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Chapter 38 – Majestic Mechs VS Gladiator Beasts
Wesley merely pushed up his shades. He showed no signs of fear. "You don't have what it takes. All you are now is a mindless, muscle-driven beast. And that fancy fur coat you're wearing is proof enough."
Everyone, even Dalton, was shocked at the backbone Wesley showed. Even if he is an Obelisk Elite, picking a fight with Dalton was dangerous enough. Picking a fight with a transformed wolf Dalton was just plain suicide. This was proven when, without even the slightest amount of warning, Dalton bolted over and sunk his teeth into Wesley's right arm. Alexis covered her mouth in shock while Sara simply stared.
"What was that, pal?" Dalton snarled with his teeth still in Wesley's arm. "I don't think I heard you the first time."
"You heard me perfectly," Wesley said as he reached over with his other hand and wrenched Dalton's jaws off his arm, forcing him to back off. "You are weak. And as your tag partner, I will duel you to prove it."
"That's what you should've said in the first place," Dalton said with a smirk.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sure you've read the stories. And I'm sure you know what happens when you're bitten by a werewolf!"
Wesley's sunglasses slipped. It was the first expression of shock he wore during the entire story.
"Wait a minute," Alexis said. "Does that mean Wesley's gonna turn into a dog, too??"
"I'm not a dog, I'm a wolf!" Dalton practically barked at Alexis. "But don't you worry, Wes. You'll still be yourself, only if you beat me in a duel."
"And if I lose?"
"Then you're gonna become a 'mindless, muscle-driven' werewolf just like me! And after that, we'll take down the entire Obelisk Blue dorm and then the rest of the island!"
Wesley remained silent while Dalton laughed evilly.
"Tell me you're done so we can duel already."
"You won't be so smug in a Shadow Game," Dalton said, standing up and activating his Duel Disk.
Wesley rubbed his right arm in the spot where Wesley bit him before activating his Duel Disk as well. "Everyone, I'd like you to wait on top of the hill by the Slifer Dorms. If I lose, I may end up attacking one or all four of you. And I don't feel like risking that."
"Very well then," Bastion said as he headed off the docks. "Just don't lose."
"Yeah, what he said," Syrus said, following the others.
"Well, then," Wesley said, turning back to Dalton, "shall we get started, old friend?"
"Bring it," Dalton yelled.
"DUEL!" Both duelists drew five cards and their Life Points were set to 4000.
"Hey guys!" Jaden shouted to the others as they arrived.
"Jaden?" Syrus said with a hint of confusion. "What are you guys doing out here so late?"
"Chazz and I were having a quick duel before this happened," Weevil said.
"I'm assuming you all saw what happened?" Bastion asked.
"Every bit," Professor Autumn answered. "This duel is bound to be dangerous."
"I'm gonna go first!" Dalton said, drawing his first card. "I'll play the Field Spell, Colosseum – Cage of the Gladiator Beasts!"
So he has that card after all? Wesley thought.
The docks began to transform. In seconds, the two duelists were now in a huge arena made of stone, lined with blue neon lights.
"You're in my backyard now," Dalton said. "It works like this. Each time one of us Special Summons a monster from our deck, I have to place an audience counter on this arena. And with each one, any monster with Gladiator Beast in its name gets 100 Attack and Defense points! My monsters practically thrive on the cheers of their fans! ("Just like you," Wesley added.) And I'll start by playing Test Ape (700/300) in Defense Mode!"
Dalton's first monster was a small baboon curled up in a ball. It had strange green goggles and some sort of gauntlet on its arm.
"Hey Rex," Weevil said with a smirk, "who does that remind you of?"
"And with that, I'll end my turn," Dalton said.
"Good." Wesley drew a card from his deck. "First, I'll lay a card face down and summon Royal Knight (1300/800) in Attack Mode."
Wesley's first monster was clad in white armor with bluish-green trim and bore large white wings as well as a small sword in its right hand.
"And in case you don't know," Wesley continued, "my Royal Knight has a unique ability. Whenever it destroys a monster, my Life Points increase by the Defense Points of the destroyed monster."
"Tch." Dalton didn't seem bothered, since his monster had only 300 Defense Points.
"Royal Knight, attack with Royal Blade Strike."
Royal Knight raised its sword and brought it down on the poor Test Ape, shattering it to mere holographic pixels. After that, Wesley's Life Points rose to 4300.
"I owe ya one for that, Wes," Dalton said.
