Ryuzaki was in his office, minding his own business as he did his usual work, which no one was very sure of what it actually was. However, he was stopped when someone knocked on his door. Lifting his head away from the laptop screen, he stared at the door for a minute. "Is this how everything is going to start? For crying out loud, come in!"

Mina pushed a door with little strenght, peaking inside. "Ryuuga is here to see you. Should I send him over?"

"Yeah, I'll be waiting."

"Actually..."

"He's standing behind the door, isn't he?"

"The determination on him was too strong." Mina opened the door for Ryuuga, who walked into the office and headed straight to Ryuzaki.

Looking at his mentor, Ryuuga placed his black deckbox, the dark purple emblem of Spike Brothers facing up, on his desk. "We need to talk. And this time, I mean it."

"Oh?"

(Opening)

"We need to talk. And this time, I mean it." Ryuuga said, his voice showing his determination.

"Oh? What's up?"

"We can't do this anymore."

"You mean you coming to my office whenever you have to tell me something? Yeah, we could stop it. I invested a good bucks on communication stuff and had to waste a stupid amount of cash on a phone for a reason. But you aren't here for that, now are you?" Ryuzaki asked, leaning back against his chair.

"No. Our agreement. It has to end. Vanguard isn't just about travelling the world for me. It's about so much else. So, so much else. We can't keep this cycle going. I can't be always challenging you and always losing. I can't be your student forever and you can't be my mentor forever. One day, I will travel around the world. But when I do it, it won't be because I wasted years of my life trying to beat you. That's why I stand right ehre and now, before you, to make a final challenge. Ryuzaki, this will be our final fight. Either winning or losisng, I know that I'm doing is what right. If I only fought for my dream, then what good am I for everyone else?"

Ryuzaki let out a sigh of relief, smilling. He took his glasses off his face and placed them on his table. "We came full circle. Man, sure has been ages ever since we first made our deal. It was here, on this same office, months ago. I opened you a door for a whole new world, but you were the one who created that world. Can't really teach you anything unless you want to learn how to get super rich super quickly. So yeah, let's do it. Our final battle. The time and place are all up to you. Just tell me whe-"

"Hage, friday afternoon, right after my classes end. Is that good for you?"

"But that's like, tomorrow. You sure you wanna do it that early? I mean, you have fourty days fo summer vacation after tomorrow, why not do it during one of those days?"

"Because like I said, the sooner, the better."

"If that's what you want, then I can't say no to that." Ryuzaki shot up, making his chair fall backwards. He placed his deck across Ryuuga's, the red Murakumo emblem also facing up. "Ryuuga Sawada, you have my acceptance to your challenge. But since you are making this our final fight, I have to be honest. I'll make this your wost fight ever. I will destroy your fighting spirit. I will shatter your hope like a thin sheet of glass. I will win the same way I've won countless times."

"And I will be there to fight and to win. Not just for myself as I first did, but for Hikaru, Emon, Fujiko, Akira and all others I've met throughout this journey. Not because they are my friends, but because they are the ones guiding me."

"Good words. I will see you tomorrow then." Ryuzaki picked up his chair and sat back down, taking his deckbox out the desk. "Either bring everything you have or don't bring anything at all. Afterall, this fight will mark the end of an era."

"I didn't planned to do anything other than that." Ryuuga grabbed his deckbox and returned them to his pocket. He started heading towards the door, stopping once he hand his left hand on the handle. "Yeah, the end of an era." He pushed the door and walked outside, meeting Mina, Inu and Maverick on the hallway of the floor. "You guys were waiting for me?"

"You can totally do it, Ryuuga! We have our hopes on you!" Mina cheerfully said, playfully punching his shoulder.

"Time went by too damn quickly! We need a holy time jump to the past!" Maverick cried, slamming his closed fist against the wall behind him.

"What he means si that we're gonan miss you kid. And no matter what happens in that fight, we're still here. Win or lose, we are still your odd group of middle age friends and Mina who is eighteen." 

"Thanks, Ik- Inu."

