AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. This is chapter has been a long time coming, with a duel showing off a certain new hero. This took a while to get right, but I really like the outcome here. As well, the last moments set up for the last chapter for a while in this series. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
Cover Art By 203wolves on Twitter
Chapter 40 – The Contact Fusion
With the orangish sky from the setting sun, many individuals of the Slifer Red dorm gathered in the arena. While most were sitting on the sidelines, Blair and Ruby were talking with Jaden, "You sure you're ready?" the hooded Slifer Red asked him.
"Yep," Jaden said with a slight pat on his stomach, "Full stomach and fully prepared to duel Teach."
"Good luck," Blair responded with a smile, "I know you'll beat her this time."
"We'll be with the others cheering you on," Ruby added.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Jaden said with a nod, then watched Blair and Ruby walk back with the others. In the stands, the hooded Slifer Red sat next to Weiss, who was next to Blake and Yang. Blair sat next to Alexis, who was next to Chazz and Bastion. Atticus, Tyranno, and Nora sat between the two groups. The Spirited Slifer Red watched all his friends with a smile, then exhaled his breath with his eyes closed. He pivoted his body, opening his eyes, and saw Sienna at the other end of the arena.
"This is your final challenge." Sienna said before loading her deck into the duel disk, "You want to keep that deck and combine it with your current cards? Then, defeat me here and now."
"You got it, Teach," Jaden said before taking out his deck. With a smile at the cards, he loaded them into this duel disk, then looked forward in determination, "Get your game on."
"Duel!" the Slifer Red Student and headteacher said at the same time.
Jaden: 4000 Life Points
Sienna: 4000 Life Points
"As before, the first move is mine." Sienna said as she drew, "I summon Gladiator Beast Equeste in attack mode." She said as a centaur with blue armored and metal wings appeared, (1600 ATK / 1200 DEF). "I'll end with three cards facedown."
"My turn then," Jaden said as he drew, "I summon Card Trooper in attack mode." He said as a red and blue robot with a glass head appeared, (400 ATK / 400 DEF), "Thanks to his effect, I can send three cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard to give him 500 attack points for each one." He said as the lights in Card Trooper's head glowed brighter, (400 + 1500 = 1900 ATK). Suddenly, his graveyard began to glow, "Looks like one of the monsters I sent to the grave was Dandylion. That means I get two Fluff Tokens in defense mode." He said as two large dandelion flowers formed on his field; one happy and the other angry, (0 ATK / 0 DEF). "Also, since one of the cards was a spell card, I can remove it from play to special summon Spell Sticker from my hand." He said as a tiny hero in a red cape and horned helmet was summoned, reposing with his wand, (600 ATK / 200 DEF).
Weiss looked on with slight confusion, "These are the cards Jaden has been working for?" She commented, "They don't seem that impressive. And they look like something a kid would make up."
"I like them so far." Ruby responded with a smile, causing Weiss to slight roll her eyes.
"Card Trooper, attack Equeste." Jaden ordered with the robot rolling into battle, his cannon arms loaded and ready to fire.
"I activate my face down card," Sienna countered, "Indomitable Gladiator Beast, which gives my monster 500 more attack points." She said as the centaur gained a powerful blue aura, (1600 + 500 = 2100 ATK). Equeste then charged into the robot, bashing its glass head with his shield, causing an explosion.
Jaden: 4000 – 200 = 3800 Life Points
"When destroyed, Card Trooper lets me draw one card from my deck," Jaden said before doing so.
"He's not the only monster Equeste will destroy," Sienna responded, "I reveal the continuous trap card, Gladiator Naumachia. If I have a Gladiator Beast on my field, all your monster must attack if able."
"That's fine since my tokens can't attack in defense mode anyways." Jaden responded with Sienna having a slight scowl, "And Spell Stricker can attack you directly." He said as the tiny hero mage jumped, then pointed his wand at the Headteacher of the Slifer Red dorm, unleashing a yellow beam that collided with her body.
