Spoiler Alert: He wasn't.
By the fifth turn, Konami knew that Jaden was severely outmatched. His Life Points had fallen to a mere one thousand while Chazz's remained untouched.
He had to admit, he'd expected more from a Duelist who had a Duel Spirit, but he knew deep down that he couldn't exactly blame Jaden for his defensive plays. Chazz's first turn was very impressive, unveiling many new cards. Cards like Magical Mallet, which let him reshuffle his opening hand. A follow-up casting of Pot of Greed gave Chazz even more useful cards, which he'd quickly used to gain a powerful advantage early on in the Duel.
By his fourth turn, Chazz had already Fusion Summoned three times. His final summon resulted in the monster that now had Jaden on edge: VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon, a Level eight Machine-type monster wielding a massive three thousand Attack. As if that wasn't bad enough, its effect could banish cards from the field - an ability it'd used just moments ago to remove Jaden's Sparkman from play.
Jaden had tried to defend himself with his Trap card, A Hero Emerges, but despite calling Elemental HERO Burstinatrix, he found that it was no use. A single attack from Catapult Cannon destroyed the girl in an instant, blasting the field with an explosion that dropped Jaden's Life to one thousand. With nothing left to defend him, Jaden's situation looked bleak. Even Konami was hard-pressed to think of a way he could get out of this.
"Come on, Jay..." Syrus, who was still seated by Konami, whispered. "If you're gonna try and pull off a comeback somehow, then now's the time you should do it!"
Konami frowned, feeling the words were easier said than done. He couldn't think of a single card in Jaden's deck that could help the boy now, although he'd be lying if he said he knew Jaden's decklist by heart to begin with. Despite living next door to Jaden, he had only ever seen his deck in use once, and it hadn't even been in the midst of a duel; they'd used it to gamble for shrimp! Even if they hadn't, most of his thoughts that day had been on Winged Kuriboh, the loathsome spirit who provided Jaden with an unfair and unseen advantage.
Not that it mattered. Chazz's deck clearly surpassed Jaden's own, a fact that even Jaden himself had seemed to finally admit in his heart. His beaten frame, barely visible through the smoke of the last attack, shivered in place, possibly fearing another of Chazz's assaults. He didn't look anything like someone who was about to pull off a comeback. Certainly not like the powerful Duelist Konami had thought him to be.
"Was defeating Crowler a fluke?" he thought. "Maybe he's just really lucky. No. I've seen lucky Duelists before, and so far, he's been anything but."
Jaden's luck was near nonexistent if the current Duel was believed. Unless, of course, he was simply biding his time to humiliate Chazz. But if that was the case, then what kind of cards did Jaden have in his hand? And more importantly, how long did he intend to play the fool like he was?
"Maybe he doesn't have a plan," a voice whispered in Konami's head. "Maybe beating Crowler really was a fluke, and this Duel's just a waste of your time."
He shook his head, banishing the thought almost as fast as it came. That couldn't be the case, not when Jaden had Winged Kuriboh on his side. Whether Jaden knew it or not, the Duel Spirit's presence increased his deck's power, imbuing it with abilities some would almost call supernatural. Or at least it would have, had the spirit actually bothered to make itself known, but as far as Konami could tell, Winged Kuriboh seemed happy to let Jaden bleed.
Its actions went against everything Konami thought he knew of Duel Spirits. Did the monster simply not care if they lost, or had Jaden not drawn its card yet? Konami couldn't say for sure, not before knowing what was in Jaden's hand, but down on the field, it seemed as though Chazz wasn't planning to give him a chance.
"Aww, what's the matter, Jaden? Having some test anxiety? Don't worry, it'll be over soon."
"No way!" Jaden said. "I've got a whole army of vicious monsters in my deck just waiting to get at you! This isn't over. Way I see it, we've only just gotten started!"
"An empty bluff," Konami thought. "He's likely to lose the next turn. Dragon Catapult Cannon's effect will banish whatever he summons. Unless he draws an out to that monster, Jaden can kiss that A plus goodbye. Not that he'd get one, anyway. Crowler alone would make sure of that."
He spared a glance to the teacher's box where Crowler was grinning ferociously.
"Probably thinks he outdid himself."
And for once, maybe he had.
Though Konami couldn't care less about Crowler's Ph.D. or Duel theories, the man's scheme was working well, no matter how simple it was. Should Chazz really beat Jaden on his next turn, as Konami suspected, then it'd prove to him once and for all that even Duel Spirits could lose to dumb tricks. That knowledge would serve him well when executing his own plans in the future, especially those involving the Duelists he sought to crush in the North.
Still, Konami also knew that a Duel could change in an instant, particularly when those who trusted their cards faced life-or-death moments like this. Now, the only question left was if Jaden was one of those Duelists and, if he was, whether or not he could cause a change in the winds.
A flicker of movement caught Konami's eye as the smoke finally swept off the field, and above Jaden's shoulder, the ghostly frame of Winged Kuriboh appeared.
