Victory, in the eyes of the beholder.

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A, N: Just a little info. This story has nothing to do with my original Yugioh Zexal series, so Zaira is not part of this. It is a pure what-if and is built on my Zexal theories. It happens around the duel with Don Thousand. A slight warning though, there is happening Character deaths and panic attacks. Not too graphic, but if stuff like that makes you uncomfortable, maybe you shouldn't read it. If not, then of course by all means have fun reading the story!!

Yuma groaned weakly as he fell to the ground for the mullioned time throughout this duel. His 'feeling the flow' spirit was burning brightly, giving him the courage to never give up and try and try again. Or usually, that would be the case. This time it was different. Because this time he had lost. Lost the duel and reduced his life points to zero. Yuma groaned again. His body finally felt the aftershocks of all the blows and damage he had received throughout the duel. He could not believe that they had lost. He and Nash alias Shark had both lost against the deity Don Thousand. As unbelievable as it was. Yuma still had the duel vividly in his mind. How Don Thousand had been using the numeron network to change their cards into what favored him. How Astral had gone to destroy the field spell card, only for him to sacrifice himself to save the Earth and give them an advantage against Don Thousand. Yuma could still feel the heartbroken pain of Astral leaving him. Again! It wasn't fair! Even now when the duel was over. How could he not, when Astral had been his best friend in the whole wide universe? He had fought commendably for Astral's sake thou because that had been Astral's final wish for him before he disappeared. That and Yuma didn't want Astral's sacrifice to be in vain. However, it had all been for none since Don Thousand once again had turned the tie by summoning his strongest numbers. His "Number C1000: Numeronius" and its evolved form, "Number iC1000: Numeronius Numeronia". With these monsters in play, there had been no way for Yuma and Nash to counter that and in the end, they were defeated.

"I told you it was futile to resist your destiny" Yuma could hear Don Thousand chuckle.

Footsteps could be heard, and Yuma instantly turned his gaze, finding out the chaos deity had begun walking over to Nash. Just like him, Nash was lying beaten and bruised on the ground several feet away from both Yuma and Don Thousand. He had even reverted to his human form and looked miserable.

"Shark!" Yuma shouted and with surprisingly untapped strength Yuma didn't even know he was having, he was up on his feet again, and rushed over to his friend in an attempt to protect him.

He had seen what had happened to Mizar. He knew what would happen to a barian when they lost to the chaos god, and he would not stand for it. He had already lost so many of his friends. Including Astral. He was not going to lose another one. Especially not Shark who meant so much more to him.

"Shark" Yuma spoke.

His voice sounded musky. Tears were already running down his cheeks when he finally reached his destination. Because deep down he had no clue on how to stop the inevitable from happening. Sure, he had managed to reach Nash before Don thousand did and he would of course defend him at all costs, but... deep down he knew he would not win. How could he when he couldn't even defeat Don Thousand in a duel? What surprised Yuma the most was that Don Thousand had stopped up and let him reach Nash before he did. Right now, he was just standing there, meters away. His heterochromia eyes were staring at him very intensely. It was like they were drilling themselves inside his soul. That along with that confident smirk made Yuma feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Yuma..." He could then hear Nash say and instantly turned towards him.

The tentacle-haired male had managed to lift himself on the elbows. Now he was looking up at him with reproaching eyes.