Sienna: 4000 – 600 = 3400 Life Points
"Nice job Jaden," Blair cheered, "You took the lead."
"For now," Sienna responded with the smoke clearing, "I used Equeste effect to send him back to the deck to bring out Gladiator Beast Dimacari in attack mode." She said as a purple bull with metal gauntlets appeared, (1600 ATK / 1200 DEF).
"Okay then," Jaden responded, "With that, I end with one card face down."
"My move then," Sienna said as she drew her card, "First, I summon Gladiator Beast Bestiari in attack mode." She as an armored green birdman appeared, (1500 ATK / 800 DEF). Sienna then picked up both cards, "I now return both to my deck to create Gladiator Beast Gyzarus." Sienna said as the two beasts merged into one. Out of the vortex, a larger green birdman with heavy metal appeared. He as landed, a slight tremor ran through the island, (2400 ATK / 1500 DEF).
"A fusion without Polymerization," Yang commented.
"And the cards returned to the deck?" Tyranno added on.
"It's rather odd, but effective." Bastion responded.
"Gyzarus has a deadly effect, one that lets me destroy two cards on the field." Sienna spoke before pointing, "I pick both of your Fluff Tokens." she said as Jaden watched the flowers get caught in a gale stream from massive armored green birdman, their seeds carried in the wind, "Now, attack Spell Stricker with Aerial Ace Assault!" she declared as her fusion monster rushed into Jaden's last monster, sending the tiny mage hero flying into the sky before it exploded.
"Nice hit, but I take no battle damage from attacks involving that card," Jaden commented.
"In that case, I reveal my final face down, Trojan Gladiator Beast." Sienna said a massive wooden beast appeared on Jaden's side of the field, "I choose Gladiator Beast from my hand to special summon to your side of the field." She said before taking out a card, "I pick Gladiator Beast Octavius." Headteacher of the Slifer Red dorm said as trojan exploded, revealing the armored eagle warrior appeared on Jaden field, (2500 ATK / 1200 DEF).
"Uh, thanks?" Jaden responded.
"Don't thank me yet because I now draw one due to trojan's effect." Sienna said before doing so, then took another card out of her hand, "Now, I play Gladiator Taming. This spell allows me to regain control of Octavius until the end phase." She said as the armored eagle jumped to the other side of the field. "Now, I'll have Octavius destroy you directly," Sienna said before the armored eagle soared into the air before divebombing Jaden, slashing him with his talons.
Jaden: 3800 – 2500 = 1300 Life Points
"At the end of the battle phase, I can now put Octavius back into my deck. Replacing him with Gladiator Beast Alexander." She said as the eagle was replaced with a golden armored lion man, (2400 ATK / 600 DEF). "I set one card and end my turn," Sienna commented, having no cards left in her hand.
"That was a bad hit," Blair said in worry, and Jaden stumbled.
"He'll be fine," Chazz responded, seeing the spirited Slifer Red regain his stance.
"My turn," Jaden said as he drew, then revealed the card, "I activate Gallis the Star Beast effect by sending the top card of my deck to the graveyard." He said before showing the card, "Necro Gardna, a level three monster. This means Gallis hits the field and your get burned for 200 life points for each level." Jaden said the winged beast with a star on its chest appeared, (800 ATK / 800 DEF). Suddenly, the chest glowed yellow before a beam fired out of it and into Sienna's body.
Sienna: 3400 – 600 = 2800 Life Points
"Now, I reveal my face down, Limit Reverse." Jaden continued his turn, "With it, I can summon Card Troop back to field in attack mode." He said as the small robot reappeared, (400 ATK / 400 DEF). "And I use his effect again to mill three more cards." The lights in Card Trooper's head glowed bright again, (400 + 1500 = 1900 ATK).
"That's odd." Alexis commented, "Jaden could have used that earlier to bring back Spell Striker to block the direct attack." She said before seeing an eager smile on his face.