"So, he did have it!" he thought, glaring at the fairy as it hovered by Jaden. "Well, then... maybe this Duel's not over yet, after all."
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: LEARNING TO DUEL
LESSON 12
HARD CLIMBS
Jaden coughed, expelling a cloud of hot air and smoke from his lungs. Through the fumes, he could barely make out Chazz's Dragon Catapult Cannon, which even now towered above him like the Zord from a Super Sentai. The only thing missing was the color-coded team posing on the mech's shoulders. Maybe Chazz would be willing to try and pull off that stunt after this?
He shook his head, knowing now wasn't the time to think about poses. "Hate to say it, but if Chazz lands another attack like that, then I'm toast!"
Despite the tense situation, however, Jaden couldn't help but smile. How long had it been since he'd last encountered a Duelist who'd pushed him this far? It must have been since he faced Alexis at least, and that Duel had happened last month! He balled his fists, unable to hide the excitement swelling inside him. Even his legs were starting to shiver.
"Man, oh man... this is great!"
"Aww, what's the matter, Jaden?" Chazz called out through the smoke, perhaps mistaking his trembling legs for something akin to fear. As Jaden caught sight of the grin on his face, he knew that was exactly it. "Having some test anxiety? Don't worry, it'll be over soon."
"No way!" he replied, wiping off the soot on his face with his sleeve. As he did, he noticed that Chazz's grin fell ever so slightly. "I've got a whole army of vicious monsters in my deck just waiting to get at you! This isn't over. Way I see it, we've only just gotten started!"
Or so he hoped. A thousand Life Points didn't give him much breathing room, and with an empty field, he knew that the slightest mistake could cost him the Duel. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek as he wondered if he could still win this. The moment it fell to the floor, the high-pitched voice of his partner rang out.
"Kuri Kuri!"
Jaden cast his gaze to the three cards he had in his hand. Elemental HERO Wildheart, Mud Max, and, of course, his pal, Winged Kuriboh.
The spirit repeated its cry as its body emerged from the card before him, its near-invisible form quickly rising to hover over his shoulder.
"Yeah, buddy, I know," Jaden said. "Don't worry, I'm not giving up! That thing may be tough, but it's no match for the HEROes we've got in my deck!"
The only problem was that he wasn't sure if he had enough set-up to use them. Most of his go-to Fusion Material monsters now sat in the Graveyard, and even if he found a way to bring them back, he didn't have Polymerization. Even if he did, none of his Fusions had more than three thousand Attack Points, and many of their effects wouldn't help him destroy a card like Catapult Cannon.
He needed options, more cards, something that gave him a strategy! Otherwise, the next draw he made could wind up being his last!
"What are you stalling for over there?" Chazz asked with a grimace. "Hurry up and make your move already, unless you're planning to forfeit?"
"You wish," Jaden said. His eyes narrowed as he reached for his deck. "For better or worse, here goes... something!"
He glanced over to his drawn card.
Pot of Greed.
"All right!" he said, placing the card on his Duel Disk. Beside him, Winged Kuriboh cheered, drinking in his excitement. "I activate Pot of Greed! I'm pretty sure you already know what it does."
"Yeah, yeah," Chazz glowered, watching as the grinning pot rose on the field. "Go ahead and draw your pathetic cards, not that they'll save you from me."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Jaden said with a snicker. His newly drawn cards were Elemental HERO Avian and Double Spell. "I mean, they can't be that pathetic if they're letting me use one of yours."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I play Double Spell!" he said. "Double Spell lets me copy a Spell that you currently have in your Graveyard. All I have to do is send a Spell card of my own from my hand to the Grave!" He revealed the Mud Max card in his hand before sliding it into his Graveyard. "And I know just which one I should choose. I'm copying your Pot of Greed!"
The card artwork of Double Spell immediately shifted into Pot of Greed's, and another large, grinning pot erupted onto Jaden's side of the field.
"Ugh," Chazz sneered. "You can draw as many cards as you want, you slacker. But garbage will always be garbage, no matter how much piles up in your hand!"
"Oh, yeah? Well, let's see how you like it when some of that garbage fights back! I summon Elemental HERO Wildheart! Let's show Chazz what you've got!"
A ripped, tribal warrior with a massive sword leaped onto the field, glaring at the Dragon Catapult Cannon as he took up a battle-ready stance.
Elemental HERO Wildheart - (1500/1600)
"Are you stupid? Wildheart doesn't have the Attack Points to fight with my monster! But I guess I should've known that a Slifer Slacker like you wouldn't know how to count."
Jaden smiled. "Oh, I can count. I'm just not finished yet."
"What?"
"This arena's cool and all, but it's about time we changed up the scenery. Lucky for me, I know a sweet place where Elemental HEROes throw down!"
Chazz scowled, perhaps predicting exactly which card he would play.
Jaden grinned. "That's right," he said. "I'm activatin' Skyscraper!"
