Chapter 22: Final Duel – Part 1
Jaden Kaiba and Bastion Mizawa were called to Dr. Vellian Crowler's office. "What did you do, Dr. Crowler?" Jaden asked.
"As you both know, Zane Truesdale is the best student among those graduating now and that means he gets to play a farewell duel." Dr. Crowler reminded the two students. "Would you like to be his opponent?"
"Yes!" Both Jaden and Bastion answered and then stared at each other.
"Well, upon my suggestion, Mr. Truesdale agreed that, if the both of you want to be his opponent, that honor should go to whoever beats the other in another duel." Dr. Crowler stated.
"Game on!" Jaden agreed.
"I also agree to these terms, Professor." Bastion added.
"Excellent!" Dr. Crowler exclaimed. "I'll arrange the details while you get your decks ready for the duel."
On the next day, Bastion was worried because he couldn't tell if he chose the right deck. He usually had a formula for each known opposing deck but since Jaden, like him, had more than one deck, Bastion couldn't tell which one Jaden would use.
Practically everyone was watching the duel. "Kaiba's son probably will win." One of them commented. "He has the three Blue-Eyes White Dragons after all." Several others agreed with the first one.
Jaden started the first turn. "I summon Mother Grizzly (WATER, Level 4, 1400 ATK, 1000 DEF, Beast-Warrior/Effect - When this card is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, you can Special Summon 1 WATER monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck in face-up Attack Position) in Defense Position. I also set a face down card and end my turn."
"My turn." Bastion said as he drew a card. "I place and play Mystical Space Typhoon (Quick-Play Spell – Target 1 Spell/Trap on the field; destroy that target.) to destroy your face down card." Jaden's card was Draining Shield (Trap – When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; negate that attack, and if you do, gain LP equal to that target's ATK.). I now summon Hydrogeddon (WATER, Level 4, 1600 ATK, 100 DEF, Dinosaur/Effect - When this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle and sends it to the GY: You can Special Summon 1 "Hydrogeddon" from your Deck.). Hydrogeddon, attack Mother Grizzly." Mother Grizzly was destroyed but, since she was in Defense Position, no Life points were lost. "I use my Hydrogeddon's effect to Special Summon another Hydrogeddon in Attack Position." He declared.
"And I use Mother Grizzly's effect to Special Summon another Mother Grizzly in Attack Position." Jaden replied.
"Hydrogeddon, attack Mother Grizzly." Bastion declared and another destruction happened. This time, the ATK difference was removed from Jaden's Life Points.
Bastion 4000 LP – Jaden 3800 LP
Bastion Special Summonned another Hydrogeddon and Jaden did the same to a third Mother Grizzly. Remembering Jaden's entrance duel, Bastion decided not to attack the third Mother Grizzly. "I place another face down card and end my turn." Bastion said.
"My turn!" Jaden said as he drew a card. "I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your face down." It was Amorphous Barrier (Counter Trap – Activate only when an opponent's monster declares an attack while you control 3 or more monsters. End the Battle Phase.) I now play A Legendary Ocean (Field Spell - (This card's name is always treated as "Umi" (Field Spell – All Fish, Sea Serpent, Thunder, and Aqua monsters on the field gain 200 ATK/DEF, also all Machine and Pyro monsters on the field lose 200 ATK/DEF.).) All WATER monsters on the field gain 200 ATK/DEF. Reduce the Level of all WATER monsters in both players' hands and on the field by 1.).
Bastion's three Hydrogeddon became WATER, Level 4(3), 1600(1800) ATK, 100(300) DEF and Jaden's Mother Grizzly became WATER, Level 4(3), 1400(1600) ATK, 1000(1200) DEF.
"I change Mother Grizzly to Defense Position and summon Defender Iceberg (WATER, Level 5(4), 0(200) ATK, 2450(2650) DEF, Aqua/Effect – Other monsters you control cannot be selected as attack targets) in Defense Position." Jaden said. "I place a face down card and end my turn."
"My turn." Bastion said as he drew a card. "I summon Oxygeddon (WIND, Level 4, 1800 ATK, 800 DEF, Dinosaur/Effect – If this card is destroyed by battle with a Pyro monster and sent to the GY: Each player takes 800 damage.) in Attack Position and play Bonding – H2O (Spell - Tribute 2 "Hydrogeddon" and 1 "Oxygeddon"; Special Summon 1 "Water Dragon" from your hand, Deck, or GY.) to summon Water Dragon (WATER, Level 8(7), 2800(3000) ATK, 2600(2800) DEF, Sea Serpent/Effect – Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. Must be Special Summoned with "Bonding - H2O". The ATK of FIRE monsters and Pyro monsters on the field becomes 0. When this card is destroyed and sent to the GY: You can target 2 "Hydrogeddon" and 1 "Oxygeddon" in your GY; Special Summon them.) from my Deck in Attack Position. Water Dragon, attack Defender Iceberg."
