted low.

He feinted left—she didn’t fall for it.

They moved in a chaotic, fast-paced rhythm.

For a brief moment—she wasn’t angry.

She was grinning.

If Valon wanted a fight—

Fine.

He swung for her ribs—she saw it coming.

She stepped in, grabbing his arm—

And suddenly, he wasn’t moving.

Skyler blinked.

One second, Valon was mid-motion, completely in his element.

The next—

He was lifted clean off the ground-

Because Raphael had him by the back of the shirt.

Valon’s arms flailed. “—OI WHA' THE 'ELL—”

Raphael held him effortlessly, like a misbehaving cat.

His tone was flat. Unimpressed. “We were supposed to test her dueling, not your ability to take a hit.”

Skyler, still adrenaline-high, stared at Valon dangling a full foot off the ground. Then she exhaled, dragging a hand down her face. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Raphael didn’t even blink. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Valon grinned upside down.

“Mate, she’s got a hell of a right hook. She’s in.”

Raphael sighed—deeply.

Then dropped him.

Hard.

Valon hit the floor with a thud but kept laughing.

Skyler just shook her head.

“Was this the test?” she muttered. “Because if so, I feel like I passed twice. ”

Dartz, still composed, finally spoke.

“That wasn’t the test I had in mind, but the results are… satisfactory.”

Alister smirked slightly. “If nothing else, you survived Valon. That’s worth something.”

Valon, still on the floor, gave finger guns. “See? He gets it.”

Raphael crossed his arms, already done with this entire conversation.

“Next time, we stick to the actual test.”

Skyler stretched her shoulders. “Next time, tell that to him. ”

Valon grinned at her.

And just like that—

Skyler was one of them.

...or at least...in Valon's eyes.