The arena rumbled. Hundreds of massive buildings burst up from the floor, climbing, and climbing until they towered above even Chazz's Catapult Cannon. The ceiling vanished, replaced by the dark sky of the growing metropolis, erasing Chazz and Jaden's view of everyone watching their Duel.
"While Skyscraper's out on the field, my HEROes gain an extra thousand Attack Points! I guess you could call it home-field advantage."
"Only a thousand?" Chazz smirked. "Then I've got nothing to worry about, and you still don't know how to count."
"Whaddya mean?"
Chazz faltered. "Don't tell me you're really that stupid? Newsflash, punk, even with that fancy Skyscraper card on the field, your Wildheart's only got twenty-five hundred Attack Points! That's not enough!"
"Oh, man, you're right! Guess I really screwed the pooch there," Jaden said with a laugh. "Or I would've, at least, if one of my draws wasn't this: my Cyclone Boomerang!"
"Cyclone Boomerang?" Chazz echoed, sneering at the sight of the card.
"Yep," Jaden said. "It's an Equip that gives Wildheart five hundred Attack Points. Just enough to make him strong enough to take on your Catapult Cannon!"
Wildheart roared triumphantly as he pointed his weapon toward Chazz's monster, his new Attack Points imbuing him with the strength to finally challenge the Zord.
Elemental HERO Wildheart - (3000/1600)
"You idiot! If you attack us now, then you'll just destroy both of our monsters!"
"That's a risk that I'm willing to take," Jaden said. "Wildheart, go!"
A deep, rumbling roar erupted from Wildheart's throat as he moved, leaping across the newly formed street toward Dragon Catapult Cannon. In response, Catapult Cannon unleashed its destructive energy, hoping to stop the HERO's mad charge before he could get in too close. The chaotic stream of condensed light lit the room as it traveled forward, charging the air with electricity as it destroyed everything in its path. But just as it was about to completely engulf Wildheart in its power, the warrior swung his Cyclone Boomerang around to block the blow!
The two forces collided in mid-air, sending a shriek through the room. Wildheart groaned, his muscles straining as they fought against the great blast. Inch by inch, he slowly managed to contain the monster's assault, pushing the energy back until he was almost on top of its cannons! With one last roar, he slammed his boomerang down onto Catapult Cannon, releasing a wave of power that quickly erupted into an explosion! The ensuing shockwave shook the room and shattered the glass of the buildings. Jaden and Chazz had to shield their eyes as the white-hot flames filled their view.
"Kuri Kuri!"
Suddenly, a protective shield formed around Jaden, splitting the incoming flames and reducing the force of the blow that assailed him. He skidded back, the remaining strength of the blast still pushing him backward but no longer powerful enough to completely force him off of his feet.
As he opened his eyes, he found Winged Kuriboh hovering firmly before him, arms and wings spread outward as if it had protected him from the blast.
"Thanks, buddy," he murmured.
"Kuri Kuri!" Kuriboh replied. Its body faded just seconds later, its energy spent from the effort.
It took a few seconds for the pressure to fade, and when it did, Jaden smiled. Catapult Cannon had vanished completely, leaving his opponent wide open. Of course, that smile faded when he realized he was just as defenseless. Furthermore, unlike Chazz, he'd already summoned this turn.
"Uh oh," he thought, glancing back down into his now two-card hand. There was nothing he could play to defend himself. He'd have to leave things to chance. Fortunately, Chazz had depleted his entire hand the last turn. Jaden could only hope that he'd draw a dud... if he'd even survived.
Unlike Jaden, Chazz had been at the very center of the explosion, and though Solid Vision wasn't meant to hurt, its effects still felt very real. Jaden squinted, attempting to find any sign of Chazz through the smoke. A few moments passed before he spotted the spiky-haired boy's angry silhouette.
"Sweet! Guess this Duel is still on!"
"...Lucky punk...!" Chazz glowered.
"Where I come from, we call it skill," Jaden said, grinning back.
-GX-
Alexis nodded her head from her seat in the bleachers as she watched Jaden's play. It was a risky move, definitely one she'd be wary of making herself, but precisely in line with what she had come to expect from Jaden these days.
"Wow, Alexis, who knew that Jaden would be able to keep up with Chazz? I'm starting to see why you love him so much. I might fall for him, myself!" Mindy said.
"Love's a bit of an overstatement," Alexis replied, though she did smile. "But you have to admit, things have definitely been interesting with him around."
Jasmine scoffed. "Yeah, if by interesting you mean him getting in trouble. Crowler, our dorms, and now all of this? What's next? A Duel against Zane?"
Alexis rolled her eyes. Jasmine had never been fond of the Slifer Red students. She'd even suggested that Alexis should go back on her word with them once or twice. Fortunately, her disdain for them wasn't on the level as some other Obelisks. She seemed perfectly content to co-exist with the Reds... so long as they stayed out her way.
"Well, I'd watch it," Alexis said, keeping her eyes on the Duel. "But before we even think about him dueling Zane, we should see how he does against Chazz."
"Do you think he can win?"
