Chapter 40: I Challenge My Fate
"Which is why Industrial Illusions has put into effect that the Extra Deck is limited to only 15 monsters. Additionally, both duelists are now able to have Field Spells active at a time." Sartyr said to the class.
Scott nudged Ghassan's arm. "Not a lot of people in class today, huh?" He whispered.
Ghassan didn't really take notice, but as he looked around, Scott was right. Over half of the seats in class were empty. The only important students of note were Alexis, Bastion, and Damian. Every other notable student was gone, and a huge chunk of the extras were gone as well.
"Wonder why. It's not like this is Stein's class. Sartyr's forgettable, but it's not like he's a chore to listen to."
Scott took a look at Damian. Due to being under house arrest, the only time Ghassan and Scott got to see him was in class, in full view of many others. Whenever Damian would go to his dorm room, two security guards were always in front of it. Getting him alone to brainwash him would be impossible at this rate.
Soon, an oddity came into the classroom. A girl in Ra Yellow. Seeing as how girls were automatically put into Obelisk Blue unless they choose not to take it, seeing a girl in Duel Academy in anything other than a blue uniform was rare. "Professor Sartyr?" The girl asked. She was holding a school bag.
"Hm? What is it Morgan?"
'Holy shit, she has a name.' Ghassan said to himself.
She held the bag to Sartyr. "I found this bag deep in the woods."
Damian's eyes lit up. He remembered this set up. It was time to face another Shadow Rider.
"Wh-what is this?!" Bastion asked in shock.
"In the middle of the woods?!" Alexis asked.
Damian and Ghassan didn't blame the two for their shock. They saw it coming and even they found it weird. Plopped in the middle of the woods was a roman colosseum.
Scott turned to Damian. "So, was this in the show too?"
Damian nodded. "Yeah. A Shadow Rider roped in a bunch of Duel Academy students to help build this."
Bastion clenched his fist. "So this Shadow Rider is enslaving students?!"
"More like employed."
"Huh?" Alexis and Bastion asked.
"You'll see." Damian walked into the colosseum, the others following. Tania was coming up. Definitely not the most evil of the Shadow Riders, but she was still a pretty capable duelist.
Sure enough, as the five Key Keepers entered the colosseum. As they entered, they saw several students doing things such as moving rocks or propping up pillars. "What the...?" Alexis asked.
"So this is why class was so empty." Bastion noted.
Ghassan took a look at one of the laborers. "Adrian?"
Adrian finished clearing up some debris and let out a breath. "If you're here for work, I hate to say it, but we're pretty much done."
Before anybody could respond, they heard a roar. "What was that?" Alexis asked.
"Oh yeah, we're about to be attacked by a tiger now." Damian casually answered.
"EXCUSE ME?!" Ghassan reacted.
Sure enough, from within the colosseum, a tiger began to charge at the group. It had a large gash over where it's right eye was, and was wearing gold bracelets around it's legs, and a gold collar that was embezzled with emeralds around its neck.
"NOT GOOD!" Bastion yelled. He, Alexis, Ghassan, and Scott began to flee from the tiger. Damian simply held out a hand towards the tiger.
"HAH!" A wave of purple colored wind blasted out of Damian's hand, pushing the tiger back. "You know...Tania would want...to DUEL the key keepers. Not have them eaten." He told the tiger in between breaths.
"He's right." A woman's voice said.
The key keepers turned to the direction of the voice. A muscular woman with long purple hair in a ponytail appeared. Over her left hand was a gauntlet with the Eye of Wdjat. "Come back Bass. They're our guests."
The tiger snarled at Damian before turning to the sky and snarled in that direction as well. It then went towards Tania.
"Why didn't you warn us about the tiger earlier?" Scott asked Damian.
"I forgot. I told you before, it's been years since I watched the Shadow Riders arc."
"So, you really have gotten shadow powers." Tania said to Damian. "And seeing as how you beat one of the Key Keepers, an additional person to take down."
Damian smirked. "Gonna gun for me before you Key Keepers?
Tania chuckled. "We'll see." Tania then turned to the laborers. "Thank you all for your hard work!" She complimented. She walked up to the students, envelopes in hand.
"Her demeanor kinda took a 180..." Scott noted.
Tania happily gave each of the students an envelope. "Thanks to your help, my colosseum is finished. Job well done. As promised, here are your rare cards as payment." Adrian was the last one to get an envelope. "Unfortunately, I couldn't fulfill that special request for which cards you got. Shame to. You've certainly earned it."
Adrian mentally sighed. "I figured as much. Thanks anyway."
Adrian, along with the other students, began to walk out of the colosseum. Ghassan got in the way of Adrian though before he left.
