YN POV

Its only been a hour since Eli won and earn his first slug. Though I gotta admit, he sure does learn fast in dueling. Maybe at this rate I might challenge him in a duel whether its in the tournament or not.
But that could wait in a bit, gotta earn some new slugs if I'm ever gonna duel him. Right now, Kord, Trixie and I are at the next cavern for the tournament. Wait, I'm forgetting something.

YN: Hold on, has anybody seen Eli?

Trixie: Uh, last time I saw him, he said he's gonna take a shortcut with Pronto help.

Kord: Speaking of which, there they are.

3rd POV

Eli and Pronto arrive by climbing from the lava.

Eli: Whoa. (Excited.) Cool!

Kord: Hey, what took you so long?

Eli: Molten lava, razor sharp cliffs and a molenoid with a constant need for pit stops

YN: So you guys took the long way?

Trixie: (Confused.) Why didn't you just take the road?

Eli: Wait, there was a road!?

YN: Well yeah, we even followed other competitives.

Pronto: Ah, when you're with Pronto, you don't need roads. A good reason to bring me along with you when soon you are out fighting evil.

Kord: All that matters now is you made it. The only questions is, who are you gonna duel first?

Eli looks around and see a lot of professional slug slingers that are prepared for the next match as one if them shoots a Thresher slug at the target which ends up loosing its head.

Kord: Just try not to die, that would be bad.

YN: That goes for your slugs too.

Eli was scared when he heard Kord and YN say that. He and Pronto then walked towards the area where most competitors were gathered.

Pronto: Stay close. These lava lakes can be very unpredictable.

The lava lake beside them exploded and showered lava at them. Pronto screamed and the two of them managed to dodge in time.

Eli: Okay, that was kinda scary. But, also kinda awesome. What'd they do? Pick the most dangerous cavern they could find?

Pronto: Oh-hoho, don't be silly! Each round of the tournament is hosted by a different cavern. They're probably saving the truly deadly ones for last.

They had reached the gathering area.

Eli: Hey Kord, uh, what's everyone standing around for? Shouldn't we be getting ready or something?

Kord: That's the thing. They don't announce the match-ups or the type of contest until the very late minute. I have no idea if I need to be getting ready for a sharp-shooting contest or a mechaback duel.

YN: don't forget about eating contest.

Kord: It could be anything!

YN: I don't have to worry, we just gotta be ready for whatever they throw at us.

Pronto: Leave it to me. I will use my expert skills in persuasion to find out early.

Pronto started walking a few steps forward before they hear the announcement.

Host: Attention! The first round of the tournament would be one-on-one duels.

Pronto walked back to the group and waved for them to lean in.

Pronto: (whispering) Okay. It is one-on-one duels.

Eli: Thanks for the tip, Pronto.

Pronto: My pleasure. Anything to give you the edge, my friend.

Pronto bowed, not knowing that he was a little bit late.

YN POV

It looks like I was up against a random contestant. Right now we're standing on each side of the area.

If I'm gonna do this, I gotta use the right slugs to win.

Host: Begin!

We both quickly draw and blast our weapon. I blasted Wrecker but he counters it with a hop rock which blew up wrecker. Before I could ready my other slug, he blasted another hop rock at me, but instead it hit the edge where I was standing and I slip and fall.

YN: Echo!

I blasted Echo who quickly transform before flying and catches me from falling into the lava. Luckily I manage to get higher ground with Echo's help.

Contestant: Oh no you don't!

He blasted a polero right towards Echo to prevent him from flying and we both fell on the ground as my opponent aims his blaster at me.

Contestant: (Smirk.) Its over.

???: (Smirk.) Yeah, you're right.

I was actually standing behind him with Allen ready to blast. Turns out I fooled him with illusion thanks to Thugglet I named Blindsight a long time ago, thanks to my other friend.

Contestant: (Confused.) How did you..?

YN: Thanks Blindsight.

Blindsight was standing on my shoulder with a smile.

