Chapter 7: The Duel Ministry

Judai was a little more than shocked when he found out that Vice-Principal Chronos was actually a GUY. "Not only is he a guy, but he wants to duel me, too? WHY?" Judai asked Ryo, who had broken the news to him. Sighing, Ryo pulled out a lollipop and started sucking on it as he replied, "…He didn't tell me why, but I think those four guys controlling the school want to see if you're a true threat or not…"

Both boys were still a bit nervous when they learned of the true rulers of the school, but they weren't about to let that get to them. If worse came to worse, they would have to defeat them in duels. For now…it was best to continue with their educations before coming up with a plan.

Sighing, Judai knew he couldn't do anything but accept the offer. After all, this might be his chance to hopefully get some more information on this 'group' controlling the school…

Before they left, Ryo turned to Judai and said, "By the way…he said that if you lose, he'll have to take your deck…"


Stepping up onto the platform, Judai looked Chronos over a few times. Not only did the Vice-Principal have long blonde hair, an extremely ugly face and purple lipstick, but he just HAD to wear pink ruffles in his cuffs, too! Just looking at him made Judai feel a bit queasy. However, he quickly shook of the feeling and prepared himself to duel when Chronos exclaimed:

"P-P-Please hear me out, young R-Ra Yellow boy. I do not want to duel you…but if I don't, I will be punished. If you defeat m-me, I will finally be free of those d-demons' clutches, and by doing so, I will provide you with a-any information I have on the 'Duel Ministry'! However…as a duelist, I-I will not just give up! You must b-b-beat me for real!"

The poor gay man's voice was shaking as he said this. He obviously knew his life was in danger by proclaiming such things. 'So…their group is called the Duel Ministry, huh? Those bastards…' Judai clenched his teeth and drew five cards from the top of his deck, hinting he was ready. Nodding, Chronos did the same and their duel began. Judai was given the 'okay' to go first.

"Alright! First, I summon Emerald-Kamen (Atk/1000 Def/1800) in defense mode, then I set two cards and end my turn!"

Chronos nodded and drew a card. As he did this, Ryo could have sworn he heard him whimpering. Shaking his head furiously, Chronos put on a brave face and shouted, "OKAY! I play a spell card called 'Mechanical Revision'! Now, I am able to special summon one Machine-type monster from my hand to the field by sending one card from my hand to the field! So…I bring out Mecha-Dog Marron (Atk/1000 Def/1000) onto the field in defense mode! Then, I normally summon X-Head Cannon (Atk/1800 Def/1500) in attack mode! I then set a facedown card and end my turn!"

Judai: Emerald-Kamen on the field in attack mode, two facedown cards; 4000 LP

Chronos: Mecha-Dog Marron and X-Head Cannon on the field, one facedown card; 4000 LP.

Judai, his mind now completely focused on the duel, drew a card swiftly and exclaimed, "Alright, here I go! I summon Meta-Kamen (Atk/1200 Def/2000) in defense mode and have Emerald-Kamen attack Mecha-Dog Marron!" Suddenly, just as the attack was about to go through, Chronos activated a trap card.

"You just activated my facedown card, 'Mechanical Cross-Fire'! I can switch your attack on my monster to any other monster on the field, so I have Emerald-Kamen attack Meta-Kamen, which doesn't destroy either monster, but you lose 200 LP due to the difference in attack and defense points (Judai: 3800 LP)! However, I must also send the monster you first tried to attack to the graveyard, but that activates Mecha-Dog Marron's effect! Now, if it is sent to the graveyard in a way other than being destroyed in battle, you lose 1000 LP!"

Judai cursed aloud as his LP was knocked all the way down to 2800. 'Damn! For a freakin' queer…he's good!' Judai wiped the sweat from his brow and continued his turn, not about to let himself be put down by this inconvenience. "Okay, I'm still not out yet, though! I activate one of my facedown cards, called 'X-Kamen-X'! By sacrificing one Kamen from my field, I can bring out another Kamen with that same amount of stars from my deck! So…I sacrifice Emerald-Kamen to bring out Baby-Kamen (Atk/100 Def/100) in defense mode! End turn!"

'I wonder what's he planning? Giving up Emerald-Kamen for a weak monster like Baby-Kamen…' Chronos thought as he drew a card from his deck. "Okay! I summon Cyber-Eagle (Atk/1300 Def/1600) and attack Baby-Kamen!" Judai activated his facedown card, which was 'Negate Attack, so Chronos' attack was nullified. And with that, it became Judai's turn.

Judai: Meta-Kamen and Baby-Kamen on the field, no facedown cards; 2800 LP

Chronos: Cyber-Eagle and X-Head Cannon on the field, no facedown cards; 4000 LP

'Crap! What is going on here? Why…why can't I win? I just need to draw a Polymerization card and I might be able to turn this duel around…' Judai thought, his hands shaking. The reason he had brought out Baby-Kamen in the first place because he planned on fusing it with Meta-Kamen. Unfortunately…he still hadn't drawn the card he needed. "Fine! I summon Sapphire-Kamen (Atk/1200 Def/1200) and end my turn!"

Drawing a card, Chronos nodded slightly to himself. Turning to Judai, he held up the card he had just drawn, which was Pot of Greed. Now drawing an extra two cards from his deck, a rather shocked look formed on Chronos' face. It seemed…he had gotten all the cards he needed.

"Alright! First, I play Black Hole to destroy all enemies on the field! Next, I use Monster Reborn to revive one of my most powerful monsters…Mechanical Salamander (Atk/2800 Def/1200)! This monster was the card I had sent to the graveyard back in the beginning of this duel…remember 'Mechanical Revision'? Well…I attack you directly!"

'No way…'

The giant robotic lizard opened its gaping jaw and fired a burst of flames that engulfed Judai's body, ripping his LP apart until there was none left. Judai…had lost the duel. He felt numb all over in the worst way possible…

'No way…this can't be happening…'

Falling to his knees, Judai was completely oblivious to Ryo calling out to him. He was completely oblivious of his deck slipping out of his Duel Disk and falling onto the ground, cards flying everywhere. He was completely oblivious as Chronos sadly walked over, scooped the cards up in his arms, whispered an apology, and walked away.

A few deep breaths, and Judai then lost consciousness…