"He has before," she thought, pursing her lips.
Their first night at Duel Academy, Jaden had technically beaten Chazz, but the staff's arrival interrupted the Duel before Jaden could play his last card. No one outside of Alexis, Syrus, and Jaden himself knew the truth: that Chazz had already lost to him once and could easily do so again.
"But that was before Chazz got these new cards," Alexis reminded herself. "And from what I've seen, Jaden's been struggling just to try and keep up all day."
It was all he could do just to stay in the Duel, much less pull off a comeback, and while Jaden had beaten Chazz's ace monster, he hadn't scratched his Life Points once! Alexis turned, planning to tell Jasmine and Mindy precisely what she thought when a callous laugh interrupted, bringing a tiny frown to her lips.
"Ohohohohoho!"
"Oh, great..." Jasmine grumbled.
There was only one person they knew who did that.
A wild Kami appeared.
"There's no way that Jaden will win," she said, stopping behind them. "He's been on the back foot this entire Duel! I'm surprised that you haven't noticed."
"Eavesdropping much?" Jasmine sniffed, throwing a glare toward Kami. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
"As a matter of fact, I don't," she said, "but you shouldn't worry, I'm not staying long. In fact, I'm just here for Mindy. The Fishing Club's had some new lures come in, and I'll need her to help put them up."
"What? Lures?" Mindy complained. "Can't it wait until later?"
Kami narrowed her eyes. "No. Miss Fontaine was very specific. She wants them stored before classes are out, and she won't take no for an answer. The way I see it, if we hurry up, we'll be back in time for our test."
"Who cares about that?" Mindy replied, crossing her arms with a pout. "I just want to see which hot guy wins the Duel and find out if they'd like to date!"
"I don't know about that one, Min," Jasmine said, smiling weakly at the girl. "I'd be surprised if Jaden knew what a date was, and everyone knows Chazz likes Lexie."
"Thanks for the reminder, Jasmine," Alexis sighed, folding her arms. She'd already made it clear to them both that she hadn't joined DA for romance, not that the knowledge had ever stopped them from "shipping" her with every hot guy.
"Well," she thought, "at least this time, I'm not the only one who thinks it's annoying."
Kami had folded her arms as well and had even started tapping her foot. For a brief moment, Alexis considered ignoring her for a while but changed her mind, suspecting Kami's pettiness would come down on Mindy instead.
She pursed her lips. "Mindy, didn't she say this job's from Fontaine? You should get going."
"Wha-? Alexis!" Mindy gasped in betrayal.
A victorious smile lit Kami's face. "That's the first smart thing you've said. You heard her, Mindy. Now, come on! These boxes won't store themselves."
Mindy groaned but rose to her feet. "Fine, fine, I'm coming! Thanks for nothing, Alexis..." she grumbled, but the malice in her tone sounded fake.
Alexis sighed, not for the first time wishing she could understand Mindy. The girl went on and on about boys, but where was her competitive spirit?
"Probably in the closet with her Duel Disk and deck," a darker part of her thought.
Once they had left, Jasmine turned to regard Alexis with a slight frown.
"You sure about this?" she asked. "I mean, leaving Mindy with Kami..."
"Come on, Jasmine," Alexis replied. "You heard her. It's just for their club."
"Yeah, club..." Jasmine repeated, "...that's definitely all that this is..."
But despite her words, she, too, simply turned her eyes back to the Duel.
-GX-
"Avian, attack!" Jaden shouted, swinging out with his fist.
The winged warrior he'd called to the field moments ago flew forward, driving his nails deep across Chazz's body with an angry hiss.
Chazz groaned. He staggered back as he felt his energy leave him, the rhythmic beeps of his Duel Disk filling his ears and striking his pride.
JADEN - 1000 LP
CHAZZ - 3000 LP
"That punk really got in a hit!" he thought, glaring at the card in his hand. It was Kiryu, the only reason Jaden managed to land an attack in the first place. On his last turn, Chazz could have ended the Duel in a single instant if only he had actually drawn a card he could summon while paying no cost. Instead, all he'd gotten was this stupid Level five Dragon-type monster, a powerful card in its own right, but one that required a Tribute.
"Damn it!" he growled. "Why couldn't Crowler have given me more Level 4s? I should have had Jaden ground to dust by now, but instead, I'm the one eating dirt!"
"Problem, Chazz?" Jaden asked, his cocky grin growing wider.
"You wish, slacker!" Chazz replied. "That's the last hit that you'll get off me!"
"Well, yeah," Jaden agreed. "But only until my next turn."
"Oh, just can it already!" Chazz snapped. "I'll have you beat soon enough!"
He snatched the next card from his deck with a scowl.
"Come on, just give me a monster!"
He glanced at the card.
"I summon W-Wing Catapult in attack mode!" he said.
He placed the card on the field and watched as the monster took form before him. Its large, blue frame had risen entirely in just a couple of seconds.
W-Wing Catapult - (1300/1500)
Across from him, Jaden tensed.
"Uh oh, that's not good."
