Chapter 53: Head in the Clouds

Following Gellenduo's instructions, our heroes made their way to the edge of the duel world. Sure enough, there was a large pit miles deep.

"Woah."

"You can say that again."

"So, do we just go down, or…"

Before any of them could approach the pit, a mysterious figure began to ooze its way to the surface from down below.

"What the-"

When the figure took shape, it looked like a living cloud, muscles bulging out of its body.

"Who goes there? I don't recognize you."

"Oh, hi. Listen, some friends of ours lost something around here, and were wondering if-"

"I don't know you, go away!"

"Uh, guys? Maybe we should do what he says, I mean-"

But Bastions stepped forward, not keen on backing down.

"Sorry Syrus, but not today. If you're so confident, then how about a duel? If I win, you let us through."

"You have guts, human. Very well, I accept."

GAME ON!

Poison Cloud: 8000

Bastion: 8000

"I shall make the first move. And to start, I activate Summon Cloud! Since I don't have any monsters, I can special summon a level 4 or lower Cloudian from my hand or graveyard, and I choose Cloudian- Cirrostratus (900/0) in attack mode! Next, I summon Cloudian- Turbulence (800/0) in attack mode as well. And when Turbulence is normal summoned, he gets a Fog counter for every Cloudian I have on the field, which is two."

Two smaller clouds began floating around Turbulence.

"But he won't have them for long, because by removing them I can summon two Cloudian-Smoke Balls (200/600) from my deck in defense mode! I'll set two cards face down and activate Cloudian Squall to end my turn. Since I used Summon Cloud's effect this turn, I must now send it to the graveyard."

"Not a bad start, but I can do you one better! I'll start by summoning Solar Flare Dragon! Attack his Turbulence!"
"I activate my Spirit Barrier! As long as I have monsters on my field, battle damage will never reach me."

The fireball dispersed the cloud before bouncing off the forcefield harmlessly. Then, to everyone's surprise, the cloud reformed itself as easily as it had dissipated.

"Surprised? My Cloudians can't be destroyed by battle."

"Ah man, now he's completely safe from battle damage!"

"Perhaps, but not effect damage! I activate the spell card Wave-Motion Cannon! Next, I set two cards face down and end my turn. And don't forget, my Dragon takes 500 of your life points during my end phase!"

The living cloud grunted as his life points dropped.

Poison Cloud: 7500

"Fine then, my turn. And as its the standby phase, Cloudian Squall puts a Fog Counter on every monster on the field! Not that it matters, because I activate the trap card Updraft! This removes all Fog Counters on the field and deals you 300 points of damage for each one!"

A huge gust picked up, sweeping up all of the counters and pelting Bastion as he shielded himself.

Bastion: 6500

"Now I'll tribute my four monsters in order to summon Cloudian- Nimbusman (1000/1000) in attack mode! And since I tributed four Water monsters, he gains 4 Fog Counters. And for every Fog Counter on the field, he gains 500 attack (1000-3000)! Attack his Solar Flare Dragon!"

"I activate Backfire!"

Nimbusman turned into a giant storm cloud and floated over to the Pyro Type, casting down a downpour that snuffs out the dragon while a fireball launched itself at him.

Bastion: 5000

Poison Cloud: 7000

"I activate my Soul Rope! By paying 1000 life points, I can special summon another Solare Flare Dragon!"

Bastion: 4000

"I end my turn there."

"I'll begin with Monster Reborn to bring back the other Solar Flare Dragon. Next, I summon Ultimate Baseball Kid (500-2500), and set two cards face down. I end my turn.

Poison Cloud: 6000

"Is that all? Don't forget, thanks to Cloudian Squall there's 4 more Fog Counters on the field (3000-5000). Attack his Baseball Kid!"

"I activate my face downs, Forbidden Chalice and Malevolent Catastrophe! Malevolent Catastrophe destroys all Spell and trap cards on the field, while Forbidden Chalice gives your Nimbusman 400 attack points in exchange for its effects (5000-1400)!"

"What?!"

Nimbusman's torrential downpour was reduced to a mere drizzle, which was quickly evaporated by the baseball player's fastball, breaking him into millions of pieces that he didn't reform from. The ball sailed right into Poison Cloud, and without his barrier to protect him he took the full force of the attack.

Poison Cloud: 4700

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

"Sorry, but this duel is over! I activate Nobleman of Crossout to destroy your face down! Now my monsters, attack him directly!"

The Cloudian could only watch in horror as the fire monsters were set upon him, burning him away until he was nothing more than a vapor trail.

Poison Cloud: 0000

Bastion powered down his duel disk and turned towards his friends.

"Come on, it should be safe to go down."

Everyone remained quiet and followed him down. Before going into the pit, Alexis turned to Jaden.

"Remind me not to get on Bastion's bad side."

"Ditto."