"Whoa whoa whoa. Slow down there. When did you-?" Ghassan began to ask.
"Around dawn, I found myself waking up in this colosseum. Must have been kidnapped in my sleep. She promised that if we helped with the finishing touches, we'd get rare cards."
"So you helped a Shadow Rider?" Scott asked.
Adrian shrugged. "It's not like being in a colosseum will make her a better duelist."
Alexis suddenly realized something. "Wait a minute, that explains why most of the class was empty but..."
Damian widened his eyes. "Chazz, Jaden, Syrus, and Chumley aren't here." He said.
Bastion turned to Tania. "What did you do with them?!" He demanded.
Tania seemed confused. "I haven't seen any of those boys."
"Yeah right. How do we know you didn't steal their souls already?!" Alexis asked.
"No. That's not her style." Damian suddenly said.
"Huh?"
"Tania isn't like Nightshroud or Camula. In the show, she was by far the friendliest of the Shadow Riders. She didn't even initiate a Shadow Duel. Well, not a life threatening one anyway."
"Truly?" Bastion asked.
Damian nodded. "She just wants someone to marry." He then took a glance at Bastion's Spirit Key. 'And if things go like they did in canon, YOU'RE her candidate.'
This took Bastion, Alexis, and even Adrian by surprise. "Wait, THAT'S her motivation?" Adrian asked.
"Of course. After all, I'm from an all-female tribe. We have to have a way to continue the bloodline." Tania answered. "And of course, that means I'll only accept a male opponent."
Alexis looked annoyed at this. "So, if you didn't steal Jaden and Chazz's souls, what happened to them?"
"I'm as much in the dark about this as you are."
"They probably just skipped class or something." Ghassan said.
"Maybe..." Damian replied. "But they were all here at this point in the show."
It was still unnerving to Alexis and Bastion to hear Damian talk about how they were all a work of fiction in their world. Tania however just shrugged it off. "Well, life is filled with surprises sometimes. Now tell me. Which one of you men is willing to accept my challenge? The loser won't lose their soul, but will become my husband! Though of course, you have to be a Key Keeper."
Surprisingly, Ghassan was the first to step forward. "I'll duel you."
"Whoa. Your victory against Camula really got you pumped up to duel, huh?" Scott asked.
"No, that's definitely not it. I know my brother." Damian said.
Ghassan was staring intently at Tania's muscles. "You better not..." The Light of Destruction warned in Ghassan's head.
'Bastion spent time with her but got rescued before he was taken to her village, right? I can still help the cause after I get saved.' Ghassan reasoned.
"I WILL break your mind."
Bastion stepped up. "I have no intention of marrying you, but l WILL be the one to defeat you." Bastion said.
Damian took a glance at the Spirit Key around Bastion's neck before stepping up as well. "Ditto." Damian said.
"I'll just relax on this one if she's not endangering anyone." Scott said. He walked towards the arena seats alongside Adrian and Alexis.
Tania looked at the three. "Hmm..." She then pointed a finger at Bastion. "You're the finest pick of the lot." She decided.
"Damnit." Ghassan muttered as he walked towards the seats.
Damian took another glance at Bastion's Spirit Key before he started to walk off.
"Hold on for one second." Tania said.
"What is it?" Damian asked.
"It's safe to say that in your world, I defeated Bastion?" She asked.
Ghassan and Damian both were taken by surprise. 'How did she-?' They both thought.
"Rather arrogant to assume that, don't you think?" Bastion asked.
"You haven't noticed. Since you've arrived, he's been taking looks at your Spirit Key." Tania pointed out. "Seeing as how he wants to have the Spirit Keys to himself, and how his attention is on yours specifically..."
Bastion and Alexis widened their eyes. And Damian's answer shocked them even further.
"She's right." Damian said. "Within the show, Bastion loses to Tania, so Jaden defeats her instead."
Tania smiled. "Looks like we get to know the outcome ahead of time."
Bastion scoffed. "Please. Things are already different from how things went in their world. Who's to say the outcome won't change?"
"Fair enough." Tania reached into her pockets and got out two decks. "One deck is a deck of knowledge. The other is a deck of courage. Why don't you go ahead and decide which one I use?"
"I choose the deck of kno...no, the deck of courage." He decided.
Damian raised an eyebrow before walking to the arena seats as well.
Tania put the deck in her duel disk. "So, we gonna start?"
"In a minute." Bastion opened up his jacket, revealing his numerous deck pouches. "I'll choose...well...yes, my Rock deck." Bastion selected a deck and put it in his Duel Disk. "I'm ready."
