Burst and his friends prepared for the coming against Paradox. Each one checking over their decks at the school entrance. Suddenly, Hermos and Critias materialized from Ace's deck. "Hey you two! Here to give us some extra help in storming Paradox's lair?", Ace asked.
"We can't materialize in our physical forms in there with you, but we can give you some tools should any of his minions.", Critias said with a small smile.
"Paradox has minions?", Steel asked.
"Don't all the good villains?", Gold replied.
"I made these in anticipation for the coming battle.", Hermos said with a proud smile as he opened up a large chest. "Would you, Ice, Shadow, Burst, Inferno, Rainbow, and Moon please come here? I made some for each of you."
"What about the rest of us?", Twilight asked.
"I've some in the works for you and the others, but these are the only ones I had completed.", Hermos replied. "But I WILL have them ready soon enough." The group Hermos called for stepped up to the chest and found weapons waiting for them. Each one modeled after their monster partners. "I call them the Duelist Arms series." Ace pulled out a sword modeled after Timaeus, a shield modeled after Hermos, and a scarf with a design similar to Critias. "I hope they're to your liking." Ice pulled out a gigantic two-handled sword designed after Red Dragon Archfiend, and grinned.
"Niiiiice!", Ice said as he admired the weapon.
"I'll take that as a yes. You'll be happy to know these weapons are so light because of your bond to your monster partners." Shadow pulled out a spear that was modeled after Dragluon. Burst pulled out a sword modeled after Blue-Eyes, and smiled at what else was waiting for him. Twin blasters that shared the same Blue-Eyes design. Inferno pulled out a sword and a twin-barreled blaster modeled after Red-Eyes, while Moon got a sword modeled after Stardust Dragon and Golf found a plasma blaster and crystal saber modeled after Crimson Dragon. Rainbow Dash was puzzled at her duelist arm. It looked like just an armored gauntlet modeled after Rainbow Dragon.
"Hey! What gives?!", Rainbow demanded.
"Try focusing energy and aiming.", Hermos answered. Rainbow did so with an annoyed groan, and shot a beam of rainbow-colored energy from the glove! "Happy? I had trouble finding a proper construct to channel the energy through."
"AWESOME!", Rainbow squealed. "Can't wait to stick it to Paradox with this thing!"
"I think you'll get your chance sooner than you think.", Burst said as he noticed a rippling going on in the space around CHS. Soon there was an explosion of energy, and an odd castle materialized. It seemed to be constructed of the same substance that made up the Malefic World! "So that's how Paradox planned on entering our world. Well, let's not keep him waiting." The group headed inside the castle, but something blocked a few of them from getting in! The only ones that made it in were Shadow, Ace, Ice, Rainbow Dash, Inferno, Burst, and Moon! "It looks like Paradox wants to keep this thing to just him and the legendary dragons."
"Then let's give him what he wants.", Shadow said with a determined nod. The group entered, and found a large door with eight chains around it. There were also eight separate doors on the main floor. "Looks like we've got some chains to break."
"Looks like Paradox is fond of the divide and conquer strategy.", Gold noted. "He's hoping that by splitting us up, he can pick us off easier."
"Then let's show him how wrong he is!", Ice boasted as he ran off to a door. Ace sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder why our parents even named him Ice considering he's so hot-blooded." Ace walked over to another door, and the rest of the group did the same. Each wondering what trials awaited them.