Chapter 10: The Edge Of Elimination: Part 3
"Goodbye, Skylara! Take 'er out, Rhinotaurus!" Jean says. Rhinotaurus jumps into the air, ready to hit Skylara horn first.
"I guess, this is it! There is nothing left to do…!" Skylara thinks to herself. "But play my trap card, 'Dark Crystal'! Now by removing a monster and a synchro in my grave from play, I'm allowed to bring back a synchro from my graveyard!" Says Skylara.
"So?" Jean asks.
"So, Tempest Magician and Rapid Warrior, make way for the return of Cynder the Black Dragon!" Says Skylara. Cynder the Black Dragon has 2900 attack points and is a level 8 monster.
"Rhinotaurus, stop your attack." Jean says.
"Wise move. And now, for another move of my own, I activate the effect of 'Dark Crystal'. So now, you take damage equal to half of Cynder's attack points." Says Skylara.
Cynder breathes a mist of black and purple specks, and brings Jean's lifepoints down to 1450.
"Jean's been jostled! And this crowd is going crazy over it!" The announcer says.
Up in the stands, Trudge is grinning, the Duel Academy students are waving and calling out.
Akiza's parents watch, tensely still.
The cheerleaders are standing on the aisle steps, waving their pompoms.
"Can Skylara keep it up and come through with a comeback for all the ages?! It's possible! After all, the difference between these two duelists' lifepoints, is now an infinitesimal fifty! Sta-ay tuned!" Says the announcer.
The two riders zoom past the booths. "Yeah, Skylara!" Leo says. "Easy, it's not over." Says Luna. "No! But, at least we're back in this duel!" Crow says. "Yeah." Says Yusei. "Hope it lasts!" Akiza says.
"This is simply unheard-of! Skylara's caught up to Jean with practically no cards in her deck!" Says Breo. "Don't sweat it, Breo. Jean sure doesn't seem to be." Andre says. They look back toward the duel.
Jean does have a confident smirk on his face, as he decelerates to ride next to Skylara. "Hmm. Nice move, Skylara. However, you've had 'Dark Crystal' face down since the very first turn! And that means just one thing, that it was the card you were savin' to finish me off with! Am I right?" Asks Jean.
Skylara's face is turned away, she doesn't reply. "Ugh, he is right." Skylara thinks to herself.
"Don't go and feel too badly about it, Skylara! It wasn't a complete waste. You did manage to shrink my lead down by a significant amount. But I'm afraid, not quite enough to win. Because while you've nearly used nearly all your game-changer cards and strategies, I have loads! So many in fact, the only question is, which should I use to end you with!" Jean says, condescendingly.
Skylara looks down at her hand and her badly depleted deck.
"Fortunately, I probably won't have to answer that question! Because the moment that you're outta cards completely, pow! You lose! I now place one face down and end my turn!" Says Jean.
"Yes, my cards are low! However, I shall have your lifepoints at zero before my deck hits that mark! It is my draw! Cynder the Black Dragon, attack Rhinotaurus! Go, Dark Shadow Flame!" Skylara says.
Rhinotaurus is destroyed in a huge puff of smoke, and Jean's lifepoints fall to 750.
"Unbelievable! With that last attack, Skylara has just latched onto the lead! At least, in terms of lifepoints!" Says the announcer.
"All right, this is huge! Jean's lifepoints are now at seven hundred and fifty and you guys know what that means!" Crow says. "Yeah, that 'Speed World Two's' now a factor!" Says Luna. "All Skylara has to do is use four of her speed counters, and she'll win!" Bruno says.
"I play the face down, the trap 'Thousand Crisscross'! This lets me raise my lifepoints up to one thousand, three separate times!" Says Jean. His lifepoints increase to 1000.
"Oh my, Jean must've sensed 'Speed World Two's' effect coming! So, in a sensational display of self-preservation, he's lifted his lifepoints to a level where he can withstand its wrath!" The announcer says.
