Chapter Fifty-One
51
"All right! Let's throw down!" said Jaden as he activated his duel disk.
A low growl came from Nightshroud as he did the same.
"DUEL!"
"Get your game on!" said Jaden.
"So...you wanna see Game?" Nightshroud scoffed as he took the first move, summoning out troop dragon for defense while dropping a face down to end his move.
"Not bad!" said Jaden, "But let's see how he stacks up against my Dragon Slayer!"
He threw out Elemental Hero WildHeart to slice up Nightshroud's defending beast. However, thanks to Troop Dragon's special ability, another was soon there to take its place. Hence the word Troop.
As this effect played out, Nightshroud then activated a trap card, Call Of The Haunted... to bring back the other Troop Dragon that was previously destroyed. Now having two monsters out Nightshroud then soon sacrificed them to summon forth an even greater beast.
"Summon What!?" Alexis gasped.
"The Red Eyes Black Dragon~" Nightshroud beamed as a large ball of fire shot from the molten pit beneath the three captives's feet and a red eyed black beast took flight startling them all below.
"It's cool guys." said Chumley, "The wall is still in one piece."
"Watch it!" Norika snapped, "You almost had us fried down here!" she declared, pounding on the forcefield in frustration.
"Well...It's good to see Norika is coming back to herself..." said Syrus.
"Eeek!" She screamed as a sudden small opening had formed where she was pounding and Syrus had to yank her back once again.
"Scratch that!" said Chumley, "It's a smaller piece!"
"Be careful, Norika!" said Syrus, "It's...disappearing."
"Now, Red Eyes!" said Nightshroud, "Attack WildHeart with Inferno Fire Blast!"
Jaden took a hard hit from the blast and it slid him back, dropping his once 4000 lifepoints now to 3100.
"Jaden!" cried Alexis as the Slifer Red male gripped his chest.
"Grrh...that hurt..." he groaned.
"And it's only gonna hurt a lot worse, Key Keeper!" said Nighshroud, "In fact the true pain is about to begin!" he grinned, "So hurry up and make your move~ I've got a Dooms Day to start!" he smirked.
"Jaden!" Norika and Syrus cried out together.
"Come on..." whispered Alexis as the brunette foprced himself to his feet.
"Sorry Nightshroud." said Jaden, "But the only Doom to come will be what I rain down upon your monster!" he huffed, "My Draw! And With it-I'll activate Polymerization!" which he used to fuse Burstinatrix and Clayman in his hand in order to send out Rampart Blaster. A monster that still allowed Jaden to blast Nightshroud with half of its attack power, even in defense mode, dropping the man's life down by 1000, making his lifepoints 3000, which was currently 100 less than Jaden.
"Enough!" Nighshroud barked, "Defense mode or not that Blaster won't change a thing!" he huffed, "Because this card will change your lifepoints~" he grinned, "Your Blaster can't protect you from my Red Eyes's attack...because his attack...is an actual card!" he stated as he activated a spell card called Inferno Fire Blast. A card that allowed Nightshroud to hit Jaden's life points directly with his Beasts well known move, dropping him now from 3100 to 700.
"And I'm not through with you yet, Key Keeper~" Nightshroud grinned as he summoned out attachment dragon, a monster that, like its name suggests, attatched itself to Rampart Blaster and forced her into Attack Mode.
"Oh no!" Norika called out as she ran to lean against the wall, whiched faded once more to her touch.
"Norika!" Syrus and Chumley called as they yankied her back once again.
"From now on why don't you just keep all hands and feet inside of the bubble!" said Syrus as the red head panted heavily from loss of breath and the building heat that surrounded them as it filled the disappearing barrier.
Jaden panted as he stood weakly on his feet, trying to stabilize himself.
"All right..." he huffed, "My turn!" he let out a battle cry as he took his destiny draw...
From the rate that orb is disappearing...
He thought to himself.
It may be my last chance to save my friends...
And the world...
Nightshroud stood with a smug smirk as he snickered, watching the weakened Jaden stumble to stay on his feet.
"Go Jay!" said Syrus, "Woah!" This time Norika was the one to catch Syrus and yank him back.
"Maybe we should ALL keep our hands and feet inside the bubble, yeah?" she huffed.
"R-Right..." said Syrus with a gulp.
"Jaden!" said Chumley, "This Orb's going gonzo fast!"
"Just hang in there!" he called back, "...Though I hope it doesn't come to that..."
"Well unless you get a move on~ it will!" Nighshroud smirked," So do them a favor and make your move...now!"
"If you knew what I was packing, Nightshroud...you might not be so eager!" Jaden smirked. His next move was a chain of fortunate events. WIth Pot of Greed he was able to draw two new cards, after that, and the activation of difusion, Rampare Blaster turned back into Burstinatrix and Clayman...sending Attatchment Dragon to the graveyard, followed by a Fusion Sage, which pulled a Polymerization from Jaden's deck to his hand. He then used that card to fuse the Clayman on his field with the Sparkman in his hand bringing forth, Elemental Hero Thunder Giant, a beast that stood toe to talon with Red Eyes Black Dragon.
"Now let's see who blinks first!" Jaden grinned as he pushed his Giant forward on the offense. Naturally, both Beasts fell to the flames.
"Both Destroyed!?" Nightshroud huffed.
