Coral: And now! For the monkey duel!
Aki: This duel seems different from the anime.
Coral: It is indeed. I decided to change the deck the monkey duelist was using as well as having someone else duel him. I think it's a he.
Aki: The monkey is most likely a he.
Coral: You sure?
Aki: Considering its English version's name, it should be a he.
Coral: I guess so. Anyway, for the disclaimer, I don't own Yugioh GX. I own Kohaku Fiore, the Circus Freak deck and the Symphogear/Relic deck, A5L owns Alejandro Nagase and Generalhyna, otherwise now known as my official beta, owns Arabella Rosalina. I own some cards in Arabella Rosalina's deck. And speaking of my beta, I remember what we talked about for the duel in this chapter, but I thought this would be a better idea. Besides, it's a bit too early for that thing. A surprise like that should be kept as one for a little bit longer~ Wouldn't you say? Now then, everybody. Without further ado... ENJOY~!
Normal dialogue
Life Points/Monster stats
*LOCATION CHANGE/ CHANGE IN P.O.V*
Attacks/Effects
'thoughts'
Language other than Japanese (this is English sub after all)
It was a normal day on the island. Everyone was in school waiting for class to start. Well, almost everyone.
"How's your first morning at Ra Yellow?" Bella asked Kohaku and Alex.
"Feels like I'm at home, sort of," Alex replied.
"Better than the bunk beds at Osiris, I'll give it that," Kohaku agreed. "And the breakfast was good too."
"Was it really that much better than being in the red?"
"You try sleeping with another bed over your head. Or dealing with a roommate's snoring over the night."
"And try eating rice for every breakfast and dinner. Not saying we're glad to get out of it, but this is what it's like to get promoted you could say."
"I see."
"Still though, that was some party we had," the double-deck duelist brought up.
"It sure was fun!"
"Especially when you and Judai had an eating contest. I still wonder just where you put all that food, Kohaku," the male Ra questioned.
"If you performed and practice stunts for as long as I have, you'd be a big eater too." Kohaku then got closer to Bella and whispered in her ear. "But what was really fun was the party after."
"I know. All my monsters and your Relic Users and Time Space Magician practically had a ball," Bella whispered back. After the big celebration party, the two psychic duelists had a small party after, only that it involved their Duel Monster spirits.
"That reminds me, we should duel some time. I'd love to see how you would go against my Circus Freaks."
"You're on."
"Is this still a girls-only talk or something?" Alex asked, being that he's the only person in the small group who can't see or hear Duel Monster Spirits.
"Maybe~" the two girls replied.
Just then, Shou stormed into the classroom. "Big Bro! Big Bro! Big Bro!"
"What's wrong, Shou?" Judai asked.
"Bad news! I heard Manjoume-kun's gone missing!"
"What did you say?!" Bella, Kohaku and Alex looked at each other in slight worry.
"They say he rushed to get his things this morning and ran away," came Taiyou's voice.
"And all because he lost to Kohaku, I'm betting," followed Raizou.
"What a loser!"
"How disappointing."
"Feels like a losing dong's left." They, as well as a couple other Obelisks, laughed at that joke.
"One of the things I hate about most of Obelisk Blue," Alex spoke. "They would abandon their friends if they lose even once to someone of a lower rank."
"And they would do whatever it takes to stay at the top," Kohaku agreed. "Of course, you're one of the few Obelisks who aren't like that, Bella. We know better."
"I don't blame you two. Especially after what you heard from Mickenzi," Bella forgave. "Besides, like Alex said, those two used to be his friends."
"So what do we do?" Alex asked.
"... How about we look for him?" Kohaku suggested. Her two friends looked at her like she grew a head.
"I'm serious."
"So am I, Alex."
"Even after what he did to you? What he tried to do?" Bella asked the female Ra.
"Believe it or not. Besides, I'm not the only one who's planning on it." They both noticed her looking at Judai and Shou, both who sneaked out of class.
"Are you sure about going with them?"
"Did you forget the last time-?" Alex was about to remind Kohaku what happened the last time she went with Judai and Shou when the latter pointed towards the blue corner where Asuka and two of her friends are, both also sneaking out.
"You were saying?"
Without any other option, both decided to go along with Kohaku's plan.
The group exited the school and caught up with the Obelisk girls.
"Where do you three think you're going?" Alex began.
"Meeting up with Judai and Shou," Asuka replied.
"Mind if we join?" Bella asked.
"Can't sit around either while Manjoume is out hiding?" Junko guessed.
