Chapter 21: Penalty Duel
"As you know, a student got caught for stealing Alexis Rhodes' Deck." Dr. Crowler commented to a mysterious figure inside his office.
"Everyone at Duel Academy knows that by now, Sir." The figure replied.
"In my opinion, she should be expelled for this but the rules say she must be allowed a chance to avoid this punishment by playing a penalty duel and winning." Crowler said with disgust.
"And that's why you called me, I presume." The figure said.
"You presume right." Crowler confirmed. "If you defeat her in this duel, I'll promote you to Obelisk Blue."
"You have a deal, Sir." The figure said while offering a hand for a handshake.
One day later, practically everyone at Duel Academy was at the arena anxiously waiting for Missy's penalty duel and wondering who their opponent will be.
"I bet it's Seto Kaiba". A Slifer student suggested.
'Like Dad would care enough to do something by himself'. Jaden mentally scoffed at the idea.
"Do you think the opponent is Aster Phoenix?" Mindy asked with a dreamy expression while Alexis sighed at the idea.
"Welcome, students!" Dr. Crowler announced. "As we all know, Missy here must win this penalty duel to avoid being expelled for stealing Alexis Rhodes' Deck. Now, I know you're all wondering who's going to duel her in this match. Please welcome Mr. Bastion Misawa, who shall be promoted from Ra Yellow to Obelisk Blue if he wins."
Everyone cheered for Bastion. After the traditional exchange of compliments, the duel started and Missy took the first turn. "I summon Howling Insect (EARTH, Level 3, 1200 ATK, 1300 DEF, Insect/Effect - When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard: You can Special Summon 1 Insect-Type monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck) in Attack Position." She declared. "I set a car at my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn."
"My turn." Bastion said as he drew a card. "I summon Hydrogeddon (WATER, Level 4, 1600 ATK, 1000 DEF, Dinosaur/Effect - When this card destroys a monster your opponent controls by battle and sends it to the Graveyard: You can Special Summon 1 "Hydrogeddon" from your Deck) in Attack Position. Hydrogeddon, attack Howling Insect."
Bastion 4000 LP – Missy 3600 LP
"I use Hydrogeddon's effect to Special Summon another Hydrogeddon in Attack Position." Bastion declared while the other Hydrogeddon appeared next to the first one.
"And I use Howling Insect's effect to Special Summon Parasite Caterpillar (WIND, Level 3, 800 ATK, 800 DEF, Insect/Effect - If this card is selected as an attack target, equip this card as an Equip Card to the attacking monster after damage calculation. The equipped monster is treated as Insect-Type, and it cannot be Tributed or selected as an attack target. If the equipped monster is the only monster your opponent controls, monsters you control can attack your opponent directly. During your opponent's 3rd Standby Phase after this card was equipped to that monster, destroy the equipped monster and Special Summon 1 "Poison Butterfly" from your Deck to your opponent's side of the field) in Attack Position." Missy replied.
"Is she crazy?" Syrus asked in confusion. "Now Bastion can simply destroy that monster and Special Summon a third Hydrogeddon."
"I set a face down card at my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn!" Bastion declared, shocking those who, like Syrus, didn't know Parasite Caterpillar's effect.
"WHYYYYYYYYY?" Several students asked.
"Because of her monster's effect." Zane calmly said. That made everyone who didn't already know the effect decide to research it later.
Missy drew a card. "I tribute my Parasite Caterpillar to summon Empress Mantis (WIND, Level 6, 2200 ATK, 1400 DEF, Insect - Queen of an army of giant mantises whose command moves legions) in Attack Position." She said. "Empress Mantis, attack the first Hydrogeddon!"
"I reveal Negate Attack (Trap - When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; negate the attack, then end the Battle Phase) to protect Hydrogeddon and my Life Points." Bastion said while revealing his face down card.
"I set another card to my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn." Missy declared.
Bastion drew a card and started his turn. "I summon Oxygeddon (WIND, Level 4, 1800 ATK, 800 DEF, Dinosaur/Effect - When this card is destroyed by battle with a Pyro-Type monster and sent to the Graveyard, inflict 800 damage to both players) in Attack Position and set a face down card at my Spell/Trap zone." He declared. "I end my turn."
Missy drew a card and smiled upon seeing it. "Empress Mantis, attack the first Hydrogeddon again!" She ordered.
"I reveal Amorphous Barrier (Trap - Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack while you control 3 or more monsters. End the Battle Phase)!" Bastion declared. "Now my monsters are safe and you must end your battle phase."
"I declare the monster type Insect to activate DNA Surgery (Continuous Trap - Activate this card by declaring 1 Monster Type. All face-up monsters on the field become that Type)!" Missy said. "Now all monsters on the field are insects, giving me a reason to play the card I drew at the beginning of this turn. I play Insect Barrier (Continuous Spell - Insect-Type monsters your opponent controls cannot declare an attack) and end my turn."
