Chapter 10: Ultra Beatdown

Yuya sat in his bedroom thinking about his duel with Declan the other day

The way you use it now indicates that you have mastered it, but you can do so much more with it than you do now. If you want to grow as a duelist, then you must evolve it.

"Evolve pendulum summoning? But how?"

"Yuya?"

Yuya turned to see Zuzu in the doorframe.

"Your mom said that you'd be in your room. Thinking about yesterday?"

"Yeah. Declan's right. If I want to grow as a duelist, I need to think of a way to evolve pendulum summoning, but I can't think of how."

"Well, don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll think of something. Anyway, dad wanted to show us something."

"Really?"

(At You Show)

All of the students gathered around a poster advertising a duel tournament.

"The Arc League Championship?"

"Yeah, its held annually, and is the first stepping stone to take to make it into the pro league. Now that we have enough money to enter, I thought it would be a good time to show the world what we're made of."

"Uh, dad? There's one problem."

"What is it, Ally?"

"It says that to enter, each duelist needs to either have participated in 50 duels with a 60% win rate or have won six consecutive duels in the last month. Sora hasn't met either of those qualifications."

"What? I can't compete?"

"Nonsense, Sora. I've seen your skills, and you'll easily be able to win five duels in a row."

"Thanks, Yuya."

"On an unrelated note, I'm fired up and ready to duel! Who wants to take me on."

Zuzu and Ally sweat dropped.

"I will."

Everyone turned to see Yuya stepping forward.

"Are you sure, Yuya?"

"Positive. It'll be good practice for the tournament."

"That's the spirit, Yuya! But don't think I'll go easy on you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, Skip."

(Five minutes later)

The two duelists stood facing each other on the court.

"I hope you're ready, Yuya, because I'm fired up!"

"You bet! And since I'm in a good mood, you can go first."

"If you wish, Yuya. Zuzu! Activate the duel field."

"You got it, dad! I activate the field spell Ancient Colisseum!"

The field around the duelists transformed into a colisseum straight out of Ancient Rome, with cracked stone walls and raised seating.

"Duelists locked in battle…"

"Kicking the earth and Dancing in the air alongside their monsters!"

"They storm through this field! Behold!"

"This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling! Action…"

DUEL!

Yuya: 4000

Skip: 4000

"Its time for me to show you my power. I'll start by activating the field spell Ultra Athlete Stadium!"

The field changed into a futuristic sports stadium, with a floating goal post showing the players and their life points.

"Next I summon Ultra Athlete. Midfielder in attack mode (1200/1000)! That activates my field spell's effect, allowing me to add one from my deck to my hand. And I choose Ultra Athlete Goalkeeper! And you know what's great about the Ultra Athletes? Their teamwork knows no bounds. You see, by returning an Ultra Athlete to the hand, I can special summon another one. So by returning Midfielder, I can bring out the Ultra Athlete Goal Keeper (1000/2800) I added to my hand in defense mode. And since an Ultra Athlete was special summoned, all of my monsters gain 500 attack points (1000-1500). I end my turn with two face downs."

"Woah, the principal really knows how to play his cards."

"Then its my move, I draw! And with the scale 3 Performapal Partnaga and the Scale 8 Dragonpit Magician to set the pendulum scale. I pendulum summon Peformapal Drummerilla and Performapal Dag Daggerman in attack mode! And Partnaga's pendulum ability gives my Daggerman an extra 300 points for each Performapal on my field, so that's 600 (2000-2600). Now, Daggerman, attack his Athlete with blinded knife trick! And don't forget Drummerilla's ability gives him 600 attack points as well (2600-3200)."

"Nice try, Yuya, but I activate Ultra Athlete Penalty Box!"

Before Yuya's knife thrower could move, a high tech box with electric bars appeared around it.

"Until 2 of your end phases have passed, your Performapal is banished."

Yuya grunted.

"I set a card face down. Your move."

"That's all? Come on Yuya, you can do better than this! Oh well, my turn. I draw. First, I re-summon my Midfielder. And Ultra Athlete Stadium allows me to add Ultra Athlete Dreadnought Dunker to the hand, and by returning Midfielder I can summon him (2500-3000/1800). Now I return Goalkeeper to summon my Ultra Athlete Mighty Slugger! Don't worry, my Stadium can only boost my Athlete's attack points once per turn, but it'll be more than enough to wipe out your gorilla. Mighty Slugger, destroy Drummerilla."

"I activate his special ability-"

"No good. When Mighty Slugger attacks, you cannot activate any cards or effects until the end of the damage step, but by then it'll be too late."

"What!"

Mighty Slugger produced a ball of energy before slamming it with its bat, hurling it at Drummerilla and destroying it."

Yuya: 3300

"Now Dunker, give Yuya a taste of your Slam dunk."