Skylara looks at the trap card she's holding, and thinks of Cynder. "In that case, 'Shadow Blast' should come in handy. Once activated, if a dragon-type synchro leaves the field, Jean will take damage equal to that synchro's attack points. So, since Jean will most likely destroy Cynder with Lightning Tricorn next turn, that is when I shall make my move." Skylara thinks to herself.
In black and white tones, she can picture Lightning Tricorn turning and galloping toward Cynder.
"I place one card face down and end my turn!" Says Skylara.
"Hmm. My draw. I activate the trap 'Superficial Peace'!" Jean says.
"You what?" Asks Skylara.
"That's right. So that means, neither one of us can activate a spell or a trap card and none of our monsters can be destroyed in battle! Now, Lightning Tricorn, attack Cynder the Black Dragon! Leaping Electric Lunge!" Jean says.
Skylara's lifepoints are shocked down to 1100.
"But, I'm not done. There's more beneath the surface of 'Superficial Peace'. Now, because you've taken damage, one of your spell or trap cards gets destroyed, and I get to draw one card!" Says Jean.
Skylara's trap is flipped and destroyed.
"'Shadow Blast', eh? That's quite a powerful card. A card like that, could've won you the duel! A card like that, could've made you a hero! But unfortunately for you, a card like that, is just what I expected! You are far too predictable." Jean says.
"Rrgh..." Skylara growls under her breath.
"I place two face downs and end my turn!" Says Jean.
"Whoa, that was a close one! If Jean had sprung Skylara's trap, this match would be over!" Breo says. "But, that's the thing about Jean. He doesn't spring traps, he sets them." Says Andre. "Hm! And the best part is, Skylara's about to step in the biggest trap of all!" Breo says.
Jean and Skylara round another curve in the track.
"How do I beat a duelist who seems to know all my strategies, and has all the cards to counter them? And how do I do it with my own deck down to a mere two cards! That is, if it can even be done at all." Skylara thinks to herself.
Luna and Bruno watch Skylara's face on the monitor, worriedly. "Skylara." Says Luna. "C'mon, sis! Ya gotta dig deep!" Yusei says. "Chibi!" Says Chibi Chibi. "That's what she's been doing! But at a certain point, you can't help but hit rock bottom!" Akiza says. "What're you saying, Akiza?! That this is over?!" Asks Leo.
"Over? This isn't over!" Jack says.
They startle, and turn.
Jack, still in his hospital gown, is leaning heavily on the arm he has slung around Carly's shoulders. Minako and Stephanie the waitress prop Jack up, nervously. Somehow, he has managed to walk all the way out to the track with their support. "Whoa, Jack." Says Carly. "Take it easy." Stephanie says.
"Jack?!" Asks all of them. Chibi Chibi smiles, brightly, seeing Jack. "Dada!" Chibi Chibi says, happily and cutely.
"Did she just call him 'dada'?" Asks Stephanie, bewildered. "I believe so." Minako says, surprised. "Jack, why is she calling you 'dada'? Don't tell me she's not...?" Asks Carly, perplexed. "Yeah, she's my daughter. Long story short, she came here from the future. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. She's mine and Skylara's daughter from the future." Jack says. Carly, Minako and Stephanie all gasp, in shock and disbelief.
"Hey listen, man. You should be resting." Says Crow.
Jack pulls his arm free of Carly's shoulder and stands on his own, to everyone's shock. "No way! 'Cause if I can tough it out and be here, I know Skylara'll sense it!" Jack says. He then walks up to Yusei. "Can I have my daughter, Yusei?" Asks Jack. Chibi Chibi's reaching out to him, while she's still being held in Yusei's arms. "Jack, are you sure?" Yusei asks. Jack nods, subtly. "Okay." Says Yusei. He hands Chibi Chibi over to Jack, who takes her and holds her in one of his arms. Jack looks down at Chibi Chibi and smiles down at her. Chibi Chibi's smiling up at Jack. "Dada!" Chibi Chibi says, happily and cutely. "I told you I'd be okay, Chibi Chibi. Now, let's help your mom out a little bit." Says Jack. "Chibi!" Chibi Chibi says, cutely.