"You could say that. So can we join?" Kohaku asked.
"Sure," the blonde Obelisk answered.
The group of six exited school and found Judai and Shou crawling out of a hole.
"I wonder where you're planning to go by cutting out of class," Asuka spoke, getting the two Red's attention.
"We're going to look for Manjoume. I can't just sit around. Please, don't tell the professor," Judai said.
"Sure, on one condition."
"Condition?"
"We're coming with you."
"Huh? Why?"
"You said it yourself. We can't just sit around."
Kohaku then spoke with a sly smile, "You say that and all Asuka, but I bet the real reason is because-"
Before Kohaku could say anymore, Asuka was pinching her cheeks with a dark look on her face. "I'll pinch these cheeks of your's."
"Ow ow ow! You already are! You already are! I give! I give!"
"Feels like another Hibiki..." came Chris's voice.
After that little pinch fesitval, the group of eight began their search for Manjoume.
"Manjoume!"
"Manjoume-kun!"
"Manjoume!"
Kohaku, Shou and Judai were hollering for the Obelisk for minutes.
"Honestly..." Asuka muttered. She held her hands on each side of her mouth and yelled at the top of her voice. "Get out here! I can't believe you're hiding just because you lost a duel! That's just pitiful!" A large flock of birds flew out of the trees and into the sky away from the sound of her voice.
"You're as forceful as ever..." Judai said.
"I never took you as the kind of person who would shout," Alex stated.
"But that's natural. Manjoume's just a weak boy," Junko, Asuka's red-head friend, scoffed.
"Still, I'm sure he's different. I mean, he's such a cool guy~!" Asuka's other friend, Momoe, spoke in a love-sick tone.
"Define 'cool'..." Alex questioned, not seeing what she sees in the cold, tyrant of an Obelisk, even if he is a guy.
"I thought you said Misawa was dreamy the other day? You're fine with anyone who's good-looking," Junko said.
Just then, Kohaku looked on with a weird look on her face. "Hey, I think I saw something move over there." The group followed her eyes and saw the bush rustling.
"I'ts Manjoume-kun," Shou assumed.
"Hey, is that you, Manjoume? It's me, Yuki Judai! Don't put up a front and come out!" the 'Elemental Hero' duelist called, as the group walked closer to the bush.
"I don't remember the two of you being on good terms," Alex muttered.
Suddenly, something jumped out of the bush, startling the young duelists. The thing began a brawl with them and just took off.
"W-What was that?" Asuka stammered.
"I think it was a monkey," Shou answered.
"You sure it wasn't a robot?" Bella asked.
There was shuffling in the forest, forcing Judai to let out a yelp.
"Now what?!" Alex demanded in English. Turned out, the shuffling came from three men.
"Did it escape?" the short old man asked his accomplices. One was tall and the other had sunglasses and a rifle. The next thing they know, they heard a scream.
"Hey! Where did Junko go?!" Bella asked, noticing they were short a person.
"Help me!" They turned to the source and saw the monkey swinging from tree to tree with Junko in its arm.
"When did she get there?!" Momoe asked in a puzzled tone.
"Since that monkey took off with her!" Alex answered.
"It's over there!" the man with the rifle pointed.
"Let's go and catch it!" the old man ordered.
"H-Hey! H-Hold on! What's going on?!" Shou stuttered.
"I don't know. But at any rate, we should save Junko!" Judai proposed. The duelists followed the three men, going deeper into the woods.
"Looks like it's heading to a cliff just outside this forest," Tsubasa whispered to Kohaku and Bella.
Meanwhile, with the captive girl, Junko screamed with each jump and drop the monkey was doing while carrying her. She constantly demanded to be let go, until they arrived at a tree by a cliff. One look at the drop to the ocean and she begged it to not let her go.
"It won't escape now!" the man with the rifle exclaimed, aiming his weapon at the animal. "If you don't want to be shot by the tranquilizer, come back to us quietly!"
The monkey let Junko down on the tree, as the latter cried for help.
"I can't believe it took a hostage so brazenly like that," the tall man cursed.
"Better yet, just who are you guys?!" Judai questioned.
"Is it just me, or is that monkey wearing a duel disk?" Kohaku asked.
"What are you talking about? Monkeys can't duel," Alex said with logic.
"But it's true!" Shou agreed with the female Ra. "That monkey's wearing a duel disk!"
"That isn't just a mere monkey; this is a dueling monkey that we've been putting a lot of effort into training," the old man explained. "Its name is Super Animal Learning, or SAL for short."