"Then let's do it, hun." Tania said. Bass walked away from Tania, and rested by a pillar, continuing to glare at the sky.
"DUEL!" They simultaneously said.
(Bastion 4000/Tania 4000)
Tania put two fingers on her deck. "I'll-"
"I'LL take the first move!" Bastion declared.
Tania shrugged. "Go ahead"
Bastion drew from his deck. "I summon Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior (1700/1100) in attack mode." The silver magnet warrior appeared in front of Bastion.
"Remind me. Did Bastion use this deck when he lost to Tania in the show?" Ghassan asked Damian.
"Well...technically no. He used Magnet Warriors, but they were a completely different kind then the ones he's using right now." Damian answered.
"So Bastion can win, right?" Alexis asked.
Damian nodded. "That said, there's still the chance of things going the same as in the show."
"I take it Jaden beat Bastion in the school duel where our world is a show as well?" Adrian asked. This didn't go unheard by Bastion.
"Yeah." Damian answered. "He did a good job, but Jaden was still the School Duel representative. He actually beat Chazz, rather than tying with him."
"Alpha's effect activates. When summoned, I can add a level 8 Magna Warrior to my hand. I choose Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior. I set two cards face down and end my turn."
Tania drew. "I summon Amazoness Princess (1200/900) in attack mode." A young dark skinned girl wielding a spear and dressed in tribal clothing appeared. "When she's summoned, I can add an Amazoness spell or trap card to my hand. I add and activate the field spell, Amazoness Arena!" A dome shaped cage rose around Bastion and Tania.
"I've never seen this card before." Bastion said.
"It's simple. First off, both of us gain 600 life points." Tania explained. (Bastion 4000-4600/Tania 4000-4600) "Along with that, everytime an attack is declared, one of us can pay 100 life points to deal 100 damage to the other."
"With damage that little though, it feels kinda pointless." Scott said.
"Next I activate the continuous spell card, Amazoness Fighting Spirit. With this card, whenever an Amazoness battles a monster with higher attack points, it gains 1000 attack points."
Bastion gasped at this.
"Go Amazoness Princess! Attack Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior!" Amazoness Princess dashed towards Bastion's monster. (Amazoness Princess 1200-2200/900)
"I activate Alpha's effect. During your turn, I can tribute it to special summon a level 4 or lower Magnet Warrior from my deck. I sacrifice Alpha the ELectromagnet Warrior to special summon it's original counterpart. Come forth, Alpha the Magnet Warrior (1400/1700) in defense mode!"
Amazoness Princess stabbed through Alpha, destroying it. "You ready handsome? Because here comes the fun part." Tania said. "I activate Amazoness Arena's ability!"
"I won't activate Arena's effect." Bastion said.
"Really? Oh well." (Tania 4600-4500) As Tania paid the cost of her field spell, something bizarre happened. The souls of Bastion and Tania came out of their bodies.
"Wh-what the?!" Bastion reacted.
Tania chuckled. "I guess I should have specified. This isn't a life threatening Shadow Game, but that doesn't mean you won't feel pain. It's not JUST our monsters that's gonna be battling. We're going to be feeling the thrill of battle as well."
Damian smiled widely. He would look forward to dueling Tania, assuming that Bastion lost like in canon.
"Get ready!" Tania's soul leaped towards Bastion and delivered a punch to his stomach.
"Ugh..." Bastion grunted. (Bastion 4600-4500)
Bastion was catching his breath. "Urg...you weren't bluffing when you said the pain was real." He took a look at Tania's field, and noticed that a woman with long blue hair wielding a sword was next to Amazoness Princess.
"When did she-?" Ghassan began to ask.
"Amazoness Princess' effect. When she attacks, I can discard a card to special summon an Amazoness of a different name from my deck in defense mode. I chose Amazoness Queen (2400/1800). Anyway, I set a card facedown and end my turn." Tania said.
"Why didn't Bastion just pay the cost to do damage?" Ghassan asked.
"Because in his eyes, it would just be giving up life points for nothing." Adrian answered. "When the opponent has the upper hand, every life point should be conserved. That's what I'm guessing is going through Bastion's head anyway."
Bastion drew a card. "I summon Gamma the Electromagnet Warrior (800/2000) in defense mode." The green sphere-like magnet warrior appeared. "When it's summoned, I can special summon a level 4 or lower 'Magnet Warrior' from my hand. I special summon Beta the Electromagnet Warrior." (1500/1500) The pink Magnet Warrior descended onto the field. "Now, don't expect me to attack so soon. I'm well aware that Amazoness Queen prevents your Amazoness monsters from being destroyed by battle."
"Looks like you did your homework."