Inu nodded, smirking, while in reality crying of happiness and sadness on the inside. 'He finally gets my name right right before his final fight with Ryuzaki, this life isn't fair to me at all!'

"My man you finna beat Richboi Ryuzaki's albino ass." Hikaru said, shoving a spoon full of rice down his troat. "Just gotta go through a boring math class to sum up thicc Spikes numbers to eat the furry Sasukes!"

"For once, and just for once, I won't slap you for saying that type of dumb stuff or by talking with your mouth full. Your only choice is to win, Ryuuga. There's no other route." Fujiko said, smiling at Ryuuga.

"Sawada, there is no losing side. You either win or win." Emon added, patting Ryuuga's back. "You defeated all of us once, you're the best out of all of us. If there is anyone who can beat Ryuzaki, it's you. And we all know it."

"Give him that good ass whooping!" Akira exclaimed, punchign Ryuuga's arm. "Take our fighting spirits and whoop that furry ass!"

"Thanks, all of you." Ryuuga said, looking down on his lunch. 

"And they aren't the only ones who will be supporting you!" Aijou added, catching Ryuuga's attention. With her were Ichigo, Taira, Kaminari and Hisano. 

"LISTEN UP YOU PROTAG REEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Taira yelled, grbabing the collar of Ryuuga's shirt and trying to lift him up to avail. "IF YOU LOSE THEN YOU AREN'T WORTHY OF BEING A PROTAG, PROTAGS BEAT THEIR MENTORS AT SOME POINT REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"What oranged haired Kacchan said was weirdly correct for once!"

"You aren't the same person you were back at the start of the year. You aren't the shy and nervous fighter who walked into a card shop and defeated the Queen on her first try." Kaminari said. "I've been watching almost all your fights. We only fought once and yes, you lost, but you aren't the person I lost anymore. You're someone else. Someone better."

"Only a super scrub to beat a scrub. That's all I have to say about that." Ichigo calmly said, arms crossed and eyes closed.

"We don't really know each that well, but I'm sure you can totally do it! I haven't seen you fight alot before, but if youa re like Kaminari said, Ryuzaki doesn't stands a chance!" Hisano cheerfully said, her fists closed to show determination.

"And if you can kiss Fujiko countless times without caring about others seeing, you can beat some albino rich man."

"And Aijou ruins it all again..." Fujiko mumbled, staring at her friend with a disapproving expression.

"Man talk about a big anime pep talk moment! This shit is ballin'!"

"You had a pit of dumbnes sin those words, but I couldn't agree mo-"

"Now we just needed big tiddies for extra thicc moral support!"

Fujiko slapped Hikaru. "And I take back what I was about to say before you interjected with that stupid comment."

"I didn't really had anyone supporting me back when I started..." Ryuuga admitted, raising his head up to look at everyone, a small smile forming on his face. "But this time, I will win. I will win!"

Throughout the math class Hikaru had mentioned during lunch time, Ryuuga kept focusing on the fight, looking at his deck when the teacher wasn't paying attention and writing down strategies. In a class where all the students, even Hikaru, were paying attention, Ryuuga was the one who was basically with his head on another world.

'There's no what if scenario. There is no 'What if I win?' or  'What if I lose?'. This is the end of what started it all. The end of a life-changing chapter. The end... Of an era.'

Walking into Card Shop Hage, Ryuuga and his friends were met face to face with Ryuzaki and his usual group, who awaited them.

"I'm not ready for this, I need a burrito." Maverick mumbled, rubbing the back of his head.

"Last time that happened you made a golden turd shit out of the sky, you aren't eating burritos again any time soon!" Inu spat, pushing Maverick to the side.

"The tension is big, never thought this would ever happen in my shop!" Kamishirp excitedly said, rubbing his hands. "I'll go set the best table of the house!"

"Thanks Kamishiro." Ryuzaki replied before looking at Ryuuga and his friends. "Big group. Are you ready?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't." Ryuuga replied, glaring at his mentor. His eyes showed it all, his determination, his resolve, his progress over the months, his evolution.