"But what was the point!?" Alexis asked.
"The point is this!" said Jaden, "With Red Eyes gone, now Nightshroud is in Burstinatrix's line of fire!" he grinned, "Attack!"
A 1200 point drop wasn't too bad of a move on Jaden's part...but it still didn't put the brunette in the lead.
"Come on!" Jaden pouted, "Aren't you even gonna flinch?" he blinked, "How about a wince?...A Cringe?"
"Sorry." Nighshroud scoffed, "But I leave all that to my opponents~"
"We'll just see what I can do about that!" said Jaden as he activated Mirage of Nightmare and layed down a face down.
"Do whatever makes you happy~" Nightshroud chuckled, "My Draw."
"Mine too!" said Jaden, "Thanks to Mirage of Nightmare."
"Hmph. Don't forget~" said the black cloaked brunette,"You still have to discard the same number of cards you drew next turn~"
"Actually." Jaden blinked, "I was kind of thinking I wouldn't, thanks to Emergency Provisions."
"Nice move" said Norika,"By destroying spells or traps on his field, Jaden can get 1000 life points back right?" said Norika, "That should be enough to help Jaden get back on even ground."
"Oh wow, Nori- I didn't know you knew how to duel!" said Syrus.
"Oh shut up Truesdale!" she huffed as the bluenette laughed. Both relieved to be back to normal banter...given the circumstances.
"Oh how clever~" Nightshroud scoffed as he summoned out Mirage Dragon and forged an attack. Burstinatrix fell, as did Jaden's life points. To 1300 from the 1700 he had thanks to his previous gain.
"I'm not gonna let it end here!" Jaden huffed.
"Syrus...I know I haven't always been nice to you..." said Norika, "...But if we don't make it through this, I want you to know, Connar always considered you a great friend." she sniffed, "And I don't blame her...despite being a total pain in the ass...you're really nice." she sobbed, "And in all honesty, I really DO think your brother's hot! And you're kinda cute too...I guess." she sniffled,"...But despite what your mommy may have told you...You didn't actually get the looks..."
"Jay, please hurry!" Syrus whined, "Norika's getting weird!"
"I think the heat is getting to her head!" said Chumley.
"Jaden! That orb is disappearing fast!" said Alexis.
"Not as fast as Mirage Dragon is about to!" said Jaden as he threw down Elemental Hero Bubbleman and activated its ability.
"When he's summoned out all on his own, I can draw two more cards!" he stated. One of which was called Silent Doom which allowed him to summopn one monster from his grave to the field in Defense mode. He then activated the field spell card known as Fusion Gate.
"What!?" Nightshroud gasped softly.
"A storm is coming, Nightshroud..." said Jaden, "And it's coming for you!" he made this declaration as he fused his three monsters, Sparkman, Bubbleman and Avian to create Elemental Hero Tempest. A Monster that helped Jaden and Syrus win their punishment tag duel from before.
"Way to play, Jay!" Norika and Syrus cheered.
"With 2800 attack points...that's more than Mirage Dragon's!" Chumley beamed.
And Jaden used that, by sending Tempest on the attack to Mirage Dragon. This time putting Jaden in the lead while Nightshroud's life points dropped to 600.
"One thing can't be argued with now!" said Jaden, "I'm winning this Shadow Duel! And I think I'll leave you with that thought and a facedown."
"Heh...You chump." said Nightshroud, "Life points aren't what decide who wins the duel." he stated,"It's the cards you hold~" he smirked, "And with what I've got here...It should work as validated proof."
"Yeah, right!" Jaden huffed,"I'm not buying that bluff!"
But as he said that, fiery figured forhed from the flames beneath their feet. Each taking on a shape of each of Nightshroud's Dragons that Jaden destroyed.
"Or...maybe I should." he blinked.
"Tell me, Key Keeper~" Nightshroud scoffed, "Did you honestly think you could get rid of my dragons so easily?"
"Well...yeah that's kind of what I was hoping for." said Jaden.
"Well keep on hoping!" Nighshroud scoffed, "I summon the Red Eyes Black Chick."
"So wait..." Norika blinked, "Mr. Big Bad And Dark talked all that smack...for a hatchling?"
Needless to say a bit of confusion covered the faces of all party members.
"Oh he's more than just some hatchling, sweetheart~" Nightshroud smirked, "See with his special ability, by sending little chick here to the grave~ I can summon out his daddy~" he grinned as another-this time full grown- Red Eyes Black Dragon-took to the field.
"But I woldn't hold my breath~" he stated, "See as big as Red Eyes is, he's got room to grow still! HA!" he laughed, "Red Eyes, I now sacrifice you-to bring out-Red Eyes Darkness Dragion!" The lava swayed as the earth around them shook. A Molten monstrous shape took form, and with each Dragon Nightshroud had stashed away into the grave...Darkness Dragon gained an additional 300 points worth of attack. The beast now stood at 4500 attack strength.
"It's over~" Nighshroud grinned, "Your spirit key, your friends, your soul, They're all mine!"
"Not this time!" Jaden snapped, "I've got a trap! GO! Negate Attack!" That card saved the red hooded brunette for another round.
"...Til Next time then." Nightshroud scoffed.
And the darkness stretched on...awaiting Jaden's next move.
To Be Continued