"Not for you, anyway," Chazz agreed, "but for me, things couldn't be better! W-Wing Catapult, attack!"
It tore the HERO to shreds. Chazz watched with grim satisfaction as Jaden lifted his Duel Disk, no doubt attempting to shield himself from the explosion that burst from his field.
JADEN - 700 LP
CHAZZ - 3000 LP
"Still think you can win this, slacker?" Chazz asked, folding his arms at the sight. "Or do you finally get that you don't stand a chance against an Obelisk Elite like me?"
"Oh, you better believe that I do!" Jaden replied, grinning. "You might be ahead, but as long as I still have a turn, I can swing this around!"
"Yeah? Stop bluffing! Anyone with a brain can see that you're out of your league. Don't get cocky just because you managed to take out my Catapult Cannon!"
"It's not a bluff," Jaden said, his face twisting into a determined stare. "I really do think I can beat you. All I need is the card to prove it!"
"Go on, then," Chazz sneered. "After all, it is your turn."
"Finished already, huh? Fine by me. It's... my draw!"
With a flourish of his hand, Jaden pulled a card from the top of his deck. Chazz narrowed his eyes, thinking he saw the barest of smiles.
"There's no way," he thought. "No way that slacker can pull off a comeback!"
Jaden's next move would prove him right.
"Winged Kuriboh, Defense Mode!"
The winged furball softly cried out as it materialized in front of Jaden. Chazz sneered at the sight of the beast, ignoring the squees from the girls.
Winged Kuriboh - (300/200)
"You're out of your mind if you think that weakling will ever help you beat me!" he snapped. "But fine, if you want me to cook that Kuriboh, then I'll make sure to fry him well-done!"
He drew his next card.
"Perfect..." he thought. "This Duel's just about over."
"I'll set one card face-down," he said, "and put you back in your place! W-Wing Catapult, attack! Send his Kuriboh to hell!"
Winged Kuriboh glared at Chazz as his Wing Catapult flew forward, raining a barrage of missiles, bullets, and lasers down on the field. Once again, Jaden raised his Duel Disk as if to protect himself, and once again, Winged Kuriboh defended him with its skill.
The protective barrier it summoned easily protected Jaden from damage, though it did nothing to stop the Catapult's attack from hurting itself. Winged Kuriboh shattered into golden dust with a pained cry, leaving Jaden to stare down Chazz and his Wing Catapult alone.
-GX-
"Well, so much for a comeback," Konami said as he rose to his feet.
"Huh?" Syrus asked, turning to him. "Hey, where are you going?"
"Back to the dorm," he said. "There's no point in watching this Duel anymore."
"I know it looks bad, but you don't know that Jaden won't turn this around!"
"Don't I?" Konami thought. "That spirit was the only thing he had going for him. With it now gone, any hope he had of winning this Duel just vanished."
Outwardly, he shook his head. "You can think whatever you want. The way I see it, Jaden's only got one turn to take this Duel back."
"Then..." Syrus frowned, "shouldn't you at least wait one turn to see if he does it? I mean, I'm sure he'd do the same for you. And he's always made a comeback before!"
Konami scoffed. He didn't know how Jaden earned such devotion from Syrus, but he didn't care. One bad day and he'd turn on him all the same. Still...
He spared a glance toward Jaden, frowning as he studied his face. Despite the loss of Kuriboh, Jaden didn't look very troubled at all. In fact, it was the exact opposite. The idiot's grin split his face!
"If losing Kuriboh was just a play that needed to be made..." Konami thought, "...then maybe his next turn will be impressive. Maybe he'll come out on top."
No. Every ounce of dueling logic in his brain screamed otherwise. Chazz's skill was just too great for Jaden to overcome now. But, on the off-chance that Jaden really did make a comeback, wouldn't it be better for him to be there to see that intel himself?
"...Fine," he muttered finally, grouchily climbing back into his seat. "But when he fails to bring home the win, just remember that I saw it coming."
-GX-
"Alright, it's now or never!" Jaden thought with a grin. He was one turn away from getting a monster that would finally put him in the lead! The only thing he had to do was draw and hope that he got the right card. Anything else would cost him the Duel.
Well, at least he had fun.
"Alright, Winged Kuriboh, thanks for buying me a turn. I owe ya, buddy!" he said. "Now, it's up to me to make sure that sacrifice wasn't a waste!"
He pictured Kuriboh winking at him from the Graveyard in his mind's eye. He smiled softly.
"Yeah. There's no way on earth we could lose!"
"Oh, great!" Chazz grumbled. "Don't tell me you're one of those losers, too? Y'know, the ones who think their monsters can actually hear them speak?"
"And what if I am?" he challenged.
"Well, it'd certainly explain a few things. Like why you'd be dumb enough to think that you ever really stood a chance against me."
"I'm not scared of you."
"You don't have to be," Chazz said. "That's its job."
He gestured to his Wing Catapult with a face-splitting grin.