"I tribute both my monsters." Jaden as his while taking out a card from his hand, "To summon a brand-new Elemental Hero." He said while playing the card, "Everyone, meet Elemental Hero Neos!" the spirited Slifer Red said as a new hero emerged, one in a spandex white attire with steely blue eyes. He flexed his muscles as the blue sphere on his chest gleamed in the light, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"Wow," Nora commented, "He's buff!"
"That's the first thing you noticed?" Atticus asked.
"I mean, look at him," Nora responded, causing the endearing Obelisk Blue to remain silent.
"Go, attack with Wra-!" Jaden said with Neos about rushing into Octavius with his fist reeled back but was interrupted.
"You may have a new hero." Sienna said before scowling, "But you're making your old mistakes. I reveal my face down, Threatening Roar." She said as Alexander and Gyzarus roared with such a force that Neos was repealed back, "The battle phase is no more, your attack failed in our duel."
"Yeah," Jaden said as he scratched the back of his head.
"Y-you knew that would happen?" Blake commented.
"Kind of," Jaden said with a slight giggle, "I really wanted to summon out Neos." He said as he turned back to his opponent, "I guess that ends my turn."
Sienna sighed, "You're such a child wanting to play with your new toys." She said before drawing, "Well, don't get mad at me when I take them away." Headteacher of the Slifer Red dorm said before picking up the two monsters on her field, "I'll now fuse Alexander and Gyzarus to make Gladiator Beast Tamer Editor." She said as the beast fused into an armored violet elk with horns made of lighting, reposing with a metal staff, (2400 ATK / 3000 DEF).
"But that one is still weaker than Neos," Yang commented.
"His effect is worth it." Sienna responded, "I can now special summon a Gladiator Beast fusion from my extra deck, ignoring its summoning conditions." She said as a pillar of water emerged, "I choose Gladiator Beast Domitianus!" emerging was a massive, armored sea monster with a trident mixed with an ax blade. He roared with a force that almost shook the island, (3500 ATK / 1200 DEF). "Go, attack Neos with Torrential Thrashing!" Sienna declared as her monster rushed into battle, ready to secure the new hero with his trident.
However, a type of ghost seemed to block the weapon before it could make contact, "You forgot about Necro Gardna." Jaden responded, "I can block one attack by removing him from play."
"Heh, I see," Sienna said before crossing her arms, "I end my turn."
"I draw," Jaden said before doing so, "I play Pot of Greed, letting me draw two more cards."
"Wait, isn't Pot of Greed in his other deck?" Chazz asked.
"Pot of Greed is in every deck," Alexis said with almost deadpan eyes, causing Chazz to remain silent.
In drawing the card, Jaden smiled at the results, "You're not the only one with feathered friends. I summon Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird." He said as a red-feathered birdman with white wings was summoned to the field, (800 ATK / 600 DEF). "First, I'll use his effect to gain life points equal to the cards in your hand times 500." The spirited Slifer Red said Sienna watched flowers form from her card in hand, which Air Hummingbird sucked the nectar out of.
Jaden: 1300 + 500 = 1800 Life Points
"You have two monsters on the field." Sienna commented, "What will you do?"
"That's an easy one, Teach." Jaden commented, "I contact fuse my Neos and Air Hummingbird." He said as both monsters jumped into the air, ascending into the nebula of space, "To create Elemental Hero Air Neos!" the spirited Slifer Red said with rend in space forming, allowing a new version of Neos to appear. His white attire was now red and had pink wings that extend as with his landing, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "He may have the same stats as normal Neos, but he now gains attack points equal to the difference in our life points," Jaden said with the wind contact fusion gaining a pink aura, (2500 + 1000 = 3500 ATK).
"Wait, couldn't he gain more attack if he didn't heal with Hummingbird?" Chazz commented.
"He probably thought the extra life points would help more now." Ruby responded, but then looked over to Sienna smirking, "Unless, she wanted him to do that."