YN: Now, we can do this in a peaceful way, or the painful way. (Smirk.) Up to you pal.

He didn't say anything until he quickly turn around with his blaster, just as predicted. I aim down and let Wildvine trap him with the vines before he could blast.

Contestant: Okay, okay! I give up!

Host we have a winner!

The crowd were cheering from my victory as Wildvine let's him go.

Contestant: (Sigh.) Not again...

YN: Hey, there's always another time, you put up a good fight after all.

Contestant: Appreciate it. Take your pick-

Before he could finish, an Thresher slug pop out of the tube it was before landing on my hand to which caught both of us surprise.

Contestant: You sure about this?

The slug nods.

Contestant: All right. He's all yours.

YN: Don't worry, I'll watch over him.

He nods before we both left the match.

YN: All right, how bout I call you...Razor?

Razor chirps happily as he likes the name. Just then, I meet up Eli and Pronto.

Eli: Hey YN, Did you won your match?

YN: Yup. (Notice his Armashelt.) And judging by your new slug friend, it looks like you won too.

Pronto: Ah yes, it was thanks to me to learn your opponents skills.

YN: Pretty much Trixie since she has a camera. Speaking of which, it looks like she's next in the match.

3rd POV

As YN said, she's going again another opponent who calls himself the King of Sling.

Host: The King of Sling versus Trixie Sting!

The King of Sling fired a Rammstone, which Trixie dodged. Trixie turned around and quickly fired a Thresher. The King of Sling fired a Hop Rock and knocked the Thresher off, hitting Trixie backwards onto the ground as she was reloading her blaster and did not have time to dodge it.

King of Sling: Now, bow down before the majesty of the King of Sling!

An Arachnet flew over and threw the web it weaved, hitting his head.

Trixie: That's for you yapping.

She fired a Tormato next, which whirled him into a tornado and made him extremely dizzy.

Trixie: Thats, for your flapping.

She then fired a Rammstone, which knocked his legs and tripped him, causing him to fall flat on the ground.

Trixie: And that one wins me the duel.

Host: Winner! Trixie Sting!

YN: Whoo! Wayda go Trixie!

Eli: Cool!

He turned around and saw Kord looking dejected.

Eli: But I guess not everyone was so lucky.

Kord: (sad) Totally. You should see the dude I just hammered! Woo-hoo-hoo!

YN: Y'know, I got a feeling that at some point we're gonna go against each other.

Kord: Who knows? It could be any of us.

YN: One thing for sure, don't expect me to go easy on any of you guys.

Eli: Oh you're so on!

Time skip

The five of them were riding on their mechas to the next tournament location.

Kord: C'mon dudes! And, dudettes. Floor it! We're only halfway to Rocklock Cavern, and the next round is starting in less than an hour!

YN: Relax, ain't nothing going to block us during the way.

Eli: Hey, I've been meaning to ask you. Cave trolls are like the best engineers, right?

Kord: Well, I don't wanna brag.

Eli: So, why did you become a slug-slinger?

Kord: My clan wanted me to go into the family business. A lot of the passageways we use were built by my people. But, turns out slinging slugs is a whole lot more fun that bustin' rocks.

Pronto: "interrupts" Ah yes, yes, yes. I, of course, come from a long, proud line if molenoid explorers.

Eli: What about you, Trixie?

Trixie: Not much to say. I was fired of seeing bad people ride into my home cavern to cause trouble. Without a Shane around, somebody had to do something. I was the only one who wanted to fight back. That's partially why i ake my videos, so people can see what's been happening in Slugterra. Good, and bad.

Eli: What about you, YN?

YN: When my dad left, there was no one else could step up to stop any troubles. So I had no choice but to step up early before it got worse.

Trixie: And of course after that, you were gone for like a year before you came back.

YN: There were....complications. Let's just say I didn't know how exactly to deal with tough situation.

They then turned at a bend and continued talking.

Pronto: Tracking, however, is, the molenoids' greatest skill.

Eli: Speaking of that, where exactly are we, Pronto?