"On my next turn, my Wing Catapult will tear your Life Points to shreds, and with only seven hundred Life Points left, it'll tear your rep to shreds, too."
"Not if I draw the card I need," Jaden thought, glaring back. "You shouldn't count me out yet, Chazz, not with my turn coming up next. And I already told you, as long as I've still got a turn, I've still got a chance!"
He reached out, gripping the top of his deck with his first two fingers, then pulled quickly, releasing the card from his deck in a streak of white light. His eyes followed its path, tracing its trail until they caught up. When they landed on the newly drawn card, his bangs fell over his face.
Chazz smirked. "What's the matter? Didn't get what you asked for?"
"No, Chazz," Jaden replied. "I actually got what I wanted!"
He spun the card around, revealing its face so the entire arena could see it.
Monster Reborn.
Chazz froze.
"No, not that card!" he choked.
"Monster Reborn revives a monster from either of the players' Graveyards! And I know exactly who I'm bringing back! Come on out, Wildheart!"
A triumphant roar filled the air as the tribal HERO revived, leaping over Jaden and landing proudly back on his side of the field.
Elemental HERO Wildheart - (1500/1600)
The shock on Chazz's face slowly faded.
"That's who you're bringing back?" he asked. "Of all the monsters that you could've summoned, you decided to go with that weakling?"
"Don't look down on my monsters, Chazz. They're stronger than you might think. Especially when they combine their strengths to take on an ultimate form!"
"Combine their strengths...?" Chazz muttered. "No, wait, it can't be!"
"Oh, it definitely can be. And as a matter of fact, it is!" Jaden grinned as he turned and revealed the other two cards in his hand.
One was Elemental HERO Necroshade, a Level five Warrior monster. The other, a certain Spell card of his... known as Polymerization.
As he placed the Spell on the field, his chosen monsters appeared before him, transforming into a pair of orange streaks that wildly swirled together. Combined with the light of Polymerization, their bodies and colors sparkled, spilling out onto the field in what anyone would call a chaotic mess.
Blue.
Orange.
Blue.
Orange.
Slowly, the orange faded, disappearing into the center of the portal and shifting into a bright white. Electricity covered the field as an orb then burst out of the portal, combining to transform the two once separate monsters into one being.
"When I fuse any DARK monsterI have with one of my Elemental HEROes, their powers unite to bring out this... Elemental HERO Escuridao!"
Darkness.
The orb cracked as Jaden finished explaining, filling his field with streaks of darkness given physical form. After a moment, they wrapped inward, covering the ball entirely. It was only then that the sphere uncurled, revealing the monster's true form. It was tall and incredibly thin, with what appeared to be teeth on its chest. Two sleek blades stuck out from its hips, and while its left hand looked normal, its right hand looked like some kind of claw that was entirely made up of blades.
Elemental HERO Escuridao - (2500/2000)
"And now it's time for his superpower!" Jaden said as it stood. "For every HERO I have in the Grave, he gains a hundred Attack!"
"What did you say...?" Chazz glowered, glancing down at his Duel Disk. A quick check of the Graveyard showed that Jaden had five dead HEROes, though as it turned out, he needn't have looked since the monsters' spirits appeared.
One by one, their faded blue forms appeared above Escuridao, only to fade away seconds later, transforming into the being's strength. Necroshade. Wildheart. Avian. Bustinatrix. And finally, Clayman, the first monster Chazz had destroyed. As each monster faded away, Escuridao's darkness grew stronger, growing until it seemed to take up almost all of Jaden's field.
Elemental HERO Escuridao - (3000/2000)
"Looks like I have the beatstick now," he said, grinning at Chazz.
The words struck something in Chazz. He took a step back, glaring at Jaden.
"Y-You got lucky!"
"Nah, I just have a soft spot when it comes to decks. But when it comes to you, Chazz. Escuridao, attack! Destroy his W-Wing Catapult by using your Dark Diffusion!"
Escuridao pointed its right claw forward and unleashed a burst of energy, a stream of darkness that completely engulfed Winged Catapult in mere seconds. Chazz screamed as his card was destroyed, showering him in debris. He raised his Duel Disk to defend himself, feeling himself get pushed back.
JADEN -700 LP
CHAZZ - 1300 LP
"Alright!" Syrus cheered, waving wildly at Jaden. "Sweet move, Jay! Keep going, and you'll have that jerk on the ropes!"
Jaden grinned but didn't reply, shooting him a peace sign instead.
"See?" Syrus said, turning to face Konami, who was still frowning. "Jaden pulled it off, after all! Now, there's no way he can lose!"
"Well, aren't you just a bundle of joy," he replied, folding his arms. "Sorry to disappoint you, Syrus, but Chazz still has a face-down."
"...Not much use if he doesn't use it."
"Oh, I have a feeling he will. The only question is whether Jaden can handle it when he does."
Jaden continued to smile as his fellow Slifers continued to cheer him, paying no mind to the irritation slowly spreading across Chazz's face.
