Chapter 35: Survival of the Fittest Part 1
Following the tracker they "borrowed" from Kozaky, the group made their way to a secluded corner of the Duel World. Just as they expected, they found the gate to the next world.
"Alright guardian, we know you're in there! Come on out and face us!"
The gem on top shown, and out came the guardian as Jaden commandd. Unlike the previous two, which were organic beings, this one looked more like a robot.
"I am the Speed Guardian Ferrario, guardian of this gate. If you wish to move on, you must pass my test. Do you wish to proceed?"
"What's the trick?"
"One of you shall duel me three times in a Survival duel. If you lose even once, another person must take your place from the very beginning."
"What's a survival duel?"
Everyone groaned at Jaden's stupidity.
"Don't you remember from class?"
"No."
"Ugh, figures. In a survival duel, your life points carry over from one duel to the next. For example, if you won the last duel with 2000 life points, then that's the amount you'd start out with in the next duel. This continues until either you defeat all of your opponents or you lose."
Syrus's explanation got Jaden's blood pumping, and he eagerly stepped forward.
"I accept your challenge, Ferrario! Get ready to get your game on!"
"Very well. Prepare to duel."
"I hope you know what you're doing, Jay."
"Don't worry, Lex. I'll be fine."
GAME ON!
Jaden: 8000
Ferrario: 8000
"The challenge may make the first move."
"Gee, thanks. And to start off, I summon Elemental Hero Woodsman in defense mode (1000/2000)! Next, I set two cards face down and end my turn."
"Affirmative, I draw. I'll start by activating the spell card, Spring of Rebirth. Next, I summon Neo-Spacian Grand Mole (900/300) in attack mode!"
"Hey, what gives? I thought I was the only one who had that card."
"Silence! Now my Grand Mole, attack his Woodsman! And that triggers his special ability, returning both of our monsters to our hands."
Jaden groaned as his monster turned into a beam of light and retreated, forming back into its card while Grand Mole did the same on the other side.
"And since two monsters were returned to the hand, I gain 1000 life points."
Ferrario: 9000
"I set two cards face down and end my turn."
"Alright then, my turn. I draw!"
"And I activate my trap card, Begone, Knave! Now any monster that inflicts battle damage to a player is returned to the hand."
Jaden smirked. The guardian thought he had made a smart move, but Jaden had just the cards to deal with it.
"I summon Elemental Hero Wildheart (1500/1600) in attack mode! And he's immune to your trap cards, so don't think you'll be gaining any life points this turn."
"What?!"
"Attack him directly, Wildheart!"
The wild hero leapt up and slashed the robot right across the chest, causing it to cry out in pain.
Ferrario: 7500
"Your move, tin man."
"You'll pay for that! I summon my Grand Mole once again. Attack his Wildheart, and-"
"Not this time, I activate Forbidden Scripture! When our monsters do battle, this card negates all other card effects on the field until the end of the damage step!"
"What?!"
The alien mole leapt out of the ground, drill head at the ready, but Wildheart was ready, swinging his sword down and cleaving the monster in two.
Ferrario: 6900
Realizing there was nothing else he could do, Ferrario passed his turn. On the sidelines, Jaden's friends watched with interest.
"Man, Jaden's doing pretty good!"
"What did you expect? With Sarge at the lead, there's no way we can lose."
"Don't be so sure, Hassleberry. Jaden may be in the lead for now, but we don't know what the other two decks will be like. For our sake, I hope he can win."
"Bastion, has anyone ever told you to lighten up?"
"Multiple times, yes."
"Alright, enough chit chat, my turn! And to start, I summon Elemental Hero Stratos! And while normally I'd use his effect to add a Hero to my hand, this time I'll use his other effect to destroy a spell or trap card for every other Hero I have on the field! I have one, so say goodbye to Begone, Knave!"
The wind Turbines on Stratos's wings turned on, blowing hurricane force winds that tore the trap card to shreds.
"Alright Stratos, Wild Heart, attack him directly!"
"I activate the trap card, Compulsory Evacuation Device to return your Stratos to your hand (6900-7400)!"
"That maybe, but Wildheart can still get through!"
The guardian raised his hands to defend himself, but against a blade they did very little to ease the damage.
Ferrario: 5900
"I'll set one card face down and end my turn there. Your move."
"Grr, time to get serious! I activate the spell card Card Destruction! Now we discard our entire hands and draw the same number of cards from the tops of our decks."
"Aw man."
Jaden sighed as he discarded and replaced his hand. He had a good combo all set up, but at least he could still work with this hand.
"Next, I activate Premature Burial (5900-5100) to special summon Giant Rat! But now I sacrifice him to summon my Guardian Sphinx (1700/2400) in attack mode! Take out his Wildheart!"
The Sphinx shot lasers from its eyes, blowing Wildheart away in the blink of an eye.
Jaden: 7800
"I activate Hero Signal, letting me bring out Elemental Hero Ocean in attack mode!"
"It makes no difference. I activate Guardian Sphinx's ability, flipping itself into face down defense position. Your move."
"And what a move it'll be! First, Ocean's effect activates, letting me add the Neos I discarded back to my hand. Next, I play Polymerization, fusing Sparkman with Necroshade in order to summon Elemental Hero Escuriado (2500/2000) in attack mode! And for every Elemental Hero I have in my graveyard, he gains 100 attack points (2500-2900)."
"That's not nearly enough to defeat me!"
"You're right, but I'm not done! Using Elemental Hero Necroshade's effect, I can summon Elemental Hero Neos free of charge! Lastly, I'll equip him with Neos Force, giving him 800 extra attack (2500-3300). Now Neos, attack his Sphinx!"
Neos leapt up, descending fist first as the Guardian revealed itself, only to be reduced to mere rubble with a single punch. Neos didn't stop there, however, as he continued through and clocked the guardian right across the face before returning to Jaden's side of the field.
Ferrario: 4200
"Now Escuriado, Ocean, attack him directly and end this duel!"
Ferrario could only watch in horror as the monsters descended on him, slashing him until his life points dropped to zero.
Ferrario: 0000
Jaden wins!
"Alright, you go!"
"Way to play, Jay!"
Jaden did his signature finger point, pleased by his success.
"One down, two to go!"
The guardian picked himself up, ready for round 2.
"Excellent work, traveler. Are you ready for your the next test?"
"Bring it, tin can."