Everyone was impressed by her move even if they still hated her. Bastion then drew a card. "I play Bonding - H²O (Spell - Tribute 2 "Hydrogeddons" and 1 "Oxygeddon". Special Summon 1 "Water Dragon" from your hand, Deck or Graveyard) to summon Water Dragon (WATER, Level 8, 2800 ATK, 2600 DEF, Sea Serpent/Effect - This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be Special Summoned except by the effect of "Bonding - H2O". While this card is face-up on the field, the ATK of FIRE monsters and Pyro-Type monsters become 0. When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 2 "Hydrogeddons" and 1 "Oxygeddon" from your Graveyard) from my Deck." He announced and everyone was surprised. "Unfortunately, DNA Surgery turns my monster into an insect and I still cannot do anything about Insect Barrier so I end my turn."
Missy then drew a card. "I set a face down monster and play Tremendous Fire (Spell - Inflict 1000 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points and 500 points of damage to your Life Points)."
Missy 3100 LP – Bastion 3000 LP
"Now that you have no more than 3000 Life Points, I can activate the first card I set at my Spell/Trap zone." She announced. "I reveal Minor Goblin Official (Continuous Trap - You can only activate this card when your opponent's Life Points are 3000 or less. Inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points during each of his/her Standby Phases)." She gave a big smirk and said "I end my turn."
Bastion drew a card and lost 500 Life Points per Minor Goblin Official's effect.
Missy 3100 LP – Bastion 2500 LP
"I play Mystical Space Typhoon (Quick-Play Spell - Target 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field; destroy that target) to destroy your Insect Barrier." Bastion declared, making Missy worried. "Water Dragon, attack Empress Mantis." Empress Mantis was destroyed and Missy lost 600 Life Points as battle damage.
Missy 2500 LP – Bastion 2500 LP
"I end my turn." Bastion said and Missy then drew a card. "I Flip Summon Man-Eater Bug (EARTH, Level 2, 450 ATK, 600 DEF, Insect/Effect - FLIP: Select and destroy 1 monster on the field) and use its effect to destroy Water Dragon."
Bastion quickly reacted to this. "I use Water Dragon's effect to bring back two Hydrogeddons and one Oxygeddon back from my Graveyard."
Missy wasn't done. "I play Cell Division (Spell - Select 1 face-up Level 3 or lower Insect-Type monster you control. Special Summon 1 "Cell Division Token" that has the same original Level, Type, Attribute, ATK and DEF as the selected monster) and select Man-Eater Bug." She said, making Bastion and the others wonder what she planned to do. "I now tribute Man-Eater Bug and my Cell Division Token to summon Metal Armored Bug (EARTH, Level 8, 2800 ATK, 1500 DEF, Insect - A gigantic insect-like creature covered by thick armor. Everything in his path is destroyed) in Attack Position. Metal Armored Bug, attack the Hydrogeddon on the left." Bastion lost one Hydroggedon and 1200 Life Points.
Missy 2500 LP – Bastion 1300 LP
"I meant my left but okay." Missy jokingly said. "I end my turn." Bastion drew another card and, once again, lost 500 Life Points to Minor Goblin Official.
Missy 2500 LP – Bastion 800 LP
"I play Pot of Greed (Spell – Draw 2 cards)!" Bastion declared and then drew 2 cards. He was satisfied with the results. "I summon Hydrogeddon in Attack Position and play Bonding - H²O to bring Water Dragon back from my Graveyard. Water Dragon, attack Metal Armored Bug." Because both monsters had equal ATK (2800), they were destroyed and no duelist suffered battle damage.
"Ha." Missy laughed in triumph. "You're now open for a direct…" The smoke dissipated and Missy saw three other monsters on Bastion's side. "What?"
"Did you forget the effect activated upon Water Dragon's destruction?" Bastion smugly asked. "Hydrogeddon, attack Missy's Life Points directly."
Missy 900 LP – Bastion 800 LP
Bastion then repeated the order to his other Hydrogeddon.
Bastion 800 LP – Missy 0 LP
"Nooooooooooooooooooo!" Missy shouted in frustration.
"Congratulations, Mr. Misawa." Dr. Crowler happily said. "Welcome to Obelisk Blue."
Everyone cheered for him.
"As for you, Missy cheater, pack your stuff." Dr. Crowler angrily ordered. "You're getting the first ride out of this island."
"You haven't heard the last of me!" Missy whined.
"Typical sore loser reply." Crowler mumbled.
End chapter.
Omake: What if Missy won?
"Congratulations." Crowler begrudgingly said. "Now pack your stuff. You're now a Slifer slacker."
"What?" Missy asked in shock. "But I won the duel."
"And it saved you from being expelled but I never said anything about it exempting you from other forms of punishment." He explained and then turned his attention to Bastion. "Better luck next time, Mr. Misawa."
End omake.