"Where do you think you get off," Chazz snapped, "acting like you already beat me? Newsflash, punks, if anyone's already lost here, then it's you!"
"Oh, come on. Lighten up, Chazz. It's fine to have a little fun, isn't it? Besides, no matter who wins this match, it's still been a really sweet duel!"
"Have a little fun?" Chazz echoed. "You've gotta be kidding me, loser! I'm not here to play around with you and have fun. I'm in this Duel to win."
He cast his eyes to his face-down card, then glared back up toward Jaden.
"And with no other cards left in your dumb hand, I think it's about time I did."
"Huh?" Jaden asked.
"It's my move," Chazz snapped, clenching his fist. "I hope you're ready, Jaden, 'cause I'm about to show you the difference between us."
The cheers faded. Was Chazz serious? Was he really about to win?
Jaden tensed, not sure himself but knowing Chazz was going to act.
"Here I go. Draw!" Chazz said, ripping a card from his deck.
He didn't even bother to look at it before swinging his hand down toward his field. "I'm activating my face-down card: Return from the Different Dimension! By paying half of my Life Points, it brings back all of the monsters I've banished!"
Jaden froze. "All of them?!"
"All of them," Chazz sneered. "Including those that I might've banished to summon even stronger monsters."
As he finished speaking, a massive portal appeared above their Duel Field, expelling pressurized winds that threatened to knock them both off their feet. Chazz planted himself, sneering as Jaden tried to stay upright. He knew it was only a matter of time before the boy fell down completely.
Good.
"It's time for you to learn your place, and I'm gonna teach you! Come on down, all of you!"
His field exploded with monsters.
VW-Tiger Jet was the first card to come into view, followed shortly after by Y-Dragon Head and X-Head Cannon. Z-Metal Tank rolled onto the field not long after the trio, finally followed by the last monster: XYZ-Dragon Cannon.
"No way..." Jaden breathed, watching them through squinted eyes. "You really pulled out all the stops, huh?"
"...and that's why I'm gonna win!" Chazz said.
"Not so fast," Jaden replied. "I'll admit, you've got some cool monsters, but they can't beat Escuridao's Attack."
"And guess what? They don't need to! My XYZ-Dragon Cannon's effect will erase that thing from my sight. All I have to do is discard a card from my hand like this."
Chazz smirked as he tossed his newly drawn card into the Graveyard.
"Well, slacker, I guess your 'superpowers' just weren't enough. XYZ-Dragon Cannon," Chazz said, "go ahead and do your thing! Erase Escuridao from sight with Chazz Princeton's Hyper Destruction!"
Dragon Cannon's eyes lit up upon hearing Chazz's command, and it slowly angled its weapons' barrels toward Jaden's solitary HERO. A beam of light consumed the monster completely with a single blast, destroying it so utterly that nothing remained to go to the Grave.
JADEN - 700 LP
CHAZZ - 650 LP
Jaden clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as he lost his last monster. "Aw, man, and I was so close! This can't be how this Duel ends!"
"You might have a few good moves," Chazz said, "but you're still no match for an Obelisk. Like I thought, that fluke against Crowler wasn't exactly that. A fluke!"
"Chazz, wait-"
"I won't wait! All of you, attack!"
And whatever Jaden would say was lost in the destructive wave that consumed him.
TAG FORCE ALTERNATIVE: LEARNING TO DUEL
LESSON TWELVE
END
DUEL DATA
TURN ONE - JADEN - 4000 LP - SIX CARDS
Jaden's hand contains Winged Kuriboh, Sparkman, Clayman, Burstinatrix, A Hero Emerges, and Wildheart.He summons Clayman in Defense Position.
Clayman - (800/2000)
Jaden ends turn.
TURN TWO - CHAZZ - 4000 LP - SIX CARDS
Chazz activates Magical Mallet and reshuffles four cards into his deck, then draws four more. He then plays Pot of Greed, drawing two cards.
CHAZZ - SIX CARDS
Chazz summons V-Tiger Jet in Attack Position.
V-Tiger Jet - (1600/1800)
He then activates Frontline Base. Once per turn, he can Special Summon a LV4 or lower Union Monster from his hand. He activates this effect to Special Summon W-Wing Catapult in Attack Position.
W-Wing Catapult - (1300/1500)
He then banishes his two monsters to Special Summon VW-Tiger Catapult in attack mode.
VW-Tiger Catapult - (2000/2100)
Chazz uses its effect to discard 1 card from his hand (Y-Dragon Head) to change Clayman to attack mode. VW-Tiger Catapult destroys Clayman by battle.
JADEN - 2800 LP
Chazz sets 1 card (Call of the Haunted) and ends his turn.
TURN THREE - JADEN - 2800 LP - SIX CARDS
Jaden draws Mud Max. He summons Sparkman in Defense Position and sets a card.
Sparkman - (1600/1400)
Jaden ends his turn.
TURN FOUR - CHAZZ - 4000 LP - TWO CARDS
Chazz summons X-Head Cannon in Attack Position.
