Well, here goes, I can't believe how quickly I finished this one. Not much else to say so let's get into it.

Chapter Eleven: The Best and the Brightest

Himika was both surprised and concerned. "Are you certain, Reiji?"

"I am." He looked over.

"You shouldn't feel pressured going in to this, pal." Gongenzaka felt down about the situation.

"What are you saying? From where I'm standing, he's the one bringing the pressure. Just look." Sora looked up.

Everyone was astonished; not a trace of happiness in Yuya's eyes. They all knew he didn't smile a lot, but for the first time he actually looked angry.

"Know this, I'm definitely going to win!"

"For the record, Yuya, Reiji is the best Duelist in all of LDS." Himika chimed in.

"You're clearly ready, so let's get this over with." Both players entered the room.

"Reiji, huh? I've heard that name before. Let's see here..." Shuzo went through a few Dueling sites and found an article on LDS' supposed star Duelist. "Here he is... Reiji Akaba!"

The younger students aside from Sora seemed terrified by Yuya's unusual lack of composure. Yuzu and Noboru were debating on how he was feeling.

"Why won't he cheer up? I just don't get it..." Yuzu seemed nervous.

"He probably can't because he focused on winning this for everyone. The way this goes, he may not even smile once." Gongenzaka reminded the others.

"When you're ready, Principal Hiragi." said Yuya.

"Okay, Yuya. Here goes..."

The principal's daughter's heart was about to sink. "This final game won't start until you cheer up. You don't wanna do it like this, Yuya. Think about your dad and what you're doing this for!"

No response at first. "Set the field!" he yelled. She felt like she was at a standstill, unable to reach out or do anything until...

(I didn't want to use this field in particular, but if this is the Reiji Akaba, we need you at your best.) "Activating the Field Spell..."

The setting made it look like everyone was in the middle of a performance under the big top.

"Acrobatic Circus!"

"Whoa, a real circus?" Sora lit up.

"This Yuya's signature field. I get it now... That's why Dad chose this. He knows this is must be hard on him so he wanted Yuya to Duel freely in his element."

"Seems like you're ready." said Reiji.

"It feels like you wanted to face me for some time. I'll give you a real groundbreaking show." Yuya knew he was ready as seemed to relax a bit.

"Duelists locked in combat!"

"Kicking up the dust from the ground and taking to the skies!"

"Their monsters storm the Field!"

"The greatest evolution of Dueling has arrived!"

"Action...Duel!" Both players finished.

"In return, since you were kind enough to allow us to choose the playing field, you should go first."

"All right, then. I play three Continuous Spell Cards from my hand this turn. First, the Continuous Spell Card, Dark Contract with the Gate. I may take 1000 damage in my next Standby Phase, but once per turn, during my Main Phase, I can add 1 D/D monster to my hand. I choose D/D Cerberus."

"D/D?"

"I've heard rumors about a D/D or 'Different Dimension' deck used by someone in this city. I think Yuya may be in over his head this time."

"Are we just gonna ignore the fact that Reiji's spell will deal 1000 damage on his next turn?"

"Continuous Spell Card number two will be a second Dark Contract with the Gate. I can now add another D/D monster. I add a second D/D Lilith. And now, Continuous Spell Card number three, Dark Contract with the Swamp King. This card will also deal 1000 damage in my next Standby Phase."

"That's quite the risk there, pal." the entertainer seemed shocked.

"Once per turn, I can send monsters from my hand or field to the Graveyard or banish monsters from the Graveyard to summon a Fusion Monster."

"Sora did say they are many ways to summon Fusion Monsters. Guess this one of them."

"I fuse both D/D Lilith in my hand. Maiden of blackest night, stare into your reflection in the swirling light and reemerge in a blaze of glory! Fusion Summon! Level 6! D/D/D Flame King Genghis!" (ATK: 2000)

"A Fusion Monster." Ayu looked ahead.

"Three D's time?" Tatsuya asked

"But at the cost of 3000 points?" Futoshi questioned.

"Hmmm. There aren't any records of Reiji using any advanced methods. And if he was already strong back then, is he even stronger now?"

"I'll place my last two cards face-down and end my turn."

"Here I go. Draw. I'll summon Performapal Whip Snake. (ATK: 1700) I'll use its effect. Once per turn, I can swap the Attack and Defense Points of any monster." (ATK: 1500)

"Now Whip Snake's points are higher." the younger redhead noticed.

"Shivers!" the chubbier kid cheered.

Whip Snake attacks Flame King Genghis!"