Just then, Skylara rides past the pit booths, and her eyes, wide with surprise, meet his for a long moment.
Jack approaches the trackside fence, with Chibi Chibi in one of his arms, and leans on it for balance.
After Skylara rides past.
Jack turns to the others. "Don't you see? Toughing it out is all that matters right now. Win or lose, the key is that Skylara duels right down to the last card in her deck, with all her heart. That's how she's always dueled, she duels with all her heart and soul. That's exactly why we claimed her as our team's leader." Says Jack.
Yusei is the first to break the silence after his ringing speech. "Jack's right!" Yusei says.
Leo runs to the pit booth counter and leans over it. "Skylara, keep dueling!" Says Leo, cheering.
The others join him. "Yeah, with all your heart!" Luna says. "Chibi!" Says Chibi Chibi. "Go for it!" Yusei, Akiza and Bruno all say. "Just give it all ya got!" Says Crow.
"They are right, I can't give up hope." Skylara thinks to herself.
Leo and Luna are cheering, eyes bright, with excitement. Akiza and Bruno are watching, proudly. Yusei, Jack and Crow are nearly holding their breath.
"Win or lose, I need to at least battle until the end." Skylara thinks to herself.
Flashback. A still shot of a hectic day in the garage. Akiza's sitting on the edge of the landing at the top of the ramp, Luna's standing next to her, both pf them are leaning over to watch Skylara and the guys work on runners. Trudge is standing in the doorway, next to Minako, who's also leaning over to spectate. Carly's standing behind Akiza, and seems to be scolding the ever-boisterous Leo, as he runs down the ramp.
Below them, something seems to have just exploded with puffs of white steam. Bruno's standing at the console, trying to see the screen through the cloud. Crow looks confused, and Jack's glancing over his shoulder, still holding a helmet, with Chibi Chibi clinging to his leg, probably frightened by the explosion. And Skylara's standing over Yusei, as he kneels next to the runner they're working on. "Because it is our battle." Skylara thinks to herself, in voice-over.
Change Flashback to another still. Yusei and Crow race around a sharp curve, with Jack and Skylara close behind.
Change still again. Yusei, Skylara, Jack and Crow, in their new racing outfits, stand together with their runners, casting white shadows on a field of black, each face resolved. "We have been training for the Grand Prix for so long now, and we have been training together." Skylara thinks to herself, in voice-over. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "I won't let any of them down. I won't stop fighting!" Skylara thinks to herself. "My draw!" Skylara says. "And what a draw!" Skylara thinks to herself. "I summon, Stump Smash! And since he's out on the field, I can add another monster from my graveyard to the field, as well! Yes, it is true, I can't use any of this second monster's effects! However, I can use something else about her! Hex, appear!" Says Skylara. Hex has 1300 attack points and is a level 3 monster. "And now, tune with level-two Stump Smash!" Skylara says. Hex throws down a ghostly skull and goes into action. Stump Smash sails through its green rings. "From two, come one, and from one, shall come great power! Behold, as they merge their might and combine their courage! Now, behold! As I synchro-summon Ninjini!" Says Skylara. Ninjini has 2300 attack points and is a level 5 monster.
"Now Skylara has two synchros?" Jean thinks to himself.
"Some time ago, I discovered there was more to synchros than what I knew." Skylara thinks to herself.
Flashback. Skylara is forced toward the side of the track, as the air space directly beside her shines brighter and brighter.
And Visor comes roaring out of it. Above him hovers a new monster, armored in bright lime green and orange. "I discovered the Accel Synchro. However, its power was a mystery to me. I never fully grasped this, Synchro Solution." Skylara thinks to herself, in voice-over.
"What is that? And how were you able to summon it right in the middle of my turn?" Skylara asks. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "I may still not have all the answers. However, I think I have a few. And what better time to test them, than right now." Skylara thinks to herself. "I activate the 'Speed Spell-Speed Fusion'!" Says Skylara.