"That's the spirit. Let's go." Ryuzaki guided his opponent and all the people who would be watching the fight to the table Kamishiro who prepared. He moved himself to one of the table's ends and took his deckbox out of his jacket, placing it on the table. H removed his blazer and his vest, handing the two pieces of clothing to Inu. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and grabbed his deckbox once again, taking his deck out before tossing it to Maverick. "No pressure."

Ryuuga threw his uniform's jacket to the side and placed his deck on the table, nodding. "No pressure."

"I'll make the rules simple, okay?" Kamishiro announced, getting the attention of the small crowd watching. "This is a one on one between Ryuzaki and Ryuuga. If Ryuzaki wins, he gets literally nothing! And if Ryuuga wins, he gets-"

"These." Ryuzaki placed two plane tickets between the two decks. "Since your summer break has started, I took the liberty of scheduling the flights for sunday evening. These will take you to any place on the world and then back to Tokyo when the break ends. And you get to take someone with you, maybe your super cool mentor. And if you lose, me and Maverick are going to use these to go to Italy and get full on pizza and wine."

"Don't forget about me!" Inu spat.

"And Iku is coming along."

"It's Inu and thanks!"

"You heard the man. First move will go Ryuuga, the challenger! We're going off Royalty rules since the whole Heiwa Royalty is watching and I don't have any coin to flip on me." Kamishiro mumbled the coin part. "Anyway, fighters, get ready to-"

"Hold the fuck up." Yuichiro said, barging into the store. He walked up the crowd and joined them. "Can't miss my nephew and student beat up some furries."

"Hey he's my student!" Ryuzaki interjected.

"It dun' matter, I am the coach of his team, I have the high ground."

Kamishiro cleaned his troat. "Anyway, fighters, get rea-"

"Wait, please." A familiar voice said as it walked through the doors of Hage.

"Oh- What now?!"

"We came to see the fight too." The voice, joining the crowd. It ws Kaido, followed by Emma, Sakate and Strelzia, who went up to Hikaru and joined him.

Ryuzkai squinted. "Kaido? What are you doing here?!"

"I gave the headmaster a donation to allow us to leave for today. Why are not in GEN doing your professor job?"

"Huh... I also might have donated him some money for his birthday."

Hikaru cried of happiness on the inside. 'WATCHING THE TWO BIGGEST RICHOY FUCKS OF JAPAN INDIRECTLY FLEXING ON US NORMAL PEOPLE IS BETTER THAN LUDICOLO ON DETECTIVE PIKACHU!'

"Is there anyone else? No? Thank you. Fighters, get ready!"

"So, you really are going to make this our final battle?" Ryuzaki asked, placing his shuffled deck on the deck zoe and drawing five cards.

"Yeah." Ryuuga replied, placing two cards on the bottom of the deck and drawing another two. "It's all or nothing now."

"Indeed. I will miss these fights. They made me feel young."

"Being a mentor make syou feel young?"

"Yeah, what can I say? Maybe I'll get some random student of GEN to become my student by beating him on an entry test."

"Funny. Now, let's go. Our final fight." Ryuuga said, grabbing his face down vanguard.

"Yeah. Imagine it!"

"Stand up, vanguard!" The two exclaimed togather, flipping their respective starting vanguards face up.

"I ride Mecha Trainer! (Grade 0|6000)" Ryuuga exclaimed, his vanguard circle expanding grey.

"I ride Stealth Beast, Cat Devil! (Grade 0|6000)" Ryuzaki announced, his vanguard circle expanding yellow with a dark tone.

'It's all in yours hand now. Let them guide you to victory. Create your own future.' Kaido thought, smilling. "Go, Ryuuga!"

"Spread 'em furry cheeks brudda from another mutha! MAKE SEIFRIED GO MUDA MUDA MUDA!" Hikaru exclaimed, slamming his foot on the ground. 

"It's my turn! Draw! I ride Wonder Boy! (Grade 1|8000) Mecha Trainer's skill, I draw one card! Turn end!"

