Chapter 20: Under the Sea

To the amazement of the seven Duel Academy students, when they walked under the surface of the ocean they found a beautiful metropolis. Fish and other sea creatures swam all around them.

"Woah, this place is awesome!"

"Alright, lets go find this Otohime person and get out of here."

"Chill out, Chazz. We don't even know what she looks like."

So they asked around. But no one they asked knew where Otohime was, and they were beginning to get desperate. Until finally...

"You lot looking for Otohime?"

The seven turned to see a young girl about their age wearing a beautiful blue dress standing behind them, carrying a basket.

"Uh yeah, you know her?"

"Sure do. I was taking her some food that I made. I can take you to her..."

"Sweet! Then what are waiting for, let's go!"

"...but only if one of you can defeat me in a duel. Who's game?"

Bastion stepped forward, sliding a new deck into his duel disk.

"I'll take you on."

"Alright then."

GAME ON!

Bastion: 8000

Maiden of the Aqua: 8000

"Since I issued the challenge, I'll let you go first."

"You're too kind. I set one monster face down, and two cards face down. Your move."

"Not bad, but not great either. First, I summon Mother Grizzly in attack mode. Attack his face down!"

The blue bear leapt with a snarl and pounced on Bastion's monster, revealing it to be a Flying Kamakiri #1, which shattered effortlessly, only to be replaced with another copy of itself.

"A monster that can replace itself. Clever, but it'll take more than that. I end my turn with two cards face down."

"Very well, my move. And to start, I tribute my Flying Kamakiri to summon Alector, Soverign of Birds (2400/2000) in attack mode. Next, I activate Alector's special ability. Once per turn, I can negate the effects of one face up card on the field, and I choose your Mother Grizzly!"

The majestic bird created massive gusts of wind that buffeted the maiden's monster, draining it of its power.

"Now Alector, attack!"

The bird sent a massive tornado straight at its opponent, only for it to be blocked by three ladies appearing from thin air.

"Sorry Bastion, but with Waboku my life points and my monster are safe."

"Hmm, very well. my turn is over."

"Then its my move, and I sacrifice my Mother Grizzly so I can summon Amphibian Beast (2400/2000) in attack mode! Next, I equip him with Stim-Pack, giving him 700 attack points (2400-3100), more than enough to take out your Soverign!"

But Bastion came prepared.

"Not so fast! I activate my trap card, Icarus Attack! By tributing Alector, I can destroy two cards on your field, and I choose your Beast and your other face down!"

"What?"

Alector transformed into a gust of wind, which flew up into the sky. Two bolts of lightning shot down from the sky, frying her Beast and her face down Divine Wrath, much to her dismay.

"I activate the spell card Nightmare's Steelcage. Now neither one of us can attack for two of your turns."

Bastion remained silent as the iron bars erected around him.

"I'll end my turn there."

"Not bad, but its going to take more than a bird cage to defeat me. First, I activate my face down, Call of the Haunted to bring Alector, and I'll use his effect to render your Steelcage null and void for this turn."

The mighty winged beast created a sphere of wind before shooting it at the spell card, encasing it and negating it effect.

"Next, I banish one of my Kamakiri's to summon Silpheed in attack mode. Lastly, I summon Sky Scout (1800/600) in attack mode as well. Now my monsters, attack her directly!"

The Maiden shielded herself from the great barrage of wind, nearly knocking her off of her feet.

Maiden of the Aqua: 2100

"I'll end my turn there. Had enough yet?"

"I haven't even started. I activate the spell card Ekibyo Drakmord, equipping it to your Alector!"

A strange toxin entered Alector's body, causing him to double over in pain.

"As long as he's equipped with this card, he can't attack. And after two turns, he gets destroyed and I can add this card back to my hand. Next, I activate the spell card Back to Square One to return Sky Scout back to the top of your deck! My turn ends there."

Bastion smirked as he drew his next card. She may think she had him on the ropes, but he always had a trick up his sleeve.

"This duel is over."

"Huh? Don't try and bluff, I know exactly what card you drew. And even if you use your bird's effect, I'll still have some life points left."

"You would...if I was going to summon Sky Scout. But instead I sacrifice Silpheed in order to summon Raiza the Storm Monarch (2400/1000)!"

Maiden of the Aqua gasped, realizing that she was doomed.

"No..."

"Yes. When Raiza is tribute summoned, I can return one card on the field to the top of the owner's deck, and I choose your face down monster."

Bastion's opponent could only watch in horror as the monarch effortlessly swept away her only line of defense.

"Now I use Alector's effect to negate Nightmare's Steelcage. This is it! Raiza, attack her directly and end this duel!"

The Maiden tried to stand her ground against the tremendous winds, but it was to no avail and she was blown off her feet as her life points hit zero.

Maiden of the Aqua: 0000

Bastion wins!

Sighing, The Maiden picked herself up and smiled.

"Good game. A deal's a deal, I'll take you to Otohime. Follow me."

With that, she walked off. Shrugging, they all followed her, not sure what to expect.