Chapter 31: Iron Blacksmith Kotetsu

Cautiously, the eight entered, eyeing the new room up and down. The room was some sort of forge, with finished weapons, weapons in the process of being made, and tools strewn about. Standing in the center was a middle aged man hunched over an anvil as he hammered down on a blade. When he heard the gang entered, he let out a heavy sigh, lifting up his welding mask and scowling at them.

"Oh goody, visitors."

"Hi, there mr..."

"Kotetsu, and don't you forget it!"

"Right. Anyway, we're here because-"

"I know why you're here. That kook Kozaky sent you to do his dirty work, didn't he? Well he's not getting it, so you can tell him to go jump in the volcano for all I care!"

"But-"

"GO!"

With that, Kotetsu returned to his work, mumbling something about "kids these days." Undaunted, Jaden stepped forward.

"Um, excuse me, Mr. Kotetsu?"

"Didn't I tell you to go away?"

"Look, the thing is, we're lost, and this might be our only chance to get home. If you'd give us a hand, we'd appreciate it."

Kotetsu sighed, placing down his tools and grabbing a nearby duel disk.

"Fine, since you won't leave. If you win, you can have it."

"Alright, sounds good."

DUEL!

Kotetsu: 8000

Jaden: 8000

"Since you're the one intruding in my business, I'll make the first move. And to start, I summon Sasuke Samurai #4 (1200/1200) in attack mode! Your move kid."

Their audience quirked their heads, confused by his play.

"What gives? All he did was summon a weak monster in attack mode with nothing to support it. Jaden will get rid of that thing easily."

"I don't know, Syrus. But I have a feeling there's more to that monster than meets the eye."

"Alright, not a bad move, but here's mine. I summon Elemental Hero Neos Alius in attack mode. Now Alius, attack his Samurai!"

"You fool, that's what I wanted you to do! When my Samurai battles, I flip a coin. If I call it right, your monster is automatically destroyed!"

Producing a coin from his pocket, Kotetsu flipped it, watching it flip through the air.

"Heads!"

Letting it fall to his hand, he revealed it to be facing heads, much to Jaden's dismay.

"Ah man!"

The samurai twirled his spear expertly before impaling the hero on it, leaving him no worse for wear.

"Oh well, them's the breaks. I set two cards face down and end my turn."

"Your impatience shall lead to your downfall, young man. I summon Armed Samurai- Ben Kei (500/800) in attack mode. Next, I equip him with three spell cards: Sword of Deep-Seated, Fusion Sword Murasame Blade, and Divine Sword- Phoenix Blade, giving him a total of 1600 extra attack points (500-2100). And for every card equipped to him, he gains 1 additional attack, enough to wipe you out! Attack, my monsters!"

"Jaden!"

But Jaden was more than prepared for his attack.

"Sorry, not today! I activate A Hero Emerges! Now then, pick a card, any card!"

"Grr, fine, I chose the one in the middle!"

"Nice choice...for me, that is! Come on out, Elemental Hero Neos!"

Kotetsu scowled. He could attack with his samurai, but he dared not risk it.

"Fine, I end my turn. Your move."

"And what a turn it'll be. I summon Neo Spacian Flare Scarab, and I'll contact fuse him with Neos to summon Elemental Hero Flare Neos (2500-4100)! And here's another surprise for you, I activate my face down Collected Power! This transfers all equip cards on the field to Flare Neos, giving him a massive power boost (2100-500) (4100-3700-5300)!"

"What?!"

"Next, I activate the spell card Instant Neo Space, meaning my Neos is sticking around (5300-5700). Now Flare Neos, attack his Ben Kei!"

Kotetsu could only watch helplessly as his monster burned away, forcing him to shield himself from the intense heat.

Kotetsu: 2800

"Your move, dude."

Kotetsu snarled, knowing he had very few options. He didn't want to do this, but he couldn't let Kozaky get his hands on his device...

"I'll start by summoning The Six Samurai Zanji (1800/1300) in attack mode. Next, Sasuke Samurai attacks your Flare Neos!"

Snatching the coin out of his pocket again, he hastily tossed in the air, praying he would get it right.

"Tails!"

Unfortunately, it was heads. Sasuke Samurai tried to impale the hero on its spear, but to no avail. Neos scoffed before blasting him away with a torrent of fire.

Kotetsu: 0000

Jaden wins!

"Alright buddy, a deal's a deal, now fork it over!"

Knowing he didn't have any other option, Kotetsu walked over to a safe in a dark corner of his workshop and input the code, opening it to reveal...

A card.

"Here you go. My ultimate creation."

"Huh? Limiter Removal?"

"Hey, what gives! If I had known that was what he needed, I would've given him my own!"

"You fools, you are not in your world anymore! This card has far more power than you could ever imagine! If it fell into the wrong hands, who knows what kind of horrors could be unleashed."

Everyone backed away nervously, a little afraid of Kotetsu and his rambling.

"Well, thanks. We'd better get this to Kozaky, see ya!"

Kotetsu watched them leave, shaking his head as he went back to work.

"Those kids have no idea what they're in for..."