Ryuuga
Hand: 6
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

Ryuzaki
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"And it's now my turn! Draw! I ride Stealth Beast, Million Rat! (Grade 1|8000) Cat Devil's skill, I will be going plus one! Million Rat, strike! (8000)"

"No guard!"

"Drive check! (Left Arrester) No trigger."

"Damage check! (Concealed Angela)"

"Turn end!"

Ryuuga
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
OXO
OOO

Ryuzaki
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! I ride Spike Bouncer! (Grade 2|10000) Spike Bouncer's skill! Counterblast, soulblast, I look at the top cards of the deck and call one! Gyro Slinger! (Grade 1|8000) The last card is sent to the bottom of the deck! Gyro's skill, I place a hand card into the soul and check the top two! I call Commander, Garry Gannon! (Grade 1|8000) The last card also goes to the bottom! Add 5000 to the unit called with Gyro's effect! (8000>>13000) I call Highspeed, Brakki! (Grade 2|10000) With his skill, add 10000 power! (10000>>20000) Gyro Slinger attacks! (8000)"

"GAH what is he doing, he's going for an all out rush against the clan that only needs three counterblast to give you the cuck?!"

"Sawada knows what he's doing. Just play close attention to fight." Emon said, slamming his hand on Hikaru's back to shut him up.

"Hai Emomon!"

"I guard with Left Arrester! (13000)"

"Boosted by Garry Gannon, Spike Bouncer attacks! (10000>>18000)"

Ryuzaki looked at his hand cards and shook his head. "No guard!"

"Drive check! (Sonic Breaker - Critical) Critical trigger! Giving all the power to Brakki and the critical to Bouncer! (20000>>30000) (18000>>18000/2)"

"Damage check! (Dueling Dragon, ZANBAKU|Cornered Stealth Rogue, Benijishi) No trigger in any of them."

"Garry's skill! Since an attack he boosted hitted a vanguard, I place him into the soul to draw two cards! Then, I place one of the cards on the bottom of the deck! Brakki attacks the vanguard! (30000)"

Ryuzaki clicked his tongue. "No guard. (Swift Archer, FUSHIMI)"

"Turn end!"

Ryuuga
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
XXX
OOO

Ryuzaki
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
OXO
OOO

'They were right. This isn't the same Ryuuga that lost against me over and over again. That one wouldn't have went so aggressive and confident into his second turn. Is this really what they called resolve? I thought that was just an anime thing.' "My turn! Stand and draw! I ride Swift Archer, FUSHIMI! (Grade 2|9000) I call Million Rat! (Grade 1|8000) With his skill, I pay a counterblast to call a second Rat from the deck and halve it's power! (Grade 1|8000>>4000) I call Stealth Rogue of Silence, Shijimamaru! (Grade 1|7000) Boosted by Shijimamaru, Million Rat attacks! Shijimamaru's skill, add 3000 to the boosted Million Rat and other Million Rat! (4000>>11000>>14000) (8000>>11000)"

"No guard! (Juggernaut Maximum)"

"Boosted by Million Rat, FUSHIMI attacks the vanguard! (9000>>20000)"

"No guard again!"

"Drive check! (Stealth Dragon, Amatsu Snipe)"

"(Cheerful Lynx - Draw) Draw trigger! I give the power to my vanguard and draw a card! (10000>>20000)"

"I end my turn." Ryuzaki looked again at his hand cards. 'I could have spend this turn going for the rears, but that would do nothing when I'm already stuck in the middle of ground between win and lose.'