"Activate Trap! Dark Contract with the Witch! I take 1000 damage in my next Standby Phase and all Fiend-Type monsters gain 1000 Attack Points." (ATK: 2500)

Yuya hopped around and found what he was looking for. "In that case, I activate High Dive. This gives any monster on my field 1000 Attack Points." (ATK: 2700)

Genghis' blade lifted Reiji up and as he jumped between obstacles, he found an Action Card of his own.

"I activate the Trap Card, Lease Laundering. This sends all my Dark Contracts to the Graveyard. (ATK: 1500) Furthermore, I draw 1 card for every Dark Contract sent to the Graveyard. So I draw four cards. Since my Spell and Trap Zones are cleared, I'll stop your attack with Evasion."

"He just neutralized 4000 damage with just one card?" Noboru realized.

"I knew he wouldn't go down easily." Sora gestured. Yuzu was still nervous and it started affecting those around her.

"You're pretty good. If I was just gonna win that easily, of course it wouldn't be any fun. I set a card. End Phase. High Dive and Whip Snake's effects end here. (ATK: 2000) (ATK: 1700) Your move. You know what, I had you all wrong. You're an okay guy." Yuya stood puzzled. "Something wrong?"

"I was just thinking about your display of kindness from the start of the match. You seem kind, but your emotions appear unstable. You need to be levelheaded on the battlefield, Yuya. Like Yusho."

"Yusho...? You know my dad?"

"What do you think? Of course everyone in town knows your old man."

"The champion who chickened out and whose legacy is about to come crashing down." Yuzu was about to flip her lid when...

"Insolence! I won't allow low level scum to tarnish the Sakaki name!" Reiji blew his. Everyone was left frozen in fear except Himika and Yuya.

(Reiji... Whatever you do, just make sure he's someone we can rely on.) his mother pondered.

"Pardon my outburst, Yuya. It is true that your father's disappearance heavily took its toll on a lot of people, even me. It's because of him that Action Duels are as monumental as they are now. He's the one Duelist I respect the most."

"It's nice to know that there are other people who believe Dad didn't just run off. And you're right about the unstable thing. Since he went missing, I can only smile when I Duel." Yuya felt lighter.

"I was coming here hoping to see a Sakaki style performance, I hope you don't disappoint me Yuya. It's no fun if I'm the only one going all out!"

"Then let's see it."

"My turn! I summon the Tuner Monster, D/D Nighthowl." (ATK: 300)

"Tuner Monster?"

"If Nighthowl is Normal Summoned, I can summon a Level 4 or Lower D/D monster in my Graveyard, but its Attack and Defense Points become 0. I bring back one D/D Lilith. (ATK: 100-0) Now I tune Level 4 D/D Lilith with Level 3 D/D Nighthowl! Breeze in the night, become the signal of a new ruler that has gained the speed of gale force winds! Synchro Summon! Level 7! D/D/D Gust King Alexander! (ATK: 2500)"

"This has Fusion and Synchro?"

"I'm not finished yet. Genghis' effect! When a different D/D/D monster is Special Summoned, I can summon a D/D monster from the Graveyard! Revive again, D/D Lilith! (ATK: 100) Now Alexander's effect! When a D/D monster is Special Summoned, I summon another D/D monster from my Graveyard! Once more, D/D Lilith!" (ATK: 100)

"Two Level 4 monsters?"

I overlay both Level 4 D/D Lilith! With these two monsters, I build the Overlay Network! To ravage the lands, send your might into the surging waters! Xyz Summon! Rank 4! D/D/D Wave King Caesar!"

"An Xyz Monster." Sora marveled.

"He's something else. A Fusion, Synchro and Xyz Monster." Gongenzaka seemed uneasy.

"He can use all the advanced methods? There's no doubting it now, he is Reiji Akaba."

"D/D/D means Different Dimension Demons. Prepare for my display of what all three Summoning methods are capable of. Genghis, attack Whip Snake!"

"Activate Hippo Carnival! This gives my field 3 Hippo Tokens and no other monsters can be targeted for attacks." (DEF: 0x3) 3 different colored Vegas style hippos take the field.

"Fine then. Genghis, Alexander, and Caesar each attack one Token. One card face-down. End turn."

"Color me impressed. You can use all the methods. Now I really have to step up my game." Just then, the craziest thing happened; he actually snickered. "You know what, Reiji? You're the only LDS Duelist I like. It's good to know you don't only focus on winning if it hurts other people. You came here hoping for a Sakaki style Dueling performance and it's about to happen!"

That was fast! Also, the reason I'm using 2 Lilith instead of Cerberus is that Cerberus later in the show becomes a Pendulum Monster. After the end this match, should I do Yuya vs Shuzo or skip to Yuya vs Mieru? And I had Alexander move only once because that effect only lasted for one episode. More coming soon.