"Looks weak," Shou insulted.
"Doctor!"
"Seems it was a slip of the tongue," the old man shrugged off the tall guy's shout.
"Wait a second!" Bella spoke up. "How about handling the monkey to me?"
"To you? And what, pray tell, are you saying you can do?" the doctor asked.
"I'm friend of all kinds of animals. And if what you say is true, then I'll also duel it."
"Did I hear right?" Alex asked.
"You're dueling a monkey?" Kohaku followed.
"Don't worry about it," came Sasuke's voice, as an image of him and Bella's other ninjas appeared by her side.
"They say you can link your heart with another duelist in a duel, even if that duelist is an animal," Bella reasoned. Before any of them knew it, Bella began to speak in monkey. "SAL! You're a duelist, right? How about a duel? I win, you let that hostage go!"
"And what if I win?" SAL asked in monkey.
"Good question... You do what you want."
"What's the point of a bet if you're going to let him do what he wants if he wins?! He's practically doing what he wants anyway!" Kohaku shouted.
"You understand that?" Judai asked.
"I can speak every language, remember."
"You actually mean EVERY?!" Shou asked, his eyes bulging out.
Kohaku then translated the conversation that took place.
"Kohaku's right! What's the point in that?!" Junko demanded.
"Don't worry, Junko! I'll win!" Bella assured.
SAL agreed to the terms and, leaving Junko in the tree, hopped to a boulder on the ground. Both duelists turned on their duel disks.
"Okay, DUEL!" Bella shouted.
"DUEL!" came the monkey. This shocked the students.
"It was program to speak dueling terminology," the doctor explained.
Bella: 4000 LP
SAL: 4000 LP
"Ladies first! Draw!" Bella drew her sixth card. "I summon Konohagakure Shinobi Team 7, Naruto in Attack Mode!" The blonde ninja in orange jumpsuit made his appearance again.
Konohagakure Shinobi Team 7, Naruto: Level 4/WIND/Warrior/1400 ATK/800 DEF
"I set two reverse cards. Turn. End."
"My turn! Draw!" SAL drew its next card. "I set a monster face-down! I set two reverse cards and activate Dungeon of the Gladial Beast - Colosseum!" The whole area suddenly became a colosseum. "Turn. End."
"I draw!" Bella drew her next card. "I summon Konohagakure Shinobi Team 8, Hinata in Attack Mode!" A blind ninja girl appeared next to the ninja boy.
Konohagakure Shinobi Team 8, Hinata: Level 4/WATER/Warrior/1000 ATK/1700 DEF
"Hey, Hinata!" Naruto greeted.
"H-Hi, Naruto," Hinata nervously greeted.
"I activate her monster effect!" Bella continued. "Once per turn, I can look at one face-down card on my opponent's field! If that face-down is a monster card, that card is destroyed without activating its reverse effect!"
"Trap card open! Breakthrough Skill!" SAL countered. "This trap card negates the effect on my opponent's monster!" A blindfold and chains appeared and binded Hinata.
"Hinata!" Naruto and Bella cried out.
"I'm fine," she assured.
"However, I can still attack. Battle! Naruto attacks your face-down monster! One Thousand Years of Death!" The blonde ninja had his hands together in a tiger hand seal and charged. The face-down monster was flipped face-up, revealing it to be a monkey with some gears attached to it, similar to SAL. Naruto suddenly went behind the animal and inserted his pointer and middle finger... up its butt, sending the monkey flying.
Slave Ape: Level 2/EARTH/Beast/700 ATK/300 DEF
"That's gross! I touched a monkey's butt!" he complained.
"Sorry~" Bella apologized, considering she was the one who chose the attack.
"Slave Ape's monster effect!" SAL exclaimed. "When destroyed by battle, I Special Summon a level 4 or lower 'Gladial Beast' monster from my deck! I Special Summon Gladial Beast Andal!" A bear in purple armor appeared in place of the monkey.
Gladial Beast Andal: Level 4/EARTH/Beast-Warrior/1900 ATK/1500 DEF
"Field magic's special ability! Each time a monster is Special Summoned, from either player's deck, a counter is placed on this card! Also for each counter on this card, all 'Gladial Beast' monsters gain 100 ATK and DEF!" A statue of the bear-gladiator appeared on the field.
Gladial Beast Andal: 1900 + 100 = 2000 ATK/1500 + 100 = 1600 DEF
"In that case... I end my turn with a face-down," Bella ended.