"Go, Air Neos, attack Tamer with Soaring Slasher." Jaden declared with his monster taking flight, ready to divebomb its target.
"You may have a new fusion," Sienna responded, "But that doesn't mean you can ignore mine. I use Domitianus' effect, allowing me to choose your attack targets." She said with the massive, armored sea serpent raising its trident to intercept the attack. Air Neos collided with the weapon, causing an explosion that encompassed both monsters, "You should never underestimate your opponents."
"I know Teach, you're one tough duelist." Jaden said while the smoke cleared, "However, you should never underestimate Neos." He said as the new elemental hero was standing next to him, back in his white attire with his arms crossed, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"What?" Sienna exclaimed, "How?"
"The quickplay spell, Reverse of Neos." Jaden responded, "When Air was destroyed, I could bring back the original Neos. And while he leaves at the end of my turn, he does gain a sweet 1000 attack boost." He said as Neos gained a white aura around his body, (2500 + 1000 = 3500 ATK). "Let's try this again, Neos attacks your Tamer Editor!" he said with the new elemental hero dashing in, punching the armored elk in the face before it exploded.
Sienna: 2800 – 1100 = 1700 Life Points
Jaden's friends cheered as he took the lead in life points again, "I now play Contact Gate." Jaden said before showing two cards that were milled from Card Trooper before, "By banishing these two Neo-Spacian monsters: Black Panther and Glow Moss. I summon out Flare Scarab and Grand Mole in defense mode." He said before a pillar of flames formed, revealing a black beetle man in a knelt stance, (500 ATK / 500 DEF). As well, emerging from the ground was a brown mole, whose drill helmet folded out into shoulder pads, (900 ATK / 300 DEF). "And since you have a card in your spell and trap zone, Flare Scarab gains 400 more attack points." He said with the beetle gaining a red aura, (500 + 400 = 900 ATK). "I end my turn." In saying that, Neos fell to one knee before fading into the graveyard.
"That's odd." Blake commented, "Why didn't he fuse again?"
"Well," Jaden said while scratching the back of his head, "My contact fusions all return to the deck at the end phase."
"Oh," Ruby commented, "That's pretty bad."
"Its high-risk high-reward." Sienna said before drawing, then taking cards out of her graveyard, "I use Indomitable Gladiator Beast effect from the grave, returning my two fusion monsters to the extra deck to put this spell back in my hand." She did so before showing her hand of three spell cards, all with Gladiator Beast in their name, "I play Gladiator Beast's Respite, letting me return two Gladiator Beast cards to my deck to draw three new cards." Sienna said before doing so, smiling at her new hand. "Now, I summon Gladiator Beast Laquari in attack mode." She as the burning armored tiger entered the battlefield, (1800 ATK / 400 DEF). "Go, attack his Flare Scarab." She said with her monster leaping into battle, but Sienna still took another card out of her hand, "And since I have a monster attacking, I summon Gladiator Beast Vespasius from my hand." She said as a blue sea serpent was summoned with a sword in hand, (2300 ATK / 0 DEF). "I'll have him attack your Grand Mole."
Jaden watched as his Flare Scarab was pounced by Laquari into destruction. However, Grand Mole smirk as he and Vespasius were each sent back to the owns' hand. "Sorry, but his effect sends both monsters back to the hand before a battle can happen."
"Heh," Sienna responded, then picked up the other monster on the field, "I'll shuffle Laquari back into my deck to add to summon out Gladiator Beast Samnite in attack mode." She said as a standing white tiger with battle armor was seen, (1600 ATK / 1200 DEF). "I end my turn."
"My move," Jaden said before drawing. In seeing the result, he played the card. "I summon Elemental Hero Neos Alius." He said a younger version of his new hero was summoned to the field, (1900 ATK / 1300 DEF). "Go, attack Samnite." He said with Alius nodding before rushing into battle.