Pronto: Oh, just a little shortcut I know about. inspects 'finger'-nails"

Trixie noticed a few markings on the walls.

Trixie: Those are Shadow Clan markings. Is this one of their trails?

Pronto: Yes, at one time it was. But they haven't been seen in years in years.

Pronto shrieked and pulled over. The Shadow Clan were stalking slowly towards them.

Trixie: Well, guess what? I think they've made a comeback.

Eli: The Shadow Clan? I've always wanted to see one.

YN: You're gonna wish you haven't.

Trixie: Usually if you get close enough to see one,

Kord: It's the last thing you'll ever see.

Eli: So... What do we do?

YN: Well, it's easy. Pronto can give you a simple answer.

Pronto: RUN!!

Pronto, Trixie, YN, and Kord quickly turned their mechas around and fled, but Eli drove towards the Shadow Clan instead as Trixie notice.

Trixie: Eli! He meant run away!

Eli: You guys get out off here! I'll try to distract the-

The Shadow Clan went after Eli and he stopped when they had blocked his path and surrounded him. He quickly stopped his mecha.

Eli: Whoa! This, was a bad idea.

The Shadow Clan roared in fury.

YN: (Shouting.) Eli!

Eli looks as see YN blasted Flash to blind the Shadow clan.

YN: Don't just stand there, run!

Eli immediately turned and ran away as the Shadow clan gives chase and hurled Hop Rocks at Eli and missed.

Eli: Light 'em up, Burpy!

Eli fired Burpy at the Shadow clan as Burpy transformed and hit the ground, creating a fire wall to block the Shadow clan, before dropping back onto Eli's shoulder, squealing. Eli and YN made it out of the Shadow Clan territory and the five of them quickly continued their journey to the cavern.

Trixie: What were you thinking?!

Eli: I don't know what I was thinking. My dad always talked about them like they were no deal. He said he ran into them all the time when he was out patrolling the caverns.

Trixie: Yeah, but your dad was Will Shane. You? You're just, crazy!

YN: Not to mentioned my dad always said to avoid any unnecessary contacts when it comes to Shadow clan.

Eli gave them an awkward smile as they continue their way to the next caverns.

Eli POV.

I don't understand, dad always told me that they're not a big deal as if they weren't causing any trouble. Sometimes I wish I can ask him. Just then we've arrived at the second round of the tournament.

Kord: Rocklock Cavern. They better have something good for this round.

YN: Or at least something to eat around here.

Host: This next round will feature three-on-three team duels! Choose your partners!

Eli: (Turns back to face Kord and YN.) Aw, come on, What's the worst that could happen?

YN: (Shrugs.) I'll take your word.

Few minutes later.

We were then in a match against a team of triplets.

I try my best to sneak across but i was then spotted by three of them. Got by a Hop Rock and fell against a large rock.

Eli: Whoa!

YN and Kord appeared from behind the rock and fired at them. Eli quickly crouched, shocked.

YN: (Sarcasm.) "What's the worst that could happen?"

Eli: Okay, I get it.

Kord: Don't just sit there. (A Hop rock crashed the rock again.) Get some cover!

As another Hop Rock came flying at the rock again, I was immediately pulled by Kord behind the rock for cover. The triplets shot at another Hop rock, where YN was hiding.

Eli: Who are these guys anyway?

YN: Trixie said that these three are the Power Triplets, a.k.a., the Power Trips. They've been training together ever since they were born.

The triplets simultaneously swirled their blasters, pushed a barrel in each, and aimed their Hop Rock.

YN: Believe it or not, it's like they know what each other's gonna do before they do it.

They fire the Hop Rocks again towards us as we ducked to dodge. The rock we were hiding behind was now comepletely smashed. The triplets reloaded and shot Hop Rocks at the same time again. Giving no other choice, we ran while the Power Triplets chased after us.

YN: We can't keep this up. We need to plan a counter strike!

YN fires a Grenuke slug at them but they outmatch him with three hop rocks. YN dodges them but they were fired towards me and I fell to the ground.