"My turn! Draw!" SAL drew another card. "I activate Magic card, Pot of Greed! I draw two cards! Trap card, Gladial Beast of Troy activate! I can Special Summon a 'Gladial Beast' monster from my hand to my opponent's field! Go! Gladial Beast Octavius!" A green armored, muscle eagle appeared with the ninjas.
Gladial Beast Octavius: Level 7/LIGHT/Winged-Beast/2500 + 100 = 2600 ATK/1200 + 100 = 1300 DEF
"Why give her such a strong monster?" Shou wondered.
"That monkey doesn't seem so trained, does it?" Momoe insulted.
"You will take back those words," the doctor said.
"Next I activate, Gladial Tame! This activates if there's a 'Gladial Beast' monster on either side of the field! Until the End Phase, Gladial Beast Octavius comes to me!" The armored monster switched places.
"I get it. By using that trap card, not only did he summon a strong monster, he also brought it back to his field," Alex analyzed.
"Not only that, both of that monkey's monsters are stronger than Bella's. For an animal, it's really smart," Asuka complimented.
"Next, Slave Tiger's effect from my hand! While I control a face-up 'Gladial Beast' monster, I can Special Summon him!" A small tiger in light armor appeared with the big animals.
Slave Tiger: Level 3/EARTH/Beast/600 ATK/300 DEF
"Battle! I attack Naruto with Andal! Grizzly Claw!" The bear charged at the male ninja, its claws ready to strike.
"I activate Naruto's monster effect! When he's attacked by a monster with a higher ATK, I discard one card to negate his destruction!" Bella countered.
"Trap card open! Gladial Beast Chariot! When an Effect monster's effect is activated, if I control a 'Gladial Beast' monster, that effect is negated and the monster that activated it is destroyed!"
"What?!" A chariot appeared and took Naruto away to his doom.
"Naruto!" Hinata cried.
"Replay! Replay! Andal attacks Hinata!"
"He can't do that! He already declared an attack with that monster!" Shou protested.
"He can actually," Judai corrected. "If a monster's original target is gone, that monster can change its attack target."
"Huh?!"
"Grizzly Claw!" The bear made its way towards Hinata.
"Trap card open! Substitute! This trap card can be activated when my opponent declares an attack on a 'Shinobi' monster, I can Special Summon this card as a monster! Also, while this card is on the field, my opponent's monsters can only attack this card!" The wooden dummy appeared.
Substitute: Level 1/EARTH/Warrior/0 ATK/2000 DEF
The bear tried to destroy the dummy, only for it to be hopeless.
"I attack with Octavius! Eagle Claw!" SAL ordered. The winged-beast soared into the sky and went straight for the dummy, destroying it. "Slave Tiger attacks! Cub Paw!" The little feline ran towards Bella and hit her with its paw.
Bella: 3400 LP
SAL: 4000 LP
"I end my Battle Phase! Octavius' effect activates! At the end of the Battle Phase, I send this card back to my deck!" Just as the monkey said that, the eagle took its leave.
"That's good. At least we won't have to worry about that bird," Shou sighed in relief.
"Why do I have a feeling we have bigger things to worry about?" Kohaku asked out loud.
"I activate Test Tiger's effect! I release him to send Andal back to my deck, then Special Summon a 'Gladial Beast' monster from my deck and treat it as though it was Special Summon by that 'Gladial Beast' monster's effect! Come out, Gladial Beast Augustal!" Both the tiger and the bear left the field. In their place was a purple-scaled dragon-like bird in silver and purple armor with a sword.
Gladial Beast Augustal: Level 8/DARK/Winged-Beast/2600 ATK/1000 DEF
"Great, like the eagle wasn't bad enough for her," Alex said.
"Activating effect! Field Magic gains another counter!" A statue of Augustal emerged from the ground.
Gladial Beast Augustal: 2600 + 200 = 2800 ATK/1000 + 200 = 1200 DEF
"When Special Summoned by effect of 'Gladial Beast', I Special Summon a 'Gladial Beast' monster from my hand in Defense Mode! I Special Summon Gladial Beast Murmillo!" A blue fish-like monster with a huge seashell appeared with the scaled-bird.
Gladial Beast Murmillo: Level 3/WATER/Fish/800 + 200 = 1000 ATK/400 + 200 = 600 DEF
"Murmillo's monster effect! When Special Summoned by a 'Gladial Beast' monster's effect, I target one face-up monster on the field and destroy it!" The teenagers gasped at that info. "Whirlpool Blowout!" The fish shot out water from its seashell, getting rid of Hinata. "Turn end! Augustal's effect! Monster summoned by its effect goes to my deck!" The fish retreated.
