Chapter 9: You Show's Last Stand Part 1

"What?!"

Declan pushed his glasses up, unfazed by Skip's outburst.

"You heard me. As of today, I own this school, and you are all trespassing. You have one hour to pack your bags and leave before I force you."

"B-but that's impossible! I own the lease."

"It seems you haven't kept up with renewing it. Don't make this harder for yourself."

Yuya clenched his fists in anger.

"You can't do this! This school is my father's legacy, and you want to kick us out without so much as a second thought? At least give us a fighting chance!"

Declan rested his hand on his chin for a minute, taking Yuya's outburst into consideration.

"Hmm, very well, I propose a wager. You and me will duel for the fate of this school. If you win, I shall allow you to exist as a subsidiary of LDS, with all the benefits while maintaining effective independence. But if I win..."

"...Then I'll leave on my own accord. And in exchange for letting my friends stay, I'll hand over all of my Pendulum Monsters."

"Agreed. I'll give you 10 minutes to prepare."

With that, Declan moved to make his own preparations, Yuya glaring at him behind his back. Zuzu was worried.

"Yuya, are you sure about this? Not only is the CEO of a major corporation, but he's the youngest pro duelist in the circuit!"

"I know Zuzu, but I have to do this. He's a bully, and my dad taught me that sometimes the only way to handle a bully is to face them head on!"

"But your Pendulum Monsters! Pegasus entrusted the prototypes to you, and if you lose this duel you lose them as well!"

"That's a risk I'll have to take."

10 minutes later, Yuya and Declan squared off on the duel court.

"You may choose the Action Field, it makes no difference to me."

"You heard him, Principal! Fire it up!"

"You got it, Yuya! I activate the action field Acrobatic Circus!"

The field around them transformed into a large circus tent, with all sorts of circus equipment littering the place.

"Duelists locked in battle..."

"Kicking the Earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters, they storm through this field!"

"Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of dueling! Action..."

DUEL!

Declan: 4000

Yuya: 4000

"Since you let me choose the field, Its only fair that you take the first turn."

"Thank you. For starters, I activate the spell card Dark Contract with the Gate. Using its effect, I can add D/D Cerberus from my deck to my hand. However, this effect does come with a cost. During each of my Standby Phases, I will take 1000 points of damage."

"Huh? Why would you play a card that deals damage to you?"

"All in good time. Next, I activate another Dark Contract with the Gate, adding D/D Berfomet from my deck to my hand. Next, I activate Dark Contract with the Swamp King! In exchange for taking 1000 points of damage during each of my standby Phases, I can fusion summon Fiend type monsters from my Extra Deck. So I fuse D/D Cerberus with D/D Berformet to fusion summon D/D/D Flame King Genghis (2000/1500) in attack mode! I set two cards face down and end my turn."

Yuya stared intently at Declan's field as he drew his next card.

Three spell cards that will deal him 1000 points of damage each next turn, and a single fusion monster is all he has to show for it? He's planning something, but what?

"Alright Declan, get set to get decked! With the scale 2 Performapal Drummerilla and the Scale 4 Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon, I set the Pendulum Scale! Come on out, Timebreaker Magician! And because I Pendulum summoned him and no other monster, his attack points double (1400-2800)! Next, I summon Performapal Skullcrobat Joker, and his effect lets me add Odd Eyes Mirage Dragon to my hand. Now Timebreaker Magician, attack his Flame King!"

"I activate my trap card Dark Contract with the Witch! During your turn, all of my D/D monsters gain 1000 attack points (2000-3000)."

"It doesn't matter, because Drummerilla's effect gives Timebreaker an extra 600 attack points (2800-3400) during the damage step!"

Despite the boost in attack points, Declan's king was still no match for Timebreaker's power, going down in a burst of flames.

Declan: 3400

"Skullcrobat Joker, attack Declan directly!"

Declan braced himself as the spelllcaster swung down and kicked him, pushing him back slightly.

Declan: 1600

"I end my turn with two cards face down. And during the end phase, I can destroy Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon in my Pendulum zone to add a monster with 1500 or less attack to my hand, like my Performapal Kaleidoscorp. Your move."

"Before I do that, I activate my final trap card, Contract Laundering! Now, all of my Dark Contracts are destroyed, and not only do I get to draw a card for each, but for every card I draw I gain 1000 life points."

Yuya snarled as Declan's life points climbed up to past the starting amount.

Declan: 5600

"Now then, lets continue. I'll start by summoning D/D Nighthowl (300/600) in attack mode. When Nighthowl is normal summoned, I can special summon a D/D monster from my graveyard with its attack and defense reduced to zero, like D/D Berformet! Now my level 3Nighthowl tunes with level 4 Berfomet in order to Synchro Summon D/D/D Gust King Alexander (2500/2000)! This activates my Flame King's effect! When I Summon a different D/D monster to my field, I can special summon a level or lower D/D monster from my graveyard, like my Berfomet! Gust King Alexander's effect now activates, letting me do the same to Cerberus! Now with these two monsters I build the overlay network and Xyz Summon! Rise forth, D/D/D Wave King Caesar (2400/1200)!"

Yuya could only gape in horror at Declan's massive play as his opponent smirked confidently.

"Now do you realize your grave error? My three king's will pummel you into oblivion!"

"What are you talking about? My Timebreaker Magician's still stronger!"

"Not for long, because I activate the spell card Forbidden Chalice! Your Timebreaker gains 400 attack, but loses its effect (2800-1800). Now Gust King Alexander, finish off his Timebreaker!"

"Drummerilla's effect activates, giving him 600 attack points (1800-2400)!"

"Its still not enough."

Despite his best efforts, Timebreaker Magician was sliced to pieces by the fierce winds, ending up in pixels.

Yuya: 3900

"Flame King Genghis, destroy his Skullcrobat Joker!"

With a mighty slash of his sword, Genghis sent a wave of fire that incinerated the colorful joker, causing Yuya to flinch slightly.

Yuya: 3700

"Wave King Caesar, attack Yuya directly!"

"I activate the trap card Performapal Pinch Helper! Your attack is negated, and I can special summon a Performapal from my deck with its effects negated, and I choose Performapal Elephammer!"

"Very well then. I set two cards face down and end my turn."

Yuya panted heavily as he drew his card, Declan's advanced moves really pushing him to his limits. But when he saw what card he had drawn next, he smiled broadly.

"Hope you enjoyed the lead, because this duel's about to swing my way!"