Triplet (Blue): Slug him again, brotha.

Triplet (Green): Yeah, sista.

Eli: (Confused.) Whoa, wait. One of those dudes' a girl?

YN: Wait what?

The triplets fired Hop Rocks again and I ran. I jump in between the two rocks that Kord and YN were hiding behind.

Eli: We need to be working together like they do. Show me your slugs.

Kord held out a Phosphoro slug and a Rammstone, while YN held out a Hop rock and a Arachnet.

Eli: Kord, you'll sling that Phosphoro. YN, well need your Arachnet. Then we'll see what Banger can do.

Kord: It takes weeks to bond with a new slug, Eli. Sometimes months.

Hop Rocks crashed into the rocks.

YN: As much as I hate to admit, Kord is right. Even though we don't have much choice.

Eli: I may be new at this, but I know when a slug is bonded with you.

Banger nodded. The triplets walked slowly towards us while firing more hop Rocks.

Eli: Kord, you draw them out. Then we fire on my signal. Go!

Kord then went charging out from the hiding place.

Kord: Here-goes-nothing!

Triplet (Blue): There, brothas!

The triplets turned around and fired at Kord. He jumped behind a rock just as the Hop Rocks crashed into it.

Eli: Now!

Kord fired the Phosphoro which blinded the triplets for a moment. YN then fired an Arachnet which trapped them together with the web. This is where I step in by shooting Banger at the dangling rocks above the trapped triplets and Banger hit every one of them down, surrounding the triplets like a cage. The crowed cheers to our victory.

Pronto: Ah-ha-ha. You see? One of my signatures moves!

Host: Winners! Team Shane!

Eli: Yes! (Lifts a hand at Kord.) High five!

Kord: Uh...

Eli: Hey! Come on! You're leavin' me hanging here.

YN gave me high five instead of Kord.

Eli: Thanks, YN.

YN: We do owe you one for carrying us to the win.

Trixie: (Walks over.) Good, coz' we gotta get going to the next round.

Time skip, 3rd POV

Match after match, Eli Shane wins and earn new slugs for the team including YN.

Unfortunately for YN, he lost against John bull and lost Twist. Only reason he held back was because he didn't want to draw too much attention yet he felt guilty for loosing Twist.

Trixie: Sorry that you lost one of your slugs, YN.

YN: (Sigh.) Yeah...I don't know whether it was worth it or not.

Trixie: On the bright side, you didn't draw too much attention.

YN: To be honest, I thought giving Eli credits would give him peoples respect. Maybe I'll ask him to get Twist back.

Trixie: Speaking of which, there he is.

They see Eli is letting one of the slugs he won as they approach him.

Trixie: That's great, Eli. Congrats!

Eli: Thanks. Sorry about loosing your slug, YN.

YN: Thanks.

Kord limped over to Eli after his own semi-final round, severely injured.

Kord: I just heard. I'm sorry, bro.

Fli: Um, no. I won. I'm in the finals!

Kord: Yeah, against John Bull! Look what he did to me. Look, bro, you don't have the skills. And not to mention the body mass to take on his Rammers! I'm sorry to say it, dude, but that guy's gonna crush you.

At the last round, people cheered loudly as Eli and his friends rode into the arena.

(YN on his mecha beast.)

Man: Go get him, kid! I'm rooting for you!

Pronto: Eli Shane is not signing any autographs. Pronto, however has several poses available.

Just then they hear a horn train as the Slugterranean Express arrived on the track in front of the group.

Kord: The Slugterranean Express?

Trixie: And it's not carrying just any passenger.

YN: Dr. Blakk.

Frost then growls at Dr. Blakk.

Kord: Dr. Blakk? Why would he be here?

Blakk: Which one of you is Eli Shane?

Everyone turned to look at Eli. Burpy growled angrily and snarled when Blakk walked towards Eli YN then steps in front of Dr. Blakk, protecting his friend.

Eli: It's okay, guys. Who is that guy?