"My turn. Draw!" Bella drew her next card. "I activate Shinobi Vengeance! If I have a 'Konohagakure Shinobi' monster in my Graveyard, I Special Summon from my hand or deck a 'Konohagakure Shinobi' monster whose team number is the same as the one in my Graveyard! Come, Konohagakure Shinobi Team 7, Kakashi!" The masked ninja appeared onto her field.
Konohagakure Shinobi Team 7, Kakashi: Level 6/LIGHT/Warrior/2300 ATK/1900 DEF
"Next, I equip Kakashi with the Equip Magic, Mist Body! This card prevents the monster equipped with it from being destroyed by battle! I attack Augustal with Kakashi! Chidori!" The ninja ran straight for the winged-beast with a lightning charged fist. Augustal prepared to strike back with its sword. The moment it swung its weapon down, Kakashi's body turned to mist.
"However, you take damage!" SAL pointed out.
Bella: 2900 LP
SAL: 4000 LP
"That may be, but Kakashi's monster effect activates! After the damage step, the monster this card battles is also destroyed! Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!" Kakashi appeared behind the purple-scaled monster, summoning a hound made of lightning as it destroyed the monster.
"All right!" Judai cheered.
"She got it!" Shou followed.
"I end my turn!"
"My turn! Draw! Magic card, Treasure Cards of the Heaven! We both draw until we have six cards!" Both players drew until they have a full hand. "Magic card, Double Summon! I summon twice this turn! Next, Magic card, Gladial Trainer! I add a Level 4 or lower 'Gladial Beast' monster from my deck to my hand! I add Gladial Beast Lanista! Now I summon him!" A green armored bird with a spear appeared on SAL's field.
Gladial Beast Lanista: Level 4/WIND/Winged-Beast/1800 + 200 = 2000 ATK/1200 + 200 = 1400 DEF
"I release Lanista to Advance Summon Gladial Beast Sparticus!" The bird went away and in its place was a dinosaur in brown armor with an axe.
Gladial Beast Sparticus: Level 5/EARTH/Dinosaur/2200 + 200 = 2400 ATK/1600 + 200 = 1800 DEF
"I equip Sparticus with the Equip Magic, Armament of the Gladial Beasts - Halberd!" The dinosaur's axe changed into a halberd. "Battle! Sparticus attacks Kakashi! Dino Wreck! Also, Halberd's special ability! When the equipped monster attacks, I destroy one Magic or Trap card my opponent controls!"
"That would mean Mist Body is destroyed!" Momoe summed up, as the dinosaur threw its weapon at Kakashi's shadow, stopping him from turning himself into mist.
"However, your monster still gets destroyed!" Bella reminded.
"From my Graveyard, Breakthrough Skill's effect! By banishing it on my turn, I negate effect of my opponent's monster!"
"That means Sparticus won't be destroyed!" Shou stated. The dinosaur monster swung its weapon and destroyed Kakashi.
Bella: 2800 LP
SAL: 4000 LP
"I end my Battle Phase! Sparticus's effect! After the Battle Phase, if this card battles, I return it to my deck and Special Summon a 'Gladial Beast' monster! Come, Gladial Beast Laquer!" The dinosaur was surrounded by a tornado of fire. The flames died down and revealed a tiger-like gladiator from within.
Gladial Beast Laquer: Level 4/FIRE/Beast-Warrior/1800 + 200 = 2000 ATK/400 + 200 = 600 DEF
"Halberd's special ability activates! When this card is sent to the graveyard because the monster it was equipped to was sent back into my deck, this card returns to my hand." SAL retrieves his recently used Equip Magic. "Next, Dungeon of Gladial Beast gains another counter!" A statue of the new monster emerged. "Also, Laquer's monster effect! When Special Summoned by a 'Gladial Beast' monster's effect, his original ATK becomes 2100!"
Gladial Beast Laquer: 2000 + 400 = 2400/600 + 100 = 700
"I end my turn with two face-downs!"
"This isn't good," Asuka muttered,
"At this rate, Bella might..." Shou spoke.
"Don't you dare finish that!" Alex shouted.
"He's right. Bella's just getting started," Kohaku agreed.
"Arabella Rosalina! Don't you dare lose to that monkey!" Junko snapped.
"I draw!" Bella drew her seventh card.
