Yuma was headed to the last duel field when he tripped another trap, reducing his life points to 100.
Yuma: How much bad luck can I have?
Tori: Pay attention!
Astral: There is another trap up ahead.
Tori: Yuma, turn left!
Yuma did so and narrowly avoided the trap.
Tori: Yuma! You need to stay more alert! You almost got-
She stopped shouting at him when she saw that he looked sad about something.
Tori: What's wrong?
Yuma: Troy, Kite, Quattro, Quinton, and Shark. It's too much!
Tori: Hang on!
They hit a steep slope and found themselves entering the desert field.
Yuma: The tracks run all over this place.
They arrived at another part of the field and found Nistro waiting for them beside his car.
Nistro: 'Bout time you showed up.
Yuma: What are you doing here?
Nistro: Looks like it's down to just the two of us, so let's duel Yuma! Right here, right now!
Heartland: Ladies and gentlemen, there's only one spot left in the semifinals. Who will claim it? Will it be Yuma Tsukomo, or Nistro? We're about to find out as they coast through the desert field of danger!
Nistro: You ready?
Yuma: You know it.
Nistro: 4000 LP
Yuma: 100 LP
Both: Let's duel!
They took off down the track, entering a large canyon.
Nistro: I'll take the first move, and I summon Heroic Challenger Double Lance in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1700/DEF 900
Nistro had just summoned his monster when rocks rained down on him.
Nistro: 3800 LP
Yuma: What was that?
Heartland: Our competitors are currently in the canyon zone of the desert field, so every time they attack or summon a monster in attack mode, they'll take 200 points of damage.
Tori: Wait, don't you only have 100 life points left?
Yuma: You're right! If I summon a monster in attack mode or attack, I'll be out of the carnival!
Nistro: Due to Double Lance's special ability, when I xyz summon a Heroic Champion, he counts as two monsters, so I overlay my two Double Lances to build the overlay network and xyz summon Heroic Champion Gandiva in attack mode!
Rank 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 2100/DEF 1800
Nistro: 3600 LP
Astral: He does not seem to be concerned about the field spell damage.
Nistro: I set two cards face-down and end my turn. Come on Yuma, give me everything you've got!
Yuma: Considering how low my life points are, I really don't have much to give. Alright, I draw!
Nistro: And I activate a trap card!
Yuma: Not good.
Nistro: I play the trap Heroic Gift! Since you have 2000 or fewer life points, this card changes your life points to 4000!
Yuma: 4000 LP
Yuma: Wait, he gave me life points?
Nistro: In exchange, I get to draw 2 cards!
Yuma: You'd better not be taking pity on me Nistro!
Nistro: Don't misunderstand, I just wanted to draw some cards. Besides, I want this duel to be on equal terms.
Astral: Nistro is quite passionate about this duel.
Yuma: I set a monster face-down in defense mode!
Astral: Yuma, you will not win this duel with defense alone.
Yuma: Relax, I've got a plan. I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Nistro: I was hoping for more than that. I guess you need a push. I draw! And I summon Heroic Challenger Night Watchman in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1200/DEF 300
Nistro: 3400 LP
Yuma: Hey Nistro, how's that 200 points of damage taste?
Nistro: Very funny, but let's see if you laugh after this. Night Watchman, attack Yuma's face-down monster!
Nistro: 3200 LP
Nistro: And due to Night Watchman's special ability, when he attacks a monster in defense mode, he can destroy it without applying damage calculation.
His monster shot a burst of flames from its lamp at Yuma's monster, destroying it.
Yuma: Sorry Nistro, but the monster you destroyed was Mogmole, and due to his special ability, once per duel, I can summon him back in defense mode after he's destroyed, so I'm bringing back Mogmole in defense mode!
Level 2/Earth/Beast
ATK & DEF 800
Nistro: Nice try, but I activate Gandiva's special ability! By using one overlay unit, Gandiva can destroy your Mogmole!
Gandiva fired an energy arrow into the air before it split apart, a volley of blasts raining down on Mogmole and destroying it.
Nistro: If you want to beat me, you're gonna have to fight for real! Gandiva, attack Yuma directly!
Yuma: Not so fast Nistro, I play the trap Battle Break! This card will destroy your Gandiva and end the battle phase!
Nistro: If you think that'll stop me you're dead wrong. I play the counter trap Battler's Pride! This card negates and destroys any card that would end the battle phase, which means Gandiva's attack continues!