"Just what're you scheming here?!" Jean asks.
"You're about to see, Jean! Because, by sending cards that can make up a fusion monster from my field to the grave, I can summon that monster! So, Cynder the Black Dragon and Ninjini! Stand down, so that an even mightier beast can rise up! A beast forged by way of a fusion summon! Appear, Cerberus the Shadow Hound!" Says Skylara.
Cerberus the Shadow Hound is a level-ten fusion-type monster, with thirty-two-hundred attack points, and two thousand defense points.
"A fusion summon?" Akiza asks. "Check out that beast!" Says Crow. "It's remarkable!" Jack says.
The crowd is loving this.
"Talk about a trump card! That thing's terrifying! And from the look of it, prepared to pounce!" Says the announcer.
Skylara's new monster towers halfway up to the rim of the track, a mighty, three-headed dog, as black as the shadows from which he came, with a pair of glowing red eyes on each of its three heads.
"Uh-oh!" Jean says.
"Cerberus, unleash your wrath on Lightning Tricorn! Go, Shadow Stream!" Says Skylara.
"I play the trap, 'Return Damage'! This card takes any battle damage headed my way and reverses it! So now, it's headed your way!" Jean says.
"Then, I activate Cerberus' ability! And it's an ability, that negates any damage directed towards me from a card effect! Then, that damage is redirected by my Cerberus the Shadow Hound, right back to you." Says Skylara.
Jean takes the hit, and spins out a few times, and rights himself, now riding behind her. Jean's lifepoints are now down to 600.
"Sensational! Spectacular! The superlatives simply don't suffice in this situation! But believe me, it's a sight to see!" The announcer says.
The riders lap past the booths again.
"Way to go, Skylara!" Says Leo. "What a move! What a monster! What a way to finish!" Crow says. Bruno returns his attention to the monitor screen. "Nothing is finished yet. But, it could be soon for us. Skylara's down to her last card!" Says Bruno, anxiously.
Skylara keeps riding, her face similarly serious, she knows this isn't over.
They round another curve on the track.
Jean glares up at Skylara's powerful new monster. "A fusion summon. Well, I most certainly didn't anticipate this. Skylara surprised me on this one." Jean says, muttering to himself.
"She surprised us all. According to our data, she's never summoned such a beast before! At least, the 'Thousand Crisscross' Jean played earlier will up his lifepoints to a thousand." Says Breo.
Jean's lifepoints increase to 1000 for the second time. "Before, I was counting on Skylara losing by running out of cards. But now, I'll need to take some extra precautions." Jean thinks to himself. "I play, Lightning Tricorn's ability. Ya see, since he was destroyed, I'm now allowed to bring back either Thunder Unicorn or Voltic Bicorn from my extra deck. And, I choose Bicorn!" Jean says. Voltic Bicorn has 2700 attack points and is a level 7 monster.
"Uh-oh, Voltic Bicorn? This could make things a little tricky." Skylara thinks to herself.
Flashback. Cynder the Black Dragon and Voltic Bicorn collide in midair.
Skylara is forced to discard from her deck. "Because, when Bicorn's destroyed, I lose seven cards from my deck." Skylara thinks to herself, in voice-over. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Ha! I think I know where Jean's going with this strategy!" Says Breo.
"Not good. Skylara knows better than to destroy that Voltic Bicorn. But, if Jean wants him destroyed, then…" Bruno says. "Then, all he has to do is have Bicorn attack Skylara's Cerberus!" Says Akiza. "Exactly right, Akiza! And that would finally deplete Skylara's duel deck!" Crow says. "No! That means, she'd be through!" Says Leo.
"True. However, don't go counting me out just yet. I play a face down and end my turn!" Skylara says.
"Then it's my draw. Here goes! Now Voltic Bicorn, attack Cerberus!" Says Jean. Voltic Bicorn gallops for Skylara's Shadow Hound.
"Skylara!" Leo says. "Look out!" Says Yusei. "Mama!" Chibi Chibi says.