'First time dueling an animal and I'm losing to it... It's ridiculous...' she thought. 'But this just proves that even an animal can be a pro!'
"I activate the Instant Magic, Tailed Beast Changer! I can Special Summon a 'Tailed-Beast' Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck by removing from play the monster needed for its summon from the field or my Graveyard! I banish Konohagakure Shinobi Team 7, Naruto from my Graveyard to awaken the beast residing within him! Come, Nine-Tailed Beast, Kurama!" The nine-tailed fox appeared on her field.
Nine-Tailed Beast, Kurama: Level 9/FIRE/Beast/3000 ATK/3000 DEF
"There it is! Bella's ace monster!" Judai happily said.
"There's no way she can lose!" Momoe followed.
"Battle! Kurama attacks Laquer! Nine-Tails Beam!"
"Trap card open! Defensive Tactics! This card can only activates if I control a 'Gladial Beast' monster! For the rest of this turn, monsters I control cannot be destroyed by battle and all Battle Damage I take gets reduced to 0!"
"What did you say?!" the ninja duelist gasped, as a shield appeared and blocked Kurama's beam attack.
"Also, instead of going to the Graveyard, it gets sent to the bottom of my deck instead!" SAL placed his used Trap Card at the bottom of his deck.
"See that? This is the result of all that forced training we put onto SAL!" the doctor boasted.
"Doctor!" the tall guy scolded.
"Whoops. Another slip..."
"Did you just say force?!" Kohaku demanded with wide-eyes.
"My mistake; a huge slip."
"What did you take animals for?! They may not be humans, but they have feelings like we do! They have a family like we do! They have their own freedom! And you just took all that away?!"
"Kohaku, calm down!" Judai spoke, as he and Alex held her back from beating the old man.
"Besides, we have bigger things to worry about, like Bella's duel maybe?!" Alex reminded.
"Because your Battle Phase has ended, Laquer's monster effect activates! Switching him for Gladial Beast Hoplomus!" The shield protecting the tiger-like gladiator suddenly enlarged and folded itself, trapping the feline warrior. It unfolded itself and shrunk, revealing a rhinoceros in brown armor in Defense Mode.
Gladial Beast Hoplomus: Level 4/EARTH/Rock/700 + 300 = 1000 ATK/2100 + 300 = 2400 DEF
"Hoplomus' effect activates! When Special Summoned by a 'Gladial Beast' monster's effect, its original DEF becomes 2400! Also, because he was Special Summoned from the Extra Deck, another counter is added! And trap card open, Handicap Match! When I Special Summon a 'Gladial Beast' monster, I Special Summon a Level 4 or lower 'Gladial Beast' monster from my hand or deck! From my deck, I Special Summon Gladial Beast Dicaerii! And because he's summoned from my deck, another counter is gained!" A minotaur suddenly appeared from the ground. With it is a statue of itself.
Gladial Beast Hoplomus: 1000 + 100 = 1100 ATK/2400 + 400 = 2800 DEF
Gladial Beast Dicaerii: Level 4/EARTH/Beast/1600 + 400 = 2000 ATK/1200 + 400 = 1600 DEF
"... I... set three cards face-down... Turn. End..." Bella managed to say.
"My turn! Draw!" SAL drew his next card. "Magic Card, Shield in the Right Hand, Sword in the Left Hand! This card switches the original ATK and DEF of all face-up monsters on the field!" The monsters all had their ATK and DEF swapped, except Kurama, whose ATK and DEF are exactly the same.
Gladial Beast Hoplomus: 1100 -} 2800 ATK/2800 -} 1100 DEF
Gladial Beast Dicaerii: 2000 -} 1600 ATK/1600 -} 2000 DEF
"I switch Gladial Beast Hoplomus to Attack Mode! And equip him with Halberd!" Said monster got out of its kneeling position and got itself the Magic/Trap destroying weapon. "Battle! Hoplomus attacks Kurama! Rhino Breaker!"
"But doesn't Hoplomus have a lower ATK than Kurama?" Shou questioned.
"Not unless..." Alex spoke.
"I activate my face-down card! Instant Magic, Gladiator Beast's Inner Strength! A 'Gladial Beast' monster I control gains 500 ATK!" Power surged through Hoplomus.
Gladial Beast Hoplomus: 2800 + 500 = 3300 ATK
"This is bad!" Shou gasped.
"Finally, with Halberd's effect, I destroy your set card!" The rhino threw its weapon at one of Bella's face-downs, destroying it.
