Chapter 37: Survival of the Fittest Part 3
After a quick dinner, Jaden was back in the ring. His friends watched nervously as he activated his duel disk.
"This is bad, guys. He has less than 3000 life points left. One wrong move, and we'll have to start all over again!"
"Have some faith, Syrus. After all, he did take down The Sacred Beasts."
"Lexi is right, compared to that this is nothing!"
"Atticus, we've talked about this..."
Despite his friends' worries, Jaden was pumped up and ready for action.
"Alright, robo man. Get Your Game On!"
"Prepare yourself, mortal. This is my strongest deck, which no one has ever beaten on the first try."
"Ooh, then allow me to be the first!"
GAME ON!
Ferrario: 8000
Jaden: 2800
"Future winners first. I set one monster face down and end my turn."
"That's is? Man, I got my hopes up. I'll start with Elemental Hero The Heat (1600-1800/1200) in attack mode! But that's not all, because I activate Double Summon, letting me bring out his sidekick, Elemental Hero Lady Heat (1300/1000), and for every Elemental Hero on the field The Heat gains 200 extra attack points (1800-2000). Next, I activate H-Heated Heart, giving The Heat 500 extra attack points and the ability to deal piercing damage (2000-2500). Elemental Hero The Heat, attack his face down monster!"
The male hero launched himself at the hidden enemy, smashing his fists down on the revealed Treeborn Frog (100/100) before it was destroyed.
Ferrario: 5600
"Now Lady Heat, attack him directly!"
The female hero launched a small fireball at the robot, causing him to whirr in pain as his life points dropped.
Ferrario: 4300
"I'll end my turn with one card face down and end my turn. And that activates Lady Heat's effect, dealing you 200 points of damage for every Elemental Hero I have on the field."
Once more Lady Heat launched a fireball at the guardian, causing him to flinch slightly as the flames licked his coat.
Ferrario: 3900
"Impressive, but this duel is far from over. During my standby phase, since I don't control any spells or traps, I can special summon Treeborn Frog from my graveyard. Next, I summon Hand of Nephthys (600/600) in defense mode. But neither one will be there for long, because by tributing them both my Hand of Nephthys can special summon her master from my deck: Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys (2400/1600) in attack mode!"
A large circle of fire surrounded Ferrario's field, consuming both of his monsters. The flames then shot up, transforming into a mighty phoenix.
"Now my Phoenix, show Lady Heat some real fire power!"
The majestic fire bird let loose a torrent of intense flames, which fried Lady Heat and singed Jaden's jacket as the attack subsided.
Jaden: 1700
"I end my turn with one card face down."
"Alright then, my turn! First off, I activate Card of Sanctity, letting us refill our hand. Next, I activate Reinforcements of the Army, adding Clayman to my hand. Now I activate Polymerization, fusing him and Sparkman together in order to Fusion Summon Elemental Hero Thunder Giant!"
"What will that accomplish? Both your monster and mine have the same amount of attack points."
"Attack points aren't everything. I activate Thunder Giant's effect, discarding a card in order to destroy your Sacred Phoenix!"
Thunder Giant created a massive ball of energy in his hands before throwing it, electrocuting the Phoenix until it exploded.
"Thunder Giant, The Heat, finish this!"
"Not so fast, I activate Scapegoat!"
Four sheep tokens appeared in front of the guardian, two of them taking the attacks meant for the guardian, much to Jaden's annoyance."
"Dang it, thought I had you there. I set one card face down and end my turn."
"And so begins my victory."
Jaden was confused, but not for long as Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys and Treeborn Frog burst out from Ferrario's graveyard.
"Hey, what gives? Thunder Giant destroyed that thing!"
"And because he did, he came back. When Nephthys is destroyed by a card effect, it revives during my next Standby Phase. And when he does, all spell and trap cards on the field are automatically destroyed!"
"Then I'd better use it. I activate Flute of Summoning Kuriboh, letting me bring out a Winged Kuriboh from my deck."
"Not that it'll help you. I activate Hammer Shot! This card destroys the strongest card on the field, but since its a tie I can choose. Eenie, meanie, miney...Thunder Giant!"
Jaden groaned as his strongest monster was crushed by a massive tree stump.
"Next, I sacrifice Treeborn Frog in order to summon Vampire Lord. Now my Sacred Phoenix, destroy his last remaining Hero!"
The Phoenix took to the skies once more, burning his hero to ash faster than Jaden could blink
Jaden: 1100
"Next, my Vampire Lord will attack Winged Kuriboh!"
The pale count leapt, fangs ready to sink into the furball, but was stopped by an apparition which repelled it back to the Guardian's field.
"Sorry, but by banishing Necro Gardna from my graveyard, your attack is negated. Looks like I'm still in this!"
"For now. My turn is over."
Alright deck, time for a miracle. Heart of the Cards, don't fail me now!
"I activate Pot of Greed, letting me draw 2 more cards."
Jaden grinned when he saw what he had drawn. Perfect, just what he needed!
"I activate the spell card Transcendent Wings! By tributing Winged Kuriboh and ditching two cards from my hand, I can summon Winged Kuriboh LV10 (300/200)!"
"What was the point of that? Its nearly the exact same monster, just at a higher level."
"You'll see. But for now, I end my turn."
"Pathetic. Vampire Lord, attack his furball!"
The Vampire pounced once more, this time striking the Kuriboh with his claws. But the monster covered itself with its wings, and it appeared to be glowing.
"What is your monster doing?"
"Activating his special ability. During your Battle Phase, I can tribute him to destroy all of your monsters in attack position! What's more, you take their combined attack as damage!"
"What? But that means..."
"Yep, that's game!"
Winged Kuriboh exploded, sending Vampire Lord flying back before it shattered, the blowback destroying Nephthys as well and sending Ferrario into a wall as his life points hit zero, ending the duel and the trial once and for all.
Ferrario: 0000
Jaden wins!
Jaden collapsed to the ground, completely exhausted while his friends ran up to him.
"Alright Jay, you did it!"
"Way to play!"
"Bah, I would've won quicker, but I guess you did alright. For a slacker, that is."
Just then, the gate opened. Ferrario nodded in approval.
"Congratulations, travelers, you have passed the test. You may enter the next world."
Jaden glanced over to his friends.
"You guys ready for this?"
The group of 8 nodded, and they each stepped through, ready for whatever came their way next. Ferrario watched them leave.
"Good luck, travelers. You'll need it."