"I activate the trap 'Demon Play, Demon Out'!" Says Skylara. Demon emerges from its card and butts heads with Bicorn, driving it back from whence it came. "And not only does it stop the attack of your Bicorn! But afterwards, it returns to the field for me to use again!" Skylara says.
"Oh, my! Skylara staves off an attack and now will be able to avoid an early end, due to lack of duel cards!" Says the announcer.
"Nice. Still, that buys you a round and that won't be enough to win! I place one card face down and end my turn!" Jean says.
"It all comes down to this next move for Skylara! With just one card, she needs to find a way to win here! Or she'll have nothing to draw next turn and be disqualified from the duel!" Says the announcer.
Trudge, the Duel Academy kids, and the crowd beyond them, several carrying 6D's signs, watch anxiously.
"Come on." Luna thinks to herself. "Believe!" Akiza thinks to herself.
Skylara grips the last card in her deck. "All the hopes and dreams of Team Six-D's comes down to this card. Let's hope it is a good one!" Skylara thinks to herself. She pauses, then draws. "My turn! I activate the effect of 'Speed World Two'! Now, since I have four or more speed counters, I can remove four speed counters to deal eight hundred points of damage for every speed spell in my hand!" Skylara says. Her speed counters decrease to 5. A blast of flame appears behind Skylara's runner.
Which scorches Jean, who rides behind, down to 200 lifepoints. "'Thousand Crisscross's' effect activates, and revives my lifepoints to a thousand!" Says Jean. 'Thousand Crisscross' shatters, that was the last time he could use its effect.
"That makes three! Now, 'Thousand Crisscross's' effect can't be used again!" Leo says. "And without that effect protecting Jean, one more attack could end this." Says Jack. "Chibi." Chibi Chibi says.
"Next, I activate the 'Speed Spell-Overspeed'! Now, since I have at least four speed counters! By removing them all, I can add one level-three-or-below monster and one spell or trap card from my graveyard to my hand!" Says Skylara. Her speed counters decrease to 0.
Jean pulls slightly ahead of her again.
"However, my speed counters shall now decrease for three turns. As for the cards I'm adding to my hand, I will choose 'Reflect Barrier', and Rapid Warrior, who I shall also summon! Now, Rapid Warrior, attack Jean directly!" Skylara says.
"Go!" Says Bruno. "If this hits, it's all over and Team Six-D's wins!" Yusei says.
"Go, Warrior! Whiplash Walloping!" Says Skylara.
"Hm. I play a trap card, 'Barrier Wave'! Now by releasing one synchro monster on my field, I can switch all of your monsters into defense mode, and then you take damage equal to the defense points of the monster that attacked!" Jean says.
"I what?!" Asks Skylara.
"Voltic Bicorn, you're released!" Jean says.
Cerberus the Shadow Hound is forced into defense mode, as is Rapid Warrior.
"Now, since Cerberus is in defense mode, he can't negate damage from a card effect. Which means, the damage you're due for 'Barrier Wave' will now be dealt!" Says Jean.
Skylara takes the damage, and her lifepoints reduce to 900.
"Aahh!" Luna screams. "Skylara, no!" Leo says. "Mama!" Says Chibi Chibi.
"Absolutely amazing! Yet again, Skylara's assault has been stopped short! What a dynamic display of counter-dueling!" The announcer says.
The two runners zoom past the pit booths again.
"Ugh. I remove Boomer in my grave from play. Now, due to its special ability, I can switch Cerberus back into attack mode. I then throw two cards face down and end my turn!" Says Skylara.
"And it will be Skylara's last turn! Now, it's just a matter of Jean surviving this round, then Skylara will have no cards and be forced to forfeit the fight!" The announcer says.
Each person in Team 6Ds' pit booth.
And many in the audience, including Trudge and the Duel Academy kids, are holding their breath.
"Must be hard to have your undefeated streak end this way! Just sitting there, so powerless and feeble. Well, too bad! Your time has now come! Here's my draw!" Says Jean.