"Did you forget about Naumachia?" Sienna said with a smirk, causing a look of confusion on Jaden's face, "While it does the forced battle effect, I can also one Gladiator Beast from my hand into my deck. Then, Samnite gains attack equal to the monster's original defense." She said while showing Gladiator Beast Spartacus, which had 1600 defense points. Samnite gained a powerful white aura before rushing into battle, (1600 + 1600 = 3200 ATK). With one shield bash, Alius was launched back before exploding.
Jaden: 1800 – 1300 = 500 Life Points
"And thanks to Samnite destroying a monster, I can add a Gladiator Beast from my deck to my hand." Sienna said while doing so, showing Jaden that it was Noxious, the same monster that blocked his direct attack last time he dueled this teacher, "And since it seems you are ending your battle phase. I will return Samnite to my deck to bring out Laquari again, now with an original attack of 2100." She as the burning armored tiger reentered the battlefield with more flames, (2100 ATK / 400 DEF).
"My turn is still not over." Jaden responded, taking a card out of his hand, "I play Convert Contact. So, by discarding Grand Mole and sending Air Hummingbird to the graveyard, I can draw two cards." He said before doing so, then playing another card in his hand, "I now activate Cocoon Party. This lets me special summon a Chrysalis monster for every different Neo-Spacian in my grave all in defense mode. So, meet Chrysalis Chicky," he said as small red hummingbird in a membrane cage was seen, (600 ATK / 400 DEF).
"Awe," Blair commented at the cute creature.
"Chrysalis Pantail," Jaden said as a small black cat with white paws and red eyes was seen, also in the membrane cage, (800 ATK / 300 DEF).
"Awe!" Blair commented at the cuter creature.
"And Chrysalis Larva," Jaden said with a caterpillar in the membrane cage as well, (300 ATK / 300 DEF).
"Ewe," Blair commented in slight disgust, "I don't like bugs." She said with a tear rolling down Larva's face.
"You're move, Teach," Jaden said.
Sienna drew, playing the card instantly. "I summon Gladiator Beast Darius in attack mode." She said she armored black mustang joined the battlefield, (1700 ATK / 300 DEF). "He and Laquari now attack your Chrysalis monsters. And like before, I am special summoning Gladiator Beast Vespasius from my hand to join then." The headteacher of the Slifer Red dorm said as a blue sea serpent was resummoned, joining in the raid, (2300 ATK / 0 DEF). All three Chrysalis monsters were obliterated with Sienna then picking up her three Gladiator Beast, "To end my turn, I send these three back into my deck to perform a fusion summon." She as the vortex reformed, this one with more fire than the last few. "Come forth, Gladiator Beast Heraklinos!" Sienna said the tiger warrior roared upon landing inside the arena, prepared for any battle, (3000 ATK / 2800 DEF).
"Heh." Jaden commented, "This seems a little familiar." He said with Sienna smirking.
"Again, you face my favorite monster while I have one card in hand to use his effect when I see fit." Sienna spoke, "However, I have my continuous trap to help me. While yours is useless." She said while looking at Jaden's Limit Reverse still in play, even after the monster was gone, "What will you do?"
"I guess I'll have to find out." Jaden said as he drew, looking at the three cards in his hand before focusing on Sienna, "But I think I'm gonna win this time." He said with her grinning. "First, I summon Neo Space Connector in defense mode." The spirited Slifer Red said as an even smaller version of his new hero was summoned, this one with a more bulbous head, (800 ATK / 1800 DEF). "And when summoned, I can bring out one Neo-Spacian from my deck in defense mode." He said as the card ejected, "And I only have one left, so say hello to Neo-Spacian Aqua Dolphin." He said as Connecter raised his right hand, causing a starlight glow before a blue dolphin man with boots appeared in a blocking stance, (600 ATK / 800 DEF). "And his effect allows me to discard a card to look at your hand. If you have a monster will less attack than one on my field, it gets destroyed, then you take 500 points of damage." Jaden said with a grin, "Otherwise, I take 500 points of damage." He said before Aqua Dolphin sent out a sonic wave from his mouth, revealing Noxious.