Dreadnought Dunker produced a basketball made of energy in its hand and charged at Yuya with it. Noticing an action card, Yuya ran for it.

"I activate the action card known as miracle, halving the battle damage I would take this turn."

Although the attack still reached, the blow was softer.

Yuya: 1800

"An impressive save, but I'm afraid your troubles are far from over. When Dreadnought Dunker deals you damage, I can destroy a card on your field, like your Performapal Partnaga."

Dreadnought Dunker produced a small black hole in its hand and threw it at Partnaga, sucking it in and destroying it.

"I'll end my turn there. You're up."

"Alright, you asked for it. I draw! First, I activate Card of Sancity, allowing us each to draw until we have six cards in our hand."

"Thanks, Yuya."

"Don't thank me yet, because I just drew the cards I needed. First, I'll summon Skullcrobat Joker in attack mode and add my Dragoncaller Magician to my hand. Next, I place another Dragoncaller Magician in my other pendulum zone, allowing me to summon monsters between the levels of 2 and 8 at the same time! So come on out Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon, Dragoncaller magician (2400/1000), Performapal Drummerilla, and Performapal Coin Dragon!"

Yuya's four monsters appeared on the field.

"Now, before I put on the grand finale, I'll activate my monster's pendulum abilities! First, I'll use Dragonpit Magician to destroy your Stadium by discarding my Pendulum Sorcerer, since I have a magician in my other pendulum zone."

Yuya discarded his sorcerer, while Dragonpit Magician used his staff to release a wave of energy, obliterating the stadium, reverting it back to the colosseum. But then Yuya noticed something strange.

"Hey, how come your monster's attack didn't change?"

"My monsters get to keep their attack boost even after my stadium gets torn down. So I'm afraid you won't get rid of them that easily."

"We'll see about that. I now activate the effect of the Dragonpit Magician in my pendulum zone, allowing me to change one monster on the field's type to Dragon, and who better to choose than Drummerilla! Next, I'll use the effect of the Dragoncaller on my field to make him a dragon until the end phase."

Both Drummerilla and Dragoncaller gained a more dragon like appearance.

"And don't forget, my Coin Dragon gives each of my dragons 500 attack points (2500-3000) (1700-2200) (2400-2900) (1600-2100). Now Odd Eyes, attack his Dreadnought with Spiral Flame Strike! And don't forget Drummerilla gives my Odd Eyes an extra 600 attack points."

With a burst of flame, Dreadnought was wiped from the field, the gust pushing Skip back slightly.

Skip: 2800

"Impressive, but I'm not done yet."

"Who said I was done? Now, Dragoncaller, wipe out his Slugger. Ancient Dragon magic!"

Yuya's magician built up energy in its staff, releasing it in the form of a dragon which swallowed Mighty Slugger whole.

Skipp: 2200

"You gave me a good duel, Skip, but I'm afraid that this is the end. Finish this, Coin Dragon!"

Skip just smiled.

"Actually, the fun is just getting started. I activate my face down, A Hero Emerges! Its really simple, you have to choose a random card in my hand. If it's a monster, I can special summon it. If its not, it goes to the graveyard. So, which one will it be, Yuya?"

The audience watched in amazement.

"Dad really is betting everything on which card Yuya chooses."

"He knows for sure two of them are Skip's midfielder and goalkeeper, but the other 4 are a complete mystery."

"This duel has me on the edge of my seat."

Back on the field, Yuya made his choice.

"I pick the second card from the left."

Skip smirked.

"Good choice…for me that is! You chose my Ultra Athlete Goalkeeper, so I'll summon him in defense mode!"

Skip's goalie from earlier appeared, ready to intercept. Yuya growled.

"I choose not to attack. I set one card face down and end my turn, returning my Magician to normal (2900-2400). Your move."

As Skip drew his card, he smiled.

"Sorry, Yuya, but my victory is guaranteed. I'll start by activating the spell card known as Magical Stone Excavation, returning my Stadium to my hand. Next, I activate it, giving my team the home field advantage once more!"

The futuristic stadium reappeared.

"Next, I'll summon Ultra Athlete Midfielder once more. But instead of activating my stadium's effect, I'll change it up by activating Ultra Athlete Turnover Tactics! This card shuffles all monsters back into our decks!"

"What?"

All seven monsters turned into bright orbs of energy before returning to their owner's decks.

"Next, we each get to summon monsters from our decks equal to the number of cards returned to them. So I'll summon my star player, Ultra Athlete Blcokbacker as well as Ultra Athlete Rival Smasher!"

From his deck appeared to monsters. One was a Football Quarterback in high tech armor ready to charge, while the other was a burly Hockey Player with blades on his arms as well as his stick (2600-3100) (3000-3500).