Nistro: 3000 LP
Gandiva fired an energy arrow that struck Yuma in the shoulder, causing him some pain.
Yuma: 1900 LP
Nistro: I place one card face-down and end my turn. Come on, duel me with the same passion you had in our last duel!
Yuma: I should, but I can't afford to make a mistake.
Astral: If that thought is what drives you, then you should give up now.
Yuma: What?
Astral: You are hesitating Yuma. You are not dueling like yourself. However, after seeing these last few duels, I suppose it is rational you would develop a cautionary sense to your dueling.
Yuma: Hold up, it sounds like you're saying I'm scared. Well, I'm not! I draw!
Astral: Are you certain?
Yuma: I summon Gagaga Magician in attack mode!
Level 4/Dark/Spellcaster
ATK 1500/DEF 1000
Yuma: 1700 LP
Yuma: Now I play the equip spell One-Shot Wand! This card will up my magician's attack power by 800!
Magician: 1500-2300 ATK
Yuma: Now attack Gandiva!
Yuma: 1500 LP
Nistro: You're gonna have to do better than that Yuma. I play the trap Heroic Advance! This card changes the target of your attack to Night Watchman and doubles his attack points! Lucky for you, neither of our monsters will be destroyed by this battle.
Watchman: 1200-2400 ATK
Night Watchman stepped in front of Gandiva and redirected the attack back at Gagaga Magician and Yuma.
Yuma: 1400 LP
Yuma: I activate One-Shot Wand's effect! Since the equipped monster battled, I can send this card to the graveyard to draw 1 card! Sweet. Since you control an xyz monster, I can special summon Grandram from my hand in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Rock
ATK 0/DEF 1400
Yuma: 1200 LP
Yuma: Now I overlay Grandram and Gagaga Magician! With these two monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Gagaga Cowboy in defense mode!
Rank 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1500/DEF 2400
Nistro: In defense mode? Are you kidding me?!
Yuma: Nope, because when Gagaga Cowboy is in defense mode, I can use one of his overlay units to deal you 800 points of damage.
Yuma's monster shot Nistro in the chest, causing him to fall into his car.
Nistro: 2200 LP
Yuma: How do you like that? You're going down Nistro! I place two cards face-down and end my turn.
Nistro: I can't believe this. Are you gonna hide behind your cards the whole time? It's totally pathetic! I wanted to duel Yuma, not some coward!
Yuma: Huh?
Nistro: If you're just going to waste my time, then I'll end this duel right now. I draw! I equip Gandiva with the spell Xyz Crown! Now Gandiva's rank counts as a level in order to xyz summon, and Gandiva will count as two monsters when I xyz summon with him.
Yuma: You're gonna use an xyz monster to xyz summon?
Nistro: I overlay Night Watchman and my two Gandivas! With these three monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Heroic Champion Kusanagi!
Rank 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 2500/DEF 2400
Nistro: 2000 LP
Nistro: Come on! If you wanna defeat me, then let the real Yuma start dueling!
Yuma: What do you mean the real Yuma?
Nistro: Stop playing it safe and duel me with everything you have!
Yuma's expression changed to a serious look and he pulled over next to a wooden platform where he stopped.
Tori: What's wrong?
Yuma: Tori, I want you to stay here. I'm gonna have to risk everything to win, and I don't want you to get hurt.
Tori: Alright. You just better be sure to come back and get me when you win.
Yuma: You got it.
Tori got off and Yuma left to catch back up with Nistro.
Yuma: Hey Nistro! If it's a real duel you want, it's a real duel you'll get!
Nistro: Now that's the Yuma I wanted to duel! I play the spell Fighter's Charm! This will switch your cowboy into attack mode, but its attack points become the same as its defense points for the rest of this turn.
Cowboy: 1500-2400 ATK
Nistro: Kusanagi, attack Gagaga Cowboy!
Nistro: 1800 LP
Yuma: I activate the trap Overlay Buster! This card will give my Cowboy an extra 500 attack points!
Nistro: Don't think so. I activate Kusanagi's special ability! By using one overlay unit, I can negate the activation of a trap and destroy it, and then Kusanagi gains 500 attack points until the end of the turn!
Kusanagi: 2500-3000 ATK
Nistro: Now crush that cowboy!
