Chapter 16: Fishing For Duels

A few days after his duel with Reed, Yuya was back on the prowl. With three more wins needed to enter the championship, he was desperate for some dueling action. Unfortunately, he had no luck. Everyone he had asked either were already qualified and didn't want to jeopardize that, or thought he was too strong and that it would be pointless to even try.

"Man, this sucks! If only I could find someone to duel..."

Just then, he noticed a card on the ground, he found it to be a Umi.

"Huh? Who would leave this lying around?"

Just then, he felt a strong tugging coming from the card, and before he knew it he was being pulled towards an alleyway.

"Hey, what gives?"

Yuya tried to escape, but whatever was pulling him was too strong. When he was finally free, he was already face to face with a short, stout fisherman.

"Well, well, well, quite a catch. The son of Yusho Sakaki himself!"

"Who are you? And why did..."

"Name's Trout, and you're going to be my next opponent! So get ready to lose!"

Yuya found his attitude annoying, but beggars can't be choosers, so he got his duel disk and deck out.

"You're on, Trout!"

DUEL!

Trout: 4000

Yuya: 4000

"I'll go first. To start, I activate the field spell Legendary Ocean! Not only do all Water Monsters gain 200 attack and defense points, but their levels are reduced by 1, meaning I can summon The Legendary Fisherman (1850/1600 without a tribute! Next, I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."

Yuya nodded, drawing his next card and planning his next move.

"Okay Trout, get ready! I summon Performapal Drummerilla in attack mode thanks to his effect! And even though I can't attack your Fisherman, he can't stop me from attacking you directly, so let him have it!"

But Trout grinned maniacally before revealing his face down.

"As if it would be that easy! I activate my face down, Tornado Wall! As long as I have Umi on the field, in this case A Legendary Ocean, I can't take any battle Damage!"

Yuya groaned as the defensive tornados sprung up, blocking his Drummerilla from reaching Trout.

"I set one card face down and end my turn."

"Nice try, but this duel is as good as mine! I summon Catapult Turtle (1000-1200/2000-2200) in attack mode! Next, by tributing my Fisherman, I can special summon The Legendary Fisherman III (2500/2000)! And when he's special summoned, all of your monsters get banished!"

"What?!"

The new fisherman swooped down, trapping Drummerilla in his net before returning to Trout's field.

"Relax, he can't attack the turn I use this effect. But my Catapult Turtle can, so let him have it!"

Pulling its catapult back, the mechanical turtle created a bolt made out of water, which it then launched at Yuya, striking him right in the chest and forcing him to one knee.

Yuya: 2800

"And if you thought I was done, think again! By returning all your banished monsters to the graveyard, my Fisherman's effect doubles all burn damage you take this turn! And by tributing him via Turtle's effect, you take all of his attack points as damage!"

"Uh oh."

Yuya raised his hands in defense as The Fisherman was launched right at him, knocking him off his feet as his life points plummeted.

Yuya: 300

"I end my turn with one card face down and end my turn. You're up!"

This duel is mine. Obviously, he'll try to destroy Legendary Ocean, which would get rid of my Tornado Wall and lower my Turtle's attack points. Not a bad strategy, but the minute he does I'll activate my Judgement of Anubis to destroy any monster he has out, wiping out the rest of his life points! And even if he doesn't do any of that, I can just tribute my Turtle next turn to finish him off! And once I do that, its goodbye minor leagues, hello Arc League Championship!

But Yuya wasn't worried. He had everything he needed to make a comeback in his hand.

"I activate my face down, Call of the Haunted to bring back Drummerilla! But he won't be around for long, because I'm tributing him to summon Performapal Elephammer in attack mode! Next, I activate Double Summon, letting me bring out Performapal Silver Claw in attack mode! Lastly, I'll activate Performapal Dramatic Theater (2600-2800) (1800-2000). Elephammer, attack his turtle! And when Elephammer attacks, all of your spell and trap cards go right back to your hand!"

"What?!"

With a mighty swing of his trunk, Elephammer sent all of Trout's back row flying, wiping out the field spell in the process (1200-1000/2200-2000). Then he wrapped his trunk around the turtle and squeezed hard, crushing it to bits.

Trout: 2200

"Now Silver Claw, attack Trout directly! And when Silver Claw attacks, all Performapals gain 300 attack (2000-2300) (2600-2900)!"

"Aw man!"

With nothing to defend himself, Trout could only watch hopelessly as the wolf pounced on him, taking out the rest of his life points in a single swipe.

"Ow."

Trout: 0000

Yuya wins!

Yuya walked over, offering his hand to Trout to help him up.

"Good game, Trout. You almost had me there!"

Trout grunted indignantly, but accepted the help.

"Yeah, well don't think I'm gonna let you get away with this. The next time we duel, you're going down!"

Yuya just smiled kindly.

"Trout, I'll take you on anytime."

And despite everything, Trout returned the smile.