Comet Phoenix created three rings around its body. Comet Phoenix vanished into the three rings. The rings surrounded Ultimate Baseball Kid. One moment he was a red uniform boy holding a spike baseball, he was nothing but a soul with six glowing green balls in his body. Green light burned through the rings. Out roared Ian's strongest monster, a dark blue mountain cat with a red helmet burning flames out and a red saddle (2000/2500).
" I really didn't want to have a duel with a Synchro Summon," the stranger laughed. " But where is the strong monster you've been saving against me? With only two thousand attack it can never stand against me." The stranger heard Ian laugh. He revel as if he knew he was going to win. Win? How was he going to win?
" Some call my deck cheap. They say my deck isn't a real deck. They say that because I like to use burn damage. But if I'm not cheating and I win my duels than this deck is good for me. Melt Fire Drake Ardemantion is different from his brother Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier. Instead of returning cards from my field to the hand I can destroy him and one monster on your side of the field. By doing this we take damage from half of our monsters combined.
" Monsters combined?" (2000÷2=1000) + (2600÷2=1300)=2300 " You fool. That means we will both lose the duel!" Ian smiled. " I prefer neither of us wins than letting you win. A true hero doesn't cheat because cheaters never win, and doesn't let anyone be a sore winner because everyone's a winner. Fire Drake Ardemantion, Fire Preta!"
Ardemantion jumped around Ian's duel runner. Ardemantion's body burned with orange flames as he scorched the dueling field. Ardemantion jumped towards the strangers Scarlet Ogre. On impact both Duel Runner's would blow steam from the dashboards and would come to a halt. A giant fissure ripped through the dueling field. Ian noticed this and stopped his attack. The fissure stretched under the stranger's duel runner. Ian watched as his opponent disappeared into the ground. Fire Drake disappeared from the field.
Ian slowed down his duel runner. He looked back. The fissure was gone. There wasn't a single crack or crevice on the road. It was like some kind of illusion the stranger used to escape. But Ian couldn't think about that now. He was close to New Domino City.
" This would certainly qualify as refreshing."
XXX
Rebecca and Flynn reached the welcome ceremony before Ian. It was here they were suppose to have a great party. A little dancing, food and drinks, getting to met all kinds of interesting people born and raised in New Domino City, and getting sponsors to get them out of the Satellite rut. It was all ruined by Ian being tardy
" Remind me again why we are friends with him," Rebecca said bitterly to Flynn.
" We needed someone funny and lazy to help us stand out better. Ian is our friend whether we like him or not," Flynn said.
" I'm not waiting outside for him all day. Either he's here by the time I count to ten or we are leaving him. One…"
Rebecca and Flynn heard a roaring sound of an engine driving towards the front of the building. Rebecca and Flynn heard the sound coming from the left. They turned their heads to the left. A Duel Runner roared into the front of the ceremony building. It went to a fast halt. The halt almost blew Rebecca's skirt up, but she grabbed it. Ian walked out of the Duel Runner. The moment he stepped out Rebecca walked up to him and slapped his cheek.
" What took you so long?" She said in her loudest tone. " And don't tell me you were stuck in traffic. You were riding a Duel Runner." Rebecca walked up to Ian's Duel Runner. In every Duel Runner there's a screen that shows a duel. Rebecca turned on the screen and the image of Ian's Life Points turned on. " You were in a duel!"
" It's not what you think," Ian said." Actually it's exactly what you think. But I have a god explanation you will want to hear."
" You better not tell me it was the best duel you've played," Rebecca said. " That's not an excuse!"
" I'm telling you...we might be facing an alien crisis."
" Aliens?" Flynn said.
" Yes. Aliens. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but it's true. I was challenged by someone out of the blue, it almost ended where we both lost, and right before the end of the duel an earthquake hits the duel field. When I turn around he disappears. Not only him but the whole earthquake is gone. They were both gone."
" Where?" Rebecca asked.
" Hell. Satan must have been very angry that some guy who uses a deck just worshipping him loses because I use an inferno attack. Instead of seeing his disciple lose all his Life Points he sends him to Hell to train with him."
" I don't know what's a greater tragedy," Rebecca said. " The fact that you were late because you were in a duel or that you lied about it." Rebecca walked away from Ian and Flynn to the front entrance of the ceremony. She could hear Ian holler back at her.
" Reb, come back here." Rebecca stopped. She turned around and walked back towards Ian. " Thank you. Now as I was saying—"
Ian didn't get the chance to explain himself any further to Rebecca because she punched him in the face. Ian went right into his Duel Runner. Rebecca was very angry. Flynn could see she wasn't willing to forgive Ian.
" It's Rebecca, jackass."