Yuma: Not happening. I activate the spell Fighting Fund! This card will prevent my monster from being destroyed in battle!
Nistro: Not bad, but you're still taking some damage.
Kusanagi slashed his sword at Yuma's monster, but he crossed his gauntlets in front of himself, blocking the attack.
Yuma: 600 LP
Nistro: I place two cards face-down and end my turn. Now this is the duel I've been waiting for! This is the most fired up I've been in ages!
Yuma: Same here.
The two were so distracted that they didn't notice the track was ending ahead of them until they were flying through the air. When they landed on the ground, the scenery around them changed to a wide open space lit up by the setting sun.
Astral: We are on a new field. The new field spell is Sunset Showdown, and due to its effect, both players can only attack with one monster each turn, and when a monster is destroyed, its controller receives 300 points of damage.
Nistro: Bring it on Yuma! Show me what you've got!
Yuma: You want it, you'll get it. I draw! And I activate Gagaga Cowboy's special ability! By using one overlay unit, he gains 1000 attack points until the end of this turn!
Cowboy: 1500-2500 ATK
Nistro: So now he's even with Kusanagi.
Yuma: Not for long. Gagaga Cowboy, attack Heroic Champion Kusanagi! And now Gagaga Cowboy's other effect kicks in. Since he activated his special ability this turn, any monster he attacks loses 500 attack points!
Kusanagi: 2500-2000 ATK
Cowboy cloaked his fist in electricity and prepared to strike Kusanagi.
Nistro: I activate the trap Heroic Change, but then I use Kusanagi's effect to negate it and raise his attack points by 500!
Kusanagi: 2000-2500 ATK
Yuma: They're tied again!
Kusanagi drew his sword and swung it at Gagaga Cowboy, who intercepted it with a punch from his gauntlet, destroying both monsters at the same time.
Nistro: 1500 LP
Yuma: 300 LP
Nistro: Now that was something. You're an amazing duelist Yuma.
Yuma: Right back at ya.
Nistro: This is the last battle Yuma. I play the trap Xyz Extreme! Since both our monsters were destroyed, I can give up 1000 life points in order for us both to summon an xyz monster with the same rank as our destroyed monsters, and then we attach our destroyed monsters to them as xyz material, so I summon Heroic Champion Excalibur!
Nistro: 500 LP
Rank 4/Light/Warrior
ATK & DEF 2000
Nistro: Now Yuma, summon Utopia!
Yuma: What?
Nistro: This final battle should be between our ace monsters, don't you think?
Yuma: Alright. Come forth, Number 39: Utopia!
Rank 4/Light/Warrior
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Nistro: There it is. Due to the effect of Xyz Extreme, our monsters have to battle each other, and they're both destroyed at the end of the battle phase, so bring it on Yuma!
Yuma: Okay. Utopia! Attack Heroic Champion Excalibur!
Nistro: I activate Excalibur's special ability! By using all its overlay units, its attack points double!
Excalibur: 2000-4000 ATK
Yuma: I activate Utopia's special ability! By using one overlay unit, Utopia's attack is negated!
Nistro: Nice try Yuma, but due to my Xyz Extreme, both our monsters will be destroyed at the end of the battle phase, and due to the effect of Sunset Showdown, we'll both take 300 points of damage, but you only have 300 life points left, so it looks like I win!
Yuma: Not quite Nistro. I still have one last trick up my sleeve. I activate the spell Double or Nothing! Since Utopia's attack was negated, his attack points are doubled and he can attack again!
Utopia: 2500-5000 ATK
Nistro: 5000 attack points?!
Yuma: Go Utopia! End this duel with Rising Sun Double Slash!
Utopia drew his swords and slashed Excalibur, breaking his sword apart and destroying him.
Nistro: 0 LP
Winner: Yuma
Heartland: It's over! The one advancing to the finals is the one and only Yuma Tsukomo!
Nistro: Anyone get the license plate of that rhino?
Yuma: You okay Nistro?
Nistro: Been a long time since a duel got me that amped up. That was a great duel.
Yuma: It sure was.
Nistro: Yuma, I want you to have this, but in exchange, you have to promise that you'll give every duel everything you have.
He handed Yuma his Heroic Champion Excalibur.
Yuma: Thanks Nistro. I'll do everything I can to make you proud.
Nistro: Good. Now go and win this thing.
Yuma: I will.