Wesley raised an eyebrow.
"By destroying my Test Ape, I'm allowed to special summon a Level 4 or lower Gladiator Beast from my deck. And I'll choose Gladiator Beast Laquari (1800/400)!"
Emerging onto the field was a tiger-like monster in red armor circled by a ring of fire and red laser-like weapons. With its roar, came a cheer from somewhere in the stands of the Colosseum.
"That's one counter," Dalton said as his Laquari's power rose to 1900/500.
Wesley simply shrugged and said, "I end my turn."
Dalton growled as he drew his next card. "I think I'll play around with you for a bit. After all, the night is young, the moon is full, and I don't wanna whup ya too quick. Now I'll summon Gladiator Beast Andal (1900/1500) – (2000/1600) in Attack Mode!"
Dalton's next monster was a large bear in blue armor with a scar across its left eye. On its arms were its weapons, a pair of steel knuckles.
"Gladiator Beast Andal, crush that Royal Knight now!"
Andal grunted as it got down on all fours and charged at Wesley's Royal Knight. As it raised its arms, Wesley raised a face down card.
"I activate my trap, Waboku. Thanks to this, I will take no damage, nor will you destroy my monster."
Andal brought down its mighty claw and pushed back Royal Knight. Both monsters then got back into position.
"Doesn't matter. I'll still attack your monster! Get'm, Laquari!"
"I don't get it," Blair said as Laquari's laser weapons fired at Royal Knight, but to no avail. "Why does he keep attacking if he's not gonna cause any damage?"
"It is so he can activate his monster's ability," Sara said quietly, freaking out Weevil for a split second. "If his monster attacks or gets attacked, he can return it to his deck and call out another Gladiator Beast with no heed to its level. However, he can only special summon it after his Battle Phase is finished. This new deck functions like tag teams in a wrestling match." Where did he get those cards?
"Now, I'll activate my Laquari's ability," Dalton said. "Since it got to attack during the Battle Phase, I can send it back to my deck and send out another Beast in its place. And I choose Gladiator Beast Dimacari (1600/1200) – (1700/1300)!"
Laquari disappeared from the field, and taking its place was a snarling purple ox-like monster with reflectors guarding its backside. And once again, more cheers were heard from the audience as the beasts' points rose by another hundred (Andal 2100/1700) (Dimacari 1800/1400).
"That's two counters," Dalton said, "and I'll end my turn with a face down card."
"Very well," Wesley said, drawing a card. "I'll sacrifice my Royal Knight and summon Majestic Mech – Ohka (2400/1400) in Attack Mode."
The monster Wesley summoned was a wolf-like monster clad in white armor with red trim and metallic wings.
"How unusual," Bastion said.
"What do you mean?" Jaden asked.
"Majestic Mech monsters are tricky to play. They have the option of lowering their level to be summoned much easier. Ohka, a level six monster, could've been normal summoned without a sacrifice. However, by doing so, Wesley would have to send it to the graveyard on the end of his turn."
"Ouch."
"Majestic Mech – Ohka," Wesley continued, "attack Gladiator Beast Andal with White Wolf Stream."
Dalton growled as Ohka launched a blast of white light at Andal, destroying it and reducing Dalton's Life Points to 3700. Crap. Andal doesn't have any special effects at all. I can't even call it back to my deck. My trap card is as good as wasted on that one.
"I will end my turn with another card face down," Wesley said, "and since I sacrificed a monster to summon Ohka, he will not go to the graveyard."
"Fine. My draw!" Dalton drew his next card. "I'll sacrifice Dimacari and summon Gladiator Beast Spartacus (2200/1600)!"
Dalton's next monster was a dinosaur clad in brown armor with bones adorning the shoulders and forearms. It raised its huge axe causing the audience to cheer, raising its strength to 2400/1800.
"So, you summoned a monster with our exact same attack strength," Wesley said. "If they battle like this, they will only destroy each other."
"Not if I activate this," Dalton said, sliding a card into his disk. "Gladiator Beast's Battle Manica! With this gauntlet on, my Spartacus can't be destroyed in battle, no matter what! Now attack!"
Spartacus swung his mighty axe back. It must've been heavy if he had to wind up like that. Ohka started to counter with a White Wolf Stream, but Spartacus had already swung his axe to smash right through Ohka, breaking its armor into tiny pieces. Wesley, however, refused to even flinch.