"I overlay my level 3 Electromagnet Warrior's together!" A swirling dark vortex appeared in front of Bastion's monsters before they both went in it. Emerging from the vortex was the medusa-like woman with multi-colored eyes. "I Xyz summon the Rank 3 Gorgonic Guardian!" (1600/1200)
"Hey, that's the card he used to beat me back in Fall." Damian said.
"I activate Gorgonic Guardian's effect. By detaching an Xyz material, I can target a monster you control. Its effects are negated, AND it has it's attack points reduced to zero. I choose Amazoness Queen!" An orb trailing around Gorgonic Guardian disappeared before it glared at Amazoness Queen. The monster slowly turned into stone. (Amazoness Queen 2400-0/1800) "Now, I activate Gorgonic Guardian's other effect. I can target a monster with 0 attack points and destroy it!"
The stone statue of Amazoness Queen crumbled into pieces. "Not bad." Tania praised.
"Gorgonic Guardian, destroy Amazoness Princess!" Gorgonic Guardian slithered towards Tania's monster and bit into its neck, destroying it. (Tania 4600-4200)
"I activate Amazoness Arena's effect!" Tania declared. (Tania 4200-4100)
"And I'll pass once again." Bastion said.
The souls of the two duelists shot out of their bodies and towards each other. Tania's soul kicked Bastion's in the chin. (Bastion 4500-4400)
"Ugh...I end my-."
"Before you do that, let me activate my facedown card, Pride of Tribe. When an Amazoness monster I control is destroyed by battle, I can special summon another one from my deck. I choose a second copy of Amazoness Queen." (2400/1800)
"I end my turn." Bastion said.
Tania drew. "I summon Amazoness Sage (1400/700) in attack mode." A staff wielding woman with long sapphire hair appeared. "Amazon Sage, attack Gorgonic Guardian!"
"And thanks to Amazoness Fighting Spirit, Tania's monster gains 1000 attack points." Adrian said.
Amazoness Sage dashed towards Gorgonic Guardian, staff in hand. (Amazoness Sage 1400-2400/700)
"I was hoping you'd do that! Gorgonic Guardian's effect can be used during either player's turn!" Bastion said.
Gorgonic Guardian glared at Amazoness Sage as it was about to strike. (Amazoness Sage 2400-0/700) The last orb that trailed around Gorgonic Guardian disappeared before Amazoness Sage was turned to stone. Teh Xyz monster then wrapped it's tail around Amazoness Sage, and threw it back to Tania's side of the field. (Tania 4100-2500)
"And THAT'S why I prefer not using Duel Disks. I can actually READ the effects of opponent's cards if I'm close up to them." Ghassan said.
"Whoa, you're incredibly smart! Looks like choosing you to be my husband was the right pick." Tania squealed.
"Sorry, but I'm dueling to win. Not to marry." Bastion said.
"We'll see. Anyway, I can still use the effect of Amazoness Arena. You finally gonna pay life points?" Tania asked.
"I'll pass, thanks." Bastion answered.
"Suit yourself." (Tania 2500-2400) Once again, the souls of Tania and Bastion came out of their bodies. Tania charged at Bastion's soul before delivering a strong punch in the gut. (Bastion 4400-4300)
"Bastion still doesn't want to pay the cost of Amazoness Arena? But he has the lead." Damian pointed out.
"To be fair, Tania will be taking the upper hand soon." Scott replied.
"He's right, handsome. I still have my Amazoness Queen after all." Tania pointed out. "I wanted Gorgonic Guardian to spend that last Xyz material."
Bastion widened his eyes. 'Why didn't I use Gorgonic Guardian's effect on Amazoness Queen instead? It has more attack points than Sage, so I'd have had spare life points. Blast it, I panicked.' Bastion calmed himself down. 'No, using it on Sage was the right move. I did a decent amount of battle damage to Tania. And since Sage's effect got negated, Tania can't use it's effect to destroy my facedown cards. It was the right move...right?'
"Go Amazoness Queen! Amazoness Slash Attack!" Amazoness Queen ran towards Gorgonic Guardian and slashed it's head off with her sword. (Bastion 4300-3300) "You know the drill by now."
"And you know my answer." Bastion said.
(Tania 2400-2300) Tania's soul delivered a quick jab to Bastion's before kneeing him in the gut. (Bastion 3300-3200)
"I set a card and end my turn." Tania said. "Now Sage is back to normal." Amazoness Sage became flesh once again. (Amazoness Sage 0-1400/700)
Bastion drew. "It's my move. I activate Graceful Charity to draw three cards and discard two." Bastion did exactly that. "Now, I banish my Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior, Beta the Electromagnet Warrior, and Gamma the Electromagnet Warrior from my graveyard!" Transparent images of the magnet warriors appeared before quickly dissolving. "Come forth, Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior!" (3000/2800) The spear wielding combination of the Electromagnet Warriors descended onto the field.