X-Head Cannon - (1800/1500)
He then Special Summons Z-Metal Tank using Frontline Base.
Z-Metal Tank - (1500/1300)
Chazz activates his face-down Call of the Haunted to revive his discarded Y-Dragon Head.
Y-Dragon Head - (1500/1600)
He banishes all three to Special Summon XYZ-Dragon Cannon in Attack Position.
XYZ-Dragon Cannon - (2800/2600)
Chazz continues to evolve his monsters, banishing XYZ-Dragon Cannon and VW-Tiger Catapult to Special Summon VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon in Attack Position.
VWXYZ-Dragon Catapult Cannon - (3000/2800)
He uses Dragon Catapult Cannon's effect to remove Sparkman from play and attacks directly. In response, Jaden activates his face-down A Hero Emerges. Chazz randomly selects Burstinatrix from Jaden's hand. Jaden Special Summons Burstinatrix in Defense Position.
Burstinatrix - (1200/800)
Dragon Catapult Cannon attacks Burstinatrix in a replay, and Chazz uses its effect to change Burstinatrix into attack mode.
Burstinatrix is destroyed.
JADEN - 1000 LP
Chazz ends his turn.
TURN FIVE - JADEN - 1000 LP - FOUR CARDS
Jaden's hand contains Winged Kuriboh, Wildheart, Mud Max, and the newly drawn Pot of Greed. He activates it to draw two cards. (Avian and Double Spell.) He then activates Double Spell. By discarding 1 spell from his hand, he can use one in Chazz's GY. Jaden discards Mud Max and activates Chazz's Pot of Greed to draw more cards. (Cyclone Boomerang and Skyscraper.) He summons Wildheart.
Wildheart - (1500/1500)
He then activates Skyscraper. Since Wildheart has less ATK than Dragon Catapult Cannon, Wildheart gains 1000 ATK.
Wildheart - (2500/1500)
Finally, Jaden equips Wildheart with Cyclone Boomerang, increasing his ATK by an additional 500.
Wildheart - (3000/1500)
Wildheart attacks Dragon Catapult Cannon, resulting in mutual destruction.
TURN SIX - CHAZZ - 4000 LP - ONE CARD
Chazz drew Kiryu. He passes.
TURN SEVEN - JADEN - 1000 LP - THREE CARDS
Jaden's hand contains Avian, Winged Kuriboh, and the newly drawn Necroshade. He summons Avian in Attack Position.
Avian - (1000/1000)
Avian attacks directly.
CHAZZ - 3000 LP
TURN EIGHT - CHAZZ - 3000 LP - TWO CARDS
Chazz draws a second W-Wing Catapult and summons it in Attack Position.
W-Wing Catapult - (1300/1500)
W-Wing Catapult attacks Avian.
JADEN - 700 LP
Chazz ends his turn.
TURN NINE - JADEN - 700 LP - THREE CARDS
Jaden draws Polymerization. He summons Winged Kuriboh in Defense Position.
Winged Kuriboh - (300/200)
Jaden ends his turn.
TURN TEN - CHAZZ - 3000 LP - TWO CARDS
Chazz draws Return from the Different Dimension. W-Wing Catapult attacks Winged Kuriboh, but due to Winged Kuriboh's effect, Jaden doesn't take any damage.
Chazz sets Return from the Different Dimension and ends his turn.
TURN ELEVEN - JADEN - 700 LP - THREE CARDS
Jaden draws Monster Reborn. He uses it to revive Wildheart.
Wildheart - (1500/1500)
He activates Polymerization to fuse Wildheart with the Necroshade in his hand, creating Elemental HERO Escuridao.
Elemental HERO Escuridao - (2500/2000)
Escuridao gains 100 ATK for every HERO in Jaden's GY. Jaden has Necroshade, Wildheart, Avian, Burstinatrix, and Clayman.
Elemental HERO Escuridao - (3000/2000)
Escuridao attacks and destroys W-Wing Catapult.
CHAZZ - 1300 LP
Jaden ends his turn.
TURN TWELVE - CHAZZ - 1300 LP - TWO CARDS
Chazz draws Heavy Mech Support Platform. He activates his face-down Return from the Different Dimension by paying half his Life Points.
CHAZZ - 650 LP
Chazz Special Summons VW-Tiger Jet, XYZ-Dragon Cannon, X-Head Cannon, Y-Dragon Head, and Z-Metal Tank.
VW-Tiger Jet - (2000/2100)
XYZ-Dragon Cannon - (2800/2600)
X-Head Cannon - (1800/1500)
Y-Dragon Head - (1500/1600)
Z-Metal Tank - (1500/1300)
Chazz activates XYZ-Dragon Cannon's effect. By discarding 1 card from his hand (Heavy Mech Support Platform) he can destroy 1 card Jaden controls. XYZ-Dragon Cannon destroys Escuridao, leaving Jaden defenseless.
All of Chazz's monsters attack.
CHAZZ - 650 LP
JADEN - 0 LP
CHAZZ WINS!