"Come on, man," Dalton said. "You can at least pretend to be scared. But whatever. Since Spartacus got an attack in, I can send it back to my deck and summon Gladiator Beast Secutor (400/300). Not only that, but instead of going to the graveyard, my Battle Manica returns to my hand!"
Spartacus disappeared from the field and taking its place was a small frog-like creature in blue armor with a pair of cannons on its shoulders. More cheers from the audience raised its power to 700/400 ("That makes three counters," Dalton said.)
Everyone was speechless.
"I don't get it," Rex said. "Why would he bring out that little toad thing instead of keeping that cool Dinosaur monster out?"
"Duh!" Weevil said. "Obviously that thing has some cool special ability too."
"Not only that," Bastion said, "but he is now too focused on special summoning monsters to add audience counters to his Colosseum. He may have gone a little overboard by summoning that one."
"So basically he's just showing off?" Weevil asked glumly.
"Better keep your defenses up," Dalton said. "Because when Secutor comes charging, I can summon two Gladiator Beasts instead of just one! And I don't even need to return it to my deck! Plus, I'll activate my face down card Double Tag Team! Since I special summoned my Secutor, I can special summon another Gladiator Beast monster from my hand or deck, as long as it's Level 4 or below. And I choose Gladiator Beast Torax (1400/400)!"
Splashing onto the field was a blue puffer fish monster with green armor riddled with spikes. It raised its staff, warranting more cheers from the audience raising its strength to 1800/400 and Secutor's strength to 800/500 ("And that makes counter number four," Dalton said).
"I never thought Dalton could make a deck so methodical," Syrus said.
"Tch. His deck ain't so tough," Chazz scoffed.
"And with that, I end my turn," Dalton said.
"Even with the fur coat," Wesley said, drawing his card, "you're still the Dalton I've known all this."
"What does that mean?!"
"You've left both your monsters in Attack mode, and your Life Points very vulnerable."
Dalton recoiled in shock. Aw crap! How could I forget that?!
"I also know that I cannot defeat your monsters if you keep adding counters to your Colosseum, so I will destroy it with Mystical Space Typhoon."
Dalton watched as a vortex in the sky opened and the Colosseum was swallowed into the void, brick by brick, screaming audience member by screaming audience member. After the effects resided, Dalton's monsters were back to their original strength (Secutor 400/300) (Torax 1400/400). Heh…How stupid do you think I am? I'll just wait until I draw another one from my deck. And then the fun begins all over again.
"The Gladiator Beast cards are powerful," Wesley said, "when used correctly. But I can tell you didn't have those cards for long. Therefore, you don't exactly know how to use them properly. Someone once said 'a weapon is only as powerful as the one who wields it.' The saying applies to a sword as well as one's cards. Tell me, where exactly did you get those cards?"
"I'll tell you," Dalton said with a smirk, "only if you beat me!"
"So be it," Wesley said. "I'll continue by summoning Zolga (1700/1200) in Attack Mode." The monster Wesley called out wore a black cloak and an armored headdress.
"Zolga, attack Secutor (400) with Shadow Cloak." Zolga's cloak stretched out like a pair of hands and promptly strangled the little Secutor to death. Secutor shattered, dropping Dalton's Life Points to 2400 and Dalton himself to the ground. "Jerome Dalton, if this is all you have to offer, then I don't even need to worry about becoming a werewolf like you. You should simply stay down on all fours like the dog you are."
Alexis' eyes widened. He must be really upset. I've never seen that guy insult anyone in a duel.
Dalton pushed himself up and howled into the sky. It was evident by the look on his face that he was either really angry or simply rabid.
"You know what?" Dalton asked. "I am so sick and tired of your smug attitude. In the past two years I've known you, you've always looked down on me and you're still doing it, even now. Well, I'm done playing around with you! I have received power unlike anything you've seen before and as soon as you end your turn, I'm gonna call out my bigger beasts to really mess you up! You hear me Wes? THIS IS NOW WAR!"
Duo-san: And now, a few words from Jerome Dalton.
Dalton: AROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Duo-san: Thank you. In the next chapter, the duel continues, trash talk is thrown left and right, and the Slifers get in a few shots at Bastion's love life.
Bastion: I do NOT approve.
Duo-san: Of course you don't.
Dalton: Grrrr...!
Duo-san: And if you keep misbehaving, you won't get your treat!
Dalton: -whimper, whimper-
Wesley: Stay tuned for...uh...oh yeah...Majestic Mechs VS Gladiator Beasts, Part 2.