"Well, don't forget that I can also bring out some new friends to the party. So come on out Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon (2500-3000), Performapal Drummerilla, Elephammer (2600/1800), Performapal Coin Dragon (1700-2200), and Dragoncaller Magician!"

"It doesn't matter, because I now attack Drummerilla with Rival Smasher! Blades of Gory!"

Rival Smasher ran into the gorilla, who even with its effect couldn't withstand the attack.

Yuya: 500

"And I have some bad news for you. When Rival Smasher destroys a monster by battle, it gets banished."

"That's not good."

"Sorry, Yuya, but I promised to go all out and that's what I intend to do. Blockbacker, attack his Coin Dragon and end this duel with mighty charge!"

"I activate the trap card known as Shift, forcing your monster to attack Odd Eyes instead."

The tackle hit Yuya's dragon, destroying it.

Yuya: 400

"Alright Yuya, I think I've punished you enough. I end my turn with a card face down."

Yuya just groaned as he got to his feet.

"This duel is far from over. I draw! Return to me, Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"

"Blockbacker's effect activates. Your monster is switched to defense mode as soon as its summoned."

Yuya just groaned.

Things aren't looking good, he groaned, The only monster who even stood a chance at taking out either of his monsters was Odd Eyes, but Skip put a stop to that. If only there was a way to pull out ahead.

Just then, Yuya's pendant started glowing, as well as Yuya's extra deck. When Yuya checked it, he was surprised to see a Fusion monster there.

Beast Eyes Pendulum Dragon? It's effect is useful, but it won't do me any good without a way to summon it. Wait a minute-"

Yuya looked at another card in his hand.

Performapal Trump Witch. I forgot about her and her fusion ability. Now I just need to get her in my pendulum zone, and I know just how to do it.

"Alright, Skip, its time for the grand finale! First, I activate the spell card known as Double Cyclone, destroying Dragonpit Magician to destroy your face down."

Two twisters appeared on the field, destroying Yuya's magician and Skip's face down Magic Cylinder.

"Now, I place my Performapal Trump Witch in the pendulum zone in its place (PS: 4)."

A little girl in a magician's outfit appeared in Yuya's pendulum zone.

"So what? You've already pendulum summoned, and even if you could there's not much you can do with only level 3 monsters."

"You forgot that monsters in the pendulum zone have unique abilities that only apply in that zone. Trump Witch allows me to use monsters in my hand or on my field to fusion summon!"

"But you don't have any fusion monsters."

"Wanna bet? I fuse my Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Dragoncaller Magician!"

Dragon with the beautiful eyes,

Combine your might with the magician who wields the might of dragons

To create a new power!"

I fusion summon!

Dragon with knowledge of arcaic arts,

Appear to aid me in this battle! Rune Eyes Pendulum Dragon (3000-3500/2000)!

Yuya's monster gave a tremendous roar.

"As impressive as it is, it still can't beat my Rival Smasher, much less defeat me."

"That's where you're wrong. First, I use Dragoncaller Magician's pendulum ability to make your smasher a dragon type."

Rival Smasher morphed into a dragon, with its multiple blades becoming claws.

"Now, Rune Eyes, attack! And the effect of Dragoncaller activates! Since it was used for the summon of a Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz monster, that monster's attack becomes double it original attack points during the damage step if it attacks a dragon type monster."

"What? But that means-"

"Show's over."

With a burst of fire, Rune eyes obliterated Rival Smasher, sending Skip crashing against the barrier.

"Ouch."

Skip: 0000

Yuya wins

As soon as the duel field disappeared, Yuya ran to his teacher.

"Are you alright?"

Skip just shook himself and laughed.

"I'm more than alright. I'm fired up! Way to go, Yuya. That was an awesome fusion summon."

"Thanks, Principal. I think I've found my way to evolve my pendulum summoning."

"And I know that you'll do great."

As the two walked to their friends and family, Yuya thought to himself.

I don't know how that happened, but it seems my pendant has more power than I realized. But this is just the first step to evolving my pendulum summon. Watch out, Declan. The next time we duel, you'll be in for a treat.

Made up Cards

U.A. Rival Smasher

3000/2500

You can special summon this monster by returning one U.A. monster on your field to your hand. When special summoned this way, your opponent cannot activate card effects when this card battles. When this monster destroys another monster in battle, it is banished after damage calculation.

A/N: And done! I think this may be the longest chapter I've written for any story yet, but I had a lot of fun. I decided to give Skip the Ultra Athletes (Yes, I know they're called U.A., but that just looks weird in writing) because they're one of my favorite archetypes and I wish that they were included in the anime. And I decided to skip Yuya's qualifying arc because I was tired of writing him dueling constantly and decided to give the others some spotlight, so the next few chapters will focus on other characters and their development. Hope you enjoy!