"And here is my face down, Jean! 'Summon Tax'!" Skylara says.
"Uh-oh, a trap!" Jean thinks to himself.
"With this, if a player summons a monster this turn, that player takes damage equal to half that monster's attack points!" Says Skylara.
"And since Skylara added 'Reflect Barrier' to her hand last turn, I'll bet that's the face down out on her field! Which means…" Jean thinks to himself.
Vision. Jean imagines how the move would play out, in blueish tones. Skylara summons Ninjini, then activates 'Reflect Barrier'. "If Skylara can somehow summon a monster this turn, the damage from the effect of 'Summon Tax' will be redirected to me, due to 'Barrier's' effect. However..." Jean thinks to himself, in voice-over. The vision ends.
Back to the present. "The damage from the effect of 'Summon Tax' would only be half the summoned monster's attack points. So, in order to get rid of my one thousand lifepoints, Skylara would need to summon a monster with an assault power of at least two thousand points and the odds of that are slim. The odds of me continuing to back her into a corner, however, are one hundred percent!" Jean thinks to himself. "I activate the 'Speed Spell-Tyrant Force'! Now, during this turn, every time a card on your field is destroyed, you take three hundred points a' damage! Next, I activate the effect of 'Speed World Two'!" Jean says. His speed counters decrease from 10 to 0.
And Skylara passes him.
"Now, by removing ten of my speed counters, I can destroy one card on the field! And the card I'm destroying is 'Summon Tax'!" Says Jean.
Skylara looks back over her shoulder. "That is just what I was hoping." Skylara says.
"What?!" Asks Jean.
"I now activate Cerberus the Shadow Hound's ability. Now, by removing a fusion-material synchro monster from play, Cerberus gains that monster's abilities until the turn's end phase. And the monster I choose to remove is Cynder! So now, Cerberus the Shadow Hound has inherited the ability, to stop you from using 'Speed World Two' to destroy 'Summon Tax'! However, for a price." Skylara says.
"What's the price?!" Asks Jean.
"To save 'Summon Tax', Cerberus must be released!" Skylara says. Cerberus vaporizes into a bolt of energy, which cancels out the one aimed at 'Summon Tax'. "However, come this turn's end phase. Cerberus is allowed to return to the field." Says Skylara.
"So, he's not really going anywhere at all!" Leo says. "Yeah, Skylara's got it all planned out!" Says Luna. "It sure seems that way. Especially, if this combo that she set up works." Bruno says. "We should know soon!" Says Crow.
"Rrrghh! Don't think you've won this yet, Skylara! I summon to the field, the monster Hypnocorn!" Jean says. Hypnocorn is a cute, little blue creature, with swirly horns.
"Go ahead! However, you now take damage due to 'Summon Tax's' effect! Half your monster's attack points!" Says Skylara.
Jean's lifepoints are blasted down to 300. "Aggghhh! No prob, 'cause when Hypnocorn is summoned, I'm allowed to destroy a face down spell or trap card on the field! You only have one, and I have a hunch what it is! 'Reflect Barrier'!" Jean says.
Skylara's trap flips and then shatters, he was right.
"No! Now Skylara's plan to win won't work!" Says Leo.
"And now, due to 'Tyrant Force', you take damage to the tune of three hundred!" Jean says.
"Uggghhh!" Skylara's lifepoints reduce to 600, in a crackle of electricity.
"Now, I play 'Chain Whirlwind'! Since a card was destroyed due to an effect, two spell or trap cards are now also destroyed! So, say goodbye to 'Summon Tax' and 'Demon Play, Demon Out'!" Says Jean.
"All of Skylara's cards! They're, gone!" Leo says. "And Jean's not even done yet!" Says Yusei.
"'Tyrant Force', force Skylara's lifepoints down, once again!" Jean says.
With another crackling blast, Skylara is down to 300 lifepoints.
The stadium screens all show the scoreboard, Jean and Skylara are neck-and-neck, each with 300 lifepoints and 0 speed counters.