"Nice! Bastion can take back the advantage with that monster." Damian said.
"Wait, you're rooting FOR Bastion even though you plan on taking his Spirit Key?" Alexis asked.
"It's not as fun if I don't get to duel all the Key Keepers. Besides, Bastion deserved better."
"In your guys' show, this was the start of things going massively downhill for Bastion. So if he wins, he might be able to turn that around." Ghassan explained.
Bastion clenched his fist. 'So that's how things went in their world? Well, I'll show them that I'm not to be overlooked!' "I activate Berserkion's effect! By removing a Magnet Warrior from play in my graveyard, I can destroy a card you control! I remove from play Alpha the Magnet Warrior from my graveyard to destroy Amazoness Arena!"
"Wait, what?!" Tania, Damian, Scott, Alexis, and Adrian all reacted.
Beserkion aimed it's spear at the cage and shot a bolt of electricity at it. Soon, the cage exploded. "Now you won't be able to chip away at my life points every battle!"
Tania said nothing for a while. "...Are you an idiot?" She finally asked.
"Huh?" Bastion reacted. He then quickly realized his mistake.
Damian turned to the others. "One of you guys know what Bastion's plan is?"
"I'll be honest. Pretty sure he just messed up." Adrian answered.
"Wait, I don't duel too much. Why did Bastion fuck up?" Ghassan asked.
"It's true that Tania doing effect damage is harder for her now, but it was only 100 points of damage per battle. It was a far lower threat. Personally, what I would have done would be to destroy Amazoness Queen, since it protects Tania's Amazoness' from being destroyed by battle."
"The second best alternative would probably be to destroy Amazoness Fighting Spirit, since that way, Tania's monsters would stop getting an 1000 attack boost when they attack a stronger monster." Alexis said.
"If he wanted to be on the safe side, destroying Tania's facedown would also be an understandable choice to get rid of." Damian said.
"Long story short, Bastion wasted Berserkion's effect on the least threatening card on Tania's field." Scott summed up.
"W-well, Beserkion's effect isn't once per turn!" Bastion stammered. "I can keep doing it as long as I have Magnet Warriors in my graveyard! I remove from play the Beta the Magnet Warrior and Gamma the Magnet Warrior that I discarded with Graceful Charity to destroy your...yes, your two monsters!" Berserkion's spear glowed with electricity again before it fired two shots at Tania's Amazoness' destroying them both. "Battle Phase! Berserkion attacks you directly!"
The Magnet Warrior jumped into the air, ready to slash Tania. "You disappoint me." Tania lowly said. "I activate Pinpoint Guard to special summon a level 4 or lower monster from my graveyard in defense mode. And that monster can't be destroyed by battle or card effects. I choose Amazoness Princess!" Amazoness Princess returned to Tania's field, blocking Berserkion's strike with her spear.
"If Bastion decided to destroy Tania's face down instead of the field spell, he would have won this turn." Scott pointed out.
"What's with Bastion? It isn't like him to make blunders like this." Alexis said.
"When Amazoness Princess is summoned, I can add an Amazoness spell or trap to my hand. I choose Amazoness Onslaught!"
"I...I end my turn." Bastion weakly said.
Tania drew angrily. "I activate Card of Sanctity, allowing both of us to draw until we have six cards in our hands." The two of them replenished their hands. "Now I activate Double Fusion!"
"A fusion summon? She definitely didn't have any of those in the show." Damian said.
"I pay 500 life points to Fusion Summon twice." (Tania 2300-1800) "I fuse the Amazoness Princess on my field with the Amazoness Swordswoman in my hand. I also fuse the Amazoness Tiger and Amazoness Paladin in my hand!"
Two vortexes appeared behind Tania, the monsters swirling together in them. "I fusion summon Amazoness Empress (2800/2400) and Amazoness Pet Liger (2500/2400) in attack mode!" A warrior woman with longe white hair and skimpy green clothing appeared, wielding a sword with razor edges attached to it's blade. Accompanying her was a large liger in spiked blue armor with a gash on it's eye similar to Bass.
"Amazoness Empress, attack Berserkion! And because of Amazoness Fighting Spirit, she gains 1000 attack points for the battle!" Tania yelled. (Amazoness Empress 2800-3800/2400) The Amazoness leaped into the air before coming down, slashing Berserkion in two. (Bastion 3300-2500)
"I activate Berserkion's effect! When it's destroyed, I can special summon the banished Electromagnet Warriors!" Berserkion's body began to disassemble into Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior (1700/1100), Beta the Electromagnet Warrior (1500/1500) and Gamma the Electromagnet Warrior (800/2000) all in defense mode. And since Alpha was special summoned, I add a Magna Warrior to my hand. I choose Valkyrion the Magna Warrior."