"Bella!" Alex and Kohaku called.
"Double Trap Card open! Skill Drain and Skill Successor!" Bella countered. "First, with Skill Drain's special ability, by paying 1000 Life Points, all monster effects are negated!" Many spectators gasped at the turnaround.
Bella: 1800 LP
SAL: 4000 LP
Gladial Beast Hoplomus: 3300 - 300 = 3000 ATK
"Next, with Skill Successor's ability, Kurama gains 400 ATK!" The fox monster roared as its ATK increased.
Nine-Tailed Beast, Kurama: 3000 + 400 = 3400 ATK
"Counterattack, Kurama! Nine-Tails Beam!" Bella's monster did as told and fired another beam, obliterating the rhino warrior.
Bella: 1800 LP
SAL: 3700 LP
"Nice one!" Shou cheered.
"And with Skill Drain's effect, those 'Gladial Beast' monsters won't switch back with another 'Gladial Beast' monster!" Asuka added.
"And since Halberd was sent to the Graveyard because the monster it was equipped to was also sent there, it can't be reused!" Alex followed.
"I... end my turn!" SAL ended. At that moment, Kurama and Dicaerii's stats returned to normal.
Nine-Tailed Beast, Kurama: 3400 - 400 = 3000 ATK
Gladial Beast Dicaerii: 1600 -} 2000 ATK/2000 -} 1600 DEF
"Draw!" Bella drew her next card. Before she could do anything else, the sound of monkeys was heard. Everyone turned to the source and saw a pack hiding behind a boulder.
"Whoa!" Judai gasped in shock.
"That's a lot of monkey!" Shou stated.
"Are we going to be attacked?" Momoe asked in a worried tone.
Kohaku stepped up and spoke in their language. "Who are you guys? Where did you come from?"
"We live here," one monkey answered.
"We heard the sound of a monkey in pain and came here, hoping that it was one of us who was kidnapped by scary men," another explained.
"What?!" the animal-speaking duelist gasped in English. She realized her mistake and spoke back in monkey language. "So that monkey over there is from your pack?!"
"Yes," a monkey replied.
"I see." Kohaku turned back to her friends.
"What did they say?" Asuka asked.
"Apparently that monkey was taken away from its family and friends. In other words, those monkeys over there."
"So, SAL escaped the research lab to go back home?" Judai summarized.
"It escaped... Just to be with its friends and family..." Momoe spoke in a sympathetic tone.
"But if Bella wins, it'll go back to the lab... I can't help but feel bad for it..." Shou said.
"I know, but we can't just leave Junko there," the blonde Obelisk said.
"If we let SAL go back home, we can't get Junko back. If we get Junko back, SAL will have to go back to the lab... What do we do?" Alex wondered.
'Despite that, of what I see, Bella has some kind of plan,' Kohaku thought, looking back at the duel. Instead of seeing a conflicted face, she noticed that her psychic duelist friend had a calm attitude.
"Sorry, SAL. But a duel's a duel. No matter what the reason, a true duelist can't hold back on her opponent," Bella said. "It's time to end this! I should thank you for destroying my set card." Everyone had confused looks on her faces when she said that. "Because the card you destroyed was my Magic Card, Shinobi Enforcer. This card can only be activated in the Graveyard during my Standby Phase. By banishing this card and one monster in my Graveyard, I can Special Summon a monster from my deck whose level is greater or less than the one I banished by one or the exact same level!" SAL monkey-gasped at that effect. "I banish Level 6, Kakashi from my Graveyard to Special Summon Level 6, Konohagakure Shinobi Team 10, Asuma!" A smoking ninja with a short beard appeared on her field.
Konohagakure Shinobi Team 10, Asuma: Level 6/WIND/Warrior/2300 ATK/1500 DEF
"Ho? So we're going against a monkey? Interesting," he commented.
'It's not like I have much of a choice...' Bella thought.
"This is the end! Battle! Asuma attacks Dicaerii! Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!" The newly summoned monster breathed out large amount of smoke. At first glance, one would think it was a smokescreen. But a little later, the smoke exploded, destroying the last 'Gladial Beast' monster.
Bella: 1800 LP
SAL: 3400 LP
"Kurama attacks directly! But first, from my Graveyard, I activate Skill Successor! By removing it from play from my Graveyard, a monster I control gains 800 ATK!" The demon let out another roar as power surged from within.
Nine-Tailed Beast, Kurama: 3000 + 800 = 3800 ATK
"Go, Kurama! Nine-Tails Beam!" Kurama fired its beam attack at SAL and ended the duel.