"The points are all even! But, since Jean simply has to say 'he's entering into his turn's end phase to win', that may not matter!" Says the announcer.
"So then, she lost?" Leo asks. "No!" Says Luna. Jack is silent, his eyes intent on the duel.
Jean rides up and pulls even with Skylara, watching her face. "It's over. All I need to do is end my turn and Skylara will lose! Except that..." Jean thinks to himself.
"What in the world?! Jean, on the verge of victory, seems to be having second thoughts about his tactic for triumph!" The announcer says.
The crowd is silent, stunned.
The cheerleaders have stopped cheering, their pompoms at their sides or pressed to their chests, anxiously.
"This whole match, my one goal has been to prove that Team Unicorn is the best! ... And..." Jean thinks to himself. He is still staring at Skylara's face.
Skylara still doesn't notice. To the end, she still shows only resolve, no fear.
"Ya gotta beat the best! Skylara was right, letting 'er run outta cards is no way to win." Jean thinks to himself.
"What's going on? Why won't Jean just end his turn, we'll win by disqualification!" Says Breo. Andre is smiling. he's realized the same thing Jean has. "Yeah, and who wants that?" Andre asks. "Are you nuts?! Andre, that was our plan from the very start!" Says Breo. "I know, but sometimes plans change." Andre says.
Flashback. Jean approaches Andre after a street duel in a parking garage years ago. "Whaddaya say we join forces?" Asks Jean. "Join forces?" Andre asks. "Yes, duel together on the same team. Because on a team, you win at any cost. There's no place for pity because your teammates are counting on you." Says Jean. "Ya know, you're right." Andre says. The flashback ends.
Back to the present. "Sure! I know what it looks like, that Jean's letting Skylara off the hook here, even pitying her. But, I don't think that's the case at all." Says Andre. "So, what then?" Breo asks.
The two riders zoom past the booths.
"It's like Jean once said to me, 'on a team, you win at any cost'. I think, I finally understand what he meant by that. I think even Jean understands it better now himself. Winning isn't beating an opponent by some technicality. It's taking him or her down like a true duelist! And that's why Jean's decided not to end his turn now. Sure, he wants to win! But, truly win for us!" Says Andre.
Jean continues to watch Skylara's face.
The two riders fly around another curve.
"In that case, Andre." Breo says.
As Jean rounds the curve, he sees his team's arrow sign, the one used to indicate a pit stop. "Huh?!" Asks Jean.
Breo is holding up the sign, all but jumping up and down. "Jean, we're with you all the way! Win or lose..." Breo says, encouragingly.
Jean hears the rest also through his helmet radio. "Let's do it like true duelists!" Says Breo, encouragingly, via-radio. "All right, Skylara! If I'm gonna beat you, I'm gonna do it with force!" Jean says.
Skylara's eyes soon shift back to their normal emerald green hue. "Oh? Then go for it." Says Skylara.
And the crowd goes wild.
"I can't believe it! This card combat is continuing!" The announcer says.
"Go! Hypnocorn, to battle! Attack Rapid Warrior!" Says Jean.
"Yeah!" Both Andre and Breo say.
"Skylara!" Says Leo, Luna, Bruno, Crow and Akiza. "Mama!" Chibi Chibi says.
"Perfect. The one card that can help, the one card left in my hand!" Skylara thinks to herself. "Hayabusa Knight! And now, I activate its special ability!" Says Skylara. Hayabusa Knight's depicted figure appears, a human version of a hawk wearing knights armor, holding up its sword ready to defend its duelist.
"Oh no! But, that would mean...!" Jean says.
"It means, by sending Hayabusa to the grave, Rapid Warrior's defense points increase by fifteen-hundred." Says Skylara.
The shards of the broken sword close in around Hypnocorn, and when it's squished, it explodes. "Aaaaaaghh!" Jean's lifepoints decrease to 0 and his runner starts gushing steam, skidding to a barely-controlled stop in Skylara's wake.
Skylara races ahead.
"What a finish! With her very last card, Skylara and Team Six-D's win!" The announcer says.