Kord: Dr. Thaddius Blakk. Your dad never mentioned him?

Trixie: People say, he was the last one to see him alive and that DN vanished after their fight.

Blakk: What your friends say us try. Will Shane was a true hero as well as DN LN. I owe my life to them, in fact. Let's find a place to talk, shall we?

Eli: My friends are coming with me

Blakk: By all means.

Dr. Blakk walked away, with a look of disgust as he went.

Eli: It's okay, guys. We're just gonna talk.

They then follow Dr. Blakk to the express but YN stops Eli to talk.

YN: Eli, whatever he has up in his sleeves to offer to you. Don't accept it, I got a feeling it ain't some nice snacks for your slugs.

Eli nods before they follow Dr. Blakk.

YN: Frost, stay hidden. I got a feeling he'll recognize you.

Frost nods and stays in his backpack before he joins them. They all enter in a darkest black and redish room which looks like Dr. Blakk office.

Blakk: A small perk of owning the main line of transportation is that one gets to travel in a certain style.

Pronto ran over to Blakk's office chair and sat down comfortably.

Pronto: Oh-hoho. So soft! Like and angel's whisper.

Maurice grabbed Pronto and walked over to the group, then dropped him.

Blakk: So, Will Shane has a son. (Chuckles.) I'm not surprised. The Shanes and their secrets only share it with the LNs. Though I did heard that DN son is how you put it? Elsewhere.

YN: How bout you cut to the chase and tell us why you're here?

Blakk: Straight to business, I see.

Eli: You were my dad's... friend?

Blakk: Friend? (Chuckles.) Your father and I had our differences, but that's all in the past. You and I have a chance to start afresh. Perhaps someday even work together. I've been told you're a little short on slugs. Consider this a gift.

Blakk flipped a cages around which each contained a corrupted slug, that Maurice had placed on his table.

The slugs growled, baring their teeths, causing them, except Blakk and Maurice, to gasp.

Trixie; What happened to that slug?

Blakk: Why, I improved them, young lady.

YN: They look like the same types of slugs, but more... Darker.

Blakk: I'll admit Mt first few attempts were, unpredictable. But now. (Smirk.) perfection.

Eli: That's not perfection, you made it into some kind of a... ghoul!

Blakk: Ghoul. (Chuckles.) I like that.

The ghoul chomped on the metal bars.

Eli: You can't do that to slugs. They're the key to everything here! You could destroy Slugterra.

Blakk pushed the cage aside.

Blakk: I seem to have heard that one before. I suppose it was silly of me to think a Shane would accept it, especially for A LN. We're done.

All five of them turned to go.

Blakk: Here in this little contest, you may think that you're the hero. But out in the real world, Eli Shane? Stay out of my way as LN did.

Eli: (Turns around.) I don't know who you are, but my slug seems to. And he doesn't like you. I don't either. I'm gonna be the new Shane. You better get used to it.

Eli left and the door closed after him.

Maurice: He's just a kid, boss. Shouldn't be any trouble.

Blakk: But he's a Shane. And when the people have a Shane to get behind, that, can be very bad for business. We'll stop him as we stop the LN.

Blakk walked in through a tentage to where John Bull was sitting and cleaning his blaster. Blakk cleared his throat to gain John Bull's attention.

Short time skip

The crowd cheered loudly while YN, Pronto, Trixie, and Kord found an empty spot and stood there to watch the match.

Host: John Bull versus Eli Shane!

The crowd continue to cheer for the match, however, Trixie notice YN was quiet ever since they left Dr. Blakk train. So she decided to talk by cheering him up.

Trixie: Hey partner?

YN: Huh? Oh, hey.

Trixie: You all right?

YN: Yeah, excited for Eli match...(sigh.) No.

Trixie: Want to talk about it.

YN was quiet but he decided to tell her what he's thinking.

YN: Those slugs Dr. Blakk had, they were Tormato and Thresher slugs. But now they're more... Darker and...dangerous. I'm more concerned about the thresher though.

Trixie: (Confused.) Why's that?