Bella: 1800 LP
SAL: 0000 LP
WINNER: BELLA!
"All right!" Judai cheered.
"Bella won!" Shou followed.
"I don't need to speak monkey to remind you of our promise, do I?" Bella said.
SAL reluctantly complied and got Junko off the tree it left her on. Free from the hostage experience, the red-head Obelisk ran to her friends' side.
"Junko!" Asuka called, as she and the others also ran to her and Bella's side.
"Asuka-san! Momoe!" Junko called back, receiving comfort from her two friends.
"Junko-san! You're safe now!" Momoe happily stated.
The former hostage faced Bella. "Thank you for saving me, but that monkey's going back to the research lab, isn't it?" They all looked at SAL, who was sulking from the loss.
"Thank you! Leave the rest to us!" the guy with the rifle called, as he, the doctor and the tall guy walked closer to SAL.
"Stop right there!" Bella got between them and the monkey. "Have you forgotten what the deal was? I said if I win, he has to release Junko. Did I say anything about going back to the lab?" The three men had looks of confusion on their faces. "If he has to go anywhere, then it's in the forest where he belongs!" SAL looked at Bella in shock.
"Nice one, Bella!" Judai cheered.
"That's the way!" Shou followed.
"Nice ending," Asuka complimented.
"She has a good point," Momoe agreed.
"For a... witch," Junko added, not really meaning it when she said witch.
"You're in the way! Move it!" The two men in business suit pushed Bella aside and threw a net on top of SAL, restraining it.
"SAL!" she shouted, watching helplessly as they tried to stop its struggling. "Let him go!"
"If you want it back with its friends so much, we could do that," the doctor spoke, walking towards his accomplices. "However they will be in my research lab!"
"Say what?!"
"Catch all the other monkeys! We are short on animals to experiment after all!" At the doctor's order, the guy with the rifle pointed his weapon at the wild monkeys.
Not wanting to see anymore of it, Kohaku dashed towards the armed guy and swiftly disarmed him. She then took the weapon and pointed it towards the three men.
"You're not taking anymore animals. And you will let SAL go," she said in a cold voice. They flinched at her voice and the fact that she's pointing their weapon at them.
"S-Says who?" the doctor dared to ask.
"Says me," came a voice familiar to the teenagers. They turned to the source and saw-
"Professor Daitokuji!"
"Who are you?" the old man demanded.
"If this goes to public, you would be the embarrassing ones, wouldn't you- nya?" Daitokuji asked. "You'll be charged with animal cruelty, you know."
The research trio reluctantly released SAL and removed the mechanics off it, except the duel disk for some reason. As soon as they left, the now-free monkey happily reunited with its family, constantly thanking Bella for helping it.
"They all look so happy," Shou stated.
"They got a family and friend back. Who wouldn't be happy by that?" Alex asked.
"SAL! We should duel sometime!" Judai called.
"You really want to take on a monkey?" Junko questioned.
SAL, on the other hand, seemed to have accepted the request.
"Gotcha! That was a fun duel!"
"You weren't the one dueling, Judai," Momoe said, confused as to why he would do his victory pose.
"Don't get caught again! Bye!" Kohaku waved. At that good-bye, the pack of monkeys returned to the forest.
"At any rate, I wonder what would've happened to us if Professor Daitokuji didn't show up and Kohaku didn't disarm them," Momoe brought up.
"How did you do that anyway, Kohaku?" Judai asked.
"Don't tell me it has to do with another one of your stunts?" Shou guessed.
"You guessed right," she and Alex replied in unison.
"In any case, we should thank you both," Asuka said.
"No no. I didn't do anything," the professor politely declined. "Please say that to Pharaoh instead of me- nya. After all, he was the one who led me here- nya."
"Still, why did you come here, Professor?" Judai asked.
"Oh, that's right! I found Manjoume-kun- nya."
"Really?"
"Thank goodness," Shou sighed in relief.
"But he's no longer on this island- nya," Daitokuji then said. The group looked at him with shocked faces.
He led the teenagers to the pier, seeing a boat sailing away from them, assuming Manjoume was on it.
"To tell you the truth, I noticed it earlier, too. And so, I went to find Manjoume-kun- nya."
"So that's it," Judai muttered.
"Manjoume-kun left the island..." Shou sadly muttered.
"He'll be back," Kohaku said. "After all, we're all under the same sky, aren't we?" Everyone shared her optimism and looked up at the blue sky.