//------------------------------//
// Episode 17: Rising to the Challenge 
// Story: Yu-Gi-Oh! EQG: Duelist Rangers Season 2 
// by Bahamut0 
//------------------------------//

	"Well this is new.", Gold said as he took in his new surroundings. "This place looks like an old castle." Gold continued to the courtyard where he saw a lone figure waiting for him. "And I'm guessing you must be the guy who's got the place on lockdown." Dark Paladin turned to face Gold.

"Indeed I am. I assume you know the logic of this situation?", Dark Paladin said as he raised his blade staff.

"Uh-huh.", Gold said as he summoned his own sword. "Bring it on!" The two charged at each other and locked blades! "Didnt' expect a magician to learn the way of the sword!" Dark Paladin smiled at Gold's comment.

"You only limit yourself to your type because you choose to. But by learning other skills or combining them..." Dark Paladin broke the blade lock and sent out a wave of magic from his blade staff! Sending Gold flying! "You can further better yourself!" Gold quickly recovered using his suit's wings!

"I get what you're saying. Let's see if I can rise to this challenge!" Gold focused energy into his suit's wings and sword! "Time for something new!" Gold then leapt into the air and sent out a blast of energy  from his sword and wings! "Plasma Wave Slash!" Dark Paladin braced himself with a barrier spell! Gold smiled under his helmet. "Looks like you still have some tricks up your sleeve."

"You have no idea...Diffusion Wave Motion!" Dark Paladin sent out multiple waves of magic all over the place! Gold was dodging like crazy! Each second that passed, the blasts increased with frequency and strength!

"Oh man! This is like one of those shooter games on impossible!", Gold muttered as he avoided as many blasts as he could! "Okay. Just gotta keep calm and be mindful of my surroundings! This onslaught has to end at some point!" Gold kept on dodging, but eventually a stray blast hit him and the onslaught ended. "Seriously?! It only stops when it hits you?!"

"You do know it didn't do that much damage right?"

"...Okay you've got a point there. In fact, I see how it ties in to the lesson you were trying to teach. To be a bit more unpredictable." Dark Paladin gave a smile and a small nod.

"It's always the smartest ones that take the longest to understand the point of something like this. Here you go." Dark Paladin tossed Gold a crystal. "Crush it and you'll get a new power. I think it'll remind you of your old home in some ways. Until next time!" Dark Paladin vanished in a swirl of darkness and Gold was left alone with the crystal Dark Paladin had given him. Gold contemplated on Dark Paladin's instructions, and decided to break the crystal. Gold then found himself wrapped in flames! As the flames died down, Gold then noticed his suit had flame designs on it and that his wings were blazing and so was his sword!

"Reminds me of my pony form.", Gold said with a fond smile. "I'll call this Draco-Phoenix mode!" Gold then noticed Ace, Inferno, and Ice step out of a portal. "Hey guys! Looks like you all got upgraded too. So what's our next stop?"

"Wherever the heck the next portal takes us.", Inferno said. "Speaking of said portal..." The next portal soon appeared. "Let's move!"