YN: Because-

Kord: (To Eli.) Bro! Less talking! More remembering what I taught you!

Eli: And what was that again?

Kord: "Don'ttalkwhenyous houldbeblasting!" (rushed through)

YN POV

Everyone see Eli was struggling until he quickly adapts and turn the tides to his favor. Enough to push John bull to the wall.

John: That's it!

Man: Yeah! Show him what a Shane is!

Trixie: Come on, Eli!

But then I notice John has two red tubes on his belts, I quickly grab my binocular to take a better look and realized that those are the ghouls from before. Dr. Black must've give it to him before the match. John bull look hesitant for using it until he grabs the tormato ghoul.

YN: He ain't gonna do it.

He then loads it in his blaster as Eli loads Burpy in his blaster.

YN: Okay on second thought, he's definitely doing it. Stop em Spidey!

They both blasted their slugs and I quickly blasted Spidey. Right when the three of them transformed, Spidey stop the ghoul with the webnet and they both fell.

John: Hey! Your interfering!

YN: Can it Bull, I just stopped you from making it worst with that slug.

The ghoul snarled and hopped back to him.

Eli: That's the ghoul! Blakk gave it to you, didn't he?

John Bull's slugs were intimidated by the ghoul and hopped out of the shells and away.

John Bull: Who cares. Get lost! I don't need you. And there's plenty more where this came from.

Twist approaches me as I gladly pick him up.

YN: You're not gonna walk away with it if you're going down to this road.

I help up Eli as we both walk away until u hear John bull again.

John: Better than you old man who ran away.

I immediately stop the moment he mentioned my dad.

John: That's right, I know who you are. I bet he just ran away because he's too scared to fight these kinds of slugs. Just like you.

This got me angry and I turn and face him as he loads a thresher ghoul. We both became silent as the wind stops. The moment he blasted the ghoul, I instantly dodge it in the nick of time before blasting Frost at him.

John blasted the tormato ghoul but this time Frost transformed similar to a reindeer and unleash a snow hurricane attack.

The tormato ghoul was then transformed back into ghoul slug as the entire area became snow as a huge snowball hit John. Just when he was about to get up, I place my foot on his chest and aim him with Wrecker.

YN: Let's make this plain and simple pal, you mess with the Shane, (Remove his mask.) You mess with the LN. There's a new sheriff in town.

Frost growls at him before we both left.

Time skip, 3rd POV

Eli was sitting alone thinking and reread the letter his dad had given him.

Will shane: If you choose to follow in my footsteps, Eli, it will be up to you to protect Slugterra from all kinds of dangers. You're a Shane. You have a good heart. And whatever you choose, I'm proud of you.

Eli: (to Burpy) I've waited my whole life to losing slugs and be a Shane. I just always thought I would be doing it with my dad. Now I'm gonna have to find a way to do it myself. "stands up"

Pronto: Well, not completely by yourself.

Pronto had appeared from behind on his mecha.

Pronto: You will have Pronto to guide you on your journey.

He was then followed by Kord, YN, and Trixie.

Kord: And I'll make sure you get there, buddy. I got your back.

YN: You gonna need a sharp shooter and some connection with people who can help.

Trixie: And I'll spread the word across Slugterra. Everyone will know a Shane has returned.

Eli: It, could be dangerous.

YN: What's adventure without a little bit of danger.

Kord: Besides, we laugh at danger.

Eli: Most of the time I'm going to be making it up as I go.

Pronto: (Sips his drink.) That's how I live each day!

Eli: We're going to go after Dr. Blakk. Whatever those ghouls are, we have to stop him from making more.

Burpy chittered in agreement.

Trixie: Thought you'd never ask.

Eli: Alright. We're the new Shane gang. Where do we start?

Random voice: Somebody, HELP!!

They see an explosion from a far distance.

All five of them reloaded their barrels.

Eli: Guess that answers that.

He got on his mecha quickly.

YN: Let's ride!

They then drove off in the direction of the area where they had heard the distressed call for help.