"Now, Amazoness Pet Liger! Destroy Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior! When Pet Liger attacks, it gains 500 attack points for the battle." (Amazoness Pet Liger 2500-3000/2400) The liger charged at Beta before biting into it, destroying the monster. (Bastion 2500-600)
"Does Pet Liger do piercing damage?" Ghassan asked.
"Not on it's own. Amazoness Empress' effect means that any attacking Amazoness does piercing damage." Scott answered. "Still, it he put Alpha in attack mode, Pet Liger's effect would have reduce it's attack points by 800 since it can lower a monster's attack points after an Amazoness attacks, doing even more damage to Bastion."
"I set a card face down and end my turn." Tania said.
Bastion drew. "I activate Pot of Greed." Bastion drew two cards. "Next, I activate Dian Keto the Cure Master to increase my life points by 1000." (Bastion 600-1600)
"At least Bastion closed the gap in life points." Alexis said.
"Now I activate Burial from a Different Dimension to send the banished Alpha the Magnet Warrior, Beta the Magnet Warrior and Gamma the Magnet Warrior back to the graveyard. Next I activate my trap card, Magnet Conversion to add them to my hand. But they won't be here for long. I sacrifice the Magnet Warriors from my hand to special summon Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!" (3500/3850)
"As a heads up, Pet Liger's ability means that he's the only one you can target." Tania said.
"Thanks for the heads up. But I know. I also know that Amazoness Empress prevents other Amazoness' from being destroyed by battle or card effects. So I activate the field spell Magnetic Field." A large amount of electricity built up around the two duelists, metal parts floating in the air as well. "With Magnetic Field, once per turn when a Magnet Warrior does battle with a monster, and the opponent's monster isn't destroyed, it returns to the hand. Or in the case of your two monsters, the Extra Deck."
"Nice! Now she won't be able to use Pet Liger's effect to lower Valkyrion's attack points next turn!" Damian exclaimed.
"But with Amazoness Fighting Spirit, Empress will be able to overpower Valkyrion when Tania attacks." Adrian pointed out.
"Then from my hand I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Amazoness Fighting Spirit." A blue cyclone shot out, destroying Tania's continuous spell. "Battle Phase!"
"Did you seriously forget what I added to my hand a few turns ago! I activate the continuous trap card Amazoness Onslaught!"
Bastion gasped in worry. How did he forget that?
"Wait, what does that card do?" Ghassan asked.
"Whenever an Amazoness battles one of my opponent's monsters, after damage calculation, the opponent's monster is banished!" Tania explained.
Bastion didn't know how to react. But if he didn't follow through with the attack, Tania would get rid of Valkyrion AND Pet Liger would still remain. His life points would be finished off. "Val...Valkyrion attacks Pet Liger with Magnet Saber..." He weakly said.
The Magna Warrior charged at Pet Liger and slashed it's good eye. (Tania 1800-800) Soon, Pet Liger dissolved into light and went back into Tania's Extra Deck. Immediately afterwards, Valkyrion dissolved into light as well. "I...I end my...no I...I set two cards facedown and end my turn."
Tania didn't draw a card yet. "I can't believe I thought you'd make a good husband. This is far beyond simply not wanting to fight alongside your monsters. To be so afraid of it that you basically throw away the game? You make me sick."
Bastion fell to his knees. 'Blast it...am I going to lose just like Damian said? This whole time, I've been trying to conserve as many life points as possible, and make decisions different than what my first instinct would be to avoid that fate. But it wasn't enough.' He thought about how Chazz didn't even bother to duel Bastion. How he got dead last in the triangle duel against Jaden and Scott, and would have been eliminated even earlier had Jaden not saved him. How Adrian took Bastion's place as the most academically gifted freshman in the academy. 'It looks like I'm destined to only live in the shadows of more talented students.'
"SNAP OUT OF IT!" A voice yelled angrily.
Bastion turned his head to the voice, seeing one of the watchers looking pretty frustrated. "Scott?"
"Dude, you KNOW you're better than this! You've calculated for more possibilities in Duel Monsters than literally anyone else on the island. You had me and Jaden on the ropes during the Duel Off at the same time!" Scott yelled.
Ghassan was taken aback. It was rare for Scott to get so emotional.
"He's right." Damian said. "Because you heard that you lost against Tania in the show, you're second guessing every decision you make, and forgetting crucial details of the duel. This sure as hell isn't the same person who beat me last semester."