Ryuuga
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
XXX
OOO

Ryuzaki
Hand: 5
Damage: 3
XXO
XXO

"Stand and draw! A brilliant strike at the hands of the Dark Zone general! I ride my vanguard, General Seifried! (Grade 3|13000)" Ryuuga's vanguard circle exploded red like Seifried's visor. "Imaginary Gift, Force! I give it to the circle where Gyro is! (8000>>18000) Moving on to the main phase, Brakki's skill! I throw him into the soul to superior call another Brakki from the deck! His skill comes in again! (Grade 2|10000>>20000) Seifried's skill! I counterblast and place Gyro into the soul to call a second Gyro from the deck! Add 10000 to both! (Grade 1|8000>>18000) (13000>>23000) Gyro's skill! I place a card in the soul and look at the top three! I call Spike Bouncer! (Grade 2|10000>>25000) And with Bouncer's skill, I check the top three again to call another card! Concealed Angela! (Grade 1|8000) Angela's skill, add 10000! (80000>>18000) I call Franny! (Grade 0|5000) With Franny's skill, I put Wonder Boy from the drop zone back into the deck and put her into the soul to countercharge! Spike Bouncer attacks! (25000)"

"Yukihime, guard! (29000)"

"Bouncer's skill! After battle, I pay a counterblast and put him into the soul to draw! Boosted by Angela, Brakki attacks! (20000>>38000)"

"No guard! (Stealth beast, Leaves Mirage - Draw)" Ryuzaki smirked. "Things are looking up for me. I give it all to FUSHIMI and draw one! (19000)"

"Boosted by Gyro Slinger, General Seifried attacks! (23000>>41000)"

"Not a chance! Leaves Mirage, complete guard!" 'I despise the fact that I have to use this this early but I'm not risking the chance to get critted or have to guard Brakki's attack. Better safe than sorry.'

"Twin drive! (Wonder Boy|Treasured, Black Panther) No trigger! I end my turn!"

Ryuuga
Hand: 8
Damage: 3
OXX
OXX

Ryuzaki
Hand: 4
Damage: 4
XXO
XXO

"Stand and draw! With this turn, I'll make judgement fall upon you. Say goodbye to your dream, to your chances, to your vanguard! What is law? Something to be torn down by my sword! This blade and chain rule everything, be it time or space! I RIDE! DUELING DRAGON, ZANBAKU! (Grade 3|12000)" Ryuzaki's vanguard circle exploded dark blue like ZANBAKU's armor.

'Here it is. From this point onwards, everything will escalate. Everything will go from zero to hundred in no time. From this point on, the real fight begins!' Ryuuga thoguht, clenching onto his hand cards.

"This is my Imaginary Gift! Accel! I get a new front row circle! I call Amatsu Snipe (Grade 1|7000) and Left Arrester! (Grade 2|9000>>19000) And now, ZANBAKU's skill! Counterblast, soulblast, I superior call Right Arrester from the deck! (Grade 2|9000) Add 5000 power to ZANBAKU! (12000>>17000) And since I control both Right and Left Arresters, you cannot ride next turn! Amatsu Snipe's skill, add 5000 power since a unit was called from the deck! (7000>>12000) But that isn't all. Since called when I have another Arrester on the board and my vanguard is ZANBAKU, Right Arrester's skill activates! Counterblast two, placing a hand card into the soul! Your vanguard can't stand next turn!"

In the Cray counterpart of the on-going battle, the golden and silver chains restrained General Seifried's arms, legs and neck, forcing him to fall to his knees. Ryuuga's spirit bursted out of General Seifried's chest, but only the upper part of his body, waist up. His arms were restrained by the silver chaisn of the Arresters while ZANBAKU's golden chain wrapped around his neck. Ryuuga, like his avatar, was also looking down. ZANBAKU appeared in front of the fallen fighters, placing his left foot on top of Seifried's right shoulder to support himself. He raised his sword up, lining perfectly with Ryuuga's neck. Ryuzaki's voice came out of the armor-clad dragon.

"Saying that a bunch of people are guiding to victory won't win you this fight. Not against me. You can be determined, confident, having your resolve and will, but you won't win. Not now, not ever. This is the end!"

And then, he swang the sword down.

(Ending)

Ryuuga and Ryuzaki: Here's the preview.

On the next chapter:

#35: Take Off

"Final turn!"

----------------------------------------

MINI TERRA: "There isn't one this week since this chapter is hella important"

Ryuzaki: Read the title.