"I reveal Negate Attack (Counter Trap – When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target the attacking monster; negate the attack, then end the Battle Phase.)." Jaden replied. "What'll you do now?"
"I'll end my turn." Bastion answered and Jaden drew a card. "I tribute Mother Grizzly to summon Suijin (WATER, Level 7(6), 2500(2700) ATK, 2400(2600) DEF, Aqua/Effect – During your opponent's damage calculation, you can reduce the ATK of a monster attacking this card to 0. This effect can only be used once while this card remains face-up on the field) in Attack Position!" Even those who'd already seen Jaden summon Suijin during his entrance duel were impressed upon seeing him do it again. "Suijin, attack Hydrogeddon!" Bastion lost one Hydrogeddon and 900 (2700 – 1800) Life Points.
Jaden 3800 LP – Bastion 3100 LP
Jaden then placed another card at the Spell/Trap section. "I play Fissure (Spell – Destroy the 1 face-up monster your opponent controls that has the lowest ATK (your choice, if tied).) to destroy your only monster on the field." Water Dragon was destroyed and the three monsters Bastion sent to the Graveyard returned. "I play Giant Trunade (Spell – Return all Spell and Trap Cards on the field to the hand.) to get A Legendary Ocean back." Jaden said. "I now end my turn."
Bastion drew another card. "My turn." He smiled upon seeing his new card. "I play another Bonding – H2O to bring my Water Dragon back from my Graveyard. Water Dragon, destroy Defender Iceberg." Defender Iceberg was destroyed but, since it was in Defense Position, there was no battle damage. "I place a face down card in my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn."
"My turn!" Jaden drew a card. "I play A Legendary Ocean and summon The Legendary Fisherman (WATER, Level 5(4 while on a duelist's hand), 1850 ATK, 1600 DEF, Warrior/Effect – While "Umi" is on the field, this card is unaffected by Spell effects and cannot be targeted for attacks, but does not prevent your opponent from attacking you directly.) in Attack Position. I place a face down card in my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn."
"My turn!" Bastion drew a card. "I summon another Oxygeddon in Attack Position. Water Dragon, attack The Legendary Fisherman."
"Suijin, reduce Water Dragon's ATK to 0!" Jaden commanded. Water Dragon was destroyed and Bastion lost 2700 Life Points.
Jaden 3800 LP – Bastion 400 LP
"I protest!" Bastion shouted. "My attack was directed to The Legendary Fisherman!"
"The Legendary Fisherman cannot be selected as an attack target, Bastion." Jaden replied.
"That effect is only applicable when Umi is on the field." Bastion argued.
"A Legendary Ocean's name is treated as "Umi"." Jaden explained.
"I want to check that." Bastion said and the duel was interrupted so he could check Jaden's Field Spell. "Protest withdrawn."
"Well, it's still your turn, I believe." Jaden said.
"I set a face down card on my Spell/Trap zone and end my turn." Bastion said.
"My turn." Jaden declared. "I summon Codarus (WATER, Level 4(3), 1400(1600) ATK, 1200(1400) DEF, Sea Serpent/Effect – You can send 1 face-up "Umi" you control to the Graveyard to target up to 2 cards your opponent controls; send those targets to the Graveyard.) in Attack Position. I send A Legendary Ocean to activate Codarus' effect and send your face down card and one Oxygeddon to the Graveyard."
Bastion's shocked expression said it all. Practically everybody watching the duel felt the same.
"The Legendary Fisherman, attack Hydrogeddon!" Jaden said. Bastion lost one Hydrogeddon and 250 (1850 – 1600) Life Points.
Jaden 3800 LP – Bastion 150 LP
"Suijin, attack the other Hydrogeddon!" Jaden said and Bastion lost his remaining Life Points.
Jaden 3800 LP – Bastion 0 LP
"Congratulations, Jaden." Zane said upon approaching the winner. "I'm looking forward our duel tomorrow."
"Thanks, Zane." Jaden replied.
End chapter.
Author's Note: I know it's sudden to see a new chapter after almost 4 years but enough readers sent me PMs asking for a new chapter. Probably the next one will be the last.