"Damian?" Bastion asked. He was stunned that Damian was trying to motivate him given Damian's goals.
"So stop letting yourself get distracted by what happened to you in OUR world. Focus on what's going on right now." Scott said.
Bastion didn't know what to say.
"It's my turn." Tania said as she drew. "I activate Pot of Greed." Tania drew two cards from her deck. "As long as your field spell is up, I can't attack with Amazoness Empress or else she'll go to my Extra Deck as well. So let's get a change of scenery! I activate my field spell, Amazoness Village!"
The area began to morph. Trees grew around Tania and Bastion, and a few wooden huts rose up from the ground. "Not good! Now that she has a field spell, Bastion's Magnetic Field is-" Ghassan began to say.
"Still around." Bastion interrupted.
Sure enough, the floating pieces of metal and sparks of electricity in the air stuck around. "Wait a second, why is your field spell still here?" Tania asked.
Bastion stood up, chuckling. "Haven't you heard? Industrial Illusions recently announced two new changes to the game. First is there being a 15 monster limit on monsters in the Extra Deck."
'Not counting Pendulums.' Damian thought.
"And second is that BOTH players can have a field spell activated at a time."
Tania took a look at Bastion's face. 'His eyes...they finally have a fire.' "Amazoness Village increases the attack points of all Amazoness monsters by 200." (Amazoness Empress 2800-3000/2400) Battle Phase! During the Battle Phase, with Amazoness Onslaught I can special summon an Amzoness from my hand and it gains 500 attack points! I special summon Amazoness Swordswoman!" (1500-1700-2200/1600)
"And thanks to Amazoness Empress, both of them will do piercing damage." Adrian said.
"Amazoness Swordswoman attacks Beta the Electromagnet Warrior!" The Swordswoman jumped up into the air and slashed through Beta, destroying it." (Bastion 1600-900)
"If Tania's next attack goes through, she wins." Scott said.
"Go Amazoness Empress, destroy Gamma the Electromagnet Warrior!" Tania ordered. The Empress dashed towards the monster, ready to slash through it with her sword.
"I activate my trap card Half Unbreak! This prevents my monster from being destroyed by battle, and battle damage done is cut in half!" Bastion declared. A barrier formed around Gamma as Empress slashed it, preventing it's destruction. (Bastion 900-400) "And now, I activate the effect of Magnetic Field to send Empress to the hand!"
Tania smiled. "Not bad. But I use Amazoness Onslaught to banish your Gamma." The monsters dissolved into light. "I set two cards and end my turn. I gotta say, I like this new fire in you. But will it be enough? With the effect of Amazoness Swordswoman, any battle damage that would be done to me is done to you instead." (Amazoness Swordswoman 2200-1700)
'She's right. I prevented her from continuing to do piercing damage, but I have to be cautious if I attack her.' "It's my move." Bastion put a hand on his deck. 'I was being too paranoid about the future that I heard that I didn't realize I was walking towards it right now. But no more. If I'm going to win this duel and change my fate, I need to focus.' "I draw!" Bastion drew a card from his dck and took a look at it. Polymerization. 'It's here!'
"Magnet Conversion has an effect in the graveyard. I can remove it from play to special summon a banished level for or lower Magnet Warrior. Return, Beta the Magnet Warrior!" (1700/1600) The yellow Magnet Warrior rose up from the ground. "Next, I activate the other effect of Magnetic Field. If I have a level four or lower EARTH Rock monster, I can special summon a level 4 or lower Magnet Warrior from my graveyard. Revive, Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior (1700/1100)!" Pieces of metal floating around began to come together and form the Magnet Warrior.
"Maybe he's going to take out Amazoness Swordswoman with one of the Magnet Warrior's in a double suicide?" Ghassan asked.
"Not happening. I activate Necro Fusion to remove from play Amazoness Princess and Amazoness Sage to special summon Amazoness Empress!" (2800-3000/2400) The warrior returned to the field. "Now my Amazoness' Swordswoman can't be destroyed. You can return it to the hand with field, but Amazoness Onslaught will have it return."
Bastion's confidence didn't fade "When Beta the Electromagnet Warrior is special summoned, I can add a Magna Warrior from my deck to my hand. I add a second copy of Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior!"
"Hate to break it to you, but you won't be able to special summon him when Gamma the Electromagnet Warrior is already banished." Tania smirked.
"Don't worry. I'm well aware." Bastion smirked back. "I activate my last facedown card, Magnet Reverse! This lets me special summon a Rock or Machine monster that's in my graveyard or removed from play so long as it can't be Normal Summoned or Set. Return to the field, Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!" (3500/3850) More pieces of metal around the area formed together to combine into Valkyrion. "You put up a great fight Tania. But I'm afraid my victory equation has been written."