"This monster has no attack points," Sienna said before sending it to the graveyard, "Which you already knew from our first duel and saw me add it to my hand on your last turn."
Sienna: 1700 – 500 = 1200 Life Points
"Yes, now Jaden can use his spells and traps and does not have to worry about either of Sienna cards' effects," Ruby said before she looked over Jaden, a slight look of worry on her face, "But, he only has one card left."
"And it's time to play it." Jaden said, "I activate Miracle Contact." He said as a ray of light shot down from space, "I can now return the material from the graveyard to my deck to form a contact fusion. This time, I'm going for a triple!" Jaden said as Neos, Grand Mole, and Flare Scarab all appeared behind him, jumping into the nebula before fusing into one, "Come on out, Elemental Hero Magma Neos!" the spirited Slifer Red said a new Neos was formed, one green armored chest plate and drill-like boots. His right forearm had black claws, while his left was made of molten rock, (3000 ATK / 2500 DEF).
"But they have the same attack?" Yang said before feeling a heatwave come from Magma Neos.
"Magna Neos gets a boost for cards on the field, 400 attack points for each one," Jaden said as his burning triple contact hero glowed in the blazing aura, (3000 + (6 X 400) = 5400 ATK). "Go, Magma Neos, attack with Super Heat Meteor!" he said with Magma Neos raising his left hand, creating a smoldering ball a molten stone. With a heavy reeling back, the burning triple contact hero tossed the meteor at Heraklinos. While the tiger warrior tried to block with his shield, the fire proves too fierce as he was overwhelmed as incinerated. The flames then engulfed Sienna, who stood still as the attack depleted the remainder of her life points. However, a small smile appeared on her face just as they hit zero.
Sienna: 1200 – 2400 = 0 Life Points
"That's game, Teach." Jaden said with a wink and point, "And a real good one."
"Indeed," Sienna said as she walked up to him, "You've now earned the right to keep that deck." She said before reaching behind her back, pulling out Jaden's other cards with Super Polymerization on top, "And can now combine it with your other hero cards."
"Thank you," Jaden said with accepting his old cards, looking at them in his right hand. He then looked back to his new deck in his left hand, a smile on his face. The spirited Slifer Red turn turned to see all his friends running up, congratulating him on overcoming the challenge. As they cheered and patted his back, Sienna smiled while closing her eyes, partly turning around to walk away.
However, through all the positive praise, a set of slow clapping was heard. Jaden and the others had a look of confusion, then turned to the noise, causing some to slightly gasp. The one slow clapping was the sadistic Obelisk Blue. As Sienna opened her eyes, she glared over to see Dr. Crowler with his student, a slight chuckle in his voice. Jaden then looked directly at Yuri, who had a wide grin on his face before ceasing his slow clap.
AN: There you go, Neos for the win. Of all the duels to write so far, this one was one of my favorites for its ending. I think I have said this before, but the Season Four Jaden vs. Crowler duel was one of my favorites. So, being able to homage it here was super fun. Jaden got his new deck now, proving he can contact fuse and beats his teacher. I really do like Sienna here and am so happy with her mentorship of Jaden. She might have gone a little easy with Domitianus' negate effect here, but other than that, was going at Jaden with full force. However, he has one more challenge it seems. Now, with all tools at his disposal, Jaden faces off against the Sadistic Obelisk Blue. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
Now, time to answer some questions. I only have one this time, regarding Aromsaraphy monsters as fusion contact targets with Aromsaraphy Angelica. Simple answer is no. I have went this far with only true fusions and intend to keep it that way. Ruby does have Angelica in her deck, but not the synchro or link monsters. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter. As well, I will take a moment then to reflect on the current season so far and talk about what to expect next.