"Gonna destroy Empress with Valkyrion eh?" Tania asked.
"No. It's not enough to wipe out your life points, and if I do, you can special summon Amazoness Queen from your graveyard thanks to the effect of Amazoness Village." Bastion said. "And then once again, Swordswoman will be unable to be destroyed by battle. Instead, I activate Polymerization to fuse the Beserkion in my hand with the Valkyrion on my field!" A vortex appeared, the two Magna Warriors swirling together in it. "Particles known and unknown to man. Come together to bring into creation the ultimate warrior. I fusion summon Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot!" (4000/4000)
Galloping out of the vortex was a sword wielding centaur-like machine made out of the combined pieces of Berserkion and Valkyrion. "4000 attack points? This is great! Now he has enough to finish of Tania!" Alexis exclaimed.
"Imperion Magnum, destroy Amazoness Empress!" Imperion galloped towards Amazoness Empress. As it galloped, Bastion ran towards Tania. "You said you wanted to battle alongside our monsters?!"
Tania widened her eyes, and smiled, running towards Bastion. "Sorry handsome. I activate my trap card, Shift! This switches the battle target to another monster I control. I choose Amazoness Swordswoman!" Amazoness Swordswoman and Empress switched places.
Alexis and Ghassan gasped. "With Swordswoman reflecting damage at Bastion, that means he loses." Alexis said.
Bastion smiled as he ran. "No. I'M sorry Tania. Imperion Magnum's effect! Once during either of our turns, I can negate an activated spell, trap, or monster effect! I negate Shift!"
Tania gasped as her two Amazonesses returned to their original positions. She then smiled. "Here it comes Bastion!"
"Bring it on! Finish it Imperion! Conductive Magnet Slash!" Imperion's sword glowed with electricity before slashing through Empress. At the same time, Bastion and Tania punched each other in the face at the same time. (Tania 900-0)
The holograms faded, Bastion falling to the ground. "And that's..." Bastion panted. "And that's the end."
Tania smiled as she rubbed her bruised cheek. "Looks like you're a worthy husband after all. Shame I didn't win." Tania turned to Bass, who was still glaring at the sky. "Since you won, I'll give you a tip. It looks like we were watched by a Duel Spirit."
"Huh?" Bastion asked.
"That explains what Bass has been snarling at during our duel. I can't see it for myself, so I don't know what it is." Tania suddenly started to glow with a pink energy.
"Wh-what's going on?" Alexis asked.
"She's reverting to her true form." Damian answered.
Tania's Shadow Gauntlet dropped as she began to morph before she changed into her true form. A white tiger.
"Wait, she was a tiger the whole time?!" Ghassan asked.
"You didn't remember?" Damian asked.
Soon, Tania walked away, Bass following.
"That's another Shadow Rider down." Scott said.
"But she said we were being watched by a Duel Spirit. What's that about?" Alexis asked.
"Of all times for Jaden and Chazz to decide to play hooky." Ghassan said.
Bastion widened his eyes. "No...that's not it."
Adruan nodded. "I'm pretty sure it's connected to why Jaden and Chazz aren't here."
"He's right. Jaden, Chazz, Syrus, and Chumley were all here at this point during the show." Damian said. "And suddenly, Tania says that there's a Duel Spirit who was watching our duel? It can't be a coincidence."
"Could be another Shadow Rider." Alexis said. "You did say that there was a Duel Spirit Shadow Rider called Don Zaloog."
"Yeah, but he wouldn't cause them to suddenly disappear. He didn't operate that way."
Bastion stood up. "I fear that this is the work of the Duel Spirit Chumley and Chazz saw at the volcano. If my theory is correct, The Invader of Darkness has made his first move against us."
I got this chapter done a lot quicker than I thought I would. Guess my eagerness to write a full length duel where Bastion wins motivated me, lol. Dude deserved better. I'm also really happy that I finally got to show a full length duel with the Electromagnet Warriors, since I really enjoy that deck. All the way back during the early stages of the story, I was planning on having Bastion and Chazz duel with Bastion using them while Chazz uses an ABC Union deck, but decided against it due to its outcome and impact on the story being the same as canon. Glad I finally got to show off more of the Electromagnet Warriors over two years later.
I've also been waiting for a while to include the rule for two field spells to be on the field at a time. It was originally going to be implemented during Crowler's duel with Damian, but I decided to wait a bit since the one field spell rule led to Crowler's brief comeback. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and are looking forward to the next one!
